Matzav

Andrew Cuomo holds a strong lead in the race for New York City mayor, according to a new Siena College poll, showing him well ahead of his competitors in the Democratic primary. In response, a group of influential Brooklyn Democrats announced their backing of three top opponents, in a coordinated effort to halt Cuomo’s momentum.

The poll, conducted last week in partnership with the AARP, surveyed 811 registered New York City voters, with a particular focus on the 556 participants who identified as registered Democrats.

With nearly 90% of Democratic voters expected to cast ballots, 34% of respondents said they were choosing Cuomo as their top pick in the city’s ranked-choice voting system.

Trailing Cuomo is Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamadani, a progressive candidate aligned with democratic socialist ideals, who captured 16% as voters’ first choice—placing him 18 points behind Cuomo.

Although Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the Democratic primary to pursue reelection as an independent, the composition of the race has remained relatively unchanged. Cuomo’s lead, while slightly smaller than it was in last month’s Emerson College and Honan Strategy Group polls, still remains substantial.

This Siena College poll is among the few that replicates New York City’s ranked-choice system, implemented in 2021, which permits voters to rank up to five candidates in order of preference.

While Cuomo and Mamadani were the frontrunners in the initial round, none of the other candidates broke into double digits early on. Cuomo didn’t clinch the nomination until the eighth round, when he defeated Mamadani by a margin of 54% to 27%. At that stage, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander had 19% support.

The numbers carry extra weight considering Lander’s campaign has been urging voters to leave Cuomo off their ballots entirely. That message was echoed on Wednesday by a group of Brooklyn Democrats who endorsed Mamadani, Lander, and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as part of a unified push to challenge Cuomo’s dominance.

Among the seven Democratic officials backing this strategy is Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who took to social media to explain her support. She said the candidates are “in this race for the right reasons” and told The New York Times that Cuomo’s popularity is more about name recognition than alignment with working-class concerns.

Velázquez was joined by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senators Julia Salazar and Emily Gallagher, and City Council members Lincoln Restler, Sandy Nurse, and Jennifer Gutiérrez.

Branded in campaign materials as the “Dream Team,” the candidates have received additional layered support through strategic endorsements aimed at maximizing ranked-choice voting’s effect. Both Salazar and Gallagher included State Senator Zellnor Myrie in their endorsements, while Gallagher also backed State Senator Jessica Ramos.

Salazar explained her reasoning by stating, “Supporting these four candidates and strategically using Ranked Choice Voting is essential for our city to defeat Cuomo, and elect a mayor who we can hold accountable to fight for working people.”

According to the Siena poll, the top concerns for voters include the rising cost of living, housing challenges, crime, and safety for pedestrians—issues that are shaping how voters evaluate candidates and their platforms.

The poll comes with a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points overall, and a slightly wider margin of 4.9 points for Democratic respondents.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler said that there was no “day after” discussion with regard to the Gaza Strip until all the hostages being held there are freed.

According to U.S. President Donald Trump, “nothing goes forward until all hostages are released,” Boehler told Al Jazeera. “Step one is all hostages released. Step two is, let’s figure out this day after,” he continued.

“I think there’s always a possibility for a comprehensive deal,” Boehler said, adding, “I don’t think Israel is interested in staying for the long term.”

Trump has proposed relocating those Gazans who want to leave to safer areas while the enclave, which has suffered extensive damage due to the Israel Hamas war, is rebuilt.

“What’s very important now is to … bring back all hostages, all innocent hostages, and then we can talk about the makings of the deal … Hamas needs to release the hostages … They should release the hostages unilaterally,” said Boehler.

“The hostages are what keep things from moving forward. We need them home. You can’t deal with people that hold innocent people as hostages,” he added.

“I can tell you that the fighting would end immediately, immediately, if the hostages are released. The day that those hostages are released, the fighting will end,” he continued.

Hamas should identify an offer that Israel and the United States can accept “and end this,” he added.

Commenting on Hamas’s claim that it has lost track of hostage Edan Alexander, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, due to an Israeli bombing sortie, Boehler said if anything happened to Alexander, the blame would fall on Hamas.

“If Edan gets sick, if Edan has a cold, guess who’s getting blamed— Hamas. I think the best thing for them is not to … risk blame from the United States on these things. So I hope no hair on his head is hurt, or we’re going to come for them, and it’s not going to be pretty. So I believe that Edan is fine,” he said.

Of those hostages who may have died due to Israeli airstrikes, he said, “I’m not sure I would blame Israeli bombardment for that. I would blame the fact that they’re hostages in the first place.”

In mid-March, Boehler’s direct talks with Hamas resulted in tensions with Israel. According to reports, the Trump administration removed him from the hostage team after he referred to Hamas as “nice guys” and said during an interview that he didn’t “really care about” the concerns of Ron Dermer, Israel’s strategic affairs minister. He also said that the United States was “not an agent of Israel.”

