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WATCH: Israeli Fighter Jets Fly Over Beirut, Sonic Booms Heard as Hezbollah Leader Delivers Major Speech
REVENGE ATTACKS: Ten Wounded In Two Separate Hezbollah Attacks On Northern Israel
Ten people were wounded in northern Israel on Thursday in two separate attacks by Iran’s Lebanese terror proxy Hezbollah, according to Hebrew media reports.
In the morning, eight people were wounded when two anti-tank missiles fired from Lebanon struck the Ramim Ridge area of Israel’s Upper Galilee.
According to Channel 12, six of the victims were evacuated to Ziv Medical Center in Safed, while the remaining two were transported to Rambam Hospital in Haifa. Kan News reported that the two taken to Rambam were listed as being in moderate to serious condition.
Israeli troops reportedly responded with artillery fire at the launch site.
In the afternoon, two people were wounded by a drone strike near the town of Ya’ara in the Western Galilee.
The IDF said that “an explosive UAV was identified falling adjacent to the community of Ya’ara. No fragments were identified falling in the area of the community.”
The military also said that on Thursday afternoon a drone was detected crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory and impacting adjacent to Beit Hillel.
“Israel Fire and Rescue Services are currently operating to extinguish a fire that erupted as a result of the fragments. No injuries were reported. No fragments were identified falling inside the area of the community,” the IDF reported.
Hezbollah took responsibility for launching the drones, saying they were fired at artillery positions near Beit Hillel and that it was in revenge for IDF strikes in Southern Lebanon, in particular Kfarkela.
Channel 12 also published a video capturing a direct hit on a chicken coop in the moshav of Margaliot in the Upper Galilee.
IAF strikes Hezbollah sites
The Israeli Air Force overnight Wednesday struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in seven areas of Southern Lebanon, the military said on Thursday morning.
Buildings used by the Iranian terrorist proxy were hit in the areas of Chihine, Taybeh, Blida, Meiss, El Jabal, Aitaroun and Kfarkela.
In addition, a Hezbollah weapons storage facility was struck in the area of Khiam.
“The IDF will continue to operate against the threat of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in order to defend the State of Israel,” the army said.
JNSIDF Fighter jets Buzz Beirut As Nasrallah Speech Gets Underway
Search For Suspect In Kentucky Highway Shooting Ends With Discovery Of Shooter’s Body
Trump’s Expected Visit to Williamsburg’s Gottlieb’s Restaurant Cancelled Following Owner’s Passing
Donald Trump’s highly anticipated visit to Gottlieb’s Restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn today has been cancelled following the sudden passing of R’ Shalom Yosef Gottlieb z”l, the restaurant’s longtime owner. R’ Shalom Yosef was 75.
Sources close to the situation have indicated that while there is a possibility the visit could be relocated, it is unlikely due to security concerns.
The beloved restaurant, known as a cornerstone in the Williamsburg community for decades, had been a planned stop for Trump during his visit to New York City.
Further details about any rescheduling or alternative plans have yet to be confirmed.
R’ Shalom Yosef was renowned not just for his role as the owner of Gottlieb’s, but for his boundless kindness and chesed that touched the lives of many. Known for his giving nature and selflessness, R’ Gottlieb quietly helped those in need, providing meals to families who couldn’t afford them and extending a hand of support to anyone who walked through his doors. His humility was evident in the way he went about his acts of kindness, never seeking recognition, but always ensuring that no one left his restaurant hungry or in need. His generosity and warm heart made him a beloved figure in the Williamsburg community, where his legacy of chesed will continue to inspire all who knew him.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Multitudes Across the Globe to Participate in 10th Annual Dirshu Yom Limud and Tefillah on Yahrtzeit of the Chofetz Chaim
Trump on Long Island: I’m No Threat to Democracy, Dems Are
Former President Donald Trump addressed an enthusiastic audience in Uniondale, New York, on Wednesday evening, asserting that he has a message for Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats: Despite their efforts to incite fear, he claims that they are the real threat to democracy, not him.
