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It is with profound sadness that Matzav.com reports the tragic petirah of Mrs. Chana Murik a”h (née Rosenberg), a young mother from Lakewood, NJ who passed away at the age of just 26 following a rapidly worsening illness.

Mrs. Murik, who lived in the Martin Luther King Drive neighborhood of Lakewood, developed what initially appeared to be a relatively minor infection. The infection unexpectedly progressed into sepsis, causing her condition to deteriorate rapidly and resulting in her heartbreaking petirah.

The devastating news has brought tremendous sorrow to the Lakewood community, as a young family mourns the loss of a beloved wife and mother whose life was cut tragically short.

Mrs. Murik is survived by her husband, R’ Yaakov Murik, and their young child.

The levayah took place todayat the Lakewood Chapel. Kevurah followed in Lakewood.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

Boruch Dayan Ha’emes.

{Matzav.com}

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich delivered a scathing assessment of the Republican Party on Sunday following its midterm election losses, accusing GOP leaders of lacking the courage, urgency, and strategic direction needed to regain public confidence. He also called on President Donald Trump to improve his communication with voters, warning that Republicans could become comfortable with permanent minority status unless they fundamentally rethink their approach.

“I think the Republicans, frankly, right now don’t have the courage, they don’t have the focus, they don’t have the right level of anger,” Gingrich said in a televised interview. “Right now we are drifting towards the mid 1960s minority Republican mindset of playing tactical games, hanging out, raising money, playing golf and being the minority. That’s a very dangerous place to be.”

Gingrich argued that Republicans should stop looking for excuses and acknowledge that voters delivered a clear rejection of the party’s performance.

“We got beaten badly. We got beaten because the American people believed we had failed. This is not complicated.”

He said the responsibility for understanding the defeat rests with Republican leaders, including those in the White House, rather than with voters who chose to support other candidates.

“If you’re not prepared to say something didn’t work and we better try to learn from our customers, when your customers refuse to come to your store and your customers refuse to buy your product, it’s not their job to figure out what went wrong, it’s your job,” he said.

Gingrich, who helped engineer the Republican takeover of the House in 1994, said he continues to support Trump’s economic agenda but believes the administration has done a poor job explaining its accomplishments and persuading Americans that its policies are working.

He characterized the administration’s public messaging as having been “inarticulate for at least eight months.”

According to Gingrich, Republican strategists mistakenly assumed that campaign spending and political consultants could substitute for a compelling message and a coherent electoral strategy.

“For some reason they got in their heads that money could replace arguments and as long as you had enough consultants getting paid enough money, you didn’t have to have a strategy, you didn’t have to communicate, and you didn’t have to listen to the American people,” he said.

The former speaker maintained that Republicans cannot rebuild their political standing simply by criticizing Democrats. Instead, he urged the party to present a convincing governing agenda, including healthcare reforms that give patients and doctors greater control over medical decisions.

“We can’t be negative. We have to offer a better future with better solutions,” he said.

Gingrich, whose book “America’s Golden Age” presents an optimistic outlook for the country’s future, said technological and economic advances offer enormous opportunities, but Republicans must demonstrate how their policies would translate those possibilities into tangible improvements for ordinary Americans.

Gingrich also addressed the confrontation with Iran, taking a much harder position than those advocating a negotiated settlement with Tehran. He argued that the Iranian regime would continue seeking nuclear weapons unless its leadership was removed.

“He has two choices. He can destroy the Iranian government and enable the Iranian people to govern themselves, or he can be defeated,” Gingrich said. “There’s no middle ground.”

The former speaker called for Americans to confront the implications of allowing Iran’s current rulers to remain in power and insisted that the country needed a serious discussion about the threat.

“There is no middle ground. And, frankly, we need a big, national debate and people have got to choose,” he said.

Turning back to domestic politics, Gingrich welcomed Trump’s decision to elevate Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff, arguing that Miller could help the president develop a more disciplined message while maintaining an aggressive posture toward Democrats.

“When he slows down, and he focuses, and he’s the teacher, he is as effective as Ronald Reagan,” Gingrich said of Trump, also comparing his communication abilities to those of President Franklin Roosevelt.

“But that means he’s got to literally slow down,” he said. “And I think that Stephen Miller can play a major role in doing this because Miller really understands all this.”

Miller’s appointment has divided Republicans following the election defeat. While Gingrich sees him as an asset, other GOP lawmakers have criticized the decision, arguing that the administration’s confrontational approach contributed to the party’s losses.

Indiana Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman has publicly called for changes in Trump’s senior leadership, including Miller’s removal, while Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon has also questioned the appointment.

Gingrich, however, believes Republicans can recover if they combine a determined response to Democratic policies with a more appealing economic and political agenda.

“That package will get us back in good shape for 2028,” he said.

Parents of toddlers who attended a daycare center in Ariel are describing horrifying allegations of systematic abuse after Israeli prosecutors filed an indictment against the facility’s director and two caregivers, accusing them of more than 400 incidents of abuse and assault against defenseless young children during fewer than 40 actual operating days.

In an emotional interview with Kikar HaShabbat, Shmuel and Chaya Gever, whose young son attended the daycare, described their shock upon learning the details of the indictment and accused the facility’s staff of deliberately misleading parents about injuries and behavioral changes that might otherwise have exposed what was happening.

Chaya recalled the devastating moment when the parents obtained the indictment, which contained detailed descriptions of the alleged mistreatment.

“Until now, we only had assumptions and tried to understand the magnitude of what happened from the detention hearings,” she explained. “The moment we received the indictment, which leaked even before the hearing, all the parents were horrified. Anyone who had been in denial was confronted with detailed and horrifying descriptions of abuse. The parents couldn’t remain calm and understandably erupted.”

According to the couple, the more than 400 alleged incidents documented in the indictment were identified through security camera footage beginning September 1. Because of Shabbosos and Yomim Tovim, the daycare had operated for fewer than 40 days during that period.

The parents expressed concern that the alleged abuse might have begun long before the period covered by the indictment and called on police to examine surveillance recordings from previous years.

“We don’t want to imagine what happened there in the months and years before that, and we hope the police will also examine footage from previous years,” they said.

One of the most disturbing aspects of the case, according to Shmuel, was the elaborate system of explanations that prevented parents from recognizing a pattern of suspicious injuries.

He said caregivers routinely contacted parents with detailed accounts whenever a child suffered a scratch, bruise, or other visible injury, offering explanations that appeared entirely innocent.

“There was no way to understand what was happening inside,” Shmuel said. “They operated systematically and made sure we wouldn’t need to speak to one another about any mark or injury.”

He described how parents would receive messages claiming that a child had fallen while reaching for a book, hurt himself on a pacifier, or been scratched by another child. Every explanation was presented reassuringly, accompanied by smiles and convincing details.

As a result, parents had little reason to compare their experiences or question whether the incidents were connected.

Shmuel said even signs that children were becoming reluctant to attend daycare were easily dismissed as ordinary childhood behavior.

“When a child didn’t want to go to daycare, you told yourself that he simply enjoyed being home with his mother,” he explained.

He added that some parents had placed recording devices in the facility, but the caregivers allegedly avoided making noise and appeared aware that their conduct might be recorded.

According to Shmuel, the alleged abuse was ultimately exposed after an instructor witnessed what was taking place and reported it. Only then did parents begin connecting the injuries and behavioral changes they had previously regarded as unrelated.

Chaya described a troubling transformation in her own son’s behavior during his time at the daycare.

Initially, she said, the child eagerly attended each morning. Over time, however, he became withdrawn and exhausted, refused to return after the Yom Tov break, began eating poorly, and frequently woke up screaming during the night.

The family initially attributed the changes to teething or an ear infection.

Chaya said she had only recently begun considering placing a recording device in the daycare herself. According to the indictment, the alleged incidents involving her son occurred toward the end of the documented period.

