Matzav

Twenty-six Democrats in the House and Senate and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who votes with the Democrats, penned a letter to Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, and Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, demanding answers about Israel’s detention of Mohammed Ibrahim, 16, a Palestinian-American accused of throwing rocks at cars.

The members of Congress wrote on Tuesday about their “grave concern” about Ibrahim’s detention since mid-February.

“Mohammed is a U.S. citizen from Florida who was reportedly blindfolded, handcuffed and arrested on Feb. 16, 2025 when Israeli forces reportedly entered his family home in al-Mazra’a ash-Sharqiya at 3 a.m.,” they wrote. “He was detained when he was 15-years-old and turned 16 in prison. He has been accused of throwing rocks at Israeli settlers, but no evidence has been publicly provided to support this allegation.”

The members of Congress stated that “Palestinians are subject to military law in the West Bank and are tried in military courts, where there have been well-documented concerns about Palestinians not receiving fair due process.” (Some officials and countries refer to Judea and Samaria as the “West Bank.”)

“Mohammed is also the first cousin of Saifullah Kamel Musallet, the 20-year-old U.S. citizen who was reportedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers in July 2025,” the members of Congress said. “To date, no one has been arrested concerning his killing. “

The members, including Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), requested a response by Nov. 3.

On Monday, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who has called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” and accused the Jewish state of “callous disregard for human life,” brought renewed attention to Ibrahim.

“His health is deteriorating,” she stated. “The circumstances are desperate.” She called Ibrahim a “child” and said that Washington “must use every avenue available” to secure this release.

A U.S. State Department official told JNS that Huckabee has devoted significant time to the issues of Palestinian American safety in Judea and Samaria and to the welfare of Palestinian Christians.

The official, who declined to be named, would not say if Huckabee has been involved in Ibrahim’s case. (JNS sought comment from Huckabee’s office.)

Van Hollen and Merkley, who are also critical of Israel, met with Ibrahim’s father last month during a congressional visit to the Middle East.

The 16-year-old’s family held high-profile meetings last month on Capitol Hill. Some expected Ibrahim, who is held at Ofer Prison, to be among the Palestinian security prisoners whom Israel released last week in exchange for Israeli hostages in Gaza. He was not on that list.

‘Charge the kid or put him on the next flight back’

Critics accused Pressley, a member of the progressive “Squad” in the U.S. House of Representatives, of selective outrage.

“You said nothing about Americans abducted by Hamas, but now care so much about a little terrorist in prison for trying to murder civilians by throwing rocks at their vehicles while they were driving,” stated Jason Bedrick, research fellow at the Heritage Foundation. “You are loathsome.”

Aaron Baker, a Republican running against Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) next year, stated that “Republicans and Democrats agree: Americans—Floridians abroad deserve equal rights to a fair trial.”

“Charge the kid or put him on the next flight back to U.S. soil,” he stated. “There is no reason to hold a U.S. citizen for eight months without charging him.”

In response to Pressley, Inna Vernikov, a Republican councilwoman in New York City, stated that “if he did not throw rocks at the vehicles of innocent civilians—those can kill—including women and children. I promise he would not be in an Israeli prison.”

“Too bad Mohammed is brainwashed by a society that glorifies the murder of Jews as martyrdom,” she added.

Ibrahim’s family lives in the Arab village of Silwad but splits its time between there and Palm Bay, Fla. He was reportedly on vacation at the time of his arrest and denies the charges.

U.S. embassy officials say they have conducted welfare checks on Ibrahim but have faced unspecified restrictions. Ibrahim’s family says he has lost significant weight and suffers from a skin infection. The State Department hasn’t confirmed those claims.

{Matzav.com}

In a razor-thin vote that exposed deep divisions within the coalition, the Knesset on Wednesday approved a bill in its preliminary reading to extend Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. The legislation, introduced by Noam Party Chairman MK Avi Maoz, passed 25 to 24, with a single-vote margin determining the outcome.

The Likud Party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was largely absent from the chamber during the vote, and most of its members either abstained or stayed away. MK Yuli Edelstein broke ranks and voted in favor despite clear instructions from Netanyahu to oppose the measure. The Likud leadership later confirmed that disciplinary action will be taken against Edelstein for defying party directives.

Supporting votes also came from United Torah Judaism members Yitzchak Goldknopf, Yisrael Eichler, and Yaakov Tesler, while lawmakers from Shas and the Blue and White Party chose not to participate in the session. Their absence further underscored the uneasy balance within the coalition over the contentious issue of sovereignty in the territories.

Maoz, in his remarks before the vote, framed the bill as a moral and national imperative. “Settlement in the Land of Israel is our connection to ourselves as a people,” he declared. “We call for the immediate application of Israeli sovereignty and law over Judea and Samaria. Since the government has hesitated, it is our duty as Knesset members to act – I call on all of you to vote for my bill.”

