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Michael Sam Teekaye Jr., 22, who admitted to trying to join the Islamic State and planning to attack Jews and Zionists in the United States, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by supervised release for life.

The resident of Hanover, Md., had faced 20 years.

He admitted that he had “multiple” conversations with an undercover officer in March and April 2023, during which he said he wanted to go to Africa and become a mujahid, a “fighter,” for ISIS, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Teekaye told the officer that his “plan B” was to attack Jews and Israel supporters in the United States and “said that he researched buildings close to him that support Israel and thought about how to ‘gun down key members or anyone involved,’” the Justice Department said.

“Mr. Teekaye sought to support a foreign terrorist organization that has committed unspeakable acts of violence and took real-world steps to carry out a terrorist attack in Maryland,” stated Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland.

“Today’s sentence underscores that those who seek to aid terrorist organizations will be identified, prosecuted and held fully accountable,” Hayes said. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Israeli authorities uncovered a large-scale smuggling attempt on Wednesday when thousands of cigarettes were found concealed inside a shipment of pineapples intended for entry into the Gaza Strip.

The discovery was made at the Lachish Crossing in southern Israel during a routine inspection conducted by the Land Crossings Authority, a unit of the Ministry of Defense. Inspectors identified irregularities in a truck carrying hundreds of pineapples and uncovered cigarettes hidden inside the fruit.

The shipment had been purchased by an Israeli company authorized to transfer goods into Gaza under the private-sector humanitarian aid mechanism. It was scheduled to continue to the Kerem Shalom Crossing for delivery as part of the approved aid supply process.

Following the discovery, Israeli authorities confiscated the truck and its cargo and transferred the materials for examination. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories suspended the company’s authorization to bring goods into Gaza.

Israel and Egypt have maintained restrictions on Gaza to prevent weapons smuggling since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.

A coalition of state financial officials is calling on President Donald Trump to take executive action that could unlock an estimated $39 billion in forgotten savings and war bonds, arguing that the money belongs to American families—not the federal government—as the nation prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, the NY Post reports.

Thirty state financial officers sent a letter to Trump on Thursday urging him to direct the Treasury Department to release billions of dollars tied to unclaimed bonds. They contend that many of the original bondholders have since died, misplaced their records, or simply forgot about the investments, leaving their heirs unaware that the assets exist.

“Americans purchased war bonds not merely as investments, but as acts of patriotism and confidence in the nation’s future,” officials from Alabama, Idaho, Missouri, North Carolina and 26 other states wrote, nodding to savings stamps purchased by children, neighborhood bond drives and payroll savings plans.

The officials pointed out that Trump sought to speed up the process of returning matured savings bonds during his first administration through a 2020 executive order. However, they said changes enacted under the Biden administration through the Secure 2.0 Act in 2022 created “a frustrating catch-22” for state treasurers.

According to the letter, the law requires states to prove ownership of abandoned bonds before the Treasury Department will provide information about the bondholders. But the officials argue that meeting that requirement is virtually impossible because they need access to the Treasury’s records in order to establish ownership in the first place.

“America’s 250th anniversary presents a unique opportunity to honor one of the most enduring expressions of civic faith in our nation’s history: the decision by millions of Americans to invest in their country through the purchase of savings bonds and, during World War II, war bonds,” the treasurers added.

Treasury Department data show that since the U.S. Savings Bond program was established in 1935 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, more than 6.8 million paper savings bonds valued at over $731 billion have been issued.

Although the overwhelming majority of those bonds have already been redeemed, the letter notes that millions remain unclaimed because owners lost the paperwork, relocated over the years, or simply forgot about investments they made decades ago. As a result, billions of dollars remain dormant.

“When Americans were asked to step up and contribute to the fight for freedom, the individuals and families who purchased US savings bonds did not hesitate,” OJ Oleka, chief executive of the State Financial Officers Foundation, told The Post.

Returning the bonds “is the proper way to honor their legacy and the important role these citizens played in allowing our nation to celebrate 250 years of freedom. After all, this is not the government’s money. These were loans, made in patriotic good faith, and it’s time this debt is repaid,” he said.

The state officials maintain that Trump could address the issue through a new executive order that would eliminate regulatory obstacles put in place during the Biden administration. They argue the matter is fundamentally a “property-rights issue” and can be resolved without Congress passing additional legislation.

While the letter does not spell out the exact process by which eligible families would receive the money, the treasurers said such an executive order would cap years of work to modernize Treasury records, improve bondholder search capabilities, expand outreach efforts, and digitize historical debt records with funding approved by Congress.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul have unveiled an $800 million initiative aimed at speeding up bus service across the city, but critics argue the proposal is less about improving transportation and more about expanding traffic camera enforcement and increasing penalties for drivers.

The Democratic leaders announced the plan Wednesday during a press conference in Flatbush, saying the project will create additional rapid bus corridors while installing 200 new automated traffic enforcement cameras along 50 more routes by next year. They claim the upgrades will reduce travel times by approximately six minutes per bus trip.

“In New York City, time is money. And we are going to give New Yorkers some of that time back,” Mamdani said. “Six minutes precisely.”

To emphasize the promised time savings, Mamdani started a stopwatch before speaking and pledged to finish his remarks within six minutes. Instead, his speech ran longer than planned, prompting comparisons to the city’s frequently delayed buses.

Not everyone is convinced the projected time savings are realistic. Allan Rosen, vice chairman of the rider advocacy group Passengers United, argued the numbers are misleading because they assume riders travel an entire bus route.

“They are saying that bus lanes will save you up to six minutes,” said, who spent three decades at the MTA, including a stint running bus planning.

“That means if you travel the entire bus route, say 8 miles, you save six minutes,” he added. “The average local bus trip is 2.3 miles. So the average passenger would save only an insignificant two or three minutes from their 45 or 60 minute trip.”

