Feed aggregator
Trump: No Progress in Putin Call on Ukraine War, Expresses Disappointment
Trump Touts One Big Beautiful Bill as Historic Tax Cut and Security Win
Trump Hails One Big Beautiful Bill as Historic, Predicts Economic Boom
New Belz Regulation: Only 20 Candy Bags Allowed During Chassan Aliyah
Starting this Shabbos, a new guideline will go into effect at the main Belzer beis medrash in Yerushalayim, restricting the number of pekelach (candy bags) thrown during a chassan’s aliyah l’Torah. The regulation aims to minimize noise and disorder during krias haTorah in the massive bais medrash, which often hosts multiple aufrufs each week.
Initiated by the leadership of the Belzer beis medrash, and issued with the blessing and support of the Belzer Rebbe, the Vaad HaRabbanim announced the following takanah regarding the long-standing custom of tossing sweets when a chosson is called to the Torah:
A. Only 20 small, specially prepared pekelach—containing a modest amount of nuts and almonds—may be thrown during the aliyah. These will be sold exclusively through an appointed coordinator.
B. To ensure that children are not left out, each family celebrating a simchah is required to provide enough pekelach for all the children in the beis medrash. These will be distributed in an orderly fashion by a designated gabbai, with full coordination. In cases where there are multiple aufrufen on the same Shabbos, each family must supply a smaller number of pekelach, to be pooled and divided accordingly.
Similar policies have already been in place for over two decades in other kehillos, including Vizhnitz, where efforts were made early on to reduce disturbances during aliyos.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Trump Blames Biden for “Emptying Out” U.S. Arsenal With Ukraine Aid as Russia Renews Attacks
TRAVEL ADVISORY FROM THE NYS POLICE:
From Boyhood In Tehran To The IDF: Meet The IDF Farsi Spokesperson
Rav Emanuel Toporowitz z”l
Rav Emanuel HaLevi Toporowitz z”l has passed away at the age of 79. He was known throughout the Torah world as a staunch supporter of limud haTorah and a generous baal tzedakah.
A founder and pillar of Yeshivas Nachlas HaLevi’im in Haifa, he carried the financial burden of the institution on his shoulders for decades out of deep love for Torah. He lived modestly, dedicating the vast majority of his wealth to acts of kindness and charity.
Rav Emanuel was a son of Rav Shlomo Toporowitz zt”l, a prominent rav in Haifa in the previous generation. He was born and raised in poverty in the city, in a home where financial struggle was a constant reality. He would later recall how scarce things were—so much so that one egg would be split among six children for dinner.
His father, Rav Shlomo zt”l, lived in a small shack in the Neve Sha’anan neighborhood after being sent there by the Chazon Ish zt”l to strengthen the spiritual fabric of the area. At one point, Rav Shlomo considered leaving Haifa but, after consulting with the Chazon Ish, was told to stay and would be blessed as a result. The brachah was fulfilled: all of his children became bnei Torah.
As a child, Rav Emanuel would walk the streets wearing two yarmulkes, as local children educated in secular schools would sometimes steal them off his head. He began his Torah studies in Yeshiva Ramat HaSharon and by age 13, was already learning in Ponovezh.
During his teenage years, he would return to Haifa for Rosh Hashanah to blow shofar. He studied the halachos meticulously to ensure he fulfilled the mitzvah precisely and was eventually considered a mumcheh in the laws and practice of tekias shofar.
Following the passing of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, Rav Emanuel continued his learning in Lakewood. He ultimately received semichah from Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l.
He went on to serve as a maggid shiur in St. Louis and later as a rebbi in New York. His impact on students was remarkable. When he arrived, only one student in the school had gone on to yeshiva; after his first year, 25 out of 26 boys enrolled in yeshiva.
Later, Rav Emanuel transitioned into the business world, where he saw great success. Still, he gave away the bulk of his wealth to Torah causes—chief among them, Yeshivas Nachlas HaLevi’im, which was established on the very site of the small shack where he grew up.
