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During operations overnight in the West Bank village of Baqat al-Hatab, the IDF says it demolished the home of a Palestinian terrorist who killed an Israeli last year.

This morning, a small business jet, believed to be a Cessna Citation S/II, crashed into the Tierrasanta military housing community in San Diego while attempting to land at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. Authorities have confirmed one fatality and reported damage to multiple homes and vehicles in the area.

Assemblyman Avi Schnall, a key player on Agudah’s federal legislative team, hails the House’s approval of Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill,” which includes billions for a national private school educational tax credit program.

President Trump following the passing of his “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” in the House of Representatives: “This is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country!”

NO SURPRISES: Jew-hating Rep. Ilhan Omar IGNORES the assassination last night of two Israeli diplomats in America. She was asked if she has a comment – her comment? “I’m gonna go for now.”

Missile alert sirens blared at midday on Thursday in Jerusalem, Gush Etzion, the Yam Hamelech area, Yehuda and Shomron, and central Israel. Shortly later, the IDF spokesperson reported that one missile launched from Yemen was successfully intercepted.

The House has passed President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” prompting a wave of cheers and applause on the House floor. The bill includes $5 billion for the ECCA, a national scholarship tax credit that could significantly assist Orthodox Jewish families in paying school tuition.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Thursday condemned the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., calling it a “heinous antisemitic murder.”

Netanyahu attributed the attack to “blood libels against Israel,” suggesting that incitement and false accusations against the Jewish state had fueled the violence.

According to a statement from his office, Netanyahu spoke with Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Yehiel Leiter and received “an immediate update on the details of the incident,” while also expressing his support for the envoy and the embassy staff.

The prime minister also spoke with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who “detailed everything currently known about the identity of the murderer and the two embassy staff members who were killed.”

According to the statement, Bondi told Netanyahu that she was “deeply sorry,” and that “President Donald Trump is personally involved in managing the response to the incident.” She assured the prime minister that “the United States will ensure the murderer is brought to justice” and conveyed her condolences “to the families of the young couple who were soon to be engaged.”

Netanyahu thanked both Bondi and Trump “for their clear stance against antisemitism.”

In his remarks, the prime minister stated:

“We are witnessing the horrific price of antisemitism and the rampant incitement against the State of Israel. Blood libels against Israel result in spilled blood, and they must be fought with all our might. My heart aches for the families of the beloved young man and woman whose lives were abruptly cut short by a vile antisemitic murderer. I have instructed to reinforce security arrangements at Israeli missions around the world and to increase protection for our representatives.”

Leiter revealed that the victims were a couple about to be engaged. The man had recently purchased an engagement ring and planned to propose next week in Yerushalayim.

The shooting occurred near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., following a Young Diplomats Reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee.

The suspected shooter, Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” after the attack and was apprehended at the scene. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation.

Israeli leaders call D.C. murders antisemitic terror

Other Israeli leaders from across the political spectrum responded with outrage and sorrow following the murder in the U.S. capital, describing the attack as a clear act of antisemitic terrorism fueled by global incitement.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared: “The murder tonight in Washington is a continuation of the murder in Bruchin and a continuation of the massacre in Nir Oz [on Oct. 7, 2023].” Tzeela Gez, 30, was killed in a Palestinian terrorist attack outside Bruchin, Samaria on May 14 while on her way to the delivery room.

“The same burning antisemitic hatred, which is now aimed at negating the existence of the State of Israel. For thousands of years, the people of Israel have been dealing with the desire to destroy us. They could not and will not be able to. This people is stronger than any hatred and will overcome its enemies’ desire for murder,” he said.

“I have no doubt that the authorities in Washington will bring the full severity of justice to bear on the despicable murderer and will work to protect Jewish communities and Israeli institutions. My deepest condolences to the families of the embassy employees. The entire nation is with you and embraces you,” he concluded.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated: “I was shocked to hear about the murderous attack in Washington, in which two Israeli embassy employees paid with their lives. Sending my condolences to the dear families who lost their loved ones, and encouragement to Israel’s foreign forces, who are fighting our war around the world hour by hour.

“Unfortunately, anti-Semites around the world draw strength from villainous politicians in Israel, who accuse IDF soldiers of murdering children as a hobby,” he said.

Israeli opposition figure Yair Golan, a former IDF deputy chief of staff and leader of the Democrats Party, ignited outrage this week after claiming the Israeli government was “killing babies as a hobby” amid military operations in Gaza.

The D.C. victims’ blood “is on their hands,” wrote Ben-Gvir.

Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar added: “I’m shocked by the murderous attack against the employees of our embassy in Washington, where I visited only a few days ago. I embrace all the employees of the diplomatic staff around the world in general and in the US in particular.

“When vile and irresponsible politicians slander Israel with false accusations of genocide and war crimes, it was clear that antisemitism would raise its head and Palestinian terrorists would receive a tailwind to carry out attacks.”

