Matzav

A newly released version of the proposed draft law presented to chareidi political parties includes sweeping financial penalties targeting the chareidi community in the event of noncompliance with enlistment quotas, according to a report this morning on Kan Reshet Bet, Matzav.com has learned.

In addition to previously discussed sanctions such as banning travel abroad and suspending driver’s license issuance for draft-eligible individuals, the current draft proposes a 50% reduction in daycare subsidies. If, after six months, the quotas are still not met, all daycare funding would be completely revoked.

The law also calls for the elimination of municipal property tax discounts (arnona) and the cancellation of income tax credit points for those failing to meet service requirements. These financial consequences would go into effect as soon as the law is passed.

According to the proposal, the draft target for the first year following enactment would increase from 4,800 to 5,700 chareidi yeshiva students. Each draft-eligible individual would be officially registered in a military unit and required to report before being granted any exemption. The sanctions outlined in the bill would remain in force until age 30.

A controversial provision in the draft would establish a military-controlled Exceptions Committee to rule on travel abroad for draft-eligible individuals who fail to report for service. This clause has drawn sharp criticism from chareidi parties, which have historically opposed any military oversight over religious matters.

In response, Shas’s Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah is scheduled to convene today for what has been described as a critical meeting to determine the party’s continued participation in the governing coalition. This follows United Torah Judaism’s withdrawal from the government in protest of the draft law.

Chareidi political insiders believe that Shas is also leaning toward leaving the coalition, given the assault on the status and dignity of bnei Torah. The move would mark a significant escalation in the crisis over the exemption law.

Meanwhile, the IDF is preparing for intensified enforcement efforts. Military Police are expected to begin mass arrests of those classified as draft dodgers after failing to report upon receiving summonses.

In a Knesset hearing of the State Control Committee, Inbar Goldner, head of the Military Police’s detainee division, said, “As part of our expanded enforcement measures, we’ve added a new military prison unit to increase detention capacity.”

Goldner added that staffing at Ben Gurion Airport has tripled to enforce sanctions on draft evaders. “Anyone flagged as a deserter or draft dodger at police checkpoints will be detained on the spot. Our teams will be dispatched immediately to make arrests. We’re building a more advanced enforcement layer—beyond traditional means—including intelligence-based policing and coordination with the Israel Police at checkpoints and crossings,” she said.

{Matzav.com Israel}

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A dispute over New York City’s pension fund investments has escalated into a political standoff centered on Israel, with Mayor Eric Adams accusing Comptroller Brad Lander of quietly eliminating the city’s holdings in Israel bonds—suggesting the move mirrors the objectives of the anti-Israel BDS movement.

In a letter sent Sunday by First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, Adams charged that Lander had effectively pulled city pension money out of Israel bonds and demanded full disclosure. The mayor gave Lander a one-week deadline to produce all internal records and communications related to the divestment decision.

Lander, who is Jewish and calls himself a progressive Zionist, fired back in a statement released Monday through The Forward. He acknowledged that the city allowed its Israel bonds to mature without reinvesting, but insisted the move followed standard financial protocols and was not politically motivated.

“The BDS Movement asks investors to treat Israel worse than other countries; I oppose this effort,” Lander wrote. “You appear to be asking that the city’s pension funds treat Israel better than all other countries. That would also be politically motivated, and inconsistent with fiduciary duty.”

The disagreement adds another layer to the already rocky relationship between Adams and Lander, who have repeatedly locked horns over fiscal matters. It also comes as Israel becomes a defining issue in the city’s upcoming mayoral contest.

Lander aligned himself with Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist and staunch opponent of Israel, during the recent ranked-choice Democratic primary. Mamdani, who has long endorsed the BDS campaign, emerged victorious in the nomination race. Adams, a strong pro-Israel voice, is now running as an independent in the general election.

For years, the city’s pension funds maintained tens of millions of dollars in Israel bonds. When Lander assumed office in January 2022, the portfolio included approximately $39 million in such bonds. Since then, he allowed them to expire without purchasing new ones, effectively reducing the investment to nothing.

“This policy appears to target only Israel bonds,” Mastro’s letter stated. “This divestment, occurring amid a global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel, appears to be in furtherance of that BDS campaign.”

The letter argued that Israel bonds have historically offered solid financial returns and that exiting those investments meant forfeiting valuable gains for the pension system.

Lander responded by saying the funds still maintain over $315 million in other Israeli-linked assets, mostly common stocks. He added that the original decision to buy Israel bonds lacked proper financial scrutiny and had been driven more by politics than by fiduciary responsibility. He called it “a political decision, not a fiduciary one.”

While New York City is scaling back its involvement in Israel bonds, other governments nationwide are heading in the opposite direction. Several states and municipalities have dramatically increased their investments in Israeli sovereign debt, often citing both strong performance and acceptable risk levels—even when led by officials with clear pro-Israel leanings.

Speculation about Lander’s intent first surfaced in March, when The New York Post ran a story raising concerns about whether his actions were a quiet boycott of Israel, well before this year’s political landscape took shape.

