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It started with a phone call.

In January 2022, a young bochur in shidduchim reached out. He wasn’t looking for a shadchan—he already had suggestions. What he didn’t have was clarity.

Where should he take a girl for a first date? How should the evening be planned so it’s appropriate yet pleasant? How do you avoid the awkwardness of not knowing what’s expected?

That one call turned into dozens. Then hundreds.

It quickly became clear: the practical side of dating was being overlooked.

So, we launched the Dating Resources Network—a simple hotline where bochurim could get hadrachah for planning dates, advice on what’s appropriate, and help thinking through the details. Today, that hotline supports and coaches bochurim through more than 4,000 dates every single year—offering guidance, reassurance, and practical direction at a stage when many feel lost.

But the calls also revealed another challenge. Sometimes, a bochur knew exactly where he wanted to go—he just didn’t have the tools to make the date run smoothly. A Waze device for navigation, an umbrella for a rainy night, a board game for a relaxed activity—small things that can make a big difference.

We began stocking a few shelves and boxes with these items. Today, those shelves have grown into 16 dating gemach locations across the country, accessed over 20,000 times a year.

But then, a deeper issue emerged.

Parents began to reach out. Shadchanim quietly shared that promising suggestions weren’t moving forward. The reason? Money.

By the time you factor in a car rental, tolls, gas, and parking, a first date can easily cost over $165. And that’s before you calculate the costs of activities and dining on later dates. Multiply that across several dates, and for many families—especially those already managing tight budgets—the expense was simply out of reach. Dates were being improperly planned, others were too busy calculating costs to properly focus on the actual date, and yet others were simply not giving yeses at all.

That’s when we launched our Financial Aid Program—a discreet, dignified way to ensure that no one is held back from building a future because of money. Every application is carefully reviewed by rabbanim, and once approved, the bochur receives direct support to cover his dating expenses. To ensure every penny is well spent, we set clear maximum reimbursement amounts—no open checks.

In just the past year, over $240,000 has been distributed—quietly enabling hundreds of young men to date without shame or hesitation. And remarkably, the entire initiative is 100% volunteer-run. We have no payroll, no salaries—every dollar donated goes directly to helping bochurim move forward.

It’s quiet work. No headlines. No fanfare. But week after week, more couples begin their journey that might never have happened without a small amount of guidance—and a little bit of help.

Partner with us today in writing the future of Klal Yisrael one date at a time. 

CLICK HERE to Donate Now

Israel’s National Digital Agency announced on Monday that it had uncovered a sweeping international cyberattack named ShadowCaptcha, which exploits trusted security features to distribute malicious software. The campaign, which has already impacted hundreds of websites worldwide—including in Israel—specifically targets WordPress-based platforms, converting them into infection hubs that spread harmful programs capable of stealing personal information, hijacking computers to mine cryptocurrency, or locking data for ransom.

What sets ShadowCaptcha apart is its deceptive misuse of user trust. Hackers insert malicious code into compromised websites that redirects visitors to counterfeit CAPTCHA verification pages mimicking the well-known “I’m not a robot” system. Instead of clicking a box or selecting images, users are asked to perform innocent-looking steps such as pasting text or entering a command. These actions, however, secretly trigger malware that installs damaging software on their systems.

“Everyone knows the CAPTCHA mechanism, but here the fake version asks users to perform actions outside the browser, such as opening a search bar on the computer and copying a command displayed in the browser window. That command actually installs the malware. A genuine CAPTCHA never harms a computer, as long as the action takes place within the browser,” explained Nir Bar Yosef, head of the government’s cyber defense unit, in an interview with Ynet.

The campaign’s global reach is evident in recent reports from international cybersecurity experts and law enforcement bodies. Both Europol and U.S. agencies have carried out actions against cybercriminal organizations using similar strategies. In one major crackdown known as Operation Endgame, investigators shut down servers and hundreds of infected websites distributing malware, highlighting a repeating trend of cybercriminals exploiting legitimate online infrastructure.

The method of disguising malware within familiar security tools is part of the broader cat-and-mouse battle between hackers and defenders. It joins a growing list of schemes such as counterfeit payment systems and falsified invoices, all crafted to conceal malicious activity from unsuspecting victims.

According to Israel’s National Digital Agency, ShadowCaptcha’s malware gives criminals broad capabilities, including complete remote access to infected devices, theft of sensitive files, unauthorized cryptocurrency mining, and encrypting computers for ransom demands.

