UTJ chairman Yitzchok Goldknopf sent a strong letter to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Monday, urging him to immediately free the young bnei Torah who were taken into custody at Ben Gurion Airport the day before, as they were on their way to spend Rosh Hashanah in Uman.
In his appeal, Goldknopf stressed that these young men must be given the ability to be with their families for Yom Tov and to daven in the shuls where they are accustomed to.
“I am deeply saddened that this has happened in our time, and in the Jewish state, bnei Torah are being arrested and their families harassed,” he wrote with anguish.
He pointed to precedents from past generations, saying, “From stories of Jewish communities in foreign lands many years ago, we have learned how they used to lobby prior to the Tishrei chagim in order to release prisoners so that they could pray in public on the days of judgment and celebrate the holidays with their families.”
The UTJ leader concluded his heartfelt plea with the words: “I hope, I very much hope that you, Prime Minister, will help release these people, and at least give them the opportunity to pray properly on Rosh Hashanah.”
His demand triggered sharp pushback, particularly in light of the charged atmosphere around the ongoing draft debate. Yair Weigler, who heads the National Religious Reservists Forum, lashed out: “We, the reservists, have not celebrated chagim at home for two years and have not been able to pray in the synagogue with our families. Throughout this time, you have been silent. Your Torah is silent.”
Weigler further remarked with criticism: “While IDF soldiers are fighting and giving their lives, there are those who seek to protect those who are not carrying the burden. We will pray in the field, on bases, and in the reserves. But we will not accept a reality in which there are first-class citizens and second-class citizens.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
In a joint announcement Monday night, the IDF and the Shin Bet revealed that hundreds of operatives belonging to the Islamic Jihad terror group have been eliminated during the past six months of fighting in Gaza.
“The IDF and the ISA, led by the Southern Command and in cooperation with the Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Air Force, continue to strike terrorists and military infrastructure of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip,” the statement said. “Following intelligence analysis, it can now be revealed that 21 key terrorists from the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization were eliminated by the IDF and the ISA.”
Among those targeted were several senior figures who held command roles in different brigades and sectors of the Strip: Mohammad Radwan Ramadan Mushtaha, who oversaw the military armament in northern Gaza; Amir al-Shaam Faiz Wadi, responsible for the Khan Younis Brigade’s sniper units; Jamal Mahmoud Salem Ma’amar, a Rafah battalion commander in charge of artillery; Fazel Zakariya Ahmad Abu al-Ata, a Gaza Brigade sector commander; Abdallah Ibrahim Mohammad Abu-Tir, commander of Khan Younis’ eastern sector; Wa’am Hassan Jamil Abu-Hajaj, head of the eastern sector in northern Gaza; and Samir Suleiman Ali Abu-Shaweesh, who commanded the Yibna sector in Rafah.
Other Islamic Jihad operatives taken out were tied to weapons manufacturing, including Mansour Mahmoud Mohammad Salah, Ahmad Ziyad Qasem Qadi, Fuad Shaker Diab Ghanam, Khaled Mousa Ramadan Bana, and Saeed Samir Nimer Masharawi.
In addition, several men who carried out direct attacks on IDF forces were eliminated. Among them: Ihab Bassam Yousef Abu al-Kheir, who led sniper squads; Yousef Saleh Younes Kassab, deputy commander of Rafah’s eastern sector; and Murad Nasser Mousa Abu Jarad, deputy commander in the Beit Hanoun sector of northern Gaza.
“The IDF and the ISA will continue to act decisively against all terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip,” the military concluded.
