Matzav

Once derided as an embarrassment, New York’s LaGuardia Airport has now claimed the title of America’s best airport. The stunning turnaround was made official in Forbes Travel Guide’s second annual Verified Air Travel Awards, which spotlighted excellence in air travel across multiple categories.

The awards recognized 18 winners spanning first- and business-class cabins, airport lounges, and dining experiences. For the second year running, LaGuardia took home the crown for Best U.S. Airport — a remarkable achievement for a facility that President Biden once compared to “some third-world country.”

Nearly $8 billion in renovations have transformed the Queens travel hub into a modern showpiece. The Forbes report praised the airport for its “spacious gate areas, state-of-the-art architecture and food from New York culinary institutions,” highlighting local favorites like H&H Bagels and Junior’s.

The accolades didn’t stop there. Earlier this year, the Skytrax rankings also declared LaGuardia the Best Airport in North America for 2025, calling it the top choice for domestic and short-haul international travel.

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton reflected on the transformation with pride. “A decade ago, the suggestion that LaGuardia Airport would one day be recognized on the world stage as the best regional airport in North America would have been laughable,” he said. “But the Port Authority and our private partners have built what we promised – a world-class airport, with inspiring architecture, public art, iconic concessions and state-of-the-art technology that has propelled LaGuardia from worst to best in the nation in the eyes of the critics and passengers alike.”

While LaGuardia celebrated its national victory, Singapore’s Changi Airport once again reigned supreme globally, taking home the award for Best International Airport. The travel hub’s unmatched amenities include a 10-story shopping complex, multiple indoor gardens, a butterfly sanctuary, a rooftop swimming pool, a museum, a 24-hour movie theater, a dinosaur-themed park, and the breathtaking Rain Vortex — the tallest indoor waterfall on the planet, standing at 130 feet.

For the airline categories, Emirates was named Best International Airline, while Delta Air Lines captured the title of Best U.S. Airline for the second consecutive year.

Delta had a particularly strong showing, earning five 2025 Verified Air Travel Awards — more than any other carrier. The Atlanta-based airline, which marks its 100th anniversary this year, was also recognized for Best U.S. First Class for its A321neo recliners and for Best U.S. Business Class through its Delta One service.

Passengers flying Delta One enjoy exclusive access to the Delta One Lounge, and its flagship location at JFK International Airport was singled out as the Best U.S. Airline Lounge.

Opened in 2024, the JFK Delta One Lounge is a sprawling, upscale retreat offering full-body massage chairs, fine dining options, private shower suites with robes and slippers, and soundproof work pods — setting a new standard for premium travel comfort.

Capping its list of achievements, Delta was also awarded Best Airline App for its seamless interface that offers real-time flight updates, personalized notifications, luggage tracking, and easy access to global upgrade certificates — reinforcing its place as the standout U.S. airline of 2025.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. national debt has soared to a staggering new high, crossing the $38 trillion threshold for the first time — a grim reminder of Washington’s relentless borrowing spree. Treasury Department figures released Wednesday put the total at $38,019,813,354,700.26 as of October 21.

It marks yet another rapid climb, with the country adding another trillion dollars in debt just two months after breaching the $37 trillion mark in mid-August, and less than a year since it first crossed $36 trillion last December. The speed of the increase highlights a troubling trend: America’s debt is ballooning at a rate never before seen in peacetime.

Much of the surge stems from demographic pressures. As America’s population ages, spending on Social Security and Medicare continues to climb, driving entitlement costs ever higher.

But it’s not only social programs fueling the problem. A growing share of federal spending now goes toward servicing the debt itself. Higher interest rates — imposed by the Federal Reserve to tame inflation — have made borrowing dramatically more expensive, creating a feedback loop that compounds the problem.

Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, told FOX Business that “reaching $38 trillion in debt during a government shutdown is the latest troubling sign that lawmakers are not meeting their basic fiscal duties.”

He added that the pace of borrowing is accelerating beyond historical norms. “If it seems like we are adding debt faster than ever, that’s because we are. We passed $37 trillion just two months ago, and the pace we’re on is twice as fast as the rate of growth since 2000.”

