Matzav

In a stirring event marked by urgency, thousands gathered on Thursday afternoon at the Dushinsky beis medrash in Yerushalayim for a powerful atzeres tefillah u’pidyon nefesh on behalf of Rofeh Cholim Yerushalayim (RCCS). The gathering was prompted by the troubling increase in serious illness cases this past year.

The asifa was initiated personally by the Dushinsky Rebbe, who has long been familiar with and supportive of the work of RCCS. Ahead of the atzeres, the Rebbe issued a heartfelt kol korei, decrying the difficult reality in which so many families are facing illness and desperately seeking a yeshuah. The Rebbe praised the organization for being a true source of rescue and relief to countless Jewish homes grappling with the harshest of diagnoses.

The day began with a special event at the Rebbe’s residence, during which community members raised significant funds for RCCS. Immediately afterward, the Rebbe entered the main beis medrash, already filled to capacity with a crowd that had arrived from all corners of the country via organized transportation.

The atmosphere was electric as the gathering opened with heartfelt chapters of Tehillim, led by Rav Alexander Halevi Haberfeld.

The Dushinsky Rebbe then invited the renowned mashpia, Rav Elimelech Biderman. In his trademark passionate style, Rav Biderman moved the audience to introspection, emphasizing the vital role of teshuvah, tefillah, and tzedakah in securing Heavenly mercy for those suffering. His words left a deep impression on all who listened.

Following his remarks, the Rebbe, wrapped in his tallis, stepped to the amud and led the crowd in Yom Kippur Koton tefillos.

After mincha, Rav Yitzchok Kirshenbaum, a ram at Yeshivas Torah Ohr, spoke about the vital cases that cross the desks of RCCS askanim daily. He impressed upon the crowd the gravity of the moment and the opportunity to bring brachah into their lives through participation in this mamad shel chizuk.

The Dushinsky Rebbe delivered impassioned words, speaking with visible emotion about the mission of RCCS. “When they support a Jewish home struggling with illness,” he declared, “they are literally saving the family from collapse.” The Rebbe urged the crowd to contribute generously to this cause.

Following his speech and the conclusion of Maariv, attendees lined up for more than an hour to pledge donations and submit names for yeshuos and rachamim.

העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס

העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס

העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס

העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס העצרת בביהמ”ד דושינסקיאצילום: שלומי טריכטר ושלום קרויס

In the wake of controversial remarks made by United Torah Judaism chairman and former minister Yitzchok Goldknopf, veteran Degel HaTorah figure MK Yitzchok Pindrus publicly distanced himself from the statements, emphasizing the importance of empathizing with the pain of others—even across ideological lines.

Goldknopf sparked outrage following an interview published in Makor Rishon over the weekend, in which he dismissed the pain felt by the religious Zionist community during the ongoing war, stating: “Their pain will stay with them, and our pain will stay with us.”

In a Friday afternoon interview with Kan Reshet Bet, Pindrus made it clear that he rejects such sentiments. “I cannot accept those words,” he said. “It is the most basic thing to identify with someone else’s pain—even when ideological disagreements exist. The chareidi public is grateful to the soldiers and their families, and we share in their sorrow.”

Pindrus added, “I don’t know why he chose to speak that way. I’m not his spokesperson—but I’m stating my own opinion, and so are many of our rabbonim, who spoke to me this morning.”

Sources told B’Chadrei Chareidim that Pindrus’s remarks came in response to a direct instruction from Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who was reportedly deeply disturbed after reading a transcript of Goldknopf’s interview. Rav Hirsch reportedly instructed that a swift and public response be issued, rejecting the tone and content of Goldknopf’s dismissal of the religious Zionist community’s grief.

In the interview that ignited the backlash, Goldknopf had stated that the chareidi community would not alter its way of life even amid war. He claimed that if forced conscription were imposed, “they will leave the country.”

