A terror attack was perpetrated Sunday afternoon in New South Wales, Australia, at a Chanukah celebration organized by a local Chabad.



At least 15 people were killed, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger Hy&#8217;d and Rabbi Yaakov Halevi Levitin Hy&#8217;d, Chabad shluchim in Bondi Beach, where the attack occured. Other murdered victims included a 12-year-old, a 10-year-old boy, and Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, of Ukraine.



Unconfirmed reports place the number of wounded at around 25, including two children.



One of the terrorists was reportedly killed as well, and another is in serious condition. The shooting began after a speech was given by one of the organizers, according to Ynet.



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Police confirmed to the Daily Mail that the terrorist who was eliminated was 24-year-old Naveed Akram, a Pakistani man who lived in Bonnyrigg, Sydney. The other terrorist(s) were not identified as of yet.



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Australian outlet 9NEWS reports that it appears that a third terrorist was arrested.



One of the wounded is Arsen Ostrovsky, a prominent pro-Israel human rights lawyer, head of the Australia/Israel &amp; Jewish Affairs Council’s Sydney office, and social media influencer. He shared an image of himself covered in blood during the attack.



The event was attended by over 1,000 people, Australian police said.



Eyewitnesses on social media reported hearing up to 50 gunshots.



Survivors told Ynet that it took 15 minutes for police to arrive.



One survivor, Chaim Levy, who had attended the event with his children, told Ynet: &#8220;It was an event organized by Chabad on the beach, and 400 people came to light the menorah, like we do every year. Suddenly we heard explosions, and we didn&#8217;t know what it was. I grabbed my son, we hid behind a car until the shooting stopped, and then we ran to our car. My wife and the child ran to another place, without shoes, we just ran. We left strollers and bags there. We are in shock.&#8221; 



Sean Goodwin told Australian media that the shooting lasted about ten long minutes. &#8220;It was hell on earth. I was protecting my family, I saw people lying in pools of blood.&#8221;



Another attended told the Sydney Morning Herald that he saw two small children begging for help from underneath a car, where their mother was laying after being shot twice. &#8220;I had to apply pressure to the impact sites for about 20 minutes. These were big wounds. Then paramedics took over. It was 45 minutes before the ambulance arrived. It was like a war zone,&#8221; he said.



Shai, an Israeli who lives in the Bondi Beach area, told Ynet, “It was expected. The level of daily hatred towards Jews here is not normal.”



“I don&#8217;t want to be the one to say this, but we all said it was just a matter of time, and certain politicians told us we were hysterical and exaggerating,” another community member said. 



Video of a man wrestling a shotgun away from one of the terrorists was published on social media; he was later identified as 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed. He suffered two gunshot wounds and required surgery.



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Video footage released on social media shows two assailants on the ground in police custody surrounded by shotgun casings, as a man who had visited the beach proceeds to kick one of the suspects.



US Secretary Marco Rubio condemned the attack. He wrote: &#8220;The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Australia targeting a Jewish celebration.Antisemitism has no place in this world. Our prayers are with the victims of this horrific attack, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia.&#8221;



New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani issued a statement condemning the attack, calling it a “vile act of antisemitic terror,” while expressing sympathy for the victims and the wider Jewish community. Mamdani said, “I mourn those who were murdered and will be keeping their families, the Jewish community, and the Chabad movement in my prayers. May the memories of all those killed be a blessing.&#8221; Mamdani has continuously defended rhetoric tied to terrorism, such as &#8220;globalize the intifada,&#8221; and rejects Israel&#8217;s right to exist as a Jewish state.



The New York Times, BBC and other major outlets omitted any mention of the attack targeting Jews until hours later, even though it was a widely publicized and annual Chanukah celebration.



Media reports showed a blood-soaked pair of tzitzis belonging to a victim, who was able to walk after being struck at the scene. Separate footage showed paramedics administering CPR on a different victim.



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Police issued an urgent warning for the public to avoid the area and for those nearby to take shelter immediately.



Social media posts from the scene describe mass chaos, with people fleeing the promenade and seeking cover in nearby businesses, as dozens of police vehicles swarm on the scene.



Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese first described the scenes as&#8221;shocking and distressing,&#8221; but made no mention of the victims being Jewish or that the attack was at a Jewish event. Other officials who spoke on Australia media said that the shooters targeted families that had gathered at the beach, but also made no mention of their Jewish identity.



Hours after the attack, Albanese addressed the country in a televised statement acknowledging that the attack was antisemitic. &#8220;This afternoon, there has been a devastating terrorist incident at Bondi, at the &#8216;Chanukkah by the Sea&#8217; celebration. This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Chanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. It is an act of evil, antisemitism, and terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation. An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and every Australian tonight will be like me, devastated on this attack on our way of life. There is no place for this hate, violence, and terrorism in our nation,&#8221; he said. &#8220;As Prime Minister, I say on behalf of all Australians to the Jewish community: we stand with you, we embrace you, and we reaffirm tonight that you have every right to be proud of who you are and what you believe.&#8221;



Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog said: &#8220;We have repeatedly warned the Australian government about the need to root out the criminal and widespread anti-Semitism in their country.&#8221;



In the wake of the attack, ZAKA is organizing to send a delegation with logistical equipment to the scene. &#8220;ZAKA is in continuous coordination with the leadership of the Jewish community and with emergency agencies and local authorities. The delegation will operate and assist in treating the deceased with dignity, identifying the deceased and accompanying the families during this difficult time,&#8221; the organization said.



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Police discovered one of the weapons used by the terrorists, pictured above.



Footage of the celebration was taken before the shooting, showing families enjoying the event, with doughnuts being handed out and music playing.



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Since the October 7 massacre, antisemitism in Australia has surged sharply, transforming what was once viewed as a relatively safe environment for Jewish life into a place many now describe as hostile and dangerous. 



According to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s latest data, there were 1,654 documented anti-Jewish incidents from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, roughly three times the number recorded in the decade before October 7 and far exceeding pre-attack levels.



Incidents have ranged from widespread vandalism and graffiti on cars and Jewish property, to doxxing of nearly 600 Jewish Australians, firebombing of a childcare centre, and arson attacks on synagogues, including the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne. 



The following is a partial list of victims&#8217; names for davening: Feivel Eliezer ben Dobra Bella, Yaakov ben Etel, Chaya Mushka bas Shterna Sara, Reuven ben Manya and Yaakov Dov ben Penina, for a refuah shlaima b&#8217;soch sha&#8217;ar cholei Yisrael.



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At Least 15 Killed, Including Chabad Shluchim, Dozens Wounded in Terror Attack on Australia Chanukkah Celebration

President Donald Trump sent a personal letter to both Satmar Rebbes, Harav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum shlita and Harav Aharon Teitelbaum shlita, which were read aloud Wednesday night at the annual Chof Alef Kislev events, sources tell Belaaz.



White House Jewish Liaison Martin Marks, who arranged the letter for Harav Zalman Leib, attended the event, where thousands of Chassidim converged on the Crown Heights Armory.



Below is an image, first obtained by Belaaz, of the letter sent to Harav Zalman Leib:



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The annual event commemorates the miraculous rescue of the Divrei Yoel, Harav Yoel Teitelbaum, zy&#8221;a, from the clutches of the Nazis during the Holocaust in 1944.



Askanim involved in the logistics of the massive undertaking told Belaaz that they are expecting a total attendance of approximately 10,000 people throughout the evening. The venue&#8217;s capacity at any one time is 5,000, but the askanim say that people will come and go as the night&#8217;s program goes on.



The focal point of the evening will be the speech delivered by the Rebbe, described by organizers as the &#8220;most important address of the year,&#8221; for Satmar chasidim. The speech is expected to cover critical issues facing the Jewish world. According to askanim, the Rebbe will address the Gezeras Gius in Eretz Yisrael, challenges facing Chinuch in New York, matters of Tznius, and other pressing community topics. The flyer describes this segment as &#8220;Words of guidance… fighting the war of Hashem against Amalek with strength.&#8221;



The event, which also serves as a benefit for the Satmar Mosdos, features a packed schedule.



The event will be chaired by Rabbi Naftali Elimelech Weiss, administrator of &#8220;Livnas HaSapir.&#8221;



A presentation by Rabbi Leibel Gross and child soloist Moshe Rosenberg is scheduled, as well as songs by Meir Adler and Yissocher Gutman. A report by Rabbi Chaim Yitzchok Mandel on the exponential growth of the Mosdos will be presented as well.



In addresses aimed at bachurim, Harav Nesanel Lieberman of Bessermin shlita, one of the first students of the Divrei Yoel in 1950, and Harav Shmuel Aharon Tennenbaum, author of Nitzotzei Tomer will share recollections and stories of the first Satmar Rebbe.



Another historical presentation will feature eight bnei bayis (&#8220;hoiz bachurim&#8221;) who served in the home of the Divrei Yoel.

Trump Sends Personal Letter to Satmar Rebbes on Occasion of 21 Kislev Celebration

In a historic shift for the Syrian Jewish community, the new government has officially authorized a dedicated organization to locate and return seized assets to community members in the United States, Israel and elsewhere, and to restore ancient holy sites.



The initiative is being spearheaded by the Hamra family, related to Syria’s last Chief Rabbi, who have returned to Damascus to coordinate directly with high-level officials.



On Wednesday, Syrian authorities granted a license to the &#8220;Jewish Heritage in Syria Foundation.&#8221; The organization is led by Rabbi Henry Hamra, who fled Syria for the United States in the 1990s with his father, Rabbi Yosef Hamra. His uncle, Rabbi Avraham, was Syria&#8217;s last chief rabbi.



Joseph Hamra, Henry’s son, was in Damascus assisting his father in high-level government meetings earlier this week.



Speaking to Belaaz in an exclusive interview, Joseph described the scale of the Jewish assets remaining in the capital. &#8220;There’s a lot,&#8221; Joseph told Belaaz. &#8220;We’ve been walking around the Jewish quarter and almost at every turn we see Jewish houses and synagogues.&#8221;



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The Hamras have traveled to Syria several times since the new government arose.&nbsp; According to Joseph, they were invited to an event marking the anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime. &#8220;My father was invited by the President himself,&#8221; Joseph revealed to Belaaz, referring to the new Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa. He added, &#8220;My father has been talking to almost every government official here, including the new president.&#8221;



The Syrian government publicly confirmed this cooperation on Wednesday. Hind Kabawat, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, announced the authorization of the foundation, framing it as part of a broader effort to build an inclusive state.



“This is a strong message from the Syrian state that we do not discriminate between one religion and another,” Kabawat told AFP. She emphasized that the new government intends to help all Syrians, regardless of sect, who wish to rebuild the nation.



The primary goal of the new foundation is to inventory Jewish properties confiscated under the Assad regime and facilitate their return to their rightful owners. When asked by Belaaz how the restitution process would work, Joseph Hamra explained that the recovered value &#8220;will, beezrat Hashem, go back to the Jewish people in America and Israel.&#8221; He advised families looking to reclaim assets &#8220;to reach out to my father to get their property and belongings back.&#8221;



Joseph noted that the current government&#8217;s motivation appears to be a desire to &#8220;normalize the Jewish people in Syria,&#8221; adding that while they hope to possibly bring Jews back to live, they are &#8220;definitely&#8221; encouraging visits.



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However, Joseph clarified that these high-level meetings have remained strictly focused on the Jewish community and the internal Syrian situation, rather than geopolitics. When asked if the topic of Israel was raised during meetings with the President, Joseph said &#8220;They did not. Not a word.&#8221;



Instead, the conversations focused on the shares experiences that Jews and non-Jews had under the previous regime. &#8220;They were talking about&#8230; how the Assad regime affected everyone in Syria, and how, since he’s gone, it’s been going,&#8221; Joseph said.



The Hamras davened inside the al-Franj synagogue in Damascus, a site Henry had visited previously with his father. The foundation aims to ensure such holy sites are restored and made accessible to Jews worldwide.



The father and son also visited Jewish cemeteries, and stumbled upon a grave with a matzeivah that had a yahrtzeit date of 19 Kislev; the very same day they were visiting.



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Beyond Damascus, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a delegation, which reportedly included two Israeli rabbis, visited closed synagogues in Aleppo in northwestern Syria. According to SOHR, the governor of Aleppo promised to assist in the restoration of stolen Jewish property in a city once famous for housing the Aleppo Codex.



Syria’s Jewish community, which dates back centuries, faced severe travel restrictions and persecution under Hafez al-Assad. While restrictions were lifted in 1992 allowing many to flee, the subsequent years saw the community dwindle to a handful of individuals.



With the new foundation now licensed, the Hamra family hopes to reverse the erasure of Jewish history in Syria, turning a page on decades of confiscation and exile.



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Interview: Syrian Government Licenses Foundation to Return Assets to Syrian Jews Abroad, and to restore Holy Sites

Governor Kathy Hochul will make a decision on New York State’s controversial assisted suicide bill, known as the &#8220;Medical Aid in Dying&#8221; act, which critics slam as a euphemism for legalized,institutional killing, askanim tell Belaaz.



While the bill passed the State Legislature in June, Hochul has yet to decide whether or not to sign it into law, or to make amendments to the legislation. Following a Wednesday meeting between askanim, including Rabbi Nosson Leiter of Help Rescue Our Children, based in Monsey NY, and senior administration officials, it remains unclear which path the Governor will choose, though opponents warn that any enactment of the legislation would create immediate and unfixable dangers for New York’s most vulnerable.



Representatives from the Governor’s office, including Patrick Kwan of Legislative Affairs and Eva Wyner, Director of Jewish Affairs, met with activists on Wednesday but offered no definitive signal on the Governor’s stance. Helaine Jagust of the organization Save Our Sick (S.O.S.), who also met with the Governor’s staff, was instrumental in obtaining the meeting.



According to attendees, the administration presented three distinct possibilities for the coming weeks: the Governor might veto the bill, sign it into law as is, or sign it with a “chapter amendment” agreement to make changes. Although such “chapter amendment” changes generally only take effect later &#8211; leaving the original bill in effect in the interim &#8211; the staffers claimed that the Governor could potentially render them effective immediately.



Yonasan Teleky, an askan who has been working with various Rabbonim and activists on this and other Klal issues for over a decade, in an interview with Belaaz, described the demeanor of the Governor’s representatives during the meeting as “non-committal and non-inquiring.”



According to Teleky, the officials stated clearly that “she [Hochul] might sign as is, might veto, or might sign with amendments,” noting that specific safeguards rumored to be under consideration, such as videotaped requests or residency requirements, are currently just “rumors” shared from other sources.



Teleky warned that the &#8220;chapter amendment&#8221; route, where the bill generally becomes law immediately with a promise to fix it later, is fraught with peril. “Without the exact text of the governor&#8217;s changes it&#8217;s impossible to know what loopholes she left in,” Teleky said.



Rabbi Leiter, a leading advocate against the legislation, for well over a decade, argued that the very fact that amendments are being discussed is revealing of the danger of this bill. “The fact that Gov. Hochul allegedly considered these amendments suggests that she is at least partially cognizant of the deeply flawed nature of any such legislation,” Rabbi Leiter told Belaaz.



However, Rabbi Leiter emphasized that no amount of additional safeguards could resolve the&nbsp; dangers inherent in state-sanctioned suicide. “The primary purpose of the meeting was to demonstrate that it is a matter of fact, not a matter of opinion, that this it is impossible to render such legislation anything less than inherently and irreconcilably lethal &#8211; both for those who wish to die and for those who do not,” he emphasized.



He argued that this applies even under the logic of the bill&#8217;s defenders: “Even according to the views of proponents of the bill &#8211; who accept the notion that one may assist in killing people who wish to die &#8211; this bill is impossible to fix &#8211; to the extent that people that do not truly want to die would be protected. Thus, this bill perpetrates the ultimate subversion of autonomy &#8211; the autonomy over the choice to remain alive &#8211; in the very name of autonomy itself”.



Critics point to specific, &#8220;gaping&#8221; holes in the legislation that remain unaddressed by proposed fixes. Teleky provided a detailed critique of the operational failures that would likely persist even if amendments were signed.



No Retrieval Process: “Even with the changes it is rumored the governor will make, once the patient has been approved for the poison, there is no process by which the poison can be taken away from them even if the original doctors, and mental health professional who originally deemed the patient fit to request poison currently deem the patient mentally unfit”.



Redefining Capacity: The bill’s definitions fail to address mental illness. “The bill&#8217;s official stated definition of ‘decision making capacity’ would not include depression, thus the ‘hechsher’ of the psychiatrist wouldn&#8217;t cover the most important areas,&#8221; Teleky said.



Silencing Patients&#8217; Doctors: Teleky noted a disturbing lack of recourse for the patient&#8217;s personal psychiatrist. “There is no way for a patient&#8217;s long-term psychiatrist &#8211; or, for that matter, the family &#8211; to voice their objections to the evaluating psychiatrist&#8217;s psychological evaluation of the mental status of the patient who likely only met the patient once, or voice their concerns of the patient being coerced.&#8221;



The AI Threat: Proposals to require video evidence of a request were dismissed as obsolete and dangerous. “Videos only show what is in front of them and won&#8217;t show coercion. Additionally, AI video fakes look very realistic today, and will look better in the future.”



Fraud and Pharmacy Oversight: Teleky highlighted that “This bill carries no specific counter-measures against fraud, despite its life-ending consequences,” and criticized the lack of checks at the final stage. “This bill has zero oversight, in any way &#8211; whatsoever &#8211; for the pharmacists. For example, it does not even demand the pharmacist consult with the doctor prior to&nbsp; dispensing the poison”.



Beyond the technical flaws, opponents argue the bill represents a fundamental corruption of the medical profession.



“This bill redefines the word &#8216;medicine,&#8217;” Teleky stated. “Medicine always means a drug that lessens the disease or symptoms. This bill calls the poison ‘medicine’ &#8211; warping not only the role of the doctor &#8211; but also the drugs they prescribe.&#8221;



This sentiment was echoed in an open letter to Governor Hochul penned by Rabbi Shlomo Brody of Ematai and Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt, MD. They urged a veto, stating, “Physician-assisted suicide is a distortion of this great calling&#8230; Healthcare professionals did not enter this great field for the sake of actively helping people die.”



The uncertainty in Albany comes amid a wave of opposition from Jewish and other religious organizations.



Agudath Israel of America warned that “financial pressures can lead patients to make irreversible decisions,” noting that misdiagnoses are common and family influence can be deadly.



The Orthodox Union called the bill a “moral and practical failure” that violates the sanctity of life.



The Vaad HaRabbonim of Queens had also urged the public to oppose this legislation, prior to passage in the State Senate, for similar reasons.



The Rabbinical Alliance of America stated that “No individual, physician, or legislative body has the moral right to intentionally end a human life,” warning that the state risks “redefining medicine in ways that fundamentally contradict its healing mission”.



The dangers of a medical system oriented toward death were highlighted by Rabbi Benzion Lesser of Chayim Aruchim at an Agudah event earlier this year. He recounted a case where a non-observant Jewish woman’s family sought to remove her from life support. An observant Jewish doctor initially refused to intervene to save her, citing halachic misconceptions that she was a &#8220;treifah.&#8221; Only after extensive counseling did the physician agree to treat her. The woman eventually recovered and was able to thank visitors for the &#8220;miracle&#8221; of her survival; a survival that opponents of the MAID bill say might not have occurred under a legal framework that allows assisted suicide.



Decades ago, Rabbi Aaron D. Twerski warned that the &#8220;right to die&#8221; would eventually devolve into a duty to die. “Today, it&#8217;s a free choice issue,” he said. “Tomorrow, Blue Cross will refuse to pay for it&#8230; and hospitals will refuse to provide the beds.”

Jewish Orgs Sound Alarm on Assisted Suicide Bill as NY Governor Considers Signing in Coming Days

A Jewish teacher was attacked near a Jewish school in Miami Beach on Wednesday. 



Soon after the assault, 33-year-old Slemons Graves was arrested, and is facing hate-crime charges after directing an antisemitic slur at a woman, assaulting her, and stealing her cellphone, Miami Beach police report. His formal charges were strong-arm robbery and battery with prejudice.



Police say the suspect approached the victim on Tuesday after she parked her vehicle down the street from the Lehrman Community Day School, located along the 500 block of 77th Street. As she began to walk toward the school, the suspect spat in her face and called her a “dirty Jew.” He then slapped the teacher on the left side of the head before snatching her cellphone and repeatedly throwing it to the ground, shattering it.



This incident comes amid a series of antisemitic attacks across Florida. Recently, a fire at Chabad of Charlotte County in Punta Gorda is being investigated as a potential arson and hate crime. In Hallandale Beach, antisemitic graffiti appeared repeatedly near a local Chabad, prompting a police investigation and a reward for information. In Ponte Vedra Beach, Jewish teenagers were assaulted with a handgun and threatened with antisemitic slurs, with the perpetrator later sentenced to prison.



According to the Anti-Defamation League, Florida recorded 353 antisemitic incidents in 2024, with Palm Beach County consistently leading the state in reported attacks. Many of these incidents include assaults, harassment, vandalism, and threats, often tied to tensions surrounding the Israel–Gaza conflict.



Austin Parcels, Manager of Research and Advocacy at B’nai Brith Canada, said that incidents like the Miami Beach attack highlight the real dangers Jewish communities face: “Portraying Jewish institutions or individuals as targets because of ties to Israel is inciting and dangerous,” he said.



Authorities continue to investigate the Miami Beach incident and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Teacher Attacked in Antisemitic Incident Near Miami Beach Jewish School

Education officials offered what Councilwoman Inna Vernikov describes to Belaaz as &#8220;lame excuses” in a meeting between the City Council’s Jewish Caucus and New York City Public Schools officials on Monday regarding the banning of a Holocaust survivor from a local school.



While Rafael Alvarez, Superintendent of the District in which MS 447 is located, told the caucus that Sami Steigmann, 85, was indeed invited, and repeated this answer several times for confirmation, the Republican councilwoman says that the Holocaust survivor is not aware of an invitation.



The meeting with school officials was intended to address the rejection of Steigmann by MS 447 Principal Arin Rusch.



Despite the high profile of the controversy, NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos was not present at the meeting, a decision Vernikov described as &#8220;disappointing.&#8221;



Instead, the discussion was led largely by the Superintendent, who admitted that Rusch violated the school district’s protocol by unilaterally rejecting Steigmann, but did not identify any discrimination or apologize for the pain caused by the decision. 



The Superintendent stated that Rusch was required to consult him before making such a decision and confirmed that she is being “disciplined” for the infraction, though details of that discipline are confidential.



Vernikov characterized the meeting’s tone as disingenuous, describing the explanations offered by school officials as &#8220;garbage excuses.&#8221; 



She specifically took issue with the administration’s defense of &#8220;political neutrality.&#8221; School officials argued that the Principal’s initial rejection was based on a policy of political neutrality. Vernikov slammed this defense as hypocritical, pointing to the school&#8217;s permissiveness regarding  pro-Palestinian views, and noting that Steigmann, a supporter of Israel, had said he wouldn&#8217;t discuss politics at all during his speech.



“They kept focusing on neutrality&#8230; and I called them out on their hypocrisy because they never exercise neutrality, except it seems when it comes to Holocaust survivors”, Vernikov said. She noted that students and faculty are permitted to wear keffiyehs and participate in walkouts without consequence, yet a Holocaust survivor was flagged for unacceptable &#8220;political&#8221; views.



Beyond the invitation, Vernikov is demanding a direct, public apology from Principal Rusch to Steigmann and the Jewish community. She noted that while officials offered semi-apologies during the private call, a public statement is necessary.



The Councilwoman indicated she is waiting for the DOE to clarify the status of the invitation and set a concrete date for Steigmann’s visit.



“Mr. Steigmann is ready to speak at the school. I have his dates of availability.”

Vernikov: DOE Made ‘Lame Excuses About Political Neutrality,’ Claimed Principal Who Blocked Holocaust Survivor was ‘Disciplined;’ School Invitation Pending

Workers in Washington, D.C., were spotted this afternoon, Tuesday, assembling the iconic 30+ foot National Menorah just south of the White House, as preparations ramp up for the first night of Chanukkah on December 14, 2025. 



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The massive structure is being erected in advance of the annual lighting ceremony organized by American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), drawing crowds of thousands in person.



This tradition, which began in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, routinely features high-profile attendees, including the President, Vice President, cabinet members, congressional leaders, and international dignitaries.

National Menorah Assembly Underway This Afternoon on White House Ellipse

Police are continuing to search for Eliyahu Abba Shaul, a 19-year-old bachur from Bnei Brak, who has been missing since Wednesday.



According to police, Eliyahu Abba Shaul left his home on Friday evening and has not been seen since. Search efforts have been ongoing since his disappearance was reported, and authorities are expressing grave concerns.



“The searches are currently focused along the Yarkon Stream, from Rokach Street in Ramat Gan. Evidence has been found nearby,” police stated.



Authorities said there is concern that the missing bachur may have been swept away by the water. His shoes were located on the bank of the Yarkon River, near the area where search teams are concentrating their efforts.



Eliyahu Abba Shaul is the son of Harav Yehoshua Abba Shaul.

Fears for Life of Missing Bachur Eliyahu Abba Shaul Mount as Search Continues

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Friday that New York could lose $73 million in federal highway funds after an audit revealed that more than half of the state’s commercial trucking licenses had been granted to foreign-born applicants living in the US illegally.



“What New York does is if an applicant comes in and they have a work authorization — for 30 days, 60 days, one year — New York automatically issues them an eight-year commercial driver’s license,” Duffy said at a press conference in Washington. “That’s contrary to the law.”



Duffy added that auditors also discovered that New York often failed to verify whether applicants had valid work authorization, visas, or lawful immigration status.



“They’re just giving eight-year commercial driver’s licenses to people who are coming through their DMV and sending them out on American roadways — and again they’re endangering the lives of American families,” he said.



The warning followed a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration review of 200 non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses issued by the New York DMV, which found that 107 were unlawfully granted.



Roughly 32,000 New York-issued CDLs are currently active nationwide — even after a recent revelation that one migrant applicant received a license without listing a first name.



DOT officials also opened an investigation Thursday into whether a Chinese national involved in a deadly pileup on a Tennessee highway had been improperly issued a New York State driver’s license.



“Gov. Hochul must immediately revoke these illegally issued licenses. If they refuse to follow the law, we will withhold federal highway funding,” Duffy said, stressing that a New York CDL allows drivers to operate across the entire country.



Duffy has given state officials 30 days to cancel all improperly issued licenses, halt new CDL processing, and conduct a full internal audit — or risk losing federal funds. When asked if the funding threat could disrupt the flow of goods, Duffy replied that safety must come first, noting that responsible trucking companies will continue to keep freight moving.



FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs emphasized the severity of the findings. “What we uncovered in New York is not an administrative oversight,” he said. “It’s a systematically, grossly unacceptable deviation from a federal safety regulation that has been on the books for a long period of time.”



New York DMV spokesman Walter McClure pushed back strongly, saying: “Secretary Duffy is lying about New York State once again in a desperate attempt to distract from the failing, chaotic administration he represents.” He insisted that all CDLs issued in the state comply with federal rules and that applicants’ lawful status is verified through federal documentation.



Federal officials noted that half of all CDLs nationwide originate in New York or California. In California, where 25% of commercial licenses were found unlawful, the state revoked at least 17,000 — but Duffy criticized Sacramento for still failing to enforce English-language requirements.



“And how you can get a license when you’re not proficient in English in California begs the question: What the hell is going on in California?” he said.

Feds Threaten to Strip New York of $73M After Audit Finds Majority of Commercial Licenses Issued Illegally

In a rare moment of bipartisan unity during a busy legislative calendar, Congressional leaders from both parties gathered at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday for the third annual Congressional Menorah Lighting ceremony.



&#8220;The Speaker invited the leadership of both sides, and he himself participated even though there was a major vote in the House,&#8221; Rabbi Shemtov told Belaaz. &#8220;It is rare to see the Speaker and Sen. Schumer shaking hands, but they did, and they were happy.&#8221;



The event, held in the chaotic final weeks of the legislative session in the prestigious Rayburn Reception room, brought together Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL).



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Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch and known as the &#8220;Rabbi of Capitol Hill,&#8221; lit the menorah.



Speaker Johnson said the menorah was crafted from the steel of rockets intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system; a stark reminder of the conflict that has shaped much of the discourse over the last two years.



