Matzav

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Refoel Avrohom Yitzchok Hakohen Portowicz zt”l, a devoted mechanech who influenced generations of talmidim over more than five decades in the field of Torah education, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to Torah, chinuch, and the growth of countless young lives.

For more than fifty years, Rabbi Portowicz stood at the forefront of Torah education, guiding and inspiring talmidim with patience, clarity, and a deep sense of responsibility for every student entrusted to his care. For many years he served as menahel of Yeshivas Ziv Hatorah in Brooklyn, where he played a central role in building and strengthening the yeshiva’s educational environment. Under his leadership, generations of boys were guided not only in their learning, but in their development as bnei Torah and ehrliche Yidden.

His influence extended far beyond the classroom. With genuine care and a deep understanding of the challenges young people face, he invested himself in the growth of each student, offering guidance, encouragement, and direction.

Rabbi Portowicz’s dedication to chinuch was not limited to the school year. During the summer months, he continued his work with young people in the camp setting, where his presence was felt by hundreds of campers who benefitted from his guidance and inspiration. He served as head counselor of Camp Rayim, where he helped create an atmosphere of growth, camaraderie, and meaningful learning.

He also served as director of Camp Kochavim, where he worked tirelessly to ensure that the camp environment was not only enjoyable, but also uplifting and spiritually enriching for the boys who spent their summers there.

In addition, Rabbi Portowicz served as teen learning mashpia of Camp Romimu, where he inspired older campers to deepen their commitment to Torah and avodas Hashem.

Throughout his decades of work in chinuch, Rabbi Portowicz became known for his warmth, sincerity, and dedication to the success of every talmid. Whether in the classroom, the beis medrash, or the camp grounds, he approached his role with a deep sense of mission. His talmidim remember a mechanech who believed in them, pushed them to grow, and remained a source of guidance long after they left his direct care.

A couple of years ago, Rabbi Portowicz moved to Lakewood, where he resided in the Albert area.

The levayah will take place today at 2:30 PM at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, New Jersey. Kevurah will follow at the adjacent Mt. Sinai Cemetery.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the first New York City neighborhoods that will offer free day care for 2-year-olds this fall under the new 2-Care initiative.

Mamdani joined Hochul and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels during a visit to the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling in Harlem, one of the providers expected to participate in the 2-K program.

City officials said the initial rollout will provide about 2,000 2-K seats across four areas: Washington Heights and Inwood; Fordham and Kingsbridge; East Brooklyn, including Canarsie, Brownsville and Ocean Hill; and Ozone Park and the Rockaways.

“Launching 2-K in these four neighborhoods is just the beginning of our work to put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, strengthen our entire economy and help more families build their lives here,” Mamdani said.

The city plans to gradually expand the program over the next several years, with full implementation expected by the 2029–2030 school year.

“This is the first time the State of New York has made such an unprecedented commitment to the families and children of the City of New York, and we’re not going backwards, we are committed,” Hochul said.

According to Hochul, the pilot phase has already secured funding. Officials say the program will grow to serve 12,000 children next year and will ultimately expand to cover all 2-year-olds in New York City within four years. In the meantime, participation will remain limited to selected neighborhoods.

“These determinations were made in part, on a reflection of which neighborhoods had those providers ready to go before the end of this year, and also as a reflection of economic need that will continue to be some of the ways in which we making determinations for the 12,000 seats next year,” Mamdani said. “But then by the end of year four, it’s every single 2-year-old in the City of New York.”

Staten Island will not be part of the first phase of the program. Mamdani did not offer a specific explanation for the borough’s exclusion but said it will be included in the expansion next year.

Officials said enrollment will open this summer, though the process for selecting participating children has not yet been finalized.

{Matzav.com}

Amid the ongoing security tensions, Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has reportedly held emergency discussions about the possibility of declaring a leap year and adding a second month of Adar in order to delay Purim celebrations until conditions improve.

According to a report published Tuesday, urgent consultations have taken place in recent days in the offices of Israel’s chief rabbis—Rishon LeTzion Rav Dovid Yosef and Chief Rabbi Rav Kalman Bar. The discussions reportedly included senior security officials and focused on the halachic possibility of declaring ibbur hashanah—intercalating the year by adding a second Adar—even though the current year is scheduled to be a regular year according to the established Jewish calendar.

The report states that the talks began after the outbreak of the war with Iran during Operation Shaagas HaAri. The central concern raised in the discussions was the prospect that large segments of Israel’s population might be forced to celebrate the days of Purim in bomb shelters and protected spaces due to the ongoing rocket threats.

