Matzav

[Video below.] A deadly shooting at a Hanukkah gathering in Sydney has sparked a rare and forceful rebuke from Sen. John Fetterman, who openly broke with fellow Democrats while siding with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham over concerns about antisemitism and policies toward Israel.

The attack took place Sunday at the annual Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, where gunfire erupted during the event. Australian police said the assault “targeted” the Jewish community and confirmed it is being treated as an act of terrorism. Twelve people were killed, including one suspected attacker, and many others were wounded.

Appearing on “Sunday Morning Futures,” the Pennsylvania Democrat said he was aligned almost entirely with comments Graham had made earlier in the program, particularly regarding international efforts to advance Palestinian statehood despite Hamas’ continued violence. Fetterman said he agreed “with virtually everything” Graham warned about.

“It’s an absolute betrayal for Israel and for the worldwide Jewish community,” said Fetterman.

He went on to criticize Western governments that have moved to recognize a Palestinian state even as Hamas continues to carry out attacks. “Whether it’s France or Australia or any of these nations, our Western allies are now calling for a two-state solution when Hamas refuses to disarm and are actively trying to kill Jews. I can’t imagine why anybody would do that at this point,” he added.

Earlier Sunday, Graham sharply condemned countries that have formally recognized a Palestinian state, accusing them of “rewarding killing Jews” through those decisions. Australia, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada all extended recognition earlier this year. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later issued a statement asserting that the move was not intended to legitimize terrorism, but rather to encourage long-term reconstruction efforts following the Israel-Hamas war.

The United States, by contrast, has not formally recognized a Palestinian state.

Beyond foreign policy, Fetterman turned his criticism inward, accusing fellow Democrats of increasingly tolerating hostile rhetoric toward Israel. He said such language is now “becoming more and more part of my party’s platform.”

“I can’t imagine why so many parts of people in my party continue to back away or to kind of deflect… condemning these kinds of horrific acts of terrorism,” said Fetterman.

Long known as one of the most outspoken pro-Israel voices within the Democratic caucus, Fetterman has repeatedly urged his party to recalibrate its approach to the Jewish state. He also pointed to social media as a major driver of antisemitism, particularly among younger Americans.

“The young people in our nation have turned their back entirely against Israel, and that’s the social media, that’s the scourge, that’s where antisemitism breeds,” he said.

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In a heated appearance Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut tied the deadly shooting at Brown University to what he described as policies advanced by President Donald Trump.

Murphy argued that differences in state gun laws directly affect levels of violence, asserting that stricter regulations save lives. “If you look at states like Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, California that have stronger laws, we have gun violence rates, murder rates, mass shooting rates that are two to 3 to 4 times lower than states that have loose gun laws. And many of the weapons that are used in our states for gun crimes come to our states from those states that have an ability for criminals and people with serious mental illness to buy weapons. So what we know is that stronger laws do work. Since we passed that bill in 2022, the first bill in 30 years that strengthens the nation’s gun laws, gun violence rates and mass shooting rates have come down in this country.”

He then directly blamed the current administration for worsening conditions, saying, “But this is not shocking because over the last year, President Trump has been engaged in a dizzying campaign to increase violence in this country. He is restoring gun rights to felons and people who have lost their ability to buy guns. He eliminated the White House office of gun violence protection, and he has stopped funding mental health grants and community anti-gun violence grants that Republicans and Democrats supported in that 2022 bill. So he has been engaged in a pretty deliberate campaign to try to make violence more likely in this country. I think you’re unfortunately going to see the results of that on the streets of America.”

CNN host Dana Bash pushed back on the scope of the accusation, responding, “That’s a pretty big statement. He’s a campaign to make violence more likely.”

Murphy stood by his assessment, insisting the consequences were predictable. “Of course. I mean, he’s knowingly restoring gun rights to dangerous people. He is cutting off grants that have bipartisan support to try to interrupt violence in our cities or to try to get necessary mental health resources to families and children in need. The evidence tells you that when you stop funding mental health, when you stop funding community anti-gun violence programs, when you give gun rights back to dangerous people, you are going to have an increase in violence that is knowable and that is foreseeable.”

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{Matzav.com}

Against the backdrop of Chanukah, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed Israel’s police leadership and officers with words of gratitude, warning, and resolve during a candle-lighting ceremony at the National Police Academy on Sunday evening.

The event brought together Netanyahu and his wife Sara, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his wife Ayala, and Israel Police Inspector-General Danny Levy. Also present were senior police commanders, academy graduates, and male and female officers, along with the family of Master-Sgt. Ran Gvili of the National Counter-Terrorism Unit, who fought heroically on October 7 and was taken hostage to Gaza.