In his remarks, Rabbi Shemtov drew a parallel between the structure of the menorah and the need for political unity. Pointing to the central branch of the candelabra, he noted that while the side branches face different directions, they all turn toward the center.



&#8220;We can focus on the differences and worry about conflict, or we could focus on the variety that brings unity,&#8221; he told the gathering.



The ceremony was marked by a shift in tone compared to previous years. Both Jeffries and Schumer highlighted the relief felt across the Jewish community following the release of hostages held by Hamas.



&#8220;Two years later&#8230; all living hostages held by Hamas are back home with their families,&#8221; Schumer said, acknowledging that one hostage remains in captivity, though deceased. Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history, emphasized that while the flame of hope still burns, it is &#8220;flickering&#8221; in too many places due to the rise of antisemitism.



Jeffries echoed these sentiments, invoking the Chanukkah story of the oil that lasted eight days. &#8220;The story of Chanukkah teaches us that one person&#8217;s light can help drown out the darkness,&#8221; Jeffries said. &#8220;It has been more than two years since the horrors of October 7th&#8230; This Chanukkah, however, we do breathe a sigh of relief.&#8221;



Johnson, who arrived slightly late due to whipping votes on the House floor, used his time to highlight the historic bond between the U.S. and Israel. He recounted a meeting the previous day with Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, during which they jointly signed a letter nominating President Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.



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Johnson shared a story about a gift exchange with Ohana. The Speaker received a clay oil pot from the Bayis Rishon era, and in return, he gifted Ohana a copy of George Washington’s 1789 letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, which affirmed that religious liberty is a natural right, &#8220;not by government.&#8221;



&#8220;The light of faith and love and courage and conviction will always guide us on the path to brighter days ahead,&#8221; Johnson concluded.



The event concluded with Rabbi Shemtov leading the room in tefillos and brachos.

Leading US Lawmakers Participate in Pre-Chanukah Menorah Ceremony in DC

The United States has reportedly told Israel it must pay for and take responsibility for a large-scale operation to clear rubble across the Gaza Strip, Ynet reports, citing a senior Israeli official.



According to the report, Israel has agreed to the American request, with the projected cost reaching as high as one billion shekels.



The Prime Minister’s Office has not responded to requests for comment.



The Wall Street Journal recently noted that Gaza contains an estimated 68 million tons of debris, based on figures from the UN Development Program.



Earlier in the week, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani said his country would not finance Gaza’s reconstruction. “We are not the ones who are going to write the check to rebuild what others destroyed,” Al Thani said during an onstage interview at the Doha Forum. “When you are talking about Gaza, Israel flattened this land.”



Ynet also reports that US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week in an effort to persuade Israel to permit Turkish troops in Gaza; a proposal Israel continues to reject.



The senior Israeli official told the outlet that recent US discussions with Israel have centered more on reconstruction than on disarming Hamas. According to the official, Netanyahu has emphasized in private talks that Israeli forces will ultimately be tasked with that responsibility.

Report: Israel Accepts US Demand To Cover Cost Of Major Gaza Rubble-Removal Effort

After weeks of public outcry and advocacy, Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann will finally address students at MS 447, following the school’s earlier refusal due to his pro-Israel views, despite his stated intention not to speak about politics.



Councilwoman Inna Vernikov announced Thursday that Steigmann is scheduled to speak at the Boerum Hill middle school on February 5th, ending a contentious standoff between Jewish community leaders and the Department of Education (DOE). The initial ban had sparked criticism over censorship and bias against Israel, as the school features pro Palestinian voices in its social justice curriculum, exclusively reported by Belaaz last week.



Vernikov, who spearheaded efforts to reverse the DOE’s decision, hailed the scheduled appearance as a major win. “Sami Steigmann, the Holocaust survivor who was rejected from speaking at MS 447 will now be SPEAKING at MS 447 on FEBRUARY 5th!” she said, adding that other speaking opportunities had also been offered to Steigmann.



“Holocaust survivors will NOT BE CENSORED and their speech will not be chilled,” Vernikov continued. “We will never stay silent in the face of antisemitism and discrimination. No one will suppress, censor or silence us!”



While previously criticizing the DOE for “lame excuses” that delayed the event, Vernikov acknowledged the administration’s final decision. “I want to thank Superintendent Alvarez and the DOE Chancellor for righting this wrong,” she said.



Steigmann, who endured Nazi medical experiments as a child, expressed his gratitude through Vernikov. He and Vernikov also thanked Moshe Spern, head of the United Jewish Teachers, for his “tremendous” advocacy. Steigmann emphasized that the upcoming talk represents more than just his own appearance.



According to Vernikov, Steigmann “wanted to stress that this is not about him and that he feels a sense of responsibility for all Holocaust survivors who are still alive and have incredible stories to tell.”



Spern told Belaaz that the confirmation marks a pivotal moment for the community. “I’m elated for my friend Sami Steigmann to get the opportunity he deserves to speak at MS 447,” he said. “This is a victory for Jews in America; we cannot allow our voices to be silenced by those who justify their actions in the vilest of ways.”



Spern also credited the resolution to sustained local leadership. “I’m so thankful to my good friend Councilwoman Inna Vernikov for standing up and doing much of the behind-the-scenes work. Sami deserves this and so does the Jewish people.”



The controversy began in November when MS 447 Principal Arin Rusch rejected a parent’s request to host Steigmann, citing his website’s “messages around Israel and Palestine” as unsuitable for his school.

Date Set for Holocaust Survivor Sami Steigmann to Speak at MS 447

An anti-Israel website that began by identifying Canadian citizens who served in the IDF has escalated its effort by publishing a list of Jewish schools, shuls, and camps in the Greater Toronto Area tied to those individuals, the Combat Antisemitism Movement reported Wednesday.



The project, &#8220;GTA to IDF,&#8221; was created by Davide Mastracci, who launched the Find IDF Soldiers database in February. That database names 206 Canadians who served in the IDF, and his new site expands the effort by mapping the institutions they attended. Mastracci says he used only public information and claims he is not seeking to prompt harassment, though the practical implications have sparked serious concern.



Mastracci limited the new list to GTA institutions connected to at least four people in his original database, resulting in seven schools, shuls, and summer camps being posted. He has previously argued that Canadian lone soldiers often come from GTA neighborhoods with sizable Jewish populations and describe their upbringing as Zionist, prompting him to focus solely on that region.



Jewish community leaders across Canada immediately criticized the project, noting how frequently Jewish institutions face attacks. “Jewish institutions and communities in Canada have been shot at, firebombed, their windows smashed, marked with Nazi imagery, and subjected to sustained vandalism and intimidation,” said Austin Parcels, Manager of Research and Advocacy at B’nai Brith Canada, in comments to The Jerusalem Post.



He said portraying Jewish schools, shuls, and community centers as suspicious because of ties to Israel is “inciting and dangerous,” warning that such a list can become a ready-made target sheet for those looking to cause harm. “These are Jewish organizations,” Parcels said. “Treating that basic fact as if it reveals something hidden or corrupt is an attempt to manufacture suspicion around Jewish identity itself.”



The project emerges at a time when Canadian Jewish institutions are facing shootings, attempted arson, vandalism, and rising intimidation, raising fears that publicizing a directory of Jewish spaces linked to IDF service hands bad actors exactly the information they seek.

Canadian Jewish Schools And Shuls Doxxed By Anti-Israel Website

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has no intention of meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at this time, a government official familiar with the situation tells The Times of Israel, despite reports that Netanyahu has been pushing for such a meeting.



According to the official, Cairo has been angered by a range of unresolved disputes with Jerusalem in recent months, significantly lowering the likelihood of a Sissi-Netanyahu summit even as officials in both Jerusalem and Washington express interest in arranging one.



During the Gaza war, Egypt repeatedly cautioned Israel against any military action that could force Palestinians south toward the Sinai Peninsula — a scenario it sees as a national security threat and an absolute red line. Cairo is still concerned Israel has not abandoned such plans, noting that early reconstruction efforts are slated to begin in Rafah, which borders Egypt, the official says.



The official also notes that Israel has only allowed the Rafah Crossing to open for Palestinians leaving Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty argued last week that Cairo views this as an Israeli attempt to reduce the population in Gaza — something Egypt firmly opposes.



Tensions spiked further in October when Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen withdrew from a scheduled signing of a major gas agreement with Egypt, arguing that the deal’s terms were unfair to Israel. The move angered both Washington and Cairo.



Netanyahu, Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, and other officials have repeatedly accused Egypt of deploying excessive troops in the Sinai Peninsula, alleging a breach of the 1979 peace treaty. Egypt has categorically rejected the claims.



Relations between Netanyahu and Sissi have long been fraught, and the two leaders have not spoken since before the Gaza war.



Although Netanyahu has made efforts to repair ties in recent months, the official says Sissi remains unwilling to engage without major changes to Israel’s approach toward Egypt.



The official adds that Sissi is also determined not to serve as a “prop” for Netanyahu during an Israeli election year.

Sissi Refuses Netanyahu Meeting Amid Deepening Egypt-Israel Rift

In the wake of the mass shooting at a Chanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, a similar Chabad event planned in Melbourne has been called off.



According to a message circulated within the community, the Melbourne event was canceled “out of an abundance of caution,” and not due to any specific threat.



At the same time, major cities including Berlin, London, and New York have moved to significantly increase security around Hanukkah gatherings following the attack on the Jewish holiday event in Australia.



In Berlin, police announced heightened security near the Brandenburg Gate, where a large electric menorah is scheduled to be lit for the first night of Hanukkah.



“We have long planned comprehensive security for tonight’s Hanukkah event at the Brandenburg Gate, in light of the events in Sydney, we will further intensify our measures and maintain a strong police presence there,” a police spokesperson said in a post on X.



In the United States, New York City Mayor Eric Adams wrote on X that additional security is being deployed to protect Chanukkah events and synagogues across the city. In Warsaw, armed security at the city’s main synagogue was doubled ahead of its Chanukkah gathering.



London’s Metropolitan Police also confirmed it has bolstered security measures, though officials declined to provide operational details.



“While there is no information to suggest any link between the attack in Sydney and the threat level in London, this morning we are stepping up our police presence, carrying out additional community patrols and engaging with the Jewish community to understand what more we can do in the coming hours and days,” the police said in a statement.



In France, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez instructed local authorities to strengthen security at Jewish institutions throughout the December 14 to 22 period, according to a spokesperson.



The spokesperson said Nunez called for increased deployment of security forces, with heightened vigilance around religious services and large public gatherings, particularly those held in open spaces.

Chanukkah Events Canceled And Security Tightened Worldwide After Sydney Attack

A gunman at Brown University, in Providence opened fire on campus, Police said, prompting an active shooter response and urgent shelter-in-place warnings for students and residents as authorities searched for a suspect.



There are early reports of at least two people killed and 20 injured, eight of which are in critical condition.



The situation remained fluid into the early evening, with Brown University correcting an earlier statement that a suspect had been taken into custody. Police now say that no arrests have been made and that the search is ongoing.



In an emergency alert, the university warned community members to stay hidden and avoid the area around the Barus &amp; Holley Engineering building while law enforcement responded. Multiple police agencies and emergency medical personnel were deployed to the scene.



Providence Police urged the public to shelter in place or avoid the area entirely, citing an active and developing investigation. Officials did not immediately release details on the condition of the victims or the circumstances surrounding the shooting.



Rhode Island’s governor said the state was closely monitoring the situation, with state police and emergency management officials assisting local authorities, and urged the public to follow official guidance and stay away from the area.



President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting, noting that the FBI was on scene. He offered prayers for the victims and their families.



Brown University issued a campus-wide alert warning of immediate danger near the engineering complex, stating: “BrownUAlert: 1st, Urgent: There&#8217;s an active shooter near Barus &amp; Holley Engineering. Lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice. Remember: RUN, if you are in the affected location, evacuate safely if you can; HIDE, if evacuation is not possible, take cover; FIGHT, as a last resort, take action to protect yourself. Stay tuned for further safety information.”



City officials said they were still gathering information as the response continued. Kristy DosReis, the city’s chief public information officer, said more details would be released as they become available.



The shooting occurred during a busy time on campus, as Saturday marked the second day of final exams for the fall semester. Brown University is a private Ivy League institution with approximately 7,300 undergraduate students and just over 3,000 graduate students.



Authorities continued to ask anyone near the campus to remain sheltered and to monitor official alerts as the investigation unfolded.

Mass Shooting at Brown University, Suspect at Large

Columbia University’s antisemitism task force released its fourth and final report this week, concluding that Jewish and Israeli students were routinely singled out and scapegoated in classrooms, and that the school’s Middle East studies department contained very few faculty members who were not openly anti-Zionist.



The task force interviewed Jewish and Israeli students and documented numerous “disturbing incidents,” particularly in academic settings. The report emphasized the need to uphold free speech and academic freedom while also addressing discrimination against Jews.



“We urge the University to protect freedom of expression to the maximum extent possible while also complying with antidiscrimination laws. Censorship has no place at Columbia. Neither does discrimination,” the report said.



The Task Force on Antisemitism, created during the campus upheaval following the October 2023 Hamas invasion of Israel and the Gaza war that followed, is composed of faculty tasked with investigating these concerns.



The 70-page report identified the “most flagrant” episode as the disruption of a course taught by an Israeli professor at the start of the spring 2025 semester. The class was one of the few options for students “who did not want to study the Middle East only from an anti-Zionist perspective,” and activists targeted it because it was “designed to study Zionism, rather than merely condemn it.”



University officials condemned the disruption and disciplined the participating students. In response, activists staged further demonstrations, occupying a campus building and a library and forcing classes to be disrupted or canceled. At least one professor canceled class to allow students to join the protest, the report noted.



The task force also found that some instructors directly targeted Jewish and Israeli students for “personal scapegoating,” behavior that violates Department of Education guidelines.



One instructor told an Israeli student, “You must know a lot about settler colonialism. How do you feel about that?” Another was labeled an occupier. An Israeli IDF veteran described a class in which the IDF was portrayed as an “army of murderers,” and the instructor pointed at her and said she should be considered one of them.



Another Jewish student, who was not Israeli, was told, “It’s such a shame that your people survived in order to commit mass genocide.” Many students said they concealed their identities to avoid harassment.



In a mandatory course at the Mailman School of Public Health with more than 400 students, a teacher accused three Jewish donors of “laundering blood money” and referred to Israel as “so-called Israel,” later dismissing concerns as coming from “privileged white students.”



Some instructors encouraged students to attend anti-Israel protests during class time, canceled class for demonstrations, moved sessions off campus for “political organizing,” and even held classes inside the protest encampment, where “Zionists” were barred.



Students said teachers routinely inserted moral denunciations of Israel into unrelated subjects. An astronomy class opened with discussion of the “genocide” in Gaza. In an introductory Arabic class, students learned the sentence, “The Zionist lobby is the most supportive of Joe Biden.” Another instructor told a class on advocacy that reports of Hamas abuse were exaggerated or fabricated.



Graduate students encouraged one another to “teach for Palestine” across all disciplines, and anti-Zionist narratives became standard in courses on women&#8217;s studies, architecture, photography, music, and nonprofit management.



Middle East–focused classes were described as dominated by anti-Israel rhetoric and outright falsity. One instructor claimed Theodor Herzl was an antisemite and that Eastern European Jews were not actually Jewish.



Jewish and Israeli students said they could not pursue Middle East studies meaningfully because most courses treated Zionism and Israel as inherently illegitimate. The report said, “Columbia lacks full-time tenure line faculty expertise in Middle East history, politics, political economy and policy that is not explicitly anti-Zionist,” urging the university to broaden its academic diversity.



In another case, a student who privately emailed a professor regarding a course’s framing of the conflict later found the message read aloud in class without permission, with the instructor arguing against its contents.



The task force underscored that Jews are a protected class under federal law and that labeling Jews or Israelis as “Zionists” does not diminish discriminatory behavior.



The report called for new classroom protections, including preventing disruptions, stopping harassment, avoiding coercion to participate in protests, eliminating stereotypes, and keeping contentious political issues out of unrelated courses.



It also condemned the academic boycott of Israeli universities, a key demand of anti-Zionist activists, who have pressed Columbia to cut ties with Tel Aviv University.



Emphasizing the importance of free expression, the report cautioned faculty about making public statements in media or on social platforms “on which they are not academic experts.” Students were angered by comments from faculty that appeared to “condone (or even celebrate) terrorist atrocities, deploy antisemitic tropes, and peddle bigoted stereotypes.”



Jewish student Elisha Baker wrote in the Columbia Spectator that he appreciated the university’s steps to address antisemitism but said faculty who “supported, affiliated with, and physically enforced the exclusionary [protest] encampment” faced no consequences.



“The unresolved question of faculty responsibility remains an open wound,” he wrote. “The University’s silence on the issue of faculty behavior suggests that it is still treating it as a delicate matter at best. That instinct is understandable given the backlash that would likely follow any faculty sanctions, but it is not morally defensible.”



Earlier reports from the task force addressed protest policies, the documented antisemitism faced by Jewish students, and the overall campus environment.



“While we know there is more work to do, we’re very grateful to be in a new and much better place today,” acting president Claire Shipman said in a statement on Tuesday, praising the committee’s efforts and the changes implemented over the past two years.

Columbia’s Final Antisemitism Report: Widespread Targeting Of Jewish Students, Faculty on Mideast Studies Anti-Zionist

The State Department has canceled a record 85,000 visas as the Trump administration increases scrutiny of visitors to the United States, Fox News reported Tuesday.



Of those revoked, more than 8,000 were student visas; more than double the total in 2024, a State Department official told the news outlet.



Officials cited a range of reasons for revoking the visas, including DUIs, assaults, and theft, which together accounted for nearly half of all revocations over the past year.



“These are people who pose a direct threat to our communities’ safety, and we do not want to have them in our country,” the official said.



In recent weeks, the administration has ordered U.S. consular officers to apply heightened scrutiny to H-1B visa applicants and reject anyone found to have participated in “censorship or attempted censorship” of protected speech in the United States.



The administration also announced a pause on immigration from 19 countries already under partial or full travel restrictions.



Last week, the State Department introduced a new visa-restriction policy in response to a wave of anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria, targeting individuals accused of orchestrating religious violence against Christians both in the West African nation and internationally.



In addition, visas and travel privileges were revoked for six Mexican executives working at an air travel company, along with their immediate family members.



U.S. officials said the group collaborated with smuggling networks to coordinate transportation and provide fraudulent travel documents for migrants, including minors, moving from the Caribbean and other regions through Central America, many of whom attempted to reach the United States.



The Trump administration has signaled that student visa vetting will continue as an ongoing process rather than a one-time check, reinforcing its focus on safeguarding U.S. communities.

Trump Administration Revokes Record 85K Visas Over Safety Concerns

A masked University of California, Santa Barbara staffer allegedly helped turn a crowd of anti-Israel demonstrators against a Jewish student leader — while the university repeatedly brushed aside her requests for protection, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday.



Tessa Veksler, 23, a Manhattan resident who studied political science and communications, says she endured a sustained, hostile antisemitic campaign after she condemned the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack that killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, the complaint states.



According to the suit, tensions reached their peak in February 2024 when Veksler, then the student body president, approached a group of masked anti-Israel protesters in an effort to find common ground.



Veksler says she was routinely targeted by anti-Israel demonstrators at UC Santa Barbara after speaking out against the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.



Signs and flyers posted throughout the UCSB Multicultural Center targeted Veksler, some with threatening language.



“And she believed she was making progress until a UCSB representative, defendant Doe 1, and also wearing a mask, joined the meeting and began harassing Tessa and purposefully inciting the crowd’s antisemitic animus toward Tessa,” the lawsuit says.



The complaint alleges the staffer repeatedly cut Veksler off and encouraged the crowd to become more hostile toward her.



The confrontation was only one example of the antisemitism Veksler claims to have faced throughout the 2023–24 academic year, with administrators allegedly doing almost nothing to shield her from ongoing abuse.



UCSB officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



Veksler, now living in New York City, has since become an outspoken advocate against antisemitism.



She says the harassment began soon after she condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault — which also saw 251 people kidnapped and triggered the war in Gaza.



After posting her condemnation online, Veksler found herself labeled as “supporting genocide,” and campus posters began circulating that branded her a “Zionist” and demanded she step down from her role, according to the lawsuit.



The campaign was centered around the university’s Multicultural Center, which sits along the route to her office, effectively pushing her — and other Jewish students — away from a space intended to be welcoming.



A poster listing the 2023–24 Executive Officers, including Veksler, was vandalized.



Some signs read, “AS president is racist Zionist,” and “Get these Zionists out of office.” Another warned, “You can run but you can’t hide Tessa Veksler.” Her phone number appeared on one poster, and students even called her a “Zionist dog,” according to the filing.



The complaint says the official MCC Instagram account also shared an image of one of the posters.



“All of these threats and this harassment took place under the watchful eye of the University and its administrators. But the UCSB did nothing, despite its elaborate anti-discrimination Policy and Tessa’s repeated pleas for help,” the lawsuit states.



Veksler says the university repeatedly failed to intervene or act promptly as the harassment escalated.



“The university, in short, abandoned Tessa to the antisemitic mob, discarded its own written Policy intended to prevent that harassment, and allowed and facilitated an insidious injustice to continue unabated,” the suit claims.



The university issued a statement on Feb. 26, 2024, denouncing attacks on students over the Middle East conflict, though it did not mention Veksler by name.



Veksler, who later sought treatment after experiencing panic attacks and PTSD linked to the harassment, avoided campus entirely during her final exams, according to the lawsuit.



She is seeking unspecified damages from UCSB and 20 staff members and representatives for allegedly violating her civil rights and failing to safeguard her freedom of speech and personal safety

Santa Barbara College Staffer Accused Of Stirring Antisemitic Mob Against Jewish Student Leader, Lawsuit Says

Religious Zionism chair Betzalel Smotrich denied reports that the party is set to back the government&#8217;s Charedi draft bill, following a meeting with rabbis on Tuesday. 



Tuesday’s meeting, according to Arutz 7, focused on the vocal public opposition that erupted over the possibility that the party might endorse the bill. Party MKs joined a panel of rabbis who were invited to outline their concerns about the bill’s repercussions.



Among those present were Rabbi Chaim Gantz, Rabbi Chananel Etrog, Rabbi Chaim Wolfson, Rabbi Eliyahu Blumenzwieg, and Rabbi Yaakov Medan. Notably absent were Rabbi Tzvi Thau, rabbinic leader of Religious Zionism&#8217;s faction, and other rabbanim known as &#8220;Charedi-Dati Leumi.&#8221; Rabbi Thau and other prominent figures, such as Rabbi David Chai Hakohen, instructed their followers to join the massive &#8220;million march&#8221; in October to oppose the draft.



According to the Religious Finish party’s statement, the gathering was intended to “examine ways to enable significant Charedi enlistment to the IDF,” reflecting the sharp disagreements over the bill’s current terms. Opinions varied widely: some warned that the proposal would achieve little in practice, while others cautioned that the party risked damaging its credibility with the religious Zionist public following earlier unfulfilled assurances to the Hesder yeshivas, and breaking its working relationships with Likud and Charedi parties.



By the meeting’s end, participants agreed that the party should push for changes to the legislation, according to Arutz 7, which reported that Smotrich adopted the rabbis’ stance.



After news broke that the party would support the bill, Religious Zionism released a statement that insists it will “vote only for a law that will bring about real and rapid enlistment of Charedim into the IDF, in order to meet Israel’s security needs and ease the burden on the fighters and their families.” According to the party’s statement, “Last night, a joint meeting was held between the faction members and a broad forum of yeshiva heads, whose tens of thousands of students are leading the enlistment in this war, both in regular army service and in the reserves. Contrary to various reports, no practical decisions have yet been made, and the faction is consolidating its demands and conditions for supporting the law.&#8221;

Smotrich Denies Reports that Party Will Back Draft Bill

Newly released video shows six Israeli hostages lighting Chanukkah candles shortly before they were murdered in captivity, with Hersh Goldberg-Polin Hy’d drawing a parallel between their situation and that of Jews under Nazi rule.



“There’s that picture of the Chanukkiah with a [Nazi flag] above it,” Goldberg-Polin says in one of the clips broadcast on Channel 12’s “Uvda.”



At another point, one of the hostages quips, “Where are the sufganiyot?” [doughnuts]



Hersh replies, “We’re waiting for Roladin in Israel,” referencing the bakery famous for its elaborate Chanukkah donuts.



Additional footage shows the group marking New Year’s Eve 2024 and occasionally receiving fruit, part of what their captors attempted to portray as a different reality than the one they endured.



The six hostages; Hersh Goldberg-Polin Hy&#8217;d, 23, Eden Yerushalmi Hy&#8217;d, 24, Ori Danino Hy&#8217;d, 25, Alex Lobanov Hy&#8217;d, 32, Carmel Gat Hy&#8217;d, 40, and Almog Sarusi Hy&#8217;d, 27, were murdered by their Hamas captors inside a tunnel in Rafah’s Tel Sultan neighborhood on August 29, 2024, and were found by IDF troops two days later.



The videos capture each of them appearing gaunt but alive, with some managing to smile. Goldberg-Polin is seen missing the lower half of his left arm, lost in the October 7 grenade attack.



Family members of all six hostages speak in the “Uvda” episode, describing the emotional weight of seeing their loved ones on camera.



“It’s very confusing, it feels like he’s right there,” says Rachel Goldberg. “And it was hours of footage.”



Almog Sarusi’s father remarks on how his son is smiling throughout the recordings.



During the war, whenever the IDF uncovered evidence of hostages in Gaza, including video material, it was shown to families, who often later released it publicly.



The footage shows the six seated together after lighting candles using makeshift paper-cup holders, playing cards while resting on thin mattresses.



The Chanukkah scenes appear to have been recorded around 80 days into their captivity.



“What heroes,” says Goldberg-Polin. “Six young luminous people who did everything right and they stayed alive and they did their part, and for us to claim we brought them back, in bags, bags of children to their parents, please don’t count Hersh among the people you saved.”

Footage Reveals Hostages Lit Chanukkah Candles in Gaza Tunnel Before Being Murdered

The U.S. Treasury is moving forward with plans to issue a commemorative $1 coin featuring the likeness of President Donald Trump, a decision that would break with the long-standing historical precedent of not featuring living presidents on United States currency.



A draft rendering of the proposed coin, circulated by the Treasury Department, depicts President Trump’s profile superimposed over the motto: “Liberty.” The initiative is timed to coincide with the nation’s 250th birthday celebration next year.



The move underscores the administration’s broader effort to leave a distinct mark on the presidency and federal institutions. This includes a shift in how American history is represented on official currency and follows an earlier decision by the administration to stop issuing new pennies.



In response to the Treasury’s plan, Senate Democrats have introduced legislation aimed at blocking the production of the coin. On Tuesday, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the &#8220;Change Corruption Act,&#8221; a bill that would explicitly prohibit any United States currency from featuring the likeness of a living or sitting president.



The bill is cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). “Our legislation would codify this country’s long-standing tradition of not putting living presidents on American coins. Congress must pass it without delay,” Senator Cortez Masto said in a statement. “While monarchs put their faces on coins, America has never had and never will have a king.”



Senator Merkley offered sharp criticism of the proposal, characterizing it as a departure from democratic norms. “President Trump’s self-celebrating maneuvers are authoritarian actions worthy of dictators like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, not the United States of America,” Merkley stated. He added that the country must reject efforts to “dismantle our ‘We, The People’ republic.”



Despite the introduction of the bill, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is considered unlikely to schedule the legislation for a vote on the Senate floor in the near future.



The news of the Trump dollar coin comes as the U.S. Mint released final designs on Thursday for a series of historical quarters also celebrating the upcoming semiquincentennial. The confirmed designs reflect a shift in focus regarding how the nation’s history is commemorated.



While previous recommendations for the tribute quarters included themes related to abolition, women’s suffrage, and the Civil Rights movement, the finalized designs center on a more traditional view of American history. The new quarters will feature George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, and a depiction of pilgrims celebrating the Mayflower Compact.



Designs that were previously considered but ultimately rejected included those honoring abolitionist Frederick Douglass, suffragettes holding &#8220;votes for women&#8221; banners, and Ruby Bridges, the first Black student to integrate her elementary school.



In a statement to CNN on Friday, the U.S. Mint said the new designs are intended to celebrate “American history and the founding of our great nation.”