{Matzav.com}
The olam haTorah is abuzz with anticipation as multitudes of Oraysa lomdim take their final strides toward a Siyum on Seder Mo’ed. With the beginning of Maseches Chagigah, tens of thousands across the globe are embarking on the last leg of a journey that began nearly six years ago. And now, for the first time in Oraysa’s history, a global community of lomdei Torah stands on the threshold of completing an entire Seder of Shas together. Kehillos across the U.S., Eretz Yisroel, and Europe are preparing to converge for a historic maamad kavod haTorah to celebrate this milestone. This will be a once-in-a-generation asifa — not only marking an ending, but celebrating a shared journey and the start of something even greater. The Siyum will shine a light on the endurance, perseverance, and dedication of the countless individuals who show up every single day, amud by amud, carrying the vision of the Oraysa movement forward — and equally, the wives and families whose daily sacrifices and unwavering support make this achievement possible. And now, with every daf of Chagigah learned, the anticipation grows louder. This is the masechta that will carry us into history — the final step before the Siyum. For those not yet part of the movement, there could not be a more opportune moment to join. To start Maseches Chagigah today is to be part of the Siyum tomorrow. The journey of Seder Mo’ed has been extraordinary, but the accomplishment that awaits is greater still. With Gedolim, Roshei Yeshiva, and thousands united in celebration, the Siyum promises to be monumental. Each daf of Chagigah is more than learning — it is a contribution to a global accomplishment, a chance to write yourself into the history of Oraysa. Yisroel V’Oraysa V’Kudsha Brich Hu Chad Hu — and together, we are living that eternal truth. To sign up for the Chagiga, click here: https://www.oraysa.org/ To preregister for the Siyum, click here: https://www.oraysasiyum.org/
Ford Motor Co. is taking a drive down the road in a couple of months. The venerable carmaker is moving its headquarters for the first time in seven decades, relocating to a newly constructed building 3 miles (5 kilometers) away in its longtime home of Dearborn, Michigan. The new 2.1-million-square-foot (195,096-square meter) structure formally will be called “Ford World Headquarters” when it opens in November. It is part of a larger campus that will take the name of the current HQ: Henry Ford II World Center. Henry Ford II was the grandson of company founder Henry Ford and the uncle of Bill Ford, the automaker’s current executive chairman. Ford’s current headquarters, located at 1 American Road in Dearborn and colloquially called “The Glass House,” opened in 1956. At the time, Ford said it was one of the nation’s largest office buildings occupied by a single company. “When we move to the new headquarters, the 1 American Road address will move with it, because we’re going to continue to develop products for the next century” said Ted Ryan, Ford’s heritage and brand manager. The new HQ is 5-10 minutes away and is designed to enhance collaboration and innovation by colocating corporate leadership with design and engineering teams. It places 14,000 employees within a 15-minute walk of the main building. It will feature six design studios, a 160,000-square-foot (14,864-square-meter) food hall accessible to all Ford employees, wellness rooms, mothers’ spaces and 300-plus tech-enabled meeting rooms. General Motors also is in the midst of a headquarters move, leaving its iconic home along the Detroit River for a new office building in downtown Detroit. Ford’s new home base is situated on the site of the former Product Development Center. When it was dedicated in 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower joined the celebration live through one of the first-ever uses of closed-circuit television. Some of the most well-known American vehicles were born there, including the Mustang, Thunderbird and F-Series trucks. “Dearborn and Ford are almost synonymous. If you think of Dearborn, you think of Ford, and if you think of Ford, you think of Dearborn,” Ryan said, speaking in the shadow of the hulking Glass House. “Henry Ford was born just a few miles from the headquarters where we sit now. … There have been multiple Ford family members who, as they walk in and they see the blue oval with ‘Ford’ on the side of the building, they’re really walking into their family home,” he said. Soon, they and thousands of others will walk into a brand-new home. (AP)
Rav Dovid Yosef, the Sefardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, sent a heartfelt message of comfort to the family of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was brutally assassinated.
“To the dear family members of Charlie Kirk obm,” Rav Yosef wrote. “With deep sorrow and great pain, I received the devastating news of the murder of Charlie solely because he was a clear and unwavering voice of truth.”
He continued by describing Kirk’s qualities: “Charlie was a true friend of the Jewish people and of the state of Israel. His great deeds and noble character made him a remarkable figure. In his modest yet firm way, he always chose to stand by truth and justice,” he said.
Turning his words directly to the grieving family, the Chief Rabbi expressed, “To Erika, and the two young children—it is hard for me to find words of comfort in such a difficult moment, a moment when the loss is felt at every instant. Yet the greatest consolation lies in the immense legacy Charlie left behind.”
Rav Yosef noted the impact Kirk had achieved during his lifetime. “I have heard much about his great work, and I regret that I did not merit to know him personally,” he added. “This vile and cruel murder deserves condemnation from every single person. From here, in Jerusalem, we send you our condolences and seek to strengthen you in these painful times. You are not alone in your mourning—many among the Jewish people grieve with you, and remember Charlie as a man who devoted his full heart and soul to making the world a better and more just place.”
He closed his letter with a final blessing: “May G-d grant you and your family the strength to overcome this great tragedy and to continue his legacy for future generations,” Rav Yosef concluded.
