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The Trump administration is rapidly transforming security along the U.S.-Mexico border through an ambitious “smart wall” initiative that combines towering steel barriers with advanced surveillance technology, even as illegal border crossings have fallen to their lowest levels in decades. The project, backed by tens of billions of dollars from Congress, has drawn praise from supporters who say it strengthens border security while prompting criticism from opponents concerned about cost, privacy, and its impact on border communities.

For many years, long stretches of the southern border were marked by little more than barbed-wire fencing. Today, however, the administration is replacing those areas with 30-foot steel barriers integrated with sophisticated monitoring systems, including surveillance towers, motion sensors, cameras, and other technologies designed to give Border Patrol agents continuous awareness of activity along the frontier.

Despite the sharp decline in illegal crossings, the project remains under intense debate because of the enormous federal investment required to complete it. Critics argue the effort is further militarizing the border through the widespread deployment of surveillance systems that extend well beyond the physical fence itself.

“We are seeing a massive expansion of surveillance and surveillance technology across the borderlands,” said Ricky Garza, border policy counsel at the Southern Border Communities Coalition. “The wall in all its forms is harmful to communities.”

Federal officials maintain that the technology is intended to enhance—not replace—the physical barrier by allowing agents to focus on enforcement rather than constant monitoring.

“It’s a smart wall. It’s not just a barrier,” Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said during congressional testimony. “It maximizes the use of our most valuable resource, which is our agents.”

Border security has remained one of President Donald Trump’s signature priorities since his first presidential campaign.

During President Joe Biden’s administration, illegal migration surged, with thousands of migrants arriving at the border daily. Those numbers began falling before President Trump returned to office last year and have since dropped dramatically, with administration officials attributing much of the decline to tougher immigration enforcement policies that have discouraged attempted crossings.

Congress has allocated approximately $46 billion to complete the border barrier and related enforcement measures, enabling Customs and Border Protection to award major construction contracts aimed at finishing one of the administration’s highest-profile initiatives.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin recently said an initial phase of the project should be completed by this time next year. Scott told lawmakers that construction crews are currently installing roughly six miles of new wall each week.

Although hundreds of miles of border fencing had already been completed before President Trump returned to office, CBP has added another 74 miles as of mid-June 2026 and plans to construct hundreds more. Officials have no plans to build fencing across approximately 535 miles of the nearly 2,000-mile border, relying instead on difficult terrain supplemented by surveillance towers and underground detection systems.

In addition to new construction, CBP is upgrading existing sections of wall with improved lighting, patrol roads, and additional monitoring equipment. Along portions of the Rio Grande in Texas, authorities are also deploying large cylindrical floating barriers measuring 12 to 15 feet in length to deter migrants and smugglers from crossing the river.

Technology has become an increasingly central component of the administration’s border strategy. The effort reflects the broader evolution of Customs and Border Protection since the September 11 attacks into an intelligence-driven agency operating an extensive surveillance network reaching well beyond the border itself.

Opponents argue that this growing technological footprint creates new problems.

The Southern Border Communities Coalition contends that heightened surveillance forces migrants onto more dangerous routes while also raising privacy concerns for residents living near the border.

Garza said local landowners have discovered motion sensors installed on private property without their permission, arguing that the practice infringes upon their property and privacy rights.

Nayda Alvarez, whose family owns land along the Rio Grande approximately 125 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, said surveillance equipment has repeatedly appeared on their property. She recently noticed a new surveillance tower positioned roughly a quarter mile from her home.

“Are we expecting a war or something?” she said. “It doesn’t make me feel safer.”

Dave Maass of the Electronic Frontier Foundation said the expanding surveillance network has fundamentally changed life along the border for both residents and migrants.

According to Maass, the organization has even produced a guide identifying the various surveillance towers currently operating throughout the southern border region to help local residents understand the technologies surrounding them.

Those systems include permanent towers equipped with video cameras, infrared sensors, and radar capable of monitoring activity across roughly eight miles, as well as mobile surveillance units mounted on trucks that can be relocated wherever needed. Some units combine cameras with powerful spotlights to monitor remote areas.

Many of the newest towers operate autonomously, scanning surrounding terrain and using artificial intelligence to analyze activity before alerting Border Patrol agents to potential threats. Supporters say the systems allow agents to remain in the field rather than spending hours watching camera feeds. Critics, however, caution that increasing reliance on AI raises concerns about algorithmic bias and other potential errors.

Legislation approved by Congress last summer requires Customs and Border Protection to purchase only autonomous surveillance towers, and the agency is now deploying an additional 95 units.

The surveillance network also extends underground. Fiber-optic cables buried beneath the surface detect movement and transmit data for artificial intelligence systems to evaluate.

“We follow the contour of the land. We go through trees. We go down into the river banks. We can go absolutely everywhere,” said Magnus McEwen-King, CEO of Sintela, whose company is installing the fiber-optic systems under contract with CBP. He spoke during a recent border security exposition in Phoenix showcasing the technology.

Border agents also continue using traditional ground sensors and remote trail cameras to identify smuggling corridors and illegal crossing routes.

The nonprofit watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense has questioned whether the massive expenditures on both physical barriers and surveillance technology provide sufficient value for taxpayers.

The group points to a previous effort abandoned in 2011, when Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano terminated an earlier “virtual wall” initiative after it exceeded its budget, experienced technical failures, and fell significantly behind schedule.

Josh Sewell, the organization’s research and policy director, said additional scrutiny is needed before committing such vast sums to emerging technologies. He also criticized what he described as insufficient oversight of the administration’s spending, an allegation that Customs and Border Protection rejects, saying appropriate oversight mechanisms are already in place.

In Texas’ Big Bend region, the administration’s construction plans have drawn bipartisan resistance, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas encompassing state parks, national parks, and wildlife preserves.

CBP has since announced it no longer intends to build a 30-foot steel bollard wall through those protected locations. Instead, current plans call for patrol roads, vehicle barriers, and technological detection systems.

Clara Benson, a founder of the No Big Bend Wall coalition, said residents remain worried that powerful border lighting could diminish one of the area’s defining features—its famously dark night skies.

“There’s still a lot of fear and dread that the plan is still going to be quite damaging,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

Federal immigration authorities arrested more than 10,000 people over a five-day period this week as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched one of its most aggressive enforcement drives yet. Internal records reviewed by The New York Times indicate that the agency nearly doubled its daily arrest goals to about 2,000, with arrests topping 2,400 on Saturday alone.

The intensified campaign has driven the number of migrants being held in ICE custody to more than 63,000. At the same time, field offices have reportedly been directed to dedicate roughly 80% of their officers to arrest operations every day of the week.

According to a source familiar with the agency’s operations, ICE is broadening its enforcement efforts with financial support provided through the One Big Beautiful Bill as that legislation nears its one-year anniversary.

Rather than relying on the high-profile workplace raids that drew widespread attention earlier in President Donald Trump’s administration, officials have increasingly carried out arrests away from the spotlight. Immigration lawyers say many detentions are now taking place during routine check-ins, traffic stops, and other everyday encounters.

Immigration advocacy organizations contend that the expanded enforcement is capturing growing numbers of migrants who have no criminal records, despite repeated statements from the administration that deportation efforts are aimed primarily at dangerous offenders.

The American Immigration Council and other organizations monitoring ICE activity say a significant number of those recently detained have no criminal history.

In South Florida, immigration attorney Cindy Blandon said ICE agents arrested one of her clients—a Nicaraguan father of two who is not scheduled to appear in immigration court until 2027—during a routine check-in on Monday.

