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Two Arab diplomats revealed that Washington has circulated a proposal for rebuilding Gaza that centers on creating new residential zones in the eastern half of the Strip, an area that remains under Israeli control, Jacob Magid reports for The Times of Israel.

The plan, described by the diplomats to The Times of Israel, envisions the construction of roughly six residential districts—part of what US officials have reportedly dubbed “new Gaza.”

According to the diplomats, the term refers to the stretch of territory east of the “Yellow Line,” the provisional boundary drawn after Israel pulled back at the start of the October 10 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The partial withdrawal left Israel overseeing about 53 percent of Gaza, though the Trump administration’s framework calls for a gradual pullout that would eventually see the IDF leave the Strip altogether.

That step, however, is conditioned on two major developments: the successful formation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to manage Gaza’s postwar security and the complete disarmament of Hamas. Since Hamas has made no indication of surrendering its weapons, both prerequisites remain elusive.

The Times of Israel reports that despite those challenges, Trump’s senior adviser Jared Kushner reportedly told Gulf diplomats that Washington intends to begin reconstruction without delay, focusing first on Israeli-controlled territory east of the Yellow Line and on Rafah in Gaza’s south.

The initiative foresees as many as one million Palestinians—roughly half of Gaza’s population—relocating to these new residential areas within two years. But the diplomats who were briefed on the plan called that projection wildly unrealistic. “Palestinians may not want to live under the rule of Hamas, but the idea that they’ll be willing to move to live under Israeli occupation and be under control of the party they also see as responsible for killing 70,000 of their brethren is fantastical,” one Arab diplomat said, referencing figures from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

While the White House has not issued any public statement, one US official told reporters that Washington has not finalized any particular blueprint for Gaza’s future governance. The official emphasized that “lots of ideas are being discussed” and that the process remains in its early stages.

Among those floated ideas was a proposal developed at the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat. It suggested establishing a “humanitarian belt” along the Yellow Line, containing about 16 distribution hubs similar to those once run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Two people familiar with the discussions said humanitarian agencies strongly objected, preventing the plan from moving forward.

The diplomats said the US now hopes to deploy the ISF on the Hamas-controlled side of the Yellow Line, but key regional partners like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have pushed back. Washington had been counting on both nations to fund much of the project.

Although Trump has claimed that multiple countries are eager to participate in the disarmament of Hamas, the diplomats insisted that enthusiasm is lacking. Nations such as Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Egypt have reportedly signaled conditional willingness to contribute troops—only if a UN mandate is in place or Hamas agrees to hand over at least part of its arsenal.

One of the diplomats added that the US might find greater cooperation if the ISF initially deployed on the Israeli-held side of the Yellow Line, replacing the IDF there, in tandem with an agreement for Hamas to begin disarming.

Still, both envoys said it remains uncertain whether Kushner and other US officials managing the Gaza portfolio are taking regional feedback seriously. As one diplomat put it, Arab governments are attempting to balance opposition to core aspects of Washington’s proposal with the desire to remain on good terms with Trump, whose backing they rely on in other policy areas.

That diplomat also noted that American officials have indicated an intention to bring a UN Security Council resolution later this month to formally establish the ISF—potentially before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s November 18 visit to the White House, a meeting viewed in Washington as pivotal to the Gaza rebuilding push.

{Matzav.com}

Former President Barack Hussein Obama privately spoke with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in a call yesterday, offering personal encouragement and pledged to remain “a sounding board” if Mamdani takes City Hall next week, according to a report from the New York Times.

Two sources familiar with the roughly half-hour exchange said Obama commended Mamdani for the strength of his campaign and discussed the next steps if he wins. “Your campaign has been impressive to watch,” Obama told Mamdani, those sources said. The conversation reportedly included talk of staffing a future administration and carrying out Mamdani’s affordability plan.

The former president has steered clear of officially endorsing Mamdani, consistent with his pattern of avoiding city-level contests. Nonetheless, this marks Obama’s second time reaching out since Mamdani defeated Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary, signaling quiet approval.

According to the New York Times, Mamdani expressed gratitude to Obama for the call and shared that he had drawn inspiration from Obama’s landmark speech on race when crafting his own remarks about Islamophobia.

Obama’s spokeswoman declined to comment on the conversation. Mamdani’s campaign, however, released a short statement saying the candidate appreciated Obama’s encouragement and his commitment to “a new kind of politics.”

The call comes amid intense backlash over Mamdani’s record of far-left positions and his hostility toward Israel. He drew outrage for condemning Israel on October 8, 2023—just one day after the Hamas atrocities in southern Israel—and for refusing to denounce the slogan “globalize the intifada.”

Mamdani also recently declared that his administration would abandon the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, a move condemned by Jewish groups.

He has repeatedly accused Israel of committing war crimes during its fight against Hamas in Gaza and has even pledged to order the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York, citing the International Criminal Court’s warrant—despite the fact that the United States is not a member of the ICC.