Beyond their anguish over the alleged mistreatment, the parents sharply criticized Israel’s Education Ministry, questioning how a daycare officially designated as supervised could have experienced hundreds of alleged abuse incidents without intervention.

Chaya said she personally contacted the ministry inspector responsible for the facility and asked how frequently she had visited.

According to Chaya, the inspector responded that she had not yet visited during the current school year because “the year hasn’t started yet.”

Chaya expressed disbelief at that explanation, pointing out that more than 400 alleged incidents had already occurred during the short period covered by the indictment.

When she asked about the previous year, she said, the inspector acknowledged visiting only once or twice.

“Helpless children arrive every day at a daycare that is considered ‘supervised,’ but in practice there is no supervision,” she charged. “Someone there has to be held accountable.”

The couple said the experience had taught them the importance of recognizing behavioral changes in very young children, particularly those who cannot adequately describe what they are experiencing.

They urged parents not to dismiss sudden aggression, refusal to attend daycare, disrupted sleep, or unexplained distress as routine developmental difficulties without investigating further.

“Children at that age don’t lie,” they said. “Even when a child cannot speak, he tells you what he is experiencing through his behavior.”

They also emphasized the importance of communication among parents, explaining that the daycare staff’s individual explanations for injuries had prevented families from recognizing similarities in their children’s experiences.

Had parents compared the reports they received about scratches, bruises, and other injuries, the couple believes the recurring pattern might have become apparent much earlier.

“If we had shared information with one another in real time about every injury and every explanation we received from the caregivers, we would have identified the recurring pattern and discovered what was happening much sooner,” they said.

The allegations remain subject to criminal proceedings, and the indictment’s accusations have not yet been established by a court.

A Russian military aircraft operated by a unit of Moscow’s Defense Ministry landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday, November 8, raising questions about the purpose of the unusual visit and the identities of those aboard. The Israeli military declined to provide any explanation for the flight, according to a report by Kan News.

The aircraft, a Tupolev Tu-154M bearing registration number RA-85042, reportedly departed from Chkalovsky Air Base near Moscow before traveling to Israel. Flight-tracking information identified the aircraft as belonging to the Russian Defense Ministry’s 223rd Flight Unit, which is used to transport military personnel and government officials.

The plane is also subject to American sanctions. U.S. Treasury Department records identify the aircraft by its registration number as part of sanctions imposed in May 2023 in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

According to flight data available through Flightradar24, the Russian aircraft departed the Moscow area and followed a route that took it around the Black Sea region, across Turkey, and onward toward Israel.

Kan News reported that the IDF declined to respond to questions about the landing and provided no information concerning the passengers or the reason for the visit.

It remains unclear whether the aircraft was carrying senior Russian military officials, government representatives, or another delegation. There has also been no public confirmation of any scheduled diplomatic or security meetings associated with its arrival.

The aircraft’s arrival is particularly noteworthy because its registration number appears on the U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions list. American authorities designated RA-85042 in May 2023 as part of measures imposed against Russian entities following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Treasury Department’s records specifically connect the aircraft to the Russian Defense Ministry’s 223rd Flight Unit, confirming its status as part of Russia’s military aviation network.

Independent aviation-tracking records also confirm the flight. AirNav Radar lists the aircraft as having arrived at Ben Gurion Airport at approximately 7:01 p.m. Israeli time on Sunday, following a flight from Chkalovsky Air Base lasting roughly four hours.

The landing comes amid complicated relations between Israel and Russia, particularly over Moscow’s involvement in the Middle East and its ties with Iran.

Despite the unusual nature of the flight, no information has emerged establishing a connection to any particular diplomatic negotiation, intelligence exchange, or military discussion. Neither the identities of the passengers nor the purpose of their visit has been publicly disclosed.

The United States ambassador to Belgium is demanding military protection for a Brussels shul after a stone shattered a third-floor window, declaring that President Donald Trump personally instructed him to visit the site and address the incident, which American and Israeli diplomats believe was a deliberate antisemitic attack.

U.S. Ambassador Bill White and Israeli Ambassador David Saranga visited the shul in Brussels’ Anderlecht district on Shabbos following the incident, which occurred late last month. The visit came just days before the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Nazi pogrom of November 1938.

White said he had traveled to the shul on direct instructions from President Trump and firmly rejected suggestions that the broken window resulted from an accident. According to the ambassador, the circumstances indicated that someone had deliberately thrown a stone with considerable force to reach the third-floor window.

The American diplomat announced plans to raise money to improve security at the building and said he would press Belgium’s interior and defense ministers to deploy soldiers around the shul to protect worshippers.

Israeli Ambassador David Saranga warned that the incident should serve as a serious warning to European governments, particularly given its proximity to the anniversary of Kristallnacht.

“A shattered window in a synagogue just days before the commemoration of Kristallnacht is a warning sign that every European government must understand. Jews should not have to choose between their religion and their security,” Saranga said.

Saranga urged Belgian authorities to adopt the security arrangements already used to protect Jewish communal institutions in Antwerp, where the large chareidi community has long relied on heightened security measures around its shuls and other facilities.

Belgian police, however, have not concluded that the incident was an antisemitic attack. Local law enforcement officials said no formal hate-crime complaint had been filed and suggested that the stone might have fallen from the roof rather than having been deliberately thrown at the building.

That explanation was strongly disputed by the two ambassadors, who maintained that the damage was consistent with an intentional attack and called for stronger protection of Jewish institutions.

The shul, located on Rue de la Clinique in the Cureghem neighborhood, serves Brussels’ Orthodox Jewish community. The building opened in 1933 and has previously experienced security incidents, including an attempted firebombing in 2010, an arson attack in 2014, and vandalism targeting surveillance cameras in 2017.

Belgium has already deployed military personnel to protect certain Jewish institutions under an operation known as Green Shield, introduced earlier this year following an explosion outside a shul in Liège. White is seeking additional protection specifically for the Anderlecht building.

Police Inspector Marc Wachtelaer said investigators had not yet established how the stone reached the window. He confirmed that no formal complaint alleging antisemitism had been filed and that authorities were considering whether the stone could have fallen from the roof.

Philippe Markiewicz, president of Belgium’s Central Israelite Consistory, who attended the diplomatic visit, acknowledged the seriousness of the incident but emphasized that Belgian municipal, regional, and federal authorities already devote considerable resources to protecting Jewish communities.

White also disclosed plans for a joint community initiative involving the American, Israeli, and Moroccan ambassadors. He said he had already contacted Moroccan Ambassador Mohammed Ameur about organizing a concert and neighborhood gathering promoting religious freedom and peaceful coexistence.

The American ambassador intends to seek the cooperation of Anderlecht Mayor Fabrice Cumps in arranging the event, which would bring together representatives of the three countries and local residents.

Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday declined to dismiss the possibility that Democratic lawmakers could face criminal prosecution over threats to investigate and imprison members of President Donald Trump’s administration, escalating a confrontation over congressional oversight as Democrats prepare to assume control of the House of Representatives.

Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Blanche was asked whether Democrats who have promised aggressive investigations of Trump administration officials could themselves end up behind bars.

“It depends on what the crime is and what they have done,” Blanche responded, without identifying a specific law that may have been violated or confirming that a criminal investigation was underway.

His comments followed a Truth Social post in which Trump accused Democratic lawmakers of attempting to intimidate administration officials, Republican supporters, and political donors by threatening impeachment proceedings and criminal prosecution.

“This is extortion at the highest level,” Trump wrote, adding: “I am ordering the Department of Justice to look into this criminal act, immediately!”

The president specifically criticized Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin, accusing her of threatening young Americans who support Republican principles or might consider working for his administration. Trump claimed Slotkin was “going to go after all young people that believe in Republican Values,” and declared, “The imprisonment should be against these EXTORTIONISTS.”

