Israel’s recent war with Iran caused an unprecedented financial toll in the Jewish state, with an estimated $1.3 billion of damages to property. Some 30,000 homes were destroyed or damaged by Iranian missiles during the recent war, and over 15,000 Israelis are homeless. Tax Authority Director Shai Aharonovich warned at a press conference last week of “challenges of a magnitude we’ve never faced in the history of Israel.” Amir Dahan, the Tax Authority’s head of compensation, said that “there has never before been this level of damage” sustained during a war. “We’re dealing with complex, large-scale damage,” Dahan said. “Normally, we see damage to a single wing or room, and demolition is rare.

How can one choose his shirt from a pile of different types of clothing and not transgress borer on Shabbos? What does one do if there is a power outage on Shabbos? Can someone put food in the oven on Shabbos? These and numerous other questions are impossible to answer unless one has a thorough knowledge of the laws of Shabbos.  Shabbos comes about once a week, so if a person is not well-versed in its intricacies, then it is inevitable that transgressions will take place.  It is wonderful to read one of the many books that give basic laws, but to really understand the halachos and know how to apply them, it is essential to learn Hilchos Shabbos with the background discussion of the Gemara and commentators.   What is the challenge we face?

On Monday afternoon, the president of the United States was just another person complaining online about his service provider. Donald Trump wrote in a pair of posts on Truth Social that he was trying to hold a conference call with faith leaders from all over the country but was unable to start the call because of technical difficulties. “AT&T is totally unable to make their equipment work properly,” the Republican president said in a post. “This is the second time it’s happened. If the Boss of AT&T, whoever that may be, could get involved — It would be good.

The White House confirmed on Monday that US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has continued both direct and indirect communications with Iranian officials, as efforts persist to address regional tensions and advance negotiations. Speaking to reporters, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt provided the update after President Donald Trump indicated last week that a meeting between US and Iranian representatives would take place in the coming days. Leavitt did not elaborate on the timing or format of any such meeting but reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to maintaining dialogue. On the status of negotiations to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, Leavitt declined to offer further details.

Diplomatic tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan are growing after Iranian officials accused Baku of allowing Israeli fighter jets to use its airspace to carry out strikes deep inside Iranian territory during Operation Rising Lion. Tehran has formally demanded an investigation into alleged Azerbaijani complicity in the air raids. Iranian sources claim Israeli jets transited Azerbaijani airspace, particularly over the Caspian Sea, to conduct precision-guided bombings, attacks which Iranian officials believe were supported by close military and economic coordination between Baku and Jerusalem.

Six people were killed when a small plane crashed minutes after taking off from an Ohio airport, officials said. The twin-engine Cessna 441 turboprop crashed near Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport on Sunday morning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. There were no survivors in the crash, Western Reserve Port Authority Executive Director Anthony Trevena said at a news conference. The agency owns the airport. Agency records show the plane was registered to Meander Air LLC of Warren, Ohio. Trumbull County Coroner Lawrence D’Amico on Monday identified the victims as the pilot, Joseph Maxin, 63; co-pilot Timothy Blake, 55; and passengers Veronica Weller, 68; her husband, James Weller, 67; their son, John Weller, 36, and his wife, Maria Weller, 34.

Former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak is expected to meet with Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog tomorrow evening to discuss possible ways of bringing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s long-running criminal trial to a close, Channel 12 reported Monday. Barak, who has publicly supported ending the proceedings — now in their sixth year — under certain conditions, is reportedly prepared to advise Herzog against granting Netanyahu a presidential pardon outright. According to the report, Barak will argue that if such a pardon were considered, it should be conditioned on Netanyahu stepping down from public office. Barak is also expected to tell Herzog that any plea bargain allowing Netanyahu to remain in office while terminating the trial would be unacceptable.

Elon Musk delivered a new, blistering rebuke Monday of President Donald Trump’s signature spending bill, as the Senate raced through a marathon amendment session in hopes of getting the measure to Trump’s desk by the July 4 deadline. Musk, once a close White House ally and a power player at the Department of Government Efficiency, took a flamethrower to Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” slamming it as a historic betrayal of taxpayers. “It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS, that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns.

Fallsburg Police, together with Shomrim, are investigating a string of antisemitic incidents after eggs were thrown at visibly Jewish individuals on Sunday in South Fallsburg and Woodbourne. Among those targeted was the Nikolsburg Rebbe, who was struck by eggs in front of his shul, along with other Jewish people along Route 42. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity by calling 911. The investigation remains ongoing. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

I write to you with great admiration and respect, aware of the many ways in which you have supported and sustained our kehilla with generosity, leadership, and vision. Your dedication to Klal Yisroel — in Torah, chesed, and communal growth — has built institutions, supported families, and shaped the future of generations. Recently, a remarkable initiative was launched in Lakewood: two new wedding halls, Ateres Blima and Ateres Esther, were established to directly address the crushing financial burden so many families face when marrying off children. These halls offer an elegant, all-inclusive simcha package — hall, catering, music, photography, flowers, and more — for just $13,000.