Jooish News

Looking around at the vibrant community Lakewood has become, it’s remarkable to remember that it all began with Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, and a small group of his talmidim.

Every significant movement in Klal Yisroel started with an individual who had an idea and DID something to bring it to life. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of those who committed to building their community, Lakewood has grown into one of the world’s prominent Torah communities.

It’s inspiring to reflect on the potential that each yochid possesses. We all have the ability—and responsibility—to contribute meaningfully to Klal Yisroel. And while individual efforts are essential, they are often supported by an engaged tzibbur that helps turn those ideas into reality. When we come together as a tzibbur—yechidim joining to form the unique kehilla of Klal Yisroel—the possibilities are vast.

Since its inception, Agudah has been a committed advocate for our community, working in the halls of government, protecting our religious freedoms, representing our people in the courts, and providing a range of constituent services. 

Let’s continue this important work on behalf of Klal Yisroel.

With your participation, we will, b’ezras Hashem, exchange ideas, brainstorm solutions to the challenges facing our community, and launch initiatives that will enhance our families’ lives. 

Because that’s what we do. 

Doing for the Klal, day in and day out. This is who we are. This is what we do. 

Do your part—please support us at charidy.com/wedo. 

Rabbi Shlomo Schorr
Director of Legislative Affairs

Rabbi Shimon Yehudah Mandel
Director of New Jersey Development

Quote:
“Our success is a shared success… Working together allows us to achieve many more accomplishments, b’ezras Hashem.”

According to a new bombshell report in the Jewish Chronicle, the IDF believes Hamas is losing control over other terror organizations in the Gaza Strip, and some have been planning a coup against Hamas terror leader Yahya Sinwar for months.

According to the report, terror groups such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Mujahideen Brigades, the al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades, and the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades no longer listen to instructions from Sinwar, and are ‘cut off’ from Hamas. It is unclear exactly how many hostages these groups are holding, or if any are alive.

The report also states that Hamas is only holding 22 living hostages, and is keeping them handcuffed, around Sinwar at all times, to use as his human shields.

Reportedly, multiple IDF operations to eliminate Sinwar were not carried out due to fear of harming these hostages.

Among the complaints the smaller terror groups have with Sinwar is their desire to have their own terrorists released from Israeli prison in a hostage release / ceasefire deal. Additionally, the terror groups do not support any compromise with Israel, and are demanding Israel release all prisoners. According to the report, these groups have been planning a coup against Sinwar for months.

(JNS)

Dear Matzav Inbox,

As summer draws to a close and the new school year approaches, there is a familiar dread that creeps into the hearts of many parents—the overwhelming burden of purchasing school supplies. What should be a simple task has turned into a financial nightmare, one that seems to grow more burdensome every year.

I recently found myself in the middle of a crowded store, clutching a list that stretched longer than my arm, wondering why on earth my child needed five different colored binders, four sets of markers, three packs of highlighters, and a partridge in a pear tree! The list went on and on: specialty graph paper, obscure workbooks, glue sticks in bulk as if we were opening our own arts and crafts store, and myriad other items that left me shaking my head in disbelief.

And what’s more infuriating? Half of these supplies don’t even end up being used! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened my child’s backpack at the end of the year to find pristine, untouched notebooks, or that extra pack of markers that somehow managed to make it through the year without a single cap being removed. I’m left with piles of unused materials that I was pressured into buying because, heaven forbid, my child shows up without them on the first day of school.

Then, there are the books. Every year, we’re handed a list of textbooks to purchase, often brand new editions because the one we bought last year has magically become obsolete. Why? Did math change overnight? Did history rewrite itself? But we comply, forking over hundreds of dollars for books that are often only skimmed through, or worse, barely touched at all. I’ve seen my child struggle through massive textbooks only to find that the teacher relied mostly on photocopied handouts. Those glossy, expensive pages? They might as well be paperweights.

I remember one year, being asked to provide a specific brand of colored pencils because they were supposedly better for “learning outcomes.” I’m no educator, but I fail to see how the brand of colored pencils could possibly influence my child’s ability to succeed in school.

We are already stretched thin by tuition and the other expenses that come with raising children. The additional burden of overpriced, unnecessary school supplies is not just frustrating—it’s outrageous. Schools need to seriously reevaluate their supply lists and consider the financial strain they are putting on parents. We want to support our children’s chinuch, but there is a limit to how much we can be expected to spend on items that will gather dust in a drawer.

It’s time for a change. Let’s cut the unnecessary fluff, focus on what’s truly needed, and maybe, just maybe, let parents breathe a little easier at the start of the school year.

Sincerely,
A Parent in the School Supplies Aisle

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Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz on Wednesday called for “the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents and whatever steps are required,” after the IDF overnight Tuesday launched a large-scale anti-terror operation in Yehuda and Shomron.

“This is a war in every respect and we must win it,” Katz tweeted.

“The IDF is working intensively starting tonight in the Jenin and Tulkarem refugee camps to thwart Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructures that have been established there,” he said.

Iran is working “to establish an eastern terrorist front” in Yehuda and Shomron, said Katz, following its proxy model in Lebanon with Hezbollah and the Gaza Strip with Hamas, by “financing and arming terrorists and smuggling advanced weapons from Jordan.”

He continued: “We must deal with the threat just as we deal with the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza.”

The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported at least 11 deaths so far in the IDF operation—six in Jenin and five in Tubas, a city northeast of Shechem.

The IDF operation was launched following an uptick in terrorist incidents in the region, including the murder of a Jewish guard 10 days ago.

Jewish residents of Yehuda and Shomron have been calling for the army to take action, warning that an Oct. 7-like attack into Israel’s central region is only a matter of time if the problem is allowed to fester.

Yisrael Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, commenting on the IDF operation, said on Wednesday: “If we don’t do to Nur Shams what we did to Nuseirat [in Gaza], then God forbid, they’ll do to Bat Hefer [a village in central Israel] what they did to Be’eri [a kibbutz on the Gaza border decimated on Oct. 7].

“The time has come for us to face reality: Next to the beds of our children in Yehuda and Shomron, in Bat Hefer and Kfar Saba, lives a population that wants to kill Jews.”

(JNS)

GEORGIA (JNS) – A Republican state party official in Georgia appeared to agree with the host of a white nationalist TV show who said Jews run the government, responding, “They’re controlling everything.”

Kandiss Taylor, who chairs the Republican Party in her southeast Georgia congressional district, appeared on a mid-February episode of “The Stew Peters Show,” whose namesake host lives in Florida and has a history of promoting antisemitic rhetoric and Holocaust denial. Peters and Taylor discussed the arrest of a man accused of vandalizing a rainbow crosswalk mural in south Florida honoring the LGBTQ+ community.

In the episode, which the liberal media watchdog Media Matters for America reported Monday, Peters said, “No more funding our own demise — bioweapons and forever wars from the Jewish lobby that basically runs our entire government. And they run this as well, don’t they?”

Taylor responded, “Yeah they run this. 100%. They’re controlling everything.”

“Ok, @GaRepublicans, it’s time to show the Jewish community of Georgia that you reject antisemites. Let me know if I can be of assistance,” she wrote on X.

“We always knew she was extreme,” Panitch told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “I just didn’t realize her extremism went after Jews. I mean, I’m not surprised, but I was not aware of these specific comments.”

Panitch also told JTA that nobody from the Georgia Republican Party had reached out to her about Taylor’s comments.

“You can’t pretend to be a friend to the Jews, or to support us, and allow your officials to make these statements without any remarks,” she added.

This is not the first time this month that Taylor has been in the public eye for comments about religious discrimination. In an Aug. 17 episode of her podcast, “Jesus, Guns and Babies,” Taylor said that only Christians should be permitted to run for elected office.

“We shouldn’t be electing anyone in government — local, state or federal — that is not a Christian,” Taylor said. “That is how we take back this nation.”

In a now-deleted post from October 2023 screenshot by Media Matters, she responded to a post on X that said, “This has become very clear to anyone who can see: The Democrat Party has been overtaken by Marxist trash who hates Jews.” In her reply, Taylor wrote, “Hey, We have some Marxist trash using our R who pander to the Jews. Not much difference.”

In a statement posted to X, Taylor declared her opposition to antisemitism and support for Israel and Jews. She did not directly address the exchange with Peters.

“I have been made aware of the Media Matters hit piece on me,” Taylor wrote. “I want to state unequivocally that I support the State of Israel, that I support the Jewish people around the world, and that I categorically reject antisemitism in all forms. I have been proud to stand with the Georgia Republican Party on supporting Israel and rejecting antisemitism whenever and wherever it occurs.”

To Panitch, Taylor’s statement isn’t enough.

“This isn’t an apology,” Panitch said. “The fact that she’s in leadership at the Georgia GOP says that they do not take the antisemitism within their ranks seriously. They can use whatever platitudes they want, which I appreciate for them saying anything, but if they’re going to allow their members to say that Jews control the world, without any repercussions, then they’re just words.”

This comes following their initial letter signed by over 100 Rabbonim.

By Y. S. Gold

We regret to inform you of the passing of Mrs. Shifra Maggid, a longtime Boro Park resident originally from Eretz Yisroel. She was in her nineties. 

The niferes was the daughter of Reb Shlomo Blotnick, z"l, an ardent Gerer chossid, and the wife of, ybl"ch, Reb Yosef Maggid, a devoted mechanech for decades--both in Eretz Yisroel, as well as in the Gerer talmud Torah Yagdil Torah in Boro Park. 

The nifteres is being flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah on Har Mamenuchos. 

Yehi zichra baruch.

ISRAEL (VINnews) — In a partial victory for the Charedi community, the attorney general’s office will keep daycare subsidies for families of Charedi military-age yeshiva students intact until the end of November. However a senior Shas Minister is slamming the decision.

The new directive is a partial concession to a request by Labor Minister Yoav Ben-Tzur of Shas, who requested that the critical subsidies continue until September 2025, or at least February.

As part of its Charedi draft ruling, the High Court ruled that it is illegal for the state to provide benefits to military-age men who study in yeshivas and did not report for service.

One of these benefits is daycare subsidies for children aged 0-3 for families in which both parents work or study. Until now, this included yeshiva study, however, according to the AG, that is no longer true, as per its interpretation of the court.

In a letter sent to AG Gali Baharav-Miara, Ben Tzur wrote that this is “a short-term delay, a false front via a temporary solution which only deepens the problem.”

He said that the changes “are in complete opposition to the purpose of daycare subsidies.”

“Your decision to delay the decree for a period of only three months does not stem from moral motives,” he noted. “My position is clear: Only a delay of at least a year will provide a response and a solution for thousands of young children, mothers, and caregivers whose futures, security, and welfare are now called into question.”

“…Implementation or an attempt to implement your decision under the timetable involved, besides for that it is absolutely unrealistic, will also lead to complete chaos…which will critically harm normal functioning of the Ministry’s systems, with all that comes with that.”

Ben-Tzur wants an entire year in part for the welfare of the children, some of whom, for example, may be moved to a cheaper daycare mid-year. Limon rejected this, saying that these were not grounds to enable the government to violate the law.

On August 18, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote that his policy was to continue the subsidy payments, and that it was his prerogative to do so despite the attorney general’s opinion that this was illegal.

New video footage taken from before, during, and after the Jan. 6 Capitol riots sheds new light on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s actions during the crisis that dominated the end of her career as Speaker. The footage, which has so far been obtained by Politico and CNN, shows the then sitting House Speaker evacuating the Capitol on Jan. 6 to Fort McNair in D.C. The footage was shot by Alexandra Pelosi, the former House Speaker’s daughter, and a documentary filmmaker who was by her mother’s side before and after Jan. 6. The House Select Committee previously obtained some of her footage in their initial investigation.

This footage was obtained by the Republican-led House Committee on Administration, which is investigating the investigation. Pelosi reportedly resisted evacuating, telling security guards “I do not support this” and focusing on finishing the Electoral College proceedings.

In one moment, Pelosi told her chief of staff, Terri McCullough, “I feel responsible” for the delayed response from the National Guard, according to CNN.

“We did not have any accountability for what was going on there and we should have. This is ridiculous,” the former speaker reportedly said.

Even more footage was taken from Jan. 7, when Pelosi turned her attention to Donald Trump. Pelosi reportedly asked her staff for a list of Trump’s Cabinet members to call out by name in an upcoming speech, where she also planned to call the then-president “a domestic enemy in the White House.” Pelosi ended up nixing both the call-outs and the phrase “domestic enemy.” Read more at Politico.

The Israel Defense Forces recovered the body of a soldier in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday who was killed fighting Hamas operatives during the terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, the military announced.

The soldier’s family has been notified and, at their request, his name is not yet being made public.

“The entire nation mourns the terrible loss … and I send our condolences from the bottom of our hearts to his family,” Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said on Wednesday night.

“I would like to thank the brave fighters and commanders of the IDF and Shin Bet [Israel Security Agency] for their important action. The State of Israel will continue to make every effort to return all our abductees, both alive and dead,” he added.

A total of 107 hostages remain in Hamas captivity in Gaza.

“I commend the IDF and ISA forces who conducted a bold operation to retrieve the body of a fallen soldier from Gaza, and brought him home for burial in Israel,” said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday night. “This operation reflects our commitment to bringing all the hostages home.”

On Tuesday, Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, from the Bedouin city of Rahat in the Negev Desert, was rescued from a tunnel in southern Gaza in a “complex operation.”

Alkadi, the father of 11 children, was released from Beersheva’s Soroka Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon. He was held in captivity for 326 days after being abducted by Hamas from Mivtachim on Oct. 7.

Last week, the IDF recovered the bodies of six hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7 from a tunnel in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

In an operation involving the IDF and ISA, the bodies of Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri and Alex Dancyg were located more than 10 months after the Hamas massacre. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

The gunman who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump accessed his rooftop vantage point by first climbing onto an air conditioning unit, sources told NBC News.

Matthew Thomas Crooks, the 20-year-old shooter, climbed onto the roof of a building at the Butler Farm Show Grounds in July before taking eight shots at the Republican nominee. Crooks managed to graze Trump’s ear while injuring three attendees and killing one man.

However, it remains unclear how Crooks was able to get on the rooftop without alerting security.

According to the sources, Crooks was caught on security footage from a nearby ice cream shop climbing onto the building’s air conditioning unit.

It is unclear if the security footage will ever be released to the public. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after testifying before congress about the security failings, and multiple secret service agents were reportedly put on leave on Friday. Read more at NBC News.

ISRAEL (VINnews) — Qaid Farhan al-Qadi, the Bedouin Israeli Muslim hostage rescued from a Hamas tunnel, thanked Benjamin Netanyahu for the “sacred” work the IDF had done. al-Qadi also said that “there are other people waiting”, apparently referring to other hostages who are still being held captive by Hamas.

The Government Press Office published a transcript of their conversation, while al-Qadi was in Soroka Hospital.

Prime Minister Netanyahu: “Farhan, hello to you my friend. Welcome back!”

Farhan al-Qadi: “Hello; welcome. Hello Bibi, Abu [father of] Yair!”

Netanyahu: “Farhan, I am so happy to speak with you.”

Qadi: “I am also happy. I have been waiting for this moment. I swear to you, Abu Yair.”

Netanyahu: “Tell me, have you already met with your family?”

Qadi: “Yes, two of my children are here.”

Netanyahu: “I want you to know that we are truly moved from the depth of our hearts, for both you and your family.”

Qadi: “I thank you for this work, that you have reached a situation in which I see my family and am here. You truly did sacred work. There are other people who are waiting.”

Netanyahu: “I want you to know that are not forgetting anyone, just like we did not forget you. We are committed to returning everyone, without exception.”

Qadi: “I thank you very much. I invite you, Abu Yair.”

Netanyahu: “Thank you. I would like you to embrace your family and I want you to know that the entire people of Israel embraces you, and the others. We will bring them.”

Qadi: “Thank you. May it be G-d’s will. Thank you very much.”

A question that needs to be answered.

So, I’m pretty sure this happens to a lot of people:

You’re a nice Jewish boy, grew up wherever, in Frum household, where Torah-Learning is valued. Maybe your father is still learns or works in Klei Kodesh, or maybe he works to make a Parnassah, but still has his 2 Chavrusas a day & is very proud of that.

You go to (insert any mainstream mid-level Yeshiva name), then you go to Israel (Mir? Or something on a drop higher level) and come to BMG at age 22. After the freezer opens, you get married to a nice Jewish girl that grew up in similar background to you.

You’re learning when you get married. On the dates you made it clear that Learning is very important to you, and gave a whole speech about what it means, and sacrifices etc. etc. etc., but you did acknowledge that it’s a short-term plan, and will likely need to go out to work after a few years (3? Or 5?) to make a Parnassah, and anyways you can’t see yourself really learning forever. Either your Shver provides you support while you’re learning, or your wife has a decent job (Madison Title anyone?), or your father (who happens to be a Magid Shiur) has a good side-business & your supported through him.

This is probably the reality of around 50% of the married guys in BMG. Of course, of course, life isn’t so black & white, and everyone is different (yes, you have an OTD sister), but the point is that there are hundreds of young married couples that are Zoche to start off their marriage with the Husband Learning full-time. It’s 3 Sedarim a day (except for Shana Rishona) of learning the Torah Hakdosha. With this Zchus, comes the lifestyle of a learning guy.

You wear a hat & jacket to davening (and you actually Daven 3 times a day), you don’t let your kids watch Paw Patrol all day (why can’t they just run around outside like the good-old-days?) & c”v you would never go to a beach in the summer (efsher your wife could go take a walk with her friend on the boardwalk). Don’t get caught up in the examples. They’re just examples. The fact is that B”H being a ‘learning guy’ comes along with upholding a certain hanhagah, a certain ‘Yeshivishe’ higher standard of living.

Fast forward a few years. You’re already working for 2.5 years and making a Parnassah. Nothing specific happened over the years in regard to your Yidishkeit, and you are still a frum Jew, with your heart in the right place. C’V you’re not doing anything drastic (or even bad?), and you learn every day too. But the fact is that you no longer wear a hat & jacket to davening, sometimes Mincha is missed (the meeting was longer than expected), for vacation you’re going away to a beach resort (with plenty of Pritzus) & your kids are watching Peppa Pig all day.

Hear me out: This is not at all giving an opinion on whether these stuff are good or bad. And they’re just examples too. The specifics aren’t the point. The point is that a majority of guys in this situation, after a few years (or months) of working, have had their standards lowered. They are doing things that they wouldn’t have done when they were learning. Again, this is not a discussion on what specific items are right or wrong, this is just to point out that individuals are doing specific stuff now (as working men) that they would have never done when they were learning.

What happened?

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to [email protected]

(AP) – Car buyers have more tools than ever to get the right vehicle at the right price. Still, mistakes can happen quite easily. Often, car buyers get blinded by emotion or rushed timing. Edmunds’ experts reveal the five biggest mistakes car shoppers often make and offer tips to avoid them.

Trading in a Vehicle with Negative Equity

Being upside down on a trade-in vehicle is occurring with increasing frequency. According to a recent Edmunds report, nearly one in four consumers who financed a new vehicle purchase with a trade-in during the second quarter of 2024 were underwater on their prior car loan.

“Upside down,” “underwater” and “negative equity” are interchangeable terms for a bad situation: All three mean that the car owner owes more on the loan than the vehicle is worth. Not only has the number of upside-down trade-ins grown since 2022, but so has the amount owed on those loans.

If, for example, you are $5,000 upside down on your current vehicle and decide to trade in this car and buy a new one, you will have to pay the price of the new car plus the $5,000 you owe on the current car. Your monthly payments will be much higher because you’re rolling over what you owe on your old car to the loan on your new one.

