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A psak halacha issued by Sephardic posek Rav Binyomin Chuta urging the public to avoid consuming Papushado cookies on Pesach due to halachic concerns has led to a major legal dispute, with the manufacturer demanding damages totaling three million shekels.

The company, “Ha’achim Papushado,” through its attorney Moshe Yitzchak Osditscher, has sent a formal warning prior to legal action against Rav Chuta, claiming that his repeated public statements amount to a “false, misleading, and damaging campaign” that has hurt the company’s reputation and weakened public trust in its products.

According to the company, the rov‘s remarks went beyond legitimate halachic opinion and instead presented incorrect information as fact. In the letter sent by attorney Osditscher, it states: “This constitutes false, misleading, and baseless publication that clearly exceeds the bounds of legitimate halachic opinion and amounts to a harmful and false factual determination presented to the public as fact.”

The company also stressed that its products are manufactured under strict and high-level kosher supervision, pointing to the backing of leading rabbinic authorities. The letter adds: “The company’s products are produced under strict and enhanced kosher supervision. As you are aware, even the ‘Rishon LeTzion,’ Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, granted a kosher certification to my client, and leading gedolei hador, including Rav Amar shlit”a and Rav Avraham Yosef shlit”a, who thoroughly examined the matter, made it unequivocally clear that your statements are nothing more than unfounded claims.”

At the same time, the company’s legal representative acknowledged the role of rabbinic leadership but argued that such rulings must be responsibly issued. In his letter, Osditscher wrote: “For the avoidance of doubt, expressing a halachic opinion is an obligation for all mori hora’ah. However, without clarifying the matter with the certifying authority and without visiting the facility, this approach reflects a provocative stance that harms both the kosher certifier and the factory, compounding the offense by refusing to investigate the position as required by halacha.”

The company claims that the statements, which were delivered publicly and broadcast to a wide audience, cannot be viewed as mere opinion but rather as the spread of inaccurate information lacking any factual basis.

It further described the remarks as not only damaging from a business perspective but also problematic from a halachic and public standpoint, warning that they could mislead a broad segment of consumers—especially during the sensitive period leading up to Pesach, when issues of kashrus are particularly critical. According to the company, the harm is both reputational and financial, and losses have already reached significant levels.

As part of its formal demand, the company placed the initial damage assessment at approximately three million shekels, noting that this figure is conservative. In addition, it is requiring Rav Chuta to immediately remove all related statements, issue a public clarification and apology in a pre-approved format, and commit to refraining from making similar statements in the future.

Attorney Osditscher stressed the seriousness of the matter, stating: “This is not a single statement made in error, but rather repeated publications that create a false impression among the public. When this occurs repeatedly, especially in broad public broadcasts, it constitutes a real and ongoing harm to my client’s good name. In a sensitive field such as kashrus for Pesach, the responsibility is multiplied many times over.”

Senior Israeli political figure Aryeh Deri compared the war with Iran to a pot of cholent, saying its outcome could not be fully predicted, as he defended the government’s handling of the conflict and the decision to accept a ceasefire.

In a conversation with Israeli journalist Amit Segal, Deri was asked whether he felt let down by the ceasefire that brought a temporary halt to hostilities. He responded that, given the circumstances, the pause in fighting was justified.

“No. I thought that given where we’d arrived, a replacement regime hadn’t emerged in Iran, and on the other hand, there was very great destruction – on the contrary, maybe the nuclear material will be brought up in negotiations. I tell you again with full responsibility – Netanyahu did not say to Trump and to the American administration anything that, God forbid, we didn’t believe to be true.”

Pressed on whether Israel may have misjudged the likelihood of regime change in Iran and in turn misled the United States, Deri firmly rejected the premise.

“No, no, no…War is like a cholent – you know what you put in, you don’t know what you get.”

He elaborated that Israel had presented a strategic framework to its American counterparts based on the intelligence and projections available at the time, but acknowledged that outcomes in war cannot be guaranteed.

“Yes, we presented to them a plan for how, based on the data we had, if all these things came to pass… The goal was to create conditions for the regime’s fall, and I think we created those conditions. That’s actually why I think the ceasefire is a blessing – there’s a greater chance the regime will fall from within. Iran begged for a ceasefire. They’re presenting it – together with our own opposition – as an Iranian victory. To my great sorrow, that’s very nice cooperation between the two of them. But you can see that in the end they stopped the fire for two weeks with no commitments at all, and now even Lebanon, which was one of their conditions, that’s not happening either.”

During the course of the conflict, reports surfaced suggesting frustration within certain Israeli circles over intelligence assessments—particularly from the Mossad—that the war could lead to regime change in Iran, a development that has yet to materialize.

When asked directly about those reports and whether plans to topple the Iranian regime had failed to come to fruition, Deri acknowledged that while military operations had exceeded expectations, other aspects were still ongoing.

“The military achieved above and beyond. The Mossad, which was more responsible for the regime-change plan, has not yet reached. I say ‘yet’ because in my assessment it will be reached very soon.”

Looking ahead, Deri expressed confidence that internal pressures within Iran could still bring about significant political change in the near future.

