A startling incident shook Yerushalayim’s chareidi neighborhoods this past Shabbos night when a group of teenage boys from fringe circles were caught on security cameras scattering pashkevillin and flyers attacking Shas leader MK Aryeh Deri right in the middle of Shabbos.
Residents of Meah Shearim, Geulah, and Beis Yisroel awoke to find their streets littered with political posters bearing sharp messages against Deri and the Shas leadership. “This wasn’t done before Shabbos,” said one local shopkeeper whose cameras captured the scene. “They were out there on Shabbos itself, throwing papers through the streets late at night.”
The footage, circulated among residents, shows several young men dumping piles of flyers along alleyways and sidewalks. According to local rabbonim, such actions constitute a serious issur Shabbos, not only because carrying the flyers involves muktzah but also because it appears the youths were being paid for their work, making it outright melachah. “Simply holding and distributing these political handouts on Shabbos is forbidden,” explained one rov. “If they were doing so for payment, it’s a severe violation in every respect.”
Community members described the act as part of a disturbing new pattern. “We’ve seen flyers put up close to Shabbos before, but never something like this—open, deliberate desecration of Shabbos for political purposes,” said a longtime resident. “This isn’t internal debate anymore; this is an attack on a symbol of Sephardic Torah leadership.”
A local Sephardic rov echoed that sentiment: “These are small groups of bored, disconnected youth from the margins, but what they did crosses a sacred line—against Kedushas HaShabbos and Kavod HaTorah.”
While the Shas party declined to issue an official statement, senior officials privately condemned the event as “wild incitement disguised as social protest.” One Shas activist said, “This is not only public chilul Shabbos—it’s an attempt to ignite conflict within the chareidi camp itself. This has gone beyond ideological disagreement; it’s an act of defiance against rabbinic authority.”
Observers of the chareidi world note that the incident highlights a worrying shift: some disaffected young people are now using the language of political protest even at the expense of religious principles. “In the past, even the most extreme kana’im would never take to the streets on Shabbos,” said a veteran askan from the Eidah HaChareidis. “What we’re seeing now is the erosion of internal boundaries—a generation that feels detached from traditional rabbinic leadership.”
{Matzav.com}
Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz sharply denounced New York City’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, calling him “an enemy of America” and “a blatant antisemite.” Speaking on Newsmax TV’s Saturday Report, Dershowitz condemned both Mamdani’s record and the political movement he represents.
“Not only is he a critic of Israel, but he also belongs to a party whose platform includes that nobody can be a member of the Democratic Socialists of America if they believe that Israel has the right to exist at all,” Dershowitz said. “And he himself said he wouldn’t recognize Israel as a Jewish state that we recognize as dozens of Muslim states. That’s pure, blatant international antisemitism. Mamdani is a bigot, an antisemite, a Jew hater.”
The outspoken legal scholar accused Mamdani of masking his hostility toward Israel behind rhetoric of equality. “He can say all he wants about swastikas and how he will stand with the Jewish community. He is an enemy of America, he’s an enemy of decency, an enemy of the Jewish people, an enemy of Israel, an enemy of Alan Dershowitz,” he declared.
Mamdani, 34, rose to prominence as a progressive state legislator before running for mayor. His campaign focused on economic issues like housing affordability and childcare access, but his aggressive stance against Israel drew national attention. He has repeatedly characterized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “genocide,” a claim Israel’s government categorically rejects. Mamdani has also said he would arrest Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu if he entered New York City and has hinted at severing ties with Israeli businesses and universities.
Though Mamdani insists he supports Israel’s existence, he has stated that any government giving Jews priority status over others contradicts his commitment to universal rights. His position has alarmed many Jewish voters and pro-Israel groups who see it as an attempt to delegitimize the Jewish state.
Dershowitz pledged to fight Mamdani “in every legal, permissible way possible.” “We’ll beat him down in every legal, permissible way possible,” he said. “He is tremendous damage because his election for the first time sends a message you can be an antisemite, you can be an anti-Zionist, you can be anti-American, and you can still win in a city like New York, perhaps in Minneapolis and San Francisco, in Chicago and other cities.”