He fulfilled the mitzvah of tzedakah quietly and humbly for decades, always helping those in need without drawing attention. He, for example, restored the Jewish cemetery in Kovno and was involved in many other acts of kindness, always discreetly.
Although few knew the extent of his financial means, those close to him revealed that he gave away most of his fortune to tzedakah, keeping only a fifth for himself to live a modest lifestyle.
Members of his community shared that he once paid a large sum of money to help rescue Jews from Iran, bringing them to the United States. Many of those he saved ended up learning in yeshivos in Baltimore and are now talmidei chachamim.
He was also deeply involved in Jewish outreach in Azerbaijan and was part of a vaad hatzalah that regularly donated thousands of dollars to support Jewish life there. He invested not only money but also significant time and effort into this cause.
During the American recession, when many in his community were struggling financially, Rav Emanuel would quietly bring cash to the local rav, asking him to distribute it without revealing the source. Every month, the rav would discreetly pass the money along to help families get by.
Talmidim and alumni of Yeshivas Nachlas HaLevi’im, as well as members of the Neve Sha’anan community in Haifa, owe him an immeasurable debt of gratitude. From the moment the yeshiva was founded, he was its unwavering supporter, even during the most difficult times, never allowing himself to ease up in his efforts.
He was careful to fulfill aseh lecha rav and was close with several gedolim of the previous generation, including Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, who held him in high esteem.
Those close to him noted his scrupulous honesty in matters of money. If he was ever in doubt over a financial issue, he would always defer to the other party, sometimes forfeiting large sums to avoid potential wrongdoing.
Rav Emanuel was buried in Lakewood.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com}
DoD Sends 200 Marines to Florida to Bolster ICE Operations
CNN: Trump’s Legacy Sealed with OBBB, Administration Masters System
Kyiv Faces Tough Choices After Trump Administration Pauses Key Weapons Deliveries
3 Children Found In Serious Condition After Being Left In Hot Cars Within 2 Hours
In a deeply troubling sequence of events, three young children were discovered in critical condition after being left inside vehicles in separate incidents that occurred within a short two-hour window.
In the first case, a five-year-old boy and an eighteen-month-old girl were found inside a car in Elyakhin, a town located south of Chadeira. The children, who had reportedly been locked inside the vehicle for approximately two hours, were disoriented and exhibiting signs of severe heatstroke when located.
Emergency teams from Magen David Adom (MDA) rushed to the scene and administered immediate treatment, including measures to cool the children’s bodies and provide medication. Both were quickly transported to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Chadeira. The toddler is in grave and unstable condition, currently sedated and on a ventilator. The older child’s condition is described as moderate but stable.
This harrowing situation began when local police in Chadeira received a report of two missing children. Officers, together with volunteers and municipal inspectors, conducted a thorough search of the area. Their efforts led them to the children, who were found inside a parked vehicle.
Authorities have since launched an official inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Asaf Tapuhi and Idan Binder, the MDA paramedics who were among the first responders, spoke about the traumatic scene they encountered: “When we arrived at the vehicle, it was a very troubling sight. There was a lot of commotion, and bystanders helped us extract the children, a five-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl, after they had been in the car for a long time. We began performing medical checks and quickly noticed they were disoriented and showing significant signs of heatstroke. We provided them with first aid, including cooling, medication, and ventilation, and transported them to the hospital, where their condition was critical.”
Shortly thereafter, another call came in—this time Chadeira—reporting a separate case involving a two-year-old girl who had been left in a locked car for around two hours. By the time medics arrived, the toddler was suffering from acute heatstroke. Emergency responders initiated life-saving treatment and transported her to the hospital.