The lower-profile enforcement campaign comes after Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin vowed to shift away from the large-scale raids that generated intense criticism last year following an operation in Minnesota during which two U.S. citizens were killed.

The Department of Homeland Security defended the expanded enforcement effort, with a spokeswoman declaring: “If you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you and we will deport you.”

The surge in arrests has also drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle in certain cases.

Protesters have held demonstrations across the country over detention conditions and ICE enforcement tactics, while some Republican lawmakers have voiced concern over arrests involving people with humanitarian protections.

“Our immigration enforcement should target violent criminals,” Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, wrote on Facebook following the detention of a Catholic nun in Texas.

“A Catholic nun on her way to church is not a threat to our community.”

De La Cruz later said Sister Letty “will be coming home” and that officials were working to resolve the matter.

The enforcement push comes only days after the Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship, reaffirming that “children born in the United States to parents unlawfully or temporarily present are ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ of the United States and are citizens at birth under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause.”

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel Council announced Thursday that it does not currently approve the license issued to Tzohar authorizing the organization to function as a kosher certification agency under the Chief Rabbinate’s standards.

In a formal resolution signed by council members, the rabbis said they had learned that the Chief Rabbinate’s director-general informed Tzohar that it had been granted permission to issue kosher certificates in accordance with the kashrus standards established by the Chief Rabbinate Council.

The council pointed to Section 2(17)(a)(6) of Israel’s Kashrut Fraud Prevention Law, explaining that one of the legal prerequisites for licensing an outside organization to certify kashrus under the Chief Rabbinate’s standards is that the Chief Rabbinate Council itself must not object to the license.

According to the council, the director-general never notified its members that he intended to approve Tzohar’s application. Furthermore, the matter was never presented to either the full council or its kashrus committee for discussion before the license was issued. The council said this procedure violated both the requirements of the law and accepted standards of administrative governance.

As a result, the council issued a clear ruling stating that it “does not, at this stage, approve the granting of a license to the Tzohar organization.”

The announcement follows weeks of growing criticism surrounding decisions made by the outgoing director-general of the Chief Rabbinate. Critics within the rabbinate contend that he moved ahead with the licensing process on his own initiative, without the legal authority to do so and without obtaining the required approval of the Chief Rabbinate Council. Some officials have characterized the move as an attempt to create a “fait accompli” by bypassing the council’s oversight.

{Matzav.com}

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session as renewed friction between the United States and Iran threatened the fragile ceasefire reached just days earlier. During the meeting, US Ambassador Mike Waltz cautioned that while Washington remains committed to diplomacy, “President Trump’s patience is not unlimited.”

Addressing the Council, Waltz accused Tehran of disrupting global commerce by interfering with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. He said, “Iran cannot, and we cannot allow it to, hold the world’s economy hostage,” while emphasizing that “a real transformative positive opportunity for the nation and people of Iran is on the table.” Even so, he warned that “President Trump’s patience is not unlimited.”

Opening the meeting, Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding and Peace Support, cautioned that the current ceasefire remains highly unstable.

“Each new strike, each new interception, each new maritime incident increases the risk of miscalculation,” Spehar said. “A return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences – for the peoples of the region, for international peace and security, and for the global economy.”

Spehar reviewed the events that have unfolded since June 25, including attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, retaliatory US strikes on Iranian military sites along the coast, Iranian attacks targeting American military installations in the Gulf, and the June 28 agreement by both sides to suspend further attacks.

Calling for continued diplomatic engagement, she said, “Sustained political will and continued engagement will be critical to overcoming the current challenges and achieving a mutually acceptable and lasting agreement,” while urging all parties to avoid actions that could reignite the conflict.

Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani told Council members that Bahrain has endured 808 attacks since February 28, including 203 ballistic missiles and 605 armed drones.

“These attacks deliberately targeted civilian facilities, critical infrastructure and residential areas,” he said, noting that the strikes killed three people and wounded hundreds.

Rejecting Iran’s claim that it targeted only military sites, Al Zayani pointed to an April 5 drone strike that hit an ammonia storage tank located in a residential neighborhood.

“Bahrain is an independent sovereign nation that is not a party to any conflict,” he said, while urging the Security Council to establish a mechanism to oversee implementation of the recent memorandum of understanding and hold violators accountable.

Kuwait likewise condemned what it described as repeated Iranian attacks against its territory.

“Kuwait condemns in the strongest terms the Iranian unwarranted, repeated attacks against the territory and airspace of Kuwait as well as its critical infrastructure,” said Faisal Alenezi.

Alenezi said Kuwait has been struck by 893 drone attacks and 873 ballistic missile attacks during the latest escalation, causing casualties and damaging critical facilities, including the country’s international airport.

Responding to the accusations, Amir Saeid Iravani blamed both the United States and Israel for triggering the current crisis.

“The facts are clear,” he said. “The United States betrayed diplomacy twice” by attacking Iran while negotiations were still in progress.

“Iran is the main victim of the wars of aggression launched by the United States and the Israeli regime. The role of the victim and the aggressor must not be reversed,” Iravani added.

He also criticized Bahrain and several Western members of the Security Council, accusing them of making “unfounded accusations” while ignoring what he characterized as illegal military actions against Iran.

According to Iravani, Tehran remains committed to diplomacy, saying Iran’s priority is “the full implementation of the MoU and the continuation of negotiations towards a comprehensive deal.” He urged Council members to support the negotiating process and refrain from steps that could jeopardize it.

Asim Iftikhar Ahmad praised the recently signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, calling it “a victory for diplomacy.” He said Pakistani and Qatari officials have facilitated meetings in Doha between American and Iranian negotiators.

“The fact that the talks are continuing and the parties are at the negotiating table is a significant positive outcome,” Ahmad said.

Representatives of the United Kingdom reaffirmed their backing for continued negotiations and implementation of the memorandum while stressing the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Panama condemned the June 27 attack on a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker in the Strait, calling the incident “absolutely unacceptable” and warning that it posed a serious threat to international maritime security.

A number of other Security Council members echoed calls for all parties to preserve the ceasefire, restore the safe flow of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and continue negotiations aimed at reaching a lasting agreement.

{Matzav.com}

Transportation Security Administration officers at Indianapolis International Airport uncovered an unusual and potentially dangerous attempt to transport live smoke grenades after discovering one concealed inside a jar of peanut butter packed in a passenger’s checked luggage.

According to the TSA, the passenger’s suitcase was selected for additional screening after imaging equipment detected suspicious contents. During the inspection, officers recovered two live smoke grenades, one of which had been hidden inside a full jar of peanut butter. The agency emphasized that attempting to disguise prohibited items only makes matters worse and warned that such concealment “will only result in more severe consequences.”

Michael Dunphy, a TSA explosives specialist, said the discovery came as a surprise even after the initial inspection.

“After all contents were removed from the bag, I thought, ‘Weren’t there two grenades in this bag?’ After additional inspection of all the contents in the bag, it became obvious the second grenade was in the peanut butter jar, so I was surprised,” Dunphy said.

After being summoned back to the airline’s ticket counter, the traveler reportedly explained that a friend had suggested hiding the grenades inside a peanut butter jar as a way to get them through airport security.

Despite the alarming discovery, TSA officials said the incident did not disrupt airport operations because officers responded quickly and followed established safety procedures.

Aaron Batt, the TSA’s Federal Security Director for Indiana, said the unusual method of concealment prompted authorities to treat the situation with heightened caution.

“With the concealment method used, we had concern about the intentions and, as a result, quickly incorporated the airport police and airline station manager to ensure we approached the traveler in a cautious and safe manner,” Batt said.

