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The Israeli Navy struck and eliminated Hamas commander Wasim Attallah Ali in Tripoli, Lebanon on Thursday morning. Ali was responsible for training and exercises for Hamas’ military wing in Lebanon and had promoted terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops. The strike marks the first in the Tripoli area since the start of Operation […]

Sen. Tim Sheehy helped Capitol Police subdue a protester who disrupted a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

The man, later identified as Green Party Senate candidate Brian McGinnis, allegedly injured three officers while resisting removal.

Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, is seen jumping into the scrum and trying to yank the 44-year-old McGinnis, who was wearing a US Marine Corps uniform, out of the room. The situation only calmed down after a loud snap was heard, which appeared to be the sound of the protester’s arm breaking inside the Hart Senate Office Building.

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Dear Editor,

Every year Purim comes and goes with its special simcha. But this year, I found myself overwhelmed by the unbelievable tzedakah that was given out on Purim, sums of money that are simply hard to comprehend. We are talking about literally millions of dollars that were distributed to help Yidden in need. Millions! Standing there and seeing it with my own eyes, I kept thinking to myself: Heilige Yidden! What a nation we are.

At one point during Purim, I happened to stop by Chuny Herzka’s house in Lakewood. There was a whole setup there with gabbaim sitting and distributing his checks. Yes, the line was long. People were coming through, one after another, and the gabbaim were handing out the checks with quiet efficiency.

But what struck me was not just the organization. It was the amounts.

I happened to glance at some of the checks as they were being given out, and I could not believe the numbers I was seeing. These were serious sums of money.

I stood there only for about an hour or longer, yet in those minutes I watched check after check being handed out. The gabbaim kept pulling from the stacks and giving them out calmly, almost as if this was routine. But to anyone watching, it was anything but routine. It was astounding.

And then it hit me: This was just one house.

Across Lakewood and in communities everywhere, similar scenes were taking place. Homes where gabbaim sat surrounded by envelopes and lists. Quiet – or noisy! – lines of Yidden coming in, many of them broken from the weight of parnassah pressures. And behind the scenes, individuals who had prepared enormous sums of money simply because fellow Yidden needed help.

Millions of dollars given out in one day. Millions.

Not for recognition. Not for kavod.

Just because it is Purim, and because a Yid cannot bear to see another Yid struggling.

That is the heart of Klal Yisroel. When the mitzvah of matanos la’evyonim arrives, something extraordinary happens. The Jewish heart opens wide. People give with a generosity that the outside world simply cannot understand.

And the most remarkable part was the quietness of it all. There were no speeches, no announcements, no publicity. The gabbaim sat there calmly doing their job, the people came and went with dignity, and the checks kept flowing.

Watching this unfold, I felt an enormous sense of pride to be part of such a tzibbur. The world may not see these moments. That dopey Youtuber who’s been hounding our communities didn’t bother catching this. They may never hear about the quiet rivers of chesed that flow through our communities. But anyone who witnessed it this Purim knows exactly what I’m talking about.

Standing there, watching the checks being handed out one after another, I kept thinking the same words over and over again:

Heilige Yidden! Look at the heart of our people.

May the Ribbono Shel Olam bench all those who gave with endless shefa and bracha, and may the incredible tzedakah of this Purim bring yeshuos to Klal Yisroel.

T. K.

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Since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, 14 families in Bnei—about 60 residents in total—were evacuated after their homes were damaged by missile shrapnel and required immediate evacuation. Most of the evacuations took place on Tuesday (Purim), when 11 families, numbering about 45 people, were forced to leave their homes. All of the families were […]

Antisemitic media personality Tucker Carlson has unleashed what is arguably his most insane conspiracy theory yet, arguing that the war with Iran is tied to a supposed Chabad plan to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and rebuild the Bais Hamikdash (Third temple). During an episode of his podcast, Carlson questioned why some Israeli soldiers had been […]

Political commentator Candace Owens sparked widespread outrage this week after promoting a conspiracy theory alleging that Israel was responsible for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which killed roughly 3,000 Americans.