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said: “I am shocked and heartbroken by the brutal murder of two members of the Israeli delegation in an antisemitic shooting attack in the heart of Washington, D.C. My thoughts are with the families of the victims, the embassy staff, and the entire people of Israel at this painful hour.”

Noting that the shooter had reportedly shouted “Free Palestine,” Chikli said that it now been “proven in blood” the slogan was a call to violence.

“This slogan, parroted by activists, academics, and influencers, has become a banner not for peace but for hatred, violence, and the demonization of the Jewish state. Anyone who uses it now, in the wake of this attack, is not just echoing antisemitism—they are legitimizing the murder of Jews and Israelis,” he said.

He singled out French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, stating that each had, in various ways, “emboldened the forces of terror through their failure to draw moral red lines.”

Such “cowardice” had a price, he continued, “and that price is paid in Jewish blood.”

“We will continue to fight antisemitism everywhere – with clarity, courage, and zero tolerance,” he added.

Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu said, “Yair Golan’s blood libels are echoing among Nazis and Israel-haters around the world. We are now paying the price for them in the murderous attack in Washington, and history teaches us that we will pay even more in the future. Yair, the blood of the embassy employees is on your hands and those of your associates. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the murders an example of what the slogan “Globalize the Intifada” means in practice. “The horrific double murder in Washington DC was an act of antisemitic terrorism and a direct result of the incitement we’ve seen at protests across the world,” he said. “This is what they always meant by ‘Globalize the Intifada.’ My thoughts and prayers are with all the staff of Israel’s embassy in the USA and with the families of the victims.”

Israel’s opposition National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz stated: “I am heartbroken and horrified at the vile antisemitic murder of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington D.C this morning. What starts as ‘globalize the intifada’ on college campuses not surprisingly ends in cowardly murder shouting ‘free Palestine’ on the streets.”

He extended his condolences to the victims’ families, and said his thoughts were with Jewish communities in the United States, and with the American people.

“Israel and the United States will stand together stronger than ever, and overcome, this evil,” he concluded. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Multiple people on board a private plane that crashed into a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday are dead, authorities said. Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy said during a news conference that they will be investigating whether the plane hit a power line. No one on the ground was injured, he said. San Diego police and fire officials said the plane could hold eight to 10 people but they do not yet know how many were on board. Assistant San Diego Fire Chief Dan Eddy said no one was injured on the ground. “When it hit the street, as the jet fuel went down it took out every single car that was on both sides of the street,” Eddy said. “You can see that every singe car was burning down both sides of the street.” San Diego officials haven’t released details about the plane that crashed but said it was a flight coming in from the Midwest. The flight tracking site Flight Aware lists a Cessna Citation II jet that was scheduled to arrive at the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive airport in San Diego at 3:47 a.m. from the small Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. SAN DIEGO (AP) — A small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood during foggy weather early Thursday, setting about 15 homes on fire as well as vehicles, and forcing evacuations along several blocks, authorities said. “We have jet fuel all over the place,” Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy said during a news conference. “Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now.” He said “there is a direct hit to multiple homes” in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood and described “a gigantic debris field” in an area of densely populated homes and sweeping canyon views. It was not known if there were any deaths or injuries. On the street, one home’s roof was blackened and collapsed, with a piece of white metal sitting on the street in front. Half a dozen fully charred cars sat on the street and tree limbs, glass and pieces of white and blue metal were scattered on the road. At the end of the street black smoke billowed as the site continued to burn. Christopher Moore, who lives one street over from the crash site, said he and his wife were awakened by a loud bang and saw smoke when they looked out the window. They grabbed their two young children and ran out of the house. On their way out of the neighborhood they saw a car engulfed in flames. “It was definitely horrifying for sure, but sometimes you’ve just got to drop your head and get to safety,” he said. Police rescued three husky puppies from one of the homes and rolled them away from the crash scene in a wagon. A few blocks away, families including Moore’s stood in their pajamas in a parking lot waiting for word of when they can return to their homes. Many military service members live in the neighborhood, which is made up of single family homes and townhomes. It also is heavily populated by small civilian and military aircraft. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport and Gillespie Field are nearby. Eddy […]

