Jooish News

An Israeli soldier was killed and five others wounded during a firefight with Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon, the IDF announced.

The fallen soldier has been identified as Staff Sgt. Touvel Yosef Lifshiz, 20, a fighter in the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion from Beit She’an.

According to an initial investigation, Golani troops identified several Hezbollah gunmen in their sector on Tuesday afternoon. An exchange of fire ensued, during which Lifshiz was killed. An officer was seriously wounded, while four additional soldiers sustained light to moderate injuries.

The IDF says forces are continuing operations to track down and eliminate the Hezbollah cell.

Lifshiz is the 12th Israeli soldier killed since the latest round of fighting in southern Lebanon began.

In a dramatic last-minute development, Israel has now agreed to join the two-week ceasefire with Iran that President Donald J. Trump announced just 90 minutes before a potential massive escalation.

A senior White House official confirmed that Israel is on board with the temporary truce—making this a broader, coordinated pause in what had been rapidly spiraling toward full-scale war.

Earlier, Trump revealed he would suspend planned U.S. strikes on Iran following urgent talks with Pakistan’s leadership, contingent on Iran agreeing to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The move came at the final hour before a deadline that had raised fears of devastating military action.

Now, with Israel officially joining the agreement, the ceasefire becomes a multi-front de-escalation effort rather than a unilateral pause.

Trump described the deal as a “double sided ceasefire,” noting that U.S. military objectives have already been met and that negotiations toward a long-term peace agreement are close to completion.

According to the President, Iran has already submitted a 10 point proposal, with most major issues reportedly agreed upon, leaving this two-week window to finalize what could become a historic agreement aimed at stabilizing the Middle East.

The stunning sequence of events marks a rapid shift—from the brink of widespread conflict to a fragile but potentially significant diplomatic breakthrough.

The CIA relied on a highly classified system known as “Ghost Murmur” to locate and help rescue a second American airman who was shot down in southern Iran, according to a report by The New York Post citing sources familiar with the operation.

The tool, described as a cutting-edge intelligence capability, uses long-range quantum magnetometry to detect the electromagnetic signature of a human heartbeat, then combines that data with artificial intelligence to distinguish it from surrounding interference, sources said.

This marked the first known operational deployment of the technology in the field by the agency, and it was indirectly referenced during a White House briefing by President Donald Trump and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

“It’s like hearing a voice in a stadium, except the stadium is a thousand square miles of desert,” a source familiar with the program told The Post. “In the right conditions, if your heart is beating, we will find you.”

According to sources with knowledge of Lockheed Martin systems, the technology was developed by the company’s Skunk Works division, though the firm declined to comment on the report.

The system has reportedly been tested aboard Black Hawk helicopters and may eventually be integrated into F-35 fighter aircraft, according to one of the sources.

The downed crew member, publicly identified only as “Dude 44 Bravo,” had taken cover in a mountain crevice after his F-15 was shot down, surviving for two days in harsh terrain while Iranian forces searched the area.

The remote and sparsely populated environment made conditions especially suitable for the first real-world use of Ghost Murmur, one source explained.

“The name is deliberate. ‘Murmur’ is a clinical term for a heart rhythm. ‘Ghost’ refers to finding someone who, for all practical purposes, has disappeared,” the source said.

The technology performed optimally due to minimal electromagnetic interference, limited human presence, and temperature differences at night between the human body and the surrounding desert, which helped confirm readings.

“Normally this signal is so weak that it can only be measured in a hospital setting with sensors pressed nearly against the chest,” the source said.

“But advances in a field known as quantum magnetometry — specifically sensors built around microscopic defects in synthetic diamonds — have apparently made it possible to detect these signals at dramatically greater distances.”

The same source cautioned that the system is not all-powerful. “The capability is not omniscient. It works best in remote, low-clutter environments and requires significant processing time,” this person said.

It remains unclear how long the system took to process data during the rescue or whether it has additional offensive military applications.

Although the airman activated a Combat Survivor Evader Locator beacon, his exact position remained uncertain until Ghost Murmur helped narrow and confirm his location.

The breakthrough came when the system identified the airman’s position, working alongside the beacon to refine the search.

“He had to come out [of the crevice] to send the beacon,” the source said. “It was less important the signal they sent and more important that he had to come out to send [it].”

During a briefing, Ratcliffe described the moment the agency confirmed the airman’s survival. “achieved our primary objective by finding and providing confirmation that one of America’s best and bravest was alive and concealed in a mountain crevice — still invisible to the enemy, but not to the CIA.”

“That confirmation was relayed by Secretary [of War Pete] Hegseth to the president, and the operation quickly moved to the execution phase,” he said.

Trump told reporters the CIA had identified the missing airman from a considerable distance. “It’s like finding a needle in a haystack, finding this pilot, and the CIA was unbelievable,” Trump said. “The CIA was very responsible for finding this little speck.”

He also praised Ratcliffe’s role in the operation, saying: “did a phenomenal job that night — he did something that I don’t know if you want to talk about it. If you want, you can. I’m not sure he’s supposed to.”

Trump joked about the secrecy surrounding the system, adding that the technology “might be classified, in which case I’d have to put him in jail if he talks about it and I don’t want to put him in jail. He doesn’t deserve that.”

Sources indicated that the classified nature of Ghost Murmur explains why officials have been reluctant to detail how the airman was located.

“I don’t think people even know this technology is possible from this distance,” one source said.

Airstrikes struck Tehran on Tuesday as Iran urged civilians—especially young people—to form human chains around power plants, just hours before President Donald Trump’s deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of a dramatic escalation.

With the 8 p.m. Washington deadline approaching, tensions surged on both sides. Trump signaled that this cutoff may be final after extending previous deadlines, warning that failure to comply would lead to sweeping attacks on Iran’s infrastructure. Tehran responded with defiant rhetoric, including a claim by its president that 14 million citizens had volunteered to fight.

Although Iran lacks the advanced capabilities of U.S. and Israeli forces, its control over the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy markets, increasing pressure on Washington to resolve the standoff.

Diplomatic sources said negotiations were still underway, but Iran had rejected the latest U.S. proposal, leaving uncertainty over whether a deal could be reached in time. International leaders and legal experts cautioned that the scale of strikes being discussed could violate the laws of war.

At the same time, waves of strikes hit targets across Iran, including residential neighborhoods in Tehran, leaving dozens dead. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and Saudi Arabia, forcing the temporary closure of a key regional bridge.

Reiterating the deadline, Trump warned that “the entire country can be taken out in one night.”

“Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night,” he said Monday, adding that power plants would be “burning, exploding and never to be used again.”

In response, Iranian officials called on the public to physically protect key infrastructure. They urged “all young people, athletes, artists, students and university students and their professors” to form human chains around power facilities.

“Power plants that are our national assets and capital,” Alireza Rahimi, identified by Iranian state television as the secretary of the Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, said in a video statement.

While similar demonstrations have occurred in the past around nuclear facilities, it remained unclear how many would participate this time. Reports indicated that at least one major power plant in Tehran had already been closed off for security reasons ahead of the planned gatherings.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed widespread public mobilization, writing: “I too have been, am, and will remain ready to give my life for Iran.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued further warnings, saying it would “deprive the U.S. and its allies of the region’s oil and gas for years” and expand its attacks across the Gulf if the U.S. follows through.

A senior Guard official also encouraged parents to send their children to staff checkpoints, which have been frequent targets of airstrikes.

Inside Tehran, the atmosphere was described as tense and fearful. One resident, speaking anonymously, said the country faces worsening conditions, including the possibility of widespread power outages. “I feel we are stuck between the blades of a pair of scissors,” he said.

International leaders continued to call for restraint. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned that attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure “are barred by the rules of war, international law.”

“They would without doubt trigger a new phase of escalation, of reprisals, that would drag the region and the world economy into a vicious circle,” he added.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also cautioned that targeting civilian infrastructure would violate international law, according to his office.

Despite those warnings, Trump dismissed concerns, saying he is “not at all” worried about potential accusations of war crimes.

Airstrikes continued across Iran, including in densely populated areas. Israel said it struck a petrochemical facility in Shiraz for a second consecutive day and issued a Farsi-language warning advising civilians to avoid trains, suggesting possible further strikes on transportation infrastructure.

Additional attacks were reported at Khorramabad International Airport and in Alborz province, where state media said 18 people were killed. Other strikes in Shahriar and Pardis left at least 15 more dead.

Iran also launched missiles toward Saudi Arabia early Tuesday, with debris reportedly falling near energy facilities after interception. The attack led Saudi authorities to temporarily shut down the King Fahd Causeway, the only land connection between Bahrain—home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet—and the Arabian Peninsula.

Missile alerts were also reported in Israel, including in Tel Aviv and Eilat.

Since the war began, more than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran, though official figures have not been updated in recent days.

In Lebanon, fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has killed more than 1,400 people and displaced over one million, while 11 Israeli soldiers have died there. Additional casualties have been reported across the region, including in Gulf Arab states, the West Bank, Israel, and among U.S. forces.

Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the conflict on February 28 has had far-reaching economic consequences, with disruptions to global oil supply driving up prices worldwide.

Brent crude rose above $108 per barrel on Tuesday, representing an increase of roughly 50 percent since the outbreak of hostilities.

While Iran rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal on Monday, insisting on a permanent end to the war, diplomatic efforts continued. Officials said indirect talks between Washington and Tehran were ongoing, with mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey “are racing against time” to reach a deal.

According to one official, Iran has tied reopening the strait to sanctions relief, and the United States has indicated willingness to ease some restrictions, particularly on Iran’s oil sector, in an effort to stabilize global markets.

Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution urging the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, preventing the measure from passing despite majority support, AFP reported.

The proposal had already been significantly scaled back from its original version, which Gulf nations had pushed to include authorization for the use of force to secure the crucial shipping route.

The revised draft, introduced by Bahrain with backing from the United States, received 11 votes in favor, two opposed, and two abstentions.

Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani expressed disappointment following the outcome, saying the Gulf states “regret” the rejection of the measure.

Iran has effectively blocked the strategic waterway since the United States and Israel launched military operations on February 28, disrupting a passage through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply typically flows and sending shockwaves through global markets.

The vote came just hours before President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the strait, during which he warned that failure to comply could result in catastrophic consequences, including that “a whole civilization will die” in Iran.

Following the vote, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz emphasized that Washington retains the ability to act independently, stating: “Today’s result does not restrict the United States to continue to act in its own self defense and in the collective defense of our allies and partners.”

Speaking on behalf of Gulf oil-producing nations, Al Zayani warned that the failed resolution carries broader implications, saying it “sends the wrong signal to the world.”

He elaborated: “This signal that the threat to international waterways can pass without any decisive action by the international organization responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security,” he said.

Bahrain had begun discussions two weeks earlier on a stronger resolution that would have explicitly authorized countries to use force to reopen the strait.

However, resistance from several permanent members of the Security Council with veto power—including France, Russia, and China—led to repeated delays and a weakened final version of the text.

The revised resolution “strongly encourages states…to coordinate efforts, defensive in nature, commensurate to the circumstances, to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation, including through the escort of merchant and commercial vessels,” rather than explicitly authorizing force.

It also “demands” that Iran “immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels and any attempt to impede transit passage or freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

In addition, the proposal called for an end to strikes targeting civilian water, oil, and gas infrastructure.

President Donald Trump pushed back Tuesday against claims by Tucker Carlson that he is moving toward a nuclear confrontation with Iran, rejecting the assertion in a phone conversation with The New York Post and sharply criticizing the commentator.

“Tucker’s a low IQ person that has absolutely no idea what’s going on,” the president said. “He calls me all the time; I don’t respond to his calls. I don’t deal with him. I like dealing with smart people, not fools.”

Carlson had alleged in a post Monday night on X that Trump’s earlier Truth Social message—warning that the United States could strike Iran’s power plants and bridges—was “the first step toward nuclear war.”

“Christians need to understand where Trump is taking us,” Carlson wrote.

In the original Sunday post, Trump issued a blunt warning directed at Iran, writing: “open the … Strait, you crazy …. , or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

Carlson condemned the tone of the message, calling it inappropriate for a religious holiday. “vile on every level.”

In his podcast, Carlson further criticized the president, saying: “How dare you speak that way on Easter morning to the country?” Carlson said in his podcast. “Who do you think you are? You’re tweeting out [a profanity] on Easter morning.”

He went on to draw extreme comparisons, suggesting the president’s actions could lead to global catastrophe. “Is it just a conventional escalation ladder in a badly thought out war … [or] could it be something bigger? Is it possible what you’re watching is a very stealthy yet incredibly effective attack on what, from a Christian perspective, is the true faith: …. he said.

Carlson also questioned Trump’s motives in broader terms. “Is it possible that the president sees this in bigger terms? Sees this as the fulfillment of something? An elevation of some higher office beyond president of the United States?”

He pointed to Trump’s inauguration as part of his argument, saying: “… Maybe he didn’t put his hand on the Bible because he affirmatively rejects what’s inside that book, and what’s inside that book are limits on human behavior,” he said. “Because if there’s one theme that spans all 66 books in the Christian Bible, it’s that you are not God and you cannot assume his powers.”

Escalating his claims, Carlson urged administration and military personnel to refuse any potential nuclear order. “Those people who are in direct contact with the President need to say, ‘no, I’ll resign. I’ll do whatever I can do legally to stop this, because this is insane, and if you give the order, I’m not carrying it out. Figure out the codes on the football yourself,’” Carlson said.

The claims gained additional traction online when an account associated with former Vice President Kamala Harris amplified the narrative, asserting that Vice President JD Vance had hinted at the possibility of nuclear action.

The post referenced remarks Vance delivered in Hungary, where he said: “we’ve got tools in our toolkit that we so far haven’t decided to use that the president of the United States can decide to use them — and he will decide to use them if the Iranians don’t change their course of conduct.”

The White House quickly rejected that interpretation, responding on its Rapid Response account: “Literally nothing @VP said here ‘implies’ this, you absolute buffoons.”

Trump has continued to maintain that he is prepared to act militarily if Iran refuses to comply with his demands, particularly regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

In a separate Truth Social post, he warned: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

He added: “However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?”

“We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”

Military analysts note that the United States has multiple options available, ranging from expanded air campaigns targeting Iranian infrastructure to potential operations involving key strategic sites such as Kharg Island, which handles the vast majority of Iran’s crude oil exports.

(AP) – Delta Air Lines announced Tuesday it is raising checked baggage fees, part of a broader wave of U.S. carriers responding to higher jet fuel prices tied to the war in the Middle East.

