Thousands of members of the Chassidishe community of London flooded the streets of the city in a large-scale protest against Israel’s proposed draft law. A broad coalition of Chassidic groups united publicly to oppose the legislation currently under debate in the Israeli Knesset.
The rally took place outside the Israeli Embassy and attracted participants from Satmar, Ger, Belz, Vizhnitz, Boyan, Bobov, Tchernobyl, and several other Chassidic communities.
Protesters filled both sides of the road while allowing traffic to continue moving, maintaining strict order throughout the event.
From the crowd rose a repeated chant in English: “Shame on you, Israeli government!”
The Stamford Hill neighborhood alone sent more than 70 buses, aside from those who arrived by train and other public transportation.
The event opened with remarks from Rabbi Yechezkel Weiss of Monsey, who traveled from the United States specifically to address the gathering.
He was followed by Rabbi Moshe Menachem Weiss, a Satmar leader in London, who shared a story from a recent visit to Israel. He described spending a weekend in Meron with his rebbe, during which local organizers arranged a driver for him. The driver, a chareidi man who is not currently studying in a yeshiva, revealed that he was officially considered absent without leave from the Israeli army. Rabbi Weiss told the crowd that he asked the driver why he refused to enlist if he was not engaged in full-time study. According to Rabbi Weiss, the driver told him: “I would rather be taken to prison than drafted into the army. I would not be able to keep my religious commitments the way I try to now. I know that if I go, I will come out spiritually destroyed.”
The driver went on to warn that the authorities were targeting the community’s most vulnerable young people, comparing it to going after “stragglers” and saying that even the youth who are struggling religiously must be protected.
Rabbi Leibus Padwa, son of London’s chief rabbinic authority for the chareidi community, led the assembled crowd in a recitation of Tehillim.
After him spoke Rabbi Baruch Nosson Halberstam of Satmar, followed by Rabbi Chaim Pinchos Miller of the Tchernobyl kehillah . Rabbi Marmerstein then addressed the crowd in English.
The demonstration concluded with kabbolas ohl malchus Shomayim led by the nearly 100-year-old dayan Rabbi Shalom Friedman, one of the most senior rabbonim in Europe.
At the end of the rally, Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Kopel read a formal statement calling for the draft legislation to be canceled entirely.
{Matzav.com}
Wikipedia drew criticism from Jewish leaders after the site’s editors opted to freeze discussion about the title of a page that refers to Israel committing a “massacre” in June 2024.
The decision means that no one can even discuss changing the title of the page “Nuseirat rescue and massacre” until at least August 2026. The page refers to the Jewish state’s liberation of the four hostages—Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv—from Gaza.
Citing “Palestinian health officials,” the Wikipedia page claims that “at least” 276 Palestinians were killed during the operation. It also says that the Israeli military recorded fewer than 100 Palestinian deaths. The Israeli media article Wikipedia cites notes that there were terrorists among the Palestinian deaths, but the encyclopedia’s page doesn’t say that.
At least as of Oct. 2, the Wikipedia page calling it a “massacre” stated that it was redirected from a page called “2024 Nuseirat rescue operation,” per an archived version of the page. Wikipedia reportedly had that page and one on “Nuseirat refugee camp massacre” as of June 18, 2024.
After some efforts were made to change the title of the current page, Wikipedia editors proposed a moratorium on changes on July 26 and put the ban in place on Dec. 8, to last until Aug. 3.
“Wikipedia, once again, seems to be misleading its readers,” Daniel S. Mariaschin, CEO of B’nai B’rith International, told JNS.
“The Nuseirat matter tells us two things about the war in Gaza,” he said. “We learned, early on, that any figures issued by the Hamas-led ‘Gaza Health Ministry’ were always highly inflated and not credible.”
Mariaschin added that Israeli hostages “being held by Palestinian civilians in apartment buildings speaks clearly to Hamas’s policy of surrounding itself, or those connected to it, with human shields.”
“The real story here should be that kidnapped Israelis were being held hostage and were successfully rescued,” he told JNS.
Vlad Khaykin, executive vice president of social impact and North American partnerships at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, told JNS that Wikipedia’s use of the word “massacre” in the title is “not a neutral descriptor.”
“It is a verdict—one that draws its authority from casualty figures and claims that remain deeply contested, often circulated by those intent on recasting Israel’s efforts at self-defense as acts of villainy,” he said.
“To enshrine such a term in a headline, absent the slow work of context and verification, is not an act of impartiality,” Khaykin told JNS. “It is the quiet rewriting of the story before the facts have even settled.”
‘Moratorium on truth’
Earlier this year, Wikipedia editors placed another moratorium on discussion on a different page—a dramatic measure that it tends to take rarely. It says that such a decision “should be used with caution,” since it runs “counter to the general practice on Wikipedia that any editor may initiate a discussion on any topic related to the operations of the encyclopedia at any time.”
