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A senior adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared that Tehran is prepared to keep its conflict with the United States going for years, even suggesting the fighting could continue until President Trump completes his current term in office in 2029.

Speaking in an interview with PBS, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior adviser to the commander of the IRGC, said Iran could deliberately prolong the war as part of its broader military strategy. According to Naqdi, extending the conflict would help discourage future attacks by demonstrating the high cost of confronting Iran.

“We must achieve deterrence so that the enemy will never dare attack us, so that we can live in security. One way is to prolong this war until we reach the next presidential term and cause attrition, so that if someone else wants to attack Iran, they will know that there is a price to pay,” Naqdi said.

Naqdi previously served as the IRGC’s deputy coordinator from 2019 through 2025, one of the organization’s senior leadership positions overseeing coordination across the force. He now serves as a senior adviser to the commander of the Revolutionary Guards.

During the interview, Naqdi also insisted that Iran had emerged victorious in the conflict, ridiculed President Trump, and asserted that “the American military is weaker than we thought.”

“Definitely, victory is on our side,” Naqdi said. “Washington is waging a war without a strategy. Every two or three days, they announced a new objective, including invading Kharg Island and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The longer this war continues, the more experience we will gain. We had never experienced a real war in which we could gain real experience and learn how to fight against America. In these five months, we have learned how. We have also seen how the American military is weaker than we thought.”

Naqdi further claimed that Iran’s missile production is exceeding the number of missiles it launches each day, suggesting the country continues to replenish its arsenal despite the ongoing war.

“If the day comes when Iran has no missiles left, that is when we will become even more dangerous to the United States. Because the United States has thousands of economic interests around the world, and all of them can easily be destroyed,” the senior Iranian adviser said.

{Matzav.com}

Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani has disclosed new details about the missile attack that reportedly struck the residence of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at the outset of the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign against the Iranian regime, claiming the blast left Khamenei wounded and killed his wife.

In an interview with the Iranian Student News Network (SNN), Zakani said the attack took place at about 9:30 a.m., just as Khamenei and his wife were preparing to leave their home. According to him, the missile “directly hit the upper floor of the building,” where the couple was located at the time.

Zakani identified Khamenei’s wife as Zahra Haddad-Adel and said she had remained at the residence after typically seeing the couple’s children off to school around 7:30 each morning. He stated that she was killed in the strike, while Mojtaba Khamenei sustained injuries.

Describing what followed the attack, Zakani said those who were with Khamenei recounted that he remained intent on completing his prayers even as doctors worked to treat him and close his wounds with stitches. “At the height of his pain and injuries, he continuously remained concerned with performing the prayer,” Zakani said. He added that Khamenei displayed compassion, unwavering faith in God, and remarkable composure despite the severity of the situation.

Zakani also addressed the appointment of Major General Mohsen Rezaei, saying the move was intended to send a clear signal to the United States. He argued that Iran had entered a new era in which earlier political phases had concluded and the Islamic Republic, together with the “axis of resistance,” had emerged with greater regional and international influence. Speaking about Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership, Zakani predicted that the Islamic Revolution would become “more mature, more distinctive and broader” during this new period.

The Tehran mayor also reflected on a previous conversation with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike during the conflict. Zakani said he had praised Larijani’s contribution to the Secretariat of the Islamic Cooperation Organization, recalling, “I told the late Larijani that the Secretariat gained value because of you,” Zakani said. He credited Larijani’s leadership, determination, and steadfast approach to confronting challenges with strengthening the organization’s stature.

{Matzav.com}

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of August to focus on raising her young family, President Trump announced Tuesday, while revealing that she will continue serving as one of his closest outside advisers ahead of the midterm elections.

Leavitt, 28, became the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary. A mother of two, she welcomed her daughter, Viviana, in May and returned to work from maternity leave only last month.

President Trump praised Leavitt as “one of my most trusted aides.”

Announcing her transition on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections.”

He also commended her years of service, writing, “Karoline has been a real leader in the White House, and has done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024.”

Trump concluded his tribute by declaring, “Karoline has been one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.”

Leavitt first joined the Trump administration as a White House intern before launching an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in New Hampshire during the 2022 midterm elections. She later became a key spokeswoman during President Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.

During that campaign, Leavitt gave birth to her first child, Niko. Just three days later, President Trump survived an assassination attempt after being shot during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

She also made history as the first White House press secretary to have a child while serving in the role. The demanding position has traditionally been associated with rapid turnover, with most recent press secretaries serving between roughly 18 months and nearly three years. During President Trump’s first administration, four different individuals held the post.

Reflecting on her tenure, Leavitt described serving as press secretary as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime” and thanked President Trump for the opportunity.

“I have spoken with great pride about the many historic accomplishments of this Administration, and I have relished holding the liberal media accountable and ensuring the American people hear the truth about President Trump’s successes,” she said in a statement.

She explained that her decision was driven by family priorities, saying, “The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart.”

Leavitt emphasized that she plans to remain active in conservative politics, pledging to “always remain a vocal advocate for MAGA and the Republican Party” while warning that the “country is facing an existential threat from an increasingly extremist Democrat Party.”

Throughout her tenure, Leavitt adopted a more confrontational approach toward the media than many of her predecessors, frequently challenging news organizations over their reporting on President Trump and his administration.

She also introduced a new rotating seat in the White House briefing room reserved for independent reporters, podcasters, and online content creators, expanding opportunities for nontraditional media outlets to participate in daily press briefings.

President Trump has repeatedly praised Leavitt throughout her time in office, previously calling her a “star” and remarking, “I don’t think anybody has ever had a better press secretary than Karoline.”

Federal prosecutors have charged 11 New Yorkers in what Attorney General Todd Blanche described as one of the largest marriage fraud cases ever brought in the United States, accusing the group of orchestrating more than 1,000 fake marriages over the past decade to fraudulently secure green cards for foreign nationals.

According to Blanche, the defendants allegedly created a lucrative operation that paired foreign nationals—primarily from China—with American citizens in sham marriages designed solely to bypass U.S. immigration laws. He said the enterprise generated millions of dollars while helping applicants unlawfully obtain lawful permanent resident status.

