Matzav

Chaim V’Chessed has learned that the U.S. government is working toward arranging evacuation flights for American citizens seeking to return to the United States from Israel. In the coming days, the U.S. Embassy hopes – if conditions permit – to operate flights from Ben Gurion Airport. At this stage, details are still being worked out, and seats will be extremely limited.

State Department officials have been reviewing the names submitted to Chaim V’Chessed’s extensive evacuation interest list and cross-referencing them with the State Department’s Crisis Intake Form. In fact, most names submitted through the Chaim V’Chessed list have already been added to the Crisis Intake Form system.

Those who wish may also submit their information directly through the State Department’s Crisis Intake Form. Some individuals who do so may discover that they are already listed in the system.

At present, no schedule or final procedures have been announced. Embassy officials stress that travelers should not contact the embassy or Chaim V’Chessed regarding these flights. Instead, individuals should ensure that their information is submitted through the appropriate registration links. If and when seats become available, travelers may be contacted – possibly with short notice.

Chaim V’Chessed has also learned that, as opposed to the U.S. evacuation flights following October 7 attacks, these flights will likely be provided at no charge.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar’s energy minister is warning that the ongoing war in the Middle East could drive oil prices above $150 per barrel, a surge he says would send shockwaves through the global economy.

Saad al-Kaabi cautioned in an interview with the Financial Times that such a sharp rise in crude prices could devastate economies around the world as supply disruptions deepen and energy markets grow increasingly unstable.

The price of oil has already climbed roughly 7 percent to more than $90 per barrel after spending much of the year trading between $60 and $70. The current surge has oil on track for its largest weekly gain since 2022, with Brent crude jumping nearly 30 percent this week as fighting in the region escalates.

Al-Kaabi said the economic consequences will quickly spread if the conflict continues for an extended period.

“If this war continues for a few weeks, GDP growth around the world will be impacted,” he said. “Everybody’s energy price is going to go higher.”

“There will be shortages of some products, and there will be a chain reaction of factories that cannot supply,” al-Kaabi added.

He also indicated that energy producers in the Gulf region might be forced to suspend production in certain circumstances, a move that would likely push prices even higher. Even if hostilities stop soon, he noted that restoring normal production could take weeks or even months.

The warning comes after an Iranian drone strike earlier in the week targeted Qatar’s largest liquefied natural gas facility.

The conflict, now entering its seventh day, has already sent energy markets into turmoil. Concerns intensified after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical shipping lanes for oil worldwide. Approximately 21 million barrels of oil per day—about one-fifth of global oil trade—pass through that narrow waterway.

Qatar, the world’s second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, is also cautioning that the disruption could ripple across global gas markets.

Al-Kaabi said buyers in Asia are likely to rush to secure available supplies, a development that could push gas prices higher internationally. He also told the Times that he expects additional Gulf nations to declare force majeure in the coming days.

“In addition to energy, there will be a halt on all other trade in between the [Gulf] and the world, which will have a significant effect on the economies of the [Gulf] and all the trading partners around the world,” al-Kaabi said.

Economists say rising oil and gas prices could also reignite inflation and place new financial pressure on households already coping with high living costs.

Ruth Curtice, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, a nonpartisan British think tank, told the financial website This Is Money that sustained increases in oil and gas prices could push inflation back up to 3 percent “by the summer.”

Helen Miller, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, added, “If war in the Middle East drags on, that will be unambiguously bad news for all of us.”

{Matzav.com}

The wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism after reports surfaced that she interacted with social media posts praising the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.

According to Jewish Insider, Rama Duwaji had liked several Instagram posts tied to the attack carried out that day. One of the posts included images showing Palestinians breaking through Israel’s border barriers and described the incursion as “breaking the walls of apartheid.”

Another post she reportedly liked featured Palestinians sitting atop a captured Israeli military vehicle and included the caption, “Resisting apartheid since 1948.”

Both of those posts appeared online on the same day Hamas carried out its attack.

The report also states that Duwaji liked two additional posts the following day that expressed support for protests against Israel.

Neither Duwaji nor Mamdani has issued a response to the report. The couple began their relationship in 2021 and were married last year.

The revelations come shortly after The New York Times reported on controversial social media activity involving the wife of US Rep. Dan Goldman, who is Jewish. According to that report, Goldman’s wife had liked posts soon after the October 7 attack that criticized Jews who supported Palestinians, suggested that people backing the Palestinian cause should be sent to Gaza, and labeled Black Lives Matter a “terrorist organization” because one of its chapters praised the Hamas attack.

New York City Council member Inna Vernikov, a Jewish Republican, sharply criticized The New York Times coverage, arguing that the paper has not applied the same scrutiny to Mamdani. “Will the ‘paper of record’ ask [Mamdani] a single question on this? THEY WON’T.”

{Matzav.com}

By Yaakov Lappin

The joint American-Israeli campaign against Iran represents an unprecedented level of military integration. It is aimed at fundamentally transforming the strategic reality of the Middle East while neutralizing the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile threats, several former Israeli defense officials and analysts said Thursday.

Speaking during a webinar hosted by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS), Col. (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman, vice president of JISS and former deputy director for foreign policy and international affairs at Israel’s National Security Council, emphasized the historic nature of the allied offensive.