The best financial solution is to keep your current car longer and continue paying off its loan. Waiting might be challenging — you want that new car, we get it — but if you can at least ensure your trade-in value equals your loan amount, you won’t have to pay extra for the new vehicle purchase.

Rushing Into a Vehicle Purchase

There can be legitimate reasons to expedite a vehicle purchase. Perhaps your vehicle was totaled in an accident, or maybe it broke down and it’s not worth paying to fix. Either way, you’ll need a new car right away. But many shoppers don’t think about doing valuable research beforehand.

There will be new and unfamiliar automotive features and technologies worth knowing about, especially if it’s been a while since you bought a new car. If you take your time, you’ll also be able to get several quotes before you commit to a deal and have time for a vehicle inspection if it’s a used car.

Even if you need to replace your car quickly, it’s often better to find alternative transportation while you research a new vehicle purchase. Renting a car for a few days might cost a few hundred dollars, but that’s better than picking the wrong vehicle or getting suckered into a bad deal.

Going to Only One Dealership

This mistake is often made by shoppers rushing to find a new vehicle. Be sure you give yourself time to make wise choices when you need a car quickly. Most price research can be done online or on your phone without leaving home. Avoid walking into a dealership and making a purchase decision without looking elsewhere.

Dealers are in the habit of competing with one another, so be sure they’re doing so to your advantage. Be transparent about your shopping, and share quotes with dealers so they know you’re serious.

Getting Confused Over Dealership Pricing

Some shoppers will be overwhelmed by a salesperson throwing around lots of numbers including the asking price, trade-in value for your car, cash down and monthly payment. Though there are fewer dealers practicing confusion tactics than there used to be, it’s good to be prepared to combat them should they arise.

To start, do your research to determine the market value of the vehicle you want to buy before you begin to negotiate. This figure will serve as the backbone of your strategy and give you a reference point. From here, it’s best to keep it simple and focus on two numbers: the out-the-door price of the car — that’s the sales price plus fees like tax and license — and your trade-in value.

Also watch out for potential add-ons that the dealership might use to boost its profit. These include anti-theft devices, additional warranties, paint and fabric protection, floor mats, wheel locks and more. You can likely negotiate the price of the add-ons but it might distract you from your primary goal of getting the best deal on the vehicle itself. Purchasing a car without add-ons is the best way to avoid the situation.

Edmunds Says

Taking a little more time to consider all the options and think carefully about the terms of a car deal may save you thousands. It’s time — and money — well spent.

Qaid Farhan Alkadi, who was rescued from Gaza by Israeli forces on Tuesday after 326 days in Hamas captivity, was released from Beersheva’s Soroka Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, relatives of the 52-year-old Muslim Israeli and father of 11 from the Bedouin city of Rahat in the Negev Desert have begun to share details regarding the brutal conditions he experienced since his abduction on Oct. 7.

“He spoke about the darkness, not being able to see. But, thank God, he’s back with us, alive—it made us all rejoice,” Alkadi’s cousin Fayez al-Sana told the New York Times after visiting him in the hospital.

Ata Abu Medigm, the former mayor of Rahat, told Ynet that Alkadi was held in near total darkness for months: “He told about a very brutal captivity, he hardly saw the sun for eight months. He would check if his eyes were functioning. He said that one of the abductees was with him for two months and died next to him.”

Dr. Mazen Abu Siam, a longtime friend and veterinarian, in a conversation with the Times called Hamas “devils” and said that Alkadi’s family had been in terrible anxiety for 10 months.

He had more harsh words for Hamas, listing the cases in which civilians were murdered on Oct. 7, including over 300 people at the Nova music festival: “They attacked everyone, even people dancing under the trees,” he said.

“I got permission to visit [Alkadi] inside [the hospital], I went in for two or three minutes. He’s fine, he’s healthy, he looks fine. A little pale. Thin compared to Oct. 7,” he said, according to Ynet. “Hope he will be released to the family tomorrow. He mentioned that he was in the tunnel for a long time, cut off from the outside world, was not connected to the Israeli media and did not know what was happening around him. I hope that all the families who have abductees in Gaza will feel what we felt on this day.”

Alkadi’s brother Juma’a told CNN that “he was dead and is now brought back to life,” and that “it was all tears. Tears of joy. What matters is that we saw him.”

Juma’a said that Alkadi was shot in the leg during the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, and the wound was poorly treated during captivity. Alkadi had been operated on without anesthesia, “As one does with animals.”

Ynet quoted his relatives as saying after visiting him in the hospital that Alkadi had “lost a lot of weight,” having eaten “mainly bread” in captivity, and “not every day.”

However, they continued, “he is on his feet and talking about the matter. He was constantly thinking about the family and never stopped believing that he got out of there. We don’t know how he survived, but he survived and he’s alive, and that’s the most important thing.”

Alkadi is the first Israeli Arab and eighth Israeli overall to be rescued alive from Gaza by Israeli forces. He is also the first captive to be reclaimed from the terror group’s vast tunnel network beneath Gaza.

Israeli officials told CNN and the Times that special forces, acting on intelligence, were combing tunnels when they found Alkadi, who was alone in a room roughly 25 yards underground, without Hamas guards. The team, led by Shayetet 13, the Israeli equivalent to the U.S. Navy SEALs, initially thought he was a Hamas operative. He appeared weak and malnourished and was incapable of climbing out of the tunnel on his own, according to the report.

According to Channel 12, the team, which included members of Yahalom, a special unit of the IDF’s Combat Engineering Corps, entered the tunnel after determining that Alkadi was alone. They called to him and he answered: “It’s me, Farhan, don’t shoot.”

The operation was complicated because he was in a complex consisting of several tunnels, in a side room, and forces feared that it could be a Hamas trap.

“The assessment in Israel is that, at least in some cases, Hamas lost contact with the abductees and … is now trying to understand what happened to them,” Channel 12 reported.

Alkadi’s rescue leaves the number of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza at 108, including 104 of the 251 hostages taken on Oct. 7—34 of whom are deceased, according to the military.

At least 17 Bedouins died in the Oct. 7 attacks.

Hatam Kadi, another brother, told Ynet that the message Alkadi wants to convey is that “we must remember that there are other people inside,” and that being a native Arabic speaker did not help him at all: “He was treated as an Israeli.”

(JNS)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — New details have emerged from the dramatic rescue of Farhan El-Qadi from the Hamas tunnels in Gaza.

The rescue operation was based on advance intelligence which indicated that El-Qadi was stuck in the tunnels but without his captors. Special force members of Shayetet 13 and Yahalam descended into the tunnels and called out to him. He answered them, stating that “It’s me, Farhan, don’t shoot”, according to a Channel 12 report.

At this stage it was complicated to reach Farhan, as he was inside a complex of tunnels in a side room. The IDF forces worked carefully, wary of terrorist traps, before they reached the room and found him alone in the tunnel.

The first person to speak with Farhan was Col. Ahsan Daqsa, an Arabic-speaking officer, who asked him lots of details that the forces wanted to know. Farhan was then flown to Soroka hospital.

Israeli security officials estimate that Hamas has lost touch with some of the hostages and are trying to determine what happened to them. The IDF believes that it will not be possible to return all of the hostages in military operations.

Farhan (52), who lost some 20 kg of body weight in captivity, said that he had not ceased believing that he would get out alive. He claimed that his captors had fled when the IDF called out to him. “I thought the tunnel was booby-trapped so I walked very slowly,” he added.” He added that he was cut off from radio and television and had little idea what was happening outside during the last 10 months.”

According to Ata Abu Madighem, the former mayor of Rahat where freed hostage Qaid Farhan al-Qadi is from, Qaid told him that he was held in captivity with a Jewish hostage who became his friend, and who died in captivity.

“Farhan told about a friend of his who was in captivity with him, a Jew who after two months, I think in December 2023, died next to him. It broke his heart,” he told Kan News.

Madighem also spoke about the cruel conditions Qaid was held in, saying: “He told me about the difficult life he went through, a cruel and difficult captivity, he hardly saw the sun for close to ten months, he hardly saw the light. He talks about a very cruel captivity, he was treated as a pure Israeli, not as a Bedouin or an Arab.”

Many details about the hostage rescue have not been released, with the IDF saying it was a ‘complex mission.’ Controversial Transportation Minister Miri Regev caused outrage by saying the rescue was carried out in Rafah, before the IDF released such information to the public. We know this was the first successful hostage rescue from a tunnel.

According to Doron Kadosh, a military correspondent for Galei Tzahal, Qaid managed to escape the terrorists guarding him and make his way on his own towards Israeli troops who were operating underground, who were not conducting a planned mission to rescue him. The IDF forces then found and rescued him. It is unclear if the terrorists guarding Qaid were killed, fled on their own, or otherwise incapacitated.

Other reports suggest the IDF special forces units and intelligence officers were operating in the area for a significant period of time, working with the suspicion that hostages and weapons were being held there, guarded by terrorists.
{Matzav.com}

By Idy Perl

As more and more NYC drivers switch to electric vehicles, the city is proving their commitment to accommodate EVs by expanding access to public EV fast charging stations. 

NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced that new fast charging stations will be getting built in DOT parking fields in the Bronx and Brooklyn. 

The Brooklyn location will be at the Bensonhurst Municipal Field, 1763 86th Street. Construction is slated to start in September and is scheduled to be completed by January 2025.

DNIPRO, Ukraine (JTA) – It is a sultry Sunday evening in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, and a dozen men are preparing for the evening prayer at the Golden Rose Synagogue of the Menorah Center.

In another space of what’s often deemed the largest Jewish communal structure in the world, a group of boys and girls in their early teens sing Eyal Golan’s “Am Israel Chai” at the top of their voices, filling the room with joyous excitement.

Sitting with other adults nearby, at a table piled high with kosher Israeli food, is Rabbi Mayer Stambler, whose daughter’s bat mitzvah is being celebrated.

The placid and festive scene takes place less than 125 miles away from the front line, not far away from the raging hostilities and amid a backdrop of constant air alerts and daily blackouts caused by repeated Russian attacks on the city’s power infrastructure. But that has been par for the course for the Jews of Dnipro, the historic center of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, since Ukraine’s war against Russia began two and a half years ago.

Unlike some areas of Ukraine that have remained insulated from Russian bombing, Dnipro has been relatively vulnerable throughout the war. Yet operations at the Menorah Center have continued unabated, allowing local Jews to live a full Jewish life in the city even during the hardest and most hopeless periods of the war and serving as a bulwark against alienation for thousands of Jews who have been displaced from towns and cities further east and south.

“We have a lot of challenges and the financial situation is getting more and more difficult, but thank God we still have everything we need here,” Stambler, a Brooklyn-born Chabad rabbi who is the head of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Despite mass emigration and losing many of the sources of income that allowed it to be fully self-sufficient before the conflict, the Jewish community of Dnipro keeps running its own educational institutions, clinics, museum, conference hall, restaurant, shops, synagogue, mikvah and a school for ritual scribes.

Apart from spiritual solace and massive and sustained humanitarian campaigns, the community helps many of its members by offering them employment. One of its largest endeavors is Tiferet Matzot, the only Ukrainian factory that produces handmade matzah. It employs more than 70 people and exports unleavened bread to several countries.

Situated in an out-of-town industrial area that endured a Russian drone attack days before Passover last year, Tiferet Matzot keeps working despite the war and recently increased its its payroll, according to its director, Daniel Ovcharenko. The factory produces around 100 tons of matzah each year and caters to Ukrainian Jewish communities and around the world. The exports are now entirely made by road after Russia’s invasion severely hindered navigation through the Black Sea, Ovcharenko said.

Since March, Russia has launched eight major volleys of missiles and Iranian kamikaze drones targeting Ukraine’s power infrastructure. Some of Ukraine’s largest power plants have been severely damaged or totally destroyed, including Dnipro’s thermal plant that is visible from the top of the seven towers that form the Menorah Center.

Ukraine has lost a substantial part of its generation capacity in these attacks. In order to make up for the resulting deficit, authorities have been imposing up to half-day long blackouts throughout the country. But the Jewish community’s buildings in Dnipro stay lit without interruption thanks to a vast network of fuel-run generators donated by the Jewish community of Boston and other partners.

“Every community building, from the kindergarten to the clinics, the Menorah Center and the old age home, are energy-independent,” said the director of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, Alina Teplitskaya.

Teplitskaya also notes that this body run by Chabad — which has its headquarters in Dnipro and has affiliated communities in every region of Ukraine — has acquired Starlink satellite technology to make sure its educational institutions have access to the internet at all times.

Yet some low-tech needs are harder to meet. One of the most challenging tasks for the community is ensuring that ritual circumcision can be performed on newborn boys. Prior to the war, the mohel in charge of the whole of Ukraine used to live in Dnipro.

“He traveled everywhere, he made over 10,000 circumcisions since the 1990s,” says Stambler. But with the start of the hostilities, the mohel and his family moved to Vienna, from which he periodically goes back to Ukraine to perform his services.

A similar situation has occurred with ritual slaughter required to produce kosher meat. Up to three kosher slaughterers, known as schochets, were based in Dnipro in the pre-conflict era. One of them has taken refuge in Vienna, while another crossed the Atlantic Ocean to establish himself in Argentina.

Due to the threat of Russian missiles and drones, all commercial flights have been canceled in Ukraine. Every journey inside or out of the country must be made by train or by road, making each trip time-consuming and costly.

Another challenge for communal life is increasingly stringent rules meant to draft and train soldiers for Ukraine’s deplenished military. Jews across Ukraine have enlisted in the army to defend their country, and Jewish communities have been supporting them. But as the war grinds on, and Ukraine has begun waging a counteroffensive inside Russian territory, Ukraine is experiencing shortages of willing and able soldiers and now dispatches military patrols to ensure that all adult men are registered for service. Many men between 25 and 60 of all backgrounds have begun limiting non-essential outings to minimize the risk of bumping into the recruiters — including within Jewish communities. May worry they will be sent to the bloody front with inadequate training or will be rounded up despite legal exemptions.

“We are obviously part of Ukrainian society and are affected in no different way than other Ukrainians,” said a Jewish Dnipro resident who requested anonymity to discuss an issue seen as sensitive by many in Ukraine.

As they choose to stay at home most of the time, many Jews of military age who are not prepared to join the army attend synagogue and community activities less frequently, according to the resident.

The departure of some local mainstays and growing anxiety about participating in communal life for some brings painful echoes of another time in Ukrainian Jewish history when it was difficult to carry out essential ritual acts. Under communism, Jews in the Soviet Union were barred from practicing their religion — and the situation in Dnipro was even more intense than in other cities and towns where some Jewish influences made their way in.

That’s because Dnipro was home to several highly strategic industrial sites, including the factory where intercontinental ballistic missiles were produced. To keep away potential spies, Soviet authorities declared Dnipro a “closed city,” banning any foreigners from visiting it. This reduced to almost zero the chances that a Jew from Dnipro encountered a fellow American or Israeli Jew who could enlighten him or her about the religion they were barred from practicing.

“I grew up in ignorance,” Zelig Brez, the Dnipro Jewish community’s executive director, recently recalled over a meal at the kosher restaurant of the Menorah Center.

“The only Jewish thing we did was eating matzah for Passover because my grandparents brought it, but they couldn’t explain what matzah symbolizes, they didn’t know who Moses was, about the Exodus from Egypt, about slavery,” he recalled.

Brez said he became aware of his Jewish identity only through the “severe form of antisemitism” at school, where he was the only Jew in his class and a constant target of peers and teachers alike.

“I was once stabbed with a knife by a classmate, and sometimes teachers could downgrade and humiliate you,” he said. “I grew up with an inferiority complex, I knew I was Jewish from basically hatred.”

Brez remembers feeling a moment of pride as child when he saw how many scientists and artists featured in Soviet magazines had Jewish names and looked like his family and himself. But he did not connect with Judaism until 1991, when as a first-year university student in the newly independent Ukraine he was invited for Shabbat dinner by a young Chabad emissary who had just arrived in the city where the movement’s then-rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, lived as a child.

“I started crying,” says Brez, who would over time become observant, about his reaction upon seeing a kiddush for the first time. “I had the feeling that this was the heritage of my grandparents that the Soviet Union took away from me.”

That emissary was Shmuel Kaminetsky, now the chief rabbi of Dnipro and the Dnipropetrovsk region. Like other Chabad rabbis, he has remained in Ukraine throughout the war, even in the scary early days when the overwhelming majority of expats and foreign diplomats exited.

In a region with a rich and recent history of political cataclysms, Jews can sometimes be seen as a barometer of danger, Brez said. He recalled an incident more than a decade ago, even before Russian-sponsored separatists started a war in the east of Ukraine, when the sight of a large group of bearded Jewish men wearing tzitzit boarding a train at the Dnipro railway station caused a “big panic” in town. “We had just rented a train for people to go to a family Jewish retreat in the Black Sea, but people thought that the Jews were leaving,” Brez said, laughing.

After the Russians invaded, non-Jewish neighbors and friends constantly asked Brez whether “the rabbi” was still “in town,” he recalled.

“Rabbi Kaminetsky did not leave the city for a single day,” said Brez. “The fact that he is here has provided tremendous determination and confidence and lowered the level of anxiety.”

(VINnews) — Jewish activists are outraged, after the disgraced former president of University of Pennsylvania, has been hired by Harvard University. Liz Magill will join Harvard Law School’s Center on the Legal Profession this fall after resigning from UPenn following a congressional hearing in which she defended a culture of antisemitic harassment, and refused to punish or even identify blatant Jew hatred.

In response to the hiring, orthodox Jewish activist Shabbos Kestenbaum posted the following on X:

“BREAKING: Liz Magill, the former disgraced UPenn President, who couldn’t condemn the calls of genocide against Jews, has just been hired by Harvard. This is a slap in the face to Jewish students. She will join her friend Claudine Gay as two equally incompetent “scholars.””

BREAKING: Liz Magill, the former disgraced UPenn President, who couldn’t condemn the calls of genocide against Jews, has just been hired by Harvard. This is a slap in the face to Jewish students. She will join her friend Claudine Gay as two equally incompetent “scholars.” pic.twitter.com/lbGWkdBvyi

— Shabbos Kestenbaum (@ShabbosK) August 28, 2024

By bringing in Magill, Harvard will now have a faculty member who oversaw a steep increase in harassment against Jewish students at UPenn. Magill joins disgraced former Harvard president Claudine Gay on the faculty, who resigned after her testimony in Congress.

Prior to October 7, the school hosted and sponsored a “Palestine Writes Literature Festival” that promoted conspiracy theories about Jews. Before the conference, a swastika was discovered spray-painted on a wall and a man vandalized the campus Hillel building while shouting profanities.

Shabbos Kestenbaum is a Harvard graduate who has filed a lawsuit against the university over its antisemitism. He spoke at the Republican National Convention.

Kestenbaum voted for Bernie Sanders last election, however he said that his views have changed, largely because of what his classmates were doing while Jews were being slaughtered.

LISTEN TO THE VIN PODCAST:

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SOUTH AFRICA (Etgar Lefkovits / JNS) — The head of the Catholic Church and the leader of the Church of England are effectively rejecting the Bible by supporting policies that negate the connection of the Jewish people to the Holy Land, the chief rabbi of South Africa said on Sunday.

The blunt theological critique comes after the archbishop of Canterbury endorsed a ruling by the International Court of Justice last month that Israel’s presence in the “occupied Palestinian territories” is unlawful, and as the pontiff has sought to thread the needle and maintain strict neutrality during Israel’s war against Islamist terrorists in Gaza.

