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Iranian officials issued a series of defiant threats during the multi-day funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, pledging to continue his policies and warning that those responsible for his death would not escape punishment. The extended mourning events are widely seen as an effort by the regime to project strength, stability, and unity following Khamenei’s death.

As funeral ceremonies continued across Iran, senior military and security leaders repeatedly emphasized their commitment to carrying on Khamenei’s legacy and maintaining a hardline stance against what they called the country’s enemies.

Iranian Army Commander Gen. Amir Hatami declared, “The Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, paved a path of honor and independence, and prepared all the tools for us to follow it. We will continue along the path laid out for us by the Leader, Mr. Mojtaba Khamenei, with unwavering strength and determination. We promise the Iranian people that we will not allow our enemies to escape punishment, and we will settle accounts with them for their crimes.”

Vice Chief of Staff Adm. Habibollah Sayyari echoed those remarks, saying, “Our leader will remain in our memory forever, and we will fulfill his instructions. We promised to stand beside our leader, and today we renew that promise. The idea of revenge is always present in our minds. We promise our leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba, that we will continue on his path with great self-confidence, strong resolve, and determination.”

Mohammad Mokhber, who served as Iran’s interim president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi, also addressed the funeral events, promising retaliation. “The murderers of our imam will not die a natural death, and the people and the regime will take revenge on them. We will certainly avenge our holy leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Millions of people participated in his funeral in Tehran.”

Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as supreme leader, did not attend the funeral after Iranian security officials reportedly prevented him from appearing in public over fears that he could be targeted. According to reports, Iranian authorities were concerned that Israel might attempt to assassinate him or use a public appearance to determine his whereabouts after his wife and son were killed in the joint U.S.-Israeli strike that launched Operation Roaring Lion.

The funeral ceremonies drew many of Iran’s top political and military leaders, along with members of Khamenei’s immediate family. Among those in attendance were Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Ahmad Vahidi and Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani.

Also present were three of Khamenei’s sons—Mostafa, Masoud, and Maysam Hosseini—who were seen weeping during the ceremonies. It marked their first public appearance since their father’s death was announced.

Iran’s Jewish community in Shiraz also participated in the funeral and publicly expressed support for what it described as the continuation of Khamenei’s ideals. Amir Aala Salar, chairman of the Shiraz Jewish community, praised the late leader in remarks carried by Iranian state media, saying, “Our late leader, from the beginning of the era of the Islamic Republic, showed special regard for the Abrahamic religions, especially the Jewish community in Iran. Inspired by Ayatollah Khomeini of blessed memory, and by his wise words that ‘Judaism is separate from Zionism,’ he created a living environment for all followers of the Abrahamic faiths and for the Jewish community in Iran.”

{Matzav.com}

The Monsey community is mourning the petirah of Hugh (Chaim) Jacobson z”l, the longtime First Assistant Chief of the Monsey Fire Department’s Brewer Fire Engine Company No. 1, who was niftar after an illness at the age of 46.

Jacobson dedicated nearly 30 years to the Monsey Fire Department, joining the volunteer force approximately 28 years ago after following in the footsteps of his late father, who also served the department for many years. Over the course of his distinguished career, he advanced through the ranks, holding the positions of Lieutenant, Captain, Second Assistant Chief, and ultimately First Assistant Chief, becoming one of the department’s most respected leaders.

Born and raised in Monsey, Jacobson attended Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Suffern during his elementary school years before continuing his education at the Torah Academy of Bergen County. Friends recalled that he frequently expressed his deep affection for the Monsey community and viewed volunteer service as a way of giving back, a commitment inspired by the example set by his father.

Those who served alongside him described Jacobson as a steady and thoughtful leader who placed tremendous emphasis on firefighter safety while remaining unwavering in his mission to protect the community. He often spoke about the enormous responsibility of leading firefighters into hazardous situations, stressing that every operation had to balance aggressive firefighting with ensuring that every firefighter returned home safely.

