Erev Rosh Hashana

Hataras Nedarim

• Any three visibly adult males can be on the beis din.
• They have to understand what they’re saying.
• Relatives are allowed.
• It only works for nedarim that are unknown.
• If there’s a specific neder that needs annulment it should be specified to at least one of the judges.
• It must be done by the person himself not by someone on his behalf.
• The minhag is that women don’t say hataras nedarim. They should have it in mind when they say Kol Nidrei on Yom Kippur.
• A husband is allowed to say hataras nedarim on behalf of his wife. He should tell the judges that he’s also having his wife in mind.

Fasting

• Many have the minhag to fast until chatzos.
• If possible it’s better to fast until after mincha so that aneinu can be said in shemona esrei.
• Mincha should be davened with extra concentration because it’s the last mincha of the year and we want to end the year on a high note.
• Some have the minhag to go go to kivrei tzadikim to daven and give tzedakah

Mikva for Men

• Many have the minhag to go to mikva on Erev Rosh Hashana.
• It’s best not to go earlier than an hour before chatzos.
• If it’s difficult to go to mikva then a swimming pool is allowed, preferably with the filter off.
• If it’s difficult to go to mikva, at least take a long shower.
• It’s better not to have relations on Rosh Hashana unless it’s mikva night. If there’s desire then it’s better to be together but the man should go to mikva in the morning before davening.

Rosh Hashana

First Night

• We wish each other לשנה טובה תכתב ותחתם on the first night. This is an important minhag. Many add the words לאלתר לחיים טובים ולשלום. If it’s too difficult to say, then they don’t have to be said.
• This can be said until midday on the first day.
• The minhag is to eat special foods that will be a siman for a good year and say a special יהי רצון for each one.

Simanim Foods

• The foods that are mentioned in the Gemara are: קרא, רוביא, כרתי, סילקא, תמרי.
• יהי רצון can be said on anything that infers having a good year.
• Some say that the foods don’t have to be eaten, just looked at. Therefore, those that don’t want to eat the foods can just look at them.
• Not getting angry is a very good siman for a good year.
• The minhag is not to eat walnuts on Rosh Hashana.
• Some say all nuts shouldn’t be eaten.
• It’s preferable not to eat nuts that are made into pastes and creams.
• Peanuts are not nuts and can be eaten.
• The minhag is not to eat sour or bitter foods.
• If you don’t taste the sour or bitter ingredients in the food then it’s allowed.
• Sharp/hot/spicy foods are allowed to be eaten.
• The minhag is to dip the challah into honey.
• A Bracha of Haetz is said on the fruits.
• No Bracha is necessary on vegetables that are eaten for the Simanim.
• If using an apple for the first siman, it’s best to leave the pomegranates and dates in a different room but make sure to have it in mind with the Bracha of haetz.
• The first יהי רצון shouldn’t be said before making the Bracha of haetz and not immediately after the Bracha. It should be said after eating a little bit of the fruit.
• All the subsequent יהי רצון should be said before eating the food.
• The shechayanu fruit is meant for the second night not for the first night.

Second Night

• Because Rosh Hashana is one long day, there’s some doubt as to whether or not shechayanu should be said by Kiddush. Therefore a new fruit should be on the table during Kiddush.
• Some have the minhag to eat the new fruit immediately after Kiddush before eating challah. Others eat it after the challah.
• The new fruit should be on the table for candle lighting so that shechayanu can be said when lighting the candles.
• Some have the minhag to say the יהי רצון on the second night too. If that’s not your minhag, then based on the shitos that Hashem’s name shouldn’t be said in the יהי רצון, do it without saying Hashem’s name.

Miscellaneous

• We’re not supposed to sleep on Rosh Hashana because we don’t want our Mazal to sleep (not because we’ll have a sleepy year).
• Many say that after chatzos (midday) this doesn’t apply.
• Sitting around and doing nothing is the equivalent of sleeping.
• Some wake up before daybreak so that they won’t be sleeping during daytime on Rosh Hashana but most don’t have that minhag.
• We’re ALLOWED to daven for personal requests on Rosh Hashana. On Shabbos they should only be added after אלקי נצור.
• If yaleh viyavo was forgotten in birchas hamazon, at the night meals it should be repeated. At the day meals it should NOT be repeated.
• It is preferable not to go visiting during Rosh Hashana.

Shofar

• Men may not eat a meal before Shofar.
• If eating cake, it can’t be more than the equivalent of a kibeitza (egg) [half of a piece of rye bread]. Fruits, vegetables, and drinks can be unlimited.
• There’s no talking from the Bracha before shofar until after the last tekiyos.
• Learning is allowed but it can’t be verbalized.
• Tehillim is allowed.
• Asher yatzar after using the bathroom is allowed.

Davening

• Slightly bow when saying ואנחנו כורעים during the silent mussaf shemona esrei.
• When the chazan says עלינו לשבח say the words silently along with the chazan.
• When bowing on the floor during chazaras hashatz of mussaf, make sure to place something under the HEAD before putting the head on the floor (under the knees is not necessary).
• Get up from the floor before saying the word הקב״ה.
• Continue to say the words silently until after the words אין עוד.
• It’s preferable not to run out of shul after davening. It’s best to sit and learn for a little bit before going home.

Tashlich

• • Many have the minhag to say tashlich in the afternoon of Rosh Hashana.
  • It is preferable to do so by a body of water that has fish.
  • Tashlich can be said on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. If not, it can be said until Yom Kippur, and if not then, it can be said until Hoshana Rabba.
  • It is preferable to perform Tashlich during the day, but some permit it to be done at night.
    – One does not need to say all of the additional tefillos printed in the siddur. Only “מי אל כמוך…מימי קדם” (Micha 7:18-20) need to be said.כתיבה וחתימה טובה

A Bronx man accused of disrupting Shabbos services at a Manhattan synagogue, declaring himself to be “Hashem” and allegedly assaulting two people has been indicted on multiple hate crime charges.

Larry Montes, 46, allegedly entered Central Synagogue in Midtown shortly after 6 p.m. on August 14 and rushed toward the bimah, where prosecutors say he shouted that he was God. He allegedly knocked over two candles and their holders, causing more than $7,000 in damage.

“Hate crimes are a top priority for my office and we will continue to seek accountability.” – D.A. Bragg. Watch D.A. Bragg address the indictment of Larry Montes for allegedly attacking two people at Central Synagogue. pic.twitter.com/LE5D9N9iU2

— Alvin Bragg (@ManhattanDA) September 9, 2026

According to prosecutors, Montes then proceeded through the sanctuary making antisemitic statements before allegedly punching a 63-year-old woman in the face. The woman was knocked to the ground.

Security personnel intervened and escorted Montes from the building. Prosecutors allege that he then directed a racist comment at one of the guards, spit in his face and headbutted him.

Montes later allegedly told police that the incident was a “racial thing.”

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has charged him with multiple offenses, including criminal mischief as a hate crime, attempted assault and assault as hate crimes, and criminal interference with religious worship. Federal hate crime charges have also been filed against him.

Video of the incident circulated widely on social media, showing congregants scrambling to get away as the confrontation unfolded. Montes pleaded not guilty at an earlier court appearance.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg condemned the attack, saying houses of worship should be “safe havens, not scenes of violence and hate.”

The incident prompted widespread condemnation from New York officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

Tisch has a personal connection to Central Synagogue, having grown up attending the congregation. She addressed the community the following week and reaffirmed the NYPD’s commitment to protecting Jewish institutions across New York City.

Israel is entering the new year with a population of approximately 10.3 million people, according to figures released by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics ahead of Rosh Hashanah.

The country added roughly 124,000 residents over the past year, representing annual growth of about 1.2%.

Of the total population, approximately 7.83 million are Jews and people classified by the CBS as “others,” while about 2.17 million are Arab citizens. Another 304,000 residents are foreign nationals.

The latest figures also highlight Israel’s continued natural population growth. Approximately 182,000 babies were born during the past Jewish year, while around 50,000 people died.

Life expectancy remains high, averaging 81.4 years for Israeli men and 85.9 years for women.

Migration, however, resulted in a net decrease of approximately 8,000 people. About 21,000 Israelis returned to the country after living abroad, while approximately 57,000 left Israel. Since the founding of the state in 1948, roughly 3.51 million immigrants have made Israel their home.

The CBS figures also provide a snapshot of religious identification among Israel’s Jewish population. Approximately 36.9% describe themselves as secular or not religious, 21.8% as traditional but not very religious, and another 21.8% as traditionally religious. About 12.4% identify as religious, while 11.5% identify as Chareidi.

Israel’s population figures come as the global Jewish population continues to grow slowly. As of January 1, 2026, the worldwide Jewish population was estimated at approximately 15.9 million, with about 46%—nearly half of all Jews worldwide—living in Israel.

As Rosh Hashanah arrives, the figures underscore Israel’s continued demographic growth and its central role as home to the world’s largest Jewish population.

Rabbi Yehuda Mandel explains that individuals should choose spiritual practices for Elul and Rosh Hashanah that fit their own personalities and needs rather than following a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach.

He suggests a practical technique for Teshuva: write down a specific issue you are facing and then write down a possible solution. This exercise is meant to help you process challenges and get them off your chest in a constructive way.

He also talks about the importance of being kind to yourself. He warns that negative self-judgment is often invalid because people are frequently too hard on themselves. Instead, he encourages people to believe in positive things said about them and to actively exchange blessings with others. This creates a cycle of positivity and mutual encouragement.

The Orthodox Union and Teach Coalition are joining with leading Jewish organizations across the country to launch The Opportunity Fund for Jewish Education, a new national effort aimed at bringing potentially significant new scholarship dollars to Jewish day schools and yeshivas.

The fund is being established by the Orthodox Union and Teach Coalition together with Jewish Federations of North America and Prizmah, with founding endorsements from Torah Umesorah, Agudath Israel of America and the Rabbinical Assembly.