“The message is, it’s time to stop the lies,” Trump declared at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island. His rally was broadcast live on Newsmax and streamed online via Newsmax2. This event marked his first campaign rally since the Secret Service thwarted a second assassination attempt on him in Florida the previous Sunday.
“Stop the hoaxes,” Trump urged. “Stop the smears. Stop the lawfare and the fake lawsuits against me and stop claiming your opponents will turn America into a dictatorship.
“Give me a break. Because the fact is that I’m not a threat to democracy, they are. They’re doing things in politics that have never been done before in the history of our country, and worst of all, with their open borders and bad elections, they have made us into a Third-World nation, something which nobody thought was even possible. Americans deserve a campaign based on the issues. We try and keep it on the issues.”
Trump expressed gratitude to God for his survival once again. The first attempt on his life occurred on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, when he was hit in the right ear by a bullet fired from about 130 yards away by Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20.
On Sunday, while golfing in Palm Beach, Florida, a Secret Service agent shot at a suspected assailant, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who was hiding in the bushes several hundred yards away from Trump’s location on the golf course.
“There are those that say he did it because Trump is going to turn this state around, he’s going to turn this country around, he’s going to make America great again and we’re going to bring back the religion into our country,” Trump said.
“These encounters with death have not broken my will. They have really given me a much bigger and stronger mission. They’ve only hardened my resolve to use my time on earth to make America great again for all Americans, to put America first.”
WATCH (SKIP TO MINUTE 23:00):
{Matzav.com}
Report: Gallant Apologizes To Netanyahu, Asks For A New Start
BD”E: Owner Of Gottlieb’s Restaurant, R’ Shulem Yosef, Niftar Hours Before Trump Visit
WATCH THIS: Jewish Democrat Shabbos Kestenbaum Speaks at Trump Rally, Calls for Unity Against Antisemitism
Atzeres Tefillah in Newark to Address Giyus Crisis in Eretz Yisroel
An atzeres tefillah will be held this coming Sunday, September 22, at 450 Broad Street in Newark, NJ, in response to the ongoing giyus (military draft) crisis in Eretz Yisroel.
The event will run from 1 PM to 5 PM.
Admorim and gedolei roshei yeshivos have expressed support for the atzeres tefillah, with details at this prior Matzav.com report.
The gathering, which posters titled “זעקת הגולה,” is being organized with the participation of various kehillos.
The posters promoting the event emphasize the seriousness of the situation, calling on the broader Jewish Diaspora to stand in solidarity with their brethren in Eretz Yisroel. The slogan on the posters, “כולכם נקבצו באו לך,” encourages widespread attendance to raise a collective voice in tefillah.
Participants will come together in Newark to daven for a favorable resolution to this crisis and for the safety and preservation of Yidden and Torah institutions in Eretz Yisroel.
{Matzav.com}
Hackers Demand $6 Million For Files Stolen From Seattle Airport Operator In Cyberattack
Ocasio-Cortez Blames Israel For Pager Blasts In Lebanon: “This Attack Violates Int’l Law”
In a public statement on social media, Squad member and anti-Israel U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) condemned Israel for allegedly launching a “pager attack” in Lebanon, which she claims resulted in the detonation of handheld devices in public spaces, leading to severe injuries and civilian deaths.
“Israel’s pager attack in Lebanon detonated thousands of handheld devices across a slew of public spaces, seriously injuring and killing innocent civilians,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.
She went on to describe the attack as a clear violation of international law, stating, “This attack clearly and unequivocally violates international humanitarian law and undermines US efforts to prevent a wider conflict.”
Ocasio-Cortez called on Congress to investigate the incident, particularly looking into whether the U.S. government had any role in aiding the development or deployment of the technology used in the attack. “Congress needs a full accounting of the attack, including an answer from the State Department as to whether any US assistance went into the development or deployment of this technology,” she wrote.
The exact nature of the “pager attack” is unclear. There has been no official statement from the Israeli government or military.