During his interview with CNN anchor Dana Bash, Blanche accused Democrats of issuing “outright threats” against conservatives, including college students considering government service under Trump.

Although the attorney general acknowledged the constitutional authority of Congress to investigate the executive branch, he argued that oversight cannot become a vehicle for intimidation.

“I welcome oversight,” Blanche said, while cautioning that “at some point, you have to draw the line.”

Blanche directed particular criticism at California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, who is expected to lead the House Oversight Committee when Democrats take control of the chamber in January.

Garcia has warned senior Trump administration figures, including incoming White House chief of staff Stephen Miller, to “lawyer up” in anticipation of congressional investigations.

Blanche said the Justice Department would provide legal protection to Miller and other administration officials summoned before congressional committees, describing such assistance as consistent with the department’s responsibilities under previous administrations.

He then delivered a warning directed at lawmakers preparing to conduct the investigations.

“I would be very worried if I was a member on that committee,” Blanche said.

Garcia, who appeared on CNN immediately after Blanche, condemned the attorney general’s comments as “a threat” designed to discourage congressional scrutiny of the administration.

“They can come after us however they want. We’re not going to be intimidated,” Garcia declared.

The California Democrat said his committee intends to investigate allegations involving the administration, Trump’s family, and corporations with ties to the White House. He also identified Miller’s involvement in immigration enforcement as a subject deserving examination.

Garcia separately accused administration officials of being overly sensitive to criticism and insisted that Democrats would not retreat from their investigative plans.

“They’re so thin skinned,” Garcia said during his CNN appearance.

The White House defended Blanche’s remarks Sunday, arguing that Democratic threats of impeachment, investigations, and retaliation against government officials and private citizens went beyond legitimate congressional oversight.

Blanche also maintained that Justice Department representation of executive branch officials appearing before Congress is standard practice, rejecting Garcia’s suggestion that Miller would necessarily need to obtain separate legal counsel.

The dispute comes as Democrats prepare an extensive series of inquiries into the Justice Department and other federal agencies. Potential subjects include the administration’s handling of politically sensitive prosecutions, presidential pardons, immigration enforcement, and the Justice Department’s dealings with congressional investigators.

The controversy also follows an unsuccessful attempt earlier this year to bring criminal charges against Slotkin and other Democratic lawmakers over a video encouraging military personnel to refuse unlawful orders. A federal grand jury in Washington declined to issue indictments in that case.

As of Sunday, the Justice Department had not publicly confirmed whether it had launched an investigation following Trump’s directive, identified any lawmakers as criminal targets, or specified which federal statutes might apply to the statements at issue.

Architect Liran Shukrun describes one of the most important moves in Givat Hashalvah with a kind of quiet simplicity: the cars went underground. On a mountain, that decision is anything but simple. Parking, access roads, and technical systems had to be buried into the hillside. It required engineering, cost, and persistence. But once that happened, the entire ground level changed meaning. It became available for families, movement, greenery, courtyards, and community life.

That is where the “spaces between” become the point. In many residential developments, the areas between buildings are leftover space. At Givat Hashalvah, they are part of the architecture. They are where children pass one another on the way home, where parents meet without scheduling it, where a walk to shul becomes part of the neighborhood rhythm, and where the project begins to feel familiar before anyone formally defines it as a kehilla.

The master plan is built around a sequence of courtyards connected from east to west, almost like walking through an old city. You move from one pod to the next, from home toward school, shul, park, daycare, or shared space, without needing the street to do the work. That matters because the community is not only created by those who live nearby. It is created by how often people naturally cross paths, how easy it is to walk, and how much the plan invites daily life to happen outside the front door.

In Liran’s view, this is the human work of urban planning. A neighborhood has to help people use their feet, see one another, and feel part of the place around them. Givat Hashalvah was planned with that belief at its center. The buildings matter, of course. But the life between the buildings may be what turns the project into a community.

Explore Givat Hashalva

[Videos below.] Masked anti-Israel demonstrators wearing keffiyehs and carrying Palestinian flags targeted Jewish- and Israeli-owned restaurants in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 8, in a protest that drew widespread condemnation for its antisemitic character and its timing, just one day before the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Nazi pogrom that devastated Jewish communities across Germany in 1938.

The demonstration, organized as a coordinated boycott of Jewish-owned establishments in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, was met by a massive turnout of counterprotesters who gathered to defend the targeted businesses, turning what organizers had intended as a campaign of intimidation into a public display of solidarity with the Jewish community.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, sharply condemned the targeting of Jewish businesses and praised the crowds that turned out to support them.

“In the midst of blatant antisemitic targeting of Jewish-owned restaurants on the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the City of Brotherly Love showed up to support our neighborhood businesses and prove once again that hate has no place in our Commonwealth,” Shapiro declared.

The anti-Israel demonstration was organized by a group calling itself Philly Bike On Your Left, which had circulated advertisements urging participants to boycott restaurants associated with Jewish and Israeli owners. The campaign explicitly called for driving what it described as Zionist businesses out of Philadelphia.

Among the establishments singled out were Goldie, K’Far Café, and Dizengoff, restaurants associated with prominent Israeli-born chef Michael Solomonov, as well as Mac Mart, Huda Burger, and Schlesinger’s Deli, all owned by Jewish Americans.

The organizers’ promotional materials included inflammatory declarations such as “No business for Zionists! These Zionist establishments must go! Not in our city!”

Another message circulated in connection with the campaign called on demonstrators to show Jewish business owners that they were unwelcome.

Jewish community leaders and elected officials denounced the effort as a blatant attempt to punish Jewish Americans for their religious or ethnic identity under the guise of political activism.

The timing was especially disturbing. The demonstration took place on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the November 9–10, 1938, Nazi-organized pogrom during which synagogues were burned, Jewish businesses were destroyed, homes were ransacked, and tens of thousands of Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps.

The historical parallel was not lost on Jewish residents, who expressed outrage that a campaign specifically targeting Jewish-owned businesses was being conducted at a time associated with one of the most notorious episodes of antisemitic violence preceding the Holocaust.

Sunday’s events, however, unfolded very differently from what the boycott organizers apparently anticipated.

Large numbers of residents and supporters of the Jewish community arrived in the Rittenhouse Square area, gathering outside the targeted restaurants and encouraging customers to patronize the establishments.

Videos circulating from the scene showed counterdemonstrators confronting the anti-Israel activists and demanding explanations for their decision to single out Jewish-owned businesses.

The overwhelming counterprotest reportedly forced the organizers to abandon their planned bicycle boycott shortly after it began. Lines formed outside several of the targeted restaurants as supporters deliberately purchased food to demonstrate that the businesses would not be isolated or intimidated.

The organizers subsequently maintained that their protest had been misrepresented, insisting that their campaign was directed against Zionism rather than Jews. Critics rejected that distinction, pointing to the selection of Jewish-owned establishments, including businesses whose owners said they had no connection to Israeli government policy.

The controversy had already generated intense criticism in the days preceding the demonstration.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker condemned the planned boycott and said city authorities were coordinating with police to protect public safety.

“Everyone has the right to peacefully protest and express their political views. But singling out businesses because their owners are Jewish is unacceptable and has no place in our city,” Parker said.

Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson similarly warned that targeting Jewish-owned restaurants was unacceptable, particularly given the approaching anniversary of Kristallnacht.

Jewish organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, urged residents to respond by supporting the businesses rather than allowing the boycott to discourage customers.

Michael Balaban, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, described the campaign as “antisemitism, plain and simple.”

He questioned why activists were directing their anger at Jewish-owned restaurants rather than at government institutions responsible for the foreign policies they opposed.

State Rep. Ben Waxman, whose district includes several of the targeted establishments, also condemned the effort, arguing that restaurant owners should not be held responsible for decisions made by foreign governments.

“Holding your Jewish neighbors responsible for a foreign government’s actions is antisemitism,” Waxman said.

