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Have Rep. Ilhan Omar in your thoughts as you follow the news tonight. She has lost – and is continuing to lose – many friends in Iran.

The IDF’s surprise launch of massive operations against the Iranian regime and its nuclear facilities has already resulted in the deaths of numerous top Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists.  The operation, codenamed “Am KeLavi” (Operation Rising Lion), targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and military infrastructure across multiple sites, including Tehran, Natanz, Khondab, and Khorramabad. The operation, supported by coordinated Mossad sabotage missions, aims to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program and eliminate key military and scientific figures, according to Israeli and Iranian sources. Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of several high-ranking officials and scientists in the strikes. Among those killed were General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Gholam Ali Rashid, head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Force. Two nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, a senior physicist and President of Azad University, were also reported killed. Iranian sources indicated that Abbasi-Davani and Tehranchi were targeted in their homes. The IDF stated that Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, was likely killed, though confirmation remains pending. The IDF operation has involved dozens of Israeli Air Force jets, including F-35 stealth fighters, striking nuclear enrichment facilities, ballistic missile production sites, and military bases. Explosions have been reported across Tehran, with eyewitnesses describing massive flames and repeated blasts in neighborhoods housing senior commanders. Iranian state television broadcast images of black smoke rising over the Natanz nuclear facility, a critical site for uranium enrichment, though the extent of the damage remains unclear. Iran’s air defenses were reportedly compromised by Mossad sabotage operations targeting radar and missile systems, enabling Israeli aircraft to operate with greater freedom. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced the strikes as a preemptive measure to counter an “imminent threat” from Iran’s nuclear program, citing intelligence that Iran had amassed enough enriched uranium to produce up to 15 nuclear weapons within days. “If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time,” Netanyahu said in a televised address, describing the operation as a defense of Israel’s survival and regional stability. He emphasized that the campaign would continue “for as many days as it takes.” Defense Minister Yisrael Katz declared a nationwide state of emergency in Israel, with warning sirens activated in anticipation of potential Iranian retaliation, though no ballistic missile launches from Iran were reported by 04:35 AM Israel time. The United States, Israel’s primary ally, was not directly involved in the operation, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. President Donald Trump, who had urged restraint in negotiations with Iran, called an emergency cabinet meeting for Friday morning following the strikes. U.S. officials emphasized protecting American forces in the region, with non-essential personnel evacuated from embassies within Iran’s striking range. China advised its citizens in Iran to stay alert, while Iraq closed its airspace as a precaution. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated it was in contact with Iranian authorities to monitor radiation levels and ensure the safety of its inspectors in the country. The IAEA had issued a strong condemnation of Iran earlier Thursday for enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels and failing to comply with nonproliferation obligations. As of early Friday morning in Israel, Iran had not launched a counterattack, and […]

HAPPENING NOW: Increased security, barriers going up near Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. due to Israel airstrikes on Iran.

Additional footage from Iran shows citizens fleeing in panic in the immediate aftermath of an IDF missile attack on an unknown Iranian military target.

Video from Tehran shows heavily damaged buildings and debris strewn across streets following an IDF strike

In a dramatic display, a group of bochurim from Yeshivas Zvhil in Yerushalayim staged a provocative mock funeral inside the yeshiva beis medrash, protesting the recent closure of the yeshiva and their expulsion.

Approximately 60 talmidim were dismissed from the yeshiva as part of a move by the hanhalah to close and reopen the yeshiva under new terms. The yeshiva’s management says it will soon relaunch in a revised format.

In response, the dismissed bochurim created a startling display: Benches were rearranged in the beis medrash to resemble a mitah, atop which lay a figure draped in a tallis, complete with ashes and a sack, as though mourning a deceased. A sign placed over the “body” read: “Yeshivas Zvhil, Hashem yikom damah.”

Photos from the scene show one talmid standing beside the makeshift mitah dressed in mourning garb, while a handwritten obituary notice about the yeshiva is visible in the background.

