VP: “If you are a politician & two beautiful babies just got murdered while praying, & your politics force you to condemn prayer in response to it, you ought to get new politics because something very wrong has gone on inside your soul.”
WATCH: Father of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, killed in Minneapolis school shooting, gives statement. “Please remember Fletcher for person he was, not act that ended his life…Give your kids an extra hug & kiss today. We love you, Fletcher. You’ll always be with us.”
Bicur Joilim (Bikur Cholim), the oldest shul in Santiago, Chile, was vandalized on Friday while mispallelim were still inside, as three masked vandals spray-painted anti-Israel graffiti, splashed red paint, and hung posters depicting Netanyahu with a bullet hole in his head and messages accusing Jews of complicity in “genocide.” The Jewish community noted this was the fourth such attack on the shul since the October 7 massacre.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Joe Thompson: “The shooter expressed hate toward black people.” “The shooter expressed hate toward Mexican people.” “The shooter expressed hate toward Christian people.” “The shooter expressed hate toward Jewish people.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey calls for a ban on “assault weapons.” “There is no reason that someone should be able to reel off 30 shots before they even have to reload.”
Itamar Bibi, a young chareidi activist who has become a frequent guest on Israeli news panels regarding the chareidi draft, has once again ignited a storm, drawing fierce backlash from secular, religious-Zionist, and chareidi circles alike.
Itamar first rose to prominence after a Channel 12 News feature spotlighted working chareidim — young men who are employed rather than fully devoted to Torah learning but still refuse to enlist in the IDF, publicly declaring their stance at every opportunity. Since then, Itamar has become a recurring media figure, known for his confrontational style and controversial statements.
The latest uproar began when Itamar , during a televised panel, claimed that reservist soldiers continue fighting in Gaza “for a 20,000-shekel paycheck.” The remark drew widespread condemnation, forcing Itamar to later clarify that his comments were directed only at the soldier sitting across from him in the studio, not at all reservists.
However, the tension escalated further last night when Itamar clashed live on-air with a chareidi combat soldier serving in the IDF’s newly established Chashmonaim Brigade. Itamar accused the soldier of being “not really chareidi,” calling him a “Chabadnik” who ignores the guidance of gedolim who have openly opposed the brigade’s creation.
While Itamar’s remarks have angered secular and religious-Zionist audiences, they have also triggered outrage within the chareidi community itself. Many prominent voices are distancing themselves from him, insisting that he does not represent mainstream chareidi views and accusing him of causing a massive chillul Hashem.
Chareidi journalist Mendy Rizel posted on X:
“שמישהו כבר יסתום לאיתמר ביבי את הפה. כמה חילול ה’.”
“Someone please shut Itamar Bibi’s mouth already. What a disgrace.”
Yossi Elituv, editor of Mishpacha Magazine, also weighed in, criticizing the phenomenon of young chareidim who are not committed to Torah learning but remain on yeshiva registries to avoid the draft: “כאשר נערים שאינם מקיימים את הבסיס ההלכתי נשארים ברשימות הישיבה, לא רק שהדבר מחלל את מהות בית המדרש, אלא הוא גם פשע חברתי־מוסרי כלפי האומה כולה: במקום למלא את חובתם האזרחית ולשרת בצה״ל, הם משמשים כעלה תאנה. על המגזר להבהיר במעשים: מי שתורתו אינה אומנותו, שילך לשרת את עמו.”
“When young men who do not follow the fundamentals of halacha remain listed as yeshiva students, it not only desecrates the essence of the beis medrash, but it is also a social and moral crime against the entire nation. Instead of fulfilling their civic duty and serving in the IDF, they are being used as a fig leaf. The chareidi community must make it clear in action: anyone whose Torah is not his life’s occupation should go serve his people.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
The CDC is looking into a Salmonella outbreak that has affected 95 people and led to 18 hospitalizations across multiple states. According to an update from the agency, the illnesses occurred between January 7 and July 26 and have been connected to eggs supplied by a distributor in Southern California. Officials warned that the actual number of cases is likely higher, as it often takes time for health departments to confirm and link individual infections to the outbreak.
