The Board of Directors for the Satmar community, which follows Harav Aharon Teitelbaum shlita, formally endorsed Andrew Cuomo for Mayor of New York City on Sunday, after what insiders tell Belaaz was the unauthorized endorsement of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani by community leader Rabbi Moshe Indig in the name of Satmar hours before.



Indig, who typically speaks on behalf of Satmar, made the announcement on the Williamsburg365 website, proclaiming that his community was endorsing Mamdani.



This announcement was immediately met with internal pushback. Sources confirm that upon seeing the post, askanim contacted the Satmar Board of Directors and the Rebbe&#8217;s gabbai directly, who were not aware of the endorsement.



According to a high-level source who spoke with Belaaz, both the Board and the gabbai stated that Indig&#8217;s actions were &#8220;totally unauthorized&#8221; and that the Rebbe&#8217;s original instructions had been for the community to remain neutral in the mayoral race.



In response to the unauthorized posting, the Board of Directors opted to counteract the messaging and endorsed the independent candidate Cuomo.



The letter, which was provided in both Yiddish and English, is reportedly signed by three Board of Directors members: Cheskel Berkowitz, Avrum Brach,and Shulem Yitzchok Jacobowitz.



Following the intervention, the original Williamsburg 365 website post was altered, changing the source of the endorsement from &#8220;Satmar&#8221; to &#8220;Indig.&#8221; However, the new, signed letter from the Board of Directors clarifies the community&#8217;s official position as being in support of Cuomo.



The chaos follows a meeting last week in Williamsburg with the leaders of both Satmar communities, including Indig, with Cuomo and outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, in which both communities showed solidarity with Cuomo, but held off of a full endorsement, as reported first by Belaaz.



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Satmar Leadership Rejects ‘Unauthorized’ Mamdani Endorsement, Backs Cuomo

On the final day of early voting, Belaaz hit the streets of Boro Park to talk with Jewish voters.



The Boro Park Center nursing home on 10th Avenue and 49th Street was buzzing with voters, described by one voter as a &#8220;fantastic&#8221; scene with &#8220;thousands of people here.&#8221;



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However, voters in the heavily Jewish neighborhood expressed&nbsp;hope and anxiety, with many casting ballots aimed at blocking one candidate in particular: Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani.



&#8220;I hope it&#8217;s going to be good, be&#8217;ezrat Hashem, good times to us,&#8221; said one voter. She added, &#8220;Let&#8217;s hope for the best; we did our hishtadlus.&#8221;



That effort, for several voters, translated into a reluctant choice. &#8220;I voted for Cuomo,&#8221; one man shared. When asked why, he was candid: &#8220;Not that he should be the best candidate, but the best of of the rest.&#8221;



The issue of antisemitism was front and center for one resident. When asked if he was worried about it, another voter replied, &#8220;You know, I&#8217;m Jewish, you&#8217;re Jewish. It&#8217;s bad, very bad.&#8221;



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He predicted a dire outcome if Mamdani wins. &#8220;Going to be much worse,&#8221; the voter stated. &#8220;But he&#8217;s going to look away at all the crime. That&#8217;s what I think.&#8221; Another voter said he thought antisemitism wouldn&#8217;t necessarily increase should Mamdani win.



Another voter said a Mamdani mayorship would be a &#8220;disaster for New York City.&#8221;



&#8220;Definitely. So I&#8217;m going to vote for Cuomo,&#8221; he explained, &#8220;and I think that a vote for Sliwa would effectively be a vote for Mamdani.&#8221;



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When asked why it would be &#8220;so terrible&#8221; if Mamdani wins, this voter laid out his concerns bluntly. &#8220;I think he makes promises he won&#8217;t be able to keep. I think he is an Islamist, Marxist, and I think he hates Israel.&#8221;



His conclusion about public safety was stark. Asked if he thought Jews would be safe under Mamdani, he replied, &#8220;No, definitely not. Definitely Jews will definitely not be safer if he wins.&#8221;



Not all were backing Como, however. One resident cast his ballot for Curtis Sliwa, citing party affiliation as his primary motivation. &#8220;Was it you have to vote for Curtis? Yeah,&#8221; he said. &#8220;How come? Why? Because he&#8217;s a Republican.&#8221; But his choice was tinged with pessimism about the race&#8217;s outcome. &#8220;Yeah, but I know he&#8217;s going to lose,&#8221; he conceded, expressing frustration with the options.



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A young boy who accompanied his father said: &#8220;I feel good about elections.&#8221; When asked why, his answer was simple: &#8220;Because you could vote!&#8221; &#8220;What&#8217;s good about voting?&#8221; he was asked. &#8220;You could do everything,&#8221; he replied. &#8220;You could choose who wants to be your mayor.&#8221;



Early voting is not available on Monday; election day is Tuesday.



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‘Best of the Rest’ – Boro Park Voters Cast Ballots on Last Day of Early Voting

THE RESULTS ARE IN:



MYC’s Zohran Mamdani and New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill beat out Andrew Coumo and Jack Ciattarelli in their races.



It&#8217;s the reality that so many people feared that settling in.



WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?!?



Is it time to panic?



WHAT&#8217;S THE RIGHT RESPONSE?



The answer is that there is no right response. Each person goes through their own process of accepting and grieving things they wanted that didn&#8217;t work out



Know and accept that you did your part to produce the best results and the rest is out of your hand



Although the person we feel is best for us may not have win, it&#8217;s important to remember that everything is done with the Yad Hashem and it&#8217;s in Hashems hands to decide what happens next



IT&#8217;S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY



Allow yourself to process the results and remember to plan forward at the same time.



Remember, Hashem has the real control



By Eli Weinreb, LCSW

Processing the Unexpected: Faith, Fear, and the Election Results | By Eli Weinreb LCSW

Omer Neutra z”l hy&#8221;d, 22-year-old Israeli-American IDF soldier killed on October 7, 2023, was returned from Gaza for burial, his family confirmed this evening. 



President Trump announced the return of Neutra’s body along with two others hostage bodies, saying he spoke with the parents and called Omer “an American hero.”

Murdered IDF Hero Omer Neutra Hy”d Returned Home for Burial After 760 Days in Hamas Captivity

Tel Aviv is finally set to receive a new chief rabbi in January, ending an eight-year period without one.



The committee responsible for selecting the city’s new chief rabbi convened Monday at the Religious Services Ministry and agreed to hold a vote on January 6, 2026, according to a ministry spokesperson.



Like many cities across Israel, Tel Aviv has lacked a chief rabbi since 2017, when Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau — who also previously served as Israel’s Ashkenazi chief rabbi — completed his term.



Earlier this year, then–Religious Services Minister Michael Malkieli of Shas reversed regulations that had placed the appointment of city rabbis directly under ministry control, a move that had drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers and religious rights advocates.



Municipal rabbis serve as the primary halachic authority for Jewish residents of their cities, overseeing matters such as marriage certification and kashrus supervision for local establishments.



Each city’s rabbinic appointment is decided by a committee composed of city council members, appointees from the Religious Services Ministry, and the head of the local religious council.



For Tel Aviv, the selection committee will be chaired by Rabbi Yaakov Zamir, a former judge on the Great Rabbinical Court. Other members include Rabbi Yitzhak Levy, chief rabbi of Nesher, as well as Rachel Dayan and Tal Tnaami from the Tel Aviv Municipality, and Yonit Gispan from the Religious Services Ministry.



“This is a significant step that restores to Israel’s central city its spiritual leadership,” said Yehuda Avidan, the ministry’s director general.



Avidan expressed appreciation to Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai and the city council for their cooperation, adding that “the entire process is being conducted in an atmosphere of partnership, mutual respect, and a shared vision for the benefit of all residents — religious and secular alike.”

Tel Aviv To Appoint New Chief Rabbi After Eight-Year Vacancy

As voters across New York head to the polls today, Jewish community leaders spoke with Belaaz about the closely-watched mayoral race, stressing that robust civic engagement is essential for the community&#8217;s well-being.



The leaders emphasized that the primary goal is demonstrating the community&#8217;s unified voice and engagement.



Yossi Gestetner, a marketing executive active in communal affairs, noted the high participation in New York and New Jersey.



&#8220;The turnout in many Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in New York and New Jersey are very strong,&#8221; Gestetner told Belaaz. &#8220;And at the end of the day, even if people vote for a candidate who ends up losing, the turnout in itself carries weight and a value throughout the year and into the next election period. Political candidates, office holders and elected officials generally tend to engage with and assist communities that are active in the civic process. Therefore, it&#8217;s encouraging to see the turnout in many Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods being what they are.&#8221;



This sentiment was echoed by Josh Mehlman of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition (FJCC). &#8220;It is crucial for every person in the Orthodox Jewish community to vote,&#8221; Mehlman said, explaining that &#8220;win or lose, the fact that our community votes helps us be heard on all levels of government. City, state, and federal officials are watching this election closely to see which communities actually come out to vote. The ones that do are the ones that are listened to when issues invariably come up.&#8221;



Mehlman stressed the tangible impact of this engagement on &#8220;everyday issues,&#8221; citing &#8220;our yeshivas, our shuls, our safety, security, quality of life, our businesses, or health issues.&#8221;



The mobilization efforts have already yielded significant results. Mehlman reported a massive spike in early voting, particularly in Flatbush. &#8220;We had a record turnout for early voting,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The New York Times published a graph showing which communities citywide came out strongest. The highest number of voters as a community in the entire city was the Flatbush community.&#8221;



According to Mehlman, the early voting surge was so intense that the Board of Elections was caught off guard. &#8220;The Board of Elections executives called me asking, &#8216;What are we doing?&#8217; They couldn&#8217;t handle it. On an almost daily basis, they were adding more staff and more machines to handle the crowd.&#8221;



Despite the high engagement, leaders acknowledged challenges, such as confusion over the complex ballot layout. Mehlman confirmed that voters, particularly those looking for Governor Cuomo on a specific line, found the ballot confusing, since former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is in a close race against Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, appears almost last in a group of other candidates, many of whom have dropped out.



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&#8220;Yes, people are definitely confused,&#8221; Mehlman stated. &#8220;That&#8217;s why FJCC and most organizations, while endorsing candidates, are giving out sample ballots.&#8221;



The message from leaders across the boroughs was one of urgency.



&#8220;Vote like your life depends on it,&#8221; said Sorolle Idels of the Queens Jewish Alliance. &#8220;And if you don’t, don’t kvetch about it later.&#8221;



Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein issued a similar call to action: &#8220;It’s Election Day, and your vote truly matters! Now more than ever, we need you to show up at your polling place and make your voice heard! Regardless of the outcome, we must show our elected officials that we care. Let’s make our voices heard!&#8221;



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City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov said: &#8220;This is one of the most consequential city elections of our lifetime. Our choice is between socialism and the American way of life. There’s no understating how high the stakes are here. Don’t let our city down! Vote for Cuomo!”



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As the polls remain open, community leaders are optimistic that the strong early voting turnout will continue through Election Day. &#8220;We are looking forward to a similar Election Day turnout, with Hashem&#8217;s help, by the end of the day today,&#8221; Mehlman said.



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‘Vote Like Your Life Depends on it’ – Jewish Community Leaders on Election Day

The remains of 19-year-old Israeli-American IDF Sgt. Itay Chen by”d were returned to Israel tonight Tuesday, after over two years brutally held by Hamas. 



Chen was murdered on October 7, 2023, while serving in the 7th Armored Brigade near Gaza,



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Chen was one of eight deceased hostages whose bodies remained in Gaza. With his return, seven are still held by Hamas:



<ol start="1" class="wp-block-list">
<li>Hadar Goldin</li>



<li>Meny Godard</li>



<li>Lior Rudaeff</li>



<li>Dror Or</li>



<li>Ran Gvili</li>



<li>Joshua Mollel</li>



<li>Sudthisak Rinthalak</li>
</ol>

IDF Soldier Sgt. Itay Chen’s Body Returned After 2+ Years in Hamas Captivity

A taxi driver from the area arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport to pick up passengers and lost consciousness in his car.



After hours of no contact with his family, he was located during search efforts and was found without signs of life.



Police investigation indicates no suspicion of foul play. His body has been released for burial in Holon.

Taxi Driver Found Dead in Vehicle at Ben Gurion Airport:

Wednesday, 7:00 AM: 



Minneapolis mayor’s race advances to ranked-choice voting; no candidate reached 50%. Incumbent Jacob Frey and left wing pro Hamas challenger Omar Fateh top first-round votes.



Wednesday, 6:00 AM:



According to CNN exit polls of Jewish votes, 33% voted Zohran Mamdani, 3% voted Silwa, 63% voted for Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race.



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9:20 PM: 



Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who prosecuted Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the 2024 hush-money case, has won re-election with 74% of the vote (81% counted), defeating GOP&#8217;s Maud Maron and independent Diana Florence, who criticized him as soft on crime.







9:15 PM:



Frum Democrat Avi Schnall has secured re-election for a second term in New Jersey&#8217;s 30th Legislative District, one of the state&#8217;s most heavily Republican areas.



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9:00 PM: 



Decision Desk HQ projects that Democrat Jihadi Socialist Zohran Mamdani to win the New York City Mayor election, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. 8:18 PM



Decision Desk HQ has determined that Democrat Mikie Sherrill has won the race for New Jersey Governor, defeating Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli.



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8:15 PM: Republican Shmuel “Sam” Ellenbogen from Toms River, scored a landmark victory tonight, becoming the first frum Jewish official ever elected to a countywide position in Ocean County, to serve as Commissioner.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="739" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG-20251104-WA0129.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-19532" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG-20251104-WA0129.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG-20251104-WA0129-300x246.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG-20251104-WA0129-768x631.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Republican Shmuel “Sam” Ellenbogen </figcaption></figure>



 8:10 PM &#8211;



 New Jersey Governor race: With 17% of the votes counted, Democrat Mikie Sherrill has garnered 62.8%. Republican Jack Ciattarelli trails at 37.6%



8:00 PM:



Democrat Abigail Spanberger Projected to Flip Virginia Governor’s Seat



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Democrat Abigail Spanberger is projected to have won the Virginia governor’s race, defeating Republican Winsome Earle-Sears and flipping the state’s top office for Democrats, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).



Early results shortly after polls closed showed Spanberger leading Earle-Sears 55% to 45%, with about 12% of precincts reporting, DDHQ said.



Virginia’s constitution bars governors from consecutive terms, preventing incumbent Republican Glenn Youngkin from running. Spanberger will be sworn in on January 17 as the state’s 75th governor for a four-year term.



This year, Virginia’s election was one of only two gubernatorial contests nationwide, alongside New Jersey, and the only Republican-held seat on the ballot in 2025.



Historically, Virginia’s off-year gubernatorial races often signal national trends. Since 1976, the winning party has opposed the sitting U.S. president’s party in 11 of the last 12 elections.



10:00 AM: NYC Independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo voted at the Art and Design High School in Manhattan alongside his daughters who aren&#8217;t eligible vote in NYC.



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 8:00 AM: NYC Democrat Socialist Zohran Mamdani just casted his ballot in Queens.



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As of 6:00 AM, New York City voters began to cast their ballots for the mayoral election starting at 6:00 a.m., with polls open until 9:00 p.m. The high-profile Mayoral race is between Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Independent Andrew Cuomo (Former Governor), and Republican Curtis Sliwa.



In New Jersey, polling stations statewide opened at 6:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. The Gubernatorial race features a close contest between Democrat Mikie Sherrill (U.S. Representative) and Republican Jack Ciattarelli (Former State Assemblyman).



Anyone in line by closing time will be allowed to vote.



Other Key US Elections to Watch Today:



Virginia: Gubernatorial race between Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger; a win for Earle-Sears would make her the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history.



California: Proposition 50 ballot measure to adopt new congressional maps for the next three cycles. 



Texas: Special election for the 18th Congressional District plus constitutional amendments on election rules. 



Minneapolis: Mayoral race between incumbent Jacob Frey and Muslim progressive challenger Omar Fateh.

Election Day 2025 – Live Updates: Mamdani Wins NYC, Democrat Mikie Sherrill Wins NJ Governor Race

Acting under orders from the Chief of Staff, the IDF has begun removing Chinese-made vehicles previously issued to officers, citing growing fears of espionage and data leaks through built-in smart systems. Around 700 cars are being collected, most of them Chery Tiggo 8 models—popular among officers with large families because of their seven-seat design.



The move comes amid rising alarm within the Israeli defense establishment over the influx of smart Chinese vehicles.



The IDF additionally enacted a total ban on the entry of such vehicles onto military bases.



Officials warn that modern Chinese vehicles pose a significant intelligence risk. These cars, equipped with cameras, microphones, GPS, sensors, and internet connectivity, could be exploited to gather information, monitor movements, or transmit data outside Israel.



Reports indicate that the Chery Tiggo 8 has been specifically blacklisted from military installations, and the distribution of all Chinese-made vehicles to IDF officers has been suspended pending further review.



Israel is not alone in taking action; several Western countries have already expressed similar concerns over Chinese technologies in security-sensitive environments. The IDF previously ordered owners of Chinese vehicles to park outside restricted areas on bases.



Defense sources say the army is considering additional measures, such as tagging these vehicles, requiring off-base parking, and mandating that soldiers disclose if they own a Chinese-made car.



Beyond security issues, the ban also highlights economic tensions. Chinese cars, particularly electric ones, have become increasingly popular in Israel thanks to their price and performance.

IDF Pulls Chinese-Made Cars From Officers Over Surveillance Fears

Efrat Mor, the mother of returned hostage Eitan Mor, shared that her son recited Hagomel this Shabbos in the shul that was built as a zchus for his safe return, Arutz Sheva reported Sunday. Eitan was freed from Hamas captivity just last month.



&#8220;Really big things happen far from the spotlight and cameras,&#8221; Mor wrote on social media. She explained that on Friday, Eitan expressed his wish to recite Hagomel during Shacharis at the local shul that was constructed in his zchus during his captivity. &#8220;I immediately told Tzvika (her husband) that there is no way that we don&#8217;t organize a community kiddush after the service.&#8221;



Efrat Mor detailed the community&#8217;s immediate response, noting that all the neighbors mobilized on short notice to help organize the gathering, culminating in a deeply emotional event for everyone present.



&#8220;Over the past two years, I repeatedly said that I imagine Eitan reciting the &#8216;Hagomel&#8217; blessing at the Beit Haknesset. The one that was built in his merit by Am Yisrael. But I didn&#8217;t imagine how emotional it would be. The place was full, both the men&#8217;s and women&#8217;s sections. Candies were thrown, tears flowed, and Eitan&#8217;s voice was heard; it was not loud, but it shook hearts,&#8221; she recounted.



&#8220;My child, whom I received as a miraculous gift at the age of 25, stood there next to the Sefer Torah, in front of the Aron Kodesh, and thanked the Borei Olam for all the good He did for him. As he recited the bracha, I thought of all the horror stories he told us and the countless miracles he experienced, and I am sure I haven&#8217;t heard them all.&#8221;

‘His Voice Shook Hearts’: Rescued Hostage Eitan Mor Recites Hagomel at Shul Built in His Zchus

Hamas-praising Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani is projected to win the New York City mayoral race, according to Decision Desk HQ, marking a frightening new epoch in the city&#8217;s history and sparking renewed debate over the Democratic Party’s direction.



At 34, Mamdani, a democratic socialist who quotes Karl Marx and praised indicted Hamas supporters as a rapper, is set to become the first millennial and first Muslim mayor of New York City.



His campaign produced one of the most surprising political upsets in recent memory, defeating former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the race to succeed Mayor Eric Adams.



Mamdani campaigned heavily on extreme anti Israel rhetoric, affordability, promising to freeze rent, launch city-owned grocery stores, and making buses free for riders.



Mamdani faced criticism for not condemning the phrase “globalize the intifada.” While Mamdani himself has not used the term, pro-Israel activists warned it could incite violence against Jews and Zionists, as it refers to waves of deadly terror attacks in Israel over three decades.



Mamdani also faced criticism over past comments criticizing the police and advocating defunding, though he later issued a public apology to the New York Police Department during a Fox News interview.



Despite Cuomo receiving endorsements from prominent Democrats both within and outside the state during the primary, his campaign was burdened by past controversies. In 2021, Cuomo resigned as governor.



Cuomo was likely also hindered by Sliwa’s continued presence in the race. Even after Adams dropped out and endorsed Cuomo, Sliwa maintained a double-digit share of votes, effectively acting as a spoiler and benefiting Mamdani.



In the campaign’s final days, Cuomo received an unlikely endorsement from President Trump, a move that did little to boost his standing in the heavily Democratic city.



According to new reports, Mamdani&#8217;s campaign was funded largely by Muslim groups, and included a large amount of out-of-state support, even illegal donations from overseas, only some of which were returned.



Mamdani&#8217;s victory will likely intensify discussions over whether he represents the Democratic Party’s future amid the ongoing divide between its progressive wing and the more moderate, establishment-aligned faction led by figures such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who did not endorse him.

Communist Zohran Mamdani Projected to Win New York City Mayoral Race

The Jewish community in the suburban village of Novi Veshki experienced a landmark celebration Sunday with a Hachnasas Sefer Torah attended by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Harav Berel Lazar shlita.



The event highlights the &#8220;significant progress&#8221; and &#8220;noticeable development of Jewish communities&#8221; across the Moscow region, a statement from the Chief Rabbi&#8217;s office read.



The hachnasas Sefer Torah highlighted efforts ny the chief rabbi to establish new communities, serving thousands of Jews, guided by Rabbi Lazar&#8217;s mission &#8220;to reach every Jew in Russia.&#8221;



This growth is particularly notable in the capital&#8217;s suburbs, where thousands &#8220;are chosing to move&#8230; to escape the noise and bustle of the busy metropolis for a slower pace of life.&#8221;



Novi Veshki is described by the chief rabbi&#8217;s office as a &#8220;prestigious village&#8230; built from the ground up&#8221; features &#8220;elegant houses with green areas surrounded by lakes, forests, and orchards.&#8221;



With the expansion of its Jewish population, the &#8220;need to open their own community and shul&#8221; became clear. In response,Rabbi Lazar appointed Rabbi Zalman Shimon HaCohen Deren, the Gabbai of the Chief Rabbinate, to serve as the community&#8217;s Mara De&#8217;asra.



