Feed aggregator

A coalition of doctors groups and public health organizations sued the U.S. government on Monday over the decision to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccinations for most children and pregnant women. The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association and four other groups — along with an unnamed pregnant doctor who works in a hospital — filed the lawsuit in federal court in Boston. U.S. health officials, following infectious disease experts’ guidance, previously urged annual COVID-19 shots for all Americans ages 6 months and older. But in late May, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he was removing COVID-19 shots from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women. A number of health experts decried the move as confusing and accused Kennedy of disregarding the scientific review process that has been in place for decades — in which experts publicly review current medical evidence and hash out the pros and cons of policy changes. The new lawsuit repeats those concerns, alleging that Kennedy and other political appointees at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have flouted federal procedures and systematically attempted to mislead the public. “This administration is an existential threat to vaccination in America, and those in charge are only just getting started,” said Richard H. Hughes IV, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs. “If left unchecked, Secretary Kennedy will accomplish his goal of ridding the United States of vaccines, which would unleash a wave of preventable harm on our nation’s children.” HHS officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Also joining the suit are the American College of Physicians, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Massachusetts Public Health Association and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. (AP)

President Donald Trump took aim at New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani during a high-profile meeting this evening with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at the White House, denouncing the progressive politician in stark terms.

“He’s not a socialist — he’s a communist,” Trump said, referencing Mamdani’s ideology. “And he’s said some really bad things about Jewish people.”

“It’s a philosophy that this country is not ready for — and it NEVER will be,” the president added forcefully.

Trump’s latest comments come amid growing scrutiny of Mamdani’s past statements and associations, many of which have drawn accusations of anti-Semitism. Mamdani has previously expressed support for the BDS movement, equated Zionism with colonialism, and made inflammatory remarks on social media targeting pro-Israel voices.

In December, Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist and is the Democratic Party’s nominee for New York City mayor, said, “as mayor, New York City would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu.”

When asked whether he was worried about the possibility of facing arrest in America’s largest city, Netanyahu said, “I’m not concerned about that.”

The prime minister added, “I’m going to come there with the President Trump and we’ll see.”

He went on to say that Mamdani’s threat is “silly in many ways, because it’s just not serious.”

The meeting also touched on broader regional issues, with Netanyahu floating a controversial idea regarding the future of Gaza. Speaking to reporters, the Israeli leader suggested that Palestinians in Gaza should have the option to relocate to other countries, claiming that discussions were underway with international partners to make that possible.

“If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” Netanyahu said. “We’re working with the United States very closely about finding countries that will seek to realize what they always say, that they wanted to give the Palestinians a better future. I think we’re getting close to finding several countries.”

Trump, while initially deferring to Netanyahu on the subject, later expressed optimism. “We’ve had great cooperation from … surrounding countries, great cooperation from every single one of them. So something good will happen,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. will have to send more weapons to Ukraine, just days after ordering a pause in critical weapons deliveries to Kyiv. The comments by Trump appeared to be an abrupt change in posture after the Pentagon announced last week that it would hold back delivering to Ukraine some air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons amid U.S. concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much. “We have to,” Trump told reporters about additional weapons deliveries for Ukraine. “They have to be able to defend themselves.” Meanwhile, Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least 11 civilians and injured more than 80 others, including seven children, officials said Monday. The move to abruptly pause shipments of Patriot missiles, precision-guided GMLRS, Hellfire missiles and Howitzer rounds and weaponry took Ukrainian officials and other allies by surprise. The pause had come at a difficult moment for Ukraine, which has faced increasing, and more complex, air barrages from Russia during the more than three-year-long war. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the paused weapons shipments to Ukraine would resume. Trump maintains he’s determined to quickly conclude a conflict that he had promised as candidate to end of Day One of his second term. Trump, speaking at the start of a dinner he was hosting for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday evening, vented his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has struggled to find a resolution to the the brutal war. “I’m not happy with President Putin at all,” Trump said. Chaos in the skies In a separate development, Russian’s transport minister was found dead in what authorities said was an apparent suicide — news that broke hours after the Kremlin announced he had been dismissed by Putin. The firing of Roman Starovoit followed a weekend of travel chaos when airports grounded hundreds of flights due to the threat of drone attacks from Ukraine, although Russian officials did not give a reason for his dismissal. Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed at airports in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but Russian commentators said the air traffic disruptions have become customary amid frequent Ukrainian drone raids and were unlikely to have triggered his dismissal. Starovoit, 53, served as Russia’s transport minister since May 2024. Russian media have reported that his dismissal could have been linked to an investigation into the embezzlement of state funds allocated for building fortifications in the Kursk region, where he served as governor before being appointed transportation minister. The alleged embezzlement has been cited as one of the reasons for deficiencies in Russia’s defensive lines that failed to stem a surprise Ukrainian incursion in the region launched in August 2024. Russia fired more than 100 drones at civilian areas of Ukraine overnight, authorities said. Russia recently has intensified its airstrikes on civilian areas after more than three years of war. In the past week, Russia launched some 1,270 drones, 39 missiles and almost 1,000 powerful glide bombs at Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday. Russia’s bigger army is also trying hard to break through at some points along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620 miles) front line, where Ukrainian forces are severely stretched. Ukraine calls for more aid The strain of keeping Russia’s invasion at bay, the lack of progress in direct […]

