Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon today (Thursday) presented outside the Security Council chamber parts of an Iranian Shahed-136 attack drone, which was used in Iranian attacks in the region.
Ambassador Danon stated: “This is not a prop, this is an Iranian terrorist weapon. Now imagine if this came to your home, your living room, your children’s room. This is the terrorism we are dealing with.”
Danon said that Iran’s missile and drone capabilities are being degraded while Israel vows to dismantle Tehran’s terror network and nuclear ambitions.
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{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump said that political commentator Tucker Carlson has “lost his way,” sharply criticizing the former Fox News host in remarks made to ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl.
Karl reported Thursday in a post on X that Trump told him he had long reached that conclusion about Carlson and no longer considers him aligned with the MAGA movement.
According to Karl, the president said Carlson “knew that a long time ago, and he’s not MAGA. MAGA is saving our country. MAGA is making our country great again. MAGA is America first, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that.”
Trump also told Karl that the United States intends to have a role in determining Iran’s leadership following the elimination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
“We don’t want them to put anybody in there unless it is approved by us.”
The president’s comments come amid renewed controversy surrounding Carlson after remarks he made about Israel’s war with Iran. Critics said Carlson crossed the line from political criticism into openly antisemitic rhetoric.
During an episode of the “Tucker Carlson Show,” Carlson suggested that Israel’s war against Iran may be tied to a supposed effort to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and construct the Third Temple in its place.
He asked, “How did all these guys wind up wearing patches suggesting the point of this war was the destruction of one of the holiest places in Islam and the rebuilding of a temple that is totally anathema to Christianity?”
Carlson then added, “This has been going on a long time in public through, in part, the efforts of a group called Chabad, C-H-A-B-A-D.”
{Matzav.com}
Following the fall of missile fragments in the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood of Bnei Brak on Purim, the neighborhood’s rov and renowned posek, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, addressed the incident on Thursday morning and called on residents to recognize the great miracles that occurred.
Speaking briefly in the central shul of Ramat Elchanan after Shacharis at neitz, Rav Zilberstein reflected on the events and shared words of perspective relevant to the current situation.
At the beginning of his remarks, Rav Zilberstein spoke about the broader miracles being witnessed in recent days.
“We have such a great illumination of favor from Hakadosh Baruch Hu—it is impossible to describe how great this illumination is. Today we clearly see the finger of Hashem in a very great way. The very fact that we remain alive after so many bombs that occurred during this night…”
In an unusual moment, the rov also shared a personal experience from the night of the attack.
“I sleep in Ramat Gan. What sirens there were during the night, without end… Now we come to the shul and say to Hakadosh Baruch Hu: even if there will be sirens from today until tomorrow, we are not shaken—we continue to do Your service.”
His talmid and close associate, the writer Rabbi Moshe Michael Tzoran, then raised a question that many residents had been asking: What should people do in response to what happened with the missile that fell in the neighborhood, even though clear miracles took place?
Rav Zilberstein responded directly.
“First of all: it is an enormous miracle that we all remained alive… Secondly: what happened here, simply speaking, must have been some sin that caused it.”
Talmidim of Rav Zilberstein later noted that at the moment the missile debris fell, the rov cited the words of Rashi on the verse in Bereishis (32:11). Although Hakadosh Baruch Hu promised Yaakov Avinu, “I will guard you wherever you go,” Yaakov still feared that a sin might cause the promise not to be fulfilled and that he might fall into the hands of Eisav. A similar idea is mentioned in the Mishnah Berurah (siman 158:38), which explains that even someone who is careful about netilas yadayim yet does not become wealthy—despite the promise of Chazal—may be prevented by his own negative actions.
Rav Zilberstein then surprised the kehillah with a remarkable display of humility. Standing before the community of Ramat Elchanan, he said: “We do not know whose sin it is… perhaps I am to blame… most likely I am to blame!”
Members of the shul immediately protested out of respect and affection for their rov and for the honor of Torah. Several people responded, “Chas v’shalom,” and one individual even raised his voice and declared, “I protest… I protest.”
