Matzav

In an early-morning session Thursday, the House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump’s landmark tax reform package, which includes the creation of special savings accounts for children that will receive an initial $1,000 federal contribution.

Dubbed “Trump Accounts,” these savings vehicles were previously introduced under the name “Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement” — also referred to as “MAGA Accounts.” The funds in these accounts can later be used toward educational pursuits, purchasing a first home, or starting a small business.

While the House has now given the green light to the legislation, it still awaits potential amendments or resistance in the Senate before becoming law.

Under the plan, families will be allowed to contribute up to $5,000 annually per account. Contributions will be invested in a portfolio that mirrors the performance of a major U.S. stock market index.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a leading advocate for the policy, emphasized its long-term benefits. “The miracle of the compound growth, the ability to accumulate wealth, which is transformational,” he said, explaining the power of the accounts to provide financial opportunity from a young age.

The Trump Account shares similarities with the existing 529 college savings plan, offering tax-deferred growth and a favorable capital gains tax rate on qualifying withdrawals.

Sam Taube, lead investing writer at NerdWallet, explained that the taxation structure is comparable to other investment tools. “This isn’t all that different from the tax treatment you would get from a typical brokerage account,” he said.

There are already savings tools available for children, such as UTMA and UGMA custodial brokerage accounts, which allow families to gift financial assets to minors. However, those accounts may subject investment income to the “kiddie tax,” which applies the parents’ tax rate to the child’s earnings.

Unlike those custodial accounts, 529 plans offer tax-free withdrawals when the funds are used for educational purposes like tuition, housing, and books, making them especially attractive for families focused on college costs.

Chris McGee, chair of the College Savings Foundation, highlighted the advantages of sticking with established options. “We continue to believe that 529 plans provide tremendous benefits as a tax-advantaged savings vehicle for American families, with a proven nearly 30-year track record,” he said.

Though Trump Accounts can be used more broadly than 529s, recent changes to 529 rules have expanded their utility as well — now covering apprenticeship programs, certain continuing education classes, and even student loan payments.

Another key distinction lies in contribution limits. For 2024, a single donor can gift up to $19,000 — or $38,000 for a married couple — into a 529 plan per child without affecting lifetime gift tax exemptions.

Financial advisor Winnie Sun believes the 529 plan remains the superior option for college-bound children. “For most parents, like myself with teens, the 529 college savings plan is superior if you’re focused on paying for higher education because of the federal tax-free growth,” she said.

Sun also praised a new rule allowing families to roll over unused 529 funds into a Roth IRA, an option that took effect in 2024. “Also, now, the 529 is becoming more flexible with its’ ability to have unused funds rolled into a Roth IRA in the future for retirement,” she said.

One of the most compelling features of the Trump Account is the one-time $1,000 contribution for every U.S. child born between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2029. These funds will be distributed by the Treasury Department and are available to all citizens whose parents both hold Social Security numbers.

While a few states such as Connecticut and Colorado have introduced their own “baby bonds” initiatives, the Trump Account, along with the proposed expansion of the child tax credit, “could certainly help a lot of families at a lot of different income levels,” said Taube of NerdWallet.

He also noted that these accounts don’t conflict with other tax-advantaged savings tools like 529 plans. “So parents could take advantage of both,” he added.

Still, for families looking to save for college specifically, Sun advised that a more traditional approach might be best. “My recommendation would be, if you’re focused on college savings, talk to an advisor and start with the 529 plan first,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

IDF Maj. Gen. David Zini, recently named by Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu as the next head of the Shin Bet, is said to have expressed firm opposition to negotiating hostage exchanges with Hamas.

According to Channel 12, Zini made his stance clear during a recent internal security briefing, reportedly stating, “I’m against hostage deals. This is an eternal war.”

Despite his qualifications, Zini – who is affiliated with the national religious community – was passed over last year for the role of military secretary. Haaretz reported at the time that Netanyahu declined to appoint him due to concerns that Zini was “too messianic,” a sentiment the prime minister allegedly shared with close associates.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Auschwitz museum has issued a serious warning about the use of artificial intelligence to generate fabricated images and biographical details of Holocaust victims, calling the trend a dangerous distortion of historical truth.

Officials at the memorial site for the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, which has long relied on social media to share real photos and stories of those murdered by the Nazis, say they’ve recently come across Facebook pages publishing altered or entirely fictional profiles.

According to deputy spokesman Pawel Sawicki, these online posts often mimic legitimate tributes but include photos clearly created using AI. “People have started to notice that there are pages, including one called ’90’s History,’ where there are short bios of the victims as well as photos that were clearly made by artificial intelligence,” he said.

Sawicki expressed deep concern about the implications of these falsified portrayals. “Producing artificial images of real people, or what is even more troubling, producing false identities of victims, is certainly troubling and also very harmful for the memory of those who died at Auschwitz,” he told AFP.

He emphasized that inserting made-up surnames and fabricated details into Holocaust records is a form of historical manipulation. “Producing artificial information, last names, is falsifying history,” Sawicki said.

