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Matis Glen

Zev Smoke

Shimon G.

Eli W.

Y Moller

Sol Katz


<p>Twenty weeks after Rabbi Tzvi Kogan HY&#8221;D was brutally murdered by terrorists in the United Arab Emirates, his widow, Rivky Kogan, gave birth today to a healthy baby boy.</p>



<p>Rabbi Tzvi Kogan served as a Chabad Shliach in the UAE. He was kidnapped and murdered by a terrorist cell when he was taken from a grocery store he managed in Dubai and murdered on the road leading to Oman.</p>



<p>His evil killers were captured while fleeing the UAE. During interrogation, they confessed that they had intended to abduct Rabbi Kogan to Iran, but the plan failed, leading to his murder and their escape attempt.</p>



<p>In recent weeks, the murderers were sentenced to death and executed for the crime of murder—the gravest offense in the United Arab Emirates.</p>


Family Finds Healing: A Son is Born to the Widow of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, HY”D, Who Was Murdered in the UAE


<p>Israel had intentions to launch a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities as soon as next month, but U.S. President Donald Trump halted the move, according to a Wednesday report from the New York Times.</p>



<p>News of the impending strike plans was reported first by Belaaz last month. Israel already held several drills planning for the strike.</p>



<p>The Times&#8217; report states that Trump favors diplomatic negotiations that could lead to a nuclear agreement with Iran over engaging in military conflict; a policy that Trump has consistently expressed in recent months, even as he reinstated &#8220;maximum pressure&#8221; sanctions on Iran and warned of dire consequences if a deal is not reached with the terror-sponsoring Islamic regime.</p>



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<p>The proposed timing of an attack, the report emphasized, was chosen because Iran is currently vulnerable both militarily and economically.</p>



<p>Within the U.S. administration, a contentious debate arose as to whether or not Washington should back Israel&#8217;s plan Some officials supported a strike, arguing it could impede Iran’s nuclear ambitions. But the prevailing view was that diplomatic engagement should be prioritized, particularly as Iran is expressing interest in negotiating with the U.S., albeit indirectly.</p>



<p>Despite preparations, Israel’s operational plans reportedly rely heavily on American support; not just in case of Iranian retaliation, but also during the attack itself.</p>



<p>Earlier this month, according to the Times&#8217; report, Trump officially informed Israel that the U.S. would not back a military strike against Iran. He also reportedly shared this stance directly with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington.</p>


REPORT: Trump Holds Israel Back From Planned Strike on Iran, Opts for Diplomacy


<p>After 558 days in Hamas captivity, a sign of life emerges through the first recorded footage of Hostage Rom Breslavski: The Islamic Jihad terror organization released today a video of the hostage, who saved many people at the Nova music festival on October 7. A security discussion on the hostage issue is scheduled to take place this evening via phone, according to sources in the Prime Minister’s Office.</p>



<p>Rom’s family approved the publication of a short excerpt from the full video, in which he is heard crying out: “All day I just itch. All day I’m in pain. I don’t know what this illness is. Enough, enough. Please, Mr. Prime Minister. Please get me out of here. Trump—where are you? Where are your promises? Didn’t you say you’d free everyone in a deal?”</p>



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<p>Rom, 21, a resident of Jerusalem, was kidnaped from the Nova festival, where he worked as a security guard. After his abduction, his family received numerous testimonies about his bravery on October 7, when he helped people escape from the terrorists. His brother Amit posted several images of Rom from the newly released footage on Instagram.</p>



<p>“My son is crying out from the ground while people are barbecuing at the beach, and no one cares,” his mother said after the video was released. “They don’t understand how precious this life is. No one will truly understand until they pay in their own blood, with their own child. Time is running out. I see people on TV doing silly things, going to festivals and trips. And I don’t even recognize my son. He aged ten years. That’s not my Rom. He’s tough, and he looks terrible. If they broke Rom, they’ll break anyone. I want him home. No one cares. I need him home already—I won’t let them kill him and leave him there.”<br><br>His brother Amit wrote on social media: &#8220;No one from the government has reached out to us &#8211; I hope the video shocks those who need to be shocked and that you return soon.&#8221;</p>


For the first time: A sign of life from abductee Rom Breslavski held in Gaza


<p>Russian President Putin met today at the Kremlin in Moscow with freed hostage Sasha Troufanov, his mother and his fiancée, Sapir Cohen. During the meeting, Putin stated that Russia will do everything possible to secure the release of more hostages and thanked the Hamas terror organization for freeing Troufanov.</p>



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<p>The meeting was also attended by Russia&#8217;s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar and the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities.</p>



<p>This is the first time Putin has hosted a released Hostage.</p>


Putin Hosts Released Hostage Sasha Troufanov, Vows to Secure More Releases


<p>Rep. Elise Stefanik is mulling a run for New York governor in 2026, NBC reported just hours after President Donald Trump praised the upstate Republican in a social media post, calling her “GREAT!!!”</p>



<p>At 40, Stefanik would be the first Republican to hold the position since George Pataki left office in 2006.</p>



