A display of historic cattle cars parked in Lakewood has sparked strong reactions from residents, with some contacting police after finding the exhibit offensive or disturbing.

The cattle cars, which are widely recognized as one of the most haunting symbols of the Holocaust, were used by the Nazis to transport millions of Jews and other victims to concentration and extermination camps during World War II.

Ironically, the purpose of the exhibit is the exact opposite of what some critics fear. According to the organization behind the display, the exhibit was brought to the community to educate visitors about the dangers of hatred and indifference.

“We are committed to encouraging people to reflect on the depths of evil while inspiring thoughtful conversations about genocide and indifference as they participate in The Cattle Car exhibit,” the organization states. “We also want to motivate individuals to get involved in preventing hate crimes and maintaining a sense of unity with each other.”

So what do you think? Does the cattle car exhibit serve as an important reminder of where hatred can lead, or is displaying such a powerful symbol in a public setting more harmful than helpful for survivors, their families, and the broader community?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

New York (VINNEWS/Rabbi Yair Hoffman)

It was 1982, and this author and two friends had come to the home of Rav Michel Yehudah Lefkowitz zt”l to purchase his Minchas Yehudah series of seforim for the yeshiva. There were not enough chairs, and he hurried to borrow some from the neighbors so that we could all be seated. The welcome we received was like finding one’s long lost zeidy — a grandfather who had been waiting years, pining to meet us at last. He asked us all about ourselves, drawing out each detail with genuine warmth and interest, and only after some twenty-five minutes did he gently ask why we had come. To us, he was the living embodiment of Avraham Avinu in his hachnasas orchim — the guest came first, and only afterward the purpose of the visit. We all left with a memory that has lasted us a lifetime, and we used his seforim for years. Once a rosh yeshiva whose shiur I was in attacked the position of the Minchas Yehudah, and I stayed up the entire night to answer up the questions. That morning, the rosh yeshiva accepted the answer and said it was correct.

Today, the 26th of Sivan, marks the yahrtzeit of one of the great roshei yeshiva and educators of the Lithuanian Torah world, Rav Michel Yehudah Lefkowitz, zt”l, who passed away on this date in 5771 (2011) at the age of 97.

Rav Michel Yehudah was born in Volozhin in Kislev 5674 (December 1913) to Rav Moshe Dovid and Chaya Lefkowitz. Volozhin, a town in what is today Belarus, was renowned throughout the Torah world as the home of the famed Volozhiner Yeshiva, the “mother of yeshivos” founded by Rav Chaim of Volozhin.

His father was sixty years old when he married, and despite a meager income, he hired private melamdim to teach his son. At the age of twelve, the young Michel Yehudah traveled to learn in the small yeshiva in Lida, celebrating his bar mitzvah together with his fellow students, far from his parents who remained in Volozhin. He later moved to Vilna to learn in Yeshivas Ramailes under Rav Shlomo Heiman, whom he regarded as his primary rebbe. Years later he would publish his rebbe’s shiurim in the sefer “Chiddushei Rabbi Shlomo.”

In 1936, the family ascended to Eretz Yisrael through certificates obtained by his older brother Aryeh Leib. This was the era of the British Mandate and the Arab revolt of 1936–1939, when entry to the land was tightly restricted by British immigration quotas, making such certificates precious and difficult to obtain. There he learned in Yeshivas Chevron in Yerushalayim and grew close to several of the gedolim of the generation, including Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, with whom he established a weekly seder, and the Chazon Ish, of whom he became a devoted talmid.

On Lag BaOmer 5700 (1940), he married Chava Esther Gershonovitz, daughter of Rav Avraham Yitzchak Gershonovitz, rosh yeshiva of Tiferes Tzion in Bnei Brak. The Chazon Ish himself served as the shadchan and led him to the chuppah. Shortly after his marriage, Rav Michel Yehudah was appointed as a ram in Tiferes Tzion, where his talmidim included Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Nissim Karelitz, and Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman.

During those years he founded a special shiur for baalei batim in the beis medrash of the Chazon Ish. At times the Chazon Ish himself would listen to the shiur with enjoyment. That shiur continued in an uninterrupted fashion for roughly fifty years.

In the early 1950s, Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman founded Yeshivas Ponevezh L’Tzeirim for boys ages thirteen to seventeen, and appointed Rav Michel Yehudah to head it alongside Rav Aharon Yehudah Leib Steinman. For some sixty years he delivered shiurim there, producing thousands of talmidim, among them rabbanim, roshei yeshiva, and renowned talmidei chachamim. Only at the end of 5769 (2009), weakened by age, did he cease delivering his shiurim.

A man of deep humility, Rav Michel Yehudah requested in his will that only his two sons eulogize him, and that he not be described with the titles “gaon” or “tzaddik.” He also asked that no memorial volume be published in his honor, lest it cause bittul Torah.

When Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach founded Degel HaTorah, Rav Michel Yehudah was added to the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, and he was widely regarded as a faithful continuer of Rav Shach’s path. His influence in the realms of chinuch and the yeshivos was vast; many roshei yeshiva sought his counsel, and he served as nasi of numerous Torah institutions. He devoted himself with particular passion to safeguarding “chinuch tahor” — pure, uncompromising Torah education. In his final will, he charged his family to strengthen the education of sons and daughters al taharas hakodesh.

Among his treasured educational guidance, Rav Michel Yehudah taught that a father should learn Torah with his son not only to fulfill “v’shinantam l’vanecha,” but to build a bond of love between them. Such learning, he taught, must flow from love rather than coercion: a father should listen to his son patiently and with a pleasant countenance, praise him for a good sevara to endear the learning to him, and rebuke gently so the son senses it stems from his father’s love and concern for his good. The generation is weak, he would say, and so one must lead primarily with the right hand that draws close rather than the left that pushes away. The key to success in raising children, he taught, is tefillah b’demaos — prayer with tears. And above all, he emphasized the power of personal example: when a son sees his father immersed in Torah and meticulous in mitzvos, it influences him more than any words of reproof.

Rav Michel Yehudah was survived by sons and daughters who themselves became marbitzei Torah, and by grandchildren and a vast network of talmidim who carry forward his legacy. He left behind important seforim, including Mincha Yehudah on numerous masechtos, Amri Daas, Darchei HaChaim, and Emek HaShaar.

He passed away on Tuesday, the 26th of Sivan 5771 — the yahrtzeit of his father-in-law, Rav Avraham Yitzchak Gershonovitz. His levaya, which set out from his home on Rechov Vilkomir in Bnei Brak, was attended by an estimated one hundred thousand people.

There is an extremely large percentage of the world accepts the principle of “What Goes Around Comes Around” – which in the language of Chazal is “Midah Keneged Midah.”

But why does Hashem do it? Why does Hashem run the world in this fashion? [It should also be noted that the American use of the word Karma is technically not the original use of the notion – which reflects an idea from a foreign religion/ The American use of it reflects the idea of Midah Keneged Midah].

Rav Michel Yehudah writes that there is a clear and determined purpose for Midah keneged Midah, and it is not what most people think. Every day, just before the Shma, we recite the bracha of Ahavah Rabbah which recalls the boundless love Hashem has for Klal Yisroel. But we must also remember that Hashem loves all of His creations and so much wants their Teshuvah. Hashem even wanted Pharoah’s Teshuvah. Hashem is good to all – Tov Hashem Lakol. Karov Hashem lechol Korav – lechol asher yikra’u’hu b’emes.

The reason for Hashem punishing people with “Karma” explains Rav Michel Yehudah, is that He wants us to know exactly what we did wrong so that we will know exactly how to do Teshuvah – so that we can come back to Hashem. Karma, so to speak, directs the individual to the exact location and area where he had stumbled.

Yehi zichro baruch.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

The world’s airlines expect to earn roughly half as much this year as they did last year, dragged down by a surge in jet fuel prices tied to the war with Iran. The International Air Transport Association, the industry’s main trade group, delivered the downgrade Sunday, June 7, at its annual meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

Airlines will bring in a combined net profit of $23 billion in 2026, down from a previously projected $41 billion and below the $45 billion they earned in 2025, the group said. Profit margins are expected to thin from 4.2% to 2.0%, meaning carriers will keep just two cents of every dollar in sales.

The cause is fuel. The group expects average jet fuel prices to run 70% higher than last year, adding about $100 billion to the industry’s collective fuel bill. Oil prices jumped after the U.S.-Iran conflict began in late February and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint that handles a large share of the world’s oil. Jet fuel now averages around $152 a barrel, up from roughly $90 last year.

Willie Walsh, the group’s director general, said war-related disruptions and rising fuel costs have shifted the outlook for the worse. He warned that smaller carriers that started the year with weak finances are struggling the most.

The pain is uneven. The Middle East, long the most profitable region for air travel, has been hit hardest. The group now expects the region’s airlines to lose $4.3 billion this year, a sharp reversal from the $7.2 billion profit they earned in 2025, as carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways cut operations following weeks of airspace closures. In North America, profits are forecast to fall to $9.4 billion from $12.4 billion.

Travel demand itself is holding up. Passenger numbers are expected to rise 2.4% to 5.1 billion this year, with planes filling to about 84% of capacity. The problem is that demand cannot outrun costs. Airlines are now earning just $4.50 in profit per passenger, a razor-thin cushion.

For travelers, the squeeze is showing up at the booking screen. Airlines are raising fares to cover the higher fuel bills, so summer trips cost more than they did a year ago. Some carriers, including LATAM and Azul, are cutting how often they fly certain routes. Others are flying longer paths to avoid closed airspace over the Middle East, which burns more fuel and adds time to journeys. Fewer flights and pricier tickets are the direct result.

Fuel is not the only headache. Airlines are also short on new planes. Airbus and Boeing have struggled with delivery delays, leaving carriers flying older, less fuel-efficient jets at exactly the moment fuel is most expensive. The aircraft backlog has swelled to record levels, capping how fast airlines can grow and adding to their costs.

The business stakes reach well beyond the airlines themselves. Air travel ties directly into tourism, conventions, and trade. When flying gets more expensive, families rethink vacations, companies trim travel budgets, and the hotels, restaurants, and shops that depend on visitors feel it. Shipping costs rise too, since a meaningful share of high-value goods moves by air.

The whole forecast rests on how long the war lasts. As long as the Strait of Hormuz stays disrupted, fuel will stay expensive and airlines will keep absorbing the hit or passing it to passengers. If the conflict eases and oil flows normalize, the math could improve quickly. Until then, the industry is bracing for a lean year, and travelers should expect to keep paying more to fly.

JBizNews Desk — Aviation

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NEW YORK(VINnews) – In a recent interview with journalist Alan Skorski, Dr. Jacob Agronin, a cardiology fellow, detailed the antisemitism he and other Jewish physicians face within their union — the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) — and explained why he felt compelled to testify before Congress.

Dr. Agronin appeared before the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions to highlight what he described as the union’s adoption of positions aligned with Hamas and Hezbollah supporters, amid broader concerns about antisemitism infiltrating healthcare — a field many expected to remain free of political and religious conflict.

CIR, which represents more than 37,000 physicians and is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), has passed resolutions declaring Israel guilty of “apartheid” and “genocide,” endorsing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and directing the union to oppose candidates who support legislation criminalizing BDS. The resolutions also reject equating antisemitism with anti-Zionism and claim that concerns over rising antisemitism are being exploited to stifle anti-Zionist organizing, according to Agronin’s testimony.

The union has also expressed support for figures associated with Hamas and Hezbollah, including Mahmood Khlail, a former Columbia University student targeted for deportation by the Trump administration.

In his interview with Skorski, Agronin recounted noticing troubling signs about the union approximately a year ago when his hospital voted to join CIR. He described being disturbed by the organization’s focus on anti-Israel positions that have nothing to do with patient care or medicine.ac5b68

When asked what motivated him to testify, Agronin told Skorski: “I didn’t want any of this… but someone had to stand up and say something.”

Agronin, a cardiology fellow at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, emphasized two primary concerns for Jewish doctors: being forced to pay dues to a union they did not choose that targets them and Israeli colleagues, and the politicization of medicine. He argued that CIR’s resolutions align it with activists who disrupted college campuses following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel.

In the interview, Agronin noted that he first became aware of rising antisemitism on college campuses about 10 years ago and was surprised to see it extend into healthcare. He connected with the American Jewish Medical Association and the National Right to Work Legal Defense Fund for support before his congressional testimony.

The testimony and interview come as reports of antisemitism in medical settings — including calls to exclude Israeli doctors and hostile environments for Jewish patients and providers — have increased since Oct. 7.

An American favorite pizza chain is quietly disappearing from communities across the country.

Papa Johns is following through on its plan to close about 300 North American stores, with dozens of locations shuttering in the first quarter – primarily in core Sun Belt states.

A recent analysis of Papa Johns financial filings by Fast Company found that 44 stores closed across 17 states, with the highest concentration of closures in Texas, California, Florida and Arizona.

Multiple location closures have also been identified in Michigan, North Carolina and Virginia.

CHICK-FIL-A EXPANDS ITS ‘GHOST KITCHEN’ MODEL WITH NEW DELIVERY-ONLY STORE IN FLORIDA

The pizza brand first announced in February that hundreds of underperforming restaurants would cease operations by the end of 2027, describing the locations as being primarily franchise-owned, more than a decade old and generating less than $600,000 in annual sales volumes (AUVs).

“We believe these closures will further strengthen the system, increasing AUVs by at least 3% and improve franchisee health by allowing franchisees to reallocate resources towards operational excellence in their remaining restaurants and open units in priority markets,” Papa Johns CFO Ravi Thanawala previously said.

He also said that the majority of the company’s restaurants worldwide have “performed well over the years and delivered strong returns for both corporate and franchise owners,” and that the strategic closure of underperforming restaurants is “among the most impactful actions we can take to improve restaurant profitability and fleet health.”

However, shares of Papa Johns International were down roughly 21% year to date through Wednesday’s close. Over the past five years, shares of Papa Johns International have fallen more than 69%.

In addition to the Q1 store closures, filings showed that Papa Johns laid off 7% of its corporate workforce.

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Not only are franchisees across the fast-food industry facing severe headwinds from inflation, supply chain expenses and labor costs, but pizzerias nationwide are facing stiff competition. A recent Wall Street Journal report found that pizza restaurants are now outnumbered by Mexican restaurants and coffee shops.

Other pizza chain competitors have made strategic moves amid weakening demand, including rival Pizza Hut closing hundreds of locations and its parent company, Yum! Brands, reportedly looking into a potential sale of the chain.

READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS

FOX Business’ Matthew Kazin contributed to this report.

America’s historic beef shortage may not ease anytime soon as the U.S. cattle herd remains at its lowest level in more than seven decades, keeping pressure on prices even as consumers continue to buy beef at elevated levels.

Omaha Steaks President and CEO Nate Rempe joined FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo on “Mornings with Maria” to discuss the supply challenges facing the beef industry and why meaningful price relief could still be years away. The discussion comes as retail beef prices reached a record $9.64 per pound in April, up 13% from a year earlier, according to USDA data.

While recent concerns have centered on the re-emergence of the screwworm parasite in parts of Texas and New Mexico, Rempe said the larger issue is its effect on cattle imports from Mexico, which account for roughly 4% to 5% of the U.S. live cattle market.

The bigger challenge, however, remains the size of the domestic herd.

“We’ve got to build the herd,” Rempe said. “If we can build the herd and we can build supply back up, then we can see beef prices come down.”

DOJ CONFIRMS ANTITRUST PROBE OF MAJOR MEATPACKERS OVER BEEF PRICE INFLATION

Rempe noted that ranchers must retain more female cattle for breeding rather than sending them to market, a process that takes time and delays any meaningful increase in supply.

“As you know, we’re at a 72-year low,” Rempe said. “I think maybe last year when we talked, we were thinking we would see recovery in ’27, now we’re into ‘28, maybe even ’29 before we start seeing meaningful herd building happening.”

Those supply constraints have persisted even as consumer demand remains strong heading into key grilling holidays and summer gatherings.

“The demand is just not waning,” Rempe said. 

That combination of limited supply and resilient demand has created an unusual market dynamic that continues to support higher prices.

‘WE GOTTA EAT’: PHILLY BUTCHER ON RISING BEEF PRICES AS CUSTOMERS ADJUST SPENDING HABITS

“I think the big question for economists and people thinking about the beef market and sort of retail beef in general is how long can that persist?” Rempe said. “How long can the supply stay constrained and demand stay high?”

The comments underscore the challenges facing beef producers as the industry works to rebuild the nation’s cattle herd from historically low levels.

The Israel Democracy Institute published a poll earlier this week by the Viterbi Family Center showing a sharp drop in Israelis’ confidence in President Donald Trump’s commitment to their security.

The percentage of Israelis who believe that Israel’s security is one of Trump’s main considerations barely shifted from November 2024 to March 2026, rising by one percentage point, from 63 percent to 64 percent. Just two months later, in May, that percentage took a nosedive to 41 percent.

(Credit: The Israel Democracy Institute)

During those two months, Israelis also lost confidence that a U.S.-Iran deal will accomplish the goals Israel had hoped to achieve in its war against Iran.

The percentage of Israelis who believe that the deal will eliminate the nuclear project dropped from 63 to 56; that it will eliminate the ballistic threat dropped from 64.5 to 32; and that it will topple the Iranian regime dropped from 55 to 28.

The survey also found rising discontent with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with 35 percent supporting another run for the highest office in the land and 61 percent opposing.

As protests continue over the detention of bnei yeshivah and demonstrators arrested at recent anti-draft rallies, two personal stories have emerged that supporters say highlight the human toll of the ongoing arrests.

One of the detainees, R’ Nosson Start, a Breslover avreich, was informed while in custody that his first child had been born. Start was arrested during a protest held outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg in Alon Shevut and has remained behind bars since his arrest.

According to information obtained by the news outlet Emes, the new father received the news of his son’s birth while still in detention.

Family members and supporters say that despite the joyous occasion, authorities did not approve his release. They claim that either the court or the Israel Prison Service refused to allow him temporary freedom, leaving him to celebrate the birth of his firstborn while incarcerated.

A second case involves another detainee from the same protest who was scheduled to celebrate his vort Tuesday evening at the old Beis Yaakov Hall. Because he remained in custody, he was unable to attend the event, and family members were forced to postpone the celebration.

Meanwhile, legal proceedings related to the protests continue.

Earlier in the day, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of three suspects accused of involvement in a break-in at the Beit Shemesh police station, ordering that they remain in custody until Thursday.

Two of the suspects acknowledged participating in the protest but denied taking part in any break-in. A third suspect, Meir Rabinovitz, son of mekubal Rav Gamliel Rabinovitz, denied any involvement whatsoever and reportedly requested that investigators examine his cellphone location data in an effort to prove he was at home when the incident occurred.

Attention is now turning to today’s court hearings, when 51 of the 65 individuals arrested that night are expected to appear once again before a judge after spending a full week in detention.

The court is expected to decide whether to extend their incarceration further or release them under various conditions.

{Matzav.com}

An Ontario Chabad location was vandalized for the second time in less than two weeks, with antisemitic graffiti discovered on Monday, according to Chabad of Guelph and the Guelph Police Service.

The vandals wrote the message “Zionist dogs…stop killing children…the goyim know” on the window of the temporary Chabad center.

The location currently hosts Shabbos morning services and several weekday classes while a permanent Chabad center is under construction. The site was previously targeted on May 30 in another vandalism incident.

During the earlier attack, graffiti reading “Death to genocidal Israhell,” was found written across the window.

Guelph Police said Wednesday that they were investigating both incidents, though officials had not yet confirmed whether they were connected.

Rabbi Raphi Steiner said he was shocked after discovering the first attack and was especially disturbed that his son was exposed to the hateful message.

“It was heartbreaking to watch my 12-year-old son sit in shul constantly glancing up at the very visible graffiti, wondering why someone would do that to his shul,” Rabbi Steiner told the Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

The rabbi warned that antisemitism has increased in the area in recent months, with Jews becoming the most targeted group for hate crimes in Canada since the October 7 Massacre, despite making up only around 1% of the population.

Oracle reported the biggest quarter in its history on Wednesday, June 10, telling investors in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that its order backlog for cloud and artificial intelligence work has ballooned to $638 billion. The company posted record revenue of $19.2 billion for its fiscal fourth quarter, up 21% from a year earlier.

The number drawing the most attention was that backlog, which Oracle calls remaining performance obligations. It represents contracts signed but not yet delivered, essentially money customers have promised to pay for future work. It grew by $85 billion in the quarter alone, climbing from $553 billion to $638 billion. For a company with annual revenue of $67.4 billion, that backlog is roughly ten times what it brings in each year.

The rest of the report was strong too. Earnings came in at $1.45 per share on a GAAP basis, up 21%, and $2.11 on an adjusted basis, up 24%. Total cloud revenue reached $9.9 billion, up 47%. The fastest-growing piece was the cloud infrastructure business, where Oracle rents out computing power. That unit posted revenue of $5.8 billion, up 93% from a year earlier.

