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In an unusually sharp and emotional public statement, the Breslover tzaddik Rav Yaakov Meir Schechter released a powerful letter denouncing the proposed draft law that would impose quotas and enlistment targets for yeshiva students, along with sanctions for noncompliance.

Rav Schechter, who rarely comments publicly on political or social issues, expressed deep anguish over what he described as a shocking erosion of shame and spiritual sensitivity within the public discourse. “In recent times,” he wrote, “we have witnessed an almost unimaginable shift, how shame has vanished from public discussion, as people now openly speak of the chareidi community being prepared to give up a part of themselves and their very flesh, and to agree to cast thousands of Jews into their impure army.”

The lengthy and moving letter — described by those close to him as one of the most forceful public expressions of protest in years — traces the history of attempts to uproot Torah from Jewish life, warning that the current efforts to legislate enlistment targets are no less dangerous than those of earlier generations.

 “A Letter of Strength Against the Deeds of Amalek”

Rav Schechter begins by recalling his lifelong witness to repeated attempts by secular authorities to weaken Torah observance and faith:

“I was young, and now I am old,” he wrote, “and I have seen countless attempts by the regime of the erev rav throughout its existence to uproot everything. Tragically, in earlier years many of our brothers and sisters from among the Sephardic communities were forcibly torn away from their faith, until hardly any remnant remained of the faithful of Israel.”

He continued, “Yet even in the midst of that suffering, the words ‘For Hashem will not abandon His people’ were fulfilled. Hashem gave us true leaders who never rested, who stood watch with full strength, unwilling to compromise even a hair’s breadth of our holy Torah. Many times it seemed our feet had nearly slipped, and yet we saw the fulfillment of, ‘The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.’ Despite every decree, the benches of our batei medrash have multiplied beyond anything since the days of the Second Beis Hamikdash.”

 “Unbelievable Change — Shame Has Disappeared”

Turning to the present, Rav Schechter lamented what he described as a spiritual and moral breakdown:

“In recent years, and especially now, we have seen a change that is almost beyond belief. The shame has vanished, as people speak openly of the chareidi community being willing to give up part of themselves — to agree to send thousands of Jews into their impure army. Aside from the grave prohibitions involved, this army is a melting pot designed to uproot faith from the holy souls of Israel. Without any doubt, that is the true intention of this dreadful decree — to diminish the people of Hashem until their end, Heaven forbid.”

He warned that such plans echo the actions of Amalek, who attacked the weak and stragglers of Israel. “These acts,” he wrote, “are the very deeds of Amalek, whom the Torah commands us to erase, because he struck at the most vulnerable. How can any Jew, great or small, dare to surrender even one Jewish soul? On the contrary — every Jew must stand firm, waging battle to the end, never surrendering even a fingernail of Klal Yisroel, who are the limbs of the Shechinah, a portion of Hashem above.”

A Call to Stand Firm

Rav Schechter pleaded with his readers not to be deceived or demoralized. “Am Yisroel, do not fear and do not lose heart. Stand with courage and strength, and do not be misled by false visions and empty promises that go against our holy Torah,” he wrote. “Surely Hashem, Who has saved us until now from their decrees and plots, will again protect us so that the rod of the wicked will not rest upon the lot of the righteous.”

He expressed confidence that the steadfastness of the Torah world will protect the yeshivos and the sanctity of Torah learning: “Without doubt, the merit of our firm stance will serve as protection for the souls of Israel and for the holy yeshivos, allowing them to continue in purity, so that Torah will never depart from our mouths or from the mouths of our descendants forever.”

The letter concludes with a prayerful hope for redemption: “May we soon merit the removal of impurity from the world, the destruction of idolatry, and the perfection of the world under the Kingdom of the Almighty, with the coming of Mashiach Tzidkeinu and the rebuilding of our Beis Hamikdash.”

{Matzav.com}

Tensions ran high in the Knesset on Monday evening amid the ongoing coalition crisis over the draft law, as a rare confrontation unfolded between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and MK Moshe Gafni, head of the Knesset Finance Committee and a senior United Torah Judaism leader.

According to sources, Netanyahu had repeatedly sought to meet with Gafni throughout the afternoon, hoping for a brief conversation to ease mounting tensions surrounding the proposed legislation. But Gafni refused each request, firmly rebuffing the prime minister’s efforts.