“I believe so. By the way, Trump believes the current regime is far more measured and responsible than what came before. In a certain sense, I agree. The diplomatic figures there effectively forced the ceasefire because of the constraints, not because of any genuine change of heart. They understood that within two weeks Iran would go bankrupt.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning Monday that Iranian vessels identified as “fast attack ships” will be destroyed without delay if they approach the U.S.-enforced blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, as American forces begin a major naval operation targeting Iran’s maritime activity.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that Iran’s naval strength has already been significantly degraded, claiming that “158 ships” have been destroyed, leaving behind only a small fleet of fast-moving boats.

“What we have not hit are their small number of, what they call, ‘fast attack ships,’ because we did not consider them much of a threat,” Trump wrote.

He then delivered a direct warning regarding those vessels: “Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED.”

Trump made clear that any response from U.S. forces would be immediate and forceful, describing it as “quick and brutal.” He also pointed to broader maritime enforcement efforts, saying they have significantly curtailed the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.

The warning coincides with the official rollout of a large-scale U.S. naval blockade aimed at restricting Iranian maritime operations.

U.S. Central Command announced that the initiative began Monday morning and applies to all ships moving in or out of Iranian ports throughout the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

CENTCOM stated that the blockade will be carried out “impartially against vessels of all nations,” while still allowing ships headed to destinations outside Iran to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, an effort meant to limit disruption to international commerce.

“All mariners are advised to monitor” U.S. naval communications and coordinate with forces in the region, CENTCOM said on X, highlighting the seriousness and wide reach of the operation.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global transit point, with roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply moving through its narrow corridor.

Recent actions by Iran to assert greater control over the waterway, including reported fees and limitations on passage, have heightened concern among U.S. officials and global shipping firms.

Trump’s latest remarks reflect an intensifying pressure campaign against Tehran, particularly as diplomatic attempts to address disputes over Iran’s nuclear program have stalled.

Military experts have long warned about the threat posed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ fast attack boats, which are built to overwhelm larger vessels through coordinated swarm tactics in the tight waterways of the Gulf.

Still, Trump’s comments indicate that the administration views that threat as manageable and believes those vessels could be dealt with swiftly.

With the blockade now in effect and tensions continuing to rise, the possibility of a direct clash in the region appears to be increasing.

A 58-year-old man has subjected himself to more than 200 snake bites over nearly two decades in an effort to develop immunity that could help create a broad, potentially universal antivenom, a breakthrough researchers say could save thousands of lives worldwide.

The effort comes as experts warn that climate change is expected to increase human encounters with venomous snakes. In response to this growing threat, Tim Friede deliberately exposed himself to repeated snake bites in hopes of building resistance that could later be used for medical purposes.

For close to 20 years, Friede allowed some of the world’s most dangerous snakes to bite him as part of a self-driven mission to develop immunity. His goal was to eventually contribute to the creation of a universal antidote to snake venom.

The extraordinary and often dangerous undertaking, carried out without formal scientific training in the basement of his Wisconsin home while he worked as a window cleaner, nearly cost him his life. At various points, he almost lost his leg and fingers, and at one stage fell into a coma.

“People said I was crazy, of course. There were people who tried to stop me,” he told The Guardian. “I knew it was dangerous but people die from snakebites and that made me angry. I couldn’t get it out of my head. I put myself at risk and I’m glad I did it.”

His efforts may now be yielding results. Scientists say his antibodies could help pave the way for a new type of antivenom capable of preventing some of the estimated 138,000 deaths and 400,000 serious injuries caused annually by snake bites, most of them affecting poor populations in Asia and Africa. Globally, up to 5.5 million people are bitten by snakes each year.

Treating snake bites remains challenging because different species require different antivenoms, with hundreds of dangerous species capable of harming humans. Centivax, a California-based vaccine company where Friede now works, is attempting to develop a near-universal antivenom using the antibodies he built up through repeated exposure.

Friede was exposed to venom from “very deadly snakes that would normally kill a horse,” according to Centivax CEO Jacob Glanville, who has reviewed the research. A study conducted last year found that Friede’s antibodies were able to neutralize toxins from 19 snakes in the elapid family, which includes roughly half of all venomous species, such as cobras, mambas, taipans, coral snakes, and kraits.

Testing of the new antivenom is expected to begin on animals in Australia later this year, before any potential human use. Reflecting on his unusual path, Friede said, “I wanted to make sure all of this wasn’t for nothing, so people couldn’t say I was an idiot for doing it.”

“I knew I was immune and that I could help bridge that gap, and I’m confident that I did. I wanted to do this for humanity, for the people most at risk on the planet.”

Beginning in 2001, Friede started injecting himself with small amounts of venom mixed with saline in order to gradually build immunity before eventually allowing snakes to bite him directly, typically on his forearms or fingers.

“For me it was a puzzle of how to not die from a snake bite. I wanted to figure out a way to become immune,” he said. Friede continued working as a window cleaner while pursuing his self-taught experiments, maintaining a collection of about 60 snakes in the basement of his home in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. The snakes were purchased from a breeder in Florida and shipped to him in wooden crates, secured in sealed bags.

One early experiment nearly ended in disaster. On September 12, 2001, Friede allowed himself to be bitten by a monocled cobra and then an Egyptian cobra—two of the world’s most dangerous snakes—and fell into a coma for several days.

