Matzav

Yashar party chairman and former defense minister Gadi Eizenkot harshly condemned the violent assault on Shas MK Yoav Ben Tzur, which took place last night outside the Yazdim shul in Yerushalayim following the weekly shiur of the Rishon L’Tzion, Rav Yitzchak Yosef. Dozens of extremists reportedly hurled stones and garbage at Ben Tzur’s car while shouting insults over his involvement in advancing the draft law.

In a statement released Sunday morning, Eizenkot said: “The attack on MK Ben Tzur is a severe expression of the loss of governance and the loss of shame among lawbreakers who are getting encouragement from leaders.”

He called the incident “an event that demands immediate action and the arrest of all the violent draft evaders involved.” Eizenkot added that “this growing phenomenon of detachment from the State of Israel requires a deep, systemic response—beginning with education, enlistment, and citizens’ responsibilities. It must not continue.”

The Shas party also issued a sharp condemnation, saying: “The Shas movement strongly denounces the brutal attack on the vehicle of MK Yoav Ben Tzur, carried out this evening in Jerusalem by a small group of rioters. Acts of violence of this nature, which result in chillul Hashem, are not the way of the Torah and do not represent any God-fearing public.”

According to a police statement, officers from the Lev HaBira station and Border Police units responded quickly to the scene. The rioters had ambushed Ben Tzur near the shul, caused damage to his vehicle, and threw bags of garbage at it. Police evacuated the MK safely, and no injuries were reported.

“The Israel Police views any attempt to harm public officials with the utmost severity and will act decisively to bring all those responsible to justice,” the statement said.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid also condemned the attack, declaring, “I strongly denounce the assault on MK Yoav Ben Tzur. This is not the way of the Torah, and it is not the way of the State of Israel. These violent criminals must be dealt with firmly.”

Avrohom Avinu’s unwavering insistence on purchasing the Me’aras Hamachpeilah for full price, as described in yesterday’s parsha, Parshas Chayei Sarah, continues to inspire reflection thousands of years later. Now, Israel’s Ministry of Housing has used that very transaction to illustrate lessons relevant to today’s real estate market — touching on property registration, the dangers of pressure buying, and the reality that prices have always seemed to rise.

Avrohom sought to acquire a burial plot for his wife, Sarah Imeinu. Though the Bnei Cheis courteously offered him a choice of their gravesites, they refused to sell him a permanent family plot. When Ephron HaChitti stepped forward and offered both the field and the cave as a gift, Avrohom declined, determined to pay the full value in cash. “I will give the price of the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there,” he said.

According to Ariel Rosenberg, head of the Sales Law Department and director of the Homebuyers Protection Division at Israel’s Ministry of Construction and Housing, the “first real estate transaction in Tanach” carries three lessons that remain valid in the modern market:

1. The importance of proper registration — what we’d now call a title deed or tabu.

2. The wisdom of avoiding deals made under emotional pressure.

3. The timeless complaint that property prices only ever go up.

Rosenberg notes that Avrohom paid Ephron 400 shekel kesef — a substantial sum. But how much is that worth in today’s currency? The weight of the silver was about 640 kilograms, though some opinions place it anywhere between 4.5 kilograms and 17 tons. With silver currently priced around $1,250 per kilogram, that amount equals approximately $800,000 — or about 2.6 million shekels. That’s roughly a quarter of a million shekels more than the average price of a home in Israel today.

The structure above the Me’aras Hamachpeilah was built many centuries after Avrohom’s time, yet using its size as a basis for calculation offers perspective. Measuring 34 by 59.16 meters — a total of 2,111.4 square meters — Avrohom effectively paid around 1,231 shekels per square meter, an impressive figure for his era.

By comparison, a recent tender in Kiryat Arba for 156 residential units closed at a price of about 115,000 shekels per apartment — roughly 5% of what Avrohom paid — and that’s without accounting for the inflation of 3,704 years.

Even in the days of our forefather Avrohom, it seems, real estate was no bargain — and the market trend, as always, was only upward.

A report released this morning by Israel’s National Insurance Institute paints a troubling picture of hunger and poverty across the country, showing that food insecurity remains widespread — particularly among the chareidi community.

