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Todd Blanche won Senate confirmation as attorney general in a razor-thin vote early today, officially placing President Donald Trump’s longtime attorney at the helm of the Justice Department after months of political infighting and a contentious confirmation battle that divided even Republicans.

The Republican-controlled Senate approved Blanche by a 50-49 vote, making him the second attorney general confirmed since President Trump returned to office last year. Blanche, who had already been serving as acting attorney general, now assumes the role permanently as the administration continues pursuing its law enforcement priorities, including investigations involving Trump’s political adversaries.

Following the vote, Blanche wrote on social media that he was “deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me,” adding that he was “grateful” to senators for working late to confirm him.

His confirmation followed weeks of intense debate that underscored bipartisan concerns about placing one of Trump’s closest confidants in charge of a department that has traditionally operated with independence from the White House.

Despite Republican control of the chamber, Blanche prevailed by the slimmest possible margin after Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska broke with their party to oppose him, joining every Democratic senator in voting against his nomination.

Blanche’s path to confirmation became unusually complicated after several Republicans objected to a controversial agreement resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.

To ease those concerns, Blanche formally pledged in writing that the Justice Department would scrap Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund benefiting the president’s allies—including individuals involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack—and would also eliminate provisions designed to protect Trump and his family from future IRS tax audits.

Those assurances ultimately persuaded Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy to cast the decisive vote in Blanche’s favor. Cassidy argued that no other nominee would be better positioned to lead the department under Trump and suggested Blanche’s experience defending the president could actually strengthen his ability to resist inappropriate pressure from the White House.

“This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances,” said Cassidy, who lost his primary this year to a Trump-backed challenger.

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged lawmakers to reject the nomination, warning that confirming Blanche would be a “serious mistake.” He appealed to senators not to place themselves on what he called the “wrong side” of history.

“If there is ever a moment in history when we need an Attorney General above reproach, who is clearly dedicated to ending corruption, even at the highest level of our government, it’s right now,” Durbin said.

The confirmation battle revolved largely around Blanche’s close relationship with President Trump, a connection critics repeatedly argued could compromise the Justice Department’s independence.

Blanche assumed leadership of the department on an acting basis after Trump dismissed Pam Bondi in April. He quickly moved to implement several administration priorities, including accelerating investigations involving Trump’s perceived political opponents and unveiling a settlement that established a $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” for individuals claiming mistreatment by the criminal justice system while also providing Trump and certain family members protection from IRS audits.

That settlement nearly derailed Blanche’s nomination before he formally withdrew the compensation fund in writing following pressure from Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Their agreement with the Justice Department cleared the way for the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance Blanche’s nomination earlier this week.

Even after the revised agreement, several Republicans remained uneasy over both the proposed compensation fund and the tax audit protections that had been included in the original settlement.

Murkowski announced shortly before the vote that she would oppose Blanche alongside Collins, saying the nation requires an attorney general “who will check the worst impulses of this administration.”

A former federal prosecutor in New York, Blanche gained national attention as one of President Trump’s lead defense attorneys, including during the New York hush money case. He also represented Trump in the federal criminal prosecutions brought during the Biden administration, experiences Blanche has cited as firsthand evidence of what he believes was the weaponization of the justice system against the president.

Blanche joined the Justice Department last year as deputy attorney general under Bondi, overseeing daily operations while serving as the department’s public face on several major initiatives, including the release of millions of investigative documents tied to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Democrats contend Blanche has consistently placed loyalty to President Trump above institutional independence, pointing to investigations involving Trump critics such as former FBI Director James Comey and sweeping personnel changes that have resulted in thousands of employees leaving the department through firings, resignations, and voluntary departures during the Bondi-Blanche tenure.

Supporters counter that Blanche’s background as a federal prosecutor, combined with the trust he developed with Trump during years of legal representation, makes him especially qualified to explain legal limits to the president while advancing administration priorities. Republicans have also credited him with efforts targeting violent crime, illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and transnational criminal cartels.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley strongly endorsed the nomination before the vote, declaring that Blanche has led the department effectively as acting attorney general. “Mr. Blanche is the right choice,” he said.

Whether Blanche will succeed where Bondi struggled remains uncertain. Trump removed Bondi after repeated resistance from judges, grand juries, and career Justice Department officials complicated efforts to pursue criminal cases against several of the president’s political opponents.

Soon after taking over the department, Blanche authorized an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of threatening the 47th president by posting a photograph of seashells arranged to display the numbers “86 47” on social media. Comey’s legal team has asked the court to dismiss the charges, alleging prosecutors misled the court, submitted inaccurate information, and concealed important evidence.

Blanche has also selected Joseph diGenova, a former Reagan-era Justice Department prosecutor, to oversee a Florida-based investigation examining whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials coordinated over the past decade to undermine President Trump. However, it remains unclear whether that investigation will ultimately produce criminal charges.

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A Wizz Air flight from Rome to Tel Aviv was thrown into chaos moments before takeoff on Friday after a passenger unexpectedly requested to leave the aircraft, triggering a security response that forced all passengers to deplane and delayed the flight. It was later determined that the man had asked to get off because he feared the delayed departure would lead to chilul Shabbos.

The incident unfolded just before departure, after boarding had already been completed. According to passengers, the man suddenly insisted on leaving the aircraft without initially explaining his reason. His unusual behavior raised alarm among fellow travelers, prompting the captain to halt the flight while Israeli security personnel and local police were called to inspect the aircraft.

Under standard airport security procedures, once a checked passenger leaves an aircraft, that passenger’s luggage must also be removed from the cargo hold before the flight can continue. As crews began unloading the baggage, many of the approximately 300 passengers believed the flight had been canceled.

Passengers said the cabin crew had already announced that boarding was complete when the man unexpectedly requested to deplane.

“The flight attendant announced that boarding had ended, and then this man decided he wanted to get off the flight,” said M., a passenger on board. “He didn’t explain himself, he didn’t give any reason why he wanted to leave, he didn’t communicate with anyone, not in English and not in Italian. He didn’t even apologize. An entire plane was standing there because of him, and he wouldn’t even look at us. His behavior was very, very strange.”

As passengers waited for security forces to arrive, anxiety spread throughout the cabin.

“He didn’t care that an entire plane was waiting, with Israelis panicking, angry, and frightened,” M. said. “We’re all trying to get home from our vacations. There were many children on board, and above all there was a great deal of panic. He just stared straight ahead as if nothing around him mattered.”

Some passengers grew increasingly suspicious of the man’s conduct, prompting the flight crew to involve police rather than take any chances. The passenger was detained for questioning while everyone on board was escorted back to the terminal.

Authorities then carried out a complete security screening of both the aircraft and all passengers before preparations could begin for a new departure.

“We’re waiting for buses to take us back to the terminal so they can unload our luggage,” M. said. “At the moment, there’s no estimate for when we’ll take off. The flight was canceled because of security reasons that have nothing to do with the passengers, and all we want is to get home safely.”

Following the security investigation, officials determined that the passenger was an observant Jewish man who had requested to leave the aircraft because he feared the delayed departure would result in chilul Shabbos. His request to deplane, however, set in motion the mandatory security procedures that delayed the flight.

Wizz Air disputed reports that the flight had been canceled, saying it was only delayed while the additional security procedures were completed.

“The flight from Rome to Tel Aviv was slightly delayed due to an additional security inspection. Passengers were asked to disembark so the additional inspection could be carried out, and the flight will depart as soon as it is completed. The safety of our passengers and crew remains the airline’s highest priority,” the airline said.

