Matzav

MK Avi Maoz, head of the Noam party, charged that the Israel Defense Forces are not genuinely interested in drafting chareidim in a way that allows them to complete their service while fully maintaining their religious identity.

Maoz made the remarks during an interview at the Kikar Hashabbat studio, with the full conversation set to air later tonight.

Maoz argued that the military has failed to create an environment that preserves the lifestyle and standards of chareidi recruits. “I think that the army is not doing what it needs to do so that a chareidi can enlist as a chareidi and also leave as a chareidi while preserving his way of life,” he said.

He explained that the core issue, in his view, is the lack of formalized protections. “Since the army does not anchor the service conditions of chareidim in IDF regulations, I am waiting for the army to anchor the chareidi service conditions in IDF regulations. Only then will I know that the army really wants to draft them so that they will be fighters and not in order to put them through the IDF melting pot to educate them anew.”

Maoz said his conclusion comes after a long period of evaluation. “I, to my great sorrow, and I say this after a long time, the army does not really want to draft the chareidim and have them also leave as chareidim.”

{Matzav.com}

During a tense appearance on Kan 11 News, MK Yuli Edelstein leveled fierce criticism at the coalition’s latest Draft Law proposal, insisting that the legislation is far from what the army actually requires. He argued that the bill is being pushed forward without genuine conviction and suggested that crucial pieces of the plan were never properly vetted.

Edelstein said the military is grappling with a shortfall of roughly 12,000 soldiers across combat and support roles, yet he believes the proposal fails to offer any meaningful solution to that staffing crisis. He also expressed frustration with last-minute items that appeared in the legislation—provisions he noted were never discussed throughout the year—claiming they were tacked on simply to manufacture disputes so that any eventual horse-trading could be marketed as political “achievements.”

Turning his attention to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Edelstein remarked, “I’ve known Netanyahu for 30 years. When something is important to him, he throws himself into it. That’s not what’s happening here. I know how many calls he makes and how many meetings he holds when he wants to get something passed. In this case – I haven’t seen that.” His comments underscored his belief that the prime minister has not been fully invested in steering the law to a workable outcome.

The Likud veteran didn’t mince words when discussing the text of the bill itself. “What’s written there is evasion, not enlistment. The Bismuth Law is, unfortunately, a law of evasion,” he said, labeling the draft as a blueprint that avoids the real problem rather than confronting it.

Edelstein cautioned that the political consequences could be severe, noting that dissatisfaction isn’t coming only from opponents of the government. “Opposition to this law isn’t coming from Kaplan demonstrators – it’s coming from Likud and Religious Zionism voters,” he warned, signaling potential turbulence for both the coalition and his own party.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar brushed aside the inflammatory claims coming from New York City’s soon-to-take-office mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who has publicly vowed to have Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu arrested the moment he steps into the city. Sa’ar, speaking with the New York Post during a stop in Midtown on Monday, said the dramatic threats have zero impact on Netanyahu’s intentions.

“I don’t want to enter into a legal debate with the elected mayor of New York,” Sa’ar said. “But I will only say or repeat what the prime minister had said himself, he will come to New York.”

Mamdani has been one of the loudest critics of Israel on the American political scene, repeatedly accusing the Jewish state of committing war crimes during its war against Hamas. Citing the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant, he has insisted he would order Netanyahu’s detention should the prime minister visit New York City.

That declaration was quickly dismissed at the state level. New York Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized last week that Mamdani has absolutely no power to carry out such an act. “No, I do not, and the New York City mayor has not had the power to do that,” Hochul said, making clear that the threat was purely rhetorical.

Even with the heated language flying from City Hall-elect, Sa’ar signaled he was not entirely closing the door on future engagement. “I hope that we will have, in the future, maybe, a constructive dialogue, even though I can be skeptical about it,” he told the Post.