Beginning Wednesday, most passengers on domestic and short-haul international routes will pay $10 more for their first and second checked bags, and $50 more to check a third. That brings the fees to $45 for the first bag, $55 for the second and $200 for the third, according to Delta.

“These updates are part of Delta’s ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics,” the carrier said in a statement.

The change marks Delta’s first increase in checked baggage fees on domestic routes in two years. Fees for long-haul international flights are not affected.

CEO Ed Bastian told investors last month that the jump in jet fuel prices had already added about $400 million to Delta’s operating expenses since the conflict began on Feb. 28. Executives at United Airlines and American Airlines reported similar increases.

The average price for a gallon of jet fuel in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York was $4.69 on Monday, up from $2.50 just before the war, according to Argus Media. The energy market intelligence company’s U.S. Jet Fuel Index tracks average prices across those major hubs.

Delta said complimentary bags will still be available to customers flying in premium cabins, active-duty military personnel, eligible co-branded credit card holders and members of certain loyalty tiers.

The carrier’s move follows similar announcements from United and JetBlue, both of which raised baggage fees last week while maintaining complimentary first checked bags for some customers.

Airlines around the world have been grappling with volatile oil markets as fighting near the Strait of Hormuz — where roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes — disrupts global supplies. Because jet fuel is refined from crude oil, swings in energy prices quickly feed into a carrier’s costs. Fuel typically ranks as the second-largest expense after labor.

In addition to raising ticket prices, analysts say U.S. carriers are more likely to lean on ancillary fees to offset the higher expenses, while many non-U.S. carriers are responding by adding or increasing fuel surcharges.

American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted from a street in Baghdad last week, has been released, according to an Iraqi official familiar with the situation.

The official, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on public comment, said Kittleson was freed in the afternoon. While her current location was not disclosed, the official confirmed she had been held somewhere in Baghdad prior to her release.

Earlier in the day, the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah issued a statement saying it had decided to release Kittleson, who had been kidnapped on March 31.

The group said the move was made “in appreciation of the patriotic stances of the outgoing prime minister”, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, without elaborating further. It added: “This initiative will not be repeated in the future.”

The militia also imposed a condition, stating that Kittleson must “leave the country immediately” after being freed.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Until issuing the statement, Kataib Hezbollah had not publicly acknowledged involvement in the abduction, although both U.S. and Iraqi officials had previously indicated the group was likely responsible.

According to two militia officials who spoke anonymously to the Associated Press, the release was part of an arrangement that would see several Kataib Hezbollah members previously detained by Iraqi authorities set free.

Kittleson, 49, is a freelance reporter who has spent years working across the Middle East, including in Iraq and Syria, and had previously been based in Rome. Like many independent journalists, she operated without the security resources typically available to staff reporters at major news organizations.

She had recently returned to Iraq before her kidnapping. U.S. officials said they had warned her multiple times about potential threats, but she chose to remain in the country.

Iraqi authorities reported that the abduction involved two vehicles. One of the cars was involved in a crash while being pursued near the town of al-Haswa in Babil province, southwest of Baghdad. Kittleson was then moved into a second vehicle that escaped.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iraqi officials said efforts to secure her release had encountered setbacks.

One security official said a representative of the Popular Mobilization Forces—a coalition of Iran-aligned militias formally linked to the Iraqi military—had been assigned to negotiate with the kidnappers, but faced difficulties establishing communication with Kataib Hezbollah’s leadership.

Kataib Hezbollah has been linked in the past to the abduction of foreign nationals.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a graduate student at Princeton University with Israeli and Russian citizenship, went missing in Baghdad in 2023. After being freed and transferred to U.S. authorities in September 2025, she said she had been held by Kataib Hezbollah, though the group never formally claimed responsibility.

Iran-backed militias operating in Iraq have also carried out repeated attacks on U.S. installations in the country since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization was “truly unacceptable” and said any attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law.

In some of his strongest comments yet against the war, the American pope urged Americans and other people of good will to contact their political leaders and congressional representatives to demand they reject war and work for peace.

“Today as we all know there was this threat against all the people of Iran. This is truly unacceptable,” Leo said as he left his country house in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.

He was referring to Trump’s threat that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Leo recalled his Easter appeal for peace and to reject war, “especially a war which many people have said is an unjust war, which is continuing to escalate, and which is not resolving anything.”

He invited all people of good will to contact their political leaders and congressional representatives to remind them that attacks on civilian infrastructure are “against international law” and also are a “sign of the hatred, the division, the destruction human beings are capable of, and we all want to work for peace.”

In recent weeks, history’s first U.S.-born pope has escalated the tone of his opposition to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran after initially issuing muted appeals for peace and dialogue.

Last week for the first time, Leo publicly named Trump in saying he hoped the U.S. president was truly “looking for an off-ramp.”

The Vatican has a tradition of diplomatic neutrality and it is rare for a pope to name a political leader or country specifically in a critical way. But the war in Iran has nudged even a reserved pope to break with typical protocol.

On Tuesday, Leo didn’t cite Trump by name but in comments in English he urged people to contact their political leaders and congressional representatives “to ask them, tell them to work for peace and to reject war.”

“We have a worldwide economic crisis, an energy crisis, (a) situation in the Middle East of great instability, which is only provoking more hatred throughout the world,” he said.

He said the message to political leaders should be: “Come back to the table, let’s talk, let’s look for solutions in a peaceful way and let’s remember especially the innocent children, the elderly, sick, so many people who have already become or will become victims of this continued warfare.”

The Vatican is particularly concerned about how the Iran conflict has spread to a renewed war in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. The Vatican fears for Christians in southern Lebanon, who are an important bulwark for the church in the region.

Earlier in the day, the Vatican released a special message from Leo to the residents of Debel, Lebanon after a convoy carrying over 40 tons of aid led by the Vatican was prevented from arriving with an Easter shipment. It was canceled for what Lebanon’s Maronite Church said were “security reasons.”

In the message, Leo expressed solidarity with the “injustices” that the Christians of southern Lebanon are enduring and compared them to Christ’s suffering.

“In your misfortune, in the injustice you endure, in the feeling of abandonment you experience, you are very close to Jesus. You are close to Him also on this Easter Day when He conquered the forces of evil, and which resonates for you as a promise of the future,” read the message, which was written in French and was signed by the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Leo visited Lebanon late last year on his first international trip as pope.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said it is working to allow hundreds more people into the Kosel plaza, beyond the limits set by a temporary High Court ruling, pending approval from security authorities.

In a submission to the Supreme Court, the foundation stated that additional protective measures are available and have not yet been fully implemented, which could make it possible to safely accommodate a larger number of people at the site.

Officials also warned that current entry limits are leading to crowding and long lines outside the plaza, creating potential safety concerns.

The foundation stressed that any increase in access would be coordinated with the Home Front Command and Israel Police, and carried out in line with security protocols, while maintaining a balance between safeguarding lives and preserving access for tefillah.

NEW YORK (VINnews/Rabbi Yair Hoffman)There is an essential truth that Shvii shel Pesach asks us to confront: Emunah.

The Shira sung at the sea was the moment Klal Yisroel embedded Emunah into their hearts and souls. And the reverberations of that moment have never stopped.

Here are eight things you may not have known about the Shira — and about the extraordinary ruchniusdika power that is available to each of us, every single day.

* * *

1. The Shira Repaired a Catastrophe That Started With Praise

It is one of history’s great ironies. The generation of Enosh did not begin with rebellion. They began with reverence. They looked at the sun, the stars, the majestic sweep of the celestial heavens — and they wanted to honor the One Who made them. So they began honoring the creations themselves.

What started as misdirected gratitude became the spiritual disaster known as avodah zarah — idolatry. An entire civilization slid away from the Creator and toward the created. The damage would echo for millennia.

The Shira at the sea repaired it.

By turning directly, urgently, joyfully to Hashem Himself — ‘Zeh Keli v’anveihu’ — Klal Yisroel did what Enosh’s generation failed to do: they looked past the miracle to the Miracle-Maker. This is why Chazal termed the Shira ‘chochma’ — wisdom. Because true wisdom means knowing Whom to praise.

2. Every Morning, You Have Access to a Complete Spiritual Reset

The Zohar makes a statement so dramatic that it would be easy to read past it if the Mishna Brurah (51:17) did not stop us in our tracks and demand that we take it seriously.

If a person recites Az Yashir each morning with joy — experiencing it as if he himself just walked through the splitting sea — it can wipe out all of his negative spiritual debts. Every single day. Not as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but as a daily gift sitting quietly in the morning davening, waiting to be claimed.

The question each of us must ask is: are we reading past those words, or are we living them?

3. Joy Is the Mechanism — and the Destination

Malachim, the tradition teaches us, are beings of pure spiritual fire. They have no yetzer hara, no struggle, no weight of physical existence. And yet — remarkably — the Shira recited with genuine simcha can catapult a human being to a degree of spirituality that surpasses even the malachim.

The creature formed from dust, who wrestles with temptation every day of his life, who stumbles and falls and gets back up — that person, in a single moment of joyful, wholehearted Emunah, can outsoar the celestial beings on high that surround the Kisei HaKavod -Throne of Glory.

Simcha is not the reward for spiritual achievement. It is the vehicle that gets us there.

* * *

4. Some of Them Sang Before the Sea Even Split

Let’s picture the scene. The Egyptian army is thundering behind them. The sea stretches before them, vast and unyielding. Every rational instinct says: panic. Run. Despair.

And yet — according to the Mechilta (Perek 2) — there were those among Klal Yisroel who began singing the Shira even before the waters parted. Before it happened.

This is bitachon in its purest. Not the trust that says ‘I believe Hashem will help me once I see the evidence.’ But the trust that says ‘I already know how this ends.’ These individuals did not need the sea to split to believe. Their Emunah was the splitting of the sea.

5. There Were Two Completely Different Songs Sung at the Sea

Most people assume the Shira was a single event — a spontaneous outpouring of gratitude after the Mitzrim drowned. But a closer look suggests something far richer.

There are actually two distinct forms of Shira. The first is the act of recognizing what Hashem has done and expressing heartfelt thanks. This is the Shira of relief, of survivors newly freed, of people who witnessed the impossible and responded with praise.

But the second form of Shira is something else entirely. It is a Shira that does not merely acknowledge the past but anchors spiritual elevation into the future — ensuring it will persist across all generations. It is the Shira of arrival, not just survival.

It is entirely possible that these two Shiras were sung at two different moments: the first before Klal Yisroel crossed, and the second only after they stood safely on the other side — transformed, elevated, and locked into a new spiritual reality.

6. The Tzaddikim of the Future Redemption Will Not Wait

The Shla HaKadosh teaches something that should give us all pause — and hope.

When the final redemption comes, the great Tzaddikim of that generation will not wait until they are safe, until the enemies are defeated, until the details are sorted out. The moment they hear the news — just the news — they will begin singing Shira.

This is the standard that Krias Yam Suf set. The Shira was an expression of absolute certainty about Who is running the world. The Tzaddikim of the future will have so internalized that certainty – that the announcement itself will be enough.

7. The Redemption Was Not Complete Until They Crossed

Here is a detail that tends to slip past us, and it should not.

The parting of the sea was not the completion of the redemption. It was the penultimate act. Until Klal Yisroel had crossed to the other side and stood on dry land — until they had arrived — something essential remained unfinished.

On Shvii shel Pesach, we celebrate not just the escape — but the crossing.

* * *

Based on Yareach LaMoadim, Simanim 65–68, by Rav Yeruchem Olshin shlit”a

The author can be reached at [email protected]

Israel is preparing for a range of outcomes as an 8 p.m. EST deadline set by President Donald Trump for Iran expires, from a ceasefire or interim agreement to a significant expansion of military strikes, Channel 12 reported Monday.

Senior Israeli officials described the coming hours as “dramatic,” with concern mounting that Washington and Tehran could reach a last-minute arrangement that falls short of fully addressing Iran’s nuclear program or adequately protecting Israeli interests.

At the same time, officials told the network that if Trump’s deadline passes without a deal, it could open an “extraordinary window of opportunity” to strike Iranian energy, electricity, and other national infrastructure targets that have not yet been hit.

Israel and the United States have already coordinated a division of such targets between them, according to the report.
Mediators including Qatar and Pakistan are continuing efforts to broker a compromise that could at minimum prevent further escalation, the report said.

The dueling scenarios reflect the acute uncertainty gripping Israeli decision-makers as the clock runs down — caught between concern over a diplomatic outcome that leaves core security questions unresolved and the prospect of a far broader campaign against Iran’s civilian and energy infrastructure if talks collapse entirely.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF said it is continuing to expand its strikes against Iran’s military infrastructure, further degrading the regime’s operational capabilities.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, Israeli Air Force aircraft, acting on intelligence provided by IDF Intelligence, carried out attacks over the past several days on major production facilities linked to Iran’s military.

On Monday, the Air Force struck a primary facility in Shiraz used for manufacturing sonar and underwater detection systems. The site is affiliated with Iran’s Ministry of Defense.

The IDF stated that the facility played a central role in the planning, research, development, and production of sonar technologies designed to identify submarines, naval vessels, divers, and underwater missile systems.

“The strike significantly impairs the Iranian terror regime’s maritime detection and defense capabilities and its ability to produce and maintain submarines and naval electronic systems,” the statement said.

In a separate round of operations, Israeli forces also targeted a key installation in Karaj used in the production of naval cruise missiles and air defense systems, according to the IDF.

Rapper Ye has been denied entry into the United Kingdom ahead of a planned performance at the Wireless Festival, prompting organizers to cancel the major London event following widespread backlash over his antisemitic remarks.

Festival officials confirmed the decision and the cancellation of the three-day event. According to the BBC, citing the Home Office, Ye was refused entry because his presence was deemed not “conducive to the public good.”

He had been scheduled to headline before an estimated 150,000 attendees from July 10–12 at Finsbury Park in London. Prior to the decision, a senior government official had already stated he should “absolutely not” be allowed to perform.

In response to the controversy, Ye indicated a willingness to meet with representatives of the UK Jewish community, saying he would prove change through his actions. The pressure campaign against his appearance intensified amid criticism from sponsors and political leaders, particularly in light of his previous antisemitic comments and expressions of admiration for Adolf Hitler.

The controversy follows a series of incidents over the past year, including the release of a track titled “Heil Hitler” and the promotion of merchandise featuring a swastika. In January, Ye issued a public apology, attributing his behavior to a bipolar episode.

Several major corporate sponsors—including Pepsi, Rockstar Energy, and Diageo—pulled their support, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the planned performance as “deeply concerning.”

