Feed aggregator

The COVID-19 variant that may be driving a recent rise in cases in some parts of the world has earned a new nickname: “razor blade throat” COVID. That’s because the variant — NB.1.8.1. or “Nimbus” — may cause painful sore throats. The symptom has been identified by doctors in the United Kingdom, India and elsewhere, according to media outlets in those countries. Other COVID-19 symptoms of any variant include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or loss of taste or smell. Experts say there isn’t major cause for concern with the Nimbus variant, but here ‘s what else you need to know about it. Here’s where the variant causing ‘razor blade throat’ is spreading The rise in cases late last month is primarily in eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and western Pacific regions, the World Health Organization said May 28. The new variant had reached nearly 11% of sequenced samples reported globally in mid-May. Airport screening in the United States detected the new variant in travelers arriving from those regions to destinations in California, Washington state, Virginia and New York. You aren’t likely to get sicker from this variant than others Not so far, anyway. The WHO said some western Pacific countries have reported increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations, but there’s nothing so far to suggest that the disease associated with the new variant is more severe compared to other variants. COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the Nimbus variant Yes. The WHO has designated Nimbus as a “variant under monitoring” and considers the public health risk low at the global level. Current vaccines are expected to remain effective. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced last month that COVID-19 shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women — a move immediately questioned by public health experts. (AP)

The White House is enveloped in a cloud of suspense and conflicting signals as President Donald Trump weighs a momentous decision: whether to deploy U.S. B-2 stealth bombers to drop bunker-busting munitions on Iran’s heavily fortified Fordo nuclear facility. The intrigue has sparked a frenzy of contradictory reports, leaving allies, adversaries, and observers on edge. According to CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, and ABC News, Trump has greenlit a military strike plan targeting the Fordo installation, buried deep within a mountain near Qom. Yet, sources say that the president has not issued a final order, keeping the world guessing about his next move. The plan, if executed, would see the U.S. unleash its Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 30,000-pound bomb designed to obliterate deeply entrenched targets. Such a strike would mark a dramatic escalation in U.S.-Iran relations and could reshape the geopolitical landscape. Complicating the picture, The New York Times reports that Iranian officials are slated to meet with U.S. representatives “soon,” hinting at a possible diplomatic off-ramp. The prospect of talks has fueled speculation that Trump, known for his deal-making instincts, may be holding the military option as leverage to extract concessions from Tehran. Yet, with no concrete timeline for these discussions, the diplomatic path remains shrouded in uncertainty. Meanwhile, Axios paints a different portrait, suggesting Trump harbors doubts about the potential strike’s efficacy. Sources close to the president indicate he questions whether even the MOP can fully neutralize Fordo’s nuclear capabilities, given its subterranean defenses. This hesitation, Axios notes, stems from intelligence assessments that cast doubt on the operation’s ability to deliver a decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Adding another layer of intrigue, Semafor reports that a strike may be increasingly unlikely due to a limited U.S. stockpile of bunker-busting munitions. The Pentagon, according to defense officials cited by Semafor, faces logistical constraints that could hamper its ability to sustain a prolonged campaign against Fordo and other fortified Iranian sites. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that the U.S. is gearing up for a strike on Iran, with the attack expected to come with the next few days – possibly over the weekend. Curiously, Israel, which has long viewed Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat, has not formally requested U.S. assistance in bombing Fordo, according to multiple reports. While a U.S. strike would undoubtedly aid Israel’s strategic objectives, the IDF appear confident in their own audacious – and still secret – plan to neutralize the facility. Lacking the U.S.’s heavy bunker-busting bombs, Israeli military planners are reportedly banking on a high-risk operation involving elite special forces to infiltrate and destroy Fordo from within. This approach draws inspiration from a recent Israeli commando raid in Syria, where operatives successfully dismantled an Assad-era weapons facility. The IDF’s plan for Fordo would involve penetrating the heavily guarded site, sabotaging critical infrastructure, and escaping before Iranian forces could mount a counterattack. Such an operation would be a staggering display of military prowess but carries immense risks, including the potential for significant casualties and regional retaliation. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stepped forward as a potential mediator in the mounting crisis between Israel and Iran, offering Moscow’s involvement in seeking a peaceful solution. His vision: an agreement that would permit Iran to pursue a non-military nuclear program while simultaneously ensuring Israeli security.

