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R’ Boruch Sholom Kahan z”l, a distinguished Chabad chossid known for his lifelong devotion to Torah and avodah, was niftar at the age of 91.
Born in Kharkov in 5694, he grew up in a home steeped in mesirus nefesh. His family’s unwavering faith under Soviet oppression shaped his character from the youngest age. When he was just two, they settled in Tel Aviv, where he was among the early students of the pioneering Chabad schools that were emerging at the time. There, he absorbed the chassidishe warmth and fiery inspiration of mashpi’im such as Reb Chaim Shaul Brook, Reb Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, and Reb Zalman Moshe Hayitzchaki.
A first cousin of Rav Yoel Kahn, the renowned choizer, R’ Boruch Sholom shared with him the same deep commitment to preserving and transmitting Chassidus. That dedication would define his life’s mission.
In 5717, braving the harsh winter seas, he undertook a difficult voyage to America to meet the Rebbe. That journey marked the start of a lifelong bond — filled with yechidusen, personal guidance, and profound exposure to the Rebbe’s formative years of leadership.
Gifted with a mastery of the typewriter he had learned as a young bochur, R’ Boruch Sholom became instrumental in preparing the weekly edited sichos that formed the foundation of Likkutei Sichos. His precise transcriptions captured the Rebbe’s words with clarity and faithfulness, preserving them for generations to come.
He also safeguarded rare reshimos of the Frierdiker Rebbe and created transcripts and recordings that remain invaluable today. His discreet recording of Purim 5718 preserved the opening hours of that farbrengen—material that, remarkably, the Rebbe later requested to hear.
In 5720, he relocated to New Haven, Connecticut, to serve as a shochet. Years later, in 5736, he joined the plastic factory of Reb Dovid Deitsch, where he worked with diligence and integrity. Throughout those years, his passion for mivtzoim never waned.
R’ Boruch Sholom became one of the earliest pioneers of mitzvah tanks outside New York, spreading Yiddishkeit with energy and joy. His work on college campuses, particularly at Yale University, left an enduring impact—bringing Jewish identity and pride to countless students, many of whom eventually returned to a life of Torah and mitzvos.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Devorah, and their daughter, Mrs. Sara Dubov of Wimbledon, England, along with grandchildren who continue his legacy of light and dedication.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
A stroke of Hashgocha in Georgia has turned one ticket holder into a multimillionaire overnight. The Georgia Lottery confirmed that a single ticket sold in the state matched every number in Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing, claiming an eye-popping estimated $980 million prize — the eighth largest jackpot since the game began.
The winning numbers drawn on November 14 were 1, 8, 11, 12, and 57, along with the gold Mega Ball 7. “After growing since the end of June, the Mega Millions jackpot was won for just the fifth time this year on Friday night. A single ticket sold in Georgia matched all six numbers in the November 14 drawing – the white balls 1, 8, 11, 12 and 57, plus the gold Mega Ball 7 – to win the estimated $980 million prize ($452.2 million cash),” the lottery said.
This remarkable win breaks records for the month. “It’s by far the largest prize ever won in the month of November, and the eighth largest jackpot in the history of the game,” officials announced. They added that “in the 40 drawings since the jackpot was last won at $348 million in Virginia on June 27 — the most drawings in a single jackpot run in the game’s history — there were almost 14.3 million winning tickets at all prize levels.”
The last Mega Millions windfall of a similar magnitude occurred nearly a year ago, in December 2024, when a California participant claimed an even larger $1.269 billion payout. Despite the new Georgia win, the all-time record still belongs to Florida’s August 2023 jackpot of $1.602 billion.
In addition to the grand prize, plenty of others cashed in as well. “With the new greatly-enhanced prize values, total non-jackpot prizes won were nearly $343.4 million,” the lottery said, noting that “these include 21 second-tier prizes of $2 million or more (won in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia).”