Kristie McNally, the acting director of the Mint, stated, “The designs on these historic coins depict the story of America’s journey toward a ‘more perfect union,’ and celebrate America’s defining ideals of liberty.”

US Treasury  Confirms Commemorative Trump Coin, Democrats Draft Opposition Bill

A topical treatment used previously for acne has shown strong results in reducing male-pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA).



Experts say the findings for clascoterone are promising, potentially marking the first new approach to reversing hair loss in decades.



Cosmo Pharmaceuticals conducted two large, late-stage trials in Ireland, named Scalp 1 and Scalp 2, which enrolled a combined 1,465 men across the U.S. and Europe.



Participants applied either the clascoterone solution or a placebo under randomized conditions. The primary measure of success was the “target-area hair count” (TAHC), which counts hairs in a defined area of the scalp.



Clascoterone works by blocking the action of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) directly at hair follicle receptors, rather than affecting hormones system-wide, according to Cosmo Pharmaceuticals. This localized approach targets the biological root cause of AGA without exposing the entire body to additional hormones.



In Scalp 1, participants using clascoterone showed a 539% relative improvement in hair count compared with the placebo group. Scalp 2 participants showed a 168% relative improvement.



Maria Hordinsky, M.D., from the University of Minnesota’s Department of Dermatology, told Fox News: “For decades, patients have had to choose between available treatment options with limited efficacy or safety issues due to systemic hormonal exposure, often resulting in patients not treating their hair loss at all. These findings show the potential for clascoterone 5% topical solution to change that equation by delivering real, measurable regrowth with negligible systemic exposure.”



Patient-reported outcomes were also positive. When data from both trials were combined, improvements were described as statistically significant and aligned with the counted-hair results.



Marc Siegel, M.D., senior medical analyst for Fox News, commented: “We really don&#8217;t have a very effective cream or lotion for hair loss, so this may be valuable for widespread clinical use.”



Side effects in the trials were minimal and similar to the placebo group, with the most common issue being local irritation. Researchers reported no unexpected adverse effects.



Siegel cautioned that allergic reactions or rare cases of adrenal insufficiency could occur because clascoterone blocks androgens, which may slightly affect adrenal gland function.



Cosmo Pharmaceuticals plans to complete a full 12-month safety follow-up by spring 2026 before seeking regulatory approval in the U.S. and Europe. If approved, clascoterone would be the first treatment specifically designed to block DHT directly at the hair follicle for male-pattern baldness.



Full data, including long-term results and detailed hair-count changes, are still pending regulatory review. Individual results may vary depending on baseline hair levels.

Experimental Baldness Treatment Shows Major Hair-Regrowth Gains in Late-Stage Trials

A senior Hamas commander was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Saturday afternoon, the IDF announced, describing the operation as a response to repeated ceasefire violations by the terrorist organization.



Raad Saad, who headed Hamas’s weapons manufacturing headquarters and was a central planner of the October 7, 2023 massacre, was among the last remaining senior figures in Hamas’s military leadership inside Gaza. He was considered second only to Hamas’s current military chief, Izz al-Din Haddad. Sunday marked 800 days since the October 7 attack.



According to Palestinian media, the strike targeted a vehicle traveling along the coastal Rashid Road on the Hamas-controlled side of the Gaza ceasefire line, killing four people and injuring more than 20 others.



Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said in a joint statement that Saad was eliminated in retaliation for an explosive device attack in southern Gaza several hours earlier that lightly wounded two IDF reservists.



The IDF said separately that in recent weeks it had identified “repeated attempts by the Hamas terror organization to carry out terrorist attacks… actions that constitute a blatant violation of the agreement, as occurred this morning.”



The military added that alongside these attacks, Hamas was attempting to rebuild its capabilities. It said Saad “led Hamas’s force buildup, and his elimination constitutes a significant blow to the organization’s ability to rearm.”



The IDF released footage of the airstrike. A military source said that “Saad had long been a target for elimination,” and that the operation was carried out after new intelligence pinpointed his location.



Channel 13 quoted a defense official as saying that Haddad, Hamas’s military chief, “is also in the crosshairs.”



“When there is an opportunity, he will be eliminated, even during the ceasefire,” the official said.



Israel did not provide advance notice to the United States ahead of Saturday’s strike, according to Axios.



In its statement, the IDF said Saad “was a leading figure in the leadership of Hamas’s military wing in recent months and was directly responsible for violations of the ceasefire agreement by the Hamas terror organization.” It added that he continued overseeing weapons production in Gaza even during the ceasefire.



The military detailed Saad’s long history in Hamas, noting his close ties to founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, assassinated in 2004; military chief Mohammed Deif, killed in July 2024; and former deputy military chief Marwan Issa, assassinated in March 2024.



According to the IDF, Saad founded and commanded Hamas’s Gaza City Brigade, helped establish its naval force, and later became head of the organization’s operations headquarters.



While serving in that role, Saad was one of the main architects of Hamas’s plan to invade Israel and overwhelm the IDF’s Gaza Division — a plan known in the military as “Jericho’s Walls” — which was carried out on October 7, 2023 and triggered the war.



The IDF said Saad “participated in the shaping and construction” of the Jericho’s Walls plan, “upon which Hamas’s plans for the October 7 massacre were based.”



The military also said Saad helped establish Hamas’s elite Nukhba Force, which led the October 7 invasion into Israel.



In 2021, Saad was removed from his post as operations chief by then-Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar, reportedly due to personal disputes. He later held other senior roles and eventually became head of Hamas’s weapons manufacturing headquarters and a deputy to Haddad.



The IDF said Saad was responsible for “the production of all types of weapons for Hamas’s military wing ahead of the October 7 massacre, and later also for the rehabilitation of Hamas’s weapons production capabilities during the war.”



“Saad is responsible for the deaths of many soldiers who were killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of explosive devices manufactured by the weapons production headquarters during the war,” the military added.



Netanyahu and Katz said Saad “was one of the architects of the October 7 massacre and in recent days had been engaged in restoring the terror organization and in planning and carrying out attacks against Israel, as well as rebuilding an attack force, in blatant violation of the ceasefire rules and Hamas’s commitments to respect President [Donald] Trump’s plan.”



“Instead of advancing disarmament, he was engaged in rearmament for acts of terror,” they said.



They added that “anyone who raises a hand against Israel and harms IDF soldiers, his hand will be cut off in Gaza and anywhere else.”



Saad had survived multiple previous assassination attempts, including one in June 2024. He was believed to have been inside Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital when Israeli forces raided the facility in March 2024, though he reportedly escaped at that time.



He was first jailed by Israel in 1990 over Hamas activity, and later imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority in the late 1990s.



Following the strike, Hamas issued a statement that did not name Saad, saying: “This crime confirms again that the occupation is deliberately seeking to undermine the ceasefire agreement and thwart it with continuously escalating violations.”



Israel, the terrorist group claimed, “bears the full responsibility for the results of its crimes against our Palestinian nation,” and it called on mediators and guarantor states “to restrain” Israel.



Earlier on Saturday, two IDF reservists were lightly wounded by an explosive device in southern Gaza while clearing terror infrastructure, according to the military. The soldiers were hospitalized and their families were notified.



The IDF also said it killed a Palestinian terror operative who crossed the Gaza ceasefire line in the north and approached troops from the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade “in a way that posed an immediate threat.” Palestinian media identified the individual as Mohammed Sabri Al-Adham, 19, who was killed in the Jabalia area.



In a separate incident on Friday, the IDF said two operatives crossed the ceasefire line in southern Gaza and moved toward troops from the 7th Armored Brigade.



“The troops eliminated one terrorist to remove the threat,” the army said.



Hamas claims that more than 70,000 people in Gaza have been killed or are presumed dead since the fighting began, a figure that cannot be independently verified and does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.



Israel says it has killed more than 22,000 combatants in Gaza as of August, along with another 1,600 terrorists inside Israel during the October 7 onslaught. Israeli officials say the military works to minimize civilian casualties and emphasize that Hamas embeds its operations among civilians, using homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques as cover.

Top Hamas Commander Behind Oct. 7 Killed In Gaza Strike

A political science professor at the University of Arkansas has been removed from her leadership role, but still is employed, after she praised Iran’s Supreme Leader using official university letterhead, supported a man jailed for killing Iranian political prisoners and repeatedly attacked Israel, according to documents obtained by The New York Post.



University officials confirmed that Shirin Saeidi, an assistant professor of political science and now-former head of the university’s Middle East Studies program, she was removed from her position Friday, as lawmakers and Iranian dissidents called for further disciplinary action.



According to the U.S.-based Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists (AAIRIA), Saeidi used official University of Arkansas letterhead to advocate for the release of Hamid Nouri, who was convicted by a Swedish court in 2022 for ordering the execution of thousands of political prisoners at Iran’s Gohardasht Prison in 1988. AAIRIA provided copies of the correspondence to The New York Post.



Nouri, who served as assistant deputy prosecutor at Karaj Prison near Tehran, was freed last year as part of a prisoner exchange between Iran and Sweden.



In social media posts shared on X in November, Saeidi praised Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, offering prayers for his protection and writing that he is “the leader who kept Iran intact during the Israeli attack, May god protect you,” referring to the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack against Israel.



Saeidi has also referred to Israel as a “terrorist state” and a “genocidal state” in posts on X. She did not respond to a request for comment from The Post.



U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sharply criticized Saeidi in a statement to The Post.



“Whether Shirin Saeidi should be fired is a decision for the administration and the UA board. But praising the Iranian leader — who calls not only for the slaughter of Jews but also calls for the destruction of America — makes me think this deranged professor would probably be better suited to being given a one-way ticket to Tehran and taking a job of teaching in their hate-infested schools,” Huckabee said.



AAIRIA activists said they also organized a Change.org petition that collected 3,782 signatures urging the university to take action against Saeidi.



“For forty-six years, Iranians have resisted this erasure of their memories, their testimonies, and their courage,” said Lawdan Bazargan, a former political prisoner in Iran and a human rights activist.



“That is why the regime relies on ideologues and useful idiots in Western institutions to launder its image,” she said. “Dr. Saeidi’s work is part of that machinery, an academic façade built on falsified narratives to soften the truth about Iran’s prisons and the resistance that takes place inside them.”



Bazargan told The Post that the FBI contacted her in May regarding allegations involving Saeidi, prompting AAIRIA to examine her activities more closely.



Republican Arkansas State Rep. Mary Bentley said she was alarmed by the allegations.



“I can assure you that my constituents do not want their tax dollars being used to support unethical and antisemitic behavior from professors at our public universities,” Bentley said.



Iranian dissident and journalist Masih Alinejad, who lives in Brooklyn and was targeted by the Iranian regime in 2021, also condemned Saeidi and called on President Donald Trump to act against what she described as the spread of Iranian regime sympathizers.



“She regularly attacks me and other human rights activists who dare to stand up to the same dictator,” Alinejad wrote on X, referring to Saeidi.



According to AAIRIA, Saeidi also endorsed petitions against Israel in both 2023 and 2025.



“You can’t get any more antisemitic than that,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. “Only a week after the horrors on Oct 7, Saeidi chose to whitewash the terrorist crimes of Hamas.”

University Of Arkansas Removes Antisemitic Professor From Program After Praising Iran, Remains Employed

A disturbing new study has shattered the myth of West Germany’s “clean slate” after World War II, revealing that the Chancellery, the very heart of the country’s democracy, was infested with former Nazi officials who faced no consequences for their crimes.



Instead of facing justice, the architects of the Third Reich were handed the keys to the new Federal Republic.



According to a six-year analysis of personnel files by the Institute of Contemporary History Munich-Berlin and the Leibniz Center for Contemporary History Potsdam, the government of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer was riddled with unrepentant Nazis. The study, titled &#8220;The Chancellery: West German Democracy and the Nazi Past,&#8221; exposes a government machinery where former SS officers and Holocaust perpetrators did not just survive; they thrived.



The statistics presented by the researchers are startling. Of the 107 senior staff analyzed, a staggering 66 percent of those hired to work for the Chancellery through 1958 were former Nazi Party members.



Even more alarming, 20 of these high-ranking officials had been members of Nazi paramilitaries and organizations, including the SS, the SA, the National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK), and the National Socialist People’s Welfare (NSV). When looking at civil servants born before 1918 who served in the Chancellery, the study found that only three out of 50 had any record of resisting the Nazis. The vast majority were complicit, having served as officers in the Wehrmacht or administrators in Nazi-occupied Europe.



The study highlights specific individuals whose post-war rehabilitation insults the memory of the millions murdered by the regime they served.



Most notorious was Hans Globke, Adenauer’s top aide for a decade. Far from a low-level functionary, Globke was instrumental in the legal framework of the Holocaust. He helped draft the antisemitic 1936 Nuremberg Laws and wrote commentaries that courts used to harshly interpret racial rules. He was responsible for the 1939 law forcing Jews to adopt the names &#8220;Israel&#8221; or &#8220;Sara&#8221; and admitted under interrogation to knowing about the mass killings. Yet, he controlled civil service recruitment in the new democracy.



Then there was Friedrich Vialon, a man who joined the Nazi Party and the SA immediately after Hitler’s seizure of power. During the war, Vialon operated in the Reich Commissariat Ostland in the Baltic States, where he oversaw the finance department. Under his watch, the administration &#8220;rented&#8221; out Jews as slave laborers to companies, a program that more than doubled in size to nearly 14,000 enslaved people. Vialon was a frequent guest at the Salaspils concentration camp and helped organize the looting of jewelry and clothes from murdered Jews. Despite this, he rose to become a state secretary in the post-war Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation.



Perhaps most grotesque is the revelation that these officials used their diplomatic power to cast Germany as the victim of &#8220;anti-German&#8221; prejudice.



In the 1960s, the West German embassy in Washington, staffed by former Nazis, blamed &#8220;Jewish liberals&#8221; for American television shows that portrayed Wehrmacht soldiers as villains. Georg von Lilienfeld, a diplomat who wrote a 1965 memo decrying Jewish influence in the media, was himself a former Nazi who had worked in the Foreign Office devising propaganda against America.



Diplomats complained about shows like Combat! and The Rat Patrol, claiming they were unfair. The German embassy in Canada even attacked the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for airing a documentary on the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.



The study makes clear that the post-war West German government did not merely look the other way; it actively integrated men who had plundered Jewish wealth, drafted race laws, and managed slave labor, allowing them to shape the &#8220;new&#8221; Germany while suppressing the truth of their pasts.

Study Reveals Post-War West Germany Was Governed by Nazis

One person has died and several others were injured following a shooting on Kentucky State University’s campus Tuesday.



The Frankfort Police Department said it responded to reports of an active shooter on campus around 3:35 p.m.



Police confirmed that one person was killed and another is hospitalized in critical condition.



A university official told WKYT that the incident occurred in the area of south campus.



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Authorities report that a suspect is in custody. Kentucky State University remains on lockdown until further notice.



The university also confirmed that multiple people sustained injuries, though their conditions have not been disclosed.



Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear commented on the incident, saying: “We are aware of a reported shooting at Kentucky State University in Frankfort. At this time, we are aware of some injuries. We will share more information as available. Law enforcement are on scene, and a suspect has been arrested. Let’s pray for all those affected.”

One Dead, Multiple Injured After Shooting on Kentucky State University Campus; Suspect in Custody

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during Sunday’s weekly cabinet meeting that Israel is “approaching the completion of the first phase” of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza.



He added that Israel is continuing efforts to bring back Rani Gvili Hy’d, whom he described as “of blessed memory, a hero of Israel,” referring to the last Israeli hostage murdered in Gaza.



Speaking at a special cabinet session in Dimona, Netanyahu said Israel is doing “a great deal” to recover him, including efforts “here, in Cairo, and in other places.”



Addressing recent security developments, Netanyahu spoke after Israel assassinated senior Hamas terrorist Ra’ad Sa’ad over the weekend, saying Israel’s policy remains unequivocal. “We will not tolerate systematic violations of the ceasefire agreement to which Hamas is committed under the plan. Anyone who attempts to send terror, direct terror, or organize terror against us will be precisely targeted, exactly as the US secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, said yesterday.



“Their policy is our policy. There is no difference between them. This is how we act, and this is how we will continue to act,” he said.



Netanyahu said Sa’ad had been at the forefront of Hamas’s efforts to rebuild its military capabilities.



“I said that in English we speak about disarmament, demilitarization, while he was doing remilitarization. That is, he was rearming, reorganizing, essentially organizing the continuation of the assault, in complete contradiction to the principles that Hamas ostensibly accepted by adopting the Trump plan.”

Netanyahu Says Israel Nearing End Of First Phase Of Gaza Plan, Warns Terrorists Will Be Targeted

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has abandoned Ukraine’s long-standing bid to join NATO as he heads into critical peace negotiations with the United States and European allies in Berlin, the British Independent reported Sunday.



The decision marks a major reversal, with Zelensky describing the move as a “compromise” aimed at bringing an end to the war with Russia. Moscow has, since the beginning of the war, framed its invasion as defensive due to Ukraine&#8217;s NATO goals.



Instead of Nato membership, Zelensky said Ukraine will now seek legally binding Western security guarantees to protect the country from future aggression.



The shift comes as Zelensky prepares for another round of negotiations in Berlin with US envoys and European leaders, as efforts intensify to reach a peace agreement.



US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were seen entering a hotel in central Berlin on Sunday, ahead of the talks.



They are expected to meet Zelensky alongside European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.



Starmer is attending the talks as Britain continues discussions on a proposed plan to use frozen Russian sovereign assets to help finance support for Kyiv.



On Saturday, Starmer spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about the proposal and ongoing work on US-led peace initiatives.



Looking ahead to Monday’s talks, Zelensky said in a late Saturday address to the nation: “I will be meeting with envoys of President Trump, and there will also be meetings with our European partners, with many leaders, concerning the foundation of peace &#8211; a political agreement to end the war.”



The move also aligns with one of Moscow’s key war demands, though Kyiv has continued to resist pressure to surrender territory to Russia.



“From the very beginning, Ukraine&#8217;s desire was to join Nato, these are real security guarantees. Some partners from the US and Europe did not support this direction,” Zelensky said in response to reporters’ questions during a WhatsApp chat.



“Thus, today, bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the US, Article 5-like guarantees for us from the US, and security guarantees from European colleagues, as well as other countries, Canada, Japan, are an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion,” he added.



Zelensky also said that a ceasefire along the current front lines could be a fair solution.



Russia has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its forces from parts of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions that Kyiv still controls. Zelensky rejected that proposal in comments to reporters, saying such an outcome would be unfair and stressing that territorial issues remain unresolved and extremely sensitive.



Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine formally renounce its Nato ambitions, pull troops from roughly 10 percent of the Donbas still under Ukrainian control, and accept permanent neutrality with no Nato forces stationed on its soil.



Britain, France and Germany have been working to refine US peace proposals, which in a draft revealed last month reportedly called on Ukraine to concede additional territory, abandon Nato ambitions and accept limits on its military.



European leaders have described the moment as critical for Ukraine’s future, while also seeking ways to stabilize Kyiv’s finances by using frozen Russian central bank assets to fund both military and civilian needs.



Britain has said it is prepared to move in coordination with the European Union to unlock immobilized Russian assets, most of which are held in Belgium.



Belgium has so far resisted the move, urging other EU states to share the financial risk amid concerns it could be left liable if Russia successfully challenges the plan.

Zelensky Drops NATO Bid Ahead Of Berlin Peace Talks With US And Europe

Former Vice President Kamala Harris appears to be laying the groundwork for another presidential bid in 2028, signaling to potential rivals and party donors that she intends to remain a central figure in the Democratic Party, according to a Sunday report from Axios.



The news outlet reported that Harris used the Democratic National Committee’s winter meeting in Los Angeles this week to debut a sharper, anti-establishment message, distancing herself from the policies of the previous administration she served in.



In a speech to Democratic officials on Friday, Harris reportedly railed against the status quo, declaring that &#8220;both parties have failed to hold the public&#8217;s trust.&#8221;



&#8220;Government is viewed as fundamentally unable to meet the needs of its people,&#8221; Harris said. &#8220;People are done with the status quo and they&#8217;re ready to break things to force change.&#8221;



While Harris spent much of the 2024 campaign defending President Biden’s record, her new rhetoric strikes a different tone. She argued that the country &#8220;cannot afford to be nostalgic for a flawed system that failed so many,&#8221; and described President Trump not as an anomaly, but as a &#8220;symptom&#8221; of broader systemic issues.



The former Vice President’s actions suggest a strategic pivot toward a future campaign. She has expanded the tour for her book, &#8220;107 Days,&#8221; which chronicles her short 2024 campaign. New stops scheduled for early 2026 include South Carolina, a historically critical primary state, as well as cities with significant Black voter populations such as Detroit, Memphis, and Montgomery.



Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were active at the DNC meeting, mingling with state party chairs and national officials. During a reception on Wednesday, DNC Chair Ken Martin reportedly introduced Emhoff as the former second gentleman, quipping that he could be the &#8220;future first gentleman.&#8221;



Despite concerns from some party leaders about her electability, early polling data shows Harris remains a frontrunner. Morning Consult surveys consistently show her leading the field for the 2028 nomination, narrowly outperforming California Governor Gavin Newsom in hypothetical matchups against Vice President JD Vance. However, other polls regarding the key primary state of New Hampshire show her trailing both Newsom and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.



Other potential 2028 contenders were also present in Los Angeles. Governor Newsom met with committee members privately, while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker headlined a fundraiser that brought in over $1 million.



Harris spokesperson Kirsten Allen stated that the former Vice President will approach 2026 with a commitment to &#8220;listening to the American people, reflecting where leadership has fallen short, and helping shape the path forward.&#8221;

Report: Kamala Harris Signaling 2028 Run, Debuts New Anti-Establishment Rhetoric

A suspicious package containing an unknown white powder and political propaganda was delivered today, Thursday, to a US military base at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, causing several people to fall ill and require hospitalization.



The incident prompted an evacuation and ongoing investigation by the Office of Special Investigations, with initial HAZMAT tests showing no immediate hazards, though the base&#8217;s strategic role in hosting VIP travel adds urgency to the probe.

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Multiple Fall I’ll after Suspicious Package Sent to Joint Base Andrews, Investigation Ongoing

A senior Hamas official issued an explicit, global call for murdering Jews, heightening already-intense concerns surrounding ongoing ceasefire negotiations.



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Fathi Hammad, a top Hamas figure, urged Palestinians around the world to carry out attacks. “All of you 7 million Palestinians abroad, enough of the warming up. You have Jews everywhere and we must attack every Jew on the globe by way of slaughter and killing,” he declared.



The video address was discovered and translated by MEMRI.



The statement comes as U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators continue pushing for a ceasefire framework that would include long-delayed hostage releases, expanded humanitarian access, and a phased halt to fighting. Israeli officials have insisted that any agreement must ultimately dismantle Hamas’ military capabilities, while Hamas terrorists have been attempting to extract concessions without surrendering control in Gaza.



The call to genocide comes as a Hamas source told The Times of Israel that the group would only relinquish its weapons as part of negotiations that lead to the creation of a Palestinian state.“This cannot be done by force or ultimatums. Israel used all of its military might for two years [to try and disarm Hamas], and it didn’t work,” the Hamas source said, offering a rare comment to an Israeli outlet.



The next stage of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace initiative depends heavily on Hamas agreeing to disarm, with Israel warning it will restart the war if the terrorists refuse to give up their weapons voluntarily.



Negotiators say one of the main obstacles remains Hamas’ refusal to accept disarmament or meaningful international monitoring mechanisms.



Hammad’s incitement underscores Israel’s argument that Hamas remains fully committed to terrorism and murder rather than compromise. Israeli officials have repeatedly stressed that such rhetoric proves why any deal must prevent Hamas from rearming or reestablishing military rule in Gaza.



Hamas&#8217; founding charter calls for the death of all Jews worldwide.

Video: Hamas Terrorist Leader Urges Global Genocide Against Jews

Jewish community organizations in NYC have urged the City University of New York’s chancellor to take decisive action after protesters targeted the Jewish representative at an interfaith gathering on campus last month.



At the City College of New York event, a Muslim leader staged a walkout in protest of a Hillel director who was present as the Jewish community’s representative.



During the disruption, the Muslim leader accused Hillel director Ilya Bratman of responsibility for suffering in Gaza and led attendees out of the room, prompting backlash from Jewish organizations and elected officials across the city.



In a letter to CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Jewish leaders denounce the walkout as “outrageous” and discriminatory, saying the university’s response has been insufficient.



They write that the incident and the administration’s handling of it “send a clear message to Jewish and Zionist students at CUNY: you do not belong here.”



The letter, dated Monday and shared with The Times of Israel, was signed by New York City Councilmember Eric Dinowitz; Mark Treyger of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York; UJA-Federation CEO Eric Goldstein; ADL regional director Scott Richman; Miriam F. Elman of the Academic Engagement Network; and Josh Kramer of the American Jewish Committee in New York.



Dinowitz, who leads both the city council’s higher education committee and its Jewish caucus, joined the other signatories in urging reforms.



“Against the backdrop of this shameful incident and rising antisemitism on campus, we urge CUNY to take steps to amend its student code of conduct,” the letter states, calling for a “system-wide policy” to protect Jewish students throughout the university network.



CUNY is under federal investigation for allegedly permitting antisemitism to run rampant in its schools among both students and faculty.

Outrage at CUNY After Muslim Leader Stages Walkout During Hillel Rep. Speech

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman formally announced on Tuesday that he is entering the Republican primary for New York governor.



“We want to put New York first, we want to make it more affordable, we want to make New York safer, and we want to make people in New York happy again,” Blakeman told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade.



Gov. Kathy Hochul’s campaign immediately attacked his candidacy, branding him a “MAGA fanboy.”



Asked about Hochul’s remarks, Blakeman hit back, calling the governor a “failure.”



“I made Nassau County the safest county in America. We&#8217;re one of the most prosperous counties in America. I cut taxes, I haven&#8217;t raised taxes a penny in four years… She&#8217;s the one that&#8217;s been a failure,” he said, outlining his pitch for statewide leadership.



Blakeman has received praise from President Donald Trump, who also expressed support for Rep. Elise Stefanik when she entered the race. “He&#8217;s great and she&#8217;s great. They&#8217;re both great people,” Trump said when asked about the two Republicans running against each other.



Stefanik’s campaign responded sharply to Blakeman’s entry, saying, “Public polling has repeatedly shown Elise Stefanik leads Blakeman by 70% in a primary, including beating him soundly on Long Island. Elise is the strongest candidate against Kathy Hochul by a long shot.” Her team also argued that Stefanik’s electoral record “is in stark contrast to Bruce Blakeman,” whom they labeled anti-2A and accused of having “lost numerous statewide, federal, and local races in smashing fashion.”



Blakeman said he does not believe President Trump needs to pick sides between the two candidates at this stage.



“I don&#8217;t think the president has to make a decision now. Let&#8217;s see how it plays out,” he said on “Fox &amp; Friends,” going on to praise Trump’s record. “He&#8217;s done more for America in the last 11 months than any president in my lifetime… So, I cherish his friendship and I appreciate his leadership.”

Bruce Blakeman Launches GOP Bid For Governor, Setting Up Clash With Stefanik

Toronto’s Jewish community was shocked over the weekend after roughly 20 mezuzahs were taken from the doorposts of a seniors’ housing building. Toronto Police confirmed the thefts and said the hate crimes unit is now handling the case, according to a Monday report by the CBC.



Police reported receiving multiple calls Sunday about mezuzahs removed from units in a Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation residence near Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue W. A follow-up notice Monday stated that approximately 20 mezuzahs had been stolen.



Councillor James Pasternak, who posted video of the stripped doorways, stressed the importance of the building for elderly Russian Jewish tenants, noting that it even serves as an informal shul.



“Everybody’s really shocked,” he said. “This is a City of Toronto-run building. We want our residents to feel safe, to be safe.”



Mayor Olivia Chow denounced the thefts as “an outrageous and vile act of antisemitism,” writing that seniors “deserve to live in peace without fear of being targeted for being Jewish.”



The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) underscored the deep religious significance of a mezuzah. “It isn’t just an object — for us, it’s a reminder of our faith, heritage, and identity,” the organization said, adding, “The time for words is over. Our political leaders — at all levels — must take action to protect the community.”



Toronto Police urged anyone with information to contact investigators or to submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.



The city continues to confront a steep rise in antisemitic incidents since the Hamas terrorists’ October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel and the ensuing Gaza war.



