Matzav

A federal grand jury issued an indictment Thursday against John Bolton, who once served as President Trump’s national security adviser, accusing him of improperly handling classified material by sending highly sensitive government documents using his personal AOL email account.

According to the indictment, Bolton knowingly transmitted information pertaining to crucial foreign policy issues while corresponding with individuals outside the administration after he left his White House position.

Bolton, who is 76 years old, held the role of national security adviser under President Trump from April 2018 until September 2019, when he was dismissed from the post.

If found guilty, Bolton could be sentenced to as much as ten years in prison for each charge tied to the unauthorized sharing of classified information.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Shmuel Eliyahu on Thursday afternoon responded to the terrorists who were freed as part of the recent hostage deal, urging Israeli citizens to take lethal action if they encounter them.

In a video distributed at the rov’s instruction, Rav Eliyahu addressed his followers directly and said: “If you’re a civilian, a soldier, a police officer, a Shin Bet agent or a Mossad operative — it doesn’t matter what you are.” He continued: “If you see them (the terrorists) and you have the smallest legal pretext in the world, finish them — two magazines, not one. You save lives that way,” the rov stressed.

{Matzav.com}

NYC mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa face off Thursday in their first debate of the general election.

WATCH:

President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that he was in the middle of a live conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I am speaking to President Putin now,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The conversation is ongoing, a lengthy one, and I will report the contents, as will President Putin, at its conclusion. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

A White House official confirmed to Newsmax that the call was indeed taking place.

Trump announced that high-level US and Russian officials will meet next week — and that he will talk face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary to try again to end Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

Trump did not specify further when either meeting would take place, but did say that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would lead the US delegation at the initial sitdown.

Earlier in the day, Trump had told reporters at the White House that he was speaking with Putin about the possibility of supplying NATO — and by extension, Ukraine — with Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The discussion came just one day before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, where the two leaders are expected to talk about the potential transfer of Tomahawks.

Trump said last week that he had informed Zelenskyy he might present Putin with an ultimatum: to either enter serious peace negotiations or face the prospect of Ukraine being armed with Tomahawk missiles.

The back-to-back talks underscore Trump’s current approach — exerting strategic pressure on Moscow while leaving the door open for diplomacy.

When pressed by reporters last week on whether he had finalized his decision about arming Ukraine with Tomahawks, Trump offered a measured response, saying he had “sort of made a decision” but wanted more information first.

“I think I want to find out what they’re doing with them,” he said. “Where are they sending them? I guess I’d have to ask that question.”

“I would ask some questions. I’m not looking to escalate that war,” he added.

Trump has made it clear that under his administration, there will be no blanket shipments of free weapons or aid to Ukraine. Instead, he has told NATO allies they are welcome to purchase the weapons and distribute them as they see fit, while he remains focused on acting as a peace broker between Russia and Ukraine.

{Matzav.com}

A video circulating online Thursday captured Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., stumbling as he walked with an uneven gait before falling to the ground.

In the clip, a reporter who identified herself as “Stella” could be heard asking McConnell, 83, a question regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “taking people off the streets and kidnapping them.”

As the senator moved forward, occasionally steadying himself by reaching for a nearby aide, he suddenly lost his footing and fell. Moments later, the aide and a Capitol Police officer rushed to his side and helped him stand.

After regaining his balance, McConnell turned toward the camera, gave a small smile, and waved, signaling that he was unharmed.

This is not the first public incident to raise concern about McConnell’s health. He has previously exhibited signs of frailty during his appearances in the Capitol.

In July 2023, McConnell froze mid-sentence during a press briefing, pausing his remarks and stepping away before eventually returning to the microphone.

At that time, the onetime Senate majority leader had started his scheduled comments before abruptly halting and being briefly escorted from the podium. When he came back, he reassured reporters, saying, “I’m fine,” and continued addressing other matters.

