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Vice President JD Vance is brushing aside any suggestion of tension between himself and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling him “my best friend in the administration” and crediting their partnership for much of the Trump team’s success.

During an appearance on the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast, Vance spoke warmly about Rubio and their working relationship. “Marco is my best friend in the administration,” Vance said. “He and I work a lot together, and I think a lot of the good work we do comes from that cooperation.”

The vice president emphasized that he’s not distracted by 2028 speculation or thoughts of political maneuvering. “Worrying too much about the politics makes you worse at the job you have,” he said. “I never wake up thinking, ‘How do I make myself president of the United States?’” Instead, he said, his focus each day is simple: “How do I do a good job as vice president?” He added that he believes Rubio takes the same approach.

Talk of a potential Vance-Rubio ticket, he said, is “premature.” The two men share a history in the Senate — Rubio joined in 2010, while Vance was elected in 2022 — before both entered the Trump administration, where they’ve often appeared as a united front.

Their alliance came under renewed attention after President Donald Trump recently spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One, suggesting that both Vance and Rubio could lead the Republican Party when his second term concludes. “We have JD, the vice president, who’s great. Marco’s great,” Trump said. “If they ever formed a group, it would be unstoppable.”

Trump’s remarks once again sparked conversations about 2028 — and questions about whether he intended to rule out a third term. When asked directly, he replied, “Am I not ruling it out? You’ll have to tell me.”

The chatter intensified after Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House adviser, told The Economist there was a “plan” to secure a third term, though he offered no details. Both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson later stressed that such a move would be unconstitutional.

Johnson said the two had discussed the issue and made clear where Trump stands. “The president knows the constrictions of the Constitution,” he said. “As much as people lament that, those limits are clear.” The 22nd Amendment, adopted in 1951, bars any president from serving more than two elected terms.

Rubio has also praised Vance publicly. In a Fox interview earlier this year, he called the vice president a “great nominee” for 2028 and “a close friend,” noting that Vance has been doing “a great job” in his current role — comments that mirror the camaraderie Vance expressed this week.

{Matzav.com}

The National Transportation Safety Board wants the owners of nearly 2,000 Learjets — which have long been associated with the rich and famous — to urgently inspect their landing gear to make sure they won’t collapse as happened in a fatal crash in February involving a private jet owned by Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil. […]

About 10 talmidim of Israeli Chabad yeshivos who returned on Friday afternoon from their year of study in Crown Heights as part of the “kevutza” program were arrested by the Military Police immediately after landing at Ben Gurion Airport on a flight from New York. Every year, talmidim of Chabad yeshivos spend a year studying […]

Operations at Newark Liberty International Airport came to a sudden halt Wednesday afternoon as the Federal Aviation Administration paused all incoming and outgoing flights, citing “staffing issues” tied to the ongoing government shutdown.

According to NBC4, the FAA implemented the ground stop at 3 p.m. local time, announcing that it would remain in place until 4:15 p.m. The move temporarily froze air traffic at one of the busiest airports on the East Coast, causing ripple effects across multiple flight schedules.

Shortly after, the FAA cleared the stoppage but replaced it with a ground delay that will stretch through 11 p.m., the agency confirmed in an advisory. The delay means airlines will have to pace departures and arrivals to manage limited staffing capacity throughout the evening.

Passengers were warned to brace for significant disruptions, with the FAA noting that “flights can expect an average delay of about 40 minutes.” The announcement comes as air travel nationwide continues to face turbulence from the ongoing political gridlock in Washington.

{Matzav.com}

BREAKING IN BORO PARK: A pedestrian is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle at 18th Avenue and 49th Street. Boro Park Hatzolah transported the victim to Maimonides Hospital. Boro Park Scoop will publish a name for Tehillim as soon as it becomes availabl

A Sefer Torah was dedicated in honor of Breslov Mashpia, HaRav Yaakov Meir Schechter, for his home in Yerushalayim. The event took place Tuesday night, with the participation of family members, close supporters, and talmidim. The Sefer Torah was donated by his devoted Talmidim and supporters from Eretz Yisroel and abroad. PHOTOS FOR YWN BY […]

An anti-Israel agitator who repeatedly assaulted Jewish counterprotesters at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in New York City was sentenced Tuesday to 17 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release, marking one of the first high-profile antisemitic prosecutions under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Justice Department. Tarek Bazrouk, 20, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a […]

HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch conveyed a special message on Wednesday evening, hours before the mass tefillah rally in Jerusalem on Thursday afternoon against the arrests and imprisonment of bnei yeshivos. In a video published on Chareidi media outlets, the Rosh Yeshivah is seen answering questions regarding the atzeres. Interviewer: People want to understand—what is […]

A dramatic development within the Religious Zionist movement unfolded on Wednesday evening as Rav Tzvi Tau, president of Yeshivas Har Hamor and leader of the chardal (chareidi-nationalist) stream, issued a rare and powerful letter urging participation in Thursday’s mass atzeres tefillah in Yerushalayim.