The museum fears that the spread of such disinformation could fuel dangerous conspiracy theories and even embolden Holocaust denial. “There is, of course, a danger that if we have these fake people, then perhaps someone could claim that the whole thing is made up,” he added.

To address the issue, the museum has contacted Meta, Facebook’s parent company, in hopes the platform will take action to curb the spread of this harmful content.

{Matzav.com}

The Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against four municipalities in New Jersey—Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken—accusing them of obstructing federal immigration enforcement through their sanctuary city policies, The NY Post reports.

Federal prosecutors allege that these cities have been actively preventing cooperation between local and federal authorities, thereby making it harder to apprehend and deport individuals residing in the country illegally.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth, in the official complaint, denounced these policies as a direct challenge to national immigration law. “The express purpose and clear effect of these policies … is to thwart federal immigration enforcement,” Roth said. “[E]ven where local law enforcement wants to help the United States deal with the nation’s immigration crisis, the Challenged Policies impede them from doing so.”

Roth further warned that such local policies not only put federal agents in danger but also jeopardize public safety. He contends that these actions violate the supremacy clause of the Constitution. “This not only puts the safety of officers at risk, but also endangers the broader communities they are sworn to protect,” he said.

This legal action follows a highly publicized confrontation that occurred on May 9 at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) center in Newark. The incident ended in the arrest of Mayor Ras Baraka and sparked federal charges against Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ).

Attorney General Pam Bondi blasted state officials in a public statement. “Recent events have proven that these New Jersey officials care more about political showmanship than the safety of their communities,” she said. “As I have made clear, this Justice Department does not tolerate local officials in sanctuary cities obstructing immigration enforcement: there is more litigation to come.”

Baraka, along with Newark Councilmember Kenyatta Stewart and Representatives McIver, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Rob Menendez, had gathered to protest the reopening of the Delaney Hall ICE facility when the confrontation occurred.

Although Baraka was arrested during the protest, Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba decided not to pursue trespassing charges. However, she did proceed with legal action against McIver. “I have persistently made efforts to address these issues without bringing criminal charges and have given Representative McIver every opportunity to come to a resolution, but she unfortunately declined,” Habba said. “No one is above the law — politicians or otherwise.”

A federal judge voiced concern over the handling of Baraka’s arrest, describing it earlier this week as a “worrisome misstep.”

Baraka denounced the Justice Department’s lawsuit, dismissing it as political theater. “We are not standing in the way of public safety,” he said. “We are upholding the Constitution, providing oversight, and following the laws and guidelines of the State of New Jersey. Nothing in our policies prevents law enforcement from doing their jobs. What we refuse to do is turn our city into an arm of federal immigration enforcement, which the courts have already ruled is not our role.”

The mayor, who is currently running for governor, went further in defending his position. “The comments about safety are not only offensive, they are lies meant to create political scapegoats. Immigrants are far more likely to be victims of crimes than perpetrators, and there is no evidence whatsoever that sanctuary policies make communities less safe … When people are not living in fear, they are more likely to report crimes, access healthcare, and engage with the institutions meant to protect them. That makes all of us safer.

“We will continue to do what we have always done, protect the rights of all our residents, stand on constitutional ground, and reject fear-based politics that divide communities rather than strengthen them.”

Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla also issued a defiant statement, expressing his city’s unwavering support for inclusion and justice. “Hoboken is a community that prides itself on its vibrancy, its cultural diversity, and its inclusivity, and we will continue to stand together as a community for what is fair and just,” he said. ”The City of Hoboken will vigorously work to defend our rights, have our day in court, and defeat the Trump Administration’s lawlessness. To be clear: we will not back down.”

This is not the first legal challenge mounted by the DOJ this year. Similar lawsuits were filed against state and local governments in New York, Illinois, and Colorado over their sanctuary policies.

Opponents of sanctuary city laws frequently point to alarming cases in which undocumented individuals, released by local jurisdictions without notifying ICE, went on to commit violent crimes.

One notable case led to proposed legislation in New York State that would have required law enforcement agencies to provide ICE with arrest records and fingerprints of non-citizens. The bill was blocked by the Democratic-majority legislature.

That measure was named in memory of Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia who was murdered by Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan national affiliated with a gang. Ibarra had previously been arrested in New York on charges of child endangerment but was released and disappeared from the system.

Democratic leaders in New York, including Governor Kathy Hochul, continue to argue that cooperation with ICE is possible—provided that agents present valid judicial warrants.

One of the DOJ’s ongoing lawsuits in New York challenges a 2019 statute that prevents inquiries into a person’s immigration status and restricts the Department of Motor Vehicles from sharing personal data with federal agencies without a court order.

President Trump has also taken executive action targeting sanctuary policies. His orders aim to cut off federal funds to cities and states that limit cooperation with immigration authorities and to prohibit public benefits for undocumented immigrants.

{Matzav.com}

Adi Alexander, the father of Edan Alexander—one of the hostages recently released from captivity in Gaza—has revealed disturbing details about what his son endured while being held by Hamas.

Speaking to Channel 12 News, Adi recounted that Edan had to conceal his identity during his time in a Hamas-run holding site where multiple hostages were being detained. “They put a ski mask with a green ribbon on him, and he walked between the cells, serving and clearing plates,” Adi said. “The other hostages didn’t even know who he was.”