The question of who will succeed McConnell has already set off one of the most anticipated Republican contests in the nation, with the 2026 Kentucky GOP Senate primary expected to draw significant spending and attention.

Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., currently leads the fundraising race for the Republican nomination to succeed McConnell.

Newsmax has contacted Barr — who once interned for McConnell — for his reaction to the incident.

McConnell announced in February that he would not run again, with his current Senate term concluding in January 2027.

{Matzav.com}

Andrew Cuomo is preparing to go on the attack against Zohran Mamdani during Thursday night’s first general election mayoral debate in New York City, as the seasoned political figure seeks to close the gap with the current front-runner.

Political observers say Cuomo will attempt to reignite momentum for his struggling second-place campaign by directly confronting the far-left Democratic nominee.

“Cuomo will be working feverishly to throw Mamdani off balance and expose him as the radical he says he is,” said Andrew Kirtzman, a veteran communications strategist. “But I have yet to see Mamdani get tripped up on anything significant this campaign — he’s phenomenally fast on his feet.”

Still, Cuomo, a three-term Democratic governor who stepped down in 2021 amid a series of scandals, faces a difficult balancing act. To win over undecided voters and stage a political comeback, he’ll have to strike hard at his opponent without appearing condescending or combative, analysts say.

Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens who first won election in 2020, will take the stage at 30 Rockefeller Center under far different circumstances than during the primary season, when he was a relative unknown facing an established political heavyweight.

Since his surprise victory in June — a stunning defeat for Cuomo — the outspoken socialist has held a steady double-digit lead in polls over his rivals. However, he has yet to reach the 50% mark in any survey. Cuomo, now running as an independent, has gained support in recent weeks following Mayor Eric Adams’s withdrawal from the race late last month.

According to one political insider, Cuomo must deliver a new line of attack that resonates with voters. They expect him to focus on a controversial photo from July showing Mamdani alongside Rebecca Kadaga, a Ugandan politician who championed a harsh anti-gay law while in office.

Cuomo and Mamdani will share the debate stage with Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, the beret-wearing radio host known for his sharp wit and quick retorts. Political strategists say a temporary alignment between Cuomo and Sliwa — deliberate or not — could put Mamdani on the defensive.

“Something to watch for is can Curtis and Cuomo coordinate — intentionally or unintentionally — and put Mamdani on his back feet,” the insider said. “Curtis is a good debater, and he’s got some good one-liners. But if it’s just a slugfest between the three, it’s not going to move the needle.”

Analysts also doubt that the showdown will have a major impact on the outcome of the race, though they expect it to make for lively viewing.

“Candidate impressions are set. So the debates probably won’t move the polls,” said longtime Democratic strategist Ken Frydman. “But they will be good political theater. Cuomo will jab Mamdani, the socialist, Israel-hater, who’s old friends with an anti-gay politician in Uganda. Mamdani will counterpunch with Cuomo’s COVID failure and sexual harassment allegations.”

NBC will broadcast the debate’s first hour live on cable before switching over to its usual three-hour Law & Order programming block at 8 p.m. Viewers who wish to continue watching the candidates face off for control of America’s largest city will need to switch to NBC’s digital stream.

The debate is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at 30 Rockefeller Center.

How to Watch:
The first hour will air on NBC and Telemundo. For those without cable or an antenna, DIRECTV will offer a free trial. At 8 p.m., the debate will continue exclusively on NBC’s streaming platform, with full coverage also available via Politico and the Campaign Finance Board.

Participants:

• Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani

• Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa

• Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo

A second debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22, on NY1.

There will be no live audience or press in attendance, mirroring the format used during the primary debates.

According to the latest Quinnipiac University poll released last week, Mamdani leads with 46%, Cuomo trails with 33%, and Sliwa holds 15%, while 14% of voters remain undecided.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Menachem Bentzion Grossman zt”l, who served for decades as a spiritual mentor within both Chabad and Breslov circles. He was 80 years old.

Rav Grossman suffered a severe stroke and, despite the efforts of the medical staff at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah, he passed away.