Jacobson also took particular pride in the camaraderie within Brewer Fire Engine Company No. 1, often pointing to the way firefighters from diverse backgrounds worked side by side as one family in service to the community.

His passing leaves a profound void within both the Monsey Fire Department and the broader Monsey community, where he was admired for decades of selfless service and dedication.

The levayah was held Friday at Kehillas Sha’ar HaShamayim in Spring Valley. Following the levayah, a procession accompanied the aron to the Brewer Fire Engine Company No. 1 firehouse on Grove Street, where fellow firefighters paid tribute to Jacobson’s many years of devoted service. The aron was then taken to the Tahara Shteibel in New Square, where it remained until Motzoei Shabbos, before being flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah.

{Matzav.com}

“The last people who said the Jews are a ‘burden on humanity’ were Hitler and Goebbels,” said Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who had recently used the phrase to describe Israel in an interview with CNN Türk.

“You’re in excellent company, Mr. Fidan,” Chikli added in his tweet, accompanied by an AI-generated image of Fidan standing next to a Nazi flag.

Fidan on Thursday said Israel had become “a problem for the entire international community,” adding that “the Israeli authorities have become a burden that humanity can no longer bear.”

Fidan said Turkey had no intention of changing its position toward Israel and defended Ankara’s decision to halt trade with the Jewish state following the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Responding on social media, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused his Turkish counterpart of incitement to genocide, describing his remarks as “sickening.”

Likud Party lawmaker Dan Illouz told JNS on Sunday that Fidan’s remarks were “not just despicable; they are the words of a regime that has entirely lost its way.

“Erdoğan is rapidly dragging Turkey down the exact same path as Iran’s axis of terror. If he continues going in Khamenei’s ways, he very well might end up like Khamenei,” Illouz added. “Israel has made it perfectly clear what happens to those who seek our destruction.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

While New York City celebrated the nation’s 250th anniversary, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, traveled to Spain to take part in an Islamic spiritual retreat, drawing criticism from political opponents who questioned her absence during one of the country’s most significant patriotic observances.

Duwaji, a Syrian-American artist who was raised in Dallas and educated in Dubai, was seen Monday at Newark Liberty International Airport boarding a flight to Palma, the capital of the Spanish island of Mallorca. According to reports, she traveled there to participate in a sold-out retreat organized by The Women’s Sanctuary, where she serves as the group’s artist-in-residence and one of the event’s hosts.

The retreat, titled “Plants Of The Quran,” carries a price tag of approximately $3,400 per attendee. Running from Wednesday through Monday, the program centers on plants referenced in the Quran through art, botanical instruction, and spiritual reflection.

Following the Mallorca event, Duwaji is expected to travel to Corsica, France, to help lead another sold-out Women’s Sanctuary retreat scheduled for July 9 through July 14. That gathering, titled “Mary In The Quran,” promises to “explore” in “depth” the legacy of Mary, described by organizers as “the most honored woman in the Qur’an.”

Conservative commentator and comedian Arynne Wexler posted photographs on X on Friday showing Duwaji seated at a United Airlines departure gate before her flight. Wexler criticized the timing of the trip, writing, “Funny how when @ZohranKMamdani was telling New Yorkers to lower their AC his wife Rama Duwaji was boarding a flight to party in Mallorca.”

Wexler added, “Reminder that I can’t tag her because she deleted her account after her insanely offensive tweets were discovered. Champagne socialists,” referring to controversial racial, homophobic, and other social media posts from more than a decade ago that resurfaced earlier this year.

According to Wexler’s publicist, the photographs were taken by an acquaintance who happened to be on the same flight and were shared so the public would be aware of Duwaji’s travel.

The cost of Duwaji’s airfare has not been disclosed. However, round-trip tickets between Newark and Palma later this month were listed at approximately $930 as of yesterday.

Her decision to leave the country during the America 250 celebrations quickly drew criticism from Republican officials in New York City.

