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Controversy is mounting at the University of Arkansas after allegations surfaced that a senior professor used official university letterhead to defend an Iranian regime figure convicted of mass executions and publicly praised Iran’s Supreme Leader while denouncing Israel, according to a report by The New York Post.

The professor, Shirin Saeidi, who until recently headed the university’s Middle East Studies program, was removed from her role as director on Friday. University officials confirmed she remains on staff as a professor while an internal review continues.

The accusations stem in part from a letter Saeidi allegedly wrote on official university stationery calling for the release of Hamid Nouri, a former Iranian official convicted by a Swedish court in 2022 for ordering the execution of thousands of political prisoners at Tehran’s Gohardasht Prison in 1988. The document was obtained by the US-based Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists, which shared it with The Post.

Nouri, who served as assistant deputy prosecutor at Karaj Prison near Tehran, was freed last year as part of a prisoner exchange between Iran and Sweden.

Saeidi has also drawn scrutiny for her social media activity. In posts shared on X in November, she praised Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, writing prayers for his safety and describing him as “the leader who kept Iran intact during the Israeli attack, May god protect you,” in reference to the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. She has additionally referred to Israel as a “terrorist state” and a “genocidal state” in other posts.

The controversy has prompted strong reactions from public officials and advocacy groups. On Friday, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sharply criticized Saeidi in a statement to The Post, condemning what he called her “hate-filled antisemitic venom.”

“Whether Shirin Saeidi should be fired is a decision for the administration and the UA board. But praising the Iranian leader — who calls not only for the slaughter of Jews but also calls for the destruction of America — makes me think this deranged professor would probably be better suited to being given a one-way ticket to Tehran and taking a job of teaching in their hate-infested schools,” Huckabee said.

A university spokesman told The Post that Saeidi is no longer affiliated with the Middle East Studies department and that the school is investigating her apparent use of official letterhead “in accordance with university policies.”

Pressure on the university has been building for months. Prior to her removal as director, AAIRIA activists gathered 3,782 signatures on a Change.org petition demanding disciplinary action.

“For forty-six years, Iranians have resisted this erasure of their memories, their testimonies, and their courage,” said Lawdan Bazargan, a former Iranian political prisoner and human rights activist. “That is why the regime relies on ideologues and useful idiots in Western institutions to launder its image.

“Dr. Saeidi’s work is part of that machinery, an academic façade built on falsified narratives to soften the truth about Iran’s prisons and the resistance that takes place inside them.”

Bazargan also told The Post that the FBI contacted her in May regarding the allegations, prompting her and AAIRIA to take a closer look at Saeidi’s activities.

Elected officials have also weighed in. Arkansas State Rep. Mary Bentley said she was “deeply disturbed” by the claims.

“I can assure you that my constituents do not want their tax dollars being used to support unethical and antisemitic behavior from professors at our public universities,” Bentley said.

The controversy has drawn attention beyond Arkansas. Masih Alinejad, an Iranian dissident based in Brooklyn who was targeted by the Iranian regime in 2021, urged President Trump to intervene and halt what she described as the spread of regime sympathizers in the West.

“She regularly attacks me and other human rights activists who dare to stand up to the same dictator,” Alinejad wrote on X, referring to Saeidi.

According to AAIRIA, Saeidi also endorsed two anti-Israel petitions in 2023 and 2025.

“You can’t get any more antisemitic that,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. “Only a week after the horrors on Oct 7, Saeidi chose to whitewash the terrorist crimes of Hamas.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Democracy Institute on Sunday published the 2025 Statistical Yearbook of Chareidi Society, marking the tenth annual edition of the comprehensive report. The yearbook was edited by Dr. Gilad Malach and Dr. Lee Cahaner, research fellows in the Institute’s Program on Chareidi Society in Israel, which operates under the Jacobs Center for a Shared Society headed by attorney Shlomit Ravitzky Tur-Paz.

