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Iran has released video showing ballistic missiles launching to attack Israel in its most recent series of strikes.

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito paid respects to atomic bombing victims in Hiroshima as the city marks the 80th anniversary of the tragedy later this year. Naruhito, accompanied by his wife, Empress Masako, bowed deeply at the cenotaph for the atomic bombing victims and offered bouquets of white flowers. The atomic bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroyed the city, killing 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000 more. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and its nearly half-century aggression in Asia. Naruhito has repeatedly stressed the importance to remember and keep telling the tragedy of the war to younger generations. Naruhito and Masako were also to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to observe exhibits, including those featuring Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organization awarded last year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The couple were to meet atomic bombing survivors, or hibakusha, and those born after the war and trained to tell the stories on behalf of those who can no longer do so. Naruhito is making his third trip to mourn the war dead this year. In April, the couple visited Iwo Jima to pay tribute to about 20,000 Japanese and nearly 7,000 U.S. Marines killed in the Battle of Iwo Jima, fought from Feb. 19 to March 26, 1945. Earlier this month, Naruhito also visited Okinawa to mourn about 188,000 Japanese, half of them Okinawan civilians, and about 12,000 Americans, killed in the Battle of Okinawa. Naruhito accompanied his daughter, Princess Aiko, underscoring his wish that she would learn the hardships of the Okinawan people and share their stories with younger generations. (AP)

As the war with Iran continues, several Israeli Knesset members received threatening phone calls in recent days from individuals identifying themselves as Iranian. According to a report by Channel 12 News on Wednesday, lawmakers from both right-wing parties and coalition factions were targeted with disturbing messages of intimidation and mockery.

The report, by journalist Dafna Liel, revealed that one of the calls was received by an aide to MK Sheli Tal Meron of the Yesh Atid party. The caller, speaking in Hebrew with a heavy Persian accent, made direct threats.

“I’m calling you from Iran. Are you scared or not?” the caller asked. “Why aren’t you answering? Today you need to wait for our missiles.”

The caller went on to say: “Run to the shelter. We will continue this war until the destruction of Israel. We will take revenge on you, okay? I think you need a diaper. Understand? A diaper.” He then broke into laughter.

The aide asked for the caller’s name and identity, to which the caller replied, “It doesn’t matter. Whenever you go to the shelter, okay?”

When the aide told the caller that his phone number was being traced and encouraged him to keep talking, the caller retorted, “I’m not afraid,” and accused the Israelis of being cowards. The aide calmly responded, “Very well.”

In response to the incident, MK Sheli Tal Meron issued a statement: “I thank the Knesset’s security officer and the head of Knesset cyber defense for their devoted handling of the matter. Even such calls will not deter or frighten us. I express my full support and appreciation to the IDF, our security forces, and the State of Israel in this just and determined war against the head of the snake—the dictatorial Iranian regime. Am Yisrael Chai.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rahm Emanuel, who once served as White House chief of staff and later as mayor of Chicago, said Wednesday that he is weighing a presidential bid for 2028 on the Democratic ticket, citing a lack of strong contenders in the current party landscape.

In an interview with Crain’s Chicago Business, Emanuel stated: “’Of course’ it’s fair to say he’s considering running for president, declared Rahm Emanuel, hands for the moment neither waving nor pointing but resting on the table. ‘I’m looking at the (Democratic) field and, most importantly, what I have to contribute.’”

Emanuel gained national prominence for orchestrating the Democratic Party’s strategic victories in the 2006 midterm elections, promoting centrist candidates in competitive districts to attract disillusioned Republican voters, particularly those upset over the Iraq War.

During his time as chief of staff to President Obama, Emanuel was instrumental in launching the administration’s aggressive progressive initiatives—even as many Americans were more concerned about the economic downturn. He summed up the administration’s philosophy in a now-famous quote to the Wall Street Journal: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.”

Still, Emanuel expressed reservations about the administration’s push for sweeping health care reform. He advised a more measured path, but his suggestions were dismissed. Obamacare ultimately passed, triggering political backlash that fueled the emergence of the Tea Party and cost Democrats control of the House in 2010.