This type of restructuring—temporarily closing a yeshiva and reopening it under stricter rules—is not uncommon in the Chassidishe yeshiva world, particularly in response to discipline or policy concerns. New enrollment typically requires talmidim to sign a more stringent code of conduct.

{Matzav.com Israel}

As the coalition in Israel faced its most critical week—marked by a dramatic overnight vote and looming threats of government collapse and new elections—Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the chareidi parties are enjoying solid support, with the coalition bloc maintaining its strength, according to a new Channel 14 poll.

If elections were held today, Netanyahu’s Likud party would secure 33 Knesset seats, making it the largest party by far. Trailing behind is Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu with 17 seats, followed by Yair Golan’s Democrats with 15.

The poll shows Shas holding steady with 11 seats. United Torah Judaism, which has been at the center of media attention due to the ongoing draft law standoff, would receive 8 seats, matching the total for the National Unity party.

Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit would secure 6 seats, as would Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid, which continues to decline. Religious Zionism is projected to drop to 5 seats.

Among the Arab parties, Hadash-Ta’al would receive 6 seats, Ra’am would secure 5, while Balad once again fails to pass the electoral threshold, receiving only 2.2% of the vote.

In terms of coalition alignment, the current government’s five-party bloc would maintain a majority with 63 seats. Opposition parties would control 46 seats, while the Arab factions would hold the remaining 11.

In a hypothetical scenario where Naftali Bennett re-enters the political arena with a party called “Bennett 2026,” Likud would drop slightly to 32 seats. Bennett’s new party would earn 14, with Golan’s Democrats following at 13. Shas would retain its 11 seats, while Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu would fall to 9. UTJ remains at 8, Otzma Yehudit at 6, and National Unity at 6.

Near the bottom of the chart, Yesh Atid and Religious Zionism are each projected to receive just 5 seats. Among the Arab parties, Hadash-Ta’al would gain one seat to reach 6, Ra’am would stay at 5, and Balad would once again fail to clear the threshold.

Under this Bennett-included scenario, the coalition bloc would hold 62 seats, opposition parties would increase slightly to 47, and the Arab factions would remain at 11.

When asked who is best suited to serve as prime minister, 52% of respondents favored Netanyahu, compared to 21% who chose Yair Lapid, with 27% saying they support neither.

In a matchup with Benny Gantz, Netanyahu again leads with 52%, while Gantz garners only 16%, and 32% prefer neither. Against Lieberman, Netanyahu remains at 52%, Lieberman receives 30%, and 18% back neither. Facing Bennett, Netanyahu earns 52% support, while 36% choose Bennett, with 12% opting for neither.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Statement put out by the U.S. Embassy in Israel: As a result of the current security situation, the U.S. Embassy has directed all U.S. government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice.

Heavy strikes being reported now against and near the city of Tabriz in Northwestern Iran.

Can a child really grow up to be a gadol? That’s the powerful and inspiring question at the heart of When They Were Young, a new release from ArtScroll by renowned mechanech Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield, Head of School at the fast-growing Yeshiva Torat Emet in Houston, Texas. In this beautifully designed and engaging book, Rabbi Garfield invites young readers, their parents and teachers, into the formative years of Torah giants like Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Aryeh Levine, Rav Elyashiv, and many others. With captivating stories, rare childhood photographs, and interactive sidebars, When They Were Young brings our greatest Torah leaders to life in a way children can relate to and be inspired by. “Most kids don’t have the brilliance of Rav Chaim or the focus of Rav Elyashiv,” Rabbi Garfield writes, “but every child has their own unique gifts to serve Hashem. That’s the definition of gadlus and that’s the message this book delivers.” Whether it’s learning how the Netziv bounced back from a difficult test, how Rav Ovadia Yosef channeled his precocious mind, or how Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel handled a sibling’s tantrum, readers will discover that even the greatest leaders started with very human challenges…and rose above them in extraordinary ways. Already receiving wide acclaim in classrooms and homes, When They Were Young is more than a book. It’s a tool for chinuch, a spark for self-esteem, and a treasure trove of real-life role models. Rabbi Garfield, also host of the popular Chinuch Today podcast and a regular contributor to Mishpacha Magazine, continues to shape the conversation around Torah education. With this new release, he brings his passion for building the next generation of Bnei Torah into the hands of every child, parent, and mechanech. When They Were Young is now available at ArtScroll.com and Judaica stores worldwide. To request an interview with the author, please contact Rabbi Garfield at ygarfield@ytehouston.org.

