Matzav

The arson attacks on ballot boxes in Oregon and Washington State are now believed to be the work of one or more anti-Israel protesters, after a message reading “ALL DROP BOXES WILL BURN. FREE GAZA” was found at the ballot box site, according to the New York Post.

The arson attacks, which occurred between 3 – 4 a.m. early Monday morning local time, resulted in the loss of hundreds of ballots, after one of the fire suppression system failed to extinguish the flames.

The New York Times reported that investigators have found three incendiary devices used in the attacks, with the words “FREE GAZA.”

The FBI is investigating the arson attacks, with early voting well underway, and election day almost here.

Responding to the news, Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) wrote:

“Devices with ‘Free Gaza’ messages were found at the ballot box fires in Oregon and Washington. Yet, despite the obvious answers right in front of them, the police are somehow struggling to determine the motive for the arson fires.

The Anti-Israel extremists behind the fires are metaphorical and literal arsonists, intent on burning down America itself. Anti-Americanism is not merely a byproduct of Anti-Zionism. It is the product.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF announced on Wednesday that Mustafa Ahmad Shakhadi, deputy commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, had been killed in an Israeli airstrike near Nabatieh in Southern Lebanon.

The IDF emphasized that his removal from the battlefield “further impairs the Radwan Force’s ability to function and carry out terror activities against IDF forces and the Israeli civilian front along the northern border, specifically its plan to seize the Galilee.”

Shakhadi in his previous roles was responsible for Radwan operations during the Syria conflict from 2012 to 2017, and also managed the unit’s combat operations in Southern Lebanon.

“The Radwan Force is Hezbollah’s elite unit, aimed at infiltrating Israeli territory and capturing areas near the northern border,” the military said. “The IDF will continue to act against Hezbollah terrorists and commanders and to thwart any threat facing Israeli citizens.”

(JNS)

President Joe Biden’s attempt to denounce a speaker’s racist comments at a Trump campaign rally seemed to backfire as Trump and other Republicans argued that Biden had insulted Trump’s supporters by calling them “garbage.”

“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s – his – his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and it’s un-American,” Biden said during a Tuesday fundraising call, according to a transcript posted by a White House representative on X.

Many news outlets highlighted the same quote, though some omitted the apostrophe, fueling criticism that Biden had aimed his “garbage” comment at Trump supporters as a whole.

However, Biden’s statement was specifically directed at certain Trump supporters rather than their rhetoric in general.

“Now, on top of everything, Joe Biden calls our supporters ‘garbage.’ You can’t lead America if you don’t love the American people,” Trump responded on X.

Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, added: “This is disgusting. Kamala Harris and her boss Joe Biden are attacking half of the country.”

Earlier, Vance defended comments by Hinchcliffe, stating, “We have to stop getting so offended at every little thing in the United States of America.”

Biden attempted to provide further explanation on X.

“Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporters at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage — which is the only word I can think of to describe it,” Biden posted.

“His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”

Despite Biden’s clarification, Republicans drew parallels to a comment by Hillary Clinton in 2016 when she referred to Trump supporters as “deplorables,” a remark that was widely criticized and became a focal point in her unexpected loss to Trump.

With just days left before the high-stakes election between Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Trump, Biden and the White House quickly moved to contain any potential political damage from the misinterpreted comment.

The controversy began when comedian Tony Hinchcliffe described Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” during Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

With the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showing Trump trailing Harris by only a slim margin, 43% to 44%, Biden’s remark was yet another talking point as the November 5 election approached.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I never thought I would find myself writing this letter, but here I am, with a heavy heart and a broken spirit, Rachmana litzlan

Like many others, I used to roll my eyes at the so-called shidduch crisis. It all felt like a bit of kvetching to me—just noise from the sidelines. But now that I have a daughter who’s on the shidduch market, I’m waking up to the cold, hard truth: it’s not fake. It’s very real, and it’s affecting our mishpachos in ways I never imagined.

My daughter has been back from seminary for a year and a half now. In that time, we’ve received just two shidduch suggestions—each one no shaychus.

It’s like she’s disappeared into thin air. The phone doesn’t ring for her. I sit at home, waiting and hoping for a call that just doesn’t come, and I can’t help but feel the weight of despair creeping in. The phone hasn’t rung in 6 months.

And it’s not just us. I’ve spoken to other mothers whose daughters are in the same boat, sitting at home with no shidduchim, no redds, nothing on the horizon. It’s heartbreaking.

It pains me to see our precious girls feeling the sting of rejection and invisibility.

At what point will we realize what a crisis we have on our hands?

A Concerned Mother

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The U.S. economy continued its expansion in the third quarter, growing at a slightly slower annualized rate of 2.8 percent and reinforcing a rosy lens of the economy days before the elections.