He went on to argue that the issue lies not with the chareidim but with “100,000 draft dodgers in Gush Dan,” and questioned the emotional reactions of reservists and their families: “I don’t understand that pain—if this person chose that path, then he goes.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump accused Barack Obama of engaging in “criminal acts” and said the Supreme Court’s recent decision on presidential immunity likely shields Obama from prosecution.

Last week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced that she had submitted what she called “overwhelming evidence” to the Department of Justice, alleging that Obama and his top national security officials orchestrated a “yearslong” Russia-related operation to sabotage Trump following his victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

In July, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents are entitled to a degree of legal immunity for actions taken while in office. That ruling delayed ongoing legal proceedings against Trump in Washington, where he faces accusations of attempting to undo the 2020 election results.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Friday, Trump was asked whether the court’s immunity decision might also apply to Obama’s role in the events related to the Russia probe.

“It probably helps him a lot, probably helps him a lot, the immunity ruling,” Trump told reporters before departing for Scotland. “But it doesn’t help the people around him at all. But it probably helps him a lot.

“He’s done criminal acts, there’s no question about it. But he has immunity and it probably helped him a lot.”

Gabbard, speaking to Newsmax on Thursday, said she had no trouble concluding that Obama and his team had taken part in a plot she described as a “treasonous conspiracy” aimed at disrupting Trump’s presidency.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing standoff with Hamas again this morning, reiterating his longstanding belief that negotiations would fall apart near the end. “I’ve always said the most difficult part would be releasing the last 10 to 20 hostages. Hamas blew up the deal. I’ve always said that when we get to the final hostages, Hamas will never be willing to make a deal,” he said.

Trump argued that the time had come for Israel to eliminate the terrorist group once and for all. “We’ve reached the point where the job against Hamas must be finished. The Israelis will have to fight and clear the area. We’ll need to get rid of Hamas.”

He also appeared to hint at the likelihood of assassinations targeting Hamas leadership. “Hamas never really wanted a deal. I think they’re about to be hunted down.”

In addition, Trump dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal for Palestinian statehood, brushing it off as unimportant and saying it was “irrelevant.”

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Netanyahu posted a statement in English backing U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who had recently blamed Hamas for obstructing the latest hostage deal. “Special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, was right. Hamas is the obstacle to the release of the hostages.”

Netanyahu continued: “Together with our American allies, we are currently considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas’s reign of terror, and secure peace for Israel and our region.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich replied to Netanyahu’s message on X, formerly known as Twitter, issuing a blunt statement against ongoing negotiations. “The humiliating negotiation ceremony with terrorists is over,” he wrote. Directing his words at Netanyahu, he added: “Now is the time for victory!”

At the same time, Netanyahu gathered members of the security cabinet for a high-level meeting to review recent developments in the stalled hostage talks. In attendance were Defense Minister Israel Katz, along with Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir. However, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Shas party leader Aryeh Deri were notably absent from the session.

Aryeh Ehrlich, a leading chareidi journalist and editor at Mishpacha magazine, issued a sharp condemnation of United Torah Judaism MK Yitzchok Goldknopf following controversial remarks the MK made about bereaved families in the religious Zionist community amid Israel’s war with Hamas.

Speaking in an interview published in Makor Rishon over the weekend, Goldknopf remarked: “Their pain should remain with them, and our pain should remain with us. Don’t bring me your pain and pass it onto me. Let’s decide that everyone deals with their own package.”

Ehrlich took to Twitter in an emotional response, expressing deep shame over the remarks:
“I am ashamed and humiliated by the words spoken by my representative in the Knesset. I literally bury my head in shame at such callous and un-Jewish quotes like ‘Don’t dump your pain on us’ or ‘Everyone with their own package’—such alienating remarks that go against everything our Sages taught us about the suffering of Israel, and about how when a Jew is in pain, the Divine Presence cries and says, ‘It is too heavy for My head, too heavy for My arm.’”

