In a stirring drasha, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka, delivered powerful divrei chizuk last night to a packed audience in Chicago as part of his ongoing visit to the United States.
Speaking with his trademark clarity, Rav Hirsch stressed that everyone must remember that everything that occurs always, and now during the current war, is orchestrated by Hakadosh Boruch Hu.
Rav Hirsch spoke about the current tzarah facing Klal Yisroel, referencing the threats in Eretz Yisroel and beyond.
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{Matzav.com}
In a rare national address on Sunday evening, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir spoke directly to the people of Israel as the nation pushes deeper into a high-stakes confrontation with Iran.
“Fellow Israelis, we are now entering the third day of Operation Rising Lion—an operation of historic scale and consequence,” he began. “This campaign is our response to a threat that has been maturing for years—an existential danger deliberately cultivated by Iran with one clear goal: our destruction. We are executing a carefully structured and adaptive plan.”
Zamir described the most recent phase of the operation as a significant milestone. “Over the last day, we successfully carved out an aerial corridor leading into Tehran and launched targeted strikes. Our pilots are operating far beyond Israeli airspace, reaching hundreds of kilometers into enemy territory to dismantle a wide range of Iranian military assets with surgical precision. At the same time, we are identifying and eliminating the launch sites targeting our cities.”
He went on to recount the operation’s opening moves. “We struck first, with surprise and strategy. Our initial attack disrupted Iran’s senior military leadership. This was not just symbolic—it was a calculated blow meant to alter the balance. Our operations are growing in force, and the goal is simple: long-term security for the people of Israel.”
Acknowledging the hardships, Zamir was clear-eyed. “We knew this path would come at a cost. But delaying action would have meant even greater peril. We are doing everything possible—using our most advanced systems and tactics—to protect lives, though we must be honest: there is no such thing as total safety.”
He urged the public to adhere strictly to official safety protocols. “There have been casualties from missile attacks early in the campaign. My heart is with those who lost loved ones and those who are injured. Please, follow the Home Front Command’s instructions exactly. These directives save lives. We all share this responsibility.”
Zamir extended his gratitude to those serving the home front and in uniform. “I want to commend the Home Front Command and our entire security apparatus for their tireless work under pressure. And let me be clear: anyone who dares to strike at Israel will face consequences—no matter where they are.”
Turning to the broader regional landscape, Zamir noted that Israel is contending with threats on multiple fronts. “Even as we target Iran’s regime, we are maintaining defensive operations in Gaza and elsewhere. Across every battlefield, our soldiers are showing remarkable courage and commitment.”
He paused to remember a fallen soldier. “Yesterday, we lost a brave warrior—Reservist Staff Sergeant Noam Shemesh from the Kfir Brigade, who died in action in Gaza. To his family, I extend our deepest condolences. His sacrifice will not be forgotten. We press forward, focused and resolute.”
Concluding with a message of hope and fortitude, Zamir invoked Israel’s national spirit. “In times of crisis, the Israeli people have always stood strong and united. That moment is now. We are a people that values life, and in defense of that life, we are willing to face hard choices. This campaign continues—with purpose, solidarity, resolve, and belief in the righteousness of our mission. Our actions define us. As the pasuk says: ‘Like a lion, the people rise.’”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu discusses why Israel carried out their strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, intel shared with the United States and more on ‘Special Report.’
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President Trump issued a stark warning on Sunday that the United States might become directly entangled in the conflict between Israel and Iran if the hostilities do not de-escalate soon.
Although Trump expressed hope that Israel and Iran would eventually “make a deal” to bring an end to the heavy exchanges of missile fire that began Friday, he made it clear that the U.S. could be drawn into the fight if diplomacy fails to yield results.
“We’re not involved in it. It’s possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved,” Trump told ABC News.
Trump also floated the possibility of Russian President Vladimir Putin playing a role in negotiating peace, citing the Kremlin’s diplomatic ties with both sides of the conflict.
“He is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it. We talked about this more than his situation,” Trump said, alluding to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. “This is something I believe is going to get resolved.”
Even though Trump maintained that the United States has not taken part in the military operations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted on Sunday that Washington is complicit, alleging U.S. coordination with Israeli strikes.
“We have received messages from the US through various channels over the past two days stating that the US had no involvement and will have no involvement in this attack,” he said. “As I said, we don’t believe the US’s claim.”
Amid growing tension and intensifying military activity, the U.S. State Department announced that it had authorized certain American personnel and their families to leave Israel voluntarily, citing safety concerns.
“US citizens who wish to depart should not delay in taking advantage of commercial transportation options,” the State Department said in an advisory. The notice also stated that a shelter-in-place directive for the U.S. Embassy remains in effect until further notice.
{Matzav.com}
According to a report from Reuters on Sunday, which cited two U.S. officials, President Donald Trump recently rejected an Israeli request to carry out a strike targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do, we’re not even talking about going after the political leadership,” a senior official in the U.S. administration told Reuters.
Barak Ravid of Axios confirmed the Reuters report, citing a U.S. official who explained: “Since the operation commenced, the Israelis had an opportunity to kill the Supreme Leader. We communicated to the Israelis that President Trump is opposed to that. The Iranians haven’t killed an American, and discussion of killing political leaders should not be on the table.”
In response to the report, Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi refuted the claims during an interview with Keren Marciano on Channel 12. He called it “fake news from the land of fake news. We did not request it, and we are not requesting it. The Americans make decisions based on their own interests.”
Hanegbi went on to say, “There is no immunity for political leaders. The initial decision was not to target the political leadership. At present, that is not the decision — but everything can change within 60 seconds.”
A senior Israeli official told the Wall Street Journal over the weekend that Israel is not ruling out Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a possible target as it ramps up airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The official clarified that Israel’s focus goes beyond attacking nuclear facilities, saying that its mission includes striking at Iran’s political and military leadership. He noted that Israeli forces have already killed nine top scientists involved in Iran’s uranium enrichment program, in addition to eliminating several high-ranking Iranian generals.
{Matzav.com}