According to Adi, the compound where Edan was kept quickly morphed into an operational hub for Hamas. Among the detainees were residents from Nir Oz and a group of Thai laborers. With so many people in need of essentials, Edan took on a caretaking role. “He volunteered to look after the Thai crew,” Adi explained, “partly because they struggled to communicate with Hamas.”

On April 14, an Israeli Air Force operation targeted a Hamas facility guarding the tunnel where Edan was being kept, as reported by Ynet. The airstrike triggered a partial collapse of the underground area. Edan was hurt in the process, sustaining injuries to his shoulder and hands while attempting to extract himself from the debris.

During subsequent conversations with relatives and security personnel, Edan described the harrowing moments during the assault. He said it felt like a seismic event had hit. “Suddenly, I felt like someone had detonated C-4 explosives near one of the pressure doors,” he recalled. The second detonation caused the roof to collapse, sending heavy fragments crashing down and injuring his shoulder—an injury he is still in the process of healing from.

With the tunnel caved in, Edan resorted to digging through the rubble by hand in an attempt to survive. “The wounds on his hands,” Adi noted, “came from clawing his way out. He told us, ‘We dug ourselves out before everything fell in on us.’”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The tragic suicide of a 26-year-old police officer from Pennsylvania, believed to be linked to complications following LASIK surgery, is not an isolated case, according to patients and physicians interviewed by The New York Post. Others have reported similar outcomes — debilitating symptoms that have altered their lives and, in some cases, led to suicidal thoughts.

While LASIK clinics often claim the procedure carries a success rate of 95% to 99%, one woman who underwent the operation in 2000 described her experience as devastating. She said it took her two years to recover from the emotional fallout and contended that many others didn’t survive the aftermath.

She alleged that more than 40 individuals have taken their own lives due to constant pain and vision issues that emerged post-surgery.

“I really didn’t want to stick around at times, but I decided I would to get the word out about how dangerous this surgery can be,” Paula Cofer, 66, of Tampa, Florida, told The Post on Wednesday.

“The LASIK lobby and the surgeons will tell you only one percent of patients have issues afterward. That’s not true. There are multiple studies that indicate otherwise.

“The percentage of those with poor outcomes are in the double digits, not one percent. And they know it,” she claimed.

LASIK, approved by the FDA in 1999, has been performed on more than 10 million individuals across the U.S., with an estimated 700,000 to 800,000 people opting for the surgery each year, according to Clinical Ophthalmology.

Cofer runs an online community called the Lasik Complications Support Group, part of a growing network of digital spaces where people share their experiences with negative outcomes from the surgery.

“If you understand Lasik and what it does to the eyes and cornea, you realize you can’t do it on a healthy eye and not expect complications,” Cofer said.

LASIK, or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, alters the shape of the cornea to correct vision.

“Not everyone has severe complications but a lot more people are suffering than you know. I got floaters, severe dry eyes, induced astigmatism and severe night vision problems,” said Cofer.

Ryan Kingerski, the young officer from Penn Hills Police Department who died by suicide after taking leave to undergo LASIK, reportedly struggled with a similar set of complications.

His parents, Tim and Stefanie Kingerski, described to CBS News the suffering their son endured after the procedure.

According to them, Ryan began experiencing unrelenting headaches, persistent double vision, and visual disturbances such as floaters — visual artifacts that resemble strands or cobwebs.

Their account mirrors the experience of Dan Rose, whose wife, Detroit meteorologist Jessica Starr, died by suicide in 2018 following LASIK complications.

Starr, a 35-year-old mother, took her own life just two months after the surgery, leaving behind detailed written and recorded notes.

“Prior to the procedure, Jessica was completely normal, very healthy,” Rose told WJBK in 2019. “There was no depression … no underlying issue.”

Rose explained that his wife’s suicide notes clearly indicated that the procedure and the subsequent pain were the driving factors behind her decision to end her life.

Morris Waxler, who served as an FDA advisor and led the LASIK review panel during its approval phase from 1996 to 2000, now strongly regrets the role he played in greenlighting the procedure.

“It didn’t matter what questions and concerns I had, because the surgeons were very powerful and still are,” he claimed.

Waxler told CBS in 2019 that his independent review of the available data revealed complication rates between 10% and 30%. In 2011, he petitioned the FDA to initiate a voluntary recall of the procedure.

“People come in with healthy eyes and all they need is eyeglasses. But when surgeons cut the cornea they are removing nerves and leaving the corneas with odd shapes and some patients will have intractable pain,” he added.

The FDA’s own website includes warnings about potential side effects from LASIK, such as vision loss, glare, halos, double vision, and other persistent visual problems.

The American Refractive Surgery Council, however, maintains a different view. “LASIK is safe and is one of the most studied elective surgical procedures available today … the rate of sight-threatening complications from LASIK eye surgery is estimated to be well below one percent,” it states on its website.

For Abraham Rutner, a 43-year-old electrician from Brooklyn, his post-LASIK struggles seemed hopeless — until he found a specialist who could help.

