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The Courage to Rise

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By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

We live in an age marked by confusion, contradiction, and crisis. Familiar moral anchors are being uprooted, truth has become increasingly subjective, and people flounder when clarity is most needed.

Wherever we turn, fiction is portrayed as fact, tumah as kedusha, sacrilege as something holy and praiseworthy. We don’t know whom to trust, when to trust, or whether to trust at all. At times, we feel utterly lost. At other times, we’re shrouded in a fog, struggling to navigate our way to clarity.

As Jews, in a world that increasingly displays both hatred toward us and ignorance about us, this reality carries added danger. But the hazard of a teetering world should concern everyone. How does this happen? How do good, decent people become so lost and estranged from what was widely accepted just a short time ago? And how can we begin to rectify at least our own corner of the world?

In times of upheaval, society tends to freeze. People wait for someone – anyone – to speak up, to act, to lead. No one wants to challenge entrenched and corrupt powers for fear of being mocked or vilified. Good people who could bring change remain silent, paralyzed by the threat of public backlash or personal loss. It’s easier to complain in private than to rise up and confront the root cause of our frustrations.

This has been true throughout history. Leadership has always been scarce, and the absence of it has often led to chaos, corruption, and collective suffering. But it doesn’t have to be that way. People armed with moral clarity, conviction, emunah, and resolve can rise above the masses and change the course of history. This is true in the broader world, and it is true in our world as well.

Throughout our history, there have been gedolei Torah, rabbonim, and manhigim who, despite personal danger, forged ahead and led our people with emunah, bitachon, and Torah-based conviction. We grew up hearing their stories, and have repeated them to our children and students, for these accounts provide the strength and endurance our people need to persevere in golus and journey toward geulah.

In this week’s parsha, that individual is Pinchos. His story is told in the Torah to serve as a lesson for us, ensuring that we don’t falter in times of uncertainty and moral fog. His rebbi, Moshe Rabbeinu, had taught him what to do in exactly the situation in which he and the rest of the Jewish people found themselves. Pinchos acted without fear, following halacha, and in doing so, he saved the entire Am Yisroel.

Parshas Pinchos shows us how to respond when the world falls silent in the face of public sin, corruption, and decay. It reminds us that when sacred lines are crossed and others turn away, those who act – guided by Torah, truth, and humility – can repair the breach and restore holiness and goodness.

In times of fear and uncertainty, even the most capable individuals can falter. A new crisis appears – whether it’s societal, spiritual, or medical – and although there are trained leaders and experts, many freeze in the face of doubt. Competence in calm times is not the same as greatness in stormy times.

It’s often said that the true test of greatness is how one handles small matters and how one treats people whom others overlook or take for granted. But it is equally true that a person’s test lies in whether they can act with clarity and integrity when it matters most, when the stakes are high and the risks are real.

Pinchos didn’t act out of recklessness. He wasn’t driven by personal glory or vengeance. He acted because he saw the truth plainly and could no longer bear the chillul Hashem unfolding before the eyes of a passive nation. He acted lesheim Hashem, to stop the disaster that was befalling Klal Yisroel just days after the schemes of Bolok and Bilom had been foiled. The people had fallen so quickly and so far, that others were paralyzed by despair. Pinchos stepped forward.

The Torah introduces the protagonists of Pinchos’s act – Zimri, a leader of a shevet, and Kozbi, a royal princess – to underscore what Pinchos was up against. These were not powerless figures. They were elite and influential. Pinchos did not target the weak. He stood up to the powerful. He didn’t calculate personal cost or consider his own reputation. He saw a moral breach threatening the very soul of Klal Yisroel, and he acted – because someone had to.

It was this fearlessness, this refusal to be swayed by public opinion, that saved the nation from the plague. The message is clear: When fear of retribution controls us, we become partners in our own destruction.

A deadly plague was ravaging the people, and over twenty thousand had already perished. Their crime? Shelo michu – they didn’t protest Zimri’s actions. In a time of chillul Hashem, when the foundation of Klal Yisroel was crumbling, the natural response should have been to run to Moshe Rabbeinu and ask what to do. But only one person did that: Pinchos.

Pinchos wasn’t widely known as a moral leader or charismatic figure with many admirers. He was an ehrliche Yid who didn’t lose his bearings. He showed courage and pressed forward despite the difficulty and unpopularity of his task, simply because it was the right thing to do.