Salmonella infections usually spread through foods like poultry and dairy products. Most individuals who become sick recover on their own without antibiotics, but symptoms commonly include diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. In more severe instances, the bacteria can move beyond the digestive system and pose life-threatening complications.
Country Eggs LLC, the distributor tied to the contaminated eggs, announced on Wednesday that it is recalling its “Sunshine Yolks” brand eggs, which were distributed in both California and Nevada. While the majority of cases have been reported in California, infections have also been identified in 13 additional states.
This announcement came just two days after NBC News revealed that one of the CDC’s primary programs for monitoring foodborne illnesses is undergoing significant cutbacks, a move that public health experts say could affect future outbreak responses.
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A remarkable yeshuah occurred for an older bochur who, against all odds, became engaged after years of unsuccessful attempts at shidduchim. The turnaround came in the merit of a special segulah advised by the tzaddik Rav Dov Kook of Tiveria: intensive learning of the sefer Mesilas Yesharim.
Approximately two months ago, a prominent supporter of Torah institutions from the United States reached out to close talmidim of Rav Dov Kook — the editors of the widely circulated “Shivtei Kohen” publication, Rav Moshe Chaim Schneider and Rav Yaakov Brizel. The request came on behalf of a business partner, himself a well-known baal tzedakah, who had reached an advanced age without yet finding his zivug.
Despite investing tremendous efforts, offering large sums to top shadchanim across the U.S., and trying numerous known and hidden segulos, the long-awaited shidduch had not materialized. In his deep distress, the businessman asked that Rav Kook be consulted for a clear eitzah to bring about a salvation.
Upon hearing the situation, Rav Kook immediately provided his advice: the yeshuah lies within the holy words of the Ramchal’s classic, Mesilas Yesharim. He instructed that seven talmidei chachamim be enlisted to learn the entire sefer thoroughly — cover to cover — with depth and clarity, dedicating the merit of the learning to the bochur in need of a shidduch.
The supporter acted without delay, arranging for seven avreichim to complete the limud on the bochur’s behalf. Roughly two weeks later, Rav Schneider and Rav Brizel returned to their rebbi with the joyous report that the learning had been completed in full.
In a rare and striking gesture, Rav Kook took a piece of paper and wrote the words: “מזל טוב מזל טוב,” expressing his absolute confidence that a yeshuah was imminent.
Astonishingly, just two weeks after the completion of the limud, the long-awaited news arrived: the bochur became engaged to a kallah described as possessing yiras Shamayim, refined, and full of exceptional qualities.
On Wednesday, the talmidim personally visited Rav Dov Kook to deliver the joyous update. The tzaddik was visibly uplifted, offering heartfelt brachos to the new couple. In honor of the occasion, Rav Kook made a heartfelt l’chaim, expressing deep satisfaction over the yeshuah.
Those close to him noted that Rav Kook often laments when people approach him with their hardships and request his brachos but fail to return to inform him when the yeshuah arrives. This time, his simcha was described as “doubled and redoubled” upon hearing the outcome directly.
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Matzav.com Israel}
A deeply moving encounter took place this morning at the home of Rav Yigal Cohen, a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council and the head of Yabia Omer institutions, as he met with Agam Berger, who survived Hamas captivity. Berger was accompanied by askan Mr. Shai Graucher.
During the meeting, Rav Cohen expressed his profound admiration for Agam’s extraordinary inner strength during her time in captivity. He praised her unwavering commitment to Torah values despite the immense suffering and challenges she faced, noting her dedication to Shabbos observance, kashrus, and steadfast emunah.
