TIMING

• Slichos always starts on a Motzai Shabbos.
• We start saying slichos on Motzai Shabbos/Sunday either because the world was created on a Sunday and the world was created for man to sanctify Hashem so therefore teshuva should start on the same day the world was created or because we want the sanctity of Shabbos with us when we start the process of teshuva.
• There needs to be at least four days of slichos leading up to Rosh Hashana.
• When Rosh Hashana falls out before Thursday, there won’t be four days of Slichos before Rosh Hashana, therefore we must start on Motzai Shabbos the week before Rosh Hashana.
• Slichos are not allowed to be said before midnight (closer to am with daylight savings time).
• If the only way to say slichos would be to say it before midnight, then it would be allowed but after the first third of the night. However, this is usually not the case.
• Most say that the best time to say slichos is at the end of the night immediately before daybreak.
• If one washed hands before dawn, they should be washed again after slichos before davening.
• Nowadays, we say slichos in the morning before davening because we rely on the opinions that the point of Slichos is to lose some sleep and replace the sleep with Slichos.
• If Slichos weren’t said earlier, it can be said all day.
• If Slichos are being said at night, the chazzan should borrow someone else’s talis instead of using his own.
• For those saying Slichos during the day, Talis and tefilin don’t have to be put on before Slichos.
• The minhag is that women don’t say Slichos. However, they can say Slichos if they so choose.

PREPARATION

• Many have the custom to fast half a day on the first day of slichos until midday or after Mincha.
• If one washed their hands (negal vasar) before dawn, they should be washed again after slichos before davening.
• Birchas Hatorah should be said before Slichos.
• Slichos are patterned after Davening. Ashrei that’s said before Slichos is pesukei dizimra. The Slichos are like Shemona esrei, followed by Tachnun.
• It’s preferable to say “Ashrei” before Slichos, even if you come late and are behind the minyan and even if davening without a minyan.
• After saying ashrei, skip to where the minyan is holding. Afterwards it’s best to go back and say what was skipped.
• Slichos should be said with a lot of concentration.
• The י״ג מדות can’t be said without concentration.
• It’s better to say less Slichos with more concentration than more Slichos with less concentration.
• It’s better to say Slichos at your own pace and then skip to Kel Melech Yoshev in order to say it with a minyan.

PROCESS

• There must be a minyan before starting “Ashrei”.
• If the minyan is up to י״ג מדות, skip to where they’re up to in order to say י״ג מדות with a minyan.
• If you’re in middle of אל מלך יושב and the minyan is saying י״ג מדות, skip to י״ג מדות.
• You can start saying the י״ג מדות as long as the Minyan is still saying any part of the י״ג מדות.
• It’s best to stand up for Slichos.
• If it’s difficult, then stand up just for קל מלך וי”ג מדות and שמע קולנו and vidui.
• At the end of קל מלך יושב, make sure to make a slight pause between the words בשם and ה’.i
• When saying the י״ג מדות, there should be a slight pause between ה’ and ה’.
• The main part of the Slichos are the few pesukim that are said before each slicha.
• Slichos that don’t start with the name of Hashem start with אלוקינו ואלקי אבותינו.
• Many don’t say כרחם אב על בנים before each סליחה as is printed in most siddurim.
• Most siddurim have אשמנו three times. However many only say one אשמנו based on the opinions of the Gra and Arizal.
Even though we normally don’t say tachnun at night, for Slichos it’s allowed.
• Many have the minhag not to say מכניסי רחמים in tachnun because it sounds like we’re davening to the angels and not to Hashem.
• If one says Slichos without a minyan, the י״ג מדות and words in Aramaic should not be said.
• Aramaic can’t be said because angels can’t understand it and without a minyan angels are necessary to carry up the tefilos.
• The י״ג מדות can be said alone if it’s read with the same tune as if reading from the Torah. However, make sure to finish the entire passuk (Shemos 🙂 until after the words ועל רבעים so as not to split up a passuk.
• It’s preferable to say Tachnun together with a minyan.

Gut Vuch & Shavuah Tov to all!

Israel carried out a series of strikes across southern Lebanon and the Western Beqaa after Hezbollah launched a drone toward IDF forces operating in the security zone. The drone was intercepted without causing injuries.

The IDF later targeted Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure, including weapons storage sites believed to be used in planning and directing attacks against Israeli troops and civilians. The IDF said the strikes were intended to eliminate an immediate threat and followed what it described as a serious violation by Hezbollah.

💥 Hezbollah drone intercepted; IDF strikes southern Lebanon:

Hezbollah terrorists yesterday launched a drone toward @IDF soldiers operating in the Security Zone in southern Lebanon. IDF soldiers opened fire and downed the drone. No IDF injuries were reported. The IDF called the… pic.twitter.com/xXrHUFyIBT

— Israel Realtime (@IsraelRealtime) September 5, 2026

Meanwhile, the U.S. military struck three Iranian oil tankers on September 5 following ballistic missile attacks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps against two U.S. Navy vessels in the region. The American ships avoided the attacks, and no U.S. personnel were injured.

U.S. Central Command said the targeted vessels were connected to a multibillion-dollar illicit oil network that helps finance the IRGC and its regional proxies. Two tankers were disabled, while a third was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was ordered to abandon ship.

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper warned Iran that attacks on American forces would bring an even greater economic response, saying the U.S. would not hesitate to defend its personnel or target Iran’s vulnerable oil fleet.

It’s simple: if Iran shoots at U.S. ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers. All they have to do is not shoot at @USNavy.

Iran’s oil tanker fleet is defenseless — Iran has no navy or air force. Our planes, ships & subs can strike them all, in @CENTCOM & @USPACOM. https://t.co/lr5TaxloBw

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) September 5, 2026

Iranian state media separately reported that another oil tanker near Kharg Island was struck by four U.S. missiles. No casualties were reported, while the crew evacuated and damage was being assessed.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a similar warning, stating that if Iran fires on American ships, the U.S. will destroy and sink Iranian oil tankers.

Besuros Tovos!

The footage out of Boro Park this week is shocking.

Watching Jews go out of their way to placate a person who has brought immediate danger and hostility to Am Yisrael.

Thanking him for “all that he has done for the community”.

And in a sefarim store, no less!

And once again, we are already hearing the beginnings of the follow-up debate.

“It’s not so simple.”

Calls for more “nuance.” More “open-mindedness.”

So many of us are asking – how on earth did something like this become possible?

The timeless words of this week’s parsha offer us some much-needed guidance:

Ki karov eilecha hadavar me’od. B’ficha ubilvavcha la’asoto

“Because the matter is very close to you. In your mouth and in your heart, to do it.”

With these words, Moshe Rabbeinu is teaching us something extraordinary about teshuvah.

When we get stuck in wrongdoing, returning can feel distant and complicated.

But Torah tells us:

Ki karov eilecha hadavar me’od.

Teshuvah is so, so close.

It is not some secret code. It does not require years of study or a complicated, nuanced debate.

Teshuvah begins with the powerful simplicity of reconnecting to the truth.

Returning to what, deep down, we already know.

Two thousand years of galut can bury that clarity under layers of apology, appeasement, fear, and the constant need to explain ourselves.

Our time in galut has lasted long enough to create instincts so deeply rooted that even scenes like the ones we witnessed this week can somehow be explained away.

But then we enter the days of teshuvah.

And every year, at this very moment, we read Moshe Rabbeinu telling us:

Despite all the noise – you are not as far away as you think.

The truth is not as far away as you think.

The Jewish heart is not as far away as you think.

B’ficha uvilvavcha la’asoto.

Our hearts were never disconnected from Hashem. The clarity is still right there. We can tap into it right now, if we choose to.

So the avodah of teshuvah does not involve noisy debate or anything complicated.

The avodah of teshuva is to see clearly above the noise, and return to what has been close to us all along.

Have a beautiful Shabbos.

“Don’t wait until Friday!” a wise woman told me yesterday. “Write already today that this Shabbat will be the last Shabbat of the year so that people can get ready.”

So here is my message for Thursday: *Tomorrow night will be the last Shabbat of 5786*. Our sages explain that this is a special Shabbat because it “repairs” all the Shabbatot of the past year, and impacts the Shabbatot of the year that is about to begin.

It is our last opportunity of the year to demonstrate how important and precious Shabbat is for us. Therefore, people try to add a special dimension to this Shabbat in order to honor it more.

Everyone is encouraged to think of something small but gratifying. For example, we can try to get your preparations done early so that we can light candles calmly and not under stress. Since Shabbat is so important to us, we should aim to be prepared for it ahead of time instead of having Shabbat wait for us!

Perhaps you can think of something unique that you and your family don’t usually do, or about someone who may be waiting for a Shabbat invitation. Of course, you should learn more Torah on Shabbat, recite special prayers, read chapters from Tehillim (there is a custom to read the entire book of Tehillim on Shabbat), add more Shabbat songs, etc.

I invite you to think about this for yourself and to share your ideas with others: *What are your plans for the last Shabbat of the year?*

Shabbat Shalom

By 5 Towns Central Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sep. 3, 2026) — Senior leadership representing major segments of traditional Orthodox and Chassidic Jewry convened at the White House on Thursday for a high-level summit with the president, marking an unprecedented assembly not seen in nearly half a century.

The landmark gathering brought together top figures from several prominent movements, including delegations from Satmar, Bobov, Skver, Vizhnitz, and Lakewood. In a notable and deeply personal moment, the two estranged brothers serving as leaders of the two branches of the Satmar community warmly greeted each other upon arrival, sharing Berachos and a Mazel Tov on the engagement of a grandchild.

During the session, community advocates and rabbinical dignitaries presented key issues to administration officials, focusing substantial discussion on the religious rights and well-being of Jewish inmates within federal and state correctional facilities. Community delegates also emphasized the vital need to preserve the complete autonomy of private faith-based schools amid ongoing regulatory debates in New York State. Additional matters discussed included regional geopolitical considerations and legislative developments abroad.

The vice president joined the roundtable midway through the proceedings, engaging attendees in warm conversation regarding shared core values surrounding family and child-rearing. Several high-level advisors and congressional representatives were also in attendance. Following an extended group session and a traditional rabbinic blessing recited in honor of the executive office, a brief private consultation took place to address critical community priorities directly.

The summit concluded on an exceptionally cordial note, establishing renewed direct communication between traditional diaspora leadership and the highest office of the federal government heading into Rosh Hashanah.

The Satmar Rebbe, his son Rabbi Mendel Teitelbaum and other leading Rabbis met with Vice President Vance
Afterwards, the Rebbe, accompanied by Kiryas Joel Administrator Gedalye Szegedin, met privately with President Donald Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Oval Office pic.twitter.com/AvUXirv4qX

— Rabbi Moishe Indig (@MoishIndig) September 4, 2026

It was a tremendous honor to accompany the Satmar Grand Rebbe on his historic White House visit with @POTUS, alongside a distinguished Rabbinic delegation. Grateful to @POTUS for the warm reception and the opportunity to raise important Jewish communal concerns. pic.twitter.com/APWCo0EO8k

— UJO of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn (@UnitedJewish) September 4, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sep. 3, 2026) — Federal lawmakers voted to bar taxpayer financial support from higher education institutions that participate in commercial or academic boycotts directed at Israel. The proposed measure, which passed the lower chamber by a margin of 237 to 169, gained traction after dozens of opposition members crossed party lines to unite with the majority.

Under the provisions of the initiative, colleges and universities participating in federal student aid programs would face the loss of crucial institutional grants and campus allocations if they refuse commercial ties, cancel financial contracts, or terminate ongoing academic partnerships with Israeli counterparts. The legislation also requires post-secondary administrators to file yearly certifications confirming that students and faculty maintain the freedom to take part in educational programs in Israel under identical conditions offered for other overseas study opportunities.

Proponents framed the statutory crackdown as a necessary shield against organized divestment efforts that foster hostility and unfairly single out one nation for isolation. Backers emphasized that schools receiving federal resources must not permit discriminatory policy shifts that shutter scholarly exchange, harm academic freedom, or alienate students.

The measure now heads to the upper chamber for review, where senators are expected to consider the proposal before any final version can reach the president’s desk to become binding law.

The House just passed my Bipartisan Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act with Congresswoman @virginiafoxx to stand firm against the BDS movement on college campuses and protect Jewish students and professors. This bill is an important step forward in ensuring academic… pic.twitter.com/DiGPu1LfaR

— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) September 3, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sep. 3, 2026) — American citizens are being strongly urged to bypass their annual pilgrimage to Uman this coming Rosh Hashanah due to severe and unpredictable regional safety concerns.

Federal foreign policy administrators reiterated that the entire nation remains under a Level 4 advisory, the highest possible alert level, which explicitly instructs all citizens to avoid travel. Hostilities continue to threaten civilian areas, residential neighborhoods, and religious sites throughout the region, with previous aerial strikes having directly impacted the city itself.

Regional municipal authorities have also voiced deep apprehension regarding the infrastructure available to manage the tens of thousands of visitors expected for the holiday. Officials note that the current number of fortified shelters and safe spaces across the town is insufficient to protect crowds in the event of incoming attacks. Furthermore, strict martial law protocols remain active nationwide. These regulations enforce stringent nighttime curfews, police checkpoints, tight domestic movement restrictions, and bans on gatherings that could severely disrupt travel itineraries, lodging arrangements, and communal prayers.

Travelers holding dual citizenship also face unique administrative complications. Men between the ages of 23 and 60 who qualify for local status may become subject to active military conscription rules and barred from departing once inside the borders.

Those who nonetheless choose to undertake the journey are urged to map out certified shelters prior to arriving, maintain extreme vigilance, and heed local directives without delay whenever emergency sirens sound.

New York City recorded a sharp increase in reported hate crimes this year, with antisemitic incidents continuing to account for the largest share, even as the city experienced historically low levels of shootings and murders during the summer.

According to new NYPD statistics, 425 hate crimes were recorded during the first eight months of 2026, up from 367 during the same period last year — an increase of 15.8%.

Anti-Jewish incidents made up more than half of all confirmed hate crimes, despite Jewish New Yorkers comprising roughly 10% of the city’s population. Anti-Jewish hate crimes were up 8% overall, although August saw a 13.6% decline compared with the same month last year.

Among the incidents was the July stabbing of a frum Jewish man outside a synagogue on the Upper West Side. The attack prompted renewed concerns among Jewish leaders about rising antisemitism in New York.

Some Jewish leaders have also criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his repeated attacks on Israel, including his characterization of Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and his support for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They argue that such rhetoric can contribute to an increasingly hostile environment for Jewish New Yorkers. Mamdani has rejected accusations that he tolerates antisemitism and has pointed to increased city funding to combat hate.

The Trump administration also became involved following the July attack. The Justice Department demanded information from Mamdani’s administration regarding what it described as concerns over the “unequal treatment” of Jewish New Yorkers and said it was actively investigating antisemitic crimes in the city. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon has sharply criticized Mamdani, while emphasizing the federal government’s commitment to combating antisemitism.

At the same time, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch highlighted a contrasting trend in overall public safety.

Between June 1 and August 31, the city recorded just 195 shootings — 32 fewer than the previous summer record low. There were 249 shooting victims, 44 below the previous record, and 66 murders, 12 fewer than the prior summer low.

The numbers present a mixed picture for New York: overall violent crime reached historic lows in several categories this summer, while hate crimes — particularly those targeting Jewish residents — continued to rise.

New York City Public Schools is taking a sweeping approach to classroom technology, barring most students from using generative artificial intelligence in school for the upcoming academic year.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced Wednesday that the nation’s largest school system will launch a one-year pause on student-facing generative AI from Pre-K and 2-K through eighth grade, affecting more than 500,000 students. City officials say the yearlong moratorium will give the school system time to evaluate how AI is affecting students and learning.

The restrictions extend beyond artificial intelligence. Schools will also face new limits on student screen use, with individual digital devices prohibited for students through second grade. Beginning in third grade, schools will receive recommended limits on screen time, including a suggested maximum of 45 minutes per day for middle school students.

The rules do not prevent educators from using AI. Teachers will still be permitted to use the technology for tasks such as preparing lessons, translating materials and drafting communications.

There will also be exceptions for certain students. AI-related tools may continue to be used as assistive technology for students with disabilities, by multilingual learners and in career-readiness programs such as computer science.

Mental-health chatbot programs will face an even broader restriction, with companion-style AI chatbots prohibited throughout the entire school system.

At the same time, the city plans to introduce AI-literacy instruction for high school students twice a year. The goal is to teach students how to critically evaluate the technology and understand its limitations before becoming heavily dependent on it.

City officials also say existing educational technology will undergo an extensive review. Tools that are not considered essential to instruction could be removed, with the review examining issues including student safety, vendor transparency, ethics, educational design, instructional effectiveness, previous research and feedback from users.

The policy places New York City among the school systems taking some of the strongest steps to limit the role of AI and digital devices in classrooms, while the city studies how the rapidly developing technology should be incorporated into education.

With the approach of Rosh Hashana, when we partake of fresh fruits and other traditional foods, STAR-K reminds everyone about the need to check many of the items carefully prior to use.

Checking instructions for all Rosh Hashana Simanim are listed below.

ROSH HASHANA SIMANIM CHECKING INSTRUCTIONS

APPLES/BEETS/CARROTS/POMEGRANATES: No checking required.

DATES*: Open a few dates in each container and visually inspect. If no insects can be seen, the rest may be eaten without further checking.

FIGS*: Open each one and check carefully for infestation (typically wasps, beetles or worms). NOTE: Figs are particularly difficult to check.

 * Checking instructions for dates and figs apply even if they have a hechsher, due to the possibility of improper storage.

GOLDEN RAISINS:

From California (only) should not be used at this time. From other countries are fine to use. There is no concern with red (black) raisins or currants from any source. Keep sealed and store in a cool dry place, as improper storage can lead to infestation.

BLACK-EYED PEAS:

Preparation

• Dried peas should first be boiled in water. After they have been fully cooked, allow the peas to soak for 2-3 hours. The peas will then swell and the peel will become translucent**.** Then check as instructed below.
• Canned or f_rozen peas_ may be checked straight out of the can/bag. There is no need to boil or soak.

Checking Instructions

1. Inspect the peas for holes or dark-colored stains, as these may indicate an insect beneath the thin peel.
2. If there is a dark spot on the peel, remove the thin skin and check if there is a cavity with a bug in it.

NOTE: The black “eye” spot is not a sign of infestation. Similarly, orange-colored stains on the surface are not signs of infestation. Only dark or black stains are of concern.

LEEKS:

Examine the outside for any leaf miner trails. Check in between the layers for thrips or other insects.

SPINACH:

Check using the Thrip Cloth Method.

THRIP CLOTH METHOD:

1. Wash the produce well. Fill a basin with warm water and a non-toxic dishwasher detergent so the water feels “slippery.”
2. Add produce to the basin and agitate vigorously in the solution for 15 seconds.
3. Remove the produce from the basin and shake excess water over the basin. Set produce aside.
4. Line a colander with a thrip cloth and pour the water through it.
5. Place thrip cloth over a light box and check for insects.
6. If insects are found, repeating steps 1-5. This can be repeated up to 3 times. If insects are still found on the third try, the produce should not be used.

GREEN CABBAGE:

For fresh cabbage: Separate all leaves and wash well. Then check using the Thrip Cloth Method described above.

For stuffed cabbage: After freezing the head, defrost and separate all leaves and wash them well. Then check using the Thrip Cloth Method.

For green cabbage only: If one does not have a thrip cloth, cabbage may be checked carefully leaf by leaf, using a lightbox or under a strong light.

HONEY:

Pure honey does not need a hechsher (Clover, Wildflower, Blossom, Orange, etc., are types of honey, not flavors). Flavored honey needs a hechsher. If using the whole honeycomb, inspect for insect parts.

In this Elul Sichas Mussar shmuze at Yeshivas YU, Rav Moshe Weinberger explores the spiritual meaning of the month of Elul and the importance of returning to one’s true self at the start of a new school term in yeshiva.

Rav Weinberger shares a story about the Amshinover Rebba who carried two watches, one signaling that it is late and the other signaling that there is still time. This serves as a metaphor for the state of Elul, balancing reflection on the past with the hope to start again.

He draws a parallel between the city of refuge (Ir Hamiklat) and the spiritual sanctuary found in Hashem during this season. It is a time for those who have unintentionally lost their path to run toward Hashem and find safety.

Using the wisdom of the Baal Shem Tov, he discusses why our reality often falls short of our dreams. He emphasizes that while the physical world may be imperfect, our deeper intentions and heart remain pure and connected to Hashem.

He encourages students to view their return to yeshiva as an opportunity to reconnect with their inner selves and higher consciousness, moving away from the shallow distractions of the world.

The talk concludes with a story about the Kotsker Rebbe, teaching that the true purpose of learning is not just to read words, but to experience a transformation and grasp the deeper meaning of Torah.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration has reportedly assembled a network of nearly 200 social media influencers to help communicate city programs, policies and public-service initiatives directly to New Yorkers.

According to a report by the Columbia Journalism Review, the influencers—primarily active on TikTok and Instagram—are being used to encourage residents to take actions ranging from voting and attending medical appointments to participating in budget discussions and composting.

The effort reportedly grew out of the Creators4Zohran network that supported Mamdani during his mayoral campaign. The administration has since maintained a Signal group for participating creators, which reportedly operates similarly to a traditional press distribution list. Influencers receive city updates, suggested talking points, video clips and other material they can use in their own content.

The network reportedly includes creators with audiences ranging from roughly 5,000 followers to several million. The mayor’s office has also held briefings specifically for influencers, giving them direct access to administration officials and information about city initiatives.

Not all of the influencers are paid by the city. While some have reportedly been hired as independent contractors for specific projects, the Signal group itself does not compensate members.

The arrangement comes as city agencies have increasingly turned to social media creators and outside marketing firms to reach younger audiences. According to CJR, agencies have commonly spent between $5,000 and $20,000 on individual social-media campaigns since the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, a review of active city contracts by the New York Post found a significantly larger expenditure involving Mamdani’s Department of Social Services. The agency has paid more than $100,000 this year for an unspecified social-media campaign under a three-year contract that was originally awarded in 2025 during the administration of former Mayor Eric Adams.

The influencer strategy reflects a broader shift in how city governments communicate with residents, moving beyond traditional press conferences and official social-media accounts toward creators who already have established audiences and can deliver government messaging in a more informal format.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, candidate for governor of New York, met with Rabbi David Yosef, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel.

Blakeman received a Shana Tovah and a beracha for success in the upcoming elections!

Border Czar Tom Homan is pushing back against criticism from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as federal immigration enforcement continues under “Operation Rotten Apple.”

Homan accused Hochul of failing to acknowledge the scale of cooperation problems between local authorities and federal immigration officials. He pointed to more than 13,000 immigration detainers that he says were not honored over the past year, and criticized a recently signed New York law restricting cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE.

Homan also cited opposition from county sheriffs, saying that 15 sheriffs are challenging the law in court.

Responding to Mamdani’s criticism of ICE, Homan said federal immigration enforcement is not based on a person’s country of origin. He argued that individuals who have received final removal orders from immigration judges should be deported.

