Matzav

There are books you read. And then there are books that read you.

Moments of Greatness by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger is nothing short of a revelation. In a Jewish world blessed with countless story collections, this one stands in a league of its own — a towering masterpiece that doesn’t just inspire, it awakens.

From the very first page, you’re ushered into a world where the impossible becomes reality, where a handwritten letter to Avinu shebashamayim triggers a shidduch no human could’ve orchestrated… where a quiet housewife dares to confront the most powerful man on earth… and where a single pasuk whispered during Elul transforms the course of a young man’s life long after the Yomim Nora’im have passed.

These aren’t just stories. They are seismic moments — flashes of spiritual brilliance that pierce through the routine and reveal the infinite greatness pulsing just beneath the surface of everyday life.

Rabbi Hisiger, already beloved for his clarity, warmth, and insight, has outdone himself here. With his signature narrative precision and impeccable taste for the extraordinary, he has curated a collection so moving, so electrifying, that you’ll find yourself pausing after each story — not to catch your breath, but to let your soul catch up.

This isn’t feel-good fluff. It’s soul food. The kind that nourishes the deepest parts of you.

What makes Moments of Greatness different?

• The stories stay with you. Long after the book is closed, the people in its pages linger. The emunah. The courage. The quiet acts of greatness no one noticed… except Hashem.

• The message is clear: Greatness isn’t reserved for gedolim and giants. It’s found in the quiet heroism of regular people — people like you and me — who rise to the moment and choose to make it eternal.

• The writing is addictive. Crisp, flowing, and deeply sincere. There’s no fluff, no filler — just raw, real, riveting inspiration.

With breathtaking hashkafah and stories that will make you laugh, cry, and sometimes both at once, this book belongs in every Jewish home, on every Shabbos table, and in the hands of anyone who believes in the power of a single moment to change everything.

Moments of Greatness isn’t just the best story collection in years. It may be the best book in years.

Read it. Gift it. Live it.

Because when greatness flashes before your eyes — even for a moment — you’re never quite the same again.

Moments of Greatness is available at your local better Judaica store or HERE.

A newly emerging, highly contagious strain of COVID-19 that has been driving up hospital admissions in China has now made its way to the United States, with infections confirmed in multiple locations including New York City, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Known as NB.1.81, the variant was initially identified in the U.S. between late March and early April, discovered in travelers arriving through airports in California, Virginia, Washington, and New York City. Further cases have since been documented in states such as Rhode Island, Ohio, and Hawaii.

The CDC reported that the number of U.S. cases remains too limited to include in its regular variant tracking reports. However, medical professionals caution that the strain’s aggressive spread in China indicates it may transmit more rapidly than other dominant COVID-19 variants.

Public health experts began monitoring NB.1.8.1 closely once it overtook other strains as the most common variant in China, resulting in widespread infections throughout Asia.

Health officials in Hong Kong have observed a sharp rise in COVID-related hospital visits and ER cases over the past month, saying the current surge is the most severe in at least a year.

Reports from Hong Kong noted 81 serious cases and 30 deaths within four weeks, with elderly individuals — especially those 65 and older — comprising the bulk of those affected.

Mainland Chinese data show that the percentage of emergency room patients testing positive for COVID has more than doubled recently, climbing from 7.5% to over 16%. Hospitalization rates have also risen to above 6%, according to the state-affiliated China Daily newspaper.

Despite these alarming figures, Hong Kong authorities, under the influence of Beijing, attempted to minimize concerns, insisting that NB.1.81 does not appear to cause more severe illness compared to earlier variants.

“What they’re seeing in China, Hong Kong and some other areas where this variant has really surged, is an increase in hospitalization,” Dr. Amy Edwards, a pediatrics professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, told CBS News.

CDC testing of international travelers has provided insight into the variant’s international spread, with infections linked to visits in countries like China, France, South Korea, Thailand, the Netherlands, Japan, Spain, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

As with earlier strains of the virus, NB.1.81 can lead to symptoms such as fever, sore throat, fatigue, and coughing.

Subhash Verma, a professor at the University of Nevada specializing in microbiology and immunology, commented on the variant’s potential: “It appears to have a growth advantage, suggesting it may spread more easily.”

“In other words, it is more transmissible,” she told CBS News.

Both Verma and Edwards stressed that, at this stage, there is no evidence suggesting the variant causes more severe illness than previous strains.