Now, with November’s election drawing closer, the issue is back in the spotlight. Lander’s support for Mamdani is particularly controversial due to the latter’s inflammatory remarks about Israel, including his refusal to denounce the slogan “globalize the intifada,” and his public vow to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York.

Adams has used those statements to paint Mamdani as far outside the mainstream. “I don’t know his fixation with Israel,” Adams said during a recent appearance on the Mo News podcast. “He said, ‘I don’t dislike Jewish people, I just dislike Israel.’ Duh, Jewish people live in Israel.”

As part of his own campaign strategy, Adams has taken multiple steps to reinforce his ties with the city’s Jewish community. These include launching a citywide antisemitism task force and signing an executive order adopting a widely supported definition of antisemitism.

The general election field is growing increasingly crowded. Alongside Adams and Mamdani, candidates include former Governor Andrew Cuomo running as an independent, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and another independent, Jim Walden. With moderates splitting the vote, Mamdani now appears to be the frontrunner in the heavily Democratic electorate.

{Matzav.com}

Two members of the British Army have been discharged after they shared disturbing videos showing acts of violence committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023. According to a court transcript from a July 4 hearing at the Bulford Military Court Martial, obtained by the Jerusalem Post, the soldiers were found guilty of violating section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

Signaller Zakariya Munir, 22, and Signaller Mohammed Salah, 34—both from the 10th Signal Regiment—were sentenced for distributing graphic and violent content. While mitigating factors were considered, the court ultimately concluded that their actions warranted dismissal.

The judge noted that the offenses occurred either on or in the weeks following October 8, 2023. While their online messages on October 7—the day of the Hamas assault—did not raise red flags, the nature of their interactions shifted dramatically the following day.

On October 8, Signaller Munir contacted Signaller Salah and said he had footage from the attack that “they won’t show in the news.”

He then sent a video recorded with a head-mounted camera, showing the faces and bodies of dead soldiers being searched for weapons and their corpses being kicked.

According to the court transcript, Salah forwarded that footage later in the month to others, including fellow military personnel, via WhatsApp.

That same night, Munir messaged Salah again, asking if he wanted to see another clip, which he described as “a bit graphic.” Salah responded, “Yes.”

The second video showed what appeared to be a large number of civilians or unarmed individuals, recently killed, lying in pools of blood.

Sometime later that month, Salah once again forwarded this content to others.

Then, on October 16, Munir sent Salah a third video. This one depicted a group of young men urinating on, stomping on, and kicking the bodies of what appeared to be elderly men whose heads were covered and hands bound. Salah proceeded to share this video as well.

Finally, on October 31, Munir sent Salah another video showing men kneeling in front of armed individuals, who then executed them by shooting them in the back of the head.

The judge described this particular clip as a “deeply shocking video.”

Unlike the previous cases, Salah chose not to circulate this last video. Instead, he reported it.

Reviewing the full sequence of events, the judge emphasized that the videos Munir sent were, in the court’s view, “grossly offensive.”

“They showed offences where people had been killed and their bodies were being violated. It is highly likely that those who were responsible for the killings had committed the offence of murder or related war crimes. The last video sent by Signaller Munir to Signaller Salah, but not forwarded, showed people being murdered and people committing the offence of murder.”

The judge reminded both soldiers that their military oath included a commitment to uphold “the set of values and standards which service personnel adhere to.”

“Although you were private soldiers, there was every opportunity for you to seek advice from your chain of command about what to do with this material once you had received it,” the judge said. “Yet you, Signaller Munir, chose to distribute it further to Signaller Salah, and he distributed it further within the British Army community and outside the Army.”

Drawing a parallel to similar cases of servicemen sharing child abuse content, the judge stated that offenses of this level of severity result in immediate dismissal.

While this particular incident was different, the judge added that it would be “inconceivable to conclude that the distribution of material in this case is not serious enough to warrant dismissal.”

Both soldiers pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The judge noted that had Munir admitted guilt, the outcome might have been different. “If you had pled guilty, Signaller Munir may ‘have a productive military career ahead of you, as suggested by your CO [commanding officer], we have to punish you for what you did.’”

As for Salah, the court acknowledged that the ruling would significantly impact his household. But ultimately, the judge concluded, “the mitigation which your personal circumstances provide, in the absence of any credit for a guilty plea, I am afraid, does not prevent us from dismissing you.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Trump’s recent public appearances have sparked renewed attention to his health, as observers noted both a bruised right hand—appearing to be concealed with makeup—and swollen ankles, adding to growing questions over his physical condition.

The bruise, most recently visible as the president departed the White House en route to an engagement, was captured clearly by photographers. It marks at least the third time in recent months that discoloration has been seen on Trump’s right hand. Close-up images show a thick layer of cosmetic makeup covering the area.

In response, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed concerns, stating: “It’s from shaking hands with thousands of people.” She emphasized that the president, known for high-energy personal interaction, engages in non-stop handshaking during rallies, meetings, and events. “From rallies to meetings to official events, the president greets countless individuals each day. It’s nothing more than the wear and tear of being a hands-on leader,” she said.

President Trump echoed the same explanation in an interview, saying simply, “It’s from shaking hands with thousands of people.”