The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association likewise criticized the campaign, emphasizing that restaurants should be places where customers and employees can gather without fear of harassment or intimidation.

Reports from the scene indicated a substantial police presence as the opposing groups gathered. There were also reports of arrests, although the number of people detained, the circumstances, and any charges had not been independently confirmed as of Sunday evening.

The incident revived memories of an earlier anti-Israel demonstration outside Goldie in December 2023, when protesters gathered outside the Israeli-style falafel restaurant and accused its owners of complicity in Israel’s military operations in Gaza. That incident also drew a sharp condemnation from Shapiro.

Sunday’s confrontation comes amid continuing concern over antisemitic harassment directed at Jewish institutions, businesses, and individuals across the United States.

For Philadelphia’s Jewish community, the most striking development was the response from residents who refused to allow the targeted establishments to face the demonstrators alone.

By Sunday afternoon, what had been advertised as a coordinated campaign against Jewish-owned restaurants had instead become a large public demonstration of support for those businesses, with the boycott’s organizers reportedly ending their event early in the face of the overwhelming counterprotest.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Mrs. Golda Miriam (Kitcha) Reiss a”h of Manhattan’s East Side, wife of the distinguished nagid and prominent Belzer supporter, R’ Avrohom Tzvi Chaim Reiss.

Her levayah was held Sunday evening in Yerushalayim, with the Belzer Rebbe joining the mourners as she was escorted to her final resting place.

Mrs. Reiss was known for her exceptional dedication to tzedakah and chessed, her refined character, and her unwavering emunah. For decades, she stood alongside her husband in his extensive efforts to support Belzer Torah institutions and communal initiatives in Eretz Yisroel and the United States.

Mrs. Reiss was born to R’ Aryeh Leibish Weinreb z”l, a distinguished elder Belzer chossid and son of R’ Zev Aharon Weinreb z”l. Her father, who was niftar approximately 30 years ago, was widely respected for his devotion to Torah and chassidus. The prominent Kollel Beis Aryeh Leibish in Yerushalayim was established in his memory.

Upon reaching marriageable age, she married R’ Avrohom Tzvi Chaim Reiss, who became one of the major benefactors of Belzer institutions and a central supporter of the chassidus’s extensive educational and communal activities.

Throughout their marriage, Mrs. Reiss devoted herself to supporting her husband’s charitable endeavors, extending assistance to those in need and helping sustain the many Torah institutions and families that benefited from their generosity. She was particularly admired for her sincerity, humility, and deeply rooted faith.

Her brother is the prominent nagid R’ Yaakov Weinreb, chairman of the presidential conference of the Ruzhin-Boyan institutions in Eretz Yisroel and chairman of the board of Mesivta Tiferes Yisroel of Ruzhin in the United States.

Her sister is Mrs. Baila Wassner, wife of R’ Aryeh Wassner, who is also a member of the Boyaner presidential conference.

Following her petirah in New York, Mrs. Reiss’s aron was flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah.

The levayah took place Sunday evening, departing from the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim. A large crowd of Belzer chassidim accompanied the aron toward the Belzer bais medrash in Kiryas Belz before proceeding to Har Hamenuchos, where she was laid to rest near her parents.

During the funeral procession, the Belzer Rebbe emerged from his residence on Rechov Dover Shalom and stood in the courtyard to participate in the levayah.

The Rebbe listened as his gabbai, R’ Shimon Wolf Klein, delivered words of hesped.

Mrs. Reiss leaves behind her husband, daughters, grandchildren, and further descendants who continue in the path of Torah and chassidus.

The family is sitting shivah at 21 Techeiles Mordechai Street, in the Peninas Chemed building, on the 11th floor, in Yerushalayim.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

{Matzav.com}

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President Donald Trump on Sunday hailed a new American military task force targeting Iran’s weapons and supply networks, declaring that a sweeping U.S. naval blockade has severely restricted the flow of goods into and out of the country. At the same time, Trump warned that American forces remain prepared to launch additional devastating strikes against Iran if Tehran fails to reach an acceptable agreement with Washington.

“Task Force Iron Gate is in full force and effect in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“Coupled with history’s greatest Naval Blockade, very little gets into, or out of, Iran!” he added.

The president’s remarks followed Saturday’s announcement by U.S. Central Command of the creation of Task Force Iron Gate, a specialized unit tasked with interfering with Iranian weapons shipments, sanctioned cargo, and illicit financial operations. The approximately 20-person team will be based in Tampa, Florida, and will concentrate on smuggling routes along Iran’s land borders and across the Caspian Sea.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Trump indicated that a new round of major American military strikes could be averted if Iran agrees to stringent nuclear restrictions and restores access through the Strait of Hormuz.

“It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said.

The president suggested that the military pressure already brought to bear on Iran had made further action less likely, although he made clear that he would authorize additional attacks if negotiations failed.

“The answer is highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary,” Trump said. “They’re a failing nation. It just came out, you saw this year, 301% inflation. Highly unlikely it will be necessary. I would if necessary, but we hit them really hard. I hit them so hard. You don’t know how hard I hit them.”

Trump portrayed Iran as a country suffering severe economic damage while facing overwhelming American military capabilities.

“ They’re withering away financially. We’ve hit them militarily. We could finish them off,” he warned.

“ We’re ready for it. I’ve got three aircraft carriers here. The other one just arrived. We have three. They’re fully locked and loaded,” Trump continued.

The president also revealed that U.S. military planners have identified dozens of bridges in Iran that could be destroyed rapidly if he orders another offensive.

“ We have 38 bridges in our sight that we can knock down in literally one hour,” Trump said. “They’ll all be down.”

Nevertheless, Trump said he would prefer not to inflict that kind of destruction on infrastructure that could take years to replace.

“ I don’t want to do that because, essentially, it’ll take 10 years to rebuild them,” he added. “I don’t like ripping down bridges. And the hardest thing to build is a bridge. It takes years, and I’m a good builder.”

The newly announced operation represents an expansion of Washington’s existing blockade, which has targeted Iranian ports for months. According to CENTCOM, the maritime restrictions have prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion worth of crude oil. The military says its new effort is intended to prevent Tehran from using overland routes and the Caspian Sea to circumvent those restrictions.

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the expanded campaign would make it harder for Iran to obtain equipment needed to rebuild its weapons factories, replenish military supplies, and finance terrorist organizations.

The military also reported disabling a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly failed to comply with blockade enforcement orders. CENTCOM said American forces had redirected 147 commercial ships since July and disabled five vessels that refused to comply.

Iran’s military, meanwhile, dismissed the newly established task force as “word play,” signaling that Tehran was not publicly acknowledging the effectiveness claimed by Washington.

The escalating pressure came amid fresh reports of explosions on Iran’s Qeshm Island, a strategically located island near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that an American projectile had struck the island. The agency initially identified Qeshm as the only location where an impact had been reported.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency separately reported four explosions on Qeshm Island, with indications that several locations had been struck.

The circumstances surrounding the explosions remained disputed, with Iranian accounts differing over the number and locations of the blasts. Independent confirmation of the reported American attack was not immediately available.

The latest developments follow reports that American forces have conducted limited military operations against Iran in recent weeks, even as diplomatic efforts continue through Qatar to reach an agreement addressing Tehran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has submitted a nuclear proposal through Qatari intermediaries, while continuing to demand sanctions relief and other concessions. Washington has insisted that nuclear restrictions must be a central element of any agreement.

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman is signaling a willingness to reach an agreement with the chareidi parties over military conscription, saying his 2018 draft legislation could provide a starting point for negotiations aimed at forming a new government and preventing another election.

In a statement issued Sunday, Lieberman defended his recent contacts with chareidi political leaders, insisting that his readiness to negotiate does not mean he has retreated from his longstanding demands regarding military service. He also firmly rejected any coalition that would rely on the support of Ra’am or the Joint List.