According to those familiar with the discussions, the chief rabbis expressed deep concern that the security situation could undermine the spirit of the holiday. The fear is that the commandment of v’nahafoch hu—the transformation of danger into joy—could instead be overshadowed by anxiety and fear if people are required to celebrate the festival under emergency conditions.

For that reason, the rabbis reportedly examined whether it might be halachically possible to redefine the current month as Adar I and add an additional month of Adar II, in the hope that the security situation would stabilize by then and allow the holiday to be celebrated properly and with communal joy.

During the extended deliberations, historical precedents from the Beis Din HaGadol were reviewed. In past eras, the year was sometimes intercalated not only due to astronomical considerations but also because of pressing circumstances that could prevent the proper fulfillment of mitzvos.

One of the questions raised during the discussions was whether the current situation—where many Israelis must remain in shelters—could be considered a form of oneis, a halachic circumstance beyond people’s control that might justify extraordinary measures in the calendar.

Another concern mentioned was the potential timing of Pesach, particularly in light of statements by President Donald Trump suggesting that the war could last approximately four weeks, which could place additional holidays under the shadow of ongoing hostilities.

Sources close to the chief rabbis described the discussions as reflecting a difficult dilemma between preserving the fixed Jewish calendar and addressing the emotional and spiritual challenges facing tens of thousands of Israelis currently living under constant threat.

The Chief Rabbinate issued a brief response to the report, stating: “Following consultations between the chief rabbis, it was decided to wish everyone a happy Purim, including those who enjoy the Purim humor in the report.”

Ah frelichen Shushan Purim.

{Matzav.com}

Purim celebrations in the court of Seret Vizhnitz in Haifa were marked this year by the tense security situation in northern Israel, as repeated rocket alerts disrupted the traditional tish on the night of Purim.

During the gathering, three consecutive sirens sounded across the city, forcing chassidim and guests to seek shelter in protected areas. When the first alert was heard, the Seret Vizhnitzer Rebbe left the bais medrash and made his way to a nearby protected space.

While the Rebbe remained in the secure area, thousands of chassidim stayed inside the bais medrash and responded to the tense moments with powerful singing, chanting the posuk “V’chol karnei resha’im agadei’a, teromamnah karnei tzaddik.”

After three separate alerts and a message from Home Front Command announcing that the immediate danger had passed, the Rebbe returned to his table to continue the tish. However, only minutes later another early warning notification was issued. At that point, the Rebbe immediately began birkas hamazon and again made his way to the protected area to ensure the safety of those present.

Amid the disruption caused by the sirens, chassidim also experienced an unusual moment during the krias hamegillah. On the night of Purim, the Rebbe personally read the first two chapters of the megillah, after which the reading was continued by Rav Meshulam Rosenberg.

During the daytime megillah reading on Purim, however, an unexpected development occurred. After the first two chapters were completed, Rav Rosenberg attempted to continue the reading but suddenly lost his voice due to hoarseness and was unable to proceed.

In response to the situation, the Rebbe took over the reading himself and continued until the entire megillah had been completed.

Chassidim later expressed deep excitement over the rare moment, noting that it is uncommon for the Rebbe to read the entire megillah himself. Many said they felt privileged, describing the experience as an extraordinary occasion within the chassidus.

{Matzav.com}

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday night that the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran that killed the country’s supreme leader was carried out “outside of international law,” adding that France cannot support the operation.

In a nationally televised address, Macron placed responsibility for the broader conflict in the Middle East on Iran but made clear that Paris does not endorse the strikes themselves, a stance that could strain relations with Washington.

His comments come as tensions between the United States and some European governments have intensified over the war. Earlier Tuesday, President Donald Trump threatened to halt trade with Spain after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the war as illegal and refused to allow American military aircraft to operate from Spanish bases during attacks on Iran.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who appeared alongside Trump during the press conference where the trade warning was issued, did not publicly defend Sánchez at the time. Macron’s remarks now appear to place France closer to the Spanish position regarding the legality of the conflict.

Although Trump has suggested the fighting could conclude within days or weeks, Macron warned that the conflict may continue for an extended period.

“Strikes will likely continue in the coming days to weaken Iran and destroy its counterattack capabilities. And in response, Iranian strikes in the whole region are expected to continue,” Macron said.

Macron also announced that France is strengthening its military posture in the region to safeguard its interests. The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is being deployed to the Mediterranean, accompanied by fighter jets and air-defense systems.

“We will continue this effort as long as it is needed,” he said.