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From an early love of science to an impressive academic career, Rachelle Halpert’s path to becoming the valedictorian of the women’s division of the Lander College of Arts & Sciences (LAS) in Flatbush has been marked by passion, perseverance and a commitment to helping others. A biology honors major, Rachelle grew up in Monsey, New York, attended Bais Yaakov D’Rav Hirsch in Spring Valley for high school, and studied at Bais Yaakov Machon Raaya in Israel. But she traces her interest in the sciences back to elementary school. “In fifth grade, my teacher assigned each student a different organ system to present,” she said. “I was so excited to put it together. I still remember gluing kidney beans onto my poster board to represent the kidneys.” That excitement for science grew even stronger over time, fueled by summer jobs as a lifeguard, CPR instructor, and volunteer counselor at Camp Simcha, an experience she called “very meaningful” in shaping her decision to pursue a career in the medical field. Choosing Touro was a natural step, and not just because her grandmother, a judge, taught business and consumer law many years ago in Touro. “As a frum Bais Yaakov girl, attending Touro wasn’t even a decision for me; it was a given,” Rachelle said. “I was drawn to the community of like-minded people, commitment to Torah values, and ambitious graduates.” Her experience at Touro Flatbush exceeded her expectations, giving her both strong friendships and a solid foundation for her future career. “Rachelle is graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She is truly a star, both academically and in the midos that she displays.“ said Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, executive Dean of Touro Flatbush. While at LAS, Rachelle seized every opportunity to deepen her knowledge. She collaborated on a research project with her chemistry professor, Dr. Eli Ron, sharpening her laboratory techniques, and gaining hands-on experience. She also took advantage of information sessions for pre-health majors, where she connected with deans of Touro’s graduate programs. Outside the classroom, Rachelle has been working as a medical assistant in a pediatric office for nearly two years. “My job entails taking patient vitals and performing diagnostic tests,” she said. “Working in this office made me realize I love pediatrics, and I hope to specialize in it in the future.” Rachelle’s free time is filled with a variety of interests—spending time with family and friends, playing piano and chess, baking, sewing, swimming, and volunteering. And she is especially passionate about supporting children facing health challenges and has volunteered extensively for Chai Lifeline’s pediatric oncology unit. This summer, she will be volunteering for Birthright in Israel. Looking ahead, Rachelle plans to work in Urgent Care next year. While she loves pediatrics, she is excited by the opportunity to learn about and experience a variety of specialties so she can  explore her options before deciding on her career path within the medical field. But wherever she goes or whatever she does, Rachelle believes she has the foundation for success. “I feel that Touro has prepared me well for graduate school and beyond.”

Two Israeli embassy employees tragically lost their lives Wednesday night after being shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were not only coworkers but also  reportedly just days away from becoming engaged.

The attack occurred as the couple left the American Jewish Committee’s ACCESS Young Diplomats Reception around 9 p.m. The Israeli Embassy in Washington shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, mourning the loss of two cherished team members. “Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives,” the Embassy of Israel to the USA wrote on X.

The statement continued, “This evening, a terrorist shot and killed them as they exited an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC. The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss. Our hearts are with their families, and the embassy will be by their side during this terrible time.”

According to Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, Lischinsky had purchased an engagement ring just days earlier and planned to propose during an upcoming trip to Yerushalayim.

Both individuals served at the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Lischinsky, originally from Israel, had been working as a research assistant in the Political Department since September 2022. His background included three years of service in the Israel Defense Forces, as noted on his LinkedIn profile.

Milgrim, an American Jew with academic credentials from the University of Kansas and American University, joined the embassy’s Public Diplomacy department in November 2023. Her responsibilities included organizing delegations and missions to Eretz Yisrael.

The reception they attended was hosted by the AJC and is considered its flagship annual event, bringing together Jewish professionals aged 22 to 45 along with members of the diplomatic corps. This year’s theme focused on channeling pain into purpose and addressing humanitarian concerns in the Middle East and North Africa.

After the event concluded at the museum’s location on 575 3rd St. NW, just steps from both the FBI field office and the US Attorney’s Office, the couple and two others were targeted in a sudden act of violence.

DC Police Chief Pamela Smith explained that the shooter, Elias Rodriguez, had been observed lingering near the museum before suddenly opening fire on the group. He then discarded his weapon and fled into the museum, where he confessed to the attack. During his arrest, he reportedly yelled “Free, free Palestine.”

Just under two weeks before their deaths, Lischinsky and Milgrim had taken part in an Israeli Independence Day celebration hosted at the embassy. In a post featuring a photo of the smiling couple, Lischinsky had written, “We are deeply grateful for the historic alliance with our steadfast partner, the United States and the great American people, who have stood by our side. I look forward to working with this administration to bring about more security, freedom and peace.”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu denounced the killings as a heinous act of antisemitism. “We are witness to the terrible cost of the antisemitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel. Blood libels against Israel have a cost in blood and must be fought to the utmost,” Netanyahu said Thursday morning. “My heart grieves for the families of the young beloveds, whose lives were cut short in a moment by an abhorrent antisemitic murderer.”

In light of the attack, Netanyahu urged all Israeli embassies and diplomats abroad to bolster their security.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, in remarks shared with CNN, said he had reached out to Lischinsky’s father and offered words of comfort. He stated, “was a warrior on our diplomatic front that fell just like a soldier on the battlefield.”

Sa’ar also noted that he had feared such a tragedy for some time. “I have been worried for the past few months that something like this would happen and it did, and the list of fallen foreign service members has grown today,” he said. He condemned the shooting as “toxic antisemitic incitement against Israel and Jews around the world.”

