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Excavation is expected to begin within the next two weeks for the Trump administration’s planned 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., moving the ambitious monument toward construction even as opponents challenge the project in federal court.

The arch is among several high-profile projects being advanced by President Donald Trump. Other initiatives include renovations and a new name for the Kennedy Center, construction of a new White House ballroom, improvements to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the reconstruction of a golf course at East Potomac Park.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum celebrated the planned monument Thursday, predicting that it will become a major architectural landmark in the nation’s capital.

“This will be one of the Great Pieces of American Architecture,” Burgum wrote on X, “befitting the most powerful Capital in the World.”

Burgum accompanied his announcement with artistic renderings depicting the enormous arch, which is planned for a location between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

The images portray a massive white structure accented with gold and bearing the inscription “ONE NATION UNDER GOD.” At the top is a gold, winged figure resembling Lady Liberty and holding a torch, flanked by gold eagles with outstretched wings.

The National Park Service endorsed the proposal in a report released Friday, while also acknowledging that construction of the arch would negatively affect some of the carefully established sightlines connecting several of Washington’s best-known landmarks.

The visual relationships between Washington’s monuments, historic sites and government buildings have been deliberately developed over many decades. Their locations and sightlines were designed both to commemorate important chapters in American history and to create symbolic connections among the capital’s landmarks.

The project is nevertheless facing a legal challenge from three military veterans and an architectural historian. Their lawsuit contends that the administration cannot proceed with construction without approval from Congress.

“congressional authorization is necessary and lacking for this project,” said Nicolas Sansone, an attorney with Public Citizen Litigation Group representing the plaintiffs.

Sansone indicated that the plaintiffs are prepared to seek further court intervention as the administration moves closer to beginning work at the site.

“We believe that construction cannot and should not proceed apace, and we are prepared to inform the court that it needs to, at this juncture, needs to step in,” he said. Sansone did not reveal what specific filing the plaintiffs intend to make next, but said he is “very confident” that they’ll find success.

Burgum defended the project in several posts on X, pointing to historical proposals for a monument at the location and saying the concept stretches back more than a century. He cited previous congressional discussions and attempts to place a monument in the traffic circle.

“Despite Congress’ intent, the site became and remains today a barren traffic circle lacking any monumental treatment and significant historic value,” he wrote.

Burgum also noted that more than 70 cities around the world have “beautiful arches” and predicted that the United States will soon possess the “most spectacular and beautiful arch of them all!”

The legal battle remains unresolved. The Justice Department filed a new court document Thursday seeking dismissal of the lawsuit as the administration prepares to begin excavation work.

{Matzav.com}

The owner of 1800-Eichler’s in Boro Park is distancing his store from several aspects of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s controversial visit this week, saying the Judaica retailer neither invited the mayor nor participated in distributing gifts to him.

Hirsch Meir Traube released a video Thursday night seeking to clarify what occurred during Mamdani’s Wednesday appearance at the 13th Avenue store, after footage of the visit generated widespread discussion and criticism on social media.

“We did not invite Mayor Mamdani,” Traube said. “None of our staff were involved in any of the gift giving. It was all from independent influencers.”

Traube also rejected suggestions that Eichler’s personnel were responsible for removing individuals from the premises during Mamdani’s appearance.

“We weren’t involved in kicking anyone out of the store,” he said.

The clarification followed the widespread circulation of videos showing Mamdani visiting the store as part of his outreach to the Jewish community ahead of Rosh Hashanah. During the stop, the mayor spoke with community figures and was introduced to various aspects of the upcoming Yom Tov.

Among those at the store during Mamdani’s visit were Boro Park Jewish Community Council CEO Avi Greenstein, Rav Yaakov Landau and Traube. Other members of the local community also greeted the mayor during his appearance.

Uri Fraenkel, the mayor’s director of special projects, blew the shofar during the event. Mamdani was also presented with honey in connection with the traditional Rosh Hashanah wish for a sweet new year.

Mamdani greeted those gathered at the store with a “Shana Tovah.”

The otherwise cordial appearance became contentious when Stephanie Benshimol, who identified herself as a Jewish advocate, confronted Mamdani inside the store over antisemitism.

“Stop the antisemitism! You have all the power to stop the antisemitism. I’m begging you to do it,” Benshimol shouted.

Benshimol also challenged Mamdani over his repeated focus on Israel, arguing that the mayor’s positions were helping fuel an atmosphere of hostility toward Jews.

Menachem Gindi, an employee of Eichler’s who witnessed the encounter, subsequently told CBS New York that the confrontation created an uncomfortable situation, although he said he believed Benshimol’s concerns had merit.

The controversy comes amid continued concern over antisemitism in New York City. According to NYPD figures, anti-Jewish hate crimes have risen 8% year-to-date compared with the same period last year, with incidents targeting Jews accounting for more than half of all reported hate crimes in the city.

Mamdani’s relationship with segments of the Jewish community has been strained by his positions and rhetoric concerning Israel. Among the remarks that have drawn criticism was his description of Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu as a “war criminal” in a video released in July.

The mayor has maintained that his criticism of Israel and its government should be distinguished from hostility toward Jews or Judaism.

“When we make criticisms of a nation-state or policies, we have to remember that those are criticisms of exactly that — never of a people, never of a faith,” Mamdani told CBS New York following an earlier discussion concerning antisemitism.

Wednesday’s stop in Boro Park was one element of Mamdani’s outreach to Jewish New Yorkers in advance of the Yomim Noraim. In August, he also participated in a private meeting with rabbonim focused on antisemitism and the growing number of anti-Jewish incidents.

The Mamdani administration has said it wants Jewish residents of New York City to be able to “live openly, proudly and safely.” City Hall has also pledged additional funding for efforts to prevent hate crimes and an expansion of the mayoral office devoted to combating antisemitism.

Meanwhile, the NYPD is increasing its preparations ahead of the Yomim Noraim. A citywide security briefing with Jewish communal leaders is scheduled for next week, while Brooklyn South police officials met with Jewish leaders on Monday to discuss security measures for the coming weeks.

Traube concluded his video by emphasizing his own and the store’s support for Israel.

“We do support Israel,” he said. “Am Yisroel Chai.”

The controversy has also created some confusion because two separate Judaica stores in Brooklyn operate under the Eichler’s name.

Mamdani visited 1800 Eichler’s, also known as 1-800 Eichler’s and previously known as The New Eichler’s, located at 5004 13th Avenue in Boro Park. The store is independently owned by Traube, who acquired the business around 2024.

Eichler’s of Flatbush, located at 1401 Coney Island Avenue, is a separate business. That store remains owned by the Eichler family and has been operating since 1977.

The two retailers are independently owned and operated, and Eichler’s of Flatbush was not involved in Mamdani’s Boro Park visit.

{Matzav.com}

[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}