Matzav

CVS and Walgreens are adjusting their approach to distributing COVID-19 vaccines this season in order to stay in line with federal health guidelines and individual state laws.

According to the companies, vaccine access will no longer be uniform nationwide but will depend on state-specific regulations. CVS stated that it will only be able to provide COVID-19 vaccinations in certain states, including Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

In 16 other states, CVS explained that people may need a prescription to receive the vaccine, depending on their age and health condition. In a few states, such as Massachusetts, Nevada, and New Mexico, CVS will not be allowed to provide COVID-19 shots at all, even if a prescription is obtained, according to CBS News.

Walgreens said it will also abide by local restrictions, emphasizing that it is “prepared to offer the vaccine in states where we are able to do so.”

These changes come after recent actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency has approved updated doses from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax for senior citizens as well as for younger individuals with underlying health concerns.

For the youngest children, though, choices are now more limited. The FDA has ended emergency authorization for Pfizer’s vaccine for children under five, leaving Moderna’s shot as the only option for kids aged six months through four years who have at least one medical condition that qualifies them for vaccination.

The landscape has grown even more complicated with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) breaking with the CDC for the first time in three decades. The AAP recommends vaccinating children between six months and two years old, while the CDC does not call for universal COVID-19 shots for healthy children. Instead, the CDC advises parents to consult with their child’s physician before making a decision.

{Matzav.com}

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared side by side in Beijing for the first time during China’s grand military parade highlighting its nuclear arsenal.

The three leaders stood smiling together in Tiananmen Square on Wednesday as China marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. The gathering underscored a united front of authoritarian powers and sent a direct warning to the United States and its allies.

China used the event to unveil its complete nuclear triad, showcasing weapons capable of being launched from land, sea, and air. Among the highlights was a newly upgraded intercontinental ballistic missile with an extended range of 12,400 miles, alongside other cutting-edge military technologies.

“The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable,” Xi declared, calling for the development of a “world-class” military, according to CNN.

Earlier in the week, Xi outlined his aspirations for a restructured global order at a regional security summit. He urged nations to unite against “hegemonism and power politics,” in what was widely seen as criticism of the United States and President Trump’s tariff policies that have strained international partnerships.

Trump responded on Tuesday with a pointed remark directed at Xi: “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”

Military experts noted that the unveiling of China’s torpedo-shaped drones and hypersonic weaponry represents a significant threat to regional stability, particularly as China seeks to expand its dominance over surrounding waters.

“The combination of the (sea) … drones they have and also the missiles, it will create an area that external navies couldn’t even enter to intervene,” explained James Char, a China defense analyst at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

The display also introduced China’s newest armored vehicle, the Type-100 tank, fitted with advanced defensive systems and reconnaissance drones.

Additional demonstrations featured new aerospace, cyber, and information warfare units, underscoring China’s push to become a leading force in space and electronic combat.

The parade drew leaders from around two dozen countries, almost all from outside the Western bloc.

Following the event, Putin and Kim held a private meeting lasting more than two hours. During their discussion, Putin extended an invitation for Kim to visit Russia and expressed appreciation for North Korean troops who have joined Russia’s war in Ukraine.

{Matzav.com}

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump attributed a widely circulated video of a black garbage bag being tossed from a White House window to artificial intelligence manipulation.

His remarks came even though American outlets had already cited a White House representative who explained that a contractor was simply discarding waste as part of ongoing renovation work.

“No, that’s probably AI-generated,” Trump remarked to reporters in the Oval Office when questioned about the clip. “Actually, you can’t open the windows. You know why, they’re all heavily armored and bulletproof.”

He then asked Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy to bring the video over so he could see it himself.

The short recording, which gained traction online over the weekend, appears to depict a black trash bag being dropped from an open window on the White House’s second floor — the area that contains the president’s private residence.

After watching, the 79-year-old commented that it was a “little bit scary” how convincing artificial intelligence–produced content can look.

However, before Trump was ever asked about it, outlets such as the New York Times had already quoted the White House press team saying the video was authentic but entirely harmless.

The press office clarified that it showed a worker engaged in “regular maintenance” at a time when Trump was not inside the building.

This online speculation was not the only rumor Trump tackled that day. He also brushed aside as “fake news” a string of social-media fueled stories about his health — including wild claims suggesting he might even have passed away.

