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New York City taxpayers are expected to fund more than $5 million in salaries for employees in Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s newly created Office of Mass Engagement, a figure that critics say far exceeds initial projections and raises questions about the purpose of the rapidly expanding agency, the NY Post reports.

According to the city’s recently released 2027 executive budget, the office’s staffing level has grown from 14 positions to 40 in just over a month, with $5,123,756 allocated for employee salaries. The amount represents a dramatic increase from earlier estimates that placed the office’s payroll costs at approximately $1.6 million.

The budget for the new office exceeds the entire funding levels of several existing city agencies, including the Board of Corrections, the Community Affairs Unit, and the Office for People with Disabilities.

The New York Post reported in March that the office had begun recruiting for 14 positions with combined compensation totaling roughly $1.6 million. Among those jobs was a campaign director position carrying a salary of $150,000, with responsibilities that critics said closely resembled those of political campaign staff.

Under current plans, City Hall intends to add another 26 employees by next year. Based on budget documents, those hires would receive average salaries of approximately $125,000.

The budget also includes an additional $30,000 designated for operating expenses unrelated to personnel.

Democratic political consultant Hank Sheinkopf sharply criticized the expansion.

“This is purely politics at a time when real services are needed,” Democratic political consultant Hank Sheinkopf told The Post. “We have real deficits and this mayor is spending five million dollars to put 40 political operatives on the payroll. It’s morally incomprehensible . . . It’s outrageous.”

“This isn’t for anybody’s benefit but the mayor’s.”

City Hall has said the office was established to encourage broader participation in government decision-making. Opponents, however, argue that it resembles a political organizing operation funded by taxpayers and designed to build support for the mayor’s agenda.

Budget documents did not include a full list of all 40 positions. Among those already hired are Commissioner Tascha Van Auken, who previously served as Mamdani’s campaign field director, and Mohamed Alharbi, who is serving as deputy borough director for Queens.

The new office is separate from the mayor’s communications staff, which sources told The Post is expected to become larger than that of any previous New York City mayor.

Mamdani has proposed a $51.8 million budget for the mayor’s office in fiscal year 2027, an increase of approximately $7 million compared to the final budget approved during former Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.

When announcing the creation of the Office of Mass Engagement, Mamdani said its purpose was to ensure that communities traditionally excluded from government had a stronger voice in city affairs. Critics contend that the office’s early activities have focused primarily on the Democratic Socialists of America activists who formed a key part of his political base.

Earlier this week, The Post observed three employees canvassing residents on the Lower East Side and encouraging attendance at Rent Guidelines Board hearings ahead of a June vote on a proposed rent freeze, a centerpiece of Mamdani’s campaign platform. The decision could affect approximately two million residents living in rent-stabilized apartments.

The effort is part of the office’s first major initiative, known as Organize NYC, which focuses on volunteer recruitment and door-to-door outreach using methods that critics say resemble those employed by the Democratic Socialists of America during Mamdani’s campaign.

Since early May, staff members have reportedly conducted canvassing operations in sections of the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. Staten Island had not initially been included, although a city spokesperson told The Post that a representative has now been hired for the borough and that outreach efforts there will also move forward.

Additional positions within the office have also attracted attention. One such role, a deputy director of co-governance earning $150,000 annually, included language in its job description that critics said closely mirrored proposals advanced by New York City DSA co-chair Grace Mausser in her essay, “Building Municipal Socialism in New York with DSA.”

The new agency has also prompted comparisons to the administration of former Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose office produced more than 250 promotional videos during his first two years in office.

A City Hall spokesperson told The Post that outreach efforts have not been limited to supporters of the mayor’s agenda and said landlord advocacy groups have also been invited to testify at the rent hearings. Officials further insisted that the Office of Mass Engagement is not advocating for any predetermined outcome.

“Every New Yorker should have a say in the future of their city,” said Penelope Birnbaum.

{Matzav.com}

The Kassau family welcomed a new baby girl this week, but even amid the joy of a growing family, they say the celebration has been overshadowed by the painful absence of 11-year-old Haimanot Kassau, who has been missing for more than two years.

The family announced Sunday that a baby girl had been born, becoming the youngest sibling in the household. Yet relatives said the happy occasion also served as a painful reminder that one chair at the family table remains empty.

Family members said what should have been one of the most joyous moments of their lives was also emotionally overwhelming because of Haimanot’s continued disappearance.

“This is a moment of kindness and blessing, but it comes on an unbearably difficult day,” the family said in a statement. “We are moving between opposite emotions: between the happiness of the new baby and the longing and anxiety for Haimanot. This joy only sharpens the fact that nothing is complete without her.”

Haimanot, now 11 years old, disappeared on February 25, 2024, from the absorption center in Tzfas where her family had been living after immigrating from Ethiopia. Since that day, no trace of her has been found, and her family continues to hold on to hope while pressing authorities to intensify efforts to locate her.

Just last month, the family marked 800 days since her disappearance. They say her room remains untouched, her bed is still made, and her school bag continues to wait for her at home.

Relatives said they dream of the day Haimanot will return and meet her newborn sister for the first time.

“At this time, we ask the media and the public to respect our privacy,” the family said, “but we are also using this moment to cry out once again: Do not forget Haimanot!”

The family renewed its call for the establishment of a special investigative task force dedicated to finding the missing girl and urged the public to continue supporting their efforts.

“We ask people to continue walking with us in the determined struggle to bring our beloved daughter home,” the family said.

Last Wednesday, demonstrators wearing shirts bearing Haimanot’s photograph gathered outside the offices of Lahav 433 in Lod. A separate protest was held simultaneously alongside family members at the Kiryat Motzkin Junction.

The demonstrations came one week after police representatives told a Knesset Immigration Committee hearing that there had been developments in the investigation.

Tesfai Bishao, a leading activist in an organization working to secure Haimanot’s return, sharply criticized the authorities and said: “It was a show by Lahav 433, to make it look like they are working.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has reportedly been privately urging political allies not to support former Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter within the right-wing bloc, sparking a sharp public response from the retired military officer and denials from both Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu.

According to a report by Yuval Segev on Channel 13 News Sunday evening, Netanyahu has recently made unusually pointed remarks about Winter during private conversations with various individuals who spoke directly with him.

Sources who reportedly heard the comments firsthand—and who are neither members of the prime minister’s staff nor close associates—said Netanyahu expressed strong opposition to Winter becoming part of the right-wing camp.

“Winter is locked in with Lieberman for after the elections,” Netanyahu allegedly said during those conversations. According to the report, he also warned those around him: “We must not look after him within the right-wing bloc.”

