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[Photos below.] As reported on extensively here on Matzav.com, a delegation of leading Chassidic Rebbes, rabbonim and roshei yeshiva met with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House in Washington, D.C., for extensive discussions on issues facing the Chareidi community in the United States and Eretz Yisroel. The extraordinary gathering included a private 15-minute meeting between the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, and Trump, a prayer for the president recited in the Oval Office, and discussions concerning pidyon shvuyim and the drafting of yeshiva students in Israel.

Among those participating were the two Satmar Rebbes, the Bobover Rebbe, Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, and Rav Aharon Menachem Mendel Twersky, son of the Skverer Rebbe. Rep. Mike Lawler, who was instrumental in arranging the historic White House visit, was also present.

The gathering opened with remarks from Reb Yoel Rosenfeld, a prominent Bobover community activist, who introduced several of the subjects that the delegation hoped to raise with administration officials.

Others who spoke during the discussions included the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum; the Satmar dayan of Williamsburg; Reb Gedaliah Segedin; New Square Mayor Yisroel Moshe Spitzer; Reb Moshe Dovid Niederman; Reb Yehuda Leib Zorger; and Reb Moshe Margareten. The participants raised a range of concerns affecting the broader Chareidi community, with particular attention devoted to matters involving Jewish residents of New York and New Jersey where assistance from the federal government could prove significant.

Segedin specifically presented the needs of the more than 50,000 residents of Kiryas Joel, outlining several areas in which the federal government could assist the rapidly growing community.

Vice President JD Vance joined the gathering after it was underway, warmly greeting the rabbonim and community representatives and speaking with them about several issues currently facing their communities.

A particularly significant portion of the visit occurred when the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, accompanied by Segedin, was invited to meet privately with President Trump. The approximately 15-minute discussion centered primarily on matters of pidyon shvuyim. The Rebbe warmly blessed Trump and personally raised several pressing concerns, while the president listened and discussed the matters with him at length.

Following the private conversation, the remainder of the rabbinic delegation and community representatives, including New Square Mayor Yisroel Moshe Spitzer and Reb Moshe Dovid Niederman, were brought into the Oval Office to meet with Trump.

Rav Aharon, who was already in the room following his private meeting, waited as each of the other rabbonim personally greeted and blessed the president.

A remarkable scene then unfolded as Rav Aharon, seated at the center of the table directly opposite Trump, rose from his chair. The other rabbonim surrounding the table stood with him, and the Rebbe emotionally recited the traditional prayer for the welfare of the government, Hanosein Teshuah LaMelachim. He then asked Segedin to translate the prayer into English for the president.

Trump was visibly moved by the moment and immediately asked that his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, be summoned to the room, saying, “He must be here when such distinguished guests are present.”

After the prayer, Rav Aharon addressed Trump briefly and expressed his gratitude for what he described as the president’s historic directive allowing batei medrash and Jewish institutions to reopen during the COVID-era restrictions. The conversation then continued with additional issues of importance to the Chareidi community.

The Satmar Rebbe, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, expressed his appreciation to Trump for his strong support of the Jewish people and for standing alongside “our Jewish brethren.” Rav Zalman Leib also raised the contentious issue of the drafting of yeshiva students in Eretz Yisroel.

Rav Aharon Menachem Mendel Twersky, son of the Skverer Rebbe, then spoke for several minutes and presented Trump with a personal letter from his father. The president inquired about the Skverer Rebbe and asked that his regards be conveyed to him.

The discussion continued as the Rebbes and other members of the delegation spoke with Trump about a broad range of matters affecting Chareidi Jews both in the United States and Eretz Yisroel.

At one point, Rav Aharon asked Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, to address the president. Rav Malkiel instead chose to give Trump a private letter dealing with several matters.

Another unusual moment came during the meeting when Trump asked Rav Aharon for the handwritten note on which the Rebbe had recorded the points discussed during their earlier private conversation. Rav Aharon handed it to the president, who placed the note inside his personal desk drawer.

After approximately half an hour with Trump, the delegation concluded the Oval Office meeting. The rabbonim thanked the president for the exceptionally warm reception before taking their leave on friendly terms.

As the Rebbes departed the White House gathering, they exchanged warm wishes for the approaching Rosh Hashanah, offering one another blessings for a good year and for a kesivah vachasimah tovah.

{Matzav.com}

The growing movement to begin the first night of Selichos with Torah learning continues to spread, with the Five Towns and Kew Gardens Hills becoming the latest communities to organize coordinated pre-Selichos sedarim this Motzoei Shabbos.

