HEADLINES
Ahmad Balout Killed, Hezbollah Drones Wound Soldiers
Kehillat Israel Reopens After Palisades Fire
Shmita Promotes Quality Over Quantity

The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, two IDF soldiers were moderately and severely wounded in two separate incidents involving explosive drones launched by Hezbollah. All of the wounded were evacuated for medical treatment, and their families have been notified. In a related development, the IDF said the air force killed Ahmad Ghaleb Balout, the Radwan special forces commander in Beirut, the highest-ranking Hezbollah official Israel has killed since November 2025. Following the strike, the army canceled events in northern border towns amid concerns that Hezbollah might escalate its attacks, and it urged the public to remain vigilant as authorities assess potential threats. On Friday, the IDF said it was preparing for the possibility of rocket fire from Hezbollah toward northern Israel, while noting there has been no change to Home Front measures.

In Uplifting News, Kehillat Israel Synagogue is set to reopen for the first time since it was damaged by the Palisades fire last January, with a rededication ceremony planned for next Friday. Senior Rabbi Amy Bernstein described the reopening as more than a physical return, a moment to gather again in a space transformed to meet community members where they are now, a place of calm, reflection, and belonging. Nearly 900 families will welcome back their Torah scrolls to the sanctuary, which has been remodeled to accommodate 400 people. Cantor Chayim Frenkel, marking 40 years of service on the same day, spoke of it as a blessing to return home after 16 months, noting that music and prayer carried the community through the interim. The synagogue building survived the fire but sustained smoke damage, and services had been held in several temporary locations during the period.

Parashat Behar-Behukotai: Quality vs quantity discusses that shmita, the sabbatical year, invites a reflection that true blessing is found not in abundance but in satisfaction, faith, and focusing on what truly matters. The piece notes that shmita connects to a broader worldview in which reality is structured around seven directions with a central unifying point, a framework that recurs in Jewish tradition through the seven days of the week, the counting of the Omer, the shmita cycle, and the cycles of mourning and celebration. The sages’ remark that “All sevenths are beloved” highlights a philosophical thread about balance and renewal, even as questions arise about how communities would sustain themselves during the sabbatical year.

Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and US lists Shabbat timing information for several locales, reflecting the varied evening start times and end times across locations. The times show candle lighting in the early to late evening and Shabbat ends in the later evening, with a typical range spanning roughly from the mid-evening to late-evening depending on location.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-895572
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-895571
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/torah-portion/article-895467
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-895568