“Zechus gadol nafal bechelkech,” Rav Cohen told her. “You succeeded in strengthening the entire Jewish nation during a time of crisis and hardship, and you spread the name of the Ribbono Shel Olam throughout the entire world.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, Rav Cohen presented Agam and Graucher with copies of his new siddur and the sefer Chovos HaLevavos.
{Matzav.com Israel}
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir released a new policy document addressing the government’s approach to handling demonstrations, setting a five-day deadline for Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to issue a formal response.
The four-page document identifies what it refers to as “critical roads” that must remain open under all circumstances. These include routes to hospitals, roads connecting to Ben-Gurion Airport, highways whose closure would cut off access to certain communities, designated emergency paths, and other primary thoroughfares.
“The right to demonstrate is not an inherent right, but rather a relative right,” the document states.
Ben-Gvir’s office said that the attorney-general had received a copy of this policy months earlier but had yet to provide any feedback. The minister declared that if a response is not delivered within the allotted five days, the new rules will be enforced immediately.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously on Thursday to terminate the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon at the end of next year after nearly five decades, bowing to demands from the United States and its close ally Israel. The United States, which initially demanded the force be ended in six months and later sought a one-year final extension, voted in favor of a final 16-month mandate to continue its activities near Lebanon’s U.N.-drawn border with Israel until Dec. 31, 2026. The multinational peacekeeping force has played a significant role in monitoring the security situation in southern Lebanon for decades, including during the Israel-Hezbollah war last year. But it has drawn criticism from both sides and officials in President Donald Trump’s administration, which has moved to slash U.S. funding for the operation as Trump remakes America’s approach to foreign policy. “The security environment in Lebanon is radically different than just one year ago, creating the space for Lebanon to assume greater responsibility,” said the acting U.S. ambassador, Dorothy Shea. A longtime peacekeeping force will wind down The peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after Israel’s 1978 invasion. Its mission was expanded following the monthlong 2006 war between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah. Following last fall’s Israel-Hezbollah war, Lebanese officials have called for UNIFIL to remain, saying the country’s cash-strapped and overstretched army is unable to patrol the full area on its own. In a statement, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the decision to extend UNIFIL’s mandate through 2026 and thanked “all friendly countries in this Council that expressed their understanding of Lebanon’s concerns.” Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, told the Security Council that “we are at a decisive moment for Lebanon, Israel and the region, on what comes next.” The U.N. resolution, sponsored by France, gives the force a year starting on Dec. 31, 2026, to withdraw its 10,800 military and civilian personnel and all U.N. equipment. During this period, UNIFIL was authorized to carry out a few limited activities. The resolution says the aim is to make the Lebanese government “the sole provider of security” in southern Lebanon north of the U.N.-drawn border with Israel known as the Blue Line. It calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from north of the Blue Line. Danon made no mention of a pullout in his remarks. Trump administration pushed for end to UNIFIL Trump administration political appointees had sought to shut down UNIFIL as soon as possible and secured major cuts in U.S. funding. They regard the operation as a waste of money that is merely delaying the goal of eliminating Hezbollah’s influence and restoring full security control to the Lebanese armed forces. European nations, notably France and Italy, objected to winding down UNIFIL too quickly. They argued that ending the peacekeeping mission before the Lebanese army was able to fully secure the border area would create a vacuum Hezbollah could easily exploit. France’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Jay Dharmadhikari, welcomed the unanimous vote, saying last November’s cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah placed Lebanon on a path to regain sovereignty over its entire territory and toward regional stability. He said UNIFIL’s ongoing operations are still vital, stressing that its mandate until the end of 2026 will give the force “precious time … to work alongside the mounting capabilities of the Lebanese army so […]