The local community is already active, providing &#8220;minyanim, Torah classes, holiday events and youth activities&#8221; for the neighborhood&#8217;s Jews throughout the year.



The celebration was sparked by a generous donation from the Yakubov family, described as &#8220;distinguished members of the community.&#8221; &#8220;Great joy enveloped the community&#8221; upon learning that the family was dedicating a &#8220;most exquisite Torah scroll, with beautiful accessories, in memory of their beloved parents.&#8221;



The celebration, held in the shul hall, was &#8220;skillfully led&#8221; by the family&#8217;s friend, the Shliach Rabbi Avraham Elimelech Gedzh. He invited Rabbi Lazar &#8220;to finish writing the Torah scroll,&#8221; completing the final letters.



After offering &#8220;Divrei Torah and brachos,&#8221; Rabbi Lazar presented the donors, Mr. David and Mr. Moshe Yakubov, with a &#8220;prestigious certificate along with a dollar and blessings from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.&#8221; The award was given &#8220;on behalf of the charitable organizations in Moscow, which the Yakubov family supports regularly.&#8221;



Following the ceremony, the celebration concluded with a festive seudas mitzvah. Guests heard addresses from the Rabbi of the Bolshaya Bronaya shul, Rabbi Yitzhak HaKohen Kogan,&nbsp; Rabbi Zalman Shimon Deren, and &#8220;many distinguished friends and community members.&#8221;



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Russian Jewish Community of Novi Veshki Celebrates New Sefer Torah with Chief Rabbi

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who served two terms alongside President George W. Bush and was widely regarded as one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history, passed away at the age of 84. The White House flag was lowered to half-staff Tuesday in his honor.



Cheney’s family said he died surrounded by his wife of 61 years, Lynne, and their daughters, Liz and Mary, after complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. “Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing,” the family said in a statement.



George W. Bush, under whom Cheney served from 2001 to 2009, described his former vice president as “a decent, honorable man.” Bush added, “History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation — a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held.”



Cheney was a dominant figure in shaping U.S. policy after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, helping lead the administration’s “war on terror” and advocating for the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Though he faced enduring criticism for the flawed intelligence underlying the Iraq war and for his defense of controversial interrogation methods, Cheney maintained throughout his life that his actions were necessary to protect the United States.



A lifelong Republican and former congressman from Wyoming, Cheney also served as White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford and as Defense Secretary under President George H.W. Bush. In his later years, he broke sharply with much of his party, calling Donald Trump a “coward” and “the greatest threat to the republic” following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He proceeded to back liberal Democrat candidates.



Cheney underwent a heart transplant in 2012 and often referred to it as “the gift of life itself.” Despite a long battle with heart disease, he remained active in public life and deeply engaged in national debates until his final years.

Dick Cheney, Former VP, Dies at 84

INTERVIEW: NJ Polls Open in Just Hours: Aguda Director to New Jersey, Shlomo Schorr, Breaks Down Tomorrow’s Election for Belaaz:



Shlomo Schorr: &#8220;One of the ways Jack Ciattarell can win in what it is democratic state, he&#8217;s gonna have to have massive turnout, a lot from the Orthodox Jews… amongst other areas in the state…&#8221;



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NJ POLLS OPEN SOON: Agudah’s Shlomo Schorr to Belaaz – Ciattarelli Needs Huge Orthodox Turnout to Win

A draft United Nations Security Council resolution backed by the Trump administration proposes creating an international force to govern Gaza and maintain security for two years, according to a Monday night report by Axios.



The draft, obtained by the outlet, outlines plans for an “International Stabilization Force” (ISF) that would oversee Gaza’s borders with both Israel and Egypt. Its responsibilities would include protecting civilians, safeguarding humanitarian zones, and working alongside newly trained Palestinian police officers.



The resolution reportedly grants the ISF authority to disarm Hamas terrorists, stating that the mission will “stabilize the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the process of demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, including the destruction and prevention of rebuilding of military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, as well as the permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups.”



The document also allows the ISF to carry out “additional tasks as may be necessary in support of the Gaza agreement,” noting that the operation will function “in close consultation and cooperation with Egypt and Israel.”



Axios further reports that the proposal empowers President Donald Trump’s planned “Board of Peace” to serve as “a transitional governance administration.” This body would coordinate Gaza’s reconstruction efforts and manage fundraising until the Palestinian Authority “has satisfactorily completed its reform program.”

US-Led Force To Take Control Of Gaza Under Trump-Backed UN Plan

Independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo has surged in the final stretch of the New York City mayoral race, closing Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s lead to just four points — nearly within the margin of error — according to a new AtlasIntel poll released Monday.



The survey shows Mamdani with 43.9% support and Cuomo close behind at 39.4%. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa remains a distant third with 15.5%, while just over 1% of voters said they were undecided or would not vote. The poll, conducted from Friday through Sunday among more than 2,400 likely voters, carries a margin of error of two percentage points.



The latest results mark a continued tightening of the race: the same pollster found only last week that Mamdani led Cuomo by six points. The two-point swing underscores the momentum Cuomo has built heading into Tuesday’s general election.



In a hypothetical head-to-head contest without Sliwa in the race, Cuomo would decisively defeat Mamdani by a margin of 49.7% to 44.1%, the poll found.



While the poll’s sample somewhat overrepresents Republican and independent voters and underrepresents Democrats, the trend lines clearly show Cuomo gaining ground rapidly as Mamdani’s campaign faces growing headwinds.



Election day is Tuesday. Early voting ended Sunday.

Cuomo Narrows Mamdani’s Lead To Four Points As Momentum Builds Before Election Day

As New Yorkers head to the polls Tuesday for the city&#8217;s closely watched mayoral election, independent candidate and former Governor Andrew Cuomo says supporters cheered when he cast his own ballot.



Cuomo also spoke with Fox News the same day, and apologized for the many deaths that occurred in nursing homes during the pandemic, under his administration.



Speaking after casting his own vote, Cuomo said: &#8220;First time I ever walked into a polling place and the polling place cheered for me,&#8221; Mr. Cuomo told reporters, beaming. &#8220;So that&#8217;s a good sign, and the record turnout is a good sign. &#8230; It&#8217;s because New Yorkers are concerned about New York.&#8221;



Cuomo also rebuffed critics who say that President Trump is supporting him.



&#8220;The President does not support me. The President opposes Zohran Mamdani. The President believes Zohran Mamdani is a communist. He believes he&#8217;s an existential threat. I believe he&#8217;s a socialist and an existential threat, and not a dress up socialist, their school of socialism, this Democratic Socialist of America, means that the government controls the &#8216;means of production,&#8217; (a Marxist slogan Mamdani has used), no private ownership of real estate, abolish jails. This is frightening stuff.



In his remarks, Cuomo said the election &#8220;is the most important election of my lifetime.&#8221;



&#8220;This is going to determine the future of the city of New York [and] may also determine the future of the Democratic Party, so get out and vote.&#8221;



During the Fox News interview, he said: &#8220;Nobody knew what we were dealing with.&#8221;



&#8220;There were no visitors allowed into nursing homes, and I apologize for any family that lost a loved one during that time,&#8221; Mr. Cuomo stated. &#8220;It was on my watch, and I understand how terrible it was.&#8221;



Polls released ahead of election day paint a very close race between Cuomo and&nbsp; Mamdani, with Republican Curtis Sliwa trailing behind.

Cuomo Cheered at Voting Station, Apologizes for Nursing Home Deaths

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) is projected to defeat former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R) in the New Jersey governor’s race, marking a significant win for Democrats in their first election cycle since the start of President Trump’s second term, according to Decision Desk HQ.



Sherrill, a fourth-term congresswoman representing northern New Jersey, overcame a strong challenge from Ciattarelli, who sought the governorship for a third time after narrowly losing to Gov. Phil Murphy (D) in 2021. Murphy, now term-limited, was ineligible to run.



The contest grew increasingly competitive in recent weeks, with some polls showing the race as a toss-up, as both candidates navigated overlapping political challenges.



For Democrats, the state had not elected a governor from the same party three consecutive times since 1961. Sherrill’s win marks the first time in six decades that New Jersey has kept the same party in power for three straight gubernatorial races, even as the party faced voter frustration over an affordability crisis while controlling both the governor’s office and state legislature.



Republicans, on the other hand, had to contend with President Trump’s unpopularity in New Jersey, despite GOP gains in recent elections. Murphy narrowly won four years ago, and Vice President Harris defeated Trump in the state by six points last year. Still, Trump’s current 51 percent disapproval rating, according to a recent Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey, forced Ciattarelli to balance embracing the former president while maintaining some distance.



Trump publicly backed Ciattarelli during the campaign and reached out to the state&#8217;s Jewish community. In a post on Truth Social, he said: “I just heard that 32,000 Orthodox Jews around Lakewood and Jackson, New Jersey, have showed up BIG for Jack Ciattarelli. My friends in this Great Community know how important this Election is to New Jersey, and to our Country. There is still time to vote! I am asking ALL PATRIOTIC CITIZENS OF THE GREAT STATE OF NEW JERSEY, including all Kollel and Yeshiva students who haven&#8217;t voted yet, to please GET OUT AND VOTE FOR JACK CIATTARELLI. You can win this Election for Jack! VOTE FOR JACK, WHO HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT. Polls close at 8 P.M., and every vote counts. IF YOU ARE IN LINE BY 8 P.M., STAY IN LINE, AND THEY MUST LET YOU VOTE!”



Sherrill presented a plan to address antisemitism and by calling for a ceasefire in international conflicts earlier than many other politicians, though she did not accuse Israel of “genocide” or the like. Meanwhile, while Ciattarelli has publicly stated that he would opt in to the Trump Administration’s federal private school tax credit program, Sherrill declined to express a view on the matter.



Democrats aimed to frame the election as a referendum on Trump and his administration, linking Ciattarelli to the former president, while Republicans focused on portraying the race as a referendum on Democratic leadership in New Jersey.



The final stretch of the campaign turned personal, with both candidates targeting each other’s histories. Ciattarelli criticized Sherrill over her time at the U.S. Naval Academy after reports revealed she did not walk during her 1994 commencement ceremony.



Sherrill, in turn, attacked Ciattarelli after an ally obtained a largely unredacted copy of her military records containing personal information about her and her family. Ciattarelli denied any wrongdoing, and the National Archives assumed responsibility for the incident.



Sherrill also accused Ciattarelli and his medical publishing firm of contributing to the opioid crisis, a claim the GOP candidate rejected.



New Jersey was one of two closely watched governor’s races on Tuesday; in Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger ran against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to succeed term-limited Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R).

Sherrill Clinches New Jersey Governor’s Race in Key Democratic Victory

Israeli officials believe that the body of fallen IDF soldier Hadar Goldin, HY”D, kidnapped in 2014, is being held inside a Hamas tunnel in eastern Rafah, where an estimated 150 terrorists are barricaded, according to Army Radio.



According to the report, the IDF has refrained from striking or collapsing the tunnel to preserve the possibility of recovering Goldin’s remains for proper burial in Israel.



IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir speaking to the government about the tunnel: “No terrorist should leave alive unless Hadar Goldin is returned,” as Netanyahu rejected a proposal to let the terrorists cross into Hamas-controlled territory in exchange for disarmament.

REPORT: Hostage Hadar Goldin’s Remains Being Held in Rafah Tunnel with 150 Hamas Terrorists

Republican Shmuel “Sam” Ellenbogen scored a landmark victory Tuesday night, becoming the first frum Jewish official ever elected to a countywide position in Ocean County.



According to unofficial results from the Ocean County Clerk’s Office, Ellenbogen and his running mate, Raymond Gormley of Little Egg Harbor, won decisively with 68% of the vote against their Democratic challengers, who received 31%, with all precincts reporting.



“I am deeply honored by the trust the people of Ocean County have placed in me,” Ellenbogen said in a statement Tuesday night. “This victory belongs to every resident who believes in responsible, responsive, and inclusive leadership. I look forward to working across the aisle to keep taxes low, improve infrastructure, and support our growing communities.”



A 37-year-old father of five from Toms River, Ellenbogen ran unopposed in the June Republican primary after securing the backing of Ocean County GOP Chairman George R. Gilmore. He will fill the seat of retiring Commissioner Virginia “Ginny” Haines, while Gormley will take over for John P. Kelly, who was elected County Clerk.



Ellenbogen, who serves as commissioner and treasurer of the Ocean County Utilities Authority, has long been an advocate for Toms River’s growing Jewish community. Supporters praised his commitment to transparency and his responsiveness to residents’ concerns.



Democrats mounted a minimal campaign effort in the deep-red county, where Republicans continue to hold every commissioner seat and all countywide offices.



Ellenbogen and Gormley are slated to take the oath of office at the Board of Commissioners’ reorganization meeting in January 2026. The Ocean County Board of Elections will certify the final vote totals on November 18.

Frum Republican Shmuel Ellenbogen Makes History With Ocean County Win

Voting Day brings up a lot of feelings for many people. Who is the right choice? 



Did I do enough research to make the right decision? Will my vote truly have an impact?



This years elections have so much riding on them. The races are close and each vote counts. The bystander effect is a social psychology phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present.



 This often happens due to diffusion of responsibility, where people assume someone else will intervene.



Let&#8217;s not think that other people will go and vote and therefore we don&#8217;t have to do our part. Let&#8217;s take the time out of our day to ensure that we go and do our part to vote to make the difference that we truly can.



YOUR VOTE MATTERS

Voter Anxiety and Impact: Overcoming the ‘Bystander Effect’ at the Ballot Box

President Trump is working to ensure that low-income Americans continue receiving food stamp benefits and may draw from a contingency fund as early as Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday.



“President Trump just Truthed out that he’s very anxious to get this done,” Bessent told CNN’s “State of the Union” regarding efforts to address the lapse in funding caused by the shutdown.



“There’s a process that has to be followed. So we got to figure out what the process is. President Trump wants to make sure that people get their food benefit,” Bessent added.



The statement follows a ruling from a Rhode Island federal judge who ordered the Department of Agriculture to use emergency funds to issue partial payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program ran out of money Saturday amid the ongoing shutdown.



The court directed the Trump administration to ensure those partial SNAP payments are made by Wednesday.



The Department of Agriculture had previously argued in a memo that it lacked the legal authority to access the contingency funds for SNAP payments.



Bessent emphasized that President Trump does not plan to challenge the judge’s order and urged Democrats to end the shutdown to prevent further disruption.



“The best way for Snap benefits to get paid is for five Democrats to cross the aisle and reopen the government,” he said.

Bessent: Trump is  Pushing To Restore Food Stamp Payments Amid Shutdown Funding Lapse

Four Hezbollah terrorists, including a senior officer, were killed Saturday in an Israel Defense Forces airstrike in southern Lebanon, the IDF said Sunday.



The military confirmed that it “struck and eliminated the logistics support officer of Hezbollah’s ‘Radwan Force’ in southern Lebanon,” adding that he had been involved in transferring weapons and rebuilding the group’s terrorist network.



The airstrike targeted a vehicle near Kfar Reman, roughly seven miles from Israel’s border, marking the fourth straight day of Israeli operations aimed at disrupting Hezbollah’s rearmament in violation of the ceasefire agreement.



The Radwan Force is Hezbollah’s elite unit trained to infiltrate Israel, capture border areas, and kidnap Israelis as part of its “Conquer the Galilee” strategy.



The IDF said the terrorists’ activity “posed a direct threat to Israel’s security” and violated the Nov. 26, 2024, truce with Lebanon. “The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel,” it stated.



Defense Minister Yisrael Katz warned that “Hezbollah is playing with fire and the president of Lebanon is dragging his feet,” calling on Beirut to enforce the disarmament of Hezbollah. “Maximum enforcement will continue and even intensify—we will not allow a threat to the residents of the north,” he said.



The ceasefire, signed nearly a year ago, was meant to end a year of cross-border clashes triggered when Hezbollah joined Hamas’s war on Israel after the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. Despite the deal, Hezbollah has continued attacks and rearmament efforts.



U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack said during a security forum in Bahrain that Hezbollah still possesses between 15,000 and 20,000 rockets and missiles. “Israel every day is bombing the south because you still have thousands of rockets and missiles that are threatening it,” he said.



Barrack added that Israel’s intelligence shows Hezbollah is rebuilding across the Bekaa Valley and that Jerusalem “cannot withdraw from the border areas it secured.” He said Washington is trying to push Hezbollah to stand down through diplomatic incentives and regional agreements.

IDF Eliminates Senior Hezbollah Officer in Fourth Straight Day of Strikes

Swastikas were spray painted overnight on the walls of the Magen David Yeshiva in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn.



The hateful incident prompted an immediate investigation by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force. 



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The vandalism, discovered Wednesday morning, has shocked the Frum community and heightened concerns over rising antisemitic incidents in the city, just hours after Zohran Mamdani’s election win as the next NYC mayor. 



Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage.



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Swastikas Deface Brooklyn Yeshiva in Apparent Hate Crime; NYPD Task Force Investigates

A shul in the Chicago suburb of Skokie has launched a kosher community fridge dedicated to the memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin Hy’d, the American-Israeli hostage murdered by Hamas after 328 days in captivity.



Organizers say “Hersh’s Fridge” is believed to be the first community fridge in the U.S. offering exclusively kosher food, designed to help both Jews and others in need of assistance.



“Through this fridge, Hersh’s values of chesed, community, and bridge-building are continuing to serve as a blessing – and a revolution – for the Chicagoland area, where his family’s roots run deep,” reads a statement on the Solu organization’s website. Solu is affiliated with the Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob Synagogue and works to strengthen connections between Orthodox Jews and neighboring communities.



Both of Hersh’s parents grew up in the Chicago area.



The new facility includes separate sections: one fridge for food and groceries purchased from kosher-certified establishments, another for sealed kosher groceries donated from private kosher homes, and a cabinet with shelf-stable items bearing recognized kosher certification.

Kosher Community Fridge in Skokie Honors Hersh Goldberg-Polin Hy’d

&#8220;Russian Unity Day&#8221; has been celebrated in Russia for 33 years as a national holiday, celebrated on November 4th, and is also known as &#8220;People&#8217;s Unity Day”.



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 It emphasizes the commonality between all the diverse religions that exist in the Russian state, while respecting the history, culture, and even the food of every people and religion in the country. &nbsp; Many ceremonies and events are held during the day, and even in the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin holds several official meetings to mark the holiday, to which the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar Shlita, is invited every year.



 He takes advantage of the opportunity to increase and promote peace between peoples, and his words cause a great Kidush Hashem. &nbsp; 



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This year, President Putin awarded state awards and the Presidential Award for Contribution to Strengthening the Unity of the Russian Nation to a limited number of public figures who worked for the benefit of Russian citizens, in various areas of community, family, health, and and economics. &nbsp; The President awarded the Order of Honor to the country&#8217;s Chief Rabbi for his contribution to strengthening the unity of the Russian nation. 



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Rabbi Lazar&nbsp; was invited to deliver a congratulatory speech, in which he said: &#8220;First of all, thank you very much for the honor and attention. I understand that this is an award for the entire Jewish community and all its rabbis. Exactly 25 years ago, you opened the first Jewish Community Center. Since then, the Jewish community in Russia has developed like it has not developed anywhere else in the world. This is largely thanks to you. The friendship between us is also what has made Russia unique. I am proud to live in this country and serve God here. I understand that everything we do is necessary, and we must do even more. The whole world will see how we act out of unity and help each other.&#8221; &nbsp;



 In response, President Putin said: &#8220;We are grateful to everyone who sees Russia as a reliable partner and is always open to new mutually beneficial ties, for the development and mutual enrichment of cultures. The value of our unity is undoubted. Once again, I sincerely congratulate you on the Day of National Unity, on receiving the Prize of the President of Russia and on receiving these listed state awards. Let me once again wish you continued success with all my heart. Thank you. &nbsp; 



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 Photo Credit: The Kremlin, Moscow

Russian President awards Order of Honor to country’s Chief Rabbi

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is reportedly planning to retire after her current term, with Democrats preparing for an announcement following Tuesday’s elections, according to multiple party sources cited by NBC News.



The 85-year-old lawmaker, who twice served as Speaker of the House, would conclude nearly 40 years representing San Francisco if she follows through with the decision.



Pelosi has fueled speculation by not discouraging potential successors, including state Sen. Scott Wiener and former tech executive Saikat Chakrabarti, despite having millions in campaign funds still on hand.



Colleagues say Pelosi has hinted at her intentions, joking that she hopes to watch Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., become the first Black House speaker “if she’s still allowed on the floor.”



Her spokesperson, Ian Krager, declined to confirm her retirement, saying Pelosi remains “fully focused” on promoting Proposition 50 — a partisan redistricting measure Democrats believe is essential to regaining the House majority.



Speaking to the San Francisco Examiner, Pelosi called the initiative “the best antidote to poison,” apparently referring to Republican-led redistricting efforts in states such as Texas that have challenged President Donald Trump’s policies.

Pelosi Expected To Retire After 2026, Ending Four Decades In Congress

Israel is insisting that the armed terrorists on Rafah surrender their weapons before being allowed safe passage, but Hamas is refusing the condition, claiming it would endanger their lives, Israel Hayom reported Wednesday.



The discussions, facilitated by mediators involved in the hostage negotiations, reportedly center on allowing the terrorists to exit the tunnels beyond the Yellow Line and move further into Gaza. The sources said the International Committee of the Red Cross might oversee their withdrawal to ensure they are not harmed.