{Matzav.com}

Although the 2028 presidential election remains years away, early prediction markets are already shifting, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez edging past California Gov. Gavin Newsom in one closely watched betting market.

According to the latest market figures, Ocasio-Cortez now holds an implied 11% chance of winning the presidency, narrowly surpassing Newsom, whose odds stand at 10%. The change comes after the two Democratic figures traded places in recent days, putting the New York congresswoman slightly ahead of the California governor.

The shift has prompted renewed discussion about the Democratic Party’s future following another difficult election cycle. Supporters of Ocasio-Cortez view the market movement as evidence that democratic socialist ideas continue to resonate with younger and more progressive voters. Meanwhile, Newsom’s standing has raised questions about whether his years of high-profile political battles with Republicans will strengthen or weaken his appeal on the national stage.

Even so, Ocasio-Cortez would face significant challenges if she ultimately enters the race. She would be among the youngest candidates seeking the presidency, and Democrats would also be grappling with their recent history of unsuccessful bids by female presidential nominees.

On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance currently holds the strongest position in the same prediction market, leading the field with an implied 21% chance of winning the presidency.

Market analysts caution that these figures should not be confused with traditional polling. Prediction markets reflect where traders are placing their money, meaning the odds can shift rapidly in response to major news events, endorsements, scandals, or other political developments.

With more than two years remaining before the next presidential election, the current odds are better viewed as an early indicator of market sentiment than as a reliable forecast of the eventual outcome.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito says he has no plans to step down, confirming that he will remain on the nation’s highest court for another term and ending speculation that President Donald Trump could soon have the opportunity to nominate a fourth justice.

“Obviously I’m here for another term,” Alito told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Friday.

Alito’s remarks appear to settle months of questions about whether the 76-year-old justice would retire before or during the court’s upcoming term.

Earlier this year, retirement rumors gained traction after National Public Radio mistakenly reported that Alito intended to leave the bench. The report was later withdrawn after the Supreme Court confirmed that the claim was false, according to The Associated Press.

With Alito remaining in place, the Supreme Court will begin its next term with its current 6-3 conservative majority unchanged.

The court’s conservative wing consists of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. The liberal bloc is made up of Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Overall, six of the court’s nine members were appointed by Republican presidents, while the remaining three were nominated by Democratic presidents.

During his first term, President Trump appointed Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, appointments that solidified the court’s conservative majority following Barrett’s confirmation in 2020.

Had Alito chosen to retire, Trump would likely have had the opportunity to appoint a fourth justice, potentially replacing one of the court’s most conservative members with a younger jurist who could serve for decades.

Instead, Alito’s decision leaves the ideological makeup of the court unchanged heading into the new term.

The Supreme Court’s composition has become an increasingly contentious political issue, with many Democrats and liberal advocacy groups continuing to push for legislation that would expand the size of the court.

House Democratic leaders have endorsed a proposal to increase the number of justices from nine to 13 by adding four new seats.

Republicans and other critics have characterized the proposal as court-packing, arguing that expanding the court would allow a future Democratic president and Senate to dramatically shift its ideological balance.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has accused House Democrats of attempting to “rig” the Supreme Court after some lawmakers proposed adding four additional justices.

Grassley argued in June that Democrats support expanding the court because they disagree with many of its recent decisions and hope to fill the new seats with liberal nominees.

Supporters of expansion counter that increasing the number of justices would restore what they view as ideological balance and strengthen public confidence in the judiciary.

One organization advocating the proposal, Supreme 13, contends that a 13-member court would correspond with the nation’s 13 federal judicial circuits and would help address what it describes as decades of Republican-appointed dominance on the bench.

The idea has been debated before. In 2021, Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation to expand the Supreme Court from nine justices to 13, though the measure ultimately failed to become law.

The U.S. Constitution does not specify how many justices must serve on the Supreme Court, leaving Congress with the authority to determine the court’s size.

The court has consisted of nine justices since 1869, following several changes in its membership during the 19th century.

Opponents of expansion argue that enlarging the court for political purposes would threaten judicial independence and encourage an endless cycle of both parties adding seats whenever they control both Congress and the White House.

For now, Alito’s decision ensures that the court’s 6-3 conservative majority remains intact while eliminating, at least for the time being, the prospect of another Trump appointment to the Supreme Court.

It also guarantees that the debate over the future makeup of the nation’s highest court will continue to play out in the political arena, including during the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential campaign.

{Matzav.com}

In a landmark development for the Upper East Side’s Orthodox Jewish community, Manhattan’s historic Park East Synagogue and Chabad-Lubavitch of the Upper East Side have announced a major partnership that will officially begin this Rosh Hashanah, bringing together two of the neighborhood’s most influential Torah institutions.

As part of the new arrangement, Rav Arthur Schneier, the internationally known diplomat and longtime Rav of Park East—whose tenure is the longest of any congregational Rav in New York City’s history—will be joined by Rav Ben Tzion Krasnianski, who has led Chabad of the Upper East Side for decades and will now also serve as Associate Rav of Park East Synagogue. Rav Yosef Wilhelm, who heads Chabad Young Professionals Upper East Side, has been appointed Assistant Rav.

“This collaboration brings together two vibrant Jewish communities with a shared commitment to Torah, prayer, education, and acts of kindness,” Rav Schneier and Park East President Les Lieberman wrote in a letter to members of the kehillah. “By working together, we will be able to expand the opportunities available to our members and create an even more dynamic and welcoming synagogue experience.”

The agreement, which received unanimous approval from Park East’s Board of Trustees, will relocate the majority of Chabad of the Upper East Side’s programming into Park East’s historic building on East 67th Street. Among the initiatives moving to the new location are Chabad Young Professionals, Friendship Circle, Chabad Young Families, and the Upper East Side Kollel and Adult Education Center.

Chabad’s mikvah and preschool will continue operating from the Schneerson Center for Jewish Life on East 77th Street.

Founded in 1890 as Congregation Zichron Ephraim, Park East Synagogue has served as one of Manhattan’s oldest Orthodox kehillos for 136 years. Its distinctive Moorish- and Byzantine-style building on East 67th Street was designated a New York City Landmark in 1980 and added to the National Register of Historic Places three years later.

Rav Schneier assumed the rabbonus of Park East in 1962. Born in Vienna in 1930, he witnessed Kristallnacht as a child and survived the Holocaust while hiding in Nazi-occupied Budapest before eventually immigrating to the United States. Over the decades, he became a leading advocate for Soviet Jewry and numerous other Jewish causes. President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Citizens Medal, praising him for “devoting a lifetime to overcoming forces of hatred and intolerance.”

Under Rav Schneier’s leadership, Park East Synagogue became known not only as a prominent Orthodox synagogue, but also as a meeting place where world leaders, diplomats, ambassadors, and religious figures from across the globe regularly visited and addressed the kehillah.

In recent years, the synagogue also found itself at the center of anti-Israel and antisemitic demonstrations. While protesters targeted several New York City shuls, incidents outside Park East Synagogue ultimately prompted the city to adopt buffer-zone protections outside houses of worship.

Rav Ben Tzion Krasnianski and his wife, Chanie, arrived on the Upper East Side in the summer of 1991 with the brachah of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and with a mission they say has guided every aspect of their work ever since: ensuring that no Jew is ever left behind.