In a major shift to airport security procedures, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes at security checkpoints. The change applies to all passengers, regardless of TSA PreCheck status, and marks the end of a nearly 20-year policy widely criticized as inconvenient and outdated. The original shoe removal rule was introduced in August 2006 in response to the 2001 attempted shoe bombing by Richard Reid on a transatlantic flight. Until now, only PreCheck members, children under 13, and seniors over 75 were exempt from the requirement. The policy reversal is made possible by advancements in scanning technology, which now allow TSA officers to detect concealed threats without requiring passengers to take off their shoes. The shift follows years of internal reviews and pilot programs at select airports. While the move enhances convenience for millions of travelers, it could lessen the appeal of TSA PreCheck, a program that charges $77–$85 for expedited screening. PreCheck will still offer benefits such as shorter lines and the ability to keep laptops, liquids, and belts in place. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu announced on Monday that he had officially put President Trump’s name forward for the Nobel Peace Prize, personally handing over a copy of the nomination letter during their meeting in Washington.

“I want to present to you, Mr. President, the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize committee,” Netanyahu said during a moment at the White House.

“It’s the nomination of you for the peace prize, which is well-deserved. And you should get it.”

Reaching across the table that separated the American and Israeli delegations, Netanyahu passed the letter directly to Trump.

“This I didn’t know,” Trump responded with surprise as he looked at the document. “Well, thank you very much.

“Coming from you, in particular, this is very meaningful. Thank you very much.”

The two leaders met in Washington for high-level discussions, which would be followed by a private dinner later that evening.

Topics on the table included Gaza’s future and potential diplomatic breakthroughs with Arab countries, though no significant updates were offered publicly following the discussions.

“I think our teams together make an extraordinary combination to meet challenges and seize opportunities,” Netanyahu said during remarks made before their meal.

“But the president has already realized a great opportunity to forge the Abraham Accords. He’s forging peace as we speak, and one country and one region after the other.”

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu held a long meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Blair House, the official residence for visiting dignitaries. No summary of the conversation was released.

