Feed aggregator

Facing mounting backlash from Holocaust survivors, Polish officials, and international memory organizations, a German auction house has scrapped a planned sale of items from the Holocaust era that included yellow badges, personal letters, and medical documents detailing Nazi atrocities.

The Pforzheim-based Felzmann Auction House announced on Sunday that it would cancel the auction, which had been scheduled for Monday. German media reported that the decision came after an outpouring of outrage from Poland, including public condemnation by officials and Holocaust remembrance groups, who decried what they called “a cynical trade in memory.”

The auction’s online catalog had listed dozens of deeply personal and historically sensitive items. Among them were original yellow Judenstern badges with a starting price of €180, a collection of 85 letters exchanged between members of a Polish Jewish family for €12,000, and medical records documenting human experimentation for €400. Also included was an arrest file of one of the suspects involved in the 1944 attempt to assassinate Hitler, offered for €600, along with other personal records displaying the names, addresses, and photographs of Holocaust victims — presented as collectible “memorabilia.”

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said he personally raised the matter with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul. “We agree that such a scandal must be prevented,” he said, urging that “the items be transferred to the Auschwitz Museum, as the belongings of victims must never end up in commercial hands.”

Pressure within Germany also intensified. Christoph Heubner, deputy president of the International Auschwitz Committee (IAC), condemned the sale as “cynical and shameless,” accusing the auctioneers of “turning persecution and human suffering into profit” instead of ensuring that such artifacts are preserved in museums and memorial sites.

Revital Yachin Krakowski, CEO of the March of the Living organization in Israel, also criticized the sale but stressed the importance of safeguarding the artifacts. “It is deeply upsetting that evidence of Nazi crimes is being sold to the highest bidder,” she said. “But if the choice is between purchasing them for documentation or leaving them in private hands, it is better to rescue and preserve them.”

{Matzav.com}

Amid escalating political and legal tensions, a newly released recording captures a blistering attack by Rav Tzemach Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim, directed at Israel’s judicial system and its handling of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s ongoing trial.

The remarks came shortly after reports revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump had sent a formal letter to Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog, urging him to grant Netanyahu a full pardon. In his letter, Trump wrote: “I call upon you to fully pardon Binyamin Netanyahu, who was a decisive and determined Prime Minister during wartime and is now leading Israel into a period of peace. Netanyahu’s focus should not be needlessly diverted. I believe this is a political and unjust case. It’s time to allow Bibi to unite Israel through his pardon and put an end to this legal persecution once and for all.”

In an audio recording aired Sunday night, Rav Mazuz responded to Trump’s plea and strongly criticized what he described as the relentless pursuit of the Prime Minister by Israel’s justice system. “Trump tells them: ‘Leave it, nonsense!’ But they won’t leave it. They won’t leave it, because they have a goal,” he declared. “And, baruch Hashem, until today they haven’t achieved it. And they’re being dragged along from day to day—more investigators, and more investigations, and more investigations.”

The rosh yeshiva continued with a forceful denunciation of the courts and the judges overseeing Netanyahu’s case, quoting the late Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l: “I read last week the words of Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l,” he said. “He said: People go to the courts. Who sits there in those courts? People who have no Torah, no religion, no faith, nothing. If it seems right to him to convict someone, he convicts him. If it seems right to acquit someone, he acquits him. That’s it.”

Addressing the Netanyahu trial and Trump’s intervention, Rav Mazuz reiterated: “They publicize that the prosecution has written thousands—tens of thousands—of pages about Netanyahu. Every day he wastes hours there, being told to testify on this and on that. Trump told them: ‘Leave it, nonsense!’ But they won’t leave it. They won’t leave it! They won’t leave it because they have a goal. And, b’chasdei Hashem, they haven’t reached that goal. They’re getting swept up, day by day—more investigators and more investigations.”

Rav Mazuz went on to sharply criticize Israel’s secular court system, arguing that it functions outside the framework of Torah law. “Someone who goes to court,” he said, “is not acting according to Torah. They accept the testimony of a single witness, they accept the testimony of a woman. According to their view, one witness can be interrogated and from him they can extract both truth and lies. That’s how it is. And the Torah? It’s left sitting in the corner.”

