Matzav

A newly formed group of vaccine advisors, appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is set to evaluate several immunization policies in an upcoming session, including a vote on flu vaccines that use thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. They will also consider guidance related to the measles vaccine.

The panel, which provides recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will meet on June 25 and 26. According to a preliminary schedule published on the CDC’s website, members will also vote on eligibility guidelines for receiving vaccines targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.

One key topic for the meeting includes a discussion on whether the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine should be administered to children under the age of five.

As of now, the agenda does not list specific individuals who will be speaking about either MMRV or thimerosal during the proceedings.

The CDC notes that thimerosal has been used in the United States for decades, particularly in multi-dose vials of vaccines and other medications.

In a dramatic shift amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, a new Channel 13 News poll released on Wednesday showed Likud reclaiming its spot as the most popular party in Israel.

The poll indicated that if elections were held today, Likud would capture 27 Knesset seats. A hypothetical party led by Naftali Bennett would come in second with 24 seats. Yisrael Beytenu and the Democrats were both projected to receive 11 seats each, followed by Shas with 10, Yesh Atid, National Unity, and United Torah Judaism each with 7, Otzma Yehudit and Hadash-Ta’al with 6 apiece, and Ra’am bringing up the rear with 4 seats.

In this particular survey, the Religious Zionist Party did not meet the minimum electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset.

The poll also revealed widespread support for the war effort, with 75% of Israelis backing military action against Iran. Just 17% expressed opposition to the war, while another 8% said they were still unsure.

Participants were also asked about what they believed was driving Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s decision-making. A majority—64%—said they thought the campaign was motivated primarily by a sincere intention to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. In contrast, 28% felt that political motives were behind the move.

{Matzav.com}

As the war with Iran continues, several Israeli Knesset members received threatening phone calls in recent days from individuals identifying themselves as Iranian. According to a report by Channel 12 News on Wednesday, lawmakers from both right-wing parties and coalition factions were targeted with disturbing messages of intimidation and mockery.

The report, by journalist Dafna Liel, revealed that one of the calls was received by an aide to MK Sheli Tal Meron of the Yesh Atid party. The caller, speaking in Hebrew with a heavy Persian accent, made direct threats.

“I’m calling you from Iran. Are you scared or not?” the caller asked. “Why aren’t you answering? Today you need to wait for our missiles.”

The caller went on to say: “Run to the shelter. We will continue this war until the destruction of Israel. We will take revenge on you, okay? I think you need a diaper. Understand? A diaper.” He then broke into laughter.

The aide asked for the caller’s name and identity, to which the caller replied, “It doesn’t matter. Whenever you go to the shelter, okay?”

When the aide told the caller that his phone number was being traced and encouraged him to keep talking, the caller retorted, “I’m not afraid,” and accused the Israelis of being cowards. The aide calmly responded, “Very well.”

In response to the incident, MK Sheli Tal Meron issued a statement: “I thank the Knesset’s security officer and the head of Knesset cyber defense for their devoted handling of the matter. Even such calls will not deter or frighten us. I express my full support and appreciation to the IDF, our security forces, and the State of Israel in this just and determined war against the head of the snake—the dictatorial Iranian regime. Am Yisrael Chai.”

Rahm Emanuel, who once served as White House chief of staff and later as mayor of Chicago, said Wednesday that he is weighing a presidential bid for 2028 on the Democratic ticket, citing a lack of strong contenders in the current party landscape.

In an interview with Crain’s Chicago Business, Emanuel stated: “’Of course’ it’s fair to say he’s considering running for president, declared Rahm Emanuel, hands for the moment neither waving nor pointing but resting on the table. ‘I’m looking at the (Democratic) field and, most importantly, what I have to contribute.’”

Emanuel gained national prominence for orchestrating the Democratic Party’s strategic victories in the 2006 midterm elections, promoting centrist candidates in competitive districts to attract disillusioned Republican voters, particularly those upset over the Iraq War.

During his time as chief of staff to President Obama, Emanuel was instrumental in launching the administration’s aggressive progressive initiatives—even as many Americans were more concerned about the economic downturn. He summed up the administration’s philosophy in a now-famous quote to the Wall Street Journal: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.”

Still, Emanuel expressed reservations about the administration’s push for sweeping health care reform. He advised a more measured path, but his suggestions were dismissed. Obamacare ultimately passed, triggering political backlash that fueled the emergence of the Tea Party and cost Democrats control of the House in 2010.

Before the fallout from that political wave, Emanuel exited the White House and campaigned for the mayorship of Chicago. His time in office was contentious, marked by disputes with the teachers’ unions and rising tensions with the early Black Lives Matter movement. His abrasive style and sharp tongue earned him a reputation for being difficult to work with, limiting his ability to form lasting alliances.

In recent years, Emanuel has sought to rebrand himself as a centrist voice within a Democratic Party that continues to lean left, even as it faces electoral setbacks.