Netanyahu also sat down with Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. As with the other meetings, officials offered no insight into what was discussed.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk has said that he’s formed a new political party, but it’s unclear what steps — if any — he’s taken to do so, or how the effort might affect upcoming elections. Musk has not yet released any additional information. Spokespeople for Musk and his political action committee, America PAC, didn’t immediately comment Monday. While there are many recent federal elections filings that reference the Tesla and SpaceX CEO or his companies, Musk himself has even gone on his social media platform batting down at least one filing as fake. The possible new political party marks another development in the rift between Musk and President Donald Trump over the Republican’s sweeping tax cuts law, which the tech billionaire has called “insane.” The fissures between Trump and his one-time top surrogate and Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutter-in-chief have exposed not only the fragile nature of relations between two of the country’s most visible personalities but also the potential political consequences of disagreeing with the priorities of either man. The squabble could be particularly costly for Musk, whose businesses rely on billions of dollars in government contracts, and whose publicly traded company Tesla has taken a market hit. Here’s what we know — and what we don’t — about Musk’s new political party: Musk says he’s formed the America Party Musk said Saturday on X that he had formed the America Party “to give you back your freedom.” He’d teased the move for days, threatening to make his own party if “this insane spending bill passes” Congress. He spent part of Sunday taking feedback from X users about the party, which he indicated he’d use to get involved in the 2026 midterm elections. Some new Musk-related parties seem fishy The Federal Election Commission database has teemed with newly formed political entities that make reference either to Musk or one of his companies, but there are details that cast doubts on their authenticity. As of Monday afternoon, there were multiple political parties listed in the Federal Election Commission database formed in the hours since Musk’s Saturday X post, with versions of “America Party” or “DOGE” or “X” in the name, or Musk listed among people affiliated with the entity. But none appeared to be real, listing contacts for the organization as email addresses such as “wentsnowboarding@yahoo.com” or untraceable Protonmail addresses. Several listed Vaibhav Taneja — the chief financial officer of Tesla — as a contact for the party, along with a Texas address for a building affiliated with X. Several pointed to a home in Maryland. When a Musk supporter posted screengrabs of one of the formation documents to X, Musk took to X Sunday to say that the “filing is false and has been reported as such to the FEC.” What could Musk do with a new party? While indicating earlier this year that he might play less of a role in elected politics moving forward, Musk — the world’s richest man who spent at least $250 million supporting Trump in the 2024 election — could use a new party to try to do the opposite. New political parties are often formed but typically struggle to pull any significant support away from the Republican and Democratic parties. But Musk could impact next year’s elections determining control of Congress if he is willing to spend significant amounts of money — […]

Tucker Carlson’s latest bid for relevance took a dark turn Monday as he began releasing clips from a fawning interview with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian—an appearance that gave the regime in Tehran a global platform to whitewash decades of extremism, terrorism, and anti-American hate. In one clip, Carlson, who increasingly plays the role of a geopolitical lapdog for America’s adversaries, asked Pezeshkian whether Americans should be afraid of Iran, referencing viral chants of “Death to America” by Iranian crowds. Instead of pressing the regime’s leader on the government-orchestrated threats or its ongoing nuclear ambitions, Carlson nodded along as Pezeshkian claimed the chants were misunderstood. “When they say ‘Death to America,’” Pezeshkian explained through a translator, “they don’t mean death for the people… They mean death to crimes.” Ah yes, of course. He then accused the United States—not Iran—of fueling terrorism in the region and claimed Iranians had never killed Americans. Carlson let the claim stand unchallenged. In another segment, Pezeshkian dismissed reports that Iran plotted to assassinate Donald Trump, blaming the story on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Carlson again failed to push back. This interview marks Carlson’s third with an authoritarian leader—following softball conversations with Qatar’s prime minister and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Even Putin mocked Carlson’s approach afterward, saying he was “surprised” by the lack of tough questions and “wanted” the challenge. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

As the registration season for yeshivos draws to a close across the Litvishe Torah world in Eretz Yisroel, attention now shifts to the handful of elite institutions that accept bochurim later in the cycle—among them, Ponovezh, Tifrach, and Torah B’Tifartah. Yeshivas Chevron, although still dominant, is not considered among the “latecomers,” as its admissions process is mostly determined in advance, with few bochurim failing the entrance exam.

Ponovezh is expected to announce its acceptance list at the end of Tammuz during a staff meeting. As in previous years, there is great anticipation—especially because many boys who applied to Ponovezh and other top-tier yeshivos will ultimately be rejected, creating a domino effect of “nefilos,” or spillovers, who will then be snatched up by second-tier institutions. However, many yeshivos have already finalized their rosters and don’t accept nefilos, further complicating placement for those still unaccepted.

One experienced registrar explained: “You have to understand something simple—when Ponovezh, Chevron, or Tifrach increase their acceptance numbers for shiur alef, they essentially eliminate another yeshiva. There’s only a limited pool of about 4,500 bochurim each year, and natural growth tends to flow to the newer yeshivos.”