Drawing a chilling historical comparison, Dershowitz continued, “It really, to me, sounds a little bit like what was going on in Austria and in Germany in 1932. I’m not talking about Germany in 1939, when being an antisemite didn’t disqualify you from being the mayor of Vienna, Berlin, and being an antisemite, not disqualifying you from being the mayor of New York. Getting 32% of the Jewish vote shows you how dangerous this is, and how absurd and idiotic some Jews are.”
He concluded with a searing rebuke to Jewish voters who supported Mamdani. “President Trump got it exactly right when he said that any Jew who votes for Mamdani is an absolute fool, a self-hating fool. But we’ve seen that Jews supported Stalin, Jews supported Pol Pot, Jews supported Castro, even some Jews supported Mussolini, and even a handful supported Hitler. Jews can be as idiotic as anybody else, and the Jews who voted for Mamdani showed their idiocy and their self-hatred,” Dershowitz said.
{Matzav.com}
A federal grand jury has reportedly issued subpoenas to three top Obama-era intelligence and law enforcement figures involved in the U.S. government’s 2016 Russia investigation, according to CBS News sources familiar with the development.
Those subpoenaed include former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI counterintelligence official Peter Strzok, and former FBI attorney Lisa Page. The source said that more subpoenas may follow soon as investigators widen their inquiry.
The subpoenas originate from the Southern District of Florida and are said to demand records tied to the creation of the Obama administration’s intelligence community assessment, which was released publicly in January 2017. That report alleged that Russia launched a covert influence operation aimed at helping Donald Trump win the presidency over Hillary Clinton.
It remains uncertain which federal office is steering this latest inquiry or whether any of the findings could lead to criminal charges. None of the three individuals identified have issued public statements about the subpoenas.
The investigation revisits one of Washington’s most divisive topics: how U.S. intelligence agencies handled evidence and analysis during the original probe into alleged ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. The 2017 intelligence assessment’s classified version included a summary of the “Steele dossier,” a file compiled by ex-British spy Christopher Steele containing unverified claims about Trump’s supposed Russian connections. The research had been funded by Democrats.
The dossier’s inclusion in the assessment drew sharp criticism from Trump and his supporters, who viewed it as a politically motivated move to legitimize baseless allegations.
Multiple reviews — among them bipartisan congressional probes and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s lengthy investigation — have confirmed that Russia interfered in the 2016 election through hacking and an orchestrated social media disinformation campaign. However, Mueller’s report stated that while the Trump campaign “welcomed” Moscow’s efforts, investigators “did not establish” that Trump or his aides conspired with Russian agents.
Since reclaiming the presidency, Trump has repeatedly attacked the credibility of the Russia investigations, labeling them politically driven. His administration’s intelligence chiefs — FBI Director Kash Patel, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard — have endorsed releasing previously classified materials related to the 2016 probe.
In July, Ratcliffe made public a CIA analysis that cited “tradecraft anomalies” in how the Obama-era intelligence report was compiled. The review faulted the decision to include a summary of the Steele dossier in a classified annex, saying it “implicitly elevated unsubstantiated claims to the status of credible supporting evidence, compromising the analytical integrity of the judgment.”
It is not yet known who else may have been subpoenaed as part of this expanding federal investigation, nor what direction prosecutors intend to pursue as they revisit the origins of one of the most controversial chapters in recent U.S. political history.
{Matzav.com}
Growing concern is spreading among residents of Yerushalayim’s Ramot neighborhood over what they describe as suspicious digging, constant drilling, and rapid illegal construction coming from the nearby Arab village of Beit Iksa—activity they fear may involve tunnels rather than ordinary building work.
