Matzav

The Gerrer Rebbe, who suffered a fall several weeks ago and subsequently weakened, showed signs of improvement over Shabbos.

On Friday night, his grandchildren were able to pass before him for brachos. Throughout the Shabbos, special Mi Shebeirachs for the Rebbe’s recovery were recited in Gerrer shtieblach and batei medrash across Eretz Yisroel.

The Rebbe had been resting in the moshav of Ora, near Yerushalayim, since he fell on Shabbos Parshas Va’eschanan, sustaining a fracture. Since then, he has not appeared in public, apart from receiving chassidim for two days of kabbalas kahal a week and a half ago.

Toward the end of last week, the Rebbe felt unwell, prompting heightened tefillos among Gerrer chassidim on his behalf.

Sources tell Matzav.com that the Rebbe’s condition showed improvement over Shabbos.

Chassidim are hopeful that later this week, the Rebbe will once again hold kabbalas kahal, and that by the first night of Selichos he will be able to appear publicly.

All are asked to continue davening for a refuah sheleimah for Rav Yaakov Aryeh ben Yuta Hena.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a dramatic move expected to affect tens of thousands, senior Ukrainian officials announced that this year, pilgrims will not be permitted to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. The decision, they said, stems from security concerns tied to the ongoing war with Russia.

Journalist Barak Ravid reported on Channel 12 that a senior Ukrainian source stated: “At this stage, because of security considerations, pilgrims will not be able to travel to Uman this year.” Similarly, i24 reported that officials in Kyiv are furious with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and are threatening to bar Israelis from entering Uman during the Tishrei Yomim Tovim.

According to the reports, the ruling is also linked to tensions between Ukraine and Israel. Kyiv expressed anger over Netanyahu’s failure to call and congratulate Ukraine on its Independence Day last week. Ukrainian officials have also demanded economic assistance from Israel, along with the deployment of Israeli police forces to help manage the influx of pilgrims.

For many in Israel, especially among the tens of thousands of Breslover chassidim, the decision represents a crushing blow. The annual pilgrimage to Uman on Rosh Hashanah, to daven at the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov, is a highlight of the year for them.

In response, Rabbi Natan Ben Nun, head of the Breslover Union in Uman, rejected the reports: “We sat this week with all the relevant government authorities in Kyiv, finalized every security arrangement with the emergency services, and received all the necessary approvals for the gathering. We are continuing to prepare as usual for the arrival of the multitudes on Rosh Hashanah.”

Rabbi Ben Nun added: “We call on the public not to panic and to continue making preparations for traveling to Uman without any changes.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Border crossings at the US-Mexico border rose sharply in August, driven largely by migrants who had been deported under President Trump’s immigration enforcement and are now attempting to reenter, sources told The NY Post.

According to preliminary figures obtained by The Post, Border Patrol recorded more than 7,200 illegal entries this month. That represents a 57% jump from July, when just 4,600 migrants were caught — the lowest figure ever documented.

Even with this increase, the numbers remain far below the massive surges that occurred under the Biden administration.

Government statistics show that in August 2024, federal authorities detained about 58,000 illegal migrants, while in August 2023 the figure was more than 132,000, Customs and Border Protection reported.

A source within the Department of Homeland Security said the recent rise stems from individuals who had been expelled in Trump’s sweeping deportation campaign and are now trying again.

“They are trying to come back,” the source explained.

A Border Patrol officer added that agents are confronting a growing number of dangerous migrants.

“What we are seeing right now is a lot of criminals and we are having a lot of people trying to assault us,” the officer said.

“It used to be maybe one out of every thousand would do something like that, now it’s probably every day.”

In the San Diego sector, officials apprehended “numerous people” who had recently been deported after being discovered working at an illegal marijuana farm in southern California in July, sources confirmed.

That enforcement action resulted in 361 arrests of undocumented workers, and DHS reported that 14 children exploited at the site were also rescued.

Unlike during Joe Biden’s presidency, the Trump administration has eliminated catch and release, ensuring that there are real consequences for those who cross illegally.

Now, when migrants are apprehended at the border, agents process them and then either return them to Mexico or transfer them to ICE for deportation.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that between May and July, not a single illegal border crosser was released into the United States.

“More than 200 days into this job, we have achieved operational security at the border,” she declared.

In addition, the Trump administration has stepped up prosecutions of offenders, pursuing federal charges for crimes such as unlawful entry, reentry after deportation, and human smuggling, sources said.

