Matzav

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Most real estate projects talk about square footage. Givat Hashalvah is telling a different story. It begins with a simple premise: the quality of life in Eretz Yisroel should carry dignity, pride, and a standard that reflects what frum families value, not only in the home, but in the life that surrounds it.   

You can see that shift in what the plan chooses to prioritize. Givat Hashalvah keeps coming back to togetherness, clarity, and the everyday rhythm of Torah life. And it isn’t only the design that makes that possible. It’s the people who have already joined, families arriving with shared purpose and shaping the tone from the start. As one buyer, Aryeh Simon, put it: ‘The standard of the project is truly above the cut, and what impressed me most is that it’s being built with a real kehilla atmosphere in mind.’ 

One of the campaign lines captures it plainly: “A home is where you live. A kehilla is how you live together.” The real question is simple: can a neighborhood be planned in a way that helps community form naturally, not by chance, but because the layout and shared spaces make it easier for people to connect? 

The master plan answers with a decisive yes. Parking is planned underground, keeping cars off the surface level. In its place, the plan creates pedestrian pathways, gardens, seating areas, and fountains, so the space between the buildings becomes a place for walking, meeting, and breathing. Instead of isolated buildings, the project is arranged as 18 residential buildings in three clusters, connected by a promenade that runs through parks and gardens, end to end. This is where the “spaces between” become the point, because those are the places where friendships form, where kids bump into each other, where the neighborhood starts to feel familiar. 

Then there are the communal anchors. Between the clusters sit seven dedicated multi-story residential lounges, totaling 26,000 square feet of community amenities planned for real daily use. These shared spaces include Torah libraries, shared workspaces, children’s gymborees, and event halls. Along the promenade, fountains and seating areas are woven into the walkways, with a bike path looping around the project. This is less about “amenities” as a marketing word, and more about community as an operating system, built into the plan. 

For many families, credibility matters as much as vision, especially in a market where people want to know that what is promised is what will be delivered. Givat Hashalvah points to the team behind the construction as part of that confidence: Solel Boneh is described as Israel’s most recognized construction name, with more than a century of experience and a track record tied to major national projects. In plain terms, the message is execution you can trust, quality that lasts, and delivery you can rely on.   

And the vision is broad enough to speak to different life stages. The plan includes a multilevel shopping mall, protected living, a 54,000 square foot fitness center, a pool, and ten shuls, rounding out a neighborhood designed to support a fuller way of living, both inside the home and together beyond it.   

Explore Givat Hashalvah → https://go.lyo.group/3LxM3tz

An 11-year-old boy who was critically injured after being struck by a bus in Beitar Illit has died of his wounds, in a heartbreaking tragedy that has shaken the city.

The accident occurred late Thursday night on Rechov Abba Shaul in Beitar Illit. The boy was hit by a passing bus while crossing the street and was found lying on the roadway with severe injuries to his abdomen and limbs.

Emergency volunteers who arrived first at the scene described the incident as extremely serious. Shmuel Feit and Binyomin Blau of Hatzalah said, “When we arrived at the scene we saw a pedestrian, an 11-year-old boy, suffering from injuries to his abdomen and limbs after being struck by a bus.”

Avremi Zeibald and Aviel Itach of Hatzalah and Magen David Adom added that they immediately began providing medical treatment. “We provided the child with initial medical treatment including bandaging and stabilization, and he was transported by intensive care ambulance to the trauma unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.”

At first, the boy’s condition was described as moderate to serious. However, his condition deteriorated rapidly after the accident and he was soon listed in critical condition. Doctors fought to save his life, but tragically he passed away during Shabbos.

The victim was identified as Michoel Shabtai, an 11-year-old talmid at Talmud Torah Nitei Meir in Beitar Illit. He was the oldest child of his parents, Reb Yisroel Shabtai and Mrs. Sarah Malka Shabtai. He was born after seven years of anticipation and heartfelt tefillos.

Immediately after the accident, the family asked the public to daven for the recovery of Michoel ben Sarah Malka. Thousands of Jews in Eretz Yisroel and around the world joined in tefillah and undertook Torah learning and good deeds in his merit, but despite those efforts he was ultimately niftar.

Following the news of his passing, several protesters gathered at the location of the accident and hung signs claiming the incident was a terror attack, noting that the bus driver involved in the accident was Arab.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu said Saturday night that “the moment of truth is approaching” in the war against Iran, calling on members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to lay down their weapons and urging the Iranian people to seize what he described as an opportunity for change.

Netanyahu delivered the remarks during a public statement to the media as Israel’s military campaign against Iran continues to develop. During the address, he appealed directly to both the Iranian population and members of the regime’s security forces.

At the start of his statement, Netanyahu reviewed Israel’s military actions over the past two and a half years, beginning with the Hamas massacre on Simchas Torah. He outlined the series of blows delivered to what he described as the Iranian-led terror axis across the region.

The prime minister said the war will continue “until the end.” He told the public that many Israelis have encouraged the government to continue fighting until victory is achieved.