He also credited the airport’s screening technology with identifying the threat before the bag reached the aircraft.

“The technology in place for checked baggage performed well and gave our officers a chance to review an image that resulted in the need for physical inspection of the targeted area highlighted by the equipment.”

Authorities have not announced whether the passenger will face criminal charges or other penalties. Additional information had not been released.

Dunphy, who has spent nearly two decades as a TSA explosives specialist, said he had never before encountered a traveler attempting to transport live smoke grenades.

“Usually, alarms turn out to be unusual items versus an actual threat, so this was my most memorable call over the last few years,” he said.

Batt cautioned that transporting prohibited items aboard an aircraft can create serious dangers, even if there is no malicious intent.

“Carrying banned items onto planes always has the potential for unintentionally causing harm,” Batt warned, explaining that changes in cabin pressure could have caused the smoke grenades to “accidentally release smoke filling the cabin and aircraft while in flight.”

He concluded by praising the vigilance of TSA personnel.

“Our TSA officers see thousands of images daily with most instances resolved without deadly and dangerous items, but when that instance does occur, we need to be ready, and we demonstrated that vigilance and capability here,” Batt said.

{Matzav.com}

A Chabad family from New York tells Matzav.com that they were subjected to more than an hour of screaming, humiliation, and mistreatment by border control agents at Ben Gurion Airport in what they describe as an entirely unwarranted ordeal motivated by anti-chareidi bias.

The family, which included three young children as well as a married son, his wife, and their three-month-old baby, had just arrived from New York and was waiting in line at passport control. At one point, the married son, identified here only as M, realized that the family’s passports had been left with an older relative waiting in a different line. He briefly stepped away to retrieve them and then returned to his place in line.

According to the family’s conversation with Matzav.com, that was when a border control agent began screaming at M, accusing him of cutting the line.

“At first I didn’t even realize the guy was yelling at me, because why in the world would he even be?” M recalled to Matzav.com.

The family immediately tried to explain what had happened, but they say the agent refused to listen. Other passengers also attempted to tell the agent that M had merely retrieved the passports and returned to his family’s place in line, but the agent continued shouting, ordered M out of the line, and told him to sit down. He confiscated M’s passport and refused to discuss the matter until he complied.

“Can I just explain what happened?” M asked, but the agent would not allow him to speak.

M says he was then left waiting for approximately 20 minutes without explanation.

When the agent finally returned, M again tried calmly to explain the situation, but says he was repeatedly interrupted by more shouting. Eventually, simply hoping to retrieve his passport and rejoin his family, M stopped trying to defend himself. Instead, he agreed with everything the agent said and assured him that he would not skip lines again.

He then asked the agent, as a personal favor, if he could simply rejoin his family, who had already reached the front of the line. Instead, the agent allegedly began yelling again, refused the request, and ordered him to return to the very end of the line.

As M walked away, he quietly told the agent that he believed the treatment had been unfair and that his family had not deserved it. He also remarked that he would remember the agent’s face.

According to M, those comments triggered another outburst.

“What did you say?” the agent demanded, accusing M of threatening him.

The confrontation then began all over again, with the family forced to wait even longer. This time, the rest of the family left their place in line so they could remain together with M.

When the agent eventually returned and invited M to explain himself, the family says he again interrupted him after only a few words before storming away. According to the family, this cycle repeated itself several times.

“It seemed as if he kept coming and waiting to hear a word that would anger him, so he could let out all his venting,” the family said.

At one point, the agent also claimed he was withholding M’s passport because it required a security review.

The family says they remained respectful and calm throughout the encounter but were unable to de-escalate the situation. Hoping someone else would intervene, they appealed to other border control agents.

Most declined to get involved. One who did, however, allegedly joined in the confrontation.

According to the family, the second agent made comments they viewed as blatant anti-chareidi stereotyping, telling them, “I know who you guys are, I’m sick of you guys, I know your shtick,” which they understood as a reference to their visibly chareidi appearance.

By this point, the family’s young children had begun crying.

The family says the agents then accused them of yelling, even though they insist they never raised their voices and that only the agents had been shouting.

Eventually, believing there was no point continuing the argument, the family apologized in hopes of ending the ordeal.

However, the situation escalated once again after the agent noticed that one family member had been recording the interaction on a cellphone, apparently because the agent had repeatedly changed his explanations for withholding the passport.

According to the family, the agent erupted again, insisting that recording him was illegal. He allegedly demanded the phone so he could delete the video himself.

The family disputes that claim, saying they later learned that recording was entirely lawful and that demanding possession of the phone was itself improper. Nevertheless, they complied, hoping only to bring the confrontation to an end.

The agents then instructed the rest of the family to proceed through passport control without M, but they refused, insisting they would remain together.

The agents responded by threatening to call the police.

Ironically, the family says they welcomed that development, believing it would finally bring an impartial person into the situation.

When police officers arrived, the family says they immediately approached the matter professionally. After listening to both sides for several minutes, the officers allowed the family to continue without incident.

According to the family, the officers also confirmed that recording the interaction had been permitted and that the border control agent had no legal basis for demanding deletion of the video.

The family further claims that throughout the entire incident they observed numerous other travelers entering the line out of order without drawing any response from the same agent.

The only other person they saw the agent confront, they said, was another visibly chareidi man. According to the family, that traveler was not subjected to the same prolonged ordeal, apparently because the agent was already occupied with M.

“Many of the people in line shared with us that it’s quite obvious he’s looking to start up with a chareidi-looking person because of all the tension in Israel,” M said.

M’s mother said the experience stood in stark contrast to what the family encountered during previous stops on their journey.

“We went through many countries on our way from New York to here, and in all of them, without exception, when they see a family with kids, especially with strollers, they immediately let you bypass the line,” she said. “Here, not only did they not let us bypass, they actually made us wait behind, and tortured us for over an hour, for absolutely nothing. Welcome to Israel.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Amid the continuing arrests of bnei yeshivah and yungeleit over Israel’s military draft, Mir Yeshiva Rosh Yeshiva Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel has issued a letter instructing talmidim not to report to military induction offices or cross border checkpoints without prior authorization from a special yeshivah committee established to guide them.

The letter, distributed following a recent emergency gathering at the yeshivah, outlines detailed instructions for students regarding interactions with military authorities and provides guidance on how to respond in the event of an arrest.

Opening the letter, Rav Finkel describes the difficult circumstances facing the Torah world.

“Because of the terrible situation prevailing in Eretz Yisroel, in which precious bnei Torah are facing severe persecution and the danger of arrest, we wish to announce publicly that the yeshivah will make every effort to assist each and every individual with all the means at our disposal.”

The rosh yeshivah explained that the yeshivah has established a dedicated committee consisting of rabbonim, mechanchim, and professional advisers to provide individualized assistance to every bochur and avreich dealing with issues involving the military authorities.

Rav Finkel also warned students against attempting to resolve their status independently or through unofficial intermediaries.

“There are those who act on their own initiative, or through various activists, seeking different ways to obtain an exemption from military service. In doing so, they are placing themselves into the lion’s den, exposing themselves to the danger of immediate enlistment or arrest.”

The letter then sets forth a series of binding directives for all talmidim.

“Under no circumstances should anyone report to the draft office without the committee’s approval, even if he believes he qualifies for an exemption.”

It further instructs students, “Under no circumstances should anyone cross any border crossing without prior approval from the committee.”

Rav Finkel cautioned that any talmid who disregards the yeshivah’s directives will do so at his own risk.