The report presents an updated snapshot of chareidi society in 2025, alongside an in-depth review of trends over the past decade and, in some areas, the decade preceding it. Long-term analysis points to a widening gap between chareidi women and men: while women continue to advance in education, employment, and professional training, chareidi men have experienced near-complete stagnation in employment rates and integration into a broader range of occupations.

Demographics: A Remarkably Young Population

Israel’s chareidi population now numbers approximately 1,452,350 people, accounting for about 14.3% of the country’s population. It is among the youngest populations in the world, with 57% aged 19 or younger. While only about 4% of chareidim are over age 65, roughly 22% of Israel’s entire population under 19 is chareidi.

This age structure places sustained and growing pressure on the education system, labor market, and welfare services—pressures expected to intensify in the coming decades. Fertility rates remain exceptionally high, averaging 6.5 children per woman, with no significant change over the past decade, helping to explain the community’s rapid demographic growth.

Education System: Continued Expansion

Over the past decade, the chareidi education system has expanded at an average annual rate of 3.7%. In the 2024–2025 school year, approximately 420,000 students were enrolled, representing 21% of all students in Israel and 27% of those in the Hebrew education system. About 31% of first-grade students in Hebrew education are enrolled in chareidi schools.

A decade ago, chareidi enrollment stood at around 290,000 students, comprising 24% of Hebrew education. Today, 62.5% of chareidi students attend network schools, 8.5% are in recognized but unofficial institutions, 21% in exempt institutions, and 7.5% in state-chareidi schools.

Eligibility for matriculation certificates among chareidi students has risen from 10% a decade ago to 16% today, though this remains far below the 85% eligibility rate in state and state-religious education.

Yeshivos and Kollelim: Rapid Growth, Statistical Gaps

In 2023, the number of unmarried yeshiva students and married kollel yungeleit over age 18 stood at 169,366. This figure has nearly doubled over a decade, rising from about 92,500 in 2013, an increase of 83%, with annual growth exceeding 6%, faster than overall chareidi population growth.

In 2024, however, official figures showed a sharp decline in registered yeshiva students and kollel scholars. The report explains that roughly 70,000 yeshiva bochurim and avreichim aged 18–27 who are liable for military service are no longer state-funded and therefore do not appear in Ministry of Education records. The official 2024 figure of 109,601 students, more than half of whom are over age 31, is thus considered incomplete.

Military and National Service: Numbers Mask Reality

Over the past decade, the number of chareidim entering military or civilian service has largely stagnated. In 2024, 3,060 graduates of the chareidi education system entered service, only slightly fewer than the 3,710 recorded in 2014. Given rapid population growth, this represents a real decline of about 25%.

At the same time, 2024 saw a 51% increase in enlistment compared to the previous year, likely influenced by the war and expanded draft obligations. Of those entering service, 2,560 joined the IDF and 500 entered national civilian service.

Notably, 55% of those enlisting in the IDF were placed in general, non-chareidi frameworks, while only 45% joined chareidi-adapted tracks, suggesting that many recruits classified as chareidi are in fact formerly chareidi. Combat placement rates were 40% in general tracks compared to 30% in chareidi tracks. Most civilian service participants begin only after age 24, a pattern unchanged for a decade.

Higher Education and Professional Training

In the 2024–2025 academic year, 18,953 chareidi students were enrolled in higher education, accounting for 5.5% of all students in Israel. Growth in recent years has slowed to about 4% annually, with most increases seen in advanced degree programs.

One notable bright spot is technological vocational training through the National Institute for Technological Training (MAHAT). By 2024, 9,600 chareidim were enrolled in these programs—three times the number in 2014. Growth has accelerated to about 17% annually over the past five years, a rate unmatched in other areas of chareidi higher education.

Employment in 2025

Employment rates in 2025 stood at 53% for chareidi men and 81% for chareidi women. Chareidi men work an average of 36.5 hours per week, compared to 45 hours for non-chareidi Jewish men, while chareidi women average 32 hours, compared to 38.5 hours among non-chareidi Jewish women.

About 30% of chareidi men work in education, while only 3.5% are employed in high-tech, reflecting little change over the past decade. Among women, 42.5% work in education, similar to levels ten years ago.

