Matzav

It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the sudden petirah of Rabbi Yisrael Hersh Eidelman zt”l, a distinguished talmid chacham, devoted eved Hashem, and longtime askan who served for decades as the executive vice president of Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem. He was 79 years old.

Rabbi Eidelman was a devoted talmid and close confidant of both Hagaon Harav Moshe Feinstein zt”l and his son, Hagaon Harav Dovid Feinstein zt”l. With immense humility and unwavering dedication, Rabbi Eidelman stood at the side of these towering gedolim, serving the yeshiva and the tzibbur with tireless devotion.

As executive vice president of MTJ, Rabbi Eidelman played an instrumental role in the growth and continuity of the yeshiva. His presence in the yeshiva was constant, his sense of responsibility total, and his deep connection to the legacy of the Feinstein family unmistakable. He carried the mission of the yeshiva with dignity and sincerity, navigating its many responsibilities with a sense of awe for the Torah and the gedolim it represented.

He was admired not only for his administrative prowess and sharp mind, but for his anavah, his deep sense of yiras Shamayim, and the personal warmth he extended to all who encountered him.

Rabbi Eidelman is survived by his devoted wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

The levayah is taking place now at Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem, located at 145 East Broadway, New York, NY 10002.

WATCH THE LEVAYAH HERE.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change collaborated on a vision for Gaza’s future that includes transforming the territory into a resort-style destination dubbed “Trump’s Riviera” and creating a high-tech industrial park named after Elon Musk, modeled after the success of Dubai.

According to The Guardian, the institute—founded by Tony Blair—teamed up with Israeli entrepreneurs to explore this post-war redevelopment concept. The financial planning relied heavily on frameworks provided by the U.S.-based Boston Consulting Group.

Their joint efforts produced a document titled the Gaza Economic Blueprint, which outlines proposals to build both the Trump-branded coastal project and the Elon Musk-themed manufacturing hub.

Reporting by the Financial Times adds that the proposal also involves offering monetary incentives for 500,000 Gazans to relocate from the region.

The initiative, known as The Great Trust, was already turned into a pitch deck by the Blair institute and its Israeli partners. The goal was to attract private investors to pour significant funds into Gaza’s reconstruction—contingent on the area being vacated of much of its population.

The proposal details ten large-scale infrastructure projects, including an expansive highway system dubbed the “MBS Ring” in honor of Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the Elon Musk smart manufacturing district. The plan claims that “Gaza Strip can advance as a safe, modern, and prosperous society.”

The idea of clearing Gaza to make way for redevelopment projects is rooted in a concept introduced by President Donald Trump. Since then, it has gained traction in Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly supported the plan, and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz has created a dedicated agency to facilitate the mass exit of Gaza’s residents.

A spokesperson for Tony Blair denied any direct involvement by the former British Prime Minister in formulating the proposal. “Tony Blair himself has neither spoken to the people who prepared this deck nor commented on it. The TBI team speaks to many different groups and organisations with postwar ‘plans’ for Gaza, but had nothing to do with the authorship of this plan,” the spokesperson said.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas officials have told the Saudi-based publication Asharq Al-Awsat that the current indirect talks taking place in Doha, Qatar, are showing a marked shift in tone and seriousness compared to previous negotiations. They credit this change to the more active role the United States is now playing in the discussions.

The representatives noted that in earlier rounds, both Israel and the United States appeared disengaged and uncommitted to meaningful progress. This time, however, the dynamic has shifted due to Washington’s stepped-up efforts, which have pushed the talks forward in a more constructive direction.

“Although it is difficult to predict the outcome,” one source was quoted as saying, “there is optimism about the chances of success, especially given the clear pressure from the U.S. aimed at reaching an agreement soon.”

They added that if the momentum continues, a ceasefire could be implemented as soon as Thursday. Still, they cautioned that the deal hinges on whether Israel is prepared to accept the terms that Hamas has put forth during the negotiations.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz provided fresh insight into Israel’s recent strike on Iran, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the decision-making process behind Operation “Hila” and its broader strategic context during a press conference today.

Katz explained that the operation was preceded by a series of at least 14 high-level security consultations. One of the central questions was whether the United States would directly participate in the mission or simply offer Israel quiet support to proceed on its own. During that time, the Israeli Air Force upgraded its operational capacity to allow for deep strikes inside Iranian airspace.