President Trump also weighed in, strongly denouncing the violence. “These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”

{Matzav.com}

Agudath Israel of America applauds the inclusion of game-changing federal school choice legislation in the budget reconciliation bill passed this morning. This legislation will help millions of children across the country including those wishing to attend yeshivas and other nonpublic schools. Following a model already operating successfully in more than twenty states, the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) will provide $5 billion in K-12 scholarships per year. It does this by allowing a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for donors who contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGO). These SGOs would then provide scholarships for a range of educational expenses, including private school tuition “Agudath Israel applauds the US House for including game-changing federal school choice legislation in the reconciliation bill,” said Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israel’s National Director of Government Affairs. “We look forward to working with the Senate to ensure that the “biggest and most beautiful” scholarship tax credit proposal possible is included in the final budget reconciliation package.”

Most voters in New York are hoping to see someone other than Governor Kathy Hochul secure the governor’s seat in the next election, according to a newly released poll.

A Siena College survey published Tuesday reveals that 55 percent of respondents said they want “someone else” in office next year, while just 36 percent backed Hochul. This represents a 10-point drop in net support from the previous month, when 39 percent supported her and 48 percent preferred a different candidate.

The decline in support is primarily driven by increased dissatisfaction among Republicans and independents. Over 80 percent of Republicans and nearly two-thirds of independents now say they would rather vote for someone else. That’s a noticeable jump from April, when 68 percent of Republicans and 55 percent of independents shared that sentiment.

Democrats, however, remain mostly steady in their backing of Hochul, with 51 percent of Democratic voters still favoring her as their choice for governor.

Even as she faces the potential of a primary challenge from within her own party, Hochul maintains a strong position. In a theoretical Democratic primary against Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado and Congressman Ritchie Torres, Hochul leads with 46 percent, compared to 12 percent for Delgado and 10 percent for Torres.

Currently, 50 percent of voters give Hochul a positive job approval rating, an increase from 48 percent last month. However, her overall favorability took a slight dip, now at 44 percent favorable versus 46 percent unfavorable. Last month, she had enjoyed a rare positive net rating for the first time in over a year.

“After hitting year-long highs in both Hochul’s favorability and job approval ratings last month, those numbers largely held constant this month, although Republicans, already very negative toward Hochul, turned even more so on both measurements,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg explained in a statement.

On the Republican side, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik currently leads a possible GOP primary field with 35 percent support. Congressman Mike Lawler trails with 22 percent, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman follows with 11 percent.

Last month, before Stefanik was factored into the polling, Blakeman had been ahead of Lawler by six points.

Stefanik’s consideration of a gubernatorial run comes after her nomination to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations was withdrawn. Both Lawler and Blakeman have also indicated they are contemplating campaigns, and Lawler is expected to make his decision public soon.

The GOP is eyeing an opportunity to gain ground in New York, citing Hochul’s lukewarm ratings and recent Republican progress in various regions of the state. But recognition remains an obstacle. Forty percent of voters say they don’t know enough about Stefanik to form an opinion, and even more are unfamiliar with Lawler and Blakeman.

Stefanik’s favorability is currently underwater by 8 points, with 25 percent viewing her positively and 33 percent negatively. Lawler sits at a net negative of 3 points, with 22 percent seeing him favorably and 25 percent unfavorably.

The poll was carried out between May 12 and May 15, surveying 805 registered voters. The margin of error for the results is 4.3 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

A new 5,000-ton destroyer key to North Korea’s naval advancement was damaged during its launching ceremony attended by leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported Thursday. The ship slid off the ramp and became stuck after the flatcar failed to move alongside it, throwing off its balance and crushing parts of the ship’s bottom, according to the Korean Central News Agency. The accident at Wednesday’s ceremony at the northeastern port of Chongjin was an embarrassing setback for Kim, who has emphasized naval advancement as key to his nuclear-armed military. Kim blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for what he described as a “serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism,” and called for a ruling Workers’ Party meeting to address their “irresponsible errors,” KCNA said. The agency reported separately that a plenary meeting of the party’s powerful Central Committee was scheduled for late June. North Korean state media didn’t say whether Wednesday’s incident caused any injuries. The damaged vessel was likely in the same class as the country’s first destroyer, unveiled on April 25, which experts assessed as the North’s largest and most advanced warship to date. Kim called it a significant asset for advancing his goal of expanding the military’s operational range and nuclear strike capabilities. State media described that ship as designed to handle various weapons systems, including anti-air and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. Kim also supervised test-firings of missiles from the destroyer afterward, and state media said the ship was expected to enter active duty early next year. Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the damaged vessel was likely equipped with similar systems and remains toppled over in the sea. Kim has framed the arms buildup as a response to perceived threats from the United States and its allies in Asia, who have been expanding joint military exercises amid rising tensions over the North’s nuclear program. He says the acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine would be his next big step in strengthening his navy. Outside experts say the destroyer was likely built with Russian assistance. While North Korea’s naval forces are considered inferior to South Korea’s, analysts still view the destroyer as a serious security threat, as it could enhance the country’s offensive and defensive capabilities. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated in recent months as Kim accelerates the development of his nuclear and missile programs and supplies weapons and troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. The U.S., South Korea, and their allies have expressed concern that Moscow could reciprocate by providing North Korea with advanced weapons technology, further enhancing the threat posed by its nuclear and missile program. (AP)