Although the indictment was filed in the Southern District of New York, prosecutors contend the operation reached far beyond the state, arranging fraudulent marriages in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.

Authorities allege that several of the defendants served as organizers who coordinated the overall operation, while others recruited Americans willing to enter fake marriages or acted as officiants to solemnize the fraudulent unions.

Investigators say the organizers promoted illegal immigration services through social media platforms and other advertising channels, targeting foreign nationals seeking a path to permanent residency.

Blanche said Chinese nationals allegedly paid as much as $100,000 to secure a fraudulent marriage that would allow them to apply for a green card.

The Americans who agreed to participate in the sham marriages were reportedly paid up to $30,000 for their involvement.

To make the marriages appear authentic, prosecutors allege the defendants staged photographs and established shared bank accounts, mobile phone plans, and other joint financial arrangements intended to convince immigration authorities the relationships were genuine.

The indictment further claims participants were coached on how to mislead immigration officials and conceal the fact that their marriages existed only on paper.

Blanche said many of the couples also signed prenuptial agreements that stripped away the normal legal rights associated with marriage, including inheritance rights, child support obligations, and claims to marital property. Prosecutors said one agreement explicitly acknowledged that although the individuals would be husband and wife in name, they would continue living separate lives and avoid interfering with one another.

The Justice Department estimates the alleged scheme brought in tens of millions of dollars from foreign nationals seeking permanent legal status in the United States.

“These charges, and the indictments now unsealed, they show how far people will go to cheat our immigration system,” Blanche said at a news conference Wednesday. “Gaining American citizenship and legal status to reside in this great nation is a sacred privilege, and we will ensure it is always done in accordance with the law protecting our communities and national security.”

The announcement comes shortly after President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at curbing birth tourism, another practice his administration says exploits weaknesses in the nation’s immigration system.

“Our efforts to protect our immigration system and our country’s borders are aggressive and exhaustive,” Blanche said. “No matter how complicated the scam, we will do everything in our power to stop it.”

The newly unsealed indictment contains two conspiracy charges: conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, and conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States.

Those charged are Amy Cheng, 72; Xiao Mei Chan, 64; Christine Lu, 52; Jing Yan Ye, 43; Xiao Yan Chen, 48; Gang Zheng, 61; Anthony Cheng, 47; Michelle Duenas, 35; Angela Duenas, 26; Sigrid Cetino, 32; and Erika Johnson, 43.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to equip officers with electrically charged gloves designed to deliver painful shocks to individuals who physically resist arrest, with the agency planning to spend as much as $20 million on the technology in the coming months.

According to a Department of Homeland Security procurement notice released Monday, ICE intends to acquire thousands of what are described as “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” for officers and agents by March. The purchase would be made through a sole-source contract.

The equipment, known as the G.L.O.V.E.—short for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter—is produced by Compliant Technologies LLC, based in Lexington, Kentucky. The gloves have already been introduced by several correctional facilities and law enforcement agencies in recent years.

When contacted about the planned purchase, DHS said Tuesday it was preparing a response to questions from The Associated Press but did not immediately comment. Jeff Niklaus, founder and CEO of Compliant Technologies, also declined to discuss the matter, writing in an email, “Unfortunately, we are unable to speak on this subject.”

The procurement notice indicates that the formal request for the no-bid contract could be issued as early as Friday.

The proposal has drawn immediate criticism from civil liberties groups, which argue that ICE has already faced repeated scrutiny over its use of force while carrying out President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies and that additional force options raise further concerns about accountability.

According to Compliant Technologies, the gloves function like standard patrol gloves until an officer activates an electrical mode by pressing a switch. Once activated, direct contact with a person’s skin delivers a painful electrical stimulus intended to quickly gain compliance.

“It’s immediate and sharp, and it will distract you. I call it like a bee sting,” said John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, who is studying how the device has been used. “If the officer is getting any type of resistance from the person, this is certainly an effective tool.”

Peters said the planned ICE acquisition would likely represent the company’s largest order to date. He said he expects the gloves could be used during arrests at homes or vehicles, as well as while transporting detainees or managing individuals inside detention centers.

“For smaller officers or weaker officers or older officers, I think it has a great advantage” because it can produce faster takedowns and shorten confrontations, he said.

The manufacturer cautions that the gloves are not intended as a form of punishment and should not be used against individuals displaying only “verbal defiance or belligerence.” It also advises against using the device on higher-risk groups, including children, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities.

Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, deputy project director on policing at the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that the public has little reason to trust ICE will exercise appropriate restraint. She questioned why such technology is necessary in civil immigration enforcement and noted that those subjected to the shocks may receive no warning beforehand.

“ICE spent the last year showing this country they are too quick to use force. Now they will be able to deploy electric shocks with the slight push of a button that maybe nobody else can see them do,” she said. “Introducing gloves that can so easily be used to deliver terrible pain in encounters is a recipe for harm to the public.”

Backers of the technology say its use has generally been confined to controlled settings such as jails and prisoner transport operations rather than routine street patrols. According to Compliant Technologies, the gloves have helped officers subdue violent suspects refusing to enter police vehicles and inmates who were harming themselves or threatening correctional staff.

Peters acknowledged that, like other law enforcement equipment, the gloves could be abused by a small number of officers. However, he said he does not believe the devices are likely to cause significant injuries if used properly, stressing that comprehensive training and clear operational policies will be essential.

The manufacturer says officers are required to complete specialized instruction before being authorized to use the gloves and must undergo recertification every two years to remain qualified.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox, 

I recently viewed a video clip showing campers at a popular boys’ camp expressing significant distress and crying as they prepared to depart for the end of the season. While I completely understand that camp is a place where wonderful bonds are formed and that it is natural for children to feel a touch of sadness when leaving a cherished environment, I found myself deeply troubled by the intensity of the emotions on display and the role the staff played in shaping them.

It is difficult to escape the conclusion that these precious boys were actively encouraged and perhaps even choreographed by staff members to engage in these heavy, public displays of grief. From a chinuch perspective, I have been reflecting on whether this is truly the message we want to nurture in our children.

Wouldn’t proper chinuch be to gently guide the boys, reminding them that while we had an inspiring and joyful time at camp, it is now time to transition with excitement, grace, and maturity back to their primary focus: their year-round Torah study and their comforting obligations at home?