BREAKING: Reports suggest that Israel has eliminated Iran’s top military leadership, including IRGC Chief Salami, General Gholamali Rashid, Dr. Tehraniji, and Fereydoun Abbasi.

Iranian state media reporting from the site of one of Israel’s bombing targets, as morning begins to show the scale of havoc wreaked by Israeli fighter jets thus far across Iran

Sen. John Fetterman releases a statement on X nodding in approval of the IDF’s widespread airstrikes in Iran tonight that have reportedly wiped out Iran’s top military leadership.

As Israel’s Knesset teetered on the brink of dissolution, senior members of the chareidi parties scrambled in a last-ditch effort to stop the process. Intense negotiations unfolded behind closed doors, involving Shas leader Aryeh Deri, Deputy Minister Uri Maklev of United Torah Judaism, MK Moshe Gafni of Degel HaTorah, and ultimately culminating in a decisive directive from across the Atlantic issued by Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who is currently in the U.S.

The central issue on the table was the ongoing impasse over the draft law, a matter that has become the primary stumbling block in coalition negotiations. Deri and Maklev convened an emergency meeting with party representatives, declaring, “No one leaves this room until we see white smoke,” signaling their determination to find a resolution that could stave off elections.

Former Minister Ariel Atias also played a pivotal role, acting as a mediator between Likud, United Torah Judaism, and Shas, attempting to bridge the gap in positions among the parties.

Meanwhile, a separate track of high-level dialogue was unfolding between MK Moshe Gafni and Rav Hirsch, who is currently in the U.S. fundraising for the Keren Olam HaTorah. Gafni updated Rav Hirsch on the emerging understandings reached with Likud and Knesset Member Yuli Edelstein.

As the key figure whose guidance was crucial on the yeshiva draft issue, Rav Hirsch received constant briefings from Deputy Minister Maklev and the chareidi negotiation teams. When a breakthrough was achieved and “white smoke” emerged, Rav Hirsch gave clear instructions: do not vote this week in favor of dissolving the Knesset.

That same day, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri held an extended meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in a final attempt to halt the dissolution. Their discussion centered on growing security concerns and the potential impact such developments could have on political stability.

Netanyahu, who has been ill in recent days, managed the unfolding crisis from his office and made only a brief appearance in the Knesset to deliver remarks during the visit of Argentine President Javier Milei.

Simultaneously, as consensus was solidifying and Rav Hirsch’s verdict became known, MK Yisrael Eichler of Agudas Yisrael sought direction from the Belzer Rebbe. He received a firm ruling: vote against dissolving the Knesset. Over the past week, Eichler reportedly visited the Rebbe four times, receiving consistent and unambiguous guidance on the matter.

{Matzav.com Israel}

BREAKING Israel launches second wave of airstrikes against Iran, explosions heard in multiple cities.

Secondary explosions seen at a ballistic missile factory in the city of Piranshahr in western Iran following Israeli airstrikes.