{Matzav.com}

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were overheard having an unusual exchange about medical technology and human longevity as they walked side by side on Wednesday. A live microphone caught them discussing organ transplants and the idea that people might one day live to 150 years.

The exchange happened as Putin and Xi, along with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, led a delegation of more than 20 foreign dignitaries through Beijing for a massive military parade marking 80 years since the conclusion of World War II.

The conversation was inadvertently broadcast by China’s state television outlet CCTV, whose feed was also carried by CGTN, the Associated Press, and Reuters. China’s media regulator later reported that the broadcast was watched nearly 1.9 billion times online, in addition to an estimated 400 million viewers on television.

As the two leaders walked toward the Tiananmen platform to join Kim in watching the parade, Putin’s translator could be heard remarking in Chinese, “Biotechnology is continuously developing.”

The translator went on, after an indistinct passage, “human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and (you can) even achieve immortality.”

Xi, speaking off camera, then responded in Chinese: “Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old.”

Kim appeared amused, smiling in their direction, though it was unclear whether he had been provided a translation of the discussion. Putin himself was not audibly clear in Russian on the CCTV recording.

Requests for comment from the Kremlin went unanswered, and both China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CCTV declined to immediately respond to Reuters.

As Xi began his remarks, the broadcast shifted to a wide-angle view of Tiananmen Square and the audio was lowered.

Roughly half a minute later, cameras again focused on Xi, Putin, and Kim as they approached the parade viewing platform together.

At the celebration, Xi addressed more than 50,000 attendees, declaring that the global community faced a defining choice of “peace or war” as he reviewed military units and advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles and naval drones.

Putin had traveled to China days earlier to take part in a Beijing-led summit that gathered over 20 leaders from nations outside the Western alliance, among them Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During his stay, Putin and Xi signed over 20 agreements covering areas such as energy cooperation and artificial intelligence. They also committed to constructing a major new gas pipeline, though details regarding pricing and financing were not released.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to a coalition of world leaders that some commentators have dubbed the new “Axis of Evil,” a group said to have emerged during the Biden administration.

Trump, writing in a fiery post, cautioned these nations not to “conspire against” the United States as China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un appeared together at a Chinese military parade aimed at showcasing their defiance of Washington.

“The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and ‘blood’ that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Many Americans died in China’s quest for victory and glory. I hope that they are rightfully honored and remembered for their bravery and sacrifice!

“May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”

The statement did not go unnoticed in Moscow. Kremlin officials pushed back, asserting that Putin was not joining in any secret coordination with China or North Korea. They argued Trump’s remarks were meant sarcastically.

“I would like to say that no one has been conspiring, no one has been plotting anything, no conspiracies,” Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said on Russian state TV. “No one even had such a thought – none of these three leaders had such a thought.

“I can say that everyone understands the role played by the United States, the current administration of President Trump and President Trump personally in the current international situation.”

Meanwhile, at the massive parade in Beijing, Xi Jinping declared that the global community was at a crossroads, facing a decision between peace or conflict. At his side stood Putin and Kim, underscoring the unusual unity of the three regimes.

Asked later whether he was troubled by the idea of Russia and China joining forces against Washington, Trump brushed off the concern.

“I am not concerned at all,” Trump replied. “We have the strongest military in the world, by far. They would never use their military on us. Believe me.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced that he intends to send National Guard forces into Chicago, denouncing the city led by Democrats as a “hellhole” plagued by rampant violence.

“We’re going in,” he told reporters, also suggesting that Baltimore may be next on his list of cities to receive federal troops.

Responding to criticism that he is only singling out Democrat-led cities, Trump pushed back, saying his actions are about protecting lives, not politics. “I have an obligation,” he insisted, citing statistics of recent shootings in Chicago. “This isn’t a political thing. I have an obligation when 20 people are killed over the last two and a half weeks and 75 are shot with bullets.”

Although he did not provide a specific timeline for the move, Trump, who just weeks ago had deployed the National Guard in Washington, emphasized that Chicago’s Democrat mayor and governor would not be able to block him. “Chicago is a hellhole right now. Baltimore is a hellhole right now,” he said.