This year marks a significant shift, as the three new yeshivos in Kiryat Sefer—headed respectively by Rav Partzovitz, Rav Falk, and Rav Polishuk—have, for the first time, sent graduates to major yeshivos. These three are collectively known in the yeshiva world as the “Three P’s” of Kiryat Sefer. True to local custom, the competition was fierce among them over who could send more talmidim to the most frum yeshivos.

Back in Ponovezh, sources suggest the shiur alef class may reach as high as 460 boys. According to insiders, the late Rosh Yeshiva Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l instructed the staff never to turn away a truly outstanding candidate. Observers are closely watching to see whether Ponovezh can maintain its standards while dramatically increasing enrollment—or whether quantity will come at the cost of quality.

Chevron, meanwhile, is staying in the race for top boys, especially those from Yerushalayim, even as its institutional framework limits how many new students it can absorb. “Chevron is a more structured institution,” one source said, “so it can’t balloon like Ponovezh. But this year, Ponovezh has cut into Chevron’s traditional Yerushalayim base in addition to its dominance in Bnei Brak.”

In the Yerushalayim neighborhood of Bayit Vegan, Yeshivas Wolfson—recently rebranded from Nesivos Chochmah to Nesivos Aviezer—has retained a prestigious position among the city’s yeshivos.

In Bnei Brak, Yeshivas Beis Mattisyahu continues to perform well, maintaining its reputation as a lomdus-focused yeshiva from the days of its late Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Baruch Weissbecker zt”l. The yeshiva only accepts 120 bochurim, in keeping with Rav Weissbecker’s directives, forcing them to turn away many strong applicants. The yeshiva has leased an additional dormitory building to relieve overcrowding.

Down south, Yeshivas Tifrach has surprised many by shifting its image toward a more “open” orientation. Analysts say this is an attempt to stay competitive with the large yeshivos dominating the landscape by stepping outside its traditional niche.

Yeshivas Torah B’Tifartah, which draws mainly from Bnei Brak and Kiryat Sefer, has found a sweet spot among boys seeking a “Bnei Brak style” yeshiva with strong frumkeit. Despite subpar physical conditions—especially evident during wartime tensions with Iran—the yeshiva has successfully attracted its target demographic.

In Rishon L’Tzion, Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo recorded impressive success, receiving strong groups of bochurim from its affiliated younger yeshivos, particularly from Ateres Shlomo Aryeh in Modiin Illit.

Yeshivas Nesiv HaDaas (Kaplan), which enjoys a high-tier reputation, has shifted its admissions strategy this year. They rejected some “quiet boys” before testing, aiming instead to attract more energetic, yeshivishe candidates and broaden their appeal.

At Mir Brachfeld, a major overhaul in admissions was introduced this year with Rav Shlomo Gliss heading registration. The focus shifted toward shmiras einayim and increased frumkeit, positioning the yeshiva as a strong brand in that sector.

Yeshivas Toras Zev (Soloveitchik) in Beit Shemesh continues to attract high-level students, maintaining a stringent admissions process and a reputation for top-tier learning.

In Yerushalayim, Yeshivas Daas Aharon (Kaplan’s newer branch) expanded significantly to 110 bochurim, moving beyond its former status as a “small-scale” yeshiva. Registration began in early Iyar and featured intensive interviews with careful vetting.

Yeshivas Kol Torah in Bayit Vegan will welcome 80 boys this Elul. Earlier this year, dozens of alumni rabbanim gathered during Bein Hazmanim in Nissan under the leadership of Rosh Yeshiva Rav Moshe Yehuda Schlesinger to encourage top boys to apply. The initiative succeeded—demand was high, and Rav Schlesinger, along with Rav Avraham Kar, personally tested every candidate.

In Beit Chilkiyah, Yeshivas Shaarei Shmuos has gained traction, doubling its demand this year. The incoming shiur will number 112 boys, bringing the total enrollment to 650. The yeshiva has leased new dormitories and finalized permits to begin building a new dining hall and additional living quarters.

Yeshivas Or Yisrael in Petach Tikvah stands apart, operating on a different model. Known for its military-like discipline, the yeshiva attracts a very specific type of boy and selects only the top among them.

