Purim How to

22/01/2016 – י״ב בשבט ה׳תשע״ו – י״ב בשבט ה׳תשע״ו – 07:57

After you have:

Ta’anit Esther (the Fast of Esther) see below
Given Tzedakah צדקה‎ (Charity to the poor),
Listened [and not made any noise] to the Megillah reading Twice-Night and Morning,
Quiet megillah readings: Combat veterans, loud sounds and firecrackers can cause traumatic flashbacks
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Laws of the Megillah Ch. 141:1-23
Given the equivalent monetary amount of a silver 1/2 Shekel (approximately eight grams of silver), ~$3.61 during the Fast of Ester
Given food or Give the equivalent monetary amount of a good meal to the Poor and given Mishloach manot משלוח מנות‎ Purim baskets delivered to at lest two people.
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch: Purim Gifts and Festive Meal Ch. 142:1-10
Then had your Purim Sudah in the Afternoon unless it is on Friday in which you should have it around Noon.
Prayer before drinking wine on Purim – Say before every cup in English and Hebrew
Then you can have so fun:

The “Proper” IDF Noise Makers for Purim

Coronavirus COVID-19 Update Coronavirus: Purim impact and Torah Tidbits Purim Special

An announcement of the Haifa Jewish Community Committee declaring 3 days of events against the Nazi inferno: including a day of fast and prayer, a day of cessation from work and a public protest assembly, 1942

Fasting Guide for those Participating in the 72-Hour Fast

From:Yeranen Yaakov 17March2016 http://yeranenyaakov.blogspot.co.il/2016/03/fasting-guide-for-those-participating.html
As mentioned in a number of Hebrew-language articles, on Rafi’s blog, on CDG’s blog, and elsewhere, there is a rabbinically-supported initiative to fast for 3 days straight on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Adar Sheni this year.
As mentioned in the guide below, this is intended only for healthy people who are able to do so.

Fasting Guide The Three Days May our prayers and fasting bring about an end to our suffering and the beginning of our personal and national redemption. Amen.

This is just like in Eretz Israel in 1942: The first concrete news describing the final solution came to the attention of the heads of the Jewish community through Chaim Barlas, a representative of the Jewish Agency in Geneva, August 1942. When The Gedolim גדולים found out they prayed and fasted; then Institutions of the Yishuv declare three days of mourning from 30November1942 – 2December1942.

Annulling Harsh Decrees
Kabalistic literature reveals another reason behind the fast of Esther. Even though Haman’s plans were overturned, a small part of the decree remained. Every year, at the time that his plans were to be carried out, the Satan comes to Hashem, claiming that the Jewish people should be destroyed.
…The Rambam writes that when the Jewish people are experiencing such tragic situations, the Torah obligates us to cry out to Hashem and sound trumpets to arouse us to repentance (Bamidbar 10:9). If we realize that our own actions are at the root of our difficulties, we will learn to mend our ways and cause the harsh decree to be rescinded. If we don’t follow this path, and instead relate to what is happening as mere coincidence, the tzaros will simply increase (Rambam, Hilchos Taanis 1:1-3, Mishna Berura 576:1).
In the merit of our fasting and prayers this Taanis Esther may all past decrees on the Jewish people be overturned, all future decrees annulled, and may all of Haman’s evil intentions be put to an end once and for all.

Powerful Prayer Day

MARCH 20, 2016 http://shiratdevorah.blogspot.co.il/2016/03/powerful-prayer-day.html

Many classic sources tell us that Purim represents a special opportunity for one’s prayers to be answered.

The Sefer Kav HaYosher says the following: Taanis Esther is a day that is very auspicious for one’s prayers to be answered in the merit of Mordechai and Esther. Whoever needs mercy for any particular needs should put aside time for themselves and do the following: First, recite Chapter 22 in Tehilim. Then, pour out your heart to Hashem and ask for all your needs and mention the merit of Mordechai and Esther [whose merits saved us from Haman]. The Gates of Mercy will be opened and your prayers will be accepted beratzon.

More segulot for Purim at Zchus Avos

The Ritv”a in his commentary to Megillah 7a quotes the Talmud Yerushalmi which explains regarding the fulfillment of the obligation to give matanos la’evyonim [gifts to the poor] on Purim, that kol ha’posheit yado leetol yitnu lo – we give to anyone who extends his hand to receive”. This is to say that on this festive day we give money to everyone who asks, without first checking to see if they truly are poor and worthy of receiving tzedakah funds. The Chasam Sofer writes that just as we are not particular if the people to whom we give charity on Purim are truly deserving, and whoever extends his hand gets helped, so, too, does G-d listen to all our prayers on this special day, and kol ha’posheit yado leetol yitnu lo – He gives to anyone who extends his hand to receive.

Also see: Purim’s Golden Opportunity

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Quiet megillah readings: Combat veterans, loud sounds and firecrackers can cause traumatic flashbacks

Rabbinical Organization: Skip the Noisemakers This Purim for IDF Veterans

Tzohar calls on communities to avoid loud noisemakers during Megillah readings, citing trauma triggers for veterans and war-affected Israelis.

Israel National News

25February2026, 7:34 PM (GMT+2) / https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422982

Ahead of the upcoming Purim holiday, the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization is issuing a call to communities across Israel to show consideration for individuals suffering from PTSD and other war-related emotional challenges by refraining from the traditional use of loud noisemakers as part of the Megillah reading.

The call comes amidst a growing number of combat veterans reporting how loud sounds and firecrackers can cause traumatic flashbacks. Tzohar is therefore urging relevant congregations to embrace “quiet megillah readings”.

“Many communities are home to heroes who have returned from the battlefield. Our brothers and sisters continue to suffer the emotional impacts of combat, and it is therefore critical that everyone, children and adults alike, be sensitive to those challenges. For these individuals, the sudden loud sounds that are traditionally part of the Megillah reading are not innocent or fun, but can be painful triggers bringing them back to the traumas of war. While we know that the widely accepted custom of blotting out Haman’s name through noisemaking is an important one, there is no doubt that respecting the sacrifices of these IDF heroes is paramount, and we therefore suggest that in settings where these individuals might be present, such loud sounds should be avoided.”

Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Director of the Tzohar Center for Jewish Ethics, recorded a public awareness video on this issue where he explained, “On Purim, we are accustomed to the sounds being noisy and including firecrackers and explosions… chaotic noise. But for the next few years, we have no choice but to abstain from all that. Because among us are many people for whom these things cause a real sense of horror.”

The call comes amidst planning for Tzohar’s annual Megillah B’Kehilah program, where an estimated 100,000 people will be gathering at over 600 different sites for megillah readings presented by Tzohar rabbis and volunteers. With the goal of making the readings accessible and enjoyable to as many people as possible, the readings include explanations of the Purim story and its relevance for Jewish tradition and identity, with a focus on communal responsibility, unity, joy, and hope even in the face of dangerous threats.

Rabbi David Stav, Chair and Founder of Tzohar, explained the program saying, “Purim is in essence a communal holiday, characterized by friendship and social responsibility where we can display our inherent caring for one another. Particularly in these days where we are dealing with so many internal and external threats and challenges, these programs give us the opportunity to unite in spaces that are infused with light, joy, and a sense of common purpose and camaraderie. Megillat Esther is an annual reminder that our strength as a people lies in our unity. Through the tens of thousands of people who we are blessed to welcome to these programs, we are able to share this critical and eternal message.”

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A Guide to Purim

Here is a practical day-to-day guide for celebrating the three days of Purim (Fast of Esther, Purim, and Shushan Purim).

Breslev Israel staff | Posted on 20March2024 | https://breslev.com/323154/

A Guide to Purim

The Difference between Purim and Chanukah

The reason that the Sages instituted drinking and feasting on Purim and not on Chanukah is as follows: In the days of Mordechai and Esther, the Jews sinned through eating, by partaking of the feast of Achashverosh. This was a physical sin, and therefore they were endangered, measure for measure, with physical annihilation. In contrast, in the days of the Hasmoneans, the Jews sinned through assimilating into Greek culture and thereby ignoring the study of the Torah. They were endangered not physically, but spiritually, in that the Greeks wanted to outlaw the practice of Judaism. Therefore, the commemoration of the miracle of Chanukah is chiefly through verbal observance — praise and thanksgiving — which emphasizes the spiritual. Purim is chiefly observed through drinking and eating, which emphasize the physical. (B’nei Yissachar, by Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech from Dinov)

Before the Fast of Esther

Typically, the Fast of Esther is on 13 Adar. This year, 2024, the Fast falls on Shabbat. As a result, the Fast of Esther is moved earlier to Thursday, 11 Adar, 21-Mar-2024.

The commandment of the Machatzit HaShekel appears in the Torah (Shemot 30: 11-15) and was kept during the Holy Temple period. In our times, it has become a custom and a mitzvah with a wonderful reward for everyone who keeps it. To read about this important mitzvah and to donate, click here.

Don’t forget to get started on the hamantashen and the Purim seudah (festive meal)!

Fast of Esther

The fast starts before dawn on Thursday, 21-Mar-2024, and ends after dark. The fast includes no eating or drinking. There are special services at synagogue both morning and afternoon. The money saved by not eating should go to charity; the time saved should go to Torah-study and mitzvah-performance.

This is also the time to perform the mitzva of commemorating the Machatzit HaShekel, where every family participated in purchasing the sacrificial animals for the Holy Temple for the coming year. We do this by giving charity.

Purim and Shushan Purim

Purim day is 14 Adar (motzei Shabbat 23-Mar-2024 through sundown on 24-Mar-2024).

For walled cities such as Jerusalem, Purim day is 15 Adar (sundown on Sunday 24-Mar-2024 through sundown on 25-Mar-2024) and is called Shushan Purim. Inhabitants of cities that were important enough to be surrounded by walls at the time of the Jews’ entrance into the Holy Land at the time of Joshua celebrate Purim one day later than everyone else (see Esther 9:17-19). The prime example is that of Jerusalem. The status of Tzafat and several other cities in Israel is unclear, so the day is celebrated somewhat in addition to regular Purim, “just in case.” (When the date of Shushan Purim falls on Shabbat, in Jerusalem they read Megillat Esther on Friday, say the Purim prayers on Shabbat, and have the festive Purim Meal on Sunday. Three days of Purim!)

Purim Day Mitzvot

These mitzvot characterize the day:

Megilla reading: Hear a public reading of the Scroll of Esther in the evening and again during the day.

Matanot L’evyonim: Give money to at least two needy individuals. If you don’t encounter anyone that qualifies, you can donate here, and Rav Shalom Arush will perform the mitzvah on your behalf on Purim day.

Mishloach Manot: Send (via a third party) a gift of two or more kinds of ready-to-eat foods and/or drink to at least one friend (not a relative).

Se’udat Purim: Celebrate at a festive day-time meal with bread, good food, and plenty of wine. The Talmud and Codes of Law instruct us to drink until we can no longer differentiate between “Blessed is Mordechai” and “Cursed is Haman”! (A few authorities opine that the minimum obligation is to drink only “a bit more than what one is used to”. Looking ahead to Passover night, perhaps the quantity implied is 4 cups plus!). Be sure to read Rabbi Arush’s Prayer Before Drinking Wine!
Add “Al HaNissim” to the daily Amidah/Shemonah Esrei and to the Blessings-After-Meals. (See daily prayer book in the Thanksgiving/Modim section of the Amidah/Shemonah Esrei.)

Breslev Israel wishes you and yours a very happy Purim!

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Purim is NOW! if you read all this as though it was all a backstory

The Talmud tells us, “If you read the story backwards, you haven’t read the story.” (Megillah 2a.)

Of course, that means you have to read the story in the order it’s written.

But the Baal Shem Tov provided a deeper meaning:

If you read the story of Esther and of her people, of… pic.twitter.com/FxwyZinEb3

— Chabad.org (@Chabad) March 20, 2024

Chabad.org-tweet-20March2024-Purim is NOW
The Talmud tells us, “If you read the story backwards, you haven’t read the story.” (Megillah 2a.)

Of course, that means you have to read the story in the order it’s written.

But the Baal Shem Tov provided a deeper meaning:

If you read the story of Esther and of her people, of the rise of Haman and his own self-destruction, of secret heroes and hidden miracles…

…if you read all this as though it was all a backstory —something that occurred a long time ago and now provides only historical context —you haven’t read the story.

Chabad.org-tweet-20March2024-Purim is NOW

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The “Proper” IDF Noise Makers for Purim

Reserve Battalion 7015 celebrates Purim on the Gaza border.

We know how to fight back. 📜👑 pic.twitter.com/IblRDibrBz

— Malkah Fleisher 🕎 (@MalkahFleisher) March 15, 2025

Malkah Fleisher-tweet-15March2025-The Proper IDF Noise Makers for Purim
Reserve Battalion 7015 celebrates Purim on the Gaza border.

We know how to fight back. 📜👑

Malkah Fleisher-tweet-15March2025-The Proper IDF Noise Makers for Purim

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Coronavirus briefs: Purim impact, increasing travel restrictions

by Reb Akiva at Mystical Paths 05March2020 https://www.mpaths.com/2020/03/coronavirus-briefs-purim-impact.html

Purim-Coronavirus-Mishloach Manot: Corona Extra Beer, Alco-Gel Hand Sanitizer, DEXAMOL Fever Reducer/Pain Killer, Tea and Medical Protective Face Mask

Mishloach Manot – shalach manos, the mitzvah of sending gifts to your friends, is a major requirement of Purim. As is hearing the Megillah, having a seudah (large Purim meal) and generally partying, being happy and being very social.

“Based on the rulings of Gedolei HaPoskim”

– During an epidemic, one should fulfil the mitzvah of Mishloach Manot with just one or two people and instead give more “matanot l’evyonim” – gift charity to the poor.

– Better to use pre-packaged sealed foods and not home-made items to decrease the possibility of infection. And frankly, if Coronavirus is in the area, are you going to open those shalach manos anyway? So are the people you send them too?

– If authorities declare no gatherings or limited small gatherings, people should not get together in synagogue (for general prayer or to hear the Megillah on Purim). People should instead, staying within the rules given by government and health authorities, make small groups, or just a minyan if that size is allowed, or just 15-20 people well spaced out or masked – to read/hear the Megillah. Hearing through a window or doorway or some distance away is still fulfilling the mitzvah, spread out for safety (more of a problem with children).

– If someone is unable to hear the Megillah, (some authorities say) he/she should recite Hallel (instead) without a blessing.

– If one can only hear the Megillah once, better day than night.

– The Purim Seudah should be kept to small groups such as immediate family (minimise the possibility of group infection).

– Heavy drinking and excessive partying while people are suffering from an epidemic is inappropriate. Stay subdued. (Nobody needs pictures of drunken Jews partying appearing on Facebook opposite people in intensive care struggling to breathe.)

On the topic of travel, and/or visiting Israel or traveling from Israel to the US for the holidays:

— Many European and Asian airlines have suspended travel to Israel as of today until … (the middle of the month, the end of the month, unknown).

— United Airlines and Jet Blue in the U.S. have significantly reduced their flight schedule, as less people are flying and as staff is affected by quarantines.

— Israel has increased travel restrictions, stopping entry or requiring everyone coming to immediately enter 14 day quarantine upon entering from France, Switzerland, Australia, Spain, Germany, Italy, Austria, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea.

— Anyone even changing planes in Italy, China, or South Korea gets the 14 day quarantine upon arriving in Israel.

(Israeli Ministry of Health Corona site in English for travellers.)

ADVICE – High probability things get worse before they get better, more flights will be cancelled, more restrictions added, more events cancelled. Some airlines and hotels may go out of business – make sure you’ve paid with a credit card that gives an easy refund in such a situation (U.S. credit cards are pretty good about this).

I advise to cancel and re-plan while you can (while you can get a refund) – or at least have a backup plan in case your primary plans end up in the toilet. Don’t freak out, think through an alternative “just in case”. As things get worse for a while, you may be able to travel but not return (for some weeks/months) – keep that in mind and plan appropriately. (If mother is coming to visit, that may not be so bad [as long as she can get her medications where you are]. If you and the 5 children went to visit mother, that may be…challenging.)

IN ISRAEL –

— Large gatherings forbidden (sporting events, stadium events, concerts)
— Conferences cancelled
— Marathon cancelled
— Purim parades cancelled
— Passover markets cancelled (some)
— Some non-Jewish tourist and holy sites closed (all Bethlehem sites)
— Some Jewish tourist and holy sites closed (all Kever Yosef tours suspended as of today)
— Hi-tech employers preparing employees for remote work (if employees or employer offices are quarantined), mass buying laptops and video conf. services

For an example of worse or “farther along”, take a look at Italy, all schools closed nationwide and no public events that don’t allow “1 meter separation”.

RUMORS –

– Events over 100 people may be prohibited.
– Wedding halls may be closed.
– Large synagogues may be closed.
– There may be a Passover matzah shortage as people who normally travel for Pesach aren’t able to do so (raising local matzah demand by 10% over capacity).
– In a “worst case” scenario, the whole country (Israel) may pause / quarantine for 2 weeks, everyone staying home (except for health care, public safety or defense) – which should halt spreading and identify all infected (at a severe economic cost).

Symptoms of the Novel Coronavirus CoVid-19: fever, Cough, Shortness of Breath

May Hashem grant a quick solution and end to this plague, keep all klal Yisroel and everyone safe and healthy.

Pray, think, prepare. Torah is Toras Chayim, you are required to take steps to live and not risk your life unnecessarily.

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PURIM REVIEW from Torah Tidbits

Torah Tidbits #1363 Tetzaveh Pg. 61 07March2020

TAANIT ESTHER is the same day whether you celebrate Purim on the 14th or the15th of Adar. Times in the Schedule (p.48).

Zeicher L’Machatzit HaShekelcan be at Mincha of Taanit Esther or before Megila reading. Common amount is 3 half-shekel coins. Some give the value of the original sliver half-shekel, which at today’s price of silver and the current exchange rate is around 20NIS. Remember -we don’t give Machatzit HaShekel without a Beit HaMikdash, we give ZEICHER – commemorative of it.

AL HANISIM Said in the Amida in the B’RACHA of MODIM and in Birkat HaMazon in the B’RACHA of NODEH L’CHA. If you forget AL HANISIM in the Amida, do NOT repeat it. If you catch your omission before HaShem’s name in HATOV SHIMCHA… go back and say it. If you already said HaShem’s name, finishthe Amida and before you say YIHYU L’RATZON…and take your steps back, say Al HaNisim with a modified opening sentence:

Similar for Birkat HaMazon. Before HaShem’s name in AL HAARETZ V’AL HAMAZON, go back and say it. After HaShem’s name, continue until right before HARACHAMAN HU Y’ZAKEINU and say it with themodified opener, as above.

From here to there Jerusalemites who go outside for 14 Adar and outsiders who cometo Jerusalem for our Purim should ask a Rav whatis and is not required of you on the other day.

Torah Reading is from the end ofB’shalach – VAYAVO AMALEK… If you missed ZACHOR, you should ask the Baal Korei to have the Mitzva of ZACHOR in mind, and you should have KAVANA likewise.

MEGILA READING Required TWICE, at night and in the day (morning is most common). KAVANA should include the Mitzva of Megila andthe publicizing of HaShem’s miracles. The b’racha of SHEHECHEYANU in the morning covers the other mitzvot of the day. (Have them in mind.)

MATANOT LA’EVYONIM are gifts to the poor – usually money (be generous, more than you spend on Mishlo’ach Manot). Best to give on Purim day. Giving it earlier to someone who will distribute it on Purim day is also okay.

MISHLO’ACH MANOT are gifts of foods (min. two kinds) to friends (or just otherJews) – who are observing Purim the same day you are. One MM is sufficient, but most people give multiple times.

SEUDAT PURIM is a festive meal in the afternoon of your Purim day. Those who havePurim on the 14th, should plan to continue their Seuda a little into the night of the 15th. Those who celebrate on the 15th, need not extend their Seuda.

The proper custom on Purim is to drink more wine than you usually do. A bit more is sufficient. It isdefinitely NOT PROPER to get drunk on Purim (nomatter how many fine upstanding Jews of your acquaintance do). In most cases, excessive drinking turns out not to be in line with SIMCHAT PURIM. Be careful. And watch out for your family members.

On the lighter side – wine, the only drink thatreally belongs on Purim, is mentioned in the megila6 times, but beer is mentioned 10 times – as inSHUSHAN HABIRA. (Purim joke). Enjoy!

OU Torah Tidbits-Midei Chodesh B’Chasho By Rabbi Shmuel Gordin

Rabbi Shmuel Goldin Torah Tidbits #1361 Mishpatim Pgs.70-73 22February2020

The Most Frightening Moment?

What is, to your mind, the most frightening moment of the Purim story?

I will admit that this question might seem somewhat strange. Purim, after all, is not an occasion designed to inspire fear. Celebration, merriment, frivolity, are much more the order of the day.

And yet, I would argue that there many candidates for the most frightening moment of the Purim story. Rooted at the historical juncture when our first national exile (the Babylonian Exile) becomes an exile of choice, Purim emerges as a paradigmatic tale of narrowly missed national tragedy. Through its events, Hashem delivers a message to the vast majority of Babylonian Jews who choose not to return to Israel, but to remain behind under Persian rule: If it’s galut you want, its galut you will get. I will show you what diaspora existence truly means, in all of its “glory.”

Not by accident, therefore, the Purim story is populated by phenomena that will appear over and over again in the long exile journey of our people: overwhelming instability (v’nahfoch hu); God’s hiddenness (hester panim); irrational hatred of the Jew (Haman); a complicit world (Achashveirosh); martyrdom (Esther); and more. Not by accident, as well, Jewish communities and families across time will view Purim as a paradigm for their experience. Dozens of these groups, upon narrowly escaping tragedy, will establish their own unique celebrations and refer to each as “Purim of [the community/family].” The classical Purim story is seen by these individuals as a serious tale, foreshadowing their own story and other stories like theirs across the face of history.

Which brings us back to our original question. Given the serious, prescient character of the Purim narrative, what is, to your mind, the most frightening moment in the tale?

Is it when Esther is taken to the king’s palace on a journey from which she is never to return? Is it when Haman rises to power, or when he irrationally threatens the entire Jewish population of Persia with destruction? Perhaps it is the dramatic moment captured by the Megilla as it contrasts Achashveirosh’s and Haman’s callousness with the consternation caused by their edict: “And the King and Haman sat down to drink and the city of Shushan was astonished.” Are you captivated by Esther’s plaintive plea as she initiates her voluntary audience with the King: “And if I will be lost, I will be lost”? Or are you moved most by the extent of Achashveirosh’s pitiless cruelty as he mandates civil war in the streets of his kingdom; refusing to withdraw the edict against the Jews, instead permitting their right to self-defense? A pox on both your houses, the king affirms. Let blood run through the streets of my cities. As long as I am not involved.

Truth be told, the Purim story is filled with frightening moments…

My choice, however, for the most frightening moment of the Purim story is actually none of the above. It is a choice that will probably surprise you.

Travel back with me the following scene. Mordechai, dressed in sackcloth, has arrived at the gates of the palace. Forbidden to enter in clothes of mourning (a clear indication of the king’s determination to keep his subjects’ pain at an arm’s length), Mordechai sends a message to Esther informing her of the edict against the Jewish population. He asks her to gain an audience with the King in order to plead on behalf of people. Esther demurs. She explains to Mordechai that the king (in yet another attempt to totally control his own insular existence) summarily executes anyone who appears before him without being summoned; only sparing those to whom he extends his scepter. She points out that she, personally, has not been summoned to the king for 30 days. Esther apparently hesitates to take a chance…

How would we expect Mordechai to react to Esther’s concerns? We would suppose, I think, that Mordechai would appeal to Esther’s sense of duty and responsibility. How can you send me such an answer? Will you not risk your life to save your nation? Are you willing to stand idly by as your brothers and sisters are murdered in a government sanctioned pogrom?

Startlingly, however, Mordechai’s initial response to Esther is totally different. He immediately retorts: “Do not think in your soul that those in the king’s palace will be spared the fate of all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, while you and your father’s house will perish.” Effectively, Mordechai argues: Esther, don’t think that you are safe. Don’t assume that your place in the palace will spare you from the fate of your people. If you fail to act, your people still survive, but you will not. Only after conveying that warning, does Mordechai appeal to Esther’s higher sensibilities. “And who knows whether it was specifically for a time like this that you attained a royal position.”

How are we to understand Mordechai’s initial response to Esther? Does he really imagine that Esther is only concerned for her own safety? Does he not know the true character of the extraordinary woman who grew up in his own home (and who, according to midrashic tradition, actually became his wife)?

Mordechai’s concerns can be understood once we clearly define the source of his fear. Esther has, after all, spend considerable time by now in the palace of Achashveirosh. She has been exposed to a monarchy that is completely defined by its desperate desire for distance from an outside world. What happens outside my palace gates, Achashveirosh insists, stays outside my palace gates. As long as I am safe, as long as I can continue to live in the palace world of my own creation, I do not care what happens to my subjects.

Mordechai understands the powerful effect that living in such an environment can have, even upon someone as strong as Esther. Is it possible, he wonders in fear, that my dear Esther has actually been changed? Has Esther, without her own awareness, become uncaring? Has she begun to become like “them?”

Desperate to convince Esther to appear before the king, therefore, Mordechai argues the only way that he can. Esther, do not think that you are safe. Only after making that argument does he then appeal to the Esther whom he has known for years; to the Esther who can and will rise up to save her people, even at great cost to herself.

And, indeed, Esther does take heroic action. For the sake of her nation, she takes a step that not only endangers her life, but according to rabbinic tradition, seals her spiritual fate. “And if I am lost, I am lost,” she says to Mordechai. By initiating, for the first time, a voluntary audience with the King, I will have crossed a line of no return. I will be lost to my people forever.

Here, then, what is, to my mind, the most frightening moment of the Purim story; the moment when Mordechai fears that Esther may have changed. His fear underscores the second great danger of living in an alien, evil world. For while you can easily become a “victim” in such a world; you can just as easily become a “perpetrator”. You continually run the risk of letting that world change you, of allowing those around you to make you like “them.”

As we enter the Purim/Pesach season, a time of focus on the history of our people, we should once again recognize what may well be our greatest accomplishment as a people. Not simply that we have survived; but how we have survived. Surrounded by hate, we have refused to become haters; surrounded by lies we have invariably spoken the truth; surrounded by immorality, we have remained moral. Guided by our Torah and tradition, we have fulfilled our responsibility of being a “light unto the nations.” Against all odds, we have remained, in our hearts and souls, largely unchanged by the world around us.

And now, as we build our homeland anew, we once again refuse to become like “them.” Our textbooks do not preach the wanton murder of our enemies; we struggle with democratic process while surrounded by tyranny and oppression; we strive for peace with our neighbors in the face of aggression; we vigilantly protect our own interests, yet struggle to respect the rights of others, as well. And when we misstep, as we invariably will, we honestly recalibrate and do our best to regain our footing.

In the turbulent months ahead, as our nation faces momentous decisions, we pray that HaShem guide us in our struggle against all threats presented by our enemies. May we secure a safe, strong future for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. And may we always remain the people that we are; fundamentally unchanged by those around us; true to our God, our heritage and ourselves.

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A Purim Warning to American Jews

Horrific Poway Chabad House Shooting

April 29, 2019 Chabad of Poway, California,
“I’m defending our nation against the Jewish people, who are trying to destroy all white people,” John T. Earnest, who killed One Dead, Three Injured.

Just a reminder of what the America was like in 1939 before World War ll.

Field of Vision – A Night at the Garden from Field of Vision on Vimeo.

In 1939, 20,000 Americans rallied in New York’s Madison Square Garden to celebrate the rise of Nazism — an event largely forgotten from U.S. history. A NIGHT AT THE GARDEN, made entirely from archival footage filmed that night, transports audiences to this chilling gathering and shines a light on the power of demagoguery and anti-Semitism in the United States.

Directed by Marshall Curry

See more from Field of Vision here: fieldofvision.org

For more on the rally, read a Q&A with Marshall Curry here:
fieldofvision.org/q-a-with-a-night-at-the-garden-director-marshall-curry

Comment: Philip K. Dick’s “Man in the High Castle” was correct.

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Chaya Malka Burn Foundation

Prevention and Recovery

Purim Burn Prevention Post

P U R I M CAPS for Cap Guns ARE E X P L O S I V E!

February 20, 2013 by Chaya Malka
http://cmburnfoundation.com/2013/02/purim-burn-prevention-post/

P U R I M CAPS for Cap Guns ARE E X P L O S I V E!

Its not just big bangers and fire-crackers that are dangerous. Regular caps can endanger life. Let’s learn from one families serious injury, “Our son was terribly burnt and injured on Purim from caps that exploded in his pants’ pockets with a massive BOOM. It was a miracle that the pants didn’t carry on burning. The manufactures of these caps know they’re EXPLOSIVES! The tiny “how to use” warning on the package, is barely legible and needs magnification to read. The caps rub together creating friction. Touching them heats them further. So the manufacturers write not to put them in a pocket – do they really think kids will keep them somewhere else!? They say “Don’t touch the caps, keep them in their packaging”- so how do they get into the cap-gun? They say “only to be used with adult supervision” – as if an adult could prevent the injury! In fact I was sitting next to my son at the time of the EXPLOSION!”

My son’s entire right arm and both legs had to be bandaged for months. Looked very unpleasant… What about under the bandaging? Hand burns can leave scars that seriously limit hand and finger movement and require lengthy physiotherapy treatment. My son’s leg wounds were very serious especially on points where the inflammable material exploded directly into them, causing terribly painful deep cuts and loss of skin.(see photos in sidebar).

Treating burns requires daily washing to prevent infection and regular bandage changing. The treatment required spreading special creams on the burn- which is extremely painful. The effected skin had to be peeled off to allow new tissue to grow. The pain following the explosion was indescribable and the suffering continued for weeks. Recovery from burns is a long, slow, painful process.

Today’s caps are made all over the world from cheap materials to save the manufacturers’ money. They are cheap and deadly! Baruch Hashem our son recovered but every year the hospitals are inundated with kids suffering injuries from the caps, such as serious burns, lost fingers and horrific facial injuries…Don’t allow any EXPLOSIVE “toys” in the house! Explain to your children their dangers – they shouldn’t touch them or go near them.

Do everything you can to motivate your kids NOT to use caps. Caps can cause years of suffering, pain, and misery. Tell the teachers at schools to warn students. Tell your friends! Please spread the word however you can! Caps are EXPLOSIVES !!

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Don’t Drink and Drive

Do Not Drink and Drive on Purim

Don’t Drink and Drive

Protect Jewish Girls on Purim

Jewish women and girls are not allowed to drink on Purim

Preventing exploitation of Jewish Girls in Israel through intervention and Empowerment http://www.learnandlive.org.il/

From Arutz Sheva Israel National News.com: The Jewish holiday of Purim will take place next week, amid typically boisterous celebrations. But one group is warning that young Jewish girls face a serious danger on the day of drinking and celebrating the Jewish people’s rescue from destruction in ancient Persia.

Patty Kupfer, Director of Learn and Live, a group focused on saving Jewish girls from abusive relationships, notes one particularly drunk 17-year-old girl last Purim was nearly “helped” by two Arab men into their car.

“We intervened and took her to our ‘safe tent’ where female staff look after girls and let them sleep off the liquor till the morning. We save girls like this every year,” reported Kupfer.

Kupfer notes that particularly in downtown Jerusalem, 15- to 18-year-old girls tend to take too far the religious imperative to drink and revel in the salvation back in the days of Queen Esther, becoming inebriated and unwittingly putting themselves in danger of being taken advantage of. Exploitation of

Jewish girls — not just for Purim

Knesset figures state that last year over 700 young Jewish girls were lured into relationships with Arab men, only to be confronted by abuse. Reportedly over a thousand calls from girls trapped in Arab villages are fielded by Israeli hotlines every year, with many others unable to call.

The group notes that Muslim legal authority Sheik Abu Humam Al-Athari announced in 2011 that Islamic law encourages Arab men to capture “infidel” (Jewish and Christian) women. Since the ruling, Learn and Live reports the number of Jewish girls who have “gone missing” more than doubled.

“This is a silent war and our daughters on are on the front line,” warns Kupfer. “Vulnerability and low self-esteem, combined with the Sharia law, has led to this disastrous state of affairs for the girls and for the Jewish people.”

Click to download

KNESSET_REPORT_ON_THE_WELFARE_OF_THE_CHILD_2012_ENGLISH_TRANSLATION

Preventing exploitation of Jewish Girls in Israel through intervention and Empowerment http://www.learnandlive.org.il/

Rescued Jewish Girls

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Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorder

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy.^[1] Symptoms can include an abnormal appearance, short height, low body weight, small head size, poor coordination, behavioral problems, learning difficulties, and problems with hearing and sight.^[1]^[2] Those affected are more likely to have trouble with school, the legal system, alcohol, other drugs, and other areas of high risk.^[9]

Too Young To Drink_Champagne-Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Preventing-Fetal-Alcohol-Spectrum-Disorders-Infographic

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Click to download PDF file

Prayer before drinking wine on Purim – Say before every cup

RAV ELIEZER BERLAND’S PRAYER FOR PURIM

wine Prayer English

Click to enlarge image
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Click to download PDF file wine-prayer-Hebrew-Purim