Soon after, the Knesset also passed a separate motion by Yisrael Beytenu Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman, which seeks to apply Israeli sovereignty over Maale Adumim. That proposal was approved by a far more comfortable 32-9 vote, suggesting broader support for annexation of the Jerusalem-area city even among skeptics of wider territorial application.

Explaining his decision to support the Maoz bill, Edelstein wrote, “I just voted in the Knesset plenum in favor of applying sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. Especially at this time, Israeli sovereignty over all parts of our homeland is the order of the day. As someone who has fought for the Land of Israel throughout my years in this building, with a clear belief in the justice of our path, I call on all Zionist factions to vote in favor.”

The heated session also featured sharp criticism from Arab lawmakers. MK Ahmad Tibi (Ta’al) scoffed at the idea of annexation, reminding supporters of global opposition to such moves. “Even your admired leader, Trump, suddenly opposes annexation,” Tibi said. “There is no Riviera, no bonanza – there is a reality in which more than 150 countries recognize Palestine.”

The bill must now pass additional readings before becoming law, but the preliminary vote already marks a symbolic victory for right-wing lawmakers pushing for full Israeli jurisdiction over Judea and Samaria — and a new challenge for Netanyahu as he tries to keep his coalition intact.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

Over Chol HaMoed, what should have been a peaceful Yom Tov afternoon turned into a scene of chaos and fear for residents living in one of the communities “within the mile.”

A group of individuals, reportedly renting a room in a home owned by staunch “New Square Mile fanatics,” were seen joyriding recklessly through the local streets—speeding, swerving, and zigzagging across the full width of the road. Several residents said they feared for their lives while standing in their own driveways and front lawns, watching in horror as the car lost control, barreled across a front yard, and smashed into two parked vehicles.

Instead of stopping, the group fled, only to crash again nearby and abandon the car. Police later found them next to a house owned by members of the New Square community. “Thank God no one was seriously hurt,” one resident said. “But it could easily have ended in tragedy.”

The terror didn’t end there. Just yesterday, Tuesday, October 21, a woman in the community texted in panic after witnessing a violent altercation next door. “I just watched our neighbors in a huge fight with tires slashed,” she wrote. “I was planning to sit outside with the kids, but I’m scared.”

According to her account, a woman chased a man down the street, pulled out a knife, and slashed his tires as he begged her to calm down. The witness fled inside with her toddler daughter. Residents are struggling to comprehend how such incidents are happening in the heart of Monsey — and worse, that they appear to be caused and even condoned by New Square’s leadership.

This is not an isolated occurrence. The house in question reportedly has around 20 people living there, with frequent turnover and dangerous behavior spilling into the street — as is the case with many homes purchased by representatives of New Square. One neighbor reported, “One of them drove across my yard and into the woods.” Others described a property crowded with abandoned cars and a massive pitbull-husky mix that regularly chases passersby. “People run to our door for safety,” said another.

When a family member who witnessed the chaos reached out to a well-known contact within New Square’s leadership, the response was chilling: “They should do whatever they need to do. We will do ours, and they should do theirs.”

We are now pleading for help — from community leaders and from the public at large. Chassidei Skver must be held accountable, and this disgusting, despicable practice must end immediately, accompanied by a full-throated apology.

To the people of New Square, is this what Hashem wants from you? To illegally overcrowd homes in otherwise peaceful neighborhoods with individuals who stab, threaten, and endanger others? To place lives at risk through callousness, selfishness, irresponsibility, and the thirst for control?

Are you waiting for someone from our community to, chas v’shalom, become the victim of a serious crime before realizing this is wrong? Are you so blind that you cannot see where this leads — or so indifferent that you simply don’t care?

To the decent residents and supporters of New Square who are sickened by what’s happening: please, speak out. Tell your leaders to stop this practice and repair the damage before it’s too late.

And to rational, fair-minded people everywhere — please help apply pressure. Pause all funding to New Square’s institutions until this cruelty ends. No one should have to fear for their life while standing in their own front yard with their children — and certainly not when that danger is being fueled intentionally by people who claim to stand for holiness, honor, and respectability.

A Resident of The Mile

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{Matzav.com}

A dramatic confrontation erupted on live radio Wednesday when Republican mayoral contender Curtis Sliwa stormed out of 77 WABC, declaring his departure from the station he helped define.

“You will never see me at the studios of WABC again,” Sliwa fumed during a heated exchange with host Sid Rosenberg, accusing colleagues of betraying him and favoring independent candidate Andrew Cuomo. He erupted on-air after learning that some within the station, including its owner, were urging him to bow out of the mayoral race to give Cuomo a better shot against Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani.

“Let me just say Sid, I am directing my comments to everybody at WABC,” Sliwa said in a charged tone. “They have said I’m selfish. Selfish? Are you out of your mind? … But that’s why you will never see me at the studios of WABC again, never, no matter how this election turns out.”