“A willingness to compromise does not mean abandoning values and principles,” Liberman began.

The Yisrael Beiteinu leader sharply criticized political commentators and others who have questioned his motives since reports emerged of discussions with the chareidi factions.

“In recent days, I have been watching a parade of foolishness from a series of commentators, partisan journalists, bots, and people with preconceived notions, sometimes with a distinctly racist undertone. No matter what I say, what I do, or what the truth is, they are always busy attributing malicious motives and inventing conspiracies.”

Lieberman accused some of his critics of applying a double standard, arguing that they oppose his efforts to negotiate with the chareidi parties while favoring a coalition dependent on Arab factions.

“Those attacking me for trying to reach understandings with the haredi parties are among the same people who would prefer to establish a government dependent on Ra’am and the Joint List – parties some of whose Knesset members openly identify with Hamas, describe it as a charitable organization, and accuse the State of Israel of genocide and crimes against humanity,” he said.

He declared that he would not participate in such an arrangement, warning that it would endanger Israel’s security and ultimately strengthen Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu politically.

“I want to make this absolutely clear: It will not happen. I will not lend a hand to the establishment of such a government, which, in my view, would harm security and bring Netanyahu back to power.

“In the reality that has emerged, in order to prevent another election and bring an end to the Netanyahu era, there is no avoiding difficult decisions and making choices on issues where flexibility can be shown and understandings can be reached.”

The comments come amid complicated coalition negotiations following Israel’s October 27 elections, which left neither major political camp with enough seats to establish a government independently. The possibility of cooperation between Lieberman and the chareidi parties has attracted particular attention because of his years of opposition to exemptions from military service for yeshiva students.

Lieberman maintained that negotiations should not be confused with surrendering the positions on which his party campaigned.

“Reaching an understanding does not mean abandoning principles, and dialogue does not mean erasing red lines.”

On the central issue of military service, Lieberman reiterated his preference for a universal conscription requirement while acknowledging that the election results necessitate examining compromises.

” I still believe that the correct model is a conscription law that applies to everyone. At the same time, in light of the election results, we must examine possibilities for reaching agreements, including on the basis of frameworks developed in the past.”

He specifically pointed to the conscription legislation he introduced while serving as defense minister in 2018, suggesting that the earlier proposal could be revised to address Israel’s current military requirements.

“In 2018, I introduced a conscription bill drafted by the IDF and the defense establishment. Subsequently, the Shkedi Report was published, and the current coalition formulated its own bill.

“It is clear to me that following the events of October 7, even the law I proposed in 2018 requires changes and adjustments, but it still constitutes a suitable basis for reaching agreements.”

The 2018 proposal included enlistment targets for chareidi men and financial penalties for yeshivos if recruitment goals were not met. It also provided for exemptions under certain conditions. Its provisions differ from more recent proposals, including legislation advanced by Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, which introduced additional restrictions and sanctions. The competing frameworks have become a focus of renewed political debate as coalition negotiators search for a formula acceptable to the chareidi parties.

Lieberman emphasized that his willingness to reconsider earlier legislation does not diminish his commitment to expanding military service or improving conditions for soldiers.

“I have not abandoned the principle of conscription, nor my commitment to expanding benefits and improving the status of reservists and career military personnel.

“I would remind everyone that during my tenure as Finance Minister, I increased the salaries of soldiers performing mandatory service by 50%, and subsequently incorporated the ‘From Uniform to Studies’ program into the state budget.”

The Yisrael Beiteinu chairman also responded to speculation that his maneuvering was intended to position him for the premiership or interfere with Gadi Eisenkot’s efforts to establish a coalition.

“I am not acting out of personal ambition to become prime minister at any cost,” he wrote.

“I have always emphasized that, as far as I am concerned, it is an option, not an obsession. Since 2019, I have received countless tempting offers from the other side. I am not preoccupied with political maneuvering, nor am I trying to undermine anyone.”

Lieberman’s latest statement follows his announcement Friday that he was prepared to reconsider his longstanding refusal to sit in a government with the chareidi parties. He has maintained three central conditions for the next government: Netanyahu must leave office, Israel must avoid another election, and the coalition must not depend on Ra’am or the Joint List.

He ended his statement by insisting that his decisions would be guided by what he considers Israel’s national interests rather than personal political calculations.

“I act, and will continue to act, out of one commitment alone: the good of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. That is what has guided me throughout, and that alone will be at the forefront of my mind in every decision I make.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has accused Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of blackmailing Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy and alleged that senior police officials are attempting to obstruct an investigation into suspected foreign interference in Israel’s recent Knesset elections.

In an explosive interview with Radio 103 FM, Ben-Gvir claimed that the attorney general had pressured Levy into changing his approach to police leadership and government policy. He also accused Deputy Commissioner Boaz Blatt, who heads the police Investigations and Intelligence Division, of deliberately interfering with the election investigation.

“Unfortunately, the Commissioner was blackmailed,” Ben-Gvir claimed. When asked who was responsible, he answered: “The Attorney General.”

Ben-Gvir suggested that Levy’s apparent change in attitude toward the government was connected to pressure from Baharav-Miara, although he did not publicly present evidence establishing that the commissioner had been blackmailed.

“Google it. It’s not too difficult to understand why the Commissioner made a 180 degree turn. He, as commissioner, would execute the government’s policies; I was satisfied with him,” the minister stated.

He further alleged that the attorney general had subjected Levy to aggressive treatment during official meetings.

“She (Baharav-Miara) is pressuring him; she screams at him during meetings. There are several things she’s pressuring him on.”

Asked to elaborate on the alleged pressure, Ben-Gvir pointed to the police spokesman, saying: “Aryeh Doron, check what his part in the story is.”

The minister also raised questions about possible building violations involving Levy’s private residence, suggesting that the issue could have been used to exert pressure on the police chief.

“Google ‘Police Commissioner construction violations,’ and you’ll see who his house’s construction supervisors were. The Attorney General terrorizes people.”

Ben-Gvir maintained that he personally takes extensive precautions to avoid even the appearance of improper benefits and said he would have advised Levy to exercise similar care.

“I don’t let the grocery store give me even a one-shekel discount. If someone gives me a gift, I say that I can’t accept it. If you are a public figure, watch yourself because people are watching you with seven eyes.”

The accusations against the police leadership were accompanied by an equally forceful attack on Blatt, following reports that he had imposed restrictions on the sharing of election-related investigative materials with the Shin Bet.

“I think Boaz Blatt is an emissary of the Attorney General, sent to close cases, cover things up, and sweep them under the rug,” the minister claimed. “Boaz Blatt is a fraud and a liar who has taken control of the Investigations and Intelligence Division and is running it as his own. The investigation was being handled by Meni Binyamin. What is he doing there?”

The dispute concerns an investigation into allegations that foreign interests attempted to influence the October 27 Knesset election, particularly the unprecedented turnout among Arab voters. According to additional reporting, Blatt’s directive required investigators to obtain his authorization before transferring election-related information or providing investigative assistance to the Shin Bet. The directive did not entirely prohibit cooperation between the agencies.

Ben-Gvir alleged that substantial foreign funding may have been used to influence voting, pointing specifically to suspicions involving Qatar and claims concerning the distribution of vouchers.

“Zini is talking about NIS 100 million that was transferred. We saw the vouchers. The suspicion is that Qatar was involved, and it is clear that there were various attempts at interference here. It is also clear that, even in the prisons, they transferred materials to the Joint List.”

The minister was referring to Shin Bet director David Zini and allegations involving approximately NIS 100 million in foreign funding. Investigators have been examining suspicions involving foreign actors, including Qatar, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority. However, the allegations have not been established as proven election interference, and no determination has been made that foreign activity changed the election results.

The Shin Bet has begun transferring intelligence materials to a special investigative team involving police representatives, following discussions about how the information should be shared. Senior officials have reportedly disagreed over the strength of the evidence and the appropriate scope of the investigation.