After a stint as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Emanuel is once again seeking opportunity amid political disarray—this time, stepping into what he sees as a leadership void within the Democratic field.

He is the first figure to openly express interest in entering the 2028 race. His background suggests he could tap into significant fundraising networks, particularly from Wall Street, due in part to his past role on the board of Freddie Mac before the financial collapse. However, his past political baggage and the party’s current ideological climate could present steep obstacles. Emanuel may find himself out of step with a base that has shifted dramatically in recent years.

Rav Kalman Bar, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, has issued a psak halachah stating that krias haTorah missed due to shul closures must be completed under specific conditions.

The psak, published following disruptions caused by recent closures due to security concerns, rules that the parsha of Beha’aloscha, which was not read in many communities, should be completed retroactively. The ruling is based on the opinions of both early and later poskim affirming the obligation to make up a missed krias haTorah when the cancellation results from external circumstances such as a security crisis.

However, the obligation to make up the reading depends on how many members of the kehillah missed it. If the majority of the kehillah did not hear the Torah reading, then the missed parashah should be read the following Shabbos alongside that week’s regular parashah.

In contrast, if only a minority missed the reading, there is no obligation to inconvenience the broader community. Still, Rav Ber notes that a separate Torah reading may be arranged for that minority, if feasible.

Regarding how to perform the makeup reading, Rav Ber instructs that three olim should be taken from the missed parashah, and the fourth oleh should continue with the beginning of the current week’s parsha, similar to the practice when two parshiyos are read together. The same principle applies to making up the missed haftarah.

The psak also delves into a broader halachic discussion regarding whether Torah reading is a communal obligation or an individual one. Rav Ber presented various views from leading poskim and concludes that a Torah reading should not be arranged for fewer than ten people unless they are strict about regularly hearing krias haTorah.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Some might chalk it up to a stroke of good fortune or credit it to seasoned leadership and quick thinking in the face of crisis.

But we know the truth: It was Hashgocha Elyonah, the unmistakable Hand of Hashem.

The Jerusalem Post reports that roughly a day before Iranian ballistic missiles tore into Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva this morning, Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman-Tov made a pivotal call that ended up preserving countless lives. “Clear the surgery floor in the hospital – it’s not safe,” he ordered. While some questioned the necessity of such a drastic move, the wisdom of his directive became heartbreakingly clear the next day.

As sirens pierced the early morning calm across the Negev, one of the missiles crashed directly into the hospital’s third-floor surgical unit. The ward sustained major structural damage. Yet, due to Bar Siman-Tov’s foresight, the entire floor had been vacated, and only one person suffered a minor injury. Dozens of patients who would have otherwise been at risk had already been transferred to safer areas of the facility.

The decision to evacuate the surgical floor came on Wednesday afternoon, spurred by intelligence reports forecasting an incoming swarm of over 20 missiles and drones aimed at overwhelming Israeli defense systems. Realizing the specific vulnerability of Soroka’s surgery department, Bar Siman-Tov instructed administrators to move both patients and staff immediately. By that night, the floor was empty and silent. By morning, that silence had become the hospital’s salvation.

Born on October 21, 1976, in Yehud, and raised in Holon and later Hashmonaim, Bar Siman-Tov hails from a family with Turkish roots. He earned his B.A. and M.B.A. in economics and finance from the Hebrew University of Yerushalayim. He began his public service career managing welfare and healthcare budgets at the National Insurance Institute, then climbed the ranks to become deputy budget director at the Finance Ministry in 2010. In that role, he was instrumental in resolving the 2011 doctors’ strike and initiating significant educational reforms.

After serving as Israel’s economic attaché in Washington for seven years, Bar Siman-Tov returned home in 2015 to lead the Health Ministry as its first-ever nonphysician director-general. His time in office has been defined by innovative public health policies, including the 2020 law mandating front-of-package nutrition labeling, and by steady, transparent leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic — during which his briefings became a national mainstay.

Those who have worked closely with him say that the same composure and foresight he showed during the pandemic were evident once again this week. “His anticipatory action turned what could have been a massacre into a story we may barely remember,” remarked a senior hospital official. Now, as Soroka’s teams clear debris and attempt to restore normalcy, Bar Siman-Tov’s bold call remains a powerful example of the life-saving impact of preparedness — and a sobering reminder that sometimes, it’s a single decision – with siyata diShmaya – that determines the difference between devastation and deliverance.

{Matzav.com Israel}

On Thursday morning, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz visited the impact site in Holon where an Iranian missile had struck, leaving many civilians wounded. Among the injured were four individuals in serious condition.

While surveying the damage, Katz issued a blunt warning aimed directly at Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. “A dictator like Khamenei cannot be allowed to exist. Khamenei is a modern-day Hitler, diverting his nation’s resources toward the goal of destroying Israel.”

