Matzav

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a heartfelt invitation to former President Donald Trump, urging him to visit Ukraine and witness firsthand the toll of the ongoing war with Russia. During an appearance on CBS’ 60 Minutes Sunday, Zelensky appealed directly to Trump, asking him to come and see the suffering caused by the conflict.

“We want you to come,” Zelensky told Trump. “You think you understand what’s going on here. Okay, we respect your position. You understand. But, please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead.”

He went on to say that seeing the reality on the ground might help guide Trump toward a meaningful solution. “Come, look, and then let’s — let’s move with a plan how to finish the war,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian leader emphasized his desire for Trump to see the destruction for himself, without any staging or special arrangements. Zelensky said the goal is to expose the reality of what Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has done. “You will understand with whom you have a deal. You will understand what Putin did,” he said.

Zelensky stressed the authenticity of his offer, saying there would be no orchestrated displays or performances. “We will not prepare anything. It will not be theater, with preparing actors in the streets and the [city] center. We don’t do this. We don’t need it. You can go exactly where you want, in any city which been under attacks,” he stated. “Just to come and to understand.”

His remarks followed renewed criticism from Trump, who has repeatedly blamed various sides for allowing the war to erupt. “That’s a war that should have never been allowed to start and Biden could have stopped it and Zelensky could have stopped it and Putin should have never started it,” Trump said on Monday. “Everybody is to blame.”

Zelensky also addressed recent remarks made by Vice President JD Vance, who reportedly suggested Putin could be trusted and accused Zelensky of staging tours for foreign visitors. Zelensky rejected that notion, saying, “It’s a shift in tone, a shift in reality, really yes, a shift in reality, and I don’t want to engage in the altered reality that is being presented to me.”

He continued, “First and foremost, we did not launch an attack [to start the war]. It seems to me that the vice president is somehow justifying Putin’s actions. I tried to explain, ‘You can’t look for something in the middle. There is an aggressor and there is a victim. The Russians are the aggressor, and we are the victim.’”

The interview aired shortly after Trump’s peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Russia in an attempt to revive negotiations that have been stalled for weeks.

It also followed a deadly Russian missile attack over the weekend, in which at least 32 people were killed, including two children. The strike occurred during Palm Sunday services in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy and left at least 84 others injured. Authorities have called it the most lethal assault on civilians in 2025 so far.

Trump responded to the CBS segment with outrage, blasting the network on his Truth Social account. “Almost every week, 60 Minutes … mentions the name ‘TRUMP’ in a derogatory and defamatory way, but this Weekend’s ‘BROADCAST’ tops them all,” he wrote, referring to both the Ukraine segment and another story focused on Greenland.

“CBS is out of control, at levels never seen before, and they should pay a big price for this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump declared.

He called on FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to take disciplinary action against the network. “Maximum fines and punishment” should be imposed, Trump said, for what he described as “unlawful and illegal behavior.”

He also accused the program of losing its journalistic integrity. “A dishonest Political Operative simply disguised as ‘News’ and must be responsible for what they have done, and are doing,” Trump added.

The former president is also currently pursuing a $20 billion lawsuit against 60 Minutes, alleging that the show unfairly edited an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during last year’s election campaign. Trump claims the edit painted Harris in a favorable light, a charge CBS has denied.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu told the parents of hostage Eitan Mor that the Israeli government is advancing a deal that could lead to the release of ten hostages currently held by terror groups in Gaza, according to a statement from the Tikva Forum on Monday.

Eitan Mor, 23, was taken captive while working as a security guard at the Nova music festival on October 7. His father, Tzvika Mor, co-founded the Tikva Forum, a right-leaning advocacy group that offers an alternative to the mainstream Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

Netanyahu phoned Eitan’s parents, Tzvika and Efrat Mor, on Sunday night to share an update on the negotiations. During the call, the Mors reiterated their group’s position: “Tzvika and Efrat Mor emphasized to the prime minister the position of the Tikva Forum that all the hostages need to be released in one phase on the same bus, without selektzia between them,” the Forum said, using the Holocaust-era term “selektzia” that refers to the Nazi practice of selecting Jews for forced labor or execution.

Negotiations have reportedly stalled over differences in the number of hostages to be released in exchange for a ceasefire. Israel has demanded the release of 11, while Hamas had previously offered five. The Tikva Forum indicated that Israel has now shifted its demand to 10 hostages.

A Hamas source, cited by Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen network, said the group is reviewing a new Israeli offer involving a 45-day ceasefire in exchange for 10 hostages. Over the weekend, reports emerged that Israel expressed a willingness to scale down its initial demand. According to Ynet, Israel is awaiting a response to a proposal involving the release of nine or ten hostages, possibly including US-Israeli dual citizen Edan Alexander, who appeared in a Hamas propaganda video on Saturday.

In response to the news, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a statement urging Netanyahu to secure a deal for the release of all captives. “While the families wait hopefully and would welcome the release of any hostage from Hamas captivity, we continue to call for a comprehensive deal that will return ALL hostages immediately,” they said.

The group warned that “every additional day in captivity endangers the lives of those still being held by Hamas terrorists, who are subjecting them to horrific conditions including starvation, physical abuse, and confinement in darkness.” The Forum demanded a swift and complete solution: “We urge the obvious, possible, and appropriate solution: End the war and return all the hostages, the living and the dead, immediately.”