“It’s like you have a layer of oil on top of your eye — it was so hazy and terrible,” Rutner told The Post. “I couldn’t work. I couldn’t drive. I felt like I was still a young man and I lost my life.”

His turning point came when he learned about Dr. Edward Boshnick, an 84-year-old Miami optometrist who specializes in vision rehabilitation for patients suffering from complications due to LASIK and other eye trauma.

Dr. Boshnick’s practice, featured on his site Eyefreedom, fitted Rutner with scleral lenses designed to protect and restore corneas damaged by the surgery. Cofer also said the same lenses brought her some relief.

“Everyone has different problems when it comes to LASIK,” Boshnick told The Post, describing the surgery as a “BS procedure.”

“It’s the biggest scam ever put on the American public,” he said. “And it’s a multi-billion dollar business.”

{Matzav.com}

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson harshly criticized President Trump and his administration on Wednesday, following the announcement of a federal investigation into the city’s employment practices. The Department of Justice had recently reached out to Johnson with concerns regarding possible racial discrimination in hiring, prompting a fierce response from the mayor.

The Justice Department’s inquiry came in the wake of remarks Johnson made at a church in the Woodlawn neighborhood, where he had spoken about efforts to prioritize Black hires in his administration. During a press conference later in the week, Johnson lashed out at the president.

“As far as, you know, the president’s animus towards women, people of color, working people, we have always known who he has been,” Johnson said during a Wednesday press conference. “This is not a surprise. He’s a monster.”

“We have the most diverse administration in the history of Chicago, and he is threatened by that,” he added.

Earlier, while addressing congregants at the Apostolic Church of God, Johnson, who is Black, defended his approach to staffing by saying he intentionally hired more Black employees because they are “the most generous people on Earth.”

In response, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon issued a letter to the mayor on Monday questioning whether race-based criteria were influencing hiring across all levels of city government.

“If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions,” Dhillon wrote.

This inquiry aligns with the broader campaign by President Trump to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion policies nationwide, putting such efforts under increasing scrutiny.

Mayor Johnson pushed back, characterizing the federal action as politically motivated and rooted in insecurity.

“You can tell when someone is fearful is because they act out,” Johnson said Wednesday. “We have a president that is screaming and having tantrums right now because we have an administration that reflects the city of Chicago, but he would much rather have administrations that reflect the country club. Period.”

“He is most comfortable around people who think and look like him,” the mayor added.

In light of the DOJ’s investigation, Johnson’s office released data highlighting the racial composition of his administration. According to figures shared by ABC7, 34.3 percent of staff members are Black, 30.5 percent are white, 23.8 percent are Hispanic, and 6.7 percent are Asian.

President Donald Trump took aim at Apple on Friday, warning the tech giant that it could face a hefty 25% tariff on iPhones that are not assembled within the United States. The ultimatum increases the pressure on Apple CEO Tim Cook to shift operations away from Asia and into the U.S.

“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

“If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Following Trump’s remarks, Apple’s stock took a hit, tumbling 4% during early premarket activity.

Apple’s primary manufacturing hubs remain overseas, especially in China, and currently the company does not produce any of its smartphones domestically.

Dan Ives, an analyst with WedBush, dismissed the prospect of U.S.-made iPhones as wholly unrealistic. “This would result in an iPhone price point that is a non-starter for Cupertino and translate into iPhone prices of ~$3,500 if it was made in the US which is not realistic as this would take 5-10 years to shift production to the US,” Ives stated in an analyst note.

Trump’s latest message comes on the heels of earlier calls this month for Apple to halt expansion in India and redirect its efforts to American soil instead of attempting to reduce dependence on China.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Cook and Trump met in person at the White House this week to discuss business issues.

Earlier this year, Apple pledged to invest $500 billion over four years in its U.S. operations, spreading that investment across facilities and job creation in nine states. However, the commitment made no mention of establishing domestic iPhone production.

A source cited by Reuters revealed that Apple plans to manufacture the majority of its iPhones for the U.S. market in India by the end of 2026, and has begun accelerating those efforts in anticipation of steeper tariffs that may arise from continued operations in China.

Trump, along with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, has floated the idea that Apple could manufacture iPhones domestically, despite the challenges.

Although iPhones and other electronics were left out of the sweeping 145% reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods unveiled last month, Trump has continued to push the idea of reshoring production.

This pressure campaign comes shortly after the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day pause in their trade hostilities, offering markets a brief period of stability.

Despite the fact that more than 60 million smartphones are purchased annually in the U.S., the country currently lacks any facilities dedicated to smartphone manufacturing.

U.S. defense officials have revealed that Russia has introduced nuclear-capable air-to-air missiles into its military arsenal, a move reminiscent of the nuclear strategies employed during the Cold War era. This new development was disclosed by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in its latest global threat report.

The 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment was presented to lawmakers during a session of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, held on May 15. Leading the briefing was Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, who heads the DIA.