“A student who acts contrary to the instructions of the yeshivah removes himself from the community and may have to bear the consequences of his actions himself.”

The letter also contains explicit instructions for students who are arrested. Rav Finkel directs them to contact a committee representative immediately and to exercise their legal rights.

“You should maintain your right to remain silent and provide no information other than your name and identification number. To every question, the response should be: ‘My attorney will answer you.’”

Rav Finkel concluded his message by urging talmidim to strengthen themselves spiritually during this difficult period.

“Members of the yeshivah are called upon to increase their tefillos and heartfelt cries for the redemption of Klal Yisroel and for the elevation of the glory of Torah. ‘Whoever accepts upon himself the yoke of Torah is relieved of the yoke of worldly obligations.’”

The letter follows an emergency gathering held several days earlier for hundreds of Mir bochurim and avreichim, attended by the roshei yeshivah, the mashgiach, and senior rabbonim. During the gathering, Rav Shimon Shisha presented practical guidance on dealing with the ongoing draft crisis.

The meeting was convened after the yeshivah canceled a planned protest rally in Yerushalayim following the swift release of a Mir talmid who had been arrested and incarcerated in military prison. According to previous reports, the decision to hold the emergency assembly was made after Rav Finkel consulted with Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch in light of the rapidly developing situation surrounding the draft of bnei yeshivah.

A heated debate over the military draft of bnei yeshivah erupted Thursday in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, as MK Yaakov Asher sharply criticized the committee’s legal advisers, accusing them of creating a legal crisis that has effectively turned tens of thousands of law-abiding Torah students into criminals.

The United Torah Judaism lawmaker focused his remarks on the dramatic increase in the number of bnei yeshivah now classified as draft evaders, arguing that the situation is the direct result of legal decisions rather than legislative action.

“Until two years ago, there were 15,000 draft evaders across the entire country. Today there are already 90,000, and your heavy hand continues,” Asher charged, blaming the committee’s legal advisers. He argued that instead of supporting temporary legislation while lawmakers worked toward a permanent solution, legal authorities chose a path that criminalized thousands of bnei yeshivah.

Expressing outrage over the new legal reality, Asher said, “How can you treat them as though they are ordinary draft evaders? These are law-abiding citizens whose only ‘offense’ is studying Torah. In a single day, you turned 90,000 people into lawbreakers.”

His comments came as Israel’s defense establishment and legal authorities continue pressing for full enforcement of the draft laws against bnei yeshivah. The committee’s legal advisers recently issued a strongly worded opinion opposing proposed legislation that would temporarily suspend arrests of those obligated to enlist, arguing that the bill, in its current form, “goes beyond its original purpose” and effectively amounts to “an amnesty provision for draft evaders.”

Asher also drew a historical comparison, arguing that earlier constitutional legislation was passed without the level of specificity now being demanded regarding Torah study.

“At the time, Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty and the Freedom of Occupation Law were enacted. Those laws were drafted in broad language without spelling out exactly what they covered or how they applied,” he said. He noted that the legislation passed by a vote of just 34 to 24 near the close of a Knesset session, “literally at the last moment.”

The confrontation highlighted the widening divide between the chareidi parties and Israel’s legal establishment. While legal advisers contend that the proposed legislation would encourage future draft-age yeshivah students to ignore military service requirements, chareidi lawmakers argue that the current approach undermines the right to Torah study and overturns the longstanding status quo.

The dispute comes amid the continuing war and growing public pressure to increase military enlistment. At the same time, some defense officials have cautioned that arresting bnei yeshivah could ultimately prove counterproductive by discouraging voluntary enlistment among members of the chareidi community.

As lawmakers continue debating possible legislation, thousands of bnei yeshivah remain in legal limbo. They continue learning Torah as generations before them have done, yet many are now officially classified as draft evaders or deserters under existing law.

As previously reported by Matzav.com, roshei yeshivah and roshei kollelim have issued special guidance in recent months instructing bochurim and avreichim to carefully maintain their status as yeshivah students so they will qualify under any future draft legislation. The directives also warned that, absent new legislation, most students would be unable to leave Israel.

{Matzav.com}

As Bein HaMetzarim begins amid ongoing tensions surrounding the military draft of bnei yeshivah, Chacham Nissim Ben Shimon is urging the Torah community to remain steadfast in Torah learning while avoiding the trap of sinas chinam, warning that division among Jews must not be allowed to deepen during this sensitive period.

In a special interview with Kol Chai Radio’s “Tzav Ma’atzar” program, conducted by Gudi Silman, the veteran Bnei Brak gaon addressed the draft crisis, the status of bnei yeshivah, and the need to strengthen the Torah world.

Asked whether he could recall another period when the chareidi community faced circumstances similar to those of today, Chacham Ben Shimon replied that he could not.

“Honestly, I don’t remember a situation like this,” he said. “There has never been a time when people who sit and learn Torah were taken and treated this way. It’s difficult even to speak about such a situation.”

He noted that the current developments are especially painful during Bein HaMetzarim, when Jews reflect on the causes of the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash.

“We are in the days when we speak about sinas chinam, and דווקא now we must be careful not to add more hatred.”

The gaon also offered words of encouragement to yeshivah bochurim and avreichim who are anxious about the current situation.

“There is no need to be afraid,” he said. “We believe that HaKadosh Baruch Hu guides the world. We must continue learning Torah and never diminish its value. On the contrary, the more we are afflicted, the more we must strengthen ourselves.”

He added that faith in hashgachah pratis should give Jews confidence even during difficult times.

“In the end, everything comes from HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and one who learns Torah merits siyata diShmaya.”

When asked how the chareidi public should respond to the strong emotions surrounding the draft controversy, Chacham Ben Shimon stressed that disagreements must never become personal hostility.

Even in the midst of profound disputes, he said, there is no place for inflammatory rhetoric or angry confrontation.

“If you want to influence people, you don’t do it through anger and shouting,” he said. “You have to speak pleasantly, to bring people close rather than push them away. When you speak with respect and appreciation, people listen.”

He also used the interview to call for greater internal chizuk within the Torah community, particularly with regard to maintaining the sanctity of batei knesses.

He urged worshippers to refrain from engaging in idle conversation during tefillah.

“Talking in shul causes tremendous harm. The more we reduce conversation and increase our respect for the holiness of the place, the greater our genuine chizuk will be.”

Chacham Ben Shimon added that while it is important to explain the value of Torah to the broader public, the Torah world must first strengthen itself from within.

Later in the interview, he related a story from his experience on the Bais Din involving a man who had once been completely distant from Torah observance but gradually returned to Judaism because a rav chose to guide him patiently rather than rebuke or frighten him.

According to Chacham Ben Shimon, the story illustrates that Jews are brought closer through love, patience, and gradual spiritual growth—not through accusations or intimidation.

“There are many stories like that,” he said. “When you bring someone close with love and allow him to advance step by step, you can see how he changes.”

Concluding the interview, Chacham Ben Shimon was asked what message he wished to deliver to bnei yeshivah during this challenging period.

“They should not be afraid,” he said. “They should continue learning Torah. Fear itself creates more fear, but one who occupies himself with Torah merits siyata diShmaya. Even when there are things we do not understand in the calculations of Heaven, our responsibility is to continue learning and strengthening ourselves, and with Hashem’s help, He will assist all bnei Torah.”

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has found himself at the center of a social media firestorm after urging residents to conserve electricity by setting their air conditioners to 78 degrees during a dangerous heat wave that could push temperatures to 100 degrees for the first time in more than a decade.

