President Trump paid homage on Truth Social to the thousands of lives lost on 10/7.

Dear Residents,

Today, we mark three years since the horrific attacks of October 7, 2023, a day of unimaginable terror, loss, and heartbreak that changed Israel, the Jewish people, and the world forever.

In solemn remembrance of the victims of October 7th, the Village of Lawrence has lowered its flags to half-staff today as a symbol of mourning, remembrance, and solidarity.

We remember the innocent men, women, and children who were murdered. We remember the families torn apart, the communities devastated, and the countless lives forever changed. We remember the fear, the pain, and the darkness of that day and we must make certain that the world never forgets.

October 7th was also a painful reminder of a truth we can never afford to ignore: antisemitism is real, it is dangerous, and it must never be tolerated.

History has taught us what can happen when hatred is ignored, excused, or allowed to grow. From the horrors of the Holocaust to the atrocities of October 7th, we are reminded that silence and indifference are never acceptable.

Our responsibility is not only to remember the past, but to learn from it and act upon it.

We must stand together against antisemitism in every form and at every level. We must speak out against hatred wherever it appears. And as a community, we must be willing to put aside our petty differences and recognize that there are moments when unity is not simply desirable, it is essential.

We are strongest when we stand together.

There is “unity” within “community”, and there can be no strong community without unity.

As residents of the Village of Lawrence, we must continue to support one another, protect one another, and stand proudly and unapologetically against hatred and antisemitism.

May the memories of those who were murdered on October 7th forever be a blessing. May we continue to pray for the wounded, for the families who continue to carry unimaginable pain, for the safety of our brothers and sisters in Israel, and for peace and security for the Jewish people throughout the world.

May God bless the residents of the Village of Lawrence, the United States of America, the great State of Israel, and the Jewish people everywhere.

We remember. We stand together. We will never be silent.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Samuel Nahmias
Mayor

Aaron M. Parnes, Deputy Mayor
Tammy M. Roz, Trustee
Aaron Felder, Trustee
Steven C. Gottesman, Trustee

A suspicious package found outside the White Shul this morning prompted a police response, with both nearby parking lots temporarily closed as a precaution.

NYPD officers inspected the package and determined that it posed no threat. The area was cleared, and police returned the package to its owner.

BH. Thankful to the police for their quick response and professionalism.

⁃ All males are required to be mavir sedra every week.

⁃ Those that are mavir sedra will live a longer life amongst other Brachos.

_

How
⁃ There are two variations on how to read each passuk:
1 – Read each passuk twice and then the Targum.
2 – Read one passuk, then the Targum, then the passuk again.

⁃ The translation should not be read before the Psukim.

⁃ Read each passuk twice and afterwards Targum for each parsha (meaning until the letter פ or ס).

⁃ Really the requirement is to read the Targum Unkulus (because it was given at Har Sinai).

⁃ Learning Rashi is also considered a translation.

⁃ If one does Rashi without doing Unkulus, then the pesukim that don’t have any Rashi should be read three times.

⁃ Best is to do both and Unkulus and Rashi.

⁃ Those that have a difficult time understanding Unkulus and/or Rashi should use an English translation that actually explains the pesukim and doesn’t just translate (The Living Torah Chumash from R’ Aryeh Kaplan is a good example).

⁃ The pesukim and Unkulus should be verbalized. With the name of Hashem. Translation and Rashi don’t have to be verbalized.

⁃ The parsha should be reviewed in the proper order. If it wasn’t then it doesn’t have to be repeated.

⁃ The psukim can be read quietly along with the Baal Koreh and that will count towards reading the psukim one time.

⁃ There should preferably be no talking or disturbances while reviewing the Parsha.

⁃ At the end of the Parsha, the last passuk should preferably be repeated.

When
⁃ Most are of the opinion that the next weeks Parsha can be started at Mincha time on Shabbos afternoon.

⁃ The Parsha should be completed before the meal starts on Shabbos morning.

⁃ If no, then up until Tuesday night is acceptable.

⁃ After that, up until Simchas Torah is acceptable.

⁃ If you’re behind from previous weeks, first finish the previous parsha before the current parsha unless you’ll miss finishing the current parsha by Shabbos morning.

⁃ Kabala says not to learn Tanach at night. Those that aren’t concerned with Kabala (most) can learn Tanach at night. Therefore mavir sedra at night is fine.

⁃ Even those that don’t learn Tanach at night, Thursday and Friday nights are allowed.

_

On the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a statement that condemned Hamas for killing more than 1,100 Israelis and abducting 251 people — but then pivoted sharply to attacking Israel, accusing the Israeli government of carrying out an “ongoing genocide” in Gaza and calling Israel’s actions “war crimes.”

Mamdani also criticized U.S. support for Israel and said American tax dollars are funding what he described as “war crimes.”

His remarks, issued on a day of mourning and remembrance for the victims of October 7, have drawn criticism for placing Israel’s actions at the center of his statement while describing the Hamas massacre only briefly.

Full Statement from Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani: “This day is profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers. It marks three years since the horrific war crimes of October 7. On that day, Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others. We grieve alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss.

The suffering did not begin nor end that day. It instead continued through the Israeli government’s devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which it has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians—including more than 21,000 children. Even since the so-called ceasefire, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed. That suffering has intensified with every Israeli bomb dropped on ambulances waiting outside hospitals, every drone strike targeting a residential building or journalist, and every shipment of food aid turned away at a border crossing. Many New Yorkers are reckoning with this unbearable grief, and we mourn alongside them – all while knowing that our tax dollars fund these war crimes.

Three years later, we must refuse to accept a world in which occupation and apartheid continue, where war crimes are met with impunity, and our federal government continues its complicity with every arms shipment.

To honor the dead, we must fight for a world in which every person can live with freedom, safety, and dignity.”

Several Reactions:

Raylen Givens: “Absolutely disgusting and disgraceful. You are a filthy, vile person who should never be anywhere near public office. The fact that anyone could read something like this and still decide this is the person they want representing them is beyond me. This is filth. This is who you are, and people need to see it.”

Uri Pilichowski: “While we celebrate D-day and our victory over the Nazis, let us remember that the war also touched the lives of many Nazi children. America killed millions of Germans, Italians, and Japanese in a genocide that culminated in two atomic bombs. Employing moral relativism conflates good and bad.”

Moshe Spern: “You marked the anniversary of a massacre by accusing the people who were massacred of genocide. You’re a pathetic excuse for a Mayor. You clearly hate Jews as much as your wife and family! You couldn’t even go one day supporting Jewish New Yorkers! I am so tired of your antics.”

Loay Alshareef لؤي الشريف: “Dear Mayor Mamdani, Every single innocent Palestinian who has died in Gaza is a tragedy, but to be morally consistent, you should solely blame Hamas, which waged this war in an attempt to annihilate Israel.

Hamas is the real genocide-seeker: it wants to annihilate Israel but it can’t, while Israel could annihilate Gaza but chooses not to. The evil of Hamas and radical Islamists has reached New York City, and I pray you wake up before that evil gets out of control in your city. Make the morally correct decision and listen to those who know.”

Three years ago today, Israel awoke to one of the darkest days in its modern history.

At approximately 6:29 a.m. on October 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas-led terrorists breached the Gaza border under the cover of a massive rocket barrage. They attacked communities, military bases and the Nova music festival, murdering approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 others to Gaza. The assault triggered a war that would reshape Israel, the region and Jewish communities around the world.

As Israel marks the third anniversary, the consequences of that morning remain deeply felt. The country is still mourning those who were murdered, caring for tens of thousands of wounded soldiers and security personnel, and rebuilding communities devastated by the attack.

The Morning Israel Was Overrun

The assault began with rockets fired toward southern and central Israel. At the same time, Hamas used drones to target surveillance equipment and other components of Israel’s border defenses before terrorists breached the security fence at multiple locations.

Terrorists poured into southern communities, including Be’eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Nahal Oz, Kissufim, Sderot and Ofakim.

At the Nova festival near Re’im, thousands of young people suddenly found themselves under attack. As the gathering was shut down and attendees attempted to flee, terrorists positioned themselves along roads and escape routes, firing at vehicles and people attempting to hide.

Among those caught in the attack were Hersh Goldberg-Polin HY”D, Eliya Cohen and Or Levy, who were later taken hostage.

One of the most recognizable images from that morning showed Noa Argamani being taken away on a motorcycle. She would remain in captivity for months before being rescued during an Israeli special forces operation in June 2024.

In Kfar Aza, photographer Roi Idan HY”D documented Hamas terrorists entering the community before he was murdered. His wife, Smadar HY”D, was also killed. Their young daughter Abigail was abducted and later became one of the most widely known child hostages.

Across the Gaza border communities, families were trapped inside safe rooms while terrorists moved from house to house.

By the afternoon, Israeli security forces were gradually regaining control of the communities, but the scale of the devastation was becoming clear.

A Day of Mass Murder and Abductions

The attack ultimately left approximately 1,200 people dead, including civilians, soldiers, police officers and other security personnel. More than 250 people were initially taken hostage, with the official total later established at 251.

The victims included babies, children, elderly people, young adults attending the Nova festival and members of the security forces who fought to defend the communities.

Among the victims was Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council head Ofir Libstein HY”D, who was killed while responding to the attack.

Ronen Engel HY”D was killed while defending his family, and his body was taken to Gaza. His wife Karina and daughters Mika and Yuval were also abducted.

Carmel Gat HY”D was taken from Kibbutz Be’eri. Her mother Kinneret was murdered, while other members of the family were also caught in the attack.

Three-year-old Abigail Idan was abducted after her father Roi was murdered. Abigail, along with Hagar Brodutch and her three children, was eventually released during the November 2023 hostage deal.

The first hostages were released on October 20, when Judith and Natalie Raanan were freed. Additional releases followed, including Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper.

On October 30, IDF and Shin Bet forces rescued Pvt. Ori Magidish, a surveillance soldier who had been abducted from the Nahal Oz base.

The Hostage Crisis

The hostage crisis became one of the defining elements of the war.

From November 24 through November 30, a temporary ceasefire resulted in the release of 105 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Fighting resumed afterward, while negotiations and military operations continued simultaneously.

Israel subsequently carried out several dramatic rescue missions.

In February 2024, Yamam, Shin Bet and IDF forces rescued Fernando Marman and Louis Har from a building in Rafah.

Four months later, on June 8, Israeli forces carried out Operation Arnon, rescuing Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Shlomi Ziv and Andrey Kozlov from Nuseirat.

In August, Farhan al-Qadi was rescued from a tunnel in southern Gaza.

But many hostages did not survive.

In September 2024, Israel announced that Hersh Goldberg-Polin HY”D, Ori Danino HY”D, Eden Yerushalmi, Alex Lobanov HY”D, Almog Sarusi HY”D and Carmel Gat HY”D had been murdered by their captors shortly before Israeli forces located their bodies.

A second major hostage agreement took effect in January 2025, eventually resulting in the release of dozens of hostages and the return of additional bodies.

Among the most painful moments came with the return of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir. Their bodies were returned to Israel after it was determined that they had been murdered in captivity.

The Final Hostage

The hostage ordeal finally reached its conclusion in January 2026.

Master Sgt. Ran Gvili HY”D, an Israel Police special patrol officer and the final hostage remaining in Gaza, was located and brought back to Israel on January 26.

His return marked the end of more than two years in which the fate of 251 abducted people had remained at the center of Israel’s national consciousness.

The War in Gaza

Israel’s military response began immediately after the October 7 attack and developed into a prolonged campaign against Hamas.

The IDF launched its large-scale ground operation in northern Gaza on October 27, 2023. Fighting subsequently spread throughout the Gaza Strip, including major operations in Khan Younis and Rafah.

Israel also targeted Hamas’s senior leadership. Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif was killed in an Israeli strike in July 2024, while Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli troops in Rafah in October 2024.

The fighting continued into 2025, including a renewed Israeli offensive following the collapse of a ceasefire.

Israel also conducted operations targeting Hamas leadership outside Gaza, including a September 2025 strike against senior Hamas officials meeting in Doha, Qatar.

Eventually, an internationally mediated agreement brought the large-scale fighting in Gaza to an end and led to the release of the final living hostages.

Israeli forces subsequently shifted from the large-scale campaign toward continued security operations and targeted strikes against Hamas personnel.

According to Israeli officials, approximately 4,000 of the estimated 6,000 terrorists who entered Israel during the October 7 assault have since been killed. IDF Military Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder said roughly 2,000 remain, adding that Israel intends to pursue them.

The Human Cost in Israel

The war has left an enormous physical and psychological toll on Israeli soldiers and security personnel.

Israel’s Defense Ministry said this week that approximately 30,000 wounded soldiers and members of the security forces have entered its Rehabilitation Department since October 7.

Approximately 63% are dealing with psychological consequences, while 47% of the wounded are under 30 and 62% are reservists. The department currently treats 91,200 people from Israel’s wars and military operations, including approximately 42,500 dealing with mental-health conditions or PTSD.

Among those wounded since October 7 are 63 people classified with 100%+ disability, 249 with complex head injuries, 29 with permanent blindness or serious visual impairment and 106 amputees.

The Defense Ministry estimates that the rehabilitation system could be treating approximately 100,000 people by 2028, with about half requiring mental-health care.

The government has expanded psychological treatment, rehabilitation programs, specialized facilities and other support services in response to the unprecedented number of wounded.

A Nation Still Living With October 7

The attack also left a lasting civilian toll. Israel’s National Insurance Institute reports that 1,029 Israeli civilians have been murdered in terrorist attacks since the beginning of the war, including 778 people killed on October 7 itself. Tens of thousands of additional civilians have been recognized as victims of hostile actions.

The physical destruction was concentrated in the communities surrounding Gaza, but the impact reached virtually every part of Israeli society.

Families lost parents and children. Thousands of soldiers returned home wounded. Hostage families spent months and years waiting for news. Survivors of the massacre continue to deal with trauma. Entire communities were displaced and forced to rebuild.

And for Jewish communities worldwide, October 7 became a defining moment — remembered through the names of the murdered, the hostages, the fallen soldiers and the countless people whose lives were permanently changed.

Three years later, Israel continues to commemorate those who were lost on that morning.

May the neshamos of all those brutally murdered have an aliyah, and may the memories of the victims and the courage of those who fought to save others never be forgotten.

יהי זכרם ברוך.

By: Pesach Osina, Candidate for State Assembly District 23

As a father of six, I think about public safety the same way all parents do. I worry whether my children are safe when they leave home. I think about parents and grandparents walking through the neighborhood. I think about the small business owner who works early to late just to keep the doors open. And I think about the families who work hard, follow the rules and simply want to feel secure in the community they call home.

Those are the people I am running to represent.

Public safety is not an abstract political issue. It is about feeling safe and comfortable where you live. It is knowing the police will be there when you need them. It is knowing that repeated criminals face real consequences. It is being able to walk into your local pharmacy or supermarket without seeing basic necessities locked behind plastic, or knowing that a package delivered to your porch won’t be stolen before you can get home.

When I am elected to the State Assembly, standing with our police to strengthen public safety and protect Queens families be my top priority.

I will fight for tougher bail laws to keep dangerous offenders off our streets. I will fight for stronger laws against repeat shoplifting, trespassing, porch pirates, and organized retail theft. And I will stand up for our police officers and first responders to make sure they have the resources, staffing, benefits and retirement security they deserve.

That commitment is why I am so proud to have earned the endorsement of both the NYC Police Benevolent Association and the New York State Troopers PBA.

Our first reponders know firsthand what is happening in our communities. They understand where our laws are working and where they are falling short. Keeping people safe takes more than talking about public safety during an election. It takes laws that make sense, resources for our police, consequences that mean something, and elected officials who listen to the people every day.

One issue – porch piracy –

has become so common that many people almost expect it. You order something online. You track it on your phone. You get the notification that it was delivered. Then you come home and find an empty doorstep. Someone walked onto your property and took something – a birthday present for your child, school supplies, medicine for a parent or grandparent, or something you had saved up to buy. needed.

Whatever was inside that box, you worked for it. You paid for it. And it was at your home. You should not have your package stolen or your property invaded.

But New York’s laws don’t reflect the way we live today. Our theft laws focus on the dollar value of what was stolen, and treat porches and private outdoor areas differently than other property.

Under current New York law, the seriousness of a larceny charge depends on the value and circumstances of what was stolen. But if someone enters your home unlawfully and steals something, New York’s burglary laws recognize that as a fundamentally different offense.

That distinction makes sense. Your home – all of your home – is your private space. Someone who comes onto your porch to steal is not simply taking property — they are invading the security of your home and your family.

New York needs stronger laws that recognize the seriousness of someone deliberately coming onto residential property to steal a package.

A package on your porch may be outside your four walls, but it was intentionally delivered to your home, to your private property, for you. The thief hase deliberately come onto your personal property, invaded your family’s space, to take your package. .

This conduct needs serious consequences.

If someone walks onto your property, goes up your steps, looks around your porch, and steals your belongings, the value of the item stolen has nothing to do with the seriousness of the crime. For all the thief knows, the package could be worth $20 or $2000. Criminals don’t know the value when committing the crimes, so why should the law have different punishments for the crime committed? And if someone is going from home to home, stealing multiple packages, our laws should recognize the repeated and intentional nature of that conduct.

That is why, in the Assembly, I will support legislation creating clear and meaningful consequences for package theft, including stronger penalties for repeat offenders, a clear legal standard that porches are considered part of your home, and enhanced consequences when stolen packages contain medication or medical equipment.

To me, that is what common-sense public safety looks like. It means looking at the problems people are actually experiencing and making government respond. Albany has a very real responsibility because state legislators write New York’s criminal laws. When those laws no longer reflect what is happening in our neighborhoods, we have the ability and the responsibility to improve them.

When you see toothpaste and deodorant locked behind plastic at the store, something has gone wrong. When you have to plan your entire day around making sure someone is home to receive a package, something has gone wrong. People should not have to lower their expectations for what a safe community looks like.

We know we will never eliminate every crime. But we can make sure our laws are strong, our law enforcement officers are supported and the concerns of everyday families are not dismissed.

That is the approach I will take in Albany.

Public safety begins at home.

New York City property owners who may qualify for an exemption from the city’s new pied-à-terre surcharge have been given additional time to file, with the deadline now extended to October 13.

The Department of Finance announced the extension Tuesday, just as the previous deadline was set to expire. More than 5,200 exemption applications have already been approved.

The extension comes as the city continues to defend the rollout of the controversial surcharge in court. An appeals court ruled Tuesday that the city can continue implementing the tax while it considers a legal challenge to the way homeowners were notified. The decision temporarily puts on hold a September 29 ruling by a Staten Island judge that had ordered the city to restart its notification process.

The surcharge applies to certain non-primary residences, including one-, two- and three-family homes valued above $5 million and condominium or cooperative units valued at $1 million or more. Properties used as a primary residence by the owner, certain family members or qualifying tenants may be exempt.

The rollout has faced criticism after the city sent notices to roughly 17,000 property owners and published information involving hundreds of thousands of properties. The Staten Island judge previously found problems with the city’s notification process, while the city has appealed that decision.

Jae Ko, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance, said the legal challenges have complicated the process but that the administration wants property owners to have sufficient time to respond.

“These meritless lawsuits have created a lot of unnecessary confusion. Nevertheless, the Administration remains fully committed to ensuring that New Yorkers have the time and information they need to apply.”

The tax itself is also facing separate legal challenges. Former U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and casino executive Steve Wynn are among the plaintiffs challenging the levy, arguing that it improperly singles out property owners who live outside New York City. That case attacks the legality of the tax itself, rather than simply the way the city implemented it.

Despite the litigation, the city is continuing with the rollout for now and plans to include the surcharge on property tax bills due January 1. The appeals court has said it expects to rule on the underlying implementation dispute by November 10.

Property owners who believe they qualify for an exemption should take note of the new October 13 deadline while the legal challenges continue.

New York City is recording historic lows in shootings and murders, but a very different trend is emerging in hate crimes, with Jewish New Yorkers accounting for more than half of all confirmed incidents so far this year.

According to newly released NYPD statistics, 463 hate crimes were confirmed across the city between January 1 and September 30. Of those, 245 targeted Jews — 52.9% of all confirmed hate crimes. The figure is up 1.2% from the 242 anti-Jewish hate crimes recorded during the same period last year.

The disparity is particularly notable because the NYPD estimates that Jewish residents make up roughly 10% of New York City’s population.

“The most striking trend continues to be antisemitic hate crimes,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. “So far this year, 53% of all confirmed hate crimes have targeted Jewish New Yorkers, despite Jews making up only roughly 10% of the city’s population.”

The numbers have fluctuated throughout the year. During the third quarter, 59 confirmed hate crimes targeted Jews, down 13.2% from the 68 recorded during the same period in 2025. However, anti-Muslim hate crimes rose sharply, with 11 confirmed incidents in the third quarter compared with four a year earlier. Year to date, 32 confirmed anti-Muslim hate crimes have been recorded, an increase of 77.8%.

The NYPD distinguishes between hate crimes that are reported and those ultimately confirmed following investigation. Its Hate Crime Task Force reviews allegations and works with the department’s Legal Bureau to determine whether incidents meet New York State’s legal definition of a hate crime. Police say separating the two categories is intended to provide greater transparency.

The latest figures come as New York’s Jewish community remains under heightened security following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and amid continued concerns about antisemitism. Tisch said the NYPD deployed an unprecedented number of officers around virtually every synagogue during the recent High Holy Days and pledged continued protection for Jewish institutions as the third anniversary of October 7 approaches.

The hate-crime statistics were released alongside a broader NYPD report showing significant declines in traditional crime.

Through September, the city recorded 203 murders, 489 shooting incidents and 594 shooting victims, all described by the NYPD as record lows for the first nine months of a year. Major crime overall fell 6.6%, from 92,057 incidents during the same period last year to 86,023 this year.

Several major crime categories also declined, including robbery, burglary, grand larceny and grand larceny auto. The Bronx recorded the largest borough-level decline, with major crime down 11.9%.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Tisch highlighted the overall crime reductions while acknowledging that hate crimes remain a significant area of concern.

The statistics come just days after Mamdani unveiled New York City’s first municipal strategy specifically focused on combating antisemitism. The plan includes increased funding for hate-crime prevention, additional security for synagogues and other houses of worship, Holocaust education and investments in Jewish cultural institutions.

With the November 3, 2026 General Election approaching, New York voters should take note of several important deadlines for voter registration, early voting and absentee or early mail ballots.

Here are the key dates and official resources for voters in Nassau County and throughout New York:

Voter Registration

The deadline to register to vote for the General Election is October 24, 2026. Registration applications must be received by the Board of Elections by that date. Register to Vote

Early Voting

New York’s nine-day early voting period runs from Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1. Voters in Nassau County may vote at any designated early voting location within the county. Nassau County Early Voting Information

Absentee or Early Mail Ballots

Voters who qualify can request an absentee ballot or early mail ballot. Applications submitted by mail or online must be received by October 24. Those applying in person may do so through November 2. Apply for an Early Mail or Absentee Ballot

Completed ballots can be mailed with a postmark no later than Election Day, November 3, or returned in person to a Board of Elections office or polling location by 9 p.m. on November 3.

Election Day

The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls across New York will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Find Your Polling Location

Voters can use the New York State Board of Elections voter lookup tool to confirm their registration, find their Election Day polling location and access other voter information. Election Day Voting Location Lookup

For the latest official election information and deadlines, visit the New York State Board of Elections.

JetBlue Airways is set to expand its presence at New York’s LaGuardia Airport after the Federal Aviation Administration approved its acquisition of 22 takeoff and landing slots previously held by Spirit Airlines.

The FAA determined that transferring the slots serves the public interest and will not increase the airport’s overall number of permitted operations. However, JetBlue will be prohibited from leasing, selling or otherwise transferring the slots to another airline until April 2028.

JetBlue secured the slots through a bankruptcy court-supervised auction, paying $58.5 million to beat a competing bid from Frontier Airlines. The sale was approved by a bankruptcy judge in July but required federal aviation approval before it could be finalized.