However, public attention has now shifted to another detail. Photos taken during a recent appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey show Trump’s ankles appearing visibly swollen, with his shoelaces seemingly loosened to accommodate the puffiness. The images quickly circulated online, prompting widespread speculation.

Social media erupted with reactions, with one user posting, “Trump’s ankles are definitely the craziest thing I’ve seen today.” Another commenter wrote, “That can be a sign of cardiac or BP… sometimes chemo treatments, some medication too.”

Medical experts note that peripheral edema—swelling in the lower extremities—can be caused by numerous factors, especially in older people. These include vascular insufficiency, extended periods of standing, side effects from medications, or more serious conditions like congestive heart failure or kidney issues. The appearance of swelling in combination with the hand bruising has led some commentators to suggest there may be more to the story than the White House is sharing.

Unlike the hand bruise, which was addressed directly by the administration, no official comment has been issued regarding the president’s swollen ankles.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he’s not feeling pressured to initiate talks with Iran, even as the regime signals its interest in renewed discussions with Washington.

“They would like to talk. I’m in no rush to talk because we obliterated their site,” Trump said in Washington, referencing U.S. airstrikes that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities last month.

Trump’s remarks followed a statement from Iran’s foreign ministry the previous day, which clarified that no meeting with the U.S. has been scheduled concerning its nuclear program.

Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, stated that “no specific date, time, or location” had been arranged for a potential encounter between American and Iranian representatives.

Baqaei also accused Israel and the United States of collaborating in what he termed “military aggression against Iran.” He claimed that Iran has acted “serious in diplomacy and the negotiation process” and had “entered with good faith.”

The possibility of talks between the two countries had been facilitated through Oman, but those efforts stalled following Israel’s June 13 strike on Iranian nuclear sites, which caught Iran by surprise.

Just a week earlier, Trump had appeared alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House and suggested that diplomacy with Tehran might be on the horizon.

“We have scheduled Iran talks, and they want to talk,” Trump said. “They’ve requested a meeting and I’m going to go to a meeting, and if we can put something down on paper, that would be fine.”

Baqaei quickly disputed that account, firmly denying that Iran had reached out to request a sit-down with the American government.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, also played down any immediate prospects for diplomacy, suggesting that there were still significant concerns to be resolved before any meeting could take place.

“In order for us to decide to reengage, we will have to first ensure that America will not revert back to targeting us in a military attack during the negotiations. And I think with all these considerations, we still need more time,” Araghchi said. Still, he emphasized, “The doors of diplomacy will never slam shut.”

{Matzav.com}

Rabbi Elchanan Danino, father of hostage Ori Danino Hy”d—who was kidnapped and murdered while in Hamas captivity—has become the target of a storm of online abuse following public remarks he made criticizing the Israeli government’s handling of the hostage crisis.

In a series of harsh posts on social media, Danino was called a “leftist with a yarmulka,” accused of “drawing a salary from Kaplan,” and was even ridiculed as “a rude friend of that lapdog Guetta.” The comments erupted shortly after Rabbi Danino spoke out about his frustration with what he described as cold indifference from senior government figures.

In response, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a strong statement defending Rabbi Danino and condemning the attacks. “In recent hours, we have witnessed a disgraceful and revolting barrage of verbal abuse against Rabbi Elchanan Danino, the father of Ori Danino z”l, who was kidnapped on October 7 and murdered in captivity,” the statement read.

The forum continued: “The families of the hostages stand firmly with Rabbi Danino, who—despite his deep pain and loss—continues to exemplify mutual responsibility and the spirit of the Jewish people. He remains committed to the most just of causes: the return of every single hostage. We will not be deterred by orchestrated attempts to incite and spread toxicity. Am Yisrael stands with Rabbi Danino. Am Yisrael stands with the hostages.”

Rabbi Danino’s comments came during a recent interview in which he revealed a chilling exchange that took place in the Prime Minister’s Office, known informally as “the Aquarium.” According to Danino, a senior government official told him, “We can handle another 200 bereaved families.” Rabbi Danino called the comment “bone-chilling” and said that while security agency officials were doing everything they could to bring the hostages home, the attitude inside the cabinet was different: “Once the matter reaches the cabinet and then the Aquarium, it begins to fade.”

He also addressed the recent decision by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to indict advisers in the Prime Minister’s Office for allegedly leaking classified materials, which prosecutors claim was intended to manipulate public discourse following the announcement of his son’s murder along with five other hostages.

“That’s one of the most horrifying things I’ve ever heard,” Rabbi Danino said.

{Matzav.com Israel}

British budget airline EasyJet announced Tuesday that it will not be resuming flights to Israel before March 29, 2026, extending its service halt for what will be more than a year and a half.

According to a report in Globes, this represents the lengthiest suspension period by a foreign airline since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Iran.

easyJet had previously aimed to restart flights in June, but repeated flare-ups in the region forced the airline to delay its plans. The decision to stay grounded throughout the winter follows its earlier suspension in the wake of a Houthi missile attack on May 4. The situation further deteriorated with the start of Operation Rising Lion on June 13, a 12-day confrontation with Iran, ultimately eliminating any chance of a summer resumption.

