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Israeli soldiers from around the country stand in silence on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Last night, about 20 Breslov chassidim entered the Palestinian village of Kifl Hareth in Samaria without IDF permission to daven at the kever of Yehoshua-Ben-Nun, sparking a verbal confrontation with Palestinian residents that escalated into stone-throwing, damaging three Palestinian vehicles and a nearby building’s window, before the chassidim left independently amid heightened security tensions prior to the arrival of IDF forces.

President and First Lady Isaac Herzog stand with former Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi at the gates of Auschwitz.

Rashida Tlaib had proposed officially designating Israel as an adversary of the U.S., alongside China, North Korea and Iran. It failed 3-410.

Joseph Kling, a resident of Ocean Township (Waretown), was arrested and charged with Aggravated Arson and Arson on Wednesday, just a day after flames erupted in the protected wilderness area near Jones and Bryant Roads

President Trump calls Harvard anti-semitic and a threat to democracy.

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa told a US congressman that he is interested in normalizing relations with Israel, Bloomberg New reported. Al-Sharaa conveyed the remarks to Republican Congressman Cory Mills, while setting conditions for the move, which were not detailed in the report. Mills and Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) traveled to Syria on Friday on an unofficial visit arranged by the US-based nonprofit Syrian-American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity.

Additional footage of Ben Gvir at Yale University exiting the building just to smile and flash a V-sign as angry protesters scream and throw water bottles at him.

President Trump issued a sharp rebuke to Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday in response to Russia’s deadliest assault on Ukraine in nearly a year. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called on Putin to bring an end to the violence.

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV,” Trump wrote. “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!”

This unusually pointed message from Trump followed an intense overnight bombardment by Russia targeting Kyiv, which left at least nine dead and over 70 others injured. The attack, involving a mix of missiles and drones, marked the most lethal strike on Ukraine’s capital since the previous July. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault as “one of the most outrageous.”

Alongside his comments about the Russian onslaught, Trump also appeared to criticize the Biden administration, suggesting that not enough is being done to finalize a peace settlement that could end the prolonged war. Trump reiterated concerns over Ukraine’s willingness to engage in a final agreement, despite Zelensky having already signed onto a Trump-backed cease-fire proposal weeks earlier. Trump also asserted—without presenting evidence—that Russia was prepared to negotiate peace.

Zelensky, however, contradicted Trump’s assessment. In a post on X, he emphasized that Ukraine had upheld its side of the ceasefire arrangement, while accusing Russia of ignoring the terms and continuing its aggression.
“It has been 44 days since Ukraine agreed to a full ceasefire and a halt to strikes. This was a proposal from the United States,” Zelensky stated. “And it has been 44 days of Russia continuing to kill our people and evading tough pressure and accountability for its actions.”

Details of the so-called “final offer” from Trump’s administration reveal significant concessions to both sides. Under the plan, Russia would receive several major diplomatic and economic benefits. Among them is official US recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, a stark reversal of long-standing American policy that refuses to validate territorial seizures. In addition, the US would offer “de facto” acknowledgment of Russia’s control over the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—while still technically maintaining they are Ukrainian land. The plan also includes a promise from the US not to support Ukraine’s bid to join NATO, the lifting of certain sanctions against Russia, and the prospect of increased US-Russia cooperation in energy and industrial sectors.

In exchange, Ukraine would receive guarantees of military protection from European forces following the cease-fire, although the US would not play a direct role in this defense pact. The deal also includes the return of a limited section of the Kharkiv region currently under Russian control. Ukraine would gain navigation rights along the Dnieper River, a key waterway near active conflict zones. The proposal also mentions help with reconstruction efforts after the war, though it remains unclear which parties would finance that rebuilding.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services reported on Thursday morning that their forces have gained control of the massive fire that has been raging since Wednesday morning in the forest areas near Beit Shemesh, in the Jerusalem hills. Over a hundred firefighting teams, aided by aircraft, are still working to extinguish five remaining fires. However, all residents of three yishuvim near Beit Shemesh who were evacuated on Wednesday have been allowed to return to their homes and the roads in the area were reopened to traffic.

WATCH: Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir faced a hostile reception during a visit to Yale University on Wednesday, when anti-Israel protesters threw water bottles and chanted slogans In response to the provocation, Ben-Gvir was seen making a V-sign toward the crowd, while one of his aides waved an Israeli flag defiantly before retreating indoors.

