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The IDF on Tuesday afternoon issued a warning to evacuate the area of Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport. IDF spokesperson in Arabic Avichay Adraee wrote on X: “Urgent warning to all those present in the Sana’a International Airport area, as shown in the attached map.” “We call upon you to evacuate the airport area – Sana’a International Airport – immediately and warn everyone in your vicinity of the need to evacuate this area immediately.” “Failure to evacuate and move away from the place exposes you to danger.” The move follows Israel’s airstrikes on the Hodeidah port in Yemen and a concrete factory on Monday in response to the Houthis’ attack on Ben Gurion Airport a day earlier. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, announced that the administration is intensifying its diplomatic outreach to Iran and focusing heavily on efforts to free Israeli hostages being held in Gaza. These moves are part of a broader strategy ahead of President Trump’s upcoming trip to the region.

Speaking with Barak Ravid of Axios while attending the Israeli Embassy’s Independence Day celebration, Witkoff disclosed that Washington is preparing to restart negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

“The US is trying to schedule the fourth round of nuclear talks with Iran for this weekend. If it doesn’t happen it’s only because of the president’s trip to the Middle East,” Witkoff said.

Although the timing remains delicate, Witkoff expressed cautious hope that diplomacy could still prevail.

“We are making some progress. I hope it is moving in the right direction. The president wants to see this solved diplomatically if possible, so we’re doing everything we can to get it going,” he added.

The United States and Iran have already completed three rounds of nuclear discussions, with Witkoff leading the American delegation. A fourth session had been planned for Rome last weekend, but it was postponed, and no rescheduled date has been announced.

Addressing the matter of Israeli captives in Gaza, Witkoff said that daily coordination continues with regional actors like Egypt and Qatar to pave the way for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

“I hope we make progress. I hope we get everyone out. I talk to Qatar, Egypt, and Israel almost every day. President Trump wants to get the hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to get the hostages. We are working in a concerted way,” he told Ravid.

He noted that the administration hopes to reach a breakthrough “before or during President Trump’s trip to the Middle East.”

Trump’s itinerary next week includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. While Israel is not listed as a stop, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is reportedly planning a visit to Israel on May 12 before linking up with Trump in Saudi Arabia.

In remarks delivered at the Independence Day event, Witkoff acknowledged the somber tone of the celebration due to the continued captivity of 59 hostages by Hamas.

“On behalf of President Trump, I pledge that we will work tirelessly this year so that next year’s Independence Day is not just a wish for happiness, but a reality of peace, prosperity and for Israel, unity,” he said.

Witkoff also referenced other diplomatic developments, including humanitarian efforts in Gaza and the ongoing expansion of the Abraham Accords.

“There are many efforts underway. Humanitarian aid initiatives for Gaza, which we applaud, the expansion of the Abraham peace accords,” Witkoff continued, adding there will be “a lot of announcements very, very shortly” on this front.

Closing his remarks, the envoy called on the people of Israel to rally around shared values and national cohesion. He said, “to choose unity over division, vision over disagreement, and hope over despair. When you do, Israel’s future will shine brighter than ever.”

{Matzav.com}

IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin delivered a public briefing Monday evening from the Gaza border, addressing the next stage of military operations underway in the Gaza Strip.

During his remarks, Defrin emphasized that the central aim of the ongoing campaign is the safe return of the hostages being held by Hamas, framing this goal as inseparable from dismantling the terrorist organization—an apparent contrast to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement asserting the destruction of Hamas as the primary mission.

“We have a structured plan, we are making progress, and we are moving on to a new and more intensified phase of the operation in Gaza. The objective of the operation is the return of our hostages, the dismantling and decisive defeat of the Hamas regime. These are two goals that are intertwined.”

He outlined the next phase of military actions, which will involve relocating much of the civilian population of Gaza to safer zones, presumably to limit civilian casualties as operations target Hamas-controlled areas. The military campaign will be marked by sustained air assaults, targeted killings of terrorist leaders, and the destruction of Hamas infrastructure.

“The operation will include a wide-scale operation involving the movement of the majority of the Gaza Strip’s population in order to protect them in a Hamas-free zone. The operation will include continued airstrikes, elimination of terrorists, and dismantling of terrorist infrastructure. We will replicate the model implemented in Rafah in other areas of the Strip as well.”

