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A wave of citizens have reported receiving alarming emails that appear to come from the Israel Police, but officials are warning that the messages are fraudulent and part of a cyber-scam attempt.

According to the National Cyber Directorate, numerous reports have come in about emails impersonating the police, often with subject lines such as “Suspicious activity detected on your account” and an attached file labeled as “official.” Police released images of the spoofed messages and emphasized that they are entirely fake.

Both the Israel Police and the National Cyber Directorate issued a joint warning on Tuesday, stressing that the emails are not authentic and urging the public to stay alert.

Authorities highlighted several key points:

– The police do not send emails with files for recipients to open.
– Opening the attached file may allow attackers to gain access to the victim’s computer and personal information.

Officials also outlined what the public should do when receiving such a message:

1. Do not open any attachments or click on any links.

2. Report the email to the National Cyber Directorate’s hotline at 119.

“If it looks too urgent or too important to be real, that’s probably exactly the point,” the Police Spokesperson’s Unit and the Cyber Directorate said in their advisory.

{Matzav.com}

The Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, currently visiting Eretz Yisroel, intensified his ongoing battle against the draft law and against any dela being advanced in the Knesset. Speaking today to residents of Yerushalayim, the Rebbe delivered an impassioned address, warning that anyone who supports a compromise “hands over tens of thousands of Jewish souls to shmad with full intent.”

The address took place Tuesday afternoon during the Rebbe’s visit to the Kesav Sofer beis medrash in the Geulah neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where people welcomed him with singing and great emotion.

Inside the beis medrash—where Satmar Rebbes of earlier generations also spoke—the Rebbe addressed the crowd wrapped in a tallis, in accordance with local custom. His remarks focused on affirming the community’s steadfast position on religious matters and rejecting any concessions tied to the draft issue.

At the close of his speech, the Rebbe spoke directly about the draft legislation being shaped in the Knesset, issuing a harsh condemnation of all compromise proposals:

“The army is like ‘kol bo’eha lo yashuvun.’ One who enlists in the IDF emerges from there a complete goy, rachmana litzlan. This is a grave violation of religion. Anyone who supports any form of compromise is abandoning thousands of souls to shmad, and it is an injustice for which he will never be able to atone.”

The Rebbe also pushed back against those who advocate partial concessions in an effort to preserve as many bnei Torah as possible, arguing that the comparison to “ten li Yavneh vechachameha” is being twisted.

“Rav Yochanan ben Zakkai did not hand over the rest of the Jewish people to the Romans. He sought to save the sages of Yavneh without taking destructive action. But here—anyone who votes for such a law is actively delivering Jewish souls to shmad. He is raising a hand against the Torah of Moshe!”

He concluded with a fervent call for worldwide outcry: “We must cry out the cry of yahadus chareidis throughout Eretz Yisroel—and throughout the Diaspora as well! May the Ribbono shel Olam have mercy on His people and remove the rule of wickedness from the land. Then the decree will be nullified, and we will merit the arrival of the Goel Tzedek speedily in our days—Amen!”

As reported earlier, during the reception at the Badatz office of the Eida HaChareidis, the Rebbe said he had traveled from the United States specifically to stand with those “waging Hashem’s battles” against what he described as the terrible decree facing the Torah community in Eretz Yisroel.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu took part Tuesday evening in a Torah dedication ceremony held in memory of Dr. Moshe Yedidya Leitner, a reservist major and platoon commander in the elite Shaldag unit. Dr. Leitner, the son of Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leitner, was killed in battle in the Gaza Strip.

Family members, friends, and community participants gathered for the writing of the final letters in the Sefer Torah. Netanyahu was invited to write one of the last letters in honor of the fallen officer.

He spoke about the profound grief surrounding Dr. Leitner’s passing. “This is a very emotional moment. I remember visiting you during the shiva. It was heartbreaking. When I learned of Moshe’s death, it shook me to my core. He was a symbol and example of an Israeli, a Jew, who fought for our existence and sacrificed his life for the eternity of Israel, and he also worked tirelessly through the ‘Kudkod’ program to ensure that all of us would join this sacred mission,” he told the family.

The prime minister praised the family’s resilience. “I witnessed the strength of spirit in your home — in the mother, the father, and the siblings. And in you, Yechiel, who now carries the responsibility of representing Israel on one of the world’s most important diplomatic stages, where you present the justice of our cause, our right to this land, our heritage, and our belief in our ultimate victory.”