Jewish community leader Phil Rosenberg said that any potential meeting would depend on sincere remorse from the artist. Meanwhile, event organizers had initially defended the booking, calling for “forgiveness and hope.” That position drew criticism from UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who dismissed it as “absurd” and reiterated that Ye should not be permitted to perform.

Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein delivered an unusually strong and uncompromising address criticizing israeli state policy, arguing that what is called democracy has become a form of ideological coercion. The remarks were delivered in a closed-door talk to a small group of students and are now being published for the first time, against the backdrop of ongoing tensions surrounding the draft law and economic pressure on the Torah world.

In his remarks, Rav Eichenstein presented what he described as a clear and unapologetic position regarding the relationship between the chareidi public and the State of Israel, particularly during wartime.

Opening his address, he said: “If people think the state here is democratic, that’s a mistake.” He argued that the concept of “liberal democracy,” as promoted by the courts and media, has become a tool for ideological enforcement. “The moment you try to impose your religion on someone else, it’s no longer liberalism. Today’s progressivism is a religion in every sense, and it stands above everything—even above security needs.”

Rav Eichenstein cited court rulings that prioritize equality over operational effectiveness in the military as an example, describing them as detached from logic. “This is not one plus one equals two; this is one plus one equals ten. They are willing to sacrifice everything for their new ‘religion.’”

He also addressed the idea of “equal burden-sharing,” calling it a fundamental misunderstanding of how the world was created. “God created a world of different roles. There is a man and a woman, a carpenter and a mathematician. The idea that everyone must do the same thing is a communist concept, not a democratic one. In a true democracy, the state should allow each group to live according to its own way.”

The rosh yeshiva stressed that yeshiva students should not feel guilty in response to such claims. “I’m prepared to argue this with the greatest law professor—they have no answer. If democracy is ‘for the people,’ then why are you forcing part of the people to follow a foreign religion? You have no right to interfere in the details of my personal way of life.”

During the talk, Rav Eichenstein also explained why he believes the current structure of the military poses a threat to chareidi identity. He noted that from the time of Ben-Gurion, the army was designed to serve as a “melting pot” aimed at erasing distinct communities and creating a new identity detached from Torah.

“Today, when women are brought into every setting and progressive agendas are pushed into the units, it is almost impossible to be there without being affected. Those who propose frameworks like ‘Kodkod’ or ‘Chashmonaim’ are trying to create a ‘split chareidi’—someone who lives in two worlds. We need to remain whole and recognize that Torah is the main hall, and everything else is just the corridor.”

NEW YORK CITY (VINnews)-In a stark illustration of rising antisemitism in New York City, veteran comedian Judy Gold confronted and had removed an audience member who heckled her with an antisemitic remark during a stand-up performance at the New York Comedy Club on the Upper West Side.

Gold, a longtime Jewish comedian known for her sharp wit and outspoken advocacy against antisemitism, shared video footage of the incident on social media. In the clip, she directly addresses the heckler after he reportedly shouted something to the effect of “You’re a Jew!” as an insult.

“You’re annoying. Anyway, I’m a Jew? Is that what he said?” Gold responds on stage, turning the moment into material while calling out the bigotry. She continues with lines like “Did you just call me a Jew?” and eventually bids the disruptor farewell with “Bye bye” and “Shalom!” as staff intervene.

The comedian praised the club’s swift response in her accompanying post: “It’s come to this: Antisemites aren’t even ashamed anymore, even on the Upper West Side. I am so grateful to class act Jennifer Piccerilo and the rest of the staff at NY Comedy  lub for acting so quickly and doing the right thing.”

The Upper West Side has long been home to a significant Jewish community, making the open display of prejudice particularly alarming to many observers. Supporters online echoed Gold’s sentiment, noting that the venue’s decisive action—escorting the heckler out—represented a small but meaningful pushback against normalizing antisemitism in public spaces.

This incident comes amid broader concerns about antisemitism in New York City and across the U.S., with reports of increased harassment, protests targeting Jewish events, and verbal attacks becoming more brazen in everyday settings. Gold has frequently addressed these issues in her comedy and public commentary, using humor as both a coping mechanism and a tool for resistance.

The New York Comedy Club, a staple venue for stand-up in Manhattan, has not issued a public statement beyond the actions taken during the show. Gold’s post quickly gained traction, amassing thousands of likes, reposts, and comments reflecting a mix of support for her stance and frustration over the persistence of such bigotry.

As debates over free speech, heckling in comedy, and rising hate continue, moments like this highlight the tension performers and audiences face. Gold’s handling of the situation—blending confrontation, comedy, and gratitude for venue support—serves as a reminder that many are unwilling to let antisemitism go unchallenged, even mid-set.

The Yerushalayim community was saddened by the news of the passing of Mrs. Gittel Tziporah Weinberger a”h at the age of 70.

The nifteres was a beloved and respected figure in Dushinsky chassidus, where she lived a life of mesirus nefesh, anavah, and deep yiras Shamayim. Her husband, Reb Nota Shlomo Weinberger z”l, a prominent member of the chassidus, was niftar on 7 Shevat 5781 during the Covid pandemic.

For many years, the couple lived at 34 Rechov Shmuel Hanavi in Yerushalayim, near the center of the chassidus, where they raised their 11 children, nine sons and two daughters. One of the children is a special child who received devoted care from his parents and is now left a yasom, while continuing in a specialized educational framework.

She leaves behind a large family of children and descendants who continue in the path of Torah and yiras Shamayim. Among her children is the well-known singer Zanvil Weinberger, as well as his brothers Yossi and Michoel Weinberger, members of the Malchus Choir.

The levayah took place at the Dushinsky Bais Medrash on Rechov Shmuel Hanavi, with kevurah on Har HaMenuchos.

The family will begin sitting shivah immediately after Shevi’i Shel Pesach.

Tehei nishmasah tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.

On the eve of Shevi’i Shel Pesach, a significant halachic obligation takes effect: the mitzvah of biur maasros, requiring those in Eretz Yisroel to ensure that all maasros have been properly separated and distributed, and that no produce or funds remain in their possession without having been given to their intended recipients.

According to halachah, this is the designated time to verify that all terumos and maasros were taken correctly, and that no agricultural produce or designated tithes are still being held without fulfilling their purpose.

The source of this mitzvah is the pasuk: “When you have finished tithing all the produce of your yield in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give to the Levi, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, and they shall eat within your gates and be satisfied.” This obligation occurs twice during each shemittah cycle—at the end of the third and sixth years—and continues to apply today in accordance with the halachos observed after the churban.

This year, 5786, corresponds to the fourth year of the shemittah cycle, meaning the time has now arrived—following the completion of the maaser ani cycle—to carry out the biur. Practically, this requires anyone who still has produce from which terumos and maasros were not properly separated, or who is holding maasros that have not yet been given to a kohein, Levi, or ani, to address the matter without delay.

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VInnews) A suspect identified as Eslam Alsaedi was arrested after a video surfaced online this week showing a man allegedly threatening to target Jewish children in Brooklyn, according to local officials.

Councilmember, Inna Vernikov said in a post on X that the man threatened to come to Brooklyn, find “a big building with Jewish people” and kill Jewish children.

Vernikov said her office contacted the New York City Police Department Counterterrorism Unit after the video came to light. She added that she was informed the suspect was arrested later that night by undercover intelligence officers.

This terrorist threatened to come to Brooklyn, find a BIG BUILDING with JEWISH PEOPLE and KILL JEWISH CHILDREN. He thought he would get away with it. We contacted NYPD’s counter terrorism unit and they were immediately on it! Last night, he was ARRESTED by undercover intel cops.… pic.twitter.com/hYpgoI3GW1

— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) April 7, 2026

Police sources said a report was “filed for terrorism” on Monday in the 32nd Precinct. Authorities said Alsaedi was arrested on April 6 at about 6:30 p.m.

According to Vernikov, the suspect faces charges of making a terroristic threat, aggravated harassment in the second degree and making a threat of mass harm.

“This must be prosecuted both locally and federally to the fullest extent of the law,” Vernikov wrote, thanking the NYPD and those who reported the threat.

The NYPD has not independently released additional details about the suspect, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Former CIA Director David Petraeus said that Russia no longer holds a dominant position in its war against Ukraine, pointing to what he described as a noticeable shift in momentum despite Moscow’s larger resources.

“I think what’s remarkable is that Russia no longer has the upper hand,” Petraeus said in an interview published Monday by CBS.

He noted that while Russia maintains clear numerical and economic advantages, those strengths have not translated into battlefield success. “Russia heavily outnumbers Ukraine. It outguns Ukraine. It has an economy 10 or 12 times the size of Ukraine’s. And yet the Ukrainian forces right now are stopping the Russians cold on the front lines,” he added.

The war in Eastern Europe has now stretched beyond four years, with multiple diplomatic efforts failing to bring about a ceasefire or lasting resolution.

Russian forces have continued to launch repeated strikes on Kyiv as part of a broader effort to secure control over key regions, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

According to CBS, Ukraine has relied heavily on its Delta battlefield management system, which allows forces to pinpoint targets and coordinate attacks using advanced digital mapping.

Petraeus described the intensity of the ongoing assaults, saying that more than 400 drones and dozens of missiles were launched on the morning of his interview, with glide bombs striking on a nightly basis.

“But on the front lines, which is all important, the Russians have actually achieved less than the Ukrainians have in the last two weeks,” he added.

Separately, reports indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been in close contact with Iran during its conflict with the United States and Israel, with Moscow reportedly providing intelligence support to Tehran as regional tensions continue to escalate.

Iranian state-affiliated media reported early Tuesday that an early morning airstrike targeting a nearby building severely damaged the Rafi Nia Synagogue in central Tehran. While authorities blamed an Israeli strike, there has been no independent confirmation of the claim.

Footage from the scene showed Sifrei Kodesh being removed from the debris as senior Jewish figures, including Iran’s leading Rabbi Younes Hamami Lalehzar and parliamentary representative Homayoun Sameh, inspecting the ruins. Sameh noted that “the Zionist regime did not spare this community during the Jewish holidays” and reported that Sifrei Torah were buried under the rubble.

Homayoun Sameh described the Rafi Nia Synagogue as one of the community’s “oldest and most sacred synagogues”

Jewish community figures sharply criticized the attack, stating, “From the enemy, no other ‘gift’ could be expected for the holiday”.

In an official statement, the community condemned the “brutal attacks carried out by the American-Israeli enemy against our beloved homeland”. Vowing total support for the government, they declared, “We will stand by the people and the regime until our last breath to defend our homeland”.

Israeli journalist Amit Segal said Monday that he was the first to report that a second American airman was missing after a U.S. F-15 was shot down over Iran, an early disclosure that later drew a sharp warning from President Donald Trump, who threatened legal consequences for whoever revealed the information.

Segal made the claim publicly on his Telegram channel, writing: “As you may recall, this was first published here,” referring to his initial report about the weapons systems officer who went down during Operation Epic Fury.

The report surfaced at a particularly sensitive stage in the escalating U.S.-Iran confrontation. Following the aircraft’s downing on Friday, American officials confirmed that one pilot had been recovered but did not immediately disclose that a second crew member was unaccounted for.

During a White House briefing on Monday, Trump asserted that the leak may have endangered the missing airman by alerting Iranian forces, which he said led Tehran to place a bounty on the serviceman. He vowed to identify and take action against whoever first reported that a second airman was missing.

Trump also blamed the media for publicizing the information, arguing that such details should not have been released. While he did not name specific outlets, observers later pointed to reports by Fox News and The Washington Post as among the earliest coverage of the incident.

At the briefing, Trump made clear he intended to pursue the source of the leak, saying: “The person that did the story will go to jail if he doesn’t say, and that doesn’t last long,” Trump said. “We’re going to go to the media company that released it, and we’re going to say, ‘National security. Give it up or go to jail.'”

Shortly after those remarks, Segal publicly identified himself as the journalist behind the initial report, appearing to challenge the president’s warning. However, when questioned further by the New York Post, he softened his position, saying he was “not sure” he had been the first to break the story before adding: “I will protect my sources.”

It remains unclear whether U.S. authorities would have jurisdiction to pursue legal action against an Israeli citizen or compel a foreign media outlet to disclose confidential sources.

Segal, 43, is widely regarded as one of Israel’s most prominent political journalists. He serves as a commentator for Channel 12 News and writes for Yedioth Ahronoth, while also maintaining a large following on Telegram and contributing regularly to The Wall Street Journal. Over the years, he has reported extensively on Israeli politics, including major investigations involving government corruption and cyber activities linked to Iran.

His background includes legal studies at Hebrew University and a master’s degree in public policy from University College London. His father, Chagai Segal, is a former journalist and was previously convicted as a member of the Jewish Underground..

Trump reiterated his position during the same briefing, warning: “We’re going to go to the media company that released it and we’re going to say, ‘National security, give it up or go to jail.”

We will not be updating any of our platforms from sundown this evening until after sundown on Thursday in observance of Pesach.

President Donald Trump has put forward a proposal to dramatically boost funding for renovations at the White House, requesting more than $377 million for fiscal year 2026 and an additional $174 million for fiscal year 2027.

The $377 million request marks a sharp increase—about 866 percent higher than the approximately $39 million allocated for White House maintenance in fiscal year 2025.

An Office of Management and Budget spokesperson told Politico that the proposed funding reflects broader planning beyond routine upkeep, including modernization projects and upgraded security measures.

According to the spokesperson, the scope of the work will go beyond the main residence and cover several parts of the White House complex, including plans supported by Trump to build a new ballroom.

Of the total amount proposed for 2026, roughly $350 million is categorized as mandatory spending, which the spokesperson said includes private contributions earmarked for the ballroom construction.

The ballroom initiative has already drawn legal opposition.

On Friday, the Trump administration argued that a federal court order stopping construction creates a direct security concern for the president and the White House.

In a court filing appealing the decision, attorneys for the National Park Service warned that halting the project is “threatening grave national-security harms to the White House, the president and his family, and the president’s staff.”

“Time is of the essence!” government lawyers wrote, stressing that the project involves materials and systems intended to produce a “heavily fortified” structure. The filing noted that the design includes elements such as bomb shelters, military installations, and a medical facility.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington, D.C., issued a temporary injunction last week, stopping construction work, including efforts that had already involved demolishing parts of the East Wing.

Leon ruled that without clear approval from Congress, the preservation group challenging the project is likely to succeed. He wrote that “no statute comes close to giving the president the authority he claims to have.”

The judge delayed enforcement of his ruling for 14 days, giving the administration time to file an appeal.