The recommended reading list contained some works of fiction. It also contained some works that were, in fact, actually fictional. The content distributor King Features says it has fired a writer who used artificial intelligence to produce a story on summer reading suggestions that contained books that didn’t exist. The list appeared in “Heat Index: Your Guide to the Best of Summer,” a special section distributed in Sunday’s Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer last week. More than half of the books listed were fake, according to the piece’s author, Marco Buscaglia, who admitted to using AI for help in his research but didn’t double-check what it produced. “A really stupid error on my part,” Buscaglia wrote on his Facebook page. AI has bedeviled some news organizations It’s the latest instance of an AI shortcut backfiring and embarrassing news organizations. Sports Illustrated was caught in 2023 listing nonexistent authors for product reviews carried on its website. The Gannett news service had to pause an experiment using AI for sports stories after errors were discovered. “The Heat Index summer supplement was created by a freelance contract creator who used AI in its story development without disclosing the use of AI,” the syndicators King Features said in a statement, noting it has a strict policy against using AI to create material. Only the Sun-Times and Inquirer have used the supplement, the organization said. Among the summer reading suggestions was “The Last Algorithm” by Andy Weir, described as “a science-driven thriller following a programmer who discovers an AI system has developed consciousness” and been secretly influencing world events. “Nightshade Market,” by Min Jin Lee, was said to be a “riveting tale set in Seoul’s underground economy.” Both authors are real, but the books aren’t. “I have not written and will not be writing a novel called ‘Nightshade Market,’” Lee posted on X. The Sun-Times said it was investigating whether any other inaccurate information was included in the “Heat Index” supplement, and reviewing its relationships with other content partners. “We are in a moment of great transformation in journalism and technology, and at the same time our industry continues to be besieged by business challenges,” the newspaper said. “This should be a learning moment for all journalism organizations: Our work is valued — and valuable — because of the humanity behind it.” Both the Sun-Times and Inquirer said they have removed the supplement from its digital editions. The Inquirer special section was published on May 15. Syndicated features are common for newspapers The Inquirer has used King Features for comics, puzzles and other material for more than 40 years, said Lisa Hughes, its publisher and CEO. “The Inquirer newsroom is not involved in the production of these syndicated features, nor was it involved in creating Heat Index,” she said. The blunder was first reported by the tech publication 404 Media. It was not clear who at King Features had responsibility for editing Bascaglia’s material. The Chicago-based writer said on Facebook that “I am completely at fault here — just an awful oversight and a horrible mistake.” “I’m not really sure I bounce back from this situation career-wise,” he said. “I have a lot of stories left in me but I am fully accountable for what happened and will have to endure the effects, whatever they may […]

Tucker Carlson, during a recent episode of his podcast, echoed concerns raised by his guest about the overlap between President Trump’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and the expansion of the Trump Organization’s operations in that region, suggesting it “seems like corruption.”

Speaking with Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL and current podcast host, Carlson prompted a discussion about how the Trump administration is performing. Ryan began by applauding Trump’s rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, as well as certain reforms at the Department of Government Efficiency. However, he admitted there may have been excesses.

Despite his praise, Ryan expressed growing disillusionment with the administration, citing what he viewed as problematic optics around recent Trump Organization developments coinciding with diplomatic engagements abroad. “I’m going to get blasted for this, but, you know, I mean, I see all these negotiations going on in the Middle East and then — I don’t know when these buildings were approved or when these deals got done — but then I also see, like, oh, there’s a brand new hotel going up in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and another one going up in Doha, I think,” Ryan said.

He continued, “And I’m like, did these just get done — also with the deals which just happened over there — or was this earlier?”

The Trump Organization has recently undertaken a series of new ventures in the Middle East. These include a high-end golf resort in Qatar, developed with Qatari Diar, a company linked to the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Additionally, the Trump name is being used in two separate real estate projects in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Plans are also in motion to construct a Trump Tower in Jeddah and a hotel-golf complex in Oman.

At the same time, President Trump made stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, announcing major defense and economic partnerships. Among the most prominent was a new agreement with the UAE to establish what will be the largest artificial intelligence data center outside of the United States, located in Abu Dhabi. He also confirmed the easing of export restrictions on AI chip technologies to the region.

“That stuff kind of worries me,” Ryan said during the discussion.

“Well, it seems like corruption, yeah,” Carlson replied.

Ryan lamented the current polarized climate in the U.S., where he said political loyalty often trumps independent thought, making it difficult to offer honest critiques without facing backlash. He said people are “just blindly falling in line with ‘whatever that tribe says they’re going to do.’”

“I agree with every word,” Carlson responded.

Mediaite was the first outlet to bring attention to the segment.

