Matzav

President Trump revealed on Friday morning that the man suspected of killing Charlie Kirk was identified after his own father alerted authorities. Law enforcement sources told The Post that the suspect is 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a resident of Utah.

“I think, with a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump said during a live appearance on “Fox & Friends” from the network’s Manhattan studio. He noted that he was informed of the news just minutes before his 8 a.m. interview.

“Somebody who was very close to him turned him in,” Trump explained, adding that it was the suspect’s father who came forward through “a minister who was involved with law enforcement.”

“I hope he’s going to be found guilty, and I hope he gets the death penalty. What he did — Charlie Kirk was the finest person and he didn’t deserve this.”

While Trump did not name the alleged shooter, sources confirmed to The Post that Robinson, from Utah, is the individual in question.

Authorities announced they would provide the public with an official briefing later in the day.

Investigators believe the attacker fired a single round from a raised position about 200 yards from where Kirk, 31, was seated in a tent at the Losee Center on Utah Valley University’s campus, officials previously told The Post.

Witnesses first described the gunman as dressed in jeans, a black shirt, and a black vest, carrying a long rifle while positioned atop a building to the east of the school library.

Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA and a father of two, had just finished responding to an audience member’s question about mass shootings linked to transgender perpetrators when he was struck by the bullet at the outdoor gathering in Orem.

Video from the event captured the conservative speaker suddenly jolting backward, clutching at his neck in pain, as the sound of the lone gunshot echoed, triggering panic among the thousands in attendance.

“I didn’t watch,” Trump admitted to Fox News on Friday regarding the disturbing clips circulating online. “I heard about it… I would have never made a good doctor, let me put it that way,” he said.

“I mean, I heard enough. I didn’t want to watch it… I didn’t want to remember Charlie that way.”

Multiple agencies took part in the manhunt for the shooter, including the FBI, Orem Police, the Utah Department of Public Safety, and campus police from Utah Valley University.

FBI Director Kash Patel initially reported that a person of interest was in custody hours after the murder, but clarified later that the individual had been released following questioning. That person was not the suspect currently under investigation.

The bureau also appealed for tips, creating a hotline on Wednesday night and encouraging witnesses to submit photos or videos. By Thursday, the FBI had offered up to $100,000 for information that could help locate the suspect.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” Trump wrote in a sorrowful Truth Social post after Kirk’s death was confirmed.

He later expressed being “filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk” in a video message.

“Charlie inspired millions. And tonight, all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror,” Trump said, declaring Kirk a “martyr for truth and freedom.”

“This is a dark moment for America,” Trump concluded.

Kirk was rushed to a hospital immediately after the shooting and taken into surgery, a nurse told Laci Williams, a former staff member and close friend, who relayed the details to The Post. His death was later confirmed.

The activist gained widespread recognition for his “Prove Me Wrong” campus debates, where students and community members could openly challenge his views.

He was in the middle of one such debate, part of his “American Comeback Tour,” when he was fatally shot.

Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika Frantzve, a former Miss Arizona, and their two small children.

“This is a dark day for our state, it’s a tragic day for our nation,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox said. “I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination.

“I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty in the state of Utah.”

{Matzav.com}

Two people were stabbed in the dining hall of a hotel at Kibbutz Tzuba in the Yerushalayim Hills on Friday. A 50-year-old man sustained life-threatening injuries, while a 23-year-old man was moderately hurt.

Emergency teams rushed both victims to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital for treatment.

Authorities said the attacker was a 42-year-old man from Shuafat who already had a record of both criminal and security-related offenses, including previous convictions for stone-throwing.

Reports also indicated that the assailant had been working at the hotel in Tzuba for the past four months.

Police explained that an off-duty officer from the Southern District, who happened to be vacationing at the hotel, confronted the attacker and subdued him. One of the injured men is related to this officer, who later recounted that he had no chance to reach for his firearm and instead physically tackled the assailant to bring him down.

Witnesses recalled that the terrorist shouted “Allahu akbar” before launching his attack on the two men inside the hotel’s dining area.

One guest staying at the hotel told Arutz Sheva: “We were sitting to eat, there was suddenly a commotion, we didn’t understand what was happening. We saw someone holding a knife about to enter the balcony where we were, and an Arab employee, the dining room manager, caught him and saved us.”

MDA paramedic Noa Sade, who treated the gravely injured victim, described the scene: “When I arrived at the scene, I joined the MDA scene commander. The casualty, who was suffering from a stab wound to the chest, was fully conscious and lying on an MDA ambulance stretcher. We provided him with medical treatment, including fluids and medication, while evacuating him to the hospital, as his condition was serious and unstable.”