Data released by Toronto Police in May showed that 2024 saw a record number of reported hate crimes, with the Jewish community once again being the most frequently targeted.



Just last week, a Toronto model reported being forced out of an Uber after the Muslim driver discovered she was Jewish.



Earlier in November, a suspect shattered windows at Kehillat Shaarei Torah (KST), marking the tenth attack on the shul in 18 months.



The following day, anti-Israel rioters stormed an event featuring IDF veterans, organized off campus by the Students Supporting Israel chapter at Toronto Metropolitan University. Five suspects were arrested.

Brazen Mezuzah Thefts Terrorize Jewish Seniors In Toronto

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky definitively ruled out ceding land to Russia on Monday, rejecting a central component of President Donald Trump’s latest proposal to end the war.



Speaking in London after meetings with European leaders, Zelensky addressed the pressure to accept a deal that would redraw Ukraine’s borders.



“Under our laws, under international law — and under moral law — we have no right to give anything away,” Zelensky said, according to The Washington Post. “That is what we are fighting for.”



The rejection targets specific provisions in the &#8220;28-point plan&#8221; championed by the Trump administration. Zelensky specifically dismissed a proposal that involved “exchanging” the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for areas of the Donetsk region that are still under Ukrainian control.



The declaration comes just hours after President Trump expressed visible frustration with the Ukrainian leader. Speaking to reporters on the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington on Sunday, Trump claimed Zelensky had not yet reviewed the document.



“I am a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal,” Trump said. “His people love it. But he hasn’t.”



Trump added that he believed Russia was &#8220;fine with&#8221; the proposal, contrasting Moscow&#8217;s reception with Kyiv&#8217;s hesitation.



According to leaked details of the plan reported by Sky News and PBS, the U.S. proposal would require Ukraine to cede the entirety of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to Russia. Additionally, the plan calls for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to be placed under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with its power output shared equally between Russia and Ukraine.



While Zelensky noted in London that the plan had been stripped of some “explicitly anti-Ukrainian provisions,” he maintained that the surrender of territory in the eastern Donbas region remains a non-starter.



Zelensky is currently meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to coordinate a European response, stating that Ukraine &#8220;needs to make some important decisions&#8221; that cannot be managed without American and European support.

Zelensky, Defying Trump, Vows Ukraine Will Not Surrender Territory

Alina Habba, a central figure in the Trump administration&#8217;s battle over Department of Justice appointments, announced her resignation as Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey on Monday. The move follows a decisive ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which declared her tenure in the state&#8217;s top federal law enforcement post unlawful.



Habba, who previously served as a personal attorney to President Donald Trump, released a defiant statement confirming she would step down but immediately transition to a new role in Washington as Senior Advisor to the Attorney General for U.S. Attorneys.



&#8220;As a result of the Third Circuit&#8217;s ruling, and to protect the stability and integrity of the office which I love, I have decided to step down,&#8221; Habba said. &#8220;But do not mistake compliance for surrender. This decision will not weaken the Justice Department and it will not weaken me.&#8221;



Habba’s resignation caps a months-long constitutional standoff between the White House and the federal judiciary. The controversy centered on the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. After Habba’s initial 120-day interim appointment expired, the Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, utilized administrative maneuvers to keep her in the position without Senate confirmation.



Last week, a three-judge panel for the Third Circuit unanimously ruled that these maneuvers were an attempt to bypass the Senate’s advice and consent power, rendering Habba’s ongoing service invalid. The court found that the administration could not use &#8220;novel&#8221; personnel moves to indefinitely extend the term of an acting U.S. Attorney who had been rejected by home-state senators.



In her statement, Habba defended her record, citing specific gains in public safety during her time in office.



&#8220;For the past five years, I&#8217;ve fought for justice on behalf of the American people, and in my tenure under our great Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, we made New Jersey safer,&#8221; Habba stated. &#8220;Camden had its first murder-free summer in 50 years. We drove down crime, took violent offenders off the streets, caught terrorists, and put away child predators.&#8221;



The conflict over Habba’s confirmation was fueled by the Senate&#8217;s &#8220;blue slip&#8221; tradition, which allows home-state senators to effectively veto judicial and U.S. Attorney nominees. New Jersey Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim opposed Habba’s nomination, preventing her from receiving a full confirmation hearing. Habba took direct aim at this practice in her departure, accusing the judiciary and local politicians of obstructionism.



&#8220;While I was focused on delivering real results, judges in my state took advantage of a flawed blue slip tradition and became weapons for the politicized left,&#8221; she said. &#8220;They joined New Jersey senators, who care more about fighting President Trump than the well being of residents which they serve.&#8221;



She further characterized the legal challenges against her as &#8220;lawfare&#8221; aimed at the President. &#8220;What these obstructionists misunderstood is that my loyalty is not to politics, a title, or a ZIP code. It is to this great country.&#8221;



While leaving New Jersey, Habba will remain a key player in the Justice Department. Her new position as Senior Advisor to the Attorney General suggests she will continue to influence policy regarding U.S. Attorneys nationwide, potentially overseeing the very appointment processes that sparked her own legal battle. &#8220;My fight will now stretch across the country,&#8221; Habba promised. &#8220;As we wait for further review of the courts ruling, I will continue to serve the Department of Justice.&#8221;



She concluded her statement with a nod to her roots and her distinctive combative style: &#8220;Make no mistake, you can take the girl out of New Jersey, but you cannot take New Jersey out of the girl.&#8221;

Top NJ US Attorney Alina Habba Resigns

A 16-year-old boy suffered moderate injuries on Monday evening after a vehicle barreled into a crowd of Charedi demonstrators in Bnei Brak.



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Police later announced the arrest of a 24-year-old Bnei Brak resident suspected of deliberately running into protesters and fleeing the scene.



Video published by Kan News captured the car pushing through the crowd and knocking multiple protesters to the ground.



According to Magen David Adom, the incident took place on Jabotinsky Street near the Geha Interchange. The injured teenager was taken to Rabin Medical Center–Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva.



In a separate episode, police said a 37-year-old scooter rider also attempted to ram protesters and was arrested. Both suspects were taken in for questioning.



The protest, led by Peleg Yerushalmi, held near Bnei Brak continued into the evening, blocking Highway 4 and Jabotinsky Street.



Emergency teams treated the injured boy at the scene before evacuating him in moderate condition to Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petach Tikva.



Rescue paramedics Yaakov Tehrani and Menachem Stern told Bechadrei Charedim: &#8220;When we arrived at the scene of the traffic accident, we found a pedestrian, a 16-year-old boy, suffering from injuries to his abdomen, pelvis, and lower limbs, after being hit by a vehicle during a demonstration taking place at the scene. Together with rescue and MDA paramedics, we provided him with initial medical treatment, including immobilization and dressings, and he was evacuated in moderate condition to continue receiving medical treatment in the trauma room at Schneider Hospital in Petach Tikva.&#8221;



Police continued working to clear the blocked roads, redirect drivers, and maintain order. Officials stressed they will not permit actions that endanger lives or obstruct freedom of movement, urging the public to avoid the Bnei Brak area and use alternate routes.



Earlier this week, MK Boaz Bismuth’s draft bill came under fire during back-to-back meetings of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, with lawmakers arguing the proposal was “not nearly enough.”



Bismuth outlined an updated version of the legislation on Monday, but pushback from coalition and opposition MKs has further reduced its chances of passing its second and third readings in the Knesset plenum.



On Tuesday, Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned statement on the draft bill minutes before he was scheduled to speak, citing “scheduling constraints.”

Teen Seriously Hurt As Car Slams Into Charedi Protesters In Bnei Brak

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani released a video on Sunday that effectively instructs immigrants on how to avoid being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, following an attempted ICE operation in Manhattan. Mamdani framed the video as a rights-education effort, and cautioned against resisting arrest of interfering with arrests, but detractors argue he is providing tools to thwart federal enforcement.



The video was released amid rising scrutiny over immigration enforcement in New York, with Mamdani signaling he intends to push back aggressively against federal actions he claims endanger immigrant communities. Opponents say his message instead encourages residents to avoid cooperation with ICE.



Mamdani opens the video by referencing an ICE attempt last weekend to take immigrants into custody.



&#8220;As mayor, I&#8217;ll protect the rights of every single New Yorker, and that includes the more than 3 million immigrants who call this city their home,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But we can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.&#8221;



He then lays out step-by-step instructions for how immigrants should respond when confronted by ICE agents, guidance that critics say mirrors advice given by activist groups that encourage avoiding detention.



&#8220;First, ICE cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge,&#8221; Mamdani advised. &#8220;If ICE does not have a judicial warrant signed by a judge, you have the right to say, ‘I do not consent to entry&#8217; and the right to keep your door closed.’&#8221;



He added that agents may show paperwork suggesting they can make an arrest but insisted &#8220;that is false.&#8221;



&#8220;ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent,&#8221; the mayor-elect said. &#8220;If you&#8217;re being detained, you may always ask, ‘Am I free to go?’ repeatedly until they answer you.&#8221;



Mamdani also noted that people can record ICE activity as long as they do not interfere with an operation.



&#8220;It is important to remain calm during any interaction with ICE or law enforcement. Do not impede their investigation, resist arrest or run,&#8221; he said.



He concluded by highlighting New Yorkers’ constitutional right to protest, a message his opponents say further positions the city against federal immigration enforcement.



&#8220;New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest, and when I&#8217;m mayor, we will protect that right,&#8221; he said. &#8220;New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters.&#8221;



The video was posted a little more than two weeks after Mamdani met with President Donald Trump, a meeting that suggested a warming of relations as they found agreement on issues like affordability and quality of life in the city.



Nevertheless, Mamdani reaffirmed New York’s sanctuary city stance during a speech in the Bronx.



&#8220;I shared with the president directly that New Yorkers want to follow the laws of our city, and the laws of our city say that, in our sanctuary city policies, city government can be in touch with the federal government on around 170 serious crimes,&#8221; Mamdani said last month. &#8220;The concern comes from beyond those crimes, the many New Yorkers who are being arrested, they&#8217;re being detained, they&#8217;re being deported for the crime of making a regular court appearance.&#8221;



&#8220;My focus as the next mayor of this city is going to be to protect immigrants who call this city their home,&#8221; he added.

Mamdani Releases Video to Help Immigrants Avoid ICE Activity

Hamas terrorists indicated on Sunday for the first time that they are open to discussing “freezing or storing” their weapons as part of a potential ceasefire with Israel, a senior official said, suggesting a possible way forward on one of the most contentious points in the U.S.-brokered agreement.



Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, made the remarks as both sides prepare to enter the second, more complex phase of the deal.



“We are open to have a comprehensive approach in order to avoid further escalations or in order to avoid any further clashes or explosions,” Naim told The Associated Press in Doha, Qatar, where much of Hamas’ leadership is based.



Naim emphasized that Hamas retains its “right to resist,” but said the group is willing to lay down its arms as part of a broader effort aimed at establishing a Palestinian state. He provided few details, but suggested a long-term truce of five or ten years could allow negotiations to move forward.



“This time has to be used seriously and in a comprehensive way,” he said, adding that Hamas is “very open minded” about how to handle its weapons.



“We can talk about freezing or storing or laying down, with the Palestinian guarantees, not to use it at all during this ceasefire time or truce,” Naim said.



It is still uncertain whether the proposal would meet Israel’s demands for complete disarmament.

Hamas Signals Readiness to ‘Freeze or Store’ Weapons

A Brooklyn middle school that sparked outrage for blocking a Holocaust survivor from speaking due to his support for Israel is using images of protestors wearing keffiyehs in its social justice curriculum, according to documents shared exclusively with Belaaz on Sunday.



While MS 447 in Boerum Hill refused to allow Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann to address students, leaked curriculum materials reveal the school is actively teaching a &#8220;social activism&#8221; unit that highlights art by Rama Duwaji, the wife of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. The artwork depicts protestors wearing keffiyehs; checkered scarves that serves as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism and which are frequently associated with terrorism against Israelis and Jews.



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The unit also features a module titled &#8220;Fashion as Activism,&#8221; which explicitly includes the keffiyeh. The course material claims that Palestinian nationalism began in the 1930s. Critics, however, argue this constitutes historical revisionism, noting that modern Palestinian nationalism was largely promulgated in the 1960s under heavy influence from the Soviet Union as part of a Cold War campaign against the West and its ally, Israel.



The revelations have incited anger among parents and Jewish community leaders, who contend the school is prioritizing a specific political agenda while marginalizing Jewish history. This conduct could potentially violate NYC Schools Chancellor Regulation D-130, which mandates that curriculum remain neutral on political matters.



Moshe Spern, head of the United Jewish Teachers, told Belaaz that the school was engaging in indoctrination. “Exposing 7th graders to keffiyehs in the context of social justice and activism is an example of indoctrination for students to have negative viewpoints around Israel,&#8221; Spern said. &#8220;This is precisely why they didn’t want a Holocaust survivor with pro Israel views because it would go against their negative narrative around Israel. They’re afraid that students could actually have empathy for Israel and even support Israel. This is a very dangerous precedent being set by MS 447.”



The &#8220;Art for Social Change&#8221; unit also highlights movements such as Black Lives Matter and features figures like Kendrick Lamar and Colin Kaepernick.



In a letter to families dated Nov. 20 and obtained by Belaaz, MS 447 teacher Joy Canning described the unit&#8217;s objective: &#8220;Students have been busy throughout this unit thinking about their own deep culture, their identities&#8230; and social justice issues.&#8221; She noted that students would design their own &#8220;activist T-shirts&#8221; to &#8220;wear the message of the movement of their choosing&#8221; at an upcoming expo in February.



Meanwhile, following public backlash over the school&#8217;s refusal to host Steigmann, District 15 Superintendent Rafael T. Alvarez issued a letter on Dec. 5 attempting to clarify the district&#8217;s stance.



&#8220;We acknowledge that the recent decision caused hurt for many in our community, and we are committed to repairing that harm,&#8221; Alvarez wrote. He stated that he and Chancellor Aviles-Ramos had spoken with Steigmann and agreed to &#8220;partner together on an educational programming opportunity for students in our public school system.&#8221;



However, the letter stopped short of confirming Steigmann would be allowed to speak at MS 447 specifically; a move Mayor Eric Adams has publicly supported, as first reported by Belaaz. Instead, Alvarez noted that the school has arranged visits to the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Children&#8217;s Museum &#8220;as a starting point.&#8221;



Spern expressed relief that the Chancellor and Superintendent are engaging but remained deeply critical of the delay.



“We are very happy to hear that Chancellor Ramos and Superintendent Alvarez are taking this very seriously and supporting my friend Sami Steigmann, but it’s unfortunate that it took a media storm to wake them up to this issue,” Spern said. “As someone who reported this concern to them immediately, it went on deaf ears&#8230; No one should be fooled, there is still very real systemic antisemitism in NYC Public Schools.”



Spern questioned the vagueness of the Superintendent’s response regarding MS 447. “Why is Superintendent Alvarez afraid to host Sami Steigmann at MS 447? And why hasn’t the Principal apologized?&#8221; Spern asked. &#8220;What are they afraid the students will hear? Is it possible that hearing about the Jewish perspective on the Holocaust somehow violates the school&#8217;s mission?&#8221;

Exclusive: School That Barred Holocaust Survivor Celebrates Keffiyeh-Clad Protestors in Curriculum

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Sunday that he would not retire from politics even if he received a pardon.



When a reporter asked if he planned to retire if pardoned, he answered simply: “no.”



His announcement comes after he formally requested clemency from President Yitzchak Herzog in an effort to end the trial that has spanned years and continues to weigh on his ability to govern.



Last month Netanyahu submitted a formal request for a pardon. The submission included a detailed legal brief prepared by his lawyers, which argued that frequent court appearances were undermining his capacity to run the country effectively.



Netanyahu has denied all wrongdoing. He told supporters the trial is harming national unity, and he argued the ongoing legal process is “tearing us apart from within, arousing fierce divisions, intensifying rifts.”



Opposition figures have argued that any clemency should come only after accountability, not as a shortcut to freedom. They also are hopeful that a pardon would eliminate their political foe.



Washington has championed a pardon for Netanyahu for several months. Most recently, in November, President Donald Trump sent a letter to Herzog, calling the legal cases against Netanyahu “political, unjustified prosecution” and urging a full pardon.



In that letter, Trump described Netanyahu as “a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister,” arguing that pardoning him would help end what he characterized as lawfare and allow Israel to move forward.



Herzog’s office accepted receipt of Netanyahu’s 111‑page request and confirmed it has been forwarded to the pardons department of the Ministry of Justice for evaluation, stressing that this is an “extraordinary request” with “significant implications.”



While the office said the request would be “responsibly and sincerely considered,” the fact remains that it would break precedent to grant a pardon mid‑trial, especially without a conviction or acknowledgment of guilt.



Herzog acknowledged Trump&#8217;s pressure to grant a pardon, but stated that Israel is a &#8220;sovereign nation&#8221; and will do what it sees fit.

Netanyahu Won’t Exchange Pardon for Leaving Politics

Border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that the Trump administration has safeguarded more than 62,000 migrant children who had crossed the border alone during the Biden years and ended up in horrific situations, including exploitation and forced labor.



“Over half a million children were smuggled into this country under Joe Biden,” Homan said on “Fox &amp; Friends” Sunday.



Homan, speaking during the live Fox News segment, emphasized that the effort to locate endangered minors has been a top priority for the White House.



“They lost track of 300,000. President Trump committed on day one that we will do everything we can to find every one of these children.”



Homan noted that thousands of missing minors were tracked down and rescued, describing the work as urgent and life-saving.



“We know many of them are in [exploitation]. Many are in forced labor. Many are being abused,” Homan added. “I can’t discuss some of the mistreatment we found out about. President Trump again proved why he’s the greatest president in my lifetime. Over 62,000 children rescued.”



He concluded by accusing the Biden administration of abandoning these vulnerable migrant kids and failing to make any meaningful effort to locate them.

Trump Administration Credited With Rescuing Tens Of Thousands Of Migrant Children

Israeli security forces recently stopped a Hamas cell that was preparing to infiltrate communities in northern Israel, preventing what officials say could have been a major terror attack or kidnapping attempt, Arutz 7 reported Motzoei Shabbos. 



Two weeks ago, the IAF struck terrorists at a Hamas training site in southern Lebanon. “The military compound that was struck had been used by the terrorists for training and preparation in order to plan and carry out terror operations against IDF forces and the State of Israel,” the IDF said.



Lebanon’s Health Ministry claimed 14 people were killed and four were wounded in the strike.



Newly released intelligence shows the cell had been operating from inside Lebanon and was preparing to cross into the Galilee, with the intent to target civilians or carry out an abduction.



Security officials said Israel received advance warning of the planned infiltration, enabling intelligence and operational teams to move quickly and shut down the plot before it could unfold.



Full information about the cell and the operation remains under a gag order.



The IDF said in a statement that “IDF forces are constantly working to detect and thwart infiltration attempts from every front and will continue to act decisively to ensure the security of northern residents.”

IDF Thwarts Hamas Cell Plotting Terror Infiltration From Lebanon Into Northern Israel

An Afghan national arrested in Virginia for allegedly aiding ISIS-K once occupied a top intelligence role in his former country, the New York Post reported Saturday night.



Jaan Shah Safi was taken into custody in Waynesboro, Virginia, after the Department of Homeland Security labeled him an “illegal alien terrorist.” DHS said on December 3 that he had supported ISIS-K and supplied weapons to his father, a militia commander in Afghanistan.



What DHS did not make public is that Safi, 48, had served as deputy director of the National Directorate of Security, the Afghan equivalent of the CIA, in Nangarhar Province.



He arrived in the United States under the Biden Administration’s Operation Allies Welcome.



“He’s not just a soldier or just a commander. He was a very senior guy,” Haibatullah Alizai, who was chief of staff of the Afghan Army in the final days before Kabul fell, told The Post. Alizai added that Safi had once been “the most key intelligence guy in Kunar Province,” and said Afghan expats were stunned by the allegations. “This family has always been a counterterrorism family. They are famous for that.”



The Trump Administration revealed Safi’s arrest just after authorities charged Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the alleged National Guard shooter, with first-degree murder in the killing of 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom in Washington, DC. Lakanwal has pleaded not guilty.



“This terrorist was arrested miles from our nation’s capital where our brave National Guard heroes, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, were shot just days ago by another unvetted Afghan terrorist brought into our country,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.



Another Afghan national, Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, was also arrested in Texas on federal charges accusing him of threatening to blow up men in a group chat on TikTok and other platforms.



DHS pointed to all three cases, saying this latest arrest “marks the third arrest of an Afghan national terrorist released into the country by the Biden administration in less than a week.”



Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of Afghanistan’s security directorate, questioned the accusations on X, arguing that Safi — who DHS said had lost his Temporary Protected Status — should be acknowledged for “his work in counter-terrorism, identifying extremist networks, and handling intelligence sources.”



A pro-Taliban outlet later claimed Safi was a “pawn” and an oppressor whose family had supported ISIS.

Afghan Ex-Official Accused Of ISIS Support Had Held Senior Intelligence Post, Sources Say

President Yitzchak Herzog welcomed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Saturday evening, marking Merz’s first trip to Israel since assuming office.



Herzog told Merz that their countries had forged an unusually strong partnership, noting the deployment of Israel’s Arrow 3 missile-defense system in Germany. “We have become very close friends, and for me to see the Arrow 3 missiles being installed in Germany to defend Germany and Europe, Israeli-made products, is something very unique and moving and important,” he said, according to his office.



He added that Germany holds a “huge role to play” in helping shape a “new horizon” for Israelis, Palestinians, and the wider region.



Herzog warned of the growing threat from Iran. “As we know, we are facing an empire of evil from Tehran, and that is why the equilibrium in the world is very clear. It’s us defending Europe, and it’s us working very hard to reach the day after in Gaza,” he said.



Merz stressed that his country stands firmly behind Israel in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, massacre carried out by Hamas terrorists. “We couldn’t meet in more challenging and more complicated times, and you know that Germany firmly stands at Israel’s side, especially since the horrific attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023,” he said.



The chancellor said the relationship between the two nations has only strengthened. “Since then, we were able to deepen and further intensify our friendship, and you know that we will always stand by Israel’s side. We still consider this friendship a miracle. So shortly after the Shoah, to be able to establish diplomatic relations and further continue to deepen and foster our friendship is very special and important to us indeed,” he said.



Merz voiced hope for a swift end to the war once Hamas lays down its weapons, and said he supports efforts to achieve a two-state framework, calling it an “important factor for good coexistence between Israel and the Palestinians, and the Israeli people, the Palestinian people, and the Arab world, for it to be able to live peacefully in peace and security and in dignity.”

Merz Lauds ‘Miracle’ Bond With Israel During Jerusalem Meeting With Herzog

White House Deputy Chief of Staff for policy Stephen Miller said the massive Minnesota welfare fraud case amounts to “the single greatest theft of taxpayer dollars through welfare fraud in American history,” describing the scandal as a political earthquake for the state.



Miller, who also advises President Trump on homeland security matters, said the scheme, allegedly run by numerous Somali migrants, “will rock the core of Minnesota politics and American politics.”



“We believe that we have only scratched the very top of the surface of how deep this goes,” he told Sean Hannity on Fox News Friday.



Dr. Mehmet Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, moved quickly to launch a federal health-fraud probe tied to the widening scandal. Oz warned that Minnesota could lose federal support if Gov. Tim Walz’s administration does not impose strict corrections.



“Either fix this in 60 days or start looking under your couch for spare change, because we’re done footing the bill for your incompetence!” Oz said. “Why didn’t Walz stop them? That’s simple: because he went all-in on identity politics.” “Based on what we know now, this is a clear dereliction of duty.”



Officials said Walz’s entire administration is now under heightened scrutiny. They cited explosive growth in certain state programs: “The housing program was supposed to cost $2.6 million dollars annually. Last year, it paid out over $100 million. The autism program ballooned from $3 million in 2018 to nearly $400 million in 2023.”



CMS ordered Minnesota to:



1. Provide weekly updates on anti-fraud efforts.



2. Freeze enrollment of high-risk providers for six months.



3. Verify all existing providers or remove them.



4. Submit a corrective action plan outlining long-term prevention.



Federal prosecutors have already charged nearly 80 people in the scheme, which centered on a pandemic-era food program. Fifty-nine have been convicted so far, with authorities saying the fraud totaled $1 billion.



Investigators say the scam targeted programs intended to feed children during COVID, with the nonprofit Feeding Our Future accused of submitting fabricated meal counts and invoices to obtain federal reimbursements. Officials previously estimated the fraud at $250 million, but later investigations pushed that figure dramatically higher.



Then–US Attorney Andrew Luger said at the time: “Their goal was to make as much money for themselves as they could while falsely claiming to feed children during the pandemic.”



The state probe has expanded as Washington demands answers about how so many programs became vulnerable. Small Business Secretary Kelly Loeffler ordered a review of pandemic Paycheck Protection Program loans, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is examining whether any state funds were diverted to al-Shabaab, a designated terrorist organization.



Minnesota GOP floor leader Harry Niska told The Post that political pressure on Walz is only intensifying. “The scrutiny is intense and it’s going to get more intense and I think he realizes that,” he said.



“He’s never gotten this level of scrutiny — he’s definitely going to continue to get skepticism from the administration, from Congress and I expect that is only going to intensify.”



The scandal has also prompted renewed immigration debates. ICE officials recently detained a Somali migrant convicted in the fraud conspiracy. President Trump, reacting to the ongoing revelations, sharply criticized Somali migrants during a cabinet meeting, saying: “They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. Your country stinks and we don’t want them in our country.”



Minnesota’s Somali community numbers roughly 80,000 people, including Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). The Post reported she has been photographed with Abul Dahir Ibrahim, an alleged fraudster long subject to removal orders and known to law enforcement.



The scandal first surfaced publicly in 2022, when prosecutors labeled it the “largest pandemic fraud in the United States.” Since then, expanding investigations have revealed broader issues across multiple programs that relied on state oversight while drawing federal funds.

Dep. WH COS Miller Blasts Minnesota Welfare Scheme As Historic Fraud, Dr. Oz Launches Investigation

A group of 11 Holocaust survivors has called on British politician Nigel Farage to issue a sincere apology, after a report claimed he made antisemitic remarks while at school — a demand laid out in a letter obtained by The Guardian.



The news outlet reported that some of Farage’s former schoolmates accused him of making racist and antisemitic comments, including saying “Hitler was right.” Farage denied the allegations to BBC News, saying: “I’ve never directly racially abused anybody. No.”



Several of those former classmates quickly rejected Farage’s denial, accusing him of deliberately targeting fellow students and now lying about it.



The survivors wrote in their letter:



“As Holocaust survivors, we understand the danger of hateful words – because we have seen where such words lead. Let us be clear: praising Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or hurling racist abuse is not banter. Not in a playground. Not anywhere.”



They went on:



“When allegations arise about invoking Nazi attitudes toward Jewish children, the responsible response is honesty, reflection, and commitment to truth. So we ask you: did you say ‘Hitler was right’ and ‘gas them,’ mimicking gas chambers? Did you subject your classmates to antisemitic abuse?



&#8220;If you deny saying those words, are you saying that 20 former classmates and teachers are lying? If you did say them, now is the time to acknowledge you were wrong, and apologize.



&#8220;Those who hope to lead our country should never divide people by race or religion. Antisemitic hatred must never be normalized. This moment is about moral responsibility. The choice is yours, Mr Farage.”



Among the signatories is Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, a Holocaust survivor who spent nearly a year in Auschwitz-Birkenau before being transferred to Bergen-Belsen, where she was liberated in April 1945. The letter also includes names such as Hedi Argent, Simon Winston, Janine Webber, Edith Jayne, Helen Aronson, Ruth Barnett, John Fieldsend, Susan Pollack, Hanneke Dye, and Agnes Kaposi.



In a recent survey by Ipsos, 45% of respondents said Farage is “in touch with ordinary people,” compared with 26% for Keir Starmer — a 19-point lead.



The same poll found Farage leading on traits such as “understands Britain’s problems,” “strong leader,” and “capable leader.”



Regarding whom Britons see as most likely to become Prime Minister, 39% said Farage, compared to 25% for Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.



On voting intention polls: one recent survey found his party, Reform UK, at 34%, its highest recorded result, with Labour on 25%, and Conservatives far behind.