The clash came after billionaire John Catsimatidis — the station’s owner and longtime Republican donor — publicly suggested Sliwa withdraw from the race. “Regardless of all the news going around, I’ve always said great things about Curtis Sliwa, about how well he knows the city. But in a places like New York City where 70% of New York City are Democrats, the real Democrat is Andrew Cuomo, not Zohran Mamdani and Democrats should vote for Cuomo,” Catsimatidis told The Post. He added, “I’ve never asked that he leave the race but recommended that a lot of other people have said he should.”

Just days before the on-air blowup, Catsimatidis released a statement calling on Sliwa to step aside “for the good of New York City,” echoing the same message on his own airwaves. Yet on Wednesday, the Gristedes supermarket mogul suggested he didn’t believe the rift was permanent. “I’ve supported Curtis for the last 30 years, his organizations and him,” Catsimatidis said. “Me and Curtis have a handshake deal and he has a 30-year contract. When he calms down, I believe Curtis has always been reasonable.”

Despite the mounting pressure, Republican leaders across New York City — including Catsimatidis’ daughter, Manhattan GOP chair Andrea Catsimatidis — reaffirmed their support for Sliwa. His show, on hiatus during his uphill campaign for City Hall, returned with fireworks Wednesday as Sliwa and Rosenberg locked horns in a live shouting match.

“I know there are people there at WABC who are personally attacking me, saying I’m running a lazy campaign…. I feel personally, personally offended by what my friends and colleagues, many of whom I trained at WABC, many of whom wouldn’t have a job at WABC without me, have done,” Sliwa vented on Sid & Friends In The Morning. He mocked the station’s call letters, saying they now stand for “Always Broadcast Cuomo.”

Rosenberg countered sharply, telling Sliwa he was targeting the wrong opponent. “This obsession with Cuomo has to stop,” Rosenberg said. “You can beat Cuomo and still lose the election.”

As the argument intensified, Sliwa claimed he and his wife, Nancy, have faced threats severe enough to require armed security — which he blamed on those publicly pressuring him to quit. “If anything happens to me or anything happens to my wife, because of this frenzy that I hear constantly coming from some of your colleagues there at WABC, it’s on you guys and you gals,” he warned. “My life is on the line here.”

Recent polling has shown Mamdani comfortably in the lead, followed by Cuomo, with Sliwa trailing far behind. Analysts say Sliwa’s exit could give Cuomo a realistic chance to overtake the Democratic frontrunner. Rosenberg bluntly told his longtime colleague, “You’re gonna lose and you’re gonna lose badly, embarrassingly.” As the exchange grew heated, he added, “You’re talking about WABC and Cuomo. That’s not gonna win you this … race.”

By the end of the morning, Sliwa had effectively severed ties with the station that launched his broadcasting career decades ago — leaving both the mayoral race and his radio legacy engulfed in controversy.

{Matzav.com}

Under the direction of Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka in Bnei Brak, preparations are underway for a major public tefillah rally this coming Sunday, in response to the recent arrests of several yeshiva bochurim by Israeli authorities.

Rav Landau, who is currently in Los Angeles as part of the Keren Olam HaTorah campaign, received a detailed briefing this morning on the developing situation.

Upon hearing of the detentions, he immediately placed a call to Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, to discuss an appropriate communal response.

During their conversation, the two gedolim spoke at length about the deep pain felt throughout the olam haTorah and the growing concern over the government’s continued targeting of bnei yeshivos who are dedicated solely to learning Torah. They explored possible courses of action and agreed that the time has come for a united outcry and an outpouring of tefillah on behalf of the detained bochurim and the entire tzibbur haTorani.

Sources close to Rav Landau report that the rosh yeshiva expressed anguish over the current state of affairs, emphasizing that these arrests strike at the very heart of Torah life in Eretz Yisroel.

The arrests, which have taken place over the past several days, have sent shockwaves through the yeshiva community.

In yeshivos, roshei yeshiva have spoken out passionately, urging talmidim to strengthen their limud haTorah and tefillah, while expressing deep tzaar over the government’s increasing pressure on those who dedicate their lives to Torah learning.

The upcoming asifah—expected to draw thousands from across Eretz Yisroel—will serve as both a public demonstration of solidarity with the detained bochurim and a heartfelt cry to Shamayim that the gezeirah be annulled. Details regarding the exact time and location of the tefillah rally are expected to be finalized in the coming days.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump voiced alarm Tuesday over the state of the New York City mayoral race, saying he fears the city could soon find itself led by a “communist.” He added that, given the current lineup of candidates, he might even prefer a mainstream Democrat over a far-left radical in charge of City Hall.

When asked at the White House whether he thought Republican contender Curtis Sliwa should bow out, Trump declined to back anyone outright but said the polls painted a troubling picture. “Well, I looked at the polls and looks like we’re going to have a communist as the mayor of New York,” he said. “It’ll be very interesting. But here’s the good news. He’s got to go through the White House, everything goes through the White House. At least this White House, it does.”