He noted that the mission, first formulated back in January, was designed to set back Iran’s progress toward obtaining nuclear weapons, and to pressure the regime into rethinking its nuclear plans. While no direct green light came from Washington, Katz said that Israel interpreted the lack of opposition from the U.S. as indirect approval to move ahead.

The mission’s execution was overseen by a core group: Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz, Minister Ron Dermer, and the IDF’s Chief of Staff. Alongside Operation Hila, a secondary plan—dubbed “Tornado”—was initiated under Katz’s guidance. That strategy aimed to strike infrastructure targets in Tehran to dissuade Iranian retaliation against Israeli civilian areas.

The operation, which received final authorization on May 29, was intended to act as a deterrent against any prospective Iranian aggression. It was launched during a period when much of the Iranian leadership was expected to be home in observance of religious services on June 12.

Katz praised the mission’s accomplishments, crediting joint efforts with the United States. He noted that American B2 bombers participated in strikes on Iran’s nuclear assets. “We dealt a crushing blow to Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities,” Katz declared.

He added that Israel is now building a long-term enforcement strategy to preserve aerial dominance over Iran and to keep up pressure on its weapons development. “If anyone thinks we will forgo this achievement, they are wrong. This is not a daily operation like the ones in southern Lebanon, but the ability to enforce must be present at critical points,” he said.

Katz also issued a warning about the potential for Iran to revive its missile development efforts, stressing that international support—particularly material backing—must be cut off. He emphasized the ongoing importance of global vigilance and sustained diplomatic and economic pressure on Tehran.

Turning to internal matters, Katz addressed disagreements within the Israeli cabinet and defended the IDF Chief of Staff amid mounting criticism. He highlighted the military’s success, pointing out that Israeli forces now control 70% of Gaza. He clarified that while the army secures areas, it does not oversee humanitarian efforts. He acknowledged Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s role in transferring humanitarian aid oversight from Hamas to American organizations, an effort carried out by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Katz also unveiled a new initiative to set up a civilian enclave in Rafah, where as many as 600,000 Gazans could be relocated. This area, situated between the Morag and Philadelphi corridors, would fall under the management of international agencies rather than the Israeli military.

He closed by reiterating that even in the case of a ceasefire or hostage release agreement, Israel must maintain control over the area between Morag and Philadelphi. This, he said, is essential to preventing Hamas from rearming and rebuilding its military infrastructure.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Houthi militants in Yemen launched an assault on a commercial vessel sailing through the Red Sea, targeting the ship near the port city of Hodeidah. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the attackers used multiple small boats armed with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) to strike the Greek-owned vessel.

This incident marks the second attack in as many days by the Iranian-backed Houthis on maritime traffic in the same vicinity. On Sunday, UKMTO also reported that a different commercial ship was targeted in a similar fashion near Hodeidah, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel amid the violence.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Houthi terrorist group has intensified its campaign against maritime traffic, claiming that its targets were connected to Israel. Their tactics have included launching drones, firing missiles, and deploying explosive-laden speedboats. These aggressive actions have significantly disrupted international shipping and contributed to instability in the region. Although the intensity of the attacks subsided after U.S.-led military action and a subsequent truce, the Houthis have continued sporadic aggression.

On Sunday night, the Israel Air Force responded with a wave of strikes against Houthi positions, in retaliation for the group’s persistent ballistic missile attacks aimed at Israeli territory.

Defense Minister Yisroel Katz acknowledged the Israeli offensive, stating, “As part of Operation ‘Black Flag,’ the IDF has now powerfully struck terrorist targets of the Houthi terror regime in the ports of Hodeidah, Al-Salif, and Ras Issa, the Ras Katib power station, and the ship Galaxy Leader which was hijacked by the Houthis about two years ago and is currently being used for terrorist activities in the Red Sea.”

He further warned, “As I warned: The fate of Yemen is the same as that of Tehran. Anyone who tries to harm Israel will be harmed, and anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have their hand cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions.”

{Matzav.com}

A judge has ordered the immediate release of R’ Binyomin Kubani, a father of seven and yungerman learning at Beth Medrash Govoha, who has been sitting in Ocean County Jail since last week after what many are calling a gross miscarriage of justice.

The ordeal began when R’ Binyomin stopped at a car wash on Route 88 with his young child in the car. Days earlier, meat had leaked in the vehicle, leaving behind a strong odor. As he had done before, he approached a Hispanic teenager working at the location and asked whether he’d be willing to come clean the carpets at his home — a routine and innocent request.