Israel Police declined to comment on Ben-Gvir’s accusations, and the minister has not publicly produced evidence substantiating his claims that Baharav-Miara blackmailed Levy or that Blatt deliberately attempted to conceal election wrongdoing.

Ben-Gvir also addressed the surge in Arab voter participation, responding to suggestions that the turnout represented a backlash against his policies as national security minister.

Speaking to interviewer Avishai Grinzaig, he argued that the possibility of Arab voters mobilizing specifically to remove him from office demonstrated the impact of his policies.

“You kept saying that Ben Gvir was worth nothing, and suddenly it’s blowing up in your face. Suddenly, it turns out that those very people you claimed I had no influence over all went to the polls to bring me down? That’s the greatest compliment I’ve ever received.”

He concluded by portraying the electoral mobilization against him as evidence that his approach had achieved results where previous governments had failed.

“The claim that if the Arabs came out to vote because of me, to bring down Itamar-Ben Gvir, that is the best proof that I have accomplished what others failed to do for 40 or 50 years,” the minister concluded.

A planned boycott of six Philadelphia restaurants by pro-Palestinian activists has triggered widespread condemnation after organizers scheduled the demonstration for Sunday, November 8, just one day before the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Nazi pogrom that marked a major escalation in the persecution of European Jews.

The protest, organized by an activist cycling group called Philly Bike On Your Left, targets Goldie, K’Far Café, Dizengoff, Huda, Mac Mart, and Schlesinger’s Deli. Promotional materials circulated ahead of the demonstration carried the declaration “No business for Zionists!” and called for the establishments to leave Philadelphia.

Jewish organizations and elected officials have denounced the campaign, arguing that singling out businesses associated with Jewish owners or supporters of Israel crosses the line from political protest into antisemitic intimidation.

The controversy has been intensified by its proximity to November 9, the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, or the “Night of Broken Glass.” During the Nazi-organized violence of November 9–10, 1938, synagogues were burned, Jewish homes and businesses were ransacked, and Jews were subjected to widespread attacks throughout Germany, annexed Austria, and the Sudetenland.

The pogrom marked a turning point in Nazi Germany’s campaign against its Jewish population, following years of discriminatory legislation, economic exclusion, and organized boycotts.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, a Democrat, condemned the targeting of businesses on the basis of their Jewish ownership. Other Democratic officials in the city also criticized the demonstration.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration joined in denouncing the campaign, while Republican state Attorney General Dave Sunday characterized the targeting of the establishments as discriminatory.

Rep. Brad Schneider, an Illinois Democrat, issued a particularly sharp statement Saturday rejecting the organizers’ approach.

“Targeting businesses simply because they are owned by Jews and singling out Jewish Americans to make them feel unwelcome and unsafe is neither reasonable nor justifiable protest,” Schneider said Saturday. “It is rank antisemitism, plain and simple.”

Jewish communal leaders expressed alarm over the decision to organize an economic boycott of Jewish-associated establishments at a time when antisemitism remains a serious concern in the United States.

Simon Wiesenthal Center CEO Jim Berk questioned the justification for holding Jewish business owners responsible for the policies of the Israeli government.

“History rarely announces itself with shattered glass,” Berk warned, drawing attention to the historical progression from economic exclusion and public intimidation to more dangerous forms of persecution.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, together with the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, and StandWithUs, encouraged community members to support the restaurants by purchasing food from them rather than engaging in confrontations with protesters.

Organizers, meanwhile, insist that their campaign is directed against Zionism and businesses they accuse of supporting Israeli military operations, rather than against Jews because of their religion. They have rejected accusations of antisemitism and objected to comparisons between their demonstration and Kristallnacht.

The dispute has renewed scrutiny of the distinction between protests against Israeli government policy and campaigns that critics say unfairly target Jewish individuals and businesses.

Philadelphia has previously experienced similar controversies involving anti-Israel demonstrators and Jewish-owned restaurants.

In December 2023, protesters gathered outside Goldie, the falafel restaurant co-owned by Israeli-American chef Michael Solomonov, chanting accusations of genocide against Israel.

That demonstration drew criticism from the Biden White House and Philadelphia officials, who objected to the decision to confront a Jewish-associated business over the actions of Israel’s government.

The controversy moved beyond statements of condemnation on Sunday as the bicycle demonstration got underway near Rittenhouse Square. Hundreds of counterprotesters gathered along the route, while police deployed officers, motorcycles, and bicycles to maintain order. Long lines formed outside some of the targeted restaurants, including Huda, as customers turned out to show their support.

Local television station WPVI reported that police had made three arrests during the demonstration. The circumstances of those arrests were not immediately detailed.

The protest organizers maintained that their campaign had been misrepresented and denied deliberately selecting the anniversary of Kristallnacht. They said they had not been aware of the date’s historical significance when scheduling the event.

Meanwhile, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia helped organize a solidarity gathering at Dizengoff on Friday, attended by Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, state lawmakers, religious leaders, and Jewish communal representatives.

A separate campaign by the nonprofit JewBelong placed billboards around Philadelphia encouraging residents to reject the boycott and support Jewish-owned establishments.

The restaurants targeted by the campaign include three businesses associated with Israeli-born chef Michael Solomonov’s CookNSolo restaurant group: Goldie, K’Far Café, and Dizengoff. Solomonov and business partner Steve Cook previously raised more than $100,000 for Friends of United Hatzalah following the October 7 Hamas attacks, a fundraising effort that has drawn criticism from anti-Israel activists.

Mac Mart owner Marti Lieberman expressed appreciation for the widespread support her business received as the demonstration approached.

The protest also revived memories of December 2023, when anti-Israel demonstrators gathered outside Goldie and accused Israel of genocide, drawing condemnation from the Biden White House and Philadelphia officials.

The timing of Sunday’s protest was particularly painful for Jewish residents because Kristallnacht commemorates the November 1938 Nazi attacks in which synagogues were burned, Jewish businesses and homes were destroyed, and approximately 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps. The pogrom accelerated the Nazi campaign to strip Jews of their property, livelihoods, and remaining civil protections.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz warned Sunday that Iran is attempting to revive its nuclear weapons ambitions and remains a serious threat to Israel, declaring that the military campaign against Tehran has not yet achieved all its objectives.

Speaking at the official memorial ceremony for Israeli soldiers killed during Operation Kadesh, held at Har Herzl in Yerushalayim, Katz cautioned that Iran continues to pursue dangerous activities despite the military blows it has sustained.

“The mission against Iran is not complete. Iran is attempting to renew its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons, alongside other serious activities that place the State of Israel in real danger. We cannot tolerate these threats.”

Katz’s warning comes amid renewed international diplomatic efforts involving Iran and growing uncertainty over Israel’s political future following last month’s Knesset elections.

The defense minister also appealed for unity across Israel’s political divisions, emphasizing that the country faces major security challenges requiring cooperation and national determination.

“As we prepare for the major missions that still lie ahead, we must be united. This is a time for unity, responsibility, and mutual solidarity,” he said.

Katz stressed that Israel’s ability to confront future threats would depend on both the capabilities of its armed forces and the determination of the Israeli public.

“To accomplish these major missions, we will need the full strength of the IDF and the full resilience of our people,” he concluded.

His remarks followed a video statement issued Saturday night by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who urged parties across the national camp and the Zionist political spectrum to establish a unity government rather than allow an alternative coalition dependent on Arab parties to take power.

Netanyahu warned that efforts were underway to install a new government as early as the coming week, arguing that such an arrangement could compromise Israel’s ability to confront Hamas, Iran and other regional threats.

“With such a government, Israel simply will not survive,” Netanyahu declared, referring to a potential coalition that would rely on parties he accused of supporting terrorism.

“Therefore, there is only one choice. Not national suicide, but national unity.”