He concluded with a passionate statement on emunah and Torah values, referring to Israeli inheritance law: “According to the law of the state, a daughter inherits. But Maran Rav Ovadia said: Someone who arranges that his wife—who is someone’s daughter—should inherit, it’s theft! His strong expression was: that money they took will leave them, but it will leave through sickness, suffering, and other terrible things. My friend! Emunah. Emunah. Emunah. That’s what the Torah says! He wrote it himself,” Rav Mazuz concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz continued to escalate on Sunday, with Netanyahu and his associates openly ridiculing Katz’s frequent activity on social media.

According to a report on Channel 13 News, sources close to the Prime Minister took a jab at Katz, who often posts bold security-related statements on the social media platform X, calling him a “Chief Tweeter.” The quip, a play on the term “Commander-in-Chief,” reflects growing frustration within Netanyahu’s circle over Katz’s online self-promotion in areas relating to defense policy and national security.

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu appeared to rebuke Katz more directly during the weekly cabinet meeting. “We’re in an election year,” Netanyahu said. “The elections will take place by the end of the year — we know that. And during an election year, we see a ‘primary season assault,’ both from within Likud and from outside it. The issues being discussed in this barrage of tweets — I don’t remember ever seeing such things about security matters before.”

The Prime Minister went on to mock the tone of Katz’s posts, saying: “‘I said, I did, I updated,’ — even on matters related to our national security. I remind everyone that these issues are decided in coordination with the Prime Minister, who bears responsibility for them.”

The sharp remarks come amid ongoing internal friction within Likud, as Netanyahu’s top ministers vie for public visibility ahead of the upcoming elections. Katz’s assertive public statements, often made without prior coordination, have reportedly irritated the Prime Minister’s team, who view them as attempts to claim credit for sensitive defense decisions.

Despite the mounting criticism, Katz has continued to post on X regularly, drawing both attention and controversy — and prompting Netanyahu’s allies to coin the biting new title: “Chief Tweeter.”

{Matzav.com}

A devastating tragedy struck the Rockland community this morning with the untimely petirah of Reb Yisroel Meir Freeman z”l, a 29-year-old yungerman and devoted father of three, who was niftar after a horrific accident while on his way to kollel.

Yisroel Meir, originally from Boro Park, was the beloved son of longtime East Side Hatzolah volunteer Reb Yaakov Freeman.

The tragic incident took place near 445 South Pascack Road in Chestnut Ridge, when a large tree fell onto his car as he was driving. The impact caused the vehicle to lose control and crash, leaving Yisroel Meir critically injured.

Rockland Hatzolah Paramedics administered advanced life support at the scene and quickly transported him to Westchester Medical Center. Despite the tireless and heroic efforts of the Hatzolah members, trauma surgeons, and hospital staff, Reb Yisroel Meir tragically succumbed to his injuries.

The levayah will take place this evening at 6:15 p.m. at 445 South Pascack Road, followed by kevurah at Har Sholom Beis HaChaim in Airmont.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Even as diplomatic negotiations continue over Hamas’s disarmament, intelligence sources say the terrorist group is taking steps in the opposite direction—preparing for its next round of violence. A Kan News report on Sunday exposed that Hamas has begun secretly stockpiling advanced weaponry far beyond Gaza’s borders, ensuring its arsenal will be ready when needed.

The network of storage sites reportedly stretches across Africa, Yemen, and other sympathetic nations. These stockpiles are being quietly built up with the intention of moving the weapons into key operational zones, including the Gaza Strip itself, when the timing allows.

According to Kan’s report, these efforts coincide directly with growing international discussions about stripping Hamas of its weapons. Intelligence officials view this as a clear sign that Hamas is determined to safeguard and rebuild its military infrastructure after the war—part of a long-term plan to reestablish its power.

The revelation follows a recent discovery in Europe that underscored Hamas’s expanding global reach. Just over a week ago, Austrian authorities uncovered a cache of weapons in Vienna believed to be connected to Hamas and allegedly meant for terror attacks on European soil.