But what happened next defied logic. The teen stepped away, snapped a photo of R’ Binyomin, and flagged down a passing Lakewood police car. R’ Binyomin left the premises, unaware that this brief and seemingly unremarkable exchange would result in his arrest, booking, and imprisonment.

According to the police report, the teen claimed to have fled after being “solicited.” However, video footage clearly shows that R’ Binyomin departed before the teen did, directly contradicting the allegation. The footage exposes the inconsistency at the heart of the prosecution’s case and raises serious questions about why R’ Binyomin’s account was never heard, and why he was denied the opportunity to defend himself.

Without any investigation, and without allowing R’ Binyomin the opportunity to explain his side of the story, an officer arrested him.

R’ Binyomin’s attorney, Yosef Jacobovitch, has strongly condemned the arrest and subsequent detention, calling the entire episode “a case of complete miscommunication fueled by assumptions, not facts.”

Despite the flimsy nature of the accusations, R’ Binyomin was jailed, causing tremendous anguish to his wife, children, and the broader community.

Community members have expressed outrage at the hasty actions of law enforcement and the legal system, which appeared to abandon due process in favor of a sensational narrative.

This afternoon, a judge finally ordered R’ Binyomin’s immediate release, allowing him to return home to his family.

While his release is a welcome development, the legal battle is far from over. A court hearing is scheduled for August, and supporters are hoping the absurdity of the charges will be laid bare for all to see.

As of now, the Lakewood community continues to rally around R’ Binyomin and his family, davening that justice will ultimately prevail in this deeply troubling case and those are perpetrated this sham will be held accountable.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Dear Friends,

On Sunday a child in the Catskills was helicoptered to the hospital after a drowning incident. B’chasdei Hashem, the child is doing better. But let this serve as the urgent reminder it is. Too many families have already suffered the unbearable. We cannot continue reading about these stories and just move.  We must act and we must act now!

Recently, leading Rabbonim issued a clear Psak regarding pool safety: It is a halachic obligation to do everything within our power to prevent tragedies, including installing proven technologies that enhance safety and help protect every precious child who enters a pool.*

One of the most effective tools available today is Coral Mylo, an AI-powered underwater camera that constantly monitors the pool and immediately detects a drowning. It acts as a second set of eyes below the surface and triggers a loud alarm, even before a parent realizes what’s happening. We personally know of a child whose life was saved because this device went off just in time.

Team Protect worked hard to secure a limited number of Coral Mylo units at a discounted price. (This is an Israeli start up that invested enormous resources and 10 million hours of training to achieve this remarkable technological break through). Team protect is not making any commission. Our only goal is to help save lives BEH!

Please, do not move on to the next message until you’ve acted to ensure pool your children or grandchildren may use has safety technology in place.

This is not a suggestion. It is a responsibility.

If your bungalow, school, or camp hasn’t installed it yet, consider donating one.

Grandparents, this may be the most important gift you ever give for pools your grandchildren may use.

✅ Act now: www.teamprotect.org/poolsafety

We ask you to forward this to your WhatsApp groups, share it on social media, and email your contacts. You may be helping save a life.

There are other helpful pool safety technologies, and we encourage you to explore them (a comprehensive list will be posted on our site soon BEH) . Generally, they only detect when a child enters a pool unsupervised. However, the CDC reports that 88% of drownings happen while an adult is nearby. That’s why an underwater AI camera that constantly scans the pool is so critical and that is why it’s critical you get this underwater AI camera without delay.

And remember, technology is only part of the solution. Every pool should also have:

• Proper fencing and locked gates

• Clear signage with the address and Hatzalah’s phone number

• Bright-colored swimsuits so children are easily visible underwater

• Swimming lessons — see infantswim.com

• A designated water watcher who is fully attentive, with the phone kept within reach for emergencies only, not for distraction

 Let’s answer this wake up call and BEH may there never be another one!

May we only share besuros tovos and see our children safe and protected.

With urgency and care,

Zvi Boyarsky & Zalmy Cohen

Co-Founders, TeamProtect.org

Shas leader Aryeh Deri lashed out at Opposition Leader Yair Lapid on Monday, fiercely criticizing what he described as a dangerous and inflammatory accusation regarding military service exemptions for the chareidi community.

Lapid, speaking to the press before his Yesh Atid party’s weekly meeting in the Knesset, took aim at efforts by religious parties to legislate permanent draft exemptions for yeshiva students. He declared that Deri and Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee member Yaakov Asher “have no problem sending [reserve] soldiers to go fight and die on one condition: that their own children not die.”

