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The uproar over the arrests of yeshiva bochurim who failed to report to draft offices continues, with sharp criticism voiced by a leading Sephardic Torah figure. On Motzoei Shabbos, Rav Yehuda Cohen, a member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Sas, spoke during a shiur at the Yazdim Shul and charged that every arrested bochur so far has been of Sephardic background.

“On Friday night they arrested another bochur from Be’er Yehuda,” Rav Cohen said. “Listen carefully—every single one of those arrested are Sephardim! Only Sephardim! Let those who vote for ‘these’ parties know just how much they love Sephardim. They don’t dare arrest Ashkenazim, only Sephardim. I said already two years ago—they are Ashkenazim, they will never be touched, only Sephardim. They think we are nothing, completely nothing.”

As reported earlier here on Matzav, hours before Shabbos, a yeshiva student of Sephardic origin from Yeshivas Be’er Yehuda in Yerushalayim was detained by traffic police and handed over to military police custody.

A review by Matzav.com has found that every single arrest to date has involved Sephardic yeshiva students or baalei teshuvah studying in chozrim b’teshuvah yeshivos. Even attempted arrests that failed targeted students from the same groups.

A senior figure close to the Shas leadership said: “This is a deliberate move by the IDF. They are afraid to confront the Litvish or the Chassidim, fearing it will spark massive upheaval. So they go after the ‘weaker’ ones—our Sephardic yeshiva students and the baalei teshuvah. It’s a disgrace that must be addressed.”

The source added: “We are of course opposed to the arrest of any yeshiva student whatsoever. Anyone sitting and learning Torah must be left in peace to continue his studies—that is the mission of our representatives, to ensure this right. But it is intolerable that enforcement is aimed exclusively at our community. That cannot be excused.”

The IDF, however, rejected those claims, stating that the arrests are random and not specifically targeting Sephardim or baalei teshuvah. According to them, the enforcement operations take place in non-chareidi areas, “so naturally in mixed neighborhoods there are more Sephardim and baalei teshuvah.”

An IDF spokesperson stated: “The Military Police Corps carries out enforcement actions against draft evaders and deserters in accordance with the law. There has been no change in policy.”

Meanwhile, protests continued Motzoei Shabbos outside Military Prison 10, with large crowds from various Chassidic communities demonstrating. At present, seven bochurim and avreichim are being held there.

{Matzav.com Israel}

European leaders have been asked to participate in upcoming discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, according to a source who spoke with Reuters.

The individual noted that it was still uncertain exactly which heads of state would take part.

Zelenskyy had earlier announced that he would meet with Trump in Washington after the U.S.-Russia summit failed to produce an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, now dragging into its fourth year.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated today that the U.S. has signaled its willingness to help provide security assurances for Ukraine.

“And the good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone,” Merz said in an interview with German broadcaster ZDF, after he and other European leaders were debriefed by Trump on his talks with Vladimir Putin.

Shortly after meeting with Putin, Trump declared that only a comprehensive peace deal—not a temporary truce—could bring the war to an end. His position reflected Putin’s stance that Russia rejects a ceasefire and instead seeks a broader settlement that takes Moscow’s priorities into account.

Following calls with Zelenskyy and European officials, Trump wrote on Truth Social:
“A great and very successful day in Alaska! The meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia went very well, as did a late night phone call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and various European Leaders, including the highly respected Secretary General of NATO. It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up. President Zelenskyy will be coming to D.C., the Oval Office, on Monday afternoon. If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Those remarks mirrored comments from Putin that Russia wants a long-term settlement rather than a short-term pause in fighting.

Until now, Trump and Kyiv’s European allies had been pushing for a ceasefire to pave the way for negotiations.

Zelenskyy, excluded from the Alaska gathering, said he and Trump had a “long and substantive” discussion early today. He expressed gratitude for the invitation to Washington, where he said they would “discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.”

This will mark Zelenskyy’s first visit to the United States since Trump sharply criticized him as “disrespectful” during a February 28 Oval Office meeting.

Trump, who also spoke again today with European leaders, confirmed that Zelenskyy would come to the White House on Monday, adding that “if all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin.”

On Friday, Trump hosted Putin in the U.S. for the first time in ten years and since the full-scale assault on Ukraine began. Despite the symbolism, Trump provided few specifics on what had been discussed.

Ahead of the talks, Trump had warned there would be “very severe consequences” for Russia if Putin refused to bring the conflict to an end.

Zelenskyy underscored that European participation is vital.

“It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America,” he said. “We also discussed positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.”