Among newer institutions, Yeshivas Nesivos Chaim (Meirovitz) in Beit Shemesh marked its third straight year of growth, with 90 new bochurim joining. Yeshivas Migdal Oz (Esrog) in Givat Ze’ev maintains its strength, while Yeshivas Keser Torah (Avramov) in Kiryat Ye’arim—despite leadership changes and heavy investment in marketing—saw limited success.

One registrar noted, “A new yeshiva starts off with a clean slate. There’s no history to prove or disprove, so they’re attractive. But after a few years, we start to see who sustains that reputation and who struggles. It’s too early to rank most of them definitively.”

For instance, one new yeshiva in Yerushalayim that attempted to merge with another saw an initial wave of promising bochurim, but ultimately stumbled despite boasting an impressive roster of roshei yeshiva.

A particularly notable development came from Yeshivas Nachlas Avraham in Afula. With the blessing of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, the yeshiva expanded to two shiurim this year, aided by a newly completed, state-of-the-art campus donated in memory of Reb Avraham Gantz z”l.

Finally, in Beit Shemesh, Yeshivas Be’er HaTorah launched a new initiative this year called “Be’er Shmuel,” through which advanced bochurim learn an additional daily shiur with Rosh Yeshiva Rav Gavriel Yosef Levi. This is in addition to a robust regular shiur of 40 boys.

Yeshivas Chochmas Shlomo, under the leadership of Rav Aharon Weiner and Rav Binyomin Dreyfuss in Bayit Vegan, concluded this year’s admissions with great satisfaction, having accepted over 30 outstanding bochurim following a rigorous selection process.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Elon Musk’s weekend bombshell announcing the creation of a new “America Party” may have set social media ablaze, but political analysts are already declaring it dead on arrival. Senior CNN data analyst Harry Enten shredded the tech billionaire’s third-party ambitions as electorally delusional and strategically incoherent. “This entire thing makes very little sense to me,” Enten said bluntly. “It makes about as much sense as selling sand in the desert.” Enten pointed to the glaring overlap between Musk’s fan base and the Republican Party, arguing that Musk is attempting to build a movement out of voters who already have a political home. “We’re talking about just four percent of voters who like Musk but don’t like the GOP,” he said. “That’s not a base—it’s a statistical rounding error.” The outlook for the so-called America Party is just as grim down-ballot. When asked about the historical success rate of third-party congressional candidates, Enten didn’t hold back: “Horrible! Awful! Terrible, terrible, terrible!” Still, there’s one scenario experts aren’t ruling out: Musk spoiling GOP chances in 2026 by siphoning off just enough votes to tilt key races toward Democrats. “He could spoil it for the GOP,” Enten warned. “But he probably can’t win it himself.” In other words, Musk may not be building a party—he may be handing Democrats a gift. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A deep sense of shock and mourning has descended upon the Chareidi community in Kiryat Ata, following the sudden and tragic passing of R’ Menachem Moshe Weiskopf Z”L, one of the most prominent members of the city’s Litvish community. He was 75. The incident occurred Monday afternoon at the separate “Quiet Beach” in Haifa, where R’ Weiskopf lost consciousness while swimming. United Hatzalah and MDA medics rushed to the scene and began resuscitation efforts before evacuating him to Rambam Hospital in critical condition. Sadly, doctors were forced to pronounce his death shortly after. R’ Menachem Moshe Weiskopf Z”L was born on 9 Cheshvan 5710 (1949) to his parents, R’ Zvi Z”L and Mrs. Zisel A”H. After his marriage, he settled in Kiryat Ata, where he quickly became a beloved and respected figure in the Chareidi community. A man of truth and integrity, he was known for his humility, kindness, and devotion both to Hashem and to others. He was a fixture at the Chassidei HaYeshivos Shul in Kiryat Ata, always immersed in Torah learning and prayer. R’ Weiskopf raised a beautiful Torah family and was known for his dedication to instilling Torah values and yiras Shamayim in his children. Professionally, he served as an accountant for the Migdalo Or institutions under the leadership of HaRav Yitzchak Dovid Grossman in Migdal HaEmek. This marks the second tragedy to strike the Weiskopf family in a short time. Just last week, his nephew, HaRav Tzvi Hirsch Weiskopf Z”L of Givat Shaul, Yerushalayim, was Niftar after an extended illness at the age of 48. His brother, HaRav Eliezer of Haifa, now finds himself sitting shiva for a second time in as many weeks. R’ Weiskopf leaves behind a remarkable family: his wife, one of the longtime educators at Beis Yaakov in Kiryat Ata; his sons, HaRav Mordechai and HaRav Zvi of Bnei Brak, and HaRav Yaakov of Yerushalayim; as well as his son-in-law, HaRav Nataniel Raskin of Rechasim. The levayah took place tonight (Monday) at 10:30PM at the “Eretz HaChaim” Cemetery near the Abelin Junction, where the kevura was held. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A wave of grief has swept through the Chareidi community of Kiryat Ata following the tragic petirah of Rav Menachem Moshe Weiskopf z”l. A prominent figure in the city’s kehilla, Rav Weiskopf passed away on Monday afternoon at the age of 75 after losing consciousness while swimming at the separate “Quiet Beach” (Chof HaSheket) in Haifa.