According to the 2024 Food Security Report, 2.78 million Israelis lived with food insecurity last year, including about one million children. The data show that 26.5% of households in Israel faced some level of difficulty obtaining sufficient nutritious food. The situation is especially severe in the Arab community, where 58% of families experience food insecurity, and among chareidi households, where the rate stands at 25%. Nearly 10% of all households nationwide suffer from very low food security.

While the overall percentage of families facing food insecurity fell slightly compared to the previous year — from 30.8% in 2023 to 27.2% in 2024 — experts caution that the problem remains severe and widespread. The report’s authors urge the government to increase welfare payments and direct aid to struggling families, noting that rising healthcare expenses and the burden on the welfare system continue to grow.

The findings also highlight a strong connection between income and access to food. Among households in the lowest income bracket, almost half (47.6%) suffer from food insecurity, compared to only 9.5% among those in the highest bracket.

Food insecurity is particularly common in large families, with 30.3% of households with six or more members affected. It is also prevalent among single-person households (29.1%) and two-person households (26.8%).

Beyond the immediate human toll, the report warns of long-term financial consequences. Poor nutrition leads to higher healthcare costs, contributing millions of shekels annually to expenses tied to obesity and chronic diseases.

Acting Director-General of the National Insurance Institute, Tzvika Cohen, said the findings should serve as a wake-up call: “Israeli society must strive and work decisively to significantly reduce food insecurity among children and the elderly. A moral society cannot allow such inequality, reflected in the growing inability of families to access healthy food. We must do everything possible to improve this situation. This report provides policymakers with a clear picture so they can take action to strengthen food security for all residents of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

Reports from Washington indicate rising tension between Israel and the White House over a potential sale of American F-35 stealth jets to Saudi Arabia. Israel has privately warned that approving such a deal could erode its military advantage and compromise sensitive technology.

According to Kan News, outgoing Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer traveled to Washington last week, where he met with senior Trump administration officials and relayed Israel’s objections. During those talks, Dermer emphasized the dangers of transferring such advanced aircraft to a country that maintains close ties with Russia and China, both seen as potential security risks to Israel and the West.

Dermer reportedly made it clear that Israel fears such a sale could lead to the leak of sensitive security information to Russia and China, Saudi Arabia’s strategic partners, and could also undermine Israel’s qualitative aerial edge in the Middle East—a cornerstone of the country’s national security and regional deterrence.

Saudi Arabia has put forward a request to purchase 48 F-35 fighter jets from the United States, but Israeli officials say the proposal is still at an early stage. They are waiting to see the outcome of next week’s planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Saudi Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, which could determine whether the deal moves ahead.

President Trump addressed the matter over the weekend, acknowledging that the request is on the table and suggesting that a decision may come soon. “They want to buy a lot of planes,” Trump said, adding that he hopes Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords.

For Israel, however, the implications go far beyond a single transaction. Officials warn that allowing another regional power access to the same aircraft used by the Israeli Air Force would erode its long-standing qualitative edge—one guaranteed by decades of U.S. policy. The coming days, as Trump and bin Salman meet, are expected to be crucial in determining whether that balance will remain intact or shift dramatically across the Middle East.

{Matzav.com}

Today is the eleventh anniversary of the massacre in Har Nof, in which five of the neighborhood’s residents were killed.

Eleven years ago, in the middle of Shacharis on the morning of the 25th of Cheshvon, two terrorists armed with guns, an ax and a butcher’s knife entered Kehillas Bnei Torah in Har Nof and began to attack the mispallelim. Rav Moshe Twersky, Rav Aryeh Kupinsky, Rav Kalman Zev Levine, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, and Rabbi Yechiel Chaim Rotman were killed.

Hashem yikom domom.

{Matzav.com Israel}

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R’ Boruch Sholom Kahan z”l, a distinguished Chabad chossid known for his lifelong devotion to Torah and avodah, was niftar at the age of 91.

Born in Kharkov in 5694, he grew up in a home steeped in mesirus nefesh. His family’s unwavering faith under Soviet oppression shaped his character from the youngest age. When he was just two, they settled in Tel Aviv, where he was among the early students of the pioneering Chabad schools that were emerging at the time. There, he absorbed the chassidishe warmth and fiery inspiration of mashpi’im such as Reb Chaim Shaul Brook, Reb Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, and Reb Zalman Moshe Hayitzchaki.