Its creation comes ahead of the Jan. 1, 2027 start of the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, which will allow eligible taxpayers to receive a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for qualifying contributions to scholarship organizations. In states that participate in the program, those dollars can ultimately support scholarships for eligible students attending Jewish schools.

The initiative represents the next stage of a years-long effort to tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing Jewish families: the rising cost of education.

Teach Coalition, the OU’s nonpublic school advocacy arm, will play a central role in the effort. The organization has spent more than a decade advocating for government funding for Jewish schools and is now working in states across the country to help pave the way for participation in the federal program.

The challenge is twofold: states must participate for their students to benefit, and Jewish schools, families and potential contributors need to be prepared when the program begins.

“We have spent years fighting state by state and budget by budget to make Jewish education more affordable,” said Sydney Altfield, National Director of Teach Coalition. “This is a chance to bring substantial new resources to families on a scale we have never had before. Our job now is to make sure Jewish schools are ready, families know what is available to them and states across the country participate.”

Through The Opportunity Fund, taxpayers will be able to direct qualifying contributions toward participating Jewish schools or communities. The Fund has committed that every dollar designated for a school or community will be used for student scholarships, with operating expenses supported separately.

The national structure is also intended to make participation easier for schools. More than 900 Jewish day schools and yeshivas operate across the United States, ranging from large school systems to small community institutions. The Opportunity Fund will provide a common vehicle through which eligible schools can participate in the new federal program.

For Teach Coalition, that infrastructure will work alongside its advocacy on the ground.

“This only works if we turn an opportunity on paper into actual tuition relief for families,” Altfield said. “That means getting states on board, getting schools prepared and making sure our community understands what is possible. We have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us, but the potential for Jewish education is enormous.”

Schools can begin registering with The Opportunity Fund now to receive information about participation, while taxpayers can pledge their intention to contribute once the federal program takes effect in 2027.

As in past years, Agudath Israel of America’s Washington Office has worked closely with agencies of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help avoid potential problems for travelers carrying arba minim.

Both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have notified their respective field personnel about the upcoming Sukkos holiday and the increased level of travel by persons of the Jewish faith, many of whom will be carrying arba minim. The agencies have also made this information available to the public – the TSA notice here and the CBP notice here.

The notifications, which have been sent out to federal officials at airports and border crossings, emphasize the religious significance of these items and outline the rules and procedures that would help allay possible security and health issues that are of concern to the federal government. Prior to these agency steps, lack of familiarity regarding Sukkos and the arba minim had led to numerous incidents each year of inadvertent mishandling and mistreatment — including denial of entry — of these ritual objects.

The TSA Notice makes clear that the arba minim carried in airports, through security checkpoints or on aircraft, are not on the “prohibited items list” and provides instructions for travelers needing “special accommodations” in regard to checkpoint screening. The CBP Guidance sets forth detailed information regarding the inspection process for personal sets of arba minim brought into the United States from foreign countries at select ports of entry and points out that the agency is “committed to treating all travelers, including travelers who may be observing Sukkot, with respect and dignity at all U.S. ports of entry.”

“We are gratified by the ongoing sensitivity of these agencies to the religious concerns of our community,” said Rabbi A. D. Motzen, Agudath Israel’s National Director for Government Affairs. “They are taking meaningful and appropriate steps to accommodate our religious needs.”

He also thanked his colleague Rabbi Ariel Sadwin of Agudah’s Office of Federal Constituent Affairs for serving as the main Agudah point of contact with those federal agencies related to the annual guidance.

Agudath Israel of America once again produced a one-page handout that travelers can print out – or save to their phones – to familiarize themselves with the rules before traveling.

For travelers entering Israel: You will be allowed to bring in one esrog for personal use. The other 3 minim are not allowed and will be confiscated and replaced with Israeli grown produce. See guidelines from Agriculture Ministry here.

By: Rabbi Efrem Goldberg

There are moments in life when we suddenly become aware of our breathing. A frightening diagnosis, a phone call in the middle of the night, turbulence on an airplane, waiting for news about someone we love, a siren in Israel, or an antisemitic incident that once would have seemed unimaginable, can make our chest tighten, our heart accelerate, and our breathing become shallow. At those moments, we either instinctively know what to do, or someone reminds us that the way to stay calm is to slow down and take a deep breath.

As we enter Rosh Hashanah 5787, I suspect many of us could use a deep breath. The last few years have been relentless. October 7 and its aftermath, a prolonged war, the extended confrontation with Iran, rising antisemitism around the world, and an increasingly unsettling sense that assumptions we once took for granted can no longer be assumed, have all left us exhausted.

All of that is before we even consider what is happening in our individual worlds. Some are waiting to find a spouse, yearning to have a child, navigating illness, caring for aging parents, struggling with children, worrying about finances, or carrying a private pain nobody else can see. We are functioning, moving, and doing what needs to be done, but sometimes it feels hard to breathe.

Perhaps that is why one of the most important messages of Rosh Hashanah is something extraordinarily simple: remember to breathe. Not because of a new meditation technique or the latest self-help book, but because of the Torah’s description of the creation of the first human being, the event we commemorate on Rosh Hashanah:

וַיִּיצֶר ה׳ אֱלֹקים אֶת־הָאָדָם עָפָר מִן־הָאֲדָמָה וַיִּפַּח בְּאַפָּיו נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה.

“Hashem formed man from the dust of the earth, and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.”

The body had already been formed, the organs were there, and the physical infrastructure was complete, but Adam wasn’t yet alive. Life began with a breath. The Nefesh HaChaim focuses on the Torah’s unusual description, vayipach b’apav, God “blew” into Adam. When someone blows, explains Rav Chaim Volozhiner, the air comes from deep within the person. The Torah is teaching us something profound about ourselves. The neshama within us originates, as it were, from the deepest place, from Hashem Himself. Our neshima, our breath, points us toward our neshama, our soul.

That connection is embedded in the final words of Tehillim: “Kol ha’neshama tehalleil Kah, Let every soul praise Hashem.” Chazal hear another meaning in those words: Al kol neshima u’neshima she’adam nosheim, tzarich l’hallel laKadosh Baruch Hu, for every breath a person takes, he should praise Hashem. Every breath is a gift, but perhaps there is something more. Breath isn’t merely something for which we praise Hashem. Breath itself can become an expression of faith.

When we panic, our breathing becomes shallow and rapid. When we feel threatened, overwhelmed, or out of control, our body often knows it before our mind has even processed it. Our heart races, our muscles tighten, and our breathing changes. That is why controlled breathing is used by people operating under extraordinary pressure. Navy SEALs famously use a technique known as “box breathing”: inhale slowly through the nose for four seconds, hold for four, exhale slowly for four, and then hold again for four before repeating the cycle. The point isn’t that the danger has disappeared or the circumstances have suddenly changed. What has changed is the ability to remain composed and respond rather than simply react.

That is an extraordinarily Jewish idea. Emunah doesn’t mean nothing frightening will happen, that everything will unfold according to our plan, or that we deny danger, pain, and uncertainty. Emunah means remembering, even from inside the narrowest place, that we are not alone. Sometimes taking a deliberate breath can be more than a physiological exercise; it can be an act of emunah, a moment of reconnecting our neshima with our neshama and remembering the Source of both.

Usually, on Rosh Hashanah, there is a physical expression of that journey in the shofar. A shofar is a remarkably simple instrument. There are no strings, reeds, or keys, and it doesn’t generate its own sound. It takes our breath and amplifies it. The Sfas Emes explains that when we blow the shofar from the breath deep inside ourselves, we are returning to that original breath of creation. We are declaring that beneath all the distractions, mistakes, anxieties, and distance of the past year, the breath Hashem breathed into us remains. The neshama and our relationship with its Source remain intact. We take the very life He placed within us and return it to Him as a sound, and in doing so we acknowledge and coronate Him as the Source of that life.

This year, however, there is a fascinating twist. The first day of Rosh Hashanah is Shabbos and there will be no shofar. We will recite Malchiyos, Zichronos, and Shofaros. We will speak about the shofar, study its pesukim, remember its sounds and reflect on its meaning, and yet the room will remain silent. Perhaps that silence contains a message of its own. The shofar may be silent, but we are still breathing. The instrument isn’t producing a sound, but the breath that would have traveled through it remains inside us.

Perhaps on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Hashem asks us to encounter the message of the shofar even before we hear its sound. Can we find the breath without the shofar? Can we recognize the neshama without needing to be awakened by the blast? Can we remember Who breathed life into us even in the silence? On the second day, when we will, please God, hear the shofar, we will take that breath and send it through the narrow opening until it emerges from the broad end.

The shape of the shofar itself captures the journey. The Rebbe Maharash explained that it begins narrow and becomes wide, reflecting the words min hameitzar karasi Kah, anani bamerchav Kah. We call out from constriction and seek expansiveness. We move from feeling trapped to discovering space, from breathlessness to breath.

Even the sounds of the shofar tell that story. We begin with a tekiah, a long, whole, confident sound. Then comes shevarim, reflecting the times life breaks us and leaves us groaning, our breath interrupted. Sometimes it becomes a teruah, short, staccato bursts that sound almost like the breath of anxiety and urgency. But we never end with shevarim or teruah. After the broken sounds comes another tekiah. Brokenness doesn’t get the last word, nor does panic. We return to wholeness and eventually reach the tekiah gedolah, the great, sustained breath.

Halacha itself associates breath with life. The Gemara in Yoma discusses searching through the rubble of a collapsed building on Shabbos to determine whether someone is still alive. How far must we search? Until we can determine whether there is breath at the nostrils, based on the verse, “All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life.” To breathe is to be alive, but Rosh Hashanah challenges us not merely to be biologically alive. It asks whether we are spiritually alive. Are we living deliberately or reacting constantly? Are we connected to the Source of our breath, or have we become so distracted by the noise around us that we have forgotten where our life comes from?