He pointed to the example of Moshe Rabbeinu, contrasting it with Goldknopf’s tone: “Even though Moshe was exempt from the burden of slavery in Egypt because he was from shevet Levi, he still came down to witness his brothers’ suffering and to truly feel their pain.”

Ehrlich clarified that while there are clear ideological divides between the chareidi and religious-Zionist worlds, that shouldn’t eclipse the basic duty to care for fellow Jews: “The issue of army enlistment is a serious point of contention between us and the religious-Zionist community. We Haredim sincerely believe that the place for young yeshiva students is exclusively in the tent of Torah. We have fears and difficulties around the draft in general, and especially regarding the enlistment of yeshiva students. This won’t be solved overnight.”

But, he emphasized, the cold, divisive tone of Goldknopf’s words betrays the values of the chareidi world: “But this tone-deaf attitude, as reflected in the quotes from that interview, has no connection whatsoever to authentic chareidi thought as we received it from our rabbis across all communities—Sephardic, Lithuanian, and certainly Chassidic, who were raised on the foundations of ahavas Yisroel. And Goldknopf claims to represent the Hasidic community. Our rabbis were horrified to their core and couldn’t eat or drink on days when Jewish soldiers fell on the battlefield. In the past, they would declare fasts and hold special assemblies.”

He shared a poignant memory to illustrate how much things have changed: “I remember from my childhood the days when even one Jewish soldier—Nachshon Wachsman, of blessed memory—was in captivity, and all the great rabbis of Jerusalem flocked to a massive prayer rally at the Zichron Moshe synagogue, which was packed with thousands of worried worshippers. What has happened to us since then? Where has the basic Jewish empathy for the suffering of our brothers gone? Where has the value of sharing another’s pain and identifying with their anguish disappeared to?”

Ehrlich stated clearly that remarks like Goldknopf’s are not only inappropriate—they’re damaging: “Let it be emphasized and clarified: this cold and alienating approach, and such callous statements like ‘that’s your pain,’ are completely unrelated to our position on the issue of yeshiva students, not even indirectly. They do not advance Torah study in any way.”

He urged the chareidi community to do some soul-searching in this fraught time: “We are living in a complex time. Passions are flaring. Emotions are running high. Anger and pain are growing on all sides. And precisely for that reason, we must refine our outlook as Jews and people of Torah—whose hearts are not indifferent to the pain of others. We must approach bereaved families with reverence and say to them: even if we don’t agree on the issue of yeshiva students, our hearts are with your pain, your sorrow is our sorrow, we carry your grief—because the people of Israel are one body. Even if we’re not with you in the army, we are with you in heart, in soul, and in spirit.”

Finally, Ehrlich addressed the practice of some chareidi MKs avoiding nichum aveilim visits during the war and the consequences of that absence: “The conclusion from all this is that the chareidi MKs are making a serious mistake by avoiding visits to mourning families, despite the difficulty and fear of criticism. It turns out that this avoidance breeds insensitivity toward others’ pain—an insensitivity that has nothing to do with our stance on the draft, and in fact, severely damages our concern for the status of yeshiva students.”

He wrapped up with a passionate call for decency and compassion: “This is a position I’ve heard from major yeshiva leaders of our generation—including in the past 24 hours. I sincerely hope that Goldknopf will find the decency to publicly retract his words—without asterisks, and without claiming ‘my words were taken out of context.’ I also hope his fellow Haredi representatives learn from this mistake and adopt an approach that is humane, compassionate, and Jewish, even if complex and not black-and-white.”

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Friday mocked Paris’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state, suggesting that this new entity be located in southern France and named after a fictional monster.

French President Emmanuel “Macron’s unilateral ‘declaration’ of a ‘Palestinian’ state didn’t say WHERE it would be. I can now exclusively disclose that France will offer the French Riviera & the new nation will be called ‘Franc-en-Stine,’ tweeted Huckabee, in a reference to Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein.

