Feed aggregator

Senator Marco Rubio warned Wednesday evening that the Knesset’s move to extend Israeli sovereignty in Yehudah and Shomron could jeopardize President Trump’s roadmap to end the fighting in Gaza.

The preliminary Knesset tally was razor-thin: the sovereignty measure cleared its first reading by a single vote. Twenty-five MKs supported the bill and 24 opposed it, while several Likud members stayed away or abstained — the lone Likud lawmaker to break with the party line and back the bill was MK Yuli Edelstein.

Alongside that measure, MK Avigdor Liberman’s proposal to annex Ma’ale Adumim won comfortable approval, passing 32–9.

From United Torah Judaism, MKs Yitzchak Goldknopf, Yisrael Eichler and Yaakov Tesler recorded yes votes. Members of Blue and White and Shas were similarly absent from the plenum when the sovereignty motion was taken.

Mr. Trump has previously voiced his objection to Israeli annexation moves, telling a reporter last month that he will “not allow” Israel to carry out such a move.

Rubio — who is scheduled to land in Israel on Thursday — said nations beyond the Middle East are ready to contribute troops to an international force for Gaza, a key element of President Trump’s peace proposal.

The State Department’s announcement of Rubio’s trip made clear his mission: the release said the secretary will be in Israel through Saturday and will then travel on to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea, adding that Rubio will be traveling to Israel “to support the successful implementation of President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza, which has garnered unprecedented international support.”

“During his visit, the secretary will reaffirm America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and engage with partners to build on the historic momentum towards durable peace and integration in the Middle East,” the statement added.

Rubio’s arrival follows a flurry of U.S. diplomacy this week — Vice President J.D. Vance visited Israel earlier, arriving after envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Vance, pressing Hamas to honor the ceasefire, warned sharply: “If Hamas doesn’t cooperate, then as the President of the United States has said, Hamas is going to be obliterated,” though he declined to give a timetable for compliance.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk said that in about two years, phones will connect directly to Starlink satellites, allowing users to watch videos anywhere without relying on regional carriers or worrying about dead zones.

During his visit to the Kirya in Tel Aviv, Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife used a specialized VR system to observe events in the Gaza Strip. He then received a comprehensive intelligence briefing from the IDF, covering missing and fallen soldiers, the demilitarization of Gaza, and the disarmament of Hamas.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the decades-long deepening of economic ties with the United States is over, turning many of Canada’s former strengths—especially those linked to the U.S.—into vulnerabilities, and stressed that the country must now look after itself and one another, as “we are stronger together.”

In a new interview with TIME Magazine, President Trump warned that Israel would “lose all US support” if it annexes the West Bank

WATCH: Newly released footage shows the Louvre thieves calmly escaping with the stolen Crown Jewels, estimated to be worth $102 million, as they slowly wheeled the treasures out of the museum before vanishing into the streets of Paris.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to arrive in Israel tonight for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, followed by a broader meeting with senior cabinet members, including the foreign minister.

A group of pro terrorist individuals stormed into the lecture hall of Jewish economics professor Michael Ben-Gad at the University of London, on Tuesday, interrupting his class in what appeared to be a targeted act of intimidation — shouting that he was not someone students should learn from and that he should be locked up.

IDF troops carried out an operation at the offices of the “Islamic Charity Association” in Hebron to disrupt terror financing and confiscate incitement materials. During the raid, soldiers discovered copies of Hitler’s Mein Kampf along with other propaganda equipment.

The IDF says it carried out airstrikes in Lebanon’s eastern Beqaa Valley a short time ago, targeting a Hezbollah training camp where terrorists had gathered, as well as a precision missile manufacturing site and other facilities. The military says the camp was used by Hezbollah to plan attacks against Israel.

During a meeting this afternoon with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Defense Minister Israel Katz reaffirmed that Israel remains “committed to bringing back all the fallen hostages, disarming Hamas, and ensuring a better future for the region,” his office said. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and senior IDF officials also attended the meeting at the military’s Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv, which focused primarily on the situation in the Gaza Strip.

JD Vance on the Judea and Samaria sovereignty vote in the Knesset yesterday: “It was a very stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it… The West Bank is not gonna be annexed by Israel.”

FLATBUSH: A burglar was caught inside a home on East 13th Street between Avenues R and S and arrested by the NYPD with assistance from Flatbush Shomrim volunteers. Excellent teamwork and a job well done by Flatbush Shomrim!