Authorities confirmed that no government networks in Israel have been compromised so far, but they suspect the true number of hacked websites is far higher than the few hundred identified to date. The agency is cooperating with the National Cyber Directorate to notify affected sites and help secure them. In addition, malware fingerprints have been shared with Google and Microsoft so they can update their browsers, antivirus programs, and operating systems to block the threat.

Investigators have not yet determined the perpetrators, though officials believe it is likely the work of financially motivated criminal groups rather than a state-sponsored campaign. The malware infrastructure aligns with tools typically used by cybercrime syndicates, making it difficult to trace the culprits.

Officials urged website administrators to update their WordPress installations and plugins regularly while closely following cybersecurity guidelines. End users were also cautioned to complete CAPTCHA checks only within their browsers and to treat any prompts to execute commands or take actions outside the browser as suspicious and potentially dangerous.

{Matzav.com}

An operational forum took place Monday under the leadership of IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir, bringing together the military’s top brass. The gathering was hosted at the Gaza Division headquarters and concentrated on reviewing the outcomes and lessons learned from Operation “Rising Lion” and Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” while also discussing preparations for the next stage of the campaign.

Senior commanders from across the IDF presented evaluations of their respective theaters, branches, and directorates. Alongside these assessments, an overview of the broader operational and intelligence picture was shared, along with the IDF’s updated course of action moving forward.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz joined the conference, delivering remarks of their own. They listened to the briefings provided and voiced appreciation for the army’s ongoing efforts in the war.

As the meeting concluded, LTG Zamir addressed the commanders directly, outlining instructions for the coming phase of operations, stressing in particular the need to intensify strikes on Hamas targets within Gaza City.

Speaking at the forum, Zamir declared: “We are in the midst of a multi-front, ongoing, and unprecedented campaign. We are at a turning point in the war, approaching the next phase of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots,’ with its focus on enhancing the strikes against Hamas in Gaza City. The purpose of this conference is to learn and conduct dialogue in order to strengthen our unified approach and draw lessons for the continuation of the campaign. Operation ‘Rising Lion’ was a historic operation that proved that the unimaginable could be achieved. Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ is an operation with many achievements, which shaped the reality in Gaza, dealt Hamas a decisive blow in the areas where we operated, built the foundation for the next steps, and strengthened the security of the communities in the south.”

He continued: “We are preparing and approving plans. You must prepare all formations for the continuation of operational developments. We will act with full determination and professionalism, just as we have done until now. We will continue to operate and create the conditions for the release of our hostages – we will make every decision with responsibility and great seriousness.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump said Monday during talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders that a potential ceasefire and who gets Ukrainian territory seized by Russia should be hashed out during a face-to-face meeting between the warring countries’ two leaders. The talks at the White House came days after Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin for a summit at a U.S. military base in Alaska in which he tilted toward Putin’s demands that Ukraine make concessions over land seized by Russia, which now controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. “We’re going to let the president go over and talk to the president and we’ll see how that works out,” Trump said during his meeting with Zelenskyy and the European leaders. Trump and Zelenskyy also expressed hope of soon holding three-way talks among the U.S., Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Trump also said he would back European security guarantees for Ukraine as he met with Zelenskyy and the leaders of France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Finland, as well as the president of the European Commission and the head of NATO. Trump stopped short of committing U.S. troops to a collective effort to bolster Ukraine’s security. He said instead that there would be a “NATO-like” security presence and that all those details would be hashed out with EU leaders. “They want to give protection and they feel very strongly about it and we’ll help them out with that,” Trump said. “I think its very important to get the deal done.” Speaking Monday before the White House meetings took place, Russia’s Foreign Ministry rejected the idea of a possible NATO peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Such a scenario could see further escalation and “unpredictable consequences,” ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned. Trump’s engagement with Zelenskyy had a strikingly different feel to their last Oval Office meeting in February. It was a disastrous moment that led to Trump abruptly ending talks with the Ukrainian delegation, and temporarily pausing some aid for Kyiv, after he and Vice President JD Vance complained that Zelenskyy had shown insufficient gratitude for U.S. military assistance. Zelenskyy at the start of the meeting presented a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, for Trump’s wife, Melania. Trump hand-delivered a letter to Putin from the U.S. first lady urging him to consider the children impacted by the conflict and bring an end to the brutal 3 1/2 year war. Trump at one point needled Zelenskyy over Ukraine delaying elections. They had been scheduled for last year but were delayed because of the ongoing Russian invasion. Ukrainian law does not allow presidential elections to be held when martial law is in effect. Trump joked that a similar circumstance wouldn’t play well in the U.S. Zelenskyy faced criticism during his February meeting from a conservative journalist for appearing in the Oval Office in a long sleeve T-shirt. This time he appeared in dark jacket and buttoned-shirt. Zelenskyy has said his typically less formal attire since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 is to show solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers. Monday’s hastily assembled meeting came after Trump met in Alaska on Friday with Putin. After that meeting, Trump said the onus is now on Zelenskyy to agree to concessions of land that he said could end the war. Trump said he plans to talk to […]