The proposal, developed jointly by the city Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, also calls for new traffic signals that give buses dedicated green turn arrows, along with expanded tap-and-go fare payment to reduce boarding delays. Even so, Rosen believes the overall impact on commute times will be modest.

Under the proposal, City Hall plans to invest $254 million, while another $628 million in capital funding will be spent over the next five years. Officials also intend to increase the distance between bus stops to better match national and international transit guidelines as part of the MTA’s continuing redesign of the city’s bus network.

That change would eliminate some existing bus stops. According to the MTA, most urban transit systems place local bus stops roughly every quarter mile, while many New York City routes currently have stops about every 800 feet apart.

Rosen warned that removing stops could actually leave many riders with longer commutes despite slightly faster buses.

“If you miss a bus because your bus stop was removed, you can easily add another 10 minutes to your trip. So your trip can take 20 minutes longer under the MTA’s planning,” Rosen said.

He argued that the real weakness in the city’s bus system is unreliable scheduling rather than slow travel speeds.

According to Rosen, only about 20 supervisors oversee scheduling for approximately 6,000 buses operating throughout the city, and he said the new initiative does nothing to address that staffing shortage. The MTA did not respond to requests for updated figures regarding the number of bus schedule supervisors it currently employs.

Rosen also sharply criticized the plan’s significant expansion of automated traffic enforcement.

“The real reason bus lanes are implemented is to raise fines from violators and to discourage automobiles by clogging up traffic by removal of lanes. It’s not to help bus passengers,” Rosen said.

The proposal has also drawn scrutiny because it closely mirrors recommendations made by Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy organization that supports reducing automobile traffic. In its November 2025 policy agenda for the incoming Mamdani administration, the group called for broader camera enforcement and additional rapid bus routes—both central features of the mayor’s newly announced plan.

Mamdani’s proposal identifies Transportation Alternatives as one of the stakeholders involved in the initiative, and his administration also appointed a former executive from the organization to oversee city bus operations.

Financial disclosures previously released by Transportation Alternatives show that Verra Mobility—the company operating New York City’s automated traffic enforcement camera network—contributed more than $100,000 annually to the organization from 2020 through 2023, the most recent year donor information was publicly available.

Earlier this year, the New York City Department of Transportation awarded Verra a new five-year contract worth $998 million, representing roughly a 34% increase over the company’s previous agreement with the city.

In announcing the expanded contract, Verra stated that the anticipated growth in bus lane camera enforcement was one of the primary reasons for the larger agreement.

According to the city’s annual Local Law 6 report, bus lane enforcement cameras generated $152.9 million in fines during fiscal year 2025, with the city collecting approximately $126 million from drivers. Revenue from cameras mounted on buses surged by 551% compared to the previous year.

That dramatic increase followed the state’s decision to expand the MTA’s authority to issue camera-generated tickets not only for driving in bus lanes, but also for blocking bus stops and double-parking along designated bus routes.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Editor@Matzav.com,

Every summer I ask myself the same question: Is this really what we have become?

We spend ten months a year speaking about ruchniyus, shalom bayis, family values, chinuch, and living simply. Then July arrives, and suddenly an entire segment of our community embraces a lifestyle that seems to contradict everything we claim to believe in. We call it “going to the bungalow colony,” but for many people it has become something far uglier. It has become two months of prustkeit, materialism, social climbing, and endless comparison.

Let’s stop pretending otherwise. Walk around many bungalow colonies. You’ll find groups of women sitting on porches or around tables for hours upon hours every single day. The conversations are rarely about anything meaningful. It’s who bought what, who renovated, whose husband is making more money, whose daughter is dating, whose son got into a better yeshivah, who is wearing designer clothing, whose bungalow looks nicer, who hired which decorator, who is serving what for Shabbos, who has the bigger deck, the nicer swing set, the newer outdoor furniture. It’s an endless, exhausting culture of comparison. People don’t even realize they’re doing it anymore because it has become the air they breathe.

And what is perhaps even more tragic is that nobody seems embarrassed by it. We have somehow transformed idle sitting and endless fatzing into an accepted way of life. Hours disappear every day. Entire mornings. Entire afternoons. Somehow there is unlimited time to sit and talk. And let’s not kid ourselves that it’s all innocent conversation. Anyone who has spent time in these settings knows that gossip, judging, and comparing are woven into the fabric of the culture.

Meanwhile, the husbands are nowhere to be found because they’re back in the city all week. This is perhaps the craziest part of the entire arrangement. We have normalized husbands and wives living separate lives for two months every summer. The husband works, eats supper alone, sleeps alone, wakes up alone, repeats that routine all week, and then drives for hours on Friday just to spend barely a day with his family before getting back in the car on Sunday morning. (We’re not even talking about those men who may engage in unbecoming behavior. I won’t elaborate here, as Matzav is a family forum.)

We speak endlessly about strengthening marriages, about communication, about shalom bayis. Then we voluntarily choose a lifestyle that keeps husbands and wives apart for the majority of the week and somehow convince ourselves this is ideal. Since when?

And don’t tell me it’s all for the children. Children need fathers during the week, not only for forty-eight rushed hours. They need to see their parents together. They need to watch a father come home from work, eat supper with the family, help with homework, learn with them, and simply be present. Instead, for weeks on end, many children grow accustomed to a father who exists mainly on weekends. We have accepted this as normal only because many people do it. If someone proposed such an arrangement from scratch today, most people would call it unhealthy – or insanity.

Then comes Shabbos, and instead of finally reconnecting as a family after five days apart, the social circus goes into overdrive. Every meal becomes another opportunity to entertain, to visit, to be visited, to see and be seen. There are “toamehas,” Kiddushim, porch hopping, backyard gatherings, and endless social “obligations.” The comparisons continue. Who has the nicest table? Who invited the “right” guests? Who has the fanciest food? Who bought new dishes? Who has the best location? Who’s the prettiest? Even Shabbos, the one time when families should simply enjoy being together, gets swallowed up by the social scene, not to mention men talking to women, women talking to men, and more details that I’d rather not get into on a forum that is read by all ages.