“Citizens tell me — continue until the end and until victory. I say to you: We are continuing with full force!” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu added that Israel’s actions have dramatically shifted the balance of power in the region.

“We are changing the face of the Middle East. We have turned Israel into a regional power that deters and defeats our enemies,” he said.

He explained that Operation Roaring Lion began after Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — who was killed in the opening strike — ordered that nuclear weapons be hidden deep underground in order to protect them from attack.

During the address, Netanyahu again turned to the Iranian public, saying the war is creating conditions that could allow Iran’s citizens to determine their own future.

The prime minister also issued a direct appeal to members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, urging them to lay down their weapons.

“If you do so, no harm will come to you,” Netanyahu said, warning that those who refuse to surrender their arms would bear responsibility for the consequences. He added that Israel has a detailed plan that includes additional steps and “many surprises” designed to destabilize the Iranian regime.

Netanyahu concluded by addressing the Iranian people themselves, saying that “the moment of truth is approaching.”

“Your liberation from the yoke of tyranny will depend on you,” he said. “If you rise up, the day is not far off when Israel and Iran will once again be strong friends.”

At the end of his remarks, Netanyahu revealed that many countries are now approaching Israel seeking cooperation.

“Many countries are turning to us now for cooperation, and they are doing it because we are strong, we are just, and we are fighting,” he said.

According to Netanyahu, success in Iran would lead to “a dramatic expansion of the circle of peace around us.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

This past Shabbos, the olam haTorah and the olam hayeshivos marked ten years since the histalkus of the rosh yeshiva, Rav Chaim Shlomo Leibowitz zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Ponovezh and Kaminetz. In connection with the yahrtzeit, the Bamah magazine published an extensive interview with his son, Rav Uziel Leibowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Birchas Shmuel, reflecting on the personality, legacy, and enduring influence of his father.

“The loss in the olam haTorah and in the yeshivos is deeply felt,” Rav Uziel said. “At the same time, divreihem heim zichronam. He merited that his Torah spread throughout the entire world in a remarkable way.” Rav Uziel noted that both during his father’s lifetime and after his petirah, they were privileged to establish the mamleches haTorah Birchas Shmuel in Eretz Yisroel in his memory. Asked what it was like to grow up in the shadow of such a towering father, Rav Uziel spoke with great emotion.

He began by explaining that although they grew up in their father’s home, their father himself lived every moment with the image of his own father and grandfather before him. Everything he did followed the path that had been charted by his grandfather, the great rosh yeshiva Rav Boruch Ber. “We grew up in Yerushalayim,” Rav Uziel explained, “but in truth the spirit in our home was that of Rav Boruch Ber.” Their mother would often remark that their father did not merely remember Rav Boruch Ber, nor did he only study his approach. He lived Rav Boruch Ber. The entire course of his life was shaped by that towering figure, constantly seeking to learn from him the proper approach to Torah study and to life itself.

Rav Uziel described how his father’s entire lifestyle reflected the grandeur of an earlier era of great gaonim. In their home one could observe concepts and standards that were rarely seen elsewhere. When a person grows up with the living example of someone like Rav Boruch Ber guiding every step of life, he explained, one reaches levels that belong to earlier generations of greatness which we can hardly comprehend today.

He recalled the famous statement of his father’s rebbe, Maran HaGriz Soloveitchik zt”l, who once said about Rav Chaim Shlomo when he was only eighteen years old that just as Rav Boruch Ber had been the Rav Boruch Ber of the previous generation, Rav Chaim Shlomo would be the Rav Boruch Ber of the current generation. The Griz then cited the pasuk “עטרת זקנים בני בנים,” applying it to Rav Boruch Ber and Rav Chaim Shlomo.

After Rav Chaim Shlomo’s petirah, many remarked that with his histalkus the final living edition—the mahadura basra—of the Birchas Shmuel had departed from the world.

Rav Uziel continued by explaining that his father constantly stressed the importance of aspiration. The foundation of greatness in Torah and yiras Shamayim, he would say, lies in one’s ambitions. He would quote his grandfather, Rav Boruch Dov Leibowitz, who explained that Rav Boruch Ber merited to become Rav Boruch Ber because his lifelong aspiration had been to reach the level of Rav Akiva Eiger. If his ambitions had been more modest, he would never have reached such heights.

His father would also repeat the teaching of the Levush Mordechai, Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein zt”l, who said in his talks that the very foundation—the aleph-beis—of a ben yeshiva is the aspiration to become a gadol hador. A true ben yeshiva never settles for mediocrity but constantly strives to grow in Torah to the greatest extent possible.

This, Rav Uziel said, was the way his father lived. In matters of olam hazeh his life was marked by extraordinary simplicity. Anyone who entered his home could immediately see that this world was merely a corridor leading to Torah study and the fulfillment of mitzvos. But when it came to Torah itself there was no concept of limitation or contentment with less. There were no fixed hours for eating or sleeping; his entire day and night revolved around Torah. His life was completely immersed in Torah, in amalus baTorah, in striving in Torah, and in total dedication to Torah.