Peterson warned that the exploding cost of interest payments is draining resources that could otherwise be used for public investment. He noted that over the past decade, interest expenses cost the U.S. about $4 trillion — a figure projected to skyrocket to $14 trillion in the next ten years. Those mounting costs, he said, “crowd out important public and private investments in our future, harming the economy for every American.”

In the fiscal year that ended on September 30, the federal deficit hit roughly $1.8 trillion. Analysts expect that figure to worsen as entitlement spending and debt-servicing obligations continue to expand.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects that by 2035, debt held by the public — the metric economists often use to gauge fiscal health — will surge from around 100% of GDP in 2025 to about 120% of GDP. Over that same period, annual deficits are forecast to reach $2.6 trillion, with a staggering $22.7 trillion added to the national debt over the next decade.

A major factor driving those deficits is the steep rise in interest payments. The CBO estimates that net interest costs will climb from $1 trillion this year to $1.8 trillion by 2035.

By then, total federal spending is projected to reach $88 trillion — about 23.6% of the nation’s GDP — while revenue will hover around $65 trillion, or 17.5% of GDP. That spending level is far above the 50-year average of 21.1% of GDP, while revenue is only slightly above its long-term norm of 17.3%, reflecting a widening gap between what Washington takes in and what it continues to spend.

{Matzav.com}

A sweeping surge of cold air from Canada is set to plunge much of the central and eastern United States into an early taste of winter, with more than 50 million Americans expected to face frost and freeze alerts. Meteorologists warn that the deep chill could bring temperatures as low as the 20s in some regions this morning.

FOX Weather meteorologist Dylan DeBruyn explained to The New York Post that the sweeping freeze warnings will stretch from southern Minnesota all the way to central New Jersey. “Frost and freeze alerts are posted for over 50 million Americans, who could see frosty conditions on Friday morning,” he said.

The cause of the frigid plunge, DeBruyn noted, is a powerful front sweeping down from the north. “A powerful cold front is allowing cool Canadian air to filter in behind it. Temperatures will drop 5–10 degrees below average and could drop below freezing into Friday morning,” he said.

He added that calm winds and cloudless skies will make conditions ripe for frost to settle overnight. “The drop below freezing, coupled with calm winds & clear skies, will allow frost to develop,” DeBruyn said.

In New Jersey, the National Weather Service has issued frost advisories for nine counties, including western Monmouth, Mercer, Salem, Gloucester, Burlington, Ocean, Cumberland, and Atlantic, where temperatures are expected to dip into the mid- to upper 30s by dawn, according to NJ.com.

Such plunging temperatures mark the likely close of the growing season across much of the affected region, as frost and freezing conditions can destroy crops and harm sensitive plants.

While the cold front will touch much of the East, New York City itself will be spared any official frost warnings. Even so, the city will feel the chill as the mercury falls heading into the weekend. “While New York City is not included in any alerts, lows into Friday and Saturday morning will be in the mid-40s,” DeBruyn added.

Weather experts note that the first frost in the city usually doesn’t arrive until around mid-November—meaning this cold snap, though brief, is arriving weeks ahead of schedule.

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FBI Director Kash Patel delivered a fiery response to ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith’s claim that President Trump was behind the arrests of NBA stars and coaches involved in an illegal betting network. Speaking on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, Patel mocked Smith’s theory, saying, “I’m the FBI director. I decide which arrest to conduct and which not to conduct.”

Patel went on to blast the sports analyst’s comments as utterly ridiculous. “That may be the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard out of anyone in modern history. And I live most of my time in Washington, DC,” he said, visibly exasperated.

He didn’t stop there, drawing a comparison to one of his least favorite political figures. “It’s right up there with Adam Schiff. We arrest people for crimes,” Patel added, rejecting the notion that the FBI’s actions were politically motivated.

The controversy erupted after Patel announced a massive federal operation earlier that day. More than 30 individuals — a mix of NBA figures and members of several notorious Mafia families — were arrested in what authorities described as one of the most significant gambling busts in years.