The results topped Wall Street’s expectations. Analysts had looked for about $19.1 billion in revenue and $1.96 per share. Oracle beat both.

What makes this quarter important reaches beyond Oracle. The company has become one of the central players in the AI buildout, renting the massive computing capacity that other firms need to train and run AI systems. Its backlog is widely watched as a gauge of whether the AI spending boom is real and durable, or whether it is starting to cool. Wednesday’s jump suggests demand is still climbing.

Chairman and chief technology officer Larry Ellison and chief executive Safra Catz have spent the past year raising the company’s growth targets, and the backlog gives those promises weight. The catch is that a backlog is a promise, not cash in hand. The question hanging over the company is how fast it can turn those signed contracts into delivered revenue, and how much it must spend to do so.

That spending is enormous. Oracle is pouring tens of billions of dollars into data centers and the chips that fill them, with capital spending expected to run near $75 billion in the coming fiscal year. Building that capacity requires heavy borrowing, and Oracle already carries one of the largest debt loads of any technology company. The bet is that the AI orders will more than pay for it. If demand holds, the math works. If it slows, the bills come due regardless.

For ordinary investors, Oracle matters more than many realize. Its stock sits in countless index funds and retirement accounts, so its swings ripple into savings that have nothing to do with technology. The shares have climbed steeply over the past several months on AI optimism, then pulled back this week along with the rest of the market. Oracle closed Wednesday around $206 a share, caught in a broad selloff driven by inflation and the war with Iran, even as its underlying business posted records.

The broader signal is what businesses across the economy will take from this report. Oracle’s surging backlog tells suppliers, builders, and power companies that the demand for AI infrastructure is not letting up. That means continued orders for everything from servers and chips to electricity and construction. It also means the companies chasing this boom are taking on heavy debt and betting big that the spending pays off.

Oracle’s fiscal year is now closed, and the company heads into a new one with a record pipeline and record obligations to match. Wednesday answered the immediate question of whether the AI orders are real. The longer test, turning that $638 billion in promises into delivered profit, starts now.

JBizNews Desk — Technology

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Rep. Ilhan Omar is continuing to brush aside questions regarding her finances as Republicans push for greater scrutiny of her financial disclosure filings and alleged ties to a massive COVID-era fraud scheme.

Questions intensified after financial disclosures appeared to show a dramatic drop in Omar’s estimated net worth, from a range of roughly $6 million to $30 million in one filing period to between approximately $18,000 and $95,000 in a later disclosure.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has publicly called for an Ethics Committee review of Omar’s finances, as well as her connections to the “Feeding Our Future” scandal, a fraud scheme that federal prosecutors say cost taxpayers approximately $250 million.

When asked by Fox News Digital whether she was facing an Ethics Committee investigation, Omar laughed off the suggestion.

“No,” Omar responded. “We go over this all the time.”

Pressed about reports regarding the financial discrepancy, Omar replied, “There’s also the possibility that it might rain on this sunny day.”

The controversy comes as Vice President JD Vance recently indicated that the Justice Department’s anti-fraud task force would examine allegations related to Omar and the Feeding Our Future scandal.

Federal authorities have described the case as the largest COVID-related fraud scheme in the country. The nonprofit’s founder, Aimee Bock, was sentenced to 42 years in prison for her role in orchestrating the scheme.

Omar has repeatedly denied any knowledge of wrongdoing and has rejected allegations connecting her to the fraud.

Despite her denials, Republicans continue to press for a formal investigation into both the financial disclosure questions and the broader fraud allegations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF is preparing for a possible offensive against Hezbollah in the southern Lebanon city of Nabatieh, a major stronghold of the terror group, an Israeli military official said Thursday.

The IDF’s 36th Division has advanced deeper into southern Lebanon in recent days and is currently operating near Arnoun, a village located a few kilometers from Nabatieh, according to the military.

The division carried out covert operations near the Litani River before the advance, including constructing a new bridge across the waterway in an area Hezbollah was not monitoring, the official said. After the bridge was completed, armored forces crossed and moved north quickly without being detected.

The official said the division’s next steps would depend on decisions by Israeli leadership. The forces could continue advancing toward Nabatieh or move westward to keep targeting Hezbollah positions along the Litani River.

The purpose of either operation would be to further damage Hezbollah’s capabilities, the official said.

The developments come as fighting continues across multiple fronts, with regional tensions rising amid the war with Iran.

A Times of Israel reporter described the toll of the conflict in Israel, writing about visiting communities impacted by missile strikes, including Arad and Dimona, where nearly 200 people were injured.

The reporter met Shilgit, who runs an after-school program for underprivileged youth, outside her damaged center. She said it was a miracle no children were harmed and described how the community had united following the attack.

The reporter said documenting stories of resilience remains a priority, but added that continued coverage depends on public support.

NEW YORK (AP) — Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander was acquitted Thursday of criminal charges related to his arrest last September at a protest inside a building that houses one of New York City’s immigration courts.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Ricardo delivered his verdict exonerating Lander a day after presiding over a one-day trial in Manhattan.

“I find the defendant not guilty,” Ricardo said after reading a lengthy analysis of the evidence and Lander’s testimony. Lander jubilantly hugged his lawyers immediately after the proceeding ended.

Outside the courthouse, Lander, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman in the Democratic primary, said he was moved by the judge’s “thoughtful, thorough review and ruling in this case.”

“I feel genuinely moved by the rule of law,” Lander said, calling it a blessing to live in a country where someone can successfully fight the government when wrongfully charged.

He said he wishes that immigrants facing possible deportation from the U.S. could receive the same access to quality lawyers and the courts that he enjoyed.

Federal prosecutors unsuccessfully argued that Lander obstructed an elevator on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza as he sat in front of it for 20 to 25 minutes on Sept. 18, 2025. Ricardo said the government had failed to show that Lander intended to obstruct the elevators or was uncooperative as members of federal law enforcement gave protesters conflicting instructions.

A spokesperson for prosecutors declined comment Thursday.

A day earlier, Lander had testified in his own defense that he had no intention of disrupting elevator traffic in the lower Manhattan building that houses 40 federal agencies, including the FBI.

Lander, formerly the city’s comptroller and an ally of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, testified that nobody told him to step away from the elevator or said he was obstructing it before his arrest.

Weeks after his arrest, he rejected a deal that would have dismissed the misdemeanor obstruction charge in six months.

The arrest was not the first time that Lander, who ran for mayor last year, has faced jeopardy during an immigration protest. He was arrested in June 2025 at an immigration court in Manhattan after he linked arms with a person authorities were trying to detain, but charges were never filed.

A major legal challenge was filed Thursday morning with Israel’s Supreme Court against new eligibility requirements in the government’s subsidized housing program, Dira B’Hanachah, with petitioners arguing that women and children are being unfairly penalized because of a spouse’s military status.

The petition, submitted against the Israeli government, the Israel Land Council, and the Ministry of Construction and Housing, marks the latest battle over policies affecting families of draft-eligible chareidi men.

Filed by attorney Rivka Dagan on behalf of the organizations Emes L’Yaakov B’Yisrael and Shmurah, the 352-page petition includes an urgent request for a temporary injunction that would block implementation of the new rules before the program’s eleventh lottery round. Registration for that lottery is currently scheduled to close on June 22, 2026.

At the heart of the case is a decision by the Israel Land Council conditioning a married woman’s eligibility for discounted housing on the military status of her husband if he is classified as draft-eligible and has not resolved his military status.

Petitioners: Women Are Being Treated as Extensions of Their Husbands

The organizations behind the petition argue that the policy constitutes a serious violation of equality principles and undermines the independent legal status of married women.

According to the filing, the decision treats a woman “as an appendage of her husband” rather than as an independent legal entity. The petition further argues that the policy effectively creates a “marriage penalty” imposed exclusively upon married women.

The petitioners contend that a single, divorced, or otherwise unmarried woman would remain eligible for the housing benefits without restriction, while marrying a man with a particular military status automatically disqualifies her from receiving the same assistance.

Reliance on Personal Responsibility Principle

The petition cites numerous legal precedents in an effort to demonstrate that Israeli courts traditionally uphold the principle of personal responsibility, even in cases involving far more serious matters.

Among the examples cited are tax-law rulings in which the Supreme Court recognized the right of spouses to establish separate financial arrangements and receive tax benefits independently of one another.

The petitioners argue that if the legal system preserves the separate legal identities of spouses in tax matters, it should certainly do so when dealing with access to affordable housing.

Comparison to Terrorist Home Demolition Cases

In one of the petition’s more unusual arguments, the organizations compare the policy to judicial rulings involving the demolition of terrorists’ homes.

The petition notes that even in national security cases, courts generally require an individualized examination of the impact on family members who played no role in the underlying conduct. The petitioners therefore argue that there is no justification for imposing a broad economic sanction on a wife and her children because of the actions or status of her husband.

Claims of Hasty Decision-Making

The petition also argues that the policy was adopted too quickly and without sufficient professional review.

According to the filing, the decision was approved less than a month after a Supreme Court ruling on the issue and was implemented without a comprehensive evaluation of its potential consequences.

The petition further claims that professional officials within multiple government ministries warned in advance about problems associated with the measure.

According to the organizations, the Finance Ministry acknowledged that the purpose of the policy was to reduce household income as a form of pressure, while the Economy Ministry cautioned against harm to third parties. The Ministry of Construction and Housing itself allegedly warned that denying eligibility under the new rules could face serious legal challenges in court.

Request for Immediate Relief

As part of the legal action, the organizations are asking the Supreme Court to issue an immediate interim order allowing women to register for the eleventh housing lottery without being subject to the new restrictions.

They are also requesting that the registration deadline be frozen until the legal dispute is resolved.

As an alternative, the petition proposes creating an individualized review process that would allow women to establish independent eligibility—including through proof of separate financial arrangements—rather than being automatically disqualified based solely on their spouse’s military status.

{Matzav.com}

First published in 2004, The First Steps to Kiruv: Bridging the Gap was a concise and practical guide designed to help ordinary Jews become involved in the vital work of outreach. At the time, it was among the first accessible handbooks to combine practical guidance for reaching both adults and children in one volume.

For over forty years, Rabbi Abenson has been privileged to serve Klal Yisrael through Torah education, kiruv, and community outreach. From his early training at the Kosel under Rabbi Meir Schuster zt”l and Jeffrey Seidel, to his work in Glasgow, Gateshead, and beyond, he has dedicated his life to helping Jews reconnect with their heritage and strengthen their connection to Torah and mitzvos.

Now, in 2026, a substantially expanded and fully revised edition is being prepared for publication.

Drawing on decades of experience and addressing the realities of today’s rapidly changing world, this new edition offers practical guidance, inspiration, and Torah perspectives for anyone involved in kiruv, whether a seasoned professional, educator, parent, community leader, or complete novice.

This important work also serves as a tribute to the great pioneers of modern outreach, including the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson זצ״ל, Rav Noach Weinberg zt”l, Rav Mendel Weinbach zt”l, and Rabbi Meir Schuster זצ״ל, whose vision and dedication transformed Jewish outreach and continue to inspire generations.

Why This Book Matters

The world has changed dramatically since the original edition was published in 2004.

Technology now shapes nearly every aspect of life. Social media, artificial intelligence, digital addiction, moral confusion, identity questions, atheism, political polarization, and mental health challenges have created a landscape unlike anything previous generations encountered.

The questions people ask today are different. The challenges facing educators and outreach workers are different. Yet the need for authentic Torah guidance has never been greater.

This expanded edition addresses these realities head-on, providing practical tools and timeless Torah wisdom for engaging with contemporary issues while remaining firmly rooted in Torah values.

The book combines:

• More than forty years of hands-on kiruv experience
• Practical guidance for teaching children and adults
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A Rare Opportunity

We are seeking dedicated sponsors to help bring this important Torah resource to publication and ensure its widest possible distribution.

Your support will help place this book into the hands of rabbanim, mechanchim, kiruv professionals, students, parents, community leaders, and individuals seeking practical guidance in outreach throughout the Jewish world.

By partnering in this project, you become part of a mission that strengthens Torah education, preserves authentic Jewish values, and helps inspire future generations of Klal Yisrael.

To discuss sponsorship opportunities, dedication levels, or publication support, please contact Rabbi Dovid Abenson at:

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Join Us in Bringing This Important Work to Publication

Recommendations from the first edition:

A video that surfaced Wednesday, more than a year after a meeting of the Washington State Human Rights Commission, made a splash when a human rights commissioner complained about Jews.

Commissioner Luc fils Jasmin, a pastor from Spokane who had been appointed by then-governor Jay Inslee, questioned the need to define antisemitism.

“This word antisemitism has been around since the Jews got trampled by Hitler, and it seems like the Jewish people keep on crying, and crying, and crying and crying, always crying over the antisemitism,” Jasmin said. “Today, there are many other groups who are subject to mistreatment, or even subject to mistreatment by the Jewish, and they’re not crying so much. Why is antisemitism carrying on until the century 2000, and everybody’s folding down to that?”

“Wherever I’ve been throughout my life, it’s Jewish always crying, and now they’re trying to get the Human Rights Commission to write special conditions for them,” he added, repeatedly using the word “Jewish” as a noun rather than an adjective.

“We are under duress,” he declared dramatically.

His comments were so egregious that another commissioner, known for her anti-Israel activity on social media, pushed back hard.

“We’re not under duress or anything like that,” Commissioner Han Tran fired back. She then explained that the commission had consulted with “local Jewish scholars to provide input on how they frame antisemitism” to ensure the commissioners understood “what antisemitism really means.”

Jasmin had a problem with that, saying he wanted a resolution for “these people the Jewish are killing by the millions over there, the Palestinians and the Arabs.”

When Tran pointed out that the commission had already adopted a resolution against anti-Arab violence, Jasmin said, “The Arabs was really being attacked and that was the right resolution, but the Jewish are attacking people and that’s different.”

Tran said that Jasmin’s comments showed why the need to define antisemitism is important, and she warned him not to conflate all Jewish people with the Israeli government.

“People need to understand that it is the Israeli government that is attacking,” she said. “I think it would be false to say that Jewish people are attacking.”

The previous chair of the commission, Jeff Sbaih, cautioned that antisemitism is rising.

“It’s getting worse,” he said. “We are entrusted with enforcing the discrimination law, to investigate the discrimination and to root it out.”

Ultimately, the commission adopted a resolution defining antisemitism in April 2025, defining it as discrimination against Jews but adding that criticism of the Israeli government does not constitute antisemitism.

The UK Green Party’s Health Policy Working Group is considering whether to back a policy that would restrict circumcision for non-medical reasons; effectively banning Bris Milah in the country, according to a Thursday report in the UK’s Jewish News.

The party’s Working Group has opened a consultation asking members whether parents should only be permitted to approve “an irreversible surgical procedure on a child if that procedure is medically necessary.” Members were also asked to comment on whether “non-therapeutic male circumcision should only be performed on children who are old enough to make an informed choice.”

The issue comes after Iceland became the first European country in 2018 to prohibit non-medical circumcision. The decision drew strong criticism from Jewish and Muslim leaders.

Similar proposals have also been promoted by far-right European parties, including Germany’s AfD and Sweden’s Swedish Democrats, who have been accused of using the issue to target Jewish and Muslim communities.

The HPWG’s consultation officer contacted Green Party members with a survey on the subject, writing that “helping us to respond to this survey will be a huge help in ensuring the Green Party has an updated Health Policy from this Autumn.” The party is scheduled to hold its Autumn conference in September, where a “Zionism is Racism” motion is also expected to be discussed.

If the Green Party adopts such a policy, it could significantly damage its support among Muslim voters, where the party has gained ground in recent years through its strong opposition to Israel.

In January, Jewish organislzations raised concerns after reports that draft guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service suggested that improperly performed circumcision could potentially be considered “child abuse.”

The CPS responded by saying: “We absolutely recognise that for many, male circumcision is a safe and celebrated tradition.

“However, while circumcision is legal, we have recently prosecuted cases where significant harm and distress have been caused to victims where this procedure has been carried out improperly and in unsafe circumstances.”

MILAN (AP) — Foreign workers building a sprawling $350 million American Consulate in Milan were paid less than $2 an hour after being promised fair wages, according to Associated Press interviews with five former employees and a review of their employment letters and pay stubs.

Italian prosecutors are investigating Montgomery, Alabama-based Caddell Construction, a major builder of U.S. diplomatic missions. Two of its managers in Italy were arrested this month on suspicion of labor exploitation, one while boarding a flight to leave the country and another planning to flee, prosecutors said.

The investigation is led by prosecutor Paolo Storari, who also has spearheaded probes into sweatshops supplying luxury brands. So far only Caddell has been named as a target, not any of its subcontractors.

The consulate probe was launched about six months ago and involves some 70 workers, mostly from India. Prosecutors allege Caddell illegally deducted room and board from wages and forced them to work 10-hour days, six days a week. Some were paid as little as 500 euros (less than $580) monthly after room and board were deducted, prosecutors said.

Caddell and the U.S. State Department said they are investigating the allegations and cooperating with Italian authorities.

The consulate project is part of a construction boom in Milan over the past two decades that has modernized the skyline and raised the international profile of Italy’s fashion and finance capital.

Workers describe unpaid wages and threats
The AP spoke to four workers from Kenya and one from India at a trade union center where officials were organizing assistance, including legal help and housing. The workers provided documentation and spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation and to protect the ongoing investigation.

The Kenyan workers said they had been hired by Caddell after working on a multi-million-dollar extension of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.

Two showed employment letters on Caddell stationery signed by a company representative promising annual salaries topping 25,000 euros (nearly $29,000).

They said they were not paid anything close to that and were threatened by human resources personnel at the job site after they questioned management.

“When you go to the office to ask any question, you are being told, ‘Either you work or you will be returned to your country. That’s the amount you are supposed to be paid,’’’ one Kenyan electrician said. He added that he was paid just 800 euros ($925) a month after being promised 2,300 euros ($2,660).

Another Kenyan electrician said he was threatened with defamation after presenting an AI summary of Italian labor law and was told the 25,000 euros in the employment letter was “for visa purposes,” not a promise of payment.

US government and Caddell say they are investigating
The State Department said it is investigating the allegations made by prosecutors and that U.S. law enforcement is working with Italian authorities.

“The U.S. government does not tolerate labor exploitation,” the department said in a statement.

Caddell said it was “fully cooperating” with Italian authorities and conducting its own “comprehensive inquiry into this matter to ensure all our global subcontractors and consultancies are in compliance with all labor standards and legal requirements.”

“Caddell is committed (to) treating and paying workers fairly. We will continue to work with authorities in good faith to ensure the welfare of those who work on this important project,” the company said in a statement.

More than a decade ago, Caddell paid millions to the U.S. government to settle allegations it made false claims to gain access to government incentives. Caddell did not reply to a request for comment on that case.

Fired workers seek help
All five of the workers who spoke to the AP, ranging in age from their late 20s to early 50s, said they were fired without cause this year. One of them said he returned from visiting family in Kenya to find that he no longer had a job or place to stay.

Four of the workers were trained electricians, including the Indian worker whose resume showed he had more than a decade of experience working for other companies in Persian Gulf countries.

The Indian worker said he was promised a monthly salary of 2,500 euros (nearly $3,000). Instead, he had a pay slip showing his actual pay amounted to around 500 euros (less than $580) per month. It listed an hourly wage of 1.55 euros ($1.80).

The Kenyans said they reached out to authorities after learning of the investigation.

“I believe in justice,” one said. “Also the workers there should not be afraid. They should come and speak up.”

Two said they are currently sleeping in parks, while one is staying with a friend. One said he had been offered a job at a Caddell site in another country but declined after his treatment in Milan.

Caddell is a major diplomatic contractor
Caddell became a leader in building U.S. diplomatic missions when the State Department launched a major security upgrade after the 1998 bombings of U.S. Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya killed more than 250 people.

“Very few contractors can meet the strict requirements to even bid on secure work necessary for diplomatic facility projects,” Caddell said on its website marking its 40th anniversary in 2023. At that point, the firm counted 39 projects in its embassy portfolio valued at $7.4 billion. It has added four projects since then.

The Milan consulate campus is being built on a 10-acre (40,000-square meter) site at a former shooting range. The current U.S. Consulate is in a high-rise building designed by acclaimed Italian architect Gio Ponti.

Plans for the campus called for about 500 “locally employed workers,” according to the U.S. State Department. The project includes restoration of a century-old building, along with a five-story consulate building, restored gardens, a reflecting pool and a large outdoor gathering area.

Work is continuing under court supervision. Workers no longer have their room and board deducted. They are limited to 45 hours and guaranteed two days off a week.

Pay records appear to bolster allegations
The pay stubs presented by the workers listed apparent charges of 510 euros (around $590) a month for housing and more than 300 euros (around $350) monthly for food. But those deductions only account for a portion of the difference between the promised wages and actual pay.

