Tech billionaire Elon Musk has entered the fray of New York City’s mayoral election, throwing his full backing behind Andrew Cuomo and urging voters to rally around the former governor’s independent campaign.
Taking to X on Monday, Musk declared that New Yorkers should cast their ballots for Cuomo, who is challenging Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Republican contender Curtis Sliwa. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO made his position unmistakably clear, warning conservatives not to divide the vote. “Bear in mind that a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is,” Musk wrote. “VOTE CUOMO!”
Musk’s endorsement aligns him with a growing list of prominent business figures who have publicly voiced opposition to Mamdani, a state assemblyman known for his far-left platform and fierce anti-Israel rhetoric. Several high-profile billionaires have funneled significant financial support into the race in hopes of preventing a Mamdani victory.
Among those joining the anti-Mamdani camp are former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Airbnb cofounder Joe Gebbia, and hedge fund magnate Bill Ackman, each of whom has spoken out or contributed to efforts aimed at bolstering more moderate leadership for the city.
President Donald Trump also weighed in on the race, telling CBS News during a “60 Minutes” interview that “if it’s gonna be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I’m gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you.”
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Mrs. Naomi Weitzner a”h, the longtime and beloved principal of Bais Kaila High School in Lakewood, NJ, who was niftar at the age of 86.
Originally from Highland Park, New Jersey, Mrs. Weitzner was the devoted wife of Rabbi Avigdor Weitzner z”l, with whom she built a home that radiated ahavas Torah, yiras Shomayim, and devotion to chinuch.
For decades, Mrs. Weitzner stood at the helm of Bais Kaila High School, where she became synonymous with uncompromising standards of chinuch and boundless care for every student. Her presence combined strength and grace — a firm guiding hand tempered by warmth, empathy, and understanding.
Generations of bnos Yisroel who passed through her doors carry her lessons in their hearts, recalling not only what she taught but how she made them feel — valued, capable, and connected to Torah and mesorah.
More than an educator, Mrs. Weitzner was a mentor, a role model, and a living example of dignity and principle. Her chochmah, insight, and unwavering dedication left an indelible imprint on her talmidos, her staff, and the wider Lakewood community.
The levayah will take place today at 5:15 p.m. at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, New Jersey.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}The Trump administration has announced that millions of Americans will receive reduced food stamp benefits this month, even as federal funding for the program has run dry amid the ongoing government shutdown. According to court filings made public Monday, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will continue distributing roughly half its normal benefit levels through November by dipping into a limited emergency reserve fund.
The Food and Nutrition Service confirmed in the filing that the plan came in direct response to federal court orders issued in Boston and Providence last week, which blocked the Department of Agriculture from halting benefits entirely. “Per orders issued by the United States District Courts for the Districts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, FNS [Food and Nutrition Service] intends to deplete SNAP contingency funds completely and provide reduced SNAP benefits for November 2025,” a Department of Agriculture official wrote.
SNAP’s contingency reserve currently holds about $4.65 billion—just over half of what the federal government normally spends each month to provide assistance to around 42 million Americans. Typical recipients receive an average of $190 a month in benefits, meaning this month’s reduced payments will be significantly smaller.
The Department of Agriculture stated that states will have to manage the fallout, including updating eligibility systems, notifying participants of the reduction, and responding to any appeals. “In addition to adjusting eligibility and benefit issuance files to accommodate the reduction, States must notify all SNAP households of the reduction, as well as handle any requests for fair hearings from SNAP households related to the reduction,” the department said.
The White House’s decision to authorize partial funding followed a pair of rulings by federal judges Indira Talwani in Massachusetts and John J. McConnell in Rhode Island, who rejected the administration’s claim that it lacked legal authority to keep the program afloat. Both judges said the government was obligated to continue distributing benefits, even during a funding lapse.
President Trump addressed the issue on Truth Social, explaining that his administration’s legal team was exploring ways to comply with the rulings and provide limited benefits until Congress restores full funding.
