Newly uncovered footage shows socialist New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani delivering a fiery speech against Israel just months before Hamas’s October 7, 2023 massacre. The state assemblyman from Queens is seen at a July 2023 rally in Midtown Manhattan, vocally calling to defund what he termed “Israeli settler violence.”
Mamdani repeatedly led the crowd in chants of “not on our dime,” urging New Yorkers to stop supporting Israel. “That’s what we’re calling for. We are calling for it because we know that the days of inconsistency, the days of drawing the lines in Palestine, those days are over,” he told demonstrators. “What we are calling for is the end of our complicity as New Yorkers.”
The rally, organized to promote legislation Mamdani introduced in Albany, aimed to strip nonprofit status from New York charities that raise money for Israeli institutions or the Israeli military. Video of the event has resurfaced and circulated widely on social media this week, reigniting controversy over Mamdani’s anti-Israel record as he leads in the city’s mayoral race.
In his speech, Mamdani reflected on his upbringing in New York and the political double standards he claims to have witnessed. “When I grew up in this city, I grew up hearing a term ‘progressive except Palestine.’ I grew up hearing that it was normal to hold an inconsistency only when it applied to Palestinians,” he declared to cheers from the crowd. “I saw the politicians that I admired speak of universal rights and then draw the line right when it came to Palestinians. I was told that was simply how it is, that is how it has been, and it is how it will be.”
At one point, a heckler shouted at Mamdani, accusing him of hypocrisy for attacking Israel while holding public office. The assemblyman brushed off the criticism by rallying the crowd to chant louder, seemingly to drown out the interruption.
“When I decided to run for office, I was told to keep my thoughts on Palestine to myself if I wanted to win,” Mamdani said defiantly. “I want to make it clear. I spoke every day to my constituents about the need for us to stand up in a consistent manner for justice for every single person — whether they are in Astoria or in Palestine.”
{Matzav.com}The battle for New Jersey’s governorship has become a razor-thin contest, with a new Emerson College/Pix 11/The Hill poll showing Democrat Mikie Sherrill holding 49% support compared to 48% for Republican Jack Ciattarelli. When undecided voters were asked which way they lean, Sherrill’s edge ticked up slightly to 50% against Ciattarelli’s 48%.
The results mark a stunning turnaround for Ciattarelli, who has managed to erase what was once a commanding 20-point lead for Sherrill earlier in the summer. With Election Day rapidly approaching, strategists on both sides say the race could hinge entirely on turnout.
Demographic divides continue to shape the race. Women favor Sherrill by a significant 18-point margin, while men back Ciattarelli by 16 points — a gap that has widened on both sides since September. “Since last month, Ciattarelli’s lead among men increased by four points, and Sherill’s lead among women grew by eight points,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.
Economic concerns are dominating voter priorities in the Garden State. A majority — 52% — identified the economy as their top issue, reflecting frustration with New Jersey’s notoriously high taxes and cost of living. Just 14% said “threats to democracy” were their main concern, while 11% cited housing affordability. Only 5% of voters pointed to immigration policy or health care as their biggest issue.
Both candidates appear to be evenly matched not only in polling but also in likability. Sherrill earns a 47% favorable rating among voters, with an identical 47% viewing her unfavorably. Ciattarelli’s numbers are virtually the same, with 48% viewing him positively and 48% negatively.
The poll also painted a grim picture for outgoing Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, whose approval numbers have sunk as he completes his final term. Only 34% of voters approve of his performance, while half disapprove and 16% remain neutral.
President Donald Trump’s ratings in the state are somewhat higher but still underwater. The survey found that 45% of respondents approve of his job performance, while 53% disapprove.
Emerson College conducted the survey between October 25 and 28, polling 1,000 registered voters using text messages, automated calls, and a vetted online panel. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.
Last month’s Emerson survey also placed the two contenders in a 43% tie, a result that initially stood out from other polls but has since been validated as the race tightened dramatically.