After immediate backlash, he clarified his remarks on social media, claiming that people “misinterpreted” them.

“Hamas is a terrorist organization that has murdered thousands of innocent people,” he wrote. “They are, by definition, bad people.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

On Thursday, the Hamas terror group released a statement denouncing MK Tzvi Succot of the Religious Zionism party for visiting the Har Habayis, where he davened and bowed in prostration.

“The storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by settlers, with the participation of the extremist terrorist ‘Tzvi Succot,’ under heavy security protection from the occupation army and police, constitutes a continuation of the occupation’s frantic attempts to Judaize and seize Islamic holy sites,” Hamas declared.

The group continued: “We assure Ben-Gvir and other extremist occupation leaders that all of the occupation’s measures against our land and holy sites will disappear with its inevitable demise, and that they will not succeed in changing the Arab-Islamic identity of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

They went on to urge broader support across the Muslim world: “We call on the sons of our Arab and Islamic nation to rise up in support of their people who are steadfast in Palestine, defending the first Qiblah (direction of prayer) of Muslims and the nation’s holy sites and constants. We demand that the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation take urgent action and take measures to protect Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

In response, MK Succot issued a firm statement: “The days of fear are over. For years, there were no prayers on the Har Habayis out of fear of the enemy, and there is no reason for the reign of fear to continue. We will not be deterred by terror organizations, and we will continue Jewish possession and sovereignty over all the areas of our land until the enemy is destroyed.”

Soldiers currently stationed in Gaza are experiencing increasing difficulties accessing kosher-for-Pesach meals, with many reporting a significant decline in the quality and quantity of food during the Yom Tov.

In recent hours, accounts have emerged of Golani Brigade troops having to rely almost exclusively on matzah and chocolate spread for sustenance, even after exhausting and prolonged operations on the battlefield.

Galei Tzahal military reporter Doron Kadosh revealed that since the start of the Yom Tov, troops have only received one hot meal — on the night of the Seder. “The last time they received hot trays of food was a week ago, on the Seder night. Since then, only field rations, dried Kabanos sausages, and corn. After a year and a half of straight fighting on several fronts, it’s just coming out of their ears.”

In response to the inadequate provisions, many parents of the soldiers have taken it upon themselves to organize grassroots fundraising efforts to provide their children with suitable food. These efforts include supplying fresh fruits and vegetables and even bringing camping stoves to the Tze’elim Base in southern Israel, in the hopes the supplies can be transported into Gaza.

Channel 12’s military correspondent Nir Dvori addressed the issue as well: “I don’t remember a Passover like this, and there have been problems in the past. Bases and installations in the south, north, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley – they all have severe shortages of food because of Pesach. It’s just terrible. As if they haven’t learned anything.”

Following the public outcry, Doron Kadosh reported that the IDF’s chief logistics officer has pledged to personally investigate the situation and make sure that every combat unit deployed in Gaza has access to the necessary supplies.

According to the IDF’s official statement, daily supply convoys are dispatched into Gaza, including the Rafah area, with the goal of providing at least one hot meal per day to all troops, even those on the front lines. In response to the recent complaints, the military has committed to verifying that food deliveries are reaching every unit as intended.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Jewish community leaders are working to deescalate the unrest that has emerged following a troubling confrontation between a Jewish man and a black resident of the neighborhood, an altercation that has stirred fears of renewed racial tensions in the area.

The incident, which took place several weeks ago and was caught on surveillance footage, shows a 30-year-old frum resident shoving Troy McLeod, a wheelchair-bound African-American man. The altercation reportedly stemmed from a dispute over McLeod’s dogs, which were being walked without leashes. The push caused McLeod to topple out of his wheelchair.

In the aftermath, the 30-year-old was taken into custody and charged with second-degree assault and aggravated menacing. He was later released on his own recognizance and is due back in court on July 17.

A demonstration is set to take place today at the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue. The rally is being organized by local activist and pastor Kevin McCall.

Dubbed the “Peaceful Rally for Troy McLeod,” the event aims, according to organizers, “to condemn the actions and unite Brooklyn.”

Initially, the protest was planned for the area directly in front of 770 Eastern Parkway, the global headquarters of Chabad. However, after appeals from various community figures, organizers agreed to relocate the gathering across the street, in front of a Bank of America branch. Community members voiced concern over a flyer for the event, which originally claimed that McLeod had been “Assaulted in a wheelchair by members of the Orthodox Jewish community.”

“The messaging was reframed as a peace rally, and I was told that speakers will be calling for unity,” said Rabbi Yaakov Behrman, a prominent Crown Heights representative. “I absolutely condemn this act of violence — but we cannot allow it to be used as an excuse to promote antisemitism or fuel discrimination. I sincerely hope the organizers honor their commitments.”