{Matzav.com}
Biden-Harris Admin’s Signature Immigration Programs Let In 1.3 Million Migrants — Including Gang Members and Terror Suspects
Just months before Luis Miguel Calzadilla-Rojas — a Venezuelan migrant and alleged member of the Tren de Aragua gang — was detained after a shooting outside a probation office in Aurora, Colorado, he had gained entry to the United States through a controversial immigration initiative launched by the Biden-Harris administration, the NY Post reports.
Calzadilla-Rojas entered the country by using CBP One, an application designed to offer asylum seekers a lawful way into the United States.
He is one of the 1.3 million migrants who have been permitted to enter the U.S. through legal channels established by the Biden-Harris administration over the past two years.
These programs were initiated without input or approval from Congress.
Sources within Homeland Security have revealed to The Post that minimal vetting takes place for many migrants, particularly if their countries of origin — such as Venezuela, Haiti, and Cuba — do not cooperate with U.S. law enforcement agencies.
“It doesn’t surprise me that gang members get in so easily and frequently,” one source commented to The Post.
Calzadilla-Rojas is not the only person who has made it through the loopholes in the CBP One program.
In June, federal authorities arrested three suspected ISIS members from Tajikistan who had used the CBP One app to gain entry into the U.S., as per data from the Department of Homeland Security provided to the House Judiciary Committee.
Additionally, the program enabled the entry of two other suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang, who were later arrested in connection with an attempted murder in Aurora in late July.
The Biden-Harris administration introduced the CBP One app in January 2023, with President Biden asserting that it would help manage the flow of migrants entering the country illegally.
The app allows migrants to schedule appointments with immigration officials to review their requests for entry into the U.S. Applicants are required to be outside the country — typically across the border in Mexico — when applying.
President Biden argued that by offering asylum seekers a legal route into the country, they could undergo screening and avoid having to rely on cartel-run human smugglers.
However, critics, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who filed a lawsuit against the policy, claimed the administration was “inviting illegal aliens to cross the border.”
Following the policy’s implementation, there was a dramatic increase in illegal border crossings, with over 2 million migrants entering the U.S. between February 2023 and April 2024, peaking at 117,000 crossings in May alone.
Since January 2023, the app has facilitated the entry of approximately 813,000 migrants through southern border ports of entry.
The overwhelming demand for the CBP One system has led the Mexican government to assist by busing migrants to the U.S. border, allowing them to reach their appointments with CBP more swiftly.
In addition to the app, the Biden administration has permitted 30,000 Cuban, Haitian, Venezuelan, and Nicaraguan migrants to fly into the U.S. via commercial flights. To date, 530,000 migrants have arrived in the U.S. on such flights.
Although the flight program was briefly paused due to widespread fraud, it has since resumed.
Altogether, these programs have allowed 1.3 million migrants into the country.
While these entry methods continue to bring in thousands of migrants each month, the Biden-Harris administration has touted its success at the border. According to the administration, illegal crossings have fallen to their lowest levels since Biden took office, following the introduction of new restrictions on asylum seekers.
After three years of record-high illegal crossings, encounters with Border Patrol agents dropped to approximately 83,000 in June, 56,000 in July, and 58,000 in August, according to federal statistics.
“CBP continues to enforce the Securing the Border interim final rule and deliver strong consequences for illegal entry, and encounters between ports of entry remain at their lowest level in years,” Troy Miller, the acting chief of Customs and Border Protection, said in a recent statement.
The controversial CBP One app has faced harsh criticism from Republicans, who argue that it grants legal entry to migrants with no legitimate right to be in the U.S.
Former President Donald Trump has vowed to “terminate the Kamala phone app for smuggling illegals (CBP One App).”
Mark Green, the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, expressed his disapproval at a border hearing on Wednesday, accusing the Biden-Harris administration of orchestrating a “shell-game” and using entry programs as part of “a sleight of hand to skew the numbers.”
Critics maintain that the recent arrests of gang members and terror suspects demonstrate that CBP One has not enhanced border security.