Netanyahu opened his remarks with a pledge regarding Gvili’s fate. “We will bring Ran back, just as we brought back 254 out of our 255 abductees,” he said. “Some did not believe. I believe. My friends in the government believed. They said: ‘It will be a miracle.’ I said: ‘This nation performs miracles.’ Hakadosh Boruch Hu helps a people who help themselves. We are a people who have learned to help ourselves, because we knew that in times of distress, it is not certain that anyone else will help us.”

He then reflected on Jewish history and the persistence of hatred toward Jews. “This was largely our fate in exile with waves of antisemitism that kept returning, rising, returning, rising, and returning, rising,” Netanyahu said. “What changed with the establishment of the State of Israel was not the disappearance of antisemitism but our ability to repel the massacres and mass murders against Jews, which always followed numerous accusations, lies, and insults. That is the change.”

Turning to recent events abroad, the prime minister addressed the deadly Chanukah attack in Australia. “Even today, they try to murder, and sadly, even today they succeeded in murdering Jews. They massacred Jews in Sydney, Australia,” he said.

Netanyahu revealed that he had previously warned Australian leadership of the consequences of their policies. “Four months ago, I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of Australia. I told him: ‘Your policy encourages terrorism. It encourages antisemitism. You call for a Palestinian state, and you are essentially giving a prize to Hamas for the terrible massacre they carried out on October 7th. You are legitimizing all these rioters and you are not lifting a finger to eliminate these terror hotspots. This will lead to more murders.’ He did nothing.”

He cautioned that further attacks should be expected and emphasized where Jews are safest. “We know there will be additional attacks. The safest place for the Jewish people in the world is where the government, the army, and the security forces will defend them – that is first and foremost in the State of Israel, because we defend ourselves, and we defend ourselves with the help of the IDF, with the help of the security forces, and with the help of the brave male and female officers of the Israel Police.”

Addressing the officers directly, Netanyahu underscored their role on October 7. “Honored guests and friends, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, his wife Ayala, the Police Inspector-General, the command staff, and the academy graduates, you were on the first line of defense on October 7. I do not forget that. I was on the line and I saw the line of the heroes and heroines, the female police officers who fought and fell, and the male police officers who fought and fell. A tremendous hero, Ran Gvili, simply fought until the last bullet with a broken arm, but with an unwavering spirit.”

The prime minister framed Israel’s current struggle in historical terms, drawing parallels to ancient times. “Somehow we returned to our land after the exile imposed upon us. And the first thing we had to renew was our capacity for self-defense. This is what we have been doing over the past two years with renewed vigor and great success. We essentially represent the free world, modern civilization, against the barbarians who want to return us to the Middle Ages. That is what they want. And like in the days of the Maccabees, they hesitate – the few against the many – we are a nation of about ten million against many, against the enemies who only recently fought us as two hundred million.”

He continued by describing the military response that followed the October 7 attack. “True, they attacked us, they caused us an unbearable disaster on October 7, but on October 8, it already turned around. We went and struck them clockwise. First in Gaza, then in Lebanon, then in Syria, also in Iraq, and above all – in Iran. No one believed, no one believed in the miracles and wonders in those days and in this time. But we believed. You believe.”

Netanyahu concluded with words of appreciation and encouragement to the police. “I want to commend you, police officers of Israel. Continue to believe. Continue to safeguard us and also safeguard one another. Thank you very much on behalf of the people of Israel throughout the generations. Happy Chanukah to all of you.”

{Matzav.com}

On Sunday, Eli Sharabi crossed paths with President Joe Biden during the Philadelphia Eagles football game.

Reflecting afterward, Sharabi described the encounter publicly, writing, “It was a deep honor to meet President Biden in Philadelphia. We thanked him sincerely for his efforts toward the release of the hostages and for his steadfast support of the State of Israel. We are grateful for this meaningful opportunity.”

Sharabi’s story is inseparable from the horrors of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel. A resident of Kibbutz Be’eri, he was kidnapped during the massacre and held in Gaza until February 2025, when he was freed as part of a ceasefire agreement.

During his 491 days of captivity, Sharabi was kept in underground tunnels in Gaza. While he was imprisoned, his wife, Lianne, and his daughters, Noiya and Yahel, were murdered in their safe room during the attack. He only learned of their deaths after his release. His brother Yossi was also abducted and later died while in captivity.

In the months since regaining his freedom, Sharabi has sought to tell his story to the world. He authored a memoir titled “Hostage,” detailing the trauma and endurance of his time in captivity. The book has drawn wide attention, and last month Time magazine named “Hostage” one of the 100 “must-read” books published over the past year.

As part of his efforts to reach international leaders, Sharabi sent an English-language copy of his memoir in October to President Donald Trump, continuing his mission to ensure that the experiences of the hostages are neither forgotten nor ignored.