Defrin added that a massive call-up of reserve troops is already underway, with tens of thousands of reservists being summoned to service. He acknowledged the burden placed on soldiers and their families and promised that the IDF would provide as much clarity and support as possible.

“A large-scale reserve mobilization has been carried out for the operation, we have issued call-up orders to tens of thousands of reservists. The reserve mobilization was carried out after a thorough analysis of our needs, and with a deep understanding of the strain on our personnel. We are working to provide greater clarity for our reservists, along with a tailored support system for them and their families. The reservists are the backbone of the IDF, and we honor and appreciate their contribution. We will continue to support them. The reserve mobilization at this time is difficult and complex, but it is being carried out in order to bring back our hostages, achieve a decisive outcome, and end the war.”

He accused Hamas of grossly underestimating Israel’s resolve and once again placing Gazan civilians in harm’s way. He cited recent incidents of Hamas operatives looting supplies intended for civilians, worsening the humanitarian crisis.

“Hamas misjudged – and continues to misjudge – our determination. Hamas is the one who initiated the vicious attack against us, Hamas is the one harming the Gazan population, Hamas is the one bringing destruction and devastation. Just this week, we saw Hamas looting stores and stealing food from the population. Hamas is the one starving them.”

The spokesperson stressed that the IDF would stay relentless in its pursuit of the operation’s goals and underscored that Israel is currently engaged in a multi-front conflict, requiring national unity and widespread mobilization.

“The IDF will continue to act with determination to achieve the objectives of the war. We are in a war like no other, a multi-front war with seven open fronts. We will be wherever there is an enemy, continuing to act to protect the residents and serve as a barrier between the enemy and our citizens. For this, we need the mobilization of everyone.”

Addressing the press directly, Defrin issued a pointed statement about his communication strategy, making it clear that updates would come based on necessity, not convenience.

“I will continue to speak, directly and matter-of-factly, to answer, to explain, and to reflect. I will speak to you when necessary, not when possible! We have set a principle – our actions will speak. So let our actions speak.”

Pressed by reporters about the messaging inconsistency between military and political leadership, Defrin clarified that the military’s approach aligns with the government’s directives.

“We believe that the action we are taking is the best method to implement the strategy established by the political echelon. The goals of the war are the return of the hostages and the toppling of Hamas’s rule.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, however, issued a sharp rebuke to the IDF spokesperson, emphasizing that policy decisions rest solely with elected officials and not with the military.

“IDF Spokesperson, you are once again confused to think that the army is above politicians. In a democracy, it works differently: the politicians decide, and the army executes. The top and primary goal is the downfall of Hamas, and only through that can we safely return the hostages. Failure to achieve this primary goal could lead, God forbid, to more murders and hostages in the future. This is what the politicians have decided, whether you like it or not.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Army is pausing helicopter flights near a Washington airport after two commercial planes had to abort landings last week because of an Army Black Hawk helicopter that was flying to the Pentagon. The commander of the 12th Aviation Battalion directed the unit to pause helicopter flight operations around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following Thursday’s close calls, two Army officials confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday. One official said the flights have been paused since Friday. The pause comes after 67 people died in January when a passenger jet collided in midair with a Black Hawk helicopter at Reagan airport. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that were not publicly announced. The unit is continuing to fly in the greater Washington, D.C., region. The unit had begun a return to flight within the last week, with plans to gradually increase the number of flights over the next four weeks, according to an Army document viewed by the AP. Thursday’s close call involved a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 and a Republic Airways Embraer E170, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. They were instructed by air traffic control to “perform go-arounds” because of a “priority air transport” helicopter, according to an emailed statement from the Federal Aviation Administration. The priority air transport helicopters of the 12th battalion provide transport service to top Pentagon officials. It was a Black Hawk priority air transport known as PAT25 that collided with the passenger jet in midair in January. That crash was the worst U.S. midair disaster in more than two decades. In March, the FAA announced that helicopters would be prohibited from flying in the same airspace as planes near Reagan airport. The NTSB and FAA are both investigating the latest close call with an Army helicopter. The Army said after the latest incident that the UH-60 Blackhawk was following published FAA flight routes and air traffic control from Reagan airport when it was “directed by Pentagon Air Traffic Control to conduct a ‘go-around,’ overflying the Pentagon helipad in accordance with approved flight procedures.” But helicopter traffic remains a concern around that busy airport. The FAA said that three flights that had been cleared for landing Sunday at Reagan were ordered to go around because a police helicopter was on an urgent mission in the area. All three flights landed safely on their second approaches. The NTSB said after the January crash that there had been an alarming number of close calls near Reagan in recent years, and the FAA should have acted sooner. Investigators have highlighted 85 close calls around Reagan airport in the three years before the crash that should have signaled a growing safety problem. FAA officials said they did analyze every close call but missed the alarming trend. Since then, the FAA launched a review of data at airports nationwide with heavy helicopter traffic that identified safety concerns at the Las Vegas airport related to all the helicopter tours there. That review is ongoing. Reuters first reported the pause in Army helicopter flights. In New Jersey on Monday, flight delays and cancellations persisted at Newark Liberty International Airport. The FAA attributed arriving flight delays of nearly four hours to a combination of an air traffic controller shortage, thick cloud cover and antiquated […]