In a show of solidarity and moral clarity, Jewish leaders from the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council issued a public statement denouncing the attack. “There is absolutely no justification for assaulting someone in a wheelchair — ever,” declared Rabbi Shmuel Rosenstein, Rabbi Zalman Friedman, and Rabbi Yaakov Behrman in the joint statement.

Some of McLeod’s neighbors, however, allege that tensions between him and others in the area had been building over time, citing prior complaints about his unleashed dogs scaring local children and dismissive responses to parents’ concerns. Nonetheless, Jewish community leaders emphasized that no matter the context, violence is never acceptable.

{Matzav.com}

On Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement addressing a report published by The New York Times, which claimed that President Donald Trump prevented Israel from launching a military operation against Iran’s nuclear sites.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu has been leading the global campaign against the Iranian nuclear program for over a decade, even when there were those who belittled the threat and called it a ‘political spin’ and the Prime Minister ‘paranoid.’ The Prime Minister led countless overt and covert actions in the campaign against Iran’s nuclear program; thanks to them, Iran does not have a nuclear arsenal,” the statement declared.

The statement continued: “The actions set Iran’s nuclear program back by a decade, and that’s thanks to the Prime Minister’s insistence to stand up against the opposition from within and out to his aggressive policy against Iran. As the Prime Minister declared more than once: Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.”

According to The New York Times, Israel had devised and finalized plans for a military strike on Iran’s nuclear program by May, but the operation was ultimately put on hold after President Trump chose to pursue negotiations with the Iranian regime.

Individuals with direct knowledge of the military planning told the publication that Israel’s intended mission was designed to delay Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by at least a year. However, the success of the strike was heavily dependent on American support—both to carry out the strike effectively and to manage the likely Iranian retaliation.

The report detailed that U.S. forces had already taken preparatory steps in anticipation of potential escalation. Under the direction of Gen. Michael Kurilla, U.S. Central Command had moved key military assets into the region, including stealth bombers, advanced missile defense systems, and aircraft carriers. While these deployments were partly aimed at countering threats from Houthi forces in Yemen, officials acknowledged they were also positioned to serve in a larger campaign against Iran if needed.

Nevertheless, internal discussions within the Trump administration began shifting. Several senior officials raised concerns over the fallout of a preemptive Israeli operation. Intelligence presented by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard warned that a strike could ignite a larger regional conflict—something the president’s team was eager to avoid.

The article further noted that, for now, the administration’s stance has not changed: diplomatic efforts must take precedence, with military options remaining only as a contingency if negotiations break down.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF’s Home Front Command has initiated an upgrade to its rocket alert system, and beginning today, it will introduce a new preliminary advisory that will precede any formal missile alert in cases of launches from Yemen targeting Israel. This step is part of a broader effort to enhance emergency readiness across the country.

The initial advisory will be issued through the Home Front Command’s mobile app and will use a unique alert tone, distinct from the standard siren, in areas deemed to be at risk.

Previously, all missile warnings were triggered based on the shortest possible response time for a given region, regardless of the origin of the attack. For example, residents near the borders with Gaza or Lebanon were given only about 15 seconds to reach a shelter—even if the projectile was launched from a much greater distance, such as Yemen.

According to military officials, the introduction of this preliminary advisory is aimed at giving people a head start in preparing, allowing them to begin seeking shelter even before the main siren sounds, and ensuring they receive updates from verified sources.

Alongside this change, the IDF will also distribute alerts stating that a missile launch from Yemen toward Israeli territory is possible within minutes, urging the public to follow the Home Front Command’s instructions closely.

The Home Front Command emphasized that it is “making every effort to ensure the safety of Israel’s citizens.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

After President Donald J. Trump officially swears in the incoming U.S. Ambassador to Israel on Friday morning, Ambassador Mike Huckabee will head to the Kosel to fulfill a personal request from the president: to place a written prayer from Trump into the stones of the makom kadosh.

At the conclusion of the visit, Ambassador Huckabee is expected to make a formal statement to the press.

Earlier this week, Huckabee revealed in an interview with Fox News that this symbolic act would be his first order of business upon arriving in Israel for his new role.

“The first thing I’m going to do is to take a prayer that the President gave me on Thursday when I met with him at the White House, and I’m going to take it to Western Wall and I’m going to place it there on behalf of the American people and on behalf of the President,” Huckabee declared.

He emphasized the meaning behind the gesture: “I can’t think of a better way to begin my tenure than to let the people of Israel know that the President stands with them, he wants their safety, their security, and he wants the hostages home and that’s the first priority.”

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli citizen, age 48, who previously lived in New Jersey before relocating to Israel, has admitted to orchestrating a large-scale fraud targeting a U.S. government relief initiative designed to support small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.

Federal prosecutors announced that Daniel Dadon fraudulently secured more than $3.2 million from the Paycheck Protection Program by submitting fabricated applications. These filings included bogus financial records, inflated employee numbers, forged banking details, and deceptive business information.