According to dozens of complaints sent to the Regavim movement in recent months, the noises of heavy machinery and digging are often heard late at night, including on Shabbos and Yomim Tovim. Residents have also reported gunfire and multiple break-ins, heightening fears in the community, which still bears the trauma of a recent terror attack carried out by terrorists who entered through a gap in the security line near Ramot.
Beit Iksa sits directly on the Yerushalayim security seam, just a few hundred meters from Route 1 and the Tel Aviv–Yerushalayim railway. This geographic position, Regavim warns, enables near-unrestricted access between Palestinian areas and Israeli territory. The group notes that illegal Arab construction has expanded toward Yerushalayim’s periphery, accompanied by smuggling of weapons and vehicles, all while taking advantage of the area’s ambiguous jurisdiction—classified as Area B, under Palestinian municipal control but with Israeli military authority—where enforcement is virtually nonexistent.
Regavim says it has repeatedly appealed to enforcement agencies regarding what it calls a “serious security threat,” emphasizing that many of the structures encroaching toward Ramot pose direct dangers. “The real answer is not another security fence or separation wall,” said Yehuda Noam, Regavim’s Yerushalayim coordinator. “It is unacceptable that the State of Israel allows hostile, illegal Arab construction right on the railway tracks and alongside Route 1, near residential neighborhoods.”
Noam added that “the solution is not building another multi-million-shekel fence, but increasing enforcement, strengthening Jewish presence, and restoring governance in the area. After the events of October 7, when the most advanced fence in the Middle East was breached in minutes by mobs in sandals, we must stop pretending that another fence is the answer.”
Emails shared with Regavim by worried residents paint a troubling picture. One family from Ramot A wrote, “We often hear gunfire in the evenings, especially on Friday nights. There are constant drilling and digging noises. We feel exposed and threatened by the neighboring Arab villages, especially after so many recent attacks.”
Another resident from Ramot 06 described “nonstop tractor activity, land being cleared, and new buildings and neighborhoods going up. We feel deeply unsafe. Please intervene to stop the massive illegal construction and demolish the buildings meant to surround Ramot.” She added a chilling request: “Please check if tunnels are being dug there. A security barrier could help prevent unauthorized infiltrations and protect residents before it’s too late.”
A separate email mentioned “continuous drilling and digging from the direction of the village, day and night, including on Yom Kippur. It looks like something beyond simple housing construction, with a large pit being excavated and hidden by mounds of sand.”
Regavim says these are just a few of the many messages they have received but stressed that responsibility lies with Israel’s defense establishment and Yerushalayim’s municipal and national authorities. “They must open their eyes and ears to the sound of drilling and to the public’s cry for help before tragedy strikes,” the organization warned.
The IDF has not yet issued a response.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Eliezer Meirovitz zt”l, one of the distinguished dayanim on the Vizhnitz beis din. He was 71.
Rav Meirovitz attended seudah shlishis and participated in the engagement celebration of the Rebbe’s grandson just last night. Earlier today, he underwent a medical procedure at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital, where he was suddenly niftar. The news of his sudden petirah has left thousands of Vizhnitzer chassidim in shock and grief.
Rav Meirovitz was born on Chol Hamoed Sukkos to his father, Rav Avrohom Chaim Meirovitz z”l of Williamsburg, one of the prominent chassidim of the Ahavas Yisroel and the Imrei Chaim, and to his mother, Mrs. Golda a”h.
From a young age, he studied in Vizhnitz institutions and became deeply attached to the Rebbes of the dynasty, the Imrei Chaim, the Yeshuos Moshe zt”l, and the present rebbe.
Upon reaching marriageable age, he married the daughter of Rav Yehuda Feder, one of the elder Vizhnitz chassidim, known as the owner of “Feder Matzayim,” who passed away during Sukkos 5777.
Rav Meirovitz was a close disciple of Rav Shmuel Wosner zt”l, from whom he received extensive halachic guidance and training. He was widely recognized as a talmid chochom of great stature and served with distinction on the Vizhnitzer beis din alongside Rav Yisroel Meir Stern and Rav Menachem Shlomo Klein.
