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Timelapse video shows deadly flooding of the Llano River in Texas on July 4th

Families of Israeli hostages called on the government to end the war in Gaza, a day after Hamas said it had responded in ‘a positive spirit’ to a US-brokered ceasefire proposal

President Trump says he’s working with Texas officials in response to devastating floods and that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem will be there soon.

President Trump announced he signed tariff letters to 12 countries, set to be sent Monday, opting for letters over negotiations after setbacks, stating they are easier to send.

Elon Musk launched the “America Party” on his social media platform, declaring its formation after a user poll showed strong support, aiming to counter wasteful spending and restore freedom in what he calls a one-party system, following a fallout with President Trump.

Watch as RVs are swept away by the massive flood waters in Williamson County, Texas.

Tucker Carlson has announced that he managed to secure an interview with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, shortly after the recent military operations known as Operation Rising Liuon and Operation Midnight Hammer.

“We know we’ll be criticized for this interview, and we decided to do it anyway,” Carlson stated. “We were just at war with Iran ten days ago, and may be again. Our view is that American citizens have the Constitutional and God-given right to know as much about what is being done with their money and in their name as they can. That includes hearing from the people they’re fighting.”

The United States launched Operation Midnight Hammer without a formal declaration of war against Iran—something that constitutionally requires Congressional authorization. This has stirred a familiar political firestorm, with lawmakers on both sides criticizing the administration’s decision to bypass Congress, continuing a long-running debate that dates back to the Vietnam era.

“Can you believe everything you hear from the president of Iran? Probably not,” Carlson acknowledged. “But keep in mind that anyone who seeks to deny you that right is not your ally, but your enemy. We have also put in an interview request for Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, for the third time in the past few months.”

Carlson pointed out that there were inherent challenges in conducting the interview. “We had to work remotely, and through a translator. There are some questions to which I cannot expect an honest answer, and so I didn’t ask, questions like ‘Was the nuclear program entirely disabled by the American bombing?’ The purpose was not the absolute truth, which was impossible, but to add to the body of knowledge available for the American people to form their opinion.”

{Matzav.com}

Republican New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa discusses the race and stresses the importance of ‘sticking to the issues’ against Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani.

WATCH:

According to a new report from The Telegraph, five Israeli military installations were directly impacted by Iranian missile fire during the June clashes between Israel and Iran.

The findings, based on satellite imagery reviewed by analysts at the University of Oregon, show that a total of six missiles landed at strategic sites across Israel’s central, northern, and southern regions. Among those targeted were Tel Nof Airbase and the Glilot compound, which houses the elite Unit 8200 of Israeli military intelligence.

Other affected sites reportedly included the Tziporit installation in the north, a military location close to Tulkarem, and another near Beit Nehemia that sustained two direct hits.

This new information adds to previously reported data indicating that 36 buildings were also struck during the fighting. Although the majority of Iranian rockets were neutralized before reaching their targets, experts observed that Iran’s accuracy improved over the course of the conflict. The reason for this trend remains uncertain, The Telegraph noted.

“The data shows that five previously unreported military facilities were hit by six Iranian missiles across northern, southern, and central Israel, including a large air base, an intelligence gathering center, and a logistics base,” The Telegraph reported. The IDF declined to provide specific details about the reported strikes, though a spokesperson emphasized that all essential units remained operational during the confrontation.

Roughly 16% of the missiles succeeded in bypassing Israeli and American defensive systems, leading to the deaths of 28 people.