When we place such heavy, dramatic emphasis on the “loss” of camp, we risk inadvertently framing the rest of the year—and our daily responsibilities—as a disappointing “waiting period” rather than the true, beautiful arena of personal and spiritual growth. Our educational approach should foster emotional resilience, helping children take the warmth and inspiration they found in the summer and channel it lovingly directly into their winter routines, rather than leaving them overwhelmed by unnecessary separation anxiety.

Sincerely,

A Grandmother in Lakewood

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A newly released Siena College poll suggests Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is performing better at this stage of the campaign than Lee Zeldin did four years ago, fueling hopes among Republicans that New York’s race for governor could become one of the nation’s most closely watched contests.

The survey, conducted in early August among likely voters, shows Gov. Kathy Hochul holding a 10-point advantage over Blakeman, leading 49% to 39%. While the incumbent remains ahead, the poll places Blakeman in a stronger position than Zeldin occupied at the same point during the 2022 campaign.

In August 2022, Siena polling found Hochul leading then-Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin—now administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—by 14 points, 53% to 39%, among likely voters.

Although Hochul enjoyed that larger lead heading into the final months of the campaign, she ultimately defeated Zeldin by just six percentage points, 53% to 47%.

“With less than three months till Election Day, Hochul holds a 10-point lead over Blakeman, 49-39%, not crossing the magic 50% mark,” said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg.

“The race is already competitive,” he added.

New Yorkers are scheduled to vote for governor on Nov. 3.

The poll also found that Hochul’s margin is narrower than those enjoyed by other Democratic incumbents seeking statewide office.

Attorney General Letitia James, who is seeking a third term, leads Republican challenger and former federal prosecutor Saritha Komatireddy by 18 points, 54% to 36%, among likely voters.

Meanwhile, four-term State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli holds a commanding 55% to 32% advantage over Republican challenger Joseph Hernandez.

According to the survey, Hochul’s strongest support continues to come from women and Black voters.

Among female voters, the governor leads Blakeman by 19 percentage points, 56% to 37%, while the race among men is essentially even.

The poll also shows Hochul holding a 60-point advantage among Black voters.

In New York City, the Democratic governor enjoys an overwhelming lead, outpacing Blakeman by 45 points, 64% to 19%.

Blakeman’s strongest performance comes in the suburbs, where he leads Hochul 49% to 41%, while voters in upstate New York are evenly divided between the two candidates.

The survey also found that Blakeman performs relatively well among religious voters, holding an advantage among Catholics and receiving support from 42% of Jewish voters, a voting bloc that has traditionally leaned Democratic. Blakeman is Jewish.

Despite the encouraging numbers for Republicans, the poll indicates Hochul continues to hold an advantage on several key issues.

When asked who would do a better job increasing affordable housing, 51% of likely voters chose Hochul, compared to 35% who selected Blakeman.

On the issue of lowering the cost of living, respondents also gave Hochul a modest edge, with 48% saying she would do a better job compared to 41% for Blakeman.

Public safety remains one of the closest issues in the race, with 47% of voters saying Hochul would do a better job keeping New Yorkers safe, while 44% favored Blakeman.

Other recent surveys commissioned by Republican-aligned organizations have suggested an even tighter contest.

A poll conducted last month for the pro-Blakeman “Strong and Safe” Super PAC showed Hochul leading by just four points, 47% to 43%.

Another survey, conducted by the polling firm co/efficient for the conservative-leaning Coalition to Protect Nassau Taxpayers, found Hochul ahead by six points, 47% to 41%.

The Siena College survey interviewed 811 likely voters between Aug. 3 and Aug. 6 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

A large-scale rescue operation unfolded in the Austrian Alps after 36 tourists from three chareidi families—including Belgian, Austrian, American, and British citizens—became stranded in dangerous mountain terrain at an elevation of approximately 2,300 meters (7,500 feet) near Sölden, Austria.

According to Austrian police, the group set out without essential hiking equipment, wearing neither proper mountain boots nor carrying basic safety gear. Instead, they brought baby strollers and young children on the trek.

The families had planned to descend along a broad forest trail but accidentally wandered off the marked path and entered an exposed, steep mountainside where there was a serious risk of falling. Local rescue commander Jakob Fiegl described the incident as “a very common mistake” made by inexperienced hikers. The terrain became increasingly hazardous for families with strollers, and at one point a young child reportedly had to cling to rocks to avoid slipping down the slope.

At approximately 5:15 p.m., two members of the group contacted emergency rescue services. Authorities dispatched two rescue helicopters along with ground crews to the scene. Fourteen people, including the youngest children, were airlifted to safety using helicopter hoists, while the remaining 22 hikers were escorted on foot down the mountain by rescue personnel.

No one was injured during the ordeal. However, the families are expected to bear the full cost of the extensive rescue operation, which is estimated to total several thousand euros.

{Matzav.com}

A 16-year-old boy in India has become the focus of widespread attention after reportedly spending nearly all of his time submerged in ponds and lakes, claiming that remaining in the water is the only way to relieve an intense burning sensation that affects his entire body whenever he comes out. While the teenager believes a supernatural force is responsible, medical experts say a rare skin disorder could potentially explain his symptoms.

According to India Today, Iqbal Sheikh, who lives in the Beldanga area of Murshidabad district in the Indian state of West Bengal, regularly moves from one pond or lake to another, sometimes remaining in the water for days at a time, including overnight.

The teenager says that as soon as he leaves the water, he experiences severe burning throughout his body. He claims the discomfort subsides quickly once he returns to the water, making it impossible for him to remain on dry land for long periods.

Iqbal believes the mysterious condition is caused by a “jinn,” a supernatural being recognized in local traditions. However, no medical diagnosis has been made to support that belief.

His prolonged stays in the water have already taken a visible toll on his health. Local residents say the skin on his hands, feet, and other parts of his body has turned pale after spending so much time submerged. Reports also indicate that he has developed cold-like symptoms, including coughing.

The teenager says he sought treatment at a nearby medical center but did not receive the help he was hoping for. According to the report, his family cannot afford treatment at a private hospital, leaving him without a comprehensive medical evaluation.