A first cousin of Rav Yoel Kahn, the renowned choizer, R’ Boruch Sholom shared with him the same deep commitment to preserving and transmitting Chassidus. That dedication would define his life’s mission.

In 5717, braving the harsh winter seas, he undertook a difficult voyage to America to meet the Rebbe. That journey marked the start of a lifelong bond — filled with yechidusen, personal guidance, and profound exposure to the Rebbe’s formative years of leadership.

Gifted with a mastery of the typewriter he had learned as a young bochur, R’ Boruch Sholom became instrumental in preparing the weekly edited sichos that formed the foundation of Likkutei Sichos. His precise transcriptions captured the Rebbe’s words with clarity and faithfulness, preserving them for generations to come.

He also safeguarded rare reshimos of the Frierdiker Rebbe and created transcripts and recordings that remain invaluable today. His discreet recording of Purim 5718 preserved the opening hours of that farbrengen—material that, remarkably, the Rebbe later requested to hear.

In 5720, he relocated to New Haven, Connecticut, to serve as a shochet. Years later, in 5736, he joined the plastic factory of Reb Dovid Deitsch, where he worked with diligence and integrity. Throughout those years, his passion for mivtzoim never waned.

R’ Boruch Sholom became one of the earliest pioneers of mitzvah tanks outside New York, spreading Yiddishkeit with energy and joy. His work on college campuses, particularly at Yale University, left an enduring impact—bringing Jewish identity and pride to countless students, many of whom eventually returned to a life of Torah and mitzvos.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Devorah, and their daughter, Mrs. Sara Dubov of Wimbledon, England, along with grandchildren who continue his legacy of light and dedication.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A stroke of Hashgocha in Georgia has turned one ticket holder into a multimillionaire overnight. The Georgia Lottery confirmed that a single ticket sold in the state matched every number in Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing, claiming an eye-popping estimated $980 million prize — the eighth largest jackpot since the game began.

The winning numbers drawn on November 14 were 1, 8, 11, 12, and 57, along with the gold Mega Ball 7. “After growing since the end of June, the Mega Millions jackpot was won for just the fifth time this year on Friday night. A single ticket sold in Georgia matched all six numbers in the November 14 drawing – the white balls 1, 8, 11, 12 and 57, plus the gold Mega Ball 7 – to win the estimated $980 million prize ($452.2 million cash),” the lottery said.

This remarkable win breaks records for the month. “It’s by far the largest prize ever won in the month of November, and the eighth largest jackpot in the history of the game,” officials announced. They added that “in the 40 drawings since the jackpot was last won at $348 million in Virginia on June 27 — the most drawings in a single jackpot run in the game’s history — there were almost 14.3 million winning tickets at all prize levels.”

The last Mega Millions windfall of a similar magnitude occurred nearly a year ago, in December 2024, when a California participant claimed an even larger $1.269 billion payout. Despite the new Georgia win, the all-time record still belongs to Florida’s August 2023 jackpot of $1.602 billion.

In addition to the grand prize, plenty of others cashed in as well. “With the new greatly-enhanced prize values, total non-jackpot prizes won were nearly $343.4 million,” the lottery said, noting that “these include 21 second-tier prizes of $2 million or more (won in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia).”

The massive prize was fueled by a structural change to the game earlier this year. In April, Mega Millions raised the ticket price from $2 to $5, a move that lottery officials said would allow jackpots to “grow more rapidly” and increase the starting prize from $20 million to $50 million. The result was the quickest jackpot escalation in years.

Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, said this win highlights the impact of the new system. “$980 million is the largest jackpot that’s been won since the Mega Millions game changed back in April,” Johnston stated.

Governor Kathy Hochul is considering increasing New York’s corporate tax rate to help bankroll Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s sweeping socialist platform, according to new reports. The proposal, still in its early stages, would represent a major policy shift for the governor, who has long promised not to target the state’s wealthiest residents with new taxes.

Politico reported that Hochul has begun discussing the possibility of generating new revenue by raising corporate taxes, a move that could help close New York’s looming $4 billion budget deficit for next year. Bloomberg added that the measure could also fund some of Mamdani’s ambitious citywide initiatives once he takes office.