Trump seemed to imply that Sliwa’s withdrawal might help Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, but doubted it would be enough to stop Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani from winning. “If he [Sliwa] dropped out, he’s not going to win. And not looking too good for Cuomo either,” Trump said. “Maybe if he dropped out, Cuomo would have a little bit of a chance. But not much. Because it looks like the lead is—it’s not a great lead, but it’s big enough that he should be able to win.”

Asked if he would sit down with Mamdani should the left-wing assemblyman win, Trump didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I’ll speak to him,” the president replied. “I think I have an obligation to speak to him.”

The president went on to express sadness at what he described as New York’s rapid decline since his own departure. “I love New York. I’ve always loved New York. I just can’t believe a thing like this is happening,” he said. “I left New York, and we had a mayor, [Bill] de Blasio, who was a disaster… New York was a hot city. And now it’s — it’s sad to see what’s happening, frankly.”

He also warned that far-left economic experiments have always failed. “With the communist in charge… look, you just go back a thousand years. I mean, it’s been done many times, a thousand years. It’s never worked once. So it’s not going to work now.”

Mamdani, a state assemblyman affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, has openly championed policies such as legalizing prostitution and sharply taxing the wealthy. His campaign has been embraced by figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, both prominent voices in the progressive movement.

The city’s mayoral election will take place on November 4. Representatives for Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa did not respond to requests for comment.

{Matzav.com}

In a powerful and emotional statement following his shiur klali at Prison 10 near Beit Lid, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch addressed the ongoing protests against yeshiva bochurim being drafted into the army. Rav Hirsch warned that if the government continues to arrest yeshiva students for avoiding army service, “if there’s no choice, the entire public will join. They must understand that they can’t just arrest bochurim who are learning Torah.”

Rav Hirsch delivered the shiur klali on Perek Chezkas HaBatim after a long and difficult trip, delayed by the widespread demonstrations that had paralyzed roads throughout central Israel.

The Rosh Yeshiva reportedly prepared the entire shiur spontaneously during the drive to the prison, where yeshiva bochurim have been staging around-the-clock learning vigils and protests outside the gates in support of Ariel Shamai, a yeshiva bochur recently detained for draft refusal.

Speaking to the assembled bochurim at the prison gates, Rav Hirsch described his encounter with the protests en route. “On my way here, I passed the demonstrations of the other groups,” he said. “I very much hope we won’t have to reach that point ourselves. They need to understand that it cannot be that bochurim who are learning Torah are arrested. I hope those in the government will come to understand that.”

Earlier in the day, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo Rav Chaim Feinstein gave a dramatic address, expressing anguish over the arrest of his student. “Ariel, you have tasted the sweetness of Torah, and that is why the yetzer hara chases you—it finds it difficult. Ariel, if you can hear us, we are all with you,” Rav Feinstein declared passionately.

Rav Hirsch speaking at the prison:

Dancing at the prison:

Rav Moshe Hillel leaving his home to go to the prison:

Protests obstructing the car carrying Rav Hirsch:

Rav Hirsch arriving at the prison:

{Matzav.com}

Podcast host Ben Shapiro joined ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss his analysis of the state of the Israel-Hamas peace deal and what he’s hearing about the emotional reunions of former hostages.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Authorities in New Jersey have filed multiple serious charges against a Colorado man accused of causing the horrific October 19 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike that claimed the lives of four bochurim on Sunday.

Prosecutors announced that 41-year-old Christopher Neff, of Westminster, Colorado, now faces counts of vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, and weapons-related charges after allegedly driving the wrong way on the Turnpike in the early morning hours of that Sunday. Officials said Neff was also found with hollow-point ammunition at the time of the collision.

The deadly crash took place in Carneys Point Township and resulted in the petiros of four beloved bochurim, 19-year-old Yaakov Kilberg, who was behind the wheel, and his passengers, 18-year-olds Aharon Lebovits and Shlomo Cohen of Lakewood, New Jersey, along with 18-year-old Shlomo Chaim Grossman of South Fallsburg, New York.

Police reports allege that Neff was under the influence of alcohol when he drove his Dodge pickup northbound in the southbound lanes, striking the SUV carrying the four young men. The impact pushed their vehicle into the path of a Freightliner tractor-trailer, killing all four bochurim nstantly. Investigators said the probe into the crash is still ongoing.

According to court filings, witnesses and emergency responders detected “a strong odor of an alcohol beverage emanating from Mr. Neff’s breath” immediately after the crash. Testing later revealed that his blood alcohol concentration was more than double the legal limit of .08%.

Surveillance footage obtained by police reportedly shows Neff drinking several alcoholic beverages at a nearby Carneys Point bar shortly before leaving, less than thirty minutes before the crash. Authorities said he remains hospitalized with multiple fractures, including broken legs and an arm, as well as other serious injuries.