{Matzav.com}

At an affordability-focused appearance in Pennsylvania, the president launched into a blistering attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar, painting her as someone who constantly airs grievances and contributes little. He mocked her by name, telling the audience, “I love this Ilhan Omar, whatever the … her name is, with the little turban. I love her. She comes in, does nothing but [complain]. She’s always complaining. She comes from her country, where I mean, it’s considered about the worst country in the world, right?”

The crowd roared as he amped up the rhetoric, prompting them with “We oughta get her the …. out,” which quickly morphed into loud chants of “Send her back!”

He didn’t stop there. The president once again resurfaced an allegation he has long lobbed at the Minnesota lawmaker—that she married her brother for the purpose of committing immigration fraud—reintroducing one of his most controversial claims.

Trump also pointed back to a message he posted last month on Truth Social, when he had demanded Rep. Omar leave the country. In that post, he shared a video of her speaking in Minnesota, remarking that “Somalia is our home” and referring to the Somali president as “our President,” and added, “She should go back!”

The suggestion that Omar does not belong in the United States is a theme he has revisited often. In the fall, he recounted a conversation at the White House, telling reporters, “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.’”

His antagonism toward Omar traces back years. Throughout his first term—especially in the closing months of the 2020 race—he repeatedly showcased her as a foil, accusing her of “telling us how to run our country.”

{Matzav.com}

A US-based Palestinian critic of Hamas is alleging that the terror group secretly stockpiled massive quantities of baby formula and children’s nutritional drinks in Gaza while publicly insisting that Israel had plunged the Strip into famine, the NY Post reports. According to activist Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the organization intentionally kept essential supplies out of public reach to intensify hunger and advance its political messaging.

Alkhatib, who has been outspoken in his opposition to Hamas, says the hidden stockpiles were meant to deepen desperation among civilians and harden global sentiment against Israel. He shared video clips online that he says were taken inside one of these concealed storage sites—rooms filled wall-to-wall with boxes of infant formula and supplemental shakes.

“During the worst of the days of the hunger crisis in Gaza in the past six months, Hamas deliberately hid literal tons of infant formula and nutritional shakes for children by storing them in clandestine warehouses belonging to the Gaza Ministry of Health,” he wrote on X.

He argued that the group’s intention was clear. “The goal, as I said then, was to worsen the hunger crisis and initiate a disaster as part of the terror group’s famine narrative in a desperate effort to stop Israel’s onslaught against Gaza and force the return of the UN’s aid distribution mechanism, and away from the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF),” he added.

The accusations come months after warnings of potential famine surged following the collapse of a temporary cease-fire in March. With Israel blocking aid shipments after the truce fell apart, scenes of gaunt children and empty markets circulated widely, ultimately prompting the United States to spearhead the creation of the GHF to deliver food into Gaza.

But the GHF initiative was plagued by turmoil from the outset, including frequent gunfire and fatal incidents around distribution zones. Hamas reportedly cautioned residents not to approach these centers, which only intensified confusion and danger on the ground.

Against that backdrop, Alkhatib repeatedly accused Hamas of manipulating the crisis and treating its own people as expendable in its struggle against Israel. A longtime advocate of coexistence and a diplomatic resolution, he emphasized that condemning Hamas and calling for increased aid to Gaza are not contradictory positions.

“You can have compassion for the real suffering of the Palestinian civilians of Gaza, and demand Israeli action to facilitate aid entry into the coastal enclave, while still holding Hamas accountable for its part in causing a hunger and starvation crisis in the first place,” he said.

Israel, for its part, has consistently rejected claims that its military campaign contributed to a famine, instead asserting that Hamas operatives were the ones seizing food and creating shortages. Yet independent assessments have provided little confirmation that Hamas was responsible for the wave of looting that struck incoming convoys. A review by the UN Office for Project Services over the chaotic summer concluded that armed gangs—not Hamas—were primarily behind the hijackings of aid trucks.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk is now openly questioning whether his government-reform project — the Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE — accomplished enough to justify the upheaval it triggered across Washington.

During a sweeping and often introspective appearance on “The Katie Miller Podcast,” Musk acknowledged that he can’t confidently say his experiment in uprooting waste was the right call. When pressed by Miller on whether DOGE fulfilled its mission, he offered only lukewarm praise: “We’re a little bit successful. We’re somewhat successful.”