Prayer said prior to each glass of wine in Hebrew

Click to enlarge image
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Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Laws of the Megillah Ch. 141:1-23 הלכות מגילה
141:1 [משנכנס אדר] From when the month of Adar begins, [מרבים בשמחה] we increase (our) joy. [וישראל שיש לו דין ודברים עם אינו יהודי] A Jew who has a dispute with a non-Jew, [ישפוט עמו בחודש זה] should have the judgment with him in this month.1
1) The month of Adar is considered a favorable time for Jews. [From when the month of Adar begins,] משנכנס אדר [we increase (our) joy.] מרבים בשמחה [A Jew who has a dispute with a non-Jew,] וישראל שיש לו דין ודברים עם אינו יהודי [should have the judgment with him in this month.] ישפוט עמו בחודש זה א
141:2 [בימי מרדכי ואסתר] During the time of Mordechai and Esther, [נקהלו היהודים בשלשה עשר לחדש אדר] the Jews gathered together on the thirteenth of Adar [לעמוד על נפשם ולהנקם מאויביהם] to defend their lives and take revenge on their enemies.1 [והיו צריכין לבקש רחמים] They needed to ask for mercy, [מאת ה’ יתברך שמו שיעזרם] from G-d, blessed be His name, to aid them. [ומצינו שכאשר היו ישראל במלחמה] We have found, that when the Jews were at war [התענו שיעזרם ה’] they fasted so that G-d would aid them. [וגם משה רבינו עליו השלום] Also Moses our teacher, may he be in peace, [ביום שנלחם עם עמלק התענה] when we waged war against Amalek, fasted. [ואם כן מסתמא גם אז בימי מרדכי ואסתר] If this was so, we can assume that also then at the time of Mordechai and Esther, [התענו ביום י”ג אדר] they fasted on the thirteenth of Adar. [ולכן קבלו עליהם כל ישראל יום זה] So this day has been accepted by the entire Jewish people [לתענית צבור ונקרא ”תענית אסתר”] as a communal fast and is called the ”Fast of Esther”, [כדי לזכור שהבורא יתברך שמו] in order to remember that the Creator, blessed be His name, [רואה ושומע תפלת כל איש בעת צרתו] watches and hears the prayers of each person in his time of difficulty [כאשר יתענה וישוב אל ה’ בכל לבבו] when he fasts and repents to G-d wholeheartedly, [כמו שעשה לאבותינו בימים ההם] just He did for our forefathers in those (Purim) days. [ומכל מקום אין תענית זה חובה כל כך] In any event, this fast is not such an obligation [כמו ארבעה תעניתים שכתובים במקרא] as the four fasts mentioned in the prophetic writings,2 [ולכן יש להקל בו בעת הצורך] Therefore, one should be lenient in a time of need, [כגון מעוברות ומניקות] for example, pregnant and nursing women, [או אפילו חולה קצת בכאב עינים] and people who are ill, even one who merely feels pain in his eyes, [שאם מצטערים הרבה לא יתענו] need not fast if they suffer great discomfort. [וכן יולדת כל שלשים יום] Similarly, a woman who has given birth within thirty days [וכן חתן בתוך שבעת ימי המשתה שלו] and a groom during the seven days after the wedding, [אינו צריך להתענות] do not have to fast. [ויפרעו את התענית אחר כך] These people should ”repay” this fast at a later date.3 [אבל שאר הבריאים] In contrast, other individuals who are healthy [לא יפרשו את עצמם מן הצבור] should not separate themselves from the community [ואפילו מי שהולך בדרך וקשה עליו התענית] Even a person on a journey for whom the fast is difficult [מכל מקום צריך להתענות] is required to fast.
1) Haman had convinced the Persian king, Achashverosh, to sign a decree allowing the Persian population to destroy the Jews on the 13th of Adar. When Haman was hung and Mordechai appointed chief advisor in his place, the king signed another decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves and attack their enemies on the 13th of Adar – see the ”Book of Esther”
2) See also Ch. 121.
3) That is, they should fast for a day in the future, to make up for not fasting during the Fast of Esther. [During the time of Mordechai and Esther,] בימי מרדכי ואסתר [the Jews gathered together on the thirteenth of Adar] נקהלו היהודים בשלשה עשר לחדש אדר [to defend their lives and take revenge on their enemies.] לעמוד על נפשם ולהנקם מאויביהם [They needed to ask for mercy,] והיו צריכין לבקש רחמים [from G-d, blessed be His name, to aid them.] מאת ה’ יתברך שמו שיעזרם [We have found, that when the Jews were at war] ומצינו שכאשר היו ישראל במלחמה [they fasted so that G-d would aid them.] התענו שיעזרם ה’ [Also Moses our teacher, may he be in peace,] וגם משה רבינו עליו השלום [when we waged war against Amalek, fasted.] ביום שנלחם עם עמלק התענה [If this was so, we can assume that also then at the time of Mordechai and Esther,] ואם כן מסתמא גם אז בימי מרדכי ואסתר [they fasted on the thirteenth of Adar.] התענו ביום י”ג אדר [So this day has been accepted by the entire Jewish people] ולכן קבלו עליהם כל ישראל יום זה [as a communal fast and is called the ”Fast of Esther”,] לתענית צבור ונקרא ”תענית אסתר” [in order to remember that the Creator, blessed be His name,] כדי לזכור שהבורא יתברך שמו [watches and hears the prayers of each person in his time of difficulty] רואה ושומע תפלת כל איש בעת צרתו [when he fasts and repents to G-d wholeheartedly,] כאשר יתענה וישוב אל ה’ בכל לבבו [just He did for our forefathers in those (Purim) days.] כמו שעשה לאבותינו בימים ההם [In any event, this fast is not such an obligation] ומכל מקום אין תענית זה חובה כל כך [as the four fasts mentioned in the prophetic writings,] כמו ארבעה תעניתים שכתובים במקרא [Therefore, one should be lenient in a time of need,] ולכן יש להקל בו בעת הצורך [for example, pregnant and nursing women,] כגון מעוברות ומניקות [and people who are ill, even one who merely feels pain in his eyes,] או אפילו חולה קצת בכאב עינים [need not fast if they suffer great discomfort.] שאם מצטערים הרבה לא יתענו [Similarly, a woman who has given birth within thirty days] וכן יולדת כל שלשים יום [and a groom during the seven days after the wedding,] וכן חתן בתוך שבעת ימי המשתה שלו [do not have to fast.] אינו צריך להתענות [These people should ”repay” this fast at a later date.] ויפרעו את התענית אחר כך [In contrast, other individuals who are healthy] אבל שאר הבריאים [should not separate themselves from the community] לא יפרשו את עצמם מן הצבור [Even a person on a journey for whom the fast is difficult] ואפילו מי שהולך בדרך וקשה עליו התענית [is required to fast.] מכל מקום צריך להתענות ב
141:3 [ביום י”ד אדר הוא פורים] The fourteenth of Adar is Purim,1 [ואם חל פורים ביום ראשון] and if Purim comes on Sunday, [מקדימין להתענות ביום חמישי] the Fast (of Esther) is brought forward to the (previous) Thursday. [ואם יש אז ברית מילה] If there is then (on Thursday) a circumcision, [יעשו את הסעודה בלילה] one makes the festive meal at night, [אבל הסנדק] but the ”Sandek”2 [ואבי הבן מותרין לאכול ביום] and the father of the child may eat during the day,3 [ואין צריכין להתענות ביום ששי] and they do not have to (make up by) fasting on Friday. [אבל אדם אחר ששכח ואכל ביום חמישי] However, another person who forgot and ate on (that) Thursday, [יתענה ביום ששי] should fast on Friday.
1) For those living in un-walled cities, but cities that were walled at the time of Joshua, have Purim on the fifteen – see also Law 23 below.
2) The one who holds the baby on his knees during the ceremony.
3) The Mishna Berurah also allows both the mother of the baby and the ”Mohel”, who did the circumcision, to eat during the day. [The fourteenth of Adar is Purim,] ביום י”ד אדר הוא פורים [and if Purim comes on Sunday,] ואם חל פורים ביום ראשון [the Fast (of Esther) is brought forward to the (previous) Thursday.] מקדימין להתענות ביום חמישי [If there is then (on Thursday) a circumcision,] ואם יש אז ברית מילה [one makes the festive meal at night,] יעשו את הסעודה בלילה [but the ”Sandek”] אבל הסנדק [and the father of the child may eat during the day,] ואבי הבן מותרין לאכול ביום [and they do not have to (make up by) fasting on Friday.] ואין צריכין להתענות ביום ששי [However, another person who forgot and ate on (that) Thursday,] אבל אדם אחר ששכח ואכל ביום חמישי [should fast on Friday.] יתענה ביום ששי ג
141:4 [לכבוד המגילה] In honor of the (reading of) the Megillah [יש ללבוש בגדי שבת מבערב] one should wear (one’s) Shabbat clothes in the evening. [וכשבא מבית הכנסת] When one returns from the synagogue, [ימצא בביתו נרות דולקים] one should find in one’s home (that) the candles are lit, [ושלחן ערוך] the table is set, [ומטה מוצעת] and the beds are made.1 [ערבית לאחר שמונה עשרה] In the evening service, after Shemoneh Esreh, [אומרים קדיש שלם עם תתקבל] one says the full Kaddish (including) ”May the prayers and supplications…”, [וקורין את המגילה] then we read the Megillah, [אחר כך אומרים ואתה קדוש] after that we say ”But You are holy…” [שהוא במזמור למנצח על אילת השחר] (which is in the Psalm2 ”To the Chief Musician on the coming up of the dawn…” [שנאמר על אסתר] which was said about Esther, [ושם נאמר] and it was written3 there: [אלהי אקרא וגו’] ”My G-d, I call to You during the day… and at night.” [דנאמר על מקרא מגילה] and it is written in Megillah4 [דאמר ר’ יהושע בן לוי] that Rabbi Yehoshuah ben Levi said: [חייב אדם לקרות את המגילה בלילה] ”A person is obligated to read the Megillah at night [ולשנותה ביום] and repeat it during the day”. [שנאמר אלהי אקרא יומם] as was said ”My G-d, I call to You during the day…” [ולא תענה] and not fast, [ולילה ולא דומיה לי] ”…and at night.” I will not rest, [וסמיך ליה ואתה קדוש וגו’] and this (verse) is followed by ”But You are holy…”.)5 [ואחר כך קדיש שלם בלא תתקבל] afterwards full Kaddish without ”May the prayers and supplications…”. [ובמוצאי שבת ויהי נועם ואתה קדוש] On out Shabbat (we say) ”And let the graciousness…” and ”But You are holy…”, [קדיש שלם בלא תתקבל, ויתן לך] full Kaddish without ”May the prayers and supplications…”, [ומבדילין על הכוס] Havdalah (is made) over a cup (of wine), [עלינו] (and then one says) ”It is our duty to praise…”.
1) As is the case on Shabbat and festivals.
2) Psalm 22.
3) Verse 3.
4) Megillah 4a.
5) So they derived both the requirement to read the Megillah at night and during the day, and adding ”But You are holy…” to the evening service, from Psalm 22. [In honor of the (reading of) the Megillah] לכבוד המגילה [one should wear (one’s) Shabbat clothes in the evening.] יש ללבוש בגדי שבת מבערב [When one returns from the synagogue,] וכשבא מבית הכנסת [one should find in one’s home (that) the candles are lit,] ימצא בביתו נרות דולקים [the table is set,] ושלחן ערוך [and the beds are made.] ומטה מוצעת [In the evening service, after Shemoneh Esreh,] ערבית לאחר שמונה עשרה [one says the full Kaddish (including) ”May the prayers and supplications…”,] אומרים קדיש שלם עם תתקבל [then we read the Megillah,] וקורין את המגילה [after that we say ”But You are holy…”] אחר כך אומרים ואתה קדוש [(which is in the Psalm ”To the Chief Musician on the coming up of the dawn…”] שהוא במזמור למנצח על אילת השחר [which was said about Esther,] שנאמר על אסתר [and it was written (Verse 3) there:] ושם נאמר [”My G-d, I call to You during the day… and at night.”] אלהי אקרא וגו’ [and it is written in Megillah] דנאמר על מקרא מגילה [that Rabbi Yehoshuah ben Levi said:] דאמר ר’ יהושע בן לוי [”A person is obligated to read the Megillah at night] חייב אדם לקרות את המגילה בלילה [and repeat it during the day”.] ולשנותה ביום [as was said ”My G-d, I call to You during the day…”] שנאמר אלהי אקרא יומם [and not fast,] ולא תענה [”…and at night.” I will not rest,] ולילה ולא דומיה לי [and this (verse) is followed by ”But You are holy…”.)] וסמיך ליה ואתה קדוש וגו’ [afterwards full Kaddish without ”May the prayers and supplications…”.] ואחר כך קדיש שלם בלא תתקבל [On out Shabbat (we say) ”And let the graciousness…” and ”But You are holy…”,] ובמוצאי שבת ויהי נועם ואתה קדוש [full Kaddish without ”May the prayers and supplications…”,] קדיש שלם בלא תתקבל, ויתן לך [Havdalah (is made) over a cup (of wine),] ומבדילין על הכוס [(and then one says) ”It is our duty to praise…”.] עלינו ד
141:5 [נוהגין ליתן קודם פורים] It is the custom to give (just) before Purim, [מחצית מן המטבע הקבוע] half of the standard monetary unit in use [באותו מקום ובאותו זמן] in one’s local place and at the current time. [זכר למחצית השקל שהיו נותנין באדר] in memory of the half-shekel that was given in (every) Adar, [לצורך קרבנות הצבור] in order to buy the (animals for the) public sacrifices. [ומנהג ליתן שלש מחצית] It’s customary to give three (times the) half (monetary) units [משום דבפרשת כי תשא כתיב] because in Parashat Ki Tisa,1 it writes [שלשה פעמים תרומה] the word ”Terumah” three times.2 [ונותנין בערב לפני קריאת המגילה] One gives (this money) in the evening, before the Megillah reading, [ומחלקין אותן לעניים] and it is distributed to the poor. [קטן פטור] A minor is exempt (from this donation), [ואם אביו נתן בשבילו פעם אחת] but if his father gave on his behalf one time, [חייב לעולם] (he is) obliged (to continue to give) always. [בן שלש עשרה שנה] (Concerning) a thirteen year old boy, [יש אומרים דחייב] some (authorities) say (that) he is obligated (to donate), [ויש אומרים דפטור עד שיהא בן עשרים] and some (others) say that he is exempt until he is twenty.
1) Ex. 30:11.
2) ”Terumah” means a donation. From Rosh Chodesh Nissan onwards, the animals used for all the communal sacrifices in the Temple, had to be purchased using money collected that year. Therefore, one month before, on Rosh Hodesh Adar, announcements would be made to remind people to donate the half-shekel, so that animals could be purchased with the ”new” money before Nissan. The reading of Parashat Shekalim just before (or on) Rosh Hodesh Adar also serves as a reminder of that mitzvah. [It is the custom to give (just) before Purim,] נוהגין ליתן קודם פורים [half of the standard monetary unit in use] מחצית מן המטבע הקבוע [in one’s local place and at the current time.] באותו מקום ובאותו זמן [in memory of the half-shekel that was given in (every) Adar,] זכר למחצית השקל שהיו נותנין באדר [in order to buy the (animals for the) public sacrifices.] לצורך קרבנות הצבור [It’s customary to give three (times the) half (monetary) units] ומנהג ליתן שלש מחצית [because in Parashat Ki Tisa, it writes] משום דבפרשת כי תשא כתיב [the word ”Terumah” three times.] שלשה פעמים תרומה [One gives (this money) in the evening, before the Megillah reading,] ונותנין בערב לפני קריאת המגילה [and it is distributed to the poor.] ומחלקין אותן לעניים [A minor is exempt (from this donation),] קטן פטור [but if his father gave on his behalf one time,] ואם אביו נתן בשבילו פעם אחת [(he is) obliged (to continue to give) always.] חייב לעולם [(Concerning) a thirteen year old boy,] בן שלש עשרה שנה [some (authorities) say (that) he is obligated (to donate),] יש אומרים דחייב [and some (others) say that he is exempt until he is twenty.] ויש אומרים דפטור עד שיהא בן עשרים ה
141:6 [בפורים] On Purim, [דהיינו ביום י”ד] (that is on the 14th) [ערבית] in the (Shemone Esrei of the) evening service, [שחרית ומנחה] and (also) in the morning and afternoon services [אומרים על הנסים] one says ”For the miracles…”. [ואם שכח] If one forgot, [דינו כמו בחנוכה] the (same) laws as for Hanukah apply. [On Purim,] בפורים [(that is on the 14th)] דהיינו ביום י”ד [in the (Shemone Esrei of the) evening service,] ערבית [and (also) in the morning and afternoon services] שחרית ומנחה [one says ”For the miracles…”.] אומרים על הנסים [If one forgot,] ואם שכח [the (same) laws as for Hanukah apply.] דינו כמו בחנוכה ו
141:7 [חייב כל אדם בין איש בין אשה] Everyone is obliged, whether men or women, [לשמוע קריאת המגילה בלילה וביום] to hear the reading of the Megillah at night and during the day. [ולכן גם הבתולות יש להן ללכת לבית הכנסת] Therefore, also the young single girls should go to the synagogue. [ואם אינן הולכות] If they do not go, [צריכין לקרות לפניהן בבית] one needs to read for them at home. [וגם את הקטנים חייבים לחנך אותם] Also (with) young children, we must educate them, [שישמעו קריאת המגילה] that they hear the reading of the Megillah, [ומכל מקום לא יביאו לבית הכנסת קטנים ביותר] however, one should not bring to the synagogue very young children [שמבלבלים דעת השומעים] because they disturb the concentration of those listening. [Everyone is obliged, whether men or women,] חייב כל אדם בין איש בין אשה [to hear the reading of the Megillah at night and during the day.] לשמוע קריאת המגילה בלילה וביום [Therefore, also the young single girls should go to the synagogue.] ולכן גם הבתולות יש להן ללכת לבית הכנסת [If they do not go,] ואם אינן הולכות [one needs to read for them at home.] צריכין לקרות לפניהן בבית [Also (with) young children, we must educate them,] וגם את הקטנים חייבים לחנך אותם [that they hear the reading of the Megillah,] שישמעו קריאת המגילה [however, one should not bring to the synagogue very young children] ומכל מקום לא יביאו לבית הכנסת קטנים ביותר [because they disturb the concentration of those listening.] שמבלבלים דעת השומעים ז
141:8 [מגילה של לילה אסור לקרות] It is forbidden to read the Megillah at night [קודם צאת הכוכבים] before the appearance of (three) stars, [אף על פי שמצטער הרבה מחמת התענית] even though one is greatly suffering due to the fast. [אך יכול לטעום קצת קודם המגילה] However, one may taste a little1 before the Megillah (reading), [כגון קפה וכדומה] such as coffee and similar (drinks), [כדי להחזיק מעט] in order to slightly strengthen oneself [מחולשת התענית] from the weakness of the fast.
1) One may eat the volume of a ”k’beitzah” (lit: ”like an egg”) of bread and cake, or liquid in the same quantity. This is from 86.23 ml to 100 ml or in normal terms about two thirds of a slice of white bread or three quarters of a square matzah. [It is forbidden to read the Megillah at night] מגילה של לילה אסור לקרות [before the appearance of (three) stars,] קודם צאת הכוכבים [even though one is greatly suffering due to the fast.] אף על פי שמצטער הרבה מחמת התענית [However, one may taste a little before the Megillah (reading),] אך יכול לטעום קצת קודם המגילה [such as coffee and similar (drinks),] כגון קפה וכדומה [in order to slightly strengthen oneself] כדי להחזיק מעט [from the weakness of the fast.] מחולשת התענית ח
141:9 [מצוה מן המובחר] The most desirable way to fulfill the mitzvah [לשמוע קריאת המגילה בבית הכנסת] is to hear the reading of the Megillah in a synagogue, [במקום שיש רוב אנשים] where there are many people, [משום] from:1 [דברוב עם הדרת מלך] ”Within the multitude of the people is the glory of the King.” [ולכל הפחות] At the very least, [יראה לשמוע אותה במנין עשרה] one should be careful to hear it in a ”Minyan” of ten. [ואם אי אפשר לקרותה במנין] If it is impossible to read it with a ”Minyan”, [יקרא אותה כל יחיד] each individual should read it [מתוך מגילה כשרה עם הברכות שלפניה] from a kosher scroll, with the blessings beforehand. [ואם אחד יודע לקרותה] If one (person) knows how to read it, [והשאר אינם יודעים] and the rest do not know, [יקרא זה שהוא יודע] the person who knows should read [והם ישמעו ויוצאים] and they should listen and (will) fulfill their obligation, [אף על פי שאינם עשרה] even though there are not ten (listening). [אבל ברכה שלאחריה] However, the blessing after (the reading) [אין אומרים רק בעשרה] is not said unless there are ten. [ואך בלא שם ומלכות] However, without (G-d’s) name and (mention of His) Kingship, [יכול גם יחיד לאמרה] even an individual can say it.
1) Proverbs 12:28. [The most desirable way to fulfill the mitzvah] מצוה מן המובחר [is to hear the reading of the Megillah in a synagogue,] לשמוע קריאת המגילה בבית הכנסת [where there are many people,] במקום שיש רוב אנשים [from:] משום [”Within the multitude of the people is the glory of the King.”] דברוב עם הדרת מלך [At the very least,] ולכל הפחות [one should be careful to hear it in a ”Minyan” of ten.] יראה לשמוע אותה במנין עשרה [If it is impossible to read it with a ”Minyan”,] ואם אי אפשר לקרותה במנין [each individual should read it] יקרא אותה כל יחיד [from a kosher scroll, with the blessings beforehand.] מתוך מגילה כשרה עם הברכות שלפניה [If one (person) knows how to read it,] ואם אחד יודע לקרותה [and the rest do not know,] והשאר אינם יודעים [the person who knows should read] יקרא זה שהוא יודע [and they should listen and (will) fulfill their obligation,] והם ישמעו ויוצאים [even though there are not ten (listening).] אף על פי שאינם עשרה [However, the blessing after (the reading)] אבל ברכה שלאחריה [is not said unless there are ten.] אין אומרים רק בעשרה [However, without (G-d’s) name and (mention of His) Kingship,] ואך בלא שם ומלכות [even an individual can say it.] יכול גם יחיד לאמרה ט
141:10 [מנהג בכל ישראל] It is customary in all Jewish communities [שהקורא אינו קורא מתוך מגילה כרוכה] that the reader does not read from a rolled up Megillah,1 [אלא פושט אותה] rather he spreads it out [וכופלה דף על דף כמו אגרת] and folds (each) page on (each other) page like a letter,2 [מפני שנקראת ”אגרת הפורים”] because it (the Megillah) is called ”The Purim Letter”.3 [אבל השומעים אינם צריכים לפשטה] However, those listening don’t need to spread out their (own scrolls).
1) A scroll opened only to the page presently being read.
2) The Megillah should be unrolled and folded before the reader says the blessings preceding the reading, so that there will be no interruption between the blessings and the reading.
3) Esther 9:29. [It is customary in all Jewish communities] מנהג בכל ישראל [that the reader does not read from a rolled up Megillah,] שהקורא אינו קורא מתוך מגילה כרוכה [rather he spreads it out] אלא פושט אותה [and folds (each) page on (each other) page like a letter,] וכופלה דף על דף כמו אגרת [because it (the Megillah) is called ”The Purim Letter”.] מפני שנקראת ”אגרת הפורים” [However, those listening don’t need to spread out their (own scrolls).] אבל השומעים אינם צריכים לפשטה י
141:11 [הקורא את המגילה] The one who reads the Megillah, [בין ביום ובין בלילה] whether by day or by night, [מברך לפניה שלש ברכות] blesses before it three blessings, [על מקרא מגילה] ”…concerning the reading of the Megillah.”, [שעשה נסים] ”…who carried out miracles…”, [ושהחיינו] and ”…who has kept us in life…”. [ולאחר קריאתה כורכה כולה] After reading it he rolls it up completely, [ומניחה לפניו] lays it down in front of himself, [ומברכין ברכת הרב את ריבנו וכו’] and blesses the blessing ”…who contends for us…” [אם אבל קורא את המגילה] If a mourner read the Megillah, [יברך אחר את הברכות] another should bless the blessings [משום ברכת שהחיינו] because of the blessing ”…who has kept us in life…”.1
1) It is not appropriate for the mourner to say this blessing publicly. [The one who reads the Megillah,] הקורא את המגילה [whether by day or by night,] בין ביום ובין בלילה [blesses before it three blessings,] מברך לפניה שלש ברכות [”…concerning the reading of the Megillah.”,] על מקרא מגילה [”…who carried out miracles…”,] שעשה נסים [and ”…who has kept us in life…”.] ושהחיינו [After reading it he rolls it up completely,] ולאחר קריאתה כורכה כולה [lays it down in front of himself,] ומניחה לפניו [and blesses the blessing ”…who contends for us…”] ומברכין ברכת הרב את ריבנו וכו’ [If a mourner read the Megillah,] אם אבל קורא את המגילה [another should bless the blessings] יברך אחר את הברכות [because of the blessing ”…who has kept us in life…”.] משום ברכת שהחיינו יא
141:12 [בברכת שהחיינו של יום] On the blessing ”…who has kept us in life…” (that is said) in the day, [יכוונו גם על מצות] they (the listeners) should have in mind also the commandment of [משלוח מנות] sending food presents (to friends), [ומתנות לאביונים] (giving) gifts to the poor, [וסעודת פורים] and the festive Purim meal. [וכן השליח צבור צריך שיכוין להוציא] Similarly, the Reader1 needs to intend to cover [את הצבור גם על מצות אלו] the congegration also for these three commandments.
1) lit; ”representative of the congregation” that is, the one reading the Megillah for the congegration. [On the blessing ”…who has kept us in life…” (that is said) in the day,] בברכת שהחיינו של יום [they (the listeners) should have in mind also the commandment of] יכוונו גם על מצות [sending food presents (to friends),] משלוח מנות [(giving) gifts to the poor,] ומתנות לאביונים [and the festive Purim meal.] וסעודת פורים [Similarly, the Reader needs to intend to cover] וכן השליח צבור צריך שיכוין להוציא [the congegration also for these three commandments.] את הצבור גם על מצות אלו יב
141:13 [הקורא את המגילה צריך לכוין] The one reading the Megillah must intend [להוציא את כל השומעים] to cover all those listening. [וגם השומע צריך לכוין לצאת] Also the listener needs to intend to cover (his obligation) [ולשמוע כל תיבה ותיבה] and to listen to each and every word. [שאפילו אם רק תיבה אחת] Even if (it was) only one word, [לא שמע אינו יוצא] that he did not hear, he has not fulfilled his obligation. [ולכן צריך הקורא להשגיח מאד] Therefore, the reader needs be very careful [שבשעה שמרעישין ומבלבלין] that when noise and disturbances [בהכאת המן] are made to block out (the name of) Haman, [ישתוק עד יעבור הרעש לגמרי] he should be silent until the noise is completely over. [ומכל מקום ראוי ונכון שיהיה לכל אחד] In any case, it is proper and correct that each individual has [מגילה כשרה כדי שיאמר בעצמו] a kosher Megillah1 so that one can say by oneself [מלה במלה בלחש] word by word quietly, [פן לא ישמע תיבה אחת מן הקורא] in case he did not hear (any) one word from the reader, [וכן כל אשה חכמת לב] Similarly, every woman who understands (the Megillah), [שעומדת בעזרת נשים] and is standing in the women’s section, [אם אפשר מה טוב] if possible it is preferable [להיות לה מגילה כשרה לקרות מתוכה] for her to have a kosher Megillah to read from, [כי שם קשה לשמוע] because there it is hard to hear [והנשים חייבות כמו האנשים] and women are obliged (to hear) just like the men. [אם לא קדשו את הלבנה] (If they had not (yet) blessed the New Moon, [ונראתה בשעת קריאת המגילה] and they saw it (for the first time) at the time of Megillah reading, [עיין לעיל סוף סימן צ] see this topic at the end of Ch. 97. )
1) If one doesn’t have a kosher handwritten Megillah, one can read from a printed Megillah – Mishna Berurah 690:19. [The one reading the Megillah must intend] הקורא את המגילה צריך לכוין [to cover all those listening.] להוציא את כל השומעים [Also the listener needs to intend to cover (his obligation)] וגם השומע צריך לכוין לצאת [and to listen to each and every word.] ולשמוע כל תיבה ותיבה [Even if (it was) only one word,] שאפילו אם רק תיבה אחת [that he did not hear, he has not fulfilled his obligation.] לא שמע אינו יוצא [Therefore, the reader needs be very careful] ולכן צריך הקורא להשגיח מאד [that when noise and disturbances] שבשעה שמרעישין ומבלבלין [are made to block out (the name of) Haman,] בהכאת המן [he should be silent until the noise is completely over.] ישתוק עד יעבור הרעש לגמרי [In any case, it is proper and correct that each individual has] ומכל מקום ראוי ונכון שיהיה לכל אחד [a kosher Megillah so that one can say by oneself] מגילה כשרה כדי שיאמר בעצמו [word by word quietly,] מלה במלה בלחש [in case he did not hear (any) one word from the reader,] פן לא ישמע תיבה אחת מן הקורא [Similarly, every woman who understands (the Megillah),] וכן כל אשה חכמת לב [and is standing in the women’s section,] שעומדת בעזרת נשים [if possible it is preferable] אם אפשר מה טוב [for her to have a kosher Megilla to read from,] להיות לה מגילה כשרה לקרות מתוכה [because there it is hard to hear] כי שם קשה לשמוע [and women are obliged (to hear) just like the men.] והנשים חייבות כמו האנשים [(If they had not (yet) blessed the New Moon,] אם לא קדשו את הלבנה [and they saw it (for the first time) at the time of Megillah reading,] ונראתה בשעת קריאת המגילה [see this topic at the end of Ch. 97. )] עיין לעיל סוף סימן צ”ז יג
141:14 [הקורא צריך שיאמר את עשרת בני המן] The reader needs to say (the names of) the ten sons of Haman1 [וגם תיבת עשרת הכל בנשימה אחת] and the word ”ten”, all in a single breath, [להודיע שכולם נהרגו ונתלו כאחד] to proclaim that they were all killed and hung as one. [ונוהגין לכתחלה לומר מן חמש מאות איש] It is the custom to first say from ”five hundred men”2 [הכל בנשימה אחת] in a single breath. [ובדיעבד אפילו הפסיק] After the fact, even if one paused [בין עשרת בני המן] between the (names of the) ten sons of Haman, [יצא] one has fulfilled one’s obligation. [ומה שנוהגין בקצת מקומות] What is customary in some communities, [שכל הקהל אומרים עשרת בני המן] where all the congregation says (the names of) the ten sons of Haman, [אינו מנהג נכון] is not a correct custom. [אלא הקורא לבד יאמרם] Rather, the reader alone should say them [והקהל ישמעו כמו כל המגילה] and the congegration listen as with the rest of the Megillah. [כשאומר הקורא] When the reader says:3 [בלילה ההוא נדדה וגו’] ”On that night, the king could not sleep,” [יגביה קולו] he should raise his voice, [כי שם מתחיל עיקר הנס] because (from) there starts the essential part of the miracle. [וכשאומר האגרת הזאת] When he says4 ”this letter”, [ינענע את המגילה] he should shake the Megillah.
1) Esther 9:6-10.
2) According to the Aruch Hashulchan 690:21, each of the ten sons of Haman controlled fifty men.
3) Esther 6:1.
4) Esther 9:26. [The reader needs to say (the names of) the ten sons of Haman] הקורא צריך שיאמר את עשרת בני המן [and the word ”ten”, all in a single breath,] וגם תיבת עשרת הכל בנשימה אחת [to proclaim that they were all killed and hung as one.] להודיע שכולם נהרגו ונתלו כאחד [It is the custom to first say from ”five hundred men”] ונוהגין לכתחלה לומר מן חמש מאות איש [in a single breath.] הכל בנשימה אחת [After the fact, even if one paused] ובדיעבד אפילו הפסיק [between the (names of the) ten sons of Haman,] בין עשרת בני המן [one has fulfilled one’s obligation.] יצא [What is customary in some communities,] ומה שנוהגין בקצת מקומות [where all the congregation says (the names of) the ten sons of Haman,] שכל הקהל אומרים עשרת בני המן [is not a correct custom.] אינו מנהג נכון [Rather, the reader alone should say them] אלא הקורא לבד יאמרם [and the congegration listen as with the rest of the Megillah.] והקהל ישמעו כמו כל המגילה [When the reader says:] כשאומר הקורא [”On that night, the king could not sleep,”] בלילה ההוא נדדה וגו’ [he should raise his voice,] יגביה קולו [because (from) there starts the essential part of the miracle.] כי שם מתחיל עיקר הנס [When he says ”this letter”,] וכשאומר האגרת הזאת [he should shake the Megillah.] ינענע את המגילה יד
141:15 [מי שיש לפניו מגילה פסולה] One who has before him a non-kosher Megillah (scroll) [או חומש] or a printed text version, [לא יקרא עם השליח צבור] should not read with the reader, [כי אם הוא קורא אינו יכול לכוין] because if he reads he is not able to concentrate [לשמוע מן השליח צבור] on hearing (the words) from the reader. [ואפילו אם הוא יכוין] Even if he (can) concentrate, [שמא ישמע אחר מה שהוא קורא] there maybe another who hears what he is reading [ולא יכוין לקריאת השליח צבור] and (so) will not concentrate on the reading of the reader. [וכן לא יסייע שום אדם בעל פה להשליח צבור] Similarily, no one should assist the reader by memory. [ולכן אותן ארבעה פסוקי גאולה] Therefore, those four verses of redemption1 [שאומרים הקהל בקול רם] which the congregation say aloud, [צריך השליח צבור לחזור ולקרותם] the reader needs to return and read them [מתוך המגילה הכשרה] from the kosher Megillah.2
1) Esther 2:5 ”There was a Jew in Shushan…”, 8:15 ”And Mordechai went out…”, 8:16 ”The Jews had light, and gladness…”, 10:3 ”For Mordechai the Jew…”.
2) In order to fulfill the obligation, one must read the Megillah, or hear it being read from a kosher scroll. One who says the words of the Megillah from memory or hears someone else say it from memory, has not fulfilled his obligation. [One who has before him a non-kosher Megillah (scroll)] [or a printed text version,] או חומש [should not read with the reader,] לא יקרא עם השליח צבור [because if he reads he is not able to concentrate] כי אם הוא קורא אינו יכול לכוין [on hearing (the words) from the reader.] לשמוע מן השליח צבור [Even if he (can) concentrate,] ואפילו אם הוא יכוין [there maybe another who hears what he is reading] שמא ישמע אחר מה שהוא קורא [and (so) will not concentrate on the reading of the reader.] ולא יכוין לקריאת השליח צבור [Similarily, no one should assist the reader by memory.] וכן לא יסייע שום אדם בעל פה להשליח צבור [Therefore, those four verses of redemption] ולכן אותן ארבעה פסוקי גאולה [which the congregation say aloud,] שאומרים הקהל בקול רם [the reader needs to return and read them] צריך השליח צבור לחזור ולקרותם [from the kosher Megillah.] מתוך המגילה הכשרה טו
141:16 [מי שכבר יצא בקריאת מגילה] One who has already fulfilled the obligation of reading the Megillah [וקורא להוציא אחר] and (now) reads (again) for (the benefit of) another, [אם זה שהוא צריך לצאת] if the one who he is reading it for, [יודע בעצמו לברך את הברכות] knows himself (how) to say the blessings, [יברך בעצמו] he should bless himself. [ואם היא אשה] If (the one he is reading for) is a woman, [טוב יותר שהקורא יברך] it is preferable for the reader to bless [ויאמר אשר קדשנו במצותיו] and say ”who has sanctified us with his commandments [וצונו לשמוע מגילה] and commanded us to hear the Megillah.”1
1) The normal end to the blessing is ”to read the Megillah”. The change is made because halachicly a woman is required to hear the Megillah but not read it herself (Mishna Berurah 689:7). Others say ”to hear the reading of the Megillah” (Mishna Berurah 689:8). Similarly, if there is no one to read for her, she can read for herself from a kosher Megillah, but still end the blessing ”to hear the Megillah”. [One who has already fulfilled the obligation of reading the Megillah] מי שכבר יצא בקריאת מגילה [and (now) reads (again) for (the benefit of) another,] וקורא להוציא אחר [if the one who he is reading it for,] אם זה שהוא צריך לצאת [knows himself (how) to say the blessings,] יודע בעצמו לברך את הברכות [he should bless himself.] יברך בעצמו [If (the one he is reading for) is a woman,] ואם היא אשה [it is preferable for the reader to bless] טוב יותר שהקורא יברך [and say ”who has sanctified us with his commandments] ויאמר אשר קדשנו במצותיו [and commanded us to hear the Megillah.”] וצונו לשמוע מגילה טז
141:17 [בשבת] On a Shabbat [שאינו פורים] (which is not Purim)1 [מותרין לטלטל את המגילה] it is permitted to handle the Megillah. [ומכל מקום אם חל פורים ביום א’] However, if Purim falls on Sunday, [אין להביא בשבת את המגילה לבית הכנסת] one should not bring on Shabbat the Megillah to the synagogue, [אפילו] even in a city which has an ”Eiruv”,2 [משום דהוי מכין משבת לחול] because this is like preparing on Shabbat for a weekday (need).
1) In fact, our calendar is arranged so that Purim never occurs on Shabbat.
2) An enclosure around an area, made up of existing telephone wires and other cables, and additional poles with wires attached which the community puts up. This enclosure turns the area into a private domain inside which one may carry on Shabbat. [On a Shabbat] בשבת [(which is not Purim)] שאינו פורים [it is permitted to handle the Megillah.] מותרין לטלטל את המגילה [However, if Purim falls on Sunday,] ומכל מקום אם חל פורים ביום א’ [one should not bring on Shabbat the Megillah to the synagogue,] אין להביא בשבת את המגילה לבית הכנסת [even in a city which has an ”Eiruv”,] אפילו בעיר שהוא מתוקנת בעירובין [because this is like preparing on Shabbat for a weekday (need).] משום דהוי מכין משבת לחול יז
141:18 [צבור שאין להם שליח צבור] A congregation which does not have a reader [שיכול לקרות את המגילה עם הטעמים כראוי] who can read the Megillah with the correct notes, [יכול לקרות גם בלא טעמים] can (have someone) read also without the notes, [רק שיקרא את התיבות כראוי] as long as he reads the words properly [שלא ישתנה הענין] so as not to change the meaning. [שאם קרא במקום ומרדכי יושב] If (for example) he read instead of ”And Mordechai was sitting”, [ישב או במקום והמן נופל] ”…sat”, or instead of ”Haman was fallen” [נפל] ”…fell” [וכדומה] and the like, [אפילו בדיעבד אינו יוצא] even after the event the mitzvah has not been fulfilled.1 [ויכולין לעשות במגילה נקודות וטעמים] One can mark in the Megillah (the) vowels and (the) notes [שיקרא כהוגן] so that one can read properly, [כיון שהוא שעת הדחק] since this is an urgent situation,2 [והכי עדיף טפי ממה שיקרא אחר] and more preferable than having someone else read [מתוך החומש בלחש] from a printed text quietly (to him), [דכיון שזה הקורא מתוך החומש] Because the one who reads from the printed text, [אפילו הוא קורא בלחש] even if he is reading quietly, [אינו יכול לכוין דעתו] is not able to concentrate his attention [שישמע מהשליח צבור] on hearing (the words) from the reader. [ונמצא שקרא רק מתוך החומש] Therefore he has read only from the printed text [ואינו יוצא] and has not fulfilled his obligation, [ואם אירע כך] and if this did happen, [צריך לחזור ולשמעה מתוך מגילה כשרה] he needs to return and hear (it again) from a kosher Megillah.
1) The Megillah is then re-read from the place the mistake was made, but without a new blessing. Similarly if an entire word was omitted (Biur Halachah 690:14).
2) In a situation where the reader doesn’t know how to pronounce the words without the vowels, and doesn’t know the correct tune. [A congregation which does not have a reader] צבור שאין להם שליח צבור [who can read the Megillah with the correct notes,] שיכול לקרות את המגילה עם הטעמים כראוי [can (have someone) read also without the notes,] יכול לקרות גם בלא טעמים [as long as he reads the words properly] רק שיקרא את התיבות כראוי [so as not to change the meaning.] שלא ישתנה הענין [If (for example) he read instead of ”And Mordechai was sitting”,] שאם קרא במקום ומרדכי יושב [”…sat”, or instead of ”Haman was fallen”] ישב או במקום והמן נופל [”…fell”] נפל [and the like,] וכדומה [even after the event the mitzvah has not been fulfilled.] אפילו בדיעבד אינו יוצא [One can mark in the Megillah (the) vowels and (the) notes] ויכולין לעשות במגילה נקודות וטעמים [so that one can read properly,] שיקרא כהוגן [since this is an urgent situation,] כיון שהוא שעת הדחק [and more preferable than having someone else read] והכי עדיף טפי ממה שיקרא אחר [from a printed text quietly (to him),] מתוך החומש בלחש [Because the one who reads from the printed text,] דכיון שזה הקורא מתוך החומש [even if he is reading quietly,] אפילו הוא קורא בלחש [is not able to concentrate his attention] אינו יכול לכוין דעתו [on hearing (the words) from the reader.] שישמע מהשליח צבור [Therefore he has read only from the printed text] ונמצא שקרא רק מתוך החומש [and has not fulfilled his obligation,] ואינו יוצא [and if this did happen,] ואם אירע כך [he needs to return and hear (it again) from a kosher Megillah.] צריך לחזור ולשמעה מתוך מגילה כשרה יח
141:19 [צבור שאין להם מגילה כשרה כדינה] A congregation that does not have a Megillah that is completely kosher, [מכל מקום אם היא כתובה כהלכתה] however, if it is written according to halacha, [רק שחסרים איזה תיבות באמצעה] only is missing some words in the middle, [כיון שלא חסר בה ענין אחד שלם] since there is not missing in it one complete topic, [יכולין לקרות מתוכה עם הברכות] one may read in it with the blessings; [והטעות יקרא הקורא בעל פה] and the error (of missing words), the reader reads by heart, [או יאמר לפניו בלחש מתוך החומש] or someone say before him quietly, from a printed text. [אבל אם אין להם מגילה כלל] However, if they do not have a Megillah at all, [או שחסר בה ענין אחד שלם] or there is missing in it one complete topic, [או שחסר בה בתחלה או בסוף] or there are missing (words) in it, at the beginning or the end, [קורין מתוך החומש כל אחד] each person reads from a printed text [בפני עצמו ואין מברכין] to himself and does not bless. [ויחיד שאין לו רק מגילה פסולה] An individual who only has a non-kosher Megillah, [קורא בה בלא ברכות] reads in it without (the) blessings. [A congregation that does not have a Megillah that is completely kosher,] צבור שאין להם מגילה כשרה כדינה [however, if it is written according to halacha,] מכל מקום אם היא כתובה כהלכתה [only is missing some words in the middle,] רק שחסרים איזה תיבות באמצעה [since there is not missing in it one complete topic,] כיון שלא חסר בה ענין אחד שלם [one may read in it with the blessings;] יכולין לקרות מתוכה עם הברכות [and the error (of missing words), the reader reads by heart,] והטעות יקרא הקורא בעל פה [or someone say before him quietly, from a printed text.] או יאמר לפניו בלחש מתוך החומש [However, if they do not have a Megillah at all,] אבל אם אין להם מגילה כלל [or there is missing in it one complete topic,] או שחסר בה ענין אחד שלם [or there are missing (words) in it, at the beginning or the end,] או שחסר בה בתחלה או בסוף [each person reads from a printed text] קורין מתוך החומש כל אחד [to himself and does not bless.] בפני עצמו ואין מברכין [An individual who only has a non-kosher Megillah,] ויחיד שאין לו רק מגילה פסולה [reads in it without (the) blessings.] קורא בה בלא ברכות יט
141:20 [אבל תוך שבעה נוהג בכל דיני אבלות] A mourner during the seven (days)1 observes all the laws of mourning, [ואסור לראות כל מיני שמחה] and is forbidden to see any kind of celebration. [אך בנעילת הסנדל וישיבה על גבי ספסל] However, wearing shoes and sitting on a chair [מותר מפני שהן דברים הנראין לכל] are permitted because these are activities that are obvious to all.2 [בלילה אם יכול לאסוף מנין לביתו] In the evening if he can get a minyan3 to his home [לקרות המגילה מוטב] to read the Megillah, this is preferable. [ואם לאו יתפלל בביתו] Otherwise, he should pray at home [וילך לבית הכנסת לשמוע המגילה] and (then) go to the synagogue to hear the Megillah.4 [אם חל במוצאי שבת ילך לבית הכנסת] If (Purim) starts on Saturday night, he should go to the synagogue [לאחר סעודה שלישית בעוד יום] after the third meal, before sunset, [וביום הולך לבית הכנסת לתפלה ולמגילה] and in the day he goes to the synagogue for the services and the Megillah.
1) The first seven days after the burial of a member of one’s immediate family.
2) There is a dispute among the later authorities as to whether the laws of mourning apply on the day that Purim is celebrated. The present custom is that only the aspects of mourning that can be kept private are observed (Shulchan Aruch 496:4).
3) Ten adult males (including the mourner himself.
4) A mourner, during the first seven days, is not allowed to leave the house except for certain circumstances, such as performing certain mitzvot. The reason for this is so that the mourner doesn’t get distracted from mourning. Since it is a mitzvah to hear the Megillah with a minyan, if he can’t get ten men to his home, he may go to synagogue. [A mourner during the seven (days) observes all the laws of mourning,] אבל תוך שבעה נוהג בכל דיני אבלות [and is forbidden to see any kind of celebration.] ואסור לראות כל מיני שמחה [However, wearing shoes and sitting on a chair] אך בנעילת הסנדל וישיבה על גבי ספסל [are permitted because these are activities that are obvious to all.] מותר מפני שהן דברים הנראין לכל [In the evening if he can get a minyan to his home] בלילה אם יכול לאסוף מנין לביתו [to read the Megillah, this is preferable.] לקרות המגילה מוטב [Otherwise, he should pray at home] ואם לאו יתפלל בביתו [and (then) go to the synagogue to hear the Megillah.] וילך לבית הכנסת לשמוע המגילה [If (Purim) starts on Saturday night, he should go to the synagogue] אם חל במוצאי שבת ילך לבית הכנסת [after the third meal, before sunset,] לאחר סעודה שלישית בעוד יום [and in the day he goes to the synagogue for the services and the Megillah.] וביום הולך לבית הכנסת לתפלה ולמגילה כ
141:21 [מי שמת לו מת בתענית אסתר] One who has a (immediate relative1) die on the Fast of Esther, [ובלילה הוא אונן קודם הקבורה] is on (Purim) night an ”Onan”2 before the burial, [ישמע קריאת המגילה מאחר] should listen to the reading of the Megillah by another, [ולא יאכל בשר ולא ישתה יין] and not eat meat or drink wine, [כי בלילה אינו חייב במשתה] because at night he is not obligated to the festive meal. [וביום לאחר יציאה מבית הכנסת] In the morning (following), after (all are) leaving the synagogue [קוברין את המת] one buries the dead, [ואחר כך יתפלל] and afterwards prays (the morning service) [ויקרא את המגילה] and reads the Megillah, [או ישמע מאחר] or listen (to the reading) by another. [ואם שמע קריאת המגילה קודם הקבורה] If he hears the Megillah reading before the burial, [יצא] he has fulfilled his obligation. [ומכל מקום נכון שיחזור ויקרא בלא ברכות] In this event, it is right that he reads it again without the blessings. [ותפילין לא יניח אפילו אחר הקבורה] He should not put on tefillin even after the burial [כיון שהוא יום ראשון באבלו] since this is the first day of his mourning.3 [ואונן בפורים ביום מותר בבשר וביין] An ”Onan” on Purim during the day is allowed meat and wine.
1) Parents, brothers, sisters, children or spouse.
2) One who is waiting to bury their dead. Special laws apply to them. See Chapter 196.
3) See Ch. 211:2 [One who has a (immediate relative) die on the Fast of Esther,] מי שמת לו מת בתענית אסתר [is on (Purim) night an ”Onan” before the burial,] ובלילה הוא אונן קודם הקבורה [should listen to the reading of the Megillah by another,] ישמע קריאת המגילה מאחר [and not eat meat or drink wine,] ולא יאכל בשר ולא ישתה יין [because at night he is not obligated to the festive meal.] כי בלילה אינו חייב במשתה [In the morning (following), after (all are) leaving the synagogue] וביום לאחר יציאה מבית הכנסת [one buries the dead,] קוברין את המת [and afterwards prays (the morning service)] ואחר כך יתפלל [and reads the Megillah,] ויקרא את המגילה [or listen (to the reading) by another.] או ישמע מאחר [If he hears the Megillah reading before the burial,] ואם שמע קריאת המגילה קודם הקבורה [he has fulfilled his obligation.] יצא [In this event, it is right that he reads it again without the blessings.] ומכל מקום נכון שיחזור ויקרא בלא ברכות [He should not put on tefillin even after the burial] ותפילין לא יניח אפילו אחר הקבורה [since this is the first day of his mourning.] כיון שהוא יום ראשון באבלו [An ”Onan” on Purim during the day is allowed meat and wine.] ואונן בפורים ביום מותר בבשר וביין כא
141:22 [שחרית משכימין לבית הכנסת] On (Purim) morning one comes early to the synagogue. [לאחר שמונה עשרה אומרים חצי קדיש] After the Amidah (Shemoneh Esreh) half-kaddish is said,1 [וקורין בתורה בפרשת] one reads in the Torah the passage:2 [ויבא עמלק תלתא גברי] ”Then came Amalek…” (while calling up) three men. [ואחר כך חצי קדיש] After this half-kaddish, [ולאחר שמכניסין את הספר תורה] and after the Torah is put back (in the ark), [קורין את המגילה] we read the Megillah. [לאחר ברכה אחרונה אין אומרים] After the concluding blessing, one does not say [בשחרית אשר הניא] in the morning, (the Piyyut) ”The Lord wrecked the counsel…” [ולאחר שסיים האל המושיע] and after one has finished (the concluding blessing) ”…redeeeming G-d.” [אומרים שושנת יעקב וכו’] one says ”The Jews of Shushan shouted for joy…” (instead). [ואומרים אשרי ובא לציון] (Then) one says ”Happy are those…” and ”A redeemer shall come to Zion…”,3 [קדיש שלם עם תתקבל] full Kaddish with ”(May the prayers)…be accepted…”. [ואין לחלוץ את התפילין עד לאחר קריאת המגילה] Tefillin are not removed until after the Megilah reading [משום דכתיב בה ויקר] because it’s written4 that ”and glory”5 [ודרשינן אלו תפילין] refers to the Tefillin. [אם יש מילה] If there is a baby to be circumcised, [מלין קודם קריאת המגילה] one does the circumcision before the Megillah reading, [משום דכתיב וששון זו מילה] because it’s written ** ”…rejoicing…” which is (refers to) circumcision.
1) Hallel is not said on Purim because though we were saved from Haman’s plot, we still remained servants of King Achashverosh – Mishna Berurah 693:7
2) Ex. 17:8-16.
3) Psalm 20 which comes between these two, is not said on Purim, because it contains the word ”hardship” which is not appropriate to Purim.
4) Megillah 16b.
5) From Esther 8:16: ”And the Jews enjoyed light, happiness, rejoicing, and glory”. [On (Purim) morning one comes early to the synagogue.] שחרית משכימין לבית הכנסת [After the Amidah (Shemoneh Esreh) half-kaddish is said,] לאחר שמונה עשרה אומרים חצי קדיש [one reads in the Torah the passage (Ex. 17:8-16):] וקורין בתורה בפרשת [”Then came Amalek…” (while calling up) three men.] ויבא עמלק תלתא גברי [After this half-kaddish,] ואחר כך חצי קדיש [and after the Torah is put back (in the ark),] ולאחר שמכניסין את הספר תורה [we read the Megillah.] קורין את המגילה [After the concluding blessing, one does not say] לאחר ברכה אחרונה אין אומרים [in the morning, (the Piyyut) ”The Lord wrecked the counsel…”] בשחרית אשר הניא [and after one has finished (the concluding blessing) ”…redeeeming G-d.”] ולאחר שסיים האל המושיע [one says ”The Jews of Shushan shouted for joy…” (instead).] אומרים שושנת יעקב וכו’ [(Then) one says ”Happy are those…” and ”A redeemer shall come to Zion…”,] ואומרים אשרי ובא לציון [full Kaddish with ”(May the prayers)…be accepted…”.] קדיש שלם עם תתקבל [Tefillin are not removed until after the Megilah reading] ואין לחלוץ את התפילין עד לאחר קריאת המגילה [because it’s written that ”and glory”] משום דכתיב בה ויקר [refers to the Tefillin.] ודרשינן אלו תפילין [If there is a baby to be circumcised,] אם יש מילה [one does the circumcision before the Megillah reading,] מלין קודם קריאת המגילה [because it’s written ”…rejoicing…” which is (refers to) circumcision.] משום דכתיב וששון זו מילה כב
141:23 [עיר שהיא מוקפת חומה] A city which was surrounded by a wall [מימות יהושע בן נון] at the time of Joshua ben Nun1 [קורין בה בט”ו] read it (the Megillah) on the 15th (of Adar),2 [ולא שכיחי במדינותינו] This is not common in our cities.3
1) Joshua led the Jews into the Land of Israel in 1272 BCE to conquer the land.
2) As in Megillat Esther (9:19): ”Therefore, the Jews…living in UNWALLED cities celebrate the 14th day of the month of Adar,”, but doesn’t say when those in walled cities should celebrate Purim. The Talmud (Megillah 2b) concludes that walled cities should celebrate on the 15th of Adar, just like Shushan, a walled city, did at the time of Purim (the battle against the enemies of the Jews in Shushan lasted one day longer than the war in other cities, and thus the victory was celebrated there on the 15th rather than the 14th – see Esther 9:15).
Why should the status of a city be based on whether it had a wall at the time of Joshua’s conquest rather than whether it had a wall at the time of the miracle of Purim? There are two main reasons given:
a) Had it been based on whether a wall existed at the time of Purim, the great cities of the land of Israel would have to be classified as unwalled cities, because their walls lay in ruins at the time of Purim, due to the Babylonian conquest. So, by making it the time of Joshua, the cities of the land of Israel received the honor of reading with the walled cities (Jerusalem Talmud).
b) Since it was Joshua who led the first battle against Amalek when the Jews left Egypt (Ex 17:8-16), the sages felt it appropriate to associate his name with the celebration of the downfall of Amalek at the time of Purim (Haman was a descendant of Amalek).
3) The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch is (of course) referring to his place and time – the Jewish communities in Europe in the late 19th Century CE. [A city which was surrounded by a wall] עיר שהיא מוקפת חומה [at the time of Joshua ben Nun] מימות יהושע בן נון [read it (the Megillah) on the 15th (of Adar),] קורין בה בט”ו [This is not common in our cities.] ולא שכיחי במדינותינו כג

Kitzur Shulchan Aruch: Purim Gifts and Festive Meal Ch. 142:1-10 הלכות משלוח מנות איש לרעהו ומתנות לאביונים וסעודת פורים
142:1 [חייב כל אדם לשלוח] Every person is obliged to send [לכל הפחות לאדם אחד שתי מתנות] to at least one other person two gifts [דכתיב ומשלוח מנות איש לרעהו] as it is written:1 ”…sending portions, each person to his friend” [משמע שתי מתנות לאחד] meaning (at least) two gifts to one (person). [וכל המרבה לשלוח מנות לרעים הרי זה משובח] All who send many gifts to their friends are to be praised. [ומכל מקום מוטב להרבות במתנות לאביונים] In any case, it is better to increase the gifts to the poor [מלהרבות בסעודתו ובמשלוח מנות לרעים] instead of making a bigger festive meal or sending gifts to friends, [כי אין שמחה גדולה ומפוארת] for there is no greater and glorious joy [לפני הקדוש ברוך הוא] before the Holy One, blessed be He, [אלא לשמח לב עניים ויתומים ואלמנות] than to gladden the hearts of the poor, the orphans, and the widows. [והמשמח לב האומללים האלו] One who gladdens the hearts of these unfortunates [דומה לשכינה] resembles the Divine Presence [שנאמר] as it is said:2 [להחיות רוח שפלים ולהחיות לב נדכאים] ”…to revive the spirit of the humble, to revive the heart of the depressed…”.
1) Esther 9:22
2) Isaiah 57:16 [Every person is obliged to send] חייב כל אדם לשלוח [to at least one other person two gifts] לכל הפחות לאדם אחד שתי מתנות [as it is written: ”…sending portions, each person to his friend”] דכתיב ומשלוח מנות איש לרעהו [meaning (at least) two gifts to one (person).] משמע שתי מתנות לאחד [All who send many gifts to their friends are to be praised.] וכל המרבה לשלוח מנות לרעים הרי זה משובח [In any case, it is better to increase the gifts to the poor] ומכל מקום מוטב להרבות במתנות לאביונים [instead of making a bigger festive meal or sending gifts to friends,] מלהרבות בסעודתו ובמשלוח מנות לרעים [for there is no greater and glorious joy] כי אין שמחה גדולה ומפוארת [before the Holy One, blessed be He,] לפני הקדוש ברוך הוא [than to gladden the hearts of the poor, the orphans, and the widows.] אלא לשמח לב עניים ויתומים ואלמנות [One who gladdens the hearts of these unfortunates] והמשמח לב האומללים האלו [resembles the Divine Presence] דומה לשכינה [as it is said:] שנאמר [”…to revive the spirit of the humble, to revive the heart of the depressed…”.] להחיות רוח שפלים ולהחיות לב נדכאים א
142:2 [לא נקרא מנות אלא דבר שראוי לאכול] It is not called a gift1 unless it is ready to eat [כמות שהוא בלי תיקון] as it is without preparation, [כגון בשר ודגים מבושלים ולא חיין] like cooked meat or fish and not raw, [או מיני מתיקה או פירות] or candies (sweets), or fruit, [או כוס יין ומי דבש וכיוצא בו] or a drink of wine or mead and the like.2
1) lit; portion.
2) The ”portions” should be of a good size like those one would serve to guests in ones home. One should give at least two different types of food (including two types of meat), or two different beverages or one food item and one beverage. One can add to these as many items as one wants. [It is not called a gift unless it is ready to eat] לא נקרא מנות אלא דבר שראוי לאכול [as it is without preparation,] כמות שהוא בלי תיקון [like cooked meat or fish and not raw,] כגון בשר ודגים מבושלים ולא חיין [or candies (sweets), or fruit,] או מיני מתיקה או פירות [or a drink of wine or mead and the like.] או כוס יין ומי דבש וכיוצא בו ב
142:3 [כל אדם אפילו עני שבישראל המקבל צדקה] Every person,1 even a poor Jew receiving charity, [חייב ליתן לכל הפחות שתי מתנות לשני עניים] is obliged to give at least two gifts2 to two poor people, [דהיינו מתנה אחת לכל אחד] that is one gift to each one, [דכתיב ומתנות לאביונים] it is written:3 ”gifts to poor people” [משמע שתי מתנות לשני אביונים] implying (by the plural) two gifts to two poor persons. [ואין מדקדקין במעות פורים] One is not too selective about money (given out) on Purim, [אלא כל הפושט יד ליטול נותנים לו] rather to everyone that puts his hand out, one gives to him. [ומי שהוא במקום שאין שם עניים] One who is in a place where there are no poor, [יעכב את המעות אצלו] should keep the money to himself [עד שיזדמנו לו עניים או ישלחם להם] until he finds a poor person or send it to them.
1) Men and women are both obliged.
2) Money or food.
3) Esther 9:22 [Every person, even a poor Jew receiving charity,] כל אדם אפילו עני שבישראל המקבל צדקה [is obliged to give at least two gifts to two poor people,] חייב ליתן לכל הפחות שתי מתנות לשני עניים [that is one gift to each one,] דהיינו מתנה אחת לכל אחד [it is written: ”gifts to poor people”] דכתיב ומתנות לאביונים [implying (by the plural) two gifts to two poor persons.] משמע שתי מתנות לשני אביונים [One is not too selective about money (given out) on Purim,] ואין מדקדקין במעות פורים [rather to everyone that puts his hand out, one gives to him.] אלא כל הפושט יד ליטול נותנים לו [One who is in a place where there are no poor,] ומי שהוא במקום שאין שם עניים [should keep the money to himself] יעכב את המעות אצלו [until he finds a poor person or send it to them.] עד שיזדמנו לו עניים או ישלחם להם ג
142:4 [גם הנשים חייבות במשלוח מנות ומתנות לאביונים] Women are also obligated to send food and gifts to the poor. [משלוח מנות תשלח אשה לאשה ואיש לאיש] Gifts of food should be sent by a woman to (another) woman or a man to (another) man. [אבל מתנות לאביונים יכולה גם אשה] However (with regard to) gifts to the poor, a woman can also [לשלוח לאיש וכן בהיפוך] send to a man and vice versa. [קצת נשים סומכות על בעליהן] Some women rely on their husbands [שהן שולחים גם בשבילן] that they will send also for them, [ואינו נכון אלא יש להחמיר] but this is not correct, and one should be scrupulous (about this). [Women are also obligated to send food and gifts to the poor.] גם הנשים חייבות במשלוח מנות ומתנות לאביונים [Gifts of food should be sent by a woman to (another) woman or a man to (another) man.] משלוח מנות תשלח אשה לאשה ואיש לאיש [However (with regard to) gifts to the poor, a woman can also] אבל מתנות לאביונים יכולה גם אשה [send to a man and vice versa.] לשלוח לאיש וכן בהיפוך [Some women rely on their husbands] קצת נשים סומכות על בעליהן [that they will send also for them,] שהן שולחים גם בשבילן [but this is not correct, and one should be scrupulous (about this).] ואינו נכון אלא יש להחמיר ד
142:5 [חייבין לאכול ולשתות ולשמוח בפורים] We are obliged to eat, drink, and rejoice on Purim. [גם בליל י”ד] Also on the night of the 14th [ישמח וירבה קצת בסעודה] one should rejoice and have some more at the meal. [וכשחל במוצאי שבת אף שצריך] When (Purim) comes on Sunday even though one needs [לעשות בשבת סעודה שלישית] to make on Shabbat a third meal, [ימעט קצת באכילתו ביום] one should slightly reduce what we eat during the day [ליתן מקום לסעודת ליל פורים] in order to have room for the Purim evening meal. [ומכל מקום בסעודה שעושין בלילה] In any case, in the meal one makes in the evening, [אין יוצאין ידי חובתן] one does not fulfill ones obligation, [דעיקר הסעודה מצותה שתהא ביום] because the essence of the festive meal is that it should be in the day [דכתיב ימי משתה] since it’s written:1 ”…DAYS of merriment.” [ויש להדליק נרות דרך שמחה ויום טוב] One should light candles (in the evening) as is done for a joyous festival, [גם כשעושין הסעודה ביום] even though we are making the (main) festive meal in the day. [וגם בליל ט”ו צריך לשמוח קצת] Also on the night of the 15th one needs to rejoice a little. [גם מתנות לאביונים ומנות לרעהו] Also the gifts to the poor and the food for friends [צריך להיות ביום] need to be in the day, [ומשום דטרידי במשלוח מנות] and because one is busy with sending food, [עושין מקצת סעודה בלילה] one carries on (the festive meal) a little into the evening. [ומתפללין מנחה בעוד היום גדול] One prays the afternoon service early in the afternoon, [ועושין את הסעודה לאחר מנחה] and make the festive meal after the afternoon service. [וצריכין לעשות על כל פנים] One needs to make, in any case, [רוב סעודה ביום] most of the meal in the day. [וכשחל בערב שבת] When it falls on Friday, [עושין אותה בשחרית] one makes it (the festive meal) in the morning [מפני כבוד שבת] so as (not to take away from) the honor of Shabbat. [וטוב לעסוק קצת בתורה] It’s proper to do a little Torah (study) [קודם שמתחיל הסעודה] before starting the festive meal. [וסמך לדבר ליהודים היתה אורה] The authority for this (custom) comes from:2 ”To the Jews was light…” [ודרשינן אורה זו תורה] and explains3 that ”light” is (also) Torah. [יש אומרים שיש לאכול מיני זרעונין בפורים] Some say that one should eat (different) kinds of pulses4 on Purim [זכר לזרעונין שאכלו דניאל וחביריו בבבל] in memory of the pulses that were eaten by Daniel and his group in Babylon,5 [וזכר לזרעונין שאכלה אסתר] and in memory of the pulses eaten by Esther [דאיתא בגמרא] as the Gemorrah,6 [וישנה ואת נערותיה לטוב] ”And he changed her and her maidservants to the best…”, [שהאכילה זרעונים] that he fed them pulses.7 [דיני על הנסים בברכת המזון] (The laws concerning ”For the miracles…” (which is added) in the grace after meals [עיין סימן מ”ד סעיף ט”ו, ט”ז] are covered in Ch. 44:16 and 17.)
1) Esther 9:22
2) Esther 8:16
3) Megillah 16b
4) Pulses are the edible seeds of the group of plants that include peas, beans and lentils.
5) After Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Jerusalem in the 5th Century BCE, he ordered that a group of the best Jewish youths be brought to Babylon and groomed to serve in his palace. Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael and Azariah, were the best of the group and they asked the steward in charge to provide them with pulses rather than the non-kosher food that the king was providing for them. The steward was worried that after a while the signs of malnutrition would begin to show, and the king would be furious. Daniel proposed a ten day trial, and after those ten days of eating pulses, Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael and Azariah looked healthier than those who were eating the king’s food (Daniel 1:1-21). Daniel played a role in the Purim story – according to one opinion in the Midrash, he was Hasach, the messenger sent by Esther to Mordechai (Esther 4:5); according to another opinion, he was Memuchan, one of King Achashverosh’s advisors (Esther 1:14).
6) Megillah 13a explains the verse Esther 2:9.
7) The servant in charge of the women in the palace fed Esther and her maidservants pulses so that they wouldn’t have to eat the non-kosher food. [We are obliged to eat, drink, and rejoice on Purim.] חייבין לאכול ולשתות ולשמוח בפורים [Also on the night of the 14th] גם בליל י”ד [one should rejoice and have some more at the meal.] ישמח וירבה קצת בסעודה [When (Purim) comes on Sunday even though one needs] וכשחל במוצאי שבת אף שצריך [to make on Shabbat a third meal,] לעשות בשבת סעודה שלישית [one should slightly reduce what we eat during the day] ימעט קצת באכילתו ביום [in order to have room for the Purim evening meal.] ליתן מקום לסעודת ליל פורים [In any case, in the meal one makes in the evening,] ומכל מקום בסעודה שעושין בלילה [one does not fulfill ones obligation,] אין יוצאין ידי חובתן [because the essence of the festive meal is that it should be in the day] דעיקר הסעודה מצותה שתהא ביום [since it’s written: ”…DAYS of merriment.”] דכתיב ימי משתה [One should light candles (in the evening) as is done for a joyous festival,] ויש להדליק נרות דרך שמחה ויום טוב [even though we are making the (main) festive meal in the day.] גם כשעושין הסעודה ביום [Also on the night of the 15th one needs to rejoice a little.] וגם בליל ט”ו צריך לשמוח קצת [Also the gifts to the poor and the food for friends] גם מתנות לאביונים ומנות לרעהו [need to be in the day,] צריך להיות ביום [and because one is busy with sending food,] ומשום דטרידי במשלוח מנות [one carries on (the festive meal) a little into the evening.] עושין מקצת סעודה בלילה [One prays the afternoon service early in the afternoon,] ומתפללין מנחה בעוד היום גדול [and make the festive meal after the afternoon service.] ועושין את הסעודה לאחר מנחה [One needs to make, in any case,] וצריכין לעשות על כל פנים [most of the meal in the day.] רוב סעודה ביום [When it falls on Friday,] וכשחל בערב שבת [one makes it (the festive meal) in the morning] עושין אותה בשחרית [so as (not to take away from) the honor of Shabbat.] מפני כבוד שבת [It’s proper to do a little Torah (study)] וטוב לעסוק קצת בתורה [before starting the festive meal.] קודם שמתחיל הסעודה [The authority for this (custom) comes from: ”To the Jews was light…”] וסמך לדבר ליהודים היתה אורה [and explains that ”light” is (also) Torah.] ודרשינן אורה זו תורה [Some say that one should eat (different) kinds of pulses on Purim] יש אומרים שיש לאכול מיני זרעונין בפורים [in memory of the pulses that were eaten by Daniel and his group in Babylon,] זכר לזרעונין שאכלו דניאל וחביריו בבבל [and in memory of the pulses eaten by Esther] וזכר לזרעונין שאכלה אסתר [as the Gemorrah,] דאיתא בגמרא [”And he changed her and her maidservants to the best…”,] וישנה ואת נערותיה לטוב [that he fed them pulses.] שהאכילה זרעונים [(The laws concerning ”For the miracles…” (which is added) in the grace after meals] דיני על הנסים בברכת המזון [are covered in Ch. 44:16 and 17. )] עיין סימן מ”ד סעיף ט”ו, ט”ז ה
142:6 [כיון שכל הנס היה על ידי היין] Because all of the miracle took place through (the agency of) wine, [ושתי נטרדה במשתה היין] (for example) Vashti was deposed during the wine feast [ובאה אסתר במקומה] and Esther came in her place, [וכן ענין המן ומפלתו היה על ידי יין] and also Haman’s downfall was because of wine, [לכן חייבו חכמינו זכרונם לברכה] therefore we are obliged by our sages, of blessed memory, [להשתכר ביין] to get drunk with wine. [ואמרו חייב אינש לבסומי בפוריא] It is said:1 ”A person is obliged to drink on Purim [עד דלא ידע] until he does not know (the difference) [בין ארור המן לברוך מרדי] between ‘Cursed be Haman’ and ‘Blessed be Mordechai’ ”. [ולפחות ישתה יותר מהרגלו] At least, he should drink more than his custom [כדי לזכור את הנס הגדול ויישן] in memory of the great miracle and (then) fall asleep. [ומתוך שישן אינו יודע] Then while sleeping, he will not know (the difference) [בין ארור המן לברוך מרדכי] between ‘Cursed be Haman’ and ‘Blessed be Mordechai’. [ואולם מי שהוא חלוש בטבעו] However, one who has a weak constitution, [וכן מי שיודע בעצמו] and also one who knows himself, [שעל ידי כן יזלזל] that by this (excessive drinking) he would treat lightly, [חס ושלום באיזה מצוה] Heaven forbid, some commandment, [בברכה או בתפלה או שיבא] a blessing, or a prayer, or will come, [חס ושלום לקלות ראש] Heaven forbid, to irreverence, [מוטב שלא להשתכר] it is best (for him) not to get drunk. [וכל מעשיו יהיו לשם שמים] (Thus) and ”all your actions will be for the sake of Heaven.”2
1) Megillah 7b
2) Pirkei Avos. 2:12 [Because all of the miracle took place through (the agency of) wine,] כיון שכל הנס היה על ידי היין [(for example) Vashti was deposed during the wine feast] ושתי נטרדה במשתה היין [and Esther came in her place,] ובאה אסתר במקומה [and also Haman’s downfall was because of wine,] וכן ענין המן ומפלתו היה על ידי יין [therefore we are obliged by our sages, of blessed memory,] לכן חייבו חכמינו זכרונם לברכה [to get drunk with wine.] להשתכר ביין [It is said: ”A person is obliged to drink on Purim] ואמרו חייב אינש לבסומי בפוריא [until he does not know (the difference)] עד דלא ידע [between ‘Cursed be Haman’ and ‘Blessed be Mordechai’ ”.] בין ארור המן לברוך מרדי [At least, he should drink more than his custom] ולפחות ישתה יותר מהרגלו [in memory of the great miracle and (then) fall asleep.] כדי לזכור את הנס הגדול ויישן [Then while sleeping, he will not know (the difference)] ומתוך שישן אינו יודע [between ‘Cursed be Haman’ and ‘Blessed be Mordechai’.] בין ארור המן לברוך מרדכי [However, one who has a weak constitution,] ואולם מי שהוא חלוש בטבעו [and also one who knows himself,] וכן מי שיודע בעצמו [that by this (excessive drinking) he would treat lightly,] שעל ידי כן יזלזל [Heaven forbid, some commandment,] חס ושלום באיזה מצוה [a blessing, or a prayer, or will come,] בברכה או בתפלה או שיבא [Heaven forbid, to irreverence,] חס ושלום לקלות ראש [it is best (for him) not to get drunk.] מוטב שלא להשתכר [(Thus) and ”all your actions will be for the sake of Heaven.”] וכל מעשיו יהיו לשם שמים ו
142:7 [האבל אפילו תוך שבעה] A mourner, even in the (first) seven (days), [חייב במתנות לאביונים וגם לשלוח מנות לרעהו] is obliged to (give) gifts to the poor and send food to his friends. [ומכל מקום לא ישלח דבר של שמחה] In any case, he should not send something (which is connected with) joy. [אבל להאבל אין שולחין מנות] However one does not send gifts to a mourner [כל שנים עשר חודש] during the whole twelve months (of mourning) [אפילו דבר שאינו של שמחה] even something which are not connected to happiness. [אם הוא עני מותר לשלוח לו מעות] If he (the mourner) is a poor person, one can send him money [או שאר דבר שאינו של שמחה] or other things which are not connected to happiness. [ואם אין במקום ההוא רק האבל עם אחד] If there no (Jews) in a place besides the mourner and one other, [חייב לשלוח לו] one must send him [כדי לקיים המצוה משלוח מנות] in order to carry out the commandment of sending gifts. [דין האונן עיין לעיל] (The laws concerning an ”Onan”1 are covered [סימן קמ”א סעיף כ”א] in Ch. 141:21 )
1) One who has not yet buried his dead. [A mourner, even in the (first) seven (days),] האבל אפילו תוך שבעה [is obliged to (give) gifts to the poor and send food to his friends.] חייב במתנות לאביונים וגם לשלוח מנות לרעהו [In any case, he should not send something (which is connected with) joy.] ומכל מקום לא ישלח דבר של שמחה [However one does not send gifts to a mourner] אבל להאבל אין שולחין מנות [during the whole twelve months (of mourning)] כל שנים עשר חודש [even something which are not connected to happiness.] אפילו דבר שאינו של שמחה [If he (the mourner) is a poor person, one can send him money] אם הוא עני מותר לשלוח לו מעות [or other things which are not connected to happiness.] או שאר דבר שאינו של שמחה [If there no (Jews) in a place besides the mourner and one other,] ואם אין במקום ההוא רק האבל עם אחד [one must send him] חייב לשלוח לו [in order to carry out the commandment of sending gifts.] כדי לקיים המצוה משלוח מנות [(The laws concerning an ”Onan” are covered] דין האונן עיין לעיל [in Ch. 141:21 )] סימן קמ”א סעיף כ”א ז
142:8 [אין לעשות מלאכה בפורים] One should not do (creative) work1 on Purim, [ומי שעושה בו מלאכה] and the one who does on it (creative) work [אינו רואה מאותה מלאכה] will not see from this same work [סימן ברכה לעולם] a sign of blessing for ever. [ועל ידי אינו יהודי מותר] If carried out by a non-jew, this is allowed. [ומותר לעסוק בפרקמטיא] It’s allowed to carry on business activities [וכן מותר לכתוב אפילו אגרת שלום] and also allowed to write, even a whole letter. [וכן חובותיו וכל דבר] Also (doing) one’s accounts and anything else [שאינו צריך עיון גדול] that does not need great concentration. [וכל שכן לכתוב דבר מצוה] Certainly, one can write (concerning) a commandment, [או לעשות שאר דבר מצוה] or to do an activity (connected with) a commandment. [וכן לצורך פורים מותר לעשות] Also for Purim itself one is allowed to do [אפילו מלאכות גמורות] even complete (creative) work.
1) One of the 39 specific categories of creative activity, such as planting seeds, kneading dough and construction, which are forbidden to do on Shabbat. [One should not do (creative) work on Purim,] אין לעשות מלאכה בפורים [and the one who does on it (creative) work] ומי שעושה בו מלאכה [will not see from this same work] אינו רואה מאותה מלאכה [a sign of blessing for ever.] סימן ברכה לעולם [If carried out by a non-jew, this is allowed.] ועל ידי אינו יהודי מותר [It’s allowed to carry on business activities] ומותר לעסוק בפרקמטיא [and also allowed to write, even a whole letter.] וכן מותר לכתוב אפילו אגרת שלום [Also (doing) one’s accounts and anything else] וכן חובותיו וכל דבר [that does not need great concentration.] שאינו צריך עיון גדול [Certainly, one can write (concerning) a commandment,] וכל שכן לכתוב דבר מצוה [or to do an activity (connected with) a commandment.] או לעשות שאר דבר מצוה [Also for Purim itself one is allowed to do] וכן לצורך פורים מותר לעשות [even complete (creative) work.] אפילו מלאכות גמורות ח
142:9 [יום ט”ו אדר נקרא אצלנו שושן פורים] The fifteen of Adar is called by us Shushan Purim.1 [אין אומרים בו תחנון] One does not say on it the supplicatory prayers, [ולא אל ארך אפים ולא למנצח] nor ”O G-d, slow to anger…”, nor Psalm 20. [ואסור גם בהספד ותענית] It is forbidden also to give a funeral eulogy, or to fast, [ונוהגין בו קצת משתה ושמחה] and it is customary to have some feasting and joy [אבל אין אומרים על הנסים] but one does not say ”For the miracles…”. [ומותרין לעשות בו נישואין] One can have on it weddings [כיון שאין אנו קורין בו את המגילה] because we don’t read on it the Megillah. [אבל ביום שקורין את המגילה] However, on the day that we do read the Megillah, [שאז עיקר השמחה] which is the core of the celebration, [אין עושין נישואין] one does not make weddings, [משום דאין מערבין שמחה בשמחה] because one should not mix one celebration with (another) celebration.
1) The Jews of Shushan achieved final victory against their enemies on the fifteenth of Adar, and so held their celebrations on that day, one day later than the Jews throughout the rest of the Persian empire. Shushan (along with any city which had a wall at the time that Joshua conquered the Land of Israel in 1272 BCE), read the Megillah on the 15th. [The fifteen of Adar is called by us Shushan Purim.] יום ט”ו אדר נקרא אצלנו שושן פורים [One does not say on it the supplicatory prayers,] אין אומרים בו תחנון [nor ”O G-d, slow to anger…”, nor Psalm 20.] ולא אל ארך אפים ולא למנצח [It is forbidden also to give a funeral eulogy, or to fast,] ואסור גם בהספד ותענית [and it is customary to have some feasting and joy] ונוהגין בו קצת משתה ושמחה [but one does not say ”For the miracles…”.] אבל אין אומרים על הנסים [One can have on it weddings] ומותרין לעשות בו נישואין [because we don’t read on it the Megillah.] כיון שאין אנו קורין בו את המגילה [However, on the day that we do read the Megillah,] אבל ביום שקורין את המגילה [which is the core of the celebration,] שאז עיקר השמחה [one does not make weddings,] אין עושין נישואין [because one should not mix one celebration with (another) celebration.] משום דאין מערבין שמחה בשמחה ט
142:10 [יום י”ד וט”ו שבאדר הראשון] On the fourteen and fifteen of Adar I 1 [גם כן אין אומרים] we also do not say [לא תחנון ולא אל ארך אפים ולא למנצח] neither the supplicatory prayers, nor ”O G-d, slow to anger…”, nor Psalm 20. [ואסורין בהספד ותענית] It is forbidden to give a funeral eulogy, or to fast. [וביום י”ד מרבים קצת בסעודה] On the fourteenth we have a slightly larger meal.
1) A lunar year is approximately 11 days shorter than the solar year; so, in order to keep the Jewish festivals (which are based on the lunar cycle) in the correct seasons (e.g. Pesach in the spring), an extra month of Adar is added every 3rd, 6th, 9th, 11th, 14th, and 17th years out of the cycle of 19 years. During a leap year, Purim is on the 14th and 15th of the second month of Adar. [On the fourteen and fifteen of Adar I] יום י”ד וט”ו שבאדר הראשון [we also do not say] גם כן אין אומרים [neither the supplicatory prayers, nor ”O G-d, slow to anger…”, nor Psalm 20.] לא תחנון ולא אל ארך אפים ולא למנצח [It is forbidden to give a funeral eulogy, or to fast.] ואסורין בהספד ותענית [On the fourteenth we have a slightly larger meal.] וביום י”ד מרבים קצת בסעודהTOP

