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China announced Friday that it will raise tariffs on U.S. goods from 84% to 125% — the latest salvo in an escalating trade war between the world’s two largest economies that has rattled markets and raised fears of a global slowdown. While U.S. President Donald Trump paused import taxes this week for other countries, he raised tariffs on China and they now total 145%. China has denounced the policy as “economic bullying” and promised countermeasures. The new tariffs begin Saturday. Washington’s repeated jacking up of tariffs “will become a joke in the history of the world economy,” a Chinese Finance Ministry spokesman said in a statement announcing the new tariffs. “However, if the U.S. insists on continuing to substantially infringe on China’s interests, China will resolutely counter and fight to the end.” China’s Commerce Ministry said it would file another lawsuit with the World Trade Organization against the U.S. tariffs. Trump’s on-again, off-again measures have caused alarm in stock and bond markets and led some to warn that the U.S. could be headed for a recession. There was some relief when Trump paused the tariffs for most countries — but concerns remain since the U.S. and China are the world’s No. 1 and No. 2 economies, respectively. The trade war between the U.S. and China “could severely damage the global economic outlook,” the head of the WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said earlier this week. Chinese tariffs will affect goods like soybeans, aircrafts and their parts and drugs — all among the country’s major imports from the U.S. Beijing, meanwhile, suspended sorghum, poultry and bonemeal imports from some American companies last week, and put more export controls on rare earth minerals, critical for various technologies. The United States’ top imports from China, meanwhile, include electronics, like computers and cell phones, industrial equipment and toys — and consumers and businesses are likely to see prices rise on those products, with tariffs now at 145%. Trump announced on Wednesday that China would face 125% tariffs, but he did not include a 20% tariff on China tied to its role in fentanyl production. White House officials hope the import taxes will create more manufacturing jobs by bringing production back to the United States — a politically risky trade-off that could take years to materialize, if at all. (AP)

President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the nomination of Yehuda Kaploun as the next U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. The announcement, made via Trump’s Truth Social account, praised Kaploun as a dedicated advocate for Jewish rights and religious freedom. “I am proud to nominate Yehuda Kaploun as the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Ambassador-at-Large,” Trump wrote. “Yehuda is a successful businessman and staunch advocate for the Jewish Faith and the Rights of his people to live and worship free from persecution. With Anti-Semitism dangerously on the rise, Yehuda will be the strongest Representative for Americans and Jews across the Globe, and promote PEACE. Congratulations Yehuda!” Kaploun, a Miami-based entrepreneur with deep roots in both askanus and Republican politics, has been a close confidant of Trump for decades. He played a key role in Jewish outreach efforts during Trump’s 2024 campaign and has been a vocal supporter of the president’s stance on U.S.-Israel relations. Born into a Chabad-Lubavitch family in Kfar Chabad, Israel, Kaploun has maintained strong ties with Jewish communities in both the U.S. and Israel. He visited Israel in late November, where he met with senior government officials and leading Charedi rabbanim. Kaploun currently serves as President and Co-Founder of RussKap Water, LLC, a company specializing in Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) technology aimed at addressing global water scarcity. He has also been deeply involved in philanthropy, co-founding the Moses and Aaron Foundation alongside Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel to support children with special needs and their families. His humanitarian efforts have earned him honors from the U.S. Congress, the New York State Senate, and past New York governors and mayors, including George Pataki, Rudy Giuliani, and Michael Bloomberg. Pending official confirmation, Kaploun is expected to assume the role with a global mandate—to advocate for Jewish communities, engage with foreign governments, and ensure that the United States remains a leading voice against antisemitism in all its forms. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed that negotiations are inching closer to securing the release of hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza, suggesting that a breakthrough may be imminent—though he offered few specifics. “We’re getting close to getting them back,” Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting. “We’re making progress. We’re dealing with Israel, we’re dealing with Hamas—and it’s a nasty group.” The president described meeting with previously released hostages, some of whom returned in poor physical condition, and emphasized the psychological toll of their ordeal. “A lot of people are very grateful. Some came back in pretty bad shape. They’re okay, but they’re going to be scarred mentally for a long time,” he said. Trump’s remarks align with recent reports from Israeli and international media outlets indicating that a new hostage deal may be on the horizon. According to Ynet, Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, told families of hostages that “a real serious deal is on the table and it’s a matter of a few days.” Further bolstering optimism, Israel’s Kan radio reported that Israeli and Egyptian officials had exchanged draft proposals aimed at reconciling an Egyptian compromise deal with a separate plan put forward by Witkoff. The Egyptian plan reportedly includes the release of eight living hostages and the return of eight bodies in exchange for a 40- to 70-day truce and the release of a significant number of Palestinian prisoners. Witkoff’s earlier proposal outlined a two-month ceasefire in exchange for the release of five hostages and a substantial prisoner release. Amid growing signs of movement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a high-level assessment on the hostage situation with his security team on Thursday, according to The Times of Israel. He also met in Jerusalem with the families of two hostages, Elkana Bohbot and Rom Braslavski, updating them on the status of the ongoing negotiations. Netanyahu’s office reiterated his commitment to the objectives of the war: returning all Israeli hostages, dismantling Hamas, and ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel. Currently, 24 Israeli hostages are believed to still be alive in Gaza, with 35 more confirmed dead. A previously brokered deal in January had outlined a phased release of hostages in tandem with a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, that agreement collapsed after the first stage, as Israel refused to proceed with discussions on subsequent phases and Hamas declined to extend the ceasefire—prompting a resumption of Israeli military operations. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Photo Credits: Sara Heiney 