Before the fallout from that political wave, Emanuel exited the White House and campaigned for the mayorship of Chicago. His time in office was contentious, marked by disputes with the teachers’ unions and rising tensions with the early Black Lives Matter movement. His abrasive style and sharp tongue earned him a reputation for being difficult to work with, limiting his ability to form lasting alliances.

In recent years, Emanuel has sought to rebrand himself as a centrist voice within a Democratic Party that continues to lean left, even as it faces electoral setbacks.

After a stint as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Emanuel is once again seeking opportunity amid political disarray—this time, stepping into what he sees as a leadership void within the Democratic field.

He is the first figure to openly express interest in entering the 2028 race. His background suggests he could tap into significant fundraising networks, particularly from Wall Street, due in part to his past role on the board of Freddie Mac before the financial collapse. However, his past political baggage and the party’s current ideological climate could present steep obstacles. Emanuel may find himself out of step with a base that has shifted dramatically in recent years.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Kalman Bar, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, has issued a psak halachah stating that krias haTorah missed due to shul closures must be completed under specific conditions.

The psak, published following disruptions caused by recent closures due to security concerns, rules that the parsha of Beha’aloscha, which was not read in many communities, should be completed retroactively. The ruling is based on the opinions of both early and later poskim affirming the obligation to make up a missed krias haTorah when the cancellation results from external circumstances such as a security crisis.

However, the obligation to make up the reading depends on how many members of the kehillah missed it. If the majority of the kehillah did not hear the Torah reading, then the missed parashah should be read the following Shabbos alongside that week’s regular parashah.

In contrast, if only a minority missed the reading, there is no obligation to inconvenience the broader community. Still, Rav Ber notes that a separate Torah reading may be arranged for that minority, if feasible.

Regarding how to perform the makeup reading, Rav Ber instructs that three olim should be taken from the missed parashah, and the fourth oleh should continue with the beginning of the current week’s parsha, similar to the practice when two parshiyos are read together. The same principle applies to making up the missed haftarah.

The psak also delves into a broader halachic discussion regarding whether Torah reading is a communal obligation or an individual one. Rav Ber presented various views from leading poskim and concludes that a Torah reading should not be arranged for fewer than ten people unless they are strict about regularly hearing krias haTorah.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Some might chalk it up to a stroke of good fortune or credit it to seasoned leadership and quick thinking in the face of crisis.

But we know the truth: It was Hashgocha Elyonah, the unmistakable Hand of Hashem.

The Jerusalem Post reports that roughly a day before Iranian ballistic missiles tore into Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva this morning, Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman-Tov made a pivotal call that ended up preserving countless lives. “Clear the surgery floor in the hospital – it’s not safe,” he ordered. While some questioned the necessity of such a drastic move, the wisdom of his directive became heartbreakingly clear the next day.

As sirens pierced the early morning calm across the Negev, one of the missiles crashed directly into the hospital’s third-floor surgical unit. The ward sustained major structural damage. Yet, due to Bar Siman-Tov’s foresight, the entire floor had been vacated, and only one person suffered a minor injury. Dozens of patients who would have otherwise been at risk had already been transferred to safer areas of the facility.

The decision to evacuate the surgical floor came on Wednesday afternoon, spurred by intelligence reports forecasting an incoming swarm of over 20 missiles and drones aimed at overwhelming Israeli defense systems. Realizing the specific vulnerability of Soroka’s surgery department, Bar Siman-Tov instructed administrators to move both patients and staff immediately. By that night, the floor was empty and silent. By morning, that silence had become the hospital’s salvation.

Born on October 21, 1976, in Yehud, and raised in Holon and later Hashmonaim, Bar Siman-Tov hails from a family with Turkish roots. He earned his B.A. and M.B.A. in economics and finance from the Hebrew University of Yerushalayim. He began his public service career managing welfare and healthcare budgets at the National Insurance Institute, then climbed the ranks to become deputy budget director at the Finance Ministry in 2010. In that role, he was instrumental in resolving the 2011 doctors’ strike and initiating significant educational reforms.

After serving as Israel’s economic attaché in Washington for seven years, Bar Siman-Tov returned home in 2015 to lead the Health Ministry as its first-ever nonphysician director-general. His time in office has been defined by innovative public health policies, including the 2020 law mandating front-of-package nutrition labeling, and by steady, transparent leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic — during which his briefings became a national mainstay.