“In these days, when young men devoted to their limud haTorah are being held behind bars as though their dedication to Torah study were a crime, our hearts cry out,” Rav Tau wrote. “I call upon all to take part in tomorrow’s public tefillah on behalf of those who learn Torah.”

The letter, titled “Es Achai Anochi Mevakeish,” calls for unity across all segments of Klal Yisroel. Rav Tau wrote that the pursuit of peace within the nation is a constant and lofty task: “The spirit of Hashem that rested upon Eliyahu—to turn the hearts of fathers to sons and sons to fathers—must reveal itself within us as well. The foundation of peace is the Name of Hashem Himself, through which Israel will be saved forever.”

He warned against divisive foreign influences: “At this sacred and awesome moment, little foxes from Europe and America come to damage the vineyard, to divide Klal Yisroel and separate the nation. We must consider what will become of such division if, Heaven forbid, the flag of unity and shared purpose is not raised high.”

Quoting his rebbi, Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook zt”l, Rav Tau stressed that the state and the army belong equally to all Jews, and harmony between yeshiva students and soldiers is essential. “Our master Rav Tzvi Yehuda said repeatedly: ‘The state and the army belong to all of us. We are all avdei Hashem and members of His people. We are not two opposing sides, and coercion has no place here. Army officials cannot meddle in the inner workings of yeshivos, just as roshei yeshiva cannot dictate specific matters pertaining to the army.’”

Rav Tau continued, “Any attempt at coercion would be a disaster for the state. The young men immersed in Torah are not a burden—they are a national cultural treasure of the highest order. Their learning elevates the nation’s spirit and strengthens morale throughout our land and our army.”

He added that the army, too, must preserve its holiness and moral clarity: “We must correct and uproot the severe moral weaknesses that have crept into our camp, whether through mixed service contrary to holiness or through the infiltration of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel progressive ideas among the upper ranks of our military.”

According to Rav Tau, the mutual vitality of the army and the yeshivos is essential: “The revival of the army and the revival of Torah are both vital to the nation. The existence of yeshivos concerns us all—they safeguard the spiritual renaissance of Israel, the growth of great Torah scholars, righteous men, and visionaries. This is not a luxury—it is a necessity for our national life.”

He concluded with a heartfelt call to action: “The organizers should be blessed, and their hands strengthened. I call upon everyone to come and take part in tomorrow’s tefillah b’rabbim for the sake of Torah learners, for our nation, and for our holy cities. Even if anyone dares to speak against the sanctity of our state or our army—his words are null and void. We will stand proudly under the banner of Hashem.”

“Oseh shalom bimromav—may He bring peace upon us and upon all of Israel,” Rav Tau ended. “No weapon formed against you shall prosper… this is the heritage of the servants of Hashem,” he wrote.

Following the letter’s release, MK Avi Maoz, head of the Noam Party, announced that “in light of the words of my teacher and master, Rav Tau shlit”a, I will, with Hashem’s help, attend tomorrow’s atzeres tefillah in solidarity with those who learn Torah.”

{Matzav.com}

YWN regrets to inform you of the petira of Harav Ezra Dovid Halevi Neuberger zt”l, Rosh Kollel and Maggid Shiur at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore. Rav Ezra Dovid zt”l was the husband of Rebbetzin Miriam Neuberger and a beloved rebbi and marbitz Torah whose decades of teaching influenced generations of talmidim. He was the […]

The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to condemn the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba for a 33rd year. Yet the vote — as Hurricane Melissa tore through the island nation — softened Washington’s isolation on a longstanding issue in the Caribbean while new friction grows around its military buildup there. The vote in the […]

BREAKING: President Trump says he’s reached a trade deal with South Korea “South Korea has agreed to pay the USA 350 Billion Dollars for a lowering of the Tariff’s charged against them by the United States. Additionally, they have agreed to buy our Oil and Gas in vast quantities, and investments into our Country…”

PHOTOS: Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo met today with HaRav Zvi Pollack of Congregation Agudas Shomrei Hadas where he received his endorsement. Rav Pollack is a true Staten Island icon and the borough’s longest-serving active Rov For nearly 50 years.

President Vladimir Putin says Russia has successfully tested a Poseidon nuclear-powered super torpedo

Avigdor Liberman mocks Ben & Jerry’s after co-founder Ben Cohen announced that he’s making a sorbet flavor called “Palestine”

CNN anchor Jake Tapper confronted Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) Tuesday over her party’s refusal to vote to reopen the government as the shutdown entered its 28th day — sparking a fiery on-air exchange that underscored the growing political stalemate in Washington. Appearing on The Lead, Stansbury defended Democrats’ strategy as states move to sue the […]

At Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim, the rosh yeshiva, Rav Tzvi Mazuz, delivered a powerful address marking the start of the winter zeman, urging bnei Torah to remain detached from the distractions of the media and to find refuge within the batei midrash.