“Russia remains a significant aggressive and enduring threat against the United States and its neighbors,” Kruse stated during his testimony. “Moscow has remained steadfast in its demands for Ukrainian neutrality, authority over the size of Ukraine’s armed forces, and further partitioning the Ukrainian state. Russia will continue its military strategy of attrition, focusing on degrading Ukraine’s ability and will to resist while facing its own significant losses of equipment and personnel.”

FlightGlobal reported that these nuclear air-to-air munitions would likely be fitted onto advanced long-range missiles like the Vympel R-37, commonly mounted on MiG-31 interceptor aircraft. This would mark a return to strategies emphasizing stand-off nuclear deterrence from the air.

Military Watch noted that this shift aligns with Russia’s broader strategic aim to counterbalance NATO’s numerical and technological advantages by leaning more heavily on its nuclear capabilities.

Outfitting R-37 missiles with nuclear warheads could pose a particular threat to stealth aircraft such as the F-35, which have been increasingly stationed around Russia’s borders in Europe, the Arctic, and the Far East by Western forces.

According to Military Watch, the R-37 missile stands out as the fastest air-to-air missile in service, traveling at Mach 6, and ranks second globally in range, following only China’s PL-XX. Designed for agility, it can down smaller aircraft with precision, but when armed with a nuclear payload, it would require less accuracy due to its destructive blast radius and the possibility of an electromagnetic pulse disabling electronics—even on unmanned systems.

Back in the mid-20th century, air-to-air nuclear weapons were introduced to counter mass bomber attacks. Models like the U.S. AIR-2 Genie and AIM-26 Falcon were eventually phased out as more precise, long-range missile technology emerged, FlightGlobal explained.

In the new assessment, the DIA stated: “Russia probably maintains a nuclear stockpile of about 1,550 deployed strategic warheads and up to 2,000 nonstrategic warheads. Russia is expanding its nuclear posture to Belarus by establishing missile and nuclear-capable aircraft capabilities, renovating a nuclear weapons storage site, and training Belarusian crews to handle tactical nuclear weapons.

“Throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia has used nuclear-related rhetoric and military exercises to signal its resolve and deter Russia-perceived Western involvement in the conflict. However, Russia is very unlikely to use nuclear weapons in the conflict unless Russian leadership judged it faced an existential threat to the regime.”

{Matzav.com}

In the early hours of Friday morning, a devastating accident on Hope Chapel Road near the intersection with New Central Avenue, on the Lakewood/Jackson, NJ border, claimed the lives of two bochurim, r”l, and left others injured.

According to initial reports, a Toyota Sienna carrying five bochurim was traveling along Hope Chapel Road when the vehicle struck a deer. The impact caused the driver to lose control, resulting in the minivan veering off the road, crashing into a tree, and erupting into flames.

Tragically, two of the young men were killed in the fiery crash.

Emergency personnel responded swiftly to the scene, and an investigation is currently underway.

The remaining passengers survived but sustained various injuries. Those with more serious injuries were transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJ for treatment.

Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims, pending notification of their families.

{Matzav.com}

During an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “America Reports” Thursday, Ofir Akunis, Israel’s Consul General in New York, pointed to Qatar’s influence on American college campuses as a contributing factor in the deadly shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members the previous day. Akunis accused Qatar of financing radical groups on U.S. campuses and urged the Gulf state to cease its funding if it truly wishes to play a constructive role in the region.

Akunis argued that the violence can be traced back to years of ideological indoctrination funded by Qatar across American higher education institutions. “I think that [it] is a result of…the brainwash[ing] of the Qataris among the universities and the campuses right here in the United States for the last twenty years, but especially since October 7,” he said.

He continued by denouncing Qatar’s contradictory behavior—on one hand, serving as a mediator in talks to free hostages held in Gaza, while on the other, allegedly bankrolling protests and movements sympathetic to terrorist causes. “I know that everybody in the United States already knows that they are supporting the pro-terrorist moves on the campuses and on the streets and amongst all the universities. So, they are playing a double game. And their double game is that they’re hosting the negotiation to release the hostages from the tunnels that they built [with] their own money under the Gaza Strip, it’s money from Qatar. It’s not from anywhere else around the world.”

Akunis emphasized that these anti-Israel demonstrations aren’t grassroots efforts but rather the result of strategic financial backing. “And now it’s another double game. Why? Because there are, beyond all these mobs, you cannot protest these days in our world without money, someone needs to give you money. I’m not saying that 100% [of] the money is from Qatar. But most of the money is from Qatar.”

He concluded with a direct appeal to Doha: “So, I’m calling from here to Qatar to stop their double game. If they want to negotiate with Israel, if they want to be part of the new Middle East, they are more than welcome, but they must stop all the money that they’re actually transfer[ing] every week, every month to the mobs here in the universities.”

A major development in Yerushalayim has left the chareidi community shaken: A kollel yungerman, a father of ten young children, has been held in Shin Bet custody for over two days on suspicion of endangering state security—without legal representation and without being informed of the specific charges against him.

According to close family members, who spoke to Kikar HaShabbat, the avreich, who runs a Torah hotline called “Sod HaChashmal,” was arrested at his home by Shin Bet agents two days ago. He has since been held in a detention facility and subjected to continuous interrogation.

