Curtis Sliwa, the colorful creator of New York City’s Guardian Angels anti-crime patrol group, ran for mayor four years ago and wound up losing to Democrat Eric Adams by almost 40 percentage points. This time around, the red beret-wearing Republican believes the math may be more in his favor. Even in an overwhelmingly blue city, the 71-year-old hopes that with three polarizing candidates splitting the Democratic vote, he can maintain the support he secured last time while picking up backers from the other side of the aisle with his message that he’s best positioned to fight crime. Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state lawmaker and democratic socialist, is the Democratic nominee after upsetting former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the primary. Cuomo, who resigned as governor four years ago after harassment allegations, is running as an independent. Meanwhile, Adams, wounded by a federal bribery case and the Trump administration’s extraordinary intervention to drop the charges, skipped the primary altogether and is instead campaigning for a second term as an independent. “Zohran obviously is very unique. He’s way to the left, but then again, Cuomo and Adams, listen to the way they talk. They’re Zohran-lite,” Sliwa told The Associated Press. “I will be the alternative.” Even if he doesn’t win, Sliwa might play the spoiler. While some Mamdani critics have urged Sliwa to drop out and throw his support behind someone with a better chance of beating the Democratic nominee, Sliwa says that isn’t happening. ‘Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang’ Sliwa is hoping to ride to victory on crime, an issue that helped Adams, a former police captain, win the pandemic-era 2021 election. This year’s Democratic primary was dominated by discussions of New York’s high cost of living, but Sliwa believes crime is “beginning to creep up and almost be equal” to other issues voters care about. Sliwa’s Guardian Angels — a band of beret-wearing citizens — patrolled graffitied subway cars and the rough-and-tumble streets starting in the late 1970s, when crime was rampant. The city, by every measurable metric, has gotten much safer. So far this year, the city has had its fewest shooting incidents and shooting victims in decades. Crime is down this year in nearly every category, according to police. But in Sliwa’s telling, crime is “exploding.” In the Bronx, “blood is pouring from the streets.” The “madams and pimps” on the outskirts of Queens need to be arrested and the “Johns” should be named and shamed. When women ride the subway, they get “perved on,” Sliwa said. If the crime stats won’t paint the picture, Sliwa is happy to. As Sliwa spoke with a small gaggle of journalists on a street corner at a recent campaign stop, he illustrated an argument about the statistics by forming his hand into a gun — a “9 millimeter,” he said — and pointed it at his surprised spokesperson. “Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!” he said. In another interview, he recounted how, in 1992, he was shot multiple times in what prosecutors later said was an attempted mob hit. Sliwa had been blasting Gambino crime family boss John Gotti on the radio. The mob boss’s son, John “Junior” Gotti, was charged with ordering the shooting, but multiple juries deadlocked and prosecutors eventually gave up the case. ‘Still trying, still striving’ Sliwa, like President Donald Trump, has […]
WhatsApp is preparing a significant update that will allow people to connect with others using usernames rather than phone numbers, a change that mirrors the approach of Telegram and similar platforms. The capability was first noticed in the Android beta version 2.25.24.22 and is anticipated to be released more widely in the near future.
This adjustment is expected to reshape how users interact on WhatsApp, making it possible to begin chats without disclosing a phone number while still preserving the app’s hallmark encryption and privacy protections.
Each user will be able to create a distinct username, which must include at least one letter, follow a minimum length rule, and comply with WhatsApp’s formatting guidelines. These requirements are designed to avoid duplication, impersonation, or confusion between accounts. People can choose to display their username openly or keep it private, but once created, usernames will remain searchable within WhatsApp.
The new function will appear in the chat tab, where a username can be typed into a designated search bar. WhatsApp will then scan its directory for potential matches, even when the searched individual isn’t saved as a contact. If a match is found, the profile name and photo (when visible) will appear, letting the user open a chat immediately without needing a phone number. All conversations started this way will operate like normal WhatsApp threads, including support for media files, documents, voice notes, and complete message history—while staying fully end-to-end encrypted.