The latest gross domestic product report, released Wednesday by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, offers a snapshot of an economy that’s been able to withstand policy swings and political uncertainty. Growth moderated from the previous quarter’s 3 percent reading, but remains sturdy.

“The U.S. economy is now in a very good spot and is characterized by full employment, price stability and strong productivity gains,” said Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM. Even with the gradual slowdown, the U.S. economy is still “firing on all cylinders,” he said.

Consumers are fueling much of that momentum with spending that has outlasted even the most optimistic forecasts. Despite inflation, Americans have continued to shell out for a range of goods and services, including cars, dining out and travel.

However, there are pockets of softness. A dip in housing investments, a slowdown in inventory purchases and a rise in imports all dragged down the latest reading. Many economists expect growth to decelerate later this year and into 2025, as state and local governments dial back their spending.

Americans are seeing smaller income gains and are saving less than they were earlier in the year, the data shows. The personal savings rate – which measures how much money Americans are able to set aside – dropped to 4.8 percent from 5.2 percent in the previous quarter.

Still, consumers, businesses and the government have kept spending and investing despite high interest rates and political uncertainty, which has helped bolster the economy beyond what economists had predicted even a few months ago. Gross domestic product, which measures the goods and services in the United States, has increased for 10 straight quarters.

“We did not expect growth to be this strong this year,” said Luke Tilley, chief economist at Wilmington Trust. “It really is a testament to consumer spending and to the fact that U.S. firms have been incredibly productive and innovative in dealing with the challenges of higher interest rates and labor costs.”

The upbeat snapshot of the economy could help boost Vice President Kamala Harris’s standing in the coming days. Both she and former president Donald Trump have campaigned heavily on economic issues in hopes of winning over voters who consistently cite the cost of living as among their top concerns. Harris has focused on lowering costs for middle-class families by making housing, childcare and groceries more affordable. Trump, meanwhile, has doubled down on his plans to lower taxes and institute across-the-board tariffs on imported goods.

On Wednesday, White House officials cheered the latest GDP reading as proof its policies are spurring broad-based growth. And, they said, efforts to bring down inflation are working in ways that are already helping families.

“Our economy is strong … strong business investment and resilient consumers are driving today’s growth,” Lael Brainard, director of the National Economic Council, said in a call with reporters. “We are clear-eyed that there is important work to do to lower key costs that burden working families, but we’re seeing some progress.”

The Trump campaign, meanwhile, took aim at the administration’s track record, pointing out how economic growth came in below economists’ forecasts of 3 percent.

“Third quarter GDP came in ‘weaker than expected’ as economic growth continues to slow in Kamala’s economy,” spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said. “President Trump will make our economy boom again.”

By many accounts, the economy is bustling: Companies are hiring, wages are rising, and Americans are spending heartily. Quarterly GDP growth during Joe Biden’s presidency has averaged 3.2 percent. That’s compared with 2.5 percent annualized growth in the first three years of Trump’s presidency, before pandemic-related disruptions.

After raising interest rates aggressively in response to covid-related inflation, the Federal Reserve last month began cutting borrowing costs and is expected to do so again next week. Economists say that should help breathe life into the housing market and spur further investments by both households and businesses.

But it’s still unclear how the coming year will play out. Manufacturing has stalled in recent months, layoffs are ticking up and mortgage rates – still hovering around 7 percent – have yet to budge despite a drawdown in interest rates. The outcome of Tuesday’s presidential election could also change the economy’s trajectory. Harris and Trump have very different plans for key economic issues, including taxes, housing affordability and tariffs.

“The numbers are solid and consumption is up,” said Joseph LaVorgna, chief economist at SMBC Nikko Securities and former Trump White House economic adviser. “But what happens next year will depend on what happens next week.”

– – –

(c) Washington Post

The era of frustrating payment delays is finally behind us. Travelers can now relax, knowing they won’t be caught in a financial limbo if their flight is canceled.

U.S. airlines are now mandated to provide automatic refunds to passengers for tickets and related expenses if their flight is canceled or faces significant delays.

“Today, our automatic refund rule goes into full effect,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced in a post on X on Monday. “Airlines are required to provide prompt cash refunds without passengers having to ask.”

In implementing this policy, the Department of Transportation is fulfilling an instant refund system that was proposed in April to streamline the reimbursement process, enhance transparency, and protect against “hidden junk fees.”

While some aspects of the DOT’s updated policy were enacted as early as May, several provisions took longer to roll out due to their implementation timelines, according to USA Today.

Under the revised regulations, passengers are entitled to receive automatic refunds without needing to make a specific request, and these reimbursements must be processed within seven days for credit card transactions and within 20 days for other payment methods.