“I’m an equal opportunity deporter,” Homan said, emphasizing that ICE intends to enforce removal orders regardless of where an individual comes from.

TRUTH NUKE: Border Czar Tom Homan: “I’m an equal opportunity deporter. I don't care where you're from… if you've got an order of removal issued by an immigration judge you're gonna go home.”

“[New York Gov. Kathy Hochul] needs to listen to her sheriffs. You have 15 sheriffs in… pic.twitter.com/piNAsXys8j

— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) September 2, 2026

With great sorrow, we regret to inform you of the petira of Paula Weinberger – Perel bas Rav Yaakov Moshe, A’H, Mother of Rav Moshe Weinberger Shlita.

Levaya Information

The levaya will take place on Wednesday, September 2nd at 12:00 p.m.
Bais Tefila of Inwood
259 Doughty Boulevard, Inwood, NY

Levaya Zoom Information

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82804268316?pwd=nkYzkUnxPcKYbzIGqIBuGVrXbgi0rw.1

Meeting ID: 828 0426 8316
Passcode: 080456

One tap mobile

+16469313860,,82804268316#,,,,*080456# US

+19292056099,,82804268316#,,,,*080456# US (New York)

Kevura Information

The kevura will take place at New Montefiore Cemetery
1180 Wellwood Avenue, West Babylon, NY

**
Shiva Information**

Shiva will be observed from Wednesday afternoon until Tuesday morning (9/8)
351 Midwood Road, Woodmere, NY

Davening Times

Shacharis:

Thursday and Friday: 7:30 a.m.

Sunday: 8:00 a.m.

Monday and Tuesday: 7:00 a.m. (beginning with Selichos)

Mincha/Maariv:

Wednesday and Thursday: 7:05 p.m.

Sunday and Monday: 7:00 p.m.

—

המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

By 5 Towns Central Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sep. 2, 2026)

The Department of Justice today announced the disruption of an ongoing scheme by Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Hamas) — a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization — to raise funds for terrorist operations and recruit supporters, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

“A message to Hamas: We will stop your fundraising for terror,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Your networks are not secure, your crypto is vulnerable, and we will not stop until your ability to wage war is defeated.”

As part of the Department’s efforts, more than $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations destined for Hamas were seized and its fundraising and recruitment communication platforms and websites were disrupted. Hamas originally controlled the seized infrastructure and cryptocurrency addresses on behalf of its military wing, the Al Qassam Brigades.

“These seizures deprive Hamas of resources it relies on to recruit and radicalize individuals online and finance barbaric attacks like the one on October 7, 2023,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “We will continue to tighten the vise on Hamas’s capacity for terror by infiltrating its online networks, confiscating its cryptocurrency, and shutting down its websites.”

“Hamas relied on cryptocurrency and online platforms to solicit funds from donors around the world and move that money outside the formal financial system,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “The FBI seized online infrastructure and $560,000 in cryptocurrency, capturing donations intended for the organization. The FBI will continue to use its authorities to intercept illicit funds and prevent terrorist organizations from exploiting digital networks to finance their operations.”

“Reducing the capabilities of foreign terrorist organization’s ability to receive donations and creating distrust in communications to their donors was the primary focus of this latest operation,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “This continued success demonstrates the unwavering commitment and determination of the FBI in fighting terrorism. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to shut off the flow of funds to this group and protect the American people.”

As alleged in court documents, a group chat claiming association with Hamas on an encrypted communications platform directed supporters to a fundraising website and provided donors with a rotating set of cryptocurrency donation addresses. As described in the three unsealed cryptocurrency seizure warrants, on March 25, 2025, June 25, 2025, and Oct. 10, 2025, investigators used information from multiple human sources to identify, trace, and seize approximately $560,000 in cryptocurrency intended to support Hamas’ Al Qassam Brigades.

In conjunction with these seizures, the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office worked with human sources to identify and seize domains and servers the Al Qassam Brigades that controlled its main website, AlQassam.ps. The FBI’s capture of these domains and servers enabled it to intercept cryptocurrency donations intended for Hamas. Using related sources and methods, the FBI also obtained information regarding thousands of individuals who contacted Hamas online in an effort to donate or attempt to donate to the terrorist organization using cryptocurrency and other traditional means. Such information will be used in the FBI’s future counterterrorism efforts.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office is investigating the case, in coordination with the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Cyber Division, and New York Field Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tejpal Chawla for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery for the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Robert MacDonald of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and the October 7th Task Force is providing substantial assistance in the case.

🚨 A massive blow to foreign terrorists: Seizure of $560K in Hamas crypto assets and the complete shutdown of their online recruitment servers.

Under U.S. Attorney Pirro, federal law enforcement is cutting off digital financial lifelines to disrupt terrorist operations… pic.twitter.com/gqn2HO5k5t

— U.S. Attorney DC (@USAO_DC) September 1, 2026

Hillel Fuld shared a 66-minute video debate with Jake Turx, the White House correspondent for Mishpacha magazine, titled “Aliyah or America: What’s the Right Choice for Jews?” covering Aliyah to Israel versus staying in the US.

The discussion grew from Turx’s recent proposals for Israel to build tailored communities for American Chareidim to ease mass Aliyah, sparking debate on lifestyle accommodations, religious concerns like children going “off the derech,” and Israel’s capacity.

Both participants maintain mutual respect despite heated exchanges, with Fuld advocating strong Zionist values for Aliyah while Turx highlights practical barriers for Chareidi families, marking the first of planned conversations.

BAM!

Here it is! The long-awaited debate with @JakeTurx about Aliyah.

It definitely got heated but with mutual love and respect.

We covered a lot and it’s only the first of multiple conversations.

Enjoy! pic.twitter.com/18aX1REqES

— Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) September 1, 2026

Kol Hakavod to both Hillel and Jake for beginning this conversation and being able to properly listen to both sides of the aisle.

Over 5,000 community members, families, and visitors gathered on August 30 at the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club driving range for the Village of Lawrence’s highly anticipated annual Summer Concert & Fireworks Show. Featuring an exhilarating live musical performance by renowned artist Joey Newcomb, the evening culminated in a breathtaking fireworks display over the waterfront.

The free community event brought together residents from across Nassau County for an unforgettably vibrant evening packed with live music, free family fun, and a community Kosher BBQ served by Elite Catering. Guests brought lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the summer weather and celebrate local community spirit.

The event was graced by distinguished elected leaders, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti, Nassau County Legislative Presiding Officer Howard Kopel, Assemblyman Ari Brown, and TOH Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll.

Mayor Samuel Nahmias welcomed the guests to the historic event: “When we first envisioned bringing a concert and fireworks celebration to Lawrence, it was a dream. Tonight, each and every one of you helped us turn that dream into a reality. This is what Lawrence is all about: community, unity, friendship, family, and coming together to enjoy the incredible village that we are so fortunate to have and call home.”

Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti applauded Mayor Samuel Nahmias for his leadership, “Look at the beautiful things that Mayor Nahmias and the Board are putting together like this concert and fireworks. I’m just so happy to be here, I’m happy to be with my new Five Towns family.”

County Executive Bruce Blakeman concluded the evening, noting, “On the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, we have to remember, we have to fight for our freedom. We can’t let anybody take our freedom away from us, especially our freedom to practice our religion.” Blakeman then delighted the crowd by having the children count down to Fireworks by Grucci.

Special thank you to all who made the event a success including Mayor Samuel Nahmias and Monica Nahmias, and trustees Aaron Parnes, Aaron Felder, Tammy Roz, and Steven Gottesman, Administrator Gerry Castro, Treasurer Lina Fusco, Nassau County Police and Auxiliary Police, Hatzalah, and the Town of Hempstead for providing the bandshell, and Village of Lawrence and Lawrence Yacht & Country Club maintenance crews.

The Village is grateful for the sponsorships of local businesses: Gold Sponsors: Fame & SKI Development; Silver Sponsors: Maidenbaum & Rita’s Ices; and Bronze Sponsors: The Marion & Aaron Gural JCC, Prime Bistro, & Seasons Lawrence.

Theft Alert: This individual was seen around 2:30 PM today on Washington Ave, in Cedarhurst, entering properties and stealing packages, bicycles, and other items. He was pushing a large cart.

Please be sure to secure packages, bikes, and outdoor belongings and remain vigilant.

🚨Theft Alert: This individual was seen around 2:30 PM today on Washington Ave, in Cedarhurst, entering properties and stealing packages, bicycles, and other items. He was pushing a large cart.

Please be sure to secure packages, bikes, and outdoor belongings and remain vigilant. pic.twitter.com/Lkdy36BJuY

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) September 1, 2026

Public Safety Alert: At approximately 4:20 AM this past Shabbos morning (8/29), multiple individuals dressed in black were seen attempting to enter occupied homes throughout the Five Towns.

The Nassau County Police Department is investigating, and RNSP Shomrim has increased overnight patrols, including this coming Friday night.

Please remain extra alert and vigilant. Keep an eye out for your neighbors, and if you see or hear anything suspicious, call 911 immediately. Stay safe and look out for one another.

🚨Public Safety Alert: At approximately 4:20 AM this past Shabbos morning (8/29), multiple individuals dressed in black were seen attempting to enter occupied homes throughout the Five Towns.

The Nassau County Police Department is investigating, and RNSP Shomrim has increased… pic.twitter.com/8XaDKTQ31l

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) September 1, 2026

Statement from NCPD:

The Fourth Squad reports an attempted residential burglary that occurred on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 4:27 a.m. in North Woodmere.

According to detectives, officers responded to a Plainfield Lane residence for a possible burglary. Upon arrival it was determined that unknown subjects attempted to enter a residence. No entry was made and subjects fled in an unknown direction. The investigation is ongoing.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding the above incident to contact the Fourth Squad at 516-573-6454.

Why Doesn’t What I Know Change How I Feel? Closing the Gap Between the Torah We Believe and the Way, We Actually Experience Ourselves, Our Relationships, and Hashem Rabbi Efraim Stauber, LPC On Let’s Get real with Coach Menachem.

Why do the things we know and believe in Torah not always change the way we feel?

Rabbi Efraim Stauber, LPC, joins Coach Menachem to explore the gap between the Torah we believe in our minds and the way we actually experience ourselves, our relationships, and Hashem.

In this powerful conversation, we discuss:

Why knowing that Hashem loves us doesn’t always make us feel loved
How emotional wounds can block Torah from reaching the heart
Using psychology in the service of Torah
Balancing self-acceptance with personal growth
Experiencing Elul and Rosh Hashanah with less fear, guilt, and pressure
Practical ways to bring Torah into our emotional lives

Rabbi Efraim Stauber is a Torah educator, licensed psychotherapist, and founder of Soul Psyche.

Ki Kiamcha: This was shared in a Sullivan County Facebook group by Gabe J. Espinosa, a non-Jewish bus driver with Krasna Camp.

“With all the abject hatred being loudly vocalized against the Hasidic community regarding every aspect of their existence whether justified, imagined, or down right malicious, (summer driving is justified 🙄) I thought I’d share this story about a little 8 year old boy on my bus this summer. His name was Moishi and he was the quiet type who never drew attention to himself.

One day a couple of weeks ago, as he’s getting off the bus he turns to me and in slow and methodical English, informs me that he found a sum of money on the floor at his seat. It was a large bill. After thanking him for his honesty I said to him that I would hold onto it for a couple of days and try to find the owner. Four times over the next couple of days I asked all the “wiseguys” (my bus is named the Wiseguy Bus) if anyone had dropped the money. I also located the bus rabbi who had accompanied a group of older boys on my bus on a boating trip the week before and asked him to ask his class if anyone lost money recently.

There were no claims to the money, not even in joking. So the day of surrendering the loot to Moishi came. I waited until everyone got off the bus at the camp one morning and held him back as I didn’t want him to feel pressured regarding what I was going to say. I says to him, “ok Moishi the money is yours because no one has said they lost money, and I’d like to give you an opportunity to make a Mitzvah (good deed) if and only if you want to. I can give you the money, or I can use it to help feed someone who lives in the area and does not have enough food; a poor person.” I told him that I would not think anything less of him if he decided to keep the money because he was honest with me and in the Eyes of Hashem (God) he had already made a Mitzvah by virtue of his honesty.

So he pondered the idea for maybe 5 seconds and said, “give it to the hungry people.”

I assured him that his kindness was very pleasing to Hashem and that surely he would be rewarded by Him in one way or another and the kid smiled at me.

In the afternoon when everyone was on the bus to go home for the day, I quieted them down and announced I had something to tell them. Perfect teaching moment. I recounted what had occurred that morning to give the boy recognition for his kindness AND reminded them that this is the way a real man acts. They all took it in stride but knowing them well, I am sure the lesson was absorbed.

So, the point of bringing this story to a public venue, especially one so renowned for the hatred that is allowed to be voiced against these people is logic.

Where do these boys learn how to be good boys and then good men? From their parents, their schools, their rabbis, and during camp, their counselors. Ergo, if these people collectively are so horrible, such thieves, so wicked, etc, how is it that they produced such innocence and honesty?

So, this envelope with its message is going into the collection basket next Sunday at Mass and the message written on the envelope will ensure it goes towards feeding the hungry.”

By 5 Towns Central Staff

LAWRENCE, N.Y. (Sep. 1, 2026) — Bad weather is heading toward the local area and northern New Jersey, bringing several rounds of strong storms that could make driving dangerous over the next couple of days. Forecasters say a line of stormy weather is pushing in, creating messy conditions on the roads right around the time most people are heading home from work.

The biggest threat is expected later in the afternoon and into the evening hours. While a few light showers could pop up earlier in the day, the heaviest rain, strongest winds, and worst travel conditions will hit between late afternoon and tonight.

Main concerns include sudden downpours that can quickly flood streets, highways, and low-lying spots that do not drain well. Some of the stronger storms could also bring sudden gusts of damaging wind and small hail, which can knock down tree limbs, power lines, and loose objects outside.

Drivers and train riders should plan for delays, slow-moving traffic, low visibility, and standing water on main roadways throughout the evening. Local emergency teams recommend giving yourself extra time to get home, moving outdoor trash cans or patio furniture inside, and keeping your phone charged in case weather alerts go off later tonight.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

CEDARHURST, NY(Sep, 1 2026) —

“I have become aware of a message circulating on WhatsApp regarding the upcoming Peninsula Public Library Board meeting, including the troubling claim that those who spoke out at the last meeting engaged in “antisemitic rants.”

I was there.

The overwhelming majority of residents in attendance were Jewish, many Orthodox, and they came to raise legitimate concerns about the governance, transparency and conduct of the current Library Board. Calling those concerns antisemitic is simply inaccurate and serves only to deflect from the serious issues facing the library.

As for concerns about inappropriate books, whenever such an issue has been brought to my attention, I have spoken directly with our libraries, and they have always been extremely cooperative. That is precisely why libraries have trustees and a Board president. If the current Board believes there are serious problems with books, programming or hours, then it has both the authority and responsibility to address them. To suggest otherwise raises the question of who is actually governing the library.

There is also a very real concern about the extraordinary turnover among library staff. Many employees have left, with serious concerns raised about the manner in which staff have been treated by members of the Board. That deserves attention, not distraction.

As a New York State Assemblyman and an Orthodox, yarmulke-wearing Jew, I take real antisemitism extremely seriously. We should never diminish that word by using it to silence legitimate criticism or divide neighbors.

This should not be Jew against Jew or neighbor against neighbor. Our community deserves transparency, accountability and respectful leadership.

Let’s come together, lower the rhetoric and address the real issues facing our library.”

Assemblyman Ari Brown

By 5 Towns Central Staff

New York City(Sep, 1 2026) —

Popular children’s educator and YouTube personality Ms. Rachel was confronted about her public comments on Israel during an unexpected encounter at a neighborhood park, according to podcaster Avi Lichtschein.

Lichtschein discussed the exchange on a recent episode of his podcast, “Depends on the Context,” saying he happened to encounter Rachel Griffin Accurso while both were at the park with their children.

According to Lichtschein, he asked Accurso why she had taken what he viewed as an anti-Israel position. He said she responded that she was not opposed to Israel itself, but rather to the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Lichtschein said he challenged that distinction, arguing that criticism of Netanyahu and opposition to Israel can become difficult to separate when broader claims are made about the country’s actions.

The conversation also reportedly turned to Accurso’s statements accusing Israel of genocide in its war against Hamas. Lichtschein said she referenced the deaths of Palestinian children, while he argued that genocide has a specific legal and historical meaning and should not simply be used as a description of civilian deaths during a war.

He also warned that what he described as sweeping accusations against Israel can have consequences beyond the conflict itself, potentially contributing to hostility toward Jews around the world.

According to Lichtschein, Accurso emphasized during the conversation that she has Jewish family connections through her husband and considers herself supportive of Israel’s existence as a Jewish state. The exchange nevertheless became heated before Accurso walked away.

Lichtschein said he later spoke with Accurso’s husband and apologized for upsetting her, while maintaining that he stood by the substance of what he had said.

He explained that his intention was not necessarily to change Accurso’s views, but to challenge her to consider the influence and responsibility that come with having an enormous audience of parents and children.

Lichtschein said he believes Accurso’s activism is rooted in genuine concern for children rather than hatred toward Jews. He nevertheless criticized what he described as her willingness to amplify claims about Israel without fully considering their broader implications.

He also noted that Accurso has described herself as a Zionist, drawing a comparison to former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, while arguing that someone can identify as a Zionist and still hold strongly critical views of Israel.

Lichtschein’s central criticism, he said, is not that Accurso cares about Palestinian children, but that her massive platform gives her an added responsibility to carefully examine the information and accusations she promotes—particularly when they can influence public perceptions of Israel and Jews worldwide.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NYC, N.Y. (Sep, 1 2026) —

A Staten Island judge is weighing whether to halt the implementation of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s new pied-à-terre tax after homeowners challenged the way the city identified potentially affected properties.

During Monday’s hearing, State Supreme Court Justice Wayne Ozzi pressed city officials over how they determined which homeowners might owe the surcharge and whether the administration improperly placed the burden on residents to prove they qualified for an exemption.

The homeowners’ attorney, Randy Mastro, accused the city of a deeply flawed rollout that forced thousands of residents to disclose private information and, in some cases, hire attorneys to navigate the exemption process.

City attorney Steven Banks defended the administration’s approach, describing it as an evolving process in which some property owners were asked to provide additional documentation. He argued that the large number of homeowners who were ultimately granted exemptions demonstrated that the system was functioning.

The tax targets second homes valued at $5 million or more and is a key part of Mamdani’s plan to increase taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. The city’s Department of Finance was initially supposed to determine potential taxpayers using information such as property assessments and tax filings.

Approximately 17,000 property owners received notices in July, while the city recently began sending updated requests for information to roughly 11,000 additional property owners.

The lawsuit is focused on the city’s implementation and notices rather than seeking to eliminate the tax itself. The homeowners are also challenging the city’s publication of an online tax roll containing information on roughly 900,000 properties.

Justice Ozzi previously issued a temporary order blocking the tax, but an appeal allowed the city to continue moving forward. The homeowners are now seeking a permanent injunction.

A ruling is expected in the coming days or weeks.

9:50 AM – Accident Update: Thankfully, we are told all drivers are ok. An ambulance was on scene.

The roadway is still blocked off at this time.

—
9:00 AM – There is currently a bad accident at Forest and Peninsula. One car overturned, not cars are totaled. Police are on scene directing traffic. Avoid the area. Hope all are ok.

By: Rabbi Efrem Goldberg

A fascinating debate broke out online last week over a question that sounds semantic but is actually profound. Though it wasn’t framed this way, to me, the question being debated was essentially: is there a difference between being a Jew and being Jewish?

It began when comedian Hannah Einbinder expressed views sharply critical of Israel (not for the first time). Ben Shapiro responded, “Hannah Einbinder is about as Jewish as a ham sandwich.” He added, “If you believe that these people represent Jews or Judaism, then you believe Madonna represents Catholics or Catholicism.”

When someone, whether a celebrity or grassroots activist, invokes the “as a Jew” card to lend credibility to an argument or position that he regards as anti-Jewish, Ben’s response on several occasions has essentially been: Don’t use your Jewish identity to validate an argument that is antithetical to Judaism or harmful to the Jewish people.

Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone of Chabad.org pushed back. “There are many ways to criticize bad arguments,” he wrote. “Saying people who are indeed Jewish are about as Jewish as a ham sandwich is simply not it.” Shapiro responded: “Wrong. Using the mantle of Jewishness, something Einbinder and company demonstrate zero actual commitment to, in order to promote anti-Judaic insanity is fundamentally un-Jewish and ought to be called out as such.”

Then Rabbi Shais Taub joined the fray. “Torah is the final arbiter of all matters, including Jewish status,” he wrote. “You cannot revoke someone’s Jewishness even if you believe they are using that very status to advance ideas that are to the detriment of the Jewish people.” Rather than push such Jews away, he argued, we should devote ourselves to bringing our brothers and sisters back into the fold.

So who is right? When a Jew invokes “as a Jew” while advancing ideas we believe are deeply damaging to Judaism, Israel, or the Jewish people, do we say, “You’re about as Jewish as a ham sandwich”? Or is a Jew a Jew now and forever, and our responsibility is always to love them, embrace them, and try to bring them closer? The answer may be both.

The Gemara in Sanhedrin famously describes the sin of Achan, who disobeyed Hashem’s command not to take from the spoils of Yericho, with the words, ישראל אף על פי שחטא ישראל הוא, even though a Jew has sinned, he remains a Jew. The Gemara offers a beautiful metaphor: A myrtle standing among thorns remains a myrtle and is still called a myrtle. Achan’s crime was devastating and damaging: he had not merely committed some private aveirah, rather his actions brought catastrophe upon the Jewish people. Nevertheless, Chazal insist that his essential identity remained unchanged.

The Gemara in Yevamos takes this even further. A convert who properly completes the conversion process is k’Yisrael l’chol devarav, Jewish in every respect. What happens if that convert later abandons Judaism? He remains a Jew. If he marries and decides to abandon Yiddishkeit, his kiddushin remains valid because he is now a Yisrael mumar, an apostate Jew, but a Jew nonetheless. The Rambam codifies the same principle regarding someone born Jewish who converts to another religion. Even if he willingly worships idols, his kiddushin remain fully binding. There is no reverse conversion. There are no backsies. Once you are a Jew, you are a Jew forever.

The Gemara in Kiddushin adds another dimension. The Torah says, בנים אתם לה׳ אלקיכם, “You are children of Hashem your God.” Rabbi Yehuda understands this conditionally: Only when we behave like Hashem’s children are we called His children. When we do not, we lose that designation. Rabbi Meir disagrees: בין כך ובין כך אתם קרויים בנים, either way, you are called children. The Gemara supports Rabbi Meir with a series of pesukim describing Jews as foolish children, faithless children, even destructive children. The Torah is telling us something: at times we may act like terrible children, but we remain children.

Remarkably, the Rashba writes that although we ordinarily follow Rabbi Yehuda in a dispute between Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Meir, here the halacha follows Rabbi Meir because the pesukim brought by the Gemara support him. As any parent can relate to, no matter what we do to upset our Father in Heaven, we remain Hashem’s children.