As is the yeshiva’s long-standing custom, established by the late rosh yeshiva, Rav Meir Mazuz zt”l, talmidim returned from bein hazemanim Sunday to begin the new zeman. Rav Tzvi Mazuz, who continues his father’s legacy, opened the zeman with words of chizuk and reflection, touching on current challenges facing the Torah world, including the draft decree, the hostages’ release, and recent political developments.

“The Yeshiva Is the Teivas Noach”

Drawing on Parshas Noach, Rav Mazuz likened the yeshiva to Noach’s teivah, a haven from the floodwaters of the outside world. “The yeshiva is the Teivas Noach,” he said. “If not for my father’s firm protection, I don’t know what would have become of us. Whoever wants to remain a diamond must stay inside the teivah. Noach didn’t step out for fresh air—he knew that to survive, he needed to remain inside. Today, the batei midrash are our teivos Noach. The more one stays inside, the more protected he is.”

He cited the tefillah of Rabbi Nechunya ben HaKanah: “She’samta chelkeinu miyoshvei beis hamidrash velo samta chelkeinu miyoshvei keranos”—explaining that even being in the yeshiva provides spiritual protection. “Just sitting in the beis midrash shields a person from the harmful winds outside,” he said. “And if he also learns Torah—how much greater his merit!”

On “News Lines” and Constant Information

The rosh yeshiva voiced strong criticism of the growing trend among bochurim of following news lines and phone updates. “I heard that today you can call a number and every minute hear what’s happening in the world. Dvarim beteilim! I look at a newspaper briefly after Shacharis—just the headlines—and baruch Hashem, I’m alive. I don’t turn on the radio, maybe I hear something by chance in the car, but I don’t devote time to it—and baruch Hashem, I’m alive. A person must train himself not to be tied down thinking, ‘I have to know the news.’ That’s not the way!”

He contrasted this with bochurim who spend their breaks immersed in learning even during bein hazemanim: “I saw bochurim sitting alone here learning quietly. About them it says, ‘Yeishev badad veyidom ki natal alav’. One who learns in solitude—Hashem Himself determines his reward.”

“The Miracles We See Are in the Merit of the Lomdei Torah”

Rav Mazuz turned to recent world events, expressing gratitude for the open miracles seen in the return of hostages after two years in captivity. “Who imagined that they would be released exactly two years to the day? We’ve seen great miracles. Kimei tzeischa me’eretz Mitzrayim ar’enu niflaos—Hashem is showing us wonders before the redemption.”

He referenced the Trump peace plan, which proposed removing Hamas leaders and disarming the group. “I saw the twenty clauses Trump wrote—though my heart tells me Netanyahu wrote them and Trump copied,” he quipped. “But yehi ratzon, let good come from anywhere. I believe with complete faith that all of this is in the merit of the bochurim who sit and learn. We don’t see it now, but after 120 years, it will be clear which miracles happened because of which Torah.”

“Moshiach Is Near”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Mazuz spoke with emotion about the draft crisis threatening bnei Torah. “We all feel that Moshiach is close. Never before have bnei Torah been persecuted like this past year. A bochur who was sitting shivah—they came in the middle of the week and took him away because he hadn’t reported to the draft office. These are the signs the Gemara in Sotah described 1,800 years ago. It’s like a woman in the final stages of labor—the pain is great, but it’s a sign of imminent birth. So too, we are close to the geulah, and ashrei is the one who uses this time to strengthen himself.”

{Matzav.com}

New York’s Democratic stronghold may be on the verge of a political earthquake. A new poll from the Manhattan Institute released Tuesday shows Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik narrowly edging out Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in a hypothetical 2026 gubernatorial race — a stunning result that, if borne out, would mark the first GOP lead in […]

As hundreds of thousands prepare to gather in Yerushalayim tomorrow for the historic Atzeres Tefillah uniting Klal Yisroel in heartfelt tefillahand supplication, the list of kappitlach Tehillim and tefillos to be recited at the event has been obtained by Matzav.com.

Matzav.com is pleased to provide the full list below for those who wish to join in tefillah from wherever they are — whether at home, in shul, in the office, or on the road — and to unite their voices with the multitudes of Yidden who will be davening in Yerushalayim.

Below are the kappitlach Tehillim and tefillos that will be recited at the Atzeres Tefillah.

Matzav.com will continue to provide full coverage and updates about the Atzeres Tefillah in Yerushalayim.

{Matzav.com}