Dr. Edwin Tsui, who heads Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection, cautioned against complacency, stating the new strain “should not be taken lightly.” He emphasized concerns that the virus might have adapted further to escape current vaccine protections.

“The CHP will continue to closely monitor the situation of the variant strains in accordance with the World Health Organization’s recommendation, and be cautious of the possible emergence of more virulent or vaccine-mismatched strains of the virus in the future,” he stated.

This development coincides with a new policy shift announced by the Trump administration, which will now limit annual COVID-19 booster recommendations to elderly individuals and those deemed medically vulnerable.

On Tuesday, the CDC confirmed it will stop advising healthy children and pregnant women to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of Yidden gathered to demonstrate at a building site in Yehud, a city in central Israel, asserting that the land under development may be the location of an ancient bais hakevaros.

Video footage from the scene captured several chareidi men sprawled on the ground within the work zone, symbolically pouring dirt into sections of the site that had already been dug up as a show of opposition.

On Tuesday, Border Police forces responded by forcibly removing the demonstrators from the premises.

The protesters insist that the site is the resting place of hundreds of Jews from the era of the Second Beis Hamikdash. In response to the unrest, the local municipality issued a message to Yehud residents stating that it was “aware of the incident” and described those involved as “a fringe chareidi group that objects to the construction at the site.”

The developers behind the project, Aura Israel, found themselves at the center of the storm as members of the group reportedly threatened a boycott of the company. On Monday morning, protestors appeared outside what was said to be the home of Yaacov Atrakchi, founder and owner of Aura Israel, to intensify their campaign.

Although no definitive proof has been presented yet regarding the presence of a bais hakevaros, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) told The Jerusalem Post that “preliminary inspections indicated the presence of archaeological remains.”

In its official statement, the IAA confirmed that a limited excavation had begun at the request of Aura Israel. “The excavation is revealing tombs dating to the Roman period and the Bronze Age. At this stage, it is not possible to attribute the finds to any specific ethnic group. Such conclusions may emerge in more advanced stages of the research,” the statement noted.

The project in question aims to create 300 residential units spread across six apartment buildings, ranging in height from four to twelve floors.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revised its guidelines, announcing that it will no longer advise healthy children or pregnant women to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The decision was made public by the Trump administration on Tuesday.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized the prior administration’s approach, stating in a video message, “Last year, the Biden administration urged healthy children to get yet another COVID shot despite the lack of any critical data to support the repeat booster strategy in children.”

Echoing that sentiment, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary remarked, “There’s no evidence that healthy kids need it today and most countries have stopped recommending it for children.”

The policy update follows signals made last week by leading health authorities indicating a move toward limiting access to the yearly COVID booster. While the shot will remain available for older adults and individuals with underlying health risks, it will no longer be broadly advised for the general population, especially children and expectant mothers.

The earlier recommendation covered everyone aged six months and older. Now, under the revised policy, those 65 and above, along with others deemed vulnerable, will continue to be eligible for the booster, while broader distribution will be subject to further data and review.

Kennedy, along with other prominent figures in the health field like Makary and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, have consistently expressed reservations about administering the vaccine to individuals not considered at high risk.

“Bottom line: It’s common sense and it’s good science. We are now one step closer to realizing [President Trump]’s promise to Make America Healthy Again,” Kennedy posted on X.

This shift in U.S. policy brings it in closer alignment with international standards, where many nations have already narrowed their vaccination recommendations.

Many countries now maintain similar protocols around COVID-19 vaccine access.

For instance, nations such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, and Switzerland encourage the annual shot for individuals aged 65 and older or for those classified as high-risk.

Germany and the Netherlands have set their age threshold at 60, while the UK has focused its guidance on those aged 75 and above. Sweden, meanwhile, reserves its recommendation for those 80 and older.

In related news, the FDA earlier this month authorized Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine for seniors 65 and up, and for those between 12 and 64 who have at least one serious medical condition that raises their risk from COVID-19.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s establishment of humanitarian aid hubs is being seen as a pivotal moment in the unraveling of Hamas’s dominance in Gaza, according to an Israeli official who spoke with The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. The IDF has unveiled two major food distribution centers, which are intended to provide sustenance for as many as 600,000 Palestinians within a week.

These aid centers are positioned at Tel Sultan, located deep in the southern Gaza area of Rafah, and at the Morag Corridor, slightly to the north of Rafah.

Plans are underway to launch a third site near Khan Yunis in the mid-southern region and a fourth one in central Gaza. However, it remains uncertain whether these additional locations will open in the coming days or if it will take several weeks.