The massive prize was fueled by a structural change to the game earlier this year. In April, Mega Millions raised the ticket price from $2 to $5, a move that lottery officials said would allow jackpots to “grow more rapidly” and increase the starting prize from $20 million to $50 million. The result was the quickest jackpot escalation in years.
Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, said this win highlights the impact of the new system. “$980 million is the largest jackpot that’s been won since the Mega Millions game changed back in April,” Johnston stated.
{Matzav.com}Governor Kathy Hochul is considering increasing New York’s corporate tax rate to help bankroll Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s sweeping socialist platform, according to new reports. The proposal, still in its early stages, would represent a major policy shift for the governor, who has long promised not to target the state’s wealthiest residents with new taxes.
Politico reported that Hochul has begun discussing the possibility of generating new revenue by raising corporate taxes, a move that could help close New York’s looming $4 billion budget deficit for next year. Bloomberg added that the measure could also fund some of Mamdani’s ambitious citywide initiatives once he takes office.
The two Democrats met Thursday to discuss shared policy priorities, including their goal of establishing universal childcare across the state. The meeting underscored Hochul’s willingness to engage with Mamdani’s progressive agenda, despite her previous resistance to tax hikes demanded by the party’s far-left wing.
If implemented, the proposal would mark a notable break from Hochul’s repeated assurances that she would not raise taxes. “The last thing on my mind” is increasing taxes, her budget director Blake Washington said earlier this week, asserting that “New York was in a good spot financially.” However, with federal aid expected to decline in the coming years, the state faces growing pressure to find new sources of income.
Mamdani has made no secret of his intention to raise the corporate tax rate from 7.5% to 11.5%, aligning it with New Jersey’s rate — currently the highest in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation. Critics warn that such a move would effectively push New York City’s overall business tax burden even higher, since companies already pay multiple local levies.
The mayor-elect insists the tax increase is essential to support his $10 billion package of campaign promises, including free public buses, universal childcare, and the creation of a new Department of Community Safety. Supporters frame the plan as a bold step toward social equity; opponents call it reckless and economically destructive.
Republicans wasted no time pouncing on the reports. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman blasted the idea, saying, “Kathy Hochul’s failed policies have already pushed businesses and residents out of New York for years. With Zohran Mamdani now steering the direction of this one-party controlled state, it’s clear the Governor is prepared to raise taxes even higher — forcing New York businesses to pay far more than competitors in states like Florida, New Jersey, and Texas.”
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik echoed that sentiment on social media, accusing Hochul of caving to the far left. “[Hochul] will bend the knee to the Socialists who will extract another tax hike out of her,” she wrote, adding that the governor is “weak, inept, and destroying New York’s economy.”
Political strategists expect such attacks to intensify as Hochul heads toward what could be a bruising 2026 re-election campaign. Her public support for Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist, has already drawn fire from moderates and conservatives alike.
Meanwhile, both the state and city are staring down significant financial challenges. New York City alone faces a shortfall exceeding $5 billion in the next fiscal year, compounding the difficulties Mamdani will face in implementing his costly proposals. Business groups warn that new taxes could accelerate the exodus of employers and investors already fleeing to lower-tax states.
{Matzav.com}
Tucker Carlson ignited a storm Thursday when he accused the FBI of concealing information about the online behavior of Thomas Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump. The allegation quickly drew a sharp and public response from the bureau, sparking a fierce online confrontation.
On X, Carlson posted, “The FBI told us Thomas Crooks tried to kill Donald Trump last summer but somehow had no online footprint. The FBI lied, and we can prove it … Story tomorrow.” Within an hour, the FBI’s Rapid Response account fired back: “This FBI has never said Thomas Crooks had no online footprint. Ever.”
Carlson’s comments triggered immediate reactions from across the political spectrum. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., rallied behind him, declaring, “Americans are the most lied to people in the world … Thank you Tucker.” Talk show host Mark Levin was far less sympathetic, posting, “There he goes, again. Crackpot.”
