Matzav

A dramatic and deeply emotional shmuess delivered by the Rosh Yeshiva of Yakirei Yerushalayim and Be’er HaTalmud, Rav Yehuda Cohen, has sent shockwaves through the yeshiva world after a serious theft was uncovered involving a bochur who allegedly stole equipment worth thousands of shekels from the yeshiva.

Rav Cohen, a prominent Sefardic rosh yeshiva and a member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, stopped regular learning to address the incident in a forceful and impassioned shmuess.

“I’m sorry to speak about this after all the divrei Torah,” he began. “But he’echrach lo yiganeh—this must be said. I believe everyone here knows what happened. I’m saying this now so no one will later say, ‘Why didn’t we hear?’ Oy lanu miyom hadin, oy lanu miyom hatochacha. What will a person answer on the Day of Judgment?”

The Rosh Yeshiva did not mince words: “No one can wash their hands and say, ‘It wasn’t me.’ What happened last night in this yeshiva—if the person who did it hadn’t relied on the silence of his friends, would he have dared?

“You could have stopped it,” Rav Cohen declared, his voice rising. “But you didn’t. Forgive me, but if I don’t speak up, I’ll be held accountable in Shamayim. Oy la’chevrah that raises snakes and scorpions like this. Someone who has to come back in a gilgul, after death, after chibut hakever, after all the suffering, because of one stolen perutah—he’ll be sent back. I’m the one who built this yeshiva with my own blood and sweat.”

He described the personal standards he holds himself to: “If I need to drink a half-cup of water, I make sure to only fill a half-cup, so that instead of the pump running for 12 seconds, it runs for 8. That’s how careful I am with the yeshiva’s money.”

Rav Cohen expressed his frustration with the culture of silence: “Kol Yisrael areivim zeh lazeh. Everyone is accountable. Why didn’t you protest? You saw it. The mashgiach, shlita, worked to exhaustion trying to uncover the thieves. I called a close friend of mine in the police. I’m telling you—this is going to cause a tremendous chillul Hashem. The bochur’s name will be exposed. He won’t be able to marry a religious girl. Maybe a shedah—a demon. This is a disgrace for the entire yeshiva. It’ll be in the headlines: ‘Police come to Be’er HaTalmud to search for thieves.’

“I’m ashamed,” he admitted, “but he’echrach lo yiganeh velo yishubach. This is the one sin that remains. Kinah, taavah, and kavod destroy a person. They lose both this world and the next. There is no forgiveness for such a person.”

The Rosh Yeshiva issued a chilling ultimatum: “If the guilty one isn’t found, I’ll have no choice. I’ll gather the entire yeshiva, we’ll say Tehillim and selichos, open the Aron Kodesh, and cry out for justice. Hakadosh Baruch Hu should avenge this betrayal. Forgive me for saying so, but I’d rather raise animals than human beings capable of such behavior. These are people who hate Hashem, hate Torah, desecrate Shem Shamayim, and have no kapparah. And anyone who knows and hides it—his portion is with the sinner.”

Rav Cohen concluded with a stark warning: “The police are coming. It’ll be in the news. It’s a chillul Hashem, a terrible disgrace. I’d rather shut down this place and turn it into a chicken coop than raise such bochurim. Toavas Hashem kol gevah lev. This is an abomination. A bochur who learns Torah like this—his Torah is to’eivah! This isn’t Torah—it’s a disgrace. Thank you.”

{Matzav.com israel}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

We are privileged to live in a time when Boruch Hashem there is no shortage of inspiration at our fingertips. The frum world has been bentched with beautiful podcasts that uplift, inspire, and bring us closer to Avinu Shebashamayim. There are beautiful platforms out there that offer chizuk, hisorerus, and meaningful insights through thoughtful interviews and discussions. NOTE: This letter is not referring to those podcasts. I wish them continued hatzlacha.

But, tragically, the yetzer hara has found a way to hijack this. Recently, there’s been a disturbing rise in a new category of so-called “Orthodox” podcasts—produced by individuals who, yes, may be shomer Shabbos, and may have even attended yeshiva or Bais Yaakov in their youth, but whose content is completely devoid of any sense of kedushah, tznius, or even basic derech eretz.

Let’s not beat around the bush. These are frum-in-name-only productions. The hosts have figured out a formula: throw in a “Baruch Hashem” at the beginning, maybe a “Shavua tov” at the end, and then spend the next hour discussing movies, pop culture, raunchy jokes, foul language, and inappropriate topics under the banner of “Orthodox content.”

And the worst part? They’re pulling in a frum audience. More women than men, but even men and boys. Why? Because it’s marketed as frum. Because the host has a Jewish name. But the content itself is rotten to the core.

[You’ll ask me how I know? I work with kids at risk, kids who aren’t frum, and kids who are on the way back. I am exposed to a lot. That’s how I know, in case you’re wondering.]

