Whether the threat was abusive Hamas guards, hunger, illness or Israeli strikes, there were moments during Tal Shoham’s 505 days of captivity in Gaza when he didn’t think he’d be alive the next morning. There were “many times that I separated from life and … tried to accept death,” the 40-year-old Israeli, who also holds Austrian citizenship, told The Associated Press. “There are so many ways to die there.” Shoham was one of dozens of hostages released from Gaza in February as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel that has since been broken. His wife, two children and three other family members were also kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, and were freed a month later. Shoham said he spent half his captivity in apartments and the rest in underground tunnels.

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Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services reported on Thursday morning that their forces have gained control of the massive fire that has been raging since Wednesday morning in the forest areas near Beit Shemesh, in the Jerusalem hills. Over a hundred firefighting teams, aided by aircraft,  are still working to extinguish five remaining fires. However, all residents of three yishuvim near Beit Shemesh who were evacuated on Wednesday have been allowed to return to their homes and the roads in the area were reopened to traffic. “The incident is under control,”  Fire Commissioner Eyal Caspi announced: “I toured the area and was in all areas.

New Haven, CT – Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir faced a hostile reception during a visit to Yale University on Wednesday, when anti-Israel protesters threw water bottles and chanted slogans as he briefly exited a building, according to footage and statements from Ben-Gvir’s office. The incident occurred during the minister’s trip to the United States, where he was engaging in diplomatic and public engagements. Video evidence shows a group of approximately 200 protesters, some waving Palestinian flags, gathered outside the building where Ben-Gvir was located.

On the occasion of Yom Hashoah, President Donald Trump issued a powerful proclamation paying homage to the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirming America’s commitment to fighting antisemitism in all its forms.
“We honor the blessed memories of the six million Jewish men, women, and children who were viciously slaughtered by the genocidal Nazi regime and their collaborators,” Trump declared, opening with a solemn tribute to those murdered by the Nazis.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary o

We’ll always have Kikar Hashabbos but the city’s grown There’s a new iconic intersection in Yerushalayim. It’s the vibrant crossroads of Yirmiyahu and Shamgar, where the pulse of the modern city beats strongest. Here Yerushalayim’s past meets its future. Just off this famous corner, Y38, a sophisticated residential building rises.  Designed by the renowned Feigin Architects, whose portfolio includes prestigious projects like the Waldorf Astoria, Y38 challenges conventional Jerusalem architecture while paying homage to the city’s timeless character. The striking 40-unit boutique building features a distinctive façade that harmoniously blends contemporary design with Jerusalem stone, creating an immediate visual impact.

In a powerful and emotionally charged address delivered on Chol Hamoed, the Rebbe of Shevet Levi issued a stark warning to parents, urging vigilance in guiding their children to proper chassan and kallah instructors before marriage.
The Rebbe’s remarks came during a special derashah to parents and yungeleit, delivered on the day following the tenth yahrtzeit of his grandfather, Rav Shmuel Wosner zt”l, author of Shevet Halevi.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, two outspoken critics of wealth inequality, were caught on camera stepping off a private jet while traveling for a campaign tour targeting America’s affluent elite.
Footage from Fox News shows the pair leaving a Bombardier Challenger 604 — a high-end jet valued between $5 million and $7 million, with a charter rate of around $15,000 per hour. Both politicians have been vocal opponents of private aviation and the wealthy individuals who use it.