In a sense, he fled from kavod, and as Chazal say, kol haborei’ach min hakavod, hakavod borei’ach acharov – one who runs from honor, honor pursues him. Pinchos ran from fame and it chased after him. Hashem rewarded him with kehunas olam.

Pinchos lives on as Eliyohu Hanovi, who, throughout the ages, has followed Klal Yisroel wherever they have gone, occasionally revealing himself to the very holy and privileged, learning with tzaddikei hador and assisting those in need. Very soon, he will reveal himself to us all and announce the arrival of Moshiach.

Pinchos rose not only for his own generation but for ours as well. We, too, live in a world of inaction and moral ambiguity. At times, we witness public breaches of ethics, halacha, or basic decency, and we wait for others to take the lead. We rationalize our silence. We tell ourselves that it’s not our place.

But the Torah teaches us that in such moments, our silence becomes complicity. Great people see through the noise. They move beyond excuses. They do what needs to be done.

Sometimes, that action isn’t dramatic or confrontational. Sometimes, it’s as simple – and as powerful – as standing up for what is right: in a conversation, in leadership, in halachic integrity, or in the moral tone we set for our families and communities.

Pinchos was not a vigilante. He didn’t act on impulse. He first discussed the issue with Moshe Rabbeinu.

When we see wrongdoing or perceive evil, we must not act on our own judgment. We must consult our rabbeim, those greater than us, those who carry the mesorah from the giants of previous generations. We must never act rashly or cause harm – physically or emotionally – even if we feel justified, unless we are directed by those qualified to decide what is truly proper halachically and morally.

When Pinchos acted, the plague came to a halt. But more than that, he healed the rift between the Jewish people and Hashem. He brought about a return to shalom, peace and wholeness. That is why he was rewarded with brisi shalom, the covenant of peace.

In doing so, he followed in the path of his grandfather, Aharon Hakohein, who worked to bring peace between people, and between people and Hashem.

Today, we must also strive to heal not only the rift between man and Hashem, and between one person and another, but also the internal divisions within our families, communities, and nation. We must be kano’im when it comes to breaches in shemiras hamitzvos, but also become healers, restoring broken connections wherever they are found.

We are all capable of this. We can each be a Pinchos, not necessarily through bold, dramatic action, but by rejecting passivity, rising above the crowd, and grounding our actions in Torah and truth. It’s difficult to speak up. It’s often much easier to remain silent. But we must act when others are paralyzed by fear and lead when leadership is absent. The corrupt thrive when the principled are silent. The immoral succeed when the moral hesitate.

The world doesn’t need more spectators. It needs people willing to act, responsibly, wisely, and fearlessly. People who rise when others remain seated. People who care enough to step forward, even when the cost is great.

If we do, we won’t merely remember the Bais Hamikdosh. We will help rebuild it.

This week, we entered the somber period known as the Three Weeks. It was on this past Sunday, many centuries ago, that the Romans breached the protective gates of Yerushalayim. That breach led to a brutal siege and, ultimately, the destruction of the Bais Hamikdosh on Tisha B’Av.

That destruction has never been fully repaired. Its wounds still remain.

If you go to Yerushalayim today, you can still see the broken wall the Romans pierced. It stands quietly near Migdal Dovid, passed daily by thousands on their way to and from the Kosel, often unnoticed. But it is still there. Still broken. Still bearing silent witness to what was lost.

If, when visiting the Kosel, you walk a bit farther along the southern wall of the Har Habayis, you’ll find massive boulders scattered at its base, stones believed to have once sat atop the Kosel wall. They lie there, undisturbed, silent reminders of the physical and spiritual glory that once stood and the devastation that followed.

It is worth going there. Worth standing there to reflect.

The Kosel remains a silent witness, a remnant of what once was, a stark reminder of what we lack.

But we’ve grown used to it. We go. We daven. We take pictures, sometimes with awe, but too often without reflection. The sight of those ancient stones no longer stirs us. Our eyes stay dry when they should be filled with tears. Our hearts remain still when they should tremble.

The great tzaddikim of previous generations would tremble at the sight of the Kosel. It wasn’t merely a destination for tefillah. It was – and still is – the place from which the Shechinah never departed. A visible scar of the churban. A raw reminder of our spiritual exile and our nation’s brokenness.

Halacha requires us to tear our garments upon seeing the Kosel or the ruins of Yerushalayim. It is meant to be an expression of grief, a jolt to awaken our mourning. But too often, the act is performed by rote, devoid of the pain it is meant to symbolize.