Officials told The Post that while the aid centers are expected to quickly scale up their distribution capabilities, no firm timetable has been established for when they will hit peak operational capacity.

For now, no similar aid facility is planned for northern Gaza. As a result, approximately one million Palestinians in that region will continue receiving assistance from United Nations agencies, as has been the case in recent days and for much of the ongoing conflict.

According to the sources, while Israel is instituting new protocols to prevent Hamas from hijacking food supplies in northern Gaza, the central goal of the four new centers in the south and center is to loosen Hamas’s grip on humanitarian aid—something Israel believes international groups, including the UN, have failed to address meaningfully.

Management of the food aid initiative will be overseen by American firms UG Solutions and Safe Reach Solutions under a newly organized humanitarian body for Gaza.

Still, the project has not been without internal turmoil. Several high-ranking members of this new authority have stepped down recently, citing outside pressure from global organizations that view these efforts as a means for Israel to exert control over food distribution and to potentially exclude civilians affiliated with Hamas.

The handling of northern Gaza may also be partially shaped by diplomatic considerations. Israel’s decision to avoid setting up centers there could appease critics who argue it’s unlawful to withhold food from certain sectors of the population—even those with ties to terrorist groups like Hamas.

International agencies and human rights groups denounce Hamas’s actions but have consistently refused to implement restrictions on who is eligible to receive humanitarian aid.

In contrast, the newly established centers will integrate security screening processes from both Israel and the U.S., which could lead to the apprehension of armed individuals or those suspected of being linked to Hamas.

Another strategic element of placing these centers outside the northern region is to fragment Gaza territorially—creating zones that are increasingly free of Hamas’s influence, even if other parts remain under its control.

These developments coincide with the deepening military offensive, as five IDF divisions have recently advanced further into the Strip.

The IDF has stated that this current phase, which includes securing up to 75% of Gaza and embedding the new aid framework into the area’s fabric, could unfold over roughly two months. The ultimate aim is to significantly erode Hamas’s dominance over the civilian population.

{Matzav.com}

Freed Israeli hostage Omer Wenkert recounted the horrific abuse he endured while imprisoned in Hamas’s underground tunnels, describing a brutal deterioration in his treatment that coincided with Israel’s military operation in Rafah during May 2024.

“They deliberately deprived me of food,” Wenkert said while speaking at the Bar Association conference, recalling a period of two to three weeks during which he survived on just half a pita a day.

He described the conditions as especially cruel around the time the IDF advanced toward Rafah. “There was purposeful starvation, and calculated torment,” he said. “They put me in situations that seriously threatened my life — and did it just for amusement.”

Wenkert shared one disturbing incident in which a captor brought insect spray, stood him at the end of a narrow hallway, and sprayed directly into his open eyes. “He made sure to spray everything I might touch as well,” Wenkert said. “And then he started hitting me with an iron rod.”

He explained that during the first six and a half months of his ordeal, he was kept in solitary confinement, with minimal interaction from his captors. “They would approach me only occasionally,” he said.

Around his 80th day in captivity, Wenkert was transferred to a different tunnel corridor. He described this new area as “a pitch-black room with a dim light.” According to him, his captors attempted to destroy his sense of time and sanity. “They tried to unhinge me mentally,” he said. “Even when giving me food, they insisted I turn away while they placed it down. I was allowed to wash once every 50 days, and only with a small bottle of water. I didn’t have a proper bath until nine and a half months had passed.”

The tunnel where he spent most of his captivity was a narrow space measuring just 90 centimeters (about 35 inches) in width and 9 to 10 meters (roughly 29 to 32 feet) in length. He said there was a small hole designated as a toilet.

“I lay on a thin mattress, my back pressed to the wall,” he recalled. “I was trapped there for what I estimate was 420 days.”

On June 13, 2024, two other hostages, Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, were placed in the same tunnel section with him. Both men are still in Hamas captivity, more than 590 days after they were kidnapped on October 7, 2023.

“The arrival of others brought some mental relief,” Wenkert said. “But it got tighter. We had to share food and water, and the physical conditions became even more difficult. On the other hand, the physical abuse came to a stop.”

Now 23 years old, Wenkert had been among at least 40 individuals abducted by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attack on the Supernova music festival in the Negev, where around 360 people were slaughtered.

His release came on February 22, 2025, after 505 days in captivity. He was freed as part of a temporary truce agreement between Israel and Hamas that later unraveled after its first stage.

