Feed aggregator

Khamenei Claims Iran’s “Victory” in Speech, Says US Joined War to Save Israel from Destruction

Yeshiva World News -

Ayatollah Khanemei delivered a live televised speech, his first public statement since the ceasefire was declared. Unsurprisingly, Khamenei spouted lies and propaganda about Iran’s “victory” and even claimed that the Islamic Republic delivered a “harsh slap to America’s face” and “crushed the Zionist state.” He added that the US felt forced to join the war out of fear that “the Zionist regime would be totally destroyed.”

WILD WEST WING: Former Biden Aide Does Not Know Who Ordered President Autopen Signatures

Matzav -

Neera Tanden, who previously held a senior position in President Joe Biden’s administration, appeared before Congress and acknowledged that she had the authority to initiate the use of an autopen for the president’s signature. However, she admitted she was not aware of who ultimately gave the go-ahead for using the device.

Tanden, who oversaw the Domestic Policy Council during her time in the White House, told lawmakers that Biden’s team made use of a mechanical signature tool that enabled staffers to sign official papers—including pardons and memoranda—on the president’s behalf. Despite being involved in the process, she stated that she did not know who exactly authorized each instance. As Fox News reported:

“During Tanden’s interview before Congress, which lasted more than five hours, she told lawmakers that, in her role as staff secretary and senior advisor to the former president between 2021 and 2023, she was authorized to direct autopen signatures on behalf of Biden, an Oversight Committee official told Fox News.

“Tanden, who reportedly said during her testimony that she had limited interactions with Biden in her role, according to sources familiar with her testimony, described an approval process that left her – at least partly – in the dark about who specifically was giving final approval on the decisions to use the automatic signature tool, even though she simultaneously insisted Biden was in charge.

“Tanden reportedly testified that to get approval for the use of autopen signatures she would send decision memos to members of Biden’s inner circle. However, she added that she was not aware of what actions or approvals took place between the time she sent the decision memo and the time she received it back with the necessary approval, according to the source familiar.”

One lawmaker from the minority side of the Oversight Committee dismissed Tanden’s statements, calling them untruthful. According to a former White House staffer, “written sign off [from Biden] on every executive action she presented him with” was always obtained.

“Any other characterization is a distortion of the testimony,” the official added. “To intimate that Neera Tanden said President Biden did not approve every single presidential decision and sign off on every executive action coming out of the White House is a lie.”

Tanden’s lawyer, Michael Bromwich, aligned with that version of events. He emphasized that the autopen was only used after Biden had reviewed and approved the decision personally.

“The autopen was used … only after the President personally approved the decision,” Bromwich said. “Aides at no time signed these documents on President Biden’s behalf.”

Democrats Slam “Big, Ugly Bill” as GOP Pushes Health Care Cuts to Offset Costs

Yeshiva World News -

One key unsettled issue stalling progress on President Donald Trump’s big bill in Congress is particularly daunting: How to cut billions from health care without harming Americans or the hospitals and others that provide care? Republicans are struggling to devise a solution to the health care problem their package has created. Already, estimates say 10.9 million more people would be without health coverage under the House-passed version of the bill. GOP senators have proposed steeper reductions, which some say go too far. “The Senate cuts in Medicaid are far deeper than the House cuts, and I think that’s problematic,” said GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Senators have been meeting behind closed doors and with Trump administration officials as they rush to finish up the big bill ahead of the president’s Fourth of July deadline. Much of the package, with its tax breaks and bolstered border security spending, is essentially drafted. But the size and scope of healthcare cuts are among the toughest remaining issues. It’s reminiscent of the summer during Trump’s first term, in 2017, when Republicans struggled to keep their campaign promise to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, only to see the GOP splinter over the prospect of Americans losing health coverage. That legislation collapsed when then-Sen. John McCain famously cast a thumbs-down vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is determined to avoid that outcome, sticking to the schedule and pressing ahead with voting expected by the end of the week. “This is a good bill and it’s going to be great for our country,” Thune said Wednesday, championing its potential to unleash economic growth and put money in people’s pockets. The changes to the federal health care programs, particularly Medicaid, were always expected to become a centerpiece of the GOP package, a way to offset the costs of providing tax breaks for millions of Americans. Without action from Congress, taxes would go up next year when current tax law expires. The House-passed bill achieved some $1.5 trillion in savings overall, a large part of it coming from changes to health care. The Medicaid program has dramatically expanded in the 15 years since Obamacare became law and now serves some 80 million Americans. Republicans say that’s far too high, and they want to shrink the program back to a smaller size covering mainly poorer women and children. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Republicans are “trying to take away healthcare from tens of millions of Americans.” Democrats are uniformly opposed to what they call the “big, ugly bill.” Much of the health care cost savings would come from new 80-hour-a-month work requirements on those who receive Medicaid benefits, even as most recipients already work. But another provision, the so-called provider tax that almost all the states impose to some degree on hospitals and others that serve Medicaid patients, is drawing particular concern for potential cuts to rural hospitals. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said several senators spoke up Wednesday during a private meeting indicating they were not yet ready to start voting. “That’ll depend if we land the plane on rural hospitals,” he said. States impose the taxes as a way to help fund Medicaid, largely by boosting the reimbursements they receive from the federal government. Critics decry the system as a type of “laundering” […]