What frightens me most is what our children are learning. We think they don’t notice. They notice everything. They notice what excites us. They notice how much time we spend talking about people instead of ideas, possessions instead of values, appearances instead of character. They learn that success means impressing others. They learn that happiness comes from having what someone else has. Then we wonder why so many young people struggle with contentment, why they feel pressure to spend money they don’t have, why they measure themselves against everyone around them. We spent the summer teaching them exactly that.

Before anyone writes in accusing me of painting with too broad a brush, let me say it myself. There are beautiful bungalow colonies. But let’s stop pretending the culture I’m describing doesn’t exist. It does. Everyone knows it does. People complain about it behind closed doors every summer, yet nobody seems willing to challenge it publicly because they’re afraid of offending people.

Maybe it’s time someone said it. People have built a summer culture that encourages precisely the values we spend the rest of the year fighting against. They’ve accepted a lifestyle that breeds jealousy, gossip, overspending, neglected marriages, absent fathers, and endless pressure, all while convincing ourselves it’s somehow wholesome because it happens in the Catskills instead of the city.

I don’t know exactly how to fix it. But I know one thing. If this is what you proudly call our summer, then you shouldn’t be surprised when it follows you home in September.

H. L.

A Disturbed Reader

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A growing majority of Americans now believe the nation’s economic system is failing, according to a newly released Wall Street Journal-NORC survey, underscoring rising dissatisfaction with capitalism, declining faith in democracy, and deep concern over the country’s future.

The poll, released Wednesday, found that fewer than half of Americans — 49% — believe capitalism is working either very well or somewhat well. That marks a significant drop from roughly a decade ago, when 60% expressed confidence in the system. Meanwhile, 51% now say capitalism is functioning poorly or not at all, compared to 37% who held that view in 2015.

The results point to growing unease over economic mobility and waning trust in America’s core institutions.

Just 35% of those surveyed said they are fairly or very confident that the United States still provides people with a meaningful opportunity to secure good jobs and achieve the American dream.

Many respondents also expressed frustration over the role of money in politics. Approximately three-quarters said billionaires and major corporations have excessive influence in Washington, while ordinary working Americans have too little say in government.

A slim majority, 52%, said they believe large corporations exercise too much power at the expense of workers and consumers, and they support government efforts to curb that influence and share control of certain businesses.

The findings come as democratic socialist candidates continue making gains in Democratic primary elections and as President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that the country’s economic system has left working-class Americans behind.

Public confidence in the political system proved even weaker than confidence in capitalism.

Only 12% of respondents said democracy in the United States is working very well or extremely well, while just 16% believe average citizens have significant influence over political decisions.

More than half of those surveyed — 56% — said democracy is either not working well or not working at all, the highest level measured in comparable Wall Street Journal polling since 2020.

The survey also revealed widespread pessimism about where the country is headed.

More than two-thirds of Americans said they believe the United States is in decline, and about six in ten said the nation’s best years are already in the past rather than still ahead.

Expressions of national pride have also weakened. Fewer than 40% said they are very proud of American history, while only 35% described patriotism as very important in their own lives, a notable decline from more than 60% who said the same in a 2019 Wall Street Journal-NBC News survey.

Attitudes toward America’s history and identity varied dramatically depending on political affiliation.

Roughly two-thirds of Republicans said they are very proud of American history, compared with only about one in five Democrats. Nearly half of Republicans believe the United States stands above every other nation, while only 8% of Democrats and 13% of independents agreed.

Age also played a role in shaping opinions. Younger Americans tended to be more pessimistic about the country’s future than older respondents and were less likely to view patriotism, religion, and other traditional values as especially important.

Despite the sharp ideological divides, respondents shared concern over the nation’s political climate.

Nearly three-quarters agreed that political polarization has become so severe that the federal government can no longer effectively address major national problems, and they believe those divisions are likely to deepen.

The survey also found broad support for several issues. Fifty-eight percent favor birthright citizenship, about 60% believe immigration benefits the United States more than it harms it, and roughly two-thirds said maintaining the separation of church and state remains very or extremely important to America’s identity.

The Wall Street Journal-NORC poll surveyed 1,862 adults nationwide between June 11 and June 18. The sample included additional Black, Latino, and Asian American respondents, and the survey carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

An extraordinary incident unfolded during the shivah period near the kever of the mekubal Rav Amos Guetta zt”l in Netanya, where a remarkable chain of events ended without injuries despite the sudden collapse of a wall at an active construction site.

The incident occurred as workers were preparing a new entrance to the tzaddik’s grave. According to eyewitnesses, a vehicle belonging to a Chevra Kadisha employee arrived at the site to oversee the cutting of a wall that would provide direct access to the grave. The vehicle had reportedly been experiencing a mechanical problem for about a week that caused it to emit thick black smoke. As part of the wall-cutting operation, workers were using a continuous flow of water, as is standard for this type of work.

At one point, one of Rav Amos’s talmidim noticed smoke pouring from the vehicle. He immediately grabbed the water hose being used by the construction crew and rushed toward the vehicle in an attempt to cool it down and prevent the problem from worsening. However, the combination of the vehicle’s mechanical malfunction, the intense heat, and the water apparently caused the vehicle to catch fire.

According to those at the scene, the four workers cutting the wall did not understand why their water hose had suddenly been taken away. Initially believing someone was interfering with their work, they left their positions and walked toward the vehicle to see what had happened.

Just moments later, the very wall they had been cutting suddenly collapsed.

The collapse occurred precisely where the workers had been standing only seconds earlier. Because they had stepped away immediately before the wall gave way, none of them was injured.