That is particularly important as we enter Elul and approach Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Some of us look back at the year and feel inadequate. We have made the same mistakes again. We have disappointed ourselves and Hashem. Maybe we wonder whether we have exhausted His patience. But still we pasken like Rabbi Meir. Banim atem laHashem Elokeichem. You are still His child and will always be his child.

Rebbe Mordechai of Kuzmir finds a beautiful allusion in the unusual formulation banim atem. Why does the Torah need the word atem? Elsewhere, regarding the rabbinic authority over the Jewish calendar, Chazal derive from the word osam: אתם אפילו שוגגין, אתם אפילו מזידין, אתם אפילו מוטעין—even when you err unintentionally, even deliberately, even when you are mistaken. Rebbe Mordechai takes the same word with different vowelization – “Atem” – and reads the same message here: Banim atem. You remain Hashem’s children afilu shogegin, afilu mezidin, afilu mut’in. When we make mistakes, when we knowingly make the wrong choices, even when we are confused and lost, Hashem has not given up on us.

This is why the Gemara says that a communal fast that does not include the sinners of Israel is not a proper fast. It is why, before Kol Nidrei, we announce, אנו מתירין להתפלל עם העבריינים, we permit ourselves to pray together with the transgressors. And who are the transgressors? We might imagine we are welcoming the Jew who drove to shul on Yom Kippur. But if we are honest, we are also talking about ourselves. We are all the avaryanim. None of us should imagine that we are so perfect that we automatically deserve a place in the room.

This is a running theme throughout much of Jewish law and thought. The chelbenah, the malodorous spice, was nevertheless essential to the ketores. The aravah has neither taste nor fragrance, yet without it there are no complete arba minim. Klal Yisrael includes Jews who are distant, confused, alienated, and sinful. The very word we use to describe a community, “צבור – Tzibbur,” many point out, stands for “Tzaddikim, Beinonim, V’R’shaim.”

These sources certainly sound like they support the approach of Rabbis Lightstone and Taub. A Jew is a Jew, always a child of Hashem.

So was Ben Shapiro simply wrong, is his approach extreme, unforgiving and maybe even inaccurate? Not necessarily. The Rishonim introduce another category that changes the conversation. There is Yisrael, and there is “Achicha.” Yisrael describes who you fundamentally are. Achicha, your brother, describes how you participate in the covenantal fraternity of the Jewish people and how we relate to you.

The Maharam Mi’Rutenburg distinguishes between the two. Certain Halachos are based simply on being Jewish. Gittin and kiddushin, marriage and divorce, for example, remain fully operative even for an apostate Jew. But other mitzvos are explicitly formulated in terms of achicha. The Torah commands us to return aveidas achicha, our brother’s lost object. We may not charge our brother interest. Somebody can therefore remain Yisrael while forfeiting aspects of achva. There are times we are instructed, even obligated, to treat a Jew as if he was not a Jew.

There are, in other words, two levels: דרגת ישראל ודרגת אחוה. When it comes to Jewish identity, Hashem decides who is a Jew. And a Jew is a Jew is a Jew. But achva describes the way we relate to and behave toward our fellow Jews. If someone deliberately removes himself from the Jewish people and works against them, the Rishonim recognize that those choices can affect that status and that status affects the privileges he or she enjoys and how we relate to him or her.

This is where the conversation becomes especially relevant today. The Rambam describes the poresh midarkei tzibbur, one who separates himself from the Jewish community, in startling language: אף על פי שלא עבר עבירות, even though he has committed no aveiros. Imagine someone who keeps Shabbos, is meticulous about kashrus and is personally scrupulous about halacha. But he is nivdal mei’adas Yisrael, he separates himself from the Jewish people. Continues the Rambam,ולא נכנס בצרתן, he does not enter into their suffering. He does not feel their pain. Their enemies are not his enemies. Their danger is not his danger. Their destiny is not his destiny. He conducts himself, says the Rambam, k’ilu eino meihem, as though he is not one of them. That is itself a profound religious failure and it impacts his place in the community in this world and his very entrance to the next one.

We need to be exceedingly careful here. Criticizing Israel or its government, leaders, or officers does not make someone an enemy of the Jewish people. Advocating for Palestinians does not remove someone from achva. There is plenty about Israel and about the Jewish community that can legitimately be criticized. Where exactly the line is crossed is a serious and complicated halachic question, and labels such as mumar, moser, and poresh midarkei tzibbur (and more modern terminology like “Kapo” or “self-hating Jew”) should not be thrown around casually. But there is a difference between criticizing policies and leveling blood libels against the Jewish state. There is a difference between advocating for another people and actively undermining the safety and security of your own, a clear distinction between disagreement and disassociation.

Moshe Rabbeinu provides the opposite model: ויגדל משה ויצא אל אחיו וירא בסבלותם, Moshe went out to his brothers and saw their suffering. What helped make Moshe the quintessential leader of the Jewish people was precisely achva. He saw other Jews as his brothers. Rashi tells us that he placed his eyes and heart upon their suffering. Jewishness is not only what you eat, how you observe Shabbos, or which mitzvos you perform. It is also whose pain you feel, whose fate you share, and whom you call your brother.

And that brings us back to Ben Shapiro’s ham sandwich. Perhaps what the conversation is missing is distinguishing between the noun Jew and the adjective Jewish. Jew is an identity. Jewish is a description. A Jew you are forever. Yisrael af al pi shechata, Yisrael hu. Even if you espouse ideas as non-kosher as a ham sandwich, you remain a Jew. Only Hashem determines Jewish identity, and no tweet, political position, or personal rebellion can undo it.

But are your ideas Jewish? Are your actions Jewish? Are you behaving Jewishly? Are you a representative of the Jewish people? Are you living with achva, seeing other Jews as achicha? That is a different question. In that sense, Ben’s formulation can be understood differently, and to me is compelling. He was not, to me, saying that such a person is no longer a Jew. He was saying that invoking “as a Jew” does not magically make an argument Jewish. You can be a Jew while espousing profoundly un-Jewish ideas.

Indeed, when espousing un-Jewish and anti-Jewish ideas with the introduction “as a Jew,” it is particularly dangerous and damaging. Historically, apostate Jews often walked away and disavowed their Jewish identity. They sought to assimilate, integrate, and erase their status as Jews. Today, by contrast, some of the most vociferous voices leveling false accusations against Israel have abandoned the Rambam’s basic criteria for being worthy of achva status, all while prominently waving the “as a Jew” card.

In that sense, perhaps the ham sandwich metaphor is particularly fitting. Chazal describe the pig as stretching out its split hooves, as if to announce, “Look, I am kosher,” while concealing the fact that it does not chew its cud and is therefore not kosher at all. The pig is a symbol not merely of what is forbidden, but of the hypocrisy of publicly displaying the credential that suggests legitimacy while behaving in a way that contradicts it. There is something similarly troubling about invoking one’s Jewish identity not as a source of responsibility to the Jewish people, but as a credential to lend greater legitimacy to those who attack them. The repeated declaration “as a Jew” can become the outstretched hoof, holding up Jewish identity precisely while advancing ideas profoundly at odds with Jewish solidarity and responsibility.

Rav Soloveitchik’s famous distinction between Bris Avos and Bris Sinai helps illuminate this further. Before Sinai, we already had a covenant. We were the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. Bris Avos makes us a family. It gives us a common history, identity, belonging, loyalty, and destiny. Then came Bris Sinai. At Sinai we said na’aseh v’nishma. We accepted Torah, Halacha, and mitzvos.

This distinction is embedded in Birchas HaTorah: אשר בחר בנו מכל העמים ונתן לנו את תורתו. First, bachar banu—He chose us, a people. Then, v’nasan lanu es Toraso—He gave us the Torah. Peoplehood precedes obligation. Bris Avos precedes Bris Sinai.

Tragically, much of the Jewish world today shares our Bris Avos but not our Bris Sinai. They may not observe Shabbos or kashrus, may not believe in Torah min HaShamayim, and may know little about mitzvos. But they identify passionately with the Jewish people. Israel matters to them. Jewish suffering hurts them. Jewish celebrations move them. We may desperately want to help them discover Bris Sinai, but we already share Bris Avos.

There are also Jews with whom we share Bris Sinai but who seem strangely disconnected from Bris Avos, from the larger Jewish family and its collective fate. And then there is the most painful possibility: someone who seems to reject both. Neither Bris Sinai nor Bris Avos. Neither the covenant of Torah nor identification with the fate and family of the Jewish people. Perhaps that is the person the Rambam describes as k’ilu eino meihem—someone who behaves as though he is not one of us.

So who is right, Ben Shapiro or Rabbis Lightstone and Taub? Rabbis Lightstone and Taub are unquestionably right about the Jew. Yisrael af al pi shechata, Yisrael hu. A Jew is a Jew. We don’t give up on another Jew because Hashem doesn’t give up on another Jew. Banim atem laHashem Elokeichem. We should reach out, invite, educate, inspire, put on tefillin together, share a Shabbos table, and try to awaken the Jewish soul that remains present no matter how deeply buried.

But Ben is right about the word Jewish. Being born a Jew does not make everything one says a Jewish position. Invoking “as a Jew” does not give Torah credibility to an idea. Jewish identity is unconditional but living Jewishly is not. A Jew is never a treif piece of ham but an idea, even if said by a Jew, can be and sometimes it is necessary to point that out, protest and set the record straight.

You can never stop being a Jew. But you can certainly stop acting very Jewish. And perhaps the challenge is not merely to decide which description applies to someone else.

Elul asks each of us the same question. Hashem has already decided that we are His children. Nothing can change that. The question we have to answer is: How Jewishly are we choosing to live?

By 5 Towns Central Staff

WOODMERE, N.Y. (Aug. 31, 2026) — This past Friday, three boys sat along Hewlett Neck Road in Woodmere with a table, a large drink dispenser and a small box for tzedakah.

They weren’t selling lemonade. They were offering drinks to passersby so they could make a bracha l’iluy nishmas Allison “Ally” Rahmani, a”h, who tragically passed away. They also collected donations to tzedakah in her memory.

A man who was biking by told 5TC how moved he was by the scene:

“I thought this was something that was so special! They told me they got 65 brachos so far. It was amazing to see how much they care.”

Wow. Mi K’amcha Yisroel.

May the neshama of Aliza bas Raizel Chana have an aliyah, and may the family be blessed with a nechama.

Congressman Randy Fine, “the Hebrew Hammer,” received a thunderous standing ovation at the RJC Leadership Summit in Las Vegas:

“In the 1930s, there were only two kinds of Jews – those who left, and those who died. Today, both in the State of Israel – and here in the United States – there is a third kind. Those who fight. I am proud to be one of those.”

Congressman @VoteRandyFine, the Hebrew Hammer, received a thunderous standing ovation at the RJC Leadership Summit in Las Vegas:

"In the 1930s, there were only two kinds of Jews – those who left, and those who died.

Today, both in the State of Israel – and here in the United… pic.twitter.com/7i4kn02jo6

— RJC (@RJC) August 31, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Aug. 31, 2026) — National political attention has turned toward the annual Republican Jewish Coalition gathering, where senior administration figures and top foreign policy leaders are convening for high-level discussions on defense priorities, Middle East strategy, and domestic alliances.

Vice President JD Vance is slated to address attendees during a closed-door session on Monday. Among other prominent dignitaries participating in the summit are Indiana Senator Jim Banks and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter. The presence of these officials highlights the deep strategic coordination between congressional leadership, diplomatic envoys, and the executive branch.

According to recent reports, the decision to hold the address outside the presence of the general press corps has drawn significant interest across the political spectrum.

Investigative Journalist Laura Loomer shared the following thoughts: “Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition on Monday, August 31st has now been listed as “CLOSED PRESS”.

Also in attendance at JD’s speech will be Jim Banks and Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States. The VP and Senator Banks have consulted with each other on staffing decisions, and they are close friends with many of the same advisors.

It’s great that they are both attending. It’s too bad this speech is now “CLOSED PRESS”.

This is an opportunity for the Vice President to speak directly to Jewish, Evangelical and and pro-Israel Americans and let it be known definitively that he wants to distance himself from the views of the Woke Reich and their isolationist, anti-Israel foreign policy which is not America First. I personally think it’s a good opportunity for the VP if done the right way, and I think he should welcome the press. I’d like to see the media broadcast a powerful speech by the VP in which he condemns Tucker Qatarlson and the Jihadists and Islamic communists who are working hand in hand to destroy our country ahead of November.

Tucker has declared war on the GOP anyway by creating a third party to be the Nazified Ross Perot of 2028. Everyone should condemn him. This would be a defining speech for the Vice President’s political career and it’s a great opportunity if he takes advantage of it.

VP Vance certainly knows how to speak to reporters and answer questions. I hope he welcomes the media. I look forward to his speech.”

By 5 Towns Central Staff

MANHATTAN, NYC (Aug. 31, 2026)

A Jewish man was assaulted Monday near 47th Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan in what authorities are investigating as an antisemitic hate crime.

The victim was approached by a man who stole his hat before striking him in the temple while shouting antisemitic and deeply offensive remarks. The suspect then fled the area.

NYPD officers and Manhattan Shomrim responded quickly, and the suspect was later taken into custody.

Although the suspect was released without bail, the case remains active and he is expected to face prosecution for the alleged assault and hate crime charges.

The NYPD Hate Crimes Unit is continuing to investigate the incident. Appreciation was also expressed to the responding officers and Manhattan Shomrim volunteers for assisting the victim and helping bring the suspect into custody.

Antisemitic attacks and harassment have no place in New York City. Anyone who witnesses an incident or becomes a victim of an attack is urged to call 911 and Manhattan Shomrim at 212-430-2024.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant, look out for one another and report suspicious or threatening behavior.

[

View this post on Instagram

](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dcq8VbpRGG4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)

A post shared by Manhattan Shomrim Safety Patrol (@mssp.shomrim)

By 5 Towns Central Staff

INWOOD, N.Y. (Aug. 31, 2026) — The Fourth Squad reports the arrest of a Far Rockaway man for an incident that occurred on Saturday, August 29th at 9:34 pm in Inwood.

According to Detectives, two 15-year-old males were riding an E-Bike near Bayview Avenue when they were approached by an unknown male subject. The subject brandished a handgun and demanded the victim’s E-Bike.

The victims, in fear for their life, complied and the subject fled the scene on the E-bike. Fourth Precinct officers conducted a thorough investigation and located defendant, L**** S****, 26, of Village Lane and placed him into police custody without incident. A stolen firearm was recovered. No injuries were reported.

The Defendant is charged with Robbery 1st Degree, two counts of Criminal Use of a Firearm 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th Degree and Menacing 2nd Degree.

He was arraigned on Sunday, August 30, 2026 at First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead.

The Village of Cedarhurst held its 10th annual Car Show today at Andrew J. Parise Park.

The event featured classic cars, muscle cars, vintage vehicles, trucks and custom cars, bringing car enthusiasts together for a fun day in the park.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

RICHMOND HILL, N.Y. (Aug. 30, 2026) — Authorities are reviewing an overnight defacement incident after multiple commercial spaces and professional offices within a Queens shopping plaza were tagged with hostile markings and hate-fueled imagery.

The incident took place late Thursday evening into the early morning hours of Friday at the Lefferts Plaza commercial facility, positioned near the intersection of Hillside Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard. Among the impacted locations was a local legal practice, alongside several neighboring storefronts and office suites situated adjacent to a nearby catering venue.

Perpetrators targeted exterior signage, promotional display boards, and property facades throughout the premises. The markings included swastikas, a Star of David, and written slogans referencing genocide, scrawled prominently across advertisements and business entryways. The nature of the symbols left business owners and community members deeply concerned over targeted intimidation in the commercial corridor.

An official determination regarding whether the case will be formally prosecuted as a bias-motivated hate crime remains under assessment as investigators review physical evidence left at the scene. At present, no specific suspects have been publicly identified, and the precise timeline of the overnight vandalism has not yet been established.

Investigators are actively canvassing the commercial strip and reviewing nearby surveillance systems to locate any footage that may have captured the individual or group responsible. Community leaders and law enforcement personnel are urging local residents, business operators, and motorists who traveled near the vicinity of Hillside Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard during the overnight hours to review their security feeds and dashcam recordings. Anyone who observed suspicious activity in the surrounding area is encouraged to reach out to local law enforcement to assist in the ongoing inquiry.

By: Rabbi Shay Tahan

It sounds almost like something from a bizarre movie: a prison surrounded by trenches filled with crocodiles. Yet this is precisely the unusual security proposal being advanced by Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. The plan calls for Nile crocodiles to be placed in trenches surrounding Ketziot Prison in southern Israel, where Palestinian security prisoners, including detainees from Gaza, are being held. Supporters of the initiative argue that the crocodiles could provide an additional deterrent against escape while reducing the burden on prison guards. The proposal has already moved beyond the realm of a mere idea: trenches have reportedly been dug at the facility, and preparations have been made for a pilot program.

For now, however, the plan has been put on hold. A Jerusalem District Court issued a temporary injunction preventing the transfer of crocodiles to the prison after an animal-welfare organization challenged the government’s authority to implement the project and raised concerns about the welfare of the animals. Thus, in an extraordinary twist, the immediate legal obstacle to the “crocodile prison” has not been the security concerns surrounding the prisoners, but the question of whether the crocodiles themselves may legally be brought to the site.

But this unusual proposal raises an equally unusual halachic question: Is it permissible to bring and maintain wild and dangerous animals in a place where people are present? While the public debate has focused on the security of the prisoners and, somewhat ironically, on the welfare of the reptiles themselves, there is another concern that deserves attention: the safety of the general public. What happens if a crocodile escapes from its enclosure? What if someone accidentally falls into one of the trenches? And more fundamentally, does halachah permit a person to deliberately create a potential source of danger, even when it is intended to serve a legitimate security purpose?

In this article, we will examine the relevant sources in Chazal and the poskim concerning dangerous animals, the obligation to avoid creating situations of danger, and the extent to which one may introduce and maintain inherently dangerous animals in an area where people are present.

The Torah establishes that, under ordinary circumstances, when an animal causes damage, its owner is liable for only half of the damage. Such an animal is considered tam, meaning that it has not yet established a pattern of causing damage. After the animal has caused damage on three occasions and thereby established itself as one that is likely to cause harm, it becomes a mu’ad, and its owner is liable for the full amount of the damage.

The Mishnah (Bava Kamma 15b), however, teaches that this rule does not apply equally to all animals. Certain animals are considered mu’ad from the outset, meaning that their dangerous nature is so well established that they are treated as mu’ad even before they have caused any damage. The Mishnah lists several examples, including the lion, wolf, bear, leopard, and snake. Since these animals are inherently dangerous, they are considered mu’ad from the outset, and their owners are subject to the greater liability associated with a mu’ad.

In light of this principle, one might ask whether a crocodile should likewise be included among the animals that are mu’ad from the outset. A crocodile is a large and inherently dangerous wild animal, capable of causing severe injury or death. Unlike a domesticated animal, it cannot ordinarily be presumed to be harmless simply because it has not previously caused damage.

The discussion, however, goes beyond the question of financial liability. The Maharshal, in his Yam Shel Shlomo, makes a significant point concerning dangerous animals. He writes that, in addition to the owner’s liability for damage caused by such an animal, one is not permitted to bring such wild and dangerous animals into his possession in the first place.

This introduces a second and fundamentally different halachic question. The first concerns liability for damages: if a dangerous animal causes injury or property damage, what responsibility does its owner bear? The second concerns the very act of keeping the animal: is a person permitted to keep a dangerous creature when doing so creates a potential danger to others?

This distinction is particularly relevant to the proposed use of crocodiles at a prison. Even if the crocodiles were to be kept in specially constructed trenches, securely separated from the prisoners and from the general public, and even if their sole purpose were to provide an additional layer of security, the question remains whether halachah permits the deliberate introduction and maintenance of such inherently dangerous animals in an area where human beings are present.

Thus, the issue is not merely what the halachah would require if a crocodile escaped and caused damage. The more fundamental question is whether one may create such a potential danger in the first place.

To explore this question, we must turn to another Mishnah in Bava Kamma (79b), which addresses the question of keeping a potentially dangerous animal. The Mishnah teaches that one may not raise a dog unless it is kept securely chained. The Gemara (83a) further explains that there are circumstances in which a person may keep a dog for security purposes. For example, people who live near the border of enemy territory may keep the dog chained during the day and release it at night while they sleep, allowing it to protect them from potential danger.

From this discussion, we can potentially derive two important principles relevant to our case.

First, the danger posed by an animal may be mitigated when the animal is properly secured and prevented from coming into contact with people. The Gemara’s discussion of a chained dog demonstrates that the mere possession of a potentially dangerous animal does not necessarily constitute a prohibition when adequate precautions are taken to prevent it from causing harm. This could be relevant to the proposed crocodiles, which are intended to remain within specially constructed trenches and away from areas accessible to the public.

Second, the Gemara establishes that there are circumstances in which a dangerous animal may be kept for a legitimate security purpose. The Gemara specifically discusses people living in dangerous areas who are permitted to keep a dog for protection. Accordingly, one might argue that just as a dangerous dog may be kept when it serves to protect people from an external threat, so too a crocodile could potentially be permitted when it serves a security function—such as preventing dangerous terrorists from escaping and potentially causing further harm.

Thus, the proposed use of crocodiles presents two possible grounds for leniency: the animals are intended to be securely contained, and their presence serves a legitimate security purpose.

The Ripstein family is donating a Sefer Torah today, L’iluy nishmas Sol Ripstein A”h.

The procession is taking place this morning on Church Ave in Woodmere and bringing the Torah to the Schwimmer Minyan on Church. Church is blocked off.

Mazel Tov, and may the neshama have an aliyah.

Happening Now: The Ripstein family is donating a Sefer Torah today, L'iluy nishmas Sol Ripstein A"h. The procession is taking place now on Church Ave in Woodmere and bringing the Torah to the Schwimmer Minyan on Church. pic.twitter.com/Oqz8A5MzXm

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) August 30, 2026

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein discusses hachanos for the Yomim Noraim with members of Yeshiva Kinor Dovid. He emphasizes that while the Rambam identifies 13 principles of faith, these can be distilled into three core concepts essential for believing in Hashem and securing divine salvation:

The Existence of Hashem (Mitsiut Hashem): Recognizing the reality of the Creator.
Divine Providence (Hashgacha): Believing that all events are orchestrated by Hashem.
The Truth of the Torah (Torah Min HaShamayim): Understanding that the Torah comes directly from the Almighty.

Rabbi Glatstein explains how Mussaf is built upon these three principles, noting that it contains 1,820 words—the exact number of times Hashem’s name appears in the Torah.

He highlights that the most important intention when hearing the Shofar is to actively fulfill the mitzvah and to yearn for the arrival of Mashiach.

He discusses how maintaining peace and Shalom within a shul or yeshiva is a powerful tool to help bring the ultimate redemption.

The latter portion of the video features a Q&A session where Rabbi Glatstein answers questions from students regarding topics such as the color of an esrog, how to perform teshuva for speech-related aveiros, and his own journey to becoming a Rav.