On Truth Social, Trump declared that he “will solve the crime problem (in Chicago) fast, just like I did in (Washington).” He further blasted the city, saying, “Chicago is the worst and most dangerous city in the World, by far,” and accused Illinois Governor JB Pritzker of being oblivious to how much help he really needs. His post escalated into a bold statement in all caps: “CHICAGO IS THE MURDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!”

Governor Pritzker responded forcefully, condemning Trump’s plan as nothing less than “an invasion.” At a press briefing, he said, “Chicago does not want troops on our streets.” Pritzker also challenged Trump’s premise, noting, “Crime is down in Chicago. Murders are down by almost 50 percent in the last four years.” He continued, “None of this is about fighting crime or making Chicago safer. For Trump, it’s about testing his power and producing a political drama to cover up for his corruption.”

Trump pointed to his earlier actions in Washington, claiming success. “It’s now a safe zone,” he said. “We have no crime.”

The president has also used the military in other Democrat-led cities. In June, thousands of National Guard members and Marines were dispatched to Los Angeles to support police during protests tied to Trump’s immigration raids.

But on Tuesday, Trump’s approach faced a legal blow. A federal judge ruled that his use of troops in Los Angeles had broken the law, prohibiting National Guard or Marines from performing law enforcement functions such as arrests or searches. Judge Charles Breyer, based in San Francisco, warned that Trump appeared intent on “creating a national police force with the President as its chief.” His injunction is set to begin on September 12, leaving room for the conservative-leaning Supreme Court to potentially weigh in.

Meanwhile, tensions continue to mount in Chicago. On Monday, protesters filled the streets with a “Workers over Billionaires” demonstration, where many voiced strong opposition to Trump’s proposed deployment of troops into their city.

{Matzav.com}

 

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich introduced a new initiative on Wednesday proposing that Israel annex 82 percent of the West Bank, a move that has already drawn sharp warnings from the United Arab Emirates, which cautioned that such an action would jeopardize Israel’s growing acceptance in the broader Middle East.

The plan, which Smotrich presented alongside a map illustrating the proposed borders, marks the clearest indication yet of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s government’s growing determination to formally extend Israeli sovereignty over the territory. Smotrich and other longtime advocates for annexation believe that the timing is right, especially in light of a push by several Western nations to officially recognize a Palestinian state, despite mounting international objections.

“The broad consensus for sovereignty is a direct result of a deep understanding that we can never allow an existential threat to establish itself among us, and after decades of hesitation, it is time to state this clearly and act accordingly,” Smotrich said during a joint announcement with Israel Ganz, head of the Yesha Council, which represents West Bank settlements.

Referring to the territory by its biblical name, they added, “It is time to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and remove once and for all the idea of dividing our small land and establishing a terrorist state in its heart.”

Smotrich, who leads the Religious Zionism party and manages civilian matters in the West Bank, has been a staunch opponent of Palestinian statehood and supports annexing both the West Bank and Gaza. In recent weeks, he has pushed forward several measures aimed at strengthening Israeli control over the area, including plans to build in the sensitive E1 corridor east of Yerushalayim. Just one day earlier, the Defense Ministry declared a significant portion of the West Bank as state land.

“Continuing to build and establish,” Smotrich wrote on X after the announcement. “Removing the danger of an Arab terror state from the agenda.”

The unveiling of this plan comes at a time when the future of the West Bank is once again at the forefront of global debate, with annexation returning to the center of policy discussions. Later this month, several European nations are expected to formally recognize a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly. Reports have also surfaced that France is considering opening an embassy in Ramallah, signaling a possible escalation in international support for Palestinian claims.

In response to these developments, Netanyahu is expected to convene a high-level meeting on Thursday with senior ministers, including Smotrich, to discuss whether extending sovereignty over the West Bank should serve as Israel’s countermeasure. Earlier this year, the Knesset overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution supporting annexation in a 71-13 vote.

Smotrich’s plan includes a detailed map showing that Israel would incorporate the vast majority of the West Bank while leaving six Palestinian population centers as enclaves. These areas include Ramallah, Shechem, Jenin, Tulkarem, Yericho, and Chevron, with the latter being one of the most volatile regions in the territory.

“Preventing a Palestinian state is an Israeli consensus,” a statement accompanying the map read. “Sovereignty takes the idea off of the global agenda.”

The proposal, according to the statement, seeks “maximum territory and minimum Arab population.”