The hotline he operates blends Torah teachings rooted in kabbalah with updates and political commentary. Relatives say he would regularly share spiritual interpretations of current events and even speculative predictions, such as, “Israel is about to strike in Yemen or Iran,” presenting them as personal forecasts inspired by his beliefs. “But no one seriously thought he was receiving classified briefings or anything of the sort,” they insisted.

The family says they have yet to be informed of the nature of the allegations against him, beyond a vague reference to “a matter of national security.” The prosecution, they claim, has declined to disclose the details of the investigation or allow the detainee access to a lawyer.

Despite repeated appeals, Shin Bet has refused to permit him to meet with an attorney. According to the family, the agency has also denied him basic items, including tefillin, a siddur, a Tehillim, and even food and hygiene supplies.

A court hearing was held yesterday following an appeal filed by the family regarding his detention. The judge rejected the appeal and extended his remand until next Monday. The family expressed outrage that even the court did not intervene to provide him basic religious or personal accommodations.

At this time, the Shin Bet has not issued a public comment.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a closely divided ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively halted the launch of what would have been the country’s first religious charter school, handing a setback to advocates seeking a broader role for faith-based institutions within the public education system.

The high court reached a 4-4 stalemate on the case involving St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School, leaving intact a prior ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. That ruling had determined that establishing a religious charter school would run afoul of constitutional protections that separate religion and government.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett did not join the deliberations. While no official explanation was given, her personal connection to a Notre Dame Law professor who had once advised the Catholic Church in Oklahoma—an entity central to the case—was widely noted.

The Court issued a brief, one-sentence statement revealing the deadlock, which followed three weeks after oral arguments were heard. The announcement did not disclose how each of the justices voted.

With no majority reached, the ruling does not create a binding precedent that lower courts must follow.

Alliance Defending Freedom, which defended the state charter school board’s decision to approve St. Isidore, expressed disappointment but remained optimistic about the possibility of future litigation on the issue.

“Oklahoma parents and children are better off with more educational choices, not fewer,” Jim Campbell, the group’s chief legal counsel, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s Catholic Church leadership vowed to keep pursuing ways to provide faith-based virtual education to state residents.

Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, hailed the outcome as a crucial moment for upholding constitutional boundaries.

“A publicly funded religious charter school would have obliterated the wall of separation between state and church,” Gaylor said in a statement. “We’re relieved that, at least for now, the First Amendment still means what it says.”

During the hearing, the Court appeared to wrestle with the tension between two aspects of the First Amendment—its restrictions against government-endorsed religion and its protections of religious liberty.

While several conservative justices seemed initially inclined to back the Catholic Church’s effort to use public money for religious education, one ultimately sided with the three liberal justices, tipping the balance.

Chief Justice John Roberts seemed to signal caution, suggesting he viewed religious charter schools as more complicated than previous cases where the Court had expanded religious access to public resources.

The proposal by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa sought to establish a K-12 school that would include religious teachings as part of its curriculum.

The state charter school board had approved the application in a narrow 3-2 vote, but that decision triggered a lawsuit by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. He argued the arrangement was unconstitutional, since charter schools receive public funding and are required to operate as secular institutions.

“Oklahoma’s charter schools bear all of the hallmarks of a public school identified by this Court and more,” Drummond, a Republican, wrote in a brief to the justices as he urged them not to intervene.

Drummond also warned that redefining charter schools as private could cause legal chaos across the nation, as 46 states and the federal government all classify them as public institutions.

The dioceses and the nonprofit managing the school countered that charter schools are not truly public in the governmental sense, but rather privately managed entities that happen to be publicly funded. They argued that excluding religious organizations from operating such schools amounted to unconstitutional religious discrimination.

They also noted that no student would be compelled to attend the school, and therefore, there would be no government coercion of religious participation.

The Trump administration’s Justice Department had sided with the Church, arguing during the case that Oklahoma could not bar religious charter schools. Trump’s solicitor general was given time to speak during oral arguments.

The dispute also revealed a political divide within Oklahoma itself. While the state’s governor backed the Catholic school plan, Attorney General Drummond strongly opposed it.

Drummond warned the arrangement would “open the floodgates and force taxpayers to fund all manner of religious indoctrination, including radical Islam or even the Church of Satan.” In contrast, Governor Kevin Stitt accused Drummond of exhibiting “open hostility against religion.”

National charter school advocates also raised concerns that the case could destabilize public charter education across the country. They feared that if religious charter schools were deemed private, it could jeopardize state funding for charter schools in areas where public dollars cannot go to private institutions.

“With this legal clarity, we can move forward with renewed focus on expanding access to high-quality public charter schools for every family nationwide,” Starlee Coleman, president of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, said in a statement after the ruling.

The St. Isidore case is one of several major religion-related cases the Supreme Court has agreed to review this year.

{Matzav.com}

Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier who endured nearly two years as a hostage of Hamas, had a meeting with Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar, according to a report aired Thursday by Channel 12 News.

In a candid exchange during their meeting, Bar expressed deep regret to Alexander for the circumstances that led to his capture and the failure of Israeli security forces to prevent it. Bar told him, “I want to apologize to you for falling into captivity partly because of us, and for being freed thanks to [Steve] Witkoff and not us.”