Deri quickly issued a response, rejecting the accusation and defending his community’s contribution to national service. “The percentage of soldiers who serve and risk their lives among Shas voters is higher than among your party’s voters,” he stated.

He went on to accuse Lapid of targeting the chareidi public unfairly and irresponsibly. “Stop pointing an accusing finger at an entire community that contributes to the country with dedication… Your words are serious and false incitement,” Deri said.

He concluded by demanding that Lapid take back what he called a “inflammatory slur.”

Israel’s governing coalition was forced to pull all proposed legislation from the Knesset docket today after Shas and United Torah Judaism declared they would not take part in the session in protest of the continued delay in presenting a law to officially exempt yeshiva students from military service.

United Torah Judaism released a statement announcing their stance: “In light of the fact that the draft conscription law has not been introduced to date, contrary to commitments made… it will not vote with the coalition until the draft law is presented.”

Following the chareidi parties’ announcement, Likud notified its MKs that the legislative schedule was canceled. “You are free for today. Regarding the rest of the week – an announcement will come,” party leadership wrote to lawmakers.

Reacting to the disruption, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid criticized the government’s paralysis. “The coalition has stopped functioning. They don’t have a majority among the people. They don’t have a majority in the Knesset,” he said, renewing his demand for snap elections.

The refusal by Shas and UTJ to vote with the coalition marks a sharp escalation from their previous tactic, when they limited their protest to abstaining on individual private bills sponsored by coalition members.

According to reports in the chareidi press, Shas leader Aryeh Deri told his faction that the entire crisis stems from Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein backing away from a compromise that had previously been negotiated.

“Yuli Edelstein said he was done with the wording of the law and now it’s stuck with the committee’s legal adviser. They’re laughing at us. Not only will we not vote on bills, we won’t enter the plenum at all. They tried to tempt us with promoting a law on rabbinical courts — and we refused,” chareidi sources told Kan radio.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian alleged in an interview with American conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that Israel had made an attempt on his life.

“They did try, yes. They acted accordingly, but they failed,” Pezeshkian responded when Carlson asked if he believed Israel had tried to assassinate him.

Pezeshkian refrained from giving details such as when the alleged attempt took place or whether it coincided with Israel’s recent 12-day air assault on Iranian territory.

When Carlson pressed him on how he could be certain that an attempt had been made, Pezeshkian responded, “Of course, it was not the United States that was behind the attempt on my life… It was Israel,” according to a translated transcript from Persian to English used in the interview.

The Iranian leader explained that he had been in a meeting at the time of the incident. “I was in a meeting… but thanks to the intelligence by the spies that they had, they tried to bombard the area in which we were holding that meeting,” he recounted.

In the same interview, Pezeshkian addressed the topic of nuclear negotiations, indicating Iran is open to returning to the table if trust can be rebuilt between the two countries. “We see no problem in reentering the negotiations,” the Iranian president says.

Still, he stressed that certain assurances would be necessary before talks could resume. “There is a condition… for restarting the talks. How are we going to trust the United States again? We reentered the negotiations, then how can we know for sure that in the middle of the talks the Israeli regime will not be given the permission again to attack us?”

WATCH:

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist Party delivered a forceful speech during his party’s meeting on Monday, vowing to fight tooth and nail against any efforts to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“Delivering logistical aid to Hamas is the craziest occurrence that I’ve come across since the war began. It harms the soldiers, it harms the hostages, it prolongs the war, and it’s bad for the State of Israel,” Smotrich said firmly.

He emphasized that he is unafraid to be the lone voice opposing the prevailing consensus. “I stood alone before the war when I opposed the assumption that Hamas was deterred, when I spoke out against the restraint against Hezbollah, and I stand today as well. I was right then, and I am right now too.”

Commenting on the broader movement toward reaching a temporary agreement with Hamas, he made his red lines clear. “There is one price that we will never be willing to pay – that is the surrender to Hamas terrorism. The saying ‘restraint is strength’ is dead. The idea of a Palestinian state is dead. The illusion that there’s someone to talk to is dead.”

Smotrich described the delivery of supplies into Gaza as a critical miscalculation. “It’s not a matter of military tactics or ranks on one’s shoulders, it’s a question of reason and determination. If Hamas is acting up to prevent aid from being cut off, it’s obvious that this is the right way.”