The controversy escalated Wednesday when Owens responded online to a video clip of Bibi Netanyahu speaking about the ongoing joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran. The clip was captioned, “Netanyahu: You see the difference. The tyrants of Tehran target civilians. We target the tyrants of Tehran to protect civilians.”

Owens reposted the video and added a sharply worded accusation: “You murdered 3,000 Americans on 9/11. For starters.”

A day earlier, Owens published several additional posts suggesting that Israel had orchestrated the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. In one post, she shared a clip of Tucker Carlson discussing an anti-Israel conspiracy theory and wrote, “From 9/11 to the Lavon Affair and many [sic] inbetween, false-flags are the Israeli way. Mossad agents are taught that they will inherit the earth ‘by way of deception’. Bibi wants a third world war so they can hit a global reset— as they have done everytime people start noticing.”

Owens, who hosts a widely followed podcast, also used Tuesday’s broadcast to criticize Blake Neff, a producer for The Charlie Kirk Show and a close associate of a MAGA influencer who was recently assassinated. Responding to Neff’s criticism of her comments about Erika Kirk, Owens wrote, “Of everything I have said on the show— Blake Neff has chosen to author a long-winded response to my OBVIOUS joke about Erika’s Shabbat Shalom world tour.”

She continued by sharing a screenshot of Neff’s reply to her attacks on Erika Kirk, who has been promoting her late husband’s final book, Stop in the Name of God, a work that focused on his appreciation for observing Shabbos.

Owens added another comment criticizing the response to her remarks, writing, “This is what they NEEDED to clarify. They need the world to know that Charlie loved Shabbat. We are beyond parody.” Owens has previously suggested that Israelis may have been involved in the influencer’s killing.

The latest controversy follows a pattern of highly controversial claims from Owens, who has frequently drawn headlines for promoting conspiracy theories. At one point earlier in her career, she even publicly advanced the claim that France’s first lady is actually a man.

Her recent posts triggered an immediate wave of criticism, including from figures on the political right.

Brent Scher, editor in chief of The Daily Wire and a former employer of Owens, shared her comments and criticized them sharply, writing, “We need better conspiracy theorists. Israel did 9/11 is one of the most tired conspiracies in the playbook. Didn’t know we were stating it as fact now in the asylum.”

David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network also mocked the claims, responding with a satirical equation describing how Owens and Carlson relate to reality and concluding, “Take whatever they say and invert it.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Finance Ministry warned Wednesday that the ongoing war with Iran is costing the country’s economy an estimated NIS 9.4 billion ($3 billion) each week as long as strict nationwide limitations on economic activity remain in effect.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper, Finance Ministry Director General Ilan Rom urged that some of the restrictions be loosened to allow a gradual and partial reopening of workplaces and businesses as early as Thursday. When approached by The Times of Israel, the IDF Home Front Command declined to comment on the request.

Rom stressed the need to balance security concerns with the country’s economic stability. “There is no dispute about the need to preserve a defense policy adapted to the security situation, but at the same time, shutting down the economy on a broad scale carries heavy economic costs,” Rom cautioned.

“We need a solution that addresses both the security needs of the Home Front and the needs of the economy, after two and a half years in which the economy has been paying a heavy economic price in light of the increase in security needs and the repercussions of the [Hamas] war,” he said.

The current restrictions were imposed after Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes against Iran on Saturday, prompting retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran. In response, the IDF’s Home Front Command introduced nationwide emergency directives banning public gatherings, halting educational activity, and closing most workplaces aside from essential services. The rules also limit commuting to work, require many employees to work remotely, and keep schools closed.

Following a new security assessment on Monday as the conflict continued, the Home Front Command decided to extend the restrictions across the country until Saturday night.

In his letter, Rom asked Klapper to downgrade the alert status from the current red level — which allows only essential activity — to the orange level, which would permit limited economic operations. According to the Finance Ministry, the red-level restrictions are responsible for the estimated weekly economic loss of NIS 9.4 billion, factoring in school closures, workplace shutdowns, and the widespread mobilization of reserve soldiers.

Under the orange alert level, workplaces and economic activity would be allowed to resume on a limited basis as long as employees remain close to protected spaces, though schools would remain closed.