What began as a single Chabad House has, over the course of 35 years, grown into an extensive network of approximately ten branches serving virtually every segment of the Upper East Side Jewish community.

The Chabad Israel Center serves Israeli expatriates, while Chabad Young Professionals has become a home for thousands of young Jewish professionals building their lives in New York. Friendship Circle supports children and adults with special needs along with the volunteers who assist them. Chabad at Hunter College strengthens Jewish life on campus, while Chabad Care provides spiritual support and comfort to Jewish patients throughout the area’s hospitals.

The organization also operates extensive programming for senior citizens, Chabad Young Families, and a thriving Hebrew School for children. At the same time, the Upper East Side Kollel and Adult Education Center has become a major address for serious Torah learning among adults from every level of observance.

Under the new partnership, nearly all of these educational and communal programs—including Chabad Young Professionals, Friendship Circle, Chabad Young Families, and the Upper East Side Kollel and Adult Education Center—will now be based inside Park East Synagogue’s landmark building.

Chabad’s Jacques and Hanna Schwalbe mikvah, widely regarded as one of the country’s finest, together with its flourishing preschool, will continue operating from the Schneerson Center.

“As things were needed, we responded,” Rav Krasnianski said. He explained that the organization’s growth has always been driven by a desire to serve “every aspect of the community by caring, embracing, and ultimately, engaging” Jews wherever a need exists.

Rav Krasnianski said that same philosophy makes the new partnership “a match made in heaven.” He noted that the relationship between the two institutions stretches back many years.

“Park East approached us to see if we could collaborate and work together so we could accomplish much more than we could accomplish individually,” Rav Krasnianski said, explaining that the strengths of the two institutions naturally complement one another.

“At this critical juncture in Jewish New York history, this collaborative effort sends a powerful message that Jewish New York is here to stay,” Rav Krasnianski said. “We will not rest until all 70,000 Jews on the Upper East Side hold their heads up high and actively express their Jewish pride on a daily basis, one mitzvah at a time.”

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Ted Cruz is urging the Trump administration to abandon diplomatic efforts with Iran and instead intensify military and economic pressure, including providing weapons to anti-government demonstrators in an effort to bring about the collapse of the Islamic regime.

“I think our objective should be regime collapse,” Cruz said Friday on CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean’s “School of War” podcast.

The Texas Republican argued that the United States should continue targeting Iranian military assets, maintain strict economic sanctions, and preserve the blockade on Iranian ports aimed at limiting Tehran’s oil exports. Cruz noted that he first advocated arming Iranian protesters earlier this year.

“What I believe we should do, what I have urged President [Donald] Trump repeatedly, what I’ve urged Israel to do repeatedly, is arm the protesters, give them the guns, to let them overthrow their own government so that it’s not American boots on the ground, it’s Iranians fighting for their own country,” he said.

The current conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran. Since then, the confrontation has alternated between combat operations and diplomatic efforts, while instability in the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies normally pass.

In June, the two sides reached a memorandum of understanding intended to halt hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and pave the way for renewed nuclear negotiations. That agreement unraveled in July after fighting resumed and disagreements emerged over control of the strategic waterway.

Cruz sharply criticized the failed accord, calling it a “disaster” and a “terrible deal.” He argued that easing sanctions and creating a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund would only strengthen the Iranian regime.

“You’ll forgive me if I’m not terribly eager to give them $300 billion to facilitate their carrying out their stated intent of murdering us,” Cruz said. “Giving them $300 billion is an exceptionally bad idea. It was a bad idea two months ago, it’s a bad idea today and it would be a bad idea two months from now. So I hope we don’t go down that road.”

The Trump administration has maintained that the proposed reconstruction funding would come voluntarily from Gulf nations and private investors rather than from the U.S. government.

Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are reportedly working on a temporary maritime arrangement that would allow vessels to enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and depart through an Omani-controlled corridor without paying transit fees. Officials believe the proposal could serve as a stepping stone toward broader negotiations.

Although President Trump has recently moved away from earlier statements favoring regime change in Tehran, Cruz said he is unconcerned about which opposition group might ultimately replace the current leadership.

“I don’t have a dog whether it’s the son of the Shah, whether it is the [Mojahedin-e-Khalq opposition group], whether it is someone local, as long as they are not an Islamist who hates America and is actively trying to kill Americans,” Cruz said.

Cruz’s position underscores ongoing divisions within the Republican Party over U.S. policy toward Iran. While Vice President JD Vance has supported continued negotiations, other Republicans have argued against making concessions to Tehran.

Addressing those competing views, Cruz rejected both interventionism and isolationism.

“I disagree with both the interventionist and the isolationists. I think the interventionists are too quick to send the Marines. That’s their solution for everything,” he said. “But I am most definitely not an isolationist. It is a dangerous world, and it is our military’s job to prevent enemies of America from killing Americans.”

Just hours after his release from military prison, bochur Shmuel Shmelka Pinter, grandson of the Ziditchov Rebbe, paid a visit together with his grandfather and father to the Sanzer Rebbe at his residence in Caesarea. During the lengthy conversation, the Rebbe reflected on earlier generations of tzaddikim who endured imprisonment, spoke sharply about those who incite hatred against bnei Torah, shared encounters with secular Jews who seek blessings, and expressed unwavering confidence that Torah will ultimately prevail.

Shmelka Pinter had completed a 20-day prison sentence imposed after refusing military service while continuing his Torah studies. Upon his release last week, he was warmly welcomed by the kehillos that support those who dedicate themselves to full-time learning.

Soon after leaving prison, he traveled with his grandfather, the Ziditchov Rebbe, and his father, Rav Chaim Pinter, to visit the Sanzer Rebbe in Caesarea. What follows is a rewritten transcript of their conversation.

The Sanzer Rebbe began by recalling that his father had once told him about an earlier episode involving Rav Aharon of Kreiz-Sanz, who was imprisoned. When people urged the Divrei Chaim to pray specifically that his son be released, the Divrei Chaim responded by pointing to earlier giants of Jewish history—including Yosef HaTzaddik, the Maharam of Rothenburg, and the Rebbe of Ruzhin—who had also endured imprisonment. When others argued that the incarceration created a chilul Hashem, the Divrei Chaim replied that the true chilul Hashem is forgetting Hashem even for a single moment.

The Ziditchov Rebbe added that the Me’or Einayim of Chernobyl had likewise spent time in prison, as had other great tzaddikim throughout Jewish history.

The Sanzer Rebbe noted that his predecessor was never impressed simply because his son had been imprisoned. He accepted the ordeal with dignity, understanding that imprisonment itself was not a measure of greatness, even though his son remained incarcerated for a significant period.

Rav Chaim Pinter remarked that his family descends from the holy Rav of Kreiz through his son-in-law, Rav Moshe of Berdichev.

The Sanzer Rebbe then said that while Shmelka had still been behind bars he had intentionally refrained from sharing a particular story, explaining that not every episode from the lives of the tzaddikim should be imitated. Now that the young man had been released safely, however, he felt comfortable recounting it.

The Ziditchov Rebbe observed that Rav of Kreiz had originally been imprisoned after placing a ban on someone who refused to comply with a beis din ruling. He wondered aloud whether today’s rabbinic leaders should likewise convene a beis din to place those who persecute Torah and its learners under cherem. He added that the Sanzer Klausenburger Rebbe, the Shefa Chaim, had many years earlier wanted to organize a major gathering addressing similar concerns.