Alexander recounted to Bar the terrifying experience of October 7, the trauma he suffered during his abduction, and his continued anxiety for the well-being of those who are still being held hostage.

This encounter took place just after the Israeli team returned from negotiations in Qatar, which ended in stalemate. The discussions broke down due to Hamas’s demand for assurances from the United States that the war would be brought to a conclusion.

The Prime Minister’s Office highlighted Friday morning that David Zini’s appointment to lead the Israel Security Agency was primarily driven by his early and prescient warnings about the nation’s unpreparedness for a large-scale assault like the one that took place on October 7.

In a formal statement, officials noted that Zini had been tasked back in March 2022—six months before the deadly incursion—with conducting a review of the Gaza Division’s operational capabilities, particularly in the event of an unexpected attack. The request came directly from the division’s commanding officer. Zini’s findings pointed to significant gaps in defensive strategy and made clear recommendations to bolster readiness.

One section of Zini’s top-secret evaluation, which Prime Minister Netanyahu has now permitted to be shared with the public, warned starkly: “In almost every sector, a surprise raid could be executed against our forces, undermining the concept of ‘surprised but not defeated.’ There are numerous ways to carry out such an attack during routine times. In my view, an above-ground attack represents the most plausible and accessible option.”

In his report, Zini noted that although the phrase “surprise raid” appeared frequently in operational discussions, security personnel and leadership had failed to grasp its practical implications or take the necessary steps to respond adequately.

“The concept of a surprise scenario is not clearly imagined or internalized by our forces,” he wrote. “As a result, operational readiness is seriously lacking.”

He concluded that this lack of clarity surrounding possible threats left the military and broader security establishment without the proper framework to anticipate or respond effectively to emerging dangers: “The main deficiency lies in the situational awareness of both the troops and the wider defense system.”

Netanyahu went ahead with Zini’s nomination on Thursday night, even though both the Attorney General and the Supreme Court had previously ruled that no appointments should be made while the Qatar-Gate probe is still ongoing.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

More than two years after a horrific incident that left a chareidi mother of 11 critically injured, police in Yerushalayim have finally apprehended one of the central suspects, who had evaded arrest for nearly two and a half years. The arrest was reported Thursday afternoon by journalist Liran Tamari.

According to police suspicions, the man played a key role in an attack during riots on Rechov Yechezkel in Yerushalayim in 2022, when a burning garbage bin was pushed down a slope and struck the woman with great force, leaving her severely wounded.

The victim, 40-year-old Mirel Dzhilovsky, had left her home that Thursday in December 2022 to shop for Shabbos. As she walked near Rechov Yechezkel, where violent protests were unfolding, she was suddenly struck in the chest by a flaming trash container. The impact caused her to collapse on the sidewalk, and she was rushed in critical condition to the trauma unit at Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center.

Mirel suffered life-threatening bilateral lung injuries and required immediate, invasive life-saving treatment. Once her condition stabilized, she remained in intensive care for an extended period under the supervision of Dr. Philip Levin.

In July 2023, a precedent-setting sentence was handed down by the Jerusalem District Court in connection with the case. Meir Katsav, another individual involved in the same incident, was sentenced to 20 months in prison under a plea deal. He was also ordered to pay financial compensation and received a suspended sentence. Katsav had been convicted of pushing the trash bin that caused Mirel’s critical injuries.

According to the indictment, the defendant, together with others, deliberately ignited a dumpster during riots on Yechezkel Street and used it to block traffic. The trash bin was then forcefully pushed from different angles in an effort to move it into the middle of the road. Because the street slopes downward, the burning dumpster rolled downhill, and one of its corners struck the woman with brutal force.

Following the impact, the woman collapsed, and the defendant, along with the others involved, fled the scene. As a result of their actions, she was hospitalized in intensive care. The defendant has now been convicted of aggravated assault under aggravating circumstances and endangering public safety. His sentencing follows the plea deal presented to the court.

{Matzav.com Israel}

By Shaul Berlowitz

Over the past week, a series of meaningful meetings took place at the home of Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah. These gatherings brought together rabbonim from kehillos across Lakewood in preparation for the upcoming fourth Ma’amad Adirei HaTorah. The meetings reflected the community’s unified commitment to supporting Torah learning, with participation from rabbonim representing all segments of Lakewood’s Torah world.

Unlike previous years, which featured one central asifas rabbonim, this year’s meetings adopted a more focused format. Smaller, more intimate settings allowed for practical discussions about advancing the Adirei HaTorah initiative throughout the community. What was particularly noteworthy was the sense of shared purpose that permeated these gatherings, as rabbonim from different backgrounds came together with a single goal: strengthening support for Torah learning in Lakewood.

“These asifos demonstrated how our community—though we may differ in nusach or havara—is fundamentally united in our commitment to Torah,” noted one participating rov. “In Lakewood, we’re fortunate that our differences are nuanced—we’re really variations of the same commitment to Torah and lomdei Torah.”

