Feed aggregator

Over the last few years, an ongoing challenge has become apparent within the STa”M industry. Many completely well-intentioned buyers, who assume they are purchasing 100% kosher scrolls, are finding themselves uncertain about how to verify what is actually coming into their homes. 

This challenge is not a matter of klaf simply degrading over time, but rather a structural vulnerability in how STa”M is produced and distributed globally. Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO of OU Kosher, recently shared an encounter that illustrates this exact issue. A professional sofer checking mezuzos in Lakewood, New Jersey, visited a large residence where the homeowner had spared no expense. Shockingly, every single one of the mezuzos in the home was found to be completely pasul, and they had been pasul from the moment they were written. The homeowners had acted with complete sincerity and spent significant sums, but they didn’t get the kosher mezuzos they had purchased.  

Writing a kosher mezuzah is an intricate, labor-intensive process governed by complex halachos. As Rabbi Ezra Sarna, Director of Halacha Initiatives at the Orthodox Union, explains, the margin for error is tremendous. “Each mezuzah contains over 700 letters, along with multiple other components. In many cases, if even one is off, the entire mezuzah can be pasul.” Furthermore, even if the klaf appears perfectly written, it could still be disqualified due to a sofer’s lack of knowledge or improper kavanah during the writing process – factors that are impossible to verify simply by looking at the finished product. 

Without a centralized quality assurance process, the market is continually flooded with varying qualities of mezuzos that have sadly not been written or checked k’halacha. Buyers are left in the dark, wondering who they can rely on, asking themselves if the bodek is truly reliable, or if the inspection was performed independently of the sofer who wrote the klaf. 

Recognizing this growing communal need, the lay leadership of the Orthodox Union stepped in a few years ago. They turned to the OU’s Kashrus department, the community’s trusted experts in systematic certification, to develop a proactive, long-term solution. The result is the OU STa”M Pikuach Initiative which works with multiple partners and vendors to bring confidence to your doorpost.  

The core vision is straightforward: the OU is doing for STa”M exactly what it has historically done for kosher food. For decades, the frum community has trusted the OU symbol to ensure the highest standards of kashrus in our kitchens. Now, that same level of trust and rigorous oversight is available to protect the doorposts of our homes and shuls.

What does an OU-endorsed mezuzah entail? It replaces uncertainty with a verifiable system of checks and balances. The OU provides direct oversight, ensuring every mezuzah is written by a vetted, certified sofer who maintains active certification. The klaf and dyo (ink) are verified and approved as 100% kosher for mezuzah use. The thorough inspection system requires that a completed mezuzah is checked by a chain of two separate magiim (Mashgichim for STa”M). It is then inspected by rabbonim, examined once again by both magiim, and scanned by a cutting-edge, AI-powered computer program designed to detect even the slightest inaccuracies. Any issues raised during the checks are paskened on by rabbonim. 

Once a mezuzah passes this rigorous process and is deemed strictly kosher l’chatchila, it is packaged in a tamper-proof plastic sleeve bearing the “Endorsed by OU” logo. This provides consumers with unprecedented transparency. The packaging includes a certificate of authenticity detailing exactly who the sofer was, who the magiim were, what materials were used, and when the mezuzah requires its next checking.  

The OU STa”M Pikuach Initiative is committed to educating the frum community on the issues related to acquiring mezuzos confidently. There will be opportunities in communities across the US to learn more through shiurim and public lectures. OU-endorsed mezuzos are currently available for purchase through various trusted vendors. To learn more about this vital initiative and to find an authorized vendor near you, please visit ou.org/mezuzah. 

New York Attorney General Letitia James publicly criticized socialist Muslim New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his efforts to reshape the Democratic Party by backing a slate of democratic socialist candidates in statewide races, saying many of those he endorsed lack the experience and understanding needed to represent New York’s diverse communities.

In an interview with CNN, James voiced frustration over Mamdani’s political endorsements following his election victory last November, arguing that several of the candidates he supported are disconnected from the districts they hope to represent.