{Matzav.com Israel}
As in past years, Agudath Israel of America’s Washington Office has worked closely with agencies of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help avoid potential problems for travelers carrying arba minim. Both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have notified their respective field personnel about the upcoming Sukkos holiday and the increased level of travel by persons of the Jewish faith, many of whom will be carrying arba minim. The agencies have also made this information available to the public – the TSA notice here and the CBP notice here. The notifications, which have been sent out to federal officials at airports and border crossings, emphasize the religious significance of these items and outline the rules and procedures that would help allay possible security and health issues that are of concern to the federal government. Prior to these agency steps, lack of familiarity regarding Sukkos and the arba minim had led to numerous incidents each year of inadvertent mishandling and mistreatment — including denial of entry — of these ritual objects. The TSA Notice makes clear that the arba minim carried in airports, through security checkpoints or on aircraft, are not on the “prohibited items list” and provides instructions for travelers needing “special accommodations” in regard to checkpoint screening. The CBP Guidance sets forth detailed information regarding the inspection process for personal sets of arba minim brought into the United States from foreign countries at select ports of entry and points out that the agency is “committed to treating all travelers, including travelers who may be observing Sukkot, with respect and dignity at all U.S. ports of entry.” “We are gratified by the ongoing sensitivity of these agencies to the religious concerns of our community,” said Rabbi A. D. Motzen, Agudath Israel’s National Director for Government Affairs. “They are taking meaningful and appropriate steps to accommodate our religious needs.” He also thanked his colleague Rabbi Ariel Sadwin of Agudah’s Office of Federal Constituent Affairs for serving as the main Agudah point of contact with those federal agencies related to the annual guidance. Agudath Israel of America once again produced a one-page handout that travelers can print out – or save to their phones – to familiarize themselves with the rules before traveling. For travelers entering Israel: You will be allowed to bring in one esrog for personal use. The other 3 minim are not allowed and will be confiscated and replaced with Israeli grown produce. See guidelines from Agriculture Ministry here
NEW: The Washington Post published a confession from Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin, posted in a Discord group chat, where he wrote: “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m sorry for all of this. I’m surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments. Thanks for all the good times and laughs.”
MK Simcha Rothman, chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, slammed Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara in an interview on Monday with Kol Chai Radio. Radio host Avi Mimran mentioned the murder of Charlie Kirk in the US and asked if such incitement exists in Israel. Rothman warned, “Yes, and Gali Baharav-Miara allows incitement. She aids incitement against the right, calling it a so-called ‘effective’ protest. That’s a red line. The Supreme Court released Yolanda Yavor (a Tel Aviv University lecturer arrested for inciting against Netanyahu) after she incited murder.” “This is violence to silence opinions. At Tel Aviv University they attacked me; professors supported it—there needs to be enforcement. This could be internal destruction.” Mimran mentioned that the hatred of Chareidim unifies the left. Rothman agreed, saying, “Hatred unites communists, anti-religious people, Islamists, and the soft right. They don’t agree on anything except hatred for Chareidim. Chareidim are the punching bag of society.” “I will introduce a bill to split the Attorney General’s role in the first week of the winter session,” he added. “If the Chareidim don’t support it, they are empowering persecution. This must pass—the Attorney General blocks policy, disrespects ministers…they don’t represent their voters if they don’t back this.” The Chareidi parties are currently not voting with the coalition due to the government’s failure to advance a Chareidi draft law. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
MMA star Conor McGregor announced Monday that he is withdrawing from the presidential race but stressed that his “commitment to Ireland does not end here.”
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to bring forward a government decision to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria before departing for the United Nations.
Speaking at a sovereignty conference hosted by Arutz Sheva and the Samaria Council, Smotrich declared, “If a Palestinian state is not established – then why not apply sovereignty? It’s zero or one. Whoever does not apply sovereignty is essentially admitting that it is not ours, and God forbid leaves the door open for the handover of the land and an existential threat.”
He stressed that Israel already exercises “de facto sovereignty” through settlement construction, regulation, and ongoing development. Still, he argued, “this bleeding issue cannot be left open. It is the one that is eroding our international standing. As soon as we impose sovereignty, the world will get used to it, just as it got used to the Golan and Yerushalayim.”
Addressing the international pressure being pushed especially by French President Emmanuel Macron, Smotrich said: “What Macron is doing is a political October 7th. On the eve of October 7th, they did not wake the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is criticizing this, and rightly so. Why didn’t you wake me up? If you had woken me up, the whole reality might have looked different.