Though he did not elaborate, Zelenskyy has previously mentioned that a plan to deploy foreign troops in Ukraine stalled because it lacked American backing.

He said his conversations with Trump—first one-on-one and later with European leaders—lasted more than 90 minutes.

During remarks in Alaska, Trump stressed that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal,” after Putin claimed progress had been made and warned European countries not to “torpedo the nascent progress.”

In a Fox News interview before leaving Alaska, Trump suggested the responsibility now lies heavily with Zelenskyy “to get it done,” though he acknowledged Europe would also need to play a role.

After Trump’s calls, European leaders issued a joint statement committing to work toward “a trilateral summit with European support.”

The message, signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and the European Union’s top officials, declared that “Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees” and welcomed Washington’s willingness to help provide them.

“It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory,” the statement read. “International borders must not be changed by force.” Notably, it omitted any reference to a ceasefire, which they had previously sought.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pointed out that “the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon,” citing Moscow’s new strikes on Ukraine even as talks were taking place.

“Putin continues to drag out negotiations and hopes he gets away with it. He left Anchorage without making any commitments to end the killing,” she said.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala added that the summit showed “while the U.S. and its allies are looking for ways to peace, Putin is still only interested in making the greatest possible territorial gains and restoring the Soviet empire.”

The fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces continues along a 1,000-kilometer front line. Since the spring, Russia has made its most significant territorial advances since the earliest days of the war.

“Vladimir Putin came to the Alaska summit with the principal goal of stalling any pressure on Russia to end the war,” said Neil Melvin, director of international security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute. “He will consider the summit outcome as mission accomplished.”

Zelenskyy signaled his support for Trump’s idea of a trilateral summit. He remarked that “key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this.”

However, Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov told Russian state TV that such a three-way meeting had not been brought up in U.S.-Russia discussions. “The topic has not been touched upon yet,” he said, according to RIA Novosti.

Posting on X, Zelenskyy said he urged Trump that “sanctions should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war.”

Russian officials largely welcomed Friday’s meeting, describing it as a symbolic signal that Putin’s isolation from the West is diminishing.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, hailed the talks as an important step forward in U.S.-Russia dialogue, saying they were “calm, without ultimatums and threats.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported that overnight Russian forces launched a ballistic missile and 85 Shahed drones, 61 of which were intercepted. Attacks targeted Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Chernihiv.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its defenses had downed 29 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and the Sea of Azov during the same period.

{Matzav.com}

Melania Trump has written a direct appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressing the suffering of children caught in the conflict in Ukraine.

“Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation’s rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center. They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger,” she wrote in her message, dated August 15.

The first lady emphasized that “as parents, it is our duty to nurture the next generation’s hope. As leaders, the responsibility to sustain our children extends beyond the comfort of a few. Undeniably, we must strive to paint a dignity-filled world for all – so that every soul may wake to peace, and so that the future itself is perfectly guarded.”

According to a White House official speaking to NewsNation, President Trump personally handed the letter to Putin prior to their highly anticipated meeting in Alaska. The summit, lasting nearly three hours, took place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, though Melania Trump was not in attendance.

Since the invasion began in February 2022, Russia has been accused of seizing thousands of Ukrainian children, moving them into Russia, assigning them citizenship, and integrating them into Russian schools.

The United Nations criticized Moscow in March for the severe hardship inflicted on Ukrainian minors during the prolonged war. Russian authorities, however, have insisted they are relocating children to shield them from violence.

“A simple yet profound concept, Mr. Putin, as I am sure you agree, is that each generation’s descendants begin their lives with a purity – an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology,” Melania Trump declared.

She added, “Yet in today’s world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them – a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future. Mr. Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter.”

Ukrainian officials report that more than 19,000 children have been transferred into Russia, though they caution the true figure is likely even higher.

In her letter, Melania Trump stressed that by “protecting the innocence of these children, you will do more than serve Russia alone—you serve humanity itself. Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr. Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today.” She concluded pointedly: “It is time.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking to reporters on Tuesday before the Trump-Putin summit, criticized Russia for blocking negotiations over the return of these children.

Zelensky said that while limited returns have been arranged with help from other countries, Ukraine has not been able to reach a broader deal with Moscow.

“That is why we wanted to get certain matters settled in this trilateral track: ceasefire, an all-for-all exchange, and the return of children,” Zelensky explained. “This is something everyone benefits from: President Trump benefits, the Russians lose nothing, the Ukrainians lose nothing. It’s a fair compromise.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump shifted course midway through his private summit with Vladimir Putin on Friday, telling aides he no longer wanted to pursue a temporary truce in Ukraine but was instead aiming for a full-scale peace settlement, according to the New York Post. The reversal came about two hours into what turned into a three-hour conversation between the two leaders.