Spirit, once one of the country’s largest ultra-low-cost carriers, ceased operations on May 2, 2026, as part of its liquidation following its bankruptcy proceedings.

For JetBlue, the newly acquired LaGuardia access could significantly increase its schedule at one of the nation’s most slot-constrained airports. The airline has said the additional slots could allow it to operate up to **12 additional daily round trips** from LaGuardia beginning in 2027.

The move gives JetBlue an opportunity to strengthen its New York network while filling capacity left behind following Spirit’s exit from the market.

Israel’s consul general in New York, Ambassador Ofir Akunis, has invited Mayor Zohran Mamdani to attend a New York screening of a 47-minute IDF-produced film documenting the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

The invitation comes as the third anniversary of the attack approaches. The film includes footage recorded by Hamas terrorists themselves during the assault, offering graphic documentation of the events.

Akunis extended the invitation during an October 7 memorial event hosted by the Israeli Consulate and also sent Mamdani a formal letter. In the letter, Akunis sharply criticized the mayor’s public positions on Israel and argued that his rhetoric has contributed to an increase in antisemitism in New York.

“Your words against the State of Israel are a significant factor in the rise of antisemitism in New York,” Akunis wrote.

He urged Mamdani to view the footage firsthand, saying he hopes it will provide a clearer understanding of the October 7 attack and Israel’s stated rationale for defending itself.

“Perhaps after watching this film, you will understand why the existence of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people is so important and why we will continue to defend ourselves at any cost.”

Akunis also publicly challenged Mamdani to attend the screening, saying it could allow the mayor to see the events of October 7 through footage captured during the attack itself.

The invitation comes amid an increasingly public disagreement between Akunis and Mamdani over Israel, antisemitism and the mayor’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mamdani recently unveiled a citywide strategy aimed at combating antisemitism, while Israeli officials and some Jewish organizations have criticized his approach to Israel-related antisemitism.

Will Mamdani come?!

— Ofir Akunis (@Ofir_Akunis) October 6, 2026

A suspected criminal assassination attempt in Jerusalem on Tuesday morning left a well-known figure from the Israeli underworld and his 13-year-old son seriously injured after an explosive device detonated inside or near their vehicle.

The blast occurred shortly after 8:15 a.m. on Meir Feinstein Street in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood as Itzik Bar Mocha was reportedly driving his son to school. Police identified the incident as a suspected targeted attack and assigned the Jerusalem District Central Unit to lead the investigation.

🚨🇮🇱 Car explodes in Jerusalem

Hebrew media report that two people were injured in a car explosion on Meir Feinstein Street. Authorities are treating the incident as criminal. https://t.co/sy2XwGdscx

— The Daily Brief News (@TDBNEWS1) October 6, 2026

Bar Mocha, 58, has long been associated with the former “Jerusalem Gang” and has been involved in a number of major criminal cases and disputes within Israel’s organized-crime world. He previously served a lengthy prison sentence and in recent years was involved in conflicts with other prominent criminal figures.

Magen David Adom teams arriving at the scene found the vehicle on fire, with debris scattered nearby. Both victims were conscious and suffering from burns and traumatic injuries before being transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem for treatment. The boy was initially reported in moderate condition, while later reports said both father and son were in serious condition.

Video from the scene showed Bar Mocha on the roadway near the burning vehicle, calling for assistance while his injured son was nearby.

Police investigators and bomb-disposal experts secured the area and began collecting evidence to determine how the explosive was placed and who was behind the attack. Investigators are treating the incident as criminally motivated, rather than terrorism, according to initial reports.

A sweeping gag order issued by the Jerusalem Magistrates’ Court prohibits publication of details from the investigation or information that could identify potential suspects. The order is currently in effect through October 12.

The police said Jerusalem District Commander Superintendent Avshalom Peled arrived at the scene and ordered the Central Unit to take charge of the investigation and pursue those responsible.

Besuros Tovos!

The New York Yankees are facing elimination after another difficult night at the plate and in the field, falling 5-2 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

The loss puts Tampa Bay ahead 2-0 in the best-of-five series, leaving the Rays just one victory away from advancing to the AL Championship Series. The Yankees will return home for Game 3 on Wednesday night needing three straight wins to keep their season alive.

New York’s defense unraveled in the fifth inning, allowing Tampa Bay to turn a 1-1 game into a four-run lead. Richie Palacios delivered the biggest blow with a two-run single after a pair of costly defensive mistakes by rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr.

Lombard committed two errors in the inning, including a wild throw to first that extended the frame. Earlier, Chandler Simpson reached on Lombard’s first error, allowing a run to score. After Cam Schlittler was pulled, Palacios brought home two more runs to put Tampa Bay ahead 5-1.

Schlittler, who has emerged as one of the American League’s top pitchers and a potential Cy Young candidate, was charged with four runs—only two earned—over 4⅓ innings.

The Yankees’ offense again struggled without Aaron Judge, who remains sidelined with a calf injury. New York has managed only two runs through the first two games of the series.

Ben Rice provided both of those runs, launching two solo home runs. His first came in the fourth inning, ending the Yankees’ scoreless stretch in the postseason. He added another homer later in the game, but New York could not generate a rally.

The Yankees also endured a bizarre moment in the second inning when Spencer Jones hit a fly ball that struck a catwalk at Tropicana Field before being caught by Tampa Bay outfielder Victor Mesa. Under the stadium’s ground rules, the umpires ruled Jones out.

New York’s defensive struggles began even earlier, with the Yankees committing three errors in the first inning—an extremely rare postseason occurrence.

Tampa Bay received a strong pitching performance from Freddy Peralta, who allowed just one run and three hits over 4⅔ innings. The Rays’ bullpen then shut the door, with Bryan Baker recording the save.

The Yankees now face a must-win Game 3 at Yankee Stadium.

Game 3: Yankees LHP Max Fried (5-5, 2.80 ERA) vs. Rays RHP Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA).

Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a statewide disaster emergency over a growing measles outbreak, with cases increasingly concentrated in rural communities where vaccination rates are lower.

New York has recorded 108 confirmed measles cases through October 3, including 101 outside New York City and seven within the five boroughs. Since July 15 alone, 92 cases have been identified across 18 rural counties, prompting local health departments to administer more than 1,000 MMR vaccine doses.

The emergency order, which remains in effect through November 4, broadens the pool of healthcare professionals who can help respond to the outbreak. Pharmacists will be permitted to vaccinate children as young as two, while registered nurses can order measles testing. The order also requires MMR vaccinations to be reported to state or city immunization registries within 72 hours.

The situation comes as measles cases have surged nationwide. Nearly 3,900 cases have been reported across the U.S. in 2026, the highest annual total in decades. Neighboring Pennsylvania has been particularly hard hit, with more than 1,000 cases and five reported deaths.

Hochul said the emergency declaration is intended to give health officials additional tools to contain the outbreak.

“No one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease,” Hochul said. “That is why I have taken steps to increase the number of health professionals who can vaccinate and test.”

Hochul also received her flu shot Monday and encouraged New Yorkers to stay up to date on recommended vaccinations as respiratory-virus season approaches.

The Importance of Values and Environment

Don Ghermezian, CEO of American Dream, shared a personal story on Vayimaen about the importance of safeguarding one’s environment and values. He recounts a family trip to a hotel in Florida where he felt the environment was not right for his family. To ensure their Tzniyus and Kedusha, he paid a significant amount of money to rent a private pool for two weeks and had the area landscaped to prevent anyone from seeing into or out of the space.

During the same trip, Ghermezian faced a challenge when his uncle asked him to bring three additional family members to the Super Bowl, despite him having only four tickets. While trying to figure out how to accommodate everyone without paying a fortune for more tickets, he was approached by Brian Glazer, owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Glazer unexpectedly offered him seven free tickets in a row, stating he felt God wanted the Ghermezian family to have them.

Ghermezian notes that the total cost of the seven tickets plus the sale of his original four perfectly equaled the exact amount he had spent to rent and landscape the pool for his family’s privacy, a whopping $238,000! He concludes that whenever someone makes a sacrifice to maintain their personal standards or avoid temptation, they will eventually be rewarded by Hashem.

9:15 AM Update – The fire appears to be under control now. One of the initial reports indicated a fire involving the HVAC area in the rear of the building.

The cause is still being investigated, and surrounding blocks appear to be blocked off, Central until Maple.

The stores on that side of Cedarhurst Ave are not operational right now, including Central Perk, Suit Lady and others. Call ahead before heading to a store in that area today to make sure they are open.

More updates to follow.

—
8:50 AM – There is an active large fire coming from a building on Cedarhurst Ave, avoid the area!

Poland’s Embassy in Washington is demanding that Tucker Carlson publicly withdraw comments about Nazi Germany’s 1939 invasion of Poland, accusing the American commentator of distorting the historical record and minimizing the significance of Hitler’s aggression.

In a sharply worded letter dated October 5, Bogdan Klich, Poland’s chargé d’affaires, said he was “outraged” by Carlson’s recent discussion with British politician Jacob Rees-Mogg. Carlson questioned Britain’s decision to enter World War II and argued that Hitler had legitimate reasons for invading Poland, pointing to German territorial claims.

The Polish diplomat wrote:

“As an American journalist who enjoys the democratic right to the freedom of speech, you have now become an apologist for Adolf Hitler.”

Klich accused Carlson of relying on Nazi-era claims while ignoring the broader circumstances surrounding Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939.

The letter continued:

“In doing so, you resort to lies, completely falsifying the documented historical record.”

Klich also rejected Carlson’s suggestion that Britain’s entry into the war was unnecessary, arguing that Nazi Germany’s aggression extended far beyond its territorial claims and was part of a broader campaign of conquest.

The Polish Embassy said Carlson’s comments were particularly offensive given the enormous number of victims of Nazi Germany, including millions of Polish civilians and Jews, as well as American servicemen who fought against the Third Reich.

Klich demanded that Carlson:

“immediately and publicly retract and apologize for these deceitful and disgraceful statements.”

He concluded with a warning about the consequences of distorting history:

“History must not be distorted. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Carlson has not publicly responded to the Polish Embassy’s demand as of Monday evening.

Former hostage Avinatan Or has revealed that he spent approximately six months secretly preparing an escape attempt while being held by Hamas in Gaza following his abduction on October 7, 2023.

In an interview with Israel’s Uvda, Or described being held in an underground cell in near-total darkness. While searching his surroundings, he noticed air coming through a section of what appeared to be a sandbag wall.

“That doesn’t happen in a tunnel,” Or recalled thinking.

He began secretly digging through the wall, using whatever materials were available to him. For months, he worked while using a garbage bag to shield himself from a security camera. He also used a roughly 60-meter extension cable as a makeshift digging tool.

Or quietly prepared for the possibility that he might actually escape. He packed clothes into a bag, marked another sack with the word “Hostage,” and even wrote a will and letters to his parents in case he was killed during the attempt.

Eventually, Or managed to break through the barrier, but Hamas guards discovered him before he could get away and recaptured him.

He said his treatment became even more brutal afterward, describing beatings, torture and severe food deprivation.

Or was eventually released roughly a year after being taken hostage.

In another striking moment during his captivity, Or said a Hamas terrorist told him to say goodbye to his family and friends and leave Israel for Europe, warning that Hamas would carry out another October 7-style attack against Israelis as long as Jews remained in the country.

Or said he refused.

“I’m not leaving.”

He then asked the terrorist whether he planned to leave Gaza for Egypt once the war ended. When the terrorist replied that he would remain because Gaza was his home, Or responded:

“Excellent, this is my home, too.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel has killed approximately two-thirds of the terrorists who entered Israel during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, with thousands of others still being pursued.

According to figures presented by Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, roughly 6,000 terrorists crossed into Israel during the attack. Katz said about 4,000 have since been killed, leaving an estimated 2,000 still alive.

Previous Israeli assessments had placed the number of infiltrators closer to 5,600. Some were killed during the initial assault, while others were captured by Israeli forces. Thousands more returned to Gaza following the massacre, with many subsequently killed during the war.

The October 7 attack left approximately 1,200 people dead and 251 people were taken hostage.

Since the attack, the IDF and Shin Bet have maintained a dedicated effort to locate those directly involved. The operation has relied heavily on intelligence gathered from photographs and videos from October 7, including material recovered from the attackers themselves, as well as facial-recognition technology and other intelligence tools.

Israeli officials say the effort targets terrorists at all levels, from senior Hamas commanders who planned the assault to individuals who participated in the killings, kidnappings and hostage-taking.

Katz said the campaign will continue until those responsible are located.

He said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the security establishment to pursue those involved “without limitation and under any circumstances,” from senior figures to lower-level participants.

The campaign has continued even amid the current ceasefire, with Israel saying some strikes have targeted individuals it considers ongoing threats to Israeli forces. The IDF said 17 people directly involved in the October 7 attack, including perpetrators, kidnappers and hostage guards, were eliminated during September alone.

Early this morning, I was informed of a deeply disturbing incident involving several young Orthodox girls who were allegedly subjected to verbal sexual harassment and inappropriate physical touching by an attendant working at the Bolla Market/Exxon station in Cedarhurst.

Law enforcement responded. The individual was arrested. I am grateful to our local police leadership and the officers who took this matter seriously and acted.

I subsequently learned that the individual had returned to work. I spoke directly with the owner of Bolla Market, who was unaware of what had occurred and assured me that the employee would be terminated.

This incident raises issues that go far beyond one employee or one business.

First, parents: we need to know where our children are, particularly late at night. A group of young girls should not be left vulnerable at midnight. That does not excuse, diminish, or shift responsibility for what was allegedly done to them. The responsibility for misconduct belongs entirely to the person who commits it. Protecting our children also requires vigilance from all of us.

Second, I want to say something that may make some people uncomfortable.

I WANT TO SEE STRENGTH FROM JEWISH MEN.

Time and again, when something happens, I receive calls from mothers, business owners and members of our community who are frightened. Too often, I ask, “Did you call the police?” and the answer is no.

Why?

“We don’t want repercussions.”

“We’re afraid.”

“We don’t want them knowing where we live.”

And even after the police are called, I sometimes hear: “I don’t want to pursue it.”

My response is always the same:

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DO IT TO THE NEXT PERSON?

I raised seven children. I understand the instinct to protect your family and avoid trouble. Silence does not protect the next child, the next woman, the next business owner or the next family.

If someone assaults you, threatens you, harasses your child, vandalizes your business or commits a crime against you, call the police. Cooperate with law enforcement. Follow through.

We cannot demand that our police protect us and then refuse to stand with them when they make an arrest.

Our tradition does not teach weakness. It teaches courage.

When Joshua was called upon to lead the Jewish people, the charge repeated to him was “Chazak ve’ematz” — “Be strong and courageous.”

Those words matter today.

Menachem Begin understood that lesson in modern times as well: Jews cannot resign themselves to being perpetual victims waiting for someone else to defend them.

We should never look for confrontation. We should never take the law into our own hands. Neither should we confuse fear with virtue.

Call the police. Tell the truth. Cooperate. Prosecute when appropriate. Stand up for your children, your neighbors and your community.

Our community is blessed with dedicated law enforcement officers who are willing to do their jobs. We need to have the courage to do ours.

Be strong. Be courageous. Stop accepting victimhood.

Chazak ve’ematz.

From New York State Assemblyman Ari Brown

Rav Daniel Glatstein

Investigators are uncovering additional details about the alleged plot to seize control of a Flydubai flight bound for Israel, including claims that the Omani co-pilot had been preparing for the attack for months.

According to reports, the suspect had flown the Dubai–Tel Aviv route several times and allegedly used previous trips to study the route and familiarize himself with Ben Gurion Airport. Investigators believe he may have considered carrying out the attack as early as July, but reportedly abandoned that attempt after learning that someone he knew was part of the crew.

The reported plan was to kill the captain while keeping the flight appearing normal, then wait until the aircraft was cleared to land at Ben Gurion before deliberately crashing into a target. Another report claims a high-rise building in Tel Aviv may have been the intended target.

Israeli authorities were reportedly unaware that the suspect’s former employer, Oman Air, had previously prevented him from flying amid concerns about his radicalization.

🇮🇱🇺🇸 The more we learn about the FlyDubai attack, the harder one question becomes to answer:

How was this man ever allowed back into a cockpit?

JD Vance went straight at it today.

“We KNEW that guy was a problem. Not the U.S., but historically, that person should NOT have been flying an airline.”

And he’s RIGHT about the underlying failure.

Oman had already grounded Hamam al-Hammami over concerns about extremist views.

He later left Oman Air, was hired by FlyDubai and somehow ended up flying an aircraft carrying 182 people to Israel.

Then he attacked the captain with the cockpit axe and allegedly tried to bring the plane down.

I’m less interested in which country gets blamed for this than in how many separate security systems had to fail for it to happen.

Someone knew enough to take him out of a cockpit once.

Nobody made sure he stayed out of one.

Writer: Oliver
https://t.co/l6YxHe982Z

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 5, 2026

Passengers also reportedly became suspicious that other crew members could potentially be involved and closely monitored them for the remainder of the flight. Investigators have so far found no evidence indicating that additional crew members were part of the plot.

Authorities reportedly believe the co-pilot had adopted Al-Qaeda’s ideology. However, the current assessment is that he appears to have planned and carried out the attempted attack independently.

In another disturbing development, a pro-Al-Qaeda publication reportedly praised the attempted attack and called for similar attacks against Americans and Israelis traveling by air.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue examining the suspect’s background, planning and possible connections.

More than 25 New York City Jewish community organizations are calling on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration to overhaul its newly released strategy for combating antisemitism, arguing that the plan fails to address the forms of anti-Jewish hostility they say Jewish New Yorkers are experiencing today.

The coalition, made up of school groups, grassroots organizations, community leaders and neighborhood nonprofits, issued a detailed letter on October 2 criticizing the mayor’s 33-page antisemitism strategy.

The groups said the plan “falls dangerously short,” arguing that it focuses heavily on threats from far-right extremism while failing to address anti-Jewish harassment and violence that they say is increasingly occurring under the banner of anti-Israel or anti-Zionist activism.

In the letter, the coalition wrote:

“Our community generally isn’t encountering Charlottesville-style white supremacists in our neighborhoods. What we are encountering is anti-Zionist animus that too often veers into anti-Jewish harassment, exclusion, and even violence.”

The organizations said the plan references right-wing terrorist attacks from years ago and outside New York, but does not adequately address recent incidents affecting Jewish residents in the city.

The letter states:

“The Mayor’s antisemitism report reaches back eight years to highlight right-wing terrorist attacks in other cities, while failing to discuss, or even mention, a single anti-Jewish incident that occurred in New York in the past three years.”

The coalition also described examples of what it says Jewish New Yorkers are encountering, including anti-Jewish slurs and harassment connected to Israel-related events, as well as physical attacks and threats.

The groups said some of the measures included in the mayor’s plan have value, but argued that they do not address what they consider the central issue:

“They largely sidestep the biggest threat Jewish New Yorkers are dealing with today: anti-Jewish exclusion and violence cloaked as anti-Israel activism.”

The letter emphasized that the omission of these issues was, in the coalition’s view, not simply an oversight:

“That omission isn’t incidental. It’s the central failure of the report.”

Another major criticism is that the administration declined to adopt a formal definition of antisemitism. The coalition argued that this leaves schools, institutions and community organizations without sufficient guidance for determining when anti-Zionist political expression crosses the line into anti-Jewish discrimination.

The groups asked:

“When is conduct framed as anti-Zionist political expression simply anti-Jewish targeting or discrimination?”

They also challenged the administration’s approach more broadly:

“How can we solve a problem if we refuse to even acknowledge the cause?”

The coalition concluded that New York’s antisemitism strategy must reflect the experiences of Jewish residents themselves:

“A strategy to combat antisemitism in New York City must address antisemitism as Jewish New Yorkers are experiencing it today, and must not deny their agency to identify and define the hate they encounter.”

The groups are calling for a new or revised strategy that specifically addresses anti-Zionist hostility and establishes clearer guidelines for distinguishing political expression from antisemitic targeting.

The Mamdani administration has defended the plan. A spokesperson said the strategy is intended to combat antisemitism “in all its forms” and ensure Jewish New Yorkers can live safely and openly regardless of their political views.

Ramon Maislen, co-founder of BridgeBuilders Grassroots Coalition, separately reached out to the mayor’s antisemitism office and said the coalition would welcome a meeting to discuss its concerns and recommendations.

Gutten Vinter to all!

Suspected Flydubai Plot Prompts Review of Foreign Airline Security

New details have emerged about the attempted hijacking of a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv Flydubai flight, with reports claiming that the Omani co-pilot planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport’s terminal.

According to the reported interrogation account, the suspect attacked the Indian captain while the plane was flying over Jordan and intended to carry out the crash during the final moments of the landing approach, when interception would be difficult. The injured captain reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene.

Initial Israeli investigative reports suggest the suspect may have acted alone. He is also suspected of shutting down the aircraft’s engines during the incident. The allegations and the precise sequence of events remain subject to investigation.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed National Security Council chief Shmuel Ben Ezra to appoint an examiner to conduct a comprehensive review of security arrangements for foreign civilian flights arriving in Israel.

Netanyahu Invites Indian Pilot to Light Independence Day Torch

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, praising his actions during the Flydubai cockpit attack and thanking him for helping prevent a potential disaster.

Netanyahu told the captain that his actions made him a hero to Israel, India and people around the world. He also extended an invitation for Machchhar and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to jointly light a torch during Israel’s Independence Day celebrations.

Netanyahu, Dubai’den İsrail’e giden bir uçaktaki olayda Yaniv Hayon ile Ben Gurion Havalimanı’nda yaptığı görüşmede, "Sen bir kahramansın. Dünya çapında bir ödülü hak ediyorsun." dedi
https://t.co/srsJLFZm1G

— קול ישראל / İsrail’den Haberler (@kolisraelmedia) September 30, 2026

During their conversation, Netanyahu asked the pilot to describe how the incident began and what unfolded inside the cockpit as the crew struggled to regain control of the aircraft.

The invitation follows widespread praise for the Indian captain and the passengers who reportedly intervened during the emergency.

IDF Eliminates Hamas Operative Accused of Using Humanitarian Organization to Fund Terror

The IDF announced that it killed Saqr Nabil Musa Qaisi in a strike in Khan Younis earlier today, identifying him as a Hamas Nukhba operative who infiltrated Israel during the October 7 massacre.

According to the military, Qaisi also headed the Turkish organization Deniz Feneri, which presents itself as a humanitarian aid group. The IDF alleges that the organization maintained connections with senior Hamas figures and was used to employ operatives, provide financial support to Hamas terrorists and help advance the group’s activities under the cover of humanitarian work.

The military said Qaisi had continued advancing attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians during the war and was involved in efforts to rebuild Hamas’s capabilities in violation of the ceasefire.

The IDF said the operation was intended to eliminate the threat he posed and reiterated that it would continue targeting financial networks supporting Hamas’s military infrastructure.

The allegations regarding Qaisi and the organization’s activities were attributed to the IDF.

Trump Praises Israeli Passenger Yaniv Hayoun as a Hero

President Donald Trump praised Israeli plumber Yaniv Hayoun for his role in helping passengers and crew regain control of the Flydubai flight following the alleged cockpit attack.

Speaking in a video shared on Truth Social, Trump credited Hayoun with stepping in during the emergency and joked about his ability to learn under pressure.

“He did an amazing job. He got in there and he learned how to fly by watching air disasters on television,” Trump said.

Trump continued with a personal expression of admiration:

“And he’s my kind of guy. He can be my plumber. He can be whatever he wants to be. What a job he did. He’s a hero.”

WATCH: President Trump has recorded a video for Yaniv Hayoun who is a huge fan of President Trump.

Yaniv saved 180 lives when he stopped an Islamic terrorist pilot aboard a @flydubai flight from the UAE to Israel, including the lives of 4 US citizens.

He is a hero. America is grateful for his act of bravery. https://t.co/fkWorM7ODP

— Heather Johnston (@HeatherJ_Israel) October 3, 2026

Hayoun was among those credited with helping restrain the alleged attacker aboard Flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the cockpit confrontation occurred.