In their Monday filing, administration officials ruled out using money from the Child Nutrition Program—an idea raised by both judges—because of the uncertainty about whether Congress would replace those funds. “Section 32 Child Nutrition Program funds are not a contingency fund for SNAP,” the Agriculture Department stated. “Using billions of dollars from Child Nutrition for SNAP would leave an unprecedented gap in Child Nutrition funding that Congress has never had to fill with annual appropriations, and USDA cannot predict what Congress will do under these circumstances.”
Democratic attorneys general from 25 states and Washington, D.C., had earlier sued the administration over its initial declaration that no funds were available to continue payments beyond November 1. The new plan to provide partial benefits marks a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution.
It remains unclear how quickly states will be able to distribute the reduced payments or whether further legal challenges might delay them. The shutdown, which reached its 34th day on Monday, is now just one day short of becoming the longest government funding lapse in U.S. history—a record first set in late 2018 and early 2019 during Trump’s first term.
{Matzav.com}
At the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Annual Leadership Summit in Las Vegas, conservative icon Mark Levin unleashed a powerful, emotionally charged speech defending Israel, Judeo-Christian values, and the moral backbone of America. “If you’re a Jew hater, you’re a Christian hater,” Levin declared, setting the tone for a blistering address that drew roaring applause from the packed ballroom.
The nationally syndicated radio host and bestselling author didn’t hold back as he railed against what he called the “poison” of antisemitism creeping into both liberal circles and certain corners of the right. Levin accused public figures such as Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes of betraying the very ideals of freedom and faith that conservatives claim to uphold.
“For six months, I’ve been fighting these bastards,” Levin thundered. “And I’ve been looking over my shoulder for help — and found nothing. Nothing.”
He denounced the rise of isolationist rhetoric and those who flirt with neo-Nazi sympathies, accusing them of twisting patriotism into something dark and hateful. “They wrap their psychotic, unhinged Nazi-clan jihadism around American patriotism,” Levin warned. “You don’t get to claim you’re ‘America first’ while you line up with the Marxists, the Islamists, and Hamas. That’s not America first. That’s sick.”
Levin went on to condemn members of the conservative media world who, in his view, have lacked moral courage in confronting antisemitism. “We’re surrounded by cowards who have microphones, cameras, websites, and columns,” he said, adding that silence in the face of hate is complicity.
He urged conservatives to reject and “cancel” those who glorify tyrants or justify hatred. “We canceled David Duke. We canceled the Klan. We canceled Joseph Goebbels. And we’ll damn well cancel Hitler admirers, Stalin admirers, and Jew haters,” he proclaimed, his words met with a standing ovation.
Levin drew a direct link between antisemitism and hostility toward Christianity, saying both stem from the same rejection of faith and Western morality. “If you reject Judaism, you reject Christianity,” he said. “If you reject both, then you reject the American founding based on Judeo-Christian values.”
He turned his focus to the Middle East, praising Israel for defending religious freedom and safeguarding holy sites. “Who protects the Church of the Holy Sepulchre? The Israelis,” he said. “Who protects the Al-Aqsa Mosque? The Israelis. Who protects the Jewish and Christian sites in Israel? The Israelis.”
Levin dismissed accusations of apartheid against Israel as absurd. “Don’t tell me Israel is apartheid,” he snapped. “There are more Arabs in the Knesset than Jews in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Celebrating what he called an “extraordinary” partnership between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Levin likened their alliance to the historic relationships between Reagan and Thatcher, or Roosevelt and Churchill. “Trump and Netanyahu — stand up!” he exclaimed as the audience erupted in cheers. “These two men have accomplished extraordinary things for freedom and security.”
In his closing remarks, Levin warned that those who target Jews and Christians are ultimately attacking the very essence of the United States. “To the people attacking America by attacking Jews and Christians — you’re not going to get what you want,” he vowed. “We’re not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever.”
He concluded with a note of defiant optimism. “Ironically, you little [] have done more to unite us — Jews, Christians, believers in freedom — than anything else. Because Americans love liberty, the Bible, and the golden rule. We’re hooked at the hip — Jew and Christian — and nothing will come between us.”
{Matzav.com}
Democrats are bracing for a major shift as Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California is widely expected to step away from Congress at the end of her current term, concluding nearly four decades representing San Francisco. Multiple Democratic officials told NBC News that her retirement will likely be announced shortly after Tuesday’s elections, marking the end of one of the longest and most consequential careers in congressional leadership.