JUST IN: Woman traveling from New York to Washington, D.C. ARRESTED and charged with two federal crimes after allegedly threatening to kill President Trump. Yet another example of the Democrat Party’s culture of hate and violence.

AG Pam Bondi on demanding sanctuary jurisdictions end their reckless policies: “We are going to send in law enforcement… If they’re not going to keep their citizens safe, Donald Trump will keep them safe.”

A federal judge has issued an injunction preventing the Trump administration’s Federal Trade Commission from investigating Media Matters for America, the liberal media watchdog group that had alleged the spread of hate speech on X since Elon Musk acquired the social media platform. U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan ruled Friday that the FTC’s probe of Media Matters, “purportedly to investigate an advertiser boycott concerning social media platforms,” represents a clear violation of the group’s freedom of speech. “It should alarm all Americans when the government retaliates against individuals or organizations for engaging in constitutionally protected public debate,” Sooknanan wrote. Even before the FTC got involved, Media Matters has been defending itself against a lawsuit by Musk following the organization’s November 2023 story that, following Musk’s purchase of the social media site once known as Twitter, antisemitic posts and other offensive content were appearing next to advertisements there. Sooknanan said the injunction halting any FTC probe was merited because Media Matters is likely to succeed on its claim that the FTC is being used to retaliate against it for a critical article on a Trump supporter. “The court’s ruling demonstrates the importance of fighting over folding, which far too many are doing when confronted with intimidation from the Trump administration,” said Angelo Carusone, chairman and president of Media Matters. There was no immediate comment from an FTC spokesman. (AP)

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz took part today in a high-level IDF command gathering at the Gaza Division, alongside Prime Minister Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. During the meeting, he declared that taking control of Gaza City is the decisive step needed to bring down Hamas and secure the release of hostages.

In his remarks, Katz highlighted the city’s central role. “The focus on Gaza City stems from its status as a military, governmental, and symbolic center. That is where the leadership is located and where the main infrastructure of Hamas’s military wing remains. The capture of Gaza City will bring about Hamas’s defeat.”

He went on to explain that Gaza City has become even more critical as the war has progressed. “For the first time, after weeks in which Hamas was unwilling to discuss any deal for the release of hostages—even though Turkey and Qatar had reached out to them—this issue is now on the table. The reason is clear: their fear that we are seriously intending to conquer Gaza has brought them to the negotiating table.”

Katz further noted that the government’s policies under Netanyahu are designed to balance both combat and diplomacy. “The military effort you, the IDF, are leading aims to achieve the war objectives in conjunction with the diplomatic measures currently being advanced with the U.S. and regional countries. These efforts feed into each other. The decision is not only security-related; it is also political, so that as a result of the military operations, there will be tremendous leverage that we hope, with U.S. backing, will create pressure.”

Wrapping up his address, the Defense Minister stressed that the preparations for eliminating Hamas serve a dual purpose—both military and diplomatic. “We are in favor of ending the war under these conditions, and the only way this may happen or advance is through the strength you have displayed—the strength you are preparing, planning, and that we will all execute together—and this strength can also bring about that outcome.”

His comments came just as Arabic outlets reported that Hamas had given a positive reply to the latest ceasefire proposal.

