Matzav

Drones operated by the IDF’s Golani 13th Battalion identified a group of armed terrorists on Wednesday afternoon setting up an ambush atop an earthen mound adjacent to one of the military’s key supply roads.

The group of twelve militants, equipped with Kalashnikov rifles and RPG launchers, were also wearing tactical gear. In an effort to avoid detection from above, some of them covered themselves with blankets.

Military officials reported that a Hermes 450 drone was dispatched to the scene with strike capabilities, but adverse weather prevented it from launching an attack.

Once the terrorists appeared to realize they had been spotted by the drone, they quickly dismantled their ambush setup and retreated into a nearby tunnel. Around the same time, Israeli forces picked up an alert about a hostile UAV in the vicinity, which they believe was being used to direct and coordinate the attempted ambush.

“This was a well-planned incident which included the use of a drone, weapons, and combat gear, and aimed to harm the forces on the main vehicular route,” field officers explained. They added, “The drone team tracked the movement of the terrorists thanks to footprints on an armored vehicle route that was covered in powder, which enabled precise detection of their movement.”

The attempted ambush reportedly occurred just about 100 meters from the location of a prior confrontation involving the division commander’s forward command post.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed on Tuesday that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are set to enter Gaza together as part of a coordinated mission to evaluate the humanitarian conditions and chart a strategy to enhance aid delivery to the area.

“I know the topic of Israel is on everyone’s mind. I have an update from Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who I got off the phone with this morning. Special Envoy Witkoff and Ambassador Huckabee had a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other officials today in Israel on the topic of delivering much-needed food and aid to Gaza,” Leavitt said at the press conference.

Leavitt explained that the President’s motivation stems from genuine compassion. “President Trump is a humanitarian with a big heart, and that’s why he sent Special Envoy Witkoff to the region in an effort to save lives and end this crisis. Tomorrow, Special Envoy Witkoff and Ambassador Huckabee will be traveling into Gaza to inspect the current distribution sites and secure a plan to deliver more food and meet with local Gazans to hear first-hand about this dire situation on the ground. The Special Envoy and the Ambassador will brief the President immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region, and we will provide more details for all of you once that plan is approved and agreed on by the President of the United States,” she stated.

Witkoff had a sit-down meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier in the day to further coordinate efforts.

President Trump took to Truth Social earlier to issue a forceful message regarding the situation in Gaza, writing: “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!”

Ambassador Huckabee praised the President for his clarity, saying, “nails it,” and added in his signature style, “In ‘Southern-speak,’ he tells how the cow eats the cabbage! Thanks Mr President!”

Days prior, Trump commented on the conditions in Gaza and challenged recent assessments claiming there is no widespread starvation. Referring to scenes broadcast on TV, he remarked, “those children look very hungry. But we’re giving a lot of money and a lot of food.”

{Matzav.com}

Torrential downpours swept through Queens on Thursday afternoon, transforming highways into rivers and leaving vehicles, including a semi-truck, stranded in the floodwaters. In response, Governor Hochul issued a state of emergency for New York City.

Videos shared on X revealed severe flooding along the Clearview Expressway near Northern Boulevard, where the water was so intense that police were forced to shut down the highway in both directions, according to the NYPD.

Images that quickly made the rounds online—many taken from traffic cameras—depicted at least two cars nearly submerged, with water rising up to the doors of an 18-wheeler that appeared immobilized in the deluge.

Authorities have not confirmed whether anyone was inside the flooded vehicles at the time they were trapped.

The storm brought intense thunderstorms into the greater New York City area during the afternoon, and forecasters warned that up to five inches of rain could fall in certain locations, raising the alarm for dangerous flash flooding.

With the weather quickly deteriorating, Hochul took action and announced a state of emergency to help mobilize resources.

“Heavy rain and potential flooding are expected to affect the evening commute. Employers are encouraged to dismiss employees early,” the governor wrote on X.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump has harshly criticized the governments of the United Kingdom, France, and Canada for their recent decisions to acknowledge a Palestinian state, calling their move a form of support for Hamas. Trump voiced concern that these countries are legitimizing Hamas while the terror group continues to hold power in Gaza and retains approximately 50 Israeli hostages.

During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was “expressed his displeasure and disagreement with the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, and Canada. He feels as though that’s rewarding Hamas at a time where Hamas is the true impediment to a ceasefire and to the release of all of the hostages.”

Leavitt went on to describe Trump’s ongoing concern for those held in captivity. “The President wants to see all of the hostages released. He cares deeply about this. He has met with many of the former hostages, many of the families of those who have loved ones who are still being held hostage in Gaza,” she said. “It is absolutely devastating what these poor people have been through.”