We must look at that wall not just with our eyes, but with our hearts. We must picture the Bais Hamikdosh that once stood proudly behind it. We must reflect on the pain, the destruction, the massacre that overtook our people. We must mourn not only the physical loss of the Bais Hamikdosh, but also the spiritual churban, the severing of the connection between Hashem’s home and His people.

So many of our current struggles trace their roots back to those dark days. It all began with a breach, not just in stone, but in spirit.

But if more people would rise like Pinchos – with courage, with clarity, with unwavering devotion to Hashem – we could begin to repair that breach. We could draw our people closer to the Source of life. We could open the door to teshuvah, to healing, and to geulah.

May this be the year it happens.

May this be the year we finally come home.

{Matzav.com}

ICC Rejects Israel’s Bid To Annul Netanyahu, Gallant Arrest Warrants

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The International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague, officially turned down Israel’s appeal on Wednesday to cancel the arrest warrants issued for Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

In addition, the court rejected a separate request from Israel to put a temporary hold on its ongoing war crimes investigation related to the Gaza conflict. Israel had urged the court to pause its proceedings until the question of jurisdiction was fully addressed, pointing out that Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.

The ICC’s pre-trial chamber released a statement saying, “There is no legal basis for withdrawing, vacating or declaring them of no force or effect at this point in time.”

The judges also explained, “The impact of Israel’s jurisdiction challenge on the warrants, if any, is something that can only be determined when the chamber will have ruled on the substance thereof.”

This determination was issued even though back in April, the ICC’s Appeals Chamber had instructed the pre-trial chamber to take another look at Israel’s jurisdictional challenge. Israeli officials have argued all along that the court lacks the proper legal standing to issue such warrants, making them null and void.

Despite that directive, the pre-trial chamber stated that revisiting the previous decision does not, in itself, cancel or invalidate the existing warrants.

The ICC proceedings follow serious accusations from South Africa, which charged Israel with committing acts of “genocide” and other human rights violations in its military campaign in Gaza. These charges were made in response to Israel’s operation against Hamas, which began after the group carried out a horrific attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Last month, the Trump administration responded to the ICC’s targeting of Israel and the United States by placing sanctions on four of the court’s judges, criticizing the body’s actions as “illegitimate.”

In February, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating sanctions against the ICC.

Just one week later, the U.S. escalated its measures by placing ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan on its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, thereby freezing his assets within American jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, European nations have expressed mixed views on the matter and how to handle the warrants issued against Netanyahu and Gallant.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signaled that Netanyahu would still be welcome in Germany, regardless of the warrant.

France took the position that Netanyahu is immune from prosecution by the ICC, pointing to Israel’s status as a non-member of the court. Italy echoed a similar stance, stating that as long as Netanyahu remains Prime Minister, enforcing an arrest would not be realistic.

Hungary condemned the ICC’s actions and subsequently declared its intention to withdraw from the court entirely.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Chief Rabbi Rav Kalman Ber: “Do Not Stand Idly By The Blood Of Your Neighbor”

Yeshiva World News -

The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Kalman Ber, published a special letter on Thursday regarding the horrific massacre of members of the Druze community in Syria. “Horrifying sights that shock every soul have been seen these days on media screens,” Rav Ber wrote. “Our eyes witness a cruel campaign of murder against the Druze people and severe violations of human dignity. These are actions that we and all religious leaders in the world must not stand idly by and ignore.” “We saw how predatory animals furiously attacked innocent civilians, without distinguishing between men or women, old or young. We are reminded of the dark days of history when bloodthirsty nations carried out similar actions and the world was silent and remained silent!” “The Divine commandment of ‘Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor’ requires us to raise a cry and awaken the whole world against the severe harm and ethnic cleansing that is taking place at this moment against members of the Druze community in the Druze Mountain in Syria.” “We must also remember that some members of the community and their relatives live among us and are bound to us in a covenant of blood for the sake of the existence of the State of Israel.” “Indifference at this fateful hour is a disaster. I appeal with a grieving heart to all who have the power to prevent the continuation of killing and destruction, and also to the leaders of the free world to join this call and immediately put a halt to these heinous acts.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