“If my neighbor hadn’t been there to call emergency services, I would have died in 15 minutes,” he said. “I know what it’s like to be almost dead. Cold and dark, you can’t talk, my body just froze. I could still think and hear everything around me.”

Despite concerns from his wife—whom he has since divorced—Friede quickly resumed his efforts, believing that real bites were necessary to accurately simulate actual encounters with venomous snakes.

Over the years, he suffered additional severe injuries and near-death experiences. He lost consciousness multiple times due to anaphylactic shock, one of his fingers turned black and nearly had to be amputated after a particularly severe bite, and venom from a cobra caused significant muscle damage in his leg.

Describing the pain, Friede said a snake bite feels “like a bee sting, but 1,000 times worse, it just hurts terribly and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He added that some of the most dangerous snakes, such as certain cobras, inject necrotic venom that destroys body tissue.

In total, Friede endured more than 200 bites, nearly half of them from mambas.

He eventually developed immunity to one of the most venomous snakes in the world—the taipan, native to semi-arid regions of Australia. A single bite from a taipan can contain enough venom to kill more than 100 people.

“It was a big goal of mine to beat taipan. I spent four months preparing for it to build up my immune system,” he told The Guardian. “I knew that if I could beat that I could beat anything. Now I’ve been bitten 22 times by a taipan, so now I can say I can do it.”

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פסח במחיצת הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלם

פסח במחיצת הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלם

פסח במחיצת הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלם

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פסח במחיצת הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלם

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פסח במחיצת הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלם

פסח במחיצת הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלם

As many politicians do, the mayor often has his staff set up lecterns on street corners, and he even did so on a city bus on Feb. 13.

The mayor stood in front of city transportation workers in hard hats and reflective vests as he delivered remarks behind a lectern on a Manhattan city street on Jan. 6, and spoke at a lectern on a street corner the next day in Jackson Heights in Queens.

He and others spoke at a podium in the snow in a park on Jan. 17 and in front of an apartment building in the Bronx on March 6.

Beverly Hallberg, president of District Media Group who trains politicians, business leaders and others on media strategy and public speaking, told JNS that Mamdani’s outdoor desk reflects his “being self-conscious about being mayor.”

“Instead of holding a document signing inside, where cameras could easily be let in, he goes outside to signal that he’s not a typical politician but a man of the people,” Hallberg said.

“At the same time, he wants to flex his authority as mayor of New York City, so he brings the desk outside to show he should be taken seriously,” she said.

Hallberg thinks there’s also another aspect to Mamdani’s choreographic decisions here.

“He may believe that clips of him signing outside play better with Gen Z audiences watching on TikTok,” she told JNS.

Outdoor lecterns, to Hallberg, aren’t unusual.

“Having a single fixed location for a speaker helps with sound and lighting, gives the speaker a place for notes and makes it easier for the press to capture clean photos and video outdoors,” she said.

“It’s the desk outside that’s the head-scratcher. I haven’t seen it done to the extent that Mamdani does it,” she told JNS. “Trump did sign executive orders at a desk on Inauguration Day at the Capital One Arena, but a desk being used for outdoor signings isn’t something I can recall being a recurring practice before this.”

Henry Olsen, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and host of the Conservative Crossroads and Beyond the Polls podcasts, told JNS that he has seen lecterns on flat ground before.

“I presume it allows for better sound through the fixed mic, plus it conveys official status with the seal,” he said.

JNS shared photos that City Hall posted of Mamdani signing documents at the desk with the city seal on street corners.

“I have never seen a desk transported like your picture shows, nor have I seen a lectern on a bus,” Olsen said. “I presume he uses those to reinforce the idea that he is the mayor. He is so young, and the fact he has a beard means he could be subliminally viewed as unauthoritative if he stands alone, but that’s just conjecture.”

JNS found two examples of then-mayor Bill de Blasio signing documents at a desk on the street, one with a “black live matter” sign on July 15, 2020, and the other on May 14, 2021. JNS

Israeli troops have taken operational control of a destroyed stadium in southeastern Lebanon where slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah once threatened the Jewish state, the military said on Monday, confirming a major raid in the Bint Jbeil area.

“Bint Jbeil in the year 2000. Someone stood here, in this field, and claimed that Israel is a cobweb filled with spiders that must be exterminated. Today, that man is gone, the compound is gone, and his words are worth nothing,” Brig. Gen. Guy Levy, commander of the 98th Paratroopers Division, said in a statement shared with reporters.

“Our troops have operational control of the area, dismantling terror infrastructure and eliminating dozens of terrorists,” the general said.

“Behind us are the residents of the north whom we protect; ahead of us are national days that remind us why we are fighting and for what we are fighting,” Levy added, in reference to Israel’s Remembrance and Independence days, which are this year marked on April 21 and 22, respectively.

“With us are the very best forces: people of courage, capability, determination and steadfast spirit,” he said.

Nasrallah was killed on Sept. 27, 2024, in an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s underground headquarters in the heart of Beirut’s southern district. Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed earlier on Monday that the Iranian-supported Hezbollah leader likely died of suffocation following the attack and had “a few minutes to think about how wrong he was in understanding the Jews—that we have changed.”