An Egyptian official told Reuters that Hamas has requested additional time to respond to the current proposal. Sources said the delegation, led by Gaza-based Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya, rejected an initiative to revive the previous ceasefire, insisting that any agreement must include a full end to the war.

Though Hamas reportedly showed some openness regarding the number of hostages it could release in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, it requested guarantees that talks on the ceasefire’s second phase — which would include halting the war — would proceed.

“Hamas has no problem, but it wants guarantees Israel agrees to begin the talks on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement,” the Egyptian source explained.

Taher al-Nunu, a senior Hamas official, reiterated the group’s demands in an interview with AFP. “We are ready to release all Israeli captives in exchange for a serious prisoner swap deal, an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the entry of humanitarian aid,” he said.

Nunu further blamed Israel for delaying progress. “The issue is not the number of captives,” he said, “but rather that the occupation is reneging on its commitments, blocking the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and continuing the war.” He added, “Hamas has therefore stressed the need for guarantees to compel the occupation [Israel] to uphold the agreement.”

Netanyahu has maintained that he will not agree to a permanent ceasefire or a full IDF withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas’s military and governance structures are dismantled.

The current war began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7, killing approximately 1,200 people and kidnapping 251. Of the remaining hostages, 59 are believed to still be in captivity, with only 24 confirmed to be alive.

Saudi network Al-Arabiya reported Sunday night that Hamas may now be willing to release a greater number of hostages under a new proposal. The report also stated that the U.S. has told Hamas it would pressure Israel into agreeing to broader talks aimed at ending the war.

Israeli media outlets, including Ynet and The Times of Israel, reported that the Israeli side has softened its demands since Netanyahu’s recent meeting with Donald Trump in Washington. According to two officials familiar with the negotiations, Israel is no longer insisting on the release of 11 living hostages.

Al-Arabiya further claimed the new proposal is nearing finalization, with Hamas giving initial approval to release more hostages. The proposed deal would include a two-stage release process, entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and medical documentation on the condition of the remaining captives. Talks about whether Hamas leaders can remain in Gaza have reportedly been postponed.

Amid these developments, families of the hostages remain deeply worried that continued military operations in Gaza could endanger their loved ones.

Ruhama Bohbot, mother of hostage Elkana Bohbot, said Monday that Netanyahu had assured her Israel knows the precise locations where hostages are being held. Speaking to Army Radio, she said the prime minister told her that Israeli forces are deliberately avoiding those areas to prevent harming the captives.

In a separate plea, Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, addressed Netanyahu directly in a video released Monday. “My son Matan has been held in a tunnel together with the soldier who holds American citizenship, Edan Alexander, who is expected to be released first in any deal,” she said.

“According to medical information in my possession, Matan was kidnapped while likely suffering from a form of muscular dystrophy that affects most of our family members. Due to the harsh conditions of captivity and the stress he is under, we know his condition has deteriorated,” she continued.

Zangauker described her son’s physical suffering in detail: “He is shackled in heavy chains, unable even to stand up in the tunnel that is lower than his height. He is going through a holocaust. There is serious concern for Matan’s well-being if he remains alone in the tunnel. The isolation will lead to further deterioration and will be a death sentence for Matan.”

She concluded with an emotional demand: “If there is a deal in which Edan is released, then Matan — who is held with him — must also be released. Matan will not survive alone, and he must be brought out. He is the most humanitarian case among the hostages. If Matan is abandoned to die alone in the tunnel, all of Israel will know that the prime minister deliberately chose to hand down a death sentence on a citizen who was kidnapped from his home in his pajamas — purely out of personal vengeance against his family.”

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Gershon Ingber zt”l, author of the sefer Kan Shlomo on Maseches Kinim. He was 78.

Rav Ingber devoted his life to the study, elucidation, and dissemination of this little-learned masechta, which is known for its complexity and limited practical application in our times.

For centuries, Maseches Kinim remained largely untouched, rarely studied by the broader Torah public due to its intricate content and lack of direct relevance in the absence of the Beis Hamikdash. Rav Ingber took it upon himself to bring clarity and accessibility to this challenging masechta, writing a groundbreaking commentary that made its study attainable for all.

His work, Kan Shlomo, is based on the earlier sefer Kan Meforeshes by Rav Tzvi Gutmacher zt”l, who passed away young and left no descendants. Rav Tzvi’s father, the famed Rav Eliyahu Gutmacher zt”l, promised that anyone who learns his son’s sefer would merit his intercession in Shomayim and receive divine assistance.

Rav Ingber labored on Kan Shlomo for four full years, dedicating the final six months solely to the last Mishnah in the masechta, a passage described by the Tiferes Yisrael as the most difficult Mishnah in all of Shisha Sidrei Mishnah. His sefer presents the text with clear explanations, colorful charts, and detailed diagrams that guide learners through the maze of calculations and concepts that characterize Maseches Kinim.

Explaining his focus on this area, Rav Ingber once said, “Learning Maseches Kinim is known as a special segulah for salvation and mercy. There are early sources that speak of this, such as Sefer Chassidim, which writes that studying neglected masechtos carries unique merit. The Chofetz Chaim expanded on this idea, writing that certain parts of Torah are like a meis mitzvah—abandoned and in need of someone to take responsibility. Every Jew is obligated to engage in such areas, precisely because no one else is.”