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday sketched out his vision for Israel’s endgame in Gaza, aligning himself with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to bring the war to a close by year’s end while making clear he expects nothing short of permanent Israeli control of the territory. Speaking at a press conference, Smotrich said the government must project clarity and strength, warning that Hamas would be faced with a stark choice: surrender on Israel’s terms or face continued fighting. “I am here to create order, to show the people of Israel that we need to win… and we can win. We can do it quickly,” he said. Smotrich spelled out what surrender would look like: the release of all hostages, a full handover of weapons, the exile of Hamas’s leadership and the complete demilitarization of the Strip. Anything less, he argued, would fall short of the decisive victory he believes the country owes its citizens and the Jewish people more broadly. Smotrich went further than Netanyahu in calling for a postwar framework that cements Israel’s role indefinitely. “Israel must completely hold control of the entire strip, forever. We will annex a security perimeter, and open the gates of Gaza for voluntary immigration,” he said. Framing the war as a generational and even global struggle, Smotrich cast his plan as an obligation to those killed and captured since October 7, to Israel’s southern communities and to what he described as the broader security of the Western world. “We owe this to the fallen and their families, to the hostages and their families, to the heroic reservists, to the residents of the south, for the security of Israel, for the future of our children, for justice, for the Jews of the world, and for the security of the entire Western world. A decisive victory,” he said. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Breslover rabbonim issued an urgent directive this morning instructing that anyone in Israel with an active arrest warrant must not attempt to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. The ruling comes after several recent incidents in which chareidi men who received draft notices but failed to report were detained when passing through customs.
The decision was reached during a gathering of about 100 Breslover rabbonim representing both Ashkenazic and Sephardic kehillos. The meeting brought together leaders from across the movement to address growing concerns regarding government enforcement of army draft laws.
During the session, representatives from organizations fighting against the gezeiros of army conscription presented detailed briefings outlining the procedures currently being implemented in military recruitment offices and holding facilities. They provided updates on the heightened risk faced by individuals flagged for noncompliance.
After hearing these reports, the rabbonim issued a firm psak: “Anyone with an active arrest warrant must not attempt to leave the country, as doing so risks immediate arrest.” They further stressed, “Everything possible must be done to avoid, God forbid, a situation leading to arrest.”
The rabbonim also reiterated their unequivocal opposition to all forms of compulsory service, declaring the draft a “decree of religious annihilation.” They clarified that participation in any framework—whether military, national, or civil service—is strictly prohibited according to daas Torah.
Responsibility for enforcing this guidance has been placed on rabbeim, mashpi’im, and other spiritual leaders within the Breslover community. They were urged to ensure that their talmidim and followers fully understand the risks and do not place themselves in danger by attempting to travel under these circumstances.
This psak carries significant weight given the centrality of the Uman pilgrimage in Breslover life. For many, traveling to the Rav Nachman for Rosh Hashanah is regarded as a sacred obligation. Over the years, Breslover chassidim have endured great hardships to fulfill this mitzvah—crossing multiple borders by land, air, and sea to be in Uman on time. In recent years, they have overcome tremendous challenges, including strict COVID-19 restrictions and the ongoing security dangers posed by the war in Ukraine.
{Matzav.com}
A surprising collaboration has emerged between the Breslover community and the Peleg Yerushalmi faction as they work together to assist individuals with travel restrictions who hope to spend Rosh Hashanah in Uman.
In recent months, dozens of young Breslover chassidim with active arrest warrants turned themselves in to military prisons, believing that serving short terms would remove their exit bans and allow them to travel. However, for many, this strategy backfired — once released, some were immediately drafted following their initial meeting with army authorities.
According to a report by Daniel Grobeis on Galei Tzahal, this led Peleg activists to take action. In coordination with certain Breslover rabbonim, they set up a dedicated information hotline. The hotline advises callers to avoid any direct contact with the IDF and provides guidance on who may still be able to travel to Uman.
During conversations with the hotline, some operators suggest alternative approaches. One commonly promoted strategy is for those who have draft notices but no active arrest warrant to present themselves at the Bakum enlistment office, begin the registration process, and request a draft date scheduled after Rosh Hashanah. The hotline claims that upon returning from Ukraine, they can assist these travelers in securing a full exemption from military service.
