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Tzvika Mor, the father of released hostage Eitan Mor, told Channel 12 News that Eitan learned to speak and read Arabic during his two years in Hamas captivity, which he spent in Gaza City. “We’re absolutely amazed by his level in Arabic,” he said. “He writes Arabic like I write Hebrew. He reads books and newspapers in Arabic. He essentially dedicated those two years to learning Arabic.” “Eitan simply took a Hamasnik and asked him to teach him the Arabic alphabet. He gradually began learning letters and words—from conversations between the captors, from watching Al Jazeera that sometimes played nearby, and from other sources.” Tzvika added that Eitan said that to pass the time in captivity, he cooked and also taught the terrorists how to cook. “Eitan had worked in the culinary field and knew how to cook professionally,” he explained. Eitan also endured brutal treatment at the hands of his captors and at times, was provided with just a few spoonfuls of rice a day. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

In a powerful and emotional statement following his shiur klali at Prison 10 near Beit Lid, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch addressed the ongoing protests against yeshiva bochurim being drafted into the army. Rav Hirsch warned that if the government continues to arrest yeshiva students for avoiding army service, “if there’s no choice, the entire public will join. They must understand that they can’t just arrest bochurim who are learning Torah.”

Rav Hirsch delivered the shiur klali on Perek Chezkas HaBatim after a long and difficult trip, delayed by the widespread demonstrations that had paralyzed roads throughout central Israel.

The Rosh Yeshiva reportedly prepared the entire shiur spontaneously during the drive to the prison, where yeshiva bochurim have been staging around-the-clock learning vigils and protests outside the gates in support of Ariel Shamai, a yeshiva bochur recently detained for draft refusal.

Speaking to the assembled bochurim at the prison gates, Rav Hirsch described his encounter with the protests en route. “On my way here, I passed the demonstrations of the other groups,” he said. “I very much hope we won’t have to reach that point ourselves. They need to understand that it cannot be that bochurim who are learning Torah are arrested. I hope those in the government will come to understand that.”

Earlier in the day, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo Rav Chaim Feinstein gave a dramatic address, expressing anguish over the arrest of his student. “Ariel, you have tasted the sweetness of Torah, and that is why the yetzer hara chases you—it finds it difficult. Ariel, if you can hear us, we are all with you,” Rav Feinstein declared passionately.

Rav Hirsch speaking at the prison:

Dancing at the prison:

Rav Moshe Hillel leaving his home to go to the prison:

Protests obstructing the car carrying Rav Hirsch:

Rav Hirsch arriving at the prison:

{Matzav.com}

Podcast host Ben Shapiro joined ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss his analysis of the state of the Israel-Hamas peace deal and what he’s hearing about the emotional reunions of former hostages.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday directed drills of the country’s strategic nuclear forces that featured practice missile launches, an exercise that came as his planned summit on Ukraine with U.S. President Donald Trump was put on hold. The Kremlin said that as part of the maneuvers involving all parts of Moscow’s nuclear triad, a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was test-fired from the Plesetsk launch facility in northwestern Russia, and a Sineva ICBM was launched by a submarine in the Barents Sea. The drills also involved Tu-95 strategic bombers firing long-range cruise missiles. The exercise tested the skills of military command structures, the Kremlin said in a statement. The chief of the military’s General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, reported to Putin via video link that the drills were intended to “practice procedures for authorizing the use of nuclear weapons.” Putin, sitting alone at a round white table, faced big screens showing Gerasimov and Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. All three men would be involved in launching nuclear weapons in case of conflict. While Putin emphasized that the maneuvers had been planned in advance, they came hours after President Donald Trump said Tuesday his plan for a swift meeting with Putin in Budapest was on hold because he didn’t want it to be a “waste of time.” The decision about the meeting in Budapest, Hungary, which Trump had announced last week, was made following a call Monday between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov made clear in comments Tuesday that Russia is opposed to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump, meanwhile, has been shifting his stance all year on key issues in the conflict, including whether a ceasefire should come before longer-term peace talks, and whether Ukraine could win back land seized by Russia during almost four years of fighting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday emphasized that the planned Putin-Trump summit needs to be thoroughly prepared. “No one wants to waste time: neither President Trump nor President Putin,” Peskov told reporters. “These are the two presidents who are accustomed to working efficiently with high productivity. But effectiveness always requires preparation.” (AP)

Riot police in Meah Shearim trying to stop Yeshiva Bochrim from protesting the arrest of three Bochrim.