“n their workplaces and make it clear to employees that the door is open if they want to come back,” said Manpower Group Israel CEO Dror Litvak. “This is not a move to ignore the security situation, but rather an adaptation to it.”

“From the perspective of employees, work is both economic security and a psychological anchor,” Litvak said.

Rom noted that if the country moves to the orange alert level, the expected weekly economic damage would drop to roughly NIS 4.5 billion ($1.5 billion), less than half the losses incurred under the stricter red-level restrictions.

“This policy will enable the expansion of economic activity while maintaining Home Front security, in a manner that meets both economic and security needs,” Rom remarked.

“The cost that the economy is required to absorb as part of the activity under the orange alert level is expected to have significant economic implications, but we believe that it reflects a balance that is necessary in the current reality, and allows for the minimum necessary economic activity while maintaining required security restrictions,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

In major events in Jerusalem on February 16 and 17, the State of Israel and World Jewry celebrated the reclamation of the 3,000 year old Har Hazeitim, the historic burial site of more than 150,000 Jews over the ages. Among them Nevi”im, many great Rabbis, and notable modern Israeli leaders. The events were sponsored by the International Committee for Har Hazeitim ICHH in conjunction with the Israeli government and Municipality of Jerusalem.

The highlight of the two day mission was the ceremony marking the completion of the first floor of the Visitor Education Center which ICHH is building in partnership with national and municipal government entities. The Center will serve not only as a gateway for the hundreds of thousands who visit each year, but as a permanent educational and security anchor to preserve the kedusha of the mountain and protect the kevarim of so many gedolim and kedoshim buried there.

The mission began Monday night with a well-attended Town Hall Meeting at the Begin Center, where United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee spoke warmly about the vital importance of securing and protecting Har Hazeitim. Ambassador Huckabee emphasized the global and historic significance of the site and praised the unwavering work of the ICHH in safeguarding this sacred mountain for generations to come.

Tuesday morning, participants toured Har Hazeitim firsthand, witnessing the remarkable progress made in cleaning, restoring, and securing the cemetery. Delegates saw the rehabilitation efforts, enhanced security measures, and ongoing improvements that now enable the hundreds of thousands who visit annually to do so with safety and dignity, something that was unthinkable just years ago.

The series of historic events also included an impressive reception by Israel’s Chief Rabbis, Rabbi Kalman Ber (Ashkenazi) and Rabbi David Yosef (Sephardi). The Chief Rabbis spoke passionately about the unique holiness of the mountain as the only cemetery within the traditional borders of Jerusalem and stressed the vital importance of protecting its sanctity for future generations. They were effusive in their praise for the members of the ICHH who succeeded in securing the historic cemetery and ending the rampant vandalism that plagued it prior to the organization’s founding.

In a special state ceremony honoring the accomplishments of the ICHH, President Isaac Herzog spoke of the historic and personal significance of Har Hazeitim. He noted that his own grandfather, former President Chaim Herzog, is buried on the mountain, underscoring the deeply personal connection so many families have to this sacred site. President Herzog declared that he stands ready to do anything necessary to ensure the success of the ICHH mission to protect Har Hazeitim. In a particularly moving gesture, the President gifted signed copies of a book about the Herzog family to Menachem and Avraham Lubinsky, the two brothers who founded the ICHH, as a token of appreciation for their historic leadership and dedication. The ceremony, held at the President’s Residence, included more than 80 members of the ICHH from the United States and abroad who traveled to join the historic festivities.

Despite the trying times facing Israel, the Knesset, headed by Speaker Amir Ohana, paused its intense national schedule to honor the ICHH, demonstrating the vital importance of this effort to Israel’s sovereignty and national dignity. More than 20 Members of Knesset and six government ministers attended, showing their commitment by taking time away from pressing national matters and critical events unfolding in Israel to stand in support of Har Hazeitim. MK Rabbi Yoav ben Zur, who headed the Knesset Caucus on Har Hazeitim, which at one time featured 76 members from all parties, the largest caucus in Knesset history, joined in recognizing the ICHH’s 16-year effort to reclaim this biblical and historic site.

