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In this inspiring episode of Inside ArtScroll, we turn the spotlight on Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, beloved writer and gifted speaker, as he introduces his latest masterpiece, Moments of Greatness.

More than just a collection of remarkable short stories, this book is a treasury of soul-stirring narratives—each one selected with care to uplift, enlighten, and elevate. With heartfelt insight and genuine warmth, Rabbi Hisiger shares the behind-the-scenes process of finding stories that resonate, the responsibility of conveying authentic inspiration, and why these stories leave an indelible mark on the neshamah. A must-watch for anyone seeking depth, meaning, and a renewed appreciation for the power of a well-told story. BUY THE BOOK HERE.

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During a private meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu expressed that Israel would back the proposal being advanced by US Envoy Steve Witkoff—provided that the terms are agreed upon. However, Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu also acknowledged the possibility of a separate arrangement that might involve fewer hostages being released in exchange for reduced concessions.

The Channel 12 report further suggested that one alternative under consideration would involve the release of only one captive—Edan Alexander, a dual American-Israeli citizen—in what would be seen as a “symbolic gesture” toward the United States.

Alexander was taken captive by Hamas on October 7 while serving in the Israel Defense Forces. He remains the last known US citizen still being held by the terror group.

Earlier the same day, both Al Jazeera and Reuters reported—citing a Palestinian Arab source—that Hamas has been engaged in direct discussions with the Trump administration. These talks are said to focus on securing a ceasefire agreement and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

{Matzav.com}

The United States and China have reached a preliminary trade agreement, according to top Trump administration officials who made the announcement on Sunday, signaling a potential de-escalation in the ongoing trade conflict between the two economic giants.

Although the full terms of the agreement, which was reached during high-level discussions held in Switzerland over the weekend, have not yet been disclosed, officials indicated that a more detailed statement would be issued on Monday.

“The U.S. has a massive $1.2 trillion trade deficit, so the President declared a national emergency,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Sunday. “We’re confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us work toward resolving that national emergency.”

The trade dispute has been marked by stiff tariffs imposed by President Trump—some as high as 145%—on imported Chinese goods. In response, China implemented its own counter-tariffs targeting American exports.

Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Geneva to address the growing economic standoff and attempt to chart a course forward.

“I can tell you that the talks were productive,” Bessent teased.

This breakthrough follows a recent announcement from the Trump administration about a proposed trade agreement with the United Kingdom, underscoring a broader strategy to renegotiate global economic ties.

President Trump has frequently criticized China for a host of issues including its role in fentanyl exports, currency manipulation, and violations of intellectual property rights. Forced technology transfers and unfair trade practices have also been central to the administration’s complaints.

Analysts estimate that intellectual property theft by China has cost the U.S. economy anywhere from $225 billion to as much as $600 billion each year.

In 2023, the U.S. recorded a $295.4 billion trade deficit with China—something President Trump has consistently condemned as unacceptable.

During his second term, Trump introduced a 20% tariff on Chinese imports to pressure Beijing into taking action on the fentanyl epidemic. Later, on what he called “Liberation Day,” he rolled out a set of “reciprocal” tariffs aimed at leveling the playing field, which China quickly answered with its own retaliatory measures.

Despite the tension, officials from Trump’s administration maintain that the recent discussions with Chinese counterparts yielded impressive results in a relatively short span of time.

“It’s important to understand how quickly we were able to come to [an] agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought,” Greer added.

“There was a lot of groundwork that went into these two days.”

Trump himself proclaimed yesterday that “GREAT PROGRESS MADE” during negotiations with the Chinese delegation.

With a July 8 deadline looming—by which time Trump plans to finalize deals or enforce a stricter set of tariffs known as the “Liberation Day” rates—his administration is scrambling to wrap up agreements with multiple nations.

{Matzav.com}

The United States announced a trade deal with China during talks in Geneva, White House said.