He also took aim at blind adherence to military brass, urging independent thinking even when faced with high-ranking opinions. “I love and appreciate the IDF Chief of Staff and commanders, but you can’t bow to generals. Not everything they say is correct, and those who forgot the dozens of generals who supported the disengagement [from the Gaza Strip] should go back and remember what they promised us.”

Smotrich ended his remarks with a defiant note, underscoring his purpose in government. “I am not here to be embraced in the TV studios. I am here for the soldiers, for the residents of the Gaza envelope, for the truth. We will continue to strive for victory, even if it takes time, even if we’re the only voice left in the room.”

{Matzav.com}

MK Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beytenu party, launched a fierce attack against the Israeli coalition, asserting that the government is actively obstructing efforts to finalize a comprehensive agreement to secure the release of the hostages.

During a speech that opened his party’s faction meeting, Lieberman issued a scathing remark: “The soldiers who fell in the last few months did not fall for Israel’s security — they fell on the altar of coalition preservation.”

In response to Lieberman’s accusations, Yehuda Vald, Director-General of the Religious Zionism party, issued a strongly worded rebuttal. “Liberman’s statement is the epitome of insensitivity, cynicism, and heartlessness,” Vald stated.

He continued, condemning Lieberman’s rhetoric as a betrayal of the military’s sacrifices. “While our heroic soldiers are fighting in Gaza to bring back the hostages and destroy Hamas, he tells them they’re there for nothing. While mothers bury their sons who fought for the country, he spits in their faces and desecrates their deaths. Lieberman has no place in Israeli politics. Period.”

Adding to the outrage, bereaved father Itzik Bonzel lashed out at Liberman, comparing his stance to that of controversial Arab MKs. “Lieberman and Yair Golan are truly fully cooperating, working hand in hand with [Joint List MKs] Ofer Cassif and Ayman Odeh. Mr. Lieberman, you have lost it. ‘Take your shoes off your feet’ when you speak about our holy sons.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A newly uncovered internal campaign memo reveals that Joe Biden’s advisors pushed him to commit to an early debate with Donald Trump in hopes of securing a broader audience ahead of the crowded summer season.

The confidential six-page strategy paper, dated April 15, 2024—just over two months before Biden’s ill-fated debate showing—oddly features bolded and capitalized references to the 46th president throughout the text.

“By holding the first debate in the spring, YOU will be able to reach the widest audience possible, before we are deep in the summer months with the conventions, Olympics, and family vacations taking precedence,” the memo stated, according to Politico.

The strategy laid out in the document aimed to place Biden side-by-side with Trump early, hoping the contrast would benefit the sitting president.

“In addition, the earlier YOU are able to debate the better, so that the American people can see YOU standing next to Trump and showing the strength of YOUR leadership, compared to Trump’s weakness and chaos,” it added.

The internal memo is cited in the new political book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, authored by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf.

Just prior to the memo’s circulation, Trump’s camp issued a public challenge to Biden, urging him to step onto the debate stage ahead of the traditional fall schedule, declaring he would debate “anytime, anywhere, anyplace.”

“Your senior advisors, including Ron [Klain, former White House chief of staff] and Cedric [Richmond, then campaign co-chair], continue to believe it is important to move forward with a plan that supports your participation in debates as early as possible,” the memo also emphasized.

The document warned against waiting until late in the campaign season, arguing that by then, many voters in key swing states would have already submitted mail-in ballots or missed registration deadlines.

“YOUR Senior Advisors think strategically holding these debates in the fall, after many of the battleground states have already begun their early voting process and voter registration deadlines have passed is too late,” the memo stated, pointing to states like Wisconsin and North Carolina.

The plan outlined in the memo proposed hosting a debate prior to the Democratic National Convention in August, and a follow-up after Labor Day. The idea was to reassess the campaign’s direction after the first showdown.

Biden’s team homed in on June 26 or 27 for the first debate, aligning the date with his travel schedule and notable events such as the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade.

One month after the memo’s drafting, Biden officially issued a challenge to Trump to meet him onstage, a proposition the Trump campaign immediately accepted.

The candidates agreed on two debate dates: the first on June 27, the second scheduled for September 10.

That second debate never took place. Biden’s disastrous first performance triggered panic within the Democratic Party, and mounting pressure ultimately forced him to end his re-election campaign on July 21.