Hosts and guests aren’t embarrassed to openly share their favorite “classic films,” favorite goyishe songs, naming Hollywood actors, describing entire movie plots, and reminiscing about scenes that no Torah Jew should have ever seen, let alone publicly discussed. You’ll hear crude remarks about shidduchim and foul language that should never pass the lips of a frum Jew. You’ll have men interviewing women and women interviewing men – which is okay, until the conversation and exchanges between the genders turns totally inappropriate. On a recent podcast, a woman presented a man with a “gift” – a brush with which to brush his luscious hair. How appropriate. This is frum content?

There are hosts and guests dressed with exposed elbows and knees. What, tznius is now optional?

How about the host and guest who spoke about their favorite secular music and which non-Jewish band helped them “feel inspired”?

These aren’t just isolated moments. They are the bread and butter of these podcasts. Throw in the word “mamish,” “mammeleh,” and some other yeshivishe language, and suddenly all is kosher. It’s nauseating.

And these podcasts are being consumed by thousands of Yidden who think, mistakenly, that because the host says “Boruch Hashem” and throws in a Shabbos table anecdote, it must be okay.

Let’s be very clear: this is not okay. This is not kosher entertainment. This is not “frum content.” This is spiritual poison wrapped in a deceptive package. If a podcast normalizes goyishe culture, immodest dress, inappropriate language, and narishkeit that mocks Torah values, it’s not “Orthodox media,” it’s a chillul Hashem.

The Rambam writes that the mind is shaped by what one is exposed to. If we’re listening to podcasts that speaks casually about things that are completely assur, what does that do to our neshamos? To our children? To our standards?

Imagine someone walking into your home and turning on a TV show with profanity, with immodestly dressed women, with jokes that border on apikorsus—and saying, “Relax, it’s fine, the guy who made it is Orthodox!” Would anyone allow that into their house? Into their living room? Yet that’s exactly what’s happening through AirPods and Bluetooth speakers every single day.

We need to wake up. We need to draw a line. These podcasts and the platforms that promote them should be viewed as what they truly are: muktzah machmas mius—repulsive and harmful. They don’t belong on your phone, your kids’ devices, or your car ride playlist.

If you wouldn’t let a magazine filled with immodesty into your home, why let it in through a speaker?

To those producing this content: shame on you. Don’t hide behind the word “Orthodox.” Don’t cloak your taavos and corruption in frumkeit. And certainly don’t bring others down with you.

And to those listening: have some self-respect. Remember who you are. You are a child of Avrohom, Yitzchok, and Yaakov. You are the bearer of a Torah hakdosha. Your ears are meant to absorb divrei Elokim chaim, not movie reviews and foul-mouthed mockery. You deserve better. Your neshama deserves better.

A Jew Who Cares
Currently in Monticello, NY

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{Matzav.com}

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Major League Baseball will introduce a twist to this year’s All-Star Game tonight by allowing teams to challenge ball and strike calls using an automated system, according to ESPN. While human umpires will still be making the initial decisions behind the plate, MLB will integrate robot-assisted calls for the first time in an All-Star setting.

The league is borrowing the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system used during spring training and applying it to the midsummer exhibition game in Atlanta. Umpires will still make real-time calls, but each team will receive two opportunities to contest those rulings with the help of the ABS system. “Only a pitcher, catcher or hitter can ask for a challenge and it has to happen almost immediately after the pitch,” ESPN writes. “The player will tap his hat or helmet indicating to the umpire he wants to challenge” and if ABS reproduces the human umpire’s call, the challenge fails. If the system makes a different call, the team can choose to accept that new ruling.

The ABS technology is powered by Hawk-Eye, a sophisticated visual tracking system developed by Sony, which pinpoints the ball’s exact position relative to the hitter’s strike zone. MLB has explored using ABS as the primary decision-maker, but currently sees the challenge format as a balanced middle ground that keeps the spirit of traditional umpiring while integrating precision tech. The two-challenge limit per team also adds a strategic dimension to the game.

As of now, there’s no confirmation that the ABS challenge format will become a fixture in the regular season. However, MLB’s continued experimentation with the system suggests that it could be adopted more broadly in the future.

{Matzav.com}

Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh, who identifies as a democratic socialist and holds the distinction of being the first Somali American and Muslim to serve in the state’s Senate, is officially in the race for mayor of Minneapolis, Breitbart reports. His campaign centers on a progressive agenda that includes support for illegal immigration, opposition to law enforcement, and a sharply critical stance on Israel.

Fateh, a Democrat, previously stirred controversy when he labeled Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert a white supremacist for objecting to taxpayer-funded college tuition for illegal immigrants. He has since championed left-leaning policies, including a bill to make college free for families earning under $80,000 annually, regardless of immigration status—an initiative he says will benefit “all Minnesotans.”