According to those reports, the deal involves freeing ten Israeli hostages who are alive, returning the bodies of 18 more, opening channels for humanitarian assistance to Gaza through international organizations such as the Red Crescent and the UN, and putting in place a 60-day ceasefire. Talks about permanently halting the conflict are slated to begin once the truce is underway.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Monday morning published a photo as part of its public relations campaign hitting back at Hamas’s libelous propaganda that Israel is causing mass starvation in the Gaza Strip. The photo features Hima Barbakh, a popular Gaza Tiktoker, whose photos since June 2024 prove that perhaps he may have been indulging too much at local Gazan restaurants. Yes, restaurants in Gaza are open, packed with customers, and serving expensive delicacies and rich desserts—a fact that can easily be verified on Gazan social media accounts and other sources online. Perhaps Barbakh will soon partner with Ozempic to tackle the obesity problem in Gaza. A YouTube video entitled Top 5 Restaurants in Gaza—Summer 2025 (Genocide Never Tasted So Good) features numerous images of Gazans indulging in expensive meat, seafood, and fancy desserts in crowded Gazan restaurants.   The caption to the video states, “This is not satire. Not AI. Every restaurant shown in this video is currently open and active in Gaza—summer 2025. All footage comes from their real Instagram accounts, linked below.” “But the real story here isn’t about food. It’s about the narrative — what you’re being shown (and what you’re not). Because this is not what famine looks like. And it’s not what genocide looks like.” “Meanwhile, real famine is happening in Yemen, and real genocide is being carried out against Christians in the Middle East—but those stories don’t fit the script.”     The same YouTuber published another video entitled No, Gaza Isn’t Starving – Here’s Proof in Under 60 Seconds: (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The Gur Chassidus – the largest Chassidus in Israel – has launched a new fundraising initiative to cover the costs of maintaining its central Beis Medrash in Yerushalauim: the sale of permanent seats, with some going for as much as one million shekel. The move marks a departure from the longstanding practice in the chassidus of renting seats and auctioning kibbudim, which have traditionally been a key source of revenue for shuls facing mounting operational expenses. According to the plan, prime seats near the Rebbe’s seat in the Beis Medrash will be sold for sums exceeding one million shekel, while others will start at 100,000 shekel. In addition, members of the kehilla at large are being encouraged to contribute through monthly pledges beginning at 230 shekel. Organizers project that the initiative could generate roughly 23 million shekel annually to sustain Ger’s headquarters in Yerushalayim, which serves as the global center of the chassidus. Despite the high sums being raised, the seats themselves are far from luxurious. Even those who pay the most will receive a place on a simple wooden bench without a backrest. (YWN World Headqwuarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump on Monday pledged new changes to the nation’s election system, promising to eliminate mail voting and voting machines, though the Constitution gives the president little authority over how elections are conducted. In a post on his social media site, Trump said he intends to issue another executive order “to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm elections.” He has previously directed his administration to explore measures such as requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. The remarks repeat claims of widespread election fraud that Trump has promoted since his 2020 loss, though numerous reviews, audits, and court rulings have found no evidence of significant irregularities. An Associated Press investigation after the 2020 election identified fewer than 475 potential fraud cases in six battleground states—far below the margin needed to alter results. Trump also claimed that the United States is the only country that uses mail voting, though nations such as Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom have long employed it. Mail balloting remains common in the U.S. and is used by about one-third of voters. On voting machines, Trump argued for replacing them with paper ballots featuring watermarks. Election experts note that most Americans already vote on paper ballots, which provide a paper trail for audits, while watermarks alone cannot substitute for tabulating machines. Legal experts emphasize that elections in the U.S. are run by states and local jurisdictions, with Congress having the authority to set federal election rules. The Constitution does not grant the president any direct role. Courts have already blocked parts of Trump’s earlier executive order on elections, ruling that only Congress can establish national standards. “It’s very limited to zero authority that the president has over election conduct,” said Rick Hasen, a UCLA election law professor. Trump’s comments came after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office and shortly after he told Fox News that Russian President Vladimir Putin had echoed his concerns about U.S. voting practices during their meeting in Alaska. Even with Republican control of Congress, major changes such as eliminating voting machines or mail voting face steep hurdles. Many GOP-led states—including Arizona, Florida and Utah—rely on mail ballots, and military personnel stationed overseas also vote by mail. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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The BBC acknowledged on Monday, after mounting criticism, that a woman from Gaza it had reported as having died of starvation was in fact battling leukemia. The outlet has since corrected its report.