Earlier that same morning, Katz sharply condemned the Iranian regime for intentionally hitting civilian zones. “The cowardly Iranian dictator sits in the depths of his fortified bunker, firing targeted missiles at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel.”

He emphasized the severity of these actions, stating, “These are war crimes of the highest order — Khamenei will answer for his crimes.”

Katz also explained the government’s next steps, saying, “The Prime Minister and I have instructed the IDF to intensify attacks on strategic targets in Iran and on regime targets in Tehran to eliminate the threats to the State of Israel and destabilize the Ayatollah’s regime.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The story of the Meraglim in Parshas Shelach is one of the most tragic and consequential episodes in the Torah. But beneath the surface of the familiar narrative lies a deep and nuanced insight into the type of leadership chosen, the spiritual mindset of Klal Yisroel, and the nature of their mistake.

In the first three parshiyos of Sefer Bamidbar — Bamidbar, Naso, and Beha’aloscha — we are introduced to the Nesi’im, the leaders of each shevet. They are appointed during the census, they bring korbanos during the chanukas haMishkan, and they are central to the organization of the camp.

Then suddenly, in Parshas Shelach, there is a shift.

The spies sent to scout Eretz Yisroel are not the Nesi’im we already know. The Torah uses a different phrase: Roshei Bnei Yisroel, and the list of names is entirely different. Why?

Even more puzzling is that Hashem says explicitly “shelach lecha anashim… kol nasi bahem” — implying that the men sent were supposed to be Nesi’im. Why, then, are different people chosen? And why does the Torah consistently refer to them as anashim — not once, but repeatedly?

This leads us to a second layer of questions, from Parshas Devarim, where Moshe retells the story:

• He says the Meraglim gave a good report — yet we know they discouraged the nation and spoke negatively.
• He says “velo avisem la’alos” — that the people refused to go up — but in Parshas Shelach it sounds like they were simply afraid.
• He says the people initiated the idea of sending spies — yet in Shelach, Hashem gives the command.

How do we make sense of this seeming contradiction between the two accounts?

The key lies in understanding the distinction between two types of leadership in the Torah.

The Nesi’im, featured in Bamidbar, Naso, and Beha’aloscha, were political and communal leaders. They oversaw census numbers, brought public offerings, managed tribal organization. They were like governors — practical, grounded, responsible for the people’s material welfare. 

We see this from the language of the Torah itself: in Vayikra (4:22), the Torah speaks of “asher nasi yecheta” — when a nasi sins, he must bring a korban chatas. Rashi there explains that this refers to a melech, a king. The title nasi, then, clearly has a connotation of executive or governmental leadership — someone responsible for national outcomes, political decisions, and practical governance.

But the term “anashim”, which appears repeatedly in Shelach and Devarim, hints at a different type of figure. In Parshas Yisro, Moshe is told to appoint “anashim chachamim, yir’ei Elokim, anshei emes” — spiritually refined individuals, fit to be judges and teachers. These were not political administrators or tribal representatives — they were men whose leadership came from Torah wisdom, fear of Heaven, and personal integrity. In other words, anashim represent a purely spiritual role, whose entire authority stems from their inner madreigah and connection to ruchniyus.

It seems that the people requested to send this second type — anashim, not Nesi’im. Why?

Because they were hoping to reframe the journey into Eretz Yisroel as a purely spiritual experience. In the midbar, they were surrounded by Ananei HaKavod, eating mon, drinking from the Be’er Miriam, with clothing that didn’t wear out and no physical responsibilities. It was a life of pure ruchniyus.

But Eretz Yisroel would be different. There, they would need to:

• Conquer the land
• Build homes and cities
• Plant fields
• Establish courts and armies
• Build a physical Beis HaMikdash

The people were nervous — not only about the dangers of war, but about the shift in avodah. They wanted to hold onto their spiritual cocoon.

So they suggested sending spiritual leaders — anashim — who would hopefully advocate for that perspective.

But when the Meraglim came back, they gave a report that was, in many ways, factually accurate. The land was strong. The inhabitants were imposing. It consumed those who lived there.

What they failed to say — and this was their tragic error — was that this very intensity was the sign of the land’s greatness. That the spiritual weight of the land was so great, it could not tolerate spiritual impurity. That the challenges were exactly the reason Hashem wanted Klal Yisroel to inherit it — to elevate and transform it.

Instead, they fueled the people’s fear. And the people, whose hearts were already hesitant, collapsed.

That’s why Moshe later says “velo avisem la’alos”. It wasn’t merely fear. It was an inner rejection. A resistance to the kind of mission that demanded full physical investment infused with holiness.

And that’s why the Meraglim were punished so harshly. Not for lying — but for failing to lift the people up. For failing to understand the moment. For missing the ta’am of their mission.

The midbar was a world of pure ruchniyus — necessary for preparing Klal Yisroel to receive the Torah.