Two Jewish families from Flatbush’s Syrian community survived a horrifying private jet crash in Mexico on Thursday—emerging with nothing more than scratches as flames and smoke consumed their $10 million aircraft. The Gulfstream V jet had just arrived from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, carrying the families to Cabo San Lucas for Pesach, when it veered violently off the runway during landing Thursday afternoon. Shocking footage now circulating on social media shows the aircraft skidding across the tarmac before careening off the paved surface and coming to a jarring halt near the edge of the airfield, smoke billowing from the wreckage. “We are alive,” one passenger can be heard saying emotionally in a video filmed just moments after the crash. “Thank you Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Thank you for saving us and my children—it is absolutely a miracle that we are alive.” The jet, capable of carrying up to 16 passengers and typically used for luxury executive travel, had taken off just two hours earlier. Upon the landing in Cabo, the sleek aircraft was split in parts—its fuselage torn, with one section landing nearly some 150 feet from the cockpit. Inside, the scene was one of sheer chaos. Bags had been flung from overhead compartments, dishes and cutlery lay shattered across the cabin floor. But against all odds, every passenger—including young children—escaped unharmed. The cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed by Mexican aviation authorities, though initial reports suggest the aircraft may have experienced a fault upon landing. Emergency services responded to the scene, with paramedics and airport brigades treating several people at the scene, though none were transported to hospitals. The crash marked the second aviation disaster in under 24 hours. Just one hour earlier, a helicopter carrying a Siemens executive, his wife, and their three children plunged into New York’s Hudson River. All six on board perished in that tragic incident. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Britain on Friday announced a “surge” of military support to Ukraine, as the war-ravaged country’s Western backers gathered to drum up more weapons and ammunition to fight off Russia’s invasion and a U.S. envoy flew to St. Petersburg amid ongoing ceasefire efforts. Britain said that in a joint effort with Norway just over $580 million would be spent to provide hundreds of thousands of military drones, radar systems and anti-tank mines, as well as repair and maintenance contracts to keep Ukrainian armored vehicles on the battlefield. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff was back in Russia on Friday but he didn’t confirm whether he will meet with Putin. Witkoff, who has been pressing the Kremlin to accept a truce, met with Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev in St. Petersburg, footage released by Russian media showed. On the eve of the meeting of Ukraine’s Western backers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said a key issue was strengthening his country’s air defenses. “Ukraine needs a sufficient number of modern systems like Patriot” missile systems, he said in a post on social media. “A political decision is needed to supply these systems to protect our cities, towns, and the lives of our people — especially from the threat of Russian ballistic weapons. Our partners have such available systems,” Umerov said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed his appeals for more Patriot systems since 20 people were killed a week ago, including nine children, when a Russian missile tore through apartment buildings and blasted a playground in his home town. “Ukraine needs at the very least 10 systems that are sufficiently effective specifically against Russian ballistic missiles, and this is where Patriots are second to none,” he said on his Telegram channel ahead of the meeting. “We are counting on decisions.” Zelenskyy joined Friday’s meeting by video link. Russia holds off agreeing to ceasefire Russian forces hold the advantage in Ukraine, with the war now in its fourth year. Ukraine has endorsed a U.S. ceasefire proposal, but Russia has effectively blocked it by imposing far-reaching conditions. The Russian delay in accepting Washington’s proposal has frustrated U.S. President Donald Trump and fueled doubts about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin really wants to stop the fighting while his bigger army has momentum on the battlefield. “Russia continues to use bilateral talks with the United States to delay negotiations about the war in Ukraine, suggesting that the Kremlin remains uninterested in serious peace negotiations to end the war,” the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said in an assessment late Thursday. Washington remains committed to securing a peace deal, even though four weeks have passed since it made its ceasefire proposals, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said. “It is a dynamic that will not be solved militarily. It is a meat grinder,” Bruce said Thursday about the war, adding that “nothing else can be discussed … until the shooting and the killing stops.” Observers expect a new Russian offensive Ukrainian officials and military analysts believe Russia is preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in coming weeks to ramp up pressure and strengthen the Kremlin’s hand in the negotiations. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that his country would provide Ukraine with four IRIS-T short- to medium-range systems with missiles, as well as 30 missiles for use on […]