Addressing a group of senior editors from global news organizations at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin acknowledged the complexity of the standoff. “It’s a delicate issue,” he said, but added optimistically, “in my view, a solution could be found.”

Putin revealed that Russia had presented its proposals to the relevant parties, including Iran, Israel, and the United States. “We are not imposing anything on anyone; we are simply talking about how we see a possible way out of the situation. But the decision, of course, is up to the political leadership of all these countries, primarily Iran and Israel,” he said.

Despite Putin’s interest in de-escalation, he drew a firm line when asked about a potential Israeli assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “I don’t even want to discuss such a possibility,” he stated.

Khamenei himself has dismissed Washington’s calls for surrender in the face of increasing Israeli military action and has issued a stark warning to the U.S. that any intervention would bring “irreparable damage to them.”

Russia has long balanced ties with both Israel and Iran, walking a diplomatic tightrope. The Kremlin maintains strong defense and energy ties with Tehran, while also nurturing a historically cordial relationship with Israel. Putin’s offer comes as an extension of this balancing act and follows a recent phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to Trump, he urged Putin to shift his attention to the ongoing war in Eastern Europe. “I said, ‘Do me a favor, mediate your own,’” Trump recalled. “I said, ‘Vladimir, let’s mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later.’”

This marked a change in tone from Trump, who had previously expressed openness to Putin’s mediation proposal in the Middle East.

Russia’s presence in Iran’s nuclear landscape runs deep. At the forum, Putin mentioned that more than 200 Russian engineers are currently working on new reactors in Bushehr, a project continuing a legacy that began with Moscow’s involvement in Iran’s first nuclear power plant.

“We agreed with the Israeli leadership that their security will be ensured,” he said, noting that Iran had not requested any military help from Russia. He further pointed out that while Russia had previously offered a complete air defense system to Tehran, “the Iranian side showed little interest.”

“Our proposal was to create a system, not isolated deliveries, but a system,” Putin said. Israel later claimed to have destroyed some of the S-300 air defense systems that Russia had supplied to Iran during strikes last year.

Turning to Ukraine, Putin took the opportunity to commend Trump’s peace stance, echoing Trump’s assertion that the war might have been avoided had he been in power. “If Trump had been the president, the conflict indeed might not have erupted,” Putin said.

Although Trump recently floated the idea of a 30-day ceasefire, Putin rejected the proposal unless Ukraine halts mobilization and the West stops supplying arms. He reiterated his readiness for dialogue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though he claimed that Zelenskyy had lost legitimacy after his term ended — a claim rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies.

“We are ready for substantive talks on the principles of a settlement,” Putin said, noting that previous negotiations had successfully led to prisoner exchanges and repatriation of fallen soldiers.

Putin was asked by the Associated Press about Russia condemning Israeli strikes on Iran while continuing to bombard Ukrainian cities. He defended Russia’s actions. “The strikes were carried out against military industries, not residential quarters,” he said.

However, AP journalists recently documented civilian casualties in Ukraine. Rescue workers in Kyiv have pulled more bodies from the wreckage of a nine-story building destroyed earlier in the week by a Russian missile, raising the death toll to 28.

Putin stood firm, insisting Russia would pursue its goal to “demilitarize” Ukraine. “We will not allow Ukraine to have armed forces that would threaten the Russian Federation and its people,” he declared. “And if we fail to reach a settlement, we will achieve our goals by military means.”

He issued a stern warning to Germany not to provide long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, cautioning that doing so could pull Berlin into direct conflict with Moscow. Yet, he added, such weapons wouldn’t stop Russia’s momentum. “Our troops are advancing along the entire line of contact,” he said, adding, “If they fail to agree, the situation could change for the worse.”