The two Democrats met Thursday to discuss shared policy priorities, including their goal of establishing universal childcare across the state. The meeting underscored Hochul’s willingness to engage with Mamdani’s progressive agenda, despite her previous resistance to tax hikes demanded by the party’s far-left wing.

If implemented, the proposal would mark a notable break from Hochul’s repeated assurances that she would not raise taxes. “The last thing on my mind” is increasing taxes, her budget director Blake Washington said earlier this week, asserting that “New York was in a good spot financially.” However, with federal aid expected to decline in the coming years, the state faces growing pressure to find new sources of income.

Mamdani has made no secret of his intention to raise the corporate tax rate from 7.5% to 11.5%, aligning it with New Jersey’s rate — currently the highest in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation. Critics warn that such a move would effectively push New York City’s overall business tax burden even higher, since companies already pay multiple local levies.

The mayor-elect insists the tax increase is essential to support his $10 billion package of campaign promises, including free public buses, universal childcare, and the creation of a new Department of Community Safety. Supporters frame the plan as a bold step toward social equity; opponents call it reckless and economically destructive.

Republicans wasted no time pouncing on the reports. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman blasted the idea, saying, “Kathy Hochul’s failed policies have already pushed businesses and residents out of New York for years. With Zohran Mamdani now steering the direction of this one-party controlled state, it’s clear the Governor is prepared to raise taxes even higher — forcing New York businesses to pay far more than competitors in states like Florida, New Jersey, and Texas.”

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik echoed that sentiment on social media, accusing Hochul of caving to the far left. “[Hochul] will bend the knee to the Socialists who will extract another tax hike out of her,” she wrote, adding that the governor is “weak, inept, and destroying New York’s economy.”

Political strategists expect such attacks to intensify as Hochul heads toward what could be a bruising 2026 re-election campaign. Her public support for Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist, has already drawn fire from moderates and conservatives alike.

Meanwhile, both the state and city are staring down significant financial challenges. New York City alone faces a shortfall exceeding $5 billion in the next fiscal year, compounding the difficulties Mamdani will face in implementing his costly proposals. Business groups warn that new taxes could accelerate the exodus of employers and investors already fleeing to lower-tax states.

{Matzav.com}

Tucker Carlson ignited a storm Thursday when he accused the FBI of concealing information about the online behavior of Thomas Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump. The allegation quickly drew a sharp and public response from the bureau, sparking a fierce online confrontation.

On X, Carlson posted, “The FBI told us Thomas Crooks tried to kill Donald Trump last summer but somehow had no online footprint. The FBI lied, and we can prove it … Story tomorrow.” Within an hour, the FBI’s Rapid Response account fired back: “This FBI has never said Thomas Crooks had no online footprint. Ever.”

Carlson’s comments triggered immediate reactions from across the political spectrum. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., rallied behind him, declaring, “Americans are the most lied to people in the world … Thank you Tucker.” Talk show host Mark Levin was far less sympathetic, posting, “There he goes, again. Crackpot.”

The timing of Carlson’s accusation coincides with growing controversy surrounding him in conservative circles. He’s been under heavy criticism for his association with white nationalist and Holocaust-denier Nick Fuentes, and his show’s sponsorship has reportedly prompted internal turmoil at the Heritage Foundation, which has lost donors, trustees, and members in recent weeks.

Carlson’s charge of a “cover-up” contradicts the FBI’s publicly available findings about Crooks, a 20-year-old shooter whose extensive online activity has been documented for months. During congressional testimony, FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said that investigators identified a social media account Crooks used between 2019 and 2020, which contained about 700 posts reflecting extremist ideology, including antisemitic remarks, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and calls for political violence.

Investigators also uncovered that Crooks’ online searches intensified in the days before the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. During that attack, a bullet grazed Trump’s ear, and volunteer fire chief Corey Comperator, 50, was killed. Police fatally shot Crooks at the scene.

Authorities say Crooks scoured the internet for information about explosives, Trump’s appearances, and even historic assassinations, searching “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” in reference to John F. Kennedy’s 1963 murder.

