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Hadassah Carlebach, a Holocaust survivor who as a young girl worked alongside her father to rescue and care for hundreds of Jewish children in Nazi-occupied France, passed away Sunday in New York at the age of 99.

Mrs. Carlebach lived through Soviet persecution, survived the horrors of Nazi-occupied Europe and later devoted much of her life to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and transmitting a legacy of Jewish faith and courage to future generations. She was also a relative of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose second cousin was her father, Rav Schneur Zalman Schneerson. Through her husband, she was the sister-in-law of Rav Shlomo Carlebach.

Mrs. Carlebach was born Hadassah Schneerson in 1927 in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, in the Soviet Union. Her family, committed Chassidim who refused to submit to the Communist regime’s religious restrictions, lacked legal status in the country. Her mother, Sarah, was unable to be admitted to a hospital to give birth because she did not possess the necessary identification papers. A private doctor ultimately arranged for her to enter secretly through a rear entrance, allowing Hadassah to be born there. For approximately the first year of her life, Hadassah had no official documentation.

The family subsequently moved to Moscow, where her father helped transfer charitable funds from the United States to impoverished Jews. Their small apartment became a clandestine refuge for Jews attempting to escape the Soviet authorities. His activities came at a steep price: Rav Schneur Zalman was arrested by the Soviet secret police no fewer than 16 times. The family lived with the constant possibility that police could burst into their home, learning escape routes and hiding places by heart. The fear remained with Mrs. Carlebach for decades; she later recalled that whenever she entered an unfamiliar building, she instinctively looked for possible exits.

In 1935, as Soviet investigations of Jewish activists intensified, the family managed to leave the Soviet Union with the assistance of Jewish activist Dr. Yosef Rosen. Soviet authorities would not permit them to immigrate to the United States or Europe, but allowed them to travel to Eretz Yisroel. After a 12-day sea voyage, the family arrived in Jaffa. For the young Hadassah, life in Eretz Yisroel brought her the first real sense of security and calm she had experienced.

A year later, however, her father decided to relocate the family to Paris after finding it difficult to adjust to the socialist atmosphere prevalent at the time in the Tel Aviv area. In the French capital, he established the Kehillas Hachareidim organization, through which he founded a kosher soup kitchen, a shul and a Talmud Torah. Those institutions provided both physical and spiritual support for the growing stream of Jewish refugees arriving from across Europe.

After World War II began in 1939, the family’s rescue efforts expanded dramatically. Rav Schneur Zalman was appointed by the OSE Jewish humanitarian organization to operate a kosher children’s home at Château de Morelles. When the Nazis occupied France and deportations of Jews increased, the children’s home was moved south to Marseille.

Despite the desperate conditions and constant danger, Hadassah’s father refused to compromise on religious observance. The food remained strictly kosher, the children continued learning Torah and observing Shabbos and Yom Tov, and programs were even established to teach radio technology and fashion cutting so that the youngsters could acquire practical skills for their future.

Hadassah, still only a teenager herself, became deeply involved in caring for the children, serving as both a cook and teacher amid severe food shortages. She later recalled stretches during which they survived for weeks on little more than bread and green peppers, with each child allotted just one egg per month. Even under those conditions, the family maintained strict standards of kashrus. When margarine became available, her father sent a sample for chemical laboratory testing before allowing it into the kitchen.

On one Purim during the war, French officials secretly warned the family that the Gestapo planned to raid the children’s home the following day. Rav Schneur Zalman decided not to tell the children what was coming because he did not want to destroy their Purim celebration. While the festivities continued normally, preparations for an escape were being made behind the scenes. As soon as the celebration ended, the children were loaded onto trucks and spirited away to another hiding place.

Throughout the war, the children’s home moved repeatedly as the danger shifted, relocating from one site to another across France. During one episode, Hadassah’s mother was captured by the Nazis and subjected to severe torture before ultimately being released.

Most of the children under the family’s care were eventually smuggled across the border into neutral Switzerland and survived. The rescuers, however, could not save everyone. One group of 16 children was betrayed and deported to the Auschwitz death camp. Only one of them survived.

Hadassah herself narrowly escaped death on numerous occasions. During one incident, after a hiding place had been exposed, she was leading a group of children through snow-covered forests when she heard dogs barking and drawing closer. Paralyzed with fear, she found encouragement from an unlikely source: a little girl of about seven whispered to her that she should continue trusting in Hashem and keep moving. Hadassah found the strength to continue, and the group escaped.

Following the liberation of France in 1945, the family returned to Paris and began the painful process of trying to locate the children’s relatives. Thousands of letters were sent to municipalities throughout France. Some children were eventually reunited with their parents; others learned that they had been left entirely alone in the world.

The family immigrated to the United States in 1947. Two years later, Hadassah married Rav Eliyahu Chaim Carlebach, who later served as a rabbi at a Jewish center in New Jersey and became one of the leaders of the Carlebach Shul in Manhattan.

Throughout the decades that followed, Mrs. Carlebach continued sharing her testimony and working to preserve the memory of the Holocaust. In recounting what she had witnessed and endured, she repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining Jewish identity and pride even during the darkest periods of persecution.

Mrs. Carlebach leaves behind five daughters: Sterna Citron of Los Angeles, Sheina Berkowitz of Huntington Beach, Yocheved Dayan of Brooklyn, Frieda Laufer of Crown Heights and Esther Kugel of Crown Heights, as well as numerous grandchildren and descendants who continue in the path of Torah and Chassidus.

The levayah will take place Monday in New York and will pass in front of 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights before proceeding to the bais hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

Degel HaTorah’s official newspaper, Yated Ne’eman, addressed for the first time Monday the dramatic decision to remove longtime Knesset members Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev from the United Torah Judaism slate for the next election, insisting that the move should not be interpreted as a loss of confidence in the veteran lawmakers.

The newspaper stressed that Gafni and Maklev had acted throughout their years in public office in accordance with the instructions of the leading rabbonim and had done everything within their power to resolve the status of yeshiva students and kollel members amid the ongoing military draft crisis.

The report comes as the proposed changes to Degel HaTorah’s Knesset delegation still await approval by the party’s Council of Torah Sages.

Yated Ne’eman opened its report by stating: “The Council of Torah Sages of Degel HaTorah is currently approving the composition of the Knesset slate following a refreshing of its ranks with new representatives.”

The newspaper then directly rejected reports suggesting that the decision reflected dissatisfaction with the performance of the current Degel HaTorah representatives.

