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How Yidden spend a long flight from Eretz Yisroel to NY. Photo via Arzei Harry

Hamas announced on Monday that it plans to transfer the body of an Israeli hostage it murdered back to Israel later in the evening. The handover is scheduled for 9:00 p.m., according to the terror group’s statement.

Israeli authorities are preparing to receive the remains once the casket arrives. Teams will be on site to perform identification procedures and confirm the hostage’s identity following the return.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox, Every election is more than just a political decision. It is a moment to reflect on the crossroads we face as individuals, as a community, and as a people. A vote for Zohran Mamdani is not merely a vote for a candidate; it is a vote for socialism—a system that, though cloaked in promises of fairness and equality, has cast long shadows over Jewish history. Socialism has often left us vulnerable, silenced, and marginalized, and as we stand in galus, we must approach this moment with open eyes, full hearts, and fervent tefillah. Socialism, in its essence, seeks to erase distinctions, to flatten the differences that make societies dynamic and unique. To some, this vision may sound noble, even inspiring, but for us, Klal Yisroel, it has often come at a devastating cost. Under socialist regimes, from the Soviet Union to other experiments in collectivism, countless Yidden suffered under governments that sought to suppress Torah, strip away our religious freedoms, and stifle our identity. Shuls were shuttered, mikvaos destroyed, and the words of the Torah were forced underground. What socialism promises in equality, it often delivers in persecution and suffering. For centuries, Jews have flourished in societies that upheld religious liberty, allowing our communities to thrive and practice Torah freely. Socialism, however, undermines these values by replacing personal freedom and responsibility with state control. This shift extinguishes the beauty of community-driven support and mutual care, replacing it with a rigid, impersonal system. Even more troubling, socialist regimes throughout history have often turned against Jews during times of crisis, scapegoating us for societal problems and making us targets of persecution. Yet, we know that we are in galus, and galus is not just a geographical exile—it is a spiritual condition. The rise of socialism and its growing popularity may, in fact, be a message from Hashem. Perhaps we are being reminded of the need to turn to Him, to strengthen our faith, and to recognize that no human system—whether capitalism, socialism, or anything else—can solve the world’s problems or bring the geulah. The challenges we face in this world are reminders that we must never place our trust in human ideologies, no matter how appealing they may seem. Our trust must be in Hashem alone. As we approach this election, we must daven. We must daven for clarity, for wisdom, and for the strength to make choices aligned with our values as Torah Jews. We must daven for the safety of our community, for the ability to live freely as ovdei Hashem, and for the day when galus will end, and we will no longer have to navigate these difficult decisions. We must daven for a world where justice and kindness are not dictated by governments but flow naturally from the hearts of humanity, guided by the light of Torah. A vote for Mamdani is a vote for socialism, and socialism has never been a friend to the Jewish people. It is a system that has stripped away our freedoms, diminished our unique role in the world, and attempted to replace Hashem’s vision with human arrogance. We must be cautious, but we must also be hopeful. Every challenge is an opportunity to turn to Hashem, to connect more deeply to our mission, and to remind ourselves that our future is not in the hands of politicians or ideologies—it is in the hands of the Ribono Shel Olam. So as we stand at this crossroads, let us not only cast our votes but lift our voices in tefillah. Let us daven for the strength to remain steadfast in our values, for the wisdom to navigate the challenges of galus, and for the ultimate redemption, when the world will no longer be divided by ideologies but united under the sovereignty of Hashem. May we be zoche to see that day speedily in our times. Binyomin Waldman 

 

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  Name: Yisrael Meir  Mother: Hadasa Age: 6 months   Residence: Israel   Treatment Location: Schneider children’s hospital, Israel  Diagnosis: Malignant head tumor Yisrael Meir was diagnosed with cancer soon after his birth. Due to the quick diagnosis he survived so far and has a very good chance to be completely cured, if only… Yisrael Meir is […]

Gazan sources report that members of Hamas’s Shadow Unit, tasked with guarding hostages, arrived in Gaza City’s Tufah neighborhood, accompanied by Red Cross teams and Egyptian engineering equipment, to search for the remains of deceased Israeli hostages.

In late September 2017, a photo posted to Facebook from a losing City Council race in Bay Ridge seemed unremarkable: a group of campaign volunteers kneeling on a Brooklyn sidewalk, fists raised, rallying behind Palestinian-American pastor Khader El-Yateem. But that image — featuring activist Linda Sarsour in her trademark hijab and a young organizer named […]

Mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is brushing aside doubts about whether NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch would align herself with his sweeping criminal-justice overhaul, declaring that as mayor, “everyone will follow” his direction.