The Sanzer Rebbe replied that the Shefa Chaim had possessed remarkable foresight. He explained that the Rebbe’s vision had been to assemble Orthodox Jewish attorneys who could coordinate legal efforts on behalf of Yahadus HaChareidis throughout Eretz Yisroel. Whether such an initiative would succeed today, however, was another question. In his view, many of those in positions of authority now act with arrogance, answerable to no one, and simply do whatever they choose without accountability.

Turning to Israeli society more broadly, the Sanzer Rebbe emphasized that the overwhelming majority of Jews in Eretz Yisroel possess faith in Hashem and maintain a deep respect for Torah and Yiddishkeit. He argued that most do not harbor hatred toward those who learn Torah. Rather, he said, a relatively small group of agitators in the media creates the false impression that it speaks for the majority. As evidence, he described how, whenever he visits areas such as Netanya or Caesarea where many residents are secular, people frequently approach him asking for brachos, demonstrating that genuine faith remains alive within them.

The Rebbe noted that Caesarea is generally considered a politically left-leaning city. Yet when he goes for a walk and a woman approaches from the opposite direction, she will often cross to the other side of the street on her own initiative without being asked. On numerous occasions, secular parents have even sent their children to request a blessing. He also recalled that one Friday night a car stopped beside him, and the elderly Jewish driver spoke to him in Yiddish, asking whether he needed any assistance because he assumed the Rebbe had become lost. Another neighbor once told him that although he knew the Rebbe would not eat in his home, he would gladly provide water or anything else that might ever be needed. “That,” the Rebbe said, “is the true face of most Jews living in Eretz Yisroel.”

The Ziditchov Rebbe responded with a similar story involving the Lev Simcha of Gur. While walking outside the religious neighborhood in Haifa on Shabbos, a secular Jew approached the Rebbe, assuming he had lost his way, and warmly offered to drive him anywhere he wished to go.

The Sanzer Rebbe continued by saying that the war has created tremendous confusion among many people. Those who do not appreciate the holiness of Torah often find it impossible to understand the position of the bnei Torah. At the same time, however, the war has awakened a profound strengthening of faith among countless Jews, many of whom now seek blessings and prayers. He recalled that during the large gathering outside the military prison, officials responsible for coordinating the event privately admitted to him that they were personally pained by the entire situation and were only carrying out orders because they had no alternative.

The Ziditchov Rebbe remarked that the Shefa Chaim had long ago described the leading instigators against Torah as belonging to the Erev Rav. He speculated that perhaps they were souls of earlier heretics who had returned to this world in order to rectify their past, but instead had only deepened the damage. He lamented that the campaign of incitement against the chareidi community had crossed every conceivable boundary.

The Sanzer Rebbe responded that while many secular Jews unfortunately transgress the Torah, it is not for us to judge them, since most are tinokos shenishbu who were never taught the difference between what is permitted and what is forbidden. Even when they speak harshly against Torah Jews, he said, it is often because they believe doing so will make their own lives easier. Nevertheless, he recalled that his father had taught that when someone demonstrates an unusually intense hatred for religion and actively wages war against those who observe Torah and mitzvos, it is possible that such a person traces his spiritual roots to the Erev Rav.

The Ziditchov Rebbe then shared a personal experience. While walking through Tel Aviv, a passerby suddenly began shouting at him. Curious, he asked what the man wanted. The fellow replied that all he wanted was for the Rebbe to “go back to Poland.” The Ziditchov Rebbe remarked that perhaps his appearance had reminded the man of something from Poland.

The Sanzer Rebbe responded with a story from his own youth. He recalled that while walking down the street, someone chased after him carrying a stick and struck him. Looking back, he said he was actually grateful that he had at least merited to be beaten simply because he was a Jew.

The Ziditchov Rebbe commented that even so, the hatred in those years did not resemble the atmosphere that exists today.

The Sanzer Rebbe agreed, observing that today’s public incitement and brazenness have reached levels that simply did not exist in earlier decades.

The Ziditchov Rebbe mentioned the role played by newspaper editors in fueling much of that hostility.

The Sanzer Rebbe replied that the Divrei Chaim, commenting on Parshas Vayakhel, writes that the leaders of the nation in the era before Moshiach would come from the Erev Rav.

The Ziditchov Rebbe recalled a teaching the Sanzer Rebbe had cited during the recent rally from the Shefa Chaim on the Gemara’s description of a generation in which “the youth will behave arrogantly toward the elders.” He then related a well-known story involving the Chasam Sofer. Whenever the Chasam Sofer traveled to Yergen near Pressburg, he would rent lodging. On one occasion, a local Jew insisted on hosting him free of charge. After Shabbos, however, the Chasam Sofer overheard the same man describing the rabbi of Pressburg as a sinner.

The Sanzer Rebbe explained what had happened. The unlearned innkeeper had watched the Chasam Sofer eat the Shabbos daytime meal without reciting Kiddush as he believed it should be said. Since the man mistakenly thought the daytime Kiddush required the full nighttime text rather than only Borei Pri Hagafen, he concluded that the Chasam Sofer was violating Shabbos.

The Ziditchov Rebbe continued that the Chasam Sofer later said the incident actually brought him comfort. For many years he had feared that a time might come when corrupt leaders would mislead the Jewish people so completely that authentic Torah observance would disappear. But after witnessing the innkeeper’s reaction, he realized he had been mistaken. Hashem gave the Torah to a strong-willed nation. Even though the Chasam Sofer was the universally respected rabbi of a major community, the simple Jew refused to abandon the traditions handed down from his parents merely because a prominent rabbi appeared to act differently. That demonstrated, the Chasam Sofer concluded, that faithful Jews would ultimately remain loyal to the Torah they had received from previous generations and would not allow misguided leaders to draw them away from it.

The Sanzer Rebbe said that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai had already declared that Torah would never, chas v’shalom, be forgotten from Klal Yisroel. He added that his father would often say that Torah would never “go bankrupt.” Despite all the hardships facing the Torah world, he expressed complete confidence that the Torah would ultimately prevail. The greatest focus of our prayers, he said, should be for Jews whose lives are not centered around Torah study, that they should not, chas v’shalom, be swept away by the influences surrounding them.

The Ziditchov Rebbe responded that Klal Yisroel is in need of tremendous yeshuos. He then recalled a saying from the Shefa Chaim about how sincere efforts made below bring about corresponding assistance from Heaven.

He reminisced about attending the emotional hesped the Shefa Chaim delivered for the Tchebiner Rov. Although the Klausenburger Rebbe had not been in Yerushalayim for several years, thousands packed the hall to hear him. The Rebbe began by analyzing the Talmudic concept of “trei u’trei” before transitioning into a tear-filled eulogy.

The Sanzer Rebbe responded that he had not been present at that gathering, noting that it had taken place in the year 5726.

As the visit drew to a close, the Sanzer Rebbe turned to Shmuel Shmelka Pinter and offered him heartfelt words of encouragement and blessing.

Quoting the posuk, the Rebbe blessed him that the words “Samcheinu Kimos Inisanu” should be fulfilled in his life—that the joy awaiting him should far outweigh the suffering he had endured. He told the young bochur that he had merited to become a shaliach for the sanctification of Hashem’s Name and that Heaven had chosen him to carry that mission on behalf of Klal Yisroel.

Rav Chaim Pinter then asked the Rebbe whether his son should recite Birchas HaGomel following his release from prison.