Our world doesn’t make that easy. We live hunched over screens, bombarded by notifications, breaking news, WhatsApp messages, emails, and endless reasons to be outraged or afraid. We rarely sit still, experience silence, or take a full breath before reaching for the next thing demanding our attention. Maybe that is part of the gift of this unusual Rosh Hashanah. The first day is silent, with no shofar to awaken us, only the quiet of Shabbos and the opportunity to become conscious of the breath that Hashem continues to place within us every moment.

Before asking what we will accomplish this year, perhaps we should ask a more fundamental question: What is giving us life? What animates us, fills our lungs and our souls, and what are we living for? On Rosh Hashanah we celebrate the birthday of humanity by returning to humanity’s first moment. Hashem breathed into Adam and Adam came alive. This year, before the shofar ever sounds, we can take a slow, deep breath and remember that we are alive, that our lives are gifts, and that there is a neshama inside each of us that no failure, distraction, disappointment, or difficult year can extinguish. We don’t control everything that will happen this year, but we know Who gave us this breath and Who will be with us through whatever comes.

The world may still feel narrow. There are real things to worry about, real challenges to confront, real enemies to defeat, and real problems we cannot wish away. Emunah isn’t pretending that the meitzar isn’t narrow. It is believing that there can be a merchav on the other side and that Hashem is with us as we travel from one to the other.

So sometime on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, when there is no shofar to hear, create a moment to hear its message anyway. Put down the machzor for a few seconds, close your eyes if it helps, and take a slow breath. Inhale for four seconds, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold again for four. With the first breath, think: Hashem gave me life. With the second: Hashem is with me. With the third: I don’t have to control everything. With the fourth: I can face whatever this year brings.

Then, on the second day, when the shofar finally sounds, listen differently. Hear your own breath in its cry, the breath Hashem first breathed into Adam and continues to give each of us. Hear it travel from the narrow opening to the wide one, from meitzar to merchav, and allow it to carry our prayer that whatever 5787 brings, we have the faith, strength, and presence to face it.

We came into this world with Hashem’s breath, and each Rosh Hashanah brings an opportunity to be renewed by becoming conscious of it again. These days, in many ways, we are all SEALs, exposed to extraordinary pressures and challenges and trying not to become overwhelmed by them. We cannot control all that is happening around us, but we can pause, breathe deeply, reconnect our neshima to our neshama, and remember Who is ultimately in control.

Let this be the year we return to our breath, and through it, return to ourselves and to Hashem.

A major security coordination meeting was held Thursday morning as Achiezer brought together senior law enforcement officials, Rabbanim and community leaders from the greater Five Towns area ahead of the Yomim Noraim.

The meeting focused on strengthening communication and coordination between the NYPD and Nassau County Police Department, particularly because the Jewish community spans the New York City–Nassau County border. While the two areas fall under different police jurisdictions, residents, shuls, yeshivos and community organizations frequently operate across the border.

The NYPD was represented by Assistant Commissioner of Community Affairs Fred Kreizman, along with senior officers from Patrol Borough Queens South and the 100th and 101st Precincts. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch had planned to attend but was unable to do so because of another timely urgent matter that had come up.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder led the department’s delegation, joined by Fourth Precinct Commanding Officer Matt Schiller and members of the department’s POP team.

Representatives of RL Hatzalah, RNSP units, Rabbanim and other community organizations also participated.

The gathering included security briefings from both police departments. Commissioner Ryder provided an intelligence update, though details were kept private because of the sensitive information discussed. He also reviewed security technology and measures being utilized throughout the Five Towns.

Kreizman outlined the NYPD’s preparations for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, including increased attention to shuls, yeshivos and other locations expected to draw large crowds. Officers from the 100th and 101st Precincts also discussed local patrols, deployment plans and security concerns affecting the Rockaways.

Nassau County officials addressed preparations for the Five Towns, where more than 80 shuls and a large Jewish population create unique security challenges during the Yomim Tovim, particularly with thousands of people walking to and from shul.

Rav Mordechai Kamenetzky, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva of South Shore, opened the meeting by emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong relationships between the community and law enforcement.

Rabbanim and community representatives were also given the opportunity to raise specific concerns directly with police leadership.

We thank Achiezer for organizing this important briefing, as well as our local law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and Rabbanim for taking time from their busy schedules to help ensure the safety and security of our community.

We hope and daven that we will be zoche to a safe and peaceful Yom Tov, and to a beautiful and successful year ahead.

The NYPD is asking for the public’s help identifying a man wanted in connection with an alleged hate-crime incident in Lower Manhattan.

Police said that on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at approximately 1 p.m., a 39-year-old man was attempting to enter a commercial establishment near 1 Whitehall Street, within the 1st Precinct, when an unidentified individual approached him from behind.

According to police, the suspect slapped the victim’s yarmulke, causing it to fall to the ground, before fleeing on foot southbound on Whitehall Street.

The victim was not reported to have suffered any injuries.

Police are investigating the incident as aggravated harassment as a hate crime.

Anyone with information is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or by sending a direct message to @NYPDTips.

By: Moshe Spern

What happens in Manhattan now walks into our classrooms, our WhatsApp chats, and our Shabbos tables. Jews get jumped leaving shul. Synagogues get surrounded. Jewish kids get harassed in public schools. The mayor of New York spent years calling Israel’s war a genocide. And the man who wants to represent the most Jewish district in America endorsed him anyway.

That is why United Jewish Teachers endorsed Caroline Shinkle for Congress in New York’s 12th District.

NY-12 is the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, Midtown, Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, Union Square, and Stuyvesant Town. It has more Jewish residents than any other House seat in the country. Jerry Nadler is leaving. The Democratic nominee is Assemblyman Micah Lasher. He is Jewish. He talks like a moderate. He also endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor, after rabbis on the Upper West Side told him what that endorsement would mean to their communities.

When reporters asked Lasher if Israel was committing genocide, he would not reject the charge. He called it a “definitional debate.” That is the whole problem. The genocide libel is not a vocabulary exercise. It is the sentence that turns Jewish self-defense into a crime and turns Jewish kids in our schools into fair game. A man who will not say that sentence is a lie is not prepared to fight the thing that sentence produces.

Caroline Shinkle is not Jewish. She is a Zionist. She lived in Jerusalem. She worked at the Bank of Israel. She marched in the Israel Day Parade. She says out loud that the genocide charge is a smear and that Jewish New Yorkers deserve a member of Congress who will treat antisemitism like a public safety emergency, not a talking point for a primary.

People in our community are used to measuring candidates by last names and shul boards. I understand why. For a long time that was a decent shortcut. It is not a shortcut anymore. A Jewish Democrat who endorses Mamdani and hides behind “definitional debates” is not safer for Jews than a non-Jewish Zionist who will actually say the words. Identity is not courage. Endorsements are not liturgy. Record is record.

Shinkle is 33. She lives in Midtown. She went to MIT and Harvard Law. She worked at the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, and the Bank for International Settlements. She is running a grassroots campaign in a district the consultants call unwinnable. That is fine. United Jewish Teachers did not endorse her because a model said she would win. We endorsed her because Jewish teachers and parents asked us a simple question: who will not look away?

In August we released a report documenting more than 250 antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents in New York City public schools since October 7, 2023. Harassment. Threats. Assaults. Swastikas. Lessons that sound like rallies. We asked City Hall to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, call the NYPD when hate graffiti appears, and publish the numbers. We are still waiting. The same political class that shrugs at that report is the class Lasher belongs to. He can give a nice speech after a Jew is stabbed leaving shul and still have been the man who helped put this mayor in City Hall.

Five Towns families work in that district. We daven there. Our kids go to school and college with kids from there. When Manhattan sends another member of Congress who treats the genocide libel as a matter of tone, it does not stay in Manhattan. It shows up in the hallway. It shows up in the curriculum. It shows up in the excuse an administrator gives you when your child comes home scared.

I am not asking anyone to become a Republican. I am asking people to stop confusing a Jewish biography with a Jewish spine. Caroline Shinkle has the spine. Micah Lasher had a choice. He endorsed Mamdani. He would not condemn the libel. That is the choice on the ballot on November 3.

United Jewish Teachers is a grassroots network of Jewish educators and staff in New York City public schools. We endorsed Caroline Shinkle because she treats Jewish safety like a job. That is the only test that matters now.

Moshe Spern is a New York City public school teacher and president of United Jewish Teachers.

By: Rabbi Shay Tahan

The nisayon of Akedat Yitschak opens with Hashem’s plea: קח נא” “- please take.

Rashi explains that the Hashem was asking Avraham Avinu to please withstand this final nisayon. Why does Hashem speak to him in this manner? Rashi explains that it should not be said that the earlier nisyonot were of no significance.

At first, this is difficult to understand. Avraham Avinu had already faced nine nisyonot. Each one was real, each one was difficult, and each one he passed. How could anyone possibly look back at all of them and say that they amounted to nothing?

The answer is that the tenth nisayon was very different from everything that came before it.

Everything He Had

By this point in the parashah, Avraham Avinu had, by any ordinary measure, reached the height of success.

He had Sarah Imeinu, whom Chazal describe as one of the most beautiful women in the world, and who would become the mother of the Jewish nation. He had Yitzchak, the son he had waited for and prayed for his entire life. Yitzchak had grown up and followed the path on which Avraham had raised him.

Avraham had also built a great name for himself. People came from all over to hear his teachings. He had brought many people closer to belief in Hashem and had spent his entire life teaching the world that there is one Creator.

A tremendous kiddush Hashem had been built around his name.

And then came the command of the Akeidah.

The command seemed to undo everything.

Yitzchak was the only son through whom all of Hashem’s promises would be fulfilled. If Yitzchak were gone, what would happen to the future? What would happen to the nation that Hashem had promised Avraham?

And there was Sarah.