Why the Iranian Regime Refuse to Let Go? Lessons to learn from passover’s miracle.

For more than 3,000 years, the Jewish people have marked Passover not only as a story of liberation, but as a lesson in how history unfolds when power, arrogance, and destiny collide.

The Exodus was not a single moment. It was a long process.
The Jews were enslaved in Egypt for almost 250 years under one of the most powerful empires of the ancient world.

A fireball rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Qasmiyeh bridge, located on a main highway linking villages in the Tyre district with others further north, after Israel said the bridge was being used by Hezbollah, in southern Lebanon on March 22, 2026. Israel’s military struck a key bridge in south Lebanon on Sunday, an AFP correspondent said, after Israel’s defence minister said the army had been ordered to destroy more bridges over the Litani River. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2, when pro-Iran Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel in response to US-Israeli strikes that killed Iranian supreme leader on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP via Getty Images) /

Pharaoh was not just a ruler, he represented absolute control, convinced of his own permanence.

When Moses first came to him with a simple demand, “Let my people go,” Pharaoh refused!

What followed was not immediate victory, but a prolonged confrontation.
Plague after plague struck Egypt. Blood. Frogs. Lice. Devastation that disrupted every aspect of Egyptian life. Each time, Pharaoh appeared ready to concede. Each time, when the pressure eased, he hardened his position again.

The Torah describes this in a striking way. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Not once, but repeatedly.
The obvious question is: why?

Why would a ruler continue down a path that clearly led to destruction? Why not stop after the first warning, or the second?

Because sometimes the story is bigger than a single decision. It is about exposing the limits of power, dismantling illusions, and making a moment so undeniable that it reshapes history.

Only after the final blow, the death of the firstborn, did Pharaoh break. Only then did the Jewish people leave, not as fleeing slaves, but as a nation reborn, carrying with them not only freedom but a message the world would remember.

Today, we may be witnessing a similar pattern.

For decades, the Iranian regime has defined itself through confrontation, threats, and the pursuit of destructive power. Time and again, it has been warned. Time and again, it has been pressured. And yet, like Pharaoh, it refuses to change course.

Even as it absorbs damage, even as its people suffer, the leadership continues, doubling down, refusing to step back.

It raises the same uncomfortable question: why persist in a path that leads to collapse?
History suggests that such moments are rarely quick. Just as Egypt was not transformed overnight, neither are modern regimes that have built their identity on defiance and control.
What feels like delay may, in fact, be a process.
A process that exposes, step by step, the true nature of power. A process that makes the outcome undeniable, not only to those directly involved, but to the entire world.

Passover teaches us that redemption does not always come in a single moment. Sometimes it comes through persistence, through endurance, and through a series of events that build toward an irreversible conclusion.
This war is very hard for the people of Israel, for the people of the region, and for the good people of Iran. Yet, it will take time to defeat the evil that shapes our modern history, just as it took time then. We need patience, and I am certain that history will repeat itself. We will see another victory, one that will lead to a new celebration for the Jewish people and for the entire region. Not just the Jews—people across the region are suffering.

After this, we will see a new Iran, peace between countries, and we will see God’s great miracles once again.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted Rabbonim from the country’s major cities at his office in Kyiv in honor of Pesach, marking the fifth Pesach since the Russian invasion began in 2022.

During the gathering, which was organized by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), the Rabbonim presented the president with a package of matzos baked in Dnipro. They also gifted him a historic new Ukrainian-language translation of the Torah, the first of its kind.

The hour-long meeting focused heavily on the Yom Tov’s central theme of freedom. According to an attendee, the discussion centered on the fight against evil, the victory of light, and the hope that Pesach symbolizes. Notably, the president eschewed contemporary political grievances; making no mention of U.S. President Donald Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he has strained relationships and hasn’t spoken to in over a year. Instead, he emphasized that both Ukraine and Israel are praying for freedom and victory over the “axis of evil.”

Reflecting on the meeting, President Zelensky released the following statement: “On the occasion of Passover, I met with rabbis from Ukrainian cities and representatives of Jewish communities. Passover is about the triumph of freedom. This is exactly what all of Ukraine is fighting for today. I thanked the Jewish community for standing united with us in this struggle – for supporting people, helping communities, and praying for our state. I am grateful for a special gift – the first Torah translated into Ukrainian and printed at a Kharkiv bookstore that the Russians tried to destroy.”

An FJCU source noted to reporters that the reception was originally scheduled for Sunday, March 29, a date corresponding with the birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Harav Menachem Mendel Schneerson, zt”l. The event was ultimately rescheduled due to President Zelensky’s diplomatic visit to Jordan in the Middle East last week.

The Pentagon is preparing a request for approximately $4.5 billion in its fiscal 2027 budget to rebuild depleted Tomahawk cruise missile stockpiles, highlighting growing pressure on U.S. military resources following sustained global operations.

According to a Bloomberg Government report, the planned funding request follows extensive use of the long-range, sea-launched missiles in recent conflicts, including the war with Iran, where hundreds were reportedly deployed.

The increased usage has sparked concern within defense circles about maintaining adequate readiness for future threats.

Tomahawk missiles continue to serve as a key component of U.S. strike capabilities, enabling naval forces to carry out precise attacks from great distances.

With each missile costing an estimated $2 million, restoring inventory levels represents a major financial commitment.

Defense officials say the proposal is part of a larger effort to rebuild the nation’s weapons reserves and reinforce the defense industrial base after years of limited investment and rising global tensions.

In addition to operations involving Iran, ongoing U.S. military commitments worldwide—including support for allies and deterrence against rivals such as China and Russia—have further strained available munitions.

To address the issue, the Pentagon is advocating for multiyear purchasing agreements with defense contractors to boost production capacity and avoid future shortages.

Officials warn that without consistent funding, the United States risks falling behind in an era of high-intensity warfare, where advanced weapons are used at a rapid pace.

The proposed 2027 defense budget is expected to include not only funding for missile replenishment but also increased investment in aircraft, missile defense systems, and other essential military capabilities.

The shift reflects a growing acknowledgment that modern warfare demands larger reserves of advanced weaponry.

Supporters of increased defense spending argue that such measures are overdue after years of what they describe as insufficient prioritization under previous administrations, emphasizing that rebuilding stockpiles and strengthening production capacity are critical to maintaining U.S. military superiority and deterring adversaries.

WASHINGTON (VINnews) — Donald Trump hosted Orthodox and Haredi Jewish leaders at the White House on Monday during Chol HaMoed Passover, bringing together senior administration officials and communal figures for a reception and policy discussion.

The event was arranged by Jewish liaison Martin Marks and included a reception in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building followed by a private Oval Office meeting with a select group of leaders, according to people familiar with the gathering.

Administration officials in attendance included Howard Lutnick, Lee Zeldin, Will Scharf, Jacob Reis, and Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun.

The delegation included Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Rabbi Dovid Zwiebel of Agudath Israel, Rabbi David Niederman, executive director of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, Rabbi Moshe Margaretten, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, and Gedalya Segedin, village administrator of Kiryas Joel, among others, as well as Holocaust survivor Jerry Wartski, Jonathan Burkan, Jeff Miller and Matt Brooks.

Edan Alexander, a recently released hostage from Gaza, attended with his parents.

Participants said Trump discussed security funding for Jewish institutions, reiterated support for Israel, and addressed tensions involving Iran. He also spoke about the case of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, calling his past sentence unjust.

During the meeting, Trump placed a phone call to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, speaking about their involvement in Jewish communal life.

No formal statement was released following the event.

The White House has put forward a plan to significantly reduce the size and budget of the Transportation Security Administration, proposing to eliminate more than 9,400 positions and cut over $1.5 billion from the agency responsible for airport security, according to newly released budget documents.

The proposal is outlined in a Department of Homeland Security budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year, with DHS serving as the parent agency overseeing TSA operations.

Lawmakers are expected to review the proposal during congressional hearings scheduled for later this month, as they work toward finalizing a federal budget agreement ahead of the September 30 deadline. Some Republican legislators have also renewed calls to fully privatize airport security operations.

The proposed cuts are separate from the ongoing funding dispute in Congress over DHS spending for the current year, a standoff that has already led to disruptions at airports as TSA employees temporarily went without pay.

President Donald Trump on Friday suggested that smaller airports should transition to private security providers as an initial step toward broader privatization of the agency, which was established in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

According to the White House, shifting smaller airports to private screening would reduce the TSA workforce by more than 4,500 positions. An additional 4,800 jobs would be cut through internal efficiency measures, including removing staffing at exit lanes and reducing overlapping roles.

Officials estimate that these workforce reductions alone would result in savings exceeding $500 million.

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA screeners, has pushed back against privatization efforts, warning that such changes could compromise aviation security.

Overall, the proposal would shrink the TSA’s $7.8 billion budget by roughly 20 percent. The agency has already seen its workforce decline by more than 1,600 employees during recent government funding disruptions last fall and spring.

Currently, about 50,000 airport security screeners across the United States are employed by the TSA.

President Trump has been openly critical of the agency. On his first day in office in 2025, he dismissed TSA Administrator David Pekoske and has yet to name a successor.

Last year, the White House said, “TSA has consistently failed audits while implementing intrusive screening measures that violate Americans’ privacy and dignity.”

Under the previous administration, the TSA expanded its operations. In 2024, the agency screened a record 904 million passengers, marking a 5 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is intensifying its campaign against Iran, targeting key military and logistical infrastructure used by the regime.

“We are crushing the terrorist regime in Iran. But we are doing so with even greater vigor, and with increasing force.”

Netanyahu revealed that Israeli strikes over the past two days hit major assets, including aircraft and transport networks used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“Yesterday, our pilots destroyed transport planes and dozens of helicopters at an Iranian Air Force base. Today, they attacked the train tracks and bridges used by the Revolutionary Guards.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

He said the infrastructure was being used to move weapons, materials, and operatives targeting Israel, the United States, and other countries in the region.

Netanyahu emphasized that the campaign is not directed at the Iranian people, but at the regime itself.

“These actions… are not intended to attack the Iranian people. On the contrary, they are intended to weaken and crush the terrorist regime that has oppressed them for 47 years.”

He added that the ongoing operation is reshaping the regional balance of power.

“This is no longer the same Iran, nor is it the same Israel. We are changing the balance of power from one end to the other.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF’s Persian-language spokesperson released an unusual public warning Tuesday morning, directly addressing civilians across Iran and urging them to avoid train travel nationwide.

In the announcement, the IDF called on the Iranian public not to use trains or travel near railway lines anywhere in the country for a limited period.

According to the statement, the advisory remains in effect until 9:00 p.m. local time in Iran. The IDF emphasized that the purpose of the warning is to protect civilian lives, stating: “Your presence on trains and near railway lines endangers your life.”

The warning was issued on the same morning that President Donald Trump had previously referred to as “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day,” in which he warned that if Iran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8:00 p.m. EST Tuesday, the United States and Israel would target key infrastructure, including civilian facilities.

Should Kanye West, the rapper who also goes by “Ye,” be forgiven for his past viciously antisemitic comments? Opinions are mixed. Following his ban from the United Kingdom, where he was slated to perform at London’s Wireless Festival, West issued a letter expressing remorse for his past actions and a desire to make amends.

“I’ve been following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly,” he wrote. “My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace and love through my music.”

“I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen,” he added. “I know words aren’t enough — I’ll have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here.”

Kanye West meets with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto in an effort to make amends for his past antisemitic behavior. (From a post on X)

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, who had called for West to be banned, said it was too soon for forgiveness. To show his remorse, West would have to agree not to perform at the festival, he said.

“It has been less than a year since Kanye West released a song entitled ‘Heil Hitler,’ the culmination of three years of appalling antisemitism,” Rosenberg said.

“Even while claiming remorse today, his latest album includes a track first released last year with the abhorrent title ‘Gas Chamber,'” he added. “The Jewish community will want to see a genuine remorse and change before believing that the appropriate place to test this sincerity is on the main stage at the Wireless Festival.”

“As such, we are willing to meet Kanye West as part of his journey of healing, but only after he agrees not to play the Wireless Festival this year,” he concluded.

Rapper Kanye West performs onstage at Hollywood Park Grounds on March 14, 2024, in Inglewood, Cal. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

Others disagree. Melvin Benn, the managing director of Festival Republic, which promotes Wireless, called for grace.

“What Ye has said in the past about Jews and Hitler is as abhorrent to me as it is to the Jewish community, the prime minister and others that have commented and — taking him at his word — to Ye now also,” he said.

“Having had a person in my life for the last 15 years who suffers from mental illness, I have witnessed many episodes of despicable behaviour that I have had to forgive and move on from,” he explained. “If I wasn’t before, I have become a person of forgiveness and hope in all aspects of my life, including work.”

“Forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing divisive world and I would ask people to reflect on their instant comments of disgust at the likelihood of him performing (as was mine) and offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do,” he added.

The latest brouhaha over Kanye West and his past antisemitism follows his full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal in January apologizing for his actions and his November meeting with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto in New York City, in which he expressed his remorse, described his struggles with mental illness and accepted responsibility for his behavior.

HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) — The parents of a toddler who suffered a minor injury at a Pennsylvania theme park zoo after squeezing through a fence near a wolf enclosure and making contact with one of the animals have been charged with endangering the welfare of children, police said.

Evidence showed that the parents both walked about 25 to 30 feet (7.6 meters to 9.1 meters) away from the child to a seating area with benches and appeared to be paying attention to their cellphones when they noticed what was happening Saturday at ZooAmerica in the Hersheypark theme park, police said in a news release.

The child went through a small opening in a wooden barrier perimeter fence and entered a restricted area near the wolf exhibit, the Derry Township Police said. The child reached a primary metal fence enclosure and was hurt after placing a hand through that fencing.

“From the injuries sustained, it appears as though one of the wolves in the enclosure instinctively and naturally grabbed onto the child’s hand with its mouth. Several bystanders intervened and helped pull the child away,” police said in the release.

The parents, of Lititz, Pennsylvania, were charged with the misdemeanor offense after an initial investigation and consultation with the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, police said. Court records posted Monday showed that both await a preliminary hearing on April 28. There were no attorneys listed for them. A phone number associated with one of the parents was not working Tuesday.

The zoo is part of the entertainment complex in Hershey, featuring a chocolate-themed amusement park. The zoo’s website says it has three gray wolves.

The zoo had said in a statement that the wolf’s response “is consistent with natural animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression.

“Our habitats are designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing. Guests are expected to remain within designated areas and closely supervise children at all times,” it said.