At a time when Europe’s future hangs in the balance, its two most senior Christian leaders – the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, and the head of the Church of England, Archbishop Justin Welby – have abandoned their most sacred duty to protect and defend the values of… pic.twitter.com/ptnsUIP1oS

— Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein (@ChiefRabbiSA) August 25, 2024

“At a time when Europe’s future hangs in the balance, its two most senior Christian leaders—the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, and the head of the Church of England, Archbishop Justin Welby—have abandoned their most sacred duty to protect and defend the values of the Bible,” South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein wrote in a post on X.

The world is locked in a civilizational battle of values, threatened by terrorism and jihad, the rabbi said.

“Now is the time for religious leaders to come to the defense of society, to speak up for Western values and freedom,” Goldstein said. “Instead, Pope Francis and the Anglican archbishop are silent: indifferent to the murder of Christians in Africa, and to the threat of terrorism throughout Europe, and outright hostile to Israel’s attempts to battle these jihadi forces led by Iran.”

Does the archbishop read the Bible?

The Jewish leader said that the head of the Church of England’s remarks put him in “direct opposition” to the Bible.

“Does the archbishop believe the accounts of the Bible are mere myths?” Goldstein ponders in a 15-minute video address attached to the X post. “How can anyone who believes in the Bible say that Israel is an illegal occupier of the Temple Mount?”

After the U.N. court ruling, Welby said that ending “Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is a legal and moral necessity.”

Goldstein continued, “If the archbishop reads his Bible, he should know that Jerusalem existed before London and was the capital of Israel before anyone heard of Britain.”

Imploring his fellow religious leaders to “go back to the Bible,” the South African rabbi said that denying Israel’s biblical claims to the Land of Israel was a threat to both the United Kingdom and Europe at a time of rising Islamic extremism.

“Jihadist ideology that seeks to destroy Israel is a clear and present danger to the future of Europe and its value system,” Goldstein said. “If Israel is abandoned to jihadi forces, Europe is next.”

On Wednesday evening it was cleared for publication that in a joint IDF and ISA operation overnight, the body of an IDF soldier who fell on 10/7 was recovered.

The family of the fallen soldier has been notified, and at the request of the family, the name of the soldier will not be released.

The operation to recover the fallen soldier was led by the 162nd Division, and included IDF and ISA special forces, Nachal Brigade soldiers and soldiers from the 401st Brigade.

Efforts over several months by the IDF Hostage and Missing Persons Unit, together with the ISA and the Unit of International Crime Investigations of the Lahav 433 of the Israel Police, eventually led to this recovery mission.

Following the mission, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said, “The IDF and ISA are operating using all means to bring home all the hostages as quickly as possible.”

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated: “I commend the IDF and ISA forces who conducted a bold operation to retrieve the body of a fallen soldier from Gaza and brought him home for burial in Israel. The soldier fell in combat during the Hamas attack on October 7th.”

“This operation reflects our commitment to bringing all the hostages home.”

There are now 107 hostages alive and deceased, still held in Gaza.

The Hostages Families Forum stated: “The recovery of the fallen soldier’s remains provides his family with important closure. In the past couple of days, the number of hostages held in Gaza has decreased from 115 to 107.

“We must not be misled – the remaining hostages don’t have the luxury of waiting for rescue operations. The immediate return of these 107 hostages can only be achieved through a negotiated deal.

“We urgently call on the international community to maintain pressure on Hamas to accept the proposed deal and release all hostages. Each day in captivity is one too many.”

{Matzav.com}

By Idy Perl

The new 7 story structure on 3920-15th is nearing completion and will be a mixed-use building that will have both residential and commercial units. 

The first two floors will house a commercial storefront and a healthcare facility. The other 5 floors will have residential apartments.

The building will also have 21 attended parking spots in the spacious parking lot. 

President Joe Biden approved the plan for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza via a floating military pier despite warnings from within the U.S. government that rough waves could pose significant challenges and objections from officials who feared the operation would detract from a diplomatic push to compel Israel to open additional land routes into the war zone, according to an inspector general report published Tuesday.

The watchdog for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which oversees Washington’s humanitarian work abroad, cited various “external factors” that it said impaired the agency’s effort to distribute food and other supplies brought to Gaza over the pier. Among them, according to the report, were the security requirements imposed by the Pentagon to protect U.S. military personnel working aboard the structure just offshore.

“Multiple USAID staff expressed concerns” that the Biden administration’s focus on the pier undercut the agency’s advocacy for opening more land crossings – an approach, the report said, deemed “more efficient and proven.”

“Once the President issued the directive,” the report states, “the Agency’s focus was to use [the pier] as effectively as possible.”

The pier was attached to Gaza’s coastline in May amid rising concerns of famine that prompted the Pentagon to begin airdropping food into Gaza. But from the start, the mission was dogged by logistical and security setbacks, including rough seas that broke apart the structure, looting of aid trucks on land and a persistent logjam moving food from a staging area ashore. The operation was halted for good last month.

The report is likely to embolden Biden’s critics who have questioned why he put U.S. troops in harm’s way for a mission that could have been avoided if he had successfully persuaded Israeli officials to curtail their blockade on Gaza established in October after Hamas led the cross-border massacre that triggered the war.

A National Security Council spokesman, Sean Savett, said in a statement after the report’s publication that the pier was “part of a comprehensive U.S.-led response to the dire humanitarian situation in northern Gaza,” one that also included food deliveries made through border crossings and via airdrop.

“From the beginning, we said this would not be easy,” Savett said. “We were honest and transparent about the challenges. But the bottom line is that … the United States has left no stone unturned in our efforts to get more aid in, and the pier played a key role at a critical time in advancing that goal.”

Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said the Pentagon is aware of the new report. The pier, she said, “achieved its goal of providing an additive means of delivering high volumes of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.” USAID, the Defense Department and Israeli officials collaborated closely on the mission, she said, including about where along the Gazan coastline to attach the pier.

A senior administration official said there was “consistent interagency coordination and communication about the pier” as plans took shape and that internal concerns were taken into account. Like some others interviewed for this story, the official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

A USAID official said planning for the operation was a multiagency effort that included extensive discussions with the United Nations and humanitarian partners about how to reach the areas of greatest need. USAID staff advocated early in the planning process for additional personnel dedicated solely to the pier, to allow the agency to juggle issues about the land crossing and pier simultaneously, the officials said.

Critics have cast the pier project as a national embarrassment. “The only miracle is that this doomed-from-the-start operation did not cost any American lives,” Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said earlier this summer as the mission faced one setback after another.

Within the U.S. government, discussions about employing the floating pier began before Biden announced during his State of the Union address in March that he was establishing a “maritime corridor” to assist starving Palestinians. While USAID officials initially observed that the pier system “was not an option USAID would typically recommend in humanitarian response operations,” they began looking for ways to use it “in a way that would maintain a separation between the military and humanitarian actors” inside Gaza, the report said.

Acting at Biden’s direction, USAID requested Defense Department support for a 90-day operation that cost roughly $230 million, the report said. The pier, ferried to the eastern Mediterranean Sea by U.S. Army vessels, was first attached to the Gaza coast May 16, but within days it broke apart in rough waves, causing about $22 million in damage and knocking it offline. U.S. troops repaired and reattached the pier days later but faced continued unpredictability about when weather would allow for aid deliveries.

“From the start, rough weather posed a major challenge,” the report said.

Defense Department guidelines for the sea-based pier make clear its usage is weather-dependent and that it cannot operate when waves are taller than two feet, but the Mediterranean often has “significant winds and waves” that exceed that, the report said. This factor surfaced during a planning meeting by a Defense Department official with expertise working on the system, the inspector general found.

“Ultimately,” the report said, “the pier operated for about 20 days and was decommissioned on July 17.”

The deployment also generated concerns that U.S. personnel, working from a fixed site in an active war zone, could be targeted by militants. Defense officials, consulting with USAID and Israeli counterparts, decided they could best protect the site if it was attached in central Gaza, but that conflicted with a “prerequisite” from the United Nations’ World Food Program to have it located in northern Gaza, where the need was greatest, the report said.

The World Food Program also sought independent security due to concerns about remaining neutral in the conflict, but no solution was ever found, the report said. Instead, Israeli forces protected the beachhead facility where food was brought ashore.

The watchdog found that despite USAID’s role as the U.S. government lead on humanitarian assistance in Gaza, the agency had “limited control” over the decision to use the pier, where it would be located and who would provide security. The agency, the report said, should look for lessons it can draw from the experience.

– – –

(c) Washington Post

WASHINGTON (AP) — Super Micro Computer lost a quarter of its value in morning trading Wednesday after the server technology company said it was delaying the filing of its annual report.

The company said in a regulatory filing that “additional time is needed for management to complete its assessment of the design and operating effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting as of June 30, 2024,” which was the end of the company’s fiscal year.

Super Micro Computer’s announcement comes one day after short-selling firm Hindenburg Research said a three-month review turned up new evidence of accounting manipulation by the San Jose, California-based company. Hindenburg said it has taken a short position in the stock, meaning it’s betting the price will drop.

The company’s shares slid 25.2% in midday trading to $409.48. They hit an all-time high of $1,229 each on March 8 of this year.

Hindenburg accused Super Micro of rehiring top executives that were directly involved in an accounting scandal that resulted in the company being temporarily delisted by Nasdaq in 2018 for failing to file financial statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission in 2020 charged Super Micro with improper accounting for “prematurely recognizing revenue and understating expenses” beginning at least as early as fiscal 2015 to 2017. The company paid a $17.5 million civil penalty.

Super Micro has been among the technology companies recently riding a wave of enthusiasm over products and services related to artificial intelligence.

Super Micro’s shares more than quadrupled in less than three months to start the year as it reported booming revenue. Earlier this month, Super Micro reported fourth-quarter revenue of $5.3 billion, a more than 143% increase over the $2.2 billion it reported in the same quarter of 2023.

Hindenburg said its investigation included interviews with former senior employees and industry experts and a review of records that “found glaring accounting red flags, evidence of undisclosed related party transactions, sanctions and export control failures, and customer issues.”

When asked for comment on the Hindenburg report, the company said in an email that it “does not comment on rumors and speculation.”

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) today announced that a campaign manager from Hunterdon County pleaded guilty to attempting to fraudulently get a candidate on the Democratic primary ballot in the New Jersey governor’s race in 2021.

James J. Devine, 62, of Lambertville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to an offense concerning nomination certificates or petitions (3rd degree) during a hearing on August 26, 2024 before Judge Robert E. Lytle, presiding in New Jersey Superior Court in Mercer County.

Under the terms of a plea agreement with OPIA that is subject to court approval, the prosecution will recommend that the court require Devine to serve two years of probation. Sentencing is scheduled for October 18, 2024.

“For the public to have faith in our elections, it’s critical for law enforcement to ensure that efforts to tamper with them are investigated and prosecuted,” said Attorney General Platkin. “This defendant’s plea is a testament to my office’s commitment to fair elections and to holding bad actors accountable when they attempt to taint our democratic system.”

“The defendant in this case has now admitted to fraudulently trying to get a candidate on the primary ballot for governor,” said Drew Skinner, Executive Director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. “Anyone who might try to cheat our democratic system should know: we will hold you accountable.”

Following an OPIA investigation, a state grand jury in Trenton returned an indictment on March 12, 2024 charging Devine with various offenses in relation to an April 2021 attempt to get a candidate on the ballot in the Democratic primary for governor in the June 8, 2021 primary.

According to publicly filed documents and statements in open court, the investigation revealed that Devine submitted approximately 1,948 fraudulent nominating petitions to the New Jersey Department of State’s Division of Elections, in an attempt to enable his candidate to compete in the primary.

The New Jersey Democratic State Committee formally challenged Devine’s effort on April 9, 2021, laying out various issues with the petitions he had provided, with the committee alleging there were questions about those petitions’ authenticity.

Citing the irregularities, Administrative Law Judge Jeffrey N. Rabin sided with the committee and struck the candidate from the ballot on April 13, 2021.

Individuals whose names appeared on the petitions submitted by Devine provided information that they did not submit a petition, or authorize one, in support of the candidate’s nomination. The investigation revealed Devine had uploaded false voter information onto petition forms and submitted them to the Division of Elections on behalf of the campaign without those voters’ approval.

In pleading guilty, the defendant acknowledged that he knew the petitions were falsely made when he filed them.

Fox News political analyst Karl Rove expressed on Tuesday threw a chilling dose of reality at the optimism surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, suggesting her polling numbers are weaker than those of Joe Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016 at similar points in their respective campaigns.

During a segment on Special Report with Bret Baier, Rove responded to a Democratic strategist’s critique that Harris’s current strategy of staying silent on policy and avoiding the media is “borne of conceit and foolhardiness.”

“What do you make of that?” Baier asked Rove.

Rove noted that Harris needs to be clearer on policy positions. “Let’s not be critical of her by saying she has to have a Democrat Congress and a Democrat Senate in order to get these things done,” he said, comparing her situation to former President Donald Trump, who also required control of Congress to advance his agenda. “People want to know where you’re coming from, and they want to know enough about the specifics to get their hands around it,” Rove added.

Rove also emphasized Harris’s polling struggles compared to previous Democratic candidates. “On this day in 2020, Joe Biden was up 7.1% above Donald Trump in the RealClearPolitics average. And at this point in 2016, Hillary Clinton was up 6.3%. Today, Harris is up over Trump by 1.5% in the RealClearPolitics average and 3.5% in the 538.com average,” Rove pointed out. He stressed that while Harris is ahead, her lead is significantly smaller than Biden and Clinton’s at similar points in their campaigns.

Rove further noted the importance of battleground states, where polling data is still sparse. “We have a few polls in several states, but we certainly don’t have 6 or 7 or 8 polls that would give us an average and therefore give us a better idea of where they actually are,” he explained, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding Harris’s standing in key swing states.

https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/27114917/rz1bOUeb-34584671.mp4

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

By Rabbi Moshe Dov Heber

There were mixed emotions in the Rec Hall as Camp Romimu showed the end of summer banquet video to their hundreds of happy campers. The summer has been a smashing success both in ruchniyus and gashmius and that feeling was in the room.

As I walked out of the Rec Hall, I saw that there was a camper from my division trailing me. It seemed as if he wanted my attention so I stopped as Ari turned to me. “Rebbe, I just wanted to thank you for everything you have done. I had an incredible summer”. I have received many thanks from boys but there was something about his that was so genuine. Although I had not done anything out of the ordinary for him over the summer, he made the effort to properly convey his thanks. It was clear that he had gone out of his comfort zone to give the thanks and it was very touching.

On the following morning, the last morning of camp, I saw Ari and wished him a good morning. “Ari,” I asked, “did your parents tell you to thank the Head Staff”. He answered “No, but I always see my parents thanking people so I felt it was right to do it as well”.

When my first child was a toddler, I asked my Rosh Hayeshiva, Harav Aharon Feldman shlita, what I could do for chinuch for my children at this age. He answered “Children see what you are doing, and if you make berachos out loud, there will come a day that they too will model your actions”.

Lessons are ‘caught’, not ‘taught’.

Rabbi Moshe Dov Heber is a Middle School Rebbi in Yeshiva K’tana of Waterbury, the Director of the Mishmar Evening Program in Waterbury and Division Head in Camp Romimu. He is a frequent contributor to various publications on areas related to education as well as speaks publicly on various topics. Rabbi Heber can be reached via email at [email protected].

NEW YORK (AP) — As Vice President Kamala Harris begins her fall campaign for the White House, she can look to history and hope for better luck than others in her position who have tried the same.

Since 1836, only one sitting vice president, George H.W. Bush in 1988, has been elected to the White House. Among those who tried and failed were Richard Nixon in 1960, Hubert Humphrey in 1968 and Al Gore in 2000. All three lost in narrow elections shaped by issues ranging from war and scandal to crime and the subtleties of televised debates. But two other factors proved crucial for each vice president: whether the incumbent president was well-liked and whether the president and vice president enjoyed a productive relationship.

“You really do want those elements to come together,” says Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. “If the person the vice president is working for is popular, that means people like what he’s doing and you can gain from that. And you need to have the two principals working together.”

In 1988, Bush easily defeated Democrat Michael Dukakis, the Massachusetts governor whom Republicans labeled as ineffectual and out of touch. Bush was otherwise helped by a solid economy, the easing of Cold War tensions and some rare luck for a vice president. President Ronald Reagan’s approval ratings rose through much of the year after falling sharply in the wake of the 1986-87 Iran-Contra scandal, and Reagan and Bush worked well together during the campaign. Reagan openly backed his vice president, who had run against him in the 1980 primaries. He praised Bush at the Republican convention as an engaged and invaluable partner, appeared with him at a California rally and spoke at gatherings in Michigan, New Jersey and Missouri.

“Reagan was not a man to hold grudges,” said historian-journalist Jonathan Darman. “And Bush did a good job of navigating the complexity of their relationship while he was vice president.”

Past vice presidents who ran
When Gore ran in 2000, his advantages were similar to those enjoyed by George H.W. Bush. The economy was strong, the country was at peace and the president, Bill Clinton, had high approval ratings despite his recent impeachment over his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Gore had worked closely with Clinton over the previous eight years, but the scandal led to enduring tensions between them. He minimized the president’s presence during the campaign and pronounced himself “my own man” during his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. Commentators would cite his distance from Clinton as a setback in a historically close race, decided by a margin of fewer than 1,000 votes in Florida.

“Instead of finding a way to embrace the accomplishments of the Clinton administration, Gore ran away from Clinton as fast as his legs could carry him,” Slate’s Jacob Weisberg wrote soon after the election.

Like Gore, Nixon could not — or would not — capitalize on the incumbent Dwight Eisenhower’s popularity. In 1960, Eisenhower was still so admired as he neared the end of his second term that Nixon’s opponent, Democrat John F. Kennedy, feared the president’s active support would prove critical. But Eisenhower and Nixon had a complicated relationship dating back to when Eisenhower ran eight years earlier. He had chosen Nixon as his running mate, but nearly dropped him because of the so-called Checkers scandal, in which Nixon was accused of misusing funds donated by political backers.

Nixon was more than 20 years younger than Eisenhower, the victorious World War II commander who often looked upon his vice president as a junior officer, according to Nixon biographer John A. Farrell. At the end of a summer press conference in 1960, Eisenhower was asked if he could cite Nixon’s influence on any important decision. He answered, “If you give me a week, I might think of one.” Meanwhile, Nixon was reluctant to have Eisenhower campaign, out of a desire to forge his own path, and, allegedly, out of concern for the 70-year-old president.

“Nixon very much wanted to be his own man,” says Farrell, whose prize-winning “Richard Nixon” was published in 2017. “He always said he was worried about Eisenhower’s health, but there are also anecdotes that Eisenhower was chafing at the bit. Both could be true.”

Nixon’s luck changed when he ran eight years later against Lyndon B. Johnson’s vice president. No vice president was more entrapped by his predecessor than Hubert Humphrey, whose candidacy was only possible because Johnson decided not to seek reelection.

Humphrey faced challenges within the party from the anti-war candidates Eugene McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy (who was assassinated in June 1968 after winning the California primary) and was tied to Johnson’s divisive, hawkish stance.

Humphrey privately advocated a less hardline approach to the war, but Johnson intimidated him into silence and he trailed Nixon badly in many polls. Only in the fall did Humphrey diverge and call for a bombing halt with North Vietnam. The vice president rallied, but ended up losing the popular vote by less than a percentage point while falling short more decisively in the Electoral College.

“Johnson did catastrophic damage to Humphrey, in my opinion,” says Boston Globe columnist Michael Cohen, author of a book on the 1968 election, “American Carnage.”