Still, Farage’s favourability remains mixed: according to a November 2025 poll from YouGov, roughly 30% of Britons view him favourably, while about 62% view him unfavourably.

Holocaust Survivors Demand Apology from UK Politician Nigel Farage as His Popularity Rises

The Manhattan district attorney announced Friday that 30-year-old Salem Seleiman has been given a two-year prison sentence for the 2021 assault on Jewish New Yorker Joey Borgen.



Borgen was ambushed in Times Square near an anti-Israel demonstration held during the 2021 conflict between Israel and Gaza terrorists. He had been on his way to a pro-Israel counter-rally when six men set upon him.



Footage of the attack, which showed the shocking level of violence, quickly turned the incident into a prominent hate-crime case in New York.



Seleiman, the final member of the group to face sentencing, admitted guilt in September to second-degree assault and third-degree assault as a hate crime.



“Salem Seleiman took part in the repugnant and bias-motivated assault of a Jewish man who was peacefully attending a rally,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says in a statement. “The victim was targeted based on his religion and did nothing to warrant physical violence.”



According to the statement, the attackers threw Borgen to the ground and beat him, using fists, kicks, pepper spray, and even a crutch, while shouting slurs including “filthy Jew” and “dirty Jew.”



Borgen made aliyah earlier this year.



Seleiman had previously fled New York, but authorities tracked him to Florida, where he was arrested in May and returned to New York City to face charges.



In New York City, Jews continue to be the most frequently targeted group in hate crimes.

Antisemitic Attacker Gets 2-Year Prison Term For Brutal Assault On Jewish Man In Times Square

Just two days after being deported from Colombia and returned to the United States, members of the cultish Lev Tahor sect attempted to flee the country once again, leading to an interception by federal agents at the airport on Thursday.



According to reports, four adults and five children, comprising two families, managed to clear both immigration and airport security checkpoints. The group had reportedly changed into &#8220;standard Chassidic clothing&#8221; in an effort to conceal their identities. However, minutes before they could board a flight bound for Guatemala, they were intercepted and stopped by undercover FBI agents.



The attempted escape on Thursday came on the heels of a major operation in South America. On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Colombian immigration officials had deported nine adults and seventeen minors linked to the group the previous day.



The deportees were placed on a flight to New York under heavy police escort.



Colombian authorities took action after discovering the group at a hotel in Yarumal, in the Norte de Antioquia region. Intelligence indicated they were planning to move to a remote location.



“Their intention was to disappear into private land, and this raised serious concerns,” a security source said regarding the operation. Citing these plans, immigration officials designated the group a “threat to national security” and raised alarms regarding potential violations of children’s rights. The operation was executed in coordination with a regional child-protection unit.



Paula Salazar, director of the regional immigration authority, addressed the government&#8217;s stance on the expulsion. “Colombia has implemented an administrative deportation of the nine adults due to concerns about national security,” Salazar said. “The minors remained in custody on the flight until their full transfer to US authorities.”



Upon arrival in the United States, several of the minors were taken into the care of US Child Protective Services. Authorities disclosed that five of the children, holding citizenship from Canada, the United States, and Guatemala, were listed under Interpol Yellow Notices due to fears of human trafficking, kidnapping, or exploitation.



The deportation operation was carried out one week after officials rescued seventeen minors from remnants of the group in Colombia on November 23.



According to local authorities, families linked to Lev Tahor have been attempting to regroup in Colombia following the collapse of their previous base of operations in Guatemala, though recent efforts have been detected and dismantled by law enforcement.



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FBI Intercepts Lev Tahor Families Fleeing to Guatemala, Days After Deportation from Colombia

Beginning this Thursday night, December 4th, at Maariv, Jews who live outside Eretz Yisrael will begin inserting the tefilah for rain, &#8220;V’sain Tal U’matar Livracha,&#8221; into the Bracha of Barech Aleinu in the Shemoneh Esrei.



While Jews in Eretz Yisrael have been adding the tefilah since 7 Cheshvan, the minhag in the Diaspora follows a calculation based on the solar calendar.



The Gemara in Taanis 10a explains that while Eretz Yisrael requires rain immediately following the Yomim Tovim, the low-lying lands of Bavel, where the vast majority of the Jewish people lived at the time, did not need rain as early. In fact, early rain could be detrimental to their agricultural needs.



Therefore, Chazal established that outside of Eretz Yisrael, we wait until &#8220;60 days after the Tekufah (Autumnal Equinox).&#8221;



Halacha follows the solar calculations of&nbsp; Shmuel the Amora (Tekufas Shmuel). Because the solar calendar (Julian) used by Shmuel drifts slightly from the civil Gregorian calendar we use today, the date for &#8220;60 days after the Tekufah&#8221; is strictly fixed to the solar cycle.



Currently, in a standard year (like 2025), we begin on the night of December 4th. However, in the year preceding a civil leap year (when the secular year has an extra day in February), the date pushes forward to the night of December 5th.



In Eretz Yisrael, the request for rain is not bound by the solar Tekufah but by the Jewish calendar date of 7 Cheshvan.



Theoretically, the residents of Eretz Yisrael should have started asking for rain immediately after Sukkos (on Shemini Atzeret), just as we start mentioning the power of rain (Mashiv Haruach) at that time. However, Chazal exercised great sensitivity for the Olei Regalim; the people who had traveled to Yerushalayim for Yom Tov.



To ensure these travelers could return to their homes without being stranded in muddy, impassable roads caused by heavy rains, the Chachamim delayed the tefilah for rain in Eretz Yisrael until the 7th of Cheshvan, when even those living as far away as the Euphrates River could arrive home safely.

REMINDER: ‘V’sain Tal U’matar’ Begins Thursday Night for Chutz La’aretz

US President Donald Trump is expected to announce the transition to the second phase of his Gaza peace plan within the coming weeks, Channel 12 reported Thursday, citing senior American officials familiar with the plan’s development.



The news outlet reports that Trump’s announcement could come just before Dec. 25, shortly before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet him in the United States.



Officials say the US and mediators are engaging with Hamas to reach an agreement in which the terror group would relinquish its governing control over Gaza and begin disarming — key elements of the second phase that have remained unresolved since the October ceasefire.



Under the proposed arrangement, Hamas would first surrender heavy weapons, such as missiles and rockets, followed by lighter arms in a phased process. Acceptance of this plan would be a necessary step before moving forward with the second phase, including the IDF’s withdrawal beyond the current Yellow Line, the report notes.



A senior American official told Channel 12, “in the coming weeks, we will reach the moment of truth. Hamas will have to decide whether to give up its rule and begin disarming in exchange for an IDF withdrawal, or refuse and face the consequences.”



The second phase, which has yet to be formally signed by either Israel or Hamas, also outlines a Board of Peace led by Trump to supervise Gaza, along with the establishment of an International Stabilization Force to secure the Strip.



American officials say Trump will chair the board alongside roughly ten leaders from Arab and Western countries. Under this board, an international committee headed by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, along with Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and other senior global figures, would operate.



Beneath this committee, a proposed body of 12–15 Palestinian technocrats — unaffiliated with Hamas or Fatah — would manage Gaza’s day-to-day governance. Some of these Palestinians are already in Gaza, while others would join from abroad. The US is reportedly finalizing the roster in coordination with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Arab states to ensure consensus.

Trump Set to Announce New Gaza Governing Body, Phase 2 of Gaza Deal, Within Two Weeks

A powerful story of integrity and kiddush Hashem unfolded in Bnei Brak on Thursday when an avreich from Slabodka Kollel returned 150,000 shekels in cash to the woman who had sold him an apartment.



The apartment, located in Hod Hasharon, had previously belonged to the woman’s late brother, who had used it while he was ill. During renovations, the student discovered a substantial amount of money concealed within one of the walls.



This discovery raised a halachic question: Did the money belong to the deceased brother, whose will made no mention of it, or to the new owner of the apartment?



The issue was brought before Harav Yehuda Silman shlita, who ruled that the money should be returned to the previous owner, who had been unaware of its existence. On Thursday, a special ceremony at the Rav’s home commemorated the return of the cash, attended by the student’s friends and family.



The woman, who is not religious, was deeply touched and said, “Why don&#8217;t they report such good things in the media?”



Rav Silman blessed the student, expressing his hope that, in merit of his righteous deed, he be granted abundant blessings, along with children who follow the path of Torah and mitzvos.

Kiddush Hashem: Bnei Brak Avreich Returns 150,000 Shekels Found Hidden in Apartment Wall

A massive sports arena filled with 80,000 spectators became the stage for a Taliban-orchestrated public execution, where a 13-year-old boy was forced to shoot the individual responsible for killing 13 of his relatives.



Footage circulating on the internet captured the scene in the eastern city of Khost on Tuesday, displaying thousands of cheering onlookers crowded into the venue for a display the United Nations condemned as “inhumane” and “contrary to international law.”



The teenager was directed to fatally shoot Mangal, the convicted murderer, as part of a Sharia-law “retaliation punishment” known as Qisas, which is akin to the mistaken, literal rendering of an “eye for an eye.”



Regarding the sentencing, “The family of the victim was offered the option of forgiveness and retaliation, but … they refused and insisted on Qisas,” the Supreme Court of Afghanistan said in a statement on social media.



While official statements did not specify the executioner&#8217;s identity, reports from the Afghan news source AMU TV indicate it was a 13-year-old male relative of the victims who killed the man.



The court further noted that Mangal’s two sons face imminent execution for aiding their father; however, their sentences have been postponed to allow additional family members of the victims to return to the area to witness the event. This event marks the 11th such public execution conducted since the Taliban reasserted control in 2021 following the disastrous withdrawal of US forces that left 13 troops dead. According to AMU TV, the presence of 80,000 spectators made this the most attended execution to date. Following the killing, “prayers were made for the strengthening of the national security, for the people’s better access to their legitimate rights, and for the proper implementation of Islamic Sharia throughout the country,” the supreme court claimed.



Prior to the event, Richard Bennet, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, had issued a plea for the proceedings to be halted. Voicing his opposition on X, he stated, “Public executions are inhumane, a cruel and unusual punishment, and contrary to international law.”



The killing reflects the practices of the Taliban&#8217;s earlier regime in the late 1990s, during which time they frequently presided over public executions, floggings, and stonings.

Taliban Order Child to Kill Man as 80,000 Cheer Execution

A chaotic mob of anti-Israel demonstrators targeted a humanitarian benefit hosted by the Met Council on Jewish Poverty Wednesday night, even though the organization has no ties to Israel and is dedicated to fighting poverty.



The incident took place outside the Mandarin Oriental hotel at Columbus Circle, where guests had gathered to support the charity.



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The agitators chanted profanity-laced slogans related to the conflict in the Middle East.



The Met Council operates the largest kosher food pantry network in the world and is a leader in developing affordable housing. The decision to target such an organization has drawn sharp condemnation, serving as proof to many observers that the protestors’ grievances are rooted in hatred of Jews rather than specific Israeli policies.



The situation escalated beyond shouting, with reports confirming that protestors threw objects at passersby and attendees.



Crown Heights askan Rabbi Yaacov Behrman expressed his outrage on X, highlighting the absurdity of targeting a charity based solely on its Jewish identity.



&#8220;I know this has unfortunately become &#8216;normal&#8217; in New York in 2025, but it still infuriates me,&#8221; Behrman wrote. &#8220;Outside a Jewish charity @MetCouncil event, which supports a major Food Pantry Network and is a leader in creating affordable housing, demonstrators showed up simply because the organization is Jewish. And they think it’s acceptable to throw things at passersby.&#8221;

Anti-Israel Mob Protests Met Council’s Annual Benefit

The European Broadcasting Union released a statement Thursday confirming that “a large majority” of its members voted to approve new Eurovision reforms, effectively ensuring that “all EBU members” who wish to participate, including Israel, may do so.



While the EBU did not name Israel directly, it emphasized that members showed “clear support” for the reform package and that there was “no need for a further vote” on eligibility.



EBU President Delphine Ernotte Cunci said the outcome “demonstrates our members’ shared commitment to protecting transparency and trust in the Eurovision Song Contest, the world’s largest live music event,” and thanked members for “their thoughtful, respectful and constructive contributions.”



Just minutes after the EBU decision, public broadcasters in the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia announced Thursday that they will withdraw from the 2026 contest in protest of Israel’s participation. Iceland said it is still weighing its options.



The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS said its decision “follows a careful and extensive deliberation process” that included talks with Israel’s ambassador. “After weighing all perspectives, AVROTROS concludes that, under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organization,” it said.



Spain’s RTVE also confirmed it will drop out of next year’s event “following the vote” held Thursday in Geneva.



Ireland’s RTE said it “feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza,” adding that it will neither participate in nor broadcast the contest.



Spain’s departure is especially significant, as it is part of Eurovision’s “Big Five” — the top financial contributors alongside France, Germany, the UK and Italy.



Slovenia’s RTV SLO argued that Eurovision has become “hostage to the political interests of the Israeli government,” according to the broadcaster.



President Yitzchak Herzog, who played a role in efforts to secure Israel’s place in the contest, praised the EBU’s decision.



“Israel deserves to be represented on every stage around the world, a cause to which I am fully and actively committed,” Herzog said. “I am pleased that Israel will once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding.”



Herzog also thanked the “friends who stood up for Israel’s right to continue to contribute and compete at Eurovision,” saying the move “demonstrates solidarity, fellowship, and cooperation, and reinforces the spirit of affinity between nations through culture and music.”

EBU Members Overwhelmingly  Allow Israel To Compete in Eurovision, 4 Countries Boycott

After nearly five years, federal law enforcement agents apprehended a suspect on Thursday in connection with the pipe bombs discovered outside the Democratic and Republican National Committees on January 5, 2021, a breakthrough in the case of a security breach that has unsettled the capital for nearly five years.



Brian Cole Jr., 30, was taken into custody at his residence in Woodbridge, Virginia, charged with transporting explosives and attempted malicious destruction. The arrest marks the conclusion of a manhunt that had, until now, yielded no arrests despite a massive $500,000 reward offered during the previous administration.



According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the breakthrough was not the result of public tips, but rather a revamped police investigation, in remarks made to the New York Post following the arrest.



“The FBI examined every piece of information available, leveraged new technology, brought in experts from around the country, and methodically developed the evidence needed to nail this suspect,” Patel stated. “This breakthrough didn’t come from new tips, it came from relentless FBI work.”



Patel elaborated on the sheer volume of data analyzed, noting that investigators sifted through “three million lines of information … you can think about the amount of cell phone data that has to be ingested and triangulated and dumped and received.”



“When you develop evidence, you get a search warrant,” Patel explained. “When you get a search warrant, you get an address. When you get an address, you hit the house, and that’s what we did.”



The arrest has highlighted a sharp contrast between the current Justice Department and the previous Biden administration. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who Director Patel noted “spearheaded the investigation,” were quick to credit the change in leadership for the result.



“This is what it’s like when you work for a president who tells you to go get the bad guys and stop focusing on other extraneous things not related to law enforcement,” Bongino said at a press conference.



“This is what happens,” Bongino added, “when you have a president who tells you to go get the bad guys.”



Bondi echoed these sentiments, criticizing the delay under the previous leadership. “Today’s arrest happened because the Trump administration has made this case a priority,” Bondi said. “The total lack of movement on this case in our nation’s capital undermined the public trust of our enforcement agenices. This cold case languished for four years until Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino came to the FBI.”



Bongino emphasized the determination of the current bureau: “You’re not going to walk into our capital city, put down two explosive devices and walk off into the sunset. Not gonna happen. We were gonna track this person to the end of the earth. There was no way he was getting away.”



Federal agents descended on the Cole family’s quiet cul-de-sac in Woodbridge early Thursday, searching the home and a vehicle. Neighbors described Cole as a reclusive figure who generally avoided social interaction.



“He’s very antisocial. Very,” one neighbor, a resident since 1991, observed. “He keeps to himself.” She noted that Cole’s routine involved walking his dog: “He has a dog that he loves. He walks every day, twice a day, to 7-Eleven with his dog and he wears his headphones.”



Another neighbor noted Cole’s attire, saying he would “wear shorts all winter long, and red Crocs,” and expressed surprise at the allegations. “I’m pretty shocked. This is a very uncommonly friendly and neighborly place to live.”



However, one neighbor expressed skepticism regarding the identification, suggesting the suspect seen in surveillance footage had different physical characteristics.



The devices were planted the night before the certification of the 2020 electoral votes. The danger was palpable at the time; then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both reportedly came “within feet” of the bombs near the DNC headquarters.



For years, the lack of a suspect fueled speculation and concern. A congressional report released in January by Republican Representatives Barry Loudermilk and Thomas Massie had criticized the previous investigation, stating that “little meaningful progress” had been made and that “[b]y the end of February 2021, the FBI began diverting resources away from the pipe bomb investigation.” Previous FBI officials had even cast doubt on whether the bombs were intended to detonate. Steven D’Antuono, former head of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, testified in 2023 regarding the devices&#8217; timers.



“I saw the same kitchen timer as you,” D’Antuono had told lawmakers. “I agree. I don’t know when they were supposed to go off. Maybe they weren’t supposed to go off. We can’t — we don’t know. We honestly don’t know.” He added, “Should it have exploded in the hour? Or should it have been waiting there to — for somebody to find? Those are the theories that we have … There’s a lot of unanswered questions. There really are.”



With Cole now in custody, the Justice Department aims to answer those questions. “Our team re-examined the case from the ground up after the previous leadership spent four years with no success,” Patel said. “We engineered this investigation, built the evidentiary trail, and executed the search warrants that finally brought this individual into custody.”



“This is what a focused, disciplined Bureau delivers for the American people,” he concluded.

Virginia Suspect Arrested in Jan. 6 Pipe Bomb Case, FBI Combed Through ‘Millions’ of Data Lines

Mayor Eric Adams forcefully rejected a Wednesday statement released by his office, which had backed a Brooklyn middle school&#8217;s decision to not invite a Holocaust survivor to speak due to his support of Israel.



The first statement, given to the New York Post, supported MS 447 Principal Arin Rusch&#8217;s decision to bar Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann from speaking to students.



Writing on X from New Orleans, where he had attended a Combat Antisemitism conference, the Mayor released a clarification at 12:20AM, stating: &#8220;Unfortunately, a statement went out prematurely from my office that said he was not the right speaker,&#8221; Mayor Adams stated, distancing himself from the initial City Hall response which had claimed Steigmann &#8220;wasn&#8217;t the right fit.&#8221;



&#8220;Let me be very clear, I&#8217;ve previously met with Sami Steigmann and he is ABSOLUTELY the right person to speak with kids about the atrocities of the Holocaust,&#8221; Adams declared.



Rusch wrote that she did not think &#8220;Sami’s presentation is right for our public school setting, given his messages around Israel and Palestine.&#8221;



Steigmann, a survivor of a Nazi labor camp in Transnistria and medical experimentation, focuses his lectures on moral courage, urging students to be &#8220;upstanders&#8221; rather than bystanders. While he is openly proud of his Jewish identity and supports Israel, advocates note that he does not discuss the current Israel-Hamas war in his bio and had even offered to avoid the topic entirely if requested.



Adams made it clear that blocking survivors from speaking is unacceptable.



&#8220;As our Jewish community faces increased antisemitism and persecution across the globe, it&#8217;s more important now than ever that we learn the lessons and stories of the Holocaust,&#8221; Adams said. &#8220;New York City is the home to the largest number of Holocaust survivors in the world and we are privileged to learn from them.&#8221;



The Mayor indicated that he has taken personal steps to rectify the situation.



&#8220;We need our young people to hear these critical stories now, so we can train our next generation to never again perpetrate such evil,&#8221; Adams said. &#8220;Sami Steigmann has shared his amazing story with me at Gracie Mansion and I spoke to him tonight about how we can continue to highlight his story in the coming weeks.&#8221;



The refusal by the school, and the initial support from the Department of Education, drew blistering condemnation from Jewish leaders. Moshe Spern, President of the United Jewish Teachers (UJT) and the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, described the principal&#8217;s vetting process as &#8220;appalling,&#8221; &#8220;discriminatory,&#8221; and &#8220;personally offensive.&#8221;



&#8220;There are only so many survivors out there who still speak,&#8221; Spern said in a statement. &#8220;This is not meeting the moment. This is sending a message to Jews in [New York City Public Schools].&#8221;



Speaking to Belaaz, Spern characterized the decision as an act of &#8220;Jew-hatred&#8221; and &#8220;censorship of a Holocaust survivor who literally does not even talk about Israel.&#8221; He slammed the move as a &#8220;huge letdown&#8221; and a &#8220;backstab&#8221; to Jews in New York City.



Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov echoed these sentiments, warning that the school was &#8220;potentially engaging in viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.&#8221; She called it &#8220;abhorrent&#8221; to deny a survivor the chance to speak while antisemitism is &#8220;skyrocketing among our youth.&#8221;

Mayor Adams Rejects Office’s ‘Premature’ Statement, Fully Backs Holocaust Survivor Speaking at Brooklyn School

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his Wednesday interview at the New York Times Dealbook forum to deliver a forceful defense of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, warning Western governments about the expanding danger posed by Iran and its proxies.



In his conversation with the news outlet, Netanyahu said Israel is at a pivotal moment, insisting that “history beckons.” He flatly rejected establishing a Palestinian state and portrayed the legal proceedings against him as a diversion from Israel’s most urgent national priorities.



Discussing the war and the recent UN Security Council vote on President Donald Trump’s peace initiative, the Prime Minister argued that diplomatic progress only comes when backed by decisive force. He attributed the latest hostage releases to sustained military action combined with pressure from the American-led coalition.



“The battering that the Iran axis received opens up many possibilities,” Netanyahu told Sorkin. “We went into the last stronghold of Hamas in Gaza City. They didn&#8217;t believe we&#8217;d do it&#8230; And the combination of those two pressures brought Hamas to its senses.”



Reaffirming his long-held worldview, Netanyahu said that regional stability depends on demonstrating power. “In our neighborhood, and I venture to say now in all the areas of the world, the way you achieve peace is peace through strength,” he said. “If you&#8217;re weak, you invite aggression, and nobody makes peace with the weak. You make peace with the strong.”



When confronted with Saudi Arabia’s insistence on a path toward a two-state arrangement as part of normalization talks, Netanyahu dismissed the demand, pointing to the consequences of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. “There was a Palestinian state. It&#8217;s called Gaza. That&#8217;s exactly what it was,” he said. “We didn&#8217;t get peace. What we got was the most horrific massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.”



He also referenced near-unanimous opposition in the Knesset to externally imposed statehood plans. Netanyahu argued that Palestinian education and messaging remain incompatible with coexistence, referencing schoolbooks that glorify violence. “People say, look, there has to be a solution with the Palestinians. But it&#8217;s not one in which they don&#8217;t recognize the Jewish state&#8230; They indoctrinate their children with textbooks that are calling for children to become suicide bombers.”



Netanyahu dismissed any prospect of the Palestinian Authority taking control in Gaza, calling the PA “very corrupt” and criticizing its long absence of elections. “They cannot pay terrorists to kill more Jews,” he added.



He then delivered a sharp critique of the International Criminal Court and the global rise in antisemitism, drawing parallels between historic blood libels and accusations leveled at Israel. “The same lies that were leveled at the Jewish people are now being leveled at the Jewish state,” he said. “We don&#8217;t carpet bomb. We don&#8217;t do Dresden&#8230; We send our soldiers, some of whom die, trying to clear out these booby traps.”



Asked about New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s claim that Netanyahu could face arrest under the ICC warrant, the Prime Minister remained unfazed. “Yes, of course I will [come to New York],” he said.



Netanyahu also addressed his ongoing corruption case, confirming he has requested a pardon from President Yitzchak Herzog and repeating his view that the charges amount to a political “witch hunt.” “I received a Bugs Bunny doll 29 years ago, and I received some cigars and champagne bottles. That&#8217;s what this trial is about,” he said, criticizing the time demands of lengthy court sessions. “I think history beckons&#8230; The needs of Israel are such that to spend another two, three years in this nonsense where this trial has just collapsed, it&#8217;s become a joke.”



Despite the wartime challenges, Netanyahu voiced confidence in Israel’s long-term future, especially in technology and artificial intelligence, provided the country maintains robust security. He made clear he intends to stay at the helm. “When history is within reach, you don&#8217;t step aside. You step forward. And that&#8217;s what I&#8217;m doing,” he said. “We will change the face of the Middle East. We will win this war.”

Netanyahu in NYT Interview Dismisses Mamdani Threat

The IDF confirmed it carried out an airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, targeting a Hamas terrorist following an earlier assault on Israeli troops.



“Earlier today, the Hamas terror organization committed a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, during which terrorists attacked IDF troops deployed in the Rafah area,” the military says.



Five soldiers were wounded in the attack, including one seriously.



In response to the ceasefire violation, the IDF says it “struck a Hamas terrorist in the southern Gaza Strip.”



The military did not provide additional details regarding the identity of the target.



Palestinian media reported that at least six people were killed in the strike.



Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened an urgent meeting to determine Israel’s response to the Rafah attack, where five soldiers were injured, including one seriously, according to Channel 12.



Separately, Netanyahu issued a statement declaring that Hamas has violated the truce and promising a response.



“The Hamas terror organization continues to violate the ceasefire agreement and carries out terror attacks against our forces,” he says in the statement. “Our policy is clear: Israel will not tolerate attacks on IDF soldiers and will respond accordingly.”



Netanyahu also wished the wounded soldiers a speedy recovery.



Channel 12 reported that Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Shin Bet director David Zini participated in the meeting.



Zamir reportedly stressed that Israel cannot allow the attack to go unanswered.



“This is a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement,” a senior Israeli official told the outlet, “we are in full coordination with the Americans on the topic, and we have emphasized the severity of the matter.”

IDF Strikes Hamas Terrorist in Khan Younis After Attack on Soldiers

New York legislators are moving to ban protests within 25 feet of houses of worship following a recent incident in Manhattan where a crowd of anti-Israel demonstrators targeted a shul, chanting “death to the IDF” and other violent messages.



The proposed legislation, introduced by Assemblyman Micah Lasher (D-Manhattan) and Sen. Sam Sutton (D-Brooklyn), would prohibit demonstrations within 25 feet of the entrance, driveway, or parking area of any religious sanctuary.



Around 200 demonstrators gathered outside Manhattan’s Park East Synagogue, harassing Jews attending a Nefesh B’nefesh event.



Anyone violating the measure could be charged with criminal interference with access to a place of religious worship in the first degree, a Class A misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of one year in prison.



“New York must always be a place where people can both exercise free speech and express their religious identity without fear or intimidation, and that balance broke down outside Park East Synagogue,” said Lasher, who is running for Congress in the 12th House District, which includes the synagogue.



The historic shul was the scene of a demonstration where hundreds of protesters shouted slogans such as “globalize the intifada,” and a speaker encouraged the “resistance” to “take another settler out.”



“This bill will help our city government and other localities across the state ensure that New Yorkers are able to enter houses of worship without having to run a gauntlet of hate speech. Simple decency and mutual respect demands nothing less,” said Sutton, who represents the heavily frum Jewish neighborhoods of Borough Park and Midwood in southern Brooklyn.



The large crowd chanted “From New York to Gaza, globalize the intifada” in rhythm with a drum.



The legislation is co-sponsored by Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), whose district includes Park East Synagogue, and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Queens).



The transition team for Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who at first criticized the victims of the riot, said earlier this week that it would support a push for protest bans near houses of worship, after speaking with Rabbi Schnierer&#8217;s son, who leads a synagogue in the Hamptons.



The younger Rabbi Schneier told Mamdani he is “out of touch with the greater Muslim world” and challenged his refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. Mamdani has faced criticism for supporting the BDS movement against Israel and pledging to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. 



He also praised Mamdani for backing the protest ban legislation.



“Houses of worship should serve as peaceful sanctuaries, not punching bags for protestors. Every New Yorker, no matter their faith, deserves to worship and gather in peace. I’m grateful to Assemblymember Lasher for carrying this legislation, and I’m proud to stand with him in support of it,” Rozic said.



The bill is backed by the UFA Federation of NY.



“The ability to worship freely and without fear is fundamental to who we are as a nation,” said UJA executive director Eric Goldstein. “No one should ever face intimidation or see their synagogue – or any house of worship – targeted by protests meant to disrupt or instill fear. We are deeply grateful to Senator Sutton and Assembly Member Lasher for their leadership and commitment to protecting all those who come together in sacred communal spaces.”

