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by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.” It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them. Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year! Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)! YES! YOU CAN MAKE   your OWN SIYUM on the ENTIRE Shas, Rashi & Tosfos IN JUST ONE YEAR!   The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned. Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. Official Shtar from Shas Yiden Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim. All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528. The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – […]

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

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

{Matzav.com}

On Thursday, the first day of Chol Hamoed, Rockland County Law Enforcement Liaison Hershy Margeratten once again opened his sukkah for what has become one of the county’s most anticipated Sukkos traditions, a heartfelt gathering bringing together law enforcement officials from across Rockland and beyond. The event, now an annual symbol of gratitude and unity, was held to thank local law enforcement for their year-round dedication and to strengthen the deep bonds between the Jewish community and those who serve and protect it. A wide array of agencies were represented, including the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, Ramapo Police, Spring Valley Police, Clarkstown Police, Stony Point Police, Orangetown Police, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, and even Upper Saddle River Police from neighboring New Jersey — reflecting the strong regional cooperation that helps keep communities safe. Chaverim of Rockland Coordinator Yossi Margeratten joined his brother Hershy in welcoming the guests, while Rabbi Aaron Dovid Gancz of Chabad delivered stirring and inspiring remarks highlighting the themes of unity, gratitude, and resilience — values that define both the Jewish community and those in uniform. The afternoon was filled with warmth, camaraderie, and mutual respect as officials, shared words of appreciation and friendship under the sukkah’s lights. YWN recognizes the continued dedication of Hershy and Yossi Margeratten, whose tireless efforts behind the scenes have become a cornerstone of Rockland’s strong community–law enforcement relationship — a partnership that continues to serve as a model for others across the region. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{Matzav.com}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{Matzav.com}

WH Press Secretary on President Trump’s call with President Putin today: “They have agreed to convene a meeting of their high-level staff next week to continue these very important discussions, which may be followed by yet another meeting between President Trump and President Putin.”

BREAKING: President Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary.

WH Press Secretary on Zohran Mamdani’s refusal to call on Hamas to lay down its arms: “This interview proved that the Democrat Party’s main constituencies are made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals — that is who the Democrat Party is catering to.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{Matzav.com}