The levayah will take place this evening at 10:00 p.m. in Migdal HaEmek, where he will be laid to rest.

Rav Menachem Bentzion was born in Yerushalayim on the 11th of Av, 5705 (1945), to his illustrious father, Rav Yisroel Grossman zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Pinsk-Karlin and a leader of Yeshivos Karlin, Chabad, and Migdal Ohr. His mother, Rebbetzin Gutte Perl (Pninah) a”h, was the daughter of Rav Yosef Gottfarb zt”l.

As a child, he studied in the famed Talmud Torah Etz Chaim in Yerushalayim. In his youth, he married Rebbetzin Chaya Sarah, the daughter of Rav Yerachmiel Moshe Kenig zt”l of Yerushalayim, and together they established their home in the holy city. During those early years, Rav Grossman joined the administration of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Nachalas Har Chabad, which was then being founded.

He was privileged to be among the close associates of the Baba Sali, Rav Yisroel Abuchatzeira zt”l, and maintained close connections with numerous gedolei Yisroel across the Torah world.

Over the years, he also served as a member of the staff of Chesed L’Avraham, the institution established by the Skulener Rebbe zt”l, where he guided children of immigrant families toward a Torah-true education. Additionally, he led a special yeshiva program for rehabilitating prisoners, helping many rebuild both their spiritual and material lives.

A key figure in the founding of Migdal Ohr institutions in Migdal HaEmek, he worked hand in hand with his legendary brother, Rav Yitzchok Dovid Grossman, to strengthen and expand these vital centers of Torah and chesed.

Rav Grossman was the author of Tzintzenes Hamonn, a sefer devoted to the teachings and conduct of the Belzer Rebbe, Rav Aharon of Belz.

He was niftar on the thirtieth yahrtzeit of the Ribnitzer Rebbe zt”l, to whom he was deeply attached.

Rav Grossman leaves behind an esteemed family of sons, daughters, sonsgrandchildren, and great-grandchildren who continue his legacy. He is survived by his brothers, Rav Yitzchok Dovid Grossman, chief rabbi of Migdal HaEmek; Rav Yaakov Grossman; Rav Zalman Grossman, member of the Migdal Ohr administration; and Rav Eliezer Grossman, rosh yeshiva of Migdal Ohr for youth and a ram at the Seret Vizhnitz Yeshiva.

His brothers-in-law include Rav Naftali Nussbaum, rosh yeshiva of Chayei Moshe in Yerushalayim; Rav Shmuel Tzvi Fried, dayan in Yerushalayim; Rav Ben-Zion Leibowitz, educational director of Vizhnitz institutions in Yerushalayim; and Rav Baruch Luria, member of the faculty of the Beis Medrash L’Dayanus Be’er Mayim Chaim.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump cautioned that the United States would take military action against Hamas should the group persist in killing civilians in Gaza — a move that would breach the widely praised cease-fire he helped arrange, which enabled the weekend release of the remaining hostages from Gaza.

“If Hamas continues the violence, “which was not the Deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday, responding to a video that surfaced showing Hamas publicly executing eight Palestinian rivals in a busy Gaza City street just days after the cease-fire took effect.

{Matzav.com}

The New York Times published a scathing critique of President Donald Trump’s plans to revamp the U.S. refugee program, describing the proposed changes as a “radical overhaul.”

Under the initiative, refugee admissions would shift toward individuals who are seen as most capable of integrating into American society — those who speak English, share American values, and are likely to adapt easily.

Documents obtained by the Times reveal that the administration is evaluating sweeping modifications intended to ensure that the long-running refugee system primarily serves the national interest.

According to the report, the plan would favor applicants from nations that share American principles — such as white South Africans and Europeans escaping political oppression — while drastically reducing the number of total admissions to record lows.

The proposal, discussed in meetings held by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, stems from Trump’s directive that all resettlement efforts must align with U.S. security and domestic priorities.