The French president confirmed that Paris has also dispatched anti-missile defense systems to Cyprus, a move that had previously been reported.

“Cyprus, an EU member state, a country with which we have signed a strategic partnership … requires our support,” he said.

Macron stressed that France must uphold its credibility by honoring its security commitments to allies in the region, including Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, where approximately 800 French troops are currently stationed.

On Sunday, Iranian drones struck a French naval facility in the United Arab Emirates, though no casualties were reported.

French fighter jets also conducted flights over the UAE during the weekend as part of what officials described as “sky security operations,” according to French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

{Matzav.com}

While Israel remains on high alert amid the ongoing security situation, the bais medrash of Yeshivas Ponevezh in Bnei Brak resonated late into the night with the powerful sound of Torah learning, as thousands of talmidim gathered for a continuous learning session on the night of Purim.

The long-standing tradition—established decades ago by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l—continued this year with remarkable intensity. The evening also featured an emotional visit from the current rosh yeshiva, Rav Berel Povarsky.

As the streets of Bnei Brak filled with the festive atmosphere of the Yom Tov, tempered by the tension of the ongoing security situation in Eretz Yisroel, thousands of bochurim at the flagship yeshiva of the olam hayeshivos chose to arm themselves with what they see as the Jewish people’s most powerful weapon: Torah.

On the night of Purim, when many celebrate in the streets, the yeshiva’s talmidim set aside the usual festivities and gathered in the main bais medrash for an inspiring and uninterrupted learning session that continued until 2:00 a.m.

The famous learning session held each year on the night of Purim in Ponevezh is far from routine. It was instituted decades ago at the direct instruction of Rav Gershon Edelstein, who would regularly emphasize the unique power of learning Torah precisely at times when others might step away from it. The talmidim of the yeshiva, viewing this as a living spiritual legacy, packed the bais medrash to capacity.

A particularly moving moment occurred when the rosh yeshiva, Rav Berel Povarsky, entered the bais medrash to witness firsthand the extraordinary sight of thousands of young men deeply immersed in learning. The rosh yeshiva expressed great satisfaction, and dozens of talmidim approached him to discuss the sugyos they were studying, as he encouraged them to continue strengthening the merit of Klal Yisroel through their learning.

At the conclusion of the learning session at 2:00 a.m., a special tefillah was held for the salvation of the Jewish people and the nullification of harsh decrees.

Following the tefillah, thousands of bochurim broke out in powerful singing that echoed throughout the area. Alongside the traditional Purim melodies, songs of geulah and heartfelt supplication filled the hall, as the talmidim cried out and prayed for deliverance in the shadow of the ongoing war.

ליל פורים בישיבת פוניבז’ (צילום: שוקי לרר)

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{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) 

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE

your OWN SIYUM on the ENTIRE Shas, Rashi & Tosfos IN JUST ONE YEAR!

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. 

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. 

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. 

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact –

Beyond the Grave

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory. 

ShasYiden.com

Israeli defense officials say there has been a significant decline in the number of missiles being launched from Iran, attributing the drop to extensive damage inflicted on missile launchers as well as reports that some Iranian soldiers have abandoned their positions out of fear they would be targeted.

Four days into the war, security officials in Israel say the number of launches has steadily decreased, a trend they link to sustained Israeli and American strikes on Iran’s missile infrastructure.

According to a report aired overnight on Kan News, roughly 90 missiles were launched on the first day of the conflict. The number dropped to about 65 on the second day, around 25 on the third day, and approximately 20 launches were recorded on Tuesday.

A security official quoted in the report said the decline is expected to continue. “This trend will intensify; we and the Americans are damaging Iran’s ability to carry out large-scale attacks.”

At the same time, the IDF announced that the Israeli Air Force has struck dozens of missile launch sites and rendered approximately 300 missile launchers in Iran inoperable.

Since the beginning of Operation Shaagas HaAri, the Air Force has dropped roughly 4,000 munitions across targets throughout Iran.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Office, hundreds of fighter jets and aircraft have carried out simultaneous strikes over the past 24 hours against hundreds of targets across Iran and Lebanon.

As part of the ongoing offensive effort, the Israeli Air Force continues to conduct successive waves of attacks targeting the Iranian regime’s ballistic missile systems and air-defense networks.

Since the launch of Operation Shaagas HaAri, the Air Force has neutralized about 300 missile launchers, the result of more than 1,600 strike sorties and an around-the-clock effort to hunt down launchers and missile stockpiles in order to reduce the volume of fire directed at Israel’s home front.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu attended a public megillah reading Tuesday night, the night of Shushan Purim, at Yeshivas Mercaz HaRav in Yerushalayim, prompting criticism from some observers who questioned whether his participation complied with Home Front Command restrictions on public gatherings.