At present, terror organizations in Gaza continue to hold 58 hostages. This includes 57 people taken on October 7 by Hamas-led attackers. Of these, the Israel Defense Forces have verified that at least 35 are deceased. Twenty hostages are believed to still be alive, while Israeli authorities have voiced serious concerns over the health and status of three others.

Between January and March 2025, Hamas released 30 captives — 20 Israeli civilians, five IDF soldiers, and five Thai nationals — in addition to the bodies of eight Israeli hostages who had been murdered. In May, the terror group handed over one more hostage, an Israeli-American citizen, calling it a “gesture” toward the United States.

Previously, during a one-week truce in late November 2023, Hamas freed 105 civilians, and four hostages were released in the initial weeks following the October 7 massacre. In total, Israel has released approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including convicted terrorists and others detained during the ongoing conflict.

Israeli forces have managed to rescue eight hostages alive through military operations. In addition, the bodies of 41 hostages have been recovered. This includes three mistakenly shot by Israeli troops during an escape attempt, as well as the remains of a soldier killed in 2014. Hamas continues to hold the body of another IDF soldier killed that same year, and he is included in the current list of 58 hostages still in Gaza.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Since the onset of the war, the United States has sent a massive quantity of military support to Israel, amounting to more than 90,000 tons of weaponry and defense supplies, according to an announcement from Israel’s Defense Ministry.

The ministry reported that today saw the arrival of the 800th cargo aircraft involved in this ongoing operation.

According to the ministry’s statement, the shipments to date have included “armored vehicles, munitions, ammunition, personal protection gear, and medical equipment.”

These deliveries, the ministry emphasized, are “a significant component” in enabling the Israel Defense Forces to sustain combat activities, “both for achieving the war objectives and for improving readiness and stockpiles.”

Coordinating this extensive logistical undertaking are several key agencies, including the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Production and Procurement, its liaison office in the United States, the IDF’s Planning Directorate, and the Israeli Air Force.

{Matzav.com}

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a strong statement on Tuesday criticizing National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s appearance this week on the Har Habayis.

Ben Gvir is known for regularly visiting Har Habayis. His most recent visit, which took place on Monday, was to commemorate Yom Yerushalayim—the day Israel reclaimed ancient Jewish areas in Yerushalayim, Yehudah, and Shomron after being attacked by surrounding Arab countries during the Six Day War.

In its statement, Qatar accused Israel of provoking Muslims across the globe, declaring, “the repeated attempts by the occupation to undermine the religious and historical status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque constitute a provocation to more than a billion Muslims around the world.”

The Qatari Foreign Ministry further alleged that Israel’s actions in what it refers to as “the occupied Palestinian territories,” including “the brutal and ongoing war of mass destruction in the Gaza Strip,” would cause greater instability, intensify regional violence, and undercut the possibility of a viable two-state solution and lasting peace.

Qatar ended its statement by demanding that the global community intervene immediately and decisively, saying it must compel Israel to uphold the rulings and resolutions of international organizations.

{Matzav.com Israel}

North Korea has sharply rebuked the United States over its latest missile defense initiative, calling it an alarming and provocative move. The project, known as the Golden Dome, was denounced by Pyongyang’s foreign ministry as a “very dangerous threatening initiative,” according to reports published Tuesday by North Korea’s state-run media.

President Donald Trump announced on May 20 that he had selected a final design for the Golden Dome missile defense program and officially appointed a leader to head the massive $175 billion effort.

North Korea’s Institute for American Studies, operating under the country’s foreign ministry, issued a statement through the Korean Central News Agency condemning the program in severe terms. “The Golden Dome plan is a typical product of ‘America first’, the height of self-righteousness, arrogance, high-handed and arbitrary practice, and is an outer space nuclear war scenario,” the statement read.

The defense system is designed to use a global web of satellites equipped with cutting-edge tracking and intercept technology. These would identify and neutralize missiles launched by hostile nations, with the focus on countries such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

Just last week, China voiced its opposition to the project, stating it is “seriously concerned” and urged the United States to put an end to its development.

{Matzav.com}

In response to the devastating helicopter crash that claimed six lives last month, a group of lawmakers has put forward new legislation aimed at putting an end to non-essential helicopter flights over New York City. According to New Jersey.com, Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) are spearheading the initiative.

The proposed measure, titled the Improving Helicopter Safety Act, would prohibit the operation of helicopters used for leisure, tourism, and high-end commuting within the city’s airspace.

