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The White House has introduced new boundaries for journalists after staff complained that sensitive conversations were being picked up and even recorded without authorization. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt explained that these limits were put in place only after officials discovered behavior they found highly inappropriate.

As of Oct. 31, both the White House and the National Security Council confirmed that reporters may no longer freely walk into Room 140 — known as “Upper Press,” the workspace near the Oval Office where senior aides often pass through. Journalists had long been able to pop in without warning to speak with staffers, but access is now restricted to pre-arranged appointments.

During a conversation with the New York Post’s Miranda Devine on “Pod Force One,” Leavitt explained what prompted the shift. She said the administration realized that some reporters were listening in on private exchanges and even recording information without permission.

“We felt it became very inappropriate for reporters to be loitering around sensitive information in our offices,” Leavitt said. “And we did unfortunately catch some unruly reporters recording us without our permission, listening in on conversations, eavesdropping.”

She described how morning meetings with staff were being monitored by journalists lingering outside the room. “We’d have staff meetings in the morning. Some of the reporters started to pick up on that, and we’d walk out, and they would be out there trying to listen. If Secretary Rubio or the chief [of staff] want to come in and brief us on something, you’d have reporters out there heckling them. It just became an inappropriate work environment.”

Leavitt stressed that press access has not been eliminated, only regulated. Reporters may still enter the Upper Press area by scheduling a time, and she said many journalists have privately acknowledged that the arrangement is workable despite complaints online.

“A lot of the outrage you’re seeing on Twitter [X], they’ve told us privately they’re okay with how this system works so long as they can still have appointments with me to understand the news of the day,” Leavitt said.

“And we grant them that access. I give them as much time as I possibly can on my schedule, although a lot of my time is with the president and in the Oval Office and sitting in on meetings. So, I try to devote as much time as I can to the press because that is my job, right? That’s the basic duty, is for me to work with the press and make sure they’re telling the truth out there,” she added.

Not everyone is comfortable with the new rules. The White House Correspondents’ Association sharply criticized the move, claiming it weakens reporters’ ability to question key officials. The group’s president, CBS News correspondent Weijia Jiang, made its position clear: “The White House Correspondents’ Association unequivocally opposes any effort to limit journalists from areas within the communications operations of the White House that have long been open for newsgathering, including the press secretary’s office.”

{Matzav.com}

The High Court of Justice took a significant step on Wednesday, directing the government to explain why it has avoided launching a full state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023. In its order, the court demanded a clear justification for the refusal to convene a formal commission that could “examine in an independent, professional, and impartial manner” what led to and followed the devastating assault.

Unlike standard petitions, a preliminary order flips the legal burden onto the government itself, signaling that the justices regard the complaints filed by several liberal watchdog organizations as weighty and credible. The ruling forces the government to defend its stance rather than leaving petitioners to prove their case.

The judges gave the government until January 4 to file its response. That deadline now puts pressure on officials who, earlier this week, attempted to preempt criticism by announcing plans for a government-approved investigative body. A ministerial panel has already been established to outline which aspects of the October 7 disaster such a body would be allowed to examine.

Although the coalition has described its planned inquiry as “independent,” its scope and boundaries will be set entirely by a small circle of cabinet members, headed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin. Their authority includes determining what will be reviewed and what will remain outside the commission’s mandate.

With the exception of Finance Ministry minister Ze’ev Elkin, every member of this panel occupied their government positions on the day thousands of Hamas terrorists burst across the border, murdering roughly 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping 251 others—an assault that launched the war against Hamas in Gaza. By the end of December, the committee is expected to present its recommendation on the structure and mission of the proposed commission.

For months, the coalition has fought to avoid a fully independent state commission of inquiry—an arrangement in which the Supreme Court president selects the investigators. Families of those killed and abducted on October 7, as well as many of Netanyahu’s political opponents, have repeatedly demanded no less, insisting that only a state commission holds the necessary authority to expose critical policy and intelligence failures.

Surveys consistently show that most Israelis favor such a robust investigative framework. Still, Netanyahu has rejected it, largely because a state commission would be appointed by the judiciary—an institution his government has spent years attempting to weaken through sweeping judicial overhaul legislation.

The overhaul, announced by Levin in January 2023, sparked nationwide protests that lasted until the Hamas invasion abruptly shifted the nation’s focus. Members of the anti-overhaul movement in the reserves warned at the time that they might refuse to continue reporting for duty if the laws passed, a threat that Netanyahu allies have since used to shift blame for the October 7 collapse onto government critics.