Trump concluded that too few issues remained unresolved to justify a stopgap arrangement, and he argued that halting hostilities temporarily would only extend the conflict rather than end it.

“Figuratively, the president sort of threw up his hands and said, ‘I’m not interested in a cease-fire anymore,’” said one individual briefed on the talks.

Trump emphasized his concern that a truce would center around “how long the cease fire will be” and “are they going to rearm?”

The Russians did not resist the change in tone, and Trump left Anchorage without securing a pause in fighting. Instead, he began placing calls to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders to explore the possibility of brokering an actual peace agreement.

According to the source, the outreach was received positively, and Trump quickly posted on social media that Zelensky would travel to the White House on Monday for direct discussions.

During the meeting, Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender the remaining section of the resource-rich Donetsk region, a heavily Russian-speaking area that first erupted in rebellion with Moscow’s backing in 2014.

Russia formally declared the entire region annexed in 2022.

Zelensky has firmly rejected the idea of ceding the northern part of Donetsk, saying that giving up those entrenched defensive positions would dismantle over a decade of Ukrainian fortifications and give Putin a platform to expand his offensives deeper into the country.

One possible compromise broached during the Alaska summit involved sending in an international peacekeeping force. Putin showed openness to UK and French troops patrolling the front lines to ensure fighting did not resume.

Two people familiar with the negotiations told the Post that Trump agreed in principle to that plan, viewing NATO’s involvement as a substitute for a direct American “security guarantee” to Ukraine. Previously, Trump had suggested that a minerals partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine could provide Kyiv with a similar form of protection.

At one point, Putin floated an expanded peacekeeping formula that would have included China, but he later leaned toward involving Turkey — a NATO member that maintains ties with Moscow — as a supplemental contributor alongside the more pro-Ukraine European nations.

European capitals appeared somewhat reassured when Putin told Trump he was “willing to stipulate” that Russia would not target other eastern European states. Still, a source cautioned that “Europeans think in centuries” and would remain wary beyond the lifespan of any U.S. presidency.

“The president got Putin to say out loud and agree to, in some way, memorialize that. … He said, ‘I will not attack a European country. … I have no interest in this,’ and that has always been the fear on the part of the Europeans,” the source explained.

“That went a long way in the calls last night with the Europeans.”

In an unusual move, Trump canceled a scheduled press conference and instead boarded Air Force One earlier than expected to return to Washington, continuing conversations with Zelensky and several European leaders while airborne.

During calls on Friday night and Saturday morning, Trump reinforced his view that a comprehensive peace deal could be achieved. Those conversations ultimately set the stage for his announcement that Zelensky would be in Washington on Monday.

Zelensky, however, has maintained that he cannot surrender territory without first holding a referendum in Ukraine, complicating prospects for any settlement if concessions over Donetsk are considered in exchange for international peacekeepers.

“Every issue is an ancillary issue, except Donetsk,” a source involved with the discussions remarked. “That’s the ball game right there, the future of Donetsk.”

Russia had already seized Crimea in 2014 and continues to exert partial control over three other Ukrainian provinces in addition to Donetsk, all of which Moscow claimed to annex.

The Anchorage gathering also featured choreographed displays of U.S. military power. Trump personally guided Putin along a red carpet as B-2 stealth bombers and fighter jets flew overhead, seemingly catching the Russian leader off guard.

Trump then invited Putin to ride with him in the presidential limousine, known as the Beast, for a short trip to the meeting site. Along the way, they passed another B-2 bomber on the runway, an unmistakable reminder of Trump’s June 13 strike on Iran carried out by the same aircraft type after Tehran rejected a U.S. deal.

“The last thing [Putin] saw when he went in that room was a B-2 close up and personal,” one source observed.

Inside, Trump was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, long known for his tough stance on Russia, and Steve Witkoff, the special envoy who had prior experience negotiating with Putin. Their presence added layers of strategy, but the talks remained firmly dominated by Trump and Putin themselves.

Looking ahead, Trump has floated the idea of convening a three-way summit that would bring himself, Putin, and Zelensky together. The White House is currently being considered as the primary location for such a meeting.

{Matzav.com}

The Hirschman family is facing a moment of both great joy and overwhelming challenge. Their daughter’s wedding is fast approaching, yet the weight of years of severe medical hardship has left them emotionally and financially drained. 