The unusual case has drawn large crowds from the surrounding community. Villagers and students reportedly gather along the banks of the ponds each day to watch him, with some bringing him food, including flattened rice, biscuits, and snacks. Despite repeated attempts by relatives and others to persuade him to return home, he has reportedly refused to leave the water.

Although Iqbal attributes his condition to supernatural causes, the report notes that one possible medical explanation is a rare disorder known as aquagenic pruritus. The condition, described in medical literature, can cause severe itching, tingling, or burning sensations after contact with water, even when no visible skin abnormalities are present.

However, the report emphasizes that Iqbal has not been diagnosed with aquagenic pruritus, and the condition is mentioned only as one possible explanation for the symptoms he says he experiences.

President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that the United States has established complete dominance over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, insisting America intends to maintain that position as tensions with Iran continue and commercial shipping remains sharply reduced.

Trump said the United States “has total control over the Strait of Hormuz,” adding, “I think we will keep it.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised the effectiveness of the U.S. naval blockade, saying it has prevented Iran from regaining influence over one of the world’s most critical maritime energy corridors despite Tehran’s ongoing attempts to restrict traffic through the passage.

“Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, ‘A WALL OF STEEL,’ and there is nothing Iran can do about it,” Trump wrote.

The president also argued that months of fighting have left Iran’s military in a severely weakened state. He said the country effectively has “no Navy” and “Air Force” remaining and claimed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been “decimated.” Trump further highlighted Iran’s mounting financial troubles and soaring inflation as additional signs of the regime’s decline.

“Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer,” Trump wrote.

Trump’s comments came as shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz continued to operate at a fraction of its normal pace. Data from Kpler showed that just eight ships passed through the waterway on Tuesday, marking the lightest daily traffic since Aug. 5.

Before Iran moved to shut down the strait following the launch of U.S.-Israeli military operations on Feb. 28, roughly 130 to 140 vessels traveled through the channel each day. Of the eight ships recorded Tuesday, seven entered the strait using the Iranian shipping lane, while only a single vessel—a coal carrier—departed.

Separate figures compiled by LSEG showed 11 vessel transits on Tuesday, a decline from 14 recorded the previous day.

Trump’s assertion that the United States controls the waterway stands in direct contrast to repeated statements from Iranian officials, who insist Tehran alone will decide when normal maritime traffic can resume.

Mohsen Rezaei, who was recently appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz would stay closed unless the United States altered its policies and agreed to Iran’s conditions for ending the conflict.

Iran has demanded that Washington bring the war to an end, release frozen Iranian assets, and halt military operations elsewhere in the region, including in Lebanon and Gaza.

The latest exchange of warnings comes as the United States intensifies its campaign against Iranian maritime activity. Washington initially imposed a naval blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports in April, then reinstated it in July after a ceasefire reached in June collapsed.

According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. forces this week fired on a Panama-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after its crew allegedly ignored repeated warnings while attempting to violate the blockade.

Although Iran continues to insist it controls the fate of the Strait of Hormuz and commercial traffic remains well below normal levels, Trump’s message left little doubt about his administration’s position: the United States believes it has seized the advantage in the struggle over one of the world’s most important waterways.

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Barack Obama took a swipe at President Donald Trump’s gold-themed White House renovations in a behind-the-scenes video released Monday to promote HBO’s comedy miniseries Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, joking about one of the administration’s most noticeable design changes.

The promotional footage shows Obama walking through a recreation of the Oval Office as it looked during his presidency. After looking around the set, he complimented the production team for its attention to detail, even noting the bowl of apples that had sat on his coffee table during his time in office.

“Nice job on the recreation,” Obama said. “You even have the apples. It’s fantastic.”

Obama then joked that one modern feature was missing from the replica.

“Although I do want to point out there’s no gold sign on the outside that says ‘Oval Office,'” Obama said as members of the production crew laughed. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”

His remark referenced the gold cursive “Oval Office” lettering installed outside the entrance to the office on the West Wing late last year. The permanent sign, visible from the Rose Garden, replaced a temporary paper version and matches the style of the lettering used along President Trump’s Presidential Walk of Fame on the West Colonnade.

The sign is one of several decorative changes made to the White House during Trump’s second term. The president also added gold trim around the Oval Office doors, above the fireplace mantel, and along portions of the ceiling. During a March 2025 tour of the White House with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Trump defended the redesign.

“It needed a little life,” Trump said.

Other changes to the White House grounds include replacing the Rose Garden lawn with stone paving and creating the Presidential Walk of Fame, featuring gold-framed portraits and inscriptions honoring America’s presidents along the West Wing colonnade.

The administration’s most ambitious renovation plan is the construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site formerly occupied by the East Wing, which was demolished last October. According to The Associated Press, the estimated price tag for the project has climbed to approximately $400 million.

Last Friday, a divided federal appeals court upheld a preliminary injunction preventing above-ground construction on the ballroom while a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation continues.

In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court concluded that the administration likely lacks the legal authority to proceed with the project without congressional approval. The ruling permits underground work related to security to continue and temporarily stayed the injunction for 14 days to allow the administration to seek review from the U.S. Supreme Court.

President Trump has said he intends to appeal the ruling.

Obama appears as himself in HBO’s seven-episode comedy series, which uses Larry David’s signature style of humor to parody moments from American history. After making a brief appearance in the premiere, Obama returned in the season finale for a sketch offering a fictional explanation for the tan suit he famously wore during a 2014 White House news conference.

In the comedy sketch, Larry David portrays a presidential aide who accidentally spills a smoothie on Obama’s navy suit, leaving him with no choice but to wear the tan suit instead.

According to HBO, the series was written by Larry David and Jeff Schaffer, who also served as executive producers, with Schaffer directing the project. Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, Ethan Lewis, and Vinnie Malhotra also served as executive producers through Higher Ground. All seven episodes are now available for streaming on HBO.

{Matzav.com}

The Chassidishe Agudas Yisroel faction of UTJ on Tuesday filed a detailed response challenging Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Solberg’s decision to prohibit political parties from recording which voters have already cast ballots on Election Day.

The response, submitted by attorney Avremi Yustman, outlines the historical origins of the practice, argues that the ruling is fundamentally flawed, and proposes three alternative methods that, according to the party, would preserve both election integrity and voter privacy.