Today, Rav Uziel added, they have merited to establish institutions where hundreds of talmidim learn, and the spirit in those yeshivos reflects the same ideal — the aspiration for greatness in Torah, yiras Shamayim, and refined middos.

He also recalled hearing from one of the sons of the Griz that when the Griz wanted to teach his own children how to grow in Torah, he would tell them to look at Rav Chaim Shlomo and learn from his example.

When asked what it meant to be both the son and the foremost talmid of such a figure, Rav Uziel replied that to have a father who is also one’s rebbe muvhak — or conversely, a rebbe muvhak who is also one’s father — is an extraordinary gift from Shamayim. Throughout one’s life one has before him a living example who is both a fatherly figure and a spiritual mentor. In the presence of such a personality, he said, it becomes impossible to deviate even slightly.

In that context, the teaching aseh lecha rav takes on its fullest meaning. A genuine talmid connects to his rebbe with the same closeness that a son has to his father.

Rav Uziel noted that his father once told him in the name of the Griz that the pasuk “v’shinantam l’vanecha” refers to students because the phrase implies that the words of Torah must be sharp and precise in one’s mouth — something that only a true rebbe can instill in his talmidim.

The entire concept of what a rebbe and a talmid truly are, Rav Uziel said, had already been deeply ingrained in their family by their grandfather, Rav Boruch Ber.

He described how they witnessed the complete bitul their father showed toward his own father and teacher. Every aspect of his life — his limud, his thinking, even the exact wording he used when discussing a sugya — was shaped by how his father and grandfather had understood it. Before making any decision he would ask himself what his father and grandfather would have said or done.

Rav Uziel recalled the visible joy his father would experience after delivering a shiur klali in which he felt he had succeeded in accurately explaining the teachings of his father and grandfather.

He also described a conversation he once had with Maran Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l. Rav Elyashiv told him with great emotion that he still vividly remembered seeing Rav Chaim Shlomo learning with his father in the beis medrash Ohel Sarah. Rav Elyashiv said he could never forget the extraordinary bitul Rav Chaim Shlomo displayed toward his father.

Rav Uziel emphasized that his father’s talmidim felt a deep closeness and love from him, like sons. That relationship between rebbe and talmid, he said, was something his father had learned from Rav Boruch Ber, for whom the concept that talmidim are like children was not merely an idea but a living reality.

Rav Uziel also recalled a conversation he had with Maran Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l. Rav Shteinman told him that when he was young he had spent time in Kaminetz and had been instructed by his father to carefully observe the conduct of Rav Boruch Ber. Rav Shteinman said that even people who had not learned in the yeshiva could sense Rav Boruch Ber’s holiness and righteousness.

At the end of their conversation, Rav Shteinman asked Rav Uziel whether he knew why Rav Boruch Ber merited that his Torah is studied everywhere. Rav Uziel replied that this was precisely the type of question one asks in order to hear the daas Torah of the rosh yeshiva. Rav Shteinman then explained that it was because of Rav Boruch Ber’s extraordinary dedication to his talmidim. Because of that devotion, the talmidim in turn devoted themselves completely to continuing and spreading his Torah.

Rav Uziel added that his father himself displayed tremendous respect for every ben yeshiva and every talmid. He would speak to them with great honor and would never dismiss a student’s question as incorrect. Instead, he would strengthen the question and suggest what the student might have intended to ask. Often he would present the answer as emerging from the student’s own question so that the talmid would leave feeling he had discovered a genuine chiddush.

Rav Uziel also shared that his father would frequently spend Shabbos and Yom Tov recounting stories about the great gedolim of earlier generations. He would describe the events with remarkable detail, explaining what happened and why. Through these stories, Rav Uziel said, listeners could almost relive the experiences and absorb the ideals, yiras Shamayim, and values of those earlier generations.

This practice, he noted, also came from Rav Boruch Ber, who saw telling stories about the gedolei Yisroel as a powerful way to acquire yiras Shamayim and refined middos.

In conclusion, Rav Uziel spoke about the founding of the mamleches haTorah Birchas Shmuel in Eretz Yisroel. He said that his father had long cherished the aspiration that such a place of Torah be established in the spirit of Rav Boruch Ber, where future generations of bnei yeshiva could grow according to that tradition.

Indeed, with great siyata d’Shmaya they have merited to establish several institutions of Torah bearing the name Birchas Shmuel. The remarkable success they have seen, he said, is surely in the merit of their great grandfather Rav Boruch Ber and of his father Rav Chaim Shlomo Leibowitz zt”l, whose influence they continue to feel guiding the mekomos haTorah where new generations are growing and flourishing in Torah.

{Matzav.com}

Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is continuing efforts to secure support for passing the state budget amid the ongoing war, holding discussions with senior leaders of the chareidi parties as the government seeks to move the budget forward even before advancing the draft law.

According to sources, Netanyahu spoke on Thursday with Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni regarding the matter. The following day, MK Meir Porush met with the prime minister in his office as part of the ongoing attempts to reach an understanding with the chareidi factions.