Retired Deputy Commander Tzachi Havkin, a former Lahav 433 investigator and member of the teams that handled Prime Minister Netanyahu’s cases, testified Wednesday in Netanyahu’s ongoing trial. Havkin was summoned to the witness stand following the testimony of former Police Internal Investigations Department (PID) investigator Dubi Shertzer, who revealed that Havkin was the police officer who had approached him in real time to report illegal and improper actions that took place during the Netanyahu investigations. During his testimony, Havkin described a deep sense of frustration with then–Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, admitting that the investigation exceeded the scope of what had been officially authorized. “In 2016, when I headed a division in Lahav 433, I was upset about the very limited approval we received. It felt like we were being sent to chase things that had no substance, so we started asking broader questions than we were permitted to.” Havkin also criticized the interrogation methods used against state witness Nir Hefetz: “Bringing in someone unrelated to the case just to pressure a suspect—that’s improper.” Another striking moment in his testimony concerned the questioning of Ilan Yeshua. Netanyahu’s attorney, Amid Hadad, asked why Yeshua, who had allegedly been part of the wrongdoing, was not interrogated as a suspect under caution. Havkin replied, “That bothered me too. I remember exactly where I was and who was with me when it happened. A person admits to being part of an offense and is questioned in an open interview—that troubled me. I even told my superior, Yoram Naaman, about it at the time.” He noted that in a previous case, he had been criticized by the court for conducting an open interview under similar circumstances. Havkin further testified that investigators knew there was an issue with the date of the so-called “guidance meeting”—where Netanyahu allegedly instructed Shlomo Filber to favor Bezeq—but that the matter was never examined. Before Havkin’s appearance, the prosecution tried to block his testimony, claiming it had been caught off guard by Shertzer’s revelations. Prosecutors requested to pause the proceedings for consultation and even considered asking for a supplemental investigation. However, the court rejected the request, and the testimony proceeded as planned. Shertzer’s statements appear to confirm multiple claims of improprieties made in recent years about Netanyahu’s cases, but previously vehemently denied by officials in the State Attorney’s Office. During court hearings, the trumped-up claims against Netanyahu have fallen apart, with multiple claims disproven or withdrawn. MK Moshe Saada, former deputy and acting head of the PID, responded to the report by stating, “What just happened in the courtroom where the prime minister’s trial is being held is nothing short of an earthquake. During my tenure, a senior source—a former head of the Netanyahu investigations team—approached me, offering shocking information about crimes committed by police investigators in the Netanyahu cases.” “When I sought to open an investigation into the investigators and verify the information, the prosecution prevented me from doing so, refused to grant immunity to the source, and after the affair became public, even claimed that no such source existed—that it was all a lie. Today, the truth has come to light.” “In court, the identity of the source—whom the prosecution claimed did not exist—was exposed. Havkin will testify about the crimes of the investigators, the crimes of the prosecution, and […]

Authorities in New Jersey have filed multiple serious charges against a Colorado man accused of causing the horrific October 19 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike that claimed the lives of four bochurim on Sunday.

Prosecutors announced that 41-year-old Christopher Neff, of Westminster, Colorado, now faces counts of vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, and weapons-related charges after allegedly driving the wrong way on the Turnpike in the early morning hours of that Sunday. Officials said Neff was also found with hollow-point ammunition at the time of the collision.

The deadly crash took place in Carneys Point Township and resulted in the petiros of four beloved bochurim, 19-year-old Yaakov Kilberg, who was behind the wheel, and his passengers, 18-year-olds Aharon Lebovits and Shlomo Cohen of Lakewood, New Jersey, along with 18-year-old Shlomo Chaim Grossman of South Fallsburg, New York.

Police reports allege that Neff was under the influence of alcohol when he drove his Dodge pickup northbound in the southbound lanes, striking the SUV carrying the four young men. The impact pushed their vehicle into the path of a Freightliner tractor-trailer, killing all four bochurim nstantly. Investigators said the probe into the crash is still ongoing.

According to court filings, witnesses and emergency responders detected “a strong odor of an alcohol beverage emanating from Mr. Neff’s breath” immediately after the crash. Testing later revealed that his blood alcohol concentration was more than double the legal limit of .08%.

Surveillance footage obtained by police reportedly shows Neff drinking several alcoholic beverages at a nearby Carneys Point bar shortly before leaving, less than thirty minutes before the crash. Authorities said he remains hospitalized with multiple fractures, including broken legs and an arm, as well as other serious injuries.

