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FINAL PREPARATIONS: Yeshiva Bochrim in Yerushalyim making sure their Menorahs are all set, as Chanukah begins in an hour.

UPDATE: The Sydney Hatzolah member who was wounded in today’s terrorist attack, with a bullet narrowly missing his spine, has undergone surgery and is now in stable condition. He remains in need of tefillos. Please continue to daven for Yaakov Dov ben Penina.  

A deadly attack shattered a public Chanukah gathering in Sydney, Australia, leaving a devastating toll of dead and wounded. Authorities later confirmed that 12 people were killed, after initial reports placed the number lower, and dozens more were injured.

The shooting erupted at Bondi Beach, where an estimated 2,000 people had assembled for a community celebration. According to eyewitness accounts cited by the Daily Mail, two individuals dressed in black were seen opening fire near the beachfront area.

New South Wales Police acknowledged what they described as a “developing incident,” urging residents and visitors to stay away from the scene and seek shelter as emergency responders rushed in.

Those present described scenes of chaos and horror. One witness told the Sydney Morning Herald, “I saw at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere.” Another person, speaking to 9 News, said the injured were being “carried out on surfboards because there weren’t enough stretchers.”

Footage circulating on social media showed numerous victims lying motionless on the sand, many covered in blood, as bystanders and first responders attempted lifesaving measures, including CPR, on the wounded.

Police later announced that two individuals were taken into custody in connection with the attack, while some reports indicated that one of the assailants was killed.

The event, known as ‘Chanukah by the Sea,’ was organized by Chabad of Bondi and took place near a playground, offering activities intended for participants of all ages. In a statement following the tragedy, the Chabad movement confirmed that one of its emissaries was among those killed.

In the aftermath, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke with David Ossip, President of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies. During the conversation, Minister Sa’ar expressed shock over the deadly shooting and conveyed solidarity with the local Jewish community, while Ossip shared preliminary information about the severity of the incident.

Reacting to the attack, World Zionist Organization chairman Yaakov Hagoel warned of a broader pattern of hatred, saying, “The series of antisemitic attacks around the world is shocking and reminds us all of dark periods in history. Since October 7, a war has broken out not only against the State of Israel but against every Jew around the world, who have become the eighth front in this war.”

Hagoel added that global Jewish institutions would stand with those affected, stating, “The World Zionist Organization will continue to stand by the Jewish community in Sydney and other Jewish communities around the world, supporting them in every way. We call on the Australian government to take a firm stance against any manifestation of antisemitism and are confident that it will do so. The Hanukkah holiday we celebrate this evening reminds us that the light of the Jewish people will ultimately triumph over the darkness.”

Despite mounting diplomatic hurdles, the Trump administration is moving ahead with an ambitious proposal to deploy an international stabilization force in postwar Gaza, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Saturday. The concept envisions roughly 10,000 troops operating under the command of a US general, though officials concede the timeline for assembling such a contingent could stretch well into next year.

Senior US officials underscore that President Donald Trump’s broader peace initiative only received approval from the UN Security Council about a month ago, framing the current outreach as an early but intensive phase of implementation. “The Trump administration has made tremendous progress in record time in implementing President Trump’s 20-point peace plan and we have seen unbelievable interest from countries across the world to be a part of this historic effort to deliver a lasting peace in the Middle East,” White House spokesman Dylan Johnson said.

Behind the scenes, progress has been uneven. While Washington has formally approached more than 70 countries to seek either troops or financial backing, not a single nation has yet committed soldiers to the mission, the WSJ reported. The State Department’s outreach includes close allies such as Italy and France, alongside smaller states like Malta and El Salvador. In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are already engaged in discussions about funding, though US officials say those talks “will require consistent engagement for specific asks.”

Some American officials are cautiously optimistic that initial pledges—perhaps totaling 5,000 troops—could be secured early next year, with hopes of eventually reaching the 10,000 mark by the end of 2026. Others are more skeptical, warning the force could stall at closer to 8,000 personnel. Even countries viewed as likely participants, including Azerbaijan and Indonesia, are pressing for a limited mandate that steers clear of direct combat or efforts to disarm Hamas operatives still active in parts of Gaza. Their embassies in Washington declined to comment.

According to a US official, 19 countries have indicated some level of interest, whether by contributing troops or offering support such as equipment, transportation, or logistics. Momentum may build next week, when representatives from more than 25 nations are expected to gather in Qatar for a US-led meeting to hash out the proposed force’s structure and operational boundaries.

The administration plans for Trump to name the US general who would lead the mission early next year. Officials emphasize that American troops will not be deployed inside Gaza itself, although some US personnel are already assigned to a coordination hub in Kiryat Gat, Israel.

Diplomatic negotiations remain stuck on fundamental issues, including Hamas’s refusal to disarm and unresolved questions about who will govern Gaza once hostilities subside. Against that backdrop, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is slated to meet with Trump in Miami in late December, where both leaders are expected to weigh options for moving the plan forward.

{Matzav.com}

Over 200 people directly affected by the October 7, 2023, Hamas onslaught have issued a forceful appeal to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, urging him to approve the creation of an official state commission of inquiry to investigate the catastrophic failures surrounding the attack. The signatories include former captives, relatives of those who were held hostage, and families of hostages who were killed.

The appeal was released publicly by the October Council, a group formed by bereaved families pressing for a formal state investigation. The publication of the letter coincides with the 800th day since the Hamas-led invasion and massacre that devastated southern Israel.

“We call on the Israeli government to stop evading, stop postponing, stop whitewashing, and establish a state commission of inquiry immediately,” the letter declares.