On Feb. 21, editors reportedly placed a year-long ban on discussions to change the line “Zionists wanted to create a Jewish state in Palestine with as much land, as many Jews and as few Palestinian Arabs as possible” in the opening paragraph of the Wikipedia article on “Zionism.”
“Since when do relied-upon sources of information online place a moratorium on the truth?” Mariaschin told JNS. “The treatment of the story of the Jews’ return to their ancient homeland is not just given short shrift. It is given a fabricated treatment of history that is both biased and dangerous.”
“One can only imagine how many people searching for the facts will walk away with an intentionally false narrative,” he said.
Khaykin told JNS that the moratorium on the Zionism page “locked in a one-sided version of history.”
In January, Wikipedia’s arbitration committee banned eight editors from editing Arab-Israeli articles indefinitely. Six of the eight are anti-Israel. They can appeal their suspensions after one year.
“This is not a simple quarrel among volunteers,” Khaykin told JNS. “It is a case study in how determined actors can quietly seize the levers of an open system, rewriting reality while the world looks away.”
A JNS review found that moratoria have only been implemented a handful of times this year, including efforts to rename the article on the Gulf of Mexico, which U.S. President Donald Trump calls the “Gulf of America,” and discussions about the gender of an Algerian boxer. (JNS sought comment from the Wikimedia Foundation.)
In February 2024, a moratorium paused discussion for three months on efforts to rename an article then titled “Israel-Hamas war.” The title of the page was changed to “Gaza war” in January. A moratorium proposal to freeze discussion on changing the title of the “Gaza genocide” page failed in August 2024.
The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating Wikipedia over concerns of “potentially systematic efforts to advance antisemitic and anti-Israel information in Wikipedia articles related to conflicts with the State of Israel.”
Holly Huffnagle, U.S. director of antisemitism policy for the American Jewish Committee, told JNS that “coordinated and manipulated Wikipedia editing campaigns are dangerous and something that the Wikimedia Foundation must take seriously.”
“These campaigns have the power to distort the public record, exploiting the trust people place in an open encyclopedia to push narratives crafted for hidden agendas,” she said. “Because Wikipedia is so widely cited, including by AI chatbots, even subtle, organized manipulations can change public opinion, shape news coverage and conceal the truth.”
“Procedures and policy must reflect and address these concerns,” she said.
Khaykin told JNS that Wikipedia “now serves as a foundational layer of the global information ecosystem.”
“Its content feeds directly into Google search results and informs Alexa and Siri responses,” he said. “Increasingly, it influences AI platforms like ChatGPT. When Wikipedia’s neutrality is compromised at the source, that distortion spreads.”
“Downstream tools then shape how students, journalists, policymakers and the public understand complex issues,” Khaykin told JNS.
Wikipedia “allows a small group to dictate what the world is permitted to know, then those who build our digital commons must ask themselves whether such a platform deserves its place of trust,” he added. “A source so easily captured should not be allowed to shape historical perspective or the truths we pass on to the next generation.” JNS
{Matzav.com}
Pomona College reached a settlement with the Anti-Defamation League, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Hillel International on Wednesday, following a complaint the trio filed with the U.S. Department of Education in April 2024.
The three groups alleged in the complaint that the private liberal arts school in southern California allowed “severe discrimination and harassment of Jewish students” to occur on campus. The Education Department said in August that it was probing the matter.
Under the new agreement, the highly-ranked school will recognize that the word “Zionist” tends to be used as a code for “Jew” and will use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of Jew-hatred when investigating alleged antisemitism on campus.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the ADL, stated that the agreement is a “critical turning point for Pomona’s Jewish students, faculty and staff.”
“The comprehensive reforms negotiated with Pomona touch nearly every aspect of campus life, and we welcome the college’s significant, multi-faceted commitment to fighting antisemitism on its campus,” he said.
“With the reforms in this agreement, we expect meaningful and urgent strides toward Pomona’s promise of creating a safe and welcoming environment for its Jewish and Israeli students, faculty and staff,” he added.
The college commits to recognize that targeting Zionists can violate the school’s nondiscrimination policies if it’s “on the basis of their actual or perceived Jewish or Israeli shared ancestry” and that “Zionist” is “often used as a code word for ‘Jew,’” per the agreement.
The school must also appoint a coordinator to ensure compliance with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and Pomona’s website must include an option to report Title VI incidents. Students, faculty and staff will also be required to take Title VI training, according to the agreement, which is to begin in the spring.
G. Gabrielle Starr, president of Pomona, stated that “antisemitism has persisted for thousands of years, and this settlement is not a one-size-fits-all toolkit.”
“It’ll be up to our community to put it in place and to live it,” she said.
