Matzav

In a powerful and deeply emotional gathering at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Friday, Bar Kupershtein, a survivor of Hamas captivity, turned the stage into a moment of kiddush Hashem and Jewish strength. Before a crowd of thousands, he wrapped himself in a tallis, placed tefillin on his arm, and recited Shema Yisroel in a loud, unwavering voice.

“There were very difficult moments during those two years,” Kupershtein shared. “But I knew I couldn’t lose myself. I saw my captors praying in Arabic — and against the backdrop of their murders, I realized that I had to pray even more. If they were praying for death, I would pray for life.”

He described how his bond with Hashem sustained him throughout the ordeal: “At first, I prayed silently — in my heart, in my stomach, from deep inside, where the soul resides. Later, when we were finally allowed to pray aloud, we made the tunnels tremble with our voices.”

His words reached a crescendo as he declared, “I am certain that faith is what brought me out of there. Thank You, Ribbono shel Olam.”

The crowd was overcome with emotion, responding with prolonged applause and tears.

The event, attended by Israel’s former Chief Rabbi, Rav David Lau, reflected the growing spiritual awakening and faith that have taken root since the war began — the resilience of tefillah, simple emunah, and the unbreakable connection to Hashem even under the harshest conditions.

In a particularly stirring moment, Bar’s father joined him on stage, donning a tallis and joining his son in reciting Shema Yisroel together.

Kupershtein concluded by announcing that the square would become a permanent site — “Bar-Tefillin” — a place where anyone who wishes can come to put on tefillin and pray.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Shimon Hershler zt”l, one of the foremost rabbonim of the Vizhnitz chassidus in London and among the greatest maggidei shiurim in Europe. He was niftar on Shabbos, at the age of 81, after a prolonged illness.

Rav Hershler was born in London on Hoshanah Rabbah in 5705 (1944) to his father, Rabbi Bunim Zevulun Hershler, son of Rav Shimon Hershler, senior dayan in the kehilla of Pressburg, known as the author of Hegyonei Maharsha, a descendant of Rav Akiva Eiger zt”l. His mother, Mrs. Feitsche (née Weiser), was a granddaughter of the Malbushei Shabbos v’Yom Tov and came from the illustrious Ziditshov dynasty.

From a young age, Rav Hershler displayed extraordinary diligence and brilliance in learning. He attended Talmud Torah Yesodei HaTorah in London and later continued his studies at Yeshivas Kochav MiYaakov-Tchebin in Yerushalayim and Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin in Bnei Brak, where he became close to the Shevet HaLevi, Rav Shmuel Wosner.

Throughout his lifetime, Rav Hershler maintained warm relationships with many gedolei Yisroel, recording their teachings meticulously and later publishing them for the benefit of lomdei Torah. He was especially close to the Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz, as well as to the Skulener and Skverer Rebbes.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married his late wife, the daughter of Rav Avrohom Shmuel Rand, Rosh Yeshivas Mesivta in London, and together they built a home of Torah and chesed.

In London, Rav Hershler served for decades as a senior rebbi in Talmud Torah Pardes, teaching the oldest class of 16-year-old boys. Simultaneously, he delivered the Daf Yomi shiur at the Vizhnitz Beis Medrash Ahavas Yisroel every morning at 6:00 a.m., a commitment he upheld faithfully for sixty years, even during times of illness. Each night, he would spend hours preparing the next day’s shiur with intense concentration and hasmadah.

Known for his fiery delivery and clarity, Rav Hershler became renowned across London as a master orator and a beloved maggid meisharim. His many published works, including Seh LaBayis, contain treasured insights and Torah discourses.

He also merited to publish numerous manuscripts of his illustrious ancestor, Rav Akiva Eiger, including the acclaimed Meoram Shel Yisroel on Rav Akiva Eiger and other related volumes such as Yehudah L’Kadsho. Through the Shem Olam Institute, he also edited and released many rare Torah works and biographical studies on gedolei Yisroel, among them the Sdei Chemed, Rav Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin, the Gaon of Ozdorf, and Drush V’Chiddush Rav Akiva Eiger.

Rav Hershler endured personal tragedy with the untimely passing of his son, Rav Yissachar Berish, who was niftar on Tisha B’Av seven years ago.

He leaves behind a distinguished family continuing his legacy of Torah and avodas hakodesh: His sons: Rav Yaakov Yosef of Yerushalayim; Rav Elazar of Monsey; Rav Avrohom Shmuel of London; and his youngest son, Rav Moshe Pesach, a prominent figure in the London community. His daughters, the wives of Rav Shalom Stern, Rav Shmuel Yitzchok Stein, and Rav Shaul Yechezkel Weiss of London.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

In a stunning statement just days before New York City’s mayoral election, anti-Israel candidate Zohran Mamdani vowed to shut down the Technion’s presence in the city if he wins office — igniting outrage from Jewish leaders, business figures, and city officials. He said his administration would “move to terminate the Technion’s activity in the city due to its ties with Israel’s defense establishment.”

Mamdani specifically called out Cornell Tech, the joint Roosevelt Island campus created through a partnership between Cornell University and the Technion. He declared that “an Israeli institution involved in developing weapons for the IDF should not receive city benefits or funding.” His campaign confirmed that, if elected, Mamdani plans to review the partnership’s compliance with what he termed the city’s “values and human rights principles.”