{Matzav.com}

The Telegraph reported that Iranian ballistic missiles struck five sensitive IDF military bases during last month’s 12-day war, citing advanced radar data shared by Oregon State University. The satellite-tracked evidence, kept under wraps by Israeli authorities to prevent Iran from fine-tuning potential future salvos, indicates direct hits on strategic installations including the Tel Nof Airbase, the Glilot intelligence compound, and the Zipporit armor and weapons production facility. The Telegraph analysis, based on bomb damage signatures picked up from orbit, concluded that six Iranian ballistic missiles penetrated Israel’s multi-layer air defense systems and slammed into IDF facilities. Beyond those six rockets, another 36 missiles crashed into civilian areas across Israel, killing 28 people, injuring scores more, and leaving 13,000 Israelis displaced. Over 2,300 homes in 240 buildings, two universities, and a hospital were damaged or destroyed in the onslaught. In total, Iran unleashed a staggering barrage of more than 500 ballistic missiles and around 1,100 drones over the course of the 12-day conflict. While the majority of threats were intercepted, a worrying trend emerged: each day during the war’s first week, more missiles slipped past Israeli and American defensive systems. By the seventh day, interception rates had reportedly dropped to 84%, with approximately 16% of missiles punching through, according to The Telegraph’s data. Experts suggested that Israel may have been forced to ration its Arrow interceptor missiles, prioritizing targets as the war dragged on, a claim that the IDF officially denied. Another theory is that Iran fielded increasingly sophisticated missile technology, designed to evade or overwhelm the highly advanced Iron Dome and Arrow batteries. Despite the unprecedented missile penetration into IDF infrastructure, Israeli military sources insisted that “all relevant units maintained functional continuity throughout the operation,” refusing to elaborate on the specific damage at its bases. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A shul in Melbourne was targeted in a deliberate arson attack on Friday night, forcing members of the Jewish community to flee the building. The attack comes seven months after a similar act of destruction leveled another shul in the city, injuring one person.

According to a statement released by Victoria Police, a man approached the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation around 8 p.m., poured accelerant on the front double doors, and ignited the fire. At the time, roughly 20 people were inside the shul enjoying a Shabbos seudah. They escaped through a back exit, and thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it spread beyond the entrance. Damage was limited to the front doors, as shown in images released by authorities.

Police reported that the suspect was spotted walking through a nearby park before approaching the shul. After setting the fire, he ran from the scene. Authorities have not yet identified the individual.

Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the attack, linking it to the earlier incident and accusing the perpetrators of seeking to terrorize the Jewish population.

“Any attack on a place of worship is an act of hate, and any attack on a Jewish place of worship is an act of antisemitism,” she stated.

Acting Commander Zorka Dunstan of Victoria Police addressed reporters, describing the fire as a “serious crime.” While the department’s Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit is leading the probe, officials emphasized that it has not yet been classified as terrorism.

“I’d like to make it very clear that we do recognize that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent. But at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident,” Dunstan said.

“In the course of our investigation, we will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons involved, or person, to determine if this is in fact terrorism. At the moment, we are categorizing it as a serious criminal incident and responding accordingly,” she added.

Designating the attack as terrorism would allow for additional resources and could lead to more severe criminal charges.

Danny Segal, president of the shul, urged Australians to unite against hatred and violence.

“We’re here to be in peace, you know, we’re here for everybody to live together and we’ve got a fresh start in Australia, such a beautiful country, and what they’re doing is just not fair and not right, and as Australians, we should stand up and everybody should stand up,” Segal said.

Police released surveillance footage of a man they hope to question in connection with the fire. Though not officially labeled a suspect, he is described as being in his mid-30s, with a beard and long hair, dressed in dark clothing and carrying a large black bag.

Later that same evening, a separate disturbing incident took place at a Miznon restaurant in downtown Melbourne. Around 20 masked individuals reportedly harassed patrons, damaging property and creating panic. One window was broken, and police arrested a 28-year-old woman for obstructing officers.

Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, condemned the restaurant attack and said the demonstrators terrorized customers by shouting, “Death to the IDF.”

“Melbourne, for one night, stopped being a safe place for Jews,” Abramovich said.

Mayor Nicholas Reece of Melbourne denounced both attacks, expressing deep concern.

“These criminal acts against a Melbourne synagogue and an Israeli business are absolutely shocking,” Reece said. “All of us as a community need to stand up against it.”

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel also responded to the news on social media, calling the incidents “yet another reminder of how far racist, antisemitic hate crimes have spread in the heart of Australia.”

“Israel stands with you,” Haskel wrote.

Investigators are looking into whether there is any connection between the shul arson and the restaurant incident. They are also probing another case involving property damage and fire at a business in Greensborough, a suburb of the city.

Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, sparked the war in Gaza, Australia has experienced a troubling surge in antisemitic violence and intimidation.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appeared in public for the first time since the onset of the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, participating in a somber Ashoura-eve observance.