If implemented, the plan would mark a dramatic shift in the way the West Bank has been administered since Israel captured the territory from Jordan during the 1967 Six Day War. While Israel has maintained security control, the Palestinian Authority, headquartered in Ramallah, has overseen daily governance in several urban centers for more than three decades.

Today, the West Bank is home to more than half a million Israeli settlers alongside millions of Palestinians. The majority of the international community views Israel’s presence in the territory as illegal under international law and sees the expansion of settlements as a major obstacle to peace — an assessment Israel firmly disputes.

Smotrich brushed aside warnings from the Palestinian Authority, making it clear that threats would not deter him.

“We are done surrendering to threats and intimidation. If the Palestinian Authority dares to rise up and try to harm us, we will destroy them just as we do Hamas,” he said, urging Netanyahu to move forward with government approval for applying sovereignty.

“And you, Mr. Prime Minister, will enter the nation’s history books for generations as a great leader who knew how to seize the moment, take advantage of the opportunity, and save Israel once and for all from the idea of dividing the land and the existential threat euphemistically called a ‘Palestinian state,’” he added.

This is not the first time annexation has been on the table. In 2020, a peace proposal by US President Donald Trump envisioned Israel extending sovereignty over large parts of the West Bank while leaving room for a future Palestinian state on the remainder. At the time, Netanyahu pledged to move forward with partial annexation.

However, those plans were set aside later that year in favor of signing the Abraham Accords, a landmark agreement that normalized relations between Israel and four Arab countries.

Five years later, Lana Nusseibeh, a senior envoy for the United Arab Emirates, warned in an interview with The Times of Israel that unilateral annexation would be a “red line” for her government and would derail the vision of regional cooperation.

“Annexation would be a red line for my government, and that means there can be no lasting peace. It would foreclose the idea of regional integration and be the death knell of the two-state solution,” she said.

Nusseibeh’s remarks were echoed by other officials who have cautioned against destabilizing moves in the West Bank. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who has previously expressed support for Israeli control over the territory, reportedly told Smotrich and other ministers that Washington is deeply worried about the potential collapse of the Palestinian Authority, according to Channel 12.

The financial strain on the PA has worsened in recent months as Smotrich has ordered the suspension of funds typically transferred to Ramallah, creating growing instability.

“If the Palestinian economy collapses, that is nobody’s victory,” Huckabee warned in comments to Channel 12, adding that “desperate people do desperate things.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

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Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz announced on Wednesday that the newly deployed Ofek 19 satellite gives Israel the ability to “keep an eye on our enemies at all times.”

In his statement, Katz cautioned, “This is also a message to all our enemies, wherever they may be – we are keeping an eye on you at all times and in every situation.”

He also extended an invitation to the broader region, adding, “And in general, a message to the region: come collaborate with these capabilities for a better shared future for all of us.”

Katz praised the teams behind the successful launch, describing it as an “achievement of the highest level that few countries in the world can accomplish.”

“I salute the aerospace industry, the Defense Ministry, the IDF, and everyone who took part in the development,” he said.

This marks the second satellite in the Ofek series to be launched by Israel, following Ofek 13, which became operational in March 2023.

During Israel’s conflict with Iran, Ofek 13 played a critical role, with the Defense Ministry revealing that it captured nearly 12,000 images of Iranian territory.

The satellite provided Israel with near real-time intelligence, allowing quicker identification of potential missile launches and improving precision for air operations across Iran’s approximately 1.6 million square kilometers of land.

Prior to that, Israel launched Ofek 16 in July 2020, continuing the satellite program that began in 1988. All launches in the series, including Ofek 19, have been carried out using the Israeli-developed Shavit 2 launcher.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli security forces recently uncovered and arrested a Hamas cell from Chevron that was allegedly working under the direction of Hamas leadership in Turkey to carry out an assassination attempt against National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

During their questioning, the Shin Bet discovered that the suspects had purchased multiple drones, which they intended to load with explosives for the planned attack. These drones were confiscated at the time of their arrest.

The Shin Bet continues to interrogate the detainees as the investigation remains ongoing.

In response, Minister Ben-Gvir expressed gratitude toward the various security branches involved, stating, “I am grateful to the Acting Head of the Shin Bet, to the agency’s investigators and operatives, to the Israel Prison Service intelligence, to the Magen Unit personnel, to IDF soldiers, to Israel Police officers, and to everyone working to protect lives.”