As a result of his plea, Dadon now faces severe legal consequences, including a potential 30-year prison sentence for bank fraud, another 10 years for laundering illicit funds, and financial penalties exceeding $1 million.

Court filings from New Jersey reveal that beginning in April 2020, and continuing for over two years, Dadon repeatedly applied for PPP loans using multiple companies. The PPP was introduced to assist businesses struggling due to the pandemic, offering forgivable loans on the condition that the money be used for salaries and critical operating expenses.

Authorities say that the figures provided by Dadon were outright fabrications. In one instance, he falsely claimed that his company, Seldat Distribution, had a staff of 400. A later review by tax officials showed the actual number of employees was just 97. He also exaggerated the business’s payroll costs, listing them at $850,000 a month. That misrepresentation led to a loan approval totaling over $2.1 million.

Investigators allege that Dadon wasted no time in moving the funds. The day after the money landed in the Seldat Distribution account, he reportedly shifted the entire sum to another company he owned, Seldat Fashion. When required to justify the use of the funds and request forgiveness for the loan, he allegedly submitted forged paperwork, including fabricated rent receipts and fake employment agreements. Although a portion of the loan was forgiven, a large part remains unpaid.

Dadon did not stop there. Prosecutors say he filed additional fraudulent PPP loan requests on behalf of other companies under his control, such as DG Distriservices and Seldat Staffing. These applications featured altered records, incorrect employee numbers, counterfeit tax filings, and digitally doctored documents made to look legitimate. In one case, he is accused of forging a letter from a New Jersey accountant to falsely affirm that his business met loan forgiveness criteria.

The Justice Department further alleges that some of the funds acquired through the fraudulent scheme were routed to bank accounts overseas, including in Canada and Vietnam. Prosecutors believe some assets were either hidden or disposed of. Legal filings allow for the confiscation of any properties or items bought using the illegally obtained money.

Dadon has officially pleaded guilty to both bank fraud and money laundering. Under federal law, bank fraud carries up to 30 years behind bars and fines reaching $1 million or double the amount of losses. Money laundering convictions come with a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of at least $250,000. His sentencing is set to take place on August 13 in the U.S. District Court in Trenton, New Jersey.

{Matzav.com}

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday revealed that the Trump administration has officially shut down the Global Engagement Center (GEC), describing it as a key move in dismantling what he called the “censorship-industrial complex.”

“Today, it is my pleasure to announce the State Department is taking a crucial step toward keeping the president’s promise to liberate American speech by abolishing forever the body formerly known as the Global Engagement Center (GEC),” Rubio wrote in a Federalist op-ed titled, “Rubio: To Protect Free Speech, The Censorship Industrial Complex Must Be Dismantled.”

Rubio explained that in 2016, the Obama administration expanded the GEC’s mission. What had originally been a center focused on countering terrorist propaganda was restructured to fight a wide range of “foreign state and non-state propaganda and disinformation efforts.”

According to Rubio, this was part of a calculated shift. He pointed to Rick Stengel, who led the GEC under Obama, claiming that Stengel used the term “democracy” to justify silencing voices he disagreed with. “This pivot was no accident. Obama’s man in charge at GEC, Rick Stengel, touted his efforts to protect ‘democracy’ while redefining it so that ‘democracy’ came to mean silencing the part of the electorate he doesn’t like.”

Rubio continued, “In 2019, Stengel directly equated President Trump’s campaign with foreign and terrorist propaganda, writing, ‘Trump employed the same techniques of disinformation as the Russians and much the same scare tactics as ISIS.’ That same year, Stengel wrote an entire article about, ‘why America needs a hate speech law.’”

He noted that the GEC played an active role in the Election Integrity Partnership (EIP), a group that tracked what it considered disinformation during the 2020 election. “The EIP pretty much exclusively singled out accounts and narratives associated with President Trump and his supporters and, in fact, directly flagged President Trump’s tweets, along with his family members and friends of the administration,” Rubio stated.

Rubio criticized the GEC’s use of taxpayer money, saying it channeled millions of dollars into global organizations pushing for speech regulation under the pretense of fighting disinformation. “With its multimillion-dollar budget, paid for by American taxpayers, GEC funneled grants to organizations around the world dedicated to pushing speech restrictions under the guise of fighting ‘disinformation,’” he wrote.

He explained that he chose to publish the piece in the Federalist because that outlet, along with others like the New York Post, had been unfairly targeted. He cited the Global Disinformation Index, a group funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, which labeled right-leaning news sites as high-risk for spreading disinformation while rating left-wing platforms such as HuffPost and ProPublica as low-risk.

Rubio argued, “The entire ‘disinformation’ industry, from its very beginnings, has existed to protect the American establishment from the voices of forgotten Americans. Everything it does is the fruit of the poisoned tree: the hoax that Russian interference, misinformation, and ‘meddling’ is what caused President Trump’s victory in 2016, rather than a winning political message that only he was offering.”