In another X post, the American envoy quipped: “How clever! If Macron can just ‘declare’ the existence of a state perhaps the UK can ‘declare’ France a British colony!”

Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, said on Thursday that Washington “strongly rejects” Macron’s plan.

“This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace,” Rubio said. “It is a slap in the face to the victims of Oct. 7.”

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu “strongly” condemned Macron’s decision “to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the Oct. 7 massacre.”

“Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became,” he said. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah and son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler, has succeeded in applying classical Talmudical analysis and methodology to understanding all areas of Yiddishkeit, bringing out its profundity and sense.

LISTEN:

{Matzav.com}

Governor Kathy Hochul left the door open Thursday to the idea of revisiting New York’s congressional district boundaries, a possibility now under consideration as Republican-led states like Texas and Ohio pursue mid-cycle redistricting.

“All’s fair in love and war. We’re following the rules. We do redistricting every 10 years,” Hochul said during an unrelated press appearance in Buffalo. “But if there’s other states violating the rules and are trying to give themselves an advantage, all I’ll say is, I’m going to look at it closely with Hakeem Jeffries.”

Her comments marked the first time she publicly addressed the issue since Texas Governor Greg Abbott called a special legislative session focused on redistricting. According to two sources familiar with the matter, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ staff discussed the situation with Hochul’s team earlier this month following Abbott’s announcement.

“I’m not surprised that they’re trying to break the rules to get an advantage,” Hochul continued. “But that’s undemocratic, and not only are we calling them out, we’re also going to see what our options are.”

Jeffries also weighed in earlier this week, emphasizing that Democrats must remain proactive. “I’m in conversation with members of the New York delegation, as well as the governor, to explore what, if anything else, can be done to ensure that New York does its part with respect to fair maps across the country,” he said during a podcast interview. “And every single state is going to have to do the same thing because Republicans are desperate.”

If New York were to move forward with an early redrawing of its House districts, it would almost certainly face legal scrutiny. The state’s constitution permits redistricting only once every decade, based on census data, making any deviation from that timeline contentious.

Republican lawmakers in Albany swiftly criticized Hochul’s remarks. “Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats are experts at rigging the rules to protect their power and silence voters,” said State Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt.

The path to fast-track another round of redistricting in New York is murky at best. A previous round of litigation already forced the state’s redistricting commission to go back to the drawing board, culminating in a new map in early 2024. A fresh lawsuit challenging those lines could potentially reopen the process, but the timeline would be extraordinarily tight to have new boundaries in place before the 2026 election cycle.

“Right now, will Texas redraw its map, and will California then follow? Expect the unexpected,” said Jeff Wice, a redistricting authority and professor at New York Law School. “We’re really in uncharted waters.”

Hochul’s remarks reflect the broader national battle shaping up over control of the narrowly divided House of Representatives. Although Democrats hold significant influence in New York, a number of competitive districts remain, which could tip the balance of power in the final stretch of President Donald Trump’s term.

Her rhetoric also aligns with that of other Democratic governors in deep-blue states who are openly considering retaliatory redistricting measures. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom has floated the idea of discarding current district maps to boost Democratic prospects. Meanwhile, Barack Obama is scheduled to headline a fundraiser for a Democratic redistricting organization aiming to counter the GOP’s maneuvers.

Still, not all Democratic leaders in New York are convinced that reopening the redistricting process is the right call. “I understand those in New York who are watching what’s happening in Texas and Ohio want to offset their unfair advantage,” said state Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs in an interview with POLITICO. “But I think we need to be careful about democracy, because I’m finding it to be pretty fragile at this time in our history.”

Jacobs further argued that any attempt to redraw the maps could clash with the state’s foundational legal principles. “You don’t change the rules of the game to your advantage just because you can,” he said. “The constitution seems pretty clear that this redistricting process should be done every 10 years. I don’t know where someone could interpret it as something you can do every two years.”