“Some of the candidates that he has supported are individuals who do not understand the politics of New York City, the cultural differences from district to district, who have not been part of the history and the struggle of some of these districts, and are relatively new to the body politic,” James told CNN.

The attorney general also contended that a number of Mamdani-backed candidates lack a sufficient understanding of issues involving race and economic inequality, according to the network.

Despite those criticisms, Mamdani’s influence was evident in this week’s Democratic primaries. Several candidates he endorsed scored victories, including Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier in congressional races, along with two successful campaigns for the state Senate and four wins in contests for the State Assembly.

James acknowledged that dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party is widespread but warned against pursuing sweeping ideological changes.

James said other political colleagues have expressed that they are “disappointed” in Mamdani’s push to change the party.

“All of us are a little frustrated with the Democratic Party. But you don’t blow it up. That’s what MAGA has done,” James told CNN.

Mamdani’s growing political influence has also prompted concern among some Democrats, who worry his endorsements could strain relationships with members of Congress, business leaders, investors, and other influential figures across New York.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, however, dismissed suggestions that the Democratic Party is drifting too far to the left because of Mamdani’s rise.

“No, Donald Trump has a working relationship with the mayor of the city of New York, and he’s made that publicly and explicitly clear to America not once but twice in the Oval Office,” Jeffries said to reporters when asked if the party was moving too far left after Tuesday’s primary results.

President Donald Trump and Mamdani met at the White House in both February and November, surprising many observers. Photographs from the meetings showed the two shaking hands and smiling despite their political differences.

Even so, Trump weighed in on the primary results Wednesday with a post on Truth Social, offering a pointed warning about the direction of American politics.

“America the Beautiful will NEVER be a Communist Country!!!” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Federal officials are sounding the alarm after a series of politically charged acts of vandalism struck Washington’s National Mall, including repeated “8647” markings, damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and a disturbing incident in which a person allegedly wrote on the Washington Monument using their own blood.

Interior Department Communications Director Katie Martin told Fox News Digital that authorities have seen a sharp increase in attacks on federal landmarks throughout the summer.

“Unfortunately, this summer has seen a significant increase in vandalism to the National Mall – for example, several 8647 markings, a person writing words in their own blood on the Washington Monument and the cutting of fuel lines around the Great American State Fair,” Interior Department communication director Katie Martin told Fox News Digital.

The latest incidents followed President Donald Trump’s initiative to restore and repaint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. According to officials, protesters responded by damaging the newly restored surface, cutting into it with sharp objects and removing protective fencing before throwing debris into the water.

Fox News Digital reported that the first known act of vandalism targeting the Reflecting Pool occurred on June 9. At the time, Interior Department officials deliberately chose not to publicize the incident, hoping it would remain an isolated act rather than inspire additional copycats.

“At the time of the June 9 incident, the vandalism was under investigation and believed to be isolated. So as not to encourage deranged individuals, we did not announce what we hoped to be an isolated incident,” Interior Department communication director Katie Martin told Fox News Digital about the initial vandalism on the Reflecting Pool.

“It wasn’t until several days thereafter that there were recurring cases and videos of people ripping at the coating began to circulate,” she added. “We then knew this was not an isolated incident, but a new trend to attempt to damage the Reflecting Pool.”

Among the incidents now under investigation are multiple “8647” messages found throughout the National Mall. In a separate case, police say an individual used his own blood to write the words “I’ve come” on the Washington Monument.

The Trump administration has previously interpreted the number “86” as a political threat because of its common use in restaurant slang to mean eliminating or refusing service, while “47” is viewed as a reference to President Trump serving as the nation’s 47th president.

Earlier this month, authorities also launched an investigation after an enormous “8647” message appeared carved into the grass of the National Mall, adding to growing concerns over politically motivated vandalism and threats against public property.

Officials said the Reflecting Pool itself was vandalized on the very day it reopened following restoration. According to a police report obtained by Fox News Digital, the suspect left “razor-blade-like slashes along the liner in the southern middle section of the pool.”