But the ultimate goal was not to remain there.

The goal was — and always is — to bring Torah into the world.
Into cities. Into courts. Into armies. Into land.

Even the Beis HaMikdash — the holiest place in the world — was made of metals, stone and wood, with kohanim walking barefoot on physical ground.

The failure of the Meraglim was not fear alone. It was the inability — or refusal — to transition from a Torah of the sky to a Torah of the earth. To go from mon to lechem min ha’aretz.

And that’s why this parsha echoes throughout every generation. Because the challenge of uplifting the physical through the spiritual is the mission of Klal Yisroel in every era.

This exact fear is playing out again in our generation.

For two thousand years, Judaism in Golus has been centered on Torah and tefillah. That was all we had. And we built a beautiful world of ruchniyus — yeshivos, gedolim, sifrei Torah, deep learning, powerful tefillos.

But now we’re being asked to shift gears.

For anyone with open eyes and heart its obvious that the Geulah is here. But for many, the responsibility and risk that comes along with that,  are terrifying. 

If the Golus is over then we need to enter Eretz Yisroel, and build cities, create a government, defend borders, establish sovereignty, and prepare for a real Beis HaMikdash — one made of stone and wood and labor.

And just like the Meraglim, today, we hesitate.

It’s safer in the Beis Medrash. It’s safer in exile-mode. It’s spiritually cleaner to stay away from politics, from armies, from national responsibility.

So we say: “We’re still in Golus.”

Because if we’re still in Golus, we’re patur. No need for Korban Pesach. No need for milchemes mitzvah. No need for Aliyah. We don’t need to take the risk and we can justify it.

But that mindset — even if well-intentioned — is the exact mistake of the Meraglim.

On Thursday morning, Israeli President Isaac Herzog made his way to Soroka Hospital following the damage it sustained from an Iranian missile strike.

Reflecting on the visit, Herzog said, “I arrived at Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva this morning, to be greeted by Director of the hospital, Prof. Shlomi Kodesh, along with doctors, nurses, and patients, Jews and Muslims, from all walks of life from across the beautiful Negev.”

He continued, “We stood together and looked at the destruction and devastation caused by an Iranian missile fired indiscriminately with the sole intention to take innocent lives in a hospital.”

Calling attention to the gravity of the attack, Herzog declared, “This is a war crime!”

Looking at the broader implications, he remarked, “In these pictures, we see two things: we see the face of evil and terror spread by the Ayatollahs in Tehran, and at the same time we see the resilience and strength of Israeli society, united in our desire to see all the peoples of this region live in peace.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israel’s Home Front Command announced on Thursday that one of the projectiles launched by Iran earlier in the day was identified as a cluster missile.

This particular missile carried a warhead filled with multiple submunitions, each containing 2.5 kilograms of explosive material.

Officials explained that the missile fragmented while still airborne, breaking apart at an altitude of 7 kilometers. The submunitions then scattered across an area with a radius of 8 kilometers. According to the Home Front Command, this type of weapon is designed to release its payload upon ground impact using a specific triggering mechanism.

The disintegration took place over the city of Azor, situated southeast of Tel Aviv. Authorities also warned that some of the submunitions that landed during the morning attack failed to detonate, classifying them as duds. These unexploded devices pose a major safety threat. Citizens were strongly urged to avoid contact and to notify bomb squad personnel immediately.

Thursday’s missile assault, involving a large wave of rockets launched by Iran, inflicted damage on Soroka Medical Center and struck various locations in Tel Aviv, Holon, and Ramat Gan.

Some of the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s defense systems, but this particular wave was the most intense attack in the past two days. Magen David Adom reported that 89 individuals were injured by the missile impacts in the Gush Dan region, with six victims in critical condition.

Police released video footage from the Ramat Gan stock exchange area, showing the aftermath of the Iranian missile strike. The visuals depicted extensive destruction, including a severely damaged three-story structure and a nearby office tower.

The videos also captured emergency teams, including firefighters and police, working to rescue people trapped inside damaged residences. In several instances, rescue personnel were forced to break into apartments out of fear that people might be stuck inside.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israel’s envoy to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, drew a striking comparison between Israel’s success in its military campaign against Iran and Russia’s prolonged struggle in Ukraine, emphasizing the swiftness of Israel’s achievements.

“We’ve achieved air superiority over the skies of Iran in three days. What Russia did not accomplish over Ukraine in three years, we accomplished in three days,” he says.

Leiter emphasized the disparity in size between the nations, noting that Iran significantly outweighs Israel in both geographical scope and population, just as Russia dwarfs Ukraine.

He also praised the role of U.S.-supplied fighter jets in the conflict, singling out the synergy between Israeli skill and American technology.