A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Trump administration can move forward with a controversial initiative requiring undocumented immigrants to enter their personal details into an online database — and face fines or jail time if they don’t comply.

The policy, first unveiled by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in February, is scheduled to go into effect on Friday.

Under the new rule, undocumented immigrants aged 14 and up — including minors — must provide details such as fingerprints and residential addresses. As reported by the Wall Street Journal earlier this year, noncompliance could result in penalties of up to $5,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months.

Several advocacy groups that serve immigrant populations, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA), United Farmworkers of America, Make the Road New York, and CASA, filed a lawsuit last month seeking to stop the policy from being implemented.

“Plaintiffs have not shown that they are likely to succeed on the merits,” DC US District Court Judge Trevor McFadden ruled Thursday. “They have failed to demonstrate that they have standing to bring this suit.”

Judge McFadden, who was appointed by President Trump, dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims of harm as hypothetical and argued that the organizations had failed to present evidence that any individual had suffered the kind of injury recognized by the courts under Article III.

In his ruling, McFadden cited the long history of federal laws mandating non-citizen registration, beginning with the Alien Registration Act of 1940. The current iteration of that obligation is derived from the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.

The directive to launch this registry was included in President Trump’s “Day One” executive order, titled Protecting the American People Against Invasion, which instructed the Department of Homeland Security to enforce the requirements of section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and to prioritize penalties for noncompliance.

“Most aliens in the United States have already registered, as required by law,” according to USCIS. “However, a significant number of aliens present in the United States have had no direct way in which to register and meet their obligation under INA [section] 262.”

“In order that unregistered aliens may comply with their duty under INA [section] 262, USCIS is establishing a new form and process by which they may register. No alien will have an excuse for failure to comply with this law.”

The groups challenging the rule contended that it would ultimately serve as a mechanism for mass removals of undocumented immigrants and insisted that such a sweeping change should go through a full public comment period before being finalized.

