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Leading Israeli rabbonim have issued a strongly worded public letter condemning a new employment trend in which chareidi women have begun working in a particular field. The letter, titled “And He Shall See No Unseemly Thing in You, and Turn Away From You,” warns that such work is inappropriate and violates long-standing standards of tznius.

The rabbonim expressed alarm over reports from Tzefas that chareidi women have recently begun working as drivers in public transportation. “With great concern we have heard about a new phenomenon taking place here in our holy city of Tzefas, where chareidi women are serving as drivers in public transportation,” the letter begins.

They stressed that, historically, “many of the great leaders of Israel have prohibited women from driving vehicles altogether and viewed it as a serious breach in the boundaries of modesty.”

The letter then intensifies its tone, arguing that becoming public-transportation drivers represents a further decline. “It never occurred to us that they would descend even more steps backward, to serve as drivers in public transportation. In truth, this is not fitting even for non-Jewish women, and even the more refined among them would not degrade themselves with such a lowly job — and all the more so, infinitely more so, for chareidi women,” the rabbonim wrote.

They added that several severe halachic and modesty concerns are intertwined with this type of work, saying some individuals “do not feel the seriousness of the prohibitions involved. This contradicts entirely the Torah’s guidelines for modesty.”

The letter also warns of spiritual consequences, stating: “Woe to us on the Day of Judgment, woe to us on the Day of Rebuke, if we do not erect a wall around this matter, so that it should not be seen or found among the daughters of Israel, lest judgment befall us because of it.”

In their concluding appeal, the rabbonim urge immediate withdrawal from the profession. “We hereby call upon those who have already been tempted into this degrading job to abandon this improper path immediately and seek other forms of employment in accordance with modesty and halacha. We ask that all who are able do everything within their power to stop this destructive development from spreading among the Jewish people.”

The letter is signed “in pain and fear for the suffering of the holy Shechinah.”

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Consumer Spending Slows in September • Consumer spending rose 0.3% in September, down from 0.5% in August. • The slowdown shows weaker economic momentum heading into the fourth quarter. • Demand softened due to a weak labor market and higher living costs. • Recent strength came mainly from wealthier households benefiting from stock market […]

A Mercedes driver in Romania lost control of the vehicle, causing the car to go airborne. Despite the dramatic crash, he reportedly sustained only minor injuries.

EU Fines X €120 Million Under the Digital Services Act • The European Commission has fined X €120 million for breaching transparency rules under the Digital Services Act. • Regulators said X used a deceptive design for its “blue checkmark” system. • The Commission also cited a lack of transparency in the platform’s advertising repository. […]

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards carried out two days of drills in the Gulf, firing Qadr-series ballistic and cruise missiles and using drones to strike mock “enemy” bases.

Pentagon Sets 2027 Deadline for Europe to Take Over NATO Conventional Defense • The Pentagon told European delegations in Washington that the United States wants Europe to take over most of NATO’s conventional defense capabilities by 2027, including intelligence, air defenses, and missiles. • U.S. officials warned that if Europe cannot meet that timeline, the […]

The suspect arrested in the DC pipe-bomb investigation told the FBI during interviews that he believed the 2020 election was stolen, giving investigators an early indication of a possible motive behind the bombs placed near the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021.  

Hassett: The president has a proven track record on affordability and healthcare…

PamBondi on how the FBI found Brian Cole Jr. and what investigators are learning now.

A drone crossing from Jordan into Israel was detected by the IDF last night, after which Yoav Regional Brigade troops located it carrying nine pistols and several magazines; the weapons were handed over to police for investigation.

A baggage loader caught fire next to an Airbus A320 on the runway at São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport in Brazil, causing heavy smoke to enter the aircraft. The cabin quickly filled with smoke, forcing all passengers to evacuate.

Singer Meidad Tasa—once one of the most iconic child performers in the golden era of Jewish music—celebrated his 32nd birthday on the program “Ba Ba’Arba,” where he sat down for a candid conversation with host Kobi Brummer. The two spoke openly about Tasa’s personal growth, his musical aspirations, his struggle with stage fright, and the emotional legacy left behind by his late brother.

Brummer opened the interview by admitting he struggled to believe Tasa had reached age 32. Tasa laughed and replied, “People always said I look young, but I’ve learned a lot about life. I’m at the age of ‘lev’—thirty-two… I feel like my heart has become stronger.” He said that although he has matured personally and professionally, “I still feel like the same kid—just with more experience and stability.”

During the discussion, Tasa revealed the classic song he dreams of reviving. “‘Adon Olam,’ the greatest of them all… a song people loved that somehow disappeared,” he said. He hinted that he will soon release a special rendition of another piece but declined to reveal which one.

The singer also offered advice to anyone facing stage fright. According to him, fear comes from uncertainty. “We’re afraid of the unknown. The first step is to acknowledge the fear. When you ignore it, you stay stuck,” he explained.