The wave of arrests targeting yeshiva students who did not report to draft offices, in accordance with the directives of leading rabbonim, continued into Friday. Just hours before the onset of Shabbos, another bochur was taken into custody.

Initial details indicate that the detainee is once again a Sephardi yeshiva bochur, this time from Yeshivas Be’er Yehuda in Yerushalayim. He was stopped by traffic police and subsequently handed over to the military police.

A recent investigation by Matzav.com revealed that nearly all those detained so far are either Sephardi students or baalei teshuvah enrolled in yeshivos that cater to chozrim b’teshuvah. Even in cases where attempted arrests failed, the targets were from the same groups.

A senior figure close to one of Shas’s prominent rabbonim said: “This is a deliberate move by the IDF. They are afraid to touch the Lithuanian and Chassidic communities, fearing a massive uproar, so they go after the ‘weaker’ ones — our Sephardi yeshiva students and baalei teshuvah. This is a disgrace that must be addressed.”

At the same time, IDF officials rejected the allegations, insisting that the operations are not discriminatory. Military sources claim that the arrests were “random and not directed specifically at Sephardim or baalei teshuvah,” explaining that enforcement is focused on non-chareidi areas, “which naturally include more Sephardim and returnees.”

The IDF spokesperson’s office issued a statement saying: “The Military Police are carrying out enforcement actions against draft evaders and deserters in accordance with the law. There has been no change in policy.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A meeting took place last week between Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, and Rav Moshe Shternbuch at Rav Shternbuch’s home in Har Nof, Yerushalayim. The discussion focused on the intensifying draft crisis and the wave of arrests of yeshiva students, with both gedolim delivering sharp criticism of political leaders in the Religious Zionist camp whom they accused of collaborating with secular parties against the Torah world.

As the visit began, Rav Shternbuch turned to Rav Landau and remarked, “The responsibility for this matter now falls upon you.”

Rav Landau responded: “This is the responsibility of all of Klal Yisroel. With this decree of the draft, we do whatever we can to ensure that bnei hayeshivos do not go to the army, that no one goes to the army. We do what we can through human efforts, in many different ways, and also through tefillah in Shomayim.”

Later in the meeting, Rav Landau voiced concern over Religious Zionist leaders, saying, “Today we have great enemies and persecutors, and there is also another type of persecutor, those who wear knitted yarmulkes — it is frightening.”

Rav Shternbuch cautioned against giving weight to these figures: “The less we speak with them, the healthier it is for us. When they see that they make no impression on us whatsoever, and that we remain strong, then it will not harm us.”

Rav Landau added: “The resha’im do whatever they want — resha’im who know nothing of Yiddishkeit and do not want to know. They give everything to the Arabs, but to bnei Torah they give nothing.”

Rav Shternbuch reinforced the point: “Indeed, our enemies want us to feel persecuted by them. But we must show them that they do not interest us at all, and we will continue on the path of Torah without paying them any attention.”

Addressing his colleague, Rav Shternbuch said: “Do what you can. We must do whatever is in our hands, and the success depends on Hakadosh Boruch Hu.” He then added, “In truth, the very act of doing what is required — that itself is already success.”

The two rabbonim also reminisced about their shared years of learning in Yeshivas Chevron nearly eight decades ago.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The U.S. State Department announced today that it has suspended all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza while it carries out “a full and thorough” review of the program, according to a report from Reuters.

Officials explained that only “a small number” of temporary medical-humanitarian visas had been granted in recent days but did not specify how many.

“All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days,” the State Department wrote on X.

Government data shows that since the start of the year, more than 3,800 B1/B2 visas — often used for purposes including medical treatment in the United States — were issued to residents of the Palestinian Authority, with 640 of them granted in May alone.

Jewish-American activist Laura Loomer, a close ally of President Donald Trump, claimed on social media that “Palestinian refugees” had entered the U.S. this month.

After the State Department’s statement, she posted: “Following the release of my reports yesterday exposing flights of GAZANS arriving at airports all across the US, the US State Department just announced that ‘All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped’ while the US @StateDept ‘conducts a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days.’ This is fantastic news. Thank you @SecRubio for your prompt response to this invasion of our country by NGOS that have been accused of being pro-HAMAS @marcorubio!”

She went on to add: “Hopefully all GAZANS will be added to President Trump’s travel ban. There are doctors in other countries. The US is not the world’s hospital!”

In another message, Loomer wrote: “The visas and arrivals of GAZANS to US airports isn’t new. This has been drastically increasing in speed and numbers over the last month, but it appears that the mass importation of GAZANS began under Joe Biden and it has continued into the Trump administration without being halted.”