When Calzadilla-Rojas utilized the CBP One app, he entered the U.S. through the Paso Del Norte port of entry in El Paso, Texas, in August 2023, according to sources within Homeland Security.
Although officers processing Calzadilla-Rojas conducted the required background checks, they found no records on him — likely due to the absence of information-sharing agreements between the U.S. and Venezuela, sources added.
He was granted entry into the U.S. on a two-year parole status, with the chance to seek an extended stay at a court hearing scheduled for April 2026, sources said.
Later, Calzadilla-Rojas was one of ten members of the violent Venezuelan street gang apprehended in connection with a January 3 shooting outside the Arapahoe County Probation Office in Aurora, Colorado, an area with a significant migrant population, according to police.
He has since been identified by the Aurora Police Department as a “documented member of TdA.”
Although he initially informed federal authorities that he would reside in Madison, Wisconsin, Calzadilla-Rojas was arrested nearly 1,000 miles away outside of Denver — a major hub for the Venezuelan gang in the U.S.
House Rejects Temporary Funding Bill To Avoid Government Shutdown
Hashem’s Embrace
By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Though it may be cliché to say that we are living in troubling times, it is true. Over the past few years, we have lost many of our great men and leaders. If you think about it, the number of people we looked up to and turned to for guidance who are no longer with us is tragically overwhelming. We peer into the void and wonder if, and how, it can be filled. Just recently, we lost a leading, towering rosh yeshiva, who was a mentor and guide to thousands, and a rebbe who was respected as a talmid chochom and tzaddik.
Tragedies abound. Young people hover between life and death, and just this past Sunday, there was a levayah for a young mother who suddenly took ill and passed away shortly thereafter.
Eretz Yisroel has been at war for almost a year, facing attacks from the north, south, east and west, with prospects for more attacks and a more intense double-pronged war developing. The country is unstable and ripping itself apart.
As Elul, the month of rachamim (mercy), is upon us, it appears that we have been in a period of din for too long now. What can we do to earn Hashem’s mercy so that He brings an end to our pain, suffering and losses?
This week’s parsha discusses the brachos that were delivered at Har Gerizim and the klalos that were delivered at Har Eivol. The people who follow the mitzvos of Hashem would be blessed and those who wouldn’t would be cursed.
The posuk (28:47) states that the reason the curses would befall a person is because he did not serve Hashem through joy and happiness. Many wonder why performing a mitzvah without simcha causes a person to become cursed and punished. After all, he did perform the mitzvah.
We will offer an explanation.
Last week, in Parshas Ki Seitzei, we studied 74 mitzvos, the most contained in any parsha. The most intriguing mitzvah there is the one that Chazal say never happened, namely, the ben sorer umoreh, the deviant son.
While the posuk states that he didn’t obey his parents, the Gemara (Sanhedrin 71a), quoted in Rashi, teaches that the mitzvah relates to a 13-year-old boy who stole and ate meat and wine. He is brought to bais din, and if the charges are proven, he is put to death.
What did he do to deserve the ultimate penalty? Rashi quotes the Gemara (ibid. 71b) that he is punished al sheim sofo, because if he engages in this activity, he will eventually commit acts that are punishable by death.
The Ramban gives two reasons for his severe punishment. One is that he mocked his parents and rebelled against them, and the second is that he is a zollel vesovei, a glutton. “By doing so, he is transgressing the commandment of kedoshim tihiyu, to be a holy people (Vayikra 19:2). He has also transgressed the commandments earlier in Devorim (13:5) of “ve’oso sa’avodu…uvo sidbokun – to serve Hashem and to connect to Him.”
He continues: “As I explained (Devorim 6:13), this indicates that we are to know Hashem [and include Him] bechol derocheinu, in all we do, and a person who eats and drinks such as this one will not know the derech Hashem, the path of Hashem.” The one who conducts himself in this way has veered from the path of Hashem and will never be able to get back onto it.
Not only doesn’t he have his priorities straight, but the ben sorer umoreh thinks that life is about having a good time and seeks ways to increase enjoyment. He doesn’t understand that the purpose of a Jew’s life is, as the Ramban writes, to serve Hashem and follow the path that He set out for us.