Avraham knew his wife and knew what such news would do to her, he knew that she couldn’t survive hearing that her son is gone. Rashi explains that he therefore told her only that he was taking Yitzchak to learn Torah. This is not a small detail. Avraham understood that the truth would be too painful for her to hear.

Indeed; the next parashah begins with Sarah’s death, and Rashi connects her death to what she was told about Yitzchak and the Akeidah.

And then there was Avraham’s entire life’s work.

Avraham had spent his life teaching the world that Hashem does not want human sacrifice. The nations around him practiced the opposite. Their distorted belief was that the greater the sacrifice, the greater the worship: if a child was the most precious thing a person had, then that was what should be offered to his god.

Avraham taught the world that this was false. Hashem wants children to be raised, not slaughtered.

And now Avraham was being commanded to do the very thing he had spent his life teaching the world was wrong.

Imagine Avraham coming down from that mountain after Yitzchak had been offered. What would people say?

The man who had spent his life teaching against human sacrifice had apparently done exactly that himself.

He would appear to be a hypocrite. His teachings would be called into question. The people he had brought close to Hashem could turn around and walk away.

The kiddush Hashem of an entire lifetime could have been turned into its opposite in a single afternoon.

What the Other Nine Had

And this is the answer to Rashi.

What was different about the earlier nisyonot?

Every one of them came with a promise.

When Hashem told Avraham to leave his land, He said:

“וְאֶעֶשְׂךָ לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל וַאֲבָרֶכְךָ וַאֲגַדְּלָה שְׁמֶךָ.”

Hashem promised him three things.

“וְאֶעֶשְׂךָ לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל” — I will make you into a great nation.

“וַאֲבָרֶכְךָ” — I will bless you.

“וַאֲגַדְּלָה שְׁמֶךָ” — I will make your name great.

Avraham was being asked to leave his homeland, but he knew that he was going toward something. He was leaving one place, but Hashem had promised him a nation, blessing and a great name.

The nisayon was difficult, but there was something waiting for him on the other side.

The Akeidah was completely different.

There was no promise attached to it.

Nothing was offered. Nothing was added. There was no guarantee that Avraham would come out of it with more than he had before.

Quite the opposite.

He was being asked to give up his son, the future of his family, the fulfillment of Hashem’s promises, his relationship with Sarah, his life’s teachings and even the kiddush Hashem that he had spent decades building.

And what would he receive in return?

Nothing.

All he had was the command itself.

And he rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went.

That is what made this nisayon different from all the others.

The earlier nisyonot were not easy. But in each of them, Avraham was sacrificing something in order to move toward something greater.

Here, he was asked to sacrifice everything without being told what would come afterward.

That is why Rashi was concerned that someone might say the earlier nisyonot were nothing.

The Akeidah was the first nisayon in which Avraham was asked to give everything without receiving anything in return.

Three Words That Make It Harder

There is another part of the command that makes the nisayon even more difficult.

Hashem says:

“קַח נָא אֶת בִּנְךָ אֶת יְחִידְךָ אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתָּ.”

“Please take your son, your only son, whom you love.”

Why does Hashem need to describe Yitzchak in three different ways?

Rashi explains that each expression was intended to give Avraham reward for his obedience: בנך, יחידך, אשר אהבת — three descriptions and three expressions for which he would receive reward.

But perhaps there is another lesson here.

These three words make the command harder.

“Your son.” Hashem does not allow Avraham to think of Yitzchak simply as the one through whom a promise will be fulfilled. He is his son.

“Your only one.” He is reminded that there is no other Yitzchak and no other son through whom this future can continue.

“Whom you love.” Avraham is not being asked to put his love aside. He is being asked to take that love with him.

That is perhaps one of the greatest difficulties of the Akeidah.

A person who has to do something painful to someone he loves often tries to create distance. He tries not to think about the person, not to look at him, not to allow the emotions to become too strong.

The Torah itself gives us an example.

When Yishmael is dying of thirst, Hagar places him under one of the bushes and walks away, “כִּמְטַחֲוֵי קֶשֶׁת” — the distance of a bowshot. She cannot bear to watch her child die.

She is not cruel. She is doing what a person sometimes does when the pain becomes unbearable: she creates distance.

Avraham Avinu is not given that option.

He is told: your son.

Remember who he is.

Your only one.

Remember that there is no other.

Whom you love.

Remember how much you love him.

He is not permitted to shut off the emotions that make the command painful.

For three days he walks with Yitzchak, carrying the knowledge of what he has been commanded to do, while his love for his son remains completely alive.

That is the nisayon.

With a Whole Heart

And there is one more thing.

Avraham Avinu did not merely obey Hashem. He obeyed Him with a whole heart.

The Torah tells us that mitzvot should be performed בשמחה, with joy. Avraham therefore faced an almost impossible challenge: to feel the full love of a father for his son and, at the same time, to be completely prepared to fulfill the command of Hashem.

The piyut we say before the shofar on Rosh Hashanah describes Avraham going to the Akeidah with a weeping eye and a joyful heart.

Both existed at the same time.

He was a father who loved his son with every fiber of his being, and he was an eved Hashem who was completely prepared to fulfill the will of his Creator.

This is what made the Akeidah the greatest of all the nisyonot.

Avraham Avinu was not required to stop loving Yitzchak in order to serve Hashem. He had to serve Hashem while continuing to love Yitzchak completely.

And that is why the Akeidah has remained the great zechut of Am Yisrael throughout the generations.

Every Rosh Hashanah, when we stand before Hashem in judgment, we remind Him of what our father Avraham was willing to do.

We remind Hashem that Avraham was prepared to give up everything — his son, his future, his life’s work and his entire legacy — simply because Hashem commanded him.

And when we remember the Akeidah, we ask Hashem to remember not only what Avraham was willing to sacrifice, but the complete emunah with which he did it.

That is the meaning of “קַח נָא.”

Please, Avraham, withstand this one.

And Avraham did.

With his son beside him, with his love intact, with his future seemingly disappearing before his eyes — he continued forward with a whole heart.

That is the nisayon that Am Yisrael has carried with us throughout the generations. Again and again, Jews have been asked to give up everything for Hashem: their security when they were targeted simply for keeping His laws, their homes when they were expelled from the lands in which they had lived for generations, and their families and lives when they were persecuted for remaining loyal to their faith.

There were times when even living openly as a Jew came at a terrible price. During the Spanish Inquisition, Jews were tortured and killed for refusing to abandon their faith. Others were forced to leave their homes, give up everything they had built, or live their Judaism in secret.

Yet generation after generation, Am Yisrael continued to hold on.

The Akeidah therefore became more than the story of one father and one son. It became a model for the Jewish people: there are times when serving Hashem demands a person give up his comfort, his possessions, his home, his security, and even his life. The nisayon is to remain faithful when there is no obvious reward and when the price seems to be everything.

That is the legacy Avraham Avinu left us.

And perhaps this is why, every Rosh Hashanah, we return to the Akeidah. We ask Hashem to remember that first great nisayon and the generations that followed it — generations of Jews who, like Avraham Avinu, were willing to say: whatever the price, we remain faithful to Hashem.

אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁכָּכָה לּוֹ, אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁה’ אֱלֹקָיו.

EndJewHatred held a rally Tuesday evening near the Manhattan headquarters of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), marking the upcoming 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks while using the event to raise concerns about political extremism and antisemitism.

According to EndJewHatred, the rally was intended not only to remember the nearly 3,000 people killed on 9/11, but also to examine what organizers described as ideological movements that they believe can contribute to extremism.

The organization specifically focused its criticism on the DSA, arguing that aspects of the group’s platform and positions conflict with principles such as constitutional government, individual liberty and the rule of law. EndJewHatred has previously criticized the DSA over its positions concerning Israel and what the organization describes as its handling of Islamist extremism.

The rally was held near the NYC-DSA headquarters at 14 Jefferson Street, approximately 1.4 miles from Ground Zero, according to EndJewHatred.

Organizers emphasized that the event was not directed at any particular religion, describing it instead as a call to oppose extremism regardless of its political or religious source.

“Extremism disqualifies on the left and on the right,” EndJewHatred states in its description of the rally.

The organization also highlighted an interfaith component, bringing together Jewish, Christian and Muslim participants to commemorate the victims of 9/11 and emphasize the ability of Americans from different faith backgrounds to stand together in defense of a free society.

EndJewHatred describes itself as a grassroots movement focused on combating antisemitism and discrimination and says it rejects partisan political affiliations.

NOW — @ShabbosK praises law enforcement and the NYPD—expresses how freedom-loving Americans, and those against extremism, support the police. pic.twitter.com/NRBRMeqh40

— End Jew Hatred (@EndJewHatred) September 8, 2026

HAPPENING NOW 🚨 USA not DSA chants outside DSA HQ in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/u5IUyelXQV

— End Jew Hatred (@EndJewHatred) September 8, 2026

Last night, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, candidate for governor of New York State, visited the Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, where he wrote a kvitel and Davened at the Rebbe’s tzion in preparation for Rosh Hashanah.

Five Towns Shliach R’ Zalman Wolowik and other locals joined Bruce on his visit.

They also visited the kever of Ari Halberstam HY”D, who was just 16 years old when he was tragically murdered in the 1994 terrorist attack on the Brooklyn Bridge.

“This is truly a dark day for British Jews.

Today our Government has chosen to ignore the deep concerns expressed by so many of us.

The measures announced amount to little more than political flag bearing for mendacious anti-Israel rhetoric and those who harbour a dangerous obsession with the Jewish State. These measures will succeed only in bolstering the very extremism they seek to target.

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah and at a time when our community is more vulnerable than ever to the wave of extremism that has been building over recent years, these sanctions do nothing to advance the cause of peace. Nor do they make anyone safer – quite the contrary.

Gesture politics of this kind feeds into an increasingly hostile discourse about Israel, and the cumulative effect of such punitive policies is to further embolden those, at home and abroad, who use hatred as a weapon against Jews.”