Levy’s remarks at the stadium where Nasrallah delivered his May 26, 2000, speech followed an IDF announcement that the 98th Division had carried out a targeted ground operation in Bint Jbeil over the past week.

The soldiers “struck and eliminated more than 100 Hezbollah terrorist operatives, both in close-quarters combat and through aerial strikes, dismantled dozens of terrorist infrastructure sites and located hundreds of weapons in the area, including weapons located in and around civilian infrastructure,” the army said.

A military official told JNS on Monday that the operation was launched following indications that Hezbollah terrorists planned to infiltrate Israel from Bint Jbeil. Following fierce fighting in the town, only a small number of terrorists remain and the threat has been neutralized, the official stressed.

“Full operational control of Bint Jbeil will be achieved within days,” the official predicted, noting that the IDF since the ceasefire with Iran has defined Southern Lebanon as the “main operational front” of “Operation Rising Lion” against the Islamic Republic.

Meanwhile, peace talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to kick off at the U.S. State Department on Tuesday following Beirut’s promise to outlaw the Iranian terrorist proxy.

“As a result of this power we demonstrated, Lebanon turned to us in the last month, turned several times, to start direct peace talks,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address on Saturday night.

“This has never happened in history; well, it happened once decades ago [under Lebanese President-elect Bachir Gemayel, who was assassinated in September 1982], but now they turned to us and I approved it subject to two things: We want to reach the disarming of Hezbollah and we want a real peace agreement, a peace agreement that will last for generations,” the prime minister said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Monday said he discussed the negotiations with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, who is set to meet with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut this week.

“I said that it’s important to sever the link between Iran and Lebanon. Iran effectively controls Lebanon through Hezbollah. This is how Iran once again involved Lebanon in a war against its will,” wrote Sa’ar on X.

According to Jerusalem’s top diplomat, “Hezbollah’s attack against Israel on March 2 served Iranian interests, not Lebanese ones—just like Hezbollah’s joining of Hamas’s attack on Oct. 8, 2023.”

Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and suicide drones at Israel on March 2, in retaliation for the Jewish state’s targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes of the war.

In response to the terrorist organization’s violation of the U.S.-brokered Nov. 27, 2024, truce agreement, Jerusalem launched an aerial campaign against Hezbollah and ordered IDF troops to advance and take control of additional areas in Southern Lebanon to halt cross-border attacks.

Hezbollah has continued in recent days to fire rockets and explosive-laden drones at northern Israeli communities, with air-raid sirens sounding again Monday afternoon. No major injuries have been reported in this week’s attacks.

The IDF Home Front Command on Saturday night announced the suspension of educational activities and restricted public gatherings in the north following an assessment that Hezbollah would intensify attacks on border communities.

The restrictions had been relaxed on April 9 following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. JNS

The United States moved forward Monday with a naval blockade aimed at restricting maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz, following President Donald Trump’s pledge to put an end to what he described as Tehran’s “extortion” of countries relying on the key global shipping route.

US Central Command, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, said the operation would be carried out “impartially,” clarifying that ships traveling to or from ports outside of Iran in the Persian Gulf would be allowed to proceed without interference.

Shipping activity in the strategic waterway has slowed significantly in recent days. Data from the analytics platform Kpler showed that 14 vessels passed through the strait on Sunday, with even fewer ships entering or leaving in the days following the announcement of a two-week cease-fire between Washington and Tehran.

President Trump revealed the blockade decision on Sunday in a Truth Social post, declaring: “THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted.”

He continued by warning, “No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” referencing reports that Iran has attempted to impose fees of up to $2 million per oil tanker for transit through the strait.

Energy markets reacted quickly to the developments, with crude oil prices climbing back above $100 per barrel after US-Iran negotiations collapsed over the weekend in Pakistan.

Wall Street also saw an immediate impact at the opening bell, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.7% and the S&P 500 declined by 0.3%.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu cautioned that the current cease-fire with Iran remains unstable, warning it “could turn on a dime,” according to multiple reports.

Vice President JD Vance later briefed Netanyahu on the discussions held in Islamabad, Pakistan, concluding that the United States “could not tolerate Iran’s blatant violation of the agreement to enter negotiations.”

Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Monday, Netanyahu said that Vance emphasized the administration’s central objective of “removing all enriched material and ensuring that there will be no enrichment in the coming years.”

Netanyahu also dismissed speculation of disagreements between Jerusalem and Washington, stating, “The claims that there is a rift between us are completely false.” He added, “The exact opposite is true. Anyone who was present in these conversations, and in the daily discussions we hold with the president and his team, can attest to that.”

A major national organization focused on combating antisemitism sharply criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s handling of Jewish community concerns during his first 100 days in office, pointing to what it described as troubling policy decisions and insufficient action, the NY Post reports.

The Anti-Defamation League said that while Mamdani has spoken about opposing antisemitism, his actions early in his administration raise significant red flags.

“Mayor Mamdani wants credit for fighting antisemitism, but the policies, programs, and personnel that he has put in place in his first 100 days give us serious cause for concern,” Scott Richman, the NY-NJ regional director for the ADL told The Post.