Khamenei’s conspicuous silence and absence during the recent hostilities had fueled speculation about heightened protective measures. Iranian state television aired footage of him entering a mosque near his official residence and office in Tehran, where a crowd of supporters rose and chanted as he acknowledged them with waves and nods.

No immediate official remarks were reported from Khamenei at the event, although other senior Iranian officials, including the speaker of Parliament, were in attendance. Events of this nature are typically surrounded by significant security measures.

Sources indicate that throughout the conflict, the 86-year-old Khamenei had remained in a secure underground location due to elevated threats to his life.

During the war, after the United States escalated tensions by bombing three major nuclear facilities inside Iran, President Donald Trump issued pointed messages on social media. Addressing Khamenei, he said the U.S. was aware of the Supreme Leader’s whereabouts but had no intention of targeting him “at least for now.”

A few days after a ceasefire took effect on June 26, Khamenei broke his silence in a prerecorded message. In it, he declared that Iran had struck a blow to Washington by targeting a U.S. airbase in Qatar, and cautioned both America and Israel against further military action.

Trump, responding both in person and online, stated, “Look, you’re a man of great faith. A man who’s highly respected in his country. You have to tell the truth. You got beat to h—.”

The ceremony Khamenei attended today commemorated the martyrdom of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, a seminal moment for Shiite Muslims.

Shiites, comprising more than 10% of the global Muslim population, honor Hussein as the rightful heir to the Prophet. His killing at the hands of Sunnis in the 7th century Battle of Karbala remains a defining moment in Shiite history and identity.

In Iran, where Shiism is the dominant faith, the ceremony featured red flags symbolizing Hussein’s spilled blood, and black tents and garments representing national mourning. Emotional displays included rhythmic chest-beating and self-flagellation by male participants. To ease the heat, some volunteers sprayed water on the crowd of mourners.

{Matzav.com}

Rescuers scoured flooded riverbanks littered with mangled trees, overturned cars and muck-filled debris Saturday in an increasingly bleak mission to locate missing people, including more than two dozen girls who have not been seen since their camp was slammed with a wall of water in a historic flash flood. The storm killed at least 37 people across the state, including 14 children. Some 36 hours after the floods, authorities still have not said how many people were missing beyond 27 children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along a river in Kerr County where most of the dead were recovered. The destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the Guadalupe River in just 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as torrential rains continued pounding communities outside San Antonio on Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect. Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that authorities will be relentless and work around the clock to rescue and recover victims, adding that new areas were being searched as the water recedes. “We will find every one of them,” he said. More rain fell around Austin, and a massive search continued in the nearby Hill Country. At least three people died and 10 others were missing in Travis County, home to the state capital. Two people died in Burnet County, where a firefighter was among the missing after he was swept away by floodwaters while responding to a rescue, county Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio said. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said 32 bodies had been recovered so far in the devastated Hill Country: 18 adults and 14 children. Authorities were coming under scrutiny over whether the camps and residents in places long vulnerable to flooding received proper warning and whether enough preparations were made. The hills along the Guadalupe River in central Texas are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the July Fourth holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing. “We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” City Manager Dalton Rice said Saturday morning. Raging storm hit camp in middle of the night “The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.” The raging storm, fueled by incredible amounts of moisture, woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs, she said. Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information. On Saturday the camp was mostly deserted. Helicopters roared above as a few people surveyed the damage, including a pickup tossed onto its side and a building missing its entire front wall. Among those confirmed dead were an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was at Camp Mystic, and the director of another camp just up the road. The flooding in […]

[COMMUNICATED]

Thursday July 3, 2025,

One year ago, Torah in Eretz Yisroel stood at the brink. A sudden government freeze left more than 1,400 yeshivos and kollelim without vital support. Yungeleit went unpaid, meals were cut, and the entire infrastructure of limud haTorah was in danger of collapse. Klal Yisroel responded with extraordinary achdus and mesirus nefesh. Under the guidance of Gedolei Yisroel, and with the support of over 30,000 donors around the globe, $115 million was raised to keep the flame of Torah burning bright.

We had hoped the crisis would pass. But the war in the north and south still rages, the draft law remains unresolved, and the funding freeze continues. There is no political solution in sight, and no safety net in place. Today, more than 120,000 lomdei Torah are relying on Keren Olam HaTorah for their very survival.