{Matzav.com}

New York City mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo expressed concern during a Thursday interview that his challenger, Zohran Mamdani, has a built-in edge heading into the general election this November, thanks to his place on the Democratic line.

Cuomo, who previously served as New York’s governor, launched an independent campaign following his defeat in the Democratic primary. He said he’s worried that Mamdani’s affiliation with the Democratic Party will automatically attract voters who identify with that label.

“A multicandidate field favors Mamdani — because he’s a socialist on the Democratic line. I’m a Democrat on an independent line,” Cuomo said during his appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

He added, “Because politics is all upside down in this country right now.”

Continuing his remarks, Cuomo said, “But you have a lot of people who knee-jerk go to the Democratic line, right? About 70 percent of the voters are Democrats in the general election, and he’ll be on the Democratic line. So multicandidate field favors him.”

Cuomo declared his intention to remain in the mayoral race as an independent on July 14, just days after his loss to Mamdani in the primary contest.

Mamdani won by a margin of roughly 12 percentage points in the third round of the ranked-choice system, securing 56 percent of the vote to Cuomo’s 44 percent.

As things stand, the general election ballot will feature Mamdani, Cuomo, sitting Mayor Eric Adams—who is also running as an independent—and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Some of Mamdani’s opponents are uneasy about the prospect of a fractured field, fearing that a split in the anti-Mamdani vote could hand him the win without much resistance.

To avoid that outcome, Cuomo has floated a deal in which he and Adams would monitor their standings, and whichever candidate is trailing in mid-September would withdraw and endorse the other in a strategic attempt to unite voters behind a single challenger to Mamdani.

{Matzav.com}

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina voiced strong opposition on Thursday to President Emmanuel Macron’s declaration that France will officially recognize a Palestinian state, cautioning that the decision could serve to strengthen Hamas and obstruct any hope of reaching a ceasefire.

“The French government’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state is curious and disturbing on multiple levels. I am certain this will embolden Hamas and make a ceasefire more difficult,” Graham wrote on X.

He then raised a series of critical questions about the practical implications of the move: “In addition, here are some questions that come to mind. Who’s in charge? What are the borders and boundaries? What is the governance structure? Does Hamas stay involved politically or militarily? Is the West Bank and Gaza part of a single state? Are they allowed to have an army? Does the education system change?”

Graham concluded with biting sarcasm: “Other than these few missing details, it seems like a foolproof plan!”

Earlier, Macron laid out his case for France’s decision, insisting that the path to lasting peace must include the establishment of a Palestinian state. “Peace is possible,” he said, emphasizing the necessary conditions: “There must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid for the population of Gaza. Hamas must also be demilitarized, Gaza must be secured and rebuilt. Finally, the State of Palestine must be built, its viability ensured, and through its acceptance of demilitarization and full recognition of Israel, it must contribute to the security of all in the Middle East.”

He concluded his remarks with a firm declaration: “There is no alternative.”

Macron also expressed the will of his nation in seeking an end to the violence. “The French people want peace in the Middle East. It is our responsibility, as French people, together with Israelis, Palestinians, our European and international partners, to show that this is possible.”

Responding sharply to Macron’s decision, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a pointed condemnation. “We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre.”

He continued, “Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel,” added Netanyahu.

{Matzav.com}

Knesset Member Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism has introduced legislation aimed at reducing the minimum voting age for national elections in Israel from 18 to 17. The initiative would bring national voting rules in line with those of municipal elections and echo a broader movement seen in other democratic nations.

In the rationale accompanying the bill, Porush explained, “17-year-olds in Israel are active citizens engaged in social, political, and economic issues.”

“They show a strong interest in the country’s future, care deeply about public matters, and are willing to take responsibility for shaping their future. Lowering the voting age will enable them to express their views at the ballot box and influence decision-makers directly.”

Porush cited findings from the Knesset Research and Information Center that show numerous established democracies have already taken steps to lower the voting age for local elections to 17 — and in some cases, to 16. “Adopting this standard will align Israel with leading countries that promote the expansion of civil rights,” he said.