The Lubinsky brothers reminded the Knesset why they founded the ICHH in 2010 following the devastating report by the late Israel Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, which exposed years of neglect and desecration, including broken tombstones and soccer matches played atop graves. Since then, the ICHH has brought transformative change. 176 surveillance cameras were installed, a police substation was established, new fences and gates were erected, and extensive rehabilitation was undertaken in partnership with government authorities and law enforcement.

The keynote event was the dedication celebrating completion of the first floor of the Har Hazeitim Visitor Education Center. Beyond construction progress, the Center represents a bold commitment to educate visitors about the mountain’s 3,000-year history, reinforce its kedusha, and ensure ongoing security and stewardship. The project, years in the making, has now advanced to construction of the second floor. Particular praise was given to Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion for his pivotal role in helping make the Visitors’ Center a reality.

An especially meaningful addition to the mission was the participation of hundreds of attendees of the Agudah Yarchei Kallah, who joined the delegation for a special luncheon highlighting the importance of the ICHH’s mission. In addition, the N’shei Yarchei Kallah were given a guided tour of Har Hazeitim, allowing them to witness firsthand the extraordinary progress in security, restoration, and preservation efforts.

The guests stood in silence as a Chazan recited Kaddish and Kel Maleh Rachamim for the 150,000 Jews buried on Har Hazeitim, a solemn reminder of the sacred responsibility entrusted to this generation.

An impressive evening of recognition was held at Jerusalem’s prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel, chaired by noted Jewish leader Malcolm Hoenlein, Chairman Emeritus of the Conference of Major American Jewish Organizations. Leaders and dignitaries praised the American delegation who invested their resources, time, and dedication to help establish the Visitors’ Center and secure the future of Har Hazeitim for the hundreds of thousands who come each year to connect with Jewish history, heritage, and holiness.

The mission concluded with a special meeting at the United States Embassy with Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who expressed deep familiarity with and admiration for Har Hazeitim and reiterated his strong support for the ICHH and its Israel Chairman, Jeff Daube.

This historic mission underscored not only what has already been achieved, but how much more remains to be done. The protection of Har Hazeitim, its kedusha, its history, and the graves of 150,000 Jews, requires continued vigilance, partnership, and support. We call upon all who cherish Jerusalem and its sacred heritage to join this holy mission, to help complete the Visitor Education Center and to ensure that Har Hazeitim remains protected, secure, and preserved for the hundreds of thousands who come each year and for generations yet to come.

For more information or to join this sacred effort, please visit harhazeitim.org

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said Wednesday night that escalating regional tensions have created a security environment that requires Israeli diplomats around the world to act with increased vigilance, including those serving in the United States.

Speaking in an interview with Kol Barama Radio, Danon said, “Even in the US, Israeli representatives need to be more careful during these days,” pointing to the broader implications of the current situation for Israel’s diplomatic missions.

Danon said Iran’s actions have had the unintended effect of unifying Arab states against it. “The Iranians made a very serious mistake when they attacked Arab countries. Representatives of those countries come to me and tell me: ‘Keep going with full force.’”

According to Danon, the impact was swift and far-reaching. “In a single day, Iran managed to turn the entire Arab world against it. European countries have also begun to grow concerned following the attacks on the Gulf states.”

He described Iran’s conduct as increasingly erratic under pressure, saying that “Iran is behaving like a wounded animal, and therefore it is firing in every direction.”

Turning to criticism from France, Danon dismissed the role of Emmanuel Macron, saying, “The French president is trying to demonstrate relevance on the international stage, but he isn’t succeeding. He lost control in France long ago, and that is why he is acting this way.”

Danon concluded by stressing the close cooperation between Jerusalem and Washington, saying that “there is a very high level of coordination between Israel and the US.”

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli Air Force F-35I fighter aircraft brought down an Iranian Yak-130 jet over Tehran on Wednesday, the IDF announced, marking the first time an F-35 has shot down a piloted aircraft, Times of Israel reports.

