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Israel’s Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has informed the High Court of Justice that approximately 90,000 chareidi men are now subject to military draft enforcement proceedings, calling for additional judicial intervention to compel government ministries to implement financial penalties against yeshiva bochurim and others who have not complied with enlistment requirements.

The figures, submitted to the court Wednesday, provide a detailed picture of the growing confrontation over the military draft, with the attorney general accusing government agencies of failing to implement measures previously ordered by the judiciary.

According to the submission, 110,330 Israelis had either been formally classified as draft avoiders or were subject to advanced enlistment enforcement proceedings as of September 8. Approximately 90,000 of those individuals were identified as belonging to the chareidi community.

The filing specifically identified 67,230 chareidi men who had been classified as draft avoiders or had failed to report after receiving military summonses. An additional group, representing approximately 21 percent of the overall total, was also described as chareidi, although the filing did not clearly explain why those individuals were counted separately.

Baharav-Miara argued that the government has failed to establish a comprehensive enforcement policy despite repeated Supreme Court rulings requiring action.

“Enforcement efforts across various fields are far from being fully exhausted, both in the realm of criminal enforcement and due to the absence of a coherent government policy regarding the revocation of benefits for draft-eligible individuals who fail to enlist,” the attorney general wrote.

Her office is asking the High Court to issue further binding instructions requiring government ministries to implement economic restrictions that have been discussed or ordered in previous proceedings.

Among the measures under consideration are the cancellation of municipal property tax discounts, known as arnona reductions, and subsidized public transportation fares for individuals who have not resolved their military draft status.

The attorney general’s representatives also addressed subsidized after-school programs, which provide substantial financial assistance to families with young children.

According to the court submission, the Attorney General’s Office has instructed the Education Ministry to terminate certain after-school subsidies for families of draft avoiders beginning January 1, 2027.

Education Ministry Director General Meir Shimoni has reportedly maintained that implementing the measure is not feasible under the current arrangements.

Legal officials argued that removing the subsidies could exert considerable financial pressure because the benefit may exceed 1,000 shekels per month.

The filing characterized the proposed restrictions as financial incentives intended to increase enlistment rather than criminal punishments.

However, the proposed measures have encountered resistance and administrative delays within several government ministries.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Interior Ministry Director General Yisrael Uzan were identified in reports concerning the submission as officials whose ministries have not completed the steps necessary to implement certain restrictions.

The Attorney General’s Office contends that those delays have prevented the government from carrying out the court’s instructions.

The latest submission also included updated figures concerning actual military enlistment among chareidi men.

According to the IDF’s counting methodology, 4,298 chareidi men enlisted during the recruitment year ending in June 2026, compared with 2,811 during the preceding year.

That represents an increase of approximately 53 percent.

The attorney general acknowledged the increase but maintained that enlistment remains substantially below the military’s manpower requirements.

Professional assessments cited in the filing attributed the rise partly to the expansion of military programs designed for chareidi recruits and to increased enforcement activity.

The new figures arrive amid continuing disputes over the arrest of yeshiva bochurim who have not reported to military recruitment offices.

Earlier this week, 42 chareidi travelers were detained at Ben Gurion Airport during a Military Police operation targeting individuals returning to Israel from the United States.

Forty of those detained were subsequently released after making commitments concerning their enlistment status.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu criticized the operation, describing it as a “deliberate attempt to harm the process of drafting Haredim without coercion.”

The arrests drew sharp criticism from chareidi representatives and contributed to renewed demonstrations against the military draft.

The broader enforcement campaign has also been complicated by disagreements between the IDF and Israel Police concerning responsibility for conducting arrests and providing sufficient personnel.

Recent military figures indicate that although tens of thousands of individuals have been classified as draft avoiders, only a relatively small number have been arrested or criminally prosecuted.

Military authorities have explained that criminal prosecution is subject to procedural requirements, including a lengthy period following an individual’s failure to respond to an initial enlistment summons.

The legal confrontation stems from the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling that the government lacked a lawful basis to continue granting blanket military service exemptions to yeshiva students.

Since that decision, the Attorney General’s Office has repeatedly pressed the government to expand recruitment efforts and impose additional consequences on individuals who do not comply.

{Matzav.com}

Federal prosecutors have identified Rep. Ilhan Omar under a different surname in newly filed court documents, adding another development to an immigration fraud investigation examining longstanding allegations that the Minnesota Democrat married a man who was actually her brother.

In a filing submitted Wednesday to federal court in Washington, prosecutors referred to the congresswoman as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar,” using the same surname as Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, the man she legally married in 2009 and divorced in 2017.

The designation has attracted particular attention because Omar has spent years denying allegations that Elmi is her biological brother and that their marriage was arranged to help him obtain immigration benefits. The appearance of the Elmi surname in a federal document does not, by itself, establish a family relationship or prove that any immigration laws were violated.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, Omar was born with the surname Elmi rather than Omar, raising additional questions about the identity information appearing in her immigration and citizenship records. Fox News first reported the claim concerning her original surname.

Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the development Thursday, suggesting that prosecutors would have relied on information gathered during their investigation when identifying Omar in the court filing.

“I don’t think [Assistant United States Attorneys] would make up names,” Blanche told the New York Post when questioned about the use of the surname associated with Omar’s former husband.

“Evidence that’s collected is used in motions,” Blanche added.

The investigation is examining whether Omar submitted inaccurate personal information on federal immigration documents, including applications involving citizenship, passports, or other government records. Prosecutors and legal experts have indicated that investigators are examining potential offenses that could fall within a ten-year statute of limitations.

Authorities are reportedly considering whether the use of an alternative identity or an incorrect birth date on official paperwork within that period could provide grounds for criminal charges. No determination of wrongdoing has been established by the information publicly disclosed.

Omar has consistently rejected accusations that her marriage to Elmi was intended to circumvent immigration laws. Her office has previously characterized the allegations as baseless attacks that have followed her since her entry into Minnesota politics.

The controversy resurfaced this week when Omar appeared on MS NOW and was questioned directly about whether she had any family relationship with her former husband.

“Not to my knowledge,” she responded.

Her answer immediately drew criticism from political opponents who questioned why she had not offered a more categorical denial.

President Donald Trump commented on the exchange Thursday, suggesting that Omar’s wording was significant.

“That tells you a lot right there,” Trump said when asked about the interview.

“No, she’s — I’ve never been a big fan of her. I’ll be honest. Let’s see how it all works out. But that statement tells you a lot,” the president added.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Omar and raised the possibility of criminal prosecution over the allegations surrounding her immigration history.

The congresswoman’s latest remarks contrasted with a statement she issued in August 2016, when she was still legally married to Elmi and faced similar questions during her campaign for the Minnesota House of Representatives.

“Insinuations that Ahmed Nur Said Elmi is my brother are absurd and offensive,” Omar declared at the time.

Omar and Elmi subsequently divorced in 2017, ending a marriage that had remained the subject of controversy for years.

Before her marriage to Elmi, Omar had entered into a religious marriage ceremony with Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi, although the couple did not legally marry until 2018. Their relationship ended the following year.

In 2020, Omar married political consultant Tim Mynett, who had previously worked on one of her congressional campaigns.

The latest revelations emerged as federal authorities continued examining the congresswoman’s immigration records and financial affairs, with investigators seeking access to documents and electronic evidence connected to the inquiry.

Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office submitted Wednesday’s court filing in an effort to keep a federal search warrant under seal while investigators complete its execution. News organizations, including the New York Times, have sought access to the warrant.

The warrant was partially carried out on October 12, when Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Omar’s Washington residence and removed several items, including her cellphone, computer, passport, and additional materials collected in evidence boxes.

The search marked a significant escalation in the investigation, bringing federal agents directly to the home of a sitting member of Congress.

Federal authorities in Minnesota are also reportedly pursuing evidence concerning Omar’s family background and immigration history. Their efforts have included interviews with relatives and the collection of DNA evidence that investigators believe could help determine whether Omar and Elmi are biologically related.

The reported DNA collection has renewed attention to allegations that first emerged publicly during Omar’s 2016 campaign for the Minnesota Legislature.

The congresswoman has faced questions about her personal history and immigration documentation for approximately a decade. Federal authorities previously examined allegations involving her during Trump’s first administration, although no criminal charges resulted from those earlier inquiries.

Investigators are now reportedly focusing on whether Omar misrepresented information about her birth, family relationships, or immigration status in documents submitted to federal agencies.

Another issue involves the circumstances surrounding Omar’s acquisition of American citizenship following her family’s arrival in the United States as refugees from Somalia.

Omar has explained that her original birth certificate was destroyed amid the upheaval that engulfed Somalia during the early 1990s. Her family fled the country in 1991 and spent approximately four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before eventually resettling in America.

Her father, Nur Omar Mohamed, became a naturalized American citizen in 2000. Under the citizenship rules applicable at the time, Omar’s eligibility to derive citizenship through her father depended in part on whether she was younger than 18 when he naturalized.