He concluded, “The Trump administration rejects this anti-American attitude. The American people don’t need an obscure agency to ‘protect’ them from lies by pressuring X to ban users or trying to put The Federalist out of business. This administration will fight false narratives with true narratives, not with heavy-handed threats decreeing that only one ‘truth’ be visible online.”

In addition to the op-ed, Rubio also hosted a live discussion with Mike Benz, a former State Department official and Executive Director of the Foundation for Freedom Online (FFO).

{Matzav.com}

A young prodigy from California is on track to achieve what few could imagine: earning a college degree at just 10 years old. “I just enjoy learning,” said Alisa Perales. “There’s so many interesting things out there.”

Alisa, a San Bernardino native, began reading at the age of 2 and was already solving algebra problems by 5. She enrolled in Crafton Hills College, a community college located in Yucaipa, California, when she was only 8, according to a report by ABC7 WWSB.

“It’s very fun to me,” Alisa explained. “It’s almost as fun as playing outside or riding a bike or doing whatever. I just enjoy learning. There’s so many interesting things out there.”

Now, just weeks away from turning 11, Alisa is preparing to graduate from Crafton Hills College in May. She is set to receive two associate degrees—one in mathematics and another in multiple sciences—while maintaining a near-perfect GPA, as reported by the Inland Empire Community News (IECN).

According to IECN, she could have walked away with two additional degrees in physics and computer science had she stayed one more semester. But Alisa is now looking ahead, waiting to hear back from Stanford University.

She credits much of her academic drive to her father, Rafael Perales. “I credit my dad for pushing me to do well in school and try my best to work hard,” she told IECN.

Rafael, who began introducing Alisa to more advanced learning concepts around her first birthday, reflected on her journey. “She has been a little different her whole life, but I have always taught her that there’s nothing out there that you’re not capable of understanding.”

Before her first day of college, Rafael spoke to Alisa about the fact that she would be studying alongside much older students. “She didn’t seem intimidated by that,” he said. “She seemed to fit right in. So I just followed my daughter’s lead.”

“I did not make her adhere to a rigorous schedule I had set out for her,” Rafael added. “I responded to what she was interested in and helped feed that interest and fueled that fire, and her interest in school remained strong.”

Looking ahead, Alisa has her sights set on the future of technology. She hopes to work in artificial intelligence—either by joining a major tech company or by building a new venture from the ground up, possibly alongside her dad.

{Matzav.com}

A memorable encounter took place yesterday in Yerushalayim as the rosh yeshiva of Satmar, Rav Chaim Tzvi Meisels, paid a visit to the new residence of the senior Breslover mashpiah, Rav Yaakov Meir Schechter, in honor of the Yom Tov of Pesach.

Rav Schechter recently inaugurated his new home in Yerushalayim.

The two discussed themes of geulah and emunah, interweaving deep Torah insights with powerful stories of tzaddikim from generations past.

During the course of their conversation, Rav Meisels posed a pointed and thought-provoking question: “Why do we say L’shanah haba’ah b’Yerushalayim—next year in Yerushalayim—instead of saying this year in Yerushalayim?”

He then offered an explanation of his own: “Perhaps it refers to those Jews for whom every minute feels like a full year—maybe that’s who the phrase is really speaking about…”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A deeply disturbing incident has shaken the Jewish community of Stamford Hill, London, this Pesach. A secular Jewish resident of the neighborhood has reportedly been intentionally placing chametz outside the homes of frum Jews in what community members tell Matzav.com is a deliberate act meant to offend the Jewish community.

The actions, which began shortly after the onset of the Yom Tov, appear to be driven by malice and a desire to provoke. According to multiple witnesses, the instigator has been targeting visibly Jewish households, placing bread and other chametzdike items on their doorsteps.

“This is not an accident. He is doing it lehachis, to enrage and to hurt,” one local resident said. “He is well known in the neighborhood as someone who mocks everything we hold sacred. It’s not only this—there is strong evidence that he is the one who cuts the wires of the mehadrin eiruv almost every week. The eiruv is painstakingly maintained by dedicated volunteers, and he goes out of his way to ruin it.”

Photos obtained by Matzav.com show pieces of bread placed outside several homes.

While representatives of the Jewish community met earlier Wednesday with local council members to demand action, the police have yet to issue an official response.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas is reportedly facing a severe financial shortfall that has hindered its ability to pay members in Gaza, including its top commanders, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The report, which cites officials from Arab countries, Israel, and the West, points to Israel’s efforts to stop humanitarian supplies from entering Gaza. Some of that aid, officials say, was intercepted and resold by Hamas to fund its operations. Arab intelligence sources add that Israel’s renewed military campaign has eliminated key Hamas figures responsible for distributing cash payments, while others have gone into hiding to avoid being targeted.