Taking on the UK government is not something @chiefrabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis does lightly.

But as Britain moves to impose sanctions on Israel, at a time when British Jews are facing unprecedented hostility, he felt he could not remain silent.

The Chief Rabbi explains why he… pic.twitter.com/h6SBSeg2Su

— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) September 9, 2026

As online grocery shopping becomes increasingly popular, a unique kashrus challenge has come with it: ensuring that fresh and prepared foods remain properly protected from the time they leave the supermarket until they reach the customer.

Gourmet Glatt has been working with Instacart over the past several months to address that concern, leading to a new packaging option now being introduced for Gourmet Glatt customers. When ordering through Instacart, shoppers will get an automatic pop up for applicable items—including fresh meat, deli, fish, sushi and other prepared foods— to be boxed and sealed with kosher tape by supermarket staff before being handed to the delivery driver.

“We made this a priority in time for the Yomim Tovim,” said Jack Greenberger of Gourmet Glatt. “Our standards of kashrus should be number one as a trusted brand.”

The new feature is still in its early stages, and the process will continue to be refined. While the goal is for orders to consistently meet the requested packaging standards, there may be occasional issues as the system is rolled out and staff and delivery procedures adjust.

For Gourmet Glatt, however, the initiative is about more than its own stores. The hope is that the concept can eventually be adopted by kosher supermarkets across the country, providing a more consistent solution to a growing concern in the world of online grocery shopping.

The system may still be a work in progress, but it represents an important first step toward addressing a kashrus challenge created by the changing way we shop.

Video from September 13, 2001, is once again drawing attention as President Donald Trump pushes back against claims that he was nowhere near Ground Zero following the September 11 attacks.

In the footage, recorded just two days after the attacks, Trump is seen near the World Trade Center site speaking with a German television crew. He explicitly describes having just visited what was being called “Ground Zero” and discusses the devastation he witnessed. Contemporary transcripts and archived reporting confirm the interview took place on September 13.

“I just went to what they call ground zero,” Trump said in the interview. “I’ve never seen anything like it. The devastation, the human life that’s been just wasted for no reason whatsoever. It is a terrible scene.

🚨 JUST NOW: President Trump is dropping VIDEO PROOF for every Fake News outlet lying to millions that he was nowhere near Ground Zero after 9/11

They want to memory-hole this footage.

Donald Trump: "Well, I just went to what they call Ground Zero. I've never seen anything like… pic.twitter.com/FH5qt9qcsD

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 9, 2026

A special evening of inspiration with Harav David Yosef, Chief Rabbi of Israel, took place this week at the Beth Gavriel Community Center in Forest Hills.

The evening brought the community together for a night of Torah and inspiration ahead of the Yamim Noraim.

A special evening of inspiration with Harav David Yosef, Chief Rabbi of Israel, took place last night at the Beth Gavriel Community Center in Forest Hills.

The evening brought the community together for a night of Torah and inspiration ahead of the Yamim Noraim. pic.twitter.com/K8DPkm1XNo

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) September 8, 2026

A fun-filled afternoon of bowling, music and family fun took place yesterday at the updated Woodmere Lanes for the Shaar Lev Family Bowling Event!

Families came together for an afternoon of bowling and entertainment, featuring music by Aryeh Kunstler, while supporting HALB’s Shaar Lev program and its important work providing after-school learning for children in local public schools.

LONDON — Britain has announced one of its most aggressive policy shifts toward Israel in years, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband unveiling a sweeping package of restrictions targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, a move that has drawn fierce criticism from Israel and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

Speaking in the House of Commons Tuesday, Miliband announced that Britain will introduce an import ban on goods produced in Israeli communities in the West Bank, along with sanctions targeting companies and individuals involved in construction, infrastructure financing and real estate connected to settlement expansion.

Miliband, who is Jewish (Nebuch) and has spoken publicly about his family’s connection to Israel, opened his parliamentary remarks by describing himself as a “proud British Jew” and recalling how Israel provided a home and sanctuary for members of his family who survived the Holocaust.

But despite that personal history, Miliband delivered an extraordinary condemnation of Israeli policies, declaring that the British government believes “there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank, perpetrated by settler terrorists.”

He accused Israeli authorities of failing to prevent what he described as forced displacement and announced that Britain would go beyond previous warnings by imposing actual economic restrictions.

“I do not believe the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops and supermarkets,” Miliband said, announcing the import ban. He added that companies involved in “construction, infrastructure financing or real estate for settlement expansion” would also face sanctions.

The British government insists the measures are directed at settlement policy rather than Israel as a whole. Miliband stressed that Israel remains an important British trading partner and said the move is not intended as a blanket boycott of Israeli products.

Those with a moral compass, however, see the policy as another example of a glaring international double standard when it comes to Israel.

While European governments have repeatedly mobilized diplomatic and economic pressure over Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria, critics question why similarly aggressive measures are not directed at regimes and organizations responsible for terrorism, religious persecution, dictatorship and mass human-rights abuses.

That criticism was echoed forcefully by Huckabee.

“This is an irrational action,” Huckabee said. “I don’t understand what it’s supposed to achieve.”

“If the UK is really interested in dealing with issues they feel like are wrong, where are the sanctions against North Korea, China, Russia? Where are the sanctions against many other nations in the world?” he asked.

Huckabee also accused the British government’s approach of discriminating against Israel and warned that the decision could have consequences for British businesses operating in the United States. He has separately accused the British government of “Jew hate,” a charge Miliband has strongly rejected.

President Herzog Warns against the sanctions: “This will prove to be a grave miscalculation, a decision that will fall on the wrong side of history, and a gross interference in the democratic elections of a sovereign nation. And it will serve no one. It will directly harm – unfortunately – Palestinians, robbing them of business and employment. And, ultimately, it will undermine the interests and national security of freedom-loving nations. Sanctions are not a solution. Dialogue is. I say to all foreign governments: Stop! Step away from the dead-end of sanctions and boycotts. And turn toward constructive dialogue and toward cooperation.”

The British announcement was backed by a group of 12 countries — Britain, Canada, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden — which said they intend to introduce or support restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements. Ireland, Spain, Norway and Belgium have already taken steps in that direction.

The governments specifically pointed to the proposed E1 development area, claiming that its construction could undermine the possibility of a future Palestinian state.

Israel strongly rejects the international characterization of Judea and Samaria as simply “occupied Palestinian territory,” maintaining that the territory is disputed and that Jews have deep historical, religious and national ties to the area.

The British move also comes amid an increasingly bitter diplomatic confrontation between London and Jerusalem. Israel has responded by announcing the closure of its consulate in East Jerusalem and additional measures against British officials.

With European governments increasingly coordinating economic measures against Israeli communities, critics warn that what is being presented as opposition to settlement policy risks becoming another chapter in Europe’s long and troubling pattern of isolating and singling out the Jewish state.

Dear @Ed_Miliband,
Congratulations. Your pathetic, performative politics just poked a real bear.
Your bans puts British businesses on a collision course with American antiboycott law.
Let me explain what you’ve just walked them into. 🧵 https://t.co/Xp6M5Aqabo

— Mark Goldfeder (@MarkGoldfeder) September 8, 2026

You are not just a Jew burning the Jewish flag – you are a Brit burning the British flag too.

You are standing up for Hamas – for Hezbollah – for Iran – and for terrorist supporters everywhere.

"what is right" has nothing to do with it.https://t.co/7YULbryPch

— David Collier (@mishtal) September 8, 2026

Dear @UN, your blind spot is showing.#unmasktheUN pic.twitter.com/ENsLWSu884

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) September 8, 2026

"This is an irrational action… if the UK is really interested in dealing with issues they feel like are wrong, where are the sanctions against North Korea, China, Russia?"

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who has accused the UK government and Ed Miliband of 'Jew hate'… pic.twitter.com/kPdVVudWn3

— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) September 8, 2026

President @Isaac_Herzog Warns Against Sanctions on Israel by the UK:

“This will prove to be a grave miscalculation, a decision that will fall on the wrong side of history, and a gross interference in the democratic elections of a sovereign nation.

And it will serve no one. It… pic.twitter.com/D2JkfrBS50

— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) September 8, 2026

With the Yomim Noraim approaching, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a record $70 million in state funding to help nearly 290 nonprofit and community-based organizations across New York strengthen security against hate crimes, attacks and other threats.

The grants, administered through the state’s Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes program, will help eligible organizations improve physical security at their facilities, enhance cybersecurity and take additional measures to protect employees and the people they serve.

Hochul also directed the New York State Police to increase their presence around sensitive locations, including synagogues and other Jewish institutions, and to coordinate closely with local law enforcement throughout the High Holiday period.

The announcement comes amid continued concerns over antisemitic incidents across New York. The governor noted that while overall violent crime has reached historic lows in many categories, hate crimes targeting New Yorkers remain a serious concern.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority — and even as we’ve driven violent crime to historic lows, any increase in hate crimes is absolutely unacceptable,” Hochul said. “As Jewish New Yorkers prepare for the High Holidays, we’re accounting our record investment to protect sensitive sites and surging State Police resources to keep communities safe across our state.”

The latest funding brings the total awarded through the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes program during Hochul’s tenure to more than $200 million, supporting more than 2,000 projects statewide.

State officials said the increased security measures are intended to ensure that Jewish communities and other vulnerable groups can observe the upcoming holidays safely while strengthening protections against both physical attacks and online threats.

Dr. Nechumi Yaffe, a Charedi researcher, is joining the HaTzibur HaCharedi party and will run for the 26th Knesset on its behalf. This marks the first time a Charedi party running for Knesset has added a woman to its list.

Dr. Yaffe (50) is a Jerusalem resident and mother of three, and a researcher in political psychology. Over the past year she has worked at Harvard University as part of a research project on the Charedi sector within the “Israel and the Regional Economy” initiative, alongside her role as a senior faculty member and researcher at Tel Aviv University.