She continued: “It’s not a small number either. It’s A LOT. Hopefully GAZANS are added to the Trump travel ban, and hopefully every single Gazan who came in under Biden and Trump is immediately deported. They are not that sick if they can sit on a plane for 22 hours.”

Loomer concluded with another demand: “I would like to see the US State Department produce a public report with the total number of GAZANS who came into our country and a termination of all visas for Gazans. I strongly believe that it’s appropriate for the people who issued the visas to be fired and for the State Department to cut off all relations with all pro-HAMAS NGOS.”

{Matzav.com}

As Israel’s military campaign in Gaza expands, rabbis from the Religious Zionist community have issued a statement opposing a nationwide strike planned for tomorrow in protest over the government’s handling of the hostage crisis. The rabbis argue that such actions endanger both the hostages still held in Gaza and the soldiers fighting on the front lines.

In a public letter released tonight under the banner of the organization Rabbanei HaAretz HaTova, the rabbis cautioned against any participation in the strike. “With the understanding that any harm to national unity and home-front stability could weaken our fighters at the front and undermine their ability to defeat the enemy, we call to refrain from any step that would damage their strength and morale,” the letter stated.

The rabbis further emphasized: “It is forbidden to participate in any involvement in shutting down the country’s economy. Our dedicated soldiers, both regular and reservists, are risking their lives to bring back our hostages with a decisive victory over our enemies. Protests may present an immediate danger to our soldiers and to the hostages in captivity. Only through unity and love among ourselves will we be able to strengthen our fighters and, with God’s help, achieve victory and defeat the enemy.”

The warning comes as several high-tech companies and private businesses are preparing to join tomorrow’s strike. However, the work stoppage is not expected to be widespread, as the Histadrut labor federation has announced it will not officially participate.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A family of twelve — two parents and ten children — has successfully escaped the Lev Tahor cult in Guatemala and has now arrived safely in Israel. The family is receiving assistance from the appropriate authorities, including Israel’s social services.

According to a report by journalist Itamar Eichner of Ynet, the family had been staying in Guatemalan welfare facilities before leaving with the help of Israeli government agencies. Upon arrival in Israel, they were transferred to an absorption center.

At the same time, ongoing efforts are being made to dismantle the remnants of the radical cult. In recent years, dozens of women and children have managed to leave Lev Tahor and resettle in the United States, Canada, and Israel.

Last month, the Knesset’s Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs Committee held another follow-up hearing to review the government’s involvement in rescuing children from the Lev Tahor community in Guatemala.

During the discussion, officials reported that about ten families from the cult, with children, are now living in Israel. However, one family has chosen not to cooperate directly with government authorities, though it does remain in contact with local welfare services.

Dr. Yoel Lion, Israel’s special envoy on the Lev Tahor issue, underlined the progress achieved so far. He said: “We are continuing our international efforts. Many families have already left Guatemala and we are pleased about that. An agreement has been signed with the Jewish Agency, and there is a budget set aside to help these families. However, we need official requests from the survivor families in order to provide the assistance.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Thousands of anti-Israel demonstrators surged through midtown Manhattan on Saturday, banging cowbells and waving placards that demanded an end to U.S. aid to Israel while chanting “Free, free Palestine” and “Palestine will live forever.” Organizers branded the rally “Stand with Gaza.” What echoed loudest—and sparked the fiercest backlash—was the call for a “global intifada,” a slogan that is nothing less than a call to violence against Jews worldwide. Since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in southern Israel, the phrase “globalize the intifada” has drawn sharp condemnation from security experts and community advocates who link it to the suicide bombings, shootings, and stabbings that marked previous intifadas. “The intifada refers to a horrific wave of terror attacks that killed thousands of Jews. Globalizing it is a direct call for violence against Jews,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who demanded unequivocal denunciations. “It must be condemned. I’m against hate speech targeting anyone—and everyone should be. It’s insane and unacceptable that this antisemitic rhetoric is spreading across our country.” The political crossfire widened to New York City’s mayoral race after candidate Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic socialist, faced criticism for not explicitly rejecting the chant. Pressed on his position, Mamdani responded that it’s not “language” he uses, adding: “I understand there are concerns about it, and what I will do is showcase my vision for the city through my words and my actions.” His careful phrasing did little to calm opponents who argue that prominent figures must draw clear red lines when crowds traffic in rallying cries associated with bloodshed. Lawmakers are now seeking a formal rebuke. A resolution moving in the House would label the “global intifada” mantra as a call for violence against Israelis and Jews, warning that its normalization endangers Jewish communities at home and abroad. The measure cites a string of violent incidents targeting Jews in the United States—including a fatal attack on pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, and a shooting in Washington, DC, that killed two Israeli diplomatic staff—and urges public officials to reject the rhetoric. Saturday’s march unfolded against that backdrop of rising anxiety. New York remains home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, and local shuls and schools have tightened security amid a documented spike in antisemitic incidents. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Body language analyst Greg Hartley said on Newsmax today that President Donald Trump’s high spirits at the outset of his Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday appeared to diminish by the time the two leaders concluded their discussions.