How does Harris fare?
Like Johnson, President Joe Biden declared he wouldn’t seek a new term less than a year before Election Day, though he waited much longer in the cycle than Johnson did. Unlike Humphrey, Harris quickly consolidated Democratic support and accepted her party’s nomination at an uplifting convention that concluded without significant damage from protests, unlike the violence-marred 1968 event in the same city, Chicago.

In an AP-NORC survey conducted in July, after Biden dropped out of the race, about 4 in 10 Americans approved of his performance as president, roughly where his approval numbers have stood since the summer of 2021 and comparable to those of the Republican nominee, Donald Trump. Eisenhower, Reagan and Clinton frequently held higher approval ratings than Biden, although all served in less polarized eras.

Harris wants to succeed a president who himself served as vice president and ran for president, four years later. President Barack Obama discouraged Biden from seeking election in 2016 and waited to endorse Biden in 2020 until the crowded Democratic primary field was clear.

“Obama became an enthusiastic backer, which helped unify the party at a time when Biden’s record on race in the 1990s, including his support for the crime bill, was fueling doubts among young progressive voters,” Biden biographer Evan Osnos says. “Obama’s endorsement of Biden was about more than his candidacy; it was about his character, and that proved to be important.”

As president, Biden has worked to include Harris on his major policy calls and conversations with foreign leaders. He’s pledged to be Harris’ top campaign volunteer and to do whatever she asks of him for her election, though aides are still determining where the still-unpopular president would best be utilized. On Labor Day, Biden and Harris will appear together in Pittsburgh for a campaign event in a key swing state, Pennsylvania.

The Hebrew University announced on Tuesday that professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, who denied the Oct. 7 atrocities committed by Hamas, will not return to her teaching position at the school and will instead retire on Oct. 1.

The university suspended Shalhoub-Kevorkian, holder of the Lawrence D. Biele Chair in Law at the main Mount Scopus campus, on March 12 after she accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

The Haifa-born Arab-Israeli has also called the “Zionist entity,” i.e. Israel, “criminal” and a “killing machine” and said Israel lied about rapes and Jewish babies being killed on Oct. 7.

Although the university in the letter announcing her suspension stated that it “rejects all of her distorted statements with disgust,” it nevertheless reinstated her on March 27.

The decision to allow her to resume teaching was taken following a meeting with the rector of the university, professor Tamir Sheafer.

Shalhoub-Kevorkian claimed in the meeting that “as a critical feminist researcher she believes all victims and does not doubt their words, and that she does not deny the fact that on Oct. 7 there were cases of rape in the south [of Israel].”

However, continued protests over Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s reinstatement led the university to plead with her to step down, which she eventually did.

Btsalmo, a pro-Zionist student group, filed a complaint with the university’s disciplinary committee, describing the remarks as particularly outrageous given many students, or their families, were personally affected by Oct. 7.

Although the school rejected the complaint, Btsalmo CEO Shai Glick praised the school for urging Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s departure.

“We congratulate the university for asking her not to continue teaching there. At the same time, we, together with other students, will resubmit the complaint and make sure that it goes up to the disciplinary committee and that all compensatory funds will be taken from her,” he said.

“Whoever harms IDF soldiers and incites against them, whoever harms university students, should not teach in the Israeli academy,” he said. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

**NYC (VINnews)-**CNBC, co-host Joe Kernen couldn’t help but roll his eyes and laugh when Bharat Ramamurti, an economic advisor to Kamala Harris, attempted to defend a proposed unrealized capital gains tax. The discussion quickly turned into a light-hearted exchange as the hosts questioned the feasibility and legality of such a tax.

Ramamurti, who serves as Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, was put on the spot when he tried to equate the concept of an unrealized capital gains tax with property taxes. “Property taxes are essentially a tax on unrealized gains,” Ramamurti argued. However, the statement was met with skepticism and amusement from Kernen and his fellow hosts.

Kernen was quick to counter, asserting that an unrealized capital gains tax is “probably unconstitutional” and questioning its legitimacy. “It’s not income,” Kernen pointed out, echoing a common critique that taxing unrealized gains—profits on assets that have not yet been sold—does not align with traditional definitions of taxable income.

The conversation reached a pause when Ramamurti was left in silence, unable to immediately respond as the hosts playfully poked fun at the proposal. “And it’s never gonna happen,” Kernen added with a chuckle, signaling his doubt that such a tax would ever be implemented.

The debate highlights ongoing tensions between the Biden administration’s economic policy proposals and the challenges they face in gaining widespread acceptance. While the idea of taxing unrealized capital gains has been floated as a way to target wealth accumulation among the richest Americans, it remains controversial and faces significant legal and practical hurdles.

As the segment wrapped up, it was clear that the idea of an unrealized capital gains tax remains a hot topic, but one that faces a steep uphill battle, both in the court of public opinion and in the halls of Congress.

Trump National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt unloaded on Kamala Harris and her campaign on Tuesday after news broke that the failed “Border Czar” would support funding for the southern border wall.

“As a senator, Kamala tried to block President Trump’s construction of the border wall. As Border Czar, Kamala Harris halted construction of the border wall. Kamala’s ACTIONS speak much louder than the WORDS of the anonymous staff she is cowering behind.”

The border wall spending is just the latest in a long line of flip-flops from Kamala Harris, who has also called for a fracking ban and an end to employer-based private health insurance.

Axios was first to break the story about Harris’ wall flip-flop this week.

From Axios:

Why it matters: It’s the latest example of Harris flip-flopping on her past liberal positions such as supporting Medicare for All and banning fracking — proposals that aides say she now is against.

Harris is embracing a more hawkish immigration policy as Donald Trump’s campaign spends tens of millions of dollars attacking her about the border.

But she still has significant differences with Trump on immigration, opposing his approach to family separation and his plans for mass deportations.

It is with profound sorrow that Matzav.com reports the tragic petirah of R’ Boruch Ber Ziemba z”l. He was 39.

R’ Boruch Ber was swimming with his children in the Delaware River when one of his children drifted out and was struggling to stay afloat. R’ Boruch Ber went to rescue the child but was drawn into the river’s strong current.

After more than 40 minutes, he was extricated from the water, but paramedics were unable to revive him.

R’ Boruch Ber was a rosh chaburah at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ, where he was recognized as a budding talmid chochom and was beloved by all who knew him.

He lived on Nature’s Way in the Ocean Pointe development in Lakewood, where he was an admired member of the kehillah.

R’ Boruch Ber was a son of R’ and Rebbetzin Moshe Avigdor and Sori Ziemba of the Parkville neighborhood in Flatbush. Rebbetzin Ziemba is the longtime menaheles of Bais Yaakov of 18th Avenue in Boro Park and founder of Chein Bais Yaakov in Lakewood, NJ.

His wife, Temmi, is a daughter of Rav and Rebbetzin Moshe Shimon and Chaya Luria, rov of Khal Ohr Yechezkel on Ridge Avenue in Lakewood.

R’ Boruch Ber’s maternal grandfather was Rav Yisroel Garber zt”l, a renowned talmid chochom and the author of sefer Tal L’Yisroel, seven volumes on Shas. Rav Garber was a talmid in the yeshiva of Kamenitz in Europe, where he learned under his uncle, the rosh yeshiva, Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz zt”l. Rav Garber’s mother was Rav Boruch Ber’s sister. The niftar, R’ Boruch Ber, was named after Rav Boruch Ber.

R’ Boruch Ber is survived by his wife and their seven children, his parents, in-laws, siblings, and a large extended family and circle of friends who are devastated by this tragic loss.

Levayah details will be posted as soon as they are finalized.

Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.

UPDATE: The levayah will be held tonight, at 10:30 p.m. at the Bendheim (Yoshon) Bais Medrash of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood NJ.

Out of respect for family members who did not know of the drowning or the petirah, Matzav.com withheld reporting until the proper parties were notified.  

{Matzav.com}

A prominent activist and philanthropist from Crown Heights is in critical condition. 

Rabbi Shloimy Greenwald was traveling when he experienced a sudden complication and was hospitalized in Istanbul, Turkey, where he remains in critical condition. Rabbi Shloimy Greenwald is one of the founders of United for Protection, the organizers behind the Hatzalathon which started during COVID raising tens of millions of dollars for Hatzalah branches around the world. 

A campaign has been launched to collect 10,000 mitzvos in his merit. Please perform a mitzvah for his speedy recovery here: https://onemitzvah.org/forshloimy

Please Daven for Yosef Shlomo ben Risha

The Woodmere community is in mourning and shock upon learning of the tragic petirah of 49-year-old Mordechai Boehm, who was niftar in a water-related accident in the Poconos on Tuesday.

Sources tell YWN that R’ Mordechai z”l, a member of the Island Avenue Shul (Rabbi Ralbag), was vacationing in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, when he was involved in a tragic accident on the Delaware River that claimed his life.

Numerous organization sprang into action in the wake of the tragedy to ensure kavod hameis. Achiezer, under the leadership of Rabbi Boruch Ber Bender, alongside Rabbi Shloime Feldman of Chesed Shel Emes worked with the various agencies involved in the incident and its aftermath.

Other individuals and organizations also involved include Motti Hershkop, a local Askan in Kingston, PA, US Parks Police Chaplain Matis Melnick, Chesed Shel Emes, Misaskim, and Agudath Israel of America.

The office of Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, an ardent friend of Jews in the US and around the world, was involved in preventing an autopsy from taking place.

This tragedy comes just a day after another on on the Delaware River, when Rav Boruch Ber Ziemba, a rosh chaburah in BMG, was niftar from drowning after saving his child.

Boruch Dayan HaEmmes…

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Vice President Kamala Harris failed to get an immediate bounce of support from the Democratic National Convention, the first poll conducted in its aftermath suggests, The Daily Beast reports.

The Morning Consult tracking survey asked the same group of 7,818 registered voters about their support for Harris and for former President Donald Trump both before and after her speech last Thursday. It found identical levels of support in each survey, putting her at 48 points and Trump at 44. Harris’ campaign had suggested that they expected some immediate bounce in support in the wake of the Chicago convention, which beat the Republican convention in television ratings.

Trump had appeared to get as much as a six-point bounce after his convention in a Forbes/Harris X poll and slightly less in others. But because President Joe Biden announced on the Sunday after Trump’s Thursday night speech that he was stepping aside, poll watchers said it was harder to tell the precise impact of Trump’s speech.

{Matzav.com}

TORONTO (JNS) – Antisemitism has swept over parts of Canada in the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7 onslaught on Israel, prompting Jews to consider immigrating to the Jewish state, Israeli Consul-General Paul Hirschson told JNS during an interview in his Montreal office on Monday. 

“Since Oct. 7, we have seen where our friends, colleagues and neighborhoods stand, in terms of their opinions, beliefs and behavior. Some of them stood where we thought they would. Many didn’t and we can’t unsee it,” said Hirschson.

In the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 7 massacre, the number of hate crimes and incidents skyrocketed in Canada. Montreal police recorded 63 hate crimes against the Jewish community and 41 hate incidents from Oct. 7 to Nov. 14, including the firebombing of a Jewish community center and synagogue in Dollard-des-Ormeaux and a shooting attack on the Yeshiva Gedola elementary school. 

The scene of an attempted arson attack at a synagogue in Montreal, Canada, Nov. 7, 2023. Source: Screenshot.

More recently, police in May responded to a shooting at a Jewish school in the city’s Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough. In June, a Jewish-owned restaurant in Montreal’s Mile End neighborhood was struck by projectiles, believed to have been fired from an airsoft gun. Just last month, Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi shared a photo on social media showing a Jewish tombstone at the Kehal Israel cemetery in Montreal that had been desecrated with a swastika formed out of the small stones placed on graves.

With most attacks taking place overnight and very few cases of people being physically attacked, Hirschson said he believes the motive is a desire to terrorize, more than hurt people.

Unfortunately, it has worked. 

Israeli envoy Paul Hirschson. Credit: Consulate General of Israel in Montreal.

“Members of the community are not happy. They feel threatened and insecure. The number of Jews who are considering moving to Israel is on the rise,” he said. 

“Personally, I wish for all Jews to move to Israel, but I don’t want them to do so because of rising antisemitism in Canada,” he said. “I want them to move because Israel is the greatest place.”

Last week, Hirschson noted that an email was sent out threatening to blow up more than 100 Jewish sites across Canada.

“You simply can’t turn around and say this is just a threat, we’ll ignore it. You still close all the locations and let the police check, even if you don’t believe it,” he said.

“If antisemitism is on the rise, one must condemn it. We cannot say antisemitism and Islamophobia are bad. This is not an intellectual exercise. It’s a reality, people are hurting,” said Hirschson. 

“The Arab community here is five times as big, increasingly influential and wealthy. They are having a wonderful time. They have experienced Islamophobia, but that has nothing to do with current events,” he continued.

“The moment you link the two as morally equivalent, you’ve taken it off the streets and turned it into some belief system, some ideology, and it becomes meaningless,” he added. 

Red Cross official Haythem “Ethan” Abid holds a PLO flag at an Oct. 22 “Free Palestine” rally co-sponsored by “Montreal4Palestine,” which celebrated the Oct. 7 massacre. Source: Facebook.

While Canada has traditionally been and remains a friend of Israel, Hirschson said Jerusalem is a little disappointed with the Canadian government’s approach since Oct. 7, which hasn’t been as steadfast as that of other longtime allies. 

Canada is one of the only members of the G7 forum whose prime minister or president has not visited Israel since the Hamas attacks, and was the first of Israel’s friends, together with Australia and New Zealand, to support a ceasefire at the United Nations.

In March, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz slammed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following Ottawa’s decision to halt arms sales to the Jewish state. 

“Real friendship is measured in difficult times. On Oct. 7, Israel was attacked by a terror organization that brutalized, raped, kidnapped and murdered. We were dragged into war,” said Hirschson. 

“You can talk about how Israel has functioned or not functioned, but you’d really think that at that point, your friends would stand with you. That’s when the real test is,” he added. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Even as the Israel Defense Forces launched a preemptive strike on Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon on Sunday, after detecting preparations by the Iranian proxy to launch an “extensive” attack, Ottawa released a statement in support of Israel which circled back to Gaza. 

“It’s true, there is a war in Gaza, but the threat came from Hezbollah,” said Hirschson. “They are simply not able to mention Israel without also referring to the Palestinians. There is this so-called ‘moral equivalence’ all the time.” 

Much of Canada’s foreign policy in 2023 and 2024 has been based on the impact of local communities, including two million Muslims who vote in higher percentages than the Canadian average. 

“Montreal city is almost 10% Arab. I think that the municipality and also the government in Canada definitely look internally before making policy decisions,” said Hirschson. 

“Israel for the Jews is the most significant manifestation of indigenous restitution in history. After 2,000 years of diaspora, we went home and we stopped being the victim. However, in the Montreal academic sphere and other places, it’s very black or white. If we are no longer the victims, then according to that problematic worldview, we are perpetrators and the Palestinians are the victims,” he noted. 

However, according to Hirschson, in the war for the future of Western civilization, Israel and Canada are on the same side. “We’re liberal, free, democratic countries. We have differences of opinion and different histories, but Israel is a country that embraces and respects the individual and differences. We are not perfect and Canada isn’t perfect,” he said.

“If we don’t succeed in this conflict, Canada, the United States and Europe will suffer. Maybe not as much as us, because it’s our children who are being slaughtered, but they will suffer as well,” he concluded.

By Idy Perl

Thanks to an initiative spearheaded by Senator Simcha Felder, the MetroBus will be back in Brooklyn tomorrow!

The Metrobus will be parked on 13th Ave, between 51st and 52nd St, from 10AM-2PM. The bus staff can assist locals with any questions regarding MetroCard services, including: 

• Purchasing or adding funds to MetroCards
• One-stop application for a Senior MetroCard
• Exchange a damaged Senior MetroCard
• Transfer funds from a damaged MetroCard
• Report a MetroCard that was lost or stolen

No appointments are necessary; residents are welcome to walk up to the bus to receive assistance. 

For more information or to find out about upcoming events, please call Senator Felder's office at 718-253-2015.

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I’ve read the discussions on Matzav.com about prices, overpaying, and trying to save a few dollars here and there. But I have a different problem, and I need to speak from the heart because this is weighing on me in a way that I can barely describe.

I’m making over $300,000 a year, and as a frum Yid, I’m in debt. Yes, you read that right. I’m in debt! And before you start thinking I’m spending money on extravagant vacations or driving a fancy car, let me tell you—I don’t overspend. I’m not living a lavish lifestyle. I’m just trying to keep my head above water, to live an ehrlich Yiddishe life, and support my family of seven children.

And I’m drowning.

Let’s break it down.

First, everything I earn is on the books, so the IRS siphons off an insane amount of my income for taxes. It hurts beyond words.

Between my mortgage, car payments, health insurance (which, by the way, is sky-high for a family our size), car insurance, and tuition—oh, the tuition!—it’s a miracle if I have anything left over.

Then add in simchos, groceries (you know what it costs to feed a large family today?), basic household items, clothing for the kids, medical bills, utility bills, camp fees, and a thousand other random everyday expenses that pop up out of nowhere.

I’m telling you, it’s not possible.

It’s just not possible to make it.

Imagine—who would have ever thought that a person making $300,000 a year could not support his family? Not normal! Mamish not normal.

I sit at the end of the month, looking at my bank account, and I feel like I’m in a bad dream. How did we get here? How is it that the money I work so hard for, that I thought would secure my family’s future, doesn’t even stretch to cover the basics?

I thought maybe I was losing my mind, that something must be wrong with the way I’m budgeting or planning. But then I started talking to friends, other hardworking Yidden in the same income range, and you know what? They’re in the same boat! One friend told me he just made a bar mitzvah and a wedding, and he’s earning even more than I am, and he’s in chovos up to his neck. He can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel either.

Years ago, if someone would have told me I’d be making this kind of money, I would have thought I’d be a gvir. I would have been thrilled, thinking I’d be able to give tzedakah generously, help others, and live comfortably. And now, I’m just struggling to make ends meet. I’m literally not making it to the end of the month. The money is gone before I can even take a breath, before I can even think about how to stretch it further.

I’m not writing this letter for sympathy from Matzav readers. Actually, I don’t know why I’m writing it. Maybe I’m just in pain and feel so alone. There are so many of us out there, Yidden who are working hard, earning what used to be considered a respectable income, and still, we’re sinking. The pressures on a frum family today are immense, and the costs are overwhelming.

We’re just trying to live an ehrlich, Torahdige life, to raise our children b’derech haTorah, and somehow, the system is broken. Something has to change, because this is not sustainable. We can’t keep going on like this, constantly worrying, constantly stressed, constantly in chovos, even when we’re supposedly making good money. It’s not right. It’s not what any of us expected, and it’s certainly not what we were promised.

So what do we do? I don’t have the answers, but I know this conversation has to keep going. We need to speak up and share our struggles, because only when we’re honest about the challenges we’re facing can we hope to find some kind of solution.

Sincerely,

A Broken Breadwinner

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email [email protected]

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{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An iconic picture of a Jewish doctor caring for the Bedouin rescued from the Gaza tunnels, Farhan Al-Qadi, has garnered praise for Israel from many moderate Arab countries.

The well-known commentator Amjad Taha from the United Arab Emirates in a bold text wrote that : “First in the Middle East, this is a moment for all to celebrate. Congratulations to Israel and to humanity. Second, this picture powerfully illustrates the reality: the so-called “apartheid” Jewish state, where a Jewish doctor is treating a Muslim Arab who was held hostage by Hamas-ISIS Islamist terrorists in Gaza. Israel, this “apartheid” state, dispatched 18 Jewish soldiers to rescue the Muslim Arab Bedouin and reunite him with his children.