Over the past two weeks, Gedolei Eretz Yisroel — among them Harav Dovid Cohen, Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, and Harav Don Segal, who traveled all the way from Switzerland despite recovering from illness — visited major kehillos across the United States on behalf of this urgent cause. They traveled to Baltimore, Chicago, Lakewood, Brooklyn, Monsey, Passaic, Deal, Toronto, and the Five Towns. In every city, their message was the same: the achrayus for the future of Torah rests upon us.

Their journey has already ignited a powerful wave of support. So far, 5,000 donors have contributed an incredible amount of more than $80,000,000. But the goal is $132 million, and we are still far from the finish line. The ones who got us there last time — those 30,000 donors who gave with large checks or small — are the ones we need again now.

This is not just another campaign. This is about ensuring the survival of Torah in Eretz Yisroel during one of the most challenging moments in its history. We did the impossible once. B’ezras Hashem, with your help, we will do it again.

BE A PART OF IT

[COMMUNICATED]

Over fifteen years ago, I committed to a life-changing mission: reciting the entire Sefer Tehillim every single day.

By the Tehillim Shliach Levi Piekarski

 Over fifteen years ago, I committed to a life-changing mission: reciting the entire Sefer Tehillim every single day.

About three years ago, I took it further. I began traveling to kivrei tzaddikim, reciting the entire Tehillim there—especially at the Ohel and at kevarim worldwide—specifically on behalf of those who ask me to daven for them. I’ve even started offering this as a service because I’ve personally witnessed miracles (both for myself and others) through heartfelt Tehillim. You can ask me about them.

How the Matzeivah Project Began

One day, while reciting the entire Tehillim at a kever on a yahrzeit, a Chevra Kadisha member approached me. He was trying to collect funds from the family to repair the kever. That same day, I helped secure the funds — and since then, I’ve arranged the repair of over 250 kevarim.

Right now, I’m working on a deeply meaningful project: repairing dozens of matzeivos of infants and young children, whose resting places deserve the same kavod as anyone else.

Why I’m Asking for Your Help

I’m dedicating myself to this mission for three reasons:

• A broken or neglected matzeivah causes pain to the neshama. This is chesed shel emes—true kindness with no expectation of reward.
• When I restore a matzeivah, I bring a picture of it into the Ohel when I recite Tehillim. I believe this adds power to the tefillos I say on behalf of others.
• Before COVID, my home was open almost year-round to everyone. While our hachnosas orchim has scaled down to family and friends, I continue the same spirit of giving—now through restoring kevarim.

A Story That Shook Me

On 26 Nisan this year, I was finishing Tehillim at a kever on its yahrzeit and driving toward the Ohel when a man approached me, looking for the Monistritcher Rebbe’s kever. I gave him a ride, and on the way, I asked which chassidus he was from. He said Vizhnitz, so I mentioned a nearby kever—Eiga bas Azriel, believed to be connected to Vizhnitz.

Her matzeivah reads:

“Lovely people, I am all alone and left no children. Please light a candle and ask for my neshama. In this zechus, may Hashem bless you to live to see your children and their children in their old age with everything good. Amen.”

After he returned from her kever, he turned to me and said: “I’ve been married for 23 years… and have no children.”

I was speechless. What are the chances? Later, when we arrived at the Monistritcher Rebbe’s kever, he told me that day was his yahrzeit. I replied, “No way—I recently raised funds to repair his Ohel!”

Though I usually only daven at the Rebbe’s Ohel (as a Lubavitcher), I knew in my heart the Rebbe would want me to recite Tehillim and light a candle at Eiga bas Azriel’s kever, and I did.

I turned to the man and said:

“In the zechus of 15 years of daily Tehillim, the hachnosas orchim I’ve done, and every kever I’ve repaired, may your wife become pregnant by Shavuos, and may you hold a child within the year.”

I asked for his and his wife’s names and gave them over in the Ohel. Though I usually offer this as a paid service, I told him, “This one is on me.”

Upon entering the Ohel, I cried my heart out, and begged the Rebbe, “Please show this Yid who’s the Boss and please intercede by HASHEM.