{Matzav.com}

The Belzer Rebbe remains hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Yerushalayim as he awaits surgery on his leg.

According to information obtained by Matzav.com, the surgery is expected to take place as early as tomorrow, led by senior physicians Dr. Ram Mosheov, head of the Orthopedic Department at Hadassah, together with Dr. Meir Eri Liebergall.

Over Shabbos, the Rebbe was accompanied by his son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, along with his close attendants.

Before the onset of Shabbos, the gabbai, Rav Michoel Firer, relayed to the Rebbe that chassidim would be gathering in all batei medrash and shtieblach to recite Shir Hashirim. Women were also asked to say chapters of Tehillim beginning with Shir Hamaalos, following the instructions of the Belzer Badatz. The Rebbe expressed great satisfaction and gave his heartfelt bracha that the tefillos should be accepted with mercy and favor.

Tefillos and Shabbos meals took place outside the Rebbe’s hospital room. On Friday night, zemiros were sung before Kiddush, and during the seudah the participants sang the traditional Belzer melodies.

On Shabbos morning, Kiddush was recited by the Rebbe’s grandson, Rav Chaim Meir Rokeach.

During seudah shlishis, the gathered chassidim continued with traditional zemiros. Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach then led Maariv at the Rebbe’s instruction, since this Shabbos marked the yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin Malka a”h, wife of the Belzer Rebbe Rav Shalom Rokeach zt”l.

After Havdalah, the assembled sang Hamavdil.

All are asked to continue davening for a refuah sheleimah for the Rebbe, Rav Yissachar Dov ben Miriam.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump said in an interview with the Daily Caller that he does not expect Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet in the near future, suggesting the war may “have to fight a little longer.”

“A trilateral meeting would happen. A bilateral, I don’t know about, but a tri will happen. But, you know, sometimes people aren’t ready for it,” Trump told White House correspondent Reagan Reese in the interview, which was published on Saturday.

“I say, I use the analogy. I’ve used it a couple of times. You have a child, and there’s another child in the lot, in the playground, and they hate each other, and they start swinging, swinging, and swinging, and you want them to stop, and they keep going.

“After a little while, they’re very happy to stop. Do you understand that? It’s almost that way. Sometimes they have to fight for a little bit before you can get them to stop,” he explained.

“But this has been going on for a long time. A lot of people are dead.”

Earlier this month, Trump and Putin held a summit in Alaska, but the meeting concluded without any clear steps toward peace. Trump has since expressed frustration that Putin is unwilling to hold direct talks that would involve conceding territory captured by Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the chances of a broader peace conference happening in the future, saying Putin’s agreement to participate was only to “raise the level of its representation at talks with Ukraine.”

Trump has said he would be prepared to use American airpower in support of European forces in Ukraine, but he has also pledged not to send U.S. ground troops.

“Maybe we’ll do something. Look, I’d like to see something get solved. They’re not our soldiers, but there are, 5 to 7,000, mostly young people being killed every single week,” Trump told Reese.

“If I could stop that and have a plane flying around the air every once in a while, it’s going to be mostly the Europeans, but we, we’d help them.

“They, you know, they sort of need it, and we’d help them if we could get something done,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Department of Justice has moved to secure an immediate ruling from a federal court in New York that would block the state from enforcing billions of dollars in liability claims against energy companies under its newly enacted “Climate Change Superfund Act.”

The DOJ first challenged New York in May as part of a larger effort opposing similar climate-related liability actions being pursued by Vermont, Hawaii, and Michigan.

Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, signed the legislation in December 2024, calling it a “landmark” measure. The law holds energy producers financially responsible for billions in damages that state legislators argue are the result of their industry practices.

State Senator Liz Krueger celebrated the move, declaring that New York “has fired a shot that will be heard round the world: the companies most responsible for the climate crisis will be held accountable.”

In its filing, the DOJ cited an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that specifically pushed back against such state-level initiatives. It referred to New York’s statute as “a climate change extortion law that seeks to retroactively impose billions in fines (erroneously labelled ‘compensatory payments’) on traditional energy producers for their purported past contributions to greenhouse gas emissions.”

Trump’s directive stated that such policies “weaken our national security and devastate Americans by driving up energy costs for families coast-to-coast.”

The Justice Department is now asking the federal court in New York to immediately halt all attempts by the state to enforce the superfund law.

Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson argued in a statement that the judiciary “must put a stop to New York’s brazen disregard of federal law, the Constitution, and binding precedent, not to mention our Nation’s energy needs.”

{Matzav.com}

Senator Bernie Sanders has called on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down, accusing him of spreading conspiracy theories, promoting vaccine skepticism, and pursuing health policies that Sanders says put millions of Americans at risk.

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health and human services, is endangering the health of the American people now and into the future. He must resign,” Sanders, the Vermont independent who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, wrote in a New York Times opinion piece published Saturday.

Sanders highlighted a recent leadership shake-up at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as proof, in his view, of Kennedy’s disregard for science.

According to Sanders, Kennedy forced CDC Director Susan Monarez to step down less than a month into her role after she resisted his directives, leading to the resignations of four senior officials. One of them said Kennedy’s staff tried to pressure him to “change studies that have been settled in the past” to reflect Kennedy’s anti-vaccine agenda, Sanders added.

“This is not Making America Healthy Again,” Sanders said, directly referencing the Trump administration’s slogan.

Sanders contrasted Kennedy’s claims with the position of mainstream medicine.

“It is absurd to have to say this in 2025, but vaccines are safe and effective,” he wrote, pointing to the support of leading professional organizations.

He noted that the American Academy of Pediatrics has described immunizations as “one of the greatest public health achievements,” while the American Medical Association stated that vaccines for flu, RSV, and COVID-19 are “the best tools to protect the public against these illnesses.”

Sanders further cited the World Health Organization, which recently estimated that vaccines have prevented 154 million deaths over the past half-century and reduced infant mortality worldwide by 40 percent.

He sharply criticized Kennedy’s repeated claims that vaccines are dangerous, pointing to Kennedy’s suggestion that COVID-19 vaccines were the “deadliest ever made” and his claim that the polio vaccine killed more people than the illness itself. Sanders rejected these statements as “absurd.”

“Who supports Secretary Kennedy’s views? Not credible scientists and doctors,” Sanders said. Instead, he argued, Kennedy is backed mainly by activists from Children’s Health Defense — the anti-vaccine organization Kennedy created — along with a small group of close allies who have consistently spread misinformation.

Sanders warned that Kennedy’s influence is already making vaccines harder to access. He said the administration has pulled back COVID-19 vaccine availability, particularly for young and healthy people, creating higher costs and new barriers for families.

“This means more doctors’ visits, more bureaucracy, and more people paying higher out-of-pocket costs — if they can manage to get a vaccine at all,” Sanders wrote.

The senator also expressed fears that Kennedy could move to change the childhood vaccine schedule, which could reintroduce once-eradicated illnesses such as polio and measles. Sanders noted Kennedy’s decision to cancel nearly $500 million in vaccine research projects and reduce state-level funding for pandemic readiness as further alarming moves.

“Unfortunately, Secretary Kennedy’s actions are making a worrisome situation even worse,” Sanders said.

Sanders linked Kennedy’s policies to the broader health agenda of the Trump administration, which has proposed more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

He cautioned that such cuts would leave an estimated 15 million Americans uninsured, raise premiums for millions of others, and force nursing homes, hospitals, and community health centers to close or reduce services.

“Secretary Kennedy is putting Americans’ lives in danger, and he must resign,” Sanders concluded, calling on President Donald Trump to replace him with leaders who follow scientific expertise rather than advance conspiracy theories.

{Matzav.com}

Over the past day, social media has been flooded with posts carrying the hashtag “Trump Is Dead,” even though the claim has no basis in fact. White House representatives confirmed that President Donald Trump is alive, well, and continuing with his usual schedule.

A senior American official told Channel 12 that Trump was in good health and preparing for a round of golf. Reporters stationed at the White House noted that he was spotted entering his motorcade on the way to a golf course.

The wave of speculation seems to have been triggered by Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent conversation with USA Today. In that interview, he was asked whether he was ready to step into the presidency should Trump pass away unexpectedly. Although Vance stressed that the 79-year-old president is vigorous and constantly active, his comment that “terrible tragedies happen” was enough to set off rumors online.

Adding to the chatter are past revelations about Trump’s health and his security risks. In July, the White House disclosed that he suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, which leads to swelling in the legs. He has also survived two assassination attempts during his most recent campaign, incidents that have heightened public concern.