{Matzav.com}

As diplomats converged in Berlin for high-stakes discussions on ending the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled a willingness to abandon Kyiv’s bid to join NATO—if the West provides binding security guarantees—while firmly rejecting proposals that would hand Ukrainian land to Russia.

Arriving at Germany’s Chancellery, Zelenskyy prepared for meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, part of a broader round of talks involving Ukrainian, American, and European officials.

Ahead of the meetings, Zelenskyy addressed reporters via audio messages shared on a WhatsApp group, explaining that with Washington and several European capitals having blocked Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, Kyiv expects alternative protections comparable to those enjoyed by alliance members. “These security guarantees are an opportunity to prevent another wave of Russian aggression,” he said. “And this is already a compromise on our part.”

He stressed that any such guarantees must be anchored in law and backed by the U.S. Congress, adding that he anticipated updates following a separate meeting between Ukrainian and American military officials in Stuttgart. Zelenskyy also planned to hold one-on-one talks later in the evening with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and possibly other European leaders.

At the same time, Zelenskyy pushed back against U.S. ideas he said involved Ukrainian withdrawals in the east. He disclosed that Washington had raised a plan under which Ukraine would pull back from parts of the Donetsk region to create a demilitarized free economic zone—an approach he flatly rejected. “I do not consider this fair, because who will manage this economic zone?” he said. “If we are talking about some buffer zone along the line of contact, if we are talking about some economic zone and we believe that only a police mission should be there and troops should withdraw, then the question is very simple. If Ukrainian troops withdraw 5-10 kilometers, for example, then why do Russian troops not withdraw deeper into the occupied territories by the same distance?”

Calling the matter “very sensitive,” Zelenskyy argued that the most realistic option would be to freeze positions where they currently stand, saying that “today a fair possible option is we stand where we stand.”

The territorial dispute remains one of the biggest obstacles to a deal. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukrainian forces leave the remaining areas of Donetsk still under Kyiv’s control—an ultimatum Ukraine has refused. Moscow’s stance was reinforced Sunday by Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, who told the business daily Kommersant that Russian police and national guard units would remain in parts of Donetsk even if they were designated a demilitarized zone under a future agreement.

Ushakov also cautioned that compromise would not come quickly, saying U.S. proposals that had reflected Russian demands were later “worsened” by changes suggested by Ukraine and its European allies. In comments aired on Russian state television, he added that “the contribution of Ukrainians and Europeans to these documents is unlikely to be constructive,” warning that Moscow would have “very strong objections.” He noted that territorial questions were discussed in Moscow earlier this month when Witkoff and Kushner met with Putin, adding, “The Americans know and understand our position.”

European leaders, meanwhile, voiced growing unease about the broader implications of the conflict. Chancellor Merz, who has led European backing for Ukraine alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said Saturday that “the decades of the `Pax Americana´ are largely over for us in Europe and for us in Germany as well.” He warned that Putin seeks “a fundamental change to the borders in Europe, the restoration of the old Soviet Union within its borders.” “If Ukraine falls, he won’t stop,” Merz cautioned during a party conference in Munich. Putin has denied any intention to rebuild the Soviet Union or attack NATO allies.

Even as diplomacy intensified, the fighting continued. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched ballistic missiles and 138 attack drones overnight, with 110 intercepted, though impacts were recorded at six locations. Zelenskyy said hundreds of thousands of families remained without electricity across southern, eastern, and northeastern regions, with crews racing to restore power, heat, and water after a major overnight assault.

According to Zelenskyy, Russia has fired more than 1,500 strike drones, nearly 900 guided aerial bombs, and 46 missiles of various types at Ukraine over the past week alone. “Ukraine needs peace on decent terms, and we are ready to work as constructively as possible. These days will be filled with diplomacy. It’s very important that it brings results,” he said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry countered that its air defenses shot down 235 Ukrainian drones late Saturday and early Sunday. In Russia’s Belgorod region, a drone wounded a man and set his home ablaze in the village of Yasnye Zori, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Elsewhere, Ukrainian drones reportedly hit an oil depot in Uryupinsk in the Volgograd region, sparking a fire, according to Governor Andrei Bocharov.

In the Krasnodar region, authorities said Ukrainian drones struck the town of Afipsky, where an oil refinery is located. Officials reported shattered windows in nearby residential buildings but said there was no damage to the refinery itself.

{Matzav.com}

In the months following the sudden death of her husband Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk has kept her public focus on protecting his legacy and the organization he built. As she continues to navigate that loss, she has also found herself confronting a wave of online speculation that has strained personal and professional relationships.

Those tensions came to the surface during recent television appearances, where Kirk spoke emotionally about the impact of rumors circulating online. At a CBS town hall, she cut off a question about the speculation with a blunt response: “Stop. That’s it. That’s all I have to say. Stop.” Days later, appearing on Fox News’ “Outnumbered” on Dec. 10, she expanded on her frustration. “When you go after my family, my Turning Point USA family, my Charlie Kirk Show family, when you go after the people that I love, and you’re making hundreds and thousands of dollars every single episode going after the people that I love because somehow they’re in on this, no,” she said.