According to the Palestinian sources, over 200 terrorists are hiding in various locations across the Gaza Strip, not just in Rafah. They added that these individuals are scattered throughout multiple areas, making their extraction more complex.



The report noted that Israel’s condition requiring the terrorists to disarm before leaving has been rejected by the terror groups, who argue that “there is a danger to their lives.” The sources further claimed that Israel “does not have accurate information” about the terrorists’ exact whereabouts, citing “sensitive security conditions.”



One source told Palestinian media that it is “impossible” for 150 or 200 terrorists to be confined to a single tunnel. He explained that the tunnel network is vast and interlinked across multiple sectors, complicating the IDF’s efforts to locate and target Hamas members.



The sources further dismissed Israeli warnings about sealing tunnels with cement, claiming that such measures pose little threat because “most of them include many openings and side passages.” According to the sources, previous attempts to flood the tunnels with water also failed to neutralize the underground network.

Hamas Refuses To Let Trapped Terrorists In Rafah Surrender Their Weapons

Earlier today, Wednesday, in two separate incidents in the central Gaza Strip, two Hamas terrorists were identified crossing the yellow line, approaching IDF soldiers operating in northern Gaza in a manner that posed a threat to them, the IDF says.



Following their identification, forces eliminated the terrorists in order to remove the threat.



IDF in the Statement said: &#8220;IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat.&#8221;

CEASEFIRE VIOLATION: 2 Terrorists Eliminated After Crossing Yellow Line, Threatening IDF Forces in Gaza

In a significant blow to Hamas&#8217; capabilities, the IDF announced Friday that six key terrorists from the terror group&#8217;s naval commando unit have been eliminated in recent months and during Operation &#8220;Gideon&#8217;s Chariots.&#8221; These operations were a collaborative effort involving the Navy, the Intelligence Branch, the Shin Bet, and the Southern Command.



The IDF stated that the eliminated terrorists &#8220;promoted terrorist acts in the maritime domain against the citizens of the State of Israel and the security forces during the Iron Sword War,&#8221; and that &#8220;a number of the terrorists who were eliminated took part in planning the murderous massacre on October 7.&#8221;



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In related developments, the IDF expanded its operations in the northern Gaza Strip earlier this week, with tanks reportedly encircling Beit Hanoun, located just 3 km from the border. This strategic move was planned prior to a recent ambush by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of five fighters Hy&#8221;d.



Also, the Air Force conducted heavy strikes in Khan Yunis and Gaza City Friday. Strikes in Gaza&#8217;s Tufah neighborhood were described as a &#8220;belt of fire,&#8221; with footage showing smoke rising from the area.

72357b35c164_autoOrient_i

MORE FROM BELAAZ

IDF Eliminates 6 Senior Hamas Naval Commandos, Including October 7 Planners

In the devastating wake of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica is grappling with a catastrophic breakdown of infrastructure, leaving the majority of its population in dire straits.



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According to a statement from Chabad of Jamaica, the situation is &#8220;very difficult,&#8221; with &#8220;over 70% of the Island&#8230; without water or electricity.&#8221;



The storm&#8217;s fallout has been immediate and severe, with &#8220;many people [having] lost everything, including people we know dearly.&#8221; Rabbi Yaakov Raskin, the Chabad Shliach in Jamaica, described the harrowing human toll in an interview with Belaaz.



The Chabad House has transformed into an emergency shelter, with its official statement noting, &#8220;Fifteen people are currently sheltering at the Chabad House, both stranded tourists and displaced Jamaicans.&#8221;



The relief efforts are aimed at assisting both visitors and the established local Jewish community.



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According to Rabbi Raskin, there are 360 local Jews spread out over the entire island.&nbsp; &#8220;Some of them have been living here for generations,&#8221; Rabbi Raskin said. &#8220;Some of them came here for business. Some of them fell in love with Jamaica while visiting,&#8221; Rabbi Raskin said, adding that the country is not an ideal place for being shomer Torah umitzvos.



In recent years, Rabbi Raskin noted, many have sought to reconnect with Yiddishkeit, particularly since the COVID pandemic and the events of October 7, &#8220;a lot of them committed&#8221; he says. He&nbsp; shared an anecdote of discovering a local Jewish man he had not been aware of before and teaching him the mitzvah of tefilin.



Rabbi Raskin recounted the story of one woman who sought refuge at the Chabad House on Friday night. &#8220;Everybody&#8217;s sharing their experience,&#8221; he said. &#8220;She said, &#8216;the house is down to the earth.’ She came here, she slept, she brought her six bags of clothes—that was left of her life. Everything else, gone.&#8221; The woman, he added, &#8220;didn&#8217;t eat for two days.&#8221;



The emotional weight of the disaster was felt profoundly during Shabbos. &#8220;There was not a dry eye by the Shabbos table,&#8221; Raskin shared. &#8220;It was just so painful to hear.&#8221;



Access to the Chabad House remains a significant challenge. &#8220;The roads are blocked still. Today, six days after, there&#8217;s a huge electric pole in front of the Chabad House,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;Anybody who wants to come to the Chabad House has to park their car five minutes away and walk 20 minutes&#8230; And we are in a better community, next to the hotels. Think about the people who are in harsh places.&#8221;



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Chabad of Jamaica has mobilized its resources, leaning on a generator to keep operations running. &#8220;Thank G-d, we have a diesel generator which powers our lights and fans, but things are very difficult and we need your help,&#8221; the organization stated.



&#8220;We&#8217;ve begun arranging aid packages with food, clean clothes, bottled water, and hygiene supplies for people in the hardest-hit regions,&#8221; Chabad announced. &#8220;The need is extreme.&#8221;



Chabad of Jamaica has launched an emergency fund and is appealing for supplies. &#8220;We can only accept new items, which means no opened packages or used clothing,&#8221; the statement clarified. G-d Bless you and G-d bless Jamaica.&#8221;



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Chabad has issued an urgent call for donations of essential supplies to assist families in need. The organization is seeking baby and childcare items such as diapers in all sizes, wipes, baby food and formula, feeding bottles, sheets, and new blankets. Health and hygiene products are also in high demand, including pain relievers, cough and cold medicine, first aid kits, toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, feminine hygiene products, mosquito repellent, laundry detergent, and general cleaning supplies.



Nonperishable food items are another priority. Chabad is asking for canned goods like tuna, beans, vegetables, soups, and sausages, along with instant meals, snack bars, nuts, rice, crackers, cookies, applesauce or fruit cups, shelf-stable milk, small cereal boxes, and condiment packets such as mayonnaise. Other requested essentials include bottled water, batteries, flashlights or lanterns, sleeping bags, and new clothing for both children and adults. All donations will go directly toward providing relief and comfort to those affected.



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‘The House is Down to the Earth’: Rabbi Yaakov Raskin Details Hurricane Melissa’s Devastation in Jamaica

We regret to inform our readers of the tragic and sudden passing of Reb Moshe Tzuker, z&#8221;l, who was 76 years old.



Reb Moshe was found unresponsive inside the mikvah at the Satmar shul on 10th Avenue early Shabbos morning. Sources confirm the discovery was made at approximately 5:30 AM.



Reb Moshe was described by community members as a choshuve yid and a beloved figure, who davened in Satmar for decades. He leaves behind a very large family.



His sudden passing has sent a shockwave of grief through the neighborhood.



Reb Moshe&#8217;s levaya was held at the Satmar shul on Motzoei Shabbos.



Yehi zichro baruch.

BDE: Reb Moshe Tzuker z”l, 76, Found in Boro Park Satmar Mikvah on Shabbos

Two weeks after having a mysterious dream about meeting Republican NYC mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa and asking him to join forces with Independent candidate and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, Moshe Spern says that his dream came true in an unexpected way.



Spern, president of United Jewish Teachers, encountered the Guardian Angels&#8217; founder when both paid a visit at the same time to the Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt&#8221;l on Motzoei Shabbos. He recognized sliwa by spotting his signature red beret. Sliwa&#8217;s trip was unannounced, and Spern simply made the trip to daven.



After approaching the candidate and wishing him luck, Spern made his plea. &#8220;I said, &#8216;But Curtis, I have to ask you to please unite with Cuomo,'&#8221; Spern told Belaaz. &#8220;I said, &#8216;We&#8217;re scared.'&#8221;



According to Spern, Sliwa initially responded that the decision was &#8220;up to the voters.&#8221; As Spern respectfully pressed the issue, saying the Jewish community is afraid, Sliwa began to walk away.



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However, a person accompanying Sliwa remarked, &#8220;It&#8217;s too late.&#8221;



Spern replied, &#8220;It&#8217;s never too late. It&#8217;s never too late for unity.&#8221;



Following the exchange, another man accompanying Sliwa, a Lubavitcher Chasid, approached Spern, explaining that Sliwa was at the Ohel for a &#8220;personal visit&#8221; and that the request was inappropriate.



&#8220;I said to him, &#8216;Listen, an opportunity presented itself to me to speak to him. I&#8217;m not going to pass up on that,'&#8221; Spern said, defending his actions as a necessary hishtadlus.



Spern, who noted he does not visit the Ohel often, said he also felt a persistent urge over the recent Shabbos to find and speak with Sliwa. &#8220;I really can&#8217;t make this stuff up,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Hashem directed me here. I really believe it.&#8221;



Spern emphasized his actions were motivated by a genuine fear for the community&#8217;s future. &#8220;The existential threat… is too great. We got to work together,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I can go to sleep knowing I did something versus doing nothing.&#8221;



Sliwa has made many trips to the Ohel over the years, and is known in Crown Heights for his role in protecting Jews during the Crown Heights riots.

Askan Asks Sliwa to Unify With Cuomo at Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Ohel, Attendant Says ‘It’s Too Late’

Ten people were injured by rampaging terrorists aboard a train in Cambridgeshire, England, on Saturday, as two men armed with large knives attacked terrified passengers. Counter-terror police are investigating the assault, according to reports.



Nine of the victims suffered life-threatening wounds when the unidentified assailants began slashing commuters aboard an LNER train departing Peterborough for London around 7:35 p.m., Sky News reported.



Police said the two attackers, dressed entirely in black, were tasered, restrained, and taken into custody at the scene.



Though a motive has not yet been revealed, England’s Counter Terrorism Police have joined the investigation. The British Transport Police said officers used the UK emergency code “Plato” during the incident — a term reserved for suspected marauding terror attacks.



Panic erupted inside the train as passengers fled down aisles, locking themselves in bathrooms to escape the bloodshed.



“They were making their way through the carriage to get away from the suspects. They were extremely bloodied,” a man identified only as Gavin told Sky News.



He said he spotted one of the attackers on the platform, describing him as holding “quite a large knife.”



“The suspect had also come off the train as well. So while we were being told to come out of the station the suspect was obviously running rampant,” Gavin added.



Video shared online showed a massive emergency response at Huntingdon Station, with dozens of police vehicles and ambulances surrounding the area.



“We are currently responding to an incident on a train in Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed,” the British Transport Police confirmed on X Saturday.



Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his concern and extended condolences following the attack, though he gave no details about the suspects or their motive.



“The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning. My thought are with those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response,” Starmer wrote on X.

Knife-Wielding Terrorists Injure 10 Passengers on UK Train

The annual yahrtzeit celebration of Rachel Imeinu descended into &#8220;absolute chaos&#8221; on Motzoei Shabbos as a severe transportation collapse left thousands of mispalelim stranded, with many forced to march long distances on foot, according to witnesses who spoke with Israeli media.



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Crowds arriving at the kever complex reported heavy congestion, long delays, and a significant lack of coordination between organizing agencies.



Reports from the scene described massive lines forming at the exit from the kever, with mispalelim waiting extended periods for buses that failed to arrive. The central transportation hub at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem, designated for shuttles to the site, was also plagued by gridlock as buses did not arrive on time, leaving the public waiting.



Sources involved in the event&#8217;s preparations told B&#8217;chadrei Charedim that the number of buses allocated for this year&#8217;s yahrtzeit was insufficient for the &#8220;heavy load,&#8221; stating that &#8220;there were many more mispalelim than expected, and the system was unable to cope.&#8221;



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However, the Ministry of Transportation rejected this assessment, claiming there was no shortage of buses. The Ministry placed responsibility for traffic arrangements on the police and noted that, under police guidance, departures from Teddy Stadium to the kever were halted due to the &#8220;unusual congestion&#8221; at the site.



Police and Border Guard soldiers were deployed to provide security and maintain order. Authorities reported that at one point, participants &#8220;began to disrupt order by attempting to forcefully enter the kever complex, which was crowded and at the maximum occupancy allowed.&#8221;



In response, forces worked to restore order and partially and temporarily closed public entrance to the complex.



Adding to the confusion, police decided not to allow passenger drop-offs near the checkpoint to &#8220;prevent friction and jostling.&#8221; This order required the public to walk to the &#8220;yellow gate,&#8221; a move that sources on the ground said caused additional congestion.

Chaos Erupts at Kever Rachel as Transportation System Collapses; Thousands Stranded

Communist, Hamas-praising Zohran Mamdani’s once-comfortable advantage over former Governor Andrew Cuomo has dwindled to just 6.6 percentage points — his narrowest margin since the summer, according to a new AtlasIntel poll released Saturday.



The survey shows Democrat Mamdani leading with 40.6%, while Cuomo, a lifeline Democrat running as an independent, has climbed to 34% just days before Tuesday’s election.



“The gap is closing fast — we can feel it on the ground everywhere from the Bronx to Staten Island. At this rate, we win the race. Keep going strong,” Cuomo said.



“Six points in this election is nothing,” the former governor told reporters while campaigning in Brownsville, Brooklyn, on Saturday. He said New Yorkers have begun to see through Mamdani’s “pie-in-the-sky” promises like free bus service and government-run grocery stores — proposals the city’s mayor has no authority to enact.



“What has happened is, in the primary, Zohran got away with his TikTok band, and a smile, whatever he said, he smiled, and he had his slogans, ‘freeze the rent,’ ‘free buses,’ ‘free food,’ and that was enough,” Cuomo said. “What has happened since is people have [found] out what he’s about, and there is no free food, and there are no free buses, and he can’t raise corporate taxes statewide and dedicate it to New York [City]. That can’t happen.”



Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa is also enjoying his best poll numbers of the campaign, with 24.1% — his strongest showing since a July HarrisX poll that had him at 22%.



The results come shortly after two other polls painted a different picture. A Fox News survey released Thursday found Mamdani ahead 47% to 31%, with Sliwa at 15%, while an Emerson College poll showed Mamdani at 50%, Cuomo at 25%, and Sliwa at 21%. Real Clear Politics’ average still gives Mamdani a 14.5-point lead overall, at 45%, followed by Cuomo at 31% and Sliwa at 17%.



The AtlasIntel poll highlights Sliwa’s effect on the race, with data showing that in a head-to-head matchup, Cuomo would beat Mamdani 50% to 42%.



Mamdani, who attended a Saturday event at antisemite and Crown Heights riots instigator Al Sharpton’s National Action Network in Harlem, brushed off concerns about the shifting numbers. “I’m not worried at all,” he said. “I continue to be confident, but I never let that confidence become complacency.”



Nearly half a million New Yorkers have already voted early, marking a sharp rise from 2021, according to the City Board of Elections. The AtlasIntel poll carries a margin of error of three percentage points.



Cuomo campaigned Friday in Brighton Beach, telling supporters that “there is no way” Sliwa can win and that his continued presence in the race “can only make Zohran Mamdani win.”

Cuomo Surges As Mamdani’s Lead Shrinks To Single Digits In Tight NYC Mayoral Race

The partial remains of three bodies handed to Israel by Hamas on Friday night were determined not to belong to any hostages, following examination at the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv.



The Hamas terror group claims it initially offered to hand over three samples from unidentified bodies but later transferred the remains “to preempt Israeli claims” after Israel refused to accept samples alone.



The Red Cross said it acted as a neutral intermediary, it only facilitated the handover and that identifying the remains is Israel’s responsibility.

Hamas Delivers Partial Remains of Three Bodies—Abu Kabir Forensics Confirms They Are Not Hostages

John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark airports were all forced to halt departures Friday as high winds swept through the New York metro area, compounding delays amid reduced staffing caused by the ongoing government shutdown.



Flights bound for JFK are being held at their departure airports, with a ground stop in effect until 7:30 p.m. due to staffing limitations, according to local reports.



The Federal Aviation Administration said ground delays at JFK were averaging about one hour because of the high winds.



Delays at LaGuardia are even longer, with some flights held on the tarmac for up to two hours.



Newark Airport is experiencing delays of up to an hour and 40 minutes.



Officials emphasized that the combination of severe weather and limited air traffic control staffing is affecting all major airports in the New York City area, creating widespread disruptions for travelers.

JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Grounded as High Winds and Staffing Shortages Disrupt NYC Airports

Hamas handed over the remains of three Hostages they murdered to the Red Cross tonight. Their identities and any potential connection to the 11 decreased still held in Gaza remain unknown. 



The remains are now undergoing examination at the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine after being transfered to the IDF.

Hamas Releases More Remains,

The United States is preparing to launch strikes on Venezuelan military installations as President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to dismantle dictator Nicolás Maduro’s narcoterror network, senior sources told The New York Post on Friday. 



The operation, expected to take place within days or even hours, aims to cripple the Cartel de los Soles, a powerful drug-trafficking organization embedded within the Venezuelan armed forces.



According to a source close to the White House, the strikes would target key military sites that shield the cartel’s cocaine trafficking routes and criminal operations. U.S. officials accuse Cartel de los Soles of smuggling roughly 500 tons of cocaine each year to the United States and Europe, working with Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, and other transnational criminal groups.



President Trump first deployed warships to waters surrounding Venezuela in August, beginning with seven vessels carrying 4,500 troops. That force has since expanded to around 10,000 troops, now including an aircraft carrier. “The president is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said when the deployment was first announced.



Since then, U.S. forces have conducted 13 successful strikes on at least 14 drug boats, eliminating roughly 57 narcoterrorists, officials said Friday. Earlier missions targeted traffickers at sea, but the next phase will focus on striking the leadership structure on land, according to the Miami Herald, which first reported the development.



In recent weeks, the Pentagon has twice dispatched B-52 bombers to fly near Venezuela’s coast in what officials described as “show of force” missions—sending a clear warning to the Maduro regime.



While it remains unclear whether Maduro himself will be a direct target, American officials have long signaled that his hold on power is nearing its end. Attorney General Pam Bondi has called Maduro “one of the world’s biggest drug traffickers,” citing his extensive ties to organized crime and the national security threat he poses.



Earlier this year, Bondi doubled the Justice Department’s reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to a record $50 million—twice the amount once placed on Osama bin Laden’s head. Other top regime figures, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, each face U.S. bounties of up to $25 million.

US Poised To Strike Venezuelan Military Bases, Possibly Within Hours

Crowds gathered Friday morning at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, to put on tefillin together with former hostage Bar Kupershtein, after he invited the public to the event on Tuesday.



Bar and all of those assembled, including his father and Harav David Lau, the former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, recited Shema Yisrael while wearing tefillin.



Bar was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on the morning of the October 7 massacre and was released from captivity last month.



On Tuesday night, speaking for the first time at Hostages Square, Bar had invited the public to join and perform the mitzvah with him.



&#8220;Dear Am Yisrael! For two years I was in captivity—two years during which I dreamed and prayed every day that I would be able to don tefillin.&#8221;



In a recent interview with Israeli journalist Bar Shem-Or, Bar Kupershtein, wearing a yarmulka, said he and the other hostages would sing Shalom Aleichem, Eishes Chayil, Bar Yochai, and recite kiddush on a cup of water. &#8220;I closed my eyes and imagined I was with my family at the Shabbat table.&#8221; He said they would sing loudly, as the terrorists holding them were far away, around 250 meters.



&#8220;I want to invite everyone this Friday, at 10 o’clock in the morning. I want to organize a mass tefillin laying, where you all put them on together with me. Fulfill my dream with me! My dream was to lay tefillin in captivity. And we’ll do it for the freedom of our brothers still held captive,” he said on Tuesday.



Bar&#8217;s mother, Julie, had organized a massive&nbsp; initiative aimed at spreading awareness about tefilin during her son&#8217;s two years in captivity. Throughout that time, she inspired Jews around the world with her unwavering emunah, encouraging men to don tefillin in the zchus of her son and the other hostages held in Gaza.

Former Hostage Bar Kupershtein, Who Sang Shalom Aleichem in Gaza, Leads Tefillin Laying Gathering At Hostages Square

The IDF and Mossad are on alert for an emerging threat from Iraq, as Iran continues to expand its network of pro-Iranian terror groups and infrastructure there, Maariv reported Friday. 



According to Northern Command sources, Tehran has been heavily investing in these groups to enable potential attacks on Israel—both by air and on land—should the order be given. Reports indicate that Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force, recently visited Iraq to meet with senior militia leaders and advance operational coordination.



Iran has seen its axis of regional terror groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, crumble at the hands of the IDF ever since the Oct. 7 massacre.



The report states that the Iraqi terror groups’ main method of attack would likely involve missile and drone launches from Iraqi territory, following a pattern similar to that seen during the Iron Swords War against Israel. A secondary option reportedly being considered is a coordinated ground maneuver starting in Iraq, moving through Syria, and potentially approaching the Israel–Jordan border. 



Meanwhile, Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced progress on plans to reinforce the nation’s eastern border. The ministry confirmed that the first tenders have been completed, and construction of a new border barrier will begin in the coming weeks. The initial phase will cover two sections in the northern sector, with early work focused on the valley area stretching from Hamat Gader to Jordan. Additional companies will later join to extend the project from Machsom Tzafo to Yafit.



The project will include earthworks, drainage, road and highway rehabilitation, as well as the installation of water, sewage, electrical, and communication infrastructure. The Defense Ministry said the initiative is a key component of its national security strategy, spearheaded by Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, aimed at strengthening strategic control over Israel’s eastern border.



