[Video below.] A ceremony was held this evening marking the return of an ancient stone from the Kosel to its original place.
The massive stone, weighing roughly five tons, was dislodged nearly two millennia ago by the Roman Tenth Legion during the churban of the Second Beis Hamikdash. In recent years, it had been exhibited at the Knesset and later placed on loan at Ben-Gurion Airport.
The decision to bring the stone back to its historic setting was reached following a meeting held ahead of Rosh Hashanah, in which Knesset Speaker Amir Ochana participated together with the rov of the Kosel, Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ochana reflected on the stone’s long journey and meaning. “If stones could speak, this heavy stone, with thousands of years of history upon it, would tell of generations of Jews who came to pray at the Bais Hamikdosh. We wish to close this chapter of its wandering and place it in a permanent location, where it can tell the stories it has witnessed.”
Rav Rabinowitz emphasized the spiritual significance of the moment, describing the return as an act of restoration. “Returning this stone to the ruins here is a great rectification. It is a declaration that we do not forget the holy stones and we maintain their sanctity.”
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{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump addressed questions Monday about Israel’s recent strike in Gaza, telling reporters that Washington is “looking into” whether the operation complied with the ceasefire agreement. His remarks came after Israel carried out a targeted attack over the weekend that killed Ra’ad Sa’ad, a senior Hamas commander and the group’s second-in-command in Gaza.
According to Trump, the United States is reviewing the circumstances surrounding Sa’ad’s elimination and assessing whether the action crossed any agreed-upon lines under the current truce.
Despite reports suggesting strain between Washington and Jerusalem, the President pushed back strongly on claims of tension with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. “My relationship with Bibi is very good. We took Iran out of the game, and because of that we can make peace. We have a good relationship with everyone in the Middle East,” Trump said.
The President’s comments followed an Axios report claiming that the White House delivered a sharp private message to Netanyahu after the strike. The report described the communication as a reflection of growing frustration within the Trump administration over Israel’s conduct and unresolved disputes regarding the next phase of the Gaza agreement, as well as Israel’s broader regional policies.
According to the report, senior figures in the administration — including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, and presidential adviser Jared Kushner — were said to be increasingly dissatisfied with Netanyahu’s approach.
Axios also cited a senior US official who said the White House warned Netanyahu that violating the agreement could harm both his own standing and President Trump’s reputation following the successful brokering of the ceasefire. An Israeli official, while acknowledging displeasure in Washington, characterized the message as more restrained and said it focused primarily on concerns over how certain Arab states perceived the strike.
{Matzav.com}