FLATBUSH: Three Hispanic males approached three Jewish victims, two men and one woman, on Ocean Ave and Ave J, and demanded money before repeatedly punching them in the face and head. Flatbush Shomrim quickly located the suspects, one of whom was armed with a knife. The NYPD arrested all three near Avenue I and East 17th Street.

Zohran Mamdani is now directing his campaign straight toward Brooklyn’s frum community, seeking to win over the chassidishe bloc with a new Yiddish ad.

For real.

The jihad-loving, anti-Israel Muslim socialist has turned to Yiddish.

In a full-page open letter printed Wednesday in Yiddish-language publications, Mamdani — the Democratic contender for New York City mayor — wrote, “You have probably heard a lot about me, and some of it may be a distorted picture of who I am. Therefore, it is important for me to address you directly on important issues and to set the record straight.”

Mamdani’s letter lays out his own proposals to fight antisemitism and address community needs. His plan includes forming a Department of Community Safety and expanding funding for anti-hate initiatives by 800%. He also outlines his commitment to build more affordable housing and establish universal childcare — both of which would directly benefit families in frum neighborhoods like Boro Park, Williamsburg, and Crown Heights, where housing prices and tuition costs continue to soar.

“I have had the honor myself to meet with members of the Orthodox Jewish community,” Mamdani wrote. “I still have a lot to learn, but this was a wonderful introduction to an important and valued part of what makes New York so amazing.”

During the Democratic primary, Mamdani had already begun efforts to speak directly to the heimishe community, granting an interview to a Yiddish outlet despite sharp political and social differences. Still, nearly every chassidishe groups publicly backed Cuomo, viewing him as more reliable on social and communal concerns.

After his unexpected primary win in June, Mamdani intensified his outreach, aware that skepticism remains strong among Jewish voters. Over Sukkos, he was received warmly by leaders of both Satmar factions.

“It would be the honor of a lifetime to serve as your next mayor,” Mamdani concluded in Yiddish. “I hope you will consider casting your vote for me in November. Together, we can build a city that works for all of us.”

{Matzav.com}

A mysterious and suspicious man showed up. This person starkly stood out. He didn’t look like he belonged. The annual Shabbos Shuva Drasha at BJX is packed with predominantly Frum Flatbush community members seeking inspiration, guidance and chizuk. However, this person wasn’t dressed in Shabbos clothes and was out of breath. Who was he? Why did he come? Those that attended the Drasha will attest that the fellow, instead of being interrogated, received a hero’s welcome. He is a BJX legend – a 58 year old man that was totally secular, who recently had his Bris Milah and walked two miles to attend the Drasha to learn more about Teshuvah.  What motivated him to go under the knife at an advanced age for a Bris Milah? What compelled him to walk with Mesiras Nefesh to attend BJX for the Drasha? It’s because people around him cared about his Neshama and took an interest in his growth as a Jew. He appreciated the love and felt connected to Am Yisroel. Then, he was ready for the next steps. We all have a choice to make: We can sit on the sidelines and ignore Yidden in our midst or we can be proactive and do Kiruv to make a difference that has huge ripple effects.  Noach is the hero of world civilization. He saves the entire humanity from utter obliteration and chaos. And yet, instead of being painted as the hero and the great righteous saint and pious man that he was, many rabbis paint him as a villain and as being morally responsible for all the decadence and for the annihilation of mankind. Why? Says the Kotzker when someone is cold in his house, there are two ways to get warm. Either he could add an extra layer of clothing and put on a coat or jacket, or he could turn on the oven and heat up the house. The Kotzker says that the difference is very clear. When you put on an extra layer of clothing to make yourself warm, you’re only making yourself warm. When you heat up the home, you’re warming up everyone else. A person who’s morally responsible and pure but only thinks about himself and fortifies himself spiritually, he’s adding an extra layer of clothing. He’s not impacting and he’s not inspiring anyone else. But a person that warms up the oven, that thinks about others and that cares about others, he’s getting warm and in turn he’s warming up others as well. The Alshich says that “Es haElokim hishalech Noach – Noach followed G-d”, when the Torah says that Noach followed after G-d, it’s not a compliment. It’s a criticism. It means that Noach walked with G-d. Noach was in seclusion. He sequestered himself. He was in the Himalayas meditating. But he forgot about everybody else. He forgot about his brothers and sisters, his neighbors and his colleagues. He enriched himself spiritually. He learned a lot of Torah perhaps. But he neglected everyone else. That’s not a good person. A good person is someone who cares about others.  We have a major responsibility. We have a moral obligation. It’s not enough for us to learn Torah. It’s not enough for us to attend shiurim. It’s not enough for us to daven. There are so many […]