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A Brazilian scholar who admitted to firing an air rifle outside a Brookline synagogue on Yom Kippur is now leaving the United States after being taken into custody by federal immigration authorities earlier this week.

The Department of Homeland Security announced that Carlos Portugal Gouvea, 43, agreed to return to Brazil rather than proceed through deportation proceedings. “It is a privilege to work and study in the United States, not a right,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said, adding, “There is no room in the United States for brazen, violent acts of anti-Semitism like this. They are an affront to our core principals [sic] as a country and an unacceptable threat against law-abiding American citizens.”

Gouvea had pleaded guilty Nov. 13 to one misdemeanor count tied to the Oct. 2 episode outside Temple Beth Zion, admitting to the unlawful use of the air rifle. During the encounter, which unfolded on the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, he told police he had been “hunting rats.”

Authorities said he had fired twice before being approached by the synagogue’s private security team, who engaged him in what the police report described as a “brief physical struggle.” He then retreated into his nearby home, according to details reported by Brookline.News.

When officers questioned him afterward, he continued to insist that his purpose had been to target vermin, although investigators determined that one of the shots had struck and broken a car window.

Prior to the incident, Gouvea had been serving as a visiting professor at Harvard Law School under a J-1 visa. That visa was revoked by the State Department shortly after the shooting, and Harvard subsequently placed him on administrative leave. The school did not announce any further disciplinary steps.

Under the plea arrangement, additional accusations—including disorderly conduct, vandalism, and disturbing the peace—were dismissed.

The clash outside the synagogue occurred just days after President Trump said that Harvard had tentatively resolved a dispute with his administration regarding $2.4 billion in frozen federal research funds, a standoff that grew out of controversies connected to antisemitism and the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel.

{Matzav.com}

A federal vaccine advisory committee voted on Friday to end the longstanding recommendation that all U.S. babies get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they’re born. A loud chorus of medical and public health leaders decried the actions of the panel, whose current members were all appointed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy […]

A Beis Din ruling in Bnei Brak has handed a decisive victory to Satmar in a high-profile dispute with guesthouse owners in Meron, determining that lodging contracts for a major Shabbos gathering will remain unchanged and that concealing the identity of the renters to prevent price-gouging was entirely legitimate, Matzav.com has learned.

The financial saga began ahead of a massive Shabbos Hisachdus in Meron, where the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, was scheduled to spend Shabbos together with thousands of chassidim who had arrived in Israel. Demand for accommodations in the area surged, prompting Satmar organizers to secure dozens of guesthouses and rental units near the kever of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai.

To prevent extreme price inflation, Satmar enlisted an outside production company and instructed it to quietly reserve every available unit in the Meron region without disclosing that the Rebbe and thousands of followers would be arriving. Organizers feared that revealing this information would trigger massive price hikes from property owners.

After the reservations were finalized, however, one guesthouse owner discovered who the tenants really were and claimed that he could have charged far more had he known. He sought to cancel the agreement entirely. Several additional landlords joined him, filing a formal claim against both Satmar and the production company, alleging that essential information had been withheld during the booking process.

The case was brought before the Beis Din Tzedek of Bnei Brak, founded by Rav Nissim Karelitz zt”l and widely regarded as one of the most respected monetary botei din in the chareidi world. The panel consisted of Dayanim Rav Shalom Mordechai HaLevi Segal, Rav Binyomin Yechiel Posen, and Rav Mordechai Silman, highly experienced arbitrators in financial disputes. The ruling attracted unusual public interest due to the scale of the rentals involved, which included dozens of apartments and lodging complexes.

In their clear and unequivocal ruling, the dayanim upheld the original contracts in full, determining that the guesthouse owners had no basis to void the agreements. The fact that demand later proved higher than anticipated, they ruled, does not constitute any form of “mistaken transaction” and does not justify canceling a freely signed agreement. They emphasized that fluctuating market conditions are not grounds for retroactively altering a deal.

The ruling stated that “there is no flaw whatsoever in the conduct of the community and of the defendants,” adding that renters are not obligated to disclose information that might encourage unfair price gouging. The dayanim further wrote that “they are entitled to act wisely in order to obtain lodging services at reasonable prices.”

As a result, all rental agreements remain binding, leaving the disappointed Meron property owners required to honor the original rates.

{Matzav.com}

A tense exchange of messages and public statements followed a startling moment at a Manhattan charity gala, prompting NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to send a personal apology to the incoming mayor’s team — an apology Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani acknowledged on Thursday while signaling he intends to move forward without dwelling on the episode.

During his Cocoa Chat community event, Mamdani addressed the controversy directly, noting that Tisch had reached out after her brother publicly referred to him as an “enemy” of the Jewish people. “The commissioner apologized to my team for those remarks, and I look forward to being a mayor for each and every New Yorker, including Jewish New Yorkers,” Mamdani said.

Mamdani underscored that the friction created by the comment would not derail his professional relationship with Tisch, whom he has decided to retain as head of the NYPD despite their policy differences. He reiterated that he does not intend to let the distraction impede his administration’s priorities.

“My focus in my conversations with Commissioner Tisch is on delivering public safety and doing so in tandem with justice for New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” he said. “The apology was one that she conveyed to the team. I appreciated it, and my focus is back on delivering.”

The NYPD also issued a statement through spokesperson Brad Weekes, amplifying Tisch’s reassurance to the public. “I understand the fear in the Jewish community. My sincere belief is that the mayor-elect will live up to the commitment he’s made to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, including the Jewish community.”

The apology was prompted by comments made the previous night by Benjamin Tisch, billionaire CEO of Loews Corporation, during the Met Council’s annual gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Attendees told the New York Daily News that Tisch’s decision to brand Mamdani an “enemy” stunned the room, especially given that Commissioner Tisch had recently agreed to continue serving under the incoming administration.

One witness described the crowd’s reaction succinctly: “It was just like, ‘wow, he’s actually going to go there.’” Benjamin Tisch has offered no public explanation or follow-up since the event.

Mamdani — a democratic socialist and outspoken critic of Israel’s policies — has repeatedly denied accusations that his political positions amount to antisemitism, even as he has faced sustained attacks from groups aligned against him. The Tisch family as a whole invested heavily in efforts to defeat him during the 2025 mayoral race, donating over a million dollars to super PACs supporting Andrew Cuomo, according to the Daily News. Commissioner Tisch did not participate in those donations.

In an earlier interview with the outlet, Mamdani said of their policy disagreements: “The two of us will not shy away from the fact that we hold disagreements on certain issues… but I also believe that these disagreements are not only reconcilable, but they are the sign of a healthy partnership to come.”

The uproar arrives at a pivotal moment for the incoming administration, with Mamdani set to take office on January 1 — just weeks away from the start of his term and his effort to set a steady tone amid early political turbulence.

{Matzav.com}

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, […]