I tell the Prime Minister, what Macron is doing is an October 7th and now we are all waking you up. We are all ringing the bells. We are all saying, ‘What a pity that such a political attack should pass without a response of full sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.’ Just as it is clear to everyone that it would have been terrible if October 7th had passed without a response.”
Smotrich, who sits in the cabinet, also turned his remarks toward Gaza, saying that the time has come to capture Gaza City and bring home the hostages held by Hamas. “We currently want to launch a quick occupation, lay siege on Gaza, and then advance to the central camps and lay siege on them as well. We believe that this stage is collapsing Hamas. We want to hope that much earlier, Hamas will surrender, return the hostages, leave Gaza and allow us to demobilize it on our own terms. If that does not happen, we will go for a quick occupation. The Prime Minister has set a deadline for this until the end of the year.
This is the only way to return the hostages: defeat Hamas. There is one more way, to surrender to Hamas. Those who call for surrender are actually willing to bring Israel to a dangerous defeat. No country in the world has surrendered to terrorism of taking hostages, and Israel will not be the first. Victory in Gaza means the destruction of Hamas. But we must prevail in Judea and Samaria too: apply sovereignty, continue building Jewish communities, and obliterate the idea of a Palestinian state once and for all. This is not only right from a Zionist and security perspective – it is also right politically.”
{Matzav.com}
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A group of 14 West Africans deported from the U.S. to Ghana have all been sent to their home countries of Nigeria and Gambia, the Ghanaian government spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. Authorities in Ghana have defended accepting the deportees on humanitarian grounds. The deportees, including 13 Nigerians and one Gambian, “have since left for their home countries,” Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Ghana’s minister for government communications, told the AP. At a press briefing in the capital of Accra on Monday, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa pushed back on criticism that the decision was an endorsement of U.S. President Donald Trump’s migration policies, saying that Ghana accepted the third-country deportees “purely on humanitarian principle.” A U.S. federal judge had ordered the U.S. government to detail Saturday night how it was trying to ensure Ghana would not send the immigrants elsewhere in violation of domestic U.S. court orders. The administration’s agreements with so-called third countries like Ghana are part of a sweeping immigration crackdown seeking to deport millions of people who are living in the United States illegally. A U.S. lawsuit filed on behalf of some of the migrants said they were held in “straitjackets” for 16 hours on a flight to Ghana and detained for days in “squalid conditions” after they arrived there. It wasn’t clear when they were deported to Ghana, but first news came from the government on Wednesday. The opposition and activists in Ghana have criticized the decision to accept the third-country deportees as going against the law. Opposition lawmakers said it raises “serious constitutional, sovereignty and foreign policy concers which cannot be overlooked.” None of the 14 deportees were originally from Ghana and the five West Africans who filed the lawsuit did not have ties with the country or designate it as a potential country of removal, according to the complaint. Lawyers and activists have said the Trump administration appears to be making such deportation requests to the nations most affected by his policies on trade, migration and aid. (AP)
The IDF confirmed it carried out an airstrike in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh, saying it targeted a Hezbollah headquarters, which it described as a violation of understandings between Israel and Lebanon.
Lebanese media is reporting Israeli airstrikes in the Nabatieh area. The IDF has yet to comment on the airstrikes.