The Sanzer Rebbe replied that he could certainly recite HaGomel, but without Shem U’Malchus.

Shmuel Shmelka Pinter then shared that while he was incarcerated, the prisoners heard the gathering organized by Sanzer Chassidim outside the prison walls. He said hearing the event provided tremendous encouragement and gave him great strength during his imprisonment.

The Sanzer Rebbe concluded by offering a final blessing, expressing the hope that they would all meet again only on joyous occasions.

{Matzav.com}

What appeared to be a devastating shoulder injury from a water park accident ultimately saved a man’s life after doctors discovered what they initially believed was a malignant tumor. The remarkable firsthand account, shared by Rabbi Moshe Weisbecker, has drawn widespread attention throughout the Olam HaTorah as a striking example of hashgachah pratis and the power of the brachos and tefillos of Gedolei Yisroel.

The extraordinary story was shared on the “Siach Yitzchok” hotline, which features Torah teachings and firsthand accounts involving Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein. Rabbi Weisbecker personally recounted the events in the hotline’s “Bedidi Hava Uvda” segment.

Rabbi Weisbecker, a son-in-law of Rav Ben Zion Goldberg-Yedler, is a respected avreich in Kollel Beis Dovid in Holon and the author of the sefer Lemaan Yaarichun on the halachos of honoring one’s parents.

Opening his account, Rabbi Weisbecker said that he felt compelled to share a deeply personal experience that demonstrated how every event in life is orchestrated by Hashem, even when everything appears to be falling apart. He said the story also illustrated the extraordinary power of the blessings and prayers of the Gedolei Hador.

Several weeks ago, while accompanying his Talmud Torah class on an annual trip to a water park, Rabbi Weisbecker was supervising students from the top of one of the park’s tallest water slides. Another member of the staff encouraged him to take a turn on the slide. Though initially reluctant, he confirmed the safety instructions with the operator, sat on a double inflatable tube to feel more secure, and began his descent.

Within moments, the tube became stuck near the beginning of the slide. He shouted repeatedly that he was trapped, but the sound of the rushing water drowned out his cries. Two fellow rabbeim waiting behind him heard him and warned the slide operator, but according to Rabbi Weisbecker, the operator insisted everything was fine and instructed them to continue.

Seconds later, another double tube carrying two staff members crashed into him with tremendous force. The collision flipped his tube and hurled him violently into the sides of the slide. Dazed and in excruciating pain, he managed to pull himself from the water before an emergency responder from United Hatzalah who was part of the group administered oxygen. He was then rushed by ambulance to Poriya Medical Center.

Doctors initially suspected internal injuries and ordered a CT scan, which revealed that he had fractured his collarbone. But while reviewing the scans, physicians noticed something far more alarming—what appeared to be a suspicious mass in his abdomen.

After consulting several specialists, doctors informed him that they believed he had a tumor in his intestine. Although they could not determine whether it was benign or malignant, they recommended immediate surgery to remove part of the intestine along with the growth. If the tumor proved to be cancerous, they explained, he would likely require additional treatment afterward.

The diagnosis plunged Rabbi Weisbecker and his family into an agonizing month filled with fear, uncertainty, sleepless nights, and constant anxiety as they awaited the operation.

Before proceeding with surgery, family members sought the guidance of Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, asking whether the operation should be performed on the eve of Tisha B’Av. Rav Zilberstein responded unequivocally that the surgery should go ahead, even on that day.

When the day of the operation arrived, Rabbi Weisbecker later learned that Rav Zilberstein had gathered the avreichim in his kollel in Holon to recite Tehillim with tears and offer heartfelt prayers for his complete recovery while the surgery was taking place.

Doctors had prepared for a lengthy operation to remove both the suspected tumor and part of the intestine. Instead, after only 74 minutes, the surgeon emerged from the operating room smiling and delivered astonishing news: there was no tumor.

The medical team discovered that the suspicious mass was actually a surgical sponge measuring approximately five centimeters that had accidentally been left inside Rabbi Weisbecker’s abdomen during an unrelated operation nine years earlier. Over the years, his body had formed a protective layer of tissue around the sponge, preventing serious complications. Only recently had an abscess formed around it, causing the scans to resemble a malignant tumor. When surgeons removed the sponge, they could still see the operating-room identification markings printed on it.

Doctors told Rabbi Weisbecker that the water park accident had likely saved his life. Had he not suffered the fall and broken collarbone, they never would have performed the CT scan that uncovered the hidden problem. Within days or weeks, they explained, the infection could have spread throughout his body, creating a life-threatening medical emergency before anyone knew it existed.

Looking back on the ordeal, Rabbi Weisbecker said the painful injury and frightening accident turned out to be the very events that saved his life. He expressed profound gratitude to Hashem for every step of the experience and credited the precise guidance, heartfelt prayers, and blessings of Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein with helping him emerge from the ordeal completely healthy.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply condemned a federal appeals court Friday for blocking construction of his planned White House ballroom and security complex, arguing that the ruling endangers national security and pledging to take the case immediately to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a Truth Social post, Trump blasted the decision, writing, “The Military and Secret Service are viewing this horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling as a National Security threat to our Nation in that the entire Complex is being built for the protection of our Country and, additionally, all future Presidents.”

He also criticized the makeup of the appellate panel, stating that “two Obama and Biden Appellate Court Judges just voted against the desperately needed Military Center, required for the National Security of Washington, D.C., and our Country, itself.”

Earlier Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 that the administration may not continue constructing the ballroom without congressional approval. The court delayed enforcement of its ruling for 14 days, allowing the administration time to seek review from the Supreme Court.

Trump confirmed that his administration intends to move forward with an appeal, saying, “The decision has been stayed, and does not take effect for a period of time. We will be immediately appealing to the United States Supreme Court.”

The president argued that the project extends well beyond the construction of a ceremonial ballroom, describing it as a comprehensive security initiative designed to strengthen protections for the White House, its occupants, and future presidents.

According to Trump, the broader complex includes “Bomb Shelters, State of the Art Hospital and Medical Facilities, Protective Partitioning, Top Secret Military Facilities, Structures and Equipment, Protective Missile Resistant Steel, Columns, Roofs, and Beams, Drone Proof Ceilings and Roofs, Military Grade Venting, and Bullet, Ballistic, and Blast Proof Glass.”

Emphasizing the integrated nature of the project, Trump added, “It is all tied together as one big, expensive, and very complex unit, which is vital for National Security and Military Operations of the United States of America!”

The appellate majority concluded that the president lacks the authority to proceed with the construction project without first obtaining congressional authorization.

At the same time, the judges stressed that their ruling did not address whether the ballroom itself is good public policy and did not foreclose the possibility that the project could ultimately move forward through the proper legal process.

Judge Neomi Rao dissented, arguing that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacked legal standing to challenge the project and that the government’s national security interests favored allowing construction to continue.

Trump highlighted Judge Rao’s dissent, pointing to her conclusion that the lower court had engaged in “judicial overreach.”

In the portion quoted by Trump, Rao wrote, “This was a blatant abuse of discretion. To begin with, the district court had no jurisdiction because the Trust has no standing to stop construction at the White House.”

She further argued that the lower court had improperly prioritized aesthetics over security, writing, “The district court elevated the aesthetic displeasure of a single passerby over the government’s security interests in the ballroom and the security risks of leaving an open construction site at the President’s home and office.”

Trump echoed that argument, asserting that the appellate court was “totally wrong on the vital subject of STANDING, of which the plaintiff has none.”