He also pointed to data from Austria and other countries, where giving the vote to younger individuals has led to impressive turnout numbers, even higher than those seen in the 18 to 21 demographic. Porush explained that this is likely due to the fact that 17-year-olds are more likely to still live at home, attend school, and be surrounded by support systems that encourage political involvement. In contrast, many 18-year-olds are in periods of transition that can make them less focused on participating in elections.

“Lowering the voting age will add approximately 120,000 eligible voters,” the proposal concludes. “This step is expected to increase overall turnout, enhance youth engagement in public discourse, and prompt the political system to address the concerns of the younger generation more seriously. It will strengthen Israeli democracy and make it more representative of all its citizens.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

At an emotional event held at the Chabad House of Rechavia in Yerushalayim, Tzvika Mor, father of hostage Eitan Mor who remains captive in Gaza, shared a gripping personal account he recently heard from a survivor of Hamas captivity — someone who had encountered his son inside the terror tunnels.

Speaking at the event hosted by Rabbi Yisrael Goldberg, director of the Rechavia Chabad House and a prominent neighborhood rov, Mor relayed what the released hostage had described to him in a deeply moving conversation.

“For the first fifty days of his captivity, he was moved from house to house among Gaza families,” said Mor, quoting the survivor. “Then, after fifty days, Hamas terrorists led him down into a tunnel. I asked him what he did all those days inside those homes, and he told me: ‘I prayed.’”

“Though he is not religious,” Mor continued, “he told me he prayed all day to the Ribbono shel Olam. He said, ‘I just talked to Him. I live in Eretz Yisrael, and I told Him everything I knew I was supposed to say. I told Him I had nothing left. That at any second, I feared a Hamas terrorist would shoot me in the head.’”

Mor then described the terrifying conditions the man recounted after being taken underground. “We spoke about the moment they brought him into the tunnel. He told me he was petrified. It was nothing like the ‘luxury’ tunnels used by Hamas, with tiled walls, walkable passageways, rooms, and restrooms. This one was narrow, with only dim light and severe suffocation.”

According to Mor, the survivor told him that as he descended, he eventually saw a tiny chamber. “Inside, he saw someone approach him — and hug him. That person was my son, Eitan. He welcomed him, brought him into the group, and lifted his spirits. They could only sit, not stand. And there was barely any food: one can of preserved goods and a single pita for five men — per day.”

Throughout their conversation, Mor said the man repeatedly described how Eitan embraced him and brought him hope. “There were two other captives there who were completely broken. You have to understand — after so long with no proper food, no room to move, no sleep, only bugs and filth — both body and soul start to deteriorate.”

At the farbrengen-style gathering that continued into the night, Mor shared one more powerful moment that particularly touched him. “This man told me that Eitan made sure everyone kept talking until they fell asleep — to ensure that no one sank into despair alone.”

“He also said that because Eitan hugged him first, they ended up having many deep conversations,” Mor recalled. “In one of those talks, Eitan said: ‘There’s a Master of the world. I have a role here. And when my role ends — I’ll return home.’”

Those words deeply resonated with Mor. “That sentence moved me tremendously, because it mirrors exactly what I’ve been feeling throughout this ordeal. I have a mission. There’s a Ba’al HaBayis over this world. He chooses who goes where, who lives and who dies — chas v’shalom. In the midst of all the pain, it gave me strength to know that both my son and I are seeing this through the same lens — each from our own place.”

Rabbi Yisrael Goldberg, who hosted the gathering, noted how powerful the moment was. “Everyone at the event was visibly emotional. Many were brought to tears. It’s not every day that we hear a hostage’s father speak with such unfathomable inner strength.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

After months of tense anticipation, the long-awaited admissions decisions for Ponevezh Yeshiva were finally delivered in the early hours of the night, capping off a dramatic and emotional process for hundreds of boys and their families across Eretz Yisroel.