The investigation revealed that coaches and players from the Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Toronto Raptors were tied to the betting ring. Portland’s head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones were among those indicted. Officials said the operation pulled in more than $7 million in illicit profits over two years.

Smith, reacting on his ESPN show First Take, suggested the crackdown was politically timed. “Tell me when we’ve seen that … We’ve seen accusations before. We’ve seen athletes get in trouble with the law before. You don’t see the director of the FBI having a press conference. It’s not coincidental. It’s not an accident. It’s a statement, and it’s a warning that more is coming,” Smith said.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he continued. “It’s very concerning. We don’t know where this is gonna go. But everybody better brace themselves, because he’s coming,” Smith added, alluding to Trump.

The outspoken host went even further, speculating that the administration could extend its reach to other areas of pop culture and sports.

Patel, dismissing the theory as baseless political theater, emphasized that the arrests were driven by evidence and law enforcement priorities, not politics. “We arrest people for crimes,” he repeated, underscoring that the FBI operates independently — no matter who occupies the Oval Office.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump signaled he is weighing whether to urge Israel to free arch Palestinian terrorist murderer Marwan Barghouti, the jailed Fatah thug regarded by many Palestinians as their most unifying political figure.

The move would represent a major shift as Washington explores options for a new leadership structure in Gaza after the war.

In an interview released Thursday, Trump acknowledged that Barghouti’s case had come up in internal talks among his aides. “I was literally being confronted with that question about 15 minutes before you called,” he told TIME Magazine when asked about the idea. “So I’ll be making a decision.”

The White House declined to offer any comment regarding Trump’s contemplation of the matter. His acknowledgment of the ongoing discussions highlights the immense challenge facing U.S. and Israeli policymakers as they seek a credible authority to govern Gaza once Hamas is removed.

Barghouti’s name has long loomed large in Palestinian politics, but Israel has refused to consider his release. He was notably excluded from this month’s Gaza ceasefire prisoner exchange, even though Hamas negotiators reportedly pressed for his inclusion.

Israel considers Barghouti a terrorist responsible for orchestrating deadly attacks. Convicted in 2004 for involvement in assaults that left five Israelis dead, he is currently serving multiple life terms.

Yet, for many Palestinians, Barghouti’s imprisonment has only elevated his stature. Supporters describe him as a pragmatic nationalist who, while endorsing armed resistance at times, also promoted the vision of two states living side by side. His admirers liken him to Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid icon who rose from incarceration to lead South Africa.

Now 66, Barghouti remains one of the rare figures commanding respect across the fragmented Palestinian political spectrum. With Mahmoud Abbas aging and deeply unpopular, polls routinely show terrorist Barghouti as the leading choice to succeed him as head of the Palestinian Authority.

Before his arrest, the sickening terrorist led Fatah’s operations in the West Bank during the second intifada. Israel accused him of directing the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a coalition of Fatah-linked militants that carried out numerous deadly attacks.

Though he never confirmed or denied ties to the Brigades, Barghouti often defended the Palestinians’ right to resist amid expanding settlements and military crackdowns. He simultaneously spoke of his desire for a peaceful resolution and a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel.

When captured by Israel, Barghouti refused to defend himself in court, declaring that he did not recognize its authority. He was convicted on multiple counts of murder tied to attacks by the Brigades and sentenced to five life terms, though acquitted on several other charges.

The latest prisoner release under the ceasefire deal primarily freed Hamas and Fatah members jailed since the 2000s, many serving time for deadly assaults or attempted attacks on Israelis. Most were subsequently sent either to Gaza or into exile abroad after regaining their freedom.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu pushed back against claims that the United States dictates Israel’s actions, declaring that Israel remains a sovereign nation in full control of its decisions.

His comments came after President Donald Trump told TIME Magazine that Israel would not move forward with applying sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, warning, “Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”

“I deeply, deeply appreciate President Trump’s support – both for the wartime operations, for my decision to enter Gaza City, and for his mobilization of the Arab world to help bring back our hostages through our military pressure and his diplomatic pressure,” Netanyahu said in response to a question from Channel 12 News.