By Staff | Posted in Chagim - Holidays, Life in Jerusalem | Tagged 72 hour fast, do not drink and drive, Nazis in America, Proper Purim Drinking, Protect Jewish Girls on Purim, Purim, Purim Burn Prevention | Comments Off

Purim for Cats

25/02/2013 – ט״ו באדר ה׳תשע״ג – ט״ו באדר ה׳תשע״ג – 08:00

The Gemara is incredible, it have everything in it. Such as:
Gemara Megillah 6B: Germanya,[Germany] a royal province of Edom; who, if they would but go forth, would destroy the entire world.
This was written 1500 years ago!

Gemara Megillah 6B Germanya,[Germany] a royal province of Edom; who, if they would but go forth, would destroy the entire world.

The Gemara is the component of the Talmud comprising rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah. After the Mishnah was published by Judah HaNasi (c. 200 CE), the work was studied exhaustively by generation after generation of rabbis in Babylonia and the Land of Israel. Their discussions were written down in a series of books that became the Gemara, which when combined with the Mishnah constituted the Talmud.
The Talmud Bavli was published about 500 CE by scholars of Babylonia, primarily of the academies of Sura, Pumbedita, and Mata Mehasia. By convention, a reference to the “Gemara” or “Talmud,” without further qualification, refers to the Babylonian version, see Talmud

A prayer at the Hurva Synagogue in November 1942. The picture shows the Admor of Gur, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter.

Esther – Chapter 4:1 אוּמָרְדֳּכַי יָדַע אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה וַיִּקְרַע מָרְדֳּכַי אֶת בְּגָדָיו וַיִּלְבַּשׁ שַׂק וָאֵפֶר וַיֵּצֵא בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר וַיִּזְעַק זְעָקָה גְדוֹלָה וּמָרָה:And Mordecai knew all that had transpired, and Mordecai rent his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and he went out into the midst of the city and cried [with] a loud and bitter cry.

2415 Years later: The first concrete news describing the final solution came to the attention of the heads of the Jewish community through Chaim Barlas, a representative of the Jewish Agency in Geneva, August 1942.

In Eretz Israel: When The Gedolim גדולים found out they prayed and fasted; then Institutions of the Yishuv declare three days of mourning from 30November1942 – 2December1942.

The Yishuv And The Holocaust

http://www.zionistarchives.org.il/en/datelist/Pages/yishuv-and-the-holocaust.aspx
30November1942

“In Eretz Israel the first reliable news regarding the horrifying extent of the Jewish Holocaust in Europe is published. Institutions of the Yishuv declare three days of mourning”. (Naor, Zionism: Timeline, Articles, Documents, Glossary. The Zionist Library, The Publishing House of the World Zionist Organization, 2002, p. 122).

The handbills below express the reaction of the Yishuv to the events in Europe after receiving the news of the Holocaust from different sources. These news were mentioned in correspondence between different people and institutions – like the presidency of the Rescue Committee, that were published in local newspapers, also kept in The Archives.

Three days of mourning for the victims of the atrocities perpetrated in Europe, Tel-Aviv. 30.11.1942 – 2.12.1942

Gathering during the three days of mourning

Three days of mourning for the victims of the atrocities perpetrated in Europe, Tel-Aviv. 30.11.1942 – 2.12.1942

An announcement on behalf of the Jewish National Council calling for protest actions in the Jewish community against the annihilation of the Jews in Europe, 1943

An announcement calling for a three day protest

Protocol of the presidency of the Rescue Committee 10.12.1942

A call on behalf of Knesset Yisrael and the Jewish community in Tiberias to participate in protest actions against the Nazi plan to annihilate the Jewish people

Because of the 3 days of Prayers and Fasting in the Yishuv (Eretz Israel),This was prevented:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia;Egypt during World War II

The German’s strategic goal of slicing through Egypt, capturing the Suez Canal, enter the British Mandate of Palestine, activate an Arab uprising against the British [with the help of The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Mohammad Amin al-Husayni uncle to Yasser Arafat of the PLO –Ed:], and finally link up with German forces thrusting south from Southern Russia was stopped.

If the famous German air power (If Italy could do it in 1940 just imagine what Germany could do) and other resources were used, just imagine what the world would be like.
To see what would have resulted with General Erwn Rommel’s victory just Read Phillip K. Dick’s Man in the High Castle. After that there would be a Nazi Atomic Angst.(see any Classic SCi-Fi B Movies of the 50s) and Germanya, a royal province of Edom; who, if they would but go forth, would destroy the entire world.

Background: Adolf Hitler sent his army to North Africa starting in February 1941. Nazi Germany’s General Erwin Rommel’s Deutsches Afrikakorps coming from victories at Tobruk in Libya, and in a classic blitzkrieg, comprehensively outfought British forces. Within weeks the British had been pushed back into Egypt.
Rommel’s offensive was eventually stopped at the small railway halt of El Alamein, just 150 miles from Cairo.

Himmler’s telegram to the Mufti on the common war of Nazis and Arabs against Jews

“To the Grand Mufti Amin al-Husseini

The great Nazi-socialist movement of Great Germany has, from its inception, rebuffed its struggle against world Jewry.

For this reason, it closely follows the struggle of the freedom-loving Arabs – especially in Palestine – against the Jewish invaders.

The common recognition of the enemy, and the joint struggle against it, are what form the solid foundation between Germany and the freedom-loving Muslims all over the world.

In this spirit, I am happy to wish you the anniversary of the unfortunate Balfour Declaration, warm wishes for your continued struggle until the great victory.

SS Commander in the Reich, Heinrich Himmler ”

Himmler’s telegram to the Mufti on the common war of Nazis and Arabs against Jews

Believed to have been sent in 1943

Heinrich Himmler’s letter to Haj Amin al-Husseini.
You can be sure that no Arab in the 1940s would ever protest against Nazi Germany by claiming that they were only against “Zionists,” not Jews.

The language of this letter is identical to the language used in Arab media to this day about Jewish “usurpers” in the land of Israel.

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An example of how American Orthodox Rabbis helped the Jews in Europe – 1943

Proverbs: 28:4 Those who forsake the Torah praise the wicked, and those who adhere to Torah contend with them

The Historic Rabbis March On Washington – 6October1943

The Rabbis’ March was a demonstration in support of American and allied action to stop the destruction of European Jewry. It took place in Washington, D.C. on October 6, 1943, three days before Yom Kippur. It was organized by Hillel Kook, nephew of the chief rabbi of Mandatory Palestine and head of the Bergson Group, and involved more than 400 rabbis, mostly members of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada.

At the time, the (Reform Jewish owned) NY Times, intentionally downplayed reports of the industrial mass murder of millions of European Jews. (Only to apologize in 1996). That very day prestigious members of the Reform movement, including the famous Rabbi Stephen Wise, petitioned FDR to IGNORE these Old World Jews claiming they “were not representative” of American Jewry. Wise went on to accuse the bearded Jews in caftans and skullcaps of “offending the dignity of [the Jewish] people.” Taking his cues from Wise and many other prominent Reform Jews, FDR snubbed them and slipped out the back door to an insignificant “meeting”.

History will show the results of this action. The Orthodox Jews in Eretz Israel have grown and the Reform Jews in America are dying out.

Rare Footage Of The Historic Rabbis March On Washington – 1943

https://web.archive.org/web/20190713080441/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKQNHNdOmow

The Gedolim Gallery – הגדולים גלריה

Published on Jun 15, 2011 [Video taken down by YouTube]

Though the delegation was reluctantly received by Vice President Henry Wallace, President Franklin D. Roosevelt avoided meeting the rabbis, both out of concerns regarding diplomatic neutrality, but also influenced by the advice of some of his Jewish aides and several prominent American Jews. Many thought the protest would stir up anti-Semitism and claimed that the marchers, many of whom were both Orthodox as well as recent immigrants (or first-generation Americans), were not representative of American Jewry. Shortly before the protest reached the White House, FDR left the building through a rear exit to attend an Army ceremony, and then left for a weekend in the country. Disappointed and angered by the President’s failure to meet with them, the rabbis stood in front of the White House where they were met by Senator William Warren Barbour and others, and refused to read their petition aloud, instead handing it off to the Presidential secretary, Marvin McIntyre.

The march garnered much media attention, much of it focused on what was seen as the cold and insulting dismissal of many important community leaders, as well as the people in Europe they were fighting for. The headline in the Washington Times Herald read: “Rabbis Report ‘Cold Welcome’ at the White House.” Editors of The Jewish Daily Forward commented, “Would a similar delegation of 500 Catholic priests have been thus treated?”

The Historic Rabbis March On Washington – 6October1943

The Rabbis March on Washington, 1943

400 rabbis did not move FDR to save what was left of Europe’s Jews, nor were they helped by Reform Jews, whose descendants side with anti-Semites.

Jack Engelhard https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/20434

After a thousand petitions failed to move FDR, Orthodox rabbis here in America attempted a dramatic show of force to persuade the President to do something – anything. More than 400 from the United States and Canada took to the road to persuade FDR to use whatever means to save what was left.

They planned to meet the President at the White House. The least he could do was open America’s doors. The silent quota permitted no flow, only a trickle.

This was 1943. Millions of European Jews had already been put to death for being Jewish. More were being murdered by the hour.

The rabbis approached the White House on October 6. The President could not be bothered. He left for vacation and there was no meeting.

“The President went golfing,” according to Judy Silver, granddaughter of Rabbi Eliezer Silver, the great Rav who was among the leaders of the delegation.

Succeed or fail, they tried, and they never stopped trying – and if 400 sounds impressive, yes, these leaders deserve history’s everlasting gratitude…among them Cincinnati’s Rabbi Silver, Hillel Kook from the famed rabbinical dynasty, and the writer Ben Hecht.

But that number is nothing compared to the American Jews who remained silent throughout the Holocaust.

“Stand not aside from your brother’s suffering,” seems like one Biblical command that went missing in much of America.

We have it that a man who was said to be a Zionist leader at the time, Reform Rabbi Stephen Wise, was at times helpful but was not around when it counted.

Allegedly, he urged FDR to turn away from the 400. We cannot understand that kind of thinking unless we understand the symptom of the times.

Jews, even in America, were warned not to make trouble.

Don’t Make Trouble were words to live by for that generation. So the Ochs family which ran The New York Times and others who were comfortable within the Reform movement made no trouble. The Times buried the Holocaust in its back pages. The excuse was that making trouble would spark an anti-Semitic backlash. Meanwhile Jews were being murdered.

Hillel Kook knew the situation in America. He had to step lightly. He changed his name to Peter Bergson to wage heroically and tirelessly to save what could be saved. He persuaded Ben Hecht to use his show biz flair in order to rouse attention that could lead to action.

Hecht delivered. He wrote a stirring pageant “We Will Never Die.” It was performed throughout the country and drew 40,000 at Madison Square Garden.

Later, he wrote: “The pageant accomplished nothing. Actually, all we have done is make a lot of Jews cry, which is not a unique accomplishment.”

Still, he could not be stopped. He kept writing and kept to the task of forming committees to join him in the fight.

(Later, this American who came late to his Jewishness and to his Zionism, would turn out to be a hero at the founding of the Jewish State.)

Rabbi Silver – he too delivered, with astonishing results, comparatively. He circumvented the silent quota by insisting that certain rabbinical seats had to be filled in the United States and thus several thousand imperiled European Jews were rushed to America on his signature.

Heroes, the few. The many were called but did not answer…which sounds too much like America today when Jews in Israel suffer daily from Arab terrorism.

American Jews prefer to vote for Liberal/Democratic candidates who are openly anti-Semitic. It’s back to that again – Don’t Make Trouble.

Again, we are on the wrong side of history. Will American Jews ever get it right?

JerusalemCats Comments: History will show the results of this action. The Orthodox Jews in Eretz Israel have grown and the Reform Jews in America are dying out.

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Red Cross in 1944: “We found no trace” Red Cross in 2023: “We found no evidence”

Red Cross in 1944: “We found no trace of installations for exterminating civilian prisoners in Auschwitz” 👇

Red Cross in 2023: “We found no evidence of weapons or hostages being kept in hospitals in Gaza” pic.twitter.com/lRUb8iQcFs

— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) November 26, 2023

Dr. Eli David-tweet-26November2023-Red Cross in 1944-2023-We found no trace
Red Cross in 1944: “We found no trace of installations for exterminating civilian prisoners in Auschwitz” 👇

Red Cross in 2023: “We found no evidence of weapons or hostages being kept in hospitals in Gaza”

Dr. Eli David-tweet-26November2023-Red Cross in 1944-2023-We found no trace

Red Cross in 1944-We found no trace of installations for exterminating civilian prisoners in Auschwitz

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THE PURIM KABBALAH CODE

The Purim Codes

16FEBRUARY2013 http://shiratdevorah.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/the-purim-codes.html

megillah

[adapted from Keeping Posted with NCSY, Fall 1999 edition and also from Torah.org article by Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld]

There is a famous “code” in Megillat Esther :- towards the end of the story, King Ahashveirosh allows the Jews to avenge themselves of their enemies on the 13th day of Adar. In Shushan, the capital, the Jews kill 500 men and hang Haman’s ten sons on a gallows. Queen Esther then approaches the King with an additional request: “…allow the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow as they did today, and let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows” [Esther 9:13]. It’s curious that she would request the hanging of Haman’s already slain sons. Nevertheless, the King complies.

The Hebrew word for “tomorrow” (“machar”) occasionally refers to the distant future. Further, the Sages tell us that whenever the word “king” appears in the Megillah it alludes to the King of kings as well. Thus, the verse could be understood as a request by Esther to G-d to again hang the ten sons of Haman at some point in the distant future. Now, when the Megillah lists the ten sons of Haman during their hanging [Esther 9:7-9] there are a number of unusually-sized letters. (There is a tradition to write certain letters in the Torah larger or smaller than the standard size.)

According to the most accepted tradition, there is a large ‘vav’ [numerical value = 6] and a small ‘tav’ [400], ‘shin’ [300] and ‘zayin’ [7]. The following suggestion has been made: The large vav refers to the sixth millennium (of the Hebrew calendar); the small letters refer to year 707 of that millennium. The meaning, then, is that G-d agreed to hang Haman’s ten sons again in the year 5707 = 1946-7.

When listing the ten sons of Haman who were hanged [Esther 9:6-10], three letters, namely Taf, Shin, and Zayin, are written smaller than the rest (most printed texts reflect this; if yours doesn’t, look in another). The commentaries offer no explanation for this other than that it is a prophecy. The letters “Taf-Shin-Zayin” represent the Hebrew year 5707, corresponding to the secular year 1946-47.

On October 16, 1946 (21 Tishrei, 5707) ten convicted Nazi war criminals were hanged in Nuremberg. (An eleventh, Hermann Goering, a transvestite, committed suicide in his cell. The Midrash tells us that Haman also had a daughter who committed suicide.) As if the parallel were not obvious enough without further corroboration, Nazi Julius Streicher’s last words were: “Purimfest 1946”. (In case you question the accuracy of Streicher’s last words, they are are well-documented; they appeared in Newsweek, October 28, 1946.)

It is fairly safe to assume that (a) Streicher did not know about the three small letters in the Megilla, (b) he did not know that these letters corresponded to the year in which he was being hanged, and (c) even had he known, he would have had no motivation to reinforce the validity of Jewish texts, traditions, or prophecies. One could not ask for a more independent confirmation of the all encompassing knowledge to be found in the Sifrei Tanach.

Rabbi Weissmandl – a great Hungararian scholar and holocaust survivor – made a number of findings concerning Megillat Esther using skip distances of 12,111 letters – the exact number of letters in Megillat Esther. If one starts with the first regular mem (as opposed to the “final mem” ) in Bereishis 4:14, where the name Esther (vocalized differently) appears for the only time in the Torah, and count at intervals of 12,111 letters, one finds spelled out the phrase “Megillat Esther.” Coincidence? I think not.

For the week ending 22 March 2008 / 15 Adar II 5768 https://ohr.edu/holidays/purim/deeper_insights/3440

Purim – History Repeats Itself

by Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair – www.seasonsofthemoon.com
On 1 October 1946, after 216 court sessions, the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg delivered its verdicts sentencing the leaders of the Nazi party to death by hanging. The author of the following account, Kingsbury Smith of the International News Service, was chosen by lot to represent the American press at the execution of ten of those leaders.

NurembergGaol, Germany
16 October 1946
International News Service

…Julius Streicher made his melodramatic appearance at 2:12 a.m.

While his manacles were being removed and his bare hands bound, this ugly, dwarfish little man, wearing a threadbare suit and a well-worn bluish shirt buttoned to the neck but without a tie (he was notorious during his days of power for his flashy dress), glanced at the three wooden scaffolds rising menacingly in front of him. Then he glanced around the room, his eyes resting momentarily upon the small group of witnesses. By this time, his hands were tied securely behind his back. Two guards, one on each arm, directed him to Number One gallows on the left of the entrance. He walked steadily the six feet to the first wooden step but his face was twitching.

As the guards stopped him at the bottom of the steps for identification formality he uttered his piercing scream: ‘Heil Hitler!’

The shriek sent a shiver down my back.

As its echo died away an American colonel standing by the steps said sharply, ‘Ask the man his name.’ In response to the interpreter’s query Streicher shouted, ‘You know my name well.’

The interpreter repeated his request and the condemned man yelled, ‘Julius Streicher.’

As he reached the platform Streicher cried out, ‘Now it goes to G-d.’ He was pushed the last two steps to the mortal spot beneath the hangman’s rope. The rope was being held back against a wooden rail by the hangman.

Streicher was swung suddenly to face the witnesses and glared at them. Suddenly he screamed, ‘Purim Fest 1946.’ [Purim is a Jewish holiday celebrated in the spring, commemorating the execution of Haman, ancient persecutor of the Jews described in the Old Testament]…

Streicher had been a Nazi since early in the movement’s history. He was the editor and publisher of the anti-Semitic newspaper “Das Strummer.” In May of 1924 Streicher wrote and published an article on Purim titled “Das Purimfest” (The Festival of Purim). In order to publish his vitriolic attack Streicher must have had a good deal of knowledge about Jewish thought and practice. However we can only speculate to what extent he was aware of the remarkable parallels between Haman and his own execution. However, they are indeed striking:

“And the king said to Esther the queen, ‘The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the capital, and the ten sons of Haman…Now whatever your petition, it shall be granted; whatever your request further, it shall be done.’

Then said Esther, ‘If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do tomorrow also as this day, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.’ ” (Esther 9:12-14)

If Haman’s ten sons had already been killed, how could they hanged?

Our Sages comment on the word “tomorrow” in Esther’s request: “There is a tomorrow that is now, and a tomorrow which is later.” (Tanchuma, Bo 13 and Rashi, Shemot 13:14).

In the Megilla, the names of Haman’s ten sons are written very large and in two columns. This is in distinct contrast to the style of the rest of the Megilla. The left-hand column contains the word v’et (and) ten times. According to our Sages the word v’et is used to denote replication. The inference is that another ten people were hanged in addition to Haman’s ten sons.

If we examine the list of Haman’s sons three letters are written smaller: the taf of Parshandata, the shin of Parmashta and the zayin of Vizata.

Those three letters together form taf-shin-zayin, the last three numbers of the Jewish year 5707, which corresponds to the secular year 1946, the year that those ten Nazi criminals were executed.

The Nuremberg trials were a military tribunal and thus the method of execution was usually by firing squad. The court, however, prescribed hanging. Esther’s request “Let Haman’s ten sons be hanged” echoes down the ages,

Equally uncanny is that the date of the execution (October 16, 1946) fell on “Hoshana Rabba” (21 Tishrei), the day on which G-d seals the verdicts of Rosh Hashana for the coming year.

As the Megilla recounts, a decree that the king has sealed cannot be rescinded, and thus Achashverosh had to promulgate a second decree to allow the Jewish People to defend themselves. In other words, that first decree was never nullified.

Our Sages teach us that eventually the Jewish People will return to G-d either voluntarily, or if not, G-d will raise up another despot whose decrees will be “as severe as Haman” (Sanhedrin 97b).

When we look toward the place of our original encounter with Haman and see the rise of a fanatic whose rhetoric rivals our most vicious enemies, we should remember that history most often repeats itself for those who fail to learn its lessons.

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Purim: The Evil Haman or the Bright Light

Megillah 16B: The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. R’ Yehudah said: Light refers to Torah;- and so it says: For the commandment is a lamp; and Torah is light. – Gladness refers to the holiday. and so it says: You shall be glad on your holiday [Shabbat & Yom Tom]. – Joy refers to Circumcision; – and so it says: I rejoice over Your word. – Honor refers to Tefillin; – and so it says: All the nations of the world will see that the name of G-d is called upon, and they will be in awe of you.

In the first Purim Haman gave King Achashverosh 15 Million silver Shekels (240 Million Grams of Silver ~$127.39 Million*) for the right to kill the Jews. (Megillah 13b-14a) With Obama and Ahmadinejad, who is Haman and who is King Achashverosh

*(Artscroll Megillah 16a note 17 – 600,000 Men over 20 who left Egypt X 50 – 1/2 shekels/male Jew X 16 Grams of Silver/Shekels)
One compared the Jews to a mound of dirt (Ahmadinejad) and the other to a ditch (Obama) in their field. Both needed their field to be level.

Obama-era cash traced to Iran-backed terrorists

By Bill Gertz – – Wednesday, February 7, 2018 https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/7/inside-the-ring-obama-era-cash-traced-to-iran-back/

The U.S. government has traced some of the $1.7 billion released to Iran by the Obama administration to Iranian-backed terrorists in the two years since the cash was transferred.

According to knowledgeable sources, Iran has used the funds to pay its main proxy, the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah, along with the Quds Force, Iran’s main foreign intelligence and covert action arm and element of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

The U.S. money supplied to Iran as part of an arms settlement dating back to the 1970s also has been traced to Iran’s backing of Houthi rebels seeking to take power in Yemen. Iran has been supporting the Yemen rebels as part of a bid to encircle and eventually take control of Saudi Arabia. …

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And Now for Something Completely Different

Given Tzedakah צדקה‎ (Charity to the poor),
Listened to the Megillah reading Twice-Night and Morning,
Given the equivalent monetary amount of a silver 1/2 Shekel (approximately eight grams of silver),$3.61
Given food to the Poor and given Mishloach manot משלוח מנות‎ Purim baskets delivered to at lest two people.
Then had your Purim Sudah in the Afternoon unless it is on Friday in which you should have it around Noon.
Then you can have so fun:

Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi – Purim – 2016

Confuse-A-Cat ~ Monty Python’s Flying Circus

Move to Israel, Get a Free Degree

This is why we need the IDF

Life in Israel: Gaza Rockets Interrupt Wedding in Ashdod
Published on Jul 8, 2014

Gaza rockets fall in the middle of wedding ceremony and send the guests running for shelter on July 8, 2014. Since the beginning of the year, Gaza terrorists have fired over 450 rockets towards Israeli citizens.

A Guided Tour Inside A Hamas Terror Tunnel
Published on Sep 2, 2014Lt. Libby Weiss from the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit gives an exclusive look into one of Hamas’ terror tunnels, near Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha.
For an in-depth explanation of Operation Protective Edge:
http://www.idfblog.com/operationgaza2…

JerusalemCats Comment: To the BDS Nazis and their supporters:
You have no idea how evil the terrorist are that you are supporting.

They will kidnap your children,
They will murder your children,
They will murder you anywhere in the world,
Whatever Race or Color,
Man or Woman,
Gay or Straight,
Rich or Poor,
Liberal or Conservative,
Democrat or Republican.
It does not matter what they call themselves – Hamas, Fatah, Hezbollah or ISIS, They are all the same.

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Stalin and the Purim Miracle

20March2016 | by Bluma Gordon https://www.aish.com/h/purim/t/ts/Stalin-and-the-Purim-Miracle.html

Stalin had plans to murder millions of Russian Jews. Like Haman, the tables suddenly turned.

Jewish holidays are not merely a commemoration of an event in time. The time of year in which the amiracle occurred was an opportune time for the conception of that miracle. As we make our way toward the Purim holiday, we are entering a time zone in which the all the Haman’s of the world can fail and Jewish redemption is born. The death and downfall of Stalin is an example of a miraculous, yet untold, modern day Purim story.

Joseph Stalin, tyrant of communist Russia dubbed the invincible “man of steel,” who murdered approximately 20,000,000 of his own people, was particularly hateful toward the Jews. After World War Two, his anti-Semitic campaign took a more aggressive, public stance. In 1947, he targeted thousands of Jewish scientists, politicians, and intellectuals who were dismissed from their positions, humiliated, arrested, and tortured. Stalin’s infamous Doctor’s Plot, in which six Jewish doctors were arrested and tortured into making a confession, began with the Stalin-controlled media spreading rumors that Jewish doctors were poisoning Russian children by injecting them with diphtheria and killing infants in hospital wards. (Daily Mail, National Journal, 2003)

After spreading his toxic rumors about Jews to the public, Stalin carried on with his plans to eliminate Russia’s two to four million Jews, by deporting them to the freezing, uninhabitable regions of Russia and leaving them to die of starvation, hypothermia, and disease. An article from the National Journal in 2003 reported that newly discovered documents proved that in the February of 1953, Stalin commissioned the construction of four camps in Kazakhstan, Siberia and in the Arctic North. The conjecture about Stalin’s genocidal plans were confirmed by P.K. Ponomarenko, Soviet Ambassador in Poland, in an article in the French Newspaper, ‘Paris-Soir’.

“A week before the Purim of 1953… Jewish faces were far from merry,” recounted Mrs. Batyah Barg, author of the autobiography Voices in the Silence. “In train stations all over Russia, train cars were being requisitioned to carry huge caravans of Jews into exile and slow death. Reliable sources confirmed that the expulsion would begin on the sixth of March, just a few days after Purim” (pg. 216).

God will yet help…. Stalin is a mere mortal… no one can know what will be with him in a half hour.

Rabbi Yitzchak Zilber, another Jewish hero and author of the autobiography, To Remain a Jew, recounts this climatic time during which he was imprisoned in the frosty region of Siberia. After Rabbi Zilber read the Book of Esther recounting the miracle of Purim to a group of Jewish prisoners, one prisoner responded, “Who needs your tales about what happened 2,500 years ago? Tell me, where is your God today? It’s not enough that Hitler finished six million – here they are about to be done with another three. Do you not see the trains and the barracks that have already been built (for this purpose)?” To which the fearless Rabbi Zilber replied, “True, our situation is difficult, but don’t be so quick to eulogize us. Haman also sent orders to 127 provinces. God will yet help…. Stalin is a mere mortal… no one can know what will be with him in a half hour.” (pg. 236- 237)

That Purim night, a few days before the Jewish doctors were due to go to trial, and just thirty minutes after Rabbi Silver’s foretelling of Stalin’s vulnerable fate, Stalin was said to have “collapsed in a fit of rage” during a meeting in which his supporters expressed opposition to his evil plan, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. That Purim, thousands of Jewish prisoners were freed. Joseph Stalin died on March 5, just a few days later, to the great relief of Russian Jewry. “To this day, I am choked with emotion every time I think back to that Purim of miracles,” recounts Mrs. Batyah Barg.

May we continue to re-experience the miracles of our holidays each and every year.

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Urgent Call From Chief Rabbi of Israel

The Rishon Lezion Chief Rabbi of Israel HaRav Yitzchak Yosef wrote a letter to Jews in Ukraine, and ALL JEWS LIVING IN THE DIASPORA, to understand the threat of war as a call to quickly MOVE TO ERETZ YISRAEL.

Rishon Lezion HaRav Yitzchak Yosef Posted on 26February2022 https://breslev.com/3067039/

Urgent Call From Chief Rabbi of Israel for Aliyah

Kol Koreh to all Acheinu Beis Yisrael in Ukraine

To our Jewish brothers in foreign lands, especially Ukraine: During these times, when the sounds of war are heard, it’s appropriate for every Jew with yirat Shamayim (fear of heaven) to hasten his way to Holy Land, as promised by the prophet Ovadia (1:17):

וּבְהַר צִיּוֹן תִּהְיֶה פְלֵיטָה וְהָיָה קֹדֶש …

On Mount Zion there will be refuge, and it will be holy…

And although it’s not clear if there will be a war and only Hashem has the solutions and we must daven for peace throughout the entire world, in any event, ascending to the Holy Land is always a very great and important mitzvah, and at all times, we must strive to reach the Holy Land and especially the holy city of Jerusalem. And now that there are sounds and fears of war, the issues are unfolding in a way as to see it as a type of call from Shamayim, to ascend to the Holy Land from all the foreign lands in the entire Diaspora, and especially the holy city of Jerusalem, because these are the places where the Schechina (the Divine Presence) rests, and they have more protection.

And the main thing is to strengthen one’s emuna and tefillah (prayer), and to know that there is nothing that can stop Hashem from providing a yeshuah (salvation) from every situation in any manner. Just like we witnessed miracles and wonders during the exodus from Egypt that were above all the laws of nature, and there was also a great amount of Divine help during Kriyat Yam Suf (crossing the Sea of Reeds) to save each and every Jew from the dangerous sea, in the same way, a Jew that exerts himself for Hashem with emuna by saying “Shema, Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad” (Hear, Oh Israel, Hashem is our G-d, Hashem, the One and Only”) twice a day – Hashem will protect him and save him.

And yet there is a sacred obligation on each and every Jew who has fear of Heaven in all the lands of the Diaspora to make every effort to hurry and hasten his footsteps to Eretz Yisrael, and to make aliyah quickly to our Holy Land, and not to delay this at all, and to hurry to arrange a plane ticket. And Hashem, May He be blessed, who feeds and sustains everyone will, with heavenly assistance, provide everyone with a good place to live, and food and adequate income.

Harav Yosef aliyah message-Feb-2022

Now that there are sounds and fears of war, the issues are unfolding in a way as to see it as a type of call from Shamayim, to ascend to the Holy Land from ALL the foreign lands in the ENTIRE DIASPORA.

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By Staff | Posted in Chagim - Holidays, Video | Tagged General Erwin Rommel, Germany, Phillip K. Dick, Purim, Purim behind the Scenes, The Man in the High Castle, Yishuv Paryers and Fasting | Comments Off

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani

27/10/2025 – ה׳ במרחשוון ה׳תשפ״ו – ה׳ במרחשוון ה׳תשפ״ו – 16:46

Rabbi Shalom Arush-Breslev English: Everyone come home. New York was a refuge for us. Now???

Time to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel) Do it for yourself, Do it for your Family, Contact @NefeshBNefesh https://t.co/mKWAT0EWZo

— Yakov Butterfield (@JerusalemCats) November 6, 2025

Rabbi Shalom Arush-Breslev English-tweet-6November2025-Everyone come home
Everyone come home. New York was a refuge for us. Now???
JerusalemCats-tweet-6November2025-Time to make Aliyah
Time to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel) Do it for yourself, Do it for your Family, Contact @NefeshBNefesh https://www.nbn.org.il/

Rabbi Shalom Arush-Breslev English-tweet-6November2025-Everyone come home

Remember what happened after Kristallnacht 1938, The Hate and Violence will only increase. Time to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel) Do it for yourself, Do it for your Family, Contact X: @NefeshBNefesh https://www.nbn.org.il/

9/11 Twin tower attack

Rabbi Shalom Arush-Breslev English: the place to be is Israel NOW
The Rebbe Fled During Danger!
Escape from New York
Some really creative ideas to deal with Zohran Mamdani
NYC-No Trucks No Goods
Zohran Mamdani (D) wins New York City mayor election
New York City Mayor election 2025 Zohran Mamdani
AMICHAI CHIKLI — Israel’s minister for combating antisemitism warns Mamdani win a wake-up call for Jews
20October2023. jihadist enabler, Zohran Mamdani leads an anti-Israel rally
State Department Issues Travel Advisory For New York City
New York City Antisemitism after Zohran Mamdani became New York City Mayor
New York City under Zohran Mamdani
Trump admin doesn’t trust NYC to handle Jew-hatred, Terrell says
Zohran Mamdani’s campaign was backed by the Muslim Brotherhood
Inside the Mamdani Machine: Soros cash, socialists and radical imams engineered Zohran Mamdani’s path to power
Zohran Mamdani Economics
Starbucks abruptly closes dozens of NYC locations in ‘chaotic’ downsizing: ‘No warning, no heads up’
Bigwig on Zohran Mamdani’s transition team railed against Jews, questioned gay rights in vile unearthed posts: ‘Horror show’
New York as it has been forever: New York City Trash
The halcyon days of Jewish New York City are over
Zohran Mamdani repealed the IHRA definition of antisemitism-overturned an anti-BDS executive order
Mamdani’s ‘collectivism’ is dangerous to Jews and everyone else
28January2026-Chabad headquarters attacked-Repeated Car Ramming
Mamdani is completely unqualified
What New Yorkers look forward to when Zohran Mamdani is Mayor Suicide and Other Bombing Attacks in Israel Since the Declaration of Principles (Sept 1993)

New York City Jews Do not Repeat history!

Israel prepares for Jewish Mass Exodus
Jews Across the World Are Repeating the Mistakes of the 1930s
Zohran Mamdani and the great American Jewish reckoning
‘Destroy Israel’: Rabbi of NYC shul recounts targeting by mob
Nefesh B’Nefesh-23November2025-Violent Protest Outside of Park East Synagogue, NYC-Our commitment remains unwavering
Rabbi Poupko-20November2025-Antisemitism is a sweet poison pill
The siege of Park East Synagogue and cooperating with Mamdani
Bagels, Smattering Of Yiddish Oddly Inadequate To Ensure US Jewish Continuity

30 November

In November 2014 the Israeli government dedicated November 30 of every year as a day to honor and remember the Jewish refugees who were expelled from Arab countries following 1948’s Arab-Israeli War. These are some of their stories

The Exile of Jews from Arab Lands
Fact Sheet: Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries
Why was there no UNRWA for our grandparents?
One year later — the answer to ‘Where Are Your Jews?’
The hidden Jews in Mashad, Iran
Many of my aunts and uncles didn’t flee Iran quickly; What happened to them?
I have yet to see a Middle Eastern AsAJew
I was in my ELEMENT on Purim
The Caribbean was the center for Jewish life in the New World for approximately 200 years

Operation Solomon – (May 24-25, 1991)

Operation Solomon: When a Boeing 747 Carried 1,088 Passengers

When do we leave?

Posted 28January2016 Lori Palatnik of the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project thinks it is time for Jews to send their kids to live in Israel. She explained that after 9/11, she started reading about “the end of days,” and asked “a very great” rabbi – “when do we leave?” He said that the time to get out was when “they start killing Jews in the street.”Unfortunately, she said – this is precisely what is already happening in France and New York.

How to combat the looming perfect storm for antisemitism in America A.F.BRANCO

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Rabbi Shalom Arush-Breslev English: the place to be is Israel NOW

I add to this even more – come now and build a life now while you can come “upright to our land”

Don’t take risks. I pray constantly that every Jew should be safe around the world, but the place to be is Israel NOW

At some point when the miracles begin – the gates to Israel… https://t.co/e5xumixSis

— Rabbi Shalom Arush – Breslev English (@ShalomArushEN) November 25, 2025

Rabbi Shalom Arush-Breslev English-tweet-25November2025-the place to be is Israel NOW
I add to this even more – come now and build a life now while you can come “upright to our land”

Don’t take risks. I pray constantly that every Jew should be safe around the world, but the place to be is Israel NOW

At some point when the miracles begin – the gates to Israel will close for some time. You want to be here already!

Bring your kids, prepare for them, prepare for your parents.

Come because it’s the right thing, or come because you are running away BUT COME!

Open your “Tik Aliyah” and fill it with prayers for Hashem to help you, your loved ones and all Israel, that there should be homes and jobs and schools and shuls for everyone!
Hillel Fuld-tweet-25November2025-We know the future of the Jewish people is in Israel
Someone told me something this weekend that really resonated.

An old friend, who is considering Aliyah in the near future said the following.

“We know the future of the Jewish people is not in America or Europe or Australia. It’s in Israel.

Yes, moving to Israel right now is hard. There are many obstacles and challenges. Leaving our life in Teaneck or the five towns or Melbourne or London or Paris isn’t easy. It’s downright difficult.

That being said, it’s not a question of “If” we’ll end up in Israel. It’s a question of “When”.

So now I have a choice. Either I make the move and deal with the challenges associated with moving to Israel or I leave it to my kids to go through it.

Either I make the move and build a life in Israel now, which would mean that my kids would grow up here in Israel, or I don’t, and then my kids will have to make the move with their kids and they’ll have to deal with whatever hardship arises.

I’d rather make the move and deal with those challenges now then make my kids do it later.

That’s what any good parent would do.”

This point hit home for me. I had never thought about it that way, but it’s spot on.

And if you still believe that the Jewish people have a future in the diaspora, well then, we have a whole different discussion to have.

Rabbi Shalom Arush-Breslev English-tweet-25November2025-the place to be is Israel NOW

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Nefesh B’Nefesh-23November2025-Violent Protest Outside of Park East Synagogue, NYC-Our commitment remains unwavering

Nefesh B’Nefesh-Violent Protest Outside of Park East Synagogue, NYC-Our commitment remains unwavering

TOTAL VICTORY

A different ending… pic.twitter.com/ZtXuxeUDXu

— Yishai Fleisher يشاي ישי פליישר 🕎 (@YishaiFleisher) February 9, 2026

Yishai Fleisher-tweet-9February2026-A different ending
A different ending…

Yishai Fleisher-tweet-9February2026-A different ending

The IDF Super Bowl commercial

The IDF posted this video with the captions:

"This is our Super Bowl commercial."

Boss move. pic.twitter.com/qmlcB1fehG

— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) February 9, 2026

Vivid.-tweet-9February2026-The IDF Super Bowl commercial
The IDF posted this video with the captions:

“This is our Super Bowl commercial.”

Boss move.

Vivid.-tweet-9February2026-The IDF Super Bowl commercial

pic.twitter.com/YJqLHBxej0

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) February 9, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-9February2026-total victory

Mossad Commentary-tweet-9February2026-total victory

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The Rebbe Fled During Danger!