That modest assessment didn’t last long. Musk quickly shifted to frustration over how deeply the waste was embedded in federal spending. “There was, like, probably $100, maybe $200 billion worth of zombie payments per year,” he said, noting that DOGE was able to shut down only a sliver of it.

The impact of cutting even that portion, he stressed, brought swift political retaliation. “If you stop money going to political corruption, they will lash out big time,” he said. “They really want the money to keep flowing.”

Pressed on whether he’d sign up for DOGE again, Musk didn’t hedge. “I mean, no, I don’t think so,” he said, explaining that in hindsight he would have devoted his time fully to his companies. He went so far as to imagine an alternate reality in which stepping away from Washington’s storm spared his brand from the wave of Tesla vandalism that erupted after he joined the second Trump administration. In that timeline, he said, “the cars — they wouldn’t have been burning the cars.”

Throughout the interview, Musk portrayed Washington not as a place he ever saw through rose-colored glasses, but as a system warped by what he condemned as “massive transfer payments” to migrants — a “gigantic money magnet,” he claimed, that incentivizes inflows to the US. “I wouldn’t say I was super illusioned to begin with,” he said before launching into another critique of federal spending.

He didn’t stay in policy mode for long. With characteristic bluntness, he admitted that “AI nightmares” jolt him awake “many days in a row,” leaving him running on only six hours of sleep. Asked what sparks the terror, he answered dryly, “Why do I wake up in nightmares? Oh, AI. Yeah.”

Musk insisted he doesn’t entertain what he considers irrational fears. “If I find an irrational fear, I … squelch it. Fear is the mind killer.” Yet he made clear that public life brings its own real dangers. He said he avoids any situation “where there’s the general public” due to swarming selfie-seekers and ongoing “serious security issues,” especially in the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk. “Life is on a hardcore mode,” he said. “You make one mistake, and you’re dead.”

By the time the conversation wound down, the hesitation that had hovered from the start resurfaced. Speaking with Miller — whose husband Stephen Miller remains one of President Trump’s closest advisers — Musk admitted he’s unlikely to resurrect DOGE under any circumstances. “I don’t think so,” he concluded. “Knowing what I know now.”

{Matzav.com}

A new investigation is shining a harsh spotlight on Instacart, accusing the delivery giant of quietly manipulating grocery prices through an opaque algorithm that charges different users different amounts for the exact same items—sometimes at the exact same store on the very same day.

Researchers uncovered dramatic differences in what Instacart shoppers paid for identical products. In one striking case at a Target in North Canton, Ohio, a shopper was charged $2.99 for a jar of Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter during a September order, while other customers that very day paid as much as $3.59 for the same jar from the same location.

Seattle shoppers saw similar disparities. At one Safeway, Instacart users were billed five separate prices for the same package of Oscar Mayer Deli Turkey: $3.99, $4.31, $4.59, $4.69 and $4.89 — a spread of 23% between the highest and lowest amount collected.

Across stores in four different cities, this pattern repeated itself. The findings come from Groundwork Collaborative and Consumer Reports, which enlisted 437 shoppers to place Instacart pickup orders and track the prices that appeared.

The revelations add to the growing backlash against “dynamic pricing,” a frustration that began with rideshare surges during bad weather and has since seeped into countless industries. Consumers have complained about vanishing price stability at a time when inflation has made everyday living increasingly unaffordable.

Companies already known for employing price fluctuation tactics include airlines—whose fares often rise when multiple users are searching at once—and fast-food chains that use digital menus to quietly adjust burger prices throughout the day. Groundwork warned that Instacart’s methods alone could cost families up to $1,200 a year, especially as food inflation continues to climb faster than most other expenses.

The study reported that nearly 75% of items reviewed on Instacart were listed at multiple prices, despite being identical products. Instacart, responding to The Post, rejected the notion that its system resembles real-time surge pricing. The company insisted that any price “tests” are not tied to customers’ personal characteristics, stating its prices are never “dynamic,” even though the discrepancies revealed in the study showed dramatic swings from shopper to shopper.