Because the mayor holds the power to appoint members to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation board — which manages the island’s projects — Mamdani would be able to install individuals sympathetic to boycotts of Israeli institutions, potentially jeopardizing the Cornell-Technion alliance.

Cornell Tech was launched in 2017 after a competition initiated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg aimed at positioning New York as a global leader in technology and entrepreneurship. The winning bid — a collaboration between Cornell and the Technion — received land, tax incentives, and major city subsidies to attract investors, scientists, and startups.

Mamdani has opposed the project since its inception, claiming that it stands in violation of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement’s principles. “If we examine this partnership through the lens of BDS, it’s clear Cornell-Technion should be part of that conversation,” he argued. He also labeled the Technion “an Israeli university that helped develop weapons used by the IDF,” using that accusation to justify his stance against the institution.

His remarks triggered immediate backlash across the political and civic spectrum. Kathryn Wylde, CEO of the Partnership for New York City and a founding supporter of the Cornell Tech initiative, called the comments “alarming.” She added, “It’s hard to believe a mayoral candidate would challenge public support for an institution that has contributed so much to the city’s tech sector simply because it collaborates with an Israeli university.”

A onetime aide to Mayor Bloomberg condemned Mamdani’s rhetoric as “blatant antisemitism” and warned it could harm New York’s global reputation as an inclusive city. Critics across the city accused Mamdani of politicizing academic cooperation and threatening decades of progress in the city’s innovation economy.

Attempting to calm the outrage, Mamdani insisted that his opposition was not directed at Jews or Jewish institutions. He promised that Jewish cultural life in the city would continue under his administration. “I look forward to joining and hosting many community events celebrating Jewish life in New York,” he said. “Although I will not personally attend the Israel Parade, that should not be mistaken for refusing to provide security or necessary permits.”

He reiterated to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that his position stems from a broader principle. “I’ve been clear — I believe in equal rights for all people, everywhere. That principle guides me consistently,” Mamdani told the outlet.

Despite the controversy, Mamdani remains in the lead ahead of Tuesday’s election. Early voting turnout has already shattered records, surpassing 400,000 ballots — five times the figure from 2021. “The wealthy interests aren’t disappearing. There’s no room for overconfidence,” he warned supporters at a campaign rally, urging them to stay mobilized.

Meanwhile, a looming political rivalry may be taking shape on a larger stage. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik — a staunch ally of President Donald Trump and one of Mamdani’s fiercest critics — is reportedly preparing to run for governor in 2026. Stefanik has repeatedly branded Mamdani “pro-jihadist” and vowed to oppose his policies at every turn.

If both prevail, New York could find itself sharply divided between an anti-Israel Democratic mayor in City Hall and a pro-Israel Republican governor in Albany — setting the stage for a fierce showdown over state funding, policy cooperation, and the city’s relationship with Jewish and Israeli institutions.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump will make his long-awaited return to 60 Minutes this Sunday — his first sit-down with the program since reaching a multimillion-dollar settlement with CBS News earlier this year over its controversial interview with Kamala Harris. The network confirmed that CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell interviewed Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday for the broadcast.

The president’s relationship with the storied newsmagazine has been volatile, marked by clashes and walkouts. However, with the recent leadership overhaul at CBS’s parent company, Paramount, Trump appears to be testing a new chapter of détente. The company is now led by David Ellison — son of billionaire Larry Ellison, a longtime Trump ally — who took control following a summer merger that reshaped the network’s corporate hierarchy.

CBS News declined to reveal much about how the interview came about or whether Trump or his team imposed any conditions. O’Donnell, a veteran journalist and former CBS Evening News anchor, was tapped specifically for this segment even though she is not part of the regular 60 Minutes roster.

Trump’s prior history with 60 Minutes is fraught. Just before the 2020 election, he famously ended an interview with correspondent Lesley Stahl, accusing her of unfairness. His campaign later published the unedited footage in protest. During the 2024 campaign, Trump refused to appear on the show altogether, blasting its treatment of Harris, claiming her interview was manipulated “to make her look good.”

CBS rejected Trump’s accusation, but the dispute escalated into a lawsuit. This summer, Paramount settled the case for $16 million — a deal reached weeks before federal regulators approved its merger with Ellison’s Skydance Media. Following the settlement, 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens resigned, citing pressure and “a loss of independence” over editorial decisions.

Since assuming control, Ellison has moved to mend ties with Trump and his supporters. He brought on Kenneth Weinstein, previously the head of a conservative policy institute and a donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign, to review concerns of bias in CBS’s coverage. In a separate move, Paramount bought the Free Press platform in October and installed its founder, Bari Weiss, as editor-in-chief of CBS News. Weiss reportedly facilitated a recent 60 Minutes segment featuring Jared Kushner and adviser Steve Witkoff, discussing the new peace deal in Gaza.

During his return flight from the Middle East on October 12, Trump spoke warmly of the Ellison family’s involvement in the network’s leadership shift. “Larry Ellison is great, and his son David is great. They’re friends of mine. They’re big supporters of mine, and they’ll do the right thing,” he told reporters.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge on Friday rejected an effort by New York Attorney General Letitia James to require prosecutors to document all their communications with reporters in her ongoing mortgage fraud case.