The reported remarks are particularly notable because Winter has not formally announced the creation of a political party or declared that he intends to join any existing political framework.

The claims are also surprising because some figures within the opposition have continued to speculate that a political party led by Winter could ultimately benefit Likud by attracting right-wing voters during the election campaign.

Winter, who previously served as military secretary to the defense minister during Netanyahu’s tenure, responded forcefully to the report in a statement that appeared directed at individuals in the prime minister’s orbit.

“I know the prime minister’s environment very well. I served under the prime minister for an entire year in a highly sensitive position, as his right-hand man. Sometimes new people, in order to show they are important, step on someone else. I am sorry about that. There are other ways to earn the prime minister’s trust without lying and smearing people. I refuse to play that game. Enough.”

Likud strongly denied the report, issuing a brief statement that read: “The report is false from beginning to end.”

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman also rejected the claims, denying that any political arrangement or agreement exists between him and Winter.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is intensifying his criticism of a federal judge overseeing a lawsuit that has delayed portions of his administration’s planned $400 million White House ballroom and rooftop drone facility, arguing that the legal challenge is jeopardizing national security.

In a post Sunday on Truth Social, Trump praised the proposed project’s security capabilities and warned against any effort to obstruct its construction.

“The DronePort at the White House Ballroom will be, perhaps, the most sophisticated anywhere in the World!” Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social. “It will safeguard our Nation’s Capital, Washington, D.C., long into the future.

“Judge Richard Leon should stop playing games with America’s Security!”

Trump specifically targeted U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who has been handling the case, and urged him to dismiss the lawsuit brought against the project. The president described the plaintiff as a frequent litigant with no legitimate legal standing and warned that any future attack on the White House would place responsibility on those blocking the project.

“If anything happens, he will be held responsible for the Death and Destruction caused to our Country,” Trump added. “He has already created enough problems by allowing ‘Top Secret’ information to be released and exposed based on a ridiculous lawsuit started by a highly litigious woman (serial plaintiff!) whose ‘strolling,’ in her opinion, will be disturbed by the new, desperately needed structure – In any event, a woman who has absolutely no STANDING!

“With the advent of highly sophisticated, and powerful, modern day weaponry, we can no longer defend Washington, D.C., with rifles and pistols, alone. This ridiculous lawsuit must be dismissed, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump added.

The president’s comments came as the Justice Department renewed its effort to have a court order blocking parts of the project lifted. In a recent filing, government attorneys argued that a shooting incident at a White House security checkpoint earlier this month highlighted the need for enhanced protection measures at the executive complex.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche echoed Trump’s arguments in a five-page court submission, citing multiple threats against the president and criticizing the injunction.

“In light of the recent attacks against President Trump’s life — including two attempts in less than a month — the injunction entered by this Court for the benefit of a strolling woman, who filed suit against the East Wing Project long before she knew what was going to be built (This is a woman who is a known serial plaintiff throughout Washington, D.C.), and who has absolutely no standing, must be immediately vacated, and this suit, which is a complete embarrassment to our Country, must be dismissed,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in the five-page filing.

“This is a terrible, tremendously harmful case to the United States of America, and all it stands for!”

The gunman involved in the recent White House checkpoint incident was shot by law enforcement officers and later died at a hospital.

The legal dispute stems from an April ruling by Judge Leon, who found that Trump lacked authority to proceed with construction of the ballroom without congressional approval. Leon issued an injunction stopping above-ground construction work on the project. However, an appellate court subsequently paused that ruling, allowing work to continue temporarily through June.

The lawsuit was filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organization chartered by Congress. The group has continued to pursue the case despite Justice Department arguments that security concerns warrant ending both the injunction and the lawsuit altogether.

Trump has previously outlined ambitious plans for the project, saying it will include not only a large ballroom but also a rooftop drone base and a six-story underground military facility equipped with a hospital and research operations.

During a recent tour of the site with reporters, Trump emphasized the military applications of the structure and its defensive capabilities.

“The entire roof is built for military,” Trump said. “They have a massive drone capacity. Not only is it drone-proof, if a drone hits it, it bounces off, it won’t have any impact. But it’s also meant as a drone port that would protect all of Washington.”

The proposed ballroom would encompass approximately 90,000 square feet, making it substantially larger than existing White House event spaces. The project has become a focal point in a broader debate over presidential authority, federal security spending, and the preservation of historic government properties.

Trump has maintained that the facility is needed to accommodate major events in a secure environment, arguing that existing White House venues are inadequate for gatherings of up to 1,000 attendees.

According to the White House, the project’s security infrastructure will include titanium barriers, reinforced roofing systems, specialized impact-resistant glass, and underground facilities. Trump has also described the roof as being made of “impenetrable steel” and said the fencing is so strong that “a bulldozer cannot knock it over.”

{Matzav.com}

New criticism is being directed at Jill Biden after a former senior aide accused her of attempting to reshape public perceptions of her reaction to President Biden’s widely criticized debate performance in 2024.

Michael LaRosa, who previously served as a spokesman for Jill Biden, said the former first lady appears to be revising her account of what she thought during the debate, after recently revealing that she feared her husband might be suffering a medical emergency while on stage.

According to LaRosa, the effort is aimed at altering how the public remembers both the debate and her response to it.

“They’re trying to change the tape in people’s minds about who she is… that’s why she’s sort of changing her tune a little bit about her reaction in real time,” LaRosa said. “She wants to say, ‘Oh no, my reaction was just as concerning and was just as severe as everyone at home. I was shocked.'”

LaRosa argued that Jill Biden effectively became the public face of the administration’s immediate response following the debate and suggested that a more candid reaction at the time would have resonated with voters.

He said she was “the face and the voice of the initial reaction for the country,” and that if she had reacted at the time with the sentiments she later shared with CBS, “it would have been a more human response.”

In the moments following the June 2024 debate, Jill Biden publicly praised her husband before a crowd of supporters.

“You did such a great job, you answered every question, you knew all the facts,” she said to then-President Biden in front of a crowd of cheering supporters following the debate in June 2024.

However, in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning that aired last week, she offered a dramatically different description of what she was thinking while watching the event unfold.

“I don’t know what happened. I mean, as I watched it, I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s having a stroke.’ And it scared me to death,” she told CBS Sunday Morning in an interview that aired last week.

Republicans seized on Biden’s debate performance at the time as evidence that he was no longer fit to continue serving as commander in chief. Democrats, by contrast, largely insisted that the performance was an isolated incident rather than a reflection of a broader decline.