According to the birth date currently associated with her official biography, Omar would have been 17 at the time.

However, records previously maintained by Minnesota’s legislative library reportedly listed a birth date that would have made her at least 18 when her father became a citizen, potentially affecting her eligibility for derivative citizenship.

That discrepancy became another subject of scrutiny after records showed that Omar’s congressional staff requested a correction to the legislative library’s birth-date entry in 2019, following her election to Congress.

The circumstances surrounding the original entry, the subsequent correction, and the documentation used to establish her age have become part of the broader controversy over her immigration history.

The Justice Department’s investigation has also prompted a legal dispute over how much information the public should be allowed to see while the inquiry remains active. Prosecutors maintain that releasing the warrant and its supporting materials prematurely could interfere with investigative work that has not yet been completed.

According to the government’s latest filing, the October 12 search warrant has still not been fully executed. Prosecutors have requested additional time before responding to applications seeking disclosure of the records, including requests submitted by multiple news organizations and Judicial Watch.

The investigation has drawn particular scrutiny because it involves a sitting member of Congress just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. Justice Department procedures traditionally discourage overt investigative actions involving political candidates close to an election, although exceptions are permitted.

Additional reporting has revealed that the federal judge who authorized the search imposed restrictions on investigators’ access to certain materials because of constitutional protections covering congressional activities.

Omar, meanwhile, has maintained that she committed no wrongdoing and has accused the Trump administration of using federal law enforcement to intimidate a political opponent. She has also said she intends to move from her Washington residence following the search, citing concerns about her family’s safety.

The congresswoman has continued campaigning and recently appeared in a video requesting donations from supporters as the investigation attracts national attention.

The government has not publicly explained why prosecutors used the name Ilhan Nur Said Elmi in the court filing, and the designation alone does not establish that Omar was born under that name or that she is related to her former husband. No criminal charges have been announced.

The next major developments are expected to come from the court’s handling of the requests to unseal the search warrant, the continuing examination of immigration and family records, and any decision by federal prosecutors about whether the evidence supports criminal charges.

New York City’s horse-drawn carriage industry will be eliminated by June 2028 after the City Council voted overwhelmingly Thursday to outlaw the longtime Central Park attraction, bringing an end to a tradition dating back more than 150 years and setting the stage for a major legal confrontation with carriage drivers who say the city is destroying their livelihoods without providing adequate compensation.

The legislation passed by a veto-proof margin of 40-7, with two council members abstaining, following an unsuccessful last-minute effort to delay the prohibition until 2030. The measure will prohibit horse-drawn carriage operations throughout all five boroughs beginning June 1, 2028, effectively eliminating an industry that has been part of New York City’s identity for generations.

Approximately 200 carriage drivers and owners face the prospect of losing their businesses, with many having invested substantial sums in city-issued licenses, horses, carriages, and other equipment. Their union has announced plans to challenge the measure in federal court, arguing that the city cannot eliminate the value of their businesses without providing meaningful financial compensation.

The Transport Workers Union, which represents carriage industry workers, immediately condemned the council’s decision and warned that the legislation contains serious constitutional deficiencies.

“This bill is a train wreck of constitutional and due process violations,” Transport Workers Union president John Samuelsen said in a statement.

“It offers nothing concrete for blue-collar drivers and carriage owners who will be financially crushed, stripped of their jobs, their licenses, expensive city-issued medallions, small businesses, and way of life,” he added.

“It is not progressive. It is anti-worker. It’s theft.”

The measure, known as Romanch’s Law, was named in memory of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, an Indian tourist who died in June following a terrifying incident involving a runaway horse-drawn carriage in Central Park.

Mahajan had been riding with his family when the horse pulling their carriage suddenly became frightened and bolted. During the incident, Mahajan was thrown from the carriage and suffered fatal injuries. His death intensified a longstanding campaign by animal rights activists and elected officials seeking to eliminate the carriage industry.

His family subsequently called on city officials to prohibit the rides, arguing that earlier efforts to ban the industry could have prevented the tragedy.

“If [the prior legislation] had passed, the carriages would have stopped on June 1, 2026 — Romanch died on June 17,” his father, Deepak Mahajan, told a City Council hearing in July.

“This was not an unpredictable accident. Let his death not be in vain,” he added.

The fatal accident followed years of controversy surrounding the treatment of carriage horses, including several highly publicized incidents in which animals collapsed or died while working in the city. Animal welfare organizations have repeatedly argued that forcing horses to operate amid traffic, noise, extreme temperatures, and crowded streets is dangerous for both the animals and the public.

The latest legislative effort gained decisive momentum earlier this month when Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin reached an agreement to support the industry’s elimination. Both cited public safety and animal welfare concerns in backing the measure.

The agreement succeeded where previous administrations had failed. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio had pledged to eliminate horse-drawn carriages shortly after taking office, but his effort collapsed amid opposition from labor unions, carriage operators, and supporters of the longstanding tourist attraction. His successor, Eric Adams, also considered restrictions and a possible ban but never secured the necessary political support.

Thursday’s vote marked a dramatic reversal for an industry that had survived repeated attempts to remove it from Central Park.

Under the legislation, existing carriage licenses will expire at the end of May 2028, and the city will no longer permit the industry to operate. The measure also requires the Mamdani administration to develop a transition plan by April 1, 2027, outlining employment assistance and possible financial support for affected workers and business owners.

That plan is expected to include job placement assistance, career counseling, educational opportunities, and potential employment in the transportation and hospitality industries. However, the legislation does not guarantee that carriage operators will receive compensation for the value of their businesses, licenses, or equipment.

That omission has become a central point of contention for workers who say their entire financial futures are tied to the industry.

Some carriage medallions have been purchased for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and owners fear those investments will become worthless once the prohibition takes effect. Many drivers are immigrants who have spent decades establishing their businesses and have few comparable employment opportunities available to them.

Longtime carriage driver Atakan Aktay recently challenged Mamdani over what he described as an inconsistency between the mayor’s previous support for struggling taxi medallion owners and his current position toward carriage operators.

“Before you became mayor, you participated in a 15-day hunger strike to support yellow taxi medallion owners facing financial ruin,” Aktay said last week. “Now you are mayor, and we face the prospect of losing our businesses without guaranteed compensation.

“Where is that same compassion for us? How can you fight for one group of medallion owners while allowing another group to face financial devastation? To us, that feels hypocritical and humiliating,” Aktay added.

Other drivers have questioned why City Hall has singled out horse-drawn carriages while allowing electric bicycle delivery workers and pedicab operators to continue operating despite frequent complaints about dangerous driving and traffic violations.

Industry representatives have also maintained that carriage horses are already subject to extensive regulations governing their working hours, veterinary care, rest periods, and exposure to extreme weather. They argue that the city could strengthen enforcement of existing protections rather than eliminate the industry altogether.

The union has indicated that it intends to seek a temporary restraining order against the legislation, arguing that the prohibition violates constitutional protections against the taking of private property without just compensation.

Attorneys representing the union have specifically challenged the loss of valuable city-issued medallions and the restrictions that would prevent owners from selling their horses to other carriage businesses.

The city’s Law Department has expressed confidence that the legislation can withstand a legal challenge.

President Donald Trump also weighed in on the controversy Thursday, criticizing the decision to eliminate an attraction he described as a “Great Tradition.”

Trump questioned the reasoning behind shutting down an entire industry because of a tragic accident, arguing that similar logic could be applied to other forms of transportation involved in fatal incidents.

His comments added a national political dimension to a controversy that has divided New Yorkers over animal welfare, public safety, workers’ rights, and the preservation of the city’s historic character.

Meanwhile, questions remain about the future of the horses currently used by carriage operators. Although the legislation requires humane treatment and prohibits selling or transferring the animals for slaughter or use in another horse-drawn carriage business, it does not establish a fully funded program to relocate them.

Animal welfare organizations have proposed sending the horses to rescue farms and sanctuaries throughout the country, where they would no longer be used for commercial carriage rides. Several organizations have already expressed willingness to help arrange placements.

The animal rights group NYCLASS, which has spent years campaigning against the industry, celebrated the council’s decision as a major victory.

“New York City is finally ending deadly horse carriage rides,” the organization declared following the vote.

“We will work with the administration to ensure the horses retire to safe, loving rescue farms where they can finally run free.”

{Matzav.com}

Congressman Mike Lawler received the endorsement of the Skverer Rebbe and the leadership of the Skverer kehilla during a visit to New Square on Wednesday, adding another prominent chassidishe endorsement to his reelection campaign in New York’s 17th Congressional District.

Lawler met with the Rebbe on Wednesday afternoon, October 21, as candidates across Rockland County continued meeting with rabbonim and communal leaders ahead of the November 3 elections.