Researchers clarified that they found no proof Instacart is actively using personal data to determine pricing, but noted that Instacart and its retail partners very likely possess the capability to alter prices based on factors like income level, age, or whether a user is new or returning.

Instacart defended the strategy, positioning its tests as tools to help retailers “learn what matters most to consumers.” The company said higher markups might appear on niche items, whereas staples like milk and bread sometimes show lower prices. “Just as retailers have long tested prices in their physical stores to better understand consumer preferences, a subset of only 10 retail partners – ones that already apply markups – do the same online via Instacart,” a spokesperson said.

Target, however, distanced itself from the entire practice. A company representative stressed, “Target is not affiliated with Instacart and is not responsible for prices on the Instacart platform.” The retailer offered no further comment on whether it planned to evaluate Instacart’s conduct.

Safeway’s parent company, Albertsons, declined to respond to requests for comment.

The uproar comes as grocery prices remain 25% higher than before the pandemic. Over the weekend, President Trump ordered a sweeping federal probe into allegations of price-fixing across the food industry, following accusations from several Democratic lawmakers that major conglomerates have been exploiting consumers.

Some supermarket chains say they would never consider the type of in-store price variability that Instacart appears to be experimenting with. Stew Leonard’s, which uses Instacart for e-commerce, said it has never been asked to take part in such pricing practices—and wouldn’t agree even if it were. “We would never price customer A differently from customer B,” said chief marketing officer Tammy Berentson. “We would have nothing to gain. It’s unfair. We are transparent about our pricing and we want to be fair to our customers and for our customers to trust us.”

The variability documented in the study was staggering. At a Safeway in Washington, DC, some Instacart customers paid $3.99 for a dozen Lucerne eggs while others were charged $4.79. The same store sold Signature SELECT Corn Flakes for anywhere between $2.99 and $3.69. At a Target in North Canton, one group of Instacart shoppers paid $3.99 for Premium Original Saltine Crackers, while others were charged $4.59 or $4.69. Even a store-brand farfalle pasta ranged from $1.19 to $1.43.

In Seattle, Wheat Thins ordered through Instacart at Safeway appeared with four distinct price tags: $3.99, $4.31, $4.69 and $4.89.

“Instacart is a black hole for the retailer,” one industry executive told The Post. The executive explained that grocers joined Instacart to gain digital reach, only to discover during the pandemic that they no longer had a clear view into customer transactions. “The classic rub in the scenario is ‘Whose customer is it’ – Instacart’s or the grocer’s?”

Driving all these shifting numbers is a pricing engine developed by Eversight, the software company Instacart acquired in 2022. Last year, during an investor call, Instacart CEO Fidji Simo said the AI system “helps retailers dynamically optimize their pricing both online and in-store to really figure out which categories of products a customer is more price sensitive on versus less price sensitive on and really adjust their prices based on that information.”

Despite denials from the company, the study’s findings raise sharp questions about transparency, fairness, and the future of pricing in a digital marketplace dominated by algorithms—algorithms that, for now, remain largely invisible to the very shoppers they affect.

{Matzav.com}

A circulating photo that supposedly captures Vice President JD Vance in a tense back-and-forth with his wife, Usha, sent social media into a frenzy — but the VP shut it down with a quip that instantly flipped the narrative.

The picture, which has no date, no source, and no verification, shows Vance in a plain white T-shirt, sitting across from Usha in what looks like a restaurant booth. In the image, she appears to be looking downward with her hand on her face, while he wears a stern expression. The internet immediately seized on the snapshot, spinning it into a storyline about the Vances’ personal life.

Critics of the Trump-Vance administration wasted no time. The comments section filled with snark, including from Facebook user Thomas Clay Jr., who wrote on Dec. 5, “Looks like things are not so good in Republicanistan.” Others insisted the picture looked more like a digital fabrication than a genuine moment.