Eyewitnesses said that Netanyahu’s aide, Nevo Katz, approached Gafni several times during the 40-signature debate in the Knesset plenum, urging him: “Come, the Prime Minister wants to speak with you—it’s short, it’s important.” Gafni, alternating between anger and indifference, reportedly replied, “I don’t want to.”

After several unsuccessful attempts, Netanyahu himself encountered Gafni outside the plenum and, joined by Katz, personally requested a private conversation. Gafni politely but firmly declined, saying, “I can’t.”

The unusual standoff drew the attention of MK Yaakov Asher, who expressed frustration toward the prime minister’s aide, saying, “Why like this, in front of everyone? Do you think this will work for you?” Katz did not respond, instead asking, “So what’s the bottom line—are you bringing it tomorrow?” to which Asher dryly replied, “I don’t know.” Katz then pressed further, “The draft law text—are you bringing it?”

Eventually, after much back-and-forth and visible tension, Gafni relented and agreed to meet Netanyahu in the prime minister’s Knesset office for a half-hour conversation.

{Matzav.com}

As Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel for high-level policy discussions, hundreds of Israeli families who lost loved ones in the Swords of Iron War issued an urgent message to President Trump through his representatives.

In a strongly worded letter, members of HaGevura Forum—the Heroism Forum representing hundreds of bereaved families—implored the Trump delegation not to support any plan that would result in the release of terrorists held by Israel. Their plea came amid speculation that the American envoys were in Israel to advocate for a deal involving the release of terrorists detained in Rafah tunnels.

The families warned that freeing these individuals would endanger Israeli citizens and Western security at large. “We are bereaved families from HaGevura Forum (The Heroism Forum), which unites hundreds of families of heroes who fought to restore security to the citizens of Israel and fell during the war. Thanks to the heroism of our loved ones, the IDF has apprehended approximately 150 terrorists who massacred, raped, and slaughtered children, women, and citizens of the State of Israel. Even after the horrific massacre, these same terrorists continued to harm hostages and the IDF soldiers who were operating to bring them back home,” they wrote.

The letter went on to emphasize that the detainees in question were responsible for some of the most horrific acts in recent memory. “These are the terrorists responsible for the severe atrocities the State of Israel endured during the terrible massacre led by Hamas two years ago. Thanks to the determination of our soldiers, these same terrorists and murderers are now imprisoned in the tunnels in Rafah. The sentence for these terrorists is one: death. If the Western nations and Israel surrender, these terrorists will immediately return to terrorism, which will harm the interests of the State of Israel and of all Western nations,” the families declared.

Addressing Hamas’s repeated violations of ceasefire terms, the letter accused the terror group of acting in bad faith. “The Hamas organization has not adhered for a single minute to the agreements signed with it. Hamas has not yet returned all the abducted bodies, it has continued to kill our soldiers, and it has tried time and again to carry out dozens of additional terrorist acts against our soldiers. They refuse to disarm, all while continuing to solidify the organization’s rule in Gaza.”

The families concluded their emotional appeal with a direct plea to Trump’s envoys: “We, who lost our heroic loved ones in battle, call upon you: Do not be the lifeline for these terrorists. Do not allow this evil to continue to live and add more evil to the world. We implore you to support Israel in fighting terror and destroying Hamas. We call upon you to support the State of Israel in eradicating Hamas, cutting off terrorism, and removing this evil from the world.”

{Matzav.com}

The BBC was facing a leadership crisis and mounting political pressure on Monday after its top executive and its head of news both quit over the editing of a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump. The resignation of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness over accusations of bias was welcomed by Trump, who said the way […]

Flight disruptions from shutdown pile up as Trump threatens air traffic controllers • More air travel disruptions piled up Monday as the longest-ever U.S. government shutdown continued. • Air traffic controllers missed their second full paycheck of the shutdown. • The Senate made progress overnight on a deal that could end the shutdown, but it […]

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meeting with Donald Trump earlier in the Oval Office.

Thirteen Italian pasta labels might be forced to exit American supermarket aisles or raise their prices as early as January when 107% tariffs are scheduled to take effect.