Previously, airlines had to issue refunds only if the passenger had not booked alternative flights through them, and the timeframe for reimbursement was often unclear.

Additionally, these refunds must cover the total amount paid—minus the cost of any flights already completed—returned to the original payment method “used to make the purchase, such as credit card or airline miles,” according to the policy.

“Airlines may not substitute vouchers, travel credits, or other forms of compensation unless the passenger affirmatively chooses to accept alternative compensation,” the policy states.

A significant flight delay is defined by the new regulations as three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights, applying to both departure and arrival delays.

Moreover, the new rules extend beyond just flights; passengers who submit reports for mishandled baggage can claim refunds for checked bag fees if their luggage is lost and not returned within 12 hours of a domestic flight’s arrival at the gate.

For international flights, the timeframe for returning lost baggage is set at 15 to 30 hours, depending on the flight duration, as per the new policy.

The baggage fees must be clearly displayed alongside fare and schedule details on the airline’s website, rather than hidden behind a hyperlink after the booking is made.

This approach ensures that passengers can “avoid surprise fees when they purchase tickets from airlines or ticket agents, including both brick-and-mortar travel agencies or online travel agencies,” according to the policy.

Lastly, passengers are eligible for refunds for ancillary services that were not provided due to cancellations or other circumstances.

These services include Wi-Fi, seat selection, and inflight entertainment.

{Matzav.com}

A recent initiative for a potential agreement involving the release of hostages and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reported by Hebrew media on Tuesday. The Hamas group indicated that it had received and was reviewing multiple drafts that might lead to a cessation of hostilities in Gaza.

As reported by Ynet, the head of Mossad, David Barnea, presented a plan to Qatari representatives, suggesting the release of 11 to 14 hostages from Gaza in exchange for a number of Palestinian security detainees held in Israel, alongside a month-long ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

The report indicated that all remaining women and children held by Hamas would be included in the list of hostages to be released under this proposed deal.

While Ynet attributed this proposal to Israel’s negotiating team, Channel 12 indicated that it was the Qatari mediators who introduced the framework. The Channel 12 report mentioned that the proposal accounted for the release of 11 living hostages.

Reports suggest that this agreement would not necessitate a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza nor a complete cessation of fighting—issues that have been contentious in prior negotiations, as Hamas has demanded an end to hostilities as a non-negotiable condition.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Ynet reported that to persuade Hamas to agree to a deal that does not involve a total withdrawal of Israeli troops, Israel would likely need to commit to releasing a larger number of Palestinian security prisoners than initially planned.

Although the exact number is still under consideration, Walla news outlet reported that Israel might release approximately 100 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the 11 to 14 hostages.

However, the terror group seemed to maintain its previous demands on Tuesday, as senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri confirmed that the group was evaluating various options but reiterated that it would not accept any proposal that did not include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

“The movement has confirmed it is open to any deal or ideas that ends the suffering of our people in Gaza and achieve a permanent ceasefire, and the occupation’s withdrawal from all of Gaza Strip,” he stated in a televised address.

He emphasized that any agreement must also end the blockade of the Strip, allow for unrestricted humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, and secure a swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

These demands largely echo those articulated by the terror group over the past year.

Following recent advancements made in Doha, an Israeli official informed the Times of Israel on Tuesday that a second round of hostage discussions would occur later this week in Egypt.

The delegation is expected to be led by Barnea, according to the official.

Simultaneously, as the Israeli delegation engages in discussions, Qatari mediators are anticipated to meet with Hamas leaders in Doha to determine the group’s willingness to re-enter negotiations, as reported by Ynet.

In addition to the month-long ceasefire proposal in exchange for the release of 11 to 14 hostages, Hamas will also be informed about two other potential partial agreements, the report noted.

The first proposal, put forth by Egyptian mediators, involves a two-day ceasefire to facilitate the exchange of four Israeli hostages for a number of Palestinian prisoners.

This Egyptian offer would also entail 10 days of negotiations following the release of the four hostages.

A second proposal, which Qatar is expected to present to Hamas leadership, has been formulated by Russia and involves the release of two hostages who hold Russian citizenship, Alexander (Sasha) Trufanov and Maxim Herkin.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas’s politburo, previously told Russia’s RIA state news agency that the release of the two would be a “priority,” but only as part of a broader ceasefire agreement and in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Despite the reported advancements in negotiations, Axios news reported that the US does not anticipate any significant breakthroughs before the US presidential elections on November 5.

Nonetheless, a spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry stated on Tuesday that Qatar intends to continue working on a ceasefire agreement alongside the administration of US President Joe Biden “until the last minute” before the election.