“The Israeli Air Force is showing that pairing Israeli pilots with American F-35s is a winning combination,” he says.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

When Akiva Zuravin set out to develop Jerusalem Estates, he wasn’t simply building luxury apartments—he was making a statement. A quiet one, as is his way. But unmistakable. Tucked into the historic Schneller compound in the heart of the frum neighborhoods and within walking distance of prominent Chassidic centers, Jerusalem Estates became more than just a sought-after address. It became a symbol of what’s possible when vision, values, and execution align.

“We weren’t just creating buildings,” Zuravin reflects. “We were shaping something that felt deeply connected to its surroundings—authentic, beautiful, and thoughtfully done.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

It was that mindset that set Jerusalem Estates apart—and that continues to define Zuravin’s approach today. With Ir Olam, his most ambitious development yet, the goal is even broader: not just to build homes, but to shape the rhythm of modern life in Jerusalem.

Located adjacent to Givat Shaul, Kiryat Moshe, and Beit Hakerem, and minutes away from Har Nof, Ir Olam rises from the grounds of the old flour mill—once an industrial area and now envisioned as one of Jerusalem’s most forward-looking quarters for living, working, and gathering.

Where Jerusalem Estates was a residential landmark, Ir Olam is a full-scale quarter:
Three luxury residential towers.
Two LEED Platinum-certified office buildings.
A boutique shopping boulevard.
Green rooftops, shuls, co-working areas, a school, and a central piazza designed to foster everyday connection.

But beyond design and functionality lies a deeper intention: community. At Jerusalem Estates, Zuravin prioritized buyers who shared common values—people who could not only live alongside one another but thrive together. That same care is being applied at Ir Olam.

“When people share the same rhythm of life,” Zuravin explains, “the entire experience becomes more meaningful. The gym, the shul, the party room—they’re not just amenities. They’re points of connection.”

In Ir Olam, where residents will share workspaces, rooftops, lounges, and lifestyle services, community isn’t just a feature—it’s part of the architecture. The goal is a natural, respectful cohesion that allows for privacy and belonging to coexist.

The project was conceived by Yashar Architects, whose signature blends functionality with elegance, and is being built to international standards of environmental sustainability and urban planning. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered, with user experience at the core.

Zuravin builds with intention and with an understanding of what Jerusalem is, and what it still can be.

Ir Olam is the next chapter in that story. A new neighborhood for a city that continues to evolve—thoughtfully, gracefully, and always with purpose.
Crafted for those who know.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

In a powerful address delivered at the conclusion of a shiur klali in his yeshiva, Rav Moshe Shternbuch spoke about the war with Iran and the fear it has instilled across the country.

Rav Shternbuch urged his talmidim not to fall into panic or fear, emphasizing the need for both spiritual awakening and steadfast emunah. “We are currently in a time of distress,” he said. “The Arabs are launching many missiles toward Eretz Yisrael. There are casualties and injuries — may Hashem protect us. But we must understand that this is not happenstance. It is the voice of the Ribbono Shel Olam — ‘Kol dodi dofek, pischi li achosi ra’ayasi’ — calling on us to open our hearts and examine our actions, and to cry out to Hashem.”

However, he continued, fear and panic are not the appropriate response. “A Jew must have faith and trust. As my rebbi, Rav Moshe Schneider zt”l, used to say during World War II, at the height of the Blitz, when the Nazis, yemach shemam, were bombing London nightly: ‘Every bomb has an address.’ We believe with complete faith that no bomb falls randomly. Each one is sent and directed precisely by Hakadosh Baruch Hu. There is nothing to fear from a bomb.”

Rav Shternbuch emphasized that this principle — that nothing happens by chance — is foundational to Jewish life. “Our duty is not to fear them, but to remember that we are completely dependent on Hashem. As it says: ‘Hinei Keil yeshuasi, evtach velo efchad’. This is the cornerstone of a Jew’s life — to know that there is no such thing as coincidence, that everything is from Him. Ein adam nokef etzba’o milemata ela im kein machrizin alav milemaalah. No one moves a finger below without Hashem’s will above. There is no being without Hashem, and no power outside of His.”

Rav Shternbuch issued a heartfelt plea to his talmidim and the broader Torah world to redouble their efforts in limud haTorah. “We must be vigilant against bittul Torah. Hashem watches us every moment and sees all our deeds. Every word we utter is recorded Above — not a single syllable is missed. At the time of judgment, they present our own words back to us. Therefore, one must be careful not to speak idle or unnecessary words.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

At least six people were seriously wounded by an Iranian missile barrage on Israel on Thursday morning. Be’er Sheva’s Soroka Medical Center sustained a direct hit, and impacts were also reported in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan and Cholon.

Four serious injuries were caused by a direct hit on a residential building in Cholon, south of Tel Aviv, according to Wolfson Medical Center. The hospital said it was also treating 19 people listed in mild condition.

Two people were seriously wounded in the direct hit in Ramat Gan.