In connection with the find, “Israeli or Jewish institutions in Europe were likely the targets of these planned attacks,” the Austrian Interior Ministry stated. The announcement came as part of a broader international investigation into Hamas-linked operations.

That same investigation led to the arrest of a 39-year-old British national named Mohammed in London. Officials confirmed he was detained on suspicion of involvement with the Vienna weapons cache, and the United Kingdom has already begun extradition proceedings.

The probe was conducted jointly by Austria’s State Security Directorate and various intelligence agencies tracking Hamas’s foreign activities. Investigators suspect a small circle of operatives or sympathizers had smuggled weapons into Austria for potential use in terrorist plots.

Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office, which also took part in the operation, reported that Mohammed had twice met with an individual named Abed—arrested in Germany last month for allegedly planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish institutions in the country.

Inside a rented storage unit in Vienna, authorities found a suitcase containing five handguns and ten magazines. Austrian security officials believe the cache was part of a broader Hamas-directed effort to stage or support further attacks, though specific details remain classified.

{Matzav.com}

As thousands of Satmar chassidim prepare to accompany their Rebbe, the Satmar Rebbe, on his upcoming ten-day visit to Eretz Yisroel, an intricate halachic question has arisen concerning the proper recital of V’sen Tal U’Matar in Shemoneh Esrei.

The issue was presented by the Rebbe to Rav Elyakim Getzel Berkowitz, dayan of Kiryas Yoel in Monroe.

As is well known, in Eretz Yisroel the custom is to begin saying V’sen Tal U’Matar on the seventh of Cheshvan. In contrast, Jews in the Diaspora begin reciting it only sixty days after Tekufas Tishrei—this year, that will be on the night of the fifteenth of Kislev, following Parshas Vayishlach.

This calendar overlap created a unique question for the Satmar chassidim traveling from America, where the season for saying V’sen Tal U’Matar has not yet arrived, to Eretz Yisroel, where it is already being recited.

In response, Rav Berkowitz composed a comprehensive and detailed halachic ruling analyzing the matter thoroughly. His responsum examines the issue according to the various local customs and provides clear guidance on how to conduct oneself both as an individual and as a shaliach tzibbur—including those leading the tefillah due to aveilus or a yahrtzeit—in both the silent Shemoneh Esrei and the chazaras hashatz.

The teshuvah also addresses distinctions between travelers who intend to return to America shortly and those who have left most of their families abroad, clarifying how each group should proceed in prayer during the trip.

Rav Berkowitz’s written psak halacha is expected to be published and distributed to the thousands of chassidim joining the Rebbe’s journey in the coming days, ensuring uniform practice and avoiding confusion or error during the historic visit.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu spoke out forcefully on Sunday against the surge of violence by Jewish extremists in Judea and Samaria, marking his first direct comments on the matter in months. Addressing the cabinet, he stated that Israel “will take very forceful action against the riots against IDF soldiers — against Palestinians, and against IDF soldiers — because we are a nation of laws, and a nation of laws acts in accordance with the law.” He made clear that such actions run counter to the values of the majority of settlers, calling the perpetrators “a minority that goes into Judea and Samaria [the West Bank] and does not represent the large community of law-abiding, loyal settlers.”

Hours after Netanyahu’s remarks, police detained three settlers who had entered a closed military zone armed with improvised weapons as they made their way toward a Palestinian village. One of the suspects, a minor, was placed under house arrest, while the other two were kept in custody. The arrests followed months of near-daily reports of settler violence, which often go unchecked.

The incidents have drawn harsh condemnation from military and civilian leaders alike. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said last week that he “strongly condemns” the growing wave of attacks. “We are aware of the recent violent incidents in which Israeli civilians attacked Palestinians and Israelis. I strongly condemn them. The IDF will not tolerate phenomena of a criminal minority that besmirches a law-abiding public,” he said in a statement. Zamir added that such acts “cross a red line and divert the attention of our forces from fulfilling their mission, defending the communities, and conducting offensive operations. We are determined to stop this phenomenon and will act on this matter severely until justice is done.”