Kenneth L. Marcus, chairman of the Brandeis Center and former U.S. assistant secretary of education for civil rights, stated that “the action steps outlined in this settlement will address the blatant and egregious antisemitism faced by Pomona’s students, therefore protecting students from facing similar treatment in the future.”
“We hope it encourages others to take legal action against those who violate our constitutional rights,” he said. JNS
{Matzav.com}
Israel will ban mobile phone use by children on elementary school grounds starting on Feb. 2, Education Minister Yoav Kish announced on Thursday.
The policy expands a 2019 ban that prohibited phones during classes. Under the new rules, students cannot use devices during breaks or before lessons. Phones will be allowed only in designated classes with staff approval for educational purposes.
The Education Ministry said the ban aims to help pupils develop social and emotional skills, improve school climate and enable better focus on learning. Officials cited studies on mobile phone impacts and global trends, including Australia’s recent ban on social media for users under 16.
The ministry will implement educational programs and work with parents to promote balanced phone use and reduce exposure to inappropriate content. JNS
{Matzav.com}
Israeli security services have uncovered new intelligence that may shed light on the burial site of Ran Gvili, according to a Channel 12 News report aired Thursday night. Officials have launched initial on-the-ground examinations over the past several days to assess the credibility of the information.
Investigators are now concentrating on a location associated with operatives from the Islamic Jihad terror organization, whose members carried out Ran Gvili’s abduction during the October 7 attack. In contrast to earlier assessments, Israeli officials now believe that the militants believed to have taken part in his burial are still alive.
Defense sources say that if Hamas demonstrates willingness, interrogating Islamic Jihad operatives could enable Israel to pinpoint the precise site where Gvili was buried. They note that cooperation on this matter is essential for any further progress in negotiations.
Channel 12 also reported that Israel has delivered a clear message in diplomatic channels: it will not advance to Phase 2 of the Trump ceasefire agreement until a resolution is reached regarding the repatriation of Ran Gvili’s body for burial in Israel.
{Matzav.com}
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is standing firmly behind a video he released over the weekend instructing immigrants on how to assert their rights if confronted by federal immigration officers. The clip, posted on X, portrayed the city as a haven for the more than 3 million immigrants who call it home and emphasized their need for protection.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, said the video was prompted by what he described as an attempted ICE raid near Canal Street. He told viewers that New Yorkers should understand exactly what they can do when approached by immigration agents. In the video, he reminded residents that ICE “cannot enter private spaces without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.”
He cautioned that officers may present documents that appear official but do not grant legal authority to enter a home, stressing that individuals have the absolute right to refuse consent and to remain silent. Mamdani also pointed out that New Yorkers may legally record ICE activity as long as they do not interfere with law enforcement. He urged people to stay composed and invoked their constitutional right to protest peacefully.
Following backlash from federal officials, Mamdani defended the guidance during a Wednesday interview with MS Now. He insisted that his administration will push back against President Donald Trump’s expanded enforcement efforts and emphasized that “any ICE officer who violates city law” will be held to account. He reiterated that New York’s sanctuary laws will remain fully in place and that the NYPD will not assist federal agents with immigration enforcement.
According to Mamdani, the city’s own police force is entirely capable of maintaining safety without federal involvement. He added that he told Trump during a November meeting in the Oval Office that the recent ICE raids in New York were “cruel and inhumane.” Mamdani argued that the city neither needs nor wants ICE or National Guard deployments to keep residents secure.
The clash intensified after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem condemned Mamdani’s video on Fox News, suggesting that some of his statements might violate the Constitution. She said federal officials were examining the matter with the Department of Justice.
When asked by MS Now whether he is prepared to face potential arrest for refusing to cooperate with the crackdown, Mamdani did not back down. The mayor-elect said he is fully ready to accept “any consequence” that comes with defending the people of New York.
{Matzav.com}
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivered a stark warning in Berlin on Thursday, urging European nations to ready themselves for the possibility of a major global conflict. Rutte told attendees at a security forum that Europe is “Russia’s next target,” and cautioned that Moscow could be capable of striking NATO “within five years.”
Rutte said the alliance can no longer think in peacetime terms, declaring that Europe must “shift to a wartime mindset.” He evoked the scale of suffering endured by earlier generations, warning that modern Europeans may need to prepare for hardships akin to what their “grandparents or great-grandparents endured,” including mass mobilization and destruction on a scale unseen in decades.
The secretary general argued that Russia’s assault on Ukraine — supported by Chinese technology along with Iranian and North Korean weaponry — demonstrates the Kremlin’s ambition to rebuild an “empire” and its perception of open Western societies as existential threats. He said that if Vladimir Putin subdues Ukraine and reaches NATO territory, alliance countries could face “a truly gargantuan” spike in defense costs along with a sharply elevated risk of direct confrontation.