In a revelation that will send shockwaves throughout our community, it has come to light that senior members of the Conservative movement have been secretly orchestrating a campaign to sway public opinion and even influence daas Torah within the heart of the chareidi community, using deception, subterfuge, and substantial financial incentives. According to leaked WhatsApp conversations and internal correspondence obtained in an investigation by Kikar HaShabbat, high-ranking figures in the Conservative movement’s global apparatus plotted to funnel money into targeted ad campaigns, publish street posters and pashkevilim, and even offer payment in exchange for rabbinic signatures and endorsements. The goal? To undermine the Eretz HaKodesh slate and influence outcomes in the World Zionist Organization elections, all while pretending to be “insiders” in the chareidi world. The deceit has been layered and carefully crafted. Conservative officials used code names, false identities, and messaging designed to appear authentically chareidi, all to gain credibility and push their anti-Zionist messaging into the streets of Bnei Brak, Yerushalayim, and the United States. The newly uncovered materials reveal a calculated effort to mask their involvement at every step, with instructions to campaigners to “never reveal the client” and to fabricate identities, such as falsely claiming to be “former talmidim of Rav Landau seeking to protect his honor.”  The Secret WhatsApp Group of Senior Conservative Officials The attempts by the Conservative movement to meddle in the chareidi public are now fully exposed. Kikar HaShabbat’s earlier investigation that sparked widespread outrage in Israel and abroad, the news outlet has now revealed the full WhatsApp exchanges behind the campaign led by a senior representative of the Conservative movement and his assistant. They sought to run a major campaign within the chareidi world, both in Israel and the United States, involving themselves in every detail, while continuously hiding their involvement and covering their tracks. As was reported, the Merkaz Olami the non-for-profit arm of the Conservative movement funded the entire campaign of posters plastered throughout chareidi neighborhoods attacking those who were participating in the World Zionist Organization. The organization and its representatives declined to comment—but did not deny the report. Now, Kikar HaShabbat has revealed another chapter: explosive WhatsApp exchanges within a group chat involving Yizhar Hess, a senior Conservative figure who serves as Deputy Chair of the World Zionist Organization, and his chief of staff, Eyal Ostrinsky, a former Labor party member known as the mastermind behind many progressive campaigns in Zionist institutions. In the chats, they covertly coordinate every part of the campaign. At the same time, Hess tweets publicly about his supposed partnership and unity with Chareidim, while behind the scenes he directs a targeted smear campaign, planting posters and pashkevilim against them to manipulate their opionion right in their own neighborhoods. “When you get a personal flyer in front of your home, and the neighbors see it, it’s more effective,” he says. In the WhatsApp exchanges, the deep and direct involvement of Hess and Ostrinsky as the masterminds of the misleading proganda against Eretz HaKodesh and its suporters is clearly visible, utilizing street ads, pashkevilim, social media posts, and even ad placement in American chareidi publications under disguised funding sources. From the messages, it’s clear that not only did the money come directly from the Conservative movement, but Hess and Ostrinsky were personally involved in writing […]

Israel came to a standstill on Thursday morning as a two-minute siren sounded nationwide at 10 a.m., marking Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Pedestrians stood still, drivers exited vehicles and public transportation halted in a powerful display of collective memory for the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem as part of the official state commemoration. The event honored Holocaust martyrs and heroes, and was attended by top government officials, dignitaries, and Holocaust survivors.

Established in 1951, Yom Hashoah is observed annually on the 27th of Nissan. The siren tradition began in the 1960s and has become one of Israel’s most solemn national rituals, uniting the country in remembrance and reflection.

“We bow our heads in memory of the victims,” Netanyahu said during the ceremony. “Their legacy obligates us to defend our existence and ensure never again means never again.”

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu lays a wreath at Yad Vashem. Photo by Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO).

Public ceremonies, educational programs, and survivor testimonies are taking place throughout the day across Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