Criticism also intensified after Mamdani appeared publicly with Brooklyn Imam Siraj Wahhaj, a controversial figure who was identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Polling shows a divided electorate as Election Day approaches. A Fox News survey released Thursday found Mamdani leading the race with 47% support, holding a 16-point advantage over Cuomo at 31%, while Republican Curtis Sliwa registered 15%.

However, a Quinnipiac University poll released a day earlier painted a starkly different picture among Jewish voters. That survey found Cuomo commanding 60% support from Jewish respondents, compared to just 16% for Mamdani and 12% for Sliwa. The remainder of Jewish voters were undecided or preferred other candidates.

According to the same poll, three-quarters of Jewish voters view Mamdani unfavorably, with only 15% expressing a positive opinion. Cuomo fared somewhat better, earning a 39% favorable rating but still facing a 50% unfavorable view among Jews.

{Matzav.com}

Millions of Americans who depend on food assistance are set to feel the impact of both a government shutdown and sweeping new restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as the updated rules took effect — the same day benefits stop ped flowing without federal funding.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website bluntly warns that “the well has run dry” for issuing benefits. In a message at the top of the site, the agency places blame squarely on Democrats in the Senate for blocking continued funding.

“Senate Democrats have now voted 13 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” the notice states. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”

Even as benefits are suspended, new regulations under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act will simultaneously take hold. The law, which cuts an estimated $186 billion in federal spending over the next decade, adds stricter eligibility and work requirements that will remove some participants from the program.

Among the most significant revisions are those targeting able-bodied adults without dependents, known as ABAWDs. They must now prove they work at least 80 hours a month, attend school, or participate in job training to stay eligible. Anyone who fails to meet these standards will be limited to a total of three months of benefits.

The work requirement expansion also affects all able-bodied adults under 65, though parents with children under 14 are newly exempt — previously, the exemption covered parents of children under 18. Veterans, young adults, and homeless individuals are now required to meet the same work standards to continue receiving more than three months of assistance.

Another policy shift concerns immigrants’ access to SNAP, with new “non-citizen eligibility” rules impacting lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, non-citizen U.S. nationals, and undocumented individuals. According to the USDA, state agencies must review “household circumstances to take appropriate action” before informing applicants that they are no longer eligible for benefits.

In addition, a memo from Oregon’s Department of Human Services reveals that even refugees who have been granted asylum and survivors of human trafficking will lose their SNAP benefits under the new federal guidelines.

A central point of contention remains whether the USDA can dip into its contingency fund to keep SNAP payments going through November. On Friday, U.S. District Judge John McConnell temporarily blocked the administration from halting benefits altogether, rejecting the government’s claim that emergency funding was limited to natural disasters.

“SNAP benefits have never, until now, been terminated,” McConnell said during the hearing. “And the United States has, in fact, admitted that the contingency funds are appropriately used during a shutdown and that occurred in 2019.”

Currently, about $5.25 billion is available in the USDA’s reserve fund — far short of the $9.2 billion needed to cover a full month’s worth of food assistance. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins maintained that Democrats are misrepresenting how those funds can be spent.

“If today, say for example Democrats say, ‘Oh, never mind, sorry, we’ll reopen the government,’ and SNAP flows, Hurricane Melissa or one of the hurricanes hits, that’s the contingency fund that we would use to send more money into the vulnerable communities that are harmed by a specific event like a hurricane,” Rollins said.

“But it is a contingency fund that can only flow if the underlying appropriation is approved,” she added. “And listen, even if it could flow, it doesn’t even cover half of the month of November. So here we are again, in two weeks having the exact same conversation.”

Late Friday, President Trump addressed the matter directly, pledging to restore benefits as soon as legal questions are resolved.

“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” he continued. “Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”

{Matzav.com}

Hamas officials said Sunday that they had located the bodies of three Israeli hostages killed during the war, according to statements made to Al-Hadath.

Earlier that day, reports indicated that members of Hamas’s military wing accompanied Red Cross personnel into the Shuja’iyya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City. They were joined by engineering vehicles as they searched through the ruins for the remains of the captives.

The day before, Israel’s Institute of Forensic Medicine completed its analysis of the bodies that Hamas had previously transferred to Israel. Experts determined that the remains did not match any of the identified hostages.

Meanwhile, the IDF has asserted that Hamas is in possession of at least two Israeli bodies that could be handed over without delay. Military officials also believe the terror group has lost track of several others, estimating that between three and five hostages’ bodies remain unaccounted for.

{Matzav.com}

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that he personally apologized to President Trump earlier this week following controversy over a television advertisement aired in Ontario that mocked Trump’s tariff policies and invoked Ronald Reagan’s words to argue against them.

Speaking to reporters after the Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea, Carney acknowledged that he had urged Ontario Premier Doug Ford not to proceed with the commercial, but that his advice went unheeded. “I did apologize to the president,” Carney said, according to Reuters. “The president was offended by the act, or by the ad, rather … It’s not something I would have done — which is to put in place that advertisement — and so I apologized to him,” he added later, as reported by the New York Times.