By 5 Towns Central Staff
**
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Aug. 30, 2026)** — State leadership is moving to reinforce protective measures and bolster safety resources for Jewish institutions and community centers across New York as the High Holiday season approaches.

During an appearance at a Manhattan synagogue on Friday, Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that the state is prepared to allocate additional funding and deploy New York State Police personnel to help secure houses of worship throughout the upcoming holiday period. The state executive underscored an ongoing commitment to safeguarding religious sites and ensuring that community members can gather and pray without fear.

The heightened security measures follow an incident earlier this month in which an intruder entered the midtown Manhattan sanctuary during Friday night services, assaulting an attendee and a member of the building’s security team before being apprehended. Following that disturbance, local and state officials emphasized the urgent need to maintain fortified perimeters and visible law enforcement patrols around sensitive communal facilities.

With New York serving as home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, the governor emphasized the administration’s broader duty to confront acts of hatred and bigotry directly, noting that violence against any single group represents an affront to the entire state. The administration indicated that investments in physical security grants, infrastructure hardening, and proactive law enforcement coordination will remain top priorities throughout the autumn holidays and beyond.

The security commitments also arrive amid broader civic discussions regarding leadership stances on antisemitism and municipal governance. State officials have reiterated that local leaders must maintain an unwavering focus on municipal safety and community cohesion, assuring residents that state agencies will remain vigilant and actively coordinate with community leaders to ensure comprehensive protection for congregations throughout the region.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 30, 2026) — A high-level delegation composed of leading Chassidic Rebbes and prominent Roshei Yeshiva is preparing to convene with President Donald J. Trump at the White House later this week. The forthcoming gathering follows extensive coordination to bring together influential rabbinical authorities from across the country for a direct dialogue with the nation’s chief executive.

The anticipated delegation includes prominent figures across major communities, among them the Satmar Rebbes, the Skverer Rebbe, the Bobover Rebbe, the Bobov-45 Rebbe, and the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey. In addition, major leaders from leading yeshivot, including Rabbi Malkiel Kotler of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, are slated to participate in the summit alongside other senior communal leaders.

Participants intend to utilize the session to voice critical priorities impacting religious Jewish communities across the United States and abroad. Community representatives also plan to express their appreciation for ongoing support, religious liberty protections, and federal initiatives that benefit their institutions and families.

During a weekend gathering in Kiryas Yoel, the Satmar Rebbe reflected on the decision to attend the upcoming Thursday summit. While initially hesitant to divert focus from intensive Torah study and the heightened spiritual preparations typical of the current Hebrew calendar month, he ultimately resolved to join the delegation. He explained that high-level civic engagement historically serves as a crucial avenue to advocate for individuals facing hardship and to intervene on pressing global matters, including current conscription pressures confronting yeshiva students in Israel.

The visit is expected to address several pressing concerns regarding institutional autonomy and civil protections, while fostering direct channels of communication between community leadership and federal administration officials.

Great Work: RNSP and NCPD saved a member of the community from being scammed to the tone of $20,000.

Should you ever suspect a scam, call 911 and the 24-hour RNSP Hotline at 516-858-7300.

Gut Vuch & Shavuah Tov to all!

Iran Reportedly Launches Missiles Toward U.S.-Escorted Vessels

Iran has reportedly fired anti-ship cruise missiles from southern Iran toward vessels traveling under U.S. protection through the U.S.-backed southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz, according to multiple preliminary reports.

The activity comes as significant U.S. military operations are being reported over the strategic waterway. At least five U.S. Air Force KC-135 and KC-46A aerial refueling tankers, along with two Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, have reportedly been operating in the area.

Israeli Forces Eliminate Hamas Operatives in Jenin and Gaza

An Israeli Air Force strike in the Jenin area killed Hamas operative Qais Bitawi and two associates on Friday in a joint IDF and Shin Bet operation based on intelligence gathered by the security agency.

Israeli officials said Bitawi was a senior Hamas figure in the Jenin refugee camp who had been involved in organizing, financing and directing attacks against Israeli civilians and security personnel. He was also accused of maintaining connections with Hamas leadership in Gaza and abroad.

The operation was launched after Israeli forces located Bitawi. He and two other suspects were struck shortly after leaving a vehicle near a building. Weapons were subsequently discovered inside the vehicle.

Bitawi was reportedly related to Nour Bitawi, a former commander of the Jenin terrorist network who was killed by Israeli forces in May 2025.

In Gaza, the IDF said it struck a Hamas military commander in Deir al-Balah who had been working to rebuild the group’s capabilities and advance attacks against Israeli troops and civilians, despite the ceasefire.

The commander was reportedly operating from the grounds of Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital. The IDF accused Hamas of continuing to use medical facilities and other humanitarian infrastructure for military activity.

Israeli officials said medical authorities in Gaza had been warned on August 27 that terrorist activity from medical facilities would prompt military action.

Additional IDF strikes reportedly killed Hamas figures Hani Abd al-Hai Fakhri Mazloum, a Nukba company commander, and Hassan Zidan Hassan Deiri, a sniper. The two were also accused of supplying and trafficking weapons for Hamas and continuing efforts to rebuild its military capabilities.

Another Hamas commander, Ibrahim Nabil Ibrahim Bass, was killed in the Al-Shati area. The IDF said Bass had previously infiltrated Israel and participated in the October 7 massacre.

In a separate operation in the Sabra area, Israeli forces killed Hamdi Ahmad Hamid Kahlil, an observation platoon commander for Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The IDF said both Bass and Kahlil had continued efforts to restore terrorist capabilities and facilitate attacks against Israeli forces and civilians.

U.S. Reportedly Preparing to End Military Aid to Kurdish Peshmerga

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to end U.S. military assistance to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Peshmerga forces when the current agreement expires September 30, according to the BBC.

The potential policy shift could mark a significant change in Washington’s military relationship with Kurdish forces that have played an important role in combating ISIS.

Ben-Gvir Challenges Netanyahu Over Reported Political Merger Talks

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has publicly confronted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over reports that Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin are discussing a possible political merger.

Ben-Gvir questioned whether Netanyahu and Smotrich had deliberately promoted calls for unity with his party as a tactic to pressure Feiglin during the negotiations.

“It’s one thing to boycott events I attend,” Ben-Gvir said, questioning whether the public unity push was simply a political maneuver. He ended his criticism with a pointed reminder: “My name is Itamar Ben-Gvir, not Benny Gantz.”

Political analyst Amit Segal said the dispute represents an escalation within Netanyahu’s political bloc. Segal also reported that Netanyahu was not aware of or involved in the Smotrich-Feiglin negotiations, raising questions about the prime minister’s influence over the parties that make up his coalition.

Israeli Political Alliances Continue to Shift

Meanwhile, tensions surrounding the political debate over the E1 area have become part of a broader dispute between Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot. One argument being raised is that politicians who oppose the creation of a Palestinian state should support Israeli construction in E1.

Separately, former UN ambassador Gilad Erdan and Benny Gantz have met as discussions over a potential political merger reportedly move forward, with negotiations expected to accelerate in the coming days.

Besuros Tovos!

By 5 Towns Central Staff
**
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Aug. 28, 2026)**

A group of Gedolim, including Harav Moshe Sternbuch, Harav Shmuel Brandsdorfer, Harav Avraham Yitzchak Ulman and Harav Yehoshua Rosenberger, have issued a public p’sak prohibiting the use of musical instruments during davening.

The ruling specifically addresses the use of instruments during Hallel on Rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed, as well as during Selichos.

The rabbanim write that the recent practice of bringing musical accompaniment into shuls and batei medrash is contrary to the established mesorah and echoes a practice that the Chasam Sofer and his talmidim previously opposed. They state that introducing such changes into the traditional order of tefillah falls under the prohibition of “chukas hagoyim.”

According to the proclamation, the prohibition applies to all involved, including the musicians, gabbaim and those participating in the tefillah. The rabbanim further state that the prohibition remains applicable even when the musical accompaniment is intended for kiruv or fundraising purposes.

**
**

By 5 Towns Central Staff
**
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Aug. 28, 2026)**

New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, accusing it of refusing to comply with a new state law restricting local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Rensselaer County Supreme Court, asks a judge to force Sheriff Kyle Bourgault’s office to terminate its agreement with ICE.

James said local law enforcement agencies are required to follow state law and accused the sheriff’s office of continuing to defy the new restrictions despite being given opportunities to comply.

Bourgault, however, argues that ending the agreement could undermine public safety. He has vowed to continue fighting for the sheriff’s authority to make local decisions and use what he considers lawful tools to protect residents.

The law, which took effect Tuesday, prohibits local police and sheriff’s departments from entering agreements with ICE to assist with federal civil immigration enforcement. Supporters say such arrangements damage trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement and divert resources away from local public safety.

Rensselaer County is among more than a dozen sheriff’s offices challenging the law in federal court. The sheriffs argue that Albany overstepped its authority by restricting independently elected local officials from entering federally authorized agreements.

The dispute has intensified tensions between Gov. Kathy Hochul and law enforcement officials opposed to the measure. Hochul has warned that agencies refusing to comply could face legal action, while James and Hochul have dismissed the sheriffs’ federal lawsuit as without merit.

The federal government has also challenged the law. The Justice Department filed its own lawsuit in June seeking to block the restrictions, but a judge declined to issue an injunction, allowing the law to take effect.

Of the 12 local law enforcement agencies that previously maintained ICE agreements, 11 have informed the attorney general that they intend to comply with the new requirements. Rensselaer County remains the major holdout as its separate federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the law moves forward.

By 5 Towns Central Staff
**
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Aug. 28, 2026)**

New York state health regulators have advanced the proposed takeover of Brooklyn’s Maimonides Medical Center by NYC Health + Hospitals, despite significant opposition from residents and community leaders.

The move is another step toward bringing the financially troubled 711-bed hospital into the city’s public health system. The proposal has been under intense scrutiny, including at City Council hearings, where lawmakers and community members raised concerns about the hospital’s future and its role in the surrounding community.

Supporters argue that joining NYC Health + Hospitals could strengthen Maimonides financially, particularly through improved reimbursement from government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, while allowing the hospital to maintain its specialty services. The city has also pledged to preserve kosher food and Jewish religious accommodations.

Opponents, however, remain deeply concerned about the long-term impact of the deal and whether commitments made today will be maintained by future administrations.

The merger has already faced legal challenges. In May, an Albany County judge ruled that the state had not properly completed the required review process and sent the matter back for further proceedings.

The latest regulatory action moves the transaction forward, but it does not end the legal and political fight. Community opponents say they intend to continue challenging the merger and fighting over the future of one of Brooklyn’s most prominent hospitals.

Earlier Today @AMLesterChangNY and I, along with over a dozen local community activists, testified on behalf of our communities at the Public Health and Health Planning Council’s hearing on the proposal to give away Maimonides Medical Center, our neighborhood non-profit hospital,… pic.twitter.com/Q1JziZx4hP

— Simcha Eichenstein (@SEichenstein) August 28, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff
**
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Aug. 28, 2026)**

The FAA is taking steps to fire two air traffic controllers who allegedly left their shifts early on the night of the deadly March collision at LaGuardia Airport, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The controllers reportedly clocked out about an hour before their scheduled shifts ended. While leaving early—known among controllers as an “early shove”—can occur amid severe staffing shortages and demanding six-day workweeks, doing so without authorization is considered timecard fraud.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA will hold employees accountable when misconduct puts additional pressure on other controllers or potentially affects air traffic operations.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it is working with FAA leadership regarding the matter.

The March 23 collision between an aircraft and a fire truck killed both pilots, injured dozens of people and forced LaGuardia to shut down for more than 12 hours.

A preliminary NTSB investigation found that one controller was managing both ground and air traffic that night, despite those responsibilities typically being handled separately. Following a similar deadly accident at LaGuardia in 1997, controllers were instructed not to combine the positions before midnight.

However, investigators noted that the other controller working in the tower at the time was dealing with a separate emergency involving another aircraft that had landed with smoke inside the cockpit.

The FAA investigation into the controllers’ conduct comes as questions continue to focus on staffing levels and operational procedures at one of the nation’s busiest airports.

By 5 Towns Central Staff
**
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Aug. 28, 2026)**

New York is set to add its first new nuclear reactor in nearly four decades as the state faces growing electricity demand and some of the nation’s highest energy costs.

The reactor is planned for Fort Drum in northern New York as part of the Army’s Project Janus initiative to develop small nuclear reactors at military installations. Westinghouse has been selected for the roughly $2.2 billion project, which is expected to be operational within five years.

The Army plans to eventually develop about 20 microreactors at bases across the country, with private companies operating the facilities.

The move marks a shift in New York’s energy strategy following years of efforts to transition away from nuclear power and toward renewable energy. The state’s closure of Indian Point in 2021 has also been cited by critics as contributing to higher electricity costs and increased pressure on the power grid.

With New Yorkers now facing among the highest utility costs nationwide and electricity demand continuing to rise, state officials are placing renewed emphasis on nuclear power as a source of reliable generation.

Supporters of the Fort Drum project say it could attract additional nuclear investment to the region, create jobs and help advance microreactor technology for commercial use.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has pointed to nuclear energy as an increasingly important part of her energy strategy, saying the Fort Drum project could strengthen reliability, reduce costs and provide new economic opportunities.

Energy prices have also emerged as an issue in the 2026 gubernatorial race between Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman.

Meanwhile, Rep. Mike Lawler has continued advocating for the possible reopening of the shuttered Indian Point facility in Westchester County, arguing that restoring nuclear generation could help address New York’s electricity costs.

Renowned Chasidic singer Beri Weber, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Kochvei Ohr, a yeshiva located in Monsey, blowing Tekiyos to awaken his beloved Talmidim in Elul!

די ראש ישיבה ביים אויפוועקן די דארמיטארי בחורים אין חודש אלול pic.twitter.com/gHCVON2j3e

— Hasidic (@hasidic_1) August 27, 2026

Mi Kiamcha!

(This is a yearnpost) pic.twitter.com/z8LCOsbqY6

— Chabadnik (@ChabadZoomer) August 27, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Aug. 27, 2026) — A wave of intense thunderstorms capable of producing torrential downpours and localized flash flooding is forecasted across the metropolitan region, with hazardous conditions anticipated from midday through late tonight. The primary window of concern begins around noon and extends through 11:00 p.m., bringing the potential for rapid water accumulation on roadways, low-lying areas, and transit routes during the evening commute.

Atmospheric conditions across the tri-state corridor remain heavily saturated, creating an environment ripe for slow-moving cells that can dump significant rainfall over short periods. Urban drainage networks, basements, and standard trouble spots along highways are particularly susceptible to rapid inundation. In addition to widespread standing water, the strongest thunderstorm activity could generate sudden wind gusts strong enough to bring down tree limbs and disrupt utility service in localized neighborhoods.

Emergency management personnel encourage residents, commuters, and property owners to prepare ahead of the storm window. Drivers are advised to build extra travel time into afternoon and evening routines, avoid parking in known flood-prone locations, and never attempt to navigate vehicles through water-covered streets where depths can be deceiving. Homeowners in vulnerable spots should clear exterior storm drains, secure outdoor patio furniture, and monitor sump pumps. Transit riders should also remain alert for possible delays or service adjustments on regional train and subway lines should track areas experience temporary runoff issues. Conditions are expected to gradually stabilize late tonight as the storm front shifts offshore.

⚠️ NYC is under a Travel Advisory today, with a Flood Watch in effect from noon through 11 PM.

🌧️ Periods of heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. Some storms could produce torrential downpours, localized flash flooding and damaging wind…

— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) August 27, 2026

.@NWSNewYorkNY Flash Flood Warning for Staten Island: Until 3:30 PM on 8/27. Heavy rain of 1 to 2 inches will cause flooding of highways & streets. Do not drive or walk where water covers the roadway. Move to higher ground, or, if in a basement, move to a higher floor. Info:… pic.twitter.com/K8Q0xm6P5L

— NYCEM – Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) August 27, 2026

By: R’ Binyamin Silver

As our communal attention turns toward the approaching Yomim Noraim, we begin the important process of reflecting upon the past while looking inward, seeking to elevate and enhance our spiritual selves. It is not an easy process, but it is an extraordinarily rewarding one. Rising above the demands and distractions of our daily material existence requires effort. It requires perspective, focus, and a willingness to see beyond the immediacy of the world around us. And often, that perspective is awakened by moments of external inspiration through experiences that allow us to see familiar ideas with renewed clarity and depth.

To my great fortune, I recently had the privilege of participating in an unforgettable mission to Eretz Yisroel, an experience that provided precisely that type of inspiration.

The mission was organized by the Rabbinical Council of America in conjunction with World Mizrachi. The theme of the mission was לחזק ולהתחזק—to strengthen and to be strengthened. While I cannot honestly assess how much chizuk I was able to provide, if any, I can say without hesitation that I returned immeasurably strengthened.

Living in the United States, we follow events in Eretz Yisroel closely. We read the news, listen to interviews, and speak regularly with friends and family who live there. We know the facts so well that each one of us has become an armchair military expert and is secretly considering running as the next prime minister. Yet looking from afar is not the same as experiencing its reality. Attempting to engage with Eretz Yisroel from thousands of miles away is akin to trying to discern an image through a fogged and cracked window. A vague outline is apparent, but without detail or nuance.

Over the course of approximately forty-eight hours, I encountered an extraordinary cross-section of Israeli society. We met Nova Festival survivors, a former October 7th hostage, bereaved families, Roshei Yeshiva of Yeshivat Hesder Kiryat Shmoneh, students of the Yeshiva, reservists, wounded soldiers, Druze public servants, volunteers, and countless ordinary Israelis quietly performing extraordinary acts of kindness. We met Jews who represented virtually every segment of Israeli society and every level of religious observance. While forty-eight hours hardly qualifies one as an expert on a country as complex as Eretz Yisroel, it is sufficient to capture some of the energy that is pervasive among these holy people.

As I reflected upon the experience after returning home, I found myself returning repeatedly to three characteristics that were consistently evident in the people we encountered. They possessed an extraordinary sense of mission, a profound and deeply personal Emunah, and a resilience that can only be described as remarkable. While I certainly can’t capture the entire trip in these limited lines, it is my hope that by sharing some of my experiences, a small measure of the inspiration I experienced can inspire others as well.
**
A Sense of Mission**

Perhaps the characteristic that left the strongest impression upon me was the focused sense of mission that permeated virtually every encounter.

One of our first stops was the small community of Shtula, situated on the Israeli-Lebanese border. As we sat listening to some of the locals, our conversation was interrupted every few minutes by the unmistakable sound of explosions echoing in the distance. Although a ceasefire has officially taken effect, it was apparent that the reality on the ground is considerably more complicated.

One of the presenters had just recently moved to Shtula from the Golan Heights. At one point, considering the consistent shaking of the benches we were sitting on due to the nonstop explosions every few minutes from the other side of the border, I asked him what seemed to be the obvious question, “Why did you move here?” His answer consisted of only three words. “It was necessary.” He did not speak of idealism, heroism, or even sacrifice. There was simply an understanding that if Klal Yisroelrequires Jews to live in that part of Eretz Yisroel, then that was where he belonged.

His short answer contained an entire philosophy of life, frankly, one that I envy: the deep-seated notion of living life with purpose and the willingness to relentlessly pursue that purpose regardless of consequence. I have much to aspire to.

That same attitude surfaced repeatedly throughout our conversations with reservists we met later that evening on a small outpost army base on the border. These were not career soldiers. They were accountants, engineers, physicians, business owners, and fathers who had left behind their families and livelihoods to answer yet another call to miluim. Many of the individuals with whom we spoke were no longer required to serve and were there on a completely voluntary basis. One had received a medical exemption. Another had already aged out of reserve duty. Yet both had volunteered out of a sense of mission-driven duty to protect Am Yisroel. The matter-of-fact nature with which they described taking leave of their jobs and families to defend Am Yisroel was both inspiring and humbling. These individuals are living life as an answer to a higher calling. Far from being entrenched in creature comforts, their life choices reflect a keen focus on values that truly matter.

There were lighter moments as well. Through the wonderful organization of Grilling for the IDF, our group provided the requisite BBQ to the soldiers stationed at the base to show our hakaras hatov and, of course, snap the perfect picture for the folks back home. Following the meal, several of the soldiers sat around a backgammon board under a camouflage net designed to shield the base from Hezbollah drone detection, while other soldiers relaxed nearby. In the corner, a large TV had been hastily attached to the concrete shelter wall. It was a scene straight out of every military movie I have ever seen. Attempting to make light conversation, I remarked sarcastically, “It’s just like being at home.” One of the soldiers laughed. “It’s much better than home,” he replied. “Here I don’t have four kids screaming in my ear!”

That same mission-driven sense was pervasive during our visit to Yeshivat Hesder Kiryat Shmoneh. Five precious talmidim of the yeshiva have fallen in battle since the outbreak of the war, and at present nearly two-thirds of its three hundred students are serving in miluim. Those statistics are sobering enough, but they reveal only part of the story.

Over a surprisingly good breakfast served in the Ezras Nashim of the yeshiva, I had the opportunity to converse with some of the talmidim of the Yeshiva. One of the talmidim told me that he had been drafted into the Israeli Navy and had been stationed on a boat patrolling the Gaza coast. He then remarked that four days after completing an extended period of military service, he returned to the Beis Medrash in Kiryat Shmoneh. Curious, I asked him how he was able to transition so quickly from the battlefield back to learning Torah. After months in combat, I imagine that a person would need some time to recover and refocus. He looked at me with genuine surprise. “How could I not immediately return to the Bais Medrash? This is what I am fighting for!” His military service and learning are not competing elements; rather, they are both components of the same mission, ensuring a vibrant Am Yisroel on Admas Ha’kodesh.

Following breakfast, standing on the mirpeset of the Yeshiva overlooking the Chermon, Rav Barkai, one of the two Roshei Yeshiva, pointed toward the distant hills and explained that one of Yehoshua ben Nun’s battles during the conquest of Eretz Yisroel had taken place in that vicinity. He then remarked that his own son’s unit is presently stationed nearby and that he often reminds his son that he is continuing the very mission that Yehoshua began more than three thousand years ago. In the United States, we study Tanach as a historical record. In Eretz Yisroel, Tanach is a living and breathing document. To them, the wars of Yehoshua were not merely historical events; rather, they represent the opening chapter of a story that continues to unfold today. His son’s military service is simply the next chapter in that book.

Emunah

We had the great privilege of visiting Beit Binyamin in Tzfat. A retreat home in the hills of Tzfat, built in memory of Binyamin Meir Airley hy”d. A place where soldiers, survivors, and grieving families can come to breathe again. We were welcomed by Binyamin’s parents, Jen and Rob, two beacons of emunah who exemplify what it means to cling to faith in times of difficulty.

After hearing their inspiring story and about the incredible programming they run in Beit Binyamin, we were treated to a tremendous spread on the rooftop overlooking Meron and the Arizal’s mikvah. Over lunch, we heard from a diverse cast of characters, each of whom exemplified a truly unique and meaningful faith in Hashem. Avishag and Shimon, a young Israeli couple who survived the Nova festival, related how grateful they were to stay in Beit Binyamin. They dressed as secular Israelis—the full costume: ponytail, tattoos, earrings, etc.—but peppered their remarks about being spared at the Nova festival with so many exclamations of emunah that one could have confused them for seminary girls.