“Never before in our history—and we’ve been working in alignment with the United States—did we actually work in combined operations mode, something that the last reminiscent [case] is of the British and the Americans in Normandy [in 1944],” Lerman said.

“This is an ongoing effort, shoulder to shoulder with full intelligence sharing, with full operational transparency with each other, with highly coordinated division of labor. Totally unprecedented,” he added.

Lerman said the American motivation at the highest level for the war is driven fundamentally by the nuclear issue. He argued that after the previous conflict in June 2025, the U.S. defense establishment realized that Iran had not been dissuaded from pursuing its course of action.

Additional American goals, he said, are to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to maritime traffic and to counter the Iranian attempt to take Gulf Arab states “hostage” by targeting them with missile and drone attacks.

Regarding regime change, Lerman noted the Trump administration’s aversion to prolonged nation-building projects.

“The very words regime change are highly problematic for the Trump administration,” Lerman explained, citing the shadow of Vietnam and Iraq. Instead, the strategy focuses on “creating the conditions for the Iranian people to take their fate into their hands,” primarily through the destruction of the regime’s repressive mechanisms.

Senior JISS fellow Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli national security adviser, echoed the sentiment that regime change cannot be guaranteed by external military force.

“What should be ensured by the operation, by the war, [is] that any regime, this one or another one, will be very, very weak,” said Amidror.

He estimated the conflict could last “two to six weeks,” noting that the allied forces must reach a point where they agree the regime is sufficiently degraded.

Professor Col. (res.) Gabi Siboni, CEO of JISS, placed the current operations within the broader context of Israel’s grand strategy since the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.

“I think that if you look at it carefully, you see a very clear strategy of Israel, developed by our prime minister and the Cabinet, which was to eliminate the proxies of Iran, isolate Iran, and then deal with Iran,” Siboni explained.

He praised the shift in posture, noting that the United States military operates without the restrictive layers of self-imposed legal constraints that Israel had typically adopted for itself.

“We are learning from the Americans now,” Siboni said. “We are learning a very important lesson regarding the way military operations should be conducted to make sure that we are doing it to kill the enemy and to win the war.”

Maj. (res.) Alex Grinberg, an expert at JISS on Iran and the Shi’ite world, provided insight into the internal dynamics of the Iranian regime under fire. He said that the goal must be to “break the back of the enemy.”

“It’s a regime that is sadistic and that blackmails money from families to get [back] the bodies of their dear ones [protesters] who were massacred. So, this regime must be destroyed,” Grinberg argued.

He analyzed Iran’s strikes against Gulf nations, suggesting they are a desperate attempt to saturate American air defense systems.

“Its geopolitical behavior proves that there is no way to compromise with this regime,” Grinberg said, describing the Islamic Republic as “incurably aggressive.”

He also called for the elimination of former senior IRGC commanders and military advisers, saying, “These are very powerful people, and they must be done in as soon as possible because they’re very dangerous.”

Any scenario of the regime surrendering as Nazi Germany did in 1945 is baseless, said Grinberg, adding that this is based on decentralized power networks, and that the war goal should be to “break separately all of the vertebrae of this spine. And this way it will stop functioning.”

Dr. Pnina Shuker, a JISS national security expert, focused on the profound impact of these Iranian strikes on the Gulf Arab states.

“It appears that the Iranian logic behind attacking Gulf states is to create internal instability, aiming to exert indirect pressure on the United States to end the war,” Shuker assessed. “There is a logic behind this modus operandi. However, it seems these attacks are achieving the exact opposite result.”

Instead of driving a wedge between regional allies, the attacks are accelerating defense integration and deepening strategic reliance on international partnerships, Shuker observed.

She noted that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have set aside their recent political disputes to unite against the shared Iranian threat.

She explained that Qatar faces an even more complex situation, having previously maintained a delicate balancing act with Tehran. However, the Iranian attempt to strike Doha International Airport crossed a red line.

“The Qatari prime minister flatly rejected these claims [that the missiles were aimed at American interests],” Shuker noted. “He accused Iran of dragging its neighbors into war.”

While the Gulf states have exercised notable restraint, Shuker warned of uncertainty as Iran continues to escalate.

“The Gulf states now face a dual-front challenge: sustaining effective interception against unpredictable missile swarms, while safeguarding domestic stability in the face of pro-Iranian mobilization,” she concluded.

When asked about the potential for the Trump administration to seek an end to the conflict before Israel’s desired timetable, Shuker cautioned that internal American politics could play a role. JNS

Russia has reportedly been supplying Iran with intelligence about the locations of American military forces in the Middle East in an effort to help Tehran respond to ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes, according to a new report.

The Washington Post reported Friday that since the start of “Operation Epic Fury” about a week ago, Moscow has been passing along information about the positions of U.S. naval vessels, aircraft, and other military assets in the region. Three sources familiar with the situation told the newspaper about the alleged intelligence sharing.

“It does seem like it’s a pretty comprehensive effort,” one official familiar with the intel told the outlet.

Since the campaign began with its opening strike, Iran has attempted to retaliate by launching thousands of drones and missiles aimed at American targets throughout the Middle East.

Despite reports that Russia may be assisting Tehran with intelligence, President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth have said the United States has swiftly gained control of the battlefield, asserting that American forces have achieved “total dominance” and that Iran has already “lost everything.”

Details about how extensively Russia may be helping Iran identify potential targets remain unclear.