The encounter also represented the first instance in roughly four decades that the Israeli Air Force has fought an air-to-air battle against a manned enemy plane.

The previous time Israeli fighter jets destroyed a piloted hostile aircraft occurred on November 24, 1985, during a clash over Lebanon, when an Israeli F-15 shot down two Syrian MiG-23 fighter jets.

In an audio transmission released by the military, Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar praised the pilot responsible for the interception, calling the moment a landmark achievement.

“The historic interception over the skies of Tehran is an expression of the air force’s power and your personal determination. The next mission is already waiting for you,” Bar said.

Speaking with reporters, the commander of Nevatim Airbase — where Israel’s fleet of F-35 aircraft is stationed — described how the engagement unfolded once the Iranian jet was detected.

“We identified the plane, locked on it and launched [a missile].”

“The Iranian plane endangered [our] aircraft. It could have hit our plane, so we shot it down,” Brig. Gen. “Daled,” — identified only by his rank and first initial in Hebrew — said.

The base commander explained that the Israeli fighter launched its missile while already conducting operations targeting Iranian regime facilities in Tehran, noting that the aircraft is capable of executing such actions rapidly and precisely.

He added that the pilot responsible for downing the Iranian jet is relatively junior within the force, though the officer has previously flown operational missions over Iran.

“The Iranian Air Force understands that it is inferior and under significant threat. Despite this, it is trying with its remaining capabilities to carry out missions that will disrupt us. That was the situation that led to the shootdown,” the airbase commander said.

“We encounter the enemy during our sorties in Iran, but it is a weak enemy,” he added.

Video circulated on social media that appeared to show the aircraft crashing in the Lavasan Mountains north of Tehran, though the authenticity of the footage could not immediately be confirmed.

The Israeli Air Force is expected to commemorate the event by adding a “victory mark” decal to the side of the F-35I involved in the interception, recognizing the pilot and the aircraft for the achievement.

If added, it would likely be the first time in nearly twenty years that such a marking has been placed on an Israeli aircraft.

{Matzav.com}

For years, Iran’s theocratic government warned it would blanket the Middle East with missile and drone fire if it felt its existence was threatened. Now, the Islamic Republic is doing just that. Since the U.S. and Israel launched the war Saturday and killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has unleashed thousands of drones and ballistic missiles targeting […]

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

On Purim, we celebrate the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman’s sinister plot to annihilate them. We read and study the Megillah, reliving the stunning reversal that transformed a decree of destruction into a day of light and joy, and tracing the downfall of the wicked Haman.

The Megillah is unique in the fact that the name of Hashem is not mentioned openly anywhere in the entire narrative. Unlike other moments in our history, the Hand guiding events remains concealed between the lines. Purim was the first major miracle of national deliverance in which Hashem’s presence was hidden, His orchestration discernible only in hindsight. As the story unfolded, it appeared to move forward through political maneuvering, palace intrigue, and human courage. Only once the salvation was complete did it become evident that every detail — including the seudah of Achashveirosh, Vashti’s downfall, Esther’s rise, the king’s sleepless night, and everything else described in the Megillah — had been precisely arranged as part of a Divine plan.

Until Purim, Hashem’s role in our redemption had been revealed openly and unmistakably, often through events that transcended the laws of nature. The makkos, YetziasMitzrayim, Krias Yam Suf, and the miraculous sustenance in the midbar proclaimed Hashem’s mastery for all to see. The supernatural was evident, the message undeniable.

But the salvation in the days of Mordechai and Esther ushered in a new era. It was accomplished b’hester, within the natural order, through seeming coincidence and ordinary events. And so it has been ever since. We celebrate Purim not only to commemorate what happened then, but to internalize what it teaches now: That nothing is random, nothing is happenstance. Even when Hashem’s name is seemingly not written into the story, His presence is there. What appears fragmented and confusing is, in truth, carefully choreographed by Hashem Yisborach, guiding His people toward their ultimate redemption.

Once again, Klal Yisroel finds itself confronting grave danger. Nearly 2,400 years after the wicked designs of Haman to annihilate the Jewish people, we faced an existential threat from the regime in Iran.