President Donald Trump wants to convert Alcatraz back into a federal prison, decades after the California island fortress was converted into a U.S. tourist destination because it had become too costly to house America’s worst criminals. The prison off the coast of San Francisco is where the government sent notorious gangsters Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly as well as lesser-known men who were considered too dangerous to lock up elsewhere. Circled by herons and gulls and often shrouded in fog, Alcatraz has been the setting for movies featuring Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Clint Eastwood. Trump says Alcatraz, now part of the National Park Service, suddenly is needed to house America’s “most ruthless and violent” criminals. “When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be,” Trump said Sunday on his Truth Social site. What is Alcatraz? Alcatraz is in San Francisco Bay off the coast of San Francisco and visible from the Golden Gate Bridge. It is best known for its years as a federal prison, from 1934-63, but its history is much longer. President Millard Fillmore in 1850 declared the island for public purposes, according to the park service, and it soon became a military site. Confederates were housed there during the Civil War. By the 1930s, the government decided that it needed a place to hold the worst criminals, and Alcatraz became the choice for a prison. “A remote site was sought, one that would prohibit constant communication with the outside world by those confined within its walls,” the park service said. “Although land in Alaska was being considered, the availability of Alcatraz Island conveniently coincided with the government’s perceived need for a high security prison.” Why did it close? The remoteness eventually made it impractical. Everything from food to fuel had to arrive by boat. “The island had no source of fresh water,” according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, “so nearly one million gallons of water had to be barged to the island each week.” The cost to house someone there in 1959 was $10.10 a day compared with $3 at a federal prison in Atlanta, the government said. It was cheaper to build a new prison from scratch. Why is Alcatraz notorious? Despite the location, many prisoners tried to get out: 36 men attempted 14 separate escapes into the bay, according to the FBI. Nearly all were caught or didn’t survive the cold water and swift current. “Escape from Alcatraz,” a 1979 movie starring Eastwood, told the story of John Anglin, his brother Clarence and Frank Morris, who all escaped in 1962, leaving behind handmade plaster heads with real hair in their beds to fool guards. “For the 17 years we worked on the case, no credible evidence emerged to suggest the men were still alive, either in the U.S. or overseas,” the FBI said. “The Rock,” a 1996 fictional thriller with Connery and Cage, centers on an effort to rescue hostages from rogue Marines on Alcatraz. A national park Alcatraz became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and was opened to the public in 1973, a decade after it was closed as a prison. The park service […]