Wage gaps remain stark. The average monthly salary for a chareidi man is 9,929 shekels, roughly 49% of that earned by a non-chareidi Jewish man. Chareidi women earn an average of 8,617 shekels, about 67% of their non-chareidi counterparts.

Living Standards and Poverty

About 33% of chareidi families and 45% of chareidi children live below the poverty line, compared to 14% and 13%, respectively, among non-chareidi Jewish families. Still, this marks an improvement from 2015, when 39% of chareidi families were below the poverty line.

Average monthly household income among chareidim is 14,816 shekels, compared to 24,466 shekels for non-chareidi Jewish households. The relative income gap has widened slightly over the past decade.

Despite lower incomes, 75% of chareidim own their homes, slightly higher than the 72% rate among non-chareidi Jews. However, only 50% own a car, compared to 82% of non-chareidi Jews, reflecting ongoing disparities in mobility and access to employment.

Financial Behavior and Preparedness

The report highlights significant differences in financial behavior. Chareidim are more likely to carry mortgages and loans, save less, and rely on low-yield savings vehicles. They are also less prepared for financial emergencies and retirement, with lower rates of private insurance coverage and pension planning.

Reliance on family support networks is higher, with 59% of chareidim turning to family during financial distress, compared to 37% of non-chareidi Jews. Use of interest-free community loan funds is also far more common.

Researchers’ Conclusions

Dr. Malach and Dr. Cahaner concluded that the data reflect a decade of stagnation and even regression in the integration of chareidi men, following a previous decade of progress. Employment rates, income levels, occupational diversity, and enlistment figures have all failed to advance, even as the number of yeshiva students and avreichim has grown rapidly.

By contrast, chareidi women continue to show steady integration into education and employment, though income levels remain low. The researchers point to expanding technological training, higher education, and increased internet use as potential foundations for future integration, if leveraged effectively.

{Matzav.com}

Last night’s Powerball drawing failed to produce a jackpot winner, sending the prize soaring to an estimated $1.1 billion after the $1 billion payout went unclaimed.

The numbers drawn for the massive jackpot were 1, 28, 31, 57, and 58, with the Powerball number set at 16.

While no one hit the top prize, several players still walked away with major winnings. Two ticket holders in North Carolina and Pennsylvania earned $2 million each by matching all five white balls and adding the Power Play option.

Five additional tickets sold in California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, and Virginia matched the five white numbers, earning their holders $1 million apiece.

The drawing had drawn significant attention as it marked the seventh-largest jackpot in Powerball history, narrowly trailing the $1.08 billion prize claimed on July 19, 2023, in downtown Los Angeles.

The most recent jackpot winners before this drawing were players in Missouri and Texas, who split a record-setting $1.787 billion prize on Sept. 6, the second-largest lottery jackpot ever awarded.

{Matzav.com}

A social media post by conservative commentator Candace Owens has ignited widespread controversy and speculation online after resurfacing in the days following today’s deadly attack in Asutralia.

In the post, shared on X on November 27, Owens wrote that unnamed forces had been “signaling that a 9/11-style attack is coming the second week of December,” adding, “Save this tweet. It will age well.”

The post amassed hundreds of thousands of views.

Following today’s terror attack in Australia, screenshots of Owens’ message began spreading rapidly, with users questioning whether the commentator had advance knowledge of an impending act of terrorism or whether her statement was a vague prediction rooted in online speculation.

Some commentators accused Owens of irresponsibly fueling fear.

Many are demanding clarification from Owens regarding the basis for her claim. As of this writing, Owens has not provided details explaining what intelligence, indicators, or sources she was referencing, nor has she issued a retraction or apology.

{Matzav.com}

New York City mayoral-elect Zohran Mamdani issued a statement today responding to the deadly antisemitic terror attack at a Chanukah celebration in Sydney, Australia, but his wording has drawn sharp criticism for downplaying the nature of the assault.

In a post published on X, Mamdani described the attack as “a vile act of antisemitic terror” and said he was mourning those murdered and praying for their families, the Jewish community, and the Chabad movement. He cited reports indicating that at least 11 people were killed and dozens injured, including Rabbi Eli Schlangler.

However, critics quickly seized on Mamdani’s later characterization of the attackers. Rather than referring to them as terrorists, Mamdani wrote that “men with long guns targeted innocents” on Bondi Beach, language that many say minimizes the ideological nature of the attack and echoes phrasing commonly used to avoid labeling antisemitic violence as terrorism.

Mamdani’s statement went on to draw parallels between the Sydney attack and fears held by Jewish communities worldwide, writing that many Jews no longer feel safe worshiping publicly or entering synagogues without armed security. He added that what happened in Bondi is what many Jewish communities fear could happen in their own neighborhoods.

In the final portion of his post, Mamdani referenced a bystander who reportedly ran toward the gunfire and disarmed one of the attackers, urging New Yorkers to confront hatred with urgency and action. He pledged that, once in office, he would work daily to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe “on our streets, our subways, at shul, in every moment of every day.”

Despite those assurances, Mamdani’s response was met with skepticism from Jewish activists and communal figures, many of whom pointed to his longstanding record of hostility toward Israel and repeated refusal to clearly condemn antisemitic actors when they align with causes he supports. Several critics argued that his choice of words — particularly the decision to describe the attackers as “men with long guns” — reflects a broader pattern of rhetorical sanitization when Jewish victims are targeted.

During the New York City mayoral campaign, Mamdani was repeatedly asked about the slogan “Globalize the Intifada.” When asked on a podcast in June whether he would condemn it, he declined to do so and instead described it as language that “means very different things to different people,” and emphasized that the mayor shouldn’t “police language.”

“This was not a random act of violence or generic gun crime,” one Jewish community leader said. “It was terrorism, carried out against Jews celebrating Chanukah. Language matters, especially from someone about to become mayor of the largest Jewish city in the world.”

{Matzav.com}

A survivor of the deadly terror attack at the Chanukah by the Sea celebration in Sydney said police officers on the scene failed to act for an extended period as gunmen carried out a prolonged shooting spree that left 11 people dead.

Shmulik Scuri, who was attending the family-friendly event with his relatives, said the attack began when two suspects opened fire from a bridge overlooking the crowd of Jewish worshippers gathered at Bondi Beach.

“For 20 minutes. They shoot, shoot. Change magazines. And just shoot,” Scuri told reporters, describing the relentless nature of the gunfire.

According to Scuri, several police officers were present but appeared immobilized as the shooting continued. “Twenty minutes, there was four policemen there. Nobody give fire back. Nothing. Like they froze,” he said of the response. “I don’t understand why.”.”

Asked who the attackers appeared to be targeting, Scuri said there was no distinction. “Everyone. Jews. Men, old, kids, everyone! It doesn’t matter.”

Scuri added that one of the gunmen, positioned on the bridge, was able to reload both a rifle and a handgun repeatedly while continuing to fire at the crowd without interruption.

Video footage from the scene shows two terrorists, at least one armed with a shotgun, discharging weapon after weapon from above, raining bullets onto the 2025 Chanukah by the Sea gathering below.

It was only after a local fruit vendor rushed in and managed to disarm one of the attackers that police appeared to respond with gunfire, ultimately killing one of the shooters, according to video evidence from the scene.

Authorities said one of the suspected attackers was killed at the scene, while the second was apprehended in critical condition.

Australian media later identified one of the suspects as Naveed Akram, with police subsequently raiding his residence following the attack.

Law enforcement officials also reported that improvised explosive devices were found inside the vehicle belonging to the deceased gunman at Bondi Beach.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the massacre as a targeted act of terror against the Jewish community during the holiday. “This cowardly act of terrified violence is shocking and painful to see and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney,” Minns said.

“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Chanukah,” he added. “What should’ve been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack.”

Police acknowledged that one of the attackers had previously appeared on the Australian Security Intelligence Organization watchlist, though he was not classified as “an immediate threat.”