The haunting words of Yitzchak Avinu upon giving the brachos to Yaakov Avinu came to mind: “הקול קול יעקב והידים ידי עשיו.” “Reb Moshe Shapiro ZT”L elaborated on those words and explained that Yitzchak Avinu wasn’t merely observing; rather, he was defining a new reality for his descendants. No longer was the Jew to be an angelic-esque, ivory-towered being existing only in the spiritual realm. Henceforth, the Jew was to be engaged in the world, cloaked in the trappings of materialism, והידים ידי עשיו, but with a spiritual center unique to the soul of God’s chosen people, הקול קול יעקב. A far more spiritual reading of the time-tested adage: don’t judge a book by its cover.

As I continued to ponder this pasuk, we had the privilege of hearing from a remarkable Tzfat local, Tehilla Dolinsky, who told us of her proof that she has a personal relationship with Tzion. To properly appreciate the story, I must briefly paint the picture. She was wearing a flowing white, almost wedding-like dress with a matching white kerchief covering her hair to complete the outfit. To be sure, it was a Wednesday in the middle of the summer. Her husband wore jeans and long peyos. In other words, a typical Five Towns couple.

She began her tale by describing the anguish of watching her husband repeatedly leave home for miluim, the internal struggle, the strain on the family, and the hardship to her children that accompanied each departure. At one point, she said she had had it and told her husband that he could not go back. Period. Upon reaching an impasse, they agreed to consult the family Rav, who, to her chagrin, felt that her husband should return to miluim despite the difficulty.

She described to us how she left the meeting with the Rav in tears and turned to the Ribbono Shel Olam in heartfelt tefillah. “Tzion,” she pleaded, “I have sacrificed so much for You. If this is truly a relationship, then show me that You care for me as well.” Only moments later, her husband received a telephone call from his commanding officer informing him that circumstances had changed and that his unit would no longer be deploying. Here, she paused and confidently stated to us, “You see? I have a real relationship with Tzion!” While I suspect that this can only occur in Tzfat, her faith was palpable and contagious.

We also had the opportunity to hear the inspiring tale of Shlomi Ziv. Shlomi was one of four hostages rescued from Gaza on June 8, 2024, in a daring operation carried out jointly by the Shin Bet, the IDF, and the Border Police’s elite Yamam counterterrorism unit. The rescue came at a tremendous cost. Yamam officer and team leader Arnon Zamora was killed during the mission, which was subsequently named in his honor—Mivtza Arnon.

Shlomi spoke to us for more than an hour. Interestingly, he began his story not with October 7, but years earlier, with a traumatic incident during his military service that left him suffering from severe PTSD. He described the difficult process of confronting that trauma through years of therapy, learning to understand it, and developing the tools necessary to live with it. Years later, on October 7, he was working as part of the security team at the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im when he was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists. He would spend the next 246 days in captivity, much of that time alongside fellow hostages Almog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov.

As he described those seemingly endless and impossible months, He returned to the trauma he had experienced years earlier. Remarkably, he told us that he believed the very experience that had caused him so much pain ultimately helped prepare him to survive captivity. Having already confronted severe PTSD, he had learned how his mind responded to trauma and had developed tools to cope with fear, uncertainty, and emotional distress. Those tools, he explained, became invaluable during his 246 days as a hostage.

Shlomi himself described this as the remarkable Yad Hashem that he could only appreciate in retrospect. An experience that for years had represented one of the most painful chapters of his life had, without his realizing it, prepared him for an ordeal he could never have imagined. The trauma had not ceased to be painful, but he could now see something hidden within it: the tools he would one day need to survive. What had once seemed only a source of suffering had become, in his eyes, an extraordinary example of the hidden Yad Hashem guiding his life.

Resilience

The final impression that has remained with me is one that, in many respects, encompasses the previous two. If a sense of mission explains why people continue to serve, and Emunah explains how they understand the sacrifices they are called upon to make, resilience explains how they continue to shoulder those burdens each and every day.

There is a tendency to equate resilience with toughness. We imagine individuals who somehow become immune to pain, capable of absorbing hardship without being affected by it. That was not what we encountered. On the contrary, the people whom we met spoke openly about their fears, disappointments, exhaustion, and grief. They did not deny the emotional toll that the war has taken upon them, nor did they pretend that the sacrifices demanded of them had somehow become easier with time.

Their resilience lay elsewhere. It was found in their remarkable ability to continue despite those burdens.

One of the individuals who embodied that quality perhaps more than anyone else we encountered was Nattalie from Shtula. We spent an afternoon with Nattalie in a newly installed shaded seating area adjacent to the On the Border Café, directly across from the colorful mural painted along the concrete border wall. It is a beautiful little corner of a community that has endured an extraordinary amount.

More than two and a half years of Hezbollah bombardment damaged or destroyed approximately 64% of Shtula’s buildings, 80% of which have since been repaired over the past year. Just a ten-minute drive from the café brings visitors to a sharp bend in the road, the precise spot where, on July 12, 2006, Hezbollah terrorists killed and seized the bodies of Israeli reservists Ehud Goldwasser hy”d and Eldad Regev hy”d. Three other soldiers were killed in the attack, and five more IDF soldiers were killed shortly thereafter in a failed rescue attempt, events that triggered the Second Lebanon War. Today, Shtula is home to just 197 residents, with the nearest supermarket roughly a 25-minute drive away.

Originally from Argentina, Nattalie has lived in Eretz Yisroel for decades and has become one of the driving forces behind this small border community. Her energy is infectious, her optimism genuine, and her commitment to her community unwavering. After spending even a short amount of time with her, one almost instinctively understands why Shtula has endured.

She introduced us to another woman, the community manager of Shtula, who carries herself with the same remarkable passion, bravery, and determination. Both women echoed essentially the same message: Yes, it is difficult to live here. Yes, there are risks and hardships that most of us can scarcely imagine. But living here matters. This community matters. And we will carry on. No enemy will determine whether we remain in our homes or whether this community continues to exist. As I listened to them speak, I thought to myself, perhaps Hezbollah had simply underestimated the women of the North.

The lesson of resilience was perhaps illustrated most poignantly in a conversation I had with the commander of the military outpost we visited.

The Av HaBasis spoke candidly about one of the greatest challenges confronting reservists. Popular discussion often focuses on the transition from civilian life to the battlefield. Far less attention is paid to the reverse transition, which in many ways can be even more difficult.

One week a person is responsible for commanding soldiers under combat conditions. The next week he is expected to return home and resume the role of husband and father as though nothing has happened. He explained that these transitions are often extraordinarily difficult.

Then he shared a story. After returning home from an extended period of miluim, he was preparing to leave the house with one of his young sons. The child was moving slowly and, almost instinctively, he barked an order in the same commanding tone he had grown accustomed to using with the soldiers under his command. His son immediately burst into tears, ran back into the house, threw his arms around his mother, and cried, “אני רוצה שאבא יחזור לשדה.” “I want Abba to go back to the battlefield). He told me that hearing those words from his son was devastating. It was a painful reminder that returning home from the battlefield did not necessarily mean that the battlefield had left him. And yet, he continued to move forward. Resilience.

A Closing Thought

My final thought brings us back to Rav Barkai, of Yeshivat Hesder Kiryat Shmoneh. He noted that the Yeshiva is studying Maseches Sukkah and posed a simple question on one of its famous passages.

Citing the teaching of Chazal, “כל מי שלא ראה שמחת בית השואבה לא ראה שמחה מימיו” ,he asked:
Why Chazal emphasize one who did not see the Simchas Beis HaSho’eivah? Shouldn’t the emphasis be on one who did not participate in the simcha?

He answered that there existed a dimension of simchah that permeated the Beis HaMikdash itself. Merely witnessing it transformed a person. One did not have to dance. One did not have to sing. The joy itself radiated outward from the place where the Shechinah resides.

Perhaps that is the secret. Simply being present in Eretz Yisroel enables one to experience Emunah on a deeper level. Maybe that is what we were witnessing, something that cannot quite be replicated elsewhere. Certainly, circumstances played a role, but it seemed that, at the very least, there was an element of nature in addition to nurture.

I returned home strengthened in the knowledge that my people have an unwavering sense of mission, profound emunah, and extraordinary resilience. These were not qualities I had merely heard or read about; I had seen them firsthand, lived by ordinary people confronting extraordinary circumstances. אינו דומה שמיעה לראיה. I gained a renewed appreciation not only for the strength of Am Yisrael, but for the privilege of belonging to it.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK (August 27, 2026)

New York’s Amish community is taking its battle against the state’s school vaccine requirements back to the Supreme Court, with community members warning they could leave New York if they are ultimately forced to comply.

The legal dispute began after New York eliminated religious exemptions for school vaccination requirements in 2019. Amish families and schools have challenged the policy, arguing that mandatory vaccination conflicts with their religious beliefs and way of life.

The state has also imposed $2,000 fines on Amish schools that refuse to comply. Three schools involved in the lawsuit have accumulated approximately $118,000 in penalties, while attorneys say similar fines could potentially apply to Amish schools across the state.

Attorney Hiram Sasser described the case as a significant test of religious freedom, while fellow attorney Aaron Siri said the Amish could face the loss of their property if the fines continue to mount.

The Supreme Court previously sent the case back to the 2nd Circuit, which again ruled against the Amish. Their attorneys are expected to ask the Supreme Court to take up the case once more.

The Amish generally avoid litigation and reject many modern medical practices, with plaintiff Ezra Wengerd saying the vaccination requirements conflict with his community’s religious convictions and reliance on God.

Amish plaintiffs have successfully challenged government requirements in other states, including cases involving photo identification, buggy safety regulations and building codes.

Legal experts caution, however, that the current case faces significant hurdles. Wayne State law professor Christopher Lund noted that the 2nd Circuit has rejected multiple religious challenges to vaccine mandates and that the Supreme Court has historically been reluctant to intervene in such disputes.

The New York Health Department maintains that vaccination requirements are necessary to protect public health and must be applied consistently.

The Department of Health and Human Services, meanwhile, has pointed to President Trump’s recent executive order emphasizing parental choice and religious freedom in childhood vaccination decisions. HHS said Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s department will work to protect parents’ ability to make healthcare decisions consistent with their beliefs.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK (August 27, 2026)

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says the county will comply with New York’s newly enacted restrictions on cooperation with federal immigration authorities, while simultaneously joining a federal lawsuit challenging the law.

Blakeman announced the decision Wednesday, one day after legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul took effect. The measure prohibits local governments from maintaining formal cooperation agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and places additional limits on local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration officials.

Blakeman, a Republican candidate for governor who is challenging Hochul in November, said Nassau’s attorneys examined potential avenues for avoiding the new requirements but ultimately determined that the county was legally obligated to comply.

“I am a law and order county executive,” Blakeman said, while describing the new law as harmful and dangerous. He said Nassau would follow the law’s requirements but indicated that the county would continue communicating with ICE in ways permitted under the new rules.

The county executive also announced plans for Nassau to join a federal lawsuit brought by sheriffs from 15 other New York counties. The lawsuit argues that the state law is unconstitutional and improperly limits local officials’ ability to make decisions concerning public safety.

Rensselaer County remains the only municipality that has not yet complied with the state’s directive to terminate its ICE agreement, according to Blakeman. The county is led by Executive Steve McLaughlin and Sheriff Kyle Bourgault.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says the county will comply with a new state law banning local partnership agreements with ICE, despite strongly opposing the measure.

The announcement came one day after the state attorney general issued subpoenas to Nassau’s police and… pic.twitter.com/JHlo1HqNQH

— Newsday (@Newsday) August 26, 2026

The announcement came after Hochul warned Nassau and other jurisdictions that resisted the new law that the state could pursue legal action against them. Hochul defended the legislation as a measure intended to protect residents’ rights and allow local police to focus on enforcing state and local laws.

Blakeman strongly criticized the policy, warning that he believes restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities could contribute to increased crime, drug overdoses and disorder. He said responsibility for any serious crimes committed by illegal immigrants would ultimately rest with Hochul and state Democratic leaders.

The law was enacted amid intense debate over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. In addition to ending formal local agreements with ICE, the legislation restricts certain forms of informal cooperation between local police departments and federal immigration authorities.

Hochul spokesperson Alexia Nizhny said local governments cannot selectively decide which state laws to follow, arguing that compliance would safeguard residents’ rights, allow police to concentrate on local public safety matters and strengthen communities.

Kathy Hochul prohibits our local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE, putting radical politics above public safety. Police officers and corrections officers are telling me the same thing: they feel abandoned by her. Hochul even fired 2,000 corrections officers for… pic.twitter.com/0OTNru1lui

— Bruce Blakeman (@NassauExec) August 27, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (August 27, 2026)

Yair Netanyahu, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has filed a formal complaint with Israel’s Police Commissioner, Shin Bet chief and Attorney General, alleging that Iranian operatives attempted to target him at his residence in Miami.

According to the complaint, Shin Bet personnel assigned to protect Netanyahu encountered what was described as an “Iranian terrorist squad” outside the entrance to his Miami home. The letter claims the situation was resolved only through the guards’ rapid response, describing the incident as a narrowly avoided national catastrophe.

Netanyahu is also calling for a criminal and security investigation into Haaretz journalist Ori Misgav, accusing him of repeatedly publishing sensitive information about his whereabouts and security arrangements.

The complaint alleges that Misgav’s social media posts revealed Netanyahu’s Miami address, apartment and floor number, as well as details about his daily movements and personal protection. Netanyahu’s attorney, Uriel Nizri, claims the information ultimately reached hostile actors and created a potential blueprint for targeting him.

The complaint further alleges that Misgav disclosed information concerning Shin Bet Unit 730, including the number of personnel assigned to Netanyahu and details about the rotation of his security team. It claims that two guards accompany Netanyahu at a time and are replaced every two weeks by another team traveling from Israel, with alleged details about their flights and schedules also made public.

Nizri described the alleged disclosures as a “systematic, consistent and ongoing” campaign that exposed security vulnerabilities and effectively provided an operational “road map” to an enemy.

The complaint asks authorities to investigate potential offenses including aiding an enemy during wartime, providing information that could endanger state security, compromising the protection of a guarded individual and violating Netanyahu’s privacy through alleged surveillance and publication of personal information.

Nizri is also calling for the prosecution of anyone allegedly involved, including accomplices, individuals who may have ordered the activity and those who knowingly allowed it to continue.

The complaint requests that Yair Netanyahu be formally recognized as a victim of crime and receive updates regarding the investigation, including any arrests, charging decisions or decision to close the case. His attorney also asked for the identity and contact information of the lead investigator so Netanyahu can provide additional evidence he says is in his possession.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK (August 27, 2026)

The city is giving property owners more time to respond to New York City’s new second-home tax as a legal fight over the controversial policy continues in court.

In a recent filing with Manhattan Supreme Court, the city said it has determined that 1,210 property owners initially flagged as potentially subject to the tax have established that the properties are their primary residences. Another 2,892 owners have had their appeals approved, while 2,652 cases are still being reviewed.

The city had previously notified roughly 10,800 property owners based on information from the prior tax year. Officials have now pushed the deadline for homeowners to submit residency documentation to October 6, marking the second extension since the program was introduced.

City attorneys defended the verification process, acknowledging that proving residency can be burdensome but arguing that the requirement itself does not make the tax unlawful.

The surcharge is a major component of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s campaign to increase taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. Under the policy, eligible one- to three-family second homes valued above $5 million face a 4% surcharge, while certain co-ops and condominiums valued at more than $1 million are also covered.

Property owners challenging the policy argue that the city mishandled its rollout after releasing a list containing nearly 1 million properties that could potentially have been affected, creating widespread confusion and alarm. City officials estimate that approximately 17,000 properties could ultimately be subject to the surcharge.

A judge initially issued a temporary block on the tax earlier this month, but that order was subsequently lifted following an appeal by the city. Oral arguments in the case are expected Monday in Manhattan.

Despite the ongoing litigation and the city’s review of thousands of properties, the Mamdani administration continues to project that the tax could generate more than $500 million annually, which officials say would help address budget shortfalls and finance the mayor’s policy priorities.

Randy Mastro, an attorney representing the property owners, characterized the latest filing as evidence of a major administrative failure. He argued that the city improperly required thousands of homeowners to prove they reside in their own properties instead of determining eligibility before sending out notices.

President Donald Trump has also criticized the measure, calling it a “dangerous political experiment” and saying he is considering whether the federal government could take steps to prevent it from being implemented.

NEW YORK, NY – August 26, 2026 – The Orthodox Union (OU) today announced the appointment of Rabbi Shmuel Silber to the role of executive vice president. Rabbi Silber will assume his new role as of November 2nd. As the executive vice president, Rabbi Silber will be responsible for representing the OU’s vision on both Torah and public policy and providing hashkafic and halachic guidance within the organization and beyond. The Baltimore rabbi succeeds Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt”l, who passed away last Shemini Atzeret. In parallel, the OU is clarifying its leadership structure. Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph, currently EVP and COO, will assume the role of chief executive officer (CEO), with responsibility for the management of all OU programs and operations. Rabbis Silber and Joseph will both report directly to the OU Executive Committee.

Rabbi Silber joins the OU having served for the past 23 years as the rabbi of Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim, building it into one of Baltimore’s most vibrant and dynamic kehillahs. Rabbi Silber is also the founder and dean of the Institute for Jewish Continuity (IJC), which provides contemporary Torah learning with Chassidic influences for adults at all levels. As the Founding Rabbi of the Berger Towers community in Katamonim, Jerusalem, Rabbi Silber oversees the community’s rabbinic leadership and hashkafic direction. Rabbi Silber received semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University and holds a master’s degree in secondary Jewish education from the Azrieli Graduate School.

As CEO, Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph will continue to oversee the management, business strategy, and professional alignment of all OU programs and operations. During his six years at the OU, Josh has driven extraordinary organizational growth in these areas. Rabbi Moshe Elefant continues to lead OU Kosher, ensuring the highest standards of kashrut supervision worldwide. Rabbi Elefant became the chief executive officer of OU Kosher on July 1, succeeding Rabbi Menachem Genack.

The new leadership structure follows the unexpected loss of Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt”l, last fall, who served as executive vice president since January 2020. Under the joint leadership of Rabbi Hauer, zt”l and Rabbi Dr. Joseph, the OU navigated unprecedented global upheavals, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of October 7, with steadfast calm, clear Torah vision, and integrity. Rabbi Hauer, zt”l served as a significant and impactful public voice of the American Orthodox community, testifying before Congress on critical issues like campus antisemitism and advocating passionately in Washington, D.C., with campaigns such as leading the delivery of 180,000 letters to the White House on behalf of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza. His legacy of profound Torah scholarship, extraordinary empathy, and unwavering commitment to Klal Yisrael will continue to inspire and guide the Orthodox Union’s mission for generations to come.

After Rabbi Hauer’s passing last fall, OU President Mitchel Aeder appointed a search committee chaired by OU board chairman Yehuda Neuberger to advise on the OU’s professional leadership structure and to identify a candidate to succeed Rabbi Hauer, zt”l. With the addition of Rabbi Silber, in partnership with Rabbi Dr. Joseph, the OU has solidified its professional foundation to better serve Jewish communities across the US and Israel.

“I am honored to have this opportunity at such a unique moment for our community,” said Rabbi Shmuel Silber. “Rabbi Hauer, zt”l was a friend and a mentor, and I feel privileged to continue his holy work. Torah and Jewish life are thriving, yet we face difficult communal challenges. My sincere desire is to help create bonds of unity and continue elevating the holiness and religious experience of our community in the US and Israel. I look forward to partnering with Rabbi Dr. Joseph, our President Mitchel Aeder, and the entire OU family to serve the needs of the Jewish people.

“It is a privilege to assume the role of CEO at this critical juncture. Over the past six years, in partnership with OU Kosher and with the support of the community, the OU has strategically scaled its core programs, expanded the number, reach, and impact of new initiatives and developed an incredibly strong culture of professionalism,” said Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph, CEO. “I am excited to welcome my friend Rabbi Silber to the leadership of the OU as we continue to encourage more Jews to grow closer to Hashem and build sustainable pathways for individual and communal growth across the Jewish world.”

“The OU is in a position of tremendous strength, and as we look to the future, we want to ensure we have the structure and talent to sustain and expand our vital work. In Rabbi Shmuel Silber and Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph, we are blessed with two world-class leaders who bring complementary strengths to their respective roles,” said Mitchel Aeder, President. “Together, alongside our dedicated lay leadership, they will continue to build a unified, professional, and disciplined institution dedicated to the physical and spiritual needs of our community.”

“Following the devastating loss of our beloved Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt”l, we conducted an exhaustive national search to find a leader who could carry on his sacred work of spiritual guidance and public advocacy,” said Aeder. “Rabbi Shmuel Silber is a distinguished talmid chacham who possesses the rare combination of deep Torah scholarship, exceptional character, humility, and a warm, empathetic heart. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Orthodox Union as our EVP and are excited about the extraordinary potential of his partnership with Rabbi Dr. Joseph.”

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK (August 23, 2026)

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing an ethics complaint accusing him of using official city platforms and resources to promote Democratic candidates.

The complaint, filed by government watchdog Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), asks the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board to examine several instances in which Mamdani publicly endorsed political candidates while appearing at official city events.

FACT cited a 2009 advisory from the board that cautioned city officials against using municipal resources or their official positions to support political campaigns.

The group identified three incidents since Mamdani took office. In February, he endorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reelection campaign during a press conference focused on universal childcare and later reiterated the endorsement in an opinion piece. In April, he backed Lindsey Boylan’s unsuccessful City Council campaign during another official press event.

Then, in June, while speaking publicly about a heat wave, Mamdani endorsed eight Democratic primary candidates: Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, Brad Lander, Aber Kawas, Eli Northrup, Illapa Sairitupac, Samantha Kattan and Brian Romero.

FACT argues that the use of city resources is particularly significant because Mamdani appeared in front of the official New York City seal during each event, while his administration also published transcripts of the remarks on the city’s website.

The watchdog is asking the Conflicts of Interest Board to investigate the allegations and determine whether disciplinary action or other penalties are warranted.

“Using public resources for political activity gives those in power an unfair advantage,” FACT Executive Director Kendra Arnold said, arguing that such conduct can undermine public confidence and the integrity of the political process.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

LAKEWOOD, NEW JERSEY (August 23, 2026)

A large fire broke out early Tuesday morning at Mordy’s Shtiebel on Delaware Trail near the Lakewood-Jackson border, causing extensive damage to the shul, R”L.

The fire was reported shortly after 6:00 a.m., bringing a large response of firefighters and emergency personnel to the scene. Crews battled intense flames that had spread through portions of the building before finally getting the blaze under control at approximately 7:00 a.m.

The fire was in the main house of Mordy’s Shtiebel, the tents however remained up and running throughout the day as always.

In a major relief, B’chasdei Hashem, the Sifrei Torah inside the shul were safely recovered, and nobody was injured. Volunteers from Central Jersey Chaverim entered the building following the fire and were able to retrieve the Sifrei Torah, confirming that they were not damaged.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation as authorities work to determine what sparked the blaze. Besuros Tovos.