Reflecting on the broader national struggle, Netanyahu continued: “Over the past two years, we have done much to secure our existence in this land. We confronted Iran’s terror network on all fronts, and we are not finished. Today we faced yet another Palestinian terror attack, and we remain determined to complete the war on every front, including dismantling Hamas’s weaponry and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip so it never again poses a greater threat.”

He stressed that Israel’s most notable triumph is its spirit. “But I believe the greatest victory — the one that surprised the entire world — is the victory of spirit. That spirit is expressed so powerfully in the story of Moshe Leitner’s sacrifice and character, which stands as an example to all of Israel and, I can tell you, to many of Israel’s friends around the world.”

Netanyahu concluded with thanks for being included. “It is a tremendous privilege to be here at this Torah dedication in his name, and I want to bless each and every one of you who is involved in this sacred work of honoring his memory and continuing his mission. May you be blessed.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

During his packed trip to Israel, outgoing New York Mayor Eric Adams sat down with Arutz Sheva–Israel National News and delivered a forceful message about why he felt compelled to come. He said his presence carried a purpose: “It’s so important to be here, to send a very loud and clear message that Israel is still very much an ally of America and an ally of New York City. And as the outgoing mayor, I wanted to come here and send that clear message. We believe that Israel’s tech startups have helped the lives of New Yorkers—not only by making life easier in cities, but also through major health discoveries that have actually saved lives. We want that partnership to continue, and that’s the conversation I’m going to have with the governmental leaders.”

Adams noted that the rhetoric coming from the incoming administration deeply troubled him. He pointed to proposals calling for “divestments in Israel, not taking Israel investment into our pension funds,” a move he said ran counter to reality. “Mind you, those investments are doing very well for our pension funds,” he emphasized.

He voiced further alarm over efforts being floated to weaken the city’s tools to fight hatred. “It’s troubling to hear about the dismantling of the IHRA definition of antisemitism,” Adams said, noting he was also disturbed by “the thoughts of removing our office to combat antisemitism, all of the things we put in place to go after the steady increase in antisemitism in our city. We started to see and notice a decline because of what we have done. So to dismantle those initiatives is moving us in the wrong direction.”

Turning to incoming mayor Zohran Mamdani, Adams criticized statements signaling hostility toward Israel. “I think that when you talk about not doing business with Israel, not willing to acknowledge that you’re going to march in an Israel Day Parade, not being willing to state you’re going to come and visit Israel and other countries—it sends a wrong message.”

He tied that message to the extreme elements of the city’s political fringe. “I know those who are part of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA),” Adams said. “And those who marched in our streets saying horrific things; that is a clear sign of antisemitism to me. When you look at some of the signs, some of the Nazi stickers, when you talk about ‘from the river to the sea,’ these are all code words and buzzwords that are indicators of antisemitism. And we have to be honest about what’s in front of us.”

Adams said his stance was consistent across all communities. “I stood up against racism. I stood up against hate against our Chinese community and Asian violence, and I’m going to continue to stand up for the people of the city of New York.”

Responding to growing anxiety among Jews in the city, Adams urged them to remain rooted. “I don’t think they should. I think that we should stand our ground and fight for our right to exist. New York City has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, and they have contributed so much to the city in arts and science and public protection and innovation. They should remain, but they should have situational awareness.”

He added that the sheer volume of hatred in public discourse requires vigilance: “There are far too many people out there who are spewing hate, and they have actually contributed to the antisemitic sentiment that’s out there. There are far too many, and they should have situational awareness, as I would tell anyone if I believe that there’s a high level of hate pointed toward them.”

Reflecting on his administration, Adams highlighted the groundwork he believes must not be undone. “Because of the implementation of some of the things that we have done around the IRA definition, around combating antisemitism, putting the first Jewish advisory council in place, and just visiting synagogues and interacting with our Jewish brothers and sisters and others, in our ‘Breaking Bread, Building Bonds’ initiative, we were proactive and reactive. We also sent a loud message to the police department that we will investigate every act of hate in general, but specifically antisemitism. You saw that we started to see the numbers move in the right direction, seeing a decrease in antisemitism. We need to continue that. That’s why it’s important as we hand off the baton to the next administration. They must be as aggressive as we have been around this topic.”

Even so, he acknowledged the fear gripping the community. “We’re seeing what’s playing out across the globe, and if Jews don’t feel safe in Israel and don’t feel safe in a city with the largest Jewish population, then how could we state that they don’t have a concern of being fearful? And I understand their fear. I would have that same fear.”