While Jill Biden’s recent remarks appeared to reinforce the argument that something unusual occurred that night, Axios reporter Alex Thompson challenged the notion that the debate performance was an isolated event.

Drawing on reporting conducted for the book Original Sin, which examines President Biden’s years in office, Thompson said aides had witnessed similar episodes on other occasions.

“Biden aides told Jake Tapper and me that they had seen him act that way before and after. Those moments became more difficult to predict and conceal,” Thompson said, referring to comments gathered during the writing of “Original Sin,” a book covering President Biden’s time in office.

{Matzav.com}

Signs of growing turmoil are emerging at the highest levels of Iran’s leadership, with a report claiming that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has raised the possibility of stepping down as the country grapples with mounting political, military, and economic pressures.

According to a report by Iran International, Pezeshkian sent a letter to Mojtaba Khamenei warning that the regime’s ability to survive is nearing a breaking point. The report states that the Iranian president made clear he would not remain in office if current conditions continue.

If accurate, the message would represent one of the sharpest public indications yet of tensions between Iran’s civilian leadership and the powerful military and religious figures who wield significant influence behind the scenes in Tehran.

The reported development follows earlier claims by Iran International that serious disagreements have emerged between Pezeshkian and leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over the management of the war and its economic consequences.

According to sources cited by the outlet, Pezeshkian warned that without a ceasefire, Iran’s economy could face collapse within a matter of weeks.

The report further alleges that Pezeshkian sought to regain executive powers that had effectively been stripped from the government, but that request was rejected by IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi.

At the same time, the outlet reported that the president repeatedly attempted to arrange an urgent meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei but was unable to secure one.

The latest report paints a picture of an increasingly strained leadership structure in Tehran, with the president signaling that he may no longer be willing to bear responsibility for the country’s deteriorating situation while key security institutions continue to dictate policy and strategy.

{Matzav.com}

Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of the Yashar! party and former IDF chief of staff, has reportedly proposed a new framework aimed at resolving the growing leadership rivalry within Israel’s anti-Netanyahu bloc. Under the plan, the leader of whichever party wins the most seats in the next election would automatically receive the bloc’s backing to form a government.

According to a report by Amit Segal on Channel 12 News Sunday evening, Eizenkot presented the proposal several weeks ago to a number of opposition party leaders. The move is intended to avoid a prolonged struggle over who would lead the bloc and, at least for the foreseeable future, appears to sideline the idea of a “grand merger” involving Eizenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Lapid.

The proposal is also directed at Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, who has repeatedly stated in recent months that he aspires to become prime minister. Current polling places his party at approximately eight to nine seats.

Responding to the report, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid published a message on X in which he appealed directly to Eizenkot.

“We love and appreciate Gadi Eizenkot and believe that if he joins the union it will bring the country hope for change and lay the foundations for the government of repair and healing that the country so desperately needs. Gadi, come!”

Earlier Sunday, Bennett renewed his criticism of Eizenkot over the latter’s recent meeting with Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni.

Speaking at an event over the weekend, Bennett said: “It’s naive, it’s naive… because you will enter negotiations and then they will say what the parameters are for an exemption. What Gafni and Deri forgot, Eizenkot and Yair Golan have not yet learned. Therefore there is no room for dialogue, simply.”

Bennett’s latest attack on Eizenkot and Yair Golan is part of a broader series of clashes within the opposition and comes as recent surveys have shown growing support for Eizenkot’s Yashar! party.

A Channel 12 poll released last week found that Eizenkot is now viewed as the opposition’s most suitable candidate for prime minister.

The same survey also examined the possibility of a joint slate comprising Bennett, Lapid, and Eizenkot. According to the results, such a unified party would emerge as the largest faction in the Knesset with 38 seats.

However, the poll found that if the parties run separately, they would collectively earn 39 seats—22 for Bennett and Lapid’s joint list and 17 for Eizenkot’s Yashar! party.

The survey further indicated that under a Bennett-Lapid-Eizenkot merger scenario, Likud would maintain its strength with 23 seats. The Democrats would receive 11 seats, while Yisrael Beiteinu would win 10.

Shas would secure eight seats, while both United Torah Judaism and Otzma Yehudit would also receive eight seats each, according to the poll.

{Matzav.com}

The Torah communities of Manchester and London are mourning the petirah of Rav Yosef Chaim Greenhaus zt”l, a respected mechanech who devoted more than four decades to educating generations of talmidim. He was 76 years old.

Rav Greenhaus passed away on Shabbos at a hospital in Manchester, England, following a prolonged period of suffering and illness.

Affectionately known throughout the community as “Reb Yossi,” he was born 76 years ago to Rav Moshe Mordechai Greenhaus z”l and Mrs. Sarah Yehudis Fried Greenhaus a”h.

For more than forty years, he served as a beloved melamed at Talmud Torah Yesodei HaTorah in London’s Stamford Hill neighborhood. Thousands of talmidim passed through his classroom over the years, benefiting from his warmth, dedication, and unique educational approach. He was known for instilling Torah values and yiras Shamayim in generations of children, many of whom maintained a deep affection and appreciation for him long after leaving his class.

Approximately a decade ago, Rav Greenhaus relocated to Manchester to be closer to his children. Despite advancing age, he continued learning with remarkable diligence, spending long hours immersed in Torah study at a kollel for rabbonim under the leadership of Rav Eliezer Kaufman.

About six months ago, his health began to deteriorate, leading to a lengthy hospitalization. During that difficult period, the family endured an additional tragedy with the passing of his brother, Reb Shamai Zerach Greenhaus z”l of Haifa.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and a large extended family living in Manchester, Gateshead, and Eretz Yisroel.

Among his brothers are Rav Dovid Greenhaus, a dayan on the Kedasia Beis Din in London, and Rav Tzvi Greenhaus of Bnei Brak.

His brothers-in-law include Rav Yisroel Gukovitzky, rov of the Bruchim Haba’im Shul in London who now resides in Beit Shemesh and is the author of Targum HaLa’az and Maaseh Oreg, as well as Rav Daniel Ortzel, rosh kollel of Kollel Pinto in Manchester.

The levayah is scheduled to take place on Monday in Manchester. Levayah arrangements were delayed due to bureaucratic procedures involving the release of the body by the local coroner’s office, which is closed on Sundays. He will be laid to rest in the Machzikei Hadas cemetery in Manchester.

Tehei Nishmaso Tzerurah B’Tzror HaChaim.