This year, Ponevezh saw record-breaking interest, with approximately 600 applicants vying for a spot in one of the most prestigious institutions in the Litvishe Torah world. The admissions meeting, attended by the yeshiva’s leadership, lasted over eight hours—from 5 p.m. until after 1 a.m.—as roshei yeshiva and rabbonim weighed each candidate carefully.

Rav Berel Povarsky, rosh yeshiva, spoke passionately during the deliberations. He expressed deep emotion at the sight of Torah flourishing in today’s difficult times. “Despite the many challenges and attempts—both internal and external—to diminish the world of Torah, the olam haTorah is thriving,” he said. “The fact that hundreds are seeking entry to this distinguished yeshiva is a testament to that.”

Rav Eliezer Kahaneman, nosi hayeshiva, highlighted the immense responsibility resting on the shoulders of the roshei yeshiva and rabbeim. “We must ensure that no worthy boy is turned away without just cause,” he stated. “Each applicant must be evaluated to determine if he can succeed here and grow into a talmid chacham. These boys, with Hashem’s help, will become the gedolei hador of the next generation.”

Rav Kahaneman was especially impressed by the diversity of the candidates, who hailed from across the spectrum. Among those accepted were boys from Sephardic backgrounds—including grandchildren of members of Shas’ Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah—and others from some of the top chasidishe yeshivos. “Ponevezh is privileged to be a home for all bochurim who are sincerely committed to rising in Torah and yiras Shamayim under the guidance of the gedolei Torah,” he remarked.

In order to maintain manageable shiur sizes and preserve the high standard of personal connection between talmidim and their rabbeim, the yeshiva decided to admit no more than 430 new talmidim—an increase of just 30 over the previous year. The incoming shiur alef will be divided among three ramim: Rav Dovid Levy, Rav Yehuda Shmuel Meller, and Rav Yaakov Epstein.

Immediately after the admissions decisions were finalized, top-tier yeshivos rushed to recruit those who were not accepted to Ponevezh.

{Matzav.com Israel}

WATCH:

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1552-Tocheles-Part-72-New-1.mp3

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tefila4Life-Shiur-974-Praise.mp3

The Trump administration has allocated $1.26 billion to construct what will become the largest immigration detention and removal center in the United States, with the site chosen being Fort Bliss, Texas.

Fort Bliss, situated near El Paso, spans more than 1.12 million acres along the U.S.-Mexico border and includes its own airport. Bloomberg reports that the planned facility will accommodate up to 5,000 individuals and is expected to become a primary processing and removal center for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The accommodations will be set up using tents equipped with both heating and air conditioning systems. A company based in Virginia, Acquisition Logistics Company, has been awarded the contract, with the U.S. Army covering $232 million of the overall cost.

Speaking to Bloomberg, an ICE representative stated that the agency “is indeed pursuing all available options to expand bedspace capacity. This process does include housing detainees at certain military bases.”

The decision to move forward with the Fort Bliss project was made public just days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that DHS will be establishing new detention and deportation facilities at military installations in both Indiana and New Jersey.

Since the start of the Trump presidency earlier this year, 60 new locations have been designated to hold migrants awaiting deportation proceedings.

With this latest move, two additional sites will be added. In a formal letter to lawmakers, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Camp Atterbury in Indiana and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey will be used “for temporary use by the Department of Homeland Security to house illegal aliens.”

In that same letter, Hegseth emphasized that the arrangement “will not negatively affect military training, operations, readiness, or other military requirements, including National Guard and Reserve readiness.”

{Matzav.com}

As international debate continues over who bears responsibility for the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has come out forcefully in support of Israel, charging that the United Nations has effectively become “a tool of Hamas.”

Huckabee argues that significant quantities of aid are already sitting on the Gaza side of the border, ready for distribution.

According to the UN, Israeli authorities have repeatedly blocked their requests to allow aid personnel to access and distribute the supplies, while also imposing conditions that make it too dangerous to carry out those deliveries.

