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Only 4 Houthi Ministers Remain Alive: Israel’s Cabinet Meeting Held At Secret Secured Site
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Jewish Agency Head, Whose Relatives Were Murdered On Oct. 7, Forced To Cancel Trip To South Africa
Listen: Stories4Life Shiur On Matzav.com: Who Do I Rely On?
Over 3 Months Later: Hamas Acknowledges Death Of Mohammed Sinwar
Labor Day Weekend Message From President Trump
Hamas Confirms Death of Gaza Commander Mohammed Sinwar
Putin Visits China, Walks Tianjin Red Carpet
Tulsi Gabbard Publicly Names Undercover CIA Officer in Security Clearance Purge
US Approves \$8.5B Patriot Missile Sale to Denmark
185 Years in Genizah: Rav Elimelech Biderman Moved Upon Seeing the Signature of the Bas Ayin
The Torah world has been stirred by an extraordinary discovery: The handwritten signature of Rav Avrohom Dov of Avritch zt”l, author of the Bas Ayin, has been uncovered on a rare document.
Last week, the rare treasure was presented to Rav Elimelech Biderman: the original signed document of the Bas Ayin.
Rav Avrohom Dov, who lived in the holy city of Tzefas, was famed already in his lifetime as a source of salvation, with countless stories told about his deeds, especially his heroism during the great earthquake that struck Tzefas in 1837, when he saved many Jewish lives from destruction.
For over a decade, Rav Biderman has been closely attached to the teachings and path of the Bas Ayin, organizing the annual hilula gatherings at his resting place and encouraging young people to learn his holy works, which are regarded as a segulah.
The newly revealed handwritten note is of immense rarity, as very few documents survive from the Bas Ayin.
This particular manuscript confirms the sale of a designated place of tefillah in the Arizal’s ancient shul, verified and signed by him.
At the bottom of the document, beneath the signatures of the gabbaim, it is written: “And for greater strength and confirmation, it is further signed by the holy rov.” Indeed, on the reverse side of the page appears the Bas Ayin’s sacred signature: “The transaction detailed above is valid and binding. Signed, Avrohom Dov of Avritch, residing in the holy city of Tzefas, may it be rebuilt and reestablished speedily in our days, Amen.”
Reacting emotionally to the document, Rav Biderman declared: “If in his lifetime he brought about yeshuos, then surely, as Chazal say, tzaddikim are greater in death than in life. To hold a sacred object connected to him is a most elevated and wondrous segulah.”
He was particularly moved by the date inscribed on the contract: “Twelve days into the month of Elul, in the year 5600 (1840)”—exactly 185 years ago, in the very days leading into the Yamim Nora’im.
Rav Biderman concluded with deep emotion: “Even just to gaze upon the handwriting of the Bas Ayin inspires the heart and serves as a wondrous segulah for teshuvah and good deeds.”
{Matzav.com}
American Dream Mall In New Jersey Sued For Selling Clothing On Sundays
Local officials in a Bergen County borough are accusing the operators of a major shopping complex of violating long-standing restrictions on Sunday sales, labeling the property a “public nuisance” and taking the matter to court.
The lawsuit, filed by leaders in Paramus, a community located just a few miles from Hackensack, was reviewed by USA TODAY. According to the filing, Mayor Christopher DiPiazza and the entire borough council authorized the action, their attorney Richard Malagiere confirmed on August 29.
In the complaint submitted to the Superior Court of New Jersey on August 25, the borough asserts that American Dream Mall, a 3-million-square-foot complex, has ignored Bergen County’s “blue laws.” These rules forbid Sunday sales of items such as apparel, lumber and construction materials, furniture for homes or offices, and both residential and commercial appliances.
Officials in Paramus maintain that the blue laws are binding only if county residents vote to keep them in effect. In Bergen County, voters chose to uphold the rules. Yet, the lawsuit claims that businesses inside American Dream have chosen to ignore them.
“These businesses, with the encouragement and support of the mall’s ownership and the acquiescence of the other defendants here, have violated the law hundreds if not thousands of times since January of this year,” the filing says.
The lawsuit explains that although the mall initially followed the prohibition, stores began trading on Sundays in 2024. According to reporting by The Bergen Record, which is part of the USA TODAY network, the mall had already been opening on Sundays for at least a year by January 2025.
Paramus officials argued in the complaint that businesses violating the law could face fines or even forced closures if the practice continues. They also noted their intent was to pressure the mall’s management to return to compliance.