{Matzav.com}

The Melbourne Chabad community is mourning the passing of Rabbi Nosson Dovid Greenwald z”l, who left this world early this morning, Rosh Chodesh, at the age of 74.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 9, 1951 (3 Iyar 5711), to Avraham (Arthur) and Lasha (Lillian) Greenwald, Nosson grew up in a home infused with strong Yiddishkeit. His maternal grandfather, Yehuda Hochman—affectionately known to all as “Tatte”—lived with the family and played a central role in shaping Nosson’s lifelong connection to emunah and mitzvos.

Nosson’s early years in Oak Park, Michigan, were marked by steady spiritual growth. He gradually increased his observance and became an active participant in the local Chabad community.

In 1979, he married his eishes chayil, Bela. Four years later, the couple and their children moved across the globe to Australia, where they built their home and became integral members of the Melbourne Chabad community.

Though professionally trained as a mathematician and educator, Nosson’s career path was as diverse as it was fascinating. He taught university students, worked in the scrap metal industry, and even served as an air traffic controller in Detroit earlier in life.

But it wasn’t his résumé that defined him. It was his heart. Friends and neighbors remember Nosson for his warmth, humility, and genuine love for every Jew. His home was a haven of hospitality, with open invitations for Shabbos and Yom Tov meals extended to anyone he met, whether an acquaintance, a stranger, or even a traffic warden he encountered on the street. One friend summed it up perfectly: “Nosson pursued mitzvahs like most people pursued money.”

Life brought its share of challenges, including the heartbreaking loss of two of his children. Yet even amid personal pain, he radiated simcha and gratitude. Known for his ever-present expression, “Baruch Hashem,” he shared this spirit of faith with everyone around him—so much so that the non-Jewish nurses at his aged care facility learned not only its meaning but began saying it themselves.

Those privileged to know R’ Nosson speak of him as a beacon of sincerity, generosity, and unwavering optimism—a man who inspired others simply by the way he lived.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Bela, and their children Rochel Leah, Chaim, Chana, Shalom Ber, Brocha, and Miriam, along with numerous grandchildren who carry forward his legacy. He is also survived by his sisters, Rivkah Nachlas and Chaya Wiener of Detroit, and by nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his children Yehuda Leib a”h and Hadassa a”h.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A man who violently attacked a Chabad bochur in Crown Heights last year while yelling “Free Palestine” has been sentenced to five years in prison.

According to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Vincent Sumpter, who admitted to attempted murder, received his sentence on October 8 following a plea deal.

Initially, Sumpter faced eight felony counts, including assault as a hate crime, as outlined in the original arrest documents.

The violent episode occurred on a Friday night in August 2024, when Sumpter—then 22 years old—stabbed Yechiel Dabrowskin, a Chabad bochur studying at the 770 Yeshiva. The attack took place within a short distance of the iconic Chabad Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway.

Investigators say the encounter began when Sumpter emerged from the subway and started walking up Kingston Avenue toward Union Street. As he passed a group of bochurim, he began shouting “Free Palestine!” and other anti-Semitic remarks in an effort to provoke them.

Though the students chose to ignore his taunts, witnesses said Sumpter lingered nearby, apparently waiting for another opportunity to lash out.

Moments later, he reportedly turned his aggression on other pedestrians, threatening a group while shouting, “Do you want to die?” In the ensuing confrontation, Sumpter pulled out a knife, stabbing one bochur and attempting to strike another before fleeing the scene.

As the government funding lapse stretched into its 22nd day on Wednesday, the impasse officially entered the record books as the second-longest shutdown in American history, overtaking the 1995–1996 stalemate. With neither side showing signs of compromise, hundreds of thousands of federal workers remain furloughed, and essential agencies are operating in crisis mode.

Since October 1, Senate Democrats have rejected Republican-led efforts to reopen federal operations eleven times, with nearly the entire caucus opposing a House-approved bill to maintain funding through November 21. Another round of votes was scheduled for Wednesday morning, though few expected a breakthrough.

At the center of the deadlock, Democratic leaders continued to insist on a direct meeting with President Trump before agreeing to any temporary funding measure. “Hakeem and I reached out to the president today and urged him to sit down and negotiate with us to resolve the health care crisis, address it and end the Trump shutdown,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “We urged him to meet with us, and we said we’ll set up an appointment with him any time, any place before he leaves.”

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson made clear that such a meeting would not happen until Democrats first vote to reopen the government. “Leader Thune and I visited with President Trump this afternoon and he confirmed he is ready and willing for the three of us to meet with Leader Jeffries and Senator Schumer as soon as Schumer reopens the government,” Johnson posted on X.

Standing beside Trump at the White House Rose Garden, Senate Majority Leader John Thune echoed that stance, dismissing calls for talks until government operations resume. “I don’t know what there is to negotiate,” he told reporters. “Open up the government first.”