Democrats Slam “Big, Ugly Bill” as GOP Pushes Health Care Cuts to Offset Costs

Yeshiva World News -

One key unsettled issue stalling progress on President Donald Trump’s big bill in Congress is particularly daunting: How to cut billions from health care without harming Americans or the hospitals and others that provide care? Republicans are struggling to devise a solution to the health care problem their package has created. Already, estimates say 10.9 million more people would be without health coverage under the House-passed version of the bill. GOP senators have proposed steeper reductions, which some say go too far. “The Senate cuts in Medicaid are far deeper than the House cuts, and I think that’s problematic,” said GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Senators have been meeting behind closed doors and with Trump administration officials as they rush to finish up the big bill ahead of the president’s Fourth of July deadline. Much of the package, with its tax breaks and bolstered border security spending, is essentially drafted. But the size and scope of healthcare cuts are among the toughest remaining issues. It’s reminiscent of the summer during Trump’s first term, in 2017, when Republicans struggled to keep their campaign promise to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, only to see the GOP splinter over the prospect of Americans losing health coverage. That legislation collapsed when then-Sen. John McCain famously cast a thumbs-down vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is determined to avoid that outcome, sticking to the schedule and pressing ahead with voting expected by the end of the week. “This is a good bill and it’s going to be great for our country,” Thune said Wednesday, championing its potential to unleash economic growth and put money in people’s pockets. The changes to the federal health care programs, particularly Medicaid, were always expected to become a centerpiece of the GOP package, a way to offset the costs of providing tax breaks for millions of Americans. Without action from Congress, taxes would go up next year when current tax law expires. The House-passed bill achieved some $1.5 trillion in savings overall, a large part of it coming from changes to health care. The Medicaid program has dramatically expanded in the 15 years since Obamacare became law and now serves some 80 million Americans. Republicans say that’s far too high, and they want to shrink the program back to a smaller size covering mainly poorer women and children. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Republicans are “trying to take away healthcare from tens of millions of Americans.” Democrats are uniformly opposed to what they call the “big, ugly bill.” Much of the health care cost savings would come from new 80-hour-a-month work requirements on those who receive Medicaid benefits, even as most recipients already work. But another provision, the so-called provider tax that almost all the states impose to some degree on hospitals and others that serve Medicaid patients, is drawing particular concern for potential cuts to rural hospitals. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said several senators spoke up Wednesday during a private meeting indicating they were not yet ready to start voting. “That’ll depend if we land the plane on rural hospitals,” he said. States impose the taxes as a way to help fund Medicaid, largely by boosting the reimbursements they receive from the federal government. Critics decry the system as a type of “laundering” […]

After The Operation In Iran | Poll: Likud Gains 4 Seats

Matzav -

Following the conclusion of Operation Rising Lion, a fresh survey commissioned by Kan News and carried out by the Kantar Institute indicates a surge in popularity for the Likud party. Should elections take place now, Likud is projected to receive 31 Knesset seats—marking a four-seat increase. Yisrael Beytenu would also experience a jump, climbing to 15 seats.

The remainder of the Knesset, based on the survey’s findings, would be divided as follows: Yesh Atid would secure 14 seats, National Unity would take 13, the Democrats would capture 11, Shas would obtain 10, United Torah Judaism would get 8, Otzma Yehudit would land at 7, Ra’am would earn 6, and Hadash-Ta’al would finish with 5. The Religious Zionist Party, however, would not cross the electoral threshold.

According to this poll, the current governing coalition would fall short of a majority, gaining a combined total of 56 seats.

The pollsters also analyzed a potential scenario in which Naftali Bennett returns to politics at the helm of a new party. Under that possibility, Likud maintains an edge, climbing to 28 seats, while Bennett’s new party would immediately garner 24. Yisrael Beytenu would settle at 10 seats. The Democrats would receive 9, Shas would also tally 9, Yesh Atid and National Unity would each come away with 8, United Torah Judaism would collect 7, Otzma Yehudit would also get 7, Ra’am would take 6, and Hadash-Ta’al would remain at 5.

In both scenarios surveyed—regardless of Bennett’s participation—the Religious Zionist Party does not manage to cross the electoral threshold.