The Bondi Beach massacre is being described as the deadliest shooting in Australia since April 1996, when a gunman killed 35 people and wounded 23 others in Port Arthur, Tasmania.

{Matzav.com}

One of the victims of the deadly terror attack at a Chanukah celebration in Sydney has been identified as Alex Kleytman hy”d, a Holocaust survivor and native of Ukraine.  Kleytman and his wife, Larisa, had come to celebrate at the event, as they had for years. “He came on Bondi Beach to celebrate Hanukkah,” Larisa […]

A Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million on Friday to two women who claimed that talcum powder made by Johnson & Johnson caused their ovarian cancer. The giant health care company said it would appeal the jury’s liability verdict and compensatory damages. The verdict is the latest development in a longstanding legal battle over claims […]

Chanukah Zemiros in Vishnitz prepared for the Vishnitzer Chassidim, with all the “אוי אוי” arranged in the proper places for their special Niggunim.

The first night of Chanukah on the snowy Chermon Mountains in Northern Israel.

HY’D: Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor and native of Ukraine, has been identified as one of the victims murdered in the deadly attack at a Chanukah event in Sydney, Australia. Kleytman had gone to Bondi Beach to take part in the annual Chanukah celebration when the massacre unfolded. His wife, Larisa Kleytman, spoke to The […]

Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, released a brief statement following the terrorist attack that took place earlier today in Australia.

Authorities confirm a person of interest is now in custody following yesterday’s shooting at Brown University. The shooting left two people dead and nine others injured, according to officials. Police say the investigation is ongoing, and additional details will be released as they are confirmed.

Earlier today, the IDF eliminated two Hezbollah terrorists in separate strikes in southern Lebanon within less than an hour. One was targeted in the Yater area for attempts to reestablish Hezbollah infrastructure, and another in Bint Jbeil, where he served as a local Hezbollah representative.

After four days of intensive searches, the body of a teenage boy from Bnei Brak was recovered from the Yarkon River on Sunday afternoon.

The search was launched after 19-year-old Eliyahu Abba Shaul, who had been missing since Wednesday, failed to return home. Police said that ZAKA volunteers located his body a short time ago as part of the ongoing efforts to find the missing youth.

Search operations had continued around the clock over the past several days, focusing on the Yarkon River area after the teenager’s bicycle and personal belongings were discovered nearby. That finding led police and rescue forces to concentrate their efforts along the riverbank and surrounding parkland.

Since then, large numbers of police officers, special units, and volunteer rescue organizations have been deployed to the scene. The operation included ground searches, water-based searches, and the use of specialized technological equipment.

Despite difficult conditions, search teams continued their efforts at night as well, assisted by advanced equipment and ZAKA’s diving unit, which operated along the river’s course and adjacent areas in an attempt to locate any clue that could shed light on the circumstances of the disappearance.

ZAKA officials said that after four consecutive days of intensive activity, the body of the missing teenager was found in Yarkon Park by volunteers from the organization’s special units.

The multi-day operation was carried out in full cooperation with Israel Police and the Fire and Rescue Service’s Lahava Unit. It included land searches, aerial scans using ZAKA’s drone unit, underwater searches along the riverbed, and the use of advanced sonar systems. The entire effort was coordinated from a dedicated command post established at the site.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday that one Israeli was killed and another Israeli was wounded in the deadly shooting attack at a Chanukah celebration in Sydney, Australia. Israel’s embassy in Australia and the Foreign Ministry’s department for Israelis in distress are accompanying the wounded man’s family, as he remains hospitalized at a local medical center.

An Israeli consul is expected to arrive at the hospital to assist the injured Israeli and provide support to his relatives.

The wounded man, Arsen Ostrovsky, an international human rights lawyer who recently relocated from Israel to Sydney to work with the local Jewish community, described scenes of terror and chaos as gunfire erupted around him and his family. Ostrovsky was photographed at the scene with his head bandaged and his face covered in blood.