Trump, addressing the incident aboard Air Force One, said the two had spoken directly and described Carney as “very nice.” “He apologized for what they did with the commercial because it was a false commercial. You know, it was the exact opposite. Ronald Reagan loved tariffs, and they tried to make it look the other way,” the president said. “And he did apologize and I appreciate it.”

The ad, which aired across Ontario and was also slated to run during the 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, was produced by Ford’s team despite warnings from Ottawa that it could inflame tensions with Washington. The commercial used edited Reagan clips to imply opposition to tariffs, a move that Trump denounced as “possibly” artificial intelligence-generated and “misinformation.”

In response, Trump retaliated by halting trade discussions with Canada and adding a ten percent increase to existing tariffs, citing the incident as evidence of what he called bad-faith communication from the Canadian side. Despite Carney’s apology, Trump said Friday that he had no plans to resume trade negotiations “at this time.”

Back in Canada, Ford’s allies stood by his decision to run the spot. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown defended the move, telling CBC, “I support the premier’s approach. It’s got a lot of coverage.” Brown dismissed criticism of the ad’s editing, adding, “And the words are truthful, despite what they’re trying to spin and say that, you know, it’s only a portion of the speech, Ronald Reagan viewed tariffs as taxes that would cost America in the long term.”

The controversy comes as Trump’s tariff policies face judicial scrutiny. The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on November 5 in a case challenging the administration’s authority to impose the duties. Trump has accused Canada of attempting to influence that case, further straining relations between the two longtime allies.

In the wake of the uproar, Carney’s apology may have softened the tone but not the tension. For now, trade talks remain frozen — and what began as a local political stunt has spiraled into an international flashpoint between Washington and Ottawa.

{Matzav.com}

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, announced that their units are ready to recover the remaining bodies of both Israeli and foreign captives buried in areas located beyond the “yellow line,” near IDF positions. The group claims the effort is intended to help move toward a conclusion of the ongoing conflict.

In their official statement, the Al-Qassam Brigades appealed to international mediators and to the International Committee of the Red Cross, requesting access to heavy engineering equipment they say is essential for retrieving the bodies.

Late Friday night, Hamas handed over body parts to Israel that were believed to belong to three individuals. However, forensic experts later confirmed that the remains could not be matched to any of the known hostages.

Israeli authorities stressed that Hamas’ transfer of the remains does not, by itself, amount to a breach of the current ceasefire. Nonetheless, they insisted that Hamas must abide by its obligation to return every remaining hostage body without further delay.

Earlier in the week, Channel 12 reported that when Israel permitted Hamas personnel and Red Cross representatives to conduct recovery operations beyond the “yellow line,” the terrorists instead exploited the opportunity to search for weapons—an act that Israel viewed as a clear violation of the agreement.

{Matzav.com}

In this episode, Rabbi Reinman shows how Aristotle completed the creation of Hellenism, but that Alexander the Great, his student, was the true embodiment of the Greek ideal.

WATCH:

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Greek Warrior King

After The Iliad gained wide readership, hellenism took root in Greek society. The Greeks saw themselves at the pinnacle of the universe, superior to the god race. They built magnificent edifices. They studied the human condition in literature, art and drama. Idolizing the human body, they exercised in the nude in the gymnasiums and publicly displayed the beauty, perfection and prowess of the human body in organized athletic competitions performed in the nude.

The Greeks gloried in their new divinity, but they still lacked a sophisticated view of the universe and the profound questions of existence. Early hellenism had a mind, a body and a heart, but it lacked a soul until the philosophers arrived.

There were a number of early Greek philosophers, but the famous Big Three, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, established the idea that human reason is the ultimate measure of knowledge. Socrates said that man should always search for the truth by asking numerous questions, that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” The authorities in Athens thought he was dangerous and executed him. Socrates did not write a book, but Plato, his student, recorded his teachings and added many of his own. But Plato’s student Aristotle had the greatest impact on Western thought. Socrates and Plato were artists. Aristotle was a scientist.

Aristotle was remarkable for the orderliness of his brilliant mind and the sheer number of directions in which he pointed it. Never one to plunge headlong into the seas of knowledge, he always began with a dissection of the subject under study. He delineated his objectives, defined a set of terms to categorize his research, and only then, he conducted his inquiry. In this way, he formalized logic, developed controlled experimentation and the scientific method of inquiry and compiled veritable encyclopedias of information through observation, analysis and speculation. He also formulated numerous terms, such as matter, form, energy, infinity, genus and species, which endure until this day as basic units of Western thought. Above all, he was a disciplined student with an insatiable appetite for knowledge of practically any kind…

But if humanity had assumed the mantle of the god race in the Greek mode of thought, the idealized image of the ultimate man, the “Greek god” so to speak, was not the homely, squint-eyed thinker such as Socrates or Aristotle. For if man was a god then all of him was divine, his body, his mind and his soul.

Just as, in our own times, the crowds cheer the drivers of racing cars rather than the engineers who design them, the adoration of ancient Greek society was reserved for the sun-bronzed, heroic warrior-athlete, his body perfect and beautiful, his mind enriched by philosophy, his soul nourished by literature. The philosophers and writers were admired but not idolized as heroes. They were the engineers who designed the cultural tools, but the true Greek gods were the splendid human sculptures molded by those tools, the ones who trained unclad in the gymnasium while they discussed philosophy with their fellows.