At the outset of its filing, Agudas Yisroel revealed that it pioneered the voter-tracking system more than four decades ago. According to attorney Yustman, the party originally relied on what were known as “Thousand Sheets” (Dapei HaElef)—paper forms containing 1,000 numbered boxes. Polling station representatives would cross off each voter’s serial number after he or she voted, and runners would then deliver the updated sheets to regional campaign headquarters.

According to the party, the primary motivation behind the system has always been to minimize bittul Torah among bnei yeshivah.

“Many of our voters are yoshei ohalim, dedicated lomdei Torah, for whom avoiding bittul Torah is a supreme value,” the response states. The party explained that by knowing who had already voted, campaign workers could direct bochurim and other supporters to polling stations during less crowded hours, reducing time spent waiting in line and allowing them to return to learning as quickly as possible.

As technology advanced, the paper-based system evolved into computerized tracking using kosher cell phones. Representatives now enter voters’ serial numbers into a secure database, but Agudas Yisroel argued that the underlying objective has remained unchanged—to enable bnei yeshivah to vote as efficiently as possible while minimizing bittul Torah.

Attorney Yustman also challenged Justice Solberg’s characterization of voter-tracking systems as “a minor tool, one of many, and not an important one.”

According to Yustman, that assessment is fundamentally mistaken. He argued that Election Day is the culmination of months of organizational work and enormous financial investment, and that the few minutes during which a voter casts a ballot are among the most critical moments in determining whether a campaign succeeds.

To illustrate the importance of such systems, Yustman pointed to reports that the Likud Party has invested approximately two million shekels in its Elector voter-management application.

“As Chazal already said, ‘The money tells the story,’” the filing states. “No one spends such enormous sums on an insignificant tool.” For a party like Agudas Yisroel, whose voter base is organized around tightly knit communities, the filing argues that real-time voter tracking is its single most important Election Day management tool.

A substantial portion of the response focuses on what Agudas Yisroel describes as confusion between the concepts of privacy and ballot secrecy.

The filing argues that Israeli law already permits limited intrusions into voter privacy during election campaigns, such as providing political parties with voter rolls and allowing them to send campaign text messages. Ballot secrecy, however, concerns only one question—how someone voted—not whether that person voted.

To illustrate the distinction, Yustman offered a simple analogy.

“If someone is standing in line at a bank behind his upstairs neighbor, we know that he visited that particular bank. Has confidentiality been violated? Certainly not, so long as the person standing behind him does not know what occurred in his account—whether he made a withdrawal or a deposit.”

Likewise, he argued, knowing that someone arrived at a polling station and cast a ballot does not reveal how that individual voted and therefore does not compromise the secrecy of the ballot.

Toward the conclusion of its filing, Agudas Yisroel proposed three alternative solutions that it says would address concerns about digital information leaks while still allowing parties to monitor voter turnout.

The first proposal would place responsibility with the Central Elections Committee itself. Polling station secretaries would record voter participation using a secure Elections Committee application, and the committee would distribute updated turnout information equally to all political parties every few hours.

The second proposal calls for abandoning computerized systems altogether and returning to the original “Thousand Sheets” paper method. Party representatives would manually record voter turnout, and physical runners would deliver the lists to campaign headquarters, eliminating any possibility of online data breaches. Agudas Yisroel even attached a sample of one of the original “Thousand Sheets” to its filing.

The third proposal would introduce a voluntary reporting slip. Under this system, voters would receive an identification stub with their voting notice and, if they chose, could hand it to party representatives stationed outside the polling place as voluntary confirmation that they had already voted.

Justice Solberg’s ruling is expected to have its greatest impact on the field operations of the chareidi parties, which have long relied on real-time turnout information to identify supporters who have not yet voted and encourage them to exercise their right to vote.

Agudas Yisroel’s filing follows criticism from a senior political figure who described the ruling as “a severe blow to democracy.”

{Matzav.com}

The Los Angeles Lakers are changing hands once again, this time in a blockbuster transaction that values the legendary NBA franchise at an unprecedented $12.5 billion — the highest price ever paid for an American professional sports team. According to ESPN, businessman Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger are purchasing the club from Mark Walter, eclipsing every previous record for a U.S. sports franchise sale.

“As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world. We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss,” Kushner and Iger said in a statement to The Post.

“Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles.”

Walter, who also serves as the principal owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, only acquired the Lakers’ controlling stake from the Buss family last year in a transaction that valued the franchise at roughly $10 billion, which was itself a record-setting figure at the time.

The NBA’s Board of Governors officially signed off on Walter’s purchase last October, with Jeanie Buss remaining the team’s governor under an agreement that kept her in that role for five years following the sale.

According to ESPN, Walter will continue to retain ownership of the Dodgers despite selling the Lakers.

League approval is still required before the latest sale can be finalized. The transaction is expected to take several weeks, with the NBA Board of Governors not scheduled to meet again until September.

The record-breaking sale comes as Walter’s Guggenheim Investments is facing scrutiny from federal regulators. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan and the Securities and Exchange Commission are reportedly investigating how approximately $16 billion in loans made to companies affiliated with Walter or his TWG Global organization ultimately ended up with insurance companies under his ownership after passing through a third party, according to The Wall Street Journal.

“Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life – an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family,” Walter said in a statement to ESPN.

“I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead.”

Before reaching an agreement to purchase the Lakers, Kushner and Iger had reportedly been pursuing an NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas. Instead, they shifted their focus to acquiring one of the league’s most storied organizations in what has become the richest sale in American sports history.

Kushner, 41, is the founder and managing partner of Thrive Capital. He is the son of U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner and the brother of White House official Jared Kushner.

Iger, 75, led The Walt Disney Company during two separate stints as chief executive, serving from 2005 through 2020 before returning for a second term from 2022 until stepping down earlier this year.

In 2024, Iger and his wife, Willow Bay, became the controlling owners of Angel City Football Club of the National Women’s Soccer League.