The Times labeled the proposed program as “bare bones,” arguing that it represents a departure from what global advocates have traditionally portrayed as America’s “humanitarian duty.”

On his very first day in office, Trump had already halted refugee admissions and ordered a review to determine whether the program benefited U.S. citizens.

Officials told the Times that while no final decisions have been made, the White House is still considering all of the recommendations under discussion.

Among the changes being weighed is a stronger focus on how well prospective refugees can integrate into American life.

The administration’s concept includes mandatory lessons in American history, culture, and respect for the country’s social norms.

Applicants who demonstrate alignment with key values — such as opposition to uncontrolled immigration and adherence to traditional Western ideals — could receive preferential treatment.

Officials also advised limiting resettlement in areas already burdened by heavy immigrant populations to help promote assimilation and relieve local resource pressures.

One of the documents reviewed referenced the importance of preventing “the concentration of non-native citizens.”

The Times accused the Trump administration of favoring “white Europeans,” particularly noting Trump’s references to the persecution of Afrikaners, South Africa’s white minority population.

The paper further alleged that the president’s vision for America “values whiteness and Christianity,” citing remarks from a former refugee official who served under previous administrations.

Responding to the criticism, State Department spokesman Thomas Pigott stated, “It should come as no surprise that the State Department is implementing the priorities of the duly elected president of the United States. This administration unapologetically prioritizes the interests of the American people.”

Reports indicate that Trump is considering setting the refugee cap at 7,500 for the coming year — a dramatic reduction from the 125,000 limit under President Joe Biden.

Officials say the proposed policy would shift authority over refugee determinations from the United Nations to U.S. embassies, allowing American diplomats to play a more direct role in the process.

While The New York Times labeled the initiative discriminatory, advocates of the plan call it pragmatic — a necessary reform to protect the country’s interests and restore order to the refugee system.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Democratic mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani offered a formal apology to members of the NYPD on Wednesday, acknowledging that his earlier rhetoric — in which he labeled the department “racist,” “wicked,” and “corrupt” — was wrong.

“Absolutely, I’ll apologize to police officers right here, because this is the apology that I’ve been sharing with many rank-and-file officers,” Mamdani told Fox News host Martha MacCallum when asked if he would make his apology public.

“And I apologize because of the fact that I’m looking to work with these officers. And I know that these officers, these men and women who serve in the NYPD, they put their lives on the line every single day,” he continued.

Mamdani’s relationship with law enforcement and his changing views on policing have become a central issue in the city’s mayoral race.

In the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020 — which sparked mass protests over racial injustice and policing nationwide — Mamdani used social media to call for defunding the NYPD and denounced the force in harsh terms.

“We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD,” Mamdani wrote in June 2020 in response to a now-deleted post. “But your deal with @NYCMayor uses budget tricks to keep as many cops as possible on the beat. NO to fake cuts – defund the police.”

That same year, in a series of December posts referencing a ProPublica investigation into the NYPD’s handling of sex-trade enforcement, Mamdani again urged the department’s dismantling.

“All this misery. All for money. In the last budget, the City Council tried to make the NYPD reduce its overtime budget by half. They simply refused,” he wrote in December 2020. “There is no negotiating with an institution this wicked & corrupt. Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of violence.”

In recent months, Mamdani has worked to walk back those earlier declarations, telling CNN that he no longer supports defunding the police and that his prior statements were made in a moment of anger. His latest remarks mark his most direct effort yet to publicly reconcile with law enforcement.

According to a report last month in The New York Times, Mamdani has personally reached out to police officials and privately expressed regret for his past comments. In that interview, he said he felt “he owed officers an apology.”

When asked what message he shared with the two dozen officers he reportedly spoke to, Mamdani explained, “I apologized for the language that I used and I spoke to them about the fact that I want to work with them to deliver public safety because what we’re seeing in the city right now is we’re asking officers to do nearly everything we can think of.”