“We don’t foresee any negative result of the elections on the mediation process itself. We believe we are dealing with institutions, and in a country like the United States the institutions are invested in finding a resolution to this crisis,” spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari remarked at a press conference.

It is estimated that out of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 97 remain in Gaza, including the confirmed bodies of at least 34 individuals by the IDF.

Hamas released 105 civilians during a week-long truce in late November, with four hostages being freed beforehand. Eight hostages were rescued alive by troops, and the remains of 37 hostages have also been recovered, including three who were mistakenly killed by the military while attempting to escape.

Additionally, Hamas is holding two Israeli civilians who entered the Strip in 2014 and 2015, as well as the bodies of two IDF soldiers killed in 2014.

{Matzav.com}

On Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi issued a warning to Iran against any further aggression towards Israel. This statement followed targeted Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military installations over the weekend, which were executed in response to a significant ballistic missile assault initiated by Tehran on October 1.

Addressing aircrews at the Ramon Air Base located in southern Israel, Halevi emphasized that if Iran “makes the mistake and launches another barrage of missiles at Israel, we will once again know how to reach Iran.”

He further cautioned that should Iran choose to attack again, Israel would “reach Iran, with capabilities that we did not even use this time, and hit extremely hard both the capabilities and the places that we spared this time.”

Halevi explained that Israel had refrained from taking full action against Iranian missile production facilities and other targets during the recent strikes because “we may be required to do it again.”

He added, “We didn’t finish this event, we are right in the middle of it.”

In response to the attacks, Iran has attempted to minimize the impact, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stating on Sunday that the situation “should neither be exaggerated nor minimized.”

Similarly, Hossein Salami, the chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, asserted that Israel had “failed to achieve its ominous goals” but warned that the “bitter consequences will be unimaginable” for Israel.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghei, cautioned that Tehran would utilize “all available tools” for retaliation.

Israel’s military responses to Iranian installations occurred weeks after the October 1 incident, during which Iran fired 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting a large portion of the population to seek shelter and resulting in relatively minor damage to military installations and some residential areas, as well as the death of a Palestinian man in the West Bank.

This Iranian assault followed an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that resulted in the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the longstanding leader of Hezbollah. Iran stated that the missile attack was also a reaction to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a widely attributed explosion in Tehran in July.

In a prolonged operation that began early Saturday, numerous Israeli aircraft targeted crucial military facilities throughout Iran, focusing on sites related to drone and ballistic missile production, launch installations, and air defense systems. Explosions were reported in the regions of Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and Shiraz.

Additionally, a set of satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press on Tuesday suggested that Israel likely struck a facility associated with the Revolutionary Guards for ballistic missile production in Shahroud, though the Israel Defense Forces did not confirm it as a designated target.

{Matzav.com}

Excitement is building as Moisha’s/KRM Supermarket, known for its incredible prices, announces the opening of a new location in Howell, New Jersey, at the former Stop & Shop on Route 9 North, just minutes from Lakewood.

This expansion marks the supermarket’s third location, following its successful outlets in Boro Park and Flatbush.

The supermarket was famously founded by the late baal chesed and baal tzedakah, Reb Moish Binik zt”l.

The new store will be situated at 4861 US-9 in Howell, making it one of the largest kosher supermarkets in the world.

As part of the transition, the existing Stop & Shop will close its doors this Thursday at 3 p.m., with a significant clearance sale offering everything at 25% off until the final closing.

Following the closure, extensive renovations will take place to prepare the space for the new supermarket, with hopes to unveil the updated store in the coming months, hopefully in time for Pesach.

{Matzav.com}

According to a report from the Media Research Center, former President Donald Trump’s coverage from ABC, NBC, and CBS has been 85% negative while Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris has enjoyed 78% positive coverage.

“The difference in coverage between the two candidates is far greater than in 2016, when both Trump and then-challenger Hillary Clinton received mostly negative coverage (91% negative for Trump, vs. 79% negative for Clinton). It’s even greater than in 2020, when Joe Biden was treated to 66 percent positive coverage, vs. 92 percent negative for Trump,” MRC reports.

From Fox News:

MRC reported that ABC, CBS and NBC have spent more than 200 minutes of airtime, most of it negative, harping on controversies surrounding Trump while glossing over or, in many cases, outright ignoring controversies related to Harris – such as plagiarism accusations and allegations surrounding her husband, Doug Emhoff.

…

Analysts reviewed more than 600 segments about the presidential race that aired on ABC, CBS or NBC beginning on the day President Biden suspended his candidacy in late July, through October 25.

After weeks of glowing coverage for Harris as the Democratic nominee, the three networks seemingly changed their tone following the debate between Harris and Trump in September, the MRC analysts found.