In response to questions about whether President Trump’s recent trip might have overlapped with his business interests, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the idea. “Ridiculous” was how she characterized any suggestion that Trump’s foreign visits were connected to his family’s private ventures. “The president is abiding by all conflict of interest laws,” she said.

Administration spokespeople have maintained that there is a clear separation between Trump’s public role and his family’s business dealings, explaining that his holdings are placed in a trust managed by his children. Furthermore, The Trump Organization released a voluntary ethics pledge stating that the company will not enter into any direct business agreements with foreign governments.

{Matzav.com}

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President Donald Trump’s “ no tax on tips ” pledge became a catchphrase for his 2024 campaign. Now it’s inching closer to reality. The idea is firmly planted in the sprawling tax cuts package Republicans are hashing out in the House and aiming to pass in the coming days. And in a surprise move, the Senate voted this week to unanimously approve the idea. The proposal has widespread support from the public, lawmakers in both parties and employers who believe such a law will bring relief to the working class. But many critics say that it would come with an enormous cost to the government while doing little to help the workers who need it most. Here’s a look at the proposal and its potential impact: What’s in the ‘No Tax on Tips’ provision? It would create a new tax deduction eliminating federal income taxes on tips for people working in jobs that have traditionally received them, as long as they make less than $160,000 in 2025. The Trump administration would publish a list of qualifying occupations within 90 days of the bill’s signing. Only tips reported to the employer and noted on a worker’s W-2, their end-of-year tax summary, would qualify. Payroll taxes, which pay for Social Security and Medicare, would still be collected. If adopted, the proposed deduction is set to expire after four years. Congressional budget analysts project the provision would increase the deficit by $40 billion through 2028. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, an advocacy group, projects the cost would be $120 billion over a decade if the tip exemption is made permanent. What did Trump say during the campaign about eliminating federal taxes on tips? Trump made the promise during a campaign stop in Las Vegas, where the service sector drives the economy, as part of his pitch to working-class voters struggling with rising costs. Segments of his base eagerly spread the word, writing the catchphrase on their restaurant receipts or talking to their barbers about it while getting a trim. Trump offered few details at the time, but later made similar pledges to eliminate taxes on other forms of income, including overtime wages and Social Security payments. Those ideas, along with a tax deduction for auto loan interest, are also included in the GOP’s budget bill. “No tax on tips” was later embraced — with limits — by the influential Culinary Union, which represents Las Vegas Strip hospitality workers, Nevada’s Democratic senators and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic rival. How could it impact workers? Experts say some middle-income service workers would benefit from a tax break but warn that it could potentially heighten inequities. “If your goal is to help the poorest service workers, this is probably not the way to do it,” said Michael Lynn, a professor of services marketing at Cornell University whose research largely focuses on tipping and other consumer behavior. About a third of tipped workers make too little to owe income taxes. Those workers won’t benefit from the tax break, so its benefits will accrue to tipped workers with higher incomes, Lynn said. “It’s overlooking non-tipped workers who need the help just as badly, and it’s giving the benefit predominantly to the least needy of the tipped workers,” Lynn said. The median age for tipped workers is 31, a decade younger than the median non-tipped […]

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

President Donald Trump returned from a highly publicized and triumphant visit to three Arab capitals, bringing with him promises of over $1 trillion in investments in the United States and elated by the royal treatment he received. It was, by many accounts, one of the most financially successful diplomatic trips ever undertaken by a U.S. president. Yet, unsurprisingly, his opponents offered little acknowledgment or credit.

Critics were quick to seize on certain aspects of the trip, notably his cordial remarks about the Qatari leader, widely recognized as a major supporter of Hamas. Others pointed to perceived diplomatic nuances throughout the visit that they deemed troubling for Israel. Despite these concerns, Trump reiterated his commitment to strengthening the Abraham Accords, which solidified peace agreements between Israel and four leading Arab nations.

In a notable meeting with a former Syrian militant turned political leader, Trump expressed his desire for Syria to pursue peace with Israel. Repeatedly in interviews, he emphasized his administration’s collaboration with Israel and voiced his admiration for Prime Minister Netanyahu. Still, detractors continued to raise alarms, suggesting that the president was drifting from his previously staunch pro-Israel stance.

Though there is no indication that Trump’s support for Israel has diminished, the controversy serves as a reminder of the ancient truth: “Lev melochim vesorim b’Yad Hashem—the hearts of kings and rulers are in the hands of Hashem.” Speculation and commentary cannot alter what will determine the future of this critical alliance.

Meanwhile, Israel continues its protracted campaign in Gaza, now nearing the two-year mark, with the stated goal of eradicating Hamas. Though much of the group’s leadership has been eliminated and significant caches of weapons and infrastructure have been destroyed, Hamas continues to fight on. A renewed and intensified Israeli military operation was launched last week, echoing earlier vows that this time they will not relent until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are returned.

Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon succeeded in weakening Hezbollah and contributed to the eventual fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Yet threats persist. In Yemen, the Houthi rebels, despite sustained losses, still possess the capability to launch ballistic missiles toward Israel. One recent missile aimed at an Israeli airport miraculously missed its target by mere feet, narrowly averting what could have been a major catastrophe.