During an appearance on the Hell Gate podcast, the 34-year-old left-wing lawmaker was pressed by host Christopher Robbins about his promise to retain Tisch, despite her history of resisting the kind of reforms Mamdani and his Democratic Socialist supporters have long championed. Robbins noted, “Lots of people who support your candidacy care about criminal-justice reform and reforming the NYPD, and for the past year, she has stood to thwart that.” He asked why Mamdani would keep her on board if elected.

Mamdani pushed back, arguing that Tisch had already demonstrated progress toward some of his goals, pointing to her involvement in preliminary discussions about a new Department of Public Safety — one of his central campaign proposals.

Even so, skepticism lingered. Robbins reminded Mamdani that Tisch has been outspoken in opposing major reform measures, including those passed under ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whom she recently blamed for a surge in crime following his criminal-justice changes.

Tisch has also maintained strong support for the city’s contentious gang database, backed crackdowns on so-called minor offenses, and resisted bail and judicial-discovery reforms — stances that seem far removed from Mamdani’s vision of policing. “So she’s going to reverse her position on all those things?” Robbins asked pointedly. “She’s going to follow your lead in City Hall?”

“I think everyone will follow my lead,” Mamdani responded confidently. “I’ll be the mayor.”

The candidate dismissed fears of a repeat of the tense dynamic between former Mayor Bill de Blasio and ex-Commissioner Bill Bratton, whose disagreements over policing philosophies ended in Bratton’s resignation. Mamdani said his relationship with Tisch would be one of unity and cooperation rather than conflict.

Still, Mamdani conceded that he has not yet spoken to Tisch directly about whether she would remain in her post under his administration. “I haven’t had a private conversation with her on that,” he acknowledged in an interview with CNN on Sunday, noting that the two have not spoken one-on-one since July.

For her part, Tisch has stayed silent throughout the mayoral campaign, avoiding public remarks about any candidate.

{Matzav.com}

TRUMP ON MUSK: “It’s good with Elon. I like Elon. I’ve always liked Elon. Elon’s good… He’s a nice guy & he’s a very capable guy… He had a bad spell, a bad period, a bad moment. It was a stupid moment in his life, very stupid… But I like Elon & I suspect I’ll […]

On Monday aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo, President Donald Trump addressed speculation around a potential attempt to bypass the Constitution’s presidential‐term limits — and in doing so, drew a clearer line while at the same time keeping a future run very much on the table. Pressed on media reports pointing to a […]

WATCH:

As the winter zeman begins, Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel has unveiled a remarkable restoration: the yeshiva’s centuries-old Aron Kodesh, originally crafted in Italy more than 200 years ago, has been meticulously refurbished and magnificently refinished.

The Aron Kodesh, estimated to be around 250 years old, was built in Galicia by a Jewish artisan named Cohen. Just before the outbreak of World War II, it was transferred to the United States, where it served a Jewish congregation that later became Reform. Eventually, the Aron found its way into a local church, until, years later, the priest of the church discarded it.

At that very moment, a Jewish woman happened to see the discarded Aron and rescued it from the trash. She safeguarded the dismantled structure for decades, preserving each piece with care. About ten years ago, the late rosh yeshiva, Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi zt”l, had the Aron brought to Eretz Yisroel. Skilled craftsmen from the Israel Museum dedicated half a year to restoring it, reviving its splendor before it was installed in the yeshiva’s bais medrash in Bayit Vegan.

When the yeshiva relocated to Modiin Illit about seven years ago, the antique Aron was moved as well. Now, for the winter zeman, the Aron Kodesh has once again undergone a careful renovation, preserving its historical charm while renewing its beauty for the next generation of bnei Torah.

{Matzav.com}

During a proactive operation conducted by police and Border Police officers in Ramla, Lod, and Kafr Qasim, officers uncovered various weapons, including pipe bombs, handguns, grenades, ceramic vests, and a large quantity of ammunition. Two suspects were arrested.

Zohran Mamdani’s Democrat Socialists of America signed onto a statement calling to release Elias Rodriguez, the terrorist who executed two Jews in Washington DC last spring.

An Israeli citizen has been arrested in Hong Kong on suspicion of involvement in a large-scale drug smuggling operation worth an estimated 90 million Hong Kong dollars — roughly $11.5 million USD, or about 38 million shekels.

According to reports from Hong Kong and Ynet, the 45-year-old suspect was apprehended by the Hong Kong Police Narcotics Bureau in the Hung Hom area of Kowloon, part of the city’s Special Administrative Region.

Police said the man, who entered Hong Kong in mid-October on a tourist visa, drew the attention of officers after behaving suspiciously outside an industrial building. A search of a nearby storage facility uncovered eight large cardboard boxes containing a substantial quantity of illegal drugs.