“Nothing says ‘America 250’ quite like skipping the celebration for a Mediterranean vacation, but I am not surprised because she has made her hatred for America very evident,” said Councilwoman Joann Ariola of Queens.

Councilman Frank Morano of Staten Island also criticized the trip.

“It’s disappointing that the First Lady chose to be overseas instead of taking part in one of the biggest civic events our city and country will mark this year,” he said.

“No one is saying elected officials and their families can’t take vacations, but this was a moment to show up for the city and for the country, and she missed it.”

City Hall declined to respond directly to the criticism but confirmed that Duwaji was not accompanied by members of the NYPD security detail assigned to the mayor and his family.

Duwaji has previously faced scrutiny over deleted social media posts. According to a March report by the Washington Free Beacon, some of the posts praised Palestinian terrorist organizations, while others criticized American military personnel for supporting Israel.

One post she reposted on Tumblr in 2015 declared, “American soldiers fighting in imperialist wars are not brave nor are they fighting for anyone’s freedom. They are mercilessly slaughtering 3rd world civilians and fighting to maintain American hegemony.”

Mayor Mamdani, who has also been sharply critical of Israel, has defended his wife, arguing that her past online activity should not be treated as a political issue because she holds no official position in his administration. Duwaji has since apologized for many of her earlier posts.

While his wife was overseas, Mamdani remained in New York, where he faced criticism over his handling of the city’s first major heat wave since taking office. He urged residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees, even as temperatures inside portions of City Hall reportedly dropped as low as 54 degrees.

Mamdani also participated in the city’s America 250 observances, delivering a 15-minute speech from City Hall in which he criticized capitalism and America’s involvement in foreign conflicts while seated at the former desk of George Washington.

Yesterday, the mayor attended the Sail4th 250 International Parade of Sail on Governors Island and was later scheduled to preside over the Empire State Building’s Fourth of July lighting ceremony.

{Matzav.com}

The Social Security Administration announced Friday that parents will soon be able to enroll newborns in the new Trump Accounts program through the same paperwork used to obtain a Social Security number at birth, simplifying the process as the first federal deposits begin reaching eligible accounts.

Beginning next week, the agency will revise its instructions to hospitals and coordinate with states to update the Enumeration at Birth forms, allowing parents who apply for a Social Security number for their newborn to automatically initiate the creation of a Trump Account at the same time.

The Enumeration at Birth system, which has been in use since 1987, is the primary method by which American newborns receive Social Security numbers. By integrating Trump Account enrollment into that existing process, officials say parents will no longer need to complete a separate application.

Social Security Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said the streamlined enrollment process is a key part of the program’s implementation.

“Social Security numbers are the backbone of Trump Accounts, and we will empower parents to enroll their newborns through the Enumeration at Birth program to take full advantage of this program from the day a child is born,” he said in the announcement.

The investment accounts were established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025. Designed as custodial investment accounts similar to retirement savings plans, they are available for children under the age of 18.

Children born in the United States between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, who are U.S. citizens and have valid Social Security numbers are eligible to receive a one-time $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury.

In addition to the government’s initial deposit, families, employers, relatives, and charitable organizations may collectively contribute up to $5,000 each year. The funds are invested in low-cost U.S. stock index funds and generally remain inaccessible until the child reaches age 18.

Ahead of the official rollout, President Trump announced on Truth Social that demand for the program had already exceeded 6 million account requests. He also revealed that the Treasury Department will now permit publicly traded stock to be donated to Trump Accounts.

“This opens the door for GREAT American Businesses, Philanthropists, and Job Creators to invest directly in the future of our children, and help build a Generation of Savers, Investors, and Owners,” he wrote.

Parents of children who have already been born may still open a Trump Account by visiting TrumpAccounts.gov and submitting IRS Form 4547. The new Social Security enrollment process is intended to automatically register future newborns at birth, eliminating the need for parents to complete a second application later.

Eligible children whose accounts have already been established began receiving the $1,000 Treasury contribution today.

{Matzav.com}