Speaking to Australian television, Ostrovsky, who serves as chairman of the Australia–Israel and Jewish Affairs Council in Sydney, recounted the moments of the attack: “I was here with my family. It was a Hanukkah celebration. There were hundreds of people. There were children, there were elderly people. Families enjoying themselves. Kids at a festival, playing. And then suddenly, absolute chaos. There are guns, fire everywhere, people running. It was absolute chaos. We didn’t know what was happening, where the shots were coming from.”

“I saw blood flowing in front of me,” he continued. “I saw people being hit, I saw people falling to the ground. My only concern was, where are my kids? Where are my kids? Where is my wife? Where is my family?”

Ostrovsky noted that he had lived in Israel for the past 13 years and had arrived in Australia just two weeks ago. “I lived in Israel for the past 13 years,” he said. “We came here just two weeks ago to work with the Jewish community to fight antisemitism, to fight this bloodthirsty, raging hatred.”

Referring to the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023, Ostrovsky added: “We’ve experienced worse things. We’ll get through this, and we’ll catch those who did this.”

When asked whether he saw the gunmen, Ostrovsky replied: “I did. I saw at least one gunman shooting, with what looked like a shotgun, firing randomly in all directions. I saw children falling to the floor, elderly people.”

“I never thought I would see something like this in Australia. Not in my lifetime. Especially not at Bondi Beach, especially not at this iconic place,” he said.

Speaking about his family, Ostrovsky added: “My children, my wife are safe, thank God. They’re okay. They managed to escape. But I didn’t know where they were. There is no greater fear, no greater terror, than not knowing where your family is. They’re okay. I’ll be okay.”

Bahraini peace activist Loay Alsharif also responded to the attack, referring to his wounded friend Ostrovsky. “Please pray for my brother Arsen Ostrovsky, who was injured in the terror attack in Australia. I’ve known Arsen for years, and I pray to God to grant him the same strength He granted Judah and the Maccabees against their enemies. To the terrorists behind this evil act: you will fail, just as Antiochus failed.”

Alsharif added: “I pray for my Jewish brothers in Australia who were at a horrific shooting carried out by terrorists on Chanukah. We will continue to speak out against terror and antisemitism. And we will always stand united against the forces of darkness that harm innocent lives.”

{Matzav.com}

In the wake of the deadly assault on a Jewish Chanukah gathering in Sydney, Israeli officials convened urgent security and strategic consultations to assess responsibility for the attack and determine who orchestrated the violence against the local Jewish community.

Israeli intelligence assessments have increasingly centered on Iran as the primary suspect. As more time passed following the massacre, officials said Israel’s evaluation grew firmer that Tehran played a direct role in the deadly incident.

At the same time, investigators are examining whether additional terrorist groups linked to or influenced by Iran may have been involved. These include Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba organization, which has ties to Al-Qaeda.

According to intelligence material shared with senior political figures, Iran has recently intensified efforts to smuggle weapons, construct terror networks, and establish online “incitement cells” via social media platforms, with the stated goal of striking Jewish targets around the world.

Israeli warnings about such threats were issued months ago, after assessments indicated that Iran was laying the groundwork for attacks on Jewish communities and institutions in Australia.

Background events in Australia have also informed Israel’s suspicions. In August, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly accused Iran of being behind two antisemitic attacks in the country and announced that diplomatic relations with Tehran would be severed in response.

At that time, Albanese stated that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation had concluded that the Iranian government ordered arson attacks on Lewis Continental Kitchen, a kosher food business in Sydney, in October 2024, and on the Adas Yisrael shul in Melbourne two months later.

Australian intelligence officials assessed that those attacks occurred amid a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents in Sydney and Melbourne following the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, and that Iran sought to conceal its direct involvement in the operations.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH: Prime Minister Netanyahu: “On August 17, about four months ago, I sent Prime Minister Albanese of Australia a letter in which I gave him warning that the Australian government’s policy was promoting and encouraging antisemitism in Australia. I wrote: “Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on the antisemitic fire. It rewards Hamas […]

WATCH: Following the deadly terror attack on the Jewish community in Sydney this morning, President Herzog sent the following message to the Jewish community of Australia from the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.