During his conversation with Netanyahu, Gafni clarified that the rabbinic leadership has not yet reached a decision on the issue. He explained that the matter still requires discussion within the Degel HaTorah faction, including consultations with faction chairman MK Uri Maklev and other members of the party, and that no final position has yet been determined.

As reported in recent days, Netanyahu is seeking to pass the state budget before moving ahead with legislation regarding the draft law. The request comes in light of the continuing war and the assessment that the legislation cannot realistically be completed in the current circumstances.

At the same time, Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri, who also discussed the matter with Netanyahu, is said to be leaning toward supporting the move because of the war and the desire to avoid bringing down the government during such a critical period.

Officials in Shas, however, emphasized that their support is also dependent on the position taken by the Ashkenazi chareidi parties.

President Isaac Herzog said in an interview that any decision regarding a possible pardon for Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu must follow the legal process outlined under Israeli law.

Speaking to Fox News, Herzog emphasized that the issue is not currently under consideration while the country is engaged in war.

“Let’s put things on record and in perspective. First of all, during the war, there are no proceedings at all. So it’s off the charts and off the table. And the Prime Minister is solely focused on the war,” said Herzog.

He went on to explain the limits of his authority as Israel’s president and how the country’s system differs from governments where the head of state holds executive power.

“Number two, just to explain to your viewers, I’m the head of state. I don’t have executive powers. It’s similar to what you see in Europe and other countries. And I have the pardoning power. I’m, of course, obliged and sworn into Israeli law, just like you have American constitution for the President of the United States, we have the Israeli constitution for the President of Israel.”

Herzog added that any potential decision on a pardon would require input from the relevant legal authorities before he could act.

“I said that I will consider everything seriously, but I’m obliged under the process and under Israeli law to await opinions that must be given to me by the relevant authorities. And that is why, of course, everything is on the table, but it has to be done according to Israeli law,” Herzog stressed.

He also addressed recent calls from President Donald Trump urging him to pardon Netanyahu, responding with praise for Trump while maintaining that the matter remains an internal Israeli issue.

“I respect President Trump tremendously, honestly. And I take the brunt with a lot of affection and respect to him because he’s the leader of the free world who’s changing history. But on the merits of a case, which is an internal case in Israel, I am obliged, I’m sworn in, and I’m the President of the state of Israel.”

Herzog’s comments came several days after Trump sharply criticized him in an interview with Axios reporter Barak Ravid, accusing the Israeli president of delaying a pardon for Netanyahu.

“The president … should give Bibi the pardon today. I don’t want anything on Bibi’s mind other than fighting against Iran,” Trump said, claiming that Herzog had previously suggested he would grant the pardon but had not done so.

“He told me he would give it to him. But he has held it over Bibi’s head for a year,” Trump said. “Tell him I am exposing him. That president better …. give him the pardon right now – and stop using it as leverage for his own political career.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s administration has approved the rapid sale of more than 20,000 bombs to Israel valued at roughly $650 million by invoking emergency powers to bypass the usual congressional review process, according to a Reuters report citing two U.S. officials familiar with the transaction.

In a statement released late Friday, the U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that an emergency situation required immediate approval of the weapons transfer. Because of that determination, the administration waived the standard congressional review that typically accompanies arms sales of this scale.

According to Reuters, the weapons package includes 12,000 BLU-110A/B general-purpose bomb bodies weighing 1,000 pounds each, which Israel had previously requested.

The decision follows the launch of a joint U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran that began a week earlier.

“This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States,” the State Department said in its statement, noting that Repkon USA, a Texas-based company, will serve as the primary contractor.

A State Department official provided additional information on Saturday, explaining that the package also includes BLU-111 500-pound general-purpose bombs as part of an amendment to a previously approved sale.

The official also said Israel is expected to acquire an additional $298 million in essential munitions through direct commercial purchases.

The move drew criticism from some lawmakers. Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks objected to the decision to bypass Congress, arguing that the emergency declaration suggested the administration had not adequately prepared for the conflict.

“The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted it was fully prepared for this war. Rushing to invoke emergency authority to circumvent Congress tells a different story. This is an emergency of the Trump administration’s own creation,” Meeks said in a statement quoted by Reuters.

{Matzav.com}

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President Donald Trump sharply criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer today, saying the United Kingdom is only considering joining the military campaign against Iran after the United States has already achieved victory.

Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social, responding to reports that Britain may send naval forces to the region. “The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”

His comments came after Britain’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that one of the country’s two aircraft carriers had been placed on heightened readiness at Portsmouth in preparation for a possible deployment to the Middle East, according to the BBC.

A British destroyer, HMS Dragon, is also stationed in Portsmouth and preparing to depart for Cyprus after earlier delays.

Starmer has emphasized that the United Kingdom did not participate in the recent strikes but said British forces are still active in the region in a defensive role.

In remarks to the British public on Sunday, Starmer condemned Iran’s response to the U.S. strikes and described Tehran’s actions as dangerous.

He criticized what he called “indiscriminate” attacks by Iran after the U.S. strikes, adding, “The only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source.”

Starmer also confirmed that Britain agreed to a U.S. request to allow American forces to use British military bases for what he described as a limited purpose.