Hersheypark made headlines last summer when a lost boy wandering a monorail line above a crowd was rescued by a park visitor who climbed onto a building and jumped onto the rails. The child was unharmed and reunited with his family.

NASA said the crew used handheld cameras to capture high-resolution photos and video of the lunar surface, including features humans had never directly seen before, with astronauts also becoming the first people in generations to fly around the Moon. 

During the flyby, Orion came within about 4,067 miles of the Moon, giving the crew a rare window to document impact craters, ancient lava flows, cracks, ridges, and subtle changes in color, brightness, and texture that can help scientists better understand the Moon’s makeup and history. NASA also released live views of an Earthrise as the spacecraft emerged from behind the Moon. 

Artemis II also set a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth, reaching roughly 252,756 miles and surpassing Apollo 13.

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Senior American military leaders approved a strike on a subterranean Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) site near Tehran while carrying out a mission to recover U.S. airmen whose aircraft had been brought down inside Iran, according to a Fox News report citing senior sources.

The report said that during the rescue operation, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm. Brad Cooper gave the order to hit the underground command center. The attack was executed by B-2 bombers deploying Massive Ordnance Penetrators, specialized munitions designed to destroy hardened, deeply buried targets.

Officials cited in the report indicated that the targeted IRGC facility was destroyed in the strike.

At the same time, as the rescue mission unfolded, U.S. B-1 bombers released roughly one hundred 2,000-pound bombs in the surrounding area to prevent Iranian forces from advancing toward the extraction site, a senior U.S. defense official said.

A senior military source described the action to Fox News by stating that US forces had applied significant force against the IRGC during the operation.

CENTCOM later confirmed in an official statement that two service members were successfully recovered after their F-15E aircraft had been shot down.

The Fox News report added that the strike on the IRGC installation took place between the two rescue phases. According to the report, the B-2 bombers launched from Whiteman Air Force Base in the United States after receiving time-sensitive intelligence showing that multiple IRGC commanders were present inside the underground complex.

Following the mission, President Donald Trump said that American forces had rescued a severely injured F-15 crew member from deep within Iran, highlighting the dangers involved. He also referred to a second rescue effort that followed the initial extraction, describing both operations as unusual due to their length and complexity.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is unconscious and receiving medical treatment in the Shi’ite holy city of Qom, The Times reported Tuesday, citing a diplomatic memo it said was based on American and Israeli intelligence shared with Gulf allies.

If accurate, the memo would mark the first time Khamenei’s location has been publicly identified since he succeeded his father following Ali Khamenei’s death in February. Iranian officials have insisted he remains in charge. But he has not appeared publicly since the war began, and no audio or video of him speaking has been released — only two statements broadcast on state television attributed to him.

The memo, which has not been independently verified, describes him as unable to participate in regime decision-making, reportedly for several weeks.

The disclosure raises an immediate question with no clean answer: who is actually running Iran?

The most likely candidate is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has steadily accumulated power throughout the conflict. A prolonged leadership vacuum would accelerate that shift, potentially giving the IRGC effective control over both military operations and diplomatic decisions, including any negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz.

The same memo said preparations were underway in Qom for a large mausoleum for Ali Khamenei and possibly other family members — a detail that conflicts with earlier Iranian accounts of his burial plans, which placed mourning ceremonies in Tehran. Iranian authorities attributed the delay in a state funeral to expectations of massive turnout, but the gap between that explanation and Shi’ite custom, which favors swift burial, has drawn scrutiny.

Qom’s centrality to the succession crisis is not new. In early March, Israeli strikes hit the building in the city where the 88-member Assembly of Experts was reportedly convening to choose Ali Khamenei’s successor — a strike that underscored both the city’s religious significance and its role as the regime’s clerical nerve center.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Nickolay Mladenov, director-general and high representative for Gaza of the U.S.-proposed Board of Peace, met with senior Hamas officials in Cairo last week and laid down an ultimatum: He gave them until the end of this week to agree to a disarmament proposal, after Hamas dallied for four weeks. Unnamed sources familiar with the discussions said that the board will not accept major changes; Hamas will only be allowed to tweak the proposal at the margins.

Against the backdrop of dramatic developments in the war with Iran, the Board of Peace is pressing forward with the second phase of the peace plan, in a sign of the urgency to achieve the demilitarization of Hamas.

While Hamas has signaled neither its acceptance nor its rejection of the proposal, it has complained that Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire agreement with strikes extending deep into Gaza. Israel acknowledged the strikes but argued that they were carried out in response to Hamas violations of the ceasefire.

Nickolay Mladenov, director-general and high representative for Gaza, speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on June 25, 2020. (Photo by Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Egypt, Turkey and Qatar are serving as mediators and applying pressure to Hamas to accept the proposal. An Arab diplomat involved with the mediation said that it’s unlikely that Hamas will accept a deal without adding major provisions, adding that “even if they do, it’s unlikely that Israel will comply” because of political reasons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be reluctant to pull back from Gaza during an election year, and a significant part of his coalition is pressing for a permanent presence in the Strip.

Under the plan, a phased Israeli withdrawal is tied to the disarmament of Hamas and the destruction of the tunnels. Reconstruction also will not begin unless and until Hamas gives up its weapons. The eight-month timeline that has been proposed comprises five stages:

Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, distribute sweets to children during a celebration of Eid al-Fitr, cementing their hold on the Gaza Strip, on March 20, 2026. (Photo by Moiz Salhi/Anadolu via Getty Images)

1. Days 1–15: The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) assumes governance of the Strip and prepares for weapons collection.
2. Days 16–40: Israel removes its military infrastructure and heavy weaponry from areas under its control. An international security force takes over.
3. Days 30–90: Hamas relinquishes all of its weapons to NCAG and permits the destruction of its tunnels and all other military infrastructure. This is the most critical phase.
4. Days 91–250: NCAG collects and registers all remaining weapons, and Israel begins its phased withdrawal.
5. Final Stage: Verification of the complete disarmament of Hamas is finalized; Israel withdraws almost completely, leaving in place a security perimeter; and reconstruction begins.

Mladenov issued a stark warning to Hamas of consequences for failure to comply.

“He who will not cross the river will drown in the sea,” he said.

More than two years after emerging from the darkness of captivity into freedom, Bar Kuperstein spoke publicly in an emotional interview with Kikar HaShabbat about his time in Hamas captivity, describing how faith sustained him through the darkest moments.

Kuperstein recounts two and a half years filled with fear, uncertainty, and suffering—but says one thing never left him: his belief in Hashem. In the interview, he reflects on the horrors of Simchas Torah, the long months inside terror tunnels in Gaza, and the small moments he experienced as open miracles.

He describes how, even in the lowest and most desperate conditions, he managed to hold on to faith and find strength, hope, and light.

At the beginning of the interview, he shares: “In the past two years, I didn’t have the ability to celebrate a real Pesach. The other holidays—Chanukah or Rosh Hashanah—we were able to mark in some way.

“When we went to get food, the terrorists had a television in their room. On Chanukah we saw the prime minister lighting the third candle, so we knew it was Chanukah. They showed a clip from a broadcast in Israel and we saw Sukkos. On Chanukah we took a flashlight and would sing songs.”

Kuperstein then returns to the morning of Simchas Torah, when he was serving as a deputy security officer at the Nova festival. He describes how he helped save dozens of lives before being captured by Hamas terrorists and taken into Gaza.

“There was total chaos there,” he recalls. “From the moment the rockets started, we told people to disperse, and slowly you see that the rockets don’t stop. Then there was a huge traffic jam in the parking lot. I took my car to see what was causing it, and I saw a police vehicle blocking the road, warning of terrorist gunfire—and then I understood there was a terrorist infiltration.

“We continued evacuating vehicles, and after about fifteen minutes, cars came back under gunfire, and we realized there were terrorists there too. Wounded people were arriving, there were terrorist squads—you understand you’re in a war zone. We reached a point where we were trapped in a death zone, north and south, everything blocked. I went to a police officer and told him we had to open an emergency route. I told him to drive and open it, and he trusted me to stay behind. When I returned from captivity, a police officer told me that action saved more than 2,000 people.”

He describes the moment of his abduction: “I saw the terrorists’ pickup trucks arriving and I understood… it was like a full army, military vehicles. I didn’t know where it came from. At that moment I understood I couldn’t save anyone else and had to save myself. I felt like someone was holding my hand and guiding me where to go—Hashem directed me. Along the way I was shouting at people to get out of their cars; people were frozen in shock. I couldn’t stop at every car because they were shooting at me in insane quantities.

“I hid in bushes and started crawling because they were shooting at us. Eventually they reached us and began slaughtering everyone. I remember we all said ‘Shema Yisrael’ together, everyone who was with me in the bushes—and we were all saved, baruch Hashem. The fact that we were taken captive was itself the salvation. Everyone ahead of us—we heard screams, then bursts of gunfire, and silence. They were massacred. We said Shema Yisrael and waited for the bullet that would kill you.

“After a month in captivity, when we were allowed to talk, we shared those moments, and it turned out that all of us said ‘Shema Yisrael.’ Apparently, that’s what truly saved us.”

Kuperstein describes the journey into Gaza: “The entire way I’m praying to Hashem, saying ‘Shema Yisrael’ and chapters of Tehillim—everything I remember. I’m begging not to die there. I know what the ‘Hannibal Protocol’ is in the army—you see terrorists and you shoot—I kept praying that wouldn’t happen.”

He recalls a chilling exchange with a terrorist: “One of the terrorists who spoke English came to me and asked, ‘Where is your God now?’ That shook me. I sat with that question for hours and couldn’t answer.

“Then I said to myself—if I have a question about Hashem, who do I ask? My mother. I asked myself what she would say, and I answered: Hashem is testing me, and I’m in a test, and I have to pass it. That’s what kept me going.”

In the early weeks, he was moved between different houses across Gaza: “We were walking through the streets, our faces uncovered, usually in the dark because there’s no street lighting. We moved like that between several houses.”

He shares a moment he describes as a clear miracle: “One night, when they were transferring us, something didn’t feel right. We walked for about an hour, and the whole time I was just praying—‘Please let everything be okay.’ We felt something was wrong. I asked Hashem to bring us somewhere safe.

“We reached a place called ‘Beit HaBasta,’ but the guards didn’t arrive, so they took us back to the previous house. When we returned, the terrorist told me, ‘God loves you.’ I asked what happened, and he said, ‘You remember the house you were supposed to go to? It was bombed exactly where you were supposed to be.’”

“I said then—what just happened to me is not random. It’s Hashem. It’s divine providence. It’s a message that Hashem is with me and telling me I will stay alive.”

He describes his constant conversations with Hashem deep inside the tunnels: “I would talk to Him freely, because I didn’t know many prayers. I knew ‘Shema Yisrael,’ I knew some Tehillim. I told myself I would pray in my own way—I would just speak to Hashem, because I know you can do that.

“Every time I would ask Hashem for small things—just a bit more hope. I wouldn’t say ‘get me out of here now.’ If Hashem put me here, then I’m in a test and I need to be here. I would daven constantly—Shacharis, Modeh Ani, whatever I remembered. And at the end I would ask, ‘Give me some hope, give me a little more food, give me strength to walk and ask the terrorists for something.’”

He adds: “When I would go ask the terrorists for something, it didn’t always end with a ‘no.’ Sometimes it ended with threats or even beatings. So I would ask Hashem—after a period with no food—give me the strength to ask for something to eat. And then I went to them, didn’t even ask, and they just gave me food. If that’s not Hashem, then what is? It never happened that they just gave us food on their own.”

He also recounts another moment of divine encouragement: “I asked Hashem for a sign, and suddenly I heard my mother on the radio—on my birthday. If that’s not Hashem, then what is?”

Despite watching others being released in earlier deals, including women, children, and his fellow captive Ohad Ben Ami, he says he never felt resentment: “No, not at all. I always knew my time would come. Now it’s Ohad’s time. I’m happy for him, that he’s going back to his children and parents. Now it’s his time to be home. I’ll manage.”

“I knew my time would come,” he continues. “Hashem protected me, saved me again and again. If all this happened, there’s no chance I’m not getting out of here. I always believed I would leave captivity—and baruch Hashem, I’m here.”

He recalls an especially moving Shabbos in the tunnels: “Wow, I remember one Shabbos I’ll never forget. It was me, Elkana, and Ohad, and then they added Yosef Chaim Ohana, Segev, and Maxim. That Shabbos we were six people in a tunnel, and we sang ‘Shalom Aleichem’ together. It felt like the whole tunnel was shaking. We had tears of joy. We felt Hashem sent angels to surround us. It was incredibly emotional, and from then on, every Shabbos we made Kiddush.”

He also describes spiritual growth among the captives: “It was amazing. I came from a traditional home, Elkana also knew a lot, and those who didn’t know had a strong connection—they said, ‘Teach us.’ Ohad, who knew accounting, would say, ‘Come, let’s learn Torah.’ They wanted more—it was very moving. We had the privilege to give them that gift.”

On the constant bombings, he says: “Of course—every day, every hour, there are explosions. Everything shakes, sand falls on you. You’re underground—one bomb in the wrong place and everything collapses and you’re buried forever. You’re always afraid. But every time there was an explosion, you immediately say ‘Shema Yisrael,’ Tehillim—even ‘Shir LaMa’alos.’ That’s what kept us going—this faith.”

He describes the days leading up to his release: “We knew about the deal a few days before. They called us and said, ‘Sit and watch TV.’ They didn’t say anything, and then we saw the government approved the deal and families celebrating. We looked at each other and said, ‘Okay, let’s see if it actually happens.’ How many times had we seen this before? We didn’t want to be disappointed again. If it happens, it happens—we’ll be happy at home.”

Finally, he describes the moment of freedom: “It was crazy. We came out of the tunnel—they open the shaft, and suddenly you feel air on your face after almost two years underground. There’s no air in the tunnel, and suddenly you feel wind and see the sun. We saw massive destruction, but then you hear children and birds—you hear life. We were in a pit, and suddenly you hear a truck horn—these are things we hadn’t heard for two years.”

He also recalls the moment he was transferred to Israeli forces: “Of course I remember. We were with the Red Cross, we reached the line, and suddenly you see an armored vehicle from the Nachal Brigade—and I served in Nachal. That was closure for me. The forces escorted us, and suddenly you see an IDF base on a hill, everyone waving, and you say, ‘I survived this. I won.’”

President Donald Trump’s budget request to Congress includes the largest counterterrorism spending increase in years and establishes a new FBI-led center dedicated to proactively identifying Americans the government classifies as domestic terrorists, according to a review of the budget documents.