The Rebbe Fled During Danger!

In 1940, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, didn’t stay behind in Warsaw. He fled. He saw what was coming — Nazi tanks, burning synagogues, and roundups — and made the painful but necessary choice to leave.

Today, Jewish life… pic.twitter.com/bylFoOa0ip

— Betar Worldwide (@Betar_USA) November 6, 2025

Betar Worldwide-tweet-6November2025-The Rebbe Fled During Danger
The Rebbe Fled During Danger!

In 1940, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, didn’t stay behind in Warsaw. He fled. He saw what was coming — Nazi tanks, burning synagogues, and roundups — and made the painful but necessary choice to leave.

Today, Jewish life in New York faces growing danger. Jewish leaders must learn from history. The Rebbe’s strength was not in standing still but in acting early — protecting life so faith could continue elsewhere.

It’s time for honest leadership. New York is no longer safe for Jewish life. Leave while you still can — and rebuild wherever you go.

Today we have a Jewish state

Betar Worldwide-tweet-6November2025-The Rebbe Fled During Danger

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Some really creative ideas to deal with Zohran Mamdani

Israel needs to have an Emergency Aliyah program that will entail both Nefesh B’Nefesh, The Jewish Agency and Israeli family contacting their friends and family members still living outside of Israel.

Have TV commercials in Hebrew telling Israelis that it is a matter of life and death to get home.
Make preparations for a Operation Solomon for New York City!

http://digital-edition.israelhayom.co.il/Olive/ODN/Israel/Default.aspx#_2017_04_24_Page_19

Holocaust IDF Sci-Fi israelhayom

2 Israeli women mugged at New York subway station

Two Israeli tourists attacked, robbed at knife-point in mugging at Brooklyn subway station.

Arutz Sheva Staff, 08December2019 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272879

Two Israeli women in their early 20s visiting New York were assaulted and robbed during a mugging at a subway station in Brooklyn, CBS News reported Saturday.
Part of the incident was filmed by security cameras at the station, and police have opened an investigation into the robbery.
The two tourists were mugged after getting off a subway train while making their way to the station exit.
Two assailants, both of whom had their faces covered, attacked the two tourists while brandishing a knife and a taser.
The Israeli tourists returned to Israel a day after the incident.

מבט – גל פיגועים בארצות הברית והחמור שבהם הלילה בניו יורק | כאן 11 לשעבר רשות השידור

Israeli Ministry of Aliyah and Integration ad – יום הזיכרון

KlitaGov
הגיע הזמן לחזור לארץ – תכנית ההטבות לתושבים חוזרים. בדיקת זכאות, רישום להטבות עבור תושבים חוזרים, יצירת קשר עם המשרד לקליטת העלייה

לפני שאבא יהפוך ל”Daddy” הגיע הזמן לחזור לארץ

הם ישראלים, הילדים שלהם לא… הגיע הזמן לחזור לארץ – תכנית ההטבות לתושבים חוזרים באתר משרד הקליטה…

Have TV commercials in English reminding Jews about Kristallnacht and the riots in the streets.

Kristallnacht: Night Of Broken Glass
Have TV commercials reminding the Diaspora Jews about Israels wonderful healthcare, schools, clean air and low unemployment rate. Remind everyone that Israel is the Startup Nation for innovation. Remind everyone that Israel has one of the highest standards of living and rates of longevity.

Israeli Health Care

Watch How Israeli High School Seniors Prepare for IDF

ISRAEL START-UP NATION
Have all EL-AL members (Pilots, Stewardess) in full combat gear and armed when at US and EU airports.
Arrest all CIA, DIA, DEA, FBI, MI 5/6, etc of USA, Britain & EU countries agents in Israel (including news reporters), throw them in jail, quick harsh trials for espionage, sedition, provocation of unrest & rebellion etc, harsh sentences; THEN demand release of Pollard in exchange.

Riots in Los Angeles California; Just remember that the only country that the Jews have is Israel אין לי ארץ אחרת”
Publish “dangerous region & no protection” warnings for vacationers or businessmen visit in those countries.
Arrest, imprison, charge with espionage & sedition all missionaries.
Israel needs laws similar to:
American Service-Members’ Protection Act
ASPA authorizes the U.S. president to use “all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any U.S. or allied personnel being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the request of the International Criminal Court“. That includes; potential economic sanctions against member and host nations that support or aid the ICC actions and revoke visas for members and employees of the International Criminal Court.

The act prohibits federal, state and local governments and agencies (including courts and law enforcement agencies) from assisting the court. For example, it prohibits the extradition of any person from the U.S. to the Court; it prohibits the transfer of classified national security information and law enforcement information to the court.

A_F_BRANCO Mamdani for NYC Mayor Free Stuff Mousetrap

NYC-No Trucks No Goods: The Former Cuban Jews need to talk to the New York City Jews

JerusalemCats Comments: Zohran Mamdani is a Jihadist Socialist. Think Cuba under Fidel Castro

The nation’s largest trucking company says it will no longer service New York City after Mamdani takes office:

“We’ve instructed our dispatchers to reject loads to any of the Five Burroughs,” said Company Spokesman Joe Barron, “We don’t see a way to continue doing business in… pic.twitter.com/Y5DwhLKNMU

— Capt Kyle (@CaptKylePatriot) November 9, 2025

Capt Kyle-tweet-9November2025-NYC-No Trucks No Goods
The nation’s largest trucking company says it will no longer service New York City after Mamdani takes office:

“We’ve instructed our dispatchers to reject loads to any of the Five Burroughs,” said Company Spokesman Joe Barron, “We don’t see a way to continue doing business in the Big Apple..”

The news comes as Mamdani released his plan to increase revenue across the city by quadrupling the cost of tolls, licensing, permits, and inspections of all commercial vehicles.

“He’s going to put a lot of the independent truckers out of business.”

Capt Kyle-tweet-9November2025-NYC-No Trucks No Goods

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Zohran Mamdani (D) wins New York City mayor election

New York City Jews it’s time to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel) Do it for yourself, Do it for your Family, Contact @NefeshBNefesh https://t.co/mKWAT0FuOW https://t.co/XPGEYywKEO

— Yakov Butterfield (@JerusalemCats) November 5, 2025

JerusalemCats-tweet-5November2025-Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayor election
New York City Jews it’s time to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel) Do it for yourself, Do it for your Family, Contact @NefeshBNefesh https://www.nbn.org.il/
Open Source Intel-tweet-5November2025
BREAKING: 🔴

Zohran Mamdani (D) wins New York City mayor election, according to DDHQ.

JerusalemCats-tweet-5November2025-Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayor election

Zohran Mamdani’s “Useful Idiots”

I was thinking this can’t possibly get worse — wait for the surprise pic.twitter.com/DmHnDqNIP3

— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) October 27, 2025

Jon Levine-tweet-27October2025-Fake Women rabbis for Zohran
I was thinking this can’t possibly get worse — wait for the surprise
[EDD: Ad paid for by Jews for Racial & Economic Justice Inc. and Zohran for NYC]

Jon Levine-tweet-27October2025-Fake Women rabbis for Zohran

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New York City Mayor election 2025 Zohran Mamdani

New York Jews it’s time to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel) Do it for yourself, Do it for your Family, Contact @NefeshBNefesh https://t.co/mKWAT0EWZo

— Yakov Butterfield (@JerusalemCats) October 30, 2025

Eretz_Nehederet-tweet-29October2025-New York City Mayor election 2025 Zohran Mamdani
A message from Zohran Mamdani to the Jewish community of New York City
JerusalemCats-tweet-30October2025
New York Jews it’s time to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel) Do it for yourself, Do it for your Family, Contact @NefeshBNefesh https://www.nbn.org.il/

Eretz_Nehederet-tweet-29October2025-New York City Mayor election 2025 Zohran Mamdani

Nefesh B’Nefesh Employee of the Month Zohran Mamdani

This made me laugh. pic.twitter.com/p8BEeP3c6E

— Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) November 5, 2025

Hillel Fuld-tweet-5November2025-Nefesh B’Nefesh Employee of the Month Zohran Mamdani
This made me laugh.

Hillel Fuld-tweet-5November2025-Nefesh B’Nefesh Employee of the Month Zohran Mamdani

Nefesh B’Nefesh Employee of the Month Zohran Mamdani

Women are preparing for Zohran Mamdani with Pigs

Some women in New York are already buying pet pigs to avoid being harassed by Muslim men in case Zohran Mamdani really becomes mayor. pic.twitter.com/KZDlgT9SXa

— Dr. Maalouf ‏ (@realMaalouf) October 28, 2025

Dr. Maalouf-tweet-28October2025-Women are preparing for Zohran Mamdani with Pigs
Some women in New York are already buying pet pigs to avoid being harassed by Muslim men in case Zohran Mamdani really becomes mayor.

Dr. Maalouf-tweet-28October2025-Women are preparing for Zohran Mamdani with Pigs

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AMICHAI CHIKLI — Israel’s minister for combating antisemitism warns Mamdani win a wake-up call for Jews

Mamdani’s victory raises concerns about community safety in city with world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel

By Amichai Chikli Fox News
Published November 5, 2025 10:23am EST
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/amichai-chikli-israels-minister-combating-antisemitism-warns-mamdani-win-wake-up-call-jews

On Tuesday night, New Yorkers elected Zohran Mamdani mayor. By doing so, the city that once stood as the world’s beacon of liberty has handed the keys of power to a Hamas sympathizer.

This marks a critical turning point for the city of New York — home to the largest Jewish community in the world outside of Israel. The city’s elections have determined whether New York remains a safe home for more than a million Jews or continues the dangerous slide that began two years ago, when vile pro-Hamas protests took over campuses like CUNY and NYU — and especially Columbia University, which became a symbol and stronghold of Hamas support in the United States, spilling into the streets of Manhattan.

It is almost unthinkable that New York — the proud and historic center of Jewish life — could become the American city where Jews no longer feel at home or safe.

But with the election of Mamdani as mayor, that unthinkable scenario is now a reality. New York will never be the same — particularly for its Jewish community. Mamdani, like his mentor Linda Sarsour, represents the “Red-Green Alliance” — the dangerous strategic partnership between radical Islamism and the far-left progressive movement. What unites them is a loathing for the very idea of liberty — the symbol of New York itself — and a pathological hatred of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

This alliance works to infiltrate political Islamism within the United States under the camouflage of social welfare and human rights. Their goal is to take over America’s cultural, academic, and political institutions just as they have done successfully in parts of Western Europe. They say it openly: all that’s needed is a willingness to listen. And New York is now one step closer to becoming the next London.

They work to infiltrate political Islamism within the United States under the camouflage of social welfare and human rights. Their goal is to take over America’s cultural, academic and political institutions just as they have done successfully in parts of Western Europe. They say it openly: all that’s needed is a willingness to listen. And New York is just moments away from becoming the next London.

This wasn’t an election only between Cuomo and Mamdani, but between liberty and the values of the American Republic on one side and political Islam on the other. This is, without a doubt, the biggest Muslim Brotherhood victory in the United States — and possibly the entire Western world. From the capital of the West to electing a mayor who embraces the genocidal call to “globalize the Intifada.”

This infiltration is backed by Muslim Brotherhood regimes, first and foremost by Qatar.

It must also be recognized that under the leadership of President Donald Trump and his team, this administration has tackled antisemitism like never before — unlike the previous administration, which thought it was a good idea to include CAIR in its strategic plan to combat antisemitism. With decisive action — not empty words — this current administration is making Jewish students safe again throughout America.

Yet at the same time, a toxic strain of antisemitism is rising rapidly from within the political right. Influencers, media personalities, think tanks, student organizations and even elected officials are giving platforms and legitimacy to neo-Nazi rhetoric, Holocaust deniers, and the most absurd conspiracy theories — all under the deceptive banner of “free speech.” The same foreign powers that drove the pro-Hamas demonstrations throughout America just last year are very likely driving this divide within the political right today.

Their goal is clear: to sow division between Christians and Jews and break the unbreakable alliance between the U.S. and Israel.

Three years ago, when I became Israel’s minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, I viewed right-wing antisemitism in America as marginal and fringe. Yes, we confronted neo-Nazi attacks like the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. But I believed the true ideological threat came from the woke left — and at the time, that was correct.

But today, the tide has shifted. Neo-Nazism is being normalized, amplified and excused.

And now, as Senator Ted Cruz said so powerfully, the conservative movement in America stands at a dramatic crossroads. This is a moment of moral choosing.

As Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks taught: “The hate that begins with the Jews never ends with the Jews.” The same forces that hate Jews also hate Blacks, Hispanics and anyone who refuses to submit to their ideological purity.

As a conservative, I know it is easier to call out antisemitism when it comes from the left. But today, the most dangerous rising wave is coming from within the right, and we must say this clearly: this is not conservatism.

Conservatism is incompatible with fanaticism and racism. It is rooted in truth, faith, and human freedom. You cannot call yourself a conservative while admiring Hitler, Stalin, or the theocratic dictator who rules Iran.

You cannot call yourself a conservative while admiring Hitler, Stalin or the theocratic dictator who rules Iran.

The foundations of the American –Jewish and Judeo – Christian alliance remain strong, built upon a principle expressed by the Founders themselves: “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God,” Benjamin Franklin’s proposed motto for the Great Seal of the United States in 1776, later adopted by Thomas Jefferson for his personal seal.

This is the cornerstone of the Judeo – Christian tradition and of the American–Israeli partnership.

And in the end — truth prevails.

Amichai Chikli has been the Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism in the Israeli government since Dec. 2022.

Sunday NY Memorial for Rav Kahane – after Mamdani victory Please forward

Yekutiel Ben Yaakov from E-Mail 6November2025

*Jews to Memorialize Kahane This Sunday in New York**

As Jihadists Celebrate Mamdani’s Victory

Mamdani’s landslide victory on the 35th anniversary of Rabbi Meir Kahane’s assassination has reminded many of Kahane’s chilling predictions.

Ironically, it was 35 years ago today that Rabbi Meir Kahane, zt”l, was assassinated in the first major jihadist attack in New York City. In his final New York speech, he called for emergency aliyah. His predictions have, sadly, become a reality. New York City has just suffered another major jihadist onslaught in the form of Mamdani’s sweeping victory in the mayoral race.

With Mamdani holding the keys to Gracie Mansion, he will have the power to appoint the New York City Police Commissioner as well as the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education—two extremely sensitive positions that will profoundly impact the lives of every New Yorker who remains in the city. What was once referred to as “Jew-York” and “Hymietown” for its large and influential Jewish community is now being referred to by some as “Mamdani’s Jihad-NY.”

This Sunday, November 9, the Jewish community will gather in Brooklyn to memorialize Rabbi Kahane, reflect on his prophetic warnings, and discuss the importance of Jewish self-defense and aliyah. Clearly, many New Yorkers do not believe that Mamdani will provide Jews with the protection they need. Many fear he will allow Jew-haters free rein to attack Jews. Some still remember the Crown Heights pogrom after the murder of Yankel Rosenbaum, when then-Mayor David Dinkins did little to protect the Jewish community.

The memorial will take place at
2:00 PM on Sunday, November 9
Ocean Avenue Jewish Center
2600 Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn

Organizers are urging the Jewish community to attend.

Yekutiel Guzofsky, Rabbi Kahane’s Chief of Operations, has flown in especially to address the gathering. Noted journalist Fern Sidman, former Director of the JDL, and others will also speak.

On Sunday evening another interesting and important event will be held in NYC at the Blue Moon Hotel in the Lower East Side, a fundraising donner for the IDU Israel Dog Unit, for mor e info email guzofskyyekutiel@gmail.com

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October 20, 2023.jihadist enabler, Zohran Mamdani leads an anti-Israel rally.

Zohran Mamdani is a jihadist enabler

Zohran Mamdani didn’t just lead an anti-Israel rally—he weaponized taxpayer-funded activism to prop up Hamas apologists & BDS extremism weeks after they slaughtered Jews. His bill (A6101) wasn’t “progressive”—it funneled rage into defunding Israel while Gaza’s rulers burned…

— CityDeskNYC (@CityDeskNYC) November 3, 2025

Vivid.-tweet-3November2025-20October2023-Zohran Mamdani leads an anti-Israel rally
October 20, 2023. Zohran Mamdani leads an anti-Israel rally.

Just 13 days after Gazans butchered 1,200 Israelis in a single day.

A jihadist in a suit.
CityDeskNYC-tweet-3November2025-Zohran Mamdani is a jihadist enabler
Zohran Mamdani didn’t just lead an anti-Israel rally—he weaponized taxpayer-funded activism to prop up Hamas apologists & BDS extremism weeks after they slaughtered Jews. His bill (A6101) wasn’t “progressive”—it funneled rage into defunding Israel while Gaza’s rulers burned hostages alive. Mamdani’s “solidarity” is a smokescreen for Jew-hatred, laundered through CUNY radicals & DSA talking points.

He’s not a lawmaker—he’s a jihadist enabler in a blazer, normalizing “intifada” chants as NYC’s Jewish community braces for his mayoralty. Adams fights crime. Cuomo restored order.

Mamdani? He’d turn NYPD into a DEI seminar while Columbia’s Hamas fan club drafts his policy.

Vivid.-tweet-3November2025-20October2023-Zohran Mamdani leads an anti-Israel rally

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JerusalemCats Comments: The warning is real even if it is from The Babylon Bee

State Department Issues Travel Advisory For New York City

5November2025 · BabylonBee.com https://babylonbee.com/news/state-department-issues-travel-advisory-for-new-york-city

New York City Travel Advisory level 4

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the city’s election of an avowed and unrepentant socialist, the U.S. State Department issued an immediate and urgent travel advisory for New York City.

According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, New York City had become too dangerous for any casual tourists to visit.

“As of this morning, the State Department has chosen to issue a ‘Level 4: Do Not Travel’ advisory for New York,” Rubio said at a press conference. “Because of significant threats to life and limb, U.S. citizens are advised to avoid any non-essential and even most necessary travel to New York. Should such visits prove absolutely necessary, travelers should arrive prepared with combat helmets, bulletproof vests, and any necessary air support on speed dial.”

Officials within the administration confirmed that it simply wouldn’t be right to allow Americans to travel to such a dangerous place without warning them beforehand.

“It’s no Afghanistan — or worse, L.A. — but New York will get there pretty soon,” said one White House insider. “Americans should get out of there before things really start to fall apart. May God have mercy on those poor souls who are currently being trapped under the Mamdani regime.”

At publishing time, matters in New York had escalated so quickly that senior military leaders were debating whether to launch a ground offensive to liberate the city.

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New York City Antisemitism after Zohran Mamdani became New York City Mayor

Just hours after Zohran Mamdani won, Nazi swastikas were drawn on the Magen David Yeshiva on McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn.

Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/L5YCEKsIQF

— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) November 5, 2025

Vivid.-tweet-5November2025-Nazi swastikas on the Magen David Yeshiva
Just hours after Zohran Mamdani won, Nazi swastikas were drawn on the Magen David Yeshiva on McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn.

Unbelievable.

Vivid.-tweet-5November2025-Nazi swastikas on the Magen David Yeshiva

Zohran Mamdani wants October 7

Rabbi @AmmiHirsch sat down with Zohran Mamdani.
He came with an open mind.
He left with a pit in his stomach.

Zohran made it crystal clear:
He doesn’t believe Israel has any right to exist.
Not within the ‘67 lines.
Not within the ‘48 borders.
Not at all.

That’s not “policy… pic.twitter.com/vulzUjBbLC

— Jews Fight Back 🇺🇸🇮🇱 (@JewsFightBack) November 8, 2025

Jews Fight Back-tweet-8November2025-Zohran Mamdani wants October 7
Rabbi @AmmiHirsch sat down with Zohran Mamdani.
He came with an open mind.
He left with a pit in his stomach.

Zohran made it crystal clear:
He doesn’t believe Israel has any right to exist.
Not within the ‘67 lines.
Not within the ‘48 borders.
Not at all.

That’s not “policy disagreement.”
That’s Hamas with better PR.
That’s the ideology behind October 7th.
And now it’s running New York City.

Jews Fight Back-tweet-8November2025-Zohran Mamdani wants October 7

Israel considers CLOSING CONSULATE in NYC after MAMDANI VICTORY!

🇮🇱🇺🇲

Israel considers CLOSING CONSULATE in NYC after MAMDANI VICTORY ! pic.twitter.com/DzRnUbc1PP

— Shiri_Sabra (@sabra_the) November 5, 2025

Shiri_Sabra-tweet-5November2025-Israel may close NYC consulate
🇮🇱🇺🇲

Israel considers CLOSING CONSULATE in NYC after MAMDANI VICTORY !

Shiri_Sabra-tweet-5November2025-Israel may close NYC consulate

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New York City under Zohran Mamdani

Whoever made this, it’s brilliant 😆

RIP New York pic.twitter.com/T9BFKg38mN

— Chaya’s Clan (@ChayasClan) November 5, 2025

Chaya’s Clan-tweet-5November2025-New York City under Zohran Mamdani
Whoever made this, it’s brilliant 😆

RIP New York

Chaya’s Clan-tweet-5November2025-New York City under Zohran Mamdani

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Trump admin doesn’t trust NYC to handle Jew-hatred, Terrell says

The head of the U.S. Justice Department antisemitism task force told JNS that the president will take “decisive action” if the city’s mayor-elect “turns his back on the Jewish American community.”

https://www.jns.org/trump-admin-doesnt-trust-nyc-to-handle-jew-hatred-terrell-says/

Mike Wagenheim

(2December2025 / JNS) The Trump administration will not allow Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City, to neglect Jews in the city, according to Leo Terrell, chair of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism.

“If this mayor turns his back on the Jewish American community, President Trump will take decisive action and the weight of the Department of Justice will be in New York City,” Terrell told JNS. “I can guarantee you of that.”

U.S. President Trump held a civil press conference with Mamdani, who has said he would have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if the premier comes to the city, after the two met in the Oval Office. The president called the meeting “very productive” and joked about the mayor-elect considering him a fascist.

Terrell told JNS that there is an “ongoing investigation” about a chaotic, antisemitic protest outside a Nefesh B’Nefesh event at Park East Synagogue in Manhattan last month.

“We don’t trust the city of New York to do the right thing,” he said.

Terrell told JNS that he doesn’t think Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, will pursue charges against protesters who blocked the synagogue’s front entrance, barring congregants from safely accessing the building.

The Trump administration “will not allow Jewish Americans to be denied their right to practice their religion,” Terrell said.

The Justice Department official said that time will tell whether Mamdani, whose press secretary responded to the protest by stating that synagogues shouldn’t host events that violate international law, will change his behavior once he becomes mayor.

“I don’t think there is any prior indication that Mamdani is going to protect Jewish Americans,” he told JNS.

Terrell told JNS that Northwestern University’s $75 million settlement with the Trump administration over a probe that included alleged Jew-hatred was the result of a “full frontal attack” to eradicate antisemitism on campus.

“We’re expanding our efforts to K-12,” he said.

Some schools have been turning to courts to challenge the Trump administration’s efforts to freeze grant money and to push punishing settlements. Terrell said Trump has a high rate of success in the U.S. Supreme Court, even as some lower-level court decisions have gone against the administration.

“I can guarantee you that President Trump is going to pursue every avenue legally, and if it takes going to the Supreme Court, he will do it,” Terrell said. “That’s why these universities, before they get to the Supreme Court, many of them will try to resolve these cases.”

If anything, the Trump administration isn’t sufficiently aggressive, according to Terrell.

“These universities have been used to indoctrinate hate, and now they’re targeting K-12, and what I feel is that if there’s going to be a settlement, let’s make sure there’s safeguards in place where kids, students, faculty members and anyone of the Jewish religion are not to be intimidated or harassed,” he said.

The Trump administration began pursuing cases against Ivy League schools and large university systems, such as the University of California, to “provide a deterrent effect,” but it is well aware of problems at smaller and lesser-known schools.

“This phone never stops ringing, because there are problems all over,” Terrell said.

He added that his task force is working on a “50-state rapid response, to make sure we go where the problem is and not ignore any state, any city,”

“I will submit to you that a lot of local mayors, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, they don’t even know how to address antisemitic behavior,” he said. “They don’t record it properly in their criminal reports.”

The task force, which Terrell said aims to set up “policies and doctrine” for the Justice Department but isn’t involved in litigation, is trying to codify policies on Jew-hatred so they will have a longer shelf-life than the executive orders the president signs. The panel is also meeting with members of Congress to discuss its projects.

“We want to make sure legislation is in place, to make sure not just Jewish Americans, but all Americans are protected in their protected class status and religious freedom,” he said.

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Zohran Mamdani’s campaign was backed by the Muslim Brotherhood

BREAKING: Glenn Beck just completely exposed how Zohran Mamdani’s campaign was backed by the Muslim Brotherhood. pic.twitter.com/4jiLqld0SW

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) November 6, 2025

Eyal Yakoby-tweet-6November2025-Zohran Mamdani’s campaign was backed by the Muslim Brotherhood
BREAKING: Glenn Beck just completely exposed how Zohran Mamdani’s campaign was backed by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Eyal Yakoby-tweet-6November2025-Zohran Mamdani’s campaign was backed by the Muslim Brotherhood

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Inside the Mamdani Machine: Soros cash, socialists and radical imams engineered Zohran Mamdani’s path to power

Zohran Mamdani’s political ascent involved $2.5M in Soros funding and ties to controversial imams

By Asra Q. Nomani Fox News
Published October 27, 2025 8:09am EDT | Updated October 27, 2025 8:27am EDT
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/inside-mamdani-machine-soros-cash-socialists-radical-imams-engineered-zohran-mamdanis-path-power

In late September 2017, Palestinian American activist Linda Sarsour, once the darling of the Women’s March and the self-declared face of the “resistance” against Donald Trump, was facing mounting criticism for antisemitic remarks and her embrace of extremist views.

But, beaming in a photograph taken on a city sidewalk, Sarsour appeared unfazed, her iconic fist pumped in the air as she knelt shoulder-to-shoulder with campaign volunteers for City Council candidate Khader El-Yateem. The photo was posted by El-Yateem on the Facebook page he used to promote his campaign, which he lost, but among the smiling faces was a young organizer named Zohran Mamdani.

In late September 2017, Palestinian American pastor Khader El-Yateem shared a photo of his campaign team from his bid to be elected to New York’s City Council from Brooklyn’s District 43. Palestinian American political organizer Linda Sarsour (far left, front row) took a knee with Zohran Mamdani (fourth from right, white shirt). El-Yattem lost the race. (@Khader El-Yateem/Facebook) (@Khader El-Yateem/Facebook)

That photo would mark the start of a carefully constructed political project that, in less than a decade, would propel a now-34-year-old socialist newcomer to the precipice of running America’s largest city – even while campaigning with radical imams, some of whom have supported terrorists and terrorist financiers.

A Fox Digital investigation reveals that Mamdani’s rise was no accident. It was engineered.

A database of 110 groups backing Mamdani exposes a tight inner circle of organizations that identify as Muslim or socialist, working hand-in-glove with 76 Democratic Party affiliates, allied groups and unions. Particularly important in this political machine are two networks – Sarsour’s MPower organizations and another constellation of groups called Emgage, with which she works closely.

The organizations have been generously funded. In total, billionaire George Soros’s Open Society philanthropies have given MPower and Emgage nearly $2.5 million in recent years, according to tax filings.

#MyMuslimVote Organizing Summit” with Zohran Mamdani, then the Democratic nominee for the 36th District to New York’s General Assembly, Women’s March cofounder Tamika Mallory and former Michigan gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed. ( MPower Change/email)

“We fund a range of civil society organizations that work to deepen civic engagement through peaceful democratic participation, counter discrimination including against Muslim Americans and advance human rights,” a spokesperson for Open Society Foundations told Fox News Digital. “The grants that you cite all occurred years before the mayoral race, and we are a nonpartisan organization that does not fund political candidates and their campaigns.”

Mamdani, Sarsour and the groups supporting Mamdani’s campaign didn’t return requests for comment.

MPower and Emgage have been part of a tight inner circle of 30 ethnic and religious groups, that also includes CAIR Action, the 501(c)(4) political wing of the 501(c)(3) Council on American-Islamic Relations nonprofit, the Islamic Circle of North America,“ “Muslim Action Coalition,” Yemeni American Merchants Associations Inc., the “Bangladeshi American Advocacy Group” and “Desis Rising Up and Moving.” They have pumped up Mamdani’s campaign with social media campaigns, canvassing, voters and buzz.

Altogether, they have annual revenues of about $24 million, and they have worked to promote Mamdani’s campaign with endorsements, fund-raising, social media campaigns and canvassing.

The result: a carefully constructed political career that mainstreams the socialist goals long embraced by Sarsour and fellow members of the Democratic Socialists of America.

It’s a machine that is expressing itself in races from New York to Virginia, Minnesota, Texas and California with MPower and Emgage aligning with the Democratic Socialists of America and the Democratic Party to propel candidates who may share their views. In a campaign called “Defend and Advance,” Emgage SuperPac is pushing Mamdani and Democratic Virginia Lt. Governor candidate Ghazala Hashmi as its “star candidates.”

Emgage’s “Defend and Advance” roster of supported candidates and office holders includes Dearborn, Mich., Mayor Abdullah Hammoud.

“I want you to know as mayor, you are not welcome here,” Hammoud recently told a Christian pastor who objected to a proposal to name a street in honor of a local man who had allegedly praised terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah. “And the day you move out of the city will be the day that I launch a parade celebrating the fact that you moved out of the city because you are not somebody who believes in coexistence.”

Emgage’s donations include $175,000 from a group little-noticed by political observers but important in Islamist circles: Sterling Charitable Gift Fund, based in Herndon, Va. It is part of a network of groups that FBI agents raided in 2002 as part of wider investigations into the funding of Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas. Federal prosecutors ultimately didn’t file criminal charges against any officials at Sterling Charitable Gift Fund.

Hungarian-born US investor and philanthropist George Soros smiles after delivering a speech on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on May 24, 2022. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Over almost a decade, Sarsour and her allies have orchestrated a network of well-financed and tightly connected socialist activists, radical imams, political organizers and nonprofit organizations funded with millions of dollars by major philanthropies including Foundation to Promote Open Society, the Ford Foundation, Macarthur Foundation and the Tides Foundation.

The confluence of big philanthropy, partisan operatives and clerical authority has helped drive Mamdani’s ascent. Its architecture combines nonprofit activism with faith-based politics and the precision of a professional campaign operation.

“To the casual observer, Zohran Mamdani’s rise might appear meteoric – a story of grassroots energy and demographic change in America’s largest city,” said Dalia Al-Aqidi, an Iraqi American Muslim who is running against Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minnesota, with Omar supported by the same kind of political machine being unleashed to propel Mamdani to office.

“The data, the money trail and the affiliations, from the Democratic Socialists of America to the Islamists, tells a different story.”

“Mamdani’s ascent is the product of deliberate design: a sophisticated collaboration between socialist activism and Islamist organizing, lubricated by millions in foundation grants and political donations and normalized through a revolving door of political operatives and nonprofits who embrace Islamists, the destruction of the state of Israel and hostilities to the police, the U.S. and the West,” Al-Aqidi said.

The timeline of Mamdani’s rise tracks precisely with the growth of this network. In 2012, as a student at Bowdoin College, in Maine, he cofounded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, the campus organization known for its rabid anti-Israel activism. By 2017, he was canvassing for El-Yateem’s campaign with Sarsour’s mentorship.

Activist Linda Sarsour, shown here at a demonstration in Manhattan’s Foley Square, was an early backer of Mamdani’s political aspirations. (Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images) (Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)

In 2018, Mamdani formally entered Sarsour’s orbit through the Muslim Democratic Club of New York, an organization she co-founded in 2013 to mobilize Muslim voters and elect progressive Democrats to local office. The Muslim Democratic Club of New York served as both incubator and amplifier for Sarsour’s political brand, one that fused progressive politics with an explicitly Islamist social identity. By December 2018, Mamdani joined the board, in an announcement in which the group said, “Help build Muslim power across the city with us!”

Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani supporters gather outside 30 Rock in New York City on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

With his new role, Mamdani gained access to an emerging infrastructure of influence: voter lists, donor networks and organizing muscle that would later power his campaign to a seat on the New York General Assembly. The Muslim Democratic Club endorsed Mamdani.

Around that time, Sarsour was building her own empire, founding MPower Change as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit housed at Neo Philanthropy Inc. Public filings show MPower Change took in at least $2.4 million between 2017 and 2024, the latest year available, with Soros’s Foundation to Promote Open Society giving her organization $1.125 million and the Macarthur Foundation funneling her $450,000. It would become a flagship digital organizing hub for not just Sarsour but Mamdani.

Meanwhile, Emgage Action was expanding its footprint nationally. Also backed by the Open Society network, Emgage Action received a share of $42.5 million that Soros’ foundations pledged to Muslim, Arab and South Asian civic groups beginning in 2021. It has received $1.8 million from the Open Society Policy Center and another $1.35 million from the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Together, MPower Change and Emgage created an unprecedented financial and political ecosystem, leveraging big philanthropy’s dollars and digital strategy to elevate candidates like Mamdani under the banner of Muslim empowerment.

In 2020, Mamdani won his first election to the New York State Assembly, with Sarsour’s explicit endorsement and fundraising help.

By 2020, Mamdani was being featured in Sarsour’s #MyMuslimVote summit, promoted by MPower Change as the face of a new generation of unapologetic Muslim progressives. By this year, his campaign for mayor became the culmination of that project — backed by PAC money, boosted by clerical endorsements and legitimized by an activist ecosystem that had spent a decade grooming him for this very moment.

New York City Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, spoke to supporters at a canvass launch event in Prospect Park on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox News Digital)

To push Mamdani toward the helm of the nation’s biggest city, the network extended far beyond activist circles. Central to Mamdani’s political ascent was a series of carefully cultivated relationships with clerics with some troubling views.

In January, Mamdani courted Imam Muhammad Al-Barr of the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge, visiting his mosque just months after Al-Barr had publicly prayed to “annihilate” Israel.

In May, Imam Siraj Wahhaj, the longtime imam of Brooklyn’s Masjid Al-Taqwa, personally donated $1,000 to the Unity and Justice Fund. More recently, Mamdani met with Wahhaj and called him “one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders and a pillar of the Bed-Stuy community.”

Wahhaj, who served as a character witness in the trial of Omar Abdel-Rahman, the “Blind Sheikh” later convicted of masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, has a long history of calling for the exploitation of America’s democracy to further a conquest for Islam.

“You don’t get in politics because it’s the American thing to do,” he said in a videotaped 1991 sermon. “You get involved in politics because politics can be a weapon to use in the cause of Islam.”

Wahhaj has also denounced the U.S. government as “controlled by Shaitan,” the Arabic word for the devil, urged Muslims not to befriend “non-believers,” condemned homosexuality as “a disease of this society,” and supported Islamic laws that punish sex outside of marriage with 100 lashes and stoning. In 2011, Wahhaj urged Muslims to donate to the legal defense of the since-convicted Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist dubbed “Lady Al Qaeda” for attempting to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Over the years, Wahhaj’s sermons have praised “jihad” without “a gun,” called for an Islamic America governed by sharia law and urged the creation of an “army of 10,000 men in New York City.”

Other imams now backing Mamdani’s mayoral run have also been controversial. Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid, a cleric leading the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood in Harlem, co-founded the Muslim Alliance in North America, alongside Wahhaj. In 2005, Abdur-Rashid publicly defended Rafiq Sabir, an American doctor who joined Al Qaeda and was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Independent candidate and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, speaks during a mayoral debate with Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, center, and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in New York City. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)

In 2008, Abdur-Rashid defended Sami Al-Arian, a Palestinian American professor whom the U.S. later deported to Turkey for “conspiring to provide services” to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Still in the U.S., Al-Arian’s wife joined the anti-Israel encampments at Columbia University.

In September, Mamdani appeared as the special guest speaker at Abdur-Rashid’s annual gala. A month earlier, Muslim Association of North America’s social media featured Abdur-Rashid visiting Wahhaj’s mosque, underscoring the continued collaboration between the two imams.

In Manhattan, Imam Khalid Latif, the executive director of the Islamic Center at New York University, has been another prominent Mamdani backer. Latif publicly endorsed Mamdani on Facebook in June, calling him “a bearer of compassion in a time where it is far too rare.”

In 2012, Latif led a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia that included Omar Mateen, who would later murder 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, the deadliest anti-LGBTQ attack in U.S. history. He has denied radicalizing Mateen and he hasn’t faced the same type of allegations that surround the other imams.

Zohran Mamdani meets Imam Siraj Wahhaj and Yusef Abdus Salaam on Oct. 17, 2025. (@ZohranKMamdani/X)

For many Muslim political organizations backing Mamdani, these clerics are not liabilities but assets, serving as trusted gatekeepers to the city’s growing community of Muslim voters.

After Mamdani visited Wahhaj’s mosque earlier this month, he tweeted out a photo of the two with the caption: “Pleasure to meet Imam Siraj Wahhaj, one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders.” When a firestorm ensued, several allies rose to his defense: Sarsour, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the leaders at Emgage Action.

Sarsour shared a selfie with Mamdani, beaming, like they did back in 2017, and wrote, “May Allah continue to bless and protect you.”

A defiant Wa’el Alzayat, the executive director of Emgage Action, sent out a dispatch to followers on Tuesday, amid criticism for their political work, promising, “We are in this for the long haul.”

Back in Minnesota, Al-Aqidi closely watched the defense of Mamdani.

“For over a decade, Linda Sarsour and her network of allies have built the Mamdani machine piece by piece: the institutions, the donors, the narratives and now, the candidate. There was no way they were going to throw him under the bus for one photo with one imam whom they happen to love,” said Al-Aqidi. “Mamdani is the fresh face of a radical coalition, and I hope New Yorkers will reject him. Win or lose, one fact remains undeniable. His rise was not spontaneous. It was engineered and the machinery behind it is only getting stronger.”

Al-Aqidi said; “I hope New Yorkers will shut the Mamdani machine down.”

Asra Q. Nomani is the author of “Woke Army: The Left-Green Alliance That Is Undermining America’s Freedom,” and the founder of the Pearl Project, a nonprofit journalism initiative. She is co-founder of the Clarity Coalition and Muslim Reform Movement, opposing Islamic extremism and advocating for Muslim reform. She can be reached at asra@asranomani.com and @AsraNomani on X.

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Zohran Mamdani Economics

You guys are doing a great job! 🙄 pic.twitter.com/2xWs9z6oTz

— Al (@AlBeachGuy) November 14, 2025

Zohran Kwame Mamdani-tweet-14November2025-No contract-no coffee
Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract.

While workers are on strike, I won’t be buying any Starbucks, and I’m asking you to join us.

Together, we can send a powerful message: No contract, no coffee.
Starbucks Workers United-tweet-13November2025-Starbucks workers ON STRIKE
As of today, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we’re prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.

Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON’T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Al-tweet-14November2025-great job
You guys are doing a great job! 🙄

Zohran Kwame Mamdani-tweet-14November2025-No contract-no coffee

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Starbucks abruptly closes dozens of NYC locations in ‘chaotic’ downsizing: ‘No warning, no heads up’

By Lisa Fickenscher
Published 30September2025, 5:24 p.m. ET https://nypost.com/2025/09/30/business/starbucks-abruptly-closes-dozens-of-nyc-locations-in-chaotic-downsizing/

Starbucks’ surprise plans to close dozens of stores across New York City are claiming dozens of high-profile locations — and sparking chaos for employees, city officials and landlords alike, The Post has learned.

The Seattle-based coffee giant – which laid off 900 corporate staffers last week in a $1 billion restructuring plan — is shuttering some 400 plus stores across the country after reporting six consecutive quarters of sales declines.

Those include 54 coffee shops across the city’s five boroughs, according to the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Among them are seemingly prime locations on the Upper East Side and in Greenwich Village, according to a crowd-sourced spreadsheet being circulated to media this week.

Shops in the Upper West Side and the Financial District and Midtown Manhattan were likewise affected — with shuttered locations in the latter including 156 W. 52nd and 871 8th Ave.

Across the city, landlords were shocked by what insiders said was an unusual and chaotic approach to the closures.

“They literally put signs in windows overnight without telling landlords and building managers,” Newmark Retail vice chairman Jeffrey Roseman told The Post. “There was no warning, no heads up.”

Typically, retail tenants will reach out to their landlords to negotiate potential rent concessions, Roseman said.

“There was no outreach to landlords in this case and that’s unusual for a company that’s not in bankruptcy.”

Historically, the 18,000 store chain in the US and Canada has “prided itself on having a story on every other block,” Roseman added.

A Starbucks spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

“We identified coffeehouses where we’re unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect,” Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol — hired away from Chipotle a year ago to spearhead the company’s turnaround — said In a Sept. 25 blog post.

Starbucks is likewise shuttering coffee shops “where we don’t see a path to financial performance,” Niccol added.

Nevertheless, the company may be running afoul of local labor laws, according to a warning letter the city sent to the java giant on Tuesday. Employees at stores that are closing are entitled to be offered jobs elsewhere in the same borough under the city’s Fair Workweek Law, the letter said.

“Starbucks appears poised to violate its legal obligations to employees in New York City locations,” Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga said in the letter.

Mayuga added that by law laid-off workers get first dibs on job openings near the stores that closed. She gave Starbucks until Friday to explain how it will comply with New York City labor laws.

Starbucks is facing a perfect storm of challenges, including increased competition from newcomers and fast food chains like McDonald’s, which is testing a new beverage concept in 500 stores in Wisconsin and Colorado.

An aggressive labor campaign by Starbucks United has resulted in 650 stores with labor contracts, of which 59 stores have been targeted for closure according to the labor group.

What’s more coffee prices have skyrocketed under new tariff policies.

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Bigwig on Zohran Mamdani’s transition team railed against Jews, questioned gay rights in vile unearthed posts: ‘Horror show’

By Carl Campanile
16November2025, 5:47 p.m.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/16/us-news/bigwig-on-zohran-mamdanis-transition-team-railed-against-jews-questioned-gay-rights/

A bigwig on Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition team spewed hatred against Jews and Israel and questioned gay rights in a series of odious social media posts from a decade ago.

Hassaan Chaudhary, who identifies himself as newly appointed political director for Mamdani’s transition and inaugural committee on LinkedIn, used the word “Jew” as a slur, and even praised former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who infamously said Israel is “a cancer which will be eliminated soon.”

Chaudhary, who was the director of Muslim engagement for the Mamdani campaign, also described Israel as a “bloody country” and a “barbaric nation” in the posts — some of which date back to when he was 18 years old.

More recently, Chaudhary reshared a post on X in December 2024 aimed at pro-Israel Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who is Jewish.

“If Luigi [Mangione] had shot a Gazan toddler instead, Josh Shapiro would have given him a medal,” the original post said.

Responding to Pakistani journalist Najam Sethi on February 9, 2012, Chaudhary said, “Hitler..why dont you face our Pakistani people? Your daughter works at WSJ [the Wall Street Journal].”

He then invokes an Urdu phrase, saying, “oh forgot that Jew hoga tera baap” — which loosely means “Jew will be your father.”

In another post, a thrilled Chaudhury also lauded Ahmadinejad and called him “fearless.”

Chaudhary shared a post on X taking aim at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Hassaan Chaudhary/X

“This banda [person] is fearless RT ‘@murtazasolangi President Ahmedinejad has declared Israel as cancer which will be eliminated very soon,’” Chaudhury wrote in an X post to Pakistani official Murtaza Solangi.

He spewed venom toward Israel in other posts.

“There is a barbaric nation who’s killing indigents and innocent Palestinians called ISRAEL. TALK about it. #stupid media,” Chaudhury said in a November 2012 post to a Pakistani journalist.

In another post, he called Israel a “bloody country” for claiming a pro-Palestian resolution was undermining peace instead of promoting it.

In one November 2012 tweet, he questioned gay rights.

“@SaifsDen I too read a piece on Gay rights. To be honest, it is purely claptrap. Doesn’t make sense. Boundary line should be drawn somewhere,” said Chaudhury, now 31.

Chaudhary apologized for the comments in a statement to The Post on Sunday.

“I apologize for my tweets, as they do not reflect my current views, or represent who I am today,” he said. “Those comments from over a decade ago are not in line with how I see the world, and I look back at that rhetoric and mindset with deep regret.”

Jewish activists said Chaudhary’s statements reek of antisemitism and that he doesn’t belong in a Mamdani administration.

“This is Adolf Hitler language. It’s antisemitic. It’s a horror show,” said Dov Hikind, a former Brooklyn assemblyman and founder of Americans Against Antisemitism.

He blamed Mamdani — who supports the controversial boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel — for setting the example.

“The fish stinks from the head. Mamdani sets the tone. It’s a hate-filled administration,” Hikind said.

Veteran political consultant Hank Sheinkopf railed that “words matter.”

“This advisor to the mayor is clearly by his own words a Jew hater,” said Sheinkopf, who is Jewish and a rabbi. “The only issue: it always begins with the Jews but never ends with the Jews. Who’s next on the list?”

A representative for Mamdani’s transition team condemned Chaudhary’s remarks, and said he is a Muslim outreach director for the mayor-elect, not the political director for the transition team.

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New York as it has been forever

It’s not just the garbage, it is the total decadence and destruction of what once was a vibrant and prosperous country , socialism works until it extinguishes the wealth created by capitalism, just wait and see what will happen to NY city!

— Jau (@jeadma) November 11, 2025

Your Indiana Hoosier-tweet-10November2025-New York as it has been forever
Litterally new york as it has been for forever. (And this is 100% cleaner than it was in the 70s)
Jau-tweet-11November2025-total decadence and destruction
It’s not just the garbage, it is the total decadence and destruction of what once was a vibrant and prosperous country , socialism works until it extinguishes the wealth created by capitalism, just wait and see what will happen to NY city!

Your Indiana Hoosier-tweet-10November2025-New York as it has been forever

New York City Trash

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The halcyon days of Jewish New York City are over

The city’s newly elected Democratic Socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, supports the BDS movement and is likely to push an anti-Israel agenda.

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks on Election Night during a campaign rally in Brooklyn, N.Y., after winning the race, Nov. 4, 2025. Photo by Liri Agami/Flash90.

Sarah N. Stern

Sarah N. Stern is the founder and president of the Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET), a think tank that specializes in the Middle East. She is the author of Saudi Arabia and the Global Terrorist Network (2011).

https://www.jns.org/the-halcyon-days-of-jewish-new-york-city-are-over/

(14November2025 / JNS) The post-World War II halcyon days for the American Jewish community in the United States have ended. New York City, which has more Jews within its population than any place on earth outside of Israel, elected its first jihadist mayor.

This has nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that Zohran Mamdani is a Muslim. It has everything to do with the very words that have come out of his mouth. Two years ago, Mamdani said, “We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it has been laced by the IDF,” a reference to the Israel Defense Forces. He has also passionately stated (that is, until he camouflaged his ideas while running for mayor), “to globalize the intifada.”

Now, as the polished, pre-eminent politician that he is, when asked about these statements, he conveniently smiles and adroitly changes the subject to rent control, free childcare and free buses. Mamdani supports the BDS movement and has gone so far as to call Israel’s actions in Gaza “genocide.”

On Oct. 8, 2023, the day after the barbaric Hamas genocide of 1,200 innocent people in southern Israel, Mamdani stated: “A just and lasting peace can only begin by ending the occupation and dismantling apartheid.”

The sadistic atrocities committed by Hamas were not once mentioned

And Israeli apartheid? Walk into any hospital, and you will see Israeli-Arab doctors, patients, nurses and orderlies. According to a 2023 survey, at least 25% of all doctors in Israel are Israeli Arabs, along with 49% of all pharmacists. Khaled Kabub is the first Arab Muslim member of the Israeli Supreme Court; as such, he holds the power to indict any member of the Israeli Knesset, including the prime minister of Israel.

Yet Mamdani’s Democratic Socialists of America friends conveniently ignore these facts and push an anti-Israel agenda that, according to leaked documents, includes:

Divesting city pensions from Israeli bonds and securities;
Banning Israeli products from the city-run grocery stores that Mamdani wants to open;
Investigating real estate agents allegedly “hosting illegal sales of stolen lands in the West Bank”;
Stripping tax-exempt nonprofit status from entities that raise funds for the Israel Defense Forces;
Ending the New York City Police Department’s training with the “Israeli Occupation Forces”;
Arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and active IDF soldiers for “war crimes” if they enter New York City;
Dismantle the NYC-Israel Economic Council formed by outgoing Mayor Eric Adams.

Given his history, Mamdani will likely push some, if not all, of these items once he’s sworn in as mayor of New York City. Consider that Mamdani founded the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at Bowdoin College in Maine, where he unsuccessfully lobbied for BDS. Immediately after its failure, he severed all ties with the J Street colleague who assisted him.

In 2014, he wrote in The Bowdoin Orient, “Israeli universities are both actively and passively complicit in the crimes of both the Israeli military and the Israeli government in all its settler-colonial forms.”

On his podcast, “Talking Palestine,” in 2020, Mamdani said: “If you were to look at the lens of BDS and how it applies here in New York City, you would say that Cornell-Technion is something you would be talking about.”

He is now talking about shutting down Cornell Tech’s joint research educational program between Cornell University and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, housed on the city’s Roosevelt Island.

Mamdani’s cultivated “coolness” and chic affectations have gotten him to where he is today. There is a pretension calibrated to cultivate the image of the most liberal, open-minded, “woke” politicians who deal in empty aphorisms and vacuous phrases. It is all calculated to appeal to the millennial liberal and the identity of Muslims, who feel “under-represented.”

Should American Jews who care passionately about the survival of Israel—the sole Jewish nation in the world, out of 195—be worried?

The answer is, unfortunately, a resounding yes.

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Zohran Mamdani repealed the IHRA definition of antisemitism-overturned an anti-BDS executive order

On his first day as Mayor of NYC, Zohran Mamdani repealed the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

He also overturned an anti-BDS executive order, making it legal to boycott Israeli businesses and organizations.

NYC is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. pic.twitter.com/zJov7H8WpS

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) January 2, 2026

StopAntisemitism-tweet-2January2026-Zohran Mamdani repealed the IHRA definition of antisemitism-overturned an anti-BDS executive order
On his first day as Mayor of NYC, Zohran Mamdani repealed the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

He also overturned an anti-BDS executive order, making it legal to boycott Israeli businesses and organizations.

NYC is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.

The IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism

StopAntisemitism-tweet-2January2026-Zohran Mamdani repealed the IHRA definition of antisemitism-overturned an anti-BDS executive order

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Mamdani’s ‘collectivism’ is dangerous to Jews and everyone else

Among the first acts of New York’s new mayor was a signal that, notwithstanding his disingenuous promises, antisemitism will be defended by his administration.

https://www.jns.org/mamdanis-collectivism-is-dangerous-to-jews-and-everyone-else/

Jonathan S. Tobin

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate, a senior contributor for The Federalist, a columnist for Newsweek and a contributor to many other publications. He covers the American political scene, foreign policy, the U.S.-Israel relationship, Middle East diplomacy, the Jewish world and the arts. He hosts the JNS “Think Twice” podcast, both the weekly video program and the “Jonathan Tobin Daily” program, which are available on all major audio platforms and YouTube. Previously, he was executive editor, then senior online editor and chief political blogger, for Commentary magazine. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of The Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia and editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger. He has won more than 60 awards for commentary, art criticism and other writing. He appears regularly on television, commenting on politics and foreign policy. Born in New York City, he studied history at Columbia University.

(2January2026 / JNS) Inaugurations are generally hopeful days for democracies. Even the most bitter of electoral battles can—with sufficient goodwill and patriotism—transition to the normal business of political give-and-take. But when a democratic election gives power to a person and a faction determined to overthrow the basic foundations of a free society, platitudes about new beginnings and wishing the winners all the best are not a sufficient response to the situation.

That is the dilemma presented by the inauguration of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City.

The 34-year-old, who was sworn in as the 112th person to hold that office on New Year’s Day, may have presented his new administration as one that will protect all the people of the largest city in America. Yet he wasted no time in making clear that he was discarding protections against one of the significant demographic groups that make up Gotham’s “mosaic”: the Jews.

Undermining Jewish rights

In one of his first acts as mayor, Mamdani rescinded executive orders issued by his predecessor, Eric Adams, designed to protect Jews from the surge of hatred that has been raging across the globe, as well as in New York in the two years since the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

That is hardly a surprise, since for all of his claims to oppose hatred of Jews, Mamdani has been actively cheering on the mobs chanting “From the river to the sea” and “Globalize the intifada” on college campuses and in city streets that targeted Jews for intimidation and violence.

Among them were orders that adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s working definition of antisemitism. That definition cites the very same demonizing of Jews and Israel that Mamdani and his anti-Zionist allies engage in by seeking the destruction of the one Jewish state on the planet, and thereby stripping Jews of rights denied to no other people. The orders also prohibited city entities and personnel from engaging in BDS—boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel—which, far from being merely political speech, are themselves acts of illegal discrimination. Another sought to prevent houses of worship from being besieged by demonstrators—something that already happened at the end of November at Park East Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, when an anti-Zionist mob sought to make Jews afraid to attend pro-Israel events.

It is these actions—and not the flowery populist language of hope and solidarity with working people that Mamdani employed in his inaugural speech—that set the tone for the new administration. His mayoralty is much like the entire “progressive” project, which has made itself felt throughout American society in recent years via the woke catechism of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), or the toxic teachings of critical race theory, intersectionality and settler-colonialism that have distorted the education system. In this way, Mamdani’s ideas—and the possibility that they will be implemented—threaten more than just the Jews. It lends power to the woke progressives who belong to the bizarre red-green alliance of Marxists and Islamists that he embodies.

They threaten all Americans, both in New York and elsewhere. It reflects the ideologies of fellow socialists like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who are spearheading the effort to spread the same twisted ideas on the national stage and who were on hand to celebrate Mamdani’s swearing-in

No one should be under any illusions about what Mamdani’s pledge to replace “rugged individualism” with “the warmth of collectivism” will mean.

Individualism v. collectivism

His proud avowal of socialism—albeit with the word prefix “democratic” in front of it, which renders it an oxymoron—is a potent threat not to entrenched interests and villainous billionaires, as he claims. That swipe at individualism seeks to undermine the essence of Western ideas about political and economic rights, as well as justice itself. Mamdani seeks to use the power of City Hall to chip away at those rights in the name of the collective good. But America is a nation that was founded on the notion that those rights rest in the individual citizen as their inherent right and not as a gift from a government.

It is a testimony to the lack of historical knowledge, even the history of just the last 50 years, among younger Americans that socialism is coming back into fashion. As with their predecessors a century ago, many New Yorkers voted for a socialist in the belief that what he stands for is an idealistic faith that will uplift the downtrodden and prevent the rich from exploiting them. His plans for free bus fares, lower rent and cheaper groceries sound good to them, as such promises always do.

The sense that New York is no longer affordable for anyone but the very rich is rooted in reality. Many in the governing class, who belong to both political parties, discarded the interests of working people in favor of globalist economics. That resulted in the offshoring of manufacturing jobs and flooded the country with illegal immigrants, which raised the price of housing and lessened wages for blue-collar Americans while also overwhelming the social-service capabilities of communities, including in New York.

At the same time, some members of educated classes—many of whom went into debt getting worthless college degrees, including those in gender and racial studies, and other non-traditional fields—have been indoctrinated in leftist ideologies and are also frustrated that they are not as well off as those engaged in more productive activities.

A system that doesn’t work

But their woes, as well as those of the working class, are not the result of too little government intervention in the economy, let alone socialism. It reflects too much of it, as every study of state-mandated price controls in housing, food distribution and other sectors always shows. Contrary to the advocacy of slick demagogues like Mamdani and AOC, the creation of wealth and its distribution among a broad swath of citizens is the product of that same individualism that Marxists seek to tear down.

Socialism may sound like a good idea to those who are unaware of the unspeakable suffering it has visited upon every country that fully tried it. Rather than increasing freedom, it always reduces it, since the system is based on the idea that intellectuals and activists know best, and are entitled to direct the way everyone lives and works—and to use the power of government to enforce their misguided plans.

It’s true that many Jews have been seduced by socialism in the last century. Some in Eastern Europe believed that it was the solution to antisemitism. But the Bundists who thought socialism would protect an autonomous Jewish community were deluded, as the Holocaust and 70 years of Soviet tyranny proved. The Jewish experiments in socialism during the process of building the State of Israel should not lead anyone to think of that as an idea that can work. The Labor Zionists who built collective farms and created industries where none existed before were essential to the creation of the Jewish state. But those ideas were checks on its development as a democracy, and many of the institutions they created had eventually had to be discarded or bypassed to facilitate the establishment of Israel’s current prosperous economy.

In practice, socialism is more akin to a religious faith than a set of public-policy proposals. In this way, the facts about its bankruptcy as economic theory and how it leads to tyranny in one form or another allow its adherents to distort, dismiss or simply ignore the examples of how it always fails.

As is usually the case, attacks on the rights of many usually begin with those that impact the few. That is why Mamdani’s obsessive support of the war on Israel and the Jews—a belief that has been the driving force of his entire career—isn’t merely one small facet of his agenda, but rests at its core.

He is defended by a minority of Jews. Still, even in deep-blue New York, where many people, Jews and non-Jews alike, will vote for anyone with the label of Democrat, the overwhelming majority of the Jewish population didn’t support him and are appalled by his embrace of the cause of Israel’s destruction.

From ideas to violence

The new mayor’s orders won’t transform New York City in 2025 into Berlin in 1933 or 1938. Yet we needn’t catastrophize the situation with inappropriate analogies or hyperbole to understand that when you say that it’s OK to discriminate against Jews via BDS or threaten them with genocide and terrorism, pledges to defend the Jewish community remain meaningless. As we’ve seen in the last year—in Boulder, Colo.; Washington, D.C.; Manchester, England; and last month on Bondi Beach in Australia—such advocacy and the indifference of governments to those who engage in, let alone those, like Mamdani, who endorse it, leads to bloodshed and death.

New York would not be the first great city of the world to be destroyed by ideology. Its residents should recognize what the welfare state, hostility to capitalism and a blind faith in government did to their city in the mid-20th century, only to see it revive when centrists like Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg chose different and more rational paths. And they witnessed how those achievements could be undermined by incompetent leftist governance and the willingness to confuse sensible police policy with racism during the eight years of Bill de Blasio’s tenure. They can also look abroad to places like London, where leftist toleration and encouragement of Islamist antisemitism have harmed Jewish civilian life and society in general.

That is also why the proper response to the Mamdani mayoralty can’t be to treat it like any ordinary transfer of power in an elective office. The new mayor is a skillful politician and an even better talker, and his youth and eloquence give him clear advantages as he sets forth to remake the city and use it to further his long war on Israel and the Jews. Those who seek compromise and think they can prevent him from doing harm by being co-opted into his administration are deceiving themselves.

Mamdani’s socialism should be resisted by other levels of government, whether in Albany or Washington. So, too, should his efforts to defend antisemitism.

As he staffs his administration with people who share his comfort with bigotry or promote forms of discrimination against Jews, those who claim to represent the Jewish community, as well as all other people of good faith, mustn’t be deterred by his popularity or press support. His administration must be resisted with every legal and political tactic that can be employed. Anything less won’t just be a moral failure. It will be an invitation for both the mayor and his followers to proceed with their project of dismantling Jewish rights, along with those of everyone else.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate). Follow him: @jonathans_tobin.

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28January2026-Chabad headquarters attacked-Repeated Car Ramming

IDENTIFIED: Dan Sohail of Carteret, NJ was arrested last night after allegedly ramming a vehicle into Chabad headquarters in Crown Heights. pic.twitter.com/Rkp8ONogHu

— Canary Mission (@canarymission) January 29, 2026

Canary Mission-tweet-29January2026-28January2026-Chabad headquarters attacked-Repeated Car Ramming
IDENTIFIED: Dan Sohail of Carteret, NJ was arrested last night after allegedly ramming a vehicle into Chabad headquarters in Crown Heights.

Canary Mission-tweet-29January2026-28January2026-Chabad headquarters attacked-Repeated Car Ramming

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It’s almost like Mamdani is completely unqualified to run a major American city.

It’s almost like Mamdani is completely unqualified to run a major American city. pic.twitter.com/pXYIWYYO08

— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) February 8, 2026

Bill Mitchell-tweet-8February2026-Mamdani is completely unqualified
It’s almost like Mamdani is completely unqualified to run a major American city.

Bill Mitchell-tweet-8February2026-Mamdani is completely unqualified

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What New Yorkers look forward to when Zohran Mamdani is Mayor

Suicide and Other Bombing Attacks in Israel Since the Declaration of Principles (Sept 1993)

Type: Information – Topic: Terrorism – Secondary topic: Palestinian Terror and Incitement – Publish Date: 06April1994 – https://www.gov.il/en/pages/suicide-and-other-bombing-attacks-since-the-declaration-of-principles

Suicide-bombings

Suicide terror attacks 2000-2007

Apr 6, 1994 – Eight people were killed in a car-bomb attack on a bus in the center of Afula. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 13, 1994 – Five people were killed in a suicide bombing attack on a bus in the central bus station of Hadera. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Oct 19, 1994 – In a suicide bombing attack on the No. 5 bus on Dizengoff Street in Tel-Aviv, 21 Israelis and one Dutch national were killed.

Nov 11, 1994 – Three soldiers were killed at the Netzarim junction in the Gaza Strip when a Palestinian riding a bicycle detonated explosives strapped to his body. Islamic Jihad said it carried out the attack to avenge the car bomb killing of Islamic Jihad leader Hani Abed on Nov 2.

Jan 22, 1995 – Two consecutive bombs exploded at the Beit Lid junction near Netanya, killing 20 soldiers and one civilian. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 9, 1995 – Seven Israelis and one American were killed when a bus was hit by an explosives-laden van near Kfar Darom in the Gaza Strip. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jul 24, 1995 – Six civilians were killed in a suicide bomb attack on a bus in Ramat Gan.

Aug 21, 1995 – Three Israelis and one American were killed in a suicide bombing of a Jerusalem bus.

Feb 25, 1996 – In a suicide bombing of bus No. 18 near the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem, 26 were killed (17 civilians and 9 soldiers). Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 25, 1996 – One Israeli was killed in an explosion set off by a suicide bomber at a hitchhiking post oustide Ashkelon. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 3, 1996 – In a suicide bombing of bus No. 18 on Jaffa Road in Jerusalem, 19 were killed (16 civilians and 3 soldiers).

Mar 4, 1996 – Outside Dizengoff Center in Tel-Aviv, a suicide bomber detonated a 20-kilogram nail bomb, killing 13 (12 civilians and one soldier).

Mar 21, 1997 – Three people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb on the terrace of a Tel Aviv cafe. 48 people were wounded.

Jul 30, 1997 – 16 people were killed and 178 wounded in two consecutive suicide bombings in the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem.

Sep 4, 1997 – Five people were killed and 181 wounded in three suicide bombings on the Ben-Yehuda pedestrian mall in Jerusalem.

Oct 29, 1998 – One Israeli soldier was killed when a terrorist drove an explosives-laden car into an Israeli army jeep escorting a bus with 40 elementary school students from the settlement of Kfar Darom in the Gaza Strip.

Nov 2, 2000 – Ayelet Shahar Levy, 28, and Hanan Levy, 33, were killed in a car bomb explosion near the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem. 10 people were injured. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Nov 20, 2000 – A roadside bomb exploded at 7:30 in the morning alongside a bus carrying children from Kfar Darom to school in Gush Katif. Miriam Amitai, 35, and Gavriel Biton, 34, were killed and 9 others, including 5 children, were injured, 5 of them seriously.

Nov 22, 2000 – Shoshanna Reis, 21, of Hadera, and Meir Bahrame, 35, of Givat Olga, were killed, and 60 wounded when a powerful car bomb was denotated alongside a passing bus on Hadera’s main street, when the area was packed with shoppers and people driving home from work.

Dec 22, 2000 – Three soldiers were injured in a suicide bomb attack at the Mehola Junction roadside cafe in the northern Jordan Valley. The terrorist, who detonated a belt of explosives strapped to him, was killed in the blast.

Jan 1, 2001 – A car bomb exploded near a bus stop in the shopping district in the center of Netanya. About 60 people were injured, most lightly. One unidentified person, apparently one of the terrorists involved in the bombing, died of severe burns. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 8, 2001 – A powerful car bomb exploded at 4:40 PM in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Beit Yisrael in Jerusalem, causing mild injuries to four people.

Feb 14, 2001 – Eight people were killed and 25 injured when a bus driven by a Palestinian terrorist plowed into a group of soldiers and civilians waiting at a bus stop near Holon, south of Tel-Aviv.

Mar 1, 2001 – One person was killed and 9 injured when a terrorist detonated a bomb in a Tel Aviv to Tiberias service taxi at the Mei Ami junction in Wadi Ara.

Mar 4, 2001 – Three people were killed and at least 60 injured in a suicide bombing in downtown Netanya.

Mar 27, 2001 – A car bomb exploded at 7:40 in the morning in the Talpiot industrial/commercial zone in Jerusalem. Seven people were injured, one moderately. The Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 27, 2001 – 28 people were injured, two seriously, in a suicide bombing directed against a northbound No. 6 bus at the French Hill junction in Jerusalem. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 28, 2001 – Two teenagers were killed and four injured, one critically, in a suicide bombing at the Mifgash Hashalom (“peace stop”) gas station several hundred meters from an IDF roadblock near the entrance to Kalkilya, east of Kfar Saba. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 22, 2001 – A terrorist detonated a powerful bomb he was carrying near a group of people waiting at a bus stop on the corner of Weizman and Tchernichovsky streets in Kfar Sava. One person was killed and about 60 injured in the blast, two severely. The terrorist was also killed in the explosion, for which Hamas claimed responsibility.

Apr 23, 2001 – Eight people were lightly hurt in a car bombing in Or Yehuda, a few kilometers north of Ben-Gurion Airport, which senior police officers said could only be described as a “miracle” in an area packed with pre-Independence Day shoppers.

Apr 29, 2001 – A car bomb blew up close to a school bus travelling near the West Bank city of Nablus. There were no injuries in the attack. The body of the suicide bomber was found in the car. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 18, 2001 – A Palestinian suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest detonated himself outside the Hasharon Shopping Mall in the seaside city of Netanya. Five civilians were killed and over 100 wounded in the attack. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 25, 2001 – 65 people were injured in a car bombing in the Hadera central bus station. The two terrorists were apparently killed in the explosion. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.

May 27, 2001 – A car bomb exploded in the center of Jerusalem shortly after midnight. There were no injuries. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility.
A bomb exploded at 9:00 in the morning near the intersection of the capital’s main Jaffa Road and Heshin Street. The bomb included several mortar shells, some of which were propelled hundreds of meters from the site of the explosion. 30 people were injured, most suffering from shock. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.

May 30, 2001 – A car bomb exploded shortly before 16:00 outside a school in Netanya while a number of students were still in the building studying for matriculation exams. Eight people were injured, suffering from shock and hearing impairment. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.

June 1, 2001 – 21 people were killed and 120 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a disco near Tel Aviv’s Dolphinarium along the seafront promenade just before midnight on Friday, June 1, while standing in a large group of teenagers waiting to enter the disco.

June 22, 2001 – Sgt. Aviv Iszak, 19, of Kfar Saba, and Sgt. Ofir Kit, 19, of Jerusalem, were killed near Dugit in the Gaza Strip as a jeep with yellow Israeli license plates, supposedly stuck in the sand, blew up as they approached. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

July 2, 2001 – Two separate bombs exploded at about 8:20 Monday morning in cars in the Tel-Aviv suburb of Yehud. Six pedestrians were lightly injured. Police sources say the bombs were probably set by terrorists. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a radical PLO faction, claimed responsibility.

July 9, 2001 – A Palestinian suicide bomber was killed in a car-bombing attack near the Kissufim crossing point in the southern Gaza Strip, causing no other casualties. Disaster was averted as the bomb exploded without hitting any other vehicles. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

July 16, 2001 – Cpl. Hanit Arami, 19, and St.Sgt. Avi Ben Harush, 20, both of Zichron Yaakov, were killed and 11 wounded – 3 seriously – when a bomb exploded in a suicide terrorist attack at a bus stop near the train station in Binyamina, halfway between Netanya and Haifa, at about 19:30 Monday evening. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aug 8, 2001 – A suicide bomber was killed when he detonated his car bomb, lightly wounding one soldier, at a roadblock near the B’kaot moshav in the northern Jordan Valley shortly after 9:00. One soldier was lightly wounded.

Aug 9, 2001 – 16 people were killed, including 7 children, and about 130 injured in a suicide bombing at the Sbarro pizzeria on the corner of King George Street and Jaffa Road in the center of Jerusalem. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aug 12, 2001 – 21 people were injured in a suicide bombing in the Wall Street Cafe in the center of Kiryat Motzkin at 17:30. The terrorist was killed. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aug 21, 2001 – A bomb placed under a car exploded at 14:15 near the Russian Compound in downtown Jerusalem; one woman was treated for shock. A second, very large unexploded bomb was discovered inside the car and dismantled.

Sept 4, 2001 – 20 people were injured when a suicide terrorist exploded a powerful charge on Hanevi’im Street near Bikur Holim hospital in central Jerusalem shortly before 8:00 AM. The terrorist, disguised as a Jew in ultra-orthodox clothing, aroused the suspicion of passersby due to the large backpack he was wearing. As two Border Police officers approached the man, he detonated his shrapnel-packed bomb. Both officers were wounded – one critically. The terrorist was killed in the blast. Hamas claimed responsibility.

Sept 9, 2001 – Three people were killed and some 90 injured, most lightly, in a suicide bombing near the Nahariya train station in northern Israel. The terrorist, killed in the blast, waited nearby until the train arrived from Tel-Aviv and people were exiting the station, and then exploded the bomb he was carrying. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sept 9, 2001 – A car bomb exploded at the Beit Lid junction near Netanya, injuring 17 people. One person killed in the explosion is believed to be the terrorist bomber.

Oct 1, 2001 – A large car bomb exploded in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem. Several people were lightly injured.

Oct 7, 2001 – Yair Mordechai, 43, of Kibbutz Sheluhot was killed when a Palestinian suicide terrorist affiliated with the Islamic Jihad detonated a large bomb strapped to his body near the entrance of the kibbutz in the Beit She’an Valley.

Nov 26, 2001 – A Palestinian suicide bomber killed himself and lightly wounded two Border Policemen at the Erez crossing point in the Gaza Strip. The bomber joined workers waiting to be cleared for entry into Israel. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Nov 29, 2001 – Three people were killed and nine others were wounded in a suicide bombing on an Egged 823 bus en route from Nazereth to Tel Aviv near the city of Hadera. The Islamic Jihad and Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack.

Dec 1, 2001 – 11 people were killed and about 180 injured when explosive devices were detonated by two suicide bombers close to 11:30 P.M. Saturday night on Ben Yehuda Street, the pedestrian mall in the center of Jerusalem. A car bomb exploded nearby 20 minutes later. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Dec 2, 2001 – 15 people were killed and 40 injured, several critically, in a suicide bombing on an Egged bus No. 16 in Haifa shortly after 12:00. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Dec 5, 2001 – A suicide bomber exploded a powerful bomb shortly after 7:30 AM on King David Street in Jerusalem. A number of people waiting at a nearby bus stop were lightly injured. The terrorist was killed in the blast. Police are investigating whether the bomb, packed with nails and shrapnel, went off prematurely. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.

Dec 9, 2001 – A suicide bomber exploded a powerful bomb near a bus stop at the Checkpost Junction in Haifa shortly after 7:30 AM. About 30 people were injured, most lightly and suffering from shock. A second explosive device was found and detonated nearby. The terrorist was killed.

Dec 12, 2001 – Four people traveling in two cars were lightly wounded in an attack at 18:00 PM by two suicide bombers near the Gaza Strip community of Neve Dekalim.

Jan 25, 2002 – 25 people were wounded when a Palestinian suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a cafe on a pedestrian mall near Tel Aviv’s old central bus station at 11:15 AM on Friday.

Jan 27, 2002 – Pinhas Tokatli, 81, of Jerusalem was killed and over 150 people were wounded, four seriously, in a suicide bombing on Jaffa Road, in the center of Jerusalem, shortly before 12:30. The female terrorist, identified as a Fatah member, was armed with more than 10 kilos of explosives.

Feb 16, 2002 – Two teenagers were killed and about 30 people were wounded, six seriously, when a suicide bomber blew himself up on Saturday night at a pizzeria in the shopping mall in Karnei Shomron in Samaria. A third person subsequently died of his injuries. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 18, 2002 – Policeman Ahmed Mazarib, 32, of the Bedouin village Beit Zarzir in the Galilee, was killed by a suicide bomber whom he had stopped for questioning on the Ma’ale Adumim-Jerusalem road. The terrorist succeeded in detonating the bomb in his car. The Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 27, 2002 – A Palestinian suicide bomber blew herself up at the Maccabim roadblock on the Jerusalem-Modi’in highway Wednesday night, injuring three policemen.

Mar 2, 2002 – Eleven people were killed and over 50 were injured, 4 critically, in a suicide bombing at 19:15 on Saturday evening near a yeshiva in the ultra-Orthodox Beit Yisrael neighborhood in the center of Jerusalem where people had gathered for a bar-mitzva celebration. The terrorist detonated the bomb next to a group of women waiting with their baby carriages for their husbands to leave the nearby synagogue. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade took responsibility for the attack.

Mar 5, 2002 – Maharatu Tagana, 85, of Upper Nazareth was killed and a large number of people injured, most lightly, when a suicide bomber exploded in an Egged No. 823 bus as it entered the Afula central bus station. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 7, 2002 – A suicide bomber blew himself up in the lobby of a hotel in the commericial center on the outskirts of Ariel in Samaria. 15 people were injured, one seriously. The PFLP claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 9, 2002 – 11 people were killed and 54 injured, 10 of them seriously, when a suicide bomber exploded at 22:30 PM Saturday night in the crowded Moment cafe at the corner of Aza and Ben-Maimon streets in the Rehavia neighborhood in the center of Jerusalem. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 17, 2002 – A suicide bomber exploded himself near an Egged bus no. 22 at the French Hill junction in northern Jerusalem. 25 people were lightly injured.

Mar 20, 2002 – Seven people, four of them soldiers, were killed and about 30 wounded, several seriously, in a suicide bombing of an Egged bus No. 823 traveling from Tel Aviv to Nazareth at the Musmus junction on Highway 65 (Wadi Ara) near Afula. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 21, 2002 – Three people were killed and 86 injured, 3 of them seriously, in a suicide bombing on King George Street in the center of Jerusalem. The terrorist detonated the bomb, packed with metal spikes and nails, in the center of a crowd of shoppers. The Fatah al-Aqsa Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 27, 2002 – 30 people were killed and 140 injured – 20 seriously – in a suicide bombing in the Park Hotel in the coastal city of Netanya, in the midst of the Passover holiday seder with 250 guests. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack. The terrorist was a member of Hamas from Tulkarem, on the list of wanted terrorists Israel had requested be arrested.

Mar 29, 2002 – Two people were killed and 28 injured, two seriously when a female suicide bomber blew herself up in the Kiryat Yovel supermarket in Jerusalem. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 30, 2002 – One person was killed and about 30 people were injured in a suicide bombing in a cafe on the corner of Allenby and Bialik streets in Tel-Aviv. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 31, 2002 – 15 people were killed and over 40 injured in a suicide bombing in Haifa, in the Matza restaurant of the gas station near the Grand Canyon shopping mall. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 31, 2002 – An MDA paramedic was very seriously injured along with three other people at 17:00 Sunday afternoon in a suicide bombing at the emergency medical center in Efrat, in the Gush Etzion bloc south of Jerusalem.

Apr 1, 2002 – A police officer was killed in Jerusalem when a Palestinian suicide bomber heading toward the city center blew himself up in his car after being stopped at a roadblock. The Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 10, 2002 – Eight people were killed and 22 injured in a suicide bombing on Egged bus #960, en route from Haifa to Jerusalem, which exploded near Kibbutz Yagur, east of Haifa. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 12, 2002 – Six people were killed and 104 wounded when a woman suicide bomber detonated a powerful charge at a bus stop on Jaffa road at the entrance to Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda open-air market. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 7, 2002 – 16 people were killed and 55 wounded in a crowded game club in Rishon Lezion, southeast of Tel-Aviv, when a suicide bomber detonated a powerful charge in the 3rd floor club, causing part of the building to collapse. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 19, 2002 – Three people were killed and 59 injured – 10 seriously – when a suicide bomber, disguised as a soldier, blew himself up in the market in Netanya. Both Hamas and the PFLP took responsibility for the attack.

May 20, 2002 – A suicide bomber, apparently bound for Afula, killed himself after Border Policemen approached him for questioning at a bus stop. There were no other injuries.

May 22, 2002 – Two people were killed and about 40 wounded when a suicide bomber detonated himself in the Rothschild Street downtown pedestrian mall of Rishon Lezion.

May 23, 2002 – A bomb planted by terrorists exploded underneath a fuel truck at the Pi Glilot fuel depot north of Tel Aviv. The truck burst into flames, but the blaze was quickly contained.

May 24, 2002 – A security guard opened fire on a terrorist attempting to ram a car bomb into the Studio 49 Disco in Tel Aviv. The terrorist was killed and five Israelis slightly injured when the bomb exploded prematurely.

May 27, 2002 – A grandmother and her infant granddaughter were killed and 37 people were injured, some seriously, when a suicide bomber detonated himself near an ice cream parlor outside a shopping mall in Petah Tikva. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

June 5, 2002 – 17 people were killed and 38 injured when a car packed with a large quantity of explosives struck Egged bus No. 830 traveling from Tel-Aviv to Tiberias at the Megiddo junction near Afula. The bus, which burst into flames, was completely destroyed. The terrorist was killed in the blast. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

June 11, 2002 – A 14-year-old girl was killed and 15 others were wounded when a Palestinian suicide bomber set off a relatively small pipe bomb at a shwarma restaurant in Herzliya.

June 18, 2002 – 19 people were killed and 74 injured – six seriously – in a suicide bombing at the Patt junction in Egged bus no. 32A traveling from Gilo to the center of Jerusalem. The bus, which was completely destroyed, was carrying many students on their way to school. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

June 19, 2002 – Seven people were killed and 50 injured – three of them in critical condition – when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a crowded bus stop and hitchhiking post at the French Hill intersection in northern Jerusalem shortly after 7:00 P.M., as people were returning home from work. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

July 16, 2002 – Nine people were killed and 20 injured in a terrorist attack on Dan bus no. 189 traveling from Bnei Brak to Emmanuel in Samaria. An explosive charge was detonated next to the bullet-resistant bus. The terrorists waited in ambush, reportedly wearing IDF uniforms, and opened fire on the bus. While four terror organizations claimed responsibility for the attack, it was apparently carried out by the same Hamas cell which carried out the attack in Emmanuel on Dec 12, 2001.

July 17, 2002 – Five people were killed – two Israeli and three foreign workers – and about 40 were injured, four seriously, in a double suicide bombing on Neve Shaanan Street near the old central bus station in Tel Aviv. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

July 30, 2002 – Five people suffered light to moderate injuries in a suicide bombing at a felafel stand on Hanevi’im Street in the center of Jerusalem. The bomber, who was killed, apparently exploded prematurely.

July 31, 2002 – Nine people were killed and 85 wounded, 14 of them seriously, when a bomb exploded in the Frank Sinatra student center cafeteria on the Hebrew University’s Mt. Scopus campus. The explosive device was planted inside the cafeteria, which was gutted by the explosion. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aug 4, 2002 – Nine people were killed and some 50 wounded in a suicide bombing of Egged bus No. 361 traveling from Haifa to Safed at the Meron junction in northern Israel. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aug 5, 2002 – A bomb exploded in a car at the Umm al-Fahm junction in northern Israel, killing the terrorist and wounding the driver, an Arab Israeli resident of Nazareth.

Sept 18, 2002 – Police Sgt. Moshe Hezkiyah, 21, of Elyachin was killed and three people were wounded in a suicide bombing at a bus stop at the Umm al Fahm junction. The terrorist, who was apparently planning to detonate the bomb after boarding a bus, set the charge off early when approached by the police for questioning. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sept 19, 2002 – Six people were killed and about 70 wounded when a terrorist detonated a bomb in Dan bus No. 4 on Allenby Street, opposite the Great Synagogue in Tel-Aviv. Hamas claimed responsbility for the attack.

Oct 10, 2002 – Sa’ada Aharon, 71, of Ramat Gan was killed and about 30 people were wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up while trying to board Dan bus No. 87 across from Bar-Ilan University on the Geha highway (Route 4). Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Oct 21, 2002 – 14 people were killed and some 50 wounded when a car bomb containing about 100 kilograms of explosives was detonated next to a No. 841 Egged bus from Kiryat Shmona to Tel-Aviv, while traveling along Wadi Ara on Route No. 65 toward Hadera. The bus had pulled over at a bus stop when the suicide bomber, from Jenin, driving a jeep, approached from behind and exploded. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Oct 27, 2002 – Two IDF officers and a non-commissioned officer were killed and about 20 people were wounded in a suicide bombing at the Sonol gas station at the entrance to Ariel in Samaria. The victims were killed while trying to prevent the terrorist from detonating the bomb. The terrorist was identified as a member of Hamas.

Nov 4, 2002 – Two people – a security guard and a teenage boy, both recent immigrants from Argentina – were killed and about 70 were wounded in a suicide bombing at a shopping mall in Kfar Sava. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Nov 21, 2002 – Eleven people were killed and some 50 wounded by a suicide bomber on a No. 20 Egged bus on Mexico Street in the Kiryat Menahem neighborhood of Jerusalem. The bus was filled with passengers, including schoolchildren, traveling toward the center of the city during rush hour. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jan 5, 2003 – Twenty-two people were killed and about 120 wounded in a double suicide bombing near the old Central Bus Station in Tel-Aviv. The attack was apparently carried out by two members of the Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, with the help of the Islamic Jihad.

Mar 5, 2003 – Seventeen people were killed and 53 wounded in a suicide bombing of an Egged bus #37 on Moriah Blvd. in the Carmel section of Haifa, en route to Haifa University. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 30, 2003 – Over 40 people were wounded in a suicide bombing on the pedestrian mall at the entrance to the London Cafe in the center of Netanya. The bomber was killed. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 24, 2003 – Alexander Kostyuk, a 23-year-old security guard from Bat Yam, was killed and 13 were wounded, two seriously, in a suicide bombing outside the train station in Kfar Sava. Groups related to the Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the PFLP clamied joint responsibility for the attack.

Apr 30, 2003 – Three people were killed and about 60 peoople were wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a beachfront pub “Mike’s Place” in Tel Aviv. The Fatah Tanzim and Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, carried out as a joint operation. Investigation revealed that the two British Muslims involved in the suicide bombing were dispatched to perpetrate the attack by the Hamas military command in the Gaza Strip.

May 17, 2003 – Gadi Levy and his wife Dina, aged 31 and 37, of Kiryat Arba were killed by a suicide bomber in Hebron. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 18, 2003 – Seven people were killed and 20 wounded in a suicide bombing on Egged bus no. 6 near French Hill in Jerusalem. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
Steve Averbach died on June 3, 2010, succumbing to wounds suffered in the suicide bombing, bringing the death toll to eight.
A second suicide bomber detonated his bomb when intercepted by police in northern Jerusalem. The terrorist was killed; no one else was injured.

May 19, 2003 – Three IDF soldiers were lightly injured when a Palestinian on a bicycle detonated explosives next to a military jeep near Kfar Darom in the southern Gaza Strip. The bomber was killed. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 19, 2003 – Three people were killed and about 70 wounded in a suicide bombing at the entrance to the Amakim Mall in Afula. The Islamic Jihad and the Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades both claimed responsibility for the attack.

May 22, 2003 – Nine Israelis were injured when a roadside bomb was detonated next to a bus near Netzarim in the Gaza Strip.

June 11, 2003 – Seventeen people were killed and over 100 wounded in a suicide bombing on Egged bus #14A outside the Clal building on Jaffa Road in the center of Jerusalem. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

June 19, 2003 – Avner Mordechai, 58, of Moshav Sde Trumot, was killed when a suicide bomber blew up in his grocery on Sde Trumot, south of Beit Shean. The suicide bomber was killed. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

July 7, 2003 – Mazal Afari, 65, of Moshav Kfar Yavetz was killed in her home on Monday evening and three of her grandchildren lightly wounded in a terrorist suicide bombing. The remains of the bomber were also found in the wreckage of the house. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aug 12, 2003 – Erez Hershkovitz, 18, of Eilon Moreh, was killed and three people wounded when a teenaged Palestinian suicide bomber detonated himself at a bus stop outside Ariel. Amatzia Nisanevitch, 22, of Nofim, died of his wounds on August 28.

Aug 19, 2003 – Twenty-three people were killed and over 130 wounded when a Palestinian suicide bomber detonated himself on a No. 2 Egged bus in Jerusalem’s Shmuel Hanavi neighborhood. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sept 9, 2003 – Nine IDF soldiers were killed and 30 people were wounded in a suicide bombing at a hitchhiking post for soldier outside a main entrance to the Tzrifin army base and Assaf Harofeh Hospital. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sept 9, 2003 – Seven people were killed and over 50 wounded in a suicide bombing at Cafe Hillel on Emek Refaim St., the main thoroughfare of the German Colony neighborhood in Jerusalem. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Oct 4, 2003 – Twenty-one people were killed, including four children, and 60 wounded in a suicide bombing carried out by a female terrorist from Jenin in the Maxim restaurant in Haifa. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Oct 9, 2003 – A Palestinian suicide bomber exploded himself at the DCO located at the entrance to Tulkarm. The bomber approached the reception window and exploded himself, injuring two IDF soldiers and a Palestinian.

Oct 15, 2003 – Three Americans were killed and one wounded at the Beit Hanoun junction in the Gaza Strip when a massive bomb demolished an armor-plated jeep in a convoy carrying U.S. diplomats.

Nov 3, 2003 – A suicide bomber blew himself up in the West Bank village of Azun, near Kafr Qasem, when he saw Israeli security officials searching for him. One IDF soldier was lightly wounded. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade claimed responsibility for the failed attack.

Dec 25, 2003 – Four Israelis were killed and over 20 wounded in a suicide bombing at a bus stop at the Geha Junction, east of Tel Aviv, near Petah Tikva. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jan 14, 2004 – Four Israelis – three soldiers and one civilian – were killed and 10 wounded when a female suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the Erez Crossing in the Gaza Strip. Hamas and the Fatah Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed joint responsibility for the attack.

Jan 29, 2004 – Eleven people were killed and over 50 wounded, 13 of them seriously, in a suicide bombing of an Egged bus no. 19 at the corner of Gaza and Arlozorov streets in Jerusalem. The Fatah-related Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack, naming the bomber as Ali Yusuf Jaara, a 24-year-old Palestinian policeman from Bethlehem.

Feb 22, 2004 – Eight people were killed and over 60 wounded, 11 of them school pupils, in a suicide bombing on Jerusalem bus no. 14A near the Liberty Bell Park. The Fatah Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack, which was carried out by Mohammed Za’ul, from the Bethlehem area.

Mar 6, 2004 – Two Palestinian policemen were killed in a terror attack on the Erez crossing in northern Gaza involving rifle fire and suicide car bombs, including jeeps camouflaged as IDF vehicles. Two of the vehicles exploded on the Palestinian side of the crossing, and four terrorists were killed. There were no IDF casualties. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the military wing of Fatah all claimed responsibility.

Mar 14, 2004 – Ten people were killed and 16 wounded in a double suicide bombing at Ashdod Port. Hamas and Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack.

Apr 17, 2004 – Border Policeman Sgt. Kfir Ohayon, 20, of Eilat was killed, three others wounded when a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at the Erez Crossing. Hamas and Fatah claimed joint responsibility for the attack.

May 22, 2004 – A suicide bomber was killed when he detonated an explosive device at the Bekaot checkpoint in the northern Jordan Valley. The commander of the IDF checkpoint was lightly injured, as well as several Palestinians. The PFLP claimed responsibility for the attack.

July 11, 2004 – Sgt. Ma’ayan Na’im, 19, of Bat Yam, was killed and 33 wounded when a bomb exploded at a bus stop in downtown Tel Aviv at about 7 a.m. One person was critically wounded, four were moderately wounded, and the rest were lightly hurt.

Aug 11, 2004 – Two Palestinian bystanders were killed and 18 people were wounded, including six Border Policemen, when a bomb was detonated south of the Qalandiyah checkpoint at the northern entrance to Jerusalem.

Aug 31, 2004 – Sixteen people were killed and 100 wounded in two suicide bombings within minutes of each other on two Beersheba city buses, on route nos. 6 and 12. The buses were traveling along Beersheba’s main street, Rager Blvd, near the city hall. Hamas in Hebron claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sept 8, 2004 – A booby-trapped car exploded next to Israeli security personnel at the Baka al-Sharkiyeh checkpoint, near the Green Line border with the West Bank. The Palestinian driver of the car was killed in the blast. The Fatah-related Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sept 14, 2004 – A suicide bomber riding on a bicycle blew himself up near an armored IDF jeep at an agricultural gate, south of Qalqilyah, injuring two IDF soldiers.

Sept 22, 2004 – Two Border Policemen were killed and 17 Israelis wounded in a suicide bombing carried out by a female terrorist at the French Hill junction hitchhiking post in northern Jerusalem. The Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Oct 7, 2004 – A total of 32 people were killed in terror bombings at two Sinai holiday resorts frequented by Israelis: 29 at the Taba Hilton and three at Ras a-Satan. Among the dead were 12 Israelis; over 120 were wounded.

Nov 1, 2004 – Three people were killed and over 30 wounded in a suicide bombing at the Carmel Market in central Tel Aviv. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Nablus claimed responsibility for the attack, carried out by Amar Alfar, 18, from Askar refugee camp in Nablus.

Dec 7, 2004 – St.-Sgt. Nadav Kudinsky, 20, of Kiryat Gat of the Oketz canine unit was killed by a bomb, along with his dog, when a booby-trapped chicken coup exploded northwest of the Karni Corssing in the Gaza Strip. Four soldiers were wounded in the exchange of fire while evacuating him. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jan 5, 2005 – A terrorist infiltrated the Erez crossing terminal in the Gaza Strip, activated an explosive device, hurled grenades and opened fire. An IDF force shot and killed the terrorist. The Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jan 12, 2005 – One Israeli civilian was killed and three IDF soldiers wounded when a bomb was detonated as a military vehicle patroled the route near Morag in the southern Gaza Strip. Two terrorists were killed by IDF forces. The area was booby-trapped with explosive devices, in addition to the bomb that exploded. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jan 13, 2005 – On Thursday night, shortly before the closing of the Karni Crossing, terrorists activated an explosive device on the Palestinian side of the crossing, blowing a hole in the door through which Palestinian terrorists infiltrated the Israeli side of the crossing and opened fire at Israeli civilians. As a result of the explosion and during exchanges of fire, six Israeli civilians and three Palestinian terrorists were killed, and five Israeli civilians were wounded. Hamas and the Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed joint responsiblity for the attack.

Jan 18, 2005 – An ISA officer was killed, an IDF officer seriously wounded, and 4 IDF soldiers and 3 members of the ISA were lightly wounded in a suicide bombing attack at the Gush Katif junction in the central Gaza Strip. While search procedures were being carried out, the suicide bomber with explosives strapped to his body detonated himself. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 25, 2005 – Five people were killed and 50 wounded Friday night, when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Stage club on the Tel Aviv promenade at around 11:20 P.M., on the corner of Herbert Samuel and Yonah Hanavi streets. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

July 12, 2005 – Five people were killed and about 90 wounded when a suicide bomber detonated himself outside Hasharon Mall in Netanya. The bomber was identified as Ahmed Abu Khalil, 18, from the West Bank village of Atil. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aug 28, 2005 – A suicide bomber detonated himself outside the Beersheba Central Bus Station. Two security guards who stopped the bomber were severely wounded and about 50 people were lightly wounded or treated for shock. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Oct 26, 2005 – Seven people were killed and 54 wounded, six seriously, in a suicide bombing at the Hadera open-air market. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Dec 5, 2005 – Five people were killed and over 50 wounded in a suicide bombing at the entrance to the Sharon shopping mall in Netanya. The terrorist detonated the bomb when he was stopped by security guards, one of whom was killed. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Dec 29, 2005 – Lt. Ori Binamo, 21, of Nesher was killed when a terrorist en route to carry out an attack in Israel detonated himself at roadblock set up near Tulkarm following an intelligence tip. A second intended suicide terrorist was also killed in the blast as well as the taxi driver and a third passenger. Three soldiers and seven Palestinians were wounded.

Jan 19, 2006 – Thirty-one people were wounded in a suicide bombing in a shawarma restaurant near the old central bus station in Tel Aviv. The Jerusalem Battalions of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mar 30, 2006 – Four people were killed when a suicide bomber hitchhiker disguised as an ultra-Orthodox yeshiva student detonated his explosive device in a private vehicle near the entrance to Kedumim.

Apr 17, 2006 – Eleven people were killed and over 60 wounded in a suicide bombing during the Passover holiday near the old central bus station in Tel Aviv, at the Rosh Ha’ir shawarma restaurant, site of the Jan 19 bombing. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jan 29, 2007 – Three employees of a bakery in the southern city of Eilat were killed in a suicide bombing. The Islamic Jihad and the Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Feb 4, 2008 – Lyubov Razdolskaya, 73, of Dimona was killed and 38 wounded – Razdolskaya’s husband critically – in a terror attack carried out by a suicide bomber at a shopping center in Dimona. A police officer shot and killed a second terrorist before he detonated his explosive belt. A Hamas statement from Gaza praised the attack, calling it an “heroic act”.

Mar 6, 2008 – Eight students of the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem were killed when a terrorist armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle infiltrated the yeshiva and opened fire in the library where about 80 people were gathered, mostly teenagers. Eleven others were wounded, three critically. The terrorist, a resident of East Jerusalem, was killed by an IDF officer.

May 14, 2008 – At about 6 pm an Iranian-made Grad rocket launched from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip hit a busy shopping mall in central Ashkelon. 90 people were wounded, four of them seriously, among them a 24-year-old mother and her infant daughter.

July 2, 2008 – Three people were killed and over 50 wounded in a terror attack in Jerusalem. Driving a bulldozer on Jaffa Road between the Central Bus Station and the Mahane Yehuda market, the terrorist plowed into cars and pedestrians as well as two public buses carrying some 50 passengers. Police shot and killed the terrorist.

Mar 23, 2011 – One woman, a 59-year-old British national, was killed and about 50 wounded when a bomb exploded across from the Jerusalem Convention Center, near the Central Bus Station. The bomb had been placed near a telephone booth at a crowded bus stop next to Egged city bus #74.

Aug 18, 2011 – In a series of terrorist attacks was perpetrated against civilians and IDF soldiers in Israel’s southern region, six civilians were killed as well as one soldier and a police officer, and at least 31 were wounded. The terrorists responsible for the attacks originated in the Gaza Strip and crossed into Israel via Egypt. IDF forces pursued and killed a number of the terrorists responsible for the attacks.

July 18, 2012 – Six people, five Israelis and the Bulgarian bus driver, were killed and over 30 wounded in a suicide bombing attack on a bus carrying Israelis at Sarafovo Airport in Burgas, Bulgaria. The seventh body was identified as the suicide bomber.

Nov 21, 2012 – Shortly before noon a bomb exploded in a Dan city bus no. 142 on Shaul Hamelech Street in the center of Tel Aviv. 21 people were wounded, three in moderate to serious condition. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri praised the bombing.

Oct 11, 2015 – A female terrorist detonated an explosive device, lightly wounding a police officer near the checkpoint on the road between Ma’aleh Adumim and Jerusalem. A traffic police officer stopped the driver, who was in the lane reserved for public transportation, and approached the car. The driver exited the vehicle, shouted “Allahu Akbar” and detonated an explosive device. The terrorist was seriously injured in the attack and was evacuated to hospital in Jerusalem with burns to her entire body.

April 19, 2016 – Jerusalem: In the early evening, an explosion on a bus and a subsequent fire led to the injury of 21 people, including passengers on a passing bus and in a nearby car. Two of the injured are in serious condition, 7 were moderately injured and 12 were lightly injured.

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Israel prepares for Jewish Mass Exodus

BARRY’s Newsletter

Israel readies for a mass exodus from failing Western countries of Jews living in increasing fear.

BARRY SHAW
29November2025
https://barryshaw.substack.com/p/israel-readies-for-a-mass-exodus

Israel is preparing for the increasing wave of antisemitism. accompanied by rising violence that could trigger large-scale Jewish immigration to the Jewish State.

The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, together with the National Emergency Authority (RAHEL), conducted on Thursday a strategic exercise simulating a national emergency scenario for absorbing a significant influx of Jewish immigrants from around the world.

The exercise, held at the National College for Israeli Resilience attended by representatives from government ministries, NGOs, and essential partner organizations, rehearsed a scenario in which tens of thousands of new immigrants arrive in Israel all at once.

Increasingly, Jews in failing Western countries, with governments and mayors that cater to anti-Semitic migrants that import their hate culture into the host countries as they threaten and attack Jews as they curse Israel, are looking, with increasing seriousness, at making Aliyah to the Jewish State of Israel in which minorities are treated far better than minority Jews in an increasingly intolerant West.

Paris, anyone? Malmo, anyone? Sydney or Melbourne, anyone? Amsterdam, anyone? Milan, anyone? New York, anyone? London, Birmingham and Manchester, anyone?

Add your example here…

Barry Shaw, The View from Israel.

Israel Institute for Strategic Studies.

Subscribe here; https://ko-fi.com/barryshaw

Israel prepares for Jewish Mass Exodus

❗️ISRAEL PREPARES FOR JEWISH MASS EXODUS

Emergency drill simulates massive intake of tens of thousands of Jews fleeing their countries due to severe antisemitic or security incidents (via Walla News)

Is the great escape coming? pic.twitter.com/ywk9a4P2ot

— Israel Radar (@IsraelRadar_com) November 27, 2025

Israel Radar-tweet-27November2025-Israel prepares for Jewish Mass Exodus
❗️ISRAEL PREPARES FOR JEWISH MASS EXODUS

Emergency drill simulates massive intake of tens of thousands of Jews fleeing their countries due to severe antisemitic or security incidents (via Walla News)

Is the great escape coming?

Here’s the full article: https://news.walla.co.il/item/3797473

Israel Radar-tweet-27November2025-Israel prepares for Jewish Mass Exodus

Emergency NY Planning Evacuation

‼️‼️Emergency NY Planning Evacuation

Today in Israel, the National Emergency Authority (RAHEL) and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration carried out a major national drill preparing for a mass wave of global Jewish immigration — a scenario that is no longer theoretical.

Since…

— Betar Worldwide (@Betar_USA) November 27, 2025

Betar Worldwide-tweet-27November2025-Emergency NY Planning Evacuation
‼️‼️Emergency NY Planning Evacuation

Today in Israel, the National Emergency Authority (RAHEL) and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration carried out a major national drill preparing for a mass wave of global Jewish immigration — a scenario that is no longer theoretical.

Since October 7th, we have seen historic levels of antisemitism, institutional hostility in major Western cities, and political changes that directly endanger Jewish communities.
Senior officials now openly say that within two months, a major Jewish community somewhere in the world may collapse under antisemitism, economic chaos, or political upheaval — and will need immediate rescue to Israel.

As part of this drill, tens of thousands of Jews arriving at once were simulated, alongside assessments of government coordination, emergency housing, data systems, and security protocols.
The Ministry’s Director-General noted that even Western countries — including the United States — are now at risk. He specifically referenced the Jewish community in New York, where Mayor-elect Mamdani represents a radical ideological shift that deeply concerns many Jewish leaders. After October 7th, British Jewish leaders admitted the shift clearly:
“We used to think we were British Jews. After October 7th — we are Jews first.”

This is the reality for Jews across the world today.

Betar Worldwide participated in this national preparedness effort.
As Jabotinsky taught us, the Jewish nation must always be ready, always strong, and always willing to take responsibility for every Jew, everywhere.

We will continue to:
•Encourage Aliyah as the greatest act of Jewish strength
•Support Jews worldwide facing rising antisemitism
•Work closely with Israeli institutions to ensure Israel is prepared to receive, protect, and embrace every Jew who needs a home
•Stand firm as proud Jabotinsky Zionists — the movement that refuses to abandon a single Jew in danger

Our message is simple:
Israel is the home of every Jew.
Betar will always do its part to bring our brothers and sisters home — with pride, with strength, and with unwavering Zionist conviction.

Am Yisrael Chai.

היום בישראל ערכו רח״ל (רשות החירום הלאומית) ומשרד העלייה והקליטה תרגיל לאומי רחב-היקף לקראת גל עלייה מסיבי של יהודים מכל העולם — תרחיש שכבר איננו תיאורטי כלל.

מאז 7 באוקטובר אנו רואים רמת אנטישמיות שלא נראתה מזה דורות, עוינות מוסדית בערים מערביות גדולות, ושינויים פוליטיים שמסכנים ישירות קהילות יהודיות. בכירי המשרד אומרים בפירוש: ייתכן שבתוך חודשיים תקרוס קהילה יהודית גדולה בעקבות אנטישמיות, כאוס כלכלי או מהפכה פוליטית — ותזדקק להצלה מיידית לישראל.