A Soviet-era spacecraft plunged to Earth on Saturday, more than a half-century after its failed launch to Venus. Its uncontrolled entry was confirmed by both the Russian Space Agency and European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking. The Russians indicated it came down over the Indian Ocean, but some experts were not so sure of the precise location. The European Space Agency’s space debris office also tracked the spacecraft’s doom after it failed to appear over a German radar station. It was not immediately known how much, if any, of the half-ton spacecraft survived the fiery descent from orbit. Experts said ahead of time that some if not all of it might come crashing down, given it was built to withstand a landing on Venus, the solar system’s hottest planet. The chances of anyone getting clobbered by spacecraft debris were exceedingly low, scientists said. Launched in 1972 by the Soviet Union, the spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 was part of a series of missions bound for Venus. But this one never made it out of orbit around Earth, stranded there by a rocket malfunction. Much of the spacecraft came tumbling back to Earth within a decade of the failed launch. No longer able to resist gravity’s tug as its orbit dwindled, the spherical lander — an estimated 3 feet (1 meter) across — was the last part of the spacecraft to come down. The lander was encased in titanium, according to experts, and weighed more than 1,000 pounds (495 kilograms). Any surviving wreckage will belong to Russia under a United Nations treaty. After following the spacecraft’s downward spiral, scientists, military experts and others could not pinpoint in advance precisely when or where the spacecraft might come down. Solar activity added to the uncertainty as well as the spacecraft’s deteriorating condition after so long in space. After so much anticipation, some observers were disappointed by the lingering uncertainty over the exact whereabouts of the spacecraft’s grave. “If it was over the Indian Ocean, only the whales saw it,” Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek said via X. As of Saturday afternoon, the U.S. Space Command had yet to confirm the spacecraft’s demise as it collected and analyzed data from orbit. The U.S. Space Command routinely monitors dozens of reentries each month. What set Kosmos 482 apart — and earned it extra attention from government and private space trackers — was that it was more likely to survive reentry, according to officials. It was also coming in uncontrolled, without any intervention by flight controllers who normally target the Pacific and other vast expanses of water for old satellites and other space debris. (AP)

In an emotional address, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum of Satmar issued a call to his chassidim living in Williamsburg to leave the increasingly unaffordable neighborhood and move to Kiryas Yoel in Monroe, where housing is cheaper and the chareidi atmosphere is stronger.

Speaking during the inauguration of a new yeshiva ketanah building in Williamsburg, the Rebbe delivered what he described as daas Torah and plain common sense. “In the past, there weren’t enough housing options in Kiryas Yoel,” he acknowledged, “but today there are multiple new projects underway, with affordable prices. There is now room for the entire kehilla to relocate there.”

The Rebbe painted a stark picture of the cost of living in Williamsburg. He described a situation where homes cost millions of dollars to buy and rent for a typical apartment is around $6,000 a month. Even small apartments for newlyweds can go for $3,000. “The cries of the parents rise to the Heavens,” the Rebbe lamented. “My heart is torn apart. One shudders to hear these things, seeing parents crushed under the heavy burden of weddings and outrageous rental prices in such an expensive place.”

While expressing deep admiration for Williamsburg, the Rebbe said that the neighborhood’s reality has drastically changed. “Williamsburg was once an ihr v’eim b’Yisroel, a makom kadosh. It was home to great tzaddikim, a place of abundant gemilus chassadim, infused with Torah and sanctity. But today, it is no longer possible to remain living there.”

In a fiery continuation of his speech, the Rebbe invoked the legacy of the Divrei Yoel. He noted that the Divrei Yoel did not establish the city of Kiryas Yosel for strangers or outsiders, but specifically for Satmar chassidim of Williamsburg, foreseeing the challenges that would eventually make the neighborhood unlivable. “He built it so our people would have room to grow,” the Rebbe said.

“Indeed, the words ‘Kumu tze’u min hamakom hazeh’ [‘Arise, leave this place’ – Bereishis 19:14], were originally spoken about Sedom,” said the Rebbe. “But I am saying them now about the holy city of Williamsburg. Leave here!”

To reinforce his message, the Rebbe referenced how similar transitions happened in Eretz Yisroel, where neighborhoods like Ashdod, Beit Shemesh, Tzfas, and Teveriah became thriving chareidi centers, even though people once thought that only Yerushalayim and Bnei Brak were options. “Williamsburg may be filled with yirei Shomayim, but it cannot compare to the ruchniyus of Kiryas Yoel,” he declared. “The holiness and purity are felt in the very streets. You can let your children walk outside without worrying about shemiras einayim. Williamsburg has no future. The future is in Monroe.”