Against that backdrop, Kirk announced that she and conservative commentator Candace Owens will meet privately, marking their first in-person conversation after weeks of public disagreement. The two women, who once shared a close working relationship and personal friendship, have found themselves increasingly at odds as online conspiracy theories and commentary escalated.

Kirk shared the development in a short post on X on Sunday, explaining that both sides had agreed to step back from public discourse ahead of the meeting. “Candace Owens and I are meeting for a private, in-person discussion on Monday, December 15,” Erika said. She added that the pause would extend across platforms and formats: “@RealCandaceO and I have agreed that public discussions, livestreams, and tweets are on hold until after this meeting. I look forward to a productive conversation. Thank you.”

Owens, a former Turning Point USA employee, has been at the center of much of the online debate, which has fueled weeks of mounting tension between the two women. The upcoming meeting appears to be an effort to move the conversation out of the public eye and into a more direct, personal setting.

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[Video below.] As news spread of mass shootings at Bondi Beach in Sydney and at Brown University, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer managed to draw outrage for remarks that many viewed as staggeringly misplaced.

Before turning to the deadly attacks, Schumer chose to inject football fandom into his public comments, referencing the Buffalo Bills’ dramatic comeback victory in Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season.

Schumer, a longtime Bills supporter, appeared eager to celebrate the win. But the timing of his remarks immediately drew sharp criticism, as he was preparing to address the carnage in Australia, where at least 15 people were murdered in an antisemitic terror attack, and the separate shooting incident connected to Brown University.

Rather than leading with condolences, Schumer chose to first mention the football result, a decision that many felt showed a profound disconnect from the gravity of the moment.

“Of course, I’m going to say a few words about the terrible shooting in Sydney, Australia, OK?” Schumer said as he began commenting on both the Sydney and Brown University shootings. “So, and first of course, as I always say, no matter what, go Bills! They beat the Patriots today. It’s a big deal.”

The reaction online was swift and brutal. One social media user wrote: “Wow. Bad taste. What an evil, vile waste of space.”

Another commenter expressed disbelief, writing, “I can’t believe this is real. Good Lord, tone deaf isn’t the word!”

Others piled on with even harsher criticism. “He also chose to [complain] about INSTACART before addressing the shootings. What an absolute demonic …. he is,” another added.

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{Matzav.com}

Australia’s security establishment is reassessing past intelligence after confirming that one of the Bondi Beach attackers had previously appeared on the radar of the country’s domestic spy agency.

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess addressed the issue publicly, saying, “One of these individuals was known to us, but not in an immediate-threat perspective, so we need to look into what happened here.”

Police say the deadly assault unfolded Sunday night during a Chanukah gathering marking the first evening of the Yom Tov, when Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, Sajid Akram, 50, opened fire, killing 15 people. Naveed Akram was wounded and remains hospitalized under police guard, while his father was killed during a gun battle with responding officers.

In the aftermath, authorities launched Operation Shelter, dispatching 328 police officers to guard synagogues and other religious institutions across the region. Investigators also confirmed that only two perpetrators were involved in the attack.

According to an ABC News report, ASIO had examined Naveed Akram as far back as six years ago due to his links to a Sydney-based ISIS network. That scrutiny intensified following the July 2019 arrest of Isaac El Matari, a convicted ISIS operative now serving a seven-year sentence for plotting an Islamic State insurgency after declaring himself the group’s Australian commander. Officials say Naveed Akram maintained close ties with El Matari and other members of that cell, all of whom were later convicted on terrorism charges.

Investigators from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team — a multi-agency task force that includes ASIO, NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police, and the NSW Crime Commission — believe the attackers had pledged allegiance to ISIS. Two ISIS flags were discovered inside their vehicle at Bondi Beach, with one clearly visible on the bonnet in footage taken at the scene.

As part of the investigation, heavily armed police carried out raids at the Akram family home in Bonnyrigg, in Sydney’s southwest, as well as an AirBnB property in Campsie where the two men had been staying.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon disclosed additional details about the weapons used, stating that Sajid Akram had legally held a firearms license for ten years. “He has six firearms licensed to him. We are satisfied that we have six firearms from the scene yesterday,” he said, emphasizing that the license had been properly regulated.

The revelations have intensified questions about intelligence oversight and threat assessment, as authorities continue piecing together how a known extremist link escalated into one of the deadliest antisemitic attacks in Australia’s history.

New York City officials say residents can expect a heightened police presence around shuls, menorah lightings, and Jewish institutions throughout Chanukah, as city leaders respond to a cascade of violent incidents that unfolded over the past day in the United States and abroad.