{Matzav.com}

MOVING: Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion sang at the chuppah at his daughter’s chasunah on Tuesday at the David Citadel hotel in Jerusalem. His daughter Shirel married Noam Moskowitz, the son of the head of the Tzur Hadassah Council. The medader kiddushin was the chassan’s Rav, Rabbi Re’em Cohen, the Rav of Otniel and the Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivat Otniel. VIDEO VIA ARUTZ 7

Join 300 learners in 65+ cities. New cycles starting soon — try it free for 30 days at vhalacha.com. For many of us, life is full — work, family, responsibility — yet the pull of real Torah learning never fades. Not another shiur in passing, but a serious framework to learn halacha in depth, to review with order, and to arrive at halacha l’maaseh with confidence. If that’s what you’re looking for, the Virtual Halacha Program (VHP) was built for you. What VHP gives you Weekly Mareh Mekomos packets — concise and orderly, preserving tzuras ha-daf; meticulously crafted. Weekly video shiur (Rav Ami Merzel) — from sugya to halacha l’maaseh (mesorah of HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl shlit”a). Accountability & steady progress — summaries, periodic tests, optional Semicha track. Community & support — discussion with participants and a sho’el u’meishiv. “It gave me back the satisfaction of real Torah learning — without choosing between work and learning.”   JOIN NOW Vhalacha.com How it fits real life Learn on your own or with a chavrusa; at home,  in the beis medrash, or on the go. The packets guide your week; the shiur ties it together; reviews and optional bechinos keep you consistent — clarity, order, and cumulative progress: real limud halacha that fits real life. Tracks you can actually complete Orach Chaim — Hilchos Shabbos, Brachos, Moadim Yoreh Deah — Hilchos Niddah, Issur v’heter Structured, multi-year cycles mean you join at the start of any topic and continue through a complete path — without hopping between sugyos. Why it works Structured — each topic builds on the last Organized — materials, shiurim, and guidance in one place Flexible — fits a busy schedule Serious — from Gemara to psak, rooted in authentic mesorah New cycles begin Sunday, October 26, 2025 —  Hilchos Shabbos in Orach Chaim  Hilchos Niddah in Yoreh Deah. Experience the clarity, structure, and deep satisfaction that come from mastering halacha. Try it free for 30 days at vhalacha.com.

The Melbourne Chabad community is mourning the passing of Rabbi Nosson Dovid Greenwald z”l, who left this world early this morning, Rosh Chodesh, at the age of 74.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 9, 1951 (3 Iyar 5711), to Avraham (Arthur) and Lasha (Lillian) Greenwald, Nosson grew up in a home infused with strong Yiddishkeit. His maternal grandfather, Yehuda Hochman—affectionately known to all as “Tatte”—lived with the family and played a central role in shaping Nosson’s lifelong connection to emunah and mitzvos.

Nosson’s early years in Oak Park, Michigan, were marked by steady spiritual growth. He gradually increased his observance and became an active participant in the local Chabad community.

In 1979, he married his eishes chayil, Bela. Four years later, the couple and their children moved across the globe to Australia, where they built their home and became integral members of the Melbourne Chabad community.

Though professionally trained as a mathematician and educator, Nosson’s career path was as diverse as it was fascinating. He taught university students, worked in the scrap metal industry, and even served as an air traffic controller in Detroit earlier in life.

But it wasn’t his résumé that defined him. It was his heart. Friends and neighbors remember Nosson for his warmth, humility, and genuine love for every Jew. His home was a haven of hospitality, with open invitations for Shabbos and Yom Tov meals extended to anyone he met, whether an acquaintance, a stranger, or even a traffic warden he encountered on the street. One friend summed it up perfectly: “Nosson pursued mitzvahs like most people pursued money.”

Life brought its share of challenges, including the heartbreaking loss of two of his children. Yet even amid personal pain, he radiated simcha and gratitude. Known for his ever-present expression, “Baruch Hashem,” he shared this spirit of faith with everyone around him—so much so that the non-Jewish nurses at his aged care facility learned not only its meaning but began saying it themselves.