“If you live in New York, Paris, or London, you might be confused because your media won’t show you this reality of the Middle East. Instead, go protest against McDonald’s burgers and Starbucks chai lattes.”

Egyptian-born London blogger Nervana Mahmoud wrote that “this video will shock many Arabs”, sharing the happy brother of Mahmoud responding in Hebrew to his release.

This video will shock many Arabs.

One of the family of rescued Israeli hostage, Farhan Alkadi, a clearly devout Muslim, speaking in Hebrew, and clearly happy.

Yes, Hamas kidnapped Muslims, and kept them in captivity for months, in the hope of trading them with its thugs… https://t.co/2I8X5GJx5c

— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) August 27, 2024

Mahmoud added derisively that “Al-Jazeera is almost wailing after the rescue of Israeli Bedouin Muslim Farhan Kadi.” and mocked Hamas for claiming that it had  released Farhan after learning he was Muslim. “Yes, it took you ten months to learn the Arab you were holding hostage was indeed a Muslim. Must be the language barrier…” she responded.

NEW YORK  (JTA) – As he settled into his office at the Israeli consulate in Midtown East three months ago, Ofir Akunis had his staff mount a large photo of the 9/11 attack, and placed it alongside a framed Israeli flag that was found in the ruins of the World Trade Center.

Both the flag and the photo of the Twin Towers being destroyed are meant as a reminder, he said, that the same forces that invaded Israel on Oct. 7 have attacked New York City before — and could strike again. 

“They don’t understand. It’s a short memory,” Akunis said of New Yorkers during an interview earlier this month at his office. “It’s very natural, but you can’t forget the history.”

He added, “I’m worried for America. I’m asking my American friends, ‘Wake up.’ Say to these people, ‘Enough.’”

Since arriving, Akunis has advocated against the protesters — a movement he calls “pro-terror” and sees as a danger to Americans. He believes some of the protesters are part of a radical Islamist movement and called for the city city to crack down on the demonstrations. 

“They don’t want to live in peace with us — they want to live instead of us,” he said of radical Islamists. “They are saying it to people in London, in Manchester. They’re saying it to the Belgians in Brussels. They’re saying it here, to you. They’re saying, ‘Death to America.’”

The Israeli consul in New York represents Israel in New York state, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Delaware. Akunis’ predecessor, Asaf Zamir, was appointed by the previous Israeli government and resigned last year to protest the Netanyahu coalition’s effort to overhaul the judiciary.

Akunis, as a Likud lawmaker, faced protests over the judicial overhaul when he visited the United States last year, when he was a minister in Netanyahu’s government. Protesters followed him on the street, and he canceled a speech in Los Angeles, anticipating interruptions.

Now, by contrast, he has been squarely focused on the local fallout from Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and the ensuing war in Gaza. His first meeting after becoming consul general was with students from Columbia and New York Universities to tell them that “we are here for them, anything that they need,” he said. In a public statement earlier this month, he attacked Columbia anti-Israel protesters for saying they sought the “eradication of Western civilization.”

Referring to that statement, he tweeted in English and Hebrew, “My American friends: The truth always comes out. The boycott movement at Columbia University finally revealed what they really want.”

He highlighted a protest that took place at the New York Public Library in November 2023, and compared a photo of the rally to an image of Nazis blocking the entrance to a library in Germany in 1933. “It is unacceptable that Jewish students and Israeli students will actually be afraid to walk nearby and actually to live under threat,” he said.

In particular, Akunis is calling for local officials to more stringently enforce laws barring disruptive protests and to pass anti-masking legislation that would allow law enforcement to better identify protesters, whom he accused of exploiting democratic freedoms to undermine democracy. He praised an anti-masking bill introduced by Israeli-American legislator Mazi Pilip in Long Island’s Nassau County that passed earlier this month.

His previous warnings that New York faced a “radical Muslim occupation,” made earlier this summer, drew condemnation from the local branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, known as CAIR.

“This false ‘wake up’ call is in reality a call to hatred and violence targeting New York Muslims and Arabs, and those perceived to be Muslim and Arab-American,” the group’s executive director, Afaf Nasher, said in a statement. “These false and hate-filled remarks should be repudiated by all political and religious leaders.”

Akunis drew a distinction between radical Islamists and moderate Muslims, praising Israel’s previous peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan. Akunis served as the Israeli government’s regional cooperation minister at a time when Israel signed normalization agreements with Muslim states including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. 

He keeps a framed photo of former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, the Likud founder who signed the deal with Egypt, on a shelf in his office.

“They’re all Muslims,” he said of the countries with which Israel has signed agreements. “We don’t have any problems. I want to live in peace with them, with all of them.”

Akunis has also reached out to victims of antisemitism in the city, speaking with an Israeli man who was stabbed in Brooklyn earlier this month. He has also fulfilled the job’s traditional roles: speaking with local media, communicating through social media, and advocating for Israel in meetings with members of Congress, Jewish communities, and other groups, such as evangelical Christians. In one message to New Yorkers, the consulate this month rented a billboard in Times Square calling Iran and Hezbollah “partners in terror.”

He has met with an array of Jewish and political leaders, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and New York Reps. Ritchie Torres and Grace Meng. He offered special praise to New York Mayor Eric Adams, who he called “a brave leader” who is “standing for Israel.”

His office has faced protests from local Israeli critics of Netanyahu’s government, who charge that it is not working hard enough to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. Many of them were also active in the groups that protested Akunis and other Israeli officials over the judicial overhaul when they visited New York last year. 

He defended the overhaul as the policy of a democratically elected government, and spoke out against foreign criticism of the government’s decisions.

“Every Israeli government reflects the will of the people. I served in the opposition. Nothing happened to me. I never said that Israel is in danger, I never said that democracy is in danger,” he said. “Israeli democracy, like American democracy, reflects the will of the people.”

He visits local synagogues most Saturdays, including two visits to Temple Emanu-El, the Reform congregation on the Upper East Side, and he has an affinity for the Greek Jewish community due to his familial roots in Greece, attending the Greek Jewish festival in May in Manhattan. 

He declined to name his favorite Israeli restaurant in New York “to not insult the others” but said he visited many kosher restaurants in the city and expressed his love for American diners.

“I prefer the original American diners, the small ones and the old ones,” he said. “You can feel like [you’re] in a time tunnel, like in real America.”

Behind his desk are U.S. and American flags, next to a framed photo of Israeli hostage Ariel Bibas, a copy of the Torah and a miniature model of Beresheet, the Israeli spacecraft that crashed into the moon in 2019 while Akunis served as Israeli minister of science, innovation and technology.

He added that he feels New York’s Jewish diverse communities have come together since Oct. 7, creating a point of “light in all these truly dark days.” He also says gaps between American Jews and Israelis in the city have dissipated due to the war and antisemitism in the United States.

Protests on the city’s college campuses, which many Jewish students said created a hostile atmosphere, were a catalyst for bringing New York’s Jews together, he said. Earlier this month, Akunis met with Jewish campus groups to prepare for the upcoming school year, telling them the consulate was available to them at any time to protect their right to study safely. 

Akunis expressed appreciation and affection for New York and the United States, calling the establishment of America and Israel “two miracles.” His appreciation for the United States motivated his concern over the threat of radical Islam, he said. He called the situation an “emergency.”

“I’m warning you, from the bottom of my heart, as a big admirer of the United States, you must stop it as a society, not only the Jewish communities,” he said.

WASHINGTON – Vice President Kamala Harris is facing criticism for choosing to bring her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, to her first interview since President Biden announced he would not seek re-election. Some critics view this decision as a sign of “weakness” and a lack of confidence.

Harris, 59, is set to appear alongside Walz in a “joint interview” scheduled to air on CNN Thursday night. The choice has drawn swift backlash, with some accusing Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, of relying on Walz to help defend her record and policies after avoiding such exchanges for weeks.

Scott Jennings, a former special assistant to President George W. Bush, told CNN on Tuesday that bringing a running mate to the interview was a “weak” move, reflecting poorly on her political abilities. He added that it might raise concerns among voters about her potential as a president.

Others echoed these sentiments, pointing to Harris’ past verbal missteps as a possible reason Democrats might not trust her to handle the interview solo. Some critics on social media suggested that the presence of Walz indicated a lack of confidence in her ability to navigate the conversation alone.

Harris, who has long been in the public eye, has previously faced ridicule for struggling to respond to criticism, including her role as Biden’s “border czar.” A particularly awkward moment came during a 2021 interview with Lester Holt, where she awkwardly defended not visiting the US-Mexico border despite rising illegal immigration.

The upcoming interview will be her first since Biden endorsed her as his successor after withdrawing from the 2024 race on July 21. The interview will be conducted by CNN’s Dana Bash and is set to air at 9 p.m. ET from Savannah, Georgia.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nvidia has led the artificial intelligence boom to become one of the stock market’s biggest companies, as tech giants continue to spend heavily on the company’s chips and data centers needed to train and operate their AI systems.

The company is now worth over $3 trillion, with its dominance as a chipmaker cementing Nvidia’s place as the poster child of the AI industry ahead of the release of its latest financial results after the close of trading Wednesday.

Wall Street expects the company to report second-quarter adjusted earnings of 65 cents per share up from 27 cents a year ago. Revenue is expected to have surged to $28.74 billion, more than double what it earned in the comparable quarter one year ago. By comparison, S&P 500 companies overall are expected to deliver just 5% growth in revenue for the quarter, according to FactSet.

The problem, critics say, is such stellar growth has set off too much euphoria among investors. Through the year’s first six months, Nvidia’s stock soared nearly 150%. At that point, the stock was trading at a little more than 100 times the company’s earnings over the prior 12 months. That’s much more expensive than it’s been historically and than the S&P 500 in general. That’s why analysts warn of a selloff if Wall Street sees any indication that AI demand is waning.

Demand for generative AI products that can compose documents, make images and serve as personal assistants has fueled sales of Nvidia’s specialized chips over the last year. In the past three quarters, Nvidia’s revenue has more than tripled on an annual basis, with the vast majority of growth coming from the data center business.

The Santa Clara, California-based company carved out an early lead in AI applications race, in part because of founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s successful bet on the chip technology used to fuel the industry. The company is no stranger to big bets. Nvidia’s invention of the graphics processor unit, or GPU, in 1999 helped spark the growth of the PC gaming market and redefined computer graphics.

DELAWARE RIVER – Baruch Dayan HaEmes: A father of seven tragically lost his life this afternoon after being pulled from the Delaware River.

39 year old Rav Baruch Ber Ziemba, was vacationing with his family in the Poconos when he entered the river to save his child but tragically drowned in the process. Although he was later found and pulled from the water, he did not survive.

Ziemba who was a Rosh Chaburah in BMG, and leaves behind his wife, Temmi, the daughter of Rav Moshe Shimon Luria, and their seven children.

Details about the levaya will be shared as soon as they are available.

Surveillance video captured an accident in Toms River last night which left multiple people injured.

The accident happened at the intersection of Hickory Boulevard and Vermont Boulevard at approximately 11:00 PM.

Several people were hospitalized, the injuries are not said to be life-threatening.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett’s company has unloaded more of its Bank of America stake, selling nearly 25 million shares worth almost $1 billion over the past week.

Berkshire Hathaway has steadily sold off 116 million Bank of America shares since July. But it still controls nearly 12% of the stock in the bank based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

After the sale was disclosed, Berkshire’s Class A stock — already the most expensive stock on Wall Street — gained $7,184.62 Wednesday to sell for $698,534.62.

That elevated the conglomerate based in Omaha, Nebraska, into the club of companies valued by the stock market at over $1 trillion. But that’s still well shy of market behemoths Nvidia and Microsoft, now valued at over $3 trillion.

The Bank of American stake remains one of Berkshire’s biggest investments, behind only its large Apple stake and its longtime American Express investment.

Buffett raised eyebrows earlier this month when he revealed he had halved the Apple investment and in the process built up a record $277 billion cash pile as of June 30. Berkshire’s cash has only grown since then with the Bank of America stock sales and all the earnings from the assortment of dozens of companies it owns, including BNSF railroad, Geico insurance, a collection of utilities and a bunch of retail and manufacturing businesses.

Buffett watchers say Berkshire’s recent stock sales are likely a sign that the revered investor thinks the stock market is overpriced and they suggest he may be trying to set himself up to take advantage of a downturn.

Buffett never discusses why he is buying and selling certain stocks while he is doing it, and he hasn’t offered any explanation for the Bank of America sales. He prefers to keep his moves close to his vest so other investors can’t copy him, but the Securities and Exchange Commission requires him to file updates on Berkshire’s Bank of America holdings because it owns more than 10% of the bank.

Buffett started selling off Berkshire’s Bank of America shares after it peaked with a new 52-week high of $44.44 back in July. The latest sales were all made at average prices just under $40 a share.

The stock was up slightly Wednesday at $39.80.

Attention singles in Lakewood and beyond,

I wanted to share a personal story with you that I hope will inspire and encourage those still searching for their bashert. About 10 years ago, when I was 22, I dated someone special. At the time, we apparently weren’t right for each other, and we made the decision to end the relationship.

Fast forward to age 33, we reconnected, and this time, everything felt different. We got married a year ago, and I can honestly say that I’ve never been happier. What changed? I believe it was simply a matter of maturity and perspective.

When we’re young, we often have unrealistic expectations about what a perfect shidduch should be. We think we’ll find someone who checks every box on our list, and that our relationship will be effortless. But the truth is, no one is perfect, and no relationship is without its challenges.

If I had known then what I know now, I might have made a different decision. I might have looked beyond the superficial and seen the potential for growth and love. I hope that by sharing my story, I can help others avoid the same mistake.

To all the singles out there in Lakewood and beyond, I urge you to keep things in perspective. Don’t wait for someone who seems perfect on paper. Look for someone with a good heart, shared values, and a willingness to grow together.

It’s not about checking every box on your list. If more of us approached shidduchim with this mindset, I believe we would see many more happy couples building a life together.

Hatzlacha.

Signed, a happy husband.

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to [email protected]

In an effort to drive home the message of ‘Never Leave Kids in Cars’, a Chaveirim of Central Jersey member placed pizza in his car’s windshield to show how pizza bakes from the car’s interior heat.

Temperatures will reach approximately 95 degrees in Lakewood on Wednesday.

A prominent activist and philanthropist from Crown Heights is in critical condition. 

Rabbi Shloimy Greenwald was traveling when he experienced a sudden complication and was hospitalized in Istanbul, Turkey, where he remains in critical condition. Rabbi Shloimy Greenwald is one of the founders of United for Protection, the organizers behind the Hatzalathon which started during COVID raising tens of millions of dollars for Hatzalah branches around the world. 

A campaign has been launched to collect 10,000 mitzvos in his merit. Please perform a mitzvah for his speedy recovery here: https://onemitzvah.org/forshloimy

Please Daven for Yosef Shlomo ben Risha

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — BDE: The body of 19-year-old Shaked Dahan, which was abducted by terrorists from his tank on October 7th near Nir Oz, has been located and recovered in Gaza.

Shaked, together with the other members of the tank, bravely fought off the Hamas attackers despite being severely outnumbered. A terrorist placed an explosive device on the tank and others fired anti-tank missiles, killing Shaked and his friends. He was declared dead 53 days later by the IDF after intensive intelligence work, and his family sat shiva for him.

Recently the Shin Bet received information about the whereabouts of his body and with the help of other intelligence work and the 162nd division’s 401 battalion, the body was rescued Monday night and brought to Israel for burial.

Two members of the tank have now been returned, while two other bodies are still being held in captivity. In all, 107 hostages (alive and dead) remain in enemy hands.

May his blood be avenged.

By Idy Perl

If you haven’t made it to Governor’s Island yet this summer, fear not because you still have some time. 

Thanks to a $250,000 state grant the Governor’s Island ferry will continue running until October. Earlier this year, the ferry, which is operated by the Trust for Governor’s Island, announced that due to financial restraints they would only be able to offer ferry service from Memorial Day until the end of June. 

Now with state funding secured, the ferry is able to continue bringing visitors to the 43 acres of beautiful outdoor space.

TRAGIC UPDATE: We regret to report the tragic Petirah of Reb Baruch Ber Ziemba Z”L, who was Niftar following a tragic incident today while vacationing in the Poconos.

Reb Baruch Ber Z”L, approximately 40, was a Rosh Chaburah, and a Rosh Kollel in Ocean Pointe’s night Kollel in Lakewood. He is a son of Mrs. Sarah Ziemba, principal of the Bais Yaakov of 18th Avenue in Boro Park, and a son in law of Rav Moshe Shimon Luria, Rav of Ohr Yechezkel in Lakewood.

He leaves behind his wife and seven Yesomim.

Misaskim is working with authorities to ensure Kavod Hameis.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place at 10:30 PM tonight at the BMG Yoshon Building.

Call-in number: 857-347-0100 – 125005#

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

Note: The above was published only once all family members were notified.

Original Report: 

A Lakewood father of seven is missing in the Poconos after going into a lake to save his child.

The incident happened this afternoon while the family was vacationing in the Bushkill area.

Local rescue teams are on scene, and Hatzolah members from other areas are heading as well.

Developing.

The following is the transcript, translated from Hebrew, of Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s conversation on Aug. 27 with Farhan al-Qadi, who was rescued after being held hostage in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu: “Farhan, hello to you my friend. Welcome back!”

Farhan al-Qadi: “Hello, welcome. Hello Bibi, Abu [father of] Yair!”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu: “Farhan, I am so happy to speak with you.”

Farhan al-Qadi: “I am also happy. I have been waiting for this moment. I swear to you, Abu Yair.”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu: “Tell me, have you already met with your family?”

Farhan Qadi: “Yes, two of my children are here.”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu: “I want you to know that we are truly moved from the depth of our hearts, for both you and your family.”

Farhan al-Qadi: “I thank you for this work, that you have reached a situation in which I see my family and am here. You truly did sacred work. There are other people who are waiting.”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu: “I want you to know that are not forgetting anyone, just like we did not forget you. We are committed to returning everyone, without exception.”

Farhan al-Qadi: “I thank you very much. I invite you, Abu Yair.”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu: “Thank you. I would like you to embrace your family, and I want you to know that the entire people of Israel embraces you and the others. We will bring them.”

Farhan al-Qadi: “Thank you. May it be G-d’s will. Thank you very much.”

(JNS)

(VINnews) — The U.S. State Dept is asking all American citizens not to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, due to safety and visa concerns. The statement released says that “Uman has been the site of multiple Russian missile attacks”, including on houses of worship.

It also said that for dual citizens, “there is an extremely high risk U.S. citizens will not be allowed to depart, even with a U.S. passport.”

READ THE FULL STATEMENT POSTED ON THE WEBSITE OF THE US EMBASSY IN UKRAINE:

The U.S. Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens do not travel to Uman, Ukraine, for the annual pilgrimage to the grave of Rebbe Nachman during Rosh Hashanah. This recommendation is consistent with our current Travel Advisory recommending against all travel to Ukraine.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Uman has been the site of multiple Russian missile attacks. Russian airstrikes have hit civilian buildings and critical infrastructure, including houses of worship, often with little or no warning. Local authorities have advised that Uman does not have enough air raid shelters to accommodate all anticipated travelers to the pilgrimage. Ukraine remains under martial law, with curfew and movement restrictions that would also affect pilgrims to Uman.