She also pointed to the administration’s active efforts to secure the captives’ freedom. “The President is always thinking about them. That’s why he’s designated his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who’s doing a tremendous job to release the hostages, and to end this conflict,” she added.

Leavitt explained that Trump understands how complex the situation has become, particularly with the remaining hostages. She noted that Trump “has always said [that] the last remaining hostages – now there are 20 living hostages in Gaza – will always be the hardest, because Hamas is unfortunately using these innocent people as bargaining chips. Nevertheless, we are committed to seeing this come to an end.”

Earlier in the day, Trump posted on Truth Social with a blunt message directed at the terror group: “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!”

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee applauded Trump’s statement, commenting that the president “nails it,” and added, “In ‘Southern-speak,’ he tells how the cow eats the cabbage! Thanks Mr President!”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul to Yerushalayim on Thursday, where the two held both a one-on-one conversation and a larger session including their respective delegations at the Foreign Ministry headquarters.

The agenda covered a range of issues, including the bilateral relationship between Germany and Israel, ongoing developments in Gaza, and growing international advocacy for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Minister Sa’ar also used the opportunity to outline Israel’s current humanitarian initiatives in Gaza, sparking an in-depth exchange on the topic.

Sa’ar provided insight into the stalled hostage negotiations, stating that Hamas is deliberately avoiding a resolution. He attributed their intransigence to the diplomatic and political backing they continue to receive globally. “Hamas is holding the hostages and is not laying down its arms; it is entrenching itself in its refusal to accept the framework for the release of the hostages because it sees that the international community is giving it rewards and gifts,” he said.

Turning to the recent momentum in Europe for recognizing a Palestinian state, Sa’ar was direct in his criticism. “We do not call these areas the ‘West Bank.’ We call them ‘Judea and Samaria.’ In Europe today, they think that Jews can live in Berlin, London, and Brussels, but that Jews cannot live a kilometer and a half from here,” he said. “We believe that Jews have the right to live in the heart of their historical homeland. Even in Judea and Samaria.”

He further emphasized that no sovereign Palestinian state has ever existed in history. On the issue of illegal construction within Area C, he warned against selective enforcement. Ignoring these violations, Sa’ar stated, amounts to “hypocrisy.”

The conversation also focused on the conduct of the Palestinian Authority. Sa’ar accused the PA of actively funding terrorism and indoctrinating Palestinian youth with hatred. He charged that their education system, religious institutions, and media outlets all serve as channels for “wild incitement against the State of Israel.”

Sa’ar warned that allowing the Palestinian Authority full control over borders and airspace would pose a grave danger to Israeli security, opening the door to the importation of Iranian weaponry. “This will not happen,” he said firmly.

He concluded by underscoring Israel’s red line: “A Palestinian state will not be established for the simple reason that Israel will not be able to forfeit its own security.”

{Matzav.com}

The Islamic Jihad terrorist group has released a video showing Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski, asserting that the footage was recorded prior to the loss of communication with his captors.

Rom’s mother, Tami, delivered a desperate plea: “I demand to speak with the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, and the IDF Chief of Staff, now,” she said. “They don’t even call me on the phone.

“They broke my child. I want him home now,” she continued. “I want a meeting with them now, now, a four-way meeting. All of them and I. I know that Rom doesn’t cry. If he’s crying, it’s because they tortured him. Look how he looks, skinny, a stick. Crying. All of his bones are showing. Don’t cry for the children in Gaza. Cry for Rom. Have mercy on the hostages. My little boy is crying. What is this? What is this suffering?”

Roughly ten days ago, Islamic Jihad issued a statement alleging that communication had been severed with the group responsible for guarding Braslavski.

“We demand a meeting with one of the senior officials – the IDF Chief of Staff, the Minister of Defense, or the Prime Minister. They have not responded, answered, or acknowledged our messages, and they have not updated or involved us as a family. Gal Hirsch was the only one who responded and answered, but he does not have the answers or the information to give us. No one is getting back to us,” the family declared.

In a written statement released on behalf of the family, they expressed deep frustration: “We want to know where our son is. We want the responsible parties to sit with us and explain the situation to us, not just provide partial information and partial truths. No one knows where Rom is. Neither the IDF nor Islamic Jihad know anything. The only thing we know is that he was held alone.”

Nineteen-year-old Rom Braslavski, a resident of Pisgat Ze’ev, had been working as a security guard at the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im when the massacre occurred. Eyewitness accounts recall his bravery, as he risked his life to protect and evacuate dozens of attendees during the attack.