Americans’ trust in President Donald Trump to bolster the U.S. economy appears to be faltering, with a new poll showing that many people fear the country is being steered into a recession and that the president’s broad and haphazardly enforced tariffs will cause prices to rise. Roughly half of U.S. adults say that Trump’s trade policies will increase prices “a lot” and another 3 in 10 think prices could go up “somewhat,” according to the poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half of Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about the possibility of the U.S. economy going into a recession in the next few months. While skepticism about tariffs is increasing modestly, that doesn’t mean the public is automatically rejecting Trump or his approach to trade. However, the wariness could cause problems for a president who promised voters he could quickly fix inflation. Trump shows vulnerability on the economy Three months into his second term, Trump’s handling of the economy and tariffs is showing up as a potential weakness. About 4 in 10 Americans approve of the way the Republican president is handling the economy and trade negotiations. That’s roughly in line with an AP-NORC poll conducted in March. Matthew Wood, 41, said he’s waiting to see how the tariffs play out, but he’s feeling anxious. “I’m not a huge fan of it, especially considering China and going back and forth with adjustments on both ends,” said Wood, who lives in West Liberty, Kentucky, and is unemployed. “Personally, it hasn’t affected me as of yet. But, generally, I don’t know how this is going to come to an end, especially with the big countries involved.” Still, Wood said he changed his registration from Republican to independent, having been turned off by Trump’s attitude and deference to billionaire adviser Elon Musk. Wood voted for Trump last year and said he’s willing to give the president until the end of the year to deliver positive results on tariffs. About half of U.S. adults, 52%, are against imposing tariffs on all goods brought into the U.S. from other countries. That’s up slightly from January, when a poll found that 46% were against tariffs. Driving that small shift largely appears to be adults under age 30 who didn’t previously have an opinion on tariffs. Trump supporter Janice Manis, 63, said her only criticism of Trump on tariffs is that he put in a partial 90-day pause for trade negotiations with other countries. “Actually, I think he shouldn’t have suspended it,” said Manis, a retired sheriff’s deputy from Del Rio, Texas. “Because now China is trying to manipulate all of these other countries to go against us, whereas if he would have left all the tariffs in play then these countries would be hit hard. But, oh, well, things happen.” Skepticism remains about Trump’s tariff approach Not quite 100 days into Trump’s second term in the White House, people around the country are bracing for possible disruptions in how they spend, work and live. The U.S. economy remains solid for the moment with moderating inflation and a healthy 4.2% unemployment rate, yet measures such as consumer confidence have dropped sharply. Trump has used executive actions to remold the global economy. He’s imposed hundreds of billions of dollars a year in new import taxes — albeit partially suspending some of […]

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Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, was taken to Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center early Thursday morning after suffering a fall at his home during the night.

The incident occurred at his residence on Rechov HaRav Sher in Bnei Brak. The rosh yeshiva experienced significant pain following the fall, raising concerns that he may have sustained a fracture.

Due to the incident, Rav Landau was unable to attend Shacharis at the yeshiva this morning.

Upon his arrival at the hospital, a series of tests and imaging were conducted, and the rosh yeshiva remains under observation for the time being.

All are asked to daven for a refuah sheleimah for Rav Ephraim Dov ben Devorah.

{Matzav.com Israel}

At a stirring asifa held at Binyanei HaUma in Yerushalayim, Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered a heartfelt message of chizuk, warning against efforts in today’s society to dismantle the Torah world.

The annual gathering was organized by a leading kiruv organization and was attended by prominent roshei yeshiva, rabbanim, and mekarvim.

“We are living in a time when kofrim (heretics) — not Amaleik, chas v’shalom — but heretics nonetheless, are working to uproot Torah from Klal Yisroel entirely,” Rav Hirsch declared. “They want a reality in which Torah no longer exists within Klal Yisroel, in Eretz Yisroel, and in the world of Torah learning.”

He began his remarks by quoting the Malbim, who explained that Amaleik’s power emerged during a period of rifyon in Torah. That spiritual weakness in learning led to a broader weakening of emunah, creating the conditions that allowed Amaleik’s force of kefirah to strike.

“Amaleik,” Rav Hirsch explained, “represents the force of denial. Reishis goyim Amaleik—he is the beginning of rebellion. When faith within Klal Yisroel diminishes, that opens the door for Amaleik’s influence. Torah learning strengthens malchus Shamayim, it increases kavod Shamayim—and when Hashem’s presence is more felt in this world, emunah naturally increases.”

He elaborated that even when a person doesn’t see Hashem clearly, the inner hargashah created through Torah learning plants the seed of belief. “When there’s more kavod Shamayim, there’s more emunah in the world,” he said. “And that is the greatest thing, especially in our generation.”

Rav Hirsch emphasized to those involved in kiruv and strengthening Torah that their very efforts elevate kavod Shamayim, regardless of visible results. “Even if you think you didn’t succeed with someone, just the fact that you tried is already a success! That action itself brings kavod Shamayim, and that generates emunah.”