In a video posted to X announcing his campaign, Fateh outlined a platform that mirrors the socialist ideals seen in New York politics. He vowed to prevent cooperation between Minneapolis police and federal immigration agencies, saying, “Protecting all of our communities from Donald Trump means not letting MPD interact with ICE, whether it’s for an immigration raid or not,” Fateh remarked. “Our residents deserve a mayor that will stand up to Donald Trump and say ‘No, not in our community.’”

Among other campaign promises, Fateh is backing a City Council-approved carbon fee initiative, calls for full electrification of the city’s vehicle fleet, and seeks to expand the Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) team, a non-police unit that responds to certain emergency calls.

Fateh has also pledged to boost the city’s minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2028. In addition, he wants to pressure state lawmakers to authorize a local income tax in Minneapolis targeting high-income earners. His campaign website states, “I will lobby the State of Minnesota to allow the City of Minneapolis to institute a local option income tax to ensure the wealthy pay their fair share.”

However, Fateh’s political career has not been without controversy. During his 2022 primary campaign, one of his volunteers, Muse Mohamud Mohamed, was found guilty of lying to a federal grand jury amid a voter fraud probe. Mohamed had claimed to legally submit absentee ballots for three voters, but prosecutors revealed the voters had not authorized him and didn’t even know who he was.

Following the conviction, Fateh said he was “troubled by this conviction” and reiterated his dedication to “organizing and governing to strengthen a fair and free democracy.”

In a move that further distinguished him from mainstream Democrats, Fateh cast an “uncommitted” ballot during Minnesota’s Super Tuesday primary in March 2024. He explained his protest vote was meant as a warning to the Biden administration for backing Israel in its war against Hamas, saying, “unless they are to take immediate and dramatic action to stop Israel from continuing the genocide, they cannot expect support from progressives.”

Fateh’s opposition to U.S. support for Israel appears to resonate with a significant segment of Minneapolis’s Somali Muslim community, a key base of support for his campaign. In one targeted campaign video aimed at Somali voters, Fateh spoke almost entirely in Somali, with the only English words being “rental assistance program.”

{Matzav.com}

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Striking century-old ketubah illustrated in bright colors in conspicuous Persian style. This ketubah is written on 5 sides and bound as a leaflet rather than on a single large leaf as is customary.

Each leaf of the ketubah is encased in a double border and adorned with geometric shapes and decorative leaves. The inner border features elliptical shapes inside rectangular borders containing the text of the ketubah written in classical Persian script, along with the signatures of the chassan and the witnesses.

The deed documents the marriage of the chassan Aharon ben Shmuel to the kallah Shuweika bas Efraim Yosef. It was created on “the fifth day of the week, on the nineteenth of the month of Elul [the month of] compassion, during the year five thousand six hundred and eighty one to the creation of the world…here in the city of Tehran on the Zulqarnain River that draws from the waters of wells and rivers…” The ketubah was created and signed halachically by both the bridegroom and witnesses.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has reportedly received a subpoena tied to remarks he made earlier this year suggesting he may have offered shelter to an undocumented immigrant, according to a report from the New York Times.

The Times, citing several individuals familiar with the situation, reported that U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba is overseeing an investigation related to Murphy’s statements.

According to two of the sources, FBI agents have attempted to speak with at least four people in connection to the case. Another person indicated that the governor had been formally subpoenaed: “Mr. Murphy said in February that he was prepared to house a woman who immigration status was unclear at his family’s home in Middletown. F.B.I. agents have since sought to interview at least four witnesses in connection with the comments, two of the people said, with one adding that the governor had been subpoenaed but not questioned.”

During a meeting with the progressive group Blue Wave New Jersey, Murphy appeared to hint that someone in his personal circle was living in the U.S. without legal status, as reported by Breitbart News: “Tammy and I were talking about … I don’t want to get into too much detail, but there’s someone in our broader universe whose immigration status is not yet at the point that they are trying to get it to,” Murphy said. “And, we said, ‘You know what? Let’s have her live at our house above our garage,’ and good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her.”

Following the public scrutiny sparked by those comments, Murphy’s office attempted to clarify the governor’s statement. A spokesperson told the New York Post that no such individual had “ever lived in the home” under those conditions.

{Matzav.com}

In the wake of the shocking desecration of ancient graves in the city of Yehud by the development company Aura-Israel, and following a major protest held this past Motzoei Shabbos at the Chazon Ish Kollel led by senior rabbonim, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein has released a piercing letter of condemnation.

The letter comes amid widespread outrage across Eretz Yisroel over what many have called a blatant violation of kavod hameis in the name of profit.