“The networks shifted attention away from Harris, spending significantly more airtime targeting Trump,” the report reads.

“From the date Harris entered the race on July 21 through September 10, she received 353 minutes of network evening news coverage, virtually identical to the 355 minutes given Trump during the same period. Since then, however, TV has focused nearly twice as much attention on Trump as Harris: 398 minutes for the former President, compared to just 230 minutes for the Vice President,” the study found.

More over at Fox News:

President Biden referred to supporters of Donald Trump as “garbage” on Tuesday while criticizing a comedian’s remarks made during a rally held by the former president at Madison Square Garden.

The president expressed his outrage over a joke delivered by Tony Hinchcliffe, host of the “Kill Tony” podcast, who, during Trump’s rally on Sunday night, referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”

“Donald Trump has no character. He doesn’t give a damn about the Latino community,” Biden stated during a campaign call from the White House on Tuesday, which was first reported by NBC. “Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage.”

“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”

In response to Biden’s comments, Trump, speaking at a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, criticized the president’s “garbage” label, arguing it was more offensive than Hillary Clinton’s previous characterization of his supporters as “deplorable.”

“Wow. That’s terrible,” Trump remarked regarding Biden’s statement.

“So, you have to remember Hillary [Clinton] – she said ‘deplorable’ and then she said ‘irredeemable’ …. ‘garbage’ I think is worse,” Trump noted.

During the same campaign call, Biden, 81, emphasized that Puerto Ricans are “good decent, honorable people.”

Andrew Bates, the White House deputy press secretary, clarified that “The president referred to the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as ‘garbage.’”

In a transcript shared by the White House, Biden’s team suggested that there should have been an apostrophe in “supporters.”

“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s — his — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American,” the transcript indicated.

Biden quickly took to social media to clarify his comments.

“Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage—which is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I meant to say,” he wrote on X.

For two days, Democrats and the Harris-Walz campaign had been attacking Trump regarding Hinchcliffe’s joke, but Biden’s remarks appeared to provide Republicans with new talking points.

Additionally, Vice President Kamala Harris was scheduled to deliver her “closing arguments” speech at the Ellipse that evening, but Biden’s comment quickly garnered significant media attention, overshadowing her address intended to give the campaign a boost.

Trump distanced himself from Hinchcliffe, who faced widespread criticism from both parties for his joke about Puerto Rico during his opening remarks at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday.

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance promptly responded to Biden.

“This is disgusting. Kamala Harris and her boss Joe Biden are attacking half of the country. There’s no excuse for this. I hope Americans reject it,” he wrote on X.

“I don’t know him, someone put him up there,” Trump, 78, later told reporters when asked about Hinchcliffe’s remark, and his campaign previously stated that the joke did not reflect their views.

Hinchcliffe has defended his controversial statement, maintaining that it was meant as a joke.

“These people have no sense of humor,” he posted on X amid the backlash. “I love Puerto Rico and vacation there.”

During the Allentown rally, which has a significant Puerto Rican population of over 34,000, the former president received an endorsement from Zoraida Buxó, Puerto Rico’s Shadow US Senator.

As a shadow senator, Buxó does not possess voting rights in the Senate.

Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who campaigned alongside Trump in Allentown, condemned Biden’s remarks.

“He’s talking about everyday Americans who love their country and want to dream big again and support you, Mr. President,” Rubio stated. “And I hope [the Harris] campaign is about to apologize for what Joe Biden just said.”

“We are not garbage. We are patriots. We love America. Thank you for running.”

Karoline Leavitt, press secretary for Trump’s campaign, also criticized Biden’s comments.

“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris hate America and don’t deserve four more years. Kamala must answer for this disgraceful attack on tens of millions of Americans.”

Biden, who has often been overshadowed by the ongoing 2024 electoral contest between Trump and Harris, stirred up Trump supporters last week with a comment about wanting to imprison the former president.

“If I said this five years ago, you’d lock me up: We gotta lock him up,” Biden remarked during a campaign stop in New Hampshire last week.

Moments later, he amended his statement: “Politically, lock him up — lock him out, that’s what we’ve got to do.”

{Matzav.com}

A highly-anticipated Dina D’malchusa Dina event will be held TONIGHT, Wednesday night, October 30, at 8:00 PM, at the Lakewood High School Auditorium in Lakewood, NJ.

This event follows the recent success of a similar gathering in Boro Park, which brought together over 1,500 men and women under the auspices of Agudath Israel’s KnowUs division. The Boro Park event was both powerful and timely, emphasizing the importance of upholding the highest standards of ethical and financial conduct as Torah Jews, especially in our interactions with secular society.