Unions intend to seek damages for the workers to recover at least what they earned “through hard work and commitment,” said Laura Malguzzi, a labor representative at the Fillea Cgil union federation representing construction workers.

Malguzzi said she was surprised that the pay stubs presented by the workers appeared to document the alleged exploitation. Union experts are still studying the documents, which do not conform to Italian standards, and could not verify their origins.

“They probably had in their minds the absolute certainty that they were untouchable,’’ Malguzzi said.

The Kenyan workers said they begrudgingly accepted a $200 monthly salary in Nairobi, where unemployment is rampant. But they expected better from a U.S. company operating in Europe.

“They can just hire you, and you just go running,” one worker said of the company. “Because you are poor you have nothing. And you have nothing you can do.”

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli leaders on Thursday welcomed members of the Bnei Menashe community who recently immigrated from northeastern India, as the government reaffirmed plans to facilitate the immigration of thousands more over the coming years.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer and Nof Hagalil Mayor Ronen Plot at an event recognizing new arrivals from the Bnei Menashe community, a group that traces its ancestry to one of the ancient tribes of Israel.

ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו:
״לאחר שנים של חיזוק הקשר בין ישראל להודו, הודות לקשר החם עם ידידי נרנדרה מודי, אני נרגש לראות את בני המנשה שבים הביתה. אנחנו הולכים להעלות את כל הקהילה בארבע השנים הבאות. אתם חלק בלתי נפרד מעם ישראל, וישראל היא ביתכם. אני מאחל לכם קליטה מוצלחת והצלחה… pic.twitter.com/ruZD8My6KJ

— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) June 11, 2026

Israeli officials said roughly 600 members of the community have arrived in Israel since the start of the year, with hundreds more expected before year’s end. The government has approved a plan aimed at bringing the remaining members of the community, estimated at about 6,000 people, to Israel over the next several years.

The event followed the opening of a new absorption center in Nof Hagalil designed to assist newcomers with Hebrew language studies, employment, education and integration into Israeli society.

Netanyahu said the government intends to continue the immigration effort and described the Bnei Menashe as an integral part of the Jewish people. He welcomed the new immigrants and expressed support for their successful integration into life in Israel.

The Bnei Menashe community originates from India’s northeastern states and has maintained traditions that supporters say reflect ancient Jewish heritage. Thousands have immigrated to Israel over the past two decades.

🔥 The excitement is building — over 900 boys have already signed up for Ride4Regesh 2026!
Don’t let your son miss out on the largest and most exciting boys’ biking event of the year!

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Ride4Regesh is more than just a bikeathon. It’s an incredible evening where over a thousand boys come together for fun, friendship, excitement, and purpose.

The event begins with an exciting bike ride through the streets of Lakewood, escorted by Police and Chaveirim, followed by a high-energy celebration featuring:

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Girls up to age 10 are welcome to attend.

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Join hundreds of boys already signed up and help support The Regesh Network, which provides critical support to children and families facing emotional challenges and distress.
🏁 We can’t wait to see you at the finish line!
The Ride4Regesh Team
Rabbi Naftoli Stern
Rabbi Yudi Altusky
Rabbi Meyer Tesler

CC 02-2627 ADV

June 24, 2026- BOE Meeting Public Announcement- In Person

A growing controversy involving religion in the public sphere has erupted in Herzliya after allegations surfaced that a city council member took a pair of tefillin and other sacred items belonging to a chareidi resident, leading to a police complaint and a heated public debate.

At the center of the incident is Yesh Atid city council member Daniel Tchertok, who, according to a report by Channel 14, was captured during an altercation in which he allegedly removed tefillin and religious articles from a local resident.

According to the report, the resident is known in the city for distributing Jewish educational pamphlets at various intersections and soliciting donations from passersby. The resident claims that following the incident, a formal complaint was filed with police.

The report further alleges that Tchertok initially denied involvement in the incident but later offered a different explanation, saying that his actions were connected to his opposition to what he views as religious coercion in public spaces.

The owner of the tefillin expressed outrage over the incident and questioned how such conduct could be justified.

“Is this the way to act? Like this?” he asked. “To steal people’s belongings? Because you don’t want people to hear them… This person has been harassing me for more than two years. He constantly tells me, ‘Get out of here,’ ‘Leave here,’ ‘This is a secular city, don’t come near here.'”

The video footage and accompanying allegations quickly spread online, generating widespread discussion on social media and prompting numerous users to sharply criticize the council member’s alleged conduct.

As public attention intensified, questions were also raised about what critics described as inconsistencies in Tchertok’s explanation of the incident.

Daniel Tchertok did not provide a response to Channel 14’s request for comment regarding the allegations.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF says it has established another Israeli Air Force technicians unit for Chareidi men, the third such unit overall and the first based at the Tel Nof Airbase, as the military presses on with its efforts to draw bnei torah into its ranks.

The unit is based out of one of the 106th Squadron’s reinforced aircraft shelters at Tel Nof in central Israel. The squadron, known as the Spearhead Squadron, flies F-15 fighter jets out of the base. The IDF says 20 soldiers, 15 of them Chareidi, recently completed their training and are now certified “level A” technicians for the F-15, responsible for keeping the aircraft and their weapons systems operational.

The unit follows a model the IDF rolled out over the past two years. The first Chareidi IAF technician unit was established in December 2024 at the 105th “Scorpion” Squadron at Ramat David Airbase in northern Israel, where 26 soldiers were certified as level A technicians for the F-16. A second unit, also servicing F-16s, was set up at Ramat David’s 109th Squadron the following year. The Tel Nof unit is the first stationed elsewhere and the first to service the F-15.

The army says the units are built to let Chareidi soldiers keep their way of life while serving. The framework ostensibly includes separate accommodation, strict kashrus, and a shul established inside the hardened aircraft shelter.

Under service tracks the IDF approved in February, the air force technician units fall within “Herev,” a fully gender-segregated track whose commanders are generally religious.

The new unit is one piece of a much larger recruitment campaign. The IDF has established several Chareidi frameworks in recent years, among them the Netzach Yehuda Battalion in the Kfir Brigade, the Tomer Company in Givati, the Hetz Company in the Paratroopers, and the newer Chashmonaim Brigade.

The campaign to draft more bnei torah into the IDF remains one of the most divisive issues in Israeli society. A High Court ruling in June 2024 found there was no longer a legal framework permitting the state to refrain from drafting Chareidim, and the army has since issued thousands of draft orders to bnei torah.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WASHINGTON (VINnews) — The Trump administration blocked plans for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to meet privately with Colombian President Gustavo Petro during the Colombian leader’s visit to New York this week, according to a report by the New York Post.

The meeting, which reportedly was intended to focus on democracy in the Americas, was canceled after U.S. officials raised objections to the engagement, the newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources.

According to the report, State Department officials viewed the proposed meeting as inconsistent with restrictions placed on Petro’s U.S. visa following comments in which he urged American troops to disobey President Donald Trump.

“A visa is a privilege, not a right,” a State Department official told The Washington Post, according to the New York Post report.

Petro, a left-wing leader and frequent critic of the Trump administration, was in New York for United Nations-related events. The New York Post reported that Colombian officials later informed Mamdani’s office that Petro’s shortened itinerary would no longer allow for a meeting.

Neither the White House nor New York City Hall immediately commented on the report.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri sharply criticized members of the coalition who opposed or failed to support the Basic Law: Torah Study, declaring that some Arab lawmakers have a greater appreciation for the value of Torah than certain members of Likud.

Speaking in an interview with the Shas newspaper HaDerech, Deri addressed the dramatic Knesset vote that saw the legislation pass its preliminary reading despite opposition from several coalition lawmakers.

“Arab MKs have a greater understanding of the value of Torah than some Likud MKs,” Deri said.

On Wednesday, the Knesset approved the Basic Law: Torah Study in a preliminary vote. The legislation seeks to formally recognize Torah study as a foundational value of the Jewish people and as a significant form of national service.

The bill passed by a vote of 56 to 43.

Four coalition members broke ranks and voted against the measure: MK Yuli Edelstein and MK Dan Illouz of Likud, MK Sharren Haskel of National Right, and MK Moshe Solomon of Religious Zionism.

The legislation’s passage was aided by the absence of Arab opposition lawmakers, following reports of understandings reached between representatives of the chareidi parties and Arab factions.

The vote triggered heated scenes in the Knesset plenum. Shas MKs Yosef Taieb and Moshe Abutbul shouted at MK Dan Illouz after his vote against the legislation.

“Shame on you,” the two lawmakers reportedly yelled. “What a disgrace. The Torah world is ashamed of you.”

The debate also featured a sharp exchange between Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid. After Gafni referenced Jewish history and the importance of Torah study, Lapid responded by arguing that military service remains essential to Israel’s security and accused supporters of the bill of promoting draft avoidance.

Meanwhile, political attention is also turning toward the possibility of early elections.

According to a report by Channel 13, Deri is reportedly pushing for elections to be held on October 13, one day before the yahrtzeit of Maran Harav Ovadia Yosef zt”l.

The proposed date has reportedly received support from additional coalition parties, although some within Likud are concerned about its proximity to the anniversary of the October 7 massacre.

Sources familiar with coalition discussions say Deri is attempting to balance competing pressures within the chareidi political world while maintaining coordination with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other coalition leaders.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The number of open jobs in America jumped in April even as companies pulled back on actual hiring, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which released its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey on Tuesday, June 2. The report showed job openings rising to 7.6 million, the highest level since May 2024, while hiring slowed sharply.

The gap between those two numbers is the whole story. Employers are advertising more positions but filling fewer of them. Hires fell to 5.1 million for the month, and total separations dropped to 5.0 million. Openings rose by more than 730,000, yet the people actually starting new jobs declined by roughly 419,000.

Economists have a name for this: a low-hire, low-fire market. Companies are reluctant to let workers go, but they are also slow to bring new ones in. Both sides are sitting still.

The jump in openings was not broad. Almost the entire increase came from a single category, professional and business services, which added about 668,000 postings. Strip that out, and the rest of the economy looked flat. That has led some analysts to question whether the headline number really signals a hiring boom or just a pile-up of unfilled jobs in one corner of the market.

Worker behavior tells the same cautious story. Quits held steady at about 3.0 million, while layoffs and discharges stayed near 1.7 million. The quits rate slipped to its lowest in years. When people stop quitting, it usually means they are nervous. Leaving a job without another one lined up takes confidence, and right now workers are choosing to stay put.

The layoff rate ticked down from 1.2% in March to 1.1% in April. By that measure, Americans who have jobs still enjoy strong security. The risk of being let go remains low. The harder problem is for people trying to get hired or change jobs. Openings exist, but companies are taking their time, and that slows down raises and promotions across the board.

For the Federal Reserve, now led by Chair Kevin Warsh, the report lands at a delicate moment. The central bank watches hiring and quitting closely for signs the job market is either overheating or cracking. April’s numbers suggested neither. The market is cooling slowly, not collapsing.

What happens next may depend on forces outside the labor market entirely. The war with Iran has pushed up oil and gasoline prices, and that feeds inflation. Higher inflation makes the Fed less willing to cut interest rates, which keeps borrowing expensive for the businesses that do the hiring. Matthew Martin, senior U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, warned that weaker household spending and uncertainty could start to weigh on companies’ hiring plans in the months ahead.

For everyday workers, the practical takeaway is simple. If you have a job, you are probably safe. If you want a new one, expect a longer search. Employers are posting openings but moving slowly to fill them, and the easy job-hopping of recent years has faded. Vacancies are staying open longer, which means more interviews, more waiting, and less leverage to negotiate pay.

Small business owners feel the same freeze from the other direction. Many have openings they cannot fill at wages they can afford, while also being careful not to overextend payroll heading into an uncertain summer. The result is an economy that looks stable on paper but feels stuck for anyone trying to move.

The next major labor reading comes when the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes its June turnover data later this summer. Until then, the picture is one of an economy holding its breath, with workers and employers alike waiting to see how the war, inflation, and interest rates settle out before making their next move.

JBizNews Desk — New York

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

Major traffic disruptions swept across central Israel on Thursday evening as demonstrators launched a series of protests against the IDF draft, blocking key highways and railway lines after threatening to “paralyze Gush Dan.”

Thousands of motorists were caught in massive traffic jams as protesters shut down portions of Highway 4, Highway 6, Highway 1, and Route 444. Police reported that Highway 4 was completely closed in both directions between the Shivat HaShiva and Mesubim interchanges, while Highway 6 was shut down near the Ben Shemen area and the Hadid Tunnel.

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Additional demonstrations were reported near the Geha Junction and outside Elad, further snarling traffic throughout the region.

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The disruptions extended beyond the roadways. Protesters entered railway tracks near Ganot, forcing Israel Railways to suspend train service between Tel Aviv and Lod. Rail officials said service was halted on police instructions due to the significant danger posed by individuals entering active rail lines.

“Due to protesters entering railway property near Ganot in violation of safety regulations and while placing themselves in considerable danger, train traffic in the area has been temporarily suspended,” Israel Railways said in a statement. “Service will resume once the protesters are removed from the tracks.”

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Several confrontations were reported between protesters and frustrated motorists. In one incident, a female driver allegedly threatened demonstrators with an iron bar before being assaulted. Police also declared an unlawful gathering on Highway 1 near the Ganot Interchange.

Large police forces were deployed throughout the affected areas in an effort to reopen roads and restore normal traffic flow. Authorities warned that congestion was expected to worsen throughout the evening, particularly due to major concerts taking place in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan.

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Police urged the public to avoid affected areas, use alternative routes, and consider public transportation where possible.

Deputy Commander of the Traffic Division Control Center, Chief Inspector Shlomo Bano, said police would continue balancing the right to protest with the public’s right to travel freely.

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“Israel Police are prepared to allow freedom of protest while also safeguarding freedom of movement,” Bano said. “As long as the balance is maintained, demonstrations will be permitted. But if freedom of movement is significantly harmed, we will act aggressively to protect the public’s right to travel.”

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A bipartisan push to create legislation aimed at securing Jewish institutions and fighting antisemitism is proceeding through the House, following the failure of the Antisemitism Awareness Act to pass the Senate last year despite support from Jewish groups.

Introduced by Reps. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) Wednesday, the proposed companion bill to the Senate’s Jewish American Security Act will accomplish the following:

• The bill will increase funding to $1 billion for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides funds to secure institutions, and will extend that funding to Jewish institutions and law enforcement.
• The Department of Education will appoint an antisemitism coordinator.
• The bill will force social media platforms to account for their online management of antisemitism.

New York Rep. Mike Lawler. (Credit: Mike Lawler)

Jewish groups threw their support behind the bill, joining Lawler and Goldman at a press conference in Washington, D.C., with representatives from such well-known organizations as the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the American Jewish Committee.

CEO and president of the Jewish Federations of North America Eric Fingerhut expressed his support for the bill in a statement.

“Jewish communities across the United States are facing a real and growing security crisis, and the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that all Americans can gather, worship, and live openly and safely as who they are,” he said.

Goldman pointed to the car-ramming attack against Temple Israel in Detroit, Mich., last March to explain the importance of the bill, saying that it should not be the responsibility of synagogues to pay for their own security.

New York Rep. Dan Goldman. (Credit: Dan Goldman)

“We should not have to pay a Jewish tax to be able to go to synagogue, and this will not only increase the funding, but it also expands the range of areas that can be funded by the Nonprofit Security Grant to include, very clearly, security personnel and other types of security that have not currently been included and that are now clearly essential,” he said.

Lawler concurred, pointing out that he never has to worry about security at his church.

“I can walk into my church without passing a security guard stationed outside,” the Catholic lawmaker said. “Jewish Americans don’t have that luxury, and it’s outrageous, and it should anger each and every one of us.”

MK Gadi Eisenkot said he is prepared to sit in a coalition with chareidi parties, but only if they accept what he described as three fundamental principles, while also cautioning against a repeat of a situation in which a prime minister leads the country despite heading a relatively small party.

Speaking on Ynet’s political podcast 120 VeAchat, hosted by Moran Azulay, Eisenkot presented himself as a leading figure within the opposition camp and discussed national security, coalition politics, and the future shape of Israel’s government.

Addressing the Iranian threat, Eisenkot argued that Israel missed an opportunity to respond more forcefully during Iran’s first direct missile attack on the Jewish state.

Asked what he would have done had he been prime minister during an Iranian missile barrage, Eisenkot replied: “I would have carried out what I proposed to Netanyahu in April 2024, during the first Iranian attack. I proposed a parallel strike while the missiles were on their way here. He blocked it and ultimately accepted someone else’s opinion. That was the strike that the National Security Minister described as a ‘dradleh.’ It was the only time in recent years that I could justify his actions.”

Turning to coalition-building and the role of the chareidi parties, Eisenkot said Israeli politicians spend too much time discussing whom they refuse to work with rather than identifying potential areas of agreement.

“It is better to talk about what we are willing to do rather than what we won’t do, because otherwise you end up with candidates saying, ‘We won’t sit with the chareidim,’ ‘We won’t sit with the Arabs,’ ‘We won’t sit with Ben Gvir,’ ‘We won’t sit with Smotrich,’ and ‘We won’t sit with the Likud under Netanyahu.’ Apparently they intend to form a coalition with the Baloch or the Freemasons. In the end, this is Israeli politics.”

Discussing efforts to unite the opposition, Eisenkot revealed that he had attempted to create a broad political alliance that would include multiple parties.

“I worked to build a super-party with two accompanying parties—Liberman on one side and Golan on the other. When that effort failed, I moved to Plan B, under which four parties would run separately.”

He also appeared to direct criticism toward Naftali Bennett, arguing that the next prime minister should come from the largest party in the bloc rather than from a smaller faction.

“As for who should lead the bloc, it is highly desirable that the candidate for prime minister receive the broadest support possible. Certainly not someone who heads a party with six or eight seats. In my view, that is not democratic. It is neither proper nor desirable. We already had that experience, and it should not be repeated.”

Asked directly whether Bennett could again seek the premiership without leading the largest party, Eisenkot suggested that Israelis have largely rejected that model.

“The Israeli public delegitimized the previous situation, even though the change government under Bennett was a reasonable, good government. It would be preferable not to repeat it, especially in light of the realities of recent years. It is preferable to have a large party at the center and a coalition that is as broad as possible.”

When questioned about his political identity, Eisenkot rejected conventional ideological labels.

“I am a man of the State of Israel who deeply believes in the idea of statesmanship. I view myself as a security hawk. I suggest that people go back to my farewell ceremony as chief of staff, when Netanyahu listed my achievements—our achievements, of course—and praised me for the use of force throughout the Middle East. Today he sends his emissaries to attack me for the very things he praised me for then.”

Eisenkot also outlined his vision for a new draft law, arguing that the events of October 7 fundamentally changed the national conversation.

“On October 7, everything changed, and a law must be passed based on four principles: 1. Service for everyone—chareidim and Arabs—whether military or national service. 2. The arrangement between the Likud and Agudas Yisroel is null and void, and authority should return to a professional body that determines who receives exemptions. 3. The State of Israel must dramatically reward regular and reserve soldiers while imposing penalties and sanctions on draft evaders. 4. The State of Israel should permit exemptions for 3% of each annual class. Ben-Gurion did this during the War of Independence, and it can be done now.”

Asked about his relationship with Arab lawmakers Ahmad Tibi and Ayman Odeh, Eisenkot said he does not maintain political ties with them but evaluates all parties according to the same standards.

“I do not have political relations with them. I prefer to discuss issues rather than individuals. Therefore, when I am asked about the Arab parties, I give the same answer that I give regarding the chareidi parties: I will sit with anyone who accepts three principles—Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, the values of the Declaration of Independence, and the obligation of military or national service.”

{Matzav.com}

Amazon Web Services (AWS) said on Thursday, June 11, that its data centers around the world withdrew about 2.5 billion gallons of water last year to cool the servers that power its cloud-computing and artificial-intelligence businesses. The figure was detailed by AWS executives including Kerry Person, vice president of data center operations, and Will Hewes, the company’s water stewardship lead. It is one of the clearest pictures Amazon has ever provided of the water footprint behind the global computing boom.

The disclosure matters because Amazon has long faced criticism for providing limited information about data-center water consumption. Rivals Microsoft and Google have published water-use figures for years. Amazon had largely focused on efficiency metrics rather than total withdrawals, and earlier this year investors filed resolutions urging major technology companies to provide greater transparency. Thursday’s announcement is Amazon’s most direct response yet.

Amazon is presenting the figure as evidence that its operations are highly efficient. The company says it uses approximately 0.12 liters of water per kilowatt-hour of computing, compared with an estimated industry average of 0.84 liters per kilowatt-hour. According to AWS, that makes its operations roughly seven times more water efficient than the average data-center operator. The company said outside auditors reviewed the calculations and that water withdrawals at facilities Amazon directly owns and operates declined about 2% year-over-year, even as its global footprint expanded.