CBS News later obtained nearly a year’s worth of Crooks’ digital activity from his college’s Wi-Fi network, uncovering extensive records of visits to news outlets, encrypted messaging apps, gun forums, gaming sites, and social platforms—evidence of a robust and well-documented online presence.

Their analysis highlighted two key dates: on December 6, 2023, Crooks accessed the White House archives from Trump’s presidency before visiting firearm websites and major news pages; then, on January 24, 2024, he made over 1,300 online requests in one day and began consistently using a VPN to hide his activity.

NBC News confirmed similar findings, reporting that Crooks’ fascination with weapons surged in his final year. He legally purchased a rifle from his father in 2023, joined the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, and made more than 40 trips to the range. He also escalated his use of encryption software to mask his digital footprint.

All of these verified records directly refute Carlson’s assertion that the FBI ever claimed Crooks “had no online footprint.”

{Matzav.com}

The websites of the cities of Houston, Texas, and Jackson, Miss., return three pages each that redirect to a website titled “Why are Jews so successful in business?”

The page to which the cities’ official websites redirect, and which lacks a government URL suffix, appears to be written by artificial intelligence.

“Mastering new skills should be both efficient and enjoyable, and that is exactly what Why Are Jews So Successful In Business was designed for,” the page states.

“Each reader begins from a different starting point, so Why Are Jews So Successful In Business accommodates all experience levels,” it adds.

Mary Benton, chief of communications and senior adviser to Houston Mayor John Whitmire, told JNS on Thursday that the city’s information technology team “has spent the past few days investigating this matter.”

“From what we can gather, doing a regular Google search, not the one specific to the city of Houston home page, it’s brightideas.houstontx.gov, which auto-redirects to a page independent of the city of Houston website,” she said.

“Steps have been taken to prevent the BrightIdeas page from auto-redirecting to the city of Houston website,” she told JNS.

Per the World Jewish Congress, assumptions have been made throughout history “about Jews and money, including that Jews are greedy global capitalists, wealthy communists, socialists and of course, that Jews unduly influence the world with their money.”

“These stereotypes have permeated cultures globally and are rooted in antisemitism,” the WJC said.

{Matzav.com}

Jack Schlossberg, a grandson of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, announced earlier in the week that he is running in New York’s 12th District, the seat held by retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.).

The former Vogue political correspondent, 31, who has more than 1.8 million followers across his social media platforms, has mocked Melania Trump, the U.S. first lady, and has expressed his love for the wife of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, claiming she is “hotter” than former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, his grandmother.

“I’m not running because I have all the answers to our problems,” he stated. “I’m running because the people of New York 12 do. I want to listen to your struggles, hear your stories, amplify your voice, go to Washington and execute on your behalf.”

Schlossberg also appeared to perform a Nazi salute several times in an Instagram video, which has since been deleted, the Washington Free Beacon reported. He also posted a recipe—also now deleted—calling for “Jew blood” among the ingredients.

Raised Catholic, Schlossberg has a Jewish father, the designer Edwin Schlossberg, and his mother is Caroline Kennedy, a former diplomat who is the daughter of the former president.

In a “who is Jack Schlossberg anyway” part of his campaign site, the candidate writes that he is “the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis” and that “his paternal grandfather, Alfred Schlossberg, was also elected president … of his synagogue uptown and spent decades working in the garment business with an office in the Empire State Building.”

{Matzav.com}

Inna Vernikov, a Jewish member of the New York City Council who represents parts of Brooklyn, stated that she invited Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to visit New York City on Jan. 1—the inauguration of the mayoralty of Zohran Mamdani, who has said he would have the Israeli premier arrested should he come to the Big Apple.

In a letter dated Nov. 10, Vernikov wrote that it was a “great honor” to invite Netanyahu to the city to “meet with members of our community and to reaffirm the deep and enduring bond between the State of Israel and the people of New York City, home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.”

She decried the “irresponsible and frankly absurd statements made by mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who has campaigned on the promise of ‘arresting’ you upon setting foot in our city.”

“Whether individuals agree or disagree with your policies, you are the duly elected prime minister of the State of Israel, a democratic nation that stands as a beacon of hope, freedom, western values, resilience and strength in a region surrounded by tyranny and terror,” the councilwoman wrote.”