He credited the late Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky a”h for spreading awareness of this segulah, noting how many people followed her guidance and experienced miraculous salvations. He recounted the story of a Yid from Yerushalayim, Rav Davidovitz, whose friend was blessed with children after ten years of marriage after learning the masechta. Rav Davidovitz took this cause upon himself and began promoting the study of Kinim across the country, organizing shiurim, forming study groups, and encouraging others to embrace this forgotten corner of Torah.

Rav Ingber himself would travel each evening to give a shiur in Kinim, delivering it with passion and enthusiasm, and constantly working to expand the reach of the masechta’s study.

On Monday, Rav Ingber was laid to rest. The levayah departed from his home on Rechov Zechariah in Bnei Brak and continued to the Segulah Bais Hachaim in Petach Tikvah.

He is survived by his family, who continue in his path of Torah and avodas hakodesh.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The popular song “Od Yoter Tov” has stirred sharp criticism from one of the most respected figures in authentic Jewish music. Renowned composer and marbitz Torah Rav Hillel Paley, known for penning many classic niggunim that have become staples in the world of Yiddishe music, delivered a scathing critique of the hit, comparing it unfavorably to the controversial “Bishilton HaKoifrim.”

In a special Yom Tov interview with Uri Cohen on the Kol Play radio station, Rav Paley spoke out against what he described as a troubling trend in wedding music and the broader state of Jewish musical culture. “If weddings were still filled with songs that carried meaning and depth, songs focused on the simchas chosson v’kallah, and then suddenly someone introduced Bishilton HaKoifrim, I would say something’s off. We weren’t raised on this. This isn’t something yeshivos ever spoke about. It was never meant to be the main message. Torah is the ikkar,” he said.

Lamenting the spiritual decline in wedding atmospheres, Rav Paley added, “So what happened to our community? How did we end up with Bishilton HaKoifrim? Unfortunately, and painfully, today’s weddings feature very little of the joy of chosson v’kallah, and a lot of whatever happens to be trending. The thing that sits on top of the garbage heap is what becomes the song of the night. It could be Umeianiach B’kedusha with a dance, one singer performs it and everyone follows. It’s shallowness. It’s katnus hamochin—a diminished mindset.”

Turning his attention to “Od Yoter Tov”, Rav Paley didn’t hold back. “Before Bishilton HaKoifrim, there was this bizarre hit called Od Yoter Tov—which, by the way, I believe is far worse. This whole language—once we said, ‘Hashem, we love You,’ and now we’ve upgraded: ‘You love us!’ Are you speaking in the name of the Ribbono Shel Olam? This is a type of expression we’ve never heard before. I understand if baalei teshuvah want to sing it, but what does that have to do with a ben Torah? When was this ever our language? I have strong criticism of this song. In my view, it has no place in the beis midrash and no place among those who are lomdei Torah. And if everyone’s singing it? That’s just a trend.”

Rav Paley concluded with a sobering observation and a note of hope. “Od Yoter Tov ended—it was a plastic shelf song, and with Hashem’s help, we’ll soon forget it ever existed. Then came Bishilton HaKoifrim. This isn’t about zealotry or extremism. It’s about a serious problem of shallowness. But with every descent, there’s hope. Maybe we’ll emerge into great light and return to true songs—songs of kedushah, hallel, and hoda’ah.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rav Pinchas Edri zt”l, longtime Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Givatayim. Rav Edri was niftar Monday evening at the age of 81 after battling illness in recent years. He served in his position for decades, endearing the rabbanus to the city’s residents and leaving behind a legacy of leadership, Torah, and ahavas Yisroel.

The levayah was held today at the beis medrash Rav Edri founded and nurtured, Rabi Meir Baal Hanes, located on Rechov Kibbutz Galuyos in Givatayim. The procession continued to the Nachalas Yitzchok Bais Hachaim, where Rav Edri was buried beside his predecessor, Rav Yosef Meir Gliksberg zt”l.

Rav Edri was born in Morocco on the 5th of Teves in 1944 to his father Rav Yaakov Edri zt”l and his mother Rabbanit Simcha a”h. He studied at the Otzar HaTorah institutions in Marrakesh and moved to Eretz Yisroel at age 17. Before his aliyah, he received semichah from two of the great Torah giants of Morocco: Rav Shalom Messas zt”l, who later served as Chief Rabbi of Yerushalayim, and Rav Makhlouf Abuchatzeira zt”l, Chief Rabbi of Marrakesh.

He began his rabbinic career as the rav of Moshav Aseret and later served as the regional rabbi of Gderot in southern Israel, also acting as Chairman of the Rabbis of the Settlements Council.

In 1982, following the passing of the previous Sephardic rav of Givatayim, Rav Yehoshua Moshe zt”l — a talmid of the Ben Ish Chai and the city’s first Sephardic rav — Rav Edri was appointed Chief Rabbi of Givatayim. In this role, he dedicated himself to bringing Jews closer to the Ribono Shel Olam. He delivered shiurim throughout the city and inspired countless people with his warmth and wisdom. Though Givatayim was known as a largely secular city, Rav Edri managed to reach the hearts of its residents with ahavas Yisroel and warmth. He was beloved by all and was a respected presence at national rabbinic conferences.

Rav Edri was deeply connected to influential leaders, government officials, and rabbanim, utilizing those relationships to strengthen Torah life and uphold kedushas Yisroel. He maintained close ties with Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, and he viewed himself as a talmid of the Rishon Letzion Rav Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l.