The duty — the largest the White House has enacted on a specific commodity since President Trump began his import crackdown — results from the U.S.’s baseline 15% tariff on European Union goods plus an additional 92% levy tied to claims that Italian pasta producers have undercut U.S. rivals.

According to the United States Department of Commerce, the penne-makers have breached “antidumping” legislation, offering their exports to the U.S. market at very low prices in order to undercut domestic firms.

Last year the department opened an inquiry after two U.S. pasta manufacturers petitioned for a review of Italian exporters.

As part of that investigation, the U.S. government requested data from two companies, Pasta Garofalo and La Molisana, which denied the charges.

Officials accused the companies of being “uncooperative” — allegedly submitting materials with untranslated Italian terms and undefined abbreviations — and applied the steep tariff across all 13 firms, presuming the behavior of those two mirrored the group as a whole.

The Italian producers responded that they answered in the same manner as in previous reviews, and that the only shift came from a much tougher Commerce Department.

In a filing submitted to the department earlier this month, La Molisana said the agency erred in its calculations by using net prices as if they were gross.

In addition to Pasta Garofalo and La Molisana, the affected pasta brands consist of Agritalia, Aldino, Antiche Tradizioni di Gragnano, Barilla, Gruppo Milo, Pastificio Artigiano Cav. Giuseppe Cocco, Pastificio Chiavenna, Pastificio Liguori, Pastificio Sgambaro, Pastificio Tamma and Rummo.

Barilla manufactures pasta for the U.S. market domestically, and Italian media observed it is less prone to be affected by the tariffs. The Post has reached out for comment from it and Rummo, another popular brand.

The affected firms are petitioning the Commerce Department to reassess its evaluation and lower the antidumping duty before it launches in January.

Italian pasta companies have faced numerous antidumping investigations dating back to the mid-1990s, when the Commerce Department found importers had been swamping the U.S. with low-priced products.

U.S. businesses routinely file complaints accusing their Italian rivals of unfair pricing, requesting U.S. officials to look into claims of dumping.

While the Commerce Department has taken action before, penalties against Italian pasta brands have typically been far smaller than this new 107% levy.

Some officials in Rome argue the move is politically driven, with Italy’s Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida recently branding the policy “hyper-protectionist,” in remarks carried by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

“We see neither the necessity nor any justification” for the tariffs, he was quoted as saying.

Corriere ran a headline that read: “Trump declares war on Italian pasta.”

A White House official told The Post the Italian firms had been given multiple chances to supply the requested information before being hit with the high tariff rate.

The official denied that the antidumping review was politically motivated, adding that the companies should focus on complying with the investigation “instead of complaining to Fake News reporters.”

The Commerce Department did not immediately answer The Post’s inquiries for comment.

Over the summer, President Trump struck what he called “the biggest deal ever” with the European Union.

The 27-nation bloc agreed to purchase $750 billion of U.S. energy goods and invest another $600 billion in the U.S. Trump kept the baseline tariff on EU products at 15%, with additional levies on European steel and aluminum.

Last month, Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s senior trade official, declared that the 107% tariffs on pasta are “clearly something that is not acceptable.” He said he discussed the matter with Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Commerce Secretary.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has initiated a special task force to combat the antidumping levy.

{Matzav.com}

Rockaway-Lawrence Hatzolah ambulance involved in an MVA on Cedarhurst and West Broadway. No injuries reported.

WATCH: A small plane carrying hurricane relief supplies to Jamaica crashed into a lake in a Coral Springs, Florida neighborhood Monday morning. No word yet on casualties.

As travel chaos looms from the ongoing government shutdown, President Donald Trump praised the air traffic controllers who stayed on the job despite not receiving their pay — and he wants to reward them handsomely.

“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!!” Trump declared Monday on Truth Social, warning that those who refused to show up would face consequences. “Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked.'”

The president said he intends to give a $10,000 reward to every controller who continued working through what he blasted as the “Democrat shutdown hoax.”

“For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country,” Trump posted.

He didn’t hold back criticism for those who stayed home, saying their behavior was un-American. “For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country.”

Trump made clear that anyone who joined what he described as the Democrats’ political stunt would bear lasting consequences. “You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record,” he said. “If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind!”