The new ownership group inherits a Lakers franchise entering a new chapter following the end of LeBron James’ tenure. With James now playing for the Philadelphia 76ers after spending eight seasons in Los Angeles and helping deliver one NBA championship, the Lakers are building around superstar Luka Doncic while also strengthening the roster by acquiring center Walker Kessler and bringing back guard Austin Reaves.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of travelers encountered significant delays Tuesday evening at Ben Gurion Airport as long lines, baggage processing bottlenecks, and flight delays disrupted operations throughout the terminal. The congestion comes despite the date not having been projected as one of August’s busiest travel days, just weeks before the airport is expected to handle more than 2.8 million passengers during the month.

Passengers reported that delays began almost immediately upon entering the airport, with lengthy waits at check-in counters and baggage drop-off stations. At the same time, numerous departing flights were delayed as congestion spread throughout the terminal.

According to sources familiar with airport operations, one of the primary causes of the disruption was a shortage of personnel among the ground handling companies responsible for servicing passengers, baggage, and aircraft. The staffing shortfall, they said, has made it difficult to keep pace with the heavy passenger volume.

One traveler described the scene to the Hayom newspaper, saying, “More than two hours since we arrived and we still haven’t checked our bags. Biggest chaos I’ve ever seen.” She added that, in addition to regular travelers, the terminal was crowded with large groups of young participants in the Birthright Israel program. “Flights are leaving five minutes apart, and every second someone else gets pushed ahead of us,” she said.

For many passengers, the delays continued even after completing check-in. One traveler headed to Crete said that after finally boarding, his flight remained on the ground for nearly two additional hours before takeoff.

“We boarded an hour late, and then sat on the plane for almost another hour before takeoff while they loaded the luggage. It was a complete mess,” he said. According to the passenger, travelers seated nearby were booked on a flight to Rhodes that had originally been scheduled to depart at 2:00 p.m., but they were informed during boarding that the departure had been pushed back until 7:00 p.m.

The heavy traffic seen Tuesday night comes as aviation officials continue preparing for one of the busiest travel periods of the year. August is expected to bring record passenger volumes through Israel’s main international airport.

Current forecasts indicate that more than 2.8 million passengers will pass through Ben Gurion Airport this month, averaging approximately 100,000 travelers per day. That would represent an increase of roughly 24 percent compared to August of last year.

Even so, Tuesday’s disruptions stood out because Aug. 11 had not been identified in advance as one of the month’s peak travel days. The long waits and widespread flight delays have raised concerns about how the airport system will cope on dates expected to see even heavier passenger traffic.

Much of the pressure centered on the airport’s ground handling operations. While many travelers associate these services with Ben Gurion Airport itself, passenger check-in, baggage handling, and aircraft servicing are carried out by several private ground service companies that operate on behalf of the airlines.

As a result, delays in baggage processing and aircraft turnaround times cannot automatically be attributed to Ben Gurion Airport or the Israel Airports Authority. Instead, they may stem from operational bottlenecks, staffing shortages, and the ability of the ground service providers to handle the volume of passengers.

The Israel Airports Authority has already taken steps to prepare for the busy summer travel season. During July, it advised passengers to arrive approximately three hours before departure, complete online check-in whenever possible, verify their departure terminal in advance, and use self-service baggage tagging and drop-off stations when available.

Tuesday night’s events, however, highlighted the limitations of those recommendations when the primary bottleneck occurs within the baggage handling and ground service system. Even travelers who arrived several hours before their flights found themselves waiting for extended periods before completing the departure process.

An Israeli court has approved a class-action lawsuit seeking 350 million shekels ($116 million) against Anita Gelato Ltd., which operates the Golda and Anita ice cream brands, over claims that products marketed as “sugar-free” contained substantial amounts of sugar.

The Central District Court in Lod found sufficient grounds to examine allegations that consumers could have understood the “sugar-free” labeling to mean that the products contained no sugar, rather than simply no added sugar.

Golda, one of Israel’s largest ice cream chains, has more than 100 locations across the country.

The ruling does not determine whether the company violated the law. That question will be examined in the class-action proceedings.

The case centers on Golda’s hazelnut and coffee flavors. Plaintiff Sol Yarkoni commissioned laboratory testing after purchasing about half a kilogram (1.1 pounds) of the ice cream from a Golda branch in January 2024.

According to test results submitted to the court, the products contained about 6.6 grams of lactose per 100 grams. Lactose is a naturally occurring sugar found in milk. Israeli regulations cited in the case set a maximum of 0.5 grams of sugar per 100 grams for products labeled “sugar-free.”

Yarkoni, who said she avoids sugar for health and dietary reasons, told the court that she suspected after eating the ice cream that it contained sugar. She subsequently sent samples to a Health Ministry-approved laboratory for analysis. The reported lactose content was more than 13 times the threshold cited in the case.

The lawsuit covers consumers who purchased products marketed as “sugar-free” from Golda and Anita over a seven-year period. Yarkoni is seeking refunds for affected customers as well as compensation of up to 300 shekels ($100) per class member.

The claim also alleges that the tested products contained polyol-based sugar substitutes that were not adequately disclosed to consumers.

In its defense, Anita Gelato Ltd. challenged Yarkoni’s credibility and motives, arguing that she appeared to have anticipated legal action when she purchased the ice cream. The company cited, among other things, the fact that she photographed her receipt immediately after the purchase.

The company also argued that consumers understand that milk-based ice cream naturally contains lactose and that “sugar-free” therefore means that no additional sugar has been added.

Judge Iris Rabinovitch-Brun rejected that argument at this stage of the proceedings, finding that there was reason to believe that sugar content would be a material consideration for consumers purchasing ice cream specifically labeled “sugar-free.” The judge also found grounds to conclude that the product may have been purchased and consumed under the impression that it was sugar-free.

The court further questioned why the chain could not have used wording such as “no added sugar” if that was what it intended to communicate.

The class action will examine whether Golda breached consumer-protection and labeling laws, violated applicable standards or statutory duties, or was negligent or unjustly enriched. The court will also consider whether the company was required to provide clearer information about the products’ sugar content and other ingredients.

An expert opinion submitted by Yarkoni said that consuming ice cream containing sugar could pose health concerns for people with diabetes. The opinion further stated that products containing the level of lactose identified in the testing would likely not have met criteria associated with “sugar-free” labeling by the Israel Diabetes Association.