In one of the most emotional moments of the interview, Tasa spoke about his brother Aviel, who tragically passed away in a mikvah in Bnei Brak. “He was a true tzaddik. He immersed in the mikvah every day, he learned in the Beis Shmaya yeshiva, he ran a charity fund, and he used to strengthen students without anyone knowing,” Tasa said. He shared that he often bought his brother new tzitzis, and that Aviel left him with a lasting message: treat every person with dignity. “At big concerts, I would stop and listen to a child asking for something. That came from him. That’s my only real possession—the way you treat another human being.”

As the interview wrapped up, Tasa was asked about the musical figures who shaped his style. “I took something from everyone,” he said. “From Avraham Fried, I learned vocal control and stage presence. From Chaim Yisrael, the old-style Mizrachi trills.”

What would he have done if he hadn’t become a singer? Tasa answered without hesitation: “I would want to be a pianist. To play, play, play—and forget about the world.” Torah study in kollel, he said, is his life’s anchor, but music—especially the piano—gives him a space for creativity, expression, and emotional breath.

{Matzav.com}

A direct and unusually sharp confrontation erupted Thursday evening between Supreme Court Justice Yitzchak Amit and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, after Amit delivered a forceful speech accusing Levin of orchestrating “a campaign to harm the judicial branch.” Levin answered swiftly with his own pointed rebuke: “What did you think would happen when you put yourself above the law?”

The dispute surfaced at a conference on public law, where Amit criticized Levin for refusing to recognize his appointment as president of the Supreme Court — an appointment made in defiance of statutory procedures. According to Amit, the minister’s refusal to cooperate reflects an intentional effort to undermine the judiciary, citing Levin’s own earlier remark: “What was built here over decades takes time to dismantle, it doesn’t end in one day.” Amit added, “The words speak for themselves.”

Amit opened his remarks by warning that “the attack on the judicial system continues in full force.” Reflecting on the recent ruling striking down the Reasonableness Law, he compared the country’s constitutional instability to a democracy caught in a dangerous spiral, saying that Israel’s democratic system “has entered a turbulent vortex from which we have not yet emerged.”

While emphasizing that public criticism of the courts is legitimate and essential, he noted that dissent must not morph into direct obstruction. He condemned what he described as coordinated efforts to disrupt hearings, saying: “Unfortunately, in these days, we are witnessing an unprecedented phenomenon of attempts — organized and timed — to interfere with and disrupt hearings in the courtrooms.” Such actions, he said, ultimately harm the public seeking fair and thorough judicial review.

Amit revealed that earlier this week, the court authorized restrictions on public attendance in hearings likely to be disrupted, explaining that when a hearing is broadcast and there is risk of interference, “it will be possible to restrict admission to the courtroom.”

He argued that personal attacks on judges have replaced substantive legal discourse, warning that the rise of online speech has flattened public understanding into simplistic slogans. He described some of the rhetoric directed at judges as “verbal violence” and said it is being used deliberately to weaken judicial independence. These attacks, he argued, are part of “a broader campaign to erode and harm judicial independence.”

Amit then accused Levin of directly contributing to this erosion by boycotting Israel’s top court for more than a year: “For about a year and a half, the justice minister has been boycotting the judicial system, and by doing so, he is boycotting the Israeli public that turns to the courts.” Amit said he repeatedly urged Levin to return to professional cooperation, but these attempts received “no response — not a sisterly hand, but a turned back.”

Levin’s response was immediate and scathing. Addressing Amit directly, he opened: “Respect democracy, and I will be the first to respect you.”

He accused Amit and other senior judges of illegally seizing control of the Judicial Selection Committee. “Justice Yitzchak Amit, what did you think would happen when you and your colleagues, in an unlawful order, took over the committee for selecting judges?” Levin asked. He said Amit prevented examination of serious complaints against him and “imposed on the citizens of Israel a ‘president’ of a court who tramples again and again the majority of the public.”

“You place yourself and your colleagues above the law. Everything is permitted for you,” Levin charged, adding that Amit blocked investigative committees in key scandals and fostered a culture of mutually protective behavior: “Close for me and I’ll close for you.”

Levin turned Amit’s earlier criticism on its head, saying: “There was one thing you said tonight that was correct: I really am dismantling. I am dismantling brick by brick the fortress of lies in which you and your colleagues sit. But I am also building — rebuilding the judicial system as it was in its days of greatness.”

He ended with a final challenge: “Every compromise offered to you, you dismissed with contempt. So I will nevertheless offer another compromise proposal: Respect democracy, and I will be the first to respect you.”

{Matzav.com}

A dramatic escape attempt by members of the radical Lev Tahor cult was thwarted at a U.S. airport late Wednesday night, when two families — four adults and five young children — were taken into custody by undercover FBI agents just moments before boarding a flight to Guatemala.

According to officials, the group had landed back in the United States only two days earlier after being expelled from Colombia. In an effort to avoid detection while arranging their next move, the adults reportedly swapped the radical cult’s distinctive clothing for traditional chassidic attire. They successfully passed passport control and routine airport security checks before agents intervened at the gate.

Footage from the scene showed the group being escorted out of the terminal by law enforcement.

Their arrest comes on the heels of a major international operation. On November 23, Colombian authorities announced the detention of nine adult members of Lev Tahor along with 17 minors. Immigration officials explained that five of the rescued children — all of whom hold Canadian, American, or Guatemalan citizenship — had been flagged by Interpol under a yellow notice due to fears of kidnapping, human trafficking, or exploitation.