Pelosi, who at 85 has led her party through triumphs and turmoil alike, served twice as Speaker of the House — the first woman ever to hold that gavel — and became an enduring figure of the Democratic establishment. Her exit would leave a void that reshapes the balance of power within the party, as Democrats prepare for a generational transition.
Adding to speculation, Pelosi has quietly allowed potential successors to mobilize. She has not discouraged state Sen. Scott Wiener or tech entrepreneur Saikat Chakrabarti from preparing for primary bids, even as her campaign committee still holds millions of dollars.
Close associates say she has all but acknowledged the coming change. In a recent lighthearted comment, she quipped that she hopes to be around to witness Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries “sworn in as the first Black House speaker ‘if she’s still allowed on the floor.’”
Her communications team has refused to confirm the reports. Spokesman Ian Krager said only that Pelosi remains “fully focused” on advancing Proposition 50 — the Democratic-backed ballot initiative on redistricting that the party sees as vital to reclaiming control of the House.
Speaking with the San Francisco Examiner, Pelosi emphasized that the measure remains her primary goal. “The best antidote to poison,” she said, referencing Republican-led redistricting efforts in states like Texas and their attempts to block President Donald Trump’s agenda.
{Matzav.com}
The revelations surrounding the leak of classified security footage from the Sde Teiman detention facility have snowballed into one of the most dramatic and politically explosive sagas in recent Israeli history. What began as a probe into alleged abuse by IDF reservists has spiraled into a national controversy involving high-ranking officials, criminal investigations, and accusations of systemic deceit at the highest levels of power.
When Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, Israel’s former military advocate general, finally admitted on October 31, 2025, that she authorized the release of the footage, the admission detonated like a bombshell. The video—leaked to Channel 12 journalist Guy Peleg in 2024—appeared to depict severe mistreatment of a Palestinian detainee by soldiers at Sde Teiman. Tomer-Yerushalmi claimed her intent had been to push back against mounting right-wing criticism that she was persecuting soldiers during wartime. Her confession, however, now has her facing grave criminal allegations, including obstruction of justice, breach of trust, and abuse of office.
The story stretches back more than a year, beginning in July 2024, when a Palestinian prisoner at Sde Teiman was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, including broken ribs and internal trauma. The incident sparked an investigation by the Military Police, leading to the arrest of ten reservists from “Force 100,” the unit responsible for guarding detainees. Their detention triggered an uproar among right-wing activists and politicians, who stormed the base in protest. Several Knesset members, including Amichay Eliyahu of Otzma Yehudit, joined the rioters, denouncing what they saw as an unjust crackdown on Israeli heroes.
The footage that later surfaced in August 2024 was shocking. It seemed to confirm brutal conduct by the soldiers, though the prosecution’s later indictment stopped short of alleging rape, instead citing stabbing injuries near the rectum. Even so, the release of the footage—later revealed to be unauthorized—would eventually become the scandal’s focal point. At the time, the leak was viewed as mysterious, and speculation ran wild about who inside the IDF had dared to release such sensitive evidence.
Bereaved families from the group Baharnu B’Hayim petitioned the High Court of Justice in September 2024, demanding a criminal investigation into the leak. They argued that the footage was confidential evidence in an active military case, and that any internal probe by the same institutions under suspicion would be meaningless. Yet by early 2025, the court dismissed their claims after the Attorney General’s Office assured justices that an internal review—led by Deputy State Attorney Alon Altman and Col. Gal Asael—was underway.
In February 2025, indictments were filed against five of the reservists accused in the assault, but the question of who had leaked the tape lingered. That summer, Baharnu B’Hayim returned to court, urging that the Shin Bet take over the investigation. In September, the Attorney General’s Office declared the matter closed, insisting that “all leads were exhausted” and that “no viable investigative actions remained.” Critics now call that declaration fraudulent, claiming it was meant to shield the real culprit—Tomer-Yerushalmi herself.