The company attributes much of the reduction to its cooling strategy. Data centers generate enormous amounts of heat, and many operators rely heavily on evaporative cooling systems that consume significant amounts of water. AWS says its facilities use outside-air cooling about 90% of the time, relying on fans to move air through server halls. Water cooling is generally used only when outdoor temperatures exceed roughly 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The company also adjusted operating temperatures within its facilities to further reduce cooling demand.

The disclosure arrives at a sensitive moment for the industry. In Amazon’s home region, the Seattle City Council this week unanimously approved a one-year emergency pause on new large data-center developments within the city. The action reflects growing concern among local governments over the water, electricity, and land demands created by artificial-intelligence infrastructure.

Person said community reactions are often different from what critics expect.

“As we’ve been engaging with our local communities, they’ve been very pleasantly surprised about how little water we are using,” he told reporters.

Not everyone agrees. Simon Hans Edasi, a Seattle-area data scientist who studies data-center development and water resources, has raised concerns about Amazon’s planned $4.8 billion campus in Burbank, Washington, near the Columbia River. He argues that the industry is increasingly expanding into eastern Washington and other regions where water supplies are already under pressure.

Several recent studies have found that a significant share of new U.S. data-center construction is occurring in areas experiencing varying degrees of water stress. Those concerns have fueled permitting battles, project delays, and in some cases the cancellation or relocation of major developments.

For companies investing tens of billions of dollars in AI infrastructure, community opposition is becoming a material business risk. Delays in permits and approvals can significantly increase costs and slow expansion plans.

Amazon says its long-term answer is its Water Positive by 2030 commitment, first announced in 2022. The company says it has completed approximately 75% of the work needed to achieve that goal and currently replenishes about three gallons for every four gallons it uses.

According to Hewes, the strategy focuses on three priorities: reducing water consumption, replacing drinking water with treated wastewater whenever possible, and investing in local replenishment projects. Those efforts include repairing leaking municipal infrastructure, restoring watersheds, and supporting agricultural irrigation programs that use recycled water.

Microsoft has announced similar goals, including a pledge to improve water efficiency by 40% by 2030 and replenish more water than it consumes in the regions where it operates.

As artificial intelligence drives unprecedented demand for computing power, technology companies are increasingly competing not only on performance and scale, but also on environmental impact.

Amazon also highlighted a broader industry statistic, noting that global data centers account for approximately 0.5% of industrial water use worldwide. Whether that argument satisfies communities increasingly wary of large-scale AI development may ultimately be decided one project at a time.

JBizNews Desk — Technology

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — A Toronto police officer was shot and killed Thursday by a suspect in the investigation into a shooting attack that damaged the facade of the U.S. Consulate in the Canadian city in March, police said.

One suspect was in custody at a hospital while officers searched for a second suspect, who was identified as 19-year-old Zara Jabbi and was considered armed and dangerous, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said at a news conference. “I urge you to turn yourself in,” Demkiw said.

Police officer Marc Pinizotto, who was 43 and had been on the force for 18 years, died of his wounds in a hospital, Demkiw said.

Canadian police had said in March that two individuals emerged from a white Honda RV SUV at around 4:30 a.m. and fired multiple shots at the consulate building before fleeing. The shooting damaged the outside of the building but did not cause any injuries.

The consulate attack in March followed heightened tensions over the war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran in late February, and it had followed gunfire attacks on two Toronto-area synagogues the previous weekend.

The investigation that led to Pinizotto’s death “concerned a number of shootings, including the shooting at the United States consulate on University Avenue. There were several search warrants executed this morning,” Demkiw said.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she’s known the mother of the deceased officer for the 20 years.

“Their grief is shared across this city,” Chow said.

A Toronto police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty this morning.

My deepest condolences to the officer’s family, loved ones, colleagues, and all of the Toronto Police Service.

Today my thoughts are with them, and with all officers in uniform who selflessly put… https://t.co/VYU5GoJzqb

— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) June 11, 2026

A fighter in the IDF’s Chashmonaim Brigade has provided a rare glimpse into the unit’s operational activities in Yehudah and Shomron, speaking about nighttime raids, weapons seizures, and the unique challenges of serving as a chareidi soldier. He also addressed the ongoing debate over chareidi enlistment and explained why he believes chareidi soldiers benefit from having chareidi commanders.

Corporal Y., a fighter currently enrolled in the brigade’s squad commanders course, spoke with Kikar HaShabbos about both his military training and the operational missions carried out by participants in the course.

According to the soldier, the training program incorporates active operational duty alongside classroom and field instruction.

“As part of the course, we spend two weeks engaged in operational activity. We carry out offensive and defensive missions, search for weapons, and participate in the arrest of wanted suspects,” he explained.

He noted that much of the brigade’s work takes place after dark in order to maximize the element of surprise.

“Most of the activity in Yehudah and Shomron takes place at night in order to create an element of surprise. Before every mission, we carefully plan the route, the arrival, and all stages of execution, and then we head out at night to carry it out.”

Describing the types of assignments the troops encounter, he said many operations involve intelligence-driven missions focused on locating hidden weapons and apprehending wanted individuals.

“We receive information about weapons hidden along roads or inside villages, as well as suspects wanted for questioning, and we act accordingly,” he said.

The soldier also reflected on his operational service before entering the commanders course. He said that he served with his battalion along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, first at the Zarit outpost and later at the Magen Yoav position.

“We were stationed at outposts in the sector and carried out disruption operations against Hezbollah activity directed toward Israel, as well as searches for weapons in the area,” he said.

Asked whether the public debate surrounding chareidi enlistment reaches soldiers in the field, he acknowledged that the topic does arise but said it is not a dominant issue among his fellow servicemen.

“There is some discussion among the guys, but in the end everyone does what his rav tells him to do. I spoke with my rav and he recommended that I enlist, so I enlisted.”

The fighter said he generally avoids walking around in uniform when off base, but added that his encounters with the public have largely been positive.

“When people meet me personally, the reactions are generally positive,” he said.

One of the subjects he emphasized most strongly was the importance of developing chareidi leadership within the brigade. He explained that during his training he was initially commanded by officers from the Religious Zionist community and later by chareidi commanders.

“In the end, a chareidi soldier needs a chareidi commander. There are many small things and nuances that a chareidi commander understands because he is familiar with the world from which the soldiers come,” he said.

Looking ahead, the soldier expressed interest in continuing along the command track and eventually assuming greater leadership responsibilities.

“Right now I want to become a squad commander, and later perhaps attend officers’ training as well. I would like to command recruits from the moment they arrive in the army until they become fighters.”

Concluding the interview, he offered a brief request to the public.

“Pray for us that we succeed.”

{Matzav.com}

Seven years ago, on כ״ז סיון תשע״ט (June 30, 2019), Klal Yisrael lost one of its most gifted and beloved mechanchim of our generation, Rabbi Dovid Trenk zt”l.

Today, his absence is still deeply felt, but his star continues to shine brighter.

To the world, Rav Dovid was a legendary mechanech. To the many thousands of talmidim whose lives he touched, he was much more than Rebbe. He was a mentor, advocate, confidant, and unwavering champion who believed in them long before they believed in themselves.

Rav Dovid was decades ahead of his time. Long before educators spoke about differentiated instruction, individualized education, or meeting children where they are, Rav Dovid was living those principles every day. He instinctively understood that every child is unique, possesses greatness, and deserves to be loved, valued, and given the opportunity to succeed.

He did not see labels. He did not see deficiencies. He did not see limitations. He saw potential.

When others saw obstacles, he saw opportunities. When others saw difficult students, he saw future leaders. When others were prepared to give up, Rav Dovid responded with even more patience, and belief.

His classroom was not confined to four walls. Whether in the Mirrer Yeshiva, Camp Munk, Adelphia Yeshiva, Moreshes Yehoshua, Pirchei, or countless other settings, Rav Dovid transformed lives. His tools were not only Gemoras and seforim, but a smile, a song, a basketball game, a high five, a jump and a shout, a warm embrace, always with a word of encouragement at exactly the right moment.

Many remember the singing, the dancing, the boundless energy, and the larger-than-life personality. What they sometimes missed was the brilliance behind it all.
“Geshmak to be a Yid” was the very essence of our Rebbe.

He taught generations of talmidim that Yiddishkeit was not merely something to observe; it was something to love, celebrate, and cherish. Rav Dovid understood a profound truth: before you can teach Torah to a child, you must first love that child.

Years ago, I wrote that not all superheroes wear capes. I believe that even more today than I did then.

Some superheroes dedicate their lives to lifting others higher. Some spend decades seeing potential where no one else can. Some change tens of thousands of lives simply by loving people unconditionally and believing in them. Rav Dovid did all three.

He lifted people up. He saw greatness where others saw obstacles. He changed the trajectory of countless lives through his boundless love, encouragement, and faith in every Jew.

Seven years after his petirah, his talmidim remain his greatest legacy. They are raising families, teaching students, leading communities, building organizations, and helping others because a rebbe once believed in them.

In many ways, you can still recognize a talmid of Rav Dovid Trenk. It is the one who sees potential where others see problems. The person who refuses to give up on another Jew. That special friend who understands that a word of encouragement can change a life.

In a world that too often rushes to judge, criticize, and dismiss, the Trenk doctrine of “just love them” may be more important today than ever before. He taught a generation to look deeper, judge less, love more, and never give up on another person.
That was Rabbi Dovid Trenk zt”l.

Seven years later, we are prouder than ever to be his talmidim.

We miss you, Rebbe.

יהי זכרו ברוך.

Chaskel Bennett
[email protected]

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weighing significant changes to the candidate selection process in the ruling Likud as the country moves closer to national elections, according to a report by Israeli journalist Moran Azulay.

Discussions within Netanyahu’s circle have included the possibility of replacing party primaries with a selection committee. However, party officials cited in the report said the primary objective is to overhaul and refresh the party’s electoral slate rather than eliminate the democratic process altogether.

According to the report, Netanyahu wants a list composed not only of candidates capable of winning internal party primaries but also of figures who can attract broader public support and appeal to younger voters.

The effort could include expanding the number of reserved positions on the party list for younger candidates and other public figures. Among the names reportedly being considered are Almog Cohen, who has gained popularity among younger voters, and activist Hadar Muchtar, should she become eligible.

The prospect of granting Netanyahu between eight and 10 reserved slots in realistic positions on the party list has reportedly sparked resistance among incumbent lawmakers, who fear it could jeopardize their chances of returning to the Knesset.

A Likud lawmaker quoted anonymously in the report said discussion of a selection committee may be intended to make the expanded use of reserved slots more acceptable to party members.

“Primaries are an inseparable part of the democratic process in Likud and what distinguishes the party from others where such a process does not exist,” the lawmaker said. “Canceling the primaries is a move that cannot happen.”

The issue is expected to be addressed in the coming weeks as party leaders, including Haim Katz, await a final decision from Netanyahu regarding the structure of the party’s candidate-selection process.

WASHINGTON (VINnews) — Jacob Reses, an Orthodox Jewish adviser who serves as chief of staff to Vice President JD Vance, plans to leave the administration at the end of the summer after serving in one of the most influential positions in the White House, NBC News reports.

Reses, who has served as Vance’s chief of staff since January 2025, reportedly informed the vice president of his plans several months ago after he and his wife learned they were expecting their first child.

A longtime adviser and close confidant to Vance, Reses played a key role in the vice president’s successful 2022 Senate campaign in Ohio and remained a trusted member of his inner circle throughout his rise to national office. Before joining Vance’s team, Reses worked for Heritage Action and on the staff of Josh Hawley.

One of the highest-ranking Orthodox Jews in the Trump administration, Reses has maintained strong ties to the Jewish community while helping shape policy and political strategy at the highest levels of government.

In a statement, Vance praised Reses as both a trusted adviser and friend.

“Jacob’s been by my side for my whole career in public life,” Vance said. “I could not have asked for a more loyal and discerning adviser and friend as my chief of staff.”

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said Reses had served with distinction, handling matters ranging from diplomacy and national security to the daily operations of the vice president’s office.

Reses also earned praise from senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff highlighted Reses’ role in diplomatic efforts abroad, including trips involving Israel and other key international matters.

Although his future plans have not been announced, people close to the vice president’s office say Reses is expected to remain active in public policy and Republican politics and could work with Vance again in the future.

His departure marks one of the most significant personnel changes in the vice president’s office since the Trump-Vance administration took office.

Stocks opened higher on Thursday, June 11, shaking off a brutal week even as the U.S.-Iran conflict deepened and a fresh inflation report came in hot. The S&P 500 rose 0.21%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.45%, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.26% in the opening minutes. The small-cap Russell 2000 fell 1.10%, a sign investors remained cautious about higher interest rates sticking around.

Oil prices climbed after President Donald Trump said the United States would hit Iran “very hard” and seize “total control” of the country’s oil and gas industry, while U.S. Central Command confirmed fresh strikes overnight. Explosions were reported across Iran, including near the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic shipping lane through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes.

The market’s gains came despite an alarming inflation report.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Producer Price Index (PPI) jumped 1.1% in May from April, exceeding economists’ expectations of 0.7%. On a year-over-year basis, wholesale prices climbed 6.5%, marking the steepest increase since November 2022.

Energy prices drove much of the increase. Wholesale gasoline prices surged 23.4% during the month as escalating tensions with Iran pushed crude oil prices sharply higher. Excluding food and energy, so-called core wholesale prices rose a more moderate 0.4%, suggesting the inflation shock was concentrated largely in energy markets.

The report arrived just one day after separate government data showed consumer inflation reaching 4.2% annually, the highest reading in three years, and only days before the Federal Reserve’s June 17 policy meeting.

The biggest corporate story of the morning belonged to Oracle Corporation.

The software and cloud-computing giant reported fiscal fourth-quarter results after Wednesday’s closing bell. Revenue totaled approximately $19.2 billion, while adjusted earnings came in at $2.03 per share, both above Wall Street expectations.

Despite the strong results, Oracle shares fell roughly 8% at the open after management revealed plans to raise approximately $40 billion through a combination of debt and equity offerings, including a reported $20 billion stock sale, to fund an aggressive expansion of artificial-intelligence infrastructure.

Chief Executive Clay Magouyrk told analysts the company expects to bring nearly one gigawatt of computing capacity online this quarter alone, while Chief Financial Officer Hilary Maxson said Oracle anticipates roughly $70 billion in capital expenditures during the coming fiscal year.

Investors appeared concerned about the scale of the spending.

Analysts at Bank of America noted that more than half of Oracle’s contracted future revenue is tied to a single customer, OpenAI, increasing perceived concentration risk.

The spending plans also rattled parts of the broader software sector. Shares of German software giant SAP fell more than 4% as investors questioned whether competitors would face similar pressure to dramatically increase AI infrastructure spending.

Not all analysts turned negative.

UBS analyst Karl Keirstead raised his price target on Oracle to $285 from $250, while Oppenheimer and Wedbush increased their targets to $275. Evercore ISI lifted its target to $245, and Barclays maintained an overweight rating with a $240 price target.

Another major market focus is SpaceX.

Elon Musk’s rocket company is expected to price its long-awaited initial public offering after Thursday’s close at approximately $135 per share, with trading expected to begin Friday on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SPCX.

At a reported valuation exceeding $1.75 trillion, the offering would rank as the largest IPO in history.

The proposed listing has already generated controversy.

Senator Elizabeth Warren has urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to delay approval of the offering, citing concerns about valuation and Musk’s concentrated control over the company.

Adding further uncertainty, Iranian state media reportedly warned that Musk’s businesses operating in the Middle East, including the Starlink satellite network, could be viewed as military targets amid escalating regional tensions.

Elsewhere, semiconductor stocks rebounded after a difficult stretch that erased nearly $1 trillion in market value earlier this month.

Shares of SoftBank Group Corp. fell more than 9% after reports suggested financing tied to its investment in OpenAI encountered complications. Meanwhile, investors were awaiting earnings from Adobe Inc., scheduled for release after Thursday’s closing bell, with analysts closely watching whether the company’s AI initiatives are translating into meaningful revenue growth.

For now, Wall Street’s gains rest on a fragile assumption: that the latest inflation surge is primarily an energy story and that the conflict with Iran remains contained.

Investors now turn their attention to Adobe’s earnings, SpaceX’s IPO pricing, and next week’s highly anticipated Federal Reserve interest-rate decision, which may ultimately determine whether the market’s recent volatility intensifies or begins to ease.

JBizNews Desk — New York

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

Another Lakewood resident has fallen victim to a sophisticated scam, highlighting a growing trend that continues to target vulnerable individuals, particularly senior citizens.

According to information obtained by TLS, the incident occurred this week when a Lakewood senior was contacted by scammers who convinced him that he needed to make an urgent payment. Believing the demand to be legitimate, the victim ultimately transferred approximately $10,000 through a Bitcoin machine.

Because cryptocurrency transactions are generally irreversible and difficult to trace, the funds are unlikely to be recovered.

Scammers frequently use fear, urgency, and deception to pressure victims into making payments. Common schemes involve individuals posing as government agencies, law enforcement, utility companies, financial institutions, or even family members in distress. Victims are often instructed to send money through unconventional methods such as Bitcoin, gift cards, wire transfers, or payment apps.

Authorities continue to stress that legitimate organizations do not typically demand immediate payment through cryptocurrency. Residents are urged to be cautious whenever they receive unexpected calls, emails, text messages, or computer pop-up warnings requesting money or personal information.

Community members, especially seniors, are encouraged to verify any suspicious request before sending funds. Experts recommend contacting a trusted family member, friend, financial institution, or law enforcement agency to confirm the legitimacy of a demand before taking any action.

With scams becoming increasingly sophisticated, officials say a simple phone call to verify a request can prevent the loss of thousands of dollars and spare victims significant financial and emotional hardship.

Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by a scam is encouraged to contact local law enforcement immediately.

One of the coalition’s most far-reaching legislative initiatives cleared a preliminary Knesset vote on Wednesday, advancing a proposal that could dramatically reshape the balance of power between elected officials and senior government appointees.

Known as the “Appointments Law,” the legislation would grant a future government significantly broader authority to remove senior officials, including the attorney general, the IDF chief of staff, the heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad, and other top state officials.

According to a report by i24NEWS, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff, Edo Norden, played a central role in drafting and advancing the legislation. Before entering his current position, Norden reportedly authored the proposal and has since pushed coalition lawmakers to move it through the legislative process as quickly as possible.

The report states that Norden urged Likud and chareidi lawmakers to support the bill’s preliminary reading this week and work toward final passage before the next election.

Supporters of the legislation argue that it would bring Israel’s system closer to that of the United States, where incoming administrations have broad authority to appoint senior officials aligned with their policies.

“This is the most important law for the right,” Norden reportedly told lawmakers. “It will allow us to make appointments the way they do in the United States.”

The proposal, however, has also sparked concern within the coalition itself.

Some coalition officials are warning that the law could ultimately backfire if the current government loses power. Under the proposed framework, a future government could potentially remove officials recently appointed by the current coalition, including newly installed security chiefs whose appointments were secured only after lengthy legal and political battles.

Critics within the coalition have questioned whether it is wise to create a mechanism that could be used by political opponents to rapidly replace key officials following a change in government.

The bill must still pass several additional legislative stages before becoming law.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee attended an event Wednesday to celebrate 250 years of U.S. independence at the “aptly named” Liberty Bell Park.

The event was hosted by the Jerusalem Embassy and featured live music, dance workshops, food vendors, and activities and games for kids, and all of which contributed to an American vibe.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion pose with a cake celebrating 250 years of U.S. independence. (Credit: Mike Huckabee)

The ambassador thanked Jerusalem’s mayor, Moshe Lion, for joining the celebration. Photos show the two officials holding a large rectangular cake emblazoned with the number “250.”

“Deeply grateful to Mayor Moshe Lion and the wonderful people of Jerusalem for joining the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem to celebrate 250 years of American independence at the aptly named Liberty Bell Park,” Huckabee wrote on X alongside photos of the event.

UTJ chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf sent a sharply worded letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, protesting a government decision that he says completely ignores the Chareidi population of Yehuda and Shomron.

“I find it necessary to turn to you urgently and with deep pain, on behalf of the 200,000 Chareidi residents of Yehuda and Shomron,” Goldknopf wrote. “On the government agenda, under Item B, there is a dramatic proposal to establish temporary sites in rural yishuvim in Yehuda and Shomron. Once again, we face an infuriating and inexplicable reality: the Chareidi public in Yehuda and Shomron is once again being excluded, sidelined, and completely left out of this plan.”

“Out of roughly half a million residents of Yehudah and Shomron, nearly 200,000 are Chareidim. The Chareidi public constitutes almost half of the area’s population, and the cities of Modi’in Illit and Beitar Illit are the largest urban centers in Yehuda and Shomron.”

“The heads of the Chareidi municipalities are asking me today with heavy hearts, and I’m directing this question to you: Why are they always left behind? How is it possible that the budgets, development programs, and benefits that reach other communities never reach the main Chareidi population centers in Yehuda and Shomron?”