{Matzav.com}

Following Footage of Hamas Takeover, Israel Halts Aid Transfer to Gaza

Matzav -

Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz have instructed the IDF to develop a comprehensive strategy within two days to stop Hamas from hijacking humanitarian supplies meant for Gaza’s civilian population.

This move comes after video footage circulated online on Wednesday, showing Hamas operatives armed with weapons forcibly taking aid shipments in northern Gaza and stripping them from the hands of local residents.

According to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, the video’s release sparked a heated exchange between Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Prime Minister Netanyahu. During their discussion, Smotrich emphasized that he would not support any return to a system where Hamas controls and distributes humanitarian aid.

The same outlet also reported that, in light of the incident, aid transfers into Gaza have been suspended. Netanyahu and Katz have demanded that the IDF devise a revised mechanism to ensure that Hamas cannot seize the shipments.

Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister, posted the disturbing footage on his X account, stating: “Soldiers in the field explained to me that current orders allow these trucks in without proper oversight. This is how we continue to fuel Hamas with money and power. Government ministers promised that ‘not a single grain would enter,’ and as usual, the reality is the opposite. Shameful.”

{Matzav.com}

NYC Mayor Adams: Jews Should Be Concerned Over Mamdani’s Democratic Primary Win

Yeshiva World News -

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is raising alarms following State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s victory in Tuesday’s Democratic mayoral primary, warning that the far-left candidate’s record and rhetoric should deeply concern the city’s Jewish residents. In an interview with RUSA Radio, a Russian-language station, Adams accused Mamdani — a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and a vocal critic of Israel — of harboring views that cross into antisemitism. “Mamdani has been unwilling to just address some of the basic issues — even just the acknowledgment of Israel,” Adams said. “His real unwillingness to talk about some of the behavior that has played out on our streets during protests was really disrespectful. In some cases, I think it is antisemitic rhetoric.” Adams, who has long-standing ties to New York’s Orthodox and broader Jewish communities, added that Mamdani’s rise in the Democratic Party poses a broader threat to Jewish safety in the city. “If the Jewish community cannot feel safe in the city where it’s the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, then when can they feel safe?” the mayor asked. “I think it’s problematic when you have a socialist who is displaying antisemitic views to be able to run and be elected in New York City.” Mamdani, who represents a Queens district in the state Assembly, is now the presumptive Democratic nominee in the November mayoral election after former Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded the race on Tuesday. With the Democratic primary settled, Mamdani is expected to face Adams — who is mounting an independent bid — in the general election. Mamdani’s candidacy has galvanized progressive voters but drawn fire from pro-Israel groups and moderate Democrats for his repeated criticism of Israel and his participation in anti-war demonstrations that have included inflammatory slogans. Adams, a staunch supporter of Israel, has positioned himself as a bulwark against rising antisemitism and extremism on both sides of the political spectrum. He has made public safety and interfaith unity key pillars of his administration and campaign. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NYC Mayor Adams: Jews Should Be Concerned Over Mamdani’s Democratic Primary Win

Yeshiva World News -

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is raising alarms following State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s victory in Tuesday’s Democratic mayoral primary, warning that the far-left candidate’s record and rhetoric should deeply concern the city’s Jewish residents. In an interview with RUSA Radio, a Russian-language station, Adams accused Mamdani — a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and a vocal critic of Israel — of harboring views that cross into antisemitism. “Mamdani has been unwilling to just address some of the basic issues — even just the acknowledgment of Israel,” Adams said. “His real unwillingness to talk about some of the behavior that has played out on our streets during protests was really disrespectful. In some cases, I think it is antisemitic rhetoric.” Adams, who has long-standing ties to New York’s Orthodox and broader Jewish communities, added that Mamdani’s rise in the Democratic Party poses a broader threat to Jewish safety in the city. “If the Jewish community cannot feel safe in the city where it’s the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, then when can they feel safe?” the mayor asked. “I think it’s problematic when you have a socialist who is displaying antisemitic views to be able to run and be elected in New York City.” Mamdani, who represents a Queens district in the state Assembly, is now the presumptive Democratic nominee in the November mayoral election after former Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded the race on Tuesday. With the Democratic primary settled, Mamdani is expected to face Adams — who is mounting an independent bid — in the general election. Mamdani’s candidacy has galvanized progressive voters but drawn fire from pro-Israel groups and moderate Democrats for his repeated criticism of Israel and his participation in anti-war demonstrations that have included inflammatory slogans. Adams, a staunch supporter of Israel, has positioned himself as a bulwark against rising antisemitism and extremism on both sides of the political spectrum. He has made public safety and interfaith unity key pillars of his administration and campaign. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