The walls began closing in by late October 2025. During a Shin Bet polygraph examination of a communications officer from the Military Advocate General’s Office, the officer reportedly revealed that Tomer-Yerushalmi had personally ordered her to transmit the classified footage to the media. The revelation forced Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a formal criminal investigation. Within days, Tomer-Yerushalmi took leave from her post and submitted her resignation, acknowledging that she had authorized the leak “to counter false propaganda against the military justice system.” She wrote, “I take full responsibility for any material released from within my office.”
The fallout was immediate. Justice Minister Yariv Levin declared that Baharav-Miara could not oversee the case because of her prior involvement in the internal investigation. Baharav-Miara rejected his demand, calling it an illegal interference in judicial authority. Their standoff has since escalated into a fierce institutional battle, with some analysts warning of a brewing constitutional crisis.
Just when the public thought the scandal had reached its peak, the story took a bizarre turn. On November 2, 2025, Tomer-Yerushalmi disappeared for several hours, prompting a massive police and military search before she was located unharmed. Investigators now believe she may have used the disappearance to discard her cell phone—potentially containing incriminating evidence—into the sea. She allegedly left a note suggesting suicidal intent, though police sources now suspect the note was staged as a ruse.
The next day, police arrested both Tomer-Yerushalmi and her onetime deputy, Col. Matan Solomosh, who is accused of helping conceal her actions. Both were arraigned TODAY before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on charges of obstruction of justice, fraud, and abuse of office. Their remand was extended as police investigate whether evidence was destroyed during the hours Tomer-Yerushalmi was missing.
As the legal drama unfolds, questions about accountability reverberate through Israel’s defense and justice systems. Once a respected figure in military law, Tomer-Yerushalmi now stands accused of the very misconduct she was sworn to prevent. Her downfall has not only upended Israel’s legal establishment. It has shaken public trust in the delicate balance between military discipline, justice, and politics.
{mATZAV.COM}In a landmark announcement, Yad Vashem revealed that it has now identified the names of five million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust — an achievement the institution called both “historic” and deeply personal, representing decades of painstaking work to restore the identities of the six million who perished.
“Reaching five million names is both a milestone and a reminder of our unfinished obligation,” said Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan. “Behind each name is a life that mattered — a child who never grew up, a parent who never came home, a voice that was silenced forever. It is our moral duty to ensure that every victim is remembered so that no one will be left behind in the darkness of anonymity.”
The revelation comes at a poignant moment. As Yad Vashem noted, the number of living Holocaust survivors continues to decline rapidly, leaving fewer eyewitnesses able to share their stories firsthand. Approximately 200,000 survivors are alive today, but the Claims Conference has estimated that within seven years, roughly half of them will have passed away.
Yad Vashem’s effort to recover these identities has spanned continents, drawing upon Jewish communities, archives, universities, genealogical organizations, and individuals worldwide. The cornerstone of the initiative remains its renowned Pages of Testimony project — simple one-page memorials completed by family and friends of victims. Written in over 20 languages, these pages account for 2.8 million names and were recognized by UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 2013.
Researchers have also uncovered victims’ identities through a vast range of sources: Nazi documentation, transport lists, census records, and even private letters and diaries. They have turned to unconventional methods as well — examining old tombstones, synagogue plaques, and other local memorials to piece together fragments of forgotten lives.
“The Pages of Testimony are symbolic headstones,” said Dr. Alexander Avram, Director of the Hall of Names and the Central Database of Shoah Victims’ Names, who has guided the initiative for nearly four decades. “Most of the victims of the Holocaust were left without graves, without traces — remembered now only through the Pages of Testimony that bear their names. By identifying five million names, we are restoring their human identities and ensuring that their memory endures.”
The collected names are preserved in Yad Vashem’s Central Database of Shoah Victims’ Names, available online in six languages. The database uses complex algorithms to track variations in spelling and location, creating hundreds of thousands of detailed personal files that capture both the lives and fates of those who were lost.
While the organization estimates that the names of about one million victims may never be recovered, it remains hopeful that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning could help uncover up to 250,000 additional identities in the coming years.
Over time, the database has reunited families, restored forgotten histories, and provided descendants with long-lost links to their past. Yad Vashem will mark the five-million milestone with a special seminar at its Jerusalem campus on November 6, followed by a commemorative event hosted by the Yad Vashem USA Foundation in New York on November 9.
{Matzav.com}