Those present described the sequence of events as nothing short of miraculous, saying they believed the zechus of the tzaddik, who was buried only days earlier, protected those at the site. They remarked that even after his passing, he continues to intercede on behalf of his followers.

{Matzav.com}

Veteran political analyst Yaakov Rivlin believes that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s push to advance legislation benefiting the chareidi community is aimed not only at the upcoming election, but also at ensuring the chareidi parties remain firmly aligned with the right-wing bloc in the political battles that follow.

Speaking Wednesday on Kol Chai Radio’s “Central Edition” with Avi Blum, Rivlin discussed the coalition’s efforts to pass the proposed Basic Law protecting Torah study and legislation preventing the arrest of yeshiva bochurim. Despite ongoing security tensions, he said he sees little chance that the legislative process will be halted.

“On Wednesday the Knesset session ends, and whatever isn’t achieved now will never be achieved,” Rivlin said. He noted that the bills are already moving through committee discussions and added that “it would take something very extraordinary for the legislative process not to continue.”

Addressing claims that the proposed Basic Law is merely symbolic, Rivlin argued that the fierce opposition from legal and economic officials suggests otherwise.

“I also thought it was merely declarative and worth nothing, but every day I open TheMarker I discover that it will grant the chareidim new benefits,” he said. He added that officials in the Budget Department also contend the legislation would cost the state significant sums of money, concluding, “so apparently it has meaning.”

Turning to the proposed legislation freezing the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, Rivlin said he is not convinced Israel’s Supreme Court would rush to issue an injunction because the measure is designed as a temporary five-month order.

According to Rivlin, even within the military there is growing recognition that the arrests have failed to achieve their intended purpose.

“The army itself unofficially admits that arrests are a headache,” he said.

Rivlin argued that Netanyahu’s strategy extends well beyond the next election campaign.

“Netanyahu is investing in the chareidim not for this election, but for what comes after the election,” he said. “He believes he won’t reach 61 seats, but the center-left also won’t reach 61 without the Arab parties. He wants the chareidim to remain with him even if he doesn’t have a majority.”

According to Rivlin, Netanyahu’s broader objective is to cement the loyalty of the chareidi parties within the right-wing bloc.

“He wants to lock Gafni and Deri into the right-wing bloc,” Rivlin said, explaining that Netanyahu wants to prevent them from later telling their voters they will join whichever coalition offers them the best deal. “He says to them: I gave you what you wanted—the Basic Law: Torah Study.”

Rivlin also addressed the growing economic sanctions affecting the chareidi community, including restrictions on eligibility for discounted housing programs, but cautioned that even more severe measures could be forthcoming.

“There are harsher decrees on the way,” he said. “Anyone who thinks that economic measures will bring down the Torah world does not know the Torah world.”

{Matzav.com}

Political strategist Moshe Glesner is warning that the greatest challenge facing the chareidi parties ahead of Israel’s next election may not come from political opponents, but from their own voters, as a growing number of yungeleit reportedly say they are considering staying home rather than casting ballots.

Speaking Wednesday on Kol Chai Radio’s “Central Edition” with Avi Blum, Glesner discussed the escalating confrontation between the coalition and Israel’s judicial system surrounding compliance with a High Court ruling involving the State Comptroller. He argued that what was once viewed on the political right as a warning about a constitutional crisis has now evolved into open discussion about defying the court.

“If once the right warned about a constitutional crisis, then warned through a constitutional crisis, now the pressure within the right is already talking about non-compliance, about the reality of a constitutional crisis,” Glesner said.

He maintained that comments by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, and other senior officials reflect more than political positioning ahead of party primaries.

“The number one issue today among the right is the judicial system. What once was the war, victory in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, has moved aside. Today, the judicial system is the issue that unites the right,” he said.

According to Glesner, fears that a clash with Israel’s High Court would alienate centrist voters have proven unfounded. Instead, he argued that support for judicial reform has broadened significantly.

“Today, even groups that once said the judicial system must be protected agree that there is a serious problem with the judicial system. Even Benny Gantz says reform is needed,” he said.

He added, “The radical extremism of the High Court and Gali Baharav-Miara has caused the story of judicial reform to no longer be whether, but how.”

Turning to the political outlook for the chareidi parties, Glesner said their primary concern should be motivating their own supporters to vote, particularly amid ongoing disputes over the proposed Basic Law protecting Torah study and legislation aimed at preventing the arrest of yeshiva bochurim.

“The first challenge facing the chareidi parties is how they bring their own voters back to the polls,” he said. “I’m seeing surveys in which chareidi voters say they are not planning to vote this time. This isn’t something that appears in only one poll.”

Asked how widespread the phenomenon is, Glesner said it extends well beyond a small protest vote.

“It isn’t 2%; it’s a double-digit number,” he said, warning, “Anyone who says that in the end the chareidim will vote because it’s embedded in their DNA—that’s not a work plan. That’s a belief that may come true, and it may not.”

A political uproar has erupted after Inbar Harush-Gitty, a former Defense Ministry official who helped establish several chareidi military enlistment initiatives and is now running as a candidate in Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, argued that increasing chareidi enlistment requires far more than military recruitment—it requires, in her words, dismantling the chareidi community’s autonomy.

The remarks were broadcast Wednesday on the radio program Hitorerut, where Harush-Gitty participated in a panel discussion. Asked about the challenge of recruiting chareidim into the IDF, she pointed to her years of experience working on integration programs, including the Kodkod initiative, chareidi hesder yeshivos, and the Ma’alot Tzur program. She asserted that many of the chareidim currently serving in the military joined through projects she personally helped establish.

Before addressing the enlistment issue, Harush-Gitty warned against political developments that, in her view, could keep Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in office, calling such an outcome “very, very dangerous for the State of Israel.” She then shifted to what she described as another major challenge—the chareidi community itself.