“Ignore the Courts”: Whistleblower Claims Rock Trump DOJ Nominee’s Confirmation

Yeshiva World News -

A top Justice Department official nominated to become a federal appeals court judge said Wednesday that he never told department attorneys to ignore court orders, denying the account of a whistleblower who detailed a campaign to defy judges to carry out President Donald Trump’s deportation plans. Emil Bove’s nomination for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has come under intense scrutiny after a fired department lawyer claimed in a complaint filed Tuesday that Bove used an expletive when he said during a meeting that the Trump administration might need to ignore judicial commands. Bove pushed back against suggestions from Democrats that the whistleblower’s claims make him unfit for the federal bench. “I have never advised a Department of Justice attorney to violate a court order,” Bove told the Senate Judiciary Committee. He added, “I don’t think there’s any validity to the suggestion that that whistleblower complaint filed yesterday calls into question my qualifications to serve as a circuit judge.” Bove, a former criminal defense attorney for Trump, has been at the forefront of some of the most contentious Justice Department actions since Trump’s return to the White House, including the dismissal of the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. He also accused FBI officials of “insubordination” for refusing to hand over the names of agents who investigated the U.S. Capitol riot and ordered the firings of a group of prosecutors involved in the Jan. 6 criminal cases. Bove took criticism of his tenure head on, telling lawmakers he understands some of his decisions “have generated controversy.” But Bove said he has been inaccurately portrayed as Trump’s “henchman” and “enforcer” at the department. “I am someone who tries to stand up for what I believe is right,” Bove said. A former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, Bove was on Trump’s legal team during his New York hush money trial and defended Trump in the two federal criminal cases brought by the Justice Department. If confirmed by the Senate, he’ll serve on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears cases from Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Democrats said Bove has proven himself himself unfit for a lifetime appointment during his short tenure at the Justice Department, accusing him of abusing his power and putting his loyalties to Trump above all else. “Bove has led the effort to weaponize the Department of Justice against the president’s enemies,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the committee. “Having earned his stripes as a loyalist to this president, he’s been rewarded with this lifetime nomination.” Bove’s hearing came a day after the filing of a whistleblower complaint from a former Justice Department lawyer who was fired in April after conceding in court that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who had been living in Maryland, was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison. That lawyer, Erez Reuveni, described efforts by top Justice Department officials in the weeks before his firing to stonewall and mislead judges to carry out deportations championed by the White House. Reuveni described a Justice Department meeting in March concerning Trump’s plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act over what the president claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Reuveni said Bove raised the possibility that a […]

“Ignore the Courts”: Whistleblower Claims Rock Trump DOJ Nominee’s Confirmation

Yeshiva World News -

A top Justice Department official nominated to become a federal appeals court judge said Wednesday that he never told department attorneys to ignore court orders, denying the account of a whistleblower who detailed a campaign to defy judges to carry out President Donald Trump’s deportation plans. Emil Bove’s nomination for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has come under intense scrutiny after a fired department lawyer claimed in a complaint filed Tuesday that Bove used an expletive when he said during a meeting that the Trump administration might need to ignore judicial commands. Bove pushed back against suggestions from Democrats that the whistleblower’s claims make him unfit for the federal bench. “I have never advised a Department of Justice attorney to violate a court order,” Bove told the Senate Judiciary Committee. He added, “I don’t think there’s any validity to the suggestion that that whistleblower complaint filed yesterday calls into question my qualifications to serve as a circuit judge.” Bove, a former criminal defense attorney for Trump, has been at the forefront of some of the most contentious Justice Department actions since Trump’s return to the White House, including the dismissal of the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. He also accused FBI officials of “insubordination” for refusing to hand over the names of agents who investigated the U.S. Capitol riot and ordered the firings of a group of prosecutors involved in the Jan. 6 criminal cases. Bove took criticism of his tenure head on, telling lawmakers he understands some of his decisions “have generated controversy.” But Bove said he has been inaccurately portrayed as Trump’s “henchman” and “enforcer” at the department. “I am someone who tries to stand up for what I believe is right,” Bove said. A former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, Bove was on Trump’s legal team during his New York hush money trial and defended Trump in the two federal criminal cases brought by the Justice Department. If confirmed by the Senate, he’ll serve on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears cases from Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Democrats said Bove has proven himself himself unfit for a lifetime appointment during his short tenure at the Justice Department, accusing him of abusing his power and putting his loyalties to Trump above all else. “Bove has led the effort to weaponize the Department of Justice against the president’s enemies,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the committee. “Having earned his stripes as a loyalist to this president, he’s been rewarded with this lifetime nomination.” Bove’s hearing came a day after the filing of a whistleblower complaint from a former Justice Department lawyer who was fired in April after conceding in court that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who had been living in Maryland, was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison. That lawyer, Erez Reuveni, described efforts by top Justice Department officials in the weeks before his firing to stonewall and mislead judges to carry out deportations championed by the White House. Reuveni described a Justice Department meeting in March concerning Trump’s plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act over what the president claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Reuveni said Bove raised the possibility that a […]