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Religious Zionist MK Simcha Rothman, the chairman of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, slammed the term “evasion law,” which some media outlets have been using to describe the law being formulated to regulate the status of lomdei Torah. Speaking in an interview with 103FM Radio on Tuesday morning, Rothman said: “I came to the conclusion, and every reasonable person knows this, that even if the government passes a law under which all members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah will enlist in Golani, you’ll call it an evasion law.” “When this government passed the same law that the previous government passed, you called it the ‘Equality of Burden Law,’ and now it has become the ‘Evasion Law.’ This issue requires a process; if we do it incorrectly, it will fail, and if we do it correctly, it will lead to integration,” Rothman asserted. Rothman’s brother is HaGaon HaRav Natan Rothman, a renowned marbitz Torah at Wolfson Yeshivah in Bayit Vegan, a Rosh Kollel and the mechaber of Sharei Daas and many other sefarim. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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The Trump administration on Monday sought to force Harvard University back to the negotiating table by informing the nation’s oldest and wealthiest college that it would not be eligible for any new federal grants. That decision was relayed in a contentious letter to Alan M. Garber, the president of Harvard, from Linda McMahon, the education secretary, who blasted the school for “disastrous mismanagement.” “This letter is to inform you that Harvard should no longer seek grants from the federal government, since none will be provided,” Ms. McMahon wrote in the letter. “Harvard will cease to be a publicly funded institution, and can instead operate as a privately-funded institution, drawing on its colossal endowment, and raising money from its large base of wealthy alumni.” It was the first significant response from the administration since Harvard sued to challenge the government’s decision to cut billions of dollars in research funding after the university defied demands for intrusive oversight. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Youssef Qadi, a Hamas platoon commander who participated in the October 7 massacre and was responsible for holding several hostages [who have since been released], surrendered to IDF forces in Gaza, the IDF revealed on Tuesday. Additionally, Muhammad Za’arab, a commander in Hamas’ sniper unit, surrendered to IDF forces along with Qadi. The IDF said that several knives were found in the terrorists’ possession after their surrender. The two were arrested by forces of the 188th Armored Brigade several weeks ago in Rafah in southern Gaza. Their interrogation by the Shin Bet yielded intelligence information on the location of “significant terrorist infrastructure” in the area, the IDF said. The IDF completed the move to encircle Rafah several weeks ago and is continuing to operate there. It will soon expand operations to nearby neighborhoods. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1487-Tocheles-Part-7.mp3

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

 

Senior Houthi official Hazam al-Assad threatened revenge on Israel in a poorly translated Hebrew post following Israel’s airstrikes on the Hodeidah port in Yemen and a concrete factory on Monday in response to the Houthis’ attack on Ben Gurion Airport a day earlier. Al-Assad wrote on X in broken Hebrew that “the Zionist-American attack on the port of Al-Hodeidah and the concrete factory in Bajil is a vile crime that will not go unanswered. The blood of the civilians and workers will be the fuel for a harsh and unequivocal Yemeni response. We will continue to support Gaza with faith and determination and strike deep into the enemy and disrupt its movements until the aggression stops and the siege is lifted. The response will be imminent…painful, and surprising.” Ynet reported that the Houthis are planning to add a “large target in Haifa” to their target bank. Since the resumption of Israel’s war in Gaza, the Houthis have fired dozens of missiles at Israel, with all but one intercepted by air defense systems or falling before reaching Israel. Sunday’s attack was the first time that the Houthis succeeded in striking Ben Gurion Airport, leading to dozens of airlines cancelling their flights to and from Israel. Meanwhile, senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti told Arab media that the Houthis coordinate every decision with Hamas, and the launch of the ballistic missile at Ben Gurion Airport was at the Gazan terror group’s request. “We do not regret the attack on Ben Gurion Airport,” he said. “It was a warning attack, and additional attacks will follow.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Stories4Life-Shiur-429-Your-Tefila.mp3

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld In Vayikra 19:3 the Torah tells us one has to fear his mother and father. The Gemara Yevamos 5b says one might think that Kibbud Av and Kibbud Eim is docheh Shabbos, but the above posuk finishes with the words, “That you shall keep my Shabbos.” Rashi in Kedoshim says that the Torah put the halacha of keeping Shabbos right next to Kibbud Av V’eim to tell you that despite the fact that Hashem commanded us to honor our father and mother; nevertheless, if one’s parent requests you to be mechallel Shabbos, don’t listen to the parent. This rule would apply to all other mitzvos as well.                 There is a famous machlokes Rishonim whether or not a person needs to honor a father who is a rasha. One group of Rishonim is of the opinion that one is not required to honor a parent who is a rasha. This is the opinion of Rashi in Sanhedrin 47a. The Rema in Yoreh Deah 240:18 agrees with Rashi. On the other hand, the Bais Yosef  paskens that one still has a chiyuv to honor his parent, even if the parent is a rasha. If we go according to the opinion that one is not required to honor a parent who is a rasha, why would we need a special posuk telling us not to listen to a parent when he or she says to be mechallel Shabbos. This father would be considered a rasha. Why would somebody even think of needing to listen to him?                 There are a number of answers to this question. The first answer could be based upon the premise that if a father commands his son to be mechallel Shabbos he would not be doing an issur since an asseh of Kibbud Av is docheh the lo saaseh of Shabbos. The father would therefore not be considered a Rasha. The Torah has to therefore give a special posuk to say that a father cannot command a son to be mechallel Shabbos.                The second answer is based on the Hagahos Maimonis, Hilchos Mamrim 6:12 where we see that through speech alone one is not considered a rasha since the father could always say that we have a klal,    “Divrei horav vedivrei hatalmud divrei mi shomim.” We find the only time a person is considered a rasha is if he is a meisis.                 The third tirutz is based on the Chezkuni. In the case of a father asking his son to be oveir a shvus which is a DeRabbanan, he still does not listen to him. Similarly, even in a case where he was mekabel Shabbos early, and his father was not, he still would not need to listen to his father. The Chida answers that even if the father is under the impression that this action is something allowed to be done on Shabbos, he would not be considered a rasha. May we be zocheh to be mekayem both the mitzvos of Kibbud Av and Shmiras Shabbos properly.