Emergency medical teams from Magen David Adom rushed to the scene and immediately began resuscitation efforts. “We found him unconscious on the shore, without a pulse or breathing,” said MDA emergency medic Chai Takatch. “We were told he had been spotted floating in the water, unresponsive. He was pulled out right away, and we began CPR and administered medication as we transported him to Rambam Hospital. His condition was critical, and unfortunately, he was later pronounced dead.”

Rav Menachem Moshe Weiskopf was born on 9 Cheshvan in 1949 to his parents Reb Tzvi z”l and Mrs. Zisl a”h. After his marriage, he settled in Kiryat Ata, where he became one of the esteemed members of the local Torah community.

He was known as a tamim and yashar, a man of humility, calmness, and unwavering yiras Shamayim. He was a steady kove’a itim laTorah, raising his children with selfless dedication to Torah and avodas Hashem. Rav Weiskopf was a longtime mispallel at the Chaneichei HaYeshivos shul in Kiryat Ata, a true talmid chacham who lived quietly and modestly, always avoiding honor.

For his livelihood, he worked as an accountant at the institutions of Migdal Ohr, under the direction of Rav Yitzchok Dovid Grossman in Migdal HaEmek.

His sudden passing has plunged the community into mourning.

Tragically, this is the second blow to the Weiskopf family in just one week. Rav Weiskopf’s nephew, Rav Tzvi Hirsch Weiskopf z”l of the Givat Shaul neighborhood in Yerushalayim, passed away at the age of 48 after a lengthy illness. Rav Eliezer Weiskopf of Haifa, brother of Rav Menachem Moshe and father of Rav Tzvi Hirsch, is now sitting shivah for a second time in the span of days.

Rav Weiskopf leaves behind an exemplary family. His wife is one of the veteran teachers at the Bais Yaakov in Kiryat Ata. His sons include Rav Mordechai and Rav Tzvi of Bnei Brak, and Rav Yaakov of Yerushalayim. His son-in-law is Rav Nesanel Raskin of Rechasim.