Face to Face With the Truth

Matzav -

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

For some time now, it has been evident that we are living through historic days. Choose any starting point. Take the Covid pandemic, for instance. A virus that emerged in China swiftly swept across the globe, infecting millions, claiming countless lives, and leaving lingering scars – physical, emotional, and societal. The pandemic wasn’t just a medical crisis. It rattled the foundations of the global economy. In the United States and beyond, businesses shuttered, industries transformed, and livelihoods vanished. The world was forced to adapt to a new, altered reality.

But the devastation went beyond illness and economics. In some places, politicians, drunk on power and driven by agendas, took aim at shuls and yeshivos, weaponizing “science” to shut them for months. In the name of science, they closed stores, banned gatherings, confined people to their homes, and injected millions with vaccines developed in haste, under the banner of urgency. They forced us to wear masks, telling us that they prevented the disease from spreading. Anyone who didn’t wear them while on an airplane was ridiculed and thrown off, unless they were eating, for while eating, the disease wouldn’t spread, even if the mask was off.

Covid toppled governments and governors alike, dancing hand in hand with the Malach Hamovess, until Hashem decided that His message had been sent that we are not in control. Despite humanity’s towering achievements in medicine, science, and technology, man remains powerless in Hashem’s world. It is He who rules, He who decides who shall live and who shall not, who shall rise to power and who shall fall, who should lead and who should follow, how the world turns- and when it stops.

We can turn back to Shemini Atzeres of 5783, a day that shocked Israel and the world. In a brutal and historic surprise attack, Hamas terrorists breached Israel’s borders. Within hours, 1,200 people were murdered, thousands were wounded, and 251 were taken hostage. The vaunted Israeli army and police, long revered for their readiness and strength, were of no help. For nearly seven hours, bloodthirsty savages rampaged with impunity, torturing and slaughtering men, women, children, and even infants.

The questions came quickly and painfully. How could it be? How could Israel – the most surveilled, protected state in the world – be blindsided? How could its famously secure border be torn open by a band of terrorists? Where were the defenders of Israel, the celebrated heroes of the IDF, praised for their bravery and vigilance? On the day they were needed most, they were absent. Some had been killed in the first wave. Others were cut off, communications severed. And as desperate civilians dialed for help, there was no answer. The lines were dead. The operators themselves had been murdered. It would take hours before rescue arrived, and it was far too late for many.

How could such horror unfold? Some have tried to offer answers. Others continue searching. But for many, the truth is clear: This was not merely a failure of intelligence or security. It was a decree from Heaven. When Hashem ordains something, no force on earth – not even the strongest army – can stand in its way. He does it for reasons that are beyond our human comprehension. Sometimes it takes decades or longer to see Hashem’s plan unfold, and sometimes it only takes a couple of years, as we are seeing now.

Because of the Hamas declaration of war on Israel and due to the terrible tragedy they caused, Israel immediately went to war to destroy and dislodge Hamas from Gaza. While opponents of the Israeli government, internally and externally, including President Biden and his administration, condemned Prime Minister Netanyahu for the war he was waging, he continued fighting a historic battle.

Israel eliminated the entire leadership of Hamas and tens of thousands of its fighters. Its rocket arsenal was destroyed, along with the threat it posed to Israel. One of Iran’s proxies had been removed from the chessboard. Their Lebanese proxy, which had threatened Israel for decades from its northern border, joined the war, bombarding Israel repeatedly with Iranian-supplied rockets. Finally, Israel eliminated their heads, their generals, and their leaders, and the threat they represented was done away with. Iran lost another proxy they had spent decades and billions of dollars building. It was historic.

In the aftermath of Hezbollah’s weakening, another Iranian proxy fell, this time in Syria. The longtime dictator, once feared and entrenched, suddenly found himself unable to hold back the rebels who had challenged him for years.

One historic event after another unfolded, and all were set in motion by the tragedy of October 7th, a day of darkness that Hashem brought upon His people for reasons only He knows. What is clear, and what remains clear to this day, is the unmistakable presence of the Yad Hashem, guiding every step, seen and unseen.

And now we are living through another historic event that people will be reading about and discussing for years to come. After decades of warnings about the threat Iran posed to Israel’s existence, Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu ordered a surprise attack on Iran – its capital, Tehran, its nuclear infrastructure, and the leaders who directed it.