With soaring temperatures placing heavy demand on the electrical grid, Mamdani took to X to encourage New Yorkers to reduce their energy usage.

“New York: it’s hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool,” the Muslim socialist mayor wrote in a post on X. “Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you’re not using, and unplug what you can.”

The suggestion quickly sparked widespread ridicule, with many users insisting that 78 degrees was far too warm to provide meaningful relief during extreme summer heat.

Among the most prominent critics was Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who has previously floated the idea of challenging Mamdani in a future mayoral election.

“78 degrees??? Welcome to communism people! Hope you enjoy!” Portnoy wrote.

Conservative commentator Bonchie also mocked the mayor’s recommendation, posting, “Do you feel the warmth of collectivism yet?”

Many everyday New Yorkers joined the criticism, with some pledging to do exactly the opposite of what the mayor had requested.

“As a New Yorker I’ll be setting my AC to 62 degrees for the foreseeable future as a direct retaliation to your authority,” one user responded.

Another wrote, “I have texted all my coworkers who voted for Zohran to send me a photo of their A/C set to 78.”

Others questioned why residents should be expected to keep their homes uncomfortably warm while brightly lit landmarks such as Times Square continue consuming enormous amounts of electricity around the clock.

Moshe Spern, president of the United Jewish Teachers, also weighed in with a tongue-in-cheek response.

“My Mayor is Muslim. My Bagel is Jewish. My Christian Dior. Thermostat set to 74. Or lower,” he wrote, parodying the popular “Knicks in four” slogan. “Only a Communist believes distribution of wealth also means distribution of air conditioning. Send thermostat pics at Gracie and City hall please!!”

In his post, Mamdani said city government would also be reducing electricity consumption by following the same thermostat guidelines and limiting unnecessary energy use in municipal buildings.

“Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings, dimming/turning off our lights during peak electricity demand, asking private partners to do the same, and powering down non-essential equipment,” he wrote.

He argued that reducing electricity demand would help prevent outages during the heat emergency.

“A stable grid means the AC stays on, and lives are saved. Let’s ease demand — and get through the heat — together.”

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends thermostat settings between 75 and 78 degrees during the summer months and advises homeowners to raise the temperature further when no one is home.

Mamdani is not the first New York City mayor to make such a recommendation. During a heat advisory in July 2023, then-Mayor Eric Adams similarly encouraged residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees to reduce strain on the electrical grid.

Forecasters say the most dangerous conditions are expected today and Friday, when AccuWeather predicts temperatures across New York City’s five boroughs could reach 100 degrees.

It was the last day of school, and the rebbe had heard that the non-Jewish teacher who served as his co-teacher for third grade would not be returning the following year.

Before the day ended, he encouraged his students to thank her and wish her success.

As he was leaving the classroom, he took out a sticky note and wrote her a short message:

Dear …,
Thank you for a wonderful year. It was a pleasure teaching alongside you. Wishing you much success wherever you go.
Signed, Rabbi …

The rebbe left the room.

A little while later, a few third graders approached him and said, “Rebbe, we want to show you something. Can you come back to the classroom?”

When he walked back in, he was stunned.

The teacher’s desk was entirely covered with sticky notes—one from each of the third graders—each note expressing appreciation and gratitude to their English teacher.

He was completely blown away.

He never found out how the teacher reacted when she saw the notes. But he walked away with a powerful realization:

Perhaps the greatest Kiddush Hashem in that moment was not what reached the teacher, but what entered the hearts of his students.

They learned far more from his actions than from his words.

This is one of the deepest truths about Kiddush Hashem—it is conveyed far more through authentic behavior than through preaching.

And often, its greatest impact is not on distant observers, but on those closest to us—our students, our children, and all those within our circle of influence.

[COMMUNICATED]

Three kedoshei elyon had one common concept when it came to learning Torah – they were the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar 1696-1743) when he came to Eretz Yisroel; the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto 1707-1746) when he lived in Padua, Italy;  and Hagaon, Harav Chaim Volozhiner, (1749-1821) the famous talmid of the Gaon of Vilna.

They each had a yeshiva with ‘around-the-clock’ Torah learning, 24-hours a day, so that there would be no minute when the sound of Torah learning would not be heard in this world. The 24-hour period would be divided into shifts, and as one ended the next would begin.

Torah-24

A “Torah-24” Center has been opened in Yerushalayim and the Nasi is Maran Sar Hatorah, Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l.

Under ONE ROOF, from 6:00 am – 6:00 am, 10 kollelim fill successive learning shifts. Each kollel focuses on a specific area of in-depth Torah study. The “Torah-24” Kollelim include: Boker (Gemora), Yerushalmi, Bavli, Zeraim-Taharot, Dalet Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Erev (Gemora), Chatzos- Zohar/Kabbolah, Erev Shabbos (Chumash / Medrash b’iyun). 

Already there are 52 avreichim metzuyonim, and a large number of candidates are vying for the remaining slots in the kollelim. All the avreichim are required to take rigorous monthly tests.

Endorsements & Letters

Endorsements include Maranan Hagaonim shlit”a: Harav Gershon Edelstein, Harav Berel Povarsky, Harav Shimon Badani, Harav Dovid Cohen, Harav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Harav Chaim Feinstein, Harav Shimon Galai, Harav Shraga Shteinman.

Letters of support-encouragement have been received from Maranan Hagaonim, shlit”a: Hamekubal Harav David Bazri, Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Elimelech Biderman, Hamekubal Harav Yaakov Meir Schechter, Harav Moishe Sternbuch, Harav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss.

For more “Torah-24” information click on: www.torah-24.com or call 718-766-5022

MK Uri Maklev, chairman of the United Torah Judaism faction, delivered a passionate speech in the Knesset plenum during debate over the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study, arguing that the very need for such legislation demonstrates a growing erosion of Torah’s place in the identity of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

The Knesset approved the Basic Law: Torah Study in its first reading, after which Maklev strongly criticized opponents of the measure, saying much of the criticism had little to do with the legislation itself and instead reflected broader political disputes.

Opening his remarks, Maklev said, “Unfortunately, we heard many things that have absolutely nothing to do with this law. What didn’t we hear? That this law is really a budget for yeshivos, that it is anti-Zionist, and other claims that were simply political populism unrelated to the legislation. All of the political battles and struggles taking place in Israel over the past period have been poured into this one bill.”

He went on to argue that much of the opposition reflected a lack of understanding about the role Torah plays in Jewish life.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we heard a great deal of ignorance. I don’t even know if I should call it ignorance, because ignorance results when people are never taught. Today, in elementary schools, high schools, and even universities, they don’t teach the essence of Torah. I wish they taught even 10 percent of what is taught in the United States about the Ten Commandments, basic Jewish values, and the importance of Torah study.”

Maklev then questioned what truly defines the Jewish people, arguing that national symbols alone cannot provide that identity.

“How can people understand who we are when they don’t recognize the foundation of our nation? What makes the Jewish people the Jewish people in the State of Israel? Is it because we have a national food—falafel or shawarma? Every country has a flag and a national anthem. What is it that makes us the Jewish people?”

According to Maklev, the Jewish people’s right to live in Eretz Yisroel is rooted in the Torah rather than in the decisions of modern political leaders or movements.

“There is no question that everything stems from the Torah. It is our right to exist. It is the reason we are here. We cannot say that our right to live in this land exists because the Zionist Congress decided it, or because of a speech by Herzl or Ben-Gurion. If you look at what they themselves said, our right to settle this land comes from the promise of ‘the land of our forefathers.’ That fundamental principle appears in the Torah, and that is the source of our right to exist.”