“Is the blood of the residents of Beitar Illit, Modi’in Illit, and Emanuel less red? Is half of the region’s population invisible to the government? A very troubling feeling is growing among the public that this exclusion is not accidental, and that its purpose is to deny support and benefits to a particular sector.”

“We cannot accept such discrimination,” he asserted. “The Chareidi public is part of the settlement enterprise in the Holy Land and a full partner in strengthening, developing, and advancing the region, despite severe overcrowding and an acute housing shortage. It is entitled to every benefit and form of assistance as a matter of right, not as a favor.”

Goldknopf concluded by calling on Netanyahu: “As Prime Minister of all Israeli citizens, I ask you to heed the Chareidi sector in Yehuda and Shomron, to reexamine this section before it is approved, and to ensure that every plan, benefit, or regional development project includes the Chareidi municipalities and residents in a full and equal manner.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi launched a vigorous defense of his controversial communications reform during a wide-ranging interview with Kikar HaShabbos, rejecting allegations that the proposal would increase chilul Shabbos, attacking Israel’s legal establishment, and urging chareidi coalition partners not to be intimidated by the courts or the Attorney General.

The interview focused on several of the most contentious issues currently facing the government, including the communications reform bill, concerns about Shabbos observance, the draft law crisis, and the role of the Supreme Court and Attorney General in shaping public policy.

“The Panic Channels Are Going Crazy”

At the outset of the interview, Karhi addressed the mounting criticism directed at him as the legislation approaches final votes in the Knesset. According to the minister, the opposition stems primarily from economic interests and a desire by established media organizations to preserve their dominance.

“First of all, as we get closer to the finish line, and with Hashem’s help prepare to bless the completed work, everyone is going crazy,” Karhi said. “All the monopolies that currently control public consciousness and dominate public opinion—the panic channels—are unwilling to allow the market to open up. They don’t want other voices to be heard. They don’t want Kikar HaShabbos to receive a channel, or i24 to be able to broadcast on cable and satellite. They want to continue controlling public opinion, and that’s why they’re panicking.”

Karhi further claimed that media interests are actively working within the chareidi community to build opposition to the legislation.

“According to reports, they’re setting up campaign headquarters and even recruiting chareidi public relations people to hang pashkevilim against me. As if they need to teach me what Torah is, or what it means to protect our heritage and values. Anyone who follows my work sees how committed I am to these issues, and we’re already facing votes tomorrow.”

“A Complete Falsehood” Regarding Shabbos Concerns

The minister was asked directly about allegations that the new government streaming application intended to replace the Idan Plus system would facilitate and fund chilul Shabbos and the broadcasting of sporting events on Shabbos.

Karhi forcefully rejected the claims and argued that the reform would actually reduce chilul Shabbos.

“Today, the Idan Plus system costs the state 40 million shekels annually. That system requires technicians to maintain it around the clock, including on Shabbos. We are eliminating that. It will become an internet platform, like any government website or chareidi website whose servers remain operational on Shabbos, but without technicians actively desecrating Shabbos.”

He also pointed to specific language included in the legislation.

“We explicitly included in the law that sporting events of public significance will not be broadcast live on the application during Shabbos or Jewish holidays. Show me another piece of legislation where someone had the courage to include a legal definition of the beginning and end of Shabbos and Yom Tov. In addition, the annual cost to the state will drop from 40 million shekels to only two or three million.”

Addressing concerns about inappropriate content, Karhi insisted the law contains safeguards.

“There will be no obscene broadcasts on the application—period. We included language in the law making such content prohibited for any registered content provider.”

He added that discussions are ongoing with representatives of the chareidi parties and MK Avi Maoz to further strengthen content restrictions.

“We are working together on amendments that will define the content even more clearly. The regulator will be able to prevent channels that offend public sensitivities or promote religious conversion from appearing on the application, and those rules will be subject to oversight by the Knesset Economics Committee.”

Karhi also emphasized what he sees as one of the reform’s major benefits.

“This law will reserve ten free channel slots on all platforms for new news outlets. It will allow additional media organizations to obtain a channel free of charge and not remain dependent on monopolies.”

The minister further claimed that, according to reports he has heard, chareidi public relations professionals have been hired by Channel 12’s Keshet network to oppose the reform because established broadcasters wish to preserve their dominance.

Keshet strongly denied the allegation, stating: “There is absolutely no truth to this.”

Draft Law Crisis: “The Attorney General Is Hurting the Children of Torah Learners”

The second portion of the interview focused on the draft law dispute and economic sanctions affecting the chareidi public, including daycare subsidy issues.

Karhi strongly defended the chareidi parties while launching a sharp attack on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the legal system.

“The Attorney General isn’t sitting on the sidelines rubbing her hands together in satisfaction—she is actively intervening,” Karhi charged. “In her eyes, anyone who learns Torah deserves to be mistreated. She harms the children of Torah learners more than the state harms the families of terrorists or crime families. Their goal is to bring down the government and create division among us.”

The minister also discussed the government’s approval of the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study.

“This is legislation that will neutralize the damage being done regarding daycare subsidies. Once there is a Basic Law establishing that Torah study stands alongside equality as a constitutional value, it becomes impossible to use the courts to undermine it. Of course, no one suggested that grants for someone serving 400 days in combat should be identical to someone who did not serve, but this law will protect basic rights.”

“Don’t Go to Lavan the Aramean for a Blessing”

Concluding the interview, Karhi appealed directly to the chareidi parties, urging them not to allow concerns about legal opposition to dictate their legislative agenda.

“I view the chareidi factions as our natural and genuine partners. Some chareidi lawmakers are waiting to receive approval from the legal advisers and the Supreme Court—and in my view that’s like going to Lavan the Aramean to ask for a blessing.”

He argued that legal officials are fundamentally opposed to the coalition’s goals.

“Their objective is exactly the opposite. They enjoy the turmoil. We need to stand up to them and make it clear: You do not determine policy.”

Karhi concluded by citing a well-known statement by the late Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin.

“As Yitzchak Rabin once said, ‘I am not afraid of the Supreme Court justices. They will rule according to the laws that we enact.’ That’s exactly what we need to do.”

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews) – Comedian Jerry Seinfeld needed just three words to turn a routine postgame encounter into a viral social media moment Wednesday night outside Madison Square Garden.

Fresh off watching the New York Knicks complete a historic comeback in the NBA Finals, Seinfeld was approached by a streamer who asked him to say, “Free Palestine.”

Rather than engage in a lengthy debate, the comedian smiled and replied, “It doesn’t exist,” before continuing on his way.

The brief response quickly spread across social media, where supporters applauded the trademark Seinfeld-style deadpan delivery, while critics voiced their displeasure. Within hours, the clip had generated thousands of comments and reignited debate over the comedian’s outspoken support for Israel.

For Seinfeld, however, the exchange lasted only seconds. For the internet, it became another all-night argument.

The moment came as Knicks fans poured into the streets celebrating one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history. While New York was buzzing about basketball, Seinfeld’s three-word response managed to steal a share of the spotlight — and leave plenty of people arguing long after the final buzzer.

President Donald Trump sparked immediate controversy Wednesday after declaring, “I love the inflation,” while responding to questions about a new government report showing a significant increase in consumer prices.

Speaking with reporters, Trump dismissed concerns about the latest inflation figures and argued that the economic data remained encouraging despite the ongoing conflict with Iran.

“No, I love it. The numbers were great,” Trump said when asked if he was concerned about the latest data, which showed the consumer price index rising to 4.2 percent over the past 12 months — with an increase of 0.5 percent in May alone, according to the Labor Department.

The president then elaborated on his remarks, linking rising energy prices to recent U.S. military actions targeting Iranian assets.

“I love the inflation,” the president continued, noting how the U.S. recently took out millions of barrels of oil and 22 ships from Iran. “That’s why oil is $85 dollars a barrel.”

Trump acknowledged that the conflict has created economic headwinds but insisted that national security concerns had to take precedence over short-term economic considerations.

He argued that the American economy had reached unprecedented heights before the war began and maintained that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was a more pressing priority.

“We had just hit the highest stock market in history, highest 401k’s in history,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “Everything was going well, and I said I hate to do this to you guys but Iran’s going to have a nuclear weapon very soon. We have to go and attack.”

The inflation report released by the Labor Department showed that energy costs continued their upward climb in May. According to the data, energy prices rose 3.9 percent during the month after increasing 3.8 percent in April and 10.9 percent in March.

Despite the latest surge in prices, Trump and senior administration officials have continued to predict that inflation and fuel costs will decline sharply once hostilities in the Middle East subside.

For now, however, the outlook remains uncertain. Although a ceasefire remains technically in place, continued exchanges and military activity have fueled concerns that instability in the region could persist for the foreseeable future.

Trump’s critics have seized on several recent comments he has made regarding the economy during the conflict, including previous remarks indicating that concerns about Americans’ personal finances were not at the forefront of his thinking while negotiating with Iran. His latest comments about inflation are likely to add further fuel to that debate as economic concerns continue to weigh on voters.

{Matzav.com}

Kevin O’Leary says Bitcoin’s (CRYPTO: BTC) recent weakness has less to do with fading investor interest and more to do with regulatory uncertainty.

BTC Going “Nowhere” Until CLARITY Act

Appearing on Fox Business on June 10, the O’Leary Ventures chairman said Bitcoin’s decline from its all-time high near $120,000 to around $60,000 has disappointed many investors who expected ETFs and institutional adoption to drive prices higher.

“Bitcoin’s going nowhere until the CLARITY Act becomes law,” O’Leary said.

He added that sovereign wealth funds and institutions are not yet touching Bitcoin as it is not yet law. O’Leary predicts 1% to …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Rabbi Dov Landau, the leader of the Lithuanian charedi community in Israel, delivered the keynote address at the Keren Olam Hatorah fundraising event in Chicago, Illinois, and described the state of haredi yeshiva students in Israel as a “trouble” which requires international mobilization.

Rabbi Landau claimed that “yeshiva and kollel (study halls for married men) students are persecuted by the authorities and the courts in Israel for no wrongdoing on their part,” and described a reality where thousands of haredim “cannot live like regular human beings are supposed to live” due to the threat of arrest and extensive economic restrictions.

According to the rabbi, many of the married students are having trouble paying to educate their children, and they even “don’t have bread for their children’s mouths.”

קליפ מסכם מהרגעים הנבחרים במעמד “קיום התורה” בעיר שיקגו, המעמד המרכזי של קרן עולם התורה, בהשתתפות גדולי ישראל שליט”א pic.twitter.com/E2dxPQcZI4

— (((IsraelMatzav))) (@IsraelMatzav) June 11, 2026

The rabbi stressed the importance of Keren Olam Hatorah as a central line of defense: “If it hadn’t been founded by generous people here in the United States, G-d forbid, yeshivas and kollels would be on the brink of closing.”

He called for widespread donations, claiming that supporting Torah scholars “brings blessings” to the donors themselves.

One of the most popular money-making trades in global finance this year — borrowing Hong Kong dollars cheaply and investing the proceeds in higher-yielding U.S. dollar assets — is losing its appeal as borrowing costs in Hong Kong rise, according to a report published Tuesday by Bloomberg News reporters Iris Ouyang and Jacob Gu. The shift reflects changes in Hong Kong’s financial system that are making the trade more expensive to maintain.

Here is the trade in simple terms. For much of this year, Hong Kong dollars were relatively inexpensive to borrow. Traders took advantage by borrowing Hong Kong dollars at low rates and moving the money into U.S. dollar assets offering higher returns. The difference between the borrowing cost and the investment return is known as a carry trade.

The attraction of the strategy depends on one key factor: cheap funding. As long as borrowing costs remain low, traders can earn the spread between the two currencies. When funding costs rise, that profit margin shrinks.

The benchmark at the center of the story is HIBOR, the Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate, which measures the rate banks charge one another to lend Hong Kong dollars. As HIBOR increases, the cost of financing carry-trade positions rises as well.

The reason traces back to Hong Kong’s currency system. Since 1983, the Hong Kong dollar has been pegged to the U.S. dollar within a trading band of HK$7.75 to HK$7.85 per U.S. dollar. When the currency weakens toward the lower end of that range, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) intervenes by purchasing Hong Kong dollars from the market.

Those interventions remove liquidity from the banking system. With less cash available, short-term borrowing costs tend to increase. In effect, the same market forces that encouraged the carry trade have also contributed to the conditions making it less profitable.

Seasonal factors are adding pressure. Midyear is traditionally a period when large dividend payments, corporate funding needs, and new stock offerings absorb liquidity from Hong Kong’s financial system. That can further tighten money-market conditions and contribute to higher borrowing rates.

The implications extend beyond hedge funds and currency traders. Most residential mortgages in Hong Kong are linked directly or indirectly to HIBOR. As the benchmark rises, mortgage payments can increase, affecting household budgets across the city.

Banks often benefit from a higher-rate environment because they can earn more on loans and other interest-bearing assets. Borrowers, however, face higher financing costs. Property developers, homebuyers, and businesses seeking credit may all feel the effects if funding costs continue climbing.

For savers, the picture is somewhat brighter. Higher interest rates can lead to improved returns on bank deposits and savings products, though those gains often lag changes in wholesale funding markets.

Importantly, the recent rise in borrowing costs is not viewed as a threat to Hong Kong’s currency peg. Rather, many analysts see it as evidence that the system is functioning as intended. The peg relies on automatic adjustments in liquidity and interest rates to keep the currency within its designated trading range.

The broader question for investors is whether the narrowing gap between Hong Kong and U.S. funding costs will continue. If borrowing Hong Kong dollars becomes significantly more expensive, the economics that fueled the carry trade could weaken further.

For now, the takeaway is straightforward: the era of exceptionally cheap Hong Kong dollar funding appears to be fading, reducing the attractiveness of one of the market’s most widely used currency trades.

JBizNews Desk — Asia

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu spoke with Kol Chai this week about the law passed in the Knesset on Wednesday evening: “Basic Law: Limmud Torah” with the help of his party.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that the value of Limmud Torah study is an existential value. It is not a secondary value,” he said. “Without the Torah, I think it’s clear today to every clear-minded person that we have no zechus to exist.”

“Lomdei Torah are our existence. To call it a ‘contribution’ implies that it is merely equal to something else. We have no right to exist without it.”

During the interview, Eliyahu spoke about his grandfather, former Sephardic Chief Rabbi HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu, z’tl, whose yartzheit was on Wednesday.

“My grandfather, z’tl, learned Torah despite grinding poverty,” he said. “If anyone has any doubt that we in Otzma Yehudit are following the path of HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu, then they should think again. We will support Lomdei Torah and place the Torah at the center of our banner.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A massive emergency response from various agencies converged on the entrances to underground tunnels to help extract a group of 71 schoolgirls and their chaperones in Nyack, N.Y., Wednesday.

The group, belonging to Toras Emachu in Monsey, N.Y., was enjoying a field trip to Memorial Park. As they explored the park, they entered the Nyack Creek culvert in the southwest corner and walked through the tunnel system, reaching downtown Nyack, where they became lost and could not find their way out.

Someone aboveground heard them and called 911, resulting in Orangetown Police, the Nyack Fire Department, the Nyack Community Ambulance Corps, Ramapo first responders, Hatzolah EMS of Rockland County, Chaveirim of Rockland County and other emergency response agencies rushing to the spot to help the teens find their way out.

While some were treated for dehydration and exhaustion, no injuries were reported, and everyone was accounted for.

Nyack Mayor Joe Rand, who was at the scene, explained what happened and praised the emergency responders for their quick response.

“Some young girls, some kids, they were in the park,” he said. “They got into the culvert of the creek. And they started exploring and then they ended up not really knowing where they were and they got a little alarmed.”

“As far as I know from the police, everybody’s been accounted for,” the mayor continued. “Nobody’s missing.”

“So I just want to say how grateful I am to the OPD, Nyack Fire Department, the Nyack Community Ambulance Corps, and other first responders for their fast action and for working together so well, and how happy I am that no one was hurt,” he added.

Watch this short video and be inspired by the incredible life and timeless lessons of Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz zt״l.

For more inspirational clips by Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz, you can join the Motivational Mindsets WhatsApp group 🔗

Former Israeli chief rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef delivered pointed remarks Wednesday night that appeared to criticize the Chassidishe Agudas Yisroel faction of United Torah Judaism for opposing a previous version of legislation regulating the status of bnei yeshivah, suggesting that the current wave of arrests might have been avoided had the bill been enacted.

Expressing frustration over the failure to pass the legislation, Rav Yosef said: “It’s a great shame that the law regulating the status of yeshivah students was not passed last month when the Likud had already agreed to cooperate. We agreed, and others in the chareidi parties opposed it. Perhaps that is why we are seeing all these arrests.”

The former Rishon Letzion’s comments come amid what many are describing as an unprecedented wave of arrests of yeshivah bochurim in recent days. Under a new policy attributed to Police Commissioner Danny Levy, police have reportedly been transferring detained bnei yeshivah to military authorities.

His remarks touched on a longstanding debate within the coalition regarding legislation addressing the draft status of yeshivah students. While Shas and Degel HaTorah had indicated a willingness to advance the proposed legislation, Agudas Yisroel, led by MK Yitzchak Goldknopf, opposed the bill, largely due to concerns over the inclusion of enlistment targets and potential sanctions.

Meanwhile, the Knesset today gave preliminary approval to the Basic Law: Torah Study, a measure viewed by some as an alternative approach to addressing the legal status of bnei yeshivah. According to Rav Yosef, however, the earlier draft law could have prevented the current arrest campaign.

The former Rishon Letzion’s comments highlight the growing disagreement among the chareidi parties over how best to confront the draft crisis. While Shas and Degel HaTorah believed it was preferable to secure legal protections for yeshivah students even if compromises were required, Agudas Yisroel maintained that it was better to wait for legislation that more fully addressed its concerns.

It should be noted that last year Rav Yosef made headlines when he instructed yeshivah students to disregard draft notices sent by the military.

“I said that if a draft order arrives—tear it up, tear it up, throw it into the toilet and flush the water,” he said at the time in a direct and unequivocal instruction.

{Matzav.com}

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey unexpectedly resigned on Thursday, saying the government isn’t willing to spend enough on the military at a time of “rising threats.”

The resignation is another blow to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is already facing demands from Labour colleagues to step down.

Healey told Starmer in a letter that the government’s Defense Investment Plan falls “well short of what is required at this dangerous time.”

Publication of the plan has been delayed amid reports of disagreement between the defense ministry and the Treasury.

Starmer has pledged to boost U.K. defense spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027 and 3% by 2034. But many in the military say that isn’t fast enough.

“You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,” Healey wrote in his resignation letter.

He said that the spending plan put forward by the Treasury would see defense spending rise to just 2.68% in 2030 after hitting 2.6% next year.

Healey said that isn’t enough with growing demands on defense and British military commitments, citing the Iran war, Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine and threats from Moscow.

“I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation,” he said.

Healey has been U.K. defense secretary since the Labour Party government was elected in July 2024, and he’s regarded as a capable and serious minister.

He has played a key role in bolstering international support for Ukraine and assembling a multinational coalition to help guarantee security if a ceasefire is reached. Healey also has helped spearhead a maritime security force that would help keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping if the Iran war ends.

The United Kingdom and other NATO member nations have faced pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to increase military spending. Trump has long questioned the value of the military alliance and complained that the United States provides security to European countries that don’t pull their weight.

The U.K. military is also seeking to reverse years of decline in the face of an increasingly assertive Russia, which fully invaded its neighbor Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and increasingly tests the defenses of European nations with overt and covert activity.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, informed of Healey’s resignation by The Associated Press during a news conference in Brussels, said that Healey is someone “I respect very much.”

“What we are seeing all over the alliance is countries increasing their defense investments, and of course it is not easy, because in the end there is always a trade-off with other expenses, which are also important,” Rutte said.

Healey’s resignation is likely to further stoke talk that Starmer’s days as prime minister are numbered. Already bruised by a series of missteps since Labour returned to power less than two years ago, Starmer has faced calls within his party’s ranks to stand down.

He appears to have been unable to bridge the gap between Healey’s department and Treasury chief Rachel Reeves over defense spending.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is widely expected to challenge Starmer for the leadership, if he returns to Parliament in a June 18 special election.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The opening of a Canadian-U.S. bridge across the Detroit River that President Donald Trump previously threatened to block has been delayed due to “outstanding issues.”

In a statement released Thursday ahead of a Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony at the bridge, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority says “Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues.”

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is jointly owned by Canada and Michigan and was expected to open to traffic later this month.

The bridge’s opening had remained in question for months after Trump, a Republican, in February demanded that Canada turn over at least half the ownership of the bridge to the U.S. federal government and agree to other unspecified demands in one of his many salvos over cross-border trade issues.

Invitations for the bridge’s opening went out this week following a conversation between Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.