Another option discussed involves borrowing a passport from someone without an exit restriction and attempting to use it at Ben Gurion Airport. Hotline operators acknowledge that many successfully traveled this way last year but warn that this method carries significant risks.
The Peleg’s hotline emphasizes a hardline stance: it firmly instructs callers not to report to the army under any circumstances, contrary to the advice offered by certain Breslover representatives. Meanwhile, more moderate voices within Breslov are urging followers not to travel to Uman this year at all.
At the same time, more radical Breslov factions are preparing for protests in coordination with Peleg activists at Ben Gurion Airport, should authorities intensify enforcement efforts.
In response to criticism, representatives of the Peleg hotline stated: “Every activity of the hotline operates strictly within the law. The rabbonim’s clear instructions are not to report to enlistment offices under any circumstances. When the state blocks the legal paths to travel and prevents Yidden from going to Uman to daven, it should not be surprised if some seek alternative solutions that fall outside of the legal framework.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Robin Westman, the gunman behind Wednesday’s deadly school shooting in Minneapolis, had long displayed disturbing behavior and open admiration for Adolf Hitler, according to a former classmate. Josefina Sanchez, who briefly befriended Westman in seventh grade at a St. Paul school, said she vividly remembers him making antisemitic remarks and raising his hand in a Nazi salute while saying “Praise Hitler.” Speaking to local outlet KTSP, Sanchez described her former friend as “erratic” and “off,” adding that she still feels haunted by what she witnessed. “He would put up his hand and say, like, ‘praise Hitler,’” Sanchez recalled through tears. “Something I knew was off, but I was a kid. How would I know, like, what to do in the seventh grade?” Police later confirmed that Westman left behind a manifesto filled with antisemitic and racist statements. In his writings and YouTube posts, Westman fantasized about carrying out racially motivated violence, specifically targeting Jewish people. One passage read: “If I carry out a racially motivated attack, it would be most likely against filthy Zionist Jews.” Other entries referred to Jews as “entitled” and “penny-sniffing,” and included the slogan “Free Palestine.” Investigators also noted his admiration for mass shootings, violent rhetoric against President Donald Trump, and writings in code interspersed with Cyrillic characters. Sanchez said she now realizes the full weight of Westman’s behavior: “It’s demonic, I’m sorry, it is. I wish I could have said something sooner, but I was little. How was I supposed to know?” On Wednesday morning, Westman stormed the Annunciation Catholic Church and School, armed with a rifle, shotgun, and handgun. According to Minneapolis police, he opened fire inside the school, killing two children and wounding 17 others. The rampage ended when Westman turned the gun on himself, dying at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities confirmed he had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement. Investigators revealed that Westman had a personal connection to the school: he attended as a child, and his mother worked there as a secretary for five years before retiring in 2021. Police are now reviewing Westman’s online activity and writings to piece together his specific motives. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
They look, move and even smell like the kind of furry Everglades marsh rabbit a Burmese python would love to eat. But these bunnies are robots meant to lure the giant invasive snakes out of their hiding spots. It’s the latest effort by the South Florida Water Management District to eliminate as many pythons as possible from the Everglades, where they are decimating native species with their voracious appetites. In Everglades National Park, officials say the snakes have eliminated 95% of small mammals as well as thousands of birds. “Removing them is fairly simple. It’s detection. We’re having a really hard time finding them,” said Mike Kirkland, lead invasive animal biologist for the water district. “They’re so well camouflaged in the field.” The water district and University of Florida researchers deployed 120 robot rabbits this summer as an experiment. Previously, there was an effort to use live rabbits as snake lures but that became too expensive and time-consuming, Kirkland said. The robots are simple toy rabbits, but retrofitted to emit heat, a smell and to make natural movements to appear like any other regular rabbit. “They look like a real rabbit,” Kirkland said.. They are solar powered and can be switched on and off remotely. They are placed in small pens monitored by a video camera that sends out a signal when a python is nearby. “Then I can deploy one of our many contractors to go out and remove the python,” Kirkland said. The total cost per robot rabbit is about $4,000, financed by the water district, he