“It should be emphasized that, contrary to the false reports, the decision to refresh the ranks is not an expression of no confidence in the Degel HaTorah representatives, who carried out their activities throughout the entire term in accordance with the guidance of the leading Torah sages and consulted with them at every step. They acted in the same manner throughout all their years of public service, in accordance with the guidance of the leading Torah sages of blessed memory.”

Yated Ne’eman also addressed the failed efforts to pass legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students, arguing that the outcome should not be blamed on the party’s Knesset members.

“After the ‘draft law’ was thwarted and failed to advance, contrary to all the coalition promises that were repeatedly broken, the leading Torah sages noted in their letter (published in Yated Ne’eman) that the Knesset members did everything within their power to bring about a resolution of the status of yeshiva students and kollel members. The need to refresh the ranks therefore does not constitute an expression of no confidence, as various parties have attempted to claim.”

Notably, Yated Ne’eman did not mention either Gafni or Maklev by name in its report. It did, however, state that the Council of Torah Sages is currently reviewing and approving Degel HaTorah’s slate for the next Knesset.

The clarification follows reports by Matzav.com that several members of the Council of Torah Sages have voiced strong opposition in recent days to removing Gafni and Maklev, with some reportedly arguing that “outside considerations” had influenced the decision.

On Motzoei Shabbos, an official statement was issued from the home of Rav Dov Landau saying that he had sent personal letters to both lawmakers thanking them for their years of service. At the same time, Rav Landau informed them that, because of the decision to bring new representatives into the party’s ranks, they would be leaving the Knesset.

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who had initially been expected to join the letter, ultimately decided not to become involved in the move. According to the report, he told those close to him that he opposed removing Gafni and Maklev.

Senior figures close to Gafni, meanwhile, said that the effort to carry out the shake-up had been conducted “in the shadows,” while claiming that members of Rav Landau’s household had repeatedly denied that such a move was underway.

{Matzav.com}

Hunter Biden is leaving open the possibility of running for president in 2028, saying during a radio interview that he has not decided whether to seek the White House and joking that an endorsement from host John Catsimatidis might persuade him to enter the race.

During an episode of “The Cats Roundtable” released Sunday, Catsimatidis asked Biden whether he intended to run for president. Biden responded, “If I get your endorsement, I may have to.”

When the subject came up earlier in the interview, Biden gave a less committal answer, saying, “I haven’t made up my mind.”

“The truth of the matter is that I think we have an incredible bench,” Biden said, pointing to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker before adding: “I love Gavin Newsom, personally.”

Newsom, California’s Democratic governor, has publicly acknowledged considering a presidential campaign. In an interview with CBS News last October, he said he would be “lying” if he claimed he was not thinking about a possible White House bid following the 2026 midterm elections.

Other Democrats whose names have been discussed in connection with the 2028 race include Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, Kamala Harris, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Pete Buttigieg.

Biden said that regardless of who ultimately runs, he wants “the next president to commit to one thing: to commit to adhering to the rule of law. To commit to the idea that we believe in this constitutional republic and the aspirations of normal Americans.”

“I truly, truly want whoever is our president to succeed. But particularly succeed in keeping this country safe. That’s their primary responsibility,” he said.

An August Emerson College/The Hill survey tested hypothetical 2028 general-election matchups involving several possible Democratic and Republican candidates.

In those hypothetical contests, Newsom held narrow advantages over Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while Ocasio-Cortez trailed both Republicans. The results represented voter preferences at the time of the survey rather than predictions of the 2028 outcome.

Biden also said his immediate concern “is the 50 million Americans that are still suffering, sick … with their addictions.”

Biden, who has spoken publicly about his past struggles with substance abuse, said during the interview that he recently marked seven and a half years of sobriety. His latest comments about a possible presidential campaign come shortly after he dismissed the idea during an August appearance on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” where he joked that someone should check whether he had relapsed if he ever announced a run for president.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump will appear on both nights of the Republican National Committee’s inaugural midterm convention in Dallas, taking the stage twice as the GOP uses the two-day gathering to promote its candidates and agenda ahead of the November elections. The convention is scheduled for Sept. 9 and 10 at the American Airlines Center.

Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks on both nights of the convention, with the president giving the keynote address on the second night. Vice President JD Vance is slated to deliver the keynote on the opening night, according to the convention’s current official schedule.

The president had already indicated in August that he planned to attend the entire event, saying he would be there both nights “and rarin’ to go.”

The gathering, which RNC Chairman Joe Gruters has dubbed a “Trump-a-palooza,” features more than 100 scheduled items and speakers. The program includes appearances by candidates running in closely watched races as well as sessions focused on issues including congressional stock trading, immigration enforcement, taxes, health care, education and differences between the Republican and Democratic agendas.

A number of prominent administration officials and Republican leaders are also expected to participate, including Attorney General Todd Blanche, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Karoline Leavitt. Texas Attorney General and Senate candidate Ken Paxton, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming are among other Republicans slated to take part.

Several other prominent Republicans are expected to skip the gathering. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and Sens. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Mike Rounds of South Dakota are among those not attending, with Tuberville and Rounds remaining on the campaign trail in their respective states, according to Newsweek.

Reports have also indicated that some House Republicans decided against attending because of an alleged RNC fundraising requirement of at least $25,000 for lawmakers, with the top level reportedly set at $100,000. Neither President Trump nor convention organizers have confirmed that lawmakers are required to pay or raise money in order to attend.

Democrats, meanwhile, are planning their own events in Texas while Republicans gather in Dallas. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York announced Friday that four Democratic House members would travel to the city to present their party’s competing message.

“Americans are being crushed by rising costs. Republicans don’t care—they’re in Dallas, celebrating an out of touch President whose tariffs and wars are making things worse. We’re going to hold them accountable,” Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) said on the social platform X.

Crow is expected to be joined by Democratic Reps. Robert Garcia of California, Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania and Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California. The lawmakers are planning to work with the Texas Democratic Party and local groups on events timed to coincide with the Republican convention.

NewsNation reported Sunday that Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder are also among the Democrats planning events in the state during the GOP gathering.

The convention comes as both parties focus heavily on Texas, where Republicans are seeking to retain a Senate seat in a race between Paxton and Talarico. The state also became the first to redraw its congressional districts in Republicans’ favor after President Trump called for new maps.

Democratic-led states have responded with redistricting efforts of their own, most prominently in California. In Maryland, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a Democratic-backed redistricting referendum may appear on the November ballot, allowing voters to decide whether to approve the proposed congressional map.

{Matzav.com}

Families of those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and other victims are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to give them access to roughly $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan central bank assets as they seek to collect judgments previously entered against the Taliban.

In a petition filed Aug. 31 in Havlish v. The Taliban, the plaintiffs asked the high court to review a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit that prevented them from seizing funds held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to satisfy those judgments.