“This project is a powerful example of bipartisan and international cooperation, and the governor looks forward to attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony when it happens,” a statement from Whitmer spokesperson Bobby Leddy said.

US President Donald Trump announced that the US will be striking Iran tonight in a post on Truth Social on Thursday afternoon. 

“At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets,” he added.

Trump also spoke about the protests in Iran at the start of the year in a phone call with Fox News on Thursday afternoon, saying that the Kurds had let the US down after weaponry was delivered from the US. 

When asked for his message to the Iranian people, Trump said that they were scared due to the disparity between the IRGC and unarmed protesters. 

“We sent weapons and the Kurds let us down,” Trump said. 

Trump also said that Iran’s radar capabilities have been weakened, telling Fox News that the US is “flying planes over Iran” without Iran knowing on Thursday. 

Iranian media reported hearing sounds of explosions in the Sirik area. 

Iran’s enemies must accept ceasefire or face ‘decisive’ response, Defense Ministry spokesperson says

Iranian Defense Ministry spokesperson Reza Taleinik said that Iran’s armed forces were at the highest level of readiness, and that Iran’s enemies must accept a ceasefire, on Thursday. 

“Any crossing of the Islamic Republic’s red lines by the enemy will face a decisive, regret-inducing and harsh punitive response,” Taleinik said. 

This is a developing story.

This post was originally published on here.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An Israeli researcher who specializes in locating heirs to unclaimed properties says he declined to pursue a case that would have earned him roughly 300,000 shekels ($85,000) after discovering that most of the inheritance would ultimately benefit organizations engaged in missionary activity targeting Jews.

Michael Strud, who works to identify legal heirs to forgotten or unclaimed assets, also decided to make his story public, saying he hoped it would serve as an example for others who may face similar ethical dilemmas where financial gain conflicts with deeply held values.

Strud said he spent considerable time tracing the inheritance chain of a property whose ownership could be clearly documented. Under his business model, he receives a commission only after heirs successfully obtain the assets to which they are entitled.

According to Strud, the case initially appeared straightforward and likely to result in a substantial commission. However, during his research he became concerned after discovering that an individual involved in the inheritance process had connections to missionary activity.

Strud said he continued investigating to determine the ultimate beneficiaries of the estate. As he traced a series of wills and inheritances, he concluded that the majority of the assets would eventually be distributed to several organizations that he believed were linked to messianic or missionary groups seeking to encourage Jews to convert to Christianity.

Seeking confirmation, Strud contacted Yad L’Achim, an Israeli organization known for its efforts to combat missionary activity. The group reviewed the organizations named in the inheritance documents and provided information that, according to Strud, confirmed their involvement in religious outreach and conversion efforts.

After receiving the findings, Strud said he decided to abandon the case despite the anticipated commission of approximately 300,000 shekels.

Rather than simply walk away, he said he wanted the public to know why he made the decision.

“I decided to publicize the story because I felt it carried an important lesson,” Strud said. “People can find themselves facing a significant financial opportunity and have to decide whether it aligns with their principles.”

“I am part of the Jewish people, and I will not assist in strengthening organizations whose activities are directed at drawing Jews away from their faith,” he added.

Representatives of Yad L’Achim confirmed the details of the case and praised Strud for forgoing the potential financial gain.

The case highlights the ethical and religious considerations that can arise in inheritance and asset-recovery work, particularly when beneficiaries include organizations whose missions conflict with the personal beliefs of those involved in the process.

Starbucks is exploring options for its Japan business, including the possible sale of a minority stake or a public listing, according to people familiar with the matter cited in a report published Wednesday. The discussions are described as preliminary, and the company has not publicly confirmed any plans or commented on the reported deliberations.

In simple terms, Starbucks is considering whether to bring in outside investors to own part of its Japan operation. Another option under review is an initial public offering of the business, allowing investors to buy shares in the Japan unit while Starbucks retains a significant ownership position.

According to the report, a transaction could value the business at approximately ¥400 billion to ¥500 billion (about $2.5 billion to $3.1 billion), though no formal process has been announced and no final decision has been made.

For customers, little would change. Starbucks stores across Japan would continue operating under the same brand, serving the same products, and using the same loyalty programs. The question is not about changing the coffee business itself but about changing who owns part of it.

Japan is one of Starbucks’ most important international markets. The company operates approximately 2,100 stores across the country, making it one of the largest Starbucks footprints outside North America. Most of those locations are company-operated rather than franchised.

The reported discussions follow a major transaction Starbucks recently completed in China. In an official filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Starbucks disclosed that funds managed by Boyu Capital acquired a 60% stake in the company’s China retail operations, while Starbucks retained a 40% ownership interest and continued to own and license the Starbucks brand to the venture.

That China deal valued Starbucks’ China business at roughly $4 billion and reflected a broader strategy of partnering with local investors while maintaining control of the brand and long-term growth plans.

Brian Niccol, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks, said at the time that the China partnership would accelerate growth by combining Starbucks’ global brand with strong local expertise and operational capabilities.

A similar arrangement in Japan would extend what many analysts describe as an asset-light strategy. Rather than owning every international operation outright, Starbucks can generate capital from mature markets while continuing to benefit from future growth through retained ownership stakes, licensing fees, and brand royalties.

Unlike some corporate divestitures, the reported Japan discussions are not being driven by a struggling business. Starbucks has a long history in the country and remains one of the most recognized coffee brands in Japan.

The company first entered Japan in 1996, opening its inaugural location in Tokyo. In 2014, Starbucks purchased the remaining ownership stake in Starbucks Coffee Japan for approximately $914 million, giving the company full control of the business after years of operating through a joint venture.

If Starbucks ultimately sells a minority stake today, the valuation being discussed suggests the Japan operation has appreciated significantly since that acquisition.

The timing also aligns with Niccol’s broader effort to reshape the company. Since becoming CEO, he has been implementing the “Back to Starbucks” turnaround strategy, focused on simplifying operations, improving customer experience, and strengthening profitability.

Selling stakes in mature international businesses can free up capital, improve financial flexibility, and allow management to focus resources on key strategic priorities, including efforts to strengthen the company’s core North American operations.

For investors, the reported discussions could provide a clearer picture of how much Starbucks’ international businesses are worth. When outside investors place a specific value on an operation like Japan, it offers a market-based benchmark that can help analysts assess the company’s overall valuation.

Several important caveats remain. The discussions are reportedly in the early stages, the information comes from unnamed sources rather than company executives, and many preliminary deal talks never result in a transaction.

Starbucks could pursue a stake sale, an IPO, a strategic partnership, or decide to keep the business exactly as it is.

What is clear is that Starbucks is continuing to evaluate how it structures ownership of its international operations. After reshaping its China business through a local partnership, Japan may now be the next market under review as the world’s largest coffee chain looks to balance growth, capital allocation, and shareholder value.

JBizNews Desk — Asia

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. producer prices climbed last month at the fastest pace since November 2022, fueled by a surge in energy prices.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that its producer price index — which captures inflation before it reaches consumers — jumped 6.5% from May 2025. It also rose 1.1% from April, same as it did the previous month.

Inflationary pressures, intensified by the energy shock caused by the Iran war, are frustrating Americans five months before midterm elections that will determine whether President Donald Trump’s Republicans keep full control of Congress.

Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core wholesale prices rose 0.4% from April and 4.9% from May 2025.

The wholesale inflation numbers came out a day after the Labor Department reported that consumer prices rose 4.2% in May from a year earlier, most in three years. Gasoline prices were up nearly 41% from May 2025. Airfares were up almost 27%.

Inflation is running well ahead of the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. The central bank is expected to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged as its meeting next week. But financial markets expect the Fed could raise rates by the end of the year in an effort to curb price increases.

Despite an overhanging shadow of war with Iran, over a dozen Israeli defense companies are taking part in ILA Berlin, one of Europe’s major aviation and defense exhibitions that opened on Wednesday.

ILA Berlin, taking place between June 10-14, 2026, will host more than 750 exhibitors from 37 countries. There are 15 Israeli companies participating, pitching their battle-proven systems to countries and companies aiming to rearm as Europe’s defense spending continues to rise due to ongoing conflicts and regional rivalries.

The companies are showcasing systems from various domains such as aerospace and space systems; air defense; unmanned platforms and counter-UAS solutions; radar and electronic warfare; AI-driven command, control, and situational awareness; and advanced homeland security.

In addition to Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the smaller companies taking part include Aeromaoz, ASIO Technologies, Axon Vision, BIRD Aerosystems, Creomagic, eyesAtop, Magam Safety, Maris-Tech, Orbit Communication Systems, RSL Electronics, TSG, and Uvision.

According to the Defense Ministry, Israel’s participation in ILA Berlin 2026 “comes amid a record-breaking year for Israeli defense exports, which surpassed the $19 billion threshold in 2025, driven in part by the expansion of the Arrow 3 deal with Germany.”

Germany is undergoing a significant transformation in its defense posture. Since 2022, Berlin has committed to large‑scale increases in defense spending, initiated major procurement programs, and articulated a long‑term ambition to become Europe’s strongest military power. 

The country is investing heavily in air defense, armored platforms, advanced munitions, and integrated command‑and‑control systems, creating a broad spectrum of opportunities for international defense suppliers.

The Berlin Air Show underscores Germany’s growing importance as a defense hub. While ILA has traditionally focused on aerospace, it has expanded in recent years to include broader defense and security technologies, reflecting Germany’s increasing emphasis on integrated air and missile defense and on strengthening its industrial partnerships.

“Israel’s participation in the exhibition reflects the Ministry’s strategy to deepen defense and strategic cooperation with Germany, and the significant potential for expanding business partnerships with German industry and additional European nations,” said Director of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT), Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yair Kulas.

New partnerships

While there were pro-Palestinian protesters on the opening day, Israel’s Defense Ministry said that “the exhibition serves as an important platform to advance and deepen strategic partnerships – both with Germany and with other friendly nations across Europe.”

At the airshow, Elbit Systems announced that it had signed a strategic partnership with Diehl Defense to jointly offer the SkyStriker loitering munition system to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr)

According to a press release, Elbit Systems along with its German Subsidiary, Elbit Systems Deutschland, and Diehl Defence will “combine their complementary technologies, industrial capabilities, and deep operational expertise to offer a high‑performance, mature loitering munition solution, tailored specifically to Germany’s defense and modernization priorities.”

The SkyStriker is an autonomous, long‑range loitering munition designed to locate, track, and engage operator‑designated high-value targets with high accuracy. The platform is capable of carrying up to a 10‑kilogram warhead, loitering more than two hours, and achieving a range of over 200 km. It can be launched from numerous platforms including land-based vehicles, the EuroPULS rocket launcher, naval vessels, containers and aircraft.

The partnership also includes local manufacturing, assembly, integration, and qualification activities at Diehl Defence, if awarded relevant programs, supporting the development of sovereign capabilities and strengthening the German defense industry.

No politics, just systems

Unlike Eurosatory, where France banned Israeli companies from presenting offensive weapons systems, ILA offers a venue free from the political constraints, allowing them to present a wider range of systems and engage more directly with German and European stakeholders.

In a recent interview, Shifters CEO Ofer Ballin told Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post that “we all know that Europe is going through a tremendous change in terms of force building, and the geopolitical situation over the next decade will make the need supersede the politics.”

Assaf Chaprak, CTO at Shifters, told D&T that “Germany has always been a better option than France. The decision that the French government made is pure antisemitism. It is outrageous and shameful, but regardless, Eurosatory is a great opportunity to meet and engage with clients and with users.”

The opening ceremony of the Israeli National Pavilion took place on Wednesday under the leadership of SIBAT within the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), with the heads of Israel’s defense industries in attendance. 

Israel’s Ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, said the technologies on display “offer the most concrete demonstration” of Israel’s contribution to German and European security. 

“Israel, Germany, and Europe face shared security challenges, including the infiltration of Iranian-origin technologies into the European arena and shared threats in the fight against terrorism.

The close strategic relationship between our two countries, including in the defense sector, holds enormous potential for future cooperation in additional areas, including joint technological development and production,” he said.

This post was originally published on here.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. applications for jobless aid rose modestly last week, but remain at a historically low level despite economic headwinds brought on by the war in Iran.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment aid for the week ending June 6 rose by 4,000 to 229,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s the most since early February, before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, but still considered a healthy level. It’s also more than the 216,000 new applications forecast by analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

Despite concerns that the conflict in the Middle East could further squeeze a flagging labor market, hiring has picked up in recent months following a miserable 2025 that saw fewer than 200,000 job gains. For comparison, about 1.5 million jobs were added in 2024.

U.S. employers delivered a surprising 172,000 new jobs in May and the economy is averaging 188,000 job gains in the three months since the Iran war began in late February. That’s the best three months of hiring since early 2024. The unemployment rate remains historically low at 4.3%.

Job openings also rose in April as employers posted 7.6 million vacancies, up from 6.9 million in March and the most since May 2024.

The government reported Wednesday that rising gas prices — triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s southern border — pushed U.S. consumer inflation in May to 4.2%, its highest level in three years. Despite recent declines, prices for oil and gas remain elevated, which can squeeze consumers’ budgets and make businesses think twice about hiring.

With inflation well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, most analysts expect officials at the U.S. central bank to stand pat on its benchmark interest rate when they meet next week. That meeting will be the first with new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who replaces Jerome Powell after his eight-year run as the U.S. central bank’s leader.

Lower interest rates can boost the economy and hiring, but also tend to stoke inflation, leading a number of Fed policymakers to say they are actually willing to consider an interest rate hike this year. That could potentially help bring inflation down, but higher borrowing costs generally make businesses more reluctant to hire.

Optimism over artificial intelligence has also injected a degree of uncertainty about the job market due to the investment required to develop it and because the powerful technology could alter or even replace some jobs.

Among the companies that have cut jobs recently are Verizon, UPS, Amazon, Disney, Starbucks and Walmart.

Weekly jobless aid applications have stabilized in a range mostly between 200,000 and 250,000 since the U.S. economy emerged from the pandemic recession. However, hiring began slowing about two years ago and tapered further in 2025 due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, his purge of the federal workforce and the lingering effects of high interest rates meant to control inflation.

The Labor Department’s report Thursday showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims, which evens out some of the weekly volatility, rose by 4,250 to 219,000.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending May 30 jumped by 24,000 to 1.8 million, slightly more than analysts predicted.

(AP) – President Donald Trump on Thursday said the U.S. would hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT,” threatening in a social media post to “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas industries, including the key Kharg Island, in the “not too distant future.”

The U.S and Iran traded strikes for a second day, pushing the Middle East closer to the resumption of a full-scale war.

It was the third time this week that back-and-forth strikes have rattled the Middle East. The first involved attacks between Iran and Israel, followed by the two rounds of fire between the U.S. and Iran, which hit countries in the region that host American bases.

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Another 13 Roshei Yeshivos Hesder announced on Thursday afternoon that they will no longer send their talmidim to the Armored Corps due to the integration of women in tank units.

The Roshei Yeshivos added their name to the letter published by 12 Roshei Yeshivos Hesder on Wednesday.

The move is a staggering blow to the Armored Corps as it will deprive tank units of hundreds of soldiers.

In the past, Roshei Yeshivos Hesder forbade their talmidim from serving in the Artillery Corps due to the integration of women, and today, there is a shortage of reservists in the Artillery Corps.

The IDF on Wednesday evening issued an official response to the  announcement by the 12 Roshei Yeshivos, stating that “the IDF needs every male and female combat soldier.”

“As the people’s army, the IDF places the highest importance on integrating all sectors of society while making a significant effort to preserve their way of life and needs, in a manner that doesn’t come at the expense of one population group over the other.”

“The High Court of Justice did not instruct the IDF to recruit women into the Armored Corps. Rather, it instructed the military to conduct the planned pilot program on the issue.”

“The military is working to integrate women into combat positions wherever possible. A pilot program, by definition, is an initial trial intended to assess future implementation. The pilot will be conducted in accordance with the Joint Service Ordinance, while ensuring compliance with all required operational and professional standards and in line with operational needs.”

“Among all the options being examined in the pilot, there is no scenario in which men and women will serve together within the same framework,” the IDF promised.

However, the IDF has a long history of breaking its promises to the Dati Leumi sector, and the 13 Roshei Yeshivos were apparently not persuaded by the letter.

Several examples of the IDF’s broken promises to Dati Leumi soldiers can be read here, here, and here.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A unique and educational Torah event will take place tonight, Thursday night, June 11, when the Agudath Israel of America Torah Projects Commission presents a special shiur in Passaic, New Jersey, featuring Rav Amitai Ben David, acclaimed author of Sichas Chulin and a renowned expert in the practical and halachic aspects of shechitah.

The program will begin at 8:00 p.m. at Adas Yisrael, located at 585 Broadway in Passaic, and is expected to attract Daf Yomi participants, bnei Torah, rabbanim, and members of the broader community seeking a deeper understanding of one of the most fascinating and practical areas of halachah.

What makes this event especially noteworthy is that the shiur will feature a live shechitah and treifos demonstration, offering attendees a rare opportunity to witness firsthand many of the concepts discussed in Maseches Chulin and related areas of Torah study. Through practical examples and real-life illustrations, participants will gain a clearer appreciation of the intricate halachos governing kosher slaughter and the examination of animals.

Organizers explain that the program is designed not only for Daf Yomi learners studying or reviewing the sugyos of Chulin, but also for anyone interested in understanding the halachic foundations behind the kosher food that appears on Jewish tables every day.

Rav Amitai Ben David has earned widespread recognition for his ability to present complex halachic subjects in a clear, engaging, and accessible manner. His sefer, Sichas Chulin, has become a highly regarded resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of shechitah and treifos.

The shiur will take place at Adas Yisrael, 585 Broadway, Passaic, New Jersey, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

The program is sponsored by Meal Mart.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Identical twin brothers from Jerusalem have experienced an extraordinary family coincidence for the second time in two years after their wives gave birth on the same day at the same hospital, according to a report by Israeli outlet N12.

Moshe and Yosef Mizrahi arrived at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center over Shabbat with their pregnant wives, Shiri and Esther. By the end of the day, both couples had welcomed baby boys.

The event was especially remarkable because the same thing happened two years ago, when the brothers’ wives gave birth to daughters on the very same day at the same hospital.

Bat Ami Yisrael, director of the Mother and Newborn Division at Shaare Zedek, said hospital staff were amazed when they learned of the family’s history. Hospital policy generally avoids placing mothers with the same surname in the same room to prevent identification mix-ups between mothers and newborns. After hearing the family’s story and learning how satisfied they had been with their previous experience, staff made an exception and allowed the sisters-in-law to share a room.

Medical personnel described the family as warm, cheerful and close-knit. The mothers themselves reportedly found it hard to believe the unusual coincidence had occurred again.

One nurse recalled briefly thinking she was seeing double when she encountered what appeared to be the same father twice, only to discover she was speaking with identical twin brothers. The brothers’ good-natured sense of humor quickly became a source of amusement for staff.

The latest double birth was not planned. Moshe said his wife, Shiri, was not due for another month and delivered prematurely. Their son weighed approximately 2 kilograms, or 4.4 pounds, at birth and is reportedly doing well at home.

According to the N12 report, the earlier same-day births were also entirely unplanned. At that time, one wife delivered later than expected while the other gave birth on schedule, resulting in both daughters being born on the same day.

For the Mizrahi family, a coincidence that would seem nearly impossible has now happened twice, creating a unique family story that has captured attention across Israel.

A Florida fuel-trading company is in advanced talks to ship Cuba the largest cargo of American fuel the island has received since before the U.S. embargo reshaped relations between the two countries, according to remarks confirmed Tuesday by Matthew Klann, President of Vanguard Energy. The Miami-based company has already supplied smaller shipments of gasoline and diesel to Cuba and is now working toward a significantly larger delivery as the island struggles through a deepening energy crisis.

What makes the development remarkable is the history behind it. The United States has maintained a trade embargo against Cuba for more than six decades, and Washington has spent much of this year trying to restrict fuel flows to the island. A major, openly arranged shipment of U.S. fuel would represent a sharp departure from decades of precedent and highlights a unique policy exception now taking shape.

To understand how Cuba reached this point, it helps to look at the events of the past several months. Cuba has long relied heavily on imported fuel, particularly from Venezuela. Disruptions to those supplies, combined with additional U.S. pressure on energy shipments to the island, have left Cuba facing severe shortages that have strained its electrical grid and transportation networks.

The consequences have been felt across the country. Cuban officials have acknowledged months of fuel shortages severe enough to disrupt power generation. Rolling blackouts have become a regular feature of daily life, with some areas experiencing outages lasting many hours at a time. Businesses, schools, hospitals, and households have all been affected by the lack of reliable electricity.

The reason U.S. fuel is now being considered lies in Washington’s distinction between Cuba’s government-controlled economy and its emerging private sector. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has argued that allowing certain transactions that benefit private Cuban entrepreneurs aligns with broader U.S. policy goals aimed at strengthening independent economic activity while maintaining pressure on the state.