Major General Eran Ofir, head of the Borders and Seam Directorate, is leading the establishment of a comprehensive operational system that integrates barriers, intelligence collection, technology, sensing, reconnaissance, and maintenance teams. As construction proceeds, the Defense Ministry and IDF will continue planning the next sections and refining the broader border defense concept.



The total cost of the project is estimated at approximately 5.5 billion shekels. Once completed, it will form a multi-layered security system spanning 425 kilometers—from the southern Golan Heights to the Samar Sands, north of Eilat.



Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram stated, “Looking ahead to the emerging threats, we must act with a sense of urgency and strengthen the strategic grip on the eastern border. This is not just a physical obstacle, but a complete multi-layered system that will include the deployment of flexible and mobile forces, appropriate to the topography and changing threats. This is alongside encouraging Zionist-security settlement, investing in security-civilian infrastructure, and creating industrial growth engines. This is a national mission to which we must enlist all government ministries and the civilian and business sectors.” Maariv reported.

IDF And Mossad Warn Of Growing  Iraqi Terror Threat Toward Israel

New information was released Thursday evening regarding the failed IDF rescue mission to save hostage Sahar Baruch Hy’d, as his body was returned to Israel under the terms of the latest agreement with Hamas.



The operation took place on December 8, 2023, when members of the elite Sayeret Matkal unit stormed a building in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza in an attempt to rescue Baruch from Hamas captivity.



During the mission, the soldiers faced heavy gunfire from Hamas terrorists, leading to an intense battle in which Baruch was killed. The following day, Hamas announced his death, after which the IDF confirmed the operation and its tragic outcome.



A military investigation launched after the incident has not yet determined whether Baruch was killed by Hamas or by IDF fire during the exchange.



Baruch’s family has asked that the IDF officially recognize him as having been murdered while in captivity.



On Thursday evening, as part of the current agreement with Hamas, Baruch’s body was returned to Israel and transferred to the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification. Experts there are expected to examine the remains to help clarify the exact circumstances of his death.



Baruch, 25, was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, after he and his brother Idan tried to flee their home as Hamas terrorists set it ablaze.

New Details Revealed About Failed Rescue Operation in Which Sahar Baruch Hy’d Was Killed

After identification by the National Center for Forensic Medicine with Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF notified families of hostages Amiram Cooper hy&#8221;d and Sahar Baruch hy&#8221;d that their loved ones were returned from Gaza for burial.



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Based on our information and intelligence, Amiram Cooper hy&#8221;d was kidnapped alive from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz by the Hamas terror organization, the IDF said. The assessment is that he was murdered in captivity during February 2024. 



Amiram hy&#8221;d, 84 at his death, left behind a wife, 4 children, and 11 grandchildren. His wife, Nurit Cooper, was also kidnapped and released from Hamas captivity in October 2023.



Final conclusions will be formulated after completing the examination of death circumstances at the National Center for Forensic Medicine.



Based on IDF information and intelligence, Sahar Baruch hy&#8221;d, was also kidnapped alive from his home in Kibbutz Be&#8217;eri by the Hamas terror organization. The assessment is that he was murdered in captivity on 08/12/23. 



Sahar, 25 at his death, left behind parents and two brothers. His brother, Idan Baruch z&#8221;l, and grandmother, Geula Becher z&#8221;l, were murdered in the attack on the kibbutz.



Final conclusions will be formulated after completing the examination of death circumstances at the National Center for Forensic Medicine.



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IDF Confirms Bodies of Hostages Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch HY”D Returned for Burial

New York City Mayor Eric Adams strongly condemned an art exhibit on Governor’s Island this week that featured pro-Hamas and antisemitic imagery, calling the display “vile” and a warning of how hatred can spread.



Speaking at a press event Thursday evening, Adams described the exhibit, which was unsanctioned and quickly removed, as including images with phrases such as “Hamas lover” a Magen Dovid on a Ku Klux Klan hood, a depiction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a Hitler mustache accompanied by the words “Zionism, Nazism, Fascism,&#8221; and profanity-laced attacks on Israel.



“This right here is beyond the pale,” Adams said. “As questions about where that art came from started to pour in, a shocking number of people were afraid to call this out for what it is, but I am not one of those people. This was a vile, antisemitic exhibit.”



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Adams stressed that activism is no excuse for hatred. “It is a stark reminder of what happens when ignorance and bigotry combine. This incident disturbs me and it should disturb anyone with a conscience,” he said.



The mayor warned that antisemitism is evolving and can appear in new forms. “Antisemitism is a virus that mutates. It comes back in different forms and finds new ways to hide in plain sight,” he said. “Disagreeing with the policies of Israel’s government does not make someone antisemitic, but to openly praise Hamas at an exhibit in a government facility sends a message of institutionalizing hatred.”



Adams, who endorsed former Governor and Independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo after leaving the race last month, slammed far-left, antisemitic candidate Zohran Mamdani. “We will never surrender our city to hate or to those who want to globalize the intifada,” Adams said, referencing Mamdani’s earlier defense of the slogan “Globalize the intifada.”



The speech comes a day after Adams joined Cuomo in meeting leaders of both Satmar communities in Williamsburg, in a display of solidarity.



Noting the prevalence of anti-Jewish hate crimes in the city, Adams said on Thursday, “Jews are targeted in 57% of all hate crimes in New York City. If this were a stat for any group, we would respond accordingly.”



He concluded with a call for unity and tolerance. “We must bring down the temperature. Too many across this country are ready to go to war with one another, to start at a place of disagreement, to believe in only the worst of one another. I know we can change that. I know that we can move forward with love and acceptance.”

Mayor Eric Adams Condemns Antisemitic Art Exhibit on Governor’s Island

Newrly a million Jews from Israel&#8217;s Charedi community and beyond, led by Gedolei Yisrael, gathered in Yerushalayim on Thursday for a massive rally to protest mandatory IDF conscription and the recent jailing of yeshiva students.



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The demonstration, dubbed the &#8220;Million-Strong Rally,&#8221; brought the capital to a near-total halt but was marred by tragedy when a young man fell from a height at a nearby construction site and was pronounced dead.



The rally, described by organizers as an act of &#8220;tefilah and crying out,&#8221; saw participants from &#8220;all shades and communities&#8221; converge at the entrance to the city. The protest was called in response to the draft decree and specifically &#8220;ignited,&#8221; according to askanim, by the arrests of yeshiva students, particularly Ariel Shamai.



At the demonstration, the &#8220;Za&#8217;akas HaTorah&#8221; movement, which helped organize the event, announced firm resolutions, declaring, &#8220;We will not remain silent in the face of the arrests of the talmidei chachamim.&#8221;



Leading Gedolim in attendance included Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlita, who traveled from Bnei Brak, the Gerrer Rebbe shlita, Belzer Rebbe shlita, and Hagaon Harav Moshe Bergman shlita. Rav Hirsch said, &#8220;We are zocheh to fulfill the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem.&#8221;



Rabbanim and followers of the Edah Charedis attended as well, highlighting the universality of the cause. Hagaon Harav Moshe Shternbuch shlita was among the Gedolei Yisrael who participated. The Edah rabbanim stood on the balcony at the corner of Brinds and Yermiyahu streets.



The event was marked by solemn speeches given by rabbanim. Hagaon Harav Reuven Elbaz shlita, a member of Shas&#8217; Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, led the massive crowd in the recitation of Selichos. Participants also were mekabel ohl malchus shamayim.



Unfortunately, several medical and safety incidents occurred during the rally. The most severe was the tragic death of 20-year-old Menachem Mendel Litzman, who fell from a construction site on Shazar Boulevard



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Chaim Weingarten, ZAKA&#8217;s Deputy Director of Operations, called it &#8220;a very difficult incident&#8221; and urged the dispersing public to &#8220;adhere to safety rules.&#8221; ZAKA volunteers remained at the &#8220;difficult scene&#8221; to treat the deceased with respect.



Medical teams treated numerous minor injuries throughout the day. United Hatzalah had earlier reported treating 74 participants. Separately, the MDA spokesperson reported that as of 4:45 PM, their teams had provided medical treatment to 56 participants. Of those, four required evacuation to hospitals in minor condition, including two cases of fainting, one cardiac event, and one minor injury.



The warnings about safety risks proved prescient, as authorities had previously issued urgent warnings as young men were spotted climbing tall poles and the top of a construction crane, creating a significant risk of &#8220;danger to life.&#8221;



In response to the tragedy, the Organizing Committee of the &#8220;Za’akas HaTorah&#8221; event issued a statement expressing &#8220;shock and deep sorrow.&#8221; The committee announced that &#8220;in light of the grave disaster, no music will be played during the dispersal, and the public is asked to disperse quietly and safely&#8230; and to avoid entering dangerous places.&#8221;



The rally was no easy feat for organizers and security personnel. Police deployed approximately 2,000 officers as major roads, including Highway 1, were blocked to traffic. Convoys of buses and crowds on foot clogged the main arteries into the city. Jerusalem&#8217;s train station was overwhelmed, forcing organizers to coordinate with Israel Railways to manage the crowds.



MK Yuli Edelstein, who was recently removed from the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee over his failures to advance a draft law, attended a counter-demonstration held by military reservists.



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Massive ‘Million-Strong Rally’ Protests IDF Conscription

A massive Thursday “Rally of the Many,&#8221; in which nearly a million people attended, ended in tragedy when 20-year-old Menachem Mendel Litzman died after falling from a construction site near the Yitzchak Navon light rail station.



His parents are Chabad Shluchim in South Korea.



Menachem Mendel&#8217;s tragic fall occured in circumstances of great sorrow.



According to Magen David Adom (MDA), emergency teams providing medical coverage for the rally treated 56 participants during the event. Among them was Litzman, who fell from a great height at the “Migdal Merom” construction site on Shazar Boulevard. Despite prolonged CPR attempts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.



ZAKA Jerusalem District volunteers responded immediately. “This is a very difficult incident in the area of the mass rally,” said Haim Weingarten, ZAKA’s Deputy Director of Operations. “The volunteers who were already deployed in the area immediately arrived at the scene and are treating the deceased with respect. We call on the public who are dispersing at this time to adhere to safety rules, and please be very careful for yourselves.”



Initial reports indicate that Litzman had climbed the unfinished building to get a better view of the rally when he lost his balance and fell.



MDA Spokesman Zaki Heller confirmed that, aside from the fatal fall, four other participants required hospitalization for minor conditions, including fainting, a cardiac event, and a light injury.



In a statement, the organizing committee of the “Zakat HaTorah” event expressed “shock and deep sorrow over the terrible tragedy that occurred at the end of the rally,” urging attendees “to act responsibly, with caution and moderation, and to avoid entering dangerous places.”



Out of respect for the tragedy, the committee announced that no music would be played during the dispersal and asked the public to leave the area quietly and safely.

Tragedy Strikes Yerushalayim Rally as 20-Year-Old Menachem Mendel Litzman Falls to His Death

Hundreds of educators from schools throughout the country participated in Moldova’s first-ever seminar of its kind, organized in cooperation with leading embassies • “The painful past of the Jewish people is always before our eyes,” said Germany’s Ambassador to Moldova • Chief Rabbi Pinchas Zaltzman: “The way to fight hatred begins with education. At a time when antisemitism is again rearing its head around the world, we must respond with light, with love, with education – and with faith”



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Following the alarming surge in antisemitic incidents across Europe since the October 7 massacre, Moldova’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Pinchas Zaltzman, initiated a special seminar for the country’s educators. Its goal: to raise awareness of antisemitism and strengthen the values of tolerance and human dignity.



 The five-day professional seminar, held in Moldova’s capital city of Chișinău, brought together the Ambassadors of Germany and Israel, representatives of the local Ministry of Education, and hundreds of teachers from a wide range of educational institutions. 



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In his remarks, the German Ambassador stated: “The painful past of the Jewish people — men, women, and children who suffered — remains forever before us. The German people feel that pain as well, and we are determined not to allow antisemitism to resurface anywhere in the world.”



Israel’s Ambassador to Moldova, Yoram Elron, praised the initiative and emphasized its critical importance at a time when “the fight against antisemitism must be not only moral but educational, to prevent the next generation of hatred.”



Rabbi Pinchas Zaltzman, Moldova’s Chief Rabbi and the driving force behind the initiative, addressed the participants, saying: “In Judaism, education is a supreme value. I salute every teacher who dedicated their time to join this seminar. In my eyes, you are not only educators; you are mothers. You spend more time with the children than their own parents. Your mission is sacred.”



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Rabbi Saltzman stressed the powerful message at the heart of the seminar: “Precisely now, when antisemitism is once again raising its head around the world, we are duty-bound to respond with light, with love, with education, and with faith. The fight against hatred begins in the classroom.”



At the conclusion of the seminar, the Chief Rabbi and government representatives agreed to continue strengthening international cooperation to advance education in core values and to intensify efforts to combat antisemitism throughout Europe.



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Amid Surging Antisemitism in Europe: Moldova’s Chief Rabbi Heads Teacher Training to Combat the Hatefull Trend

Up to a million people are expected to flood Yerushalayim Thursday for a massive demonstration, according to former MK Yitzchak Pindros of Degel Hatorah, who spoke with Belaaz Wednesday night as last-minute preparations were underway.



The protest, which organizers anticipate will draw 600,000 people from outside the city alone, is a direct response to the ongoing arrest of yeshiva students who have not enlisted in the IDF.



&#8220;I believe there&#8217;s going to be a million people,&#8221; Pindros told Belaaz. &#8220;You&#8217;re talking about 1/8 of the Jewish population. That shows how important the issue is to them.&#8221;



Logistical preparations are massive, with Pindros noting that &#8220;transportation is going to be an issue,&#8221; and many participants are already traveling to the capital. He stressed the demonstration represents an unusually broad coalition within the Charedi community and beyond, with several Religious Zionist figures, including Rabbi Tzvi Thau instructing their followers to attend.



&#8220;Everybody wants to be part of it,&#8221; Pindros stated. &#8220;All parts of the Charedim..from the Edah Charedis until the Mizrachi.&#8221;



While the political debate over the draft has simmered for years, Pindros identified a clear &#8220;tipping point&#8221; for the mass mobilization: the arrests themselves, which he framed as an intolerable desecration.



&#8220;The issue is very simple: that bachurim that are sitting and learning are being arrested,&#8221; Pindros explained. &#8220;Having people that are sitting and learning being arrested, that is a Chilul Hashem . And that Chilul Hashem, we can&#8217;t just sit there.&#8221;



He described a climate of fear among students, stating, &#8220;A bachur doesn&#8217;t know when he&#8217;s going to be arrested, if he&#8217;s going to pass a traffic light or be stopped by a cop&#8230; or they&#8217;re knocking at his door at night. The arrests&#8230; that&#8217;s something that we can&#8217;t agree to.&#8221;



The demonstration was initially hesitated upon, according to Pindros, due to the ongoing war. &#8220;It was in the middle of the war, and we were having funerals every day,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s very difficult for people to absorb a situation like that, and it would be a chillul Hashem in its own right to protest under such circumstances.”



However, he said the community&#8217;s hopes that the situation would &#8220;calm down&#8221; have faded. &#8220;They&#8217;re not calming down,&#8221; Pindros said. &#8220;People are being arrested more and more, again and again, and that&#8217;s the reason [the Gedolim] decided this.&#8221;



Pindros laid blame on the legal system, which he accused of pushing for increased enforcement despite the coalition agreements.



&#8220;We saw Bagatz [the High Court of Justice] today, how the judges were looking,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We saw the [Attorney General] demanding every day that she wants more arresting. The Supreme Court today said it wants more arresting. And that&#8230; we can&#8217;t agree with.&#8221;

Belaaz Interview: MK Pindros on Mass Protest, ‘We Can’t Let a Chillul Hashem Stand’

In a historic show of achdus, both Satmar groups met with independent candidate and former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Eric Adams Wednesday night in Williamsburg.



Belaaz has learned that while neither group will issue a formal endorsement, Rabbi Moshe Indig and Rabbi Moshe Dovid Niederman, representing both factions of Satmar Chasidus, greeted Cuomo and Adams warmly and listened attentively to both politicians&#8217; speeches, which warned of the catastrophe of a Mamdani mayorship.



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Askanim assembled described the meeting as a &#8220;family reunion.&#8221;



The meeting was at a small, personal rooftop venue in Williamsburg, and included the mayor&#8217;s Jewish media liasion and esteemed askanim.



Adams said that Satmar comes together when it really matters, such as this election, and cited the murder of Menachem Stark in 2014, which also brought the community together.



Cuomo said that if Mamdani wins, the Democratic Socialists of America will collectively run the city, and will ruin Yeshiva education.



If you&#8217;re thinking, we&#8217;ll make nice to this guy [Mamdani], he&#8217;s ahead in the polls, I saw this DSA movement in Albany. They cannot make nice. There&#8217;s no &#8220;him,&#8221; they&#8217;ll meet with him once a week. They&#8217;re talking about a &#8220;co-governance&#8221; model, where DSA members will meet with him once a week. He&#8217;s a tool of the DSA. I spent 10 years watching them grow. We thought if we give them a little bit, they&#8217;ll be happy. We gave them the hand, but they ate it, then they ate the arm, the shoulder, until the whole body was gone. They will not allow him to help you, because they&#8217;re against everything that you&#8217;re going to need. They don&#8217;t want yeshivos. They have the teachers union, everything should be public; no charter schools, no private schools. It&#8217;s against their religion to help you. They are zealots. Ask Carl Heastie&#8230;you can&#8217;t talk to them. He will not be a friend, he will be an enemy to you.&#8221;



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Cuomo then explained how the turnout for early voting has been 5 times as much as the last election, and that older voters, who he is more popular with, are coming out in much higher numbers than they did during the primaries.



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🇺🇸✡️ &#8212; BELAAZ VIDEO: <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewcuomo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AndrewCuomo</a> meeting with representatives of both Satmars ealrier today. CUOMO: &quot;If you’re thinking, we’ll make nice to this guy [Mamdani], he’s ahead in the polls, I saw this DSA movement in Albany. They cannot make nice. There’s no “him,” they’ll meet… <a href="https://t.co/3ELnpCeNu4">pic.twitter.com/3ELnpCeNu4</a>&mdash; Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBelaaz/status/1983732175540220135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Adams, who exited the race recently and endorsed Cuomo, said: &#8220;I think it&#8217;s imperative that the governor gets in and not allow our city to go backwards.&#8221;



&#8220;This is about the city, and if we like it or not&#8230;I said to Andrew, that families argue, families fight. If we were talking about a Brad Lander, who was a terrible leader, or Scott Stringer, I wouldn&#8217;t be here today. They hate our way of life,&#8221; Adams said, referring to the DSA.

Belaaz Exclusive: Satmar Leadership of Both Groups Meet Cuomo and Mayor Adams in Williamsburg

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben &amp; Jerry’s, says parent company Unilever blocked an attempt by the ice cream brand to release a new flavor expressing solidarity with Palestinians, according to a BBC report.



Cohen announced that he will move forward with the project independently, creating the flavor under his personal brand that promotes social causes which he claims Ben &amp; Jerry’s has been prevented from supporting.



(Belaaz wonders if the Kosher certification would have been the classic Kof-K DE, or would have gone Halal)



Ben &amp; Jerry’s, known for its political activism and extremely anti Israel statements, including its past remarks on the Israel-Gaza conflict, has often clashed with Unilever, which acquired the company in 2000.



According to Cohen, both Unilever and its soon-to-be-separated ice cream division, Magnum, have “unlawfully blocked” Ben &amp; Jerry’s from pursuing its “social mission.”



In a video posted on Instagram on Tuesday, Cohen revealed he is developing a watermelon-flavored sorbet and invited fans to suggest names and ingredients. The watermelon, featuring the same colors as the Palestinian flag, has become a symbol associated with Palestinians.



“I’m doing what they couldn’t,” Cohen said in the video, filmed in a kitchen. “I’m making a watermelon-flavoured ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and for repairing the damage that was done there.”



Cohen added that Unilever had explicitly forbidden Ben &amp; Jerry’s from producing the dessert.



The flavor will be released through his separate venture, Ben’s Best, which focuses on socially driven products. In a press statement, Cohen said the new flavor will be produced independently and will highlight issues that the original company was blocked from addressing.



Ben’s Best was first launched in 2016 to support then-presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the “Bernie’s Back” flavor. Cohen said he plans to continue developing other socially conscious flavors under the brand.



Ben &amp; Jerry’s previously announced in 2021 that it would halt sales in what it called “Israeli-occupied territories.” Unilever later sold the company’s Israeli operations to a local licensee, ensuring that Ben &amp; Jerry’s ice cream continues to be sold across Yehudah and Shomron.



Tensions between the company’s founders and Unilever have intensified in recent months. In September, co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned, saying Unilever’s control had compromised Ben &amp; Jerry’s independence.



At the time, Cohen commented that Greenfield’s decision came from “a really big heart” and that “this conflict with Unilever was breaking it.” He added, “My heart leads me to keep working within the company to advocate for its independence, so it can continue to live up to its founding values and social mission of more than 40 years.”



Since 2022, Ben &amp; Jerry’s Israel has operated entirely independently. The local branch, owned by Avi Zinger’s American Quality Products Ltd., manufactures ice cream in Be’er Tuvia and employs more than 200 workers, most from Israel’s south. The Israeli company continues to operate nationwide with full autonomy and strong community ties.

Unilever Blocks Ben & Jerry’s Plan for ‘Palestine’ Flavor, Co-Founder Launches It Independently

Germany has agreed to allocate more than $1 billion for home care services benefiting Holocaust survivors worldwide in 2026, the organization representing Jewish victims of Nazi persecution announced Wednesday.



The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, known as the Claims Conference, said it reached an agreement with Germany’s finance ministry to extend $1.076 billion (923.9 million euros) for this purpose. The amount marks the largest budget ever dedicated to home care for aging Holocaust survivors.