{Matzav.com}

Former President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that he has selected Yehuda Kaploun, a businessman, Chabad rabbi, and active Trump campaign supporter, to serve as his administration’s new special envoy charged with monitoring and fighting antisemitism.

Trump shared the announcement on Truth Social, stating: “I am proud to nominate Yehuda Kaploun as the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Ambassador-at-Large. Yehuda is a successful businessman, and staunch advocate for the Jewish Faith and the Rights of his people to live and worship free from persecution. With Anti-Semitism dangerously on the rise, Yehuda will be the strongest Representative for Americans and Jews across the Globe, and promote PEACE. Congratulations Yehuda!”

Kaploun played a central role in engaging Jewish voters on behalf of the Trump campaign during the 2024 presidential race. He was involved in organizing a major event in Washington aimed at mobilizing Jewish support, an event that received backing from Dr. Miriam Adelson.

Throughout the campaign season, Kaploun was deeply involved in outreach efforts targeting both the Orthodox and broader Jewish communities. He has said that his involvement stemmed from growing concern over rising antisemitic sentiment and the growing sense of unease felt by many Jews in America today.

“Just a year ago, no one would have believed that Jews would be afraid to be openly Jewish in the United States,” Kaploun told Mishpacha Magazine. “The fact that Jews are afraid in progressive universities shows that the United States is going down a dark path.”

{Matzav.com}

Agudath Israel of America presents a special Shailos Uteshuvos session on Hilchos Pesach and Erev Pesach Shechal B’Shabbos with Hagaon Harav Shmuel Kamenetsky, member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and Rosh Yeshiva of Philadelphia Yeshivah. The discussion, originally conducted four years ago, is moderated by Rav Doniel Osher Kleinman, noted rov and author of Kovetz Halachos containing Rav Kamenetsky’s p’sakim. With clarity, Rav Kamenetsky addresses a range of practical halachic questions.

WATCH:

Lakewood, NJ – Lakewood, an area of 26 square miles, has 217 miles of Township streets. It also has thousands upon thousands of garbage receptacles – bins that, while serving town residents, belong to the Lakewood Public Works Department, which is responsible for the maintenance and repair of Township roads and sewers, Township parks and open space, snowplowing of Township streets, leaf and brush collection, and, of course, garbage and recycling collection.

It is because these bins belong to the township that several Lakewood poskim, notably Rav Shmuel Felder, a posek of Beth Medrash Govoha, have ruled that there is no halachic concern if town residents leave chometz in their trash cans on Yom Tov. Since the cans are in the reshus of the township, there is no issue of baal yeira’eh and baal yeimotzeh.

It should be noted that Pesach is a good time to clean out your bins and hose them down, which is also recommended during the warmer weather, when they bins tend to emit a foul odor when they are not cleaned or hose down.

{Matzav.com}

HaRav Meir Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Kisei Rachamim, is in critical condition.

Rav Mazuz has been hospitalized at Beilinson Hospital for the past week due to severe heart failure, and his condition has continued to deteriorate.

Doctors have described the situation as life-threatening, and rachamei Shamayim merubim are needed.

Talmidim close to the rosh yeshiva say that the situation is dire.

In response, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, issued an urgent call to the public to daven and learn Torah as a zechus for a refuah sheleimah for Rav Mazuz, whom he referred to as “a giant of Torah whom the public greatly needs.”

Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri also released a public statement: “Together with all of Am Yisrael, I daven for the complete and speedy recovery of my revered rebbi, HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz shlita, rosh yeshiva of Kisei Rachamim, who is in dire need of rachamei Shamayim.”

All are asked to daven for Rav Meir Nissim ben Kamasna.

{Matzav.com Israel}

New York City’s congestion tolling initiative is expected to stay active for at least several more months as legal battles between state leaders and the Trump administration continue to unfold.

A timeline proposed jointly in a legal filing on Friday outlines how the case may proceed, following threats made by President Donald Trump and his transportation secretary in February to halt the tolling system.