Rav Zilberstein begins his letter by addressing his brethren: “To my dear brothers and friends, may Hashem be upon them and grant them life — we have heard of the terrible act of grave desecration for the sake of monetary gain. Chazal have taught that when there is disturbance of the dead, it is a result of the sins of the living. This dreadful matter can cause harm not only to those directly involved but also to anyone who has the ability to protest and remains silent. Gedolei Yisroel have already warned us about this, foremost among them the great leader of our generation, Maran Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Dov Landau shlit”a.”

Rav Zilberstein continues, issuing a call to action: “It is a sacred obligation upon every individual to feel pain over this terrible breach. Anyone who can protest it is obligated to do so, in accordance with the guidance of our Torah leaders. Certainly, it is forbidden to provide financial support for such actions. One must not assist them monetarily, as our gedolim have ruled.”

The letter then takes an even stronger tone, warning all those involved in the desecration:
“It is as clear as day that the dead will not remain silent. History has shown time and again that anyone who had a hand or a name associated with the desecration of graves was not spared. Every individual must be exceedingly careful not to be complicit in any way.”

Rav Zilberstein concludes his letter with a heartfelt plea for spiritual reinforcement and Divine mercy: “In this difficult time, each person must strengthen themselves in Torah learning and daven to Hashem that this grave desecration should cease. We need abundant rachamei Shamayim so this should not bring accusations upon Klal Yisroel. Those who listen will find blessing — v’aleihem tavo birkas tov.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a newly released IDF investigative report, chilling details have emerged about one of the fiercest battles that took place on the morning of Simchas Torah, October 7, at the MOP (Research and Development) base in the Kissufim area. At least 35 heavily armed Hamas terrorists took control of the camp, but the brave and determined actions of the soldiers stationed there—especially those barricaded in the base dining hall—prevented a large-scale massacre.

Four soldiers were killed in the battle: Captain Shila Rauchberger, Sergeant Amichai Rubin, Staff Sergeant Shlomo Reshtnikov, and Staff Sergeant Dvir Chaim Ressler. The report, presented to the bereaved families and base personnel, commends the heroism displayed by the soldiers and commanders who fought back against overwhelming odds. Despite being outnumbered and caught off-guard, their relentless resistance and front-line leadership earned them praise and recognition.

The investigation, led by Lt. Col. Nof Brown, took ten months and included interviews with combatants, reviews of operations logs, surveillance footage, drone images, audio recordings, and classified intelligence. The goal was to reconstruct the precise sequence of events at the base on that tragic day.

According to the findings, a minimum of 35 terrorists infiltrated the camp; at least 10 were killed in direct combat by IDF soldiers. The surprise Hamas attack began at 6:29 a.m. with a barrage of rockets across southern Israel. Within minutes, dozens of terrorists breached the Israeli border using motorcycles, vehicles, and on foot. Several broke into the MOP base through gaps in the gates.

The first stage of the attack lasted from 6:29 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., during which the terrorists stormed the base and opened fire on key structures. Most soldiers had taken shelter in the dining hall, which quickly became a central battleground. The attackers fired rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, and hurled grenades and explosives at the building.

Recognizing the risk of a massacre, Captain Shila Rauchberger and another officer commanded the soldiers inside to defend the two entrances. Their courageous response halted the terrorists’ advance into the hall and initiated a three-hour battle. Repeated attempts by the terrorists to breach the building were repelled. Despite being wounded, several soldiers continued fighting until they required evacuation.

At around 8:15 a.m., terrorists placed an explosive on the door of a southern shelter. Staff Sergeant Dvir Chaim Ressler shielded the door with his body, absorbing the blast and saving two fellow soldiers. One of them was injured. The terrorists eventually abandoned their efforts to break in after failing to force entry.

At 9:00 a.m., the second phase began. A five-man IDF patrol arrived and began rescuing wounded soldiers. The door of the shelter blown open by the terrorists was finally accessed later that evening. Reinforcements were delayed due to ambushes along the access roads.

At 12:30 p.m., a former deputy company commander who had come from home took command at the base, defying warnings about ambushes. He organized defense posts, assigned tasks, and oversaw the medical evacuation process. A helicopter from Unit 669 landed nearby and extracted wounded soldiers under heavy fire.

Around 2:03 p.m., a platoon commander spotted three terrorists 50–70 meters away and neutralized them. Elsewhere in the camp, additional forces eliminated four more. Helicopters had been providing covering fire but ceased once friendly forces were identified nearby.

By 3:40 p.m., a medevac helicopter had landed in the heart of the base and evacuated five more injured personnel. Additional reinforcements from the Golani Brigade arrived by 9:00 p.m. to strengthen defenses and allow the base’s original unit to regroup.

Key Conclusions from the Investigation:

1. The sheer scale and surprise of the attack initially overwhelmed the soldiers. For several hours, the terrorists had operational control of the base. Even after early warnings from surveillance posts, defending forces were unable to leave the camp to assist nearby communities.