{Matzav.com Israel}

New polling data shows that New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani currently holds a commanding 17-point advantage among Jewish voters in the race for New York City mayor.

The poll, conducted by Zenith Research and Public Progress Solutions, indicates that Mamdani is leading the field among Jewish constituents, marking a significant shift in voter alignment following his triumph over Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.

With New York City home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, the Jewish vote has traditionally played a pivotal role in mayoral elections, making Mamdani’s lead especially noteworthy.

His standing among Jewish voters comes despite continued pushback from critics and some Jewish leaders who argue that Mamdani’s frequent criticism of Israel crosses into antisemitic territory.

Nonetheless, his success reflects a changing dynamic, particularly among younger and less religious Jewish voters who appear more willing to support politicians critical of Israeli policies. This may point to an evolving set of priorities for this key voting bloc.

The poll included responses from 1,453 city residents between July 16 and July 24. Among Jewish voters likely to cast a ballot in November, 43 percent said they would back Mamdani, while 26 percent favored Cuomo, who has re-entered the race as an independent after losing the Democratic nomination.

Even with his history of strongly worded critiques of Israel and his unwillingness to renounce slogans used by Palestinian activists, Mamdani managed to outperform candidates positioned closer to the center—like Eric Adams, who is now running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa—among both Jewish and non-Jewish voters.

These numbers come amid a tense atmosphere in the city’s Jewish communities, who have seen a spike in antisemitic incidents and are increasingly engaged in debates surrounding public safety, city governance, and Israel. Yet the poll shows that concerns such as affordable housing, safety, and government transparency rank higher than religious or foreign policy issues in influencing voter decisions.

Mamdani has repeatedly rejected claims that he harbors antisemitic views, emphasizing that his objections are focused strictly on the policies of the Israeli government and not the Jewish people. He has also committed to expanding city support for programs aimed at combating hate crimes and promoting interfaith and intercultural understanding.

According to the poll’s methodology, the margin of error for all registered voters is 2.9 percent, though it is slightly higher among Jewish voters due to the smaller subgroup sample. The data may highlight a broader generational and ideological shift, as younger progressives within the Jewish community appear less inclined to view criticism of Israel as inherently antisemitic.

Mamdani’s performance builds on his primary victory, where he secured 56 percent of the vote across the city, with Cuomo finishing at 44 percent.

Zohran Mamdani said in a statement following his primary win: “I am humbled by the support of more than 545,000 New Yorkers in last week’s primary. This is just the beginning of our expanding coalition to make New York City affordable. And we will do it together.”

The general election for New York City mayor is slated for November 4, 2025.

The race could still shift depending on whether Cuomo and Adams remain in the contest, while Sliwa is banking on a surprise outcome in an increasingly splintered race.

{Matzav.com}

Kamala Harris has decided to turn her brief 2024 presidential run into a new venture, revealing on Thursday that she’s writing a book titled 107 Days. The memoir will offer a “behind-the-scenes” account of what she calls “the shortest presidential campaign in modern history.”

“I believe there’s value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what I know it will take to move forward,” said the 60-year-old in a video posted online, just a day after she officially bowed out of a potential campaign for governor of California.

“In writing this book, one truth kept coming back to me. Sometimes the fight takes a while, but I remain full of hope and I remain clear-eyed,” she said in the video. “I will never stop to make our country reflect the very best of its ideals.”

Speculation had been circulating for some time that Harris would document her campaign experience. According to CNN, the September 23 release date of 107 Days played a role in her decision to forgo a gubernatorial bid.

The exact terms of her book deal with Simon & Schuster have not been disclosed. Harris’s earlier work, The Truths We Hold, came out in 2019 through Penguin Random House.

Harris was thrust into the 2024 race when Joe Biden abruptly ended his campaign on July 21—just 107 days before the general election—prompting her to step up as the Democratic nominee.

Initially, Harris enjoyed glowing media coverage and a noticeable bump in polling, even surpassing Donald Trump in some early matchups.

But that momentum quickly faded. Ultimately, Harris failed to secure the popular vote, marking the first time in two decades that a Democrat lost that metric.

Calling the 2024 election “high-stakes and deeply personal for me,” Harris said she has spent considerable time thinking about that intense period in her life.

She added that the book was crafted with “candor and reflection.”

Following her defeat, Harris has remained mostly out of the public spotlight, rarely appearing at major events or issuing statements.

Recently, she was reportedly weighing several possibilities for her future: entering the 2026 California governor’s race, aiming for a presidential run in 2028, or stepping back from politics altogether.