As of Thursday afternoon, the number of injured stood at more than 200, including at least 147 in the greater Tel Aviv region and around 60 in Beersheva. The figures include those injured while running to shelters, individuals suffering from anxiety, and hurt people who arrived independently at hospitals.

In addition to Wolfson and Soroka, victims were evacuated to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital), Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Rabin Medical Center Beilinson Campus in Petach Tikva, Yitzchak Shamir Medical Center (formerly Assaf Harofeh Medical Center) in Be’er Ya’akov, Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak, Assuta Medical Center in Ashdod and Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petach Tikvah.

Shrapnel severely damaged the home of former Health Minister Dan Naveh in Savyon, southeast of Ramat Gan. The president and CEO of Israel Bonds is on a fundraising trip in the United States, but he told Channel 12 News that his children were at home and survived unharmed.

“Our home suffered severe damage today. Thank God, the three children were together in the safe room and are OK; they were truly saved by a miracle. I was on a video call with the children when the explosion was heard—there were many moments of anxiety,” he said, adding, “We are in an important existential war, and our spirit is strong.”

The barrage, composed of some 30 ballistic missiles, was the heaviest launched by the Islamic Republic in nearly 48 hours.

Emergency teams were responding at several sites, searching for wounded and treating several individuals for minor injuries, according to the Magen David Adom emergency medical service. In total, 22 individuals with mild injuries were being transported to hospitals.

Following direct missile strikes on residential buildings in central Israel, United Hatzalah volunteers provided initial treatment to three women in serious condition, two men in moderate condition, and more than 50 additional people who sustained mild injuries, including many suffering from emotional shock.

Officials from the IDF Home Front Command surveyed the damage at the impact site in Holon, with Home Front Command head Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo praising the actions of local residents.

“This incident is an exceptional example of civilian behavior—the civilians heard the alert, went down to the shelter, and that saved their lives,” Milo said.

Israel’s Channel 12 News reported that a suspected leak of hazardous materials on one of the floors of Soroka Medial Center was being investigated and that the area was being evacuated; however, it was later reported that a dangerous leak had been ruled out.

“There has been damage to the hospital and extensive damage in various areas. We are currently assessing the damage, including injuries,” the Soroka spokesperson said, requesting that people not come to the medical center at this time and stating that further updates would be provided as soon as possible.

According to reports, part of the Soroka complex had been evacuated a day before Thursday’s strike by a special order of the Health Ministry, including the floor hit by the missile.

“Just yesterday, they evacuated the old surgical building, which today took a direct hit. It’s a great miracle,” a doctor at Soroka told Kan News.

Israeli Health Minister Uriel Buso called the Soroka strike “an act of terror” that crosses a red line.

“It is a war crime by the Iranian regime, deliberately targeting innocent civilians and medical teams dedicated to saving lives. The Health Ministry was prepared in advance, and thanks to the immediate actions we took, a major disaster was averted,” said Buso.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the Iranian regime “Nazis who launch missiles at hospitals, at the elderly, and at children.” If the regime had nuclear weapons, it would deploy them “without even thinking for a second,” he added.

Israeli security and rescue personnel at the scene after a ballistic missile fired from Iran hit in Ramat Gan, June 19, 2025. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.
He called “Operation Rising Lion,” the IDF campaign in Iran, “the most just campaign Israel has ever embarked on in its history.

“I embrace the citizens of Israel and strengthen the hands of the prime minister and my colleagues in the Cabinet during these days. We are all united—to remove this threat once and for all, until the end and until absolute victory! The people of Israel live,” Ben-Gvir said.

IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin noted in a Thursday afternoon press briefing that Soroka serves more than one million Israelis of all backgrounds.

“Iran targeting civilian centers with ballistic missiles is no surprise for us,” Defrin said, adding that the regime in Tehran has long declared its intent to destroy Israel and has now launched over 450 ballistic missiles and hundreds of UAVs at the Jewish state in less than a week.

Defrin emphasized that Israel’s ongoing military operations are focused on eliminating “an existential threat that endangers global security,” targeting Iranian nuclear weapons facilities, missile launchers and military sites.

“We cannot—and will not—allow this regime to obtain nuclear weapons or expand its missile arsenal,” he said. “And we will prevail.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

I was listening to Israeli radio to hear the latest on the war. As I tuned in, there was an interview being conducted with a man who lived in the building in Bat Yam right next to the one that was directly hit by an Iranian ballistic missile. He was describing how powerful the bomb was. He described the deafening boom, the shockwave that shattered every window in his apartment, and how he felt as though he was about to be sucked out through the gaping hole that had once been his dining room window.

The reporter asked him, “So would you say that you were saved by a neis (miracle)?”

The survivor responded, “Lo! No!”

I was wondering how thick-headed he could be to recount such an experience and not realize that it was a miracle that he was alive and whole.

But then he said, “I survived only because Hashem was watching over me!”