To give users more control over their privacy, WhatsApp will introduce a “Username Key.” This unique code must be provided before someone can send a first message. Even if a username is discovered, no contact can be initiated unless the person has this key. The feature is optional, functioning like advanced privacy settings seen on other social platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
Using a username will not be compulsory, as those who prefer the traditional phone-number system can continue as usual. To limit misuse and spam, WhatsApp will employ monitoring tools that identify suspicious behavior, automatically blocking and reporting accounts that engage in unwanted messaging in violation of its policies.
Although the feature has not yet been officially launched, its presence in beta testing signals that it is nearing completion and could be introduced to all WhatsApp users in the months ahead.
{Matzav.com}
Army Radio published a report revealing details about Hamas’s propaganda, psychological, and influence apparatus, which until this week was led by the spokesman of its military wing, Abu Obeida, who was assassinated on Shabbos. Hamas’s propaganda and psychological operations network numbers about 1,500 terrorists. Abu Obeida was the architect of this system, significantly expanding it over the past decade. During Operation Protective Edge, it included about 400 terrorists; since then, it has quadrupled in size. About 1,000 propaganda operatives are embedded within Hamas’s combat units. Each brigade and battalion has a dedicated propaganda officer who reported directly to Abu Obeida and oversaw psychological operations. Under them were field operatives responsible for filming propaganda footage “in the field.” In recent years, Abu Obeida led a major procurement campaign, equipping these operatives with GoPro cameras, protective cases, carrying cases, and batteries. Every battalion and brigade ran its own “propaganda operations room,” where video editors created Hamas propaganda clips. Footage of terror squad attacks on IDF soldiers filmed by the propaganda operatives was transmitted in real time, ensuring footage reached the operations room even if the operatives were wounded or killed. The guiding principle was clear: the footage was more valuable than the warfare itself. The IDF has repeatedly targeted these propaganda facilities during the war, but Hamas continually relocates them to schools and hospitals, since all that is required is a laptop and internet connection. Another 400 propaganda terrorists are stationed in operations rooms across the Gaza Strip, some working as video editors for propaganda clips, and some serving as “monitors,” tracking and listening to Israeli media, analyzing public discourse trends in Israel, and proposing psychological influence strategies in accordance with their findings. Abu Obeida personally oversaw every Hamas military campaign in recent years. No Hamas military move in recent years—from the launch of thousands of rockets at Israel before Protective Edge and Guardian of the Walls, the “March of Return” riots, and of course, October 7—was advanced without his approval of the accompanying propaganda plan. Security officials commented, “Hamas understands that its power lies in its asymmetry to Israel—in how it tells the story. That is one of its most effective weapons, which is why it invests so heavily in it. There is no Hamas operation today without an integrated propaganda component.” Abu Obeida also personally directed Hamas’s psychological warfare concerning the hostages. He was a key planner of the hostage videos, shaping every aspect in order to influence Israel’s decision-making process—who appeared, what they said, and how they were filmed. He often surrounded himself with hostages, complicating IDF efforts to target him. Israeli intelligence officials finally identified an opportunity to strike him last week without risking the lives of hostages. Abu Obeida personally orchestrated the hostage release ceremonies. He attended the events, personally briefing the hostages before they went on stage about what to say and do (he knew Hebrew well). It was also his twisted mind that was behind the cynical “release certificates” and macabre “gifts” handed to hostages during those ceremonies. Most recently, Abu Obeida devised a plan to stop the IDF’s entry into Gaza City for the upcoming Gideon’s Chariots B operation using psychological warfare tactics involving the hostages to pressure Israel’s government and security cabinet. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