He added that the administration would have no problem replacing those employees with others who share his vision. “You will be quickly replaced by true Patriots, who will do a better job on the Brand New State of the Art Equipment, the best in the World, that we are in the process of ordering.”

Trump also used the opportunity to criticize his predecessor’s leadership in transportation. “The last ‘Administration’ wasted Billions of Dollars trying to fix antiquated ‘junk,’ ” he wrote, referring to Joe Biden’s team. “They had no idea what they were doing!”

Ending his message with characteristic fervor, Trump praised those who stayed loyal and urged others to return to work immediately. “Again, to our great American Patriots, GOD BLESS YOU — I won’t be able to send your money fast enough! To all others, REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. GOD BLESS AMERICA! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”

{Matzav.com}

A young chareidi man suffering from several severe medical conditions is reportedly being held in an Israeli military prison without proper medical attention, according to his family. The IDF has rejected the claims.

The man, who requires daily medication and close medical supervision due to a chronic illness, was arrested at the Tel Hashomer recruitment office after arriving to resolve his draft status in accordance with the law. He told relatives that he was handcuffed “like a criminal,” jailed without his essential medication, and that his condition deteriorated rapidly.

After receiving emergency treatment at Hillel Yaffe Hospital, the attending physician reportedly instructed that he be transferred to a Jerusalem hospital where he is regularly treated. However, the military refused the request and returned him to detention. As of late Sunday night, he remained under arrest without adequate treatment, with a significant risk of losing his eyesight, according to his family.

The Israeli organization Emes L’Yaakov warned that the case reflects a broader pattern of discrimination and rights violations against chareidi draftees. “From the numerous complaints we have received over the past year, a disturbing picture emerges of chareidi detainees being denied medical care, legal counsel, and basic human dignity—contrary to military regulations and Israel’s Basic Law on Human Dignity and Liberty,” the group said.

They added that in other sectors, the army typically releases ill draftees immediately, while chareidi individuals face “a humiliating and life-threatening ordeal.”

A document obtained by Emes L’Yaakov reportedly includes a troubling note written by a medical staff member: “Although he is chareidi, he seems to be telling the truth.” The organization described this as “clear evidence of prejudice and discriminatory treatment within parts of the military system.”

The organization demanded the man’s immediate release, a full investigation of all involved officials, and the creation of a standardized, equal procedure for handling medically unfit draftees regardless of religion or background. They warned that if no satisfactory response is provided by Tuesday at noon, they intend to file an urgent petition to Israel’s High Court of Justice demanding his release and a general injunction against imprisoning sick recruits before a full medical review.

“This conduct constitutes a blatant violation of the Basic Law on Human Dignity and Liberty and the principles of administrative justice,” Emes L’Yaakov said in a statement. “It is unacceptable for a sick young man to be imprisoned simply because he is chareidi. We will not rest until this injustice is corrected and the law is applied equally.”

In response, the IDF stated: “Every detainee admitted to a military prison undergoes a medical evaluation, and all inmates are entitled to treatment, follow-up, and medication in accordance with their condition. The claim of discriminatory treatment toward chareidi prisoners is false.”

Sources familiar with the case added that “the condition of both detainees was examined and determined to allow continued detention with appropriate medical supervision.”

{Matzav.com}

A startling new report from The Blaze alleges that a former U.S. Capitol Police officer has been forensically linked to the still-unsolved January 6 pipe bomb case—an explosive claim that, if confirmed, could upend the federal government’s narrative about the events of that day. According to The Blaze, a forensic gait analysis comparing security footage […]

Rabbi Yisroel Friedman, editor-in-chief of the Israeli Yated Ne’eman, sought to clarify the chareidi stance amid Israel’s ongoing conflict and the intensifying debate over army conscription. In a candid interview with Makor Rishon, he made clear that his newspaper operates under direct rabbinic authority and serves a singular mission.

“Yated Ne’eman is not a newspaper, it is a mouthpiece,” Rabbi Friedman stated firmly, explaining that every forceful headline and every line printed in its pages is backed by the daas Torah of the leading gedolim. “I’m not the free press. I am the voice of the Torah sages. For people to read me, I need to be engaging, but even when I write a political headline, I pray to have a good newspaper that will be able to fulfill its role and make the Torah sages’ voices heard.”