On Wednesday, she put to rest one of those options, declaring that she would not be running for governor of California.

“I love this state, its people and its promise,” she said. “It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for governor in this election.”

“I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans.”

Newly released intelligence documents declassified on Thursday reveal that Hillary Clinton personally authorized a plan put forth by a top campaign advisor to falsely associate Donald Trump with Russian collusion during the 2016 election cycle, in an attempt to divert attention from her own email scandal.

These revelations are based on two intelligence reports the Obama administration acquired in the months leading up to the presidential election. The memos detail covert conversations between Democratic National Committee insiders and representatives connected to billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.

The strategy aimed to push the narrative that “Putin supports Trump” and to manipulate public perception into conflating that storyline with alleged efforts by Russia to hack the U.S. election system.

One of the memos stated: “Clinton approved a plan proposed by one of her foreign policy advisors, Julianne Smith, to ‘smear Donald Trump by magnifying the scandal tied to the intrusion by the Russian special services in the pre-election process to benefit the Republican candidate.’”

Julianne Smith, who later served as Joe Biden’s ambassador to NATO, declined to address the report when contacted Thursday. “I don’t have any comment,” she said when reached by The Post.

Another memo elaborated on the campaign’s approach: “A two-prong DP [Democratic Party] opposition is focused on discrediting Trump…. [a]mong other things, the Clinton staff, with support from special services, is preparing scandalous revelations of business relations between Trump and the ‘Russian Mafia.’”

The intelligence documents also suggest that then-President Barack Obama may have attempted to curtail the FBI’s investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server, a probe stemming from her time as secretary of state when she handled highly sensitive information.

Furthermore, the memos indicate that efforts to associate Trump with Russia began nearly nine months before Obama ordered a post-election intelligence review that made the same allegations public in December 2016.

The January 2017 report, which stemmed from that review, controversially included unverified claims from the now-discredited Steele dossier — an opposition research file paid for in part by Clinton’s campaign and the DNC, despite warnings from senior CIA leadership.

References to “special services” in the memos likely pertain to activities by the Obama-era CIA and FBI, including involvement by Christopher Steele, who authored the Trump dossier.

In early 2016, then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe forwarded the intelligence to top Justice Department officials, signaling a potential effort to launch a Trump investigation based on politically motivated material from the Clinton camp.

Leonard Bernardo, a senior executive at the Open Society Foundations, was reportedly included in the coordination of the campaign and outlined its proposed phases.

According to one of Bernardo’s emails, “During the first stage of the campaign, due to lack of direct evidence, it was decided to disseminate the necessary information through the FBI-affiliated … technical structures … in particular, the Crowdstrike and ThreatConnect companies, from where the information would then be disseminated through leading U.S. publications.”

Another message stated, “The media analysis on the DNC hacking appears solid,” and added, “Julie [sic] says it will be a long-term affair to demonize Putin and Trump. Now it is good for a post-convention bounce. Later the FBI will put more oil into the fire.”

A startling communication dated July 27, 2016, read: “HRC approved Julia’s idea about Trump and Russian hackers hampering U.S. elections. That should distract people from her own missing email, especially if the affair goes to the Olympic level.”

The same message noted, “The point is making the Russian play a U.S. domestic issue. In absence of direct evidence, Crowdstrike and ThreatConnect will supply the media, and GRU [Russia’s foreign intelligence arm] will hopefully carry on to give more facts.”

The information was uncovered during special counsel John Durham’s extended inquiry into the intelligence community’s conduct during the 2016 election cycle.

Durham reviewed the memos alongside both the FBI and CIA, agencies which concluded the material was “likely authentic,” though they could not independently confirm the original versions of the Bernardo emails with Open Society Foundations. The CIA also verified that the content was not “the product of Russian fabrications.”

Durham ultimately determined, “Smith was, at minimum, playing a role in the Clinton campaign’s efforts to tie Trump to Russia.”

The documents were made public after Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and others in the intelligence community approved their release following a request from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

Grassley issued a statement saying, “Based on the Durham annex, the Obama FBI failed to adequately review and investigate intelligence reports showing the Clinton campaign may have been ginning up the fake Trump-Russia narrative for Clinton’s political gain, which was ultimately done through the Steele Dossier and other means.”

He continued, “These intelligence reports and related records, whether true or false, were buried for years. History will show that the Obama and Biden administration’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies were weaponized against President Trump.”