Following the meeting, the Skverer kehilla’s leadership confirmed its support for Lawler’s bid for another term in Congress.

The endorsement comes during a closely watched congressional contest between Lawler, a Republican seeking his third term, and Democratic challenger Cait Conley.

The 17th Congressional District includes significant portions of Rockland and Westchester counties, where the frum community represents an important constituency.

Lawler has maintained relationships with Orthodox Jewish communities throughout his time in Congress, frequently addressing concerns involving antisemitism, Israel and issues affecting religious institutions.

His campaign has emphasized his record on combating antisemitism and supporting Israel, while Conley has criticized aspects of the Trump administration’s policies and Lawler’s alignment with the president.

The congressional race has attracted considerable attention because of its potential implications for the balance of power in the House of Representatives.

The Skverer endorsement follows several other announcements of support for Lawler from chassidishe communities and rabbonim in Rockland County.

Earlier this week, Rav Chaim Schabes, Rav of Knesseth Israel in New Hempstead, issued a letter endorsing Lawler, State Senate candidate Joe Rand and Assemblyman Aron Wieder.

The Viener kehilla and its mosdos in Monsey also announced their support for the three candidates, emphasizing their relationships with the community.

Separately, the Vizhnitzer kehilla and its voting committee announced endorsements that included Lawler, Rand and Wieder.

The latest meeting also comes just days after Governor Kathy Hochul visited New Square and met with the Skverer Rebbe as part of her own reelection campaign.

The Skverer kehilla previously announced its support for Hochul, reflecting the community’s practice of considering candidates individually rather than endorsing an entire party ticket.

During Hochul’s Monday visit, the governor also discussed the State Senate race with Skverer leadership, and the kehilla subsequently endorsed Joe Rand.

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Let’s help this mother get the care she needs. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

A remarkable discovery in the archives of Ford Motor Company has saved Yeshivas Oholei Torah in Crown Heights an estimated $200,000 and up to eight weeks of construction-related work, after a former talmid helped locate original architectural plans for a building that the yeshiva is preparing to transform into a major new Torah campus.

The discovery came as Oholei Torah moved forward with plans to develop its new Rabbinical Campus at 402 Eastern Parkway, a historic property originally constructed by Ford in 1916 as an automobile showroom.

More than a century later, the building is being prepared for an entirely different purpose: accommodating hundreds of bochurim as the yeshiva continues to expand.

The project, which is expected to encompass more than 100,000 square feet, will include three large batei medrash, a modern mikvah, classrooms, dedicated rooms for mashpiim, a student lounge and additional facilities.

But as architects and engineers began planning the extensive renovations, they encountered a costly problem. The building’s original structural drawings were nowhere to be found.

Oholei Torah had retained New York Major as its owner’s representative and contractor, together with the architectural firm FMA, which specializes in educational facilities and has extensive experience designing yeshivos.

The team began examining the existing structure to determine how it could be adapted to meet the needs of the growing yeshiva.

Original architectural plans were essential to that process. Without them, engineers would have to conduct extensive measurements, structural testing, scanning and investigative work to determine how the building had been constructed.

The yeshiva initially hired a company to search records maintained by the New York City Department of Buildings. Although some documentation was located, the original plans were missing.

Officials then turned to the New York City School Construction Authority.

The building had been leased by the Department of Education for approximately four decades and used as a public school, raising hopes that the city’s school construction records might contain the necessary drawings.

The authority was able to provide additional documents, including plans from previous renovations, but the original structural blueprints remained elusive.

With the project facing weeks of additional investigative work and substantial expenses, an unexpected possibility emerged during a planning meeting.

Rav Mendel Blau, the yeshiva’s rosh mosad, recalled that a former classmate from his Oholei Torah bais medrash years, Shlomo Kleinman, was employed by Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan.

He mentioned the connection to Rav Yehoshua Lustig, the yeshiva’s menahel klali.

Since Ford had originally constructed the Eastern Parkway building, perhaps the company’s archives still contained its century-old architectural drawings.

Rav Lustig contacted Kleinman, who readily agreed to help his former yeshiva.

“I have such great memories of my years in Oholei Torah Beis Medrash,” Kleinman said. “It means a lot to me to play a part in preparing a new Zal for the next generation of Oholei Torah bochurim.”

Kleinman reached out to Leslie Armbruster of the Ford Motor Company Archives department and explained what the yeshiva was attempting to locate.

Armbruster began searching the company’s extensive historical records.

To the delight of the yeshiva’s construction team, the search was successful.

The original architectural drawings for the building at 402 Eastern Parkway had been preserved in Ford’s archives for more than 100 years.

“I was delighted to find the drawings of your building, and am happy to have been able to save your organization both time and money. It’s a lovely reminder of the importance of the work that my team and I do in the Ford Motor Company Archives,” Armbruster said.

The financial implications were substantial.

According to Yiddi Nussensweig of New York Major, having the original plans available will save the yeshiva approximately $200,000 and eliminate six to eight weeks of investigative work.

Although engineers will still need to conduct certain physical tests, scans and structural examinations, the newly discovered drawings provide detailed information about the building’s original construction, significantly reducing the scope of that work.

The discovery comes at a particularly important time for Oholei Torah, which has experienced significant enrollment growth.

This year, the yeshiva welcomed 540 bais medrash talmidim, an increase of 75 over the previous year.

Despite efforts to expand its existing facilities, the yeshiva was unable to accommodate more than 100 additional applicants.

The planned Rabbinical Campus is intended to address that shortage and provide sufficient space for future growth.

The yeshiva hopes to open the new campus for the 5789 school year, with the current architectural planning and design process expected to continue for approximately four more months.

Rav Lustig expressed appreciation to Ford Motor Company and the individuals who helped locate the documents.

“We are deeply grateful to Ford Motor Company for generously responding to our request and making these historic plans available to us,” he said. “We especially appreciate the support of Ford Archives and Leslie Armbruster, along with Shlomo Kleinman for helping connect us with the right team. Ford’s generosity has saved the Yeshiva valuable time and resources and helped move us closer to opening the new campus.”

The discovery has also highlighted an unusual chapter in the history of the Eastern Parkway property.

Constructed during the early years of America’s automobile industry, the building originally served Ford’s commercial operations in Brooklyn before eventually becoming a public school.

Now, the same structure is being prepared to house a major center of Torah learning.

And thanks to a former talmid who remembered his yeshiva and a Ford archivist who located drawings preserved for more than a century, the institution has avoided an estimated $200,000 in expenses as it prepares the building for its next chapter.

{Matzav.com}

Israel Railways has announced that passengers will be able to travel by train free of charge beginning Monday evening, October 26, as part of special transportation arrangements for the Knesset elections scheduled for Tuesday, October 27.

The free-travel program will begin at 8 p.m. Monday and continue throughout Election Day, allowing eligible passengers to reach their polling locations without paying regular train fares.

Railway officials have emphasized that passengers must obtain special paper tickets from station ticket machines to take advantage of the arrangement. Travelers should not use their regular Rav-Kav cards or electronic payment applications for these journeys, as doing so could result in ordinary fares being charged.

The transportation plan also includes expanded service on the heavily traveled railway line connecting Yerushalayim and Tel Aviv.

Between noon and 8 p.m. on Election Day, trains are scheduled to operate three times per hour in each direction between Yerushalayim’s Yitzchak Navon station and Tel Aviv, providing additional capacity for voters traveling between the cities.

The expanded schedule is intended to accommodate increased passenger traffic as Israelis travel to their registered polling locations.

An important additional requirement applies to passengers traveling to or from Yerushalayim. Under instructions issued by Israel Police, the number of passengers permitted aboard these trains will be limited, and travelers must obtain a reservation voucher in advance for the particular train they intend to board.

The voucher requirement is separate from the paper ticket needed to travel free of charge. Passengers heading to Yerushalayim should therefore arrange both before their journey.

The additional trains will operate between Yerushalayim’s Yitzchak Navon station and Tel Aviv’s Hahagana station, increasing the regular frequency from two trains per hour to three during the designated afternoon and evening hours.

The free-travel arrangement applies to all Israel Railways routes, without a distance restriction, and is available to the general public.

In addition to the railway service, free transportation will be offered on qualifying intercity bus routes covering distances greater than 15 kilometers. Passengers using those routes will not need to present identification or obtain a special ticket.

Local bus trips and intercity journeys of 15 kilometers or less will remain subject to regular fares.

The arrangements were approved by the Central Elections Committee to make it easier for citizens to travel between communities and exercise their voting rights.

Travelers are advised to check schedules before departing, as certain bus routes will operate on modified timetables for Election Day, while some services ordinarily used by schools will not operate.

Israel Railways is directing passengers to its official website and application for information about the Yerushalayim reservation vouchers, updated timetables and station arrangements.

Additional information is available through the railway’s customer-service hotline at \*5770. Passengers seeking details about eligible intercity bus routes can contact the national public transportation information center at \*8787.