Judge Jamar Walker ruled against the motion submitted by defense attorney Abbe Lowell, who had filed the request last week following revelations that U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan exchanged encrypted Signal messages with a journalist about the case. “The defendant does not demonstrate that it is necessary for the Court to order the government to track communications with the media in any particular form,” Walker wrote in his decision. He added plainly, “The defendant’s request that the government be required to keep a communication log is DENIED.”

Walker acknowledged that Halligan’s Signal conversation with Lawfare senior editor Anna Bower earlier this month was “unusual,” though he stopped short of labeling it inappropriate, saying he would not comment “on whether they were improper in any sense, either legal or ethical.” Despite declining to impose a log, the judge emphasized that prosecutors must follow all court procedures.

In a related directive, Walker issued a “litigation hold preventing the deletion or destruction of any records or communications having to do with the investigation or prosecution of this case.” Halligan’s messages with the reporter were reportedly configured to vanish after eight hours, raising questions about transparency and evidence preservation.

The judge also declined to decide whether Halligan’s disputed message—which reportedly contradicted a New York Times story about testimony from James’ grandniece before a grand jury—should be treated as discoverable material. “[T]he Court is not persuaded that preservation of evidence related to the government’s communications requires such evidence be maintained in any particular form,” he wrote. “The defendant does not demonstrate that a communication log is necessary, so the Court will not order the government to maintain one.” He added a note of finality: “The Court trusts that counsel on both sides will comply with this Order without further handholding.”

Federal prosecutors, in turn, had urged Walker to issue a gag order against James, but he refused that request as well.

James entered a not guilty plea last week to charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. Prosecutors allege she secured a mortgage under false pretenses when she purchased a three-bedroom home on Peronne Avenue in Norfolk, Virginia, on August 17, 2020, for $109,600. The mortgage documents, they say, listed her as the “sole borrower to occupy and use the property,” which earned her about $19,000 in more favorable loan terms.

Authorities contend, however, that the property “was not occupied or used” by James, but “was instead used as a rental investment property” for her grandniece, Nakia Thompson. If convicted on both counts, James could face up to 60 years in prison and fines totaling as much as $2 million.

{Matzav.com}

In a surprise move just days before voters head to the polls, Mayor Eric Adams announced a sweeping plan to expand the NYPD to 40,000 uniformed officers by 2029 — the largest police force New York has seen in two decades. The timing of the announcement, dubbed a “pre-emptive strike” by some insiders, was widely seen as a political maneuver to box in socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani.

The mayor’s proposal would require future administrations’ approval and the cooperation of a progressive City Council that’s unlikely to do him any favors. Even so, Adams framed the move as essential to his public safety legacy. “Now, New York City will be on a path to reach 40,000 police officers in the next three years — the highest number of police officers in 20 years,” he declared.

City Hall said the initiative would inject $17.8 million into the NYPD in the next fiscal year and climb to $315.8 million by 2029, funding 5,000 new hires phased in through 2028. Ken Frydman, a longtime political operative, described the mayor’s timing bluntly: “Eric Adams invested in his legacy as a law-and-order mayor and launched a pre-emptive strike against a Mayor Mamdani defunding the police.”

But Mamdani refused to be drawn into Adams’ frame. Speaking while doing tai chi with seniors on the Lower East Side, he dismissed the plan as financially unrealistic. “Eric Adams cannot actually hire enough officers that he actually has the money to do so,” Mamdani said. He added, “It’s not a question of headcount. It’s a question of safety.”

The two-term assemblyman from Queens, who gained notoriety for promoting “defund the police” messaging during his 2020 run, has since walked back the rhetoric. Still, his critics — including GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa and independent contender Andrew Cuomo — warn that his policies would “handcuff” the NYPD and undo hard-won crime reductions.

Adams’ own numbers have been unimpressive: despite a budget allowing for 35,000 officers, the department’s staffing has stayed below 34,000 throughout his tenure. Former Commissioner Bill Bratton scoffed at the notion that the Council would back the expansion. “You think the City Council will support more police?” he said, warning that the body would hardly want to gift Adams a final victory or alienate the likely next mayor.

Even as he insists he won’t slash the police budget, Mamdani continues to promote his vision for a $1.1 billion Department of Community Safety — an agency meant to handle mental health emergencies without police involvement. Law enforcement experts have called the idea unrealistic, but Mamdani has stuck to it.

He’s also pledged to keep current NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in her role. Tisch has not confirmed whether she’d stay, but she praised Adams’ move to boost staffing. “Every new officer means safer streets, stronger communities, and a thriving city,” she said. “This commitment allows us to keep recruiting, training, and deploying the next generation of women and men to build on our success.”

When asked about her statement, Mamdani stumbled slightly before reaffirming his stance: “I continue to have made my decision to retain police commissioner Tisch.” He then reiterated his broader vision. “In retaining Commissioner Tisch, in creating a Department of Community Safety, and finally, ensuring that we live up to the words that Eric Adams has himself said four years ago: that New Yorkers need not choose between safety and justice.”

Experts argue that while more police don’t solve every problem, visibility matters. “More cops is going to help with the perception of public safety,” said John Jay College Professor Maria Haberfeld. “Not everything can be solved with more cops but it’s about perception. The public likes to see cops out on the street.” She added that expanding the force must come with high hiring standards: “It’s not just numbers, you need to get good ones.”

Cuomo, who recently received Adams’ endorsement, has proposed his own version of a hiring surge — adding 5,000 officers, increasing morale, and offering bonuses and higher pay to attract recruits.