“We used to ask officers to focus on serious crimes. Now we’re asking them to focus also on the mental health crisis, to focus also on homelessness,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is set to convene the security cabinet and top defense officials tonight for an urgent meeting focused on Gaza, with particular attention to recovering the remains of slain hostages and fallen soldiers.

“We are determined to bring back the hostages, all of them, every last one,” the prime minister declared.

Shas leader Arye Deri demanded that Netanyahu immediately suspend all components of the agreement with Hamas, including reopening the Rafah border crossing and authorizing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Deri made the appeal in a post on X/Twitter on Thursday.

He insisted that no further cooperation should continue until Hamas “cooperates fully and seriously” in returning the bodies of all murdered hostages.

“We are committed to bringing all our sons to a Jewish burial,” Deri wrote.

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli warned that the Israel Defense Forces may be forced to resume combat in Gaza if Hamas fails to surrender its weapons. Speaking to Channel 14 on Wednesday, he emphasized that the situation remains critical.

“We are not in a state of routine – this is a significant moment, and we must be precise: either they hand over the weapons, or we will have to return to fighting,” Chikli said.

{Matzav.com}

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday dismissed reports that Palestinian terrorist leader Marwan Barghouti was abused during a prison transfer, asserting that while the claims were fabricated, he was “proud Barghouti’s conditions have drastically worsened.”

Earlier in the day, the Qatari news outlet Al-Araby TV cited a Palestinian source alleging that Barghouti was “beaten and assaulted” while being moved from Ramon Prison in southern Israel to Megiddo Prison, located north of Jenin.

The same report claimed that Barghouti suffered four broken ribs and briefly lost consciousness as a result of the alleged beating.

Raed Abu al-Hummus, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, issued a statement accusing Israel of carrying out “a real, systematic, and planned execution attempt” against Barghouti. He said Barghouti was “in real danger,” adding, “his blood flowed, his ribs were broken, and he was tortured until he lost consciousness…The necessary medical intervention was not performed, and he was not taken to the hospital. They merely gave him an Acamol pill.”

Responding to these accusations, Ben-Gvir said that “arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti’s claims are false,” yet proudly declared that “we are proud that Barghouti’s conditions have drastically worsened in my tenure.”

The minister continued, “The games are over. The murderer Barghouti now knows terrorists like him will be treated harshly, which is why he invents fake news to energize his despicable terrorist friends who left him behind.”

Barghouti, who hails from the West Bank, was a senior Fatah figure and a central organizer of the Second Intifada. He was captured by Israeli forces in April 2002 during Operation Defensive Shield in Ramallah and later convicted in a civilian court on five counts of murder and several additional charges. He is serving five consecutive life sentences plus additional years.

During a large-scale hunger strike he led between April and May 2017, the Israel Prison Service released footage purportedly showing Barghouti eating secretly in his cell, a video his supporters dismissed as fake.

Barghouti continues to enjoy widespread popularity among Palestinians and has often been cited by Hamas as a top priority for release in negotiations. He appeared on a list of high-profile prisoners Hamas demanded Israel free as part of the ceasefire deal mediated by US President Donald Trump.

However, Israeli officials have made clear that Barghouti’s release is not under consideration. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian told reporters last week, “I can tell you at this point in time that he will not be part of this release.”

{Matzav.com}

A single-page mortgage form signed by New York Attorney General Letitia James has become the focal point of a federal criminal case that could send her to prison for up to 60 years.

The document in question — a “second home rider” attached to her mortgage and obtained by The Post — contains James’s written assurance that the property would serve as a secondary residence she would primarily occupy.

That statement, according to prosecutors, allowed James to lock in a more favorable loan rate from Old Virginia Mortgage/Annie Mac, ultimately saving her close to $19,000 in mortgage costs.

In reality, however, The New York Times reported that shortly after the deal closed, James’s grandniece, Nakia Thompson — who has a long criminal history — moved into the home and began living there.

