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Baruch Yitzchakov, the yeshiva bochur who was held in military prison for 13 days over charges of army desertion, was released on Sunday to scenes of singing and dancing. He had been represented throughout his case by Agudas Bnei HaYeshivos.

As he walked out of the military facility, Yitzchakov was greeted joyfully by friends and supporters who broke out in celebration.

Speaking immediately afterward in an interview, he described his experiences during the detention and the powerful encouragement he received from visits by Gedolei Yisroel.

“Gedolei Yisroel danced with us and sang with us,” he said with emotion. “They brought us life, and we felt an incredible uplift and elevation that not everyone merits to experience.”

Among the most moving moments for him was a visit from Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka. “Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch told me, ‘I want to stay here with you for Shabbos,’ but they told him it wasn’t possible,” Yitzchakov recalled.

He added that the constant protests outside the prison gave the detainees tremendous strength. “We felt the thunder of the protests from outside, and it strengthened us greatly and lifted all of our spirits. Now I will have more strength to learn, after the uplifting experience in prison.”

Yitzchakov’s brother, Rafael Yitzchakov, a talmid of Yeshivas Meoros HaTorah, is also being held in military prison and is scheduled to be released this coming Thursday.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump is enjoying a significant advantage over his predecessor on one of the most politically charged issues in America: crime. According to CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten, polling shows Trump’s standing on the issue has not only improved since his first term but is now dramatically stronger than President Joe Biden’s at the close of his presidency. Speaking Thursday, Enten pointed to new numbers revealing that Trump’s net approval on crime — which sat at -13 points during his first term — has risen to +1 in his second term, a 14-point swing. “Americans view Trump far more favorably now on crime than they did a year ago,” Enten said, noting that the polling factors in events from across the country, including Los Angeles and other cities, even if it doesn’t yet reflect Trump’s latest moves in Washington, D.C. The analysis comes just days after Enten highlighted a separate poll showing a majority of D.C. residents were frustrated with Trump’s direct involvement in local issues. That survey was conducted before Trump’s recent decision to federalize the D.C. police force and deploy the National Guard in an aggressive push to combat crime in the nation’s capital. When stacking the data against Biden’s record, Enten said the difference was “like Air Jordan towering over the competition.” At the end of Biden’s term, his net approval on crime was a dismal -26, making it one of his weakest issues. The 27-point gap between Biden’s low and Trump’s current rating underscores a political reality Enten says Democrats often underestimate: “Americans are far more hawkish on crime than a lot of Democrats want to admit.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Beginning Monday, a large delegation of Satmar philanthropists and leaders will arrive in Israel to take part in a series of events surrounding the hilulah of the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum zt”l. The delegation, led by the prominent Satmar benefactor Yoeli Landau, will also be strengthening Satmar’s independent education system in Israel.

Joining the trip is the Rebbe’s eldest son, Rav Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, who is traveling as his father’s emissary, as well as the elder chossid Rav Chaim Yechezkel Stein, who merited to serve the Satmar Rebbe personally.

Torah Procession Through Yerushalayim

On Tuesday afternoon, a massive Torah dedication parade will take place through the central streets of Yerushalayim—including Strauss, Kikar HaShabbos, Yechezkel, Ezra, Nechemia, Bar Ilan, Eli HaKohein, and Givat Moshe. The new Torah will be escorted by Satmar children on open buses, before being brought into the Satmar Talmud Torah in the Ezras Torah neighborhood. The Torah is being donated by Rav Chaim Yechezkel Stein, longtime attendant of the Rebbe zt”l and grandfather of Yoeli Landau.

That evening, the main gathering marking the Rebbe’s yahrtzeit will be held in Kiryas Yoel Moshe in Ezras Torah, with thousands expected to attend, alongside the rabbonim of the Eidah HaChareidis.

Dedication of New Satmar School Building

On Wednesday afternoon, an event will be held atop the newly completed Satmar school building on Rechov Yechezkel. This striking building, funded through the generosity of Yoeli Landau—who contributed millions of dollars—has just been completed and will be formally inaugurated with a festive kabbalas panim and mezuzah dedication. Present will be the Rebbe’s son, members of the Eidah HaChareidis Beis Din, leaders of the Yetev Lev institutions, and prominent philanthropists including the Shwimmer family of New York.