Attrition remains the biggest obstacle. The NYPD has already lost 2,800 officers this year, nearly canceling out the 2,900 recruits added over the summer. Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said Adams’ plan won’t work without addressing retention. “Saying numbers is one thing, keeping police officers on the job is another thing,” he warned. “It comes with salary, benefits, better quality of life for our police officers.”

{Matzav.com}

The race for New York City mayor has tightened dramatically, with a new poll showing radical socialist Zohran Mamdani’s once-comfortable advantage over Andrew Cuomo dwindling to single digits just days before voters head to the polls.

According to the latest AtlasIntel survey, Mamdani sits at 40.6% support, while Cuomo — the former New York governor now running as an independent — has surged to 34%. Republican contender Curtis Sliwa has also gained traction, polling at 24.1%, his strongest showing since midsummer.

“The gap is closing fast — we can feel it on the ground everywhere from the Bronx to Staten Island. At this rate, we win the race. Keep going strong,” Cuomo declared as his campaign gained momentum heading into the final weekend.

Speaking to reporters while campaigning in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Cuomo brushed off the poll’s narrow margin, saying, “Six points in this election is nothing.”

Cuomo attributed his recent momentum to voters growing skeptical of Mamdani’s sweeping promises — such as free public transit and city-run grocery stores — ideas Cuomo says the Democratic candidate has no power to implement.

“What has happened is, in the primary, Zohran got away with his TikTok band, and a smile, whatever he said, he smiled, and he had his slogans, ‘freeze the rent,’ ‘free buses,’ ‘free food,’ and that was enough,” Cuomo said. “What has happened since is people have [found] out what he’s about, and there is no free food, and there are no free buses, and he can’t raise corporate taxes statewide and dedicate it to New York [City]. That can’t happen.”

Andrei Roman, the CEO of AtlasIntel, suggested that while Cuomo’s controversial gubernatorial record may have capped his appeal among some voters, Mamdani’s extremist rhetoric and anti-Israel positions have alienated many others.

“From not being inspirational to being really hated and terrifying people – that’s a major difference. That’s what’s happening with Mamdani,” Roman said.

He added, “I think Cuomo’s chance in this election is to mobilize an anti-Mamdani vote within mostly the moderate Democratic base that voted for him in the primary but also with independents and Republicans and also mobilize a strategic vote by some of Sliwa’s voters.”

The new poll comes just days after surveys from Fox News and Emerson College showed Mamdani comfortably ahead — by margins of 16 and 25 points respectively. The Real Clear Politics polling average still puts Mamdani in the lead with 45%, trailed by Cuomo at 31% and Sliwa at 17%.

But AtlasIntel’s findings show a shifting landscape. In a hypothetical two-way matchup between Mamdani and Cuomo, the poll projects Cuomo leading 50% to 42%, underscoring how Sliwa’s presence may be splitting the anti-Mamdani vote.

Cuomo, campaigning Friday in Brighton Beach, dismissed Sliwa’s prospects entirely, telling supporters there was “no way” Sliwa could win, warning that he “can only make Zohran Mamdani win.”

Mamdani, meanwhile, remained unruffled during a stop at Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network in Harlem. “I’m not worried at all,” he said confidently. “I continue to be confident, but I never let that confidence become complacency.”

The poll — which carries a 3-point margin of error — was released as early voting numbers continue to surge, with nearly half a million New Yorkers already having cast ballots, signaling high interest in a mayoral race that has become one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump took fresh aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar today, criticizing the Minnesota Democrat after she declared “Somalia is our home” during a public appearance.

“She should go back!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, sharing a clip of Omar addressing a crowd in Minnesota and referring to the Somali president as “our President.”

The remarks rekindled Trump’s long-standing feud with Omar, a member of the progressive group of lawmakers known as “The Squad.” Trump has repeatedly questioned her allegiance to the United States and has suggested on several occasions that she should be removed from the country.

In a September exchange with reporters at the White House, Trump recounted meeting the Somali leader and said, “You know I met the head of Somalia, did you know that? And I suggested that maybe he’d like to take her back. He said ‘I don’t want her.’”

Trump’s clashes with Omar date back to his first term, when he regularly called her out at rallies and accused her of “telling us how to run our country.”

Omar’s outspoken criticism of Israel has drawn controversy for years. In 2019, she sparked bipartisan backlash after implying that Republican support for Israel was driven by the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC. She later issued a limited apology before deleting the tweets that triggered the uproar.

She again faced condemnation after posting a video of her exchange with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in which she appeared to equate the actions of Israel and the United States with those of Hamas and the Taliban.

In October 2023, Omar ignited outrage after she retweeted an image of dead children, claiming they were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. It was later discovered that the photo depicted victims of a Syrian regime nerve gas attack.

Just days later, she falsely blamed Israel for a deadly hospital explosion in Gaza, which was later determined to have been caused by a misfired rocket launched by Islamic Jihad.

Tensions flared again last November when Omar lashed out at pro-Israel demonstrators on Capitol Hill who confronted her for refusing to denounce Hamas.

Footage from X captured the moment protesters carrying Israeli flags shouted, “Why do you stand with Hamas? Why don’t you condemn Hamas? Do you like Hamas and Hezbollah?” as Omar headed toward an elevator with her aides.

Ignoring the initial taunts, Omar reacted only when one of the protesters told her to “go to Gaza” and mockingly called her “sweetheart.” As the elevator doors closed, she snapped back, “[Profanity] you!”