Explaining her approach, Harush-Gitty said, “Listen, in order to recruit chareidim, and I’m saying this as someone who served as CEO of Acharai!, who built Kodkod, who established the chareidi hesder yeshivos, who created Ma’alot Tzur—believe me, the chareidim who are serving in the IDF today are there because of projects that I established. In order to do this, there is no choice. We have to dismantle the chareidi autonomy. It’s not just about enlistment. It’s about dismantling the chareidi autonomy. Anyone who carefully reads everything we wrote about education, the economy, and military service will see exactly that.”

She continued, “We are going after every area of chareidi life, and we are not allowing chareidi autonomy to continue, because it weakens the State of Israel and makes it less secure and less economically strong.”

Later in the discussion, Harush-Gitty was asked which rabbonim she consults with. She replied that she has worked with prominent chareidi rabbis over the years but argued that “the last thing that should be done is to speak with the rabbis who are at the top of the pyramid of chareidi autonomy—we need to cut out the middlemen.”

Her comments immediately drew sharp criticism from parents of students attending chareidi high-school yeshivos, many of whom said the remarks confirmed long-standing concerns about chareidi military service tracks and chareidi hesder yeshivos. According to those parents, the issue extends well beyond providing options for young men who are not learning full time and instead reflects a broader effort to reshape chareidi society.

Individuals involved in chareidi education said the comments have generated deep concern among parents and educators.

“It turns out this isn’t just an educational solution for those who aren’t learning all day, but an openly declared effort to change the chareidi identity, dismantle its leadership, and create a new model of chareidi life,” one source said. “When a public figure associated with Eisenkot’s party openly says she wants to bypass the rabbonim and reshape every aspect of chareidi life, it becomes clear that this is about far more than military enlistment.”

Journalist Yedidya Meir, who highlighted the remarks on his radio program, said he has great respect for many of the people working within these frameworks—including talmidei chachamim, dedicated staff members, and parents who genuinely seek what is best for their children. Nevertheless, he argued that it is equally important to examine the broader forces and agendas operating behind the scenes.

The controversy is expected to reignite debate within the chareidi community over chareidi hesder yeshivos and military service programs, particularly over whether such initiatives are intended simply to provide solutions for a limited group of young men or are part of a broader effort to fundamentally transform the social, educational, and spiritual fabric of chareidi society.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden passing of Rav Yehuda Aryeh “Yidel” Taub zt”l, the longtime baal koreh of the Gerrer beis medrash in Yerushalayim.

Rav Taub collapsed inside the main beis medrash on Rechov Yirmiyahu and, despite prolonged resuscitation efforts, was pronounced dead. He was 76.

Rav Taub was widely known as one of the senior figures of the Rav Meir Baal Haness–Kollel Poland charity organization and as the author of the Otzar HaHalachos series of Torah works.

Magen David Adom and Tzevet Hatzalah emergency personnel were dispatched to the Great Gerrer beis medrash after reports of a man who had suddenly collapsed.

Tzevet Hatzalah paramedic Naftali Sofer and EMTs Pinny Weiss and Nachman Philip described the scene: “When we arrived, we were directed into the bais medrash, where we found a 77-year-old man unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing, after worshippers told us he had suddenly collapsed. Together with additional MDA paramedics and medics, we performed advanced resuscitation efforts, including chest compressions, artificial respiration and electric shocks. Sadly, despite prolonged attempts to save his life, MDA paramedics were forced to pronounce him dead at the scene.”

Rav Taub was renowned as a distinguished talmid chochom and beloved maggid shiur. For nearly 25 years, he delivered the daily Daf Yomi shiur in the Gerrer beis medrash. More than three decades ago, at the request of the Gerrer Rebbe, the Pnei Menachem zt”l, he assumed a leadership role in Kollel Poland, helping oversee its operations and activities.

He was the son-in-law of Rav Chaim Moshe Knopf z”l, longtime manager of the Hamodia newspaper. Following his father-in-law’s passing, Rav Taub succeeded him as the baal koreh of the Gerrer beis medrash, a position he faithfully filled on Shabbos and Yom Tov for approximately two decades.

Rav Taub also became connected through marriage to the family of the Pnei Menachem zt”l. Several of his sons serve as marbitzei Torah and community leaders within the Gerrer chassidic court.

His passing leaves a tremendous void in the Gerrer community and among the many thousands who benefited from his Torah scholarship, public Torah reading, and decades of dedicated communal service.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said he has not spoken with Sen. Mitch McConnell since the Kentucky Republican was hospitalized nearly a month ago, adding that he does not know how the longtime senator is recovering as questions continue to mount over his health.

While speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked whether he had been in contact with McConnell following the senator’s June 14 hospitalization. He responded, “No,” and when asked about McConnell’s condition, added, “I have no idea how he’s doing,” according to The Washington Examiner.

McConnell, 84, has remained in the hospital since the middle of June for reasons that have not been publicly disclosed. His office has released few details, stating only last week that the senator “continues to improve.”

The unusually lengthy hospitalization has intensified scrutiny over McConnell’s health and whether he will be able to serve out the remainder of his Senate term.

Earlier this year, McConnell spent approximately eight days in the hospital after suffering flu-like symptoms. In recent years, he has also experienced a series of well-publicized medical episodes that have repeatedly sparked concerns about his condition.

Despite the uncertainty, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming have both expressed confidence in McConnell’s recovery, saying they have remained in contact with him by telephone during his hospitalization.

The limited public information provided by McConnell’s office has led to growing calls for greater openness, including from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

In a letter sent Wednesday, the Democratic governor urged McConnell to publicly address his medical condition and clarify his ability to continue serving the people of Kentucky.

“As public officeholders, we have made a commitment to our constituents to do our best to represent them and to always be transparent. I believe this requires clear communication about one’s ability to serve,” Beshear wrote.