New York Lawmakers Propose 25-Foot Protest Ban Outside Houses of Worship After Anti-Israel Riot

The Prime Minister’s Office said the Israel–Lebanon–US meeting held earlier Wednesday in Lebanon took place “in a positive atmosphere,” describing the tone among the delegations as constructive.



According to the PMO, “The meeting was conducted in a positive spirit, and it was agreed that ideas would be developed to promote possible economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.” Israeli officials added that any economic progress must be tied to core security benchmarks.



Israel stressed that Hezbollah’s disarmament remains a non-negotiable requirement. The PMO’s readout underscored that “Israel emphasized that the disarmament of Hezbollah is mandatory, regardless of progress in economic cooperation.” Jerusalem has repeatedly argued that Hezbollah has already violated the existing ceasefire by refusing to disarm as required, while continuing to expand its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.



The discussion, held in Naqoura just across the border, marked the first direct talks between the two countries in decades. Israel said all sides agreed to keep the channel open.



Israel’s delegation was led by Uri Resnick, deputy director for foreign policy at the National Security Council. Morgan Ortagus, the US special representative for Lebanon, headed the American team, while Lebanon was represented by former ambassador to the US Simon Karam.



Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized Gil Reich, acting head of the National Security Council, to dispatch an envoy to Lebanon for meetings with political and economic officials. Netanyahu’s office described the effort as “an initial attempt to create a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.”



The outreach comes as Israeli and American officials warn that the IDF may be forced to launch a major operation if Beirut fails to advance the long-stalled process of dismantling Hezbollah’s arsenal and military forces.



Lebanon’s prime minister, addressing speculation about broader diplomatic moves, said that if a peace agreement were ever reached, “normalization will follow, but we are not there at all.” He emphasized that the day’s session “was not peace talks.”

PM Office Responds Positively to Israel-US-Lebanon Joint Talks

A coveted strip of Miami shoreline known as Billionaire’s Beach, home to landmark art deco hotels like the Delano and Raleigh alongside soaring new luxury towers, is seeing heightened interest from affluent New Yorkers sizing up South Florida as a potential refuge.



According to extensive research the The Guardian, real estate insiders say they’re watching the early signs of what they call the “Mamdani effect”: an anticipated migration triggered by socialist democrat Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City mayor.



Some business leaders, including President Donald Trump, have played down the notion that Mamdani will spark a mass flight of New York’s wealthy. Yet Florida developers insist inquiries and purchases have surged “exponentially” in recent weeks.



At the Ritz-Carlton Residences, a set of 30 upcoming “beach house” units ranging from under $10 million to a $125 million penthouse, marketing teams say interest from New York has jumped 166% compared to last year.



Agents report similar patterns across high-end projects throughout Miami Beach, Brickell’s fast-growing financial district, and the upscale, tree-lined enclave of Coconut Grove.



Governor Ron DeSantis has joked that Mamdani deserves a realtor-of-the-year award and even floated charging an entrance tax on incoming high-net-worth New Yorkers.



A tour of Miami’s newest luxury developments shows the level of indulgence awaiting potential transplants: celebrated architectural design, expansive ocean vistas, private restaurants with Michelin-starred chefs, and full-service spas built to soothe away the pressures of city life.



At the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach, anticipation spiked early. “The second that the word on the street was that Mamdani was going to be elected we started getting phone calls,” said Pietro Belmonte, executive vice-president at Douglas Elliman. The tower, designed by Kobi Karp with interiors by Alessandro Munge, features apartments from 1,200-square-foot one-bedrooms to upper-floor units ranging from $10.5 million to more than $22 million. Twin penthouses with private pools top out at a combined $125 million.



Residents will enjoy brass-detailed bathrooms, wraparound balconies overlooking the Atlantic, and immediate access to several José Andrés restaurants and 350 feet of beachfront. With move-in projected for 2028, Belmonte said the timing aligns with buyers weighing the long-term impact of Mamdani’s win. “I don’t see it as a mass exodus, I see it more as a thoughtful exodus,” he said.



Belmonte noted that buyers are largely seasonal. “They’re all second-home buyers. No one’s going to be here during the summer … they’ll be here for the six months and a day to make it their main residence then they’re going to be in St Tropez, they’ll be in Italy, in the Hamptons, in the Berkshires.”



In Coconut Grove, developer Ugo Colombo of CMC Group says his Four Seasons Private Residences project marks “the crown jewel” of his four decades transforming Miami’s skyline. Roughly 15% of new buyers are from New York, with interest rising another 10% around the time of Mamdani’s election.



“Most of these people already have second and third homes, right? So they’re not necessarily running to us and saying, ‘We’re escaping New York’,” said Christine Martinez de Castro, CMC Group’s chief marketing and sales officer. She said buyers began eyeing Miami during Covid, and tax considerations remain a major draw.



Units at the Four Seasons range from $6 million for two bedrooms to $18 million for spacious 4,000-square-foot homes, with a penthouse accessible only under NDA. Residents will have a European-style spa, a signature restaurant, and the relaxed ambiance of Coconut Grove. Martinez de Castro said the brand’s service sets it apart: “You want the ‘Oh yeah, I didn’t think about that’ moment, right?”



Farther north on Miami Beach, the Perigon — a 73-unit waterfront development — is attracting what developers describe as extraordinary demand from “ultra, ultra high net worth” clients. “Activity at Perigon right now … is really staggering,” said Michael Patrizio, managing director at Mast Capital. With a Michelin-starred chef, private cinema, children’s lounge, and an invitation-only speakeasy, the project caters to buyers seeking privacy and high design.



Condos start at $12.5 million for two bedrooms and climb to $70 million for upper-floor residences with sweeping views. Construction is advancing rapidly, which Patrizio says reassures buyers. “It gives certainty of delivery … there’s activity, there’s progress.”



In Brickell, the soaring 80-story Cipriani Residences will become Miami’s tallest building, housing nearly 400 condominium units in 1.2 million square feet. Even the smallest apartments start just under $2 million. Patrizio said interest from wealthy New Yorkers — though not necessarily the “ultras” — has surged since the mayoral primary. “Inquiries have increased exponentially,” he said, noting multiple buyers who committed specifically after the election.



The tower features the Canoletto Collection on its upper floors, offering 74 luxury homes designed by 1508 London. Three triple-level penthouses crown the building, each equipped with a private elevator, concierge service and an infinity pool.



Despite Miami’s building boom, Patrizio believes demand is sustainable. He points to the relocation of major firms like Citadel, Blackstone and Starwood Capital, as well as rising applications to private schools. “That means people are relocating,” he said.

New Research: Wealthy New Yorkers Eye Miami Escape Amid Predicted ‘Mamdani Effect’

The Trump administration launched an aggressive new phase of its immigration enforcement campaign Wednesday, deploying more than 100 ICE agents to Minneapolis to pursue illegal Somali immigrants.



According to multiple reports cited by the New York Post on Wednesday, the intensified operation is aimed at up to 500 Somalis living in the country unlawfully in Minneapolis, which houses the nation’s largest Somali population — estimated at more than 80,000 residents.



The move comes on the heels of revelations that scammers within the Somali migrant community perpetrated extensive fraud that cost Minnesota taxpayers roughly $1 billion, according to the state’s Department of Human Services. The scheme unfolded under the watch of Gov. Tim Walz, prompting widespread outrage.



During a White House cabinet meeting Tuesday, President Donald Trump sharply criticized Somali illegal immigrants, stating, “I don’t want them in our country,” and describing Somalia, one of the world’s poorest nations, as a place that “stinks.” He also took aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who was born in Somalia, calling her “garbage.”



Homeland Security officials, however, maintained that the enforcement surge is not singling out ethnic groups. A DHS statement noted that the operation has expanded to include increased ICE activity in New Orleans as well.



“Every day, ICE enforces the laws of the nation across the country. What makes someone a target of ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally. We do not discuss future or potential operations,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Wednesday as the Minneapolis operation was reportedly underway.

ICE Floods Minneapolis In Major Operation Targeting Illegal Somali Migrants

A Brooklyn middle school principal has ignited a firestorm of controversy after denying a parent’s request to host a Holocaust survivor, claiming the 85-year-old’s &#8220;pro-Israel views&#8221; made him inappropriate for a public school setting.



The decision comes from the administration of MS 447, a Boerum Hill school that used to admit students based on merit, but shifted towards a lottery system in recent years to improve &#8220;diversity.&#8221;



Principal Arin Rusch rejected the proposal to host Sami Steigmann, a survivor of a Nazi labor camp and medical experimentation, in a November 18 email to a parent.



&#8220;In looking at his website material, I also don’t think that Sami’s presentation is right for our public school setting, given his messages around Israel and Palestine,&#8221; Rusch wrote. While Rusch insisted she would &#8220;love to explore other speakers&#8221; to discuss the Holocaust and antisemitism, she maintained that Steigmann’s presence would not be &#8220;right.&#8221;



Steigmann, who spent his early childhood in a labor camp in Transnistria (modern-day Ukraine) where he was subjected to Nazi medical experiments, centers his lectures on a message of moral courage. His website urges students to &#8220;Never be a bystander — be an UPSTANDER,&#8221; and he has been honored by the New York State Assembly for his work with students. While he does not discuss the current Israel-Hamas war in his bio, he is openly proud of his Jewish identity and Israel’s right to exist.



Formerly known as &#8220;The Math &amp; Science Exploratory School,&#8221; the school officially dropped &#8220;Math and Science&#8221; from its name in 2023 following the diversity initiative. While over 95% of students tested proficient in math in 2018, that number tanked to just 69% by 2022 after the program kicked off.



 Mayor Eric Adams’ office stood by Principal Rusch’s decision. A City Hall spokesperson stated that while the Mayor is dedicated to Holocaust education, &#8220;this speaker wasn’t the right fit.&#8221;



Moshe Spern, President of the United Jewish Teachers (UJT), reacted with fury to the decision, issuing blistering statements regarding the principal&#8217;s vetting process and the City’s response.



In a statement to the NY Post, Spern, himself the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, called Rusch’s stance &#8220;appalling,&#8221; &#8220;discriminatory,&#8221; and &#8220;personally offensive.&#8221;



&#8220;There are only so many survivors out there who still speak,&#8221; Spern said. &#8220;This is not meeting the moment. This is sending a message to Jews in [New York City Public Schools].&#8221; He noted that the rejection &#8220;begs the question of, ‘Are we now censoring Holocaust survivors for their views of Israel?’&#8221;



Spern went even further in comments to Belaaz, characterizing the move as a betrayal by the current city administration.



&#8220;This email from the principal and the decision by the Department of Education is an example of Jew-hatred,&#8221; Spern told Belaaz. &#8220;It is the censorship of a Holocaust survivor who literally does not even talk about Israel, outside of having an Israeli flag on their website and a few past statements made in a non-public school. He even said he wouldn&#8217;t talk about Israel if that&#8217;s what they wanted.&#8221;



Spern continued, drawing a sharp political contrast regarding the Adams administration: &#8220;Is this what we&#8217;re going to do? We&#8217;re going to censor Holocaust survivors? Honestly, this is what I would have expected from a Mamdani administration, not the Adams administration. What a huge letdown, and what a huge letdown by the Department of Education. Way to backstab all the Jews in New York City.&#8221;



&#8220;I&#8217;m extremely disappointed in the decisions made by this principal, by the Department of Education, and by the Mayor&#8217;s office. We need to do better. Do better for the Jewish community. Censoring Holocaust survivors is not how you do it. This is not how you make Jews feel safer in 2025; it&#8217;s how you make us feel smaller and less supported.&#8221;



The defense from the Mayor&#8217;s office has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders, including Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Ukrainian-born Jew.



&#8220;It’s particularly abhorrent to deny someone who lived through the horrors of the Holocaust the opportunity to share his experience with students — particularly during a time when antisemitism is skyrocketing among our youth,&#8221; Vernikov told the Post. She warned that the school is &#8220;potentially engaging in viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.&#8221;

‘DEI’ Brooklyn Middle School Blocks Holocaust Survivor Over ‘Pro-Israel’ Views

A 75-year-old man who admitted to a months-long campaign of antisemitic vandalism across Montauk ultimately avoided serving any of the five-day jail sentence he received, the New York Post reported Tuesday night.



Michael Nicholoulias confessed to spray-painting swastikas and messages including “Jews Die” and “Jews Burn” on homes, businesses, and public property between October and December 2023. He was arrested and, on Nov. 14, a judge handed down a five-day Suffolk County jail sentence, 27East reported.



“I am guilty of everything,” Nicholoulias told prosecutors, according to the outlet.



Nicholoulias pleaded guilty in August to two felony hate-crime charges as part of a plea agreement with Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. But despite the imposed sentence, he did not serve a single day of it. The report said he was credited with “good behavior” for the one day he had previously spent in custody after his arrest, leaving him with probation instead of jail time.



Investigators identified Nicholoulias by tracking the GPS tag placed on his 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Police later caught him in the act on Dec. 4 near Ditch Plains, where he was found spray-painting a swastika on a bench by the public restrooms. Other nearby signs had been defaced in the same manner.



In court, Nicholoulias admitted he specifically targeted properties because their owners were Jewish, the report said.



Following sentencing, jail officials processed him for the short term, but because he was due to receive time off for “good behavior” within days, and because the sentencing occurred on a Friday, a procedural technicality effectively erased the entire five-day term.

Antisemite Who Terrorized Jewish Community With Nazi Graffiti Ends Up Serving No Jail Time

Tuesday, the 12th of Kislev, marks the 185th yahrtzeit of one of the greatest Chassidish Rebbes, Harav Avraham Dov Ber of Ovritch zt”l, known to the world as the &#8220;Bas Ayin,&#8221; a sefer he wrote on Chumash.



A talmid of the Meor Einayim and the Kedushas Levi, he served as the Rav of Ovritch for nearly forty years before journeying to Eretz Yisrael at the advanced age of 70.



While his life in Europe was distinguished, it was his leadership in the holy city of Tzfas that cemented his legacy as a guardian of the Jewish people.



The Bas Ayin arrived in Tzfas during a tumultuous era, becoming the leader of the Chassidic community while living in peace with the Perushim (disciples of the Vilna Gaon), and their leader, Harav Yisrael of Shklov zt&#8221;l.



His koach ha&#8217;tefilah was displayed during the Great Earthquake of 1837.



On that devastating day, tremors began to rock the mountainside city just as the community was gathered for Mincha. As panic set in and congregants rushed for the exits, the Bas Ayin shouted above the din: &#8220;Come to the Aron Kodesh if you wish to be saved!&#8221;



The mispalelim gathered at the Aron and the Rebbe threw himself on the floor in weeping tefilah. In an open neis, while the majority of the synagogue’s structure collapsed into rubble, the area surrounding the Aron Kodesh remained perfectly intact. To this day, visitors to the reconstructed shul in Tzfas can see the visible line distinguishing the original surviving wall from the rebuilt sections, a witness to the miracle that saved dozens of lives while 5,000 others in the region tragically were killed.



Three years later, in 1840 (5601), a terrible plague ravaged the community of Tzfas. As the death toll mounted, the Bas Ayin made a selfless promise: he would be the plague&#8217;s final victim.



On the 12th of Kislev, the holy Rebbe returned his soul to his Creator. True to his word, the plague stopped immediately upon his passing. He was laid to rest in the ancient cemetery of Tzfas, in a ma&#8217;arah alongside the Arvei Nachal, and near the resting places of the Beis Yosef and the Alshich Hakodesh.



The Bas Ayin left behind no biological children. He famously stated that his sefer, the Bas Ayin, was his child, and he promised to intercede on behalf of those who study it or help in its publication.



In this monumental work, he offers a profound insight into the episode of May Merivah (The Waters of Strife), where Moshe Rabbeinu struck the rock instead of speaking to it as he had been commanded by Hashem. The Torah tells us Hashem decreed Moshe would not enter Eretz Yisrael because &#8220;You did not believe in Me to sanctify My name.&#8221;



The Bas Ayin asks the obvious question: How can Hashem accuse Moshe Rabbeinu, the man who spoke to Hashem face-to-face, of a lack of faith?



The Rebbe explains that the &#8220;lack of faith&#8221; was not in Hashem&#8217;s power, but in the power of his own Teshuvah. When the people complained, Moshe initially slipped by calling them &#8220;rebels.&#8221; He immediately regretted this harshness and did Teshuvah. However, when commanded to speak to the rock, Moshe hesitated. He feared that his mouth, having just been used to speak negatively about Bnei Yisrael, was spiritually damaged. He worried that if he used a &#8220;tainted&#8221; mouth to command the rock, the rock would not listen, leading to a massive Chillul Hashem. Therefore, he chose to strike the rock, a method that had worked previously.



Hashem’s critique, the Bas Ayin explains, was this: &#8220;You did not believe in Me,&#8221; meaning, you did not have enough faith in the power of the Teshuvah I gave you, that when one does Teshuva he isn&#8217;t the same person who sinned, and the parts of his body that he used the wrong way are recreated &#8211; the mouth that uttered the wrong words is not the same mouth after Teshuva. Had Moshe fully believed that his repentance had completely recreated his mouth, he would have known he was worthy to speak to the rock and bring forth water through words alone.



Jewish communities across the world mark the yahrtzeit with seudos l&#8217;ilui nishmaso; a minhag first popularized first in Eretz Yisrael by noted mashpia Harav Elimelech Biderman shlita.



For 185 years, the Bas Ayin has remained a powerful advocate for Klal Yisrael. His kever in Tzfas attracts thousands of petitioners annually, and stories abound of yeshuos found by those who connect to his Torah. As he viewed his writings as his progeny, the study of his teachings on this day is considered a powerful merit.



Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Who Was the Bas Ayin?

Harmeet Dhillon, the United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, delivered sharp criticism of New York’s incoming mayor at the Israel Hayom conference in New York, accusing him of enabling a surge in antisemitism across the city.



Dhillon declared that “The mayor-elect of New York Zohran Mamdani is an ‘antisemitic demagogue.’ That’s a fact,” citing rising hate crimes, assaults, and limits on access to synagogues.



She said federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the FBI, are conducting active investigations into attacks on Jewish communities in New York, New Jersey, and other states. “When we find it, we protect Jews,” Dhillon added, emphasizing the government’s commitment to enforcement and safeguarding targeted communities.



Her remarks come as major US cities report escalating antisemitic incidents. Dhillon stressed that combating hate requires rigorous oversight and swift federal action, with Washington stepping in where local leadership fails to keep vulnerable communities safe.



Mamdani has faced heavy criticism after last month’s antisemitic protest outside the Park East Synagogue, where demonstrators called for violence against Jews.



Responding to the backlash, Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec told reporters that the Mayor-elect “discouraged the language used at last night’s protest and will continue to do so.” She then faulted the synagogue for hosting a Nefesh B’Nefesh aliyah event, saying, “He believes every New Yorker should be free to enter a house of worship without intimidation, and that these sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law.”



Pekec’s comments drew swift condemnation, with critics accusing her of blaming victims and falsely asserting that moving to Israel or exploring aliyah is illegal.

US Civil Rights Chief Slams NYC Mayor-Elect As ‘Antisemitic Demagogue’

Colombian immigration officials on Monday deported nine adults and seventeen minors linked to the Lev Tahor cult after authorities uncovered their plan to re-establish the group in a remote region of the country, according to officials.



The deportees were placed on a flight to New York under police escort.



Authorities said the group had been staying at a hotel in Yarumal, in the Norte de Antioquia region, when officials learned they intended to relocate to an isolated private property nearby. &#8220;Their intention was to disappear into private land, and this raised serious concerns,&#8221; a security source said.



Immigration officials designated the group as a “threat to national security” and raised alarms about potential violations of children’s rights. The operation was carried out together with a regional child-protection unit.



Paula Salazar, director of the regional immigration authority, said that &#8220;Colombia has implemented an administrative deportation of the nine adults due to concerns about national security. The minors remained in custody on the flight until their full transfer to US authorities.&#8221;



Several of the minors were taken into the care of US Child Protective Services after authorities discovered that five of them, citizens of Canada, the United States, and Guatemala, were listed under an Interpol Yellow Notice amid fears of human trafficking, kidnapping, or exploitation.



The removal came one week after officials rescued seventeen minors from remnants of the group in Colombia on November 23. According to local authorities, families linked to Lev Tahor attempted to regroup in Colombia after the collapse of their base in Guatemala, but the effort was detected and stopped.

Colombia Expels Lev Tahor Members After Attempt To Rebuild Secretive Enclave

An Israeli organization has been informed that Guinness World Records will no longer accept submissions from Israel or the Palestinian territories, Channel 12 reports.



The report states that the charity “Matnat Chaim,” which promotes voluntary kidney donations, reached out to Guinness World Records regarding an upcoming event in Jerusalem that aims to gather 2,000 donors in a single location.



The charity, which had hoped to have a photo of the large-scale event featured in the next edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, was disappointed when the UK-based organization confirmed that it is no longer accepting submissions from Israel or the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, Channel 12 says.



Matnat Chaim president Rachel Heber told Channel 12, “Israel is leading the whole world in this wonderful revolution of mutual responsibility in altruistic kidney donations. The fact that Guinness refuses to include the Israeli achievement that astonished the entire medical world is unacceptable.”

Guinness World Records No Longer Accepting Entries from Israel

Invitations have been distributed for Vice President JD Vance’s upcoming Chanukah reception, scheduled to take place just one day before the President’s annual holiday gathering, sources tell Belaaz.



The invitations for both the Vice President’s and the President’s events were first reported on and shared by Belaaz.



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According to the details released, Vice President Vance and the Second Lady will host the reception at the Vice President&#8217;s Residence on the evening of Monday, December 15. The event is slated to run from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM.



The text of the Vice President&#8217;s invitation reads: &#8220;The Vice President &amp; The Second Lady&nbsp; Request the pleasure of your company for a Hanukkah Reception.&#8221;

EXCLUSIVE: VP Vance’s Chanukah Reception Set for Day Before White House Party

Two teenagers, one of them a Russian national, have been taken into custody in Paris on suspicion of planning an antisemitic attack, according to judicial sources and media reports.



The Russian teen, a 16-year-old Chechen who arrived in France with his mother four years ago, reportedly sent a WhatsApp photo showing himself holding a knife, declaring that he was “going to kill Jews in five days,” Le Parisien reported.



He was allegedly in communication with the other 16-year-old, who resides in the Paris region, and threatened to attack a religious site, the newspaper added.



Confirming the media accounts, France’s national anti-terror prosecutor’s office told AFP that the two had been charged with “participation in a terrorist criminal association with the aim of preparing one or more crimes against persons.”



So far in 2025, France has charged 20 minors with terrorism-related offenses, with prosecutors noting a rise in young people being implicated in such plots over the past five years.



The detention of these two teenagers pushes this year’s total above the 19 minors charged with terrorism-related crimes across all of 2024.

Two Teens Detained in France Over Murderous Antisemitic Attack Plot

The UK and the US have finalized an agreement ensuring that British-made pharmaceuticals will continue entering the American market without tariffs for the next three years, the BBC reported Monday.



Under the deal, the UK agreed to higher NHS medicine payments in exchange for a binding guarantee that US import taxes on British drugs will stay at zero. It marks the first time in over two decades that NHS drug costs are set to rise.



The agreement follows President Donald Trump’s warnings that he could impose tariffs of up to 100% on branded medicines; one of Britain’s most valuable exports to the US.



Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said the arrangement “guarantees that UK pharmaceutical exports, worth at least £5bn a year, will enter the US tariff free, protecting jobs, boosting investment and paving the way for the UK to become a global hub for life sciences.”



In the 12 months to September, the UK exported £11.1 billion in medicines to the US, accounting for 17.4% of all British goods sold to America, according to UK government figures.



Pharmaceuticals were originally excluded from the earlier round of tariffs announced by President Trump, but he repeatedly raised the prospect of targeting drug imports, citing concerns about US dependence on foreign suppliers and the higher prices paid by American consumers.



As part of Monday’s terms, the UK will lift the cost threshold used to judge when new medicines are too expensive by 25%. NHS drug spending is also set to increase gradually — rising from 0.3% to 0.6% of GDP over the next decade.



Drugmakers’ required repayments to the NHS, introduced to prevent overspending, will be capped at 15%, down from the over-20% level seen last year. In return, British medicine exports receive tariff protection for three years.



Announcing the deal, US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. said Americans “should not pay the world’s highest drug costs for medicines they helped fund,” adding that the agreement “strengthens the global environment for innovative medicines and brings long-overdue balance to US–UK pharmaceutical trade.”



White House spokesman Kush Desai called the agreement “a historic step towards ensuring that other developed countries finally pay their fair share.”



Tensions around the issue had been rising inside the UK as well, amid disputes between the government and pharmaceutical firms over pricing and approval delays. British Health Secretary Wes Streeting said earlier this year he would not allow companies to “rip off” the UK after negotiations stalled.



However, Science Minister Sir Patrick Vallance later acknowledged that NHS drug spending had fallen as a share of the health budget over the past decade and needed to rise.



NICE, the NHS advisory body, said the revised framework could result in three to five additional medicines being approved each year. Currently, it reviews around 70 annually and approves roughly 90%.



The ultimate cost to the NHS remains unclear; drugs account for about 10% of its budget. Sally Gainsbury of the Nuffield Trust warned the deal could add £3 billion in expenses, calling it “bad news” given intense financial pressures, and argued that the Treasury would need to fully fund any increases.



The UK government emphasized that it is the only country to secure a zero-percent tariff rate for pharmaceutical goods. EU officials previously believed their exports would be shielded by earlier agreements capping most tariffs at 15%.



The deal comes after a string of halted or cancelled pharma investments in the UK. GSK announced in September it would spend $30 billion in the US instead, while Merck (known as MSD in Europe) scrapped a £1 billion expansion in Britain. AstraZeneca also paused a £200 million Cambridge project and later committed $50 billion to US-based research and manufacturing.



William Bain of the British Chambers of Commerce praised the announcement, calling it “a real win” that will strengthen exports, draw investment and bolster the UK as a center for pharmaceutical innovation.



Bristol Myers Squibb said it now expects to invest over $500 million in UK research, development and manufacturing over the next five years. Chief executive Chris Boerner said the arrangement “creates an environment conducive to our continued presence in the UK.”



The White House launched a formal investigation into pharmaceutical imports in April, assessing their national security impact. In September, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he might impose 100% tariffs on branded drugs, though the administration held off as talks progressed.

UK Strikes 3-Year Zero-Tariff Deal With US On Pharmaceutical Exports

President Trump said today that the U.S. is “very satisfied” with Syria’s recent progress and praised new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for his “hard work and determination” to rebuild the country.



Trump said his decision to end “very strong and biting sanctions” was “truly appreciated by Syria, its leadership, and its people,” and that Washington is helping ensure Syria “evolves into a prosperous state.”



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He also asked Israel to maintain a “strong and true dialogue” with Syria, saying both countries can now build a “long and prosperous relationship” and a “historic opportunity” for Middle&nbsp;East&nbsp;peace.



The message came as President Sharaa met in Damascus with U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack, alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, where the two sides discussed “the latest developments in the region and issues of common interest,” further showing Washington’s renewed engagement with Damascus.



The developments follow an Israeli raid in southern Syria on Friday, where Syria said 13 people were killed in what it called a “criminal attack,” while the IDF said its troops came under fire in Beit Jinn during an operation to arrest two Al-Jama’a Al-Islamiya terrorists. Six Israeli soldiers were wounded, three severely, after gunmen opened fire as the soldiers left the suspects’ home.

Trump Praises Syria’s New President al-Sharaa and Urges Israel to Continue Dialogue

US President Donald Trump invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the White House “in the near future” during a phone call Monday evening, Netanyahu’s office says.



According to the Israeli readout, the two leaders underscored “the importance of and commitment to dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip,” and also discussed further expanding the region’s peace accords.



If finalized, the trip would mark Netanyahu&#8217;s fourth White House visit since Trump returned to office in January; a higher number than any other international leader. Trump also met Netanyahu in Israel earlier this year.



The conversation followed Trump’s recent warning to Israel not to destabilize Syria or its new leadership, issued just days after IDF forces clashed with gunmen in southern Syria.



“It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.



The call also came one day after Netanyahu formally asked Yitzchak Herzog for a pardon in his ongoing corruption case; a request Trump has vocally supported, both in public comments from the Knesset podium in October and in a follow-up letter to the president.