As speculation snowballed, Vance stepped in on Tuesday and dismantled the rumor mill with a single razor-sharp line. Posting directly to X, he cracked, “I always wear an undershirt when I go out in public to have a fight loudly with my wife.”

His sarcasm immediately reframed the conversation and showed the absurdity of treating the image as evidence of marital drama.

This isn’t the first time the couple has been the subject of online gossip. That intensified again when Usha appeared without her wedding ring at two separate events alongside First Lady Melania Trump. Her spokesperson quickly clarified the issue, saying the second lady simply juggles a full load as a mother: she “does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes.” Vance himself brushed off the noise in a recent interview with NBC News, saying that he and Usha “kind of get a kick out of it.”

{Matzav.com}

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Rabbi Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University, conferred an honorary doctorate on Isaac Herzog, president of Israel, at the university’s 101st annual Chanukah dinner on Sunday.

The honorary degree recognized Herzog’s “leadership, moral courage and lifelong commitment to the Jewish people,” the university stated. Yeshiva added that the degree conferral was “a profound family legacy,” as his late father Chaim Herzog, a former Israeli president, received an honorary degree from the school in 1976.

Berman said at the black-tie event at the Cipriani Wall Street venue that Isaac Herzog is “a leader, who not only carries the conviction to defend Israel at every turn but has the character to build a state that is a beacon of light to all.”

Herzog is “the very embodiment of what it means to be a Zionist in our times,” he said.

The Yeshiva president announced at the event, which drew several hundred people, that the school had reached its $613 million fundraising goal, after billionaire philanthropist and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who spoke in a prerecorded message, donated the last $5 million.

“Even in the face of hate or division, we can come together with unity and solidarity and lead with spirit and purpose of light,” Kraft said in the message. “That’s what, to me, Yeshiva University does every day.”

Kraft added that his $5 million gift was not just an investment in the school but also an effort to “illuminate minds, strengthen hearts and prepare a new generation to lead with conviction, compassion and courage.”

There were also several institutional announcements at the event, including that Douglas Murray, a conservative British political commentator who is one of Israel’s staunchest defenders in the media, will be a visiting professor at Yeshiva next semester.

Berman announced that Yeshiva will debut a new engineering program and will expand its science and health school significantly, including with new departments and chairs.

The Yeshiva president also said that “distinguished scholars are joining our faculty in pursuit of an institution, whose values they actually trust, and our philanthropic achievements have surpassed every benchmark.”

“Yeshiva University is thriving with clarity and pride and purpose,” he added.

Yeshiva University HerzogIsaac Herzog, president of Israel, receives an honorary doctorate at Yeshiva University’s Chanukah fundraising dinner, Dec. 7, 2025. Credit: Courtesy of Yeshiva University.
In his keynote address, Herzog recalled observing a conversation some 25 years ago in Hebrew between Rabbi Norman Lamm, a former Yeshiva president, and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a former Sephardi chief rabbi of Israel, in the latter’s office.

“It was a meeting of the minds and hearts, between a renowned leader of the American Jewish community and an admired leader of Sephardic and Israel Jewry,” Herzog said.

As the two “spoke of the impressive trajectory of American Jews, and of the dialogue that must take place within the streams of Jews in America and elsewhere, I watched another bridge between Israel and world Jewry take place before my eyes,” he added.

“Dear friends, you—all of you—are the embodiment of this bridge in our times,” he said.

The Israeli president said the university is “for American Jewry what Israel is for world Jewry.”

“It is home base, and as Yeshiva’s second president Rabbi Samuel Belkin said, ‘You have built a little Israel right here,’” he said.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Murray and billionaire philanthropist Miriam Adelson attended the event, as did the parents of Omer Neutra, who was murdered on Oct. 7 and whose body Israel liberated from Gaza in early November.

Anita Zucker, chair of the dinner and supporter of an eponymous scholarship for Jewish early childhood education at Yeshiva, stated that “this dinner marks not only a celebration of YU’s past but also the beginning of its bold new chapter.”