Authorities placed the man under arrest, and he is currently being held in custody. He is expected to appear before the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court, where prosecutors are set to file two counts of “trafficking in dangerous drugs.”

Under Hong Kong’s Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, a conviction for drug trafficking carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to 5 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 2.1 million shekels).

{Matzav.com}

The Hamas terror organization has reportedly told international mediators that it can recover the remains of seven to nine hostages buried beneath Gaza’s rubble, according to a report by Asharq Al-Awsat.

Israeli intelligence has assessed that Hamas knows exactly where at least eight deceased hostages are located and could easily retrieve them. However, there may be challenges in locating as many as five others whose bodies are believed to be trapped under collapsed structures.

The statement from Hamas came after President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to the group, demanding swift action. “Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action,” Trump said, setting a 48-hour deadline.

He added, “Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not.” Trump made clear that patience was running thin, emphasizing that Hamas would be judged by its response. “Perhaps it has to do with their disarming, but when I said, ‘Both sides would be treated fairly,’ that only applies if they comply with their obligations. Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely.”

Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya told Al Jazeera that the group had “told the mediators months ago that there are problems in searching for them because Israel has changed the landscape in the Gaza Strip, even in areas where the dead were buried. In some cases, it is no longer known where they were buried. There is American understanding of this issue, and we have made it clear.”

He claimed Hamas was conducting intensive efforts to find the bodies. “Over the past week and the week before, after the release of the live hostages, there has been intensive and unusual work. Israel is monitoring these efforts,” he said.

Al-Hayya accused Israel of exploiting the situation for political purposes, asserting that the controversy over the bodies was being used as “a pretext.” “The problem today is not a real problem, but an excuse on Israel’s part,” he alleged. “Our brothers are working in broad daylight, digging with outdated and very weak equipment, and continuing to dig more than 20 meters underground. Even US President Donald Trump himself understands this and is asking for more time.”

While Hamas continues to claim it is unable to reach some of the sites, Israeli defense and intelligence officials maintain that the terror group is withholding the bodies intentionally. On Thursday morning, Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and senior officials from the IDF Intelligence Directorate briefed US Vice President JD Vance at the Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv on the latest intelligence.

According to Kan 11 News, the Israeli delegation informed the Vice President that Hamas possesses the capability to recover at least ten of the thirteen bodies of hostages currently held in Gaza — and could do so without any foreign assistance if it chose to act.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump delivered a stark message to Vladimir Putin on Monday, responding to the Russian leader’s boast about testing a so-called “invincible” nuclear missile. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One before departing for Japan, Trump declared, “They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shore.”

Putin had proudly announced over the weekend that Russia had completed a successful 8,700-mile, 15-hour test flight of its latest nuclear-powered missile—a weapon Moscow has dubbed a “flying Chernobyl” for its unlimited range and potential to strike anywhere, including the United States.

Trump made clear that he viewed Putin’s remarks as reckless and provocative. “They’re not playing games with us. We’re not playing games with them either,” he said, emphasizing his demand that Russia immediately bring its war in Ukraine to a close.

“I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying. By the way, he ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now in its, soon, fourth year. That’s what he ought to do instead of testing missiles,” Trump added, criticizing the Kremlin’s fixation on weapons demonstrations while the conflict continues to devastate Ukraine.

As tensions mount, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his pleas for Washington to send long-range missiles, arguing that only greater military pressure can compel Moscow to negotiate peace.

Zelensky welcomed Trump’s new round of sanctions on Russia, expressing hope that the measures would have a real impact. “President Trump is concerned about escalation. But I think that if there are no negotiations, there will be an escalation anyway. I think that if Putin doesn’t stop, we need something to stop him. Sanctions is one such weapon, but we also need long-range missiles,” he told Axios on Sunday.

{Matzav.com}

NOT ONLY A JIHADIST, BUT A LIAR AS WELL: It has been revealed that the “aunt” Zohran Mamdani shed fake tears over, claiming she stopped riding the subway after 9/11 because she didn’t feel safe wearing her hijab, neither wore a hijab nor lived in New York City at the time; she lived in Tanzania.

At the gates of Prison 10, thousands of children joined their rabbeim in emotional tefillos, reciting Tehillim and Selichos. Many wore hats bearing incarcerated Yeshiva Bochur Shamai’s photo and a call for his release — part of a campaign echoing the hostage release efforts that have stirred wide public debate.

Under the direction of HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, thousands of cheder students from the Ateres Shlomo network, led by HaRav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, gathered Monday morning outside Prison 10 to protest the arrest of Yeshiva Bochur Ariel Shamai.