IDF Targets Senior Hamas Leader Ali al-Amoudi in Gaza Strike

Israeli forces reportedly targeted Ali al-Amoudi, considered a leading Hamas figure in Gaza and a potential successor to Yahya Sinwar, in an overnight strike on an apartment in the Strip.

An Israeli official reportedly said al-Amoudi was inside the building and had little chance of survival, although his death was not confirmed in the initial reports. Palestinian sources reported five fatalities, including four women, two of whom were identified as Christian residents of Gaza.

Al-Amoudi reportedly plays a central role in Hamas’s governing structure in Gaza through its Government Emergency Committee. He previously oversaw the group’s media and propaganda operations and was released from Israeli prison in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.

Reports have also linked him closely to Sinwar and the planning of the October 7 attacks.

The strike comes amid an intensified Israeli campaign against Hamas’s remaining senior leadership. The IDF and Shin Bet said 70 operatives were killed during September, including three brigade commanders, two battalion commanders and nine company commanders.

Among those reportedly killed was Izz al-Din Bik, Hamas’s northern Gaza brigade commander. The IDF alleged that he personally oversaw the captivity of more than a dozen Israeli hostages, some of whom died while being held.

Trump Announces $90 Medicare Payments for Millions of Seniors

President Donald Trump announced that more than 20 million eligible seniors will receive a one-time payment of $90 intended to help cover Medicare Part B premiums.

According to the White House, payments will be distributed by direct deposit or check through the Medicare Improvement Fund. Certain beneficiaries, including those whose premiums are already covered by Medicaid and those paying income-related premium surcharges, are excluded.

Trump described the fund as a wasteful government account that his administration is now using to help reduce healthcare expenses. He also credited his administration’s prescription drug pricing agreements with helping lower costs.

“I pledged to protect and preserve Medicare and Social Security,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that his administration was delivering on that promise.

The announcement follows a separate administration proposal to issue $500 payments to approximately 950,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees over alleged excessive fees that contributed to higher insurance costs. Trump said the Medicare payments are separate from those proposed refunds.

Trump also reiterated his proposal for a $5,000 payment, which he has called a “Trump Dividend,” saying it would be distributed to American citizens if Republicans win the midterm elections. The proposal is separate from the announced Medicare payments, and its implementation would depend on the details and any required legislative action.

Besuros Tovos!

On September 28 the StopAntisemitism group published screenshots identifying Meera Mangaroo, a science teacher at MS 323 Bronx Writing Academy, and a TikTok reply from an account it attributed to her: “Yeah we don’t support Jews here.” The comment came after another user noted that Jewish-owned businesses are minority-owned, in a thread about Häagen-Dazs, the ice-cream company founded in the Bronx by Polish-Jewish immigrants Reuben and Rose Mattus. A photo circulated with the post shows a woman in a classroom wearing an “NYC Teacher” shirt. StopAntisemitism asked the obvious question: would Jewish students, families, or colleagues feel safe around an educator who publicly says she does not support Jews?

United Jewish Teachers president Moshe Spern amplified the material and drew the line the comment itself already drew. “Not Israel. Not Netanyahu. Jews,” he wrote. Hours later he posted on X a second clip, where he attributed to the same teacher, filmed in 2023, roughly two months after the October 7 massacre. In it she reacts to a U.S. veto of a U.N. ceasefire resolution, calls Gaza a genocide, groups it with Congo and Armenia, blames “colonizers,” and says she is packing up to leave the country. Spern separated the two statements on purpose: the video is her Israel-and-Palestine content; the TikTok reply was not about Israel. It was “we don’t support Jews here.” Two statements. One classroom and it’s Jew hatred.

Spern told 5 Towns Central that “Educators cannot inside or outside the school building express racist and antisemitic viewpoints. What she wrote on TikTok was offensive and her 2023 video of libeling Israel just 2 months after October 7th massacre shows that this woman is dangerous to Jewish students. There must be an investigation.”

Jewish students in District 9 deserve protection. MS 323 is a grades 6–8 school at 270 East 167th Street; its principal is Lauren Hasson. As of October 1, neither New York City Public Schools nor the teacher has publicly answered.

End Jew Hatred and IMPACT plan to protest at the chancellor’s office on Friday, October 2. The demand is narrow and overdue: investigate, remove her from students, and say the word antisemitism. A public-school teacher does not get to declare, in writing, that Jews are unsupported “here,” then return to a classroom as if the sentence were a policy disagreement. It was a statement of hostility toward a people. The city either treats it that way, or it admits the rule does not apply when the target is Jewish.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the actions of passengers, crew members and pilots aboard the Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv may have prevented a catastrophic disaster after an apparent cockpit attack sent the aircraft into a steep descent.

Netanyahu said an Indian captain was stabbed by the co-pilot, while Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun rushed toward the cockpit after hearing the commotion. According to Netanyahu, Hayoun and another crew member managed to confront the attacker, while additional pilots aboard the aircraft eventually took control and stabilized the plane.

Indian pilot, others prevented another 9/11: Israel PM

Israel PM Netanyahu says the Indian pilot was "attacked" by co pilot with an "axe", explaining that Smit "managed to unlock the door".

vdo ctsy: CBS News pic.twitter.com/5m6tCyzIYJ

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) October 1, 2026

Netanyahu praised those who intervened, saying:

“I salute those heroes who showed exceptional resourcefulness and courage. They saved many lives.”

He also described the potential consequences in stark terms:

“It looks like we prevented a 9/11 disaster.”

The aircraft reportedly plunged more than 17,000 feet in roughly two minutes before making an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The full circumstances and motive behind the incident remain under investigation.

Netanyahu said Israeli authorities had received general information about potential attacks by Iran-backed groups but did not have a specific warning about this flight. He also said Israel is expected to participate in questioning the alleged attacker, with cooperation from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

President Donald Trump recounted a dramatic account of Wednesday’s Flydubai incident, saying an Israeli plumber who had never flown a plane before helped stabilize the aircraft after a violent struggle in the cockpit.

Trump said he was told that the passenger, identified in reports as Israeli plumber Yaniv Hayoun, entered the cockpit after the captain was attacked and helped take control of the aircraft’s controls as the plane was rapidly descending. Other passengers and crew members reportedly restrained the attacker.

Trump says an Israeli plumber who had never flown a plane saved the Flydubai plane earlier today by “lifting up a stick.” pic.twitter.com/zNDHbbEs6f

— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 30, 2026

Speaking at the White House, Trump described the passenger’s actions:

“He took the stick. Lifted it up. And leveled out the plane before it crashed.”

Trump also explained why he believed the plumber was able to help, saying:

“When you lift pipe all day, you’re strong.”

Trump emphasized that he had not independently confirmed all the details of the account, adding:

“This is the story that I heard. I don’t know if it’s true.”

Trump said he spoke “at length” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the incident. Netanyahu has credited the passengers and crew with helping prevent a potentially catastrophic crash.

Agudath Israel of America is encouraged by the launch of Mayor Mamdani’s Strategy to Combat Antisemitism, and Mayor Mamdani’s statement, released yesterday. The Agudah applauds this acknowledgement of rising antisemitism, the significant work inherent in the plan’s compilation, and its inclusion of several positive features – all critical elements for addressing an epidemic of hate in the city with the largest population of Jews outside of Israel.

That said, many Jews, and especially those represented by Agudah, will find this plan lacking.

Orthodox Jews will not be impressed by an allocation of $1 million to protect nonprofit organizations and houses of worship while making a $2.5 million capital investment in The Center for New Jewish Culture “to support the next generation of Jewish artists.” Nor will they feel seen by an acknowledgment of Leonard Bernstein, Katz’s Deli, and Kleinfeld Bridal, as singled out by the mayor’s listing of Jewish contributions to NYC.

Visibly identifiable Jews comprise the primary victims of antisemitism. We need real safety. We need security funding and uncompromising enforcement; unequivocal condemnation of antisemitism wherever and by whichever political group it is espoused; an end to the administration’s stoking of Jew-hatred through its obsession with criticizing Israel; and a complete cessation of pandering to antisemitic personas.

What are the chances everyone on the plane was saved from today’s hijacking?! Close to none.

Appreciate the miracles.

Thank you Hashem!

Rabbi Feiner speaking about the Neis in the Skies that unfolded this morning.

Aviation authorities and security officials are investigating a dramatic midair crisis after a commercial flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an unscheduled emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following a violent attempted hijacking between flight crew members.

According to reports, the incident occurred aboard a commercial airliner carrying approximately 174 passengers en route to Ben Gurion Airport. While at cruising altitude, an altercation erupted inside the flight deck when one pilot assaulted the other. The confrontation led to an immediate loss of control, causing the aircraft to suddenly plunge an estimated 14,000 feet before the situation was stabilized by individuals on board who intervened to assist.

Witnesses on the flight recounted chaotic scenes in the main cabin, describing widespread alarm as passengers heard sudden disturbances and saw signs of an active struggle near the forward entrance of the aircraft. The rapid descent and sudden loss of altitude triggered automated emergency distress signals, raising immediate concerns of a now confirmed hijacking attempt. In response to the alert, defense officials scrambled fighter aircraft to monitor the airspace and assess potential security threats.

The crew managed to regain operational control, B’chasdei Hashem, and diverted the aircraft toward the nearest suitable airfield, touching down safely at an airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Ground emergency personnel and medical teams met the aircraft upon arrival. Both pilots were transported to local medical facilities for treatment of their injuries, while all passengers disembarked safely without physical harm.

A passenger on the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight recounts: “We are currently in Saudi Arabia. One of the crew members attacked the pilot with a knife and disabled the aircraft’s systems. Yaniv (pictured?) and another passenger stormed the cockpit and subdued the attacker. Luckily, there were two more pilots on board. They were the ones who managed to land the plane.”

Well, yes. Overall, the probability that a plane full of Israelis will contain a trained assault team, two additional pilots, and, statistically, at least one cardiac surgeon, psychologist, lawyer, and diamond dealer is substantially higher than 50%.”

This would be the first time in over 20 years, someone tried to hijack a, Israel-bound plane. Miraculously, the attacker, an Omani pilot, was overpowered before he could complete his mission. ElAl suspended all UAE flights in March to what they felt was a serious security threat.

Lesson learned, whether or not this was an actual attempted hijacking, which it likely was, do not fly FlyDubai or any such flights. Stick to ElAl, Arkia, Israir, Delta, United and American Airlines.

Besuros Tovos.

🚨 BREAKING: A pilot aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked the other pilot and attempted to seize control of the aircraft in terror attack.

The plane, carrying 174 Israeli passengers, plunged 14,000 feet before the situation was brought under control and… pic.twitter.com/FAgyt7dOpK

— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) September 30, 2026

BREAKING: A flight bound for Israel makes an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a midair cockpit incident triggers fears of a possible hijacking and prompts Israel to scramble fighter jets.

One passenger tells Fox they believe the co-pilot stabbed the captain, who then fell… pic.twitter.com/RT08hQ9ePG

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 30, 2026

🇮🇱✈️ WATCH: The moment crew members and passengers forced their way into the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot during the FlyDubai incident.

– Israeli authorities are treating the incident as a terror attack, following security assessments and passenger testimonies. pic.twitter.com/S9huyFaggU

— Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) September 30, 2026

Passenger testimony from the Flydubai flight: pic.twitter.com/1bcQR89HB5

— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) September 30, 2026

Footage shows the landing of the "FlyDubai" flight in Saudi Arabia.

The passengers are singing in Hebrew "Avinu Malkeinu" ("Our Father, Our King"). pic.twitter.com/v3OJAZldWq

— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) September 30, 2026

Great to be in Crown Heights to celebrate Sukkot with the community.

Thank you to everyone who welcomed me so warmly. Chag Sameach! pic.twitter.com/prdeBVjwbi

— Bruce Blakeman (@NassauExec) September 29, 2026

Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov, a prominent figure in Queens’ Bukharian Jewish community, at the Kehilat Food Pantry in Kew Gardens Hills, where they distributed free kosher food to New Yorkers ahead of Sukkos. The pantry serves thousands of individuals and families throughout the community.

The visit comes as Mamdani has faced criticism from some Jewish New Yorkers over his positions on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His administration has also recently announced a new citywide initiative focused on combating antisemitism.

While the food distribution provided assistance to families ahead of Yom Tov, critics continue to call on the mayor to take a stronger stance against antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate.

Moed Tov! Суккот муборак! Today I joined Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov in Kew Gardens to distribute free food to New Yorkers in honor of Sukkot.

Thank you to Rabbi Nisanov for the reminder that community and service deepen our most joyful holidays. pic.twitter.com/4tlQD7e16v

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) September 29, 2026

A massive tunnel-boring operation for the new Gateway rail tunnels beneath the Hudson River is officially getting underway, marking the first construction of a new rail tunnel under the river in more than a century.

Officials gathered Monday in North Bergen, New Jersey, to launch the first of two giant tunnel-boring machines that will carve out the initial section of the new rail connection between New Jersey and Manhattan.

The $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project is designed to increase capacity and improve reliability along the heavily traveled rail corridor into Penn Station. The current North River Tunnel, which dates back to 1910 and was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy, carries nearly 200,000 passengers each day.

The enormous machines feature cutterheads nearly 29 feet in diameter and trailing equipment stretching about 500 feet. They will first travel roughly 5,100 feet through the hard rock of the New Jersey Palisades, advancing approximately 30 feet per day. Once that section is completed, the machines will be replaced with equipment specifically designed to tunnel beneath the Hudson River.

Final testing is expected to wrap up shortly, with the first machine beginning excavation in the coming days. A second machine will follow soon after. The new tunnels are currently expected to open in 2035, after which the existing tunnels can undergo major rehabilitation.

The project is being funded by federal, New York and New Jersey contributions and has faced multiple funding disputes and legal battles. Construction has since resumed, with the Gateway Development Commission continuing work on the project.

Following the nor’easter that impacted the area from September 25–28, the Village of Lawrence is thanking residents for their cooperation, caution, and preparedness, as well as the many individuals and agencies who worked together to prepare and protect the community.

The storm brought approximately 3.5 inches of rainfall, sustained winds approaching 35 mph and gusts of up to 50 mph, along with elevated tides. In advance of the storm, the Village proactively monitored conditions, cleared catch basins, tested emergency communications, and coordinated with local, county and emergency-service partners.

“I want to thank the residents of Lawrence for their cooperation, caution, and attention to the information provided by the Village,” said Mayor Samuel (Shlomo) Nahmias. “I am equally grateful to everyone who worked tirelessly to prepare and protect our community.”

The Mayor expressed his appreciation to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti, Village Administrator Gerry Castro, OEM Liaison Dr. Marc Sicklick, Village DPW, the Nassau County Police Department, the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department, Hatzalah, and all emergency-management personnel.

The Village extends special thanks to HAFTR for making shelter arrangements available if needed, as well as to PSEG Long Island for its preparedness and coordination throughout the storm.

Village officials emphasized that while earlier predictions varied, and surrounding areas faced a greater impact, the storm was handled with a measured approach based on the information and forecasts available at the time.

“The storm was what we prepared for,” said Administrator Gerry Castro. “We did not want to hype the situation, but we also did not want to underplay it. We prepared based on the information available and worked closely with our partners.”

The Village will continue to provide timely and accurate information to the best of its ability, relying on official weather and emergency-management information to keep residents informed.

The Village of Lawrence thanks all of the residents, first responders, municipal employees, and community partners who helped keep Lawrence safe throughout the storm.

By: Rabbi Shai Tahan

Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch wrote:

“In my humble opinion, according to what the Yereim (no. 427) wrote, that one fulfills the mitzvah of the festival through anything that brings him joy and satisfaction, if so, since he enjoys going on an outing, he fulfills through this the mitzvah of rejoicing on Yom Tov. Therefore, it is permissible to go on an outing during the festival and be exempt from the sukkah, when he cannot postpone the outing until before or after the festival, but rather it is necessary for him specifically to go on an outing during the festival in order to fulfill his mitzvah of rejoicing on the festival. And certainly this applies when, as is common, his wife and young children strongly desire to go on an outing with him, in which case it is a mitzvah for him to go out with them, as he thereby also fulfills his obligation to gladden his wife and household, which is a fundamental obligation of the joy of Yom Tov… Furthermore, it can be suggested that I saw it cited that there was someone who made a practice never to leave the sukkah, and the Chazon Ish questioned this practice, since this is not ‘as you dwell,’ for it is comparable to a prison.”

Nevertheless, one should be careful not to spend the majority of his time outside the sukkah, as doing so diminishes the character of the festival and turns these important days into ordinary weekdays.

A traveler can make a sukkah from his car and eat there as needed.

There are several ways to transform a car into a sukkah, provided that certain conditions are met. The following are the possibilities:

1. If there are two cars, they can be parked close to one another, with the sides of the cars serving as two walls. Since a kosher sukkah requires three walls, the door of one of the cars can be opened to serve as the third wall, after which schach can be placed on top.

However, it is important to know that a wall beneath which there is a gap of three tefachim (24 cm / approximately 9.5 inches) is invalid. Since there is generally a gap of three tefachim or more beneath a car, one should place something there to close the gap, or park the car next to a raised curb so that the gap is less than three tefachim.

Another point that must be considered is the height of the space beneath the schach. In a sukkah constructed as described above, the roof will generally be low, so one must ensure that the schach does not descend below ten tefachim, since the sukkah would then be invalid.

1. When there is only one car, it can be parked next to a fence or wall. The fence and the car can then serve as two walls, and by opening the car door, a third wall is created. Here too, one must ensure that there is no gap of three tefachim beneath the door.
2. In a car that has both a front door and a rear door, both doors can be opened, thereby creating three walls.
3. In a car with a sunroof that opens, one can place schach over the opening after opening the sunroof, and then sit beneath it and eat. One must ensure that the opening is at least seven tefachim (56 cm / approximately 22 inches) in both length and width. There must also be at least ten tefachim of open space beneath the sunroof, since the minimum height of a sukkah is ten tefachim.

Although the walls of the car may be some distance away from the place of the schach, this can nevertheless be permitted based on the halachah of dofen akumah, which is a halachah leMoshe miSinai. The principle of dofen akumah allows us to consider a section of an invalid roof extending from the wall toward the schach as part of the wall, up to a distance of four amot, on all four sides.

Kedusha

• We’re required to treat chol hamoed differently than a normal weekday.
• The food and drink should be better than during a regular weekday.
• Clothing should be nicer than a regular weekday.
• Many have the minhag to wear Shabbos clothes.
• Although it’s not a requirement to eat bread, it’s a mitzva to eat bread in the evening and during the day.
• It’s preferable to drink some wine each day of chol hamoed.
• Tables should be covered with nice tablecloths.
• If yaleh viyavo was forgotten in Birchas Hamazon, don’t repeat.
• If Yaleh Viyavo was forgotten during Shemona Esrei then repeat, even at Maariv.
• Chol Hamoed food expenses don’t come out of our yearly allotment of money from Hashem.
• We add sukkos/Pesach into Al Hamichya.
• We say the Horachman for sukkos in Birchas Hamazon.
• We say Migdol at the end of Birchas Hamazon.

Melacha

• All melacha is assur on chol hamoed just like Shabbos and Yom Tov.

• It’s also assur to give the melacha over to a non Jew.

• There are five situations where melacha is allowed:
  1 – for eating (even if the work is on the level of an expert it’s still allowed).2 – non eating but it’s for a Chol Hamoed/Yom tov or mitzvah (however, work on the level of an expert is not allowed).

  3 – in cases of loss (even expert work, as long as the work wasn’t set aside to be done on Chol Hamoed):

• If it’s only a small loss then it should not be done by an expert.

• If the work doesn’t require exertion then it can be done by an expert even for a minor loss.

• Work that requires a lot of energy is not allowed even for a loss. A shaila should be asked.

• Work can’t be scheduled specifically for chol hamoed. If it was then it can be done.

• If there’s a doubt if it’s going to be a loss then it’s also allowed.

• Indirect loss is also allowed.

• Work is allowed for someone else’s loss and payment can be received for that work.

• Losing out on a profit is not considered a loss.
  4 – for the public (expert work can only be done for Chol Hamoed/Yom tov. Non expert work can even be done for after Yom tov).5 – one who has no money (even an expert and even if it’s not for Yom tov/Chol hamoed).

Gezeiros

• • There are three melachos that aren’t allowed under most circumstances because the Rabanan want us to go into Yom tov looking our best and if we’d allow it on Chol Hamoed then perhaps people will push off doing it before Yom Tov because they’ll have more time on Chol Hamoed:

    1- haircuts and shaving

  • children are allowed to have their hair cut.

  • Women can remove body hair and hair on the head for tznius reasons.

  • In very difficult circumstances a man who shaves often might be able to shave. Ask a shaila.

  • Women’s body hair removal is allowed.

    2 – laundry

  • even laundry for Yom tov is not allowed.

  • Cleaning stains that happened on Yom tov is allowed if that garment is necessary for Yom tov or if it’s going to get ruined or require a lot of money to fix.

  • If you only have one garment then it can be washed.

  • This applies to women’s robes etc. tablecloths too.

  • Children’s clothes that get constantly soiled are allowed to be washed.

😲 Uber driver seen pushing his car through flooded roadways in Far Rockaway after getting stuck over the weekend.

5TC received numerous reports of completely destroyed Sukkahs over Sukkos, flooded roads (Rockaway Turnpike, Rock Hall Road, & usual suspects), Toppled trees & much more.

Thankfully, in between intense winds and non stop-rains, some of us miraculously were able to eat 3/4 meals in the Sukkah!

Wishing everyone a Gut Moed!

Dear Residents,

As we head into the weekend, we want to make you aware of a nor’easter that is expected to impact our area. Current forecasts indicate a moderate to moderately high storm that could bring to our area up to approximately 3.5 inches of rain, with peak sustained winds around 35 mph and gusts potentially reaching 50 mph.

While these rainfall amounts and wind speeds are not, by themselves, particularly unusual for our area, the timing of this storm coincides with higher astronomical tides associated with the full moon. The combination of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and elevated tides can compound the storm’s effects, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas. A map of these areas has been provided below for reference noting the darker blue area is the flood zone. The Village has preemptively called many residents within the areas that experience flooding due to their naturally lower elevation.

Residents should be especially mindful of the upcoming high-tide cycles. High tides are currently scheduled for approximately 8:15 p.m. tonight, 8:36 a.m. Saturday morning, 8:53 p.m. Saturday night, and 9:13 a.m. Sunday morning. The potential for flooding may be greatest around these periods, particularly if they coincide with heavier rainfall and strong winds.

The Village of Lawrence is closely monitoring the forecast and taking appropriate precautions in preparation for the storm. We encourage residents to remain attentive to weather updates, secure outdoor furniture and other loose items, and take appropriate precautions if your property is susceptible to flooding.

In anticipation of the storm, the Village has coordinated with Nassau County and Town of Hempstead. Village of Lawrence OEM is prepared, and communication equipment was tested and ready. Additionally, Lawrence has arranged with HAFTR School for shelter in the event anyone needs it. First Responders and Emergency Services have been notified and are aware of the situation.

Below, you will find important instructions for reporting outages, emergency contacts, and staying safe during the inclement weather.

Vehicles in flood prone areas should be moved to higher ground. Village of Lawrence public parking lots are available to temporarily park vehicles.

Electronic devices should be charged in advance of the storm. Phones should be left on and plugged in.

If you have medications that require refrigeration, make arrangements now with a neighbor who has a generator.

Report any outage or downed wire to PSEG at 800-490-0075 or visit www.psegliny.com for alternate contact methods. Assume any downed wire is live and do not go near it. If you are in a vehicle do not exit it until the hazard has been remediated.

You may also report and receive status updates by texting OUT to PSEGLI (773454), visiting the website at www.psegliny.com/outages or download the app from https://www.psegliny.com/app

The PSEG Outage Map can be found on the website at https://outagemap.psegliny.com/ and displays outages in the service territory, as well as estimated restoration times

In case of emergency dial 911

You may contact the Village via email at [email protected] or call 516-239-5149 to report issues such as trees or limbs that fall into the street, as long as power lines are not present.

