American-Israeli Edan Alexander, the last living U.S. hostage freed from Hamas captivity in May, met with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House on Thursday. Alexander, 21, who was abducted from the Kissufim military base on October 7, 2023, during Hamas’ attack on Israel, thanked Trump for his efforts in securing his release, which he described as life-saving. “I came to thank the person who is responsible for saving my life,” Alexander told reporters after the meeting. During their 30-minute conversation, Alexander shared details of his captivity and expressed concern for the roughly 50 hostages still held in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is accelerating efforts to pass the contentious chareidi draft law, pressing ahead despite growing backlash from reservist groups, public criticism, and mounting opposition within the security establishment.

The Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the deportation of several immigrants who were put on a flight in May bound for South Sudan, a war-ravaged country where they have no ties. The decision comes after the court’s conservative majority found that immigration officials can quickly deport people to third countries. The majority halted an order that had allowed immigrants to challenge any removals to countries outside their homeland where they could be in danger. The court’s latest decision makes clear that the South Sudan flight can complete the trip, weeks after it was detoured to a naval base in Djibouti. There, the migrants who had previously been convicted of serious crimes were held in a converted shipping container.

It’s wedding season once again. Baruch Hashem, simchos abound, and nearly every night brings another opportunity to be mesameiach a chosson and kallah. And yet, if we’re being honest, the experience often comes with a sense of tension and frustration. We leave our homes early, brave traffic, search for parking, and make our way into yet another hall—only to find ourselves… waiting. Waiting through the extended picture session. Waiting for the first dance to begin. Waiting between courses. Waiting as the band sets up, resets, and pauses again. Hours pass, and while we’re happy to take part in someone else’s simchah, there’s a gnawing feeling that our evening could have been more productive—more uplifting. We want to give, but not at the expense of our own spiritual rhythm.

President Donald Trump complained Thursday that the United States provided too many weapons to Ukraine under the previous administration, his first public comments on the pause in some shipments as Russia escalates its latest offensive. Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One for a flight to Iowa, Trump said former President Joe Biden “emptied out our whole country giving them weapons, and we have to make sure that we have enough for ourselves.” Air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons are among those being withheld from Ukraine. The country suffered a new barrage overnight, with warnings of ballistic missiles followed by explosions in Kyiv. The sound of machine gun fire and drone engines could be heard across the capital.

Koh

xfcbvdsdfdf

In a high-level consultation held Thursday morning, Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni met with Rashbi Rosh Yeshivah Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman at the latter’s home on Rechov Admor MiGur in Bnei Brak. The two discussed pressing national issues, including the war in Gaza, efforts to secure the release of hostages, and the crisis surrounding the draft law.

President Trump on the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill: “The biggest bill of its kind ever signed — and it’s going to make this country into a rocket ship. It’s going to be really great.”

POTUS: “I think when you go over the bill, it was very easy to get them to a ‘Yes.’ … Biggest tax cut in history, great for security, great on the southern border … we covered just about everything. Again, it’s the biggest bill ever signed of its kind.”

Trump on his call with Putin: “We also talked about the war with Ukraine, and I’m not happy about that … I didn’t make any progress with him today at all.”

President Trump on tomorrow’s One Big Beautiful Bill signing: “We’re signing at about 5:00p — and at about 5:00p, we’re going to have B-2s and F-22s and F-35s flying right over the White House … so we’ll be signing with those beautiful planes flying right over our heads.”

President Trump celebrates the passage of his landmark “big, beautiful bill” in the House of Representatives

SEE IT: Dramatic video shows the moment an Amazon truck driver in Iowa lost control and swerved off the road into some trees. While there was some property damage, nobody was hurt in the accident, police said.

CATSKILLS: Bad weather toppled a large tree onto a bungalow on Dushinsky Lane in Monticello, causing significant damage.

Starting this Shabbos, a new guideline will go into effect at the main Belzer beis medrash in Yerushalayim, restricting the number of pekelach (candy bags) thrown during a chassan’s aliyah l’Torah. The regulation aims to minimize noise and disorder during krias haTorah in the massive bais medrash, which often hosts multiple aufrufs each week.

“All the talk about me in Iran doesn’t excite me; it’s already ‘passé,'” is how Kamal Penhasi, the IDF spokesperson in Farsi, describes his attitude to the reactions he’s been receiving since the outbreak of the war, and especially in recent days. It should be noted that the IDF Farsi account, which was launched several years ago, is separate from the Mossad Farsi account that was recently launched and is also experiencing great popularity. On Thursday, the Mossad wrote, “We expected it, but not to this extent! Hundreds of active IRGC soldiers and officers, fed up with this regime, are reaching out to us. We promise to contact you, please be patient.” “I dream of the day I’ll walk the streets of Tehran, and it will happen,” Penhasi said in an interview with the IDF website.

Rav Emanuel HaLevi Toporowitz z”l has passed away at the age of 79. He was known throughout the Torah world as a staunch supporter of limud haTorah and a generous baal tzedakah.
A founder and pillar of Yeshivas Nachlas HaLevi’im in Haifa, he carried the financial burden of the institution on his shoulders for decades out of deep love for Torah. He lived modestly, dedicating the vast majority of his wealth to acts of kindness and charity.

The decision by the United States to pause some weapons shipments to Ukraine has come at a tough time for Kyiv: Russia’s bigger army is making a concerted push on parts of the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line and is intensifying long-range drone and missile attacks that increasingly hammer civilians in Ukrainian cities. Washington has been Ukraine’s biggest military backer since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022. But the Trump administration has been disengaging from the war, and no end to the fighting is in sight, despite recent direct peace talks. Here’s a look at Ukraine’s options following the U.S. pause of some arms deliveries: Specific weapons needed from U.S.

Pages