Mayor Eric Adams said the decision follows what he described as a grim 24-hour period marked by multiple shootings, including a deadly antisemitic terror attack overseas targeting Jews celebrating Chanukah, as well as separate shootings in Rhode Island and Brooklyn.

“The last 24 hours, we’ve witnessed a tragedy that has swept our entire globe,” Adams told reporters. “We went to sleep with the horrific report of a mass shooting at Brown University. We woke up in the middle of the night to the news of a local one: Six individuals, teenagers, young people were shot in Brooklyn.

“We woke up this morning to hear about a devastating terrorist attack in [Australia].”

According to Adams, the overseas attack was a deliberate act of antisemitic violence. He said the assault, which left more than a dozen people dead and dozens injured, underscored the need for vigilance as Jews publicly mark Chanukah.

“That attack in Sydney is exactly what it means to globalize intifada,” Adams said. “We saw the actual application of the globalization of intifada in Sydney because the attacker knew who he was targeting and he knew why.

“It is the first night of Hanukkah, the festival of lights where Jews are obligated to publicize the celebration of their faith. And among the murdered victims of the attack [was] a rabbi who had ties to Crown Heights, as well as a Holocaust survivor. Let me say that again. A rabbi and a Holocaust survivor killed for being Jewish.

“Antisemitism has no place in our city, in our society, and in our world.

“And I will continue to fight for this community and all communities of this city and for fellow brothers and sisters from the Jewish community. For the past four years, this administration has stood by the Jewish community, not just as the mayor, but as an ally, as a father, and as a human being.”

Adams also addressed what he called the dangers of minimizing extremist violence or blurring its ideological roots.

“But this attack did not come out of nowhere. It came out as the consequences of Islamic extremists,” Adams said. “And we have to be clear on that. It’s not an attack on our Muslim brothers and sisters, who carry out their faith every day, but is the hijacking of their religion by Islamic extremists.

“Words have meaning. Words have impact, and words have power. Everyone needs to understand what words mean before they repeat them, before they shout them, before they defend them.”

Without naming him directly at first, Adams appeared to criticize Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for refusing to condemn calls to “globalize the intifada,” linking that rhetoric to real-world violence.

Turning to policing policy, Adams warned against proposals to scale back specialized law enforcement units tasked with responding to terror threats.

“I do know this: Specialized units play a primary role and function to go and respond to terrorist attacks of this nature,” Adams said. “It is ill-advised to talk about the dismantling of the SRG team, the same team that went into 345 Park Avenue, when we had now a lone gunman that took the lives of innocent New Yorkers.

“It took the courage of a civilian to take down one of the shooters. The country was lucky that the civilian was there. Public safety can’t be luck. Specialized units like SRG are trained for these encounters. And this illustrates the necessity of the strategic response groups who are ready to respond to terror attacks on a mass scale.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch provided additional details on the local incidents that contributed to the city’s security escalation. She said the Brooklyn shooting occurred early Sunday morning outside an event venue in Cypress Hills, where two unidentified suspects opened fire on a crowd, striking six teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17. Authorities believe the incident is gang-related, and none of the victims’ injuries are considered life-threatening.

Tisch also confirmed that two people were killed and nine injured in the shooting at Brown University, noting there is no known connection to New York City. Nonetheless, she said patrols have been increased at colleges and universities across the five boroughs as a precaution.

“Our hearts are with the victims, their families, Chabad, and Jewish communities here and around the world,” Tisch said. “Since the attack occurred, the NYPD has been in continuous contact with our law enforcement partners in Australia and we are receiving updates directly from our NYPD liaison officer stationed in Sydney.

“We are closely monitoring developments as more verified information becomes available. This too remains an active investigation.”

Although officials emphasized that there are no specific or credible threats tied to Chanukah events in New York City, the NYPD has dramatically expanded its security posture. Enhanced uniform patrols, counterterrorism officers, heavy weapons teams, bomb squads, and community affairs officers are being deployed citywide, particularly around Jewish sites and holiday gatherings.

Tisch credited the department’s international liaison program with delivering real-time intelligence from Australia, allowing the NYPD to adjust its security plans overnight.

Both Adams and Tisch stressed that the city remains committed to protecting Jewish New Yorkers and ensuring they can celebrate Chanukah openly and safely, urging residents to stay alert and report any suspicious activity as the Yom Tov continues.

{Matzav.com}

A sharply worded letter issued this past week by one of Europe’s most senior roshei yeshiva and one of the gedolei hador has sparked significant discussion within the yeshiva world, particularly at Yeshiva Beis Yosef in Gateshead.

The letter was authored by Hagaon Rav Avrohom Gurwicz, widely regarded as the elder of Europe’s roshei yeshiva and the longtime rosh yeshiva of Beis Yosef, Gateshead. Written ahead of Yud-Tes Kislev, the traditional Chabad Chaga Hageulah, the letter warned talmidim not to participate in Chabad farbrengens scheduled to take place in the town.