The dispute centers on the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, commonly known as TRIA.

Under that law, victims who have obtained terrorism-related judgments may pursue blocked assets belonging to a terrorist party, including property belonging to an agency or instrumentality of such a party.

The petitioners maintain that the Second Circuit wrongly imposed an additional condition, requiring that the connection between the terrorist group and the owner of the assets already have been in place at the time the property was initially frozen.

The claims stem from a series of lawsuits filed against the Taliban over the Sept. 11 attacks and other acts of terrorism.

In the Havlish case, relatives and estates of Americans murdered on Sept. 11 secured a default judgment establishing the Taliban’s liability in December 2011.

According to the petition submitted to the Supreme Court, approximately $2.09 billion in compensatory damages awarded to those plaintiffs remains unpaid.

Additional plaintiffs, including insurers and victims of subsequent terrorist attacks, have also obtained judgments against the Taliban.

The battle over the money took on new significance after the Taliban captured Kabul on Aug. 15, 2021, giving the group de facto control over Afghanistan’s central bank, Da Afghanistan Bank, known as DAB.

At the time, approximately $7 billion belonging to DAB was being held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Biden administration froze those funds and later arranged for half — $3.5 billion — to be placed in a separate fund established to benefit the Afghan population while preventing the Taliban from controlling the money.

The other approximately $3.5 billion has become the primary focus of efforts by the Sept. 11 victims and other judgment holders to collect what they are owed.

Those attempts were unsuccessful in the lower courts.

In August 2025, the Second Circuit upheld the decision preventing the plaintiffs from obtaining the assets, leading them to seek Supreme Court review.

The new petition argues that the appeals court’s interpretation is inconsistent with the language Congress used in TRIA as well as decisions from other appellate courts. The plaintiffs also contend that the ruling leaves terrorism victims with judgments worth billions of dollars but no ability to collect them.

The case against the Taliban represents one part of the extensive litigation that has followed the Sept. 11 attacks, including cases involving allegations against foreign governments and organizations.

Separately, Sept. 11 families have pursued litigation against Saudi Arabia under the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, legislation enacted by Congress in 2016.

In August 2025, U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels denied another Saudi attempt to have those claims dismissed, finding that sufficient evidence existed for the litigation to move forward.

Saudi Arabia appealed that ruling, and proceedings involving the kingdom in the district court have been placed on hold while the appeal is considered.

The Second Circuit is scheduled to hear oral arguments in that appeal on Oct. 7, 2026.

The continuing Saudi litigation is expected to focus in part on newly uncovered material, including records concerning allegations that Saudi individuals provided assistance to some of the Sept. 11 hijackers.

Although the cases involving the Taliban and Saudi Arabia raise separate legal issues, the Sept. 11 families pursuing them share the broader goal of obtaining accountability through the American court system.

Whether the Supreme Court agrees to take up the Taliban case could have enormous financial consequences. If the justices decline to intervene or ultimately uphold the lower-court ruling, the approximately $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan assets would remain unavailable to the judgment holders; a ruling in the victims’ favor could open a path for the funds to be used to satisfy judgments against the Taliban.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested giving New Mexico a new name — “New America” — sharing a map of the state in which “Mexico” was crossed out and replaced with “America.” The White House subsequently amplified the image, though no formal effort to rename the state has been announced.

The image appeared on Trump’s Truth Social account and showed the outline of the Southwestern state with a red mark through “Mexico” and “America” written in its place. The official White House account on X later reposted the image. Neither the original post nor the White House repost provided an explanation or indicated at the time that an official name change was underway.

The post came during a burst of social-media activity from Trump on Sunday. According to the New York Post, the president published 34 posts in less than an hour, including altered images portraying him as professional wrestling star Hulk Hogan and depicting Iran’s borders in the shape of Trump’s head.

Trump’s suggestion regarding New Mexico follows other efforts by his administration to give prominent geographic features America-themed names.

The president previously directed the federal government to use “Gulf of America” in place of the Gulf of Mexico. More recently, he ordered the federal government to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”

Renaming a state, however, is substantially different from changing the federal designation for a geographic feature. The president does not have the constitutional authority to unilaterally change a state’s legal name, and no formal process to rename New Mexico has been announced.

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The United States may ultimately prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon by destroying Tehran’s nuclear capabilities rather than reaching a negotiated agreement, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday, signaling that Washington is prepared to pursue its objectives even if diplomacy fails.

“There may not be a nuclear agreement. It may be simply destroying their capabilities to do it,” Wright said on ABC News’ “This Week.” “An agreement may await the next administration in Iran. We simply don’t know that.”

Wright’s remarks came as the U.S.-Iran conflict entered its seventh month and suggested that the Trump administration sees the destruction of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure as an alternative to securing an agreement with Tehran.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon is a central objective of the U.S. campaign. At the same time, his administration has continued to leave open the possibility of reaching a diplomatic settlement with Tehran as the prolonged conflict has disrupted energy markets and driven up fuel prices.

Asked whether U.S. forces would continue striking Iran if Tehran attempts to rebuild its nuclear infrastructure, Wright replied, “You have to destroy their capabilities to do it.”

“We are degrading their capacity to develop nuclear weapons and ultimately to deliver them if they develop them,” he said. “It is a 47-year-long effort. This is not trivial, but the United States will get the job done and we will work in cooperation with our allies in the region.”

Wright returned to the subject later Sunday during an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” where he stressed that the administration has not abandoned diplomacy.

Wright said the president’s preference “is always to have a negotiated settlement and not use a military solution unless absolutely necessary.”

The energy secretary also said that a major focus of the U.S. military campaign is now choking off Iran’s ability to sell energy products abroad.

“The biggest role of our military in the region right now is to stop the export of any Iranian crude or crude-related products, natural gas, whatever,” he said. “We are strangling their economy to try to bring either a change in policy from the existing regime or a new regime.”

The comments come amid a broader escalation of Washington’s economic pressure on Tehran. The Treasury Department last week launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” an effort Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has described as aimed at economically isolating Iran and depriving its government of revenue.

The economic campaign has been accompanied by renewed American military action. U.S. forces resumed strikes against Iranian targets over the past week, including attacks in the vicinity of Qeshm Island, Chabahar and Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz.

President Trump on Friday also raised the possibility of an American strike on Pickaxe Mountain, the heavily fortified Iranian underground facility associated with Tehran’s nuclear program.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump again said the United States would not permit Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” he said, before adding, “We may hit Pickaxe very soon…if there was anything going on with Pickaxe.”

Trump has also said that he does not expect the latest round of fighting with Iran to continue much longer.