Two weeks later, I called him. He told me he’s been reciting Mishnayos every day since we met.

The Next Kever to Fix – Eiga bas Azriel

Recently, while davening at her kever, people approached me to ask for tefillos—for children, for shidduchim. One woman asked, “Does it help to daven here?”

I answered honestly:
“I don’t know what happened years ago, but I do know that so many people have lit candles and said Tehillim here, her neshama must be soaring. Of course she can help.”

While reciting the full Tehillim at her kever, I noticed her matzeivah is leaning to one side, and the base is buried under the earth.

I said to myself, How can I daven at so many kevarim and not fix hers?
So I took it upon myself to raise the funds to restore it properly. Any extra will go toward other kevarim projects, like the matzeivos for the infants.

Join Me in This Zechus

If this speaks to your heart, I invite you to be a partner in this mitzvah. I will recite the entire Tehillim on your behalf at any kever worldwide.

Chesed Shel Emes. Tehillim from the heart. Kavod for neshamos. Zechus for those who give.

 

Levi Piekarski 516.474.5846

Name4tehillim@gmail.com
Or, Click here to WhatsApp me.

Avi Piamenta, a beloeved presence in Jewish music and an acclaimed flutist, passed away on Friday night at the age of 69.

Avi died suddenly while visiting New York, where he had come to participate in the annual commemoration of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s yahrtzeit.

Born in 1956 in Yerushalayim, Avi was raised in a secular environment. From an early age, he immersed himself in music, studying piano and then discovering the flute, an instrument that would ultimately define his musical identity. At 17, he joined forces with his older brother Yossi, a trailblazing guitarist, and the two began performing together onstage.

Following the Yom Kippur War, the Piamenta brothers launched what became the renowned “Piamenta Band.” Their group played a major role in reshaping the sound of Jewish music, fusing it with modern influences and reaching diverse audiences around the world.

As time went on, Avi grew increasingly connected to the Chabad movement, a path his brother Yossi also embraced. The family eventually relocated to the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. He became a familiar figure at Chabad events.

During the early 1990s, Yossi Piamenta moved back to Israel, and Avi soon did the same. He took up residence in Kfar Chabad, where he remained active on the simcha scene, playing at weddings and functions, and continuing to inspire audiences with his signature sound.

Avi leaves behind his wife, Yudit (nee Levy); his children, Yehuda Piamenta (Crown Heights), Genya Suwed (Mexico City, Mexico), Rivka Eichler (New Haven, CT), Mushka Piamenta (Monsey, NY), Chana Atar (Nicaragua), Mendy Piamenta (New Haven, CT), Dovy Piamenta (New Haven, CT), and Yossi Piamenta (Crown Heights), and grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Mrs. Chaya Meer (Morristown, NJ), and Mrs. Chana Lorber (Kfar Chabad, Israel). He was predeceased by his brother, Yossi.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A devastating flood in Texas has claimed the lives of at least 27 people, including nine children, as rescue teams scramble to locate the missing, according to The Weather Channel. The catastrophe unfolded following a powerful storm that overwhelmed the region, with authorities particularly focused on the search for 25 children from a summer camp who remain unaccounted for, sparking widespread concern.

The Guadalupe River surged rapidly, submerging vast areas and sweeping through homes, vehicles, and campsites. ABC News reported that more than 160 aerial rescues were conducted, successfully evacuating approximately 850 individuals from flooded zones, rooftops, and campgrounds. Eight people sustained injuries ranging from mild to moderate and were flown to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick described the flooding as a disaster without precedent. “Not a single drop of rain fell before the tragedy, and then suddenly — a massive storm caused the river to rise by 7 meters in less than an hour,” he told Reuters, underlining the sheer speed and force of the flooding.

The storm struck as Americans celebrated Independence Day, compounding the heartbreak. One of the hardest-hit places was the “Mystic” summer camp, where hundreds of children were spending the holiday. Thirteen-year-old camper Linor Lester recounted the harrowing ordeal to CNN: “The camp was completely flooded. Suddenly, a helicopter appeared and started rescuing us. It was very frightening.”