“While we have consistently worked to address the impact of non-essential helicopters on our communities, last month’s tragic crash should be a clarion call for every level of government to take action on helicopter safety,” Menendez said in a statement.

He went on to say, “Rising congestion of non-essential helicopters, coupled with concerning safety records of air tourism operators, are causing a direct threat to public safety.”

“Along with my colleagues from New Jersey and New York, we’re doing what is necessary to prevent tragedies like this from happening again,” Menendez added.

In the aftermath of the fatal accident, video footage appears to indicate that a severe mechanical malfunction occurred mid-flight, making it impossible for the pilot to regain control, said aviation attorney Justin Green, who previously flew helicopters in the Marine Corps.

Green explained that the aircraft’s main rotor blades may have come into contact with the tail boom, leading to its disintegration and a subsequent loss of control, sending the helicopter plummeting to the ground.

{Matzav.com}

A top Saudi official pushed back on claims circulating in the media on Monday that the kingdom intends to lift its decades-old ban on alcohol. The speculation suggested that Saudi Arabia, where Islamic law strictly forbids alcohol consumption among Muslims, was preparing to legalize it after more than seventy years.

The rumors stemmed from a blog focused on wine that alleged Saudi authorities were moving toward allowing restricted alcohol sales, particularly in anticipation of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The blog post was picked up by international outlets, though it failed to cite any official source for its claims.

These rumors quickly ignited a heated debate online, as many in the deeply traditional country expressed concern. The king of Saudi Arabia carries the official title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, underscoring the country’s deep religious significance as home to Mecca and Medina.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely known by his initials MBS, has been leading a broad campaign of economic and social reform to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy and attract international investors and tourists. These reforms aim to decrease reliance on oil revenues.

Among the changes already implemented, the government lifted the ban on women driving in 2017, relaxed enforcement of gender segregation in public venues, and reduced the authority of the country’s religious police, once notorious for their stringent oversight.

In what some saw as a tentative move toward loosening alcohol restrictions, Saudi Arabia last year opened its first alcohol shop in Riyadh. However, it caters exclusively to non-Muslim foreign diplomats, keeping access extremely limited and controlled.

Until that point, the only way to obtain alcohol in the kingdom was either through diplomatic channels or via illicit underground networks. Possession or consumption of alcohol remains a serious offense under Saudi law.

Saudi penalties for alcohol-related violations include fines, imprisonment, or deportation. While flogging was once a common punishment, it has largely been replaced by incarceration.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Elazar Yonah Ginsberg zt”l, rov of Agudas Achim and a distinguished talmid chacham whose life was defined by avodas Hashem, ahavas haTorah, and a deep, personal connection with every member of his kehillah.

Rav Ginsberg was a son of Rav Tzvi Meir Ginsberg zt”l of the Agudas Harabbanim, a brother of the Chuster Rebbe of Boro Park, and a brother-in-law of the Skolya Rebbe of Boro Park.

He was respected across the Torah world for his profound lomdus, unwavering yiras Shomayim, and the warmth he extended to all who came into his orbit.

For decades, Rav Ginsberg stood at the helm of Agudas Achim, guiding his kehillah with wisdom, compassion, and an unshakable dedication to Torah. Every shiur he delivered and every drashah he gave was imbued with clarity, depth, and heartfelt inspiration. To his mispallelim, he was more than a rov. He was a mentor, a father figure, and a spiritual anchor.

The levayah will take place this morning at 10 a.m. at Bais Medrash Toldos Yitzchok, located at 937 East County Line Road in Lakewood, NJ. Additional parking will be available behind the building, accessible via Kennedy Boulevard. Kevurah will follow in the Kosoner chelka in Deans, NJ.

Rav Ginsberg is survived by his devoted rebbetzin and an illustrious mishpacha of bnei Torah and rabbanim, including sons who serve as rabbanim and marbitzei Torah, daughters, and ainiklach who proudly continue his legacy.

Shivah will be held at 114 Leonard Street, Lakewood, NJ 08701.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

All parents want the best for their children – that they should be good and upright, that they have everything they need for a fruitful, joyous life. The classic work, Shelah HaKadosh, contains a tefillah that parents should recite for their children at any time of the year – but especially before Rosh Chodesh Sivan, which is Sunday, for that is the month when Hakadosh Boruch Hu gave us the Torah, and when the Yidden began to be called His Children.