“The enthusiasm surrounding this event speaks to the unity, devotion and deep commitment that define the Yeshiva University community,” she said.

There were also lighthearted moments at the event, as when Herzog noted that Albert Einstein “famously declined David Ben-Gurion’s offer to become Israel’s second president, and yet he happily accepted an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, I did accept the position of Israel’s president, and I am also pleased to accept this honor here this evening,” he said. JNS

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] In a moving scene in Moscow, Maxim Harkin — who was freed from Hamas captivity on Hoshana Rabbah after 738 harrowing days — marked a powerful spiritual milestone. Strengthened in his faith during his time in Gaza, he underwent a bris milah.

Presiding over the event was Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Berel Lazar, joined by guest of honor Rav Dovid Yosef, who traveled specially for the occasion. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Harkin received his new Hebrew name: Zalman Zelig.

The celebration continued later that evening at a Yud Tes Kislev seudah, attended by hundreds. There, Zalman Zelig Harkin publicly expressed heartfelt gratitude for the miracles that brought him to freedom, offering words of thanks and inspiration that deeply moved the crowd.

The festive gathering featured singers Yanky Daskal, Moshe Louk, and child soloist Ari Kraus, accompanied by the Malchus Choir and Mendy Brandwein’s orchestra.

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{Matzav.com}

A tense exchange erupted today in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as the panel discussed whether to count national-civilian service toward the IDF’s draft targets, an issue that has become central in the emerging conscription legislation.

Committee legal adviser Miri Frenkel issued a sharply critical legal opinion earlier in the day rejecting the inclusion of national service in the draft quotas. When the matter came up in the committee session, she confronted IDF representative Brig. Gen. Shay Taib over the army’s position.

Taib warned that the proposal, as currently written, would not help the IDF meet its operational needs. “As the law is drafted right now, the people who go to national civilian service do not assist us in any parameter,” he told the committee. “At present, the mechanism written here does not provide the turnover we need. Of the 12,000 soldiers the army requires, at least 6,000 must be combat troops.”

Frenkel challenged him directly. “One thing is difficult to understand in your position,” she said. “On the one hand, the IDF says it is short 12,000 soldiers, some of them combat personnel. You also say that every chareidi man can serve in the IDF. So I don’t understand why you agree to transfer soldiers into a civilian-security service framework.”

Taib pushed back: “I didn’t say I agree.”

Frenkel insisted that the army must present a clear position. “This is not a matter of agreeing or not agreeing—you need to state your stance,” she said. “What I understand from your words is that you do agree. The question is a principled one. It’s not just about manpower management. You cannot say, ‘I need 12,000 combat troops,’ and at the same time support opening national service as an alternative.”

Taib reiterated that the army does not back the proposal: “There is a clause in the bill that is before us. We do not agree with it. Within this clause, I am suggesting not to accept the ages of 19–20 that were written here, but to raise them.”

Frenkel pressed further: “This isn’t only about combat soldiers. It also includes combat-support roles.”

Taib bristled at the line of questioning: “I’m responding to the clause in front of me. Do you want to dictate my position? You’re so focused on arguing that you’re not listening to what I’m saying.”

{Matzav.com}

Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, South Fallsburg rosh yeshiva, has spent recent days holding intensive conversations with Gedolei Roshei Yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel regarding the government’s emerging draft-law proposal.

Rav Wachtfogel has been reaching out directly to the senior ranks of the Israeli yeshiva world. In recent days, he held a phone conversation with three of the leading Roshei Yeshiva in Eretz Hakodesh: Rav Dovid Cohen of Yeshivas Chevron, Rav Chaim Feinstein of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, and Rav Aviezer Piltz of Yeshivas Tifrach.

After hearing each of their perspectives on the draft-law proposal currently advancing in the Knesset, Rav Wachtfogel has begun working to bring these Roshei Yeshiva together for a special gathering. The purpose of the meeting would be to deliberate collectively and to formulate a unified position on what is widely viewed as a critical, defining issue for the Torah community. Their determinations would then be conveyed to the gadol hador, Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshivas Slabodka.