He established a beis medrash for rabbanim called Shalom Yisrael, which became a hub for leading poskim and rabbanim to discuss halachic and communal issues. Rav Edri played an active role in hosting gatherings and forums attended by the Rishon Letzion and other prominent Torah leaders. He was known for his eloquence and grace in speech, capturing the attention of audiences wherever he spoke.

In addition to his role as Chief Rabbi, he served as rav of the Rabi Meir Baal Hanes shul in Givatayim.

He served alongside Rav Yosef Meir Gliksberg zt”l, Ashkenazic rav of Givatayim and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, who passed away this past Teves. After retiring recently, Rav Edri was succeeded by Rav Chen Saida and Rav Asher Wiesel.

Rav Edri is survived by an illustrious family devoted to Torah and avodas hakodesh. His son Rav Eliav Edri is a senior rav in Ashdod and a prominent maggid shiur who has authored the well-known ten-volume series Benoam Sichah. His son Rav Moshe Yosef Edri is the head of Kollel Rav Pe’alim and a dayan who recently began delivering shiurim in Givatayim alongside his father. Another son, Rav Yaakov Edri, is a kollel yungerman in Har Nof and the son-in-law of former Interior Minister Rav Eliyahu Suissa. Rav Yitzchak Edri, another son, is married to the daughter of Rav Amram Ibgui, former Deputy Mayor of Bnei Brak. Among his sons-in-law are Rav Michoel Elmalich, a kollel yungerman in Har Nof and the son of Rav Moshe Elmalich zt”l, rav of Atlit; Rav Yisrael Meir Biton, Chief Rabbi of the city of Chadera; and Rav Yechiel Vizgan, a prominent talmid chacham from Yerushalayim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

During a meeting at the White House on Monday, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele dismissed the idea of returning a deported man to the United States, despite a Justice Department admission that his removal was a mistake.

“How can I return him to the United States? Like if I smuggle him into the United States?” Bukele remarked in response to a question about Kilmar Abrego Garcia while seated next to President Donald Trump. “Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous.”

When pressed on whether Abrego Garcia would be freed in El Salvador, Bukele stated, “We’re not very fond of releasing terrorists.”

Trump then turned his attention to the reporters in the room and accused them of having ulterior motives. “They’d love to have a criminal released into our country. These are sick people,” he said.

Trump added that he encouraged Bukele to accept “as many criminals as possible.”

According to court records, neither U.S. nor Salvadoran authorities have charged Abrego Garcia with any crimes.

The Justice Department admitted that his deportation violated a 2019 immigration judge’s ruling that prohibited his removal to El Salvador. The Supreme Court later ruled that sending him back was unlawful and ordered the administration to “facilitate” his return, while respecting executive branch authority.

In a declaration submitted Monday, the administration referenced Bukele’s White House comments and reiterated its stance that it lacks the legal power to retrieve Abrego Garcia. “DHS does not have authority to forcibly extract an alien from the domestic custody of a foreign sovereign nation,” wrote Joseph Mazzara, acting general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security.

At the meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the Supreme Court’s instructions, saying, “the foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the president of the United States, not by a court, and no court in the United States has a right to conduct a foreign policy of the United States.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi also weighed in, clarifying that any repatriation effort would depend entirely on El Salvador’s cooperation. “If they want to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane. That’s up for El Salvador if they want to return him. That’s not up to us.”

Stephen Miller, a senior Trump adviser, told Fox News on Monday morning that Abrego Garcia was rightfully deported. “He was not mistakenly sent to El Salvador,” Miller said, contradicting the Justice Department’s repeated legal filings that labeled the deportation an “administrative error.”

“This was the right person sent to the right place,” Miller added, even as the Supreme Court deemed the removal illegal in a ruling the prior week.

The high court’s decision clearly stated, “The United States acknowledges that Abrego Garcia was subject to a withholding order forbidding his removal to El Salvador, and that the removal to El Salvador was therefore illegal,” attributing the mistake to an “administrative error.”

Miller further insisted that if Bukele returned Abrego Garcia, the U.S. would deport him again immediately. “He would be deported the second time to El Salvador.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., criticized both the Trump administration and Bukele’s handling of the matter. “The Trump administration’s position, in my view, is absolutely unsustainable, as is the position of the president of El Salvador,” he told reporters.

“They are clearly just snubbing their nose at the courts, including the Supreme Court. And the courts, in my view, need to exercise their ability to sanction people who ignore court orders,” Van Hollen added, noting he’s seeking a meeting with Bukele. Abrego Garcia had previously lived in Maryland.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., slammed Bukele’s stance, saying in a statement, “The law is clear, due process was grossly violated. He should be returned to the U.S. immediately.”

The Trump administration previously arranged a $6 million deal with El Salvador to detain individuals it classifies as members of dangerous gangs such as Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and MS-13, both labeled as terrorist organizations by the administration.

Although a 2019 immigration judge linked Abrego Garcia to MS-13, he denies any such ties.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who is overseeing the case seeking his return, noted that neither American nor Salvadoran officials have criminal charges against him and described the gang affiliation as a single, weak accusation.

“The ‘evidence’ against Abrego Garcia consisted of nothing more than his Chicago Bulls hat and hoodie, and a vague, uncorroborated allegation from a confidential informant claiming he belonged to MS-13’s ‘Western’ clique in New York — a place he has never lived,” Xinis ruled.

On Fox News, Miller claimed that being affiliated with MS-13 nullified the judge’s order, despite the U.S. government never making that legal argument in court.