He referenced one of the publication’s most talked-about headlines, the July 2024 banner “Declaration of War,” which appeared after Rav Dov Landau urged yeshiva students not to comply with IDF draft notices. Rabbi Friedman explained that the headline precisely reflected Rav Landau’s message. “He wanted the message to be precise: It was a declaration of war,” he said, clarifying, “The intention was that the State is the one who declared war on the chareidim.”

Turning to the contentious Draft Law, Rabbi Friedman argued that Israel’s moral imbalance extends far beyond the chareidi sector. “When it comes to preserving the Jewish people, the majority of the population in in the Land of Israel is evading the draft. There is no equality in burden-sharing. The soldiers who are fighting have taken it upon themselves to preserve the Israeli nation, to protect bodies, but they are not engaged in preserving the Jewish people.”

When questioned about those serving in Gaza, he drew a sharp distinction between national and spiritual defense. “Going to fight in Gaza is not preserving the Jewish people; it is preserving the Israeli people. When it comes to preserving the Jewish people, only we contribute.” He added pointedly, “The army says it lacks combat soldiers, and I say: we lack Torah learners! We must further increase the learning in the yeshivas.”

Rabbi Friedman also hinted at a potential political realignment within the chareidi camp, suggesting that support for Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu could no longer be taken for granted. “It’s no secret that in our political positions, we do not belong to the Right,” he noted. “The moment that joining together endangers the core of the Jewish nation’s existence, which is Torah learners, the question will return to the table of the Torah sages, and I cannot tell you what will happen. Nothing is out of the question.”

{Matzav.com}

A car explosion near the historic Red Fort in India’s capital city killed eight people on Monday and injured at least 19 others, police in New Delhi said. The blast, which triggered a fire that damaged several vehicles parked nearby, was reported near one of the gates of the Red Fort metro station, the fire […]

The US Embassy in India issues a security alert following a car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort.

A French appeals court in Paris has ordered the release of Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of France, just three weeks after he began serving a prison sentence connected to illegal campaign financing from the Libyan regime of Muammar Gaddafi. The ruling allows Sarkozy to remain free pending a final decision on his appeal.

Sarkozy, 70, served as president from 2007 to 2012. He was imprisoned on October 21 after being convicted of conspiracy and corruption linked to claims that his 2007 presidential campaign received illicit funding from Gaddafi’s government in exchange for political favors that would bolster Libya’s global standing. While no concrete proof was found that the money was actually transferred, the court determined that Sarkozy had allowed his aides to seek Libyan support, leading to his conviction.

Speaking via video link from prison during the hearing, Sarkozy forcefully denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated. “I am French, sir. I love my country, and I will fight to uncover the truth. I will obey any restriction placed on me, as I always have,” he told the court.

Reflecting on his brief imprisonment, he added, “I never imagined that at the age of seventy I would find myself in prison. It is a harsh experience imposed upon me, one that leaves a mark on any person. I admit it is very difficult.”

During his detention at La Santé Prison in Paris—one of France’s most secure facilities—Sarkozy was reportedly mocked by other inmates shouting “Welcome, Sarko!” and “Little Nicolas!” Due to his former role as interior minister and his tough stance on crime, he was given two personal bodyguards for round-the-clock protection.

Sarkozy remains the first president in French and European Union history to serve time in prison. The appeals process is expected to take several more months. Until the final ruling is issued, he will remain under court-imposed restrictions but free from incarceration.

{Matzav.com}

The Vatican said Monday it was investigating a possible antisemitic incident, in which a Swiss Guard allegedly made a spitting gesture toward two Jewish women. The alleged incident occurred during a papal audience Oct. 29, at the entrance to St. Peter’s Square. The audience that day was dedicated to marking the anniversary of a 1965 […]

Footage captures the moment a loud explosion is heard near Delhi’s Red Fort, India, resulting in 9 deaths

The President of Syria, Al-Sharaa, has arrived at the White House for his meeting with trump through one of the back doors and not the main entrance.

President Trump on Monday pressured air traffic controllers to return to work amid the ongoing government shutdown or else be “substantially docked.” “All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked,’” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. “For those Air Traffic Controllers who […]