Highway crews are proactively checking and cleaning catch basins and are on standby for the weekend.

Very Truly Yours,

Gerry Castro

Village Administrator

The Tri-State area is bracing for a powerful nor’easter expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding beginning Friday and continuing through the weekend.

The NYC area could see wind gusts of 50–60 mph, along with heavy rainfall, raising concerns for significant coastal flooding and beach erosion.

Timing is especially important tonight. As of now, rain is expected to begin around 8:00–9:00 PM.

We suggest starting the Seudah as soon as possible so there is enough time to have Kiddush, Lechem Mishneh, Leishev and be mekayeim the mitzvah before the rain arrives.

Imagine for a moment that your heart stops beating. There is no pulse, no breath, and suddenly you are no longer in control of what happens next. A woman in our community experienced exactly that when, while out at a birthday dinner, she suddenly collapsed and her heart completely stopped. The restaurant called an ambulance and, miraculously, while they were waiting for help, her heart started beating again, but when she arrived at the hospital, she flatlined and literally died. Her husband stood there terrified and helpless, with nothing he could do medically, so he began to daven with an intensity he had never felt before. He had said the words countless times, but never like this, never with his wife’s life hanging in the balance, as he begged Hashem to be מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים, to bring the dead back to life. Baruch Hashem, after what must have felt like an eternity, her heart began to beat again.

Today, she is alive and well, with a pacemaker and a completely different perspective on life, thinking often about how easily the story could have ended differently. It could have happened while she was driving, she could have been alone, or she could have been somewhere without immediate help, but instead Hashem gave her another chance. People who go through something like that often divide their lives into two periods: everything that came before the experience and everything that came after, because they don’t, they can’t, simply recover from something like that. In some sense they are reborn. Perhaps that is exactly how we are supposed to feel on Sukkos.

The Torah tells us, וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים וַעֲנַף עֵץ עָבֹת וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם לִפְנֵי ה’ אֱלֹקיכֶם שִׁבְעַת יָמִים. We don’t simply pick up a lulav and esrog, we shake them and move them in every direction. The Rambam describes bringing the arba minim forward and back, up and down, again and again, and there is a noticeable energy and movement to this mitzvah that begs the question of what exactly we are expressing and why we express it specifically now.

The Rosh, Avudraham, and Beis Yosef point us to a Midrash Tanchuma that explains that on Rosh Hashanah we stand in judgment and don’t yet know the outcome, but when Sukkos arrives, we emerge holding our lulavim like someone walking out of a courtroom having received a favorable verdict. According to this image, the lulav is a symbol of victory, and there is certainly something powerful and compelling about that idea, particularly after the intensity of the Yamim Noraim. And yet, there is also something about it that has always bothered me. Is that really how we should emerge from our days of literal awe, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, triumphantly celebrating that we won and publicly displaying the favorable judgment we received?

There is another Midrash that offers a very different image, one that I find incredibly moving. Tehillim says, וְעַם נִבְרָא יְהַלֶּל יָהּ, “A nation that has been created will praise Hashem,” and Vayikra Rabbah explains, אֵלּוּ דּוֹרוֹת הַלָּלוּ שֶׁהֵם נְטוּיִין לְמִיתָה, וְעַם נִבְרָא יְהַלֶּל יָהּ, שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָתִיד לִבְראוֹת אוֹתָן בְּרִיָּה חֲדָשָׁה, וּמֶה עָלֵינוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת, לִקַּח לוּלָב וְאֶתְרוֹג וּנְקַלֵּס לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. These are people who were destined for death and Hashem creates them anew, and what are they supposed to do after receiving this new life? They take a lulav and esrog and praise Hashem.

According to this Midrash, the lulav isn’t a victory flag at all, it is what you hold when you realize you have just been given your life back. Think about what we have just experienced on Yom Kippur, which in so many ways is a dress rehearsal for death. Men wear a kittel, the garment in which they will one day be buried. We say vidui just as a person does at the end of life. We don’t eat or drink, and we remove ourselves from physical pleasure and comfort. For one day, we try to transcend our bodies and live almost entirely as souls, not because Judaism is obsessed with dying, but precisely because it is obsessed with living, and sometimes we need to confront death in order to appreciate life.

Then Yom Kippur ends, and we eat again, drink again, build a sukkah, pick up the daled minim, sing, dance and celebrate because our heartbeat has come back. Sukkos is the celebration of another chance, another year, and another opportunity to get it right. The joy of Sukkos isn’t only that we were inscribed for life, it is the realization that life itself has been handed back to us.

There is even a remarkable Halachic expression of this idea. The Gemara in Berachos says that if you haven’t seen a friend for thirty days, under the appropriate circumstances you recite Shehechiyanu, but if you haven’t seen someone for twelve months, you recite בָּרוּךְ מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים, Blessed is the One Who revives the dead. At first glance, that sounds a little dramatic, because while it is certainly wonderful to see someone you haven’t seen in a year, why should that reunion invoke the resurrection of the dead?

The Maharsha gives an extraordinary explanation. If twelve months have passed, then since the last time you saw this person, he has gone through another Rosh Hashanah and another Yom Kippur, stood in judgment again and passed through another מי יחיה ומי ימות. When you see him now, you aren’t simply seeing an old friend whom you haven’t seen in a while, you are looking at someone who has been given life again, and that is why מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים is precisely the appropriate beracha. Perhaps that is how we are supposed to look at one another after Yom Kippur, and perhaps that is also how we should look at ourselves.

On October 7, IDF soldier Itai Sagi was fighting with his elite Maglan unit near the Gaza border when his unit came under attack, with gunfire coming from every direction and grenades exploding around them. Six of his friends were critically wounded almost immediately, and Itai understood that he had to keep fighting, if only to buy time for the others, until a grenade exploded near him and suddenly he was on the ground. He later described feeling as though his soul had left his body and he could see himself lying there, while for a few moments he experienced a strange sense of peace. Then he began seeing flashes of a future he had not yet lived, the home he hoped to build, his family, his niece’s face, and a whole life that might never happen, and something inside him began screaming that he had to breathe and fight his way back.

His friends managed to pull him to safety, he underwent lifesaving surgery, and he survived, but survival changed him because it wasn’t simply that he had escaped death. He understood that he had been given more life, and when you understand that your life has been given back to you, the obvious question becomes what you are going to do with it. This may be the real question of Sukkos.

The Torah calls the first day of Sukkos בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, “the first day,” and perhaps after the experience of Yom Kippur it really is the first day, the first day of the rest of our lives. Hashem tells us, וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם, take for yourselves, take hold of this year, take hold of the people you love, take hold of your relationship with Hashem, and take hold of the things you keep promising yourself you will get to one day. There are phone calls we need to make, relationships we need to repair, learning we need to begin, changes in our davening we have been postponing, and people we love who need to hear what they mean to us. We reflected on, and davened about, these things for ten meaningful days, and now we have been given life, and the challenge is not simply to remain alive but to truly live.

Then we go sit in a sukkah, a flimsy and temporary structure with a roof that reminds us how little in this world is actually permanent. Our homes aren’t permanent, our possessions aren’t permanent, our bodies aren’t permanent and we aren’t permanent, and right there, surrounded by fragility and impermanence, the Torah tells us to be happy. Perhaps it isn’t despite that fragility that we are happy, but because recognizing how fragile life is allows us to finally appreciate how precious it is.

We sometimes think that being “inscribed for life” means we successfully avoided death, but perhaps it means much more than that. We have been entrusted with life. Hashem has handed us another year and asked what we are going to do with it. There are relationships to repair, apologies to offer, grudges to release, Torah to learn, tefillos to say with more focus, children and grandchildren to enjoy, people who need our help, dreams we keep postponing, and ordinary moments we keep rushing through while waiting for something more important to happen. The truth is that these are the important things, and this life, this day and this breath are the gifts we so often fail to notice.

The woman whose heart stopped knows that, Itai knows that, and anyone who has stood at the boundary between life and death knows it in a way the rest of us can only imagine. Sukkos challenges us not to wait until we almost lose our lives to appreciate that we have them. We pick up the lulav and wave it with everything we have, not as a victory flag announcing that we won, but as an expression of overwhelming gratitude to the One Who has given us our lives back. Thank You for another heartbeat, another breath, another Yom Tov, another year, another opportunity to love the people around us, another chance to become who we are capable of becoming.

Shalom U’vracha and A Gutten Erev Shabbos v’Yom Tov! We sincerely hope that everyone is feeling and doing well in all respects, bi’ruchniyus u’vigashmiyus, still uplifted and energized by an inspiring and meaningful Yom Kippur.

As we approach the first night of Succos with a storm, unfortunately, in the forecast, we would like to share with you a few brief halachos and pertinent guidelines (and recommend that you print out to consult on Shabbos/Yom Tov if necessary).

(Kiddush Levana reminder: Anyone who has not yet recited Kiddush Levana, may still say it, lichatchila all Thursday night and bi’dieved, all of Friday night – if there is a visible moon.)

Once a Succah is built to kosher standards—meaning it can withstand normal wind conditions—any material may be used to reinforce it against unusually strong winds. For example, if the wooden beams holding down the schach are sufficient for average weather, you can use plastic zip-ties as an extra precaution.

I. Rain and the FIRST NIGHT of Succos (Friday night, Leil Shabbos v’Yom Tov):

1) If it is cloudy and there is rain in the forecast- but it has not yet started to rain:
A. Everyone should make their way home quickly after Maariv and recite Kiddush right away in the Succah (anytime after 7:28pm, tzeis ha’kochavim).
B. Conclude Kiddush with the brachos of “lei’sheiv b’succah” and “she’he’chiyanu;” wash ne’tilas ya’dayim; then make ho’motzi in the Succah, and eat at least a ki’beitzah (two ounces) of challah.

2) If it already raining when one returns home:
A. Men should wait at least one hour for the rain to stop (up to two hours if and when circumstances allow) before making Kiddush. (While women may certainly wait, they are not required to since they are not obligated in the mitzvah of sitting in a Succah.)
HOWEVER: If waiting even one hour will create stress/tension/anxiety– or some of the people are very hungry or very tired and find it truly difficult to wait– especially if young children and/or elderly are present, then one need not wait as long. Rather, try to wait a short while, if possible, and then continue with “B.”
B. If the rain has not stopped by that time: one should make Kiddush in the Succah– with the bracha of “she’he’chiyanu,” but without the bracha of “lei’sheiv b’succah.” Wash ne’tilas ya’dayim and make “ha’motzi” (while having in mind to continue eating inside), and eat at least a ki’zayis (one ounce, the size of an olive/half an egg) in the Succah. One can then finish the Shabbos/Yom Tov meal and bentsch inside the home- but should make sure to eat at least a ki’zayis of challah inside as well. (One who has a shlak should ideally close the shlak and continue eating in the Succah while it is raining.)
C. If the rain stops while eating inside (and raindrops are not still falling aplenty from the s’chach– where they would ruin the food): everyone should return to the Succah, recite the bracha of “lei’sheiv b’succah,” and eat slightly more than a ki’beitzah of challah. Finish the meal in the Succah and bentsch.
D. If the rain stops after one has finished his entire meal inside and bentsched, he must return to the Succah, wash ne’tilas ya’dayim again; recite “ha’motzi” and “lei’sheiv b’succah;” eat at least a ki’beitzah of challah, and bentsch once again.
E. If the rain first stops after one has gone into bed, he is not required to get up again to return to eat in the Succah.

II. Rain and the SECOND NIGHT of Succos:

1) If it is cloudy and there is rain in the forecast- but it has not yet started to rain:
A. Everyone should make their way home quickly after Maariv and recite Kiddush right away in the Succah (anytime after 7:26pm, tzeis ha’kochavim).
B. Conclude Kiddush with reciting “she’he’chiyanu” and then “lei’sheiv b’succah.” (Note the reverse order from the first night– in accordance with the prevalent minhag per the Mishna Brurah.)

2) If it already raining when one returns home:
A. One should ideally wait a short amount of time for the rain to stop. (If possible, one should try to wait an hour; if one wishes, however, to start his meal inside right away, he may do so– especially if young children/elderly are present.)
B. If the rain continues: Recite Kiddush in the house, adding “she’he’chiyanu” but omitting “lei’sheiv b’succah.” Wash and begin the meal inside the house. If the rain stops before completing the meal, one should enter the Succah, recite the bracha of “lei’sheiv b’succah,” eat at least a ki’beitzah of challah, and finish the meal in the Succah and bentsch.
C. If the rain does not stop during the meal being eaten inside, then at some point before bentsching: go out to the Succah, eat at least a ki’zayis of challah in the rain- without the bracha of “lei’sheiv b’succah“- and then bentsch inside the Succah. (After eating a shiur in the Succah, one may opt instead to then eat more challah inside the home and bentsch there.)
D. and E.– Same as above (I- D, E).

III. Rain on ALL THE REMAINING NIGHTS (and all daytime meals, even on the first two days):

1) One need not wait at all for the rain to stop; he may begin the meal inside the home right away.
2) Once one began eating inside, he need not go outside to the Succah to finish- even if the rain stops at some point in the middle of his meal.

Ye’hi ratzon that the Ribbono Shel Olam allows us the opportunity to eat ALL our meals inside the Succah!

May we all be zocheh to a Chag Sameach, a healthy and happy and most meaningful Yom Tov up ahead IY”H.

Best regards to all and warmest wishes for a truly great Yom Tov and Kol Tuv tamid mi’kol li’beinu,

Rabbi Eytan Feiner
Rabbi Motti Neuburger

In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a range of international and regional security challenges.

He began by criticizing delegates who left the hall during his arrival, labeling them moral cowards.

Netanyahu focused heavily on the existential threat he argues Iran poses to Israel and the global community, emphasizing his long-standing opposition to Iran’s nuclear program and military activities.

He described the October 7th attacks by Hamas as the darkest day in Israel’s history and framed the ongoing conflict as a multi-front war for national survival.

He also completely torched Mamdani for just about everything.

Throughout his address, the Prime Minister rejected allegations of genocide against Israel, asserting that the country takes extensive measures to protect civilian life and that the military campaign is focused on defeating terrorist organizations.

He also criticized international media and specific leaders for their stances on the war, accusing some of perpetuating anti-semitic falsehoods.

Furthermore, Netanyahu touched upon the role of countries like Qatar and Turkey in the regional conflict, alleging their involvement in supporting hostile entities.

He concluded by reaffirming the historical connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel and expressing his conviction that the nation will prevail against its enemies, citing historical resilience and the necessity of self-defense.

🚨 JUST IN: Netanyahu is GOING BALLISTIC on Ugandan Mayor Mamdani at the UN in NYC

Mamdani has FAILED to block Netayahu from NYC

"Mr. Mamdani, you tried to STOP ME from coming here. You tried to silence me. Well, you CAN'T silence me! You can't silence the truth!" *Applause*… pic.twitter.com/5eV9vvgC9D

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 24, 2026

"If there are any other moral cowards who haven't yet left this hall, please do so now."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opens his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York with a sharp rebuke as delegates walk out of the hall in protest of his speech. pic.twitter.com/Eq4ur5YYJi

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 24, 2026

NETANYAHU TO UN: ISRAEL FOUGHT A 7-FRONT WAR LIKE A LION; IRANIAN REGIME WILL FALL –– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly today in New York. Some delegates walked out as he reached the podium. Netanyahu told remaining walkouts to leave.… pic.twitter.com/lkZhhqEMm7

— Urgent Intel (@urgentintel) September 24, 2026

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration is changing how New York City handles 311 complaints about homeless encampments, directing the NYPD to refer such reports to the Department of Social Services and Department of Homeless Services rather than responding directly.

Under the new directive, NYPD officers who come across an encampment are instructed to report it through 311. DHS outreach teams will then assess the location and attempt to connect people staying there with shelter and other services.

The policy expands Mamdani’s existing approach, which gives outreach workers time to engage with people at encampments before any cleanup or removal takes place. Police can still participate in authorized encampment sweeps.

The NYPD will continue responding to 911 calls involving crimes, traffic issues and immediate public-safety concerns.

The change comes as homeless encampments have appeared in several locations around the city, including near the Intrepid Museum, beneath the FDR Drive and in Greenwich Village. A large encampment was also recently reported across from an NYU dorm.

• It’s preferable not to have goyim, women or children put up the schach.

• Women are not required to eat in the sukka.

• If schach stays on the sukka in a common wind then it can be tied down with whatever material necessary, even if it isn’t kosher for scach, in order to protect it from stronger than normal winds.

• It’s preferable not to bring the pots and pans in to the sukka. As long as they’re in the sukka the bracha of leishev basuka can’t be made. Serving dishes are fine.

• If it’s under a roof that’s attached to the sukkah then it’s allowed.

• All meals are required to be eaten in thesukka.

• Snacks don’t require a sukka. Snacks are defined as, fruits, vegetables, drinks and up until an eggs worth of cake etc.

• Meat, cheese, and fish that are being eaten as a meal should be eaten in the sukka unless it’s an extenuating circumstance.

• It’s praiseworthy not to eat anything outside of the sukka. Even water.

• Travelers for necessary reasons are exempt from eating and sleeping in the sukka.

• Travelers for pleasure should preferably eat and sleep in the sukka.

• The bracha of leishev basukka is made every time you eat a meal of bread or cake in the sukka.

• The bracha is only made when eating in the sukka not when doing other activities in the sukka.

• If you forgot to make the bracha, it can be made until you’re finished eating.

• If you’ve finished eating then eat some more in order to make the bracha.

• Ashkenazi women also make a Bracha when eating in the sukka.

• One is not even allowed to doze off outside of the sukka.

• There are heterim brought down to justify not sleeping in the sukka: too cold, dangerous, or if the wife doesn’t want.

• Many of these leniencies don’t apply during the day so therefore one would be required to sleep in the sukka. Unless there are other problems like noise etc.

• All activities should be done in the sukka.

• On the first night wait until nightfall to eat in the sukka.

• On the first night of sukkos, we must eat at least a kezayis (olives worth) of bread. It should preferably be eaten within 3-4minutes and preferably without talking.

• It’s preferable to eat a kibayah (eggs worth)of bread as above.

• The proper kavana to have when eating in the sukka is that’s it’s to remember going out of meztrayim and as a remembrance to the clouds that protected us when we left metzrayim.

• It’s preferable to eat some cake together with havdala so that the bracha of leishev basukka can be made.

   Rain
• On the first night, if it’s raining and it’s not letting up, make Kiddush and eat bread in the sukka without making the bracha of leishev basukah. After that, eating inside is fine.

• We’re required to wait up until 2 hours for the rain to stop unless there are guests, kids, etc.

• If it stops raining before you go to sleep then you’re required to go out to the sukka to eat bread again and to make a Bracha of leishev basukka. If the sukka is too wet to eat in then go to someone else’s sukka, even if you’re not comfortable there.

• On the second night, wait a little bit for the rain to stop. If it doesn’t stop, start the meal inside, after the meal is over go to the sukka and eat a kezayis worth of bread.

• If you went to sleep inside the house because of the rain and then it stopped you’re not required to go back to the sukka.

• It’s a mitzvah to have a covering over the sukka for when it rains, so that it can be removed when the rain stops and the sukka will be dry.

• On Shabbos, there has to be a tefach (9inches) covering the sukkah in order to enable covering it completely.

Sukka decorations
– It’s a mitzva to have strings to beautify the sukka.

– They’re muktza for the entire sukkos and can’t be moved.

– If they fall down they can be put back up.

– Those that are hanging from the schach should preferably not hang down lower than four tefachim from the schach.

– If you stipulate before Yom tov that the decorations are not muktza then they can be moved.

Noam Gil grew up in Kfar Saba in a secular home with virtually no exposure to Torah. Shabbos, tefillin, shul, and even Krias Shema were simply not part of his world.

But Noam had always wanted to make a difference.

A competitive tennis player who represented Israel at international championships, he was also known for organizing community initiatives.

One of his projects brought Jews and Arabs together, based on a simple belief: stereotypes disappear when people sit down, talk, and get to know one another.

Then a friend asked him a question that would change everything.

“You have no problem bringing Jews and Arabs together,” Tzvika said. “Why not bring religious and secular Jews together too?”

Noam laughed.

“I don’t know any chareidim. I’ve never really met one. I wouldn’t even know where to find them.”

The irony was striking. Noam had spent time bringing Jews and Arabs together, yet the chareidi community was more foreign to him than the Arab community.

Tzvika, who was involved with the Lev L’Achim Midrasha in Kfar Saba, knew exactly where to start.

He contacted Rabbi Kellerman and explained that Noam simply wanted to meet religious Jews and understand their world.

“Of course,” Rabbi Kellerman replied. “Bring him this Wednesday.”

No one could have imagined what would happen next.

Instead of leaving with plans for organizing dialogue between religious and secular Jews, he left with something entirely unexpected: a chavrusa.

One week became two. Two weeks became months.

Noam found himself drawn into Gemara, discovering a world he had never known existed.

His original project was put to the side. His encounter with Torah had become far more significant.

Eventually, Noam approached the rabbi learning with him.

“I want to learn halachah too,” he said. “If I’m studying Torah, I also want to know how to live it.”

And his journey accelerated.

Shabbos, once completely foreign to him, became a central part of his life.

Then came another milestone. Noam spent a substantial amount of his own money on a beautiful pair of mehudar tefillin.

Since then, he has put them on every day.

Even when he travels overseas to represent Israel at international tennis championships, his tefillin travel with him.

Noam thought he needed to build a bridge between religious and secular Jews.

But the real bridge was much simpler: a genuine exposure to Torah and its way of life.

No pressure. No arguments. No debates.

Just exposure.

(Shared by Lev L’achim)

As we prepare for Sukkos and purchase our daled minim, we are reminded of a powerful message about the honor of Hashem in the world: Kavod Shamayim is deeply connected to the unity of Klal Yisroel.

The Gemara in Menachos 27a teaches that of the four species of the lulav, two produce fruit and two do not produce fruit. Those that produce fruit need those that do not produce fruit, and those that do not produce fruit need those that produce fruit. A person does not fulfill his obligation with them until they are all bound together in one bundle.

So too, with Klal Yisroel: we are worthy of acceptance before Hashem only when we are all bound together as one. Rashi explains that this refers to the entire Jewish people coming together, the צדיקים ורשעים.

At a time when we are witnessing so much painful division within our own people, we have a special responsibility to strengthen the bonds between us through interactions of kiddush Hashem.

This is the message at the heart of the Living Kiddush Hashem Foundation’s latest film.

Through 3 powerful true stories the film challenges us to see Kiddush Hashem not as an abstract idea, but as a mission that plays out in every interaction and every setting.

May we be zocheh, through our efforts to increase Kavod Shamayim and strengthen the bonds of achdus among Klal Yisroel, to see the fulfillment of:
“וְהָיָה ה’ לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ.”

Watch the film now:

CLICK HERE

A priceless experience, at no cost.

Neria Leiter, son of Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, was seriously wounded in a terrorist car-ramming attack.

His brother, Yedidya Leiter hy”d fell in battle in Northern Gaza on November 10, 2023. That didn’t stop Neria from serving hundreds of days.

Please daven for his complete recovery:

Neria Dov ben Chanah

Besuros Tovos!

B”H, numerous followers saw our late night post about the moon!

According to Rav Tzvi Yaakov Stein, the last time to say it will be Motzai shabbos around 9:38 pm.

(We don’t generally say it on Friday night or Yom Tov, but if the last chance to say it is Y”T due to bad weather, we can say it even on Y”T).

A developing area of low pressure along the East Coast is expected to intensify into a Nor’easter by Friday and continue into the weekend, potentially affecting areas from the Mid-Atlantic through New England.

Meteorologists are calling it a high-impact event, with wind gusts up to 70 mph, 15-foot waves, heavy rain, and repeated coastal flooding along the Jersey shore, Chesapeake Bay, and up to Boston.