2. The unwavering resistance of the IDF troops disrupted Hamas’s plans and dramatically reduced casualties. Their courageous actions, even while wounded, directly prevented a massacre in the dining hall and shelters.

3. The former officer who arrived independently and took command played a vital role in saving lives and restoring operational order.

4. The Air Force also played a critical role in life-saving evacuations under fire, working closely with ground troops despite extreme conditions.

5. A lack of early warning left the base unprepared. Standard defense protocols weren’t fully implemented, and guard positions were abandoned during the initial “Red Alert” sirens.

6. The early loss of command and control during the battle hindered the base’s defense efforts. Still, commanders fought at the front and exemplified leadership through personal courage and direct engagement with the enemy.

The report concludes that despite the operational setbacks and devastating losses, the bravery of the IDF soldiers at the MOP base averted an even greater tragedy. Their names and actions will be remembered with honor.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has introduced new legislation aimed at officially classifying the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), a step that could have serious financial consequences for the international Islamist movement.

Dubbed the “Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025,” the bill adopts a novel “bottom-up” strategy, shifting away from prior methods that failed to gain traction. This new tactic emphasizes targeting the organization’s most violent offshoots across the globe, according to reporting by the Washington Free Beacon.

Scheduled for introduction on Tuesday, the bill instructs the Secretary of State to “catalog Muslim Brotherhood branches that are designated as terrorist groups and designate additional ones that meet relevant criteria – and mandates the designation of the global Muslim Brotherhood for its support to those terrorist groups.” This approach mirrors how the Trump administration successfully labeled Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in 2017.

Previous initiatives to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group fell short, largely because many of its affiliates did not meet the necessary threshold of violent activity. The new proposal seeks to bypass that obstacle by initially targeting confirmed violent factions, thereby paving the way to designate the broader movement under U.S. law.

The Free Beacon notes that the bill has attracted backing from prominent Republican lawmakers such as Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Rick Scott (R-FL). It also has the endorsement of influential pro-Israel and national security advocacy groups, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and FDD Action.

An individual close to Senator Cruz said the legislation was “deliberately and extensively workshopped so that it could become law.” The source emphasized that the intention behind the bill is to see it “passed and implemented.”

With the bill’s official filing expected imminently, supporters anticipate it will receive strong bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress.

Countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have already taken the step of designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group.

That designation followed a period in which the Brotherhood gained political power in Egypt—where it originated—before being ousted by the country’s military leadership.

{Matzav.com}

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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

The Gemara in Bava Kama, daf peh heh, amud alef, says that from the posuk, “Verapo Yerape,” we see that a doctor has permission to heal another person, and one cannot say, “I will rely on Hashem to heal me.” The Mishnah in Kiddushin, daf peh beis, amud alef, says that the best doctors go to Gehinom. The question is: why should doctors go to Gehinom if they have permission to heal?

The Gemara dedicates many pages in different places to discussing various medicines and healing practices. Can we use any of these remedies today?

There are a number of answers regarding the first question about doctors. One explanation is that the Gemara says the best doctors go to Gehinom because if the doctor is arrogant and thinks that he alone is the reason his patients survive, then he deserves Gehinom. One must believe what we say in Shemoneh Esrei—that Hashem is the Rofeh Ne’eman.

Another answer could be that the word “best” is expressed in lashon hakodesh as tov, which has the numerical value of seventeen. A doctor who only believes in seventeen brachos of Shemoneh Esrei and does not believe in the brachah of Refaeinu is one who deserves Gehinom.

Regarding the second question, Tosfos in Moed Katan, daf yud alef, amud alef, says that the medicines listed in the Gemara are no longer effective in our day, as nature has changed.

Reb Akiva Eiger says that one cannot use any medical advice from the Gemara, with the exception of a case when someone is choking on a bone—there is a special lachash to recite that can help.

The bottom line is that the Yam Shel Shlomo says there is a cherem HaKadmonim not to use these refuos from the Gemara, in order to avoid generating negative speech against the Gemara if something does not work as expected.

{Matzav.com}

Torrential downpours swept across New York City and surrounding areas on Monday night, leaving a trail of flooding that disrupted subway service, swamped roadways, and delayed flights for hours.

The storm, slow to pass, delivered relentless rain to much of the Mid-Atlantic region, with flash floods recorded from central Virginia all the way to New York. Water poured into subway entrances and, in some cases, seeped into train cars themselves. Drivers found themselves stranded in waterlogged streets, and rising water levels battered the pumps at a local gas station.

Meteorologist Joe Wegman of the National Weather Service reported that some locations were hit with as much as seven inches of rainfall. By late evening, he noted that the worst of the storm was beginning to lose strength as it tracked down toward Virginia, North Carolina, and the Appalachian region. While those areas could still expect some showers, he emphasized it wouldn’t come close to the severity experienced earlier in and around New York City. “It would not be ‘nearly as bad’ as the downpours on Monday in New York City and its surrounds,” Mr. Wegman said.

