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An emotional tefillah gathering was held Tuesday in the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok court in Meah Shearim on behalf of the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe, Rav Shmuel Yaakov ben Yenta, who remains hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem in serious but improving condition. The event was marked by fervent tefillos for the Rebbe’s recovery.

At the request of the Rebbe himself, renowned mashpia Rav Elimelech Biderman addressed the gathering, delivering stirring words of chizuk on the power of tefillah.

In the middle of his address, as the crowd recited selichos with great intensity, the Rebbe’s sons approached Rav Biderman with unexpected news: they had just received a phone call from the hospital reporting a notable improvement in the Rebbe’s condition. According to the doctors, there was hope that the Rebbe might be able to return home for Shabbos.

Rav Biderman immediately shared the uplifting news with the packed audience, which erupted in song and gratitude, breaking into a heartfelt rendition of Mizmor LeTodah.

He added that he had spoken with the rebbe the previous day, who had requested that the tzibbur take on a kabbalah tovah — a personal spiritual commitment — specifically in the areas of tznius and shemiras einayim, as a merit for his recovery.

Rav Biderman urged everyone present to accept upon themselves a practical improvement in these areas, saying it would serve as a powerful zechus for the Rebbe’s continued refuah sheleimah.

{Matzav.com}

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With 95% votes now counted Assemblyman Avi Schnall and Assemblyman Kean remain in the lead though the race has not been called yet.

With 80% votes now counted Assemblyman Avi Schnall and Assemblyman Kean remain in the lead though the race has not been called yet.

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch convened a high-level meeting Tuesday night with senior Degel HaTorah representatives to deliberate a historic crossroads: whether to support the Israeli government’s proposed draft law or head toward new elections.

The meeting, held at Rav Hirsch’s home on Rechov Harav Sher in Bnei Brak, was attended by MKs Moshe Gafni, Uri Maklev, Yaakov Asher, and former MK Yitzchok Pindrus.

During the discussion, the delegation presented the details of the Bismuth draft framework, reviewing each clause of the proposal.

When asked what message to convey to Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, Rav Hirsch replied, “Tell him that I have heard the proposal and will give my answer later.”

The Rosh Yeshiva emphasized the need for unwavering protection of every bochur in the yeshivos, saying that “not a single hair on the head of any yeshiva student should be harmed,” and stressed that the safeguard must extend to both Sephardic institutions and yeshivos for weaker students.

Political observers described the meeting as a pivotal juncture. If Rav Hirsch ultimately grants his backing to the draft law, the government is expected to pass it within weeks—with Shas’s Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah likely to follow suit once Rav Hirsch approves the wording. Should he oppose it, however, analysts predict the coalition could collapse swiftly.

“Everything now runs through Bnei Brak,” a senior Likud official said. “This is no longer a legal or security matter—it’s a halachic and political question that will determine the government’s future.”

The street outside Rav Hirsch’s modest home was filled with journalists and television crews broadcasting live updates from Rechov Harav Sher 17, where—behind closed doors—the fate of the government may soon be decided: a new draft law, or new elections.

{Matzav.com}

The nation awoke to somber news early Wednesday as the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the body of abducted IDF soldier Sergeant Itay Chen had been returned to Israel by the Hamas terrorist organization.

“Following the completion of the identification process by the National Center of Forensic Medicine, in coordination with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of the abducted fallen soldier, Sergeant Itay Chen, that their loved one has been returned to Israel and positively identified,” the statement read.

The announcement expressed the state’s profound grief and its continuing mission to recover every soldier who has not yet been brought home. “The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Chen family and of all the families of the abducted fallen. The government and the entire security and intelligence apparatus of the State of Israel are determined, committed, and working tirelessly to bring all our abducted fallen back for proper burial in their homeland.”

Military officials said that Chen lost his life while fighting bravely in a tank battle near Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of October 7, 2023, before being taken by Hamas militants.

Only 19 years old at the time of his death, Itay’s passing was formally confirmed on March 10, 2024. He leaves behind his parents, Ruby and Hagit, and two brothers. Chen was also the final hostage in Gaza who held American citizenship.

Israel believes Hamas is still holding the remains of seven other hostages murdered in captivity.

Earlier in the day, the IDF had confirmed that a coffin containing the remains of a hostage had been handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross, which then transferred it to Israeli authorities.

Upon its arrival, the coffin was received in a solemn military ceremony led by an IDF rabbi before being taken to the Health Ministry’s National Center of Forensic Medicine for identification.

“Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages,” the IDF stated.

{Matzav.com}

With 76% of the vote now counted, Assemblyman Schnall and Assemblyman Kean remain the two top vote-getters in the 30th District

Celebrations ongoing at Mikie Sherrill’s Election Night headquarters after defeating Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey governor’s race.

New security footage shows UPS Flight 2976 crashing in Louisville, Kentucky.

In a groundbreaking victory, Shmuel “Sam” Ellenbogen of Toms River, NJ has been elected to the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, marking the first time an Orthodox Jew will hold a countywide office in Ocean County’s history.

The win places him on the powerful five-member board that manages the county’s infrastructure, public safety, and social services for nearly 650,000 residents.

Ellenbogen’s election caps years of steady public involvement and bridge-building. A familiar name in local civic circles, he co-founded the Toms River Jewish Community Council (TRJCC) in 2018, creating a platform to strengthen understanding between the rapidly growing Orthodox community and their non-Jewish neighbors. The council’s work—ranging from public safety education to interfaith dialogue and community relations—earned him widespread respect across the political and religious spectrum.

His first official government appointment came in 2021 when he joined the Ocean County Utilities Authority, where he eventually became treasurer. In that role, Ellenbogen helped oversee large-scale infrastructure expansion to meet the region’s explosive population growth, particularly in areas like Toms River, Lakewood, and Jackson.