Asked how long the renewed escalation might last, Trump responded, “Not too long”. He then suggested that Tehran’s ability to withstand continued American military pressure may be limited.

“I don’t think it will be very much longer. I don’t know how much more they can take,” Trump said of Iran.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of Belzer bochurim will daven in a special minyan in the “Groisse Shtub” on Rosh Hashanah due to overcrowding in the main bais medrash, while Belzer chassidim around the world continue to daven for the recovery of the Belzer Rebbe, who was hospitalized Sunday for medical tests.

Rav Shalom Rokeach, the eldest grandson of the Belzer Rebbe, announced the Rosh Hashanah arrangements after the recitation of the entire Tehillim in the main bais medrash, as is customary in Belz on the first day of Selichos. He addressed thousands of talmidim from the Belzer yeshivos who had gathered for the occasion.

According to sources, Rav Shalom informed the bochurim that because of the enormous crowds and lack of sufficient room in the main bais medrash, the Rebbe had approved plans for thousands of them to daven in a separate minyan in the Groisse Shtub during Rosh Hashanah.

Under the current plan, the Rebbe is expected to daven Shacharis with the bochurim in the Groisse Shtub on both days of Rosh Hashanah. He is then scheduled to join the main minyan in the large bais medrash for Mussaf.

The announcement came as Belzer chassidim across the world gathered Sunday to recite Tehillim for the Rebbe, Rav Yissachar Dov ben Miriam, who was admitted to the hospital for a series of tests. He is expected to remain hospitalized until Monday morning.

Earlier Sunday, the Rebbe was not feeling well and, for the first time since assuming leadership of Belz, did not lead the opening Selichos. His only son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, led the Selichos in his place.

An update on the Rebbe’s condition was issued Sunday evening by Rav Moshe Ringel, secretary of the Belzer Rebbe’s household.

“After all the tests that were conducted, it was discovered that there was an infection which has been brought under control. In light of the doctors’ recommendation that treatment for the infection begin in the hospital, the Rebbe will therefore remain in the hospital for the next 24 hours, and all chassidim are asked to continue davening for the complete recovery of Rav Yissachar Dov ben Miriam.”

Belzer communities around the world continued to recite Tehillim and daven for the Rebbe’s complete recovery, b’soch she’ar cholei Yisroel.

{Matzav.com}

Drivers heading to the Kosel in Yerushalayim can find themselves paying as much as 150 shekels for just several hours of parking, even as another garage only a short distance away charges dramatically less, according to an investigation by Emess.

With parking scarce around the Old City and vehicle access to the Kosel restricted at various times, motorists arriving in private cars are left with relatively few choices. One common option is parking near Jaffa Gate and continuing to the Kosel either on foot or aboard Superbus minibuses serving the Old City. Yet two parking garages located near each other in that area can leave drivers with strikingly different bills.

One driver whose experience was reported to Emess parked in the Karta parking garage last Thursday at approximately 12:30 p.m. and left at around 5 p.m. He was charged 150 shekels.

A review of the operator’s published rates showed that the regular Thursday rate is 37 shekels per hour, with a daily maximum of 150 shekels. As a result, someone spending only several hours visiting the Old City can reach a three-digit parking bill.

The difference becomes particularly striking when compared with the nearby Mamilla parking garage. According to information obtained by Emess, another motorist who parked at Mamilla for approximately the same amount of time paid only about 50 shekels. Mamilla also has a daily maximum of approximately 70 shekels.

That means two people visiting the Kosel for roughly the same period of time could park within a short distance of one another and have one pay more than twice as much as the other.

Karta and Mamilla are situated close together along Yitzchak Kariv Street near Jaffa Gate. For a motorist coming from outside Yerushalayim who is unfamiliar with the local parking options, however, there may be little indication that choosing one entrance over the other could result in a difference of many dozens of shekels.

From the perspective of an unfamiliar visitor, the garages may appear to be two nearby parking facilities serving essentially the same heavily visited area. The difference may become apparent only when it is time to pay.

The situation is particularly noteworthy because the two neighboring garages have been at the center of a competition dispute stretching back more than a decade.

Karta, a company created by the Israeli government and the Yerushalayim municipality to develop the Mamilla area, was approximately 74% owned by the state and 26% by the municipality. After falling deeply into debt, the company entered a lengthy liquidation process beginning in 2006-2007, with its assets subsequently sold over the years.

It was only in 2025, nearly two decades after the liquidation process began, that a creditors’ arrangement was approved, bringing one of Israel’s longest and most complicated liquidation proceedings to an end.

The history of the Karta garage contains a notable irony. When the property was put up for sale, Alrov, controlled by Alfred Akirov, submitted the highest bid, offering 110 million shekels.

The Antitrust Authority, however, blocked Alrov from acquiring the garage because the company already controlled the nearby Mamilla and David Citadel parking facilities. Regulators were concerned that allowing a single entity to control all three garages could undermine competition in the Old City area.

Following that decision, Karta was sold to REIT 1, which had submitted the second-highest bid of 107 million shekels.

It did not take long for questions to arise about whether the regulatory decision had actually benefited consumers. In 2015, after Karta raised its parking rates, Akirov criticized the Antitrust Authority and argued that a decision intended to preserve competition had instead hurt motorists.

The current pricing disparity highlights that unusual outcome. Mamilla is connected to a commercial complex that naturally has an interest in attracting visitors and therefore maintains comparatively moderate parking rates. At Karta, meanwhile, a driver can reach the 150-shekel daily maximum within just a few hours.

Choosing the less expensive garage, however, is not always possible.

Mamilla operates during limited hours, meaning that motorists arriving when the garage is closed — particularly early in the morning — may have fewer available alternatives. Karta, by contrast, operates around the clock.

For observant Jews, there is an additional concern: the Karta garage also operates on Shabbos. Central Park, the company that operates the garage, states on its website that Karta is open “24 hours” on “Shabbat and holidays,” and even publishes a separate pricing schedule for Shabbos.

As a result, an observant Jew traveling to daven at the Kosel may discover that one of the limited available parking options carries particularly high rates while being operated by a business that openly remains in operation on Shabbos.

The larger question raised by the investigation is how motorists trying to reach the Kosel can end up paying 150 shekels for only several hours of parking when a considerably cheaper garage is located nearby but is not available at all hours.

With enormous demand, a severe shortage of parking and relatively few convenient alternatives surrounding the Old City, the significant difference between the two garages has prompted questions about the pricing structure and the practical level of competition available to motorists.

Central Park defended Karta’s pricing in a statement to Emess, saying customers who use its app receive substantial discounts and arguing that its dynamic pricing system helps ensure that spaces remain available to more visitors.