Over the weekend, international news outlets circulated reports that 20-year-old Marah Salah Mahmoud Zohry, also known as Marah Abu Zuhri, had succumbed to malnutrition at an Italian hospital where she was treated after being evacuated from Gaza.

The BBC followed with a tweet declaring that Zohry “died of malnutrition,” and initially published its report under that same headline.

On Sunday, however, Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) issued a statement clarifying that Zohry had been suffering from a severe case of leukemia. COGAT also released a medical file from the Nasser Hospital Cancer Center Outpatient Clinic in Gaza.

That document noted that Zohry’s test results were “in keeping with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).” Medical experts say that untreated, APL typically has a life expectancy of less than one month.

Following this revelation, Mike Huckabee, U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Israel, sharply criticized the BBC, urging the broadcaster to “retract the story and apologize.”

By Monday, the BBC issued a statement conceding that it was “not initially aware that Zohry was being treated for leukemia.”

“In line with usual editorial practice, we added this to the story… after Israeli authorities put the information into the public domain. We have amended the original headline and tweet and added an explanatory note.”

The updated article now includes the clarification: “This article’s headline originally said that Marah Abu Zuhri died of malnutrition, with the introduction stating that she suffered a cardiac arrest and died on Friday. The headline has been amended to remove the reference to malnutrition being the cause of death in what the hospital described as a ‘very complex clinical picture.”

Sir Michael Ellis, a former attorney-general, told The Daily Telegraph, “The BBC’s anti-Israel reporting is an international embarrassment.”

Lord Austin, who serves as the UK Government’s trade envoy to Israel, also criticized the broadcaster, telling The Daily Telegraph that BBC director-general Tim Davie should resign if he “can’t get his house in order.”

“Time and again, the BBC is being caught out peddling misinformation and unfounded anti-Israel rhetoric. Once the world’s greatest broadcaster, now known for dishonesty and bias, it’s little wonder that the BBC has become the source of international derision,” he remarked.

The controversy follows a similar case last month when The New York Times was compelled to revise a report about a child it claimed was wasting away from hunger. The boy was later revealed to have a longstanding medical condition that affected his appearance.

In its correction, the NYT admitted, “We have since learned new information, including from the hospital that treated [Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq] and his medical records, and have updated our story to add context about his preexisting health problems.”

The BBC, which also carried that story, had labeled the boy a “starving baby” without noting that medical documents from May 2025, issued by the Basma Association for Relief in Gaza, confirmed he was actually suffering from cerebral palsy and hypoxemia.

{Matzav.com}

A coalition of attorneys general from 20 states and Washington, D.C., is asking a federal judge to stop the U.S. Department of Justice from withholding federal funds earmarked for crime victims if states don’t cooperate with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. The lawsuit filed Monday in Rhode Island federal court seeks to block the Justice Department from enforcing conditions that would cut funding to a state or subgrantee if it refuses to honor civil immigration enforcement requests, denies U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers access to facilities or fails to provide advance notice of release dates of individuals possibly wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement because of their immigration status. The lawsuit asks that the conditions be thrown out, arguing that the administration and the agency are overstepping their constitutional and administrative authority. The lawsuit also argues that the requirements are not permitted or outlined in the Victims of Crime Act, known as VOCA, and would interfere with policies created to ensure victims and witnesses report crimes without fear of deportation. “These people did not ask for this status as a crime victim. They don’t breakdown neatly across partisan lines, but they share one common trait, which is that they’ve suffered an unimaginable trauma,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said during a video news conference Monday, calling the administration’s threat to withhold funds “the most heinous act” he’s seen in politics. The federal conditions were placed on VOCA funding, which provides more than a billion dollars annually to states for victims compensation programs and grants that fund victims assistance organizations. VOCA funding comes entirely from fines and penalties in federal court cases, not from tax dollars. Every state and territory has a victims compensation program that follows federal guidelines, but largely is set up under state law to provide financial help to crime victims, including medical expense reimbursement, paying for crime scene cleanup, counseling or helping with funeral costs for homicide victims. VOCA covers the cost of about 75% of state compensation program awards. The funds are also used to pay for other services, including testing rape kits, funding grants to domestic violence recovery organizations, trauma recovery centers and more. Advocates and others argue that the system needs to protect victims regardless of their immigration status and ensure that reporting a crime does not lead to deportation threats. They also say that marginalized communities, such as newly arrived immigrants, are more likely to be crime targets. “The federal government is attempting to use crime victim funds as a bargaining chip to force states into doing its bidding on immigration enforcement,” New York Attorney General Letitia James, who also joined the lawsuit, said in a statement Monday. “These grants were created to help survivors heal and recover, and we will fight to ensure they continue to serve that purpose … We will not be bullied into abandoning any of our residents.” The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from a DOJ spokesperson Monday afternoon. President Donald Trump’s administration has sought to withhold or pull back other federal funding or grant funding midstream, saying awardees and programs no longer agree with its priorities. In April, it canceled about $800 million in DOJ grants, some of which were awarded to victims service and survivor organizations. And in June, […]