Grassley concluded by saying, “This political weaponization has caused critical damage to our institutions and is one of the biggest political scandals and cover-ups in American history. The new Trump administration has a tremendous responsibility to the American people to fix the damage done and do so with maximum speed and transparency.”

Ratcliffe weighed in as well, explaining that some of the documents — including those from the CIA — highlighted “a coordinated plan to prevent and destroy Donald Trump’s presidency.”

Bondi and Patel emphasized that making the documents public is vital to restoring faith in federal institutions and demanding accountability.

“This Department of Justice, alongside the CIA, is committed to truth and transparency and will continue to support good-faith efforts by Congress to hold our government accountable,” Bondi said. “Chairman Grassley is leading by example and shining light on critical issues of great interest to the American people.”

Patel added, “The American people deserve the full, unfiltered truth about the Russia collusion hoax and the political abuse of our justice system it exposed. Today’s declassification and release of documents tied to the Durham report is another step toward that accountability.”

“I’m grateful to Chairman Grassley for his steadfast leadership on this issue, and I look forward to our continued partnership in exposing one of the most shameful frauds ever perpetrated on the American public.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump launched another scathing attack on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday, blasting him for what he claimed were catastrophic financial decisions and deeming him unqualified for the role after the Fed opted not to adjust interest rates.

“Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell has done it again!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “He is TOO LATE, and actually, TOO ANGRY, TOO STUPID, & TOO POLITICAL, to have the job of Fed Chair. He is costing our Country TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, in addition to one of the most incompetent, or corrupt, renovations of a building(s) in the history of construction! Put another way, ‘Too Late’ is a TOTAL LOSER, and our Country is paying the price!”

Trump’s fierce remarks followed the Federal Reserve’s announcement a day earlier that it would maintain the current interest rate levels—despite intensifying demands from Trump and his allies for a rate cut.

Two Fed governors appointed by Trump—Michelle Bowman, who serves as vice chair for supervision, and board member Christopher Waller—broke ranks and voted against the decision. According to the central bank’s policy statement, they “preferred to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by one quarter of a percentage point at this meeting.”

This internal dissent marked a notable moment, as it was the first time in over 30 years that a pair of board members opposed a rate decision by the Federal Reserve.

Powell sided with the majority in choosing to keep rates steady, joined by three fellow board members and five regional Fed bank presidents who are part of the Federal Open Market Committee.

Trump has long been vocal in his disapproval of Powell, having publicly floated the idea of removing him from office before the end of his term.

Still, Trump has recently suggested he’s prepared to wait until Powell’s current four-year term concludes in May before installing a new chair.

Trump initially tapped Powell for the position in November 2017 while in office. Powell was later nominated for a second term by Joe Biden.

Unidentified individuals spray-painted “NYT Lies, Gaza Dies” on The New York Times building in Manhattan on Wednesday, with sections of the structure’s doors and windows also daubed with red paint.

The incident followed heightened criticism of the newspaper’s coverage of the Gaza conflict. The perpetrators remain unknown.

The graffiti appeared hours after the Times issued an editor’s note amending its July 24 article, “Gazans are dying of starvation.” Five days after publication, the Times acknowledged that its story referenced a Gazan boy, Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq, suffering from severe malnutrition, but later learned from his doctor and medical records that the child also had preexisting health conditions. The editor’s note underscored that the article had been updated to reflect these new details.

The Times credited photographer Saher Alghorra for the images accompanying the story. Media watchdog HonestReporting highlighted previous social media posts by Alghorra, in which he referred to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack as “the Palestinian resistance in Gaza,” and described “thousands of missiles” targeting Israel as a response to actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque. After images of the child spread widely, the boy’s mother told CNN her son suffers from a “muscle disorder.”

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel (Michael) Leiter sharply criticized the Times on social media. In an X post overnight Wednesday, accompanied by a video statement, he wrote: “The New York Times spread a lie about Israel across the world. And what’d they do when they were caught? Almost a week later, they shared a partial and weak correction with a tiny fraction of their followers. Too little, too late.” He accused the outlet of acting as a “mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Three kedoshei elyon had one common concept when it came to learning Torah – they were the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar 1696-1743) when he came to Eretz Yisroel; the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto 1707-1746) when he lived in Padua, Italy;  and Hagaon, Harav Chaim Volozhiner, (1749-1821) the famous talmid of the Gaon of Vilna.

They each had a yeshiva with ‘around-the-clock’ Torah learning, 24-hours a day, so that there would be no minute when the sound of Torah learning would not be heard in this world. The 24-hour period would be divided into shifts, and as one ended the next would begin.