Joseph Weiler, who holds several professorships at New York University School of Law, where he directs the Jean Monnet Center for International and Regional Economic Law and Justice, told JNS that heads of state and government have “absolute immunity” under international law, “even in the face of horrific crimes.”

Mamdani has said he would have Netanyahu arrested in response to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, a judicial body in The Hague, which is not part of the United Nations. The court operates under the Rome Statute, to which neither Israel nor the United States is a party.

States that are parties to the statute “are both under a duty and have the right to arrest even a head of state, since the general immunity is deemed to be waived, provided both parties—the arresting state and the head of state in question—are parties to the Rome Statute,” according to Weiler, a former president of European University Institute in Florence, Italy.

But since Washington isn’t a party, “the United States has neither the duty nor the right to arrest Netanyahu following an arrest warrant issued by the ICC,” Weiler said. “The only exception might be if the Security Council referred the case, but this is hypothetical because it has not, and will not in the face of an American veto.”

Marshall Wittmann, the AIPAC spokesman, told JNS that the International Criminal Court “has turned itself into a kangaroo court.”

“Its bogus arrest warrants against Israeli officials have no standing in the United States,” he said.

AIPAC supports legislation that Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) introduced in September that would bar “state and local law enforcement officers from arresting foreign nationals within the United States solely on the basis of an indictment, warrant, or request issued by the International Criminal Court,” Wittmann said.

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) led 20 fellow left-wing Democrats in a resolution to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” on Friday.

The non-binding resolution would “officially recognize that the State of Israel has committed the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza” and call for sanctions against the Jewish state.

“The Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza has not ended, and it will not end until we act,” stated Tlaib, an American of Palestinian descent. “Since the so-called ‘ceasefire’ was announced, Israeli forces haven’t stopped killing Palestinians.”

Co-sponsors of the resolution include some of Israel’s most vocal critics in the House and other prominent members of the progressive faction of the Democratic caucus, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).

Perhaps the most surprising co-sponsor was Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), whom AIPAC touted in May 2024 as the more pro-Israel candidate during her primary race in 2024 against the sister of Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), another co-sponsor of Friday’s resolution.

AIPAC’s super PAC put more than $2 million into helping Dexter during the race. (JNS sought comment from Dexter and AIPAC.)

More than 100 anti-Israel and left-wing advocacy groups, including anti-Israel Jewish groups, backed the resolution, among them American Muslims for Palestine, CodePink, Jewish Voice for Peace Action and Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. JNS

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is calling on his massive online following to join a boycott of Starbucks, declaring solidarity with striking baristas across the United States. The move comes as the self-described socialist prepares to take office on a platform that includes free public buses, universal child care, and a citywide rent freeze.

“Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract,” Mamdani wrote Thursday night on X. “While workers are on strike, I won’t be buying any Starbucks, and I’m asking you to join us. Together, we can send a powerful message: No contract, no coffee.”

His transition spokesperson, Dora Pekec, underscored his pro-labor stance, saying, “New Yorkers can absolutely expect the Mayor-elect to stand unequivocally with labor.”

The call to action came as Starbucks employees in more than two dozen cities walked off the job during “Red Cup Day,” one of the company’s most profitable annual promotions when customers receive free holiday-themed cups. Despite the strike, Starbucks reported that roughly 99.9% of its stores continued operating.

Starbucks Workers United, representing roughly 9,000 employees out of the company’s more than 200,000 baristas, said the walkout was necessary to push for fair contract negotiations. The group accused the coffee giant of dragging its feet and warned that the work stoppages could grow if progress remains stalled.

Starbucks has rejected those claims, maintaining that the union’s proposals are unrealistic and insisting it already provides generous pay and benefits. The company said it offers “the best job in retail,” citing an average hourly wage of $19—equivalent to more than $30 when factoring in healthcare, tuition reimbursement, and other benefits.

This week’s strike marks the fourth national labor action organized by the union since 2023, and the third since CEO Brian Niccol assumed leadership in 2024. Although both sides appeared close to a deal earlier this year, negotiations collapsed soon after amid mutual accusations of bad faith.

Workers United says it has filed over 1,000 complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Starbucks of retaliatory behavior such as firing union activists and closing stores that vote to organize. The NLRB itself has charged the company with anti-union tactics—allegations Starbucks firmly denies.