If approved by a federal judge in Manhattan, the proposed schedule would allow both parties to submit written arguments over several months, possibly extending into October or later. The toll would remain in operation during that time.

According to the filing, the federal government does not currently plan to seek a halt to the toll while the case plays out. The state has indicated it will continue running the system unless a judge issues an order requiring it to stop. However, the door remains open for either party—or others with a stake in the matter—to ask for a quicker decision on the program’s legality.

The tolling system charges most drivers $9 to access Manhattan south of 60th Street. It was created to ease traffic congestion and reduce pollution while generating funds for New York’s transit network, including subways, buses, and commuter trains operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The MTA projects $500 million in annual revenue from the toll, after costs, and reported that it brought in $100 million in just the first two months of 2025.

Since implementation, vehicle volume in the congestion zone has gone down. The MTA reported that March saw a 12% drop in cars entering the area compared to previous figures.

Still, critics have voiced concern about the financial burden the toll places on everyday drivers. The initiative is also being challenged in separate legal actions by the state of New Jersey—which claims the toll merely redirects traffic and emissions across the river—and by various organizations representing commuters from the suburbs, trucking companies, and other opponents.

Meanwhile, support for the toll among New Yorkers appears to be growing. A Siena College survey released March 10 showed that 42% now favor keeping the toll in place, while 35% think it should be scrapped. Back in December, only 32% supported it, with a 56% majority opposing it.

In mid-February, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans for the Federal Highway Administration to revoke a previous agreement with the MTA, which had allowed the state agency to start tolling drivers entering central Manhattan.

That announcement prompted the MTA to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that pulling back approval after the program had already launched would be illegal. The federal government initially set a March 21 deadline to end the tolling program but later moved that deadline to April 20.

{Matzav.com}

The widespread distribution of kimcha depischa to hundreds of kollel students studying through the Migdal Oz Torah network, headed by the distinguished Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yechezkel Etrog Shlita. The Kollel network distributed generous food baskets and checks to allow the students to celebrate Pesach in comfort.

On Thursday, Israeli Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich brought together the top officials of the Finance Ministry for a further, more comprehensive meeting focused on how the Israeli government should address the newly introduced tariff policy announced by President Donald Trump.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu appointed Smotrich to head the Israeli side of the negotiations with the American administration on the matter.

During the discussion, senior ministry experts outlined a variety of strategic options that could be pursued collaboratively with the US, aiming to strengthen economic ties while avoiding or reducing any harmful repercussions for both nations.

The Finance Ministry emphasized that it is engaged in ongoing and in-depth communication with key players in Israel’s private sector, particularly those in manufacturing and export, who are expected to feel the effects of the proposed tariffs.

Concurrently, Israeli officials are working hand-in-hand with American counterparts to try and limit the range of products affected by the new tariffs and to cushion the blow to Israeli manufacturers and exporters.

A decision was made that once Pesach concludes, Smotrich will lead an official Israeli team to Washington, where they will begin detailed and focused negotiations with relevant US government representatives, with the goal of formulating agreements that will curb the potential fallout from the tariff plan.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Officials from the Trump administration reportedly engaged in three rounds of direct talks with Hamas leaders inside a secure location in Qatar during the month of March, according to a New York Times article published Thursday.

The discussions were centered around efforts to negotiate the release of American hostage Edan Alexander. Despite multiple meetings, all attempts to reach an agreement ultimately collapsed.

Four individuals with knowledge of the negotiations revealed that Adam Boehler, the U.S. special envoy for hostage affairs, pushed for Hamas to free Alexander so that President Trump could include the announcement in his recent address to Congress. Talks were still ongoing as Trump arrived at the Capitol, but without a breakthrough, the president only made a brief mention of hostages in Gaza during his speech.