Ben-Gvir noted that this marked the fifth attempt by Hamas to target him and declared, “I will not be intimidated or afraid… I will continue to lead a policy of a firm hand in prisons against terror, to demand a complete victory in Gaza, and the erasure of Hamas from the map. The terrorists must know: instead of them harming me, we will strike them, anywhere and at any time.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

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During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump floated the idea of allowing a “small percentage” of teachers to carry firearms as a way to strengthen school security.

The event, broadcast live on FOX News, featured a question from reporter Peter Doocy, who asked Trump about school shootings and whether he would consider deploying “an armed national guardsman to every school.”

Trump replied, “We have a big problem with school but we also have thousands and thousands of schools that run perfectly.”

He went on to discuss potential safety improvements that could be made “construction-wise” to make campuses harder for intruders to access. However, he cautioned that some of those security upgrades might unintentionally make it harder for law enforcement to enter during emergencies. Ultimately, he expressed concern that certain measures could “make it safer for some of these lunatics we’re dealing with.”

Trump then raised the idea of arming a select group of teachers. “We have great teachers that love our children. The parents love the children and teachers love the children too, and if you took a small percentage of those teachers that were in the military, that were distinguished in the military, that were in the National Guard, etc., etc., you let them carry…They’re trained, they know about weapons…I always thought that would be an alternative.”

The debate over arming teachers is not new. On December 13, 2018, just months after the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a commission tasked with reviewing the incident voted 13 to 1 in favor of allowing teachers to be armed for classroom defense.

On February 14, 2018, when the Parkland attack occurred, teachers were unarmed, and 17 students and staff members lost their lives.

Breitbart News previously reported that Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who chaired the commission, said the investigation into the massacre completely shifted his perspective. Once an opponent of arming teachers, he ultimately came to support the idea. He explained, “People need to keep an open mind to it as the reality is that if someone else in that school had a gun it could have saved kids’ lives.”

{Matzav.com}

Just one day before the Knesset resumes key discussions on the controversial draft law, deep frustration has erupted within the chareidi political parties. For the first time, senior party members are publicly admitting they see no clear solution to the crisis, while launching sharp attacks on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth, accusing them of deliberately stalling progress.

The tension follows Bismuth’s recent proposal to pass a temporary one-year draft law to ease the pressure and buy time, citing the lack of a Knesset majority for the broader legislation demanded by the chareidi parties. However, insiders report that all chareidi representatives are unified in firmly rejecting Bismuth’s offer, dismissing it as “irrelevant” and “destined to fail.” One senior source explained, “We need a proper law — or at least a principles framework — to secure the status of yeshiva students. Another temporary compromise achieves nothing.”

Party officials expressed deep disappointment over Netanyahu’s handling of the situation, accusing him of failing to show even minimal seriousness in resolving the growing crisis. “Netanyahu is acting as if everything is fine,” one senior chareidi representative said. “He hasn’t convened a single discussion in his office on the draft law. It looks like he’s searching for excuses not to pass the law and just wants to drag things out until elections on a timeline that suits him.”

Despite Netanyahu’s assurances that he intends to stabilize the government and pass the 2026 budget, trust between the chareidi factions and the prime minister appears to be rapidly eroding. Insiders say coordination between the chareidi MKs and the coalition leadership — including their participation in committee hearings — is now mostly symbolic, intended to demonstrate effort rather than genuine belief in a breakthrough.

Adding to the pressure, Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni issued a statement over the weekend warning that he will advise gedolei Yisroel to oppose all government budget proposals unless coalition agreements are upheld. At the heart of the dispute is the government’s plan to slash roughly 40 million shekels from the remaining 89 million allocated under the “New Horizon” education framework, a move Gafni views as a breach of commitments.

Meanwhile, Bismuth plans to hold a marathon of meetings this week with all stakeholders, including Shas representative Ariel Attias, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi’s replacement Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, reservist organizations, and others, in a bid to find a compromise. Zamir and Bismuth are also scheduled to meet separately to discuss broader security needs, pension structures, and the army’s manpower challenges.