President Donald Trump addressed questions on Monday regarding an image that circulated online over the weekend showing him dressed as the pope, which had been shared by the official White House account. Trump insisted the image was well received by many, particularly Catholics.

In a tense exchange in the Oval Office, a reporter pointed out that “some Catholics were not so happy about the image of you looking like the Pope.” Trump didn’t hesitate to respond sharply. “Oh, I see you mean they can’t take a joke; you don’t mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media… The Catholics loved it,” Trump said.

Trump clarified that he had no hand in producing or sharing the image and suggested it emerged independently online. “I had nothing to do with it. Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the Pope, and they put it out on the internet. That’s not me that did it,” he said. “I have no idea where it came from. Maybe it was AI, but I know nothing about it. I just saw it last evening.”

He mentioned that Melania Trump had seen the picture and found it amusing. “Actually, my wife thought it was cute. She said, ‘Isn’t that nice?’ Actually, I would not be able to be married, though, that would be a lot,” Trump said, prompting laughter from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who was seated nearby. “To the best of my knowledge, popes aren’t big on getting married, are they?”

When the reporter pressed further, questioning whether such an image undermined the seriousness of the official White House communications, Trump dismissed the concern. “Give me a break.”

Brushing off the criticism, Trump concluded, “Somebody did it in fun, it’s fine. You have to have a little fun, don’t you?”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

State prosecutors dropped felony charges Monday against seven people accused of trespassing and resisting police a year ago during the break-up of a pro-Palestinian camp at the University of Michigan. Attorney General Dana Nessel said she believed the cases were strong but suggested her office was worn down by criticism and other factors. She noted that a judge in Washtenaw County still hadn’t decided whether to send the cases to a trial court despite multiple hearings. “Baseless and absurd allegations of bias have only furthered this divide,” said Nessel, a Democrat, who added that “distractions and ongoing delays have created a circus-like atmosphere.” The camp on the Diag, a traditional site for campus protests, was cleared by police in May 2024 after a month. The university said the camp had become a threat to safety, with overloaded power sources and open flames. Defense attorney Amir Makled said Nessel was trying to turn free speech into a crime. “We sent a clear message to both Lansing and to Washington, that the people still rule, and that public pressure compels the rule of law to be upheld,” Makled said Monday. Protesters had demanded that the school’s endowment stop investing in companies with ties to Israel. The university insisted it has no direct investments and less than $15 million placed with funds that might include companies in Israel. (AP)

In a landmark decision with far-reaching implications for the Torah world, the rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, has announced that the Keren Olam HaTorah initiative will be extended for another year.

The fund, established last year to provide critical support to Israeli yeshivos and kollelim grappling with steep budget cuts, is set to continue its lifesaving mission following months of deliberation.

Sources close to the rosh yeshiva confirmed that Rav Hirsch will be embarking on another global fundraising mission shortly after Shavuos, joined by leading gedolim representing all sectors of Torah Jewry.

The delegation will travel to the United States and other major Jewish centers as part of the renewed effort to raise funds.

The decision to continue the campaign came after intense internal debate and discussions with major philanthropists. In recent weeks, numerous roshei yeshiva visited Rav Hirsch’s home, pleading with him to maintain the fund that had provided crucial financial breathing room to Torah institutions throughout the past year.

As previously reported, during Chol Hamoed Pesach, Rav Aviezer Piltz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tifrach, visited Rav Hirsch and heard firsthand about the ongoing deliberations.