As reported by JNS, customers impacted by the extended suspension are entitled to either a full refund or can rebook on an alternate flight at no additional charge. In the absence of easyJet’s services, Israeli carriers El Al, Arkia, and Israir have taken over popular routes previously served by the airline, including London Luton, Amsterdam, Berlin, Basel, Geneva, and Milan.

Unlike easyJet, several other European carriers have chosen to return to the Israeli market. Air Europa of Spain, Aegean Airlines from Greece, and Poland’s LOT resumed flights to Tel Aviv on Monday. They joined Air France, which had already restarted its route last week.

At the same time, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines opted to prolong its own suspension of service to Israel, citing what it described as the “ongoing security situation.” KLM had briefly resumed operations earlier this year before pausing again.

United Airlines, meanwhile, plans to resume flights from Newark to Tel Aviv next week, a move expected to bring down ticket prices on the popular route. Delta Air Lines is eyeing a September return, while American Airlines remains absent from the Israeli market, having not flown to Tel Aviv since October 2023.

Just last week, the European Aviation Agency officially removed all flight restrictions to Israel. And on Monday, nearly 60,000 travelers passed through Ben-Gurion Airport on 370 international flights—a passenger volume that matches levels seen before the war, according to the Israel Airports Authority.

{Matzav.com}

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Vice President JD Vance cast two decisive tie-breaking votes in the Senate on Tuesday to push forward a $9.4 billion rescissions package, which includes steep funding cuts to public broadcasters NPR and PBS.

The Senate split evenly, 50-50, on a pair of procedural votes that would open debate on the sweeping rollback of previously allocated federal funds. Vance’s intervention tipped the scales, advancing the measure — originally requested by the White House — for full consideration in the upper chamber.

Three Republican senators — Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine — crossed the aisle to vote with all Democrats in opposing the bill.

The package, which passed the House last month in a narrow 214-212 vote, proposes slashing around $8.3 billion from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and another $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the umbrella organization that partially funds NPR and PBS.

A proposed $400 million cut to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is likely to be removed from the bill through an amendment before it comes up for a final vote.

“There was a lot of interest from our members on doing something on PEPFAR,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), following a closed-door meeting with Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought. “That’s reflected in the substitute.”

Thune added, “We hope that if we can get this across the finish line in the Senate, that the House will accept that one small modification that ends up making the package about a $9 billion rescissions package.”

Senator Collins explained her opposition by criticizing the lack of transparency from OMB, saying lawmakers weren’t provided with the specifics of what programs would be affected by the sweeping clawbacks.

“The rescissions package has a big problem – nobody really knows what program reductions are in it,” Collins said in a statement. “That isn’t because we haven’t had time to review the bill. Instead, the problem is that OMB has never provided the details that would normally be part of this process.”

She pointed to $2.5 billion in proposed cuts from the “Development Assistance account,” which she said includes funding for essential services such as education, water and sanitation, and food security. “We don’t know how those programs will be affected,” she warned.

Collins also criticized the scale of cuts to public broadcasting, calling them “excessive” and warning they could jeopardize access to beloved programming.

“I share the frustration with the biased reporting by NPR, and I would support defunding it,” she acknowledged. “Nevertheless, local TV and radio stations continue to provide important coverage.”

She highlighted that CPB funding helps maintain Maine’s emergency alert system and enables the broadcast of local events like high school basketball games. “We should know exactly what programs are affected and the consequences of rescissions,” she emphasized.

With the procedural hurdle cleared, the Senate now has at least 10 hours of debate before any amendments can be voted on, leading up to a final decision. Once the Senate finalizes its version of the bill, the House will need to revisit it to approve any modifications.

{Matzav.com}

The annual hilulah marking the yahrtzeit of the tzaddik Rav Yitzchok Gavra zt”l, which was scheduled to take place this Thursday in Moshav Agur near Beit Shemesh, has been officially canceled by the Israel Police due to severe safety violations.

According to a statement released by police officials, the event cannot proceed as planned because the site lacks essential safety infrastructure required by law. Additionally, there has been local opposition within the moshav to the mass arrival of thousands of visitors.

“The Israel Police urges the public not to travel to the area and risk their lives,” the statement read. “The people of Israel vividly remember past safety failures that resulted in devastating tragedies. With G-d’s help, once all safety deficiencies are corrected and official permits secured, we can revisit the discussion about holding the event.”

A formal notice of assembly cancellation was also issued by police authorities.

In recent years, the kever of Rav Yitzchok Gavra, a Yemenite rov who immigrated to Eretz Yisroel and passed away over seventy years ago, has become a major destination for those seeking yeshuos. Countless stories of miracles attributed to tefillos at his kever have circulated widely, especially around his yahrtzeit on the 21st of Tammuz.

Last year, the hilulah fell on Shabbos, prompting thousands to arrive at the site from Erev Shabbos and remain until Sunday. Many volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure the visitors’ needs were met.