Trump Invites Netanyahu To Washington As Leaders Reaffirm Push To Neutralize Hamas

President Donald Trump will gather senior national security officials at the White House on Monday evening to determine next steps on Venezuela, according to sources who spoke with CNN, as Washington sharply ramps up its pressure campaign on the Maduro regime.



Key Cabinet officials are slated to participate, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller are also expected at the session.



The meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m. ET in the Oval Office, follows a series of intensified U.S. actions targeting Venezuela, including strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels and a significant military buildup in the Caribbean. The Pentagon says “Operation Southern Spear” has already placed more than a dozen U.S. warships and roughly 15,000 troops in the area.



Last week, Trump signaled that U.S. interdiction efforts would soon expand beyond the sea routes. He said the administration would begin blocking Venezuelan drug networks by land as well, adding that such actions were coming “very soon.”



Over the weekend, Trump issued a sweeping social-media directive cautioning pilots, airlines, and criminal groups to stay clear of Venezuelan airspace. Speaking to reporters Sunday, he downplayed any broader implications of that statement.



Trump also acknowledged having spoken by phone with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, though he did not elaborate on the contents of the conversation. Just days earlier, the administration formally labeled Maduro and several senior figures in his government as members of a foreign terrorist organization; an action officials argue provides expanded U.S. authority for potential operations inside Venezuela.



The Oval Office meeting comes amid growing scrutiny from lawmakers over the legality of recent U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats, attacks that have resulted in more than 80 deaths. Critics in Congress note that the U.S. is not formally at war with Venezuela.



CNN reported last week, citing sources familiar with the matter, that a second strike was carried out on a suspected drug vessel after an initial attack failed to kill everyone aboard.



Members of both parties have raised alarms, with some warning the actions may constitute a “war crime.”



“The law is clear,” Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent, told CNN on Monday morning. “If the facts are, as have been alleged, that there was a second strike specifically to kill the survivors in the water — that’s a stone-cold war crime. It’s also murder.”



King, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said lawmakers plan to question officials “up and down the chain of command.”



“The question is, what order did the secretary of defense give and how was that executed? And we’re going to be talking to people, as I say, all the way up, up to the top of the chain of command and down to the people that actually triggered that attack,” he said.



 On Sunday, Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Maduro, telling him, “You can save yourself and those closest to you, but you must leave the country now,” according to the Miami Herald. 



Washington reportedly offered safe passage for Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, their son, and several allies if he departed immediately, but Caracas rejected the terms, causing the talks to collapse. Trump later confirmed he had spoken with Maduro, saying only, “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly.” The Herald reported that Maduro demanded two guarantees; global amnesty for crimes attributed to his circle, and the right to retain control of the armed forces in exchange for allowing free elections. The US refused both requests and insisted Maduro step down at once.

Trump Convenes Oval Office Meeting On Escalating Venezuela Campaign

A 16-year-old man was shot Sunday afternoon at the Q train station near Avenue J and East 16th Street in Brooklyn, according to police. The incident has left the local Jewish community in shock, as the area is typically considered low-crime.



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Police sources told Belaaz that according to preliminary findings, the shooting is likely related to gang activity, though the investigation is ongoing. First responders rushed the teen to a nearby hospital.



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The NYPD source says the victim is expected to recover.



The source added that a firearm was recovered at the scene, but it is not yet clear whether it belonged to the suspect or the victim. No arrests have been announced at this time.

Teen Shot at Ave. J Q Train Station in Apparent Gang-Related Violence

An IDF soldier who was wounded in the Beit Jann clash in southern Syria last week, was rushed to Rambam Hospital, where doctors discovered a bullet that pierced his vest and lodged in his heart. 



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The soldier underwent emergency surgery, was B&#8221;H stabilized, and the bullet remains in place due to removal risks.



Medically, the odds of surviving such a wound unscathed are extremely low.

MIRACLE IN MOTION: IDF Soldier Survives Heart-Piercing Bullet in Syria

Freed hostage Yosef Chaim Ohana returned to Kiryat Malachi on Sunday, stepping back into his hometown after 738 days in captivity; a moment of national joy that contrasted with the the burial of Dror Or Hy’d, who was returned recently by Hamas terrorists.



The duality of a young man lifted onto shoulders of admirers and a grieving family laying a beloved father to rest captured the emotional whiplash that continues to define life in Israel more than two years after the Hamas-led massacre.



Ohana, abducted during the terrorists’ October 7 attack at the Nova music festival and among the final 20 surviving hostages freed on October 13, completed several weeks of rehabilitation at the Kfar HaMaccabiah center in Ramat Gan before making his way home. He emerged smiling, surrounded by his parents, students waving flags, and Scouts drummers who accompanied him in a celebratory procession. As he stepped outside, he clapped and mimed a hug toward the crowd.



“It’s hard when everyone looks at you like this,” he admitted before arriving in Kiryat Malachi. “But all the love I’m receiving says everything.” He emphatically recited Shema Yisrael. Supporters then lifted him onto their shoulders and carried him to City Hall, where he blew a shofar as candy rained down.



“I’m so excited to return to the city, after two years of dreaming that I would get there someday. It’s crazy,” he said. “I want to say thank you. Listen, you’re amazing.”



Visibly emotional, he continued: “The first thing I’ll do when I get home is cry. Each one of you is like an angel. This warmth and welcome prove we have one heart. You&#8217;re here for the hard times and the joyous ones. I love each and every one of you. Just as your smile gave me strength, I ask you — never stop smiling at one another. Let’s live with the knowledge that nothing is to be taken for granted. Thank you for everything.”



Ohana said the ability to speak openly about what he endured mattered to him. “People ask what we went through and how we’re doing — that gives us space to share and be heard.” He also emphasized that one Israeli hostage remains in Gaza, mentioning Ran Gvili and saying his family “deserves to have him here.” Addressing the cheering crowd once more, he added, “But look, look at these champs. I’m still here.”



His father, Avi, described the return as a miracle. “For two years we cried out for this day. I want to tell you: I love you with all my soul. This day didn’t come by chance — it came after millions of prayers from the people of Israel that Yosef Chaim would be saved and return home against all odds. It’s a great miracle, a personal splitting of the sea. Thank you for this blessed day.”



Meanwhile, oved ones buried Dror Or Hy’d, a devoted father, husband, and cheesemaker, whose body was returned last week under the ceasefire terms, more than two years after he was murdered and taken into Gaza. He was laid to rest beside his wife, Yonat Or Hy’d, who was also murdered by the terrorists on October 7.



His brother Elad said in his eulogy that he could never fully comprehend what happened. “I will never in my life really understand how this could have happened to you and to Yonat — how you were attacked like that in your beautiful home, with such terrible evil,” he said. “And how you somehow managed to tell Alma and Noam to run, and then they caught you. I never want to understand it.”



Dror’s younger children, Noam and Alma, were taken hostage during the attack and later freed under the first hostage deal in November 2023. His older son, Yahli, was away on a year of national service at the time.



Hundreds of Be’eri residents, including former hostages, joined the funeral. Gvili’s family was also present, a reminder that two murdered hostages; Ran Gvili Hy’d and Sudthisak Rintalak, have still not been returned.



Dror’s father, Yuval, said the family’s struggle continues. “There is still a refusal to investigate the disaster of October 7 and what led to it,” he said, calling for a full, independent inquiry and urging Israelis to pursue a “democratic, solidarity- and peace-seeking Israel.”



His mother, Dorit, spoke of Dror and Yonat as “people of freedom and light, of spirit and creativity,” describing their early years together, their return to Be’eri, their three children, and the home they built. She recounted how, on October 7, as terrorists entered the house and set it on fire, the couple instructed their children to flee out the window and run — saving their lives.



She remembered her son as a patient, gentle father, whose calmness shaped their home. “We have each other,” Elad told the family as they stood beside the graves.

A Day Of Grief And Joy: Yosef Chaim Ohana Returns Home While Levaya is Held for Dror Or Hy’d

Documents released by President Javier Milei reveal how &#8220;Doctor&#8221; Josef Mengele ym&#8221;s, the murderous “Angel of Death,” managed to live freely in Argentina after the war, the New York Post reported Sunday.



Mengele, infamous for his role as an Auschwitz commander, carried out monstrous medical experiments on prisoners, especially twins, under the false banner of &#8220;scientific inquiry.&#8221; Eyewitness accounts, some included in the newly released Argentine files, describe his chilling brutality and sadism, including torturing twins in front of one another after sending their parents to the gas chambers R&#8221;l.



A full binder in the archive is solely dedicated to tracking the movements of the Auschwitz doctor and SS officer.



The records demonstrate that by the mid- to late 1950s, Argentina had already confirmed Mengele’s identity and presence in the country. Officials knew he entered in 1949 with an Italian passport under the alias Helmut Gregor, later using it to obtain an immigrant ID in 1950.



Argentina’s collection exposes the network that protected him. The heavily fragmented archive, which spans Spanish, German, Portuguese, and English, reveals how authorities documented, mishandled, and often failed to act on what they knew about one of the world’s most notorious war criminals.



The trove includes photographs, intelligence files, immigration documents, surveillance notes, and correspondence, showing years of attempts to map the support system that assisted him across Argentina, Paraguay, and eventually Brazil. German documents point to foreign intelligence involvement; Portuguese and English elements hint at cooperation with Brazilian, US, or British agencies.



Among the material is an undated newspaper clipping about José Furmanski, an Argentine citizen born in Poland and a victim of Mengele. The files show local intelligence was well aware of the accusations against him.



“I met Mengele. I knew him well. I saw him many times in the Auschwitz camp, with his SS colonel’s uniform and, on top of it, the white doctor’s coat,” Furmanski recalls in the interview.



Furmanski, himself a twin, described the horrors inflicted on him and his sibling.



“He gathered twins of all ages in the camp and subjected them to experiments that always ended in death. Between the children, the elderly, and women… what horrors. I saw him separate a mother from her daughter and send one to certain death. We will never forget,” he said.



The archive also contains dozens of images without captions and hundreds of pages of internal notes, showing a structured, though often ineffective, effort to assemble a complete dossier. It includes foreign passports issued under aliases, photos of suspected collaborators, handwritten operational plans, border-crossing logs, and briefings prepared for senior officials.



The files confirm that Argentina’s postwar approach was muddled; a mix of cooperation with Western allies and bureaucratic dysfunction. Authorities showed limited urgency or comprehension of the severity of Nazis’ crimes, and senior officials appeared reluctant to expose how rooted Nazi fugitives had become in Argentine society.



In 1956, while expanding a business venture, he secured a certified copy of his birth certificate from the West German Embassy in Buenos Aires and petitioned to have his ID officially changed to his real name; a remarkable sign of how secure he felt.



By then, Argentine agencies not only knew his true identity and address, but were also aware that he had married his brother’s widow, was raising their son, and had significant business interests in the country. Some reports indicate his father may have visited Argentina to support him financially, including investments in a Buenos Aires medical-laboratory enterprise.



His conspicuous lifestyle prompted West Germany to issue an arrest warrant and request extradition in 1959. A local judge blocked the request, claiming it amounted to “political persecution,” and declined to take action.



Despite extensive evidence, information remained scattered among agencies that rarely communicated. Intelligence often failed to reach the presidency, and actions were taken too late, sometimes only after press leaks alerted him, resulting in repeated dead ends. Arrest orders, searches, and surveillance operations were frequently approved after they were no longer useful.



After the 1959 extradition request and growing pressure on Argentina, he fled to Paraguay while his wife and stepson relocated to Switzerland.



A memo dated July 12, 1960 — long after he had already slipped into Paraguay — shows investigators still trying to trace his business dealings and movements. It detailed his partnership in the medical-laboratory firm FADRO-FARM and his use of the alias Dr. Gregor.



Argentine intelligence continued monitoring him largely through news reports and conversations with foreign agencies. He gained Paraguayan citizenship and was shielded by dictator Alfredo Stroessner, whose family originated from the same Bavarian town.



The files show he slipped into Brazil clandestinely in 1960 via the tri-border region near Paraná state. Nazi-sympathizing German Brazilian farmers sheltered him in various rural locations.



The Argentine documents, increasingly dependent on media clippings, indicate that he used the alias Peter Hochbichler in Brazil, though he sometimes reverted to a Portuguese version of his real name, José Mengele. During the late 1960s and 1970s, he stayed on properties owned by the German Bossert and Stammer families in São Paulo state.



He died in 1979 after suffering a stroke while swimming off the coast of Bertioga. Buried under the false name Wolfgang Gerhardt, he was later exhumed, and his identity was confirmed by Brazilian authorities in 1985. DNA analysis in 1992 further verified the findings.

Declassified Files Show How Nazi ‘Angel Of Death’ Josef Mengele Ym”s Eluded Justice In Argentina

Hagaon Harav Moshe Sternbuch shlita said Motzoei Shabbos that the joy of finishing even one sugya is so immense that a seudas mitzvah should be held in celebration.



According to Bechadrei Charedim, the remarks were made at the conclusion of his weekly shiur at his Kollel &#8220;Teshuvos Vehanhagos,&#8221; which is named after the Rav&#8217;s renowned series of Halachic seforim.



For the past three months, the members of the Kollel have been deeply immersed in the complex Sugya of mechitzos. After delivering dozens of in-depth shiurim on the subject, Rabbi Sternbuch and his students marked the completion of the study with a &#8220;Lechaim.&#8221;



Addressing the talmidim, Rav Sternbuch said &#8220;the joy is so great that it was appropriate to hold a seudah and simcha for each halacha in its own right.&#8221;



Rav Shternbuch, 99 years old, is considered one of the foremost poskim in the world. He is the Gaavad of the Eidah Charedis and in recent years has been referred to as the Posek Hador.

“We Must Have a Seudah for Every Halacha”: Hagaon Harav Moshe Shternbuch Celebrates Conclusion of Sugya

JERUSALEM &#8211; In a historic move, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted a formal request for a presidential pardon to President Isaac Herzog on Sunday afternoon through his attorney, accompanied by a detailed legal memorandum and a personal letter.



The request comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Herzog to pardon Netanyahu. 



The President’s Office confirmed receipt of the request, describing it as “extraordinary and of significant consequence.” 



The document will now be transferred to the Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department for a comprehensive review and the collection of professional opinions.



A statement from the President’s Office said President Herzog will examine the request “with responsibility and utmost seriousness” once all opinions have been received.The submission comes as Netanyahu continues to stand trial on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases — charges he has consistently denied.

Netanyahu Formally Requests Pardon from President Herzog

A Jewish Israeli student traveling in Paris reported a harrowing encounter recently after discovering her taxi driver identified as a member of the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, according to a Saturday night report by Channel 12.



The incident occurred after the woman and a friend ordered a taxi through a ride-sharing app. The passenger noted that the driver spoke English, which facilitated a &#8220;pleasant&#8221; initial conversation. However, the discussion shifted when the driver stated he was from Lebanon.



The woman, who stated in an interview that she makes a point of not hiding her nationality, informed the driver she was from Israel. She described the driver’s face as &#8220;turning white&#8221; upon realizing his passengers were Israelis. &#8220;It felt very uncomfortable. I told him I understood he didn&#8217;t like us,&#8221; she told Channel 12.



According to her account, the driver initially insisted he had &#8220;no problem with Israelis,&#8221; but expressed grievances regarding Israeli political leadership, specifically naming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.



The situation escalated when the passenger asked for the driver&#8217;s opinion on Hezbollah, referring to it as a terrorist organization. The driver replied, &#8220;I&#8217;m from Hezbollah.&#8221;



It is possible that due to the language barrier, the driver may have intended to say that he was a supporter of the terror group and not an active member.



&#8220;At that moment I was scared, just like he was scared when I told him I was from Israel,&#8221; she said.



Despite the tension, the passenger described viewing the remaining seven minutes of the trip as a &#8220;mission&#8221; of outreach. She engaged the driver in a discussion regarding the October 7 attacks, sharing with him that three of her friends had been murdered at the Nova music festival.



&#8220;It was scary, but I wanted him to see our side too,&#8221; she said.



The ride concluded without physical incident. At the end of the trip, the driver offered his personal phone number to provide future rides. The women accepted the offer but provided him with a fake number before exiting the vehicle.

Jewish Student in Paris Encounters Hezbollah-Affiliated Taxi Driver

Northwestern University will pay $75 million over the next three years to resolve a Trump administration investigation into campus antisemitism, a move that will also restore $790 million in federal funds that had been frozen since April, according to CBS News.



The settlement was jointly announced Friday night by Northwestern and the Trump administration, which accused the university of allowing antisemitism to take root on campus.



Attorney General Pamela Bondi welcomed the agreement, saying: “Today’s settlement marks another victory in the Trump Administration’s fight to ensure that American educational institutions protect Jewish students and put merit first. Institutions that accept federal funds are obligated to follow civil rights law &#8211; we are grateful to Northwestern for negotiating this historic deal.”



Northwestern said it expects full restoration of the frozen federal funding within 30 days. Alongside the $75 million payment, the university agreed to conduct a review of international admissions, provide training for international students on campus expectations, and reaffirm protections for Jewish students and faculty.



Interim President Henry Bienen emphasized that the agreement leaves Northwestern’s institutional autonomy intact. “As an imperative to the negotiation of this agreement, we had several hard red lines we refused to cross: We would not relinquish any control over whom we hire, whom we admit as students, what our faculty teach or how our faculty teach. I would not have signed this agreement without provisions ensuring that is the case. Northwestern runs Northwestern. Period.”



The freeze had already led to hiring pauses, layoffs, and reductions in academic programs. Former President Michael Schill stepped down in September amid the tumult surrounding the probe.



Northwestern is one of several universities that have reached settlements in recent months to close federal investigations into campus antisemitism. Columbia University agreed to a $200 million deal in July, while Cornell University finalized a $30 million agreement earlier this month.

Northwestern University To Pay $75 Million To End Trump Admin Antisemitism Probe

The first round of White House Chanukah party invitations were sent out Friday, sources tell Belaaz Motzoei Shabbos.



A copy of the invitation, which is electronic, was shared with Belaaz.



The invite reads: &#8220;The President and Mrs. Trump request the pleasure of your company at a Hanukkah Reception to be held at The White House on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at seven o&#8217;clock.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="668" height="842" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1000253804.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-20853" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1000253804.jpg 668w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1000253804-238x300.jpg 238w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px" /></figure>



The invitations arrive amid reports of a significantly scaled-back guest list for this year&#8217;s celebration, as first reported by Belaaz two weeks ago.



Sources familiar with the planning indicate that the 2025 Chanukah party will be smaller than in previous years. This reduction is due to the massive construction project currently underway on the White House grounds, specifically the demolition and rebuilding of the East Wing.



The East Wing, which traditionally houses the First Lady’s offices and serves as a critical staging area for large social events, has been undergoing extensive work as part of President Trump&#8217;s initiative to construct a new, larger ballroom.



The construction has turned much of the eastern side of the complex into an active work zone, severely limiting the space available for the logistical support required to host the hundreds of guests usually invited to the annual menorah lighting.

EXCLUSIVE: White House Chanukah Party Invites Sent Out to Jewish Figures

Dublin’s city council has moved to strip a local park of the name of Chaim Herzog, Israel’s sixth president and a native of Ireland, a decision widely viewed as another expression of the country’s increasingly hostile posture toward Israel amid the Gaza war.



Although a replacement name has not yet been selected, pro-Palestinian activists have reportedly pushed for it to be rebranded as “Free Palestine Park.”



Former Irish justice minister Alan Shatter sharply condemned the decision, arguing that “Dublin City Council has now gone full on Nazi &amp; a committee of the Council has determined it should erase Jewish/Irish history. Herzog Park in Rathgar is named after Chaim Herzog, Israel&#8217;s 6th President, brought up in Dublin by his father, [Rav] Yitzchak HaLevi Herzog, a friend of Eamon De Valera, who was Chief Rabbi of Ireland &amp; Israel’s first Chief Rabbi&#8230; Some councillors want the Park renamed ‘Free Palestine Park.’”



The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland criticized the move as harmful to the country’s tiny Jewish community.



&#8220;It sends a hurtful and isolating message to a small minority community that has contributed to Ireland for centuries. We call on Dublin City Councillors to reject this motion. The removal of the Herzog name from this park would be widely understood as an attempt to erase our Irish Jewish history.&#8221;



Chaim Herzog, a diplomat and thinker, served in numerous senior positions throughout his career, including his landmark tenure as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. In 1975, he delivered a historic address rebuking the Soviet-backed resolution equating Zionism with racism—an oration often paired with the famed speech delivered that same day by U.S. Ambassador Daniel Patrick Moynihan.



Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denounced Dublin’s decision, saying Ireland’s “antisemitic and anti-Israel obsession is sickening.”

Dublin Votes To Remove Israeli President’s Name From Park, Sparks Outrage Over Erasing Jewish History

President Donald Trump on Saturday ordered a full closure of airspace above and around Venezuela, sharply intensifying his standoff with Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, whom the White House accuses of collaborating with narco-terrorist networks to move drugs across the region.



“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” the president wrote on Truth Social Saturday morning.



The Federal Aviation Administration had recently cautioned pilots and airlines to avoid Venezuelan skies, warning of “a worsening security situation” and highlighting heightened military activity and potential GPS interference. Two days earlier, Venezuela pulled operating rights from six major airlines that had halted flights following the FAA alert.



Trump’s directive to shutter the airspace “in its entirety” goes well beyond the FAA’s advisory, reflecting Washington’s view that Venezuelan airspace now represents an active and evolving security danger rather than simply an unsafe corridor.



Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gill denounced the announcement, calling it a “hostile, unilateral, and arbitrary act,” and arguing it violates the United Nations Charter.



“Venezuela denounces and condemns the colonialist threat that seeks to affect the sovereignty of its airspace, constituting a new, extravagant, illegal, and unjustified act of aggression against the people of Venezuela,” he said.



Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have spent recent months applying mounting pressure to push Maduro from power, supported by a significant deployment of American military forces in the Caribbean and repeated lethal strikes on vessels the administration identifies as drug-smuggling operations.



Those strikes have drawn heavy criticism abroad, while both Democrats and some Republicans warn that Trump is centralizing too much authority within the executive branch and may be breaching international law.



Last month, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights condemned the attacks, labeling them “unacceptable” and echoing concerns from U.S. lawmakers that the strikes violate international norms.



This week, Trump hinted at broader military action targeting drug traffickers operating in the resource-rich nation.



“People aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea,” he said at the White House Thursday. “And we’ll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier. But that’s going to start very soon. We warn them. Stop sending poison to our country.”



Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that Trump risked bypassing federal law since Congress has not authorized military force against Venezuela.



“Americans are tired of endless foreign wars that cost the lives of countless American servicemembers and drain precious resources,” he said. “This is not an America First policy. We need Republicans and Democrats in Congress to come together to return the power to declare war back to the people.”

Trump Orders Complete Shutdown Of Venezuelan Airspace Amid Rapid U.S. Military Buildup

In a sweeping declaration, President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is terminating &#8220;approximately 92%&#8221; of documents signed by former President Joe Biden, claiming they were authorized illegitimately via mechanical &#8220;autopen&#8221; without Biden’s direct approval.



The announcement, made via Truth Social, ties directly into a new immigration directive Trump unveiled hours before, which vows to &#8220;terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions&#8221; by classifying them as legally void from their inception.



In his Friday morning post, Trump claimed that the vast majority of Biden’s official acts were orchestrated by staff members rather than the former president himself.



&#8220;Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the Autopen, which was approximately 92% of them, is hereby terminated, and of no further force or effect,&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;The Autopen is not allowed to be used if approval is not specifically given by the President of the United States.&#8221;



Trump went further, alleging a &#8220;cover-up&#8221; within the Biden White House. &#8220;The Radical Left Lunatics circling Biden around the beautiful Resolute Desk in the Oval Office took the Presidency away from him,&#8221; he stated. &#8220;I am hereby cancelling all Executive Orders, and anything else that was not directly signed by Crooked Joe Biden&#8230; Joe Biden was not involved in the Autopen process and, if he says he was, he will be brought up on charges of perjury.&#8221;



The move appears designed to bypass standard legal revocation procedures for immigration statuses. On Thursday, while announcing a &#8220;permanent pause&#8221; on immigration from what he termed &#8220;third world countries,&#8221; Trump explicitly linked the autopen theory to his mass deportation goals.



By asserting that admission documents signed via autopen were never validly executed, the administration is pursuing a legal theory that these immigrants were never technically &#8220;admitted&#8221; to the U.S., potentially stripping them of due process rights associated with revocation.



The President’s declaration relies heavily on a theory championed by the House Oversight Committee. Their recent investigations have alleged that President Biden’s cognitive decline was so severe that staff members, specifically a tight circle of aides, began authorizing executive actions, pardons, and admissions independently, using the autopen machine to affix Biden’s signature without his knowledge.



While the autopen has been a standard tool for U.S. presidents for decades to sign routine correspondence and commissions, its use for substantive executive orders without direct presidential authorization would break with protocol.



A 2005 Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion explicitly upheld the constitutionality of the autopen, stating that &#8220;the President need not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature&#8221; as long as the authorization is clear.

Trump Declares Most Biden Documents Void, Citing ‘Illegal’ Autopen Use

The Jewish community of Chernivtsi, Ukraine, was jolted on Thursday evening when a man set fire to the revered Sadigura shul, the famed “Kloiz Kadisha,” inflicting major damage on a site central to the Chasidus.



Community representatives said the suspect, described as mentally unstable, entered the synagogue in the Sadigura (Sadhora) neighborhood during a brief moment when the guard stepped away. He allegedly ignited a fire inside before police arrived and took him into custody.



A preliminary review suggested the same man attempted to set fire to a nearby church, lehavdil, about a month ago, according to community leaders, pointing to a pattern of unstable behavior rather than any targeted act against Jews.



While b&#8217;chasdei Hashem nobody was hurt, locals reported that the blaze severely damaged parts of the shul&#8217;s historic interior. Engineers, preservation specialists and municipal officials are slated to evaluate the extent of the destruction in the days ahead.



“This is a very painful and distressing incident,” Chernivtsi’s chief rabbi, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Glitzenstein, who also serves as Chabad’s emissary told the Jerusalem Post. “The synagogue is one of the most important buildings in the Chasidic world.”



At the same time, Rabbi Glitzenstein emphasized that the event should not be interpreted as growing antisemitism in the city. “In Chernivtsi, we do not feel antisemitism,” he said. “There is extensive security around Jewish institutions, and efforts are made to neutralize any sign of antisemitism. All residents here live in brotherhood and peace.”.



In the 1840s, the Rizhiner Rebbe zy&#8221;a, Harav Yisrael Friedman, established his court in the shul after fleeing persecution in the Russian Empire.



The shul was constructed in a roman style with touches of Moorish design, built from red brick and resembling a palace more than a typical Eastern European shul, true to the Rizhiner Rebbe&#8217;s emphasis on showing malchus Hashem. The Rebbe was know to dress in royal garb, but with shoes that had no soles, so as not to derive any worldly pleasure. When he was about to be niftar, chasidim say that he raised his pinky finger and made the same declaration that Rebbe Yehudah Hanasi, who was also very wealthy, made when he was about to leave the world &#8211; a shvuah that he had never enjoyed Olam Hazeh even with his smallest finger.



For four generations, the leaders of the Sadigura Chasidus presided from this site, which historians have long described as one of the largest and most impressive shuls in the Chasidish world.



That era ended with World War I. In 1914, as fighting neared the area, the Sadigura court moved to Vienna, and the once-thriving Jewish life of Sadhora — along with its celebrated shul — fell into decline.



During the Soviet period, the structure was seized and used for secular purposes, including as a factory, before later falling into disrepair.



After Ukraine gained independence, Jewish descendants, Chasidish groups and local partners began working to restore the building. A major renovation, backed by international donors connected to the Ruzhin–Sadigura lineage, was completed in the mid-2010s.



By 2016–2017, the restored shul, with its renewed interior and shining brickwork, was rededicated and regained its role as a center for prayer and pilgrimage.



In recent years, Sadigura Chasidim from Israel, Europe and North America have returned to Chernivtsi to daven in the kloiz and visit the nearby graves of earlier rebbes. Local Jews have also used the site for Yamim Tovim, including large Sukkos gatherings.



The incident comes as Ukraine continues to grapple with Russia’s invasion, leaving Jewish heritage sites vulnerable to both wartime conditions and limited resources.