These intelligence sources also note that civil servants working under the Hamas-controlled government in Gaza have not received salaries, and that high-ranking officials were only paid half their wages during Ramadan. Regular Hamas fighters, meanwhile, are reportedly receiving just $200 to $300 each month.

Even before the January ceasefire and hostage release agreement, Israeli and Western officials say the group was experiencing financial strain. That deal briefly opened the door for Hamas to bring in revenue by imposing taxes on merchants, charging fees at checkpoints, and confiscating merchandise to resell. Hamas is also said to be converting funds held abroad into hard currency by purchasing humanitarian aid and then selling it within Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

New York State Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein has introduced a bill aimed at correcting what he describes as an unfair regulation imposed by the New York City Department of Sanitation, one that has particularly burdened members of the frum community.

In 2023, the Department of Sanitation implemented a rule requiring city residents to place their garbage at the curb after 8:00 PM in an effort to reduce the growing rat population. While intended to help the city, the policy creates a major conflict for frum Jews, who are not permitted to handle trash on Shabbos. As a result, numerous individuals have received fines ranging from $50 to $300 simply for practicing their religion.

“This policy is unacceptable and must come to end,” declared Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein. “New Yorkers should not have to choose between their religious beliefs and avoiding a ticket.”

Eichenstein’s proposed bill would shield residents from fines issued by sanitation enforcement officers from 3:00 PM on Fridays until 6:00 PM on Shabbosos. The bill is designed to respect Shabbos observance while also helping any New Yorker who travels for the weekend and cannot adhere to the current rule.

“My legislation would put an end to this injustice by preventing the New York City Department of Sanitation from issuing fines after 3 PM on Fridays,” said Assemblyman Eichenstein. “This proposed law isn’t just for the Orthodox Jewish community — it’s for all New Yorkers. It affects anyone who wishes to leave town for the weekend and doesn’t want to return home to an unfair ticket.”

He emphasized that the goal is straightforward: “Nobody should be punished for taking out their trash at a reasonable time. This common-sense solution will prevent countless residents from being unfairly targeted. I am hopeful we can chapter this legislation into law and no longer inconvenience hard-working New Yorkers.”

Backing the measure is Assemblyman Kalman Yeger, who is co-sponsoring the bill. “This common-sense legislation will fix a problem that New York City has refused to address. It is impossible for Shabbos-observant New Yorkers to comply with the Department of Sanitation’s new trash setout times. In 2023, the Sanitation Department personally promised me that Shabbos-observant New Yorkers need not worry about being issued summonses on Shabbos. Unfortunately, that promise has not been kept. Assemblyman Eichenstein and I are stepping in with this common-sense bill that should not be necessary, but unfortunately is. I’m grateful for his leadership on this, and I look forward to moving this bill through the legislature.”

{Matzav.com}

Yaakov Kirschen, beloved creator of the legendary Dry Bones cartoon and a cherished voice in Jewish satire, passed away at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba at the age of 87 following a prolonged illness.

Born in Brooklyn, Kirschen studied art at Queens College before making aliyah to Israel in 1971. Just two years after his arrival, he launched the daily comic strip that would become one of Israel’s most recognizable and enduring reflections on current events and political life.

At the heart of Dry Bones is the character Mr. Shuldig—his name a play on the Yiddish word for “guilt” or “blame”—representing the uniquely Jewish flavor of humor and introspection that defined Kirschen’s work.

The title Dry Bones comes from the prophetic vision in Sefer Yechezkel, where dry bones are brought back to life—a hopeful symbol of national and spiritual rebirth with the arrival of Moshiach.

Kirschen’s body of work earned him widespread recognition, including the 2014 Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize, honoring his impact on Israeli culture. He also received the Golden Pencil Award from the Israeli Museum of Caricature and Comics and was an active member of both the US National Cartoonists Society and the Israeli Cartoonists Society.

In 2009, he joined Yale University as a visiting fellow at its Initiative for the Interdisciplinary Study of Antisemitism and Racism. The following year, Yale published his research paper titled “Memetics and the Viral Spread of Antisemitism through Coded Images in Political Cartoons.”

For 50 years, Dry Bones appeared in The Jerusalem Post, earning an international readership. In more recent years, the strip was published through the Jewish News Syndicate. Kirschen is survived by his wife, Sali Ariel.

{Matzav.com}

The IRS is reportedly weighing the possibility of stripping Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, according to two individuals with direct knowledge of discussions inside the agency, CNN reported.

The unprecedented step, which sources say is being examined in coordination with the Trump administration, would mark a significant escalation in the administration’s conflict with the university.

Officials familiar with the situation said a final decision from the IRS could be imminent. The move follows rising tensions after Harvard refused to comply with federal demands regarding changes to its hiring practices and administrative oversight.

This development comes on the heels of the Trump administration’s decision to halt more than $2 billion in federal funding to Harvard, citing the university’s failure to adequately respond to antisemitic incidents on campus. In response, Harvard has asserted that it is protected by constitutional rights afforded to private academic institutions.