Those who have worked closely with him say that the same composure and foresight he showed during the pandemic were evident once again this week. “His anticipatory action turned what could have been a massacre into a story we may barely remember,” remarked a senior hospital official. Now, as Soroka’s teams clear debris and attempt to restore normalcy, Bar Siman-Tov’s bold call remains a powerful example of the life-saving impact of preparedness — and a sobering reminder that sometimes, it’s a single decision – with siyata diShmaya – that determines the difference between devastation and deliverance.

{Matzav.com Israel}

On Thursday morning, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz visited the impact site in Holon where an Iranian missile had struck, leaving many civilians wounded. Among the injured were four individuals in serious condition.

While surveying the damage, Katz issued a blunt warning aimed directly at Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. “A dictator like Khamenei cannot be allowed to exist. Khamenei is a modern-day Hitler, diverting his nation’s resources toward the goal of destroying Israel.”

Earlier that same morning, Katz sharply condemned the Iranian regime for intentionally hitting civilian zones. “The cowardly Iranian dictator sits in the depths of his fortified bunker, firing targeted missiles at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel.”

He emphasized the severity of these actions, stating, “These are war crimes of the highest order — Khamenei will answer for his crimes.”

Katz also explained the government’s next steps, saying, “The Prime Minister and I have instructed the IDF to intensify attacks on strategic targets in Iran and on regime targets in Tehran to eliminate the threats to the State of Israel and destabilize the Ayatollah’s regime.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The story of the Meraglim in Parshas Shelach is one of the most tragic and consequential episodes in the Torah. But beneath the surface of the familiar narrative lies a deep and nuanced insight into the type of leadership chosen, the spiritual mindset of Klal Yisroel, and the nature of their mistake.

The Questions: What Changed — and Why?

In the first three parshiyos of Sefer Bamidbar — Bamidbar, Naso, and Beha’aloscha — we are introduced to the Nesi’im, the leaders of each shevet. They are appointed during the census, they bring korbanos during the chanukas haMishkan, and they are central to the organization of the camp.

Then suddenly, in Parshas Shelach, there is a shift.

The spies sent to scout Eretz Yisroel are not the Nesi’im we already know. The Torah uses a different phrase: Roshei Bnei Yisroel, and the list of names is entirely different. Why?

Even more puzzling is that Hashem says explicitly “shelach lecha anashim… kol nasi bahem” — implying that the men sent were supposed to be Nesi’im. Why, then, are different people chosen? And why does the Torah consistently refer to them as anashim — not once, but repeatedly?

This leads us to a second layer of questions, from Parshas Devarim, where Moshe retells the story:

• He says the Meraglim gave a good report — yet we know they discouraged the nation and spoke negatively.
• He says “velo avisem la’alos” — that the people refused to go up — but in Parshas Shelach it sounds like they were simply afraid.
• He says the people initiated the idea of sending spies — yet in Shelach, Hashem gives the command.

How do we make sense of this seeming contradiction between the two accounts?

The Deeper Picture: Leadership and Intentions

The key lies in understanding the distinction between two types of leadership in the Torah.

The Nesi’im, featured in Bamidbar, Naso, and Beha’aloscha, were political and communal leaders. They oversaw census numbers, brought public offerings, managed tribal organization. They were like governors — practical, grounded, responsible for the people’s material welfare. 

We see this from the language of the Torah itself: in Vayikra (4:22), the Torah speaks of “asher nasi yecheta” — when a nasi sins, he must bring a korban chatas. Rashi there explains that this refers to a melech, a king. The title nasi, then, clearly has a connotation of executive or governmental leadership — someone responsible for national outcomes, political decisions, and practical governance.

But the term “anashim”, which appears repeatedly in Shelach and Devarim, hints at a different type of figure. In Parshas Yisro, Moshe is told to appoint “anashim chachamim, yir’ei Elokim, anshei emes” — spiritually refined individuals, fit to be judges and teachers. These were not political administrators or tribal representatives — they were men whose leadership came from Torah wisdom, fear of Heaven, and personal integrity. In other words, anashim represent a purely spiritual role, whose entire authority stems from their inner madreigah and connection to ruchniyus.