Earlier in the evening, the National Weather Service issued flash flood alerts across all five boroughs of New York City. Officials warned residents in basement apartments or flood-prone zones to prepare to evacuate if necessary.

In Manhattan, service was restored to the 1, 2, and 3 subway lines after they were temporarily shut down due to flooding at multiple stations, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced just before 11 p.m. The Staten Island Railway also resumed full operation, the M.T.A. confirmed.

NJ Transit rerouted several of its bus lines connecting New Jersey and New York due to the weather. Rail service between Trenton and Penn Station in New York was back on track as of late Monday, according to NJ Transit updates.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency as a result of the storm’s impact. Footage circulating online captured streets in New Providence, Union County, under water. Kelly Martins, a spokesperson for the county, said parts of several highways had to be shut down, and rescue crews were actively responding to flood emergencies. She added that no deaths had been reported.

In Plainfield, New Jersey, the mayor reported that their train station—on a line that runs into Manhattan—was completely underwater and unusable. Flood watches were also in effect along the Saddle River in Bergen County, which borders New York.

Emergency services in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, located in Lancaster County, had their hands full, making 16 water rescues and responding to over 30 calls for help, mostly from residents with flooded basements, according to Philip Colvin, who coordinates emergency management for the borough.

Colvin noted that more than seven inches of rain fell in less than five hours, causing storm drains to overflow and submerging homes, especially in the western section of the borough.

The New York State Police reported flooding on the Taconic State Parkway, prompting officials to close both directions of the road near Mount Pleasant. The Sprain Brook Parkway in the same area also had to be shut down because of similar conditions.

Air travel faced serious disruptions Monday night as well. Departures at Kennedy International Airport were delayed by more than three hours, while Newark Liberty International Airport saw delays of up to two hours, according to data from FlightAware.

VIDEOS:

The Boro Park community is mourning the passing of Reb Moshe Asher Braun z”l. He was in his eighties.

Reb Moshe Asher was born to his father, Reb Yisroel, in the D.P. camps following the devastation of World War II. From those humble and painful beginnings, he rose to become a beacon of light and learning, known for both his intellectual depth and his boundless love for Yidden.

Though he earned a living as a professor, Reb Moshe Asher’s true joy was found between the walls of the beis medrash and among fellow Jews. He was a familiar and beloved presence in Boro Park, known to many simply as a warm, kind, and engaging neighbor and talmid chochom Children especially were drawn to him—he had a way of making them feel respected, seen, and cherished.

For many years, Reb Moshe Asher davened at the Novominsker Shul, where he was deeply appreciated and admired for his avodah, his sincerity, and his genuine care for others.

An accomplished talmid chochom, Reb Moshe Asher published numerous divrei Torah, including the insights on the Sefas Emes.

He leaves behind a beautiful Torah family who carry forward his ahavas haTorah and ahavas Yisroel.

The levayah will take place on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at Shomrei Hadas Chapels, located at 3803 14th Avenue in Brooklyn, NY.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called on Hamas to release all hostages in its custody and surrender its weapons to the PA, making it clear that the terror group will not be allowed to govern the Gaza Strip once the conflict comes to an end.

During a meeting in Amman with former British prime minister Tony Blair, Abbas also demanded that Palestinian prisoners held by Israel be freed, urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and stressed the necessity of unrestricted humanitarian access to the coastal enclave, according to the official PA news outlet WAFA.

Abbas reiterated his desire for the Palestinian Authority to take over control of Gaza—a proposal consistently opposed by Israel. He also emphasized the importance of a two-state solution built on the framework of the Arab Peace Initiative, and called for an international peace summit to be convened in New York, WAFA reported.

While Abbas had previously voiced support for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the restoration of PA control in Gaza, it wasn’t until last month that he directly condemned the October 7, 2023, terror assault led by Hamas on southern Israel. That attack, in which 1,200 people—mostly civilians—were murdered, ignited the current war and included the mass abduction of hostages.

At that time, Abbas made it clear that Hamas must not be allowed to continue its rule over Gaza and called on the group to disarm and turn its weapons over to the Palestinian security forces.

Militant groups in Gaza continue to hold 50 hostages. Of the 251 people abducted during the October 7 rampage, 49 remain in Hamas’s hands, according to the IDF. Among them are the confirmed remains of at least 28 individuals. Israeli authorities believe 20 are still alive and have voiced deep concern for the condition of two others. In addition, Hamas is holding the body of an IDF soldier who was killed in Gaza in 2014.

Hamas violently took control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2007 in a brutal coup. Since then, the terror organization has been locked in a bitter power struggle with Abbas’s Fatah party, which continues to govern the PA from its seat in Ramallah, in the West Bank.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has pledged to dismantle Hamas’s rule in Gaza and has rejected any possibility of the PA stepping in to govern the territory. At the same time, he has not proposed a concrete alternative, largely due to pressure from his far-right coalition allies, many of whom are advocating for the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.