Addressed to talmidim of the yeshiva, Rav Gurwicz’s message was notable for its unusually sharp tone. In the letter, he deliberately avoided mentioning the date of Yud-Tes Kislev explicitly, instead referring to the event by the days of the week and the parsha in which it would occur.

“Since it has become known to us that individuals whose outlook regarding the importance of the study of the holy Torah differs from that which has been transmitted to us from generation to generation are preparing to organize a feast on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday of Parshas Vayeishev,” Rav Gurwicz wrote.

The rosh yeshiva emphasized what he described as a core concern of the Lithuanian yeshiva tradition: bittul Torah. He warned that participation in such gatherings would lead to significant loss of learning time, both during the event itself and in the days that follow.

“A matter that involves much bittul Torah at the time of the feast and in the days afterward,” Rav Gurwicz continued. “I hereby warn, in my name and in the name of all members of the hanhalah, that no student of the holy yeshiva is to participate in this feast.”

The letter has generated particular attention because Yeshiva Beis Yosef Gateshead, while firmly rooted in the classic Litvishe tradition, has long been known for its inclusiveness. For more than a decade, a sizable chassidic contingent—estimated at roughly one-third of the student body—has studied at the yeshiva.

The yeshiva also has a long-standing historical connection to the broader chassidic world. Among its distinguished alumni are prominent chassidic leaders, including the Sadigura Rebbe and other chassidic figures who studied there over the years.

Typically, such farbrengens have been held discreetly in Gateshead, often in shul basements or private venues. About a decade ago, however, an unusual and more public event took place when Rav Boruch Oberlander, the chief rabbi of Hungary, was brought in to lead a farbrengen held in the town’s central hall.

Against that backdrop, the current letter is being viewed as a renewed effort by Rav Gurwicz to draw clearer lines for the yeshiva’s talmidim, signaling that he does not view chassidic farbrengens connected to Yud-Tes Kislev as compatible with the yeshiva’s framework and priorities.

{Matzav.com}

The effort to advance Israel’s long-delayed draft law regulating the status of yeshiva students is encountering fresh complications, as the Knesset’s legal advisors have voiced opposition to a central clause in the proposed legislation.

The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, chaired by MK Boaz Bismuth, is scheduled to convene this week for two sessions to continue deliberations on the draft law, which seeks to formalize exemptions and service arrangements for yeshiva students.

Despite internal coalition resistance, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s office has continued to signal optimism that the law could still be passed within the next two months. This comes even as several coalition lawmakers have publicly stated that they would oppose the current version of the bill.

Against this backdrop, the legal advisory staff of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has formally objected to an additional clause included in the draft. The legal opinion was submitted to committee members ahead of Monday’s discussion.

According to a report by i24, the legal advisors oppose a provision that defines which yeshivos would be eligible to receive draft exemptions under the law. In their written position, the advisors argue that it is impermissible to include a yeshiva on the approved list if some of its students fail to report for registration and medical examinations, as required under the Defense Service Law.

The advisory opinion states: “There should be no arrangement that allows a yeshiva to be included in the list of recognized yeshivos if some of its students do not report for registration and medical examination, as all are obligated to do under the provisions of the Defense Service Law. Each student must comply with the law, and the yeshiva must ensure this compliance.”

The legal objection has triggered sharp reactions within chareidi political circles. Over the weekend, a senior chareidi official said that MK Bismuth had repeatedly assured them over the past two months that every clause in the bill had been fully coordinated with the committee’s legal advisor and that no surprises were expected.

“Now it turns out he misled us, plain and simple,” the official said. “In the very first central clause of the draft — dealing with whether civilian-national service can be counted toward draft targets — the legal advisor is saying an unequivocal ‘no.’ That shows it was never truly coordinated.”

The official added that this development could be only the beginning of further legal obstacles. “At this pace, there won’t be a law. We will not pass legislation that runs counter to the position of the Knesset’s legal advisors. The damage would far outweigh any benefit.”

As committee discussions resume, the growing gap between political assurances, legal constraints, and coalition realities appears to be placing the future of the draft law in increasing doubt.

In a sweeping and precedent-setting decision, Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that botei din may no longer impose jurisdiction on Israeli citizens whose center of life is abroad, even if they briefly enter the country. The dramatic judgment brings an end to years of legal and halachic friction over so-called “airport jurisdiction,” in which litigants were summoned to rabbinical courts based solely on fleeting physical presence in Israel.

Justice Yechiel Kasher overturned a ruling of the Rabbinical High Court and clarified that Israeli rabbinical courts have authority over marriage, divorce, and related financial matters only when there is a “substantive connection” to the State of Israel. Mere Israeli citizenship or a short visit to the country, he ruled, is insufficient to establish international jurisdiction.