The Kremlin has sharply criticized the military campaign against Iran, describing it as “a preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state.”

Hegseth, meanwhile, said the U.S. military operation against the Iranian regime has delivered overwhelming results during the first several days of fighting.

“Our forces are executing with unmatched skill and the mission is advancing decisively,” the Pentagon chief said Thursday.

“This is the kind of no nonsense, results driven warfighting that America demands.”

He also indicated that additional American military strength is being deployed to the region.

“Our capabilities are overwhelming and gathering still, as are those of our Israeli partners,” he said.

“Our munitions are full up and our will is ironclad, which means our timeline is ours and ours alone to control, as long as it takes to ensure the United States of America achieves these objectives.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump declared Friday that the United States will not reach any agreement with Iran unless the country first agrees to unconditional surrender, issuing the warning in a message posted on Truth Social as the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues.

“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”

Trump went on to outline what he said could follow such a surrender, suggesting that once a new leadership acceptable to the United States and its allies is chosen, efforts could begin to rebuild Iran.

“After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” he went on.

“IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. ‘MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).’ Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The president’s demand for Tehran’s capitulation came one day after he also said he wants a direct role in determining who will succeed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the initial wave of U.S.-Israeli strikes that launched the war last Saturday.

Trump dismissed speculation that Khamenei’s 56-year-old son, Mojtaba, could take over the leadership role, calling him a “lightweight” and an “unacceptable” option.

In a phone interview Friday with CNN, Trump said he would not necessarily oppose another religious leader assuming the position previously held by Khamenei.

“I may be, yeah, I mean, it depends on who the person is,” he told anchor Dana Bash on the phone. “I don’t mind religious leaders. I deal with a lot of religious leaders and they are fantastic.”

Trump also indicated that he would not insist that Iran become a democracy as part of any leadership transition.

“There has to be a leader that’s going be fair and just. Do a great job. Treat the United States and Israel well, and treat the other countries in the Middle East — they’re all our partners,” he told Bash.

At present, Iran is reportedly being governed by a three-man council that includes two hardline figures along with the country’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

Throughout the week, Trump has repeatedly pointed to the recent leadership change in Venezuela as a model for what could eventually happen in Iran, after U.S. commandos captured socialist leader Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3 and the White House backed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who agreed to release political prisoners and cooperate with American oil companies.

The president has acknowledged, however, that replicating that scenario in Iran may be more complicated, noting that more than four dozen senior officials have already been killed during the war.

Still, Trump expressed confidence that the strategy will succeed.

“It’s gonna work very easily. It’s going to work like did in Venezuela. We have a wonderful leader there. She’s doing a fantastic job. And it’s going to work Iike in Venezuela.”

Trump also voiced support Thursday for reported plans by Iranian Kurdish forces to enter Iran from Iraq in hopes of sparking a broader uprising against the regime in Tehran.

“I think it’s wonderful that they would want to do that,” the president told Reuters. “I’d be all for it.”

{Matzav.com}

A prolonged power outage that left parts of Brooklyn without electricity for days during a dangerous cold snap is now triggering frustration among residents who say Con Edison is slow to reimburse them for losses — and in some cases has already rejected their claims.

Several residents affected by the blackout say their requests for compensation have either been denied or remain unresolved. Some say they have yet to receive confirmation that their claims were even processed.

“Trying to rectify this with Con Ed, I was on hold for two days … and they were just so disrespectful,” said Park Slope resident James Kilmeade, who spent two nights in a hotel so that his pet bearded dragon wouldn’t freeze to death.

“The people wouldn’t give me their last names or any employee ID … and they never called me back,” Kilmeade added, saying he put in a $200 reimbursement claim for spoiled food.

He says he is still waiting for a response.

Kilmeade also explained that he has not submitted a request to be reimbursed for the hotel expenses he incurred while trying to keep his pet alive after losing electricity to the animal’s heat lamp.

“I had to smuggle her into a hotel, basically, in a blanket,” the 30-year-old said.

The complaints come shortly after Con Edison received approval to raise electricity rates by 10.4 percent and increase gas rates by 15.8 percent over the next three years — hikes expected to cost the average New York City household roughly $600 more annually by 2028.

A company spokesperson said Con Edison is currently reviewing and paying “validated claims” submitted by the hundreds of Brooklyn residents who were left without power for more than 48 hours during a widespread outage that began Jan. 31, during an intense Arctic cold spell.

According to the company’s website, customers may be eligible for reimbursements of up to $655 for spoiled food and certain medications if a power outage lasts more than 12 hours.

The blackout, which stretched for nearly six days in neighborhoods including Park Slope, Gowanus, and Boerum Hill, was caused by a manhole fire. Con Edison said the incident was triggered when melting snow and road salt seeped into underground infrastructure, corroding electrical equipment and wiring.

One resident, identified as A.C., said the company told him his situation did not qualify for compensation.

“They said it was due to the salt getting into their equipment, and I guess they don’t usually pay out for those instances,” he said. “I think they should cover it, just because salt is foreseeable … It’s not like it was a surprise.”

The dispute has now drawn the attention of local officials. City Council member Shahana Hanif is urging the utility company to revisit the denied claims and provide a clearer strategy for preventing similar outages in the future.

“Neighbors carried food up dark stairwells, shared heaters and blankets, and boiled water for warmth,” Hanif wrote in a Feb, 27 letter co-signed by six other city and state lawmakers.