This year, an attempt was made by two dedicated individuals, Rabbi Moshe Fishman and Rabbi Shmaryahu Greineman, to organize the hilulah in a proper and structured manner. However, they shared that their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

As of now, with no official body or organization willing to assume responsibility for the event, and in light of the police’s firm opposition, the gathering will not take place unless and until all necessary security arrangements are properly addressed.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A troubling report from Kremlin insiders suggests that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unfazed by President Trump’s recent threats, including the possibility of sharply increasing tariffs on Russian goods and supplying Ukraine with long-range missile systems. The report, shared with Reuters, portrays a Kremlin leadership that is prepared for an extended war and willing to expand its military operations if pressed by the West.

According to three sources close to the Kremlin, Putin remains committed to continuing the war in Ukraine until the West, particularly the United States, agrees to negotiate peace on Russia’s terms. This includes the possibility of further territorial expansion, which Putin would demand to be recognized in any future agreement.

The sources downplayed Trump’s shift in posture since July 4, when he asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky whether he could strike Moscow with long-range missiles. Even Trump’s threats to impose 100% tariffs on Russian imports if no agreement is reached within fifty days have reportedly done little to change Putin’s calculus.

“Putin believes that his army and economy are resilient enough to withstand additional Western pressure,” one insider explained, noting that Russia has already endured the harshest sanctions ever imposed on the country.

As previously reported by Matzav.com, Trump has recently expressed frustration over Putin’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire and announced a new weapons package for Ukraine, including advanced Patriot missile systems and offensive weaponry. “We have the best weapons in the world, and the Europeans know it,” Trump declared.

Despite multiple conversations between Trump and Putin, and visits to Moscow by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Kremlin officials insist there has been no serious diplomatic dialogue regarding the terms of a peace deal. One official noted that while Putin values his relationship with Trump and the talks with Witkoff, Russian national interests remain paramount. The White House declined to comment on the report.

Putin’s demands include a formal guarantee that NATO will not expand eastward, Ukrainian neutrality, limitations on Ukraine’s military, protection for Russian speakers, and international recognition of Russia’s current territorial holdings. He is also reportedly open to a plan in which global powers offer security guarantees to Ukraine, though how that might work in practice remains unclear.

On the other side, Ukrainian President Zelensky has stated that Ukraine will never recognize Russian sovereignty over the territories it has captured and maintains Kyiv’s right to join NATO.

Another Kremlin insider stated that Putin is prepared to suffer further economic setbacks so long as he continues to advance his strategic goals. Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on countries like China and India for purchasing Russian oil, the source said, has not alarmed the Kremlin. In fact, two sources claimed that Russia currently has the upper hand militarily and that its wartime economy is producing munitions, including artillery shells, at a pace exceeding that of NATO countries.

Russia now controls roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, having gained over 1,400 square kilometers in the last three months alone, according to data from the open-source intelligence site DeepStateMap. “Appetite comes with eating,” one official remarked, hinting that Putin may expand operations even further. Two additional sources confirmed this assessment.

To date, Russia has taken full control of Crimea (since 2014), all of Luhansk, most of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, and parts of Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Putin’s official position is that these five eastern regions, along with Crimea, are now part of Russia. Any future agreement, he insists, must begin with Ukraine’s withdrawal from those territories.

According to the Kremlin, Putin may push forward until Ukrainian defenses collapse, potentially adding the entire Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions to his objectives. However, if Russian forces encounter heavy resistance, he may halt operations at the current front lines. “Russia will act based on Ukraine’s weakness,” one source said. “If Ukraine falls, the occupation will expand.”

President Zelensky has pushed back against these predictions, saying the summer offensive has not gone as Putin had hoped. Ukrainian commanders admit Russia has a numerical advantage but say their forces are holding the line and exacting a steep price from Moscow for every advance.

U.S. intelligence estimates around 1.2 million people have been killed or wounded in the conflict, making it the deadliest war in Europe since World War II. Russia rejects these figures as Western propaganda, and neither side has released full casualty statistics.

Trump’s proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, which Ukraine quickly accepted, has yet to be acknowledged by Putin. Meanwhile, Russia continues to launch waves of drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Still, in an interview published Tuesday, Trump said he has not given up on reaching an agreement with the Russian leader.

One Kremlin official rejected Trump’s claim that Putin was “throwing nonsense in the air,” saying the real issue has been the inability to move past initial positive conversations with Witkoff toward a substantive peace framework.

Despite sanctions and mounting war costs, Russia’s $2 trillion economy is performing better than expected. The Russian Ministry of Economy projects 2.5% growth in 2025, following 4.3% growth this past year.

According to one of the sources, Trump has limited leverage over Putin. Even if the U.S. were to sanction buyers of Russian oil, the Kremlin is confident it could bypass restrictions and continue accessing global markets. “Putin understands that Trump is unpredictable and may act in unpleasant ways, but he’s trying to maneuver carefully not to provoke him further,” the source said.

Kremlin officials anticipate the crisis could escalate further in the coming months, heightening the risk of a direct confrontation between the world’s two largest nuclear powers. As one insider concluded: “The war is not ending anytime soon.”

{Matzav.com}

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How can one choose his shirt from a pile of different types of clothing and not transgress borer on Shabbos?