President Donald Trump has openly condemned Harvard’s actions, accusing the school of pushing a political agenda and failing to uphold standards of public accountability. “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’ Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

During an appearance on CNN with anchor Kasie Hunt, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said that while she could not confirm what action the IRS would take, the matter deserved scrutiny. “We’ll see what IRS comes back with relative to Harvard,” she said. “I certainly think, you know, in elitist schools, especially that have these incredibly large endowments, you know, we should probably have a look into that.”

She added that other colleges might also be subject to similar reviews: “It is my guess that the IRS is looking at tax-exempt statuses of other universities as well.”

The Trump administration has recently taken a harder stance against Harvard, issuing a clear ultimatum requiring the university to overhaul its internal policies in order to continue receiving nearly $9 billion in federal contracts and grants.

The university has faced mounting criticism following an increase in anti-Israel sentiment on campus after the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack against Israel and the military conflict in Gaza that followed. Harvard has come under fire for its handling of antisemitism during this period.

Controversy intensified when, just 48 hours after the Hamas massacre, 34 Harvard student groups released a joint statement blaming Israel for the attack.

Tensions further escalated when Harvard’s then-president, Claudine Gay, appeared before Congress alongside the presidents of MIT and the University of Pennsylvania—Sally Kornbluth and Liz Magill, respectively—at a hearing on antisemitism in higher education.

During the hearing, all three university leaders offered similarly vague responses to questions from Rep. Elise Stefanik, declining to explicitly denounce antisemitic rhetoric or genocidal calls against Jews. Claudine Gay eventually stepped down from her position as Harvard’s president.

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed a group of Hamas-held hostages, including Sasha Troufanov—freed as part of the latest agreement—at the Kremlin on Wednesday, marking the first time such a meeting took place there.

Joining him at the event were Troufanov’s mother, Yelena, and his partner, Sapir Cohen. Both women had been released earlier as part of a prior arrangement.

At the gathering, Putin expressed his appreciation to the political division of Hamas for their part in enabling Troufanov’s release, stating, “We must thank the political wing of Hamas for their cooperation with us in carrying out this humanitarian act.”

He then turned to Troufanov with words of encouragement: “I want to wish you well,” adding, “Russia will do everything to ensure the release of all the people who were in the conditions you endured for so long.”

The meeting was also attended by Rabbi Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia.

Moscow has been actively working over the past year to secure Troufanov’s freedom, largely because of his Russian nationality. Putin’s diplomatic leverage in these efforts has been strengthened by his close partnerships with nations such as Iran, with whom he also maintains military cooperation.

{Matzav.com}

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson lashed out at President Trump on Tuesday, accusing him of racism and refusing to engage in discussions over his administration’s immigration stance. Johnson, speaking at a press conference, went so far as to liken the president’s deportation policies to terrorism.

“Trying to force your will to break the spirit of working people in order to have a conversation, that’s terrorism. We’re not going to negotiate with terrorists,” Johnson said, as quoted by the Chicago Tribune. He accused Trump of deliberately targeting regular Americans and using fear as a tactic.

The Trump administration has cautioned cities led by Democrats—including Chicago—that continued obstruction of federal immigration enforcement could result in the withdrawal of federal financial support. That warning places at risk billions in federal aid, including $1.5 billion directed to Chicago’s already struggling public school system.

Attempting to temper his incendiary remarks, Johnson later sought to clarify his comparison of Trump to a terrorist. “What I’m saying is trying to hold people hostage and manipulating them to succumb to his will and then hold up our tax dollars, that is how terrorists behave. These aren’t threats anymore, right? These are real, adversarial attacks against working people,” Johnson said.

Johnson also connected Trump’s policies to broader racial tensions, suggesting that they disproportionately harm African Americans. “There’s a long history of Black political leaders talking to people who may not see us as first class,” he said, insisting he would not “kiss the ring.”

Chicago, meanwhile, is facing serious financial trouble. Even with federal assistance, the city is anticipating a deficit of $1.2 billion, and losing any portion of its aid could make the crisis worse.

Johnson’s administration is also under a cloud due to a recent controversy over undisclosed gifts. Reports revealed that the mayor had hidden hundreds of expensive presents in a locked room within city hall. He initially blocked access to that storage area, even barring the city’s inspector general from entering. Under public and political pressure, Johnson eventually revealed the inventory and allowed investigators in to examine the items.

Public opinion appears to reflect growing dissatisfaction with Johnson’s leadership. One poll conducted in February showed only 14 percent of residents supported the mayor. A separate survey from the same month painted an even bleaker picture, putting his approval rating at just 6.6 percent.

{Matzav.com}

New York Attorney General Letitia James listed a residence in Virginia—roughly 300 miles from her office in Manhattan—as her main home in official paperwork, The NY Post reports. However, locals said Wednesday that they’ve never seen her around the neighborhood.