In practical terms, that means fuel exports intended for private businesses may qualify for exceptions that would not apply to government entities. Companies such as Vanguard Energy have been operating within that narrow framework, supplying fuel to approved buyers under existing regulations.

Until now, those shipments have been relatively small. Earlier deliveries represented only a fraction of Cuba’s overall energy needs. The cargo currently under discussion would be substantially larger and could provide meaningful relief to parts of the island’s struggling economy.

The move comes as Cuba continues searching for alternative energy suppliers. Fuel shipments from other countries have arrived intermittently, but they have not been sufficient to stabilize the island’s energy system. The uncertainty surrounding foreign supplies has increased the importance of any new source of fuel.

The business implications are significant. For Vanguard Energy, the arrangement could establish an early foothold in a market that very few American companies are legally permitted to serve. If the policy framework remains in place, companies that develop expertise navigating the regulatory and logistical challenges could gain a substantial competitive advantage.

Those logistical challenges are considerable. Cuba’s fuel-import infrastructure faces capacity constraints, and handling large shipments can require complex coordination involving storage facilities, ports, and distribution networks. Successfully managing those obstacles is likely to be as important as securing regulatory approval.

For ordinary Cubans, however, the issue is less about geopolitics than daily life. Fuel shortages affect electricity generation, public transportation, refrigeration, food distribution, and countless other basic services. Any increase in available fuel could have an immediate impact on living conditions.

For U.S. policymakers, the potential shipment represents a test of a broader strategy: maintaining economic pressure on the Cuban government while allowing targeted support for private citizens and entrepreneurs. Whether that approach can achieve both objectives remains an open question.

Neither Vanguard Energy nor U.S. officials have disclosed the size of the proposed shipment or a specific delivery timetable. Discussions remain ongoing, and final approvals have not yet been announced.

If completed, however, the deal would mark one of the most significant fuel shipments from the United States to Cuba in decades and could become a milestone in the evolving relationship between U.S. policy and Cuba’s private economy.

JBizNews Desk — Americas

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

This post was originally published on this site.

Thousands of members of the Peleg Yerushalmi and the Eidah HaChareidis are expected to take part today in large-scale demonstrations at several key locations throughout central Israel, following the decision to transfer 17 yeshivah bochurim arrested during protests outside the home of Deputy Supreme Court President Justice Noam Solberg to military prison. The protests are expected to cause significant disruptions to major transportation routes across the region.

The arrests stemmed from demonstrations held outside Justice Solberg’s residence, and protest organizers say the transfer of the detainees to military custody marks a dramatic escalation in what they describe as the authorities’ campaign against Torah learners.

In a statement issued shortly before midnight, Peleg Yerushalmi declared: “In the last hour, the police completed the transfer of the 17 draft-resisting yeshivah students arrested during the Solberg events to military prison. In doing so, the Israel Police has crossed yet another red line and has effectively announced a severe escalation in the obsessive persecution being waged by state authorities against Torah learners.”

The statement continued: “Tomorrow we will all go out to a determined and uncompromising struggle on behalf of the honor of Torah and its students, with a clear cry that will be heard throughout the country.”

Peleg Yerushalmi sources said the recent transfer of detainees from the Solberg protests to military authorities is expected to significantly intensify the protest campaign and broaden the scope of demonstrations nationwide. Organizers announced that protests will take place during the afternoon at several strategic transportation hubs in central Israel.

“Masses of bnei Torah and those who fear the word of Hashem will flock to the protest sites to participate in a mighty outcry and a firm, uncompromising protest against the severe assault on the honor of Torah and its students and against the continued persecution of yeshivah students,” organizers stated.

According to instructions circulated by protest leaders, demonstrations will be held simultaneously at four primary locations: near Nitzan Prison in Ramle for participants from Beit Shemesh and southern Israel; at the Russian Compound in Yerushalayim; near Hadarim Prison on Highway 4 between Ra’anana and Netanya for residents of the north and Sharon region; and in the Abu Kabir area for participants from Bnei Brak and central Israel.

In a rare move, Eidah HaChareidis officially joined the protest effort. Members of the Badatz of Eidah HaChareidis, headed by Rav Moshe Sternbuch, called upon followers to “go out in protest and wage a war of resistance with mesirus nefesh at the gates of the various prisons throughout the country in order to stop the destroyer.”

Following the directive, all Eidah HaChareidis-affiliated kollelim were closed yesterday, and large numbers of avreichim joined demonstrations that had already begun at several locations.

An Eidah HaChareidis statement declared that “in light of the authorities’ attempt to hand over dozens of bochurim and avreichim to military prison, every individual is obligated to participate in protests and a war of resistance with mesirus nefesh at the gates of the various prisons throughout the country.”

The Vaad HaHatzalah L’Hatzalas Olam HaTorah also issued a strongly worded statement, vowing to continue the struggle.

“We will stand with all our strength as a fortified wall against the disgraceful hunt being conducted against the Torah world. The dictatorial attempt by the authorities to break the spirit of the demonstrators through fictitious arrests, stun grenades, batons, knee strikes, severe violence, and now even the involvement of the Shin Bet, will not deter us from the struggle against the persecution of Torah learners in Eretz Yisroel.”

The statement added: “The Jewish People survived for thousands of years against forces greater and more threatening than you. We will survive this battle as well—and we will outlast you too.”

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Channel 14’s  documentary “Re-Education Corps” (“Heil Chinuch Mechadash”) presents what its creators describe as a long-term process that has fundamentally changed the Israel Defense Forces’ educational system and the way generations of soldiers and commanders are taught to understand war, morality, nationalism, and the role of the military in the State of Israel.

The investigation examines changes that began in the 1990s, a period it describes as a turning point in the IDF’s value system. At the center of the film are the development of the IDF’s ethical code and the drafting of the “Spirit of the IDF” document, which over the years became fundamental texts in military education.

According to the investigation, what began as an effort to formulate an ethical code for the military later expanded into a much broader process. Civilian institutes, organizations, and academics became involved in the IDF’s educational framework and turned into significant partners in shaping the content and messages conveyed to soldiers and commanders.

The film focuses, among other things, on the involvement of organizations such as the Shalom Hartman Institute, BINA, and others, including Professor Asa Kasher who wrote the IDF’s ethical code. Critics of the process argue that these groups promoted universalist and progressive concepts at the expense of traditional military values such as victory, decisive military outcomes, and national identity.

”ביקשו שננסח את ערך הניצחון כערך יסודי, אמרנו לא!”.
תכירו את פרופסור אבי שגיא,
חבר של אסא טרך.

ממנסחי רוח צה”ל ותבינו איך הרסו את צה”ל מבפנים. חלק 3 בתחקיר שלנו ‘חיל חינוך מחדש’ ששודר בערוץ 14,
צפו ושתפו pic.twitter.com/itEHzELdNe

— 😃 דּוּדּוּ 🍒 Dudy 🟢 (@JOnHuzC9jQW7u3C) June 10, 2026

Professor Sagi refused to mention victory in IDF values

This led to commanders being taught to respect all human life, even that of the enemy’s civilians, as the ultimate value. The commanders were even taught that it is fitting to endanger even their own soldiers to protect the lives of the enemy’s civilians. This became known in the IDF ethical code as “purity of arms”, a concept unique to the IDF among global militaries.

At the heart of the film is the question of whether this was a natural and necessary adaptation for a modern military operating in a complex reality, or a profound ideological transformation that fundamentally altered the character of the IDF and the fighting spirit on which generations of soldiers were raised.

“Re-Education Corps” joins a series of investigations and documentaries in recent years that have examined the IDF’s values and identity, as well as the public debate surrounding the influence of civilian and academic institutions on Israel’s defense establishment and military education.

The IDF Spokesperson’s responsed that “The institutes mentioned are among dozens of educational institutes that provide activities to the IDF under agreements with the Ministry of Defense.

Former Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz responsed that “The Spirit of the IDF without the value of victory does not fulfill the purpose and uniqueness of the IDF. I do not deal in gossip; the important thing is that the value of victory appears in the Spirit of the IDF. Thank you.”

Professor Kasher’s response:”You have serious problems understanding what I wrote on professional and ethical matters.”

BINA stated: “It is regrettable and outrageous that the investigations desk chose to request a response only one day before broadcast, without any prior contact or minimal fact-checking with the organization. This indicates a predetermined agenda and bias in the publication.

The claims presented to us are a complete misrepresentation with no basis in fact. BINA is a Zionist, non-profit educational organization that has worked for years to promote Jewish and Israeli identity and strengthen social resilience. The organization is not political and is not affiliated with any political party or camp. Its activities are based on Zionist values, Judaism, social responsibility, love of the Jewish people and the land of Israel, tolerance, and unity.

Among other things, BINA proudly operates a variety of educational programs, including pre-military academies and preparation programs for meaningful service in the IDF, as well as study programs, tours, and cultural activities that strengthen ties to Jewish tradition, Israeli heritage, and Israeli society.

We strongly reject attempts to attach foreign political agendas or goals of ‘indoctrinating the public’ to the organization. At a time when Israeli society needs connection and unity more than ever, some choose to attack and disrupt the work of organizations dedicated to serving the State of Israel and the IDF.

We are closely monitoring the content that will be broadcast. If false information, distorted facts, or defamatory material about the organization are published, we will pursue all available legal remedies.”

The IDF added that:

• The IDF uses a variety of educational materials to provide a values-based framework for training, professional qualification, and regular service.
• The content is formulated professionally and in a state-oriented manner, according to the needs of the IDF and the operational and current reality.
• Engagement with IDF values is one of the means by which the military fulfills its mission.
• The Education and Youth Corps runs programs led by commanders to strengthen fighting spirit and belief in the justice of the mission in light of IDF values.
• Discussions of IDF values are led by commanders, while civilian institutes assist with dialogue skills and educational tours. The institutes mentioned are among dozens that provide activities to the IDF under Ministry of Defense agreements.

The Hartman Institute stated: “The Hartman Institute is a Zionist institution that is proud of its work on behalf of a Jewish and democratic Israel, whose strength rests on both military and moral superiority.

The failure of the military and security establishment on October 7 was not the result of any restraint in the use of force, but rather a series of military, intelligence, and political failures that led to the largest massacre in Israel’s history. It appears that the channel associated with the government of failure is attempting to invent a false narrative to divert attention from its own major failures and from the need for a state commission of inquiry so that all lessons can be learned.”

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Following a bitter public struggle that was led by extremist liberal elements in the Ramat Aviv HaYeruka neighborhood together with the organization Hiddush, the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality has announced that it is reconsidering its original plan to build a mikveh in the neighborhood.

The mikveh was intended to provide a basic religious service for tens of thousands of women in northern Tel Aviv, religious, traditional, and secular women alike who observe Jewish tradition. However, it became the focal point of a social conflict led by a small group of residents, with the support of a city council member, who allegedly sought to prevent Jewish religious institutions from expanding in the public sphere.

In a letter to local residents, the municipality acknowledges the need of local women for the mikveh and says that the matter had been examined by various regulatory bodies, but added that due to “the site chosen arousing planning and environmental complexities, the municipality will hold an open discussion with local residents to examine other possible alternative locations in the neighborhood.”

At the same time as the decision to reconsider the mikveh location,  the municipality also issued an eviction order against a Chabad kollel operating in a local commercial center.

According to the order, if Torah study activities are not halted within 35 days, the rabbi operating the institution could face a fine of 250,000 shekels for what the municipality describes as unauthorized use of the property.

Hadas Rogolsky, the city council member who led much of the campaign reportedly praised these measures, arguing that they were necessary to preserve the neighborhood’s character and maintain what she described as its “secular-liberal nature” against groups seeking to change it.

The religious council of Tel Aviv–Jaffa strongly rejected the criticism and expressed deep disappointment with the decision.

Council representatives emphasized that building a mikveh is not religious coercion but rather the provision of a basic public service requested by women in the neighborhood, for whom ritual immersion is an important part of their lifestyle. They noted that a mikveh previously operated in the area before being demolished, and that the planned facility on Noah Street was intended merely to replace it and provide a nearby option for local residents.

Religious activists in the city stated:”A few politicians, in order to gather a few votes in elections, chose to take a sacred project of ritual purity and turn it into a source of hatred and social friction. It is truly shameful.”

They added: “Things for which our ancestors sacrificed themselves in Soviet Russia to establish underground mikvehs are today disturbing people in the heart of the Jewish state.”

Aluminum traded on the London Metal Exchange slipped to about $3,594 a tonne on Monday, easing back from the more than four-year high of roughly $3,790 it touched on June 2. The decline came as a stronger U.S. dollar made the metal more expensive for buyers using other currencies, briefly cooling a rally that has run for months.

Here is the simple version. Aluminum is priced in dollars. When the dollar gets stronger, the same bar of metal costs more for buyers in Europe, China, India and elsewhere paying in their own currencies. That extra cost tends to slow demand and pressure prices lower. That is most of what happened this past week.

The dollar climbed after a strong U.S. jobs report. A healthy labor market raises the odds that the Federal Reserve keeps interest rates elevated if inflation remains stubborn. Higher U.S. rates tend to attract investment into dollar-denominated assets, strengthening the currency and weighing on commodities priced in dollars. That chain reaction, not any easing of overseas tensions, is what knocked aluminum off its peak.

It is important to understand what did not cause the pullback. Supply concerns that have supported aluminum prices in recent months have not disappeared. Traders continue to monitor disruptions affecting energy markets, shipping routes and raw-material supplies, all of which can influence the cost and availability of aluminum around the world.

There is also continuing concern about access to bauxite, the ore used to make aluminum. Export restrictions and supply-chain uncertainties in key producing regions have added another layer of pressure to the market. When raw materials become harder or more expensive to move, the effects are felt throughout the aluminum supply chain.

For all the day-to-day swings, the bigger picture remains a market trading near multi-year highs. The recent decline represents a pullback from a sharp rally rather than a fundamental change in direction. Prices remain well above levels seen earlier in the year.

The business impact extends far beyond commodity traders. Aluminum is a critical input for automobiles, beverage cans, construction materials, packaging, electrical transmission lines and aircraft manufacturing. When prices remain elevated for extended periods, those costs eventually work their way through factories and into consumer products.

Manufacturers that consume large amounts of aluminum often try to lock in supply contracts ahead of time, but prolonged price increases can still pressure profit margins. Beverage makers, automakers and industrial manufacturers all keep a close eye on aluminum markets because the metal is embedded in so many everyday products.

The currency story matters for Americans as well. A stronger dollar can make imported goods cheaper for U.S. consumers while making American exports more expensive overseas. Aluminum’s recent move is one example of how expectations about Federal Reserve policy can ripple through global markets and eventually affect businesses and households alike.

What happens next will likely depend on two competing forces. On one side, a strong dollar and the possibility of higher-for-longer U.S. interest rates could continue to pressure commodity prices. On the other, ongoing supply concerns and tight availability of key materials could provide support.

This week, the dollar gained the upper hand. Over the longer term, however, supply conditions may prove to be the more important factor in determining where aluminum prices go next.

For now, aluminum remains near multi-year highs, underscoring just how strong the market has been despite the recent pullback.

JBizNews Desk — Markets

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By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

In Parshas Shelach, we study the saga of the meraglim, one of the most tragic episodes in the Torah. The Jewish people, who had experienced Yetzias Mitzrayim, Krias Yam Suf, and the many nissim in the midbar, were poised to enter the land promised to their forefathers. The journey from Mitzrayim was nearly complete. Yet, instead of moving forward with confidence, the nation was overcome by fear, and an entire generation lost the opportunity to enter the Land.

They sent meraglim to scout out the land, and the meraglim returned with a frightening report. They reported facts as they saw them. Much of what they said was true. The cities were fortified. The inhabitants were powerful. The challenges were real. But their mission was a historic failure, for which we still pay the price until this very day. At the root of their failure was that they viewed everything during their mission through a lens of negativity.

Where they should have seen opportunity, they saw danger. Where they should have seen Hashem’s promise, they saw obstacles. Where they should have seen a land flowing with milk and honey, they saw imposing giants and fortified cities they believed they would not be able to capture.

Yehoshua and Koleiv saw the same landscape, the same cities, and the same giants as the other ten shluchim. Yet, they came to an entirely different conclusion. While the other meraglim focused on obstacles, Yehoshua and Koleiv focused on possibilities.

Where the meraglim saw reasons for despair, Yehoshua and Koleiv saw reasons for confidence. Most importantly, while the other meraglim measured the situation according to human limitations, Yehoshua and Koleiv viewed it through the prism of emunah, through the knowledge that Hashem had promised this land to them and told them that it was good. For centuries, the bnei Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov had looked forward to meriting entry into the land.

The difference between them was not what they saw. The difference was how they saw it.

This lesson that we learn from this sorry experience extends far beyond the events of the desert. Life presents each of us with challenges, disappointments, and uncertainties. Every day, each of us is presented with a choice. We can choose to focus on what is wrong, on what we lack, and on the difficulties we face, or we can focus on what is right. We can look for the good, and recognize and appreciate blessings. We can see problems or we can see the opportunities that are hidden in every situation.

The negative approach is often easier. Complaints come naturally. Criticism requires little effort. Finding fault in people and circumstances can become a habit. But the Torah teaches us through the story of the meraglim that such a mindset can distort reality itself. When a person constantly searches for what is wrong, that is all he sees.

This applies not only to how we view events, but also to how we view other people. Every person has shortcomings. Every person makes mistakes. If we search for faults, we will certainly find them. And if we search for virtues, strengths, and the goodness that exists within every Jew, we will find that as well.

Everything that occurs is guided by Hashem. Even when we do not understand His plan, we know that He is directing the world with wisdom and kindness. The meraglim saw challenges and assumed disaster. Yehoshua and Koleiv saw those same challenges and trusted that Hashem’s purpose was ultimately for their benefit.

Positivity does not mean pretending that difficulties do not exist. The Torah does not ask us to ignore reality. Rather, positivity means refusing to allow difficulties to define reality. It means recognizing challenges while also recognizing Hashem’s ability to help us overcome them. It means viewing challenges as nisyonos, placed there to test us and provide impetus for self-improvement and aliyah.

A positive person lives a fundamentally different life than a negative one.

Negative people tend to become trapped by their circumstances. Every setback becomes a disaster. Every disappointment becomes a reason for discouragement. Every challenge appears larger than it really is. Their focus on problems drains their energy and clouds their judgment.

Positive people are not immune to difficulties, but they approach them differently. Because of their emunah and bitachon, they know that solutions are always possible and they search for them. Because they ask for and anticipate Hashem’s help, they maintain hope despite the situation. Their outlook gives them the strength to persevere where others give up.

This is true in our relationships as well.

When we focus on the faults of others, resentment grows. Every interaction becomes an opportunity for criticism. Small imperfections become magnified until they overshadow all the good that exists.

But when we make an effort to notice the strengths of others, our relationships flourish. A spouse feels appreciated. A child gains confidence. Friends feel valued. Communities become stronger. Looking for the good in people often brings out the good in them.

Many of the greatest leaders possessed this ability. They saw potential where others saw weakness. They recognized greatness hidden beneath flaws. They understood that encouragement accomplishes far more than constant criticism.

Positivity also transforms the way we experience life itself.

Every person receives countless gifts from Hashem each day—health, family, friendships, opportunities, and innumerable acts of Divine kindness. We can either focus on the good we have or on what is missing, what we would like to have but do not. By focusing on what is not good, we become downcast and sad, and we lose sight of the good that we have.

A positive perspective creates gratitude. Gratitude creates happiness. And happiness creates the emotional strength needed to navigate life’s inevitable challenges.

The Chovos Halevavos teaches that recognizing Hashem’s kindness is one of the foundations of avodas Hashem. A person who constantly notices blessings naturally develops a deeper appreciation for Hakadosh Boruch Hu, Who provides for them. Positivity is not merely a personality trait. It is a powerful form and indication of spiritual growth. The more Torah and mussar a person learns, the more spiritual he becomes, the closer he feels to Hashem, and the more he appreciates His goodness and kindness.

The consequences of the meraglim were so severe because their negativity did not remain confined to their own hearts. It spread throughout the camp. Fear became contagious. Discouragement became contagious. Despair became contagious. The people listened to them and became saddened, bemoaning their fate as they fretted about the future. Chazal (Taanis 29a) recount that Hashem chastened them for crying senseless tears and declared that He would give them something to cry about for generations to come. Indeed, we are still crying over the churban until this day. We are still suffering because of the sin of the meraglim.

My old friend, Rav Mordechai Simcha zt”l, was always a fountain of bright and witty comments. As a play on his name, he would often say, “Simcha is contagious.” Indeed, it is. Optimism is also contagious, as are confidence and bitachon. One person’s positive outlook can inspire an entire family, a community, or even a generation.