Those privileged to know R’ Nosson speak of him as a beacon of sincerity, generosity, and unwavering optimism—a man who inspired others simply by the way he lived.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Bela, and their children Rochel Leah, Chaim, Chana, Shalom Ber, Brocha, and Miriam, along with numerous grandchildren who carry forward his legacy. He is also survived by his sisters, Rivkah Nachlas and Chaya Wiener of Detroit, and by nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his children Yehuda Leib a”h and Hadassa a”h.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

At the conclusion of the Bein HaZmanim, hundreds of Roshei Yeshiva and heads of Yeshivos gathered for a highly impressive event. The gathering provided an opportunity for them to hear words of encouragement and guidance from the Gedolei HaDor, Hagaon HaRav Dov Landau and Hagaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch. This event was marked by inspiring Drashos and a deep sense of unity among the attendees, as issues of great importance were discussed.

The United Nations chief delivered a strong defense of science and meteorology on Wednesday, praising the U.N. weather agency for helping save lives by keeping watch for climate disasters around the world. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to the World Meteorological Organization as science faces an assault in the United States: President Donald Trump’s administration has led an anti-science push, and Trump has called climate change “ a con job.” A longtime advocate for the fight against global warming, Guterres spoke at a special WMO meeting aimed to promote early-warning systems that help countries rich and poor brace for floods, storms, forest fires and heat waves. “Without your long-term monitoring, we wouldn’t benefit from the warnings and guidance that protect communities and save millions of lives and billions of dollars each year,” he said, alluding to “the dangerous and existential threat of climate change.” Last week, the weather agency reported that heat-trapping carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere jumped by the highest amount on record last year, soaring to a level not seen in human civilization and causing more extreme weather. Guterres called WMO staffers the “quiet force that illuminates all the rational climate decisions that we take.” “Scientists and researchers should never be afraid to tell the truth,” he added. The Trump administration has carried out deep cuts to the National Weather Service and fired hundreds of weather forecasters and other employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (AP)

A man who violently attacked a Chabad bochur in Crown Heights last year while yelling “Free Palestine” has been sentenced to five years in prison.

According to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Vincent Sumpter, who admitted to attempted murder, received his sentence on October 8 following a plea deal.

Initially, Sumpter faced eight felony counts, including assault as a hate crime, as outlined in the original arrest documents.

The violent episode occurred on a Friday night in August 2024, when Sumpter—then 22 years old—stabbed Yechiel Dabrowskin, a Chabad bochur studying at the 770 Yeshiva. The attack took place within a short distance of the iconic Chabad Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway.

Investigators say the encounter began when Sumpter emerged from the subway and started walking up Kingston Avenue toward Union Street. As he passed a group of bochurim, he began shouting “Free Palestine!” and other anti-Semitic remarks in an effort to provoke them.

Though the students chose to ignore his taunts, witnesses said Sumpter lingered nearby, apparently waiting for another opportunity to lash out.

Moments later, he reportedly turned his aggression on other pedestrians, threatening a group while shouting, “Do you want to die?” In the ensuing confrontation, Sumpter pulled out a knife, stabbing one bochur and attempting to strike another before fleeing the scene.

{Matzav.com}

Chaim Simcha Grossman had a pure heart and always wanted to do the right thing. Whenever he learned he got very involved and wanted to get to the truth. He invested so much in his learning and was always striving to understand and clarify the depth of the sugya. His rebbeim always enjoyed his questions and his involvement in the shiur. He was a talmid in the true sense of the word. He was always close to his rebbeim and as a true talmid, he followed their guidance and advice. Chaim Simcha was a בעל אחריות to the fullest extent. Well beyond his years, he went above and beyond to fulfill his responsibilities. Chaim Simcha, we are now all your תלמידים. Please Donate Here He truly personified his name and was full of life and שמחה. He was taken at such a young age yet he left such a powerful impact on all who knew him. With the twinkle in his eyes, his lovable personality and heart of gold, he uplifted all who knew him. In his humble way, he did so much for so many! His whole being was enveloped in מדת האמת. His honesty in all his dealings was unparalleled. In every area of his life, he was driven by the truth to do the ‘רצון ה! His last words were, “TYH – WE OUT“ not knowing this would be his last trip… to ישיבה של מעלה.  We, his family have undertaken the writing of a ספר תורה to memorialize his love for תורה! Join us in this great zechus of writing a ספר תורה to honor his שמחת התורה and שמחת החיים. Please Donate Here לעילוי נשמת הב’ חיים שמחה בן גרשון ישעיה

Yesterday, President Trump ordered a U.S. strike on a vessel operated by a designated terrorist group involved in narcotics trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, killing two terrorists in international waters with no U.S. casualties.

A deadly plane crash in San Cristobal, Venezuela kills 2 after takeoff failure, reportedly from mechanical issues.