He returned to his central concern: “Today, there are heretics who are trying to destroy Torah! Not Amaleik, chas v’shalom, but deniers who want Torah to disappear entirely from Klal Yisroel, from Eretz Yisroel, and from the olam haTorah. But it is precisely through Torah learning and your efforts that this force will be weakened. It will diminish the strength of those who oppose us and empower us to continue learning with hasmadah, with depth, and to bring more and more kavod Shamayim.”

Rav Hirsch concluded with a hopeful message: “And through increasing kavod Shamayim, we will merit more emunah, and ultimately, this will lead to teshuvah sheleimah for all of Klal Yisroel. And through that, we will surely see the geulah sheleimah speedily in our days. Amein.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Russia attacked Kyiv with an hourslong barrage of missiles and drones, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 70 in its deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since last July and just as peace efforts are coming to a head. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the attack he is cutting short his official trip to South Africa and returning home as the city reeled from the bombardment that kept residents on edge for about 11 hours. It appeared to be Russia’s biggest attack on Kyiv in nine months, and Zelenskyy branded it as “one of (Russia’s) most outrageous.” Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko announced that Friday would be an official day of mourning day in the capital. The Ukrainian air force said Russia fired 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four plane-launched air-to-surface missiles, and 145 Shahed and decoy drones at Kyiv and four other regions of Ukraine. Rescue workers with flashlights scoured the charred rubble of partly collapsed homes as the blue lights of emergency vehicles lit up the dark city streets. The attack came as weeks of peace negotiations appeared to be culminating without an agreement in sight and hours after U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Zelenskyy, accusing him of prolonging the “killing field” by refusing to surrender the Russia-occupied Crimea Peninsula as part of a possible deal. Zelenskyy says future of negotiations depends on Moscow Zelenskyy has repeated many times during the more than three-year war that recognizing occupied territory as Russian is a red line for his country. He noted Thursday that Ukraine had agreed to a U.S. ceasefire proposal 44 days ago, as a first step to a negotiated peace, but that Russia’s attacks had continued. He said in South Africa that the latest attack meant the future of negotiations “depends on Russia’s intention because it is in Moscow where they have to make a decision.” While talks have been going on in recent weeks, Russia has hit the city of Sumy, killing more than 30 civilians gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, battered Odesa with drones and blasted Zaporizhzhia with powerful glide bombs. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the attack underscored that the main obstacle to ending the war is Russia. “While claiming to seek peace, Russia launched a deadly airstrike on Kyiv,” she wrote on social media. “This isn’t a pursuit of peace, it’s a mockery of it.” Senior U.S. officials have warned that the Trump administration could soon give up its efforts to stop the war if the two sides don’t compromise. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the attack showed Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to press his bigger army’s advantage on the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where it currently holds the momentum. “Putin demonstrates through his actions, not words, that he does not respect any peace efforts and only wants to continue the war,” Sybiha said on X. “Weakness and concessions will not stop his terror and aggression. Only strength and pressure will.” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that since Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of its neighbor, Russian attacks haves killed some 13,000 civilians, including 618 children. Kyiv residents spent the night in shelters At least 42 people were hospitalized following the attack on residential suburbs of Kyiv, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said. At a Kyiv residential building that was almost […]

In a ruling handed down by the Lod District Court, the Belzer chassidus has been ordered to pay NIS 24 million in damages to nine former students who were subjected to abuse at its Talmud Torah in Tel Aviv.

Judge Zvi Weitzman ruled that both the institution and its mechanchim must compensate the students, who suffered both physical and emotional mistreatment while enrolled at the school. At the time of the abuse, the boys were between the ages of three and ten.

According to the verdict, the leadership of the Talmud Torah disregarded multiple complaints raised by parents and even fellow staff members about mechanchim who engaged in abusive behavior. In some isolated instances, disciplinary action was taken, but in most cases, the complaints were ignored until the matter became the subject of a police investigation.

The court rejected Belz’s claim that the school was under the jurisdiction of the Chinuch Atzmai network and determined that the Belz community itself operated the institution. As such, it was found directly responsible for the abuse and is liable for compensating the victims.

“לעולם אין להרים יד על תלמיד,” the judge wrote. “One must never raise a hand against a student.”

Details of the case, which were first revealed by Ynet, describe horrific punishment methods allegedly used by certain educators. The children were reportedly subjected to public humiliation, beatings in front of their classmates, being force-fed hot pepper, restrained with zip ties, locked in rooms, kicked, struck with rulers, scissors, and knives, and endured extreme psychological torment.

{Matzav.com Israel}