The free transportation arrangements will conclude when regular public transportation service ends Tuesday night, October 27.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump warned Thursday that the United States could carry out further military strikes against Iran, raising the possibility of another round of attacks as reports indicate that American and Israeli military planners have prepared options for renewed operations following the November 3 midterm elections.

Speaking with reporters outside the White House before traveling to Iowa for a campaign rally, Trump defended his decision to wage war against Iran, arguing that earlier administrations had failed to take the steps necessary to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat.

Trump described his actions as “doing what should have been done by other presidents. There’s a price to pay, which I knew immediately when I did it.”

.@POTUS on Iran: "We've knocked the hell out of them — and we may do it a little bit further." pic.twitter.com/FP0pIsJiSk

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 22, 2026

The president acknowledged that the war has prompted mixed reactions among Americans, but insisted that preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons outweighs those concerns.

“But we can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon. I mean, in one way, people probably don’t love it. But many people, many great patriots really love it.”

Trump then delivered his clearest indication that the American military campaign may not yet be finished, suggesting that Washington could order additional attacks if necessary.

“This should have been done a long time ago by other presidents, the Iran war. And we’ve knocked the hell out of them. And we may do it a little bit further.”

His comments came just one day after he told supporters at a campaign appearance in South Carolina that he believed the conflict was approaching its conclusion. Nevertheless, Trump indicated that the administration was reluctant to end its military operations without confidence that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been sufficiently weakened to prevent the threat from resurfacing.

The war, he stated, will “end very soon. We could leave now, but we want to make sure it lasts for a long time. Now, if you look at that, it’s amazing what we did. Our military is unbelievable.”

The president’s latest remarks have taken on additional significance amid reports that Washington is examining the possibility of further attacks in coordination with Israel.

According to a report published Wednesday by The New York Times, American and Israeli military officials have already prepared detailed operational plans for another round of strikes against Iranian targets.

The newspaper reported that a renewed offensive could be launched after the November 3 congressional elections, although Trump has not given authorization for such an operation.

The planning reportedly reflects ongoing discussions within the administration about how to bring the conflict to an end while ensuring that Iran is unable to rebuild or advance its nuclear weapons program.

The distinction between preparing military options and approving an attack remains significant. Although the reported plans would provide the president with the ability to order further strikes, no final decision to launch another operation has been announced.

The White House has declined to confirm the reported preparations.

Asked about the newspaper’s account, a White House official said the administration does not discuss military plans “that may or may not exist.”

The official emphasized that Trump continues to reserve the right to pursue whatever measures he considers necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Taken together, the president’s remarks and the reports of military planning suggest that Washington is keeping the possibility of additional military action open even as Trump publicly expresses confidence that the war could soon conclude.

Additional reporting indicates that the preparations have advanced beyond preliminary discussions. American and Israeli forces have reportedly intensified military exercises, including flights over Iraq designed to rehearse possible attack missions against Iran.

Potential targets under consideration include Iranian nuclear installations, energy infrastructure, missile production facilities, and drone stockpiles. Some American officials believe a concentrated campaign could further damage Iran’s economy and pressure Tehran into accepting diplomatic concessions.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also traveled to Israel this week, meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to discuss the possibility of renewed strikes.

Separate reporting indicated that Netanyahu had considered launching a major Israeli operation against Iran earlier this month, but Trump opposed resuming large-scale attacks before the American elections. Netanyahu subsequently disputed reports suggesting that Trump had blocked Israeli military action, calling those accounts “incorrect.”

The Pentagon has reportedly examined options for a brief but intensive operation lasting approximately three days. However, Trump has rejected previous proposals to resume major combat operations, leaving considerable uncertainty over whether the latest preparations will result in actual strikes.

Iranian officials, meanwhile, have warned that another American or Israeli offensive could trigger a broader response, potentially extending attacks beyond military targets to additional infrastructure across the region.

The prospect of renewed fighting has also heightened concerns about global energy supplies, particularly amid continued tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices climbed to their highest levels in several months Thursday as markets reacted to the possibility of further military escalation.

For now, Trump has left both possibilities open: ending the conflict in the near future or authorizing another round of attacks intended to prevent Iran from recovering its nuclear and military capabilities.

His warning that the United States may strike Iran “a little bit further” suggests that even as the administration discusses bringing the war to a close, the possibility of another major confrontation remains firmly on the table.

A Bnei Brak resident in his 30s has been indicted for allegedly setting fire to an occupied residential building in the chareidi city, causing extensive damage to several apartments and forcing residents to evacuate as flames spread through the property.

The indictment, reported Thursday, accuses the suspect of deliberately igniting a fire in the courtyard of a three-story apartment building on Rav Meshulam Roth Street, creating a dangerous situation for families living inside.

According to prosecutors, the defendant entered the building’s courtyard carrying flammable material, which he poured near a storage area before setting it alight and fleeing the scene.

The flames quickly spread from the courtyard toward the building’s upper floors, reaching balconies and threatening the apartments above.

Residents were forced to leave their homes as the fire intensified, while emergency personnel worked to prevent the blaze from spreading further.

The fire caused substantial damage to three apartments, including burned balconies and damage to portions of the building’s structure.

The indictment alleges that the defendant deliberately started the blaze despite the obvious danger to residents of the occupied building.

The case has raised particular concern because the fire was allegedly started in a shared residential area, where flames could spread rapidly to adjoining apartments and endanger families who might be unaware of the developing emergency.

Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the blaze and gathered evidence that ultimately led prosecutors to file criminal charges against the suspect.

The precise motive for the alleged arson has not been publicly established in the available reporting.

A growing concern among immigrant communities, including Orthodox Jewish families, involves lawful permanent residents who have lived in the United States for decades but face questioning, detention, or possible deportation when returning from trips abroad, Matzav.com has learned.

The issue is particularly troubling for green card holders who have built their entire lives in America, raising families, operating businesses, paying taxes, supporting charitable organizations, and participating in their local communities, only to discover that their immigration status does not provide the same protections as American citizenship.

Matzav.com has learned of instances of frum travelers being detained at airports despite possessing valid green cards. Immigration attorneys told Matzav.com that lawful permanent residents can face serious consequences when returning to the United States if certain legal issues arise.

A green card permits a foreign national to live and work permanently in the United States. However, it does not confer citizenship, and permanent resident status can be challenged or lost under circumstances established by federal immigration law.

For travelers who have spent most of their lives in America, that distinction can come as a shock.

The danger has become more pronounced amid stepped-up immigration enforcement and a recent Supreme Court ruling that expanded the government’s authority to scrutinize certain returning permanent residents.

In June, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Blanche v. Lau that immigration officers do not need to establish by clear and convincing evidence, at the airport itself, that a returning green card holder committed a disqualifying offense before treating that individual as someone seeking admission to the country.

The ruling does not mean that every green card holder can be detained or deported at will. However, it has raised concerns among immigration attorneys that travelers with old criminal convictions, pending charges, or other immigration complications could face greater difficulties upon returning from overseas.

The case involved a Chinese national who had held a green card for nearly two decades. After facing federal charges involving counterfeit merchandise, he traveled abroad and encountered immigration problems when he returned to the United States.

The decision underscored a reality that many longtime residents may not fully appreciate: A person can have a home, family, business, and decades of history in America and still be subject to immigration laws that do not apply to U.S. citizens.

The issue is no longer merely theoretical.

An investigation published in September by the San Francisco Chronicle found that more than 400 international travelers had been held at American airports for longer than 72 hours since January, including 146 individuals with valid green cards.

At San Francisco International Airport alone, 25 people were held for more than three days through July, 19 of whom were green card holders. Eighteen of those 25 individuals were subsequently transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities.

One case involved a 67-year-old lawful permanent resident who had lived legally in the United States for approximately 50 years. After returning from Mexico, he was detained by federal officers and held at the San Francisco airport for eight days before being transferred to an ICE detention center.

The man described sleeping upright in a chair under lights that remained on throughout the night, without a change of clothing. His attorneys eventually secured his release after several months in detention.

Other cases have involved green card holders who arrived in America as young children, grew up in the United States, and established families here, only to face detention after returning from international travel because of criminal matters dating back many years.

Immigration attorneys emphasize that even an old conviction, including one for which a person served no jail time, can sometimes create serious complications under federal immigration law.

A conviction that appeared to have been resolved decades earlier may still have immigration consequences. Certain offenses involving controlled substances, fraud, theft, or other categories specified in immigration law can affect a permanent resident’s ability to return to the country.

Even travelers who have previously passed through American airports without difficulty may encounter problems on a subsequent trip.

Another concern involves permanent residents who have spent extended periods outside the United States. Immigration authorities may question whether such individuals have abandoned their American residency, although an extended absence does not automatically terminate green card status.