The prime minister went on to describe the joint efforts between Israel and Washington, noting the success of recent operations. “We brought back 20 hostages alive, something no one believed would happen. Now, in the framework we’re advancing – including tonight’s conversation with Marco Rubio, and earlier with Vice President Vance – we’re working to promote the goals of demilitarizing Gaza and disarming Hamas, along with other matters important to us. That’s what matters. The cooperation between us, between partners, is a blessing for the State of Israel. We are an independent country,” he emphasized.

The exchange followed a contentious Knesset session on Wednesday, during which lawmakers approved in a preliminary reading two bills proposing the application of Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. Netanyahu’s office quickly distanced the government from the move, asserting that “the Knesset vote on annexation was a deliberate political provocation by the opposition to sow discord during Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Israel.”

According to the statement, both pieces of legislation were introduced by opposition Knesset members, not by members of the governing coalition.

Vice President JD Vance reacted sharply to the developments as he boarded Air Force Two to leave Israel, calling the vote “weird” and expressing bewilderment over the timing. He told reporters that he had been informed the move was “symbolic” and merely a “political stunt.” In his words, “If it was a political stunt, then it was a stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it.”

Vance made clear that Washington’s position remains unchanged, stating, “The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel. That will continue to be our policy.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that an unnamed benefactor had stepped forward with a stunning act of generosity — donating $130 million to the federal government to make up for the gap in military pay caused by the ongoing government shutdown.

Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting that the donation came after a personal phone call from the contributor. “He called us the other day and he said, ‘I’d like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown. I’d like to contribute, personally, contribute any shortfall you have with the military, because I love the military and I love the country, and any shortfall, if there’s a shortfall, I’ll contribute it,’” Trump said.

According to the president, the donor wanted no recognition or fanfare. “He doesn’t really want the recognition, if you want to know the truth, but he gave us a check for $130 million, which was sort of a shortfall, and that’s going to go to the military,” Trump added.

The revelation immediately set off a wave of speculation online as users tried to piece together who the anonymous patriot might be. Trump offered only two clues: the donor was a personal friend of his and preferred to remain unnamed. That didn’t stop the internet from guessing.

One of the most frequently mentioned possibilities was Elon Musk. With a net worth approaching $500 billion, observers noted that a $130 million gift would barely make a dent in the X founder’s fortune. “According to President Trump, an anonymous billionaire sent a $130 million check to pay off our troops during the Schumer Shutdown. What’s the odds it was Elon?” one X user asked.

Others joined in the guessing game. “Who do you think paid donated $130,000,000 to pay the salary shortfall for the military? I say it was Elon,” another wrote, while someone else posted, “Was it Elon Musk who donated $130 million dollars due to the shutdown?”

Grok, responding to the speculation, weighed in with an analysis: “Elon Musk is the most likely candidate, having funneled over $130 million into pro-Trump efforts via PACs while vocally prioritizing U.S. military and space dominance. His close ties to Trump and aversion to some spotlight align with the anonymity request. Other possibilities like Jared Isaacman exist, but Musk’s scale and patriotism make him the prime fit.”

Still, others thought the credit might go to another billionaire — Jared Isaacman, the founder and CEO of Shift4. With a net worth of roughly $1.3 billion, Isaacman certainly had the means. Grok commented on this theory as well, saying, “Yes, Jared Isaacman (aka rookisaacman) is a billionaire. Forbes estimates his net worth at $1.3 billion as of late October 2025, primarily from founding Shift4 Payments. A $130 million donation would represent roughly 10% of that, which is substantial but feasible for someone of his wealth who’s already funded private space missions.”

Not everyone believed the donor was a third party. Some even floated the idea that Trump himself might have made the donation. Independent journalist Nick Sortor, who broke the story, wrote, “Wouldn’t surprise me! He’s got a history of doing things like this without mentioning it publicly.” Still, since Trump described the donor as “a friend,” many dismissed that theory.