Investigators determined that the damage extended for more than 300 feet, with “some cuts [that] were slits while other sections measuring roughly 6–15 inches had been cut out entirely.”

Authorities also reported that sections of the surrounding metal fence were removed and tossed into the Reflecting Pool, along with a broken black chain that had been attached to the fencing.

The U.S. Park Police later released a photograph of one suspect and appealed to the public for help identifying the individual.

“The United States Park Police is seeking assistance in identifying the individual depicted here in connection with a Destruction of Government Property investigation. The incident occurred on June 19, 2026, at approximately 3:36 p.m. at the Reflecting Pool on the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC,” said the post.

“Anyone with information regarding the identity of this individual is asked to contact the United States Park Police Tip Line: USPP_TIPline@nps.gov or (202) 379-4877,” it read.

President Trump weighed in on the vandalism Wednesday by posting a photograph of the newly restored Reflecting Pool on Truth Social before it was refilled with water.

“This is the hard rubber surface — No Paint — Before the Vandals cut and pulled it apart,” he wrote.

According to a previous administration official, five individuals have already been arrested on vandalism charges related to the Reflecting Pool, while another five people received federal citations. Authorities have also filed 14 separate police reports involving damage to the site.

Among those charged is former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who received a misdemeanor citation for destruction of government property after authorities alleged he reached into the Reflecting Pool and grabbed a hose being used by a National Park Service employee.

The administration had already planned to install fencing around the Reflecting Pool before the Fourth of July because the area serves as one of the launch locations for the annual fireworks display. However, officials accelerated that timetable by a full week following the repeated acts of vandalism.

“The Reflecting Pool was always set to be fenced off ahead of the 4th of July. As in years prior, one of the launch pads for the fireworks is around the pool so fencing is put up to ensure public safety,” said White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers. “With the increase in vandalism by leftist activists, the fencing is going up earlier than originally planned to ensure no more damage is done to this historic site.

“While the President was restoring a crown jewel of our nation’s capital, which is supported by Americans across the country, vandals were attempting to destroy, impede and delay the ongoing work,” she added.

President Trump has repeatedly condemned the attacks, first drawing attention to the damage in a Truth Social post last Friday before discussing the incidents again with reporters this week.

“Somebody went in with the knife and cut it. They cut it up good and then they cut at 200, 350 [feet], in the form of lots of little slits. We know horrible stuff,” Trump said Tuesday while speaking with reporters.

Referring to the large “8647” marking carved into the National Mall, Trump added: “Vandals “destroyed the grass. We put a brand-new big load of grass out there. They destroyed it. So it’s all been fixed. But it’s a shame.”

Throughout the restoration project, demonstrators have continued gathering at the National Mall, with some carrying signs reading “Team Algae,” a reference to the Reflecting Pool’s water.

{Matzav.com}

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stern warning to Iran on Thursday, declaring that the Trump administration will not permit Tehran to impose fees or tolls on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Bahrain, Rubio dismissed reports that Iran may seek to charge ships for passage through the strategic waterway, calling the proposal unrealistic and unacceptable.

“Fees and tolls are the same thing to me,” Rubio told reporters. “If you’re paying someone to go there, I don’t care if you call it a fee or a toll or a donation. It’s a toll.”

Rubio argued that any attempt to collect such payments would inevitably require the use or threat of force, making the proposal both impractical and dangerous for global commerce.

“Let’s say a ship says, ‘Well, I’m not going to pay the fee,'” he said. “It’s not like a toll on a road. You don’t get a ticket in the mail. They get shot at. You shoot at one ship, you sink one ship, no other ship is going to move. So that sort of system is not only unwise, it can’t happen. It’s not even workable. So you might as well abandon the fantasy now.”

The secretary emphasized that Gulf nations are united in opposing any effort to charge ships for transiting the Strait of Hormuz and said President Donald Trump has made it clear that such a provision is unacceptable in any future agreement with Iran.

“There isn’t a nation on Earth that supports having to pay money to go through the straits,” Rubio said, adding, “If you are charging money to use the straits, we won’t support it. We won’t tolerate it. We won’t allow it.”