The center, called the “NSPM-7 Joint Mission Center,” was created to implement Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, signed last September. It draws personnel from 10 federal agencies and operates by “integrating intelligence, operational support, and financial analysis,” the budget request states.

According to the budget documents, the center proactively targets individuals motivated by beliefs including “anti-Americanism,” “anti-capitalism,” “anti-Christianity,” “support for the overthrow of the U.S. Government,” extremism related to migration, race, or gender, and hostility toward those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, or morality.

The budget request links the center’s creation in part to “heinous assassinations” it says have “dramatically increased” — an apparent allusion to the murder of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, which reportedly precipitated the development of NSPM-7.

The documents also identify social media as a vehicle for domestic radicalization, stating that domestic terrorists “exploit a variety of popular social media platforms, smaller websites with targeted audiences, and encrypted chat applications” to recruit, plan, and disseminate materials encouraging violence.

FBI Director Kash Patel testified to Congress shortly after Kirk’s death that the Bureau was overseeing a 300 percent increase in domestic terrorism investigations. He also said the FBI would investigate every person on Discord channels used by accused killer Tyler Robinson, and announced the Bureau was pursuing “the possibility of accomplices,” including a potential foreign nexus. Patel later concluded there was no evidence supporting those theories.

The NSPM-7 center represents one of several structural shifts in the FBI’s domestic terrorism apparatus under the current administration. Early in Trump’s term, the Bureau replaced the post-9/11 Terrorist Screening Center with a broader “Threat Screening Center” overseeing multiple watchlists covering international terrorists, transnational criminals, and domestic threats. The FBI’s domestic terrorism watchlist has also grown in that period.

Civil liberties advocates and critics have raised concerns that the ideological breadth of the categories listed in the budget request could subject Americans with mainstream political views to federal scrutiny. The administration has not publicly addressed those concerns. Officials have previously walked back claims that two individuals — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — were domestic terrorists, as had been initially alleged.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

After nearly ten years of ongoing tension surrounding the management of the hilula of Rav Yeshaya’le of Kerestir zt”l, a decisive arbitration ruling has now been issued, establishing clear control over the event and aiming to prevent confusion and disorder ahead of the annual mass pilgrimage on Gimmel Iyar.

It has been learned that the ruling was delivered by the Galanta Rebbe, a member of the rabbinic leadership of the Hisachdus HaRabbonim of the United States and Canada, following hearings in which both sides presented their claims and formally agreed to arbitration.

At the center of the decision is a clear and binding determination that full responsibility for organizing, overseeing, and managing the 101st hilula in the town of Kerestir, Hungary, belongs exclusively to the descendants of the tzaddik, the Rubin family of Reb Shayale’s Hoiz. The family has been handling operations at the site for years with notable success, though they have periodically faced interference.

The ruling emphasizes that representatives of the Rubin family will coordinate all logistical and operational aspects of the hilula with the relevant authorities, emergency services, and support organizations, and that no outside parties are permitted to interfere with or disrupt these arrangements.

It was further clarified in unequivocal terms that no other organization, aside from the Rubin family, may create misleading impressions through media or public messaging suggesting that they are responsible for running the hilula or any part of it. This includes the use of names such as “Reb Shayale’s Kach” or “Reb Shayale’s Bakery,” which were specifically cited as examples of potentially misleading branding.

At the same time, other groups will still be permitted to operate on the day of the hilula, but only on a limited basis and strictly in coordination with the Rubin family of “Reb Shayale’s Hoiz.”

Beginning this year, participants are expected to benefit from a more orderly and structured event, with clearly defined leadership under the Rubin family, who recently completed extensive renovations of the bais medrash of the tzaddik, along with expanding a large network of hachnosas orchim facilities, upgraded hospitality areas, the tzaddik’s home, and numerous additional resources for the many visitors.

{Matzav.com}

Gunmen opened fire near the building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday in what authorities believe may be an ISIS-linked attack.

According to officials, three attackers armed with rifles and pistols exchanged fire with police near the consulate. One attacker was killed at the scene, while two others were wounded and taken into custody.

Two police officers were also lightly injured during the gun battle.

Authorities identified the suspects as brothers Onur C. and Enes C., who were arrested, and Yunus E.S., who was killed. Turkish officials said Yunus had “ties to an organization that exploits religion,” while local media and journalists identified the group as ISIS.

Officials noted that no Israeli diplomatic staff have been present at the consulate for over two years.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

China has effectively become the dominant buyer of Iranian oil, using a covert global network to funnel tens of billions of dollars into Tehran and blunt the impact of American sanctions, according to a report published Tuesday in The Wall Street Journal. The financial lifeline has allowed Iran to sustain its economy and continue funding military activities despite international restrictions.

The data reflects a sharp reversal from previous years. During President Donald Trump’s first administration, a “maximum pressure” campaign was launched to cut off Iran’s primary revenue stream. That effort drove oil exports down dramatically, from 2.8 million barrels per day in May 2018 to roughly 200,000 barrels per day by August 2019. Today, however, the trend has shifted, with Iran once again generating billions of dollars each month due to increased Chinese purchases.

According to the report, China now absorbs nearly all of Iran’s oil output, compared to just about 30 percent a decade ago. Figures from the research firm Kpler indicate that in 2025, China imported approximately 1.4 million barrels per day—double the amount it bought in 2017 and more than 80 percent of Iran’s total oil sales that year.

U.S. officials describe the system enabling this trade as one of the largest sanctions-evasion networks in the world. The operation relies on multiple layers of concealment, including private refineries, hidden payment channels, and shell companies—many based in Hong Kong—used to launder money and convert profits into foreign currency.

A so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers plays a central role in the scheme. These vessels reportedly engage in tactics such as renaming ships, disabling tracking transponders, and conducting ship-to-ship transfers at sea. The shipments are often accompanied by falsified documents that list the oil as originating from countries such as Oman or Malaysia.

The report notes that while China officially opposes what it calls “unilateral and unreasonable” sanctions, it has also been careful not to provoke Washington excessively. Still, Iranian oil remains attractive to Beijing due to its discounted price and its usefulness in countering U.S. objectives in the Middle East.

At the same time, Washington’s ability to respond remains limited. Although the United States has pursued indictments and expanded sanctions, taking aggressive action against Chinese financial institutions or refineries could drive up global oil prices and further strain relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, even as Iran effectively restricts Western shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, its own tankers continue to reach Chinese ports without disruption, helping to secure the regime’s economic survival.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene after a Hezbollah rocket struck the northern coastal city of Nahariya, initially with no reported injuries.

Shortly after, medics confirmed a woman in her 20s was lightly wounded after being hit by flying debris from the impact.

Magen David Adom said two additional individuals are being treated for acute anxiety at the scene.

NEW YORK (VINnews/Rabbi Yair Hoffman) – It is Chol HaMoed Pesach. You are in shul. There is a bris happening right after davening. This is common on Chol HaMoed, the intermediate days of Pesach, when a baby boy was born just before the holiday began. The mohel — the specially trained person who performs the circumcision — has a packed schedule. Baruch Hashem, he is in high demand. Three, maybe four brissin today, one after another, in different shuls and halls across the neighborhood.

He cannot be late to any of them.

So the gabbai, the man who runs the shul, is watching the clock. The chazan — the prayer leader — knows to keep things moving. And honestly? The whole congregation is thinking about the food sitting or not yet sitting at home that still needs cooking. It is erev Yom Tov, the day before the final days of Pesach. There is a lot to do.

And then something happens that feels, under these circumstances, like a gift straight from Heaven. The chazan reaches a certain point in Hallel — and stops. Not because anything went wrong. Because that is exactly what halacha — Jewish law — tells him to do.

Half a Hallel. The shul may be quietly exhaling.

But here is the thing. A few months later, on Chol HaMoed Sukkos, that same chazan will say the complete Hallel. Every single word. No stopping, no skipping. The whole thing.

Why? Sukkos is a wonderful Yom Tov — but Pesach is when the greatest miracle in Jewish history happened. The sea split. The most powerful empire on earth collapsed. Two hundred and ten years of brutal slavery ended.

So why does the bigger miracle get the shorter Hallel?

The answer turns out to touch on one of the deepest moral questions in all of Torah: Is it okay to celebrate when your enemies are destroyed?

THE GEMARA’S ANSWER

The Gemara in Arachin (9a) gives us the first answer. It is a technical one, but important. When the Beis HaMikdash — the Holy Temple — stood in Jerusalem, special holiday offerings called korbanos were brought every day. On Pesach, those offerings were exactly the same every single day of the Yom Tov. On Sukkos, they were different each day. Since each day of Sukkos had its own special identity, each day deserved its own full Hallel. On Pesach, since every day was the same, a full Hallel was not required for each day.

That explains part of the picture.

But it does not explain everything. For the deeper answer, we need to go to a Midrash. And it is stunning.

THE MALACHIM WHO WERE SILENCED

The Shibolei HaLeket, quoted by the Bais Yosef (Orach Chaim 490), brings down this Midrash: When the Egyptians were drowning in the Yam Suf — the Red Sea — the malachim, the Heavenly angels, wanted to burst into song. It was an incredible moment. The Jewish people were free. The enemy was gone. Of course the malachim wanted to sing!

But Hashem stopped them. And He said something that has stayed with the Jewish people ever since:

“Maasei Yadai tovim bayam v’attem omrim shira? — My handiwork — My creations — are drowning in the sea, and YOU are singing Hallel?!”

The Egyptians were human beings. They were created by Hashem. Their deaths, even though they were necessary and deserved, were not something to celebrate with a full song of joy.

This raises a big question though. If Hashem silenced the malachim — why do we say any Hallel at all on Pesach? And why is the first day of Pesach different? On the first day we say the full Hallel. Why is Chol HaMoed cut short?

THE TAZ AND CHAVOS YAIR

The Taz (Orach Chaim 490:3) and the Chavos Yair (responsum 225) answer this. The seventh day of Pesach — the day the sea actually split and the Egyptians drowned — cannot have a full Hallel, because of that Midrash. Once the seventh day itself is limited, it would be embarrassing — a bizayon, a disgrace — if Chol HaMoed had more Hallel than the last day of Yom Tov. So Chol HaMoed gets cut short too, to match.

RAV AHARON KOTLER’S BIG PICTURE

So now we have two different reasons. Why do we need both? Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, one of the greatest Torah leaders of the twentieth century, explains this in his sefer Mishnas Rebbe Aharon, Maamarim (Vol. II, p. 3).

He says there are actually two completely different kinds of Hallel. One kind is said because of Yom Tov — because it is a holiday. The other kind is said because of a Nais — a miracle.

Pesach has both.

The Mussaf offerings explain why the Yom Tov-Hallel does not need to be full. But the miracle of the splitting of the sea is so enormous that the Nais-Hallel would demand a full Hallel — except for the fact that people died. That fact brings the Hallel back down. You need both reasons together to understand the whole picture.

One more interesting point: we call it “half Hallel,” but it is actually about eighty-one percent of the full Hallel — sixty-two lines out of seventy-seven in the ArtScroll siddur. It is not really half. But the name makes a point. Something is missing. Something is being held back on purpose.

TWO VERSES IN MISHLEI THAT SEEM TO CONTRADICT EACH OTHER

Now we get to the really deep part. Shlomo HaMelech — King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived — wrote the book of Mishlei. And in that book, he seems to say two completely opposite things.

In chapter 24, verse 18, he writes: “B’nfol oyvecha al tismach — When your enemy falls, do not rejoice.”

But in chapter 11, verse 10, the very same Shlomo HaMelech wrote: “U’va’avod resha’im rinah — When the wicked are destroyed, there is joy and singing.”

So which is it? Are we supposed to be happy or not when evil people are destroyed?

THE RALBAG: TOO MUCH CELEBRATING IS DANGEROUS

The Ralbag, a great medieval Torah commentator, explains the verse in chapter 24 this way. The problem is not joy itself — it is too much joy. When someone celebrates too wildly over an enemy’s downfall, something dangerous happens: Hashem removes His anger from that enemy and turns it toward the person who is gloating. Celebrate too much, and you might bring trouble on yourself.

The Alshich, in his commentary to Esther (5:3), shows how this actually played out in history. He explains that Esther made Haman happy at her party on purpose — to get him to start gloating. Once Haman started rejoicing over the upcoming destruction of the Jewish people, Hashem’s anger turned against Haman. Esther used this principle as a weapon.

WHAT KIND OF HAPPINESS IS ALLOWED?

So celebrating a little is fine — but what kind of celebrating, exactly?

The Maharsha in Megillah (28a) says the verse “do not rejoice” is talking about someone who is happy because he personally hates his enemy. That kind of joy — joy that comes from hate — is wrong.

Rabbeinu Yonah, in his commentary to Pirkei Avos (4:19), gives us the right kind of joy. He says it is permitted — maybe even required — to feel happy when evil is destroyed, if the happiness comes from Kavod Shamayim — from the honor of Hashem. If you are happy because justice was done and Hashem’s glory was upheld, that is a good and holy feeling.

The Alshich in his commentary to Tehillim (5:11) adds another angle. He says the verse “do not rejoice” only applies to a personal enemy — someone you happen to dislike. But when someone is deeply, fundamentally evil — an enemy of Hashem Himself — rejoicing at their downfall is actually the right thing to do. That is what the verse in chapter 11 is talking about.

THE MESHECH CHOCHMA AND THE GERRER REBBE DISAGREE

Not everyone agrees with those distinctions. The Meshech Chochma (Shmos 12:16) takes a simpler and stricter position. Good people, he says, simply do not celebrate the death of other human beings — period. It does not matter how evil the enemy was. It does not matter what your spiritual level is. It is just not something a person of good character does.

That is why, he explains, we celebrate our freedom on Pesach — not the punishment of Egypt. And on Chanukah, we celebrate the miracle of the oil lasting eight days — not the military defeat of the Greeks. The joy is always about what Hashem gave us, not about what happened to our enemies.

The Gerrer Rebbe, in a Torah thought from Sukkos 5658, made a similar point from a different angle. He noticed that the Torah uses the specific word “Simcha” — joy — when talking about Sukkos, but not when talking about Pesach. Why? Because the deaths of the Egyptians during Pesach make it inappropriate to use the full word of joy in connection with that holiday.

The Yalkut Shimoni (Mishlei 960) says this directly: we do not say full Hallel on Pesach — except for the first day — because of the principle of not rejoicing too much over the deaths of enemies. The same Midrash points out that Noach — Noah — refrained from marital intimacy for the entire duration of the flood, while the evildoers of his generation were being wiped out. He did this out of respect for the very same verse in Mishlei chapter 24.