Still, his visit left him energized about what lies ahead. “I’m really excited about being here and seeing what innovations we could continue to share with New Yorkers. We saw some amazing innovations yesterday as we visited several companies, and I’m going to encourage the next administration to look at some of these innovations and to encourage them to partner with the tech startups. I started that at the beginning of my administration. It has been a successful collaboration. We need to continue to do so, and we must allow Israel to continue to invest our pension funds because that helps working-class people.”

As he prepares to leave office, Adams said he is looking forward to pursuing long-delayed personal goals. “I’m excited. You know, many people know I want to write my book. I want to also go back to school to get my PhD, and I have a few business interests that I’m going to be announcing in the upcoming weeks.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

A-I POWERED FLIGHT DEALS: Google is rolling out its AI-powered Flight Deals tool worldwide this week, expanding it from a limited U.S./Canada/India pilot to more than 200 countries and over 60 languages. The feature lets users describe a trip in plain language and instantly get matching cheap-fare options generated by Google’s AI. This global launch […]

THE TRUMP ACCOUNT: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says every American child born in the next 3 years, starting January 1st, will receive a government-backed investment account tied to the stock market, giving young people a stake in the economy.

BREAKING: The U.S. Senate has passed, by unanimous consent, a measure requiring the release of the Epstein files — sending the House bill straight to President Trump once it arrives.

Trump calls for ABC’s license to be revoked after reporter asks about Jeffrey Epstein files • President Donald Trump called for ABC’s broadcast license to be revoked after ABC News White House correspondent Mary Bruce asked why he has not released the Jeffrey Epstein files. • “Your news is so fake and so wrong,” Trump […]

The Rav of Tzfas, HaRav Shmuel Eliyahu, published an article on the severe crimes of the disgraced Military Advocate General, apart from her role in the leak of the Sdei Teiman video. HaRav Eliyahu wrote, “Since the beginning of the war, I have accompanied dozens of families of wounded and fallen IDF soldiers, including dozens […]

A man from Grand Rapids who happens to share the same name as Vice President JD Vance has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after admitting he issued violent threats toward the vice president, President Trump, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump Jr.

Prosecutors said that James Donald “JD” Vance Jr., 67, used the alias “Diaperjdv” while posting a series of alarming messages on the BlueSky platform. The US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan said he acknowledged in court that his posts targeted national leaders with explicit threats.

Investigators highlighted a message he posted on April 1, one that prompted immediate federal attention. “If tRump, Vance, or Musk ever come to my city again, they will leave it in a body bag,” he allegedly wrote. The same post included his fatalistic comment: “I will either be shot by a secret service sniper or spend the rest of my life in prison. I’ve only got about 10 years of life left anyway so I don’t … care either way.”

Authorities said his threats were not limited to those figures. On March 7, he posted about Donald Trump Jr. in response to an article titled “Donald Trump Jr. Considering a Run for President in 2028.” In that message, Vance declared, “I will murder that stupid f—ker before he gets secret service protection,” according to federal agents.

The Michigan resident ultimately pleaded guilty to two felony charges: threatening to kill or harm the president and vice president, and transmitting interstate threats. Officials said those admissions left no doubt about the seriousness of the case.

United States Attorney Timothy VerHey condemned Vance’s conduct, noting that online threats of this nature strike at the core of democratic safety. VerHey said such behavior creates “fear and damages our democratic ideals.” In his statement, he added, “When Vance said he planned to kill our President and the Vice President simply because he disagreed with them, he crossed a line we all understand and so had to be punished.”

Authorities clarified that the defendant has no connection to the actual vice president. The VP was born as James Donald Bowman before legally changing his name to James David Vance.

The Secret Service’s Grand Rapids office has been dealing with a surge of similar cases. Officials noted this was the second such federal prosecution in recent weeks.

Just last month, prosecutors secured an 18-month prison sentence for Richard James Spring of Comstock Park. Court documents show Spring threatened online to sexually assault a woman in front of President Trump and then kill him. Investigators said he also posted menacing messages on TikTok, including, “You’re going to watch your god DIE.”

Secret Service officials said the agency treats these threats with maximum seriousness. William Shink, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office, issued a pointed warning: “Threats against our nation’s leaders and their families will not be tolerated.” He continued, “Individuals who threaten the President, Vice President or any U.S. Secret Service protectee will be investigated and held accountable for their actions.”