Before the war, top security officials—and then-defense minister Yoav Gallant—cautioned Netanyahu that the overhaul was endangering national stability by tearing at Israel’s social and institutional cohesion. Security chiefs had also opposed Netanyahu’s long-running policy of allowing Qatar to transfer millions of dollars to Hamas each month, money the prime minister argued was designated for civil servant salaries, even as his own close associates faced investigations tied to Qatar.

{Matzav.com}

Americans can continue to spend pennies, but few businesses are giving them back as the coin’s 232-year run comes to an end. Some businesses have been preparing for months, stockpiling bags of the 1-cent coin. Others have created rounding systems to arrive at the nearest nickel. For consumers, the shortage of pennies might be insignificant. […]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed concerns on Tuesday about the impact of $2,000 tariff checks, suggesting that families should consider saving the money instead of immediately spending it. His remarks came during an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, who pressed him on whether distributing the funds nationwide could fuel another wave of price increases.

Responding to the question, Bessent said, “Maybe we could persuade Americans to save that, because one of the things that’s going to happen next year” is the launch of “Trump Accounts” designed for long-term savings for children. He explained that these accounts are central to a House GOP initiative, championed by President Donald Trump, which would create new tax-deferred investment accounts for every baby born in the U.S. over the next four years, each seeded with $1,000 at birth.

Under the proposal, funds from these accounts could be withdrawn once a child turns 18 to help with educational expenses, the purchase of a first home, or starting a small business. Withdrawals for other purposes would be taxed at a higher rate, encouraging families to reserve the funds for meaningful long-term goals.

President Trump, speaking a day earlier, said he hopes to begin issuing tariff checks to “moderate income, middle income” Americans by mid-2026. He emphasized the scale of the program, stating, “We have thousands of dollars for individuals of moderate income, middle income. We are going to pay down debt. We have a lot of money from tariffs; if we didn’t have tariffs, this country would be in serious trouble,” during a meeting in the Oval Office with the 2026 FIFA World Cup task force.

The Treasury Department reported that tariff collections reached $195 billion by the end of September, a sharp increase of 153% from the $77 billion collected in fiscal year 2024. July alone saw nearly $30 billion in revenue, highlighting the scale of tariff income the administration hopes to redistribute.

Not everyone is convinced that distributing tariff rebates is without risk. Several economists have warned that handing out checks to all American households could reignite inflation, much like the pattern seen after the COVID-19 stimulus payments.

William Dickens, professor emeritus of economics and public policy at Northeastern University, argued that the effect depends heavily on the economic climate. He said $2,000 “would help support the economy” during a downturn and likely wouldn’t move prices significantly. “On the other hand, if the economy is running strong and he doles out $2,000 to everyone, it could drive inflation up.”

The Tax Foundation also raised red flags, noting that tariffs have “undoubtedly raised costs for American firms and consumers — since Americans and not foreigners ultimately pay the tariff — rebating the revenue to consumers would be fiscally irresponsible and also risk increasing inflation.”

{Matzav.com}

Kosher Certification recently convened its annual International Conference, marking a significant dual milestone: 90 years of unparalleled kosher excellence and the 50th anniversary of Mivtza Kashrus (the worldwide campaign for kosher observance initiated by the Lubavitcher Rebbe). The conference, attended by ~ Kosher’s global network of rabbis, rabbinic coordinators, and mashgichim, adopted the inspiring theme: […]

In the most dramatic diplomatic shift since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly four years ago, the United States is privately urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to accept a draft peace framework that would force Ukraine to cede territory and scale back its military, according to two Reuters sources. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity […]

Influential GOP donor and billionaire grocer John Catsimatidis is signaling a surprising détente with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, telling New York conservatives they should work with the incoming socialist administration rather than attempt to block it. Catsimatidis — who just weeks ago blasted Mamdani’s election as a threat to the city — hosted a roundtable Monday […]

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I commend Rabbi Bender for courageously addressing the sub rosa practice that has crept into many of our frum communities known as To’a’meha — gatherings where groups of men assemble on Erev Shabbos to drink heavily and indulge in various mat’amim, all under the pretext of the mitzvah of tasting Shabbos foods in advance. Calling for communities to forbid this practice, Rabbi Bender forcefully decried this behavior and emphasized the damaging impact it has on our children, who watch their fathers arrive at the Friday night seudah in a state of inebriation.