{Matzav.com}

A wave of concern swept through a yeshiva in Beitar Illit after talmidim reported repeatedly seeing what they described as a mysterious dark figure moving through one of the building’s classrooms late at night. The unusual reports eventually prompted an investigation by staff and, according to local accounts, led to the replacement of all the mezuzos in the yeshiva on the instruction of a city rabbi.

Rav Binyamin Chuta, rov of the Ohel Rachel Shul in Beitar Illit, recounted the incident during one of his shiurim, describing the unusual events that reportedly unfolded at the yeshiva in recent days.

According to the account, the episode began when several bochurim approached members of the yeshiva staff to report a disturbing phenomenon. They claimed that during the late evening and nighttime hours, strange activity that appeared to be supernatural was taking place in one of the yeshiva’s classrooms.

The talmidim said they repeatedly observed what appeared to be a dark shadowy silhouette moving around the room and appearing on the walls, despite there being no visible light source or apparent explanation for the phenomenon.

At first, staff members reportedly assumed the claims were the result of a prank or misunderstanding. However, after multiple talmidim continued reporting similar experiences, the yeshiva’s mashgiach decided to investigate the matter personally.

The mashgiach arrived at the yeshiva late at night and entered the classroom in question to see whether there was a rational explanation for what the bochurim had described.

According to the story related by Rabbi Chuta, the mashgiach himself suddenly observed a dark shadow-like figure moving across the walls of the room. The sight reportedly left him so frightened that he nearly collapsed.

The mashgiach then rushed out of the room and fled the area while calling for help.

Following the incident, and acting on the guidance of one of Beitar Illit’s rabbonim, all of the mezuzos in the yeshiva were reportedly replaced that same day.

{Matzav.com}

A significant new economic measure affecting the Torah world is moving forward after Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara directed government agencies to begin implementing a policy that will deny certain tax benefits to Torah institutions whose students are classified as draft-eligible and have not regularized their status with military authorities. At the same time, a special interagency task force will be established to prevent alternative funding channels from being used to circumvent the policy.

According to a statement issued following a meeting chaired by the attorney general, the government determined that under existing law, Supreme Court rulings, and decisions relating to the economic enforcement of military service obligations, “it is not possible to indirectly fund Torah institutions in which draft evaders are studying through the tax benefit provided under Section 46 of the Income Tax Ordinance.”

Under the new directive, the Israel Tax Authority must publish an official notice outlining the policy change by June 7, 2026. The announcement will detail the revised eligibility requirements, the documentation institutions will be required to submit, and the deadlines for doing so.

The new policy will require Torah institutions seeking either a new Section 46 approval or a renewal of an existing one to certify that their students have arranged their status with military authorities. In addition, institutions will be required to provide student information, including identification numbers, so that records can be cross-checked against military databases.

Organizations that already possess Section 46 approval will also be affected. The Tax Authority is expected to contact those institutions by July 1, 2026, requiring them to submit the necessary documentation in order to maintain eligibility for the tax benefit.

The decision further states that institutions that fail to provide the required information, or whose eligibility is not approved by the Tax Authority, will lose their tax-benefit status.

In addition, the attorney general ordered the formation of a special interministerial committee headed by the Deputy Attorney General for Public-Constitutional Law. Representatives from the Tax Authority, the Budget Department, the Corporations Authority, and the Justice Ministry will participate in the effort.

The committee’s mission will be to develop procedures designed to prevent the creation of indirect funding mechanisms for institutions whose students are draft-eligible but have not resolved their military status.

The decision also referenced a Supreme Court ruling issued in April, which stated that “the creation of alternative funding channels contradicts the court’s ruling and directly undermines the government’s obligation to enforce the provisions of the Security Service Law.”

{Matzav.com}

With Election Day just around the corner, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and her rivals spent the weekend making appearances across the city as an unexpectedly tight mayoral contest appeared increasingly likely to continue into a runoff election.

Bass, who is seeking another term in office, faces challenges from former reality television personality Spencer Pratt and Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman in Tuesday’s primary.

Recent surveys suggest that none of the candidates is on track to secure an outright majority, making a second-round runoff in November increasingly probable. Under the city’s election system, if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the two highest vote-getters advance to a head-to-head contest later in the year.

On Saturday, Bass, whose campaign has attracted support from prominent Democrats including Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom, campaigned at Yosemite Recreation Center in the Eagle Rock neighborhood.

During the event, Bass served tacos to attendees while wearing an apron emblazoned with the phrase “Common Sense and Carne Asada.”

Bass also used a Saturday Instagram livestream to criticize Pratt, drawing a contrast between his entertainment background and the responsibilities of public office.

“You have a failed reality TV star who wants to be famous,” she said while speaking with two actresses before appearing to reference President Donald Trump. “We know what it means if you put somebody who is a reality TV star in a seat of power.”

Meanwhile, Pratt spent part of the day targeting Raman on social media, posting criticism of several of her recent campaign advertisements on X.

Raman, for her part, pointed to encouraging polling numbers in a video shared on Instagram and urged voters to turn out on Election Day.

“After millions of dollars of spending against us, we are still here and we are still competitive,” she said.

Pratt, best known for his appearance on the reality television series “The Hills,” has built much of his campaign around criticism of Bass’s handling of the devastating January 2025 wildfires that destroyed thousands of properties, including his own home in Pacific Palisades.

He has also made homelessness, public safety, and drug abuse central themes of his campaign, frequently arguing that city leadership has failed to address those issues effectively.

In recent weeks, Pratt has drawn increased attention and picked up endorsements from a range of reality television figures, entertainers, musicians, and media personalities.

Even so, Pratt faces a difficult path in Los Angeles, where Democratic candidates have traditionally enjoyed a significant advantage in municipal elections and where Republican-backed candidates have historically struggled to gain widespread support.

{Matzav.com}

As New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani chose not to attend the annual Israel Day Parade, becoming the first sitting mayor to skip the event since it began more than six decades ago, former Mayor Eric Adams marched alongside Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana in a display of solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community.

Shortly before the parade got underway, Adams spoke with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News about the significance of participating in the event together with Israel’s parliamentary leader.

“Just being here with the Speaker of Knesset says a lot, and the clear display of unity for not only the country of Israel, but also the Jewish community globally.”

Adams said the joint appearance sent a powerful message of support and partnership.

“And that’s why we’re marching together. We will stand together, we will fight together, and we will ensure that the entire globe knows that the people of America and New York respect and will stand with the people of Israel,” he added.