Maklev also argued that Zionism itself has no lasting meaning without Torah serving as its foundation.

“There is no Zionism without Torah behind it. Zionism by itself is empty—it has nothing. Whatever people call our attachment to this land only has meaning when it is built upon the foundation of Torah. In the end, all values lead back to Torah. Some people want to say that good character, caring for others, equality, or observing Shabbos are the central values. Of course those are values—but they all ultimately flow from Torah.”

As he concluded his address, Maklev said the fact that lawmakers now find it necessary to pass a Basic Law affirming the importance of Torah study reflects how negatively bnei yeshivah have come to be viewed in Israeli society.

“We’ve heard people say that the Knesset has deteriorated. I agree that there has been deterioration. But if we’ve reached the point where we need a Basic Law on Torah study, that didn’t happen by itself. It happened because people who learn Torah are being portrayed as criminals.”

Maklev recalled attending proceedings in a military court earlier in the week, where he witnessed what he described as a striking contrast.

“I was in a military court this week. There were hearings involving soldiers who had trafficked weapons and behaved like criminals guilty of very serious offenses. And then there was another line of people whose only ‘crime’ was that they studied Torah.”

He concluded by comparing the legislation to a hypothetical law declaring democracy to be an important national value, arguing that fundamental principles only require legal protection once they come under attack.

“If we heard that the United States was passing a law declaring democracy to be an important value, people would ask, ‘What happened? Isn’t that already the foundation?’ The fact that we now need a law explaining the value of Torah study is only because that value is being challenged. That is why this legislation is necessary, and I thank you very much.”

{Matzav.com}

MK Meir Porush launched a scathing attack in the Knesset on Wednesday against opponents of the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study, urging lawmakers to support the legislation and accusing its critics of failing to understand the Torah’s central role in the Jewish people’s connection to Eretz Yisroel.

Speaking during the Knesset debate, the United Torah Judaism lawmaker said anyone who believes in the importance of Torah should vote in favor of the bill.

Porush began by asking why, despite Israel being founded as a Jewish state, legislation affirming the importance of Torah study had never been enacted.

“Seventy-eight years ago, Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of a state, which he defined as a Jewish and democratic state. One could rightly ask: How is it that in a country whose founders wrote in the Declaration of Independence about the ‘eternal Book of Books,’ they did not immediately enact a Basic Law on Torah study?”

He answered his own question by pointing to the Declaration of Independence itself.

“The answer is no less compelling than the question. It, too, is written in the Declaration of Independence: ‘The Jewish people arose in the Land of Israel.’ As is well known, the Jewish people received the Torah at Har Sinai 3,338 years ago, and by virtue of that Torah we are in Eretz Yisroel.”

Porush argued that, under normal circumstances, no such law should even be necessary because the importance of Torah ought to be self-evident.

“In a properly ordered world, there would be no need for such a law. There are things that are far beyond legislation, things that should be obvious to anyone who seeks to live in Eretz Yisroel by virtue of the Divine command written in the Torah, which is our deed to this land.”

He then turned his criticism toward those opposing the bill, introducing what became the central theme of his address.

“In recent years, however, a new group of politicians has emerged. Let’s call them the ‘Ugandan politicians.’ Some are politicians sitting here in the Knesset, while others disguise themselves as jurists, legal advisers, and judges.”

Porush said those critics fail to appreciate the Jewish people’s Torah-based connection to the Land of Israel.

“They don’t understand because they have no connection to Torah. As far as they are concerned, the state could just as well have been established in Uganda—a democratic state with no connection to the Jewish people. In that case, there באמת would be no reason or logic to enact a Basic Law on Torah study. What does Uganda have to do with Torah study?”

He also cited a military committee formed after the October 7, 2023, massacre, arguing that even senior defense officials have acknowledged the importance of full-time Torah learning.

“To show how absurd this all is, there is one body that does not accept the position of the ‘Ugandan politicians’—the army. After the terrible tragedy on Simchas Torah 5784, then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, today a favorite of the left, established a professional security committee with the support of then-Defense Ministry Director-General and current Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, together with then-Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.”

According to Porush, the committee’s recommendations specifically recognized the need to preserve the Torah world.

“The committee, chaired by Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer Shkedy and composed of senior military officers, recommended the following: ‘Preserving the core values of the chareidi community means preserving those whose Torah is their profession (those who study three sedorim a day).’ Those words appear in General Shkedy’s recommendations.”

He continued, “As I said, this committee, established after Simchas Torah 5784, determined that someone who studies three sedorim a day should not be drafted. Apparently there are people in the army who understand the value of Torah study. But the Ugandan politicians do not. Against that group of politician-jurists who embrace the Uganda approach, we must provide a Jewish response today—a response that should be completely self-evident.”

Porush also directed sharp criticism at members of the governing coalition who planned to oppose the legislation, including some from the religious Zionist camp.

“To those coalition members who intend to vote against this law, some of whom even wear knitted kippot, I want to say: What do you have to do with Eretz Yisroel? You proudly insist that not a single grain of this land should be surrendered because it was promised to us in the Torah. Yet when it comes to Torah study, you want us to settle for only a few grains of Torah. May I ask you for just a little soul-searching.”

Concluding his remarks, Porush thanked those responsible for advancing the legislation and urged lawmakers to support it.

“I want to thank my friend, former MK Rabbi Moshe Shimon Roth, who wisely submitted this bill at the beginning of the Knesset term, and MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni, who is now leading its advancement together with all the members of United Torah Judaism. I call upon every member of the Knesset today to vote in favor of Torah—otherwise, you are voting in favor of the State of Uganda.”

Several progressive Democrats who recently secured victories in New York City congressional primaries may face an uncertain future in Congress even before taking office, as state leaders prepare for a potential redrawing of congressional district lines that could dramatically reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2028 elections.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is expected to push for new congressional maps in New York that could create additional Democratic-leaning districts. Any changes, however, could also alter the boundaries of seats represented by some of the party’s newest progressive nominees, potentially forcing them into more competitive territory.

Before any redistricting can occur, New York voters must approve a constitutional amendment that would permit the state to redraw its congressional map.

A congressional map proposed in 2022 offers a glimpse of how future changes could affect several districts. Under that proposal, former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s district would be merged into an area that includes Republican-leaning Staten Island, while Assemblywoman Claire Valdez would lose much of the northern section of her current district.

“There will be new lines in 2028 and, generally speaking, the newer members are the most at risk,” Chris Coffey, CEO of Tusk Strategies, told Politico.

Not everyone believes redrawing the districts would weaken the Democratic Socialists of America. Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of the organization’s New York City chapter, argued that altering districts represented by Lander or Valdez could actually benefit the group’s broader political ambitions.

“Claire Valdez is already basically a packed DSA district, so if they change that district very much, it suddenly makes any neighboring district easier terrain for us. I think that also goes for NY-10 as well,” he said, referencing Lander’s district.

“I’m curious to see how they navigate that.”

Jeffries has not publicly outlined exactly how he would redraw New York’s congressional boundaries, but he has repeatedly argued that Democrats should use redistricting to offset Republican-led map changes in other states.

“Leader Jeffries is focused on passing the constitutional amendment to ensure New York has a fair and competitive congressional map that can help stop the nationwide MAGA power grab in places like Florida and Texas, and create additional opportunities to elect House Democrats in 2028 and beyond,” spokesperson Justin Chermol said in a statement to Politico.

Any revised congressional map would require cooperation among Jeffries, the New York State Democratic Party, and the Democrat-controlled state Legislature. However, recent elections have shifted both the State Senate and Assembly further to the left, adding another layer of complexity to the process.