במסגרת התרגיל דימו קליטה של עשרות אלפי עולים בבת אחת, כולל תיאום בין משרדי הממשלה, לוגיסטיקה, שיכון חירום, מאגרי מידע וביטחון. מנכ״ל המשרד הדגיש שגם מדינות מערביות — כולל ארה״ב — עלולות להיקלע לאירוע פתאומי. הוא ציין במיוחד את מצב הקהילה היהודית בניו יורק, לאור כניסתו של ראש העיר הנבחר ממדאני, שמייצג שינוי אידיאולוגי קיצוני ומדאיג. מנהיג יהודי בכיר באנגליה אמר לאחרונה: ״עד השבעה באוקטובר חשבנו שאנחנו בריטים יהודים. אחרי השבעה באוקטובר — אנחנו קודם כל יהודים.״

זה המצב היום ליהודים בעולם.

בית״ר העולמית לקחה חלק במאמץ ההיערכות הלאומי. כדברי ז׳בוטינסקי — העם היהודי חייב להיות מוכן, חזק, ואחראי לכל יהודי בכל מקום.

אנו נמשיך: •לעודד עלייה כמעשה של עוצמה יהודית •לתמוך בקהילות יהודיות בעולם מול האנטישמיות הגוברת •לפעול יחד עם מוסדות המדינה כדי להבטיח שישראל מוכנה לקלוט ולהגן על כל יהודי הזקוק לבית •לעמוד כבית״רים גאים — התנועה שאינה מפקירה אף יהודי בסכנה

המסר שלנו ברור: ישראל היא הבית של כל יהודי. ובית״ר תמשיך לעשות הכול כדי להביא את אחינו ואחיותינו הביתה — בגאווה, בעוצמה ובאמונה ציונית מלאה.

עם ישראל חי.

Betar Worldwide-tweet-27November2025-Emergency NY Planning Evacuation-ENG

Betar Worldwide-tweet-27November2025-Emergency NY Planning Evacuation-HEB

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Jews Across the World Are Repeating the Mistakes of the 1930s

by Ronn Torossian

17November2025 1:18 pm https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/11/17/jews-across-world-repeating-mistakes-1930s/

A shop damaged in Magdeburg, Germany, during Kristallnacht. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

In August 1933, only months after Hitler rose to power, a chilling article appeared in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Dr. Max Naumann, a proud German patriot and the founder of the Verband nationaldeutscher Juden — the Association of National German Jews — declared his unwavering loyalty to the Nazi government. Even as Jewish livelihoods were being dismantled and the beginnings of the Holocaust were in place, this group of proper, fancy German Jews insisted that Jews had nothing to fear if they behaved correctly, shed their national identity, rejected Zionism, and embedded themselves wholly within German society.

But history was about to deliver its verdict.

This is the story of a worldview that has reappeared across Jewish history again and again: the belief that if Jews abandon their nationalism, and appease their oppressors, they will be spared. They condemned the very concept of Jewish self-defense.

The existence in Germany of Betar, a Zionist movement founded in 1923, presented an ideological threat to this worldview.

Betar youths sang Hebrew songs, carried themselves with discipline, and insisted the Jewish people were a nation with a destiny. In the eyes of people like Naumann, Betar represented a dangerous idea: that Jews could survive only by standing as a proud, independent people — not by pleading for acceptance. History proved Betar right.

At first glance, one could treat Naumann as a figure locked in the past, but his story remains painfully relevant today. Across the Diaspora, Jewish communities are living through a renewed wave of open antisemitism not seen in generations. And how does a certain segment of world Jewry respond?

With fear. With appeasement. With approximately 33 percent of New York City’s Jews voting for Zohran Mamdani. They repeat the same delusions Naumann preached: that appeasement will earn respect, that silence will earn safety, that bowing one’s head will spare us.

We know where that path leads.

One of the most important lessons of the Holocaust — and indeed of all Jewish history — is that Jews need to fight back. This truth remains unchanged today. And just like in 1933, the Jews most desperate to blend in, the ones who insist “We’re not like those other Jews,” will end up being persecuted and targeted by those they try to appease.

This is the moment when we must remember the Zionist leader who founded Betar, Ze’ev Jabotinsky. Jabotinsky believed that every Jewish person must stand tall, walk with pride, and never bow their head. Jabotinsky taught that Jewish dignity must never be surrendered, and that Jewish self-defense and a Jewish state is the only real guarantee of Jewish safety.

In the 1930s, Jabotinsky warned that Europe was becoming unsafe for Jews. Most of world Jewry dismissed his most dire warnings of death as hysteria.

Today, not a single one of the mainstream Jewish leaders of the Diaspora is talking about aliyah, the process of Jews immigrating to Israel.

Across the Diaspora, Jewish communities cling to institutions that no longer protect them, governments that no longer defend them, and illusions that no longer serve them. They dedicate themselves to endless dialogues with activists who openly seek their destruction. They send letters, petitions, pleas, and polite condemnations, all while their enemies march in the streets and terrorize their children on campus.

This is a Naumann mindset reborn. And just like in 1933, it is a deadly delusion.

World Jewry has failed to learn the most basic lessons of Jewish history. The lesson that no society, not even the most enlightened, guarantees Jewish safety. The lesson that Jewish security cannot depend on the goodwill of others.

And the only difference between then and now is the Jewish State.

At a time when New York, London, Toronto, Paris, Melbourne, and Johannesburg are becoming unsafe for Jews, Israel is thriving. Our cities — Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Raanana, Herzliya, Haifa — are full of innovation, culture, Jewish life, and Jewish safety. Hebrew is spoken without fear. Soldiers protect us. Our national institutions — flawed as they may be — defend us. The Diaspora is in deep trouble, in part because many Jewish leaders abroad, like Naumann in his time, are enemies of the Jewish people.

Ronn Torossian is an Israeli-American Jewish communal leader and entrepreneur who lives in Israel.

The opinions presented by Algemeiner bloggers are solely theirs and do not represent those of The Algemeiner, its publishers or editors. If you would like to share your views with a blog post on The Algemeiner, please be in touch through our Contact page.

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Zohran Mamdani and the great American Jewish reckoning

The community is fracturing along three intertwined axes—support for Israel, level of religious observance and political orientation.

Rachel Suggs

Rachel Suggs is a researcher on the Jewish Diaspora at MIND Israel.

https://www.jns.org/zohran-mamdani-and-the-great-american-jewish-reckoning/

(18November2025 / JNS) New York state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s ascent to political prominence as the mayor-elect of New York City has illuminated the fault lines long running beneath the surface of American Jewry. To even refer to it as a single “community” is, by now, an anachronism.

What was once a network of shared fate and memory has splintered into ideological camps, each convinced the other has betrayed the essence of Jewish life in America. American Jewry’s vulnerability now exists on two levels: internal and external.

Internally, the community is fracturing along three intertwined axes—support for Israel, level of religious observance and political orientation.

Once a bastion of liberal values and progressive ideals, Jewish progressives now find themselves unwelcome in spaces increasingly hostile to Jewish identity, especially when expressed through support for Israel and Jewish self-determination. Meanwhile, conservative Jews find little refuge on the right, where extremist antisemitic currents, once confined to the margins, have been inching into the mainstream.

The ordinary rhythms of Jewish communal life now unfold with a kind of surreal dissonance. Spreadsheets circulate tallying which rabbis signed which open letters about Mamdani’s candidacy—and yes, there is both a liberal and a conservative version—with congregants refusing to attend the services of a rabbi who signed the “wrong” one. Synagogue listservs and WhatsApp groups have become political battlegrounds. The question of whom to invite to the Shabbat table now hinges on one’s opinion of Mamdani. The very spaces meant to foster belonging are now defined by estrangement.

Yet these internal fractures are magnified by a more alarming external shift: the crystallization of a bipartisan front increasingly hostile to Israel.

Events of the past few weeks alone suggest that positions once relegated to the political fringe—anti-Israel, and at times, openly antisemitic—are moving closer to the center in both major parties.

On the Democratic side, Mamdani’s victory as the party’s nominee for mayor of New York City marks a turning point. Despite credible reports from the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy linking select campaign donors to the Muslim Brotherhood, posing for selfies with an unindicted co-conspirator of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and proclaiming admiration for the “Holy Land Five”— individuals convicted of funneling $12.4 million to Hamas—Mamdani nonetheless enjoys the backing of prominent mainstream figures such as presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

His rise signals that anti-Israel positions no longer incur political cost within progressive circles; they may, in fact, confer political capital.

On the Republican side, a parallel shift is unfolding. At a recent Turning Point USA conference, Vice President JD Vance entertained questions about America’s relationship with Israel that dripped with antisemitic undertones—asking why the United States “owed Israel anything,” given that “their religion does not agree with ours.” His response emphasized “national interest” over shared democratic values or historic alliances.

Soon after, former Fox News host and current conservative media figure Tucker Carlson, who termed Christian Zionism a “brain virus,” hosted on his program far-right activist Nick Fuentes—a white supremacist, neo-Nazi and Holocaust denier. When Carlson was criticized, Kevin Roberts, head of the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, rushed to his defense. The Heritage Foundation is particularly known for publishing “Project Esther,” a national strategy to combat antisemitism.

Taken together, these episodes mark a bipartisan normalization of antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiment that once lingered at the edges of public discourse. On both the left and the right, antipathy toward Israel is being reframed—on one side as moral virtue, on the other as nationalist authenticity.

The first casualties of this realignment are American Jews themselves.

Those on the left feel exiled from movements they helped build. Those on the right feel unsafe among allies who trivialize or excuse antisemitism. The result is a community adrift—politically, spiritually and morally—at the very moment when solidarity is most needed.

For Israel, the implications are profound. Jerusalem must resist the temptation to align itself exclusively with one American party or ideological camp. Instead, it should nurture channels of dialogue with American Jews across the spectrum—both institutional and grassroots. Such engagement serves a dual purpose: to fortify Jewish identity and resilience amid rising hostility, and to foster within Israel a deeper understanding of how it might support the continued vitality of American Jewry.

The survival and flourishing of Jewish life in America cannot depend on the favor of transient political winds, nor can it retreat into sectarianism. The task now is to recover a sense of shared destiny—rooted not in unanimity of opinion, but in the recognition that Jewish life, wherever it unfolds, remains bound by a moral covenant older and deeper than any party line.

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‘Destroy Israel’: Rabbi of NYC shul recounts targeting by mob

Rabbi Arthur Schneier, 95, who leads the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, is a Holocaust survivor who saw his synagogue burn on Kristallnacht.

JNS Staff

https://www.jns.org/activists-chant-destroy-israel-and-we-need-to-make-them-scared-outside-ny-shul/

Rabbi Arthur Schneier (center), the senior rabbi of Park East Synagogue, and Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, alongside N.Y. and Israeli officials at a ceremony inaugurating Yad Vashem Way on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Jan. 30, 2025. Photo by Vita Fellig.

(23November2025 / JNS) The 95-year-old senior rabbi of Manhattan’s historic Park East Synagogue, which was targeted by an anti-Israel mob earlier in the week, recounted the unsettling experience in an interview on Friday with the New York Post.

“I’m a Holocaust survivor. I saw my synagogue [in Vienna] burn on Kristallnacht with the police standing by and not intervening,” Rabbi Arthur Schneier was quoted as saying.

“Thank God in the United States, the police are protecting us against the hate-mongers,” Schneier said.

Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, was an event orchestrated by the Nazis on Nov. 9-10, 1938, in which more than 1,400 synagogues and prayer rooms, and Jewish businesses, homes, hospitals and schools were burned, damaged and ransacked in Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland.

Although the anti-Israel activists who gathered outside the synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Wednesday did not employ physical violence, they used incendiary language such as “Destroy Israel” and “We need to make them scared,” calling on the “resistance” to “take another settler out,” the Post reported.

Schneier said the disturbing event should serve as a “warning not to be silent. No house of worship should be subjected to this type of demonstration.”

Schneier has led the congregation for five decades. The synagogue was established in New York in 1890. On Wednesday night, it hosted an event by Nefesh B’Nefesh, an Israel-based organization encouraging North American Jews to relocate to Israel.

Mayor Eric Adams condemned the protesters, saying “Houses of worship are where people go to heal, reflect and respect one another. Church, mosque, synagogue, it makes no difference. Screaming vile language outside any of them isn’t ‘protest’ it’s desecration. It shows how sick and warped these agitators have become.”

He added that he will pay a visit to the synagogue when he returns from his trip abroad.

Houses of worship are where people go to heal, reflect, and respect one another. Church, mosque, synagogue, it makes no difference. Screaming vile language outside any of them isn’t “protest” it’s desecration. It shows how sick and warped these agitators have become.

When I’m… https://t.co/yESds6rNoS

— Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) November 20, 2025

Eric Adams-tweet-20November2025-it’s desecration
Houses of worship are where people go to heal, reflect, and respect one another. Church, mosque, synagogue, it makes no difference. Screaming vile language outside any of them isn’t “protest” it’s desecration. It shows how sick and warped these agitators have become.

When I’m back in New York, I’ll be stopping at Park East to show my support. Pray for our city.

Today it’s a synagogue. Tomorrow it’s a church or a mosque. They come for me today and you tomorrow.

We cannot hand this city over to radicals.
Moshe Schwartz-tweet-20November2025-intifada revolution
Hamas protesters heckle Jews and chant for an intifada outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan to protest an event by Nefesh B’nefesh, an organization that helps Jews immigrate to Israel.

The protesters chant, “There is only one solution, intifada revolution,” “No peace on stolen land,” and , “We don’t want no two states, we want ‘48.”

Eric Adams-tweet-20November2025-it’s desecration

The anti-Israel Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani issued a statement saying that he “discouraged” the language used at the protest, but coupled it with a criticism of the event, saying that “these sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law,” the Post reported.

“Pal-Awda NY/NJ,” the anti-Israel group behind the protest, doubled down on its behavior, tweeting on Friday that it “showed up to declare ‘Death to the IDF’” in response to the effort to “recruit American settlers to illegally occupy stolen Palestinian land.”

According to the Post, the group moreover legitimized the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, against Israel during the second anniversary of the massacre this year.

“Two years ago today, the Palestinian Resistance broke the gates of the world’s largest open-air prison, disrupting the norm of decades of dispossession and apartheid imposed by ‘Israel,’” the report cited the group as tweeting.

Meanwhile, Schneier told the Post he was “very, very touched” by the show of support for the Jewish community from prominent officials such as N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

“I’m touched by the solidarity of good people outraged by what has taken place. And also, by the way, I’ve received calls from clergy from many denominations,” the Holocaust survivor said.

Violent Antisemitic mob Protest Outside of Park East Synagogue, NYC

Jessie Fairbanks was filmed screaming at a Jewish man to k*ll himself outside Park East Synagogue during recent protests in Manhattan:

“Do the world a favor, k*ll yourself, sl*t your throat!”

A few months earlier, she was also filmed tearing down posters of Israeli hostages.… pic.twitter.com/lI6EGw2KYJ

— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) November 27, 2025

Combat Antisemitism Movement-tweet-27November2025-Violent Antisemitic mob Protest Outside of Park East Synagogue
Jessie Fairbanks was filmed screaming at a Jewish man to k*ll himself outside Park East Synagogue during recent protests in Manhattan:

“Do the world a favor, k*ll yourself, sl*t your throat!”

A few months earlier, she was also filmed tearing down posters of Israeli hostages.

This is sick.

Combat Antisemitism Movement-tweet-27November2025-Violent Antisemitic mob Protest Outside of Park East Synagogue

Rabbi Shalom Arush – Breslev English-tweet-22November2025-this cannot be tolerated

THANK YOU!
because this cannot be tolerated!
Not in NYC and not anywhere in America or the world
Protests MUST be illegal within at least a square block of a synagogue and Jews must be free to come and go without fear, blockades or running through the back door!

— Rabbi Shalom Arush – Breslev English (@ShalomArushEN) November 22, 2025

Leo Terrell-tweet-22November2025-I am doing something
I am doing something! Trust me! @realDonaldTrump @AGPamBondi
Rabbi Poupko-tweet-21November2025-anti-semitic protest outside Park East Synagogue
The more I speak to people about the anti-semitic protest outside Park East Synagogue, the more questions I have for the NYPD.

The NYPD must explain why it allowed Hamas of New York to come so close to the door of a New York City sending out, why it kept so many Jews away, and why it allowed the anti-semitic goons to stand right outside a synagogue.
Rabbi Shalom Arush – Breslev English-tweet-22November2025-because this cannot be tolerated
THANK YOU!
because this cannot be tolerated!
Not in NYC and not anywhere in America or the world
Protests MUST be illegal within at least a square block of a synagogue and Jews must be free to come and go without fear, blockades or running through the back door!

Leo Terrell-tweet-22November2025-I am doing something

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Nefesh B’Nefesh-23November2025-Our commitment remains unwavering

In Response to the Recent Violent Protest Outside of Park East Synagogue, NYC:

For more than two decades, Nefesh B’Nefesh has been dedicated to supporting, educating, and advising individuals and families throughout their Aliyah (immigration to Israel) journey.

We are deeply… pic.twitter.com/22IE6ccKNI

— Nefesh B’Nefesh (@NefeshBNefesh) November 23, 2025

Nefesh B’Nefesh-tweet-23November2025-Our commitment remains unwavering
In Response to the Recent Violent Protest Outside of Park East Synagogue, NYC:

For more than two decades, Nefesh B’Nefesh has been dedicated to supporting, educating, and advising individuals and families throughout their Aliyah (immigration to Israel) journey.

We are deeply concerned by, and firmly condemn, the violent rhetoric and aggressive behavior that took place outside of the Park East Synagogue.

Our commitment remains unwavering. We will continue to serve Olim (immigrants to Israel) with professionalism, compassion, and the highest level of care, ensuring that every individual and family feels supported.

Nefesh B’Nefesh-tweet-23November2025-Our commitment remains unwavering

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Rabbi Poupko-20November2025-Antisemitism is a sweet poison pill

OPEN LETTER TO PROTESTER

To the person who showed up outside Park East Synagogue last night chanting to “globalize the intifada” , and saying “de@th to the IDF”.

I will not appeal to your moral sensibilities.

I will not tell you this is a synagogue that was home to the most… pic.twitter.com/pKedmzT87H

— Rabbi Poupko (@RabbiPoupko) November 20, 2025

Rabbi Poupko-tweet-20November2025-Antisemitism is a sweet poison pill
OPEN LETTER TO PROTESTER

To the person who showed up outside Park East Synagogue last night chanting to “globalize the intifada” , and saying “de@th to the IDF”.

I will not appeal to your moral sensibilities.

I will not tell you this is a synagogue that was home to the most Holocaust survivors in New York, about the children who go through the synagogue door, about the people who find meaning and community within its sacred walls.

You probably knew all that before you showed up, and you still showed up.

It probably felt good and empowering for you to stand there and shout at us.

Here is what I will bring to your attention.

To the Brownshirts who went from being bitterly unemployed to standing with a uniform and a group outside of Jewish stores in Berlin in the 1930s, it probably also felt very good. They went from being lonely economically and socially broken individuals, to a place of belonging and power.

Here’s what those Brownshirts enjoyed less.

Just 10 years after they stood outside of those Jewish stores in Berlin, they were freezing and starving for months outside the gates of Stalingrad. Most of them did not make it out alive. They froze or starved to death.

Just 10 years after those rallies in Munich and Nuremberg, they were laying at the feet of British soldiers in the deserts of North Africa.

Antisemitism is a sweet poison pill; it feels good at the moment and the price comes only later.

This kind of chaos, hate, and incility will affect us first, but the consequences for a society that allows such hate, are disintegration the kind of which we have seen in World War II.

Rabbi Poupko-tweet-20November2025-Antisemitism is a sweet poison pill

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The siege of Park East Synagogue and cooperating with Mamdani

Some leaders think they must make nice with the mayor-elect. But how can you work with a hostile mayor who openly sympathizes with those attacking Jewish houses of worship?

https://www.jns.org/the-siege-of-park-east-synagogue-and-cooperating-with-mamdani/

Jonathan S. Tobin

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate, a senior contributor for The Federalist, a columnist for Newsweek and a contributor to many other publications. He covers the American political scene, foreign policy, the U.S.-Israel relationship, Middle East diplomacy, the Jewish world and the arts. He hosts the JNS “Think Twice” podcast, both the weekly video program and the “Jonathan Tobin Daily” program, which are available on all major audio platforms and YouTube. Previously, he was executive editor, then senior online editor and chief political blogger, for Commentary magazine. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of The Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia and editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger. He has won more than 60 awards for commentary, art criticism and other writing. He appears regularly on television, commenting on politics and foreign policy. Born in New York City, he studied history at Columbia University.

(21November2025 / JNS) In the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s decisive victory in the New York City mayoral election, most Jewish leaders believed that they had no choice but to do their best to cooperate with him. Doing so was in keeping with the traditions of American democracy.

But how do you work with someone who is sending mixed messages to antisemitic mobs about whether it is OK to besiege synagogues and threaten Jews with violence?

That’s the dilemma facing New York Jewry in the wake of Mamdani’s equivocal comments about the siege of Park East Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side on the evening of Nov. 19 by an anti-Zionist mob who harassed those entering the building and chanted slogans like “From New York to Gaza, globalize the intifada” and “Resistance you make us proud, take another settler out.”

Lying about aliyah and international law

Speaking through a spokesman, the mayor-elect issued an anodyne statement about “discouraging” the use of such slogans threatening Jews with violence. It said, “He believes every New Yorker should be free to enter a house of worship without intimidation.”

Had it stopped right there, it would have been appropriate and engendered no criticism. But Mamdani couldn’t leave it at that. In the same sentence, the statement went on to qualify his condemnation of the incident by declaring that “these sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law.”

Let’s be clear: What happened in the synagogue that night was no violation of international law. It was a gathering organized by a group that promotes Jewish immigration to Israel. Far from illegal, that’s a right that is secured by international law dating back to the aftermath of the First World War. It was established in the 1920 San Remo Agreement that guaranteed the right of Jews to settle in their ancient homeland, and then the 1922 League of Nations creation of the British Mandate for Palestine in order to implement this principle.

The founding of the modern-day State of Israel as a result of the U.N. 1947 Partition Resolution (or Resolution 181) further clarified the principle.

But to Mamdani, a man who has been obsessed with opposition to the existence of a Jewish state his entire adult life, merely thinking about moving there is wrong and in violation of some entirely fictional “law” in which Jews—unique among all the peoples in the world—are to be forbidden from living in the place where they are indigenous.

The message he was sending to both the antisemitic mob and to the Jews was clear. The 34-year-old may not yet feel comfortable openly supporting incidents in which Jews are threatened with violence and harassed while entering a synagogue. But not even a desire to ensure that he has a honeymoon period with New Yorkers after his election is enough to prevent him from stating unambiguously that he is definitely on the side of those making such threats.

If nothing else, that should give pause to the city’s Jewish establishment, which has spent the weeks since Mamdani’s election signaling to him that they want to make nice with him and have no intention of actively working against a man who has no scruples about siding with antisemites.

An abnormal situation

If this had been a normal mayoral election, that’s exactly what they should be doing.

Many, especially in deep-blue New York, have treated President Donald Trump’s two election victories as an exception to that basic premise of democracy. That notwithstanding, it is necessary for those who back the losing candidates in elections to act as a loyal opposition to the winners, as opposed to a “resistance,” as Trump’s adversaries have done. Whatever one thinks about the outcome, those who care about democracy are obligated to treat the results of the ballot box as legitimate and to work with the victors for the betterment of all citizens.

And that is exactly how Jewish leaders were treating Mamdani. His record of support for antisemitic BDS campaigns and opposition to the existence of the one Jewish state on the planet—not to mention his radical socialist ideas about governing the city—had frightened many Jewish New Yorkers, the overwhelming majority of whom voted against him. But the organized Jewish world made no secret about its readiness to cooperate with the new administration in City Hall.

They cheered the news that Mamdani was prepared to allow Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to stay in her crucial role, thus sending a message that Jews would not be abandoned. And Mamdani also sent representatives to meet with leaders of the city’s Jewish Federation and Community Relations Council.

Skepticism was warranted. Still, they were prepared to give the mayor the benefit of the doubt. They accepted the premise that his ideological obsession with opposing Israel and opposition to essential elements of Jewish identity related to the Jewish homeland and peoplehood would not impact his duties as mayor or endanger the Jewish community.

But the Nov. 19 incident gave Jewish New Yorkers an unwelcome reminder of what it means to have someone so closely associated with Jew-hatred in a position of power. More than that, they were put on notice about what they are likely to be in for during the next four years.

Making the Jews scared

When Park East Synagogue, a Modern Orthodox congregation whose building is a historic landmark, hosted an event for the Nefesh B’Nefesh organization that promotes aliyah, it was besieged by a mob of more than 200 demonstrators shouting antisemitic slogans and harassing those entering the venue. As the New York Post reported, the swarm of angry Jew-haters chanted the usual litany of slogans that have become familiar since the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab terror attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Their purpose was not merely to state their hostility to Israel or Jews. As one of their leaders told the mob, “It is our duty to make them think twice before holding these events.” As the Post reported, the agitator “repeated emphatically” that “we need to make them scared. We need to make them scared. We need to make them scared.”

And by stating that he agreed with the basic premise of their cause, the mayor-elect was telling Jews throughout the city that they had every reason to be afraid for their safety in a New York governed by the incoming mayor. And so, Mamdani needs to be sent an unequivocal message by decent New Yorkers, whether or not they are Jewish, that this kind of messaging is both unacceptable and dangerous.

It’s not just that he was lying about aliyah being a violation of international law rather than a basic right of the Jewish people. He also has no business spouting opinions about what sort of events should be held in synagogues. That’s especially true when those houses of worship are liable to be besieged by bloody-minded protesters who seek to intimidate Jews into silence, when the mayor is making no secret that he is in agreement with the thugs screaming at the Jews.

Despite the pious language about ensuring the safety of those entering synagogues, his talk about Jews holding illegal events is a bright green light to antisemites to repeat this outrage. Under the circumstances, Jews have every right to wonder what’s in store for them in Mamdani’s New York, regardless of Tisch’s continued tenure at the New York City Police Department. Indeed, it may well be a foreshadowing of even worse to come.

That’s why the “business as usual” talk from Jewish leaders has to cease.

It’s true that Jewish organizations need to ensure that there is some cooperation with the city administration when necessary. But they can’t ignore the fact that Mamdani isn’t being shy about telling Jews that they can only consider themselves safe if they disavow an essential element of their identity and faith. Support for Israel and Zionism is integral to being Jewish, and that is something that the overwhelming majority of Jews believe, whether or not they are observant or where their sympathies lie in terms of Israel or American politics.

In essence, Mamdani isn’t hesitating to send a message that he is at war not just with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he continues to threaten with arrest if the Israeli leader visits the city on his watch. Notwithstanding his pledges to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, he’s also at war with Jewish peoplehood. And that is something that no Jewish leader or entity should tolerate or let pass without vigorous protest.

Jewish leaders must act

At this point, responsible Jewish leaders, especially those specifically tasked with monitoring antisemitism and the defense of the Jews, like the Anti-Defamation League, need to stop talking about cooperation and start planning for a campaign of active resistance to Mamdani’s prejudicial attitudes towards Jewish life.

That means not only organizing the kind of demonstrations that make it clear that New Yorkers won’t accept his taking the side of violent thugs advocating for Jewish genocide.

It also should mean a policy of legal action designed to thwart those instances when the mayor and his staff of left-wing agitators and Marxist ideologues start trying to put their ideological obsession with destroying the Jewish state into action with BDS-style discriminatory policies. In addition, they must begin—to the extent that it is possible in a city and state where gun rights are not respected by local authorities—to prepare members of the Jewish community to defend themselves against what is likely to follow.

And they should also declare their willingness to support any actions by the president of the United States, who, though opposed by the liberal Jewish majority in New York, has a demonstrated record of support and friendship for Jews and Israel, intended to hamstring Mamdani’s ability to injure the Jewish community.

The coming months will be a test not only of how far Mamdani will go to antagonize and threaten the Jewish community, but also of the mettle of a generation of Jewish leaders who have heretofore shown little sign of being ready to lead their community in an unprecedented battle for their rights and safety. If they aren’t equal to this challenge, and instead prefer to seek to ingratiate themselves with an antisemitic mayor, then it will be time to replace them with others who are made of sterner stuff.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate). Follow him: @jonathans_tobin.

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Bagels, Smattering Of Yiddish Oddly Inadequate To Ensure US Jewish Continuity

“I can’t figure out what else we have to offer the world.”

https://www.preoccupiedterritory.com/bagels-smattering-of-yiddish-oddly-inadequate-to-ensure-us-jewish-continuity/

lox and bagels

New York, November 12 [2025] – Heirs to an ancient tradition that has stood at the vanguard of human development for thousands of years and continues to foster achievement far in excess of what the numbers of its population might suggest, continued to discover this week that a connection with anything but the most superficial remnants of that tradition will, for mysterious reasons, not guarantee that they can carry the tradition forward.

Assimilated American Jews again faced the ongoing realization, some acknowledged today, that bagels, a few Yiddish words, Holocaust commemoration, and vague notions of “Tikkun Olam,” which they construe only as the application of contemporary left-wing values, constitute everything important about Judaism, and will secure the continuity of the ethnoreligion.

“I’m wracking my brains, though,” admitted Rabbi Timothy Lieberman of Temple Azaju in Tenafly, New Jersey. “For the life of me, I can’t figure out what else we have to offer the world. Gefilte fish? No thank you – neither savory nor sweet. Hava Nagila? Faaaar too explicit in its Zionism, and Zionism smacks of Jewish particularism, which goes against everything progressive, so it can’t be truly Jewish, can it? That leaves dill pickles, I guess.”

“Oh, and a Hanukkah bush.” He noted that until recently, Zionism also played a role, but progressive Jews have distanced themselves from Jewish sovereignty, both because it proved to be a bar to participation in coveted progressive spaces, and because it implies a level of commitment to Jewish history and peoplehood that grew inconvenient for those uncomfortable with religion-adjacent obligations.

Lieberman’s dwindling congregation once numbered more than a hundred families. His predecessors in the position welcomed intermarried couples and even performed weddings of Jews to non-Jews, despite statistical evidence that such unions seldom, if ever, raise offspring committed to Jewish heritage, let alone educated in it. Now, membership at Azaju has declined to a mere two dozen households, all but one of them older members whose children and grandchildren seldom attend services or community functions.

“We don’t understand what’s unattractive about bagels and lox,” lamented Selma Jacobs, whose father marched with Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr. “That should be all we need – sprinkle our conversation with ‘putz,’ ‘schmutz,’ and ‘bubbe-mayseh,’ lament the Holocaust, and place other minorities’ causes before our own. It worked for me, and don’t talk to me about not having any Jewish grandchildren. My children married non-Jews and none of them have any non-Jewish children because they decided not to have any children at all.”

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30 November

In November 2014 the Israeli government dedicated November 30 of every year as a day to honor and remember the Jewish refugees who were expelled from Arab countries following 1948’s Arab-Israeli War. These are some of their stories

“We disappeared.” The story of Jewish refugees from Arab lands
The stories of the people who witnessed the end of Jewish life in their countries of origin, from Iraq to Libya, and were forced to start from scratch: the Jewish refugees from Arab lands. Jewish presence in Arab countries long predates Islam and the Arab conquest of the Middle East and goes back to Biblical times. According to official statistics, over 850,000 Jews were forced to leave their homes in Arab countries between 1948 and the early 1970s. Today, there are fewer than 7,000 Jews left.

The Exile of Jews from Arab Lands – Noemi Lieberman

On December 1, 1947, two days after the U.N. General Assembly approved the Partition Plan, pogroms erupted in most Arab states. These pogroms were a result of the incitement in the state-run media in those countries, and was supposed serve as retribution for U.N. plan. The Arabs considered the partition to be a betrayal by the international community, and many in Arab world still hold that view today and refuse to accept the notion that the Jews should have a state.

They had to sneak out like a criminal in the night. They had to leave everything. They could not take any luggage. They had to dress in layers to take whatever cloths they wanted.

“We were just going out for the evening”,

They did not know the route. They had to use Code Words.
Jews could not have Passports.
They could not return.

“We really lived in denial…”

When they start killing Jews in the street, it is time to leave.

Bernard-Henri Lévy — French philosopher, filmmaker, and activist warns American Jews; Bernard-Henri Lévy Says Election of Donald Trump a ‘Major Event for Jews’; Warns of Rise of ‘American Antisemitism’

From Jewish Virtual Library

the Jewish Virtual Library. logo https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org

Fact Sheet: Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries

(Updated December 2015) http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/talking/jew_refugees.html
Although much is heard about the plight of the Palestinian refugees from the aftermath of the 1948 Israeli War of Independence and the 1967 Six Day War, little is said about the hundreds of thousands of Jews who were forced to flee from Arab states before and after the creation of Israel. In fact, these refugees were largely forgotten because they were assimilated into their new homes, most in Israel, and neither the United Nations nor any other international agency took up their cause or demanded restitution for the property and money taken from them. Legislation passed in the Knesset during 2015 designated November 30 as a day of recognition for Jewish refugees from Arab countries. To read a PDF file about Jewish refugees from Arab countries put together by Ashley Perry, the Director General of the Knesset Caucus for the Reconnection with the Descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Communities, please click here.

Yemenite Jews flee during Operation Magic Carpet

In 1945, roughly 1 million Jews lived peacefully in the various Arab states of the Middle East, many of them in communities that had existed for thousands of years. After the Arabs rejected the United Nations decision to partition Palestine and create a Jewish state, however, the Jews of the Arab lands became targets of their own governments’ anti-Zionist fervor. As Egypt’s delegate to the UN in 1947 chillingly told the General Assembly: “The lives of one million Jews in Muslim countries will be jeopardized by partition.” The dire warning quickly became the brutal reality.

Throughout 1947 and 1948, Jews in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Syria, and Yemen (Aden) were persecuted, their property and belongings were confiscated, and they were subjected to severe anti-Jewish riots instigated by the governments. In Iraq, Zionism was made a capital crime. In Syria, anti-Jewish pogroms erupted in Aleppo and the government froze all Jewish bank accounts. In Egypt, bombs were detonated in the Jewish quarter, killing dozens. In Algeria, anti-Jewish decrees were swiftly instituted and in Yemen, bloody pogroms led to the death of nearly 100 Jews.

In January 1948, the president of the World Jewish Congress, Dr. Stephen Wise, appealed to U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall: “Between 800,000 and a million Jews in the Middle East and North Africa, exclusive of Palestine, are in ‘the greatest danger of destruction’ at the hands of Moslems being incited to holy war over the Partition of Palestine … Acts of violence already perpetrated, together with those contemplated, being clearly aimed at the total destruction of the Jews, constitute genocide, which under the resolutions of the General Assembly is a crime against humanity.” In May 1948, the New York Times echoed Wise’s appeal, and ran an article headlined, “Jews in Grave Danger in all Muslim Lands: Nine Hundred Thousand in Africa and Asia face wrath of their foes.”

With their lives in danger and the situation growing ever more perilous, the Jews of the Arab World fled their homes as refugees.

Of the 820,000 Jewish refugees between 1948 and 1972, more than 200,000 found refuge in Europe and North America while 586,000 were resettled in Israel – at great expense to the Israeli government, and without any compensation from the Arab governments who had confiscated their possessions. The majority of the Jewish refugees left their homes penniless and destitute and with nothing more than the shirts on their backs. These Jews, however, had no desire to be repatriated in the Arab World and little is heard about them because they did not remain refugees for long.

In Israel, a newly independent country that was still facing existential threats to its survival, the influx of immigrants nearly doubled the population and a put a great strain on an economy struggling to just meet the needs of its existing population. The Jewish State, however, never considered turning away the refugees and, over the years, worked to absorb them into society.

Iraqi Jews flee as refugees to Israel

Overall, the number of Jews fleeing Arab countries for Israel in the years following Israel’s independence was nearly double the number of Arabs leaving Palestine. The contrast between the Jewish refugees and the Palestinian refugees grows even starker considering the difference in cultural and geographic dislocation – most of the Jewish refugees traveled hundreds or thousands of miles to a tiny country whose inhabitants spoke a different language and lived with a vastly different culture. Most Palestinian refugees traveled but a few miles to the other side of the 1949 armistice lines while remaining inside a linguistically, culturally and ethnically similar society.

Moreover, the value of Jewish property left behind and confiscated by the Arab governments is estimated to be at least 50 percent higher than the total value of assets lost by the Palestinian refugees. In the 1950’s, John Measham Berncastle, under the aegis of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, estimated that total assets lost by Palestinian refugees from 1948 – including land, buildings, movable property, and frozen bank accounts – amounted to roughly $350 million ($650 per refugee). Adding in an additional $100 million for assets lost by Palestinian refugees as a result of the Six Day War, an approximate total is $450 million – $4.4 billion in 2012 prices. By contrast, the value of assets lost by the Jewish refugees – compiled by a similar methodology – is estimated at $700 million – roughly $6.7 billion today. …

Old Historians, New Historians, No Historians: The Derailed Debate on 1948

Why was there no UNRWA for our grandparents?

Why was there no #UNRWA for our grandparents?

In the 1950’s, there were nearly 1 million #Jewish refugees from Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, and Egypt

We, also, still have the keys 🗝 pic.twitter.com/tA38d6DRa3

— Zechariah Shar’abi | זכריה | زكريا (@ZechariahSharab) February 15, 2024

Zechariah Shar’abi-tweet-15February2024-no UNRWA for our grandparents
Why was there no #UNRWA for our grandparents?

In the 1950’s, there were nearly 1 million #Jewish refugees from Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, and Egypt

We, also, still have the keys 🗝

Zechariah Shar’abi-tweet-15February2024-no UNRWA for our grandparents

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One year later — the answer to “Where Are Your Jews?”

Real ethnic cleansing vs. lies.

Watch—pic.twitter.com/oMNDhxncAu

— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) May 8, 2024

Marina Medvin-tweet-8May2024-Real ethnic cleansing vs lies
Real ethnic cleansing vs. lies.

Watch—

Marina Medvin-tweet-8May2024-Real ethnic cleansing vs lies

Displacement of Jewish communities and when they were founded

This is Ethnic Cleansing

One year later — the answer to “Where Are Your Jews?”

“Mr. President, one year ago in this chamber I asked the Arab states a simple question: ‘Where are your Jews?’

My question was met with dead silence.

Millions of people worldwide watched the video, witnessing for… pic.twitter.com/nJKAkph6dJ

— UN Watch (@UNWatch) November 30, 2023

UN Watch-tweet-30November2023-One year later
One year later — the answer to “Where Are Your Jews?”

“Mr. President, one year ago in this chamber I asked the Arab states a simple question: ‘Where are your Jews?’

My question was met with dead silence.

Millions of people worldwide watched the video, witnessing for themselves the hypocrisy and double standards that characterizes much of what is said and done here.

Today I have come to provide the answer to my question.

Algeria, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Libya—your Jews fled as refugees after suffering persecution and deadly pogroms like the Farhud of Baghdad in 1941.

Fortunately, countries like Israel, the U.S., Canada, France and others opened their doors, offering citizenship and equal rights.

These Jewish refugees from Arab lands—whose suffering and losses the UN has never addressed—put their hardship behind them and built great lives for their families.

Now let us contrast this with the situation of those descended from Arab refugees who fled the area of British Mandatory Palestine during the invasion of nascent Israel by Arab armies.

What is holding them back? The answer is simple.

Palestinians are the only population in the world not eligible for services by the UN refugee agency (@Refugees).

Instead these descendants are governed by @UNRWA, which holds generation after generation trapped in refugee camps, denied integration in the Arab countries they were born in and denied resettlement elsewhere.

Some of UNRWA’s donors are waking up to the problem.

As Swiss Foreign Minister @ignaziocassis recently has put it: ‘By supporting UNRWA, we are only keeping the conflict alive.’

I thank you, Mr. President.”

– @HillelNeuer

UN Watch-tweet-30November2023-One year later-the answer to ‘Where Are Your Jews’

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The hidden Jews in Mashad, Iran

For 100 years, my best friend’s family lived a double life as “hidden Jews” in Mashad, #Iran.

In 1839, thousands of Muslims viciously attacked the #Jewish ghetto of Mashad in a bloody pogrom known as the “Allahdad” (Gd’s Justice).

36 Jews were slaughtered. Many women were…

— The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) February 11, 2024

The Persian Jewess-tweet-11February2024-hidden Jews in Mashad Iran
For 100 years, my best friend’s family lived a double life as “hidden Jews” in Mashad, #Iran.

In 1839, thousands of Muslims viciously attacked the #Jewish ghetto of Mashad in a bloody pogrom known as the “Allahdad” (Gd’s Justice).

36 Jews were slaughtered. Many women were raped. 7 Jewish girls were kidnapped and forced to become child-brides.

The remaining 300 Jewish families were given an impossible choice: convert to Islam, or die immediately.

Like the Marrano Jews of Spain who pretended to convert to Catholicism while hiding their true Jewish identity, the 300 Jewish families in Mashad – including my best friend’s family – pretended to convert.

Outside their homes, by all appearances, Mashadi Jews truly converted. They adopted Muslim
names, They regularly attended services at the mosque. They bought halal meat and Muslim-made bread. They even appeared to fast during Ramadan.

But at home, in their basements and behind shuttered windows, they secretly continued to devoutly observe Judaism.

Shabbat candles – which were made secretly in their basements – were lit under a cover, so they couldn’t be seen through windows.

Women would wear traditional Muslim clothes – called chador – but would clandestinely use those cloaks to smuggle Torahs, prayer shawls and other ceremonial objects throughout the community.

Families kept dogs and cats, so they could feed them the Muslim meat they bought while they themselves ate kosher meat, ritually slaughtered in secret and smuggled home under the women’s chadors.

During Passover, women would bake Matzah in basements after the children were sleeping, so if the children were ever questioned by Shia fanatics (which was common) they wouldn’t have any information to divulge.

And to keep their children from intermarrying, children were betrothed at a young age, so if Muslims came asking for their hand, they would be told the girls were already engaged.

For 120 years Mashadi Jews prayed that the day would come when they would be able to live freely as Jews.

They suffered a secret double life, filled with fear, because they had no way to escape the radical Muslims who wanted to oppress, persecute and erase Jews from existence.

But today’s Jews are finally free.

Today’s Jews have our ancestral indigenous homeland #Israel.

Today’s Jews know that the #October7Massacre is just another rinse and repeat of bloody pogroms like the “Allahdad” where Jews are slaughtered, raped and looted to satisfy antisemitic blood lust.

This war isn’t about land. It was NEVER about land. It’s about a genocidal desire to destroy Jews from existence.

🔥AND WE ARE GOING NOWHERE🔥

#AmYisraelChai
#NeverAgainIsNow
#IStandWithIsrael
#HamasISIS #HamasRapists
#BelieveIsraeliWomen
#BringThemHomeNow
#DefundUNRWA

The Persian Jewess-tweet-11February2024-hidden Jews in Mashad Iran

I am a Mashadi Jew.

My ancestors had to hide their Judaism in Mashad, Iran. They survived by practicing Islam and would even make the Hajj, pilgrimage, to Mecca (which is where the “Haj” comes from in my family name).

Despite that, my family stayed true to our roots and kept… https://t.co/kdt0qOl6rQ

— Keren Hajioff (@kerenhajioff) February 11, 2024

Keren Hajioff-tweet-11February2024-I am a Mashadi Jew
I am a Mashadi Jew.

My ancestors had to hide their Judaism in Mashad, Iran. They survived by practicing Islam and would even make the Hajj, pilgrimage, to Mecca (which is where the “Haj” comes from in my family name).

Despite that, my family stayed true to our roots and kept our Judaism alive.

I am proud to belong to an ancestry who fought to stay Jewish. I am proud to be Mashadi and belong to a sisterhood of Iranian women who are fighting for their freedom. And I am proud to call Israel my home.
Indeed, we are going nowhere 🔥

Thank you @persianjewess for sharing our story

Keren Hajioff-tweet-11February2024-I am a Mashadi Jew

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Many of my aunts and uncles didn’t flee Iran quickly. What happened to them

Many of my aunts and uncles didn’t
flee #Iran as quickly as my parents did.

They were older. They had multiple children. And they had established lives with businesses and homes.

In many ways, they were also hopeful. “Maybe it won’t be so bad,” they thought.

They were wrong.…

— The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) February 21, 2024

The Persian Jewess-tweet-21February2024-What happened to them
Many of my aunts and uncles didn’t
flee #Iran as quickly as my parents did.

They were older. They had multiple children. And they had established lives with businesses and homes.

In many ways, they were also hopeful. “Maybe it won’t be so bad,” they thought.

They were wrong.

Seemingly overnight, the #Jewish schools my cousins attended fell under a new administration. Jewish teachers were fired and replaced with radicals loyal to the Islamic Regime.

Each day in class, my cousins – some as young as 5 – and all their Jewish classmates had to stand up and recite “Death to America!” “Death to Israel!” as part of their morning ritual.

If a child didn’t scream these phrases loud enough to the satisfaction of their sadistic teachers, they were punished. Parents were interrogated. If their answers weren’t satisfactory, they were imprisoned as “Zionist spies.”

So the Jewish children made sure to scream these calls for death as loud as they could, to save their parents the wrath of the goons of the IRGC.

And then, right on the heels of the Islamic Revolution, came the Iran-Iraq War and with it, the indoctrination of child soldiers into martyrdom.

The IRGC drafted young boys, some as young as 9 years old, for mine-sweeping and other suicide missions.

The children were given plastic ‘keys to paradise’ and promised that they would go directly to heaven if they died as martyrs against the Iraqi enemy.

9 out of 10 Iranian child soldiers died. An estimated 95,000 child soldiers were sacrificed by the Iranian Regime.

My oldest cousin was 14. My aunt and uncle, desperate to save their son, scraped together what money they had to hire smugglers to sneak him out of Iran.

The journey would take 2 weeks, with zero communication, and fraught with danger.

Thousands who sought to escape via the smugglers never made it to their destination: killed or captured along the way. Their bodies lost to the desert.

But staying was certain death.

And so they sent off my 14 year old cousin by himself, praying they would be one of the lucky ones who would receive a phone call from their son in two weeks time once he reached Pakistan.

It would be years before my aunt and uncle would be reunited with my cousin again.

Today, we see the same sickening disregard for human life being carried out by the Islamic Regime’s proxy: Hamas.

Islam is distorted and perverted to indoctrinate children into martyrdom and terrorism.

Islamic Jihad and murder for the sake of “Allah” is glorified.

Democratic countries like the #USA and #Israel are vilified.

Because Hamas doesn’t care for Palestinians. Hamas is no more than Iran’s puppet.

And Iran’s end goal is not Palestinian statehood, but the spread of radical Islam via the destruction of democracy.

Israel, the only bastion of democracy in the Middle East, is just the Islamic Regime’s first target.

This was NEVER about land. This was ALWAYS about the destruction of western values.

And the war is already on our shores, in our schools, and in every violent Pro-Hamas protest we see in the streets.

So 🔥WAKE UP AMERICA🔥 It’s time to smell the Jihad. Before it’s too late.

#StandWithIsrael
#TheWestIsNext #WakeUpAmerica
#HamasISIS #HamasRapists
#BelieveIsraeliWomen
#BringThemHomeNow
#IraniansStandWithIsrael

The Persian Jewess-tweet-21February2024-What happened to them

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I have yet to see a Middle Eastern ‘AsAJew’

I have yet to see a Middle Eastern #AsAJew. That’s not a coincidence.

Many “western” Jews have spent generations living in the comfort of tolerant democratic societies.

Their experience of persecution no more than an anecdotal story told about their Bubbe.

Their connection…

— The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) March 19, 2024

The Persian Jewess-tweet-19March2024-I have yet to see a Middle Eastern AsAJew
I have yet to see a Middle Eastern #AsAJew. That’s not a coincidence.

Many “western” Jews have spent generations living in the comfort of tolerant democratic societies.

Their experience of persecution no more than an anecdotal story told about their Bubbe.

Their connection with their Jewish identity no more than the act of eating a bagel with lox and shmear.

What do the Chuck Schumers and the Jonathan Glazers of the world really know about living in continuous fear because they are #Jewish?

Nothing.

Because a fear so suffocating that it imbeds every moment of your existence cannot be described in mere words. Our minds, quite literally, are incapable of comprehending such a trauma.

All my relatives have Arab/Farsi names, and secret Jewish names. Are those words sufficient to help you taste the bitter helplessness of my relatives who had to hide their Jewish identity?

My friend’s great-aunts, from Kermanshah, were kidnapped from their homes and forced into marriages with mullahs, never to be seen again. Does that sentence make you feel the same shaking rage that her grandmother experiences to this day?

My parents were forced to abandon their lives, their homes, their belongings, pack a few precious possessions into a suitcase, and flee Iran after the Islamic Revolution.

Is that enough for you to experience my parent’s heartbreak as they left everything and everyone they loved behind because of radical jihadist terrorists?

The answer is No.

But the 1.2 Million Jews who were ethnically cleansed from the Middle East since the 1940’s don’t need to rely on inadequate anecdotal tales.

We know, FIRST HAND, what it means to be persecuted for being Jewish.

We know, what it means to have to flee your country, with nowhere to go except Israel.

And most important of all, we know that it was solely because of the existence of #Israel that we were finally able to flee the persecution of MENA countries and seek better lives.

We don’t need to “hijack the Holocaust” to justify the existence of Israel. Our own lived experiences are MORE THAN SUFFICIENT to justify the existence of Israel.

And we know, without question, that the Jewish State is all that stands between a life as persecuted Dhimmis and a life as Free Jews.

So go ahead and tokenize the Jonathan Glazers of the world who pretend that Jewish persecution began and ended with the Holocaust.

Go ahead and pretend that Mizrahi Jews and the centuries of discrimination, forced conversions, rape, murder and ethnic cleansing don’t exist.

Keep acting like this is about land and not about the rampant Jew-Hate that has existed in MENA countries since the dawn of Islam.

This #ZionistJew will scream loud enough for the WHOLE WORLD to hear me.

🔥I STAND WITH ISRAEL🔥

Now and forever. 💙🇮🇱💙

#AmYisraelChai
#StandWithIsrael
#AntizionismIsAntisemitism
#BringThemHomeNow

The Persian Jewess-tweet-19March2024-I have yet to see a Middle Eastern AsAJew

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I was in my ELEMENT on Purim

You can bet your Hamentaschen that I dressed up as Queen Esther on Purim as a kid.