Ohana noted that this year’s parade was marked by an unprecedented absence from City Hall.

“In more than 60 years of this parade, it is the first time that the mayor of New York will not attend,” he said.

At the same time, Ohana pointed out that the circumstances also led to a historic first from Israel’s side.

“We are very happy to have Mayor Adams. And for that reason, in more than 60 years of the parade, it is the first time that the Speaker of the Knesset will.”

The Knesset Speaker said he arrived with what he described as the largest parliamentary delegation ever sent from Israel to the New York event.

Ohana explained that the group included lawmakers from both coalition and opposition parties, reflecting broad support across Israel’s political spectrum.

According to Ohana, the purpose of the visit was to demonstrate solidarity with Jewish communities abroad at a time of growing challenges.

He said the delegation had come “to send a message to the Jewish world, to the Jews of New York. We are here with you. You are not alone.”

Closing his remarks, Ohana emphasized unity between Israel and Jews around the world.

“We stand together. Am Yisrael Chai,” Ohana concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Mike Lawler sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for opting not to attend the city’s annual Israel Day Parade, arguing that the move reinforces concerns many voters already have about the mayor and breaks with a longstanding tradition observed by City Hall for decades.

Appearing on Newsmax’s “Wake Up America Weekend,” the New York congressman said Mamdani’s decision sends the wrong message in a city that is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the world.

“The fact is, many New Yorkers and Americans believe he’s an antisemite,” Lawler said on “Wake Up America Weekend.”

“And the fact that for the first time in decades, the mayor of New York City is refusing to attend the Israel Day parade, where New York is home to the largest Jewish population outside of the state of Israel, just speaks volumes to his conduct, his rhetoric, and those he associated himself with.”

Mamdani, who took office earlier this year and became New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, is set to become the first sitting mayor since 1964 to skip the annual march along Fifth Avenue. Organizers describe the event as the largest public celebration of Israel outside the Jewish state.

Lawler announced that he would participate in the parade himself, presenting his attendance as a show of solidarity with New York’s Jewish community.

“I will be there tomorrow, proudly marching up Fifth Avenue in support of our Jewish Americans here in New York,” he said.

The congressman, whose district includes Rockland and Putnam counties as well as portions of Westchester and Dutchess counties, argued that elected officials have a responsibility to engage with every segment of the population, regardless of political differences.

“I show up in every community because that’s the job, you are elected to represent everybody, regardless of who votes for you or not,” he said, contrasting his own approach with Mamdani’s.

Lawler also pointed to the results of last November’s mayoral election, where Mamdani secured approximately 50.4 percent of the vote in a three-way contest against Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

“Mayor Mamdani barely got above 50% of the vote, which is very telling,” Lawler said. “Even in New York, where nearly 50% of New Yorkers rejected his rank, antisemitism and socialism.”

Mamdani, who has publicly identified as pro-Palestinian and has accused Israel’s government of committing genocide in Gaza, defended his decision this week, saying he was following through on a campaign commitment while continuing to support security arrangements for the event.

“I take seriously my responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of every New Yorker and every event, regardless of my attendance,” he said at a briefing alongside NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who will serve as grand marshal.

Lawler concluded by predicting that Mamdani’s absence from the parade could have lasting political repercussions.

“I think this is a very bad decision on his part,” he said. “And I do think there’s going to be blowback for it.”

{Matzav.com}

A terror ramming attack at the Gush Etzion Junction on Sunday evening left three people injured, including a 17-year-old girl who sustained serious wounds. The attack occurred at the busy intersection between Yerushalayim and Chevron before the suspected terrorist was fatally shot by an IDF soldier.

Emergency responders said the 17-year-old victim suffered severe injuries, while a 15-year-old girl was moderately injured. A third person was treated at the scene for shock.

All three victims were transported to Shaare Tzedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim. Hospital officials reported that the critically injured teenager was taken directly into emergency surgery upon arrival.

The suspected attacker, identified as a resident of the Chevron area, was shot and killed by a soldier from the Nachshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade.

Moshe Benita, a paramedic with Magen David Adom, and senior MDA medic Chaim Sharabi described the chaotic scene encountered by rescue crews.

“When we arrived at the scene of the attack, we observed significant commotion and a vehicle near a bus stop. Lying next to the vehicle was a 17-year-old girl who was fully conscious and suffering from severe injuries to her lower limbs. We provided initial medical treatment at the scene, including stopping the bleeding, and evacuated her by intensive care ambulance to the hospital in serious condition.

“Additional MDA teams provided medical treatment to another injured girl, 15, who was in mild condition and suffering from facial injuries.”

Security forces launched an investigation into the attack as authorities continued to assess the circumstances surrounding the incident.

{Matzav.com}

A promising new cancer therapy has produced remarkable results in patients with advanced head and neck cancer, completely eliminating tumors in some individuals whose disease had continued to progress despite chemotherapy and immunotherapy, according to findings reported Saturday.

Data from the international OrigAMI-4 clinical trial showed that the experimental medication amivantamab either reduced or completely wiped out tumors in 43 of 102 participants whose cancer had returned or spread after standard treatments stopped working.

Of those patients, 15 experienced a complete disappearance of their tumors.

Kevin Harrington of the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust described the outcomes as exceptionally encouraging for a group of patients who typically have very few options left.

“This is a group of patients for whom treatment options are extremely limited, so seeing this level of benefit is very striking,” Harrington said.

Researchers are scheduled to present the findings at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.

Amivantamab fights cancer through multiple mechanisms. The drug blocks the EGFR protein that fuels tumor growth, shuts down the MET pathway often used by cancer cells to resist treatment, and also helps stimulate the body’s immune system to attack malignant cells.

Investigators noted that the medication is administered through a small injection beneath the skin rather than by intravenous infusion, making treatment quicker and more convenient for patients.

Most participants experienced only mild or moderate side effects, and fewer than 10 percent discontinued treatment because of complications related to the drug.

One participant in the study, 56-year-old Carl Walsh of Birmingham, entered the trial after conventional therapies failed to stop the progression of his tongue cancer.

“I was initially treated with both chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which unfortunately were not successful,” Walsh said.

“At that point, I was recommended for the OrigAMI-4 trial,” he said.

Walsh said the experimental treatment dramatically changed his daily life.

“I now feel able to live a normal life,” he said.

“Since beginning treatment, the swelling has reduced significantly, and my pain levels have improved considerably,” he said.

He said he noticed major improvements after only two rounds of treatment, eventually regaining the ability to eat normally and enjoying “the first big steak” after months of being restricted to soft foods.