Speaking on “America Right Now,” Hartley explained that the encounter started off on an upbeat note, with positive signals exchanged by both men.

“You see that reach by Putin, the real reach to get a handshake? That shows enthusiasm on his part,” Hartley said.

“Look at how animated his body language is. His hands are rising up into what my partner would call a passion plane from the behavior panel.

“What we’re seeing is he’s excited to be there. I think Trump did the bravo clap. He did the thumbs-up. We’re starting off with a lot of enthusiasm in this very beginning.”

But according to Hartley, the mood changed once the two leaders spent three hours in private talks before facing reporters. He noted that Trump’s demeanor revealed tension as he spoke about unresolved disagreements.

“You can see it because Trump’s blink rate increases, which indicates stress when he’s talking about there’s one very sticky one and a couple that they still have to work on,” Hartley said.

“So I don’t know that anyone really got the upper hand. I think that Putin knew what he was willing to give, and Trump was trying to push a little harder.”

By the end of the meeting, Hartley observed that Trump’s gestures contrasted noticeably with the energetic way he had greeted Putin earlier.

“I think we see Trump reaching out with a very different handshake than he did in the beginning,” Hartley said. “You also see him doing a little mouth grooming, which is an indicator of stress as he moves his mouth and teeth.

“And then Putin looks like he’s happy with the outcome. But I think Trump is less happy. It looks more disappointed than he did in the beginning, where he looked very enthusiastic.”

Robert Wilkie, who served three years in Trump’s Cabinet, echoed that assessment in a separate appearance on Newsmax earlier Saturday, saying he could instantly recognize the look on Trump’s face.

“After three years in the Cabinet, when I saw that look, I knew that he wasn’t happy,” Wilkie said.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchok Yosef, the former Sephardi chief rabbi of Israel, launched a blistering attack tonight on Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, calling him “an atheist,” while also accusing both Netanyahu and Shas chairman Arye Deri of deliberately delaying the passage of a chareidi draft bill and charging that the IDF has been disproportionately arresting Sephardim.

His remarks came in the wake of weeklong protests outside a military prison where chareidi detainees are being held. Rav Yosef argued that the coalition should have prioritized passing the draft legislation before finalizing the government’s first budget, as stipulated in the coalition agreement. “It should have been before forming the government, as written in the coalition agreement, to pass the draft law before the first budget,” he said.

Rav Yosef leveled particularly harsh criticism at Netanyahu and chareidi representatives in the Knesset, invoking the memory of Chacham Shalom Cohen. “Do not listen to Bibi after the budget. Why did they listen to him? If Chacham Shalom were alive, he would shout at the emissaries of the rabbonim. Why are you dragging your feet? Why are you listening to Bibi? Do you believe him? He is an atheist,” Rav Yosef declared.

The Rishon Letzion pressed on, saying, “You rely on someone like that? What are you relying on him for, to pass the draft law? So more delays, and we got into trouble.”

He also condemned the IDF’s recent campaign of arrests, alleging bias in its enforcement. “They arrest mainly Sephardim. They know that there the father is weak, the mother is weak,” he said, before urging the community to be vigilant. “What is this, Russia? When they knock on the door, look through the peephole to see who it is. If it is them, do not open the door. Get through this difficult period.”4

{Matzav.com Israel}

Russian President Vladimir Putin put forward terms at his summit with Donald Trump in Alaska that would see Moscow return small areas of occupied Ukrainian territory while Kyiv would surrender larger portions of its east, according to individuals familiar with Moscow’s approach.

The details surfaced one day after the two leaders convened at an Alaskan air base — marking the first time a U.S. president has met face-to-face with the Kremlin chief since the outbreak of the Ukraine war.

On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to arrive in Washington to confer with Trump about potential terms to bring the full-scale conflict, launched by Putin in February 2022, to an end.

While the summit did not deliver the immediate ceasefire Trump had hoped for, he told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the two men spoke about territorial adjustments and assurances for Ukraine’s security, and had “largely agreed.”