He warned that the ruling “severely jeopardizes the lives and welfare of the people who work, and will be working, at the White House – including all future Presidents of the United States, and their families, as well as the lives of all those visiting, such as Heads of State and other Dignitaries, and all Americans who wish to visit the historic, beautiful Executive Mansion.”

The president also stressed that the project is being financed entirely through private donations rather than taxpayer funds. He said much of the construction has already been completed or fabricated, with significant portions of the materials already delivered or currently arriving at the site.

Trump wrote, “The Circuit Court also refused to acknowledge that the desperately needed, and totally secure Ballroom, which is being built ahead of schedule and under budget, is a Gift from President Trump and Great Patriots of the United States of America.”

He continued, “The entire Complex, Military and all, is largely built, fabricated, and paid for. Much is already on site, or being delivered. Why didn’t they bring this case long prior to construction starting? There will be no expense to the American Taxpayer.”

Trump closed by urging the Supreme Court to overturn the appellate ruling in full, declaring, “This unjust decision must be overturned by the Supreme Court in its entirety.”

{Matzav.com}

A student visiting the Mauthausen concentration camp memorial in Austria sparked outrage after he was seen wearing a shirt featuring a Palestinian flag, the slogan “Free Palestine,” and an image identified as terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, prompting a heated confrontation with a Jewish visitor and police intervention.

The incident took place during a visit to the former Nazi concentration camp, where the student was photographed wearing the controversial shirt. The image on the garment was identified as Dalal Mughrabi, the terrorist who led the 1978 Coastal Road massacre, also known as the “Bus of Blood” attack, in which 38 Israelis—including 13 children—were murdered.

A Jewish woman identified as Jordana noticed the shirt and began recording the encounter before confronting the student and his teachers.

During the exchange, Jordana rebuked the group, saying, “You come to a concentration camp and call the war a genocide? A real genocide happened here. You learned nothing. Shame on you!”

Several students and teachers responded by claiming that Israel is committing “genocide” in Gaza.

Jordana forcefully rejected the comparison, arguing that equating Israel’s war against Hamas with the Holocaust dishonors the memory of the more than 100,000 victims who perished at the Mauthausen concentration camp.

Following the confrontation, staff members at the memorial site called police to respond to the scene.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has carefully cultivated an image of calm confidence and optimism on social media, but more than a dozen political insiders say the mayor behaves very differently behind closed doors, describing him as highly sensitive to criticism and quick to confront public detractors, The New York Post reports.

According to interviews with elected officials, political consultants, and Democratic operatives conducted by The New York Post, Mamdani frequently contacts critics who challenge him publicly, holds grudges against political opponents, and often responds to messages only when negative publicity has become a concern.

“I see more and more he cannot handle criticism, but mainly from elected officials who he thinks he can push around,” one political consultant said.

“The mayor personally reaches out when electeds criticizes him publicly. If they speak, then he cares. He cares because he doesn’t want bad press. It shows a sensitivity.”

Many of those interviewed requested anonymity, saying they feared damaging working relationships with a mayor they continue to deal with on government and political matters.

One recent flashpoint reportedly followed calls by Jewish community leaders urging Mamdani to “stop fanning the flames of hatred” against Israel after an alleged antisemitic stabbing on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Sources told The New York Post that Mamdani personally contacted at least one elected official who attended the news conference, objecting to the criticism and expressing frustration that the appeal was linked to a video he released days earlier in which he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal.”

That two-minute video, in which Mamdani addressed viewers while seated before American and New York City flags, reportedly amassed approximately 100 million views across multiple social media platforms.

Political observers widely credit Mamdani’s mastery of TikTok and Instagram with fueling his rapid ascent from a relatively little-known state legislator in 2025 to mayor of America’s largest city. He now reportedly has 3.5 million followers on TikTok and 11.9 million on Instagram, where he built his campaign around polished videos emphasizing affordability and cost-of-living issues, including his widely viewed “halalflation” posts highlighting rising food prices.

After taking office in January, Mamdani continued investing heavily in public messaging, allocating $53 million to establish an Office of Mass Engagement, significantly expanding City Hall’s communications operation. Critics have argued the office functions primarily as a taxpayer-funded public relations apparatus.

His administration has continued releasing professionally produced videos, including one filmed outside billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin’s $200 million condominium promoting the Democratic Socialists of America’s “tax the rich” platform, as well as a 13-minute documentary spotlighting tenants organizing against what they described as an unresponsive landlord.

Several insiders said Mamdani’s sensitivity to criticism stems in part from the pressure of becoming the first Democratic Socialists of America mayor of New York City.

“He’s the first DSA (mayor) so they have to show he can manage the city, and any time someone puts a dent in that it hurts their cause,” a government insider said.

Another Democratic operative described Mamdani as demanding with staff members, saying he frequently conducts late-night strategy meetings at Gracie Mansion with fellow DSA leaders.

Sources also claimed the mayor closely monitors media coverage and social media commentary, even attempting to prevent potentially unfavorable stories before they gain traction. They pointed to a July dispute after Queens Borough President Donovan Richards criticized the DSA as “white supremacy” in a post on X. According to multiple sources, a Mamdani staff member contacted Richards’ office seeking removal of the post, but Richards declined, and the disagreement later became the subject of media coverage.

“He’s so thin-skinned and reads everything,” one City Council member said.

“His security blanket is his phone and the dopamine from how many likes he gets on a post,” a Democratic operative scoffed. “Seems to keep him going.”

According to sources, City Councilwoman Virginia Maloney also drew the mayor’s attention after responding to one of his budget claims on X with the sarcastic remark, “I know math is hard.” Insiders said Mamdani personally contacted her following the exchange.

“That Virginia Maloney tweet really got under their skin,” a source said amid the spat.

Several officials also said the mayor reached out directly after lawmakers criticized his proposal to raise property taxes by nearly 10%.

The mayor reportedly became particularly frustrated last week after he was not invited to deliver a eulogy at the funeral of Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad in Queens. One Democratic insider described Mamdani’s reaction as restrained but visibly cold, contrasting sharply with the cheerful demeanor he typically projects in public appearances, including interactions with political opponents and appearances where he has faced public boos.

Multiple sources said they have learned that negative news coverage or critical social media posts are often the quickest way to receive a response from either Mamdani or his senior staff.

“They only respond when it’s a crisis for them and reaches crisis levels in the press, but before that they don’t return calls, texts or emails,” a Democratic operative said.

“He has been known to hold grudges against whoever challenges him or his positions for even some of the smallest of slights, and those people get sent to the back of the line unless he needs something.”

Not all of the assessments were negative. Several insiders credited the 34-year-old mayor with approaching negotiations thoughtfully and being willing to acknowledge areas where he lacks expertise.

“He asks lots of questions. Seeks to understand the issues he’s lacking familiarity with,” one union source said.

“He does more listening than talking. That’s uncommon in the political realm.”

Responding to the allegations, senior mayoral spokeswoman Dora Pekec said, “The mayor’s focus has and always will be how best to deliver for New Yorkers and he sees our city and state elected officials as valuable partners in building a safer and more affordable city.”

Former Eric Adams spokesman Fabien Levy argued that the administration spends too much energy monitoring social media criticism instead of governing.

“Mamdani should focus on the job, rather than a ‘first-term council member tweeting’ about him,” Levy said.