A massive fire broke out this morning at Mordy’s Shtiebel in Lakewood, causing significant damage to the shul, while BH, all the Sifrei Torah were safely removed after the fire was brought under control. – TLS pic.twitter.com/bxA5z9byKu

— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) August 25, 2026

It’s been a difficult morning at Mordy’s Shtiebel, fire causing real damage, but a temporary 🔥 cannot extinguish an eternal one ! pic.twitter.com/Rzq16mvUM7

— #MKY מי כעמך ישראל (@MKYstatus) August 25, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff

QUEENS, NEW YORK (August 23, 2026)

New York has undergone a dramatic population shift since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau data shown, more than 1.1 million residents have moved out of New York to other states since April 2020. During the same period, the state recorded roughly 749,000 international arrivals.

Despite that influx, New York’s overall population remains about 201,000 lower than it was in April 2020.

The domestic population loss ranks New York among the states experiencing the largest exodus of residents, trailing only California in net domestic migration losses.

The figures highlight a growing debate over the state’s affordability, taxes, housing costs and overall quality of life—with critics arguing that policies under Gov. Kathy Hochul are contributing to an environment that is pushing longtime residents to leave.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

WEST DEPTFORTH TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY (August 23, 2026)

Amazon is preparing to bring its Prime Air drone delivery service to parts of South Jersey, with plans for a new drone facility in West Deptford Township.

The proposed launch site is located at 240 Mantua Grove Road. According to Mantua Township Police Chief William Murphy, Amazon representatives recently met with local police and emergency management officials and indicated that drone deliveries could begin as early as mid-October.

The planned delivery zone would cover most of Mantua Township as well as the Borough of Wenonah.

Under the proposal, the delivery drones would be permitted to operate from 15 minutes before sunrise until 15 minutes after sunset and would fly at altitudes below 400 feet.

The South Jersey expansion comes as Amazon significantly ramps up its Prime Air program nationwide. The company expects drone delivery to be available in nearly 500 cities and towns by the end of 2026—roughly six times its current reach and potentially serving tens of millions of customers.

Prime Air is designed to deliver eligible packages weighing up to five pounds in as little as 30 minutes. Qualifying products can include groceries, electronics, cosmetics, medications and household goods, provided they meet the service’s size and weight requirements.

The service is currently operating in portions of seven states: Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas. Amazon has also announced additional locations for 2026, including a planned expansion into New York.

Amazon says its Prime Air program is certified under FAA Part 135 regulations. The drones rely on onboard cameras and sensors to navigate, identify obstacles and complete deliveries. According to the company, camera information is processed onboard the aircraft and live video feeds are not monitored by human operators.

For customers, Prime members receive free drone delivery on qualifying orders of $50 or more. For smaller orders, delivery costs $2.99 for Prime members and $4.99 for non-Prime customers.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

**QUEENS, NEW YORK (August 23, 2026)
**

The NYPD has released surveillance footage as part of its investigation into attacks that damaged two Jewish houses of worship in Queens last month.

Police are searching for two suspects accused of throwing bags containing motor oil at Young Israel of Jamaica Estates and Young Israel of Holliswood on July 16.

The vandalism resulted in property damage at both synagogues. The footage released Monday shows the incident at Young Israel of Jamaica Estates, and investigators are asking anyone who recognizes the individuals or has information about the attacks to contact police.

Rabbi Moshe Taub of Young Israel of Holliswood also criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s response to crime. In comments to JNS, Taub argued that the mayor’s public statements would carry greater weight if he demonstrated the same willingness to personally engage with victims of crime as he has shown toward individuals accused of wrongdoing at Rikers Island.

R’ Taub said his congregation has faced additional disturbing vandalism, including an incident in which the synagogue was defaced with excrement.

The investigation remains ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information about the suspects or the attacks to come forward.

Statement from NYPD crime Stoppers:

🚨WANTED FOR A CRIMINAL MISCHIEF PATTERN: The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individuals depicted in the attached media, who are wanted in connection with two hate crime criminal mischief incidents that occurred within the confines of the 107 Precinct. Details are as follows:

Incident #1:
It was reported to police that on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at approximately 11:44 AM, two unknown individuals approached the rear of 83-10 188 Street and damaged property by throwing bags containing motor oil. The individuals fled the location on foot, then entered a dark-colored suburban and fled to unknown parts.

Incident #2:
It was reported to police that on Thursday, July 16, 2026, between the hours of 11:00 PM–6:20 AM, two unknown individuals approached the rear of 86-25 Francis Lewis Boulevard and damaged property by throwing bags containing motor oil. The individuals fled the location on foot to parts unknown.

Have any info? DM @nypdtips or call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK CITY (August 23, 2026)

A group representing immigrant-owned grocery stores is taking legal action against New York City over Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposal to establish a network of city-operated grocery stores.

The lawsuit challenges the administration’s plan to open five publicly owned supermarkets, a project that critics say could cost taxpayers at least $70 million while putting privately owned bodegas and neighborhood grocery stores at a competitive disadvantage.

Store owners argue that government-backed supermarkets could offer artificially lower prices because they would be supported by taxpayer funding, potentially drawing customers away from small businesses that lack the same financial backing.

The legal challenge comes as questions continue to surround how the administration intends to support existing neighborhood businesses while launching its own grocery operations.

Fox News correspondent Madison Alworth reported that the Mamdani administration had previously discussed providing grants to local businesses to help them compete with the planned city-run stores. Those discussions were reportedly later scaled back.

Critics say the proposal could ultimately result in taxpayer money being used on both publicly operated grocery stores and subsidies for private businesses, while immigrant-owned bodegas bear the risk of losing customers and revenue.

The lawsuit now puts the city’s grocery-store initiative under legal scrutiny as officials move forward with plans for the publicly funded markets.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Aug. 24, 2026) — Transportation planners have advanced an ambitious blueprint to rehabilitate a vital, heavily traveled section of regional highway infrastructure, addressing decades of wear and tear along the city-managed corridor connecting key transit pathways across the metropolitan area. The massive initiative focuses on the central section of the expressway, specifically targeting the historic tiered cantilever framework nestled beneath a landmark pedestrian scenic walkway.

Originally constructed in the mid-twentieth century, the roadway was engineered to support roughly a fraction of its current traffic volume. Over the decades, daily vehicle counts have surged well beyond one hundred thousand cars and commercial freight trucks, severely straining the aging concrete and structural supports. Engineers have underscored the critical necessity of a comprehensive replacement to avoid catastrophic failures and ensure long-term regional stability.

To prevent gridlock and avoid spilling heavy arterial traffic into residential neighborhood streets during active construction, the design incorporates temporary bypass routes. These detours will maintain vehicle flow while crews undertake the phased reconstruction of the underlying supports. Preliminary utility relocations and preparatory work are scheduled to begin toward the end of the decade, with the complete rebuild projected to span roughly ten years.

While infrastructure officials emphasize that immediate intervention is essential after years of conceptual delays, the sweeping timeline has raised notable community questions. Local residents have voiced apprehensions regarding extended disruption, temporary closures to beloved public walkways, and the extensive capital investment required. Project coordinators intend to conduct ongoing community briefings as environmental reviews and final architectural planning progress toward groundbreaking.

We’re done kicking the can down the road. Here’s how we’re fixing the city-owned section of the BQE. pic.twitter.com/ln0it98s1w

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) August 24, 2026

Rabbi Yosef Chesny, LCSW, on Let’s get Real with Coach Menachem – Aug 23 2026.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK CITY (August 23, 2026)

The NYPD is investigating another unusual manhole incident in Manhattan after video surfaced showing three people climbing out of a sewer near Penn Station.

The footage, posted to TikTok Friday, appears to show three individuals wearing overalls and headlamps emerging from a manhole at 32nd Street and Seventh Avenue, near Madison Square Garden. According to the person who posted the video, the incident took place shortly after 4 a.m. on August 18.

Police confirmed they are aware of the footage but said no arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.

The incident comes months after a series of similar videos sparked attention across New York City. In May, footage showed a group of seven men emerging from a Brooklyn manhole in the middle of the night. One video showed a man lifting the cover near McDonald Avenue and Bedford Avenue before the group climbed out and appeared to change clothes. Another video later showed several of the men emerging near Heyward Street and Bedford Avenue, with at least three carrying shovels.

A senior law enforcement official previously said investigators believed the men may have been searching the sewer system for valuables. Police ultimately determined that the incidents did not pose an immediate threat to the public and found no damage to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

In June, members of the NYPD Emergency Services Unit conducted a search of the sewer system as a precaution, but investigators found no evidence of anything suspicious or dangerous.

Authorities have not said whether the latest Manhattan incident is connected to the earlier cases.

NYPD is investigating a new video showing 3 people emerging from a Manhattan manhole. Police believe they're hunting for valuables. @Morganorwood reports officials warned the public that entering sewers is illegal and dangerous. https://t.co/RPnlW4BIVz pic.twitter.com/9IUK5IRtTs

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) August 23, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK CITY (August 23, 2026)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that inexpensive drones could pose a deadly threat comparable to advanced fighter jets when armed and deployed in large numbers.

Speaking about the evolving battlefield threat, Netanyahu emphasized that drones are difficult to detect, highly accurate and capable of being used in coordinated swarms.

“Do you have a drone at home?” Netanyahu said, contrasting the small, inexpensive aircraft with an F-35. “It can be no less lethal.”

He said Israel has spent years developing defenses against the growing drone threat and remains a global leader in counter-drone technology. However, he stressed that the challenge extends far beyond Israel’s borders.

Netanyahu pointed to the use of drones in conflicts in Ukraine, Lebanon and Iran, warning that efforts are now underway to introduce the technology into Gaza as well.

He said he has directed Israel’s defense establishment and the IDF to take aggressive action against the threat, including targeting the drones themselves, their operators and the locations from which they are launched.

“We must do everything against this lethal tool,” Netanyahu said.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK CITY (August 23, 2026)

A class action complaint filed in New York accuses major brokerage firm Compass of manufacturing an artificial supply shock that has driven up rental costs across Manhattan.

According to the lawsuit, Compass controls over 80 percent of available rental listings in Manhattan following years of acquisitions. Plaintiffs argue that the firm has leveraged this position to withhold listings from free, public platforms like StreetEasy, a Zillow-owned service, in an effort to bypass platforms that do not charge high broker fees and to force consumers toward proprietary channels.

The complaint alleges that hiding these inventories severely restricted public supply, causing available rental units across New York to drop 40 percent over the past year. Market reports cited in the filing indicate this drop corresponded with a jump in rental price increases, surging from 3 percent in June to 6 percent in July. One of the plaintiffs noted watching prices climb in real time before ultimately signing a one-bedroom lease in downtown Manhattan for $5,270 per month this August.

A Zillow spokesperson weighed in on the litigation, stating that withholding listings from public platforms hurts everyday consumers and squeezes an already strained housing market during a crisis.

The lawsuit asks the court to order Compass to disgorge unjust profits, pay damages to affected renters who leased non-rent-stabilized units since August 1, 2026, and issue an injunction blocking the practice of hiding listings from public platforms.

Levaya Location: Boulevard-Riverside Chapels 1450 Broadway, Hewlett.

Link for *livestream* of Levaya:
https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c26083639724241

*Shiva Info*

Shiva will be observed at the Rahmani residence, 1192 Elinor Road, Hewlett through Friday afternoon, August 28th.

The family kindly requests no visitors during the hours of 12:30pm- 1:30pm, 5:30pm – 6:30pm or after 10:00pm.

Davening Times
Shacharis: 8:00am
Mincha Maariv: 7:20pm

May the neshama have an Aliyah. Hamakom yinacheim eschem.

Rav Hershel Schachter describes how his early love of Torah came from a home where his father was always learning, how his own teachers and especially Rav Soloveitchik shaped his learning and life, and how those influences continue to define his teaching, his hashkafa, and his sense of responsibility to transmit mesorah. He says the yeshiva is stronger now than in his youth, but he also sees weaknesses in kavod for talmidei chachamim, in overconfidence in personal psak, and in the lack of a single clear ruach. He emphasizes that Torah, halacha lema’aseh, broad knowledge, and fidelity to tradition are essential for rabbanim, talmidim, and communities, and he sees his own life as one link in the chain of Torah transmission.

Formative influences: Rav Schachter traces his love of Torah to his father, an unusually learned man who trained him in Hebrew reading and textual study from a young age. At MTA and later in yeshiva, standout rebbeim (Tendler, Weiss, Fishman, Bornstein) shaped him, but being placed in Rav Soloveitchik’s shiur while still in high school was the defining turning point.

Rav Soloveitchik’s method: The Rav’s shiurim always built from broad background and points of agreement before reaching the actual dispute, rooting everything in Chumash, Rishonim, and poskim. Schachter stresses that the Rav’s hashkafa was inseparable from his lomdus — missing the learning meant missing the worldview.

Yeshiva culture, then and now: He sees today’s Orthodox community and YU-trained rabbanim as stronger and more serious than in his youth, crediting factors like the year-in-Israel system. But he identifies real weaknesses: insufficient kavod for talmidei chachamim (people feel entitled to pasken for themselves), overconfidence in personal psak, and YU’s lack of one unified ruach (though he frames its academic pluralism as also a strength).

Mesorah as the core theme: Repeatedly, he returns to the idea that psak and hashkafa require a rebbe — even someone who stood at Sinai needs one — and that his own greatest accomplishment is serving as one link in that chain. He extends this to practical guidance: how communities should choose a rav, what makes a talmid “successful” (continued learning, mitzvah observance, closeness to rabbanim), and how future poskim will need comprehensive Gemara knowledge to handle unprecedented halachic questions from technology.

Broader hashkafic points: Torah u-Madda (per Dr. Belkin) was a practical arrangement, not a distinct ideology; Klal Yisrael needs diverse roles (learners, soldiers, pioneers, ordinary people); and Torah itself — not just family lineage — is what ultimately unites the nation, a point he ties back to Rav Soloveitchik’s reading of אין אומתנו אומה אלא בתורותיה.

Gut Vuch and Shavuah Tov to all!

IDF Eliminates Terrorist Preparing Attack Near Israeli Border

The IDF carried out a targeted strike in southwestern Syria after identifying an armed terrorist preparing an imminent attack against Israeli troops.

The operation took place near Beit Jinn, roughly six miles from the Israeli border, as preparations for an improvised explosive device attack were reportedly nearing completion. Syrian media said a vehicle was struck and one person was wounded.

Israeli officials said the strike was intended to remove an immediate threat to troops operating in the area.

Israel Also Strikes Syrian Military Base Over Turkish Deployment

Separately, Israel revealed details surrounding recent strikes on the Abu al-Duhur military air base in Syria.

According to Kan News, Israeli intelligence indicated that Turkey was preparing to deploy military personnel, radar systems and air-defense equipment to the base. Israel reportedly shared the intelligence with the United States before taking action.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Syrian officials had been warned at the highest levels and were given an opportunity to halt the planned deployment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also confirmed that advance warnings had been issued.

Katz said the decision to strike was made following consultations with Netanyahu, the IDF and senior security officials.

The two Israeli operations involved separate threats: one targeted a terrorist preparing an attack on Israeli troops, while the other was aimed at preventing the establishment of a Turkish military presence at a strategic Syrian air base.

IDF Eliminates Hamas Commander Behind Terror Operations and Tunnel Network

Israeli forces eliminated Hamas terrorist Sharif al-Hasanat, a company commander who was heavily involved in attacks targeting Israeli civilians and military personnel.

According to the IDF, al-Hasanat played a significant role throughout the war in rebuilding and expanding Hamas’s underground tunnel infrastructure. Intelligence indicated that he had recently stepped up efforts to advance additional attacks against Israeli troops.

He was targeted after being identified as a direct and ongoing threat to Israeli forces operating in the area.

Kites From Gaza Found in Nahal Oz, Raising Fresh Security Concerns

Four kites believed to have been launched from Gaza were discovered in Kibbutz Nahal Oz over the weekend, prompting renewed concern among residents familiar with Hamas’s past use of kites to carry incendiary materials.

The IDF said one kite was discovered inside the kibbutz on Friday, followed by three more on Shabbos morning. The military assessed that all four had crossed from Gaza using strings stretching for several kilometers.

The IDF said there were no suspicious findings and emphasized that there was never any danger to residents.

Residents, however, expressed serious concern, recalling the use of seemingly harmless kites before October 7. Hebrew-language reports said the military believes Hamas may have been testing Israel’s response.

Nahal Oz was among the communities devastated during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Approximately 180 terrorists entered the kibbutz, killing 13 residents and four security personnel and abducting eight civilians. Numerous homes and agricultural areas were destroyed or damaged, and residents were evacuated before beginning to return in 2024.

The concern is rooted in history. In 2018, Palestinian terrorists repeatedly launched incendiary kites and balloons from Gaza, causing widespread fires across Israeli communities and agricultural land.

Nahal Oz officials urged the military to take the latest incidents seriously, warning that seemingly insignificant objects have previously been used as precursors to more dangerous attacks.

Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council head Uri Epstein also called for an immediate investigation and a real-time response to every kite or similar object crossing into Israeli territory. He warned that failing to respond could encourage additional attempts and demanded that authorities address the issue before it escalates.

Besuros tovos.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

HEWLETT, NEW YORK (August 21, 2026)

5TC is deeply saddened to share the passing of 40-year-old Allison Rahmani, a young mother of four, teacher, and beloved math coordinator at HAFTR.

Rahmani lost control of her vehicle, which tragically crashed into the swimming pool at her home.

Rahmani was also active in the local community. Her husband, Matthew Rahmani, serves as president of Irving Place Minyan in Woodmere.

The Levaya will take place Sunday at 11:00 a.m. at Boulevard-Riverside Chapels in Hewlett.

Our heartfelt nechamos go out to her husband, children, family, and loved ones. May they know no more pain.

Shiva details to follow.

Umacha Hashem Elokim. Hashem Yinacheim.

Tragic Update: Following the report of the car accident by the pool in Hewlett, we were saddened to learn that a 40-year-old woman passed away from the accident.

Achiezer is on scene.

B’suros Tovos.

—
Multiple helicopters were seen hovering over Hewlett a short time ago as police responded to a bizarre incident.

A car somehow plunged into a residential backyard swimming pool. Nassau County Police are currently on the scene investigating the incident.

More details to follow.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

ATLANTIC BEACH, N.Y. (Aug. 20, 2026) — A severe and sudden weather system tore through Atlantic Beach on Thursday evening, causing substantial structural destruction across local coastal facilities and triggering widespread street flooding across the barrier island and neighboring Five Towns communities.

Following the rapid deterioration of conditions, Nassau County leadership declared a formal state of emergency and activated the county Emergency Operations Center to manage the regional response. While meteorological teams continue to review atmospheric data and field evidence to formally verify the event, county officials reported that a visible tornado touched down directly along the oceanfront.

Emergency personnel swiftly mobilized to assess widespread property damage along the shore. Severe impacts were concentrated around area beach facilities, notably Silver Point Beach Club and Sun and Surf Beach Club, where cabanas, exterior buildings, and recreational grounds suffered heavy physical damage. Specialized search-and-rescue units were dispatched to inspect the wreckage thoroughly to confirm that no individuals were trapped inside damaged structures. Officials confirmed that no serious injuries or casualties have been identified.

Alongside the high winds, torrential downpours rapidly inundated regional transit corridors, creating dangerous travel conditions along Rockaway Turnpike, Peninsula Boulevard, and numerous low-lying intersections. First responders conducted multiple emergency operations to extract drivers who became stranded in their vehicles by sudden, deep standing water.

Nassau leadership established direct communication with neighboring county counterparts in Suffolk to align mutual aid efforts should additional support be required across Long Island. Residents and commuters are strongly urged to stay off flooded roadways, maintain a safe distance from downed wires or scattered debris, and follow local advisories as recovery operations proceed into the night.

🌪️As the tornado hit at Atlantic Beach. pic.twitter.com/r6svqG7Xe4

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) August 21, 2026

😲 Sun N Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach suffered heavy damage from the tornado, sadly. pic.twitter.com/zIUwMTbPCd

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) August 20, 2026

🌪 Stay Indoors: A tornado warning was issued for areas near Far Rockaway and the 5 Towns a bit ago.

This tornado was reportedly taken just now in Far Rockaway.

Please stay indoors and go into the basement if possible.

Be safe! pic.twitter.com/bte6VX5xqo

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) August 20, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK CITY (August 20, 2026)

New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) has issued a Weather Alert for Thursday, August 20. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), showers and thunderstorms are expected to move through the area Thursday afternoon and evening, with locally heavy downpours that could produce isolated to scattered flash flooding.

Scattered showers are expected to begin late Thursday morning, with the bulk of the widespread showers and embedded thunderstorms expected between approximately 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The heaviest rainfall is currently expected between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., which could affect the evening commute. NYCEM has activated the City’s Flash Flood Emergency Plan and is coordinating with the NWS and City agencies to monitor conditions and prepare for potential impacts.

“New Yorkers should prepare for heavy rain and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening, particularly during the evening commute,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “We have activated our Flash Flood Emergency Plan, and agencies are taking steps now to ready the city. New Yorkers should prepare too: stay alert, avoid flooded areas, text NOTIFYNYC to 692-692, and as always, look out for your neighbors.”

“Thursday’s storms could produce very heavy rain over a short period of time, and even localized flooding can quickly create dangerous conditions,” said NYCEM Commissioner Christina Farrell. “The greatest concern is during the late afternoon and evening, so give yourself extra time to travel and do not enter flooded streets, subway stations, or other low-lying areas. If you live in a basement apartment, pay close attention to conditions and be prepared to move to a safer location if flooding develops.”

The NWS Weather Prediction Center has placed New York City in a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 4) for excessive rainfall on Thursday. This carries the potential for isolated to scattered flash flooding.

Current forecasts call for approximately 0.75 inches to just over 1 inch of rain across New York City, with higher totals possible in localized areas. Higher rainfall amounts are currently more likely across southern portions of the city.

Brief rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are possible in stronger thunderstorms. However, the showers and thunderstorms are expected to move steadily through the area rather than repeatedly pass over the same locations, limiting the duration of the heaviest rainfall.

Localized rainfall totals of approximately 1.5 to 1.75 inches are possible in areas that receive heavier downpours. Higher amounts cannot be ruled out in a low-probability scenario.

The greatest risk for heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding is expected during the late afternoon and evening, including the evening commute. Showers and thunderstorms should begin to taper off after approximately 8 p.m., with generally dry conditions expected after midnight Thursday night into Friday morning.

New Yorkers should take the following precautions:

• Allow extra time for travel on Thursday afternoon and during the evening commute
• .Avoid flooded streets, rooms, subway stations, and other flooded areas. Never drive, bike, or walk through floodwater. Water may be deeper than it appears and can hide submerged hazards, openings, debris, and electrical dangers.
• If you live in a basement apartment or other below-grade space, stay alert to changing conditions and be prepared to move to a higher floor or another safer location before flooding begins.
• Do not wait for water to enter your home before acting if conditions are worsening.
• If a Flash Flood Warning or other emergency instruction is issued for your area, follow official guidance immediately.
• Keep phones, medical equipment, and other essential devices charged.
• Check on family, friends, neighbors, older adults, and people who may need additional assistance before and during the storm.
• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.