Known for his sharp mind and profound yiras Shamayim, Rav Meirovitz regularly tested bochurim and avreichim of the chassidus in areas of halacha, including Hilchos Shabbos and issur v’heter, guiding them with patience and clarity.
He leaves behind sons, daughters, and grandchildren who follow in his path of Torah and avodah. His son, Rav Shmuel Meirovitz, serves as rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Meor Vashemesh.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Turkey played a key role in bringing home the remains of IDF officer Hadar Goldin, who was killed and taken by Hamas during the 2014 Gaza conflict, according to reports from Israeli media. A senior Turkish official confirmed that Ankara is now pushing for the safe removal of Hamas fighters currently trapped in tunnels in southern Gaza.
“We are pleased to confirm that Turkey has successfully facilitated the return of Hadar Goldin’s remains to Israel after 11 years. This achievement is the outcome of intensive efforts and reflects Hamas’s clear commitment to the ceasefire,” the Turkish official told Channel 12 News.
The official further noted that “at the same time, we are working to ensure the safe passage of some 200 Gazans currently trapped in the tunnels,” referencing an underground network beneath Rafah on the Israeli-controlled side of the border. The group, estimated to include up to 200 Hamas operatives, remains the subject of tense negotiations.
Contradicting the Turkish account, a separate Channel 12 report alleged that Turkey had initially urged Hamas to withhold Goldin’s body until Israel agreed to release the trapped militants. According to the report, Israel rejected that demand outright. The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to questions regarding these claims.
In parallel, a Palestinian source told the Kan public broadcaster that Turkey, with American support, has been the main force pressing Hamas to hand over the remains of the other hostages still held in Gaza. The source added that Hamas is struggling to locate or retrieve some of the four remaining bodies, a situation mediators reportedly acknowledge is beyond the group’s immediate control.
The remaining slain captives are Israelis Ran Gvili, Meny Godard, and Dror Or, along with Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak.
{Matzav.com}
After more than a month of deadlock, signs of movement finally emerged in Washington on Sunday as Senate Democrats appeared poised to back a bipartisan spending proposal that could bring the historic government shutdown to an end.
According to congressional aides, at least ten Democrats are prepared to join Republicans in advancing a procedural vote on a package of appropriations bills paired with a short-term funding measure to keep the government running through January. The development follows weeks of stalled negotiations between congressional leaders and the Trump administration.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, who has kept the Senate in session throughout the weekend, suggested optimism was in the air as lawmakers continued to negotiate. “A deal is coming together,” Thune remarked while entering the chamber to open Sunday’s session.
Still, Thune cautioned that success wasn’t guaranteed. Senators wanted additional time to read and review the final text before moving forward. “We’ll see where the votes are,” he said, signaling that discussions remained fluid and could continue late into the night.
The emerging framework would mark the first tangible progress toward ending the shutdown, now in its 40th day. The tentative arrangement reportedly includes a December vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits—a top Democratic priority—while also offering relief to federal employees who have gone without pay.
Insiders indicated that the text of the appropriations legislation would likely be made public later in the day. The pending measure could provide much-needed funding to reopen shuttered agencies, restore federal food assistance, and address disruptions to air travel caused by the prolonged stoppage.
“The negotiations are finally moving in the right direction,” said a senior Republican staffer familiar with the talks. “Everyone understands the pressure to get this done.”
The government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, began when Democrats refused to approve a GOP-backed funding plan that excluded a one-year extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies. President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans rejected that proposal, instead advocating that federal dollars be redirected straight to consumers through health savings accounts.
To bridge the divide, the Senate’s new plan reportedly separates the immediate funding measures from the larger health care fight, allowing both sides to declare a partial victory while reopening government operations.
“We’re at the point where something has to give,” one Democratic senator said. “We’re not there yet, but this could be the start of a real breakthrough.”
If the momentum continues, lawmakers could hold a final vote as early as Monday, potentially reopening the government just ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel period.
{Matzav.com}