Anita Gelato Ltd. said it had removed the products as a precaution while rejecting the allegations. JNS

As the Elul zeman approaches, Slabodka Rosh Yeshivah Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered a stirring address to tens of thousands of bnei yeshivah gathered in Beit Shemesh for the siyum of the “V’Talmudo B’Yado” program organized by the Ichud Bnei Yeshivos. Calling on bnei Torah to prepare for Elul and Rosh Hashanah with renewed commitment, Rav Hirsch urged them to break free from mediocrity by accepting a concrete and demanding commitment to limud haTorah.

At the beginning of his remarks, the Rosh Yeshivah reflected on the decrees and hardships that the Olam HaTorah has endured over the past year. He said that as the Yom HaDin approaches, every individual must ask himself what genuine change he can make in order to merit a better year.

“We are just days away from Elul. We are returning to the yeshivos and approaching Rosh Hashanah,” he said. “We remember last Rosh Hashanah, and looking back we now understand what was written then. All of the decrees against us, all of the hardships, and all of the hatred directed against us—all of it was decreed by Hashem.”

The Rosh Yeshivah stressed that ordinary resolutions will not be enough given the current circumstances.

“We are approaching another Rosh Hashanah, when our fate will once again be written, and we must think about what we can do to change it. Certainly, if we want things to change, it requires something drastic. General chizuk alone is not enough. If there is not something drastic, there will be no change.”

Rav Hirsch then cited the Sforno on the posuk, “Re’eh Anochi Nosein Lifneichem Hayom Berachah U’Kelalah,” explaining that a person must avoid living an average, mediocre life and instead choose the path that leads to blessing and success.

“We must learn from this not to be mediocre,” Rav Moshe Hillel said. “We need to strive for outstanding success. That is what is demanded of us—to leave mediocrity behind and rise to higher levels.”

Continuing, he quoted the teachings of Rav Yisroel Salanter, explaining that true avodas Hashem cannot be limited to actions that come naturally through habit and routine.

“A person was created to toil, to wage the battle of serving Hashem, and is obligated to work hard in avodas Hashem. It is not enough merely to preserve what his natural tendencies already allow him to do on their own.”

The Rosh Yeshivah observed that many people—including bochurim—simply continue along the path of habit while neglecting areas that require genuine effort.

“They attended cheder, then yeshivah ketanah, then yeshivah gedolah, and later kollel, simply following their natural course. But whatever demands extra effort is often neglected. Rav Yisroel says that in such a case, a person is not serving Hashem at all—it is merely his nature carrying him along.”

Rav Hirsch emphasized that escaping mediocrity means fulfilling the will of the Creator even when it runs contrary to one’s personal inclinations.

“The foundation of serving Hashem is to observe and fulfill even those things that a person’s heart does not naturally desire. That is what it means not to be mediocre: to do what Hashem wants out of obligation and with the understanding that we simply must do it.”

The Rosh Yeshivah also quoted the teaching of his rebbi, Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, explaining that many people hesitate to accept the ol Torah because of a mistaken assumption. A person fears the burden, when in reality accepting the ol brings with it “true wealth and genuine happiness.”

Rav Hirsch illustrated the point by referring to fasting on Yom Kippur. A person who is hungry and thirsty does not debate whether to eat because he knows with certainty that it is forbidden.

“It is difficult, but it is obvious that this is what we do. There is no argument,” he said.

He explained that the same attitude should apply to the obligation of limud haTorah.

“A person who accepts the ol Torah and realizes there is no alternative but to learn—that he cannot waste time and cannot limit himself only to what comes easily—is like someone on Yom Kippur regarding eating. Then he has no problem at all. On the contrary, he will actually feel that ‘Hashem’s Torah is perfect and restores the soul; Hashem’s commandments are upright and gladden the heart.’”

The Rosh Yeshivah then presented the assembled bnei yeshivah with a practical goal.

“Each person should accept upon himself the obligation of a fixed number of hours. Ten hours is the minimum—but it must be accepted. Some will say this is not for them, only for exceptional older bochurim. A bochur may think, ‘I’m an ordinary bochur. I’ve done all sorts of things. What does this have to do with me?’”

To answer that concern, Rav Hirsch quoted the Chofetz Chaim, who explained that the yetzer hara tries to prevent a person from taking on meaningful commitments by making him feel inadequate.

“When the yetzer hara sees that a person wants to undertake something great, it fills his heart with sadness and causes him to think that this mitzvah is not meant for him, but only for the great people of the generation and the outstanding masmidim. The Chofetz Chaim says that this is the yetzer hara.”

While urging dramatic personal growth, Rav Hirsch stressed that lasting change should be implemented gradually and in a practical manner.

“Each person should accept upon himself several hours each day during which there is absolutely no wasted time—only learning. He should establish those hours and recognize that they represent his ol. From there, he will be able to continue growing further and further.”

The Rosh Yeshivah concluded with a heartfelt tefillah that these practical commitments would arouse Heavenly mercy as the Yom HaDin approaches.

“Perhaps this practical commitment will arouse Heavenly mercy before the Yom HaDin. Then, b’siyata diShmaya, we will truly merit a Rosh Hashanah of being inscribed and sealed for a good year.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel and Venezuela agreed on Tuesday to renew consular relations and establish a coordination mechanism to provide services to citizens of both countries, the two governments jointly announced.

The agreement, reached following talks between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his Venezuelan counterpart Félix Plasencia González, creates an official channel of coordination between Jerusalem and Caracas, which have not maintained diplomatic relations since 2009.

The two countries also agreed to continue technical cooperation tied to emergency response and reconstruction following Venezuela’s June earthquakes. An Israeli humanitarian delegation led by the Foreign Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command assisted Venezuelan authorities for several weeks after the disaster.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry, IDF Home Front Command and Israeli National Emergency Management Authority sent more than 50 professionals to assist local authorities, and Venezuelan leaders requested that the mission be extended.

At one point, 32 Israeli specialists were operating in La Guaira, near Caracas, helping authorities shift from immediate emergency response to long-term rehabilitation. Israeli personnel aided damage assessments, recovery planning and decision-making after hundreds of coastal buildings were destroyed.

The Israeli deployment was the Home Front Command’s longest humanitarian assistance mission to date.