Putin also pushed back against Western concerns that Russia might attack NATO nations, brushing them off as baseless. He called such fears “ravings” and pointed out that NATO’s military expenditures dwarf Russia’s defense budget.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Putin used the St. Petersburg forum to tout Russia’s economic strength and attract investment. Western leaders have largely boycotted the event since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, leaving the stage to representatives from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and BRICS nations.

Putin met with Dilma Rousseff, the current head of the New Development Bank and former Brazilian president, and is expected to hold discussions with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, as well as senior officials from China, South Africa, Bahrain, and OPEC.

{Matzav.com}

At a Cabinet meeting convened Wednesday evening—the first since the launch of Operation Am KeLavi—ministers received a comprehensive security briefing on the ongoing military operations deep inside Tehran.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister Uri Maklev raised his voice in protest, accusing the Home Front Command of neglecting the chareidi public when it comes to emergency alerts. Maklev said that users of kosher phones are not receiving real-time alerts from the Home Front Command. He noted that the Reshut Ha’chareidit (Chareidi Affairs Division) in the Prime Minister’s Office had already reached out with practical solutions, but the Home Front Command has been ignoring the matter.

“Why is the chareidi public not receiving emergency alerts like other citizens?” Maklev asked Defense Minister Yisroel Katz. “Chareidi municipal leaders and residents are turning to us. The chareidi public is not connected to conventional media outlets and is unaware of incoming alerts. The Reshut Ha’chareidit in the Prime Minister’s Office presented viable solutions, yet the Home Front Command continues to disregard them.”

In response, the Defense Minister assured the Cabinet that he would personally address the issue.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi also joined the discussion, raising a related concern: the need to implement the “silent wave” alert system on national radio stations throughout the country—including in areas outside the north and south. He, too, said this issue is being overlooked.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Mincha in מצרים as hundreds make their way out of Israel via the Taba crossing to Sharm el-Sheikh Airport around 2 hours south.

Amid the increasingly precarious security situation in Eretz Yisroel, Mir Yerushalayim has launched an initiative for its talmidim to take shifts in order to learn for three consecutive days without a single break in limud torah.

US resumes visas for foreign students but demands access to social media accounts The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it is restarting the suspended process for foreigners applying for student visas but all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for government review. The department said consular officers will be on the lookout for posts and messages that could be deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions or founding principles. In a notice made public Wednesday, the department said it had rescinded its May suspension of student visa processing but said new applicants who refuse to set their social media accounts to “public” and allow them to be reviewed may be rejected.

Trump meets with national security team on Iran as U.S. prepares to evacuate citizens from Israel President Donald Trump is meeting with his national security team in the White House Situation Room for the second time in two days, as he considers whether to order a military strike against Iran amid its ongoing conflict with Israel. The meeting began shortly before 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, a White House official told NBC News. Meanwhile, his administration has begun preparing for large-scale evacuations of Americans who want to leave Israel.

Honda is recalling more than 259,000 of its cars across the U.S. due to a problem that can cause the brake pedal to shift out of position, potentially interfering with a driver’s ability to stop or slow down. According to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall covers certain Honda Pilots between model years 2023 and 2025 — as well cars under the auto maker’s luxury Acura brand: 2021-2025 Acura TLX and 2023-2025 Acura MDX vehicles. The NHTSA’s recall report notes that the brake pedal pivot pin in some of these vehicles was not secured properly during production. That can lead the pedal to shift out of place and “may lead to unintended application,” the report notes, increasing crash risks. “The issue could also cause an abnormal brake pedal feeling during operation, illuminate the brake malfunction light in the instrument cluster, or cause the vehicle’s brake lights to remain lit even when the brake pedal is not applied,” America Honda said in a statement Wednesday. As a remedy, Honda says authorized dealers will inspect the vehicles covered by this recall and replace the brake pedal assembly if necessary, free of charge. Per the NHTSA’s report, the company estimates 1% of these vehicles have this issue. Dealer notifications began on June 13. And mailed owner notification letters are set to follow on July 28. In the meantime, drivers can also confirm if their specific vehicle is included in this recall and find more information using the NHTSA site or Honda’s recall lookup. Between February 2024 and June 5, the NHSTA notes, Honda received three warranty claims related to this issue — but no reports of injuries. Honda began investigating the faulty brake pedal in April 2024, after receiving a report of a vehicle experiencing this issue. The company later determined that improper assembly of the brake pedal pivot pin occurred at a supplier’s U.S. plant, which has since been closed. Production was transferred to a plant in Mexico — where the supplier now uses a camera sensor “to verify whether the pivot pin is staked,” the recall report notes. (AP)