The timing of Carlson’s accusation coincides with growing controversy surrounding him in conservative circles. He’s been under heavy criticism for his association with white nationalist and Holocaust-denier Nick Fuentes, and his show’s sponsorship has reportedly prompted internal turmoil at the Heritage Foundation, which has lost donors, trustees, and members in recent weeks.
Carlson’s charge of a “cover-up” contradicts the FBI’s publicly available findings about Crooks, a 20-year-old shooter whose extensive online activity has been documented for months. During congressional testimony, FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said that investigators identified a social media account Crooks used between 2019 and 2020, which contained about 700 posts reflecting extremist ideology, including antisemitic remarks, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and calls for political violence.
Investigators also uncovered that Crooks’ online searches intensified in the days before the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. During that attack, a bullet grazed Trump’s ear, and volunteer fire chief Corey Comperator, 50, was killed. Police fatally shot Crooks at the scene.
Authorities say Crooks scoured the internet for information about explosives, Trump’s appearances, and even historic assassinations, searching “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” in reference to John F. Kennedy’s 1963 murder.
CBS News later obtained nearly a year’s worth of Crooks’ digital activity from his college’s Wi-Fi network, uncovering extensive records of visits to news outlets, encrypted messaging apps, gun forums, gaming sites, and social platforms—evidence of a robust and well-documented online presence.
Their analysis highlighted two key dates: on December 6, 2023, Crooks accessed the White House archives from Trump’s presidency before visiting firearm websites and major news pages; then, on January 24, 2024, he made over 1,300 online requests in one day and began consistently using a VPN to hide his activity.
NBC News confirmed similar findings, reporting that Crooks’ fascination with weapons surged in his final year. He legally purchased a rifle from his father in 2023, joined the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, and made more than 40 trips to the range. He also escalated his use of encryption software to mask his digital footprint.
All of these verified records directly refute Carlson’s assertion that the FBI ever claimed Crooks “had no online footprint.”
{Matzav.com}
The websites of the cities of Houston, Texas, and Jackson, Miss., return three pages each that redirect to a website titled “Why are Jews so successful in business?”
The page to which the cities’ official websites redirect, and which lacks a government URL suffix, appears to be written by artificial intelligence.
“Mastering new skills should be both efficient and enjoyable, and that is exactly what Why Are Jews So Successful In Business was designed for,” the page states.
“Each reader begins from a different starting point, so Why Are Jews So Successful In Business accommodates all experience levels,” it adds.
Mary Benton, chief of communications and senior adviser to Houston Mayor John Whitmire, told JNS on Thursday that the city’s information technology team “has spent the past few days investigating this matter.”
“From what we can gather, doing a regular Google search, not the one specific to the city of Houston home page, it’s brightideas.houstontx.gov, which auto-redirects to a page independent of the city of Houston website,” she said.
“Steps have been taken to prevent the BrightIdeas page from auto-redirecting to the city of Houston website,” she told JNS.
Per the World Jewish Congress, assumptions have been made throughout history “about Jews and money, including that Jews are greedy global capitalists, wealthy communists, socialists and of course, that Jews unduly influence the world with their money.”
“These stereotypes have permeated cultures globally and are rooted in antisemitism,” the WJC said.
{Matzav.com}
Jack Schlossberg, a grandson of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, announced earlier in the week that he is running in New York’s 12th District, the seat held by retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.).
The former Vogue political correspondent, 31, who has more than 1.8 million followers across his social media platforms, has mocked Melania Trump, the U.S. first lady, and has expressed his love for the wife of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, claiming she is “hotter” than former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, his grandmother.
“I’m not running because I have all the answers to our problems,” he stated. “I’m running because the people of New York 12 do. I want to listen to your struggles, hear your stories, amplify your voice, go to Washington and execute on your behalf.”
Schlossberg also appeared to perform a Nazi salute several times in an Instagram video, which has since been deleted, the Washington Free Beacon reported. He also posted a recipe—also now deleted—calling for “Jew blood” among the ingredients.