“Users of the Central Park app enjoy significant discounts compared to the regular price list. On the Thursday in question, the maximum daily rate on the app was NIS 120. The Karta parking lot operates on a dynamic pricing model, which is intended, among other things, to make parking available to a large number of visitors to the Old City and Western Wall area. Significantly lower pricing would result in a small number of vehicles occupying parking spaces for many hours without allowing turnover. It should be noted that only a small portion of customers actually reach the maximum daily rate, while most customers pay less, depending on the duration of parking and the rate in effect when they enter the parking lot.”

The Yerushalayim municipality and Israel Competition Authority did not provide responses to Emess.

{Matzav.com}

Iran says it will establish a new “prohibited zone” near the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to sanction vessels that enter the designated area as Tehran faces mounting American military and economic pressure and worsening economic conditions at home.

Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s top security official, announced the planned maritime zone on Sunday, saying it would extend from what Tehran describes as the U.S. Navy’s blockade line into portions of the Persian Gulf.

“In the coming days, a prohibited zone will be announced outside the Strait of Hormuz. This zone will start from the US Navy’s blockade line and include areas of the Persian Gulf. Any ship entering this new zone will be placed on the sanctions list” of Iran, Rezaei told state television.

The announcement comes amid renewed tensions around the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz and escalating exchanges between American and Iranian forces. Shipping through the waterway has declined sharply, while oil prices have climbed amid concerns about continued disruptions to energy supplies.

At the same time, Tehran is moving to raise the price of gasoline for consumers who exceed the country’s lower fuel quotas, as the Iranian economy struggles under intensifying U.S. pressure.

Iran currently operates a three-tier gasoline pricing system. Consumers pay 1,500 tomans per liter for their first 60 liters each month and 3,000 tomans per liter for the following 50 liters. Consumption beyond those amounts has been priced at 5,000 tomans per liter. A toman, commonly used in Iran for everyday transactions, is equivalent to 10 Iranian rials.

Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani announced Sunday that the highest pricing tier will double to 10,000 tomans per liter, equivalent to approximately 4.5 U.S. cents, beginning Sept. 8.

“The rate will increase to 10,000 toman rials from the morning of September 8,” Mohajerani said in remarks carried by state media.

“Different numbers were mentioned in expert meetings but because the president had promised the people, the rate of 10,000 tomans was set,” she added.

Mohajerani subsequently stressed that the prices charged under the first two tiers of Iran’s gasoline system will not change.

The fuel increase comes as Iran’s currency continues to lose value. The rial was trading above 2.2 million to the U.S. dollar on the black market Sunday, compared with approximately 1.7 million rials to the dollar before the U.S.-Israel war against Iran began on Feb. 28. The currency had fallen to what was then a record low of approximately 1.8 million to the dollar in late April.

Iranian officials have acknowledged the severe economic problems facing the country while blaming U.S. sanctions and restrictions on oil exports for intensifying the pressure. Tehran has also established an “Economic War Headquarters” as it seeks to counter the impact of sanctions and other economic measures.

Washington, meanwhile, has stepped up its campaign against Tehran. The Treasury Department last week launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” an effort aimed at further isolating Iran economically and restricting revenues available to the Iranian regime.

The economic measures have unfolded alongside renewed American military operations against Iran. U.S. strikes resumed this past week, including attacks in areas around Qeshm Island, Chabahar and Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest escalation has also spilled directly into maritime traffic. American and Iranian forces have targeted vessels in and around the strait, contributing to a sharp reduction in commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

President Donald Trump further increased pressure on Tehran on Friday by warning that the United States could soon strike Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified underground complex located near Iran’s damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility.

Pickaxe Mountain contains two deeply buried tunnel complexes and has drawn increasing attention over concerns about Iran’s ability to rebuild portions of its nuclear infrastructure there. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended exclusively for peaceful purposes.

Trump reiterated from the Oval Office that the United States would not permit Tehran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” he said, before adding, “We may hit Pickaxe very soon…if there was anything going on with Pickaxe.”

The threatened establishment of the new Iranian maritime zone adds another potential flashpoint around the Strait of Hormuz, where military confrontation, restrictions on commercial shipping and concerns over global oil supplies have already heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.

{Matzav.com}

The Belzer Rebbe was taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim on Sunday for medical tests after feeling unwell, prompting thousands of chassidim to recite Tehillim for his recovery.

The Rebbe did not enter the Belzer bais medrash for the early-morning recitation of Selichos. In his place, his son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, led the Selichos, which began later than usual.

Following davening, tens of thousands of Belzer chassidim recited perakim of Tehillim for the refuah of the Rebbe.

The public is being asked to daven and invoke rachamei Shomayim for the complete refuah of the Belzer Rebbe, Rav Yissachar Dov ben Miriam, b’soch she’ar cholei Yisroel.

Following a series of discussions and negotiations over the past 24 hours, the proposed Shas slate for the upcoming Knesset elections was submitted Sunday evening to the party’s rabbinic leadership for approval.

Under the proposed lineup, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri remains in the top position, while Yinon Azoulay makes a significant jump to the No. 2 spot on the slate.

Michael Malchieli moves up to third place, followed by Yoav Ben-Tzur in fourth and Chaim Biton in fifth.

The proposed Shas slate submitted for rabbinic approval is:

Aryeh Deri

Yinon Azoulay

Michael Malchieli

Yoav Ben-Tzur

Chaim Biton

Dror Amos

Yoni Mashriki

Yossi Taieb

Uriel Buso

Moshe Abutbul

Erez Malul

The most notable development in the emerging lineup is Azoulay’s rise to second place, representing a significant change in his position on the Shas slate. Malchieli’s move into third place similarly puts him among the party’s highest-ranking candidates.

Another change involves Yoni Mashriki, who has also moved up in the proposed lineup and would hold the seventh position when Deri is included as the slate’s No. 1 candidate.

The proposed arrangement comes after intensive discussions surrounding the composition of the Shas list and the positioning of its leading representatives ahead of the election.

The slate, however, is not yet final. It has been submitted to the rabbonim for their approval, and the final decision on the composition and ordering of the candidates is expected to be made by the party’s rabbinic leadership.

The list submitted Sunday evening reflects the latest developments in negotiations over the Shas slate, including several significant changes near the top of the party’s lineup.

A plan to establish a coffee and refreshment room inside the cemetery in Uman has been halted following a sweeping halachic ruling from leading rabbonim and poskim representing a broad range of communities.

The proposal, funded by a generous donor, was intended to provide drinks and refreshments for the tens of thousands of visitors who come to the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov, particularly during the massive Rosh Hashanah gathering. However, because the proposed facility was to be located within the boundaries of the cemetery, officials responsible for the tziyun decided to seek a formal halachic ruling before moving forward.