Researchers emphasized that the trial focused specifically on HPV-negative head and neck cancers, a form of the disease that is generally more difficult to treat and often carries a poorer prognosis than HPV-related cancers.

Despite having aggressive cancer that had already progressed after standard therapies, patients in the study survived a median of 12.5 months following the start of treatment.

Scientists cautioned that the results are still preliminary and will need to be confirmed through larger clinical trials before definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Amivantamab, which was developed by Johnson & Johnson, is currently being evaluated in approximately 60 clinical studies involving a variety of cancers, including lung, colorectal, brain, and stomach cancers.

Kristian Helin, chief executive of the Institute of Cancer Research, said the early findings could represent a major advance for patients who have exhausted most available treatment options.

The findings represent “a significant step forward” for patients with very limited treatment options, Helin said.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration is accelerating efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into the U.S. military, arguing that the technology could provide a major strategic advantage. At the same time, some technology firms and senior military leaders are urging caution, warning that powerful AI systems must be governed carefully before they are entrusted with life-and-death decisions on the battlefield.

Adm. Frank Bradley, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, recently addressed a special operations conference in Tampa, Florida, where he stressed the importance of approaching AI with care when it comes to military applications. Bradley told attendees that troops “have to be very careful about how we come to (AI’s) employment and its inspiration into the delivery of lethality.”

Bradley said he can envision a future in which AI plays a role in identifying military targets. However, he emphasized that human oversight must remain central. According to Bradley, “we, as humans, have to have the confidence that … it’s going to deliver violence only where we intend it to be delivered.”

His comments stand in contrast to the aggressive push by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to expand AI capabilities across the armed forces. The debate has created tension between Pentagon leaders and some technology companies that want stronger safeguards governing how their systems can be used.

Hegseth has repeatedly argued that the military should be free to employ AI in any lawful manner necessary for national defense. Speaking to SpaceX employees in January, he declared that he would reject AI systems “that won’t allow you to fight wars” and said he favors platforms that operate “without ideological constraints that limit lawful military applications.”

The administration’s support for military AI mirrors its broader strategy of expanding American technological leadership while competing with foreign rivals, particularly China, even as concerns grow over regulation and oversight.

President Donald Trump recently scrapped plans for a new executive order on artificial intelligence just hours before it was expected to be signed at the White House. According to Trump, the proposal risked slowing America’s progress in the rapidly evolving field.

“We’re leading China, we’re leading everybody, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to get in the way of that lead,” Trump told reporters.

Asked about Bradley’s concerns, a Pentagon official said the department’s focus remains on developing practical battlefield tools that allow troops to identify and analyze targets more rapidly, ultimately accelerating military operations. The official spoke anonymously in order to discuss the issue candidly.

Officials within U.S. Special Operations Command have generally framed AI as a force multiplier rather than a replacement for human decision-making, describing it as a technology that allows service members to spend more time concentrating on mission execution.

Sgt. Maj. Andrew Krogman, the command’s senior enlisted leader, said he believes AI can take over routine administrative functions, freeing operators for more critical tasks while improving organizational efficiency.

Melissa Johnson, the command’s top acquisition official, similarly argued that AI should be used to lighten the burden of repetitive work.

“We’re leveraging AI more and more, but it’s not to replace operator judgment, it’s to enhance it,” she added.

Helen Toner, interim executive director of Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, said both perspectives on military AI are valid.

“There are a huge number of potential uses for AI in these kinds of bureaucratic settings, which the U.S. military is actively exploring,” Toner said.

Evidence of that expansion is already visible. Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, who leads Air Force Special Operations Command, told lawmakers in May that AI-powered “bots” were used during the Iran war to rapidly downgrade highly classified intelligence into a format that could be shared with drone operators in the field within seconds.

At the same time, officials acknowledge that AI is increasingly being used not only for administrative functions but also for identifying and engaging military targets.

Toner’s research center highlighted that reality in a study released two years ago examining how the Army’s 18th Airborne Corps used artificial intelligence to guide artillery targeting. The study concluded that the corps performed “just as efficiently as the best unit in recent American history” while utilizing roughly 2,000 fewer personnel.

“Human operators are still the ones making crucial decisions, but AI … is making it possible to operate with a new level of speed and scale,” she said.

The battle over military AI, who controls it, and how it should be regulated has become unusually public during the Trump administration.

One of the most visible disputes involves Defense Secretary Hegseth and Anthropic, which has raised concerns about unrestricted government use of advanced AI systems. The company has expressed worries about technologies such as fully autonomous armed drones and large-scale AI-powered surveillance programs capable of monitoring dissent.

The conflict intensified after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused to retreat from his concerns regarding the use of the company’s Claude chatbot within classified Pentagon environments. Trump and Hegseth subsequently accused the company of undermining national security.

The Pentagon later designated Anthropic, based in San Francisco, as a supply-chain risk, terminating a $200 million defense contract and barring other government contractors from partnering with the company.

Anthropic responded with a lawsuit, arguing that the government was unlawfully retaliating against the company by applying a designation intended to address threats from foreign adversaries and national security sabotage.

Since then, Pentagon officials have highlighted partnerships with Anthropic’s competitors, including Google, OpenAI, and SpaceX, as they seek AI systems capable of helping to “augment warfighter decision-making in complex operational environments.”

Toner, who previously served on OpenAI’s board before a high-profile dispute with CEO Sam Altman, said many Americans underestimate how cautiously military leaders typically approach emerging technologies.

“Commanders want their missions to succeed, which means both being able to create lethal effects at scale, and avoiding unintended effects like friendly fire, civilian casualties, or simply identifying targets incorrectly,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Sunday praised Israeli forces for capturing the strategic Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon, calling it a major milestone in Israel’s efforts to strengthen security along the northern border and push Hezbollah farther from Israeli communities.

Speaking about the operation, Netanyahu highlighted the significance of the historic stronghold and the symbolism of Israeli troops raising the national flag there.

“Last night, our heroic fighters captured the Beaufort castle,” Netanyahu said. “They proudly raised the flag of the State of Israel and the flag of the Golani Brigade there.”

The prime minister noted that the site carries deep historical meaning for Israel, recalling one of the country’s most memorable battles in Lebanon.

“I remind you that 44 years ago, this place was a symbol of a heroic battle by our fighters, but it was also a symbol of deep division among us.

“Today, we returned to Beaufort differently. We returned united, determined, and stronger than ever. I spoke with the fighters on the northern border on Friday. They told me: ‘Tell the people of Israel what we are doing here. Prime Minister, the public doesn’t know what achievements we have made.'”