Raised Catholic, Schlossberg has a Jewish father, the designer Edwin Schlossberg, and his mother is Caroline Kennedy, a former diplomat who is the daughter of the former president.
In a “who is Jack Schlossberg anyway” part of his campaign site, the candidate writes that he is “the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis” and that “his paternal grandfather, Alfred Schlossberg, was also elected president … of his synagogue uptown and spent decades working in the garment business with an office in the Empire State Building.”
{Matzav.com}
Inna Vernikov, a Jewish member of the New York City Council who represents parts of Brooklyn, stated that she invited Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to visit New York City on Jan. 1—the inauguration of the mayoralty of Zohran Mamdani, who has said he would have the Israeli premier arrested should he come to the Big Apple.
In a letter dated Nov. 10, Vernikov wrote that it was a “great honor” to invite Netanyahu to the city to “meet with members of our community and to reaffirm the deep and enduring bond between the State of Israel and the people of New York City, home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.”
She decried the “irresponsible and frankly absurd statements made by mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who has campaigned on the promise of ‘arresting’ you upon setting foot in our city.”
“Whether individuals agree or disagree with your policies, you are the duly elected prime minister of the State of Israel, a democratic nation that stands as a beacon of hope, freedom, western values, resilience and strength in a region surrounded by tyranny and terror,” the councilwoman wrote.”
Joseph Weiler, who holds several professorships at New York University School of Law, where he directs the Jean Monnet Center for International and Regional Economic Law and Justice, told JNS that heads of state and government have “absolute immunity” under international law, “even in the face of horrific crimes.”
Mamdani has said he would have Netanyahu arrested in response to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, a judicial body in The Hague, which is not part of the United Nations. The court operates under the Rome Statute, to which neither Israel nor the United States is a party.
States that are parties to the statute “are both under a duty and have the right to arrest even a head of state, since the general immunity is deemed to be waived, provided both parties—the arresting state and the head of state in question—are parties to the Rome Statute,” according to Weiler, a former president of European University Institute in Florence, Italy.
But since Washington isn’t a party, “the United States has neither the duty nor the right to arrest Netanyahu following an arrest warrant issued by the ICC,” Weiler said. “The only exception might be if the Security Council referred the case, but this is hypothetical because it has not, and will not in the face of an American veto.”
Marshall Wittmann, the AIPAC spokesman, told JNS that the International Criminal Court “has turned itself into a kangaroo court.”
“Its bogus arrest warrants against Israeli officials have no standing in the United States,” he said.
AIPAC supports legislation that Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) introduced in September that would bar “state and local law enforcement officers from arresting foreign nationals within the United States solely on the basis of an indictment, warrant, or request issued by the International Criminal Court,” Wittmann said.
{Matzav.com}
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) led 20 fellow left-wing Democrats in a resolution to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” on Friday.
The non-binding resolution would “officially recognize that the State of Israel has committed the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza” and call for sanctions against the Jewish state.
“The Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza has not ended, and it will not end until we act,” stated Tlaib, an American of Palestinian descent. “Since the so-called ‘ceasefire’ was announced, Israeli forces haven’t stopped killing Palestinians.”
Co-sponsors of the resolution include some of Israel’s most vocal critics in the House and other prominent members of the progressive faction of the Democratic caucus, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
Perhaps the most surprising co-sponsor was Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), whom AIPAC touted in May 2024 as the more pro-Israel candidate during her primary race in 2024 against the sister of Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), another co-sponsor of Friday’s resolution.
AIPAC’s super PAC put more than $2 million into helping Dexter during the race. (JNS sought comment from Dexter and AIPAC.)
More than 100 anti-Israel and left-wing advocacy groups, including anti-Israel Jewish groups, backed the resolution, among them American Muslims for Palestine, CodePink, Jewish Voice for Peace Action and Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. JNS
{Matzav.com}