Mayor DiPiazza said that American Dream had “promised on record” it would abide by Bergen County’s blue laws when opening its doors, according to the Associated Press.
The legal action lists several defendants: Ameream LLC, which owns the mall, the Borough of East Rutherford where the property is situated, Bergen County itself, and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA), which owns the land American Dream sits on.
“The lawsuit is a meritless political stunt driven by private competitors’ interests,” American Dream said in a statement obtained by the AP.
On August 29, USA TODAY reached out to Mayor DiPiazza along with the other defendants named in the case. The NJSEA and a Bergen County official replied, though the NJSEA declined to comment, citing active litigation.
Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, in a statement to USA TODAY, defended the importance of the blue laws, saying they safeguard quality of life for county residents and provide retail employees with needed rest. He emphasized that the matter comes down to “fairness.”
“When American Dream was preparing to open, its operators personally assured me and the State that they would honor the Sunday closing law and keep their retail doors shut,” Tedesco said. “They broke that promise.”
Tedesco added that operating on Sundays not only violates the statute but gives the mall “an unfair advantage” over local retailers that continue to comply.
American Dream, located in East Rutherford, is the second-largest retail and entertainment destination in the country, surpassed only by the Mall of America in Minnesota. According to Visit New Jersey, the complex contains more than 400 shops.
The mall’s official website lists its Sunday hours as 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for retail and dining, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. for The Avenue, a luxury wing featuring brands like Gucci and Balenciaga.
The roots of blue laws trace back centuries. The National Alcohol Beverage Control Association notes that as early as 1617 in Virginia, residents were required to attend church, with militia tasked to enforce the rule. In the 1800s, reformers advocated bans on commercial and “immoral” activity on Sundays.
The U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on the issue, finding in some instances that Sunday restrictions are constitutional. In McGowan v. Maryland (1961), the justices upheld a ban on Sunday sales, reasoning the law’s aim was to promote health, rest, and general welfare rather than advance a particular religion.
The Bergen Record, also part of the USA TODAY Network, has noted that Paramus’s blue laws date back to colonial times and were first adopted in 1704, later codified in 1798. The rules once prohibited leisure activities and even nonessential travel, far stricter than today’s targeted sales bans.
According to Wyckoff Township’s municipal clerk, Bergen County residents voted to continue the laws in 1980. More than a decade later, in November 1993, county voters once again rejected a proposal to repeal the restrictions, with a two-to-one margin in favor of keeping Sunday closures.
The complaint against American Dream cites evidence that the mall has defied those rules, including a sign inside the complex stating, “All stores open Sundays.”
{Matzav.com}
IDF Strike Kills Key Hamas Official in Gaza City
Thousands Gather at First Joint Tisch of the Five Kretchnif-Sighet Rebbes
Yerushalauyim witnessed a powerful scene on Motzoei Shabbos as thousands flocked to participate in the historic first tisch of the five sons of the late Kretchnif-Sighet Rebbe zt”l.
The event, held in a massive tent at the Pinsk Karlin Bais Medrash in the Beis Yisroel neighborhood, was arranged as part of a joint Shabbos announced by the chassidus in the wake of the Rebbe’s passing last week.
At midnight, the five sons—each now serving as admorim—entered together, with the eldest son leading. The gathering began with the singing of Kol Mekadesh, and the atmosphere was so crowded that organizers were forced to add additional bleachers to accommodate the throngs.
Chassidim described a remarkable display of mutual respect, as each of the brothers honored the others throughout the night. The tisch continued with song and divrei Torah until 4:00 a.m.
Earlier, during seudah shlishis, the Rebbes had also conducted a joint tisch, which likewise drew a vast crowd of participants.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Bill Clinton Seen With Defibrillator At Hamptons Airport — Sparking New Concerns Over Ex-Prez’s Health
Bill Clinton is once again drawing questions about his health after he and his wife, Hillary, were seen leaving the Hamptons this week with a portable defibrillator bag — just two months after the 79-year-old was spotted stumbling on a Manhattan sidewalk.
On Thursday, the pair was photographed boarding a private jet while carrying what appeared to be a Propaq MD Air Medical Bag, a defibrillator and monitoring device typically used in emergency situations.
Clinton wore a blue jacket and tan hat as he was escorted by his security detail, while Hillary, the former secretary of state and two-time presidential candidate, covered her blue outfit with a black sweatshirt for the flight.
The sight of the bag quickly fueled speculation about the former president’s declining health, especially given his long record of heart disease.
Clinton has contended with major health issues for over 20 years, undergoing a quadruple bypass and multiple hospital stays.