The death toll from a major earthquake in eastern Afghanistan passed 1,400 on Tuesday, with more than 3,000 people injured, Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban government spokesman, said on social platform X. Rescuers are scrambling in a “race against time” to reach the mountainous and remote area devastated by Sunday’s powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake, a U.N. official said, warning of an exponential rise in the number of casualties. The quake struck in several provinces, causing extensive damage. It flattened villages and trapped people under the rubble of homes that were constructed mostly of mud bricks and wood and were unable to withstand the shock. Rough terrain is hampering rescue and relief efforts, forcing Taliban authorities to send in dozens of commandos to evacuate the injured from places inaccessible by helicopter and other transport. The casualty figures provided by the spokesman, Mujahid, were just for Kunar province. “We cannot afford to forget the people of Afghanistan who are facing multiple crises, multiple shocks, and the resilience of the communities has been saturated,” Indrika Ratwatte, the U.N.’s resident coordinator for Afghanistan, told a media briefing on Tuesday. He urged the international community to step forward. “These are life and death decisions while we race against time to reach people.” It is the third major earthquake since the Taliban seized power in 2021, and the latest crisis to beset Afghanistan, which is reeling from deep cuts to aid funding, a weak economy, and millions of people forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan. Ratwatte said that when the walls of wooden and mud homes collapse, the roof falls on to the occupants, causing injury or death. While the area was low-density, the earthquake struck when everybody was asleep. “If you were to model it based on what has happened before, clearly there’s no question that the casualty rate is going to be rather exponential,” he said. The Taliban government, which is only recognized by Russia, has appealed for assistance from foreign governments and the humanitarian sector. However, help for Afghanistan is in short supply due to competing global crises and reduced aid budgets in donor countries. There is also opposition toward the Taliban government’s restrictive policies on Afghan girls and women, including a ban on them working for nongovernmental organizations. Earlier this year, the U.S. gutted aid money to Afghanistan, partly due to concerns that money was going to the Taliban government. Kate Carey, who is the deputy head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan, said more than 420 health facilities had closed or were suspended due to the “massive reduction” in funding, with 80 of them in the eastern region, the heart of Sunday’s quake. “The consequence is that the remaining facilities are overwhelmed, have insufficient supplies and personnel, and are not as close to the affected populations as the more local facilities at a time when providing emergency trauma care is needed in the first 24 to 72 hours of the earthquake response,” said Carey. (AP)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of seeking the elimination of Palestine during an interview with Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath on Monday, declaring that Israel “wants to destroy all of Palestine.”
He claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not interested in the establishment of a Palestinian state. “Netanyahu does not want a fully-fledged Palestinian state,” Abbas said, while also charging that the prime minister is “determined to continue the genocide of the Palestinian people.”
Abbas reminded viewers that the Palestinians already made a major concession decades ago. “We recognized Israel since 1988, yet it [Israel] still prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state,” he said.
Turning to the question of Gaza, Abbas insisted that the Palestinian Authority is prepared to assume control of the territory. He stated, “We are ready to take over Gaza’s governance and we have the capabilities for it. We have no objections to Arab or international partnerships in managing Gaza.”
He also noted the growing international momentum in support of Palestinian recognition. “One hundred and forty-nine countries have recognized the Palestinian state. Several heads of states have told me they intend to recognize Palestine,” Abbas said.
These remarks came just weeks before the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session scheduled for later this month. Abbas and other senior Palestinian representatives, however, were barred from participating after the United States revoked their visas.
Prior to the American decision, Abbas had considered unilaterally declaring the Palestinian Authority a state. In his Monday interview, he said his intention is to “go to the UN for full membership for Palestine.”
Abbas further addressed the situation in Lebanon, expressing support for President Joseph Aoun’s initiative to remove weapons from Palestinian refugee camps in the country. The Jerusalem Post has previously suggested that such disarmament could set a precedent for Aoun’s administration to eventually target Hezbollah’s arsenal.
“Withdrawing weapons from Palestinian camps is a step towards protecting Lebanon,” Abbas said. “I want a normal relationship with Lebanon and for it to maintain its unity and security. I will not be the cause of disrupting the Lebanese state’s project. Palestinian weapons will remain a trust with the Lebanese state.”
{Matzav.com Israel}02
Belgium has declared that it will move forward with recognizing a Palestinian state while simultaneously placing strict sanctions on Israel, citing the worsening humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza.