What does one do if there is a power outage on Shabbos?

Can someone put food in the oven on Shabbos?

These and numerous other questions are impossible to answer unless one has a thorough knowledge of the laws of Shabbos.  Shabbos comes about once a week, so if a person is not well-versed in its intricacies, then it is inevitable that transgressions will take place.  It is wonderful to read one of the many books that give basic laws, but to really understand the halachos and know how to apply them, it is essential to learn Hilchos Shabbos with the background discussion of the Gemara and commentators.  

What is the challenge we face? It takes several years for a full-time advanced Torah learner to cover the laws of Shabbos in depth, so how can a working man, or one with less advanced skills, begin this seemingly daunting task?

Now there is a solution.  World famous Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav HaGaon Yitzchak Berkovits shlit’a used his vast knowledge to arrange all the Gemaras with the commentators on each area of Hilchos Shabbos and presented it in the form of source sheets that cover material from the Gemara until practical halacha.  This enables one to cover main opinions in each topic and gain a deep understanding of the halacha.  

According to Rabbi Berkovits: “Learning Hilchos Shabbos from the traditional sources could be quite confusing or complicated. Studying them in a very organized way gives you the clarity, the clarity to understand them in the first place and the clarity to retain the information.”

This was done for full-time Torah learners who have advanced Hebrew skills and can devote many hours each day to learn.  What about busy working Bnei Torah who have limited time to learn but want to properly master Hilchos Shabbos? Or people who are still building up their Gemara skills but want to learn the Gemara sugyas and Halacha?  

Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen, a close talmid of Rav Berkovits who spent eight years as a Rosh Chaburah in Rav Berkovits’s famous Jerusalem Kollel, with the Rav’s haskama, took on the monumental task of adapting the Hebrew sheets into English. The material is written with care and with great clarity, as well as including the various opinions in the contemporary practical halacha.

For the past several years, Rabbi Gefen has been teaching this material to Torah learners throughout the world, on all levels of learning, and of all ages now as the founder of KinyanHilchosShabbos.com. Participants in each online chabura receive source sheets with explanations both in Hebrew and English, participate in a weekly Zoom shiur and ask questions by phone and email. Many have also successfully gained Smicha through thoroughly learning the material.

“I would love to sit in Yeshiva half a day, but I have different hours.” Says Dr. Eric Leibowitz who is a dentist in Brooklyn. “Learning Hilchos Shabbos in Rabbi Gefen’s online chabura allowed for the flexibility I needed. I was looking for something with some structure and with an end goal. This program enabled me to not only learn, but to retain what I learned in a structured way and the tests were very helpful. I felt like I accomplished something, I made a kinyan on something.”

“Over one thousand past and present participants in our online programs come from five continents and range from working Bnei Torah to full-time Kollel avreichim from Yerushalayim and Lakewood, as well as people who are still developing their Gemara skills,” says Rabbi Dr. Yakov Pesah, director of the program and also a musmach of Rabbi Berkovits. “Our vision is to enable Bnei Torah to learn halacha in a structured way and make it doable for any motivated person.”

The program includes a weekly Zoom shiur which is recorded and can be reviewed later, tests on the material covered to enable the individual to evaluate their understanding of the material, and availability by email or phone for questions, clarifications, or further discussions.

“Rabbi Gefen ran the Hilchos Shabbos program for our Kollel in Johannesburg. We achieved tremendous clarity on Hilchos Shabbos both in sugyas and in psak which is what you want when you learn Halacha.” Says Rabbi Micha Kaplan who is an avrech in the Maharsha Community Kollel in Johannesburg and the Menahel of the Maharsha Boys High School.

The program includes the option of Smicha which is a wonderful source of pride for the individual’s family.  But its greatest benefit is that it will ensure that a person can lead his family to observing the laws of Shabbos with all their details. 

Shlomo Gross who is originally from London and is a lawyer in Yerushalayim shares his experience: “For people like me who are working full-time, this program was ideal. I benchmarked the Hilchos Shabbat coourse against the syllabus required for the Smicha exams of the Rabbanut and found that it was at least as comprehensive… The Hilchos Shabbat Smicha course transported my learning to a completely different level.”

Rabbi Berkovits adds: “There’s a mitzva of ‘Zachor es yom HaShabbos l’kadsho’ – that mitzva is to remember Shabbos all the time. There is nothing like being involved in Hilchos Shabbos the whole week – your whole week is different and your Shabbos is different.”

The program begins on July 20th. For more information, tuition, and to receive an application visit KinyanHilchosShabbos.com.

President Trump on Tuesday expressed confusion over the persistent interest many of his supporters have shown in the Jeffrey Epstein case, saying he didn’t understand the continued fascination surrounding the late financier. His remarks come amid renewed outrage within the MAGA movement over documents connected to Epstein.

“I don’t understand it, why they would be so interested. He’s been dead for a long time. He was never a big factor in terms of life. I don’t understand what the interest and what the fascination is. I really don’t. And the credible information has been given,” Trump told reporters while departing a Pennsylvania event.