The reporter agreed, and I realized that the man had said it better than any sound bite. It wasn’t just a miracle. It was Hashgocha Protis. It was Hashem Himself, not randomness or fate, who had shielded him.

Once again, the peaceful air that had settled over Eretz Yisroel was shattered. On October 7, 2023, Simchas Torah, a day meant for dancing with the Torah and celebrating our eternal bond with Hashem, the Jewish people faced unspeakable horror. Over 1,200 were murdered and thousands more were wounded in the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Men, women and children, and even babies, were slaughtered, and over 240 hostages were dragged into Gaza.

This wasn’t just an attack. It was the launching of a war by Hamas, the genocidal proxy of Iran. Since then, Israel has fought relentlessly to eliminate Hamas and restore security to its citizens. Thousands of soldiers have been wounded. Hundreds have fallen. Ceasefires have come and gone. Hostages have returned—some alive, others in coffins—while others languish in Hamas tunnels and other treacherous surroundings. The trauma remains etched in the soul of the nation.

Although the pain lingers and thousands of men and women have been separated from their families for the war effort, somehow the sharp edge of the pain wore off and most people became accustomed to the situation. Life resumed a fragile routine. Rockets slowed. Schools reopened. People began to breathe again. Shelters stood mostly empty. For a while.

But that changed Thursday night, as Israel began the war it has been planning for over the past decades. After vowing that Iran would never obtain a nuclear weapon as it got closer and closer to that very goal, the now or never window was rapidly closing. If that evil regime wasn’t stopped within the next few weeks, they would have the feared weapon and Israel would be their first target.

The red line had been crossed. Iran, the regime that has repeatedly pledged to wipe Israel off the map, was inching ever closer to acquiring nuclear weapons. The world debated. Israel acted.

Israel began attacking Iran. Suddenly, a nation that had gone to sleep with their regular everyday worries were awakened at 3 a.m. by wailing sirens, shaking them out of bed and complacency, and foisting upon them a new, frightening reality.

Within minutes, dozens of ballistic missiles were flying toward Israel, reminding everyone that we are not living in normal times.

No matter how many times a person has rushed to a shelter, you never get used to it. War isn’t just noise and headlines. It is fear. It is disorientation. It is waking up in the middle of the night, clutching your children as you recite pesukim of Tehillim. It is losing all sense of routine. Schools are closed, businesses shuttered, flights canceled, deliveries halted. It is an unrelenting anxiety that clings to the body and soul.

Running to a shelter several times a night is not conducive to sleep or anything other than anxiety. Having your day interrupted by sirens and dashes into a shelter before a ballistic missile hits, is not only uncomfortable and nerve-racking, but frightening and life-altering.

Having no peace, not being able to sit still for any extended period of time, being constantly mindful that a war over your very existence is being waged, can be very unsettling and makes it difficult to properly function.

What do we say? How do we react? What are we supposed to think in times like this?

In the chaos of sirens and explosions, a Jewish heart instinctively calls out: Hashem yishmor. Hashem will guard us. Every rocket intercepted is a reminder of His mercy. Every near miss is a whisper of His will. Hashem alone determines who will live, who will be protected, who will rise from the rubble and testify, “Hashem was watching over me.”

We are a nation that has endured more than any nation in history, not due to might or power, but due to our deep, unwavering connection to the Ribono Shel Olam.

Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah—they are but pawns in a larger story.

As maaminim bnei maaminim, while others fight on a physical battlefield, we fight on the spiritual one through tefillah, teshuvah and tzedakah. Every added kappitel of Tehillim, every act of chesed, every extra moment of Torah learning strengthens the physical combatants far more than we can imagine.

Let the world call it physical luck or coincidence. We call it Hashem Yisborach. Because when the windows blow out, the walls shake, and you walk away alive, you know the truth:

Hashem was watching over me.

And when the war seems unending and the darkness overwhelming, we recall the words of the novi: “Ki lo yitosh Hashem es amo—Hashem will not forsake His people.”

Even now. Especially now.

In times of war, the natural reaction for many is to become amateur geopolitical analysts. Conversations quickly turn into discussions about why the enemy acted, what the real motivation was, and how brilliantly – or foolishly – Israel responded.

Someone inevitably pipes up: “This only happened because Trump won the election.”

Heads nod.

“If Biden – or Harris – had won, Netanyahu would never have pulled this off,” another adds, as listeners admire the sharpness of his insight.

Everyone throws in their two cents, quoting from analysts, Twitter threads, and WhatsApp chats. The group collectively convinces itself that its breakdown of military strategy is more astute than that of actual generals and heads of state.

But in all this noise, one thing is forgotten – the most important piece of the story.

This war, like every war, is happening because Hashem willed it. Not because Trump won. Not because Netanyahu is still in office. Not because of this treaty or that speech. These events don’t cause Divine plans. They serve them.