“Many incurred real financial losses and faced unsafe living conditions through no fault of their own,” the pols added, and “they should not be left to shoulder the burden of a prolonged outage that resulted from infrastructure failure.”

{Matzav.com}

As Ben Gurion Airport gradually resumes operations following a tense period during the ongoing war, El Al has shifted into an extraordinary emergency operating mode aimed at bringing thousands of Israelis stranded abroad back home.

In an extensive interview on the Kol Chai radio news program, Alon Lavi, head of El Al’s operational control division, detailed the unprecedented effort being carried out by the airline to return passengers who were unable to reach Israel when the conflict began.

Lavi explained that the airline had prepared in advance for the moment when Israeli airspace would reopen.

“We prepared to operate rescue flights from more than 22 destinations the moment Ben Gurion Airport reopened,” he said. “We are implementing the framework approved by the government in a responsible and safe way.”

He provided striking figures illustrating the scale of the operation.

“Today, nine El Al rescue flights landed at Ben Gurion Airport from various destinations across Europe. Tomorrow the pace is expected to increase significantly, with 16 scheduled landings,” Lavi said.

The operation is not limited to nearby locations. El Al has deployed wide-body aircraft to transport hundreds of passengers per flight from long-distance destinations including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Bangkok.

“The planes are already on their way to Tel Aviv and are expected to land here tomorrow morning,” he added.

In order to reduce confusion and uncertainty among passengers, the airline also took an unusual step.

“We closed ticket sales for new flights until March 21,” Lavi explained.

The goal of that decision is to prioritize existing customers whose flights were canceled because of the war, allowing them to be placed on rescue flights without additional cost rather than selling new tickets at extremely high prices.

One of the most sensitive issues addressed during the interview was El Al’s firm decision not to operate flights on Shabbos.

Despite public pressure and the urgent need to bring Israelis home, Lavi emphasized that this policy remains unchanged.

“This is a Jewish company whose mission includes keeping Shabbos, and we stand behind that principle even under enormous media pressure,” he said.

He explained that the airline is making logistical adjustments to compensate for the day of rest.

“We will carry out the operations before Shabbos begins and immediately after it ends, and everything will work out,” he said. “We are not trying to make things unnecessarily difficult — we are simply remaining faithful to our values.”

Lavi also stressed that the airline is maintaining proactive contact with affected passengers.

“We are in touch with all of our customers twice a day in a proactive way,” he said.

He urged Israelis currently overseas to continue monitoring official channels for updates.

“All of the information is published on our website and on social media. We are doing everything possible to bring everyone home quickly and safely,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

As the Knesset gradually returns to limited activity during the ongoing war, tensions within the coalition are rising over the long-delayed draft law, with chareidi parties insisting the legislation return immediately to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Chareidi political leaders have reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu over the past 24 hours that the draft law must be brought back to the committee as early as next week, provided the security situation allows it. They have also requested that the committee’s legal adviser, Miri Frenkel, expedite the completion of the bill’s final wording.

The demand comes as the Knesset prepares to reconvene next week after a week-long recess. At first, the Knesset is expected to deal only with urgent matters, particularly those connected to the war.

At the same time, the chareidi parties have continued their boycott of coalition votes. They have clarified that they will refrain from supporting government legislation, with the exception of measures directly related to the war effort, in order not to complicate matters for the government during the conflict.

The dispute raises serious questions about the fate of the state budget.

If the draft law is not passed by the end of the month, there is a strong possibility that the budget will also fail to pass, which could ultimately lead to new elections.

Sources within the chareidi parties estimate that the prime minister will attempt to persuade them to approve the state budget even without the draft law being finalized. Whether those efforts will succeed remains to be seen.

{Matzav.com}

In light of the difficult security situation and its direct impact on couples preparing to marry, Israel’s Chief Rabbis have issued a special psak halachah regarding the scheduling of weddings.

The Chief Rabbis of Israel — the Rishon LeTzion, Rav Dovid Yosef, and the president of the Chief Rabbinate Council, Rav Kalman Meir Ber — released the ruling addressing the challenges many couples are facing as a result of the current wartime conditions.

At the outset of their ruling, the rabbonim stressed that the establishment of a bayis ne’eman b’Yisroel at its proper time is of the utmost importance. According to the psak, whenever it is possible to hold the wedding on the originally scheduled date in accordance with the guidelines of the Home Front Command, every effort should be made to avoid postponing it.

The rabbonim wrote that even if security restrictions require a significantly reduced celebration and a smaller number of guests than originally planned, it is nevertheless preferable not to delay the chuppah.

At the same time, the Chief Rabbis addressed couples who were forced to postpone their wedding because of the security situation.

In an unusual step described as a temporary hora’as sha’ah for this year, the rabbonim ruled that such couples may conduct their weddings until Rosh Chodesh Iyar, including that date.

This leniency applies both to Sephardim and Ashkenazim, with particular sensitivity toward couples who have not yet fulfilled the mitzvah of peru urevu.

Despite this significant allowance, the rabbonim emphasized that this ruling does not constitute a permanent change in the long-standing minhag. Under normal circumstances, and in cases where no compelling ones exists, the traditional custom regarding weddings during Sefiras HaOmer remains unchanged.