MDA Senior EMT Ro’i Ben Shoham also detailed his response: “When I arrived at the entrance plaza, I saw an injured man sitting in the parking lot, conscious and suffering from a stab wound to the chest. The team that was with me in the ambulance provided initial medical treatment, including bandaging, bleeding control, and administering oxygen, and he was evacuated to the hospital by an MDA Mobile Intensive Care Unit in moderate condition. With the assistance of the security guards on site, who neutralized the attacker and handed him over to the security forces, we carried out a search during which we located a man about 50 years old in the dining hall, also suffering from a stab wound to the chest. We provided medical treatment that included bleeding control and administering medications, and he was evacuated to the hospital by a Mobile Intensive Care Unit in serious condition, under the care of an MDA paramedic.”

{Matzav.com}

Hundreds of demonstrators from the Peleg Yerushalmi Faction blocked Route 4 on Thursday near Bnei Brak, protesting the arrest of yeshiva students and amid growing tensions surrounding Israel’s draft law.

Police declared the gathering illegal and issued warnings that officers would resort to force if necessary to disperse the protesters.

According to witnesses, a senior police officer approached the demonstrators, who had brought traffic to a standstill on the major thoroughfare, and formally announced that the protest was unlawful. He informed participants that they had five minutes to leave before police would intervene to clear the road.

A police spokesperson said, “Israel Police officers are on site directing traffic to alternate routes while extricating vehicles caught in the blockade. National traffic police are also present, guiding drivers. We advise the public to travel on alternative roads and follow real-time updates.”

The demonstration caused significant traffic disruptions. Northbound traffic on Route 4 was shut down from the Aluf Sadeh Interchange, with vehicles diverted onto Route 471. In the southbound direction, traffic from Em HaMoshavot was rerouted through Petach Tikva.

In an official statement, police emphasized: “The Israel Police views the right to protest as a cornerstone of democracy and permits demonstrations as long as they take place within the framework of the law. At the same time, the police will not allow public disorder of any kind, infringement on freedom of movement, or behavior that endangers public safety.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

FBI Director Kash Patel is facing intense criticism over his handling of the investigation into the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, Reuters reports. Both current and former officials faulted him for wrongly declaring that a suspect had been taken into custody, a claim that quickly unraveled.

Just before police in Orem, Utah, provided their first official briefing about the shooting, Patel posted on social media that the alleged gunman had been arrested. That statement was swiftly contradicted by authorities on the ground, who clarified that two individuals had been interviewed and later released. The discrepancy fueled confusion for hours until the FBI issued its own correction.

The backlash was immediate, with law enforcement veterans calling Patel’s move damaging to the case. “At the outset of an investigation, much of the initial intelligence is typically wrong or slightly off. That’s why what he did yesterday has never been done by any FBI director before him, or any division leadership before,” said retired FBI agent Dan Brunner. “The investigators need to sort through all the initial intelligence before putting out factual evidence … FBI does not run investigations on social media.”

Inside the White House, Patel’s conduct was also criticized. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said his behavior was not up to standard. According to the source, “his performance is really not acceptable to the White House or the American public” and will be addressed.

Others voiced similar concerns. John Cohen, a former senior Homeland Security official, commented that Patel’s decision “is unorthodox and could be confusing in that details change quickly.”

Despite the uproar, the White House publicly rallied behind Patel, dismissing reports of internal discontent. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt accused Reuters of publishing a damaging piece at a delicate moment, saying, “This is a despicable story from anonymous sources clearly trying to sow distrust amongst the President’s team during a time of utmost unity. Kash Patel is leading the manhunt to catch the killer of our friend, and everyone is supporting him and trying to be as helpful as possible during this effort, including the President of the United States.”

The murder of Kirk, who was gunned down in front of an audience of 3,000 at a Utah college, marks one of the most shocking episodes of political violence in the U.S. this year. It also presents the first major trial of Patel’s leadership since he assumed command of the FBI.

Critics say Patel’s inexperience in law enforcement is evident, with multiple agents privately expressing doubts about his ability to guide such a sensitive investigation.

Since taking over, Patel has steered the bureau in new directions. Agents who normally handle corruption probes or counterterrorism cases have been reassigned to politically charged investigations, including inquiries targeting opponents of the president. He has also shifted personnel within Washington to focus on street-level crime.