Senior MDA medic Roy Shushan described the second emergency: “We quickly arrived at the home and were told that the child had been trapped in a car for an extended period. When they found her, she was unconscious. We started medical checks and found no pulse or breathing. We immediately began advanced resuscitation, including chest compressions and ventilation, and transported her to the hospital in critical condition. During the transport, her condition deteriorated, and we continued to perform resuscitation.”
MDA paramedic Yossi Bouskila, who assisted in both incidents, shared the emotional toll of the day: “I was with the family when I received the first report of the two children found in Elyakhin. I immediately headed to the scene. The two children were outside a nearby house, one of them was confused, and the other was unconscious. With the help of neighbors who brought us ice, we cooled the children while administering life-saving care. Later, just two hours later, I was called to another similar case in Hadera. The child had been in a locked car for a long time. After being found unconscious, she was brought into the house and cooled with running water. With the MDA intensive care unit team, we provided her with life-saving treatment and transported her to the hospital in critical condition. During the transport, her condition worsened, and we continued resuscitation.”
Authorities are continuing their investigations, while MDA and law enforcement officials are urgently reminding the public: never leave a child alone in a car—not even for a minute.
{Matzav.com}IDF Creates New West Bank Task Force To Tackle Jewish Extremists
In response to a recent spike in violent confrontations between radical Jewish settlers and Israeli forces, law enforcement has formed a dedicated new task force to crack down on extremist activity in the West Bank. The initiative was finalized during a high-level emergency meeting held Monday.
The newly formed task force will fall under the jurisdiction of Samaria Region Police Commander Avi Cohen. He will lead efforts in conjunction with the IDF and the Shin Bet to address a growing wave of attacks believed to be orchestrated by members of the so-called Hilltop Youth.
This interagency unit was created following urgent consultations that included Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, IDF Central Command head Major-General Avi Bluth, West Bank District Commander Moshe Pinchi, senior Shin Bet officials, and Defense Ministry personnel tasked with addressing Jewish extremism in the region.
Organized into four specialized divisions—intelligence, operations, investigation, and communications—the task force is structured to function with maximum coordination and access to IDF and Shin Bet intelligence and infrastructure.
The intelligence and investigation teams will be composed of forensic analysts, detectives, and officers from the West Bank Intelligence Division. These units are tasked with gathering evidence, identifying perpetrators, and assembling the legal groundwork to pursue criminal charges.
The operational wing has already been activated, receiving a full Border Police company of 60 officers originally assigned to counter Palestinian terrorism. This team is now redeployed to address threats posed by Jewish extremist groups, a shift that leaves one fewer unit available for operations against Palestinian terror threats. The operational team will have authority to act independently without prior approval from Central Command. On Monday night, the unit was dispatched to suppress rioters at Tapuah Junction.
The communications unit’s primary function will be to build and maintain trust with West Bank communities. Officials emphasized that the violence stems from a fringe group and does not represent the broader settler population. The IDF, police, social service departments, and local authorities all view community engagement as essential for continued cooperation and effective governance.
This crackdown was prompted by a string of serious incidents in recent days, including a violent standoff between settlers and soldiers on Mount Hatzor near an illegal outpost, where Palestinian homes and cars were torched, leading to three Palestinian deaths. Other alarming episodes included arson at a police building in Beit El, the torching of a communications facility used by security personnel, the burning of a police vehicle, rock-throwing at soldiers that resulted in IDF gunfire injuring a 14-year-old Israeli boy, and an attempted breach of the Binyamin Brigade military base.
Commander Avi Cohen will spearhead the mission as the overall lead for this high-priority police operation, aimed at curbing the rise of Jewish nationalist violence in the West Bank. The overarching goal: identify perpetrators, contain the unrest, and restore stability in coordination with Israel’s military and security services.
{Matzav.com}BDE: Police Officer, Father Of 4, Killed On Duty In Traffic Accident
Report: Trump To Offer Personal Pledge To End War In Bid To Secure Hostage Deal
In a new diplomatic maneuver aimed at advancing a ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas, President Donald Trump is reportedly set to issue a personal commitment to Hamas, pledging to stay engaged in the process until the war in Gaza is fully resolved, according to a report from Israel’s Channel 12.