Rubio’s comments followed reports that some Iranian officials have suggested imposing charges for security, insurance, and related services after last week’s memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, which temporarily restored unrestricted navigation through the strait while broader negotiations continue.

As part of that Trump administration-brokered agreement, Iran committed to allowing toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz for at least 60 days while both governments work toward a broader diplomatic settlement.

Rubio said the administration is ultimately concerned with Iran’s conduct rather than its public rhetoric and indicated that compliance with the agreement will be measured by whether international shipping continues uninterrupted.

“We’re interested in whether or not ships are moving,” he said. “If ships are moving as they should be moving, then that’s what we’re going to judge. If this rhetoric is backed up by actual ships being threatened and ships are not moving, that’s a violation of the agreement and we’re going to have a problem with it.”

The secretary reiterated that the United States remains committed to pursuing diplomacy, but stressed that negotiations will not come at the expense of American interests or regional security.

“We’re going to give diplomacy every chance to work,” Rubio said. “If Iran is interested in making a real deal, the United States is open to doing it. If they’re not, then the president will know that, and he’ll have options available to him.”

{Matzav.com}

Retired British Army commander Col. Richard Kemp delivered a bleak assessment of Britain’s political climate, rising antisemitism, and deteriorating relations with Israel, while also urging patience regarding President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts with Iran and emphasizing that Israel must never compromise its own security interests.

In an interview with Arutz Sheva–Israel National News’ Yoni Kempinski during the JNS International Policy Summit, Kemp discussed the turmoil in British politics, the surge in anti-Israel sentiment across the United Kingdom, developments involving Iran, and the strength of the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Asked about the reported resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Kemp said many Britons would likely welcome the development.

“I think it’s going to be quite welcome news in the country because Prime Minister Starmer has been very unpopular for pretty much all of his premiership,” Kemp said.

Despite that, he cautioned that replacing Starmer would not necessarily improve Britain’s policies toward the Jewish state.

“We don’t know who’s going to take over from him. Obviously, the most likely is Andy Burnham. I don’t think anything’s going to change much in Britain, particularly Britain’s relationship with Israel, which is, I think, at an all-time low at the moment,” he stated.

When asked whether a new leader could reverse that trend, Kemp said he was pessimistic, arguing that hostility toward Israel has become deeply entrenched within much of the governing party.

“I don’t think it’ll improve. It may even get worse than it is now because so many people, so many of the party’s supporters, both in Parliament and outside Parliament, are vehemently opposed to Israel.”

“They’ve bought, they’ve eaten up all this anti-Israel propaganda and they do not want Britain to have good relations with Israel. They don’t want cooperation with Israel,” he added.

Kemp also expressed serious concern over the growing sense of insecurity among British Jews, saying increasing antisemitism has led many to consider leaving the country.

“I think the situation is quite bad. I’ve spoken to many British Jews and a large number of them either have left Britain, are thinking about leaving Britain or are in the process of leaving, which is a terrible thing,” he said.

He argued that such an exodus would represent a major loss not only for Britain’s Jewish community but for the country as a whole.

“It’s bad for us as a country for two reasons. One, because we’re supposed to be a shining pillar of Western democracy and liberty and equal rights. And we’re showing ourselves, I think in some respects, to be the opposite in relation to a Jewish population,” he explained.

“The other reason why it’s bad for Britain is because over the years, including now, our Jewish community has contributed so much to the United Kingdom in so many different ways. I think disproportionate to the numbers of Jews that actually are in the UK. So if more and more leave, it’ll be a great tragedy for Britain for those reasons.”

Turning to the emerging agreement with Iran, Kemp rejected the notion that it either signals the end of the conflict or should automatically be viewed as a failure.

“I don’t think it’s the end of the war. And I don’t think it’s necessarily a failure either. It’s probably a bump in the road,” he said.

“I think we’re going to see events unfold maybe in a completely different way that we’re expecting over the coming months.”

Kemp acknowledged that some Israelis may be disappointed by President Trump’s approach, but argued that the president is balancing broader American strategic interests.