The man who came closest to the Greek heroic ideal was Alexander the Great, who was not even a Greek but a Macedonian. Macedonia was a country of hardy mountainfolk so backward that in all of antiquity it did not produce a single philosopher, scientist, thinker, writer or artist whose name is known to history. But the ambitious King Philip II, an ardent admirer of Greek culture, he hired the best tutors to give his gifted son Alexander the benefits of a first-class Greek upbringing. Among others, the illustrious Aristotle was brought to the Macedonian capital of Pella to help mold Alexander’s mind during his teenage years. Philip himself trained the boy in the arts of war.

Alexander thus became a potent blend of Macedonian toughness and Greek intellect liberally seasoned with the overpowering personal ambition he inherited from his father. Alexander was a superb physical specimen, a ferocious and tireless warrior, a man with a kingdom at his command and the dream of world empire in his heart. He was also a lover of Greek culture who carried Homer’s The Iliad with him on his campaigns and kept it under his pillow at night next to his dagger. He was cast in the true mold of the Greek hero, and as we trace his career from its meteoric rise to its tragic end, we find that it mirrors the parabolic course of the Greek civilization from which it sprung….

Read full chapter and earlier chapters at www.rabbireinman.com.

LISTEN:

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​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

 

 

 

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series champions once again, capturing their second consecutive title after a heart-stopping Game 7 comeback against the Toronto Blue Jays that stretched into extra innings and ended with pure baseball drama.

Toronto took the early lead in the third inning when Bo Bichette blasted a Shohei Ohtani pitch deep into the stands, sending the Rogers Centre crowd into a frenzy. The Dodgers slowly began to chip away, scoring single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to narrow the deficit and keep the game within reach.

The Blue Jays seemed to regain control in the seventh when Andrés Giménez ripped a clutch RBI double to restore a two-run advantage. But the Dodgers, known for their resilience, refused to go quietly. Max Muncy reignited Los Angeles’s hopes with a mammoth home run that cut the lead to one and shifted the momentum back toward the visitors. Then, in the top of the ninth, veteran infielder Miguel Rojas sent a stunning solo shot over the wall to tie the game and silence the Toronto crowd.

The tension reached its peak in the bottom of the ninth when the Dodgers escaped a bases-loaded jam to keep the score knotted and push the contest into extra innings. Both teams missed chances in the tenth, with Los Angeles failing to cash in after loading the bases themselves.

Finally, in the top of the eleventh, catcher Will Smith delivered the decisive blow, crushing a solo home run to left field to give the Dodgers their first lead of the night. In the bottom half, closer Evan Phillips slammed the door shut, striking out two before inducing a grounder to end the game — and the series.

As the Dodgers poured onto the field in celebration, fireworks erupted and the visiting dugout turned into a sea of blue jubilation. “This team never quits,” Smith said afterward. “We’ve battled all year, and tonight showed what we’re made of.”

With the victory, the Dodgers have now claimed back-to-back World Series championships, solidifying their place as baseball’s modern dynasty and proving once again that when the lights are brightest, they know how to shine.

{Matzav.com}

Tens of thousands of Yidden streamed tonight toward Kever Rochel Imeinu on the outskirts of Beis Lechem to mark 3,579 years since the passing of Mammeh Rochel. But what was meant to be a night of heartfelt tefillos has turned into a scene of severe congestion and disorder, as footage from the area shows massive gridlock, overcrowding, and what observers are describing as a “complete logistical collapse.”

The heavy influx of visitors — arriving in hundreds of buses and private vehicles — brought traffic to a near standstill along Derech Efrata and all access routes to the tziyun. Videos show throngs of people packed shoulder to shoulder, with police and volunteer marshals struggling to maintain order amid scenes of chaos and shouting.

The crowds created enormous pressure both inside the burial compound and along the roads leading to it, leaving thousands stuck outside and unable to reach the site. Witnesses report that even within the tziyun, conditions were suffocating, with Yidden pressed together in dangerously tight spaces.

For generations, Jews have come to this sacred spot — where Yaakov Avinu buried Rochel on the road to Efrata — to pour out their hearts in prayer. The site, imbued with the prophecy of “Rochel mevakah al baneha,” has always symbolized comfort and compassion for her children throughout exile. Yet tonight, those prayers were overshadowed by scenes of confusion and frustration.

Police and security personnel, together with local organizers, attempted to restore calm, but with limited success. “It’s a collapse on every level,” one organizer admitted. “The crowding is unbearable, and people are trying to push their way in. It’s heartbreaking to see such a holy night marred by chaos.”

In an official statement, police confirmed that due to extreme overcrowding, the entrance to the Kever Rochel compound was temporarily closed. “Worshipers who arrived at the site began breaching order and attempting to enter by force, while the compound had already reached its maximum permitted capacity,” the statement read. One individual was detained for allegedly attempting to assault officers.