In the process, Patel forced out dozens of employees viewed as disloyal to Trump. Three dismissed officials filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, hours before the shooting, claiming Patel admitted he was instructed to purge anyone involved in criminal cases tied to Trump’s first presidency.

Among those removed was the previous leader of the Salt Lake City FBI office, which now heads the Kirk investigation. His successor, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls, updated the public Thursday morning, saying the firearm used had been recovered, though the gunman remained at large.

Later that day, investigators released two images of an individual they are seeking to identify. The bureau also offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The announcement drew criticism from conservative activist Laura Loomer, who said, “This is honestly embarrassing for the FBI and our country. What a slap in the face to Charlie Kirk.”

Patel’s own history with the bureau has been controversial. Before he became its director, he accused the FBI of harboring a “deep state” intent on undermining Trump. As a congressional aide, he played a central role in reviewing the bureau’s 2016 Russia investigation into Trump’s campaign.

Since assuming the directorship, Patel has embraced Trump’s agenda publicly, even appearing at social events with him—breaking from the tradition of past FBI chiefs who typically kept their distance from partisan politics.

There have also been moments of friction. In May, Patel told Congress that Trump’s proposed budget shortchanged the bureau, only to reverse himself the following day and endorse the cuts.

Earlier this year, Patel was also removed from his temporary role as acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. No explanation was provided at the time, and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll was appointed as his replacement.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Thursday downplayed concerns that Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Doha would undermine efforts to reach a hostage release deal.

Asked by a reporter how the attack might impact negotiations, Trump responded, “Hopefully it won’t affect it at all. We want the hostages out and we want them out soon.”

Qatar has served as a central mediator between Israel and Hamas in the talks over both a ceasefire and the release of hostages. But on Tuesday, the Qatari government announced it was suspending its mediation role immediately after Israeli forces carried out an airstrike in Doha.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani issued a fierce condemnation of what he called the “treacherous Israeli attack” on the capital. He insisted that Qatar “reserves the right” to retaliate and warned, “We will not be lenient on our sovereignty and will deal firmly with any security breach.”

At the same time, Al Thani suggested that Qatar’s position as mediator had not been completely abandoned. While castigating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the strike and declaring that Qatar was “reassessing everything” about its role in the process, he emphasized that Doha would not withdraw from its broader diplomatic efforts, saying Qatar would not be deterred from its mediation responsibilities.

The conflicting signals highlight the uncertainty now surrounding negotiations that had already been moving slowly. Israel insists that the offensive in Doha was aimed at Hamas’s senior leadership, while critics fear it has jeopardized fragile progress toward securing the release of the hostages still held in Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump arrived in New York on Thursday, making his way to Yankee Stadium where fans greeted him enthusiastically, chanting “USA! USA!” as he appeared ahead of the team’s 9/11 anniversary matchup.

Before walking onto the field to meet the crowd, Trump stopped in the Yankees’ clubhouse. There he praised the Steinbrenner family, calling them “a great family,” and spent time with players and staff.

“It’s a great family. [Team president] Randy [Levine] is wonderful, and I will say, you’re gonna win. George used to for some reason, I don’t know what it was, we won every time I came. Every time I came, we’d win a game. If you think that was easy, sitting with him for a game, it wasn’t. It was brutal. We were exhausted at the end. But we won, and you’re going to win. You’re gonna go all the way. Can you get in the playoff? I think. How about tonight, we start tonight, and you’re gonna do well.

“Randy was telling me the Boston Red Sox came to the Oval Office. They wanted to come. What am I gonna do? Say no? And they won 15 games in a row. I just want to wish you guys a lot of luck. You’re great players. I know every one of you.”

The reception in the stadium was warm, with fans erupting into chants of “USA!” soon after his arrival.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed his own anticipation about the visit. He described the moment as meaningful and said he was glad to take part. “Had the honor and fortune of some presidents over the years, first pitches or whatever it may be,” Boone said. “So the fact that he’s gonna be here, I’m excited to be a part of. I don’t know what it’ll be like, but to interact with him for a few minutes, something I’m looking forward to.”

Fox News reported that before Trump entered the stadium, the scoreboard replayed highlights from the 2001 World Series, which saw the Yankees face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Although the Diamondbacks ultimately clinched the championship in Game 7, the Yankees’ victories in Games 4 and 5 became iconic, both ending in walk-off wins less than two months after the September 11th attacks.