<p>According to sources who spoke with the NY Post, the GOP congresswoman sees incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul as a vulnerable opponent.</p>



<p>The sources noted that Stefanik has around $10 million available in potential campaign funds, enjoys a considerable approval rating among state Republicans, and outperformed Trump in her rural district during the 2024 election.</p>



<p>“She is being advised and pushed to consider by allies of [Trump] and longtime friends,” one person familiar with the discussions told The Post.</p>



<p>“Elise has been approached by major donors, New York GOP leadership and Trumpworld to run for governor,” a second source close to the lawmaker added.</p>



<p>Stefanik made headlines last year for grilling the presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT over their mishandling of campus antisemitism, with none of the heads willing to ban calls of genocide towards Jews.</p>


Rep. Elise Stefanik Weighs 2026 NY Gov Run as Trump Praises her: ‘GREAT!!!’


<p>Israel&#8217;s Chief Rabbis, together with other rabbanim and released hostage Eli Cohen greeted thousands of mispallelim at the Kosel during Birkas Cohanim on Tuesday.</p>



<p>More than 50,000 people took part in the event held at the Kosel Plaza, which included both Shacharis and Mussaf. The ceremony, a 54-year-old tradition, was established by Harav Menachem Mendel Gaffner and is organized by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation during Chol Hamoed Pesach and Sukkos. Hundreds of Cohanim delivered the bracha to the large crowd gathered in the plaza.</p>



<p>The event was attended by the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rishon LeZion Harav David Yosef and Chief Rabbi Harav Kalman Bar, Rav of the Kosel and Holy Places Harav Shmuel Rabinowitz, Israel Police Rabbi Rami Rachamim Barachihau, Commissioner-General of the Israel Police Danny Levy, Mayor of Yerushalayim Moshe Leon, Panamanian Ambassador to Israel Ezra Cohen, and other rabbis, ministers, and public figures.</p>



<p>Freed hostage Eli Cohen and the families of current hostages Segev Kalfon and Uriel Baruch received a warm welcome from the crowd.</p>



<p>Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz led the tefilos, which were followed by the thousands of mispallelim lining up to receive brachos from Rav Rabinowitz and the Chief Rabbis.</p>



<p>The Western Wall Heritage Foundation announced that a second Birkas Cohanim ceremony will take place on Thursday in the same format to give others the opportunity to participate. The ceremony will be streamed live on the foundation’s website starting at 8:45 AM.</p>



<p>The foundation urged the public to follow guidance from the Israel Police and event ushers to ensure an orderly experience for all visitors during the holiday.</p>



<p>In a statement, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation said: “The ceremony was dedicated to prayers for the return of the kidnapped, for the safety of IDF soldiers, for the healing of the wounded, and for the peace and security of Israel. The foundation was prepared in advance for the arrival of tens of thousands of visitors and worshippers during the Pesach holiday. We invite the public to also participate in the second ceremony, which will be held on Thursday.”</p>



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Thousands Gather at Kosel Birkas Cohanim With Chief Rabbis, Released Hostage Eli Cohen


<p>Prime Minister Binyamin spoke Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron following the latter&#8217;s recent tweet supporting the creation of a Palestinian state and his conversation the previous night with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.</p>



<p>During Tuesday&#8217;s conversation, Netanyahu voiced firm opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state. He noted that no Palestinian official, including those in the Palestinian Authority, has condemned the October 7 massacre. He also cited the Palestinian Authority&#8217;s educational curriculum, teaching its children to seek Israel&#8217;s destruction and of financially rewarding terrorist operatives. Netanyahu argued that a Palestinian state would serve as a base for Iranian terrorism and claimed that the vast majority of the Israeli public is strongly opposed to such a move.</p>



<p>In Macron’s conversation with Mahmoud Abbas, according to the Arabic-language Sky News channel citing a source close to Abbas, the French president stated that France is seriously considering recognizing a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders in the coming months.</p>



<p>Last Friday, Macron posted a tweet in Hebrew, Arabic, French and English expressing support for a Palestinian state. He wrote: &#8220;I am being exposed here to a host of unfounded interpretations regarding our policy towards Gaza. This is France&#8217;s position, and it is clear &#8211; yes to peace.&#8221;</p>



<p>Netanyahu responded that &#8220;President Macron is gravely mistaken when he continues to promote the idea of a Palestinian state in the heart of our country, whose sole ambition is the destruction of the State of Israel. We will not endanger our existence because of illusions disconnected from reality, and we will not accept sermons on the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger the existence of Israel, from those who oppose granting independence to Corsica, New Caledonia, French Guinea and other territories, whose independence would not endanger France in any way.&#8221;</p>



<p>After speaking with the Prime Minister, Macron said, &#8220;I hope that in the coming hours there will be decisions on sending aid and releasing hostages.&#8221;</p>


Netanyahu Tells Macron He Strongly Opposes a Palestinian State


<p>Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited the northern Gaza Tuesday alongside Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Southern Command Commander Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, and various division and brigade commanders.</p>