Rav Zilberstein smiled and replied: “I will receive reward for what I said, and you will receive double the reward from me.”
He then continued: “What happened here is something that requires explanation. If we had someone today with ruach hakodesh, he would tell us what we must do—but we do not have that today.”
Rav Zilberstein went on to describe the remarkable miracles that occurred during the incident on Purim.
“But we must remember that there were miracles here that were beyond the natural order… As I heard, the gas pipe exploded and could have caused a massive fire. Immediately afterward the water pipe also burst, and the water extinguished the fire.”
This, he said, reminded him of an incident involving his father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.
“It reminded me of something that happened with my father-in-law, Maran Rav Elyashiv zt”l. During the time when the Jordanians were shelling Yerushalayim, a shell fell on the roof of his home and a large fire broke out. Rav Elyashiv simply stood there and said: ‘Hakadosh Baruch Hu, help me.’ Immediately afterward another shell fell and struck the water boiler, which exploded, and the water spilled out and extinguished the entire fire. So we have a possibility—how can there be a fire that does not require firefighters? Rav Elyashiv…”
In closing, Rav Zilberstein urged the public to strengthen efforts to draw Jews closer to Torah, especially during this period.
“We must now see that the greatest thing is for anyone who interacts with secular Jews to speak with them pleasantly, and it is possible to accomplish wonders. Simply speak nicely and with proper respect, and ask for siyata d’Shmaya. Today we can do a great deal with our brothers, because this is a time of awakening—truly extraordinary. But what is required is a great deal of siyata d’Shmaya.”
He concluded his remarks with a brocha: “All the best to my dear friends. May we merit to sanctify the name of Heaven, and may we merit to see salvations and consolations.”
{Matzav.com}
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In recent weeks, as our hearts remain focused on the matzav in Eretz Yisroel, many have asked whether the upcoming Shuvu Dinner should be postponed.
After consulting with our Daas Torah, the answer was clear: now more than ever.
When times are difficult, the thousands of Shuvu children learning in our schools need stability, strength, and emunah. Chazal teach that the world stands in the merit of Hevel Pihem Shel Tinokos Shel Beis Rabban. Strengthening their Torah is not a distraction from the moment—it is part of the response.
For this reason, Shuvu will be moving forward with its 35th Annual Dinner, Be’H, on Sunday, March 15 at Bell Works in NJ. Please join our dinner campaign at by visting shuvusa.org/dinner or calling 718-692-3434.
Many members of our team in Eretz Yisroel must remain there with their families and may not be able to travel to assist with fundraising. We therefore turn to you—our friends and supporters—to help ensure that Shuvu’s schools and the thousands of children who depend on them remain strong.
Please join us at the dinner and show the children of Eretz Yisroel that they are not alone. In this zechus, may we be zoche to see yeshuos and nechamos for Klal Yisroel. Please help us at shuvusa.org/dinner
President Donald Trump said the United States must play a role in determining who becomes Iran’s next supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, arguing that the country needs a new direction after years of confrontation with Washington.
Speaking in an interview with Axios published Thursday, Trump said he intends to personally participate in the process of deciding Iran’s next leader and compared the situation to what he described as American involvement in Venezuela’s political leadership.
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela,” Trump told Axios.
Trump said Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain Iranian leader and a cleric closely tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, currently appears to be the leading contender to succeed his father. However, the president said he strongly opposes that possibility.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” he said.
Trump warned that if Iran’s leadership selects another figure who follows the hardline policies associated with the elder Khamenei, tensions between Tehran and Washington could escalate again in the near future.
“If they put someone like that in, we’ll be back at war in five years,” he said.
The comments come as Iran’s ruling clerical establishment considers its next steps after Khamenei was killed amid the escalating U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Tehran.
Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the body tasked with choosing the country’s supreme leader, has not yet named a successor, though officials have indicated that an announcement could come soon.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is widely seen as a leading candidate despite never having held elected office, and his potential appointment has raised concerns about the possibility of a hereditary-style succession within Iran’s political system.
{Matzav.com}