Sirens are sounding, schools and jobs are shut, and families’ expenses are soaring while income has vanished. Our Rabbinic board has ordered a large crisis fund to keep food on tables and hope in hearts.

A senior defense official confirmed to Fox News that Army Colonel Nathan McCormack, who advises the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Middle East and Israel affairs, has been re-assigned back to the Army following a review of his social media activity. The official stated that McCormack’s social media posts, which included calling Israel the “worst ally” and criticizing “Netanyahu and his Judeo‑supremacist cronies,” led to his removal from the joint staff. Many of these posts appeared on an anonymous X account, and several have since been deleted. “While the matter is under review, McCormack will no longer serve on the joint staff,” the Pentagon official said, adding that an investigation is ongoing to assess the content and its potential implications. The official emphasized that the views expressed on the social media account do not represent the positions of the Joint Staff or the Department of Defense. Critics, including a Pentagon contractor quoted by Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), called McCormack’s posts “mind-boggling” and “dangerous,” noting that such rhetoric from a senior military planner could be exploited by bad actors. The contractor also questioned what McCormack may be saying behind closed doors. JNS was the first to report on the story, prompting official Pentagon statements and McCormack’s removal from his role. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

As Israel increases its strikes against Iranian military and nuclear targets, a new Fox News poll shows that most Americans see Iran as a significant threat to U.S. security, though opinions remain split on Israel’s military response. The poll, conducted from June 13 to 16, 2025, reveals that 73% of registered voters believe Iran poses a genuine national security risk. Support for this view crosses party lines, with 82% of Republicans, 69% of Democrats, and 62% of independents recognizing Iran’s threat—each group registering more concern than in previous years. While there’s broad agreement on Iran’s threat, public opinion is divided over Israel’s recent preemptive strikes. Overall, 47% of voters approve of Israel’s actions against Iran’s nuclear sites, while 45% disapprove—falling within the poll’s 3-point margin of error. Republicans show strong support, with 70% approving of Israel’s military efforts. Democrats largely oppose, with 60% disapproving, and independents are nearly evenly split—44% approve, 46% disapprove. This Fox News poll was conducted by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), surveying 1,001 registered voters nationwide to gauge American sentiment amid this escalating conflict. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Donald Trump informed top advisers late Tuesday that he had given the green light for potential military action against Iran but was holding off on executing the plan to see whether Tehran would reconsider its nuclear ambitions, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing three individuals familiar with the talks.

At the same time, the already tense standoff escalated further when Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made it clear that his country would not yield to external demands.

He also declared that any intervention by American forces would result in “irreparable consequences.”

Over the past several days, the U.S. has steadily expanded its military presence in the region.

A third U.S. Navy destroyer has now entered the eastern Mediterranean, while a second aircraft carrier strike group is en route to the Arabian Sea, the Journal noted.

Although the Pentagon has publicly described the increased deployment as a defensive measure, the report pointed out that it also gives the United States more operational flexibility should Trump ultimately choose to align with Israel in striking Iranian targets.

The troop movements could also be a calculated show of force, with the goal of coercing Iran into softening its position or agreeing to negotiations.

Iran continues to face global scrutiny for its advancement of nuclear technology, raising alarm that the regime could weaponize its nuclear capabilities.

Trump and other international leaders have urged Iran to agree to dismantle its uranium enrichment efforts, though no such agreement has been reached. Many of the Israeli strikes have reportedly been aimed at facilities tied to those nuclear activities.

An Iranian nuclear breakthrough is seen as a major threat to regional stability, a danger to Israel, and a serious concern for the international community as a whole.