The joint statement also highlighted Venezuela’s Jewish community as a bridge of “historic friendship” between the two countries.

A top rabbi in Venezuela on Sunday asked the country’s president, Delcy Rodríguez, to restore diplomatic relations with Israel, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said.

Rabbi Isaac Cohen, chief rabbi of the Israelite Association of Venezuela (AIV), delivered a letter addressed to Rodríguez during a meeting with Plasencia at the ministry’s headquarters in Caracas, according to a ministry statement.

The meeting was to “address the needs of the Jewish community in our country,” said Plasencia, according to the ministry.

“Venezuela has historically welcomed, with open arms, a large Jewish community whose contributions have added, and continue to add, to the well-being and development of our nation,” he added.

Plasencia also reiterated the Venezuelan government’s gratitude for assistance Israel provided following two earthquakes that struck the country on June 24.

Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with Israel in January 2009 under then-President Hugo Chávez, who cited Israel’s military campaign that year against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Relations between Venezuela and Israel deteriorated under Chávez, who died in 2013, and did not improve under his successor, Nicolás Maduro. Both developed close ties with Iran, repeatedly denounced Israel and faced accusations of encouraging antisemitism.

For years under Chávez, Venezuelan Jews experienced repeated police raids on communal institutions.

The Jewish population of Venezuela declined significantly during the eras of Chávez and Maduro, who were also vociferously anti-American.

In January, U.S. President Donald Trump launched a military operation in which Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken from Caracas to the U.S. to face charges of conspiring to bring cocaine into the United States. They have denied the charges as they await trial. The new government, though led by figures from the Maduro regime, has taken a more pragmatic approach to its relations with the United States, including restoring diplomatic and consular relations with Washington. JNS

Thousands of Vizhnitzer chassidim from across Eretz Yisroel gathered Tuesday night at the main Gerer bais medrash in Yerushalayim for a massive “Mekadshei Shemecha” maamad led by the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, who made a rare public appearance despite his recent weakness. During the gathering, the Rebbe’s directives were presented, including a firm call not to enlist in the army or any military-related framework and to strengthen emunah in the home.

The event also served as a major fundraising campaign on behalf of the Association of Vizhnitzer Institutions. Participants were deeply moved when the Rebbe arrived despite his weakened condition. The gathering had originally been scheduled to take place in Meron, but because of the Rebbe’s health, it was relocated to Yerushalayim near Moshav Ora, where the Rebbe has been staying in recent days.

The central theme of the evening focused on Kiddush Hashem and the current challenges facing the Olam HaTorah. The program opened with an emotional presentation by the children of the American “Yiddish Nachas” group, highlighting mesirus nefesh for limud haTorah. Later, chassidim presented a dramatic reenactment of “Prison 10,” depicting a chossid sitting in chains while continuing to learn Torah.

Moments before the Vizhnitzer Rebbe entered the hall, his brother-in-law, Rav Menachem Ernster, Rosh Yeshivas Vizhnitz, led the crowd in reciting Shma Koleinu using the Yamim Nora’im nusach. Rav Yaakov Mordechai Hager, Av Beis Din of Vizhnitz Elad, then recited Tehillim.

One of the evening’s most stirring moments came with the arrival of the Gerer Rebbe, who attended to express solidarity with the Olam HaTorah and reinforce the resolve to preserve Torah learning. Thousands of Vizhnitzer chassidim greeted the Gerer Rebbe with thunderous singing, while the Vizhnitzer Rebbe personally honored and accompanied him. Rav Chaim Meir Hager, Av Beis Din of Vizhnitz, welcomed the Gerer Rebbe and warmly thanked him for hosting the gathering in the Gur bais medrash.

During the assembly, the Vizhnitzer Av Beis Din read the Rebbe’s message to the assembled crowd. In his remarks, the Rebbe instructed his followers not to enlist in the army or participate in any military track, to strengthen their children with words of emunah and mesirus nefesh, and to contribute kofer nefesh in light of the current situation.

{Matzav.com}

The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $975 million after no ticket matched all six winning numbers in Monday night’s drawing, making it the largest lottery prize of 2026 to date. While the advertised jackpot is approaching the $1 billion milestone, the eventual winner would receive substantially less after taxes if opting for a lump-sum payment.

The winning numbers drawn Monday night were 6, 37, 54, 55, 64, with Red Powerball 10.

The winner of Wednesday night’s drawing will be able to choose between receiving the full $975 million jackpot in 30 annual payments or accepting a one-time cash payout of approximately $422.3 million, the option selected by most jackpot winners.

If the cash option is chosen, the federal government’s mandatory 24% withholding would immediately reduce the payment to about $320.9 million.

Depending on the winner’s total taxable income, the federal tax rate could ultimately reach 37%, lowering the after-tax payout to roughly $266 million.

Those who choose the annuity option would receive annual payments of approximately $32.5 million before taxes. After applying the top federal tax rate of 37%, each yearly payment would be reduced to about $20.5 million.

State taxes could further reduce the winnings. Some states, including New York, impose taxes on lottery prizes, with New York’s rate reaching 10.9%, while states such as Texas, Florida, and California do not tax lottery winnings.

Last month, Powerball expanded ticket sales to the United Kingdom for the first time. Officials said the move is expected to increase jackpot growth by adding more ticket sales to the prize pool.

Under the U.K. version of the game, jackpot winners are required to receive their prize through annual installments over 30 years and are not offered a lump-sum cash option. The U.K. National Lottery currently advertises the jackpot at £503 million (approximately $679.5 million), a figure officials say reflects the estimated value of the 30-year payout after accounting for exchange rates and U.K. tax requirements.

The current jackpot surpasses this year’s previous largest lottery prize—an $800 million Mega Millions jackpot won by a ticket holder in Florida last week. Among Powerball winners this year, the largest claimed jackpot had previously been a $250.8 million prize won by a player in Arkansas.

The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for Wednesday night. If no one wins, the jackpot is expected to become the first U.S. lottery prize to exceed $1 billion since December 2025.

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot remain 1 in 292.2 million, unchanged despite the addition of U.K. players. Those odds are even longer than Mega Millions, where the chance of winning the top prize is approximately 1 in 290.4 million.

{Matzav.com}