WAS THIS STANDARD UNIVERSALLY KEPT?

It may be that this elevated standard was not always kept, even by some of the greatest people in Jewish history. The Mishna in Pirkei Avos (4:19) records that Shmuel HaKatan used to quote the verse from Mishlei about not rejoicing at the fall of an enemy. The Rambam and the Bartenura both point out that the Mishna singles Shmuel HaKatan out for this — which implies that this level of restraint was not the norm. If everyone did it, why would one person be singled out for it?

Even more striking: the Midrash Tehillim (7) raises the possibility that Dovid HaMelech himself — the father of Shlomo, the author of Tehillim, one of the greatest figures in all of Jewish history — may have made an error in this very area, when he composed a joyful song at the fall of Kush Ben Yemini. If Dovid HaMelech could stumble here, the rest of us need to be especially careful.

CONCLUSION

We do say Hallel on Chol HaMoed Pesach. But not the full Hallel. The truncation is not an accident of history — it is a moral statement, built into our davening, repeated every single year.

The words of Rabbeinu Yonah give us perhaps a clear path forward. If your joy at the downfall of evil comes from a genuine sense that Kavod Shamayim — the honor of Heaven — has been upheld and that justice has been done, then that joy is not only permitted but holy. But even then, it must be kept in check. Even then, something must be held back.

That is what the half Hallel teaches us every Chol HaMoed Pesach. Sing — but not everything. Rejoice — but not without limit. Remember that the ones who drowned in that sea were Hashem’s creations too.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

The United States is set to launch its most extensive series of attacks on Iran since the beginning of the current campaign, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced during a press briefing, attributing the move to direct orders from President Donald Trump.

“Per the president’s direction, today will be the largest volume of strikes since day one of this operation,” Hegseth said.

He made clear that the intensity of the operation is expected to grow even further in the immediate future.

“Tomorrow, even more than today. And then Iran has a choice. Choose wisely, because this president does not play around,” he added.

His comments point to a deliberate expansion of U.S. military action, as Washington increases pressure on Tehran following recent clashes across the region.

Hegseth also highlighted the recovery of a U.S. pilot whose aircraft had been downed deep inside Iranian territory, presenting it as a defining moment in the broader campaign.

According to Hegseth, the pilot managed to transmit a signal while evading capture. “The airman activated his transponder with the message ‘God is good’,” Hegseth said.

The service member was ultimately rescued by American forces after remaining hidden for several hours inside Iran.

Hegseth sharply criticized Iran’s military response to the incident. “Iran’s military is embarrassed and humiliated and they should be,” he said.

Russian intelligence has provided Iran with a detailed list of 55 critical energy infrastructure targets inside Israel, according to a source close to Ukrainian intelligence cited by The Jerusalem Post, pointing to deepening military and intelligence cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

The targeted sites are divided into three tiers based on strategic importance. The first category covers critical production facilities whose destruction would cripple Israel’s national energy system, with the Orot Rabin power station named as a primary target. The second tier encompasses major urban and industrial energy hubs concentrated in central Israel. The third covers regional substations and smaller power plants supporting industrial zones.

Russian intelligence reportedly assessed Israel as uniquely vulnerable due to what it characterized as the country’s status as an “energy island.” Unlike most European nations, Israel does not import electricity from neighboring countries, meaning its grid operates in near-total isolation. According to the findings, Russian intelligence told Iran that damaging even a handful of central components could trigger a total and prolonged energy collapse, producing mass blackouts and cascading technical failures that would be difficult to contain.

The report comes amid growing warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the expanding Russia-Iran axis. In an interview with the Post two weeks ago, Zelensky said battlefield knowledge Russia gained in Ukraine is being exported to the Middle East.

“The Russians also helped them, like the Iranians helped [Russia] at the beginning of the war when they gave them Shaheds,” Zelensky said. “They gained big knowledge on the battlefield and this impacting and will have an impact on other regions.”

Zelensky also alleged that Russia has begun producing Shahed-style drones on its own soil and supplying them to Iran, pointing to Russian components discovered in a drone recently downed in an unspecified Middle Eastern country. “We saw some components; they had Russian details. We know it because Iranians didn’t produce it,” he said.

Ukrainian officials assess that Moscow’s motive is twofold: to strengthen its most significant regional ally and to engineer a fresh crisis in the Middle East that diverts international attention and resources away from the war in Ukraine.

Russia’s ambassador to Israel, Anatoly Viktorov, pushed back on the allegations, saying Russian and Israeli officials have long maintained security contacts and that Russian political leadership has “repeatedly dissented” from accusations that Moscow is supplying intelligence data to Iran.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A highly specialized U.S. military aircraft known as a “doomsday plane” was seen flying repeated loops over a major Air Force installation in Nebraska on Monday, just hours before President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to accept his proposed agreement was set to run out.

The aircraft, a Boeing E-4B Nightwatch built to safeguard top government officials and maintain command operations during a nuclear conflict, was tracked flying above Offutt Air Force Base, which houses the headquarters of U.S. Strategic Command.

Flight tracking data showed the jet departing Offutt at 10:17 a.m. EST, circling the surrounding area at least six times before eventually returning to the base, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

Such flights often draw attention during periods of heightened geopolitical tension. A similar mission last year attracted notice shortly before the United States joined Israel in a 12-day campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Trump has set a Tuesday deadline for Iran to accept his terms, which include reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He has warned that failure to comply would result in U.S. strikes on critical infrastructure, including power stations and bridges.

“The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.

The United States maintains a fleet of four E-4B aircraft, which routinely conduct flights throughout the year to ensure constant operational readiness.

The Nightwatch aircraft functions as a mobile command post for the president, the secretary of defense, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, enabling uninterrupted leadership and communication during crises.

Equipped with multiple levels, the plane includes sleeping quarters with 18 bunks, as well as a briefing space, work areas, a conference room, and a command center, effectively serving as a fully operational “flying Pentagon” in emergency situations.

The aircraft has been specially reinforced to endure extreme threats, including nuclear detonations, electromagnetic pulses, cyberattacks, and other catastrophic scenarios.

Each E-4B can accommodate up to 112 personnel and is capable of traveling distances exceeding 7,000 miles without refueling.

It is also outfitted with advanced shielding and an extensive communications system, including dozens of satellite dishes and antennas housed within its radome, allowing it to maintain contact with virtually any point on the globe.

NEW YORK (AP) — JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned in his annual shareholder letter that a “resilient” U.S. economy could face renewed inflation pressures if the war in Iran disrupts global energy markets.

Dimon described inflation as the potential “skunk at the party” this year, cautioning that turmoil in oil and commodity markets could ripple through the economy, affecting everything from gasoline prices to manufacturing costs. He also warned that sustained inflation could force the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates higher for longer, posing risks to the broader economy and financial system.

“Given our complex global supply chains, countries are experiencing disruptions in shipbuilding, food and farming, among others,” Dimon wrote. “The outcome of current geopolitical events may very well be the defining factor in how the future global economic order unfolds — then again, it may not.”

Dimon has long used his annual letters to weigh in on major economic and policy issues. Past letters have focused on topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, political upheaval in the United States, the global financial crisis and trade tensions.

Despite the risks, Dimon struck a generally optimistic tone.

“Despite the unsettling landscape, the U.S. economy continues to be resilient, with consumers still earning and spending (though with some recent weakening) and businesses still healthy,” he wrote.

While acknowledging the geopolitical context of the conflict, Dimon pointed to broader risks tied to instability in the region.

“We should not turn a blind eye to the role the current regime in Iran has played in fostering terrorism and killing thousands of people, including Americans and many of its own citizens, over many years,” he wrote.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure into law Monday that gives him along with other Florida leaders the ability to label groups as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations and expel state university students who support them.

The law, criticized by free speech advocates, allows a top official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to designate a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organization, with the governor and three other members of the Florida Cabinet approving or rejecting the designation. Besides the governor, the Cabinet is made up of the state attorney general, the chief financial officer and the agriculture commissioner, all of whom are elected separately.

Once designated a terrorist organization, a group can be dissolved and it can no longer receive any state funding through school districts or state agencies. Universities also would have to report the status of expelled students attending on visas to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“So this will help the state of Florida protect you. It’ll help us protect your tax dollars,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Tampa. “It’ll help us protect things that should not be happening in the United States of America, but certainly shouldn’t be happening in the free state of Florida.”

DeSantis last December designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhoods as foreign terrorist organizations. A federal judge last month temporarily blocked the enforcement of DeSantis’ executive order.

PEN America, a free speech advocacy group, said the new law has vague language that could restrict education programs deemed to be “promoting” terrorism and that it could target student protesters who criticize Florida officials.

The new law “could chill education at every level,” said William Johnson, PEN America’s Florida director. “The implications are fraught.”

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The city of Minneapolis released a video Monday showing a chase and scuffle that ended in a nonfatal shooting in January and the suspensions of two federal officers involved in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

The video — from a city-owned security camera — captured part of the incident in which federal officers chased a Venezuelan man to his residence. Another Venezuelan man who lives there was shot during the confrontation. Federal authorities in February dropped all charges against the two immigrants and opened a criminal investigation into whether two immigration officers lied under oath about what had happened.

The city released the video after the New York Times, which obtained a copy earlier, reported that the footage raised questions about why it took weeks for the federal government’s case against the two men to collapse. The Times reported that federal investigators had access to the video within hours of the Jan. 14 shooting, but did not watch it until nearly three weeks after they had charged the two men.

“The video makes it crystal clear that, just like in other situations during Operation Metro Surge, the federal government’s account of what happened simply does not match the facts,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement.

Federal authorities initially accused Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis of beating an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel during the incident. The officer fired a single shot from his handgun, striking Sosa-Celis in his right thigh. Protesters quickly flocked to the scene and clashed with other officers, who were wearing gas masks and helmets.

The city provided no narrative on what the video depicts except to say that it was “related” to the shooting. A statement added, “The City has no additional information and will not be making further comments at this time.”

The video, shot from a distance in the dark, appears to show a person standing with a snow shovel outside the house, near the street, then retreating toward the house and tossing the shovel into the yard. This happens as a person being chased by another person runs up from the street, falls on the sidewalk, gets up, and keeps heading toward the house.

The three appear to scuffle near the front steps for about 10 seconds. The exact moment when Sosa-Celis is shot isn’t clear. A car with flashing lights pulls up, and another person walks up.

The camera actively panned over to view the street where the incident happened before any vehicles arrived, indicating that someone may have been manually controlling it in real time.

The cases against Aljorna and Sosa-Celis were dropped after a highly unusual motion from the chief federal prosecutor for Minnesota, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, who said “newly discovered evidence” was “materially inconsistent with the allegations” that were made in the criminal complaint and with evidence presented at a hearing at their preliminary hearing. He said dismissal with prejudice, which meant the charges couldn’t be refiled, “would serve the interests of justice.”

Rosen and other federal prosecutors involved in the case, as well as the Department of Justice, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on Monday.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not mention the video in a statement, but reaffirmed its earlier statement that two officers involved appeared to have given untruthful testimony under oath, and that they were immediately placed on administrative leave pending completion of an internal investigation. Their names were not made public.

“Lying under oath is a serious federal offense. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is actively investigating these false statements,” the ICE statement said. “Upon conclusion of the investigation, the officers may face termination of employment, as well as potential criminal prosecution.”

The statement did not elaborate on the status of their case.

Aljorna’s attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Sosa-Celis’ attorney, Robin Wolpert, said, “The video is evidence in ongoing state and federal investigations so I can’t comment.”

Both men are free while they seek legal status. They were ordered released even before the criminal charges were dropped, but ICE took them back into custody for alleged immigration violations before releasing them, again under court order.

State and county prosecutors have been frustrated by the refusal of federal authorities to share information on the incident, as well as the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers. They sued the Trump administratio n late last month for access to evidence they say they need to independently investigate the three shootings.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the video, citing the active investigation.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Federal Reserve official said Monday that an interest rate hike could be appropriate if inflation remains persistently above the central bank’s 2% target, the latest sign that some policymakers are moving away from a bias toward reducing borrowing costs.

Beth Hammack, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, said in an interview with The Associated Press that her general preference is for the Fed keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged “for quite some time.”

And she also said the Fed might have to cut its rate if higher gas prices caused the economy to slow and unemployment to rise. But if inflation remained elevated, a rate hike could be needed, she said.

“I can foresee scenarios where we would need to reduce rates … if the labor market deteriorates significantly,” Hammack said. “Or I could see where we might need to raise rates if inflation stays persistently above our target.”

Hammack’s comments suggest a growing concern among at least some policymakers that inflation, which was elevated before the Iran war, may require rate hikes to tame further. Rate increases by the Fed would be a sharp shift from late last year, when the central bank cut its key rate three times. Rate hikes could lift borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.

Other Fed officials have recently opened the door to rate hikes, including Austan Goolsbee, president of the Chicago Fed. And minutes of the Fed’s meeting in late January said that several of the 19 officials on the rate-setting committee supported altering the post-meeting statement to reflect the possibility of “upward adjustments” to rates.

A rate hike would almost certainly prompt President Donald Trump to lash out at the Fed, which he has harshly criticized for not cutting rates further. He has called for the central bank’s key rate to be lowered to 1%, down from its current level of about 3.6%.

The government will update two inflation measures this week, though only one will likely reflect the impact of the jump in gas prices since the Iran war began Feb. 28. Gas prices averaged $4.12 a gallon nationwide Monday, according to AAA, up 80 cents from a month earlier.

On Friday, the government will issue the March inflation report, providing a first read on the impact of higher gas and energy prices. Economists forecast that annual inflation will worsen significantly, jumping to 3.1% from 2.4% in February, according to a survey by data provider FactSet. On a monthly basis, they expect consumer prices rose 0.8% in March from February, which would be the biggest increase in almost four years.

The Commerce Department will report the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge for February on Thursday, though that won’t incorporate any impact from the Iran conflict.

Hammack said that the Cleveland Fed’s own estimates show inflation could reach 3.5% in April, which would be the highest since 2024. Inflation spiked to 9.1% in June 2022 before slowly declining.

“Inflation has been running above our target for more than five years now,” Hammack said, and a further increase would mean it is “moving in the wrong direction, away from our 2% objective.”

The Federal Reserve is required by Congress to seek low inflation and maximum employment, and higher gas prices could threaten both those mandates, creating a challenging situation for Fed officials.

Consumers may react to higher gas prices by cutting back on their spending elsewhere in the economy, Hammack said, which could lead to weaker growth and layoffs, which the Fed would need to respond to with rate cuts.