“President Trump is a man who many people here may think he’s made the wrong decision. He’s betrayed Israel. They may think that. But actually, he has a bigger strategy and he has bigger interests for his country than just Israel.”

He added that Trump is not likely to remain committed to an agreement if it fails to produce the desired results.

“He’s also a man who is not going to be wedded to this MOU if it doesn’t work out the way he wants it to work out. So I don’t see this as being an absolute disaster. I think it’s maybe a bit of a problem, but maybe it will resolve itself.”

Regardless of how negotiations unfold, Kemp said Israel must remain firm in defining and defending its own national security boundaries.

“Whatever happens, I think it’s really important that Israel establishes its red lines, what it’s prepared to do, what it’s not prepared to do, and sticks by them.”

Kemp also dismissed claims that Israel merely acts as an extension of U.S. policy, insisting that the Jewish state makes its own sovereign decisions.

“I think Israel is far from a proxy or a vassal of the US,” he said.

He praised the close relationship between Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and President Trump, while noting that both leaders ultimately prioritize the interests of their own countries.

“Under Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has, by the way, an extraordinary relationship with President Trump, even through thick and thin, they don’t always see eye to eye. But as I understand it, they understand each other,” Kemp said.

“I think that Prime Minister Netanyahu, obviously, as any prime minister should, his number one priority is not America. It’s not even relations with America. It’s Israel’s national interest, which does include good relations with America.”

Kemp concluded by expressing confidence that Netanyahu will continue to stand firm on Israel’s core security interests, particularly with regard to Lebanon.

“I think he’s a man who’s going to be able to stand up and specify what his red lines are, and then stick to them. And I think in particular, that includes Lebanon,” Kemp concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Iran is reportedly seeking to generate tens of billions of dollars annually by imposing new charges on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a proposal that has drawn swift opposition from the Trump administration and regional allies who insist the vital international waterway must remain free of transit fees.

According to a report published Thursday by The Wall Street Journal, Iranian officials believe a new framework involving charges for security, safety, and environmental services in the Strait of Hormuz could produce as much as $40 billion a year for participating countries while significantly expanding Tehran’s influence over one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes.

The report says Iranian officials have presented the concept to neighboring Gulf states and to China, arguing that the strategic waterway has entered a new era following the recent U.S.-Iran conflict and that management of the strait “will never return to the way it was before.”

If implemented, the proposal would represent a major departure from decades of international maritime practice, under which commercial vessels have enjoyed toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio firmly rejected the idea while visiting Bahrain on Thursday, warning that permitting Iran to charge ships for passage through an international waterway would establish an unacceptable precedent, according to CBS News.

“The reality is that no country on Earth has the right to charge for the use of international waterways,” Rubio said. “That will never be an acceptable condition of any deal.”

Oman’s Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, echoed Rubio’s position following meetings with the secretary of state and fellow Gulf leaders, stating that any future agreement governing the Strait of Hormuz “will not involve imposing any transit fees.”

President Donald Trump also sought to reassure markets on Wednesday, saying on Truth Social that Iranian officials had informed the United States they intended to impose “no tolls, no insurance costs & no other charges of any kind” on vessels passing through the strait.

Trump added that if reports of planned fees prove accurate, negotiations with Tehran would end “immediately.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, carrying approximately 20 percent of global oil supplies. While commercial shipping has gradually resumed following the recent conflict, some shipping companies continue to exercise caution.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Iran has already established an insurance company that it says vessels should utilize when transiting the strait and has introduced new registration requirements directing ships to notify Iranian authorities two days before entering the waterway.

Legal experts told the newspaper that Iran would face formidable legal obstacles in implementing such a system.

Unlike Turkey, which possesses treaty-based authority under a 1936 international agreement to collect certain fees in the Dardanelles, any comparable arrangement in the Strait of Hormuz would almost certainly require broad international approval through the International Maritime Organization.

As negotiations with Tehran continue, the Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized that unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains a non-negotiable principle of U.S. policy.

{Matzav.com}