“This historic increase to home care funding reflects the complex and growing needs of Holocaust survivors worldwide,” said Gideon Taylor, president of the New York-based Claims Conference.



“While we are losing survivors at a rapid pace each year, those who remain are older, frailer and in greater need than ever before,” Taylor said in a statement. “This budget is critical in providing each of them the opportunity to age in place, a dignity that was stolen from them in their youth.”



According to the organization, the average age of survivors receiving home care through its funding has risen from 86 in 2018 to 88.5 in 2024. Data also show that many survivors now suffer from more severe disabilities and health issues, with the number of those requiring full-time assistance for conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia nearly doubling in recent years.



In addition, Germany and the Claims Conference agreed to extend the Hardship Fund Supplemental payments, previously set to continue through 2027, by another year. The annual €1,450 payments will now continue through 2028, benefitting over 127,000 survivors worldwide.



The Claims Conference estimates that roughly 200,000 Holocaust survivors remain alive today, most living in Israel, the United States, and Europe, though many are dispersed across other parts of the world.



The organization also announced that “righteous rescuers” — non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust — who already receive monthly pensions will now be eligible for home care assistance similar to that provided to Jewish survivors.



Colette Avital, a Holocaust survivor and member of the Claims Conference negotiating delegation, welcomed the agreement. “It is deeply meaningful that, 80 years after the liberation, the German government maintains its responsibility to those who suffered and survived,” she said.



“Every survivor — and every rescuer — deserves to live with dignity and to be seen, heard and cared for,” Avital added.



Germany also agreed to extend Holocaust education funding through 2029, pledging €175 million for educational efforts. The programs will support teacher training, academic research, and new media initiatives such as films, gaming, and virtual reality projects to help reach broader audiences amid growing Holocaust ignorance and rising antisemitism.



&#8220;It is imperative that we invest in the future of Holocaust education while we still have living witnesses who can share their firsthand testimonies of survival,&#8221; said Greg Schneider, executive vice president of the Claims Conference. “This is our moral obligation to the survivors of the Holocaust and to the 6 million who were murdered.”

Germany Commits Over $1 Billion to Support Holocaust Survivors’ Home Care in 2026

The IDF said Wednesday that its latest wave of strikes in Gaza targeted senior Hamas and other terror commanders following what it described as “blatant violations” of the ceasefire by the terrorist organization.



According to an IDF and Shin Bet statement, the overnight operation, led by the Southern Command and guided by Military Intelligence, hit “dozens of terrorists in the Gaza Strip, including two battalion-level terrorists, two deputy battalion-level terrorists, and 16 company-level commanders.”



The military said the airstrikes were carried out by the Israeli Air Force in coordination with Shin Bet and targeted “dozens of key terrorists, observation posts, a weapons production site, rocket and mortar launch positions, and underground tunnels.” These strikes were part of what the IDF called a “renewed enforcement” of the ceasefire following Hamas’ violations.



The IDF noted that the operation was designed to further degrade Hamas’ military infrastructure and eliminate key figures responsible for directing terror attacks. “The IDF and Shin Bet will continue to operate with force to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel,” the statement said.



In the past 24 hours alone, the Air Force struck “dozens of terrorists from terrorist organizations across the Gaza Strip,” according to the IDF. Among those confirmed killed were several Hamas operatives who had taken part in the October 7, 2023, massacre.



They included Muhammad Issa Asher, a Nukhba unit commander; Fuaz Awida, head of a Nukhba squad; and two members of the so-called “Desert Lords” terror organization, Muhammad Abu Sharia and Nidal Abu Sharia.



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The IDF also said that in a “precise strike in the southern Gaza Strip,” its forces eliminated Khatam Maher Musa Qadra, a Nukhba company commander in northern Khan Younis, who personally led the murderous raid on Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha on October 7.



While the IDF continues to assess the results of the operation, it said that the strikes were aimed at terror operatives directly involved in Hamas’s military command structure. “Attack attempts were made on two battalion-level terrorists, two deputy battalion-level terrorists, and 16 company-level commanders,” the military said.



The IDF emphasized that it will not allow Hamas to rearm or regroup amid ongoing ceasefire violations, vowing to “continue to operate with determination to remove any threat to Israeli civilians.”

IDF: Latest Gaza Strikes Kill Hamas Commanders Involved in Oct. 7 Massacre

Belaaz is saddened to inform you on the passing of Rabbi Alvin Kass, the New York City Police Department&#8217;s (NYPD) chief chaplain and its longest-serving member. He was 89 years old and remained the department&#8217;s oldest active member at the time of his passing overnight.



Kass joined the NYPD in 1966 at age 30, becoming the youngest chaplain in its history. A U.S. Air Force veteran and Columbia University graduate, he served nearly six decades as the department&#8217;s &#8220;spiritual heart,&#8221; providing strength, guidance, and faith to generations of officers and their families.



He was among the first to respond after the 9/11 attacks, consoling the families of the 23 NYPD officers lost that day. A fixture at funerals, celebrations, and Police Academy graduations, Kass stood beside members &#8220;through moments of tragedy and triumph alike.&#8221;



At every graduation, he delivered his signature blessing: a prayer that New York be “a place where people of every race, religion, color, and creed can pursue their individual destinies untrammeled, unafraid, and in obedience to Thy will”, NYPD chief Jessica Tisch wrote on social media.



In September 2020, Kass made headlines when he fought off a mugger during his daily walk on the Upper West Side — the second time he had been attacked on his morning route. Undeterred, he vowed to resume his walk the next day.



Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called him “a source of strength, guidance, and faith,” adding: “His loss is immeasurable. His example is everlasting. May his memory be a blessing.”

Rabbi Alvin Kass, NYPD’s Longest-Serving Chaplain, Passes Away at 89

With one week until the NYC mayoral election, Republican City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov announced Tuesday night that she is withdrawing her endorsement of longtime ally and friend, Republican Curtis Sliwa and throwing her support behind independent candidate and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Vernikov believes that he is the only person that can defeat Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani.



In an interview with Belaaz moments after the announcement, Vernikov, who represents the 48th District in Brooklyn, cast the move as a painful but necessary decision aimed squarely at preventing Mamdani, who has praised convicted Hamas supporters and has spoken about wanting to, quoting Karl Marx, “seize the means of production,” from winning City Hall.



The endorsement marks a difficult break for the councilwoman, who described Sliwa as a “loyal friend” who has “done a lot for the city and the Jewish community.”



Despite that personal loyalty, Vernikov insisted that political reality dictated the change. Speaking with Belaaz, Vernikov, when asked what ultimately made her switch from supporting Sliwa, replied: “This is not about any single individual. It&#8217;s not about Sliwa; it&#8217;s not about Cuomo. It&#8217;s about saving our city. It&#8217;s about saving the Jewish people from a Hamas-supporting, jihadi-sympathizing mayor, G-d forbid.”



She delivered sharp criticism for the Democratic nominee, slamming Mamdani as “anti-American, anti-Israel, anti-cop” and warning that he poses an “existential threat” to the city.



“As much as it hurts me to say this, a vote for Curtis Sliwa is a vote for Zohran Mamdani,” Vernikov said in a video shared with Belaaz.



Vernikov’s decision follows similar moves by other prominent right-of-center figures, including billionaire John Catsimatidis and 77 WABC host Sid Rosenberg, Sliwa’s own co-host. The growing defections suggest a consolidating effort among some conservatives who fear Sliwa and Cuomo will split the anti-Mamdani vote, allowing the progressive to win.



When asked by Belaaz at what point she realized Sliwa didn&#8217;t have a path to victory, Vernikov cited the data. &#8220;We look at the numbers… but most importantly, the math just isn&#8217;t there,” she explained. “He is consistently polling 11%, 13%, 17%. We&#8217;re seven days before the election, and he just hasn&#8217;t polled to a point where he can win.”



She maintained that her decision was not a personal slight against the Guardian Angels founder. “He&#8217;s a good person. I&#8217;m very grateful for everything he has done for the Jewish community, for the city,” she said, adding, “But unfortunately, this is not about him. It&#8217;s about saving our city.”



With early voting underway, Vernikov noted that turnout appears high in her district, which includes neighborhoods like Midwood and Sheepshead Bay. “Yesterday, one of my poll sites was the busiest poll site in New York City for early voting,” she told Belaaz. “That&#8217;s Council Center, off Quentin Road.”



 Vernikov reiterated the stark choice she believes voters are facing. “The guy we may not like is the only one who has a shot,” she said in her video statement. She expanded on this later on in the interview,, offering a final plea to voters on the fence: “I think that Cuomo has the momentum right now to defeat Mamdani… unfortunately, a vote for Curtis Sliwa is a vote for Zohran Mamdani. So I would just encourage everybody to vote for Andrew Cuomo to beat Mamdani.”



Sliwa had not responded publicly to Vernikov&#8217;s endorsement change by Tuesday evening.

Vernikov Backs Cuomo in Mayoral Race, Calling Mamdani an ‘Existential Threat’

Members of the Bobov-45 Chasidish community learned this week of a &#8220;historic letter&#8221; sent by President Donald Trump to their Rebbe, shlita.



The letter, which was sent to congratulate the Rebbe on the inauguration of his massive new Beis Medrash in Borough Park, arrived during Chol HaMoed but was only revealed to the wider&nbsp; public in the last 24 hours. The grand opening of the new center took place just before the Yamim Noraim.



Belaaz has learned that community letters of this sort are frequently written by one of Trump&#8217;s associates, signed with an auto pen, and that the president is sometimes not aware of them. This letter is likely one such case.



In the letter, President Trump mentioned that the new Beis Medrash continues the distinguished legacy of the Rebbe&#8217;s grandfather, the previous Rebbe, Rebbe Shlomo of Bobov, zt&#8221;l.



&#8220;Congratulations on the completion of your new synagogue in Brooklyn, New York,&#8221; the letter began.



&#8220;This building is a powerful testament to the strength and courage of the Bobov-45 community. From the destruction of the Holocaust, the third Bobover Rebbe rebuilt Jewish life in New York, laying the foundation for the dynamic and vibrant community that has flourished for generations. This new synagogue continues that legacy, standing as a symbol of the resilience of the Jewish people and a reminder that even from the ashes of tragedy, great things can grow.&#8221;



The letter was delivered to the Rebbe through Rabbi David Katz, who is close with some Trump staffers. Rabbi Katz also arranged letters sent from the White House to the Skverer and Satmar Rebbes shlita.

Trump Sends Letter to Bobov-45 Rebbe Shlita Congratulating Him on New Beis Medrash

Tarek Bazrouk, a 20-year-old Palestinian and outspoken antisemite in New York City, was sentenced to 17 months in prison for a string of antisemitic assaults committed during anti-Israel protests. The attacks, which took place between April 2024 and January 2025, targeted visibly Jewish individuals in Manhattan and were without provocation.



Bazrouk’s sentencing drew a crowd of about 200 supporters at the federal courthouse in Manhattan. Despite earlier warnings from Judge Richard Berman in June that he could face up to five years behind bars, Bazrouk ultimately received only a year and a half in prison—on the higher end of his plea agreement’s 12–18 month guideline. He will also serve three years of supervised release.



Supporters of the Jew hater and violent attacked included the Palestinian Youth Movement, which lobbied for his release, claiming that he was &#8220;targeted&#8221; because he is Palestinian, ignoring ample evidence of his crimes and plastering social media with pictures of him in peaceful poses, with his hands shaped into a heart.



“If you assault somebody unprovoked just because that random somebody is an actual or perceived Jew,” Judge Berman stated, “because you, the assaulter, hate Jews, you are very likely to go to jail. It’s that simple.” The judge added that his message applied to hate crimes against any group, including Palestinians.



One of the victims, Elisha Baker, expressed appreciation for the court’s decision. “The message that the court sent today is that if you assault Jews on the basis of their Judaism and membership in the Jewish people, you will be held accountable,” he told The Times of Israel.



During his June hearing, Bazrouk had pleaded guilty to three hate crime assaults but offered no apology to his Jewish victims. Instead, he addressed the Palestinian community, saying, “I am sorry. I am Palestinian and I participated in the protest to display my outrage… I should not have used violence. I hope my family and community can forgive me.”



 On April 15, 2024, Bazrouk kicked a man wearing a kippa in the chest while the victim sang a Jewish song and held an Israeli flag near the New York Stock Exchange. He assaulted two others during the same protest. Later that year, he texted that he would “boom boom boom” the next Jewish person he saw, and subsequently punched another Jewish man carrying an Israeli flag during a December 9 protest.



Prosecutors said Bazrouk struck again on January 6, 2025, punching another flag-bearing demonstrator in the face. Although he had no connection to Columbia University, he joined several of its campus protests as an outside agitator.



When federal agents searched Bazrouk’s Manhattan home after his May arrest, they uncovered four knives, brass knuckles, a replica firearm, and $750,000 in cash hidden in a safe. His phone contained messages in which he called Jews “worthless,” referred to himself as a “Jew hater,” and said he was proud that family members were fighting with Hamas terrorists.



Prosecutors revealed that Bazrouk was part of a chat group that received updates from Abu Obeda, spokesman for Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades. His lawyers denied any link between their client and the terror group. The seized cash was forfeited to the government.



Judge Berman had cautioned in June that Bazrouk could face up to five years in prison, along with a $250,000 fine and restitution payments. Tuesday’s sentence of just 17 months marks a far lighter punishment than the maximum penalty once on the table.

NYC Antisemite Who Called Himself a ‘Jew Hater’ Gets Only 17 Months for Series of Attacks on Jews

Israel notified the Trump administration of its plan to strike Gaza City only after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had already ordered the operation in response to Hamas’ repeated violations of the ceasefire, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.



“The prime minister made the decision to carry out the strike, gave the order to the military to execute it and afterward informed the United States,” the PMO said.



Officials from both Israel and the U.S. told The Times of Israel that Washington was briefed after Jerusalem finalized its decision, but before the strikes were actually launched.



“We were informed,” a Trump administration official stated, explaining that the U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat—responsible for supervising the ceasefire and monitoring Washington’s Gaza peace framework—served as the channel for communication between the two governments.



An Israeli official confirmed that “there were talks with the Americans” about Israel’s intended response before the military acted.



Both political and defense-level discussions reportedly took place between the allies.



Meanwhile, despite the latest exchange of fire between Israel and Hamas terrorists, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters that the ceasefire would remain in place.



“There are going to be little skirmishes here and there. We know Hamas attacked an IDF soldier. We expect the Israelis are going to respond,” Vance said.

Netanyahu Informed U.S. of Gaza Strikes Beforehand, PMO Confirms: Vance Downplays Escalation

Richelle Tzarfati, mother of murdered hostage Ofir Tzarfati Hy’d, says she has been forced to open her son’s grave for the third time.



Ofir Tzarfati, who was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, from the Nova and later killed in captivity, had his body recovered by the IDF in December 2023 and again in March 2024.



Hamas released additional parts that require kevurah to Israel last night.



Speaking at a press conference at the family home in Kiryat Ata, Richelle Tzarfati described the return of more remains as “continuous emotional abuse” by the terror group, saying she is forced again to bid her son farewell.



“For the third time. The third time I’ve been required to bury my Ofir,” Tzarfati said.



She detailed the emotional toll, describing the wound that is reopened each time the grave is opened.



“It’s a punch to the gut, an arrow to the heart, a wound that opens again and again,” she said.



“We thought we had closed the circle, that we were able to lay Ofir to rest, but today we discovered we never received all of him,” she continued. “I can’t grasp this. How can you bury your child in installments? How can you relive this once, and again, and again? Each time the grave is opened, my heart opens too, and another small piece of me is buried inside.”



“And what turns the pain into something unbearable is the way Hamas chooses to play with the bodies of our boys. With our pain. With videos, manipulations, and vile presentations,” Tzarfati added.



She accused Hamas of deceiving the world through “false presentations of ‘searches’ and ‘discoveries,’ when it is completely clear they know where most of the hostages are.”



Amid the grief, she noted “one moment of light,” which is the return of Ofir’s remains. “I choose to remember Ofir not through the horrors, but through his life,” she said.



Tzarfati’s sister, Shoval Tzarfati, condemned Hamas for what she called a cruel manipulation, returning her brother’s body instead of one of the remaining 13 hostages, in violation of the agreement signed and approved by both sides.

‘How Can You Bury Your Child in Installments?’ Family of Ofir Tzarfati Hy’d Slams Hamas’ ‘Continuous Emotional Abuse’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the IDF to “carry out immediate and powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip,” his office announced Monday evening, following a high-level meeting on Israel’s response to what officials described as repeated and deliberate violations of the Gaza ceasefire.



The directive came shortly after IDF soldiers were attacked in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, marking yet another breach of the truce by Hamas terrorists. The escalation also follows mounting Israeli outrage over Hamas’s handling of murdered hostages&#8217; bodies under the ceasefire agreement.



Earlier in the day, IDF troops stationed in Rafah came under fire from terror operatives, according to The Times of Israel. Soldiers returned fire, and Palestinian media reported subsequent Israeli artillery strikes in the area. The IDF has not yet released an official statement on the incident, which is believed to be a clear violation of the truce by Hamas.



Just last week, two IDF soldiers were killed in the same area. The military blamed Hamas for the deadly attack, though the terror group denied responsibility for its operatives in IDF-controlled zones of Gaza.



Earlier, Hamas’s military wing announced it would return “the body of a hostage that was recovered a short time ago from one of the tunnels in the Gaza Strip.” The statement did not specify the identity of the hostage.



The announcement was met with anger in Israel, where officials have accused Hamas of deliberately stalling the return of abductees’ bodies. The frustration deepened after the terror group returned fragments from a murdered hostage that had already been recovered in December, to the horror of his family, instead of a new person, and following what Israel says was a staged “discovery” of those remains.



Shortly before the announcement, Hamas’ Shehab news agency released footage showing its members near a tunnel entrance in Khan Younis, allegedly searching for hostage bodies.



Later, the IDF published a 15-minute uncut drone video exposing Hamas operatives faking the recovery of a hostage’s remains in Gaza City. The footage showed terrorists preparing and burying remains before summoning Red Cross representatives to stage a false “discovery.”



The IDF identified the remains as belonging to Ofir Tzarfati Hy’d, who was kidnapped and murdered during Hamas’s October 2023 onslaught. His body had already been recovered by the IDF in December of that year.



“Contrary to Hamas’s claims of difficulties locating the bodies of the deceased hostages, yesterday Hamas operatives were documented removing body remains from a structure that had been prepared in advance and burying them nearby,” the IDF said.



“Shortly thereafter, the Hamas terror organization summoned representatives of the Red Cross and staged a false display of discovering a deceased hostage’s body,” it added.



According to the military, the footage “clearly shows that the Hamas terror organization is attempting to create a false impression of efforts to locate the bodies, while in fact holding deceased hostages whose remains it refuses to release as required by the agreement.”



The IDF further noted that Hamas’s excuses about lacking engineering equipment were “clearly unnecessary for the transfer of remains” and therefore did not justify the group’s delays in returning the bodies.

Netanyahu Orders Immediate, Powerful Strikes on Gaza After Hamas Violated Ceasefire, Faked Hostage Recovery

A Jewish Israeli educator was attacked in midtown Manhattan in what authorities believe was an antisemitic assault, according to police.



The victim, 58-year-old Rami Glickstein, said he was walking toward the kosher restaurant Mr. Broadway on 38th Street when a man confronted him, pointed to his kippa, and demanded, “Tell me about your religion.”



When Glickstein didn’t respond, the assailant allegedly snatched his kippa, threw it to the ground, and spat on it. As Glickstein bent down to retrieve it, the attacker reportedly punched him in the face.



Several Jewish bystanders rushed to call police and medical personnel. Glickstein managed to reach the restaurant before being taken to a hospital, from which he was later released.



Detectives from the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force are investigating and searching for the suspect, described as a man in his 30s wearing a dark hoodie.



According to NYPD statistics, Jews continue to be the most frequent targets of hate crimes in New York City.

Jewish Educator Assaulted in Manhattan Antisemitic Attack

Pro-Palestinian activists in Italy disrupted an event at Venice’s Ca’ Foscari University, preventing former Jewish lawmaker Emanuele Fiano from speaking, according to Italian media reports. Fiano, whose father survived Auschwitz, was scheduled to address prospects for peace in the Middle East.



Fiano, 62, a member of the center-left Democratic Party and current secretary of the organization Left for Israel, had been invited to discuss the two-state solution — a position his group supports.



According to Corriere della Sera, the event was abruptly halted when a group of activists began shouting anti-Israel slogans, effectively stopping the discussion.



Footage shared online by Left for Israel showed demonstrators holding signs declaring, “Zionists out of the university.”



“I tried everything I could to continue, but they kept on talking and telling lies about me,” Fiano told La Repubblica.



“I’m shocked by what happened,” he said. “The last time they expelled a Fiano from a place of study was my father in 1938. We were there to discuss peace between two peoples, injustice, pain, violence and peace. Anyone who doesn’t want to hear about these things doesn’t want peace.”



Fiano’s father, Nedo, was expelled from his school in Florence at age 13 under Italy’s 1938 anti-Jewish laws. He was later deported to Auschwitz in 1944, where both his parents were murdered. Nedo Fiano passed away in 2020.



Politicians from across Italy’s political spectrum condemned the disruption, describing it as an attack on academic freedom and a disturbing display of antisemitism.



Last month, Ca’ Foscari University’s administration voted to suspend all collaborations with Israeli academic institutions, citing the ongoing war in Gaza.

Italian Anti-Israel Activists Silence Jewish Ex-MP, Son of Holocaust Survivor, at Venice University

Mere days before New Jersey decides who its next governor will be, Belaaz spoke with Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli.



Ciattarelli is a former State Assemblyman and businessman who ran for the Republican nomination for governor in 2017 and was nominated in the 2021 race, before throwing his hat in this year&#8217;s election. He currently faces Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill.