Terrorism within Israel itself, though underreported internationally, continues. Just last week, an expectant mother en route to the hospital was murdered in a terror attack. Her newborn fights for his life.

Across the globe, Israel faces a chorus of condemnation. Many nations issue hollow diplomatic reprimands while offering tacit support for Hamas and its allies. Meanwhile, thousands continue to march through the streets of Western cities, shouting anti-Semitic slogans, fueling a climate of hostility and moral inversion.

We look from afar and wonder what we can do. What can we do to help those who fear for their safety? What can we do to make the world a better place and bring about positive change?

The answers are not found in the conventional or social media, nor in interpersonal conversations that take place between well-intentioned people.

The answers are in this week’s parsha of Bechukosai. In it, Hakadosh Boruch Hu simply lays out for us how we can live happy, successful, and blessed lives, and how peace can reign in the Land of Israel.

The posuk states quite simply, “Im bechukosai teileichu v’es mitzvosai tishmeru va’asisem osam.” If you will follow the chukim and mitzvos of the Torah, you will be blessed.

You wonder what you can do to bring peace to Israel. You wonder what you can do to help alleviate the fear and privation that people there face daily. The Torah in this week’s parsha promises that if you follow Hashem’s commandments, “vishavtem lovetach b’artzechem… venosati shalom ba’aretz ushechavtem v’ein macharid… v’cherev lo saavor b’artzechem – you will live safely in your land, there will be peace in the land, and you will sleep with no fear.”

Everything that is happening today is clearly prescribed in this parsha. The history of the Jewish people is all in Parshas Bechukosai. When we were good, life was good. And when the people sinned and strayed, then what the pesukim say will happen (26:14–44) happened.

Most everyone is familiar with the words of Rashi on the opening posuk of the parsha. His words are so often repeated in shmuessen and drashos that they have become marching orders to generations of bnei Torah of all ages. But it’s always good to review them.

The posuk states, “Im bechukosai teileichu v’es mitzvosai tishmeru va’asisem osam.” The Toras Kohanim states on the words “Im bechukosai teileichu” that “Melameid sheHakadosh Boruch Hu misaveh sheyihiyu Yisroel ameilim baTorah…” From here we see that Hashem desires for the Jewish people to be ameil in Torah.

How does the Toras Kohanim derive this lesson from the words “Im bechukosai teileichu,” which appear to indicate that Hashem wants us to follow His chukim? The posuk says nothing about studying Torah.

Apparently, this question was troubling Rashi, leading him to quote a different message from the Toras Kohanim: I would think that the words “Im bechukosai teileichu” refer to their literal meaning—namely, observing the commandments known as chukim. But if that is the case, why does the Torah then repeat itself and say “v’es mitzvosai tishmeru,” referring once again to mitzvah observance?

Therefore, he writes those immortal words that “Im bechukosai teileichu” doesn’t only mean that we will be blessed if we follow the chukim. Rather, they contain another message: “shetihiyu ameilim baTorah,” that you shall toil in Torah. Those who toil in Torah will be blessed.

When we study Torah, we are connecting with Hashem. We study His word, and it affects us. It affects our neshamos and the way we conduct ourselves. We become better people and more attached to our purpose in life, strengthening our very being.

Shetihiyu ameilim baTorah is the hymn of our yeshivos and kollelim, islands of intense limud haTorah that produce exalted people.

The person who sits at his shtender struggling to grasp a Tosafos, lost in a world inhabited by him and Hashem, is who we aim to emulate.

And it is thanks to him, and thousands more like him, that the world exists.

I recently came across a story that portrays the potency of Torah and the zechus of those who study and support it.

There was a kollel yungerman who learned b’hasmodah rabbah for many years and developed into an outstanding talmid chochom. His wife took care of all the needs of the family so that he was able to learn, unencumbered by anything that would interrupt his limud haTorah.

She felt unwell and visited a doctor, who sent her for a series of tests. A short time later, her husband received an urgent call from the doctor. “I need you to come to my office immediately, without your wife,” the doctor said.

When he arrived at the office, the doctor told him that his wife was seriously ill and inoperable. The illness had progressed and was in its late stages. Treatments would not be effective. He said that they could operate and give her treatments, but that would not save her life. “She has, at maximum, two to three months left to live, so I suggest that instead of her suffering from the pain and hardship of the treatments, which will not help her anyway, she should be left alone to die peacefully.”

Shaken by the prognosis, the husband and wife were not about to give up. They sent the results of the tests to other doctors and medical institutions, but nobody gave them any hope, and nobody wanted to engage in the losing proposition of treating her.

The yungerman went to see his rebbi, the renowned rosh yeshiva, Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, to discuss the matter with him. After sobbing together with his talmid, Rav Shmuel told him that he would give him a brocha and Hashem would help.