The Chief Rabbis also made clear that, in their view, weddings should not be permitted on Motzaei Shabbos, even during this period, in order to prevent situations that could lead to chillul Shabbos.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Chief Rabbis, the Rishon LeTzion, Rav Dovid Yosef, and Rav Kalman Meir Ber, president of the Chief Rabbinate Council, sent a sharply worded letter to Transportation Minister Miri Regev protesting the planned operation of government transportation services on Shabbos.

In their letter, the rabbonim expressed strong objection to what they described as unnecessary chillul Shabbos as part of the state’s transportation operations during the ongoing wartime situation.

The Chief Rabbis wrote that the planned move is being carried out at a time when there is no danger or concern of pikuach nefesh that would justify work on Shabbos.

They also emphasized that the decision to activate the transportation system was made unilaterally by government authorities without prior consultation with the Chief Rabbinate or receiving halachic guidance, as would normally be expected in public matters of this nature.

The rabbonim called on the minister to halt the plan and prevent unnecessary desecration of Shabbos, stressing that such decisions involving national public systems must be handled with proper sensitivity to halachah and with consultation from the appropriate rabbinic authorities.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Dovid Spiegel zt”l, the Ostrov-Kalushiner Rebbe of the Five Towns and rov of Bais Medrash of Cedarhurst, a devoted marbitz Torah and beloved rov who for decades built and nurtured a warm, vibrant center of Torah and Yiddishkeit in the community.

Rav Spiegel, a son of Rav Pinchas Eliyahu Spiegel zt”l, the Ostrov-Kalushiner Rebbe, was a distinguished talmid of two gedolei Torah of the previous generation, Rav Avrohom Pam zt”l and Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l. His connection with Rav Aharon was especially close and deeply personal. As a bochur, Rav Spiegel was among those who would frequently drive Rav Aharon to various engagements and destinations. Those hours spent in close proximity to the rosh yeshiva allowed him to develop a profound bond with his rebbi, absorbing not only Torah but also the spirit and vision that Rav Aharon instilled in his talmidim.

On June 19, 1962, Rav Spiegel married his wife, Rebbetzin Devorah Esther Spiegel a”h, the daughter of the Pittsburger Rebbe, Rav Avrohom Abba Leifer, in Newark, New Jersey, beginning a partnership that would become the foundation of a life devoted to Torah, community, and chesed.

In the early years following their marriage, the young couple lived in Lakewood in modest circumstances, residing in a small one-bedroom apartment above the stores on Fifth Street. Those humble beginnings reflected the simple and devoted lifestyle that characterized Rav Spiegel throughout his life.

A pivotal moment in his life and in the development of the Five Towns Torah community came in 1970. His brother-in-law, Rav Binyomin Kamenetsky zt”l, approached him with a bold vision: to establish a warm and authentic shtiebel that would serve as a beacon of Torah life in the growing Five Towns community. Rav Spiegel accepted the challenge with dedication and determination.

What began as a modest undertaking soon grew into something extraordinary. Over the decades, the shtiebel became a center of warmth, Torah, and genuine Yiddishkeit. Rav Spiegel did far more than establish a shul. He built a kehillah in the truest sense of the word. Through his guidance, countless individuals and families found a place where they could grow in Torah observance and strengthen their connection to Yiddishkeit.

Rav Spiegel understood that cultivating Torah life in a community requires not only passion but also wisdom, patience, and a deep understanding of people. With quiet determination and thoughtful leadership, he helped shape the spiritual character of the Five Towns in numerous ways. His influence could be felt in the lives of those who turned to him for guidance, encouragement, and inspiration.

Throughout the years, he remained a steady presence, a rov who cared deeply for his mispallelim and whose warmth and sincerity left a lasting impression on all who encountered him.

Rav Spiegel is survived by an exceptional family of children and grandchildren who continue his legacy of Torah, avodah, and devotion to Klal Yisroel.

The levaya is taking place now at Rav Spiegel’s shul, located at 504 W. Broadway in Cedarhurst, NY, followed by kevurah in New Jersey.

Yehi zichro boruch.

As Israel continues to operate under the pressures of Operation Roaring Lion, the Israeli Ministry of Transportation announced a significant expansion of public transportation services across the country.

Beginning today, bus service will increase to approximately 60 percent of normal operations. This follows several days during which the transportation network functioned at only 45 percent capacity due to the ongoing security situation.

The decision was made following a renewed situational assessment and updated guidance from the Home Front Command, with the goal of maintaining a measure of economic and daily-life continuity while the country remains under fire.

Alongside the expansion of bus services, the rail and light rail systems are still operating under strict limitations.

Israel Railways has concentrated its service in specific hubs that are suited to the current emergency conditions. The Yerushalayim Light Rail is operating on a limited emergency schedule, while the light rail system in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area remains completely suspended. The Haifa cable car system is also not operating at this time.

In addition, all in-person public transportation service centers across the country will remain closed until further notice.

Officials at the Ministry of Transportation stressed that despite the expanded service, the public is still urged to avoid non-essential travel and follow the instructions of security authorities.

“We call on the public to check the transportation apps and the operators’ information centers before setting out,” the ministry said.

For additional information or trip planning, travelers can contact the national transportation information hotline by dialing *8787.

Authorities noted that the public transportation system will continue to be adjusted as operational conditions evolve on the ground.