The prime minister joined a large crowd at the yeshiva for krias hamegillah, though the event drew scrutiny because current emergency guidelines issued by Israel’s Home Front Command prohibit large public gatherings.

After photos and video from the event circulated, the Prime Minister’s Office responded to media inquiries, stating that Netanyahu “acted in accordance with the guidelines.”

As previously reported, Home Front Command announced that the current security restrictions would remain in place until Shabbos, March 7, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. Under the updated policy, public gatherings are not permitted, most workplaces are closed except for essential services, and educational activities are suspended.

The issue gained additional attention after Kan 11 political correspondent Michael Shemesh commented publicly on the situation following Netanyahu’s appearance at the reading.

“Incidentally, after Netanyahu’s appearance at the public megillah reading, it would be appropriate for Home Front Command to at least update the guidelines and allow many Jews who wish to hear the megillah properly to do so,” Shemesh wrote. “In my opinion the restrictions at this stage are completely excessive.”

{Matzav.com}

A diplomatic conversation infused with faith and historical reflection took place Tuesday between Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, as the two discussed the joint Israeli-American operation in Iran, Operation Shaagas HaAri, during the days of Purim.

“The attack in Iran is like reliving the days of Mordechai and Esther. We are seeing the miracle before our eyes,” Huckabee said, highlighting the symbolism of the timing during the days of Purim.

Bismuth said during the conversation that Israel currently finds itself “in the midst of a process in which a new Middle East is being built, one that will influence the entire global order,” adding that the moment is historic and will reshape reality for generations.

He emphasized that Israel and the United States are in the middle of a historic initiative being led by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu—an effort that is reshaping the Middle East and influencing the broader world order.

According to Bismuth, “as people of faith, it can be said that the finger of God touched Trump and Netanyahu,” adding that the two leaders are acting with a sense of mission at a defining moment in history.

He continued, expressing the sense of purpose surrounding the events: “One can simply say that there is the finger of God here. This is a tremendous event. Truly tremendous.”

Bismuth also expressed gratitude to Ambassador Huckabee, the American people, and the U.S. administration for their friendship and steadfast support of Israel. He additionally conveyed condolences to the families of American soldiers who were killed during the operation, noting that Israel deeply values both their sacrifice and the partnership between the two nations.

{Matzav.com}

A moving moment unfolded on the night of Purim at the central Marina Roshcha shul in Moscow, as a rare and centuries-old Megillas Esther was presented to the Chief Rabbi of Russia in an emotional ceremony.

The gift was presented by Alexander Grodetsky, a 95-year-old Jewish man, who arrived at the shul and handed the miniature megillah to Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Berel Lazar. The ancient megillah had been preserved within his family for generations.

Standing firmly and speaking with deep emotion, Grodetsky shared the remarkable story behind the treasured heirloom. He explained that the megillah had been given to him 75 years earlier by his great-grandfather. That great-grandfather, born in the year תר”ל, had inherited it from his own father, indicating that the scroll was written more than two centuries ago. “When my grandfather gave me the megillah, he asked me to guard it for the rest of my life,” Grodetsky told the Chief Rabbi, adding resolutely, “I decided that the best way to protect it now is to entrust it to our rabbi.”

After the central public reading of the megillah before a large crowd, hundreds of young Jewish attendees gathered to hear remarks from the Chief Rabbi, who displayed the rare megillah to those present. Rav Lazar connected Grodetsky’s vitality and longevity with his dedication to Jewish tradition. “If you all want to be happy and at peace with long life like Alexander Grodetsky, you should keep Megillos Esther in your homes and follow the path of preserving the heritage of Israel. Our ancestors drew optimism from this megillah, and from it we understand that the Jewish people cannot be defeated.”

The rabbi went on to emphasize the contemporary message of Purim, stressing that every detail of life is guided by hashgachah pratis. “The belief that HaKadosh Baruch Hu watches over us gives us strength in every situation. Even when reality appears difficult, we must remain certain that there is a Creator who directs the world. There is no place for worry when we know that there is a Leader of the palace, and every doubt—which has the gematria of Amalek—has no place in the Jewish spirit.”