<p>During the visit, the Prime Minister received a security briefing from the military leadership on the IDF’s ongoing operations aimed at freeing hostages and defeating Hamas in Gaza.</p>



<p>Following the briefing, Netanyahu and Katz held discussions with division, brigade, and battalion commanders, as well as with both reserve and regular soldiers. They highlighted the necessity of maintaining strong military pressure on the Hamas terrorist organization.</p>



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<p>Netanyahu stated: &#8220;I am here with the Minister of Defense, with the IDF commanders and our regular fighters, and the wonderful reservists. They are doing a great job here in the Gaza Strip. They are striking the enemy and Hamas will suffer more and more blows.&#8221;</p>



<p>The Prime Minister’s Office added: &#8220;We insist that he release our hostages and we insist on achieving all of our war goals, and we do this thanks to our heroic fighters. They are simply doing a wonderful job.&#8221;</p>



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<p>Meanwhile, in a separate video message responding to recent remarks by Ayatollah Khamenei calling for the elimination of Israel, Netanyahu declared Tuesday: &#8220;Let me be clear: Israel will not be eliminated. What must be eliminated is Iran&#8217;s axis of terror.&#8221;</p>



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Netanyahu Visits Northern Gaza, Vows Continued Pressure on Hamas


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<h1 class="wp-block-heading"><a></a>From Redemption to Revelation</h1>



<p>Pesach celebrates sudden redemption—a dramatic shift from slavery to freedom. Shavuos, in contrast, represents transformation through commitment: the receiving of the Torah. The 49-day journey between these holidays is not just a countdown—it&#8217;s a time of deep internal preparation.</p>



<p>This in-between space often mirrors our own lives. We, too, go through transitions—times when we’ve left something behind but haven’t yet arrived at something new. These periods can feel uncertain or even uncomfortable.</p>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading"><a></a>Counting as a Spiritual Practice</h1>



<p>Sefiras HaOmer offers us a simple, structured practice to guide us through this uncertainty:</p>



<p><strong>counting each day</strong>.</p>



<p>“Today is the Xth day of the Omer.”</p>



<p>With this daily declaration, we affirm presence. We acknowledge that today matters. This consistent act becomes a source of <strong>spiritual grounding </strong>and <strong>resilience</strong>. Even if nothing big happens externally, we are still showing up, still moving forward, still growing.</p>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading"><a></a>Finding Purpose in the Process</h1>



<p>The Mekubalim infused the Omer period with significant meaning by assigning each day a unique combination of spiritual attributes (such as Chesed – loving-kindness, or Gevurah – discipline). Each day becomes a mini-laboratory for self-refinement and character development.</p>



<p>This reminds us that:</p>



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<li><strong>Growth is gradual.</strong></li>
</ul>



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<li><strong>Change takes time.</strong></li>
</ul>



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<li><strong>There is meaning even in the quiet days.</strong></li>
</ul>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading"><a></a>A Quiet Act of Strength</h1>



<p>We live in a culture of instant gratification. Quick fixes, viral moments, and overnight success stories dominate the narrative. But Sefiras HaOmer calls us back to a different rhythm.</p>



<p>To count the Omer is to say:</p>



<p>“I don’t need to be at the finish line to find meaning. I can find holiness in the journey itself.”</p>



<p>It’s a daily act of resistance to the rush. A reminder that <strong>resilience is built slowly</strong>, in small, faithful steps.</p>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading"><a></a>Transforming Time</h1>



<p>More than a countdown, the Omer is a count-up. Each day adds to the previous one, building momentum and meaning. We’re not just moving through time—we’re transforming it.</p>



<p>As we approach Shavuos, we don’t arrive empty-handed. We bring with us 49 days of effort, intention, and growth. We bring the strength that comes from showing up—day after day—even when the destination felt far away.</p>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading"><a></a>In Conclusion</h1>



<p>Sefiras HaOmer offers us more than a ritual. It offers us a path through the unknown. A way to cultivate mindfulness, purpose, and inner strength during times of transition. And ultimately, it teaches us that every day matters—and that within each one lies the potential for deep, lasting growth.</p>



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Resilience and Growth: Sefiras HaOmer and the Power of Counting | By Gamliel Beyda, LMSW


<p><br>Belaaz has learned that in addition to his role as Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Rabbi Yebuda Kaploun will also serve as a Key envoy to the Jewish Community and as President Donald Trump&#8217;s primary representative to the Jewish community in America and worldwide,</p>



<p>Kaploun plans to foster relationships with Jewish leaders, including Rabbis and Rebbes in the United States and worldwide, a source told Belaaz.</p>



<p>Belaaz has also learned that Kaploun aims to assist and try to settle the IDF draft law affecting yeshivah bochrim in Israel, a key issue for the Chareidi community in Eretz Yisrael.</p>



<p>During the election campaign, Kaploun played a crucial role in securing Jewish support for Trump, and he is expected to continue strengthening connections with rabbinical leaders and rebbes globally.</p>


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