Behind the scenes, however, many chareidi leaders believe Netanyahu is intentionally postponing a resolution until after possible early elections. With public protests growing and negotiations deadlocked, the coalition faces mounting pressure to provide clarity on the future of the draft law — or risk a full-blown political standoff.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A growing controversy has erupted in Yerushalayim amid claims of severe discrimination in admissions to girls’ high schools, with some institutions allegedly refusing entry to Sephardic students based on their family background.

In an interview aired on Channel 13, L., a 13-year-old student who has been at home for six months after failing to secure a placement, recounted her painful experience: “I’ve been home since the exams, just waiting for something to happen.”

L. said she was subjected to invasive questions during the admissions process, including where her father davens and whether her brothers attend Sephardic or Ashkenazi yeshivas. Despite excelling academically, she was rejected after being told her family was “not suitable.” One high school even suggested she change her last name to sound “less Sephardic.”

In a shocking statement, L. recalled: “The principal told me I’m a ‘berachah levatalah’ and said that even if Rav Ovadia himself came, she still wouldn’t accept me.”

L.’s mother, Michal, confirmed that several schools pressured her to change her children’s surname to improve their chances of acceptance. “I changed the last name for two of my kids, and it worked,” she said tearfully. “They’re accepted, they’re happy — but it hurts me deeply that some of my children live with one last name and others with another. We’re the same family.”

Yael, another mother of two daughters left without placements, described the toll on her children: “The worst pain I’ve ever experienced is watching my daughter sit at home in silence. My older daughter has been without a school for six months, and because of that, I wasn’t even allowed to register my younger one. She got accepted to four excellent schools in Yerushalayim, but the Chareidi Education Department decided no.”

Yael criticized the broader system: “If someone wants to open an Ashkenazi-only school, they should make it private. As long as it’s funded by taxpayer money, there cannot be admissions based on ethnicity. Opening separate schools for Sephardim isn’t a solution — it just cements the discrimination.”

Another Sephardic mother shared her devastation: “My daughter is an outstanding student. I never imagined she wouldn’t be accepted. At the last minute, they told us she was rejected. We realized it’s because we’re Sephardic. Now my daughter refuses to leave the house. She cries constantly.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In his newly released book, Ben Shapiro claims that Western civilization is being systematically dismantled by what he describes as “scavengers.”

As a prime example, Shapiro points to Zohran Mamdani, a progressive Democratic politician whose platform he sees as emblematic of the problem.

“Mamdani is sort of a platonic example of a scavenger instinct at work — his entire campaign is rooted in envy,” Shapiro told The New York Post. “It’s rooted in the idea that everyone is a victim of systems.”

In his book “Lions and Scavengers: The True Story of America (and Her Critics),” which hit shelves Tuesday, Shapiro argues that society is divided between “lions,” who defend the principles that uphold freedom, and “scavengers,” who seek to dismantle those very foundations.

“The Scavengers are those who produce nothing, and demand everything,” Shapiro writes. “The Scavengers are those … who blame their own miseries, in free societies, on ‘systems of power’ that supposedly rob them of autonomy; who claim that failure is a virtue and success a sin.”

He singles out Mamdani, the Democratic contender in New York City’s mayoral race, and his supporters as embodying this destructive mindset.

“The Mamdani campaign is a great example of this — the sort of unification of disparate factions that really have very little in common with one another other than hatred of the system and desire to tear it down,” Shapiro explained.

According to Shapiro, defending freedom depends on the “lions” — those willing to preserve the values that sustain a healthy society.

He writes that the worldview of these lions is grounded in three biblical principles: belief in a divine plan guiding the universe, recognition that every individual is created in the image of God, and acceptance of genuine moral responsibility in life.

By contrast, Shapiro argues, scavengers see life as meaningless, viewing personal failures as inevitable results of corrupt systems and often embracing violence as a justified response.

“You can see that over and over and over, from the BLM riots to the campus protests-slash-riots,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro also identifies another “scavenger” figure: alleged United Healthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione.

“He grew up rich,” Shapiro said. “And then he basically decided that he was a victim of the system and that, because the system itself was deeply flawed, that gave him the excuse to commit murder of a person he had never met.”

One of the greatest ironies, Shapiro notes, is that many scavengers come from privileged backgrounds, often the children of the very “lions” who helped build and sustain prosperous societies.

“So many people build community, build family, make the systems that make the West great stronger, and then they don’t pass that on to their kids in any way, shape or form,” he lamented. “They seem to think that … their kids will somehow imbibe the correct values from the water or from the air.”