In his concluding remarks, Rav Lazar called upon the community to strengthen Jewish identity, particularly in light of the events unfolding in Eretz HaKodesh. He urged Jews to express pride in their heritage through traditional Jewish dress, the use of Jewish names, and the performance of practical mitzvos, foremost among them placing a mezuzah on the entrance to the home. Such acts, he said, will help ensure the security and ultimate victory of the Jewish people in Eretz HaKodesh and throughout the world.

{Matzav.com}

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina called on President Donald Trump Tuesday to support Israel by launching joint military strikes against the Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon.

His remarks came as the Israel Defense Forces targeted Hezbollah positions and deployed troops across the border into southern Lebanon. The operations followed Hezbollah’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, including launching rockets toward Israel and aligning with Iran’s attacks during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war.

Speaking to reporters and quoted by CBS, Graham said, “I’m calling on President Trump today: Join Israel to attack Hezbollah. Avenge the Marines,” referring to a 1993 suicide bombing of a US barracks in Lebanon that killed hundreds of American service members, an attack the United States has blamed on Hezbollah.

Lindsey Graham: "I'm calling on President Trump today — join Israel to attack Hezbollah … fly with Israel" pic.twitter.com/ymiUtdOGB9

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 3, 2026

Graham, who is a close political ally of Trump and has consistently advocated a hardline approach toward Iran, also defended the administration’s military operations targeting the Iranian regime. He said Iran’s leadership appears to be nearing collapse.

He argued the Iranian government is in its “death throes” and said that “the demise of this regime is at hand.”

Addressing Democratic critics who say Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the United States, Graham rejected that view.

“The idea that you’re going to let a homicidal maniac get to the imminent stage, to me, is misplaced.”

Graham has repeatedly pushed for a more aggressive stance toward Iran and previously opposed diplomatic agreements between Washington and Tehran. He has argued that lasting peace in the Middle East will only come with the fall of the current Iranian regime.

{Matzav.com}

Federal prosecutors unsealed a complaint on March 2 charging Dan Sohail, 36, with intentionally damaging religious property at Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Sohail, of Carteret, N.J., was taken into custody earlier in the day and arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clay Kaminsky in Brooklyn federal court.

Prosecutors allege that on Jan. 28, Sohail drove to a side entrance of the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters complex, exited his vehicle and removed barriers set up to protect the site. After motioning for passersby to move away, he allegedly returned to his car and rammed the entrance. He then reversed and drove into the doorway four more times, knocking the door off its hinges. No injuries were reported.

“Americans should be free to practice their faith without fearing defacement of their sacred places,” Harmeet Dhillon, U.S. assistant attorney general for civil rights, stated. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate attacks on houses of worship, and will vigorously prosecute those who carry them out.”

James Barnacle, assistant director in charge of the FBI New York Field Office, stated that “Sohail allegedly jeopardized dozens of lives and damaged one of our city’s sacred synagogues.”

“The FBI and the NYPD will continue to protect our community’s religious institutions to ensure a safe place for all worshippers,” he added.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called Chabad Headquarters in Brooklyn “a sacred place for many Jews in New York City and around the world.”

“Every New Yorker deserves to live in a safe city where they can practice their faith freely and without fear,” she said. JNS

{Matzav.com}

A previously undisclosed phone conversation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump played a decisive role in the decision to launch the strike on Iran that triggered the current conflict, according to a report published Tuesday by Axios.

The report states that Netanyahu contacted Trump on February 23 to share intelligence indicating that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several of his closest advisers, would be gathering at a single location in Tehran on the morning of Saturday, February 28.

Three individuals familiar with the conversation told Axios that Netanyahu informed Trump that the meeting created a rare opportunity in which the entire group could potentially be eliminated in a single airstrike.

The call took place from the White House Situation Room and had not been previously disclosed. According to the report, it marked a turning point in the sequence of events that ultimately led to the outbreak of the current war with Iran.

The intelligence suggesting that Khamenei and his senior leadership team would be together in one place was viewed as a unique opportunity that both Trump and Netanyahu were reluctant to pass up.

Trump had already been weighing the possibility of a military strike against Iran before receiving this intelligence, but had not yet determined when such an operation might take place. The information Netanyahu shared during the call helped shape the timing of the decision.

Officials from both the United States and Israel told Axios that the February 23 conversation was the result of months of close coordination between the two leaders. In the two months leading up to the attack, Trump and Netanyahu met in person twice and held 15 phone conversations.

At one point the two countries considered launching the operation a week earlier, but the strike was postponed due to intelligence considerations and operational issues, including unfavorable weather conditions.

At Trump’s request, the CIA carried out an initial assessment that verified the intelligence gathered by Israeli military intelligence regarding Khamenei’s planned meeting.