As a reminder to U.S.-Ukrainian dual nationals, or those who may have a claim to Ukrainian citizenship, Ukraine has eliminated a “residence abroad” exception that previously allowed certain Ukrainian males aged 18 to 60 to depart the country. After this change, U.S.-Ukrainian dual citizens, including those who live in the United States, may no longer be able to depart the country. We strongly recommend against all travel to Ukraine by U.S. citizens, including males aged 18 to 60 who also have Ukrainian citizenship or a claim to Ukrainian citizenship and who do not wish to stay in Ukraine indefinitely. There is an extremely high risk U.S. citizens will not be allowed to depart, even with a U.S. passport. Travelers who are unsure whether they have a claim to Ukrainian citizenship should consult Ukrainian authorities for further guidance. For more information on traveling with dual nationality, please visit our Travelers with Dual Nationality page.

We remind all U.S. citizens of the State Department’s Level 4: Do Not Travel warning for Ukraine. For further information, see State Department websites for what you should know as a dual citizen traveler, and what we can and cannot do during a crisis.

For the first time in history, 70 Teimani Rabbanim signed a letter not to abandon the ancient communal minhag of translating the Torah.

The Rabbanim have become aware that some shuls have stopped translating Kriyas HaTorah and the Haftorah to the tzibur on Shabbos and Yom Tov, an ancient takanah from the days of Ezra.

The Rabbanim bemoan the fact that the minhag is slowly being abandoned:  “And if in the past, we saw a weakening of the minhag and a distancing from it on the outskirts of the camp, today we see that it’s spreading even among Bnei Torah…”

The letter quotes Rebbe Shmuel HaNagid who spoke strongly against those who stopped translating the parsha in public and said that anyone who works to restore the minhag, “his sechar before the Makom is ensured.”

The Rabbanim ended the letter by stating: “Don’t change the minhag of your ancestors and return to the paved path. Ensure that your children learn the mesorah of their fathers and know how to translate quickly and easily.”

https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/26095452/play_480p.mp4

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

MIDDLE EAST (VINnews) — Several airlines have announced they will resume flights to Tel Aviv on Tuesday, after halting flights due to the conflict with Lebanon.

Air France, Aegean, and several other airlines will resume flights, after a two-day halt following Israel’s so-called “preemptive” self-defense strike on Hezbollah and the terror group’s subsequent barrage of rockets and drones.

Thousands of Israelis found themselves stranded abroad due to the travel chaos.

Air France announced it will resume flying to Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday. Its low-cost subsidiary Transavia will also resume services, it said in a statement to AFP. Aegean Airlines will also return starting Tuesday.

Etihad Airways, Wizz Air and Corendon Airlines have all announced they plan to restore flights in and out of Israel, according to Channel 12, but it was not immediately clear when.

Many airlines have completely suspended flights to Israel and never resumed. Some major airlines have canceled flights for a prolonged time frame, with some pausing until September or even — such as Delta — until next April.

Since October 8, Hezbollah has attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a near-daily basis.

The attacks have resulted in 26 Israeli civilian deaths, and the deaths of 20 IDF soldiers and reservists. Over 100,000 Israelis have been displaced from their homes for months.

Israeli forces have rescued a hostage alive from a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, from the Bedouin Negev city of Rahat, was rescued in a “complex operation” by the IDF’s Shayetet 13, 401st Brigade and Yahalom together with ISA forces under the command of the 162nd Division.

He was alone at the time of his rescue.

The father of 11 is in stable condition and being transferred to a hospital for medical tests, according to the military. His family has been updated and the IDF is accompanying them.

He was held in captivity for 326 days after the guard at a packing factory in Kibbutz Magen was abducted by Hamas terrorists from nearby Mivtahim.

His rescue leaves the number of hostages still held by the Hamas terror group in Gaza at 108, including 104 of the 251 hostages taken on Oct. 7, which includes the bodies of 34 confirmed deceased.

“Israeli security forces will continue to operate with all means to bring home the hostages,” the military said.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group advocating for the return of the abductees, said that Alkadi freed himself from Hamas captivity and escaped to Israeli forces.

“The wonderful news of his return is a sign of light amongst the darkness for the families of the hostages and the people of Israel. We wish to thank the wonderful forces of our IDF who helped Qaid return home safely,” the forum said, adding that a ceasefire agreement “is the only way to secure the return of the remaining 108 hostages- The living for rehabilitation and the murdered for proper burial.”

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant commented on the rescue operation.

“Within the bold and determined operations of the IDF and Shin Bet forces deep in the Gaza Strip, our fighters succeeded in rescuing Kadi and returning him to his family in Israel. This operation joins a series of impressive operational activities, bringing us to achieve all the goals of the war.”

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi completed a situational assessment after the rescue was confirmed that included the commander of the Southern Command and other senior military and intelligence officers.

“We are doing everything to save all the abductees. IDF and Shin Bet forces demonstrate courage, determination and initiative in complex operations in the field,” Halevi said.

“I congratulate the IDF, the Shin Bet and the security forces for a successful rescue,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said.

“Farhan, a resident of Rahat, was kidnapped on October 7 from the packing house where he worked in Kibbutz Magen, when Hamas terrorists came kidnapping, murdering and raping – without distinction between blood and blood. This is a happy moment for the State of Israel and the entire Israeli society. I wish for the immediate and speedy return of our 108 abductees who are brutally held captive in Gaza,” Herzog continued.

His brother, Hatem, said that “God willing, we thank everyone very much and hope to see him in good health. We are very happy to receive this news.”

Last Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces recovered the bodies of six hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7, from a tunnel in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

In an operation involving the IDF and Israel Security Agency, the bodies of Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri and Alex Dancyg were located more than 10 months after the Hamas massacre.

JNS

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian has resigned from the Hebrew University, after she caused an uproar when she denied the October 7 rapes and murders in the Gaza surrounding communities and towns.

Arutz Sheva reported that the professor, an Arab Israeli who grew up in Haifa, had previously been suspended from the university after she published a petition accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Among other things she said that “Now is the time to abolish Zionism, that is the direction I’m going in today. It can’t go on anymore, it can’t, it’s criminal,” and cast doubt that the acts of rape actually occurred on October 7, saying: “They will use any lie. They started with babies, they continued with rape, and they will continue with a million other lies. We stopped believing them, I hope the world stops believing them.”

Despite making these statements and being suspended, Shalhoub-Kevorkian returned to teaching at the university, which accepted her claim that she believed all the victims and did not doubt their words.

The right-wing human rights group Btsalmo filed a complaint with the university’s disciplinary committee, stating that her accusations are offensive to the Hebrew University students and noted that many of the students or their family members were personally affected by the October 7th attacks, making her claims even more outrageous.

In response, the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Professor David Glicksberg, rejected the complaint of Btsalmo’s CEO, Shai Glick but emphasized that “Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s words were harsh and repulsive, and he rejects them entirely.”

At the same time, Professor Glicksberg noted on Wednesday morning that Shalhoub-Kevorkian has retired from the university and will no longer be teaching there from the next academic year.

Over the last year, the Hebrew University publicly and privately appealed to the professor and requested that she resign. It seems that she consented to the request, due to the immense pressure.

Glick said that: “We welcome the resignation of the inciting professor. As we promised, every instigator of hatred, regardless of his or her position and status, will eventually leave academia. We congratulate the Hebrew University for not asking her to continue teaching there. Even so, together with other students, we will refile the complaint make sure that she goes before a disciplinary committee and that all her compensation money will be revoked.”

A serious accident on Interstate 95 in Prince George County, Virginia, early Sunday morning led to a miraculous outcome thanks to the coordinated efforts of local emergency responders and an extraordinary community mobilization. The crash occurred around 9:15 a.m. near the Route 623 exit when an SUV veered off the highway and overturned, leaving three people, including an infant, injured.

Upon arrival, first responders found the infant had been ejected from the vehicle, and due to the severity of the injuries, a medical helicopter was dispatched to airlift the child to a hospital. The driver and another passenger were also taken to a local medical center. Authorities reported that all three victims sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Remarkably, despite the terrifying circumstances, the infant’s injuries were minimal, and both the father and child were discharged from the hospital the same day.

What followed the accident was an inspiring wave of chessed that turned this traumatic event into a true “mi k’amcha ysiroel” moment of unity and kindness. Local askanim immediately sprang into action, rallying resources and support for the victims. Chaim Feldman from Columbia Hospital, Meyer Spitzer from Florida Hatzalah, Yedidya Blau from Chaveirim of Rockland, and Aron Slone from Norfolk, Virginia, drove two hours to provide food and essentials to the family.

Leading the efforts on the ground was Heshy Neiman from Cleveland, who coordinated help across state lines. He connected with Rabbi Mendy Heber of Chabad Williamsburg (Virginia), who in turn contacted Rabbi Mendy Weiss, a Chabad rabbi in Richmond. Rabbi Weiss spent seven hours at the hospital supporting the father and child, while Mrs. Nechama Kranz, wife of Rabbi Yossel Kranz, the head Chabad Shliach in Richmond, provided comfort and companionship to the mother during this challenging time.

After their release from the hospital, the family was welcomed into the Kranz home, where they were given a place to stay and recover. The Richmond Jewish community, including Rabbi Mendy Weiss and Rebbetzin Nechomi Kranz of Lubavitch, and Rabbi Dovid Asher and Rebbetzin Aliza Asher of the OU shul Keneseth Beth Israel, played a pivotal role in providing care and support to the family.

The family is expected to make a full recovery, and the coordinated response was as an extraordinary act of chesed and a tremendous kiddush hashem, showing the world the power of achdus in times of crisis and uncertainty.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JERUSALEM – Ata Abu Madighem, the former mayor of Rahat, reported that Farhan al-Qadi, the former hostage who was rescued from Gaza on Tuesday, shared a harrowing experience during his captivity. According to Abu Madighem, al-Qadi revealed that another hostage who he said was Jewish, who had been held with him for two months, passed away while in captivity.

This information has not yet been independently verified, and neither the IDF nor the Hostage Families Forum has commented on the matter.

Abu Madighem conveyed this tragic news during a press briefing aired on Channel 12 news, following his visit to al-Qadi at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. He mentioned that the loss deeply affects al-Qadi, leaving him with many painful memories. Despite the trauma, al-Qadi expressed relief at having been rescued.

“He shared with me the hardships he endured—an incredibly harsh and brutal captivity,” Madighem told Kan News. “For nearly ten months, he barely saw sunlight or any form of light. He described the captivity as extremely cruel, noting that he was treated solely as an Israeli, without regard to his identity as a Bedouin or an Arab.”

Abu Madighem also noted that he is unable to provide further details about the deceased hostage.

The Iranian backed terror group Kata’ib Hezbollah, based out of Iraq, has been attempting to target Jewish centers in the central Asian nations of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, according to Iran International, a London outlet against the regime.

Kata’ib Hezbollah, part if Iran’s ‘axis of resistance,’, receives weapons and training from Iran. The terror group has expanded to operating in Syria, and now reportedly, in central Asia.

Sources told the paper that a Tajuk operative named Mohammad Ali Burkhanov (also known as Sayyid Hamid al-Tajiki) worked with the terror group to attack Jewish centers in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Reported incidents include how Burkhanov led a team, backed by Iran’s Quds force, which attempted to burn the Jewish Agency offices and the Or Avner Jewish Center in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

This news comes as some speculate Hamas and Iran seek to attack Jews outside of Israel in response to the assignation of Hamas terror leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF overnight Tuesday began an extensive counterterrorism operation in Jenin, Tulkarm, and other terror hubs in the northern Shomron. The operation is expected to last several days.

The operation, dubbed Operation Summer Camps (מחנות קיץ), was launched in the wake of the attempted suicide bombing attack in Tel Aviv last week and previous attempts by terrorists from the Shomron to carry out mass-casualty attacks in Israel. IDF intelligence officials believe that terrorists from a terror network in the Tulkarm area were responsible for planning and directing the attempted bombing in Tel Aviv.

Hundreds of IDF soldiers entered terror hubs in “refugee camps” in Jenin, Tulkarm, Nur a-Shams, Tubas, Qalqilya, and the Far’a camp in the Jordan Valley – first entering with bulldozers, destroying infrastructure and uncovering hidden explosives intended to harm Israeli forces. Heavy gun battles took place in every area the soldiers entered. Forces on the ground were assisted by the Air Force, including combat helicopters and drones. IDF soldiers blocked all entrances to the cities and also surrounded the main hospitals in Jenin and Tulkarm, screening those entering in order to prevent terrorists from hiding there as they did in previous operations.

https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/28043821/2808240719_hisol_mehablim_720p.mp4

Nine terrorists were killed, four in Jenin and five in Tubas.

Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz stated on Wednesday morning: “The IDF has been working intensively since last night in the Jenin and Tulkarm ‘refugee camps’ to thwart Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructure that has been established there. Iran is working to establish an eastern terror front against Israel in the Shomron, per the Gaza and Lebanon model, by financing and arming terrorists and smuggling advanced weapons from Jordan. We must deal with the threat just as we deal with the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, including the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents and whatever steps are required. This is  a war in the full sense of the word and we must win it.”

Gun battles between terrorists and IDF forces in Jenin:

https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/28043402/280824_jenin_720p.mp4

https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/28032529/Probably-one-of-the-biggest-operations-in-Jenin-si.mp4

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

BROOKLYN – A disturbing incident in Brooklyn was captured on video, showing a woman being followed into her apartment building near Prospect Park and then attacked from behind by an unknown assailant.

The 25-year-old victim entered her building in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhood around 11 p.m. on Thursday. As she walked through the lobby, a man quietly followed her, then suddenly grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arm around her neck.

The woman screamed for help, pleading with the attacker to stop. Despite her resistance, the man ordered her to “shut up” before eventually letting her go.

Security footage of the frightening encounter, obtained by a local news outlet, shows the woman heading towards the mailboxes while the suspect presses the elevator button. The man, seemingly unaware of the camera, quickly moves toward her, initiating the attack.

The video captures the intense struggle as the woman kicks and fights back. After several seconds, the attacker releases her and flees the scene on foot. The woman immediately called 911 and, thankfully, was not physically harmed.

The suspect is described as a male with a dark complexion. Authorities are actively searching for him, and the incident has left residents of the building, located near Ocean and Parkside Avenues, feeling uneasy.

As the search for the attacker continues, the community remains on high alert, hoping for a swift resolution to the troubling event.

The IDF launched an extensive counterterrorism operation in the Shomron overnight Tuesday but targeted operations in “refugee camps” in terror hubs have been taking place on a smaller scale since October 7.

The IDF confirmed on Wednesday that a drone strike Monday killed five terrorists in a terror command center in the Nur a-Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm, including Jibril Jibril, a 20-year-old Hamas terrorist from Qalqilya who was released in the November 2023 hostage deal and who has since been involved in several shooting attacks against Israeli targets.

He is the third terrorist released in the deal who immediately returned to terror activities and was killed by Israeli security forces this month.

Earlier this month, Wael Misha, an 18-year-old terrorist released in the deal, was killed in an airstrike in Shechem during a counterterrorism operation.

Two days earlier, Tariq Daoud, an 18-year-old Hamas terrorist released in the deal, was killed by IDF forces after he shot and seriously wounded an Israeli in his 60s.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

In a revealing conversation on MSNBC’s Inside With Jen Psaki on Monday, former CNN host Don Lemon shared insights from his interviews with Black voters, many of whom said they plan to vote for former President Donald Trump, citing their belief that Trump is “on black people’s side.”

Lemon, reflecting on his interviews across key swing states ahead of the Democratic National Convention, described the experience as “eye-opening.” Despite favorable economic metrics for the Biden-Harris administration, many voters still recall the 2021 stimulus checks bearing Trump’s signature. “I don’t know if it was surprising, but it was certainly eye-opening to hear so many people, even people of color and women, saying they are going to support Donald Trump,” Lemon said, expressing skepticism about the accuracy of current polls.

Lemon recounted how many black voters mistakenly credited Trump with the stimulus checks, forgetting that the payments came from a Democratic Congress. “They did not somehow remember that the current president also gave them a stimulus check, except his name wasn’t on it,” Lemon explained. “So, when they got the check, and his name was on it, they automatically thought it came directly from Donald Trump, which I think is good marketing.”

When Psaki turned the conversation to Vice President Kamala Harris, Lemon noted that many voters, particularly in swing states like Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania, were unfamiliar with her. “Many people did not know who she was… I think she has to reintroduce herself to the public,” he said.

Lemon also addressed his past public criticisms of Trump, saying, “Of course, I think he is racist. Look at his rhetoric and his track record, and anyone can see that.” However, he acknowledged that for many voters, their priority was not Trump’s character but rather their personal economic situation. “Maybe the economy is better, but prices are higher, and people have less money to put towards high prices and to feed their families,” Lemon said.

Lemon concluded by noting that many voters he encountered were “low partisan information voters,” who were not following every political development but were acutely aware of their financial situations. “They vote on that and not necessarily what they see on television,” he said.

https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/27114126/LwGpASb3-34584671.mp4

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested an increase in security for his son Yair, who is currently living in Miami, Florida. The request was made due to concerns that Iran might target an Israeli figure abroad in retaliation for the recent elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, according to a report by Channel 12. The Prime Minister’s Office Director-General, Yossi Shelley, submitted this request to the advisory board.

However, the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, reportedly believes that enhanced security for Yair Netanyahu is unnecessary. They argue that his security should not be managed by the Shin Bet but rather by the “Magen” unit, which typically handles the protection of Israeli ministers.

The report also highlights the substantial costs incurred by the state for the protection of the Netanyahu family. Between 2018 and 2023, the state spent over 10.2 million shekels on Yair Netanyahu’s security while he was living abroad. During the same period, the security expenses for Netanyahu’s other son, Avner, were even higher, totaling 11.42 million shekels. Additionally, the state spent 10.65 million shekels on the security of First Lady Sara Netanyahu.

Dear Friends & Supporters:

Approximately 30 years ago, Rav Zechariah Gelley zt”l, Rav of K’hal Adas Yeshurun in Washington Heights, was invited to join the rabbinic presidium (Nesius) of Agudas Yisroel of America and to participate in the upcoming meeting of the Nesius.

Rav Gelley graciously accepted the invitation, but he had a question: “What is accomplished at these meetings? I’m sure it’s very nice to drink coffee or tea with rabbonim and roshei yeshiva from different backgrounds, but does anything tangible, l’maaseh, come out of these meetings?”

To which Rav Elya Fisher zt”l, Rosh Kollel of Ger and fellow member of the Nesius, replied; “There is much l’maaseh, as you will see. But even if the Nesius existed for the sole purpose of creating a table at which we all sit together and drink coffee and tea, that itself would be a great thing.”

From time to time, even today some three decades later, we at Agudas Yisroel hear a slight variation on Rav Gelley’s question: “L’maaseh, what does the Agudah do?” 

The reality is that Agudah is very much a l’maaseh-focused organization. Hence the theme of our upcoming fifth annual Charidy fundraising campaign: THIS IS WHAT WE DO

We will tell you about Agudas Yisroel’s advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. and throughout the country that help bring in millions upon millions of dollars in government programs, services and funding to the yeshiva community across the USA.

We will tell you about the central role Agudah plays in the battle to preserve the independence of our yeshivos against inappropriate governmental intrusion.

We will tell you about the work Agudas Yisroel does in promoting the legal rights of our special needs population, and about the trailblazing activities of the growing national network of Yahalom offices servicing this population.

We will tell you about Agudah’s essential role in combatting antisemitism in America, with special emphasis on the growing cancer of anti-charedi’ism.

We will tell you about Agudah’s immensely popular “H3” business halacha seminars in venues across the United States, and even in the UK, which have given essential halachic guidance to thousands of businessmen and professionals from all types of backgrounds.