The prime minister argued that a government dependent on Arab parties would be unable to pursue the military operations necessary to protect Israel.

“A government that depends on Hamas supporters will not fight Hamas,” he said.

Netanyahu also maintained that such a coalition would have difficulty confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, supporting Israeli soldiers operating in Gaza and Lebanon, and preserving Israel’s Jewish character. He warned that reliance on Islamist political factions could also contribute to serious internal unrest.

His proposed alternative was a broad government bringing together the parties of the national camp and other Zionist factions, which he said could provide the political stability necessary to address Israel’s security challenges.

The political uncertainty intensified after the October 27 election left Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, compared with 48 for the four-party opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot. The Arab parties secured 19 seats, leaving neither major political camp with an independent parliamentary majority.

Eisenkot, who has rejected serving in a government headed by Netanyahu, has insisted that potential coalition partners accept several principles, including recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, mandatory national service and a commitment to dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.

Netanyahu concluded his appeal by urging political leaders to set aside their differences in the interest of national security.

“I call on everyone to demonstrate responsibility at this late hour,” he said.

“This is the imperative of the hour. This is essential to our very survival.”

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has decided not to serve in Israel’s 26th Knesset, withdrawing his name from the party’s parliamentary list following last month’s elections in a move that will reshape the Sephardic chareidi party’s representation in the new legislature.

The decision, reported Sunday, November 8, comes as Israel enters a critical period of coalition negotiations following an election that left the country’s political blocs struggling to assemble a governing majority.

Two other Shas figures, MK Moshe Abutbul and candidate Dror Amos, have also withdrawn from the party’s Knesset list. Their departures will allow Uriel Buso and Yossi Taieb, who were placed farther down the party’s electoral slate, to take seats in the incoming Knesset.

Deri’s decision means that although he remains chairman of Shas, he will not hold a parliamentary seat during the upcoming term. The announcement did not indicate that he was relinquishing his leadership of the party.

The announcement follows a crushing election defeat for Shas, which won just six seats in the October 27 election, down from 11 in the outgoing Knesset. The result represented one of the party’s poorest electoral performances in decades and prompted intense discussion within its leadership over the movement’s future direction.

In the days following the election, Deri reportedly offered to resign as chairman of Shas, accepting responsibility for the party’s losses. However, the party’s Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah rejected his resignation and instructed him to remain in charge, particularly as the chareidi community confronts major political battles over the draft of yeshiva bochurim.

Deri subsequently accepted the decision of the rabbonim and announced that he would continue leading Shas, even as he steps away from serving as a member of the Knesset.

In a statement issued Sunday, Deri explained that he had received the approval of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah to relinquish his parliamentary seat in favor of younger representatives who had already demonstrated their abilities in the Knesset.

He said he intends to devote considerable time to traveling throughout Israel, meeting with local party representatives, activists and supporters, and rebuilding the movement’s connections with its traditional voter base.

Deri also made clear that his absence from the Knesset would not diminish his involvement in the party’s parliamentary affairs. He plans to continue convening weekly Shas faction meetings, directing the party’s lawmakers and closely supervising legislative and committee activities.

The changes mean that the six Shas representatives expected to be sworn into the new Knesset on Tuesday are Yinon Azoulay, Michael Malkieli, Yoav Ben-Tzur, Haim Biton, Uriel Buso and Yossi Taieb.

Azoulay, who occupied the second position on the Shas electoral list, will now become the party’s highest-ranking representative in the Knesset, although Deri will retain overall leadership of the movement.

Abutbul, who is also leaving the parliamentary list, has spent approximately 35 years in public service. He served for many years in municipal government in Beit Shemesh, including a decade as mayor, before entering the Knesset and later serving as deputy agriculture minister.

In announcing his departure, Abutbul said he wanted to make room for younger Shas representatives. He indicated that the decision had been made with the blessing of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah and following consultation with Rav Reuven Elbaz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim.

Dror Amos, a reserve military officer, had been placed on the Shas list as part of an effort to broaden the party’s appeal among soldiers and their families. His withdrawal follows an election in which that strategy failed to produce the gains party officials had hoped for.

The departures will restore parliamentary seats to Buso, a former health minister, and Taieb, both of whom served in the outgoing Knesset but had been positioned below the six-seat cutoff on the party’s electoral list.

Additional changes to the Shas delegation may follow. Israeli media reports indicate that Yoav Ben-Tzur could leave the Knesset in several months, potentially allowing Yoni Mashriki to return to parliament, although that move has not been formally confirmed.

Deri’s decision leaves Shas in an unusual position, with its longtime chairman continuing to exercise political authority from outside the Knesset at a time when the party faces diminished parliamentary strength and uncertainty over its role in Israel’s next government.

Britain is spearheading a new international diplomatic initiative expected to enlist approximately 50 countries in a joint declaration demanding that Israel ease restrictions on humanitarian assistance to Gaza, permit journalists to enter the territory, and guarantee the continued operations of UNRWA.

The initiative, being advanced by Britain’s Labour government, is expected to be presented this week and would place renewed international pressure on Yerushalayim over its policies in Gaza. Israeli officials have already condemned the effort, accusing London and its international partners of concentrating their demands on Israel while failing to adequately address Hamas’s responsibility for conditions in the territory.

The proposed declaration builds on Britain’s “Gaza: Call to Action” initiative, launched in September with the backing of countries including Australia, Denmark, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

According to reports, the new document will present a condensed version of that initiative, containing three commitments by participating countries and eight specific demands directed at Israel.

Under the proposal, the signatory countries would pledge to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza ahead of the winter months, with particular emphasis on providing shelter, drinking water, sanitation facilities and medical supplies.

The countries would also commit to supporting the rehabilitation of Gaza’s healthcare system, with the Palestinian Authority and international organizations playing central roles in the effort. The declaration reportedly links these reconstruction plans to the broader objective of advancing a two-state solution.

Another major component involves UNRWA, the United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees. The participating governments are expected to insist that the organization be permitted to continue operating in Gaza, describing it as an essential provider of basic services.

The eight demands directed at Israel focus primarily on humanitarian access, medical treatment, international oversight and the movement of supplies into Gaza.

Among the measures being sought are expanded operations at Gaza’s border crossings, improved access through humanitarian corridors originating in Jordan and Egypt, and the elimination of what the proposed declaration describes as unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles delaying aid deliveries.

The countries are also expected to demand that Israel authorize the entry of essential equipment classified as dual-use materials, a category that includes items with civilian applications that could also potentially be employed for military purposes.

Additional provisions would require Israel to facilitate the transfer of sick and wounded Gaza residents to hospitals in Yehuda and Shomron and eastern Yerushalayim for medical treatment.

The declaration would also call on Israel to guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers and medical personnel operating in Gaza and to conduct transparent criminal investigations into attacks involving aid organizations and healthcare teams.

Another demand concerns media access. The participating governments are expected to press Israel to allow journalists and senior international delegations to enter Gaza freely, arguing that their presence would help provide a clearer understanding of conditions on the ground.

The British initiative has drawn a sharp response from Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, who accused the Labour government of overlooking Hamas while directing another series of demands at Israel.

“The Labour government has forgotten that Hamas exists. Time and again, the international community points an accusing finger at Israel while ignoring the terrorist organization’s responsibility for the situation in the Gaza Strip,” Danon said.

The Israeli ambassador argued that any meaningful effort to improve conditions in Gaza must begin with dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities and preventing the terrorist organization from regaining control of the territory.

“Instead of publishing another list of demands from Israel, it is time to demand the disarmament of Hamas and prevent the terrorist organization from returning to rule the Gaza Strip,” Danon said.

“Israel is not the enemy of Gaza’s residents; Hamas is the one that turned them into hostages. Anyone who truly wants a better future for the residents of the Strip must focus on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and ensuring a reality in which Hamas can never threaten again. One-sided declarations will not advance peace or improve the humanitarian situation.”