Authorities urged the public to follow police instructions and avoid the area until conditions stabilize. Despite the disruption, thousands remained gathered nearby, continuing to recite Tehillim and cry out to Hashem in memory of Rochel Imeinu, whose tears, as the posuk promises, “will not go unanswered.”

{Matzav.com}

In the wake of last week’s massive Atzeres in support of the Torah world, Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dov Landau is set to depart Sunday morning for a whirlwind mission to Switzerland, leading a distinguished delegation aimed at strengthening and expanding Keren Olam HaTorah. The foundation has already distributed hundreds of millions of shekels this past year to yeshivos and kollelim across Eretz Yisroel.

During the brief but intensive trip, the Rosh Yeshiva will visit Zurich and Geneva, meeting with prominent philanthropists and delivering addresses at major gatherings designed to rally support for the Torah institutions of Eretz Yisroel.

Accompanying Rav Landau are several renowned gedolei Torah, including Rav Avrohom Salim, Rav Shimon Galai, Rav Boruch Soloveitchik, Rav Yosef Chevroni, and the Rebbe of Rachmastrivka.

Upon arrival in Zurich, the delegation will hold private meetings at the homes of leading benefactors who have pledged significant contributions to Keren Olam HaTorah. That evening, a large public event will take place for the city’s chareidi community, aimed at raising both awareness and funds for the preservation and flourishing of Torah study.

On Monday, the delegation will continue to Geneva for additional gatherings with major donors. The highlight of the day will be a grand Atzeres drawing large Jewish crowds not only from Switzerland but also from neighboring France, particularly from the cities of Aix-les-Bains and Lyon, where thriving Torah communities have expressed their intent to join the event.

Rav Landau is scheduled to return to Eretz Yisroel late Monday night, resuming his regular schedule.

Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who was unable to join the trip due to prior commitments in the United States and France on behalf of Yeshivas Slabodka, sent an emotional letter to the benefactors attending the Swiss gatherings.

“I very much desired to join you at this gathering l’shem Shamayim, but it is beyond my ability to come,” Rav Hirsch wrote. “I wish to bless you from afar yet with a heart that is close. You have been granted a unique and historic merit — the salvation of the yeshivos and kollelim of Eretz Yisroel. Through your actions, you ensure the continuation of Torah learning in the Holy Land. For generations to come, you will be remembered as those in whose portion this great privilege was placed. Fortunate are you and your lot!”

Rav Hirsch went on to remind donors that their contributions to Keren Olam HaTorah should be in addition to their existing charitable giving: “I once again request, as I have in previous gatherings for Keren Olam HaTorah, that the donations for sustaining Torah in Eretz Yisroel not come at the expense of the other causes you regularly support. Those institutions depend upon you, and we must not harm them in any way.”

He added, “Our request is that you give beyond your usual commitments, as many righteous benefactors worldwide have done — recognizing that rescuing the yeshivos of Eretz Yisroel is the urgent need of this time, and one that calls for extra effort and generosity.”

The Rosh Yeshiva concluded his letter with a heartfelt bracha: “In the merit of your devotion beyond your accustomed measure, may Hashem grant you doubled goodness, abundant success, and blessing in all that you do — with health, joy, and fulfillment all your days.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has once again delayed progress on the contentious draft law, instructing Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth to cancel the upcoming session that was scheduled to present the bill. The meeting, originally planned for Monday, has now been postponed to an unspecified date — fueling growing frustration within the chareidi parties.

Just last week, Bismuth had already pushed off the session from Thursday to Monday due to the atzeres tefillah at the entrance to Yerushalayim. But sources say that Netanyahu personally intervened this weekend, directing Bismuth to suspend all further discussion of the draft law for the time being.

Senior figures in the chareidi factions expressed disappointment over the move, stating, “We don’t understand what Netanyahu’s games are. We are continuing to insist on a draft law that will finally formalize the status of bnei hayeshivos.”

A source in United Torah Judaism added that the ongoing delay is creating unnecessary tension. “The chareidi community has been waiting for a clear, binding arrangement,” he said. “We cannot keep functioning under uncertainty while the issue is being tossed back and forth.”

Last week, following the leak of the latest draft, a senior Agudas Yisroel figure harshly criticized Shas’s handling of the proposal: “This draft will never pass the spiritual leadership. I want to see the chareidi MKs vote for a law that sets a 50% draft quota for chareidi recruits. Even if it somehow passes in the coalition, the committee’s legal advisor opposes it, and it will never survive a Supreme Court challenge.”

He added bluntly, “There’s no chance this bill becomes law. Even if it passes, the court will strike it down. It doesn’t truly protect yeshiva students — it’s a political maneuver to pave the way for Deri’s return to the government.”

The source concluded, “We cannot return to the government unless the law passes its second and third readings and has solid legal standing.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal agents and Boston law enforcement are investigating what appears to have been a deliberate explosion early Shabbos morning inside a Harvard Medical School facility, according to USA Today.

The blast occurred around 2:48 a.m. on the fourth floor of the university’s Goldenson Building, Harvard police confirmed in a statement. The Boston Fire Department’s Arson Unit said the incident “appeared to be intentional.”