China No Longer a Top Bet for American Investors, New Survey Shows

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American companies in China are reporting record-low new investment plans for this year and declining confidence in their profitability, with uncertainty in U.S.-China relations and President Donald Trump’s tariffs their top concerns, according to a survey released Wednesday. The companies are also challenged by China’s slowing economy, where weak domestic demand and overcapacity in local industries are eroding profitability for the Americans. “Businesses in China are less profitable now than they were years ago, but risks, including reputational risk, regulatory risk, and political risk, are increasing,” said Sean Stein, the president of the U.S.-China Business Council, a Washington-based group that represents American companies doing business in China, including major multinationals. The survey, conducted between March and May and drawing from 130 member companies, came as the two countries clash over tariffs and non-tariff measures, including export controls on critical products such as rare-earth magnets and advanced computer chips. Following high-level talks in Geneva and London, U.S. and Chinese officials agreed to pull back from sky-high tariffs and restrictions on exports, but uncertainty persists as the two sides are yet to hammer out a more permanent trade deal. Kyle Sullivan, vice president of business advisory services at the USCBC, said more than half of the companies in the survey indicated they do not have new investment plans in China “at all” this year. “That’s a record high,” Sullivan said, noting that it is “”a new development that we have not observed in previous surveys.” Around 40% of companies reported negative effects from U.S. export control measures, with many experiencing lost sales, severed customer relationships, and reputational damage from being unreliable suppliers, according to the survey. Citing national security, the U.S. government has banned exports to China of high-tech products, such as the most advanced chips, which could help boost China’s military capabilities. Stein argued that export controls must be very carefully targeted, because businesses from Europe or Japan, or local businesses in China would immediately fill the void left by American companies. Silicon Valley chipmaker Nvidia won approval from the Trump administration to resume sales to China of its advanced H20 chips used to develop artificial intelligence, its CEO Jensen Huang announced on Monday, though the company’s most powerful chips remain under U.S. export control rules. While 82% of U.S. companies reported profits in 2024, fewer than half are optimistic about the future in China, reflecting concerns over tariffs, deflation, and policy uncertainty, according to the survey. Also, a record high number of American businesses plan to relocate their business operations outside of China, Sullivan said, as 27% of the members indicated so, up from 19% the year before. In a departure from past surveys, concerns over China’s regulatory environment, including risks of intellectual property misuse and lack of market access, didn’t make it to the top five concerns this year. That’s likely a first, and not for a good reason, Stein said. “It is not because things got dramatically better on the Chinese side, but the new challenges, often coming from the U.S., are now posing as much of a challenge,” Stein said. Almost all the American companies said they cannot remain globally competitive without their Chinese operations. A survey from the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China in May found that European companies were cutting costs and scaling […]

HEARTBREAKING: A Frum Father in Los Angeles Mr Ido Giat Z”L Passed Away After a Painful and Courageous Battle With Cancer

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On Sunday, the Los Angeles community lost a true gem. Mr. Ido Giat Z”L, only 57 years old, was tragically niftar after a painful and courageous battle with a dreadful illness. Ido was known to many by his warm, infectious smile and his genuine love for every person he encountered. Others knew him through the flower shop he lovingly built and ran with his wife, La Florista Flowers. But above all, Ido wished to be remembered as a devoted father to his three beautiful children and a loving husband to his beloved aishes chayil, Sarit.

NBC News: US Strikes Destroyed Only 1 Of 3 Iranian Nuclear Sites

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Only one of the three nuclear enrichment sites in Iran (Fordo) struck by the US last month sustained significant damage, five current and former U.S. officials familiar with a recent US assessment told NBC News. According to the assessment, the other two sites (Natanz and Isfahan) were not severely damaged, and it is believed that if Iran wishes to, it could resume nuclear enrichment at the sites in the next several months. The report added that the US Central Command had formulated a much more comprehensive plan to strike Iran involving the targeting of three additional sites in an operation that would last for weeks rather than a single night. President Donald Trump rejected the plan because it conflicted with his foreign policy to avoid US entanglement in conflicts abroad. He was also concerned about the possibility of a high number of casualties on both sides. “We were willing to go all the way in our options, but the president did not want to,” one of the sources with knowledge of the plan said. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