For members of the frum community, these issues are especially relevant for families flying to Eretz Yisroel and elsewhere for Yom Tov, family simchos, weddings, and visits to relatives.

Someone who has lived in Lakewood, Boro Park, Monsey, or another American community for 30 or 40 years may naturally regard the United States as home. His children may have been born here, his grandchildren may be American citizens, and his entire livelihood may be based in this country.

But if he never completed the naturalization process, he remains a lawful permanent resident rather than a citizen.

Paying taxes, owning a home, volunteering at a local food bank, contributing to communal institutions, and maintaining an otherwise exemplary record do not automatically provide the legal protections associated with citizenship.

Even participation in civic activities does not change immigration status. In fact, ordinary jury service is generally restricted to U.S. citizens, and a green card holder who mistakenly claims citizenship in connection with jury service or another official process could create additional immigration complications.

Immigration attorneys are therefore urging green card holders to review their circumstances carefully before traveling abroad, particularly if they have ever been arrested, charged with an offense, convicted of a crime, or spent substantial time outside the country.

They also caution permanent residents against signing documents surrendering their immigration status without first obtaining legal advice.

One particularly important document is Form I-407, which is used to voluntarily abandon lawful permanent resident status. A traveler presented with that form should understand that signing it can have serious consequences.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association advises permanent residents facing questions about their status to request legal assistance and avoid voluntarily relinquishing their green cards without understanding their rights.

Importantly, immigration officers cannot simply erase a person’s lawful permanent resident status because they question that person’s eligibility. The law provides procedures for contesting removal and abandonment allegations, although the availability and scope of those protections depend on the circumstances.

Attorneys also stress that detention is not the same as deportation. A person taken into immigration custody may still have substantial legal defenses and opportunities to challenge the government’s allegations.

For permanent residents who are eligible to become American citizens, the developments have renewed attention to the naturalization process.

In most cases, lawful permanent residents may apply for citizenship after five years, provided they meet the applicable requirements. Certain spouses of American citizens may qualify after three years.

Naturalization requires an application, background review, and satisfaction of other legal conditions, including residency and eligibility requirements. Individuals with complicated immigration or criminal histories should obtain qualified legal guidance before applying.

The broader warning is that possession of a green card, even one held for decades, should not be confused with citizenship.

For families whose lives are deeply rooted in America, the possibility that an ordinary overseas trip could end with a loved one in immigration detention is a concern that deserves serious attention.

{Matzav.com}

France is preparing for another potentially volatile weekend of demonstrations, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing restrictions on protests organized by groups his government considers illegitimate, authorities extending a nighttime curfew in parts of Paris, and soldiers being deployed to protect sensitive locations following violent unrest that reportedly left thousands of businesses looted and nearly 1,000 police officers injured.

The security measures follow a wave of demonstrations that erupted into widespread violence last weekend, when protests over the rising cost of living and conditions in educational institutions escalated into clashes with police, vandalism, and looting.

More than 2,700 people were reportedly arrested during the disturbances, while approximately 3,000 businesses were looted or damaged. The reported scale of the violence has prompted French authorities to prepare a substantially larger security response ahead of demonstrations planned for Saturday.

Macron announced that protests organized by what he described as “illegitimate organizations” would be prohibited, with the restrictions reportedly directed at far-left groups that government officials accuse of encouraging last weekend’s violence.

Authorities in Marseille and Lyon have announced outright bans on demonstrations within their jurisdictions on Saturday, reflecting concerns that renewed gatherings could lead to further confrontations.

In Paris, however, a court authorized a peaceful demonstration despite the government’s restrictions. Thousands of people subsequently gathered for a stationary protest, which reportedly concluded without major incidents.

Meanwhile, officials extended the nighttime curfew covering the Place de la République and Les Halles areas of central Paris. The restrictions, in effect from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m., are scheduled to remain in place through Monday morning.

The French Culture Ministry also announced the closure of several major museums over the weekend, including the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, citing the need to protect visitors, employees, and valuable works of art.

The government has acknowledged that security forces were inadequately prepared for the previous demonstrations, which reportedly attracted approximately one million participants nationwide.

This time, officials are promising a massive deployment of police personnel, supported by soldiers assigned to Operation Sentinelle, France’s domestic counterterrorism security mission.

Under the security arrangements described by officials, soldiers will guard sensitive sites, freeing police officers to concentrate on managing demonstrations, preventing looting, and responding to outbreaks of violence.

The atmosphere of uncertainty is particularly evident among business owners in Paris, many of whom have begun boarding up storefront windows and installing additional protective barriers.

Merchants are also purchasing weapons and self-defense equipment amid fears that their businesses could again become targets.

Yves Gola, a Paris firearms dealer, said demand at his store has increased dramatically, with sales rising tenfold and his inventory of guns designed to fire rubber projectiles completely exhausted.

“They are arming themselves because they are terrified,” Gola said.

The current demonstrations are reportedly being organized by UNEF, France’s principal student union, together with participants associated with the Yellow Vest protest movement.

The unrest has also intensified political tensions ahead of France’s presidential election next year.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and other government figures have accused Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the prominent far-left political leader, of contributing to the atmosphere of unrest. Those accusations remain political claims rather than established findings of responsibility for the violence.

Macron has also rejected assertions portraying the demonstrations as an attempt at an Islamist takeover of France, describing such claims as a “complete lie.”

The restrictions are aimed at particular demonstrations and organizers, rather than a nationwide prohibition on all protests. Recognized groups, including trade unions, may still hold demonstrations, although authorities can change routes or impose local restrictions to protect businesses and public safety.

France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez previously acknowledged that police had lost control in several major cities during the October 17 disturbances. Macron subsequently rejected Nuñez’s offer to resign, while the government began reviewing its intelligence and policing failures.

The restrictions have drawn objections from opposition figures, who argue that the government is responding to grievances over living costs and public services with security measures rather than policy changes. Government officials maintain that peaceful protest remains permissible and that the additional restrictions are necessary to prevent further violence.

The next major demonstrations are scheduled for Saturday, October 24, with authorities preparing to deploy police, specialized security units, armored vehicles, and military personnel to prevent another round of rioting and looting.

For now, French authorities face the challenge of preventing another outbreak of violence while navigating court rulings protecting peaceful demonstrations. The coming weekend will provide an important test of whether the expanded security deployment and protest restrictions can prevent a recurrence of the widespread destruction reported during last week’s unrest.

Nearly four years after more than 100 gemachim applied for government licenses, the overwhelming majority are still awaiting final approval, raising concerns about the slow pace of regulatory oversight in a sector that handles billions of shekels in loans and deposits for Israel’s chareidi community.

New figures obtained through freedom-of-information requests reveal that just 19 of the 109 gemachim that submitted licensing applications to Israel’s Capital Market Authority in 2022 have received licenses. The remaining 90 have yet to complete the approval process.

The findings, first reported by journalist Nati Tucker of TheMarker, have drawn attention to the challenges facing regulators as they attempt to supervise a financial network that plays an essential role in the daily lives of thousands of frum families.

The gemach system, built around interest-free lending and communal assistance, provides financing for weddings, housing expenses, family emergencies and other significant needs. Many institutions also accept deposits from individuals who place money with a gemach to support its lending activities.

The combined financial activity of the sector is estimated at approximately 5 billion shekels, making the licensing delays particularly consequential.

Although the government introduced a licensing framework intended to establish clearer oversight of gemachim, the latest figures suggest that implementation has proceeded far more slowly than anticipated.

The licensing delays have been a subject of dispute between government regulators and Knesset members for years. Representatives of the gemachim have complained that the absence of licenses has complicated their relationships with banks, even when the institutions have been operating for years and have submitted the required applications.

At a Knesset Finance Committee hearing in December 2025, lawmakers pressed the Capital Market Authority over the prolonged delays. Officials explained that the necessary anti-money-laundering regulations had to be finalized before licenses could be issued.

During that hearing, a senior authority official clarified that gemachim operating before the licensing framework took effect in 2022, and which had submitted the appropriate applications, could continue operating while their applications were reviewed.

That distinction is significant. The fact that an institution has not yet received a final license does not necessarily mean it is operating unlawfully.

The regulatory process has begun moving forward in recent weeks. In September, the authority issued its first seven licenses to qualifying gemachim. By October 20, the number had increased to 19.

The authority says additional applications are undergoing review and that it intends to continue issuing licenses to institutions meeting the requirements.

The government has also formally initiated a two-year transition period for new anti-money-laundering obligations. Under the framework, licensed gemachim will eventually be required to implement procedures for identifying customers, documenting transactions, monitoring financial risks and reporting certain activities to regulators.

The transition period follows the publication of an official notice announcing the commencement of licensing, with the new requirements scheduled to take effect in October 2028.

Regulators say the rules are intended to protect depositors and borrowers while preserving the distinctive character of gemachim, which operate without charging interest and often depend heavily on donations and volunteer administrators.