“I don’t understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It’s pretty boring stuff. It’s sordid, but it’s boring,” he continued. “And I don’t understand why it keeps going. I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.”

The comments came just days after the Justice Department and FBI released a joint statement confirming that Epstein died by suicide in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 and asserting that no “client list” had ever existed. The announcement further angered Trump loyalists, many of whom have for years circulated theories suggesting Epstein’s death was suspicious and that influential Democrats would be exposed through a hidden list of names.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, a key member of Trump’s team, has come under fire from some of the president’s supporters for what they see as inadequate transparency in releasing Epstein-related records. The pressure has intensified in recent weeks, with some even calling for her removal.

Critics have pointed to Bondi’s earlier statements pledging openness, including a February interview in which she said an Epstein client list was “sitting on” her “desk” awaiting review. She has since clarified that she was referring more broadly to documents connected to the Epstein case.

Trump on Tuesday defended Bondi and supported her discretion in releasing material, saying she should make public anything she believes meets the standard for release. “But she’s handled it very well, and it’s going to be up to her whatever she thinks is credible, she should release,” he said.

He also took aim at former political adversaries and current government leaders, accusing them of manufacturing aspects of the Epstein case for political purposes. Trump alleged that documents tied to Epstein had been “made up” by former President Barack Obama, ex-FBI Director James Comey, and the Biden administration.

WATCH:

The White House has launched a detailed interactive tool showcasing how Americans in each state stand to benefit financially from President Donald Trump’s recently enacted One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, Fox News Digital reported on Tuesday.

President Trump signed the sweeping legislation into law on Independence Day, celebrating it as a transformative tax overhaul that will supercharge the American economy. He predicted the changes would send the nation’s economic momentum soaring.

Now, Americans can see for themselves the estimated savings through a newly released state-by-state digital map. The interactive platform outlines how residents across all 50 states will gain under the law compared to if it had never passed.

The map provides a wide range of financial metrics, including inflation-adjusted wage gains, projected increases in family take-home pay, the number of senior citizens benefiting from the elimination of taxes on Social Security, the percentage of the workforce expected to benefit from the new no-tax-on-tips provision, and job protection figures by state.

For example, Californians—residing in the most populous state in the country—can expect significant benefits. The map estimates that workers will see inflation-adjusted wage gains between $4,900 and $8,800, and that families with two children could experience a rise in real take-home income ranging from $8,500 to $12,500.

“A typical family with two children in California can expect to see higher take-home pay of about $8500 to $12500 with OBBB compared to if it was not passed,” reads the map. “Around 4% of the labor force is employed in occupations that would likely benefit from the no taxes on tips provision of the OBBB. Around 6.0 million seniors in California could benefit from the no taxes on Social Security provision of the OBBB.”

In Nebraska, the projections are similarly optimistic, with real wage increases between $3,700 and $6,600 and family take-home pay boosts of $7,300 to $10,300. The state is also expected to see 300,000 seniors gaining from the Social Security tax repeal and nearly a third of the workforce benefiting from the elimination of taxes on overtime.

On the East Coast, New Jersey residents are projected to receive wage increases of $5,000 to $9,000, while families with children may see take-home gains between $8,600 and $12,700. Meanwhile, in New York, workers could see their real wages rise by $4,400 to $8,000, with household take-home pay rising between $8,000 and $11,700.

Trump had been advocating for the bill since the start of his administration, framing it as central to his broader agenda on economic reform, immigration, energy independence, national security, and fiscal policy.

After months of heated debate, the legislation made it through both chambers of Congress and landed on Trump’s desk in July. The path to passage was not without resistance—even from within the GOP—due to concerns about the bill’s impact on the national debt ceiling.

Notably, Representative Thomas Massie and Senator Rand Paul, both from Kentucky, opposed the legislation due to its $5 trillion increase in borrowing authority. Entrepreneur Elon Musk, once a close Trump ally, also publicly criticized the bill, urging lawmakers to “kill the bill” because of its debt implications.

Despite the controversy, the bill passed and enacts significant changes, including making permanent the individual and corporate tax reductions from Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It also introduces fresh deductions that eliminate taxes on tips and overtime pay, rolls back certain environmental tax credits implemented during the Biden administration, allocates $350 billion toward military and deportation efforts, and reforms Medicaid programs.

“We have officially made the Trump tax cuts permanent,” Trump declared during the signing ceremony. “That’s the largest tax cut in the history of our country.… After this kicks in, our country is going to be a rocket ship economically. We’ve delivered no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security for our great seniors.… It makes the child tax credit permanent for 40 million American families.… The Golden Age of America is upon us.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent penned a favorable op-ed in Fox News Digital praising the legislation, noting that American workers will now retain thousands more in annual wages.

“The bill prevents a $4.5 trillion tax hike on the American people,” Bessent wrote. “This will allow the average worker to keep an additional $4,000 to $7,200 in annual real wages and allow the average family of four to keep an additional $7,600 to $10,900 in take-home pay. Add to this the president’s ambitious deregulation agenda, which could save the average family of four an additional $10,000. For millions of Americans, these savings are the difference between being able to make a mortgage payment, buy a car, or send a child to college.”