“I don’t know about anyone else, but the Senate is not interested in using redistricting to take sides in a civil war,” state Sen. Michael Gianaris, D-Astoria, told Politico.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge has halted the U.S. Postal Service from implementing new mail-in ballot restrictions, ruling that the proposed policy violated an existing legal agreement requiring the agency to prioritize the prompt handling of election mail.

The ruling, issued Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington, D.C., dealt another legal setback to President Donald Trump’s effort to tighten rules governing mail-in voting ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The decision marked the second courtroom loss for the administration on the issue within two weeks, as Republicans seek to retain control of both chambers of Congress.

The Postal Service announced the proposed changes in May, saying states would be required to submit voter lists and adopt revised election procedures before the agency would transport mail-in ballots. Under the proposal, states that failed to satisfy those requirements would have had their ballots refused for delivery.

Judge Sullivan, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, agreed with arguments brought by the NAACP, which contended that the Postal Service’s proposal conflicted with a 2021 settlement requiring the agency to take “extraordinary measures” to ensure timely delivery of ballot mail.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President Kamala Harris has begun cultivating a closer relationship with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, signaling a new effort to strengthen ties with one of the Democratic Party’s most influential progressive figures as early maneuvering for the 2028 presidential race quietly takes shape.

According to Axios, Harris and Mamdani held a lengthy private phone conversation last week centered on the future direction of the Democratic Party. The discussion is expected to be the first of several conversations between the two.

“This is about positioning for the 2028 primary where no candidate knows where the lane for support for Palestinian rights is going to be but they know there’s going to be one,” Republican consultant Mike Madrid told The California Post.

“No question this is a risky move but it’s one transforming both parties and the calculus at the moment has become it’s better to do something than nothing,” he added.

The call came shortly after candidates endorsed by Mamdani and aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America claimed victories in three New York congressional primaries, defeating two sitting members of Congress and underscoring the mayor’s expanding political clout.

A source familiar with the conversation told The Post that Harris initiated the outreach as part of an effort to reshape her image following her 2024 presidential defeat and connect more effectively with younger Democratic voters. During the conversation, she also congratulated Mamdani on the success of his endorsed candidates in New York City.

“The vice president reached out to have a conversation, and we’ve had a brief conversation,” Mamdani told SiriusXM’s “The Clay Cane Show” Wednesday. “We’ve been in touch over the last few months, and I really do appreciate her outreach.”

Political strategist Matt Klink told The Post that Harris’ decision reflects long-term planning ahead of the next presidential primary season.

“The 2024 loss made clear that the activist left, if not energized, has enough leverage to sink a Democratic nominee, and she would rather have those people knocking doors than burning down her campaign before it starts,” he said.

Harris’ recent outreach is part of a broader effort to reconnect with the Democratic Party’s progressive base, particularly activists who sharply criticized the Biden administration’s support for Israel during the war in Gaza.

During New York City’s mayoral race, Harris avoided endorsing a candidate before the Democratic primary. After Mamdani secured the nomination, she offered cautious support during an MSNBC interview, saying, “I support the Democrat in the race, sure,” without mentioning him by name.

“Harris is ‘kissing the ring’ in her Mamdani outreach, as the mayor is the most high-profile DSA leader in America. Mamdani’s primary wins proved the DSA machine can deliver election results outside Brooklyn,” Klink added. “Harris read that scoreboard faster than most: the activists have the passion, the money, and the primary voters, and she wants all three.”

Over recent months, Harris has also quietly met with progressive organizers, including individuals connected to the pro-Palestinian Uncommitted Movement, as well as longtime Democratic National Committee member James Zogby and Michigan Democrat Abbas Alawieh.

Alawieh said Harris personally requested the meeting after months of private discussions. During their conversation, he urged her to oppose the use of American taxpayer dollars in ways that harm civilians or destroy communities.

He also shared stories from constituents who lost family members in Israeli airstrikes carried out with U.S. military support.

The renewed engagement represents a noticeable shift for Harris. During the 2024 campaign, she struggled to gain the support of many Arab American and progressive voters after declining to significantly break from President Joe Biden’s strong backing of Israel during the Gaza conflict.

The outreach comes as Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates continue making gains in elections around the country.

In New York City, several DSA-backed challengers recently defeated longtime Democratic incumbents in congressional primaries, including Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat.

Elsewhere, Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman is challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, while DSA member Janeese Lewis George captured the Democratic mayoral nomination in Washington, D.C.

In Colorado, first-time candidate Melat Kiros appears on track to become the first Generation Z woman elected to Congress after defeating 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary, according to a race projection.

Klink even suggested that the possibility of a future Harris-Mamdani national ticket should not be dismissed entirely.

“Palestinian/anti-Israeli activists this early in the 2028 cycle is an acknowledgment that the DSA wing sets the price of admission for a Democrat presidential primary,” he told The Post.

However, Mamdani cannot serve as vice president under the U.S. Constitution. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian-born parents and naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2018, he does not meet the constitutional requirement that both the president and vice president be natural-born citizens.

Although that prevents him from serving on a presidential ticket, it does not bar him from pursuing other elected offices.

Madrid, who has worked on presidential campaigns, said Harris’ evolving strategy reflects both demographic changes and growing ideological divisions within the Democratic Party.

“Harris’ shift is a sign of just how much has changed, and how quickly, in the Democratic Party on the issue of Palestine and Israel,” he said.

“There’s definitely an emerging split in the party that’s very reminiscent of the Tea Party extremism that consumed the GOP a decade ago,” he said, noting that despite recent DSA gains, “for every DSA win, there’s a [James] Talarico and [Xavier] Becerra win.”

Despite her 2024 defeat, Harris remains the early frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination. A national Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll released last month found that 27 percent of Democratic voters favored Harris for the party’s 2028 nomination, nearly twice the support of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who received 14 percent.

While her polling numbers have slipped from earlier highs, Harris continues to lead a large field of potential Democratic contenders.

Other Democrats considering White House bids have also adjusted their rhetoric on Israel as debate within the party intensifies.

Newsom, who is openly considering a presidential campaign after completing his final term as governor, briefly referred to Israel as an “apartheid state” earlier this year before later saying he regretted that characterization. He reaffirmed his support for Israel while directing his criticism toward Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rather than the Israeli state.

Other Democrats frequently mentioned as possible 2028 presidential candidates include Pete Buttigieg, Govs. Josh Shapiro, Andy Beshear, J.B. Pritzker, and others.

“Every serious 2028 Democrat presidential contender is watching Harris and taking notes. The candidate who figures out how to embrace the activist energy without getting photographed at the wrong rally will have a real advantage in what will be a crowded Democrat primary,” Klink added.

Mamdani has become one of the country’s most outspoken critics of Israel, repeatedly accusing the Jewish state of apartheid and genocide while remaining a vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. At the same time, he has gradually developed stronger relationships with leaders in the Democratic establishment, including Harris.

Not everyone believes Harris’ strategy will pay off.

“Chasing the activist left, in this case the socialist wing, to gai momentum and to win a primary is a time-honored Democratic tradition that consistently creates general election problems,” Klink said. “Harris is gambling that she can consolidate the base early, capture and bottle their enthusiasm, and then, if successful, pivot to the center later.”

“It’s a flawed strategy with a notably poor track record,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

The head of an organization that assists yeshivah bochurim detained over Israel’s military draft says the number of arrests has stabilized in recent days but is warning against lawyers and other individuals who promise guaranteed exemptions from military service in exchange for large sums of money.