The modest single-family house, which has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, is currently occupied by a woman and her daughter who, according to neighbors, moved in only a few months ago.

A longtime resident who’s lived nearby for nearly two decades said the house had previously been inhabited by a married couple for around four years before the current occupants arrived.

“I’ve only met [the new resident] like maybe two or three times. She seemed really nice,” the neighbor said of the current resident. “The last time I saw her was, like, maybe a week or so ago and she was just outside smoking a cigarette and we were talking about her grandkids,” she added.

“She probably moved in a little over three months ago,” the neighbor continued. “It’s definitely not a year.”

This 1,450-square-foot home is now at the center of a federal criminal complaint, which accuses James of submitting false information in order to get a more favorable mortgage when she and her niece bought the property in 2023.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte laid out these allegations in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, citing possible manipulation of residency declarations to secure loan benefits.

The referral also accuses James of misrepresenting the size of a Brooklyn property she owns. While she claimed it had four units—which could qualify her for better loan terms—records from the NYC Department of Buildings show five.

“Ms. James was the sitting Attorney General of New York and is required by law to have her primary residence in the state of New York — even though her mortgage applications list her intent to have the Norfolk, VA, property as her primary home,” the letter stated.

“It appears Ms. James’ property and mortgage-related misrepresentations may have continued to her recent 2023 Norfolk, VA property purchase in order to secure a lower interest rate and more favorable loan terms,” Pulte wrote.

Pulte outlined several potential criminal charges that could arise from the matter, including bank fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and making false statements to a lender.

James’ office responded on Wednesday by clarifying that she co-purchased the Virginia home with her niece. “Her niece lives in the home as a primary residence and the AG has been clear that she is not using the Virginia home as her primary residence, because she lives in New York,” the statement said.

The response also accused the Trump administration of politicizing the issue. “Donald Trump’s weaponization of the federal government continues to careen out of control – and now they are using cherry-picked information to attack the Attorney General. We will have more to share on these political attacks, but the AG and our office remain focused on protecting New Yorkers every single day.”

James declined to speak with reporters outside her home in Brooklyn on Wednesday morning.

When asked about the referral on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” Bondi confirmed her office had just received it. “We haven’t looked at it, of course we’ll be reviewing it. You just told me more than I’ve heard about it so far,” she told host Bill Hemmer.

Near the Norfolk property, one neighbor said his grandmother had lived in the neighborhood his entire life and that he had never once seen James.

Back in 2019, James famously declared that “no one is above the law” while accusing President Trump of artificially inflating his asset values for financial advantage. Now, she finds herself facing scrutiny over her own dealings in both Brooklyn and Virginia.

According to legal records, James granted power of attorney to Shamice Thompson-Hairston to authorize the August 17, 2023, purchase of the Norfolk home. The pair secured a $219,780 mortgage for the transaction.

The document was signed in the presence of First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy and a New York state secretary and was officially notarized.

Pulte’s referral also casts doubt on whether James was truthful about the size of her Brooklyn brownstone.

The Department of Buildings certificate of occupancy lists five separate units in the structure, but James claimed on her deed and mortgage that it only had four.

This distinction is important because properties with five or more units are typically ineligible for residential loans under federal guidelines—meaning she may have received better financing by claiming only four.

Responding to those claims, James’ office stated, “The Attorney General has been clear in her financial filings that this is a 4 unit, owner-occupied building. The previous Certificate of Occupancy from January 2001 that lists it as a 5 unit building was filed by the previous owner before the Attorney General owned the home.”

During an interview on MSNBC’s “José Díaz-Balart Reports” Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “It’s up to the investigative bodies to do an unbiased investigation,” calling James “a longtime friend” and extending his well-wishes.

Pressed on whether politics could be driving the investigation, Adams said James would need to speak to that herself, though he added that both Trump and Biden had acknowledged politicization in the Justice Department.

“It’s imperative that our criminal justice agencies do what’s right,” he said.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is also a Democratic mayoral contender, had sharper words regarding the referral’s motive.

“Letitia James has spent her career standing up to powerful interests and fighting for everyday New Yorkers. Now she’s being targeted by a president who abuses the power of the federal government to go after his enemies,” she told The Post.

Republican critics, meanwhile, relished the development, pointing out the irony given James’ past rhetoric.

Michael Henry, who ran against James in 2022 as the GOP nominee for attorney general, issued a statement turning her own words back on her.

“No one is above the law. James has not denied the legitimacy of the documents. It should be investigated to the fullest extent of the law,” said Henry, who previously worked in the mortgage field before becoming a lawyer.

“There are clearly some issues here.”

Henry added that, at the very least, “there was something miscommunicated on her behalf numerous times,” and emphasized that as a lawyer—let alone the state’s top legal officer—James should have reviewed the property paperwork carefully, even if someone else signed on her behalf.

He called the situation “certainly ironic” in light of James’ high-profile legal battle with Trump over his business dealings.