The event in Lakewood will be hosted by Mr. Shloime Werdiger and will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Rav Elya Brudny and Rav Chaim Meir Roth, who will deliver drashos on the importance of integrity in our public and private lives. In addition, Mr. Benjamin Brafman, the highly regarded criminal defense attorney, will offer unique insights and guidance from his years of experience.

One of the most impactful moments at the Boro Park event came from Rabbi Aaron Lipskar of the Aleph Institute, who will be speaking tonight in Lakewood as well. Rabbi Lipskar addressed the concept of “preventative pidyon shvuyim” with moving stories and invaluable advice on the legal and personal safeguards that can help us avoid difficult situations. His message underscored the profound importance of caution, self-awareness, and integrity, a message that resonated with all in attendance.

{Matzav.com}

During a press event at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump declared that Vice President Kamala Harris is running a campaign characterized by “hate.”

“She’s running,” Trump said, “on a campaign of demoralization and, really, a campaign of destruction. But really, perhaps more than anything else, it’s a campaign of hate, a campaign of absolute hate.”

Trump centered his press conference around Harris, addressing various concerns regarding the Democratic Party candidate. A significant focus was on the border and illegal immigration, an area where Harris has notably faced challenges. However, throughout the press conference, there was considerable discussion about the language and tone used by Harris and the Democratic Party amid the ongoing border crisis.

“After two assassination attempts in just over three months, her lies and her slanders are very shameful and really inexcusable,” Trump remarked.

The event also included Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, who lost her life in Afghanistan in late August 2021 during the chaotic withdrawal.

Nicole, Shamblin expressed, “was the cornerstone of a very large family and instead of planning family gatherings and holiday meals and Christmases and baby showers, our family and thousands of other families plan outings at funeral grave sites, and that is where we, as a family, celebrate my daughter-in-law — at Arlington National Cemetery because she is in the ground. Her story isn’t unique to our family. She’s just ours. There are thousands and thousands and thousands of wounded veterans who came home from that war who need our help, and who are ignored by our current administration.”

While Trump initially directed his remarks at Harris, the press conference gradually shifted to other topics, including the economy and the potential for war.

{Matzav.com}

A man who forcibly entered the residence of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and assaulted her husband with a hammer has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the chance of parole on state charges in California. David DePape was previously convicted of federal charges in May, resulting in a 30-year prison sentence that will run concurrently with the state sentence.

During the state trial, a jury in San Francisco found DePape guilty of kidnapping, first-degree burglary, and false imprisonment of an elder. The violent incident left Paul Pelosi, aged 84, hospitalized for six days due to a fractured skull and other serious injuries. Following the sentencing, the Pelosi family issued a statement declaring that “legal justice has been served.”

They expressed that “Since the violent break-in and shouts of ‘where’s Nancy?’ two years ago, not a day goes by that we do not think of this devastating assault, its trauma — or the possibility of future attacks.” The family hopes that the sentence will convey a message “that political violence against elected officials or their family members will not be tolerated.”

DePape’s attorney announced plans to appeal the ruling made on Tuesday. “This was a really tragic end to a tragic story,” attorney Adam Lipson told reporters following the hearing. Mr. Lipson had previously urged the judge for a more lenient sentence, claiming that DePape’s mental health issues and feelings of isolation contributed to his susceptibility to propaganda.

Judge Harry Dorfman rejected this plea, stating he felt no sympathy for DePape. “I feel sympathy for the victim in this case, who’s lucky to be alive,” Judge Dorfman remarked while delivering the sentence. “It’s my intention that Mr DePape will never get out of prison, he can never be paroled.”

During the earlier trial, video evidence showed DePape, a Canadian national residing in the U.S. for twenty years, breaking into the Pelosi residence in California, armed with a hammer, on October 28, 2022. DePape inquired about Mrs. Pelosi, who was not present, when he confronted her husband inside their home.

When law enforcement officers responded to a 911 call, they discovered Mr. Pelosi and DePape both holding onto the hammer. Shortly after, when instructed to drop the weapon, DePape suddenly attacked Mr. Pelosi before being subdued by the officers. The confrontation was recorded on body cameras worn by the responding officers.

In addition to suffering a fractured skull, Mr. Pelosi incurred injuries to his arm and hand, having been struck three times during the assault. The attacker admitted in his federal trial that he intended to take Mrs. Pelosi hostage, film an interrogation, and “break her kneecaps” if she failed to confess to what he claimed were her lies.

Mrs. Pelosi’s daughter, Christine, shared a letter penned by her father, in which he expressed that the attack resulted in nerve damage and left him anxious about sleeping alone at home. When given the opportunity to speak in court during the state trial, DePape extensively discussed conspiracy theories related to the September 11, 2001 attacks, as reported by the Associated Press, whose journalists were present in the courtroom.