The levayah and kevurah took place Monday night at the Eretz HaChaim cemetery near Kiryat Ata.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed its third Statement of Interest in state court, once again backing Orthodox Jewish developers in their battle against discriminatory zoning practices in the Town of Forestburgh. The latest filing, submitted by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division under Harmeet Dhillon and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York under Jay Clayton, asserts that Forestburgh’s actions violate federal civil rights protections. The DOJ warned that “allowing a state law to undermine a federal civil rights claim would ‘transmute a basic guarantee into an illusory promise.’” The Town of Forestburgh has been under growing scrutiny for its refusal to allow the previously approved Lost Lake residential project to move forward—allegedly out of fear that it would attract Orthodox Jewish residents. Despite prior intervention from the DOJ and two formal warnings from New York State Attorney General Letitia James, the town has refused to reverse course. Emails uncovered during litigation have further fueled accusations of religious discrimination. In one exchange, a prominent town official and resident referred to religious Jews as a “sect” and “locusts,” and accused them of “misogyny” and “child abuse.” Another official wrote of the “Hasidic threat,” boasting, “We have the cash to fight and make their lives miserable.” These statements are now part of the federal civil rights lawsuit, which alleges that the town is intentionally blocking Orthodox Jewish families from settling in Forestburgh. Civil rights advocates argue the town’s actions are part of a larger pattern of zoning-based exclusion targeting religious communities. Adding to the controversy, shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Forestburgh enacted a new zoning law that imposes severe restrictions on places of worship. The law requires a minimum of five acres to construct a house of worship—far more than is required for comparable secular buildings. Critics have described the change as a transparent attempt to block synagogues and deter Orthodox Jewish settlement. Attorney General Letitia James, in a letter to the town, warned that the zoning law likely violates both federal and state civil rights laws. Nevertheless, the town has stood by its new regulations, deepening concerns among Orthodox Jewish residents and civil rights watchdogs. Orthodox Jewish leaders have made numerous efforts to engage with Forestburgh officials. At a town board meeting last year, Chaskel Bennett, a senior official with Agudath Israel of America, delivered passionate remarks opposing the five-acre requirement. “In my travels visiting countless synagogues across this country,” Bennett said, “nowhere have I seen a five-acre demand for a house of worship. This restrictive requirement appears not as a measure of genuine need or good governance, but as a barrier designed to exclude religious Jews from Forestburgh.” He continued, “At a time of alarming and unprecedented antisemitism, many observers can only conclude that the law is being weaponized to discriminate against a community that has faced this kind of government-sanctioned exclusion before. We know discrimination when we see it.” Other prominent advocates who have addressed the Town Board include Rabbis Avi Schnall, Yeruchim Silber, Shragi Greenbaum, Abe Rutner of the Sullivan County JCC, and others—each calling on Forestburgh to reverse its discriminatory policies. Despite mounting legal pressure, media attention, and moral appeals from religious leaders, the town has yet to take meaningful steps toward resolution. The federal government’s latest filing makes clear […]

REPORTER: Do you think that there can be a two-state solution.. TRUMP: I don’t know. Ask Bibi that question. You have the greatest man in the world to answer that age-old question. NETANYAHU: “Overall security will always remain in our hands. Now that is a fact. And no one in Israel will agree to anything else, because we don’t commit suicide.”

REPORTER: What might make you have the desire to do another strike on Iran? POTUS: “I hope we’re not going to have to do that. I can’t imagine wanting to do that. I can’t imagine them wanting to do that. They want to meet … they want to work something out.”

An Israeli father and son lost their lives in a tragic hiking accident in the Austrian Alps over the weekend, after falling hundreds of feet from a mountain pass along the Stubai High Trail in the Tyrolean region near Neustift, according to Austrian media and Israeli officials. The 58-year-old father reportedly slipped on wet ground while traversing the high-altitude path. His 30-year-old son attempted to catch him, but was also pulled off the trail, resulting in both falling. Emergency responders who reached the scene declared both men dead. A second son, age 28, was hiking with them but was unharmed. He immediately called for emergency assistance. Rescue efforts were hindered by difficult weather conditions, including heavy rain and dense fog, which delayed access to the scene. Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that its embassies in Vienna and Bern are involved and are providing assistance to the victims’ families. The names of the deceased have not yet been publicly released. Local authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Rubio, ahead of his scheduled meeting with President Trump.