The husband implored his rebbi once more. He spoke of his wife, not just as a partner, but as the quiet soul behind every line of Torah he had learned. She carried every burden so he need not carry any, tending to his and the family’s needs with love and devotion, asking for nothing, so he could learn without pause and without worry.

Rav Shmuel Berenbaum thought for a while and then said, “If this is truly the case, you have no need to worry. Hashem will help you and everything will turn out fine.”

The husband returned home and told his wife what the rosh yeshiva said, and they breathed a little easier.

Some time passed, and then came an unexpected call from a doctor representing one of the hospitals they had reached out to. He told them that the hospital was preparing to test an experimental treatment, something never tried before, and something that, after what followed, would never be tried again. He said that the chances of the treatment being effective were very slim and that it was likely to kill some of the patients they tried it on, so they were reaching out to terminal patients who had no other medical hope of survival.

The trial included twenty patients. Eighteen of them died during the trial. Two of the patients survived the treatments. One of them was the yungerman’s wife.

For weeks following the treatments, she was in a bad state, barely hanging on to life. But after three months, she began improving, until she totally recovered. She has remained healthy since then.

When the yungerman returned to his rebbi to share with him the news of his wife’s recovery, Rav Shmuel said to him, “Now I will tell you what I did when you left after telling me about your wife and her prognosis.

“When you went out, I locked the door and opened the Gemara that sat on the table before me. On the page that I opened to, the Gemara cited Abaye and Rava. I looked at the Gemara and said to them, ‘Since I was 16–17 years old, I have been studying your Torah and toiling over your teachings. I never asked you for anything and will never again, but now I will ask you for something. There is this person who is areingeton in studying your Torah day and night, and has been for decades. All of his learning is the zechus of his wife, who is totally devoted to enabling him to learn day and night. I am asking you, therefore, to do what you can to help her.’”

Torah is not merely a study. It is a bond between Heaven and earth, a force that bends the natural order when held with purity and devotion.

Just as the posuk promises, we see the power of ameilus baTorah, of those who sacrifice for it quietly behind the scenes. The pages of the Gemara absorb not just the words of the one who learns, but the whispered prayers, the missed meals, and the silent burdens borne by those who support that learning.

A wife gave everything, allowing her husband to be a yungerman who learns without pause. Her merit was so pure, so intertwined with the holiness of Torah, that even when medicine gave up, the zechus of Torah pulled through for her.

We learn of a rebbi, a giant in Torah, whose tears spoke louder than science, whose plea was not made to anyone else but to Abaye and Rava, the eternal voices of Torah.

And we learn that the Torah responds. It remembers those who toil in it, who sacrifice for it, and who stand by those who do.

We learn that while the world may see test results, percentages, and probabilities, Hashem sees mesirus nefesh and hears heartfelt tefillos.

And we learn that when a Jew opens a Gemara with tears in his eyes and faith in his heart, he is never alone. He is connected to Hashem and to the Tannoim and Amoraim in a deeper way than he can imagine. The world was created for Yisroel and for Torah, and when we learn Torah, we are fulfilling our mission and sustaining the world.

It is tragic that the leaders and the majority of the people in Israel do not appreciate this fact.

At a time when Israel desperately needs zechuyos to persevere in its existential battle against the forces of evil, the left’s deep-seated hostility toward Torah blinds them to the lessons of Jewish history. Just a few generations ago, ehrliche Yidden gave everything they had to observe mitzvos and study Torah, despite hardship and persecution. Now, their descendants, driven by leftist, secularist ideology, are waging a campaign against the very foundation of that endurance: Torah and those who dedicate their lives to it.

This is happening even as the country faces more enemies than it can manage and the European nations are lining up to recognize a Palestinian state.

One might expect introspection at such a moment. One might expect leaders to pause and ask: Why is the world turning against us? Why are there steady reports that the American administration is drifting away from us? Why do rockets still fall and soldiers still die? Why does internal terror persist? Where can we turn for a solution?

The answer is not hidden. It is written clearly in this week’s parsha. Study Torah. Support those who do. And Hashem will support you, fighting your physical and diplomatic battles on your behalf.

The message is open to all, waiting to be embraced.

A core part of being a religious, believing Jew is recognizing the centrality of Torah.

For as long as Jews have existed, Torah has been our identity, our mission, and our lifeblood. Those who strayed from it became detached from the Jewish people, their spiritual legacy fading with time. It is tragic that the leadership of the Jewish state has drifted so far from its roots that it now seeks to marginalize Torah by imprisoning, impoverishing, and otherwise punishing those who renounce materialism to devote themselves fully to its study.

And yet, despite their best efforts, yeshivos and kollelim are thriving. Organizations like Lev L’Achim, Shuvu, Oorah, and others are bringing more Jews back to Torah than ever before.

The answer lies before us. We must strengthen our own learning, introduce Torah to others, and cling ever more tightly to the eternal source of our nation’s strength. We must do more to support Torah and its causes.

In doing so, we will merit the brachos promised to those who uphold Torah, we will help bring peace to our land, and we will hasten the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our day.