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PHOTOS: The Makover Rebbe By Simchas Bais Hashoeva (Via Shuki Lerer For YWN)
US Stocks Drop on Worries About Banks
PHOTOS: Hoshana Raba At The Kosel (Photos By S Herskowitz)
IDF Releases New Photo of Sinwar’s Body On Anniversary of Hamas Leader’s Elimination
The Israel Defense Forces released a never-before-seen picture on Thursday showing the slain body of Yahya Sinwar, marking one year since IDF soldiers killed the Hamas terrorist mastermind in the Gaza Strip.
The photo shows former IDF Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, former Operations Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk and Gaza Division chief Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram standing near Sinwar’s body on Oct. 17, 2024, a day after he had been killed in southern Gaza.
The image was made public as part of a set of iconic photos taken by IDF photographers during the war, which will be displayed as part of an exhibition at the Yitzhak Rabin Center in Tel Aviv starting on Sunday.
“A year since humanity was freed from the master of the flood of evil,” tweeted Avichay Adraee, head of the Arab Media Branch in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
“Goodness cannot be defeated—and justice, no matter how delayed, will prevail. To hell, and what a miserable fate awaits you, Sinwar,” added the military spokesman.
Sinwar was the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks in Israel’s south on Oct. 7, 2023, during which around 1,200 people, primarily civilians, were murdered; thousands were wounded; and 251 were kidnapped.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted on X on Sunday a handwritten letter penned by Sinwar revealing the Oct. 7 massacre “wasn’t chaos, but choreography.”
“Terrorists were ordered to film the slaughter of civilians, soldiers and families—not for documentation, but as a psychological weapon to terrorize Israelis and inspire extremists,” the ministry stated.
“This wasn’t a ‘spontaneous uprising.’ It was a scripted campaign for the destruction of Israel—planned, rehearsed and executed,” the MFA said.
On Oct. 11, The New York Times published further details about the memo, which was found by a special unit of the IDF in May 2025.
The unit found the six-page memo on a computer in a tunnel complex used by Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of Yahya, who briefly headed Hamas after his brother’s death before being killed in October 2024.
Sinwar’s document called for Hamas terrorists to target IDF soldiers and civilian communities, as well as to broadcast the violent acts to spread fear among Israelis and destabilize the country, the Times reported.
The Hamas memo ordered Palestinian gunmen to enter civilian towns in Israel and set them on fire “with gasoline or diesel from a tanker.”
It sought maximum shock value, urging fighters to “stomp on the heads of soldiers.” It also ordered “opening fire on soldiers at point-blank range, slaughtering some of them with knives, blowing up tanks.”
The anniversary of Sinwar’s killing on Thursday coincided with Israel’s national day of mourning for the military and civilian victims of Oct. 7.
The Hamas-led massacre was “monstrous in every sense of the word,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in remarks at a state memorial ceremony for fallen IDF soldiers, calling the Oct. 7 attacks a “merciless killing of infants, children, adults, the elderly.”
The leader of the Jewish state added that “if those killers could have done it, they would have slaughtered each and every one of us.”
The IDF’s official death toll since the Oct. 7 attacks stood on Thursday afternoon at 916, while hundreds more Israeli civilians were murdered in the massacre and subsequent attacks. JNS
{Matzav.com}
Bar Kuperstein’s Mother: “He Saw The Arabs Praying & Decided He Also Wants To Pray”
PHOTOS: The Mezibuz Rebbe On Hoshanah Raba And Neilas HaChag (Shuki Lerer For YWN)
Arab Countries Worry About Trump’s Trust In Terror-Sponsoring Qatar: “They Will Keep Hamas In Power”
Rav Shaul Alter at Hakafos Shniyos: “The Smile from Hashem Is Only the Beginning of the Salvation”
Thousands gathered in Yerushalayim for the hakafos shniyos celebration held in the beis medrash of the Gerer rosh yeshiva, Rav Shaul Alter, where an uplifting atmosphere of Simchas Torah joy filled the air. Among the distinguished participants was Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Leon, who was honored with reciting Mizmor Lesodah, symbolizing gratitude for the return of the hostages.
Mayor Leon, who participates annually in the hakafos shniyos at Rav Alter’s court, chanted the kapitel with heartfelt emotion and a melodic voice, displaying his well-known skill as a chazzan. His participation this year carried added significance: last year, he had been called upon to recite Lamenatzeach, Ya’ancha Hashem b’yom tzara, a tefillah for salvation in times of distress. Now, following the hostages’ return to their families, he was given the honor of reciting a kappitel of thanksgiving instead.
During the hakafos, Rav Shaul delivered an impassioned address filled with spiritual depth and insight. “We were privileged to witness a ‘shmaychel’ — a smile from the Ribbono shel Olam — with the return of the captives to their homes,” he said. “We saw the fulfillment of the promise ‘v’shavu mei’eretz oyev’ — they have returned from the land of the enemy. But now we must long for the seifa of that verse: ‘v’shavu banim ligvulam’ — that we all return from captivity and do teshuvah. We are all, in truth, captives — in the hands of the yetzer hara. May we merit to be freed and return to our Creator.”