With Sukkos approaching, make sure your Sukkahs are securely tied down and ready for the weather. Let’s daven that we’re able to properly fulfill the mitzvah!

The storm arrives Friday through Sunday, coinciding with full-moon high tides that boost erosion and surf risks, while New York City braces for minor to moderate flooding around Jamaica Bay.

Residents are securing items and monitoring alerts as the storm’s track could shift heaviest rain toward eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Long Island.

An early-season Nor'Easter will rapidly intensify and bring major coastal flooding impacts to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Coasts through this weekend. Those in coastal New Enlgand can also expect strong wind gusts and heavy rainfall.https://t.co/o5cxJlONPR pic.twitter.com/8b77RHyV6y

— National Weather Service (@NWS) September 23, 2026

There is good confidence in a nor’easter passing close enough to NYS this weekend to bring impactful rain, wind, and coastal hazards.

🌧️ Rain could begin Friday, but is more likely from Saturday-Monday
🌬️ 30-60 mph winds possible in impacted areas
📱 Monitor your local forecast pic.twitter.com/RWqNPTqwDQ

— NYS Div. of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (@NYSDHSES) September 23, 2026

COASTAL THREAT ‼️: A nor’easter is developing along the Mid-Atlantic, and is expected to bring gusty winds, rain, coastal flooding and severe beach erosion. FOX Weather Senior Correspondent @RobertRayWx is live in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, with the latest on how residents… pic.twitter.com/J83rFjvsM3

— FOX Weather (@foxweather) September 23, 2026

The Southwest is bracing for a potentially life-threatening round of flash flooding, with more than two inches of rain per hour possible in New Mexico. @Ginger_Zee reports and has the track on a possible nor'easter hitting the East Coast. https://t.co/XZ85dgoQuP pic.twitter.com/IRqI2PrzQW

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

A group of Democratic senators is set to introduce legislation Wednesday that would impose U.S. sanctions on foreign companies, individuals and other entities involved in Israel’s proposed E1 settlement project in Judea and Samaria, according to a copy of the bill reviewed by Reuters.

The legislation is being led by Senators Chris Coons, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden and Ruben Gallego and has at least 10 Democratic co-sponsors. It would authorize the Treasury Department to target entities involved in constructing settlements or related infrastructure in the E1 area, including companies participating in tenders for the project. The measure would also apply to those who organize, finance or otherwise facilitate the relocation of Israeli civilians into E1 settlements.

The E1 plan received approval from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in August 2025. The proposed development area lies between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim, and opponents say construction there could affect territorial contiguity in a future Palestinian state. Israel disputes the characterization of its settlements as illegal under international law, while most of the international community considers them contrary to international law.

The legislation comes amid increased disagreement among congressional Democrats over Israeli policies in Judea and Samaria and the ongoing Gaza war. Some Democrats, along with several Republicans, have called for restrictions on U.S. military assistance to Israel, while Democratic lawmakers have also pressed the Israeli government over settler violence and arrests of Palestinians.

The House is currently out of session, meaning the legislation would not be expected to receive consideration there before the midterm elections even if it advances through the Senate.

The New York Yankees are reportedly on the verge of bringing private equity powerhouse Apollo Global Management into the franchise, in a deal that would eventually give the firm a 16% economic stake while leaving the Steinbrenner family firmly in control.

According to the New York Post, the agreement has been reached in principle and could be finalized as soon as this week, although the complicated ownership structure could push the closing date back.

Apollo is committing approximately $2.6 billion through a combination of cash, equity and debt financing, putting the Yankees’ implied valuation at more than $12 billion. The Steinbrenner family is expected to retain more than 60% ownership and would sell no more than 3% of its controlling interest.

Under the proposed arrangement, Apollo would initially acquire an 8% stake with cash, while receiving preferred shares representing another 8%. Those preferred shares could be converted into regular equity after four years. Part of Apollo’s cash investment would also be used to refinance debt held by the Yankees’ ownership group at a lower cost.

The transaction could push the Yankees past the Los Angeles Dodgers as Major League Baseball’s most valuable franchise, based on projections cited by people familiar with the investment. Apollo would become the team’s largest equity holder outside the Steinbrenner family.

Al Tylis, who leads Apollo’s sports investment operation, is also expected to join the 13-member board of Yankee Global Enterprises.

The additional capital could provide the Yankees with greater financial flexibility for roster spending, debt reduction and maintaining reserves in the event of a future MLB work stoppage.

Apollo’s investment will be made through Yankees Global Management, the holding company overseeing not only the Yankees but also the YES Network, Legends Hospitality and Italian soccer club AC Milan.

The transaction reportedly developed from two separate interests: Yankees limited partners looking to liquidate portions of their holdings for estate-planning purposes, and Apollo seeking a major anchor investment for its growing sports-focused fund. Apollo, led by Marc Rowan, has invested billions across its broader sports investment platform.

The deal would also require an exception to MLB’s current rules, which generally limit private equity firms to a maximum 15% stake in a team. According to the report, the league is expected to approve a waiver.

For Apollo, the Yankees investment would represent its largest sports transaction to date, adding to its holdings that include Spanish soccer club Atlético Madrid and professional pickleball.

Netanyahu, before departing for the UN:

“I am now setting off for New York to defend the State of Israel and IDF soldiers from the UN podium.

You hear the terrible lies being spread there like in other places around the world.

I will go and confront those lies. I will go and stand up for the truth, the truth of our soldiers and our country.

Yes, and there will also be surprises.”

יוצא לאו״ם כדי להילחם על האמת שלנו. צפו להפתעות 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/NQa5jIgEDm

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 23, 2026

The sin we commit after Yom Kippur pic.twitter.com/22P7dzg79G

— Rabbi YY Jacobson (@YYJacobson) September 18, 2026

DoorDash has agreed to pay $131.5 million to resolve a New York City investigation into allegations that thousands of delivery workers were underpaid, not paid, or received their money late. City officials said the agreement represents the largest worker settlement in New York City history, with more than $115 million going directly to approximately 264,000 affected workers.

The settlement also requires DoorDash to provide the city with detailed payment data every month for three years and implement additional safeguards designed to identify and prevent future pay violations. Workers will also be able to share their own trip and earnings information with the city as part of a new monitoring system.

DoorDash acknowledged the payment problems, saying that “we screwed up” and that the mistakes resulted in some Dashers being underpaid or paid late. The company said many of the issues stemmed from technical glitches and complicated delivery situations, including orders that crossed city boundaries, involved multiple pickup or drop-off locations, or were canceled or only partially completed.

The agreement includes approximately $83 million related to disputes over how DoorDash calculated compensation for workers who were logged into the app and available for deliveries, as well as $12.3 million covering missed or delayed payments. DoorDash will also pay $16.7 million in civil penalties and other costs to the city.

The latest agreement follows a separate $16.75 million New York settlement announced in 2025, involving allegations that DoorDash had used customers’ tips to offset guaranteed worker pay rather than passing the full tips on to delivery workers. That earlier case involved deliveries made in New York between May 2017 and September 2019.

Under the new settlement, payments to eligible workers are expected to begin this fall, with the city determining eligibility through DoorDash’s records rather than requiring workers to submit individual claims.

DoorDash has ripped off more than 260,000 NYC delivery workers. We’re making them pay $131.5 million — the largest worker settlement in City history.

This is New York, where hard work pays and greed will cost you. pic.twitter.com/QxooFaU7u2

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) September 22, 2026

Since 2023, more than 200,000 Dashers in New York City were underpaid or paid late under the City’s delivery worker pay rules. These errors were unintentional, but that doesn’t make them acceptable. Dashers should be paid in full, on time, every time. We take full responsibility,… pic.twitter.com/veFSQF1mKs

— DoorDash (@DoorDash) September 22, 2026

Mayor Mamdani announces a $131m settlement with DoorDash after it underpaid or failed to pay more than 250,000 delivery workers.

“NYC and the tens of 1000s of delivery workers who call our city home have reckoned with greed as a business model for far too long,” Mamdani says. pic.twitter.com/xIovvExHPv

— Josie Stratman (@JosieStratman) September 22, 2026

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart could be sidelined for an extended period after additional testing revealed that the knee injury he suffered Monday night may be more serious than initially believed, according to ESPN.

The 23-year-old quarterback is reportedly dealing with a significant injury that could potentially require surgery and bring his season to an early end. The Giants have not yet officially confirmed the full extent of the damage.

Dart went down just minutes into New York’s 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. On a third-down play, he was pressured by Rams linebacker Byron Young, who made contact with Dart from the right side. Dart was then hit low by linebacker Josaiah Stewart, causing his legs to buckle as he went down hard.

After briefly remaining on the field, Dart was able to make his way to the sideline under his own power, although he was noticeably limping. He was examined in the medical tent before heading to the locker room.

Jameis Winston took over at quarterback on the Giants’ next possession and played the remainder of the game. Dart returned to the sideline during the second half but was dressed in street clothes.

Dart completed 3 of 5 passes for 20 yards before leaving the game.

Following the injury, Giants head coach John Harbaugh declined to confirm reports that Dart had suffered an MCL sprain, saying the team would have a clearer picture after Tuesday’s MRI.

“That’s in the neighborhood of it, I would say,” Harbaugh said.

The Giants are now awaiting the results of the additional medical evaluation to determine the severity of the injury and how long Dart could be unavailable.

What is the Raccoon Rabies Control Program?

The program includes enhanced surveillance to find raccoon rabies, and vaccination of raccoons to prevent the spread of rabies. Just as children are vaccinated against diseases like measles and mumps, raccoons can be vaccinated against rabies.

Where is the vaccination area and when will it occur?

During the Fall 2026 ORV Program, the vaccine baits are distributed by hand tossing from a slow moving truck throughout the County from September 22nd through October 9th. The North Region of Nassau County will be baited from September 22nd to September 25th. The Central region will be baited from September 28th to October 2nd. The South region will be baited from October 5th to October 9th. See map below for regions. Dates are subject to change due to weather.

What will rabies vaccine bait look like?

How is a raccoon vaccinated?

In an oral rabies vaccination program (ORV), a raccoon is vaccinated when it bites into a bait containing the vaccine. The vaccine used in ORV is the only one currently available that works orally in raccoons. The vaccine is sealed inside a small packet coated with wax, cod liver oil, and fishmeal crumbles that appeal to raccoons. Baits are dropped in areas frequented by raccoons by hand and truck distribution along roads and trails. The baits have a strong smell that is not attractive to people. The baits are not available to individual homeowners – they are only distributed as part of state-approved wildlife vaccination programs.

Why do raccoons need to be vaccinated?

Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system of raccoons and other mammals including humans. The disease is essentially always fatal once clinical signs of infection occur. Fortunately, rabies in humans is rare in the United States, with five or fewer cases reported per year. However, rabies exposures and subsequent human rabies treatments are common. The spread of raccoon rabies is of great concern because the high numbers of raccoons in areas of New York State make it more likely for a human or pet to encounter a rabid raccoon. Vaccination will greatly decrease the chance of human and domestic animal contact with rabid raccoons.

How can you help?

Young children should not be outside unsupervised and older children should be advised not to touch any bait. Keep all dogs and cats indoors or on leashes during the bait distribution and for about a week afterward. This will allow raccoons to eat the vaccine-laden baits and become immunized and decreases the chance of pets eating the baits instead. Please do not disturb the baits and instruct children to leave them alone**. Please report any sick or strange-acting mammals (except small rodents) observed at any time to the Nassau County Department of Health at 516-227-9663.**

What is in the bait?

The vaccine is sealed inside a small sachet coated with wax, cod liver oil, and fishmeal crumbles that appeal to raccoons. A label printed in black on each bait reads “Rabies Vaccine Live Vaccinia Vector. Do Not disturb 1-877-722-6725”. The toll-free number connects the caller to the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222). The vaccine contains attenuated (weakened) virus.

What if I find a bait near my home?

Leave it alone. If the bait is intact and out in the open where pets or children are more likely to encounter it, toss it into deeper cover under trees or bushes while wearing gloves or using a plastic bag.

Are gloves required to handle the bait or will I be harmed if I handle the intact bait without gloves?

Although it is not harmful to touch an intact bait, you should always wear gloves or use a plastic bag when coming in contact with the bait. After moving the bait, persons should remove their gloves and immediately wash their hands thoroughly. Damaged baits can be double bagged in plastic and disposed of in regular trash.

What if my dog or cat eats a bait?

The baits are not harmful to dogs or cats, but a pet may vomit if he/she eats a large number of them. If a pet chews a bait, do not try to take it away from the animal since you may be bitten in the process. While you can not contract rabies from the vaccine, there is a very low risk of experiencing side effects from contact with the vaccine, such as rash, fever, or headache. Wear gloves or use a plastic bag if you handle the damaged bait after the pet drops it. Damaged baits can be double bagged and disposed of in regular trash. If you have direct skin contact, particularly with the pink liquid vaccine inside the bait, immediately wash the area with soap and water and call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) to report your exposure.

What if a person or pet comes in contact with the bait?

It is not possible to get rabies from the vaccine. The rabies vaccine contains attenuated (weakened) virus. Therefore, it is very important that anyone who touches the bait (even if the bait is intact) wash their hands immediately. While an intact bait packet itself will not harm anyone, the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) should be contacted whenever: (1) any person comes into contact with bait while bare-handed; (2) a child bites through the bait packet and ingests the liquid; (3) a pet is seen with bait in its mouth. The risk of side effects is likely to be higher in immunocompromised individuals or those with certain skin conditions.

What if my child eats the bait?

An intact bait itself will not harm the child. There is a very low risk of experiencing side effects from contact with the vaccine, such as rash, fever, or headache. In the unlikely event that a child bites through the sachet and ingests the liquid vaccine, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

If my child or pet ingests the vaccine, will either of them get rabies? 

No. It is not possible to get rabies from the vaccine. The vaccine does not contain the rabies virus.

Can this vaccine be used to vaccinate my dog or cat against rabies?

No, this vaccine is approved only for use in wildlife. Vaccination of pets should be done by veterinarians in accordance with state regulations. Pet vaccination is essential to protect your pet against rabies.

If you have any questions, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
*The Raccoon Rabies Control Program is conducted by Nassau County Department of Health in cooperation with other county, state and federal agencies, including the United States Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services.

See below for Fall 2026 rabies baiting areas:

****Tentative Baiting Schedule*: 

North Region (Green): 

September 22, 2026 – September 25, 2026

Central Region (Blue):

September 28, 2026 – October 2, 2026

South Region (Red): 

October 5, 2026 – October 9, 2026

*Schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change.

• We pasken that the 4 minim don’t have to be tied together, but it’s still a mitzvah to tie them with a double knot that would potentially be assur to tie on Shabbos.

• The koshekel (the piece that the hadasim and aravos go into) is considered a knot.

• It can be tied with anything and it’s not considered like adding onto the 4 minim.

• If it wasn’t knotted before Yom tov then it can’t be knotted on Yom tov and it should just be a simple tie.

• The hadasim should be higher than the aravos.

• The hadasim and aravos should be held together with the lulav.

• Three knots should be made in the lulav.

• Some say it’s three knots excluding the knot around the hadasim and aravos, for a total of four.

• Hadasim go on the right of the lulav, aravos go on the left.

• This applies for lefties too

• Lulav is held in the right hand and esrog in the left hand.

• A lefty should take it both ways because it’s a machlokes which way to hold them.

• The 4 minim should be held the way they grow, with the tops facing up and the bottoms facing down.

• The lulav and esrog should not be held in the same hand.

• Proper way to make the Brachos: The brachos should be made before picking up the four minim. Either turn the esrog over so the top is facing down, make the Bracha and then turn it back over or pick them up with the express intent not to do the mitzva.

• The Bracha is made while standing.

• If the Bracha was forgotten then make it afterwards before shaking them at Hallel.

• Only one Bracha per day is made even though it will be taken later.

• The Bracha of shechayanu is made when it’s taken and not when it’s assembled.

• If one forgets to make shechayanu then it can be made until the last day of Sukkos.

• Rings on the fingers or tefilin shouldn’t be on the hand when taking the 4 minim.

• We shake the lulav after making the Bracha and during hallel etc.

• No shaking the lulav when saying Hashems name.

• During הודו shake by every word except for Hashems name and by אנא twice per word.

• Some say to stand towards east for all the shaking.

• One who is davening by himself just shakes by the first hodu and the rest does as normal.

• The esrog needs to be touching the lulav while shaking them.

• Whichever direction the shaking is done is fine bidieved.

• Extra hadasim and aravos are allowed but most don’t do it. If you’re taking more because you’re afraid that some are pasul then it’s definitely allowed.

• The zman is the entire day but morning is best because of מקדימים זריזים and הלל is the main time to take it.

• The earliest time is from sunrise but if necessary from alos is allowed (similar to davening).

• No eating before shaking the lulav. Tasting food is also not allowed. Unless you’re desperate.

• Hadasim which are used for their smell are not allowed to be smelled for all seven days.

• Esrog, that’s normally used for eating, is allowed but since there’s a question wether a Bracha can be made it’s better not to smell it.

• On shabbos it can be smelled.

• The lulav can be returned to water on Yom tov and water can be added too.

• It’s a mitzvah to switch hadasim/aravos during chol hamoed so they stay fresh.

• Some have the minhag to use new aravos every day.

• It’s a good minhag to put the lulav into water.

• The 4 minim should be paid for before sukkos.

Argentine President Javier Milei made a special stop in Far Rockaway on Tuesday afternoon, visiting Yeshiva Darchei Torah during his trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

Milei, who has been a vocal supporter of Israel and the Jewish people, was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd at the yeshiva and received a standing ovation from those gathered.

During the visit, Milei was presented with the prestigious “Ohev Yisrael” award, recognizing his strong support for Israel and the Jewish people.

The Argentine president is in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly and is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Wednesday. His New York itinerary also includes meetings with business leaders, economists and Jewish community figures.

For the 5 Towns community, Milei’s visit provided a unique opportunity to welcome a sitting world leader to Far Rockaway and publicly recognize his longstanding support for Israel.

🇦🇷 Footage from the historic visit today of Javier Milei at Yeshivas Darchei Torah! @JMilei pic.twitter.com/K27WX7q3U8

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) September 22, 2026

New York City’s Department of Investigation is moving forward with a broad examination of how city officials handled information about environmental hazards following the September 11 attacks, including what successive mayoral administrations knew about toxic substances at and around Ground Zero. The investigation will cover the administrations of Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg, Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams.

The probe was ordered by the City Council in July 2025 through Resolution 560-A. The city has allocated $3.81 million over fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support the investigation, which is expected to culminate in a public report.

The investigation comes as renewed attention is being focused on the city’s handling of air-quality concerns in the aftermath of 9/11. In September, the Mamdani administration released an initial collection of more than 170,000 pages of previously withheld records detailing the city’s response, environmental conditions and health concerns following the attacks. The records include the so-called Harding Memo and other documents concerning asbestos, air quality and the city’s response to residents and workers.

The historical record also includes the Environmental Protection Agency’s September 18, 2001 announcement that monitoring results indicated the public was not being exposed to excessive levels of asbestos or other harmful substances. EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman said at the time that she could reassure New Yorkers that the air was safe to breathe. A subsequent EPA Inspector General investigation concluded that the agency did not have sufficient data and analysis at the time to make such a broad determination.

Michael Barasch, an attorney who represents thousands of people affected by 9/11-related illnesses, has argued that the newly released records warrant a closer examination of what city officials knew and when they knew it. The investigation is intended to establish the facts surrounding the city’s knowledge, decision-making and response, rather than relying solely on accounts from individual officials or advocates.

The DOI’s review is expected to examine records spanning multiple administrations and ultimately provide the City Council and public with a detailed account of what city government knew about the environmental risks following the attacks and how that information was handled.

Netanyahu posted a video addressing NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, stating he will use his upcoming UN General Assembly speech to defend the actions of Israeli soldiers and “expose the truth” about Mamdani.

The message responds to Mamdani’s recent CNN interview where he called Netanyahu a war criminal and architect of genocide in Gaza, while reiterating support for honoring the ICC arrest warrant.

ממדאני – אני בא לאו״ם כדי להילחם על האמת של החיילים הגיבורים שלנו – וכדי לחשוף את האמת עליך! pic.twitter.com/141PPbSFHm

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 22, 2026

Drivers speeding through active construction zones on MTA bridges and tunnels will no longer receive warnings beginning Tuesday, Sept. 22. Instead, motorists caught exceeding the posted work-zone speed limit by more than 10 mph will receive a ticket by mail.

The MTA launched its work-zone camera program on June 30 and has issued more than 15,000 warning notices during the initial phase. The cameras were authorized for MTA Bridges and Tunnels following legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2021 that established similar enforcement on state highway work zones.

Under the new system, a first violation will carry a $50 fine. A second violation will cost $75, while each additional offense within 18 months of a prior violation will result in a $100 fine.

The MTA says each recorded violation will be reviewed and verified by a certified technician before a ticket is issued. Because the violations are classified as non-moving infractions, they will not result in points on a driver’s license or appear on a driving record.

Cameras are currently operating at active work zones across the MTA’s nine bridges and tunnels, including the Verrazzano-Narrows, Robert F. Kennedy, Queens Midtown, Throgs Neck, Bronx-Whitestone, Hugh L. Carey, Henry Hudson, Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial and Cross Bay Veterans Memorial crossings.

The agency may also deploy unmarked vehicles equipped with radar and cameras near active construction areas during work hours.

Motorists who fail to pay their tickets on time may face additional late fees. Payments can be made online, through a mobile app, by mail or at NYC Department of Finance Business Centers.

The MTA says the enforcement program is intended to protect both drivers and road crews, pointing to nearly 900 work-zone fatalities and approximately 40,000 injuries recorded nationwide in 2023.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive in New York on Wednesday ahead of his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to deliver his address Thursday afternoon before returning to Israel later that evening. Israeli officials have described the trip as a short, tightly scheduled visit, with Netanyahu not planning to remain overnight.

The abbreviated itinerary comes as New York prepares for heightened security and multiple demonstrations surrounding the UN gathering. The NYPD has said it expects protests throughout the week and is coordinating with federal agencies and organizers to secure the city and visiting delegations.

Netanyahu’s aircraft is expected to use Newark rather than JFK, according to reports. The decision comes amid heightened security considerations surrounding his visit and previous statements by Mayor Zohran Mamdani regarding Netanyahu’s potential arrest. Mamdani has acknowledged that New York City does not have the authority to independently enforce the International Criminal Court’s warrant against the Israeli prime minister.

Netanyahu’s planned stop in Texas to meet Elon Musk was also canceled, with Israeli officials citing logistical and coordination difficulties.

No meeting between Netanyahu and President Donald Trump has been announced for the visit. Netanyahu is expected to hold discussions with other officials and foreign leaders while in New York, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio among those he may meet.

The prime minister’s UN speech is expected to focus heavily on Iran, Israel’s security concerns and the ongoing regional conflict. Netanyahu has said he intends to use the international platform to present Israel’s position and respond to criticism of the country.

Israeli officials are also preparing for possible disruptions inside the General Assembly hall. Netanyahu’s address last year was met by a significant walkout, and Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon has said he expects similar scenes this year.

President Donald Trump met with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion on Monday during the president’s visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting marked the third time the two have met, following two earlier discussions at the White House.

The hour-long meeting focused on several issues affecting New York City, including housing, affordability, immigration and federal support for local initiatives. Mamdani said he emphasized his willingness to work with anyone who can help address the city’s cost-of-living challenges, regardless of political differences.

One of the central topics was the long-discussed redevelopment of Sunnyside Yard in Queens. The proposal envisions building approximately 12,000 homes and creating 30,000 jobs on and around the 190-acre rail yard. Mamdani said City Hall and White House officials will begin a new round of discussions about the project, which would require significant federal involvement. Trump said the proposal would need federal approvals and likely federal funding, but did not commit to a specific amount.

Immigration was another point of discussion, particularly the Trump administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants. Mamdani said he raised the issue directly with the president and stressed the importance of TPS to Haitian New Yorkers, their families and local institutions. Trump did not indicate that he would reverse the policy.