In 2020, Yaffe was appointed special advisor on Charedi affairs to the National Security Council, where she focused extensively on poverty challenges within the Charedi community. Following the October 7th massacre, she established a Charedi emergency response center, through which tens of thousands of Charedi volunteers provided extensive support to evacuees from the Gaza border communities and to bereaved families.

Dr. Yaffe grew up and was educated within the Slonim Hasidic community in Jerusalem, and taught religious law and history at the “old” Charedi seminary as well as at Sniff. She also authored the history curricula used for 11th and 12th grade classes across Charedi seminaries generally.

Moti Leitner, on behalf of the HaTzibur HaCharedi Party, offered the following statement:

“I welcome the joining of Mrs. Dr. Nechumi Yaffe to the Knesset list of the HaTzibur HaCharedi Party. Over 30 years of an educational and academic career, Yaffe has worked to advance our Charedi brothers and sisters. Together, we will merit to sanctify God’s name. This time, we take responsibility.”

Rav Asher Weiss discusses the spiritual significance of Rosh Hashanah occurring on Shabbos. Throughout his talk, he explores why this combination is historically significant and how it impacts the nature of the coming year.

Quoting Rabbi Ettlinger, R’ Weiss notes that when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos, the resulting year is never neutral; it is historically either exceptionally wonderful or tragically difficult. He mentions recent events like October 7th as a somber example of this.

Using a mashal of a court case before a king, Rav Weiss explains that when we lack the shofar, Shabbos itself acts as our advocate before Hashem, pleading on behalf of those who observe it.

R’ Weiss addresses why we do not blow the shofar on Shabbos. He explains that when we cannot perform a commandment, it is as if Hashem does it for us in the heavens, which can be an even more powerful form of teshuvah.

Rav Weiss discusses the duality of Rosh Hashanah, as it is a day of both malchus and judgment. He emphasizes that while it is a tough court case, we approach it with the confidence that the Almighty is merciful and desires our return.

He explores how Hashem evaluates human deeds, explaining that Hashem judges with mercy and often adds His own mitzvot to our scales to ensure we tip toward a favorable outcome.

R’ Weiss concludes by urging viewers to take advantage of these days to grow, perform teshuvah, and commit to better observance, ultimately hoping to tip the scales toward a year of blessing and wonder rather than tragedy.

Delta Air Lines has resumed nonstop service between New York and Tel Aviv after a more than six-month suspension, marking a major step toward the restoration of regular U.S.-Israel air travel.

Delta flight DL234 arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport Monday morning at 8:43 a.m., more than 40 minutes ahead of schedule. The Airbus A330-900neo departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday, marking Delta’s first direct flight to Israel since the airline suspended the route in March amid the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Ben-Gurion Airport shared footage of the aircraft arriving at the terminal before later departing for New York as flight DL235.

United Airlines is expected to follow shortly, with two flights from Newark Liberty International Airport scheduled to depart Tuesday and arrive in Tel Aviv Wednesday. United is also returning after suspending its Israel service during Operation Roaring Lion.

The return of both Delta and United creates direct competition for El Al on the New York–Tel Aviv route for the first time in more than six months. United’s flights will be operated with Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners.

While Delta was absent from the route, it maintained some connectivity to Israel through its partnership with El Al. United, which does not have a codeshare arrangement with an Israeli carrier, relied on European Star Alliance partners such as Lufthansa to connect passengers to Ben-Gurion.

Additional international carriers are also preparing to restore or expand service. Scandinavian Airlines plans to resume its Copenhagen–Tel Aviv route on October 26, operating four weekly round trips with Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Meanwhile, low-cost carrier Wizz Air announced an expansion of its Israeli network, including the return of routes to Catania, London Gatwick, Venice, Cluj and Iasi, along with increased frequencies on several existing routes.

The wave of airline returns comes as international aviation links to Israel gradually recover following months of disruptions, cancellations and security-related suspensions.

New York City is moving from warnings to full enforcement of its new trash-container requirements, with sanitation officials beginning to issue fines Tuesday to properties that fail to properly containerize their garbage.

The rule applies to residential buildings with one to nine units, as well as houses of worship and nonprofit organizations that receive city garbage collection. All non-recyclable waste placed at the curb must now be secured in an approved, rodent-resistant container rather than loose bags.

The city says the requirement is part of a broader effort to reduce the availability of food and garbage for New York’s persistent rat population while creating a cleaner and more efficient system for residential waste collection.

With the summer grace period now over, sanitation enforcement agents can issue escalating penalties for violations. The first offense carries a $50 fine, a second violation rises to $100, and each subsequent violation can result in a $200 penalty.

Residents and property owners who still need compliant containers can purchase approved rodent-resistant bins online or at major hardware stores, including Home Depot.

The new enforcement marks another major step in the city’s push to change the way residential garbage is stored and collected, with officials hoping that widespread containerization will make sidewalks cleaner and make it more difficult for rats to access the city’s trash.

Fines start soon, NYC!

Starting Sept. 8, residential properties with 1-9 units MUST use an official NYC Bin for trash, or face a $50 fine.

Avoid a fine; get your bin. NYC Bins are available for sale at Home Depot stores throughout the city. More info: https://t.co/QsdlMgO7IR. pic.twitter.com/hmJ1qNPx21

— NYC Sanitation (@NYCSanitation) August 26, 2026

More than 20,000 Jews from over 100 countries made aliyah to Israel during the past Hebrew year, according to new figures released by the Aliyah and Integration Ministry and the Jewish Agency ahead of Rosh Hashanah.

The numbers, covering September 23, 2025, through September 3, 2026, show that immigration continued despite Israel’s ongoing security challenges. While Russia remained the largest source of new immigrants, a notable increase was recorded among arrivals from several Western countries.

Russia led the figures with 5,685 new immigrants, followed by France with 4,364. The United States contributed 3,333 newcomers, while 975 arrived from Britain. Ukraine, Belarus, Canada, Australia and Argentina were also among the countries with significant numbers of immigrants.

The interest in aliyah extended beyond those who ultimately relocated. More than 28,000 Jews around the world opened aliyah files during the year, signaling continued consideration of moving to Israel.

Western countries experienced some of the sharpest increases in applications. Britain saw a 68% rise, while Australia recorded an 89.7% increase. France experienced a 31.5% increase, followed by the United States at 17.1%, South Africa at 14.3% and Canada at 10.7%.

Officials attributed the growing interest to a combination of factors, including Israel’s ongoing war, political developments in countries abroad and concerns surrounding rising antisemitism.

Young adults and families made up a substantial portion of the newcomers. Approximately 35% of immigrants were between the ages of 18 and 35, while another 24% were children or teenagers.

The new arrivals also included professionals and people from a wide range of backgrounds. Among them were 414 doctors, as well as two immigrants who were 102 years old. One of the youngest newcomers was a baby just two weeks old who arrived from Mexico.

Tel Aviv was the most popular destination for the new immigrants, welcoming 2,762 people. Netanya followed with 2,224, while Jerusalem received 2,134. Haifa and Ra’anana rounded out the top five, with 1,504 and 1,042 newcomers respectively.

Overall, approximately 31% of the new immigrants chose to settle in communities located north of Hadera or south of Ashdod, highlighting that aliyah is contributing to population growth across regions beyond Israel’s major urban centers.

The latest aliyah figures reflect a continued connection between Jewish communities around the world and Israel, even amid ongoing uncertainty. With thousands of new immigrants arriving and applications rising across several Western countries, the data points to growing interest in building a future in Israel. As the new Hebrew year begins, aliyah remains an important part of Israel’s changing population and Jewish communities worldwide.

Thousands of New York City students, many of them children with disabilities, could be left without their usual yellow school bus transportation when classes begin Thursday due to a shortage of available bus operators.

The city’s Office of Pupil Transportation has warned schools that some routes remain without assigned vendors. Randi Levine, policy director at Advocates for Children of New York, said education officials told her organization that approximately 2,000 students could still be without bus service by September 10, the first day of school.

The issue appears to be driven by a lack of available transportation companies combined with increased demand for specialized school transportation. The situation could leave families scrambling to find alternative ways to get their children to school, potentially forcing parents to miss work and raising concerns that some students could miss classes altogether.

The Department of Education says it will provide prepaid rideshare transportation to students whose bus routes are not yet covered, although officials have not specified how long those arrangements could remain in place.

Education Department spokesperson Dominique Ellison said the city expects the overwhelming majority of students to have transportation assigned by the start of school and will work directly with families whose routes remain unresolved.

NYC’s yellow-bus system transports approximately 150,000 students, with a significant portion requiring specialized transportation because of disabilities. The system has faced years of complaints involving delays, missed pickups and unreliable service.

Last year, the city’s education panel rejected a proposed five-year contract with major school-bus companies amid concerns over service quality, instead approving a shorter three-year arrangement to give the city more leverage to demand improvements.

The Adams and Mamdani administrations have both faced pressure to address the city’s chronic school transportation problems. Education officials say they are now working to expand the bus fleet and strengthen recruitment and career pipelines for drivers and other transportation workers.

Nearly 180,000 babies were registered in Israel during Hebrew year 5786, with Mohammed, Ariel and Avigail emerging as the most popular names nationwide, according to figures released by the Population and Immigration Authority ahead of Rosh Hashanah. A true “genocide” with the name Mohammed in the ranking for the top three most popular names!

As of Sunday morning, September 6, a total of 179,398 newborns had been entered into Israel’s Population Registry.

Mohammed ranked first among boys nationwide, followed by Ariel, Yosef, Adam, David, Omer, Rafael, Lavi, Michael and Eitan.

Among Jewish boys, Ariel was the most popular choice. David came in second, followed by Rafael, Lavi, Uri, Michael, Eliya, Eitan, Yehuda and Ari. Ariel has now maintained its position at the top of the Jewish boys’ rankings, having also led the list in 2024.