Back by popular demand! ArtScroll proudly presents our Once-a-Year All-Hebrew Sale — offering major savings on our extensive collection of all-Hebrew seforim. Whether you’re restocking a shul library, enhancing your school collection, or building your own home shelves, this rare event is an opportunity you won’t want to miss! Unprecedented Savings on Timeless Classics From now through Monday, September 8th, enjoy discounted pricing on a wide array of all-Hebrew:

• Siddurim – including beloved editions like the Yitzchok Yair siddur
• Chumashim – such as the classic blue Jaffa Chumash
• Mikraos Gedolos – available in individual volumes or complete sets

These foundational titles are must-haves for any serious seforim collection and are now available at the lowest prices of the year! Perfect for Shuls, Schools, and Gifting Need to refresh your shul’s collection of well-used seforim? Looking for the ideal bar mitzvah gift or a lasting tribute? This sale includes:

• All-Hebrew editions for Women and Sephardic communities
• Beautiful hand-tooled leather bindings
• Optional custom gold-stamping for a personal or organizational touch
• The ALL-NEW mid-size Mikraos Gedolos Tanach Set, now available at discounted rates — the ultimate in meaningful, next-level gifting.

Limited Time • Free Shipping Get free shipping anywhere in the USA on orders over $49. But hurry—this sale ends Monday, September 8th! Shop at your local Hebrew bookseller, visit ArtScroll.com or call 1-800-MESORAH (637-6724) to place your order. Don’t miss out on this once-a-year celebration of all-Hebrew ArtScroll classics! {Matzav.com}

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump both voiced optimism on Monday that pivotal White House discussions with Ukrainian and European leaders could pave the way for three-way negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

The emergency meeting followed Trump’s recent encounter with Putin, after which he said the responsibility now falls on Zelenskyy to make certain compromises that could conclude the fighting.

Several senior European leaders, who had been excluded from Friday’s summit, also gathered with Trump, determined to protect both Ukraine and Europe from potential escalation by Russia.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz remarked that he would “like to see a ceasefire from the next meeting, which should be a trilateral meeting” with the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia.

Like other European heads of state, Merz praised Trump’s role in steering the diplomatic process forward.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Trump that his readiness to consider security guarantees for Ukraine was a “breakthrough” and that it “makes all the difference.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged cooperation to achieve “a just and lasting peace,” while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the gathering as “an important day and new phase.”

During a one-on-one meeting with Zelenskyy earlier in the day, Trump insisted that a ceasefire was “unnecessary.” However, after conferring with EU leaders and Zelenskyy behind closed doors, he later told reporters in the East Room that “all of us would obviously prefer the immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace.”

Trump noted that he supports a ceasefire because it would “immediately stop the killing,” but he emphasized again that a long-term peace between Russia and Ukraine is “very attainable” now.

Seated cheerfully in the East Room, Trump acknowledged each of the European dignitaries.

He referred to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “my friend,” said he liked French President Emmanuel Macron “from day one,” described Merz as “very strong,” and joked, “I want to get a tan like that.” He also quipped to Finnish President Alexander Stubb, “you look better than I’ve ever seen you look.”

Trump launched the wider session with Zelenskyy and the European leaders by introducing a new phrase, saying the group’s aim is to “see if we can get it finished” and “put this to sleep.”

In a display of unity, Trump and the leaders posed inside the White House, Macron on one side and Zelenskyy on the other.

While assembled, Trump gestured at a painting showing him raising his fist after surviving last year’s assassination attempt, commenting: “That was not a good day. Not a great day. See the picture?”