We will tell you about the remarkable work of our Chayim Aruchim division, dealing with end-of-life halachic and legal challenges; about our recently started Zahav division to help seniors and their families in navigating the federal and local bureaucracies for various forms of government assistance programs; about the numerous court cases in which we have filed legal briefs to make sure that our community’s interests are protected.

There’s more — lots more 
— but enough for now. 

The bottom line, as the unforgettable President of Agudas Yisroel Rabbi Moshe Sherer would often say, is that while it is true that the Agudah is an ideological organization — the ideology is
an ideology of activism!
In short: l’maaseh!

And so, dear friends, please read the literature and watch the videos we will be publishing for Agudas Yisroel’s upcoming Charidy fundraising campaign. Learn more about what we do, about the many thousands whose lives are directly impacted by our work, about the wonderful tangible accomplishments that are the hallmark of the Agudah. 

And then, open up your hearts and your pockets to enable us to continue doing what we do to meet the needs of a growing Klal Yisroel in these most challenging times.

One final request: as you learn more about what the Agudah does, please pause for a moment to remember Rav Elya Fisher’s response to Rav Zechariah Gelley. Agudas Yisroel represents a large table around which all chareidim lidvar Hashem sit together, drinking coffee and tea and strengthening our bonds to
one another b’ahava v’achva v’shalom v’reius. 

This is what we do, yes. But it’s also who we are. Won’t you please join us around the table?

Donate generously.
Spread the word.
Support the crucial work of the Agudah.

B’yedidus,

Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel
Executive Vice Presiden

UPDATE: Here’s the device that prompted the evacuation of Community Medical Center yesterday, first report by TLS.

The device had a watch connected to it, apparently to make it look like a timer for the ‘bomb’.

A person of interest has been identified by authorities.

It turned out to be non-explosive and cleared by the NJSP Bomb Squad.

“Thank God everyone was all right,” Mayor Rodrick told TLS. “I want to commend acting Chief Peter Sundeck and Lieutenant Moeller for their leadership on the scene, as well as the members of the Toms River Police department, the Sheriff’s office and the State Police. Again, thank God everyone is safe.”

Holders of $287 million of municipal bonds sold to help finance the construction of the American Dream mega-mall in New Jersey’s Meadowlands are poised to receive overdue interest next week after two years of missed payments.

The unrated bonds, which are backed by New Jersey economic development grants, skipped payments after documentation necessary to appropriate the funds ran into hurdles. New Jersey officials needed to certify a project cost statement and the state Treasury had to calculate the grant amount. The grant funds are tied to tax revenue derived from sales at the mall, which saw double-digit year-over-year increases the past two quarters.

US Bank – the trustee on the debt – has been unable to make semi-annual interest or redemption payments since August 2022. As of Aug. 1, the past-due interest totaled $46.4 million, and it must complete those payments before paying down principal, according to a securities filing dated Friday.

On Sept. 3, US Bank will deliver about $25.7 million to holders for past-due interest, the filing said. However, after the distribution “no excess amounts thereafter remained to make any deposit of monies into the Mandatory Redemption Account for the redemption of principal.”

A missed payment doesn’t constitute an event of default, according to bond documents.

US Bank declined to comment. A spokesperson for American Dream didn’t respond to an emailed request for comment. A representative for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority didn’t provide a comment.

All together, Triple Five Group, the mall’s owner, borrowed about $1.1 billion in the municipal bond market to help finance the $5 billion project. A Triple Five representative didn’t respond to an emailed request for comment.

American Dream opened in October 2019, months before the outbreak of the pandemic spurred lockdowns. Its attractions include an indoor ski slope, theme park and water park. Luxury retailers Balenciaga and Gucci opened stores in the mall this year and Hasbro launched a 41,500 square-foot arcade. The mall also features a Kosher food court, and has had separate events at the water park for the Frum community.

In the second quarter, sales at the facility jumped about 12% from the year-earlier period, to around $149 million, according to a bond filing. That followed an increase of almost 30% from a year earlier in the first quarter.

While sales are picking up, they remain off the pace of the nearly $2 billion that a 2017 study projected the mall would bring in during its first year of operations.

(c) Washington Post

Police in the suburbs of New York City made the first arrest under a new local law banning face masks, officials announced Tuesday.

Nassau County Police say officers on Sunday night responded to reports of a suspicious person on a street near the Levittown and Hicksville town line, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Manhattan.

They found Wesslin Omar Ramirez Castillo wearing black clothing and a black ski mask that covered his face, except for his eyes.

The department said the 18-year-old resident displayed other suspicious behavior, including attempting to conceal a large bulge in his waistband and refusing to comply with the officers’ commands.

Officers say the bulge turned out to be a 14-inch knife. Ramirez Castillo was placed under arrest without further incident, police said.

He was arraigned Monday in Family Court in Westbury on misdemeanor charges of criminal possession of a weapon and obstructing governmental administration, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly’s office.

Lt. Scott Skrynecki, a police department spokesperson, said Ramirez Castillo will also be facing a misdemeanor violation of the face mask law in the coming days.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican who signed the mask ban into law earlier this month, said Sunday’s arrest showed the rule is working.

“Our police officers were able to use the mask ban legislation as well as other factors to stop and interrogate an individual who was carrying a weapon with the intent to engage in a robbery,” he said in an emailed statement. “Passing this law gave police another tool to stop this dangerous criminal.”

Keith Ross, a criminal justice professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, said police didn’t necessarily need the new law to stop and question Ramirez Castillo, but it helped bolster their justification.

“The law gives police, at the very least, reasonable suspicion to conduct a stop,” the retired New York City police officer explained by phone. “Under reasonable suspicion, police can forcibly stop a person in New York state if they are suspected of committing a felony or a penal law misdemeanor, which is where this new law falls.”

But Scott Banks, attorney-in chief at the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, which is representing Ramirez Castillo, challenged that notion.

“There is no basis to believe that wearing a face mask was intended to conceal identity or criminal behavior, and if that was the basis of the stop I believe there is a basis to conclude the stop was unlawful,” he wrote in an email.

Skrynecki declined to comment, adding that police and county officials will discuss the incident at a news conference Wednesday.

The New York Civil Liberties Union, which has criticized the new law, repeated its warning that the mask ban is “ripe for selective enforcement by a police department with a history of aggression and discrimination.”

Disability Rights of New York, a group that advocates for people with disabilities, filed a legal challenge last week arguing that the mask law is unconstitutional and discriminates against people with disabilities.

The federal class action lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to immediately stop enforcement of the ban.

The Mask Transparency Act was approved by the county’s Republican-controlled legislature in response to “antisemitic incidents, often perpetrated by those in masks” since the Oct. 7 start of the Israel-Hamas war.

The law makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for anyone in Nassau to wear a face covering to hide their identity in public. It exempts people who wear masks “for health, safety, religious or cultural purposes, or for the peaceful celebration of a holiday or similar religious or cultural event for which masks or facial coverings are customarily worn.”

(AP)

NEW YORK – A man on the Upper East Side was subjected to an antisemitic attack when a stranger approached him, snarled, “Hitler was right,” and then spat in his face, according to police. The incident occurred around 4:10 p.m. on July 27, at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and East 68th Street.

The attacker, who targeted a 65-year-old man, initially threatened him by asking, “Should I slap you or punch you?” before making the antisemitic remark and spitting in his face. After the assault, the suspect fled toward Madison Avenue.

The NYPD released a video on Tuesday showing the suspect, who remains at large. He is described as having a medium complexion and was last seen wearing black pants, a black hat, and a multicolored shirt.

The victim was not physically injured, but the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the incident.

Anyone with information on the latest crime is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Among the large differences between supporters of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Joe Biden are gulfs in religious and foreign policy values, according to a new analysis from the Pew Research Center.

Asked whether Washington should take the interests of allies into account “even if it means making compromises with them,” 79% of Harris supporters and 40% of Trump supporters said it ought to do so.

A much larger percentage of Trump supporters (76%) than Harris supporters (55%) said that “U.S. policies should try to keep it so America is the only military superpower,” with 42% of Harris supporters, and just 22% of Trump supporters, saying that “it would be acceptable if another country became as militarily powerful as the U.S.”

The Pew analysis was based on two surveys—held between April 8 and Aug. 14, and Aug. 5 and Aug. 11—of 4,527 registered voters.

An overwhelming majority (83%) of Trump supporters and 68% of Harris supporters said that a strong U.S. military makes the world safer. A quarter of Harris supporters said that a strong U.S. military has no impact on how safe the world is.

There was also a wide divide on the degree to which the United States ought to engage actively in world affairs. One in five Trump supporters and 33% of Harris supporters said that was “extremely important.” Some 53% of Trump supporters and 71% of Harris supporters said it was at least “very important” for Washington to engage actively on a global scale.

Just 7% of Trump supporters and 4% of Harris supporters said doing so wasn’t too important, or important at all.

Trump supporters favored smaller government by a wide margin (84%) over Harris supporters (22%). Harris supporters were much likelier (87%) than Trump supporters (55%) to say that “religion should be kept separate from government policies.” Nearly half (45%) of Trump supporters and just 13% of Harris supporters agreed that “government policies should support religious values and beliefs.”

More Trump supporters (46%) than Harris supporters (22%) said that belief in God is a prerequisite “to be moral and have good values,” per the Pew analysis.

Trump and Harris supporters also have very different family values.

Some 60% of Trump supporters and just 17% of Harris supporters said that “society is better off if people make marriage and having children a priority,” while 81% of Harris supporters and 39% of Trump supporters said that “society is just as well off if people have priorities other than marriage and children.”

(JNS)

LONDON (JNS) – British police have still not identified a man who was pictured in May wearing a Manchester United soccer jersey with ‘Hamas 7’ printed on the back.

The Telegraph reported in May that authorities were searching for the man, who was photographed by a Jewish passerby near the Oxford Circus tube station in central London.

“Police received a call from a member of the public reporting that a man was walking in Oxford Street, W1 wearing a football shirt with an offensive message on it,” said a Metropolitan Police spokesperson at the time. “Enquiries are underway to try and identify the man.”

The “Hamas 7” tag is a reference to the Palestinian terror group’s Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction to Gaza of more than 250 people, 108 of whom remain in captivity.

“Threatening or carrying out acts of violence against any minority is despicable. And it’s absolutely right that anyone engaged in that sort of behavior should feel the full force of the law,” said Stephen Silverman, director of Investigations and Enforcement at the non-profit Campaign Against Antisemitism.

“The problem is for the last 10 months, and especially in London, we have been watching a double standard being applied, whereby one form of extremism is clamped down on with an iron fist while another is treated with an unacceptable level of leniency.

“The result is that through any lack of real deterrence through policing, a climate has been allowed to develop that is permissive with regard to expressions of hatred directed not just at Jewish people, but at Britain as well and at the liberal-democratic value we all rely on to keep us safe,” added Silverman.

Expressing support for a proscribed organization is a criminal offense in Britain under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act.

The United Kingdom banned Hamas’s military wing in 2001 and extended the designation to its political wing in 2021.

According to a poll in April, only a quarter of British Muslims believe that Hamas committed murder and rape during its Oct. 7 invasion of Israel. Thirty-nine percent of British Muslims said Hamas did not commit atrocities on Oct. 7, while 37% said they didn’t know.

Younger, well-educated Muslims were most likely to say Hamas did not commit atrocities (47% of 18- to 24-year-olds and 40% among the university-educated).

Nearly half of British Muslims polled (46%) sympathized with Hamas.

Attendees of the Democratic National Convention are testing positive for COVID-19. Those include members of Kamala Harris’ campaign staff, according to NBC News—though the network’s sources reported that the cases were so far mild and that there were no concerns about it affecting the overall operation.

It wasn’t just staff who got sick after the event, either. Attendees began posting online about contracting the virus after the DNC wrapped on Thursday.

“You put 20,000 people in an 18,000-person building, it’s bound to happen,” said Jaimey Sexton, a political consultant who attended the convention, adding that he knew people personally who are now sick. “You could ask anybody who was planning an event, they know somebody who has Covid,” he added.

The convention, which experienced overflow crowds throughout its multi-day festivities, had no health-related requirements for attendees. Read more at NBC.

A prominent activist and philanthropist from Crown Heights is in critical condition.

Rabbi Shloimy Greenwald was traveling when he experienced a sudden complication and was hospitalized in Istanbul, Turkey, where he remains in critical condition. Rabbi Shloimy Greenwald is one of the founders of United for Protection, the organizers behind the Hatzalathon which started during COVID raising tens of millions of dollars for Hatzalah branches around the world.

A campaign has been launched to collect 10,000 mitzvos in his merit. Please perform a mitzvah for his speedy recovery here: https://onemitzvah.org/forshloimy

Please daven for Yosef Shlomo ben Risha.

{Matzav.com}

Israel confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that it had killed a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist in an airstrike near the Syria-Lebanon border several hours earlier.

The Israel Defense Forces described Faris Qasim as a “significant terrorist in the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization’s Operations Division,” who was responsible for developing the terror group’s operational plans in Syria and Lebanon.

“He had a central role in the recruitment of Palestinian terrorists into the Hezbollah terrorist organization responsible for carrying out terrorist attacks from Lebanon against the State of Israel,” the IDF said.

“In recent years, the Hezbollah terrorist organization, with Iranian direction and funding, has been systematically recruiting Palestinian operatives to advance and direct terrorist activity against the State of Israel from Lebanese territory,” the statement continued.

Additional Islamic Jihad terrorists traveling from Syria to Lebanon to carry out terrorist activities for Hezbollah were killed in the strike, according to the IDF.

Earlier reports said that four terror operatives were killed in a drone strike on a vehicle at the Syria-Lebanon border.

Israel, which did not initially comment on the incident, has for years allegedly targeted Tehran’s terror proxies in Syria and combated Iranian entrenchment there, including weapons shipments and military infrastructure.

Islamic Jihad has dispatched its Syrian-based terrorists to Lebanon to join Hezbollah in its fight against Israel, which the Iranian terror proxy has been waging since Oct. 8, a day after the Hamas massacre of 1,200 people in the northwestern Negev.

Wednesday’s drone strike came hours after an Israeli airstrike hit a pickup truck in northeastern Lebanon near the Syrian border. A security source told Reuters that the vehicle was carrying military equipment which was likely a damaged rocket launcher on its way to be repaired.

AFP reported, citing a Lebanese security source, that the attack targeted two Hezbollah trucks around 6.2 miles from Baalbek, Lebanon and that one person was wounded in the strike.

An IDF soldier was lightly wounded in a Hezbollah drone attack on the Galilee Panhandle on Tuesday evening, according to the army.

The explosives-laden drone crossed into Israeli territory, setting off sirens and impacting near Beit Hillel, wounding the soldier.

Hezbollah took responsibility for the attack.

Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF said it carried out an airstrike on a building in Southern Lebanon’s Odaisseh after spotting Hezbollah operatives there.

(JNS)

A Kentucky man who became the first rioter to enter the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection was sentenced on Tuesday to 53 months behind bars. Michael Sparks, 46, was convicted by a jury in March of six criminal charges, including a felony count of interfering with police during a civil disorder.

Video footage from the day showed him jumping through a broken window and later joining a group of other rioters to chase a police officer up a flight of stairs. “This is our America!” he yelled at one point.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said that Sparks’ entrance had had an “emboldening, encouraging effect” on other rioters, according to the Associated Press. “To say it wasn’t a material, key point in the mob’s taking of the Capitol, I think, is just ignoring the obvious.”

When he addressed the court at his sentencing hearing, Sparks said that he still believes the 2020 presidential election was “completely taken,” and that “to this day [America is] in tyranny.” Read more.

YS Gold 

We regret to inform you of the passing of Reb Chaim Yaakov Koth, a prominent and beloved Belzer chossid and longtime Boro Park resident. He was 74 years of age. 

The niftar is remembered as an extremely pleasant person. He worked for decades in the Belzer mosdos in Boro Park. "Everyone --the boys as well as the girls--wanted Mr. Koth to be their bus driver," recalls one graduate of the Belzer institutions in Boro Park. In addition, Reb Chaim Yaakov managed the buses in the mosdos, and took on many tasks within the institutions. Wherever he went, and whatever he did, he was known for his pleasantness.

The niftar leaves behind a beautiful family of chassidim and ovdei Hashem. 

The levaya will take place later today at the Belzer shul on 43rd Street near 14th Avenue. Kevurah will be in the Belzer chelkah at the Har Shulem Cemetery. 

Yehi zichro baruch.

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs (“Division”) announced that 19 retailers in the state were recently issued Notices of Violation (“NOVs”) and assessed civil penalties of $4,500 each for allegedly violating the state’s consumer protection laws by offering and selling flavored vapor products that are banned for sale in New Jersey.

The enforcement actions are the result of a Division investigation into unlawful sales of flavored electronic smoking devices and products, including mint, candy, fruit, and chocolate flavors.

Research has shown that these products are extremely appealing to teens and children and the nationwide rise in their use is undermining hard-fought declines in adolescent smoking.

To combat this problem, in January 2020, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation prohibiting the sale and distribution of all vapor products with a flavor, taste, or aroma other than tobacco, making New Jersey the first state in the nation to impose a permanent ban on these products.

“The ban on flavor vaping devices is in place to protect New Jersey consumers—especially our youth—from the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes, nicotine, and tobacco,” said Cari Fais, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “By identifying and taking enforcement action against merchants who illegally sell these products, we are protecting public health and fulfilling our responsibility to safeguard consumers from unlawful business practices.”

The Division launched its investigation into the unlawful offer and sale of flavored vapor products in June 2024. Through undercover buys and in-store inspections, investigators identified smoke shops, convenience stores, and gift and novelty retailers in five counties offering and selling the banned products, many in locations close to schools and parks or on or near shore town boardwalks.

The NOVs issued allege that the retailers engaged in the selling and/or offering for sale of prohibited vapor products that have a characterizing flavor and therefore engaged in an unlawful practice under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. Each NOV includes a demand for civil penalties in the amount of $4,500.

The Associated Press was roasted on X on Monday after sharing a story with the title She’s the sitting vice president. She’s the candidate of change. How Harris is having it both ways.

“Vote for change… by voting for the person who’s currently in office,” one X user wrote.

“Are you guys nuts?” another wrote, before blasting the outlet as a propaganda arm of the Harris campaign.

“AP isn’t biased at all,” another wrote.

“Probably because you hacks write headlines like this,” another tacked on.

“Change? Yeah, changing the US into Venezuela,” another quipped.

ABC News is also running cover for Kamala’s conflicting messages, saying “In every presidential cycle candidates run on experience or freshness, but Harris so far appears to be successfully harmonizing two seemingly competing messages, much to the frustration of former President Donald Trump and his allies.”

From ABC News:

‘She has this powerful and unique and interesting advantage that we have never seen before in our politics,’ said Patrick Gaspard, CEO of the Democratic-leaning think tank Center for American Progress Action Fund and a former executive director of the Democratic National Committee under President Barack Obama.

‘She is both an incumbent,’ he said, and ‘she’s been able to seize the ‘change’ banner away from Donald Trump.

Kamala can be both an incumbent and a candidate for change as long as the media refuses to do its job.

A freed Israeli hostage has spoken out about her harrowing experience under Hamas captivity, revealing that the terrorists tried to force her to convert to Islam while also extorting her family for ransom.

Moran Stella Yanai, 41, who was abducted during the brutal attack on the Nova Music Festival on October 7, shared her ordeal in an interview with the Israeli N12 network. Yanai described how her captors tried to pressure her into conversion, promising she would be freed sooner if she accepted Islam.