For 47 years, since the Iranian Revolution, Iran’s leaders have openly proclaimed their hostility toward Israel and the United States, funding terror proxies across the region while pursuing nuclear capabilities and long-range missile technology. Israeli officials have warned for decades that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an intolerable threat, not only to Israel but to global stability. American administrations, along with other Western governments, have insisted that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, though diplomatic efforts and negotiated agreements often fell short of eliminating the danger.

This past Shabbos, after years of escalating tension and repeated warnings, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes targeting senior Iranian military leadership, nuclear facilities, ballistic missile installations, drone infrastructure, and command centers.

The objective was to halt a program that had crossed declared red lines and was rapidly advancing toward operational capability. Last year’s attacks apparently slowed, but did not stop, Iran’s efforts to build and expand its nuclear and missile programs.

The regime that repeatedly pledged to wipe Israel off the map appeared to be inching closer to that goal. Negotiations were attempted, but as the threat intensified and intelligence assessments grew more alarming, leaders concluded that the window to act was narrowing. When the opportunity presented itself to rid the world of the country’s leadership, the war was launched.

And thus, in the very region where the Purim story unfolded, and in the week of Purim, we find ourselves holding our collective breath. As in the days of Mordechai and Esther, events are moving swiftly, alliances are shifting, and the stakes are nothing less than the safety of millions. We recognize that beyond the military maneuvers and political calculations, Hakadosh Boruch Hu guides everything.

We are living through dangerous and historic days. Across Eretz Yisroel, families once again began the week hearing the wail of sirens and rushing to shelters as barrages of ballistic missiles streaked across the sky. Regrettably, some of those missiles landed in populated areas and claimed lives.

We daven that this conflict ends swiftly, that innocent lives be spared, and that the threat hanging over Klal Yisroel be decisively removed.

Just as the hidden Hand became clear at the end of the Megillah, we pray that soon we will merit to see, openly and unmistakably, the yeshuah that is now unfolding.

Boruch Hashem, most of us reading these words have never had to scramble to a shelter with minutes to spare. But for our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel, this has become an all-too-frequent reality. And yet, no matter how many times they have done it, they never grow accustomed to it.

War is not merely headlines and briefings. It is not maps and military jargon. It is fear. It is disorientation. It is being jolted awake in the middle of the night, or abandoning what you are doing in the middle of the day, clutching your children as you race to safety, reciting kappitlach of Tehillim as you run. It is the collapse of normalcy, with schools closed, businesses shuttered, flights canceled, and deliveries halted. It is the steady, unrelenting anxiety that settles into the body and clings to the soul.

Having your day interrupted by sirens and a frantic dash to a shelter before a missile strikes is more than inconvenient. It is nerve-racking, frightening, and life-altering. It reminds a person, again and again, how fragile life is.

And yet, amidst the chaos of sirens and explosions, a Jewish heart responds instinctively: “Hashem yishmor. Hashem will guard us.” Every rocket intercepted is a manifestation of His mercy. Every near miss is an indication of His will and rachamim. Ultimately, no defense system and no army operate independently of the Ribbono Shel Olam. He alone determines who will be protected, who will be spared, and who will emerge to say, “Hashem was watching over me.”

We are a nation that has endured more than any other in history, not because of our superior strength or political advantage, but because of our unbreakable bond with the Ribbono Shel Olam. That connection has carried us through empires that rose and fell, and through Hamans of every generation, and it sustains us still, in these days of sirens, smoke, rockets, planes, and peril.

With rachameiShomayim, most of the intended targets inside Iran are being struck, and with each successful operation, the threat is further diminished. Missiles are intercepted. Catastrophes are averted. Entire barrages that could have wrought unimaginable destruction are stopped midair.

And yet, as we saw in Tel Aviv, Beit Shemesh, Yerushalayim, and other cities, there are rockets that penetrate the shield. They land. They destroy. They maim. They are painful reminders that alongside rachamim, there is also din. They remind us how fragile life is, how dependent we are on siyatadiShmaya, and how urgently we must draw closer to Hakadosh Boruch Hu to merit protection.