The two also spoke publicly about their political differences, while maintaining that they could continue working together on areas of shared interest. Trump offered praise for Mamdani during the appearance, saying the mayor has “great potential” and is “off to a start.”

Trump also reflected on his familiarity with Gracie Mansion and recalled encouraging Mamdani to move into the official mayoral residence after taking office. The visit was Trump’s first as president to the historic Manhattan residence.

Trump says Zohran Mamdani is "off to a start" on the way to becoming a "great mayor" pic.twitter.com/JFZyr5j9pD

— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) September 21, 2026

Notice how Zohran Mamdani looks FURIOUS and starts blinking excessively when Trump says that Iran will never have nuclear weapons.

Just a reminder that Mamdani is a Twelver Shia Muslim, the exact same sect as the Islamic regime, Hezbollah and Houthis. pic.twitter.com/34RJFMF7Dx

— Dr. Maalouf ‏ (@realMaalouf) September 21, 2026

By 5 Towns Central Staff

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (Sep. 21, 2026) — An armed encounter outside a shul on Yom Kippur evening resulted in serious injuries to both a veteran law enforcement officer and an armed assailant.

The incident took place around 7 p.m. near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue as congregants gathered inside for Yom Kippur davening. An armed individual arrived in the area with a firearm and opened fire on an officer stationed nearby in a security capacity. The officer returned fire despite sustaining critical injuries, and an additional responding officer also engaged the assailant during the confrontation.

Between 20 and 30 shots were exchanged in the residential neighborhood. Multiple bullets struck neighboring structures and parked vehicles, while some projectiles hit the Shul itself. Remarkably, no worshippers or neighborhood residents suffered physical harm.

The wounded officer, Constable Jeff Smith, a 13-year veteran of the department, was transported to an intensive care unit with life-threatening wounds but has since shown encouraging signs of stabilization. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Sean Ward, was also struck during the gunfire and remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Specialized provincial investigators have secured the vicinity to conduct an exhaustive forensic review, collecting evidence and analyzing dashcam and body camera recordings. Law enforcement leaders have reassured the broader community that the immediate danger has passed and that protective patrols have been stepped up around local religious institutions.

Government leaders across the country expressed horror over the violence, emphasizing that religious communities must always be able to practice their faith safely and free from intimidation. The investigation remains active as authorities examine the sequence of events leading up to the encounter.

YOM KIPPUR TERROR: 23 Bullets Fired at Canadian Shul During Tefillos

A gunman opened fire outside a shul in Ontario, Canada, during Yom Kippur, with at least 23 bullets striking the building’s windows as mispallelim were inside.

The shooting occurred outside Bnei Yaakov Shul in… pic.twitter.com/9lz4eOQRbD

— Frum TikTok (@FrumTikTok) September 22, 2026

Mark Carney just gave the weakest response to a terror attack I have ever seen, in the House of Commons.

The Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ontario was shot up in a hail of bullets yesterday. Numerous people were inside celebrating the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

A… pic.twitter.com/WfKNZ6Tjb9

— Bruce McGonigal (@bruce_mcgonigal) September 21, 2026

❗️🚨❗️Terror attack against the Jewish community Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ontario on the eve of Yom Kippur❗️🚨❗️

Thanks to the bravery of the police lives have been saved.

However so much more must be done immediately to protect the lives of the Jewish community!… pic.twitter.com/Uu4V9Y8opH

— Iddo Moed (@MoedIddo) September 21, 2026

Besuros Tovos.

Source: Torah Anytime

Reb Ephraim Wachsman Shlita speaking on Erev Yom Kippur, Motsai Shabbos, just 24 hours before Yom Kippur.

The following audio was provided by Torah Anytime.

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein explains that eating on Erev Yom Kippur is a mitzvah that is symbolically equal to fasting on both the ninth and tenth of Tishrei.

To enhance this, he suggests twelve specific intentions to keep in mind while eating. These include intending to gain the strength to fast, celebrating the joy of the Yom Tov, expressing gratitude that the day of Kaparah has arrived, and performing the act with teshuva, love for Hashem, reverence, and joy. Additionally, he suggests focusing on bringing nachas to Hashem, providing merit and protection to all of Klal Yisrael, and intending to expedite the final Geualah.

Coach Menachem: In this special conversation before Yom Kippur, Rabbi Uri Deutsch joins Coach Menachem for an honest discussion about forgiveness, teshuvah, guilt, pain, and renewing our relationship with Hashem.

30:53 – When someone is suffering and losing hope, how can Hashem blame them for giving up?
40:04 – Why should I believe this year will be any different?
44:58 – How do I know when I have completed the teshuvah process?
48:07 – Why should I forgive someone who hurt me but never took responsibility?
54:24 – How can I approach Yom Kippur honestly when I feel disconnected from Yiddishkeit?
57:57 – What do we do with the guilt that we are not where we want to be?
59:43 – Why does the Yom Kippur davening focus mainly on sins rather than the positive mitzvos we failed to do?
1:04:01 – How can ten days be enough time to reach the root of our struggles and do real teshuvah?
1:07:36 – What does forgiveness during Krias Shema mean when someone continues to hurt me?
1:12:47 – How do we forgive someone with emotional challenges who refuses responsibility or help—and are they accountable for their actions?

By: Rabbi Shay Tahan

As we stand in the midst of the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, it is worthwhile to find out a fundamental question: What exactly is teshuvah?

At first glance, the answer seems obvious: improving our ways and turning away from sin. Yet it is fascinating to discover that there is a significant discussion among the Rishonim and Acharonim concerning the very definition of teshuvah—what it means, what a person must actually do in order to fulfill the mitzvah, and how teshuvah cleanses the spiritual effects of sin.

Let us begin with the word itself. What does teshuvah mean?

Many people understand the word according to its simple translation, “an answer.” But the Tanya explains that the word teshuvah means to return—to return to Hashem. Teshuvah is therefore not merely about correcting a particular sin; it is about returning to our true connection with Hashem.

The Rambam

The most famous formulation of the mitzvah of teshuvah is found in the Rambam, in Hilchot Teshuvah (2:2). The Rambam describes that teshuvah consists of several fundamental components. First, a person must have עזיבת החטא, abandon the sin and remove it from his thoughts and intentions. He must then have חרטה, regret what he has done. He must reach קבלה לעתיד, firmly resolve that he will not return to that sin again. And finally, he must perform וידוי, verbally confess before Hashem and express his regret and his commitment to change.

According to the Rambam teshuvah is not merely feeling bad about the past. It requires a person to leave the sin, regret it, resolve not to return to it, and verbalize his teshuvah through vidui.

But when we look beyond the Rambam, we discover that this is not the only way teshuvah is understood. Other Rishonim and Acharonim place the emphasis on different elements, and some appear to understand the very essence of teshuvah differently.

Sefer HaChinuch

The Sefer HaChinuch as explained by the Minchat Chinuch, understands that the torah’s mitzvah is only vidui, confession. However, in order to perform vidui properly, a person must first do teshuvah. According to his understanding, teshuvah itself consists primarily of regret—חרטה—over the sin.

According to this view teshuvah and vidui are not one and the same. Teshuvah is the internal process of regretting the sin, while vidui is a separate mitzvah that requires a person to express that teshuvah verbally before Hashem. Thus, one can do teshuva without vidui.

This is similar to the preparation required for other mitzvot. For example, a person must acquire a lulav before Sukkot in order to be able to perform the mitzvah of lulav. Similarly, a person must first do teshuvah—regret his actions—in order to be able to perform the mitzvah of vidui.

The Minchat Chinuch explains that if a person regrets his sin sincerely in his heart, he has already accomplished the essential act of teshuvah and is considered a baal teshuvah and a Tsadik. However, if he fails to verbalize his regret through vidui, he has not fulfilled the separate mitzvah of vidui.

Later he explains the details of the mitsva and adds the other details.

This is a very different understanding from the Rambam. The Rambam appears to incorporate vidui into the very definition of teshuvah, whereas according to the Sefer HaChinuch teshuvah itself is the inner process of regret, while vidui is the separate mitzvah that follows it.

The Tanya

Another approach is found in the Tanya, in Iggeret HaTeshuvah. There, the Alter Rebbe explains that the essential element of teshuvah is עזיבת החטא—the abandonment of the sin. Once a person sincerely resolves to stop sinning and no longer intends to continue in his wrongdoing, he has already accomplished the fundamental act of teshuvah.

Interestingly, the Tanya does not mention regret or vidui as part of the definition of teshuvah itself. This probably seems to indicate that although regret and vidui are certainly important aspects of the process of teshuvah, they are not what constitutes the essential teshuvah. Rather, they serve to complete, strengthen, and elevate the person’s teshuvah.

According to this approach, teshuvah begins with a decision: I will no longer continue on this path. The moment a person sincerely abandons the sin and resolves to return to the proper path, the essential mitzvah of teshuvah has been accomplished.

This gives us yet another understanding of teshuvah. According to the Sefer HaChinuch, as explained by the Minchat Chinuch, the essence of teshuvah is regret. According to the Tanya, the essence is עזיבת החטא—the actual abandonment of the sin. And according to the Rambam, teshuvah encompasses several elements, including abandoning the sin, regret, resolve for the future, and vidui.

Rabbeinu Yonah

Then we come to the approach of Rabbeinu Yonah in Shaarei Teshuvah. Rabbeinu Yonah presents a remarkable and extensive discussion of teshuvah, outlining twenty different steps and levels through which a person can progress in his journey of repentance.

At first glance, this raises an obvious question. If the Rambam teaches that teshuvah involves several essential components, should we understand Rabbeinu Yonah as listing twenty requirements that a person must fulfill in order to perform the mitzvah of teshuvah?

It would seem that this is not the case.

Rather, Rabbeinu Yonah appears to be describing the proper path of teshuvah—the different thoughts, practices, and spiritual stages that guide a person toward genuine repentance and ultimately bring him closer to Hashem. The twenty levels are therefore not necessarily twenty separate conditions without which the mitzvah of teshuvah is incomplete. Rather, they are a roadmap for how a person should approach teshuvah and how he can elevate himself throughout the process.

This distinction is important. There is a difference between asking, “What are the minimum requirements for a person to fulfill the mitzvah of teshuvah?” and asking, “What should a person do if he truly wants to become a בעל תשובה and transform himself?”

The Rambam may be defining the essential components of the mitzvah, while Rabbeinu Yonah is teaching us how to build a complete and meaningful process of teshuvah.

In other words, the twenty levels of Rabbeinu Yonah should not necessarily be viewed as twenty boxes that a person must check before his teshuvah is considered valid. They are guidance for the journey itself—how a person can move from recognizing his wrongdoing, to regretting it, to changing his ways, and ultimately to becoming a different person.

And perhaps this is precisely why Rabbeinu Yonah’s Shaarei Teshuvah is so much more than a list of halachic requirements. He is not merely telling us what teshuvah is; he is teaching us how to live the life of a בעל תשובה.

Teshuvah: Cleansing or Command?

There is another fundamental point that is worth understanding. The Rishonim explain that teshuvah is not merely a mitzvah that a person is commanded to perform. It is also the means through which a person cleanses his neshamah from the spiritual damage caused by sin.

When a person sins, his soul gets damaged and stained. Teshuvah is the process through which that damage is removed and the person returns to his previous spiritual state. Rabbeinu Yonah develops this idea in Shaarei Teshuvah by comparing teshuvah to washing a garment that has become soiled. Just as a person washes a soiled garment to restore it to its proper state, so too, teshuvah cleanses a person from the spiritual effects of sin.

According to this approach, teshuvah is not simply about fulfilling a divine command. A person has a spiritual need to cleanse himself from the effects of his sins, and Hashem gave us the process of teshuvah as the way to accomplish that.

The Tanya, however, presents a fundamentally different perspective.

The Alter Rebbe explains that the essential obligation of teshuvah is the abandonment of sin. The fact that teshuvah cleanses a person’s neshamah is not what defines the mitzvah, nor is it the reason for which the mitzvah was given. Rather we are commanded to do teshuvah, and when we do, Hashem Himself cleansed our neshamah as a result.

This distinction is subtle but profound.

According to the approach of Rabbeinu Yonah, the cleansing of the neshamah is intrinsic to the very concept of teshuvah. A person has become spiritually soiled through sin, and teshuvah is the process of cleansing and restoring the neshamah.

According to the Tanya, however, we should not define teshuvah as a spiritual cleansing process. Teshuvah is a mitzvah that Hashem commanded us to perform. The cleansing of the neshamah is a result of fulfilling that mitzvah, but it is not the essence or purpose of the mitzvah itself.

This difference gives us an entirely new perspective on teshuvah. It is not only a question of what a person must do to fulfill the mitzvah, but also a question of what teshuvah is actually accomplishing within the person.

Is teshuvah primarily a process of repairing and cleansing the neshamah, or is it fundamentally an act of obedience to Hashem’s command, with the spiritual cleansing coming as a consequence?

The answer to this question may help us understand why the Rishonim and Acharonim describe teshuvah in such different ways.

According to the Tanya, since the essence of teshuvah is עזיבת החטא—the abandonment of sin—the person’s primary responsibility is to stop sinning and sincerely resolve not to return to his previous ways. The spiritual cleansing of the neshamah is not itself the person’s task; once he fulfills Hashem’s command to abandon the sin, Hashem takes care of the spiritual repair.

According to the Rambam, however, teshuvah is a process of active repair. Hashem therefore gives us the tools necessary to accomplish that repair: עזיבת החטא, חרטה, קבלה לעתיד, and וידוי. Through these four elements, a person confronts his sin, regrets it, resolves to change, and expresses that transformation through vidui.

Gut Vuch, Shavuah Tov, & Gutten Erev Yom Kippur!

Tonight, tens of thousands gathered at the Kotel to Daven on Erev Yom Kippur!

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife joined as well for the final major Selichos ahead of Yom Kippur.

At the Kotel, Netanyahu offered a Tefillah and Mishebeirach for the safety and success of Israel’s soldiers and security forces.

There are no words to describe what it feels like to be at the Western Wall for the final Selichot prayers before Yom Kippur.

There is nothing more powerful than this. pic.twitter.com/xZPGzq6i4U

— נועה מגיד | Noa magid (@NoaMagid) September 19, 2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife praying for the safety of IDF soldiers at the Western Wall. pic.twitter.com/jSAppZW1bQ

— Eli Afriat 🇮🇱 (@EliAfriatISR) September 19, 2026

IDF Soldiers Lightly Wounded by Hezbollah Bomb in Southern Lebanon

Two IDF soldiers sustained light injuries Saturday morning after an engineering vehicle struck a roadside explosive planted by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon’s Security Zone. The soldiers were evacuated to a hospital in stable condition, and their families were notified.

Following the incident, the IDF carried out strikes against Hezbollah positions across southern Lebanon, targeting observation posts and locations used by terrorists to prepare and launch attacks against Israeli forces.

The military said troops remain positioned in the Security Zone under the terms of the existing agreement and will continue working to eliminate threats to Israeli civilians and soldiers.

Hamas Commander Killed in Khan Younis Strike

The IDF said a Thursday airstrike in Khan Younis killed Muhammad Suleiman Byouk, a Hamas military wing commander who entered Israel during the October 7, 2023 attack.

According to the military, Byouk was involved throughout the war in planting explosives intended to target Israeli troops, including in recent weeks. He was also accused of advancing plans to attack Israeli civilians and soldiers, rebuilding Hamas’s military capabilities and preparing the organization for additional fighting.

The IDF said his activities represented a continued violation of the ceasefire and that he was targeted because of the threat he posed.

New Details Emerge on Hamas Commander’s Role in Holding Hostages

The IDF and Shin Bet have released additional intelligence about Nael Abu Obeid, the Hamas Rafah Brigade commander killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Tuesday.

Following an extended intelligence investigation, the agencies said Abu Obeid played a role in the abduction and captivity of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers both before and during the current war.

In 2014, when he served as deputy commander of the Rafah Brigade, Abu Obeid was involved in holding the remains of Givati Brigade officer Lt. Hadar Goldin. During the current war, investigators determined that he was involved in holding several hostages, including tank soldier Sgt. First Class Nimrod Cohen, inside an extensive tunnel network beneath Rafah.

The IDF and Shin Bet said his elimination was significant in bringing accountability to those involved in holding Israeli hostages and pledged to continue pursuing Hamas operatives connected to the October 7 massacre.

Iran Warns It Could Reconsider Nuclear Treaty

Mohsen Rezai, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran could consider withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in response to actions by the United States and Israel.

Rezai said no final decision has been made and that Iran’s position would depend on Washington’s future conduct. He also claimed that Iran is more prepared than ever to respond to potential American airstrikes.

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said he believes Iran could eventually experience another popular uprising. He suggested that such a development could give Iranians an opportunity to challenge what he described as an increasingly weakened government.

Huckabee: Israel Wants to Leave Lebanon Once Security Is Assured

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Israel has no interest in taking Lebanese territory and characterized Israeli troops in southern Lebanon as reservists who ultimately want to return home to their families.

Huckabee said Israel’s continued presence is tied to the security situation along the northern border, arguing that Israeli forces will remain until the Lebanese Armed Forces are capable of providing sufficient security and preventing continued rocket, missile and drone attacks against northern Israel.

Huckabee Discusses Regional Security Cooperation

Huckabee also addressed the emerging security relationship involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, saying Israel does not view the developing alliance as a threat and has no plans to attack any of those countries.

He suggested the countries involved may see the arrangement as serving their own security interests, including protection from the Houthis and other terrorist groups.

On Saudi Arabia, Huckabee said Israel would welcome both a security agreement with Riyadh and Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords. He said the two countries already maintain military and intelligence cooperation and expressed hope that relations could develop further.

Two Arrested After Fire Near Burqa

IDF and Shin Bet forces arrested two suspects following a reported arson incident near Burqa in the Samaria Brigade area.

Security forces arrived at the scene, conducted searches and located the suspects shortly afterward. No injuries were reported.

The IDF said both suspects admitted to starting the fire and were handed over to security personnel for additional questioning.

Gmar Chasima Tova!

Erev Yom Kippur

• There’s a mitzva from the Torah to eat on the Ninth day of Tishrei.

• Some say there’s a mitzvah to eat the night before too.

• One should have in mind that there’s a specific mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom Kippur.

• One should learn less Torah in order to eat more.

• All men are supposed to go to the Mikva. Preferably not earlier than an hour before chatzos and preferably before mincha.

• Its better for nothing foreign to be on the body when going to the Mikva.

• It’s better not to have contact lenses in the eyes. If they were left in then it’s fine.

• If necessary, a swimming pool can be used as a Mikva for men. Preferably with the filter off.

• It’s best to dip three times.

• It’s preferable to be in Shabbos clothing before mincha.

• It’s preferable to give tzedaka before davening mincha.

• When using money for kaparos, there is no minimum amount that has to be given.

• The Minhag is for parents to give a Bracha to their children.

• There should be a meal eaten right before the fast.

• The meal should not consist of spicy foods, eggs, garlic, or cheese.

• Many have the minhag not to eat fish and meat at this meal.

• Pills and vitamins that make the fast easier are allowed to be taken.

• Melacha and eating have to be stopped a few minutes before sunset.

• Women are allowed to light candles and then drive to shul if they don’t accept Yom Kippur on themselves until later. If so, DON’T make the Bracha of Shechayanu when lighting candles. Say it in shul at Kol Nidrei.

• Women who said the bracha of Shechayanu when they lit candles should not say Shechayanu in Shul.

• Havdala must be made on a candle that was lit over the entire Yom Kippur. Therefore light a candle that will stay lit for the entire Yom Kippur.

• In addition to the above candles, every married man is supposed to light a special candle that’s supposed to be lit over the entire Yom Kippur. If it goes out, relight it after Yom Kippur.

• Hot foods to be eaten after Yom Kippur are not allowed to be kept in a crockpot/ oven. However if it’s for children to eat on Yom Kippur then it’s allowed.

• Women are allowed to wear gold on Yom Kippur. However it’s better not to put on Shabbos/Yom tov or special jewelry.

• Make sure to put the Talis on before sunset in order to make a Bracha. If not, a Bracha can still be made up until nine minutes after sunset.

• The tables should have tablecloths etc. lechavod Yom Kippur.

• Those who concentrate properly are promised not to have their tefilos returned empty handed.

Yom Kippur

• The main mitzva is to fast, even if it means resting and not davening.

• The husband should stay home if that will enable the wife to fast but it’s better to hire a Jewish babysitter.

• All harchakos should be kept as in nidda.

• No washing any part of the body, even with cold water.

• If any part of the body gets dirty, it can be washed.

• In the morning, hands should be washed until where the knuckle meets the palm of the hand.

• Kohanim wash the full hand before birchas kohanim.

• One who’s sick can wash but not for pleasure.

• Washing food for children, for example fruits, is allowed even if the hands get wet.

• It’s preferable not to touch food unless necessary.

• No deodorants, perfumes or mouthwash.

• Leather on shoes that is just there for looks and doesn’t provide a function is allowed.

• Leather watches and belts etc. are allowed.

• Leather orthotics are allowed.

• Pills that don’t taste good can be swallowed but they should be taken before you feel sick or only after you’re sick enough to go to bed.

• Same applies to taking suppositories.

• Medications that are necessary (for example, heart medications etc.) can be taken with an oz. of bad tasting liquid.

• If it’s necessary to take medicine on Yom Kippur, it’s best to take without liquids. If liquid is necessary, take less than an ounce and make it taste bad by putting in soap, lemon juice, or very strong coffee etc.

• Children above the age of nine should try and fast at night and should eat food in the morning a little later than usual.

Vidui (confession)

• Vidui is a mitzva from the Torah.

• Most say Yihiu Liratzon before starting Vidui.

• If you say Yihiu Liratzon after וידוי and the minyan is up to Kedusha etc. then say יהיו לרצון so that you can answer Kedusha etc.

• One must know the translation of the words.

• Vidui must be said while standing and without leaning on anything.

• Vidui must be said while bowing. Similar to the bowing when saying Modim. If this is difficult then at least bow the head.

• Hit the heart when saying the word שחטאנו because it’s like pointing to the heart and saying “you caused me to do this”.

• When saying the last section, hit the heart when saying the words חטאים.

• We say Vidui at mincha on Erev Yom Kippur in case chas vshalom one chokes while eating the meal before the fast.

Motzai Yom Kippur

• Water is allowed before havdala but say Baruch hamavdil bein kodesh lechol first.

• Women who want to eat before the men come home from shul, should make havdala themselves.

• If for whatever reason they can’t, eating is allowed after saying Baruch hamavdil.

• Havdala has to be with a fire that came from a fire that was lit over Yom Kippur.

• One wick is sufficient for havdala. A torch or putting two candles together is not necessary.

• The candle that’s lit for yizkor should not be used for havdala unless you have nothing else.

• If the candle went out before havdala then you must find a fire that was lit from before Yom Kippur in order to make havdala.

• Kiddush levana can be made before breaking the fast. It’s preferable to change from sneakers to shoes but it’s not required.

• The meal after Yom Kippur is considered a seudas mitzva and it’s considered a Yom Tov.

• It’s better to do something for sukkos on motzai Yom Kippur.

• The morning after Yom Kippur we’re supposed to get up a little earlier than normal.

Yaakov Shwekey on the passing of Tanchum Portnoy A”H: “A number of years ago, I was singing at a wedding when a man came over to me and said, You might not know me…my name is Eitz Chaim.’

I said, “Wait, your first name is Eitz, and your last name is Chaim?”

He laughed. “No, no! My name is Tanchum Portnoy. I composed Eitz Chaim. That’s just what people know me by.”

‘Il never forget that conversation. We spoke about the mark he made on the Jewish music world, and how many people sing his composition.

Yihi Zichro Baruch. ”

🎙Yaakov Shwekey on the passing of Tanchum Portnoy A"H: "A number of years ago, I was singing at a wedding when a man came over to me and said, You might not know me…my name is Eitz Chaim.'