{Matzav.com}

The New Jersey governor’s race has turned into a statistical toss-up, with Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill virtually tied as Election Day nears.

A new Atlas Intel poll released today shows Sherrill ahead by the slimmest of margins—50.2% to 49.3%—placing Ciattarelli well within the margin of error and signaling a dramatic final stretch in one of the nation’s most closely watched races.

The latest numbers mark a sharp tightening from earlier in the campaign. An Emerson College poll earlier this week showed Sherrill at 50% to Ciattarelli’s 48%, while an InsiderAdvantage/Trafalgar Group poll conducted last month also found Sherrill ahead by just one point.

“It’s just the latest survey to show a nail-biter in the most-watched statewide election this year,” one political analyst noted, as both candidates scramble to energize their bases before the polls close.

For Ciattarelli, the numbers represent a dramatic rebound from his narrow 2021 loss to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, when he came up short 51% to 48%. This time, the Republican contender is seeing overwhelming enthusiasm among men and Trump loyalists, with the survey showing he has secured a remarkable 99 percent of voters who supported Donald Trump.

Despite that near-total consolidation of the GOP base, Ciattarelli still trails among women voters—a demographic that continues to lean toward Sherrill.

On the other side, Sherrill retains dominant support among Kamala Harris voters, leading that bloc 96% to 3%. Still, Ciattarelli’s small inroads there underscore the shifting dynamics of a race that now appears destined to come down to the wire.

A tense exchange unfolded at George Mason University on Thursday night when John Brennan was confronted by a national security expert demanding to know why he once helped brand reports about Hunter Biden’s laptop as having “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”

The confrontation came from Thomas Speciale, a counterintelligence specialist and former senior advisor to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. He challenged Brennan over his decision to co-sign a public letter, along with fifty other intelligence officials, that cast doubt on the authenticity of Hunter Biden’s emails first reported by the New York Post shortly before the 2020 election.

“Why sign that?” Speciale asked, according to a video that surfaced on X over the weekend. The footage shows Brennan approaching him, appearing to jab a finger toward his chest.

“We never said it was disinformation. We said it was Russian influence operations, which is what they do. There’s a big difference,” Brennan replied sharply.

Speciale said the letter — issued just before Americans headed to the polls — represented a coordinated attempt from the highest levels of the intelligence world to shape the election narrative in favor of Joe Biden and against Donald Trump. He accused the signatories of engaging in offensive counterintelligence under the guise of national security.

, Thomas Speciale pressed John Brennan for clarity on a controversial intelligence report, citing documents declassified by Tulsi Gabbard. Those records showed that James Clapper had urged then–National Security Adviser Mike Rogers—who had questioned the reliability of the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA)—to abandon “normal modalities” and treat the report as a “team sport.”

Brennan refused to respond to Speciale’s challenge, according to video footage of the event. As tension rose, Michael Hayden cut in, chanting, “next, next, next.”

Speaking afterward to the Daily Caller News Foundation, Speciale explained his motivation for confronting the former intelligence chiefs. “I wanted answers to basic questions for my own personal interest. These are the people that as career intelligence people we looked up to. Why would you do these things?” he said.

Meanwhile, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has referred Brennan to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution. In an October 21 referral, Jordan accused Brennan of lying to Congress about the ICA, pointing to declassified evidence from Gabbard that revealed Brennan and then–FBI Director James Comey had personally decided to insert material from the infamous dossier—overruling senior CIA officials who had objected to its inclusion.

{Matzav.com}

J.D. Vance leaned into the internet’s humor, donning a wig and recreating the viral meme that has long poked fun at him. The vice president posted a close-up photo on X showing himself with fluffy brown curls and an exaggerated wide-eyed expression — a look instantly familiar to anyone who has seen the “fat JD” meme circulating online.

On Instagram, Vance took the joke further. In a short Halloween clip, he opens a door and cheerfully greets viewers, saying, “Happy Halloween. And remember to say thank you.” The video ends on a surreal note — Vance spinning around as a purple tint washes over the screen.

The original meme took off after a February exchange during a tense meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During the meeting, Vance famously asked, “Have you ever said ‘thank you’ once?” The viral image that followed depicted Vance with longer brown curls, puffed cheeks, and a comically swollen face — a caricature that quickly became internet shorthand for mocking him.

Before Vance unveiled his costume, conservative commentator Benny Johnson had teased it on Facebook. “Yesterday I asked JD Vance point blank what his Halloween costume was going to be because I’ve seen the speculation online and, well, we all want this to happen,” Johnson said, as the meme image flashed beside him.

“And JD Vance told me this,” Johnson added. “‘Stay tuned. The internet is going to love this. The internet is going to love this.’ Ladies and gentlemen, your first meme lord vice president. Get ready.”

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has released surveillance footage from an MQ-9 drone that appears to show Hamas operatives seizing control of a humanitarian aid truck in northern Khan Yunis, Gaza.

The truck, part of an international convoy transporting vital supplies to civilians, was operating during the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas when it came under attack.

According to a statement from CENTCOM, the suspects intercepted the vehicle, “assaulted the driver, and moved him to a central traffic island.” The statement continued, “They then boarded the truck and stole both its contents and the vehicle itself.”

The U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) was immediately engaged after the incident was detected from the air to investigate and monitor the situation on the ground.