{Matzav.com}

When Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered his defiant and inflammatory speech on Wednesday, many around the world were left bewildered by his tone — one that suggested Iran stood on equal footing with Israel, and perhaps even with the United States. His posture made it seem as if nothing had changed, despite the devastating blows his military apparatus had suffered at Israel’s hands since Friday.

Perhaps, prior to Israel dismantling major elements of Iran’s nuclear, missile, and drone capabilities; before the deaths of nine out of thirteen of his senior commanders; before dozens of mid-tier officials were eliminated; and before an air defense network of over 70 batteries was obliterated — perhaps then, such a speech might have struck fear into global capitals like Jerusalem and Washington.

But after the decimation his military has faced, the tone of Khamenei’s address seemed almost surreal.

For many observers, the natural conclusion was that he must be playing a calculated public relations game — aware of Iran’s grim situation but projecting strength to boost morale, deter further U.S. involvement, and negotiate better terms in a post-conflict settlement.

However, The Jerusalem Post is now reporting that a more shocking and sinister possibility exists: some of Khamenei’s inner circle — those few who have survived — may be feeding him false information. He may genuinely believe that Iran is faring far better in the conflict than it actually is.

If true, this wouldn’t mark the first time that Khamenei had been misled by advisers on pivotal matters of war and diplomacy.

On April 1, the Israeli Air Force killed Mohammed Reza Zahedi, the Quds Force’s most senior commander for Lebanon and Syria, in a strike that also took the lives of over a dozen IRGC and Iranian officials.

At that point, Zahedi was the highest-ranking Iranian figure to be eliminated since the outbreak of hostilities, even surpassing the seniority of Sayyed Reza Mousavi, who had been killed in December 2023.

Zahedi was not only responsible for overseeing terrorism against Israel from its northern borders, but he also served as Iran’s top liaison with Hezbollah.

Although Israel initially refrained from publicly claiming the strike, Iran and Hezbollah wasted no time blaming Jerusalem, seeing Zahedi’s death as a critical hit to Hezbollah’s strategic capabilities.

According to Iranian media, Zahedi was in a meeting with leaders from Palestinian Islamic Jihad when he was killed.

He also led Unit 18,000 of the Quds Force, which managed arms smuggling and the transfer of precision-guided munitions into Lebanon. His previous roles included commanding the IRGC’s Air Force and the Imam Hussein Division.

Later, Israeli sources clarified that the airstrike had targeted a building next to the Iranian embassy in Syria — not the embassy itself.

But that’s not how the event was portrayed to the outside world.

Outraged, the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon declared: “This barbaric Israeli aggression is a flagrant violation of international laws, diplomatic norms, and the requirements of the Vienna Convention.”

Reports at the time claimed that the building struck was used as the ambassador’s residence and was situated near the Canadian Embassy in Damascus.

The Jerusalem Post has since uncovered that, due to staffing overflow, Iranian embassy personnel occasionally used that adjacent structure for work-related purposes, though it was not officially an embassy.

Sources told The Post that the IRGC frequently used the same building for covert intelligence and terror planning.

Most significantly, the newspaper learned that Khamenei himself was told the strike had hit an official Iranian embassy.

Khamenei rarely leaves his secured locations and relies heavily on a tight circle of advisers to brief him on global developments.

According to The Post, some of these advisers may have intentionally misled him, causing him to believe the Israeli strike constituted a direct assault on sovereign Iranian soil.

Consequently, Khamenei’s decision-making may have been based not just on Zahedi’s death but on what he believed was an unprecedented diplomatic violation.

Iran embraced this narrative with such force that, even now, many senior American officials privately acknowledge to The Post that they still believe Israel bombed an official embassy compound — despite Israeli insistence to the contrary.

Israeli leaders stress that the building lacked any diplomatic markings and that even Lebanon’s records didn’t classify it as a diplomatic site.

This manipulation of information is critical, because it likely spurred Khamenei to authorize Iran’s first-ever direct strike on Israeli territory during April 13–14 — launching over 100 ballistic missiles, around 170 drones, and several cruise missiles.