He continued, “Allowing speculation to continue in the media is not fair to the Senator or to Kentuckians, and my hope is that this provides him the opportunity to share the information in a transparent manner, direct from the source.”

McConnell, who served longer as Senate leader than anyone else in American history, relinquished his position as Republican leader in January 2025, when Thune assumed the role of majority leader.

A month later, the veteran Kentucky lawmaker announced that he would not seek another term in office. His current Senate term is scheduled to conclude in January 2027.

Concerns about McConnell’s health have lingered for years. He suffered a fractured shoulder in a 2019 fall and has experienced several additional falls since then.

During 2023 and 2024, McConnell twice appeared to freeze while speaking with reporters, incidents that drew widespread attention and renewed questions about his health. In October 2025, he fell again while walking through the Capitol before a Senate vote.

Although McConnell has continued carrying out his Senate duties through each of those health setbacks, his current hospitalization is the longest he has faced in recent years.

His office has not announced when he is expected to leave the hospital or resume his work in the Senate.

{Matzav.com}

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is bringing senior officials from more than 60 nations to Washington next week for a high-level conference aimed at strengthening international cooperation against what the Trump administration says is an escalating wave of transnational far-left terrorism.

The gathering, scheduled for July 16 at the State Department, will include ministers and senior representatives from Europe, Latin America, and Asia. According to a planning document obtained by The Washington Post, participants will focus on improving intelligence-sharing and law enforcement coordination to combat what U.S. officials describe as a renewed surge in politically driven violence carried out by far-left extremist organizations.

The planning paper states that the meeting will address “far-left terrorists” who are “increasingly turning to organized, deadly violence to advance their political objectives.”

The initiative has drawn skepticism from a number of current and former American officials, foreign diplomats, and terrorism specialists, many of whom argue that left-wing extremist organizations do not currently present the same level of international danger as other terrorist threats.

Some officials within the administration have also voiced concern that broadening counterterrorism powers in this area could establish legal precedents that might later be used against other political groups.

“The idea is you’re setting a precedent for a future Gavin Newsom administration to turn these authorities on conservatives,” one current administration official told the Post.

The White House rejected that criticism, saying such concerns did “not represent the prevailing feeling” and pointing instead to the administration’s national counterterrorism strategy released in May, which states: “We will not permit the weaponization of America’s unparalleled CT capabilities for partisan purposes.”

The strategy further emphasizes, “Our counterterrorism powers will not be used to target our fellow Americans who simply disagree with us.”

White House counterterrorism adviser Sebastian Gorka has explored whether organizations linked to antifa could qualify for designation as foreign terrorist groups, a move that officials say could broaden investigative tools available to law enforcement under certain circumstances.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly condemned antifa and signed an executive order last year identifying it as a “domestic terrorist organization,” although legal scholars have noted that such a designation does not carry formal legal standing under existing federal law.

Administration officials have also highlighted recent criminal cases involving anti-fascist activists as evidence supporting their concerns.

Last month, multiple defendants were handed lengthy prison terms for their involvement in a violent demonstration outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas, where a police officer was shot during the unrest.

Federal prosecutors characterized those charged as members of an “antifa cell,” while defense lawyers maintained that the prosecution was politically motivated.

The State Department extended invitations to nearly every European country, along with several nations in Latin America and key Asian partners, including India, Indonesia, and Singapore.

According to The Washington Post, some foreign governments have indicated they are unlikely to dispatch cabinet-level officials, citing scheduling issues or disagreement with the administration’s assessment of the threat posed by far-left extremist movements.

Several terrorism experts also questioned whether the administration’s priorities accurately reflect today’s global security landscape.

“We have to be objective about identifying threats, not politically selective,” said Bruce Hoffman, a senior fellow for counterterrorism at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Colin P. Clarke, executive director of the Soufan Center, offered a similar assessment, saying, “If I were to rack and stack priorities, left-wing terrorists wouldn’t be in my top three.”

Less than 24 hours after declaring they would not accept any changes to the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study, the chareidi parties in the Knesset have agreed to a compromise with the Likud that would significantly narrow the legislation by removing one of its central provisions.

Under the emerging agreement, the bill will no longer include a clause stating that recognition of Torah study as a foundational value is intended to create “balances of justice” in relation to other fundamental values of the State of Israel. Instead, the legislation will retain only its opening provision, which establishes Torah study as a foundational value of the Jewish people’s heritage and the State of Israel.

The compromise represents a notable shift from the position taken just a day earlier by Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni. Following a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gafni had insisted that “what was agreed upon in the meeting is what will pass in the second and third readings. I will not agree to any change in the wording.”

Gafni also rejected a Likud proposal to reduce the legislation to a largely declarative measure, insisting that the bill be passed “exactly as written.”

At the time, officials from the chareidi parties stressed that the purpose of the legislation was to grant Torah study tangible legal and budgetary significance, rather than merely symbolic recognition.

However, mounting pressure from within the Likud, coupled with opposition voiced during Knesset committee discussions, ultimately led the chareidi parties to soften their position.

Knesset Legal Adviser Attorney Sagit Afik warned that the original wording could eventually serve as a legal basis for demands that full-time Torah scholars receive benefits currently reserved for military personnel and combat soldiers, including scholarships and additional financial assistance.

Coalition Chairman MK Ofir Katz made clear that the bill would not have enough support to pass unless it was amended. He also warned that Likud lawmakers were prepared to submit reservations against the legislation if no changes were made.

Faced with the possibility that the entire bill could fail, the chareidi parties agreed to remove the controversial “balances of justice” provision.

At the same time, coalition lawmakers are working on separate legislation addressing disabled veterans, aimed at recognizing the value of military service and the sacrifices made by combat soldiers. The move is intended to separate that issue from the Torah Study Basic Law and clear the way for the revised version of the bill.