The Capital Market Authority has acknowledged that gemachim occupy a unique position in Israel’s financial system, providing interest-free loans through institutions generally built around close-knit communities and longstanding relationships of trust.

Unlike conventional financial institutions, many gemachim rely on guarantors rather than interest-based lending arrangements to manage financial risk.

The authority says its supervisory framework is designed to account for those differences while introducing standards intended to protect the public and prevent financial misconduct.

At the same time, regulators have begun enforcement proceedings against institutions suspected of violating existing requirements, including issuing notices of hearings to certain operators.

The licensing issue has attracted particular attention from chareidi lawmakers, who have argued that excessive bureaucracy could interfere with a system of communal assistance that provides critical financial support to families.

During previous Knesset discussions, MK Moshe Gafni and MK Simcha Rothman urged officials to expedite the process and permit gemachim to receive licenses while the remaining regulatory requirements were being implemented.

Rothman accused regulators of creating a situation in which institutions were being denied licenses because the government had not yet completed the regulations necessary to issue them.

The latest figures underscore how much work remains. With only 19 licenses issued and 90 of the original 109 applicants still awaiting approval, the process is far from complete.

For the thousands of families who depend on gemachim to finance weddings, purchase homes or manage major expenses, the outcome of the regulatory process could have substantial consequences.

The central challenge facing Israeli authorities will be to establish meaningful financial oversight without undermining the interest-free lending institutions that have served as a cornerstone of chareidi communal life for generations.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Mr. Sol Werdiger, chairman of the board of Agudath Israel of America and owner of Outerstuff, has endorsed New York Governor Kathy Hochul for reelection, adding his personal support to her campaign following her decision to participate in a federal scholarship tax credit program that could provide significant financial assistance to yeshiva families.

The endorsement comes just days after Hochul announced that New York would opt into the federal initiative, which is designed to encourage private donations to scholarship organizations through federal tax incentives. The program has drawn considerable attention in the Orthodox community because of its potential to help families struggling with the rising costs of yeshiva tuition.

Werdiger, who has worked closely with state officials on issues affecting Orthodox Jewish families and educational institutions, publicly welcomed Hochul’s decision.

“Opting in is good for all New Yorkers. We thank Governor Hochul for putting students before politics,” Werdiger said in a statement issued by Agudath Israel following the announcement.

His endorsement of Hochul’s reelection bid is a personal one and should be distinguished from any formal endorsement by Agudath Israel of America as an organization.

The development comes as Hochul has been receiving support from several Orthodox Jewish communities and institutions in the closing weeks of the gubernatorial campaign. Among those announcing their support have been leaders in New Square, Munkatch, and Crown Heights.

Hochul has also made several appearances in Orthodox communities in recent weeks, including a visit to the Bais Rochel girls’ school in Kiryas Yoel, where she was welcomed by thousands of students.

The governor’s decision on the scholarship program has become a significant issue in those communities. Supporters say the initiative could provide much-needed relief to parents paying private school tuition, although the eventual benefits will depend on the program’s implementation, available contributions, and eligibility requirements.

For Werdiger, whose communal activities have included extensive involvement in education and government relations, the tuition initiative represents an important development in an issue that has long been a priority for Orthodox families.

The federal program, established under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, allows eligible taxpayers to claim a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for donations to approved scholarship organizations. Those organizations can then use the contributions to provide educational scholarships, including assistance with yeshiva tuition.

Scheduled to begin in 2027, the initiative could direct tens of millions of dollars in additional scholarship funding to New York families without requiring the state to finance the scholarships directly.

The endorsement comes less than two weeks before Hochul faces Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman in the November 3 gubernatorial election.

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has announced a new election initiative that would provide every Jewish boy in Israel with a free pair of tefillin and a tallis upon reaching his bar mitzvah, as part of a broader effort to strengthen Jewish identity among the country’s younger generation.

The proposal, unveiled ahead of Tuesday’s Knesset elections, would also require schools to designate appropriate spaces where students who wish to put on tefillin and daven could do so during the school day.

Deri presented the initiative as an answer to what he described as growing efforts to weaken the Jewish character of the State of Israel, singling out Yair Golan and his political allies for criticism.

Under the proposed program, boys reaching the age of 13 would receive a bar mitzvah package containing tefillin and a tallis, regardless of whether they attend religious or secular schools.

The initiative is intended to make these fundamental mitzvos accessible to Jewish children from all backgrounds, including families that might otherwise be unable or unlikely to purchase tefillin.

For Shas, the proposal also represents an attempt to bring questions of Jewish identity and religious tradition to the forefront of the election campaign, alongside the ongoing disputes over military conscription and the status of yeshiva students.

In a campaign video released Thursday, Deri said that recent public statements concerning religion in Israel had convinced him of the need for a new government initiative.

“Recently, we have been hearing harsh statements threatening the Jewish identity of the State of Israel,” Deri said. “They want to turn it into a country like all other nations. That will never happen.”

Deri specifically cited comments attributed to Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, concerning the removal of religion from public spaces. He also criticized a Tel Aviv city council member who had objected to religious activities involving schoolchildren.

“These are harsh and shocking statements,” Deri declared. “Therefore, the Shas movement commits to passing a new program in the next government: ‘Tefillin for Every Child.'”

Explaining the proposed program, Deri said that every boy reaching the age of 13 would receive a bar mitzvah package from the Education Ministry, including a pair of tefillin and a tallis.

He added that Shas would seek to require schools to provide a designated prayer area for students who wish to put on tefillin and daven.

Deri emphasized the significance of tefillin in Jewish history and the role of the mitzvah in maintaining the connection between Jews and their heritage.

“Tefillin have been a symbol of the Jewish people throughout the generations,” he said.

The Shas chairman also invoked the posuk, “V’ra’u kol amei ha’aretz ki sheim Hashem nikra alecha veyar’u mimeka,” citing Chazal’s explanation that the reference is to the tefillin worn on the head.

Deri described tefillin as a source of spiritual strength for the Jewish people in confronting their enemies.

“The choice is clear: Either we strengthen the Jewish state, or we deteriorate into a country like all other nations, chas v’shalom,” he said.

The announcement immediately drew a sharp response from Golan, who countered with an election promise of his own focused on military conscription.

“Deri, here is our election promise: The state will distribute draft orders to every 18-year-old boy and girl. Everyone will receive a draft order. Tefillin by choice. Conscription by obligation,” Golan wrote on social media.

His response highlighted the widening political divide over religion and military service, with Shas campaigning for greater recognition of Jewish observance while Golan and his allies advocate mandatory military service across Israeli society.

The proposal has also raised questions about its financial implications. A kosher pair of tefillin can cost thousands of shekels, meaning a nationwide distribution program could require substantial government funding.

Shas has not yet presented a detailed budget, funding source or implementation timetable. Questions also remain concerning the procurement and kashrus standards of the tefillin that would be distributed.

Asked separately about girls reaching bas mitzvah age, Shas representatives told News1 that the party had considered providing them with a siddur.

For now, the initiative remains an election commitment rather than an approved government program. Its implementation would depend on the composition of the next government, the passage of the necessary measures and the allocation of funding.

The announcement comes just five days before Israelis head to the polls, as Shas seeks to rally voters around the preservation of Torah values, Jewish identity and the future of religious life in Eretz Yisroel.

The Schottenstein Edition Talmud transformed Torah learning, opening the depth of Gemara to hundreds of thousands of learners. Its Hebrew edition brought that same revolution — on an enhanced level — to those more comfortable learning in lashon kodesh. The Hebrew-language Ryzman Mishnah, Ryzman Midrash, and Zichron Asher Herzog Sefer HaChinuch further transformed Torah learning by making the depth of these foundational works accessible to that same audience. Now, that tradition is continuing with the Schottenstein Edition Rashi HaMevoar on Chumash — an all-Hebrew edition that brings the acclaimed approach of the Schottenstein Edition Elucidated Rashi to lashon kodesh learners. Its overwhelming reception is already making something clear: Learners are discovering a whole new level of understanding in the Rashi they thought they knew.

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The result is a work clear enough for a developing student, yet deep and comprehensive enough to enrich a seasoned talmid chacham. For students, parents, rebbeim, and accomplished learners, Rashi HaMevoar is becoming an indispensable companion to learning Chumash. The excitement lies in that experience of discovery: Familiar comments take on new depth, seemingly simple words reveal their precision, and learning Rashi becomes more rewarding with every pasuk.

The Schottenstein Edition Talmud transformed the understanding of Gemara. For those learning with the Schottenstein Edition Rashi HaMevoar, that transformation is already happening in their understanding of Rashi.

The first two volumes of Bereishis are available here or at local booksellers at an introductory price of $29.99 per volume. The two volumes of Shemos will be out in time for this year’s kerias Hatorah.