Rutte celebrated commitments made at this year’s NATO summit in The Hague, where member states agreed to ramp up total defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. That includes 3.5% specifically dedicated to core military funding, far above the long-standing 2% minimum guideline. He pointed to Germany’s own pledge to reach 3.5% by 2029, calling the figure “staggering,” and pressed other nations to match the effort.
New initiatives are also coming online to harden NATO’s eastern defenses. Rutte highlighted “Eastern Sentry” and “Baltic Sentry,” operations aimed at safeguarding critical infrastructure following incidents such as Russian drones entering Polish airspace and disruptions to Baltic undersea cables.
The secretary general further promoted the alliance’s PURL program — the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List — which channels allied financing into American-made Patriot systems and other air-defense equipment for Kyiv. More than two-thirds of NATO members have joined the effort, pledging roughly $4 billion so far.
Even as he underscored the urgency of NATO’s response, Rutte acknowledged that his call for rapid expansion of defense budgets will test European publics already strained by inflation and taxes. He admitted that the shift toward what he described as “emergency budgets” will require politically painful sacrifices in domestic spending.
Rutte also made a point of crediting President Donald Trump during his Berlin remarks. He told the audience it was Trump, “when he was Trump 45 and now Trump 47,” who persistently demanded that Europe and Canada increase defense spending, and argued that the newly agreed-upon 5% target aligns directly with what Trump had pushed for during his first term.
In a separate comment, Rutte agreed that solving the war in Ukraine inevitably depends on Washington’s leadership and Trump’s influence. He stated plainly that “President Trump wants to end the bloodshed now, and he’s the only one who can get Putin to the negotiating table,” underscoring that any viable peace initiative will run through the White House.
{Matzav.com}
This past week, Naava Kodesh hosted a series of open houses and events across the U.S., including in Monsey, N.Y., Toms River, N.J., and Baltimore, M.D., reflecting a growing interest in Aliyah among Yeshivish families and communities.
The events featured Naava Kodesh staff from both Israel and the U.S., who shared updates on Anglo-friendly schools, welcoming communities, and realistic employment pathways for frum families considering Aliyah in the coming years. Attendees also engaged in a robust and honest Q&A on how to practically prepare, plan, and make the move successfully.
The gatherings were made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Dream Raffle, whose partnership enabled Naava Kodesh to bring these resources and conversations directly to families exploring their future in Eretz Yisroel.
Chairing the Toms River open house was R’ Yisroel Rosenberg, Head of the Naava Kodesh Lakewood Division. “The engagement, thoughtful questions, and sincere interest were remarkable. Many expressed appreciation for hearing directly from Naava Kodesh and have already reached out to continue the conversation, some in person at our Lakewood office. I am grateful for this great opportunity,” shared R’ Rosenberg.
In Baltimore, the event was hosted by Bnos Yisroel of Baltimore and saw an unprecedented turnout of nearly 100 participants, including local Rabbanim, mechanchim, and askanim. Rabbi Daniel Rose, shlit”a, Rav of Congregation BJSZ, addressed the audience about the importance of “keeping Eretz Yisroel on our minds even if we are not picking up and moving tomorrow morning. We can’t forget — we can plan and daven to be zocheh to live in Eretz Yisroel.” Rabbi Rose concluded, “Our children should grow up with the clear message that ארץ ישראל is our future.”
Joining the events from Israel was Rabbi Hillel Waxman, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivah of Nachlas Yisroel Yitzchok in Ramat Beit Shemesh, who spoke about the tremendous strides made in the chinuch landscape for families making Aliyah. “The times have significantly changed from the days when I made Aliyah in 1999,” shared Rabbi Waxman. “There are more opportunities, and we are seeing much hatzlacha.”
Also in attendance from Israel was Rabbi Shimon Kronenberg, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Yesodei Yisroel in Ramat Beit Shemesh. “We understand that our community and our children have a unique opportunity to excel and take a leadership role in the future of Eretz Yisroel,” reflected Rabbi Kronenberg. “For their success, we are building a chinuch system that guides our children by accentuating and building upon their unique background and life experience.”
“When we founded Naava Kodesh over a decade ago, the idea that mainstream yeshiva communities across America would seriously explore Aliyah felt almost unthinkable,” shared Tzvi Arnstein, Founder and Executive Director of Naava Kodesh. “Seeing hundreds of families now engaging, learning, and taking real steps toward building their future in Eretz Yisroel is nothing short of historic. This is exactly the shift we believed would one day come, and it’s unfolding in front of our eyes.”
About Naava KodeshNaava Kodesh is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping English-speaking families build successful, lasting Torah lives in Eretz Yisrael. Through personalized guidance on community and school placement, fully coordinated pilot trips, and a vast network of volunteer mentors across the country, Naava Kodesh has helped countless families navigate their Aliyah journey with clarity and confidence.