The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas over the July Fourth weekend has surpassed 100 as the massive search continues for missing people. The number of deaths reached 104 on Monday. In hard-hit Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, searchers have found the bodies of 84 people, including 28 children, Kerr County officials said. Authorities overseeing the search for flood victims in Texas said they will wait to address questions about weather warnings and why some summer camps did not evacuate ahead of the catastrophic flooding. The officials spoke only hours after the operators of Camp Mystic, a century-old all-girls Christian summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, announced that they lost 27 campers and counselors to the floodwaters. Meanwhile, search-and-rescue teams carried on with the search for the dead, using heavy equipment to untangle trees and wading into swollen rivers. Volunteers covered in mud sorted through chunks of debris, piece by piece, in an increasingly bleak task. With additional rain on the way, more flooding still threatened in saturated parts of central Texas. Authorities said the death toll was sure to rise. The announcement by Camp Mystic confirmed the worst fears after a wall of water slammed into cabins built along the edge of the Guadalupe River. The raging flash floods — among the nation’s worst in decades — slammed into riverside camps and homes before daybreak Friday, pulling sleeping people out of their cabins, tents and trailers and dragging them for miles past floating tree trunks and cars. Some survivors were found clinging to trees. Piles of twisted trees sprinkled with mattresses, refrigerators and coolers now litter the riverbanks. The debris included reminders of what drew so many to the campgrounds and cabins in the Hill Country — a volleyball, canoes and a family portrait. Nineteen deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, according to local officials. Among those confirmed dead were 8-year-old sisters from Dallas who were at Camp Mystic and a former soccer coach and his wife who were staying at a riverfront home. Their daughters were still missing. Calls for finding why warnings weren’t heard Authorities vowed that one of the next steps would be investigating whether enough warnings were issued and why some camps did not evacuate or move to higher ground in a place long vulnerable to flooding that some local residents refer to as “flash flood alley.” That will include a review of how weather warnings were sent out and received. One of the challenges is that many camps and cabins are in places with poor cellphone service, said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice. “We definitely want to dive in and look at all those things,” he said. “We’re looking forward to doing that once we can get the search and rescue complete.” Some camps, though, were aware of the dangers and monitoring the weather. At least one moved several hundred campers to higher ground before the floods. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, said recent government spending cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service did not delay any warnings. “There’s a time to have political fights, there’s a time to disagree. This is not that time,” Cruz said. “There will be a time to find out what could been done differently. My hope is in time we learn some lessons to implement […]

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu surprised President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday by announcing he had nominated the U.S. leader for the Nobel Peace Prize. The meeting marked Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House since the start of Trump’s second term. Netanyahu’s visit was his first since Israel launched a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, military officials, and scientists last month—and the US’s own B-2 stealth bomber strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities with bunker buster bombs unavailable to Israel. Meeting in front of reporters, Netanyahu praised Trump’s leadership and presented him with a copy of the letter sent to the Nobel committee recommending him for the Peace Prize. “This, I didn’t know,” Trump said, visibly taken aback. “Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz made a striking admission on Monday, conceding that pressing forward into the final quarter of the Gaza Strip—territory not yet under Israeli control—could pose a significant danger to the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.

This position marks a shift in tone and now appears to align with the viewpoint of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, who is reportedly advocating for a conclusion to the ongoing military campaign.

Previously, Prime Minister Netanyahu, along with Katz and other senior officials, had consistently argued that increasing military pressure was the best way to secure the release of hostages, insisting that stepped-up assaults would work in Israel’s favor.

This newly voiced caution clashes directly with the stance of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has been a vocal proponent of a far more aggressive approach. Just this past Shabbos, he reiterated his hardline position: “The only path to decisive victory and the secure return of our hostages is the full conquest of the Gaza Strip, a complete halt to so-called ‘humanitarian aid,’ and the encouragement of emigration.”

Ben-Gvir’s position is echoed by other high-ranking officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. He, too, has pushed back against the idea of a limited deal and has repeatedly demanded that Israel pursue total military dominance in Gaza.

“We need to continue tightening the rope around Hamas’s neck and force it into a complete surrender deal with all the hostages at once,” Smotrich wrote in late May.

Meanwhile, some families of hostages have taken an opposing view. They warn that every additional day of fighting only increases the risk to their loved ones and have publicly urged the government to implement a ceasefire.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Freed U.S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander reportedly spoke with two of Saudi Arabia’s top officials during an unexpected encounter at the White House last week, Israeli media reported. According to Channel 12 News, Alexander, 21, who was held by Hamas for 584 days before his release in May, recounted his harrowing experience to Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Saudi Ambassador to Washington Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud. The meeting took place shortly after Alexander met with President Donald Trump, who was instrumental in brokering his release. The Saudi officials were at the White House the same day for high-level talks with Trump, reportedly focused on regional stability and efforts to de-escalate tensions with Iran. Channel 12 noted that Alexander held the conversation with Prince Khalid in fluent Arabic, a language he learned during his time in captivity in Gaza. Neither the White House nor the Saudi Embassy in Washington would comment on the reported exchange. The rare and unplanned encounter comes as speculation mounts over potential normalization talks between Israel and several Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Syria. Those discussions are expected to be a central focus of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington this week. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)