The report, which does not cite sources, claims that Trump will convey a message to Hamas promising that the United States will not walk away once a temporary truce is achieved. Instead, he will reportedly vow to remain actively involved in facilitating continued negotiations until a permanent ceasefire is reached. As described in the Hebrew translation shared by the network: “Trump will commit that negotiations over the terms for ending the war will continue even after a temporary ceasefire, and that he will do everything in his power to help the parties reach an agreement on the terms of a permanent ceasefire.”
This assurance from Washington is being framed as a crucial incentive for Hamas to accept the terms of the proposed Witkoff framework. That plan outlines the phased release of 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies over a 60-day truce, split across multiple stages.
Trump’s message, the report claims, is that if Hamas agrees to the arrangement, the U.S. will back ongoing diplomatic engagement to bring the conflict to a definitive close.
Meanwhile, with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu scheduled to visit the White House on Monday, Israeli officials are reportedly hopeful that Hamas will issue a positive formal response to the proposal within the next 24 hours. If that happens, proximity talks mediated by third parties could begin within days, according to the report.
{Matzav.com}
Edan Alexander To Trump: They Treated Me Better Once You Won The Election
Edan Alexander, the American-Israeli who endured captivity at the hands of Hamas, met with President Donald Trump at the White House today.
Also in attendance were a group of senior U.S. officials, including Steve Witkoff, serving as the Special Envoy to the Middle East, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Alexander was joined by his immediate family for the occasion—his parents, Adi and Yael, his sister Mika, and his brother Roy all accompanied him for the visit.
During the thirty-minute sit-down, Edan shared with President Trump that conditions in captivity improved after the U.S. election. He expressed optimism that Trump could help bring about the release of the remaining captives. He told the president: “I fear continued fighting endangers the hostages and hope you can achieve another historic breakthrough—a comprehensive deal to free them all, all 50 hostages. You are the person who can make it happen.”
After the meeting concluded, Edan remarked, “I came to thank the person who is responsible for saving my life. I was deeply moved to be in the White House—the same place where my parents had been many times during their fight for my release, but this time together with them.”
Reflecting on the encounter, he said: “I told the most powerful man in the world what I went through, what my friends there are going through, and asked him to continue doing everything in his power. I shared with the President my fear that continued fighting endangers the hostages, and that I hope he can achieve another historic breakthrough—a comprehensive deal to free them all, all 50 hostages. I told him I’m confident he is the person who can make it happen. I’m deeply moved that I could celebrate my own freedom on the eve of Independence Day.”
Edan, a dual national of the United States and Israel, had relocated on his own to enlist in the IDF, where he joined the Golani Brigade as a lone soldier. He was abducted by Hamas on October 7 and eventually released after spending 584 days in captivity, the result of a U.S.-brokered agreement.
{Matzav.com}
Engine Defect Prompts Massive Nissan, Infiniti Recall Across U.S. and Canada
A Little Girl Is Fighting for Her Life – and Time Is Running Out She’s Battling “Neuroblastoma” a Rare and Aggressive Cancer
A Little Girl Is Fighting for Her Life – and Time Is Running Out She’s Battling “Neuroblastoma” a Rare and Aggressive Cancer
[COMMUNICATED]
My name is Talya, and I’m reaching out to you because I have no other choice.
My baby girl, Sheina Yafa, is only 8 months old and has been fighting for her life since the day she was born.
She came into this world with a brain bleed that turned out to be neuroblastoma cancer.
As a mother, I’m doing everything I can, but I need your help to save my baby and protect my family. Sheina is so strong, but she can’t fight this battle alone.
Your kindness and support can be the miracle we’ve been praying for.
Every dollar counts, and every share means the world to us.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Pages