According to AccuWeather, forecasters had alerted Texas officials hours before the flooding began. However, as NBC News reported, the company criticized the state’s failure to act quickly. “They had hours to evacuate,” the forecast provider said, suggesting a missed opportunity to prevent loss of life.

Still, Texas Emergency Management Division Chief NIM Kid defended the state’s response, explaining to Fox News that the actual storm intensity exceeded any prediction. “No one predicted the amount of rainfall — it was far beyond the forecasts,” he stated.

President Donald Trump issued a message of sympathy for those impacted. A statement from the White House read: “Melania and I are praying for everyone affected by this tragedy. Our brave rescue teams are doing their work with tireless dedication. God bless Texas.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his sorrow via social media, saying, “Heartbroken by the devastating floods in Texas. On behalf of the people of Israel, I extend my deepest condolences to all the people of Texas, to Governor Greg Abbott TX, a true friend of Israel who stood with us in our darkest hour, and to all the families mourning unimaginable loss, especially of young children at summer camp.”

“We admire the courage of the first responders and rescue teams working tirelessly to save lives, and we hope and pray that more survivors will be found safe. The people of Israel stand in solidarity with the people of Texas at this painful time.”

{Matzav.com}

Rescuers scoured a devastated central Texas landscape of mangled trees, overturned cars and muck-filled debris Saturday in an increasingly bleak mission to locate survivors, including 27 girls who have not been seen since their camp was slammed with a wall of water in a historic flash flood. The flooding in Kerr County killed at least 43 people, including 15 children, and six more people died in nearby counties. Authorities still have not said how many people were missing beyond 27 children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along a river in Kerr County where most of the dead were recovered. The destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the Guadalupe River in just 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as torrential rains continued pounding communities outside San Antonio on Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect. Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that authorities will be relentless and work around the clock to rescue and recover victims, adding that new areas were being searched as the water recedes. “We will find every one of them,” he said. More rain fell around Austin, and a massive search continued in the nearby Hill Country. At least three people died and 10 others were missing in Travis County, home to the state capital. Another fatality was confirmed in Kendall County, and two people died in Burnet County, where a firefighter was among the missing after he was swept away by floodwaters while responding to a rescue, county Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio said. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said 43 bodies had been recovered so far in the devastated Hill Country: 28 adults and 15 children. Authorities were coming under scrutiny over whether the camps and residents in places long vulnerable to flooding received proper warning and whether enough preparations were made. The hills along the Guadalupe River in central Texas are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the July Fourth holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing. “We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” Rice said earlier Saturday. Raging storm hit camp in middle of the night “The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.” The raging storm, fueled by incredible amounts of moisture, woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs, she said. Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information. On Saturday the camp was mostly deserted. Helicopters roared above as a few people surveyed the damage, including a pickup tossed onto its side and a building missing its entire front wall. Among those confirmed dead were an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was at Camp Mystic, and the director of another camp just up […]

Elon Musk has announced the creation of a new political party, saying the traditional system is no longer serving the country.

In a post on X, the platform he owns, Musk unveiled what he’s calling the “America Party,” describing it as an answer to what he claims is a rigged and out-of-touch political class. Musk said the party would challenge the current system, which he believes has lost touch with ordinary Americans.

This announcement followed a July 4 poll Musk posted to X, in which he asked users whether they favored “independence” from what he labeled the “two-party (some would say uniparty) system.” The post quickly gained traction.

More than 1.2 million people responded, and 65.4% voted in favor of breaking away.

“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it,” Musk posted Saturday. “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”

Musk’s announcement coincided with President Donald Trump’s signing of the sweeping “big, beautiful bill” on Friday at the White House.

That legislation, totaling $3.3 trillion, includes major tax reductions, funding for infrastructure, and economic relief. Critics from the right and libertarian circles have blasted it as reckless spending. Although Musk didn’t mention the bill in his announcement, the timing hinted at a possible clash brewing between the tech mogul and the president. Musk has long cautioned that out-of-control spending by both major parties puts the country’s economic future at risk.

According to Musk, the America Party will initially focus on a handful of congressional seats, aiming to form a small coalition capable of tipping the balance of power. His objective is to prevent both Republicans and Democrats from pushing what he sees as harmful agendas.

In response, some conservative voices warned that a new party could unintentionally hand power to the left by dividing right-leaning voters.