Federal prosecutors allege that James’s actions amount to bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution. The strength of the case, they note, may depend on whether Thompson paid rent while residing there.

Thompson told a federal grand jury in June that she lived in the three-bedroom, one-bath house rent-free, according to the Times.

The mortgage rider, dated August 17, 2020, bears James’s signature and spells out detailed restrictions on how the property was to be used.

Among the clauses in the agreement was a promise that James would “occupy and use” the house as a second home and retain “exclusive control” over who could live there.

It further required that the property remain “primarily” for her personal use for at least one year following purchase.

The document explicitly barred any “shared ownership arrangement” that would require her to rent it out or grant a management firm — or anyone else — control over occupancy, reiterating that it would be used “primarily” for her own purposes.

Another clause stated that if she or anyone acting on her behalf provided “inaccurate information or statements” about the property’s use as a second home, she could be found in default on the $109,600 loan.

The government’s case appears to hinge on Thompson’s sworn claim that she did not pay rent.

According to the indictment, James submitted tax records showing she spent zero days at the house while reporting thousands of dollars in rental income, as well as deductions for property-related expenses.

Legal analysts noted that Thompson’s criminal background could complicate matters for James.

The 36-year-old grandniece is currently wanted in North Carolina, where she admitted to assaulting a police officer in 2011, and she has multiple prior convictions in Virginia for offenses including grand larceny and possession of burglary tools.

If the defense calls Thompson to testify, prosecutors are expected to highlight her criminal history to undermine her credibility, explained former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani.

“It’ll be up to the judge in the case to decide whether to allow Thompson’s criminal history to be used to impeach her,” she said.

The charges, filed last week in the Eastern District of Virginia, accuse James of falsely certifying that the home “was not occupied or used by James as a secondary residence and was instead used as a rental investment property.”

Prosecutors say her misrepresentation helped her qualify for a 3% mortgage rate — a discount that, according to U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, saved her $18,933 in interest and seller concessions.

James has publicly rejected the allegations, claiming they are politically motivated attacks orchestrated by the Trump administration.

Appearing at a rally for Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in Washington Heights on Monday, James struck a defiant tone.

“We see powerful voices trying to silence truth and punish dissent and weaponize justice for political gain,” she told the cheering crowd.

“We are witnessing the fraying of our democracy, the erosion of our system of government,” James declared, calling the moment “a defining moment in our history.”

{Matzav.com}

Fox News contributor Hugh Hewitt warns ‘thousands’ of non-uniformed individuals are ‘complicit’ in Hamas’ terrorist activities as President Donald Trump pushes forward with the second phase of the Gaza peace agreement.

WATCH:

President Donald Trump took aim at ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday during a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, mocking the host’s interview style and even his name.

“We’ll take a couple of questions from the news, and I’m sure they’ll be incredibly non-hostile, and friendly, like JD went through a very ‘friendly’ interview with George Slopadopoulos,” Trump quipped sarcastically, deliberately mispronouncing Stephanopoulos’ name for effect.

He then brought up the lawsuit he had against ABC, making light of the outcome. “He was nice enough to pay me $16 million the last time we came — he had to pay $16 million to me. Which is good. It was worth it. It was worth having somebody lie. If you get $16 million, that’s good.”

Turning to Vice President JD Vance’s recent appearance on the network, Trump sharply criticized how the exchange was handled. “JD had a very nasty person interviewing him, and we can’t let that happen. Just is inappropriate to cut off a highly respected vice president of the United States, mid-sentence. I guess it’s one way to win an argument. That was the only way he was gonna win the argument. It was pretty inappropriate, I wanna tell you that.”

Moments later, Trump told the reporters present that he would not be taking any questions from “ABC fake news.”

The exchange came days after Vance’s contentious interview with Stephanopoulos, during which the ABC anchor repeatedly pressed him about bribery allegations involving border czar Tom Homan. The back-and-forth ended abruptly when Stephanopoulos terminated the segment after a heated exchange.