This is not the first instance of such false reports spreading. Back in September 2023, Donald Trump Jr.’s X account was hacked, and the hacker falsely declared Trump had died. Trump quickly posted on Truth Social to reassure the public that he was alive and in good health.

{Matzav.com}

Yerushalayim’s light rail will return to full service on Sunday, once again operating between Neve Yaakov in the north of the city and Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in the south.

Since May, service had been interrupted due to extensive construction designed to link the upcoming “Green Line” with the current “Red Line.” Officials have described the project as one of the most technically challenging engineering undertakings ever attempted in Israel.

Work took place at six central sites throughout Yerushalayim, involving infrastructure integration, laying of new tracks, installation of power and control systems, and the building of an additional “island” station. Despite the difficulties, including the period of Operation Rising Lion, the project was finished on schedule and secured the required safety approvals from the Transportation Ministry for passenger service to resume.

In the coming days, the Neve Yaakov depot is also slated to begin operations, providing greater flexibility for scheduling and improving the reliability of the system for daily riders. As part of the changes, shuttle bus lines 500 through 503 will cease running beginning Tuesday, September 2, 2025, while southwestern bus routes will revert to their original paths. Line 27 will remain an exception, continuing to serve the Central Station.

Haturim Station will remain closed for now, as additional infrastructure and safety upgrades are still in progress. The city has said a reopening date will be shared once the work is complete. Development projects along the Red Line will continue during nighttime hours only, allowing trains to run normally during the day.

Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion commented, “The return of the Red Line to full operation is significant news for the residents of Yerushalayim. We successfully completed a complex task while remaining on schedule, restoring essential light rail service to tens of thousands of passengers. This is a significant step on the path towards an outstanding transportation revolution, at the end of which Jerusalem will become the first city in Israel with a modern, comfortable, light rail network connecting all parts of the city.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Fresh reports from Yemen reveal that following an Israeli airstrike in Sana’a earlier this week, only four ministers from the Houthi government remain alive.

Those killed in the Thursday strike reportedly included Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, the Ministers of Economy, Industry and Investment, the Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security, the Deputy Prime Minister who also served as Minister of Local Administration, and the Deputy Interior Minister.

The attack also claimed the lives of the Prime Minister’s office director, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Justice Minister Majahad, and the Minister of Youth and Sports.

Additional accounts indicate that the Transportation Minister was among the casualties as well.

Reports further state that Houthi Defense Minister Mohammad Nasser Al-Aatfi sustained serious injuries, while the group’s Chief of Staff, Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari, was also hurt in separate strikes near Sana’a.

An IDF spokesperson explained that the target was “a facility that hosted dozens of senior officials of the Houthi terrorist regime.” The airstrike was carried out by Israeli Air Force planes, acting on intelligence provided by the military’s Intelligence Directorate.

“At the facility were senior officials responsible for the use of force, the military buildup of the Houthi terror regime, and the advancement of terror actions against Israel, along with other key Senior Houthi officials,” the spokesperson said.

“The strike was made possible by seizing an intelligence opportunity and completing a rapid operational cycle, which took place within a few hours.”

The IDF added that assessments are still underway to determine the full extent of the strike, including whether more high-ranking Houthi commanders were eliminated.

{Matzav.com}

More than three months after an Israeli strike, Hamas officially acknowledged this morning that Mohammed Sinwar, a senior operative in the group and the brother of Hamas Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, was killed.

The confirmation was issued through a statement that included an image of Mohammed Sinwar together with other top Hamas figures who had been killed during the war, labeled with the word “shaheeds.”

Sinwar was killed in mid-May in a combined operation carried out by the IDF and the Shin Bet that struck a subterranean Hamas command and control hub located beneath the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

His brother, Yahya Sinwar, had been killed seven months earlier.

Although the IDF publicly declared Mohammed Sinwar’s death at the end of May, Hamas had refrained from commenting until now and provided no further information beyond the photo it released.

Alongside this announcement, Hamas also distributed video footage of Mohammed Deif, its former military chief, who was killed in July of the previous year.

At the same time, Israeli officials said they believe Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, was killed Saturday night in an airstrike in Gaza City.

A senior Israeli official commented, “If he was there, there’s no chance he survived this elimination attempt.” The official explained that intelligence on his whereabouts was obtained Friday night, with a strike opportunity opening at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. “If there were hostages in the area, the strike would not have taken place,” the official added.