Trump also voiced frustration in comments to the Telegraph in the U.K., saying he was unhappy with the timing of Britain’s decision.

He told the newspaper he was “very disappointed” in Starmer and argued that it “took far too long” for the prime minister to authorize the use of British bases for U.S. operations.

Meanwhile, Britain has increased its military presence across the region. According to the Ministry of Defence, British fighter aircraft are conducting flights over Jordan, Cyprus, and Qatar as part of regional defense efforts, and a Merlin helicopter is being deployed to support aerial surveillance operations.

Starmer said his government’s approach is focused on stability and responsible leadership during the crisis.

“While the region has been plunged into chaos, my focus is providing calm, levelheaded leadership in the national interest,” Starmer said this week. “That means deploying our military and diplomatic strength to protect our people.

“And it means having the strength to stand firm by our values and our principles, no matter the pressure to do otherwise. The longstanding British position is that the best way forward for the regime and world is a negotiated settlement with Iran where they give up their nuclear ambitions.”

Starmer said that position is why Britain chose not to participate in the initial joint strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on February 28.

Speaking in Parliament this week, he also stressed that any British military action must meet strict legal and strategic standards.

“We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons. Any U.K. actions must ⁠always have a lawful basis, and a viable, thought-through plan,” Starmer said. “This government does not believe in regime change from the skies.”

Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss weighed in on the dispute, sharing Trump’s Truth Social comments on X and writing, “Justified and damning.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s ruling religious establishment may move within the next day to select a new supreme leader, according to reports indicating that members of the country’s Assembly of Experts could soon convene to make the decision.

Ayatollah Mozaffari, one of the members of the 88-member Assembly of Experts, said he hopes a meeting will be held in the coming 24 hours, although an official session has not yet been formally scheduled, according to Iranian International.

Because the Assembly’s regular meeting location was damaged in recent Israeli airstrikes, the selection process is expected to be conducted virtually.

The strikes earlier this week caused significant destruction to Iranian government and military facilities. According to The Jerusalem Post, the Tuesday attack “flattened” the IRGC’s compound in Qom, as well as a building in Tehran that served as the previous parliament site.

Under Iran’s political system, the Assembly of Experts is responsible for choosing the country’s supreme leader, and the next leader is expected to be selected from among the body’s 88 members.

Sources told the outlet that Mojtaba Khamenei had been expected to be announced as the next supreme leader on Saturday, but the vote did not proceed as planned after 14 members of the Assembly reportedly boycotted the session.

Mojtaba, the second son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is believed to have strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. However, some members of the Assembly have reportedly objected to the idea of transferring leadership directly to the son of the longtime ayatollah.

He has been widely associated with his father’s hardline ideological positions and strong anti-Western views.

President Donald Trump criticized the possibility of Mojtaba assuming the position, saying such a move would not resolve the current conflict.

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Trump said this week.

“We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”

President Donald Trump said today that U.S. forces have inflicted major damage on Iran’s military in recent days, claiming that dozens of Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed as part of the ongoing conflict.

Speaking at the first Shield of the Americas Summit, Trump said the United States had achieved significant military successes in Iran while also hinting that Washington may take action against Cuba. The summit is being led by outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Trump described what he said were decisive blows against Iran’s military infrastructure. “we’ve knocked out 42 navy ships” in three days, adding that the US is doing “very well” in Iran.

He also said Iranian air and communications systems had been severely damaged during the campaign. “We knocked out their Air Force. We knocked out their communications, and all telecommunications has gone,” Trump said of Iran.

The summit reflects Trump’s broader push to expand U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere under what his administration calls the “Donroe Doctrine,” a policy aimed at restoring stronger American leadership in the region. In recent decades, U.S. presidents have generally avoided asserting that level of control across the hemisphere.

Iran responded critically to Trump’s remarks. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that Iran’s president had signaled a willingness to reduce tensions under certain conditions.

According to Araghchi, the Iranian president “expressed openness to de-escalation within our region-provided that our neighbors’ airspace, territory, and waters are not used to attack the Iranian People.”

He added that the effort at easing tensions “Gesture to our neighbors was almost immediately killed by President Trump.”

While Trump said the administration’s primary focus remains on Iran, he also suggested the United States could soon turn attention toward Cuba.

The administration has already indicated it may support political change on the island and is examining claims by the Cuban government that four people were killed aboard a Florida-registered boat near the Villa Clara coastline last month.

“Cuba’s at the end of the line,” Trump said. “They’re very much at the end of the line. They have no money. They have no oil. They have a bad philosophy. They have a bad regime that’s been bad for a long time.”

The summit takes place as Trump devotes much of his current term to reshaping global trade relationships while also pressing leaders in the Western Hemisphere to increase efforts to stop illegal immigration.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the administration’s strategy is intended to strengthen stability and cooperation across the region.

“After years of neglect, President Trump established the ‘Donroe Doctrine’ to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere,” Kelly said in a statement emailed to Axios.

“The President has successfully strengthened our relationships in our own backyard to make the entire region safer and more stable.”