Someone who spends his days seeking pleasure will never be satiated. He’ll never have enough and he’ll never be happy. There will always be another restaurant to try out, another plane to procure, a bigger and more upscale home to move to, and a faster, nicer, more comfortable car to be driven in.
In this introspective month of Elul, we work on perfecting ourselves. One of the prime seforim people study to guide them in this pursuit is the classic Mesillas Yeshorim, written by the Ramchal. He opens the sefer by stating that at the root of being a meritorious person who properly serves Hashem is to know and understand our obligation in this world, to serve Hashem and to enjoy basking in the light of His presence.
We all know, and it should be obvious, that the world did not come into existence by itself. Through a cursory examination of a tiny fly, with its legs, wings, brain, eyes, digestive system, and more, it becomes evident that even such a small creature is far too complex to have simply evolved by chance.
Look at a tree growing in your backyard and reflect on its growth and internal irrigation system—how it sprouts fresh green leaves in the spring, which then change color and fall off in autumn—and it becomes obvious that this process didn’t happen by itself.
Since Hakadosh Boruch Hu created the world, He did so with a purpose. If the purpose of creation were simply for people to enjoy themselves, why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? Why does each person experience sadness, grief, anguish, and loss? There must be a higher reason for Hashem’s creation, especially of Am Yisroel, who Chazal teach are the very purpose of creation.
We are here as Hashem’s children, as the posuk says, “Bonim atem laHashem Elokeichem” (Devorim 14:1). We were created to observe Hashem’s mitzvos, to study His Torah, and to walk on the path He has paved for us. We must know that this is our purpose in life and behave accordingly. Those who do so earn the blessings of Hashem, as expressed in the Torah and specifically in this week’s parsha.
Additionally, by fulfilling our obligations, we become satisfied with ourselves and feel content in knowing that we are succeeding in life. Doing what we are meant to do nourishes our neshamos and brings us joy, gratification and a sense of attainment.
A person who understands that by performing mitzvos he brings brocha upon himself and fulfills the very purpose of his life will approach each mitzvah with joy. Someone who truly appreciates the inherent value of mitzvos will eagerly seize every opportunity to perform them. Procuring an esrog, for instance, is not seen as a burden; rather, he happily goes from place to place, seeking the finest esrog he can afford. He eagerly anticipates making the brocha and shaking it together with the lulav, hadasim, and aravos. With gratitude, he thanks Hashem for granting him the life and merit to perform this mitzvah, and he shakes them with joy and pride. This is true for every mitzvah.
Our original question is now answered. A person who does not perform mitzvos with joy reveals a lack of understanding of his true purpose in life. He fails to appreciate that the Creator, who sustains him, has asked him to fulfill these mitzvos. To paraphrase the Ramban’s words regarding the ben sorer umoreh, such a person does not know the derech Hashem, the path of Hashem upon which good people walk.
A most important task for parents is to be mechanech children to understand the correct priorities in life. This is not only crucial for their growth and success. It goes to the very core of their being and lives as bnei and bnos Yisroel.
The yeitzer hora is cunning, and young people who are not yet aware of its tricks can easily become entangled in material desires and peer pressures. We must guide them to follow the right path and emphasize Torah values that provide lasting fulfillment and joy. They need to understand that, as children of the Melech Malchei Hamelachim, they should conduct themselves with the dignity of royalty.
The most effective way to instill these values is through example, by learning with them and sharing meaningful divrei Torah and stories.
There is a new, fascinating sefer on the life of the Chofetz Chaim written by Rav Dov Eliach. He discusses that the Chofetz Chaim would wear simple clothes, but they were always perfectly clean and fitting, for he was a “ben Melech” and always conducted himself as such. All through the day, everything he did was for Hashem. He always sought to be connected with Hashem and was never distracted from his task of walking in the derech Hashem and acting as Hashem would want.