He points to the student protests at Columbia University last year, where wealthy students camped out in solidarity with Palestine, as a perfect example of this generational shift.

“They’re being told by people online, by their friends, that their parents did something wrong, and that the system that they grew up in is deeply flawed,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro warns that the danger posed by scavengers is far-reaching and potentially catastrophic.

“It does not require a majority of a population of Scavengers for the Scavengers to take control,” he writes. “It requires only a dedicated core group and a large majority of vacillating Lions unwilling to stand up and roar. All too often, the conditions for such coups are ripe.”

Still, Shapiro expresses optimism that resistance is growing.

“In the aftermath of BLM and October 7th and the riots on campus,” Shapiro said, “I do think that the Trump victory was a manifestation of the American people basically saying, ‘We’re done with this sort of envious view of how the world works.’”

{Matzav.com}

On Tuesday, former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio officially endorsed socialist Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani in the upcoming mayoral race, praising the candidate’s “bold, sweeping” vision and asserting that his platform could transform the city’s future.

“We don’t just need Zohran Mamdani to be our mayor because he has the right ideas, or because they can be achieved,” de Blasio wrote in an op-ed for the New York Daily News, formally backing the progressive front-runner.

“We need him because in his heart and in his bones he cannot accept a city that prices out the people who built it and keep it running.”

De Blasio, who led the city from 2014 through 2021, said Mamdani’s focus on making New York more affordable — including proposals like rent freezes, free childcare, and fare-free city buses — was a key reason for his decisive win in the June Democratic primary.

“Yet, though many New Yorkers agree with him — many others are skeptical. Still others have lost faith in the city government’s ability to not only talk, but deliver. They want to know one fundamental truth: can it be done?” he wrote.

“I can say definitely — and I know better than anyone — that the answer is yes.”

The former mayor also reflected on his own administration’s policies, recalling how critics had labeled initiatives like affordable housing expansion, universal pre-K, and paid sick leave as “recklessly idealistic.”

“Often, these critiques were lodged by politicians and special interest groups who had a vested interest in maintaining the broken status quo. In short, labeling my agenda as infeasible masked their true problem with it: an unwillingness to cede power and opportunity to working people,” de Blasio said.

“In 2025, the same overheated condemnations yield the same result as in 2013: not only does the public want what Mamdani is proposing, it actually all can be done.”

De Blasio, who endorsed Eric Adams in the 2021 mayoral race, argued that President Trump’s budget cuts make it even more critical to elect a progressive like Mamdani in November.

“At a time when Donald Trump is cutting SNAP benefits, gutting Medicaid, and once again leaving working people out to dry, the need for an unwavering fighter in City Hall has never been higher,” he wrote.

“It’s not enough to have a ‘leader’ unwilling to be bold in their pursuit for economic opportunity, or hiding behind this so-called question of feasibility.”

Mamdani is set to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is seeking re-election as an independent, along with former Governor Andrew Cuomo, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, and attorney Jim Walden on the November ballot.

{Matzav.com}

One lucky Powerball participant came painfully close to making history, missing out on the record-breaking jackpot by a single number, as the grand prize has now climbed to an incredible $1.3 billion following Monday night’s drawing with no top winner.

Despite missing the jackpot, the player still walked away with a hefty $2 million payout after opting to spend an extra dollar for the Power Play feature, which doubled their prize amount.

According to the NC Education Lottery, the winning ticket — which was purchased online — was sold to a player based in Clayton, North Carolina.

Monday’s winning numbers for what was then a staggering $1.2 billion jackpot were 9, 23, 25, 40, and 53, with the red Powerball number 5.

By Tuesday morning, officials confirmed that no one had yet stepped forward to claim the $2 million prize. Under state regulations, Powerball winners in North Carolina have 180 days from the drawing date to collect their winnings.

The spotlight now shifts to the upcoming drawing scheduled for Wednesday at 10:59 p.m. ET, which will be broadcast live and streamed online.

To win the jackpot, a ticket must correctly match all five white balls plus the red Powerball — odds that stand at a staggering one in over 290 million.

Powerball is available in 45 states as well as Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, with Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah being the only states where the game isn’t offered.

While tickets can be purchased on the day of the drawing, sales cutoff times vary by state and local regulations.

{Matzav.com}