GOP Senators Warn Trump: Firing Powell Would Shake U.S. Economy

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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is gaining some key backing on Capitol Hill from GOP senators who fear the repercussions if President Donald Trump follows through with threats to try and remove the politically independent central banker. As Trump seemingly waffled back and forth this week on trying to dismiss the Fed chair, some Republicans in Congress began to speak up and warn that such a move would be a mistake. Trump would potentially obliterate the Fed’s independence from political influence and inject uncertainty into the foundations of the U.S. economy if he fires Powell. “If anybody thinks it would be a good idea for the Fed to become another agency in the government subject to the president, they’re making a huge mistake,” GOP North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said in a floor speech. The measure of support from GOP members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs showed how traditional Republicans are carefully navigating a presidency in which Trump often flirts with ideas — like steep tariffs or firing the Fed chair — that threaten to undermine confidence in the U.S. economy. Tillis, who recently decided not to seek reelection after clashing with Trump, later told The Associated Press that the economic fallout from Powell’s firing would mostly hurt “little guys like me that grew up in trailer parks that may have a few thousand dollars in a 401k.” He also pointed out that the underlying complaint that Trump has with the Fed — its reluctance to cut interest rates — is not controlled by Powell alone, but instead a 12-member committee. “The markets expect an independent, central bank,” said GOP South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds, who cautioned against firing Powell. “And if they thought for a minute that he wasn’t independent, it would cast a spell over the forecasts and the integrity of the decisions being made by the bank.” Still, plenty of other Republicans think that dismissing Powell is a fine idea. “The most incompetent, worst Federal Reserve chairman in American history should resign,” said GOP Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno. Trump said he was also encouraged to fire Powell during a meeting with about a dozen far-right House members Tuesday evening. Do presidents have authority to fire the Fed chair? House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters that he was “unhappy with the leadership” at the Fed, but added “I’m honestly not sure whether that executive authority exists” to fire Powell. House Financial Services Committee chair French Hill has underscored that presidents don’t have the authority to fire the Fed chair, yet has also been sympathetic to Trump’s complaints about Powell’s leadership. He and other Republicans have also noted that Powell’s term as chair is ending next year anyway, and Trump will have an opportunity to name a new chair then. When Congress started the Federal Reserve over 100 years ago, it insulated it from political pressure by stipulating that its governors and chair could only be fired “for cause” — a higher bar than most political appointees. However, the Trump administration has maneuvered to meet that standard by accusing Powell of mishandling a $2.5 billion renovation project at the Fed’s headquarters. “When his initial attempts to bully Powell failed, Trump and Republicans in Congress suddenly decided to look into how much the Fed is spending on building renovations,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, said in a speech […]

Danon Slams Guterres Who Condemns Israeli Strikes In Syria Instead Of Massacre

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Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon on Wednesday excoriated UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his statement earlier in the day condemning Israel for striking Syria while remaining silent about the Syrian regime’s massacre and torture of the Druze sector. Guterres made a token reference to the massacre by stating he was “alarmed” by the escalation of violence in Syria, without naming the perpetrators. He then turned on Israel, saying, “I condemn Israel’s escalatory airstrikes and reports of the IDF’s redeployment of forces in the Golan. I call for an immediate cessation of all violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Danon stated in response, “UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres continues to expose his moral bankruptcy. While members of the Druze community are being brutally slaughtered in Syria, he once again chooses silence.” “Instead of calling for swift action in Syria, he chooses to vilify Israel—the only country actively fighting the forces of evil in the region.” “The UN failed to condemn Hamas following the horrors of October 7th. And now, after the massacre of the Druze in Syria, the shameful silence continues.” Earlier on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar decried the hypocrisy of the international community on the atrocities perpetrated against the Druze in Syria. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Report: Hamas Yields To Pressure And Agrees To The IDF’s New Withdrawal Map

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The Hamas terrorist organization has agreed to a new withdrawal map presented by Israeli representatives in Doha, the Cairo-based Arabic channel Al-Ghad reported early Thursday morning. According to the report, Israel changed the previous deployment map following pressure exerted by US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff. Among other things, the map includes a withdrawal of the IDF from the Morag Corridor and stipulates that IDF forces will remain only up to 1.2 kilometers north of the Philadelphi Corridor [Gaza’ southern border] and within 1.1 kilometers of Gaza’s northern and eastern borders. Israel’s previous map demanded the deployment of IDF forces up to two kilometers along Gaza’s borders. It was also reported that the talks in Doha on Thursday are expected to focus on the issues surrounding the release of the hostages, and Witkoff is expected to arrive in the region next week—possibly for the purpose of announcing an agreement. As of now, no official confirmation of the report has been received from Israeli or international sources. However, the report was published hours after US President Donald Trump hinted to positive developments regarding a hostage deal. At an event held on Wednesday evening at the White House, Trump thanked Witkoff and added, “There is good news regarding Gaza and some other things we are working on.” Encouraging voices were also heard in Jerusalem last night. A senior political source estimated that the chance of a deal remains: “It is more likely that we will reach a deal than not,” he said. “A hostage deal is achievable. It’s a complex and lengthy process—especially when it comes to negotiations with Hamas—but we are seeing progress.” He added that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is personally committed to advancing the deal: “The government has a clear interest in the release of the hostages—and this is the direction that the prime minister is leading.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Al-Sharaa Attacks Jewish State After Ceasefire Reached: “Israel Wants To Create Chaos In Syria”