As of now, the donor’s identity remains a mystery. The names circulating — Musk, Isaacman, or even Trump himself — are purely speculative. What’s certain is that someone quietly stepped in with $130 million to keep America’s troops paid during a political standoff in Washington.

Gerer Rosh Yeshiva Rav Shaul Alter penned a moving letter this week to the family of hostage atan Angrest, expressing profound gratitude to Hashem for the miracle of Matan’s return after two long years of captivity in Hamas tunnels beneath Gaza.

The Rosh Yeshiva shared that throughout the years of anguish, he had kept a special place in his heart for Matan after his parents had once visited his room and given him a picture of their son. “But now,” Rav Shaul wrote, “there is praise to Hashem — we have the source itself, and no longer need the picture.”

In his letter, Rav Alter highlighted the remarkable spiritual recognition that Matan had achieved during his imprisonment, seeing in it a powerful expression of divine providence even in the depths of darkness. He thanked Hashem for the matan — both literally and figuratively — that the Jewish people merited upon Matan’s safe return “to the land of the living.”

According to members of Rav Shaul’s kehillah, ever since Simchas Torah two years ago, when the war began and the hostages were taken, the Rosh Yeshiva made it his personal practice to recite the entire Sefer Tehillim each day after Mincha. This custom was observed daily in his beis medrash without fail, continuing until this past Simchas Torah — the very day that the nation received the joyous news of the hostages’ return.

At the hakafos shniyos celebration that night, Rav Shaul offered a public hoda’ah, a heartfelt expression of thanksgiving to Hashem for the miracles witnessed and for the return of the captives to their families, filling Klal Yisroel with emotion and gratitude.

{Matzav.com}

The massive asifa against what organizers call the persecution of Torah learners, initially scheduled for Sunday, appeared likely to be postponed to early next week—either Monday or Tuesday—due to logistical challenges and requests from various factions seeking additional time for preparation.

The decision followed yesterday’s announcement by the Slabodka roshei yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who had called for a large public gathering in defense of lomdei Torah. However, as planning intensified, it became clear that a short delay would allow for broader participation and coordination among the different Torah communities.

Sources confirmed that in the past day, a phone conversation took place between Rav Moshe Maya and Rav Avrohom Salim, during which they agreed to instruct their respective talmidim to attend the upcoming protest. The event is being billed as a united expression of opposition to government efforts seen as targeting yeshiva students through the ongoing draft legislation crisis.

Discussions are also underway regarding the location of the rally. While some are advocating for it to take place in Bnei Brak, others favor Yerushalayim. A final decision is expected soon.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced that he plans to personally visit Gaza, describing himself as the key architect behind the fragile truce that brought an end to the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. In an interview released Thursday, he said the peace deal would not have been possible without his direct involvement.

“The most important thing,” Trump told Time magazine, “is they have to respect the president of the United States. The Middle East has to understand that.

“And they do. If you go to Qatar, if you go to Saudi Arabia, if you go to UAE, who are the three big ones, in that sense, they all respect the president, and if they’re not going to respect the president — it’s almost the president more so than the country. You understand that? If they don’t respect the president, and if the president doesn’t know what he’s doing, it could break apart. If they do respect the president, it’s going to be long-term beautiful peace.”

The president credited his own credibility and assertiveness with bringing the parties to the table. He said that respect for American leadership, not pressure or threats, was what ultimately stabilized the Middle East after months of bloodshed.

In the same conversation, Trump revealed that Saudi Arabia is poised to join the Abraham Accords before the end of the year, a move that would expand normalization between Israel and Arab nations. “They had a problem,” he said of Riyadh. “They had a Gaza problem and they had an Iran problem. Now they don’t have those two problems.”

The truce, reached on October 10, saw Hamas release its final 20 surviving Israeli hostages and begin returning the remains of more than two dozen others. The cease-fire remains fragile but has largely held since then.