The Palestinian Authority, meanwhile, suffers from widespread public distrust and criticism. It is widely regarded as corrupt and ineffective, having failed to conduct parliamentary elections since 2006 and presidential elections since 2005.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has once again denied any responsibility for the intelligence and operational failures that led to Hamas’s brutal attack on October 7, 2023. Times of Israel reports that in a video released Monday night across his social media platforms, Netanyahu doubled down on his claim that the Israeli defense establishment—not the political leadership—was at fault for the deadliest assault in the nation’s history.

Facing renewed pressure on his coalition and mounting claims that he has drawn out the Gaza conflict to serve his political needs, Netanyahu recorded an eight-minute English-language interview with Caroline Glick, his new adviser on international affairs and a former journalist. In the heavily scripted exchange, Netanyahu issued some of his sharpest criticisms to date of Israel’s military and intelligence arms while strongly defending the decisions he has made throughout the war.

Fielding questions Glick described as ones “that keep coming up in the international media,” Netanyahu said he had been misinformed by senior defense officials, denied access to essential intelligence, and ultimately was forced to make all major decisions himself. He brushed off suggestions that his political goals or coalition dynamics played any role in how he responded to the crisis.

In the clip, labeled “Just the facts” on X, Netanyahu dismissed the idea that his government’s controversial judicial overhaul had weakened the country and enabled Hamas to strike, calling such a theory “bogus.”

“Don’t mistake our internal democratic debate,” he said. “On the day of reckoning, if we are attacked, we shall all be there, left and right — and that’s exactly what happened.”

When asked about allegations by former IDF chief Herzi Halevi and ex-Shin Bet director Ronen Bar that they had warned him about a possible Hamas attack well in advance, Netanyahu flatly denied it.

“It’s exactly the opposite,” he insisted, citing “recorded conversations with the entire cabinet.”

He reiterated his long-standing assertion that senior defense officials had assured the government there was no imminent threat. “Hamas is deterred. Hamas wants workers, they want economic benefits, there’s no danger of an impending attack. And they said it again, and again, and again,” he said.

Netanyahu also repeated his claim that on the night of October 6, there were indications of unusual activity, but the military failed to notify him.

“They didn’t call me. They didn’t wake up the commander-in-chief. Because let me tell you, if I’d received a call, I would have acted differently — and that didn’t happen,” he said.

He pointed to the so-called “Jericho’s Walls” intelligence as proof that the military misread Hamas’s intentions. In 2022, Israeli intelligence had intercepted a Hamas document from August 2021 outlining a mass invasion of Israeli territory. That plan was compiled into a report titled Jericho’s Walls.

“We never saw it,” Netanyahu claimed, arguing the report disproves claims that his judicial reforms created the backdrop for the massacre. “It was hatched by Hamas in 2022, when a leftist government was in power. It didn’t have anything to do with the judicial reform.”

He accused intelligence officials of suppressing the warning signs. “It basically described exactly what Hamas was going to do… but these guys were working on a fixed idea: Hamas was deterred, and even if we got this incredible information, they didn’t really mean it. They want goodies, they want benefits, they’re not gonna attack us.”

Nonetheless, reports from Israeli intelligence bodies say otherwise. Security services had issued warnings in the years and months leading up to October 7, including four written alerts given to Netanyahu in early-to-mid 2023 highlighting concerns that Israel’s adversaries perceived internal division as an opportunity to strike.

A Shin Bet report published in March 2024 detailed its own missteps and said that longstanding policies of containment and economic appeasement toward Hamas — including decisions to let Qatari funds flow to Gaza — played a central role in the group’s ability to launch its coordinated assault.

Bar, the former Shin Bet head, acknowledged the security agency’s failure and said plainly: “the massacre would have been avoided” had the agency acted differently. He also criticized Netanyahu’s administration for facilitating Qatari money transfers to Hamas’s military wing, allowing them to strengthen in preparation for October 7.

The Shin Bet investigation concluded that the night between October 6 and 7 was marked by critical errors in how information was shared, mishandling of protocols, and poor collaboration with IDF intelligence.

Another former Shin Bet chief, Nadav Argaman, also blamed Netanyahu’s policies. “The prime minister knew, the cabinet knew, the issues were presented more than once or twice,” he said. “It was clear to everyone that this would backfire on us one day.”

Addressing post-October 7 criticisms that he has taken credit for military gains while distancing himself from mistakes, Netanyahu responded, “There were many questions, many reservations, some of them legitimate. But in all the key decisions of the war…I led them. They followed. I’m glad they did.”