Miraculously, the Israeli armed forces succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. The small country that had fallen victim to an Iranian proxy two-and-a-half years earlier was enabled by Hashem to achieve superiority over Iran, conducting hundreds of unimpeded sorties across its skies, dropping bombs on strategic targets at will.

The Hand of Hashem was evident, and the existential nuclear threat was methodically dismantled. The country that had threatened the Western world, the Arab world, and Israel for so long was eviscerated by Mivtza Am K’lavi.

But the threat wasn’t yet fully neutralized. That happened on Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Shelach, when we read how Yehoshua told the nation, “Hashem itanu al tira’um – Hashem is with us; you need not fear our enemies” (Bamidbar 14:9). The Ramban (ibid.) explains that Yehoshua was telling them that they bear witness to the many miracles that Hashem performs for them on a regular basis and should know that they have nothing to fear.

It was on that day that President Donald Trump ordered the total destruction of Iran’s three main nuclear facilities, previously believed to be impregnable. In a historic act, bombers flew directly from the United States and, without being detected, destroyed the feared sites with perfect coordination and precision.

American presidents had promised for years that Iran would not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon, but they never did anything beyond issuing statements at best, and, at worst, they enabled Iran to continue its dangerous march.

European leaders were also no help, and the UN is now busy criticizing the United States for removing the threat.

It was President Trump, criticized and mocked ever since he declared his candidacy for president in 2016, who demonstrated what leadership is. With moral clarity, he understood that there is good and there is evil, but there is no moral equivalence. After thoroughly reviewing every necessary component and warning Iran and the world that if they would not surrender, he would end their nuclear ambition, he followed through on his threat, proving that the fake news and Democrat lies about him being all bluster were just that: lies.

Those who wondered how Trump could have been elected in 2016 and then reelected in 2024 – with the entirety of the mainstream media and political establishment lined up against him, along with nonstop allegations and court cases – were once again shown unmistakably that lev melochim v’sorim b’Yad Hashem. He was placed in that position by Hashem for good reason.

When President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu took to the airwaves to inform their nations of what had just occurred, they both made a point of thanking G-d for making it happen.

When we see Netanyahu, who once took credit for everything, now including Hashem in his public remarks and telling his generals, commanders, and citizens that the main component in victory is siyata diShmaya, we know that something has changed.

Living in historic times has its downsides, but it has upsides as well, and seeing the Yad Hashem guiding the world is a major plus.

Each historic event, no matter how far apart in time or geography, seems to echo a shared theme: We are being shaken awake. Covid silenced cities. October 7th shattered illusions. Taking out Iran’s nuclear weapons brought a hush to the world. That quiet wasn’t empty. It was filled with a message. Hashem is speaking, not in whispers but in roars.

We plan, prepare, and protect, but He overrides it all. Our schedules, our systems, our assumptions, they shatter like glass when His will moves against them. It is not punishment alone. It is a reminder. A world too reliant on itself forgets its Source. We chase progress and call it purpose. But Hashem has always been the One turning the pages of history.

And now, He’s turning them faster and more clearly. He is bringing us to the ultimate geulah, if we only cooperate.

We believed in our systems. We trusted the strongest army in the Middle East. But in these last few years, each pillar we leaned on has trembled.

Hospitals – overwhelmed. Governments – unsure. Armies – unprepared. How quickly the mighty are made small. How easily the “secure” becomes shattered. We saw the border breach and realized that there is no wall high enough to keep out a decree from Heaven.

But what did not falter? What remained untouched by virus, terror, or fear? The Torah did not collapse. The truth did not shift. Amid the chaos, Hashem remained constant. And for those who looked upward, emunah became firmer than any wall of stone.

In moments like these, people ask, “Where was Hashem?” But the deeper soul asks something else: “Where were we?”

Where were we when He gave us quiet mornings, healthy children, and parnassah without panic? Did we notice Him then? Did we thank Him? Or do we only notice when He reminds us through temporary pain that He never left?

Still, even in darkness, emunah lives. We saw it in the people who ran toward the rockets with tallis and tefillin. In the voices singing Acheinu while sirens screamed overhead. In the unity, the tefillah, the return. Bitachon didn’t die in the rocket fire. It burned brighter.

My dear friend, Rav Avrohom Zeivald, who directs Lev L’Achim, told me that the search among the secular community for a connection to Hashem and for learning Torah is now stronger than he has seen in the thirty years he’s been involved in kiruv.

A nation scattered across the world has been shaken into reality. Jews who hadn’t opened a siddur in years are now whispering Tehillim. Secular hands hold onto tzitzis. Bat Yam and Bnei Brak cry together. A nation is turning – slowly, painfully, but unmistakably – back to its Source.

We are being summoned to rediscover our soul. Teshuvah is no longer a theoretical concept. It is our lifeline. Hashem is not distant. He is reaching for us, and thankfully, we are reaching back.