He&#8217;s campaigning on a platform of relieving economic stress for Jersey residents, championing school choice initiatives, and has promised to create a special advisory board to tackle rising antisemitism.



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls poster="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-28-at-12.08.05-AM.jpeg" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/990873ba-5461-4b7b-984b-d0a717909dd1.mp4"></video></figure>



&#8212; First of all, can you tell our viewers why you&#8217;re running?



I want to fix New Jersey. It&#8217;s broken in so many ways. We have an affordability crisis because of property taxes and now because of electricity rates. Housing is too expensive. Childcare is too expensive. All the insurances are too expensive because we&#8217;re one of the worst places in the country in which to do business. So I have very specific plans on how to fix that. To make New Jersey more affordable.



We have a crisis in public education. We&#8217;ve watered down our public school curriculum. We need to get back on track, teaching critical life skills.



We have a public safety crisis in New Jersey. Nonviolent crime has spiked because of things like cashless bail. We need to reform that, make our community safe again.



And we have a housing crisis in New Jersey. In some areas we&#8217;re overdeveloped, and then other areas we don&#8217;t have enough housing. So those are all the issues that we need to address, and I have very specific plans on how to do that I think Jews realize very well that how extreme and far left the Democratic Party is going, especially when it comes to Israel. And today, people mix antisemitism with anti-Israel sentiment. If someone hates Israel, they&#8217;re pretty much, you know, aiming at the Jews as well. But here in New Jersey, the community has a pretty good relationship with the outgoing governor, Phil Murphy. So what&#8217;s so bad if someone decides to go vote Democrat this time around? Phil Murphy&#8217;s policies have failed New Jersey. It&#8217;s why we have a public education crisis, a public safety crisis, a housing crisis and an affordability crisis. And I&#8217;m not so sure that Phil Murphy has called out antisemitism for what it is, each time he has seen it.



I appoint the Attorney General. I appoint the 21 county prosecutors. I appoint the superintendent State Police. That&#8217;s the hierarchy of law enforcement here in New Jersey, and I&#8217;ll make sure they&#8217;re very sensitive to needs, concerns and worries of the Jewish community.



I&#8217;ll also establish an Advisory Council on Jewish relations.



I very much want to increase bilateral trade with Israel. New York does seven times the bilateral trade with Israel that New Jersey does. That presents an economic development opportunity that we would all benefit from.



But more than anything, I want to certainly attack the antisemitism that we see all throughout New Jersey. New Jersey leads the nation on a per capita basis of anti semitic acts. That needs to change, definitely. This question might be more sensitive, but we see now what it&#8217;s called, far right in the Republican Party, like, you know, Representative Marjorie Taylor green and Matt Gaetz, former representative you know, people that are aligned more with people like Tucker Carlson, who are saying are expressing a lot of anti-Israel views, and it&#8217;s triggering a lot of antisemitism, especially on social media. Do you have a comment on that? I&#8217;m a New Jersey Republican, and I concern myself with our 9.3 million citizens, of which 600,000 are Jews. They make the state more intellectually vibrant, more culturally vibrant, certainly more economically vibrant, and I want to work in partnership with them to make sure their community thrives here in New Jersey.



That&#8217;s exactly what I&#8217;ll do, but I&#8217;ll do that for all minority communities all throughout New Jersey. We need to strengthen our community all throughout New Jersey here, and that&#8217;s one of my goals as governor.



What&#8217;s your message to Jewish community, just days before the election? Come on out and vote. The Democrats have controlled our legislature for 25 years. They&#8217;ve had the executive branch for the last eight years. If you want change, you have to make a change. I know some of the things that are very important in the Jewish community are things like vouchers and certainly charter schools, educational choice. Those are none of the things that the Democrat is ever going to give you, because they&#8217;re owned by the teachers union. Teachers Union doesn&#8217;t support any of those things I do. Thank you so much for your time.



Thank you.

Belaaz Interview: Jack Ciattarelli, GOP Candidate for NJ Gov. Says Jews Make State More ‘Intellectually, Culturally, Economically’ Vibrant

A Florida caterer served non-kosher food at a private event, including to some frum attendees, while claiming he was certified by the Orthodox Rabbinical Board (ORB), witnesses reported.



The incident occurred at a members-only shooting range in Fort Lauderdale, prompting the ORB to issue a public alert against the caterer, Rachid Zitani.



Rabbi Schneur Cheruti, an ORB rabbinic coordinator, explained that suspicion arose when one guest questioned the caterer about kosher supervision.



&#8220;He asked him, &#8216;Where&#8217;s your mashgiach?'&#8221; Rabbi Cheruti told Belaaz. &#8220;[The mashgiach] is away for a while, the caterer told him. &#8216;This is under ORB? No mashgiach? Can&#8217;t be.&#8217; the guest knew our policies; our mashgichim never leave the area where food is present.&#8221;



Rabbi Cheruti said Zitani had applied for ORB certification in May but did not receive it. &#8220;He asked if he could get kashrus certification&#8230; [he] applied, but&#8230; he didn&#8217;t get it,&#8221; he noted, adding that the ORB maintains strict rules and some businesses are unwilling to comply.



The event’s organizer, a non-Jewish party planner, was unfamiliar with kosher supervision and reportedly accepted Zitani’s claim at face value. &#8220;She asked him, &#8216;Are you kosher?&#8217; He said, &#8216;Yes, I&#8217;m kosher,'&#8221; Rabbi Cheruti said.



A frum guest also contacted Zitani directly to verify certification. &#8220;He asked him, &#8216;Which hechsher do you have?&#8217; He said, &#8216;I&#8217;m under ORB,'&#8221; the Rabbi stated.



When confronted, Zitani offered a different explanation. &#8220;The guy, this chef, said to me&#8230; &#8216;I never said I&#8217;m under ORB. I said that I&#8217;m kosher style,'&#8221; Rabbi Cheruti recounted. &#8220;But,&#8221; he added, &#8220;a few people also in the event said that he told them that he is under [ORB].&#8221;



Rather than using a certified kosher kitchen, Zitani allegedly prepared the food in the club’s non-kosher kitchen.



&#8220;He came himself to a kitchen, to a treif kitchen in the club, and cooked there and did everything there&#8230; it was really treif food.&#8221;



The ORB issued a public warning to prevent further incidents. &#8220;What&#8217;s important for this, for the to&#8217;eles for the tzibbur, is that we want everybody to know about it right away,&#8221; Rabbi Cheruti said. &#8220;Not only not to book him, but also to learn&#8230; people need to learn to check the certificate every time.&#8221;



He encouraged consumers to verify a caterer’s kosher certification online. &#8220;You can go online in a second&#8230; you can click &#8216;View Kosher Certificate.&#8217;&#8230; Cholov Yisroel, Pas Yisroel&#8230; Everything is written on the certificate.&#8221;



The alert has already had an impact, Rabbi Cheruti said. &#8220;There was another event he was supposed to book with, and people canceled it.&#8221;



The rabbi also stressed the confusion caused by vague labels like &#8220;kosher style.&#8221; &#8220;‘Kosher style’&nbsp; is a huge problem,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Many people, they have no idea. They grow up traditional, not being very careful about kashrus; they see &#8216;kosher&#8217; on the door and they think it actually is.&#8221;

Caterer Deceives Frum Guests with False ORB Certification, Served Treif Food in Florida

Israel received, through the Red Cross, the coffin of a possible deceased hostage, which was handed over to IDF and Shin Bet forces within the Gaza area after being located by Hamas. The body will now go through an identification process at the Abu Kabir forensic Institute.



If the body recently received by Israel via the Red Cross is confirmed to be that of a hostage, there will now be 12 hostage bodies remaining in Hamas captivity.

Israel Receives Coffin of Deceased Hostage from Gaza via Red Cross

At a conference with senior IDF commanders, Chief Eyal Zamir stated that the war against Hamas will continue until all deceased hostages hy&#8221;d, held in Gaza are brought back home. &#8220;The war is not yet over; we must complete our sacred mission of bringing the fallen hostages home and continue the campaign against Hamas,&#8221; Zamir said.



 The meeting, held today with operational unit commanders ranked lieutenant colonel and above, marked the start of a &#8220;learning process&#8221; for the IDF as it prepares for 2026.



 Zamir further highlighted the importance of learning from past conflicts, stating, &#8220;Drawing lessons and learning constitute our moral and professional duty, and we will do so with courage and determination.&#8221; 



Zamir also stressed the need to strengthen military foundations, support soldiers and their families, and prepare for future challenges across all fronts. The conference included presentations of operational and intelligence data, remarks from Defense Minister Israel Katz, and a panel with released hostages and families of those killed, whose bodies were recently returned.

IDF Chief to Commanders: “From the Big Failure of October 7, We Achieved Tremendous Success”

A 29-year-old man from Minnesota has been arrested for allegedly posting a $45,000 bounty on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s life in a TikTok post, federal authorities said.



The FBI reports that Tyler Maxon Avalos was taken into custody on October 16 after a tip alerted law enforcement to what prosecutors describe as an online “murder-for-hire” plot targeting Bondi.



Court documents allege Avalos uploaded a photo of Bondi with a red target icon on her forehead and the caption: “WANTED: Pam Bondi / REWARD: 45,000 DEAD OR ALIVE (PREFERABLY DEAD).” Beneath the image, he reportedly added: “Cough cough. When they don’t serve us, then what?”



Investigators say Avalos, who used the handle “Wacko,” also linked his profile to “An Anarchist FAQ book” on TikTok.



Authorities noted Avalos’ history of violence and prior convictions. The affidavit states: “[Avalos] has a multistate conviction history including a July 2022 felony stalking conviction from Dakota County, an August 2016 felony third-degree domestic battery from Polk County, Florida, and an April 2016 misdemeanor domestic assault from Dakota County, which appears to have been reduced from a felony domestic assault by strangulation charge.”



Avalos now faces a federal charge of interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person, which carries a potential prison sentence under federal law.



The FBI has not commented on a possible motive, though court filings describe Avalos as having “anarchist ties.”



Avalos’ attorney, Daniel Gerdts, told Law &amp; Crime he had no comment, “except to note that” his client “is not guilty of any crime.”



Bondi has not made a public statement regarding the alleged threat.

Minnesota Man Arrested for Allegedly Posting $45K Bounty on Pam Bondi’s Life

A young Charedi man from Bnei Brak was arrested on Monday after arriving at a police station in Be’er Sheva to file a complaint — sparking widespread outrage among community leaders who called the move “a serious breach of trust” between the police and the Charedi public.



The man, identified as Yaakov Yisrael Gil, a talmid at the Nachlas Shlomo Yeshiva, came to the station to submit a complaint about a personal matter. According to his family, officers checked his ID information and discovered that he was listed as a military deserter. Instead of taking his complaint, the police handed him over to the Military Police for detention.



Charedi leaders and Gil’s relatives condemned the incident in strong terms. “This is a serious violation of the trust of the Charedi public in the Israel Police,” said one family member. “If a yeshiva student who goes to the station to file a complaint ends up being arrested and transferred to the Military Police, who will now dare to contact the police if he is harmed? This move completely disconnects the Charedi public from the police.”



A well-known community activist told Bechadrei Charedim: “This is an outrageous act that damages the already fragile cooperation between the Charedi public and the police. The Israel Police should have respected the long-standing status quo and not targeted yeshiva students. Instead, they acted with insensitivity and a complete lack of judgment.”



The Azram and Magnam legal aid organization also denounced the police’s actions. “The Israel Police violated the status quo by transferring a yeshiva student to military detention after summoning him for questioning,” the group said in a statement. “The young man, who appeared for questioning at the Be’er Sheva station, is now being held in a military facility in southern Israel. He and his family are receiving legal assistance from attorney Shlomo Hadad and our legal department. We urge the public not to go to a police station before first consulting with aid organizations.”



Charedi officials warned that the incident could have lasting consequences on public trust. “If this is how a law-abiding yeshiva student is treated when he seeks help,” said one community leader, “then it’s clear that the police have alienated an entire sector of Israeli society.”

Outrage After Charedi Man Arrested at Police Station While Filing Complaint

United Torah Judaism MK Yisrael Eichler sharply criticized Opposition Leader Yair Lapid on Monday after Lapid proposed revoking the voting rights of Charedim who do not serve in the IDF.



Eichler issued a biting response, saying he “welcomes MK Yair Lapid’s ‘democratic’ demand to strip citizens of their right to vote, provided that the law applies to every privileged individual who did not serve in a combat role at the front. Additionally, anyone who has not completed their high school matriculation will not be allowed to serve as Prime Minister.”



Lapid, who never completed high school and served as a reporter for the IDF magazine Bamachane during his mandatory service, has long been a vocal critic of the Charedi draft exemptions.



Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Lapid declared that if the government’s proposed legislation to regulate Charedi enlistment passes, “then in the next government there will be a simple law: whoever does not come to [military induction] will not come to the polls. Whoever does not enlist, will not vote in the elections.”

UTJ MK Eichler Blasts Lapid For Proposing To Strip Voting Rights From Non-Enlisted Charedim

Crowds of Israelis gathered Monday to pay their final respects to Yossi Sharabi Hy&#8221;d, whose levaya procession traveled from Rishon Letzion to Kibbutz Be’eri. The levaya began at a shul in Rishon Letzion, attended by family and friends, including his brother, former hostage Eli Sharabi, who was released from Hamas captivity in January. Eli’s wife and daughter were both murdered by terrorists during the October 7 attack.



Sharabi was kidnapped from his home in Be’eri on October 7, 2023, along with his daughter’s boyfriend, Ofir Engel, and a neighbor, Amit Shani. Engel and Shani were both freed during the November 2023 hostage releases.



His body was returned to Israel earlier this month as part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas terrorists.



As the funeral convoy made its way to Be’eri, supporters lined the roads waving Israeli flags and yellow banners bearing the symbol of the hostages, standing in silence and grief as they honored his memory.



President Yitzchak Herzog was scheduled to attend the funeral and deliver a hesped for Sharabi.



During the levaya, Yossi’s widow, Nira Sharabi, spoke tearfully: “In what world should daughters have to bury their father so early? In what world should a mother have to bury her son? In what world should a woman have to bury the love of her life when there was still so much left to do?”



She recalled meeting her husband, saying, “I remember not being able to understand how someone could have such a good heart. Over the years, as I got to know you more and more, I realized there were no hidden sides to you — only more and more of that same goodness. It wasn’t a cliché; it was the real thing.”



“How does one fill this void? How do I gather myself again?”



Nira added that she sees her husband’s presence reflected in their children: “I look at our daughters, and I see you in them. In each one of them, you appear in a different way, and together they complete you — the one I miss so deeply.”



Later, Eli Sharabi, who endured months of captivity before being freed, delivered a moving eulogy to his brother: “Today, after more than two years of waiting, of anxiety, of uncertainty — we finally have the privilege of burying you here, at home, in the soil of Be’eri. This is not the ending we had hoped for, but it is the beginning of a belated justice.”



He described his brother as “an anchor, a man with a huge heart, with quiet devotion, a family man. A father of three daughters who was always there — with a kind word, with a smile, with a generous heart. You never sought the spotlight, only to be good. And you were good — the very best.”



“Yossi, my dear brother, our hearts are broken, but our heads are held high,” Eli said. “Because you were granted the honor of being buried here, in the land you loved, at the heart of your community, among people who have not forgotten. We will carry on in your name, in your memory, in your path, and we promise to remember, to tell, and to love — just as you loved.”

Thousands Honor Slain Hostage Yossi Sharabi Hy’d As He Is Laid to Rest in Be’eri

Former Governor and Independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo has been stepping up his outreach to members of the Jewish community in recent weeks. He received the endorsement of the Queens Jewish Alliance last month, was backed by influential Flatbush askanim last week, and picked up the endorsement of the Bobover kehilah on Sunday.



On the heels of a debate performance celebrated by a diverse array of commentators, Cuomo spoke with Belaaz on Friday about the race and his recent apology for his administration&#8217;s actions taken during the Pandemic. 



&#8212;



Hi, Governor, thank you so much for taking the time to speak to us.



Why do you think Mamdani, who to his name, has what critics say, only a lackluster tenure in Assembly and not much else. How has he pulled ahead so far in the race?



I think he&#8217;s very effective on social media. I think he used the anti-Israel policies, which were effective for him politically.



And I think people didn&#8217;t really know who he was in the primary, and now they&#8217;re just really starting to learn. That debate was the first time there was a real, honest exchange, and the more they learn about him, the more troubled they are.



 Polls are showing that Mamdani has about 40% support. But also, aside from him, there are other socialist candidates who are making a lot of waves. You have AOC who&#8217;s touted as a very popular choice for presidential candidate next election. Do you think that the Democratic Party has veered to the far left? There&#8217;s no doubt that there&#8217;s a quiet civil war in the Democratic Party, where the far, the radical left is trying to take over the Democratic Party. It has been building for years. But yes, the socialists are trying to take over the Democratic Party. Do you think that pro-Israel advocacy, which historically has been a bipartisan issue, and of course, you yourself have been staunchly pro Israel. Do you think it&#8217;s no longer a bipartisan issue?



I think the Democrats are much more mixed on Israel than at any time before. The socialist position is basically anti Israel, and my Democratic Party, my father&#8217;s Democratic Party, was 100% supporters of Israel. So, yeah, it&#8217;s one of the key differences between this socialist agenda and the traditional Democratic agenda.



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So I want to speak a little bit about the apology you offered to Jewish community a few weeks ago. Agudath Israel sued the state against the regulations and won, but since then the governor has not issued an apology. What can you tell our our readers to assuage their concern that it&#8217;s not merely a politically expedient move. Remember the facts here. It wasn&#8217;t just Agudah. We got sued by every religious group. We got sued by the Catholic Church, and I&#8217;m Catholic, because they maintained the size restriction was limiting attendance in churches, as well as synagogues, as well as black churches, by the way.



So it was not just the Jewish community. Every religion had the same problem, because we were limiting their attendance, which, by the way, we were limiting their attendance, there&#8217;s no doubt about that, for health reasons. The Hasidic community had a different point, which wasn&#8217;t fully articulated until this election, which is the zone restrictions, the red zones, remember the zone restrictions?



Yes, of course.



The zone restrictions included some Hasidic communities, not all, by the way, some&#8230; red zones were also in upstate New York. There are also black communities in red zones, but the Hasidic community just knew that they were a red zone. And their point, to me was the fact that they were a red zone furthered, or could further a stigma or stereotype of the Hasidic community among the general public, and that was obviously never the intent.&nbsp; 



The zones were not chosen&#8230;they were just done off the infection rate data from the local health department. It had nothing to do with race, religion or creed. That would have been illegal anyway, but their point was, yes, but when a Hasidic community is a red zone that might further the stigma of against the Hasidic community. And I said I never, obviously intended that, and to the extent that was their feeling or that was the occurrence, I apologized. And I should have communicated better at the time, this has nothing to do with religion. Hasidic communities are red zones. Black communities are red zones. Catholic communities are red zones. It had nothing to do with the fact that they were Hasidic community. One more question. Jewish community figure Sol Werdiger of Agudath Israel reports that the governor had called him angrily after he and the Catholic Diocese appealed the court ruling denying the temporary injunction on the restrictions. What do you say to people who say that there&#8217;s a right to appeal state laws using the legal system?



It wasn&#8217;t angry, but there were two sides to the issue. We want to have 300 people in church. I understand that Bishop, but you put 300 people in church, the infection rates may very well go up.



I&#8217;m talking specifically about the the appeal that was made; Sol Werdiger says that the governor called him irate. What does the governor have to say to that? I was saying, I understand your legal argument, that you have the right freedom of religion. I understand the legal argument, but what about the health concern?



 Thank you very much.

Interview: Cuomo Says He Should Have ‘Communicated Better’ With Jews During Covid | Dems Waging ‘Civil War’

Russia announced the successful testing of a new nuclear-capable, powered cruise missile that could bypass existing defenses, with President Vladimir Putin signaling its impending deployment to the Russian military.



The statement, following years of development of the Burevestnik missile, is part of the Kremlin’s ongoing nuclear messaging. It comes amid Moscow’s rejection of Western calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine and stern warnings to the U.S. and NATO allies against striking deep inside Russia using long-range Western weaponry.



In a Kremlin-released video, Putin, wearing camouflage military fatigues, is seen receiving a briefing from Gen. Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s chief of general staff. Gerasimov reports that the Burevestnik traveled 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) in a critical test conducted on Tuesday.



Gerasimov adds that the Burevestnik, whose name translates as “storm petrel” in Russian, remained in flight for 15 hours powered by nuclear energy, noting, “that’s not the limit.”

Russia Tests Long-Range Nuclear-Capable Cruise Missile, Putin Says

On the one-year anniversary of Operation ‘Days of Teshuva,’ the IDF has released new footage showing Israel’s strikes on Iran’s ballistic missile sites, highlighting the operation’s impact on Tehran’s military capabilities.



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The operation, carried out by the Israeli Air Force one year ago, targeted key Iranian military installations in response to attacks by the Iranian regime against Israel. Strikes focused on ballistic missile production facilities intended to hit Israeli cities, as well as advanced surface-to-air missile systems. These actions expanded Israel’s aerial freedom of action over Iranian territory.



The IDF said the success of these strikes provided an operational advantage for the later launch of Operation ‘Rising Lion’ in June 2025. The newly released footage and documentation commemorate the anniversary, showing how Israel significantly degraded Iran’s missile capabilities and strengthened its strategic position in the region.

Israel Marks Anniversary of Strikes on Iran With New Footage of Missile Site Operation

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Freed hostages Eitan Mor, Evyatar David, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal returned home Sunday, two weeks after their release from Hamas captivity, as communities across Israel celebrated their long-awaited homecoming.



The three men were kidnapped from the Nova festival on October 7, 2023, and held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for two years. Upon their release on October 13, they were admitted to Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson) for medical care and rehabilitation. On Sunday, the hospital confirmed they were discharged and will continue outpatient treatment in its returned hostages unit, with ongoing support for them and their families.