That moment marked a historic rupture. After decades of indirect warfare through proxies and covert operations, Israel and Iran were now openly engaged in head-on conflict.

In Israeli security circles, this direct attack was considered the intelligence community’s second greatest blunder of the war, second only to the October 7, 2023, Hamas onslaught.

While Israeli analysts did anticipate an Iranian response, they believed it would still come via intermediaries like Hezbollah, and not involve the massive use of long-range weaponry.

Then-IDF Intelligence Chief Aharon Haliva was ultimately forced to resign in April 2024 — not because of the October 7 failure, but due to his underestimation of Khamenei’s escalation following Zahedi’s killing.

Though he stayed on for a short period due to the wartime crisis, the intelligence failure to predict Iran’s direct assault was seen as a major lapse.

In hindsight, a contributing factor to the miscalculation appears to be that IDF analysts didn’t grasp the full extent to which Khamenei had been misled by his own advisers, some of whom seemingly encouraged an extreme response.

Several of those figures are believed to have died in recent Israeli operations. Yet others remain — including individuals who may favor a prolonged war, disregard the suffering of Iranian civilians, or simply fear telling Khamenei the brutal truth.

This mirrors past episodes in Middle Eastern history, such as when Egyptian generals fed President Nasser false reports of victory during the Six Day War, even as Israel’s forces decimated them.

It’s possible that Khamenei’s Wednesday speech reflected not propaganda — but sincere belief in a warped version of reality.

If that’s the case, Israel’s leadership must recognize that ending this war could be far more complex. Dealing with an adversary who is genuinely misinformed about his own situation is far more dangerous than facing a rational actor with an accurate understanding of his losses.

{Matzav.com Israel}

[COMMUNICATED]

Sirens are sounding, schools and jobs are shut, and families’ expenses are soaring while income has vanished. Our Rabbinic board has ordered a large crisis fund to keep food on tables and hope in hearts.

After a trip to strengthen Jewish communities abroad, Rav Azriel Auerbach returned to Erets Yisroel today via an unusual route, crossing the Jordanian border under tight security after landing in Aqaba on a private aircraft.

The journey concluded a trip that began two weeks ago, when Rav Auerbach responded to the request of American gedolim to travel to the United States and serve as the keynote speaker at the Adirei HaTorah gathering. Throughout his visit, he participated in numerous kabalos panim held in yeshivos and Torah centers across the country, delivering powerful divrei chizuk and shiurim to thousands of bnei Torah.

The rav boarded a flight back to Israel last Thursday. However, about 30 minutes before the scheduled landing, Israeli airspace was closed due to the onset of the military operation in Iran. The pilot was instructed to divert, and the aircraft was rerouted to Cyprus.

The plane landed in Larnaca on Friday, and Rav Auerbach, together with his entourage, spent Shabbos at a boutique hotel on the island. A prominent philanthropist and confidant of the rav, who had been on the same flight, quickly arranged all the necessary logistics — including meals, accommodations, and a minyan of travelers. Special arrangements were made to designate part of the hotel for Shabbos tefillos, and during the course of Shabbos, the rav addressed the stranded travelers, offering words of encouragement and invoking the verse from Parshas Beha’aloscha, “Al pi Hashem yachanu v’al pi Hashem yisa’u” — emphasizing that everything happens according to Hashem’s will, and there is no room for complaints or second-guessing.

Following Shabbos, Rav Auerbach accepted an invitation from community leaders in London to spend a few days in the city while waiting for conditions in Israel to stabilize. He continued his mission of chizuk among European Jewry, attending kabalos panim in local yeshivos and Torah institutions.

Today, the rav boarded a private jet that flew to the Jordanian city of Aqaba, adjacent to the Israeli border. Accompanied by his entourage and under police protection, he crossed into Israel and traveled to his home in the Beit Vagan neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where crowds of talmidim and admirers were waiting to greet him.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In response to widespread confusion and numerous questions regarding payments for educational institutions and preschools during the ongoing war, the Beis Din of Beitar Illit, led by Rav Tzvi Braverman, issued a formal set of halachic guidelines this week.