The new initiatives follow the community-wide programs announced in Flatbush and Passaic-Clifton, as the idea of entering the first Selichos directly from a seder of Torah learning gains momentum across the region.

Under the banner “Join the Hisorerus,” participating shuls in the Five Towns and Kew Gardens Hills are encouraging mispallelim to arrive well before Selichos and devote that time to learning. The message accompanying the initiative is: “Elevate Your Selichos! Stand before Hashem with the z’chus of Torah.”

In the Greater Five Towns, 26 shuls have joined the initiative, representing a broad cross-section of the community. Participating shuls include Agudath Israel of Long Island, led by Rabbi Meir Braunstein; Bais Medrash Ateres Yisroel, led by Rabbi Yisroel Meir Blumenkrantz; Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid, led by Rabbi Mordechai Stern; Cong. Anshei Chesed, led by Rabbi Isaac Rice; Cong. Shaary Tefila, led by Rabbi Uri Orlian; Kahal Beis Imrei Gavriel, led by Rabbi Yoni Levin; Kehilas Beis Yisroel, led by Rabbi Elysha Sandler; Kehillas Tiferes Mordechai, led by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein; and K’Hal Nesiv Hatorah, led by Rabbi Binyamin Forst.

Also participating are Agudath Israel of the Five Towns, led by Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel; Bais Tefila of Inwood, led by Rabbi Pinchos Weinberger; Beis Medrash of Harborview, led by Rabbi Yisroel Ephrati; Cong. Beis Ephraim Yitzchok, led by Rabbi Zvi Ralbag; Congregation Eitz Chaim, led by Rabbi Gedaliah Oppen; Kahal Zichron Moshe Dov, led by Rabbi Aaron Stein; Kehillas Nishmas Hatorah, led by Rabbi Yissachar Blinder; Khal Bnei Hayeshivos, led by Rabbi Shmuel Witkin; and Mishkan Yisroel of Woodmere, led by Rabbi Daniel Rosen.

Rounding out the Five Towns participants are Agudath Israel of West Lawrence, led by Rabbi Moshe Brown; Beis Knesses North Woodmere, led by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz; Beis Medrash of Woodmere, led by Rabbi Akiva Willig; Cong. Kneseth Israel, led by Rabbi Eytan Feiner; Ishei Yisroel Woodmere, led by Rav Naftoli Weitz; Kehilas Bais Avraham Zev, led by Rabbi Asher Stern; Kehilas Yagdil Torah, led by Rabbi Ariel Edelstein; and Khal Chassidim, led by Rabbi Teddy Newman.

The Five Towns program calls for a seder limud b’chavrusa beginning at 12:00 a.m., followed by Selichos at 12:55 a.m., although individual shul schedules may vary. Those without a chavrusa will be assisted in finding one.

Kew Gardens Hills has now joined the movement as well, with six shuls taking part. They are Beis Medrash Zichron Shalom, led by Rabbi Eitan Tanenbaum; Beis Yosef D’Ulem, led by Rabbi Yaakov Friedman; Chevrah Bais Dovid D’Lantzut, led by Rabbi Naftoli Rubin; Kehillas KGH, led by Rabbi Ilan Feder and Rabbi Yisroel Kramer; Kehillas Torah Temima, led by Rabbi Yehudah Davis; and Beis Medrash of KGH, led by Rabbi Yaakov Bergman.

The Kew Gardens Hills program is scheduled to begin with a seder limud b’chavrusa at 12:10 a.m., with individual shul schedules varying. Organizers will also arrange chavrusas for those who need them.

The expansion into the Five Towns and Kew Gardens Hills follows the earlier announcements from Flatbush and Passaic-Clifton, turning the concept into an increasingly widespread pre-Selichos initiative.

Across all four communities, the idea is the same: to utilize the time before the first Selichos for Torah learning and to approach the opening Selichos of the year carrying the zechus haTorah and with a heightened sense of hisorerus ahead of the Yemei Hadin.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump delivered a stark assessment of Britain’s direction Thursday, warning that the country is approaching a crisis because of mass immigration and soaring energy costs tied to its environmental policies.

During an interview with GB News, Trump said Britain faces major domestic challenges despite reiterating his personal affection for the country and his admiration for King Charles.

Relations between Washington and London have become increasingly strained in recent years. The warm atmosphere surrounding Trump’s elaborate 2025 state visit has given way to increasingly sharp disagreements over several British domestic and foreign policies.

Trump nevertheless emphasized his longstanding fondness for Britain before turning his attention to the government of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, which he said must confront serious problems.