“He has both neglected to proactively protect Jews and rescinded key antisemitism protections while calling himself a mayor committed to the Jewish community,” Richman said.

Soon after assuming office, Mamdani rolled back several executive orders enacted by his predecessor, Eric Adams, including measures that prohibited city agencies from participating in boycotts or divestment efforts targeting Israel.

Another policy reversal involved scrapping an order that adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which Adams had said was intended to prevent “demonizing Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of contemporary antisemitism.”

Mamdani, a vocal critic of Israel, supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. He has also appeared alongside activists viewed by critics as promoting antisemitic rhetoric, including Hasan Piker.

The ADL has long maintained that the BDS movement constitutes antisemitism because it seeks to undermine Israel’s legitimacy and economy.

“ADL believes that many of the founding goals of the BDS movement, which effectively reject or ignore the Jewish people’s right of self-determination, or that, if implemented, would result in the eradication of the world’s only Jewish state, are antisemitic,” the group says on its website.

Richman suggested that Mamdani could begin repairing relations with the Jewish community by approving legislation passed by the City Council that would authorize the NYPD to establish buffer zones preventing protests near entrances to synagogues and other houses of worship.

The proposal followed a violent confrontation outside the Park East Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side last November.

“ADL will continue to hold Mayor Mamdani accountable for his promises to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, including Jewish New Yorkers. He can start by signing the buffer zone bills passed by the New York City Council,” he said.

Additional concerns among Jewish leaders have centered on statements and actions attributed to Mamdani’s wife, first lady Rama Duwaji, which have fueled unease within the community.

Duwaji, a professional illustrator, created artwork for the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America as part of a campaign titled “PalestineOnTheBallot.com.”

Past social media activity linked to Duwaji has also drawn attention, including interactions with posts that praised Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, supported Palestinian militants, and criticized the U.S. military.

She has also contributed illustrations to the work of an author accused of making antisemitic remarks, including referring to Jewish people as “vampires.”

Some elected officials have urged Mamdani to moderate his rhetoric on Israel, warning that it risks inflaming antisemitic sentiment.

“His opinions on Israel are unconscionable. Some of the comments unintentionally contributed to antisemitism,” said Councilman Simcha Felder, who represents heavily orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in southern Brooklyn, including Borough Park, Flatbush, Gravesend, Mapleton, and Midwood.

Felder argued that many people see Judaism and Israel as closely linked, meaning accusations against Israel can have broader repercussions for Jews.

“The concept that there is a distinction between the two doesn’t hold water,” Felder said.

When asked what Mamdani should do differently, Felder offered blunt advice.

“Stop acting as if you are the US ambassador to the United Nations,” he said.

Polling has also reflected dissatisfaction among Jewish voters. A recent Marist College survey found that only 38% of Jewish respondents viewed Mamdani favorably, while 55% held an unfavorable opinion—making them the only religious group in the city to rate him negatively.

Brooklyn Assemblyman Kalman Yeger echoed those concerns, giving the mayor a failing grade on issues related to antisemitism and relations with the Jewish community.

“He continues to platform antisemites, gaslight the Jewish community, has appointed renowned Jew haters to positions of authority, and endorsed Jew aters for public office. I don’t think he’s even trying for a good grade,” Yeger said.

At the same time, some voices within the Jewish community have called for engagement rather than confrontation.

Michael Nussbaum, a longtime member of the Jewish Community Relations Council, said, “The Jewish community is still trying to find a way to work with the mayor. The mayor needs to open a dialogue with the larger Jewish community, not just one faction.”

Nussbaum also credited Mamdani with certain efforts, including cooperation with law enforcement leadership and involvement in plans for a Holocaust memorial in Queens.

“It’s a story still to be written,” he said of Mamdani and the Jewish community.

City Hall pushed back on the criticism, defending the mayor’s record and emphasizing ongoing outreach efforts to Jewish residents.

“Since taking office, Mayor Mamdani has made it a priority to consistently show up for and build relationships across New York City’s Jewish communities — listening deeply, celebrating holidays together, and engaging with the full richness of Jewish life across neighborhoods and traditions,” said Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism. “Every day, his administration is working to protect and support Jewish New Yorkers, because that work is inseparable from our broader mission: building a safer, more affordable, and truly inclusive city for all.”

Rescue units were deployed overnight to search for three yeshiva bochurim who went missing in the Arava region, as concerns grow over their safety.

The Arava Rescue Unit launched a search operation in the Small Crater area after the three 21-year-old chareidi hikers were reported missing during the night.

According to information received by the rescue teams, the last contact with the group was made the previous evening before communication was lost. Authorities believe the three may have strayed from the marked trail. Search crews are using drones to assist in scanning the rugged terrain.

The incident comes amid a series of recent tragedies involving young yeshiva bochurim during the bein hazmanim period. Just a day earlier, a fatal drowning was reported at the Ein Akev spring in the Negev.

Yehoshua Ram, 17, a first-year bochur at Yeshivas Grodna in Be’er Yaakov and a resident of Bnei Brak, passed away after drowning during a trip with friends.

Aerial rescue personnel from the Lehava unit, led by the unit commander, were dispatched to the scene following reports of a missing individual who had fallen into the water. After his clothing was located nearby, his body was recovered several hours later.