The dispute also reflects longstanding tensions surrounding UNRWA, whose activities Israel has repeatedly criticized over allegations concerning the involvement of some agency employees in terrorist activity and connections to Hamas. The United Nations has maintained that the agency remains vital to humanitarian operations and has taken disciplinary action in cases involving employees implicated in the October 7 attacks.

The proposed declaration has not yet been formally adopted by the participating governments, and the final list of signatories and precise wording of its demands remain subject to confirmation.

{Matzav.com}

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Tizku l’mitzvos!

Nearly two-thirds of Israelis are dissatisfied with the results of last month’s Knesset elections, and a new survey suggests that the country’s political divisions may make forming a broadly acceptable government extraordinarily difficult, even after Gadi Eisenkot received the presidential mandate to assemble a coalition.

The November Israeli Society Index, conducted by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), found that 62% of Israelis were unhappy with the election outcome, compared with just 33% who expressed satisfaction. More strikingly, of 10 possible governing coalitions examined by researchers, only one avoided rejection by a majority of respondents.

That configuration would bring together Likud, Eisenkot’s Yashar party, Beyachad and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu, giving the four parties a combined 67 Knesset seats. However, the arrangement would require significant political compromises, particularly from parties that promised voters they would not join a Likud-led government.

According to the findings, 51% of Israelis and 57% of Jewish respondents would not automatically oppose such a coalition. The proposed government would exclude the chareidi parties, Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionism and the Arab parties. Researchers did not ask respondents whether Netanyahu, Eisenkot or another figure should serve as prime minister.

The survey revealed particularly deep frustration among Jewish Israelis, 73% of whom expressed dissatisfaction with the election results. Of those surveyed, 44% said they were “not very satisfied,” while another 29% described themselves as “not satisfied at all.” Just 2% reported being “very satisfied.”

Arab respondents expressed nearly the opposite sentiment. Approximately 75% said they were pleased with the outcome, including 37% who were highly satisfied. The findings follow an election in which Arab parties achieved unprecedented parliamentary representation while Netanyahu’s outgoing coalition lost its majority.

Despite their sharply different reactions, Israelis broadly agreed that the election represented a significant moment for the country’s future. Three-quarters of respondents believed the results would have far-reaching consequences, whether positive or negative. Another 19% anticipated little meaningful change in their personal lives.

The difficulty facing coalition negotiators is that neither political camp can easily assemble a government without abandoning commitments made during the campaign. That problem was reflected in the survey’s examination of which governing arrangements Israelis would prefer under the current parliamentary circumstances.

The most popular option, supported by 36%, was a government composed of opposition parties together with the Arab factions. A national unity coalition involving Likud, Yashar and additional parties attracted 23%, while 17% favored a Netanyahu-led coalition that included at least one party from the opposition camp.

Another 14% preferred returning to the polls for another election.

Significantly, a coalition combining the opposition parties with the chareidi factions, a possibility that has received considerable attention in political discussions, attracted support from only 3% of respondents.

To assess the public’s preferences in greater detail, JPPI asked participants which of the 11 parties elected to the Knesset they wanted included in the next government and which they would refuse to accept, even if that meant holding another election.

Three parties associated with the political center received the strongest support for coalition participation. Eisenkot’s Yashar led with 65%, followed by Beyachad at 63% and Yisrael Beiteinu at 59%. Likud received 50%, Religious Zionism 44% and the Democrats 42%.

The results changed considerably when respondents were asked which parties they would categorically exclude. The Joint List faced the greatest opposition, with 62% refusing to accept it in a governing coalition. Otzma Yehudit was rejected by 50%, followed by Ra’am at 45%, the Democrats at 37% and Religious Zionism at 35%.

Likud and each of the two chareidi parties were rejected by approximately one-third of respondents. By comparison, the three centrist opposition parties encountered much less resistance, with rejection rates ranging from just 9% to 13%.

The divisions were especially pronounced when researchers compared Jewish and Arab respondents. Among Jewish Israelis, 76% opposed including the Joint List in a government, while 56% rejected Ra’am. The Democrats were opposed by 46% and Otzma Yehudit by 44%.

Among Arab Israelis, Otzma Yehudit was the least acceptable coalition partner, rejected by 77%. Likud was opposed by 68% and Religious Zionism by 57%. Only approximately 20% of Arab respondents rejected the chareidi parties, while opposition to the three centrist parties and the Democrats ranged between 5% and 17%.

Sharp differences also emerged between Jewish voters who supported Netanyahu’s outgoing coalition and those who backed the opposition. Supporters of Netanyahu’s bloc overwhelmingly opposed including the Arab parties or the Democrats in a government, while expressing relatively little objection to the chareidi parties.

Opposition-bloc voters expressed particularly strong resistance to Otzma Yehudit, with 85% rejecting the party. Another 57% opposed the Joint List, while rejection of Religious Zionism and the chareidi parties ranged from 54% to 59%. Likud was rejected by 45% of opposition voters.

The survey also revealed an important imbalance in attitudes toward a possible national unity government involving Likud and the centrist parties.

Among Likud voters, only 22% opposed including Yashar in a coalition, while 27% objected to Beyachad. But among Yashar supporters, 53% rejected a government involving Likud. The corresponding figure among Beyachad voters was considerably lower, at 30%.

Those findings suggest that Netanyahu’s supporters are substantially more receptive to cooperation with Eisenkot than Eisenkot’s voters are to a partnership with Netanyahu.

Using the rejection figures, JPPI researchers evaluated 10 possible coalitions, each holding at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset. A proposed government was considered acceptable to a respondent only if that person had not rejected any of its constituent parties.

The only combination that passed the 50% threshold was the four-party coalition of Likud, Yashar, Beyachad and Yisrael Beiteinu, which 51% of respondents did not rule out. All nine other proposed governments faced rejection from a majority of those surveyed.

The findings come as Eisenkot begins efforts to form a government after receiving the mandate from President Isaac Herzog on Sunday. His Yashar party won 21 seats, while the four-party opposition bloc holds 48 seats, Netanyahu’s bloc controls 53 and the Arab parties hold 19. Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.

Despite the survey’s indication that a broad center-right coalition would encounter the least public resistance, the researchers cautioned that such an arrangement would require parties to abandon or substantially revise promises made before the election. The study also left unresolved the politically sensitive question of who would serve as prime minister.

[Video and photos below.] Thousands of Chabad shluchim representing 111 countries and more than 6,000 communities around the world gathered outside 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights on Sunday morning for the traditional group photograph of the annual International Kinus Hashluchim.

The massive gathering brought together Chabad emissaries from across the globe, assembling in front of the world headquarters of Chabad-Lubavitch for one of the most recognizable moments of the annual convention.

The annual Kinus Hashluchim brings together Chabad emissaries for several days of gatherings, workshops, shiurim and programs devoted to strengthening their work on behalf of Jewish communities worldwide.

For many participants, the convention provides an opportunity to reconnect with fellow shluchim whom they rarely encounter during the year, as their responsibilities often keep them far from established Jewish population centers.

The group photograph has become an enduring symbol of the Kinus, bringing thousands of emissaries together at the same location before they return to their respective communities and continue their activities.

The 43rd International Kinus Hashluchim began Wednesday, November 4, and has featured sessions addressing the challenges facing Jewish communities, including rising antisemitism, security concerns, Jewish education and the responsibilities of shlichus in an increasingly uncertain world.

The conference is scheduled to conclude TODAY with a major banquet at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, where nearly 7,000 shluchim, supporters and communal leaders are expected to gather. The program will include addresses, presentations and the traditional international roll call recognizing Chabad representatives serving throughout the world.

The annual group photograph, a Kinus tradition dating back to 1984, was taken Sunday by photographers documenting the gathering, including Shalom Ross of COLlive.

VIDEOS AND PHOTOS [COLLIVE.COM]: