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A resident of Mays Landing has been arrested on murder charges following a stabbing incident in Hamilton Township on Wednesday afternoon. According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Hamilton Township Police responded to 789 Park Road around 5:20 p.m. after receiving multiple emergency calls reporting an ongoing stabbing.

Upon arrival, officers discovered R’ Shloimy Lonner z”l of Lakewood, the homeowner, inside with several stab wounds. R’ Shloimy was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, where he was niftar shortly thereafter.

Michael Carney, 39, from Mays Landing, was apprehended at the scene and has been charged with murder and weapons offenses. Authorities report that Carney was a tenant at the Park Road residence, sharing the rental property with several others under Lonner’s ownership.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit and the Hamilton Township Police Department are currently investigating the incident. Anyone with information is urged to call (609) 909-7666.

The levayah of R’ Shloimy Lonner is being held now. WATCH LIVE:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82353868440?pwd=RYDK1aVZ3aF4HmjRziMSdTp4Ak5zV6.1 Passcode: 955532 Or One tap mobile: +13017158592

 

{Matzav.com}

A moving event took place on Friday at the office of HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Zilberstein at his kollel in Holon when a couple from Beit Shemesh and their close relatives excitedly entered his office pushing two strollers. The story began several months ago when an obstetrician informed the couple that the twins the mother was carrying have several defects that pose a risk not only to their lives but to the life of the mother. He told them in no uncertain terms to end the pregnancy. The couple consulted with another doctor, a more senior one, and he also advised them to end the pregnancy. The couple now needed halachic input – they consulted with HaRav Zilberstein, who is an expert in medical halachic issues. The Rav sent them to an even more senior doctor whom he trusts. The doctor that HaRav Zilberstein recommended carried out several tests but ultimately agreed with the other doctors that the pregnancy poses a risk to the mother’s life and must be ended. The couple returned to HaRav Zilberstein and told him what the doctor said. The Rav asked: “Where do you live?” “Beit Shemesh,” they answered. The Rav replied: “There are many children in Beit Shemesh who need help. Choose a child and help him – with his learning, do chasadim with him, and in this zechus you’ll see nissim.” The Rav also quoted the words of the Gemara in Masectas Bava Basra: “חונן דל מלוה ה’, אשר מי שמסייע וחונן דלים, הקב”ה כביכול נהיה בעל חובו לפרוע לו.” HaRav Zilberstein added: “Give a lot of money to tzedaka, daven hard, and b’ezras Hashem, you’ll experience many nissim.” The couple was shocked. They repeated the warning of the doctors that the pregnancy was dangerous for the mother. However HaRav Zilberstein reiterated his advice, adding: “Don’t worry, you’ll have many nissim and b’ezras Hashem, you’ll have healthy twins. After they’re born, bring them to me and we’ll thank Hashem together for the nissim you experienced.” The couple left, a bit shaken but determined to hold on to their emunas chachamim and fulfill the Rav’s recommendations. Several months later, the mother gave birth to healthy twin girls, with the medical staff utterly shocked at the outcome. One of the senior doctors told the parents: “It’s a neis you didn’t listen to me.” After they were released from the hospital last Friday, the couple hurried to visit HaRav Zilberstein, who greeted them warmly and with great simcha. Those in the room sang Chasdei Hashem, Ki lo Samnu and HaRav Zilberstein signed a dedication in two siddurim, one for each twin, writing in each one: “To the bas Yisrael who was born b’chasdei Hashem.” Afterward, all present emotionally recited Mizmor L’Todah, thanking Hashem for His overwhelming chessed. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Israel has transferred 435 million shekels ($116 million) in frozen tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority following the approval of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Yerushalayim confirmed on Wednesday.

The decision to transfer the funds was allegedly made last week as a tradeoff for Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s approval to legalize several outposts and approve new construction in Yehuda and Shomron.

The supposed quid pro quo also saw Smotrich extend a waiver shielding Israeli banks with ties to Ramallah from lawsuits stemming from charges of supporting terrorism, preventing the P.A. economy’s collapse.

Earlier this week, Smotrich described his moves in Yehuda and Shomron as a “massive operation aimed at thwarting a Palestinian state.” The Religious Zionism Party leader previously accused Ramallah of “working against Israel with political terrorism.”

Under agreements signed with the PLO in the 1990s, Israel collects taxes and customs duties on behalf of the P.A.

The frozen millions remitted to the Palestinian Authority this week amount to some three months of tax revenue, minus the sum earmarked for the Gaza Strip and funds withheld due to the P.A.’s support for terrorism.

Speaking at Ramallah’s weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, P.A. Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa claimed that the body’s diplomatic campaign led Jerusalem to release the funds. The P.A. leader vowed to push the Jewish state to transfer some 6 billion shekels ($1.6 billion).

On Nov. 2, although agreeing to send the revenue to the P.A., Israel’s Security Cabinet voted to freeze funds equivalent to those the P.A. sends to the Gaza Strip. The decision came at the insistence of Smotrich, who feared the money could end up in the hands of Hamas terrorists.

The decision prevents Gaza-earmarked monies from being sent to Ramallah “under any circumstances” unless approved by Smotrich.

In addition, Israeli law requires Jerusalem to offset funds equal to the annual 1 billion shekels ($268 million) that go towards the P.A.’s “pay for slay” program, under which it pays monthly stipends to terrorists and to the families of slain terrorists.

Since the Oct. 7 massacre in Israeli communities near Gaza, the P.A. has added thousands of Palestinians to its list of people who qualify to receive terror stipends, an Israeli watchdog reported in January.

{Matzav.com}

Hurricane Beryl ripped off roofs in Jamaica, jumbled fishing boats in Barbados and damaged or destroyed 95% of homes on a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines before rumbling past the Cayman Islands early Thursday and taking aim at Mexico’s Caribbean coast. At least nine people were killed. What had been the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, weakened to a Category 3 by early Thursday but remained a major hurricane. Beryl’s eye wall brushed by Jamaica’s southern coast Wednesday afternoon. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Jamaica had not seen the “worst of what could possibly happen.” On Thursday morning in Kingston, telephone poles and trees were blocking the roadways. Authorities confirmed a young man died on Wednesday after he was swept into a storm water drain while trying to retrieve a ball. A woman also died after a house collapsed on her. Residents took advantage of a break in the rain to begin clearing debris. Sixty-five percent of the island remained without electricity, along with a lack of water and limited telecommunications. Government officials were assessing the damage, but it was hampered by the lack of communication mainly in southern parishes that suffered the most damage. A visit to the south-central parish of Clarendon saw residents attempting to mend damaged roofs and clear downed trees. Many roadways in the area remained partially blocked from downed electricity and telecommunication poles. Seymour, armed with a machete as he and other residents attempted to clear debris, was grateful that the lives of him and his neighbors were spared. “I am just grateful for life although Beryl destroyed a lot of roofs and we don’t have any water or light (electricity),” he said, declining to give his last name. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said that “Weakening is forecast during the next day or two, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane until it makes landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula.” Mexico’s popular Caribbean coast prepared shelters, evacuated some small outlying coastal communities and even moved sea turtle eggs off beaches threatened by storm surge, but in nightlife hotspots like Playa del Carmen and Tulum tourists still took one more night on the town. In Playa del Carmen, most businesses were closed on Thursday and some were boarding up windows as tourists were jogging and some locals walked their dogs under sunny skies. In Tulum, Mexico’s Navy patrolled the streets telling tourists in Spanish and English to prepare for the storm’s arrival. Everything was scheduled to shut down by midday. Myriam Setra, a 34-year-old tourist from Dallas, Texas was having a sandwich on the beach Thursday. Her flight home was scheduled for Friday, but Beryl had not persuaded her to leave early. “I figured I’d rather be stuck in Mexico for an extra day, than go back two days early to the United States,” Setra said. “So, went out and bought a bunch of groceries. Figured we’d get the last of the sun in today, too. And then it’s just going to be hunker down and just stay indoors until hopefully it passes.” The storm’s center was about 95 miles (150 kilometers) west-southwest of Grand Cayman island and 330 miles (530 kilometers) east-southeast of Tulum. It had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph […]

Amid calls for him to end his candidacy, President Biden faces twin challenges: He must publicly show that he has the physical stamina and mental sharpness that was visibly lacking in the Atlanta debate. He must also demonstrate to alarmed Democrats that he has a viable path to victory.

In the week since his disastrous debate performance, he has done neither. If anything, he has gone backward.

On Wednesday evening, Biden and Vice President Harris met with Democratic governors in what was a listening session and a show of resolve. One attendee described the meeting as both blunt and productive, but added, “It should have happened last Friday,” the day after the debate.

That same day, according to words attributed to him, Biden told campaign staffers, “No one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving.” White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre said Biden is “absolutely not” dropping out.

“We’re going to win this election,” Biden said in an interview that aired Thursday on a Wisconsin radio program aimed at Black listeners. “We’re going to just beat Donald Trump like we did in 2020.”

Biden’s family is resolutely behind him, determined that he stay in the race. His staff continues to prepare a schedule of upcoming events while trying to hold back the tides of criticism. For now, the reelection campaign continues. But it continues in crisis mode.

Many Democratic strategists paint a dire portrait of the road ahead. Some of them see no viable path to victory for Biden. Privately, many elected officials, donors, strategists and others think he should quit the race. A few have said so publicly.

Biden is under extraordinary pressure to perform Friday, when he holds a campaign rally in Madison, in the must-win battleground state of Wisconsin in one of the bluest corners of the country, and sits down for a one-on-one interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that will be broadcast as a prime-time special.

The president entered last week’s Atlanta debate narrowly trailing former president Donald Trump in national polls and further behind in several battleground state polls. New polls released Wednesday by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal show him falling further behind since the debate. The New York Times/Siena College poll found that 74 percent think he is too old to serve as president.

Biden campaign officials say their internal surveys show less overall slippage, but they are not blind to his predicament. They knew that the minute Biden faltered in the opening of the debate that what was already a challenging race had become significantly more difficult.

Biden knows that as well, given his decades in politics. But he has failed so far to do what is needed to help his case – at a time when all eyes are on him, when his supporters are looking for evidence that his debate performance was just “a bad night,” and as Biden has been barely visible.

On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled in one of the biggest cases of this term, saying that presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts. The decision was a victory for Trump, who had brought the issue to the courts by claiming absolute immunity for his actions that led to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The decision was also an opening for Biden to highlight one of the central issues of his campaign, the preservation of democracy and the rule of law. “The American people,” he said that evening from the White House, “must decide if they want to entrust the president – once again, the presidency to Donald Trump, now knowing he’ll be even more emboldened to do whatever he pleases whenever he wants to do it.”

Biden, however, spoke for just four minutes and answered no questions. The next night, he attended a fundraiser in McLean, Va., where he spoke for fewer than 10 minutes and again took no questions. Other public events this week have included a briefing on extreme weather Tuesday and a Medal of Honor ceremony Wednesday.

Immediately after the debate, Biden’s team appeared successful in tamping down calls from Democratic elected officials for Biden to quit the race. Campaign and White House officials worked the phones last weekend, pleading with allies to hold their fire, despite calls for his withdrawal from some prominent columnists and commentators. Their argument was that any alternative course, such as an open convention, would produce chaos and perhaps even worse odds of winning the election than sticking with Biden.

Biden helped his own cause in those post-debate hours. At a rally the next day in North Carolina, his voice was strong and his energy level was up, both contrasts to the debate. Had that rally been a prelude to a series of such events, it might have worked. But the rally was a one-off, and Biden then retreated from public view. By early this week, the anxiety levels inside the party began to rise appreciably and calls for him to drop out, some private and some public, increased.

In North Carolina, Biden addressed the age issue more directly than in the past. “I don’t walk as easily as I used to,” he said. “I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. … And I know like millions of Americans know: When you get knocked down, you get back up.”

At different times this year he has tried to address the issue of his age, sometimes with humor, sometimes as he did after the debate. He has never been consistent in dealing with the obvious signs of aging. Now he has no choice. He must address it, and not just with words but also with sustained activity.

At his fundraiser in McLean, Biden blamed his debate performance on jet lag from overseas travel he did in June. “I wasn’t very smart. I decided to travel around the world a couple of times, going through I don’t how many times zones. I didn’t listen to my staff. And then I came back, and I nearly fell asleep onstage.”

He did make two trips to Europe in early June, and after the second trip flew from Italy to California, a span of nine time zones, for a fundraiser with former president Barack Obama. But then he returned to the East Coast for 11 days of rest and preparation before the debate.

Democratic governors pressed him Wednesday to be more visible and vigorous, with some warning that he would have trouble winning their states. They also told him that simply raising the specter of another Trump presidency and the potential damage that could bring to democratic institutions and the country wasn’t sufficient to win. “The governors said you’ve got to have a compelling vision,” said one person who was in the room.

The president has a limited amount of time to demonstrate that he has the capacity for the rigors of the campaign and, not incidentally, for another four years as president if he wins in November.

More events are on his schedule later this week, including the Stephanopoulos interview. But allies say one TV interview is a fraction of what he will have to do to show his ability to handle unscripted situations. Governors told Biden they want to see much more.

“They’ve got to take the chance,” said one governor who attended the meeting. “I’m adamant about this. Do the town hall and take the questions.”

Biden has been making calls to party officials and other allies. One call Tuesday was to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. They did not talk about politics.

“He asked about the reason for high beef prices for American families,” Vilsack said. To the Cabinet official, this was a sign that, despite the torrent of criticism aimed at the president, Biden is “doing his job.”

Part of that job now will be to decide whether to stay in the race or get out. Biden might sound defiant and resolved, but he is also having to weigh what is the wisest course. He knows he doesn’t have much time to prove to his party that he can lead it effectively through the closing months of the campaign – and to the voters that he is fit to serve another four years.

Those who have known him longest say that he will make that decision based not on what others tell him but on his own analysis – and not simply personal ambition or vanity.

“I am very confident in this,” Vilsack said, “that whatever decision he makes about his country and the country’s future will be based on what he believes will be in the best interest of the country.”

(c) Washington Post

In light of the various tragedies that have struck Klal Yisroel and the ongoing challenging situation in Eretz Yisroel, Agudas Yisroel of America’s New Jersey office will present a kinnus hisorerus tonight, at 8:30 p.m., at Bais Medrash Lutzk, located at 520 New Egypt Road, Lakewood, NJ.

There will be a live video and audio hookup of the event. The call-in number for the audio hookup is 712.432.4305.

Divrei hisorerus will be delivered by Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha; Rav Uri Deutsch, rov of the Forest Park Shul; and Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood.

All drashos will be delivered in English.

As was widely disseminated earlier, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and the Lakewood roshei yeshiva called for today to be a special day of tefillah and teshuvah, a Yom Kippur Koton Mukdam. Tonight’s asifa will provide hadracha for dealing with the challenges of the day and the Torah approach going forward.

{Matzav.com}

This past week, a group of religious officers and senior officers in the Ukrainian military visited the JCC Beit Menachem community center. During the visit, the officers met with Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch, the Chief Rabbi of Kyiv, engaged in conversation, and listened to a lecture on various topics related to Judaism and military life. The officers participating in the meeting, part of their professional training, came from various units of the Ukrainian military, with some holding senior officer ranks. In his lecture, Rabbi Markovitch focused on topics such as Jewish identity during wartime, Jewish values, the spiritual and social challenges faced by Jewish soldiers, and the Jewish perspective on issues relevant to military life and warfare. Additionally, Rabbi Markovitch discussed with the officers the treatment and support provided by the Ukrainian military to Jewish soldiers in all sectors. At the end of the visit, the officers presented Rabbi Markovitch with a certificate of appreciation for his significant contribution to Ukraine’s security forces in general and to Jewish soldiers serving in the military in particular. The certificate, issued by the higher education institution of the Ukrainian military, stated that the recognition was awarded to the Rabbi for his “spiritual support, which contributes to the high-quality execution of combat missions in the defense of Ukraine.” The visit was part of the ongoing relationship between the Jewish community in Kyiv and the Ukrainian military. Rabbi Markovitch is well-known for his extensive activities on behalf of Jewish soldiers and is highly respected by senior officials in the Ukrainian government and security agencies. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

“The good ones go first. Itay will stay with us until our last breath,” Oren Glisko, the father of IDF Staff Sgt. Itay Glisko, told JNS on Tuesday.

Last week, the State of New Jersey honored Itay, 20, an American citizen serving in the IDF’s Golani Brigade who was killed by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7.

Sarri Singer, the daughter of state Senator Robert Singer (R-30), delivered the official proclamation in person to the Glisko family’s home in Yokneam in northern Israel.

“This legislature hereby salutes the memory of Itay Ofek Glisko, pays tribute to his valiant service, and extends sincere sympathy and profound condolences to all who mourn his passing,” the proclamation reads.

“Be it further resolved, that a duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the Senate president and the assembly speaker and attested by the Senate secretary and the assembly clerk, be transmitted to the family of Staff Sergeant Itay Ofek Glisko,” it adds.

Oren Glisko said that the proclamation “shows that America cares and shares our grief. As long as we speak about him, he remains somehow alive.”

Itay’s mother, Liat, told JNS that the decision to honor her son raises awareness of those lost in the war.

“The document is a document. But Sarri came, sat with us, cried with us and got to know Itay through us. That’s what’s important. We want the story of Itay and his name to be known all over the United States,” said Liat.

Almost 300 IDF soldiers were killed on Oct. 7. A total of 674 troops have fallen on all fronts since the Hamas-led massacre.

Born in New Jersey in 2003, Itay moved to Israel with his expatriate parents when he was one year old and grew up in Yokneam. A lover of nature, he enjoyed fishing with his father, camping with friends and was part of Shevet Shachar, the local Scouts group.

“He was one of a kind, the heart and soul of everybody. He is the color we’re all missing in our lives,” said Liat.

“Always there for everyone, he spoke few words, was very modest, but was a man of action. Throughout his life, just like on October 7, he put everyone else before himself,” she added.

Itay’s dream was to be drafted into the Golani Brigade like his father before him. He went through a difficult eight months of training before joining the brigade’s 13th Battalion.

“He was so talented as a fighter, someone you wanted next to you as a soldier and as a man. Just holding him gave me strength and reassurance,” said Liat.

On Oct. 7, Itay, who was supposed to spend the Simchas Torah with his parents and two brothers, Yali, 15, and Ori, 24, filled in for his superior officer, who went on leave.

He was positioned 500 meters from the Gaza border when 3,000 Palestinian terrorists invaded.

“Itay sent us a WhatsApp message at 6:30 a.m. saying, ‘Don’t worry, I’m in a [bomb] shelter.’ We turned on the news, continued texting with him, he said not to worry so we didn’t,” father Oren recounted.

Terrorists swarmed Itay’s post. An eight-hour fight ensued, during which 12 soldiers were killed. Throughout the battle, Itay, along with the battalion’s medic, evacuated the wounded into the base’s dining room to receive first aid.

“They managed to slow Hamas down and sustained the fighting for hours, but for every soldier there were about five terrorists,” said Oren, who was called to the south for reserve duty on Oct. 7.

“The soldiers were armed but had no access to additional ammunition aside from what they had on them. The rest was stored in a bunker out of reach,” he said.

“At around 2:30 p.m., Hamas terrorists burned the entrance to the dining room to try and suffocate the soldiers who were sheltering inside. Itay and three more troops went out to fight and try to save the others,” he continued. “At 5 p.m., the army arrived to rescue those who had survived. Seventeen soldiers were saved.”

For four days, Itay’s family did not know what had happened to him. They managed to track his phone, whose GPS location was 20 kilometers away from Itay’s base.

“We hoped. We thought he might have been captured. We went to the south and looked for him. For days, we called everyone, checked every list of kidnapped and missing Israelis, but his name wasn’t there either. We held onto the hope that Itay was strong and a good fighter; nothing could happen to him,” said Liat.

The family reached out to cousins, who alerted American reporters and Sarri Singer to try and help locate Itay. Singer, who survived a bus bombing during the Second Intifada, had created an organization to support victims of terror called Strength To Strength.

On Oct. 11, the IDF knocked on the Gliskos’ door to inform them that Itay had been killed.

“Our lives will continue. We have two more children, we are trying to maintain some sort of a routine for them,” said Oren.

“At the same, we take every opportunity to bring Itay’s name up. We will always speak of him and we will get to the United States to tell his story and perpetuate his memory. Everyone will know how much he helped his country and loved humanity. We will never forget him. He will stay with us until our last breath,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Around 134 million people in the U.S. are under alerts as an “extremely dangerous and record-breaking” heat wave broils much of the country, according to the National Weather Service. Regions that may see temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) or much higher into the triple digits (well above 37 degrees Celsius) include nearly all of the West Coast, the southern Plains, most of the lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley and parts of Florida, said Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service. The Pacific Northwest will see the mercury rising later in the weekend. Arizona will continue to sizzle as firefighters battle a wildfire near Phoenix, where some contend with burns from blazing hot asphalt, concrete or other surfaces. And more humid regions will see a muggy weekend. “If it’s both humid and hot, you can’t really rely on sweat to cool you down to a safe level,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California, Los Angeles. It’s a dangerous weather pattern hitting as fires burn in northern California, and just in time for a holiday weekend. When people are celebrating, “it’s very easy to get sidetracked,” staying out for longer and forgetting to stay hydrated, said Chris Stachelski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “And then all of a sudden you’re putting yourself more at risk.” This heat wave’s expected duration, breadth and high overnight temperatures compound the risks to people’s health. “I think this heat wave may end up being more consequential, more dangerous, and more record breaking in many cases than the heat waves that produce those slightly higher temperatures,” Swain said. Stachelski added that even after the highest temperatures have passed, heat can still be dangerous, especially to the most vulnerable — the young, old and those without access to air conditioning. Experts urge people to drink plenty of water and find air conditioning. Big Sur State Parks used Sabrina Carpenter lyrics to urge hikers to “please, please, please” avoid caffeine and alcohol, wear sun protection and know trails ahead of time. The extended high temperatures that cook the West Coast will also dry out vegetation and set the stage to make the remaining months of the fire season more severe, Swain said. “Heat is an underrated killer,” Swain said, referring both in the short term to heat waves like this one and to the broader trends of global warming. “It’s one we’ve long underestimated. And I think we continue to do so at our peril.” (AP)

On Thursday evening, the IDF cleared for publication that Major (Res.) Itay Galea, was killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack.

Galea, aged 38 from Ramat Gan, was a Deputy Company Commander in the 8679th Unit, the 679th Brigade.

This tragic news comes after the IDF announced earlier on Thursday that Captain Roy Miller, 21, from Herzliya, was killed in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.

The previous day, the IDF cleared for publication that Captain Elay Elisha Lugasi was killed in battle in the Gaza Strip.

And early on Wednesday, the IDF announced that Sergeant Aleksandr Iakiminskyi, 19, from Nahariya, was murdered in a terror attack at a mall in Karmiel.

{Matzav.com}

In a rare display of cooperation, Palestinian Authority security forces evacuated two Jewish adults from Jenin on Wednesday night, handing them over to Israeli authorities at the Gilboa Crossing. The couple, residents of central Israel, had taken a wrong turn and found themselves in the West Bank city. At a PA checkpoint, they were identified and transferred to the care of the Civil Administration’s coordination unit in Jenin and Israel Police representatives. In a separate operation, Border Police officers and the Haruv Reconnaissance Unit of the Kfir Brigade, operating under the guidance of the Shin Bet, eliminated a terrorist involved in serious terrorist activity. The forces arrived at the destination, identified the armed terrorist, opened fire, and neutralized the threat without any injuries to the security forces. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Dear Editor@Matzav.com,

I am writing to express a concern that has been troubling me deeply. In some portions of the frum community, there is ostensibly concern about avoiding “hisgarus ba’umos” (provocation of the nations) concerning the growth and actions in Eretz Yisroel. However, I find it perplexing and disheartening that the same level of concern does not seem to be applied to Yidden‘s conduct here in places like Boro Park, Williamsburg, and elsewhere.

It is not uncommon to witness instances where members of our community display an air of arrogance and entitlement, asserting their dominance in these neighborhoods and others. Particularly troubling are pictures and videos of individuals chasing down aino Yehudim who attack Yidden, “helping” the NYPD as if we are baalei batim in these neighborhoods.

We’re not. And we’re in golus. Stop “helping” law enforcement. Put away your phones and beepers and fancy gear and go home. Stop taking pictures of you “helping” law enforcement make arrests.

You’re worried about hisgarus ba’umos? There’s nothing worse than this arrogant behavior.

How can we justify a stance against hisgarus ba’umos in one context while seemingly disregarding it in another? Is it only when we’re battling the Tzionim that suddenly hisgarus ba’umos becomes the issue, but when it comes to hisgarus ba’umos in Brooklyn, NY, it’s suddenly not?

This selective application of the principle of hisgarus ba’umos leave me scratching my head.

By humble. Be a golus Yid. Just because you’re on Shomrim or Chaveirim doesn’t mean you own your neighborhood or town. Get off your high horse.

If we are genuinely concerned about “hisgarus ba’umos” in Eretz Yisroel, we must be equally vigilant about our hisgarus ba’umos conduct here in the Diaspora.

Sincerely,

Bent in Brooklyn

In a new book, published in time for the Lubavitch Rebbe, Rav Menachem M. Schneerson ztl, thirtieth yahrtzeit, includes an essay “Rebbe by Choice” by Dovid Zaklikowski which compares the Rebbe’s derech in influencing those around him to Dale Carnegie’s advice in How to Win Friends & Influence People. The essay is one of fifty essays in The Oracle: Portraits of Rebbe Mendel Schneerson, which includes the photos of Rav Schneerson which were photographed for the 1992 New York Times Magazine cover story “The Oracle of Crown Heights.” The award-winning photographer Marc Asnin spent several weeks in Crown Heights for the New York Times and took thousands of photos, only a few of which were published in the magazine. Now, in time for the thirtieth yahrtzeit, Redux Pictures published these never-before-published photos in a coffee table book. Through Asnin’s intimate photos and personal reflections, The Oracle examines a pivotal moment when Rav Schneerson was at the height of his influence and tells of the Chabad movement that continues to thrive decades after his passing. Widely regarded as one of the most iconic books in the American canon, Carnegie’s book was first published in 1936, began a revolution in effective interaction between employees and employers, co-workers, and spouses. Time Magazine later called it “arguably the most influential” of self-help books: “Its sage advice rings true nearly 75 years later.” “While there is no concrete proof that the Rebbe read it,” Zaklikowski writes in his essay, “It is Carnegie’s approach that seems to be blatantly apparent in the way the Rebbe tried to influence people to become more consciously Jewish, to take on more observance, and to be more involved in Jewish communal life.” One such piece of advice, he continues, is the use of gentleness and friendliness, quoting Carnegie, “is demonstrated day after day by people who have learned that a drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.” This has become hallmark of the Rebbe’s approach to not denigrate those who have erred in their yiddishkeit, but to encourage them to grow in it. It has also been the way Chabad shluchim have approached reaching out to their local communities. Rav Schneerson was not the only one to have incorporated Carnegie’s approach, Rav Dessler was said to also have incorporated his approach in his teachings. The book, which according to Chabadpedia, has been banned from Crown Heights stores for also including objective criticism of the movement, has been hailed by others as a first attempt to understand the stories, their struggles and challenges, of those who became Rav Schneerson’s chassidim and admirers. Zaklikowski, who has written over forty books, many of them on the teachings of Rav Schneerson, writes that for his essay he “interviewed over one hundred people. Because I wanted the interviewees to speak their minds freely, many of the conversations were carried out informally. In addition, I reviewed thousands of pages of original documents.” The Rebbe contended that even those who seemed bad, Zalikowski writes, like the Jew who was not observant, had the potential to do good and should be encouraged in that path. “Taking the long view, the Rebbe attracted people from all backgrounds and philosophies. As one person told me, you could be a disciple of the Rebbe and be modern, […]

The grandmother of Israeli opposition lawmaker Sharren Haskel (Tikvah Chadasha) was the victim of an antisemitic assault by “Arab thugs” outside Paris, the Knesset member told JNS on Thursday.

“After Oct. 7, there has been an explosion of antisemitism, targeting and attacking the Jews, resulting in physical attacks, death and rape of Jews in France,” Haskel told JNS, confirming a report by Israel’s Kan News public broadcaster on the incident, which took place earlier this week.

Two Arabs attacked the 88-year-old victim after she left her home in Val-d’Oise, just north of Paris, for a doctor’s visit, according to the report.

One of the assailants reportedly punched Haskel’s grandmother in the face, breaking her teeth and knocking her to the ground. After the fall, one of them was said to have continued to kick her in the back while shouting, “Dirty Jew, dirty old lady, this is what you deserve.”

Haskel told JNS, “She tried to hide it from my family because she was embarrassed and ashamed, but she couldn’t. It could have ended far worse. Today, she went to the hospital to be examined as part of her filing a complaint with the police.”

French authorities confirmed to Kan that a probe had been opened into the attack. In the complaint, the victim noted, “I think they saw my Star of David necklace, otherwise they wouldn’t know.” She had to seek medical attention for pain in her back, knees, shoulder and right wrist.

“I have no hope in the French authorities for treatment,” the younger Haskel wrote in a post on X on Wednesday, charging that the government led by French President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling Renaissance Party “allows blood libels to be spread against Israel, and as a result, the Jewish community suffers from violence, rape, murder.

“The Israeli government must lead the fight against the explosion of antisemitism,” Haskel said. “Jewish communities around the world are inseparable from us, and we have a great responsibility towards them.”

The center-right lawmaker called on all Diaspora Jews, including her grandmother, to return to the Jewish people’s “national, cultural and historical” homeland, writing, “We have one home.”

In an op-ed published on the French website Causeur on Wednesday, Haskel said the time had come to “demand an end to the state-run anti-Israeli propaganda—led by Agence France Presse and the French public media—that has fueled this growing antisemitism.”

In the piece, she alleged the Arab attack on her grandmother was “covered up to avoid boosting [Marine Le Pen’s] National Rally during election time and to play into the hands of the current government, which is now allied with the worst antisemites of the [far-left] LFI [La France Insoumise, or ‘France Unbowed’].”

France’s far-right topped the country’s first round of legislative elections on Sunday for the first time, with the National Rally winning about one-third of the vote. Finishing second was the left-wing coalition, New Popular Front, which includes LFI, with 27.99% of the vote.

The decisive second round will take place on Sunday.

“I am being very cautious about the recent election,” Haskel told JNS. “I see how the far-left is actually spreading antisemitic discourse and hatred towards Jews and Israel. It is very difficult for me to know how the National Rally will approach situations like that, but I have a great hope that at least to start they’ll try to combat it.

“What I really know is that there has to be radical change in France to make sure minorities are protected,” she said. “We need action to deter Islamist radicals attacking Jews, to put them behind bars and make sure this never happens to anyone’s grandmother—ever.”

The National Rally has endeavored to reach out to Jewish voters. In a June op-ed in Le Figaro, Le Pen, in the wake of the rape of a Jewish girl, excoriated the left and Macron’s party for allowing Jew-hatred to fester in France.

“The latest act to date, the appalling rape of this 12-year-old girl because she is Jewish, stirs my heart and should revolt the whole of France,” Le Pen wrote, adding that an attack on Jews is an attack on all French.

Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli (Likud) said on Monday that if Le Pen were to be elected president of France, “In my eyes, this is good for the State of Israel with 10 exclamation marks.”

While Macron has condemned antisemitism, he has often taken a critical stance towards the Jewish state’s war against Hamas. In March, he said that the transfer of Gazans from Rafah to humanitarian zones ahead of the Israeli military operation in the city would constitute a “war crime.”

In November, he claimed in an interview that Israel was killing women and children. “De facto—today civilians are being bombed. These babies, these women, these old people are being bombed and killed. So there is no reason for it and no legitimacy,” the French leader said.

The remarks drew condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said that Macron “made a serious mistake, factually and morally” and that “the responsibility for any harm to civilians lies with Hamas-ISIS and not with Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

Agudath Israel of America introduces the second episode of its compelling new initiative, Torah Perspectives, designed to provide profound wisdom and valuable insights from gedolei Yisroel and prominent rabbonim. This video series aims to address contemporary issues through the timeless lens of Torah, offering guidance, inspiration, and chizuk to the wider Jewish community.

In this episode, once again hosted by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Agudath Israel’s Director of Torah Initiatives, we are zocheh to hear from Dayan Aharon Dovid Dunner, rav of Adass Yisroel Tottenham of London and dayan with the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, speaking on the topic of “The Scourge of Machklokes: Fights, Divorces, and the Pursuit of Shalom.”

Dayan Dunner, with his usual eloquence, delves into the destructive nature of machlokes and its pervasive impact on both personal relationships and the broader community. Drawing from Torah sources and his extensive experience in dealing with communal issues, as well as his consultations with gedolei hador on this very topic, he highlights the consequences of disputes, the ripple effects they can cause, and the importance of pursuing shalom in all aspects of life – and he shares a number of fascinating stories to make his points.

WATCH:

Danny Elgarat, the brother of hostage Itzik Elgarat, has revealed that the military has informed him that Hamas claims his brother is no longer alive. In an emotional interview with Channel 12, Danny shared the devastating news, saying, “I met with our intelligence officers yesterday and as far as Hamas is concerned, my brother is not alive.” Danny expressed frustration and sadness, recalling the moments when his brother was taken hostage. “He was kidnapped alive, the hostage Yelena sat with him for a whole day and talked to him.” He also mentioned that the family received a report from a doctor who treated Itzik, saying, “The doctor who treated him gave us an accurate report of what treatment he received. He received really excellent care there, they saved his hand.” Danny said the family had been aware of Itzik’s movements while in captivity. “We knew that on January 1 he moved from Khan Younis to Rafah. We know that he was in motion, that he was alive,” he said. He criticized the authorities for not taking the family’s concerns seriously, saying, “When we said that time was running out and we needed to bring them home, they thought we were just stressed and talking out of pain. We were not just speaking out of pain.” Itzik Elgarat, 69, was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7 during an attack on his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. He was shot and injured through his safe room door before being taken captive. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

[COMMUNICATED]

The drama began this winter when the French police swooped down on the home where a family from Eretz Yisrael was staying in Armentieres, France, and forcibly snatched three helpless children from their mother’s embrace. 

Following their father’s placement in an institution due to emotional imbalances, the local authorities falsely deemed the mother neglectful and incapable of caring for her children.

Maimon, 7, Esther, 5, and Shlomo, 3, were placed in a secular institution, alongside Arabs and other children, where they are being physically and emotionally abused.

The authorities confiscated the yarmulkes of Maimon and his brother, and had their peyos cut. When the oldest protested that the food they were served was non-kosher, he was placed on drugs to reduce his mental awareness and force him to give in.

TODAY – July 4 a court hearing will be held in France to determine the fate of the 3 captive children, if they will IY”H return to live in a Jewish home, or C’V they must remain by Goyim – totally assimilated from Yidishkeit until they are 18 years old Rc”l.

A massive Atzeret will be held in Beth Medrash Guovoha – Lakewood, today at 10:30 to Daven and say Tehilim and beg Hashem for mercy on the Jewish children in France, to bring them back to a Jewish home.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO HELP THEM! 

Askanim involved in the case say that the only way to save these innocent children from definite shmad and return them to their family, is by way of a lengthy and costly legal process. The latest is that the authorities are now threatening to take away the remaining three children.

Please daven for the mother, Rivka bas Gila, and her children – Maimon, Esther, Shlomo, Rochel Brocha, and Avrohom.

To help the family and Askanim or to donate Click Here 
or call 646-718-9907

Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog on Wednesday evening hailed the “unbreakable friendship” with the United States, at the annual U.S. Independence Day reception hosted by Ambassador Jack Lew at his official residence in Yerushalayim.

“My friends, we name here again a clear, self-evident and sustained bipartisan truth: Our unique alliance is based not only on the values we share, but on our willingness to defend those values,” said Herzog.

“Since October 7, Israel has been at the forefront of a global battle against terror and extremism. Against those acting on behalf of the oppressive [Iranian] ayatollah regime. And against those who seek to impose their dark vision of a future based on radical hate and oppression. Again and again, the United States has shown, in word and in deed, and in utterly bipartisan fashion, that it is Israel’s greatest ally,” he continued.

“We stand together in the long and difficult fight to defend our values, our lives, and our very way of life. Like in any family, we do not always agree on everything. And that is okay. Disagreements do not draw into question the broad basis of friendship and alliance that keeps us connected to our shared story and advances the vital interests of both of our nations.

“In the name of the state and people of Israel, I express my deepest gratitude to President [Joe] Biden, to the American government, to Congress, and to the American people for the support and solidarity which has always been an anchor of our safety, and which has been evident in countless ways since October 7,” said Herzog.

“This clarity has been asserted not only on the battlefield, but in the international arena as well. The United States has stood up boldly for Israel in international institutions. Against attempts to delegitimize Israel, against hatred, prejudice and antisemitism, and in favor of the humanity that keeps us secure and whole. This is clarity and vision. This is moral high ground. This is the blessing of the United States of America to the world.

“God bless America. God bless Israel. And God bless the unbreakable friendship between our nations,” said Herzog.

{Matzav.com}

Eleven people have died from an outbreak of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus in Israel, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

More than 150 people have been diagnosed with the virus to date, mostly in the central region, according to the ministry.

Eighty percent of those infected do not develop any symptoms, but the rest, especially elderly and immune-compromised people, display flu-like symptoms including fever, general malaise, headaches and general body aches.

Neurological complications will appear in less than 1% of those infected.

West Nile virus has affected Israel for years, usually in June through November and not in large numbers.

This summer’s outbreak was first reported in north Tel Aviv last month, but has since spread to the southern city of Eilat.

People in the center region, greater Tel Aviv, are especially at risk of contracting the disease as the high humidity creates a good breeding ground for the mosquitoes that spread it.

{Matzav.com}

The grandmother of New Hope MK Sharren Haskel was assaulted by Arabs in a Paris suburb, Haskel revealed on Wednesday. The 88-year-old had left her home for an appointment when two Arabs attacked her, punching her in the face, breaking her teeth, and knocking her to the ground. They then kicked her in the back while she lay helpless on the ground, yelling: “Dirty Jew, dirty old woman” and “This is what you deserve.” The woman, whose name was not revealed, filed a police complaint following the incident. “Antisemitism in France has been on the rise for a long time,” MK Haskel wrote on X. “Since October 7, it has become unbearable, and the government of France is ignoring it and allowing blood libels to spread against Israel, leading the Jewish community to suffer from violence, rape and murder.” Haskel urged Jews living in France and other communities abroad to move to Israel, saying she has little faith that French authorities will properly address the surging antisemitism. “The Israeli government must wake up and lead the fight against this exploding antisemitism,” she wrote. “Jewish communities around the world are an integral part of us, and we have a great responsibility towards them.” “There should be more civilian initiatives like the ‘Jew hate database’  in America. It is far more effective than anything I’ve seen until now in having a price tag against racism.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)