At the United Nations, Russia’s deputy ambassador Dmitry Polyansky told journalists that “what everybody hopes” is that Trump’s consultations with Ukraine and European leaders “will go in the same vein” as his recent Alaska summit with Putin.

He said Trump acknowledged that his conversation with Putin had created “an opportunity for a long and lasting peace.”

“And we welcome very much such a scenario,” Polyansky added, stressing that Russia expects Ukraine’s leadership to focus on “their people who don’t want to fight and who are ready for peace — fair, just and long-lasting peace. That’s what Russia is trying to achieve in Ukraine for many, many years.”

After opening remarks and a press Q&A inside the Oval Office, the leaders moved to private discussions.

A formal photo of Trump, Zelenskyy, and their European counterparts was scheduled before the larger East Room meeting to chart a strategy for ending the conflict.

Though Trump and Zelenskyy had last met only months ago in February, Monday’s session reflected a dramatically different mood.

Back then, tensions ran high as Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance criticized Zelenskyy as “disrespectful” and cautioned against expecting continued U.S. backing. The exchanges were marked by interruptions and visible disagreements.

This time, both leaders struck a friendlier tone, with smiles and gestures of agreement. They kept their hands folded, answering questions amicably while showing more alignment on certain issues.

The centerpiece of Monday’s talks was the question of U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential peace settlement. Zelenskyy laid out what he believed his country needed, starting with a “strong Ukrainian army” supported by weapons sales and training. He added that much would depend on the guarantees offered by NATO, EU countries, and the United States.

Trump did not commit U.S. troops but indicated support for a “NATO-like” security arrangement, saying the details would be worked out with European leaders later in the day.

“They want to give protection and they feel very strongly about it and we’ll help them out with that,” Trump said. “I think its very important to get the deal done.”

Unlike the February encounter, Vice President Vance stayed quiet during the public portion of the meeting. Sitting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he watched as Trump and Zelenskyy addressed reporters.

In February, Vance had lashed out at Zelenskyy as “disrespectful” for publicly disagreeing with Trump, leading to a heated exchange and warnings about reduced American support.

During Monday’s event, Trump told reporters that Putin was “expecting my call when we’re finished with this meeting” with Zelenskyy and the European leaders.

Trump and Putin had met in Alaska on Friday to discuss possible steps toward ending the war.

As Zelenskyy fielded a question on holding elections during wartime, Trump jokingly speculated on how such a scenario could impact U.S. politics.

“So let me just say three and a half years from now — so you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections, oh, I wonder what the fake news would say,” Trump said.

Zelenskyy responded by highlighting that a “truce” would be necessary to conduct safe and legitimate elections in Ukraine.

“We can do security,” Zelenskyy said. “We need … a truce, yes, everywhere — the battlefield, the sky and the sea, to make it possible for people to do democratic open legal elections.”

Security assurances remain central to Zelenskyy’s conditions for ending the war.

Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, also mentioned NATO-style commitments for Ukraine during Sunday television appearances.

“It’s on the meeting agenda,” Trump confirmed. He reiterated that European leaders are eager to provide Ukraine with protection, and that the U.S. intends to play a role.

{Matzav.com}

Beitar Illit’s mayor, Meir Rubinstein, pressed Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Sunday to settle the long-standing conflict surrounding the draft of chareidim.

Speaking during a meeting of municipal leaders from Judea and Samaria with Netanyahu, Rubinstein invoked a posuk from Tehillim, quoting Dovid Hamelech’s words: “Sur meira v’asei tov – Depart from evil and do good (Tehillim 34:15).”

Rubinstein explained, “Turning away from evil – you have already done and continue to do, with great success, against Hezbollah in the north and against Iran. Now the time has come for ‘do good,’” he told Netanyahu.

He went on to clarify, “This means applying sovereignty, which will aid in the development and expansion of the Holy Land – and also resolving the crisis with the chareidi public by recognizing the importance of Torah study and Torah learners, and putting an end to the Draft Law saga.”

Rubinstein also turned to another posuk from Tehillim, citing 37:3: “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and be nourished by faith.”

He explained, “‘Dwell in the land’ – apply sovereignty over all of the Land of Israel. ‘Be nourished by faith’ – in regard to the value of Torah study.”

As he wrapped up his remarks, Rubinstein offered Netanyahu words of encouragement, wishing him strength “in standing firm against the ‘anyone but Netanyahu’ parties, who are a minority in the nation and act equally against the chareidi public and against Jewish settlers in Israel.”