{Matzav.com}

UPDATE: With 66% of the votes counted, Assemblyman Schnall continues to have the most votes.

BREAKING: Democrat Mikie Sherrill Defeats Republican Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey Governor’s Race Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill has won New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli in one of the nation’s most closely watched off-year elections. STORY ON LAKEWOOD ALERTS: https://lakewoodalerts.com/breaking-democrat-mikie-sherrill-defeats-republican-jack-ciattarelli-in-new-jersey-governors-race/

Democrat Mikie Sherrill has won the New Jersey gubernatorial race, defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli, according to projections from Decision Desk HQ.

The victory marks a major milestone for the Garden State, with Sherrill set to become New Jersey’s second woman — and the first Democratic woman — to hold the governor’s office.

A former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, Sherrill first gained national attention in 2018 when she flipped a Republican seat in northern New Jersey during President Donald Trump’s first term. Her campaign this year emphasized economic relief, affordability, and restoring stability, while her opponent, Ciattarelli, a three-time GOP gubernatorial contender and former state assemblyman, leaned heavily on his close alliance with Trump.

Polls showed a close race between the two candidates, with Sherrill holding a single-digit lead over Ciattarelli in the final stretch of the race. That narrow margin reflected the tense mood in New Jersey, where cost-of-living concerns and the national political climate fueled a heated contest to the finish line.

The election was widely viewed as an indicator of the country’s broader sentiment less than a year into Trump’s second term. Once considered a reliably Democratic stronghold, New Jersey saw a pronounced shift toward Republicans in recent years, driven by working-class voters and non-White communities drawn to Trump’s populist message. In 2021, Ciattarelli came within three percentage points of unseating Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, who was unable to seek re-election due to term limits.

Sherrill’s path to political prominence began long before her entry into public office. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994, she became part of the first generation of women permitted to fly combat missions. She served nine years in the Navy before earning a law degree from Georgetown University, later joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark, where she worked as a prosecutor before turning to politics.

Her early congressional career placed her among a cohort of moderate Democrats with military and intelligence backgrounds. That group included figures such as Elissa Slotkin, who won a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, and Abigail Spanberger, now running for governor in Virginia. Like her peers, Sherrill has built a reputation as a pragmatic lawmaker with a focus on security, bipartisanship, and middle-class issues.

The first woman governor of New Jersey was Republican Christine Todd Whitman, who served from 1994 to 2001. With her victory, Sherrill joins Whitman in breaking barriers — this time from the opposite side of the political spectrum — as she prepares to lead a deeply divided state at a pivotal moment in national politics.

{Matzav.com}

Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill has won New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli in one of the nation’s most closely watched off-year elections. Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor who has served in Congress since 2019, will become the Garden State’s 57th governor when she is sworn in on Jan. 20, […]

With 34% of votes counted, Assemblymen Avi Schnall and Sean Kean are in the lead

BREAKING: Shmuel “Sam” Ellenbogen Makes History, Elected as First Orthodox Jewish Ocean County Commissioner Shmuel “Sam” Ellenbogen, a longtime askan from Toms River, has become the first Orthodox Jew elected to a countywide position in Ocean County history, winning a seat on the Ocean County Board of Commissioners. STORY ON LAKEWOOD ALERTS: https://lakewoodalerts.com/breaking-shmuel-sam-ellenbogen-makes-history-elected-as-first-orthodox-jewish-ocean-county-commissioner/

BREAKING: Lakewood Committeeman Albert Akerman has easily won another term on the township’s primary governing body. He has served on the Lakewood Township Committee since 2012.

BREAKING: Sheriff Mike Mastronardy, a close friend of the Lakewood community and a beloved figure across Ocean County, has easily won reelection to his post, defeating Democrat Regina Discenza.

Fresh revelations about the lie-detector test that exposed Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi’s role in the Sde Teiman affair have shed light on what investigators describe as a deliberate and coordinated effort within the upper ranks of the IDF’s legal division.

The chain of events began when a high-ranking officer underwent a standard Shin Bet polygraph exam as part of her candidacy for promotion. When asked, “Did you commit a crime?” she unexpectedly confessed that she had leaked a video allegedly showing abuse of a captured terrorist — and said she did so under direct instructions from the MAG.

The Shin Bet relayed her confession to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and to the police, who promptly launched a criminal probe into the matter.

Last Tuesday, investigators employed a deceptive tactic to gather additional information. Pretending to be someone from another office, one officer called and asked the woman to come to a different location at the Kirya Base. When she showed up, she was promptly detained and transported to police headquarters on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv for questioning.

During her first interrogation, the officer offered only limited cooperation. Authorities confiscated her phone, released her, and barred her from contacting anyone connected to the investigation.

Two days later, she reached out to police voluntarily, requesting another interrogation. This time, she provided a full account of what had transpired.

According to her statement, she was part of a WhatsApp group that included seven senior officers from the Military Advocate General’s Corps — among them Tomer-Yerushalmi herself. After the Sde Teiman controversy erupted, one participant wrote, “I hope this storm blows over.” Another member lashed out at IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and military spokesman Daniel Hagari, complaining, “They aren’t defending us here.”

Members of the group debated two potential strategies — holding a discreet press briefing without sharing case files, or selectively leaking the material. Tomer-Yerushalmi dismissed the first option, arguing that “a briefing would not have the same effect,” and declared, “Now we take this into our own hands.”

Once the footage was released, the group felt their move had achieved its intended impact. But when a petition later reached the Supreme Court, the MAG ordered an internal probe to identify the source of the leak — and ironically assigned the very deputy who had helped orchestrate it to lead the investigation.

{Matzav.com}