It’s not that Trump won and therefore the war happened. It’s the other way around. Trump won because Hashem wanted the world to move toward this moment.

Just as Paroh rose to power to set the stage for Yetzias Mitzrayim, so too, modern leaders are placed exactly where Hashem wants them to be to fulfill His ultimate design. The Ayatollah didn’t come to power by mistake because of the actions of an errant American president. The American presidents who empowered Iran ever since, or ignored its threats, didn’t do so by accident. All of this is part of a larger, unfolding script authored by the Ribbono Shel Olam.

The reason Trump won the presidency was so that he could carry out the wishes of Hashem. Because Hashem wants to set up the world for Moshiach to reveal himself and redeem us, He brought the world to this juncture.

He caused the wicked regime to threaten Israel and work towards obtaining the means with which they could actualize their dream of wiping out Israel. He brought the right players onto the scene and allowed Netanyahu to remain in power so that the next step in preparing Eretz Yisroel and the world for Moshiach could get underway.

When we forget that, we get distracted by headlines and forget our headline: Hashem watches over me.

And it’s worse.

The Rambam begins his Hilchos Taanis like this: “Mitzvas asei min haTorah, it is a mitzvah in the Torah, to cry out to Hashem and to do teshuvah when any type of tragedy strikes.” This mitzvah is derived from a posuk we lained last week in Parshas Beha’aloscha (10:9).

We have to know that when there is tragedy, it is because of our sins, and therefore, the way to overcome the calamity is by doing teshuvah.

People who attach natural explanations to what happened and explain the war or catastrophe with political or scientific considerations are cruel. They are engaging in cruelty because by doing so, they are denying Hashem’s involvement and preventing people from recognizing the real cause of what took place and doing teshuvah.

Surely none of us want to be defined by the Rambam as a cruel person, especially knowing that when the Rambam writes something in his sefer, he is not merely offering an opinion, but is articulating halacha and describing the true nature of the world according to the Torah.

In Shaar Cheshbon Hanefesh, the Chovos Halevavos teaches that someone who puts his faith in Hashem is never left alone. Hashem opens the gates of understanding, reveals hidden truths of His wisdom, watches over him with a guiding eye, and never abandons him to the limits of his own strength.

The Gemara in Maseches Avodah Zarah (2b) states that when Moshiach comes, the nations of the world will protest the punishment they are about to receive for their treatment of the Jews. They will claim that everything they did was to benefit the Jews and their service of Hashem and the Torah.

The Gemara says that Poras, Persia, which is today’s modern state of Iran, will proclaim that everything they did was to help the Jews. “We built many bridges, conquered many towns, and waged war,” they will say, “to enable the Jews to learn Torah.”

We can understand the grounds for claiming that they built bridges and other infrastructure to enable the study of Torah, but how does waging war help the Jews learn Torah?

Perhaps this can be understood to mean that they will claim that they waged wars and threatened the Jews in order to scare them into doing teshuvah and to engage in Torah study.

When the ruler of Iran repeatedly proclaims, publicly, to the entire world, that he intends to destroy Israel, we can believe him that he intends to do so. As he was engaged in his feverish race to arm the country with the nuclear weapons and the ballistic missiles needed to carry out his bloody intentions, the world stood by and pretended to work to curtail his ambitions.

And then, in a matter of hours, Israel cleared the way to fly freely over the country, bombing hundreds of targets and eliminating military leaders, nuclear scientists and the nuclear infrastructure.

In just a few days, a nation seventy-five times smaller and vastly outnumbered dismantled decades of Iranian buildup. Despite being a strong and proud country, Iran was unable to stop the repeated Israeli attacks or respond in the way it had planned and desired.

Though Israel took out many of its rocket launchers, Iran answered with fire, shooting hundreds of their deadliest missiles. But Hashem answered louder. Almost all were stopped. The death toll was minimal. Every life is precious and every death is mourned, but comparing what happened to what could have happened cannot be explained by any or all the experts in the world. This only happens because Hashem is on the side of Eretz Yisroel. This only happens because Hashem protects the Jewish people when they are deserving. This only happens because the entire scenario was planned by Him to bring us the promised redemption.

This only happens because Hashem watches over His people.

This is not strategy. This is not luck. This is not political genius.

This is Hashgocha Protis. This is the unfolding of a Divine plan. This is the sound of the approaching geulah.

So let us not waste the moment.

Let us raise our voices in passionate tefillah that Hashem will continue to spare us from the evil intents of the anshei Poras, Yishmoel and Edom.

Let us strengthen our commitment to Torah, to chesed, to tzedakah, and to the refining of our middos.

Let us build zechuyos with every word of Torah learned, every tefillah properly recited, every act of kindness done.

And let us not stop storming the heavens until we merit to see the day we have been waiting for with the coming of Moshiach.

May it happen very soon.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, describes the ‘only question’ being discussed about America’s direct involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict on ‘Kudlow.’

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