The current disruption echoes last year’s Red Cup Day, when similar strikes temporarily shuttered around 60 locations nationwide. That campaign drew attention to long-standing friction between management and employees demanding more influence in workplace decisions.

Under Niccol’s leadership, the company has tried to boost morale through small initiatives, including a widely mocked plan to purchase 200,000 Sharpies so employees could write friendly messages on coffee cups. Baristas quickly criticized the idea, saying the practice was time-consuming and risked being misinterpreted as flirting.

Adding to the tension, Starbucks has shuttered hundreds of locations in recent months, including 59 unionized stores, some with only days of notice. The sudden closures have caused confusion and outrage in New York City, where workers, local officials, and landlords were left scrambling in the aftermath.

{Matzav.com}

FOX Business’ Lauren Simonetti joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to give an inside look at IBM’s ‘Nighthawk Quantum’ computer that will redefine AI, energy and the global tech race.

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Just a typical Monday morning at the Ezreinu office:

9:02 

“Hello, Ezreinu!”

 “Hi! You sent us a volunteer last Sunday for my daughter? Basically, my sister who lives out-of-town invited us for the simcha she’s making this week. We just got a call from the family hosting us that our daughter can’t come along… Can you find someone to take her for Shabbos?” 

9:18

 Hi, My care manager told me about your organization. Do you know of someone who can do a thorough evaluation for my 8-year-old daughter? She’s really struggling in school and at home. We suspect she might have ASD or another undiagnosed issue. Not sure if we can afford someone private… About how much would an eval cost? Thanks, Reuven

 9:39 

“Hello, Ezreinu!” “Hi… Um… So I got your number from my neighbor. Maybe you can help…? No one else could. My son has learning and behavioral challenges. He was in Yeshivas Torah for elementary. It was okay, but high school’s been a nightmare… He started in a small mainstream place, but they couldn’t accommodate his needs. They dumped him in their self-contained class for kids with all kinds of struggles. He calls other boys in class “weirdos”. He’s miserable. He used to be the class leader; he has great social skills and had so many friends. Now, he feels like a nebach… I can’t watch my son suffer like this.” 

10:05

 “Hello, Ezreinu!” “Hi. My son’s been getting ABA after school for years, but the agency just informed us that they aren’t accepting his insurance anymore… They’ll continue to service him if I switch to a different insurance, but I don’t know where to begin the process, or if there’s something I should know that the agency isn’t telling me. And what if this change will affect his other services? I’m so confused. Can you help me figure this out?” 

Ezreinu, a support organization for families of children with special needs, is a one-stop-shop where parents can access much-needed respite volunteers and receive referrals for anything their child needs, including therapists, medical professionals, special ed program placement, and guidance navigating government services. Ezreinu keeps over 1,100 families afloat with their compassionate guidance and support – for free. To support Ezreinu’s essential work, click HERE.

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Anticipation is building across the Torah world as the distinguished Staten Island Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Reuven Feinstein, will headline the upcoming National Business Halacha Summit with a keynote address titled “Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life.”

The Rosh Yeshiva, known for his profound clarity in Torah and practical insight into contemporary issues, will share timeless Torah perspectives on navigating the complexities of today’s business world.

The event will take place Monday and Tuesday, November 24–25, at The Westin in Lombard, Illinois. Following the keynote, participants will be treated to a special Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with Harav Feinstein and hear guidance on real-world halachic and ethical dilemmas in commerce, finance, and everyday business dealings.

The H3 National Business Halacha Summit—known as the Hub of Halacha and the Hub of Business—brings together business professionals, rabbanim, and halacha experts for two days of immersive learning, networking, and inspiration. The Summit provides a unique forum where Torah values meet professional practice, ensuring that those engaged in business do so with yiras Shamayim and halachic precision.

Organized under the auspices of Agudath Israel of Illinois, the Summit has become a cornerstone event for Torah-observant businesspeople across North America. Attendees will explore topics ranging from partnership agreements and financial ethics to modern technology’s impact on halacha. Each session is crafted to offer practical application of halachic principles in the fast-paced world of commerce.

Registration is now open at H3Summit.org.

{Matzav.com}