At Eitan Mor’s homecoming, supporters surrounded the van carrying him, waving Israeli flags and banners, singing “Am Yisrael Chai,” and cheering at the sight of his face in the window.



In Kfar Saba, released hostage Evyatar David arrived wrapped in an Israeli flag, greeted by a street packed with neighbors and friends. Residents danced, sang, and held up phones to capture the moment as police escorted the convoy through the cheering crowd. David waved and blew kisses from inside the van, as well-wishers attached balloons and threw flowers through the open windows. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett joined the celebration to greet David at his family’s apartment building.



Guy Gilboa-Dalal was welcomed home in the town of Alfei Menashe, where residents lined the streets waving flags and cheering. Gilboa-Dalal leaned out of his van, wrapped in an Israeli flag, hugging friends and telling the crowd, “Thank you to everyone, it’s incredible. I’m going to be with my family now.”



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3 Freed Hostages Return Home From Hospital

Former Vice President Kamala Harris suggested Sunday she might run for office again while defending her handling of former President Joe Biden’s health during his 2024 reelection campaign in a Sunday interview with the BBC.



Harris, who has previously ruled out running in 2028, told BBC journalist Laura Kuenssberg, “I am not done. I have lived my entire career as a life of service, and it’s in my bones,” hinting at a potential future campaign.



The interview also focused on Harris’s reflections about Biden’s capacity to seek reelection. She said she had concerns about the demands of a political campaign on the then-president but maintained that she never doubted his ability to serve as president. “There is a very serious difference between capacity to be president of the United States and the capacity to run for president of the United States,” she explained.



Harris added, “It is on that latter piece that I talk about in the book, about my concern about his ability, with the level of endurance, energy that it requires, especially running against now the current president. But let’s be clear, my question was never about his capacity to be president.”



Kuenssberg pressed Harris on whether her distinction sent a confusing message to the public. Harris responded that her concern was about the campaign itself and the level of stamina it demands from any candidate, regardless of age.



The former vice president also criticized President Donald Trump, calling him a “tyrant” and accusing business leaders and institutions of accommodating him.

Kamala Harris Signals Possible Presidential Run, Addresses Biden’s Health in  Interview

Mrs. Adele Samuelsen A”h, recognized as the oldest woman in Israel, passed away on Shabbos at the age of 111. A longtime resident of Moshav Mikhmoret, she was admired for her remarkable longevity, strength of spirit, and devotion to her family. Her son-in-law is Harav Yaakov Drutman, Rosh Kollel and dayan in Netivot.



Adele was born in October 1914 in Johannesburg, South Africa, as the eldest of seven siblings. In 1945, she married Yechezkel (Skea) Samuelson, and together they raised two daughters, Ilana Gorfil and Gail Drutman.



In 1979, the Samuelson family made aliyah to Israel, settling in Moshav Mikhmoret, north of Netanya. Despite relocating, Adele maintained a deep connection with her family in South Africa and traveled back frequently to visit them. Her final trip, in her mid-90s, was to celebrate what would have been her late sister’s 98th birthday.



In October 2024, Adele celebrated her 110th birthday surrounded by generations of descendants. She is survived by twelve grandchildren, as well as numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Oldest Woman in Israel, Mrs. Adele Samuelsen A”h, Passes Away at 111

US President Donald Trump met Saturday with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani aboard Air Force One during a refueling in Doha, praising the Gulf leader for helping maintain “a safe Middle East” while underscoring ongoing US efforts to stabilize Gaza. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, said he does not foresee a permanent division of Gaza and outlined plans for an international stabilization force alongside Israeli-led reconstruction efforts.



Trump called the emir “one of the great rulers of the world, not just the Middle East,” and praised Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani as “a friend to the world.” “We have done a lot together, especially in the last year… Peace to the Middle East, and they were a very big factor in it,” Trump said.



Rubio, speaking from the Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel, noted that Israeli troops have withdrawn to a “Yellow Line,” leaving them in control of roughly half of Gaza. Reconstruction aid will initially focus on that area. An international stabilization force, which the US and regional mediators are working to establish, would enforce security across Gaza. “I think, ultimately, the point of the stabilization force is to move that line until it covers hopefully all of Gaza, meaning all of Gaza will be demilitarized,” Rubio said. “Ultimately, the more of Gaza is demilitarized, the more of Gaza terrorism is removed from, the more of it is going to look like that green zone — and that line will move as a result of it. That’s the long-term plan.”



Rubio emphasized that Israel has no interest in permanently occupying Gaza and that Hamas, which governed the Strip before the war, will have no role in future governance. Despite the ceasefire, Hamas has resisted disarmament calls, cracking down on rival Palestinian groups since the truce began two weeks ago. Moussa Abu Marzouk, Hamas’s head of international relations and legal affairs, warned that excluding Hamas from Gaza’s stabilization could “lead to chaos and a security vacuum.”



Leaders of anti-Hamas militias in Gaza’s Israeli-controlled areas voiced opposition to any Qatari or Turkish involvement in post-war Gaza. Hussam al-Astal, leader of a militia in Khan Younis, accused Turkey of supporting and protecting Hamas and labeled both Turkey and Qatar as “war criminals.” “Anyone who helps us against Hamas will be welcomed,” he said, emphasizing that Hamas, not Israel, is responsible for civilian deaths in Gaza.



Rasan al-Dahini, a senior figure in Yasser Abu Shabab’s militia in Rafah, echoed al-Astal’s criticism, saying Turkey “openly and explicitly supports Hamas” and denying that his militia would flee Gaza once the IDF withdraws, as some militias did in Lebanon in 2000. He also stressed that weapons obtained by his group will not be used against Israel in the future.



Palestinian factions, including Hamas, have agreed to form a technocratic committee to oversee Gaza alongside the international ceasefire and reconstruction effort. Rubio said he expects General Dan Caine, the top US military officer, to visit Israel next week to further the process.



Rubio’s visit follows US Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Israel last week.

Trump Pushes Gaza Stabilization With Al Thani, Local Militias Reject Qatari, Turkish Role

Early voting for New York City’s mayoral race began Saturday with an unprecedented surge in participation,more than five times higher than four years ago.



According to the city’s Board of Elections, 79,409 voters cast ballots on the first day of early voting, compared to just 15,418 on the same day in 2021—a 515 percent increase. Manhattan led with 24,046 voters, followed by Brooklyn (22,105), Queens (19,045), the Bronx (7,793), and Staten Island (6,420). Brooklyn saw the sharpest rise in turnout, up 589 percent from 2021, followed by Queens (+553%) and Manhattan (+527%).



The record turnout comes as the mayoral contest enters its final stretch, with polls showing communist anti-Israel Democrat Zohran Mamdani holding a steady lead over former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa.



Across ten major surveys since early September, Mamdani has maintained support in the low-to-mid 40s, solidifying his status as the race’s frontrunner.



The latest Patriot Polling survey (October 18–19) places Mamdani at 43 percent, Cuomo at 32 percent, and Sliwa at 19 percent. A Gotham Polling survey from October 14–15 shows nearly identical numbers, while Quinnipiac University’s October 3–7 poll puts Mamdani at 46 percent, Cuomo at 33 percent, and Sliwa at 15 percent.



Mamdani’s support base is anchored among younger, progressive, and foreign-born voters. According to Fox News, he commands 78 percent among very liberal voters, 67 percent among those under 30, and 63 percent among Democrats. Women under 45 favor him by 62 percent, and Patriot Polling shows he draws 62 percent of foreign-born voters compared with just 31 percent among American-born New Yorkers.



His strongest showings come from Brooklyn and among Muslim, Hindu, and atheist voters, while he trails among Catholic and Jewish constituencies. Mamdani holds 49 percent among women overall but just 36 percent among men, and a majority among nonwhite voters—51 percent of Black voters and 52 percent of Hispanic voters.



Cuomo’s appeal skews older and more moderate. Fox News found he leads among moderates and voters over 65, both at 44 percent, and women over 45 at 42 percent. He attracts 35 percent of independents and holds a narrow edge among Jewish voters, 42 to 38 percent, according to Patriot Polling.



Sliwa’s support is concentrated among Republicans and Trump-aligned voters, winning 60 percent of Republicans and 58 percent of Trump supporters. White voters without college degrees are evenly divided among all three candidates, each hovering around 30 percent. Cuomo and Sliwa perform strongest in Staten Island, while Mamdani dominates in Brooklyn.



With early voting already shattering records, both Cuomo and Sliwa are scrambling to close the gap before Election Day, while Mamdani’s campaign looks to convert its polling strength into turnout.

Early Voting Surges 500%, Mamdani Maintains Lead in NYC Mayoral Race

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday formally endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the far-left socialist who shocked Democrats earlier this year by winning the party’s nomination for New York City mayor.



In a statement to The New York Times, Jeffries, D-N.Y., acknowledged “areas of principled disagreement” with Mamdani but said the candidate has “relentlessly focused on addressing the affordability crisis and explicitly committed to being a mayor for all New Yorkers, including those who do not support his candidacy.”



“In that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election,” Jeffries said, lending his backing to a figure whose record of praising Hamas sympathizers and refusing to denounce violent rhetoric has alarmed many Jewish voters.



Jeffries’ endorsement follows months of hesitation and evasion. Since Mamdani unexpectedly defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in June’s primary, the Democratic leader had repeatedly avoided saying whether he would support him. Cuomo, now running as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa will face Mamdani in next month’s general election.



Even as recently as Sunday, Jeffries told ABC News’ “This Week” that he and Mamdani had “good conversations” but declined to endorse him. “We’ve had very good conversations… focused on, in particular, his efforts to make New York City more affordable,” Jeffries said. “That’s the right issue to focus on.”



Speaking to reporters Friday at the Capitol, Jeffries denied claims that he had refused to take a position. “I have not refused to endorse. I have refused to articulate my position, and I will momentarily,” he said, just one day before early voting begins.



Back in June, Jeffries admitted that he and Mamdani “don’t really know each other well.” At the time, he also addressed widespread concerns in the Jewish community over Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the slogan “Globalize the Intifada” — a chant associated with waves of deadly uprisings against Jewish and Israeli civilians. “With respect to the Jewish communities that I represent, I think our nominee is going to have to convince folks that he is prepared to aggressively address the rise in antisemitism,” Jeffries told ABC News then.



Mamdani, who has openly expressed solidarity with anti-Israel protesters and socialist groups that glorify Hamas supporters, and expressed love for jailed Hamas donors, has stood by his refusal to denounce that chant. After his primary win, he told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that mayors shouldn’t “police speech.” Later, The New York Times reported that Mamdani quietly told business leaders he would “discourage” use of the phrase — an apparent attempt at damage control.



Many prominent Democrats have similarly hesitated to align with Mamdani’s extreme positions. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has so far withheld his endorsement, while Governor Kathy Hochul only came around in September after “months of deliberation.” In her New York Times essay announcing her support, Hochul wrote, “I’ve had frank conversations with him. We’ve had our disagreements,” and said she emphasized the “need to combat the rise of antisemitism urgently and unequivocally.”

Top House Dem Hakeem Jeffries Endorses Mamdani Despite Refusal To Call Terrorists to Disarm

American Airlines will resume daily flights between New York (JFK) and Tel Aviv in early March, after over a two-year pause in the aftermath of the evil October 7 attack. 



Using Boeing 777-200 aircraft with business, premium economy, and economy cabins, flights depart JFK at 11:25 PM, landing in Tel Aviv at 5:00 PM the next day. Return flights leave Tel Aviv at 12:35 AM, arriving in New York at 5:25 AM. 



Ticket sales will reportedly begin October 27, 2025, boosting competition with Delta, United, and Israeli carriers.

American Airlines to Resume Daily New York-Tel Aviv Flights in Early March

Michael Smuss a&#8221;h, the last remaining fighter from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, passed away in Israel at the age of 99, the World Jewish Congress announced Thursday night.



“Michael Smuss, who was part of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising during WWII against the Germans, has passed away in Israel at the age of 99. May his memory be a blessing,” the WJC said in a statement honoring his legacy.



Born in 1926 in Danzig, today Gdansk, Poland, Smuss was just a teenager when the Nazis forced him, along with hundreds of thousands of other Jews, into the Warsaw Ghetto in 1940. There, he joined the Jewish resistance, determined to fight back against the Nazi regime.



According to the WJC, Smuss was assigned to work restoring Nazi helmets, a job that gave him access to chemical substances that could be used to create Molotov cocktails. “He stole and passed on the materials to the resistance,” the organization said, adding that Smuss himself took part in the 1943 uprising.



Eventually captured, Smuss was sent to the Treblinka death camp but was later diverted for forced labor. As the war neared its end in 1945, he endured and survived a death march. After the war, he immigrated to the United States before settling in Israel, where he took up painting to help process his wartime experiences.



The WJC paid tribute to Smuss’s courage and the importance of preserving his memory. “We continue to tell the stories of survivors, especially as so many are no longer with us, so that this history is never forgotten,” the organization said.

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Hero Michael Smuss a’h Passes Away in Israel at 99

Millions of Americans who depend on federal food programs are now at risk of losing essential support due to the ongoing government shutdown.



The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warned state agencies in a memo obtained by Fox News Digital on Thursday that roughly 42 million individuals enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may not receive aid starting Nov. 1, when program funding is expected to be exhausted.



Over two dozen states have already notified residents about potential interruptions. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency on Thursday regarding SNAP benefits.



&#8220;It requires about $8 billion each month to fund SNAP benefits nationwide. When there’s no funding it impacts not just pockets of people, but it&#8217;s going to impact people all around the country,&#8221; said Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World, a nonprofit hunger advocacy organization that works with local partners to educate recipients about access to food.



Cho told Fox News Digital that the impact of shrinking federal funding will vary between states.



&#8220;Yes, funding comes from the federal government, but the administration of it happens through local states,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And so, when it comes to SNAP, states are on a little bit of a different rhythm in terms of how they’re conveying the reduction or the elimination of SNAP benefits. It is playing out a little bit differently from state to state.&#8221;



The extended shutdown also threatens the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program, which serves nearly 7 million pregnant women and children under age five.



It presents a political challenge for Democrats, who have resisted Republican proposals for federal funding for more than a month, seeking major healthcare concessions in exchange for their support.



&#8220;We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. Continue to hold out for healthcare for illegals or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive timely WIC and SNAP allotments,&#8221; a USDA spokesperson told Fox News Digital.



The House passed a seven-week extension of FY2025 funding largely along party lines on Sept. 19. The continuing resolution (CR) aimed to give lawmakers more time to negotiate a long-term FY2026 budget deal.



However, progress has stalled in the Senate, where the legislation has already failed 12 times due to insufficient Democratic support to overcome a filibuster.



Democrats are insisting that any spending bill include an extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025, as well as a repeal of Medicaid cuts enacted earlier this year under the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).



&#8220;Millions of American families are about to lose access to food assistance because Democrats are openly admitting to being afraid of their far-left base and refuse to reopen the government,&#8221; House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., told Fox News Digital.



Thompson emphasized the urgency of reopening the government to support families and farmers.



&#8220;We need to reopen the government, so we can put Americans first by making sure families can put food on the table and our farmers are supported,&#8221; he said.



Democrats now face a political dilemma: having previously opposed Republican efforts to expand SNAP work requirements under the OBBBA, they risk being blamed by the right for the looming shortage of federal food benefits.



The Trump administration does have limited authority to reallocate existing funds to ease shortages during the shutdown. On Oct. 15, it shifted research and development funds at the Pentagon to cover active-duty military paychecks and earlier reallocated roughly $300 million from tariff revenues for WIC.



However, these measures are temporary and insufficient for long-term relief.



Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, urged the USDA to tap into emergency SNAP reserves.



&#8220;It’s time the administration do right by seniors, children and veterans and utilize the SNAP contingency fund to ensure benefits can be provided for November,&#8221; Craig said.



The SNAP contingency fund currently holds around $5 billion—enough to cover only part of the month’s benefits.



House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., expressed confidence that the White House could access these funds if needed.



&#8220;As has been the case in prior government shutdowns, the money can be found by the administration if they chose to do so. In fact, there&#8217;s about $5 billion available in a contingency fund for emergency circumstances just like this,&#8221; Jeffries said. &#8220;But the administration refuses to agree to use it. Why? Because they want to starve the American people as part of their continuing effort to visit cruelty on everyday Americans.&#8221;

Democrats Face Backlash as 42 Million Might Lose SNAP Benefits Due to Gov. Shutdown

A Jewish Israeli professor teaching at City St George’s, University of London, says he was threatened with beheading by a pro-Palestinian agitator who stormed his lecture earlier this week.



Professor Michael Ben-Gad, an economics lecturer and former IDF soldier who served from 1982 to 1985, told Sky News that masked activists barged into his classroom, shouting insults and calling him a “war criminal” and “Nazi.”



“They refused to leave. They were masked. One of them made a threat about having my head chopped off,” Ben-Gad recounted.



The demonstrators, who identified themselves as members of City Action for Palestine, accused Ben-Gad of being part of the “genocide in Gaza.” They also shouted slogans such as “Shame, this lecturer served in the IOF [Israel Occupation Forces]” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”



Protesters claimed the university should not employ anyone who served in the Israeli military, particularly during the 1982 First Lebanon War.



Ben-Gad, who has been teaching at the university since 2008 and formerly chaired his department, made clear that he will not be silenced. “These modern Brownshirts are not going to send me into hiding. I’m an unapologetic Israeli patriot, and no one is going to intimidate me,” he said.



He added that while living in Britain is a privilege, “these people hate Britain’s civility, freedom and tolerance as much as they hate Israel and Jews.”

Jewish Professor Threatened With Beheading During Class at London University

Israeli defense officials reportedly informed U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday that Hamas is capable of handing over the bodies of at least 10 of the 13 murdered hostages still in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported Thursday.



During a meeting at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and other senior officials briefed Vance on the IDF’s intelligence assessment of Gaza. According to the Kan public broadcaster, they “stated unequivocally” that Hamas could return the bodies of at least 10 of the remaining hostages even before international recovery teams enter the Strip.



Previous reports indicated that Hamas may be unable to locate all of the deceased hostages — a situation Israeli officials have long been aware of.



An Israeli official quoted by CNN earlier this month estimated that between seven and nine bodies might never be found, while another assessment placed the number between 10 and 15.



Before the current ceasefire, Hamas was believed to be holding the bodies of 28 murdered hostages. The terrorists have since returned 15 of them, along with releasing 20 living captives.

Israeli Officials Tell Vance Hamas Can Return Bodies of 10 Murdered Hostages

New York City: Mayor Eric Adams endorsed independent candidate Andrew Cuomo for NYC mayor on Thursday, an expected move to challenge Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani.



 “I’m fighting for the family of New York, that’s why I’m here today to endorse Andrew Cuomo,” Adams said. 



“Am I angry I’m not the one taking down the socialist, this communist? You&#8217;re darn right I am. But this city means more to me than anything. New York can’t be Europe…You see what&#8217;s playing out in other countries because of Islamic extremism,” Adams added. 



The alliance, signaled by their Knicks game appearance on Wednesday night, aims to rally moderates against Zohran Mamdani’s lead in a race.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Backs Cuomo in NYC Mayoral Race

With less than two weeks until Election Day, the final New York City mayoral debate Wednesday night left many observers declaring former governor Andrew Cuomo the clear winner.



Political analyst J.C. Polanco called Cuomo’s performance “a masterclass on governance,” crediting him with laying out his experience project by project and showing how he’s prepared to take the reins if elected. “Cuomo was not going to allow Mamdani to walk out of the debate without feeling the heat,” Polanco told CBS.



While praising Republican Curtis Sliwa as commanding and passionate, Polanco said Cuomo “won the debate” outright. He also noted that frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, despite being “a masterful orator,” appeared overconfident. “Mamdani was knocked off his pedestal tonight for the first time all year,” Polanco remarked, describing the Democratic nominee as “on cruise control.”



“Cuomo won the debate,” Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist University Institute for Public Opinion, told the New York Post after the 90-minute debate, hosted by Spectrum NY1.



Ben Max, host of the Max Politics podcast, offered a similar take on FOX 5 NY Thursday morning, calling it “by and far Andrew Cuomo’s best debate performance, primary and general combined.” Max said Sliwa was “solid” and Mamdani “got some of his licks in,” but that overall, the night belonged to Cuomo.



The three candidates sparred intensely over housing, the MTA, Rikers Island, and the city’s minimum wage. Cuomo and Sliwa repeatedly pressed Mamdani over what they described as his limited experience, with Cuomo arguing, “You have never had a job. You’ve never accomplished anything.”



During one of the night’s most charged exchanges, Mamdani insisted he would “protect Jewish New Yorkers like any other community” and dismissed the recent open letter signed by more than 650 rabbis and Jewish clergy condemning his record as “several.” Cuomo immediately corrected him, saying, “It wasn’t several — it was 650 rabbis.” Cuomo went on to note that Mamdani still refuses to denounce the call for “Intifada,” which Cuomo said “means killing Jews,” drawing loud applause from the audience.



Sliwa, known for his sharp one-liners, said, “Zohran, your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin. And, Andrew, your failures could fill a public school library in New York City.” Despite the jab, commentators said the night’s dynamic placed Cuomo in command, positioning him as a serious contender in a race still dominated in the polls by Mamdani.



The debate also highlighted Cuomo’s willingness to take on both rivals. On housing, he supported all six upcoming ballot proposals to speed up construction, while Mamdani declined to take a position, prompting jeers from the audience. On Trump, Cuomo reminded voters of his record managing crises during the pandemic, declaring that a Mamdani win would be “a dream for the president.”



With early voting beginning this weekend and Election Day on November 4, analysts said Cuomo’s strong debate showing could tighten the race’s late momentum. As Polanco put it, “Cuomo came to remind New Yorkers what experience looks like — and he did exactly that.”