It seems that the people requested to send this second type — anashim, not Nesi’im. Why?

Because they were hoping to reframe the journey into Eretz Yisroel as a purely spiritual experience. In the midbar, they were surrounded by Ananei HaKavod, eating mon, drinking from the Be’er Miriam, with clothing that didn’t wear out and no physical responsibilities. It was a life of pure ruchniyus.

But Eretz Yisroel would be different. There, they would need to:

• Conquer the land
• Build homes and cities
• Plant fields
• Establish courts and armies
• Build a physical Beis HaMikdash

The people were nervous — not only about the dangers of war, but about the shift in avodah. They wanted to hold onto their spiritual cocoon.

So they suggested sending spiritual leaders — anashim — who would hopefully advocate for that perspective.

But when the Meraglim came back, they gave a report that was, in many ways, factually accurate. The land was strong. The inhabitants were imposing. It consumed those who lived there.

What they failed to say — and this was their tragic error — was that this very intensity was the sign of the land’s greatness. That the spiritual weight of the land was so great, it could not tolerate spiritual impurity. That the challenges were exactly the reason Hashem wanted Klal Yisroel to inherit it — to elevate and transform it.

Instead, they fueled the people’s fear. And the people, whose hearts were already hesitant, collapsed.

That’s why Moshe later says “velo avisem la’alos”. It wasn’t merely fear. It was an inner rejection. A resistance to the kind of mission that demanded full physical investment infused with holiness.

And that’s why the Meraglim were punished so harshly. Not for lying — but for failing to lift the people up. For failing to understand the moment. For missing the ta’am of their mission.

The Mission of Torah Is to Elevate the World

The midbar was a world of pure ruchniyus — necessary for preparing Klal Yisroel to receive the Torah.

But the ultimate goal was not to remain there.

The goal was — and always is — to bring Torah into the world.
Into cities. Into courts. Into armies. Into land.

Even the Beis HaMikdash — the holiest place in the world — was made of metals, stone and wood, with kohanim walking barefoot on physical ground.

The failure of the Meraglim was not fear alone. It was the inability — or refusal — to transition from a Torah of the sky to a Torah of the earth. To go from mon to lechem min ha’aretz.

And that’s why this parsha echoes throughout every generation. Because the challenge of uplifting the physical through the spiritual is the mission of Klal Yisroel in every era.

Fast Forward: Why This Still Matters Today

This exact fear is playing out again in our generation.

For two thousand years, Judaism in Golus has been centered on Torah and tefillah. That was all we had. And we built a beautiful world of ruchniyus — yeshivos, gedolim, sifrei Torah, deep learning, powerful tefillos.

But now we’re being asked to shift gears.

For anyone with open eyes and heart its obvious that the Geulah is here. But for many, the responsibility and risk that comes along with that,  are terrifying. 

If the Golus is over then we need to enter Eretz Yisroel, and build cities, create a government, defend borders, establish sovereignty, and prepare for a real Beis HaMikdash — one made of stone and wood and labor.

And just like the Meraglim, today, we hesitate.

It’s safer in the Beis Medrash. It’s safer in exile-mode. It’s spiritually cleaner to stay away from politics, from armies, from national responsibility.

So we say: “We’re still in Golus.”

Because if we’re still in Golus, we’re patur. No need for Korban Pesach. No need for milchemes mitzvah. No need for Aliyah. We don’t need to take the risk and we can justify it.

But that mindset — even if well-intentioned — is the exact mistake of the Meraglim.

UPDATE: Following the sirens that were heard moments ago in northern Israel, MDA has not received any reports of rocket impacts or injuries — except for one woman who was injured while making her way to a protected area. Around 10 missiles were fired at Israel.

On Thursday morning, Israeli President Isaac Herzog made his way to Soroka Hospital following the damage it sustained from an Iranian missile strike.

Reflecting on the visit, Herzog said, “I arrived at Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva this morning, to be greeted by Director of the hospital, Prof. Shlomi Kodesh, along with doctors, nurses, and patients, Jews and Muslims, from all walks of life from across the beautiful Negev.”

He continued, “We stood together and looked at the destruction and devastation caused by an Iranian missile fired indiscriminately with the sole intention to take innocent lives in a hospital.”