During the White House meeting, Miller mischaracterized Xinis’ decision, saying she “had tried to tell the administration that they had to kidnap a citizen of El Salvador and fly him back here.”

In reality, Xinis, backed by the Supreme Court, instructed the government to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return—a directive Miller interpreted as meaning the U.S. would accept his return if El Salvador voluntarily agreed.

During the public portion of the Oval Office meeting, no Trump official asked Bukele to send Abrego Garcia back. Bondi, Rubio, and Miller each said that decision lay solely with the Salvadoran government.

Abrego Garcia’s legal team at Murray Osorio PLLC released a statement raising alarms about his continued confinement in El Salvador in defiance of the court’s ruling.

“Let us be clear: the responsibility to return Mr. Abrego Garcia lies squarely with the United States government. His deportation was not just an administrative error—it was a constitutional failure,” the statement read.

“We urge the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State to act now—and with the urgency this moment demands. Delays in executing the Supreme Court’s directive are unacceptable. We call for immediate transparency and action to bring Mr. Abrego Garcia home,” the lawyers added.

Attorneys for Abrego Garcia also argued that U.S. officials exercise more authority over the Salvadoran prison than they admit, given the $6 million the Trump administration is paying to keep deportees incarcerated there.

Miller dismissed the DOJ’s earlier admission that the deportation had been a mistake. He told Fox News the acknowledgment came from “a DOJ lawyer who has since been relieved of duty, a saboteur, a Democrat.”

However, that claim doesn’t align with the facts. Solicitor General D. John Sauer also described the deportation as an “administrative error” in a filing submitted to the Supreme Court last week.

Following the high court’s ruling, Judge Xinis ordered the federal government to “take all available steps to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia to the United States as soon as possible” and to report back with “the steps it has taken and the prospect of further steps.”

Initially, the administration failed to provide that information, but a later court filing revealed that Abrego Garcia “is currently being held in the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. He is alive and secure in that facility.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to assert that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine began under President Joe Biden’s leadership, not his own.

“The war between Russia and Ukraine is Biden’s war, not mine. I just got here, and for four years during my term, had no problem in preventing it from happening,” Trump posted, stressing that he “had nothing to do with this war” and is actively seeking to “get the death and destruction to stop.”

Trump also linked the outbreak of war to the results of the last presidential election. “If the 2020 presidential election was not rigged, and it was, in so many ways, that horrible war would never have happened,” he said. He criticized both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Biden, saying, “President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy and Crooked Joe Biden did an absolutely horrible job in allowing this travesty to begin. There were so many ways of preventing it from ever starting. But that is the past. Now we have to get it to stop, and fast. So sad!”

Zelenskyy, speaking on CBS’s 60 Minutes Sunday, urged Trump to support Ukraine’s efforts against Russian aggression. “President Trump, being a strong president of a strong country, must be on Ukraine’s side,” he said. “I think it is wrong that America wants to be neutral.”

The Ukrainian leader also issued a grim caution about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s broader intentions. “If we do not stand firm, he [Putin] will advance further,” Zelenskyy told CBS News. “It is not just idle speculation; the threat is real. Putin’s ultimate goal is to revive the Russian empire and reclaim territories currently under NATO protection. Considering all of this, I believe it could escalate into a world war. There won’t be a safe place, there won’t be a safe place for [anyone].”

{Matzav.com}

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made headlines earlier this year when he became the first public official to officially refer to the Gulf of Mexico by a new title in an emergency declaration for a winter storm. That terminology — “Gulf of America” — is now codified in state law.

On Monday, DeSantis received and signed two pieces of legislation. One bill, HB 575, amends 92 references in state statutes to rename the body of water on Florida’s western coastline. The second, HB 549, mandates the use of the term “Gulf of America” in K-12 educational content across the state.

Supporters of the bills in the Florida Senate hailed the moment as a major victory. “It was an honor to join Governor DeSantis to see these good bills signed into law today. Florida is proud to follow the leadership of President Trump as the first state to officially recognize the Gulf of America,” said Senator Nick DiCeglie, the lawmaker behind HB 575.

He went on to say, “American exceptionalism isn’t an abstract idea. It is an absolute fact that we must recognize and celebrate. In Florida, we will always put America first.”

Senator Joe Gruters, who sponsored the education-focused legislation, emphasized that the new terminology became a reality earlier this year. “On Jan. 20, the body of water along Florida’s west coast became the Gulf of America — that is a fact,” he said.

“These bills, now Florida law, ensure we reflect that fact across state government and, most importantly, in our schools. It is our responsibility to ensure our children understand American greatness,” Gruters added.

Senate President Ben Albritton also voiced strong support for the initiative. “Ever since President Trump entered the Oval Office, he has fought for America first policies that honor our country’s greatness,” he said. “Mr. President, I’m proud to say the Florida Senate stands with you in the fight to recognize the Gulf of America and celebrate American exceptionalism. Thank you Governor DeSantis for signing these bills into law.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is calling for New York Attorney General Letitia James to step down following a media report that raised questions about her involvement in a real estate matter.

According to PJ Media, in August 2023, James signed a document naming her relative Shamice Thompson-Hairston as her power of attorney. The paperwork included a declaration stating, “I intend to occupy this property as my principal residence.” The outlet noted that shortly after, James was actively pursuing her civil fraud lawsuit against Trump, suggesting the property may not have been her actual primary residence.