Earlier in the day, the Yankees hosted a memorial ceremony marking 9/11. Manager Aaron Boone, alongside pitchers Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon, placed a wreath at the 9/11 monument located in Monument Park, a historic part of Yankee Stadium.

{Matzav.com}

A fresh Quinnipiac University survey shows Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani opening up a decisive advantage in the four-way contest for New York City mayor. He is now ahead by 22 points, despite widespread opposition from Jewish voters, three-quarters of whom disapprove of him because of his outspoken anti-Israel record.

According to the poll, which questioned likely voters across the city, Mamdani currently secures 45% support. Trailing him is Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York running as an independent, who stands at 23%. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa receives 15%, while incumbent mayor Eric Adams, also on the ballot as an independent, posts 12%.

Although Mamdani has built a large coalition of backers, the Jewish community is not among them. Among Jewish voters, Adams comes out on top with 42%, more than double Mamdani’s 21%. Cuomo captures 20% in this demographic. Jewish voters also give Adams a favorable rating for his work in office, with 58% approving compared to 40% disapproving—an assessment that contrasts sharply with his overall numbers citywide, where 66% of voters view him negatively against just 28% who approve.

Mamdani’s controversial stance on Israel has been at the center of criticism. He has refused to denounce the slogan “globalize the intifada” and issued condemnations of Israel on October 8, 2023, the day after the Hamas attacks in southern Israel, fueling anger among Jewish voters and others.

Recent reports have indicated that President Donald Trump, in an attempt to strengthen Cuomo’s candidacy, offered Adams a role in the administration.

Just last week, Adams rejected rumors that he might drop out of the race, affirming instead that he intends to seek re-election.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, is scheduled to arrive in New York and Washington on Friday, where he will meet with American officials, Politico reported Thursday, citing an individual briefed on his travel plans.

The discussions are expected to center on the recent Israeli strike in Doha that targeted senior Hamas figures, as well as the current state of negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, according to the report.

Politico noted that Al Thani is slated to meet with President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff during his visit.

A person with knowledge of the administration’s national security strategy said Rubio has also spoken directly with Al Thani in recent days about advancing an expanded defense cooperation framework between the United States and Qatar.

On Tuesday, Trump addressed reporters about the Israeli operation in Doha that targeted Hamas leaders. “I’m not thrilled about it. I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not… not a good situation,” he said.

He continued, “But I will say this: We want the hostages back. But we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.”

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Trump had criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s choice to authorize the strike on Hamas leaders inside Qatar, referring to the action as “not wise.”

According to the paper, Trump’s remarks came during a tense phone call between the two leaders on Tuesday, shortly after the attack took place.

Senior administration sources told the Journal that Netanyahu defended the decision, explaining that he had a very limited window of opportunity and had to move quickly. The prime minister reportedly highlighted the necessity of acting at that precise moment.

Later that day, the Journal added, a second conversation between Trump and Netanyahu struck a friendlier tone. During that call, Trump inquired whether the strike had achieved the intended results.

{Matzav.com}

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Rav Dovid Leibel has issued a sharply worded letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, urging her to halt the arrests of yeshiva students classified as army deserters. In his letter, he argued that such detentions only deepen mistrust and radicalization within the chareidi community, rather than contributing to a viable solution.

“The arrest of yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession not only fails to advance the necessary resolution but actually leads to further extremism and magnifies the existing suspicion,” Rav Leibel wrote. He demanded that the attorney general immediately put an end to the practice of arresting yeshiva students — including those not fully engaged in learning — emphasizing that this approach exacerbates tensions between the Torah world and state institutions.

Rav Leibel, who was instrumental in founding the new chareidi division known as HaChashmonaim, has been deeply involved in discussions over the draft since the outbreak of the war. While he has consistently rejected IDF enlistment for chareidim unless their lifestyle is fully protected by army regulations, he has also stressed the need for practical frameworks that balance Torah study with national responsibility.

In his letter, he called the arrests “damaging and harmful,” and instead pressed for measures that would build confidence between the chareidi community and the army. Among the steps he proposed were enshrining guarantees for preserving a strictly chareidi way of life in IDF orders and establishing a rabbinic oversight committee under the Ministry of Defense to ensure compliance.

“The time has come to restore trust,” he wrote. “Promises in the past were not kept, and this led to disappointment and mistrust. Arresting yeshiva students only worsens the crisis. With goodwill, solutions can be found that will meet legal requirements while preventing unnecessary damage.”