“This administration is more on Twitter, Instagram or TikTok than probably any other politician in the county, but to steal an Eric Adams-ism: it’s not what’s in the tweets, it’s what’s in the streets.”

{Matzav.com}

An alleged Hamas Nukhba terrorist who authorities say participated in the October 7 massacre was arrested in southern Gaza after being found behind the wheel of a humanitarian aid truck headed toward the Kerem Shalom Crossing, according to Israeli reports.

Channel 12 News reported that the suspect was detained in the Rafah area and later handed over to Israeli security forces for extensive interrogation.

According to Israeli security officials, the cargo aboard the truck was intended for Gaza’s private commercial sector. The shipment had first been received by a private merchant inside Gaza before the suspect picked it up for transport.

The arrest took place before the truck reached the Kerem Shalom Crossing. During the course of the investigation, authorities identified the driver as an individual who had allegedly taken part in the October 7 Hamas attack, leading to his immediate arrest and transfer for further questioning.

Last month, COGAT released figures showing that roughly 1.78 million tons of food entered the Gaza Strip between October 2025 and June 7, 2026. According to the report, that amount was nearly three times the monthly humanitarian requirement established by the World Food Program. COGAT said humanitarian shipments alone exceeded the WFP’s higher benchmark, with commercial imports adding even more food to the local supply.

The report also stated that food prices across Gaza dropped by approximately 72 percent between September 2025 and May 2026, attributing the decline to the combined impact of expanded humanitarian aid and increased commercial deliveries.

COGAT further asserted that Hamas remains the primary obstacle to the effective distribution of humanitarian assistance and to broader efforts to stabilize Gaza. The agency reiterated that Israel remains committed to facilitating aid deliveries in coordination with the United States, the United Nations, and other international partners.

In January, the IDF warned that Hamas was significantly rebuilding its capabilities through the large number of aid trucks entering Gaza each day, as well as through smuggling conducted along additional routes into the territory.

Military officials said dual-use items—including cigarettes, tobacco, electrical equipment, mobile phones, and agricultural materials with potential military applications—have entered Gaza not only aboard humanitarian aid convoys, but also through border crossings and other routes, sometimes under the cover of Israeli security operations and civilian contractors working near the border.

At the time, senior IDF officials recommended that Israel’s political leadership limit the Rafah Crossing to the movement of people only and prohibit the transfer of commercial goods from Egypt into Gaza, reversing the policy that had been in place before the October 7 attack.

The IDF also noted that, prior to the outbreak of the war, Hamas’s military buildup relied heavily on goods entering through the Rafah Crossing. Despite repeated warnings from defense officials that the flow of cargo was strengthening the terrorist organization, thousands of trucks continued crossing into Gaza each year until the war began.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, has ordered the Israeli Consulate to end all subscriptions to The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of repeatedly publishing false accusations against Israel and fueling incitement against the Jewish state.

Akunis announced Friday that every New York Times subscription used by staff at the Israeli Consulate in New York would be canceled immediately.

He said the decision was prompted by what he described as “a series of false blood libels and ongoing incitement against the Jewish state” appearing in the newspaper’s coverage.

Explaining the move, Akunis declared, “I have ordered the cancellation of subscriptions to the New York Times, a newspaper that consistently incites against the Jewish state.”

Pointing to a recent article published by the newspaper, Akunis criticized its reliance on unnamed sources, arguing that the report lacked credibility.

“Another blood libel from ‘anonymous sources’ in the New York Times against the State of Israel,” he said.

He further charged that the newspaper had previously relied on Hamas-linked sources, adding, “Let me remind you who their ‘sources’ were for the previous blood libel – Hamas terrorists!”

A frightening household accident in Yerushalayim ended safely on Friday after firefighters carefully freed a child’s hand that had become trapped inside the metal beater of a kitchen mixer during a painstaking rescue operation.

Emergency crews from the HaUma District Fire Station were dispatched to a home in Yerushalayim after receiving reports that a child’s hand had become stuck inside a metal mixer attachment.

The call came through the Fire and Rescue Service’s 102 emergency dispatch center. When firefighters arrived, they found the child’s hand tightly wedged within the rigid metal wires of the mixer beater, making it impossible to remove without specialized equipment.

Rescuers kept the child calm as they carried out the intricate operation. Using precision rescue tools, including a miniature Dremel cutting device, firefighters carefully snipped through the metal wires one at a time until the child’s hand was released safely and without injury.

Incident commander Reshef Gordon Asulin praised the crews for their careful work, saying, “This was a delicate and complex rescue that required exceptional precision and great care to avoid injuring the child’s hand during the cutting process. The firefighters worked professionally, calmly, and with great caution, using specialized equipment while reassuring the child throughout the operation. Thanks to their efforts, the child was rescued safely.”

{Matzav.com}

In a bipartisan show of support, the Senate on Friday overwhelmingly approved legislation imposing tougher sanctions on Russia and Iran, advancing one of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s signature legislative efforts just weeks after his death.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 passed by an 86-11 vote.

The measure targets Russia’s oil and natural gas exports, which have helped finance Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, while also extending sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons industries that were set to expire at the end of this year.

Graham, who died last month, was the driving force behind the legislation and had argued that it could increase pressure on Moscow and help bring the conflict in Ukraine to a close.

The bill gained overwhelming bipartisan backing last week when it cleared a key procedural vote just hours after Graham’s funeral at Washington National Cathedral.

Under the legislation, the Trump administration would have the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five countries importing the largest volumes of Russian crude oil or natural gas. It also renews existing sanctions on Iran that otherwise would lapse after this year.

“This bill says to Vladimir Putin, ‘Your days of war are numbered,’” bill co-sponsor Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said last week. “’You are on the losing side. Better to come to the table now than sacrifice more lives, waste more money, crater your economy, destroy your standing in the world.’

“America stands with Ukraine.”

Before the Senate voted, Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC), urged lawmakers to unite behind the legislation, calling for “a show of strength” that would preserve America’s role “as a beacon of hope to the free world.”

“Each member of this body must also make a choice,” she added, “whether we have the courage to stand up to evil, or continue on with the status quo.”

Following the vote, Darline Graham was invited to announce the final vote tally from the Senate floor.

Although the bill was introduced last year and attracted broad support from senators, it remained on hold as President Trump pursued diplomatic efforts to bring an end to Russia’s four-year war against Ukraine.

One day before his death on July 11, Graham revealed that he had reached an agreement with the White House to move the legislation forward.

At the time, Graham expressed confidence that the measure would ultimately pass, pledging it would “become law” and saying he had “never been more optimistic” that the war in Ukraine could soon come to an end.

The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene from its summer recess on August 31.

{Matzav.com}

San Francisco State University and San José State University, both public schools, have “reportedly failed to acknowledge or meaningfully respond to cases of antisemitic harassment on campus, seeming, in some instances, even to condone such abhorrent acts,” the U.S. Department of Education said on Thursday.

The department said that it is probing both schools, which educate some 60,000 students collectively.

“The same California leaders, who wax eloquent about their commitment to ‘equity’ and ‘social justice,’ appear to turn their backs on violent, harmful acts of antisemitic intimidation and harassment,” stated Kimberly Richey, U.S. assistant secretary of education for civil rights. “We will investigate these allegations, ensure the safety of Jewish students and protect the right of every student in America to an education free from discrimination.”

There is a climate of “intimidation, exclusion and fear,” according to Jewish students at San Francisco State, the Education Department said. It added that it received reports of professors at the school creating a hostile environment for Jewish students.