Thune said Republicans will persist in holding votes on a stopgap bill despite repeated Democratic blockades. “We are going to keep voting to open up the government, and eventually the Democrats, hopefully sooner or later, are going to come around,” he added.

From his end, Trump blasted Senate Democrats for what he called an act of coercion, accusing them of holding the nation hostage for political gain. “We will not be extorted on this crazy plot of theirs,” he declared. “Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats need to vote for the clean bipartisan [continuing resolution] and reopen our government — it’s got to be reopened right now.”

Schumer, meanwhile, has demanded that any short-term funding measure include an extension of pandemic-era health insurance subsidies that benefit about 22 million Americans who buy coverage through the Affordable Care Act exchanges. The White House countered that those benefits remain active until the end of December, giving Congress time to negotiate once federal operations resume.

The current shutdown, which began on October 1, has already surpassed the 21-day closure from the mid-1990s triggered by President Bill Clinton’s veto of a Republican spending bill. That earlier standoff shuttered parts of the government from December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996.

About 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed this time around, and the Trump administration has initiated steps to permanently eliminate several thousand positions. If the gridlock continues, workers will miss their first full paychecks this Friday, with members of the military potentially going unpaid next week.

The nation’s longest government shutdown remains the 35-day stretch from late 2018 into early 2019 — another political battle fought during Trump’s first term — but the current one shows every sign of rivaling it.

{Matzav.com}

An inspiring event took place Monday night in Bnei Brak, as the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah in Eretz Yisroel and some members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America convened together with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, and Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rashbi.

The joint gathering, rare in scope and spirit, focused on major issues facing the chareidi public in Eretz Yisroel and abroad.

The historic session was held at the home of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch in Givat HaYeshiva and was organized by Lev L’Achim, which coordinated the extensive logistical arrangements to bring gedolim from the United States to participate in the discussions. Members of the American delegation also joined a group of baalei batim who came to witness firsthand Lev L’Achim’s far-reaching kiruv initiatives.

Among the American gedolim attending were Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood; Rav Elya Brudny, rosh yeshiva of Mirrer Yeshiva in Flatbush; the Novominsker Rebbe; Rav Yehuda Svei, rosh yeshiva of Philadelphia Yeshiva; and Rav Chaim Yehoshua Hoberman, rosh yeshiva of Mesivta of Long Beach.

They were joined by leading roshei yeshiva from Eretz Yisroel, including Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Chevron; Rav Tzvi Drebkin; Rav Shraga Shteinman; and the hosts of the evening, Rav Hirsch and Rav Bergman.

The atmosphere in the room was filled with deep reverence when Rav Bergman entered, having made the special effort to attend despite his advanced age. Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch rose to his feet and remained standing until Rav Bergman was seated beside him.

Opening the gathering, Rav Hirsch shared words of inspiration and expressed admiration for the tireless work of Lev L’Achim, whose leaders “toil day and night to bring Jews closer to Torah.” Rav Bergman followed, speaking about the urgent spiritual challenges facing the Torah world, stressing “the great obligation of the hour.”

A particularly moving moment occurred when Rav Brudny was invited to speak. He declined, explaining humbly, “Ha’osek b’mitzvah patur min hamitzvah. I am now involved in the mitzvah of v’hayu einecha ro’os es morecha — to behold the face of the leader of the generation, Maran Rav Moshe Hillel shlit”a.” Later, at the conclusion of the gathering, Rav Brudny approached Rav Bergman and said, “It was worth all the effort of the trip just to merit seeing the rosh yeshiva’s holy face.”

At the end of the meeting, a political discussion unfolded, as Rav Hirsch was heard responding to questions from several rabbanim about Israel’s current political situation. He indicated that Degel HaTorah might consider supporting certain judicial reform-related legislation due to “the justice system’s ongoing campaign against lomdei Torah and shomrei mesorah.”

Following the joint session, Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Chevron, met privately with Rav Hirsch for about thirty minutes. He then proceeded to the residence of Rav Kotler where the two held an in-depth discussion lasting over an hour and a half, focusing on the draft law and other pressing matters affecting the Olam HaTorah.

A major protest is taking place outside Prison No. 10 in Israel following the arrest of yeshiva bochur Ariel Shamai, a talmid of Yeshiva Ateres Shlomo in Rishon LeTzion.

In a powerful show of solidarity, Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch will arrive at the prison gates to deliver a shiur klali, marking the opening of the winter zeman amid what is being described as a storm of outrage throughout the Torah world.

The arrest of the young ben Torah—for learning Torah instead of serving in the IDF—has sparked widespread protests and calls for his immediate release. Ateres Shlomo has launched a campaign, printing posters drawing a comparison between the hostages in Gaza – recently freed, baruch Hashem – and what the yeshiva is calling “the hostages of the Torah world.”

Rav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Ateres Shlomo, who had flown to the United States just yesterday, is now en route back to Israel to personally lead efforts to secure his talmid‘s release.