Copies of the letter were also sent to the Defense Minister, the IDF Chief of Staff, the head of the Manpower Directorate, and Brig. Gen. Shay Taib, head of the IDF’s Technological and Logistics Directorate.

So far, the Attorney General has not responded to Rav Leibel’s letter.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota lashed out in an interview about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, mocking the idea that he was simply seeking polite political dialogue.
“There are a lot of people who are talking about him [Kirk] just wanting to have a civil debate,” Omar sneered to progressive outlet Zeteo. “These people are full of [garbage] and it’s important for us to call them out while we feel anger and sadness.”

She accused the Turning Point USA leader of minimizing George Floyd’s death and opposing Juneteenth, further dismissing any notion that his record had been misrepresented.
“There is nothing more [messed] up than to pretend that his words and actions haven’t been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so,” she said, alleging that Kirk’s social media presence was filled with “hateful rhetoric.”

Omar was not alone among Democrats in showing little sympathy for Kirk’s murder. Just hours after he was gunned down at Utah Valley University, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker turned his ire on President Trump.

“Political violence unfortunately has been ratcheting up in this country,” Pritzker told reporters, pointing to the recent killing of Minnesota’s Democratic House speaker.

“I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country — I think the president’s rhetoric often foments it,” Pritzker went on.

“We’ve seen the January 6th rioters who clearly have tripped a new era of political violence,” he added, ignoring the two failed assassination attempts against Trump himself.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly also weighed in, faulting extreme speech from all political corners.

“Political violence is never the answer. It divides us. But also, I’ve got to say, political rhetoric, too, from both sides, often gets out of hand and it incites people to do things like this,” Kelly said during a CNN appearance.

He appealed to Americans to “think about … our words and the consequences of them, you know, from both sides of the political spectrum.”

Others took the opportunity to openly revel in Kirk’s death. Michael Kilbane, president of the Fairview Park, Ohio City Council, wrote a cruel Facebook post: “A lot of good people died today. Charlie Kirk wasn’t one of them.”

Even members of law enforcement joined in. Secret Service agent Anthony Pough used Facebook to mock those grieving.

“If you are Mourning this guy .. delete me. He spewed hate and racism on his show,” Pough wrote, as reported by RealClearPolitics.

“At the end of the day, you answer to GOD and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt [sic] leave,” he added.

The Secret Service issued a response to The NY Post, stressing that the agency “will not tolerate any behavior which violates our code of conduct.”

“We are aware of the employee’s social media post from today and the individual has been placed on administrative leave as we investigate the matter,” a spokesperson confirmed.

The fallout extended beyond the agency. A Marine recruiter lost his position after uploading an Instagram image of Kirk with the caption: “Another racist man popped.”

“The Marine in question has been relieved of his recruiting duties, and the matter is currently under investigation,” Capt. Austin Gallegos told Task & Purpose.

Meanwhile, a Toledo Fire Department battalion chief used Facebook to celebrate the killing, writing that the shooting was “totally preventable and avoidable if not for the policies and beliefs of people like” Kirk and “his uneducated hateful ilk.”

“Wish the guy was a better shot,” the post continued. “Charlie Kirk offers nothing but hate and division to society.”

“No one would miss him and discourse would be better without him.” The fire department is said to be reviewing the disturbing message.

The backlash even reached the classroom. AnneMarie Donahue, a teacher at Wachusett Regional High School in Massachusetts, was placed on leave after Libs of TikTok highlighted an Instagram post where she wrote: “We’re NOT offering sympathy.”

Her post came just minutes after Kirk was struck by the sniper’s bullet.

In Florida, Lee County School District Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas vowed accountability.

He announced plans to investigate “every educator who engages in this vile, sanctionable behavior” after FOX 4 reported on a district employee who wrote: “What’s that about the cost of the second amendment being ‘some gun deaths every year,’ Bye Charlie.”

{Matzav.com}

Images and video clips of the man authorities are seeking in the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk have been made public as investigators continue their pursuit for the second consecutive day.

On Thursday morning, the FBI distributed several pictures of a “college-aged” suspect they believe may be linked to the attack.

“We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University,” the FBI posted on X. The photos show a thin man covered in dark clothing from head to toe.

The suspect is shown with wraparound sunglasses, a dark cap, and a long-sleeved shirt that appears to feature an American flag.

TMZ reported that the same individual was caught on security cameras heading toward the Utah Valley University campus on the morning Kirk’s event was scheduled to begin.