The department “has been notified of antisemitic graffiti on campus, attempted break-ins targeting Jewish students and events featuring extremists with terrorist group ties hosted by the Arab and Muslim ethnicities and diasporas program,” the department stated.

Bobby King, director of communications for San Francisco State University, told JNS that the university is aware of the department’s investigation.

“Antisemitism and discrimination have no place at SFSU,” he told JNS. “We take the concerns raised by members of our Jewish community seriously and remain committed to ensuring that every member of our community can study, teach, work and participate in university life free from discrimination and harassment prohibited by law and university policy.”

Jewish students at San José State say that they have been “threatened, shunned and made to feel unwelcome in classrooms,” and since Oct. 7, anti-Israel protests that disrupt classes and attacks against Jewish students have increased, according to the Education Department.

Michelle Smith McDonald, senior director of strategic communications for San José State, told JNS that there is a “misleading implication” in the department’s announcement.

The department stated that the university’s vice president for student affairs and former interim chief diversity officer allegedly distinguished in an email between “good Jews” and “bad Jews” based on their views of the Israeli government.

The department attributed “a quote to a former SJSU administrator,” Smith McDonald told JNS. “This statement was never made by any representative of the university.” (JNS sought comment from the U.S. Education Department.)

“The university treats antisemitic incidents with the utmost seriousness and has taken numerous actions that prioritize the safety and well-being of all members of our campus community,” Smith McDonald said. “The university has consistently and repeatedly denounced antisemitism.” JNS

The Israeli Navy this week conducted a branch-wide exercise, its largest since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist attacks, staging drills in the Mediterranean and Red Seas.

The exercise, led by the Missile Boats Flotilla, involved the Submarines Flotilla, the 914 and 916 Routine Security Squadrons and the Operational Headquarters. Hundreds of personnel and a range of naval vessels participated.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the exercise formed part of the navy’s effort to incorporate operational lessons learned during nearly three years of fighting against Iran and its terrorist proxies.

The drills included simulations of maritime infiltrations, multi-arena combat, aerial threats, coordinated fire missions and the defense of strategic assets, including offshore natural gas platforms, Israeli ports and other critical national infrastructure.

Additional exercises in the Red Sea focused on improving command, coordination and cooperation between naval units.

The drills come as the Israeli Navy continues to expand its operational capabilities amid growing regional threats. Navy commander Vice Adm. Eyal Harel is seeking to increase the missile boat fleet from 15 to as many as 21 vessels, procure new multirole Reshef-class warships and deepen maritime cooperation with Greece and African partners, including Ethiopia and Somaliland.

The exercise also took place against a backdrop of growing tensions between Israel and Turkey. Israeli officials have expressed concern over reported U.S. plans to readmit Turkey to the F-35 fighter jet program, arguing that the move could alter the regional balance of power.

Last week, Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government of becoming “the command center for Hamas’s rapists and murderers,” while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently described Israel as “a burden that humanity can no longer bear,” speaking in an interview with CNN Türk. JNS

A federal judge has temporarily halted an order requiring President Donald Trump to turn over financial information about his businesses to the BBC, pausing the discovery process while the court considers Trump’s request to revise and narrow key portions of his defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster.

U.S. District Judge Roy Altman ruled that the BBC must wait for access to Trump’s financial records until he decides whether to allow the president to amend his complaint over a 2024 documentary broadcast in the United Kingdom. The judge’s order effectively freezes the disclosure requirement while that issue is under review.

The dispute is being closely watched as it could help determine the legal risks associated with the series of high-profile, multibillion-dollar lawsuits Trump has filed against media organizations he alleges have defamed him.

In a four-page order dated Wednesday and released publicly Thursday, Altman said Trump’s argument had merit that eliminating claims involving damage to his business interests and brand—while proceeding solely on alleged harm to his personal reputation—could significantly reduce the BBC’s need to examine his financial records.

“This is a compelling argument,” wrote Altman, a Miami-based Trump appointee.

Attorneys representing the BBC countered that Trump’s business finances remain relevant because his public reputation is inseparable from his success as a businessman. They argued that the value of his companies could still play an important role in evaluating his claims.

The network’s lawyers also pointed out that Trump’s proposed amended complaint, which has not yet been made public, continues to seek $10 billion in damages. They contend that such a large demand would be difficult to support if the lawsuit is based only on alleged reputational harm.

Trump filed the lawsuit last December after the BBC aired its 2024 documentary, “Trump: A Second Chance.” According to the complaint, the program defamed him by editing together portions of his Jan. 6, 2021 speech in a way that, Trump alleges, falsely suggested he encouraged supporters to commit violence at the U.S. Capitol.

While the BBC has acknowledged and apologized for the editing, it maintains that any misleading impression was inadvertent and does not amount to actionable defamation. The broadcaster has also asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing, among other things, that the federal court in South Florida lacks jurisdiction over the London-based network.

Should Judge Altman approve Trump’s request to revise the complaint, the litigation could be pushed back by several weeks or even months. Such a ruling would allow the BBC to renew its effort to have the amended lawsuit dismissed, while giving Trump’s legal team an opportunity to respond before the case proceeds further.

{Matzav.com}

A federal appeals court has upheld an order blocking construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, while allowing underground work on the project to continue. The court also delayed enforcement of its ruling for 14 days, giving the Trump administration time to seek review from the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a 2-1 decision issued today, the appellate panel agreed with a modified preliminary injunction previously entered by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon. At the same time, the judges stayed their ruling for two weeks to allow the administration to file an appeal with the nation’s highest court.

The majority concluded that decisions involving major structural changes to the White House belong to Congress rather than the executive branch, writing, “Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.”

The court further stated that “the “Constitution assigns Congress — not the Executive — the responsibility to decide whether proposed changes to the physical design of the White House may proceed, even where those changes are said to serve security interests.”

Emphasizing that the White House is government property rather than a president’s personal residence, the ruling added, “Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence,” the Ruling said. “The President has no — and claims no — constitutionally assigned authority over that property.”

The majority criticized the administration’s handling of the project, writing, “Over just three days in October 2025, without undertaking promised consultations or obtaining Congress’s permission, President Trump bulldozed the entire East Wing in order to construct a massive, 90,000 square-foot ballroom paid for by private funds with no congressional oversight.”

The opinion continued, “We are aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for. Until now.”

Judges Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia stressed that their decision was based solely on constitutional procedure rather than the merits of the ballroom itself. “has nothing at all to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable, or not, as a matter of policy. This ruling does not even necessarily mean that the Defendants may not ultimately construct the ballroom.”

They added, “What it does mean is that the Defendants may not do so during the district court’s expeditious litigation without securing Congress’s authorization, as the Constitution and laws require.”

The lone dissenter, Judge Neomi Rao, argued that the lower court had overstepped its authority, writing that the ruling “abused its discretion in seizing control of construction at the President’s home and office.”

Earlier in the case, Judge Leon had permitted certain portions of the project to proceed but later concluded that the administration was applying a security-related exemption far too broadly. Rejecting that interpretation, he wrote, “Defendants argue that the entire ballroom construction project, from tip to tail, falls within the safety-and-security exception and therefore may proceed unabated. That is neither a reasonable nor a correct reading of my Order!”

Leon further criticized the administration’s position, adding, “It is, to say the least, incredible, if not disingenuous, that Defendants now argue that my Order does not stop ballroom construction because of the safety-and-security exception!”

{Matzav.com}