According to data released by the United Nations, October saw a record number of settler assaults — the highest since the UN began documenting them in 2006. The organization reported at least 264 attacks against Palestinians that month and roughly 1,500 since the start of 2025. Israeli defense authorities reported lower totals but confirmed a sharp rise: 86 “nationalistic crime” incidents in October compared to 25 the previous year, with 704 such cases since January.

The violence has intensified during the annual olive-picking season, a time that historically sees friction between settlers and Palestinians. Volunteers — including Israelis and foreigners — have also been targeted. In recent weeks, arson attacks have destroyed farmland and factories near Nablus and Tulkarem, and a mosque was vandalized and set ablaze in a nearby village.

President Isaac Herzog denounced the acts, describing them as “shocking and grave.” He warned that the actions of “a handful” of individuals “crosses a red line,” urging that “all state authorities must act decisively to eradicate the phenomenon and to strengthen the IDF fighters and security forces who protect us day and night.”

International concern has also mounted. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that Washington was closely monitoring “events in the West Bank spilling over and creating an effect that could undermine what we’re doing in Gaza.”

Despite tough rhetoric from Israeli leaders, accountability has remained elusive. Three of the four suspects arrested over a major arson incident last week were released within a day. Channel 12 reported that police investigations into nationalist violence have fallen dramatically in recent years, with only 60 inquiries opened in 2025 compared to 150 in 2024 and 235 in 2023. The network also revealed that the commander of the police’s West Bank division is under investigation for allegedly downplaying such violence to maintain good relations with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

According to the Israeli rights organization Yesh Din, law enforcement outcomes remain bleak. Between 2005 and 2024, roughly 94 percent of investigations into settler violence were closed without indictments, and just 3 percent resulted in convictions, either full or partial — a record that critics say underscores the culture of impunity surrounding these crimes.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Health Ministry has issued a public alert after confirming that an individual diagnosed with measles attended an event last Tuesday night at the Keter Harimon hall, located at 10 Aharonowitz Street in Bnei Brak.

According to the Ministry, the event began around 11:00 p.m., and anyone who was present at that time is urged to confirm that their measles vaccinations are current and meet the latest national guidelines.

Health officials instructed those who attended the event to immediately contact the Kol Habriut hotline for personalized advice on vaccination updates and to assess whether they may have been exposed.

“Measles is a disease that can be prevented through a safe and effective vaccine,” the Ministry emphasized. “Early medical evaluation in the case of symptoms or suspected exposure may save lives.”

Measles inoculations are typically administered to children when they turn one year old and again at age six. However, due to the current outbreak, the Health Ministry has temporarily advanced the second dose to 18 months. In addition, babies between six and eleven months old can now receive an early preventive shot if they live in outbreak zones or are traveling to affected areas. This additional shot is not considered one of the routine doses.

Several cities have been designated as outbreak zones, including Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Charish, Modi’in Illit, Nof Hagalil, Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, Tzefas, Netivot, Haifa, Tiveriah, Tekoa, and the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council region.

In these localities, residents can get vaccinated without scheduling an appointment at Tipat Halav (Mother and Child) centers, HMO branches, and designated vaccination sites.

The Health Ministry further advised unvaccinated individuals, along with parents of infants who have received only one dose, to steer clear of crowded events in outbreak cities to reduce the likelihood of infection.

{Matzav.com}

A Sefer Torah completed at the Kinnus Hashluchim in memory of Rav Moshe Kotlarsky Z”L, the longtime Vice Chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch.

GOP Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) is amplifying a new conspiracy theory about the 2024 attempted assassination of Donald Trump, claiming that the gunman was “programmed” by a secret intelligence operation. The Tennessee Republican laid out the theory during an appearance on MAGA influencer Benny Johnson’s podcast Friday, saying he believed 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who […]

A Canadian-Israeli woman says she was barred from listing Israel as her birthplace on her Canadian passport application — a move her lawyer calls a “serious legal, administrative, and human rights concern” tied to the Canadian government’s recent recognition of a Palestinian state. The woman, who publicly shared her experience on X, said a Passport […]

IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir spent Sunday with senior military leadership conducting a situational assessment in the Gaza Division. Among those joining him were Southern Command head MG Yaniv Asor, Gaza Division Commander BG Barak Hiram, 252nd Division Commander BG Yehuda Vach, brigade leaders from across the sector, and other key officers.