This initiative comes as the chassidishe Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel is also preparing to convene and formally announce its opposition to the draft bill.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Chananya Sinai Dovid “Chesed” Halberstam. He was 74.

Born on 23 Av 5711 in Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Halberstam descended from illustrious lineage. His father, Reb Meir Halberstam, traced directly back to the Divrei Chaim of Sanz.

As a bochur, he eventually joined his brother, Chaim Baruch, and began gravitating toward Lubavitch. In 5730, he arrived in New York to immerse himself in learning and quietly took on responsibilities in assisting Rebbetzin Nechama Dina until her passing.

Those early acts of help grew into a lifelong mission. Rabbi Halberstam became a ben bayis in the home of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Rebbetzin, serving as their Mashbak for nearly two decades. He tended to the Rebbetzin with unwavering loyalty, drove her personally, and was entrusted with numerous private matters affecting both the Rebbe and Rebbetzin.

The depth of that relationship was something he often reflected on. He once shared how the Rebbetzin’s empathy reached into every corner of their lives: “When a family member was in labor and she was in critical condition due to some complication, the Rebbetzin said she could not sleep at night! So too with a joyous occasion, when my family was able to get an apartment, which entailed many difficulties, the Rebbetzin said that she could not sleep all night because she was so happy for us.”

His life was forever marked by tragedy on Yud Ches Adar 5754 when his son Ari Hy”d, was murdered in a terror attack on the Brooklyn Bridge by a Lebanese terrorist returning from Beth Israel Hospital, where the Rebbe had been treated for his eye.

In recent years, Rabbi Halberstam lived in Queens. His humility, warmth, and steadfast sense of duty remained constants throughout his life.

He leaves behind his wife, Baila, and their children: Sara Gutnick of Melbourne, Australia; Chanie Apfelbaum of Crown Heights; Mendy Halberstam of Hollywood Lakes, Florida; and Shea Halberstam of Cleveland, Ohio. He is also survived by many grandchildren who carry his legacy forward.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Uber is rolling out a new way to hail a ride—by walking up to a physical kiosk, no smartphone required. The company revealed on Tuesday that its first booth is headed to LaGuardia Airport in New York, giving passengers an option reminiscent of lining up for taxis in pre-app days.

Uber confirmed that the initial kiosk will appear in Terminal C, with additional locations already under consideration. The company said the concept is aimed at settings like “hotels, ports and international airports in the coming months,” signaling a broader push to reach travelers who may not have data access or the Uber app on hand.

The rideshare platform framed the new setup as particularly helpful for international arrivals who find themselves disconnected upon landing. “Simply walk up to the kiosk, enter your destination, then start your ride type. The kiosk prints a paper receipt with your trip details, making the experience as straightforward as possible,” Uber said.

For now, Uber has not responded to questions about the timeline for installation at LaGuardia or the rollout schedule for additional cities. A spokesperson also told Bloomberg that next year’s surge of international tourism—driven in part by global events like the World Cup—creates a “strong opportunity” for growth. Uber will initially operate and maintain the kiosks itself, though that arrangement may shift over time.

Alongside the kiosk announcement, the company introduced a slate of other updates designed to smooth the holiday travel rush. One highlight is an expansion of the Uber Shuttle program, now extending service to Newark Liberty International Airport. With shuttles already running at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia, Uber now covers all major New York–area airports with the offering.

Another new feature will allow riders to tip their drivers from their phone’s lock screen before the trip concludes. “With tipping now just a tap away, more riders can show appreciation in the moment – early pilots showing that this simple change has increased tips for drivers,” Uber said.

These developments follow earlier announcements about Uber’s autonomous vehicle plans. The company revealed that its robotaxi—built in partnership with Lucid and Nuro—will begin operating in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2026. The model is based on the Lucid Gravity SUV and will be used exclusively on Uber’s platform. Within six years, Uber says more than 20,000 of these driverless vehicles are expected to hit roads in multiple markets, available to customers directly through the app.