“Your country’s in trouble. You’re on ⁠the edge of disaster,” he said.

Trump singled out immigration and energy prices as two of the most pressing threats facing the country, arguing that British consumers are paying far more for energy than they should.

“You have a tremendous immigration problem, and you have a tremendous energy problem. Your energy is three, four times higher than it should be.”

Trump, a longtime critic of climate-change policies, has repeatedly urged Britain to reverse its move away from fossil fuels and make greater use of the oil and natural gas resources available in the North Sea.

Burnham’s government is currently considering whether to approve two major North Sea energy projects. While the prime minister has pledged to take a pragmatic approach to the transition, his government continues to support moving Britain toward cleaner sources of electricity.

Immigration was another major focus of Trump’s criticism, with the president warning that continued large-scale migration risks fundamentally transforming the country.

“If you don’t stop people pouring into ⁠your country ⁠from all over the world, you’re not going to have a country left,” he said.

The immigration debate has become one of Britain’s most politically potent issues, particularly over migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats from continental Europe. Public frustration over the issue has contributed to growing support for Nigel Farage’s right-leaning Reform party.

Burnham has continued the commitment made by his predecessor, Keir Starmer, to curb the illegal Channel crossings. His government said earlier this week that the number of crossings had fallen significantly, attributing the decline in part to efforts aimed at stopping boat launches and disrupting the criminal organizations responsible for smuggling migrants into Britain.

{Matzav.com}

The Pentagon instructed military officials last month to stop referring to current U.S. operations against Iran as “Operation Epic Fury,” even as American and Iranian forces continue exchanging attacks, according to an internal Air Force email obtained by CBS News.

The Aug. 7 directive, which CBS News first reported Tuesday, instructed senior public affairs personnel to describe the continuing military activity instead as “overseas operations in the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility.”

According to CBS, the instruction originated with War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s central public affairs office, headed by chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. Officials were also reminded that public statements concerning the Iran conflict require approval from U.S. Central Command.

After CBS sought clarification, the Pentagon said Wednesday that “Operation Epic Fury” had officially concluded on May 5. The campaign had begun Feb. 28 with coordinated American and Israeli strikes against Iran, meaning the Pentagon’s August instruction came approximately three months after the operation was officially deemed over.

Until the Pentagon’s disclosure this week, both the department and U.S. Central Command had repeatedly declined for months to publicly provide an official date marking the conclusion of the operation.

The May 5 date corresponds with remarks made that day by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House, when he announced that the military campaign bearing the “Epic Fury” name had concluded and that U.S. efforts were moving into another phase.

“The operation is over. ‘Epic Fury’ is, the president notified Congress, we’re done with that stage of it. We’re now on to this ‘Project Freedom,'” Rubio told reporters, referring to a defensive maritime operation intended to safeguard commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump had informed congressional leaders four days earlier that hostilities with Iran had “terminated.” That notification came as the administration confronted the 60-day limit established under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which was enacted after the Vietnam War to constrain prolonged military action undertaken without congressional authorization.

The precise end date for “Epic Fury” has implications extending beyond what the military calls the campaign, particularly when it comes to how American casualties are officially recorded.

According to CBS, four U.S. service members who died in mid-July were originally classified in the Defense Casualty Analysis System as casualties of “Epic Fury.” Three of those troops were killed at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base after an Iranian missile struck their barracks. Several days later, the four deaths were reassigned to a newly created “overseas operations” category, which technically lowered the official “Epic Fury” death toll from 18 to 14.

At the time of those changes, Parnell said they resulted from a “temporary data disruption,” according to CBS.

A War Department official subsequently told the network that because “Epic Fury” is considered finished, casualties occurring afterward are being categorized as part of overseas operations within CENTCOM’s area of responsibility.

Questions remain, however, about the consistency of those classifications. CBS reported that the Pentagon’s publicly accessible casualty database continues to categorize five troops wounded in June and one service member killed in July under “Epic Fury,” while the database does not list an official end date for the operation.

The conflict itself has continued despite the administration’s designation that the original operation ended in May. On July 7, Trump formally informed Congress that U.S. military action against Iran had resumed. The administration maintains that the renewed action began a new 60-day period under the War Powers Resolution.

Since that notification, Iranian and American forces have continued exchanging attacks. The latest escalation this week included two rounds of U.S. strikes followed by Iranian retaliatory attacks.

The Pentagon has not explained why officials waited until August to circulate instructions telling senior military personnel to stop using the “Operation Epic Fury” name when, according to the department’s newly disclosed timeline, the operation had officially ended three months earlier.

{Matzav.com}