I was an olive-skinned, dark-haired girl living in a world where Disney princesses had blonde hair and blue eyes and NOTHING around me reflected the reality of my personal life.

As the only… pic.twitter.com/qFQeJVznvC

— The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) March 23, 2024

The Persian Jewess-tweet-23March2024-I was in my ELEMENT on Purim
You can bet your Hamentaschen that I dressed up as Queen Esther on Purim as a kid.

I was an olive-skinned, dark-haired girl living in a world where Disney princesses had blonde hair and blue eyes and NOTHING around me reflected the reality of my personal life.

As the only Persian kid at school, my teachers didn’t know where “I-ran” was on a map, let alone how to help an immigrant kid who was constantly bullied for being different.

And even Hebrew school, which focused on Ashkenazi traditions, was always slightly off from my Jewish life at home.

We would learn about the Holocaust and “Never Again,” and while my American classmates would go home with the confidence that their existential place in the world was assured…I’d be left even more confused.

How is it Never Again if my family had to flee Iran for being #Jewish just a few short years ago?

Their “Never Again” didn’t match with my “Never Again”. Was this another one of those things that was different between Ashkenazis and Mizrahis, like eating rice on Passover?

The teachers never really had an answer. No one wanted to be the adult who told a class full of kids that yes, people on the world still want you dead because you are Jewish.

But on Purim.

I was in my ELEMENT on Purim.

Fuck Cinderella. And Fuck Sleeping Beauty.

They were nothing more than weak damsels waiting for a prince to save them.

Queen Esther, with her bravery, beauty, and sharp wit not only saved herself, she saved her ENTIRE people.

I’d put on my prettiest dress, let down my brown hair, plop a plastic crown on my head and OWN my role as one of the greatest female icons in history.

“My family is from Persia, like Queen Esther,” I’d tell my Hebrew school class with pride.

And for once, I wasn’t on the outside looking in.

With my belly full of Hamantaschen and my ears ringing with the sound of groggers, I’d feel seen.

But today, it’s not enough. I can’t put on a Queen Esther costume and overlook the fact that for Persian and MENA Jews, and many Jews from the post WW2 Soviet Block, the promise of “Never Again” never applied.

Jewish persecution DIDN’T end in 1948.

I hear so many Jewish voices say they were “blindsided” by antisemitism.

The only reason they were “blindsided” was because post-WW2 Jewish persecution outside of #Israel, especially in MENA countries, has been overlooked and outright ignored.

The Nazism that resulted in the Holocaust wasn’t destroyed, it was REBRANDED into Radical Islamic Jihadism.

And the same Radical Islamic Jihadist ideology that forced 1.2 MILLION MENA Jews out of their homes is the one embraced by HMS and its many supporters now.

This is why Pro-HMS groups have erased the existence of MENA Jews from their narrative altogether. After all, it’s impossible to continue the LIE of “colonial oppressor vs Arab oppressed” when faced with the complete ETHNIC CLEANSING of Jews from Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Morocco, Iraq, and all the other MENA countries.

So this Purim, as you celebrate Queen Esther, don’t forget…

MENA Jewish history is more than a story in the Megillah.

And we need ALL our collective voices and experiences to defeat the hateful Nazi/Jihadists once and for all.

💙🇮🇱💙

#AmYisraelChai

#StandWithIsrael
#BringThemHomeNow
#AntizionismIsAntisemitism
#Purim #ChagSameach

The Persian Jewess-tweet-23March2024-I was in my ELEMENT on Purim

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The Caribbean was the center for Jewish life in the New World for approximately 200 years

Rivka is a Jamaican Jew who can trace her ancestry to Sephardic Jews who escaped the Spanish Inquisition.

“One thing about the Caribbean is that for approximately 200 years it was the center for Jewish life in the New World.”#AmYisraelChai #JewishHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/J5CGmboNWH

— The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) May 12, 2024

The Persian Jewess-tweet-12May2024-The Caribbean was the center for Jewish life in the New World
Rivka is a Jamaican Jew who can trace her ancestry to Sephardic Jews who escaped the Spanish Inquisition.

“One thing about the Caribbean is that for approximately 200 years it was the center for Jewish life in the New World.”

#AmYisraelChai
#JewishHistoryMonth

The Persian Jewess-tweet-12May2024-The Caribbean was the center for Jewish life in the New World

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[Operation Solomon]

When a Boeing 747 Carried 1,088 Passengers

September 20, 2024 Mond Ortiz
https://mondortiz.com/when-a-boeing-747-carried-1088-passengers/

The Boeing 747 is truly an awesome plane, and I’m sure most of us can agree. Not only is it visually stunning, but it’s also highly versatile. Aside from carrying passengers and cargo, it has transported Space Shuttles, been used as a Doomsday plane, and even set a record by carrying 1,088 passengers. Yes, 1,088 passengers on a Boeing 747! This is a record that not even the larger Airbus A380 has surpassed. So, here’s the story behind it.

In 1991, an El Al 747 made history during Operation Solomon when it carried 1,088 people in a single flight. This is a record breaking feat that it even made it to the Guinness World Records as the most number of passengers carried on a plane, that still stands today. The story behind this record involves a daring airlift mission that rescued thousands of Ethiopian Jews in a time of crisis.

It was the year when Ethiopia was on the brink of political collapse, the year 1991. The government led by Mengistu Haile Mariam was close to being overthrown by Eritrean and Tigrean rebels. This instability posed a grave threat to the country’s Jewish population. World Jewish organizations, including the American Association for Ethiopian Jews and the state of Israel, were deeply concerned about their safety. The existing regime had previously made mass emigration difficult, but the imminent change in power presented a crucial opportunity for those wanting to move to Israel.

This is a real photo of 1,088 passengers all inside an El Al Boeing 747. This holds the most number of passengers carried in an aircraft.

What followed was a covert operation known as Operation Solomon. Between May 24 and May 25, 1991, over a period of 36 hours, 14,325 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel. The operation involved non-stop flights of 35 Israeli aircraft between Addis Ababa and Tel Aviv. These included Israeli Air Force C-130s and notably, El Al 747s. Seats were removed from the jets to maximize capacity, transforming the Boeing 747 into a vessel of hope for thousands.

The Record-Breaking Flight of the El Al Boeing 747

Among the 40 flights conducted during Operation Solomon, one El Al 747 set a world record by carrying 1,088 people in a single trip. This number is often cited and includes two babies born during the flight. Various reports mention slightly different totals, ranging from 1,078 to 1,122 passengers, but any figure within this range surpasses previous records. The Boeing 747, typically configured to carry between 350 and 400 passengers, was pushed to its limits. The successful transport of such a large number of people showcased the Boeing 747’s capabilities and how highly adaptable the aircraft is.

I mean, if it can carry one whole Space Shuttle in its back, what more 1,088 people. Amazing aircraft, ain’t t?

Mond Ortiz

First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!

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By Staff | Posted in Aliyah: Jewish immigration to Israel | Tagged Aliyah, antisemitism, New York City, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani | Comments Off

Hoshana Rabbah 5786 13October2025 – 20 Hostages freed

13/10/2025 – כ״א בתשרי ה׳תשפ״ו – כ״א בתשרי ה׳תשפ״ו – 08:26

Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah – Now We Dance!

To get 20 Hostages back Israel surrenders

The Sovereignty Movement responds to the signing of the agreement
Hoshana Rabbah – The captives return
Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah – Now We Dance!
Survey: War spurs religious, political shift among young Israelis
JEWISH ACCESS TO THE TEMPLE MOUNT EXPANDS DURING RAMADAN
Trump’s Gaza Deal: A Win for Islamic Jihad
Jerusalem Humiliated
Muslims Murdering Jews since 628 CE
The Bomber was a Muslim
You’re average Palestinian family
‘The Next October 7 — Even More Horrific — Is Closer Than We Think’
Hamas Attacks Israeli Positions Amid Ceasefire Announcement, IDF Concerned About Kidnapping Attempts
To Preserve the Gaza Deal, Keep Qatar at Arm’s Length
The New Trump-Blair Gaza is Frightening.

Now the result:

12-13October2025 New York, New Jersey Declare State of Emergency as Region Braces for Nor’easter
Hamas won’t give up arms or Gaza control
Hamas executes Gazans amid fierce clashes with local clans
Terrified Gazans fear Hamas won’t disarm as terrorists massacre Palestinians: ‘Punishing families’
Hamas is secretly working to circumvent Trump’s peace plan
HAMAS DOUBLES DOWN, GIVE TRUMP THE FINGER
Hamas terrorists barricaded inside tunnel network are defying the ceasefire

Israel left Gaza on Tisha B’Av 5765! What did the Jews of Israel get with the “Disengagement”? Gush Katif and Hurricane Katrina

Hamas Rise to Power: Short History of Hamas in Gaza
Diaspora Affairs Minister draws a direct line from 2005 Gaza pullout to Oct. 7

The EXTREME DANGER of social media
Remembrance Day for the October 7 Disaster and the Swords of Iron War
October 7, 2023 – a day that changed us forever
US Treasury sanctions entities for supporting Hamas
Terror tunnel found just a few hundred meters from Israel
IDF completes year-long effort to destroy southern Gaza terror tunnel route
Israel is arming at least 4 anti Hamas militias in Gaza
19October2025-Hamas fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire at IDF
19October2025-Hamas violates ceasefire
28October2025-Hamas are lying about our hostages
What do you call 200 Hamas terrorists trapped in a tunnel?
The IDF’s K-9 Unit-Oketz Unit
‘Fake News’: US Confirms Aid Is Flowing Into Gaza, Contradicting Hamas Propaganda
Regev: Transportation Ministry implementing ‘de facto sovereignty’ in Judea and Samaria
0% TAX FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS
The Yevsektsiya, the ‘Jewish Section’ of the Soviet Communist Party
Katz nixes reserve duty of protest leader who urged refusal to serve over judicial overhaul
Katz signed order banning Red Cross visits to terrorists
Terrorists who murder Jews get lethal injection. Executions within 90 days
From clinics to command centers: When doctors and professors lead terror
Lawfare: The Benjamin Netanyahu trial
Netanyahu on trial: Case 4000 unravels as witness exposes alleged suppression of exculpatory evidence
The Western Wall: Defending Jewish identity against Reformism

7 Hostages Released

After 738 days in captivity in Gaza, Matan, Gali, Ziv, Alon, Eitan, Omri and Guy are coming home. 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/gklAwKhG1u

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-7 Hostages Released
After 738 days in captivity in Gaza, Matan, Gali, Ziv, Alon, Eitan, Omri and Guy are coming home. 🇮🇱

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-7 Hostages Released

13 Hostages Released

It’s official: There are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity. pic.twitter.com/qa1Lh4vhhv

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-13 Hostages Released
It’s official: There are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity.

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-13 Hostages Released

28October2025-Lift the IDF restrictions in the Israeli communities near Gaza

Following a situational assessment and the approval of the Minister of Defense Israel Katz, it was decided to lift the IDF restrictions in the Israeli communities near Gaza as of today.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 28, 2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-28October2025-lift the IDF restrictions in the Israeli communities near Gaza
Following a situational assessment and the approval of the Minister of Defense Israel Katz, it was decided to lift the IDF restrictions in the Israeli communities near Gaza as of today.

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-28October2025-lift the IDF restrictions in the Israeli communities near Gaza

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To get 20 Hostages back Israel surrenders

The Sovereignty Movement responds to the signing of the agreement

https://www.israpundit.org/the-sovereignty-movement-responds-to-the-signing-of-the-agreement/

Peloni: I simply could not agree more.

By Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar

The Sovereignty Movement responds to the signing of the agreement Alongside the joy — together with all the P????? of Israel — at the return of all the hostages, we must clarify that although the full details of the agreement are not yet known, if the agreement indeed includes those same 21 points that were published previously, then this is a defeat and a humiliation for the honor of Israel. The only response that would have been appropriate toward Gaza after the October 7 massacre was its erasure from the face of the earth, just as the Almighty taught us by overturning Sodom and Gomorrah. That is true justice; that is the necessary rectification.

if the agreement indeed includes those same 21 points that were published previously, then this is a defeat and a humiliation for the honor of Israel. The only response that would have been appropriate toward Gaza after the October 7 massacre was its erasure from the face of the earth, just as the Almighty taught us by overturning Sodom and Gomorrah. That is true justice; that is the necessary rectification.

If the agreement is indeed subject to those 21 points and limitations, then its implementation will increase and strengthen the evil in the world and the confusion between good and evil.

Gaza is an inseparable part of the Land of Israel, and by our withdrawing from it again, for the second time, we inflict a blow to our national honor, and conversely we return to the Arab enemy the hope — G-d forbid — of taking the whole Land of Israel into his hands.

In order to restore our national honor, to cut off the enemy’s hopes, to deliver a decisive crushing blow to our enemies and to return to true justice and morality, we must choose the path of sovereignty and apply it over all of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip.

Here we must add and emphasize that there is no difference between the Arabs of Gaza and the Arabs of Judea and Samaria. The same ideology, vision and hopes drive both groups, and now they are receiving validation for the success of their way and encouragement to continue that cruel and murderous path in the future in order to reach the goal they declare again and again: the destruction of the State of Israel.

The people of Israel were given a role and a destiny that fill it with meaning — to distinguish between light and darkness, between life and death, between meaning and morality and distortion and trampling of justice — yet we repeatedly betray our mission and adopt distorted, illogical moral rules.

In two years of war the people of Israel have taken significant steps toward clarifying their identity and their connection to it, but the completion of the task remains.

We are confident that the destiny of the people of Israel will be fulfilled in the future, for that is why we were created as a people.

Our hope is that the next opportunity to return to our selfhood and our identity will not include much more painful and heavy prices.

Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar

The Sovereignty Movement

https://linktr.ee/sovereignty.il

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Hoshana Rabbah – The captives return

Absolutely pic.twitter.com/a26Yr05v3t

— Lyon Of Judah 💙 🎗️ אריה יהודה (@LyonofJudah48) October 13, 2025

Lyon Of Judah-tweet-13October2025-Hoshana Rabbah-the captives return
Absolutely

Lyon Of Judah-tweet-13October2025-Hoshana Rabbah-the captives return

Hoshana Rabbah-the captives return

7 Hostages Released

After 738 days in captivity in Gaza, Matan, Gali, Ziv, Alon, Eitan, Omri and Guy are coming home. 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/gklAwKhG1u

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-7 Hostages Released
After 738 days in captivity in Gaza, Matan, Gali, Ziv, Alon, Eitan, Omri and Guy are coming home. 🇮🇱

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-7 Hostages Released

13 Hostages Released

It’s official: There are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity. pic.twitter.com/qa1Lh4vhhv

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-13 Hostages Released
It’s official: There are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity.

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-13 Hostages Released

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Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah – Now We Dance!

Simchat Torah at the Nova Festival venue

Simchat Torah at the Nova Festival venue.🇮🇱
We’re dancing again.💛 pic.twitter.com/iEAAkD4qxz

— Eli Afriat 🇮🇱🎗 (@EliAfriatISR) October 14, 2025

Eli Afriat-tweet-14October2025-Simchat Torah at the Nova Festival venue
Simchat Torah at the Nova Festival venue.🇮🇱
We’re dancing again.💛

Eli Afriat-tweet-14October2025-Simchat Torah at the Nova Festival venue

Simchat Torah Tel Aviv

It’s hard to capture the pure joy and jubilation on the streets of Tel Aviv tonight.

We were having a late al fresco dinner when throngs of people would come by at regular intervals, singing and chanting merrily.

They carried Torah scrolls like they were Stanley Cup trophies,… pic.twitter.com/DWg5IekbKd

— Melissa Chen (@MsMelChen) October 13, 2025

Melissa Chen-tweet-13October2025-Simchat Torah Tel Aviv
It’s hard to capture the pure joy and jubilation on the streets of Tel Aviv tonight.

We were having a late al fresco dinner when throngs of people would come by at regular intervals, singing and chanting merrily.

They carried Torah scrolls like they were Stanley Cup trophies, hoisting them into the air and dancing around it. They have many reasons to celebrate today.

The hostages are home, war is over, and it’s Simchat Torah – the happiest day of the Jewish holiday season where they celebrate and honor God’s Word.

Melissa Chen-tweet-13October2025-Simchat Torah Tel Aviv

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Survey: War spurs religious, political shift among young Israelis

New data reveals Israeli youth are adopting more religious practices, increasing prayer and belief in God, as right-wing political identification also rises.

JNS Staff

https://www.jns.org/survey-war-spurs-religious-political-shift-among-young-israelis/

(19November2025 / JNS) Israel’s war has significantly strengthened religious observance and conservative political views among young Israelis, according to a new survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute.

The study found 33% of Jewish Israelis ages 25 and under report observing more religious traditions since the war began, compared to 27% of the general Jewish population. Among young Jews who identify as “traditional, somewhat religious,” 51% said they’ve increased religious practices.

Prayer has risen most notably, with 38% of Jewish youth reporting they pray more frequently. Other increases include Bible reading (26%), synagogue attendance (14%) and Shabbat candle lighting (14%).

Jewish men gather at the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews are allowed to pray, in the Old City of Jerusalem on May 10, 2021, as Israel marks “Jerusalem Day.” Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images.

Faith has also strengthened, with 35% of young Jews saying they believe in God more than before the war, compared to 28% of Jewish adults overall.

Politically, the war has pushed Israelis rightward. The share of Jews identifying as “hard right” jumped from 11% to 19%, while those identifying as “right” increased from 24% to 28%. The shift spans the political spectrum, with even half of self-identified leftists reporting a rightward move.

The JPPI survey found an opposite pattern among secular Jews compared to the general trend in Jewish Israeli society. While many young and traditional Jews reported increased religious observance and belief since the war, secular Jews actually showed a decline in both religious practices and faith.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish soldiers from the Hasmonean Brigade take part in a beret march after completing seven months of basic and advanced training, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old city on Aug. 6, 2025. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.

The survey also included Israel’s Arab population and found notable, though somewhat less pronounced, increases in religious practice since the outbreak of the war. About 23% of Arab respondents reported strengthenings in their observance of traditional customs during the conflict. Specific increases were recorded in prayer (32%), more modest dress (12%) and participation in religious services at churches or mosques (10%), while 37% of Arabs reported a strengthened faith in God—higher than the increase seen among Jewish respondents.

JPPI CEO Shuki Friedman noted it remains unclear whether these changes represent a temporary wartime phenomenon or a lasting transformation.

“The data reflects what we sensed on the ground: many in Israel — especially among the young — feel that the war has connected them more deeply to tradition and to Jewish identity. Not necessarily in a halachic way, but in ways that are more salient in their lives and across the public sphere,” said Friedman.

“Israel after the war is more traditional and more right-leaning. At this stage, it is impossible to know whether this is a passing trend, or a deeper and longer-term change,” he added.

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JEWISH ACCESS TO THE TEMPLE MOUNT EXPANDS DURING RAMADAN

For context: Even though Israel controls the Temple Mount, administrative authority was left with the Jordanian Waqf after 1967. If it were up to them, Jews would not be allowed there at all. For decades, Jewish access to Judaism’s holiest site has been restricted to limited…

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) February 18, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-18February2026-JEWISH ACCESS TO THE TEMPLE MOUNT EXPANDS
JEWISH ACCESS TO THE TEMPLE MOUNT EXPANDS DURING RAMADAN
For the first time, visiting hours for Jews ascending the Temple Mount will be extended throughout the month of Ramadan.
Under the new arrangement, Jewish visitors will be allowed on the Mount from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., expanding the morning window while maintaining the afternoon closure.
Mossad Commentary-tweet-18February2026-For context
For context: Even though Israel controls the Temple Mount, administrative authority was left with the Jordanian Waqf after 1967. If it were up to them, Jews would not be allowed there at all. For decades, Jewish access to Judaism’s holiest site has been restricted to limited “visiting hours.”

During Ramadan in particular, Jewish visiting hours were often reduced to avoid violence and riots, which historically increase during the month.

This year is different. Instead of shrinking Jewish access, Israel expanded it. A clear signal of sovereignty and of the Jewish people’s unbreakable connection to the Temple Mount.

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil
.

Mossad Commentary-tweet-18February2026-JEWISH ACCESS TO THE TEMPLE MOUNT EXPANDS

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Trump’s Gaza Deal: A Win for Islamic Jihad

Posted 10October2025 Avi Abelow:
Trump’s Gaza Deal may look like a diplomatic victory on paper for Israel with the hopeful return of all the remaining hostages, but in reality, it hands the Sunni and Shia jihadis exactly what they want – legitimacy, survival, and time. Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt agreed to sacrifice Hamas to regroup and attack Israel in the future in some other constellation.

Instead of a deal that deals a crushing blow to the Qatari-led jihad that financed the Oct. 7th massacre, it rewards it, signaling to every Islamist movement that terror and kidnapping Israelis pays.

It is about time that the Western world understands the Islamic jihad enemy we are up against and what motivates them, not their lives or their homes or cities.

With it all, this is the best agreement Netanyahu was able to achieve under the circumstances.

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SOVEREIGNTY-logo https://www.ribonut.co.il/

Jerusalem Humiliated

The Sovereignty Movement to the Prime Minister: Your role is to protect the dignity of the people of Israel, even when facing a friendly American president. There is no place for threats, condescension, or disrespect between allies. Sovereignty is a necessity.

Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar
23October2025 https://ribonut.co.il/BlogPostID.aspx?BlogPostId=993&lang=2

J.D. Vance feels “offended” and it’s really not clear about what or why. The ones who are truly offended are actually us, in light of the blunt and threatening tone of the American president toward the government of Israel, toward the Israeli parliament, toward the people of Israel, toward the Jewish people as a whole, when he tells us that if Israel applies sovereignty to the heart of our land it will lose all American support.

The ear hears his words and the heart contracts. Is this the friendly, sympathetic and supportive president? He is the one who speaks about us with such contempt?

With all due respect to the President of the United States, and with all gratitude for his contribution and assistance, we cannot accept such a tone and remain silent. American aid in wartime is not meant to be m golden handcuffs on Israel’s hands. Israel is not a star on the American flag. The assistance we received from the Trump administration helped the U.S. in its efforts to show it stands on the moral, good and just side of history. Israel granted the United States the privilege to take part in the defeat of evil. Israel and the U.S. are partners and as such they assist one another in different ways. There is no place for a condescending discourse full of arrogance and lordliness between partners.

We did not hear President Trump or any of his people speak in such a way toward the Arabs, despite violations of agreements.

A purely democratic process took place in the Knesset of Israel. The prime minister was supposed to defend the Knesset. As the leader of the greatest democratic power in the world, the American president ought to understand the meaning of democratic discourse, understand the right to express a position — even one he does not agree with — and act in a parliamentary democratic manner to promote a principled, ideological worldview. In a democracy there is no place for threats and intimidation.

The one who should and is obliged to respond to this blunt style is the prime minister of Israel as the representative of the Jewish people, yet to our regret and shame he apologizes and chooses to reprimand the coalitionembers who acted according to the dictates of their conscience and values.

Mr. Prime Minister, by your response you weaken us in the eyes of the nations. They detect weakness and smell slackness. The October massacre was such a moment when weakness and slackness were detected in Israel. The results were disastrous.

The issue of sovereignty is an existential necessity for Israel. Regional normalization can and should occur, but not at the price of harming the sovereignty, security and future of the State of Israel. Stability will come to Israel only when Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the Bashan are officially defined as an integral part of the State of Israel. Only then will these areas not become nests of terror.

Mr. Prime Minister, we recall the rabbinic ruling: a king who relinquishes his honor has no honor. His honor is the honor of the people.

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“Khaybar Khaybar ya yahud” is the first verse of an antisemitic chant used to massacre the Jewish population in the Khaybar Oasis of modern-day Saudi Arabia in 628 CE.

Muslims Murdering Jews since 628 CE

Muslims are right. It didn’t start October 7 2023.

It started in 628 CE .

What do you think they mean when they chant “Khaybar Khaybar Ya Yahud?” pic.twitter.com/XjXZTY63xK

— Elder of Ziyon 🇮🇱 (@elderofziyon) December 6, 2024

Elder of Ziyon-tweet-6December2024-Muslims are right-It started in 628 CE
Muslims are right. It didn’t start October 7 2023.

It started in 628 CE.

What do you think they mean when they chant “Khaybar Khaybar Ya Yahud?”

“Khaybar Khaybar ya yahud” is the first verse of an antisemitic chant used to massacre the Jewish population in the Khaybar Oasis of modern-day Saudi Arabia in 628 CE. The full verse is: “Khaybar Khaybar ya yahud, jaish Muhammad soufa ya’oud.” It translates to “Khaybar Khaybar oh…

— Mitzi (@MitziFetch) December 6, 2024

Mitzi-tweet-6December2024-Khaybar Khaybar ya yahud
“Khaybar Khaybar ya yahud” is the first verse of an antisemitic chant used to massacre the Jewish population in the Khaybar Oasis of modern-day Saudi Arabia in 628 CE. The full verse is: “Khaybar Khaybar ya yahud, jaish Muhammad soufa ya’oud.” It translates to “Khaybar Khaybar oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return.”

Elder of Ziyon-tweet-6December2024-Muslims Murdering Jews since 628 CE

“Khaybar Khaybar ya yahud” is the first verse of an antisemitic chant used to massacre the Jewish population in the Khaybar Oasis of modern-day Saudi Arabia in 628 CE. The full verse is: “Khaybar Khaybar ya yahud, jaish Muhammad soufa ya’oud.” It translates to “Khaybar Khaybar oh Jews, the army of Muhammad will return.”

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The Bomber was a Muslim

Truth is not subject to opinion polls. pic.twitter.com/guGmSkT8Tk

— Alexander Duncan (@AlexDuncanTX) September 1, 2025

Alexander Duncan-tweet-1September2025-The Bomber was a Muslim
Truth is not subject to opinion polls.

Alexander Duncan-tweet-1September2025-The Bomber was a Muslim

9/11 Twin tower attack

7 July 2005, four British Islamist men detonated four bombs—three in quick succession aboard London Underground trains across the city and, later, a fourth on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square. As well as the four bombers, 52 civilians were killed and over 700 more were injured in the attacks, the United Kingdom’s worst terrorist incident since the 1988 Lockerbie bombing as well as the country’s first ever suicide attack.

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You’re average Palestinian family

You’re average 🇵🇸 family pic.twitter.com/6boxuM38fk

— Ncole ✡︎ (@ncole_r) October 23, 2025

Ncole-tweet-23October2025-You’re average Palestinian family
You’re average 🇵🇸 family

Ncole-tweet-23October2025-You’re average Palestinian family

You’re average Palestinian family

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SOVEREIGNTY-logo https://www.ribonut.co.il/

October 7, Only full sovereignty will prevent the next massacre

“The Next October 7 — Even More Horrific — Is Closer Than We Think”

Kobi Gideon, GPO

https://www.ribonut.co.il/BlogPostID.aspx?BlogPostId=984&lang=2

of Israel Once someone who believed that if only Arabs had a better future and economy they wouldn’t want to kill us, Aviyad Bachar, a resident of Be’eri, has become convinced that only full sovereignty over the entire Land, cleansed of the enemy, will prevent the next massacre — which, he warns, could be far worse.

2October2025

The interview first appeared in Issue 19 of Ribonut (Sovereignty).

The name Aviyad Bachar, a resident of Kibbutz Be’eri who lost his wife Dana and son Carmel in the October 7th massacre, has become a symbol of the painful and rapid awakening that many in Israel have experienced. Since witnessing the murder of his wife and son before his and his daughter’s eyes, he has taken it upon himself to share his story and the insights it burned into him — insights that, in truth, have been seared into the heart of an entire nation.

On a visit to Samaria hosted by Yossi Dagan, head of the regional council, Bechar declared: “There must be full sovereignty here. If that doesn’t happen, another October 7 is just a matter of time. Sovereignty is what will give us maximum security.”

In an interview with Sovereignty, he expands on his message, sharpens it — and makes it even more severe.

“I Don’t Believe Anyone — Another October 7 Is Coming”

Bachar flatly rejects the common reassurances that a massacre like October 7 won’t happen again, because the security establishment is now better prepared and experienced: “I don’t believe anyone. There’s no such thing as ‘it won’t happen again.’ The next October 7 is coming, and we don’t know how soon — but it’s coming, and it’ll be much worse. It will come simultaneously from Metula, from Jenin toward Afula, and toward Kfar Saba. There will be between 100,000 and 200,000 dead.”

This apocalyptic scenario comes not from fearmongering, but from a cold, rational analysis based on what he and his family experienced.

“I realize we were actually lucky on October 7… If they had been a bit more coordinated, and attacked from four or five fronts at once, we wouldn’t have had 1,200 dead — we’d have had 200,000, and we wouldn’t have regained control in 36 hours — it would’ve taken two weeks. I understand that the day will come again when we’re not prepared. I don’t know exactly when it will happen, but I do know it will happen. That’s why, if we want to prevent it, the enemy in Judea and Samaria and Gaza must disappear. As long as they’re there, they’re motivated to kill me.”

“I No Longer Believe They’ll Protect Me”

To those who try to reassure the public by claiming that Hamas has “learned a lesson” after the IDF’s blow to Gaza, Bechar reminds them that even the so-called experts — military, political, and civilian — admit that it could happen again. “They say, ‘we’ll do everything to make sure it doesn’t,’ but I no longer believe they’ll protect me.”

“What’s holding them back is a mindset — they tell themselves, ‘we can’t act.’ They understand the solution and agree with me, but then they add three words: ‘I can’t do it.’ And that paralyzes them. I, on the other hand, say I can do anything. Whatever we choose, we can carry out. The choice won’t always be easy — but I can do it. So removing them is an option I can implement — and it’s necessary if we want a future for the Jewish people for generations to come.”

“The Only Border Is the Jordan River”

“When natural disasters kill people, we bow to nature and say it’s stronger than us — a decree of fate. But when people destroy you, that’s not fate — it’s a choice. You’re choosing to let them slaughter you,” says Bachar, who believes fears of global reactions are exaggerated and baseless. “We give too much importance to other nations. They don’t care what happens in Israel. They won’t care if the enemy kills 10 million Israelis. So if we do what needs to be done, no one will really care.”

“Our only option for survival in Israel — for generations — is if they’re no longer here. What should we do with them? I would send them to sovereign states like Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. And when we present the world with the other option — that they die — we’ll see how quickly the world prepares to receive them.”

He adds: “When I used to tell Carmel, my son, not to play on his phone, he could tell by my tone whether I was serious or not. We need to speak with the world firmly and seriously. Tell them: ‘If by tomorrow the hostages aren’t in Israel, we’re annexing the territory and destroying everything there.’ And then we’ll see that the hostages come back faster than we think. But instead, we keep saying, ‘We can’t do that. Who knows what the world will do to us?’These are fictional stories we invent in our own heads — and we believe them.”

“Take Down the Fence — This Is the Whole Land of Israel”

As for the future of Judea and Samaria, Bechar’s stance is firm and clear: “Tear down the fence. The fence is the Jordan River. There are no more fences. This is the whole Land of Israel, and there are no longer any non-citizens here.”

When asked to reflect on his views from two and a half years ago, before the personal and national tragedy, he replies: “Back then, I thought that if I just loved and embraced the Palestinians, if I gave them money and a future — they wouldn’t want to kill me. But I’ve come to understand that they want to kill me because I’m sitting on land they think is theirs. That’s what the war is about — and once we take the land, it will be resolved.”

“This Realization Came Later — Through Rational Thought”

Bachar explains that this transformation of consciousness didn’t happen in the bomb shelter surrounded by dozens of terrorists trying to kill him and his family — it happened later, when he rationally processed the events and data. “Some people go through trauma and crash. Others rise. Those who can take their feelings and translate them into simple words — to make sense of what happened — can move forward in life. But those who remain stuck in emotion will collapse.”

“So I began analyzing everything: What is bereavement? Suddenly you’re a widower. Your son is listed as ‘of blessed memory’ in your ID card. You begin to understand why you were killed, what the solution is, and what love means after losing your wife.” “I also ask: What is victory? And what is total victory?” “To e, total victory is when Israel is a sovereign state, bordered by four other sovereign countries who are responsible for their own citizens. Any entity that is not sovereign — has no responsibilities. It’s a terror organization with only one goal: to kill you because of the land. That’s my understanding.”

“There’s No Such Thing as ‘I Can’t’”

Bechar says that this shift — both ideological and political — has been shared by many of his acquaintances. “But they say, ‘I can’t.’ Everyone’s stuck on those words. They tell me: ‘Aviyad, if there were a button to press to implement your solution, we’d do it — but we can’t.’That’s the problem. They give too much weight to the world, to liberalism, to human rights.” “My true life mission is to say: There’s no such thing as ‘I can’t.’
Anything we choose — we can do. And ultimately, I understand that if I want to survive, I have no choice. With any other option, I’m not sure Israel will even reach 100 years old — and I want to talk about generations upon generations of a future for the Jewish people.”

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https://www.fdd.org/

Hamas Attacks Israeli Positions Amid Ceasefire Announcement, IDF Concerned About Kidnapping Attempts

9October2025 https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/10/09/hamas-attacks-israeli-positions-amid-ceasefire-announcement-idf-concerned-about-kidnapping-attempts/

Latest Developments

Attempted Kidnapping in Gaza: Three Hamas terrorists attempted to raid an IDF outpost in southern Gaza on October 9, hours after a ceasefire agreement was announced between Israel and the Iran-backed terrorist organization. IDF troops initially fired warning shots at the gunmen as they approached an army encampment in the Khan Younis area before killing the attackers. No IDF troops were injured during the incident.
Attempt on Previous Day: One day earlier, another terrorist cell attempted to raid an IDF post on the outskirts of Gaza City. Five Hamas gunmen targeted a position held by the Sayeret Golani reconnaissance unit near the Netzarim Corridor. The troops called in airstrikes against the cell, killing three of the terrorists, but two managed to flee. Similar to the later incident, no IDF soldiers were injured during the unsuccessful attack.
IDF Raises Alert Levels as Ceasefire Implementation Grows Imminent: As the agreed-upon ceasefire grows closer to taking effect, the IDF stated that troops stationed in Gaza are on high alert for possible Hamas attacks and abductions. The military ordered a reduction in “non-essential” activity, aiming to mitigate the risk of Hamas targeting soldiers during the transitional period into the ceasefire’s implementation. Separately, the IDF carried out several precision strikes on high-value targets throughout Gaza in the past few days, attempting to close “intelligence loops” ahead of the IDF’s withdrawal to the first redeployment line for the release of hostages.

FDD Expert Response

“It should surprise no one that Hamas may be attempting a last-ditch effort to earn a battlefield victory by either exacting additional IDF casualties or abducting a soldier. Israel learned a valuable lesson following Hamas’s abduction of IDF soldier Hadar Goldin during a ceasefire period in the 2014 war. Furthermore, renewed rocket fire toward Israeli communities remains a distinct possibility, as Hamas and its allies might seek to prove that — despite the damage inflicted by the IDF — they continue to have operational capacity to strike the Jewish state.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“This is not the first time Hamas has tried to abduct Israeli soldiers during ceasefire negotiations. They attempted the same tactic in July to shape the narrative in their favor and have the last word. This serves as a testament that, despite the positive news that the hostages will return home, allowing Hamas to operate as it did before October 7, 2023, would mean that it will remain a threat to Israel in the future. That is why Hamas must be disarmed and prevented from ruling the Gaza Strip.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Trump’s Peace Plan for Gaza,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hamasniks in fox holes,” by Clifford D. May

“How Israel Can Defend Itself in the Future,” by Jonathan Schanzer

“Releasing All Hostages at Once Essential to Success of U.S. Peace Plan,” by Aaron Goren

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https://www.fdd.org/

To Preserve the Gaza Deal, Keep Qatar at Arm’s Length

Natalie Ecanow

Senior Research Analyst

22October2025 https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/10/22/to-preserve-the-gaza-deal-keep-qatar-at-arms-length/

Qatar is already backsliding just days after pressuring Hamas to clinch a Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel. During his annual address to Qatar’s legislative body on October 21, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani accused Israel of “continued breaches of the ceasefire in Gaza” without blaming Hamas for provoking Israeli action. At no point did Al-Thani mention Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 people, which dragged Israel into war two years ago. Rather than working with the United States to facilitate Hamas’s disarmament, Doha appears to be signaling a return to obstruction, with the apparent goal of securing Hamas’s position in Gaza.

Qatar’s Ongoing Relationship With Hamas

Qatar’s relationship with Hamas predates the current war and even Hamas’s reign over Gaza. Qatar offered sanctuary to Hamas leaders in 1999, when Jordan expelled the group from its soil. At that point, Hamas chose to relocate to Syria, but the relationship between Hamas and Doha continued and intensified after the terrorist group seized control of Gaza in 2007. In 2012, former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani was the first world leader to visit Gaza under Hamas rule. He pledged $400 million in assistance to the enclave. The same year, Hamas opened a political office in Doha.

Qatar has since pumped approximately $1.8 billion into Gaza as Hamas leaders amassed personal fortunes in Doha. Additionally, Israeli troops have uncovered documents in Gaza indicating that a “discreet” funding channel existed between Qatar and Hamas. One of them, a 2021 communique between Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and October 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar, suggests that Qatar’s emir had “agreed in principle” to fund Hamas’s military operations and that $11 million had already “been raised from the emir.”

A Deal Gets Done

In the lead-up to the October 10 ceasefire deal, there were indications that Qatar was prepared to take a step back from Hamas, its longtime client. In July, Qatar did an about-face and signed a declaration condemning Hamas’s October 7 massacre and calling for Hamas to disarm and “end its rule in Gaza.” Previously, Qatar’s prime minister told Israeli media in January 2025 that Doha would support Hamas returning to power in Gaza so long as that was the “decision” of the Palestinian people. After Israel’s September 9 strike on Hamas operatives in Doha, Qatar appeared to pick up the pace, turning the screws on Hamas, and ultimately helping push a deal across the finish line.

Moving forward, Qatar is expected to play a role in ensuring that Donald Trump’s 20-point plan is implemented, beginning with the release of the remaining hostages’ bodies, the disarmament of Hamas, and the end of the group’s Gaza reign.

Beware of Qatar’s Role in Postwar Gaza

Qatar may have compelled Hamas to accept Trump’s plan, but, if Al-Thani’s October 21 speech is any indication, the emirate is slumping back into its old, unproductive ways. Israeli and Arab officials are now warning against a serious Qatari role in postwar Gaza, and Washington should take heed. On October 20, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for involving “Qatar and Turkey, who now influence Gaza.” Earlier, a Saudi diplomat told Israel Hayom that, “Excessive Qatari involvement in the next stages of the plan and Gaza’s reconstruction will cause Trump’s plan to collapse” because Qatar “will undermine deradicalization efforts and try to ensure that Hamas remains in the picture and returns to power in the not-so-distant future.”

Trump said on October 21 that, “There is still hope that Hamas will do what is right,” but, “If they do not, an end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL.” Allowing Qatar into Gaza is more likely to lead to Hamas’s survival than its destruction. To see his Gaza peace plan through, Trump should keep Qatar at arm’s length from the enclave.

Natalie Ecanow is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Natalie and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Natalie on X @NatalieEcanow. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on foreign policy and national security.

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BARRY’s Newsletter

The New Trump-Blair Gaza is Frightening.

Read this, and then the GITA Summary.

BARRY SHAW
11October2025 https://barryshaw.substack.com/p/the-new-trump-blair-gaza-is-frightening

I have read the Confidential Summary of the proposed Gaza Transitional Authority (GITA) Institutional Structure.
This is the body to be led by Tony Blair and is a gift to a Palestinian leadership that has proven its Ramallah-based authoritarian corrupt violent anti-Israel record since 2007, unless, of coure, Hamas does a Hezbollah by gradually exerting its administrative power in Gaza.

Nowhere in this report does it ban Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad from participating in this new Trump-Blair Gaza.

To say the 21 page summary is an eye opener to the dangerous shallowness of the intent of this future governance of Gaza is to put it mildly.

It designates that “all mayors and senior municipal administrators are nominated by the Palestinian Executive Authority.” What could possibly go wrong with that? Well, which unelected people will sit on this nominating PEA?
Obviously, there is no democratic elections by the people to decide who rules over them.

Then we come to a strange section on Page 14 that talks about “gender inclusion” in its public health promotion, but a serious and dangerous omission in that there is zero mention of the necessity to cancel indoctrination in the GITA’s educational system. In other words, unless this section is amended, the new Palestinian flagship of a future Gaza can continue to indoctrinate its children and its youth in its education system to a world without Israel and the holy order to kill all Jews where ever you find them.

This then is the proposed Palestinian Gaza entity that Tony Blair will govern with his central Middle East partners – Qatar and Turkey.
What possibly could go wrong?

For Israel, an awful lot.

Barry Shaw,
Israel Institute for Strategic Studies.

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New York, New Jersey Declare State of Emergency as Region Braces for Nor’easter

High winds and flooding are expected for the region.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/new-jersey-declares-state-of-emergency-as-region-braces-for-noreaster-5928316

Sam Dorman
Washington Correspondent & Joseph Lord
12October2025 | Updated: 12October2025

New York and New Jersey have both declared a state of emergency as the region braces for a nor’easter bringing high winds and heavy flooding.

Earlier, New Jersey declared a state of emergency to be in effect until Oct. 13.

After initially urging residents to “stay alert,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul followed suit on Oct. 12.

The declaration, which affects Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties in New York, includes a coastal flooding advisory until 8 p.m. on Monday, and a high wind warning lasting until 6 p.m. on Monday.

Wind gusts exceeded 30 mph on Oct. 12 and were expected to pick up further as the storm hits the East Coast. The National Weather Service (NWS) has also issued a coastal flood warning and wind advisory, with winds potentially reaching 50 mph. Water is projected to reach two to three feet of inundation above ground level in areas near shorelines and waterways.

“At this level, flooding may become severe enough to cause structural damage along with widespread roadway flooding in coastal and bayside communities, and near inland tidal waterways,” the NWS stated in an Oct. 12 advisory.

“At this level, widespread roadway flooding occurs in coastal and bayside communities and along inland tidal waterways. Many roads become impassable.”

In a statement, Hochul’s office said it expected between 1 1/2 inches and three inches of rainfall downstate, with beach erosion likely.

New York City Emergency Management stated in an X post that New York City was under a flood warning and wind advisory through the afternoon of Oct. 13.

“Stay safe: secure outdoor items, avoid flooded areas, and check on neighbors,” it posted on Oct. 12.

In a statement, the New Jersey governor’s office said the state could face sustained winds of up to 60 mph and localized precipitation of up to five inches.

“In preparation for this storm, I am issuing a State of Emergency for all 21 counties out of an abundance of caution, authorizing our state’s emergency services personnel to activate as necessary,” said New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, serving in the capacity of acting governor in Gov. Phil Murphy’s absence.

“I urge all New Jerseyans to exercise caution, monitor local weather forecasts and warnings, stay informed on evacuation protocols, and remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary.”

In her executive order, Way said that “serious weather conditions could make it difficult or impossible for residents to obtain the necessities of life, as well as essential services such as police, fire, and first aid.”

The order authorizes multiple offices within the state government to respond to the storm. It also permits the state director of emergency management to use facilities as shelter for residents.

The storm is working its way up the coast after hitting the mid-Atlantic region with flooding. NWS meteorologist Bob Oravec said, “The greatest effects are going to be the coastal flooding potential, especially for areas from northeastern North Carolina northward to much of the New Jersey coast.”

Flight delays have been issued in airports from Washington to Boston. High winds have prompted New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority to prohibit empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks from using certain bridges on Oct. 12 and Oct. 13.

The Associated Press and T.J. Muscaro contributed to this report.

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Hamas won’t give up arms or Gaza control — despite agreeing to Trump deal, spokesman says

By Ronny Reyes
Published 14October2025 Updated 14October2025, 12:18 p.m. ET https://nypost.com/2025/10/14/world-news/hamas-wont-give-up-arms-gaza-control-despite-agreeing-to-trump-deal-spokesman-says/

Hamas appeared to renege on key demands of President Trump’s cease-fire deal just hours after the world celebrated the end of the Gaza war — with a top official saying the terror group will not give up its arms or control over the Gaza Strip.

Spokesman Hazem Qassem claimed Monday that Hamas has no need to abide by every word of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, including calls for the terror group to lay down its arms.

“We do not need to limit ourselves to the Israeli terms and definitions related to weapons,” Qassem told the Al-Arabiya news channel.

“We will not be captives to Israeli terms or demands,” he added. “This is one of the focal points of the struggle in the next stage, after the cessation of aggression in the Gaza Strip.”

Qassem echoed Hamas’ long-standing position that it will neither give up its weapons nor cede governance over the Gaza Strip until a path is laid out for Palestinian statehood.

Trump’s plan, which saw all 20 living hostages freed on Monday, provides for how Gaza should be governed after Hamas cedes control.

However, the details of how and when that will happen have not yet been agreed upon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected any and all deals that would see a Palestinian state form.

Netanyahu’s administration has also made it clear that Hamas must disarm for the cease-fire to go through, warning that the military will not allow the terror group to continue posing a threat to the Jewish state.

One of the stated aims of Hamas is the destruction of Israel.

Qassem also appeared to suggest that Hamas would not completely abandon its role as the de facto governors of the Gaza Strip.

The Hamas spokesman claimed Hamas should remain as part of the “administrative arrangements” in the Strip, but he did not specify to what extent.

Qassem claimed that Hamas was open to allowing Palestinian technocrats to lead the management of the enclave, as laid out in Trump’s cease-fire deal.

Hamas was also open to allowing the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank to play an active role in governance despite accusing the group of standing by and doing nothing during the two years of war.

“Despite all our criticism, we do believe that it (the PA) is one of the national addresses, and we are ready to open a new page with it or for it to open a new page with the residents of Gaza and with the political forces and to be truly sincere in its intention to reach shared political understandings,” Qassem said.

Along with laying out his stance, Qassem also accused Israel of violating the cease-fire on Tuesday after five Palestinians were shot and killed in Gaza City.

The IDF claimed the suspects were the ones violating the deal after they allegedly crossed a “yellow line” and approached IDF troops operating in the Strip.

“After multiple attempts to distance them, the suspects refused to comply, prompting troops to open fire to remove the threat,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

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Hamas executes Gazans amid fierce clashes with local clans

The terrorist group reportedly killed 32 “gang” members in Gaza City.

JNS Staff

https://www.jns.org/hamas-executes-gazans-amid-fierce-clashes-with-local-clans/

( 15October2025 / JNS) Hamas terrorists have executed 32 Palestinians amid fierce clashes in recent days with militia groups opposed to the Islamist group, Reuters reported on Monday.

The news agency cited a “Palestinian security source” as saying that they belonged to a Gaza City “gang.” The official also said that six Hamas terrorists were killed in the violence, claiming it was a targeted operation against members of a “dangerous gang affiliated with a family in Gaza City.” Twenty-four people were arrested and 30 others were wounded, the official said.

Video circulating on social media Tuesday appeared to show masked Hamas gunmen publicly executing men in what CNN reported was the Sabra neighborhood in western Gaza City, in an incident that likely took place after the ceasefire with Israel entered into force last Friday.

Radaa, a Hamas-affiliated security force, said in a statement that it carried out a “precise operation” in central Gaza City that killed several wanted men and suspected criminals.

Palestinian NGO the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights termed it the “extrajudicial execution of citizens,” CNN reported, calling for an investigation into the incident and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

The office of Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killings as “heinous crimes” and “a blatant violation of human rights,” according to the official P.A. news agency Wafa.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry tweeted the execution video Tuesday, writing: “The ceasefire isn’t 100 hours old yet. Hamas is killing Palestinians. The terror group rules through fear—executing civilians, torturing dissenters, shooting those who dare protest. Palestinians seeking food or freedom are met with bullets, not compassion. It’s not resistance—It’s tyranny. Hamas must go.”

Asked about his message for Hamas after the reports that the terrorist group is rearming and reinstituting itself as a police force and shooting rival clans, Trump said Monday on Air Force One that “they do want to stop the problems and they’ve been open about it. We gave them approval for a period of time. You have to understand. They’ve lost probably 60,000 people. That’s a lot of retribution …, and the ones that are living right now were in many cases very young when this all started, and we are having them watch that there’s not going to be big crime, some of the problems that you have.

“When you have areas like this that have been literally demolished. You have two million people, probably it will be less than that, but you have two million people going back to buildings that have been demolished, and a lot of bad things can happen. We want it to be safe. I think it’s going to be fine. Who knows for sure, Katie [the reporter who asked the question], but I think it’s going to be fine.”

Trump later said he will hold Hamas to its pledge to disarm and accused the terrorist group of misrepresenting the number of dead hostages it holds.

Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, the president said his “people” were told by Hamas that it would disarm, as is called for in the Israel-Hamas peace plan that Trump put together with mediation from key Arab leaders.

Israel and Hamas both agreed to the plan, setting into motion the ceasefire and the subsequent exchange of hostages and Palestinian security prisoners.

“I spoke to Hamas, and I said, ‘You’re going to disarm, right?’ ‘Yes, sir. We’re going to disarm.’ That’s what they told me,” Trump told reporters, initially describing it as a direct conversation.

“We have told them we want them to disarm, and they will disarm. And if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them, and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently, but they will disarm,” Trump said.

He later explained that Hamas’s affirmed pledge to disarm was delivered to him not by the terrorist group directly, but by “people,” likely referring to U.S. peace deal negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

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Terrified Gazans fear Hamas won’t disarm as terrorists massacre Palestinians: ‘Punishing families’

By Caitlin Doornbos
Published 14october2025 Updated 14october2025, 6:40 p.m. ET https://nypost.com/2025/10/14/world-news/terrified-gazans-fear-hamas-wont-disarm-as-terrorists-massacre-palestinians/

The war in Gaza has stopped — but the killing hasn’t.

Palestinians are scared for their lives as many fear Hamas has no plans to saddle up for “phase two” of President Trump’s peace deal and will continue to slaughter civilians who stand up against the terror group.

“From the first moment the Israeli planes disappeared from the sky, Hamas began punishing the families,” one Gazan activist in the war-torn land told The Post.

“They accused people of collaborating with Israel — but that’s not true. They just opposed Hamas during the war.”

The resident described grisly scenes of men dragged from homes and shot in the street without trials.

“Hamas executed civilians in front of people’s eyes,” said the activist, who asked not to be named for security reasons. “No names, no confessions — nothing. Just death.”

Activist Amin Abed — who fled Gaza after Hamas tortured and nearly beat him to death over his opposition to the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack on Israel — said the terror group was using the executions as a show of force and has no intentions of relinquishing power or giving up its weapons.