At the heart of the case was the interpretation of Section 1 of the Rabbinical Courts Jurisdiction Law, which grants rabbinical courts exclusive authority over matters of marriage and divorce involving Jews who are “in Israel, citizens of the state or its residents.” The key question was the meaning of the phrase “in Israel”: does it require a genuine, meaningful connection to the country, or is temporary physical presence enough?

Justice Kasher decisively rejected the broader interpretation. He ruled that without a real and substantial link to Israel, the courts lack international jurisdiction. As a result, Israeli citizens who live abroad and visit Israel briefly can no longer find themselves suddenly subject to rabbinical court proceedings—particularly financial and property claims—when all of their assets and daily lives are based overseas.

The ruling places significant emphasis on preventing legal injustice. Justice Kasher noted that recognizing jurisdiction based solely on momentary presence could lead to unfair outcomes and coercive litigation tactics. He pointed to earlier Supreme Court rulings that require a “proper connection” to Israel before judicial authority can be exercised. Considerations of judicial efficiency also played a role, with the court stating that Israel is not the appropriate forum for disputes involving individuals who lack sufficient ties to the country.

Importantly, the court held that this interpretation applies equally to both parties in a dispute. Just as a defendant may argue a lack of sufficient connection to Israel, so too may a plaintiff be required to demonstrate such a connection in order to bring a case before the rabbinical courts.

The precedent-setting decision arose from a dispute between a couple who married in Israel in 1985 but soon thereafter relocated to the United Kingdom. The wife remained in Britain, while the husband later initiated proceedings against her in Jerusalem, taking advantage of her brief visit to Israel. Both the regional rabbinical court and the Rabbinical High Court had approved the move, but the Supreme Court intervened and put a stop to it.

Justice Kasher ordered that the case be returned to the regional rabbinical court for a renewed factual examination of the woman’s substantive connection to Israel. He also ordered the husband to pay 40,000 shekels in legal costs.

Deputy President of the Supreme Court Noam Sohlberg concurred with the outcome, stressing that since the bulk of the couple’s assets are located in the United Kingdom, Israel is not the appropriate legal forum for resolving the dispute.

{Matzav.com}

The body of habochur Eliyahu Abba Shaul Z”L, a 20-year-old resident of Bnei Brak, was released on Sunday from the forensic institute and will was be brought to burial tonight.

Eliyahu Abba tragically drowned in the Yarkon River, and his body was recovered earlier on Sunday.

Following intensive efforts, his release was secured through the intervention of Rabbi Asher Landau, rav of the forensic institute; strategic advisor Eliyahu Arend; ZAKA Tel Aviv CEO Tzvi Chasid; and operations officer Yechiel Goldman.

The levayah was held tonight, departing from his parents’ home at 40 Yehuda HaNasi Street in Bnei Brak. From there, the procession continued to the Sanhedria Cemetery in Yerushaklayim, where he was laid to rest near the kever of his grandfather, the author of Or L’Tzion.

Eliyahu Abba Shaul was born in Bnei Brak on 27 Av 5766. He was the son of Rav Yehoshua Abba Shaul, rav of the Or Eliyahu community in Bnei Brak, and the grandson of Rav Eliyahu Abba Shaul. He was also a great-grandson of Chacham Ben Zion Abba Shaul, author of Or L’Tzion, and of Rav Yehuda Mualem, Rosh Yeshivah of Porat Yosef.

His mother, Leah, is a daughter of Rav Shlomo Attiya and a granddaughter of Rav Yaakov Attiya, founder of the Yeshuos Yaakov institutions in Bat Yam and rav of the Lebanese Jewish community there.

In his youth, Eliyahu studied at Talmud Torah Noam HaTorah on Rechov Rav Landau in Bnei Brak, and later at the yeshivah ketanah Shaarei Torah, headed by Rav Chaim Yisrael Shapira. He subsequently continued his learning at a yeshivah in Moshav Tifrach, where he distinguished himself in his studies.

He was described by those who knew him as a pure and righteous bochur, deeply immersed in the daled amos of halachah. He loved walking and spending time alone in contemplation, often visiting Park HaYarkon. Tragically, it was there that he drowned, and he was niftar while many searched for him over several days.

Yehi zichro baruch. Tehei nishmaso tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

A wave of shock and grief swept through the city of Charish on Sunday night, the first night of Chanukah, with the tragic passing of Nechemia (Chemi) Erlanger z”l, a devoted United Hatzalah volunteer and well-known community figure. Chemi, 34, was killed in a devastating traffic accident, leaving behind his wife and five young orphaned children.