Meanwhile, search efforts are continuing for Avraham Yeshayahu Spiegel, 17, who has been missing since a drowning incident at Tsanz Beach in Netanya this past Friday. Emergency forces have significantly intensified their efforts. His 21-year-old brother was evacuated to the hospital in serious condition.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Central Command announced that American forces will begin implementing a maritime blockade targeting traffic to and from Iranian ports starting this morning at 10 a.m. Eastern, following orders issued by President Donald Trump.

CENTCOM said the operation will cover all ships traveling into or out of Iranian ports and coastal regions, including areas along the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Officials stressed that the enforcement of the blockade will be applied uniformly, without regard to a vessel’s nationality.

At the same time, CENTCOM made clear that U.S. naval forces will not restrict navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for vessels transiting to or from ports outside of Iran.

Further instructions are expected to be issued to commercial shipping operators through formal maritime advisories prior to the start of the operation.

Ships operating in the region have been urged to stay alert to official maritime communications and to remain in contact with U.S. naval forces via bridge-to-bridge Channel 16.

The announcement follows comments made earlier Sunday by Trump, who indicated that the Navy would begin blocking activity connected to Iran and targeting vessels that had paid fees to Tehran.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump said Iran “will never be able to charge tolls” for passage through the key waterway.

He added that naval forces had been directed to stop any ship found in international waters that had paid such tolls.

“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” Trump said.

Later Sunday night, Trump again confirmed that the blockade would take effect as scheduled.

“At 10 a.m. tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect,” he told the press gaggle. “Other nations are working, so that Iran will not be able to sell oil and that will be very effective.”

The move came shortly after negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded without a final deal.

Although Trump said the talks “went well” and that “most points were agreed,” he acknowledged that key disagreements remain, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States could quickly devastate Iran’s critical infrastructure, delivering a stark warning following the breakdown of diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions with Tehran.

Speaking in a Fox News interview, Trump asserted that American military capabilities could inflict sweeping damage on Iran’s energy systems in an extremely short time frame.

“I could take out Iran in one day … in one hour. I could have their entire energy, everything, every one of their power-generating plants, which is a big deal. I hate to do it, because if you do it, it takes 10 years to build. … They’ll never be able to rebuild it,” Trump said.

His remarks came just hours after negotiations led by Vice President JD Vance concluded without producing an agreement, marking another failed attempt to ease hostilities between the two countries.

Trump also indicated that recent U.S. military action was meant to send a clear signal to Iran.

The president said he destroyed a bridge in Iran “just to show them because they came out with a statement.”

Israel issued a sharp diplomatic protest to Spain after an effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was detonated in a town in southern Spain, intensifying an already strained relationship between the two countries.

At the direction of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Foreign Ministry Director General Eden Bar Tal held a reprimand call on Sunday with Francisca Pedrós, head of the Spanish Embassy in Israel, following the incident in El Burgo, near Malaga.

The protest centered on what Israeli officials described as an antisemitic display during a local event in which a figure representing Netanyahu was blown up, prompting strong condemnation from Jerusalem.

During the call, Bar Tal stated that “this horrifying display is a direct result of the systematic incitement against the State of Israel by the government of [Prime Minister] Pedro Sánchez.”

He added, “Equally outrageous is the fact that, as of this moment, the Spanish government has still not seen fit to condemn this blatant antisemitic spectacle. Such conduct is completely unacceptable.”

Israeli officials emphasized that the incident reflects what they view as a broader pattern of hostility by Spain’s current government toward Israel, a stance they say has persisted since the events of October 7, 2023.

“The Sánchez-led government spreads false blood libels against Israel and IDF soldiers and is attempting to impose sanctions on Israel within the European Union. During the war against Iran, the Spanish government acted against Israel’s interests and those of our ally, the United States. Spain has aligned itself with the world’s most radical regimes – from Venezuela to Iran, where it intends to reopen its embassy.”

Bar Tal also pointed out that, on Friday, Sa’ar—working in coordination with Prime Minister Netanyahu—decided that Spain would not be allowed to take part in a civil-military coordination center in Kiryat Gat established as part of President Trump’s Gaza peace initiative.

“In light of the Spanish government’s extreme one-sided and anti-Israel positions, it can no longer contribute or serve as a constructive actor in implementing President Trump’s peace plan,” Bar Tal concluded.

The latest episode further deepens a prolonged diplomatic dispute between Israel and Spain that began amid disagreements over the Gaza war.

In November 2023, Spain’s ambassador to Israel was summoned after Sánchez said that “Israel is violating international law and is carrying out indiscriminate killings in Gaza.”

Tensions continued in April 2024, when Sánchez criticized Israel’s military response, calling it a “disproportionate response” that risks “destabilizing the Middle East, and as a consequence, the entire world”.

Shortly afterward, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called for international sanctions against Israel, citing the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

President Donald Trump said Sunday night that a U.S.-backed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would begin Monday morning, while emphasizing that Iran will not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and signaling little concern about whether negotiations resume.