{Matzav.com}

The chareidi factions in the Knesset issued a strong warning Monday morning, signaling they may intensify their protest and halt support for coalition-backed legislation unless serious movement is made on the long-stalled Draft Law.

As reported by Kan Reshet Bet, the main form of pressure being considered by the chareidi lawmakers is to withhold cooperation on legislative matters, including bills introduced by the government itself.

Despite the standoff, United Torah Judaism representatives are facing a key decision Monday: whether to back the appointment of their own member, MK Yisroel Eichler, as Minister of Construction and Housing.

While insiders anticipate that UTJ members will ultimately cast their votes in favor of Eichler’s appointment so he can take up the ministerial role, the final word will come only after the party convenes internally.

Officials within both Shas and United Torah Judaism have said they expect MK Yuli Edelstein, who heads the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, to bring the Draft Law forward. They remain hopeful that there will be sufficient time to pass it before the Knesset wraps up its summer session in three weeks.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

R’ Binyomin Kubani is sitting in jail.

Yes, still. After being arrested on a baseless charge, with video footage that clears him, after public outcry and protests, after headlines and meetings and “connections being called”—a kollel yungerman, a father, who did absolutely nothing wrong, is still behind bars.

And what have our “askanim” accomplished?

Nothing.

I’m not saying they didn’t try. They may have stayed up all night. They may have devoted every second. But they were not effective.

What have our “elected officials,” the ones we proudly parade around, the ones who send us polished statements and take pictures — what have they done?

Nothing.

Let’s say it clearly: this story rips off the illusion we’ve built for ourselves and throws us face-first into the harsh, undeniable truth: We are in golus. Real, unvarnished, spine-chilling golus. The kind we read about in books and say we can’t relate to. Well, guess what? It’s here. Now. And it’s not a chapter in Jewish history. It’s the front page of today’s news.

We don’t belong here.

We are living in a country that tolerates us, not one that truly accepts us. We built communities, we followed the law, we worked hard, we sent lobbyists, we learned how to smile and play the game—but deep down, we’re still the Jew with the yarmulka, still the outsider, still the one who can be accused and arrested without a shred of evidence while everyone else “lets the process play out.”

What process?

A video clears him. Common sense clears him. Human decency clears him. And yet, he sits.

Because we’re in golus.

And our “askanim”? Our “power brokers”? Let’s be honest. It’s a nice title. It looks good on WhatsApp statuses. But when it came time to actually wield influence, they folded like paper. All the connections, all the dinners, all the handshakes…they amount to nothing when a Jew is thrown into a cage and we can’t get him out.

We’re not as powerful as we thought we were. In fact, we’re powerless.

And our elected officials? They like us when we fill their campaign coffers. They love us when we deliver votes in key districts. But when the mob turns on a Jew, when the winds shift, they vanish. Powerless.

The joke’s on us.

We convinced ourselves that we were comfortable in golus. We learned to love it here. We mistook tolerance for permanence. We thought we could live like everyone else. But moments like these rip off the mask and remind us that we’re still in the hands of a system that was never built to protect us.

We’re not home.

And if this isn’t a wake-up call, I don’t know what is. A yungerman sits in a jail cell, stripped of his dignity, his freedom, his basic rights. And we? We’re left grasping for answers, scrambling for someone—anyone—to step up and do what’s right.

But there’s no one to rely on. Ein lanu al mi lehisha’ein ela al Avinu shebashamayim. And maybe that’s the point. Maybe Hashem is showing us, again, that it’s time to open our eyes. Time to remember where we are. Time to realize we’ve been lulled into a false sense of security.

This isn’t just about R’ Binyomin Kubani.

This is about a nation that forgot it was in golus.

Let us be shaken. Let us be furious. Let us cry out—not just for him, but for ourselves. Because until we remember where we truly are, we won’t begin to daven for where we need to be.

A Yid in Golus

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{Matzav.com}

Zohran Mamdani, the Muslim socialist candidate in New York City’s mayoral race, has drawn renewed scrutiny after disturbing past comments made by his father resurfaced—statements linking Abraham Lincoln to Adolf Hitler and equating Allied actions in World War II to those of the Nazis. The controversy has intensified amid Mamdani’s own history of promoting far-left positions.

At a 2022 panel event hosted by the Asia Society, Mamdani’s father, Mahmood Mamdani—a professor at Columbia University—made the startling assertion that the United States pioneered global settler-colonialism and that Abraham Lincoln’s Civil War policies provided the Nazis with a model for genocide.