Netanyahu went on to detail what he described as significant Israeli successes against Hezbollah since the outbreak of the war.

“Since the beginning of the War of Redemption we have eliminated 8,000 Hezbollah terrorists. Since Operation Roaring Lion – 3,000. In the past month alone – 700. This is more than all those we eliminated during the Second Lebanon War.”

He also revealed that he has instructed the military to broaden its operations inside Lebanon and increase Israel’s control over key areas previously dominated by Hezbollah.

“I have instructed the IDF to expand the incursion in Lebanon. Our forces have crossed the Litani River. They took dominant terrain. They captured the Beaufort ridge. And now my instruction is to deepen and expand our hold on places that were under Hezbollah’s control.

“The capture of Beaufort is a dramatic stage and a dramatic change in the policy we are leading. We have broken the barrier of fear. We are taking the initiative, we are operating on all fronts – in Syria, in Gaza, in Lebanon; we have established security zones beyond our borders to protect our communities.”

The prime minister said he recently met with senior field commanders operating in Lebanon and relayed their confidence in the mission.

He added, “On Friday, I spoke with the brigade commanders. They are daring brigade commanders, inside the territory, leading the heroic soldiers. And they told me: ‘Prime Minister, we are carrying out the mission. We are charging forward – and Hezbollah is fleeing for its life.’ And I told them: ‘I am with you. The entire nation of Israel is with you. It will take more time, but we will restore security to the residents of the North, just as we did for the residents of the South.'”

Netanyahu concluded by stressing that the campaign is not yet complete but pledged that Israel will continue until its objectives are achieved.

“It will take time, but we will complete the mission.”

{Matzav.com}

Anyone entering the office of Rabbi Menachem Ingber is immediately struck by the wall lined with diplomas, certifications, and professional credentials. Yet behind those framed accomplishments stands a fascinating life story that bridges seemingly opposite worlds: American openness and chassidic discipline, the therapist’s office and the Rebbi’s room.

One of the most respected figures in the field of mental health in the chareidi community, Rabbi Ingber recently sat down for an extensive Hebrew interview with Kikar HaShabbat in which he discussed his unusual journey, parenting, therapy, shidduchim, trauma, and the emotional challenges facing Klal Yisroel today.

Matzav.com presents portions of the interview in English for our readership.

The American Boy Who Wanted a Gartel

Before discussing his work, Rabbi Ingber felt compelled to clarify a common misconception.

“I completed my master’s degree in psychology more than thirty years ago,” he explained. “When we came to Eretz Yisroel, there were certain requirements I still needed to complete in order to receive the Ministry of Health’s official psychologist’s license. By then I was already the father of eight children, and the practical realities of life made it difficult. Instead, I entered professional clinical practice. I am a recognized psychotherapist and have worked for years in welfare services, the National Insurance Institute, and the military.”

His path toward psychology began much earlier.

Rabbi Ingber grew up in what he describes as a modern Yekke home in America. His father began as the principal of a kiruv school before later becoming a professor of psychology.

“I grew up in a modern Yekke environment,” he recalled. “The natural path for me would have been Yeshiva University. Then one summer, shortly after my bar mitzvah, I attended a camp where there were chassidim, and something clicked.”

What attracted him was not merely the clothing or customs.

“I was drawn to the warmth, the varemkeit, and the understanding that serving Hashem involved more than learning. There was tefillah, chesed, and a complete way of life.”

Among all the chassidic groups he encountered, Ger made the strongest impression.

“I saw people who could live in both worlds. They were successful businessmen and genuine chassidim. Later, when I came to Eretz Yisroel, I saw avreichim arriving to daven Minchah with the Rebbe. They wore jackets and gartlach, but beneath them you could still see the green pants from army reserve duty. I loved that balance.”

Choosing a Different Path at Fourteen

The decision to become a chassid at fourteen was not something his parents embraced immediately.

“Of course it worried them,” he said. “They didn’t simply let me do whatever I wanted.”

When he began growing long peyos, his parents called him in for a serious conversation.

“They told me, ‘This isn’t how things are done.’ I answered with a sentence that still guides me today: ‘You taught me that the most important thing in life is yiras Shamayim. I believe this is my path.’”

Eventually a compromise was reached. The full chassidic dress would wait until he came to Eretz Yisroel.

Looking back, Rabbi Ingber sees the experience as a powerful lesson in parenting.

Parents, he says, need to distinguish between technical limitations and essential limitations.

He offers the example of a child who excitedly discovers rumors of an ancient mikvah beneath a neighborhood building and wants to start digging.

“The tired parent says, ‘Don’t make a mess.’ But the wiser response is, ‘Interesting idea. Let’s see what would actually be involved.’ Let him dream.”

Too many children stop dreaming because they hear too many versions of “No.”

“A child says he wants to become a singer. The parent immediately responds, ‘Be a talmid chacham instead.’ But the child isn’t thinking about fame. He sees someone inspiring people and bringing them together. He wants to make a difference.”

The dream should be encouraged, even if practical limitations eventually shape the path.

A Life-Changing Directive from the Pnei Menachem

Ironically, despite growing up around psychology, Rabbi Ingber initially pursued a rabbinic career.

He learned in kollel, received semichah, taught shiurim, and served in rabbinic capacities in Yerushalayim.

The turning point came through the future Ger Rebbe, the Pnei Menachem.

A struggling bochur in the yeshiva had become withdrawn and isolated. Rabbi Ingber was asked to learn with him and provide encouragement.

Gradually, the young man emerged from his shell and reconnected with his peers.

When the Pnei Menachem heard what had happened, he summoned Rabbi Ingber.

“He told me, ‘I hear your father is a psychologist. Apparently there are psychological genes in your family.’”

Then came the directive that would shape the rest of his life.

“‘You’re already married, you have children, you’re American—you won’t be corrupted. Go study psychology.’”

Rabbi Ingber followed the advice. More than thirty years later, he remains deeply involved in helping people navigate emotional struggles.

Feeling at Home Everywhere

One of Rabbi Ingber’s most distinctive qualities is his ability to move comfortably between very different worlds.

He speaks Hebrew, Yiddish, and English fluently and interacts naturally with people from across the Jewish spectrum.

“I once came home and told my wife, ‘Something must be wrong with me.’”

That day had begun with a lecture at Hebrew University. From there he davened Minchah with a religious Zionist minyan at the Kosel. Later he listened to a secular street musician near Machane Yehudah. That evening he learned with his chavrusa in Ger’s main beis medrash.