{Matzav.com}

The Orthodox Union (OU) has announced a major policy change regarding the kashrus status of beer beginning January 1, 2026. For decades, unflavored beer was widely assumed to be inherently kosher. The classic brewing process—built on simple ingredients such as water, hops, barley, and yeast—was traditionally viewed as straightforward and unlikely to involve non-kosher additives. […]

President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman take questions from reporters as they work to negotiate terms for the Abraham Accords, F-35 fighter jets and more.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Around 250 federal border agents are set to descend on New Orleans in the coming weeks for a two-month immigration crackdown dubbed “Swamp Sweep” that aims to arrest roughly 5,000 people across southeast Louisiana and into Mississippi, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press and three people familiar with the operation. The deployment, which […]

The excitement is palpable. From Lakewood to London, Bnei Brak to Brooklyn, the kol Torah of tens of thousands of lomdim rises higher each day as Klal Yisrael prepares for a milestone unlike any before: the Siyum on Seder Mo’ed. With the final dafim of Maseches Chagigah now being learned, the dream that began nearly […]

Speaking at an event in Toronto, Rav Yaakov Bender, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway, NY, delivered a sharp warning about the growing culture of alcohol consumption in frum communities, singling out Friday afternoon toameha gatherings as a dangerous and destructive trend.

Rav Bender opened his remarks with a stark assessment. “The drinking is a shrecklich problem. It’s a terrible, terrible problem. I blame the parents for that. I really do. Very heavily.”

He then shared a tragic example to underscore the consequences. “There was a boy that, I’ll explain to you, a boy was in a car accident, Rachmana litzlan, and he killed somebody, in one of our prominent communities, and he’s looking at jail time of a very, very, very long time. You know where he got it from?”

According to Rav Bender, the boy’s first exposure to drinking came through a toameha group. “He went to a Toameha, I think, in a very chashuva city. Toameha should be stopped.”

Rav Bender then described the gatherings bluntly. “Those who don’t know, Toameha means you get together, seven, eight men get together, and they drink, they buy very fancy— not the women, they’re wonderful. Erev Shabbos, when a wife should be going home to his wife, helping her out, unless the wife doesn’t want you home, you know— helping her out and doing what you got to do, they go to a party, AND they call it Toameha.”

With biting irony, he added: “It’s a mitzva d’oraisa. And they eat kugel and they fress cakes and zachen, and they drink to their hearts content.”

Rav Bender said the fallout reaches the home. “I have mothers who have told me, again, not many, but [some] have told me that the husband comes drunk to the Friday night, to the Friday night Shabbos table. And Toameha is a mitzva? You got to ban it.”

He urged communities to take action. “If you find out that there’s a Toameha in your neighborhood, go and protest against the family. Put up signs. The kids are going to kill a kid afterwards.”

Parents, he said, often complain about their children drinking, without acknowledging the source. “They come to me complaining about, my kid is drinking. I said, Daddy, do you drink? And Daddy says — that means you’re drinking.”

Rav Bender broadened the critique to communal norms. “We have a society, why do we have Kiddush clubs? Kiddush clubs is bad because in the middle of davening. Why should we serve anything at a Kiddush on Shabbos? Why? You want to give beer by a Shalom Zachar? …We have made a society where drinking is chashuv.”

He expressed astonishment at the luxury liquor culture that has become common. “I don’t believe it. I haven’t gone into a liquor store maybe 30, 40 years. I haven’t ever went in also. There’s bottles today that sell for five to ten thousand dollars, and people are buying it.”

He described the status culture surrounding these bottles as hollow. “The gadlus by a Toameha club is the guy who knows he could tell the difference between a $10,000 bottle and a $5,000 bottle. I don’t believe him for a second. He thinks he can tell the difference. And we glorify these things.”

Rav Bender then made a bold proposal. “There should be no kiddushim in shuls, I’m sorry. You’re very quiet. I liked it better when we talked about the kids. So I’m telling you the kids are seeing this.”

He insisted the drinking problem among teenagers is learned behavior. “I’m telling you right now, the kids by us in yeshiva who drink, let’s say on a Friday night sometimes, there are a few, right? On a Friday night or during the Shabbos and they put them together, they’re getting it from home. They’re seeing it by their parents.”

The problem then spreads socially. “Then other kids do it, other kids see it, they also become, yeah, it spreads from kid to kid. I blame the parents.”

Rav Bender emphasized that his criticism was not directed at the host community. “I’m not talking about this shul right now. I think you don’t know, you don’t know me, you do know what you have over here. You have a posek acharon. You have someone I hope should become the posek acharon in this town for all yeshivas. He should be that. Don’t let him get away with it. He should be doing it.”

He then added, “We glorify drinking. I blame it on the parents, I’m sorry.”

Rav Bender described the calls he receives. “Am I wrong? The kids who drink, I have parents who call me, my kid is drinking.”