Stephanopoulos challenged Vance multiple times, claiming that Homan “was recorded on an audiotape in September 2024, an FBI surveillance tape, accepting $50,000 in cash.”

Vance shot back, questioning the credibility of both the claim and the network. “I don’t know what tape you’re referring to, George. I saw media reports that Tom Homan accepted a bribe. There’s no evidence of that. And here’s why fewer and fewer people watch your program and why you’re losing credibility,” Vance said. “Because you’re talking for now, five minutes with the vice president of the United States about this story regarding Tom Homan, a story that I’ve read about, but I don’t even know the video that you’re talking about.”

When Vance urged the host to move to other subjects, Stephanopoulos refused and ended the interview altogether.

Afterward, Vance took to social media to mock the exchange, writing, “Peace in the Middle East? China threatening critical supply chains? Government shutdown? George S doesn’t care about that. He’s here to focus on the real story: a fake scandal involving Tom Homan.”

{Matzav.com}

Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international anchor, apologized on Monday for remarks suggesting that Hamas had “probably” treated Israeli hostages better than “average Gazans.”

“I regret saying that they may have been treated better than many Gazans, because Hamas used these hostages as pawns and bargaining chips. It was insensitive and wrong,” Amanpour wrote on X.

The veteran anchor has a history of making controversial statements about Israel.

“From speaking to many former hostages and their families, like everyone, I’ve been horrified at what Hamas has subjected them to over two long years. They’ve told me their stories of barely being able to breathe in the tunnels, not being allowed to cry, being starved and made to dig their own graves—and, of course, today, some of the hostages are coming back in body bags,” added Amanpour.

HonestReporting, an organization that monitors and exposes anti-Israel bias in the media, criticized Amanpour for her remarks, in a post on X that drew thousands of reposts.

“Thanks to our exposure of her appalling commentary and your help sharing it online, Amanpour has issued an apology,” HonestReporting wrote. “This isn’t the first time she’s had to apologize for her anti-Israel bias. Shame on her for this latest atrocious example.”

In April 2023, Amanpour referred to the Palestinian terrorist attack in which Lucy Dee and her daughters Maia and Rina Dee were murdered by Palestinian gunmen as a “shootout,” during an interview with Palestinian authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. Amanpour later apologized for this mischaracterization.

HonestReporting also criticized The New York Times on Monday for a photo caption that described the release of Palestinian prisoners—including 250 convicted terrorists—in exchange for Israelis held in Gaza as an “exchange of hostages.”

The text presents a narrative in which “Hamas terrorists and murderers are somehow equal to Israeli hostages held in Gaza. This is moral collapse printed in black and white,” HonestReporting wrote on X. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Health officials have confirmed that a resident of New York has tested positive for the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus, the first case of local transmission recorded in the United States since 2019.

According to the New York State Department of Health, the virus—currently spreading rapidly across parts of China and neighboring countries—was identified in an individual from Nassau County, located on Long Island.

Local health authorities reported that the person developed symptoms in August after traveling outside of the county but remaining within the United States.

While investigators are unsure exactly how the infection occurred, officials said it is most likely that the individual was bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus.

In late September, a 60-year-old woman from Nassau County who had not recently left her community tested positive for the virus during preliminary screening.

Officials have not yet confirmed whether this woman is the same individual mentioned in the earlier reports.

The Department of Health emphasized that chikungunya is rarely deadly and that most people recover completely within about a week.

However, the agency cautioned that certain populations—such as infants, the elderly, and individuals with preexisting medical conditions—face greater risks of severe illness.

Earlier this year, three other chikungunya cases were reported nationwide, though all of those infections were linked to travel in countries where the virus is already widespread, officials said.

At present, the virus has not been discovered in any mosquito populations within the region, and there is no indication of a larger outbreak, health authorities reassured the public.

Still, the species of mosquitoes capable of transmitting the virus—Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus—are known to exist in parts of Long Island and the greater New York City area.