Though Clinton has never said publicly that he needs a portable defibrillator, his medical challenges have been well documented.
In 2004, just three years after leaving office, he had emergency quadruple bypass surgery at Presbyterian Hospital in New York to repair severe artery blockages. Doctors said at the time he had narrowly avoided a massive heart attack.
A year later, he returned to the hospital for surgery to fix a collapsed lung caused by scar tissue from his earlier bypass.
In 2010, Clinton was hospitalized again after experiencing chest pains, and doctors placed two stents in one of his arteries.
Following those events, the Arkansas native changed his lifestyle, adopting a mostly vegan diet, shedding pounds, and saying it gave him a “second chance.”
But the health scares didn’t end. In October 2021, Clinton was hospitalized in California with a urological infection that turned into sepsis. He was treated with IV antibiotics and released after several days.
His most recent incident came last December, when he spent Christmas Eve at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, with a fever. After tests, he was discharged the following day.
Clinton was also caught on video stumbling while walking in New York City during a book tour appearance. He clutched a pole for support, and his left leg appeared to give way.
The emergence of the defibrillator bag is now expected to intensify debate about whether his condition is worsening. Such devices are typically used to deliver life-saving shocks and to monitor patients at high risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Although gossip outlets have speculated about possible degenerative illnesses like Parkinson’s, no reputable source has verified such claims. Clinton’s doctors and staff have only acknowledged his previous heart and infection-related medical treatment.
The Clintons have also remained in the headlines this summer for reasons beyond health.
Earlier this month, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed both Bill and Hillary in connection with its investigation into the government’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein.
Neither has been accused of criminal conduct, but both are scheduled to testify in the fall — Hillary on Oct. 9 and Bill on Oct. 14.
In his 2024 memoir, Clinton admitted to taking flights on Epstein’s plane but insisted he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes.
“The bottom line is, even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, traveling on Epstein’s plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward,” Clinton wrote.
“I wish I had never met him.”
The renewed focus on his health comes as Clinton remains active in Democratic politics, appearing at fundraisers and Clinton Foundation gatherings even as his physical stamina seems diminished.
At 79, Clinton is the third-oldest living president, behind Joe Biden, now 82, and George W. Bush, who is slightly older than Clinton.
Jimmy Carter, the nation’s longest-lived president, passed away in December at the age of 100.
{Matzav.com}
REVEALED: Israel’s Phone Hacking Turned Top Iranian Officials’ Bodyguards And Drivers Into Mossad Tracking Devices During Operation Rising Lion
Trump’s Tariffs Ruled Illegal In Stunning Blow To President’s Trade Agenda — With White House Likely To Appeal To Supreme Court
A federal appeals court issued a major setback to President Trump’s trade policy on Friday, ruling that the bulk of his worldwide tariffs are unlawful.
The decision, however, is not yet final. The three-judge panel allowed the tariffs to remain active until Oct. 14, giving the administration time to bring the case before the Supreme Court.
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit determined that the statute Trump used as justification for his broad tariff program did not actually give him the power to impose them.
Both Trump and the White House confirmed Friday that the case will be appealed to the high court, setting up a new clash over the president’s authority to impose duties on imported goods.
Late Friday, Trump blasted the ruling on Truth Social, slamming the “Highly Partisan Appeals Court” and stressing that “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT!”
“If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country,” Trump wrote. “It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong.”
The ruling undermines the centerpiece of Trump’s trade strategy, which dramatically altered America’s economic relations with countries worldwide.
The case began when a coalition of small businesses and a dozen states filed suit against Trump’s 2025 tariff initiative, a package of executive orders enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The program included “trafficking tariffs” of up to 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10–20% on imports from China, which Trump said were necessary to combat fentanyl and drug trafficking. It also established “reciprocal tariffs” — a 10% duty on nearly all imports, with additional surcharges on certain countries.
Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border the day he took office on Jan. 20, later extending it to Canada and China by Feb. 1, before unveiling the global tariff regime in April.
In May, the Court of International Trade struck down those orders, ruling that IEEPA does not authorize blanket tariffs, and the Federal Circuit upheld that conclusion on Friday.
The appeals court stated explicitly that IEEPA does not empower presidents to impose duties.
“The power to ‘regulate’ has long been understood to be distinct from the power to ‘tax,’” the panel wrote, stressing that the statute’s language is insufficient to support Trump’s tariff program.