“I think we’re pretty close to a deal,” Trump said, while cautioning, “Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they’ll say ‘no’.”

Two sources, who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter, said their information on Putin’s proposals largely came from conversations involving leaders in Europe, the United States, and Ukraine, and stressed that their understanding was incomplete.

Trump relayed his account of the summit to Zelenskyy and European leaders early Saturday.

It remains uncertain whether Putin’s plan was presented as a rigid set of terms or as an opening position intended to spark negotiations.

If taken literally, some of the provisions would pose enormous difficulties for Ukraine’s leadership to accept.

Among them, Putin made clear he would not consent to a ceasefire until an overarching agreement was finalized — a direct rejection of Zelenskyy’s demand, as Ukraine continues to suffer relentless strikes from Russian drones and missiles.

According to the sources, the proposal called for Ukraine to relinquish the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions entirely, in exchange for Russia freezing its positions in the southern areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Kyiv has already made clear it will not abandon territories such as Donetsk, where its forces are entrenched and which officials insist is vital for defending the rest of the country from deeper Russian incursions.

On the other side, Russia was said to be ready to return relatively small sections of occupied land in the northern Sumy and northeastern Kharkiv regions.

Data from Ukraine’s Deep State battlefield mapping project shows Moscow controls about 440 square kilometers in those two regions. By contrast, Ukraine holds roughly 6,600 square kilometers in Donbas, encompassing Donetsk and Luhansk, which Russia claims.

In addition, sources said Putin sought official recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea, annexed in 2014.

It is unclear whether this meant recognition solely from Washington or also from Europe and Ukraine. Kyiv and its allies have repeatedly ruled out acknowledging Russian sovereignty there.

Putin’s demands also included some level of sanctions relief, though the sources could not confirm whether this referred to American restrictions, European measures, or both.

On Friday, Trump remarked that he was not yet considering retaliatory tariffs against nations such as China for importing Russian oil in violation of Western sanctions, but warned he might be forced to “in two or three weeks.”

Another stipulation would block Ukraine from ever joining NATO, though Putin appeared open to Kyiv receiving certain security guarantees.

What such assurances might look like remains unclear. European leaders said Trump spoke with them about a possible security framework for Ukraine and floated the notion of an “Article 5”-style pledge outside the NATO alliance.

Under NATO’s Article 5 principle, an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all 32.

Membership in NATO is a constitutional goal for Ukraine, enshrined in its national policy.

Putin’s proposal also sought protections for the Russian language in parts of Ukraine — or potentially nationwide — as well as freedom for the Russian Orthodox Church to operate.

Ukraine’s intelligence service has accused the Moscow-linked church of supporting the Kremlin’s war effort through propaganda and espionage. The church denies this, saying it cut formal ties to Moscow.

Ukraine has passed legislation banning religious groups tied to Russia, including that church, though authorities have not yet begun enforcing it.

{Matzav.com}

Governor Kathy Hochul dismissed New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani’s idea of opening publicly owned grocery stores across the city, making clear she doesn’t support the socialist-style proposal.

“I favor free enterprise,” Hochul remarked during a breakfast gathering in the Hamptons hosted by supermarket tycoon John Catsimatidis, after being asked about Mamdani’s suggestion.

Her statement was met with loud applause from the business crowd, including Catsimatidis himself.

The owner of Gristedes supermarkets later told The Post that Mamdani’s initiative was doomed from the start, pointing to a taxpayer-funded grocery store in Kansas City, Missouri, that just shut its doors. That store, he noted, was plagued by theft, half-empty shelves, and massive losses, despite Kansas City pouring $18 million into it over the last ten years in an attempt to keep it running.

“New York City is a capitalist city – look what happened in Kansas City?” Catsimatidis said about the defunct Sun Fresh Market. “These types of grocery stores just don’t work.”

Hochul, who positions herself as a centrist Democrat, has not endorsed any candidate in the mayoral race thus far.

Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and considered the favorite in November’s election, has laid out a plan to establish five city-run supermarkets, one in each borough, with the possibility of expanding to more locations later.

He projected that building the first five would require a combined investment of $60 million.

Opponents of the idea have derided it as a move toward “Soviet” markets, warning that shoppers could be left with only generic or single-brand choices for basics like bread and milk.

They’ve also raised concerns that government-set pricing could undercut private competitors like Gristedes, potentially driving them out of business and reducing consumer options in the city.

{Matzav.com}

An eight-page packet containing details such as the gift President Trump planned to present to Vladimir Putin and the expected menu for their meal was reportedly left behind in a printer at a hotel in Anchorage just hours before their closely watched summit on Ukraine.