“The FBI is on the scene and we’re assisting our partners at the Harvard University Police Department with what is a very active investigation,” stated Boston FBI spokesperson Kristen Setera. A full sweep of the area by Boston police determined that no additional explosive devices were present.

Authorities say there were no injuries reported from the explosion.

Police revealed that a Harvard University officer responding to a fire alarm had seen two unknown individuals running from the building. “The officer attempted to stop the individuals before proceeding to the floor where the alarm had been triggered,” the department said.

Investigators have now published surveillance images showing the two people spotted near the site at the time of the explosion. Both are being sought for questioning as part of the ongoing probe.

{Matzav.com}

More than 55,000 runners representing 150 countries will flood the streets of New York City this Sunday for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, weaving through all five boroughs from Staten Island to Central Park. With hundreds of thousands of spectators expected, city officials are bracing for a day of extensive street closures, heavy traffic restrictions, and heightened security.

The marathon will begin on Staten Island, where runners set off across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge before cutting through Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan, ending with the iconic finish inside Central Park. Along the route will be elite runners, wheelchair athletes, and tens of thousands of amateurs determined to conquer the 26.2-mile challenge.

Start Times and Race Schedule

The race will unfold over several waves on Sunday, November 2. Wheelchair racers start first, followed by handcyclists, elite women, elite men, and then five general start waves:

• 8:00 a.m. – Men’s Professional Wheelchair Division

• 8:02 a.m. – Women’s Professional Wheelchair Division

• 8:22 a.m. – Handcycle Category and Select Athletes with Disabilities

• 8:35 a.m. – Professional Women’s Open Division

• 9:05 a.m. – Professional Men’s Open Division

• 9:10 a.m. – Wave 1

• 9:45 a.m. – Wave 2

• 10:20 a.m. – Wave 3

• 10:55 a.m. – Wave 4

• 11:30 a.m. – Wave 5

How to Watch the Race

National coverage will air on ESPN2 and the ESPN App from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, with pre-race segments starting an hour earlier and extended post-race analysis continuing until 1 p.m. Locally, ABC7/WABC-TV will broadcast from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and viewers can catch a live finish-line stream on ABC7NY.com starting at 8 p.m.

Heightened Security Measures

The NYPD is rolling out an expansive security operation that will span the city’s streets, bridges, waterways, and airspace. With Halloween festivities just behind them, police officials are taking no chances as massive crowds gather along the marathon course.

“Our Joint Operations Center will be fully activated with all of our city, our state and our federal partners and personnel there will be actively monitoring fixed and mobile cameras along the route and the surrounding area,” said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “Intelligence teams will also be monitoring social media for potential threats, and response units will be deployed citywide to investigate any reports in real time. Cops will be out there to keep you safe, but we ask everyone to stay alert.”

Specialized divisions — including the Bomb Squad, Aviation, Harbor, Emergency Service Unit, and K-9 teams — will be deployed. Some security tactics will be visible, while others will remain intentionally out of sight.

Following the Race

Spectators can use the official NYRR App to track their favorite runners, view live leaderboards, explore the full course map, and locate the best vantage points to cheer along the route.

Major Road Closures

Expect major travel disruptions across the city as the marathon winds its way through all five boroughs. Closures begin early Sunday and will remain in effect until late afternoon or early evening, depending on location.

Staten Island

• Staten Island Expressway

• Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
  Additional streets near Richmond Terrace, Victory Boulevard, Bay Street, and Father Capodanno Boulevard will also be closed for the start area.

Brooklyn

The race continues north from Bay Ridge through Park Slope, Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, and Greenpoint, closing:

• 4th Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, Lafayette Avenue, Bedford Avenue, Nassau Avenue, Manhattan Avenue, and McGuinness Boulevard.
  The Pulaski Bridge to Queens will also be closed to traffic.

Queens

Expect closures along:

• Vernon Boulevard, 44th Drive, Crescent Street, and Queens Plaza South.
  Runners will then cross the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan.

Manhattan

Runners will enter Manhattan on East 59th Street and travel up 1st Avenue to the Willis Avenue Bridge. After re-entering Manhattan from the Bronx, they’ll continue down 5th Avenue, pass through Harlem, and finish inside Central Park near Columbus Circle.

Bronx

Road closures include:

• Willis Avenue Bridge, East 135th Street, Alexander Avenue, East 138th Street, and 3rd Avenue.

Central Park Area (Finish Line and Family Reunion Zone)

Expect significant restrictions from Columbus Circle to West 76th Street, including portions of Broadway, Columbus Avenue, and side streets near Central Park West.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s political network is channeling millions of dollars into voter mobilization drives for the November 4 gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia — races viewed as crucial barometers for his leadership and the Republican Party’s strength in historically Democratic territory.

Sources close to the operation told reporters that the White House-aligned campaign team is mounting “a $1 million-plus microtargeting effort” in each of the two states, focusing on identifying and energizing Trump-aligned voters and Republican-leaning independents who often skip off-year elections.