That is what these historic times are meant to do. They strip away the noise, the illusions, and the layers we’ve wrapped around ourselves until we are left face to face with the truth we’ve always known – that we are in Hashem’s Hands.

Not in theory, not in a drosha, but in the stillness after the sirens, in the helplessness of the unanswered call, in the cry of a nation that knows no one else can save us. Those who pay close attention can hear, in the sounds of the sirens and the falling bombs, the resonances of a shofar and the footsteps of Moshiach fast approaching.

We do not understand the cheshbonos. We do not know why so many had to suffer. But we must know that this is the final refining, that the world is being hollowed to make room for eternal brachos.

We, who merit to live in the time of ikvesa d’Meshicha, know that the cracks in the world are not signs of destruction, but labor pangs before rebirth.

There is pain. But there is also awakening. There is tragedy. But there is also clarity. We are watching a world unravel, not randomly, but precisely and purposefully, preparing for something greater.

Don’t be influenced by the naysayers or the media. The present chaos is not the end. It is the beginning. We are being prevented from traveling to Eretz Yisroel, and those who are there are being held back from their regular routines, but know that very soon, all of Klal Yisroel will be brought to Eretz Yisroel on kanfei neshorim and will live lives of incomparable bliss.

{Matzav.com}

CIA Director: Iran’s Nuclear Program Has Been Severely Damaged

Matzav -

CIA Director John Ratcliffe issued a public statement Wednesday addressing the current state of Iran’s nuclear program following recent military actions.

“CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes. This includes new intelligence from an historically reliable and accurate source/method that several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years,” he said.

Ratcliffe noted that intelligence gathering is ongoing and that relevant officials continue to be briefed. He added that the agency would also work to keep the American people informed. “CIA continues to collect additional reliably sourced information to keep appropriate decision-makers and oversight bodies fully informed. When possible, we will also provide updates and information to the American public, given the national importance of this matter and in every attempt to provide transparency,” added Ratcliffe.

In a separate announcement earlier that day, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reinforced the assessment, explaining that the recent airstrikes had inflicted long-term setbacks on Iran’s nuclear development.

“New intelligence confirms what POTUS has stated numerous times: Iran’s nuclear facilities have been destroyed. If the Iranians chose to rebuild, they would have to rebuild all three facilities (Natanz, Fordow, Esfahan) entirely, which would likely take years to do,” Gabbard wrote in a post on X.

She went on to call out major media networks, accusing them of distorting the facts in their coverage. “The propaganda media has deployed their usual tactic: selectively release portions of illegally leaked classified intelligence assessments (intentionally leaving out the fact that the assessment was written with ‘low confidence’) to try to undermine President Trump’s decisive leadership and the brave servicemen and women who flawlessly executed a truly historic mission to keep the American people safe and secure,” she wrote.

The previous evening, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to denounce reports by CNN and the New York Times, both of which questioned the effectiveness of the strikes.

“Fake news CNN, together with the failing New York Times, have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history. The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed! Both the Times and CNN are getting slammed by the public!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Trump also reposted remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who strongly defended the outcome of the military action. “Based on everything we have seen — and I’ve seen it all — our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons.”

Hegseth emphasized the precision and power of the bombing operation, pushing back against any suggestion that the results were overstated. “Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target—and worked perfectly. The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission,” added Hegseth.

{Matzav.com}

Sukkos In North Korea? Hoping To Boost Tourism, Kim Jong Un Opening A Tourist Site On Its East Coast

Yeshiva World News -

North Korea next week will open a signature tourist site on its east coast that it called a prelude to a new era in its tourism industry, though there is no word on when the country will fully reopen its borders to foreign visitors. The Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone has hotels and other accommodations for nearly 20,000 guests who can swim in the sea, play sports and other recreation activities and eat at restaurants and cafeterias on site, state media said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toured the site and cut the inaugural tape at a lavish ceremony Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday. He said its construction would be recorded as “one of the greatest successes this year” and called the site “the proud first step” toward realizing the government’s policy of developing tourism, according to KCNA. The Wonsan-Kalma zone will begin service for domestic tourists next Tuesday, KCNA said. But it didn’t say when it will start receiving foreign tourists. Kim has been pushing to make the country a tourism hub as part of efforts to revive the ailing economy, and the Wonsan-Kalma zone is one of his most talked-about tourism projects. KCNA reported North Korea will confirm plans to build large tourist sites in other parts of the country, too. But North Korea hasn’t fully lifted the travel curbs, including a ban on foreign tourists, that were imposed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting from February 2024, North Korea has been accepting Russian tourists amid the booming military and other partnerships between the two countries, but Chinese group tours, which made up more than 90% of visitors before the pandemic, remain stalled. In February this year, a small group of international tourists visited the country for the first time in five years, but tourist agencies said in March that their tours to North Korea were paused. (AP)