{Matzav.com}

A familiar and beloved figure who welcomed countless visitors to the Kosel HaMa’aravi for decades has passed away. Reb Mordechai Levy z”l, widely known as the “Ish HaKosel – Man of the Kosel,” passed away at the age of 81. His levayah was held on Friday and kevurah took place on Har HaMenuchos in Yerushalayim.

Reb Mordechai had become one of the most recognizable and cherished presences at the Kosel. For years, he stood in the shadow of the ancient stones of the site, greeting thousands of mispallelim with warmth.

Reb Mordechai passed away at Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim after a period of suffering. He leaves behind a large family, as well as countless admirers and regular visitors to the Kosel who feel his absence deeply.

Those who frequented the site knew that Reb Mordechai was far more than just another regular mispallel. He had become, in many ways, the living spirit of the Kosel plaza itself. Anyone who arrived at s’rid Beis Mikdasheinu, whether in the quiet hours before dawn or late at night, would likely encounter his radiant presence.

He was known for offering heartfelt brachos to anyone who approached him, greeting people with an unusually warm smile. His friendly words and encouragement made him a source of comfort for countless visitors.

Reb Mordechai had a particularly special connection with soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces. Whenever he noticed a soldier standing at the Kosel plaza in uniform, he would approach, place his hand gently on the soldier’s head, and shower him with brachos for protection and success.

Ali Larijani, one of the senior figures remaining in Iran’s leadership, issued a stark warning today that President Donald Trump would face consequences following the U.S. and Israeli military strikes that have severely weakened Iran’s top leadership.

Larijani, who currently serves as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and previously held a position within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, made the statement in a post on X. “We won’t let #Trump off the hook; he must pay the price—he’s martyred our leader and our people. This isn’t a simple matter; we won’t let it go until we retaliate in kind.”

Iran has been carrying out retaliatory attacks since last Saturday’s large-scale strike on Tehran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran has launched missiles and drones toward American military facilities located in territories around the Persian Gulf.

Larijani’s message was posted as Trump attended a solemn dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the remains of six U.S. soldiers killed in an Iranian strike on an American installation in Kuwait were returned to the United States.

Larijani, who was born into a well-known family in Iraq, has played a prominent role in Iranian politics for years. He previously served as a representative for Iran in negotiations over its nuclear program and has long been viewed as a figure likely to continue playing an influential role within the regime.

Earlier Saturday, Trump issued a warning of his own in a post on Truth Social, declaring that Iran would face severe consequences and suggesting that additional targets were now under consideration.

In that message, Trump said Iran would be “hit very hard” and added that areas and groups not previously regarded as targets were now “under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death.”

{Matzav.com}

Prediction market platform Kalshi is facing a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of refusing to pay out roughly $54 million to users who wagered that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would leave office before March 1, 2026.

Khamenei was killed on Saturday during joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that also killed hundreds of people, including several senior Iranian officials.

Those attacks came after months of military buildup by the United States in the region.

According to the lawsuit, many Kalshi users were attracted to the company’s “Khamenei Market” because of rapidly changing geopolitical developments surrounding Iran.

The complaint claims that only after the Iranian leader was killed did Kalshi invoke a contractual “death carveout” clause in order to avoid paying bettors.

“With an American naval armada amassed on Iran’s doorstep and military conflict not merely foreseeable but widely anticipated, consumers understood that the most likely—and in many cases the only realistic—mechanism by which an 85-year-old autocratic leader would ‘leave office’ was through his death. Defendants understood this as well,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit argues that the market language made clear that Khamenei leaving office could occur through any circumstance, including death.

The wording, according to the complaint, was “clear, unambiguous and binary,” and the plaintiffs describe Kalshi’s conduct as “deceptive” and “predatory.”

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the lawsuit also alleges that trading in the market continued even as reports about Khamenei’s death were beginning to spread.

Kalshi disputed the claims. A company spokesperson said the firm’s policies were consistent and clearly stated from the outset, explaining that the market rules “included every precaution …. to make sure people could not trade on the outcome of death.”

The spokesperson also said the company reimbursed users for fees and losses connected to the market.

“We even reimbursed all fees and net losses out of pocket — to the tune of millions of dollars — to make sure not a single person lost money on this market,” the spokesperson said.

Prediction markets have surged in popularity since the 2024 U.S. presidential election, when the real-time probabilities on such platforms proved more accurate than many traditional polls in predicting Donald Trump’s victory.

These markets allow users to trade contracts tied to real-world outcomes, covering topics that range from sporting events to political developments and economic indicators.

Typically, users purchase “yes” or “no” contracts priced between zero and 100 cents, with payouts triggered once the relevant outcome is officially confirmed.

{Matzav.com}

Mojtaba Khamenei, widely viewed as a leading candidate to succeed Iran’s late supreme leader, was reportedly injured during an Israeli airstrike carried out as part of the large-scale military campaign against Iran.

According to a report Saturday by The Times of Israel, the son of the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei survived an assassination attempt during the opening phase of Israel’s Operation Lion’s Roar on February 28, which coincided with the United States’ Operation Epic Fury.