In New Jersey, Trump’s allies have thrown their weight behind GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli, betting that a Republican victory in a state long dominated by Democrats would deliver a powerful message of shifting momentum. Polls suggest Democratic strategists are increasingly uneasy about losing the governor’s mansion despite their large registration advantage.

Across the Potomac, the open-seat race in Virginia has also drawn major investment from Trump’s apparatus, signaling a concerted Republican push to reclaim ground in a state that has leaned Democratic in recent national elections.

Republican operatives connected to the effort describe the contests as “a glimpse of the voters’ attitudes 10 months into Trump’s second term.” They say success in either race could provide a morale boost and a valuable springboard heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

Democrats, sensing the stakes, are escalating their own spending. Reuters reported that the Democratic National Committee recently injected another $500,000 into get-out-the-vote operations in New Jersey and Virginia — pushing its total commitment to over $6 million across those states and Pennsylvania, where key judicial contests are also underway.

In the Garden State, the Trump-Ciattarelli campaign is hammering away at the cost-of-living crisis, highlighting surging energy and utility costs as proof that Democratic leadership has failed working families, according to the Associated Press.

Meanwhile in Virginia, observers say the economy, education, and cultural debates are dominating the race. GOP hopeful Winsome Earle-Sears, who embraces many Trump-era policies, must find a way to connect with voters outside the conservative base if she hopes to prevail.

The outcomes carry national weight. Victories in either state would help Trump project strength and affirm the GOP’s vitality under his stewardship; setbacks would hand Democrats ammunition to question his political reach.

For Democrats, keeping control of both governorships is seen as vital to maintaining momentum — and avoiding any perception that the party is losing its grip as the next election cycle looms.

Ultimately, New Jersey and Virginia are being treated not merely as local contests but as early tests of the nation’s political mood under Trump’s administration — with both sides recognizing that the reverberations will stretch far beyond Election Day.

{Matzav.com}

In a powerful and deeply emotional gathering at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Friday, Bar Kupershtein, a survivor of Hamas captivity, turned the stage into a moment of kiddush Hashem and Jewish strength. Before a crowd of thousands, he wrapped himself in a tallis, placed tefillin on his arm, and recited Shema Yisroel in a loud, unwavering voice.

“There were very difficult moments during those two years,” Kupershtein shared. “But I knew I couldn’t lose myself. I saw my captors praying in Arabic — and against the backdrop of their murders, I realized that I had to pray even more. If they were praying for death, I would pray for life.”

He described how his bond with Hashem sustained him throughout the ordeal: “At first, I prayed silently — in my heart, in my stomach, from deep inside, where the soul resides. Later, when we were finally allowed to pray aloud, we made the tunnels tremble with our voices.”

His words reached a crescendo as he declared, “I am certain that faith is what brought me out of there. Thank You, Ribbono shel Olam.”

The crowd was overcome with emotion, responding with prolonged applause and tears.

The event, attended by Israel’s former Chief Rabbi, Rav David Lau, reflected the growing spiritual awakening and faith that have taken root since the war began — the resilience of tefillah, simple emunah, and the unbreakable connection to Hashem even under the harshest conditions.

In a particularly stirring moment, Bar’s father joined him on stage, donning a tallis and joining his son in reciting Shema Yisroel together.

Kupershtein concluded by announcing that the square would become a permanent site — “Bar-Tefillin” — a place where anyone who wishes can come to put on tefillin and pray.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Shimon Hershler zt”l, one of the foremost rabbonim of the Vizhnitz chassidus in London and among the greatest maggidei shiurim in Europe. He was niftar on Shabbos, at the age of 81, after a prolonged illness.

Rav Hershler was born in London on Hoshanah Rabbah in 5705 (1944) to his father, Rabbi Bunim Zevulun Hershler, son of Rav Shimon Hershler, senior dayan in the kehilla of Pressburg, known as the author of Hegyonei Maharsha, a descendant of Rav Akiva Eiger zt”l. His mother, Mrs. Feitsche (née Weiser), was a granddaughter of the Malbushei Shabbos v’Yom Tov and came from the illustrious Ziditshov dynasty.

From a young age, Rav Hershler displayed extraordinary diligence and brilliance in learning. He attended Talmud Torah Yesodei HaTorah in London and later continued his studies at Yeshivas Kochav MiYaakov-Tchebin in Yerushalayim and Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin in Bnei Brak, where he became close to the Shevet HaLevi, Rav Shmuel Wosner.

Throughout his lifetime, Rav Hershler maintained warm relationships with many gedolei Yisroel, recording their teachings meticulously and later publishing them for the benefit of lomdei Torah. He was especially close to the Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz, as well as to the Skulener and Skverer Rebbes.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married his late wife, the daughter of Rav Avrohom Shmuel Rand, Rosh Yeshivas Mesivta in London, and together they built a home of Torah and chesed.