The announcement was delivered Monday evening by Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, who sharply criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza, saying it constitutes a breach of international law and obligations to prevent genocide.
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic proportions. Israel’s actions, violating international law and its responsibilities, have forced us to take decisive steps to pressure the Israeli government and the Hamas terrorists,” Prevot wrote. He made clear that the sanctions were not meant to target the Israeli public, but rather to hold Israel’s leadership accountable and compel adherence to international and humanitarian law.
Belgium’s package of 12 sanctions includes halting the import of products originating from Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria, suspending public contracts with Israeli firms, and scaling back consular services for Belgian citizens residing in settlements deemed illegal. The government has also barred several hardline figures, including Israeli ministers and violent “settlers,” from entering Belgium, officially branding them “persona non grata.”
Prevot added that Belgium would push for EU-level actions against Israel, including freezing the EU-Israel association agreement as well as pausing joint research projects and technical cooperation efforts.
In addition, Belgium announced its intent to grant official recognition to “Palestine” as a state, aligning with the coordinated initiative led by France and Saudi Arabia, who plan to advance recognition at the upcoming UN General Assembly. “This gesture is a clear condemnation of Israel’s expansionist policies, including its settlement programs and military occupations,” Prevot stated.
He clarified that the recognition would only take place once Hamas releases all hostages and no longer maintains governing authority in Palestinian territories. Belgium also pledged to assist in rebuilding “Palestine” while at the same time bolstering its fight against antisemitism, enlisting both law enforcement agencies and Jewish community leaders in the effort.
Belgium was one of 26 nations that signed a joint statement in July calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, expressing grave concern about the deteriorating humanitarian crisis and accusing Israel of imposing severe restrictions on humanitarian relief.
That same month, Belgian officials detained two Israeli nationals attending the Tomorrowland music festival and questioned them on suspicions of involvement in war crimes in Gaza.
The arrests were prompted by a complaint filed by the Hind Rijab Foundation, an organization dedicated to pursuing legal cases against IDF personnel internationally.
{Matzav.com}
Families who lost loved ones in two crashes of Boeing 737 Max jetliners may get their last chance to demand the company face criminal prosecution Wednesday. That’s when a federal judge in Texas is set to hear arguments on a U.S. government motion to dismiss a felony charge against Boeing. U.S. prosecutors charged Boeing with conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with the crashes that killed 346 people off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia. Federal prosecutors alleged Boeing deceived government regulators about a flight-control system that was later implicated in the fatal flights, which took place less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019. Boeing decided to plead guilty instead of going to trial, but U.S. District Chief Judge Reed O’Connor rejected the aircraft maker’s plea agreement in December. O’Connor, who also will consider whether to let prosecutors dismiss the conspiracy charge, objected to diversity, equity and inclusion policies potentially influencing the selection of an independent monitor to oversee the company’s promised reforms. Lawyers representing relatives of some of the passengers who died cheered O’Connor’s decision, hoping it would further their goal of seeing former Boeing executives prosecuted during a public trial and more severe financial punishment for the company. Instead, the delay worked to Boeing’s favor. The judge’s refusal to accept the agreement meant the company was free to challenge the Justice Department’s rationale for charging Boeing as a corporation. It also meant prosecutors would have to secure a new deal for a guilty plea. Resolving ‘a difficult and complex’ case The government and Boeing spent six months renegotiating their plea deal. During that time, President Donald Trump returned to office and ordered an end to the diversity initiatives that gave O’Connor pause. By the time the Justice Department’s criminal fraud section briefed the judge in late May, the charge and the plea were off the table. A non-prosecution agreement the two sides struck said the government would dismiss the charge in exchange for Boeing paying or investing another $1.1 billion in fines, compensation