WATCH: At an anti-ICE protest, a school teacher tells federal agents, “You’re not the only ones with guns.”

As the government funding lapse stretched into its 22nd day on Wednesday, the impasse officially entered the record books as the second-longest shutdown in American history, overtaking the 1995–1996 stalemate. With neither side showing signs of compromise, hundreds of thousands of federal workers remain furloughed, and essential agencies are operating in crisis mode.

Since October 1, Senate Democrats have rejected Republican-led efforts to reopen federal operations eleven times, with nearly the entire caucus opposing a House-approved bill to maintain funding through November 21. Another round of votes was scheduled for Wednesday morning, though few expected a breakthrough.

At the center of the deadlock, Democratic leaders continued to insist on a direct meeting with President Trump before agreeing to any temporary funding measure. “Hakeem and I reached out to the president today and urged him to sit down and negotiate with us to resolve the health care crisis, address it and end the Trump shutdown,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “We urged him to meet with us, and we said we’ll set up an appointment with him any time, any place before he leaves.”

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson made clear that such a meeting would not happen until Democrats first vote to reopen the government. “Leader Thune and I visited with President Trump this afternoon and he confirmed he is ready and willing for the three of us to meet with Leader Jeffries and Senator Schumer as soon as Schumer reopens the government,” Johnson posted on X.

Standing beside Trump at the White House Rose Garden, Senate Majority Leader John Thune echoed that stance, dismissing calls for talks until government operations resume. “I don’t know what there is to negotiate,” he told reporters. “Open up the government first.”

Thune said Republicans will persist in holding votes on a stopgap bill despite repeated Democratic blockades. “We are going to keep voting to open up the government, and eventually the Democrats, hopefully sooner or later, are going to come around,” he added.

From his end, Trump blasted Senate Democrats for what he called an act of coercion, accusing them of holding the nation hostage for political gain. “We will not be extorted on this crazy plot of theirs,” he declared. “Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats need to vote for the clean bipartisan [continuing resolution] and reopen our government — it’s got to be reopened right now.”

Schumer, meanwhile, has demanded that any short-term funding measure include an extension of pandemic-era health insurance subsidies that benefit about 22 million Americans who buy coverage through the Affordable Care Act exchanges. The White House countered that those benefits remain active until the end of December, giving Congress time to negotiate once federal operations resume.

The current shutdown, which began on October 1, has already surpassed the 21-day closure from the mid-1990s triggered by President Bill Clinton’s veto of a Republican spending bill. That earlier standoff shuttered parts of the government from December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996.

About 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed this time around, and the Trump administration has initiated steps to permanently eliminate several thousand positions. If the gridlock continues, workers will miss their first full paychecks this Friday, with members of the military potentially going unpaid next week.

The nation’s longest government shutdown remains the 35-day stretch from late 2018 into early 2019 — another political battle fought during Trump’s first term — but the current one shows every sign of rivaling it.

{Matzav.com}

A Colorado man accused of driving the wrong way on the New Jersey Turnpike and causing a head-on collision that killed four yeshiva bochurim early Sunday has been charged with multiple counts of manslaughter. Christopher Neff, 41, of Westminster, Colorado, was charged Tuesday with four counts of first-degree manslaughter and three counts of second-degree reckless death by auto. State Police say Neff was driving north in the southbound lanes of the Turnpike near Carneys Point around 12:40 a.m. when his white Dodge Ram pickup slammed head-on into a black Mazda CX-5 carrying four teenage boys. Moments later, an oncoming tractor-trailer struck the wrecked SUV, compounding the devastation. The impact tragically killed all four occupants of the Mazda: Yaakov Kilberg z”l, 19, who was driving, Aharon Nosson Lebovits z”l, 18, and Shlomo Abba Cohen z”l, 18 — all from Lakewood — and Chaim Simcha Grossman z”l, 18, of Fallsburg, New York. Neff sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he remains under treatment. The tractor-trailer driver was not injured. Investigators have not disclosed whether drugs, alcohol, or excessive speed played a role in the crash. State Police and the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office are continuing to probe the circumstances surrounding Neff’s wrong-way driving. The crash occurred near milepost 1.3, close to the Delaware Memorial Bridge — a section of highway that sees heavy overnight truck traffic. Authorities temporarily closed the southbound lanes for several hours as first responders, including Misaskim volunteers, worked to recover the victims and coordinate with families to ensure kavod hameis. If convicted, Neff faces decades in prison. He is expected to make his first court appearance later this week in Salem County Superior Court. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)