Five days later, Colombia confirmed that the adults and all 17 minors had been deported to the United States. A spokesperson for Colombia’s immigration agency said that several children from the group were also transported back to the U.S. on the same flight and handed over to American child-protection services. Colombian police accompanied them onboard.

Local security officials revealed additional concerns uncovered during the probe. Members of Lev Tahor had reportedly planned to settle on a remote private property in Yaromal, a move that could have severely hindered rescue efforts. “Their intention was to disappear onto private land,” a security source said, adding that the plan raised “serious concerns.”

After the deportation, two of the families made a quick attempt to flee again — this time to Guatemala — but were intercepted at the last possible moment. Authorities say further investigations are underway.

{Matzav.com}

Federal aviation officials and airline engineers are still piecing together what caused a New Jersey-bound JetBlue flight to plunge thousands of feet in late October, injuring at least 15 passengers and forcing an emergency landing. But a new theory circulating among space-radiation experts is pulling the investigation in an unexpected direction. According to Clive Dyer, […]

Revelations of more than a billion dollars in welfare fraud across Minnesota have ignited sharp questions about what Rep. Ilhan Omar knew regarding the massive schemes carried out within the Somali community she represents. The scope of the theft — sprawling across programs meant to help vulnerable families — has intensified scrutiny of Omar’s long-standing associations with individuals and groups now implicated in the investigations.

Multiple reports note that Omar has maintained close relationships with entities and figures tied directly to several of the fraud cases. The widening scandal, which implicates Minnesota’s expansive welfare network, has now surpassed the billion-dollar mark in misappropriated taxpayer funds.

One of the most glaring examples centers on Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, a gathering place Omar has used for campaign events and celebrations. That same establishment has been repeatedly referenced in investigative findings. Owners Salim Said and Aimee Bock, who were deeply involved in Omar’s orbit, were convicted for their central role in the Feeding Our Future scheme — a $250 million swindle siphoning off funds intended for children’s meals. Chadwick Moore of the New York Post reported that Omar not only celebrated her 2018 victory at the restaurant but also introduced the very legislation that enabled the scam. Despite those ties, she has insisted she had no knowledge of any wrongdoing.

In August, Said was convicted of stealing $12 million from food-aid allocations under the 2020 MEALS Act — legislation Omar authored and championed as it sailed through Congress with bipartisan backing. Footage even surfaced of Omar promoting the program inside Safari Restaurant, praising the initiative that fraudsters later exploited.

Another troubling link comes from within her own political team. Guhaad Hashi Said, a Democrat activist who served on Omar’s campaign from 2018 to 2020, admitted to masterminding a sham nonprofit called Advance Youth Athletic Development. Claiming to feed 5,000 children, he secured $3.2 million in fraudulent funding. Throughout his tenure, Said was heavily involved in turnout operations for the Somali community and frequently appeared alongside Omar.

Financial ties also emerged as part of the scandal. Omar accepted donations from several individuals later charged in the schemes, though in 2022 she returned $7,400 in contributions traced back to those convicted. Nonetheless, she has continued to insist she had no awareness of any criminal activity.

As the fallout grows, Omar has attempted to reframe public criticism as an attack on the Somali community. She recently published an op-ed in the New York Times, brushing aside Trump’s condemnation of the billion-dollar theft and labeling his concerns as “bigotry.” Outraged over his comment describing her and large numbers of unassimilated Somali migrants as “garbage,” she accused him of attempting to “silence” Black and Muslim “newcomers.”

In the op-ed, she asserted: “He fails to realize how deeply Somali Americans love this country. We are doctors, teachers, police officers and elected leaders working to make our country better. Over 90 percent of Somalis living in my home state, Minnesota, are American citizens by birth or naturalization. Some even supported Mr. Trump at the ballot box.”

Omar continued denouncing Trump’s “dehumanizing” remarks, insisting that Somali migrants care profoundly about the United States. Yet she did not confront the vast fraud schemes carried out within her community nor the allegations of millions in U.S. taxpayer dollars being funneled by Somali networks to the terror group Al-Shabaab.

The unanswered questions — and the scale of the fraud — ensure the pressure on Omar will only intensify.

{Matzav.com}

In a remarkable display of yashrus and unwavering commitment to halacha, a young avreich from the Slabodka Kollel returned a staggering sum of 150,000 shekels discovered in the walls of his newly purchased apartment — money he could have easily and legally claimed as his own. The story began several weeks ago, when the avreich […]

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is preparing to torch one of the most visible pillars of the Adams administration, announcing Thursday that he will end all homeless encampment sweeps the moment he takes office in January. At a Manhattan press conference, the Democratic Socialist insisted the policy was not just ineffective but fundamentally misguided. […]

The Trump administration is preparing to unveil the second phase of its Gaza peace plan — a move senior American officials say could come before the end of the year, ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expected visit to Washington. The details, shared with Israel’s Channel 12, reveal an increasingly high-stakes effort to push Hamas […]