for the crash victims’ families, and internal safety and quality measures. The Justice Department said it offered Boeing those terms in light of “significant changes” Boeing made to its quality control and anti-fraud programs since entering into the July 2024 plea deal. The department also said it thought that persuading a jury to punish the company with a criminal conviction would be risky, while the revised agreement ensures “meaningful accountability, delivers substantial and immediate public benefits, and brings finality to a difficult and complex case whose outcome would otherwise be uncertain.” Judge O’Connor has invited some of the families to address the court on Wednesday. One of the people who plans to speak is Catherine Berthet, whose daughter, Camille Geoffrey, died at age 28 when a 737 Max crashed shortly after takeoff from Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Berthet, who lives in France, is part of a group of about 30 families who want the judge to deny the government’s request and to appoint a special prosecutor to take over the case. “While it is no surprise that Boeing is trying to buy everyone off, the fact that the DOJ, which had a guilty plea in its hands last year, has now decided not to prosecute Boeing regardless of the judge’s decision is a denial of justice, a total disregard for the victims and, above all, a disregard for the judge,” she […]
Kraft Heinz is splitting into two a decade after a merger of the brands created one of the biggest food companies on the planet. One of the companies, currently called Global Taste Elevation Co., will include shelf stable meals and include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese, Kraft Heinz said Tuesday. The other, currently called North American Grocery Co., will include brands such as Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. The official names of the two companies will be released later. Kraft Heinz said in May that it was conducting a strategic review of the company, signaling a potential split. The company in 2015 wanted to capitalize on its massive scale, but shifting tastes complicated those plans, with households seeking to introduce healthier options at the table. Kraft Heinz and other food producers have shifted offerings to follow that trend. “Kraft Heinz’s brands are iconic and beloved, but the complexity of our current structure makes it challenging to allocate capital effectively, prioritize initiatives and drive scale in our most promising areas,” Executive Chair Miguel Patricio said in a statement. The path to the merger of Kraft and Heinz began in 2013, when billionaire investor Warren Buffett teamed up with Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital to buy H.J. Heinz Co. At the time, the $23 billion deal was the most expensive ever in the food industry. 3G was also behind the formation of Restaurant Brands International — a merger of Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes — and Anheuser-Busch InBev. It’s known for strict cost controls and so-called zero-based budgeting, which requires all expenses to be justified each quarter. The deal was intended to help Heinz, which was founded in 1869 in Pittsburgh, expand sales of its condiments and sauces on grocery store shelves. Heinz’s new owners also set about cutting costs, laying off hundreds of workers within months. At the same time Kraft, based in Chicago, sought for a partner after a 2011 split from its snack division, which became Mondelez International. In 2015, Buffett and 3G decided to merge Heinz with Kraft. The merger created the 5th largest food and beverage company in the world, with annual revenue of $28 billion. Buffett and 3G each contributed $5 billion for a special dividend for Kraft shareholders. But the combined company struggled, despite layoffs of thousands of employees and other cost-cutting measures. Even at the time of the merger, many consumers were shifting away from the kinds of highly processed packaged foods that Kraft sells, like Velveeta cheese and Kool-Aid. Kraft Heinz also had trouble distinguishing its products from cheaper store brands. At Walmart, a 14-ounce bottle of Heinz ketchup costs $2.98; the same size bottle of Walmart’s Great Value brand is 98 cents. In 2019, Kraft Heinz slashed the value of its Oscar Meyer and Kraft brands by $15.4 billion, citing operational costs and supply chain problems. But many investors blamed the company’s leadership, saying its zeal for cost-cutting was hurting brand innovation. In 2021, Kraft Heinz sold both its Planters nut business and its natural cheese business, vowing to reinvest the money into higher-growth brands like P3 protein snacks and Lunchables. But the company’s net revenue has fallen every year since 2020, when it saw a pandemic-related bump in sales. In April, Kraft […]