The final draft has not yet received the approval of the leading gedolei Torah. Nevertheless, the agreement to delete the disputed clause underscores that despite the firm public statements and ultimatum issued to Netanyahu only a day earlier, the chareidi parties ultimately agreed to the Likud’s primary demand and accepted a substantially more limited version of the legislation.

{Matzav.com}

In one of the largest recent philanthropic gifts to Satmar educational institutions, philanthropist Mr. Avraham Yehuda (Yudi) Goldberger has pledged $10 million to secure the naming rights for a major expansion project benefiting the Satmar girls’ schools in Kiryas Yoel.

The donation will fund the naming rights for the construction of new Bais Rochel towers that are planned as part of a significant expansion of the mosdos. The new buildings are intended to accommodate the continued rapid growth of the Satmar community and provide additional space for its expanding network of girls’ educational institutions.

In honor of the landmark contribution, a special l’chaim celebration was held at Mr. Goldberger’s home, attended by the Satmar Rebbe along with prominent rabbonim, community leaders, and supporters of the project.

The expansion is expected to play a key role in meeting the increasing demand for classroom and educational facilities in Kiryas Yoel, where the Satmar community has experienced substantial growth in recent years.

The $10 million gift marks one of the largest individual contributions toward the project and reflects the continued commitment of community philanthropists to strengthening and expanding the Satmar educational system.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Israel alliance in an interview with journalist Sharon Gal, praising President Trump as an unwavering supporter of the Jewish state while addressing regional security threats, relations with Turkey, and the growing confrontation with Iran.

Rejecting suggestions that President Trump has acted inconsistently or contradicted his previous positions, Netanyahu said both leaders are guided by the interests of their respective countries while maintaining an open and honest relationship.

“He looks after America’s interests, and I look after Israel’s interests – and I am not ashamed to speak my mind,” the prime minister said.

Netanyahu explained that during his meetings with Trump, he openly presents Israel’s concerns, including his views on Turkey and the policies of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He said the same candid discussions extend to the security situation along Israel’s northern frontier and the continued need to maintain a security buffer in southern Lebanon.

“We must protect the region.”

The prime minister emphasized that his conversations with Trump are marked by complete transparency and mutual respect. While acknowledging that the two leaders do not agree on every issue, Netanyahu said he deeply values the president’s backing of Israel.

“Even if there are disagreements on certain matters, I greatly appreciate his support. I do not think there has ever been a president so supportive of Israel in our history.”

Turning to the escalating tensions involving Iran and the Persian Gulf, Netanyahu cautioned that it remains too early to predict how the situation will ultimately unfold.

At the same time, he said the Trump administration recognizes that Iran is deliberately delaying negotiations rather than pursuing a genuine resolution.

“It shows he has immense frustration over the fact that the Iranians are playing for time – that is what they are doing – and he understands that.”

Concluding the interview, Netanyahu stressed that Israel remains fully prepared for whatever developments may lie ahead.

“We are prepared for any scenario.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump announced a major shift in U.S. support for Ukraine on Wednesday, revealing that Washington will allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles under license—a move he said will enable Kyiv to produce one of the world’s most advanced air-defense weapons domestically instead of relying solely on American deliveries.

The announcement came during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump said the United States would provide Ukraine with the rights and technical know-how needed to build Patriot missiles, which serve as the interceptor component of the Patriot air-defense system. The missiles are among the few weapons capable of shooting down incoming ballistic missiles, which travel into space before descending toward their targets at tremendous speeds.

Trump unveiled the plan while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, describing it as a major step toward dramatically increasing production of the sophisticated weapon by allowing Ukrainian factories to manufacture the interceptors themselves.

For months, Zelensky has repeatedly urged the United States and its allies to provide additional Patriot missiles. It was unclear whether he had been informed of the licensing plan beforehand, but Trump presented the announcement publicly as though it were new information.

Although the Patriot system is among the most technologically advanced defensive weapons in the world, Trump expressed confidence that Ukraine possesses the industrial expertise needed to manufacture the missiles and suggested production could begin relatively quickly.

Explaining why he was comfortable sharing the technology, Trump stressed that the Patriot is a defensive system designed to protect civilians and infrastructure rather than conduct offensive operations.

“We’ll give them the right to make Patriots. We’ll show them how to do it, it’s very complex… That’s pretty cool, right? That’s why he can’t complain we’re not giving him enough, make ’em yourself!”

Trump said Ukraine is one of the few countries capable of building such sophisticated weapons and predicted the production process could move rapidly.

“most countries couldn’t do that… but this is a very ingenious group… [it could be done in] not that much time, actually… I think they can produce them pretty quickly… we’ll work with the company. They have the capability to produce weapons, pretty complex weapons”.

Zelensky welcomed the announcement and praised the Patriot system as the world’s premier defense against ballistic missile attacks.

Calling the Patriot “the best in the world today, the best anti-ballistic system”, Zelensky expressed appreciation for the expanded cooperation.

Later in the day, Trump broadened the discussion during remarks at the NATO conference, outlining plans to significantly expand U.S. defense manufacturing as well. He said new production facilities would dramatically reduce the time required to build Patriot missiles and other advanced weapons.

“I provided other leaders with an update on the steps we are taking to rapidly scale up production in the United States, and they wanted to hear that because they don’t want to get it in four years, five years, they want to get it in a week. And we’ll actually be at a point like that in the not too distant future with the defence plants that are being grown.

“Lockheed, I think, is building five [new plants]… its going to quadruple the output we have with the munitions, whether it’s a Patriot or a Tomahawk missile… Lockheed-Martin will establish a world-class Patriot missile sustainment facility in Europe. They’ve been given a tremendous incentive by Europe to do that.”

Trump also announced that German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall will begin producing the U.S.-designed Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) in Europe under license.

It remains unclear whether Ukraine’s proposed manufacturing license would cover only Patriot interceptor missiles or extend to the entire Patriot weapons system, including its sophisticated radar and command-and-control components.

