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An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City earlier today eliminated Asaad Abu Sharia, the head of the Mujahideen Brigades, a smaller terror group affiliated with Hamas. The group was implicated in the October 7, 2023, abduction and killing of several hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons. In a separate operation, another senior figure from the same organization, Mahmoud Kaheel, was also killed.

The Mujahideen Brigades acknowledged that both Abu Sharia and Kaheel had been killed. Abu Sharia led the group, which, though less prominent than Hamas, played a key role in the brutal attacks. Kaheel held a high-ranking position within the organization.

“The news represents another step for us in closing the circle and the process of accepting the great loss,” the Bibas family said in response to the announcement. They added, “Shiri, Ariel and Kfir will not return, but there is some comfort in knowing that the vile murderers will not harm another family.”

Shiri Bibas and her husband, Yarden, along with their children Ariel, age four, and nine-month-old Kfir, were taken hostage from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the day of the October 7 assault, when Hamas-led terrorists infiltrated the Gaza border, murdering 1,200 people and abducting 251 others in the deadliest attack on Israeli soil.

During a brief truce in February between Israel and Hamas, Yarden Bibas was released. Hamas subsequently returned the bodies of Ariel and Kfir, along with those of fellow hostage Oded Lifshitz and a deceased woman from Gaza who they falsely claimed was Shiri Bibas. Following objections by Israel, Hamas later returned Shiri’s actual remains.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari at the time disclosed that the two boys were murdered by their captors in November 2023. He said they were killed “in cold blood” and “with bare hands,” and that Hamas operatives tried to cover up the killings. “Yarden Bibas asked me to make sure the world knows and is horrified by the way his children were murdered,” Hagari said.

The military noted that in addition to the Bibas family, the Mujahideen Brigades were also behind the kidnapping and murder of Gadi Haggai and Judih Weinstein, as well as Thai worker Nattapong Pinta. The bodies of Haggai and Weinstein were recovered from Gaza Wednesday night. Pinta’s body was returned to Israel today.

Haggai and Weinstein, ages 72 and 70, were an American-Israeli couple. They were killed during their morning walk near Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, and the IDF confirmed their deaths in December 2023.

Pinta, a 31-year-old Thai national working in agriculture in Israel, had come to the country a year and a half before the attack. He was abducted from the same kibbutz where he worked in the fields, and later killed in captivity. He had been supporting his wife and young son back in Thailand.

Palestinian media outlets reported that more than 30 people were killed in the airstrike on the Sabra neighborhood that took out Abu Sharia. The separate strike targeting Kaheel also killed members of his family, including his wife and children, according to statements from the terror group.

The IDF said Abu Sharia was among the terrorists who stormed Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 and that he played a central role in the abduction and murder of civilians, including the Bibas family. The military also accused him of orchestrating attacks within Gaza and directing terror activity from the West Bank aimed at harming Israelis.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas today released a new image of Matan Zangauker, an Israeli hostage, and claimed that Israeli forces were surrounding the location in Gaza where he is allegedly being kept. The group threatened to kill him if the army came any closer.

In a response, the Israeli military issued a statement clarifying that they had not carried out any rescue attempt for Zangauker.

The photo shows Zangauker lying on his side, partially covered by a blanket. An IV bag is visible in the background, suggesting he is receiving some form of medical treatment.

“The enemy will not be able to recover him alive. We have preserved his life for 20 months; if this prisoner is killed during an attempt to free him, the occupation army will be the one responsible for his death,” declared Hudhaifa Kahlout, the Hamas military spokesman also known as Abu Obeida.

“This is a final warning,” he warned.

This new image emerged as the Israeli military ramps up its operations throughout Gaza, coinciding with ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and negotiate the release of hostages.

After the photo was made public, Zangauker’s mother, Einav, who has become a leading voice in the campaign to secure a hostage deal, addressed demonstrators at a protest on Begin Road in Tel Aviv. Speaking to the crowd of around 1,000, she said, “I’m very worried about Matan’s physical and emotional state. I’m very afraid of a deterioration in his condition.”

She continued, blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to act. “Our heart is broken by the knowledge that without [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s political calculations, all this would have been avoided,” she said. In a direct message to Netanyahu, she added that her son’s “blood will stain your hands” if efforts to return him are not made.

Back in May, Channel 12 News reported that Zangauker was having difficulty standing and was experiencing persistent digestive issues. The information came from Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli citizen who was held captive with him and has since been freed.

That report also noted that Zangauker had spent extended periods isolating himself in the tunnel where he’s being detained. During those times, he reportedly refrained from speaking or eating, and was observed shaking and appearing physically weakened, likely due to muscle atrophy.

Zangauker was abducted on October 7, 2023, from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky. Gritzewsky was released on November 30, 2023, as part of a brief truce agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Previously a Netanyahu supporter, Einav Zangauker has since become an outspoken critic, frequently appearing in the media and leading demonstrations in support of a deal that would end the war and free the hostages.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a dramatic effort to stabilize the financial future of Gerrer mosdos across the globe, the Gerrer Rebbe departed Eretz Yisroel shortly after midnight on Motzoei Shabbos for a high-stakes fundraising mission in the United States.

The emergency trip comes amid the ongoing political crisis and sweeping cuts to yeshivah and kollel budgets in Israel. With the looming uncertainty surrounding the draft law and the status of bnei Torah, Gerrer leaders have launched a bold campaign to raise a massive sum — enough to support all Gerrer institutions in Israel and abroad for the next two years.

The Rebbe departed from Ben Gurion Airport aboard a private jet provided by prominent philanthropists Reb Yoeli Landau of Williamsburg and his partner Reb Dovid Geffner.

The Rebbe’s journey marks the beginning of an ambitious campaign during one of the most turbulent periods for the Torah world in recent memory.

The itinerary includes personal visits to the homes of leading donors across the United States, culminating in a major fundraising dinner hosted by Mr. Shloime Werdiger, Chairman of the Board of Agudath Israel of America.

Additionally, the Rebbe is expected to participate in the inauguration of a new building of the Gerrer cheder, Talmud Torah Imrei Emes, in Boro Park, Brooklyn.

{Matzav.com}

A dramatic scene unfolded on Fifth Avenue recently when an entire section of the iconic Manhattan street was shut down to accommodate an enormous delivery to Jeff Bezos’ lavish penthouse in the NoMad neighborhood — an event captured in a now-viral TikTok video.

The footage shows a massive, shrink-wrapped piece of furniture suspended midair as a crane carefully lifted it over the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 26th Street. The area below was cordoned off with caution tape and barricades, surrounded by heavy equipment and moving trucks.

Scores of workers were seen coordinating the delivery and managing traffic, while curious onlookers gathered to watch as the colossal item ascended toward 212 Fifth Ave., a 24-story building where Bezos is said to own five adjoining units across the top four floors, together valued at $119 million.

Raffi Arslanian, who owns the luxury candle brand Thompson Ferrier and works nearby, filmed the whole operation and shared it online.

“You want to see how Jeff Bezos delivers his furniture? Let me show you,” said Arslanian, narrating from just a block away.

He then added a humorous note: “I think we all can relate to this.”

“Now back to reality, where, when we move, we get a U-Haul and we do it ourselves, or at best, we get a company to do it — but we don’t close the street,” Arslanian joked.

His clip has racked up over 970,000 views and thousands of comments, many from users speculating about the mysterious oversized item being hoisted skyward.

“It’s a hot tub,” one person guessed.

“A grand piano,” proposed another.

Some commenters were less interested in the item itself and more intrigued by the cost of such an extravagant moving job.

Relocating large objects with cranes can cost more than $20,000 per day and usually requires special permits to temporarily shut down city streets, according to industry sources.

“Amazon prime delivery, billionaire subscription,” one TikTok user commented, poking fun at the scene.

“We would all do the same if we had 100 billion dollars,” added another.

Bezos, whose fortune is estimated at $223 billion by Forbes, reportedly purchased the penthouse and surrounding units in a series of transactions between 2019 and 2021. The properties, housed in a converted office tower with views of Madison Square Park, make up one of the most exclusive residences in the city.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands gathered Thursday night at Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo in Rishon L’Tzion for the inauguration of the world’s largest and most ornate Aron Kodesh and the dedication of a new, exceptionally small Sefer Torah.

The celebration began with the writing of the final letters of the Sefer Torah at the home of Rabbi Moshe Buchris in Rishon L’Tzion. From there, a majestic procession made its way through the streets, which came to a standstill as throngs of locals joined.

Upon arrival at the yeshiva campus, joyous dancing erupted. Leading the festivities were the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, along with the yeshiva’s roshei yeshiva and rabbanim, while thousands of talmidim danced throughout the beis medrash, singing and rejoicing as the miniature Sefer Torah was brought into the massive Aron Kodesh — the largest and most magnificent of its kind in the world.

Following the hachnasas Sefer Torah, the assembled moved to the main plaza of the yeshiva where a distinguished gathering of gedolei Yisroel joined the celebration. Among them were Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, Chacham Nissim Ben Shimon, Rav Yitzchok Soloveitchik, Rav Shraga Steinman, Rav Shimon Galai, Rav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, and others. Wealthy philanthropists from across the globe were also in attendance.

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל חנוכת ארון הקודש והכנסת ס”ת בעטרת שלמהצילום: יעקב נחומי, דניאל נפוסי ופנחס עמנואל

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• Regents and non-regents tracks
  Our dual-track approach ensures that every student is challenged at a level that’s right for her.
• Career training program
  Through our robust, hands-on career program, our students dive into careers aligned with their strengths and interests—so they can succeed as confident and independent adults.
• Social & emotional growth
  Through individualized Speech Therapy, Counseling, OT, PT, push-in services, and social skills groups, we give each student the skills they need to navigate their world.

The Full Frum High School Experience

IVDU ensures our students have every opportunity a Bais Yakov girl enjoys–and more.

• Chagigahs

• Shabbatonim

• Chesed programs

• Monthly yom iyuns

• School trips

• Full-scale productions–and more

At IVDU, our girls get to experience it all—and shine just as they were meant to.

A perfect fit for so many girls—could it be right for yours?

We currently have just a few openings in our regents track and middle school class. Whether your daughter is in a mainstream school but needs additional support or is receiving resource room help and is ready for something more comprehensive, IVDU might be exactly what she’s looking for.

The right fit can change everything 

At IVDU, our girls don’t just get through school– they discover what they’re truly capable of. Because when school offers the right support, students can shine in ways we never thought possible.

An opportunity that will last a lifetime

Ready to give your daughter the gift of a loving school? Contact Ivdu High School today to schedule a visit and learn more. 

Ongoing demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement escalated again today in Los Angeles, where federal agents in full riot gear reportedly used flash-bang devices to disperse unruly crowds. The federal government now plans to deploy the National Guard, citing what officials called an unacceptable delay by the LAPD in responding to Friday’s unrest.

“We’re going to bring the National Guard in tonight. We’re going to continue doing our job. We’re going to push back on these people and we’re going to enforce the law,” said Tom Homan, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, during an appearance on Fox News.

According to the Associated Press, California Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed that the state’s National Guard is preparing to send in 2,000 troops to address the unrest.

Governor Newsom posted on X, accusing the federal government of deliberately provoking turmoil. “Sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate,” he wrote.

President Donald Trump addressed the situation directly, issuing a stark warning on his Truth Social account.

“If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can’t do their jobs, which everyone knows they can’t, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!”

Photos and video from today revealed chaotic scenes in Paramount, California, where hundreds of protesters clashed with federal officers. The confrontations unfolded outside a Home Depot as demonstrators attempted to block immigration arrests carried out by Border Patrol agents.

Heavily armed federal personnel deployed tear gas in an effort to disperse the crowd, which had taken over the streets in a volatile standoff that lasted for hours.

One protester wearing a helmet was caught on video throwing rocks at vehicles, smashing windows and damaging several Border Patrol trucks.

Footage obtained by Fox News showed that one of the rocks shattered a windshield and injured a federal officer, cutting both the glass and the agent’s hand.

Border Patrol Chief Michael W. Banks stated on X today that “several arrests” had been made for assaulting federal officers.

Another widely circulated video showed an American flag being burned in the street directly across from the Home Depot store surrounded by demonstrators.

Elsewhere, protesters were seen blocking a federal transport bus from leaving with detained individuals, according to video posted on social media.

In Compton, protestors ignited a vehicle during a confrontation with ICE and local law enforcement, ABC7 LA reported.

The protests were sparked by a series of federal immigration raids that began Friday across Los Angeles, targeting locations including the city’s fashion district. The disturbances continued Saturday near the Home Depot in Paramount, according to the ACLU of Southern California.

The Trump administration condemned Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass following the violent response to ICE operations. The Department of Homeland Security said the LAPD took two hours to respond to requests for assistance when clashes first erupted on Friday.

Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said politicians like Bass are “villainiz[ing] and demoniz[ing] ICE law enforcement,” and that this rhetoric fueled the attacks, which included damage to vehicles, property destruction, and violence against officers by nearly 1,000 agitators.

“The violent targeting of law enforcement in Los Angeles by lawless rioters is despicable, and Mayor Bass and [California] Governor [Gavin] Newsom must call for it to end,” McLaughlin said in a statement released today. “The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens.”

According to McLaughlin, assaults on ICE personnel have risen by 413% since President Trump took office in January, compared to the same period the previous year.

Photos released today by DHS show downtown Los Angeles defaced with vulgar graffiti on buildings and fencing. One flyer distributed by the Communist organization RefuseFacism.org read: “The Trump Fascist Regime MUST GO NOW!!!”

Clashes continued Friday night as LAPD officers in riot gear moved in to control the crowd following a day of ICE activity. At least 44 individuals were arrested in the unrest.

Andrew Cuomo, New York mayoral candidate and former governor, weighed in on the developments in both Los Angeles and New York.

“The recent ICE crackdowns in Los Angeles and New York City are a deeply troubling escalation in immigration enforcement tactics that undermine community trust and the principles of due process,” Cuomo said in a statement.

“I believe in upholding the rule of law and maintaining secure borders, but these operations — marked by military-style raids, the use of flash-bang grenades, and the detention of individuals, including those attempting to document the events — cross a line into cruelty and unnecessary fear mongering,” he continued.

According to the ACLU, hundreds of migrants, including minors, were apprehended during Friday’s raids.

However, DHS reported that ICE operations in Los Angeles this week led to the arrest of 118 individuals in the country illegally — among them five gang affiliates and several others facing charges such as drug trafficking, robbery, child abuse, and assault.

In a statement of her own, Mayor Bass denounced the raids and federal actions. “These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city… We will not stand for this.”

{Matzav.com}

French authorities on Friday arrested a man originally from Gaza after an assault on a rabbi in a suburb of Paris, the latest in a series of troubling antisemitic incidents that have shaken the Jewish community in France.

Rabbi Elie Lemmel reported that while seated at a café in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a suburb just outside Paris, he was suddenly struck in the head with a chair by an unknown individual.

Earlier in the week, Rabbi Lemmel had posted on social media describing a separate attack in Deauville, Normandy, where he said he was punched in the stomach by someone speaking a language he didn’t recognize. “I received a blow and was insulted in a language I didn’t understand,” he wrote.

The rabbi, who has a large online following, said he had never experienced physical violence before these two assaults.

“Unfortunately, given my beard and my kippah, I suspected that was probably why, and it’s such a shame,” Rabbi Lemmel told Reuters.

France has the largest Jewish population in Europe, with over 440,000 Jews. In 2024, the French Interior Ministry recorded 1,570 antisemitic incidents, which made up the majority of all religion-based hate crimes reported in the country.

“This act disgusts us. I want to express our solidarity with him,” French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal posted on X. “Antisemitism, like all hatred, is a deadly poison for our society. We will always fight it.”

The suspect, currently being held at the Neuilly-sur-Seine police station, was transferred to a hospital following a psychiatric evaluation, according to the prosecutor’s office in Nanterre. Officials said the 28-year-old man was born in Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip, based on German-language documents found on him. France’s interior minister commented on the situation, tweeting that the individual “had no business being in France.”

Authorities have not confirmed whether the assailant made any statements during the attack.

This incident comes on the heels of a series of assaults on Jewish individuals and institutions in the United States carried out by pro-Palestinian activists, leading some in France to draw parallels.

“To attack a rabbi is to attack the most visible face of the Jewish presence in society,” tweeted Yonathan Arfi, President of CRIF, the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions. He continued, “Let us say it forcefully: nothing, not even solidarity with the Palestinians, will ever justify attacking a rabbi. Hatred of Israel has today become the fuel for hatred of Jews.”

Just three months earlier, another rabbi in France was assaulted—this time the chief rabbi of Orléans, who was attacked and subjected to antisemitic insults while walking with his 9-year-old son on Shabbat. Earlier this week, several Jewish sites in Paris were defaced with green paint, an act widely condemned by French officials, Jewish leaders, and international monitoring groups as a blatant antisemitic provocation.

{Matzav.com}

FLATBUSH: This Shabbos morning, at the Ruach HaTorah Yeshiva dormitory (1450 Ocean Ave), bochurim woke up around 6:00 AM to smoke from a fire caused by an electric scooter battery—despite it not being plugged in or charging, just sitting there. The incident highlights the serious dangers of keeping electric scooters or their batteries inside buildings. Thankfully, no one was hurt. (Video taken today by a non-Jew)

Today, Elon Musk took down a tweet in which he had accused President Donald Trump of being tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case.

The tweet, originally posted on Thursday, alleged that Trump’s name appeared in the so-called “Epstein files”—government records associated with the late financier—and hinted that this was the reason the documents had not yet been released. Musk offered no proof to support his claim.

This incident comes amid rising friction between Musk and Trump, sparked by Musk’s harsh condemnation of a new budget proposal supported by the president, which Musk labeled a “disgusting abomination.”

In the wake of Musk’s public remarks, Trump is said to have considered canceling federal deals with Musk’s companies, including major contracts held by SpaceX and Starlink. He also issued a warning that Musk would face consequences if he began contributing to Democratic campaigns in the 2026 midterm elections, stating, “he will pay the price.”

Weighing in on the dispute, Vice President J.D. Vance made his first public comments during an interview on comedian Theo Von’s podcast. “It’s a huge mistake for the richest man in the world to be at war with the most powerful man in the world,” Vance said. “I hope Elon realizes that and backs down. I think if he cools off a bit, everything will be fine.”

{Matzav.com}

WATCH: President Trump defended the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, saying, ‘Bring him back. Show everybody how horrible this guy is’

President Donald Trump really wants to fly on an upgraded Air Force One — but making that happen could depend on whether he’s willing to cut corners with security. As government lawyers sort out the legal arrangement for accepting a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family, another crucial conversation is unfolding about modifying the plane so it’s safe for the American president. Installing capabilities equivalent to the decades-old 747s now used as Air Force One would almost certainly consign the project to a similar fate as Boeing’s replacement initiative, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers Thursday that those security modifications would cost less than $400 million but provided no details. Satisfying Trump’s desire to use the new plane before the end of his term could require leaving out some of those precautions, however. A White House official said Trump wants the Qatari jet ready as soon as possible while adhering to security standards. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not provide details on equipment issues or the timeline. Trump has survived two assassination attempts, and Iran allegedly also plotted to kill him, so he’s well aware of the danger he faces. However, he seems willing to take some chances with security, particularly when it comes to communications. For example, he likes to keep his personal phone handy despite the threat of hacks. He boasted this week that the government got the jet “for free,” saying, “We need it as Air Force One until the other ones are done.” Here’s a look at what it would take to make the Qatari plane into a presidential transport: What makes a plane worthy of being Air Force One? Air Force One is the call sign for any plane that’s carrying the president. The first aircraft to get the designation was a propeller-powered C-54 Skymaster, which ferried Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in 1945. It featured a conference room with a bulletproof window. Things are a lot more complicated these days. Boeing has spent years stripping down and rebuilding two 747s to replace the versions that have carried presidents for more than three decades. The project is slated to cost more than $5.3 billion and may not be finished before Trump leaves office. A 2021 report made public through the Freedom of Information Act outlines the unclassified requirements for the replacement 747s under construction. At the top of the list — survivability and communications. The government decided more than a decade ago that the new planes had to have four engines so they could remain airborne if one or two fail, said Deborah Lee James, who was Air Force secretary at the time. That creates a challenge because 747s are no longer manufactured, which could make spare parts harder to come by. Air Force One also has to have the highest level of classified communications, anti-jamming capabilities and external protections against foreign surveillance, so the president can securely command military forces and nuclear weapons during a national emergency. It’s an extremely sensitive and complex system, including video, voice and data transmissions. James said there are anti-missile measures and shielding against radiation or an electromagnetic pulse that could be caused by a nuclear blast. “The point is, it […]

Kilmar Abrego Garcia was returned to the United States to face criminal charges months after he was deported to a prison in his native El Salvador. Abrego Garcia has been indicted in federal court in Tennessee on a charge related to transporting undocumented migrants within the United States. The indictment alleges that Abrego Garcia and others from 2016 through 2025 “conspired to bring undocumented aliens to the United States from countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Ecuador, and elsewhere, ultimately passing through Mexico before crossing into Texas.”

The latest on Trump’s presidency • Trump-Musk rift: President Donald Trump said Elon Musk will “pay the consequences” if he chooses to fund Democratic candidates to challenge Republicans who vote for the president’s sweeping agenda bill. • Agenda bill: GOP leaders maintain Trump’s bill is on track to land on the president’s desk by July 4, but some conservatives are warning that Musk’s opposition could have an impact. • Trade talks: US and Chinese officials will meet in London on Monday to discuss trade between the two nations, according to Trump.

President Trump issued a sharp warning to Elon Musk today, saying the billionaire would face “very serious consequences” if he began financially backing Democratic candidates, while expressing sorrow over Musk’s emotional state.

“If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump said in a phone conversation with NBC News’ Kristen Welker.

“He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” Trump repeated, though he did not provide further details.

When Welker asked if there was anything else he wanted to share about the current situation, Trump responded plainly.

“No, not at all. We’re doing great,” Trump said. “The bill is great. It looks like we’re going to get it passed. Looks strongly like we’re going to get it passed.”

Trump expressed strong optimism that the bill in question would make it through the Senate before Independence Day.

Musk has recently gone on the offensive, criticizing Trump in a lengthy series of posts on X. He took issue with the large-scale spending measures in what he referred to as the “big beautiful bill,” and claimed Trump would not have succeeded in 2024 without his financial support.

The tech mogul also took credit for helping Republicans secure a 53–47 edge in the Senate and maintain control of the House of Representatives.

Campaign finance records show Musk gave over $250 million to Republican candidates during the 2024 election cycle.

His brief stint in the Trump administration, serving in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), ended just two days before his 130-day appointment concluded.

Despite the tension, Trump acknowledged that Musk’s criticism may have had an unexpected benefit.

“I think, actually, Elon brought out the strengths of the bill because people that weren’t as focused started focusing on it, and they see how good it is,” Trump said. “So in that sense, there was a big favor. But I think Elon, really, I think it’s a shame that he’s so depressed and so heartbroken.”

On Thursday, their public clash escalated further when Trump threatened to cancel billions of dollars in federal deals and subsidies awarded to Musk’s various companies. When Welker pressed him on whether he’d act on that threat, Trump replied, “I’d be allowed to do that,” and added, “but I have, I haven’t given it any thought.”

Musk retaliated online by accusing the president of blocking the release of sealed files relating to Jeffrey Epstein, suggesting that the contents might be damaging to Trump. He later deleted the post.

Both Trump and Epstein’s former attorney, David Schoen, have pushed back on the suggestion. Trump’s past interactions with Epstein in the 1990s have been publicly documented, and Schoen defended the president’s reputation.

“I was hired to lead Jeffrey Epstein’s defense as his criminal lawyer 9 days before he died,” Schoen wrote on X. “He sought my advice for months before that. I can say authoritatively, unequivocally, and definitively that he had no information to hurt President Trump. I specifically asked him!”

Trump, addressing the matter again today, dismissed the renewed focus on Epstein as recycled speculation.

“That’s called ‘old news,’ that’s been old news, that has been talked about for years,” he said.

Trump had previously banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago in 2007 following an incident involving the daughter of a club member — a year before Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor.

Musk has gone as far as calling for Trump’s impeachment in the past, though many of those social media posts have since been erased, according to Fox News.

When asked whether the strained relationship could be repaired, Trump shut down the idea.

“No,” he said, adding, “I’m too busy doing other things,” and criticized Musk for being “disrespectful to the office of the President.”

Trump also said he had no plans to speak with Musk, even after reports emerged that Musk had attempted to deescalate tensions with a phone call, which the White House ultimately declined.

The reconciliation bill remains under Senate review, following its earlier passage in the House.

The proposal includes a permanent extension of Trump’s 2017 tax reforms, increased funding for border security and national defense, and a rollback of green-energy tax benefits established under Joe Biden’s reconciliation legislation.

According to projections from the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would raise the national deficit by nearly $3 trillion, though Trump maintains full confidence in its approval by July 4.

“The Republican Party has never been united like this before. It’s never been. It’s actually more so than it was three days ago,” he told Welker.

Musk, for his part, had pushed for $1 trillion in federal spending cuts but stepped down after managing to secure only about $175 billion in reductions.

Those cuts were left out of the current bill, but lawmakers expect some of the savings to be included in future rescission packages. One such measure, which would defund NPR and PBS, has already been introduced in the House.

Though he has become a major Republican donor, Musk previously supported Democrats. As recently as 2018, he gave tens of thousands to Democratic House candidates, and in 2020 he maxed out donations to Senate campaigns for Chris Coons, Gary Peters, and Jeanne Shaheen.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk appears to delete some explosive X posts amid feud with Trump Some of Elon Musk’s X posts, including one accusing President Donald Trump of links to Jeffrey Epstein, were no longer available as of Saturday morning. It was not immediately clear why the posts were deleted. The removal of the posts comes after Trump and Musk took to social media this week to exchange barbs.

Wildfires forced a further 1,000 people to flee their homes in Manitoba, one of two Canadian provinces under a state of emergency that has led to thousands of evacuations. The town of Snow Lake, Manitoba, issued a mandatory evacuation order for its residents Friday as a large wildfire threatens the area. That fire, which has now grown to more than 3,000 square kilometers (1,058 square miles, or over twice the size of Los Angeles), has already forced out all 5,000 residents of the nearby city of Flin Flon and a thousand more in surrounding cottages and homes. When the Snow Lake evacuees are added in, Manitoba has about 19,000 displaced from their homes. There are 27 total fires in the province of Manitoba, eight of them out of control. Smoke from the Canadian wildfires has worsened air quality in eastern Canada and the U.S. The fires have sent smoke as far as Europe. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said evacuees have found a place to stay with friends or family, in hotels or in congregate shelters. Scott Moe, premier of neighboring Saskatchewan province, said two people were charged with setting wildfires. He said one of them was charged in relation to a fire around La Ronge, Saskatchewan, which has forced 7,000 people to flee their homes. There are 24 active wildfires burning in the province of Saskatchewan, forcing between 10,000 and 15,000 people from their homes. “Many if not virtually all of the fires that we’re dealing with in Saskatchewan … are human-caused. Some of those have been intentionally human-caused,” Moe said. The province is also under a state of emergency, making it easier for different levels of government to coordinate a response. Moe said they are in daily contact with the federal government but have not yet asked for the military to help airlift out evacuees as they have so far been able to get them out by road. He said the Red Cross is also working to set up congregate shelters for evacuees in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Canada’s wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. That choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months. (AP)

Barack Obama’s former physician criticized Joe Biden’s medical oversight, arguing that his current doctor should have ensured the president underwent multiple cognitive evaluations throughout his time in office.

Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, who served as Obama’s White House physician from 2009 to 2013, told The Post in a phone interview Saturday that Biden — and any politician over 70 — ought to be tested for mental acuity yearly, with results shared publicly.

“My position is that a 78-year-old candidate, Trump at the time, an 82-year-old president [Biden] would both benefit from neurocognitive testing,” said Kuhlman, referencing a proposal he made in his book Transforming Presidential Healthcare, released in November 2024.

Kuhlman emphasized that anyone in their seventies will experience natural age-related mental decline. He said he’s been recommending such evaluations for almost a year, including in a New York Times op-ed that coincided with Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race.

“If you look at his three physicals that were released as president, Dr. [Kevin] O’Connor wrote five to six pages, single-spaced. He referenced 10 to 20 specialist physicians.”

Despite the length and detail of Biden’s medical records, Kuhlman noted there were no cognitive assessments performed, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment that Trump took during his presidency — a short exam designed to screen for early signs of dementia.

“I have no doubt that President Trump aced it,” Kuhlman said. He added that, in the interest of transparency, the Biden administration should also disclose any CT scans conducted after the July 2024 assassination attempt on the Republican nominee in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Kuhlman pointed out that while the Montreal test can catch early signs of cognitive impairment, it’s not sufficient for diagnosing more advanced decline. He said that when doctors evaluate aging presidents, they should also focus on cancer and heart health in addition to brain function.

According to Kuhlman, brain functions like memory, logical reasoning, reaction time, and spatial awareness generally start deteriorating around the age of 60.

O’Connor, who was Biden’s physician during his years as vice president, worked alongside Kuhlman in the White House medical unit.

Although Kuhlman expressed “respect” for O’Connor’s medical decisions, he also told The Washington Post, “Sometimes those closest to the tree miss the forest.”

O’Connor gave only one media interview during Biden’s presidency. In July 2024, shortly after Biden exited the race and was replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris, O’Connor told The Post that Biden’s mental state was “excellent,” despite widespread concern after a poor debate showing on June 27.

Unlike past presidential physicians, O’Connor never took reporters’ questions in the briefing room. His annual health reports noted various physical conditions, but made only broad statements about Biden’s mental fitness, stating he was “fit for duty.”

“The president doesn’t need a cognitive test,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in February 2024, after Biden’s final physical. “He passes a cognitive test every day.”

Visitor logs show Biden met in January 2024 with Dr. Kevin Cannard, a Parkinson’s expert and longtime physician at Walter Reed. O’Connor said that meeting was part of Biden’s annual medical evaluation.

“If somebody turns up a report that Kevin Cannard said he has Parkinson’s,” said Kuhlman, “then that’s a completely different story, but we have 14 years of Kevin Cannard evaluating him and that’s who I would trust.”

O’Connor denied that Biden had Parkinson’s, though some physicians were not convinced.

“I could’ve diagnosed him from across the Mall,” neurologist Dr. Tom Pitts told NBC in July 2024, citing symptoms like Biden’s stiffness, slower pace, and shuffling steps.

Earlier that year, in February, Special Counsel Robert Hur chose not to prosecute Biden over his mishandling of classified documents, citing the likelihood that a jury would perceive him as “a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.”

The House Oversight Committee, under Republican leadership, issued a subpoena to O’Connor last Thursday, compelling him to testify about Biden’s cognitive condition on June 27.

Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) included a letter with the subpoena suggesting that O’Connor’s “financial relationship with the Biden family” could have played a role in concealing the president’s mental decline from the public.

Jean-Pierre, who left the Democratic Party and is now preparing to release a tell-all memoir about dysfunction inside the Biden administration, is also expected to be called to testify.

Shortly before the release of a new book alleging a systematic effort to hide Biden’s deterioration in his final years, Biden disclosed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones.

In Original Sin, authors Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson report that O’Connor resisted giving Biden a cognitive test.

Kuhlman said O’Connor had previously run prostate cancer screenings when they both worked in the White House, but if the last PSA test taken during Biden’s vice presidency showed no cause for concern, further testing over the next decade might have been deemed unnecessary.

“I hope that Kevin O’Connor had that conversation every year with his patient, Joe Biden, and documented that in the medical record,” Kuhlman said. “If he did the PSA and chose not to release it, I don’t agree with that.”

{Matzav.com}

Chaotic scenes in Paramount, California amid ongoing protests against immigration raids.

WATCH: President Trump defended the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, saying, ‘Bring him back. Show everybody how horrible this guy is’