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxim Prevot announced on Monday evening that Belgium will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in New York this month and impose sanctions on Israel. “In light of the humanitarian tragedy taking place in Palestine, and especially in the Gaza Strip, and in view of Israeli actions that are carried out in violation of international law, Belgium is forced to make decisive decisions in order to increase the pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas,” Prevot claimed. Prevot added that Belgium has imposed 12 new sanctions on Israel, including restrictions on importing goods from Israeli communities in Yehuda and Shomron, a review of public procurement policy involving Israeli companies, limiting consular services to Belgians residing in ‘illegal settlements,’ exploring flight restrictions, as well as declaring two ‘extremist’ Israeli ministers, several ‘violent settlers,’ and Hamas leaders as “persona non grata.” Prevot also confirmed that Belgium would support measures at the European Union level to suspend collaborations with Israel, including the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement, research programs, and technical cooperation. Belgium will officially recognize “Palestine” as a state, in line with the joint initiative of France and Saudi Arabia, who have announced their intention to recognize “Palestine” at the UN General Assembly later this month. “This gesture is a clear condemnation of Israel’s expansionist policies, including its settlement programs and military occupations,” Prevot stated. He added that “out of awareness of the trauma created among the Israeli people due to the Hamas terror attacks on October 7, 2023, the formalization of this recognition will only take place when the last hostage is released and Hamas is no longer involved in the governance of ‘Palestine.'” Following his antisemitic announcement, rewarding terror by blaming and sanctioning Israel for the suffering of Gazans rather than Hamas, he also promised new Belgian initiatives to fight antisemitism, increased security services, and cooperation with representatives of Jewish communities. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
By Berach Steinfeld
In Devarim (25:17), the Torah commands us to remember what Amalek did to Bnei Yisroel. This forms the basis of the mitzvah of Parshas Zachor, which must be read publicly so that everyone can hear it.
The Gemara in Brachos (47b) recounts an incident involving Reb Elazar, who once came to shul and found only nine people present. To complete the minyan, Reb Elazar freed his eved knani, Tevi. The Gemara questions how this was permissible, given that Reb Yehuda rules that freeing such a servant violates the mitzvah to retain an eved knani forever. The Gemara answers that since a minyan constitutes a mitzvah of the rabim, Reb Elazar was permitted to act in this way.
The Rosh (Siman 20) explains that a mitzvah of the rabim carries greater weight than an individual mitzvah, as derived from the verse “Venikdashti” among Klal Yisroel, the source for the concept of a minyan. This principle applies even to a mitzvah deRabbanan such as hearing kedusha or borchu. Such a mitzvah of the tzibbur can override a mitzvah deOraysa incumbent upon a private individual, such as the prohibition against freeing a slave. The Rosh concludes that the Gemara cannot have been referring to a case of Parshas Zachor, which is min haTorah. Therefore, it must be teaching that the strength of the tzibbur applies even when fulfilling only a mitzvah deRabbanan.
Based on this Rosh, the Trumas HaDeshen (Siman 108) writes that the mitzvah of Parshas Zachor must be heard with a minyan. Thus, if a person must choose between hearing Parshas Zachor with a minyan or hearing Krias HaMegillah with a minyan, preference should be given to Zachor, since it is min haTorah. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 146:2) rules accordingly.
The Pri Chodosh (s.k. 2), however, questions the Rosh: from where does he derive that Parshas Zachor requires a minyan? Furthermore, why do we not find that the other mitzvos of zechiros—such as remembering Yetzias Mitzrayim or the episode of Maaseh Miriam—must also be fulfilled with a tzibbur?
The Hagahos Peulas Sachir on Maaseh Rav (regarding the Gra) offers an explanation. He suggests that the obligation of tzibbur in the case of Amalek stems from the view of the Yereim (Siman 435), who maintains that the mitzvah to eradicate Amalek is not incumbent on each individual, but rather is a mitzvah of the tzibbur under the authority of a king. According to this, it is logical that Parshas Zachor must be read betzibbur, reminding us that the mitzvah to destroy Amalek is a communal obligation.
Although many poskim disagree and hold that a minyan is not required, the reasoning of the Rosh provides clarity as to why one might indeed be necessary.
May we merit the day when the tzibbur of Klal Yisroel, under the leadership of Melech HaMoshiach, will fulfill the mitzvah of wiping out Amalek once and for all.