{Matzav.com}

Four days after the devastating missile strike that shook the city of Beit Shemesh and the entire country, Rabbi Yitzchak Biton spoke in a heart-rending interview about the loss of his three children, who were killed when an Iranian missile struck their home directly.

Speaking with radio host Avi Mimran, Rabbi Biton described how he is finding the strength to cope with the unimaginable tragedy and how his emunah and devotion to Torah guide his response even in the face of such overwhelming pain.

Rabbi Biton lost his three children — Yaakov, Avigail, and Sarah Hy”d — in the direct missile strike.

When asked where he draws the strength to endure such suffering, Rabbi Biton explained that the Torah provides guidance for every situation in life.

“The Torah illuminates a person’s path and gives him advice and understanding for how to respond to all kinds of realities in life,” he said. “Someone who truly believes in the Borei Olam and truly lives with the Torah understands how to relate to every situation.”

He added that despite the immense pain, a person must strive to accept even the most difficult moments with emunah.

“A person must bless for the bad just as he blesses for the good and reach a place where he can accept things with joy and know that the Hakadosh Boruch Hu does what is best for us,” he said.

Addressing the fear that has gripped many people after the unusual circumstances of the strike — in which even a protected shelter was hit — Rabbi Biton emphasized that everything remains in the hands of Hakadosh Boruch Hu.

“We must understand that we are in the hands of Hakadosh Boruch Hu, and every missile has an address,” he said.

He urged the public to strengthen themselves in emunah and in kvius ittim laTorah rather than allowing fear to dominate their thoughts.

“Hakadosh Boruch Hu speaks to us in every language,” he said. “Whether through terror attacks or ballistic missiles, He wants us to come closer to Him.”

During the interview, Rabbi Biton spoke with deep longing about the personalities of his children.

He described his son Yaakov Hy”d, who was sixteen years old, as an iluy in Torah. According to his father, already at the age of four and a half he would daven at the Kosel asking only for the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdosh.

“He would learn masechtos and Gemara with me, and sometimes he understood the sugya even better than avreichim,” Rabbi Biton said.

He described his daughter Avigail Hy”d, fifteen and a half years old, as “very wise and perceptive, someone who understood the nefesh of another person.”

His youngest daughter, Sarah Hy”d, he said, was always the first to volunteer for acts of chessed, doing so with a smile and genuine inner joy.

At the conclusion of the interview, Rabbi Biton called upon Klal Yisroel to continue the legacy of his children.

“Think good, speak good, do good, and look at everyone with a good eye,” he said.

Mimran also encouraged listeners to accept upon themselves a small kabbalah in their memory, suggesting that people undertake to learn one Mishnah or recite a chapter of Tehillim each day l’ilui nishmas Yaakov, Avigail, and Sarah bnei Tamar, whom Rabbi Biton said are in the category of harugei malchus, about whom Chazal say that no created being can stand in their place in Olam Haba.

{Matzav.com}

When the siren sounds again and everything stops in an instant, families across Israel rush with their children into the reinforced security room. The sudden shift from ordinary life — laundry, emails, a cup of coffee that has gone cold — to the familiar dash toward safety can be jarring. Hearts race, parents gather their children almost automatically, and the mind begins racing through rumors: Did something fall nearby? Did anyone see a video of what happened?

The uncertainty drains energy and can make it feel as though the same frightening moment is repeating itself again and again.

Yet even in that tense reality, the home remains a place of protection. The reinforced room may feel like a small, cold space on an ordinary day, but in moments of danger it becomes the place where children form their memories of how their parents handled the crisis. Instead of allowing the room to feel like a place of fear, parents can transform those tense minutes into a calmer and even reassuring experience.

Here are several simple ways to replace anxiety with a sense of safety — and perhaps even bring a smile during those stressful moments.

Create a Warmer Atmosphere

Most reinforced rooms are lit by a single bright LED bulb that feels sterile and uninviting.

Adding softer lighting can immediately change the mood. Battery-powered strings of small lights or a warm night lamp can make the room feel more comfortable. Soft yellow lighting has been shown to reduce stress levels and help people relax more quickly.

Scent can also play a powerful role. When the heavy door closes and the atmosphere suddenly feels tense, a gentle room diffuser or small lavender sachets in a closet can help shift the mood. Familiar household scents signal to the brain that this is still part of the home environment — not a frightening bunker — and that normal life will soon return.

Prepare a Small Snack Station

If families must remain inside the room for an extended period, food can be a source of comfort for children.

Instead of keeping loose bags of snacks, parents can organize small transparent baskets. One basket might hold savory snacks, another sweets, and another disposable cups and utensils.

Including treats that children normally do not receive during the week can also create a positive association. Children may begin to think of shelter time as the moment when they receive their special candies or snacks.

Create a Dedicated Children’s Corner

Rather than tossing random toys into the room, parents can prepare a small “shelter kit” designed specifically for these situations.

Quiet activities work best — coloring books, sticker sets, puzzles, or simple card games that keep children occupied and focused.

If there is enough space, adding cushions or beanbags can turn part of the room into a cozy corner. Children may even experience the time together as something like family “camping” rather than a stressful interruption.

Choose Words Carefully

Perhaps the most challenging part for parents is controlling their own reactions.

When a loud explosion is heard outside, the instinct may be to shout, “Did you hear that? That was really close!”

But children are extremely sensitive to their parents’ emotions. When adults react with fear, it signals to children that something terrible has happened.