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, has been closely following developments since early morning. Activists who visited his home were informed that he supports the idea of a large public gathering in protest of the arrest.

At the same time, bochurim and avreichim of Ateres Shlomo are organizing study vigils and protests outside the prison until Ariel Shamai is freed.

This evening, Rav Hirsch will personally deliver the opening shiur of the winter zeman on Chezkas HaBatim in Maseches Bava Basra. Rav Hirsch will give the shiur outside the prison walls, both to inaugurate the zeman and to mechazeik the bochur who, as many are saying, has been “thrown into jail for the crime of learning Torah.”

{Matzav.com}

British Airways and Iberia plan to resume flights to Israel on Sunday, becoming the latest carriers to restore service to Tel Aviv following Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June and this month’s ceasefire with Hamas.

The move highlights both the resurgence of the Israeli aviation sector and the reemergence of Tel Aviv as an international travel hub.

The British flag carrier will offer daily service from London’s Heathrow Airport to Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport, while Iberia will renew service from Madrid, following in the footsteps of its Spanish rival Air Europa.

Scandinavian Airlines is also returning to Israel next week after nearly a decade, with thrice weekly service from Copenhagen to Tel Aviv, while the German low-cost carrier Eurowings will restart flights to Tel Aviv next week as well.

United is expanding its service to Israel next month, adding flights from its hubs in Chicago and Washington, D.C., in addition to its twice daily Newark flights, cementing its position as the U.S. carrier with the most flights to Israel.

Italy’s ITA Airlines and Air India are due to resume flights to Israel by the end of the year.

Some 60 foreign carriers are now flying to Tel Aviv compared to 80 two years ago, before the war, an Israel Airport Authority spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

The return of foreign airlines to Israel is finally bringing down airfares, which have remained stubbornly high over the last two years.

Several major international carriers that have not resumed service to Tel Aviv yet, include American Airlines—the only U.S. legacy carrier not to resume flights to Israel—Emirates, which is coming back in the spring, and Cathay Pacific.

American Airlines, which is thought to be eyeing a return as it has been hiring Hebrew-speaking staff, did not return requests for comment.

The return to Israel of Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier, Ryanair, has been pushed off indefinitely due to a dispute with the Israel Airports Authority over regaining its past flight slots.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Israel has asked Oman to allow commercial flights access to its airspace en route to the Far East.

Separately, El Al announced on Tuesday that it was resuming twice-daily domestic flights from Tel Aviv to Eilat after a break of more than a decade, during which the route was only serviced by Israel’s smaller carriers.

Some 68,000 passengers were traveling through Ben-Gurion Airport on Wednesday on over 400 international flights, according to the Israel Airport Authority. JNS

{Matzav.com}

A heart-wrenching photo of a newborn baby with a handwritten Yiddish note pinned to her blanket went viral across the frum world over the last day, but Matzav.com has confirmed that the image was entirely fabricated.

The photo, which shows an infant peacefully wrapped in a blanket with a note written on Hamaspik Center for Human Services stationery, was widely circulated with claims that the baby’s parents are unable to care for her. “Dos kind heist Malky tichyeh. (This child’s name is Malky.) Zi is ah Yid. (She is a Jew.) Bitteh care far ihr. (Please care for her).”

The image spread rapidly across WhatsApp groups, X, and Instagram channels, prompting emotional reactions. Many users shared the post believing it depicted a real tragedy.

However, Matzav.com confirmed that the story is a hoax. No such baby had been reported found.

“It is deeply disturbing that anyone would fabricate such a story for attention,” said one askan.

It seems that the photo was part of a publicity stunt.

The incident highlights how easily emotional images can be weaponized for viral attention, even when entirely untrue. By the time the hoax was exposed, the picture had already reached tens of thousands of people worldwide, another reminder of how fast misinformation can spread in today’s digital world.

{Matzav.com}

Tensions exploded on Canal Street Tuesday afternoon when a federal immigration enforcement operation targeting street vendors spiraled into confrontation, with angry crowds surrounding agents and trying to block their movements.

The operation unfolded in the heart of Manhattan’s bustling counterfeit goods district, a stretch famous for its tables and storefronts offering imitation luxury handbags, watches, perfumes, sunglasses, and electronics.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as dozens of federal officers descended on the area. An Associated Press reporter saw agents detain a vendor believed to have been selling glitter-covered smartphone cases.

Protesters quickly gathered, chanting and shouting as they formed human barriers to stop the officers’ vehicles from leaving. “ICE out of New York,” the demonstrators yelled, as others demanded that the agents release the detained vendors.

In response, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — joined by Border Patrol and other federal units — warned the crowd they would use pepper spray if the blockade continued. Several protesters were then taken into custody as the standoff escalated.

Moments later, reinforcements arrived — heavily armed federal agents in tactical gear, carrying long guns and deploying a military-style BearCat vehicle — prompting renewed clashes and more arrests.