As maaminimbneimaaminim, we understand that while armies battle on the physical front lines, we wage war on a spiritual one through tefillah, teshuvah, and tzedakah. Every added kappitel of Tehillim, every act of chesed, every extra moment of Torah learning fortifies the battlefield forces in ways we cannot measure. The unseen weapons of Klal Yisroel have always been its most powerful.

And when the war feels prolonged and the darkness thick, we cling to the promise of the novi: “Ki lo yitosh Hashem amo,” Hashem will not forsake His people.

Even now. Especially now.

In times of conflict, many are tempted to become amateur geopolitical analysts. Conversations quickly turn to speculation — why the enemy acted, what strategic calculus was at play, how deftly this leader or that one responded. Pundits dissect the decisions of presidents and prime ministers, attributing outcomes to political brilliance or failure.

But we know better.

This war, like every war, unfolds because Hashem willed it so, not because a particular leader desired it, and not because of one treaty or another speech. Events do not generate Divine plans. They implement them.

It is not that circumstances aligned and therefore history moved. History moves because the Ribbono Shel Olam directs it, and circumstances align accordingly.

Just as Paroh ascended to power to set the stage for YetziasMitzrayim, so are contemporary leaders positioned precisely where they need to be to fulfill a larger design. The revolutionary regime that took control of Iran in 1979 did not emerge by accident. The global powers that enabled it, restrained it, negotiated with it, or confronted it did not act outside the framework of Hashgocha. Each played, and continues to play, a role in a script authored long before any of them took office.

It’s not that Trump won and therefore the war happened. It’s the other way around. Trump won because Hashem wanted the world to move toward this moment.

Presidents and prime ministers occupy their posts because, at this juncture in history, the Ribbono Shel Olam requires them there. The world is being guided, step by step, toward its destined culmination. The threats we face, the alliances that form, and the confrontations that erupt are all part of a process moving creation toward geulah.

Because Hashem wants to set up the world for Moshiach to reveal himself and redeem us, He brought the world to this juncture.

We may not yet see the full picture. But just as in the days of Purim, when the Hand was hidden until the final moment, so too, we now live within a story still unfolding, guided with precision, purpose, and promise.

When we forget who we are and Who sustains us, when we allow ourselves to be distracted by headlines and worldly analysis, we risk becoming like the Jews of Shushan, threatened by Haman after having sinned by indulging in the feast of Achashveirosh and drinking from the keilim of the destroyed Bais Hamikdosh.

The Rambam opens HilchosTaanis with a powerful statement: “Mitzvas asei min haTorah, it is a mitzvah in the Torah, to cry out to Hashem and to do teshuvah whenever any tragedy strikes.” This is derived from a posuk in ParshasBeha’aloscha (Bamidbar 10:9). When tragedy strikes, it is ultimately a reflection of our own shortcomings, and the path to overcoming it is through teshuvah.

Those who reduce wars or calamities to purely political or natural explanations, or who deny or ignore Hashem’s role in the unfolding of events, are engaging in a form of cruelty. They obscure the truth, prevent people from recognizing the Divine Hand, and hinder the opportunity for teshuvah. None of us wish to be counted among the cruel, especially when the Rambam is not offering opinion but articulating halacha and revealing the true nature of the world according to the Torah.

The Chovos Halevavos teaches in Shaar CheshbonHanefesh that someone who places his faith in Hashem is never abandoned. Hashem opens the gates of understanding, reveals the hidden depths of His wisdom, watches over him, and does not leave him to the limitations of his own strength.

The Gemara (Avodah Zarah 2b) tells us that when Moshiach comes, the nations of the world will protest the punishment they are about to receive for their treatment of the Jews. They will claim that all their actions were intended to benefit the Jewish people and facilitate their service of Hashem and the Torah. Persia, modern-day Iran, will argue, “We built bridges, conquered lands, and waged wars all to enable the Jews to learn Torah.”

While it is conceivable that infrastructure projects could indirectly support Torah study, what of war? Perhaps the Gemara is hinting that even wars and threats can serve as wake-up calls — to frighten, to warn, to inspire teshuvah, and to redirect hearts toward the Torah.