“IEEPA’s grant of presidential authority to ‘regulate’ imports does not authorize the tariffs imposed by the Executive Orders,” the judges said, echoing the lower court’s decision.
The court emphasized that IEEPA has historically been used for sanctions, embargoes, and asset freezes — not the kind of sweeping duties Trump imposed.
“Whatever the policy justifications may be, they cannot override Congress’s choice of statutory limits,” the opinion added.
Responding online, Trump said the US “will no longer tolerate enormous Trade Deficits and unfair Tariffs and Non Tariff Trade Barriers imposed by other Countries, friend or foe, that undermine our Manufacturers, Farmers, and everyone else.”
“Now, with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation, and Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again!” he declared.
In a separate statement, the White House maintained that Trump “lawfully exercised the tariff powers granted to him by Congress to defend our national and economic security from foreign threats.”
“The President’s tariffs remain in effect, and we look forward to ultimate victory on this matter,” the statement said.
Trump wasted little time restoring his aggressive tariff program after returning to office.
On April 2, he declared a national emergency and introduced broad “reciprocal tariffs,” imposing a 10% baseline duty on almost all imports.
Soon after, he levied a 25% tariff on foreign cars and doubled steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%.
The moves sent relations with top trading partners into turmoil, particularly China.
Tariffs on Chinese goods climbed as high as 145% before a July truce lowered them to 30%.
Trump has also targeted other nations, imposing tariffs of 50% on India, 35% on Canada, and 25% on Mexico.
He ended the longstanding “de minimis” exemption for low-value online imports, ensuring that even inexpensive foreign shipments are subject to tariffs or fees.
Additional sector-specific duties were also introduced, including a 100% tariff on foreign films and a 25% “fentanyl tariff” aimed at countries, primarily China, accused of enabling opioid smuggling into the US.
{Matzav.com}
Improvement in the Health of the Gerrer Rebbe
The Gerrer Rebbe, who suffered a fall several weeks ago and subsequently weakened, showed signs of improvement over Shabbos.
On Friday night, his grandchildren were able to pass before him for brachos. Throughout the Shabbos, special Mi Shebeirachs for the Rebbe’s recovery were recited in Gerrer shtieblach and batei medrash across Eretz Yisroel.
The Rebbe had been resting in the moshav of Ora, near Yerushalayim, since he fell on Shabbos Parshas Va’eschanan, sustaining a fracture. Since then, he has not appeared in public, apart from receiving chassidim for two days of kabbalas kahal a week and a half ago.
Toward the end of last week, the Rebbe felt unwell, prompting heightened tefillos among Gerrer chassidim on his behalf.
Sources tell Matzav.com that the Rebbe’s condition showed improvement over Shabbos.
Chassidim are hopeful that later this week, the Rebbe will once again hold kabbalas kahal, and that by the first night of Selichos he will be able to appear publicly.
All are asked to continue davening for a refuah sheleimah for Rav Yaakov Aryeh ben Yuta Hena.
{Matzav.com Israel}
SHOCK IN BRESLOV: Ukraine Bans Visits to Uman for Rosh Hashanah
In a dramatic move expected to affect tens of thousands, senior Ukrainian officials announced that this year, pilgrims will not be permitted to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. The decision, they said, stems from security concerns tied to the ongoing war with Russia.
Journalist Barak Ravid reported on Channel 12 that a senior Ukrainian source stated: “At this stage, because of security considerations, pilgrims will not be able to travel to Uman this year.” Similarly, i24 reported that officials in Kyiv are furious with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and are threatening to bar Israelis from entering Uman during the Tishrei Yomim Tovim.
According to the reports, the ruling is also linked to tensions between Ukraine and Israel. Kyiv expressed anger over Netanyahu’s failure to call and congratulate Ukraine on its Independence Day last week. Ukrainian officials have also demanded economic assistance from Israel, along with the deployment of Israeli police forces to help manage the influx of pilgrims.
For many in Israel, especially among the tens of thousands of Breslover chassidim, the decision represents a crushing blow. The annual pilgrimage to Uman on Rosh Hashanah, to daven at the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov, is a highlight of the year for them.
In response, Rabbi Natan Ben Nun, head of the Breslover Union in Uman, rejected the reports: “We sat this week with all the relevant government authorities in Kyiv, finalized every security arrangement with the emergency services, and received all the necessary approvals for the gathering. We are continuing to prepare as usual for the arrival of the multitudes on Rosh Hashanah.”
Rabbi Ben Nun added: “We call on the public not to panic and to continue making preparations for traveling to Uman without any changes.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
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