In London, Rav Hershler served for decades as a senior rebbi in Talmud Torah Pardes, teaching the oldest class of 16-year-old boys. Simultaneously, he delivered the Daf Yomi shiur at the Vizhnitz Beis Medrash Ahavas Yisroel every morning at 6:00 a.m., a commitment he upheld faithfully for sixty years, even during times of illness. Each night, he would spend hours preparing the next day’s shiur with intense concentration and hasmadah.

Known for his fiery delivery and clarity, Rav Hershler became renowned across London as a master orator and a beloved maggid meisharim. His many published works, including Seh LaBayis, contain treasured insights and Torah discourses.

He also merited to publish numerous manuscripts of his illustrious ancestor, Rav Akiva Eiger, including the acclaimed Meoram Shel Yisroel on Rav Akiva Eiger and other related volumes such as Yehudah L’Kadsho. Through the Shem Olam Institute, he also edited and released many rare Torah works and biographical studies on gedolei Yisroel, among them the Sdei Chemed, Rav Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin, the Gaon of Ozdorf, and Drush V’Chiddush Rav Akiva Eiger.

Rav Hershler endured personal tragedy with the untimely passing of his son, Rav Yissachar Berish, who was niftar on Tisha B’Av seven years ago.

He leaves behind a distinguished family continuing his legacy of Torah and avodas hakodesh: His sons: Rav Yaakov Yosef of Yerushalayim; Rav Elazar of Monsey; Rav Avrohom Shmuel of London; and his youngest son, Rav Moshe Pesach, a prominent figure in the London community. His daughters, the wives of Rav Shalom Stern, Rav Shmuel Yitzchok Stein, and Rav Shaul Yechezkel Weiss of London.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

In a stunning statement just days before New York City’s mayoral election, anti-Israel candidate Zohran Mamdani vowed to shut down the Technion’s presence in the city if he wins office — igniting outrage from Jewish leaders, business figures, and city officials. He said his administration would “move to terminate the Technion’s activity in the city due to its ties with Israel’s defense establishment.”

Mamdani specifically called out Cornell Tech, the joint Roosevelt Island campus created through a partnership between Cornell University and the Technion. He declared that “an Israeli institution involved in developing weapons for the IDF should not receive city benefits or funding.” His campaign confirmed that, if elected, Mamdani plans to review the partnership’s compliance with what he termed the city’s “values and human rights principles.”

Because the mayor holds the power to appoint members to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation board — which manages the island’s projects — Mamdani would be able to install individuals sympathetic to boycotts of Israeli institutions, potentially jeopardizing the Cornell-Technion alliance.

Cornell Tech was launched in 2017 after a competition initiated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg aimed at positioning New York as a global leader in technology and entrepreneurship. The winning bid — a collaboration between Cornell and the Technion — received land, tax incentives, and major city subsidies to attract investors, scientists, and startups.

Mamdani has opposed the project since its inception, claiming that it stands in violation of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement’s principles. “If we examine this partnership through the lens of BDS, it’s clear Cornell-Technion should be part of that conversation,” he argued. He also labeled the Technion “an Israeli university that helped develop weapons used by the IDF,” using that accusation to justify his stance against the institution.

His remarks triggered immediate backlash across the political and civic spectrum. Kathryn Wylde, CEO of the Partnership for New York City and a founding supporter of the Cornell Tech initiative, called the comments “alarming.” She added, “It’s hard to believe a mayoral candidate would challenge public support for an institution that has contributed so much to the city’s tech sector simply because it collaborates with an Israeli university.”

A onetime aide to Mayor Bloomberg condemned Mamdani’s rhetoric as “blatant antisemitism” and warned it could harm New York’s global reputation as an inclusive city. Critics across the city accused Mamdani of politicizing academic cooperation and threatening decades of progress in the city’s innovation economy.

Attempting to calm the outrage, Mamdani insisted that his opposition was not directed at Jews or Jewish institutions. He promised that Jewish cultural life in the city would continue under his administration. “I look forward to joining and hosting many community events celebrating Jewish life in New York,” he said. “Although I will not personally attend the Israel Parade, that should not be mistaken for refusing to provide security or necessary permits.”

He reiterated to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that his position stems from a broader principle. “I’ve been clear — I believe in equal rights for all people, everywhere. That principle guides me consistently,” Mamdani told the outlet.

Despite the controversy, Mamdani remains in the lead ahead of Tuesday’s election. Early voting turnout has already shattered records, surpassing 400,000 ballots — five times the figure from 2021. “The wealthy interests aren’t disappearing. There’s no room for overconfidence,” he warned supporters at a campaign rally, urging them to stay mobilized.

Meanwhile, a looming political rivalry may be taking shape on a larger stage. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik — a staunch ally of President Donald Trump and one of Mamdani’s fiercest critics — is reportedly preparing to run for governor in 2026. Stefanik has repeatedly branded Mamdani “pro-jihadist” and vowed to oppose his policies at every turn.

If both prevail, New York could find itself sharply divided between an anti-Israel Democratic mayor in City Hall and a pro-Israel Republican governor in Albany — setting the stage for a fierce showdown over state funding, policy cooperation, and the city’s relationship with Jewish and Israeli institutions.

{Matzav.com}