I, too, long for the disappearance of such decadence from our cherished and holy communities. Yet I question whether a rabbinic prohibition alone can truly resolve the underlying issues that drive this behavior. Alcohol misuse functions as a numbing agent, and those who rely on it may be attempting to escape stress, soothe an emotional void, or quell anxiety. While many additional factors can contribute to substance abuse, my decades of counseling adult men in our community lead me to believe that these three motivations are the primary forces behind To’a’meha gatherings.

Consider the burdens faced by men between the ages of 35 and 60: making steep mortgage payments on homes built to high standards in the “right” neighborhoods, paying s’char limud for a houseful of children, financing bar mitzvahs and chasunos, navigating shidduchim, keeping a seder limud, meeting tzedakah obligations, supporting a wife who may herself be overwhelmed by managing a large family, satisfying workplace demands, learning with children, attending simchos, striving for growth in ruchniyus, and more.

When a person feels they are falling short of communal expectations for spiritual growth, or when they struggle to balance the needs of a spouse and many children, an emotional void can develop. The constant pressure of providing for a family can naturally lead to anxiety. For some, the weekly ritual of numbing these overwhelming feelings becomes the coping mechanism of choice — selected specifically because it doesn’t interfere with job performance. To their credit, most men in our community find healthy ways to handle these pressures. But in any large population, there will be those who lean on less constructive methods.

Breaking free from this damaging cycle is especially difficult because the brain learns to associate alcohol with temporary relief. Simply banning the practice, without simultaneously reducing the stressors and offering healthier, acceptable alternatives for decompression, is unlikely to yield meaningful change.

Rabbi Bender has brought a critical issue to the forefront. Now, our community must confront the deeper challenge: reducing the pressures that fuel these unhealthy behaviors and providing constructive outlets that support the well-being of the entire family. I eagerly await that conversation in Part II.

Signed,
A rov for 40 years,
F. B.

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email MatzavInbox@gmail.com

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A top private school in northern Virginia has agreed to sweeping reforms and a six-figure payout after expelling three Jewish students whose parents reported months of severe antisemitic bullying. The Nysmith School for the Gifted, located roughly an hour outside Washington, D.C., settled the lawsuit this week following a blistering complaint filed in July by […]

European intelligence agencies, working closely with the Mossad, spent months piecing together a covert web that Hamas had been quietly stitching across multiple countries. Their joint work revealed a broad effort to organize attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets on European soil.

Part of the operation unfolded in Germany, Austria, and additional European states, where coordinated counterterrorism raids exposed hidden stockpiles of weapons and led to the capture of individuals involved in building the network.

One of the breakthrough moments occurred in Vienna in September, when Austria’s DSN security service located a concealed trove of firearms and explosives. Investigators discovered that the stash was tied to Muhammad Naim, whose father, Bassem Naim, is a senior figure in Hamas’s political bureau in Gaza and an associate of Khalil al-Hayya. The findings also pointed to a meeting between the two senior Hamas officials in Qatar around the same time, raising the likelihood that high-ranking Hamas leadership was directly supporting terror operations in Europe.

The broader inquiry has also zeroed in on Hamas activity in Turkey, a location that has long served as a comfortable operational environment for the group. In November, German authorities apprehended Barhan al-Khatib, described as a central operative in the network, after he traveled back to Turkey, apparently following the conclusion of his assignments in Europe.

European officials have intensified actions against Hamas in other spheres as well. Governments have begun shutting down organizations, cultural centers, and religious institutions that were being used as fronts for recruiting and fundraising. These efforts accompany the security operations and signal Europe’s acknowledgment of Hamas’s attempt to expand its footprint across the continent following the attacks of October 7.

“The Mossad continues to cooperate with intelligence services around the world and to thwart dozens of attack plots directed against Israelis, Jews, and civilian targets. These efforts continue as part of its responsibility to counter terror in the international arena and to safeguard the security of the State of Israel and its citizens,” the agency said in its statement.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian scientists quietly traveled to Russia last year to pursue nuclear weapons-related technology, according to documents obtained by The Financial Times, raising new questions about Tehran’s covert efforts and adding weight to Israel’s justification for its June 2025 offensive. The report details a clandestine trip made by Iranian researchers from November 7–11, 2024, who met […]

LAKEWOOD: An MVA involving a bus on Route 9 and Spruce, right outside the hospital, has resulted in multiple injuries. Emergency personnel are at the scene. Avoid the area.