Trump reacted strongly to the report, using his Truth Social platform to denounce James. “Letitia James, a totally corrupt politician, should resign from her position as New York State Attorney General, IMMEDIATELY. Everyone is trying to MAKE NEW YORK GREAT AGAIN, and it can never be done with this wacky crook in office,” he wrote, linking to the article detailing the allegations.

Back in March 2023, James secured a $454 million civil fraud judgment against Trump in a case that he has consistently maintained was baseless and politically driven.

To avoid state authorities seizing his assets, Trump posted a $175 million bond on April 1, 2024. A court heard his appeal on September 26, 2024, but no decision has yet been announced.

After the November election, NBC News reported that James declined a request from Trump’s legal team to abandon her pursuit of the $486 million fraud ruling.

“This Office will not stipulate to vacate the final judgment” against Trump and his company “or otherwise seek to dismiss the action,” stated a representative of James’ office in a letter to Trump’s lawyer.

Attorney John Sauer, speaking on behalf of Trump, had urged James to consider dropping the case, citing potential complications with Trump’s responsibilities as president and framing the request as an opportunity to encourage “unity.”

James has also joined other state attorneys general in lawsuits against the Trump administration over a range of issues, including access to federal education funding related to COVID-19 and efforts to protect the security of U.S. elections.

{Matzav.com}

It is with profound sorrow that Matzav.com reports the heartbreaking petirah of Reb Chaim Lipschutz z”l, a beloved yungerman in the Lakewood, NJ community, who was niftar on Shabbos, Erev Pesach, in Chicago.

Reb Chaim was a son of Rav Avrohom Lipschutz, mashgiach of Yeshivas Telshe in Chicago, and a grandson of Rav Yacov Lipschutz zt”l of Monsey and Rav Yisroel Meir Kagan, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Chaim of Denver.

A choshuve ben Torah and talmid chochom, Reb Chaim had just gotten married a couple years ago. He was fully immersed in limud haTorah, learning in kollel with great hasmadah, and was seen by all who knew him as someone destined for greatness in Torah and avodah.

His devoted wife, Mrs. Adina Lipschutz (née Heinemann), descends from a distinguished Torah lineage as well. She is a daughter of Rav Boruch Gedaliah Heinemann and a granddaughter of Rav Dovid Heinemann, rosh yeshiva of Belmar, and Rav Shaye Schechter, R”M at Yeshiva of Telshe Alumni in Riverdale, and a great-granddaughter of Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of the Philadelphia Yeshiva.

This sudden and devastating loss has cast a heavy pall of mourning over the entire family and all who knew this precious yungerman, whose life was steeped in kedushah and Torah.

The levayah will take place tomorrow at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, NJ.

Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A 38-year-old man from Pennsylvania is facing multiple criminal charges, including attempted murder, after allegedly setting fire to part of Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence in Harrisburg in the early hours of Sunday, the first day of Pesach.

According to court filings, the suspect, Cody Balmer, surrendered to authorities and admitted he had been “harboring hatred” toward Governor Shapiro, a Jew. He told investigators that had he found the governor inside the home, he would have attacked him with a hammer.

The arson incident is the latest in a troubling pattern of politically motivated acts of violence that have occurred in recent years.

The NY Post reports that the former mechanic, who said he is now jobless, penniless and lives with his parents, was free after making bail for a 2023 simple assault charge, courts spokesperson Stacey Witalec.

In that case, he was accused of stomping on his 10-year-old son’s broken leg and battering his wife, according to a police report.

Balmer stuck his tongue out and crossed his eyes as Pennsylvania State Troopers led him shackled at the hands and ankles into the Dauphin County Magisterial District Courthouse Monday.

Judge Dale Klein promptly order him held without bond, to which he replied, “Thank you, ma’am.”

{Matzav.com}

A new audio recording surfaced Monday involving A., the head of the Jewish Department in the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), in which he is heard making disparaging comments about a judge. This latest revelation follows a prior controversy involving inappropriate remarks about detainees.

The segment, set to be released in full later by Kan News, captures part of a conversation between A. and Cmdr. Avishai Moalem, who heads the Judea and Samaria Police Central Unit. In addition to objecting to the court’s demand to access Shin Bet materials, A. made blunt and dismissive remarks about the judge overseeing the case.

During the exchange, Moalem mentions a judge seeking access to raw Shin Bet files, saying: “He saw materials – he says he wants to see the Shin Bet’s paraphrase, the Shin Bet’s raw materials.” A. responds sharply: “He won’t see it, he could go jump in a lake, who does he think he is?”

This comes just a week after another recording emerged in which A. is heard belittling detainees and expressing a willingness to keep them imprisoned without evidence.

Following the release of that initial recording, A. announced that he would step aside from his role while an internal inquiry is conducted into the matter.

In a message sent to his team, A. expressed regret over the language he used. “I am sorry from the depths of my heart for the style of the things that were said, which do not characterize how I deal with the many other bodies with whom we collaborate.”

He continued: “I totally discredit the attempt to create an appearance of work that violates the law or the values of restraint of power and statesmanship. I misspoke in a way that does not match the agency’s values and my own, and therefore, to allow for a thorough examination and through my dedication to leading by example, I suspend myself from my position as the head of the department until the completion of the thorough examination of the issue.”

In the earlier recording, A. referred to suspects from Judea and Samaria as “Shmucks,” and described holding them for a few days without concrete evidence. Speaking with Moalem, the two discussed strategies for handling Jewish terror suspects, during which A. said: “Put them in detention cells, with mice.”