Torah-24

A “Torah-24” Center has been opened in Yerushalayim and the Nasi is Maran Sar Hatorah, Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l.

Under ONE ROOF, from 6:00 am – 6:00 am, 10 kollelim fill successive learning shifts. Each kollel focuses on a specific area of in-depth Torah study. The “Torah-24” Kollelim include: Boker (Gemora), Yerushalmi, Bavli, Zeraim-Taharot, Dalet Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Erev (Gemora), Chatzos- Zohar/Kabbolah, Erev Shabbos (Chumash / Medrash b’iyun). 

Already there are 52 avreichim metzuyonim, and a large number of candidates are vying for the remaining slots in the kollelim. All the avreichim are required to take rigorous monthly tests.

Endorsements & Letters

Endorsements include Maranan Hagaonim shlit”a: Harav Gershon Edelstein, Harav Berel Povarsky, Harav Shimon Badani, Harav Dovid Cohen, Harav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Harav Chaim Feinstein, Harav Shimon Galai, Harav Shraga Shteinman.

Letters of support-encouragement have been received from Maranan Hagaonim, shlit”a: Hamekubal Harav David Bazri, Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Elimelech Biderman, Hamekubal Harav Yaakov Meir Schechter, Harav Moishe Sternbuch, Harav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss.

For more “Torah-24” information click on: www.torah-24.com or call 718-766-5022

B’Sefer Chayim, a new and fast-growing organization dedicated to raising awareness about the need for parents to obtain life insurance for themselves, has announced a landmark partnership with Lakewood girls school Bnos Esther Malka. The initiative seeks to help ensure that families are not left financially destitute in the event of a tragic loss.

B’Sefer Chayim does not sell insurance, nor is it affiliated with any agency, broker, or company. Its sole purpose is to raise awareness, offer guided information, and help families protect their children should the unthinkable occur.

The effort is the brainchild of Shmulie Hartstein, who launched B’Sefer Chayim after witnessing firsthand how unprepared many young families are for the unthinkable – and the results. Rather than simply urging parents to purchase life insurance, B’Sefer Chayim goes a step further, offering clear, tailored guidance on what policies best protect surviving spouses and children. With the backing of rabbanim and askanim, the organization is bringing this message directly to the institutions that can make a huge difference: the schools.

“There’s no financial ask,” Shmulie Hartstein explains. “We aren’t asking for money. We’re asking schools to use their platform for something that could save families from collapse.”

Why schools? Because schools are uniquely positioned to reach parents at precisely the right time—when they are still young, insurable, and healthy. The best—and most affordable—life insurance policies are available when people are in their 20s and 30s, yet that is often when the issue is least discussed. Schools, where most parents fall into that age range, are ideal for bringing up this crucial conversation.

B’Sefer Chayim provides schools with ready-to-use educational materials, messaging templates, and tailored guidance, without any paperwork or bureaucracy. With just a single click – and without spending a dollar – school deans and administrators can endorse the message and share B’Sefer Chayim’s recommendations with their parent body.

If a school chooses not to partner directly, the ask of schools remains: urge your parent body to secure life insurance. The ripple effects of inaction are too devastating to ignore.

“Too many parents think they have time,” says Hartstein. “They put it off. Then a health issue arises, or a tragedy strikes — and the window is gone. Schools can change that outcome.”

The newly formed partnership with Bnos Esther Malka marks the first Lakewood school to sign on, joining a growing list of schools that includes Yeshiva of Spring Valley in Monsey and Masores Bais Yaakov in Brooklyn, with additional schools joining after the summer break.

The importance of the initiative has drawn enthusiastic rabbinic endorsement. The first to sign a letter of support was
Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh Yeshiva of Darchei Torah. He was quickly joined by other leading rabbanim including Rav Elya Brudny, Rav Yisroel Reisman, Rav Chaim Schabes, and a growing number of rabbanim across communities and kehillos.

Schools or administrators interested in participating or requesting materials can reach out to B’Sefer Chayim directly.

They can be reached at  info@bseferchayim.org

FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly made a stunning discovery inside FBI headquarters: a concealed room filled with “burn bags” containing sensitive documents tied to the agency’s Trump–Russia investigation.

According to sources familiar with Patel’s findings, the FBI uses “burn bags” as a secure method for disposing of high-level classified materials. Multiple bags—each holding thousands of pages—were recovered from a secret room allegedly used by former FBI Director James Comey and senior agents involved in the Crossfire Hurricane probe. Among the items discovered, Patel also uncovered the classified annex to former special counsel John Durham’s final report, which contains the core intelligence he evaluated during his investigation.