Parents can instead try to remain calm and choose reassuring language. Rather than talking about impacts or explosions, they might say that the interception system stopped the threat and that everyone is safe.

It is also wise to avoid playing voice messages or circulating videos from messaging apps while children are present. Rumors and dramatic footage can intensify anxiety for both children and adults. The shelter room should remain a space free of frightening background noise.

Turn the Moment Into Connection

Even during stressful moments, families can transform the experience into a small shared ritual.

Some families begin with a quick round of gratitude, where each person says something they are thankful for. Others play word association games or simple guessing games.

Reading a story aloud while everyone sits close together can create a feeling of warmth and intimacy.

If the situation allows, playing music and even dancing for a minute or two can release physical tension and help children relax.

In the end, the reinforced room is simply a room. What fills it — calm, reassurance, and love — comes from the parents inside it. While families cannot control what is happening outside, they can guide the atmosphere within their own walls.

Besuros tovos.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister, Idit Silman, publicly called on President Donald Trump to impose personal sanctions on Israel’s attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, and Supreme Court President Yitzchak Amit.

Silman’s appeal came following Trump’s sharp criticism of Israeli President Isaac Herzog over the issue of granting a pardon to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

In a message posted Thursday on her X account, Silman addressed Trump directly in English, praising his intervention regarding what she described as the legal cases against Netanyahu.

“Mr. President, your pressure regarding the pardon in the fabricated cases against Prime Minister Netanyahu is welcome. But it is important to understand who is blocking even a discussion of this request,” she wrote.

Silman argued that Israel’s attorney general is preventing the issue of a pardon from even being discussed, while the head of the Supreme Court is protecting her position and blocking efforts to remove her.

According to Silman, “The attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, is preventing any discussion of a pardon, while Supreme Court President Yitzchak Amit supports her and prevents her dismissal, while at the same time canceling laws approved by Israel’s elected legislature.”

She concluded her appeal by urging Washington to take punitive measures against both officials.

“Since the United States stands for democracy in Israel, the time has come to impose severe personal sanctions against them both,” Silman wrote, adding: “Thank you, Mr. President, for standing with the State of Israel and the free world.”

Earlier in the day, Trump lashed out at President Herzog over Netanyahu’s pardon request, calling him a “disgrace” and insisting that he should grant the pardon immediately.

Trump said he had even refused to meet Herzog over the issue.

“I told him I wouldn’t meet with him. He’s been holding this over Bibi’s head for a year,” Trump said.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Thursday called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant an immediate pardon to Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, sharply criticizing Herzog and calling him a “disgrace” as he intensified his public support for Netanyahu during the prime minister’s ongoing corruption trial.

Herzog’s office responded by emphasizing that any decision regarding a presidential pardon will be made independently and without outside pressure.

Trump made the remarks during a phone interview with Axios as he continued a series of media appearances related to the joint U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran. During the conversation, he also said he believes he must personally play a role in determining Iran’s next leader and expressed backing for a Kurdish offensive against Iran.

Trump told Axios that Herzog should issue Netanyahu a pardon “today,” explaining that he believes the Israeli prime minister should be able to focus solely on the military campaign against the Iranian regime without being distracted by legal proceedings.

The president said he has raised the matter with Herzog repeatedly over the past year and claimed the Israeli president assured him on five separate occasions that Netanyahu would eventually receive a pardon. Trump added that he is unwilling to meet with Herzog until such a pardon is granted, though there have been no reports that Herzog has attempted to arrange a meeting with him.

Trump further alleged that Herzog has been using the possibility of a pardon as leverage over Netanyahu for roughly a year, despite the fact that Netanyahu only formally requested clemency in November. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing in the three corruption cases against him, arguing that he has been framed by the police and state prosecutors.

Trump has publicly advocated for Netanyahu to receive a pardon since June 2025, when Israel and Iran were last engaged in direct conflict. The Prime Minister’s Office has denied that Netanyahu ever asked Trump to intervene on his behalf.

Thursday’s comments marked the second time in less than a month that Trump has criticized Herzog on the issue. In February, Trump said Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not granting a pardon to Netanyahu, who is currently standing trial on allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Trump also raised the issue when he addressed the Knesset in October, dismissing the significance of gifts Netanyahu allegedly received in one of the cases. “Who cares about cigars and champagne?”

Following Trump’s latest remarks, the President’s Residence issued a statement that praised Trump’s support for Israel while underscoring that Herzog will ultimately make his decision based on legal considerations.

“President Herzog greatly respects and appreciates the tremendous contribution of Donald Trump to Israel’s security. He views him as the leader of the free world, a central ally of Israel, and particularly values his firm stance against Iran,” the statement said.

Herzog’s office also stressed that Israel “is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law,” noting that Netanyahu’s pardon request is currently being reviewed by the Justice Ministry, which will provide a legal recommendation in accordance with Israeli law.

“After the process is completed, the president will examine the request according to the law, the good of the country, and according to his conscience, without any influence from external or internal pressures of any kind,” his office added.

Netanyahu is currently facing trial in three separate corruption cases. In Case 1000 and Case 2000, he has been charged with fraud and breach of trust, while Case 4000 includes charges of bribery as well as fraud and breach of trust.

{Matzav.com}

Iran has delayed publicly naming a successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid concerns that whoever is chosen could become the next target in the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.