Although Trump did not specify when his Gaza visit would take place, he made clear that his patience would run thin if Hamas violated the deal. He cautioned that “nobody would mind if we went in and took [Hamas] to task” should they renege on their commitments.

Convincing Israel to agree to the deal, Trump said, required firm persuasion. “Bibi, you can’t fight the world,” he recalled telling Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. “You can fight individual battles, but the world’s against you. And Israel is a very small place compared to the world.”

Trump also condemned Israel’s September 9 airstrike in Qatar that targeted Hamas political officials. “That was terrible,” he said, labeling it “a tactical mistake” by Israel. But in typical Trump fashion, he added that the blunder inadvertently accelerated diplomatic progress: “It was so out of joint that it sort of got everybody to do what they have to do. If you took that away, we might not be talking about this subject right now.”

While Trump reaffirmed his strong support for Israel’s security, he issued a clear warning against any attempt to annex the West Bank. “It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries,” he stated. “Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”

In an unexpected comment, Trump said he has developed a personal rapport with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, describing him warmly despite Abbas’ fierce rivalry with Netanyahu. Abbas, 89, has led the Palestinian Authority since 2005 and participated in this month’s peace summit in Egypt that finalized the Gaza agreement.

Trump reflected on his long-standing relationship with Netanyahu, recalling how the Israeli leader had once urged that Trump be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. “I stopped him, because he would have just kept going,” Trump said. “It could have gone on for years. It would have gone on for years. And I stopped him, and everybody came together when I stopped, it was amazing.”

{Matzav.com}

Shock spread among Vizhnitzer Chassidim across the globe following the discovery of severe vandalism at the historic cemetery in Vizhnitsa, Ukraine, the resting place of generations of the Vizhnitzer Rebbes.

According to reports, antisemitic vandals broke through the cemetery fence under cover of night, trampling and smashing several gravestones in an act of deliberate desecration. The extent of the damage is said to be considerable. The attack took place just one day after the hilula of the Tzemach Tzaddik of Vizhnitz, which had drawn hundreds of Chassidim from around the world to daven at the kever.

Despite the extensive damage to tombstones and the surrounding cemetery grounds, community representatives described a “clear miracle of hashgacha pratis,” noting that the ohel containing the graves of the Vizhnitz Rebbes and the adjacent hachnosas orchim building were left untouched. It is believed the vandals may have been deterred by the presence of security cameras surrounding the area.

Early Thursday morning, representatives of Hagan Hanaah and Hachnosas Orchim arrived at the site and were stunned by the scale of destruction. They immediately filed a complaint with local authorities, who have opened a criminal investigation to identify those responsible.

Rav Moshe Hersh Stern, chairman of the Hachnosas Orchim organization, expressed determination in the face of the desecration: “Though this is a grave and painful incident, we will not be disheartened. The desecration of a cemetery is a heinous act, but we will do everything possible to restore this sacred site and preserve the dignity of the departed.”

He added that repair efforts are expected to begin in the coming days, including rebuilding the fence and restoring the damaged graves, and voiced confidence that “local police will bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Meanwhile, community leaders are already discussing ways to significantly strengthen security measures to ensure such appalling acts of hatred are never repeated.

{Matzav.com}

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Dramatic audio recordings broadcast on Channel 12 have exposed sharp criticism by senior members of Shas’s Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah aimed at party leader Aryeh Deri and at the idea of re-entering the government during what they described as a fraught period for the world of Torah study.

The tapes capture the Rishon Letzion Rav Yitzchok Yosef condemning moves to return Shas ministers to the coalition and voicing fury at Deri’s intentions. “If my father were alive this wouldn’t be happening; he would bang on the table and tell Deri there will be no government in Israel, there will be elections,” Rav Yosef is heard saying in the recording. “If my father were alive he would shout at him.”

Rav Yosef’s remarks went beyond that rebuke. According to the released audio, he argued that the faction should refuse any compromise and instead prepare for elections, asserting that the chareidi parties — Agudas Yisrael, Degel HaTorah and Shas — together form a bloc of 16–17 Knesset seats that no government could be formed without. He also leveled personal criticism at Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, saying, among other things, that Netanyahu “tries to convince people there is no God” and calling him an “atheist to a degree,” while still acknowledging his political acumen.