When the Supreme Ruler of Iran publicly declared his intent to destroy Israel and raced to arm the nation with nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, the world largely stood by, making only nominal attempts to curb his ambitions.

During last year’s twelve-day conflict, Israel cleared the skies, striking hundreds of targets and neutralizing military leaders, nuclear scientists, and key infrastructure. In just a few days, a nation seventy-five times smaller dismantled decades of buildup, despite Iran’s strength and pride. Though rockets were fired in retaliation, Hashem’s protection was unmistakable. Most were intercepted, and the death toll remained minimal. Every life lost is a tragedy, yet the contrast between what could have happened and what actually occurred can only be explained by HashgochaProtis.

This is not strategy. This is not luck. This is not political brilliance.

This is Hashem’s Hand. This is the unfolding of a Divine plan. This is the sound of the approaching geulah.

Let us not waste this moment. As the war continues, as sirens wail and bombs threaten every part of Eretz Yisroel, let us raise our voices in passionate tefillah that Hashem spare us from the evil intentions of the anshei Poras andYishmoel.

Let us strengthen our commitment to Torah, chesed, tzedakah, and the refinement of our middos. Let us build zechuyos with every word of Torah learned, every tefillah sincerely recited, and every act of kindness performed.

Just as in the days of Mordechai and Esther, when danger loomed and Hashem’s Hand was hidden, we live today with the awareness that nothing is by chance. Every challenge, every threat, every moment of uncertainty is part of a Divine plan. Purim reminds us that even when Hashem is hidden, His providence is real, guiding every event and protecting His people.

We are reminded that our role is not passive. While Hashem orchestrates the world, we are called to act as only we can through Torah, tefillah, tzedakah, and chesed, refining ourselves and building zechuyos for ourselves and our people. Just as Esther and Mordechai played a crucial role in the miracle of Purim by leading Am Yisroel to teshuvah, so will our spiritual efforts today help bring about the hidden yeshuah for which we all yearn.

Let us live with clarity and courage, seeing both the dangers and the opportunities that lie before us. Let us be a people who respond to fear, threats, and uncertainty with emunah, bitachon, and unwavering trust in Hakadosh Boruch Hu.

May this be the last war, and just as the Megillah ends with orah, simcha, sasson and yekor, may we soon see peace break out in the Middle East and throughout the world and be zoche to the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

The Islamic Republic will target Israel’s nuclear site in Dimona if Israel and the US engage in efforts to topple its regime, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported on Wednesday. The report quoted a senior Iranian military official who said that Tehran would respond forcefully to any external efforts to overthrow its regime, adding that […]

Iranian military aircraft were reportedly only minutes away from striking a key American installation in Qatar before they were intercepted and shot down by Qatari fighter jets, according to a report by CNN citing two unnamed officials familiar with the incident.

The report said the Iranian aircraft were just “two minutes” from launching an attack on Qatar’s al-Udeid Air Base — the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East — when Qatari F-15 fighter jets engaged and destroyed them.

According to one of the sources briefed on the situation, the aircraft were identified as Soviet-era Su-24 tactical bombers operated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The planes were reportedly flying toward al-Udeid, which typically hosts about 10,000 U.S. service members, as well as Qatar’s Ras Laffan natural gas processing complex.

The source said the aircraft were carrying “bombs and guided munitions” and did not respond to repeated radio calls as they approached their suspected targets.

Officials said the Iranian aircraft ultimately went down in Qatari territorial waters after being struck by the fighter jets. Search operations are currently underway to locate the crews of the downed planes.

{Matzav.com}

Voting was peaceful in Nepal’s first nationwide election Thursday since a violent, youth-led uprising forced the government from power in September. Turnout was about 60% and only a few minor incidents were reported, according to Nepal’s acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari. Vote counting would begin immediately after the ballot boxes are collected and […]

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Chareidi soldiers in the IAF are seen attaching bombs to aircraft as they prepare to strike targets in Iran.

Former VP Mike Pence: I think at the end of the day, history will record that he made the right call. The opportunity presented itself the president made the decision to unleash our armed forces.