These meetings reflect the Trump administration’s strategy of pursuing diplomatic channels and potential deals to secure hostage releases. However, the talks reportedly fell apart due to “furious Israeli opposition, Hamas’s hesitation and the Trump administration’s shifting position.”

In addition to discussing the hostage issue, officials also held conversations on the broader Arab-Israeli conflict and the October 7 massacre—over a meal of knafeh paired with freshly squeezed orange juice.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Today, the Israeli Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking to reinstate the flow of electricity to the Gaza Strip.

Justice Alex Stein, writing on behalf of the court, stated, “From a legal perspective, it is clear that the State of Israel is not obliged to provide electricity to the Gaza Strip, for money or for free.”

He further elaborated: “Israel does not have legal sovereignty over the Strip,” and added, “our enemies, who claim sovereignty over the territory of the Strip, have launched a brutal war against us, partly fueled by electricity, which has claimed many victims among us.”

“The supply of electricity to the Strip is entirely at the discretion of the government. In my opinion, the manner in which such discretion is exercised is inherently non-justiciable.” Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg echoed this view, commenting, “It is doubtful whether the issue is justiciable; the very discussion of the petition creates the impression that it is justiciable.”

The legal proceedings followed a directive issued last month by Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who signed an order cutting off electricity to Gaza with immediate effect.

Before the implementation of Cohen’s order, Israel had only been supplying electricity to a desalination facility located in central Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

There is so much currently happening on the political scene in Eretz Yisroel. Aside from the burning issue of the hostages and the ongoing war in Gaza, there is an entire ruckus over the dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet among other issues.   The Gedolei Yisroel and the Charedi community, as a whole, are very worried and disturbed over the ongoing efforts to try drafting bnei yeshivos.   Much effort has been expended both publicly and through quiet diplomacy to try dissuading the powers that be and those in the legal system from their attempt to curb the koach of today’s “Shevet Levi”. After all, in this fraught period, Klal Yisroel, more than ever, needs the zechusim of limud haTorah to enable us to overcome our enemies.  The Gedolei Yisroel have been focusing on explaining the Charedi position, hoping to impress upon influential figures in the government and the legal community a better understanding of the the role that Torah learning plays in ensuring the future of the country.   Recently, the Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedter was in Eretz Yisroel. As a prominent resident of chutz la’aretz who leads the largest Torah organization in the world, Rav Hofstedter has been involved in the hishtadlus effort. Rav Hofstedter held numerous meetings at the homes of several senior Gedolei Yisroel. The Gedolei Yisroel all urged him to use his influence to try finding common ground with decision- makers in Eretz Yisroel regarding this difficult, critically important issue.  As a prominent figure in the diaspora, Rav Hofstedter also conversed with Mr. Yitzchak Herzog, the President of Israel. Rav Hofstedter discussed the underpinnings of the Charedi outlook regarding limud haTorah and the fact that the avreichim who devote their days and nights to learning do so most altruistically, forgoing many of life’s comforts and living extremely frugally so that they can continue to learn Torah. Rav Hofstedter spoke about the value of Torah learning and its exalted role in shielding and preserving those living in Israel, and Judaism as a whole.   President Herzog was very receptive to Rav Hofstedter’s words and commented that despite the incitement that we are witnessing in some quarters, he had, in general, noticed that the secular and traditional Jews in Eretz Yisroel have strengthened themselves in observance and recognizing the integral role that Torah has in the lives of the Jewish People.  “Without a doubt, the secret of the survival of the Jewish people throughout the ages has been the role played by the Torah. I feel that the Torah is what unifies us as a people and serves as our spiritual backbone.” Herzog told Rav Hofstedter that in a telephone conversation with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, he had expressed similar sentiments. President Herzog concluded, “I join together with you in calling on all parties to lower the temperature, cease with the incitement, and coalesce around what unites us, not what divides us.” 

[COMMUNICATED]

The widespread distribution of kimcha depischa to hundreds of kollel students studying through the Migdal Oz Torah network, headed by the distinguished Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yechezkel Etrog Shlita.