Speaking to reporters, Trump outlined the planned restrictions on maritime traffic tied to Iranian oil exports, describing a coordinated effort by multiple countries aimed at cutting off Tehran’s ability to sell energy on the global market.

“As you know, at 10 o’clock tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect. Other nations are working so that Iran will not be able to sell oil, and that would be very effective..but there are many boats heading toward our country to fill up with oil and then go and take it. So they’re not going to go through the Hormuz Strait. And ultimately that’ll be corrected.”

.@POTUS: "At 10a tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect — that'll be 10a tomorrow. Other nations are working, so that Iran will not be able to sell oil and that will be very effective." pic.twitter.com/gNdAkW60Z8

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 13, 2026

He added that, for now, foreign vessels are turning to U.S. supplies, pointing to increased domestic production as a factor allowing the shift.

“But in the meantime, they’re using us. We have more oil because of Drill Baby Drill. We have more oil than Russia and Saudi Arabia put together.

So if you look at Russia and Saudi Arabia, two big ones, we have much more oil than they have put together. And what’s happening is boats are coming over here, filling up. We don’t have to go through the Hormuz Strait.”

Addressing recent diplomatic efforts, Trump pointed to lengthy but unsuccessful discussions between American and Iranian representatives held in Pakistan over the weekend, portraying Tehran as weakened and under pressure.

“I think Iran is in very bad shape. I think they’re very desperate. We had a meeting that lasted 21 hours. We understand the situation better than anybody. And Iran’s in very bad shape,” Trump stated.

.@POTUS: "Iran is in very bad shape — and just so you understand, Iran will NOT have a nuclear weapon… There is no way. They still want it, and they made that clear the other night. Iran will NOT have a nuclear weapon." pic.twitter.com/Q15kbX5y2Z

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 13, 2026

He reiterated that the administration would not permit Iran to obtain nuclear capabilities under any circumstances.

“And just so you understand, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. There is no way that they’re going to get it. They still want it. And they made that clear the other night. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump also indicated that renewed negotiations were not a priority, suggesting that the U.S. holds the advantage following recent military and strategic developments.

“I don’t care if they come back or not. If they don’t come back, I’m fine. Their military is gone. Their missiles are largely depleted. The manufacturing capability for missiles and drones is largely defeated. We’ve been very nice. We haven’t ripped down too many bridges. We did one only because they broke their word, they broke their promise. And remember, their promise was that they were going to open the Hormuz Strait. They didn’t do it. They lied,” said Trump.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian and American officials offered sharply different accounts after marathon negotiations in Pakistan collapsed without a deal, with each side faulting the other for the breakdown and signaling continued tensions over nuclear demands.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran entered the discussions prepared to reach an understanding but was met with what he described as unrealistic conditions from Washington that ultimately derailed progress.

“In intensive talks at highest level in 47 years, Iran engaged with US in good faith to end war,” the Iranian Foreign Minister wrote, adding, “But when just inches away from ‘Islamabad MoU’, we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade.”

“Zero lessons earned. Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity,” added Araghchi.

From the American side, Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the talks, which stretched over 21 hours, concluded without an agreement after Iran declined to accept key U.S. conditions.

Vance stressed that the administration had laid out its expectations clearly throughout the negotiations.

“We’ve made very clear what our red lines are, what things we’re willing to accommodate them on, and what things we’re not willing to accommodate them on. And we’ve made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms,” the Vice President said.

He explained that Washington’s primary objective remains preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities.

Vance explained that the US demands “an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon. That is the core goal of the President of the United States, and that’s what we’ve tried to achieve through these negotiations.”

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf echoed Tehran’s position, saying the United States failed to earn Iran’s confidence during the discussions.

Speaking after the talks, Ghalibaf said Iran had entered the negotiations emphasizing its “goodwill and necessary determination,” but pointed to lingering mistrust rooted in past dealings.

“My colleagues in the Iranian delegation presented forward-looking initiatives, but in the end, the other side could not gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations,” he said.

He added that the United States now faces a decision about whether it can establish credibility moving forward.

Ghalibaf added that the US had come to understand Iran’s “logic and principles,” and now faces a decision on whether it can build the necessary trust. “Now is the time for the US to decide whether it can gain our trust or not,” he stated.

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President Donald Trump launched a sharp public attack on Pope Leo XIV, accusing the pontiff of being ineffective on both domestic and global issues, as tensions intensified between the White House and the Vatican over the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump wrote Sunday night.

“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country,” he continued.

“And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History.”

The remarks came in response to recent statements from Pope Leo, who has repeatedly voiced opposition to the war involving the United States and Israel against Iran, warning against what he described as dangerous attitudes driving global conflict.

During a prayer service in Rome, the pope spoke out against what he characterized as the “idolatry of self” and a “delusion of omnipotence,” comments widely interpreted as criticism of world leaders advancing the war effort.

Although Pope Leo has not mentioned Trump directly, he has consistently urged an end to the fighting and called on leaders to pursue peace rather than continued military action.

In a Palm Sunday address, the pontiff warned that divine favor does not extend to leaders who act with violence, saying that God does not heed the prayers of those whose “hands full of blood” or those “who wage war.”

He also cautioned against invoking religion in support of military campaigns, stressing the dangers of linking faith with violence.

“Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death,” Leo said during Saturday’s evening vigil in Rome.

Within the administration, several officials have incorporated religious messaging into their public remarks, particularly in connection with the war effort. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has taken that approach further than most, leading prayers inside the Pentagon and at wartime press briefings.

Despite his criticism of the pope, Trump expressed admiration for the pontiff’s brother, Louis Prevost, highlighting his support for the president.

“I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t!” Trump ranted.

Trump had initially welcomed Leo’s election as pope, describing it as “a great honor for our country,” but has since become increasingly dissatisfied with his positions.

“Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician,” the president added.

“It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church.”

{Matzav.com}

As search efforts continue along the Netanya shoreline for one missing bochur, while his brother remains hospitalized in critical condition, their father, Rav Shlomo Spiegel, a rosh chaburah in the Mir, has sent an emotionally powerful letter to his talmidim, calling for mechilah, hisorerus, and strengthened kabbalos tovos.

The two sons, Yissachar Dov and Avrohom Yeshaya, were caught in the sea. One was rescued and is in serious condition, while the second remains missing.

In the midst of this painful ordeal, Rav Spiegel reached out to members of his chaburah, asking forgiveness from anyone he may have wronged and urging increased sensitivity in areas of bein adam l’chaveiro, particularly during these days of Sefirah.

Tefillos are being recited for Yissachar Dov ben Shoshana and Avrohom Yeshaya ben Shoshana.

The full letter follows:

“Last Friday morning, in the hours before the storm descended upon me, I was sitting and reviewing the weekly parsha—shnayim mikra v’echad targum. As I came across the posuk, ‘And the entire house of Yisroel shall cry over the burning that Hashem has burned,’ I recalled that people say this week is considered a time prone to tragedies. I thought to myself, ‘Baruch Hashem, the week passed without anything happening.’ But I forgot that the week wasn’t over yet… and it happened specifically to me.

“I was marked by hashgacha pratis from the Ribbono Shel Olam! The truth is that we are always marked by hashgacha pratis, but usually we sense it faintly. This time, the marking was in bold red.

“We were in a state of euphoria from the ‘ceasefire with Iran,’ but the consuming fire of Nadav and Avihu did not cease. It joined together with the waters of the sea, and together they drowned bnei Torah.

“The fire that burns most during the days of Sefirah is the fire of bein adam l’chaveiro. We mourn during these days for the talmidim of Rabbi Akiva who did not treat one another with proper respect, and it seems that the severe punishments of this time stem from shortcomings in bein adam l’chaveiro.

“This tragedy belongs to all of Klal Yisroel, to the entire tzibbur of bnei Torah. But certainly those who are closest to the fire must reflect on their actions more than anyone else.

“Therefore, I ask complete mechilah from each and every member of the chaburah, past and present—avreichim and bochurim alike—anyone with whom I had any connection through this holy chaburah. Whether I hurt someone directly or indirectly—myself or any member of my family.

“Please! With tear-filled eyes, I ask each of you to say out loud [literally with your mouth, not just in your heart]: ‘I forgive Shlomo ben Chaya Tova and Shoshana bas Matil and their family.’

“Additionally, if anyone was harmed by me in monetary matters, please inform me and I will repay.

“And for those who wish to help: please take upon yourselves during these days to be extra careful not to hurt one another. Pause for a moment before delivering a sharp comment, and guard your speech. In many gatherings, people look for something to talk about, and the easiest topic becomes lashon hara or gossip—this one said this about you, that one said that. Please, stop your tongue and even your breath, and through that difficult restraint, we will merit to add another healthy breath to Yissachar Dov ben Shoshana and Avrohom Yeshaya ben Shoshana. May it be Hashem’s will.”

{Matzav.com}

In unusually sharp and forceful language, the Chief Rabbinate Council issued a direct and unprecedented attack on Israel’s Supreme Court following its decision to hold deliberations during Shabbos. The rabbonim made clear that this was not merely a legal disagreement, but a deeper battle over the Jewish identity and character of the state.

The council convened a special protest session in response to the ruling, condemning what they described as a cynical misuse of the concept of pikuach nefesh to justify court proceedings and demonstrations on Shabbos. According to the rabbonim, such reasoning reflects a worldview that is fundamentally at odds with Torah principles.

During the meeting, the council’s official statement was read aloud, strongly criticizing what it called an attempt by Supreme Court justices “to crown themselves with the authority of Torah” by determining what constitutes pikuach nefesh. “A decision as to whether something qualifies as pikuach nefesh is a Torah-based determination that must be evaluated by those entrusted with such matters,” the rabbonim stated. They emphasized that while the Torah places supreme value on human life, it cannot be used as a blanket justification for public desecration of Shabbos under the guise of protest rights.

The rabbonim also referenced previous tensions, pointing to what they described as a broader pattern of dismissiveness toward matters of holiness. “The offensive tone in which issues of chametz were presented as if they were merely a ‘diet,’ and the decision that demonstrations constitute pikuach nefesh, indicate a profound distance from Judaism,” the statement read.

Concluding with a stark warning, the council declared: “Whoever kicks at the sacred foundations of the nation is denying the very existential idea of the State of Israel as a Jewish state.”