“Your third party will disproportionately take votes from the right vs the left and give the left an easier path to power,” conservative commentator Shawn Farash posted.

Joey Mannarino, another right-wing figure, advised Musk to focus his efforts on transforming the Republican Party from within.

Skeptics also noted that the online poll Musk conducted was informal and open to non-Americans, making it susceptible to bots and manipulation.

Historically, the American political landscape has made it extremely difficult for third-party movements to succeed due to structural hurdles like the Electoral College, single-winner districts, and restrictive ballot requirements. Even the most promising independent runs tend to fizzle after one election cycle.

Among the most notable attempts in recent decades was Ross Perot’s 1992 campaign.

He captured nearly 19% of the national vote as an independent but failed to secure any Electoral College votes. It was the most successful third-party bid since Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose run in 1912, which challenged his former ally, William Howard Taft.

Other contenders like Ralph Nader of the Green Party and Libertarian Gary Johnson also entered the race in past years, but none came close to winning the presidency.

{Matzav.com}

Over fifteen years ago, I committed to a life-changing mission: reciting the entire Sefer Tehillim every single day. By the Tehillim Shliach Levi Piekarski  Over fifteen years ago, I committed to a life-changing mission: reciting the entire Sefer Tehillim every single day. About three years ago, I took it further. I began traveling to kivrei tzaddikim, reciting the entire Tehillim there—especially at the Ohel and at kevarim worldwide—specifically on behalf of those who ask me to daven for them. I’ve even started offering this as a service because I’ve personally witnessed miracles (both for myself and others) through heartfelt Tehillim. You can ask me about them. How the Matzeivah Project Began One day, while reciting the entire Tehillim at a kever on a yahrzeit, a Chevra Kadisha member approached me. He was trying to collect funds from the family to repair the kever. That same day, I helped secure the funds — and since then, I’ve arranged the repair of over 250 kevarim. Right now, I’m working on a deeply meaningful project: repairing dozens of matzeivos of infants and young children, whose resting places deserve the same kavod as anyone else. Why I’m Asking for Your Help I’m dedicating myself to this mission for three reasons: A broken or neglected matzeivah causes pain to the neshama. This is chesed shel emes—true kindness with no expectation of reward. When I restore a matzeivah, I bring a picture of it into the Ohel when I recite Tehillim. I believe this adds power to the tefillos I say on behalf of others. Before COVID, my home was open almost year-round to everyone. While our hachnosas orchim has scaled down to family and friends, I continue the same spirit of giving—now through restoring kevarim. A Story That Shook Me On 26 Nisan this year, I was finishing Tehillim at a kever on its yahrzeit and driving toward the Ohel when a man approached me, looking for the Monistritcher Rebbe’s kever. I gave him a ride, and on the way, I asked which chassidus he was from. He said Vizhnitz, so I mentioned a nearby kever—Eiga bas Azriel, believed to be connected to Vizhnitz. Her matzeivah reads: “Lovely people, I am all alone and left no children. Please light a candle and ask for my neshama. In this zechus, may Hashem bless you to live to see your children and their children in their old age with everything good. Amen.” After he returned from her kever, he turned to me and said: “I’ve been married for 23 years… and have no children.” I was speechless. What are the chances? Later, when we arrived at the Monistritcher Rebbe’s kever, he told me that day was his yahrzeit. I replied, “No way—I recently raised funds to repair his Ohel!” Though I usually only daven at the Rebbe’s Ohel (as a Lubavitcher), I knew in my heart the Rebbe would want me to recite Tehillim and light a candle at Eiga bas Azriel’s kever, and I did. I turned to the man and said: “In the zechus of 15 years of daily Tehillim, the hachnosas orchim I’ve done, and every kever I’ve repaired, may your wife become pregnant by Shavuos, and may you hold a child within the year.” I asked for his and his wife’s names and gave them over in the Ohel. Though I usually offer this as a paid service, I told him, “This one is on me.” Upon entering the Ohel, I cried my heart out, and begged the Rebbe, “Please show this Yid who’s the Boss and please intercede by HASHEM. Two weeks later, I called him. He told me he’s been reciting Mishnayos every day since we met. The Next Kever to […]