I said, "Wait, your first name is Eitz, and your last name is Chaim?"

He laughed. "No,… pic.twitter.com/VlLFbCbwB6

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) September 18, 2026

Rav Hershel Schachter discussing various halachic topics and minhagim related to Yom Kippur.

The lecture covers a wide range of subjects, including the minhag of immersing in a mikvah before Yom Kippur.

He also explores the obligations and different practices regarding eating on Erev Yom Kippur, questioning whether it is primarily a preparation for the fast or a separate mitzvah.

The discussion moves into the significance of Shabbos when it coincides with Yom Kippur, the background of the custom of Kapparos and its connection to the Zohar, and the origins of the shofar blowing at the end of the day.

Additionally, Rav Schachter provides guidance on the recitation of Viduy, explains details of the Kahon Gadol’s Avodah in the Beis HaMikdash including the requirement to remain in the Azarah, and addresses the prohibition of borer as it applies to Yom Kippur.

Powerful: Rav Baruch Rosenblum: "Since when do we sing when expressing our Aveiros?!" pic.twitter.com/elCXzTX8zc

— 5TownsCentral (@5TownsCentral) September 18, 2026

Sandy and Rosalie Goldstein are celebrating an extraordinary milestone this month: 79 years of marriage.

Now 105 and 100 years old, the couple’s remarkable journey spans nearly eight decades of shared memories, family, and devotion. Originally from New Jersey, they fulfilled a lifelong aspiration just a few years ago, making aliyah to Israel at the ages of 102 and 97.

Their story reflects a deep connection to Eretz Yisrael that remained strong throughout their lives.

As they celebrate this special anniversary, family, friends, and well-wishers are honoring a couple whose lives embody resilience, dedication, and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

Wishing Sandy and Rosalie many more years of good health, happiness, and continued nachas.

Kein Yirbu!

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, Israel remains home to a memorial unlike any other outside the United States — one that honors every person who was killed that day.

Located in the Jerusalem hills near Arazim Valley, the 9/11 Living Memorial stands as a powerful tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the attacks. At the center of the site is a towering 30-foot bronze sculpture depicting an American flag transforming into a flame, symbolizing both the tragedy and the enduring memory of those lost.

The monument also incorporates a tangible piece of Ground Zero: a section of steel recovered from the World Trade Center ruins that was transported from New York to Israel.

Surrounding the sculpture are stone plaques bearing the names of all 2,977 victims, ensuring that each person is individually remembered. Among those names are five Israeli citizens who lost their lives in the attacks.

The memorial serves as a lasting reminder of the close bond between the United States and Israel, while preserving the memory of the victims for generations to come.

The proposed transition of Maimonides Health into the NYC Health + Hospitals system has taken another major step forward, despite continued opposition from community advocates and ongoing legal challenges.

On Thursday, Sept. 17, the full New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council voted unanimously to approve the proposed transaction, following a unanimous recommendation from a council committee last month. The vote advances the plan to bring the Brooklyn hospital into New York City’s public health system.

The latest vote follows a May court ruling that determined state health officials could not bypass the Public Health and Health Planning Council’s review of the transaction. That ruling led to the additional regulatory process that culminated in Thursday’s vote.

The proposed merger has drawn significant opposition from community advocates, including concerns over the hospital’s future medical staff, governance and potential effects on patient care. Supporters, meanwhile, argue that joining NYC Health + Hospitals would provide Maimonides with greater financial stability, higher Medicaid reimbursement rates and access to billions of dollars in state funding. The state has committed approximately $2.2 billion over five years as part of the broader safety-net hospital initiative.

Despite Thursday’s approval, the transaction is not yet complete. Additional regulatory and administrative requirements remain, and lawsuits challenging the merger are still pending, meaning the legal battle over the future of Maimonides is not necessarily over.

Michael Sweetney, the former Georgetown standout and NBA player who later became part of the Yeshiva University basketball program, has died at the age of 43. Sweetney died Wednesday at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

Sweetney was selected ninth overall by the New York Knicks in the 2003 NBA Draft after a highly successful career at Georgetown. He spent four seasons in the NBA, playing for both the Knicks and Chicago Bulls, before continuing his basketball career overseas.

Following his playing career, Sweetney became involved in coaching and served as an assistant coach at Yeshiva University, where he became a respected figure within the basketball program and the broader Jewish community.

Yeshiva head coach Elliot Steinmetz paid tribute to Sweetney, describing him as a close friend and someone who consistently showed up for those around him. He also highlighted Sweetney’s connection to the Jewish community and his willingness to support others.

Sweetney’s connection to Israel was another meaningful part of his post-NBA life. In 2024, he traveled to Israel, where he spent time with athletes and offered encouragement and support.

His death has prompted tributes from Georgetown, the Knicks, the Bulls, Yeshiva University and many others who knew him both through basketball and his work in the Jewish community.

Mike was a very special person with a tremendous heart and love for Israel and the Jewish people. He will be missed.

🇺🇸🇮🇱 Zionists are eulogizing Former NBA player and Yeshiva University assistant coach Michael Sweetney for his rabid pro-Israel advocacy, including facilitating athlete trips to Israel and encouraging black Americans to support the IDF pic.twitter.com/rlQdZEbKEG

— HOT SPOT (@HotSpotHotSpot) September 17, 2026

Statement from YU’s Coach Steinmetz:

“The world lost a giant today. I lost a close friend. The basketball world lost a beloved star. Our Jewish community lost an ally and someone who knew exactly how to show up.

Mike Sweetney wasn’t just a friend. He was family. When you needed him, he was there. Always. You didn’t even have to ask.

The very first message I got after October 7th, 2023 was from Mike checking if I was ok. He knew I was in Israel.

A couple of years later, when Iran attacked Israel with ballistic missiles, the first message I got was from Mike. He knew my son, Noah was there and wanted to make sure he was ok.

When we would run a charity event for troubled teens, Mike would show up.

He was there for our student-athletes at Yeshiva University day in and day out, regardless of his other responsibilities and jobs. His dedication to mental health awareness and his willingness to share his story for the benefit of others was the work of a selfless human being with a huge heart.

Mike – we love you and we will miss you. Thanks for everything.

If you would like to assist the family, please feel free to reach out directly and I will give instructions.”

The world lost a giant today. I lost a close friend. The basketball world lost a beloved star. Our Jewish community lost an ally and someone who knew exactly how to show up.

Mike Sweetney wasn’t just a friend. He was family. When you needed him, he was there. Always. You didn’t… pic.twitter.com/mwRh9UQgjA

— Elliot Steinmetz (@elliotsteinmetz) September 17, 2026

RIP, my brother for life, Mike Sweetney. 🏀❤️

We shared such a unique bond that began in high school and lasted a lifetime. Your heart, kindness, and sensitivity were truly beyond this world.

I am absolutely heartbroken. Thank you for being such a dear friend. I will love you,… pic.twitter.com/cATOX5VJ13

— Tamir Goodman (@TamirGoodman) September 17, 2026

We are living in a time of more words than ever before. Think about how many words we encounter and produce in a single day. Texts, WhatsApps, emails, posts, comments, voice notes, captions, reactions. And now with AI, we can generate paragraphs, articles, responses, even entire conversations almost instantly. We have never had more words available to us, and we have never been able to produce them with less effort. The danger is that when words become so easy to produce, they begin to feel cheap. We type something and hit send without fully thinking. We often react and respond before reflecting. We sometimes write things about people we would never say to their face.

Yom Kippur comes along and reminds us that words aren’t cheap at all. They are enormously consequential and indeed create worlds. Usually, we are encouraged to live by the dictum of Chazal in Pirkei Avos, אמור מעט ועשה הרבה, say little and do much. On Yom Kippur, strangely, we reverse it. We do very little and say an enormous amount. We aren’t out there taking action to demonstrate our transformation. We are in Shul davening and davening and davening, talking about our regret, confessing our mistakes, describing who we have been and who we want to become.

And remarkably, so much of what we confess is about speech itself. In Ashamnu and in Al Cheit, we confess for what we expressed with our lips, for foolish speech, impure speech, lashon hara, mockery, idle conversation and gossip. So much of what went wrong this past year came from our mouths.

And what is fascinating is that we made mistakes with speech and we fix them with speech. The Torah tells us, כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד בפיך ובלבבך לעשותו, “For this matter is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to perform it.” The Ramban asks, what is the davar that is so close to us? He explains that the Torah is talking about teshuvah. Transformation isn’t somewhere far away. We don’t need to become different people, move somewhere else, or wait for some dramatic moment of inspiration. It is accessible right now, and it begins בפיך, in your mouth. The path back must begin with saying what happened, admit it, and articulate responsibility. Say what you regret and say what you are going to do about it.

That is why teshuvah requires vidui. The Gemara in Yoma asks, how does a person confess? And the answer begins, אומר, he says: אנא ה’ חטאתי עויתי פשעתי. It isn’t enough to know we did something wrong. It isn’t even enough to feel badly about it. We have to say it. Indeed, the Shulchan Aruch tells us that even though we already confessed before Yom Kippur, we confess again on Yom Kippur itself, and then again and again throughout the day. The repetition isn’t because we forgot that we already said it. It is because there is something transformative about articulating who we were and who we want to become.

The Navi Hoshea says, קחו עמכם דברים ושובו אל ה’, take words with you and return to Hashem. Chazal say, במה יתכפר ישראל? בדברים. With what will the Jewish people achieve atonement? With words. But that sounds almost too easy. Isn’t that exactly what we call lip service? You behaved one way and now you say some words and everything changes?

I think the answer is contained in the Hebrew language itself. דברים means things, while דיבור means speech. The same root describes the words we say and the things that exist. That isn’t coincidental. When we speak, we create things. Dibur creates devarim. Words create realities. A few words can end a friendship or begin one. Words can destroy a reputation, damage a marriage, alienate a child or humiliate someone. But words can also restore confidence, repair a relationship, give someone courage, express gratitude, offer forgiveness or make another person feel seen. We tend to think words describe reality. Torah teaches that words create reality.

That is why Yom Kippur begins in such a strange way. The shul is packed, everyone is wearing white, the sifrei Torah are held at the front, the chazzan begins that haunting melody, and what do we say? Kol Nidrei. All vows, prohibitions, oaths and commitments that we have made should be null and void. That’s our great introduction to the holiest day of the year? The answer is yes, because what is a neder? I can take something completely ordinary and permissible and, with nothing more than words, change its halachic reality. A shtender that was perfectly permissible a moment ago can become forbidden to me because I said so. Nothing physically changed. I didn’t touch it or alter it. My dibur created a davar. We begin the day by reminding ourselves: never underestimate what comes out of your mouth.

Benjamin Zander, the longtime conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, tells a story he heard from a woman who survived Auschwitz. She was deported with her little brother. She was fifteen and he was eight. Their parents were gone, they had no idea where they were going, and while they were on the train she looked down and realized that her brother had lost his shoes. Like an older sister frustrated with her little brother, she began yelling at him. Why are you so careless? Why can’t you keep track of your things? Now when we get wherever we are going, I am going to have to find you another pair of shoes.

They arrived at Auschwitz and were separated. She never saw him again. He didn’t survive. Those were the last words she ever said to her eight year old brother. She described that when she was finally liberated and walked out of Auschwitz, she made a pledge to herself: “I will never say anything that couldn’t stand as the last thing I ever say.”

Imagine living that way. Not morbidly, but mindfully. If these were the last words my spouse heard from me today, would I be comfortable with them? If this were my last conversation with a parent, is this how I would want it to end? If this message couldn’t be deleted, unsent, explained away or followed by another message, would I still press send?

We live in a world obsessed with having the last word. We admire the clever comeback, the devastating response, the viral takedown, the line that leaves the other person speechless. Yom Kippur asks us to aspire to something much greater than having the last word. Live so that your words could stand as your last words.

Perhaps that is part of why we say vidui already at Mincha on Erev Yom Kippur, before Yom Kippur has even begun. The Gemara explains that we confess before the seudah hamafsekes because perhaps, God forbid, something could happen during the meal and we would never have another opportunity. When it comes to Yom Kippur, we want to make sure that if these were our last words, vidui would be among them. We would have said what needed to be said.

Words aren’t just sounds, they are acts of creation. With words we confess and with words we forgive. With words we apologize, encourage, thank and inspire. With words we can tell our spouses we love them, our children that we are proud of them, our parents that we appreciate them, our friends that they matter to us, and Hashem that we desperately want a relationship with Him. Change is much closer than we think. בפיך. It is right there in our mouths.

We begin Yom Kippur with Kol Nidrei, confronting words from our past and trying to undo what should never have been said. But perhaps we should leave Yom Kippur with a commitment about the words of our future. Before I criticize, I will ask whether these words will accomplish anything. Before I forward something, I will ask whether it needs to be shared. Before I respond when I am angry, I will give myself the space to choose my words instead of unleashing them. But even more importantly, I won’t wait to say the words that need to be said. I’m sorry. I forgive you. Thank you. I believe in you. I’m proud of you. I love you. How can I help? I was wrong.

We spend so much time regretting words we wish we could take back. Maybe we should spend more time worrying about the words we never got around to saying. The compliment we felt but didn’t give. The gratitude we had but didn’t express. The apology we kept putting off. The encouragement someone desperately needed that we assumed somebody else would provide. The “I love you” we thought was obvious and therefore didn’t need to be said.

We don’t know which conversation will be our last, but we do know which conversation is our next. We don’t know how many more opportunities we will have to say what needs to be said, but we know we have this one. Take your words with you and return to Hashem. Take them seriously and use them carefully. Use them to create, to repair, to heal and to bring people closer.

That survivor walked out of Auschwitz having learned through unimaginable pain, “I will never say anything that couldn’t stand as the last thing I ever say.” We don’t need to learn that lesson through tragedy, we can learn it from Yom Kippur.

This year, let’s stop worrying so much about having the last word. Let’s make sure the words we say are worthy of being our last.

Students at St. Mark's School of Texas learned an important message, inspired from Rosh Hashanah.

Well done, Jack! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3gebsyx5jx

— Frum TikTok (@FrumTikTok) September 17, 2026

Rabbis, Jewish and community leaders, friends, OU board and staff members, and family gathered on Tuesday, September 15th in New York to honor the memory of Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt”l, former executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, as his first yahrzeit approaches. Many others joined the event, organized by the OU, via livestream .

Rabbi Hauer, who had served as EVP at the OU since 2020, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 60 over Shemini Atzeret last year. His passing came just hours after the remaining living 20 Israeli hostages, taken on Oct. 7, 2023, were returned from Gaza. Keeping the plight of the hostages in the public eye was just one aspect of the public advocacy work Rabbi Hauer engaged in on behalf of the OU and the Jewish community, as he sought to bring Torah values to the world and increase unity among Jews.

“Over the past year, we have felt Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt”l’s absence in countless moments, even as we continue to feel his presence in the Torah he taught, the relationships he built, and the values he embodied,” said Rabbi Josh Joseph, CEO of the Orthodox Union, who worked closely with Rabbi Hauer over the years as the two led the OU together. “Rabbi Hauer had a rare ability to make every person feel seen and every challenge worthy of his full heart and attention. The many lives he touched, throughout our community and far beyond it, remain a testament to a life devoted to Torah, to Klal Yisrael, and to caring deeply for others. On his first yahrzeit, we remember not only how profoundly we miss him, but how enduringly his wisdom, warmth, and example continue to guide and inspire us.”

An emotional video played at the event featured clips of Rabbi Hauer throughout his years at the OU, speaking about his love of Torah, dedication to prayer, and how to foster more unity among the Jewish people, especially amid rising antisemitism. “The study of Torah is equal to everything,” he said in one clip. “It stimulates everything. It grows us. The Torah spoke, as our sages teach us, in 600,000 voices when the Jewish people stood around Har Sinai. And there’s so many different unique languages of Torah. Torah belongs to everyone. And it’s our responsibility, all of us, to make sure that everybody has their portion of that precious inheritance.”

Speakers at the event recalled how diligently Rabbi Hauer worked to spread Torah, create unity, and stand up for the rights and values of the Jewish community and of Israel. Rabbi Hauer’s son, Rabbi Shlomo Hauer, quoted Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, a prominent Torah scholar and student of the Vilna Gaon: “This is what man is about. He wasn’t created for himself. Rather, he was created to do for others in any which way that he can.”

“This is the way my father lived, literally,” Rabbi Shlomo Hauer said. “He managed to make time for every individual,” he recalled.“And when he was able to connect with people one-on-one, that gave him the greatest pleasure,” he said. “He always made sure not to hold back when he had something positive to say about someone or to someone, even when that meant making phone calls at hectic times before holidays, or writing letters to authors of books he read to compliment their work.”

Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University’s RIETS and Rav of Congregation Beth Abraham,shares how Rabbi Hauer always displayed clarity for Torah values when he spoke to others and when he spoke publicly, drawing a parallel to Moshe Rabbenu, who also always had a clear message as he led Am Yisrael in the desert.

“He mastered the ability to be public, to be a leader and to be self-effacing at the same time,” Rabbi Neuburger said. This clarity and commitment to working for the greater good inspired many people to work with Rabbi Hauer and come together to accomplish things, even when they were difficult.

“Whenever Rabbi Hauer called, you knew it was as a shaliach of Klal Yisrael, you can’t turn Klal Yisrael down,” Rabbi Neuburger said.

Rabbi Hauer worked with many different leaders and groups across the Jewish world, speakers at the event recalled. He put aside any personal agenda to focus on the common needs of the Jewish community. “Nothing he did was for his own honor but for the honor of Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu,” said Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter, quoting an idea from the Talmud, as he addressed the event through a video recording.

Sheila Katz, who worked with Rabbi Hauer on advocacy issues when she served as CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, spoke about his ability to relate to others different from himself. He also knew how to disagree on topics with people but still maintain relationships with them and work with them, said Katz, now Chief Jewish Life Officer at the Jewish Federations of North America. “You didn’t have to agree with him to feel seen by him.”

Katz shared that last year, just before Rosh Hashana, and only a few weeks before his passing, Rabbi Hauer reflected to her on the famous phrase from Rosh Hashana davening “Who will live and who will die. Who will die at the predestined time and who before that time.” Rabbi Hauer explained that these lines should be read with the idea that we are not just individuals who will come and go, but are all part of a trajectory, working together for Klal Yisrael.

“It is not our task to finish the job, just to continue it and never neglect it,” she said, quoting Rabbi Hauer.

Incoming Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union, Rabbi Shmuel Silber, talked about how he first met Rabbi Hauer 24 years ago when his family moved to Baltimore, and how he was a mentor to him ever since. He respected everyone and understood that time was precious, so he was always using it well, Silber recalled.

“He always had profound insight, intuition, and understanding,” Silber recalled. “What was so special about Rabbi Hauer is that he taught us these two lessons: Bring Hashem into every single thing that you do, and always look up,” toward Heaven. Especially during the Covid pandemic and after October 7th, Rabbi Hauer modeled this approach, inspiring others to find the strength to go on amid overwhelming challenges and loss.

“Rabbi Hauer created a vision, a vision for something higher, a vision for something holier, a vision for something greater,” Silber said. “And his neshama calls out to us to continue his holy work.”

The OU community is dedicated to embracing the memory of Rabbi Hauer and making his life part of their work each day.

“This has been a year of great trauma and great resilience for the OU,” said Mitch Aeder, president of the OU. “Rabbi Hauer, zt”l was larger than life. We miss him every day, both as individuals and as an organization. At the same time, Rabbi Hauer’s love of Torah and love of the Jewish people continue to inspire and motivate our extraordinary professionals to serve Klal Yisrael with dedication and humility. As we approach the yahrzeit, it is meaningful to share our sadness and gratitude with the Hauer family and many of those in the community whom he touched.”

Israir has entered the transatlantic market for the first time, officially launching nonstop service between Ben Gurion Airport and New York’s JFK Airport.

The new route marks a major expansion for the Israeli airline, which is now operating long-haul flights to the United States using its newly introduced Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft. The launch follows the completion of the necessary regulatory approvals from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation.

The addition of Israir to the Israel–New York market also introduces a new competitor on a route that, until now, has had relatively limited airline competition. El Al has long dominated nonstop service between Israel and New York, while other carriers have also operated in the market.

For travelers, Israir’s entry could potentially bring increased competition and, hopefully, more competitive airfares. With another airline offering nonstop service between Ben Gurion and JFK, passengers may have more choices and greater leverage when comparing prices, particularly during busy travel periods.

The new service is expected to provide another option for the large number of Israelis and American travelers who regularly fly between Israel and the New York area, adding capacity and competition to one of the busiest Israel–U.S. travel markets.

The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion weapons package for Israel that would include 40,000 2,000-pound bombs, according to U.S. officials cited by The Washington Post and Reuters.

The proposed package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, along with additional I-2000 penetrator warheads, according to the reports. The plan has been informally communicated to relevant congressional committees but has not yet been finalized.

The Washington Post described the proposal as the largest recent U.S. sale of 2,000-pound munitions to Israel. It would follow several major arms transfers approved since the beginning of the Trump administration, including a $2.04 billion weapons sale in 2025 that was expedited through emergency authorities.

A senior administration official said that pending foreign arms sales are proceeding through the appropriate process, while declining to comment specifically on the proposed transaction.

The proposed sale comes as the United States and Israel continue extensive military cooperation amid ongoing regional conflicts and heightened tensions with Iran and its allies.

אין לנו על מי להישען אלא על אבינו שבשמים

When a beloved local business is suddenly destroyed by fire, the loss goes far beyond the building itself. For J2 Pizza owner Isaac Nakar, the devastating fire was the loss of a business that has been part of his family for more than two decades, and a profession that he unexpectedly stepped into after the passing of his father.

We sat down with Isaac to hear the story behind J2 Pizza, the circumstances surrounding the fire, the tremendous support he has received from the Five Towns community, and his plans to rebuild and move forward with emunah and bitachon.

5TC: For those who may not know your story, tell us a little about yourself and how you first got into the pizza business.

Isaac: My name is Isaac Nakar. I live in Flatbush, and in the mornings I’m a Rebbe in a local yeshiva. My father had the store for many years. About nine years ago, he suddenly suffered a stroke and, unfortunately, passed away a few months later. At the time, there really wasn’t anyone else in the family who was available to take over the business, so it kind of fell on me. It was a pretty big change for me because I was on a completely different track. I was in college, on the pre-med route, and I had just gotten engaged. But when this happened, I stepped in and started running the store. I got married shortly afterward, and, Baruch Hashem, our family started growing. Over time, the business really became my profession and a big part of my life.

5TC: How many years ago did you open Jerusalem Pizza, and what made you decide to start a pizza shop in the Five Towns?

**Isaac:**We opened in the year 2000. My father actually purchased the business from a friend of his who owned J2 on Avenue M in Flatbush. He had originally bought this location for his wife, but eventually she wasn’t able to continue running it, so he sold it to my father. That’s how we got started, and from there it became a family business and something that’s been part of our lives for over 25 years.

5TC: What led to the transition from Jerusalem Pizza to J2 Pizza, and what did that next chapter mean to you?

Isaac: A few years after my father bought the Five Towns location, my brother wanted to get into the business as well, so he opened a J2 Pizza in Borough Park on 18th Avenue. Around that time, we also wanted to make the names more uniform and turn it into more of a brand. We reached out to the original owner—the person who had sold my father the Five Towns location—and he agreed to let us use the J2 name. At the time, the Five Towns store was actually called Jerusalem Famous Pizza. So we changed the name to J2 Pizza to make both locations uniform and build a stronger brand around it.

5TC: Take us back to the night of the fire. When did you first find out what was happening, and what went through your mind when you arrived and saw the damage?