Ukrainian officials have repeatedly committed to protecting religious institutions, and in many cities, authorities work closely with Jewish communities to safeguard synagogues, cemeteries and monuments.



“This place has already survived wars, regimes and decades of neglect,” one community member told the Post. “We are sure that with G-d’s help, and with the support of Jews around the world, the Kloiz Kadisha will be repaired and will continue to stand as a beacon of Torah, prayer and Chasidic heritage.”



Ukrainian police have launched a criminal investigation into the arson.

Mentally Unstable Man Reportedly Torches Historic Sadigura, Rizhiner Shul in Ukraine

Former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney said in a Friday interview with i24NEWS that American and Saudi officials had been edging close to a normalization framework before the October 7 massacre derailed the entire process, leaving Riyadh deeply frustrated.



Ratney explained that Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of F-35 fighter jets is “largely symbolic,” serving as a message about the depth of the strategic partnership with Washington rather than a practical necessity. He added that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to see the Gaza fighting fully end and expects significant shifts in Israeli policy toward the Palestinian issue before advancing toward normalization.



According to Ratney, meaningful progress is unlikely in the near future — and possibly not under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership.



His comments emerged as new details surfaced about the November 18 Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and the crown prince. Three sources told Axios earlier this week that Trump had hoped the end of the Gaza war would open the door to a breakthrough on Saudi-Israel ties and pressed MBS directly to join the Abraham Accords.



White House officials had already briefed MBS ahead of the visit that Trump expected movement on normalization. But when Trump raised the issue in the private meeting and insisted on progress, the exchange grew heated, officials said.



The crown prince pushed back, explaining that while he wants to move forward, Saudi society is currently “highly anti-Israel” following the Gaza war and “isn’t ready” for such a step. Despite cordial public statements from both leaders, the private discussion underscored the significant gap that remains.



Ratney noted that prior to October 7, the normalization effort had been close to success, but the terrorists’ attack “upended everything” and halted what had appeared to be real momentum.



Trump said a few days before the meeting that Saudi Arabia is expected to join the Abraham Accords “very shortly,” citing “tremendous interest” in normalization.

Former US Envoy Says Breakthrough With Saudis on Israel Unlikely Soon

In a blistering Thanksgiving message shared late Thursday night on Truth Social, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping escalation of his administration’s immigration crackdown, pledging a “permanent pause” on migration from “all Third World Countries” and vowing to strip federal benefits from noncitizens.



The lengthy post, written as a holiday salutation to “Patriots,” framed the current state of U.S. immigration as an existential threat. Citing a foreign-born population of 53 million, the President described the situation as a “refugee burden” responsible for social dysfunction, including “failed schools, high crime, urban decay… and large deficits.”



“I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover,” Trump wrote, declaring that only “reverse migration” could cure the situation.



A portion of the President&#8217;s new directive relies on a contested legal theory regarding his predecessor. Trump vowed to “terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen.”



This references a theory promoted by the House Oversight Committee and the White House, which alleges that former President Biden’s cognitive decline led to staff members authorizing executive actions and admissions via a mechanical “autopen” without his direct knowledge. By classifying these admissions as unauthorized, the Trump administration appears poised to bypass standard revocation procedures, treating the legal status of millions as null and void ab initio.



The President leveled attacks against the leadership of Minnesota, pointing to the state’s Somali community. He stated that that “Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for ‘prey’” and accused Governor Tim Walz of incompetence.



“The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing,” Trump wrote, before pivoting to attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar, whom he disparaged for her “swaddling hijab” and questioned her entry into the country.



The statement come just days after the administration moved to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals, a move that Minnesota leaders have vowed to fight in court.



Trump pledged to:



End all federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens.



&nbsp; Denaturalize migrants deemed to “undermine domestic tranquility.”



Deport any foreign national considered a “public charge” or incompatible with “Western Civilization.”



The President claimed that a migrant earning $30,000 can receive roughly $50,000 in yearly benefits, likely referring to Medicaid, food stamps, and other programs.



Legal experts anticipate immediate challenges to the “Third World” pause, citing the Immigration and Nationality Act’s non-discrimination clauses, though the Supreme Court has previously given the executive branch broad deference on national security grounds.



The President concluded his message with a stark warning to his political opponents and those he deems enemies of the state: “You won’t be here for long!”

Trump Announces Permanent “Pause” on Migration, Vows “Reverse Migration” in Thanksgiving Address

Two Jewish teenagers in Montevideo were chased to the doorstep of their home by young men shouting antisemitic slurs and threatening them with pieces of paving tiles, in what Uruguay’s Jewish leadership denounced as a brazenly hate-driven assault.



The attack occurred Tuesday afternoon in the Punta Carretas neighborhood and was first reported Wednesday night by local Spanish-language outlets.



Reports said the boys, ages 13 and 14, were walking home from school in their uniforms from a local Jewish high school when two young men, apparently in their early twenties, confronted them.



The attackers, having identified the teens as Jewish, allegedly shoved them and shouted, “Jews, we know what you did,” a phrase widely understood there as blaming Jews for events tied to Israel and Gaza. As the boys fled, the assailants grabbed broken paving tiles from a construction site and chased after them, threatening to strike.



The pursuit continued all the way to the home of one of the boys. Once there, the attackers stood outside, hurled additional antisemitic insults, and warned the boy’s mother that they now knew where the family lived.



No physical injuries were reported, but both teens were left deeply traumatized. One parent described the ordeal as a “lynching attempt.”



The families filed a complaint at a local police station, prompting prosecutors to investigate potential hate-crime charges, including “incitación al odio,” or incitement to hatred. Police examined nearby CCTV footage, though no arrests had been reported by Thursday afternoon.



The Central Jewish Committee of Uruguay, the country&#8217;s main Jewish representative body, said it would fully support the family’s complaint and push for the incident to be prosecuted as an antisemitic crime.



In a public statement, the committee said the boys “were pursued, harassed, and threatened because they are Jews” and cautioned that rising hate speech was “enabling real attacks.” The group expressed confidence in the justice system but urged a clear national response to growing antisemitism.



Roby Schindler, the committee’s president, called the assault “outrageous” and said it should serve as an urgent warning to authorities and civil society groups.



Regional antisemitism monitors said the case reflected how online radicalization is increasingly spilling into physical violence. Eduardo Kohn of B’nai B’rith Latin America warned that hateful social-media messages “reach their destination” and urged Uruguayans not to normalize such attacks. A Spanish-language global antisemitism watchdog likewise condemned the incident and encouraged the public to report similar cases.



Jewish community organizations across Latin America have documented steep increases in antisemitic rhetoric and incidents following the October 7 Hamas massacre and the ensuing Gaza war, with some reporting surges of several hundred percent in threats, harassment, and vandalism.



Uruguay’s Jewish community, estimated at 15,000 to 18,000 people, is one of the region’s oldest. Although the country has long been considered relatively safe for Jews, community leaders have warned over the past year of rising incidents, including threatening graffiti and harassment near Jewish schools and institutions.



They linked the spike to increasingly toxic online conversations about Israel and Gaza, along with the spread of conspiracy theories and extremist discourse on social platforms.



The families involved said their primary concern is the safety and emotional recovery of their children, who remain shaken but uninjured. According to the parents, police and prosecutors assured them that the investigation is advancing.

Jewish Teens Flee Antisemitic Attack In Montevideo, Uruguay

New York City, recently hailed as the second-best city globally by Resonancy Consultancy for its “cultural economy and massive urban infrastructure projects,” has now earned a far less enviable distinction: the most stressed-out city in the world.



Finance company Remitly conducted a global study assessing major cities on cost of living, crime, congestion, pollution, and access to healthcare, combining these factors into an overall “stress score” out of 10.



New York topped the list with a score of 7.59.



The city’s exceptionally high cost of living is a major contributor to residents’ stress levels.



A 2025 study by Cornell University found that rising living expenses are the primary concern for most New Yorkers.



In November, median Manhattan rent hit a record $4,625, up 7.6% year over year, according to appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. and brokerage Douglas Elliman.



Inflation has also affected groceries, utilities, and insurance, pushing Remitly to assign New York City the maximum living expenses score of 100. By comparison, Athens, Greece, scored 56.6, and Mexico City scored 44.4.



While New York’s top-stress ranking is unsurprising, the city in second place may raise eyebrows. Dublin, Ireland, traditionally viewed as a laid-back city full of pubs and poets, scored 7.55 overall. Local residents face increasing affordability pressures, the study noted.



Dublin is also among Europe’s most congested cities, with travel times averaging 32 minutes and 45 seconds for just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).



Rounding out the top five most stressful cities were Mexico City, Manila, and London.



At the other end of the spectrum, Eindhoven in the Netherlands was named the least stressful city globally, with a low overall score of 2.34. Utrecht followed closely. Both Dutch cities benefitted from excellent healthcare access and low crime and pollution rates.

NYC Named World’s Most Stressful City

A new draft of the government’s conscription bill, authored by Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, was released to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Thursday afternoon. The legislation aims to “regulate the status of full-time yeshiva students while recognizing the importance of Torah study,” proposing a framework that balances yearly deferments for yeshiva students with periodic recruitment quota increases from the Charedi public.



The bill stipulates that full-time yeshiva students who do not engage in any other vocation may be granted yearly deferments from enlistment. Notably, provisions found in previous versions regarding strict oversight of yeshiva attendance, such as the implementation of fingerprint scanners, have been removed from this updated draft.



For the purposes of the law, the definition of Charedi recruits is based on educational background. The bill defines them as individuals who studied at a Charedi educational institution for at least two years between the ages of 14 and 18.



The legislation outlines specific annual minimal thresholds for recruitment. These targets are to be filled by graduates of Charedi educational institutions entering either military service or civilian security service, though the latter cannot account for more than 10% of the quota.



The proposed recruitment thresholds are as follows:



First Year: 8,160 conscripts Second Year: 6,840 conscripts Third Year: 7,920 conscripts Fourth Year: 8,500 conscripts Fifth Year: “No less than 50 percent of the annual enlistment cohort from graduates of Charedi educational institutions.” Following the fifth year, the Defense Minister, with committee approval, will set a threshold no lower than that of the fifth year.



A critical component of the bill regarding the nature of service involves the integration of non-military options. While students receiving deferments may request to perform civilian security service upon reaching the age of 20, 90% of the Charedi quota will be compromised of soldiers.



The bill ties compliance to financial and individual sanctions. Failure to meet recruitment targets will result in the withdrawal of funding for yeshiva students enjoying deferrals.



On an individual level, yeshiva students who have not received an exemption and fail to report for service face significant civil restrictions until the age of 23. These include: Ineligibility for a driver’s license. A ban on traveling abroad. Ineligibility for academic scholarships. Denial of subsidized public housing, tax credits, national insurance discounts, and daycare or transit subsidies.



Exceptions committees may override specific travel or licensing bans. Importantly, these sanctions expire once a student reaches the age of exemption, which is set at 26.



To facilitate integration, the bill mandates that the IDF “enable the preservation” of the Charedi lifestyle. The military is required to “establish service tracks that are tailored to the lifestyles of graduates of Charedi educational institutions,” and the Defense Ministry will work to establish Charedi pre-military preparatory academies.



While there have been reports of Charedi politicians and senior leaders of the Litvishe world reviewing and potentially supporting the advancement of the bill, there remains no official confirmation of their endorsement.



Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf,&nbsp; chairman of the United Torah Judaism party and its Augudas Yisrael faction, says that his party’s Moetzes Gedolei Torah will examine the bill before deciding on whether or not to support it.



“The position of the Moetzes, as conveyed to us, is that we must advance a framework that will preserve the world of Torah, without any sanctions against Torah students,” he says.



“The draft proposal presented this evening will be brought before our revered Gedolim shlita, for their decision, and we will act solely according to their guidance.”



Religious Zionism&#8217;s Bezalel Smotrich said his party is reviewing the bill, but &#8220;Our principle has been and remains: We will only vote for a law that will lead to real and rapid recruitment of Charedim into the IDF to meet security needs and ease the burden on fighters, reservists, and their families.&#8221;



Criticism from PM Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s political foes was swift. The bill “spits in the faces of those who serve, while improving the situation of those who evade service,&#8221; Blue and White chair Benny Ganz said. &#8220;The absurdity in which there is an overwhelming majority in the public and in the Knesset for a service framework, and yet, for a few more months in power, Likud is selling out Israel’s security — must end.&#8221;



In a video message, MK Bismuth defended the legislation against critics, stating: “We’re on our way, we’ve submitted the conscription bill, and with G-d’s help we will do and succeed. A balanced law, a good law, a law that is good for the army. A good law for yeshiva students, a law that is good for the people of Israel, that is good for the state itself.”



He emphasized the broader stability the bill aims to achieve: “And I have to tell you one thing: and let’s be precise: it’s not here to stabilize a coalition, it’s here to stabilize the state.” Bismuth further commented in a separate statement, “This is it, we’re moving forward with a balanced and responsible conscription law that serves the people of Israel.”



If the IDF fails to meet 95% of its recruitment targets for three consecutive years, a committee will be established to recommend implementation improvements or legislative amendments.

Charedi Draft Bill Submitted, Includes Exemptions for Yeshivah Students, Penalties Dropped for Current Non-Compliance

A historic landmark in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia has been returned to Jewish ownership and restored to its original glory, as the Jewish community of Kislovodsk celebrated the rededication of their 135-year-old shul following a massive three-year renovation.



The Chanukas Habayis this week marked the culmination of a project that saw the &#8220;restoration of the historic site from foundation to roof,&#8221; according to a press release shared with Belaaz from the Chief Rabbi&#8217;s office; a process that breathed new life into a building once nationalized by the communist regime.



The event was graced by the presence of the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Harav Berel Lazar, who was honored with the &#8220;special dedication ceremony of the entire complex and the affixing of mezuzahs at the doors to the synagogue hall.&#8221;



The event drew a wide array of dignitaries, including the district governor, the mayor, and various community leaders. Led by the community&#8217;s president, Rabbi Akiva Khudainatov, the guests toured the two historic buildings that comprise the complex.



According to the press release, the officials &#8220;were extremely impressed by the magnificent results.&#8221;



The transformation was comprehensive. &#8220;Dozens of expert workers in the field restored the entire structure, according to photos that have been preserved since then,&#8221; ensuring historical accuracy. The project also included a significant expansion, &#8220;adding a Beis Medrash that will include a large Torah library.&#8221;



A particularly moving moment during the renovations was the discovery of the site&#8217;s spiritual roots. &#8220;The location of the original Mikva that had operated there was discovered&#8221; in the basement. The report noted that despite &#8220;cracks and changes that had been made by the building&#8217;s residents over the years,&#8221; the original craftsmanship remained evident, allowing observers to &#8220;get a sense of the impressive beauty that had been invested by the Jews in those years, to build the place with maximum splendor and beauty.&#8221;



The massive undertaking was made possible &#8220;thanks to the support of the government as well as philanthropist Mr. Naum Babayev, a native of the city, along with additional donors from the community&#8217;s friends.&#8221;



The shul, built approximately 135 years ago in an area where Tsarist authorities permitted Jews to reside, holds deep historical significance for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, to which Rav Lazar is affiliated.



During its active years before Soviet nationalization, the shul was a focal point for Jewish leadership. It was visited by the fifth Rebbe of Lubavitch, the Rebbe Rashab zt&#8221;l, &#8220;who even established a soup kitchen in the area, which provided free food daily to every needy Jew.&#8221;



The connection continued with his son, the Rebbe Rayatz zt&#8221;l, who organized meetings there for rabbis of surrounding cities &#8220;to strengthen Judaism in their places of rabbinate.&#8221;



Furthermore, the last Lubavitcher Rebbe zt&#8221;l &#8220;briefly visited the place when he came to meet his kallah and father-in-law [the Rayatz].&#8221;



The reclamation of the property began a few years ago when Rabbi Yitzhak HaCohen Kogan of Moscow’s &#8220;Bolshaya Bronaya &#8211; Chabad&#8221; shul managed to redeem the site. He subsequently &#8220;transferred a Torah scroll through his student, Rabbi Akiva Khudainatov,&#8221; who now heads the community.



Kislovodsk, known famously as Russia&#8217;s &#8220;City of the Sun,&#8221; is &#8220;blessed with mild and sunny weather most of the year.&#8221; The newly renovated shul is expected to serve as a spiritual hub not just for locals, but for visitors as well. The site is described as &#8220;a magnet for the city&#8217;s Jews and the many tourists who visit the area for its mineral waters and clean air.&#8221;



The ceremony concluded with a show of unity from across the Russian Jewish community. A congratulatory letter from the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia, Rabbi Alexander Boroda, was read by Rabbi Aharon Gurevich, the Russian Army and Prison Chaplain.



Honors were shared among distinguished guests, including the Shliach and Rabbi of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rabbi Yitzhak Gorelik; the Rabbi of Piategorsk, Rabbi Eliyahu Levin; and Rabbi Levi Shabayev of Nalchik.



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Historic Russian Shul Rededicated in Kislovodsk

Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot just blocks from the White House the day before Thanksgiving, leaving the nation on edge as conflicting reports emerged about their condition.



Police arrested 29-year-old Afghani illegal immigrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal as a suspect in the shooting. According to Fox News, he was in the country on an expired visa.



West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially announced that both troops had died, but later clarified that he has been receiving “conflicting reports” about their status. Fox News said that the victims were in critical condition.



“We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates,” Morrisey said on X.



The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that one suspect was taken into custody following the shooting. The White House was placed on lockdown while authorities secured the area.



President Donald Trump, who was in Florida at the time, said in a statement that the soldiers had been “critically wounded.”



Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stressed the need for stronger security across America’s transit systems.



“On the night before Thanksgiving, two families are hurting like never before,” Duffy wrote on X Wednesday evening. “Tonight, our nation prays for the families of two patriotic West Virginia National Guardsmen who were shot while performing the duties we asked them to do — protect the people of Washington, DC.”



“This is an unspeakable tragedy &#8230; a cowardly act,” Duffy said. “I will continue to do everything in my power, as Secretary of Transportation, to hold transit authorities accountable to radically improve security and safety on our public transit systems. I promise to withhold funding if cities don’t respond adequately. Our citizens deserve safe, transportation. And our brave National Guard deserves respect not violence.”



Rep. Riley Moore, R-W. Va., confirmed the guardsmen are from West Virginia and described the situation as “absolutely heartbreaking.”



“Please join Mina and me in praying for them,” Moore wrote. “We need everyone praying right now for these heroes.”



Moore added that both soldiers remain in critical condition and said he is closely monitoring developments, promising updates as more information is confirmed.



Officials across West Virginia condemned the attack as senseless and devastating, particularly given its timing on the eve of Thanksgiving, leaving families anxiously awaiting news on the soldiers’ well-being.

National Guardsmen May Have Survived DC Shooting: Suspect is Afghani Illegal Immigrant

Marc Klein of Brooklyn has claimed a top prize in the New York Lottery’s $10,000 A Week For Life scratch-off game, lottery officials confirmed Wednesday afternoon.



Klein chose to receive his winnings as a single lump sum payment. The prize guarantees a minimum of $10,000,000 over a lifetime; after required tax withholdings, Klein received $4,372,060, according to the New York Lottery.



The chances of winning such a ticket are 1 in 7,282,016, according to lottery data.



The winning ticket was purchased at NO7 Grocery, located at 6102 18th Ave. in Brooklyn.



Lottery officials note that three top prizes remain for the $10,000 A Week For Life scratch-off. Players can verify the status of any New York Lottery scratch-off game by downloading the Game Report at nylottery.ny.gov.



During fiscal year 2024-2025, New York Lottery scratch-off games brought in $4,339,794,048 in total sales. School districts across the five boroughs received $1,427,185,199 in Lottery Aid to Education funds in the same period.



The New York Lottery remains North America’s largest and most profitable lottery, contributing $3.6 billion in fiscal year 2024-2025 to support public schools throughout New York State.



Klein shared his reaction in a Whatsapp post:



&#8220;Yes it&#8217;s true. I have about 1500 messages And like 50 missed calls. Baruch Hashem, a huge Bracha. Don&#8217;t worry I&#8217;m not changing jobs or anything in my life. Thank you all for the Mazel tovs&#8221;

Mazel Tov! Frum Brooklyn Man Wins $4.37 Million in Lottery

Two National Guard members were fatally shot Wednesday afternoon near the Farragut West Metro station in downtown Washington, D.C., approximately one mile from the White House.



The White House was briefly placed on lockdown, and President Trump has been briefed. The suspect is in custody, and the scene has since been secured by Washington, D.C. Police.



President Trump issued a statement shortly after the shooting: &#8220;The individual responsible for the attack on the two National Guardsmen, resulting in their deaths, is also severely wounded. Nevertheless, they will face severe consequences. God bless our esteemed National Guard, along with all our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly remarkable individuals. As President of the United States, and on behalf of everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, I stand with you!&#8221;



Following the incident, White House Press Secretary stated: “The White House is fully aware and closely monitoring this heartbreaking event. The President has received a briefing.”



DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X: &#8220;Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C.. The DHS is collaborating with local law enforcement to gather more information.&#8221;











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White House Press Secretary after the incident: “The White House is aware and actively monitoring this tragic situation. The President has been briefed.”



DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X: &#8220;Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C.. The DHS is working with local law enforcement to gather more information.&#8221; 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C.<a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DHSgov</a> is working with local law enforcement to gather more information.&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1993771280898916498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🚨 BREAKING: MAJOR federal response underway near the White House with helicopters circling overhead after National Guard troops were shot One soldier has been airlifted to the hospital, and at least one other by ambulance. Their conditions are not known. Pray. And pray hard. <a href="https://t.co/PnOU1F06hF">pic.twitter.com/PnOU1F06hF</a>&mdash; Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1993775368424313136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🇺🇸🚨 — BREAKING NEWS: Two National Guard members were shot near White House. White House is on locked down and President Trump has been briefed. The suspect is in custody. Victims hospitalized, conditions unknown. <a href="https://t.co/OKoBIkcqq0">pic.twitter.com/OKoBIkcqq0</a>&mdash; Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBelaaz/status/1993773153882132851?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Two National Guard Members Fatally Shot Near Farragut West Metro Station in Washington, D.C.

The head of a Jewish educators&#8217; group has filed a complaint with the Department of Education (DOE), demanding an investigation into a public high school teacher seen participating in a violent protest outside Park East Synagogue last week.



In the letter shared exclusively with Belaaz, Moshe Spern, head of United Jewish Teachers, reported the protesting teacher, identified by a watchdog group as as Mia Kurzer, and called for immediate disciplinary action.



Spern sent the email earlier this week to Superintendent Noah Angeles and Dyanad Sugrim, the principal of The Heritage School in East Harlem, wher Kurzer works.



He&#8217;s yet to hear back from either of them.



&#8220;As a Jewish community advocate it brings me no pleasure in reporting actions of other staff members,&#8221; Spern wrote in the email. He alleged that Kurzer &#8220;attended and participated in last week&#8217;s antisemitic protest,&#8221; noting that she was &#8220;exposed by a watchdog by name&#8221; after the event made national headlines.



The protest in question took place on November 19 outside the Park East Synagogue, where demonstrators disrupted a seminar on immigration to Israel hosted by Nefesh B&#8217;Nefesh, chanted &#8220;death to the IDF,&#8221; and slogans calling for the murder of &#8220;settlers,&#8221; as well as for &#8220;Intifada.&#8221; The riot drew widespread condemnation from Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul after videos surfaced of protesters chanting threats against Jewish worshippers.



In his letter, Spern expressed deep concern regarding the impact Kurzer’s alleged participation could have on the school climate.



&#8220;Imagine being a Jewish colleague or student of hers. Imagine being a parent and finding this out,&#8221; Spern wrote to the DOE. &#8220;This is really upsetting and disturbing. I also wonder if she has brought any of her views into the school as well. You have a whole school community that deserves safety and not fear.&#8221;



Speaking in an interview with Belaaz, Spern elaborated on these fears, arguing that a double standard exists regarding hate speech.



&#8220;If a teacher, an educator, attended any other rally that was discriminatory to any other group&#8230; there would be some type of action towards that educator,&#8221; Spern said. &#8220;How can you ever trust that person to educate children or to be a colleague? This isn&#8217;t like a political event. This was condemned by everyone across the aisle.&#8221;



While acknowledging in his letter that the incident occurred &#8220;off work time,&#8221; Spern insisted that educators &#8220;are held responsible for our choices outside of the workplace.&#8221;



He is requesting that Kurzer &#8220;be spoken with immediately and be given a formal warning,&#8221; and indicated in the email that he intends to file a complaint with the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) as well.



&#8220;Obviously, we don&#8217;t want to destroy this person&#8217;s career,&#8221; Spern added in his interview, &#8220;but at the same time&#8230; there needs to be action to ensure the safety of everyone in that building.&#8221;



The controversy comes as New York prepares for the administration of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Spern, like many in the Jewish community, expressed concern that the incoming administration’s initial reluctance to condemn the protest &#8211; Mamdani first criticized the synagogue for hosting the event before issuing a general condemnation under pressure &#8211; will embolden antisemitic rhetoric.



&#8220;People like this are empowered to do more of this,&#8221; Spern said. &#8220;They feel that the new incoming administration will not do anything to prevent or have any action against this.&#8221;



Regarding Mamdani’s revised statement, Spern was dismissive. &#8220;Just saying words to make people feel [better]&#8230; without action means absolutely nothing,&#8221; he said, warning that under the new mayor, the city could see &#8220;words and no action.&#8221;



Spern concluded the interview with a call for legislative change, urging the city to establish buffer zones around religious institutions. &#8220;Make it a rule. Make it a law&#8230; 100 yards,&#8221; he said. &#8220;No one should ever feel unsafe walking into a synagogue, a church, or any house of worship.&#8221;



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Interview: Head of Jewish Teachers Group Demands Action After Teacher Linked to Shul Riot

The IDF said Wednesday that the body of murdered hostage Dror Or Hy&#8217;d has been brought back to Israel for burial after a full identification process.



In its announcement, the IDF stated: &#8220;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 Dror Or that his body has been returned for burial.&#8221;



According to the IDF, &#8220;Dror Or was murdered by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization on October 7th, 2023, and his body was abducted to the Gaza Strip from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri. His death was officially determined on May 2nd, 2024. Dror Or was 48 years old at the time of his death. He leaves behind three children. His wife, Yonat Or, was also murdered during the attack on the kibbutz. Two of his children, Alma and Noam, were also abducted and returned two years ago, as part of the hostage release agreement in November 2023.&#8221;



The IDF added that it extends its condolences to the families and continues working to return all murdered hostages for proper burial. &#8220;Hamas is required to fulfill its part of the agreement and make the necessary efforts to return all the hostages to their families and to a dignified burial.&#8221;



The Hostages Families Forum released a tribute describing Dror as a devoted husband, father, and respected member of Kibbutz Be’eri. &#8220;Dror Or, of blessed memory, was from Kibbutz Be&#8217;eri. He was a loving husband to Yonat, of blessed memory, and a devoted father to his three children &#8211; Yahli, Noam, and Alma. He worked for many years at the Be&#8217;eri dairy, which he managed in recent years.&#8221;



The Forum recounted the family’s desperate attempt to escape the October 7 attack. &#8220;On October 7th, the Or family took shelter in the safe room. When the entire house caught fire, Dror and Yonat decided to take their children out through the window, an action that saved their children&#8217;s lives. Dror and Yonat then split up and tried to escape, but were murdered by the terrorists. Their children Noam and Alma were kidnapped to Gaza and returned in the first hostage deal on November 25, 2023.&#8221;



The statement continued: &#8220;Now, exactly two years after their return and after 781 agonizing days during which his family fought day and night for him, Dror has been brought back to Israel for burial in the soil of Be&#8217;eri that he loved so dearly.&#8221;



Dror is survived by his three children, his siblings, and his parents.



The Prime Minister’s Office also issued a statement following the identification. &#8220;Following the completion of the identification process by the National Center of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the IDF Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of fallen hostage Dror Or, of blessed memory, that their loved one has been returned to Israel and that his identification has been completed.&#8221;



The PMO said the government shares in the Or family&#8217;s grief and remains determined to bring all murdered hostages home. &#8220;The Hamas terrorist organization is required to uphold its commitments to the mediators and return the fallen hostages as part of the implementation of the agreement. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen hostages, every last one of them. May his memory be blessed.&#8221;

Multiple Fall I’ll after Suspicious Package Sent to Joint Base Andrews, Investigation Ongoing

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