Rubinstein concluded by inviting Netanyahu to attend the dedication ceremony for Beitar’s Givah C neighborhood, pointing out that Netanyahu had been present for the laying of its cornerstone. Netanyahu warmly accepted the invitation.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A federal agent fired at a moving vehicle in Southern California after the driver refused to roll down his window during an immigration stop and sped off, the Department of Homeland Security said. A DHS statement said the driver struck two U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents as he drove away Saturday, prompting one agent to fire his weapon “in self-defense.” No one was hit by the bullets. The department provided no other details about how or where the vehicle struck the agents and whether they were injured. DHS said the agents were conducting a “targeted enforcement operation” but provided no details about why they were targeting the unidentified man. The incident occurred just before 9 a.m. in San Bernardino County, east of Los Angeles. Javier Hernandez, executive director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, spoke to the man’s family and provided their account of the incident, a portion of which was captured on video by the driver’s son and son-in-law who were in the vehicle. Hernandez did not disclose the 43-year-old driver’s name, and DHS did not identify him. Hernandez said the man is from Mexico, has been in the U.S. for 23 years and does not have legal status. The 18-year-old son and 23-year-old son-in-law are U.S. citizens, Hernandez said. On the videos, the uniformed officers are wearing masks and have “police” written on vests. At least one is wearing a hat labeled CBP, for Customs and Border Protection. They approach the vehicle and tell the driver to roll down his window. The driver refuses and one of the others in the vehicle says, “What do you want?” The agents then smash windows on both sides. The driver immediately drove away, and three shots can be heard in the video. The video doesn’t show either officer being struck by the vehicle. The driver called the San Bernardino Police Department and reported that masked men had pulled him over, broke his car window and shot at him, the police department said in a statement. Police officers went to the family’s home and spoke with the driver. They left without taking him into custody because California law prohibits local police agencies from assisting federal officials with immigration enforcement, the department said. Federal agents later arrived at the man’s home, but the family did not allow them to enter because they didn’t have a warrant, Hernandez said. DHS did not respond to questions about whether they had a warrant and were still seeking the man’s arrest. A crowd gathered outside the family’s home in response to the presence of federal agents. The San Bernardino police returned to assist with crowd control, the department said. The man and his family declined an interview request from The Associated Press. DHS criticized the police department for not arresting the man. “This reckless decision came despite the subject’s outright refusal to comply and his wounding of two federal officers,” DHS said in a statement. “It is yet another tragic example of California’s pro-sanctuary policies that shield criminals instead of protecting communities.” There is no clear definition of sanctuary jurisdictions, but the term is generally applied to state and local governments that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration has spread across Southern California, where local officials say federal […]

Dear Friends, It is with heavy hearts that we share the devastating news of a tragedy that has shaken our community: 13‑year‑old Rachel Aliza Nisanov of Queens has passed away in a jet‐ski accident while visiting Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her beloved sister, 16‑year‑old Aviva Bracha Nisanov, remains in critical condition after undergoing major surgery for internal injuries and broken bones, with an uncertain recovery ahead.  The sisters had traveled to Florida to celebrate Rachel’s graduation when their personal watercraft crashed into a dock on August 12, around 3:30 p.m. Both were rushed to Broward Health Medical Center; sadly, Rachel did not survive. Their father—unable to swim—courageously dove in to save them, sustaining injuries himself. The family’s grief is compounded by mounting medical expenses, funeral arrangements, and the costs involved in bringing Rachel home for burial in Jerusalem.  The Nisanov family, pillars of the Queens Bukharian Jewish community—known for their compassion, leadership, and service—now needs us more than ever. We have established a crowdfunding fund to help cover: Medical bills for Aviva’s ongoing treatment and recovery Funeral and repatriation costs for Rachel Family support during this unimaginable time How You Can Help Donate whatever you can—no amount is too smallClick here to donate Share this message widely to raise awareness Keep Aviva in your prayers for a full and healing recovery Thank you for standing with the Nisanov family. Your kindness can bring light in their darkest hour. Click here to donate With gratitude and hope, The Nisanov Family

UK Prime Minister Starmer”I think today will be seen as a very important day in recent years in relation to a conflict which has gone on for three and a bit years, and so far nobody has been able to bring it to this point — so I thank you for that.”