Rav Nosson Ben Nun, chairman of Ichud Breslov in Uman, sent an urgent inquiry to leading poskim from across the spectrum of the Torah community, asking them to address the halachic implications of the proposal.

The response was unanimous and unequivocal: A coffee and refreshment facility may not be operated inside the cemetery.

In a letter dated 11 Elul 5786 and addressed directly to Rav Ben Nun, the rabbonim cited the Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh Deah 368, which states that “a cemetery may not be treated with frivolity… nor may one eat or drink there.”

The poskim further cited a ruling of the Chasam Sofer, in siman 335, as establishing that a “coffee room” or similar facility may not be established anywhere within the cemetery grounds.

The ruling was signed by a lengthy roster of prominent rabbonim and poskim, including Rishon Letzion Rav Yitzchok Yosef; Rav Sariel Rosenberg, gaavad of the Bnei Brak Badatz; Rav Moshe Shaul Klein and Rav Shmuel Eliezer Stern of Badatz Zichron Meir; and Rav Yehuda Fischer and Rav Shlomo Yehuda Hirsch of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis.

Also joining the ruling were Rav Menachem Mendel Lubin; Rav Yaakov Shekhnaazi of the Sephardic Eidah Hachareidis Badatz; and Rav Naftali Nussbaum.

One of the poskim wrote that “it is clear that it is forbidden to establish a place for drinking inside a cemetery,” while another declared that “this is a clear halacha and there is no room for debate; it is forbidden to engage in frivolous behavior.”

The rabbonim added that even if such a facility had already been constructed inadvertently, it would have to be removed without delay so that “there should not be displeasure from the tzaddikim who are there.”

They concluded with the assurance that “one who listens will dwell securely,” along with a bracha for a favorable inscription and sealing for the coming year.

Following the ruling, Ichud Breslov in Uman decided not to abandon the donor’s initiative, but instead to relocate it outside the cemetery.

The new coffee and tea room will be established at the Kloiz complex in Uman, which is situated beyond the boundaries of the cemetery. Ichud Breslov has operated a coffee room there in recent years during the major gatherings in Uman, and officials have now decided to complete work on the facility and keep it operating throughout the year.

The move will allow the tens of thousands of people who travel to Uman to benefit from the refreshments provided by the donor while preserving the sanctity of the cemetery and adhering to the ruling of the poskim.

{Matzav.com}

George Pataki, who was governor of New York during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and led the state through the difficult period that followed, has revealed that he is suffering from a lung condition tied to his exposure to toxins at Ground Zero.

Pataki, a Republican who served as governor from 1995 through 2006, told the New York Post that he has restrictive airway disease resulting from his exposure to toxic material at the site of the collapsed World Trade Center towers in Lower Manhattan.

Pataki said he received the diagnosis sometime within the past five years. His disclosure comes just days before the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

“I just look at it as I’m one of the lucky ones,” Pataki told The Post, humbly deflecting questions about his condition.

“You know, 25 years later, I feel great. I have this minor residual impact from that time. But compared to so many others, I consider myself very lucky,” he said.

Rudy Giuliani, who was mayor of New York City at the time of the attacks, has also been diagnosed with restrictive airway disease connected to his exposure at Ground Zero, according to his representative. Giuliani was hospitalized in critical condition with pneumonia earlier this year.

The toxic dust and fine particulate matter that blanketed Lower Manhattan after the Twin Towers collapsed have been linked to a wide range of respiratory diseases and other serious health problems among those who were exposed. Research conducted over the ensuing decades has documented the lasting respiratory effects of World Trade Center exposure.

Pataki, who had not previously made his diagnosis public, sought to shift attention away from his own health and toward the first responders, government workers and others who repeatedly returned to Ground Zero during the rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts after terrorists hijacked commercial airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center.

“The people who were with me at Ground Zero over and over for months after those attacks, many of them have serious illnesses, far more serious than anything I might be experiencing,” Pataki said, noting that he has not been diagnosed with cancer related to Ground Zero.

The continuing health toll from the attacks remains substantial 25 years later. A newly released FDNY report found that more than 10,000 department members are living with at least one physical health condition connected to 9/11 exposure.

Before becoming governor, Pataki served in the New York State Senate and as mayor of Peekskill in Westchester County. He remains the most recent Republican to have won a statewide election in New York.

Pataki has also drawn attention recently for his comments about Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the upcoming 25th anniversary commemoration at Ground Zero. Pataki said Mamdani should consider staying away from the memorial unless he condemns the slogan “globalize the intifada” and distances himself from commentator Hasan Piker.

Mamdani, a Muslim and a critic of Israel, has previously defended the use of “globalize the intifada,” disputing the contention that the phrase amounts to an incitement to violence against Jews. The American Jewish Committee has said the expression invokes the idea of “rising up” against Israel.

Pataki said Mamdani should also make a clear break with Piker, who has faced criticism over remarks concerning the Sept. 11 attacks.

“If he says he will have nothing to do with Hasan Piker, and if he says he will condemn the statement, ‘globalize the intifada,’ then I would have no problem with him being here,” Pataki told The Post.

Pataki, however, said he does not expect that to happen before the anniversary commemoration.

“Out of respect for those who died and out of the respect for their families and the first responders, he should make the decision not to go,” Pataki said.

Regardless of Mamdani’s attendance, Pataki said he wants the anniversary ceremony to remain free of political distractions and to “go off without any disruption.”

“I think basically just ignoring his presence might be the best,” Pataki said.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign is increasingly resulting in the arrests of migrants without criminal convictions, as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pushes arrest totals to record levels and broadens operations to include people already known to immigration authorities. Recent federal data independently reviewed by multiple news organizations shows that more than half of those arrested in July had neither criminal convictions nor pending criminal charges.

ICE recorded successive months of sharply elevated enforcement activity over the summer. The agency made 49,571 arrests in July, the highest monthly figure of President Trump’s second term at that point, following 43,021 arrests in June. The article reports that arrests exceeded 50,000 in both July and August based on newer data.

The figures have complicated the administration’s frequent emphasis on apprehending dangerous offenders, whom officials have repeatedly described as the “worst of the worst.” The new numbers indicate that the pool of people being arrested has expanded considerably beyond immigrants with criminal histories.

According to data obtained by the Deportation Data Project and cited by The Hill, 55 percent of those arrested had no recorded interaction with the criminal justice system, while another 24 percent had been charged with crimes but had not been convicted. Other recent analyses of ICE data likewise found that more than half of July arrests involved people with neither convictions nor pending criminal charges.