Children’s Mass Rally

Later that day, a massive tent in the Gush Shemonim neighborhood will host thousands of children from Eidah HaChareidis institutions in honor of the visiting supporters. Yoeli Landau will address the children. At the request of the Rebbe, the thousands of young students will also be urged to daven for the nullification of the draft decree threatening the Torah world in Israel.

{Matzav.com Israel}

WATCH: Moment plane crash lands onto Sydney golf course; no injuries.  

How tomorrow’s White House meetings are expected to be broken up: Tomorrow’s major gathering of European leaders at the White House will be broken into parts, according to people familiar with the planning. United States President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are expected to meet individually with their delegations first. Then, they are expected to join a larger group session and potentially a lunch with the other European leaders coming to Washington, DC. The topics expected to be discussed are Russia’s demands on land concessions and the contours of security guarantees for Ukraine — including how the US will be involved.

Trump administration halts visas for people from Gaza after Laura Loomer questions arrivals A day after conservative activist Laura Loomer posted videos on social media of children from Gaza arriving in the U.S. for medical treatment and questioning how they got visas, the State Department said it was halting all visitor visas for people from Gaza pending a review. The State Department said Saturday the visas would be stopped while it looks into how “a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas” were issued in recent days. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday told “Face the Nation” on CBS that the action came after ”outreach from multiple congressional offices asking questions about it.” Rubio said there were “just a small number” of the visas issued to children in need of medical aid but that they were accompanied by adults.

Air Canada flight attendants said they will remain on strike and spurn a return-to-work government order, calling it unconstitutional that would send them back to their duties

White House envoy claims Russia agreed to ‘Article 5-like’ security guarantees for Ukraine • Special envoy Steve Witkoff on Sunday said Russia offered some encouraging signs in President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. • Putin gave a “concession” that “the United States could offer Article Five-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO,” Witkoff said. • Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced caution, however, noting, “we’re still a long ways off” from a peace agreement. • Their remarks come just before Trump is set to meet in Washington with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

After 681 days in Hamas captivity, the family of hostage Matan Zangauker released a new video of him, recently obtained by the IDF and filmed months ago. The release of the video coincided with a deeply emotional protest — Matan’s partner, Ilana, stood beneath a chuppah alongside his mother in a symbolic wedding ceremony. “I’m fighting for you until you return,” Ilana declared, as the act served both as a haunting expression of love and a powerful cry for his release.

A video showing Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker being held in Gaza has now been made public after his family decided to release it.

The footage, which the IDF uncovered during its operations inside Gaza, is believed to date back several months. Some accounts indicate it may have been recorded at the onset of the war.

“Go out and make noise just as you know how to do,” Zangauker is heard saying in the brief message directed at his relatives and friends.

WATCH:

It remains uncertain how long the family had possession of the video, which was never published by Hamas itself.

Throughout the conflict, whenever the IDF has discovered images or recordings of hostages in Gaza, it has delivered them to the families, who in many cases later decide to share them with the wider public.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A letter signed by the Rashash alongside other Rabbis of Jerusalem (see below), appealing for help due to the particular dire situation prevailing in Jerusalem.  Signatures of the Rashash on letters of emissaries are exceedingly rare, but due to the tremendous importance of this mission, which constituted pikuach nefesh and the last lifeline for the community standing on the brink of collapse, he added his signature.

The IDF revealed today that it is launching a special initiative called “Starting Over,” which will run for five days and is described as a one-time chance.

As part of this effort, individuals who have avoided or deserted IDF service will be allowed to show up at recruitment centers and join the army without facing criminal charges or punishment for their past avoidance.

Military officials made clear that the program applies strictly to those willing to enlist right away. It is not designed for people hoping to use the process to formalize an exemption from duty.

Those who qualify can sign up online through the IDF recruitment site, report to a draft office, and begin training on the spot. They may be assigned to rear service positions, support roles, or combat units depending on their assessment.

The army currently lists around 14,600 people as draft evaders. While most of them are not from the chareidi community, the IDF predicts that the number will increase sharply in the months ahead once official notices are issued regarding chareidim who have not reported for service. Commanders noted that even if only several hundred step forward under this program, it will be counted as a success.