Some issues in life are binary. There’s no compromise available and you and your spouse are at a stand-off. You can either live in Monsey or Lakewood, (those are the only two options right?) but not both. You need to choose only one school to send your child to, and you can’t have both pizza and a BBQ for supper. So what do you do when you have discussed the issue with your spouse extensively and neither of your opinions have budged? Many couples make the mistake of thinking that they have been talking to each other when they have really been talking at each-other. Each one goes into the discussion with a mission- convince my husband/wife that my way is the best way. They respond to their spouse’s talking points like they’re on a debate team and even if they’re smart enough to pretend to validate the other’s points before launching into their counter arguments, the goal of the conversation is to reach a decision. Since it’s a zero sum victory, they have no doubt about what conclusion they are looking for. Rivky and her husband, Nachum, are arguing about whether he should go to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. She insists that she will have a miserable yomtov with him gone and he feels that he will have a miserable yomtov if he doesn’t go. Even if the fight doesn’t escalate, they stay calm and no one says anything harsh, they still end up frustrated at the dilemma- who should end up miserable for Rosh Hashanah? Rivky and Nachum have had several conversations about this- each one reaching a dead end. Because they each feel like something important is at stake, they pay lip service (or ear service?) to hearing out their spouse and then immediately try to explain why their spouse shouldn’t feel the way they do. This leads to pain, frustration and unresolved yomtov plans. Instead, Rivky and Nachum should decide that they are going to have a discussion about the issue, but no matter what, they are not going to come to a decision in this discussion. This frees them up to listen to their spouse with openness since the stakes are lower. The rules are simple. Each one listens to the other with genuine curiosity and openness. They ask clarifying questions and reflect their understanding back to their spouse. When that spouse feels that they have been understood then they switch roles. And that’s it. No one is allowed counter-arguments. No one is allowed to try to convince the other. This conversation is not about the resolution or the result, it’s about the process. Now when Nachum is explaining how important it is to him to go to Uman, Rivky can listen with interest and without feeling panicked that she needs to change his mind. No decision will be immediately made. When Rivky shares her fears about being alone for yomtov, he can validate those feelings without feeling like he needs to convince her that it is not a big deal and so many people do it. The obvious issue with all this is that the issue is still not resolved. The problem is still binary and everyone may still feel the same. And yet, nothing is the same. When people feel that they are […]

In a dramatic late-night address as explosions lit up the skies over Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of a sweeping military campaign aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities — a move he described as a defining moment in Israel’s history. “We are at a decisive point,” Netanyahu declared solemnly. “Our brave pilots are attacking a large number of targets across Iran.” The prime minister confirmed that the strikes — part of a long-anticipated operation — are focused on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile factories, and other key military assets. “This operation will continue until the mission is completed,” he said, vowing that Israel will not back down. The strikes, which have reportedly hit near Tehran, Natanz, and Fordow thus far, follow months of rising tensions and intelligence indicating that Iran has enriched enough uranium for nine nuclear bombs. Netanyahu said Iran had recently taken “unprecedented steps” toward weaponization, accelerating the need for immediate action. “Iran has significant capabilities to harm us,” Netanyahu warned, “but we have prepared for that as well.” He urged Israelis to fully adhere to Home Front Command directives, as the nation shifts into emergency footing. Netanyahu painted a grim picture of the threat Israel faces. “Iran has built a massive store of ballistic missiles,” he said. “Each one carries a ton of explosives and can reach Israel from Iran within minutes. They planned to produce 20,000 of them in the next six years. We are operating to remove them before it’s too late.” In his most forceful remarks, Netanyahu invoked the haunting memory of Jewish history to justify the offensive. “We cannot leave these threats for the next generation,” he said. “Because if we don’t act now, there will not be another generation. If we don’t act now, we simply won’t be here. ‘Never Again’ is now.” He added, “When an enemy says he intends to destroy you — believe him. When he develops the capabilities to do so — stop him.” Netanyahu also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his support. “Time and again, he made it clear: Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said. “I thank him for his consistent support of our country throughout the years of his presidency.” In a striking moment, Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people directly. “We do not hate you. You are not our enemies. We have a common enemy: a tyrannical regime that tramples you,” he said. “I have no doubt your day of liberation is closer than ever. When that day comes, Israelis and Iranians will once again be partners in building a future of peace and prosperity.” Netanyahu positioned Israel not only as defending itself, but as standing on the front lines of a global battle. “We are defending the free world from the terrorism and barbarism that Iran fosters and exports across the globe,” he said. “Many around the world — even if they won’t say so openly — know in their hearts: thanks to your determination and courage, citizens of Israel, and thanks to the bravery of Israel’s fighters, the world will be a safer place.” “Hard days lie ahead,” Netanyahu concluded, “but also great days. What we do today will be etched into the annals of Israel and of all nations as a […]