Plans are already in place to send the now-declassified annex to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, who is expected to publicly release it.

Fox News Digital was given an exclusive briefing by sources familiar with the annex’s contents. According to those briefed, U.S. intelligence agencies had already obtained credible foreign-sourced information suggesting that the FBI itself might play a central role in promoting the Trump–Russia collusion narrative—even before Crossfire Hurricane officially began.

One source told Fox News Digital that although the implications may not have been immediately obvious at the time, in retrospect, the intelligence “predicted the FBI’s next move with alarming specificity.”

The source added that the annex “will lend more credibility to the assertion that there was a coordinated plan inside the U.S. government to help the Clinton campaign stir up controversy connecting Trump to Russia.”

“Mere days after this intelligence was collected, the FBI launched Crossfire Hurricane,” the source said. “It’s really hard to see how Brennan, Clapper and Comey are going to be able to explain this away.”

This hidden archive appeared to match what Patel had described in an earlier interview with podcast host Joe Rogan back in June. During that appearance, he recounted discovering a sealed-off room filled with undisclosed documents and hard drives.

“Just think about this,” Patel told Rogan. “Me, as director of the FBI, the former ‘Russiagate guy,’ when I first got to the Bureau, found a room that Comey and others hid from the world in the Hoover Building, full of documents and computer hard drives that no one had ever seen or heard of. Locked the key and hid access and just said, ‘No one’s ever gonna find this place.’”

{Matzav.com}

Rabbi Paysach Krohn shares his story of surviving a terrifying stroke and the faith that carried him through. Elchanan Danino speaks about his son, Ori, who was killed in Gaza while running back to save his friends. Koby L., a hero devoted to rescuing Jewish women and children from Arab villages, gives a rare look into the world of pidyon shvuyim. And Shai Graucher reflects on the deep pain of losing his father, Dedi, and the strength it took to carry on.

EXPERIENCE THE FILM OF THE YEAR.

Thanks to the swift cooperation of Israel Railways staff, a passenger who accidentally left a bag containing nearly 100,000 shekels in cash and checks on a train was reunited with his lost belongings within minutes.

The incident took place late Tuesday afternoon at the Netanya train station, when a visibly distressed passenger approached the station shift manager in a panic. He explained that he had mistakenly left his bag on the train. Inside were cash, checks totaling around NIS 100,000, credit cards, and personal documents.

Without hesitation, the station manager contacted Israel Railways inspectors Niv Dahan and Shalev Yair Levi, who immediately began combing through the train. After a thorough search, they located the missing bag and arranged for it to be returned to its worried owner.

The shift manager at the Netanya station recalled the encounter: “During my shift, a shaken passenger approached me and explained that he had forgotten a bag on the train containing about 100,000 shekels. First, I calmed him down and gave him a cold glass of water. I stayed with him throughout the entire process.”

“I contacted the inspectors on the train he had disembarked from, and after just a few minutes, I was able to tell him that his bag was on its way back. Helping someone like that, seeing the relief and smile on his face—that’s worth the world to me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work at Israel Railways and to be able to do acts of kindness like this.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a disturbing case of religious fraud, Israeli police uncovered a scheme in which a man posed as a sofer STaM and sold hundreds of invalid mezuzos that were printed using a standard home printer.

According to police reports, the suspect—who presented himself as a legitimate sofer—was caught producing and distributing fake mezuzos from his home in the Shomron region. These klafim, intended to look like hand-written mezuzos, were in fact printed electronically, rendering them completely invalid for ritual use.

The arrest was the result of a covert operation conducted by the Ashkelon police anti-crime unit. Officers carried out an undercover purchase of dozens of mezuzos from the suspect. When he arrived to deliver the items, he was apprehended on the spot.

A subsequent search of his home revealed dozens of mezuzos and other printed texts, all produced using a household printer and all deemed invalid according to halachic standards.

In addition to the forged parchments, police confiscated a computer containing hundreds of files used to print the mezuzos, along with the printer involved in the operation.

The suspect, a 56-year-old resident of the Shomron, was taken in for questioning and later released under restrictive conditions pending further investigation.

In a statement, Israel Police emphasized the seriousness of the offense: “The Israel Police will continue to act decisively to identify individuals who impersonate professionals and distribute counterfeit items that harm the public. We urge citizens to be vigilant and to verify the identity and reliability of service providers in every field.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a fiery drasha delivered at the emergency gathering of Gedolei Yisroel last night protesting the government’s push to draft yeshiva bochurim into the IDF, the renowned posek and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, issued a psak halacha: in certain cases, one may mechalel Shabbos in order to avoid conscription into the Israeli army.