“Almost daily, one of them would enter the room, saying, ‘It would be better for you to be a Muslim woman,’” Yanai recounted. “At one point, they even sent a comrade to bring a head covering and show me what it means to be a Muslim woman.”

Yanai, a jewelry designer, was held hostage in Gaza for 44 days. She spoke of her deepest fear during captivity: being sold into forced marriage and having to convert to Islam. “As a woman, my biggest fear is being sold, that someone would forcefully marry me and that I will have to convert,” she explained.

In addition to the psychological torture she endured, Yanai revealed that her captors targeted her family with emotional and financial abuse. They demanded a ransom for her release, intensifying the trauma by sending her father a photo of her, along with threats to kill her if the money was not paid.

“My father received a picture of his daughter and was told that if he didn’t pay money within an hour, they would start killing us one by one,” Yanai said, describing the deep shock her father went into upon receiving the threat. “My parents experienced trauma no less than I did,” she added.

Yanai was one of the first hostages freed by Hamas in November as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. Under the deal, Hamas released 105 hostages in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Former president Donald Trump announced Tuesday he has added Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard to his transition team, giving key roles to two former Democrats who endorsed his comeback campaign in recent days.

“As President Trump’s broad coalition of supporters and endorsers expands across partisan lines, we are proud that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard have been added to the Trump/Vance Transition team,” Trump campaign senior adviser Brian Hughes said in a statement. “We look forward to having their powerful voices on the team was we work to restore America’s greatness.”

The New York Times first reported the news.

The announcement comes as Trump is looking to display support from beyond the Republican Party with a little over two months until the election. Democrats sought to show cross-party support at their national convention last week in Chicago, which featured speeches by former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and former Georgia lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan (R).

The news about the transition team also arrived a day after an interview was released where Kennedy said he had been recruited to help with preparing for a possible second Trump term.

“We’re working on policy issues together,” Kennedy said in the interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. “I’ve been asked to come onto the transition team, to help pick the people who will be running the government.”

Trump first announced the transition team on Aug. 16, tapping as co-chairs the Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, administrator of the Small Business Administration under Trump. The honorary co-chairs are Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), and two of the former president’s sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

Kennedy ended his independent presidential campaign on Friday and endorsed Trump, appearing alongside him at an evening rally in the Phoenix area. The Washington Post previously reported that Kennedy had talked with Trump about a possible role in his administration if he wins the November election. Trump has publicly said he would consider it.

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, backed Trump during a joint appearance Monday in Detroit. She ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 but left the party two years later and has since grown more politically aligned with Trump.

Gabbard is set to campaign with Trump on Thursday in Wisconsin.

(c) Washington Post

In his first major speech since becoming prime minister, Keir Starmer told the British people on Tuesday that their country was in a societal and economic “black hole” and that “things will get worse before they get better.”

The speech was remarkable for its woeful description of modern Britain. Starmer repeatedly deployed the word “rot” to describe condition of the country he now leads, as in a house with a rotting foundation that needs more than a cosmetic coat of paint.

Afterward, even supporters wondered aloud whether he was painting too gloomy a picture.

But Starmer maintained that he wanted to be honest – in contrast, he said, to his predecessors, whom he blamed for the current state of affairs and for selling the British people “the snake oil of populism.”

Starmer suggested that taxes will go up and that cuts will be made, even for those most reliant on public assistance – like the 10 million elderly who await help with winter heating bills.

In a July 4 election, British voters went big time for Starmer and the center-left Labour Party, ending 14 years of Conservative rule and bucking a rightward trend on the continent.

But there has been no honeymoon.

The nation was stunned by a July 29 stabbing attack that killed three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England. Online misinformation about the assailant – wrongly identifying him as an illegal immigrant with an Arabic name – spurred a week of riots across the country.

It took a heavy police presence, mass arrests and stiff prison sentences, along with public condemnation, to put an end to the violence.

British prosecutors have charged more than 600 people with violent disruption and attacking police and property with bricks and gasoline bombs. Prosecutors have also pursued cases against what one judge called “keyboard warriors” alleged to have stirred up rage with social media posts, many of them false.

One British woman, 53, was sentenced to 15 months for a Facebook post calling for a mosque to be blown up “with the adults inside.” An English man, 45, was sentenced to 20 months telling his followers to set fire to a hotel that housed refugees.

Starmer has vowed that those instigating violence cannot hide behind social media anonymity. Some critics are worried that such arrests could undermine free speech.

On Tuesday, Starmer said the riots had exposed “a deeply unhealthy society” that had been “weakened by a decade of division and decline” and “infected by a spiral of populism.” The effort to respond to the riots also highlighted the failures of previous governments, he said.

He recounted that his team had to “check the precise number of prison places we had and where those places were, to make sure we could arrest, charge and prosecute people quickly.”

“Not having enough prison places is about as fundamental a failure as you can get,” said Starmer, a former top prosecutor.

He went further, saying that the rioters had been “gaming” the system.

“They didn’t just know the system was broken. They were betting on it,” he said. “They thought: ‘Oh, they’ll never arrest me. And if they do, I won’t be prosecuted. And if I am, I won’t get much of a sentence.’ They saw the cracks in our society after 14 years of failure – and they exploited it.”

Starmer invited 50 citizens to the speech: firefighters, nurses, teachers, cops. Even as he delivered his glum news, he said his government was devoted to them.

He also pointedly chose to deliver his remarks in the 10 Downing Street rose garden, where during the pandemic, staffers for then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson held one of their gatherings that flew in the face of lockdown rules.

“Remember the pictures, just over there, of the wine and the food?” Starmer said. “Well, this garden, and this building, are now back in your service.”

He blamed the current state of “rubble and ruin” on 14 years of Conservative Party rule, saying that the previous government had racked up 22 billion pounds – more than $29 billion – in debt, and had hidden it from the Office of Budget Responsibility, an independent and authoritative overseer of public finances, funded by the Treasury.

Starmer offered some hope for brighter future, but warned that tough times are ahead.

“There’s a budget coming in October and it’s going to be painful,” he said.

Britain’s Labour Party is closely allied with Britain’s labor unions. But after Starmer’s speech, Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, worried that “a bleak vision of Britain is not what we need now.”

The Green Party issued a statement saying that “more economic pain and hardship isn’t what people voted for.”

Starmer’s predecessor, Rishi Sunak, posting on X, said Tuesday’s speech revealed a hidden agenda, “what Labour has been planning to do all along – raise your taxes.”

(c) Washington Post

(VINnews) — According to a report that was shared on social media, a Lakewood father who was boating with his family was swept away by water while saving his children. According to one report, the father was discovered by rescuers, who are working to save his life.

The report says that Baruch Dov ben Sarah was on a small boat with his children on the Delaware River, when several of them fell or jumped into the water and required assistance getting back on. The father jumped into the water and got them all back on their vessel, when a wave reportedly overtook him and he disappeared below the surface.

He was reportedly pulled from the water, and his condition is unknown.

Lakewood and Catskills Hatzolah and Chaveirim teams were en route to the scene to assist local law enforcement.

(THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY AND THE DETAILS HAVE NOT BEEN VERIFIED).

Please daven and say Tehillim for Baruch Dov ben Sarah.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — BDE: In a tragic road accident which occurred Monday night near the Gan Hashlosha National Park (Sakhne) in the Beit Shean valley, an 11-year-old girl was knocked down and later died of her injuries.

The girl, identified as Batsheva Esther Shimonovitz from Bnei Brak, was killed on Route 669 after a vehicle hit her as she crossed the street near the park.

Magen David Adom (MDA) teams arriving at the scene attempted to resuscitate Shimonovitz and evacuated her to Ha’emek Medical Center, where staff conducted additional attempts at resuscitation and eventually were forced to declare her death.

Police investigated the circumstances surrounding the accident, and following this, Shimonovitz’s body was released for burial, and she was laid to rest Monday night in the cemetery in Elad. The ZAKA organization helped the family through burial procedures.

Shimonovitz is the daughter of Rabbi Shabse Shimonovitz, and was named after Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky’s wife Batsheva.

Israel Chasid, ZAKA spokesman, said, “Unfortunately, during the entire vacation period, we at ZAKA are handling terrible tragedies. Please! With a bit of thought and attention, increasing awareness and proper preparation for the trip, we can prevent the next tragedy from occurring.”

Israel Police issued a statement that “Israel Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the traffic accident which occurred a short time ago on Route 669 near the Sakhne junction, during which a girl of 12 was hit as she crossed the street where there was no crosswalk and was hit by a vehicle. As a result of this, she was evacuated in critical condition (according to medical sources) to the Ha’emek hospital in Afula. Police officers and traffic investigators from the Northern District are now at the scene and have begun investigating the circumstances of the incident.”

**USA (VINnews)-**Kamala Harris’s campaign has made a significant policy reversal. Her staffers are now stating that she does not support mandates for electric vehicles. This walk back marks a notable shift from what many assumed to be a cornerstone of the Biden/ Harris administration’s environmental agenda.

The reversal comes in the wake of the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations implemented last March, which aim to ensure that half of all new car sales are electric by 2030. Harris’s campaign now finds itself in the awkward position of distancing her from a policy that the government she serves is actively pursuing, raising questions about the coherence and consistency of the administration’s environmental strategy.

Surveillance video captured an overturn accident in Lakewood late last night.

The accident happened at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Courtney Road at approximately 11:30 PM.

No serious injuries were reported.

(Video provided exclusively by Ariz Car Rental)

Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign now claims she “does not support” Electric Vehicle (EV) mandates after years of supporting such mandates as a Senator and in her role in President Joe Biden’s administration, Breitbart reports.

According to The Spectator‘s Amber Duke, Harris’s campaign sent an email to supporters on Tuesday claiming “Vice President Harris does not support an electric vehicle mandate.”

The statement comes after years of Harris campaigning, championing, and supporting EV mandates that require automakers to produce and sell a certain percentage of EVs to American consumers.

Last month, for instance, Breitbart News detailed Harris’s Green New Deal proposal from 2020 when she sought to abolish sales of gas-powered cars by 2035 and ensure that Americans can only purchase EVs when looking for a new car.

“[W]e will ensure that 50 percent of all new passenger vehicles sold are zero-emission by 2030, and 100 percent are zero-emission by 2035,” Harris’s agenda read at the time. Similarly, Harris said she wanted to require “that all new buses be zero-emission by 2030.”

As vice president, Harris has backed Biden’s EV mandate, which will require that a majority of new cars produced and sold in the United States market are EVs or hybrids by 2032.

The U.S. Oil & Gas Association slammed Harris in a post to X:

Last month, a Harvard-Harris poll revealed that 72 percent of registered voters said they oppose the Biden-Harris EV mandate — including 57 percent of Democrats, 77 percent of swing voters, and 83 percent of Republicans.

Both EV mandates run the risk of wiping out millions of American auto jobs, including the jobs of UAW members. EVs, as experts note, require far less manpower to produce than traditional gas-powered cars.

Former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), have said they will end Biden and Harris’s EV mandate.

“[We will] end the Electric Vehicle mandate on day one — thereby saving the U.S. auto industry from complete obliteration, which is happening right now, and saving U.S. customers thousands and thousands of dollars per car.” Breitbart

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (AP) — Police in the suburbs of New York City made the first arrest under a new local law banning face masks, officials announced Tuesday.

Nassau County Police say officers on Sunday night responded to reports of a suspicious person on a street near the Levittown and Hicksville town line, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Manhattan.

They found Wesslin Omar Ramirez Castillo wearing black clothing and a black ski mask that covered his face, except for his eyes.

The department said the 18-year-old resident displayed other suspicious behavior, including attempting to conceal a large bulge in his waistband and refusing to comply with the officers’ commands.

Officers say the bulge turned out to be a 14-inch knife. Ramirez Castillo was placed under arrest without further incident, police said.

He was arraigned Monday in Family Court in Westbury on misdemeanor charges of criminal possession of a weapon and obstructing governmental administration, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly’s office.

Lt. Scott Skrynecki, a police department spokesperson, said Ramirez Castillo will also be facing a misdemeanor violation of the face mask law in the coming days.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican who signed the mask ban into law earlier this month, said Sunday’s arrest showed the rule is working.

“Our police officers were able to use the mask ban legislation as well as other factors to stop and interrogate an individual who was carrying a weapon with the intent to engage in a robbery,” he said in an emailed statement. “Passing this law gave police another tool to stop this dangerous criminal.”

Keith Ross, a criminal justice professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, said police didn’t necessarily need the new law to stop and question Ramirez Castillo, but it helped bolster their justification.

“The law gives police, at the very least, reasonable suspicion to conduct a stop,” the retired New York City police officer explained by phone. “Under reasonable suspicion, police can forcibly stop a person in New York state if they are suspected of committing a felony or a penal law misdemeanor, which is where this new law falls.”

But Scott Banks, attorney-in chief at the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, which is representing Ramirez Castillo, challenged that notion.

“There is no basis to believe that wearing a face mask was intended to conceal identity or criminal behavior, and if that was the basis of the stop I believe there is a basis to conclude the stop was unlawful,” he wrote in an email.

Skrynecki declined to comment, adding that police and county officials will discuss the incident at a news conference Wednesday.

The New York Civil Liberties Union, which has criticized the new law, repeated its warning that the mask ban is “ripe for selective enforcement by a police department with a history of aggression and discrimination.”

Disability Rights of New York, a group that advocates for people with disabilities, filed a legal challenge last week arguing that the mask law is unconstitutional and discriminates against people with disabilities.

The federal class action lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to immediately stop enforcement of the ban.

The Mask Transparency Act was approved by the county’s Republican-controlled legislature in response to “antisemitic incidents, often perpetrated by those in masks” since the Oct. 7 start of the Israel-Hamas war.

The law makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for anyone in Nassau to wear a face covering to hide their identity in public. It exempts people who wear masks “for health, safety, religious or cultural purposes, or for the peaceful celebration of a holiday or similar religious or cultural event for which masks or facial coverings are customarily worn.”

Kaid Farhan Al-Qadi, the 52-year-old Bedouin-Israeli rescued by the IDF from Gaza today, was photographed at Soroka Hospital shortly after being transferred there by military helicopter. He is barely recognizable. Hamas treated one of their own fellow Arabs and Muslims like a mere animal. This poor man is nothing but skin and bones, a living testimony to the unspeakable cruelty he endured at the hands of Hamas.

Al-Qadi, abducted on October 7 from a village south of Rahat, spent 326 agonizing days in captivity until, miraculously, the IDF rescued him in a heart-stopping operation. The full details of this operation remain shrouded in secrecy for security reasons, but the scale of its complexity is unimaginable.

IDF forces rescued him in the nick of time, but the shadow of his ordeal lingers—a horrifying reminder of the horrors that are still the terrifying reality for some 100 additional hostages still in captivity.

**USA (VINnews)-**Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has publicly distanced himself from the Biden-Harris administration, expressing regret for the role his company played in censoring Americans on its platforms during their tenure. This admission marks a significant shift in Zuckerberg’s stance on government involvement in content moderation.

Zuckerberg’s comments were delivered in a letter to House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, in which he addressed the controversy surrounding Meta’s handling of content, particularly during the 2020 election cycle. He revealed that Meta had been under pressure from the FBI to moderate content related to the Hunter Biden laptop story, a topic that became a lightning rod for accusations of political censorship. Zuckerberg acknowledged that the FBI’s insistence on labeling the story as “Russian disinformation” influenced Meta’s decision to limit its visibility on platforms like Facebook.

This is not the first time Zuckerberg has spoken out about the government’s involvement in Meta’s content policies. In a previous appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” he disclosed that the FBI’s warnings about potential disinformation led the company to take action against the Hunter Biden story. However, in his recent letter, Zuckerberg emphasized that Meta has since revised its policies to prevent such interventions in the future.

“We’ve changed our policies and processes to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Zuckerberg wrote. “We no longer temporarily demote things in the U.S. while waiting for fact-checkers.”

In a further departure from his previous political engagements, Zuckerberg also announced that Meta would not be making financial contributions during the upcoming election cycle. This decision underscores his commitment to maintaining a more neutral stance in the contentious political landscape.

Zuckerberg’s remarks are likely to fuel ongoing debates about the role of tech giants in shaping public discourse and the extent to which they should cooperate with government entities. As Meta continues to grapple with its responsibility to balance free expression with the need to combat misinformation, Zuckerberg’s latest statements suggest a move towards a less interventionist approach.

This development also raises questions about the future relationship between Meta and the U.S. government, particularly as the 2024 election cycle approaches. With Zuckerberg pledging to avoid financial contributions and revising content moderation practices, Meta’s role in the political arena may look very different in the years to come.

JERUSALEM (JNS) – Israeli forces rescued a living hostage from the southern Gaza Strip who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, from the Arab Bedouin Negev city of Rahat, was rescued in a “complex operation” by Shayetet 13, the 401st Brigade, Yahalom, and ISA forces under the command of the 162nd Division.

The military said that the father of 11 is in stable condition and being transferred for medical checks at a hospital. His family has been updated and the IDF is accompanying them.

“Israeli security forces will continue to operate with all means to bring home the hostages,” the statement said.

Last Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces recovered the bodies of six hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7, from a tunnel in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

In an operation involving the IDF and Israel Security Agency, the bodies of Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri and Alex Dancyg were located more than 10 months after the Hamas massacre.

In a new campaign advertisement, Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, seems to hold US President Joe Biden responsible for the October 7 Hamas invasion and massacre in Israel due to his handling of Iran.

The video, which Trump shared on X on Monday, begins with reversed footage of Gaza being bombarded, while a voiceover mentions that “thousands,” including Americans, “were brutally killed” in the attack (approximately 1,200 people lost their lives).

“Before Iran assisted Hamas in planning the attack, before Biden handed billions of taxpayer dollars to Iran — Trump was tough on Iran,” the ad states, with an image of the former US president meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu displayed.

At the conclusion of the video, Trump speaks directly, emphasizing that “unyielding strength” is the only practical strategy in foreign policy.

“When I’m back in the White House, our enemies will know, if you spill a drop of American blood, we will spill a gallon of yours,” he asserts.

The accusations against Biden are supported by New York Post headlines from October 8 — a day after the Hamas attack — reading: “Iran helped plan Hamas attack” and “Biden $6 billion ransom to Iran.”

In August, Biden consented to the unfreezing of Iranian assets that were under sanctions — not American taxpayers’ money — as part of a Qatari-mediated deal to secure the release of five Americans held in Iran. After the October 7 attack, the US House of Representatives moved to block the transfer.

Iran has denied foreknowledge of the attack, and Israel has not accused it of direct involvement, although Tehran has provided support to Hamas through training and funding and shares Hamas’s explicit goal of Israel’s destruction. Reports indicate that the attack was a well-kept secret among Hamas’s leadership.

In 2018, following Netanyahu’s urging, then-President Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, reinstating US sanctions designed to prevent Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons. In response, Iran increased its uranium enrichment to unprecedented levels.

On Thursday, Trump posted on social media, claiming that “Iran was BROKE” when he left office and blaming his 2024 election opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, for the October 7 attack.

Trump, who has often called himself the most pro-Israel US president in history, has reportedly criticized Netanyahu for failing to prevent the attacks.

The two did not communicate for about three years after Netanyahu did not endorse Trump’s unfounded assertion that he won the 2020 election. However, the two leaders appear to have mended their relationship. Netanyahu visited Trump’s home in Florida on July 26 during a trip to the US. The day before their meeting, Trump urged Israel to “finish up [the war] and get it done quickly,” adding that Israel was “getting decimated with this publicity.”

{Matzav.com}