The changing profile of those being arrested has prompted concern from some Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), whose South Florida district has a large immigrant population.

“I’ve been telling the administration that do not conflate the gangster with the gardener, the nanny with the narco,” Salazar said.

The enforcement pattern increasingly includes immigrants with pending asylum applications and others attempting to change or regularize their immigration status, including individuals whose identities and locations were already available to federal authorities. Recent reporting has also documented arrests of people with pending asylum claims and green-card applications.

“What this shows is that the Trump administration is expanding its mass deportation operations away from people who are public safety threats or who have had some interaction with the criminal justice system and towards everybody else in an effort to hit the quotas put on them by the White House,” Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow with the American Immigration Council, told The Hill.

The Department of Homeland Security has offered differing descriptions of whom ICE is arresting. On X, DHS has continued to assert that 70 percent of those apprehended by ICE have criminal records, according to The Hill, while the recently released arrest data shows a substantially smaller share with criminal convictions.

“I mean the 70 percent figure has not been true since May of 2025,” Reichlin-Melnick said.

“DHS has been giving the 70 percent figure for at least a year now. It’s not true. It hasn’t been true. The agency has released extensive data confirming that it’s not true.”

At the same time, senior administration officials have publicly emphasized that a criminal record is not required for someone to become an immigration-enforcement target.

“These individuals that we’re going after — I don’t care if you have a criminal background or don’t have a criminal background, you chose to break the law when you came across our border illegally. It’s our position and our job to hunt you down and send you back to where you came from,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said this past week during an appearance on “The Ingraham Angle.”

Border czar Tom Homan similarly acknowledged during a July appearance on the program that a substantial portion of those being arrested do not have criminal records.

“Just over half of everybody we’re arresting is a criminal. So about half are noncriminals,” he said.

“But bottom line is, everybody’s on the table. The numbers show it’s about half and half now. … And with the additional resources we got from the reconciliation bill, you wait to see what the numbers are this year.”

The increase in arrests has been driven by several developments, including a move away from some of the highly visible large-scale operations that previously generated widespread attention. ICE has increasingly employed a combination of street arrests, immigration check-ins, courthouse enforcement and arrests at airports. Recent reporting on the federal data has documented the expansion of those tactics.

“This is from all the different tactics coming together really for the first time. The street arrests happening at the same time you have all the check-ins for people, immigration court interactions. All that stuff’s coming together — the airport arrests,” said David Bier, director of immigration studies at the libertarian Cato Institute.

Bier said Mullin assumed leadership of DHS as significant additional enforcement resources were becoming available.

“They’re paying people a huge amount of overtime. They have no worries about money, so you know that’s a big part of it too is they just have people working like crazy to get these through,” he said.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary immigration subcommittee, argued that the administration has adopted a less conspicuous enforcement strategy following criticism of the more visible operations carried out during Kristi Noem’s tenure at DHS.

“They are continuing this strategy quietly now because it was unpopular when it was loud. But they’re going to find out in November that it’s unpopular when it’s quiet as well,” she told The Hill.

“They’re just arresting anyone. It’s just all about their ultimate number.”

Reichlin-Melnick said the expanded enforcement increasingly encompasses immigrants who are already participating in government immigration proceedings and whose whereabouts are therefore known to federal officials.

“We’re seeing this expanded to people at airports, people who overstayed their visa solely because the U.S. government didn’t get around to adjudicating their case in time, and these are people who really have done nothing wrong. They took the path that the Trump administration itself used to say was the right way,” he said.

“More and more of those people are now being swept into the mass deportation machine, despite the fact that they have pending applications with the U.S. government and have been complying with every obligation put on them. So why is the administration going after them? Because in some ways they are the easiest targets. They tell the government who they are or where they live. … And so when the U.S. government needs to ramp up arrest numbers, it can just go after those people rather than having to find people that it doesn’t know about already.”

Bier also pointed to a growing number of detainees who have not received final removal orders from immigration judges. Those immigrants may remain detained while their immigration cases continue.

“Pretty soon, it’s going to be a majority of their deportations are not going to be based on a final order of removal, which will be just a real threshold for proving the success of the strategy, which is arrest and detain people without removal orders, and then just hope they give up,” he said.

The widening enforcement campaign has also generated criticism in Florida, despite the state’s strong Republican political leanings and support for stricter border enforcement. Florida is home to large immigrant communities that include naturalized citizens, legal immigrants and people without legal status. Federal data showed Florida among the states accounting for a large share of the summer increase in ICE arrests.

“Look, I’ve always supported TPS for Venezuelans, for Haitians,” said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), referring to Temporary Protected Status, which can temporarily shield eligible nationals of designated countries from deportation.

“Securing the border had to happen. It’s worked. It’s good. It’s good for our security. But some of the enforcement, I think, has been a bit of an overreach, to say the least — to say the least. I’ve expressed that.”

“You can enforce the border, but I think you also have to hopefully look at all the circumstances when you have some specific cases,” he added.

Salazar, who has introduced the Dignity Act, legislation that would provide a potential route for certain undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States, argued that immigration enforcement should also take into consideration longtime workers who contribute to major sectors of the economy.

“The people who’ve been here for decades in construction, hospitality, agricultural, healthcare, manufacturing [industries] — those people are needed, and we need it for the economy. It’s just that there is a disconnect. … The White House is not understanding that those people are needed for the economy,” she said.

“And that those are our values as Americans.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Sunday that construction of the newly redesigned White House helipad has been completed, bringing to a close a project that underwent significant changes at his direction last month.

Trump marked the completion by sharing on Truth Social a historic photograph of President Dwight D. Eisenhower preparing to leave the White House grounds aboard an Air Force H-13J helicopter in July 1957. Eisenhower became the first sitting U.S. president to travel by helicopter when he flew to Camp David that year, a mode of transportation the Secret Service had urged him to use.

“Dwight Eisenhower didn’t need a Helipad at the White House for those little Choppers, but America needs one now — Just completed, and MAGNIFICENT!” Trump wrote in the post.

Work on the landing pad began after the temporary fighting arena erected on the South Lawn for the “Freedom 250 UFC” event celebrating Trump’s 80th birthday in June was removed. Trump said in July that Sikorsky Aircraft, the Lockheed Martin subsidiary that produces presidential helicopters, would cover the project’s cost, which he estimated at roughly $5 million to $6 million. Lockheed Martin said its contribution was made to the National Park Service and complied with applicable laws and regulations.

The project encountered a major change of plans in August after Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the work already completed. The president wanted the landing area to appear level despite the slope of the South Lawn, leading contractors to dismantle portions of the work, including granite pieces that had already been installed as part of the presidential seal.