The large gathering was held Wednesday night at the Sequoia Hall in Maaleh HaChamisha, drawing leading Admorim and roshei yeshiva in unified protest of the Israeli government’s intensifying efforts to forcibly enlist Torah-observant youth.

Rav Zilberstein delivered a powerful address on the severity of the army draft threat, revealing a halachic ruling he received years ago from his rebbi, Rav Yechezkel Abramsky zt”l.

“I don’t consider myself worthy to speak before the Gedolei HaDor who are gathered here,” Rav Zilberstein began. “But I heard a halacha from my rebbi, Rav Yechezkel Abramsky zt”l, and when I asked if I should publicize it, he told me: ‘You must. In fact, I’ll publicize it myself.’ And so he did.”

He continued, quoting Rav Abramsky: “There is now a decree that yeshiva bochurim must report to the army. We know this is entirely inappropriate. And therefore, the halacha is: If a person cannot avoid conscription, he is obligated to leave Eretz Yisroel—he must do whatever he can not to live here under such conditions.”

“I was stunned when I heard this,” Rav Zilberstein said. “But my rebbi continued: ‘You haven’t even heard the full halacha yet. If necessary, one may violate Shabbos—get into a car, spend money, leave the country—because it’s a case of pikuach nefesh (danger to life).’”

“I asked him again: ‘Can we say this in public?’ And he answered: ‘If you don’t say it, I will.’ He said it openly: If someone is being forced into the army, and there’s concern he will fall spiritually, then I command him to violate Shabbos to escape.”

“I was shaken to hear this. I later told this to my father-in-law, Maran Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l. Such a psak halacha—to flee the country in a car on Shabbos—I had never heard before. But that is the reality: facing the risk of spiritual collapse, it is considered pikuach nefesh.”

Rav Zilberstein then shifted his tone and spoke words of encouragement about the spiritual awakening he has witnessed among Jews from all walks of life.

“Nevertheless,” he said, “I want to share something beautiful. I meet so many people, even those who once seemed distant from Yiddishkeit, and I see a tremendous thirst to return. I’m in the kollel all day in Cholon, and people I’ve never met before show up. They ask: ‘What should I do first for Shabbos?’ I tell them: Don’t drive, don’t turn on lights. The Torah says, ‘Ki eshmerah Shabbos Keil yishmereni.’ And they say, ‘Yes! I’m ready. I swear I won’t drive anymore. I’ll sing zemiros on Shabbos.’”

Standing before the crowd, he lifted his voice: “We plead before the Ribbono Shel Olam: Look at Your precious children! People come to me and say, ‘We will no longer desecrate Shabbos.’ These are awe-inspiring moments.”

Turning to the yeshiva bochurim directly affected by the draft, Rav Zilberstein offered heartfelt guidance: “To the bnei hayeshivos, I know there is tremendous awakening on Shabbos. Don’t speak anything but divrei Torah, especially hilchos Shabbos. ‘Ki eshmerah Shabbos Keil yishmereni,’ as the Ibn Ezra, whose soul the Rambam said was a spark of Avrohom Avinu, wrote. You want yeshuos? Here’s the way: Keep Shabbos.”

He concluded with an appeal for achdus and compassion: “We are gathered here as one incredible group of talmidei chachamim. When do we ever merit such a scene? I ask my colleagues: Greet every Jew with warmth. It can work wonders.”

“May Hashem help us all see the yeshuah of Klal Yisroel, and the glory of His nation, as we continue to stand as loyal servants of Hashem.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff landed in Israel late Thursday morning, beginning a high-stakes diplomatic mission.

Shortly afterward, he held a meeting with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu early Thursday afternoon, as confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Their conversation reportedly focused on several key issues: the ongoing negotiations for a potential ceasefire in Gaza, efforts to free Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the broader threat posed by Iran.

Witkoff’s trip comes at a critical time, as Israeli leaders have made clear that if a breakthrough in hostage negotiations doesn’t materialize soon, they may escalate military operations in Gaza.

Sources told The Jerusalem Post that Hamas has relayed to mediators it won’t engage in talks with Israel unless there’s tangible improvement in the humanitarian conditions within Gaza.

Ynet reported that Witkoff is expected to tour the Gaza Strip during his visit and may stop at facilities operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Meanwhile, family members of the hostages and activists staged demonstrations urging Witkoff to use his influence to help secure both a ceasefire and the return of their loved ones. As KAN News reported, they said he “has the power to bring about a deal.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

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