As of now, the fate of the driver remains unknown, and officials are continuing to gather information about the perpetrators and the stolen aid shipment.

{Matzav.com}

A pivotal new proposal known as the “Basic Law: Torah Study” is slated to come before the Knesset’s Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday, potentially reshaping how Israel legally recognizes yeshiva students.

The bill, introduced by MK Avi Maoz of the Noam party, seeks to codify that those who dedicate their lives to learning Torah are providing “meaningful service to the State and the Jewish people.”

At the same time, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has ordered the cancellation of Monday’s scheduled debate on the separate Draft Law, signaling that the government may first address the broader principle of Torah study before revisiting the specifics of military conscription.

Though Maoz’s proposal has circulated since the formation of the current coalition, it has repeatedly been pushed off the agenda due to shifting political priorities and ongoing national security crises.

The legislation rests on two central pillars. The first would formally recognize Torah learning as a “foundational value in the heritage of the Jewish people,” placing it on par with other principles enshrined in Israel’s Basic Laws. The second—and far more consequential—element would define full-time Torah study as a legitimate form of “meaningful service,” granting it official standing under Israeli law.

Should the measure pass, it would create a clear legal framework acknowledging yeshiva students not as draft evaders but as individuals engaged in an alternative form of national contribution through lifelong Torah study.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack sounded an alarm over Hezbollah’s entrenched power and vast weaponry, warning that the terror organization continues to dominate Lebanon both militarily and politically.

Speaking during a conference in Bahrain, Barrack revealed that Hezbollah controls an army-sized force of roughly 40,000 terrorists and maintains an arsenal of between 15,000 and 20,000 rockets and missiles.

The ambassador painted a bleak picture of Lebanon’s collapse, describing a nation that has lost the ability to function as a state. He said that Lebanon is “a failed state and has no central bank, its banking system has collapsed. There is no electricity; people depend on private generators. Even water and education are provided by private suppliers. The state is Hezbollah, which in the south provides water and education.”

Barrack emphasized that Gulf nations are ready to extend a helping hand—but only under strict conditions. He noted that Arab Gulf states have expressed willingness to inject as much as $10 billion into rebuilding southern Lebanon, provided Hezbollah disarms and the country cuts ties with Iranian influence.

While acknowledging that pressuring Hezbollah to surrender its weapons could inflame Lebanon’s internal tensions, Barrack said the process must be handled with care and strategic incentives. He cautioned, however, that doing nothing is no longer an option.

He urged a shift from coercion to persuasion, suggesting that economic opportunities might achieve what threats cannot—but reiterated that the current balance of power cannot remain unchanged.

Barrack made clear that no investment would be forthcoming as long as Hezbollah remains armed. Should the group relinquish its weapons, he said, development would immediately begin in southern Lebanon, including plans for an industrial hub and a major tourist attraction along the Lebanon-Israel border.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump issued a fiery warning to Nigeria on Friday night, vowing to unleash U.S. military might if the African nation does not act swiftly to halt the slaughter of Christians by Islamist militants.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians the U.S.A will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump declared in a Truth Social post this evening.

The president went even further, ordering military preparations and promising a swift and brutal response. “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”

Trump’s message came just 24 hours after the U.S. State Department officially placed Nigeria on its “Countries of Particular Concern” list, a designation for governments that fail to safeguard religious freedom for their citizens.

Human rights groups have sounded alarms for years about Nigeria’s escalating wave of anti-Christian violence. Intersociety, a Nigeria-based NGO, reported that more than 7,000 Christians were murdered in the first 220 days of 2025 alone.

Since 2009, the year Boko Haram began its bloody insurgency, the group’s campaign of terror has claimed over 125,000 Christian lives and reduced 19,000 churches to rubble, according to the same report.

In response to its addition to the U.S. list, Nigeria’s government insisted it remains committed to protecting all citizens equally. “The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion,” the Nigerian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday. “Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.”

The ministry went on to describe Nigeria as “a God-fearing country where we respect faith, tolerance, diversity and inclusion, in concurrence with the rules-based international order.”

The issue of Christian persecution in Nigeria has increasingly drawn the attention of U.S. lawmakers. In September, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas introduced the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025,” which aims to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials complicit in violence against religious minorities or those enforcing sharia and blasphemy laws.

The escalating rhetoric and international scrutiny have placed intense pressure on Nigeria’s leadership, as Washington’s patience—and aid—may soon run out.

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Just 3 Hours left to have your name submitted for the Yahrtzeit!

For centuries, Kever Rochel has been Klal Yisroel’s lifeline — a place where all are welcomed, tefillos are heard, and hope is renewed.

Today, Kever Rochel remains the ultimate destination for anyone seeking a yeshuah and Mamme Rochel, the embodiment of a Jewish mother, is always there—listening, soothing, and comforting her children.

 With your support, Mosdos Kever Rochel can:

• Sustain a Kollel of over 500 avreichim who learn Torah day and night at Kever Rochel

• Provide security and transportation, ensuring safe and constant access for visitors from across the world.

• Maintain the visitors’ center, where Yidden can pour out their hearts at any hour of the day

• Food and Vouchers distributed to the poor and needy that come to Kever Rachel
  

On the Yahrtzeit of Mama Rachel, don’t just have your Kvittel placed at the Kever. Be a part of keeping her Kever a 24 – hour place of Torah, Tefillah, and Chessed.