Once that review began confirming the information, planning for the operation moved forward quickly. Trump informed Netanyahu that he was inclined to proceed but said he first intended to deliver his State of the Union address the following evening.

U.S. officials said Trump made a “deliberate decision” to avoid focusing heavily on Iran during the speech so as not to tip off Khamenei or cause him to alter his plans before the strike could be carried out.

By Thursday, intelligence officials had confirmed that the Iranian leadership would indeed be assembling at the location.

“Confirmed that these people were all going to be together, and we needed to take advantage of it,” a source told Axios.

That same day, Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff contacted the administration from Geneva after hours of negotiations with Iranian representatives, delivering what they described as a bleak assessment of the diplomatic talks.

Following those developments, Trump determined that the intelligence was credible and that diplomacy had failed. On Friday at 3:38 p.m. EST, he authorized the operation.

Roughly eleven hours later, bombs struck Tehran, Khamenei was killed, and the military confrontation began.

An Israeli official told Axios that Trump had originally wanted to carry out the strike earlier, in early January, but that Netanyahu requested a delay.

The official said the final schedule was “fully coordinated,” with both sides agreeing the operation would be conducted together.

According to the report, the initial strategy envisioned a strike in late March or early April in order to give the administration more time to build public support.

However, a U.S. official told Axios that Netanyahu urged a faster timetable, warning that Iranian opposition figures hiding in safe houses could be vulnerable to the regime. Moving up the timeline left the administration with limited time to present a public case for military action.

Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter declined to address details of the February 23 call but rejected suggestions that Netanyahu had strongly pushed to speed up the operation.

“Over the past year, we have worked more closely than ever with our partners in the United States regarding Iran, and we see eye to eye on the danger Iran poses to Israel, to the United States, and to the free world,” Leiter told Axios.

“Anyone who knows President Trump understands that he is a strong leader who cannot be steered,” the ambassador added.

{Matzav.com}

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has not been harmed despite earlier reports suggesting he was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike targeting Iran’s leadership and military facilities, according to a close associate.

“I am in touch with him. All is good,” the adviser told Anadolu Agency, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Initial reports had indicated that Ahmadinejad may have been killed during an Israeli-American airstrike.

According to the aide, the strike hit a structure connected to Ahmadinejad’s security team the day before.

The source said three of Ahmadinejad’s bodyguards—members of the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps)—were killed in the attack.

The adviser added that Ahmadinejad’s home, located roughly 100 meters from the building that was struck, was not hit and suffered no damage.

Ahmadinejad held the presidency of Iran from 2005 until 2013.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said the United States has more than enough munitions to prevail in a confrontation with Iran, pushing back against concerns about depleted stockpiles and accusing the previous administration of sending large quantities of advanced weapons overseas.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump said American weapons reserves—especially in the midrange and upper-midrange categories—are currently at their strongest levels, dismissing suggestions that the Pentagon is facing shortages.

“As was stated to me today, we have a virtually unlimited supply of these weapons,” Trump wrote, adding that “wars can be fought ‘forever,’ and very successfully, using just these supplies (which are better than other countries finest arms!).”

Trump also took aim at President Joe Biden, claiming that large quantities of top-tier military equipment were transferred abroad, particularly to Ukraine.

Trump accused Biden of “GIVING everything to P.T. Barnum (Zelenskyy!) of Ukraine — Hundreds of Billions of Dollars worth.”

He further argued that the previous administration failed to replenish those high-end weapons systems after sending them overseas, leaving the United States less prepared before his administration began rebuilding its military capacity.

“While he gave so much of the super high end away (FREE!), he didn’t bother to replace it,” Trump asserted before declaring that he “rebuilt the military in my first term” and that “The United States is stocked, and ready to WIN, BIG!!!”

Trump’s remarks come as U.S. and Israeli forces continue conducting military operations against Iran following the launch of their joint campaign over the weekend.

The situation in the region has grown increasingly tense in the wake of Iranian retaliatory attacks that followed the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the broader escalation of hostilities.

Some defense analysts and Pentagon officials have warned that certain types of U.S. weapons—particularly air-defense interceptors and long-range precision munitions—have been strained by prolonged international deployments.

Shipments of military equipment to allied nations, including Ukraine and Israel, have reduced some stockpiles over time, leading to pauses and reassessments of weapons transfers in recent years, according to a January report by Newsweek.

Supporters of the president in Congress have defended Trump’s position, arguing that the United States has the industrial capacity and logistical infrastructure necessary to sustain operations and replenish weapons supplies as needed.