The broader wave of strikes during the joint operation killed his father along with roughly 40 other senior officials in the Islamic Republic’s leadership.

Among those killed in the attack was Mojtaba’s wife, Zahra Haddad Adel, who came from a prominent family closely tied to Iran’s ruling religious establishment.

It remains unclear whether Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was inside his father’s compound when it was struck by Israeli airstrikes or whether he was targeted separately in another strike against regime leadership.

Reports have also not clarified the severity of the injuries he sustained.

Following the attack, Mojtaba is believed to have gone into hiding as Israel and the United States continue launching strikes against targets linked to the Iranian regime.

Within Iran’s power structure, Mojtaba has long been viewed as the preferred candidate of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to replace his father. However, some members of the 88-member Assembly of Experts—the body responsible for selecting the next supreme leader—have reportedly expressed reservations about transferring the country’s leadership to the late ayatollah’s son.

Mojtaba Khamenei has been known for strongly embracing the same hardline conservative ideology and anti-Western outlook that defined his father’s leadership of the Islamic Republic.

President Donald Trump criticized the possibility of Mojtaba taking power, saying such a move would be unacceptable to the United States and would not resolve the ongoing conflict.

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Trump said this week.

“We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”

According to reports, the Assembly of Experts may convene within the next 24 hours to discuss and potentially select the country’s next supreme leader.

Because the Assembly’s usual meeting location was destroyed in Israeli airstrikes earlier this week, the leadership vote is expected to be conducted remotely.

Whoever ultimately assumes the position will gain authority over the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful military force that has played a dominant role in governing the country for decades.

{Matzav.com}

Biden Draws Attention With Remark During Jesse Jackson Memorial Service

Joe Biden drew notice Friday during a memorial service for Rev. Jesse Jackson when he made a pointed remark while reflecting on his childhood experiences with a speech impediment.

The comment came as Biden spoke to mourners about being mocked as a young person for his stutter and how speech disorders are often misunderstood as a sign of lower intelligence.

“If I told you I had a cleft palate or clubfoot, none of you would have laughed,” Biden said.

“But it’s OK to laugh at stuttering. … It’s the one place where people think you’re stupid.

“Oh, really? I’m ….. a lot smarter than most of you,” he added, before quickly pivoting back to his broader point.

“But all kidding aside, it makes you feel really small.”

Biden delivered the remarks during a memorial gathering in Chicago attended by many prominent Democratic political figures and civil rights leaders who came to honor Jackson’s decades of activism and influence.

Among those present were former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, along with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Rev. Al Sharpton.

The service took place at the 10,000-seat House of Hope arena, where hundreds of attendees assembled to commemorate Jackson’s life and contributions.

Jackson, who passed away at the age of 84, first gained national recognition as a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement.

He later established the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and ran two campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, efforts that helped expand Black voter participation and reshape the Democratic Party’s political coalition.

Speakers throughout the memorial highlighted Jackson’s talent for forging alliances across political lines and bringing attention to the concerns of marginalized communities.

During his remarks, Biden also revisited his personal experiences with overcoming a stutter, using the story to speak about resilience and the emotional toll of being ridiculed as a child.

At another point in his speech, Biden spoke about Africa’s future population growth while recalling a past conversation involving Jackson.

“I remember telling Jesse that I knew I knew a guy, in South Africa,” former President Biden recalled.

“I was going to go see name is Nelson Mandela. And, I’m Jesse saying, how are you going? You guys actually see him, by the way? You know, the continent of Africa is going to be the largest continent in the world in terms of population of the year 2050, the largest in the entire world. Watch, man. Watch.”

The line in which Biden said he was “a lot smarter than most of you” quickly spread online and was added by critics to a list of remarks that have drawn attention on social media.

Under one repost of the viral moment from user Libs of TikTok, one commenter wrote, “That’s a strange line to deliver at a memorial service.”

Another quipped, “Never ending comedy from this guy. So happy he’s back in public.”

Aside from Biden’s remarks, the event largely centered on remembering Jackson’s long career as a civil rights leader and his role in shaping the modern Democratic Party while encouraging broader political participation across the United States.

Microsoft warned Friday that North Korean operatives are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools to pose as Western job applicants and obtain remote technology positions, allowing them to funnel salaries and access to corporate systems back to Pyongyang.

According to the company, the operation relies on fabricated or stolen identities that are used to apply for software development and IT positions at companies in Western countries.

Microsoft said the individuals involved rely on AI-generated images to create professional headshots, develop believable Western-sounding names and email addresses, and customize job applications to match specific postings. During job interviews, the company reported that some applicants employ voice-modification technology to disguise their accents.

The company also said the operatives continue using artificial intelligence after being hired, relying on it to draft emails, translate documents, and produce code while attempting to avoid suspicion. One network of North Korean operatives tracked by Microsoft under the name Jasper Sleet, the company said, “leverages AI across the attack lifecycle to get hired, stay hired, and misuse access at scale.”

Officials say the scheme is significant because it has evolved from simple payroll fraud into a broader security concern for companies.