These same mosquitoes can also spread other serious illnesses, including West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and Jamestown Canyon virus.

Experts noted that chikungunya cannot be passed directly from one person to another. With colder weather reducing mosquito activity, “the current risk of transmission is very low,” said State Health Commissioner James McDonald.

Chikungunya, last found locally in 2019, is typically associated with tropical and subtropical climates. Symptoms often include fever, joint and muscle pain, headaches, swelling of the joints, and skin rashes, according to the state health department.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) 

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. 

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. 

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. 

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact –

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory. 

ShasYiden.com

NBC News anchor Andrea Mitchell faced a barrage of ridicule on social media after she appeared to credit the Biden administration for the Gaza ceasefire agreement orchestrated by President Donald Trump.

“That time Andrea Mitchell thanks Blinken and [former President Joe] Biden over [current Secretary of State Marco] Rubio and Trump for the peace deal in Gaza. Just incredible,” journalist Joe Concha wrote on X.

Mitchell had publicly thanked former Secretary of State Antony Blinken on X for “creating the basis for the agreement,” sparking immediate backlash from users accusing her of ignoring Trump’s leadership in the deal.

“Andrea Mitchell decided she knows who deserves gratitude for the Israel/Gaza agreement,” journalist Glenn Greenwald commented on X.

“It’s … Antony Blinken, who achieved nothing other than fueling, encouraging, and justifying the Israeli war. Two-life long D.C. denizens and Israel loyalists slobbering over each other.”

The ceasefire, announced last week, resulted in the release of 20 Israeli hostages and represented the initial phase of Trump’s 20-point peace initiative aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Blinken had previously posted that Trump’s plan “adopted and built on” efforts started under the Biden administration, a remark that prompted Mitchell’s response — and unleashed widespread mockery online.

Critics accused Mitchell of attempting to “rewrite history” by overlooking Trump’s central role in securing the truce.

{Matzav.com}

Conservative commentator Candace Owens has been barred from entering Australia after the nation’s High Court upheld a government decision that she could “incite discord” among local communities.

In a unanimous ruling issued Wednesday, Justices Stephen Gageler, Michelle Gordon, and Robert Beech-Jones concluded that while Australia recognizes an implied freedom of political communication, that principle “is not a ‘personal right,’ is not unlimited and is not absolute.”

The court emphasized that Australia’s Migration Act — which governs both temporary and permanent visas — grants the government authority to deny entry to anyone deemed likely to “stir up or encourage dissension or strife on political matters.”

“Ms Owens Farmer’s submissions should be emphatically rejected,” wrote High Court Justice James Edelman in a separate opinion, using Owens’ married name, Farmer.

In addition to the visa denial, the High Court ordered Owens to cover the government’s legal costs. A spokesperson for Owens did not respond to requests for comment.

Owens had initially applied for a visa in November 2024 to participate in a public speaking tour across Australia. Her request was denied by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who cited the Migration Act’s “character requirements.” Owens subsequently appealed to the High Court, contending that the statute was unconstitutional because it violated her right to political expression.

The Department of Home Affairs defines “good character” as referring to “enduring moral qualities of a person.”

In rejecting her application, Burke said Owens had made “extremist and inflammatory comments towards Muslim, Black, Jewish and LGBTQIA+ communities which generate controversy and hatred.”

“In the current environment where the Australian community is experiencing heightened community tensions, as per the advice of Australia’s security apparatus, I find that there is a risk that Ms Farmer’s controversial views will amplify grievances among communities and lead to increased hostility and violent or radical action,” Burke said at the time.

Neither Burke nor the Department of Home Affairs has issued new comments following the court’s decision.

Owens now becomes the second high-profile American barred from entering Australia in recent months. In July, the rapper Ye — formerly known as Kanye West — had his visa revoked after authorities determined that his song “Heil Hitler” promoted Nazi ideology.

{Matzav.com}