Only a day before, Abu Ubaida had warned that Israeli military efforts to retake Gaza City would jeopardize hostages. He declared that both the IDF and the Israeli government would be accountable for what happened to them, threatening that “every hostage killed in strikes will be announced by name and with their picture.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The IDF announced this evening that Sergeant First Class (Res.) Ariel Lubliner was killed while serving in Gaza.

Lubliner, 34 years old and a resident of Kiryat Bialik, was part of the Logistics Regiment 6036 in the 36th Division. He lost his life during fighting in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

According to an initial probe, his death was the result of a friendly fire incident that occurred late Friday night at approximately 10:00 p.m. During the movement of a logistics convoy in Khan Yunis, IDF soldiers mistakenly exchanged gunfire.

Preliminary conclusions point to Lubliner being struck by a stray round, with no evidence of intentional targeting of the convoy. The matter is still under review by the military.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, 900 IDF servicemen have been killed, with 456 of them falling since the military campaign in Gaza began.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The IDF announced that the second hostage whose remains were recently recovered is Idan Shtivi, who was kidnapped from the Tel Gama area.

“In a complex IDF operation conducted this week, and directed by the Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters in the Intelligence Directorate, and the ISA, the body of the deceased hostage Idan Shtivi was recovered from the Gaza Strip, along with the body of the deceased hostage Ilan Weiss,” the IDF confirmed.

Weiss, age 55, was killed on October 7, 2023, when he attempted to reach the weapons storage facility in his home community of Kibbutz Be’eri. His body was then taken into Gaza by terrorists.

“The complex rescue operation was carried out by IDF troops of the Southern Command, in coordination with the IDF Intelligence Directorate and other special forces. The operation was made possible due to precise intelligence from the Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters in the Intelligence Directorate, the Intelligence Directorate, and the ISA.

“Idan Shtivi was abducted from the Tel Gama area and brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists after acting to rescue and evacuate others from the Nova music festival on October 7th, 2023. He was 28 years old at the time of his death.

“Following an identification process conducted at the National Center for Forensic Medicine, along with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, the Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters notified his family.

“The IDF and ISA extend their condolences to the families and will continue every effort possible to bring all the hostages home.”

The Hostages Families Forum described Idan as someone who cared deeply for animals, especially dogs, and noted that he was preparing to begin his second year of studies in sustainability and government at Reichman University. They added that “Idan always put others first and made sacrifices for those around him.”

“On October 7th, Idan arrived early in the morning at the Nova Festival to photograph his friends who were performing and leading workshops, but never made it inside. When the attack began, Idan helped a young man and woman he had just met escape from the site — a selfless act that ultimately led to his abduction.”

He leaves behind his parents, Eli and Dalit, his siblings Omri, Hila, and Ilin, as well as his partner Stav.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was the first to announce his return, stating, “In a special operation carried out by the IDF and the ISA in the Gaza Strip, the body of Idan Shtivi was returned. Following the completion of the identification process at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, his return to Israel was permitted for publication.”

“Idan was a student in sustainability and government and a brave person: On 7 October 2023, he participated in the Nova festival. When the terrorist attack began, he acted to save many fellow participants and help them escape, and was murdered in the process. His body was abducted to Gaza by the Hamas terrorist organization.

“Together with the entire people of Israel, my wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the Shtivi family.”

President Isaac Herzog also commented, saying, “Idan Shtivi came to celebrate at the Nova Festival on October 7. He was murdered while helping others fleeing the terrorist onslaught, and his body was held hostage in Gaza. In a joint IDF-ISA operation, he has now been brought home for a dignified burial.”

“I hope this will bring a measure of comfort to his beloved parents, Eli and Dalit, and to his siblings, who have shown remarkable strength in their determined struggle for his return.

“These moments of deep sorrow remind us of one truth: Hamas’ crimes are crimes against humanity. The world must act with moral clarity and press for the release of all the hostages. Every last one.”

He continued, “I reiterate my appreciation for the IDF and ISA for their determined and daring action. As of now, 207 hostages – 148 of them alive – have been returned to Israel.”

“We will continue to take relentless and determined action, in various ways, to bring back all of our hostages, the living and the deceased.”

The Hostages Families Forum issued a statement as well: “Our hearts are with the Shtivi family today. Alongside the grief and pain, his return provides some sense of closure for the family and comfort after 694 agonizing days of waiting for his return.”