Isaac: I was actually in Lakewood that night. We spend the summers there, and my phone is usually on at night. But that night, my phone had died, so I didn’t get any of the calls that were coming in. Around 6 or 6:30 in the morning, my wife got a call from one of the departments that had been at the scene, and they told us there had been a devastating fire and that the entire store was gone. It’s hard to describe what it’s like to wake up to news like that — hearing that something you’ve spent years building is suddenly gone. What made it even harder was that we had just invested heavily in renovating the store, so to have it all destroyed so soon afterward was especially difficult to take in. The initial reaction was honestly just disbelief. It was such a shock and so surreal that I don’t think I even fully processed it right away. Then, after the initial shock wore off, I started thinking about the timing. The fire had started around 3:30 in the morning, and I just kept thinking, Baruch Hashem, it happened at the store and not at my house. At that hour, if something like that had happened in our home, the situation could have been so much more frightening and so much worse. Losing the business is incredibly painful, and we’re still coming to terms with the full extent of it. But at the same time, I felt a tremendous sense of gratitude to Hashem that everyone was safe, and that it happened at the store — where no one was there — rather than at our home. As devastating as the fire was, that’s something I had to be thankful for.

5TC: Do you have any idea yet what caused the fire? Has the Fire Marshal been able to give you any preliminary information?

Isaac: The Fire Marshal hasn’t given us a final determination yet, so I don’t want to say anything definitively. But based on what we’ve been told, it appears it was an electrical fire, it looks like one of the pieces of equipment malfunctioned. We’re still waiting to hear the final determination.

5TC: Seeing your business, which you’ve built over so many years, suffer this kind of damage must be incredibly difficult. What has this experience been like for you personally?

Isaac: It’s really difficult, and honestly, it’s hard to put into words. When something like this happens, you lose a certain sense of security — you realize how quickly something you’ve built for so many years can change. But at the same time, I look at it as a message from Hashem that we need to have more emunah and more bitachon. We have to believe that everything is going to work out and that, ultimately, things will be great. Hashem has His ways, and just as He’s provided for me until now, He’ll continue to do so.

5TC: Have you gotten any sense yet of how long it could take before J2 can reopen? Are you hoping to rebuild in the same location?

Isaac: I don’t have a timeline yet for when we’ll be able to reopen, because a lot of it is out of my hands — there’s a lot that has to happen before I can even start rebuilding, so it’s hard to say right now how long it will take. But the plan is definitely to rebuild. IY”H, we’ll come back better and stronger than before.

5TC: You’ve received a tremendous amount of support from the Five Towns community. What has that support meant to you and your family during this difficult time?

Isaac: The support we’ve received from the community has been so special and so meaningful to us. Honestly, it’s that support that’s allowed us to remain open in some capacity even after the fire. The owner of Fialkoff’s Pizza reached out and wanted to help us. Thanks to his generosity, we’re available on Uber Eats, and our catering division, The Pizza Bar, is still operating. It’s really meant a lot to know that, at a time when we were dealing with something so difficult, people in the community stepped up and looked for ways to help us keep going. We’re deeply grateful for that.

5TC: Is there anything the community can do right now to help you, your employees, or the business get back on your feet?

Isaac: The love, support, and good wishes we’ve received from the community have meant so much to us. I really can’t say enough about it. At this point, all I can really ask is that people continue supporting us, if they’re able to, through this difficult time. We lost a big part of our business overnight, and we’re trying to keep things going while we work toward rebuilding. Every order, every catering job, and every bit of support helps us keep moving forward and, IY”H, get back on our feet and continue doing what we’ve been doing for so many years.

5TC: When you think about the future of J2, what do you want people to know? Do you see this as the end of one chapter or a beginning of another?

Isaac: I want people to know that we plan on rebuilding. We definitely don’t want to go out this way. It’s a big hiccup, there’s no question about it, but we plan on continuing and moving forward. We’re incredibly grateful for every single customer, every single order, and all the support and patronage that the Five Towns community has given us over the last 26 years. It’s meant so much to us, especially now. With the help of Hashem, I truly believe we’ll come out of this stronger than ever. We’ll rebuild, we’ll continue, and we’ll be here for the community for many more years to come.

5TC: Isaac, it was truly a pleasure finally meeting you in person, although unfortunately under such difficult circumstances. From our conversation, it’s clear that you are an incredible Eved Hashem, and the way you are handling this situation with such emunah and bitachon is truly inspiring.

May you have continued hatzlacha in all your endeavors, and we look forward to seeing J2 Pizza reopen, IY”H, bigger and better than ever!

We regret to inform of the passing of Tanchum Portnoy A”H, a beloved member of the 5 Towns community.

You may not know his name, but you almost certainly know his melody.

Tanchum Portnoy, composed the beloved melody for Eitz Chaim sung in shuls around the world.He composed it at just 22 years old.

Since then, his melody has become part of the soundtrack of Jewish life, sung by generations as the Torah is returned to the Aron Kodesh. It was later popularized by leading chazzanim and musicians, including his good friend Shlomo Carlebach, and became a cherished part of Shabbos in shuls across the world.

For the world, he gave us all a melody. For those who knew him, he filled their lives with kindness, generosity, and love. The warmth so many of us hear in his music was the warmth he brought to the 5 Towns everyday of his life.

Born July 22, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York, he was a longtime resident of Lawrence, New York, and his kevurah was in Beit Shemesh, Israel. He is survived by his wife Sara, his children Eli, Amichai, Ilan, and Gali, and their families.

The original 1975 recording of Eitz Chaim can be listened to below: The 1975 album “Tanchumim” – sung by Avraham Yanon (Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus), arranged by Yisroel Lamm.

This Shabbos, Shabbos Shuvah, September 19, 2026 (8 Tishrei 5787), shuls around the world are are encouraged to sing his Eitz Chaim in his memory.

Yihi Zichro Baruch. Hamakom Yinacheim Eschem.

—
Levaya & Shiva Info:

The Levaya will be on Tuesday, September 15, at 1:00pm at Eretz HaChaim Cemetery in Beit Shemesh. The family will be arriving in Israel on Tuesday, on El Al flight 02

On Thursday, September 17, shiva will be observed at 1118 Warren Street, New Milford.

* Selichos and Shacharis at 7:15am
* Mincha/Mariv at 6:45pm
* Please do not visit between 12:00-1:00pm and 5:00-6:00pm, nor after 10:00pm.

Shiva on Wednesday, Friday, Motzei Shabbat and Sunday, will be observed at 148 Sutton Place South, Lawrence, NY

* Shacharis: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 8:00am
* Mincha/Mariv: Wednesday at 6:45pm

By: Rabbi Shay Tahan

A Jewish neighborhood. A controversial and deeply divisive mayor. A crowd of admirers—and one woman standing alone in protest.

When Mayor Mamdani walked into Eichler’s in Boro Park, he was greeted not with hostility, but with smiles, handshakes, cheers, gifts, and admiration. Members of the Jewish community gathered around him, eager to welcome the city’s newly elected mayor. For a moment, the scene seemed to send a powerful message: Boro Park was ready to embrace Mamdani.

But then there was the woman who refused to join the celebration.

Standing amid the crowd, she protested against the mayor and the spectacle unfolding around her. While others saw an opportunity to welcome the city’s new leader and establish a relationship with him, she saw something very different: an unacceptable display of admiration for a politician whose positions have raised profound concerns among many Jews.

Who is right?

Is greeting Mayor Mamdani simply smart politics and responsible community relations? Can a Jewish community maintain cordial relations with a mayor while firmly rejecting positions it considers dangerous or objectionable? And where is the line between diplomacy and endorsement?

To understand where the proper balance lies, we must turn to the Torah and the teachings of Chazal.

The Torah presents several striking examples of Jews showing honor and deference to people in positions of power. Perhaps the most famous is Yaakov Avinu’s encounter with Eisav.

Eisav was no ordinary political adversary. He was Yaakov’s brother who harbored hatred toward him and came toward him with four hundred men. Yet when Yaakov encountered Eisav, the Torah tells us that Yaakov bowed before Eisav seven times. He also sent him an enormous gift and addressed him respectfully.

Yaakov’s conduct certainly cannot be understood as an endorsement of Eisav’s values. Eisav represented a worldview fundamentally opposed to that of Yaakov and his descendants. Nevertheless, Yaakov understood that there are circumstances in which showing respect and seeking peace with a powerful individual is appropriate.

Perhaps this is how we can understand the warm welcome given by many members of our community to Mayor Mamdani. Their greeting does not necessarily mean that they endorse his political positions or worldview. Perhaps they were demonstrating respect toward a powerful political figure while seeking to establish a productive relationship with the person who now holds authority over New York City.

The Torah provides another remarkable example in the way Yaakov Avinu interacted with Pharaoh.

Pharaoh was not merely a political leader with whom the Jewish people happened to disagree. He was the ruler who enslaved Bnei Yisrael and decreed that their male children be thrown into the Nile. Yet when Yaakov stood before Pharaoh, the Torah tells us: “And Yaakov blessed Pharaoh.”

This is remarkable. Yaakov stood before the ruler of Egypt, a king whose government would eventually enslave his descendants, and yet he did not treat him with contempt. He was able to maintain his own beliefs and principles while simultaneously showing respect to the king.

The lesson is important: respecting a ruler does not necessarily mean respecting everything the ruler believes or does. One can recognize the authority of an office, maintain a relationship with the person occupying it, and speak respectfully while firmly opposing his policies.

But the Torah and Chazal also present the opposite approach.

In the story of Purim, Mordechai finds himself in a very different situation. When Haman leads him through the streets of the city on the king’s horse, Mordechai does not respond with the deference one might expect toward the king’s representative. When Haman helps Mordechai mount the horse, Mordechai kicks him with his foot before climbing onto the horse.

Rather than showing Haman the honor ordinarily accorded to a representative of the king, Mordechai treated him with open contempt. His conduct reflected a deliberate refusal to honor Haman, despite the authority he wielded.

Chazal themselves address this very tension.

The Gemara in Megillah (6b) teaches:

“אם ראית רשע שהשעה משחקת לו — אל תתגרה בו.”

“If you see a wicked person whose hour is smiling upon him, do not provoke him.”

The Gemara explains that when a wicked person is enjoying success and power, his position is particularly formidable. The Gemara then discusses the apparent contradiction between this teaching and the statement that it is permissible to provoke the wicked in this world, offering several distinctions. One of the conclusions is:

“When his hour is smiling upon him, it is different.”

Chazal are therefore recognizing an important principle: the proper response to a problematic or even wicked individual may depend not only upon who he is, but also upon the circumstances and the degree of power he currently possesses.

Accordingly, since the mayor appears to have “the hour smiling upon him” and currently holds considerable political power, there may be a strong argument for greeting him warmly rather than provoking him. From the perspective of the Gemara in Megillah, diplomacy and restraint may therefore be the wiser course.

But there is an important limit to this approach.

In Sotah (41b), the Gemara relates the famous incident involving King Agrippas during the mitzvah of Hakhel. Agrippas stood before the people and read the Torah. When he reached the words — “You may not appoint over yourself a foreigner” — he began to cry, because of his lineage.

Seeing the king’s distress, the people called out to him — “You are our brother, you are our brother.”

The Gemara then makes a shocking statement: “At that moment, Israel became deserving of destruction because they flattered Agrippas.”

The Gemara is not teaching that every expression of respect toward a king is forbidden. The problem was that the people crossed the line from legitimate respect into חנופה. They told Agrippas something that was not true simply to make him feel better.

This distinction is crucial. There is a difference between respecting a person’s position and flattering the person himself. There is a difference between diplomacy and admiration, and between maintaining a relationship with a powerful leader and publicly identifying ourselves with everything he represents.

Let’s go a step further:

In recent years, we have witnessed two radically different approaches within the Jewish world.

On one side are those who believe that Jews must avoid unnecessary confrontation with powerful figures and nations. Some groups, most notably Neturei Karta, have even gone so far as to embrace or publicly engage with some of Israel’s most bitter enemies. Their approach is based on the belief that confrontation and political power do not necessarily protect the Jewish people, and that accommodation and opposition to confrontation may offer a safer path.

Others have taken almost the exact opposite approach.

They believe that after nearly two thousand years of exile, the Jewish people have entered a fundamentally different stage of history. We are no longer a powerless minority dependent upon the goodwill of foreign rulers. Hashem has granted us a Jewish state, political influence, military strength, and a renewed sense of national identity.

Their message is therefore very different: We should no longer bow our heads before the nations. We should stand tall as Jews and express our Jewish identity and pride openly.

Perhaps the difference lies in how we understand the era in which we are living.

There are two fundamentally different understandings of our present situation, and each naturally produces a very different approach.

Those who believe that we remain fully in exile—even while living in the Land of Israel—will naturally view our relationship with the nations through the lens of galut. Throughout the generations, Jews lived under foreign rulers and understood the importance of maintaining peaceful relations with those who held power. Chazal taught us to respect government authority, to avoid unnecessary confrontation, and to conduct ourselves wisely before the nations.

In galut, the Jew often had little choice but to recognize the power of the ruler standing before him.

But there are others who believe that we are living in the final stages of the geulah. They see the return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel, the establishment of Jewish sovereignty, and the renewed strength and confidence of the Jewish people as signs that we are no longer living in the same historical reality that defined Jewish life for centuries.

If that is indeed the reality of our times, perhaps the Jewish response should also be different.

Perhaps we can finally raise our heads.

Perhaps we can express Jewish pride publicly without constantly worrying about how the nations will react.

Perhaps we can protest political leaders without feeling that we might lose their approval.

And perhaps we can say clearly: We will work with you when necessary, but we will not pretend to admire what we believe is wrong.

Perhaps the answer determines how we should interpret what happened at Eichler’s.

There is nothing inherently wrong with meeting a mayor. There is nothing wrong with speaking to him, working with him, or even welcoming him into our community. Political relationships are necessary, and a responsible Jewish community must maintain relationships with those who govern it.

But we must be careful.

A handshake is one thing. A public celebration is another.

Respect for an office is one thing. Admiration for a political worldview is another.

Diplomacy is one thing. Flattery is another.

And perhaps the woman who stood alone in protest was raising the question that the rest of us need to ask:

When we welcome a powerful political leader into our community, are we simply being diplomatic—or are we sending a message that we have embraced him and what he represents?

That is the line we must learn to recognize in my opinion.

President Javier Milei of Argentina, widely regarded as one of Israel’s strongest international supporters, is scheduled to visit Yeshiva Darchei Torah on Tuesday, September 22, the day after Yom Kippur, during his time in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Milei has repeatedly expressed his support for Israel and the Jewish people, and recently participated in events honoring the Rebbe and addressed Yeshiva University. Milei is a tremendous Oheiv Yisroel and a true friend of the Jewish people, and it will be a tremendous honor for our community to welcome him.

The yeshiva sent the following letter to parents regarding the special visit:

“Dear Parents,

Yeshiva Darchei Torah will be welcoming a unique and distinguished guest to our campus on Tuesday, September 22 (the day after Yom Kippur): His Excellency Mr. Javier Milei, President of Argentina.

President Milei is a world leader who, at a time of growing anti-Semitism, is a rare and steadfast supporter of the Jewish people. The president will be in New York that day for the U.N. General Assembly and is eager to visit our yeshiva, one of the largest of its kind in North America, and to address our students.

Because of the visit’s specific schedule and security requirements, there will be changes to some Yeshiva dismissal times and procedures that day. Please watch your email for details.”

A newly published report in Ami Magazine offers a glimpse into a conversation between President Donald Trump and a group of prominent Rabbonim during a pre-Rosh Hashanah meeting in the Oval Office.

According to reporter Yochonon Donn, Trump reflected on the differing reactions to two major actions of his administration: the U.S. military campaign against Iran and his 2017 commutation of the prison sentence of Reb Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin.

Trump reportedly told the Rabbonim that he was surprised by the contrast.

“You guys are funny,” Trump said, according to Ami. “I sent B-2 bombers to Iran. I bombed them to smithereens. If I wouldn’t have bombed them, they would have wiped out Israel, but I don’t get a thank you. But I pardoned this butcher from Iowa, he has some kind of funny name, and everybody is happy.”

When someone reminded him that the name was Rubashkin, Trump reportedly joked about the pronunciation before asking whether he was still alive.

The Rabbonim assured the president that Rubashkin was doing well. Reb Yoel Rosenfeld then told Trump that the commutation had sparked widespread celebration in the Jewish community.

“Mr. President, I want to tell you there was dancing in the streets of Brooklyn when this happened,” Rosenfeld said, according to the report.

Trump responded by referencing his support among Orthodox Jewish voters, saying, “Brooklyn? I got 94% of the vote in your areas.”

The president then returned to the circumstances surrounding Rubashkin’s lengthy prison sentence. According to Ami, Trump characterized the case as antisemitic and recalled questioning the prosecutor about the 28-year sentence.

Trump reportedly said he told the prosecutor that the sentence was excessive and ultimately informed him, “You’re an anti-Semite. I’m pardoning him.”

The account appears in Ami Magazine, Issue 784, in a report by Yochonon Donn.

A political action committee backed by New York Knicks owner James Dolan has launched a new statewide billboard campaign supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman while targeting Gov. Kathy Hochul over New York’s population decline.

The $250,000 campaign by Strong and Safe New York features the message, “You Are Now Leaving NY (Like Everyone Else),” and promotes Blakeman as Hochul’s Republican challenger.

Hundreds of thousands have fled Hochul's unaffordable New York.

In Nassau, I cut taxes and built the safest county in America instead of driving people out.

When I am Governor, you won't have to leave home to afford to live here. pic.twitter.com/iSpQx2D5iO

— Bruce Blakeman (@NassauExec) September 4, 2026

The billboards are being placed along major highways and routes leading out of New York, including areas near the Outerbridge Crossing, the George Washington Bridge, Interstate 287 in Rockland County, Interstate 84 near Pennsylvania, routes east of Albany toward Massachusetts, and roads near the Canadian border.

The campaign centers on New York’s population losses in recent years. The PAC argues that high taxes, energy costs and state policies have contributed to residents leaving for other states.

Hochul’s political opponents have also revived comments she made during the 2022 gubernatorial campaign, when she told supporters of Donald Trump and Republican candidates Lee Zeldin and Marc Molinaro to “jump on a bus and head down to Florida where you belong” and said they did not represent New York’s values.

Hochul later shifted her focus toward reversing New York’s population and tax-base losses, including encouraging wealthy former New Yorkers to return to the state.

Speakers: Dayan Fuerst, Dr. Dinner, & Dr. Bittan.

Full Text PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jsknsAxMqPY10L2Q4ESyrVdhSDH4_Q7-/view?usp=sharing

Video Recording of Live Lecture at TorahAnytime:

New York is moving away from the long-standing Regents exam system, with the State Board of Regents voting to remove the exams as a mandatory condition for earning a high school diploma.

The change is set to take effect with the Class of 2028. Under the new approach, students would no longer have to pass a series of state Regents tests in order to graduate.

Instead, New York plans to adopt a single diploma pathway that gives individual school districts greater flexibility in determining how students demonstrate their knowledge. Schools could rely on classroom assessments, regular assignments, teacher evaluations, projects and other forms of academic work rather than a single high-stakes examination.

State education officials say the overhaul is intended to make graduation requirements more equitable and reduce the emphasis on “teaching to the test.” They also pointed to differences between public and private education, noting that students in some private-school settings have historically not been subject to the same Regents requirements.

The change does not mean New York is eliminating standardized testing altogether. Federal education requirements will continue to require periodic assessments in areas including math, English and science. However, those exams will primarily be used to measure how school systems are performing rather than determine whether an individual student can receive a diploma.

The Board of Regents is expected to consider the final regulatory changes in June 2027, paving the way for the new graduation system to be implemented.

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein explains the significance of the fast of Tzom Gedaliah and its relationship to the spiritual momentum built during Rosh Hashanah.

After celebrating the coronation of Hashem during Rosh Hashanah, it is essential to hold onto that inspiration and momentum as we prepare for Yom Kippur.

The fast commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah, whose death marked a period of disconnection and severance for the Jewish people between the First and Second Temples.

To avoid starting over when Yom Kippur arrives, Rav Glatstein suggests staying mindful of commitments made during Rosh Hashanah. He encourages listeners to avoid excessive technology use or any commitment made over Rosh Hashanah and to write down ones spiritual goals to help maintain their progress.

The Village of Lawrence announced that its comprehensive municipal infrastructure improvement project, conducted in close partnership with Liberty Water, is approaching its final stages.

According to Liberty Water, infrastructure upgrades were selected after a comprehensive review of the age and condition of existing water mains, repair history, and customer service data, including water pressure concerns and service complaints. These improvements are designed to address water pressure deficiencies, accommodate increased demand on the system, and enhance overall water quality for residents.

Through proactive inter-agency coordination, Liberty Water is wrapping up essential subterranean water main replacements prior to surface paving, protecting local roadways and preventing post-construction utility cuts.

“We’re proud to collaborate with the Village of Lawrence on projects that strengthen the community and support our customers,” said Deborah Franco, President of Liberty New York Water. “By working together, we can deliver improvements that make a real difference for the people who live and work here.

Mayor Samuel Nahmias, Village of Lawrence, thanked Liberty Water for their partnership, “This is in conjunction with a great partnership with our utility providers… Liberty… coordinating the repair of the roads prior to the installation of new piping. We met, we are working together, getting new piping into the ground, and then we’re paving these roads that need to be paved. That’s in conjunction with great partnerships, so I just want to say thank you.”

Mayor Nahmias emphasized that replacing aging water infrastructure is a vital, smart investment that strengthens water service reliability while ensuring that newly resurfaced roads will not be disturbed by future utility excavations.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS & UPCOMING STEPS:

* Subsurface Liberty Water Upgrades: Installation of modernized water piping to reinforce water system capacity, improve pressure, and elevate overall water quality.
* Synchronized Resurfacing Operations: Following the completion of the water main replacement work, the Village of Lawrence will repave the affected roadways to ensure streets are fully restored and improved for residents.
* Taxpayer Investment Protection: Syncing subterranean pipe replacements prior to paving preserves newly laid asphalt and extends road life.

Final asphalt paving across targeted village roadways will wrap up in the coming weeks throughout the months of September-October with minimal impact to local traffic.

New York will begin sending out checks next week as part of a new $1 billion energy relief program announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Starting September 21, eligible households will automatically receive one-time payments ranging from $100 to $200. The state expects approximately 8.2 million households to receive checks, with payments continuing through December.

The amount is based on filing status and 2024 income. Married couples filing jointly with income below $150,000 will receive $200, while those earning between $150,000 and $300,000 will receive $150. Single filers earning under $150,000 will receive $100.

Residents do not need to apply. The state will determine eligibility using information from 2024 New York tax returns. Recipients must have filed on time, been full-year New York residents, meet the income requirements and not have been claimed as someone else’s dependent.

The initiative, funded through the 2026 state budget, is intended to provide temporary relief from high electricity and heating costs heading into the winter.

With the governor race heating up, many are questioning the timing of this “relief pay-out” calling it a political stunt to buy votes.

My $200 is going go to Bruce Blakeman for Governor. You didn’t put money back in our pockets. You mailed $200 in an election year “again”, and call it relief.
You watched energy costs explode on your watch. Power in this state sits about 60% above the U.S. average. Your… pic.twitter.com/CobfpCFcbw

— Robert P (@RobertP91006927) September 14, 2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to make a brief visit to New York later this month to address the United Nations General Assembly, with his appearance expected to draw both heightened security measures and demonstrations.

According to Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon, Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive late September 23, deliver his address on September 24, and return to Israel that same night, making the trip roughly 24 hours long.

The visit comes during the U.N.’s annual high-level General Debate, which is scheduled for September 22–28 at U.N. headquarters in Manhattan.

Netanyahu’s appearance is expected to be particularly contentious this year. Danon said he anticipates demonstrations and disruptions similar to those surrounding the prime minister’s address last year, when large numbers of delegates walked out of the General Assembly hall.

The trip also follows a political dispute with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had previously said he would seek to have Netanyahu arrested over an International Criminal Court warrant related to the Gaza war. Mamdani subsequently acknowledged that New York City does not have the legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant.

Danon criticized Mamdani’s earlier comments as political maneuvering but said Israel considers Netanyahu’s presence at the U.N. important despite the controversy.

It remains unclear whether Netanyahu will meet with President Donald Trump during the New York visit. The two leaders most recently met in July.