Commentators Say Cuomo Won Final NYC Mayoral Debate

Shas announced Thursday that it is relinquishing all of its Knesset committee chairmanships in protest of the government’s failure to pass a draft exemption law for yeshiva students.



Former Religious Services Minister Michael Malkieli emphasized that despite the move, the Sephardic Charedi party remains firmly within the right-wing bloc.



“We are in the coalition,” Malkieli said. “Shas is a party that is in the right-wing bloc, built the right-wing bloc, and will maintain the right-wing bloc.”



Speaking at a Makor Rishon conference, Malkieli explained that the resignations were intended as a signal to the government. “There was a decision to resign from the government and this morning we resigned from the committees because there was no progress, and we hope that a way will be found to return,” he said.



Shas’ announcement increases pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move forward with legislation clarifying the exemption status of yeshiva students. The proposed law has faced criticism from the opposition, which derides it as an “evasion law” enabling Charedi men to avoid IDF service.



While Shas has stepped back from its parliamentary roles, it has stopped short of quitting the coalition or seeking to topple the government.



The latest move follows Shas’ withdrawal from the government in July over stepped-up enforcement against draft evasion and the continued failure to advance the conscription bill. That decision came after United Torah Judaism also exited the coalition entirely, leaving Netanyahu’s government under growing strain from its Charedi partners.

Shas Says it’s Still in Right Wing Bloc After Quitting Knesset Committee Posts

President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Israel not to move ahead with annexing Yehudah and Shomron, declaring that such a step would cost the Jewish state “all support” from the United States. His remarks, made during an interview with TIME Magazine, came amid deepening tensions over a Knesset vote advancing what are understood to be symbolic annexation bills and just days after Trump claimed credit for forcing an end to the war in Gaza.



Trump told the magazine that annexation “won’t happen” because he had given his word to Arab allies. “It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries,” he said. “And you can’t do that now. We’ve had great Arab support. It will not happen. Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”



Vice President J.D. Vance, speaking at Ben Gurion Airport at the end of his two-day visit, said the Knesset’s preliminary vote to apply Israeli sovereignty to Yehudah and Shomron settlements was “very stupid” and personally insulting. “The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel,” he said. “That will continue to be our policy, and if people want to take symbolic votes, they can do that, but we certainly weren’t happy about it.”



The remarks underscored the administration’s frustration after two opposition-backed annexation bills passed initial votes in the Knesset. One sought to annex all Jewish communities in Yehudah and Shomron, while the other focused on Ma’ale Adumim. Despite Netanyahu’s opposition, both bills passed due to support from far-right MKs and the abstention of many in Likud. Netanyahu’s office later denounced the votes as “a deliberate political provocation by the opposition to sow discord during Vance’s visit.”



Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also condemned the bills as “a political move of the opposition to try to embarrass the government.” Likud called the legislation “trolling,” stressing that the government “strengthens settlement every day with actions, budgets, construction, industry, and not with words.”



U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that any attempt to annex Yehudah and Shomron could endanger Trump’s newly brokered Gaza ceasefire. “They passed a vote in the Knesset, but the president has made clear that’s not something we’d be supportive of right now,” Rubio said. “We think there’s potential for [it to be] threatening to the peace deal.”



Trump, meanwhile, told TIME that it was he who compelled Netanyahu to halt the Gaza war. “Bibi, you can’t fight the world,” Trump said he told the Israeli leader. “You can fight individual battles, but the world’s against you.” He said that without U.S. intervention, the fighting might have continued “for years.”



The President’s envoys had brokered a sweeping ceasefire agreement through mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. According to Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, “It was a very blunt and straightforward statement to Bibi that he had no tolerance for anything other than this.”



Trump sharply criticized Israel’s earlier strike on Hamas operatives in Doha, calling it “a tactical mistake.” Yet he acknowledged that the attack had inadvertently helped push regional leaders toward the peace table. “This was one of the things that brought us all together,” he said. “If you took that away, we might not be talking about this subject right now.”



The resulting ceasefire marked another chapter in Trump’s effort to recast the Middle East’s balance of power. Over the past nine months, he has struck Iranian nuclear sites, weakened Tehran’s influence, and overseen the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. “Trump is coming back and saying: We’re going to re-establish America’s hegemony here. And he’s done it—so far,” said former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren.



Despite the fragile calm, Hamas has yet to return the bodies of all murdered Israeli hostages, leading Israel to restrict aid into Gaza. New clashes have already tested the truce, prompting Trump to send Vice President Vance back to the region to help preserve the deal.



The next challenge, Trump officials acknowledge, will be determining who governs Gaza and how to disarm Hamas. Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro warned that the outcome could be “a frozen conflict…with Israel controlling half of Gaza, Hamas controlling the other half, suppressing its own people, and no real reconstruction.”



Trump insists that his leadership—and willingness to use force—made all this possible. “It would have been impossible to make a deal like this before,” he said, referring to his strikes on Iran. “No President was willing to do it, and I was willing to do it. And by doing it, we had a different Middle East.”



The President predicted that Saudi Arabia would normalize ties with Israel by the end of the year, saying the kingdom “had a Gaza problem and an Iran problem. Now they don’t have those two problems.”



Looking ahead, Trump envisions a more connected Middle East, with new trade routes, shared energy infrastructure, and even Saudi tourists visiting Tel Aviv. But he said one factor remains essential: “The most important thing is they have to respect the President of the United States. The Middle East has to understand that. It’s almost the President more than the country.”



Asked whether Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas might take charge of Gaza, Trump replied, “I’ve always found him reasonable, but he’s probably not… I’d really have to find out.” He added that Gaza currently “doesn’t have a leader,” since “every one of those leaders has been shot and killed. It’s not a hot job.”



The annexation debate, Netanyahu’s domestic pressures, and Trump’s push to cement a new regional order have now converged into a defining test of his second term—one that could determine whether the Gaza ceasefire endures or collapses under political strain.

Trump Warns Israel Against Yehudah and Shomron Annexation, Says It Would Lose ‘All U.S. Support’

Amid the recent wave of arrests of yeshiva students for refusing to enlist, Degel Hatorah, under the joint direction of Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlita and Hagaon Harav Dov Lando shlita, has announced a major public demonstration. The atzeres, set for this Sunday on a to-be-determined central city street, marks a coordinated response after previous attempts to organize protests were prevented by activists.



Tens of thousands, if not hundreds, are expected to protest.



Harav Lando, currently in Los Angeles on a special trip for the Keren Olam Hatorah, received an extensive briefing on the arrests following Shacharis. Upon hearing the news, he requested the recitation of Tehillim dedicated to the welfare of the detained yeshiva bachurim.



Following this, Harav Lando spoke with Harav Hirsch, who arrived later in the day, which was Rosh Chodesh, to deliver a special pesichas ha&#8217;zman shiur to the protesting students at the gates of Prison 10.



During their discussion, Harav Lando emphasized that holding a large public asifa would be the proper step to express solidarity and strengthen the community’s resolve. Harav Hirsch and Harav Lando together instructed that the mass rally move forward, underscoring the Torah world’s opposition to the arrests.



Harav Hirsch also addressed the students at the prison gates, stating, “They need to understand that it is impossible for them to arrest young men who are studying Torah. I hope that those in the government will understand that.” Thousands are expected to attend the rally, which organizers say will be peaceful yet firm, demonstrating the community’s unwavering support for Torah study in Eretz Yisrael.

Massive Protests Against Draft Arrests, Led by Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, Planned for Sunday

Democrat candidate for New Jersey Governor, Mikie Sherrill, is scheduled to attend a Jewish fundraiser to take place at Tomahawk Steakhouse in Lakewood, NJ at 3:00 PM today.



Meanwhile: New Jersey Gubernatorial Race Tightens: Sherrill Leads By 5 Points.



With just three days before early in-person voting will begin on Oct. 25 and two weeks before Election Day on Nov. 4, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Tuesday — the New Jersey’s race for governor continues to tighten. Democrat Mikie Sherrill holds a narrow 5-point lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli among likely voters.

SCOOP: Mikie Sherrill to Attend Jewish Fundraiser in Lakewood

At an emotional event on Wednesday organized by askan Shay Graucher, twins Gali and Ziv Berman, recently released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, put on tefillin together for the first time in years.



The brothers were visibly moved as they put on the tefillin, recited “Shema Yisrael” aloud, and then joined attendees in a spirited dance to “Am Yisrael Chai.&#8221;



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Ziv shared that it was his first time laying tefillin since his bar mitzvah, while Gali recalled having put on tefillin previously at a Chabad House abroad.



The twins and Graucher met with members of the Palm Beach Jewish community and Rabbi Moshe Shiner.



Graucher also presented both brothers with silver Menoras and Kiddush cups, and they sang Eishes Chayil in front of their mother.

Video: Twins Freed From Hamas Captivity Put On Tefillin, Receive Menoras and Kiddush Cups

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a non-binding advisory opinion declaring that Israel is legally obligated to permit United Nations agencies, including the controversial UNRWA, to deliver humanitarian aid in Gaza.



“The court considers that Israel is under an obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, including UNRWA,” stated ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa. He added that Israel must meet the “basic needs” of Gaza’s population, saying that “as an occupying power, Israel is obliged to ensure the basic needs of the local population, including the supplies essential for their survival.”



The ruling follows Israeli legislation passed last year that sharply curtailed UNRWA’s activities, as well as a request from several UN member states seeking clarification from the ICJ on the legality of those restrictions.



In a separate finding, the court said that Israel had failed to substantiate its claims that a significant number of UNRWA employees are affiliated with the Hamas terror organization. “The court finds that Israel has not substantiated its allegations that a significant part of UNRWA’s employees are ‘members of Hamas… or other terrorist factions,’” Iwasawa said.



Israel had banned UNRWA from operating on its territory after accusing some of its staff of involvement in the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023. Subsequent investigations, including one led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, cited “neutrality-related issues” within the agency but concluded in April 2024 that Israel had “yet to provide supporting evidence” that large numbers of employees belonged to terrorist groups.



UNRWA fired some of its terrorist employees.



The group also was responsible for Gaza&#8217;s educational program, textbooks of which were found to contain calls for violence and praise of terrorism, including suicide bombing. UNRWA also operated in close quarters with Hamas command centers.



Israel’s Foreign Ministry sharply rejected the ICJ’s position, accusing the court of ignoring substantial evidence of UNRWA’s deep infiltration by Hamas. “This is yet another political attempt to impose political measures against Israel under the guise of international law,” the ministry said in a statement.



“Hamas terror activity within UNRWA took place before the October 7 massacre, during the massacre, and after the massacre,” the statement continued. “Israel will not cooperate with an organization that is infested with terror activity.” The ministry further condemned what it described as “the politicization of international law, which seeks to produce political outcomes and impose measures intended to harm the State of Israel.”



Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon likewise blasted the ICJ’s opinion, calling it “shameful.” “They are blaming Israel for not cooperating with UN organs,” Danon said. “They should be blaming themselves. Those organs became breeding grounds for terrorists. Take for example UNRWA—an organization that supported Hamas for years.”

Israel Rejects World Court’s Call to Cooperate With UNRWA, Citing Hamas Infiltration

In a political setback for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right-wing lawmakers pushed through the preliminary reading of a bill to apply Israeli sovereignty to Jewish communities in Yehudah and Shomron, despite firm opposition from Netanyahu and his Likud party.



All but one Likud MK boycotted the vote. MK Yuli Edelstein broke ranks to back the measure, casting the decisive vote that allowed the bill to narrowly pass 25-24.



The vote comes during the visit of US Vice President JD Vance to Israel and could trigger tensions with the Trump administration, which has opposed annexation efforts.



The legislation still faces three more readings before becoming law. It will now be sent to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further review.



The bill, proposed by MK Avi Maoz of the Noam party, declares that “the State of Israel will apply its laws and sovereignty to the settlement areas in Yehudah and Shomron, in order to establish the status of these areas as an inseparable part of the sovereign State of Israel.”



In an accompanying statement, Maoz said: “Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave the people of Israel the Land of Israel. Settlement in the Land of Israel is the redemption and national revival, settlement is what makes the Land of Israel flourish after two thousand years of exile. In applying sovereignty to Yehudah and Shomron, we are making a correction that is long overdue. Since the government has been procrastinating, our job as members of Knesset is to do this.”



The bill received backing from the Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism parties, as well as United Torah Judaism’s Agudas Yisrael faction.



Separately, a narrower annexation proposal from opposition leader Avigdor Liberman of Yisrael Beytenu — focused on applying sovereignty to Ma’ale Adumim — also passed a preliminary reading by a 32-9 margin.

Right-Wing MKs Defy Netanyahu, Advance Yehudah and Shomron Sovereignty Bill

Paul Ingrassia, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), has withdrawn his nomination following the release of racist and antisemitic messages he allegedly sent in a private group chat, CNN reported.



Two White House officials confirmed Tuesday that Ingrassia was no longer under consideration for the post.



Ingrassia announced his decision in a social media post Tuesday evening, writing, “Unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time.” He expressed gratitude for the “overwhelming support” he had received and promised to “continue to serve President Trump and this administration to Make America Great Again!”



His withdrawal came just hours after Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that the White House was expected to withdraw the nomination. “I think they’ll have something official to say about that,” Thune remarked.



Ingrassia, nominated in May to head the independent agency tasked with protecting federal whistleblowers, had been scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Thursday. His prospects faded Monday night after Senator Rick Scott of Florida publicly announced his opposition, saying, “No, I do not support him.” With Scott’s stance and united Democratic opposition, the nomination appeared certain to fail.



The controversy began after Politico published messages allegedly written by Ingrassia in which he described himself as having “a Nazi streak” and said the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell.”



Ingrassia’s attorney, Edward Andrew Paltzik, challenged the authenticity of the texts and insisted that, even if real, they were meant as humor. “They clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor making fun of the fact that liberals outlandishly and routinely call MAGA supporters ‘Nazis,’” Paltzik said.



Paltzik further claimed that “Mr. Ingrassia has incredible support from the Jewish community” and accused unnamed figures of trying to undermine his client’s nomination through deliberate smears.



Ingrassia, admitted to the bar only last year, previously interned at the White House during Trump’s first term and briefly worked as a liaison at the Justice Department before being reassigned to the Department of Homeland Security.



His nomination had already raised concerns due to earlier statements in which he promoted conspiracy theories, supported calls for martial law after the 2020 election, and made remarks critical of Israel.

Trump Special Counsel Nominee Withdraws After Antisemitic Messages Resurface

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has announced significant changes to how it applies earned time credits under the First Step Act — a move that comes as a result of years of lobbying on the part of Tzedek Association, who praised the change as a long-awaited shift toward fairness and consistency in the federal prison system.



When Congress passed the First Step Act in 2018 with bipartisan support, it aimed to reward genuine rehabilitation by allowing inmates to earn time off their sentences through productive, evidence-based programs. As Senator Dick Durbin recently noted, “The First Step Act acknowledges the obvious—the vast majority of people who are incarcerated will someday be released, so we must prepare them to successfully return to their communities.”



Under the law, inmates who complete 30 days of approved classes or activities can earn up to 15 days of credit, depending on their risk level. These credits can reduce their time in secure custody or allow earlier transition to community-based programs like halfway houses or home confinement.



The reform differs from traditional “good conduct time,” which merely rewards compliance. Earned time credits instead recognize effort and engagement — turning education and rehabilitation into real incentives for personal growth.



Now, the BOP is changing how it calculates those credits. Instead of relying on a static “Projected Placement Date,” the agency will use a “Conditional Placement Date” (FCPD) that reflects the full impact of earned time credits across an inmate’s sentence. This adjustment will guide key management decisions, such as reclassification and facility transfers, making the earned credits central to prison operations.



Rabbi Moshe Margaretten, President of the Tzedek Association, called the development a “truly monumental” moment for prison reform. “This reform will change thousands of lives—allowing men and women who have worked hard to better themselves to move into lower-security settings and reconnect with their families much earlier,” he said in a statement shared with Belaaz. Rabbi Margaretten thanked BOP Director William Marshall III, Deputy Director Josh Smith, and Rick Stover for their leadership in bringing the reform to fruition.



For those incarcerated, the new policy provides a clearer roadmap. By reviewing their “time credit worksheet” and engaging in approved programs, inmates can now track precisely when they become eligible for prerelease custody. This predictability helps families plan for reunification and encourages inmates to invest meaningfully in rehabilitation.

Major Bureau of Prisons Reform After Years of Advocacy by Tzedek, ‘Monumental Step’

The bodies of slain Hostages Aryeh Zalmenovitz, hy”d, and Tamir Hadar, hy”d, were returned to Israel tonight, Israel’s Prime Minister’s office announced early Wednesday morning.



Zalmanovitz, 85 at the time of his murder, was kidnapped alive from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz and filmed being beaten on a motorcycle, surrounded by evil Hamas terrorists, en route to Gaza. The Prime Minister’s office said that, “It is assessed that Zalmanavitz, hy”d, was murdered in captivity on November 17, 2023.”



Tamir Hadar hy”d served as a deputy security coordinator, and emergency squad member of Kibbutz Nir Oz. Tamir was murdered on the morning of October 7, while risking his life to defend the kibbutz and its residents.



Tamir was 38 at the time of his death. He left behind his wife, two children, parents, and three siblings.



There are 13 hostages left in Gaza. 



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Israel PMO Announces Return and Identification of Hostage Aryeh Zalmanovitz’s Body:



The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that the body of Aryeh (Zalman) Zalmanovitz, hy”d, has been returned to Israel “following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of hostage Aryeh (Zalman) Zalmanovitz, z”l, and the family of another slain hostage that their loved ones have been returned to Israel and identified,” the PMO stated.



The IDF released this statement about Hadar; “Following the completion of the identification process by the National Center of Forensic Medicine in collaboration with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, representatives of the IDF notified the family of the abducted Sgt. Maj. (res.) Tamir Adar z&#8221;l that their loved one has been returned for burial.



According to the information and intelligence available to us, Sgt. Maj. (res.) Tamir Adar z&#8221;l, deputy chief security coordinator and member of the emergency squad at Nir Oz, fell in the battle to defend the kibbutz on the morning of October 7, 2023, and his body was abducted by the terrorist organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Tamir z&#8221;l, aged 38 at the time of his falling, was declared dead on 04/01/2024. He is survived by his wife and two children, parents, two brothers, and a sister. His grandmother, Yaffa Adar, was also abducted and returned in the &#8220;Gates of Heaven&#8221; deal in November 2023.



The IDF shares in the family&#8217;s grief, continues to invest all efforts in returning the abducted fallen, and is preparing to continue implementing the agreement.



Hamas is required to fulfill its part in the agreement and make all necessary efforts to return the abducted fallen to their families for a proper burial.”



Yehi Zichram Baruch

Bodies of Slain Hostages Aryeh Zalmenovitz and Tamir Hadar Returned to Israel.

A small team of British military planning officers has been dispatched to Israel to join a US-led task force working to stabilize Gaza, the UK defense ministry confirmed Tuesday.



The deployment comes as mediators of the Gaza ceasefire, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, intensify efforts to secure the early stages of the truce between Israel and Hamas and advance US President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan.



The US-backed stabilization force, operating from the Civil Military Coordination Center (CMCC), is tasked with maintaining security in Gaza. Impatient details regarding its composition, role, chain of command, and legal status are still being finalized.



The US has pledged up to 200 troops to support the force, though they will not be deployed inside Gaza itself. US officials are also in talks with Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Azerbaijan for possible contributions.



A UK Ministry of Defense spokesperson said a “small number of UK planning officers” have been embedded within the CMCC, including a two-star deputy commander, to ensure Britain remains part of US-led planning for post-conflict stability in Gaza.



“The UK continues to work with international partners to support the Gaza ceasefire to see where the UK can best contribute to the peace process,” the spokesperson added.



British media reported that Defense Minister John Healey said on Monday that Britain has “specialist experience and skills that we have offered to contribute,” emphasizing that while the UK will not lead the effort, it will play a supporting role.



Healey noted that the deployment was carried out at the request of the United States.

UK Sends Military Officers to Israel to Support US-Led Gaza Stabilization Effort

IDF forces in the Gaza Strip have received two caskets, reportedly containing the bodies of two murdered hostages Hy&#8217;d, from the Red Cross earlier Tuesday evening.



The Red Cross collected the caskets from Hamas-controlled areas in southern Gaza before transferring them to the IDF.



The Israeli military will first inspect the caskets, after which they will be draped in Israeli flags and a brief ceremony will be held under the guidance of a military rabbi.



The bodies will subsequently be transported to the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv for official identification.



If confirmed as hostages, this would leave 13 Israeli captives still deceased in Gaza.



&#8220;The IDF requests that the public act with sensitivity and wait for the official identification, which will first be provided to the families of the hostages. Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages,&#8221; the army said in a statement.



The Prime Minister&#8217;s Office said in a statement: &#8220;Israel has received, through the Red Cross, the coffins of two dead hostages who were handed over to the IDF and Shin Bet forces inside the Gaza Strip.&#8221;

IDF Receives Two Caskets From Gaza, Likely Containing Murdered Hostages Hy’d

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has removed Tzachi Hanegbi from his role as National Security Adviser.



The move comes after Hanegbi opposed an attack on Qatar and the Gideon’s Chariots II operation. &#8220;Prime Minister Netanyahu informed me of his intention to appoint a new head of the NSC.&#8221;



“Prime Minister Netanyahu informed me today of his intention to appoint a new head of the National Security Council (NSC). Accordingly, my tenure as National Security Advisor and head of the National Security Headquarters will conclude today. I will, of course, be available to assist my successor as needed”, Hanegbi said in a statement on Tuesday evening.



“I expressed my gratitude to the Prime Minister for the privilege of contributing to shaping Israel’s foreign and security policies during challenging years, for the opportunity to express independent views in sensitive discussions, and for the professional dialogue we maintained, even during disagreements.”

IDF Eliminates 6 Senior Hamas Naval Commandos, Including October 7 Planners

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