Forecast conditions remain dependent on the timing and placement of the heaviest showers and thunderstorms. Localized areas that experience stronger storms could receive significantly more rainfall than surrounding neighborhoods over a short period.

Rabbi Yaakov Bender Shlita with his annual minhag embracing his beloved talmidim back to the Yeshiva!

Wishing all the children a very matzliach year!

❤️ "Just Love Them": Rabbi Yaakov Bender Shlita with his annual minhag embracing his beloved talmidim back to the Yeshiva!

Wishing all the children a very matzliach year! pic.twitter.com/b0NX85EnRC

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) August 19, 2026

B”H, we are pleased to report that Rockaway Turnpike has finally reopened!

Traffic is diverted by cones and heavy still, but at least it’s now open.

We thank our local emergency personnel for working tirelessly all day to clear the fuel and get the roadway back in business!

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: B"H, we are pleased to report that Rockaway Turnpike has finally reopened! Traffic is diverted by cones and heavy still, but at least it's now open! We thank our local emergency personnel for working tirelessly all day to clear the fuel and get the roadway back… pic.twitter.com/tTLvZI2bZO

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) August 20, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff

LAWRENCE, N.Y. (Aug. 19, 2026) — A poignant personal encounter has brought renewed focus to one of the area’s most harrowing and enduring sagas of family loss, systemic corruption, and the relentless search for truth. Community advocate & blogger Michal Weinstein recently reunited with renowned defense attorney Benjamin Brafman, revisiting the historic legal battle that helped bring resolution to her family following the tragic disappearance and murder of her father, diamond dealer Israel Greenwald.

Community advocate and blogger Michal Weinstein recently reunited with renowned attorney Benjamin Brafman to reflect on the legal case surrounding the disappearance and murder of her father, diamond dealer Israel Greenwald, and the eventual resolution that followed. Mr Brafman… pic.twitter.com/Mj8kp0tnzx

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) August 20, 2026

Greenwald vanished without a trace in February 1986, leaving behind a young family and plunging them into an agonizing nineteen-year period of uncertainty. The unresolved mystery persisted until the spring of 2005, when forensic teams uncovered his remains buried beneath a concrete slab in a Brooklyn garage. A comprehensive federal investigation ultimately revealed that two rogue New York City police detectives, acting as enforcers for organized crime figures, were responsible for his abduction and execution-style murder. Both former officers were subsequently convicted and handed lengthy prison terms for their involvement in multiple mob-related killings.

During the intense legal proceedings that accompanied the discovery and trial, Brafman stepped in to represent the Greenwald family on a pro bono basis, providing crucial counsel and steadfast advocacy as they navigated the harrowing judicial process. Weinstein, who began meticulously documenting her feelings and daily life in personal journals as a ten-year-old following her father’s sudden absence, saw those childhood accounts become powerful tools of perspective during the legal proceedings, culminating in an emotional courtroom impact statement at sentencing.

May the Neshama have an Aliyah.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NORTH LAWRENCE, NEW YORK (Aug. 19, 2026)

Update: The overturned trailer was finally flipped back over. Many residents have been asking if Rockaway Turnpike is back open.

As of 7:00 p.m., the roadway remains completely closed.

Update: The overturned trailer was finally flipped back over. Many residents have been asking if Rockaway Turnpike is back open. As of 7:00 p.m., the roadway remains completely closed. pic.twitter.com/gb8mL8LHCW

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) August 19, 2026

Update: Statement from NCPD –

“The Public Information Office reports the details of a Vehicular Accident that occurred on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 11:08 a.m. in North Lawrence.

According to Police, a 42-year-old male was operating a 2024 Gasoline Tanker traveling eastbound on East Avenue when he attempted to make a left-hand turn onto Rockaway Turnpike. During the turn, the Gasoline Tanker overturned, causing a fuel spill. The Nassau County Fire Marshall, Nassau County OEM, The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Nassau County Emergency Service Unit (ESU), Motor Carrier, the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Meadowmere Park Fire Department and neighboring Fire departments all responded to the scene. The driver was evaluated at the scene but refused medical attention.”

—

Update: Mayor Samuel Nahmias Issues Statement on Rockaway Turnpike Fuel Spill

“Our thoughts are with the truck driver and everyone impacted by today’s fuel spill on Rockaway Turnpike.

While North Lawrence falls outside the Incorporated Village of Lawrence, we are deeply grateful to our local fire, police, and hazmat response teams for their swift work to secure the scene and contain the environmental impact.

Protecting both the safety of our residents and our local environment remains a top priority, and we will closely monitor recovery efforts as crews work to safely clear and restore the area.”

—

Update: The fire department is currently on scene spraying foam onto the fuel spill on the roadway.

They typically use Class B Firefighting Foam or specialized hydrocarbon encapsulating / vapor-suppressing foams. Applying foam stops ignition, smothers vapors, and cools the surface.

👨🏻‍🚒When emergency crews or fire departments spray foam onto an oil or fuel spill on a roadway, they are typically using Class B Firefighting Foam or specialized hydrocarbon encapsulating / vapor-suppressing foams. Applying foam stops ignition, smothers vapors, and cools the… pic.twitter.com/yGr3g8wBHM

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) August 19, 2026

—
A large oil tanker has overturned on Rockaway Turnpike, causing a major roadway closure and significant traffic delays.

Fuel is leaking onto the roadway, prompting a large emergency response. Authorities have closed the area near Costco and are turning vehicles around. Access into the Five Towns from the opposite direction is also blocked, with traffic being stopped near Lowe’s.

Brookville is heavily backed up as well for drivers heading toward Rockaway.

Emergency crews are still setting up and assessing the scene, and it is unclear when inbound traffic will reopen. Drivers are urged to avoid Rockaway Turnpike and surrounding roads until further notice.

More updates to follow.

Accident/Closure: A large oil tanker flipped over on Rockaway Turnpike just now. Gas is leaking on the roadway, avoid the area! Expect heavy delays for a while. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/FLlgceNYci

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) August 19, 2026

More from Rockaway Turnpike. This is going to be a long clean-up! pic.twitter.com/lowtUhjWuO

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) August 19, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Aug. 19, 2026) 

“There is still one screaming, glaring issue that keeps getting overlooked or waved away.

The single biggest impediment to American religious Jews moving to Israel is not three-car garages, Amazon Prime, decent pizza, or any of the other lifestyle comforts people like to joke about.

Hint: It’s the same concern that sits at the heart of Hareidi resistance to military service.

If parents believe there is a meaningful possibility that this could jeopardize their children’s religious commitment, then no economic incentive, ideological argument or appeal to sacrifice is going to outweigh that risk.

Think about it. For families whose ancestors struggled for 2,000 years to preserve Torah observance through exile, persecution and assimilation, it simply isn’t worth gambling with the next generation. This is the part outsiders often miss.

So if you ask an American Hareidi what they believe Hashem expects of them as a parent, and at or near the top of the list will be to give your children the strongest possible chance of growing up to remain Torah-true Jews.

So if moving to Israel is perceived as increasing the likelihood that their children will drift religiously, most families will choose the uncomfortable status quo.

Individual families will take the chance, and many will succeed. Others won’t. But mixed results are not a model for mass aliyah.

The other major issue is livelihood. And anyone whose response is that American Hareidim would simply become another population of “freeloading parasitic leeches” does not understand American Hareidim well enough to contribute much to this conversation.

We come from a culture of businesses, professions, homeownership, philanthropy and community-building. Give us the right framework and we will build an economy around ourselves.
That is why the solution cannot simply be come here and fit into what already exists.
Allow us to build our own communities, with our own schools, institutions, businesses and professional infrastructure. Let us use our own capital to build communities designed to let us reliably protect our religious and cultural responsibilities while providing real livelihoods for our families.

Then mass aliyah becomes imaginable. Without that, it simply isn’t realistic.

Are you starting to see?”

We announce with sorrow the passing of Vera Dechter A”H.

Mrs. Emunah (Vera) Dechter, a cherished mother, grandmother, and longtime Inwood resident, passed away Tuesday, 5 Elul 5786, at the age of 95.

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Mrs. Dechter escaped the country as a young woman, arriving in America aboard one of the final ships to depart Germany.

Throughout her remarkable life, she was known for her extraordinary strength, dedication, dignity, and unwavering “Emunah”. Mrs. Dechter was the dedicated secretary at Yeshivas Shor Yoshuv for over 40 years!

Levaya Info:

– Tuesday at 11:00 AM
– Bais Tefillah, 259 Doughty Blvd, Inwood

Levaya Zoom Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89562504410?pwd=XznsICyXiyVyYdYqHNDIcrSXmTmppO.1
Kevurah Info:

Cedar Park/Beth El – 735 Forest Ave, Paramus NJ

Shiva Info:

739 Hillcrest Place, Valley Stream
Shachris – 8:00 am
Mincha/Maariv – 6:10 pm
No visitors between 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm, or after 1-0:30 pm.

Yihi Zichrah Baruch.

Besuros Tovos.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

BNEI BRAK, ISRAEL (Aug. 19, 2026) — The global Torah community is mourning the loss of Rebbetzin Sarah Rochel Yisroelson, who passed away at Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center at the age of 93. A revered matriarch from one of the most prominent rabbinic lineages of recent generations, she was the daughter of the preeminent halachic authority Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l and the widow of Rosh Kollel Rav Yosef Yisroel Yisroelson zt”l.

Her passing came suddenly following a rapid health decline that began shortly after she participated in the engagement celebration of her youngest grandchild. Family members gathered at her bedside to offer tefillos in her final hours before she succumbed to her illness overnight.

Born in Jerusalem in the winter of 1932, the Rebbetzin was raised in an atmosphere of extraordinary devotion to Torah scholarship and piety, drawing inspiration from both her father and her maternal grandfather, Rav Aryeh Levin. After marrying her husband, a Talmus Chochom who ran Kollel Bar Shaul in Rechovot while maintaining a modest, unassuming lifestyl. She dedicated herself completely to facilitating his continuous Torah study. For decades, the couple made their home on Chazon Ish Street in Bnei Brak, living alongside several of the generation’s greatest Torah leaders.

The Rebbetzin was particularly celebrated for her profound self-sacrifice in caring for her father. For many years, she made bi-weekly journeys from Bnei Brak to Jerusalem to manage his household affairs. Her reverence for his continuous study was so profound that in his later years, she actively preferred a silent nod of greeting rather than having him pause his learning to offer a verbal parting blessing.

She is survived by multiple generations of prominent Torah scholars, including sons, sons-in-law, and siblings, leaving behind an enduring legacy of steadfast dedication to Torah study and mesiras nefesh on behalf of the Klal.

Yihi Zichrah Baruch.

Besuros Tovos.

By: Arnold Roth, Jerusalem Israel

During the first week of August, the Jewish world paused to remember one of the deadliest attacks of the Second Intifada. Twenty-five years have passed since the Hamas-directed massacre at Jerusalem’s Sbarro pizzeria.

For my family and our circle of friends, the dates carry deep resonance. We lost the luminous life of our 15-year-old daughter Malka Chana. She and our next-door neighbour’s daughter Michal Raziel rest in adjoining graves. The azkara on the yahrzeit has been held together by the two families every year.

Life changed in profound ways for us and the families of the fourteen other victims. Additional challenges none of us foresaw arrived later.

Starting in 2012, weeks after the Jordanian mastermind of the atrocity walked out of her Israeli prison cell and was whisked to a hero’s welcome in Jordan, my wife Frimet and I began a campaign to have her tried as a terrorist under U.S. law.

Twenty-five years after Ahlam Tamimi executed the plan that brought years of misery to our family, she continues to live free in Jordan—free, famous, and phenomenally influential because the Hashemite Kingdom wants it that way and is allowed to get away with it.

Jordan appears to have wrestled its main benefactor and ally to a stalemate. It violates its 1995 extradition treaty with the United States, and until now no one in Washington has held it to account. Annual U.S. taxpayer-funded aid to Jordan has risen steadily; the kingdom remains near the top of the recipients list.

For Jordanians, the Tamimi saga ended when she arrived back in triumph after Israel released her in the 2011 Shalit deal. She went straight from prisoner to certified national asset. There was no intermediate stage in which proud Jordanians might have paused to wonder how one of their most prominent national symbols is famous because of the Jewish children she targeted and succeeded in slaughtering. If any Jordanian citizens are nauseated by this, I have seen no sign of them. Tamimi’s every media appearance has been as an icon.

Nothing about this outcome makes sense. Jordan egregiously violates its treaty with the United States, which is why Malki’s FBI Most Wanted killer stays free. The ruler of Jordan continues to address the U.S. Congress and is received with pomp in the Oval Office. He is routinely described in mainstream American media as moderate and peace-minded. A recent biography is titled The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan.

Yet that admiration is incomplete. While we marked 25 years since Malki and Michal were taken from us, a senior Jordanian official—the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives—publicly insulted Israel in crude terms, declaring that neither King Abdullah nor other Jordanians trust Benjamin Netanyahu, that “Zionists and the Jews” deceived the prophets, and that the “Zionist entity” is a cancer in the region. No dressing-down followed. Rallies of wild support for Tamimi, however, do.

No part of the Jordanian media has ever told Jordanians a single respectful thing about the human beings, the Jewish children, blown apart by Tamimi’s bomb. Tamimi herself regales audiences with the story of hunting around Jerusalem for a child-rich target. The only label she has ever given those she murdered is “Zionists.”

Here is what neither Tamimi nor any consumer of made-in-Jordan news will ever know: Malki was a baalat hesed, a deeply devoted daughter and sister who spent much of her time helping her severely disabled youngest sister. Thirty days after the atrocity we established the Malki Foundation (kerenmalki.org). In 25 years it has helped about three thousand families across Israel’s socio-economic spectrum—almost a third of them Muslim, Christian, Druze, or unaffiliated—without discrimination. I do not know what Malki’s murderer would say if she knew. It does not matter to me.

Article XI of the 1994 Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty requires the Jordanians to “abstain from hostile or discriminatory propaganda.” Authorizing a television program that glamorizes the mass murder of Israelis—the show Tamimi herself hosted for five years—clearly violates that obligation.

Is there still hope that she will be brought to justice? Malki and two of the other Sbarro victims held American citizenship. Under U.S. law, Washington not only allows but requires the prosecution of terrorists who kill Americans overseas.

We have met with many U.S. officials over the years. Not one has said no. Yet Tamimi lives free, unrepentant, and toxic just a few kilometers from where I write.

In July 2013 the Obama administration charged her under US federal law but kept this secret. In March 2017 the Trump administration made the charges public and formally requested extradition.

Jordan refused and keeps refusing. A $5 million State Department reward sits unused. Tamimi has never been in hiding for a single day.

It is maddening that the United States—at least publicly—takes Jordan’s “no” for an answer. Sanctions exist that both help and oblige Washington to press compliance. Meanwhile Jordan makes a mockery of treaties and justice, and Jordanian officials launch outrageous anti-Israel tirades, while our appeals fail to move decision-makers.

We continue to be driven by hope, conviction, and love. And we look forward to the day when justice is done.

I receive a lot of shidduch reference calls and people ask all kinds of questions. Is he kind? Is she easygoing? Is he a serious learner? Is she growth-oriented? Is he responsible? Does she have good middos? These are all important questions, but there is one question I almost never get asked, even though I believe it is one of the greatest predictors not only of whether someone will have a healthy marriage, but whether they will have a successful life: Can this person be influenced?

Can he hear an opinion different from his own without immediately becoming defensive? Can she receive feedback without experiencing it as an attack? Can he say, “I was wrong”? Can she say, “I never thought of it that way”? Can this person encounter a perspective, an experience, another person, or a piece of Torah and emerge different because of it? We spend a lot of time trying to determine who someone is. Perhaps we should spend more time trying to discover whether they are capable of becoming.

This isn’t only a dating question. The quality of our marriages depends on whether our spouse can influence us. Our friendships depend on whether our friends can get through to us. Our effectiveness as parents depends on whether our children can teach us something about what they need. Our success at work depends on whether we can receive feedback. Our spiritual lives depend on whether a rebbe, a sefer, a shiur, an experience, or the quiet voice of our conscience can penetrate our assumptions and move us to change. A person who cannot be influenced cannot grow.

Our parsha introduces us to the ben sorer u’moreh, the wayward and rebellious son: “Ki yihyeh l’ish ben sorer u’moreh, einenu shomei’a b’kol aviv u’v’kol imo, If a man has a wayward and rebellious son who does not listen to the voice of his father and the voice of his mother.” The Mishnah (Sanhedrin 71b) teaches that the ben sorer u’moreh is nidon al shem sofo, judged based on his end. He is punished not merely for what he has already done, but because the Torah anticipates where his behavior will lead.

But this seems to contradict a fundamental principle taught elsewhere. When Yishmael was expelled from Avraham’s home and was dying of thirst, Hashem saved him. The Torah tells us, “Ki shama Elokim el kol hana’ar ba’asher hu sham,” “Hashem heard the voice of the boy where he was.” Rashi quotes the Midrash that the angels objected: How could Hashem save Yishmael when his descendants would one day cause terrible suffering to the Jewish people? Hashem responded that at that moment Yishmael was innocent. Ein danin es ha’adam ela l’fi ma’asav shel osah sha’ah, a person is judged according to his present conduct.

So which is it? Do we judge a person ba’asher hu sham, for who he is right now, or al shem sofo, based upon where he is heading? Rav Yisroel Meir Druck, in Eish Tamid, offers an approach that contains an extraordinary lesson for Elul and for life.

The key to understanding the ben sorer u’moreh is hiding in plain sight. Listen to the Torah’s repeated language: einenu shomei’a b’kol aviv u’v’kol imo, he does not listen to his father or mother; v’lo yishma aleihem, he will not listen to them; einenu shomei’a b’koleinu, he does not listen to our voice. The Torah doesn’t simply describe what he does wrong. It emphasizes who he has become: he doesn’t listen. Perhaps that is why his future can seemingly be predicted with certainty.

Rabbeinu Yonah writes in Shaarei Teshuvah (2:10) that a fundamental prerequisite for teshuvah is the willingness to listen. Before we can change, we must remain reachable. We must be capable of hearing something we don’t already believe, considering something that makes us uncomfortable, and allowing another person to influence us. A person who makes terrible mistakes can still have an extraordinary future. Someone heading in the wrong direction can turn around. But only if they can hear. If no rebbe, spouse, parent, child, friend, shiur, sefer, experience, failure, or voice of conscience can penetrate our certainty, what mechanism remains through which we can change?

That may explain the difference between Yishmael and the ben sorer u’moreh. Yishmael is judged ba’asher hu sham because his future is still open. The ben sorer u’moreh is judged al shem sofo not simply because he has done something wrong, but because he has rejected the very mechanism through which wrong becomes right. He is hopeless because he cannot listen.

Dr. John Gottman, who has spent decades studying marriage, describes a remarkably similar concept. One of the important indicators of marital health to emerge from his research is the ability to “accept influence” from one’s spouse. A healthy marriage doesn’t mean agreeing about everything. It means that when your spouse raises a concern or sees something differently, you don’t automatically experience that input as a threat. You can say, “You might be right,” “I hadn’t considered that,” or “I understand why you experienced it that way.” What Gottman identifies as essential to marriage is really essential to all of life.

It is striking that the Torah concludes the section of the ben sorer u’moreh with “V’chol Yisrael yishme’u v’yira’u,” “All of Israel shall hear and fear.” The story of the person who refuses to listen concludes with a charge to everyone else: You listen. Perhaps this is also what we mean when we say each day, “Ashrei ish sheyishma l’mitzvosecha.” Fortunate is the person who listens to Your mitzvos. It isn’t enough to perform mitzvos; we must allow them to speak to us, shape us, and change us.

There is a particular urgency to this message as we enter the season of teshuvah. Teshuvah doesn’t begin with changing, it begins with being changeable. Before asking what resolution we will make this year, we should ask whether anyone can tell us something we don’t want to hear. When was the last time somebody changed my mind? When was the last time I received criticism without immediately explaining it away? When was the last time I genuinely allowed a spouse, child, friend, teacher, or sefer to influence me?

Perhaps this is also why we blow the shofar each morning during Elul. Every morning of Elul we begin our day by exercising and conditioning our capacity to hear. Before we speak, before we defend ourselves, before we explain why we are right, we listen.

Before Hashem asks us to confess on Yom Kippur, we spend a month conditioning ourselves to hear. Each morning the shofar asks: Are you still reachable? Can something penetrate? Can another person get through to you? Can Torah get through to you? Can Hashem get through to you?

Chazal famously tell us, ben sorer u’moreh lo hayah v’lo asid lihyos, the ben sorer u’moreh never actually existed and never will. Why, then, does the Torah teach it? Derosh v’kabel sechar, study it and receive reward. The Torah isn’t ultimately telling us about a hopeless teenager. It is warning us not to become hopeless adults. Nobody’s future is truly sealed. But we move in that direction when we stop listening, and we move in the opposite direction every time we allow ourselves to be influenced.

So perhaps we should ask that question on shidduch calls, but more importantly, we should ask it of ourselves: Am I influenceable? Can my spouse change my mind? Can my children teach me something? Can a friend tell me I am wrong? Can a rebbe challenge me? Can Torah change not only what I know, but who I am?

Being influenced is not weakness. Changing your mind is not surrender. The ben sorer u’moreh is doomed not because he has made mistakes, but because he refuses to hear anything that could help him correct them. As long as we can listen, we can learn. As long as we can learn, we can grow. And as long as we can grow, no matter who we are today, our future remains wide open.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NORTH WOODMERE, NY (August 18, 2026)

For years, Simchas Torah night in North Woodmere & many communities had started to take on an unintended minhag: children would go from shul to shul collecting candy and treats, sometimes spending more time “shul hopping” than dancing with the Torah and celebrating the Yom Tov in their own shuls.

At the same time, individual shuls were increasingly trying to create bigger and more elaborate pekalach, turning a simple Simchas Torah tradition into something of a competition.

The community decided it was time to try something different.

The result is a remarkable neighborhood-wide initiative built around one simple idea: one neighborhood, one bag and one message of achdus.

Nearly 10 shuls have joined together to create a single, generously packed Simchas Torah bag that will be distributed to every child in North Woodmere, as well as visiting children, on Simchas Torah night.

Rather than children traveling from shul to shul looking for the biggest giveaways, the goal is to encourage them to remain in their own shuls, dance, participate and celebrate Simchas Torah together with their families and communities.

Each participating shul is represented on the bag, sending a message to the children that while every shul may have its own identity and traditions, the entire neighborhood is one community.

Last year’s participating shuls included BKNW, YINW, KLA, KBH, Kodesh, Khal Chasidim, Ohr Torah Ashkenaz, Ohr Torah Sephard and Noam Hashem, with additional participation expected as the initiative continues to grow.

The preparation is just as meaningful as the distribution.

Before Yom Tov, volunteers from the participating shuls come together to pack the bags. Each shul sends people to work alongside volunteers from the other kehillos, turning the preparation itself into an opportunity for neighbors and members of different communities to work together.