Israeli officials revealed Wednesday night that a focused military strike in Gaza zeroed in on two high-ranking Hamas operatives, the commander overseeing the Zeitoun Battalion and the official directing the terror group’s naval wing. The action, described as the result of tightly held, high-quality intelligence, was intended to neutralize both men, and the source indicated that Israel assesses the operation to have successfully eliminated its targets.

The strike followed an earlier flare-up in the south, when gunmen in the Khan Yunis area fired at IDF units operating nearby. The exchange did not result in any injuries, but the incident immediately drew a sharp response from the military.

“This constitutes a violation of the ceasefire,” the IDF stated. “IDF forces under the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to act to eliminate any immediate threat. The IDF will continue to operate with force to remove any threat to the State of Israel.”

The army emphasized that its posture in the sector remains vigilant, and that any hostile fire will be met with decisive action.

{Matzav.com}

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is the first governor in the United States to designate two Muslim groups as Foreign Terrorist and Transnational Criminal Organizations. On Tuesday, he made the designations by proclamation citing multiple Texas laws. He designated the Muslim Brotherhood and Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as FTOs, authorizing heightened enforcement against both organizations […]

For the first time, on December 10, Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center, Atlantic City, N.J., will host a gathering of business leaders, government officials, T.V. personalities, and other media at the JBiz Expo & Business Conference, that will explore the issues shaping tomorrow, such as AI, banking, energy, global trade, media integrity, innovation, and economic stability.  International […]

FUTURISTIC SIDEWALK SHEDS: New York City unveiled six new, modern sidewalk-shed designs created by Arup and PAU to replace the old green scaffolding. The updated structures are meant to look sleeker, feel less intrusive, and improve the overall street experience. The city plans to start rolling them out next year. Officials say the move comes […]

SWEDISH DEPUTY PM: Sweden needs to pick its friends wisely, and we are choosing Canada… So when we come to America, we come to Canada now.

With a profoundly heavy heart, Matzav.com reports the tragic petirah of Elchonon Fasten z”l, a 19-year-old bochur from Lakewood, NJ, who was niftar early this morning following a devastating crash and subsequent vehicle fire on the Garden State Parkway in Old Bridge, NJ.

The tragic incident occurred near Exit 120 as Elchonon was traveling from Boro Park back to Lakewood.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene, but the injuries were unfortunately unsurvivable.

In the aftermath of the accident, askaním worked tirelessly, maintaining constant communication with state and local authorities to ensure kavod hameis was upheld in every respect.

Those who knew Elchonon describe a lichtiger bochur whose very presence brightened a room. He carried himself with a quiet sweetness, a gentle temimus, and a sincerity that endeared him to everyone he encountered. Whether in the beis medrash, at home, or among friends, there was a purity to his demeanor, a natural goodness that needed no announcement.

Elchonon was well-liked by classmates and rebbi’im alike, known for his thoughtfulness, his easy smile, and the genuine respect he showed to others. Friends speak of his reliability, his warmth, and the way he made everyone feel valued. His middos tovos were not loud or dramatic; they were steady, consistent, and real.

In learning, too, Elchonon applied himself with quiet determination. He cherished the sweetness of the beis medrash, appreciating every moment he could spend immersed in Torah. His sedarim were important to him, and he approached his learning with the same sincerity that marked every part of his life.

At home, he was a source of pride and nachas, a chiyus, a warm presence, and a beloved son and brother whose caring nature touched those closest to him. His family and friends recall a young bochur with a refined heart, a calm spirit, and a deep appreciation for the people around him.

Levaya details will be released as soon as they are finalized. Kevurah is expected to take place in Monsey.

Elchonon leaves behind his grieving parents, siblings, extended family, friends, and chaveirim, along with a community shaken by the sudden loss.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

Construction sites across Charlotte look more like ghost towns amid ongoing immigration operation.

A new study from Johns Hopkins University suggests that smoking as few as 100 cigarettes over an entire lifetime may be enough to significantly raise the risk of heart disease and premature death. Researchers tracked more than 300,000 adults for nearly two decades and found that men and women who smoked as little as two […]