It was not immediately clear how much the additional work resulting from the redesign added to the overall price of the project.

Trump subsequently brought reporters to the South Lawn for a lengthy tour of the construction, where he praised both the helipad and work on his new White House ballroom. He said the landing pad looked “incredible from the air and from every place else,” and discussed its potential use during visits by foreign leaders. During the tour, he also signed the underside of one of the granite pieces being installed.

The new Marine One landing area measures approximately 100 feet across and incorporates thick granite, including stone quarried in California. Its centerpiece is a large presidential seal fashioned from stone. The helipad is intended in part to accommodate the newer generation of presidential helicopters, which officials have said could damage the South Lawn when operating directly over the grass.

Workers told Trump during his August tour that they expected to finish the project by Sept. 21, shortly before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned meeting with the president. The work ultimately appears to have been completed roughly two weeks ahead of that timetable.

“We might make it for President Xi,” Trump said. “That’d be nice but not imperative.”

The helipad is one piece of a broader series of construction and renovation projects Trump has undertaken at the White House and elsewhere in Washington during his second term.

Among the most prominent is the new White House ballroom project, which has drawn criticism from preservationists and others and prompted litigation over the construction. Last week, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, allowed work on the project to continue while the legal fight proceeds.

The preservationists’ challenge could still return to the Supreme Court as the case moves forward. For now, however, the high court’s order permits construction on the ballroom project to continue while the underlying legal dispute remains unresolved.

{Matzav.com}

Yisrael Beytenu unveiled its candidate slate for the 26th Knesset on Sunday evening, as party chairman Avigdor Lieberman laid out an aggressive post-election agenda that includes universal military or national service, mandatory core studies in state-funded schools, and a refusal to enter into understandings with the chareidi parties.

The slate was presented before more than 1,000 people at Expo Tel Aviv. Lieberman retained the No. 1 position, while several new candidates were given prominent spots on the list.

Rafi Ben Shitrit, a former mayor of Beit She’an and onetime Likud member, was placed second. Ben Shitrit is the father of Elroi Ben Shitrit z”l, a soldier in the IDF’s 414 Combat Intelligence Collection Unit who was killed while fighting at the Nahal Oz outpost during the October 7 massacre. He is also among the founders of the October Council.

The third spot went to Col. (res.) Talia Lankri, who previously served as deputy head of the National Security Council for counterterrorism policy, homeland security and the home front, as well as head of the NSC’s Home Front Division. She currently works as a national security adviser and lecturer.

MK Oded Forer was placed fourth, followed by MK Yulia Malinovsky in fifth. Sharon Sharabi received the sixth position. Sharabi is the brother of Yossi Sharabi z”l, who was murdered while being held hostage by Hamas, and of captivity survivor Eli Sharabi, whose wife, Lianne, and daughters, Noiya and Yahel, were murdered in the October 7 massacre. Since the attack, Sharon Sharabi has been active in efforts to secure the return of the hostages.

Positions seven through 10 went to MK Hamad Amar, MK Evgeny Sova, Lod Deputy Mayor Elvira Kolikhman, and former MK Dan Illouz.

The next five spots went to Lili Ben Ami at No. 11, Dr. Yael Benvenisti at No. 12, Metula Mayor David Azoulai at No. 13, former MK Limor Magen Telem at No. 14, and Capt. (res.) Yisrael Ben Shitrit at No. 15. Ben Shitrit, a reserve deputy company commander in the Alexandroni Brigade, was seriously wounded during fighting against terrorists in Khan Yunis.

Former MK Sharon Roffe Ofir was placed 16th, followed by Mor Dekel at No. 17, attorney Michaela Levin Shamir at No. 18, and Col. (res.) Olivia Rapovitz at No. 19. Maj. (res.) Yaakov “Yanki” Moses was given the 20th position. Moses left the chareidi community and volunteers with Hillel, an organization that assists others who have done the same.

Rounding out the 25 candidates presented were Ami Kor at No. 21, Maya Plumboim at No. 22, attorney Eddie Mordechayev at No. 23, Michal Oron Azani at No. 24, and attorney Stav Boyangiu Matza at No. 25.

In his address, Lieberman took a hard line on the draft issue, declaring that he would reject any arrangement establishing exemptions or quotas for bnei yeshivos.

“I am not prepared to accept any wink in the direction of Netanyahu and the chareidi parties. Anyone who talks about an exemption for 30% or for 4,500 yeshiva students is mistaken and misleading,” Lieberman said. “The moment you agree to a certain exemption, what was is what will be. An argument over the numbers will begin, and then go establish an administration that will determine who is really learning Torah and who is not. Therefore, this will not happen. We will not lend a hand to such a thing.”

Lieberman said one of his party’s first priorities would be legislation establishing “a draft law for everyone.”

“In our system, there will be no draft dodgers. Everyone will stand in line at the recruitment office,” he said.

“Every young person who reaches the age of 18 – Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze or Circassian – will report to the induction center, and the IDF will decide whom it recruits for military service and who goes to national service,” Lieberman said.

Lieberman also pledged to require every educational institution receiving state funding to teach a core curriculum.

“Every child whose education is funded by the State of Israel must receive the tools that will enable him to integrate into society and the labor market,” he said.

The Yisrael Beytenu chairman then turned his attention to what he characterized as “chareidi coercion,” promising to oppose policies he views as imposing chareidi standards on the broader public.

“We believe in a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state. We love the tradition of Israel and Jewish values, but we will strongly oppose chareidi coercion,” Lieberman said.

“We will not agree to allow the Bnei Brak syndrome to spread throughout the country. City councils will not be able to make decisions regarding separate sidewalks for women and men, and we will repeal the law on gender separation in academia,” he added.

Lieberman also addressed Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, saying that while he respects him personally, the two differ significantly over the strategy their political bloc should pursue.

“I respect and appreciate Gadi Eisenkot. We worked together and knew how to get along, even when we had difficult disagreements. I will tell you something else, I have no ego. But at the same time, there is a significant gap between my approach and Gadi Eisenkot’s approach.”

“What I have seen over the past month is an intensified effort by Gadi and his people to ensure that the ‘Yashar’ party will be the largest party. What interests me is bringing as many mandates as possible to the bloc. It is not enough to be the largest party when the entire bloc does not have enough mandates,” Lieberman said.

Lieberman outlined several additional measures he said he would pursue following the election, including establishing a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7, limiting a prime minister to two terms, creating a national headquarters to combat organized crime, and establishing a constitution for Israel.

Lieberman said the government he hopes to form would consist “only of Zionist parties,” adding that he believes that at a later stage, “Likud without Netanyahu will also join our government.”