The Kollel network distributed generous food baskets and checks to allow the students to celebrate Pesach in comfort.

The investigation into the events that unfolded in Kibbutz Re’im on October 7 has shed light on the extraordinary courage shown by the local civilian defense team, who fought off a massive terrorist assault with no outside assistance for hours.

At the time of the attack early that morning, eight members of the kibbutz’s ten-man emergency response unit were on duty. When the initial sirens went off, the squad’s security coordinator instructed them to report to a designated meeting location. By 7:20 a.m., they had assembled and split into three groups, each assigned to a different area to observe and defend.

Roughly ten minutes later, survivors fleeing the massacre at the Nova music festival began reaching Kibbutz Re’im. At 7:51 a.m., between five and ten terrorists breached the kibbutz’s southern gate. A firefight broke out between the attackers and the security team, resulting in one terrorist being neutralized while the others pulled back.

By 8:01 a.m., a much larger wave of roughly 40 armed terrorists stormed in through the northern entrance, some of them riding in vehicles as they made their way toward the HaTza’irim neighborhood. It was during this stage that the kibbutz was subjected to widespread violence, including murders, kidnappings, looting, and fires. At 8:14 a.m., five residents were abducted, and five others were killed.

The local squad continued to resist with immense bravery, repositioning themselves constantly to counter infiltrating terrorists. They set up makeshift barriers at the northern and western gates in an attempt to stop further incursions. At 9:00 a.m., another group of 20 terrorists entered the western part of the kibbutz and set homes ablaze.

Soon after, specialized units from the Israel Police’s Special Patrol Unit arrived and joined forces with the defenders. IDF troops also began to reach the area via Route 234. By 9:30 a.m., security personnel had killed at least six more terrorists at the kibbutz gate and the nearby Re’im junction.

As the morning wore on, the battle intensified. At 9:47 a.m., local defenders and police regrouped at the southern entrance to confront yet another round of attacks. They heroically pulled residents from burning buildings in HaTza’irim, repelled new infiltrations, and intercepted terrorists attempting to move toward the center of the community.

Even after these clashes, and until the IDF arrived around 11:40 a.m., the kibbutz’s defenders continued to operate with courage and resolve. They helped survivors of the Nova festival reach shelter, aided residents trapped in their homes, and fired on terrorists from within residential buildings.

All told, 80 terrorists infiltrated Kibbutz Re’im. When the dust settled, 49 terrorist bodies were found in the area. It is believed that those who were not killed managed to retreat to Gaza.

The attack resulted in the deaths of seven kibbutz residents and 15 members of Israeli security forces. Five civilians were abducted and taken to Gaza, but all have since been returned.

The investigating team concluded that the IDF did not succeed in protecting Kibbutz Re’im in the initial critical hours. The civilian response team stood alone at first, and their actions were crucial in preventing a far worse tragedy. Reinforcements from the IDF and police arrived later, some unprepared or lacking proper coordination, but still acted to contain the threat and stop it from spreading further.

The battle at Re’im stands as both one of the most brutal encounters during the Hamas-led invasion and one of the most remarkable examples of heroism shown by ordinary civilians and security forces alike.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump stated that efforts are underway to secure the release of the remaining hostages being held in Gaza and mentioned that he is engaged in discussions involving both Israel and Hamas, though he refrained from offering further specifics about the negotiations.

“We’re getting close to getting them back,” Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting.

He explained that many hostages had already returned and acknowledged the deep gratitude of those affected. “A lot came back. A lot of people are very grateful. Some came back in pretty bad shape. They’re okay. I think they’re going to be scarred mentally for a long time because if you sit down and talk to them, as I have, what they went through is incredible,” he said.

Despite the difficult circumstances, he emphasized that progress was being achieved. “But we’re making progress,” he added. “We’re dealing with Israel, we’re dealing with Hamas, and it’s a nasty group.”

{Matzav.com}