For girls, Avigail claimed the No. 1 spot both nationwide and among Jewish families. The overall top 10 were Avigail, Miriam, Lia, Libi, Tamar, Yael, Ayala, Sarah, Ella and Naya.

Among Jewish girls, Avigail was followed by Libi, Tamar, Yael, Lia, Ella, Ayala, Sarah, Noa and Naya. Avigail’s continued popularity also mirrors recent years, with the name topping the Jewish girls’ list in 2024 and ranking first in more recent Central Bureau of Statistics data covering babies born that year.

Traditional and biblical names continued to dominate the Jewish rankings. CBS data for 2024 similarly placed David, Levi and Ariel among the leading names for Jewish boys.

Mohammed has also consistently ranked among Israel’s most popular names nationwide, including taking the top spot in 2022, when Adam and Yosef followed.

Jerusalem recorded the largest number of births among Israeli cities, with 23,336. Bnei Brak followed with 8,225 births and Tel Aviv-Jaffa with 7,405. Other cities with high birth totals included Beit Shemesh with 6,974, Ashdod with 4,031, Haifa with 3,421, Rishon LeZion with 3,413, Netanya with 3,343, Petah Tikva with 3,338 and Modi’in Illit with 3,113.

The statistics were released just days before Israel welcomes Hebrew year 5787, with Rosh Hashanah beginning Friday evening.

Rabbi Benzion Twerski Shlita on Let’s get Real with coach Menachem, Sunday September 6th.

When the Shofar Is Silent: How Do We Wake Up This Rosh Hashanah? What Is Hashem Asking From Us When There Is No Shofar to Awaken Us?

Video Recap: This video features a discussion between Coach Menachem and Rabbi Benzion Twerski Shlita regarding how to maintain spiritual connection and inspiration during Rosh Hashanah, particularly in years when the first day falls on Shabbos and the Shofar is not blown.

Adapting to Circumstances: Rabbi Twerski emphasizes that Hashem custom-tailors paths for individuals. A lack of Shofar does not mean a disconnection; rather, it is an invitation to find personal, private ways to awaken oneself.

Redefining Relationships: The discussion explores the balance of Malchus, which relates to Kingship and Awe, and Avinu, which relates to Fatherly love, in our relationship with Hashem. True love and admiration require an element of fear, not of punishment, but of the potential loss of that precious connection.

Dealing with Pain and Trauma: Addressing audience questions about personal tragedy and stress, the speakers highlight that expressing pain and hurt to Hashem is a valid and vital part of Avodah, or service. Trying to force a feeling of gratitude for everything when one is in deep mourning can be harmful; it is okay to sit with the pain and be honest with Hashem.

The Power of Teshuva: Rabbi Twerski reframes Teshuva not as a burdensome task, but as a reset button, a divine gift that allows for the removal of negative past experiences and a fresh start.

Throughout the program, Rabbi Twerski encourages viewers to let go of rigid, pre-imagined molds of how their spiritual practice should look, suggesting that authentic connection often happens when we accept where we truly are in our current circumstances.

Simcha Leiner leading a beautiful Kumzitz for YIW before Selichos with Dov Katz and Tnuah Choir.

Footage source: Moish Warsh Entertainment

Air travel between Israel and Europe and the United States is set to expand significantly, with Israeli carrier Israir preparing to launch its first direct New York service while Wizz Air restores several suspended routes and increases frequencies on numerous existing destinations.

Israir will begin nonstop flights between Ben Gurion Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on September 15, according to Channel 12. The airline will initially operate three weekly flights, with plans to gradually increase the route to daily service by the end of October.

The new transatlantic service comes as flights between Israel and the United States have remained limited and costly following widespread cancellations and disruptions connected to the wars in Gaza and Iran.

Tickets for the new Israir route are expected to start at approximately $950 one way, or $1,900 round trip. The airline anticipates that round-trip fares could fall to around $1,600 following the Jewish holiday season in mid-October.

Israir is investing $85 million in two Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft as part of its expansion into long-haul international service. Ticket sales are scheduled to open tonight, with the first flight departing Tel Aviv on September 15 and the inaugural return flight from New York set for September 17.

The airline said preparations for the new transatlantic operation were completed in roughly three and a half months, including obtaining approvals from Israeli and U.S. aviation authorities, including the Israel Civil Aviation Authority, Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration.

At the same time, European low-cost carrier Wizz Air is significantly expanding its Israeli schedule.

The airline is bringing back five previously suspended routes: London Gatwick, with five weekly flights; Catania, four; Venice, three; Cluj, two; and Iasi, two.

Wizz Air is also adding flights on 11 existing routes. Budapest service will increase from 14 to 21 weekly flights, while Milan will double from seven to 14. Rome will rise to 14 weekly flights, up from 12, and Bucharest will increase from 11 to 14.

Additional increases include Athens and Bratislava to seven weekly flights each, Naples and Sofia to seven, Warsaw to five, Vilnius to four and Varna to three.

The combined expansions by Israir and Wizz Air represent a significant increase in available air service to and from Israel, offering travelers more options at a time when international capacity has been constrained and ticket prices have remained elevated.

Adidas is facing backlash from pro-Palestinian activists after featuring Israeli amputee runner Shalev Biton in promotional material for its “Single Shoe” program, an initiative designed to allow amputee athletes to purchase only one running shoe rather than an entire pair.

The campaign has drawn criticism because of the large number of amputees reported in Gaza during the war, with activists accusing Adidas of using an Israeli former soldier to promote the program. Adidas, however, said the initiative is a global accessibility effort and denied that it was created specifically for Israeli military veterans.

The controversy erupted after Biton shared a Hebrew-language video discussing the benefit of being able to purchase a single shoe. His military background was not mentioned in the video.

⚽ Adidas Faces Global Boycott Calls After Featuring IDF Veteran Who Lost His Leg in Hamas Missile Attack

Shalev Biton survived a Hamas missile attack, lost a leg and returned to running. Now his appearance in an Adidas campaign helping amputees buy a single shoe has triggered… pic.twitter.com/PYOGbQ5qbZ

— Jewish Breaking News (@JBreakingNews) September 7, 2026

Biton served with the IDF’s Nachal infantry brigade. During Operation Guardian of the Walls in May 2021, an anti-tank missile fired from Gaza struck his military vehicle on the Israeli side of the border. Biton suffered severe injuries and ultimately lost his left leg, while Staff Sgt. Omer Tabib was killed in the attack.

Following extensive rehabilitation, Biton returned to running using a prosthetic leg and became an advocate for adaptive athletics.

Adidas launched its Single Shoe program in Europe in January before expanding it into Middle Eastern markets. In Israel, Biton and 10 other disabled athletes were featured on promotional posters inside Adidas stores, while the company says the broader initiative is intended to increase accessibility and consumer choice worldwide.

The campaign sparked a wave of online criticism, including calls to boycott Adidas. Palestinian activist Abeer Khatib reportedly said she would burn the Adidas products she owns, while Spanish actor Javier Bardem was also among those associated with boycott calls.

Some online posts went further, falsely claiming that Biton lost his leg while fighting in the current Gaza war and accusing him of participating in what they described as “genocide.” Photos of Biton running with his prosthetic were circulated alongside images of amputee children from Gaza.

Biton later described the reaction as a “crazy wave of hate.” His original Instagram video was no longer available Sunday, although copies had continued circulating online.

Adidas has maintained that the Single Shoe service is part of a worldwide effort to make its products more accessible to people with disabilities.

By: Jake Turx, Senior White House Correspondent

“For me, it’s obvious that October 7th was part of His Divine plan. Consider everything that has unfolded since, and the larger process set in motion that day:

A. The attack presented the world with a horrifying moral test. After witnessing a brutal, livestreamed massacre of Jews, would the nations stand with the Jewish people as they fought for survival, or would they find excuses for the murderers, send them aid, lend them moral legitimacy, and ultimately strengthen the forces seeking to destroy us?

Much of the world failed that test, and look as the consequences continue to unfold. Israel’s enemies throughout the region have since been dramatically weakened, while the crisis has exposed profound weakness and vulnerability across much of the Western world, which the radical red-green alliance continues to exploit.

It is our enemies who, in the aftermath of October 7th, have found themselves stripped of protection.

B. October 7 presented the Jewish people with a test of our own… A warrior in Be’eri was suddenly our brother, a hostage we had never met became our sister. Their parents became our parents and their children became our children. Jews across the world gave money, flew across oceans, volunteered, enlisted, prayed, cooked, drove, donated, visited the wounded and refused to forget the captives.

We showed ourselves and the world that when one Jew suffers, millions feel their pain!!

One lesson of October 7 is that internal division can look like weakness from the outside, and had we been more united on October 6, perhaps Sinwar may have been far less confident to strike Israel.

C. Look at how much has changed since October 7. Iran’s nuclear program has been obliterated (at least for now). Its leadership and regional proxies have been dramatically weakened. Gulf countries increasingly find themselves siding with Israel. The shekel has shown remarkable strength. Assad’s regime is gone. In the United States, the Dems have since lost control of the House Senate and White House. Leftism around the world has lost credibility, the UN has been rendered irrelevant, academia has become a joke, and the Two-State solution remains dead and buried.

And most remarkable, it’s made the Jewish people more united, more religious and Jews are openly having conversations about rebuilding the Third Beis HaMikdash.

So when you ask “Why didn’t Hashem protect the Jews on October 7?” my answer is: Maybe the question isn’t why Hashem failed to protect us. Maybe the question is whether we recognize the forms His protection takes over the long term, not only in a single terrible moment.

Becuase Divine protection does not always mean preventing tragedy. Sometimes history is allowed to unfold in ways whose purpose only becomes visible much later.

October 7th brought out the best in us while bringing our enemies to their knees. Moving forward our task is to make sure that the unity, responsibility and love for one another that emerged from October 7 does not require another October 7 to reawaken us in the future.”