The ruling marks the first major halachic response to the array of financial dilemmas caused by the war’s impact on school operations across the country.

In their letter, the dayanim differentiate between various types of institutions. For official, state-supervised kindergartens and daycare centers, they ruled that payment arrangements must follow the official directives issued by authorized government bodies.

When it comes to private kindergartens, the beis din made a distinction based on whether the facility has access to a mamad (reinforced protected room). If the kindergarten is equipped with a secure space, it is permitted to operate under the condition that no more than seven children are present at any given time. If more families wish to send their children, the school must institute a rotation system.

If a private kindergarten does not have access to a protected room and therefore cannot operate safely, the beis din ruled that parents are not obligated to pay tuition for those days the school remains closed.

The ruling also addressed concerns from parents reluctant to send their children, as well as from school operators hesitant to reopen despite official clearance. These situations, the letter stated, must be considered individually with sensitivity to safety and halachic nuance.

The beis din concluded by noting that additional guidance will be issued in the near future concerning other wartime-related financial obligations, such as payments for simchah halls and transportation to schools.

The complete ruling from the Beis Din of Beitar is included below.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli military officials said that their current campaign against Iran’s nuclear program could meet its key goals within one to two weeks. This assessment was shared as the Israel Defense Forces pressed on with a series of operations targeting both Iranian troops and nuclear infrastructure. According to military sources, a fresh bombardment was launched against ballistic missile platforms located in the western part of Iran.

The IDF reported that numerous missile systems and associated installations were struck during this offensive.

Brigadier General Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the IDF, announced that earlier in the day, sixty fighter jets participated in “an extensive wave of strikes in the heart of Iran,” focusing on missile launchers directed toward Israel.

He noted a shift in Iranian military posture due to repeated Israeli attacks. “Now, they are putting efforts into launching [missiles] from Isfahan.”

“They withdrew from western Iran, but we are coming after them,” he added.

The IDF further confirmed it had targeted Iranian radar infrastructure and air defense capabilities in western regions since Tuesday morning and released footage from the operation.

As of Tuesday, Israeli aircraft have destroyed around 70 Iranian anti-aircraft batteries, part of an ongoing campaign since the start of this operation.

In just the first day of combat, more than 40 of those systems were taken out, establishing air superiority over Tehran and surrounding areas, according to IDF sources.

Despite these efforts, military officials cautioned that flying above Iranian territory still carries considerable risk.

Additional waves of attacks have since disabled approximately 30 more defense systems, which has allowed Israeli jets and UAVs to penetrate deeper into Iranian territory.

Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, Chief of Staff of the Israeli Air Force, said on Tuesday that the mission to eliminate Iranian air defenses represents “a historic mission that could change the entire course of the campaign.”

Drones from the Israeli Air Force are still being deployed to locate and neutralize radar arrays and SAM platforms throughout Iran.

The IDF distributed video footage showing the identification of Iranian ballistic missile preparations, followed by a successful strike on those assets. Another clip revealed a direct hit on a separate air defense system.

According to IDF figures, about 40% of Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal—roughly 200 launchers—has already been dismantled or rendered unusable.

The military believes this has significantly curtailed Iran’s capacity to launch large missile barrages against Israeli cities in recent days.

Their analysis suggests Iran isn’t deliberately holding back for a longer conflict, but rather facing logistical obstacles in coordinating larger-scale attacks.

That same evening, powerful explosions echoed throughout Tehran, as heard by AFP journalists stationed there. The blasts were reported in several parts of the city, but it wasn’t immediately clear whether they were caused by Israeli missiles or Iranian defensive fire.

Israel began this military campaign on Friday, intending to dismantle what it described as a critical existential danger posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions and missile capabilities.

So far, airstrikes have inflicted severe damage on key nuclear sites including Natanz and Isfahan. The IDF also eliminated at least nine prominent scientists reportedly involved in weaponization work, along with striking auxiliary facilities such as command centers and offices.

Military spokespeople indicated that the campaign had already significantly hindered Tehran’s ability to pursue a nuclear weapon, though they emphasized that further action remains necessary. They plan to release a comprehensive assessment of the damage upon conclusion of the operation.