This year, it is preferable to recite it today, the day of Yom Kippur Koton for Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan.

As a public service, we offer the text of the tefillah for downloading.

To download, click here.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}

U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff firmly rejected reports on Monday that Hamas had agreed to a new deal he proposed regarding hostages, urging the group to accept a temporary truce he said Israel is prepared to honor.

Earlier that day, various international news outlets quoted unnamed Hamas sources claiming the group had accepted an updated offer from Witkoff.

But Witkoff dismissed the notion of any agreement being reached, telling Axios, “What I have seen from Hamas is disappointing and completely unacceptable.”

Witkoff elaborated that “Israel will agree to a temporary ceasefire that would see half of the living and deceased hostages return, and lead to substantive negotiations to find a path to a permanent ceasefire, which I agreed to preside over.”

“That deal is on the table. Hamas should take it,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian official speaking to The Times of Israel accused Witkoff of reversing course after originally approving Hamas’s changes to the deal via an intermediary.

The official claimed that based on those early signals, Hamas believed it had received a green light from Witkoff, prompting media outlets to report that a breakthrough had been achieved.

However, according to the same source, Witkoff later retracted his approval and relayed that Hamas’s version of the agreement was not acceptable.

When asked about this accusation, Witkoff flatly denied the claim in a follow-up conversation with The Times of Israel, reiterating the same position he gave to Axios.

Witkoff has been negotiating through Palestinian-American political advocate Bishara Bahbah, who has been based in Doha over the past week. Bahbah played a key role in the backchannel that led to the recent release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander.

But on Monday, Hebrew-language reports quoted anonymous Israeli officials blaming Bahbah for engaging in discussions with Hamas over terms that allegedly exceeded Witkoff’s approved proposal.

According to details of the potential agreement, roughly 10 living hostages and the remains of 10 deceased captives would be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, over the course of a two-month ceasefire. During that period, Hamas and Israel would conduct negotiations aimed at reaching a lasting truce, with the United States ensuring that Israel stays engaged at the negotiating table.

Hamas has reportedly requested written guarantees from mediators that Israel will follow through with talks aimed at a permanent ceasefire—something Netanyahu’s government had agreed to in the January hostage agreement but then walked away from, resuming the war in March.

The Palestinian official told The Times of Israel that Hamas remains open to a phased ceasefire but would release all hostages immediately if Israel committed to permanently ending the conflict.

“All of this talk about the phases is because of Netanyahu,” the official said.

Hamas is “prepared to return all of the hostages now if [Netanyahu] agrees to end the war,” the source added. Netanyahu has refused to accept such a proposal, arguing that it would leave Hamas in control of Gaza. However, polls repeatedly show most Israelis support the deal and believe Netanyahu is prolonging the war to preserve his political power, amid threats from coalition members to topple the government if he agrees to a permanent truce.

A source close to the talks told The Times of Israel that negotiations remain stalled, with mediators unable to create a framework that allows Hamas to present the deal as a step toward ending the war while giving Israel plausible deniability on that point.

Separately on Monday, Netanyahu made headlines when he said in a video message that he hoped to announce news about the hostages “today or tomorrow.”

The remark triggered an immediate wave of confusion and hopeful speculation among hostage families who interpreted it as a sign of imminent progress.

But Netanyahu’s office quickly released a clarification, explaining that he did not mean to suggest a breakthrough was near.

“The prime minister meant that we will not give up on freeing our hostages, and if we don’t achieve that, hopefully in the coming days, we will achieve it later on,” the statement read. “Hamas continues to cling to its refusal.”

Relatives of the hostages harshly criticized Netanyahu for raising false hopes.

“We feel like we’re being abused,” said a statement from hostage families that aired on Channel 12. “Every comment like this makes our already broken hearts leap. The expectation, when it comes to such a sensitive subject, is that they will show the minimum sensitivity and choose their words carefully.”

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is still being held in Gaza, wrote on social media, “Netanyahu is abusing us day and night, while my Matan is alone in the tunnel.”

In his video, Netanyahu also falsely claimed that the January hostage deal was secured only after he replaced the leaders of the Shin Bet and Mossad with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. In reality, that personnel change didn’t occur until February. Moreover, Dermer played no role in the negotiations that led to the release of Edan Alexander—the only hostage freed since that reshuffle.