A representative for Homeland Security Investigations said the operation was organized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division, which focuses on locating and detaining individuals in the country illegally.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

After an enormous wave of public pressure and a demand from the Degel HaTorah party to address the matter, yeshiva bochur Ariel Rosenzweig of Yeshiva Neve Eretz in Be’er Yaakov was released from Israeli military prison late Tuesday night. His arrest — which took place while he was sitting shivah for his father — had provoked outrage across the Torah world and beyond.

Ariel had been mourning the sudden passing of his father, Reb Yair Rosenzweig z”l, a professional engineer from Ramat Gan who died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest, leaving behind a widow and six orphans. At approximately 1:30 a.m., during the shivah, military police arrived at the family’s home and arrested the young man on charges of draft evasion, as his grieving mother, who is disabled, and his younger siblings cried in despair.

The arrest drew fierce backlash throughout the yeshiva world, leading to urgent intervention by attorney Shlomo Hadad, who worked to secure the bochur’s release.

Ariel’s detention came shortly after another high-profile arrest, that of Yair Tirosh, a talmid at Yeshivas Itri in Givatayim, who was also detained for learning Torah instead of reporting to the army. Roshei yeshiva from Itri visited Tirosh at Tel Hashomer to offer support, and a hearing in his case was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today.

Meanwhile, another bochur, Ariel Shamai from Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, was sentenced by a military court to 20 days in prison following his arrest at his home in Ramat Gan. In response, Rav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Ateres Shlomo, called on bnei yeshiva nationwide to demonstrate outside Military Prison 10. Buses were arranged from across the country to bring participants to the 3:00 p.m. protest.

Degel HaTorah leadership issued a public statement after mounting backlash. Spokesman for party chairman MK Moshe Gafni released a photo of the party’s chareidi representatives gathered at the Knesset, discussing the escalating situation. In its statement, Degel HaTorah declared: “The party’s MKs convened this morning following the arrest of the holy yeshiva students for the ‘crime’ of learning Torah — including the arrest of a bochur in the middle of shivah for his father. This represents a deeply troubling escalation and will not be ignored.”

The statement continued: “This rampage, supported by the attorney general who has made it her mission to wage war against Torah learners in Eretz HaKodesh, is aimed in part at sabotaging the upcoming legislation to secure their exemption status. We will consult with the gedolei Yisroel shlita for guidance on how to respond to these disgraceful arrests and will act according to their directives.”

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

A candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maine denied on Tuesday that his totenkopf “death’s head” tattoo indicated that he had or has neo-Nazi or antisemitic views.

Graham Platner, a former Marine and oyster farmer who is running as a Democrat to unseat Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), told Jewish Insider that he was previously unaware of the symbol’s meaning and plans to get the tattoo removed.

“It was not until I started hearing from reporters and D.C. insiders that I realized this tattoo resembled a Nazi symbol,” Platner said. “I absolutely would not have gone through life having this on my chest if I knew that, and to insinuate that I did is disgusting.”

A video published on the Pod Save America podcast on Monday shows Platner in 2015 in his underwear with a chest tattoo of the emblem of the unit responsible for administering Nazi Germany’s death camps.

“The video is from my brother’s marriage to his wife, to my sister-in-law, who I was serenading. I told them that my wedding gift to them would be my embarrassment,” Platner said. “I am not a secret Nazi. Actually, if you read through my Reddit comments, I think you can pretty much figure out where I stand on Nazism and antisemitism, and racism in general. I would say a lifelong opponent.”

The Maine Democrat, who has been embraced by many from the progressive wing of the party, has previously faced controversy over his Reddit comments describing himself as a “Communist,” a label he now rejects.

Platner said he got the tattoo on shore leave from U.S. Marine Corps service in 2007 in Split, Croatia, and drunkenly picked what he said he thought was an innocuous skull and crossbones.

“At no point in this entire experience of my life did anybody ever once say, ‘Hey, you’re a Nazi,’” he said. “It never came up until we got wind that in the opposition research somebody was shopping the idea that I was a secret Nazi with a hidden Nazi tattoo.”

Jewish Insider reported on Tuesday that Platner had previously told an acquaintance in 2012 that he was aware of the symbol’s origin, saying “Oh, this is my totenkopf,” in “a cutesy little way.”

Platner is running in the Democratic primary against Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, to unseat Collins, the incumbent Republican.

His campaign ads have repeatedly focused on the endorsement of Collins from AIPAC, and his platform describes the Israeli war against Hamas as a “genocide.”

“We are sending American taxpayer dollars to underwrite the starvation of Gaza, in what can only be accurately described as a genocide,” Platner wrote.

“I stand with all people seeking peace, democracy and self-determination,” he added. “In this moment, that means a clear-eyed condemnation of the Gaza genocide, and the use of every means available to America to bring it to an end.” JNS

{Matzav.com}