{Matzav.com}

Oreo is setting its sights on a new segment of snack lovers with a major announcement: a completely sugar-free version of its world-famous cookie. Mondelēz revealed that Oreo Zero Sugar Cookies will be hitting shelves early next year, marking a significant expansion for the brand.

The revamped cookies, arriving in January 2026, will even sport a refreshed look, with the words Zero Sugar stamped directly onto each cookie. According to a statement shared with USA TODAY, Mondelēz spent roughly four years engineering the recipe so that fans would still get the familiar Oreo flavor and texture they expect.

Shoppers eager to try them won’t have to wait long. Beginning in January, both Original Zero Sugar Oreos and Double Stuf Zero Sugar Oreos will be sold nationwide, and the company emphasized that these new products are not limited-time items but permanent additions to the Oreo lineup.

Those who don’t want to wait until the retail release can already order the cookies directly from the Oreo website. A 20-count bag currently retails for $5.29.

The ingredient list for the sugar-free versions includes maltitol, polydextrose, sucralose, and Ace-K—sweeteners that allow the cookies to mimic traditional sweetness without relying on actual sugar. The recipe specifically excludes aspartame, a sweetener that has faced scrutiny over potential cancer risks.

In terms of calories, a sugar-free Oreo clocks in at about 45 calories per cookie. By comparison, the classic Oreo contains around 53 calories each, according to the brand’s nutritional information.

{Matzav.com}

The body discovered Monday in an open area near the village of Zoharim has been identified as 29-year-old Moshe Tzabari of the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood in Yerushalayim, who had been missing since early Sunday morning.

Over the past day, widespread calls circulated on social media urging the public to help locate Tzabari. Despite the intensive search effort, his body was ultimately found at the bottom of a deep pit in the Zoharim area.

Police revealed that on Sunday, Tzabari’s vehicle was discovered burned near Kiryat Gat. Location data indicated that one of the car’s last stops was in the vicinity of Zoharim, directing search teams to focus their efforts there.

During the search operation, first responders located a pit approximately 30 meters deep. At the bottom lay Tzabari’s body. Bloodstains were also found near the entrance to the pit, raising immediate suspicions of a criminal act.

The police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. At their request, the court imposed a gag order on details of the probe. The body has been transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for examination.

Moshe’s brother, Yisrael, posted an emotional message online: “Thank you all for sharing and helping. Sadly, our brother Moshe was murdered!” Family members insist that Moshe was kidnapped and subsequently killed, though the investigation remains under strict confidentiality.

Fire and Rescue Services worked for hours to retrieve the body from the pit. Authorities reported that after specialized rescue systems were set up, two rescuers — both trained medics — were lowered into the pit. Due to the nature of the scene, forensic investigators were also brought down to collect evidence. All personnel were later lifted back up along with the deceased, who was confirmed lifeless at the scene.

The investigation continues under a full gag order.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s State Prosecutor’s Office declined a police request on Tuesday evening to authorize an investigation into an installation depicting the severed head of Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, a display that the Likud Party says constitutes explicit incitement and imagery of an execution.

According to a report on i24NEWS, police approached the prosecution for approval to open an inquiry after receiving a formal complaint from Likud. Under Israeli law, investigations into alleged incitement offenses require prior authorization from the prosecutor’s office. That approval was denied.

Earlier in the day, Likud submitted a detailed complaint through attorney Tamar Arbel, asserting that the installation was a dangerous call to violence. The display, set up outside the Tel Aviv District Court while Netanyahu testified in his ongoing trial, featured a sculpture resembling the prime minister’s decapitated head placed on a platform, with “7/10” inscribed on its forehead.

Likud argued that the imagery represented “a classic violent depiction of an execution” and conveyed a message encouraging the physical elimination of the prime minister. The party insisted the exhibit crossed every legal and moral line.

Despite the refusal to open a case in this instance, Netanyahu has frequently been the target of threats and provocative displays. Over the years, police have investigated numerous suspects for alleged incitement against him, and several indictments have been filed in connection with such actions.

{Matzav.com}