A complete Patriot battery—which includes advanced radar, launchers, control equipment, and interceptor missiles—costs more than $1 billion. Individual replacement interceptor missiles are estimated to cost roughly $5 million each.

Trump’s meeting with Zelensky reflected a noticeably warmer relationship between the two leaders than earlier in the year. The president said their personal rapport has improved considerably.

“We had a great talk the other day, I think, very positive. We have some very good stories to tell. He wants to see a settlement… we’ve actually developed a good relationship. It’s hard to believe, right? From the Oval Office to now, we’ve developed a very good relationship.”

Zelensky suggested their improving relationship was only beginning, prompting Trump to respond optimistically.

“and this is the beginning, maybe. Just the beginning. And you know the country has a lot of future, such great land, such great assets, such great people… we’ve made a lot of progress in the past couple of weeks”.

Discussing prospects for ending the war, Trump repeatedly emphasized the importance of face-to-face negotiations among the leaders of the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. Asked whether he would be willing to travel to Moscow for such talks, Zelensky drew laughter from those in attendance by joking, “It’s difficult, there are a lot of Ukrainian drones there.”

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) 

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. 

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. 

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. 

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact –

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory. 

ShasYiden.com

Montreal police have opened a hate crimes investigation after a series of coordinated attacks targeting Chassidic Jews unfolded Friday night in the Outremont and Mile-End neighborhoods, where Yidden walking home from Shabbos davening were reportedly harassed, assaulted, and subjected to antisemitic abuse.

According to CityNews Montreal, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal’s (SPVM) specialized hate crimes unit is investigating the incidents after multiple victims were targeted by individuals riding through the area in a vehicle.

The Council of Hasidic Jews of Quebec (CJHQ) said several people returning from shul encountered aggressive harassment from the vehicle’s occupants.

“Victims were yelled at, subjected to antisemitic slurs, spat at, and had objects thrown at them,” the organization said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The CJHQ said several victims had their shtreimels ripped off or knocked from their heads during the attacks. Among those assaulted was an individual who uses a wheelchair.

Security camera footage released by the organization appears to show the suspects pulling their vehicle to the curb before one individual jumps out, sneaks up behind a pedestrian, attempts to yank the man’s shtreimel off while mocking him, and then runs back to the waiting vehicle, which quickly sped away.

The CJHQ condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, stressing, “This was not a prank or a random act of mischief.”

The incidents sparked widespread condemnation from elected officials and Jewish advocacy organizations.

Outremont Mayor Caroline Braun said she has witnessed an alarming rise in antisemitic incidents in recent months.

“For several months now, I have observed a disturbing rise in antisemitism in Montreal and Outremont,” Braun wrote on Facebook. “We have seen the emergence of hateful graffiti, acts of intimidation, violence, and hate speech that have no place in our city. This must stop.”

United Against Hate Canada called on authorities to strengthen the SPVM’s hate crimes unit and urged greater involvement from the city’s Public Security Commission.

“There needs to be rapid arrests for this latest manifestation of hate and the heaviest instruments in the Criminal Code need to be used against those arrested,” said Marvin Rotrand, director general of United Against Hate Canada, as quoted by CityNews.

Rotrand’s organization also urged Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada to establish a dedicated municipal task force to combat the growing wave of antisemitism.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) likewise denounced the attacks, warning that they reflect a broader national crisis.

The organization described the assaults as “a horrific act of Jew hatred in Montreal… A month after the prime minister’s address, Canada’s antisemitism crisis continues as attacks targeting visibly Jewish Canadians spread across the country. Here’s what happens when antisemitism is normalized: A gratuitous, cowardly, and hateful attack against Hasidic Jews was carried out on Friday evening.”

The latest assaults come amid an ongoing surge in antisemitic incidents across Canada, particularly in Montreal.

Congregation Beth Tikvah, a synagogue in Montreal, has been targeted twice within the past year by firebomb attacks.

In November 2024, a man described as Arab entered a Jewish-owned business in Montreal and threatened to kill its owners while unleashing an expletive-filled tirade against Jews and Israel.

That threat came only days after violent riots erupted during a pro-Palestinian Arab demonstration in Montreal, where participants burned an effigy of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, hurled firecrackers at police officers, smashed storefront windows, and set several vehicles ablaze.

In July 2024, vandals desecrated a Jewish cemetery in Montreal by arranging stones atop graves in the shape of a swastika.

Last November, the phrases “Kill all Jews” and “Allahu Akbar” were discovered scrawled on a bathroom wall at Concordia University.

More recently, in March, a kosher restaurant and a neighboring business in Montreal were vandalized in another apparent antisemitic incident.

A heated confrontation erupted during a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as lawmakers debated legislation that would freeze the arrests of yeshiva bochurim. The exchange was triggered by remarks from Yesh Atid MK Elazar Stern, who questioned how anyone could avoid resenting the chareidi community while reservists continue serving in the military.

During the discussion, Stern addressed one of those present and said, “How can you not hate the chareidim when you see them celebrating during Bein Hazemanim in the Galilee while everyone else is in reserve duty?”

His comments immediately sparked outrage among the chareidi members of the committee.

Shas MK Yinon Azoulay fired back sharply, declaring, “I don’t know any Jew who hates another Jew. If you hate Jews, then your Jewishness should be examined.”

MK Moshe Solomon also entered the exchange, telling Stern, “It is forbidden to hate a Jew. Elazar, my friend, I believe it is forbidden to hate a Jew, no matter what.”

Later in the discussion, Stern sought to clarify his remarks, saying, “I don’t hate people at all—not just Jews.”

The tense exchange took place against the backdrop of the ongoing national debate over the military draft of yeshiva bochurim and proposed legislation to suspend the arrests of those who have declined to report to military induction centers in accordance with the directives of Gedolei Yisroel.

{Matzav.com}