{Matzav.com}

A retired New York City police detective has been arrested and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a 46-year-old Rockland County father on the George Washington Bridge, as investigators say an apparent road-rage confrontation turned deadly during Tuesday evening’s rush hour.

Victor Romero, 62, of Haverstraw, New York, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon in connection with the killing of Koran Irvine, 46, of Valley Cottage, who was shot while driving home from work.

The arrest represents a major development in the investigation, which initially began when police responded to what appeared to be a single-vehicle accident on the bridge’s westbound upper level.

Investigators subsequently discovered that Irvine had suffered a gunshot wound.

He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to authorities, the shooting occurred shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday as both motorists were traveling from Manhattan toward New Jersey.

The circumstances leading up to the confrontation remain under investigation, but authorities believe the shooting followed a dispute between the drivers.

Romero was arrested at approximately 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and charged with murder. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Romero previously served as a narcotics detective in Brooklyn North and retired from the NYPD in 2001. During his police career, he was wounded in a 2000 shooting while intervening in an attempted robbery at his family’s Brooklyn laundromat.

Investigators believe Tuesday’s shooting involved a confrontation between Romero’s vehicle and Irvine’s Volkswagen. According to reports, a bullet entered the Volkswagen through a rear passenger-side window and struck Irvine near his right shoulder.

Irvine had recently marked 20 years of employment with Con Edison. He was married and the father of two children.

Con Edison expressed its condolences following his death.

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of a member of the Con Edison family in this senseless act of violence. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who knew and loved him,” the utility said.

The shooting forced authorities to close portions of the George Washington Bridge for several hours Tuesday evening, causing extensive traffic delays. The affected lanes reopened overnight.

In a significant development Thursday, prosecutors proceeded with a manslaughter charge against Romero at his Manhattan arraignment, rather than the murder charge initially announced by police.

A judge set bail at $1 million. Members of Irvine’s family attended the hearing, where further details emerged about the confrontation and the single shot allegedly fired into his vehicle.

Newly released surveillance footage of Wednesday evening’s stabbing of a Lubavitcher chossid in Midtown Manhattan has intensified suspicions that the attack was motivated by antisemitism, as investigators examine reports that the female suspect deliberately pursued visibly Jewish pedestrians while ignoring others on the crowded street.

The victim, identified in updated reports as a 26-year-old Crown Heights resident, was attacked near Fifth Avenue and West 47th Street in Manhattan’s Diamond District shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday. He was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was reported in stable condition.

The latest developments have raised additional questions about the weapon used in the assault. Although initial reports described a stabbing with a sharp object, investigators are now examining the possibility that the attacker used a syringe or needle.

According to updated reporting, the victim told police that he felt a sharp, needle-like prick in the lower right portion of his back and believed that he had been stabbed with a syringe.

Authorities have not established whether the object contained any substance or whether the victim was exposed to potentially harmful material.

The newly circulated security footage, released by Manhattan Shomrim, shows the woman following the chossid as he walks along the sidewalk near a parked vehicle. The victim appears to recognize that he is being followed and attempts to move away from her.

The woman continues pursuing him, eventually approaching close enough to strike him in the back before fleeing.

Witness accounts have added to suspicions that the attack was specifically directed at Jewish pedestrians. According to Crown Heights community reports, the woman was observed approaching another visibly Jewish individual while passing several non-Jewish pedestrians without attempting to harm them.

Investigators have not independently established that the victim was selected because of his Jewish identity, but the accounts have become an important part of the investigation into a possible hate crime.

Police sources cited in updated reporting also indicated that the suspect was speaking Russian while following the victim.

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the assault, working alongside Manhattan Shomrim, whose volunteers have been collecting surveillance footage and seeking witnesses who may have observed the suspect before or after the incident.

The suspect is described as a woman in her 30s, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, who was wearing blue jeans and white sneakers, with a dark sweater tied around her waist.

She was last seen fleeing west toward Sixth Avenue.

The attack occurred during the busy evening rush hour in the Diamond District, an area with a substantial concentration of Jewish-owned businesses and frequent pedestrian traffic.

Manhattan Shomrim has appealed to business owners and motorists in the area to review security cameras, dashcam recordings and other footage that may help investigators identify the woman.

The organization is particularly interested in recordings from the vicinity of Fifth Avenue and West 47th Street around 5:30 to 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Anyone with relevant information can contact Manhattan Shomrim at 212-430-2024.

The incident has renewed concern about antisemitic violence in New York City, particularly attacks targeting Jews whose religious clothing makes them readily identifiable.

According to recent NYPD statistics cited in local reporting, hate crimes across the city have increased by nearly 13% in 2026 compared with the corresponding period last year, with anti-Jewish incidents accounting for more than half of reported hate crimes.

Community representatives have called for a thorough investigation and swift apprehension of the suspect.

As of the latest reports reviewed Thursday afternoon, no arrest had been confirmed, and investigators had not announced a determination regarding the suspect’s motive or the precise nature of the object used in the attack.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has personally signed just one bill into law during his nearly ten months in office, an unusually low figure compared with his predecessors, as current and former City Hall insiders accuse his administration of devoting excessive attention to producing social media videos while neglecting routine government responsibilities, the New York Post reports.

According to the New York Post review, Mamdani has signed only one piece of legislation approved by the City Council since taking office in January, despite nearly 100 bills having reached his desk. The sole measure to receive his signature was an August law permitting restaurants to operate outdoor dining areas on city sidewalks throughout the year.

Other legislation has become law without Mamdani’s signature through a provision of the City Charter that allows City Council-approved bills to take effect automatically if the mayor neither signs nor vetoes them within four weeks.

Although the procedure is legal, it is generally used when a mayor wishes to avoid formally endorsing legislation while allowing it to become law. Mamdani’s repeated reliance on the process has raised questions because many of the measures involved closely align with his own political priorities.

The contrast has become particularly striking given the mayor’s highly visible social media presence. Mamdani, who turned 35 on Sunday, regularly appears in carefully produced videos on TikTok and other platforms, sometimes releasing multiple clips in a single day.

One individual who frequently works with City Hall told the Post that the administration’s enthusiasm for online content has begun interfering with ordinary government operations.

“The mayor and his team are obsessed with becoming a content farm, often delaying or can-kicking boring governmental meetings so the mayor and his staff can hold pitch sessions for social media videos,” the source said.

“The mayor gets pitched comedy sketches more than Lorne Michaels,” the individual added. “There are lots of laughs, and there is very little work.”

Mamdani’s legislative record stands in sharp contrast to those of the previous three New York City mayors during comparable periods of their administrations.

Eric Adams had signed 30 laws by the same point in his mayoralty, while Bill de Blasio had approved 47 and Michael Bloomberg had signed 28.

Mamdani’s single signature is especially unusual because the legislation he has allowed to become law without his approval includes measures championed by his political allies and provisions supporting policies he has publicly endorsed.

One example involves legislation requiring notices about New York City’s sanctuary protections against federal immigration enforcement to be displayed in public schools and city-owned buildings.

The measure was introduced in February by City Councilwoman Alexa Aviles, a fellow socialist and political ally of Mamdani, and received overwhelming support from the City Council.

Nevertheless, when the legislation reached the mayor’s desk in June, Mamdani did not sign it. Instead, the measure became law automatically after the four-week period expired.

The same pattern has occurred with numerous other bills, even as Mamdani has maintained an active schedule of social media appearances.

In one recent stretch, the mayor appeared in two videos on Thursday, two more on Saturday, and another two on Monday.

Several of his online productions have attracted considerable public attention, including a July video in which he denounced Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and discussed whether New York City authorities could arrest him.

At the time that video was released, several significant pieces of legislation were awaiting Mamdani’s signature.

Among them was a measure requiring wellness checks on elderly New Yorkers when temperatures exceed 95 degrees, along with legislation expanding free childcare programs and establishing a rental assistance initiative.

All three eventually became law without receiving the mayor’s signature.

The lack of formal approval for legislation associated with Mamdani’s own policy agenda has puzzled some former city officials, who question why the mayor would decline opportunities to publicly recognize the work of City Council members advancing his priorities.

Former City Council member Diana Ayala said the practice creates an unusual impression, particularly when the mayor has expressed no apparent disagreement with the legislation.

“It is a little bit weird. It gives the impression that enough attention is being paid or they disagree, but they don’t. I haven’t seen anything he’s disagreed,” Ayala said. “Those are his initiatives.

“It would be nice to elevate their initiatives,” she said of council members whose bills Mamdani has neglected. “It shows goodwill and that they are in alignment on specific issues.”

Other former government officials suggested that the mayor’s preference for executive orders and highly produced announcements reflects an administration particularly concerned with how its actions will appear online.

“It’s easier to govern by TikTok than to actually perform the duties of the job,” a former City Hall staffer said.

A former member of Bloomberg’s administration offered a similar explanation for the lack of traditional bill-signing ceremonies.