How the war impacts the economy will depend on how long it lasts and how high it lifts gas prices and other costs, Hammack said. Now in its sixth week, the conflict has already lasted longer than she expected when the Fed last met March 17-18, Hammack said.

Hammack said rising gas prices stemming from the Iran war are “the No. 1 thing” she hears about from people in her district, which covers Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

“We know that causes a lot of pain personally, as it eats up a bigger and bigger share of people’s paychecks. So it’s important for us to stay focused on it,” she added.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Police Department has placed officers on leave after reports of an April Fools’ Day prank that sent squad cars in pursuit of a baby being thrown out of a car before the call was revealed as a hoax.

Oklahoma City Police Capt. Valerie Littlejohn confirmed Monday that an internal investigation was ongoing but would not say how many officers were placed on administrative leave or provide details of the accusations.

“We are aware of a reported pursuit involving some of our officers that included serious claims, which has since been determined to be false,” Littlejohn said in a statement. “We take this situation seriously and are committed to ensuring a thorough review is conducted.”

The investigation followed published police radio audio from the night of April 1, reported by Oklahoma City television station KFOR and other stations, in which a dispatcher says that the “city just advised that the suspect threw a baby out the window.”

“The police officer that’s in pursuit does not have a radio. He’s just messaging his location,” the dispatcher says.

After a number of officers responded to the report, a dispatcher can later be heard saying: “It was an April Fools’ prank.”

Another dispatcher says: “Not funny.”

A message left Monday with the president of Oklahoma City police union president seeking comment on the incident was not immediately returned.

Oklahoma law makes it misdemeanor crime to report “knowingly false information which could result in the dispatch of emergency services from any public agency.” Punishment is a fine of up to $500 and an assessment for any costs associated with dispatching emergency personnel.

Following the widely felt shortage of walnut oil, chareidi communities in Eretz Yisroel are now facing a significant lack of matzah in supermarkets, with empty shelves reported just one day before Shevi’i Shel Pesach. Consumers say the shortage has been driven by unusually large-scale hosting this year, along with reports of massive army purchases.

Pesach 5786 will likely be remembered not only for the scarcity of walnut oil in chareidi neighborhoods—where many rely exclusively on it despite its higher cost compared to canola oil—but now also for a growing shortage of matzah.

It has emerged that part of the walnut oil shortage stemmed from a decision by the company Taaman to limit production this year, while other suppliers experienced delays at ports due to the ongoing war. Several major retailers informed customers that they would only be able to fulfill part of their orders, and in practice, shortages were recorded across many chareidi grocery chains.

In addition to the oil issue, over the past two days, consumers began reporting that matzah supplies were running out. Families who hosted more guests than usual this year, along with tens of thousands who remained home instead of traveling, found themselves unexpectedly short on matzah. Attempts to purchase more were often unsuccessful, as reports from stores and local groceries confirmed that supplies had been depleted.

Online groups in chareidi cities have been buzzing with requests and offers related to matzah throughout the Yom Tov. Some sources said that the army, due to a large-scale reserve mobilization, collected matzah from food chains ahead of the chag, an action they claim contributed to the widespread shortage seen across the country.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu conveyed serious concern during a phone call with President Donald Trump regarding the possibility of a ceasefire arrangement with Iran, according to a report by Channel 12 News. He warned that such a move could carry significant dangers when dealing with the Iranian regime.

According to the report, Netanyahu used the conversation to outline the potential risks of entering into any agreement with Tehran, emphasizing the implications of easing pressure on the ayatollah leadership.

The discussion, which was described as “warm and positive,” began with Netanyahu offering congratulations to Trump for what he called a heroic mission that successfully rescued an American F-15 crew member from Iranian territory.

During their exchange, Trump told Netanyahu that a ceasefire could be implemented if Iran agrees to meet American conditions. At the same time, he made clear that there would be no compromise on key demands: Iran must hand over all enriched uranium currently in its possession and would be permanently prohibited from resuming enrichment activities.

Separately, Trump addressed the situation publicly on Monday after Iran rejected his proposal for a temporary ceasefire.

In remarks to the press, Trump sharply intensified his rhetoric, warning, “The entire country [of Iran] can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night.” He reiterated the administration’s central objective that Iran must be not allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.

Israel is preparing to reopen schools and preschools on Sunday with a phased system of small groups, after the Home Front Command advised that learning can resume across the country based on the regional threat levels.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu accepted the Education Ministry’s proposal for a gradual return using capsule groupings, rejecting an alternative plan by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that would have placed teachers on leave and required them to make up the days later in the summer.

The Education Ministry stated: “The outline of the Minister of Education allows for a gradual return of the education system to in-person activity after the Passover holiday, while maintaining student safety and strengthening the educational and emotional response. Implementation of the plan for this coming Sunday will be subject to a situational assessment by the Home Front Command to be held at the conclusion of the holiday.”

At a meeting held Monday under Netanyahu’s leadership, officials approved the phased return beginning Sunday, pending final authorization from the Home Front Command. In the meantime, existing safety restrictions remain in place until 2:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Oren Ozen, chairman of the National Parents Leadership Council, expressed support for the move, saying: “We believe that returning children to educational frameworks, where it can be done safely, is a correct and necessary step. The education system is a central anchor for both children and parents, and returning to it provides stability, routine, and emotional support during a complex period. At the same time, it is important to maintain flexibility and understand that there are families who are still concerned, and therefore tailored solutions must also be allowed for them.”

During a meeting earlier in the day between parent representatives and education officials, it was emphasized that wherever conditions allow, schools and kindergartens should reopen fully without splitting students into smaller groups, provided there is proper access to protected areas within required timeframes.

Parents also called for accommodations for families choosing to keep children at home, including protections against absences, continued academic and emotional support, and financial safeguards for parents, recognizing that many are still dealing with ongoing concerns.

According to the Home Front Command, reopening will be based on threat levels in each region. In areas marked orange on the national map—including cities such as Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Givatayim, Cholon, Bat Yam, Rishon Letzion, Be’er Sheva, Dimona, Arad, and northern communities—classes will be permitted only within protected spaces. In areas marked yellow, studies may take place near protected spaces.

The four murdered victims of an Iranian ballistic missile that struck an apartment building in the northern Israeli city of Haifa on Sunday have been identified as all being members of one family.

The victims were identified as Vladimir Gershovitz, 73 hy”d, his wife Lena Ostrovsky Gershovitz hy”d, 68, their son Dimitri “Dima” Gershovitz hy”d, 42, and Dima’s wife Lucille-Jane Gershovitz, 29.

Dima and Lucille-Jane had driven up from their home in Herzliya that same day to escort Vladimir home after an extended hospital stay, arriving just hours before the missile struck.

“Dima managed to bring Vladimir back from the hospital, and, unfortunately, the missile hit the residence, killing the four of them,” a family friend recounted. “All the floors collapsed on the first floor where they lived.”

The family did not have time to reach the building’s shelter before the strike. The warhead did not detonate on impact, but the kinetic force of the missile caused multiple floors to collapse, burying all four beneath the rubble. An Israeli Air Force investigation found the missile was not intercepted because it broke apart mid-flight.

Four others in the building were wounded, including an 82-year-old man left in serious condition who underwent surgery and remained sedated and ventilated as of Monday. A 10-month-old baby sustained a head injury and was listed in light condition.

President Isaac Herzog offered condolences on X, calling the Gershovitz’s “a wonderful family that was wiped out in an instant by a criminal Iranian missile.” Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who said he grew up minutes from the Gershovitz home, wrote: “It’s hard to grasp how the complete lives of four people were simply obliterated in an instant.”

The strike brings to 20 the number of Israeli civilians and foreign nationals killed in Iranian ballistic missile attacks since the war began February 28. More than 500 ballistic missiles have been launched from Iran at Israel since the start of the conflict.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump revealed Monday that the United States had attempted to arm Iranian anti-regime protesters, but that the weapons were diverted before reaching their intended recipients.

“We sent guns, a lot of guns, they were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs,” Trump told reporters at a White House Easter event. “You know what happened? The people that they sent them to kept them.”

“They said, ‘What a beautiful gun. I think I’ll keep it,'” Trump claimed. “So I’m very upset with a certain group of people, and they’re going to pay a big price for that.”

Trump did not name the group in his Monday remarks, but on Sunday he had told a Fox News reporter that he believed Kurdish intermediaries were responsible. “We sent guns to the protesters, a lot of them… and I think the Kurds took the guns,” he said.

He continued his criticism of the Kurds later Monday at a White House press conference, saying he would prefer they stay out of the war entirely. “I’d rather have them stay away because I think they bring with them some problems and some difficulty,” he said. “They bring death… to themselves.”

The remarks shed new light on a covert effort to support the wave of anti-government protests that swept Iran in January. At the time, Trump had publicly vowed that “help was on the way” and urged Iranians to take to the streets and seize government institutions. After the Iranian regime launched a violent crackdown — reportedly killing tens of thousands — Trump pulled back from that posture and began military operations against Iran weeks later alongside Israel.

A Channel 12 investigative report published last week added further context, revealing that the U.S. and Israel had jointly planned for Kurdish militia forces to invade Iran at the outset of the war, hoping to trigger a broader rebellion that could topple the Islamic Republic. The plan was ultimately shelved due to media leaks, pressure from regional allies, and hesitation among the Kurds themselves.

Since the war began, both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have visibly moderated their regime-change rhetoric. Netanyahu has said several times in recent weeks that he cannot be certain the Iranian public will rise up, a notable shift from earlier proclamations of a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Iranians to overthrow their government.
Trump has since urged Iranians to wait until after the bombing campaign subsides before taking to the streets.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Satellite company Planet Labs announced that it will stop providing imagery of Iran and surrounding conflict zones for an indefinite period, following a request from the U.S. government.

The California-based firm informed customers by email that Washington had asked all commercial satellite providers to suspend distribution of images from the region without a set end date.

The move builds on a restriction introduced last month, when Planet Labs delayed releasing Middle East imagery by 14 days, citing concerns that such data could be exploited by hostile actors targeting the United States and its allies.

According to the company, the updated policy will apply retroactively to imagery captured as far back as March 9 and is expected to remain in place for the duration of the ongoing conflict.

The current war began on February 28, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran. The situation quickly escalated as Tehran retaliated with attacks against Israel and American military installations in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Satellite data plays a critical role in modern warfare, supporting functions such as identifying targets, guiding weapons systems, tracking missile activity, and enabling communications. Analysts have also noted that Iran may be obtaining commercially available imagery, including through intermediaries aligned with U.S. adversaries. At the same time, such imagery is widely used by journalists and researchers to monitor areas that are otherwise difficult to access.

Planet Labs, which operates one of the world’s largest constellations of Earth-observing satellites and supplies frequent updates to governments, corporations, and media outlets, declined to provide additional comment beyond its customer notice.

The Pentagon said it does not comment on intelligence-related matters.

In its communication, Planet Labs stated that it will transition to a “managed distribution of images” deemed safe for release. Under this framework, imagery may be shared selectively on a case-by-case basis when it meets urgent operational needs or serves the public interest.

“These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are doing all we can to balance the needs of all our stakeholders,” the firm said.

Meanwhile, another commercial imagery provider, Vantor, formerly known as Maxar Technologies, told Reuters it had not received a similar request from the U.S. government. The company noted that it already maintains the authority to “implement enhanced access controls during times of geopolitical conflict” and has applied such measures in parts of the Middle East.

A spokesperson for Vantor explained that these restrictions may include limiting who can request new images or purchase existing ones from areas where U.S. forces and their allies are “actively operating,” as well as locations “actively targeted by adversaries.”

President Donald Trump said today that he told Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu that Israel would not have survived had the United States remained in the 2015 nuclear agreement brokered under President Barack Obama.

Speaking at the White House, Trump recounted his conversation with Netanyahu..

“I told this to Bibi Netanyahu yesterday,” he says at the White House.

Trump again expressed confusion over Jewish voting patterns in the United States, criticizing those who support Democratic candidates.

“How Israel can vote for a Democrat — if you’re Jewish in New York City or any place else in this country, how you can vote for a Democrat is unbelievable because (Obama) chose Iran,” Trump says.

As tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz intensify, Iranian diplomatic outposts are responding to President Donald Trump’s latest military warnings with a wave of sarcasm and online mockery, openly ridiculing his threats. The immediate catalyst was Trump’s ultimatum demanding that Iran reopen the strategic waterway by “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time,” or risk strikes targeting key infrastructure such as power stations and bridges.

Iran’s embassy in Zimbabwe seized on the deadline itself, posting a sarcastic reply: “8 P.M. is not that good. Could you change it to between 1 and 2 P.M., or if possible, 1 and 2 A.M.? Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I.E.Z.”

The message was clearly crafted to imitate Trump’s recognizable communication style while downplaying the gravity of his warning.

Meanwhile, Iran’s embassy in India issued a more blunt and personal response to Trump’s tone, writing: “Swearing and throwing insults are how sore loser brats behave. Get a grip on yourself, old man!”

These reactions followed Trump’s own sharply worded warning that Tuesday would be “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day” in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, a statement interpreted as a signal of potential strikes on civilian infrastructure.

The exchanges underscore Iran’s growing reliance on humor, parody, and ridicule as part of its broader messaging strategy. Iranian diplomatic missions across multiple regions, including South Africa and parts of Europe, have increasingly turned to memes, staged exchanges, and sarcastic commentary in an effort to counter American narratives and influence international opinion.

This online campaign is unfolding in parallel with a worsening military standoff. The Strait of Hormuz — a vital corridor for global energy supplies, carrying about 20 percent of the world’s oil — has faced major disruptions since the conflict erupted, raising the stakes surrounding both Trump’s ultimatum and Iran’s defiant response.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized NATO and several key U.S. allies, accusing them of failing to support American military efforts in the ongoing conflict with Iran, while highlighting assistance from a handful of Middle Eastern partners.

Speaking publicly, Trump took aim at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, questioning its effectiveness and describing it as a “paper tiger,” in a pointed rebuke of the 32-member alliance.

He expanded his criticism to include several countries in Asia, arguing that nations benefiting from U.S. military protection did not reciprocate during the conflict.

“We’ve got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea,” Trump said. “We have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un.”

Trump expressed frustration that these allies did not contribute to the U.S. war effort. “Japan didn’t help us or Australia didn’t help us,” he added. “South Korea didn’t help us. And then you get to NATO. NATO didn’t help us. There were some countries that did.”

In contrast, Trump pointed to support from several Gulf nations, naming Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as countries that assisted the United States during the conflict.