“We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the IDF and security forces who have worked tirelessly with dedication and courage to make Idan’s return possible. We also thank the various professionals who participated in the identification process. The complex identification process that took several days serves as a harsh and painful reminder of the real danger that the remains of those lost may vanish beneath the ruins of Gaza.

“Bringing home the hostages is the only path to national healing and recovery. The people of Israel want to see all hostages returned home: some for rescue and rehabilitation, others for proper burial, through a comprehensive agreement.

“The family requests that their privacy be respected at this time.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

[COMMUNICATED]

This copy is a rare and valuable remnant from one of the greatest rabbinic figures of Bohemia, the son-in-law and disciple of the illustrious Maharal of Prague, the gaon Rabbi Yitzchak son of Rabbi Shimshon Katz of Prague, whom the Shela HaKadosh wished to become his son-in-law!! (As testified by his great-grandson, the author of ‘Chavas Yair’).

On leaf 12b is a brilliant handwritten poem composed by Rabbi Yitzchak extolling the praises of this work, signed with an acrostic of his full name, and previously unknown until now.

The Belzer Rebbe has been hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem in Yerushalayim after suffering a fracture in his leg. He underwent medical tests Thursday night, and doctors are preparing to perform surgery as soon as possible.

Yidden have been urged to daven over Shabbos on behalf of the Rebbe. At the directive of the Belzer Beis Din Tzedek Machzikei HaDas, the community were to recite Shir HaShirim together at the onset of Shabbos, while the women of Belz were to say the fifteen chapters of Shir Hama’alos in Tehillim following candle lighting.

The immediate reason for the hospitalization is to allow surgery, which doctors hope can be performed without delay in order to alleviate the pain the Rebbe is experiencing.

Rabbi Moshe Ringel, the Rebbe’s secretary, informed chassidim that the injury was discovered after medical examinations on Thursday, and that the Rebbe is scheduled to undergo surgery within the next day or so.

All are asked to daven for the complete recovery of Rav Yissachar Dov ben Miriam.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara stated on Friday morning that legal measures must be applied to those attempting to avoid the draft while traveling to Uman.

“A framework whose purpose is to avoid exercising law enforcement powers against those obligated to enlist, who fail to do so and thereby violate their duty under the Security Service Law, whether at the airport or at border crossings, is contrary to the law,” Baharav-Miara declared.

She further explained, “Such avoidance contradicts the state’s duty to enforce the draft obligation equally. Neither the government nor any of its ministers has the authority to establish a framework whose meaning is intervention in law enforcement activity as described, or to instruct enforcement authorities to refrain from exercising their powers.”

In response, a senior representative of the chareidi parties remarked, “The Attorney General proves she is the source of the problem. She wants to create division and chaos among the people, and unfortunately, that is where things are indeed heading. Netanyahu’s greatest failure is his Attorney General, whom he cannot even manage to push aside.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The British government has placed restrictions on the formal involvement of Israeli government and military officials in the upcoming Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms exhibition, which is set to take place in London this September.

According to Politico, a spokesperson for the UK government clarified that Israeli defense companies will still be permitted to take part in the event.

In response, Israel’s Defense Ministry condemned the move, calling it an “offensive and shameful act of discrimination” against its representatives. The Ministry further announced that it will pull out of the exhibition entirely and will not set up an official national pavilion.

Despite this, Israeli defense firms that choose to attend will continue to receive backing and assistance from the Ministry.

“At a time when Israel is engaged on multiple fronts against Islamist extremists and terrorist organisations – forces that also threaten the West and international shipping lanes – this decision by Britain plays into the hands of extremists, grants legitimacy to terrorism, and introduces political considerations wholly inappropriate for a professional defence industry exhibition,” the Defense Ministry declared.

{Matzav.com}

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States is revoking and denying visas for officials from both the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in advance of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session, in accordance with American law.

The New York Post reported that “Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is among those whose visas will be revoked.”

The Trump Administration explained its decision by stating, “protecting US national security requires holding the PLO and PA accountable for violating their commitments and obstructing the prospects for peace.”

The statement added: “For the PLO and PA to be viewed as genuine partners for peace, they must consistently reject terrorism — including the October 7 attacks — and cease promoting incitement to violence within their educational system, as both US law and the PLO’s own commitments require.”

It continued by saying: “The PA must also abandon efforts to circumvent negotiations through legal maneuvers in international courts such as the ICC and ICJ, as well as attempts to gain unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. These actions have directly contributed to Hamas’s refusal to release hostages and the collapse of ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.”