In an interview on Kol Chai Radio’s “Tzav Ma’atzar” program, Chaim Karelitz, CEO of the Ezram U’Maginam organization, said most of the bnei yeshivah currently being held in military detention were arrested at the military induction center rather than through proactive enforcement operations.

“The overwhelming majority were arrested at the induction center, and only two were arrested through proactive operations—one by the traffic police and one during a home visit,” he said.

Karelitz added that proactive arrests have declined noticeably over the past week.

“For the past week, there have essentially been no proactive arrests carried out by the Israel Police,” he said.

Despite that trend, Karelitz cautioned yeshivah bochurim and avreichim against relying on attorneys who claim they can secure military exemptions in exchange for payment.

According to Karelitz, many people are being misled into believing that appearing at a draft office with legal representation will automatically resolve their status.

“Today I received a phone call from a young man who had gone to the draft office,” Karelitz recounted. “I asked him why he went, and he told me he was convinced that if he reported, he would receive an exemption and the matter would be over. Instead, he found himself on his way to detention.”

Karelitz explained that the military’s approach has changed significantly since the outbreak of the war.

“In the past, someone who was unable to adapt to military service would often receive an exemption. Today, the army says, ‘Come to us, and we’ll work it out with you.’ Most lawyers are still operating based on the old policy, but the reality has changed.”

As an example, he described the case of a yeshivah bochur whose family paid an attorney a substantial amount of money believing he would obtain an exemption.

“That young man is now completing his third detention, and he still doesn’t have an exemption,” Karelitz said.

Karelitz concluded the interview by offering three recommendations to bnei yeshivah.

First, he advised anyone without a long-documented medical condition not to attempt to manufacture medical grounds for an exemption.

“Everyone who has tried to play that game has gotten burned,” he warned.

Second, he urged families not to pay lawyers in advance if they promise a guaranteed exemption.

“Anyone who takes money upfront cannot guarantee a result,” he said.

Finally, Karelitz encouraged people to seek additional professional opinions before taking any significant step.

“Don’t rely on just one source. Ask questions, verify the information, and make sure no mistake has been made in the process.”

Karelitz concluded by saying that, in his view, the safest course for bnei yeshivah is to follow the guidance of the gedolei Yisroel.

“A bochur who follows their instructions and sits and learns is in the safest place possible. He has no reason to look for shortcuts or other solutions,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Baruch Ben Yigal, whose only son, IDF soldier Amit Ben Yigal Hy”d, was killed during an operational mission in 2020, shared an emotional personal account this week following the murder of Rav Amos Guetta zt”l, recalling a meeting that he says changed his life.

In a heartfelt tribute, Ben Yigal described visiting Rav Guetta during the first year after his son’s death, saying the elderly mekubal offered him comfort born of personal experience—and a blessing that was ultimately fulfilled.

According to Ben Yigal, the meeting was arranged by Rav Meir Bloch, who suggested that he travel to Netanya to meet Rav Guetta, a widely respected mekubal to whom thousands turned for brachos, guidance, and encouragement.

“We drove to Netanya. I met a very special Jew. From the very first moment, I felt like I was sitting down to speak with a father,” Ben Yigal wrote. “He sat inside the teivas hachazzan and received me for a private conversation. When he heard that I had lost my only son, he burst into tears and said, ‘I also buried a child. I know how you feel.'”

Ben Yigal said that during their conversation, Rav Guetta unexpectedly offered him a blessing that seemed almost impossible to imagine at the time.

“And then, out of nowhere, he blessed me and said: ‘May you merit enduring offspring. You will be a father again.'”

At the time, however, Ben Yigal said his grief was so overwhelming that he found it difficult to absorb the words.

“In those days I was so broken by Amit’s fall that I couldn’t attach any significance to the blessing. I thanked him, and we each went on our way.”

Reflecting on the years that followed, Ben Yigal wrote that he repeatedly heard stories of people who had visited Rav Guetta and left strengthened by his blessings and counsel.

“Since then, I have heard about countless people who met Rav Amos, received from him a blessing, advice, comfort, and hope. There is no doubt that he was a special person and a tzaddik, whose entire life was devoted to giving and doing good for others.”

Ben Yigal also expressed profound sorrow over Rav Guetta’s murder.

“And tonight, with great pain, we learned that he was murdered. An 80-year-old man who devoted his entire life to acts of kindness and helping people.”

He concluded his tribute with a prayer honoring both the revered mekubal and his fallen son.

“May his memory be blessed. May the memory of Rav Amos Guetta be blessed, and may the memory of Amit z”l remain forever engraved in our hearts.”

{Matzav.com}

A devastating tragedy struck Modiin Illit today, the fast of Shivah Assar Tammuz, when 7-year-old Moshe Galinsky was fatally struck by a bus while walking home from cheder in the city’s Brachfeld neighborhood.

The child, a third-grade talmid at the Breslover Talmud Torah, succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

He was a great-grandson of the renowned maggid, Rav Yaakov Galinsky zt”l.

ZAKA volunteers responded to the tragic scene and worked to ensure kavod hameis while assisting authorities.

Levayah arrangements were announced for Thursday afternoon. The levayah is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. from the Breslover kloiz in Brachfeld, continue at 5:30 p.m. from the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim, and conclude with kevurah on Har Hazeisim.

According to sources, schools dismissed early because of the fast. At approximately 12:04 p.m., Moishy was crossing the street after leaving cheder when he was struck by a Kavim bus driven by an Arab driver. Witnesses said several children had already crossed the street, and the driver allegedly failed to check whether additional children were still crossing before proceeding, fatally hitting the boy.

At approximately 12:30 p.m., ZAKA’s emergency hotline received a report of a 7-year-old child who had been struck by a bus on Rechov Rabi Akiva in Modiin Illit. Magen David Adom paramedics rushed to the scene but were forced to pronounce him dead.

Volunteers from ZAKA’s Judea and Samaria District, including the Modiin Illit team, responded immediately and carried out the sensitive task of caring for the meis and collecting all necessary remains and evidence. Their efforts enabled the child’s body to be released promptly for kevurah.

Shlomo Gottlieb, commander of ZAKA Modiin Illit, together with volunteers Aryeh Hershler and Tzvika Yabrov, described the heartbreaking scene.

“This is an extremely difficult and painful scene. When we arrived, we found a 7-year-old child who had been struck by a bus, and sadly MDA paramedics had no choice but to pronounce him dead at the scene. ZAKA Modiin Illit volunteers are now working to preserve the dignity of the deceased and gather all relevant findings from the scene.”

Moishy was the son of Reb Aharon Galinsky, one of the prominent Breslover chassidim in Modiin Illit and a member of the Kollel Chatzos at the Breslover kloiz. His paternal grandfather was Rav Nachman Nachman Galinsky zt”l, a Breslover chossid from Emanuel and a son of the famed maggid, Rav Yaakov Galinsky zt”l.

On his mother’s side, Moishy was a great-grandson of Rav Shmuel Shapiro zt”l, one of Breslov’s foremost rabbonim and mashpi’im. His mother is a daughter of Reb Yaakov Shapiro, a prominent Breslover chossid.

Teachers and classmates remembered Moishy as an exceptionally cheerful, sweet, and beloved child. Staff at the Breslover cheder said that just one day earlier he had traveled with his class to Kever Rochel in celebration of completing Chumash Bereishis. A class siyum had been scheduled for Friday, but in light of the tragedy, it is expected to be postponed. Moishy, who had eagerly anticipated the celebration, will tragically not be there to participate.

Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.