“With the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln generalized the solution of reservations, they herded American Indians into separate territories,” said Mamdani. “For the Nazis, this was the inspiration – Hitler realized two things: one, that genocide is doable. It is possible to do genocide, that’s what Hitler realized. Second thing Hitler realized, is that you don’t have to have a common citizenship.”

Professor Mamdani, who holds the Herbert Lehman chair in government at Columbia, went on to claim that Germany’s infamous Nuremberg Laws—widely recognized as a cornerstone of Nazi racial policy—were inspired by American legal precedents.

He also argued that there is no meaningful distinction between nationalism and colonialism and claimed that the postwar efforts by Allied forces mirrored Nazi ideals.

“The Nazi political project was shared by the Allies, and that political project was to turn Germany into a ‘pure’ nation. A ‘pure’ nation rid of its minorities,” Mamdani declared.

“When the Allies defeated the Nazis and went into Eastern Europe, they began to create ‘pure’ nations. To ethnically cleanse Eastern Europe of Germans – move them back into Germany. One crime doesn’t wipe out another.”

As Mamdani’s political profile grows following a surprising performance in New York’s Democratic mayoral primary, his own controversial statements—alongside those of his father—are being scrutinized more closely.

One video from a 2021 Young Democratic Socialists of America event captured Mamdani telling attendees that they should never compromise on revolutionary objectives, stating explicitly the need to “seiz[e] the means of production.”

Another video, produced by The Gravel Institute, features Mamdani advocating for a complete overhaul of the housing market. In his view, residential real estate should no longer be private property but a collective good. “If we want to end the housing crisis, the solution has to be moving toward the full de-commodification of housing,” Mamdani said in the video, calling for a system with shared amenities like co-op kitchens and communal laundromats.

Critics argue that the views expressed by his father reflect the ideological environment in which Mamdani was raised, potentially shaping his approach to governance. A New York Times profile described Mamdani’s upbringing as one enriched by political discourse, thanks in part to his father’s academic influence and his mother’s work as an Oscar-nominated filmmaker.

In another interview promoting his book Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the Roots of Terror, Professor Mamdani minimized the distinction between suicide bombers and traditional military personnel. He claimed that “suicide bomber” is a misleading term and equated such attackers to “soldier[s] whose objective is to kill.”

Perhaps most provocatively, the elder Mamdani has reportedly described the State of Israel as “the logical conclusion of Nazism,” according to academic material cited by the Washington Free Beacon.

{Matzav.com}

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has raised alarms about what he describes as a potential apocalyptic scenario: a joint military offensive launched by China and Russia that could ignite World War III. Rutte outlined a chilling vision in which Chinese leader Xi Jinping targets Taiwan while Russian President Vladimir Putin simultaneously initiates an attack on NATO territory in Europe—an escalation that, according to Rutte, could bring the world to the brink of annihilation.

Rutte warned that China might move on Taiwan, but not without coordinating with the Kremlin. He suggested that Putin could exploit the chaos by striking vulnerable NATO members, especially the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—former Soviet republics that have long feared renewed aggression from Moscow.

He emphasized that Putin is currently engaged in efforts to undermine European stability, all while carefully observing how the West and its partners react to his provocations.

Speaking with The New York Times, Rutte explained the dire need for NATO countries to drastically ramp up their military spending and preparedness to prevent what he characterized as an ultimate showdown between good and evil. “Let’s not be naïve about this,” he cautioned, adding: “If Xi Jinping would attack Taiwan, he would first make sure that he makes a call to his very junior partner in all of this, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, residing in Moscow, and telling him, ‘Hey, I’m going to do this, and I need you to to keep them busy in Europe by attacking NATO territory. That is most likely the way this will progress, and to deter them, we need to do two things.”

Rutte, who previously served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, stated that the West must immediately bolster its defense posture by meeting two critical goals: “One is that NATO, collectively, being so strong that the Russians will never do this.

“And second, working together with the Indo-Pacific – something President [Donald] Trump is very much promoting, because we have this close interconnectedness, working together on defence industry, innovation between NATO and the Indo-Pacific.”

He also stressed that Russia is accelerating its military build-up and warned that democratic nations must act swiftly to keep pace with Putin’s growing arsenal. “We have an enormous geopolitical challenge on our hands,” he admitted.

Dmitry Medvedev, a senior figure in Putin’s security circle and Russia’s former president, derided Rutte’s prediction in a post on X, writing: “Rutte has clearly gorged on too many of the magic mushrooms beloved by the Dutch.”