“They haven’t found a way to make this into compelling social media content,” the former official said.

The criticism has extended beyond the mayor’s public presentation to the internal functioning of City Hall, with one insider arguing that the failure to sign legislation reflects a broader unwillingness to devote attention to the less visible responsibilities of governing.

Calling the approach “lazy government,” the insider said the administration was avoiding both the political decisions and the administrative work associated with formally approving legislation.

“It’s lazy in two ways — one is you are not taking a stand, easier to do nothing than figure out where you stand on something,” the individual said.

“And lazy from a practical perspective — you can’t focus City Hall staff to hold the hearings, write the briefings and execute the bill signings.”

The city’s legislative rules permit bills to become law after 30 days without mayoral action, so the unsigned measures have still taken effect. The criticism directed at Mamdani concerns his lack of direct involvement in the formal approval process and allegations that his administration is prioritizing publicity over legislative work.

{Matzav.com}

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Donald Trump and one of his most prominent political allies, has privately opposed the American military campaign against Iran since its opening days, repeatedly expressing his objections directly to his father while deliberately avoiding any public criticism of the president.

The previously undisclosed disagreement was revealed in a report published this week by The Atlantic, which cited two individuals who said they had spoken directly with Trump Jr. about his position on the conflict.

According to the report, Trump Jr. objected to the military operation from its outset on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran. His opposition reportedly reflects his longstanding skepticism of American military involvement in foreign conflicts, particularly prolonged engagements in the Middle East.

Despite his reservations, Trump Jr. has continued to publicly support his father and has made no effort to challenge the administration’s military policy in public.

One person close to the president’s son explained that the distinction between his private opinions and public statements is intentional.

“Don has kept his views on the matter to himself because he would never publicly go against his father on something like this,” the individual said.

The source added that those familiar with Trump Jr.’s political philosophy should not find his opposition to the war surprising.

Trump Jr. has for years been associated with the noninterventionist wing of the Republican Party, which argues that the United States should avoid becoming entangled in overseas military campaigns unless vital American national interests are directly threatened.

His views have frequently aligned with the America First movement’s criticism of previous American interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the Middle East.

The reported disagreement is particularly notable because of Trump Jr.’s close political relationship with the president. He has served as an influential advocate for his father’s agenda, a prominent voice among grassroots Republican voters and an important figure within the broader MAGA movement.

Unlike some conservative commentators who have openly challenged the administration over Iran, Trump Jr. has chosen to communicate his concerns privately rather than create a public confrontation with his father.

His spokesman declined to comment on the report.

The White House also did not directly address the reported disagreement between the president and his son. An administration official instead emphasized the damage inflicted on Iran during the military campaign and expressed confidence that the conflict would conclude soon.

The disclosure comes as the war approaches its eighth month and disagreements over the military campaign continue to divide influential figures within Trump’s political coalition.

Among the most outspoken critics has been conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who has argued that the conflict contradicts the America First principles on which Trump campaigned.

Carlson and other noninterventionist conservatives contend that another prolonged Middle Eastern conflict risks consuming American military resources, increasing economic pressure on American households and diverting attention from domestic priorities.

Supporters of the administration’s military campaign, by contrast, maintain that confronting Iran is necessary to address threats posed by Tehran’s nuclear and military capabilities and its support for armed groups throughout the Middle East.

The disagreement has also reportedly extended into the administration itself.

Vice President JD Vance, who has long expressed reservations about American involvement in foreign wars, was among senior officials who raised concerns about the scope and strategy of the operation, according to published accounts.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has also been identified in reporting about internal discussions concerning the military campaign and its objectives.

The administration has nevertheless continued to defend the operation, maintaining that American and Israeli military action has inflicted substantial damage on Iran’s military capabilities.

A White House official responding to questions about the reported disagreement involving Trump Jr. said, “Iran has been decimated, and one way or the other, the conflict in Iran will be over very soon.”

The political controversy surrounding the war has intensified as the November 3 congressional midterm elections approach.

A Pew Research Center survey conducted from September 28 through October 4 found that 65% of American adults disapproved of President Trump’s handling of military operations against Iran, while 33% approved.

The findings reflected a decline in public support since March, shortly after the conflict began, when 61% disapproved and 37% approved.

The survey also found that Republican support for the president’s handling of the conflict had weakened, falling from 69% in March to 63% in October.

Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 65% said the initial decision to use military force against Iran was justified, compared with 71% in March.

Americans also expressed considerable uncertainty about the administration’s ability to achieve its objectives. According to the survey, 52% had little or no confidence that the administration would accomplish its goals in the conflict.

The duration of the war has become another major concern. Nearly half of respondents, 47%, said they expected American military operations against Iran to continue for more than another year.

Those findings underscore the broader political environment in which Trump Jr.’s private objections have emerged.

In April 2024, before his father’s return to the White House, Trump Jr. publicly celebrated what he viewed as Trump’s ability to avoid a major military confrontation with Iran.

“Remember when they said Trump would get us into a full-blown war with Iran?” he wrote at the time, following an Iranian attack on Israel.

His earlier remarks are consistent with the skepticism of foreign military intervention that sources now attribute to him privately.

The reported disagreement also raises questions about the extent to which Trump Jr. has attempted to influence his father’s decisions concerning Iran.

It remains unclear whether the president considered his son’s objections when determining the administration’s military strategy or whether their private conversations had any effect on subsequent decisions.

There has also been no public account of how President Trump responded when his son expressed opposition to the war.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has rejected a report claiming that President Donald Trump prevented Israel from launching a major new military offensive against Iran earlier this month, disputing allegations that Washington intervened to stop an Israeli bombing campaign targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.

The denial follows a Financial Times report alleging that Netanyahu had instructed Israeli defense officials to prepare for several days of airstrikes against Iran around October 10, only to encounter opposition from the Trump administration.

According to the original report, Israeli officials had been considering a substantial operation against Iranian targets, but the White House was reluctant to support another major escalation in the region ahead of the November 3 American midterm elections.

Netanyahu, however, dismissed the account in comments to Israel National News, challenging the suggestion that Trump had vetoed an Israeli military operation.

The prime minister’s response adds to conflicting accounts from Israeli and international sources about the extent of Israel’s military preparations and whether any actual strike had been scheduled.

Israeli defense officials cited in subsequent reporting have also disputed the original account, saying that no operation had been ordered for October 10 and that there was consequently no planned attack for Trump to cancel.

In an interview with Arutz Sheva on Thursday, Netanyahu directly challenged the Financial Times account.

“This report is not true. I’m not going to get into correcting this biased report,” Netanyahu said.

He declined to disclose the substance of his recent conversations with Trump concerning Iran, leaving unanswered questions about the military options discussed between the two leaders.

The Financial Times based its account on three people familiar with the alleged preparations. According to those sources, the IDF had been preparing for an offensive more extensive than the joint American-Israeli campaign carried out earlier this year.

The proposed targets reportedly included nuclear installations, power plants, facilities associated with the Iranian regime and other infrastructure.

The newspaper said it remained unclear whether the United States would have participated directly in the operation or whether Israel intended to act independently.

A separate investigation published Wednesday by The Jerusalem Post, however, cited Israeli defense sources who said that the IDF had received no orders to prepare an October 10 offensive.

Those sources acknowledged that Israel had maintained heightened military readiness on several occasions in recent months, particularly amid concerns that Iran might initiate another confrontation around the anniversary of October 7.

They maintained, however, that heightened readiness should not be confused with preparations for an approved offensive.

The distinction is central to the disagreement. If no strike had been scheduled, the sources argued, there was no operation for Trump to cancel.

Nevertheless, the possibility of renewed military action against Iran remains under discussion.

The Financial Times quoted one person familiar with the situation as saying, “There will either be a deal or an attack.”

Another source said, “Everything is on the table.”

The dispute comes amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile capabilities and regional military activities.

Diplomatic efforts have made little progress, with the Trump administration demanding substantial restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities while Tehran continues to resist American conditions.

The controversy has also attracted attention because of its timing. Israel is scheduled to hold its Knesset elections on October 27, while American voters will go to the polls for the midterm elections on November 3.

Trump has publicly indicated that he does not intend to launch another military offensive against Iran before the American elections.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently visited Israel for discussions with Netanyahu and other senior officials concerning regional security threats, further fueling speculation about possible joint military action.

Iranian officials have responded to the reports with threats of retaliation.

Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, warned Israel against undertaking another offensive, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintained that Tehran remains open to diplomacy but is prepared to defend itself.

For now, Netanyahu’s denial leaves the central allegation unresolved. The Financial Times maintains, based on its sources, that a major offensive was prepared and blocked by Washington. Israeli defense sources dispute that any such operation had been scheduled, and Netanyahu has publicly rejected the report.

What remains clear is that the possibility of another confrontation with Iran continues to loom over the region as both Israel and the United States approach their respective elections.