And the scale is impressive: more than 1,700 large bags filled with snacks, toys and treats are prepared for the children.

What began as an effort to address the growing trend of Simchas Torah “shul hopping” has evolved into something much bigger — a community-wide expression of achdus.

The message to the children is simple: Simchas Torah isn’t about who has the biggest bag or the most candy. It’s about dancing with the Torah, celebrating together and recognizing that every shul and every family is part of one North Woodmere community.

Kol Hakavod.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (August 18, 2026)

Energy Minister Eli Cohen has emerged as the big winner of Likud’s primary, finishing first in the party’s nationwide vote and securing the No. 2 position on the Likud list behind Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana finished second, followed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Transportation Minister Miri Regev and coalition whip Ofir Katz. The results set the stage for a significantly reshaped Likud slate ahead of Israel’s October 27 election.

Turnout reached 53.5%, with 75,177 of Likud’s roughly 140,000 members casting ballots across 501 polling stations. Netanyahu reportedly welcomed the outcome, saying he was “very satisfied” with the results and predicting a major Likud victory in the general election.

The primary was particularly consequential because Likud has been polling in the low 20s, meaning many candidates who finished outside the top tier could struggle to win Knesset seats. Several sitting ministers and MKs, including Ze’ev Elkin, May Golan, Idit Silman and Avi Dichter, are now facing a serious fight to remain in parliament.

Netanyahu still holds significant influence

The primary results do not tell the entire story. Likud recently expanded Netanyahu’s ability to reserve positions on the party list for candidates of his choosing, allowing him to reshape portions of the slate even after the primary.

That means several candidates who performed strongly in the vote could ultimately be pushed down by Netanyahu’s selections. Economics Minister Nir Barkat, who finished 16th, is reportedly among those whose position could be affected.

Gila Gamliel, meanwhile, is expected to receive the 25th position under Likud’s rules requiring women to occupy designated places within the top 40.

Primary results

1. Eli Cohen
2. Amir Ohana
3. Yariv Levin
4. Miri Regev
5. Ofir Katz
6. Yoav Kisch
7. Miki Zohar
8. Almog Cohen
9. Amichai Chikli
10. David Amsalem
11. Moshe Saada
12. Tally Gotliv
13. Shlomo Karhi
14. David Bitan
15. Boaz Bismuth
16. Nir Barkat
17. Ze’ev Elkin
18. Gila Gamliel

The outcome reflects a significant shake-up within Likud, with several long-serving figures pushed down the rankings while newer and more combative members of the party gained ground.

Near-final Likud slate

1. Benjamin Netanyahu
2. Eli Cohen
3. Reserved for Netanyahu
4. Israel Katz
5. Gideon Sa’ar
6. Amir Ohana
7. Yariv Levin
8. Miri Regev
9. Reserved for Netanyahu
10. Ofir Katz
11. Oren Dobronsky
12. Yoav Kisch
13. Miki Zohar
14. Almog Cohen
15. Reserved for Netanyahu
16. Amichai Chikli
17. David Amsalem
18. Haim Katz
19. Moshe Saada
20. Tally Gotliv
21. Shlomo Karhi
22. David Bitan
23. Boaz Bismuth
24. Nir Barkat
25. Gila Gamliel

With the October election approaching, the primary has given Netanyahu a party list featuring several familiar senior figures while also creating uncertainty for a number of current lawmakers whose political futures are now at risk.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

LEBANON (August 18, 2026)

The IDF has informed the family of Sgt. Yehuda Katz that remains believed to belong to the fallen soldier have been located, bringing a decades-long search to a close.

Katz disappeared during the First Lebanon War following the Battle of Sultan Yaqub on June 11, 1982. The battle, fought in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, left Katz and fellow soldiers Zechariah Baumel and Zvi Feldman missing for decades.

Katz was the final soldier from the battle whose fate and burial location remained unresolved. His family spent years awaiting answers as Israeli intelligence and security agencies continued efforts to determine what happened to him.

The other two soldiers were eventually brought home. Baumel’s remains were recovered in 2019 in an operation facilitated by Russia, while Feldman’s remains were returned to Israel in 2025 following a classified Mossad operation.

In 2004, Israel’s Chief Military Rabbi at the time, Rabbi Yisrael Weiss, determined that Katz, Baumel and Feldman should be officially classified as fallen soldiers whose burial locations were unknown. Their families challenged the decision, and the classification was subsequently reversed.

The discovery of Katz’s remains now brings an emotional conclusion to one of the longest-running missing-soldier cases in Israeli history, finally allowing his family to bring him home and give him a proper Kevurah.

May this bring Nechama to the family, and may the Neshama have an Aliyah.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK CITY (August 18, 2026)

New York City’s controversial pied-à-terre tax is facing mounting questions from homeowners and elected officials, with the City Council set to hold a hearing Tuesday focused on the rollout and confusion surrounding the new levy.

Councilmember Gale Brewer said residents have been inundated with questions after receiving notices warning that their properties could be subject to the tax. More than 10 pages of questions submitted by homeowners are expected to be addressed during the hearing, along with testimony from co-op organizations. A news conference is scheduled for noon, followed by the hearing at 1 p.m.

The administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not send a representative to testify in person. Instead, City Hall plans to submit written testimony, citing ongoing litigation challenging the tax and its implementation.

The decision has drawn criticism from members of the City Council. Councilmember Frank Morano argued that city officials should appear before lawmakers and directly address residents’ concerns. Speaker Julie Menin also questioned the administration’s absence, pointing out that previous mayoral administrations have participated in oversight hearings even when related lawsuits were pending.

Menin said the Council’s responsibility to conduct oversight remains essential and emphasized that Tuesday’s hearing will give residents and organizations an opportunity to raise their concerns publicly.

The tax targets non-primary residences, including second homes valued above $5 million and condominium and cooperative units valued above $1 million when the owner’s primary residence is outside New York City.

The rollout has generated additional confusion because some homeowners who say they live in their properties full time have also received notices. Brewer cited cases involving residents who received preliminary tax bills of approximately $43,000 and $82,000.

In July, the Department of Finance mailed notices to roughly 17,000 individuals identified as potentially owning taxable second homes. The city also released a much larger database containing more than 900,000 potentially affected properties and addresses, prompting criticism over both accuracy and privacy.

Homeowners seeking an exemption have until September 18 to submit the required documentation. The Mamdani administration has also assigned 24 employees to handle complaints and questions related to the tax.

The policy has already faced legal challenges from homeowners. A court initially issued a temporary restraining order blocking implementation, but that restriction was subsequently lifted, allowing the city to continue moving forward with the program.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK CITY (August 18, 2026)

New York City is preparing to strengthen enforcement against rat infestations, with new rules that would require faster inspections and impose escalating fines on properties found with active signs of rodents.

Under Local Law 8 of 2026, the Department of Health would generally have to inspect a property within 14 days after receiving a complaint or request concerning a suspected rat infestation. Inspectors would also be required to document specific findings during each inspection.

The proposed regulations spell out what inspectors will look for, including fresh droppings, burrows, rat trails, gnaw marks, visible rodents and other evidence of active infestation.

Property owners and others responsible for a building would be required to take steps to eliminate conditions that attract rats. Those measures include properly storing garbage in sealed, durable containers, removing clutter and debris, closing holes and cracks, securing doors and windows, protecting vents and drains and bringing in a licensed exterminator when necessary.

Simply taking those steps, however, would not protect a property from a violation if inspectors subsequently discover active signs of rats.

Penalties would increase with repeated violations, starting at $300 for a first offense, $600 for a second and $1,200 for a third. Properties with four or more violations could face fines of up to $2,000.

The legislation was introduced by Brooklyn Councilwoman Susan Zhuang following complaints from residents who said rat-related 311 reports were not being investigated quickly enough. The law also requires the city to make another inspection attempt within 20 days when inspectors cannot initially gain access to a property.

The new rules come as the city says it is making progress in reducing its rat population. Approximately 9,900 rat-related calls were recorded during the first seven months of 2026, the lowest figure for that period since 2020 and the first time the number has fallen below 10,000 in that timeframe.

The effort builds on the city’s broader push to reduce rodents by changing how garbage is stored. More than 70% of residential trash is now required to be placed in sealed containers, according to the Department of Sanitation.

That initiative began with a 10-block pilot in West Harlem in 2023 and expanded throughout Community Board 9 by June 2025. The containerization program currently focuses on residential buildings with more than 30 units, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani has set a goal of expanding sealed trash containers citywide by 2032.

The Health Department says rats are primarily attracted by accessible food and water, accumulated garbage, clutter, unsanitary conditions and openings such as cracks, gaps and holes that provide access to buildings.

The proposed regulations are scheduled for a public hearing on September 14 before they are implemented.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK CITY (August 18, 2026)

Nearly two-thirds of the antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents documented in New York City public schools since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack involved direct actions such as harassment, vandalism, assaults or threats, according to a new report from United Jewish Teachers.

The organization recorded 250 incidents between October 2023 and July 2026, with Brooklyn reporting the highest number at 91. Queens followed with 68 incidents, Manhattan with 62, the Bronx with 22 and Staten Island with seven.

Direct incidents accounted for 64.8% of the cases tracked. Another 23.2% involved classroom materials or instruction, while 9.6% were connected to student walkouts or protests. The remaining 2.4% fell into other categories, including incidents involving teachers’ unions.

United Jewish Teachers President Moshe Spern said the findings highlight what he described as a failure by the city’s current policies to adequately protect Jewish students and educators.

“With antisemitism rising across New York City and a new school year about to begin, this report could not come at a more critical moment,” Spern told JNS. “The data make clear that current policies have failed.”

The report also raised concerns about how schools responded after incidents were reported. According to the organization, numerous cases received little or no meaningful follow-up from school or district administrators, allowing what it described as hostile environments to continue.

United Jewish Teachers is calling on NYC Public Schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, require hate-related graffiti to be immediately investigated by the NYPD, publicly maintain statistics on antisemitic incidents and hold school leadership accountable for addressing them.

With another school year approaching, Spern warned that Jewish families and educators cannot afford to see the same patterns continue, saying stronger enforcement and accountability are needed to ensure Jewish students can attend school without fear of harassment or intimidation.

Rav Hershel Schachter addresses one of the most persistent tensions in the frum professional world: does the ben Torah at work matter as much as the one in the beis medrash?

Recorded live in partnership with the OU Israel Business Professionals Network, this episode includes the full shiur plus a Q&A.

Source: “Shtark Tank” and YU Torah

What’s covered:

Why Klal Yisrael needs doctors, lawyers, engineers, and businessmen just as much as it needs roshei yeshiva, and why the “learning is more important” mindset is a distortion, not a Torah value

The little-known letter from Rav Elya Meir Bloch on why the religious world can’t afford to run from Zionism, Tanach, or Ivrit

A Q&A covering how much work is enough, whether a rabbi should be wealthy, balancing communal obligations against raising your own children, and a practical seder for using limited learning time (starting with Kitzur Shulchan Aruch)

Why Rav Schachter has spent 30 years teaching high schoolers at NCSY Kollel, and what he sees in that generation

By 5 Towns Central Staff

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (August 18, 2026)

Jake Turx is a senior White House correspondent and a prominent Jewish journalist known for his coverage of the Trump administration and U.S. politics.

In a recent proposal, Turx outlined what he believes could become a massive real estate opportunity while simultaneously addressing the unique housing and lifestyle needs of Orthodox Jews from the United States looking to build their lives in Israel.

Here is his proposal in full:

“Read my EIGHT-BILLION-DOLLAR IDEA:

Build a development in Eretz Yisroel specifically designed around the unique needs, standards and lifestyle of Orthodox Jews from America. Build it right, and I believe the homes will sell fast and furious. One bold developer who understands this market stands to make a lot of money.

Then don’t stop at one.

Once the first development is thriving, use it as the prototype. Replicate the model across Israel. Build communities around the people you actually want to attract rather than expecting those people to squeeze themselves into communities designed for somebody else.

Fill one. Build another. Fill that one. Keep going and don’t look back.

There are 1.5 million potential customers waiting across the ocean.

I just have one request for whoever makes billions off my idea:

Remember to give maaser!”

We want to hear your thoughts, comment below.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK CITY (August 17, 2026)

A climate policy Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized during his campaign is moving forward under his administration, giving New York City landlords a new way to reduce their obligations under the city’s building emissions law — by purchasing energy credits.

Local Law 97 requires many large buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with violations potentially carrying substantial financial penalties. Buildings account for a significant share of New York City’s overall carbon emissions, making the law a centerpiece of the city’s climate strategy.

During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani pledged to eliminate loopholes that he argued allowed property owners to avoid fully complying with the law.

But a credit program created under former Mayor Eric Adams is now set to launch, allowing building owners to purchase credits that can be used toward certain emissions requirements.

Adams introduced the program in 2023 as a way to help property owners manage the potentially enormous cost of upgrading older buildings while directing private money toward clean-energy infrastructure.

The first credits are scheduled to go on sale Wednesday through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The initial sale is expected to generate nearly $1.8 million for the Champlain Hudson Power Express, a major transmission project designed to bring hydroelectric power from Quebec into New York City.

Credits will cost $35.52 each, with buyers required to purchase at least 1,000 credits. There is currently no stated limit on the number of credits a building owner can purchase.

However, the credits do not provide a blanket exemption from Local Law 97. They can only be applied toward emissions associated with sources outside the building, such as electricity generation. Direct emissions from fossil-fuel equipment located inside a building, including boilers, cannot be offset through the program.

The program comes as landlords, co-op owners and property managers continue to warn that complying with Local Law 97 could require expensive upgrades, particularly in older buildings.

The emerging system puts Mamdani in an awkward position: while he campaigned on tightening enforcement of the city’s climate rules, his administration is now overseeing the implementation of a mechanism that gives property owners another financial tool for meeting their obligations.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (August 17, 2026)

A newly released 60-page document offers a detailed look at the massive private fundraising effort supporting Torah institutions in Israel following the loss of government funding tied to the draft controversy.

According to the document, Keren Olam HaTorah raised and distributed more than NIS 500 million between July 2024 and December 2025, providing financial assistance to approximately 1,450 institutions.

The fund was established as private donations became increasingly important for maintaining yeshivas and kollelim after state support was reduced or halted for institutions affected by sanctions related to draft noncompliance.

The figures, first reported by Mordechai Halperin of Army Radio, show that some of Israel’s largest Torah institutions received millions of shekels in support.

The Mir Yeshiva received the largest allocation, totaling NIS 18.8 million. Ponevezh received approximately NIS 13.2 million, while Ateres Shlomo received about NIS 13.1 million.

Other institutions among the largest recipients included:

• Siach Yitzchak — NIS 9.1 million
• Chevron — NIS 7.4 million
• Wolfson — NIS 6 million
• Kol Rina — NIS 4.9 million
• Tifrach — NIS 4.9 million
• Belz Institutions — NIS 4.7 million
• Beis Matisyahu — NIS 3.7 million

The fundraising effort has reportedly continued beyond the period covered by the document, with estimates placing additional distributions at roughly NIS 200 million as donors continue stepping in to help sustain the Torah world.

The scale of the campaign highlights the growing role of private philanthropy in supporting Israel’s yeshiva system amid the ongoing political and legal dispute over military service for Chareidi students.

A major gathering of donors is scheduled at the Setai Hotel in Tiberias, where organizers are expected to review the fundraising effort, examine its impact and discuss whether the Torah institutions can maintain their operations over the long term through private funding.

By: Rabbi Shay Tahan

This week’s parshah, Ki Tetse, teaches an inspiring lesson in emunah, one that can be particularly uplifting for anyone struggling with challenges or difficult circumstances. The Torah says:

“When you build a new house, you shall make a guardrail for your roof, so that you do not place blood in your house if the one who falls should fall from it.” (Devarim 22:8)

Rashi famously asks: Why does the Torah refer to the person as “the one who falls” before he has actually fallen? Why describe him as the one who falls when, at that point, he is still standing?

Chazal explain that from the time of Creation, this person was destined to fall, and therefore the Torah refers to him as “the one who falls” even before the accident occurs.

This raises a fundamental question: If the person was destined to fall, why does the Torah command us to build a guardrail? If the accident was already destined to happen, what difference would the guardrail make?

Rashi provides a profound answer. The person may indeed have been destined to fall, but it was not predetermined that he would fall from this particular balcony. The Torah therefore commands the homeowner to take the necessary precautions and install a guardrail. Perhaps the person was destined to fall elsewhere, but he should not fall because of your negligence.

This teaches us a powerful principle: Knowing that everything is part of Hashem’s plan does not exempt us from responsibility. We are required to take every reasonable precaution to prevent harm. The outcome may ultimately be determined by Hashem, but we are responsible for our choices and actions.

In other words, emunah in Divine providence and human responsibility do not contradict one another. We must do everything in our power to prevent danger, while recognizing that the ultimate outcome remains in Hashem’s hands.

There is another striking insight here. Chazal are teaching us that a person’s destiny—including the circumstances of his death—can be determined even before he is born. But they go even further: this destiny was not established merely before his birth; it was already part of Hashem’s plan from the very beginning of Creation. From the six days of Creation, the events of a person’s life were already woven into the grand design of Creation.

Imagine, for example, that a person is tragically killed in a car accident. Those who hear about the tragedy may view it in very different ways. Some may say that the drivers were reckless or that the accident could have been prevented. Others may see it as a punishment from Heaven, while still others may attribute it to chance or unfortunate circumstances.

Chazal, however, teach us a very different outlook. Behind every event lies a Divine plan that was established long before the event itself occurred. What may appear to us as a sudden and unexpected tragedy was already known and accounted for in Hashem’s plan for Creation. This perspective does not diminish the tragedy or excuse human responsibility, but it gives us a deeper understanding of emunah: nothing is truly random, and even events that appear unforeseen are ultimately part of Hashem’s master plan.

Chazal offer a further profound insight. Rebbe Yehoshua ben Levi says:

“All the works of Creation were created in their complete form, with their consent, and according to the form they chose.” (Rosh Hashanah 11a)

Rashi explains “with their consent” (לדעתן) to mean that Hashem informed them that He was going to create them, and they willingly agreed.

And what does it mean that they were created “according to the form they chose” (לצביונן)? Rashi explains that they were created in the form they themselves chose.

This teaches an extraordinary concept: the details of Creation were not arbitrary. Each creature was brought into existence in the form and condition that was part of its predetermined purpose.

According to Rashi, before each person was created, he was given the opportunity to choose the form in which he would be created—to determine, so to speak, his own “custom design.” Hashem then created him exactly according to that choice.

Rabbeinu Bachya elaborates on this idea:

“What this Midrash is trying to illustrate is that all creatures, at the time of their creation, which occurred in accordance with their will and aspirations, were informed by Hashem at that time of all that would befall them in the course of their lives. Similarly, He informs them of the number of years they are going to live and what the manner of their death is going to be. They are also informed if they will enjoy an easy livelihood, or if they will have to struggle and suffer in order to eke out a living. Hashem tells them if they will be dependent on handouts or will be able to make a living through their own skills and labors. At that time, those creatures were all satisfied with what fate was to have in store for them.”

This raises a profound question: If a person was informed beforehand about the life he was going to have, why would anyone choose a life filled with challenges and hardships? Why would a person choose difficulties with livelihood, health, children, marriage, Torah learning, friends, neighbors, or other areas of life? Wouldn’t everyone naturally choose a life filled with goodness, happiness, and comfort?

The answer is that our definition of “good” and “bad” is very different from the perspective of the next world. In this world, we often equate good with an easy, comfortable, and pleasant life, and bad with hardship, pain, and difficulty. But from the perspective of the eternal world, it becomes clear that this is not necessarily the case.

In the next world, a person understands what truly matters. He sees which experiences elevated him, strengthened him, refined him, and brought him closer to his ultimate purpose. He realizes that what appeared in this world to be a hardship may have been one of the greatest gifts he was given.

If we could see our lives from that eternal perspective, we might choose very differently. We might not choose the easiest life, but rather the life that would accomplish the most and elevate us to the greatest heights.

Thus, the challenges we face are not necessarily signs that something has gone wrong. Quite often, the very difficulties we would have tried to avoid are the experiences that ultimately shape us, elevate us, and bring us to a far greater place. What appears to us as “bad” in this world may, in the larger Divine plan, be precisely what is good for us.

Perhaps this is one of the greatest lessons of emunah: we do not always have the ability to choose what happens to us, but we can trust that the life Hashem has given us was designed with a purpose. What we experience as a challenge may be exactly what our neshamah needs to reach the place it was meant to reach.

By 5 Towns Central Staff

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (August 17, 2026)

U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem as Washington intensifies efforts to revive a stalled Gaza ceasefire proposal and bridge the widening differences between Israel and Hamas.

The closed-door meeting also included former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Board of Peace Director Nickolay Mladenov. It came shortly after Kushner held lengthy talks in Cairo with senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, alongside Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators.

At the center of the negotiations is a U.S.-backed 15-point framework that calls for Hamas to disarm, the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic administration and the eventual deployment of international forces and reconstruction teams in Gaza.

Hamas has indicated that it is prepared to accept the framework’s disarmament provisions, while pressing for guarantees regarding Palestinian statehood. Israel, however, has made clear that Hamas must completely surrender its military capabilities before the IDF carries out any withdrawal.

Hamas has also demanded an immediate halt to Israeli strikes and a withdrawal of Israeli forces to the designated “yellow line” as a first step toward implementing the agreement. Israeli forces currently control significant portions of Gaza beyond that line.

The diplomatic impasse has drawn increasing pressure from Arab and Muslim-majority countries. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia issued a joint statement criticizing Israel’s rejection of the proposal and urging the Board of Peace to move forward with implementation.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump offered a series of comments on the broader regional situation, including the ongoing tensions with Iran. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said Tehran should “put up the white flag of surrender,” while emphasizing that he was not operating under a specific timetable.

Trump also confirmed that a direct backchannel exists between the United States and Iranian officials, including representatives connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“They’re good poker players, but they’re dying,” Trump said.

The president also weighed in on negotiations involving Oman and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, issuing a blunt warning about any attempt to interfere with U.S. objectives.

Trump declined to endorse a candidate in Israel’s upcoming political contest, saying he believed it was appropriate to stay out of Israeli elections, although he left open the possibility of eventually supporting someone.

On Gaza, Trump said he believes progress is being made toward Hamas giving up its weapons and suggested that Israel should refrain from launching further strikes while negotiations continue.

“We have our own relationship with Hamas,” Trump said. “They are giving up their guns.”

The competing demands underscore the central obstacle facing the latest ceasefire effort: Hamas is seeking guarantees, including an Israeli withdrawal and a political pathway for the Palestinians, while Israel insists that disarmament must come first. U.S. officials are now attempting to find a formula that can satisfy both sides and prevent the latest diplomatic effort from collapsing.

🚨 NOW: President Trump says Israel should NOT be launching any strikes in Gaza "because Hamas has agreed to lay down their weapons"

Pray for peace! 🙏🏻

"He said the Israelis should not be striking in Gaza because he says Hamas has agreed to lay down their weapons after that… pic.twitter.com/6GNWdqQQlI

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 17, 2026