Bessent also emphasized the bill’s focus on working-class Americans: “The One Big Beautiful Bill also codifies no tax on tips and no tax on overtime pay — both policies designed to provide financial relief to America’s working class,” he wrote. “These tax breaks will ensure Main Street workers keep more of their hard-earned income. And they will bolster productivity by rewarding Americans who work extra hours. All Americans can learn how President Trump’s tax cuts will impact their lives for the better with a new White House calculator.”

{Matzav.com}

All are asked to daven for the refuah of the mekubal and rosh yeshiva, Rav Yaakov Hillel, who has been admitted to the intensive care unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Yerushalayim.

Rav Hillel, who serves as rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ahavas Shalom in Yerushalayim and is widely regarded as a leading figure in the world of Kabbalah and mussar, has been battling a serious illness in recent years. Due to a recent deterioration in his condition, doctors were forced to hospitalize him in the ICU.

His talmidim are calling on the public to storm the heavens with tefillos on his behalf. His name is Rav Yaakov Moshe ben Gladiyos Kiton.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A special memorial event was held in the Knesset last night marking 31 years since the deadly terrorist attack at the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which claimed the lives of 85 people. The ceremony featured a keynote address by Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Kalman Ber.

In his remarks, Rav Ber addressed the enduring scourge of antisemitism and how it continues to take on new forms, even as the Jewish people experience miraculous survival and flourishing in Eretz Yisroel. “People around the world find many strange and varied reasons to justify their hatred of Israel—only because they are afraid of facing the simple truth,” he said.

Rav Ber referenced a recent op-ed in the Daily Telegraph by British columnist Allister Heath, who sharply criticized the antisemitic discourse prevailing in global society.

“If you scratch beneath the fury,” wrote Heath, “you’ll find something deeper. Discomfort not with what Israel does, but with what Israel is. A nation so small shouldn’t be so strong. Period. Israel has no oil. No major natural resources. A population barely the size of a mid-sized American city. Surrounded by enemies. Hated at the UN. Targets of terror. Condemned by celebrities. Boycotted, slandered, and attacked. And still, they thrive like there’s no tomorrow—in the military, medicine, security, technology, agriculture, intelligence, ethics, and sheer, unbreakable will. They turn deserts into farmland. They make water from air. They intercept rockets in the sky.”

Heath went on to list more of Israel’s extraordinary accomplishments and mocked those who try to explain them away with cynical theories. “The world watches this and can’t comprehend it. So they do what people always do when faced with a power they can’t understand: they assume it must be cheating. It must be American aid. It must be foreign lobbying. It must be oppression. It must be theft. It must be some dark trick that gave Jews this kind of power. It must be extortion. Because Heaven forbid it’s something else. Heaven forbid it’s real.”

Heath argued that the true root of the issue is spiritual, not political. “It’s not political. It’s biblical. There’s no cheat code that explains how a people returns to its homeland after 2,000 years. There’s no rational path from gas chambers to global influence.

“Because the moment you admit that Israel’s survival is not just impressive, but divine, everything changes. Your moral compass has to reset. Your assumptions about history, power, and justice collapse. You realize you’re not witnessing the end of an empire—but the beginning of something eternal. So they deny it. They slander it. And they rage against it. Because it’s easier to call a miracle a ‘scam’ than to confront the possibility that G-d keeps His promises. One by one.”

Concluding his speech, Rav Ber emphasized the need to remain true to our values and mission at all times. “In every moment and at every event—even in difficult times and in the face of painful realities—we must continue to remember who we are. To cling to our mission and to our morality.”

“We are in the Three Weeks, and the area we must most strengthen now is bein adam l’chaveiro, especially at this moment when dozens of our brothers are in distress and captivity. We say in our prayers, ‘Acheinu kol beis Yisroel hanesunim b’tzarah u’vashivyah.’ At first glance, this wording seems exaggerated. Was the entire House of Israel ever in trouble and captivity at once? The answer is: yes. Because if even one Jew is in captivity, we must all feel as if we are as well. That is the meaning of that phrase.”

“May Hakadosh Baruch Hu help us merit the return of all captives to their homes safe and sound, and may we soon witness the geulah shleimah in our days.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has reportedly offered to remove Yuli Edelstein from his post as head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in a bid to placate the leaders of the chareidi factions, Shas and United Torah Judaism, and preserve the fragile coalition government. A source confirmed this development to The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday.

The move follows Edelstein’s public criticism of the chareidi lawmakers, whom he urged to demonstrate “national responsibility” by not dismantling the government over their demand that at least 50 percent of eligible chareidi men be excluded from military service. “This is not the time to dismantle the right-wing government. The future of the state is not a political game, especially when the security challenges we face are more serious and existential than ever,” Edelstein said.

His comments came during a press conference, which took place shortly after the chareidi representatives rejected a new enlistment bill he had proposed. They contended that the draft legislation violated the terms of a previous understanding that had been reached on June 12, the day before Israel launched a major strike on Iran.

Leaders of the chareidi parties have expressed growing concern about what they view as a renewed effort to advance a military draft law targeting their communities through the legislative process.