The moving celebration took place in the Heichal HaTefillah hall on Rechov Ki Tov, which had been used by Rav Alter’s kehilla during the Yamim Noraim and was graciously made available by philanthropist Rabbi Yechezkel Lev, founder of the Arzei project.
The hakafos shniyos were marked by tremendous joy, unity, and spiritual elevation, attended not only by Rav Shaul but also by his brother, Rav Yaakov Meir Alter and Rav Daniel Chaim Alter, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ner Yisrael, both of whom participated with visible simchah, with Rav Daniel Chaim also delivering words of inspiration.
The event concluded with exuberant dancing and singing, reflecting both gratitude for Divine kindness and a heartfelt yearning for the ultimate redemption, when, as Rav Shaul expressed, “we will all return home, not only from physical captivity, but from the captivity of the yetzer hara, to our Father in Heaven.”
{Matzav.com}
PHOTOS: The Vishnitzer Rebbe On Hoshanah Raba And Neilas HaChag (Shuki Lerer For YWN)
Judge Wants Immigration Agents in Chicago Area to Wear Body Cameras After Clashes With Public
Thousands Expected to Gather at Har Hamenuchos for the Yahrtzeit of Rav Meir Shapiro zt”l
In anticipation of the upcoming yahrtzeit of Rav Meir Shapiro zt”l, the visionary founder of the Daf Yomi, which will be marked on 7 Cheshvan, there is already great excitement and widespread response. Following the tremendous success and overwhelming participation at last year’s hilula, which drew thousands of participants and dozens of Daf Yomi shiurim, preparations are well underway for this year’s event.
Dozens of Daf Yomi shiurim have already reserved their places for this year’s hilula, which will once again take place in large tents set up near the tziyun at Har Hamenuchos. Participants representing all segments of Klal Yisroel are expected to take part in these shiurim, which are given by maggidei shiur who teach regularly throughout the year and ascend to the tziyun on the yahrtzeit to express gratitude to the founder of Daf Yomi.
Rav Meir Shapiro, who left this world without children, famously remarked that he did, in fact, have two “children”: Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin and the Daf Yomi. The yeshiva was destroyed during the Holocaust, but the Daf Yomi lives on for generations, continuing to spread Torah and unity across the world.
Last year’s hilula left a deep impression, as people from across the religious spectrum came together to participate in the learning sessions. Visitors were awed by the sight of the main tent, the “Merkaz HaDaf HaYomi,” whose façade was designed as a replica of the historic Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin building in Poland.
The organizers of HaDaf HaOlami, who oversee the entire initiative, report that immediately after last year’s hilula, they received numerous requests from additional Daf Yomi groups wishing to deliver their shiurim at the Har Hamenuchos site on the yahrtzeit. In response, the organization has spent the entire year preparing for this expanded event, ensuring comfortable and secure accommodations for all participating shiurim.
Several new tents have been added to the complex, with careful coordination to maintain all necessary permits and safety measures. The organizers expressed their deep appreciation to the Yerushalayim Municipality for its invaluable assistance, as well as to the Cemetery Council for its ongoing support in ensuring that the entire hilula proceeds smoothly and respectfully.
{Matzav.com}
PHOTOS: The Belzer Rebbe By Simchas Bais HaShoeva (Via Shuki Lerer For YWN)
Hackers Breach Airport Systems in U.S. and Canada, Broadcast Pro-Hamas Messages Over Loudspeakers
Thousands Attend Yahrtzeit of Ribnitzer Rebbe at Viznitzer Beis HaChaim in Monsey
Tragedy in Yerushalayim: Infant Hindy Zelikovitz, Born After Her Father’s Passing, Drowns in Pail of Water
A heartbreaking tragedy struck the Toldos Aharon community in Yerushalayim with the passing of little Hindy Zelikovitz a”h, who drowned in a bucket of water at her grandmother’s home in the Batei Ungarin neighborhood.
The 18-month-old child was released for burial after intensive efforts by community activists. Her petirah marks another devastating blow for the family, as Hindy was born six months after the passing of her father, Rabbi Yisroel Aryeh Zelikovitz z”l, a young avreich from Toldos Aharon who succumbed to illness at the age of 27 this past Teves. He left behind his young widow and a five-year-old son.
Rabbi Zelikovitz’s life was one of remarkable strength and perseverance. He endured years of serious illness, frequently hospitalized, yet never ceased his learning or his devotion to his family. Even during his hospital stays, he would arrange chavrusah sessions in the hospital shul, determined to maintain his seder limud.
Several months after his passing, his widow gave birth to twins—a boy and a girl—who entered a world without their father, whom they would never know.
Earlier this evening, baby Hindy tragically drowned in a pail of water at her grandmother’s home. Following the intervention of community leader Rabbi Shimon Shisha and other Toldos Aharon activists, her body was released for burial.
The levayah is being held tonight, and she will be laid to rest on Har Hamenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}