Later that night, the Utah Department of Public Safety released four more images that provided a closer look. Although his gray hat partially conceals his face, the shirt displays both an eagle and an American flag, his gray Converse shoes are visible, and one shot shows his black backpack.

The low-quality footage reveals a tall, slim man entirely dressed in black, limping along a neighborhood street with a backpack just before noon as he made his way toward the university.

Officials suspect that he might have been hiding the bolt-action rifle later discovered by police not far from the crime scene.

Authorities further suggested that because of his attire, the man could have blended in with the fleeing crowd in the immediate aftermath of the gunfire.

Anyone with information is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit details online.

Kirk, age 31, was struck by a single sniper’s bullet fired from the Losee Center building on campus, roughly 200 yards away from where he was addressing the audience at the opening stop of his American Comeback tour.

Two people who were initially detained in the wake of the incident were later cleared of involvement. One faces an obstruction charge, while the other was questioned by federal investigators and released.

Investigators recovered a .30-06 Mauser bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel in wooded terrain near Utah Valley University’s Orem campus. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said the weapon is believed to have been used in the crime.

Preliminary accounts indicated that the rifle’s ammunition carried markings referencing “transgender and anti-fascist ideology.” However, a Justice Department official told The NY Post that the agency has not yet confirmed whether those inscriptions matched what was recovered at the site.

{Matzav.com}

Two days after Israel carried out its strike targeting senior Hamas figures in the heart of Qatar, Israeli defense officials are increasingly concerned that the mission did not meet its objectives. According to a Thursday report on Channel 12, assessments within the defense establishment now lean toward classifying the operation as a failure.

A senior Israeli source acknowledged that while there may have been limited success in eliminating a handful of senior operatives, the primary target was not achieved. “We are continuing to wait for the final intelligence picture and are hoping that perhaps some of the senior officials were killed,” the source said, adding, “as the hours go by, it seems that most of the operation’s goals were not accomplished.”

Updated assessments indicate that Hamas leaders were indeed inside the structure struck by the Israeli Air Force. However, reports suggest that either the munitions used were ill-suited for the designated target, or that the Hamas leaders managed to flee to another room at the moment of impact.

Channel 13 further reported that many Israeli security officials argued against the timing of the strike, describing it as “the most inconvenient moment imaginable.” They had urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to postpone action in light of discussions surrounding President Trump’s proposed framework for a potential deal, stressing that “it would be better to give negotiations a chance.”

A senior Israeli official criticized Netanyahu directly: “The prime minister chose not to accept the position of 90% of the professional bodies who made clear the consequences—among them the IDF Chief of Staff, the head of the National Security Council, and the head of the Mossad.”

Kan News reported that in a cabinet meeting ahead of the strike, Mossad Director Dedi Barnea warned against targeting Hamas leaders during active negotiations. “When there are talks taking place, you don’t eliminate the people you are dealing with,” he cautioned.

Looking ahead, Netanyahu is expected to convene the security cabinet tomorrow to discuss the continuation of Israel’s campaign in Gaza and assess the broader implications of the strike in Qatar.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The State Department announced on Thursday that it is keeping watch on the online activity of foreign nationals who are “praising, rationalizing, or making light” of the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.

Kirk, 31, was gunned down on Wednesday while delivering a speech at Utah Valley University. Authorities are still searching for the shooter.

“In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote in a message posted on X.

“I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalizing, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action. Please feel free to bring such comments by foreigners to my attention so that the @StateDept can protect the American people.”

Shortly after Landau’s statement, X users began responding with examples of posts that they said matched his description.

“Hey @Microsoft is this your employee celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk? Does this align with your company values?” one person asked.

Another user added, “A Somalian American X user celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk.”

{Matzav.com}

In a heartfelt conversation with Bamah magazine, HaGaon Rav Moshe Yehuda Schlesinger, one of the elder roshei yeshiva of our generation and rosh yeshiva of Kol Torah, reflected on the recent horrific terror attack at the Ramot Junction in Yerushalayim in which Reb Levi Yitzchok Pash, a devoted worker of the yeshiva, was murdered.

“I know what it means to feel the pain of loss,” Rav Schlesinger said. “I too had a son who was murdered, Hashem yikom damo. It is a pain that endures for years. People sometimes imagine that grief fades with time, but this is not true at all. In fact, the difficulty can even intensify as the years go on.”

Rav Schlesinger himself suffered the tragic murder of his son, Eliezer Schlesinger z”l, who was killed during the First Intifada in Sivan 5748 (1988). Eliezer was returning from Yeshivas Maalot HaTorah near Gan Sacher when he was attacked and murdered by a terrorist from Abu Ghosh. He was buried on Har HaZeisim.