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Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa condemned Israel in a televised speech early Thursday morning, claiming that Israel has sought “to wreak chaos in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime.” Ignoring the fact that over the past week, his forces carried out Oct. 7-style atrocities on the Druze residents of Sweida, including torture, abductions, rape, and murder, Al-Sharaa claimed that “the Israeli entity seeks to turn our land into an arena of chaos.” His remarks were made hours after his forces withdrew from the Druze city of Sweida and after a ceasefire went into effect. Directly addressing the Druze community, he claimed, “The Syrian people are always ready to fight for their honor. We are the sons of this land and are able to overcome Israel’s attempts. We are eager to bring to justice those who have harmed our Druze people. The Druze people are an integral part of the fabric of this nation. Syria will never be a place for division, fragmentation, or sowing discord among its people. We assure you that protecting your rights and freedoms is our top priority, and we reject any effort aimed at dragging you to an external party or creating division within our ranks. We are all partners in this land.” A-Sharaa accused Israel of “exacerbating the situation with its actions. Since the fall of the regime, Israel has been seeking to dismantle Syria. We have decided to entrust local factions and sheikhs with the responsibility of maintaining security in the province. Syria is not a testing ground for foreign conspiracies. We have chosen not to be drawn into conflicts in order to maintain the security of the country.” “We, the people of Syria, know very well who is trying to drag us into war and who seeks to divide us. We will not allow them to embroil our people in a war they seek to ignite on our land, a war whose sole purpose is to divide our homeland and bring chaos and destruction. The Syrian state intervened to stop the internal fighting that occurred in Sweida between armed groups, following long-standing conflicts.” “The state’s efforts to restore stability and expel outlaw factions have succeeded, despite Israeli interventions. Israel has resorted to widespread attacks on civilian and government facilities to undermine these efforts, complicate the situation, and promote widespread escalation. American, Arab, and Turkish mediation saved the region from an uncertain fate,” he concluded. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

1848 Torah Map Uncovered! Rare Depiction of Eretz Yisrael & Ancient Lands

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[COMMUNICATED]

Sefer Amtachas Binyamin on Tanach Furth, 1848 ‘Amtachas Binyamin’ commentary on various obscure matters in Torah, Nevi’im and Kesuvim, by Rabbi Wolf Lichtenshtater of Baiersdorf. The sefer includes a large lithographed map (27×40 cm) titled “Map of the Ancient Lands”, depicting Eretz Yisrael and the surrounding regions in early times, with marked boundaries of “The Land of Goshen”!

Danon Blasts Guterres: UN Silent On Syria Massacre, Targets Israel

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Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, harshly criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday, accusing him of exploiting the chaos in Syria as an opportunity to again censure Israel.

Guterres had issued a statement earlier expressing concern over the intensifying conflict in Syria, saying he was “alarmed” by the worsening violence and strongly condemning any harm directed at civilians. Yet in the same breath, he went on to say, “I condemn Israel’s escalatory airstrikes and reports of the IDF’s redeployment of forces in the Golan. I call for an immediate cessation of all violations of Syria’s sovereignty & territorial integrity.”

Danon responded sharply to the remarks, declaring, “UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres continues to expose his moral bankruptcy. While members of the Druze community are being brutally slaughtered in Syria, he once again chooses silence.”

Rather than demand urgent action to stop the bloodshed in Syria, Danon argued, Guterres once again chose to attack the one nation standing up to the region’s worst aggressors. “Instead of calling for swift action in Syria, he chooses to vilify Israel—the only country actively fighting the forces of evil in the region,” Danon said.

He pointed to what he sees as a persistent pattern of bias at the United Nations. “The UN failed to condemn Hamas following the horrors of October 7th. And now, after the massacre of the Druze in Syria, the shameful silence continues,” he stated.

Danon’s comments followed a series of Israeli military actions in Syria earlier in the day. The IDF carried out targeted strikes on key Syrian regime facilities, including the central government’s headquarters and the presidential palace in Damascus. These operations came in response to the Syrian army’s brutal assault on the Druze population in the south.