{Matzav.com}
A furor arose in Belgium after a Belgian radiologist who treated a nine-year-old girl in the emergency room wrote in her medical report that she’s “Jewish-Israeli” in the medical issues section. The grave antisemitic incident took place at the AZ Zeno Campus Hospital in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, on Friday. A censored copy of the child’s medical record circulated on social media in Belgium on Sunday, creating an uproar and demands to fire the doctor. A Belgian organization for combatting antisemitism carried out an investigation, which revealed that the doctor, identified as Dr. Qassim Arkawazy, a native of Iraq, had posted multiple viciously antisemitic posts on his social media accounts in the past, including an AI-generated image of Chassidish “vampires” preparing to suck the blood of a sleeping baby. The organization filed complaints with the police and the Belgian Medical Council. “This is a blatant violation of medical ethics,” a statement from the organization said. “The fact that a doctor, whose duty is to treat every patient with dignity and without bias, would insert such a statement into a medical record constitutes a disgrace to the Belgian healthcare system.” “Antisemitism must never become the norm, especially not in an official medical document concerning a child. We call on the competent authorities to respond firmly and show that antisemitism in any form will never be tolerated. The case raises difficult questions about the culture of the medical profession and the need for additional training and education to prevent expressions of hatred in essential public institutions like hospitals.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Zakein HaPoskim, HaGaon HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl, who has refrained for decades from intervening in public matters, published a letter paskening that even Chareidi bochurim who aren’t learning should not enlist in the IDF. HaRav Nebenzahl began his letter with words of chizzuk to the bochurim who were arrested in recent weeks for the “sin” of learning Torah and failing to report to the draft offices: “I wish to be mechazeik the precious Bnei Torah who were thrown into prison because they fulfilled their true obligation to learn Torah and did not enlist in the army,” the Rav wrote. HaRav Nebenzahl then issued an unequivocal p’sak: “In addition, I wish to state my opinion clearly, that even a Chareidi bochur who, unfortunately, isn’t learning Torah, must not be tempted to enlist in the army, not even into the frameworks established there for Chareidim, as the Gedolei Yisrael have instructed.” According to B’Chadrei Chareidim, HaRav Nebenzahl’s p’sak is unprecedented, as he is known for refusing to publicly express his opinion on current issues, despite his tremendous influence across all communities and circles—even among those far from the Torah world. Until now, when asked about the enlistment of Chareidi bochurim who aren’t learning, HaRav Nebenzahl would refuse to answer, saying, “A Chareidi bochur must sit and learn! How can it be that a Chareidi bochur isn’t learning?!” On another occasion, HaRav Nebenzahl added, “Either way—if the bochur asks for Daas Torah, we must instruct him to sit and learn. And if he does not listen to Daas Torah, what use is there in forbidding him to go to the army?” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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An impressive copy of the first and exceedingly rare edition. Even the Chida, who was well-acquainted with rare sefarim, writes about it in Shem HaGedolim that “it is not to be found at all.” Likewise, the Sho’el U’Meishiv, in his approbation to the Lemberg edition of 1858, writes that it is “extraordinarily rare.”
An impressive copy of the first and exceedingly rare edition. Even the Chida, who was well-acquainted with rare sefarim, writes about it in Shem HaGedolim that “it is not to be found at all.” Likewise, the Sho’el U’Meishiv, in his approbation to the Lemberg edition of 1858, writes that it is “extraordinarily rare.”
A wave of relief swept through the Gerrer community in Israel and across the globe with the news that the Gerrer Rebbe was released from Hadassah Har HaTzofim Hospital in Yerushalayim, where he had been admitted due to pneumonia.
The Rebbe remained under close observation throughout last night, prompting great concern among his followers and the broader public, who gathered in tefillah for his recovery.
Reports indicate that the Rebbe had been feeling unwell over the past week, experiencing breathing difficulties since last Friday. This downturn followed a fall several weeks ago in Moshav Ora, which had already weakened his health.
His release to his residence in Yerushalayim was met with deep joy among his chassidim.
The public is urged to continue davening for the complete recovery of Rav Yaakov Aryeh ben Yuta Henna.