Speaking with deep pain about the loss of Reb Levi Yitzchok Pash, the rosh yeshiva described him as “a unique individual, with remarkable character traits, who was deeply devoted to the bochurim of the yeshiva and constantly sought ways to benefit and assist them. We must learn from his path. I heard that whenever he had spare time, he would enter the beis medrash to sit and learn. Such behavior reveals a person who, despite being engaged in earning a livelihood, constantly sought growth in Torah and yiras Shamayim.”

In his wider remarks published in Bamah, Rav Schlesinger emphasized the importance of reflection and awareness in avodas Hashem. “This is something that obligates every individual. The value of our deeds is determined by the thought and intention we put into them. For us, bnei hayeshivos, whose lives revolve around Torah study and mitzvah observance, it is certainly incumbent upon us to examine our actions so that everything we do comes from an elevated place.”

He stressed that this message is especially relevant in these days leading up to the Yamim Nora’im. “We must arrive at the Days of Judgment with careful thought and reflection on the year that has passed, on everything that has befallen Klal Yisroel in this past year. By doing so, each person will be able to strengthen himself in the areas where he most needs chizuk.”

{Matzav.com}

In preparation for the upcoming Yamim Nora’im, important changes have been announced within the Gerrer chassidus: the appointment of a new baal tokei’a to blow the shofar in the main beis medrash, and a new permanent gabbai to oversee its operations.

The announcements come as the community braces for the solemn days ahead, following a period of difficulty due to the weakened health of the Gerrer Rebbe. For the first time, a special chamber has been built within the main beis medrash on Rechov Yirmiyahu in Yerushalayim, connecting the Rebbe’s private residence with his designated place of tefillah.

According to information obtained by Matzav.com, Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Weinstein has been appointed as the new baal tokei’a, succeeding the legendary Rabbi Itche Rosmarin. Already during Rabbi Rosmarin’s lifetime, Rabbi Weinstein was chosen as his deputy and on several occasions blew the shofar in the main beis medrash. With Rabbi Rosmarin’s passing this past Sivan, Rabbi Weinstein has now officially assumed the sacred role.

Rabbi Weinstein is the son of Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Weinstein z”l, a Holocaust survivor who later settled in Yerushalayim and delivered shiurim in Zichron Moshe. Growing up in the Gerrer institutions, Reb Moshe Aryeh married the daughter of Rabbi Zalman Orzel and lived in Bnei Brak, near Rabbi Shlomo Zilberstein, one of the leading rabbanim of the chassidus. In recent years, he relocated to Ashdod.

A man of notable Torah scholarship, Rabbi Weinstein was among the founders of the Rashi shtiebel in Bnei Brak, where the Gerrer Rebbe himself would daven. He is also renowned as an expert sofer STa”M, with many of the greatest rabbanim requesting his exquisitely crafted tefillin. The waiting list for his work was famously long, with wealthy patrons often placing orders immediately upon the birth of a son. His integrity and precision became his hallmark, earning him the trust of the Gerrer leadership. At the outset of the current Rebbe’s leadership some three decades ago, Rabbi Weinstein was appointed to the management board of the Gerrer institutions and has since remained closely involved.

Gerrer chassidim recall that in earlier times, another baal tokei’a, Rabbi Simcha Bunim Shpernovitz—also a sofer STa”M—was affectionately known as “Simcha Bunim Sofer-Shofar,” a testament to the community’s tradition of combining scholarship, craftsmanship, and devotion in this pivotal role.

In addition to Rabbi Weinstein’s appointment, another major position has been filled: Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Schiff has been named the permanent chief gabbai of the great beis medrash.

Rabbi Schiff is the son of the revered longtime gabbai, Rabbi Chanina Schiff, with whom he served for many years. He is considered one of the Rebbe’s close confidants and is highly respected for his authority in overseeing all matters of the beis medrash. Beyond his new appointment, Rabbi Schiff also serves as the rov of a yishuv in Mateh Yehuda and is responsible for distributing the shmuessen of the Gerrer Rebbes.

This marks the second time in Gerrer history that the son of a gabbai has stepped into his father’s role. Following the passing of Rabbi Chanina Schiff in 2008, Rabbi Mendel Binka—son of the previous gabbai, Rabbi Yehoshua Noach Binka—was appointed. Throughout his tenure, Rabbi Yosef Schiff remained by his side, assisting with all aspects of the gabbai duties.