Overall polling averages now show Sherrill holding a slim 3.7-point advantage in the RealClearPolitics aggregate, down sharply from her 9.3-point lead at the start of September. Notably, the same polling averages underestimated Ciattarelli’s strength by roughly five points during his near-upset against Phil Murphy in 2021.
Still, there are warning signs for the GOP challenger. Early voting data compiled by Michael Pruser, Director of Data Science for Decision, indicates that 54% of ballots so far have come from registered Democrats, compared with 28% from Republicans — a turnout imbalance that could prove decisive in the final tally.
{Matzav.com}Hundreds of thousands of Jews gathered in the streets of Yerushalayim on Thursday in a massive atzeres tefillah and outcry before the Ribono Shel Olam, pleading for the annulment of the government’s draft decree and protesting the continued imprisonment of bnei yeshiva who refuse to report to army enlistment offices.
Under the banner “Nikhalu haYehudim al gezeiras ha-giyus,” the event brought together gedolei Yisroel and rabbonim from every community, united in their call to defend the sanctity of Torah and the right of its learners to study without interference.
Massive Turnout and Spiritual Unity
Beginning late Wednesday night, throngs began streaming toward Yerushalayim despite transportation difficulties, eager to arrive early for the historic gathering. Yeshivos across the country organized special early-morning sedarim in nearby batei medrash before heading to the site of the atzeres.
By morning, prominent gedolim had taken their places on balconies and platforms across the capital. Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, the Admorim of Kretchnif and Modzitz, Rav Chaim Feinstein, Rav Yitzchok Ezrachi, Rav Dovid Cohen of Chevron, Rav Shraga Steinman, Rav Tzvi Drebkin, Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, and many others were seen at the central balcony of the Yirmiyahu 33 hotel. Rav Dov Landau was seen on a balcony of one of the surrounding buildings.
Nearby, the Gerer Rebbe and Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman led tefillos from the Shmuel Hanavi–Yirmiyahu intersection, joined by the Admor of Sadigura. Other Admorim observed from various locations across the city: the Admor of Belz from the balcony of his grandson’s home on Shmager Street, the Admor of Vizhnitz—who came specially from his lodging in Ora—reciting Tehillim in the nusach of the Yamim Nora’im, the Admor of Slonim on Malchei Yisroel Street, the Admor of Boyan from his kloiz balcony, and the Admor of Sanz at the Yirmiyahu Junction.
The Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, stood together with thousands of bochurim and rabbeim of the yeshiva, while gedolei Torah from across the Sephardic world gathered in the Bais Yisroel building under the leadership of Rishon LeTzion Rav Yitzchak Yosef and members of the Shas Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah.
Tefillos, Tehillim, and Selichos
The gathering, characterized entirely by solemn tefillah rather than speeches or political addresses, opened with Minchah led by Rav Avishai Mandel. Tehillim was then recited following the Seder HaShlah, with the mashgiach, Rav Don Segal, leading one segment. Additional kapitlach were recited by Rav Shalom Baruch Prizand and Rav Mordechai Shepsel Eisenberger.
Selichos and the Yud-Gimmel Middos Harachamim followed, led by Rav Avraham Salim, Rav Eliyahu Man, and the mashpia Rav Elimelech Biderman. Rav Reuven Elbaz then led Kabalas Ol Malchus Shamayim, followed by Kaddish recited by the mekubal Rav Yaakov Ades. The gathering concluded with Tekias Shofar, symbolizing a collective cry to Shomayim.
Gedolei Yisroel Declare: “The Torah Is Our Life”
At the close of the event, the official declaration of the atzeres—approved by the gedolei hador—was read aloud to the masses. Its central messages were:
As the sun set over Yerushalayim, the thunderous sound of Tehillim and cries of Shema Yisroel echoed through the city, a historic show of unity and spiritual defiance declaring that Am Yisroel will never relinquish its most sacred treasure—the eternal Torah.
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{Matzav.com}