When he would get dressed, he would say, “I am doing this lesheim Hashem.” When he aged and began encountering difficulty in putting on his shoes, he said each time, “Ribono Shel Olam, I am doing this for Your honor.”
When he washed himself, he said, “Lesheim Hashem,” and when he wrote a letter, he would dip his pen into the bottle of ink and proclaim, “Lechvod Hashem.”
Everything was about Hashem, for he knew that his purpose in this world was to serve Hashem, and he knew that he was a favorite son to the Melech.
We need to follow his example and learn the lesson of the ben sorer umoreh, understanding what Hashem wants from us and consistently walking His path with the dignity of royalty. By doing so, we will merit Hashem’s brachos and experience true happiness, regardless of our circumstances. We will recognize that Hashem created the world and placed us in it for a supreme purpose.
We would dedicate our time to pursuing mitzvos and acting with kindness towards others. We would speak appropriately, dress properly, always be neat and clean, avoid places we don’t belong, and strive to be righteous and exemplary in all our actions.
We would earn the brachos listed in this week’s parsha, as would our children and others who follow our example.
And if we err, or fall from the path, we would get back on. We would regret our mistakes, do teshuvah, and be welcomed back into Hashem’s embrace.
We can all reach that level. We can all aspire to be like the Chofetz Chaim and other great tzaddikim, growing in Torah and avodah, if we maintain proper, eternal priorities and avoid being misled by trivial pursuits. Chasing fleeting pleasures that quickly disappear and offer little lasting value will only leave us with an empty feeling.
Elul, the Chassidic masters taught, stands for “lo anachnu.” We are Hashem’s. “Lo anachnu” – we are not for ourselves.
Elul is the time to forsake our silly wants and desires, and to recognize that we are Hashem’s. If we acknowledge that we are His, He will respond by affirming our connection and showing us mercy, just as a parent shows mercy to his children.
We have just passed the midway point of Elul. There is still much to do, but if we are on the derech Hashem and take steps towards rectifying our actions and bringing ourselves closer to Hashem, He will reach out to us, bring us all the way aboard, and grant us a kesivah vachasimah tovah. Kein yehi ratzon.
{Matzav.com}
NYT: This Is How Israel Duped Hezbollah Into Buying Sabotaged Pagers
Eighteen Containers Of Military Equipment Stolen From Israeli Base In Negev
U.S. Passports Can Now Be Renewed Online, State Department Announces
The U.S. State Department revealed on Wednesday that adult U.S. passports can now be renewed online, eliminating the need for the previous process, which required applicants to print forms and send checks by mail.
In a statement, the State Department explained, “By offering this online alternative to the traditional paper application process, the Department is embracing digital transformation to offer the most efficient and convenient passport renewal experience possible.” They also noted that “thanks to increased staffing, technological advancements, and a host of other improvements, the average routine passport is being processed today in roughly one-third the time as at the same point last summer, and well under the advertised six to eight weeks processing times.”
The online renewal system, which began as a public beta in June, is now fully operational and available around the clock.
Although the method for renewing a passport has changed, the requirements remain the same. Users must upload a passport photo, pay the associated fees, and meet certain deadlines. Just like with the mail-in process, only passports that expired within the last five years are eligible for online renewal.
Currently, this online option is only open to adults residing in the United States or its territories. Children’s passports, as well as those of Americans living abroad, cannot yet be renewed through the new system.
Rena Bitter, the assistant secretary of consular affairs, informed the media on Wednesday that passport processing times are still between six to eight weeks.
“The benefit of online passport renewal is that it’s a more convenient service,” Bitter emphasized. “We don’t expect to have a different service standard for people who apply online versus people who apply by mail. We just want to make sure that we give the American people a choice to be able to do either.”
In 2021, due to staffing shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues, the time required for passport renewals surged to 18 weeks, despite lower demand. By 2023, with more Americans traveling internationally again, the system became further strained. However, the State Department later announced that processing times had returned to normal.
As of 2023, about 48% of U.S. citizens possessed passports, a notable rise from just 5% in 1990, according to the State Department.
{Matzav.com}