Finally, the statement clarified: “The PA Mission to the UN will continue to receive waivers under the UN Headquarters Agreement. However, the United States remains open to renewed engagement — provided that the PLO and PA fulfill their obligations and take verifiable, concrete steps toward compromise and peaceful coexistence with the State of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance said he is ready to take charge if “God forbid” something “terrible” were ever to happen to President Trump.

“Yes, things can always happen,” Vance told USA Today when asked whether he was prepared to assume responsibility if something happened to President Trump, who has already survived two assassination attempts.

“Yes, terrible tragedies happen,” he added. “And if, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days.”

Still, he emphasized his confidence in Trump’s health and stamina. “I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is gonna serve out the remainder of his term, and do great things for the American people.”

At 79, Trump holds the record as the oldest person to take the oath of office, while Vance is the third youngest vice president in American history. Yet Vance insisted that Trump remains more than capable.

“He’s got incredible energy, and while most of the people that work around the president of the United States are younger than he is, I think that we find that he actually is the last person who goes to sleep, he’s the last person making phone calls at night, and he’s the first person who wakes up and the first person making phone calls in the morning,” Vance said.

The White House revealed last month that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that affects blood circulation, after noticing minor swelling in his lower legs.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made the announcement while responding to speculation about visible bruising on Trump’s hands. According to the presidential physician, the marks came from “minor soft tissue irritation” caused by frequent handshakes combined with aspirin use.

In a medical memo, the presidential physician explained that Trump underwent extensive testing, which ruled out both blood clot and heart concerns.

“Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease,” Leavitt told the press. “No signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness were identified.”

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance, in an interview with Fox News host Will Cain, criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for attempting to copy President Donald Trump’s style, insisting that such an effort was destined to fall flat.

“You can’t mimic the master; you ought to just go and be yourself. And I think the people would like that a lot more than a cheap imitation of the president of the United States,” Vance remarked.

His criticism came after several posts from Newsom’s press team on X in August gained traction online. The posts closely mirrored Trump’s trademark social media voice, featuring capitalized words, mocking nicknames, and even ending with the governor’s initials.

One of those posts read: “WOW! TOMORROW HISTORY WILL BE MADE. KaroLYIN LEAVITT WILL HAVE NO ANSWERS FOR THE SUPPOSED “FAKE MEDIA” ABOUT CALIFORNIA’S BEAUTIFUL MAPS. PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY ARE THE GREATEST MAPS EVER CREATED — EVEN BETTER THAN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS’. DONALD “THE FAILURE” TRUMP BE WARNED, TOMORROW MAY BE THE WORST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. ALL BECAUSE YOU “MISSED THE DEADLINE.” LIBERATION DAY FOR AMERICA!!! — GCN”

Cain noted that while Newsom’s approach might seem unusual, it may actually be appealing to some within his base. “His polling numbers have gone way up since he started mimicking President Trump on social media,” Cain observed.

According to data from Morning Consult, Newsom’s backing among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents rose by eight percentage points between June and late August.

Vance argued, however, that voters are unlikely to reward what he considers a lack of sincerity. “When I see Gavin Newsom trying to act like Donald Trump, that’s the opposite of authenticity. He’s not trying to be Gavin Newsom — whoever that is. He’s trying to be a fake carbon copy of Donald Trump,” Vance said. “And it just doesn’t work.”

The vice president also addressed another political figure, New York City Democratic mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani, offering a pointed critique. “I don’t know the guy, but my sense is he’s had a very good life in this country. It would be nice to occasionally show a sense of gratitude instead of just attacking the United States or all its problems,” Vance said.

He contrasted those criticisms with the impact he believes Trump has had on politics more broadly, encouraging Democrats to learn from his example. “The lesson of President Trump in American politics is you’ve got to be authentic to yourself,” Vance emphasized.

“Democrats, the one thing they should learn from President Trump is to laugh at themselves a little bit,” he continued. “They don’t have to be so serious. They don’t have to get offended at everything. Sometimes, it’s actually a good thing to have a sense of humor about our political process.”

Vance concluded with a personal reflection, recalling his grandmother, affectionately known as “Mamaw,” and how she would react to today’s Democratic Party. “I think Mamaw would say ‘this is crazy.’ I think she would say the modern Democratic Party doesn’t represent her at all,” he said.

{Matzav.com}