According to Iranian officials, the hesitation stems from fears that identifying the next supreme leader could expose that individual to possible assassination attempts.

Ayatollah Khamenei was eliminated in American and Israeli strikes that also killed several senior military commanders and figures associated with Iran’s defense establishment. Despite those losses, the heads of Iran’s three branches of government—the presidency, judiciary, and parliament—remain alive.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s 56-year-old son, has emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace his father. However, concerns about his safety intensified after reports surfaced suggesting he could become the next face of Iran’s leadership.

Iranian officials said that once Mojtaba Khamenei’s name began circulating publicly as the preferred successor, the United States indicated that he would not be considered an acceptable choice and could also be targeted.

President Donald Trump dismissed the possibility of Mojtaba Khamenei assuming power.

“They are wasting their time,” Trump told Axios on Thursday, adding that the former Supreme Leader’s son is “a lightweight” and an “unacceptable” choice.

“I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela,” Trump said, referring to Delcy Rodríguez, who became interim leader after Washington captured the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro.

Israel also signaled that any future Iranian leader would remain a potential military target. Defense Minister Yisroel Katz wrote in a social media post on Wednesday that whoever is chosen to replace Khamenei would be “an unequivocal target for elimination.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States is aiming to dismantle Iran’s current leadership structure but does not believe a ground invasion is necessary to achieve that goal.

During a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump explained that the objective is to prevent Iran from restoring its leadership and rebuilding power in the future.

“We want to go in and clean out everything,” Trump said. “We don’t want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period.”

Trump also suggested that there are potential figures who could lead Iran after its current leadership is removed.

“We want them to have a good leader. We have some people who I think would do a good job,” he said, though he declined to identify any names and indicated that efforts are being made to ensure those individuals remain safe during the conflict.

“We are watching them, yeah,” Trump said.

The president also addressed comments made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who told NBC News that Iran is ready to confront a possible ground invasion by American and Israeli forces.

Trump rejected that scenario, stating that such an operation would serve little purpose given the damage already inflicted on Iran’s military.

“It’s a waste of time. They’ve lost everything. They’ve lost their navy. They’ve lost everything they can lose.”

Trump added that U.S. military operations against Iranian targets will continue at the same level of intensity.

Earlier Thursday, the president said American strikes have dealt a major blow to Iran’s missile capabilities and warned Tehran not to threaten the United States or its allies.

“As soon as they set off a missile, within four minutes the launcher gets hit,” he said, explaining that the campaign has taken out a significant portion of Iran’s launch systems.

“Missiles are gone, launchers are gone – about 60% and 64% respectively.”

Despite the losses suffered by Iran’s military infrastructure, Trump said the country’s leadership is still taking a combative stance.

“They are tough and they want to fight,” he stated, while also saying that Iranian officials have begun making contact about potential negotiations.

“They are calling and saying, ‘How do we make a deal?’ I say, ‘You are being a little bit late.’ We want to fight now more than they do.”

{Matzav.com}

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has dismissed a Gaza school principal accused of taking part in the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 assault on Israel, according to a report by JNS.

The individual, identified as Hafez Mousa Mohammed Mousa, was recently added to a U.S. government blacklist under the administration of President Donald Trump.

“Upon the allegations made against Mr. Mousa by the Israeli authorities, on April 16, 2024, UNRWA immediately placed him on administrative leave without pay,” UNRWA spokesman Jonathan Fowler told JNS. “Upon completion of the Office of Internal Oversight Services investigation, his appointment was terminated on Aug. 20, 2024.”

A report released in late February by the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Agency for International Development stated that investigators uncovered what they described as decisive evidence that Mousa took part in the October 7 attack while serving as a captain in Hamas’s East Jabaliya Battalion.

The watchdog body, which functions independently from the State Department and monitors U.S. foreign assistance programs, said Mousa “coordinated communications with other suspected Hamas members during the Oct. 7 attacks while serving as an UNRWA school principal.”

According to The Washington Free Beacon, which cited information from the State Department, Mousa shut down his UNRWA school early on the morning of October 7 and then reached out to at least 20 Hamas operatives, instructing them to infiltrate Israel “with cars and weapons.”

A source familiar with the inspector general’s probe said investigators requested that UNRWA provide the names of employees who had been terminated for suspected links to terrorism.

The source said the agency declined to share that information and did not reveal the identities of staff members believed to have taken part in the October 7 attacks, actions that investigators said hindered their work.

Because of that, the State Department—which absorbed USAID last year—alerted UNRWA that Mousa had been placed on the U.S. government’s blacklist and would be prohibited from participating in American foreign aid programs for the next decade.

UNRWA has faced longstanding accusations that it maintains close ties with the Hamas terrorist organization, allegations that critics say have repeatedly been supported by evidence. Those concerns intensified in 2024 after Israel presented information indicating that several UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.

After those claims were made public, the United Nations created a review panel led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to examine Israel’s allegations. In its findings, the panel said it had identified “neutrality-related issues” within UNRWA, but also stated that Israel had not yet provided proof that large numbers of the agency’s employees belonged to terrorist organizations.

Even as criticism of UNRWA continues, the International Court of Justice recently ruled that Israel must allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip through United Nations bodies, including UNRWA. Israel and the United States both criticized that decision.

{Matzav.com}