Following the meeting, Zamir led a tour of the Rafah region, where he examined current conditions on the ground and assessed the army’s readiness for potential operational shifts. The visit included a detailed review of the latest security developments across multiple fronts, with a focus on maintaining defensive strength, neutralizing remaining threats, and sustaining preparedness for rapid offensive maneuvers if needed.

“The IDF operates in a changing reality and is contending with challenges across various arenas. In the Gaza Strip, we maintain operational control of more than 50% of the area, without controlling the civilian population. The Yellow Line serves as a security line, and we continue operating to prevent Hamas’ resurgence by holding key areas as well as the entrances to the Gaza Strip,” Zamir stated.

The Chief of Staff emphasized that flexibility and readiness remain key. He said, “Simultaneously with the current operational process, we must be prepared for a rapid transition to a large-scale activity to establish operational control of areas in the Gaza Strip, if required. Our troops continue operating along the Yellow Line to clear the area and eliminate terrorist strongholds.”

Reinforcing the Southern Command’s mandate, Zamir added that “the Southern Command will continue operating decisively to carry out the mission of eliminating terrorists and dismantling underground terrorist infrastructure sites, while strictly maintaining security for our troops.”

Zamir reiterated the IDF’s strategic objective of fully dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities. “We will continue to insist that the Hamas regime will not exist on the other side of the border. Even if this requires time, we will persist in the mission of dismantling Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, achieving this either through an agreement or through military means,” he declared.

Addressing the ongoing investigations into the October 7th atrocities, Zamir said, “In the past week, we have focused on the inquiries into the events of October 7th. I established the expert committee upon entering my position as Chief of the General Staff out of full commitment to the truth and a desire to lead a deep process of learning and implementation of lessons. We owe this to the IDF, and I owe this to you – the commanders. We will not fear the implications; everything is for advancing the IDF toward growth, learning, and progress.”

He concluded by saluting the dedication of IDF personnel throughout the war effort. “We will remember the events of October 7th for eternity, but also the significant achievements in all arenas. Ahead of us is still the mission of conducting the inquiry of the entire war. This is a heroic war, and its achievements are yours and thanks to you. I, and the entire people of Israel, appreciate you for your actions and for the achievements throughout the war.”

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration is facing questions about its latest wave of pardons after the Justice Department this week replaced seven clemency documents bearing nearly identical copies of Donald Trump’s signature with revised versions featuring visibly different signatures. The changes came after online observers noticed that the signatures on pardons issued November 7 — including those […]

Security forces from the Judea and Samaria District, alongside IDF and Border Police units, concluded their post-event review following the Chayei Sarah weekend gatherings in Chevron and at the Meoras Hamachpeilah.

Authorities estimated that roughly 26,000 visitors came to the holy city over Shabbos, prompting a large-scale security deployment. Forces worked around the clock to ensure order, regulate traffic, and swiftly handle any security-related incidents, operating in close coordination with local municipalities and national agencies.

Shabbos saw a brief security scare when gunfire was reported within Chevron. A volunteer from a rapid response unit discharged a warning shot into the air, after which police, IDF soldiers, and Border Police personnel quickly secured the area. Officers from the Yehuda district later tracked down the vehicles suspected of involvement and apprehended two individuals connected to the incident.

Over the course of the weekend, security forces detained 13 more people suspected of various offenses, including assault, violence, trespassing, disorderly conduct, and harassment. Investigators later released some of the detainees under limited conditions based on case-specific considerations.

In addition to maintaining order, police implemented preventive measures, conducting approximately 150 enforcement operations to prevent alcohol-related disturbances and protect public safety throughout the event.

{Matzav.com}

The nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier arrived in the Caribbean Sea on Sunday in a display of U.S. military power, raising questions about what the new influx of troops and weaponry could signal for the Trump administration’s intentions in South America as it conducts military strikes against vessels suspected of transporting drugs. The arrival of […]