The message goes on to warn the country’s leadership in stark terms: “We demand truth, justice, and accountability.” It adds, “If you have no intention of taking responsibility and establishing such a commission, as demanded by the majority of the nation, vacate your seats and let the nation decide.”

According to the signatories, any inquiry must be fully open and comprehensive, addressing every aspect of October 7. They insist it scrutinize “the collapse of the defense and intelligence systems, the unanswered calls for help, the hours-long abandonment of the Gaza border communities, and the abandonment of the civilians and soldiers to the inferno.”

The families also stress that the investigation cannot stop at the day of the attack itself. They argue that it must delve into developments afterward as well, including “what has happened since October 7: The manner in which decisions were made during negotiations for the return of the hostages, the reasons for repeated delays, the coordination between the political and military echelons, and the statements and actions of all public officials and their impact on the lives of the hostages, on their mental and physical health, the fate of those who were taken alive and were murdered in captivity, and the long wait for the return of the deceased hostages to their families.”

The letter emphasizes that the proposed body must be independent and free of conflicts of interest. “A commission of inquiry is not a political tool. It cannot be composed of those who are the subjects of the investigation,” the authors write. They further insist that such a panel “must be transparent, professional, and have full authority to order investigations, question witnesses, examine documents, and reach clear conclusions, including the mandate to implement them.”

The authors underscore why they see no alternative to such a framework, stating: “Only such a body will be able to reach the full truth, not just that which is convenient to reveal.”

Among those who signed the letter are former hostage Yarden Bibas, whose wife Shiri and young sons Ariel and Kfir were murdered while held captive; Herut Nimrodi, the mother of slain hostage Tamir Nimrodi; and Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin was killed after being taken hostage.

{Matzav.com}

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This Sunday, Erev Chanukah, we mark the Yahrtzeit of Maran HaGaon Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman ZT”L.

Rav Shteinman’s life and legacy were deeply interwoven with Ponevez Yeshiva. He dedicated decades to leading the Ponevez Yeshiva Ketana and later serving as Rosh Kollel, through which he shaped generations of talmidei chachamim with clarity, humility, and unwavering devotion to Torah. The Ponevezer Rav zt”l captured the breadth of his unparalleled wisdom when he described Rav Shteinman as a Gadol whose counsel extended “in the entire Torah, in every area of life, in difficult decisions, and in the chinuch of your children.”

Yet the Torah of Rav Shteinman transcended the walls of the Beis Medrash. It was expressed daily through his genuine care, practical wisdom, and boundless love for every Yid.

As we approach his Yahrtzeit, this commemoration is more than remembrance — it is a clear call to strengthen the Ohr HaTorah of Ponevez.

By supporting the Yeshiva, we carry forward the sacred Mesorah of Rav Shteinman, continuing to build upon the enduring foundation he established for Klal Yisroel.

 Support the Mesorah. Support Ponevez Yeshiva HERE.

Click HERE to send a Kvittel.

Reciting Tehillim following the lighting of the Menorah at the Adass Shul in Melbourne, for the victims of the Sydney terror attack.

Harrowing footage taken just a few moments before the shooting started, shows a Chabad teenager handing out Sufganiyot.

SENIOR ISRAELI SECURITY SOURCE- IRAN WAS BEHIND ATTACK: As the death toll from the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach continued to rise, a senior Israeli security official told Israel Hayom that “in recent months there has been increased activity by Iran to orchestrate attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets around the world,” adding: “There is […]

WATCH:

ZAKA’s International Unit is dispatching a special delegation to Australia in the wake of the severe and deadly shooting attack that rocked the Jewish community. Teams from ZAKA’s International Unit are already en route to Australia. The delegation is being reinforced by additional volunteers from Israel and is operating under the command of Yossi Landau, […]

When Indiana adopted new U.S. House districts four years ago, Republican legislative leaders lauded them as “fair maps” that reflected the state’s communities. But when Gov. Mike Braun recently tried to redraw the lines to help Republicans gain more power, he implored lawmakers to “vote for fair maps.” What changed? The definition of “fair.” As states undertake mid-decade […]

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli responded to the mass shooting in Australia by saying, “Over the past hour, I have held a series of conversations with leaders of the Jewish community in Australia, following the most severe and devastating terrorist attack ever carried out against the Jewish community in the country. Dozens were killed and […]

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1655-Chikuy-Part-55-Hillel.mp3

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

A video of the scene of the mass shooting at a Chanukah party in Sydney shows dramatic footage of a heroic civilian overpowering one of the terrorists. In the video, the civilian is seen emerging from hiding behind a vehicle and attacking the terrorist. He managed to grab his weapon and shoot at him. The […]

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Stories4Life-Shiur-513-Silent-R-Mordechai-Porgemansky.mp3

Two Palestinians with an axe and three large Japanese knives in their possession were caught driving on the entrance road to the yishuv of Beit El in Binyamin on Motzei Shabbos. B’Chasdei Hashem, an IDF force that happened to be passing by at the same time spotted the Arabs. After stopping them and searching their […]

[Video below.] An Orthodox Jewish leader was subjected to antisemitic harassment inside the U.S. Capitol this week after a pro-Palestinian activist confronted him in a hallway and shouted accusations related to Israel’s war against Hamas.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, said the incident occurred Thursday, December 12, and was captured on video that has since circulated online.

Menken said the activist approached him without provocation and began chanting slogans accusing Israel of “occupation,” making it clear, he said, that he was singled out because he is Jewish.

Video footage shows the activist, identified as being affiliated with the far-left group CodePink, confronting Rabbi Menken in a Capitol corridor and raising her voice as she repeated anti-Israel chants. Rabbi Menken responded forcefully.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Five young girls just lost their father — and their mother is still in the hospital, unaware she is now a widow. The children are alone, their home broken, and they have nothing.

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