Tami Breslavsky, the mother of freed hostage Rom Breslavsky, spoke with Ynet and shared new details about the two years her son spent in captivity. She noted that his captors wanted him to convert to Islam and promised to “compensate” him with food. They told him that if he read the Quran or fasted during Ramadan, he would receive small gifts and food. But it was important for Rom to maintain his Judaism, and according to his mother, he repeatedly said: “I’m Jewish, I am strong, I will not break.” She added, “As soon as he returned, he put on tefillin.” Tami: “Baruch Hashem, now we have returned to smiling a real smile, not a forced smile. We have returned to life. Rom went through a very difficult captivity, two very difficult years. But if there is anyone who can survive this, it’s Rom. He is strong; I believe in him. “He tells all sorts of terrible things that happened to him there, as if they were an everyday occurrence. I hear it, and my heart clenches.” “We still have a way to go. I am taking this path with him—from the first step until we see him truly smiling from the heart.” According to reports, Breslavsky endured severe torture and brutal daily beatings for months. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Over a month after Israel’s failed attempt to assassinate senior Hamas officials in Doha, new details have emerged in Turkish media about the top-level Hamas meeting in Doha, the six waves of airstrikes, and the Hamas terrorists’ narrow escape, Ynet reported. According to reports by Turkey’s TRT and Yeni Şafak, Israel launched six attacks, each involving two missiles, roughly 15 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump submitted his final proposal for a hostage deal. According to Hamas’s internal probe, the son of Khalil al-Hayya—the head of Hamas’s negotiating team—changed the meeting location at the last minute, saving the group’s leadership. The son, Maam al-Hayya, was killed in the strike. Hamas negotiators received Trump’s proposal at 1 a.m. the day before the attack and scheduled a meeting for 2 p.m. that afternoon. The officials gathered at a compound serving as Hamas’s headquarters, arriving in disguise under strict security measures. Earlier that morning, Maam al-Hayya, his office director, Jihad Lubad, and Hamas’s chief of security met to finalize what Turkish reports described as “an unusually strict security protocol.” On the day of the meeting, Hamas leaders arrived one by one. Security teams took extensive precautions to avoid technological tracking, confiscating all personal and wireless devices and issuing special encrypted phones provided by Hamas’s security forces to all meeting participants. This measure reportedly prevented Israel from pinpointing the delegation’s exact location through signal tracing. After the leaders arrived, Maam al-Hayya urged them to move to another building, insisting they “follow the security guidelines.” The officials were relocated under heavy guard, and the meeting was delayed while Khalil al-Hayya spoke with the Qatari mediator. The meeting finally began at 2:12 p.m., as Hamas security personnel made “arrangements in the area.” At 3:46 p.m., the Israeli airstrikes began. The first missiles struck the building housing al-Hayya’s family and office, killing Maam al-Hayya. The second strike killed Jihad Lubad and two other Hamas members, Muaman Hassouna and Ahmad Abd al-Malik. A third strike killed Abdullah Abd al-Wahid, the bodyguard of senior Hamas official Bassem Naim, as he attempted to rescue the wounded. The fourth and fifth attacks directly hit al-Hayya’s family home, wounding family members, while the sixth targeted the Qatari special security unit guarding the compound. By 3:51 p.m., Hamas’s security chief ordered the activation of an emergency evacuation plan. The leaders were evacuated separately via emergency vehicles to secure sites, and the wounded were taken to hospitals. Once all were accounted for, Hamas began coordinating its media response to prevent “public panic.” The targeted compound lies in Doha’s sensitive diplomatic district, within several hundred meters of multiple foreign embassies. Several Hamas offices are located nearby. Construction of the complex began in 2021 and was completed in 2023, with Hamas taking occupancy in 2024. The site includes five villas, a service building, Khalil al-Hayya’s office and residence, Hamas’s main headquarters, facilities for Qatari security forces, and an emergency operations area. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{Matzav.com}

The Israeli Air Force recently targeted underground Hezbollah facilities used for weapons storage in southern Lebanon and the eastern Beqaa Valley, the military says.

ITS TIME FOR TERM LIMITS: Mitch McConnell takes a bad fall in the Russell basement while being questioned by reporters. He has fallen multiple times this year.

Turkey has deployed 81 disaster relief experts to Gaza, including a team specifically tasked with locating the 19 missing hostages, a Turkish defense official says.

Families of freed Israeli hostages received letters written under Hamas’s orders while their loved ones were still in captivity — documents that Israeli officials now believe were part of a calculated propaganda effort, not an act of mercy. The letters were reportedly written by Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel, both released Monday after spending more than two years in Hamas tunnels. The men were forced by their captors to pen the notes, which were later delivered to their families through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Gilboa-Dalal’s father, Ilan Dalal, said the letter was hauntingly composed — neat handwriting, calm tone, and a heartbreaking message: his son hoped to be home before his sister’s 18th birthday in December. “I saw Gal and Eli together in a TV report with our shirts on,” the letter read. “I don’t stop thinking about you, and thoughts of you give me strength.” His family said the letter briefly lifted their hopes — a cruel illusion, they now realize, orchestrated by Hamas to project control and stability. “They wanted to show the world the hostages were fine, when in truth they were being terrorized underground,” one Israeli official told Politico. Ohel’s letter, reportedly written around the same time, spoke of his longing for family and his determination to survive “the horrors” of captivity. Intelligence officials believe the letters were written in late August, coinciding with Israel’s renewed military campaign in Gaza City. By allowing contact with the ICRC then, Hamas may have sought to signal that Israeli hostages were being held in active combat zones, effectively using them as human shields to deter strikes. The revelation adds to growing evidence that Hamas manipulated every fragment of communication during the hostages’ ordeal — leveraging even moments of hope as psychological warfare. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{Matzav.com}