They say Trump’s emphasis on maintaining strong domestic readiness instead of prioritizing foreign aid enhances national security and signals strength to Iran.

While the White House has not released specific data on current weapons inventories, citing security concerns, Trump’s comments reflect confidence that U.S. forces have the resources required to confront Iranian threats and sustain a lengthy military campaign if necessary.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian sleeper cells in the United States are a concern that should be taken seriously in the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Ali Khamenei and other Iranian regime leaders over the weekend, experts told JNS.

“They pose a very grave threat,” Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum, told JNS. “The Iranians are going to strike us where we are least defended.”

Past incidents show that sleeper cells exist, including a thwarted 2011 Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States, according to Rubin. In that plot, the Iranians were working with cartels “to whom they were outsourcing some of the operation,” he said.

“That’s what we need to be most worried about. An Iranian sleeper cell might not be comprised of Iranians. It might be an Iranian-hired cell tapping into other existing criminal networks,” Rubin told JNS.

That shouldn’t be a surprise, since the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has interacted with Venezuelan and Bolivian drug dealers, according to Rubin. And when it came to the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, “the Iranians were relying on Lebanese emigres,” Rubin told JNS.

The bombing killed 85 people and injured more than 300. In April 2024, an Argentine court found that Iran and Hezbollah were responsible for the attack.

Rubin told JNS that when Iranian Americans visit Iran for benign reasons, “they are interrogated at the border, and any phone or computer that they have is basically going to be sucked dry.”

If the Iranian regime found anything on their phones or computers that it can use as blackmail, it will do so now, according to Rubin.

Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, told JNS that the Iranian regime “has for many years attempted to establish capabilities and networks in the United States that are able to carry out such operations on demand at the decision of the Iranian leadership.”

“I think U.S. law enforcement, thankfully, has been quite effective in thwarting these plots in conjunction with our allies and partners around the world, but this is a threat,” he said.

“There is a capability that the Iranian regime has. It maintains relationships with transnational criminal syndicates, and those transnational criminal syndicates have the ability to carry out operations in the United States,” Brodsky told JNS. “It should be taken seriously.”

Law-enforcement officials have addressed the matter. Kash Patel, director of the FBI, stated on Saturday that he “instructed our counterterrorism and intelligence teams to be on high alert and mobilize all assisting security assets needed” and that the FBI “remains at the forefront of deterring attacks here at home.”

Kristi Noem, U.S. homeland security secretary, also stated that she is “in direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners as we continue to closely monitor and thwart any potential threats to the homeland.”

Rubin told JNS that law enforcement may be on top of the issue, but “if the Iranians try hard enough and have enough strategic patience, we do eventually let down our guard.”

He cited the attempt to assassinate Salman Rushdie in 2022, which left the writer partially blind.

“Terrorists think outside the box, and unfortunately, the American security establishment is not very good at thinking outside the box,” Rubin said.

Based on past plots that the United States has thwarted, the Iranian regime targets current and former U.S. government officials, Iranian dissidents, Jewish community members and critics of the regime, according to Brodsky.

The Iranian regime has sanctioned Brodsky, his boss, and United Against Nuclear Iran, he told JNS.

“It’s not just that they’re freezing the nonexistent assets that we have in Iran, or denying us our ability to travel to Iran when we would never do so,” he said. “Along with the designation comes cyberhacking attempts and all kinds of threats to the people involved.”

Brodsky sees the designation as a “badge of honor.”

“This is a regime that is one of the worst in the world,” he said. “It’s abused the Iranian people and has engaged in a massacre last month which killed, just in the span of a couple of days, around 32,000 people, with totals not seen since Nazi Germany.”

Brodsky and Rubin told JNS that it’s unknown how many sleeper cells there are in the United States. Rubin said that the “nature” of sleeper cells is that there’s no way to know how many there are.

Rubin suspects that “there will be assassinations of prominent Jewish community leaders, of rabbis and so forth, because the Islamic Republic and its agents don’t differentiate between Judaism and Israel.”

“In this case, their goal is simply to show strength by reach,” he told JNS. “Everyone needs to be vigilant and recognize that we’ve never faced a danger like we face today as the Jewish community in the United States.” JNS

Anti-Jewish hate crimes in New York City in February were down slightly compared to the prior month and to February 2025 but still represented more than 55% of all hate crimes in the city, according to new New York City Police Department data.