After extended consultation and soul-searching, Rav Hirsch reached a definitive decision: Keren Olam HaTorah will move forward into its second year.

Over the past year, the fund succeeded in distributing tens of millions of dollars to hundreds of yeshivos across Eretz Yisroel. This was done in direct response to severe government budget slashes that threatened to destabilize the backbone of the Torah world.

Last year’s fundraising efforts saw roshei yeshiva, admorim, and rabbonim travel across the United States, South America, and London, rallying support and galvanizing communities around the shared mission of hachzokas haTorah.

{Matzav.com Israel}

At a dramatic emergency meeting held Monday evening at the home of Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, dozens of prominent roshei yeshiva convened to raise their voices against the ongoing legal and governmental pressure facing the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel.

The urgent meeting was opened with Tehillim by Rav Betzalel Pinchasi, rosh yeshiva of Birchas Ephraim.

In his opening remarks, Rav Eliezer Kahaneman, nosi of the Ponovezh Yeshiva, spoke about the financial straits in which yeshivos find themselves, and the essential role that the Keren Olam HaTorah has played in allowing Torah institutions to continue functioning this past year.

Representing roshei yeshiva across the country, Rav Daniel Wolfson of Nesivos HaChochmah called upon Rav Landau to once again turn to generous donors around the world to support Torah learning during this precarious time.

But it was Rav Landau himself who issued the strongest and most emotional call to action, declaring from the depths of his heart, “The judicial authorities are increasing their oppressive decrees and now threaten to draft our yeshiva bochurim. It will not happen! The government has yet to solve this issue, and our minds are fully occupied with this danger. We cannot stand idly by. All avenues are open to us when it comes to this matter — the heart and soul of our people.”

Rav Landau recalled how, just a year ago, in the wake of harsh judicial rulings that halted government funding for yeshivos and kollelim, Torah leaders traveled overseas to establish Keren Olam HaTorah. “Together with other gedolei Torah, we launched an emergency campaign,” he said, “and with tremendous siyata d’Shmaya, generous and righteous donors stepped forward, not only giving from their own resources, but also taking upon themselves the burden of fundraising vast sums.”

He emphasized that wherever they traveled, they witnessed extraordinary generosity from people moved by their deep love of Torah. “The kavod Shamayim was uplifted by the passionate ahavas haTorah and mutual responsibility of Yidden across the globe. The needed funds were raised and distributed fairly and honestly, and the halls of Torah continued to shine with increased vigor,” Rav Landau said.

Now, he explained, the time has come to act again. “I feel personally obligated to once again undertake this mission, despite the great difficulties involved. I ask you all to daven for me, that Hashem should grant me strength and healing, so I can travel once more to protect our yeshivos and kollelim, the crown jewel of creation. May Hashem help us, and may this evil decree be swiftly nullified.”

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, also addressed the gathering, noting that donors have already reached out to express their willingness to once again stand by Olam HaTorah. “It is their zechus to support Torah,” he remarked.

Rav Avraham Salim, a member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, described the emotional response of Jewish communities around the world to the previous fundraising mission, which saw Rav Landau personally travel from community to community to secure support for Torah.

Closing remarks were delivered by Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron, who expressed awe at Rav Landau’s strength and leadership. “Despite his advanced age and having undergone surgery just days ago,” Rav Cohen said, “he stands and declares: We are flying abroad to stand with the Olam HaTorah.”

A message from the Vizhnitzer Rebbe was delivered to the assemblage by Rav Menachem Ernster, rosh yeshiva of Vizhnitz.

Also present at the gathering were other roshei yeshiva, including Rav Tzvi Drebkin, Rav Shraga Shteinman, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, and others, including Rav Moshe Chaim Dendrovitz on behalf of the Gerrer Rebbe and and Rav Yosef Moshe Dov Halberstam on behalf of the Sanzer Rebbe.