While Israel has not yet attacked the Fordo nuclear plant buried deep underground, military leaders confirmed it remains a potential target. “An issue that will certainly be addressed,” said Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Smoke clouds were seen rising from parts of Tehran on June 17, following a nighttime Israeli airstrike.

The IDF disclosed that it had eliminated a large number of senior Iranian officers, including a majority of top-level officials from both the IRGC and the broader Iranian military. Commanders said their forces have taken out three times the number of Iranian leaders than initially projected.

Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, who heads the Operations Directorate, declared on Tuesday that the mission would not cease until Iran’s nuclear and missile threats had been fully eradicated, though he did not commit to a firm timeline.

“We continue to strike nuclear targets to deepen the achievement, according to a plan and at a timing that suits us,” he told the press.

“We are striking the terror regime, not the people, who deserve a better future. Those who endanger us are the leadership in Tehran, not the people walking the streets of Shiraz,” Basiuk stated. “We will remain prepared on defense. I assess that the Iranians will continue to try to harm Israel.”

He concluded: “We will not allow a nuclear Iran to turn the Middle East into a graveyard.”

On June 17, Defense Minister Israel Katz held discussions with key IDF leaders, including Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

Israel has defended its sweeping campaign as essential to preventing the Islamic Republic from nearing nuclear weapons capability. When it launched the strikes, Israeli officials said the urgency of the situation posed a direct threat to the state’s survival.

Though Tehran maintains that its nuclear activities are strictly peaceful, it has ramped up uranium enrichment to levels that raise international concern, blocked inspections by global monitors, and expanded its long-range missile capabilities.

During a visit to Bat Yam, where an Iranian missile had landed, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasized the importance of national morale. “Civilian resilience is critical for us. It’s a central component of our ability to continue functioning.”

Nine people were killed in the missile strike that hit the city on Sunday.

“This is a war we didn’t choose, but we must see it through,” Zamir said in a video address to Home Front Command officers. “We are determined to complete our missions, and everything we were tasked with, we will achieve.”

He elaborated: “We are in an extraordinary moment. Right now, we are hunting ballistic missiles, there are UAVs out there, our fighter jets are involved, it’s something crazy: 1,500 kilometers from Israel, we’re tracking and destroying those ballistic missiles.”

Zamir praised the work of Home Front personnel, saying: “Now your layer comes in, and it’s a very significant layer in the sense that when something hits, forces are on the ground, and people draw strength from seeing you. You arrive quickly, rescue people safely, treat the wounded, and sadly, there are also fatalities in these events.”

He reiterated his earlier point: “Civilian resilience is critical for us. It’s a central component of our ability to continue functioning. You said it yourselves: We’re not stopping now. Why aren’t we stopping? Because the home front’s resilience is strong. When the resilience of the home front is strong, we have the confidence to keep operating.”

{Matzav.com}

[Full video below.] Ted Cruz pushed back angrily after a clip from an interview with Tucker Carlson sparked widespread mockery online. In the teaser, Carlson pressed Cruz with the question, “How many people live in Iran, by the way?” When Cruz admitted he didn’t know, Carlson responded with open disbelief, exclaiming, “You don’t know the population of the country you seek to topple?”

The moment escalated into Carlson openly laughing in Cruz’s face, which quickly went viral across social media platforms. One user wrote, “Is it possible to absolutely loathe Tucker Carlson and enjoy ….watching him destroy Ted Cruz at the same time?”

Brian Krassenstein, a political analyst, weighed in on the fallout, interpreting the exchange as further evidence of internal fractures on the political right. He declared the video was a clear indication that “the Republican Party is self-destructing.”

Cruz, attempting to control the narrative, posted on X in response to the uproar. “He released a snippet playing a ‘gotcha’ on the population of Iran,” Cruz wrote in reference to Carlson’s post. “I declined to play that silly game. WATCH the full 2-hr interview, where Tucker ATTACKS Trump, attacks the ‘AIPAC lobby,’ and falsely claims Iran is NOT trying to assassinate Trump.”

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE:

{Matzav.com}