Take Reb Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin, for example. His faith inspired Klal Yisroel and still does. He had every reason to give up and accept his fate, and very few rational reasons to think that he would ever achieve vindication and freedom. Yet, because of his deep-seated emunah, he was able to view his situation differently. He viewed what he was going through as a nisayon, not as a fait accompli, and Hashem rewarded him. Klal Yisroel rejoiced with him when his faith was rewarded. His experience still serves as a chizuk to people experiencing periods of nisayon not to become traumatized and to maintain their faith that Hakadosh Boruch Hu is directing everything min haShomayim.

In every situation, we have a choice. We can be like the meraglim, searching for reasons why things cannot succeed. Or we can be like Yehoshua, Koleiv, and ehrliche Yidden throughout the ages, searching for reasons to trust, to hope, and to move forward.

The Torah’s message is not that life is easy. It is that life looks very different when viewed through the eyes of a maamin.

When we train ourselves to see the good in people, we become kinder. When we train ourselves to see the good in circumstances, we become stronger. When we train ourselves to see the good in our lives, we become happier. And when we train ourselves to see Hashem’s hand behind everything that happens, we discover a deeper sense of peace and purpose.

The meraglim saw giants and lost heart. Yehoshua and Koleiv saw Hashem and found courage.

Their lesson continues to guide us today: Look for the good. Focus on the blessings. Believe in the possibilities. Trust in Hashem. Very often, what we find depends on what we are looking for.

Gedolim often possessed an extraordinary ability to see the good in situations and in people where others saw only problems. Famous are the stories about Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev. He was renowned for always finding merit in people.

Typical is the story told about the baal ha’agolah who was greasing the wheels of his wagon while wearing his tallis and tefillin. Most people would have been shocked by the apparent lack of respect. Rav Levi Yitzchok, however, looked heavenward and said, “Ribbono Shel Olam, see how precious Your children are. Even while occupied with their work, they refuse to separate themselves from mitzvos.”

Others saw a fault. He saw a virtue.

That was not naïveté. He was choosing to focus on what was admirable rather than what was lacking.

There are plenty of practical examples.

Two people lose a business opportunity. One spends months dwelling on what might have been. He becomes bitter and discouraged. The other is disappointed as well, but he believes that if Hashem closed one door, another will open. He moves forward and eventually discovers opportunities that he would never have found otherwise.

The external event is identical. The internal response changes everything.

The same is true in family life. A parent can focus on a child’s weaknesses and spend years being frustrated. Or he can focus on the child’s strengths and help the child blossom. Every experienced educator knows that children often become what others believe they can become. Positivity does not merely change how we see people. It changes how they see themselves.

We are currently in the season of Siddur and Chumash parties. I merited attending Chumash parties for two of my grandchildren recently, one last Sunday and one this Sunday. The pride the rabbeim took in their young charges was evident as they exuded positivity and joy, and the children, in turn, shone as they sang their songs, reviewed pesukim, and rose in their crowns to accept their Chumashim.

The confidence of the rebbi is reflected in the children, just as the light of the sun is reflected by the moon, brightening and casting light upon a dark night. Positivity and optimism are what enable us to succeed and thrive in a world that contains much darkness and sorrow.

Positivity is not simply about feeling happier. It is about seeing the world more accurately. The negative person sees only the obstacle and misses the opportunity. He sees the flaw and misses the virtue. He sees only today’s difficulty and misses tomorrow’s blessing. The positive person sees the challenge as well, but he also sees Hashem’s hand guiding events toward a purpose he may not yet understand.

We live in a time of hester, when Hashem is hidden, and we do not always see the brocha, but we must know that it is there and that we are not alone.

The meraglim were not ordinary people. Chazal teach that they were distinguished leaders, “roshei Bnei Yisroel.” Their failure reminds us that intelligence and greatness alone do not guarantee proper perspective. A person can be knowledgeable, accomplished, and sincere, yet still allow fear, bias, and negativity to distort his view of reality.

Yehoshua and Koleiv possessed something invaluable: the ability to see beyond the immediate nisayon and focus on the larger picture. They understood that the question was not whether there were giants in the land, but whether Hashem had promised them the land. With that attitude and perspective, everything else fell into place.

That remains one of the great challenges of life. We often become consumed by the “giants” in front of us—the problems, setbacks, worries, and uncertainties. We can spend so much time analyzing the obstacles that we lose sight of the blessings, opportunities, and Hashgocha Protis surrounding us.

A positive outlook rooted in emunah does not deny the existence of giants. It simply remembers that Hashem is bigger than the giants.

I have written previously about the time I was visiting my rebbi, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik, and he inquired about the welfare of one of his talmidim. I told him, “Es geit em shver. He has it hard.” He quickly responded, “Bei di Ribono Shel Olam, iz gornit shver. Nothing is hard for Hashem.”

That has to be the way we view and deal with times of nisayon, when things are rough.

The meraglim foresaw tough battles ahead that could not be won. Thus, they saw a land that could not be conquered. Yehoshua and Koleiv did not let what they saw impress or frighten them, because they knew that bei di Ribono Shel Olam, iz gornit shver.

Yehoshua and Koleiv saw a future that could be achieved. Their vision built the future of Klal Yisroel. The people who leave the deepest impact on their families, communities, and friends are often those who have learned this lesson well. They are the ones who encourage rather than criticize, who look for strengths rather than weaknesses, who search for solutions rather than dwell on problems, and who remind others that no situation is beyond Hashem’s help.

In a world where negativity often comes easily, choosing to see the good may be one of the greatest forms of avodas Hashem. It allows us to appreciate Hashem’s blessings and face life’s challenges with confidence and serenity.

We do not merely live according to the world we see. To a large extent, we live according to the way we choose to see it. May we merit to view the world with the eyes of Yehoshua and Koleiv—eyes of faith, gratitude, optimism, and trust in Hashem.

Most of us are not going to be sent to scout a land before conquering it. But every day, we “spy out” the circumstances of our own lives. We look at our families, our communities, our finances, our health, our challenges, and our future. Then we decide what those facts mean.

The meraglim looked at facts and concluded, “We cannot do it.”

Yehoshua and Koleiv looked at the same facts and concluded, “With Hashem’s help, we can.”

That distinction exists in every generation.

The meraglim were not punished for seeing giants. There really were giants. They were punished for allowing the giants to become the whole story. They were punished for seeing themselves and their abilities as grasshoppers, “k’chagovim hoyinu b’eineihem.” They saw the obstacles and lost sight of Hashem. Yehoshua and Koleiv also saw the obstacles, but they saw them in the context of the larger reality of Hashem’s promise, Hashem’s protection, and Hashem’s plan.

Negativity often works the same way. It takes a difficulty and turns it into the entire picture. Positivity does not ignore the difficulty. It places it in its proper perspective.

Another angle is that negativity tends to be self-fulfilling. The generation that said, “We cannot enter the land,” ultimately did not enter the land. Yehoshua and Koleiv, who believed they could, did.

A person who constantly says, “I can’t,” “It won’t work,” or, “Nothing ever changes,” often stops trying. A person who says, “This is difficult, but with siyata diShmaya it can be done,” will persevere until he succeeds.

Positive people often feel better, accomplish more, build stronger relationships, inspire others, and navigate hardships more effectively because they are not paralyzed by pessimism. For someone who knows that Hashem runs the world, that He loves His children, and that everything He does has purpose, optimism is not wishful thinking. It is a natural consequence of faith.

The meraglim looked at Eretz Yisroel and asked, “How can we possibly succeed?”

Yehoshua and Koleiv looked at Eretz Yisroel and asked, “If Hashem wants us there, how can we not succeed?”

Those two questions continue to shape the way people approach life today.

The situation in Eretz Yisroel is not simple. There are many problems, both internal and external. The Torah community is being targeted as never before and finds itself in a matzav nora, a terribly serious situation.

Gedolei Yisroel traveled from there this week to inspire and appeal to us to join them in their battle for Torah, to believe, to contribute, and to have the positivity and fortitude of faith, of emunah and bitachon, to do what we can to overcome the darkness of golus, and know that if we withstand the nisayon, we will merit the geulah sheleimah bekarov.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump delivered one of his bluntest warnings yet to Tehran after another night of U.S. strikes inside Iran, telling Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst that if the regime refuses a deal, “We’ll bomb the s— out of them.”

The warning came during a call from the Situation Room, where Trump was joined by Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as Washington weighed its next move. The message from the administration is clear, Iran is dragging its feet at the negotiating table while U.S. forces are showing that the regime no longer controls the skies over its own country.

According to Trump, the latest U.S. strike wave included 49 Tomahawk missiles fired at targets inside Iran, with some reportedly hitting sites roughly 40 miles from Tehran. U.S. fighter jets also struck positions along Iran’s southwestern coast, while CENTCOM said American forces targeted Iranian surveillance capabilities, communications systems and air-defense sites that threatened U.S. forces and commercial shipping.

Trump also said Israel was not involved in the strikes, a point the administration appears eager to stress as Washington tries to frame this as a direct U.S.-Iran showdown. The strikes followed Iran’s aggression near the Strait of Hormuz, including the downing of a U.S. Army Apache, and came as Tehran continues using the waterway as leverage over global energy markets.

Iran responded with denial and defiance. State media rejected Trump’s claim that senior Iranian officials contacted him to ask for the bombing to stop, calling it false. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also claimed attacks on U.S. military targets in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, though early reports suggested the retaliation was largely intercepted or limited in impact.

U.S. forces have completed a new round of strikes inside Iran, according to U.S. Central Command. CENTCOM says U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy assets targeted Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites at the Commander in Chief’s direction. The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression,” the command said. Officials say the targets posed a threat to U.S. forces and international commercial shipping operating in the region.

At the center of the standoff is a proposed deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and force Iran into nuclear limits the U.S. says are non-negotiable. For Trump, the military pressure is the leverage. For Tehran, the question is whether it can keep stalling while absorbing deeper strikes on its military infrastructure.

The ceasefire is still technically alive, but barely. The U.S. is now pairing negotiations with direct force, and Iran’s room to maneuver is shrinking. The regime can keep playing for time, but Washington’s message has changed sharply, come to the table, or the next wave may hit harder.

General Motors on Tuesday announced it’s releasing a software update that allows some electric vehicle (EV) owners to send power back to the electric grid.

The update allows owners of GM’s vehicle-to-home energy system, which allows the EV to power the home during a blackout, the expanded capability of sending electricity to the power grid.

Owners of the system would be able to sell power from their vehicle back to utility providers at times when demand is high, with GM getting a portion of the proceeds. EVs are viewed as an untapped resource for balancing the electric grid to meet surging demand from AI data centers as well as extreme weather events. 

GM said that it alone has over 250,000 bidirectional capable vehicles on U.S. roads at this time, while it will include the vehicle-to-grid technology in all planned EVs going forward. 

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It said that the quarter-million GM EVs that are capable of vehicle-to-grid energy transfers currently have the storage capacity to help power 120,000 homes for up to one week. 

GM said that it’s actively testing vehicle-grid integration technology through a partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), and it expects that by 2030 there will be over 52,000 GM EVs actively participating in grid-balancing protocols.

It’s also conducting tests in Michigan with DTE Energy, using the homes of GM employees, to grow reliable backup capacity in a way that suits the preferences of home and EV owners, which GM Energy Vice President Wade Sheffer said is a “win for customers, automakers, and utilities.”

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“Maintaining a safe, reliable, and affordable grid is paramount. This transition won’t be easy, and we deeply respect the challenge of balancing day-to-day grid reliability with rapid innovation,” Sheffer said in a letter, adding that the company sees three areas in which utilities, regulators and automakers can simplify the path forward.

Those include boosting the enrollment of customers in utility programs by GM and industry partners, educating them on EV grid support and the value in utility programs and rates, with best practices developed amid its ongoing regional pilot projects.

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GM noted that consumers will be more motivated to participate when given clear and appropriate incentives, such as expanding localized, time-of-use tariffs, allowing EV owners to charge cost-effectively during energy surplus and receive appropriate compensation for supporting the grid during peak strain or times of need.

GM also said that streamlining paperwork, engineering reviews and utility interconnection processes to boost consumer confidence in being able to easily purchase and install a bidirectional charger.

“It’s time for us to look at parking lots and driveways across our communities as a massive, distributed power asset waiting to be integrated. By working together, we can help secure an affordable, reliable, and resilient energy future for everyone,” Sheffer’s letter said.

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Reuters contributed to this report.

NEW YORK (VINNEWS/Rabbi Yair Hoffman)  There is a question that sits unspoken in far too many homes. A daughter announces an engagement that the family cannot accept. A son walks out of yeshiva into a world his parents spent twenty years trying to keep him from. In short, the child embarks upon a path that the parent tried earnestly to prevent. And the parent is left with a choice as to how to proceed.  Embrace or reject?  Attend the wedding or boycott it?  Walk her down or let strangers do it?

THE KALBA SABUA METHOD

Kalba Savua was among the wealthiest men in Yerushalayim — a man whose storehouses, the Gemara says, could feed the city for years. His daughter looked past that wealth and saw something in a penniless, illiterate shepherd and married him in secret (Kesubos 62b-63a). When her father found out, he swore she would have nothing of his and turned her out. The couple slept on straw, and Akiva picked the stalks from his wife’s hair, while her father — with storehouses that could feed a city — knew where she was and let her freeze.

We all know the ending – that the illiterate shepherd became the great Rabbi Akiva. 

But let’s take a look at the parenting underneath. Kalba Sabua’s love had a price of admission.  It was real love, no one doubts that — but it was conditioned on a daughter who married within the lines he had drawn, who would chose a son-in-law that he could be proud of in the marketplace.

The moment she chose otherwise, the love did not just soften into disappointment; it hardened into a hard-core neder – a vow. He did not just withhold his blessing. He swore a neder that she would derive no benefit from his possessions, and then he enforced it with the full power of his abilities.  

This choice means to let that child sleep on straw, to know that this child huddles in against the walls under second-hand blankets to fend off the cold. To know that the event the child had longed for – for her entire life – that her parents walk her down to the Chuppah will not happen. 

Clearly, Kalba Sabua was a forceful man. And there likely was a collective failure to act –  on the part of others – in the face of an obvious wrong.

What about Mrs. Kalba Sabua?  There is no doubt that she deep inside wanted so much to be there for her daughter. But Kalba Sabua was a powerful man, and she dare not go against him.  Nor would the siblings – even though they surely loved their sister Rachel.  And so we have years and years of what could have been – moments of joy, laughter, brotherhood.  Hinei Ma Tov umah Na’im sheves achim gam Yachad. The door was bolted shut.

The pasuk not only ignored but stepped upon.. Aru, Aru, ad haYesod bah.

THE RAV MEIR CHODOSH METHOD

Now the other side of the coin.

Rav Meir Chodosh, zatzal, in Ohr Meir (p. 151), teaches that a parent must love his children without limit, so completely that his own boundaries dissolve in it. His model is Avraham Avinu.

Avraham Avinu had two sons who could not have been further apart. Yitzchak was Kedusha itself. Yishmael, in his youth, was guilty of the three cardinal sins — avodah zarah, gilui arayos, and shefichus damim — as Rashi explains on “metzachek” (Bereishis 21:9, citing Bereishis Rabbah 53:11). As off-the-derech as a child can go.

When Hashem came to test Avraham with the Akeidah, the Yalkut Shimoni (Lech Lecha, remez 72) records the exchange word by word. Hashem said, “Take your son.” Avraham said, “I have two sons.” “Your only one.” “Each is the only son of his mother.” “The one you love.” And Avraham answered: “I love them both.” Then he asked: “Is there a limit to the compassion in a father’s heart?”

Avraham knew precisely who Yishmael was. He had no illusions about which son had abandoned his ways entirely. And still, when Hashem invited him to name the son he loved, he could not locate the seam where his love for one ended and his love for the other began.

Notice what he did not do. He did not wait for Yishmael to return before loving him. The Gemara in Bava Basra (16b) tells us Yishmael did eventually do teshuvah — but that came after. Avraham’s love did not arrive as a reward for repentance. It came first, while the child was still in his sins. Kalba Savua waited for his daughter’s choice to prove itself worthy. Avraham Avinu waited for nothing.

A child who has strayed already knows he or she has not met the expectations of the parents. But what the child does not know is whether or not there is still a door. Kalba Savua’s door was bolted shut. Avraham Avinu’s heart had no door to bolt, because a heart without walls needs none.

This is not an argument against boundaries. There are times a parent must protect a household, shield younger children, guard the dignity of a home. But there is a difference between a line drawn to keep a child safe and a wall built to make a child pay. Kalba Savua built a wall. At the end, we had a Rebbe Akiva but most parents who build that wall are left without a relationship with their child and grandchildren.

But the worst part is the Chillul Hashem of it all. 

Most people know that the Kalba Sabua method is so destructive.  And when they see the strident efforts to control that which is not controllable – the rejection and boycotting – they are horrified.

And that is perhaps the greatest tragedy and the furthering of the Geulah.  We need to walk in the footsteps of Avrohom Avinu – not reject his mehalech. 

The author can be reached at [email protected]

In a dramatic late-night vote, the Knesset approved legislation that will fundamentally restructure Israel’s police oversight system by transferring the Police Internal Investigations Department (Machash) into the Justice Ministry as an independent body. The bill passed its second and third readings by a vote of 43-39.

The legislation represents a sweeping reform of Machash, the agency responsible for investigating criminal allegations against police officers, significantly altering its authority and institutional status.

Under the newly approved law, Machash will operate as an independent entity within the Justice Ministry with its own separate budget. The department will retain authority to investigate and prosecute police officers for criminal offenses, including relatively minor violations. The legislation also establishes a new process for appointing the department’s director through a dedicated search committee.

The reform further creates the position of Commissioner for Coordination of Police Investigations, who will be empowered to resolve disputes between Machash and other investigative or prosecutorial bodies and, when appropriate, order the transfer of cases between agencies.

Separation from the State Attorney’s Office and Attorney General

One of the most significant provisions of the law removes Machash from direct oversight by the Attorney General and State Attorney’s Office in criminal matters. Authorities currently exercised by those offices in cases handled by Machash will now be transferred to the department’s director. Appeals of decisions to close cases will be submitted to the newly created coordination commissioner.

At the same time, Machash will continue to be subject to the general policy directives of the Attorney General and State Attorney, except in situations where those directives would grant authority to an outside body. The legislation also includes provisions aimed at fully civilianizing the department and addresses access by Machash personnel to police information systems.

Saada: “A Day of Good News for the People of Israel”

MK Moshe Saada, who sponsored the legislation, celebrated its passage and described it as a landmark reform.

“Today we are carrying out a reform. This is a day of good news for the entire people of Israel, as we correct the law enforcement system. There will no longer be criminals serving within the legal system, there will no longer be people above the law. In the State of Israel, everyone will be equal before the law.”

Saada added: “There is no dispute today that Machash is not functioning properly and must undergo change. This system has strayed from its moral course. The law will restore public confidence in the justice system.”

Reports Highlighted Longstanding Problems

The explanatory notes accompanying the bill cited a series of reports issued in recent years, including findings by the State Comptroller, annual reports from the Public Defender’s Office, and a government-appointed committee report published in February 2025 examining Machash. According to the proposal, those reports identified significant shortcomings in the handling of police misconduct cases.

The majority opinion of the government committee emphasized concerns stemming from Machash’s subordination to the State Attorney’s Office and the close working relationship between prosecutors and police. The committee therefore recommended removing the department from prosecutorial oversight and establishing it as an independent body.

Recent high-profile investigations conducted by Machash have kept the agency in the public spotlight. As previously reported, the department recently arrested a police officer and two relatives, including a reserve colonel, on suspicion of involvement in a planned murder plot. Separately, prosecutors filed charges against a traffic police officer accused of fabricating traffic citations without ever encountering the motorists involved.

Ben Gvir: “Machash Will No Longer Be Under the Attorney General’s Control”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the legislation’s approval and argued that it strengthens Israeli democracy.

“Machash Law is an important law that strengthens the values of the State of Israel as a democratic state, and I congratulate MK Moshe Saada on its passage. Over the past three years, the dismissed Attorney General turned Machash into a private police force designed to intimidate police officers and combat soldiers.”

Ben Gvir added: “It is very good that Machash will no longer be under the control of a woman without restraints, who stops at nothing to achieve her goals—the intimidation of our police officers and fighters.”

{Matzav.com}

The Shin Bet is involved in the investigation of the protest outside the home of High Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, Army Radio reported.

According to the reports, the Shin Bet’s Jewish Division is launching a full‑scale war against extremist Chareidim out of fear of escalation.

The break-in at the police station in Beit Shemesh is also under investigation by the Shin Bet.

According to a Kol Chai report, the police have also decided to launch a literal “war to the bitter end” against a small group of extremist zealots (“kana’im”) located mainly in the Beit Shemesh and Mea Shearim areas, who are allegedly behind some of the recent protests and incidents.

The Shin Bet’s involvement stems from concerns that future protests could target public officials or government buildings.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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