With your help, Mama Rachel will never cry alone.

Once a year, Mosdos Kever Rochel turns to Klal Yisroel for support.  The funds raised now ensure that her doors remain every hour of every day, to every Yid seeking the promise of redemption.

Israeli authorities confirmed late Friday that the three bodies handed over by Hamas do not correspond to any of the 11 hostages still being held in Gaza.

The Israel source’s statement came after the Red Cross revealed that it had facilitated the transfer of three bodies from Gaza into Israel earlier that evening. The remains were immediately taken to the National Center for Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir for official identification.

According to IDF officials, it remains possible that some of the returned remains could belong to hostages whose bodies had already been recovered in prior exchanges.

In its own announcement, Hamas attempted to absolve itself of responsibility for the mix-up, saying the move was done “so as not to disrupt the process.”

The terror group further insisted that it had proposed sending Israel samples from three unidentified corpses for testing, but that Israel refused the offer, demanding instead that the bodies themselves be transferred for examination.

The episode unfolded just a day after Hamas handed over the remains of two Israeli hostages — Sahar Baruch and Amiram Cooper — whose deaths had been confirmed earlier.

Israeli media had reported prior to Friday’s transfer that officials were preparing for the likelihood that Hamas might return remains without clear identification, complicating efforts to bring full closure to the families still awaiting news.

As of now, the terrorist organization is believed to continue holding the bodies of 11 hostages somewhere inside the Gaza Strip.

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A remarkable display of kavod haTorah unfolded in Los Angeles as a delegation of Gedolei Yisroel arrived on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah. The delegation, which arrived early Tuesday, October 21, was led by Harav Dov Landau, shlit”a, accompanied by Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a, Harav Chaim Peretz Berman, shlit”a, Harav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, shlit”a, Harav Yerucham Olshin, shlit”a, and Harav Yosef Chevroni, shlit”a.

Upon landing, Rav Dov proceeded to the home of the R’ Zev Hertz and family, his hosts during the visit, where he davened Shacharis. Simultaneously, Harav Yaakiv Hillel, shlit”a davened at the home of R’ Shlomo Gurwitz and family, his hosts.. Both tefillos drew groups of local baalei tzedakah and supporters who came to greet the Gedolim and draw chizuk from their presence.

Following Shacharis, many tomchei Torah from across the Los Angeles area visited the Gedolim, expressing their deep appreciation for the monumental work of Keren Olam HaTorah and engaging in discussions about the dire financial realities confronting the Olam HaTorah in Eretz Yisroel.

That evening, the primary fundraising dinner was hosted at the home of R’ Itsik Unger, where members of the Los Angeles kehilla gathered to commit to the mission and pledge generous support.

Speaking at the event, R’ Reuven Wolf, a noted baal tzedakah, said: “We, as American Jews, are being given an incredible opportunity—not just to donate, but to be real partners in the Torah being learned with simcha, even in poverty. It’s our privilege to stand with these ameilim baTorah, who are carrying the future of Klal Yisroel on their shoulders.” The host, R’ Itsik Unger spoke about the great zechus it is to support Torah and to be counted on by the leaders of the generation to fill a pressing need for Klal Yisrael. 

Later that night, a massive community-wide asifah took place at the Saban Theatre, drawing thousands of men, bochurim, and women from every part of the kehilla. The event was one of unparalleled achdus and hisorerus, as the Gedolim addressed the crowd with powerful divrei chizuk.

Rav Dov Landau, shlit”a, delivered a fiery message: “Now is the time for achdus. Every Jew must recognize his responsibility in this mission. Those who can give—must give; those who can inspire others—must do so; those who can daven—must pour their hearts out before Hashem for the protection of Torah v’lomdeha.”

Earlier that day, Rav Chaim Peretz Berman delivered a shiur at the Los Angeles Kollel, where avreichim later spoke to him personally in Torah and for hadracha.

The following morning, Shacharis was held at the home of Rabbi Boruch Gradon, Rosh Kollel of Merkaz HaTorah Community Kollel in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood.

 “It is clear from Chazal that it is our connection to Torah that affords us the resilience to survive the challenges of this long Golus—but that connection must be under the guidance and leadership of Beis Rebbi v’chachmei hadoros, the eynei ha’eidah,” Rabbi Gradon remarked.

Philanthropist R’ Baruch Jeremias noted, “What we are seeing here is true achdus—Ashkenazim, Sephardim, and Chassidim—all standing together for one sacred goal: to preserve Torah learning in Eretz Yisroel.”

Later that day, Rav Yaakov Hillel visited the kollel of Rabbi Yehoshua Millman in Valley Village, where he spent time with the avreichim and offered divrei chizuk and hadrachah.

Throughout the visit, Rav Yosef Chevroni, shlit”a, made time to speak in many of the yeshivos and schools throughout the Los Angeles region. His message to the children was clear and empowering: “You have the zechus to be a part of a chain—a link in the mesorah of Klal Yisroel. Never forget the pride of being someone who is upholding the Torah in this generation.”

The final event of the trip was the wedding of the daughter of R’ Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz, a long-standing tomeich Torah for mosdos around the globe.

Shortly after the chasunah, the delegation returned to Eretz Yisroel and to their respective cities, concluding what will surely be remembered as a historic visit—one that brought tremendous chizuk, unity, and renewed commitment to the mission of Keren Olam HaTorah.