Other senior rabbonim recorded on the tapes echoed similar alarm. Rav Shmuel Betzalel, who oversees recruitment matters on the Moetzet, was heard calling the proposed conscription legislation “not a good law” and admitting he prays it will not pass. Rav Moshe Maya — the eldest member of the Moetzet — told interlocutors bluntly that he would resign from the Moetzet immediately if the party rejoined the coalition.

The published recordings were presented by Channel 12 as explaining why the Moetzet felt compelled to demand that Shas withdraw from all coalition roles — even at the cost of dissolving the government and prompting new elections — rather than accept legislation perceived as punitive toward yeshiva students and the world of Torah learning. The Moetzet’s stance, as reflected in the tapes, emphasized protecting Torah learners from what they called “humiliating” sanctions and legal measures.

The leak adds fresh fuel to an already tense debate within the right-religious camp over strategy and principles: whether to remain inside the coalition to influence policy from within, or to stand aside in protest and press the issue in the public sphere. Shas has a long history of close ties between its political leadership and its rabbinic council; the recordings lay bare how sharply those relationships can fracture when high-stakes political moves collide with the council’s red lines.

{Matzav.com}

A new controversy has erupted between a Knesset member from Otzma Yehudit and the rov of the Kosel following a personal exchange over the sensitive issue of ascending Har Habayis.

MK Yitzchok Kroizer, from Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party, has announced plans to advance legislation redefining the official title and responsibilities of Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rov of the Kosel and the Mekomos Kedoshim, after receiving a sharply worded letter from the rov urging him not to ascend Har Habayis or engage in any form of hishtachavayah there.

According to sources, Rav Rabinowitz wrote to Kroizer requesting that he refrain from going up to Har Habayis, a request rooted in the long-standing psak of the Gedolei Yisroel forbidding entry to the Makom HaMikdash in our times.

In response, Kroizer—who has often described Har Habayis as “the very heart of Jewish sovereignty”—announced that he would work to “update the formal definition of the position of the rov in accordance with the spirit of the time and the current reality.”

Kroizer revealed that he intends to submit a bill changing the official title from “Rav of the Kosel HaMa’aravi and the Mekomos HaKedoshim” to “Rav of Har Habayis, the Beis HaMikdash, and the Mekomos HaKedoshim.” He explained that such a change would “reflect the return and renewed vitality of the Jewish nation in the heart of Yerushalayim.”

“The Har Habayis,” Kroizer stated, “is the core of the sovereignty and national identity of Am Yisroel in Yerushalayim and throughout Eretz Yisroel.” He pointed to what he called “a blessed and meaningful shift” in recent years, as increasing numbers of Jews ascend Har Habayis “b’kedushah u’vetaharah,” engage in tefillah, and learn Torah there—developments he said strengthen the bond between Klal Yisroel and its holiest site.

He described this process as “a return to the Makom HaMikdash,” expressing that it represents both the renewal of Jewish sovereignty and “a kiddush Sheim Yisroel and kiddush Sheim Shamayim.” Kroizer reaffirmed Otzma Yehudit’s commitment to strengthening Jewish control over Har Habayis and to securing freedom of prayer for Jews at the site.

In closing, Kroizer wrote: “The path to the hashra’as haShechinah and the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash in the near future runs through the national and practical responsibility of Am Yisroel for the Makom HaMikdash.”

{Matzav.com}

Candace Owens delivered one of her strangest on-air performances yet, launching into a chaotic rant about Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Peter Thiel — whom she bizarrely labeled “hybrid droids” responsible for bringing about “demonic AI.”

At one point, Owens veered into the surreal, saying, “I’m not saying I’m going to stab Elon, but I’m not sure he would bleed if I did.” The comment sent social media into a frenzy, with many accusing her of crossing into full-blown conspiracy territory.

During her monologue, Owens suggested that these tech figures weren’t entirely human, hinting that they might be “artificial or hybrid entities” working as part of a larger, dark alliance between technology, money, and what she called “soul-selling.” She tied this to her broader rejection of modern science — even calling the moon landing “fake and demonic” — and accused Musk and others of leading humanity to worship the dollar as “the demon’s god.”

The internet erupted after the episode aired, with clips circulating under captions like “Candace’s latest UNHINGED RANT.” Critics mocked her for mixing religious extremism with sci-fi paranoia, while others expressed concern over her increasingly erratic statements.

Owens’s latest claims follow a growing pattern of unsubstantiated theories linking major world events to what she portrays as sinister forces, often invoking Israel, the CIA, or “betrayals of faith.” There is no evidence for any of her allegations about Musk or others, and even many of her supporters appeared confused by the outburst.

Elon Musk has not commented publicly on Owens’s statements, which have only added to the online spectacle surrounding her descent into ever stranger territory.

Gambling dens hidden behind closed doors in New York City saw a staggering $7 million siphoned from unsuspecting high-rollers through a blend of modern gadgets and old-school mob methods, prosecutors revealed in a dramatic indictment Thursday.

The scheme reportedly relied on “advanced wireless technologies,” according to the charges, supported by a network of operators who watched games remotely and coordinated with planted insiders at the tables—all working in tandem to exploit their unsuspecting victims.

At the heart of the scam were card-shuffling machines that had been tampered with. According to the indictment, members of four of New York’s Five Families rigged the machines with card readers and computerized analyzers that relayed the strongest hands to an outside operator.

“At the Rigged Games, the members of the Cheating Teams … used card shuffling machines that were purportedly randomly shuffling the playing cards to ensure fairness,” the indictment read. “However, the Rigged Shuffling Machines were secretly altered to use concealed technology.”

Following that, an operator would dispatch a text or call to a teammate at the poker table, who would employ “secret signaling” to guide their co-conspirators on how to play and how to bet, effectively steering the target into losing.

At times, even the poker table itself played a role: the players allegedly used tables fitted with X-ray cameras capable of reading cards face-down on the felt.

Prosecutors also described the deployment of “decoy cellular telephones” that could read and analyze cards—another means to tilt the game unfairly against the mark.

One of the most audacious features of the racket: the physical playing cards were sometimes marked in a way imperceptible to ordinary players but visible to participants wearing special glasses or contact lenses—allowing the cheaters to dominate the game while victims remained completely unaware, prosecutors say.

As troubling as the illicit tech may sound, much of it is reportedly easy to find online, with websites peddling cheating devices for a few hundred thousand dollars.

Still, the tech was only part of the setup—the con began well before the cards were dealt, and grew darker as the game progressed.

The mobsters lured their “fish”—the high-roller targets—by using former NBA players placed as “face cards” in the scheme. Among the names cited in the indictment: Hall of Famer and head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, Chauncey Billups. These players allegedly helped attract targets and received a portion of the ill-gotten gains.

In some games, every participant—save the mark—was in on the scam, winning and losing hands strategically to encourage the target to keep betting more and more until the losses piled up.

After one particularly egregious summer 2023 game, a single victim reportedly lost $1.8 million in one series. Once the chips were down, the mobsters allegedly enforced payment by wielding “threats and intimidation.”

“Through the Rigged Poker Scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators defrauded Victims of millions of dollars,” the indictment from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York said.

“Victims of the Rigger Poker Scheme believed they were participating in ‘straight’ illegal poker games and that they were gambling against other participants on equal footing,” it added. “In reality, however, the defendants and their co-conspirators, who constituted the remaining participants purportedly playing in the poker games, worked together on cheating teams.”

Prosecutors allege the scheme dates back to at least 2019, with the illicit games taking place not only in Manhattan but also in the Hamptons, Las Vegas, and Miami, and involving the Lucchese crime family, Genovese crime family, Gambino crime family and Bonanno crime family.

More than 30 people have been charged in connection with this elaborate poker ring, according to the indictment.

{Matzav.com}