A record number of appeals, over 10,000, have been submitted to the Gronis Committee in recent days against the appointment of Maj.-Gen. (Res.) David Zini as head of the Shin Bet. The Gronis Committee, the body responsible for reviewing high-level civil service appointments, is scheduled to convene on Thursday to discuss approving Zini’s appointment, following a request from Prime Minister Netanyahu. According to a report by Ynet military commentator Yossi Yehoshua, the appeals claim, among other things, that Zini’s public positions raise concerns and that Netanyahu himself previously rejected Zini’s candidacy due to fears that he tended to be “messianic.” Others claimed that he failed to act with full transparency towards his commanders. Most of the appeals repeat the same claims in different wording. However, alongside the appeals against his candidacy, letters were also received from former commanders and subordinates who expressed support for Zini’s appointment and noted his extensive operational experience. It should be noted that Zini was one of the few senior IDF officials who was not fooled by the “conceptzia” that pervaded the army before the October 7 massacre. When announcing his appointment, Netanyahu stated: “In March 2023, Zini prepared a report for the commander of the Gaza Division to examine the division’s preparedness for a complex surprise event, with an emphasis on a surprise raid, and to identify weaknesses. As part of the report’s conclusions, Zini wrote that it is possible to carry out a surprise raid on our forces in almost every sector.” It is possible that the unusual number of appeals may trigger a series of legal proceedings prior to a final ruling and may even reach the Supreme Court. Zini’s supporters say that the unusual number of appeals indicates a leftist campaign intended to thwart his appointment for political reasons. Earlier this month, the radical left Haaretz newspaper published a fear-mongering cover feature on Zini, stating, “Israel has had extremists in senior positions, but a Shin Bet chief like David Zini is unprecedented.” Haaretz has a history of antisemitic attacks on religious IDF generals and religious people in general. At the time, former Shin Bet official Col. (res.) Amit Assa slammed Haaretz for the feature, saying, “There is a campaign being run by an antisemitic media outlet here. We see the things that come out of there. This is a smear campaign against the head of the service before he even takes office.” Israeli social media user Ze’ev Avrahami wrote in response to the Haaretz feature: “David Zini is a son of a rabbinical dynasty, a Mizrachi from the periphery, a father of 11 children, a yeshiva graduate and a Sayeret Matkal veteran. They define his different set of values as messianic. So be it. Begging the Palestinians for peace isn’t messianic?” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
VP Vance: “While our side of the aisle certainly has its crazies, it is a statistical fact that most of the lunatics in American politics today are proud members of the far left.”
American high school seniors are leaving classrooms less prepared than at any point in recent history, according to sobering national test results released Tuesday that show steep declines in math and reading skills. Just 22% of 12th-graders scored proficient in math — the lowest level since the exam was first administered in 2005 — while only 35% reached proficiency in reading, the worst showing since the test began in 1992, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nation’s Report Card. Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the results a “devastating trend,” warning that nearly half of seniors are now testing below basic levels in both subjects. “The achievement gap is widening, and more high school seniors are performing below the basic benchmark in math and reading,” McMahon said. The latest findings reflect a three-point drop in average math and reading scores since 2019 and confirm a downward trajectory that predates the COVID-19 pandemic. The steepest declines came among the nation’s lowest-performing students, with record lows posted in the 10th and 25th percentiles. By contrast, scores among top-tier students largely held steady. Beyond academics, the assessment revealed troubling patterns in attendance: nearly one-third of 12th-graders admitted to missing three or more school days in the month leading up to the exam, a 26% jump from 2019. The National Report Card has tracked student performance since 1969, testing fourth- and eighth-graders every two years and high school seniors every four. The latest results, officials said, underscore the urgency for reforms ranging from classroom cell phone bans to new federal “tool kits” on reading and emerging technologies. “This is a wake-up call,” said Matthew Soldner, acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics. “Students are leaving high school unable to read and unprepared for the workforce. The system is failing children and families — and the consequences will reverberate far beyond the classroom.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Palestinian media report heavy Israeli airstrikes targeting northwest Gaza City.
Vice President JD Vance on Monday hosted the radio program of Charlie Kirk, the influential conservative activist who was assassinated last week, telling listeners that the best way he knows how to honor his friend is to be a better husband and father. Vance hosted “The Charlie Kirk Show” from his ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House. The livestream of the two-hour program was broadcast in the White House press briefing room and featured a series of appearances by White House and administration officials who knew the 31-year-old Kirk. Vance, who transported Kirk’s body home to Arizona aboard Air Force Two last week, opened by saying he was “filling in for somebody who cannot be filled in for, but I’ll do my best.” The Republican vice president, 41, was especially close to Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, one of the nation’s largest political organizations with chapters on high school and college campuses. The two began a friendship nearly a decade ago, and Kirk advocated for Vance to be Republican Donald Trump’s choice for vice president last year. Vance spoke Monday about sitting with Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, and being at a loss for words. But he said she told him something he’ll never forget, which was that her husband had never raised his voice to her and was never “cross or mean-spirited to her.” Vance allowed that he could not say the same about himself. “I took from that moment that I needed to be a better husband and I needed to be a better father,” the vice president said on the program, which was streamed on Rumble. “That is the way I’m going to honor my friend.” After Kirk was fatally shot last Wednesday at Utah Valley University, Vance tore up his schedule for the next day — he was scheduled Thursday to attend the 24th annual observance in New York of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — to fly instead to Orem, Utah, with his wife, second lady Usha Vance. The two accompanied Erika Kirk and Charlie Kirk’s casket to Arizona aboard Air Force Two. (AP)
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