President Donald Trump has publicly stated his intention to end the Gaza conflict as soon as possible and permanently. Meanwhile, Netanyahu remains firm in his stance that the war must go on until Hamas is eliminated militarily and politically, the hostages are freed, Gaza is demilitarized, Hamas’s leadership is exiled, and Trump’s plan to relocate Gaza’s population is enacted.

Supporters of a ceasefire argue that the IDF has already achieved its primary objectives against Hamas and is now engaged in a prolonged insurgency that cannot be fully resolved without political change. Arab nations have proposed returning the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza and are willing to support post-war rebuilding, provided they are formally invited. Netanyahu has consistently rejected this idea, equating the PA with Hamas.

Last week, Netanyahu ordered Israel’s negotiation team to return from Doha, citing Hamas’s unwillingness to accept Witkoff’s temporary ceasefire plan, which had been approved by Israel.

These developments are unfolding as Gaza continues to face a worsening humanitarian crisis. After 78 days of a total blockade, Israel eased restrictions slightly last week. A new aid delivery system, coordinated by the U.S. to bypass Hamas, was set to begin Monday, but logistical setbacks prevented it from launching as planned.

At present, armed groups in Gaza are still holding 58 hostages—57 of whom were taken during the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023.

{Matzav.com}

Speaking at the Yom Yerushalayim celebration held Monday night at Mercaz Harav Yeshiva, Minister Itamar Ben Gvir emphasized the necessity of achieving a clear and decisive win against those who threaten Israel.

“On Yom Yerushalayim, we stand in the heart of the city that was united, in the heart of the Jewish story, and declare loudly, ‘We are winning.’ Our message to our enemies on all fronts—you didn’t succeed in the past, and you won’t succeed today. The people of Israel will not be defeated,” Ben Gvir declared.

He stressed that the fight is still ongoing and far from finished. “We must recognize that the battle is not yet over. Our hearts are with the hostages held by a cruel terrorist organization. We will not rest or give up until we bring them home. But not through a surrender deal—only by bringing Hamas to its knees. I say to the Prime Minister that we must enact the death penalty law for terrorists and promote voluntary emigration—because this is the way of the Torah.”

Ben Gvir closed with a passionate appeal, invoking both national and spiritual aspirations. “We are a generation that does not shy away from responsibility and stands by its principles. We will pray for a complete victory, for the return of the hostages, for death to terrorists, and for complete redemption on the Har Habayis and in our Bais Hamikdosh.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli media reported Monday that a recent phone call between Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and President Donald Trump turned contentious, challenging earlier reports that suggested the two leaders were aligned on their strategy to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Channel 12 News revealed that the call was filled with tension, with Trump reportedly saying to Netanyahu: “I want a diplomatic solution with the Iranians. I believe in my ability to make a good deal.” According to the report, Trump also stressed his preference for a negotiated agreement that would work for both parties.

This characterization of the discussion stood in stark contrast to public statements claiming the two leaders had concluded the call with a shared perspective.

The Prime Minister’s Office quickly pushed back against the report, telling the network that Netanyahu had not engaged in “a tense conversation” with Trump.

Following the call, Netanyahu’s office released a statement claiming that both he and Trump “agreed on the need to ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.”

Trump, meanwhile, has expressed optimism over the ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran, saying on Sunday that “real progress” was being made and hinting that “good news” might be forthcoming. However, Iran’s foreign ministry responded Monday by stating that no date had been fixed for further negotiations, and reiterated that Iran would not agree to temporarily stop uranium enrichment, a key demand from the U.S.

News of the friction between Netanyahu and Trump broke shortly after U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, while visiting Israel, gave an interview to Fox News detailing her recent discussions in Yerushalayim. “President Trump specifically sent me here to speak with the prime minister about how negotiations are going and how important it is that we stay united and let this process play out,” she said.

Noem, who previously served as governor of South Dakota and is a close ally of Trump, described her meeting with Netanyahu as “very candid.” When asked to elaborate, she declined to disclose the details of Trump’s private message, but noted that Netanyahu’s aides later told her they “don’t remember a bilateral meeting that was quite that candid and direct.”

She said she conveyed to Netanyahu “how we really felt about the importance of Israel, our support for Israel, but this negotiation is critically important too.”

“We are on a short timeframe here. We aren’t talking weeks or months or years before President Trump will make a decision on what’s going to happen with Iran. [The Iranians] have been given a very short time frame, a matter of days, and I asked the prime minister to work with President Trump to make sure we’re making wise decisions together,” Noem continued.