The IDF further stressed that those who enlist now will be accepted under conditions: anyone who again fails to report will be prosecuted both for their renewed absence and for their earlier record of avoiding service.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israel’s Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism) released a video address on Sunday responding to the day of demonstrations held on behalf of the hostages in Gaza, declaring that the effort had failed to paralyze the nation as its organizers had intended.

“Citizens of Israel, we are at the end of a day that began with bombastic declarations by left-wing organizations who wanted to organize a day of protests and stop the country. What happened in practice? Nothing. The State of Israel didn’t stop for a minute,” he stated.

Smotrich insisted that participation was minimal, saying, “A few thousand out of ten million Israeli citizens blocked roads across the country.”

The minister emphasized that the majority of Israelis stand firmly with the hostages and their loved ones but reject being exploited for political purposes. “The people of Israel express great solidarity with the hostages and their families, and are in no way willing to be a tool of the leftist protest which seeks to topple the right-wing government and cynically uses them.”

Turning his remarks directly to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Smotrich urged him to act decisively in Gaza. “It could be that lately you were a bit too spooked by the campaign against the war. You took the media and the feeling that the nation isn’t with you too seriously. You too saw together with the entire people of Israel. The people of Israel are with you, the people are with us, behind us in our demand for victory until the end.”

He pressed Netanyahu to move forward without hesitation, declaring: “Make the right decision, finally. Announce that there will be no more stopping the middle, that there will be no more partial deals. Order the IDF to charge into Gaza and the central camps and topple Hamas’s remaining military strongholds, to destroy it completely, and to bring back the hostages. Everyone, everyone, without stopping in the middle.”

Smotrich concluded by urging swift action that would lead to a decisive outcome. “Mr. Prime Minister, let us, together and with G-d’s help, bring total victory for the people of Israel before the winter. You also saw today that the people of Israel are with us in this unequivocal demand. Total victory in one blow.”

{Matzav.com}

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A letter signed by the Rashash alongside other Rabbis of Jerusalem (see below), appealing for help due to the particular dire situation prevailing in Jerusalem.  Signatures of the Rashash on letters of emissaries are exceedingly rare, but due to the tremendous importance of this mission, which constituted pikuach nefesh and the last lifeline for the community standing on the brink of collapse, he added his signature.

Roughly 300,000 people filled Hostages Square in Tel Aviv and nearby streets today for a massive demonstration organized by the families of the hostages, according to figures released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, based on police assessments.

Out of that total, around 150,000 crowded into the square itself, while another 70,000 participants marched from Savidor Train Station together with hostage relatives before joining the main gathering.

The rally marked the closing event of a full day of protests and a nationwide strike, which challenged the government’s decision to escalate the war in Gaza instead of working toward an agreement to secure the hostages’ release.

Supporters from across Israel traveled in large convoys to Tel Aviv, standing shoulder to shoulder with the hostage families and voicing their opposition to the government’s course of action.