“US-based GHF is actually delivering food FOR FREE and SAFELY. UN food is either looted by Hamas or rots in the sun!” Huckabee tweeted.

While the UN also provides food without cost, its convoys often face looting, especially since their distribution networks extend beyond the more secure areas where the GHF operates.

In addition, reports indicate that over the past two months, many Gazans have lost their lives in attempts to reach GHF aid centers. In order to collect the food packages, they have had to travel long distances—sometimes crossing areas controlled by the IDF—risking deadly consequences along the way.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply criticized French President Emmanuel Macron following his declaration that France will move forward with formal recognition of a Palestinian state.

Rubio took to X Thursday night, issuing a strong rebuke: “The United States strongly rejects Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly.”

He continued, warning of the implications: “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also reacted strongly to Macron’s decision. “We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre,” said Netanyahu.

“Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel,” added Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, Hamas expressed support for the French leader’s position and urged additional nations to do the same.

“We view this as a positive step in the right direction toward achieving justice for the Palestinian people and supporting their legitimate right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital on all the occupied lands. This is a political development that reflects growing international recognition of the justness of the Palestinian cause,” said the murderous terror organization in a statement.

“We call on all countries in the world – especially European nations and those that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine – to follow France’s lead and fully recognize the national rights of our people, foremost among them the right of return, self-determination, and the establishment of an independent and sovereign state,” Hamas added.

{Matzav.com}

Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, stated on Newsmax Thursday that she sees no ambiguity when it comes to her belief that Barack Obama and his team were involved in what she described as a “treasonous conspiracy” to sabotage Donald Trump’s presidency during his first term.

Earlier this month, on July 18 and again on Wednesday, Gabbard made public a series of previously classified documents. These records, she said, implicate Obama in orchestrating a misleading intelligence assessment, crafted by then-DNI James Clapper and CIA Director John Brennan in January 2017, intended to discredit Trump following his win over Hillary Clinton.

“When you look at this manufactured intelligence assessment that President Obama ordered be created in January of 2017 within the context of everything that happened before and everything that happened over those four years of the first Trump administration, then it is hard to draw, in my view, any conclusion other than that which I’ve already said, which is this was a conspiracy, a treasonous conspiracy to undermine the legitimacy of President Trump in that 2016 election and the legitimacy of his presidency, and enacted what was essentially a yearslong coup,” Gabbard told The Record With Greta Van Susteren.

She explained that her passion for ensuring fair elections began during her years serving as a Democratic congresswoman for Hawaii’s second district between 2013 and 2021.

“This is something of paramount importance, obviously, to President Trump, but really to the American people to have faith and trust in the integrity of our democratic republic,” she said. “And so, we’ve really spent the last few months since I’ve been on this job focused on finding the truth. Very simply finding the truth to bring about transparency and accountability. So, in the documents that we released last week and as well as this week, it really brings forward very clear evidence.”

In response to the disclosures, the Justice Department on Wednesday announced the formation of a strike force to examine the materials revealed by Gabbard and to determine what legal actions, if any, should follow. On Thursday, Republican Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to bring in a special counsel to take over the probe with independence from the DOJ.

“The report that we released yesterday [Wednesday] was a result of an investigation that the House Intelligence Committee staff conducted,” Gabbard said. “It took them well over a year interviewing several of the intelligence professionals that were involved in the production of this manufactured intelligence document.

“And it really goes line by line, detailing how this assessment that was created in January of 2017 at the direction of President Obama, literally manufactured intelligence, knowingly put down falsehoods in order to reach this assessment conclusion that I stated that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and Russia aspired to help Donald Trump win the election when it was blatantly false. They knew it was false, yet they sold it to the American people as though it were true.”

On Tuesday, a day before Gabbard’s latest document release, Obama spokesman Patrick Rodenbush issued a statement on X, blasting the accusations. He called it “outrageous” that the former president was being charged with treason.

{Matzav.com}