He also remarked, “We always want to arrest them for interrogation, as much as possible. See how ISA conducts investigations with them. We arrest those shmucks even without evidence for a few days.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rav Moshe Maya, a senior member of Shas’ Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah and a former Knesset representative for the party, declared that Shas should immediately exit the governing coalition if the army detains even one yeshiva student for draft refusal.

Shas head Aryeh Deri paid a visit to Rav Maya’s home on Monday morning. During their discussion, Rav Maya brought up the ongoing challenges surrounding the Draft Law and the legal status of yeshiva students, expressing concern over the mounting difficulty in securing its passage.

In recent weeks, the military has issued tens of thousands of draft notices and thousands of arrest warrants to chareidi yeshiva students, sparking outrage within the community.

Given these developments, Rav Maya firmly told Deri that if military police arrest even a single yeshiva student, Shas must immediately withdraw from the coalition and sever ties with the current government without delay.

Just last week, Deri told the party’s spokesperson, “We set a clear condition: If by the start of the [Knesset’s] summer session agreements are not reached on the central issues of the law to normalize the yeshiva students’ status, we will not participate in votes in the Knesset plenum.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rav Meir Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Kisei Rachamim, experienced a significant decline in his medical condition, according to a statement from his family.

The family noted that Rav Mazuz is scheduled to undergo another medical procedure, one that poses serious risks to his life. Later updates from those close to the rosh yeshiva confirmed that he has been sedated and placed on a ventilator after a sharp and concerning drop in his vital signs. His condition is extremely critical and his life is in danger.

The 80-year-old rosh yeshiva was initially admitted to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva earlier this month and was released, but had to be hospitalized again last week. Since his readmission, his condition has worsened on multiple occasions. Doctors now classify his status as severe.

In light of the situation, a name has been added and all are asked to daven for Rav Refael Meir Nissim ben Kamsana.

{Matzav.com}

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Rav Shmuel Bezalel, rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef in Yerushalayim’s Old City and a member of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas, shared poignant reflections during a family gathering for Yom Tov. His words focused in part on how the hostages found faith during their harrowing captivity.

The rosh yeshiva referenced the stories of Agam Berger, the IDF lookout released after more than 480 days, and Omer Shem Tov, who endured 505 days in Hamas captivity. “The hostages who returned from captivity were so distant, and in the captivity of the predatory animals, they felt that only G-d could save them. Not the American military, not the IDF, and not anyone; they had nothing to hold on to but trust in G-d,” Rav Bezalel stated.

He spoke at length about the spiritual transformation these individuals underwent. “After they trusted G-d, they felt that someone embraced them, they reached true faith. Why? Because something happened that they were with despicable people, they did not know what would happen to them. They humiliated them, and at every moment, they could have been executed.”

Rav Bezalel added a powerful sentiment of admiration: “I’m jealous of them that they reached true faith. They had an experience that caused this faith to not only be theoretical, but this faith is in their every inner feeling, in every aspect of their lives, in every limb and ligament. We need to learn from such people who are privileged to have such faith in G-d. They didn’t live in faith for just moments; rather, they did so for a period of time, good for them.”

He concluded by highlighting how the hostages’ ordeal revealed the deeper meaning behind a well-known verse. “We say in the Shema every day ‘with all your soul’ but to really understand this verse you have to have a case of ‘all your soul.’ When someone is under their warm blanket in bed and says ‘with all your soul’ – that really works.”

During a meeting on Monday with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing negotiations between his administration and the Iranian government, which had begun over the weekend.

Kicking off his comments, Trump remarked, “We’ve got a problem with Iran, but I’ll solve that problem, that’s almost an easy one.”

He went on to elaborate, saying, “Iran wants to deal with us, but they don’t know how. We had a meeting with them on Saturday. We have another meeting scheduled for next Saturday. I said that’s a long time [between meetings].”

Trump then accused Iranian officials of stalling, suggesting they had grown accustomed to dealing with previous U.S. leaders whom he viewed as incompetent. “I think they’re tapping us along because they were so used to dealing with stupid people in this country,” he said.

Reaffirming his administration’s red line, the President stated, “Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon, they can not have a nuclear weapon. Nobody can have a nuclear weapon, we can’t have anybody having nuclear weapons.”

Trump once again asserted that events in the Middle East would have unfolded differently if he had been re-elected in 2020, particularly referencing the October 7th attacks. “Iran was stone-cold broke when I was President, and I don’t want that. I want them to be a rich nation. The only thing is, it’s simple – they can not have a nuclear weapon.”

He concluded with a stern warning, signaling possible military action if Iran nears nuclear capability. “They gotta go fast because they’re fairly close to having one. And they are not going to have one, and if we have to do something very harsh, we’re going to do it. I’m not doing it for US, I’m doing it for the world.” When asked if this could involve American airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, Trump confirmed that it could.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas has released a formal announcement indicating that it intends to issue a response to Israel’s latest ceasefire and hostage release proposal in the near future. “The organization’s leadership is examining the proposal it received from the mediating countries – and will submit its response as soon as possible after the necessary consultations,” the statement read.

The group reiterated its demands, emphasizing that “any future agreement will include a permanent ceasefire, IDF withdrawal, achieving a genuine prisoner exchange deal, and lifting the blockade on Gaza.”

Earlier Monday, Lebanese broadcaster Al-Mayadeen, known for its ties to Hamas, revealed what it claims are the main points of Israel’s offer presented in Cairo.