{Matzav.com}

Montreal police have arrested a 28-year-old man who was filmed hurling violent, antisemitic threats at Jews in the city’s Saint-Laurent borough on Friday afternoon. The incident unfolded around 4:40 p.m. near Fraser and Saint-Louis streets, when multiple 911 calls reported a man shouting abuse and issuing death threats. Video clips later posted online show the suspect, dressed in a long white robe, keffiyeh-style headscarf, and sunglasses, unleashing a torrent of threats. In one recording, he can be heard yelling at a man wearing a kippah: “We will kill you, you [expletive] pig.” Another clip ends with him declaring: “I’m just waiting for the order of the king … There is one king — Allah.” Police spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils confirmed officers “quickly located the suspect” and arrested him for “making threats and hateful remarks toward the group of citizens.” The case has been referred to Montreal’s hate crimes and incidents unit, with formal charges to be determined by Quebec’s prosecution service. Alan DeSousa, mayor of Saint-Laurent, condemned the threats as intolerable and pledged heightened patrols. “Such behavior will not be tolerated,” he said, praising the swift response from police and borough security teams. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and Federation CJA released a joint statement crediting close coordination between community security volunteers and police for the rapid arrest. “Those who seek to threaten members of our community must be held accountable,” the organizations said, adding that the suspect had been spotted earlier in the week and identified through photos provided by residents. Friday’s threats mark the latest in a troubling string of antisemitic incidents in Montreal. Just last week, a 23-year-old man was charged with assaulting a Jewish father in front of his children in Parc-Extension. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Reports by the Associated Press, BBC, the Guardian, and Italian media that a 20-year-old Gazan woman died on Friday after being flown from the Strip to an Italian hospital due to “severe malnourishment” omitted the fact that she was critically ill with leukemia. Following the reports, COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities) published a copy of a document from a Gazan hospital showing that the woman was diagnosed with cancer. Israel had approved the woman’s evacuation from Gaza due to her illness. In fact, Israel had approved earlier dates for the woman’s evacuation, and perhaps her life could have been saved if Hamas ended its policy of exploiting Gazan civilians for its propaganda campaigns. COGAT stated, “The facts, which the report did not mention: 20-year-old Marah Zohry suffered from leukemia.” “Italian authorities contacted Israel requesting Marah’s evacuation due to her illness and Israel approved it. Her evacuation could have taken place earlier, as Israel had proposed several possible dates for the transfer.” “Israel facilitates the medical transfer of patients, with a focus on children, and encourages countries around the world to make such requests, while Hamas keeps cynically exploiting them for its twisted agenda.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is preparing to enforce an English-only policy across nearly all of its programs and internal operations, according to a memo reported on by The NY Post.

The directive, drafted by HUD’s deputy secretary, is scheduled for distribution on Monday and aligns with President Trump’s March executive order that officially established English as the language of the United States.

“We are one people, united, and we will speak with one voice and one language to deliver on our mission of expanding housing that is affordable, helping those in need, caring for our most vulnerable Americans, and revitalizing rural, tribal, and urban communities,” HUD deputy secretary Andrew Hughes wrote in the memo.

Although the department is shifting to English as the default, some exceptions will remain in place to comply with existing federal law.

These carveouts will apply to protections guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Violence Against Women Act, which contain nondiscrimination rules that in some cases require accommodations involving language.

“HUD will continue to ensure that all persons have meaningful access to HUD programs and services,” Hughes emphasized. He added that the agency “will continue to provide communication services to the hearing and seeing impaired, and persons with related disabilities.”

Beyond these limited exceptions, HUD operations will transition fully to English.

Earlier administrations had promoted multilingual outreach at HUD, in an effort to assist low-income immigrants who were lawfully present in the country but lacked strong English skills.

Before this policy shift, HUD offered services in 222 languages and ran a translation hotline for those unable to communicate effectively in English, according to a flyer cited by The Post.

In 2001, just before leaving office, President Bill Clinton issued an executive action designed to broaden federal access for individuals with limited English proficiency.

Trump’s March executive order formally nullified Clinton’s directive, although it also stated that “nothing in this order, however, requires or directs any change in the services provided by any agency.”

After reviewing Justice Department recommendations, HUD determined that phasing out translations was the most effective way to implement the order — a move that some agency officials argue will also reduce costs for taxpayers.

The transition will begin “effective immediately,” Hughes wrote, explaining that the department will start eliminating translated content from its website and other materials in what he described as an “ongoing and iterative” rollout.

“All HUD communications, correspondence, and physical and digital published materials will be produced exclusively in English and that we will no longer offer non-English translation services,” Hughes’ memo states.

“Additionally, please immediately remove all printed or digital collateral about non-English translation services currently displayed in HUD offices or HUD-funded facilities. Printed or digital collateral not in English can be replaced with an English-only version.”

HUD leadership is also planning to audit existing contracts tied to translation and interpretation services.

The Justice Department circulated guidance to all federal agencies last month explaining how to apply Trump’s order.

In approximately six months, DOJ will issue updated instructions, open a public comment period, and decide whether additional modifications to implementation are necessary.

{Matzav.com}

Tens of thousands have gathered in Hostages Square to protest the government’s war decisions.

Overnight, the IDF carried out a drone strike outside Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood, targeting a Hamas cell that the military says was storing weapons, arming themselves, and using the hospital compound as shelter.