The mishap, while awkward, did not reveal any highly sensitive material — since most of the summit schedule at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson had already been made public — but the story spread quickly once it was picked up by NPR.

According to the outlet, three guests at the upscale Hotel Captain Cook stumbled upon the pages in the machine of a shared business center.

Among the papers were two sheets describing the menu for a luncheon that was later called off. The planned courses included filet mignon served with a brandy peppercorn sauce and a salad topped with champagne vinaigrette. Another page displayed a seating arrangement that placed both presidents at the head of a conference-style table.

Other pages included profiles with names and photos of the officials expected to take part in an expanded session between the U.S. and Russian delegations. Instructions on one of the sheets noted that the Russian president’s name should be pronounced “POO-tihn.”

The printout further disclosed that Trump’s chosen gift for Putin was a small statue of an American bald eagle designed for a desk. It also listed the personal phone numbers of three advance team staffers tasked with organizing the events.

While most of the agenda items had already been released by the White House, many of the plans were later scrapped or shortened. Trump shifted away from pushing for an immediate cease-fire, ultimately leaving Alaska and returning to Washington expressing hope that he could secure a broader peace agreement.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to arrive at the White House on Monday. His meeting will focus on Putin’s demand that Ukraine cede the remaining parts of Donetsk province in exchange for an international peacekeeping force — one that could include British and French troops — to help deter further Russian aggression.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah on Shabbos morning of Rav Berel Wein zt”l, the noted rov, author, historian, and educator. He was 91.

Rabbi Wein, a veteran figure in the rabbinate and a beloved teacher to thousands, devoted his life to harbatzas haTorah and preserving the legacy of Klal Yisroel through his prolific work in Jewish history and education.

Born in Chicago into a family of Litvishe rabbonim on March 25, 1934, his father, Rabbi Zev Wein (1906-2004), was a talmid of Rav Shimon Shkop. Rabbi Zev Wein later emigrated to the United States and served as a rov in Chicago until the 1970s.

In 1955, he married Yocheved (Jackie) Levin, who had been born in Lita, in 1934 and had emigrated to Detroit with her parents, Rav and Rebbetzin Leizer Levin, at the age of 4.

Rabbi Wein received semicha from Hebrew Theological College, where he learned under some of the foremost rabbonim of the time, including Rav Chaim Kreiswirth, Rav Mordechai Rogow and Rav Mendel Kaplan.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Roosevelt College in Chicago, followed by a law degree from DePaul University Law School, and later received a Doctorate from Hebrew Theological College.

After a successful career in law, Rabbi Wein entered the rabbanus in 1964, accepting the pulpit of Beth Israel Congregation in Miami Beach, Florida. He served there until 1972, before assuming the position of mara d’asra of Congregation Bais Torah in Monsey, New York, a position he held with distinction for 24 years. During this time, he also served as Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union (OU), and later as Rabbinic Administrator of its Kashrus Division.

In 1977, he founded Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Suffern, New York, establishing both a high school and a beis medrash division, and served as rosh yeshiva until 1997. That year, Rabbi Wein and his wife, Rebbetzin Yocheved Wein—daughter of Rav and Rebbetzin Leizer Levin, rov of Detroit—moved to Yerushalayim. There, Rabbi Wein joined Beit Knesset Hanasi and, in 2002, was appointed its mara d’asra.

Widely regarded as one of the premier Jewish historians of our time, Rabbi Wein authored numerous seminal works on Jewish history and has delivered thousands of shiurim across the globe. His voice and vision shaped generations of Jews seeking a deeper understanding of their past and a more meaningful connection to their heritage.

In recognition of his lifelong contributions, Rabbi Wein received the prestigious Torah Prize Award from Machon Harav Frank in Yerushalayim for his impact on Torah education and the spread of Judaism throughout the world.

The levayah will be held Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. at Beit Knesset Hanasi, located at 24 Rechov Menachem Usishkin in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hazeisim.

Rabbi Wein is survived by his son, Rabbi Chaim Wein, and three daughters, Mrs. Sori Teitelbaum, Mrs. Miriam Gettinger, and Mrs. Dina Gewirtz, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH: Cockpit footage shows the U.S. Air Force flying through the eye of Hurricane Erin—seven miles of calm weather before reentering the violent storm.

In its latest update, the National Hurricane Center classified Hurricane Erin as a Category 5 storm with winds exceeding 157 mph, warning it will expand in size and trigger dangerous rip currents along the U.S. East Coast starting Monday.