When asked if she thought Israel had paused plans for a military strike against Iran—plans widely believed to be under consideration—Noem was direct in her response. “The president will never accept a nuclear capable Iran. He will never accept them having nuclear weapons and building the capacity to that,” she said. “The intelligence information that Israel has and shares with the United States, and which we also have, and are using for those conversations, is critically important. I think the message to the American people is is that we have a president who wants peace, but who will not tolerate a nuclear Iran capability in the future.”

“But he wants this prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to be on the same page with him.”

Asked what Israel’s position is regarding Iran, Noem said both Netanyahu and the Trump administration remain skeptical of Tehran’s intentions.

“I don’t blame him one bit. His people have been devastated by their horrific violence,” she said, referring to Iranian and proxy attacks on Israel. “But [Netanyahu] also needs America, and he knows he needs America, and needs our president to be his ally and to work together. We are stronger when are united, and that is something that we will deal with together, but this conversation needs to be honest, frank, but we need to go forward recognizing that Iran will never have the capability to produce nuclear weapons.”

A prior statement issued by Netanyahu’s office following his meeting with Noem stated that she had “expressed unwavering support for the prime minister and the State of Israel,” but did not include any reference to Iran or the nuclear discussions.

{Matzav.com}

Air France will resume its daily service to Tel Aviv starting Tuesday, even as other major airlines continue to suspend flights to Israel due to ongoing regional instability.

The French national airline announced that it will restart non-stop flights to and from Tel Aviv on May 27, operating with a Boeing 777-300. This marks a full return to routine operations after flights were paused amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

In a statement, Air France reiterated its focus on safety, explaining that it is “constantly monitoring developments in the geopolitical situation in the region to ensure the highest level of flight safety and security.”

Alon Netah, who oversees Air France operations in Israel, expressed optimism over the return of the airline’s service.

“We are happy and excited to resume regular Air France flight services on the route to Israel,” said Netah. He highlighted that Israeli travelers will now once again have access to Air France’s global network via Charles de Gaulle Airport, “just in time for the holiday of Shavuot.”

While Air France prepares to re-enter the Israeli market, many other global carriers are maintaining their flight suspensions.

The Lufthansa Group—which includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings—has extended its halt of all Tel Aviv flights through June 15.

“Following a situation assessment, the Lufthansa Group is extending the suspension of all its flights to and from Tel Aviv,” a company spokesperson said Monday. The group had originally stopped operations earlier this month in response to a missile strike by the Houthis. Impacted customers are being offered free ticket changes or cancellations.

Italy’s ITA Airways is also keeping its flights grounded until at least June 15, while Iberia Express from Spain has pushed its suspension through June 7.

Numerous other international carriers have not yet announced when they intend to restart their Israel-bound routes, having ceased flights in the wake of the Houthi missile incident near Ben Gurion Airport.

British Airways, in a recent update on Friday, said it is halting all flights to Israel until at least August 1, pointing to “security concerns” due to continued unrest in the region.

Ryanair, a major European budget airline, stated that it will not fly to Israel before June 4. Its CEO, Michael O’Leary, voiced his frustration with the ongoing volatility.
“If these security disruptions continue, frankly, we’d be better off sending our aircraft elsewhere in Europe,” O’Leary said last week.

{Matzav.com}

Interacting with digital devices appears to significantly lower the chances of cognitive decline in adults who are middle-aged or older, with a 58 percent reduction in risk, according to findings published in Nature Human Behavior.

In their work, researchers combed through 57 separate studies to assess whether long-term exposure to modern technology has helped or hindered mental functioning in adults who grew up during the digital age. These studies tracked data from more than 411,000 participants, most of whom were around 69 years old.

The researchers concluded that technology may actually help safeguard cognitive abilities rather than impair them. “There was no credible evidence from the longitudinal studies, or the meta-analysis as a whole, for widespread digital ‘brain drain’ or ‘digital dementia’ as a result of general, natural uses of digital technology,” wrote Jared Benge, a clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School, and Michael Scullin, an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University.

The study pointed to a few explanations for this effect. For one, keeping up with rapidly changing technology may provide valuable mental exercise. Additionally, digital tools can enhance social connectivity, which has been linked to better brain health among seniors.

In a statement released by Baylor University, Scullin encouraged families to help their older relatives become more comfortable with using devices. “If you have a parent or grandparent who’s just staying away from technology, maybe revisit that. Could they learn to use photo, messaging, or calendar apps on a smartphone or tablet?”

{Matzav.com}

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