“I felt at home everywhere.”

The lesson, he says, is simple.

“We are all Jews. We don’t have to become identical. But we do need connection.”

The Three Foundations of Emotional Resilience

Through years of clinical work and his involvement in trauma and resilience organizations, Rabbi Ingber developed a framework he frequently teaches to parents.

According to his model, emotional resilience rests upon three pillars: identity, community, and skills.

Identity means understanding who you are, including your strengths and weaknesses.

Community means having meaningful connections—family, friends, shul, yeshiva, and community.

Skills are the practical tools needed to navigate stress, conflict, and life’s challenges.

Too many parents, he argues, spend their lives reacting.

“A child acts out, and we punish. A problem appears, and we respond. Instead, parents need to lead.”

The goal is not to force every child into the same mold.

The goal is to understand each child’s unique personality while maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.

Breaking the Stigma

Perhaps the most sensitive part of the conversation centered on the lingering stigma surrounding therapy and shidduchim.

Years ago, Rabbi Ingber delivered a lecture to teachers in Bnei Brak about ADHD and behavioral challenges. To avoid discussing others, he used examples involving his own son.

That evening he received an unexpected phone call from Rebbetzin Shoshana Alter.

“She told me, ‘Menachem, you said your son has behavioral and attention difficulties? You don’t have married children yet. Be careful what you say publicly about your children.’”

Years later, when that son entered shidduchim, a prospective family actually remembered the lecture.

The Rebbetzin had been right.

Yet Rabbi Ingber believes the community has changed dramatically.

“Today people understand much more.”

Seeking help, he insists, is not a sign of weakness.

“Psychologists are not for crazy people. Most of the people we see are normal, intelligent, successful individuals—roshei yeshiva, avreichim, top bochurim—who are stuck at a particular point in life.”

His message is simple:

“Getting help is not a deficiency. It’s a form of wisdom.”

A Nation Living Through Trauma

As someone who works extensively with emergency services and trauma-response organizations, Rabbi Ingber believes the Jewish people are still living inside an ongoing traumatic event.

“In the past, PTSD was measured in weeks or months after an event. Today, we’re not ‘after’ the event. We’re still inside it.”

The constant uncertainty affects everyone.

A passing motorcycle can trigger panic. A loud noise causes people to jump. The stress seeps into parenting, marriages, and even spiritual life.

Sometimes, he says, it causes people to become more rigid in their Judaism.

The challenge is remembering that Torah was given to bring connection and joy, not fear.

The Secret of Venasnu

When asked what one lesson people should focus on today, Rabbi Ingber pointed to the word venasnu.

The word reads the same forward and backward.

“When you give, you receive.”

Helping others, listening to others, and accepting people who are different from us are among the greatest sources of emotional resilience.

He recently spoke with an educator who visited the sites of the October 7 massacre and emerged with a painful realization.

“I spend my life learning Torah and working on my middos, but I realized I need more ahavas Yisroel.”

Rabbi Ingber believes strengthening those bonds—between communities, between parents and children, and between Jews of all backgrounds—is one of the most important challenges facing the Jewish world today.

He concluded with a powerful illustration.

Imagine a room filled with the greatest rabbanim, roshei yeshiva, admorim, and philanthropists in the world. Together they number only nine men. They cannot recite Kaddish, Kedushah, or Barchu.

Then a simple thirteen-year-old boy walks in.

Suddenly there is a minyan.

Suddenly all those giants can sanctify Hashem’s Name.

“That,” Rabbi Ingber says, “is the power of every Jew and every child. Every single person matters.”

{Matzav.com}

Residents of Bnei Brak’s Shikun Hey neighborhood are expressing growing concern after a string of incidents involving a group of troubled youths culminated in a break-in and theft at a Gerer shtiebel on Friday night.

According to local residents, the group has been causing disturbances for several weeks in the area surrounding the neighborhood’s public garden, allegedly breaking into shuls during the nighttime hours and creating an atmosphere of fear among area residents.

The situation escalated significantly on Friday night when vandals reportedly broke into the Gerer shtiebel in the neighborhood. The intruders smashed windows, damaged the rear entrance door, and stole various items from inside the building.

Witnesses reported that the group returned to the area on Shabbos afternoon and allegedly made threats of violence, including threats to stab local residents.

In the wake of the incidents, the gabbaim of the shuls located near the public garden are urging members of the community to come forward with any information that may assist law enforcement.

Anyone who witnessed acts of vandalism, theft, threats, or other violent behavior is being asked to contact the police and provide any relevant evidence or testimony as soon as possible.

{Matzav.com}

A dramatic confrontation unfolded shortly after midnight on Highway 1 leading to Yerushalayim when police attempted to detain a yeshiva bochur and transfer him to military authorities. The arrest was ultimately prevented after dozens of protesters rushed to the scene and blocked the roadway.

The incident took place near the Kiryat Ye’arim interchange. According to reports, demonstrators who were alerted to the attempted arrest quickly arrived and staged a protest, bringing traffic to a standstill in opposition to the effort to take the student into custody.

After a lengthy standoff and a heated demonstration, police reportedly withdrew from the area and released the yeshiva student.

The incident comes amid growing tensions following the arrest of two students from Yeshivas Maalos HaTorah on Erev Shabbos. In response, the central faction of the Peleg Yerushalmi is scheduled to hold large-scale demonstrations across the country on Sunday protesting the arrests of yeshiva students and their transfer to military prison.

The leader of the Peleg Yerushalmi, Rav Ezriel Auerbach, issued a strongly worded call urging supporters to participate in the protests.

In his statement, Rav Euerbach declared that this is not a time for silence and that every ben Torah has a doubled and redoubled obligation to protest what he described as the humiliation of Torah and its students, the criminal arrests, and the actions of military authorities and those cooperating with them from within and without.

As previously reported, two 21-year-old students from Yeshivas Maalos HaTorah were arrested on Erev Shabbos after failing to report to military induction offices in accordance with the directives of leading gedolim.

According to reports, the two students—including the son of the rosh yeshiva—were stopped by traffic police on Highway 6 while attempting to obtain a ride home.

After police identified the pair in the system as draft evaders, they were immediately handed over to military authorities and transferred to military prison.

The timing of the arrests, occurring just hours before the onset of Shabbos as families were preparing to welcome the holy day, sparked widespread outrage in segments of the chareidi community and intensified calls for the nationwide demonstrations scheduled for Sunday.

{Matzav.com}