Jews were the targets of 21 of the 38 hate crimes reported in the city in February, the NYPD said. Much fewer hate crimes targeted Asians (1), blacks (4) and Muslims (1) or were based on religion (4) or sexual orientation (6), per the department.

The NYPD said that it is now reporting hate crime data in a different way.

“Previously, the department reported alleged hate crimes that were still under review,” it said. “The NYPD will now report hate crimes that have been investigated and officially confirmed as such by the Hate Crimes Task Force.”

“This updated methodology will provide a more accurate representation of confirmed hate crimes in the city,” it said.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many alleged hate crimes are still being investigated from February. (JNS sought comment from the NYPD.)

The 21 confirmed anti-Jewish hate crimes and the total number of 38 confirmed hate crimes in February was smaller than the 41 confirmed and alleged hate crimes in New York City in February 2025. Of those, 28 targeted Jews, or more than 68%. In February 2024, 14 of 24 hate crimes in the city targeted Jews, or 58%.

In January, anti-Jewish hate crimes (31) in New York City, during the first month of Zohran Mamdani’s mayorship, was up 182% compared to January 2025 (11). JNS

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized several NATO allies on Tuesday after some European governments refused to allow the United States to use their military bases in operations against Iran, singling out Spain and the United Kingdom in a heated exchange.

During a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump expressed frustration with America’s European partners, arguing that they rely too heavily on the United States for defense while failing to contribute enough themselves.

Trump also threatened economic consequences for Spain and took direct aim at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing him of lacking the leadership shown by Britain’s wartime prime minister.

“This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” Trump said of the Labour prime minister.

Tensions between the two leaders have escalated since Starmer declined to allow U.S. forces to launch the initial round of strikes against Iran from British military bases on Saturday.

Starmer publicly condemned the airstrikes in an address to the House of Commons on Monday, delivering a speech that some observers compared to a memorable scene from the film Love Actually, in which the fictional British prime minister confronts an overbearing American president.

“This government does not believe in regime change from the skies,” Starmer declared. “It is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest. That is what I have done. And I stand by it.”

The prime minister’s comments surprised some observers who had viewed his relationship with Trump as relatively friendly, particularly after he arranged a high-profile state visit featuring a formal dinner hosted by the King at Windsor Castle.

Others, however, applauded Starmer’s stance. The Labour government is facing mounting political pressure ahead of the next election amid economic concerns tied to rising living costs as well as renewed attention surrounding scandals involving the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“I am no fan of Keir Starmer,” British commentator James Melville wrote on social media. “But if he stands up to Trump & prevents the UK from entering into another potentially disastrous military conflict in the Middle East, he will gain respect for that.”

Despite the public tension, Trump and Starmer remain in regular contact. A source familiar with the matter told The Post that the two leaders have spoken by phone several times in the past week.

Still, Trump’s criticism has strained the traditionally close relationship between Washington and London.

“I think the relationship is at its lowest point in recent history — probably have to go back to when Reagan invaded Grenada without giving Thatcher a heads up,” Lew Lukens, senior partner with Signum Global Advisors and former acting-Ambassador at the US embassy in London, told The Post.

Lukens added that he doubts the dispute will ultimately lead to retaliation by Washington.

“At the end of the day, the US needs UK defense cooperation and intelligence support as it carries out its strikes against Iran,” he pointed out.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States may deploy naval escorts for commercial oil tankers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with Iran continue to rise.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump signaled that the Navy could move quickly to safeguard maritime traffic in the strategic waterway. “If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible.” He added: “No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD. The United States’ ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH.”

Trump also announced that he had instructed the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to offer “political risk insurance and guarantees” intended to protect shipping and trade moving through the Persian Gulf region.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the most critical shipping routes for global energy supplies. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about one-fifth of the world’s petroleum liquids consumption passes through the narrow channel.

Financial markets reacted quickly to the rising tensions, with oil prices climbing while U.S. stock futures moved lower as traders assessed the possibility of disruptions to energy shipments through the strait.

Iran has frequently threatened to block or interfere with traffic in the Strait of Hormuz during previous confrontations with the United States and Israel, warning that such action could come in response to military strikes or economic sanctions.

The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which operates from its headquarters in Bahrain, routinely patrols the Persian Gulf. During the late stages of the Iran-Iraq War, American naval forces escorted Kuwaiti oil tankers under the U.S. flag during Operation Earnest Will in 1987 and 1988 after Iranian attacks targeted commercial shipping.

Trump’s comments suggest that his administration is prepared to rely on American naval strength to ensure that global oil shipments continue moving through the Strait of Hormuz without interruption.

{Matzav.com}