During the COVID-19 restrictions, the Rebbe’s aide, Rabbi Leibel Pazintchevsky, temporarily assumed the role of gabbai. Now, with this latest announcement, Rabbi Yosef Schiff has been formally confirmed as the permanent successor, continuing the legacy of his father.

{Matzav.com}

Large crowds from across the chassidic community gathered outside Prison 10 to protest the detention of yeshiva students who had been arrested due to unresolved draft status issues. The demonstration came in response to the imprisonment of Nesanel Maor Yitzchak and Yisroel Meir Taharani — the latter having completed his sheva brachos only the day before — and was framed as a wider objection to what organizers described as the government’s harassment of Torah learners in Eretz Yisroel.

The rally was arranged by the Action Committee established earlier this year at a meeting of prominent chassidic leaders in Ma’ale Hachamisha. At the forefront were representatives of the largest dynasties, including Gur, Vizhnitz, Sanz, Boyan, and Slonim.

The event opened with an address by Rav Moshe Bruner, mashgiach of Yeshivas Sfas Emes in Yerushalayim. Standing beside him was Rav Avraham Mordechai Alter, eldest son of the Gerrer Rebbe, lending the evening heightened significance. In a forceful statement directed at the government, Rav Bruner declared: “We are addressing the Prime Minister and the ministers as clearly as can be: no quotas and no targets! If you want the merit of supporting Torah, then arrange for Torah scholars to be legally registered, and you will gain the zechus haTorah. If not, salvation will come to the Jewish people from another place. We will come out ahead, and you will be the ones who lose — let that be clear!”

The Rebbe of Chug Chasam Sofer also spoke, lamenting what he described as ongoing persecution: “Shamefully, even in 5785, Torah learners in Eretz Yisroel are being targeted. It is not enough that they themselves cast off the yoke [of Torah], now they pursue those who dedicate their lives to it and send young bochurim to military prison. We will not allow it, and they will not succeed in breaking our spirit.”

A broad range of chassidic communities participated in the protest, including Gur–Beit Shemesh, Boyan–Modi’in Illit, Seret Vizhnitz, Sanz, Tchernobyl, and others. Among the prominent figures present were Rav Avraham Mordechai Alter, son of the Gerrer Rebbe; Rav Dovid Twersky, son of the Tchernobyler Rebbe of Beit Shemesh; the Chasam Sofer Rebbe; the Temeshvar Rebbe; Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel Breyer, son of the Boyaner Rebbe; Rav Fishel Hager, son-in-law of the Boyaner Rebbe; Rav Yechezkel Durbarmadiker, Boyaner Rav in Modi’in Illit; and Rav Shraga Feivel Weinberger, Rav of the Yeshuos Moshe Vizhnitz kehillah in Elad and member of the Vizhnitz beis din in Bnei Brak.

המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי {Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Eliyahu Greenzeig zt”l, one of Yerushalayim’s distinguished talmidei chachomim, who was niftar at the age of 84. In recent years, he endured prolonged suffering with great strength and emunah. His levayah was held at Shamgar, continuing to Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

Rav Greenzeig was born in Tel Aviv in 1942 (5702) to his father Rav Chaim zt”l and his mother Mrs. Rachel Leah a”h. In his youth, he studied at the Yeshiva LeTzeirim of Or Yisroel in Petach Tikvah, where he was cherished by his rabbeim, including Roshei Yeshiva Rav Yaakov Neiman and Rav Yaakov Rozovsky.

He later advanced to Ponovezh Yeshiva, where he formed close bonds with its roshei yeshiva, particularly with Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman zt”l, the Ponovezher Rav, to whom his grandfather had also been deeply connected.

Following his marriage to the daughter of Rav Bentzion Prag zt”l, Av Beis Din of Agudas Yisroel and one of the gedolim of Yerushalayim, Rav Greenzeig was asked to serve as a maggid shiur at Yeshivas HaGra in Haifa.

Afterward, he settled in Yerushalayim, maintaining close ties with many of the city’s great Torah figures. During these years, he took on the role of editor of the renowned Otzar Meforshei HaTalmud project, republished the commentary of the Abudraham, and authored numerous seforim that earned him wide recognition, including Mikra Ha’eidah, Pekudei Ha’eidah, and Kruei Mo’ed.

He leaves behind a family that follows in his path: his sons, Rav Shimon, Rav Yaakov, and Rav Menachem, and his son-in-law Rav Shmuel Movshovitz.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}