Sukkos In North Korea? Hoping To Boost Tourism, Kim Jong Un Opening A Tourist Site On Its East Coast

Yeshiva World News -

North Korea next week will open a signature tourist site on its east coast that it called a prelude to a new era in its tourism industry, though there is no word on when the country will fully reopen its borders to foreign visitors. The Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone has hotels and other accommodations for nearly 20,000 guests who can swim in the sea, play sports and other recreation activities and eat at restaurants and cafeterias on site, state media said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toured the site and cut the inaugural tape at a lavish ceremony Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday. He said its construction would be recorded as “one of the greatest successes this year” and called the site “the proud first step” toward realizing the government’s policy of developing tourism, according to KCNA. The Wonsan-Kalma zone will begin service for domestic tourists next Tuesday, KCNA said. But it didn’t say when it will start receiving foreign tourists. Kim has been pushing to make the country a tourism hub as part of efforts to revive the ailing economy, and the Wonsan-Kalma zone is one of his most talked-about tourism projects. KCNA reported North Korea will confirm plans to build large tourist sites in other parts of the country, too. But North Korea hasn’t fully lifted the travel curbs, including a ban on foreign tourists, that were imposed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting from February 2024, North Korea has been accepting Russian tourists amid the booming military and other partnerships between the two countries, but Chinese group tours, which made up more than 90% of visitors before the pandemic, remain stalled. In February this year, a small group of international tourists visited the country for the first time in five years, but tourist agencies said in March that their tours to North Korea were paused. (AP)

Khamenei, Whose Fate Was Unclear, Delivers Live Video Message, Proclaims “Victory” Over Israel, US

Yeshiva World News -

Rumors have been swirling about the fate of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who went into hiding after the launch of Israel’s war against the Islamic Republic, with some reports speculating that he was badly injured or even killed. The rumors were put to rest on Thursday when Khanemei delivered a live televised speech, his first public statement since the ceasefire was declared. Unsurprisingly, Khamenei spouted lies and propaganda about Iran’s “victory” and even claimed that the Islamic Republic delivered a “harsh slap to America’s face” and “crushed the Zionist state.” He added that the US felt forced to join the war out of fear that “the Zionist regime would be totally destroyed.” Khamenei also claimed that Trump exaggerated about the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear sites, saying that “the US hit them but didn’t achieve much,” and categorically rejected Trump’s demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Khamenei, Whose Fate Was Unclear, Delivers Live Video Message, Proclaims “Victory” Over Israel, US

Yeshiva World News -

Rumors have been swirling about the fate of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who went into hiding after the launch of Israel’s war against the Islamic Republic, with some reports speculating that he was badly injured or even killed. The rumors were put to rest on Thursday when Khanemei delivered a live televised speech, his first public statement since the ceasefire was declared. Unsurprisingly, Khamenei spouted lies and propaganda about Iran’s “victory” and even claimed that the Islamic Republic delivered a “harsh slap to America’s face” and “crushed the Zionist state.” He added that the US felt forced to join the war out of fear that “the Zionist regime would be totally destroyed.” Khamenei also claimed that Trump exaggerated about the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear sites, saying that “the US hit them but didn’t achieve much,” and categorically rejected Trump’s demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Netanyahu Halts Aid To Gaza After Footage Emerges Of Hamas Seizing It

Yeshiva World News -

Footage of Hamas terrorists commandeering trucks of humanitarian aid that were transferred into Gaza without being inspected was published on Wednesday, raising the ire of many Israelis. In the wake of the footage, Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a tense conversation, during which Smotrich threatened to topple the government if Israel continues to provide supplies to its own enemies. Shortly later, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz published a statement saying that they had suspended the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and ordered the IDF to present a plan within 48 hours to prevent Hamas from seizing humanitarian aid. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted the video and stated: “The humanitarian aid currently entering Gaza is an absolute disgrace. What is needed in Gaza is not a temporary halt of the ‘humanitarian’ aid, but a complete cessation of it.” “When I warned and alerted, and sadly the only one who voted a month and a half ago against allowing the aid, which was clear to me would provide oxygen to Hamas, there were those who mocked me and claimed that ‘the aid entering the northern Strip would only be for 10 days.’ And now it is becoming clear what was known in advance: Hamas is taking control of the quantities of food and goods, which contribute to its survival.” “Stopping the aid will quickly advance us toward victory. I will demand from the Prime Minister that in the next cabinet meeting, the issue of allowing aid into the Strip be brought up for a renewed vote.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Pages

Subscribe to NativUSA Portal aggregator