The fatal accident occurred at the entrance to Charish from the direction of Mitzpe Ilan. Chemi was riding his motorcycle when a vehicle reportedly crossed several lanes and struck him head-on. Despite prolonged and determined resuscitation efforts at the scene, emergency responders were forced to pronounce his death.

Chemi was born in Yerushalayimon the 13th of Shevat, 5751, to his father, Rabbi Shalom Meir Erlanger, and his mother. He later settled in Charish, where he earned his livelihood as the owner of an interior doors company.

Chemi joined United Hatzalah in 2012 following a traumatic incident that profoundly impacted him. After witnessing a neighbor wait more than half an hour for an ambulance, only to pass away before help arrived, Chemi resolved to become part of an organization that could provide rapid, lifesaving response.

Over the years, he rose to serve as head of transportation for the United Hatzalah Charish branch. In that role, he was responsible for all two-wheeled and four-wheeled emergency vehicles, including ambulances, rapid-response cars, motorcycles, and bicycles, as well as for ensuring the safety of responders while en route to emergency calls. The Charish branch today includes approximately 100 volunteers, an unusually large number relative to the city’s size.

Beyond his formal responsibilities, Chemi was widely known as a man of extraordinary kindness. When responding to emergency calls, if he noticed that a family was struggling financially, he would quietly work to secure donations and assistance for them.

In a past interview with the Charish City news site, Chemi explained his broader view of emergency service: “Our role is not only to save lives, but also to ‘save what’s around’ — to look at the family’s situation, their children, their socio-economic condition, and to provide help beyond the direct medical treatment.”

United Hatzalah issued a statement mourning the tragic loss of one of the pillars of its lifesaving network in the region, praising Chemi’s boundless dedication and his readiness to be the first to respond to any call for help or chesed.

Eli Beer, president and founder of United Hatzalah, delivered a moving eulogy, saying: “An unimaginable tragedy. Our hearts are broken. Today we lost a true hero — a volunteer who always gave far beyond what was required and dedicated his life, time, and energy to saving lives. Chemi z”l was killed while riding his emergency motorcycle on his way from the base where he served to a Chanukah celebration with his family. We embrace his dear family and send our deepest condolences to all 8,000 United Hatzalah volunteers during these incredibly difficult moments. His memory and his life’s work will accompany us always.”

Chemi is survived by his wife and five children.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

At a White House holiday reception today, President Donald Trump addressed the terror attack against the Jewish community in Sydney, Australia, describing it in blunt terms and leaving no doubt about its nature. “That was an antisemitic attack, obviously,” he said.

During the same appearance, Trump praised the civilian who intervened during the assault, expressing admiration for his actions. He said he had “great respect” for the man who tackled one of the attackers, calling him a “a very, very brave person.”

Earlier in the day, Trump spoke with Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy, who asked whether Americans lighting Chanukah candles should be concerned about their personal safety in the wake of the attack abroad.

Relaying the president’s response, Doocy said, “Straight from the president, his message to people celebrating Hanukkah today, he said, ‘they do not need to be worried. They should celebrate proudly, and they should be proud of who you are, celebrate proudly.’”

Trump reinforced that message later at the White House event, tying it directly to the violence in Australia. “We’re here to celebrate X-mas and … I think today, we can first say, loudly, we celebrate Hanukkah because that was such a horrible attack, that was a purely antisemitic attack,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

[Full video below.] A maamad hadlakas ner Chanukah for the lighting of the first ner was held Sunday evening at the Kosel HaMaaravi.

The maamad took place in the presence of the Rishon L’Tzion, Rav Dovid Yosef; the Rov of the Kosel and the Mekomos Hakedoshim, Rav Shmuel Rabinovitch; and the Mayor of Yerushalayim, Moshe Lion.

Also participating in the hadlakah was Segev Kalfon, who was recently released from Hamas captivity.

Speaking with visible emotion, Kalfon expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to stand at the Kosel. He spoke of the first light as representing that small but pure spark of light that has the power to dispel immense darkness. He noted that he stood there not only for himself, but on behalf of those who remain in captivity, mentioning Ran Gvili by name, and expressed his resolve that the light of Chanukah should serve as the thread that will ultimately bring him home.

Mayor Moshe Lion, addressing the gathering, said that as Klal Yisroel lights the first ner of Chanukah, hearts are heavy with pain over the brutal terror attack that struck the Jewish community in Australia. He emphasized that silence in the face of antisemitism exacts a deadly price, and conveyed condolences to the families of the victims along with heartfelt tefillos for a refuah sheleimah for the wounded.

The mayor added that seeing Segev Kalfon standing at the Kosel—after enduring 738 days in captivity and returning home—was a moment of great joy and nachas for all of Klal Yisroel. He concluded by noting that Chanukah is a time of light and hope, and that from Yerushalayim goes forth a brachah to every Jewish home in Eretz Yisroel and throughout the galus.

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