K’hal Bnei Torah of Far Rockaway, led by Rav Doniel Bush, hosted a major pre–Rosh Hashanah event featuring Reb Gershon Ribner.

The event drew a tremendous crowd of baalei batim, kollel yungerleit, and bochurim from throughout the Far Rockaway and Five Towns community, who came together for an evening of Torah, chizuk, and preparation for the Yamim Noraim.

🔥The Schwebels at the Red Shul last night in Cedarhurst! pic.twitter.com/HGHE5yL8Ka

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) September 6, 2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used a Rosh Hashana toast at Sunday’s Cabinet meeting to deliver a forceful warning to Iran and Israel’s other enemies, declaring that Israel remains committed to completing its military objectives and will respond overwhelmingly to any renewed attack.

Speaking at the start of the Jewish New Year, Netanyahu said Israel enters the year in a stronger position than it has been in the past, crediting the government’s decisions, the bravery of IDF troops and Israel’s international standing.

He said Israel, working alongside the United States, had succeeded in removing what he described as an existential Iranian threat by destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities and ballistic missile arsenal while severely damaging Tehran’s regional network of allies and proxies.

Netanyahu warned that Iran understands the consequences of launching another attack against Israel.

“If Iran makes the mistake of attacking Israel, it will sustain a blow like it has never imagined,” he said, adding that Tehran is currently avoiding such a confrontation because it knows what the response would be.

The prime minister also issued a broader warning to Israel’s enemies, declaring, “Don’t mess with us,” while describing Israel as the strongest power in the Middle East.

Netanyahu praised Israeli security forces for continuing operations against terrorists in Lebanon, Gaza and Judea and Samaria, saying troops and intelligence personnel are working around the clock to eliminate threats.

But despite the military gains, Netanyahu stressed that the conflict is not yet over. He identified the removal of Iran’s current regime as the central remaining objective, describing the government in Tehran as weakened, unstable and struggling for its survival.

According to Netanyahu, the collapse of the Iranian regime would have consequences extending far beyond the current conflict, potentially reshaping the Middle East and representing a major turning point in Jewish history.

He concluded his remarks with a Rosh Hashana message, wishing Israelis a new year filled with greater security, strength and blessings than ever before.

אל תתעסקו איתנו pic.twitter.com/uvY9e6mgTk

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 3, 2026

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee’s recent visit to the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya has come under scrutiny after local residents accused the delegation of meeting and posing for photographs with individuals they say have histories of supporting terrorism and incitement.

The visit was presented as an opportunity to highlight the realities of life in the area, but critics argue that the carefully arranged tour failed to acknowledge the town’s alleged history of terrorist glorification, attacks against Israelis and hostility toward nearby Jewish communities.

Among those photographed with Huckabee was Abla Al-Kook, a girls’ high school principal whom residents accuse of promoting incitement and glorifying terrorism. Local critics also pointed to other municipal figures who, they allege, have connections to terrorist activity or have participated in attacks against Jews.

Amishav Mellet, a local resident whose brother Benayahu was killed by a terrorist mob just weeks earlier, later addressed an open letter to Huckabee, arguing that the ambassador was shown a heavily curated version of events.

Mellet highlighted several issues he believes were omitted from the visit, including:

• The town’s former mayor, Lafi Shalabi, whom Mellet alleges was involved in assisting the killing of Yehuda Guetta and was later selected to lead the municipality while imprisoned.
• Municipal council member Abu Samra, whom Mellet identifies as a convicted and released terrorist who has allegedly posted incitement and been involved in violence and property attacks against Jews in the Shiloh-area communities.
• Numerous monuments throughout Turmus Ayya honoring terrorists, as well as imagery depicting all of Israel as part of a Palestinian state.
• Alleged involvement by Al-Kook in promoting terrorism and participating in violent confrontations with Israelis and security forces.
• Repeated incidents that Mellet says have occurred in and around the town, including rock-throwing, arson, shootings and attacks targeting Jewish farmers, shepherds, travelers and IDF soldiers.

Mellet also challenged the presentation of footage shown to Huckabee by local ambulance personnel. He claimed that videos were selectively edited and argued that the full footage would show a different picture of an incident involving an ambulance and Israeli military vehicle. According to Mellet, the ambulance had blocked an IDF vehicle while a crowd threw rocks at soldiers, forcing the troops to maneuver out of the area.

The controversy intensified after Mellet himself entered a security vehicle to investigate a suspicious gathering of vehicles near his community. He said the response from Huckabee’s delegation and accompanying media portrayed the local Jewish residents as the aggressors, without providing the broader security context.

Mellet concluded by warning that carefully staged meetings and photo opportunities should not obscure the reality faced by residents living near Turmus Ayya. He said he continues to receive threats from people in the area invoking the murder of his brother.

It is also important to note that Huckabee has generally been viewed as a strong and outspoken supporter of Israel and Jewish communities, making the episode particularly striking to many of his supporters. Rather than reflecting a broader change in his position, the criticism appears to center on what some believe was a serious error in judgment during a highly managed diplomatic visit — one in which the local figures and information presented to him may not have provided the full picture.

הסרטון שמייק האקבי צילם, בו ניתן לראות את עמישב מלט נוהג בשטח פרטי 👇pic.twitter.com/lrkRBwWDA8

— Arbel – ארבל 🟦 (@ArbelReports) September 6, 2026

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked the upcoming 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks Friday by signing two executive orders focused on remembering the victims and strengthening the city’s preparedness against future terrorist threats.

The ceremony drew controversy, however, after Mamdani’s chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem, received the ceremonial pen used to sign the orders.

Kassem, who arrived at the Blue Room ceremony about 15 minutes late, was handed the pen after Mamdani signed the final order. Video shows Mamdani asking Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to pass it along, with Tisch then giving it to Kassem. Kassem was seen smiling as he accepted it before leaving shortly afterward.

The controversy stems from Kassem’s past legal work. He represented Ahmed al-Darbi, an al-Qaeda operative who was transferred to Guantánamo following his conviction in connection with the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker. Al-Darbi was involved in an al-Qaeda plot targeting the international oil industry in the aftermath of 9/11.

Al-Darbi also had a family connection to the September 11 attacks: his sister was married to Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of the hijackers who helped carry out the attacks and was aboard the plane that crashed into the Pentagon.

Kassem, 48, is a law professor and founded a CUNY legal clinic providing free legal representation to Muslim clients. He has also represented Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent pro-Palestinian Columbia University protest leader who was detained by ICE.

Mamdani’s administration defended Kassem’s presence at the ceremony, saying his attendance was appropriate because he and his legal team drafted both executive orders in his capacity as chief counsel.

The appearance nevertheless drew sharp criticism from Council Member Vicki Paladino, a Republican representing Queens, who called Kassem’s involvement “an insult to every New Yorker who survived that day.”

The episode comes as city officials prepare for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, with the administration emphasizing both remembrance of those killed and heightened efforts to protect New York against future terrorist threats.

🚨 NOW: Ugandan Mayor Mamdani is facing major backlash from victims' families after he signed a 9/11 executive order and gave the honorary pen to a lawyer who REPRESENTED an AL-QAEDA TERRORIST connected to the Pentagon attack — NYP

The enemy is inside the gates.

The pen was… pic.twitter.com/AnfVXamkfM

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 5, 2026

😮 Incredible!

A massive Mazel Tov to Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz for uploading his 15,000’th Shiur on YUTorah!

This is a major accomplishment, consider how many people have benefited from these shiurim over the years.

Wishing Rabbi Lebowitz continued hatzlacha in uploading the next 15,000!

מחיל אל חיל!

2:05 pm Update – There is a Hachnasas Sefer Torah taking place at 2:00 pm in Woodmere in memory of Leah Lefkovits ע״ה.

The procession is underway, and Green Place is currently blocked off as the celebration continues toward Congregation Beis Ephraim Yitzchok on Peninsula Boulevard.

Community members are invited to join and celebrate this special occasion!

A big Mazal tov to the Auspitz family on this beautiful occasion!

By 5 Towns Central Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sep. 6, 2026) — A delegation representing major Chasidic and yeshiva communities met directly with President Donald Trump at the White House to advocate on pressing domestic and international matters affecting Orthodox Jewry. The group, speaking on behalf of a constituency exceeding 250,000 community members, raised critical concerns spanning hospital governance, prison accommodations, education policies, and religious rights abroad.

A key focal point involved the impending municipal transition of Maimonides Medical Center in Boro Park. While proponents note that folding the institution into New York City’s municipal healthcare network could secure vital state financing and higher Medicaid reimbursements, rabbinic figures expressed apprehension over potential staff departures and disruptions to patient services that conform strictly to Jewish law. Representatives appealed for potential federal pathways to help preserve the facility’s private operational status.

Discussions also addressed prison welfare reforms, specifically proposing that community-run commercial facilities in upstate New York prepare kosher food for observant federal inmates to meet standard budgetary limits while fulfilling religious dietary obligations. On health and educational policies, the delegation welcomed federal modifications limiting infant vaccine doses administered during single visits, noting that prior state mandates had imposed administrative penalties and logistical strains on community yeshivas.

On the international front, attendees urged American diplomatic advocacy to safeguard yeshiva students from military conscription in Israel, presenting formal correspondence outlining religious liberty concerns and highlighting legal obstacles confronting American-Israeli dual citizens. The rabbinic leaders further pressed the administration to leverage diplomatic influence to protect neglected and deteriorating historic Jewish cemeteries across Eastern and Central Europe, specifically pointing to endangered burial sites in Lithuania and Poland.

The meeting, held in a cordial atmosphere, emphasized the community’s engagement on substantive civic issues and the preservation of long-standing religious practices across both domestic institutions and global heritage sites.

Thursday, Jewish religious leaders from New York met with @POTUS. @YossiGestetner told @RealAmVoice's @ReporterMcCabe what it was like in the Oval Office with the president. pic.twitter.com/yhhdlAkp1u

— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) September 4, 2026

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.”