DePape further claimed that his court-appointed lawyers were conspiring against him, leading the judge to interrupt him multiple times, according to the AP report.

{Matzav.com}

If you’re a business owner, there’s a critical new law you can’t afford to ignore. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) requires most U.S. small businesses—including LLCs and corporations—to report their ownership information to the government. What’s more, the agency responsible, FinCEN, won’t send reminders. Missing this filing could cost you thousands in fines, making it essential to tackle this requirement sooner rather than later.

The CTA is all about transparency. It requires companies to report anyone who owns or controls at least 25% of the business, along with their basic personal information. This is meant to prevent illegal activities like money laundering. But it also means small businesses—yes, even the ones with only a few people involved—need to follow this new rule.

Most LLCs and small corporations will need to file. For businesses formed before January 1, 2024, you need to file by January 1, 2025. For new businesses formed after January 1, 2024, the filing is due within 30 days of formation.

Just like tax returns and other government processes, this can be confusing for many people. If your local accountant is set up to assist with filing, keep an eye out for a message or mailing from them. If not, reach out to them or a BOI filing service as soon as possible.

According to the Government Accountability Office, 2,700 migrants have died crossing into the US under President Biden and border czar Kamala Harris.

“The reason we have seen more deaths is because people believe the government is allowing people into the United States and therefore, they are taking more of a risk. Like other areas along the southwest border, we too have seen a significant increase in illegal aliens crossings, apprehensions and gotaways,” said Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland.

“With its open border policies, this administration is most definitely to blame for the increase in deaths. They have given those wanting to come to America the desire to risk their lives.”

From The New York Post:

Before serving as sheriff, Cleveland was a Border Patrol agent in the same area, where they usually only found one body a year.

Under the Trump administration, there were about 1,100 recorded migrant deaths across the southern border.

Harris was tasked with addressing the “root causes of migration” three months into the Biden administration. What followed was the deadliest year on record at the southern border in the fiscal year 2022, when feds recorded 900 migrant deaths.

The United Nations International Office of Migration (IOM) labeled the southern border the “world’s deadliest migrant land route after the record.

Since Harris took on the role of stopping migration, the sheriff says he’s been inundated with countless Facebook messages from loved ones searching for their family members they know crossed in his rmote county. Sometimes he finds them, many times he can’t.

“I don’t care if you’re a good guy or bad guy, legal or illegal. I don’t want to see anybody die. That’s still somebody’s loved one,” said Cleveland.

Full story over at The New York Post:

Rav Aharon Teitelbaum of Satmar of Kiryas Yoel in Upstate New York announced that he endorsed former President Donald Trump for president.

A mock Satmar ballot, which offered guidance in Yiddish for whom to vote for, showed votes cast for Democrats in nine of the 11 federal, state and local races. However, Trump received the rebbe’s approval, reportedly following discussions among the leadership of the Chassidic group.

An Israeli media report that JNS was unable to verify indicates that Satmar leadership was concerned about the possible implications for Jews if Vice President Kamala Harris becomes president.

The news of the Trump endorsement is a marked departure from the rebbe’s criticism of “Trumpism” after Election Day in 2022.

“Trumpism became entangled in the Jewish camp,” the rebbe said at the time. “This Trumpism twisted the minds of so many Yidden,” he said. “It brainwashed people, and that’s so painful.”

The rebbe’s group, which was one of only two New York Chassidic voting blocs that tied themselves to Hochul, generally favors Republicans in national elections. It mostly supports Democrats in state and local ballots, given the strengths of Democrats in the state.

Aside from Trump, the rebbe announced his endorsement on Monday of Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) in the 18th Congressional District. Ryan is facing Alison Esposito, a Republican, in what analysts see as a key race for control of the U.S. House of Representatives. JNS

Five more Israel Defense Forces soldiers were killed fighting in the northern Gaza Strip and Southern Lebanon, the army said Tuesday.

The soldiers killed in Gaza were identified as Cpt. Yehonatan Joni Keren, 22, from Moledet; Staff Sgt. Nisim Meytal, 20, from Hadera; Staff Sgt. Aviv Gilboa, 21, from Neve Tzuf; and Staff Sgt. Naor Haimov, 22, from Rosh Ha’ayin. All four served in the IDF’s elite Multidimensional Unit.

An officer in the unit was seriously wounded in the incident that killed the four.

On Tuesday night, the IDF announced that Master Sgt. (res.) Yedidia Bloch, 31, from Mevo Horon, died of serious wounds he sustained late last week while fighting Hezbollah terrorists in Southern Lebanon. Bloch served in the Battalion 7155 of the 55th Paratroopers Brigade.