Calling attention to the gravity of the attack, Herzog declared, “This is a war crime!”

Looking at the broader implications, he remarked, “In these pictures, we see two things: we see the face of evil and terror spread by the Ayatollahs in Tehran, and at the same time we see the resilience and strength of Israeli society, united in our desire to see all the peoples of this region live in peace.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this morning with National Unity Party Chairman MK Benny Gantz and Yisrael Beitenu Chairman MK Avigdor Liberman, for a security update.

Israel’s Home Front Command announced on Thursday that one of the projectiles launched by Iran earlier in the day was identified as a cluster missile.

This particular missile carried a warhead filled with multiple submunitions, each containing 2.5 kilograms of explosive material.

Officials explained that the missile fragmented while still airborne, breaking apart at an altitude of 7 kilometers. The submunitions then scattered across an area with a radius of 8 kilometers. According to the Home Front Command, this type of weapon is designed to release its payload upon ground impact using a specific triggering mechanism.

The disintegration took place over the city of Azor, situated southeast of Tel Aviv. Authorities also warned that some of the submunitions that landed during the morning attack failed to detonate, classifying them as duds. These unexploded devices pose a major safety threat. Citizens were strongly urged to avoid contact and to notify bomb squad personnel immediately.

Thursday’s missile assault, involving a large wave of rockets launched by Iran, inflicted damage on Soroka Medical Center and struck various locations in Tel Aviv, Holon, and Ramat Gan.

Some of the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s defense systems, but this particular wave was the most intense attack in the past two days. Magen David Adom reported that 89 individuals were injured by the missile impacts in the Gush Dan region, with six victims in critical condition.

Police released video footage from the Ramat Gan stock exchange area, showing the aftermath of the Iranian missile strike. The visuals depicted extensive destruction, including a severely damaged three-story structure and a nearby office tower.

The videos also captured emergency teams, including firefighters and police, working to rescue people trapped inside damaged residences. In several instances, rescue personnel were forced to break into apartments out of fear that people might be stuck inside.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The IDF Home Front Command confirmed that Iran launched a ballistic missile with a cluster bomb warhead targeting central Israel, which split at approximately 7 kilometers altitude, dispersing around 20 smaller munitions across an 8km radius. An Israeli military official noted that while the threat may be broader than Iran’s other ballistic missile warheads, the cluster bombs’ explosions are significantly smaller.

In recent days, Israeli Air Force aircraft identified multiple attempts by Iran’s security forces to rebuild missile launch and storage sites in western Iran that had previously been destroyed in IDF strikes. The IAF responded by targeting and destroying engineering equipment at the scene and eliminating dozens of Iranian military personnel operating in the area.

If you think President Trump is laser focused on the war with Iran… think again. This post from President Trump was posted minutes ago. Just Trump being Trump!

Israel’s envoy to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, drew a striking comparison between Israel’s success in its military campaign against Iran and Russia’s prolonged struggle in Ukraine, emphasizing the swiftness of Israel’s achievements.

“We’ve achieved air superiority over the skies of Iran in three days. What Russia did not accomplish over Ukraine in three years, we accomplished in three days,” he says.

Leiter emphasized the disparity in size between the nations, noting that Iran significantly outweighs Israel in both geographical scope and population, just as Russia dwarfs Ukraine.

He also praised the role of U.S.-supplied fighter jets in the conflict, singling out the synergy between Israeli skill and American technology.

“The Israeli Air Force is showing that pairing Israeli pilots with American F-35s is a winning combination,” he says.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF releases footage showing its strike this morning on Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor. The reactor was only partially built, and Iran had informed the IAEA that it planned to begin operating the facility next year. The military says the strike “targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development.”

MOVING FOOTAGE: Man sits on piano in his destroyed home playing ה’ יתברך תמיד אוהב אותי ותמיד יהיה לי רק טוב ויהיה לי עוד יותר טוב ועוד יותר טוב ועוד יותר טוב…

A short while ago, approximately 20 IAF fighter jets completed a series of intelligence-based strikes in western Iran. In all of the strikes, surface-to-surface missile infrastructure sites and soldiers in Iran’s military forces were struck. In addition, the IAF identified the movement of trucks carrying surface-to-surface missiles. The trucks were struck when they arrived at the launch sites.