{Matzav.com Israel}

After months spent pursuing a plan to convert itself into a for-profit business, OpenAI is reversing course and said Monday its nonprofit will continue to control the company that makes ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence products. “We made the decision for the nonprofit to stay in control after hearing from civic leaders and having discussions with the offices of the Attorneys General of California and Delaware,” said CEO Sam Altman in a letter to employees. Altman and the chair of OpenAI’s nonprofit board, Bret Taylor, said the board made the decision for the nonprofit to retain control of OpenAI. The nonprofit already has a for-profit arm, but that arm will be converted into a public benefit corporation “that has to consider the interests of both shareholders and the mission,” Taylor said. However, Taylor declined to say Monday how large of an ownership stake the nonprofit will have in the new public benefit corporation. He said in a call with reporters that the nonprofit will choose the board members of the public benefit corporation and, at first, they will likely be the same people who now sit on OpenAI’s nonprofit board. Public benefit corporations were first created in Delaware in 2013 and other states have adopted the same or similar laws that require the companies to pursue not just profit but a social good. Public benefit corporations, which include Amalgamated Bank and the online education platform Coursera, need to define that social good, which can vary broadly, when they incorporate. Altman said that converting from a limited liability company to a public benefit corporation “just sets us up to be a more understandable structure to do the things that a company of our scope has to do.” Among the changes would be removing a cap OpenAI had placed on how much profit it could make. “There’s so much more demand to use AI tools than we thought there was going to be,” Altman said. Getting access to more capital will make it easier for OpenAI to pursue mergers and acquisitions “and other normal things companies would do,” Altman said. OpenAI’s co-founders, including Altman and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, originally started it as a nonprofit research laboratory on a mission to safely build what’s known as artificial general intelligence, or AGI, for humanity’s benefit. Nearly a decade later, OpenAI has reported its market value as $300 billion and counts 400 million weekly users of ChatGPT, its flagship product. OpenAI first outlined plans last year to convert its core governance structure but faced a number of challenges. One is a lawsuit from Musk, who accuses the company and Altman of betraying the founding principles that led Musk to invest in the charity. A federal judge last week dismissed some of Musk’s claims and allowed others to proceed to a trial set for next year. OpenAI also faced scrutiny from the top law enforcement officers in Delaware, where the company is incorporated, and California, where it operates out of a San Francisco headquarters. The California attorney general’s office said in a statement that it was reviewing the plan and, “This remains an ongoing matter — and we are in continued conversations with Open AI.” The attorney general’s office in Delaware did not immediately return a request for comment. A number of advocates, including former […]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday directed the active duty military to shed 20% of its four-star general officers as the Trump administration moves forward with deep cuts that it says will promote efficiency but that critics worry could result in a more politicized force. Hegseth also told the National Guard to shed 20% of its top positions and directed the military to cut an additional 10% of its general and flag officers across the force, which could include any one-star or above or officer of equivalent Navy rank. The cuts are on top of more than a half-dozen top general officers that President Donald Trump or Hegseth have fired since January, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown Jr. They also have fired the only two women serving as four-star officers, as well as a disproportionate number of other senior female officers. In the earlier rounds of firing, Hegseth said the eliminations were “a reflection of the president wanting the right people around him to execute the national security approach we want to take.” As Pentagon chief, Hegseth has touted his efforts to root out any programming or leadership that endorses diversity in the ranks, tried to terminate transgender service members and begun sweeping changes to enforce a uniform fitness standard for combat positions. In a memo announcing the cuts Monday, Hegseth said they would remove “redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership.” He said the aim was to free the military from “unnecessary bureaucratic layers.” Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a Marine who served in Iraq and is now on the House Armed Services Committee, said he sees Hegseth’s actions as trying to politicize the military. “He’s creating a formal framework to fire all the generals who disagree with him — and the president,” Moulton told AP at the Capitol. He said certainly any organization can look for efficiencies but Hegseth has long been explicit about his agenda. “He wrote a book about it. He wants to politicize the military,” Moulton said. “So it’s hard to see these cuts in any other context.” Moulton warned of fallout for the troops. “It is essential that our troops understand they are getting constitutional orders, not political orders,” he said, “because otherwise you don’t have a democracy, otherwise you have a military that just works well for one political party or another.” Adding to the turmoil in the Pentagon, Hegseth in recent weeks has dismissed or transferred multiple close advisers, tightly narrowing his inner circle. He also has been facing questions from both Democrats and Republicans about his handling of sensitive information and use of the Signal messaging app. There are about 800 general officers in the military, but only 44 of those are four-star general or flag officers. The Army has the largest number of general officers, with 219, including eight four-star generals. The number of general officer positions in the military is set by law. Members of Congress were not provided with the advance notification they normally would receive on the cuts but were given a “very brief alert” this afternoon, according to a congressional staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not made public. The cuts were first reported by CNN. The Pentagon is under pressure to slash spending and […]