{Matzav.com}
In a dramatic development, Rav Dov Landau has instructed that the start of the school year for ninth-grade classes in Yerushalayim high schools be postponed. The decision follows growing outrage over the situation of many girls from across different backgrounds and communities who were denied acceptance to local high schools.
According to an announcement from Rav Landau’s home, “After extensive discussions held in his residence, Rav Landau ruled that the school year will not begin until all the girls are properly placed in suitable high schools.”
The crisis erupted after the Yerushalayim municipality placed several Sephardic students into Ashkenazi high schools. The school administrators protested, claiming these placements were inappropriate, leading to a standoff between school heads and local authorities.
A letter released by the Yerushalayim Rabbinical Committee, signed by Rav Landau, stated: “With the full support and guidance of our Gedolei Yisroel, since dozens of outstanding girls from exceptional homes are still without proper placement, the ninth-grade school year in high schools will not open on Monday until all the girls are accommodated in appropriate institutions.”
The letter also instructed school administrators to expand class sizes to fifty students per class as a temporary solution to help resolve the shortage.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch responded sharply to the ongoing dispute, declaring: “There will be no discrimination in the education system based on ethnicity or origin! After intensive efforts by the Ministry of Education, the overwhelming majority of girls were successfully placed in high schools by the end of June — an unprecedented achievement.”
Kisch added that a small number of high schools in Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh are refusing to comply with state guidelines: “This shameful and racist discrimination will end — either through disciplinary hearings, cutting off government funding, and legal measures to close the institutions, or by their immediate compliance in accepting students according to Ministry of Education procedures.”
A similar standoff is unfolding in Beit Shemesh, where, under the direction of the city’s Mara D’asra, Rav Mordechai Goldstein, the start of the school year for incoming high school students has also been delayed due to unresolved placement disputes.
During a ceremony inaugurating the Beis Yaakov Derech Emunah school in the Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel neighborhood, MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, addressed the ongoing controversy. However, rather than criticizing Rav Landau’s directive or Rav Goldstein’s local ruling, Gafni turned his criticism toward the Shas party, saying: “I know there are significant problems with the city’s high schools, and therefore I call from this distinguished platform to the leaders of Shas — open new educational institutions, as is appropriate for a quality community.”
Gafni further emphasized: “We need to ensure that your daughters have proper places to study comfortably, without being forced into overcrowded classrooms within our institutions, which are already expanding beyond their capacity.”
The Shas party quickly issued a response, defending its record and objectives: “Shas’ lifelong mission is to establish outstanding educational institutions for the Sephardic community, and for decades we have been doing so successfully throughout the country.”
The statement concluded by thanking Gafni for underscoring Shas’ critical role: “We appreciate Moshe Gafni’s acknowledgment of the importance of a strong and independent Shas, and we agree that the Sephardic community cannot rely on any other party to safeguard its educational needs.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Opposition leader Yair Lapid declared Sunday night that another electoral victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition would spell “the end of Zionism.” Speaking before activists at a Yesh Atid party gathering in Tel Aviv, Lapid said the coming election as Israel’s decisive moment. “If we don’t save the country now, in two years there will be nothing left to save. The window of opportunity will close,” he said. Lapid described Israelis as facing two starkly opposed futures: “a successful, sophisticated, world-renowned first-world country, with liberal values and love for Jewish tradition — or a violent and backward third-world country, which turns Judaism into racism and wants to eliminate our democracy.” The opposition leader called for sweeping reforms, including passing a constitution, strengthening the education system, and safeguarding the independence of the police and courts. He also sought to distinguish his leadership from rivals, noting that while figures from Gadi Eisenkot to Naftali Bennett were positioning themselves for top posts, “somebody also needs to know how to take all these forces and build a government from them.” With elections mandated by October 2026, Lapid insisted only Yesh Atid has the strength and organizational capacity to lead the opposition to victory. “If you really want us to win the elections and form a government, Yesh Atid must be big, must be strong, must lead the camp,” he told supporters. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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