A pair of federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration must draw on emergency funding to ensure that at least part of the nation’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) continues — just one day before the Department of Agriculture warned the program’s funds would run dry amid the prolonged government shutdown.

The rulings, issued separately in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, determined that the USDA may decide whether to provide full or partial benefits for November, but that cutting off the program entirely would be unlawful. SNAP, which provides food aid to roughly 42 million Americans, costs about $8 billion each month.

Earlier in the week, 25 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed suit against the USDA in Boston federal court, charging that the agency’s claim that the “well has run dry” violated federal law. Similar arguments were raised in Rhode Island, where a coalition of cities and nonprofits joined the legal challenge.

The administration countered that it lacked authority to use the roughly $5 billion contingency fund reserved for emergencies. The plaintiffs argued otherwise, maintaining that the Food and Nutrition Act compels the government to use such funds when necessary, since it mandates that “assistance under this program shall be furnished to all eligible households.”

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins addressed the issue alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Capitol Hill, saying, “There is a contingency fund at USDA, but that contingency fund, by the way, doesn’t even cover, I think half of the $9.2 billion that would be required for November SNAP.” She added, “It is only allowed to flow if the underlying program is funded. If Hurricane Melissa or one of the hurricanes hits, that’s the contingency fund that we would use to send more money into the vulnerable communities that are harmed by a specific event, like a hurricane — but it is a contingency fund that can only flow if the underlying appropriation is approved.”

However, a previously released — and later deleted — USDA “Lapse in Funding Plan” from September 30 suggested that “multi-year contingency funds” were, in fact, intended to address temporary shortfalls in SNAP financing. Despite this, subsequent correspondence from the administration asserted that the $6 billion reserve could not be used for routine monthly payments, insisting that such funds were meant strictly for emergencies.

Boston U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani disagreed. In her 15-page decision, she wrote, “At core, Defendants’ conclusion that USDA is statutorily prohibited from funding SNAP because Congress has not enacted new appropriations for the current fiscal year is erroneous.”

She continued, “To the contrary, Defendants are statutorily mandated to use the previously appropriated SNAP contingency reserve when necessary and also have discretion to use other previously appropriated funds as detailed below.” Talwani ordered the USDA to report by Monday whether it could “authorize only reduced SNAP benefits” using disaster-response money “or to authorize full SNAP benefits” by combining emergency and other available funds.

Talwani further noted that “there shouldn’t be an outright suspension of the program while some funds are available.”

In a similar ruling, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell in Rhode Island directed the federal government to use emergency funding to sustain the program and demanded a progress update by Monday. McConnell also required that all previously granted work requirement waivers remain in effect after the USDA had moved to terminate them, which would have affected older adults, veterans, and others exempted during the shutdown.

While the Trump administration is expected to appeal both rulings, it remains uncertain how soon SNAP beneficiaries’ electronic benefit cards can be replenished — a process that typically takes one to two weeks.

Saturday marks what would be the first lapse in SNAP funding in six decades. Several governors, including New York’s Kathy Hochul, have declared states of emergency to help food banks prepare for possible shortfalls.

“Millions of families rely on SNAP — or food stamps — to survive,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said Friday, after joining the Boston lawsuit. “The administration tried to use the shutdown as an excuse to withhold food assistance from vulnerable Americans, but the court has made clear that the law requires those benefits to continue.”

She added, “The federal government cannot simply walk away from its obligation to feed the people it serves. We will keep fighting until every family in New York and across the nation can put food on the table.”

Eligibility rules for 2025 stipulate that a family of four may qualify for SNAP only if its net income after deductions does not exceed the federal poverty line, set at about $31,000 per year.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump has once again put his personal stamp on the White House, this time revealing a striking transformation of the historic Lincoln Bathroom. The renovation, which he personally showcased on Truth Social Friday, replaces the decades-old art deco design with a look he says better fits the Lincoln era.

“I renovated the Lincoln Bathroom in the White House,” Trump wrote, sharing before-and-after photos of the project. “It was renovated in the 1940s in an art deco green tile style, which was totally inappropriate for the Lincoln Era.”

Trump added, “I did it in black and white polished Statuary marble. This was very appropriate for the time of Abraham Lincoln and, in fact, could be the marble that was originally there!”

The renovation comes amid broader controversy surrounding Trump’s extensive overhaul of the East Wing, where demolition is currently underway to make space for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom costing roughly $300 million. The ambitious project, funded entirely by private donors, has sparked a fierce debate nationwide.

Polling data suggests that most Americans are not on board with the plan. According to a recent ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos survey, 56% of Americans disapprove of tearing down the East Wing for the ballroom, and 45% “strongly” oppose it. Only 28% expressed support for the construction, with 15% saying they “strongly” support the decision.

Trump’s renovation of the Lincoln Bathroom follows earlier criticism he directed at President Harry Truman, who oversaw a major White House redesign in 1945, including updates to the Lincoln Bedroom and its adjoining bathroom.

“It’s a style that is not good. … It is actually art deco and art deco doesn’t go with 1850 and civil wars,” Trump said earlier this month when discussing his decision to redo the historic room.

Truman’s 1945 restoration, completed soon after he assumed the presidency from Franklin D. Roosevelt, featured a predominantly blue color scheme and modern art deco touches — a look Trump has now decisively erased in favor of a marble tribute to Lincoln’s time.