added. Pythons are not native to Florida, but have become established in the swampy, subtropical Everglades by escaping from homes or by people releasing them when they become overgrown pets. A female python can lay between 50 and 100 eggs at a time with a gestation period of 60-90 days, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It’s not easy to find definite estimates of the number of pythons in Florida. The U.S. Geological Survey recently reported a ballpark number of “tens of thousands,” while other official estimates run as high as 300,000 snakes. They have few natural enemies, although there are occasional confrontations with alligators, and other predators, such as bobcats and coyotes, will eat their eggs. Since 2000, more than 23,000 of the snakes have been removed from the wild, the wildlife commission says. The robot rabbits are the latest attempt to tackle snakes that average between 10 and 16 feet (3 to 5 meters) in length when fully grown. “Every invasive python that is removed makes a difference for Florida’s environment and its native wildlife,” said Ron Bergeron, a member of the water district governing board. Pythons can be humanely killed year-round on private lands and on lands managed by the wildlife commission across the state. Each year the commission holds a “Florida Python Challenge” that carries cash prizes for most pythons caught, the longest snake and so forth. This year, 934 people from 30 states took part in the effort in July, capturing 294 pythons with a top prize of $10,000 to a participant who bagged 60 of the reptiles. It’s too early to determine how successful the robot rabbit project will be, but officials say initial results are a cause for optimism. “This part […]
Jake Sullivan, who served as National Security Advisor, stated this week that choosing to support measures aimed at stopping the transfer of weapons to Israel has become a “credible position,” marking a significant change in tone from the senior Biden administration official as tensions rise over Israel’s ongoing military actions and internal political climate.
In an interview with Tim Miller on The Bulwark, Sullivan discussed talks he has had with lawmakers considering such resolutions, particularly following the collapse of the ceasefire back in March.
“Given the situation as it stands today, a vote to withhold weapons from Israel is a totally credible position,” Sullivan said. “That is a position that I would support.”
Sullivan placed this development within the larger context of the future of U.S.-Israel relations, noting that the political path Israel chooses internally will heavily influence the dynamic between the two countries.
“Are we going to be dealing with the prime minister and a right-wing government for years on end, or is there going to be political change in Israel?” he questioned, pointing out that Israel’s democratic direction in the coming years will play a major role in shaping the relationship.
“If nothing changes in their government—if it continues to be a far-right government that pursues the same policies—then it won’t be the Israel we’ve known,” Sullivan warned. “I think a lot of Israelis would say they wouldn’t recognize that Israel. And obviously, that should have an impact on the relationship.”
{Matzav.com}
The Rev. Al Sharpton led a protest march Thursday through Manhattan’s Financial District to urge corporate America to resist the Trump administration’s campaign to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The New York civil rights leader was joined by clergy, labor and community leaders in a demonstration dubbed the “March on Wall Street” that was timed with the anniversary of the Civil Rights-era March on Washington in 1963. “We come to Wall Street rather than Washington this year to let them know: you can try to turn back the clock, but you can’t turn back time,” Sharpton said as he kicked off the 45-minute march, adding they were going to “keep the dream alive on Wall Street.” Among the march participants was Jonathan Garde, of Lithonia, Georgia., who came in part to show “DEI is much needed in our society today because it promotes fairer and more inclusive work environments, which are essential for business success, innovation, and social progress.” Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has moved to end DEI programs within the federal government and warned schools to do the same or risk losing federal money. In response, Sharpton’s civil rights group, the National Action Network, has encouraged consumers to avoid U.S. retailers that scaled backed policies and programs aimed at bolstering diversity among their employees and reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people. Earlier this year, Sharpton met with Target’s CEO as groups called for a boycott of the retail giant, which joined Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers in foregoing DEI initiatives. The civil rights leader has also called for “buy-cotts” in support of companies such as Costco that have stuck by their DEI principles despite the conservative backlash. “Corporate America wants to walk away from Black communities, so we are marching to them to bring this fight to their doorstep,” Sharpton said in a statement ahead of Thursday’s march. The march began at 11 a.m. in Foley Square, located in downtown Manhattan near the African Burial Ground that’s the largest known resting place of enslaved and freed Africans in the country. The square is also near 26 Federal Plaza, the federal government building that’s become a symbol of Trump’s nationwide immigration crackdown. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been detaining migrants during their routine appearances at the immigration court located there. A federal judge earlier this month also ordered the Trump administration to improve conditions for migrants jailed there. The march went down a section of Broadway known as the “Canyon of Heroes,” famous for its ticker tape parades, and went past the corner of Wall Street itself, though did not turn down the famed street where the New York Stock Exchange is located. Among those marching was state Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, the democratic candidate in the upcoming New York City mayoral race. Sharpton told the crowd he had invited the New York City mayoral candidates — including Mamdani, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo — to take part in the march, then derisively noted the latter two were not at the event. “I don’t endorse candidates, but I take attendance,” Sharpton said, drawing laughter from many in the crowd. Mamdani called on attendees to continue to fight for justice […]
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is pushing a new policy that would outlaw protests blocking major roads and demonstrations inside shuls, setting the stage for another clash with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. According to a policy paper submitted for her approval, Ben Gvir’s plan would prohibit demonstrations on highways, major routes, and access roads to hospitals, isolated towns, emergency services, and Ben-Gurion Airport. Protesters seeking to block roads inside cities would be required to obtain prior police approval. The proposal comes after years of disruptive protests — mostly anti-government demonstrators to hostage-release activists — that have repeatedly shut down traffic in Tel Aviv and across the country. Earlier this month, two mass protest days for a ceasefire and hostage deal saw demonstrators paralyze major highways. Ben Gvir’s plan also singles out protests in shuls, which he argues impede freedom of religion. The clause appears aimed at activists who have used shuls as flashpoints in the broader protest movement. The move now awaits Baharav-Miara’s approval. The attorney general has frequently sparred with Ben Gvir and is currently fighting a government-backed effort to remove her from office — a dismissal frozen by the High Court until further notice. Under an April agreement, Ben Gvir is obligated to consult both the attorney general and the police commissioner before making changes to protest and free speech policy. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a petition seeking to nullify enlistment orders issued to roughly 5,500 chareidi yeshiva students.
The petition was submitted by the organization “Emes LeYaakov in Israel,” which argued that the draft notices were distributed based on an improper process, relying on information that was allegedly obtained unlawfully from the National Insurance Institute. The group contended that the method used was both illegal and discriminatory.
The petition called for the annulment of the original enlistment orders and requested that any new notices be reissued through a proper, lawful procedure. However, the court dismissed this claim, explaining that the IDF has since updated its policy and no longer depends on data from the National Insurance Institute when sending draft orders.
According to the ruling, the IDF has begun issuing enlistment notices to approximately 54,000 potential recruits without using external eligibility data. Because of this significant policy change, the justices concluded that the petition was no longer relevant and decided to dismiss the case. As a result, a hearing that had been scheduled for September 11 was canceled.
Despite the decision, the petitioners voiced strong concerns about the impact on those who had already received the original orders. They warned that thousands of chareidi men who were sent these earlier notices are now considered “draft evaders,” placing them at risk of arrest and additional penalties from the military police.
The organization argued that canceling the original orders would have given these individuals temporary protection, preventing them from being classified as evaders for several months, even if new draft notices were sent out immediately.
Leaders of Emes LeYaakov emphasized that they will continue pursuing legal avenues, announcing plans to submit additional petitions on the matter of chareidi enlistment in the near future. The court ruled that both sides will be responsible for covering their own legal expenses.
{Matzav.com}
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