Often, he said, the problem begins at home. “The mother calls me and her husband gets shikker every week. I can’t tell it to the wife, you know why? I’m causing shalom bayis problems. I’m sure the wife is already screaming at the husband already. That’s why he’s drinking, because she’s screaming at him.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

The Agudah National Action Summit: Turning Ideas into Action

Join us for two days of meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and impact. Professionals and leaders come together to learn, connect, and take action on Klal Yisroel’s most pressing challenges.

Featuring a slate of distinct professional and communal specialized tracks, the Summit ensures that every participant can gain relevant insights tailored to their area of influence. Tracks will include:

• Rabbanim & Morei Derech
• Emerging Communities
• Special Needs Professionals
• Mental Health Professionals
• Shadchanim
• Kallah Teachers
• Legal Professionals
• Women in Leadership

Click here or see below to view the speaker lineup.

December 1-2

Marriott, Newark Airport

Register at https://www.agudahaction.com/

For more information email actionsummit@agudah.org, or call 212-363-8941.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Otzma Yehudit set off intense debate on Tuesday after sharing the outline of its proposed death penalty legislation for terrorists in the National Security Committee’s WhatsApp group. The circulated draft lays out the party’s vision in stark, uncompromising terms.

The document explains that the penalty would be applied solely in cases where a Jew is murdered because they are Jewish. It mandates that a simple majority be sufficient to impose the sentence, that no appeal be permitted, and that lethal injection be the method of execution. The responsibility for carrying out the penalty would fall to the Prison Service, and the execution would have to occur within 90 days.

Interestingly, the plan has not only gained traction among coalition partners but has also found backing from Yisrael Beiteinu, broadening its political reach.

According to the draft, the measure is framed as a deterrent “that looks to the future based on past (negative) experience,” insisting that such a law must be practical and fully enforceable, not merely a declarative statement.

As written, anyone who murders a Jew for being Jewish — whether by orchestrating, attempting, or committing the act — would automatically be sentenced to death. The legislation would remove judicial discretion entirely, prohibit appeals regarding the nature of the punishment, and bar plea agreements or pardons, consistent with existing legal limitations. To eliminate procedural delays, the proposal requires that executions take place within 90 days of a verdict becoming final. Lethal injection would be codified as the official method, with statutory adjustments to accommodate it.

Nonetheless, legal analysts warn that the bill, if advanced in its current structure, would likely encounter serious constitutional and procedural hurdles in the High Court, raising doubts about its ultimate viability.

{Matzav.com}

No GOP senator stepped in to derail a procedural move that would have forced an immediate vote on compelling the release of Jeffrey Epstein–related files.

Within hours of the House’s overwhelming approval of the resolution, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., followed through on his promise to push it forward, bringing the matter to the Senate floor.

Schumer insisted there was no reason for the chamber to stall, declaring that the Senate “should pass this bill as soon as possible, as written and without a hint of delay.”

He warned Republicans not to meddle with the language, saying, “Republicans must not try to change this bill or bury it in committee, or slow walk it in any way. Any amendment to this bill would force it back to the House and risk further delay. Who knows what would happen over there?”

Once the House formally sends the measure across the Capitol, it will head directly to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The resolution, authored by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., mandates that the Department of Justice publish every unclassified file, memo, communication, and investigatory document connected to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of enactment, making them “publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format.”

Unlike the House — where the push for disclosure upended schedules and even triggered a temporary recess earlier this year under House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. — the Senate has been far less volatile as the issue has moved forward.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., noted that Republicans were already evaluating the bill through the hotline process, the internal mechanism for vetting legislation before it reaches the floor. If it passed that stage, he said, the expectation was to bring it forward before lawmakers adjourn for the Thanksgiving break.

“We’ll see what the Democrats have to say,” Thune remarked. “But it’s the kind of thing, probably, that could perhaps move by unanimous consent.”

In the end, the measure advanced without needing a roll-call vote.

The landscape shifted considerably once President Donald Trump — who had spent months blasting efforts to force open the Epstein archives — unexpectedly embraced the Massie-Khanna proposal over the weekend.

He condemned the push as a “Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party.”

He added on Truth Social, “Nobody cared about Jeffrey Epstein when he was alive and, if the Democrats had anything, they would have released it before our Landslide Election Victory.”

Many Senate Republicans have long said they are open to making more information public but stress that victims must not be exposed in the process. House Speaker Johnson has urged lawmakers to add protections ensuring that identifying details remain shielded.

But Senate leadership signaled that such revisions are unlikely.

“I think when a bill comes out of the House 427 to one, and the president said he’d sign it, I’m not sure that amending it is in the cards,” Thune said.