On Monday night, an IDF soldier wounded in the northern Gaza Strip earlier this month succumbed to his wounds, the army announced.

Maj. Guy Yaacov Nezri, 25, of the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion, from Atlit, was seriously hurt in Jabalia on Oct. 19.

The IDF death toll in Gaza since the start of the ground operation there on Oct. 27, 2023, stands at 365, while the figure on all fronts since Oct. 7, 2023 is 777.

Additionally, Ch. Insp. Arnon Zamora, a member of the Border Police’s Yamam National Counter-Terrorism Unit, was fatally wounded during a hostage rescue mission in Gaza in June, and civilian defense contractor Liron Yitzhak was mortally wounded in the Strip in May. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

Former President Trump says he has ‘no idea’ who the comedian is who delivered the disparaging joke referencing Puerto Rico at the recent Trump rally at MSG.

Washington believes that Hamas is being led in Gaza by a council until its hierarchy is re-established after Israeli forces killed Yahya Sinwar, the terror group’s chief in the Strip, on Oct. 16, Matthew Miller, the U.S. State Department spokesman, said at a Monday press conference.

Qatar, a major U.S. ally, which senior U.S. officials frequently thank for its role in negotiating on behalf of Hamas in ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal, has long harbored Khaled Mashaal, Hamas’s acting leader.

JNS asked why Washington isn’t pressuring Qatar to push Mashaal into a deal, given that the terror leader is a guest in the Gulf state.

Miller cited the prior “tireless efforts” and “intense focus” of Qatari Prime Minister Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to try to seal an agreement.

“They have a channel with Hamas that is productive for trying to reach this agreement,” Miller said. “The fact is it’s Hamas that holds the hostages, and so it’s Hamas with whom they have to negotiate.”

Last month, the U.S. Justice Department unsealed charges against Mashaal for his role in orchestrating the Oct. 7 attacks.

JNS asked Miller if the State Department believes that Qatar has more leverage, given that Mashaal lives there. The Foggy Bottom spokesman again demurred.

“We have made clear that is an important channel that exists to communicate with Hamas to try to get these hostages home,” Miller said. “There can be no more business as usual with Hamas. But it is important that this channel continues to exist, because we have hostages, including seven American hostages who remain in Gaza, that we want to try to get home.”

JNS also pressed Miller on the Biden administration’s stance on UNRWA, the Palestinian-only, United Nations aid and social-services agency, which has been plagued by scandal in recent months. Some of the agency’s employees participated directly in Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attack. Israel says that many of the agency’s staff members have ties to Palestinian terror. The United Nations says that is not the case.

The State Department tried to pressure the Israeli government and legislature into killing a pair of bills to cripple UNRWA activities in Israel, but those bills—which make it illegal for UNRWA to operate in Israeli territory and for Israeli officials to coordinate with the U.N. body—passed in the Knesset shortly after Miller’s briefing.

The Biden administration suspended funding for UNRWA in March after allegations, many of which were substantiated by an internal U.N. investigation, that some UNRWA staffers took part in the Hamas massacre in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Some other countries followed suit but then reversed course after a U.N. report, which critics called a whitewashing, largely absolved UNRWA for its ties to Hamas or downplayed what critics say are systemic issues that allow terror groups to gain influence in the agency.

Before the Biden administration could resume funding, Congress twice suspended the U.N. agency’s funding on a wide, bipartisan basis. At the earliest, U.S. funding of the U.N. body could begin next March.

JNS asked Miller how the State Department can justify its pressure on Israel to continue facilitating UNRWA’s work, given that two branches of the U.S. government suspended funding to the agency this year.

Miller told JNS that the Biden administration would have resumed funding UNRWA after the United Nations closed its internal investigation if Congress hadn’t interceded.

“That doesn’t mean that there aren’t important reforms that UNRWA needs to undertake,” Miller told JNS. “We believe there are.”

But Israel “should supply UNRWA with the information it alleges to hold against UNRWA employees,” Miller said.

Israel has provided UNRWA with a list of some 100 names of agency employees, who Yerushalayim says are tied directly to terror groups. One of those on the list, Mohammad Abu Itiwi, was killed in an Israeli airstrike last week. UNRWA subsequently admitted, based on photographic evidence, that the terrorist led a slaughter of Israeli citizens at a bomb shelter in southern Israel and the kidnapping of 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was later murdered by Hamas.

UNRWA has said that the Jewish state must provide more evidence to tie names to deeds. Miller agreed with the global body.

“I think that’s a fairly obvious thing to do—if they want UNRWA to take action in the way that any organization should take action if any of its employees are involved in a terrorist attack,” Miller said.

(JNS)