Rutte’s grim outlook comes as Russia continues to intensify its military assault on Ukraine. Just days ago, Putin reportedly told President Trump in a phone call that he had no intention of ending the war or relinquishing any seized territory.

“We had a call. It was a pretty long call and we talked about a lot of things, including Iran and we also talked about, you know, the war with Ukraine,” Trump said to reporters while speaking from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, according to UPI.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Handwritten and autographed letter by the Ksav Sofer, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Pressburg, the eldest son and successor of the illustrious Chasam Sofer.

A shocking incident rocked the Zvhill Yeshiva in Yerushalayim’s Beis Yisroel neighborhood this week, as dozens of yeshiva bochurim who had been expelled stormed the building in protest, vandalizing the premises and causing damage estimated at over 100,000 shekel.

The dramatic episode unfolded after the sudden and unexpected closure of the yeshiva, leaving nearly 70 talmidim without any alternative learning framework.

The expulsion came after sweeping changes initiated by a newly appointed member of the yeshiva’s hanhalah, who had sought to transform Zvhill into a top-tier Chassidishe yeshiva. As part of that plan, the staff was replaced and a new direction was taken. Then, the talmidim were told that the yeshiva would shut down by the end of the zeman, and that no assistance would be provided in helping them find new yeshivos. “Everyone should fend for themselves,” they were told.

In a symbolic and provocative act of protest, the expelled bochurim staged what they described as a “funeral” for the yeshiva. Inside the beis medrash, they constructed a bier from benches, placed a “body” draped in a tallis on top, and labeled it with a sign reading, “Zvhill Yeshiva HY”D.” One of the bochurim, dressed in mourning garb, delivered a mock hesped.

Desperate appeals were made by distraught parents and shocked bochurim, who pointed out that yeshiva registration had long closed in most places for the upcoming zeman, and that they had been left with no place to go. The education official who orchestrated the closure reportedly reiterated that he would not assist any bochur in securing a new yeshiva.

In the weeks prior, rumors spread that the yeshiva would reopen under a new name—Yeshivas Beis Mordechai—and become a klal chassidishe yeshiva, no longer carrying the Zvhill name. Reports also surfaced of arrangements being made with other chassidic groups like Nadvorna and Skulen in Yerushalayim, as well as Yeshivas Meor Einayim of Rachmastrivka, to send their talmidim to this new institution. The revamped yeshiva would reportedly accept only select talmidim and be under the exclusive direction of the same educational figure.

This method—closing a yeshiva, reopening it under new terms, and enforcing stricter takanos—is not unusual in the chassidishe yeshiva world.

But events came to a head this past week, when the remaining talmidim were abruptly informed in the middle of the day that the yeshiva was being closed immediately and that they had to pack their belongings and leave. Some left quietly. Others erupted in anger.

What followed was a riot. Enraged students vandalized the building, destroying property and creating chaos. Security guards, some visibly armed, were called in to subdue the crowd. The confrontation quickly escalated into a physical altercation.

Amid the pandemonium, the Rebbe of Zvhill, who had left the building just an hour earlier, returned. Witnesses say he walked into the beis medrash, shouted “Get out of here, you chutzpahdike boys!” and watched with visible anguish as the rioting talmidim fled in disarray.

Despite their anger, the expelled talmidim insist they will not switch allegiances to the rival Zvhill yeshiva run by the Rebbe’s uncle. “We remain loyal to our roots,” one said. “We won’t go to the other Zvhill yeshiva. We are separating between the chassidus and the yeshiva.”

Originally, the hanhalah had planned to offer the expelled bochurim a temporary placement in the Zvhill beis medrash in Beitar Illit until Av. However, following the outburst and destruction caused during the protest, that plan was rescinded.

Some talmidim tried to continue learning on their own in the beis medrash, without the presence of the yeshiva staff. But they were interrupted when the yeshiva’s building manager shut off the lights and air conditioning. Acting on what he described as a direct order from the Rebbe, he barred all of them from entering any Zvhill batei medrash in Israel.

The talmid concluded with pain in his voice: “Dozens of us are now out on the street. Even worse, some boys have started talking about enlisting in the army as a form of revenge against the hanhalah that tossed them aside without taking responsibility.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., tells ‘The Big Weekend Show’ how dangerous she believes Democratic NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani would be for the city.

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