The deal reportedly outlines a 45-day truce in return for Hamas releasing nine living hostages along with the remains of six others. A major condition attached to the agreement is the complete demilitarization of Gaza.

As part of the second stage of the plan, Hamas would free five additional hostages in exchange for 66 prisoners serving life sentences, as well as another 611 inmates from Gaza. These exchanges would be carried out discreetly, avoiding the kind of public displays Hamas previously staged during similar releases under the January truce.

The offer is said to include provisions for a coordinated method of distributing humanitarian assistance—designed to ensure that aid reaches civilians and isn’t diverted by Hamas, a recurring issue over the past year and a half.

Following the release of the five hostages, humanitarian supplies and shelter equipment would be permitted into Gaza, and the IDF would begin to reposition its forces around Rafah and in the north.

Despite the proposal, Hamas continues to reject any agreement that includes its disarmament and maintains its demand that the conflict conclude on its terms.

{Matzav.com}

The Lebanese network Al-Mayadeen, known for its ties to Hamas, has revealed what it says are the specifics of a proposal delivered by Israel to Hamas during the talks held today in Cairo. As per the alleged terms, Hamas would be required to release hostage Edan Alexander, an American citizen, on the first day as a “special gesture” to the United States.

The proposed deal outlines a 45-day ceasefire in return for Hamas freeing nine hostages who are alive and the remains of six others. A key stipulation of the deal is the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.

On the second day of the agreement, Hamas would release five living hostages. In exchange, Israel would release 66 prisoners serving life terms as well as 611 additional prisoners from Gaza. The handovers would be conducted quietly, without the public spectacles or orchestrated celebrations that accompanied the prisoner exchanges during the January truce.

The report also states that the proposal includes a mutually agreed-upon mechanism for distributing humanitarian aid—one that ensures supplies reach civilians rather than being intercepted and stored by Hamas, a frequent issue over the past year and a half.

Following the release of those five hostages, aid convoys would enter Gaza with food, shelter supplies, and other essentials. At the same time, the IDF would begin repositioning its forces away from key parts of Rafah and northern Gaza.

Negotiations over the broader future of Gaza—including its disarmament and the potential for a long-term ceasefire—would begin on the third day. On the seventh day, Hamas would be expected to free another four hostages in exchange for additional prisoners serving life terms and 500 others detained since the October 7 attacks. At that point, Israeli forces would redeploy to the eastern section of the Philadelphi Corridor.

According to the broadcast, Hamas would hand over comprehensive intelligence on the remaining living hostages by day ten, with Israel responding by sharing information on incarcerated Palestinian terrorists. On day twenty, Hamas would return the bodies of 16 deceased hostages in exchange for 160 bodies of Palestinian Arabs. This swap would occur simultaneously.

The entire negotiation process is to be finalized within the 45-day period. If a permanent ceasefire is reached, then all remaining hostages—both living and deceased—would be released. Should only a temporary ceasefire be agreed upon, it could be prolonged with mutual consent.

A Hamas representative reiterated earlier that the group would not consent to disarmament as part of any agreement and continues to insist that the war must end entirely and on its own terms.

{Matzav.com}

On Motzoei Shabbos, the first night of Pesach, Hamas released a propaganda video featuring proof that hostage soldier Edan Alexander is still alive.

The video, which runs for about three minutes, does not include a specific date, but Alexander mentions that he has been in captivity for 551 days—suggesting it was recorded recently.

Alexander, a 21-year-old American citizen, was serving as a lone soldier near the Gaza border when Hamas launched its deadly assault on October 7, 2023. During that attack, he was kidnapped along with around 250 others. The onslaught resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, the majority of them civilians, and triggered Israel’s ongoing military operation against Hamas in Gaza.

This is the second time Hamas has released footage of Alexander. The first video emerged in November, showing him for the first time since his capture.

Hamas has produced similar videos of other hostages in its custody, which Israel has condemned as a cruel tactic aimed at psychological manipulation.

In response to the latest video, Alexander’s family asked the Israeli media not to air the footage itself but permitted the release of a single still image.

“As we begin the holiday evening in the USA, our family in Israel is preparing to sit around the Seder table,” the family shared in a message disseminated through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. “Our Edan, a lone soldier who immigrated to Israel and enlisted in the Golani Brigade to defend the country and its citizens, is still being held captive by Hamas.”

“So when you sit down to mark Passover, remember that this is not a holiday of freedom as long as Edan and the other 58 hostages are not home.”

Alexander was born in Tel Aviv but raised in Tenafly, New Jersey. After finishing high school in 2022, he returned to Israel and enlisted in the IDF.

Following the release of the video, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached out to Alexander’s parents, Yael and Adi, to offer support.

“The prime minister told the family he empathizes with their pain and updated that currently tremendous efforts are taking place to return Edan and the rest of the hostages,” read a statement from Netanyahu’s office.

This new footage was made public after recent American attempts to negotiate Alexander’s release came up short. These efforts included both behind-the-scenes talks through intermediaries and direct engagement with Hamas, but they did not lead to a breakthrough. With talks stalled, Israel resumed military operations in Gaza, ending a period of calm that followed the January agreement that saw some hostages freed.

Reports of the direct U.S. dialogue with Hamas upset Israeli officials. The details of those communications leaked on the same day President Donald Trump addressed Congress. According to The New York Times, the administration had hoped to finalize a deal for Alexander’s release before Trump’s high-profile speech.

{Matzav.com}