{Matzav.com}

The siblings of Tzvi Feldman, H’yd spoke to the press on Sunday about the news they received in the morning about the return of their brother’s body after 43 years. “This morning, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu came to our home and informed us of the news we’ve been waiting for almost 43 years,” Tzvi’s sister, Anat Cohen, said. “”We davened and we always believed that Tzvika would return home and now he returned and is here, in Eretz Yisrael.” “We cried all our lives that our battle hasn’t ended. But today we thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu for the closing of the circle. And we thank Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who promised us all these years, who promised our parents 30 years ago, that he’ll bring Tzikva home. And Baruch Hashem, that’s what happened.” “The unbelievable happened, and Baruch Hashem, Tzvika has returned. My siblings and I and are very emotional. We waited for this moment for 43 years.” Tzvika’s brother, Itzik Feldman, told the press that his father was orphaned in the Holocaust. He managed to escape Europe before the Holocaust began, arrived in Eretz Yisrael, and established a home. “When my brother Tzvika went missing, Abba would always say: ‘I won over Hitler. Why did my son have to go missing?’ Itzik said. “He would cry a lot. My mother fought like a lion, met with all the IDF Chiefs of Staff and prime ministers.” “Today I woke up earlier than usual for davening. I went to the roof to recite Tehillim, I looked up at Shamayim and I spoke with the Borei Olam and asked for a sign from my brother. Suddenly, my brother-in-law called to come quick, there’s news about Tzvika.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

New York City Mayor Eric Adams visited the White House on Friday afternoon for a meeting with President Donald Trump and his administration to discuss a range of priorities specific to New York. Adams characterized the gathering as “New York-centered” and emphasized the importance of opening direct channels of communication between City Hall and the federal government.

In a video message released after the 3 p.m. meeting, Adams outlined several pressing topics he brought to the table. Among them was a stalled offshore wind farm project, which he warned could be scrapped unless federal approval allows construction to resume. The mayor also proposed new directions for economic development, including the potential for New York City to invest in domestic chip production.

“At the heart of this was to establish real communication, that’s our goal,” Adams said. “New York City is important to America, and what happens here in Washington, D.C. is important to New York.”

Additional items on the agenda included vital infrastructure plans and the continuation of core social programs. Adams said the discussion laid groundwork for ongoing talks to ensure the federal government understands and supports the city’s key objectives.

The alliance between Adams and President Trump has drawn significant public attention, particularly following the Justice Department’s controversial decision to drop criminal charges against the mayor. Adams had been facing accusations of bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy, prompting widespread criticism and speculation about political favoritism.

The rationale behind the case dismissal, according to reports, centered on Adams’ inability to fully carry out public safety reforms championed by the Trump administration while under legal scrutiny. This included challenges tied to implementing recent changes to immigration enforcement.

Now running for reelection as an independent, Adams has continued to assert his innocence, strongly rejecting any suggestion that he made concessions in exchange for leniency from the federal government.

Looking ahead, the mayor expressed optimism that future talks with the White House will follow soon.

“A good leader finds common ground to get things done, and that’s why I remain committed to working with this administration wherever collaboration helps make New York City the best place in the world to raise a family,” Adams said.

{Matzav.com}

IDF forces are operating across the Gaza Strip, striking over 50 terrorist targets in the last 24 hours.

Former Hamas hostage Agam Berger and her mother, Meirav, davened today at the Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

At the biggest jewelry center in the United States, Alberto Hernandez fired up his machine on a recent day and waited until it glowed bright orange inside before shoveling in an assortment of rings, earrings and necklaces weighing about as much as a bar of soap: just under 100 grams, or 3.2 troy ounces. Minutes later, the bubbling liquid metal was cooling in a rectangular cast the size of a woman’s shoe. An X-ray machine determined it was 56.5% gold, making it worth $177,000 based on the price of gold that day. As gold prices soar to record highs during global economic jitters, hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of gold are circulating through the doors of St. Vincent Jewelry Center in downtown Los Angeles on any given day. Many of the center’s 500 independent tenants, which include jewelers, gold refiners and assayers, say they have never seen such a surge in customers. “Right now, we’re seeing a lot of rappers and stuff melting their big pieces,” said Alberto’s nephew, Sabashden Hernandez, who works at A&M Precious Metals. “We’re getting a lot of new customers who are just getting all of their grandfather’s stuff, melting it down pretty much.” Gold’s current rally comes as President Donald Trump issues ever-changing announcements on tariffs, roiling financial markets and threatening to reignite inflation. In response, people across the country are flocking to sell or melt down their old jewelry for quick cash, including middlemen like pawn shop owners. Others, thinking their money might be safer in gold than in the volatile stock market, are snapping it up just as fast. Los Angeles jeweler Olivia Kazanjian said people are even bringing in family heirlooms. “They’re melting things with their family’s wedding dates and things from the 1800s,” Kazanjian said. She recently paid a client for a 14-karat gold woven bracelet with intricate blue enamel work that could be turned into a brooch. The customer walked away with $3,200 for the amount of gold contained in the piece measured in troy ounces, the standard for precious metals equivalent to 31 grams. But Kazanjian doesn’t plan to melt the piece. The real artistic and historical value was a lot more, she said. “It’s just stunning … and you won’t see that kind of craftsmanship again,” Kazanjian said, adding she has persuaded some customers to change their minds about melting items. “It’s a piece of history, and if you’re lucky enough to inherit it, it’s a piece of your family.” Businesses on the sales side of the action, offering gold bars and other material, also are working hard to keep up with the frenzy. “Stuff comes in and it goes right out,” said Edwin Feijoo, who owns Stefko Cash for Gold in Pennsylvania and receives shipments from customers across the U.S. looking to sell their gold. “Everybody’s busy right now.” Business hasn’t been good for everyone, though. For some jewelers who source their products from places abroad like Italy, Turkey and China, the combination of high gold prices and added tariffs have cut into profit margins and hurt demand. “Our profit margins are so razor thin here,” said Puzant Berberian, whose family founded V&P Jewelry inside St. Vincent in 1983. Berberian said he recently paid an extra $16,000 on a package from overseas. Customers also are feeling […]

A historic project is underway to rebuild the only mikvah taharah in Meron—serving every group in Klal Yisroel, in one of the holiest places on earth. Of all places, you wouldn’t expect this.  In Meron, the most visited Jewish site in the world, the only mikvah taharah has fallen into deep disrepair and is unfit for use.  Each year, over a million people pour in, drawn by the kedusha of Reb Shimon. And yet, just steps away, the only mikvah taharah stands in deep disrepair—its doors closed to those who need it most. Surrounding Meron are thousands of families in Moshav Meron and nearby communities, some of whom have no other mikvah at all. Beyond the locals, tens of thousands of women from every part of Klal Yisroel—Chassidish, Litvish, Sefardic, traditional, and secular—come hoping to fulfill this holy mitzvah. Every night, tens, if not hundreds, of women hope to fulfill a mitzvah that has sustained Klal Yisroel for generations. But with the mikvah unusable, many cannot.  And tragically, for women not-yet fully observant, no local mikvah often means no taharah at all. For the thousands living there and tens of thousands more who visit each year, a usable, welcoming mikvah is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline.  This can no longer wait. This must be done. Now, in an urgent and unprecedented initiative, Merkaz L’Taharas HaMishpacha is rebuilding Mikvah Taharah Meron from the ground up—under the direction of leading poskim, with the goal of completion within just three months. The new mikvah will serve: * The 1,000 residents of Moshav Meron * Thousands more in surrounding yishuvim (who have no local mikvah) * Over one million visitors annually  And unlike any other mikvah in Eretz Yisroel, Mikvah Meron will serve the full spectrum of Klal Yisroel—from the most connected to the most distant. The leaders of purity, the builders of worlds.  This is not a first.  Merkaz L’Taharas HaMishpacha has been preserving purity for over 83 years. Since 1942, the organization has restored or built more than 1,100 mikvaos across Israel. In community after community, mikvah usage doubles and even triples after a proper facility is built. This is how taharah becomes accessible and lasting. Supported by Gedolei Yisroel throughout the generations, Merkaz’s work is guided by halachah and powered by those who understand that kedushah is the bedrock of our people. As we prepare for Lag BaOmer, the urgency couldn’t be greater.  This is Meron. This is Reb Shimon. This is the one and only mikvah taharah near the tzion of Rashbi. And this is your chance to help build it. “Rashbi gave his very life for the purity of Am Yisrael. His merit will stand for anyone who strengthens the purity of our people in his place—to be bentched with yeshua and rachamim.” —Rachmastrivka Rebbe Shlit”a “Reb Shimon never leaves a debt unpaid. It is a tremendous zechus to become a partner in the purity of Am Yisrael, especially in the place of such a tzaddik.” —Hagaon Hatzadik Harav Shimon Galei Shlit”a “Surely his zechus will stand for all who help build this mikvah—they will see bracha, hatzlacha, and shefa in everything they do, because this is truly one of the greatest mitzvos.” —Maran Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch Shlit”a Can there be a greater mitzvah, in a […]

At a drone show in Toronto, drones displayed messages for the 59 men and women still held hostage in Gaza.

The body of Zvi Feldman hy”d, whose body was recovered 43 years after being killed in Syria, returns to Israel for kevurah.

In a new statement, President Trump calls for Ukraineand Russia to meet for peace talks without delay.

The wreckage of an Indian Su-30MKI fighter jet, likely shot down by the Pakistan Air Force, has been located in Akhnoor, India.

Sec. Scott Bessent: There has been a “great deal of productivity” in trade talks with China: “We will be giving details tomorrow, but I can tell you that the talks were productive.”

US Trade Rep.: “The U.S. has a massive $1.2 trillion trade deficit, so the President declared a national emergency … We’re confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us work toward resolving that national emergency.”

New information has come to light about the daring and secretive mission that led to the recovery of the body of Sgt. Maj. Tzvi (Tzvika) Feldman, an IDF officer who was killed during the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub in the First Lebanon War and listed as missing in action for over four decades.

The complex and dangerous operation was conducted by Mossad, working hand in hand with IDF Military Intelligence. The mission required covert penetration deep inside Syrian territory. It was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Y., a retired officer who returned to active duty solely to oversee this delicate and high-stakes assignment.

The mission unfolded far beyond Israel’s borders, in a cemetery situated in an area that was once under the control of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Mossad operatives faced extreme danger on the ground, navigating through armed hostiles and active gunfire before reaching the grave where Feldman was buried.

After five months of intensive investigative work, intelligence officials discovered a narrow window of opportunity to act. A foreign team was the first to access the site and remove the remains. They delivered a DNA sample to Israel, where testing confirmed that the remains belonged to Sgt. Maj. Feldman. Only after this confirmation was the full body recovered and returned.

Feldman was one of the soldiers lost in the brutal confrontation at Sultan Yacoub, a battle that claimed the lives of 21 IDF troops and left many others wounded. The final identification of his remains was made at the Genomic Center for the Identification of Fallen Soldiers, under the direction of the IDF Military Rabbinate.

His levayah is set to take place on Monday in Cholon.

This mission represents a deeply emotional achievement for Israel, following the 2019 recovery of Sergeant Zechariah Baumel through a similarly sophisticated intelligence effort. The IDF noted that the family of Yehuda Katz, another soldier missing from the same battle, has been briefed, and the search to bring him home is ongoing.

{Matzav.com Israel}

An NBC News report highlights growing friction between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu regarding their diverging strategies on Gaza and Iran.

While Trump and Netanyahu originally appeared to be in sync in their stance toward Hamas and the Iranian threat, their positions have begun to shift apart. Trump had initially authorized the flow of weapons to Israel and gave his backing to the military campaign. However, sources say he now favors a ceasefire and is promoting a vision to transform Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East.”

According to individuals familiar with the situation, Trump has conveyed privately that Israel’s renewed military campaign in Gaza is counterproductive, arguing that it will ultimately complicate any serious plans for post-war recovery. The article cites unnamed American and regional officials who describe Netanyahu as increasingly focused on preparing for possible strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, while Trump is pushing for negotiations to block Iran from developing nuclear arms. Netanyahu is reportedly unhappy about Trump’s comments indicating he has not yet made a final decision on allowing Iran any level of uranium enrichment in a potential agreement.

The report also reveals that Netanyahu was surprised by Trump’s move to halt U.S. military engagement against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, even after the Houthis launched attacks against Israel. Netanyahu had anticipated a firmer show of American military support during his most recent meeting at the White House.

Trump, according to insiders, has expressed disappointment with Israel’s resumed offensive in Gaza, warning that it could derail any meaningful reconstruction efforts. Meanwhile, Senators Tom Cotton and Lindsey Graham are urging that any future agreement with Iran be subjected to Senate approval and completely prohibit any Iranian uranium enrichment.

Despite these differences, a White House official told NBC News that Trump is unwavering in his aim to block Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and continues to back Israel’s mission to secure the release of hostages from Gaza.

In another significant diplomatic shift, reports suggest that the United States is no longer requiring Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel as a prerequisite for advancing nuclear cooperation. This change in approach is taking place as Trump prepares for a high-level visit to the Saudi kingdom.

Arabic-language sources further report that Trump is expected to hold talks in Saudi Arabia with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Syrian President Abu Mohammad al-Julani. The invitation for such a meeting reportedly originated from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is aiming to gain U.S. approval for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

{Matzav.com}