Another rov added, “Whether a family davens in a Litvishe shul, a Chassidishe shtiebel, or a Sephardic minyan, we all share the same fundamental values. Adirei HaTorah gives expression to this unity of purpose.”

A central theme of these meetings was the recognition that Adirei HaTorah represents more than just an organization. It embodies the deep connection between the families of greater Lakewood and the bnei Torah learning in the yeshiva. This connection is guided by the community’s rabbonim, who understand both the challenges faced by baalei batim and the needs of those dedicated to full-time learning.

“A rov today serves as an important bridge,” explained one of the rabbonim present. “He understands the baalei batim’s concerns about balancing parnassah and time for learning, while also appreciating the dedication of kollel families who make the greatest sacrifices to devote their lives to limud haTorah.”

This perspective enables rabbonim to foster authentic connections between these two vital parts of the community. Under their guidance, baalei batim and kollel yungeleit increasingly recognize their shared mission and mutual support in building Lakewood as a makom Torah.

Rav Kotler spoke about the positive impact Adirei HaTorah has had on respect for Torah learning throughout Lakewood. What began primarily as a financial support initiative has evolved into something far more significant—an elevation of Torah’s place in the community’s consciousness.

“When a person who isn’t sitting and learning in yeshiva develops a kesher with lomdei Torah through supporting them, something remarkable happens,” Rav Kotler explained. “The entire family begins to view Torah learning differently. Children see their parents’ respect for Torah and talmidei chachomim. The home atmosphere changes. Family conversations revolve around Torah. The wife and children respect their father’s commitment to Torah and hachzokas haTorah. This is the true achievement that Adirei HaTorah has brought to the world.”

Many rabbonim shared inspiring stories from their kehillos, accounts of families who, through their connection to Adirei HaTorah, discovered new depths in their own learning and a greater appreciation for Torah. Homes where discussions about yeshiva learning have become commonplace. Children aspiring to greater heights in their own Torah studies after seeing their parents’ enthusiasm for supporting talmidei chachomim.

“We’re witnessing an increased respect for Torah that goes well beyond financial support,” noted one rov. “People mamish gained a renewed connection to Torah. They feel part of it. They see themselves as partners with the Adirei HaTorah, the yungeleit sitting and learning. This, in turn, makes them seek ways to be more connected with Torah in their own lives.”

The upcoming fourth Ma’amad Adirei HaTorah, scheduled for Sunday, the 16th of Sivan, at Wells Fargo Arena, promises to be a powerful demonstration of community-wide unity and commitment. This gathering will showcase how Lakewood’s kehillos, with their shared values and dedication to Torah, come together in support of Torah learning.

“What makes Adirei HaTorah special is that it’s not simply about fundraising,” explained one of the organizers. “It’s about raising awareness. It’s about reinforcing how we view our collective responsibility for supporting Torah study. When our various kehillos come together for this purpose, we demonstrate that Torah truly is what unifies us. And the conduit is through supporting lomdei Torah, those who dedicate their lives to learning.”

The Ma’amad will feature inspiring words from rabbonim representing different parts of the community, highlighting how the partnership between working families and yungeleit has strengthened the entire kehillah. Special emphasis will be placed on how this partnership has enhanced family life, chinuch habonim, and the overall ruach of Lakewood’s kehillos.

As the meetings concluded, Rav Kotler emphasized that the upcoming Ma’amad represents more than just an organizational milestone. It embodies a kiddush Hashem that reinforces the very foundations of our community.

Rav Kotler shared how the Adirei HaTorah initiative has begun to resonate far beyond Lakewood, spreading to frum communities worldwide. “What began here in Lakewood has become a model for communities across the globe,” he explained. “Just last month, I was invited to address an event in Mexico City called Amudei HaOlam, which was directly inspired by our Ma’amad Adirei HaTorah.”

He recounted how several members of the Mexican kehillah had attended last year’s Ma’amad at Wells Fargo and were so deeply inspired that they decided to create a similar framework in their own community. “They told me how seeing the partnership between baalei batim and kollel yungeleit in Lakewood opened their eyes to what was possible in their own kehillah,” Rav Kotler said. “They were particularly moved by how the Adirei HaTorah event conveyed the powerful message that lomdei Torah truly uphold the world. After witnessing this, they created their own event, Amudei HaOlam, specifically to honor their yungeleit and express this.”

Rav Kotler explained how the Mexican community recognized the importance of publicly expressing this message and the profound impact it has on everyone involved. “They understood that such an event benefits their entire community—the baalei batim who gain appreciation for the Torah being learned, the yungeleit who feel valued for their dedication, and perhaps most importantly, the children who see this respect demonstrated in such a tangible way.”

As preparations continue in the coming weeks, rabbonim will encourage their kehillos to participate in this important event. The fourth Ma’amad Adirei HaTorah aims to further elevate Torah learning in Lakewood, strengthening the partnership between the community and the yeshiva that continues to be its spiritual center.

In the words of one participating rov, shared as the final meeting concluded, “When our community unites around Torah, there is no limit to what we can achieve together. This Ma’amad is about ensuring that Torah remains central to our lives and to the lives of future generations.”

{Matzav.com}