U.S. authorities have previously said North Korean remote IT worker operations depend on stolen or falsified identities, facilitators located in the United States, and so-called laptop farms that allow workers located overseas to appear as though they are operating computers inside the United States.

In June 2025, the Justice Department said the schemes had infiltrated more than 100 American companies. The FBI has also warned that in some cases the workers have taken sensitive corporate data or attempted to extort companies using the information.

Microsoft said it shut down roughly 3,000 Outlook and Hotmail accounts last year that were connected to fraudulent North Korean IT worker operations.

The company advised employers to take additional precautions during hiring, including conducting interviews via video or in person and watching for potential signs of manipulated images such as irregularities around faces, eyes, ears, or glasses.

Federal investigators have issued similar recommendations, urging companies to strengthen identity verification procedures, closely examine employment histories, and carefully review remote hiring practices.

Upwork, one of the online job platforms mentioned as a site where software and IT roles are often posted, said it actively works to identify and remove fraudulent users from its marketplace.

{Matzav.com}

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday that gasoline prices could begin declining within a matter of weeks despite a recent surge tied to the escalating conflict with Iran, arguing that the disruption affecting global oil markets will likely prove temporary.

Speaking in an interview, Wright blamed Iran’s leadership for decades of volatility in energy markets. “Look, Iran’s been an escalator of energy prices [for] 47 years, the whole history of their regime,” Wright said.

He added that the current turmoil reflects a short-term disruption tied to efforts to stop Tehran’s actions in the region. “We got a little bit of an interruption right now to finally put an end to their ability to wreak havoc, to kill Americans, and to terrorize their neighbors.”

Wright’s comments came as global energy markets reacted to a sharp rise in oil and gasoline prices following U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iranian targets and Iran’s efforts to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The strategic waterway is considered one of the most critical oil transit routes in the world.

The narrow passage links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and typically carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s petroleum liquids supply.

Because of its importance, any threat to vessels moving through the strait raises immediate concerns in global markets and among American drivers monitoring fuel prices.

According to AAA, the national average cost of regular gasoline reached $3.32 per gallon on Friday, compared with $2.98 just one week earlier, as crude oil prices climbed and traders assessed the possibility of extended supply disruptions.

Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, cautioned that prolonged interference with shipping could significantly worsen the situation.

“That means millions of barrels of oil that would normally flow to global markets simply aren’t reaching buyers,” De Haan said.

“Every additional day [of] the disruption continues compounds the problem. Even if the Strait reopened immediately, the market would still face the challenge of catching up on days’ worth of missing shipments — an increasingly difficult task as the backlog grows.”

Market analysts have warned that if the Strait of Hormuz were to remain closed or severely restricted for an extended period, oil prices could rise substantially, increasing inflationary pressures and potentially creating political challenges in Washington after several months during which fuel costs had remained below levels seen throughout much of 2024 and early 2025.

President Donald Trump, who emphasized reducing energy costs during his 2024 campaign, dismissed concerns Thursday about a long-term increase in gasoline prices.

“I don’t have any concern about it,” Trump told Reuters.

“They’ll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit.”

Administration officials have said that military and naval actions currently underway are intended in part to stabilize energy markets, though investors are closely watching how long the conflict continues and whether commercial shipping can safely move through the Gulf.

Wright expressed confidence that markets will rebalance more quickly than many consumers expect.

He said the period before prices begin to decline will likely be measured in weeks rather than months.

For American drivers, however, the direction of gasoline prices will likely depend less on domestic demand and more on developments in the Middle East.

Shipping routes, refinery output, and oil export flows are expected to determine fuel price movements from day to day.

{Matzav.com}

Two shuls in Toronto, Canada, were struck by gunfire overnight in separate incidents that are now under investigation by local authorities.

The buildings hit were identified as the BAYT and Shaarei Shomayim shuls.

Police in Toronto and the neighboring York Region reported on social media that shots were fired at the two houses of worship around midnight. Authorities said that while bullets struck the buildings, no one was injured in either incident.

In a message posted on X, Toronto police acknowledged the fear such attacks create within the community. “We recognize that incidents like this are deeply concerning for members of the Jewish community. Synagogues in both Toronto and York region have been struck by gunfire this week,” the department said, noting that additional police presence has been deployed in Jewish neighborhoods throughout the area.

Jewish communities across Canada have experienced a sharp rise in antisemitic attacks in recent years. Incidents have included shootings and firebombings targeting Jewish institutions and community buildings.

Another shooting incident occurred earlier in the week when a shul was targeted on Tuesday. The attack took place shortly after the building had hosted Purim celebrations, with some individuals still present inside at the time.

Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilevre reacted strongly to the latest incidents, saying he was “appalled” by the Friday night shootings at the Shaarei Shomayim and Beth Avraham Yoseph shuls and warning that the Jewish community “is under attack in Canada.”

According to CBC, police had already stepped up patrols and increased their presence across the greater Toronto area earlier this week due to heightened tensions connected to the ongoing war in the Middle East.

{Matzav.com}