Guterres has consistently voiced strong opposition to Israel’s defensive measures against terror groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Following Hamas’s October 7 massacre, Guterres remarked that the attack “did not happen in a vacuum,” a statement widely interpreted as suggesting that Israel bore responsibility. Though backlash followed, he later insisted his comments had been misunderstood and that he had in fact condemned Hamas.

In more recent weeks, Guterres criticized Israel’s renewed military campaign in Gaza, saying he was “outraged” by the escalation. His comments drew an angry rebuke from Israel’s Foreign Ministry.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein wrote in response, “We are outraged that you, Antonio Guterres, are the Secretary-General of the UN.”

Marmorstein continued, “Not a word about the fact that Hamas rejected two American proposals to extend the ceasefire and release more hostages—two proposals that Israel accepted.”

He added, “Not a word about the fact that Hamas exploits the transfer of goods to Gaza to rebuild its war machine in order to further attack Israel.”

Concluding with a forceful condemnation, Marmorstein wrote, “Not a word about UNRWA, which, under your leadership, employs Hamas terrorists, and its facilities were used by Hamas to hold hostages. Indeed, we are outraged by your moral bankruptcy.”

{Matzav.com}

“I Want To Be An Arms Dealer”: Israeli Police Stunned as 10-Year-Old and Teen Caught Selling Explosives in $1.3M Weapons Bust

Yeshiva World News -

Israeli police disclosed Tuesday that a 10-year-old boy and a 15-year-old teen were among those who sold firearms to an undercover agent during a yearlong operation targeting illegal arms trafficking in East Jerusalem, southern Israel, and the West Bank. The operation, which culminated in a sweeping series of arrests, involved a covert agent code-named “Matrix” who infiltrated criminal arms networks to expose dealers supplying pistols, rifles, explosives, and ammunition to various parties — some of them potentially tied to terrorist activity. Police said 32 suspects were arrested in joint overnight raids by Jerusalem District detectives, Border Police, and IDF troops. The suspects had collectively sold the agent 28 firearms, dozens of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and large quantities of ammunition — all fully functional — in deals totaling approximately 1.3 million shekels. What disturbed investigators most was the involvement of minors in the criminal underworld. According to police, the 10-year-old was encouraged by relatives to enter the weapons trade and, during one meeting, told the agent that he wanted to grow up to be “an arms dealer.” Another minor boasted that he had his own pistol. “The fact that a 10-year-old is selling weapons is a red line,” said a police official involved in the case. “It’s not just a law enforcement issue — it’s a warning sign for society.” Authorities say the agent purchased firearms from suspects across East Jerusalem, the South, and the West Bank. Some of the weapons were smuggled into Israel from abroad, while others were stolen from the IDF. All were operational and intended for use. The agent also acquired high-powered IEDs manufactured in an illegal bomb-making lab, with dozens more seized in follow-up raids. Investigators are now examining whether any of the arms were destined for use in terror attacks. The arrests follow a lengthy covert phase of the investigation led by the Jerusalem District’s central investigative unit. Following Tuesday morning’s raids, all suspects were brought in for questioning and scheduled to appear in court for remand hearings. During searches at suspects’ homes, police uncovered additional firearms, drugs, and vehicles. Police described the effort as part of a wider crackdown on illegal weapons in Arab communities, which have seen a sharp rise in gun violence and organized crime. “This long-term undercover mission exposed dozens of suspects and dismantled a dangerous network,” said Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai. “It’s part of our broader campaign to combat entrenched criminal phenomena that threaten public safety across the country.” Shabtai praised the professionalism of the central unit and highlighting the risks taken by undercover operatives. “These missions are among the most difficult in policing,” he said. “They demand exceptional skill, courage, and patience. The people behind this work are the reason we’re able to protect Israeli society from within.” The investigation is ongoing, with more arrests expected in the coming days. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Trump: We Have Good News On Gaza

Matzav -

At a White House bill signing ceremony on Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced a potentially positive development regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. “We have good news on Gaza,” he stated, offering appreciation to his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Trump continued, “We have some good news on Gaza and good news on a couple of things that we’re working on at a very high level.”

Though the president withheld specifics, his remarks came just hours after a high-level Israeli political official voiced cautious optimism about a possible breakthrough in negotiations with Hamas for the release of hostages. “More likely than not, we will reach a deal rather than not. A hostage deal is within reach. I don’t know how much longer this will take; negotiations with Hamas are never easy and short,” the official said.

The source further explained that the Israeli leadership remains focused on freeing those held captive. “The government is committed to the release of the hostages, and this is the path led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. There are disagreements at various levels, for example, issues that haven’t been fully addressed,” he noted.