He outlined several decisions he said he made personally: initiating operations against Hamas while containing Hezbollah, authorizing the Rafah incursion, approving an attack against Hezbollah, ordering the targeting of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and sanctioning an airstrike against Iran months before it took place. According to Netanyahu, many of these actions were taken over objections from defense officials and amid opposition from the previous U.S. administration.

On the subject of a potential hostage deal and Gaza ceasefire, Netanyahu denied allegations that internal politics were obstructing progress.

“That’s ridiculous,” he said. “In fact, I made hostage deals against my political partners in the coalition. Some of them voted against it. It didn’t faze me.”

He said he had only rejected proposals that he considered harmful to national security. “A bad deal would be to leave Gaza, allow Hamas to rearm, and attack us again and again. No sane government would do it. I certainly didn’t.”

“I intend to get all of them,” he declared, referring to the remaining 50 hostages held in Gaza.

Responding to reports that he refused to consider U.S. plans for Gaza’s postwar future to avoid upsetting his coalition’s right-wing factions, Netanyahu pushed back. “No, it’s another falsehood. It’s not my personal political survival that I’m concerned with, but my country’s survival.”

When asked to define his ultimate objective in Gaza, Netanyahu replied bluntly: “It’s called victory, victory, victory.”

He wrapped up the video by aligning himself with President Donald Trump’s foreign policy philosophy, saying, “a doctrine called peace through strength. First comes strength — then comes peace. That’s what’s going to happen.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is raising concerns about the policy views of New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, specifically highlighting Mamdani’s unwillingness to denounce the slogan “globalize the intifada,” according to a report from The Hill.

During an appearance on ABC, Jeffries confirmed that he plans to meet with Mamdani and intends to discuss several of the Assemblyman’s positions. When asked about Mamdani’s lack of condemnation for Hamas and his defense of the term “globalize” as well as the full phrase “globalize the intifada,” Jeffries responded, “Globalizing the intifada, by way of example, is not an acceptable phrase and he is gonna have to clarify his position on that as he moves forward with respect to the Jewish communities.”

Jeffries stressed that any Democratic candidate hoping to lead New York City must take a firm stance on ensuring the safety of the city’s Jewish population. “Our nominee is going to have to convince folks that he is prepared to aggressively address the rise in antisemitism in the city of New York, which has been an unacceptable development.”

While Jeffries congratulated Mamdani—who identifies as a democratic socialist—on his primary victory in the Democratic mayoral race, he did not offer his endorsement. Instead, he said he wants a direct discussion with Mamdani about the assemblyman’s vision for governing the city.

Jeffries emphasized that one issue overrides all others in importance: the city’s safety. He said the next mayor must be fully committed to “the safety and well-being of all of the people.”

President Donald Trump weighed in on Mamdani’s candidacy by labeling him a “Communist Lunatic” in a social media post. Jeffries fired back by sharing the post and criticizing Trump’s rhetoric. “Stop lying about Assemblyman Mamdani. He is neither a communist nor a lunatic. And New York City doesn’t need to be saved by a wannabe King.”

Andrew Cuomo, the state’s former governor, was defeated by Mamdani in the ranked-choice primary by a ten-point margin. Sources say Cuomo is now weighing the possibility of launching an independent bid for mayor and could make an announcement later this week.

{Matzav.com}

Naftali Bennett pushed back strongly Monday against theories suggesting that Jeffrey Epstein was tied to Israeli intelligence, stating unequivocally that Epstein never worked for the Mossad.

Rumors have swirled for years that Epstein was operating a covert blackmail scheme on behalf of an intelligence service or multiple agencies.

It was previously noted that Epstein maintained close ties with Ehud Barak, a former Israeli prime minister known for his left-leaning politics. Barak visited Epstein frequently at his residences in both Florida and New York.

Due to Barak’s association with Epstein, some conspiracy theorists — and those with antisemitic leanings — have claimed Epstein was a Mossad operative. However, there has never been any proof linking him to any Israeli or international intelligence organization.

Bennett addressed the rumors directly on X, writing:

“As a former Israeli Prime Minister, with the Mossad having reported directly to me, I say to you with 100% certainty:

The accusation that Jeffrey Epstein somehow worked for Israel or the Mossad running a blackmail ring is categorically and totally false.

Epstein’s conduct, both the criminal and the merely despicable, had nothing whatsoever to do with the Mossad or the State of Israel.

Epstein never worked for the Mossad.

This accusation is a lie being peddled by prominent online personalities such as Tucker Carlson pretending they know things they don’t.

They just make things up, say it with confidence and these lies stick, because it’s Israel.

There’s a vicious wave of slander and lies against my country and my people, and we just won’t take it anymore.”

In the United States, the Department of Justice has also pushed back on longstanding public suspicions. Officials have publicly stated there is no so-called “client list,” nor any substantiated evidence of a blackmail operation — despite speculation from political figures, including some who served under President Trump.

{Matzav.com}