In a separate development on the same day, IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir carried out a strategic evaluation and on-site inspection in the Gaza Strip. Accompanying him were Major General Yaniv Asor, Commander of the Southern Command; Brigadier General Sagiv Dahan, Commander of the 162nd Division; as well as several brigade commanders and other top-ranking officers.

During the visit, Zamir met with the Givati Brigade’s leadership and praised their ongoing operations. He also observed fighting in the Beit Hanoun area firsthand. Addressing the troops, Zamir stated, “Your achievements are significant. We already have operational control of 75% of the Gaza Strip.”

He went on to underscore the critical stage the IDF is facing. “We are approaching a very crucial crossroads. In the coming days, we will know whether or not we have an agreement. I want to say to you: if there is a deal and the hostages return, it will be thanks to your combat, first and foremost, because of your combat. If an agreement is reached, we will pause and reposition along lines defined by the political echelon. If no deal is reached, my directive to Southern Command is to intensify and expand combat operations as much as possible, beyond what we are currently doing. We will operate in additional areas and continue activities just as we have until now.”

{Matzav.com}

British Soldiers Who Shared Videos Of Hamas Atrocities During Oct. 7 Massacre Kicked Out of Army

Yeshiva World News -

Two British soldiers who circulated grotesque footage of Hamas atrocities following the October 7 terror attacks have been dismissed from the military. Signaller Zakariya Munir, 22, and Signaller Mohammed Salah, 34 — both members of the British Army’s 10th Signal Regiment — were sentenced following a court martial earlier this month at Bulford Military Court. According to a transcript obtained by the Jerusalem Post, both were found guilty of sharing what the judge called “grossly offensive” videos depicting murder, desecration of corpses, and war crimes committed by Hamas during and after their brutal rampage in southern Israel. Though both men pleaded not guilty, the facts were damning. The first videos began circulating just one day after the attacks. On October 8, Munir messaged Salah saying he had footage “they won’t show in the news.” That footage, the court heard, depicted headcam footage of Hamas terrorists rifling through dead bodies of Israeli soldiers, searching for ammunition and kicking corpses. Salah, instead of reporting the material, forwarded it to others — including fellow servicemen — via WhatsApp. Over the next few weeks, Munir continued to send Salah increasingly graphic content. One video showed dozens of civilians lying in pools of blood. Another, sent on October 16, depicted a group of men urinating, stamping on, and kicking bound corpses — victims who appeared to be elderly, their heads bagged, their hands tied. On October 31, Munir sent Salah a video showing men kneeling before armed executioners, each of whom walked behind the kneeling men and shot them in the back of the head. “A deeply shocking video,” the judge said. Salah, to his credit, did not forward the final video and reported it. But the damage was already done. The court found that both men violated Section 127 of the UK’s Communications Act 2003, and their behavior was far removed from what’s expected of soldiers in the British Army. They weren’t just violating standards — they were actively betraying them. “They showed offences where people had been killed and their bodies were being violated,” the Judge Advocate stated bluntly. “It is highly likely that those who were responsible for the killings had committed the offence of murder or related war crimes.” The judge rejected the notion that rank excused responsibility. “Although you were private soldiers,” he said, “there was every opportunity for you to seek advice from your chain of command about what to do with this material… Yet you, Signaller Munir, chose to distribute it further to Signaller Salah, and he distributed it further within the British Army community and outside the Army.” The judge compared the conduct to the distribution of child abuse imagery, stressing that, although not identical, the gravity was comparable in its grotesque exploitation of human suffering. Salah’s personal circumstances — including his family’s reliance on his military income — were acknowledged, but ultimately didn’t matter. “The mitigation which your personal circumstances provide… does not prevent us from dismissing you,” the judge ruled. (AP)

HEARTBREAKING: A Frum Father in Los Angeles, Mr. Ido Giat z”l, Passed Away After a Painful and Courageous Battle with Cancer

Matzav -

[COMMUNICATED]

On Sunday, the Los Angeles community lost a true gem. Mr. Ido Giat Z”L, only 57 years old, was tragically niftar after a painful and courageous battle with a dreadful illness.

Ido was known to many by his warm, infectious smile and his genuine love for every person he encountered. Others knew him through the flower shop he lovingly built and ran with his wife, La Florista Flowers. But above all, Ido wished to be remembered as a devoted father to his three beautiful children and a loving husband to his beloved aishes chayil, Sarit.

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