“Hamas is much stronger than any family or civilian group,” Abed said. “They can crush anyone who stands against them. What we’re seeing now is Hamas waging a war against its own people.

He added that most Gazans oppose Hamas and long for peace — but feel powerless.

“We couldn’t stop Oct. 7, and we can’t stop Hamas now,” he said. “The world needs to understand that Gazans are not Hamas. We want peace, not war. But every time we speak out, Hamas kills us first.

“We see Hamas restoring its full strength. They’re everywhere again — as police, as militia, as security,” he said. “We are deeply concerned about the return of Hamas to power and the continuation of the violence under Hamas in Gaza and exposing us again to the same injustice that we experienced for the last 17 years.”

If Hamas remains in power, Abed warned that the “cycle of violence between Israel and Hamas will emerge again sometime soon.”

“We are afraid that the bloody war would be back and Hamas will wage another Oct. 7 attack,” he said. “We believe the world will forget about us, and Hamas will rule us with an iron fist for many more years.”

The source in Gaza predicted Hamas would next try to convince Trump and his allies that only the group can maintain “security and stability” in Gaza as a strategy to stay in power.

“Trump and Netanyahu must pressure Hamas and its backers — Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey — to truly implement the terms of the peace deal,” the activist said. “If Hamas keeps even some weapons, it means they keep everything. They’ll never leave Gaza.”

While some analysts have speculated that a civil war could break out among the factions in Gaza, the activist in Gaza said it would not be possible — because Hamas is simply too powerful.

Risking his life by speaking to The Post from Gaza, his over-arching message to the world was simple — and desperate.

“Don’t leave us to Hamas again.”

The domestic bloodshed comes as Trump on Tuesday said phase two of the peace agreement — which calls for the disarmament of Hamas and establishment of a new governing body — had begun.

“… A big burden has been lifted, but the job IS NOT DONE,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Tuesday, referencing the return of the living Israelis Hamas took hostage on Oct. 7, 2023.

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Hamas is secretly working to circumvent Trump’s peace plan

‼️BREAKING: Hamas is secretly working to circumvent @POTUS Trump’s peace plan by embedding loyalists in Gaza’s future technocratic government, @eliorlevy reports.

🚨KEY DETAILS:

1. Despite U.S. conditions requiring Hamas have no role—“directly, indirectly, or in any form”—in… pic.twitter.com/cciZx2jbXP

— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) October 21, 2025

Israel War Room-tweet-21October2025-Hamas is secretly working to circumvent Trump’s peace plan
‼️BREAKING: Hamas is secretly working to circumvent @POTUS
Trump’s peace plan by embedding loyalists in Gaza’s future technocratic government, @eliorlevy
reports.

🚨KEY DETAILS:

1. Despite U.S. conditions requiring Hamas have no role—“directly, indirectly, or in any form”—in Gaza’s governance, the terror group is participating in secret in forming the next governing body, with full knowledge of Arab mediators.

2. Hamas reportedly selected half of the proposed technocratic cabinet—individuals who back Hamas’s ideology, even if not openly affiliated.

3. Egyptian mediators presented the full list to Hamas for approval, to “reassure” the group.

4. The other half of the cabinet was chosen by the Palestinian Authority, which is reportedly turning a blind eye to Hamas’s involvement.

5. This maneuver effectively grants Hamas continued control over Gaza through the back door—a direct violation of the peace framework.

Hamas is once again trying to preserve power and influence in Gaza—despite the bloodshed it caused—by manipulating postwar arrangements in violation of international understandings.

Israel War Room-tweet-21October2025-Hamas is secretly working to circumvent Trump’s peace plan

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HAMAS DOUBLES DOWN, GIVE TRUMP THE FINGER

🚨 HAMAS DOUBLES DOWN, GIVE TRUMP THE FINGER 🚨
In an interview tonight, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said:

“Hamas’ weapons are legitimate weapons for the defense of the Palestinian people… The main problem is the weapons in the hands of the occupation (Israel)… Raising… pic.twitter.com/ENpxvFC1xx

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) October 23, 2025

Mossad Commentary-tweet-23October2025-HAMAS DOUBLES DOWN-GIVE TRUMP THE FINGER
🚨 HAMAS DOUBLES DOWN, GIVE TRUMP THE FINGER 🚨
In an interview tonight, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said:

“Hamas’ weapons are legitimate weapons for the defense of the Palestinian people… The main problem is the weapons in the hands of the occupation (Israel)… Raising the issue of Hamas’ weapons is intended to cover up the crimes of the Israeli enemy, supported by the USA.”

Let that sink in.
While Western diplomats talk about “reconstruction,” “technocratic governments,” and “postwar governance,” Hamas is openly declaring, again, that it will never disarm.

• Trump reminds everyone daily that disarmament was supposed to be the first step.
• Hamas reminds everyone daily that it never will be.

Hamas seeks to HUMILIATE the Trump administration.

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil.

Mossad Commentary-tweet-23October2025-HAMAS DOUBLES DOWN-GIVE TRUMP THE FINGER

Hamas gunmen took over the headquarters of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme

Source https://t.co/TWX8QB2dP5

— The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome (@TheMossadIL) October 22, 2025

The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome-tweet-22October2025-Hamas gunmen took over the headquarters of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme
Last week Hamas gunmen took over the headquarters of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme — a Palestinian NGO partnered with the UN’s WHO and UNICEF — and evicted its staff. Hamas operatives and their families have been living there ever since.

It took them a week just to find the courage to make this announcement.
The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome-tweet-22October2025-
Source
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1238984114925925&id=100064430452060&rdid=lEmnN6acxq9BGaYT

The Mossad Satirical and Awesome-tweet-22October2025-Hamas gunmen took over the headquarters of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme

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Hamas terrorists barricaded inside Rafah’s tunnel network are defying the ceasefire

🚨BREAKING: Hamas terrorists barricaded inside Rafah’s tunnel network are defying the ceasefire and refusing to surrender, a Palestinian source tells @kann_news — even though the agreement requires every tunnel destroyed and Hamas disarmed.

Hamas’s defiance lays bare yet another… pic.twitter.com/WeysZm8khy

— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) November 17, 2025

Israel War Room-tweet-17November2025-Hamas terrorists barricaded inside tunnel network are defying the ceasefire
🚨BREAKING: Hamas terrorists barricaded inside Rafah’s tunnel network are defying the ceasefire and refusing to surrender, a Palestinian source tells @kann_news — even though the agreement requires every tunnel destroyed and Hamas disarmed.

Hamas’s defiance lays bare yet another calculated violation of the @POTUS
peace plan: a genocidal terror army clinging to its weapons, determined to survive underground so it can repeat the October 7 massacre.

The source says around 100 Hamas terrorists are holed up in the tunnel system, a mix of veteran fighters and new recruits. Their commander — a Hamas battalion or deputy-battalion officer — has ordered them to reject any plan that forces them out unless it lets them “leave with honor.”

Israel cannot allow Hamas to rebuild or rearm under the guise of a ceasefire. A return to a pre–Oct. 7 reality is impossible — and leaving Hamas armed guarantees another massacre.

Every tunnel must be eliminated. Every terrorist unit must be dismantled.

Israel War Room-tweet-17November2025-Hamas terrorists barricaded inside tunnel network are defying the ceasefire

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Israel left Gaza on Tisha B’Av 5765! What did the Jews of Israel get with the “Disengagement”? Gush Katif and Hurricane Katrina

Hamas Rise to Power: Short History of Hamas in Gaza

25January2018
IDF Editorial Team https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/hamas/hamas-rise-to-power-short-history-of-hamas-in-gaza/

In 2005, Israel withdrew from Gaza, uprooting all communities and military installations within Gaza. This allowed the PA (Palestinian Authority) full control of the area and the Rafah land crossing to Egypt.

In January 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian Parliamentary election (although it did not win the presidential election in 2005).

Following the election, the International Quartet (United States, Russia, the United Nations, and the European Union) declared that in order for the then Hamas-run Palestinian government to continue to receive foreign aid, it must recognize the State of Israel, end terrorist activities, and adhere to all previous agreements. Hamas rejected these terms, and international aid was halted.

Over the years, Hamas has challenged the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, causing conflicts between the sides, culminating in June 2007 with Hamas’s violent takeover of the Gaza Strip and the suppression of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority members. Ever since, the rift between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority has grown.

The Hamas terrorist organization and their leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It has both a political and a military organization. Hamas refuses to recognize the State of Israel and vows to fight until Israel is destroyed. The Hamas charter calls for the death of all Jews. The US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Israel all recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization.

In June 2007, Hamas violently took power over the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, Hamas executed dozens of its opponents and went as far as pushing them out of building windows.

Hamas’s fight against its enemy, Fatah, has cost the lives of 600 Palestinians, killed 188 people in one week in June 2007. Numerous Palestinians threatened with death, took refuge in Israel.

Hamas puts its political interests above those of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, of which they are responsible. Hamas’ actions deprive Gazans of their rights and basic needs.

Since then, the Hamas controls the Gaza Strip and imposes its totalitarian ideology. Hamas controls what Gazan civilians say, what their children learn, and spreads propaganda and hatred through TV, especially on children’s programs.

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Diaspora Affairs Minister draws a direct line from 2005 Gaza pullout to Oct. 7

“We betrayed the land of Israel when we withdrew from Gaza, and the land of Israel did not forget,” Amichai Chikli, Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, said at a conference on Judea and Samaria.

Etgar Lefkovits

https://www.jns.org/diaspora-affairs-minister-draws-a-direct-line-from-2005-gaza-pullout-to-oct-7/

(29October2025 / JNS) The Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, can be traced back to Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005, Amichai Chikli, Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, stated on Wednesday evening.

“There is a direct line between the withdrawal from Gaza to the disaster of Oct. 7,” Chikli said in remarks at “The Future of Judea and Samaria” conference at the Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem, sponsored by the American Friends of Judea & Samaria and the Jewish News Syndicate.

He noted that because of the dismantling of Israeli communities within the Palestinian enclave as part of the Gaza disengagement plan under Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a buffer zone was lost. The southern Israeli border communities that were overrun two years ago were practically a sitting duck for terror.

“We betrayed the land of Israel when we withdrew from Gaza, and the land of Israel did not forget,” he said.

The hawkish minister stated that the international “demonization” of Israeli residents of the biblical heartland, spearheaded by “so-called” Israeli entities such as B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence—primarily foreign-funded, he noted—is part of an attempt to replicate an “irrational and delusional” withdrawal, this time from Judea and Samaria.

Still, Chikli said he is optimistic that in the aftermath of Oct. 7, more people now understand that Judaism and Zionism are synonymous.

“Being a proud Jew is being a proud Zionist,” he said. “The greatest threat is when Jews walk away from their identity.”

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The EXTREME DANGER of social media

This post is a perfect example of the EXTREME DANGER of social media
The Evil Inclination often tries to dress up a sin as a “mitzvah” a good thing
Rabbi Natan of Breslev said – “I don’t want any of these “mitzvot”
SIMPLE RULE:
I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW, HEAR OR SPEAK ABOUT ANY JEW!… https://t.co/arphsYC0rU

— Rabbi Shalom Arush – Breslev English (@ShalomArushEN) October 20, 2025

Rabbi Shalom Arush – Breslev English-tweet-20October2025-the-extreme-danger-of-social-media
This post is a perfect example of the EXTREME DANGER of social media
The Evil Inclination often tries to dress up a sin as a “mitzvah” a good thing
Rabbi Natan of Breslev said – “I don’t want any of these “mitzvot”
SIMPLE RULE:
I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW, HEAR OR SPEAK ABOUT ANY JEW!

Social media creates terrible opportunities to spread lashon hara – evil speech which is true – against Jews. If there is no specific “toelet” purpose, which has a number of requirements, even spreading true bad speech about Jews is FORBIDDEN

But even worse is OUTRIGHT SLANDER. So much of what is said – and spread – is lies. If even a small detail is added or embellished, the entire story is now labeled SLANDER – LIES AGAINST JEWS.

The Gemara says the punishment for lashon hara is WORSE than the punishment for murder, sexual immorality and idol worship – COMBINED!!!
https://x.com/i/grok/share/AvmTIGaIHCs6TkQCrvdRLwRqk

This is a very big conflagration – one no one wants to get anywhere close to. And this is true if it is said about ONE SINGLE JEW

Now, spread a lie about a group of Jews? Oy oy oy. A separate sin against each and every one. That’s more than 500,000 sins in this post
https://x.com/i/grok/share/TBEmNJQeChb5uvuBRl8DD5TWU

NOW add on spreading Chillul Hashem – desecrating God’s Name – which is called on the Jewish people. Saying His people are doing terrible things also desecrates God’s name. This also has a terrible punishment.

AND you are helping our enemies by saying that this is real – while they scream that they need a “State” in order to “protect themselves from the Jews”!!!

DELETE THE POST NOW!

And everyone be warned – think twice and three times before posting or commenting on social media!!!
Hen Mazzig-tweet-19October2025
There’s no excuse for this sort of violence. It doesn’t matter who the perpetrators are.

I have zero tolerance to any kind of extremism and it must be condemned because it’s not who we are.

Rabbi Shalom Arush – Breslev English-tweet-20October2025-the extreme danger of social media

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The 24th of Tishrei will be observed in Israel as the national remembrance day for the events of the October 7 Disaster and the Swords of Iron War.

the Jewish Virtual Library. logo https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org

Remembrance Day for the October 7 Disaster and the Swords of Iron War

Or Shaked, May 9, 2024

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/remembrance-day-for-the-october-7-disaster-and-the-swords-of-iron-war

Establishment of the Holiday

The Remembrance Day for the October 7 Disaster and the Swords of Iron War (Heb. יום זיכרון לאומי במדינת ישראל לאירועי ה-7 באוקטובר 2023 ומלחמת חרבות ברזל) is the day Israel commemorates the tragic events and the victims of October 7th, 2023, and its aftermath, including those who fell in the war and civilians who were murdered in acts of terrorism.

The Knesset adopted a resolution on March 17, 2024, to remember the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023. Although such a tragic event would normally be commemorated on the day it occurred on the Gregorian calendar (even the name of the memorial day refers to October 7, 2023), the Knesset decided the Remembrance Day should be observed on the 24th of Tishrei (כ”ד בתשרי), consistent with Israel’s usual practice of marking holidays on Hebrew dates. In this case, because the attacks occurred during the holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, which fall on the 22nd and 23rd (abroad) of Tishrei, the next day on the calendar was chosen for the memorial day.

The decision was controversial because October 7 is the date most people remember and therefore was considered more appropriate.

In addition to the annual national remembrance day marked on the Hebrew date, a state ceremony will also be held, but only on the first anniversary, on October 7, 2024. In subsequent years, the 24th of Tishrei will be observed in Israel as the national remembrance day for the events of the October 7 Disaster and the Swords of Iron War.

Sources: “Government Unanimously Approves National Remembrance Day for October 7 Disaster and the Swords of Iron War,“ Israel Prime Minister’s Office, (March 17, 2024).
“Establishing the annual national memorial events to commemorate the Swords of Iron War (provisional name) and amending a government decision,“ Israel Prime Minister’s Office, (March 17, 2024) [Hebrew].
Ben Sales, “Israel establishes an annual commemoration of the Oct. 7 attack — but not on Oct. 7,“ The Jerusalem Post, (March 18, 2024).

16October2025-Today marks the National Remembrance Day for the October 7 massacre

Today marks the National Remembrance Day for the October 7 massacre.
We remember and honor the fallen.
We continue to wait for the hostages whose bodies remain in captivity — to be brought home and laid to rest with dignity. 🇮🇱🕯️ pic.twitter.com/MDL30WkLMH

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 16, 2025

Israel-tweet-16October2025-Today marks the National Remembrance Day for the October 7 massacre
Today marks the National Remembrance Day for the October 7 massacre.
We remember and honor the fallen.
We continue to wait for the hostages whose bodies remain in captivity — to be brought home and laid to rest with dignity. 🇮🇱🕯️

Israel-tweet-16October2025-Today marks the National Remembrance Day for the October 7 massacre

Knesset marks National Memorial Day for the October 7 Disaster and Swords of Iron War

Knesset marks National Memorial Day for the October 7 Disaster and Swords of Iron War:
Knesset Speaker MK Ohana lights memorial candle and lays wreath, flags in Knesset Plaza lowered to half-mast pic.twitter.com/OlolFCJIw1

— The Knesset (@KnessetENG) October 16, 2025

The Knesset-tweet-16October2025-Knesset marks National Memorial Day for the October 7 Disaster and Swords of Iron War
Knesset marks National Memorial Day for the October 7 Disaster and Swords of Iron War:
Knesset Speaker MK Ohana lights memorial candle and lays wreath, flags in Knesset Plaza lowered to half-mast

The Knesset-tweet-16October2025-Knesset marks National Memorial Day for the October 7 Disaster and Swords of Iron War

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October 7, 2023 – a day that changed us forever.

October 7, 2023 – a day that changed us forever.

Palestinian Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages into Gaza.
We remember how it began – and we will never stop bearing witness.

But Israel stands tall – for life, for freedom, against terror.… pic.twitter.com/7ftYogGCxN

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 7, 2025

Israel-tweet-7October2025-7October2023-a day that changed us forever
October 7, 2023 – a day that changed us forever.

Palestinian Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages into Gaza.
We remember how it began – and we will never stop bearing witness.

But Israel stands tall – for life, for freedom, against terror.

#RememberOctober7 🕯️🎗️

Israel-tweet-7October2025-7October2023-a day that changed us forever

Israel faced the darkest day in its history

🕯️ At this very moment, two years ago, Israel faced the darkest day in its history.
On October 7th, Palestinian Hamas jihadists invaded our land — murdering, burning, and kidnapping innocent men, women, and children.

Two years later, we remember October 7th — we remember the… pic.twitter.com/51tC3HpV5e

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 7, 2025

Israel Foreign Ministry-tweet-7October2025-Israel faced the darkest day in its history
🕯️ At this very moment, two years ago, Israel faced the darkest day in its history.
On October 7th, Palestinian Hamas jihadists invaded our land — murdering, burning, and kidnapping innocent men, women, and children.

Two years later, we remember October 7th — we remember the victims, we pray for the return of the hostages still held in Gaza, and we stand united against terror. Hamas must be dismantled to end this war.

We remain committed to our values, now more than ever.
Light will rise over darkness.

Israel Foreign Ministry-tweet-7October2025-Israel faced the darkest day in its history

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https://www.fdd.org/

US Treasury sanctions entities for supporting Hamas

By Joe Truzman | 22January2026 | @JoeTruzman

US Treasury sanctions entities for supporting Hamas

The United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on January 21 that it sanctioned a network of organizations it says are covertly controlled by Hamas. The move aims to limit the Islamist group’s ability to raise funds while improving international mechanisms for supporting legitimate Palestinian civil and humanitarian needs.

OFAC said the sanctions targeted entities that raised funds for Hamas, which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States and other countries, through sham charities and organizations that claimed to have supported Palestinian causes.

Among the entities designated were the Gaza-based Waed Society, the Al Nur Society, the Qawafil Society, the Al Falah Society, Merciful Hands, and the Al Salameh Society.

According to OFAC, members of Hamas’s internal security forces were formally assigned to work inside several of the organizations, including the Waed Society and Al Salameh Society. Treasury said documentary evidence seized from Hamas after the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel showed the group provided fighters with detailed instructions on how to navigate Hamas’s internal bureaucracy to request projects and services from affiliated charities.

OFAC said that the Waed Society received direct funding from Hamas to carry out projects in Gaza and was tasked by the terrorist group with advocating on behalf of Hamas fighters captured while fighting Israeli forces. The department said that the Al Nur Society and the Al Falah Society were “similarly funded” and had transferred funds to Hamas’s military apparatus.

Funds from Al Nur were used to pay Hamas members and provide services to fighters, OFAC said. Al Falah, it added, transferred more than $2.5 million to Hamas over a recent three-year period. Merciful Hands was also controlled by Hamas’s so-called military wing, OFAC detailed, with some of its funding and operational instructions coming directly from the terrorist group.

The Al Salameh Society and the Qawafil Society were likewise tasked and financed by Hamas to support the organization and execute projects intended to benefit its operations.

OFAC said that the Waed Society, the Al Nur Society, the Qawafil Society, and the Al Falah Society were designated under Executive Order 13224 “for materially assisting, sponsoring or providing financial, material or technological support to Hamas.” OFAC designated Merciful Hands and the Al Salameh Society under Executive Order 13224 “for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Hamas.”

OFAC also sanctioned the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), which it said serves as a political front for Hamas. OFAC designated the PCPA under the same provisions as Merciful Hands and the Al Salameh Society. PCPA’s founder, Zaher Birawi, was also listed among OFAC’s designations under Executive Order 13324 for “having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the PCPA.”

Hamas issued a statement on January 22 condemning the designations, saying that it considered the decisions to be “unjust and oppressive, built upon incitement by the criminal Zionist entity.”

Joe Truzman is an editor and senior research analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian armed groups and non-state actors in the Middle East.

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Arutz Sheva http://www.israelnationalnews.com/

Terror tunnel found just a few hundred meters from Israel

IDF forces from the Kfir Brigade and Yahalom unit dismantled a one-kilometer Hamas tunnel east of the Yellow Line in Gaza, containing weapons and hideouts just hundreds of meters from Israel.

Israel National News / Published: 22January2026, 6:18 PM (GMT+2) / https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/421321

Troops from the Kfir Brigade, under the command of the Gaza Division, have been operating east of the Yellow Line in order to dismantle terrorist infrastructure.

During their activity, the troops, together with the Yahalom Unit, located and dismantled an underground tunnel route.

The route, which was approximately one kilometer long, was located in the area of the central camps, only a few hundreds of meters from the Israeli border.

The tunnel route contained weapons and three hideouts used by terrorists from the Hamas terrorist organization.

The operation was carried out by the Kfir Brigade combat team in cooperation with fighters from the Yahalom unit, under the command of the Gaza Division (143). The forces operated in the area for several weeks in order to clear the sector of threats.

This is one route among many. In recent weeks, additional tunnels have been exposed in the field along the “yellow line,” which is under IDF control.

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IDF completes year-long effort to destroy southern Gaza terror tunnel route

The tunnel was located in territory where the IDF remains deployed under the U.S.-brokered truce.

JNS Staff

https://www.jns.org/idf-completes-year-long-effort-to-destroy-southern-gaza-terror-tunnel-route/

(25January2026 / JNS) The Israel Defense Forces has completed a year-long operation to demolish a 2.5-mile long tunnel east of the Yellow Line in southern Gaza, where the IDF remains deployed under the U.S.-brokered truce deal, the military said on Sunday.

The 7th Brigade’s combat team, operating under the command of the Gaza Division, worked together with the IDF’s elite Yahalom combat engineering unit to destroy the tunnel, which contained sleeping quarters and arms depots, according to the statement.

The Yellow Line is a demarcation established by the IDF as part of the U.S.-brokered truce deal with Hamas that went into effect in October.

Concrete barriers topped with a yellow-painted post mark the area to which the IDF has withdrawn. The Yellow Line leaves Jerusalem in control of approximately half of the Palestinian coastal enclave.

The IDF remains “deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire outline and continues to act to remove any immediate threat,” it stated.

Last week, following an exchange of fire in which six terrorists were killed, troops found combat equipment and weapons, including explosives, ammunition and instructions for preparing bombs.

During additional raids, the soldiers located five “inactive” rocket launchers and several weapons, according to Sunday’s statement.

Washington’s ceasefire proposal stipulated that its second phase, which includes the demilitarization of Gaza along with reconstruction, would commence only after all hostages, living and dead, return to Israel.

The truce went into effect on Oct. 10, after which over the course of several weeks all the remaining abductees returned home, except for the remains of Israel Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, who was killed and whose body was taken hostage by terrorists during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel.

Gvili’s family raised concerns over the weekend amid reports that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Board of Peace member Jared Kushner were pressuring Jerusalem into opening the Rafah Crossing with Egypt.

“Pressure should not be on the Israeli government to continue fulfilling its part of the deal while Hamas deceives the entire world and refuses to return the last hostage in accordance with the agreement it signed,” according to a statement put out by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

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Israel is arming at least 4 anti Hamas militias in Gaza

Israel is arming at least 4 anti Hamas militias in Gaza.

They are all protected behind the Israel held yellow line in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/vVKA93Mw4T

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 19, 2025

Open Source Intel-tweet-19October2025-Israel is arming at least 4 anti Hamas militias in Gaza
Israel is arming at least 4 anti Hamas militias in Gaza.

They are all protected behind the Israel held yellow line in Gaza.

Open Source Intel-tweet-19October2025-Israel is arming at least 4 anti Hamas militias in Gaza

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19October2025-Hamas fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire at IDF

pic.twitter.com/NbxyafmOJK

— Matthew Bell (@matthew_a_bell) October 19, 2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-19October2025-Hamas fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire at IDF
⭕️ Earlier today, terrorists fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward IDF troops operating to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area, in southern Gaza, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.

In response, the IDF has begun striking in the area to eliminate the threat and dismantle tunnel shafts and military structures used for terrorist activity.

These terrorist actions constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, and the IDF will respond firmly.
Matthew Bell-tweet-19October2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-19October2025-Hamas fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire at IDF

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19October2025-Hamas violates ceasefire

⭕️In response to Hamas’ blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement this morning, the IDF struck dozens of Hamas terror targets across Gaza.

The strikes targeted weapons storage facilities, firing posts, terrorist cells and additional Hamas terror infrastructure.

In addition,…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 19, 2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-19October2025-Hamas violates ceasefire
⭕️In response to Hamas’ blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement this morning, the IDF struck dozens of Hamas terror targets across Gaza.

The strikes targeted weapons storage facilities, firing posts, terrorist cells and additional Hamas terror infrastructure.

In addition, the IDF struck and dismantled ~6 km of underground terrorist infrastructure, used to advance attacks against Israel, using over 120 munitions.

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-19October2025-Hamas violates ceasefire

Hamas approaching IDF forces

🎥WATCH: Several armed terrorists identified approaching IDF forces operating in the Beit Lahia area behind the yellow line, posing an immediate threat to the troops.

In accordance with the ceasefire agreement, the terrorists were struck after crossing the yellow line. pic.twitter.com/sl7mS98Lmi

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 19, 2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-19October2025-Hamas approaching IDF forces
🎥WATCH: Several armed terrorists identified approaching IDF forces operating in the Beit Lahia area behind the yellow line, posing an immediate threat to the troops.

In accordance with the ceasefire agreement, the terrorists were struck after crossing the yellow line.

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-19October2025-Hamas approaching IDF forces

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28October2025-Hamas are lying about our hostages

Hamas are lying about our hostages and here’s the proof:

Yesterday, Hamas terrorists were filmed removing body remains from a prepared structure and re-burying them nearby, before summoning Red Cross representatives to stage a false “discovery” for photographers.

Despite… pic.twitter.com/c9CkJo3msW

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 28, 2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-28October2025-Hamas are lying about our hostages
Hamas are lying about our hostages and here’s the proof:

Yesterday, Hamas terrorists were filmed removing body remains from a prepared structure and re-burying them nearby, before summoning Red Cross representatives to stage a false “discovery” for photographers.

Despite claiming difficulty locating the bodies of deceased hostages, Hamas continues to hold and manipulate the remains it refuses to release under the agreement.

Hamas’ claims of lacking engineering equipment are baseless, such tools are unnecessary for the transfer of remains and do not prevent the return of the deceased hostages.

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-28October2025-Hamas are lying about our hostages

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What do you call 200 Hamas terrorists trapped in a tunnel?

pic.twitter.com/ZBe7Mp6dqg

— NP (@NPhil1) November 10, 2025

The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome-tweet-10November2025-What do you call 200 Hamas terrorists trapped in a tunnel
What do you call 200 Hamas terrorists trapped in a tunnel?
NP-tweet-10November2025-And Now-We Wait
And Now. We Wait…..

The Mossad Satirical and Awesomes-tweet-10November2025-What do you call 200 Hamas terrorists trapped in a tunnel

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The IDF’s K-9 Unit-Oketz Unit

The moment a trained Israeli dog finds Hamas terrorists in an underground tunnel, Hamas terrorists are like rats pic.twitter.com/kDbrdSNvlz

— Robin 🇮🇱 (@Robiiin_Hoodx) June 20, 2024

Robin-tweet-20June2024-trained Israeli dog finds Hamas terrorists
The moment a trained Israeli dog finds Hamas terrorists in an underground tunnel, Hamas terrorists are like rats

Robin-tweet-20June2024-trained Israeli dog finds Hamas terrorists

The IDF Oketz Unit

Oketz Unit
These beautiful animals are wonderful
COMRADES in the IDF pic.twitter.com/DJMHDcJ3TQ

— Finn McCool (@FinnMcC82660606) June 21, 2024

Finn McCool-tweet-11June2024-Oketz Unit
Oketz Unit
These beautiful animals are wonderful
COMRADES in the IDF

Finn McCool-tweet-11June2024-Oketz Unit

More Pictures

I will leave this post for 48 hours.
Make a sign if you support the IDF & The K9 Unit.
Like , Reply & Share !
Show some Love & Respect ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5TXvhBfBoy

— Magic Flower 🌹🇮🇱 (@MagicFlower22) November 11, 2025

Magic Flower-tweet-11November2025-IDF and the K9 Unit
I will leave this post for 48 hours.
Make a sign if you support the IDF & The K9 Unit.
Like , Reply & Share !
Show some Love & Respect ❤️

Magic Flower-tweet-11November2025-IDF and the K9 Unit

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‘Fake News’: US Confirms Aid Is Flowing Into Gaza, Contradicting Hamas Propaganda

US officials told the Free Beacon that Hamas’s claims of Israel blocking food and medical supplies are an attempt to distract from the terror group looting aid trucks

A truck loaded with humanitarian aid moves into the Gaza Strip (Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Adam Kredo
9November2025

‘Fake News’: US Confirms Aid Is Flowing Into Gaza, Contradicting Hamas Propaganda

The United States and Israel are moving an average of 674 humanitarian aid trucks through Gaza each day, delivering more than 15,000 loads of commercial goods and medicine since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10, according to figures compiled by the U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center, the multinational body running the operations, and shared with the Washington Free Beacon. They contradict Hamas claims that Israel has hampered aid distribution in Gaza—and reports from anti-Israel media outlets relying on the terror outfit to make the same argument.

According to U.S. officials on the ground in Gaza, more than one million Gazans have received food parcels since Oct. 10, while meal production in the strip has increased by 82 percent since late September. Access to clean drinking water and medical services has also increased since the ceasefire. Gazans received 143,000 medical consultations, 900 emergency surgeries, and more than 45 trauma referrals between the date of the ceasefire and Oct. 31. Aid workers are delivering approximately 17,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day, increasing the supply of potable water in Gaza by 130 percent in October alone.

Specific products that had been absent from Gaza for months are now available in the territory, as well. Eggs arrived on Gazan shelves last week for the first time since February, according to U.S. government information on aid efforts reviewed by the Free Beacon. More than 840 pallets of medical supplies—which include maternal and neonatal health equipment—have entered Gaza in recent weeks.

The figures paint a different picture than those alleged by Hamas. The terror group said this week that “only 4,453 trucks have entered Gaza out of 15,600 that should have entered since the start of the ceasefire,” which comes out to 171 trucks per day. The terror group’s media office said on Thursday that Israel has “continue[d] to pursue a policy of suffocation, starvation, and political blackmail against more than 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza,” stating that Israel has kept products like eggs—which are available in Gaza—out of Palestinians’ hands.

The discrepancy between U.S. statistics and those Hamas has produced suggests the terror group is attempting to undermine the ceasefire and distract from its rampant looting of humanitarian aid convoys. The U.S. numbers also contradict claims from anti-Israel outlets like Drop Site News that the Jewish state has not held up its end of the aid bargain.

“The reality is that Hamas leadership has no control over its followers, and looting of humanitarian aid trucks continues to be a problem,” said one senior administration official, who described the Gazan media office’s figures as “fake news.”

Federal investigators are looking into evidence that Hamas systematically steals U.N. aid in Gaza, including instances in which the terror group “commandeered U.N. aid trucks” and ensured humanitarian goods were “directly delivered to Hamas officials.”

U.S. Central Command lent credence to these reports in late October when it announced that one of its drones had captured Hamas members looting an aid convoy on camera.

Another administration official, White House spokesman Dylan Johnson, told the Free Beacon that the U.S.-compiled numbers show the aid effort is working.

“These figures show that the Trump administration is serious about treating the people of Gaza with dignity and respect,” Johnson said. “The United States is leading a historic effort to address the critical needs of Gazans right now.”

Hamas has employed a similar playbook since igniting its war with Israel two years ago with its Oct. 7 terror spree. Gaza’s Hamas-controlled health authorities have routinely published exaggerated claims about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, prompting both the United Nations and Biden administration to accuse Israel of stirring a famine that never materialized. It has also inflated the number of women and children killed during the war to create the appearance of Israel targeting civilians.

“Hamas continues to spread lies through false stats to paint a false picture of starvation to undermine the ceasefire and peace efforts,” a U.S. official who works on Middle Eastern issues told the Free Beacon. “Sadly, many in the media remain useful idiots by publishing these Hamas talking points.”

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Regev: Transportation Ministry implementing ‘de facto sovereignty’ in Judea and Samaria

“If you walk around there, you’ll see the number of roads, bypass roads and lighting that we are installing and constructing,” said Transportation Minister Miri Regev.

JNS Staff

https://www.jns.org/regev-transportation-ministry-implementing-de-facto-sovereignty-in-judea-and-samaria/

(9November2025 / JNS) Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety is implementing a plan for “de facto sovereignty” in Judea and Samaria, Transportation Minister Miri Regev revealed in an interview with Channel 12 News on Friday.

“If you walk around there, you’ll see the number of roads, bypass roads and lighting that we are installing and constructing,” she said.

However, Regev stressed, Jerusalem should formally declare full legal sovereignty over the territories captured during the 1967 Six-Day War.

“I believe that in the end, there will be [sovereignty],” the senior minister told Channel 12. Even the U.S. administration understands that there is no other way,” she added. “Unfortunately, it’s not time yet, but there will be sovereignty.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led an unprecedented drive to expand control of Judea and Samaria, approving some 50,00 housing units and over 50 new Jewish communities since late 2022.

However, last month, the premier blasted opposition parties, as well as a fellow member of his ruling Likud faction, after the Knesset voted to advance two bills to apply formal sovereignty to Judea and Samaria.

The Oct. 22 Knesset votes were “a deliberate political provocation by the opposition to sow discord” during U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s three-day visit to the Jewish state, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The votes, which came on the second day of Vance’s visit to Israel, were condemned by the vice president and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“That’s not something we can be supportive of right now,” Rubio told reporters before leaving for Israel as part of Washington’s efforts to promote the ceasefire with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

Vance told reporters as he concluded his visit, “If it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt and I personally take some insult.”

“The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel,” he declared at Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport.

Previously, in an Oct. 15 interview with Time magazine, President Donald Trump also expressed his opposition to Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, saying “I gave my word to the Arab countries. Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”

On Feb. 21, 2024, the Knesset voted 99-11 to reject unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria. All coalition lawmakers and most Knesset members from Zionist opposition parties voted against “international diktats regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians.”

Nearly 70% of Israelis want Jerusalem to extend full legal sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, according to a poll conducted on Jan. 29.

Meanwhile, 58% of Israeli Jews believe that the civilian communities in Judea and Samaria contribute to national security, according to a poll the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) published on March 11.

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0% TAX FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS

That’s it. Game over. You’re coming home!

BREAKING NEWS!!

0% TAX FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS 🇮🇱

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Aliyah Minister Ofir Sofer just unveiled a revolutionary plan:

New olim and returning residents will pay 0% income tax through 2027.

Gradual rise:… pic.twitter.com/k1LYUDFKQT

— Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) November 6, 2025

Hillel Fuld-tweet-6November2025-0 tax for new immigrants
That’s it. Game over. You’re coming home!

BREAKING NEWS!!

0% TAX FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS 🇮🇱

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Aliyah Minister Ofir Sofer just unveiled a revolutionary plan:

New olim and returning residents will pay 0% income tax through 2027.

Gradual rise: 10% in 2028, 20% in 2029, 30% in 2030.
Applies to income up to ₪1 million per year, plus the existing 10-year exemption on foreign income.

It’s the biggest incentive for Aliyah in decades, signaling a national push to bring Jews home.

“This is a data-based process that aims to ensure optimal integration for new immigrants, create a real opportunity for them to integrate into Israeli society, and at the same time contribute to the growth of the Israeli economy,” Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer said.

I could not possibly love this more.

Hillel Fuld-tweet-6November2025-0 tax for new immigrants

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The Yevsektsiya, the “Jewish Section” of the Soviet Communist Party

At least the Odessa Council of Rabbis in 1918 excommunicated Leon Trotsky, Gregory Zinoviev and other Jewish Bolsheviks.

— Gary Goldstein (@GaryGol88424403) October 20, 2025

Matthew Feinberg-tweet-19October2025-The Yevsektsiya the Jewish Section of the Soviet Communist Party
Few people today know the story of the Yevsektsiya, the “Jewish Section” of the Soviet Communist Party.
Formed in 1918, it was made up almost entirely of Jews whose mission was to eradicate Judaism, Zionism, and Jewish identity from within.

The Yevsektsiya saw Jewish religion and nationhood as “bourgeois relics.”
They shut down synagogues, banned Hebrew, outlawed Zionist groups, and persecuted rabbis.
They infiltrated Jewish communities, dismantled Jewish schools, and replaced them with Soviet Yiddish institutions stripped of any connection to Jewish faith or Israel.

These weren’t outsiders attacking us. They were Jews who believed loyalty to ideology came before loyalty to their people.
They thought they were modernizing Judaism, making it fit into a new political order.
In truth, they were dismantling 3,000 years of Jewish continuity to please a regime that despised them.

By the 1930s, Stalin had no more use for them.
The Yevsektsiya was disbanded, its members imprisoned or executed.
They helped destroy their own heritage and were destroyed by the very system they served.

History has a way of repeating itself in different costumes.
Today, there are Jews who distance themselves from Israel, believing that rejecting Zionism aligns them with justice or progress.

But like the Yevsektsiya, they risk confusing moral virtue with self-erasure.

When Jews deny the right of our own people to self-determination, they aren’t breaking new ground. They are walking an old and tragic path.

The lesson of the Yevsektsiya is not about blame, but about memory.
Every time Jews try to cut themselves off from their people to gain acceptance from powerful movements, it ends the same way.
The movements move on. The Jewish people endure.

Am Yisrael lives. Ideologies fade.
We survive because we remember who we are, and we refuse to let others define us.
Gary Goldstein-tweet-20October2025-
At least the Odessa Council of Rabbis in 1918 excommunicated Leon Trotsky, Gregory Zinoviev and other Jewish Bolsheviks.

Matthew Feinberg-tweet-19October2025-The Yevsektsiya the Jewish Section of the Soviet Communist Party

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Katz nixes reserve duty of protest leader who urged refusal to serve over judicial overhaul

Defense minister says Eyal Naveh, a leader of Brothers in Arms and reservist commander in elite unit, is not fit to train soldiers; opposition MKs pan move as politicization of IDF

By Stuart Winer
2December2024, 10:04 am https://www.timesofisrael.com/katz-nixes-reserve-duty-of-protest-leader-who-urged-refusal-to-serve-over-judicial-overhaul/

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that he was suspending the army reserve service of a leader of a prominent protest group who had called for reservists not to show up for their military duty in 2023 as the government advanced its controversial judicial overhaul.

Eyal Naveh, a former member of the Sayeret Matkal commando unit, is a leader of the Brothers in Arms movement, which arose to protest the government’s plans for far-reaching changes to the judiciary that critics said would erode the democratic nature of the country.

Brothers in Arms called on army reservists to refuse to volunteer for service if the required legislation was advanced, with Naveh saying in July 2023 that “we’ve tried everything, This is where we draw the line. We pledged to serve the kingdom and not the king. We are determined, we are fighters, we love this country and we will not give up on it.”

At one point the group claimed that 10,000 reservists had committed to not showing up, among them pilots and others in key military roles.

In a statement Katz said: “Anyone who calls for mass absences and refusal to serve is not suitable to train the next generation of IDF fighters.”

“The same law must be applied to all,” he added in an apparent reference to the pausing of reserve duty last month of another Brother in Arms leader, Ron Sharaf, who also served in Sayeret Matkal.

Sharaf was serving in the reserves as commander of the selection test to join elite commando unit Sayeret Matkal and after his suspension, Naveh was installed as his replacement, Channel 12 reported.

Sources told Haaretz that Naveh does not currently have an active call-up for reserve duty, and that the selection tests for the unit were held last week.

Naveh responded in a statement that Katz is a “malleable and cowardly defense minister” and urged that the minister issue call-up orders to tens of thousands of members of the ultra-Orthodox community who do not serve in the army, calling them “the real service refusers.”

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi of the Likud party congratulated Katz on “stopping the impertinence, the audaciousness, and the contempt of a group that tried to destroy the army and nearly managed to.”

MK Almog Cohen of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party claimed that Naveh “traded in the safety of our children” and that his views “seriously harmed the cohesion and security of the country, and were a catalyst for the events of October 7,” when the Palestinian terror group Hamas led a devastating cross-border attack on Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

Head of the opposition Democrats political party Yair Golan slammed Katz’s move, also referring to legislation in the works to preserve the exemptions Haredi men receive from military service.

“Anyone who was appointed to be defense minister to pass the ‘evasion law’ should not preach to those who really serve, and to those who saved the country when the failed government wasn’t functioning,” he said, referring to the action taken by Brothers in Arms on October 7 to save people in the south, and the massive civil society operation it built in the following months.

MK Gilad Kariv, also of the Democrats party, accused Katz of “grossly interfering” in military matters that are not his responsibility.

“This is a dangerous campaign to cleanse and politicize the army,” he said.

The judicial overhaul plan provoked mass demonstrations for months in 2023. It was eventually put on hold, and then dropped from the agenda after the Hamas attack, though coalition members have recently talked of restarting the process.

Katz was recently appointed defense minister after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his predecessor Yoav Gallant amid differences over handling the war and the ultra-Orthodox draft bill. Netanyahu had previously fired Gallant in 2023 when the latter called to freeze the judicial overhaul but was forced to reinstate him amid public outcry.

In the wake of the Hamas attack, Brothers in Arms diverted its resources to become a civilian relief and support organization, though its leaders have also participated in protests calling on the government to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that would secure the release of hostages who were abducted during the October 7 assault.

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Katz signed order banning Red Cross visits to terrorists

BREAKING 🔴

Israeli Defense Minister Katz signed an order banning visits by Red Cross to terrorists imprisoned in Israel

“Based on the information presented to me, it is clear without a doubt that Red Cross visits to terrorists will seriously harm national security.” pic.twitter.com/MF3sTfeTDE

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 29, 2025

Open Source Intel-tweet-29October2025-Katz signed order banning Red Cross visits to terrorists
BREAKING 🔴

Israeli Defense Minister Katz signed an order banning visits by Red Cross to terrorists imprisoned in Israel

“Based on the information presented to me, it is clear without a doubt that Red Cross visits to terrorists will seriously harm national security.”

Open Source Intel-tweet-29October2025-Katz signed order banning Red Cross visits to terrorists

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Terrorists who murder Jews get lethal injection. Executions within 90 days

A guillotine is even faster. Just in case lethal injection does not work just have next to the lethal injection bed, or have it as Step 2 just to be sure. pic.twitter.com/Bfco5K6e4q

— Yakov Butterfield (@JerusalemCats) November 19, 2025

Death by Pepsi. Better then Lethal Injection. Who needs Live Embalming with Formaldehyde when you have Pepsi. Same results.

— Yakov Butterfield (@JerusalemCats) December 8, 2025

Mossad Commentary-tweet-18November2025-Israel terrorist death penalty law
🚨 JUST IN — NEW PRINCIPLES OF ISRAEL’S TERRORIST DEATH PENALTY LAW 🚨

According to the published framework, the law will apply exclusively to terrorists who murder Jews — and the sentence will be non-appealable.

Executions would be carried out within 90 days, by lethal injection.

A major shift in Israel’s counter-terror policy and one that will disrupt future plans for hostage exchanges.

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil.

Mossad Commentary-tweet-18November2025-Israel terrorist death penalty law

JerusalemCats Comments: A guillotine is even faster, easier and very permanent.

A guillotine is even faster. Just in case lethal injection does not work just have next to the lethal injection bed, or have it as Step 2 just to be sure.

Why does the US government need 30,000 Guillotines and over 600 Million rounds of hollow point bullets?

Naila Ayad🇵🇸-tweet-7December2025-IV of Pepsi
“Can you boycott this from now on?”
JerusalemCats-tweet-8December2025-Death by Pepsi
Death by Pepsi. Better then Lethal Injection. Who needs Live Embalming with Formaldehyde when you have Pepsi. Same results.

JerusalemCats-tweet-8December2025-Death by Pepsi

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From clinics to command centers: When doctors and professors lead terror

They heal patients and teach students to gain legitimacy – then send other people’s children to die. They are the ultimate professional hypocrites. They do not need welfare, they need defeat. Like the Nazi doctors. Opinion.

Stephen M. Flatow / Published: 24November2025, 3:07 PM (GMT+2) https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/418275

Nazi Doctors From Hell

Stephen M. Flatow is President of the Religious Zionists of America (RZA) He is the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995 and the author of A Father’s Story: My Fight for Justice Against Iranian Terror. Note: The RZA is not affiliated with any American or Israeli political party.

Israelis have long noticed something disturbing about the men who mastermind jihad against us: many are not the poor and uneducated villagers that Western analysts love to imagine. Some of the most violent figures in Palestinian Arab terrorism – and beyond – are not only highly educated, but they are also doctors, professors, and university scientists. They were trained to save lives and educate in their fields. Instead, they devoted themselves to ending lives.

Take Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Look beyond the masks and rifles, and you find a surprising concentration of white-collar professionals.

Dr. Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, a pediatric specialist and university lecturer, served as Hamas’s de facto leader in Gaza. He could diagnose childhood diseases – and then calmly justify the murder of Israeli children.

Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar, another Gaza physician and surgeon, co-founded Hamas. He performed surgery in the morning and helped direct suicide bombings at night.

Dr. Fathi Shaqaqi, founder of PIJ, was also an MD. A man who treated infants created an organization dedicated to blowing up buses in Israel including the one in which my daughter Alisa was riding.

Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, a Cairo-educated surgeon, became the successor to Osama bin Laden, treating global jihad like a clinical procedure.

And the movement has its American academic wing:

Professor Sami Al-Arian, a PhD in computer engineering, tenured at the University of South Florida, founded the think-tank WISE, and later pled guilty to conspiring to provide services to PIJ. Today he is still quoted as a respected “speaker on Palestinian rights” in anti-Israel media – a case study in how academia launders extremist legitimacy.

Nor was Al-Arian just a fringe academic.

His think-tank recruited Ramadan Shallah, a PhD in economics from the University of Durham in the U.K. Shallah taught economics in Florida – and then took over PIJ after Shaqaqi’s assassination, directing suicide bombings and thousands of rocket attacks while claiming to be a “scholar of resistance.” From the faculty lounge to terror leadership, his transition stunned Americans – but not Israelis.

These men were not driven by desperation or lack of opportunity. They were educated enough to earn degrees, practice professions, gain status, and live comfortable lives. Instead, they chose to weaponize their intellect and prestige to lead others to kill.

The idea that terrorism grows out of poverty has always been a comforting Western fiction. It absolves ideology and implies that “more aid” is the solution. Yet Hamas and PIJ leadership show the opposite reality: terrorism thrives in universities, not refugee camps.

Hamas’s founders did not radicalize in Gaza’s alleyways. They graduated from medical schools in Cairo, Alexandria, and Beirut. They collected credentials, not bread rations. Universities confer leadership, networks, confidence, and technical skills. They train organizers, not merely fighters. That is why Hamas builds tunnels with engineering precision and designs rockets in underground labs. Terror needs brains before it needs fists.

Why do doctors and professors appear so often among terror leaders?

Because their calling gives them credibility. In much of the Arab world, doctors and academics carry social authority, a presumption of moral seriousness. When a respected professor or physician preaches jihad, his title becomes a weapon. People assume that someone trained to heal and someone trained to teach must “know what they’re talking about.”

They weaponize trust. They heal patients and teach students to gain legitimacy – then send other people’s children to die. They are the ultimate professional hypocrites.

This profile matters today more than ever, especially in universities and medical associations abroad where polite professors and activists quietly excuse terrorist ideology and call it “resistance.”

The soft-spoken academic who justifies violence is far more dangerous than the masked rioter. One recruits; the other merely riots.

Israel has warned the world for decades: this is not a struggle of poverty. It is not a misunderstanding. It is not a cry of the oppressed. It is an ideological movement led by educated elites who could have cured disease, educated children, or built economies – but chose to spread death.

The world keeps treating terrorism like a social illness. Israel and every world leader not wearing blinders knows better. It is a moral illness – one deliberately cultivated by brilliant men who chose darkness. Until the world recognizes that terrorists do not need jobs or houses, but defeat, it will keep being fooled by men in white coats with blood on their hands.

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Lawfare: The Benjamin Netanyahu trial

פוסט חשוב שכתב אלי ציפורי. תקראו:

הדרמה היום במשפט נתניהו:
🔴 החוקר דובי שרצר חשף את שם החוקר שפנה למח”ש בזמן אמת כדי להתלונן על מעשים פסולים בחקירות תיקי נתניהו – מדובר בסגן ניצב בדימוס צחי חבקין שהיה מעורב בתיק 1000, 2000 ו-4000. תלונתו של חבקין מעולם לא נבדקה כיוון שקרן בר… pic.twitter.com/fxPdA3aW4c

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 22, 2025

Benjamin Netanyahu-tweet-22October2025-Lawfare-The Benjamin Netanyahu trial

פוסט חשוב שכתב אלי ציפורי. תקראו:

הדרמה היום במשפט נתניהו:

🔴החוקר דובי שרצר חשף את שם החוקר שפנה למח”ש בזמן אמת כדי להתלונן על מעשים פסולים בחקירות תיקי נתניהו – מדובר בסגן ניצב בדימוס צחי חבקין שהיה מעורב בתיק 1000, 2000 ו-4000. תלונתו של חבקין מעולם לא נבדקה כיוון שקרן בר מנחם, ראשת מח”ש, דרשה שיכתוב את שמו ואת דרגתו ואילו חבקין רצה לשמור על אנונימיות. חבקין החל להעיד היום, למרות שהפרקליטות ניסתה לדחות את עדותו, ומנה שורה ארוכה של אירועים שמצביעים לשיטתו על התנהלות “לא תקינה” או “חריגה” בתיקי נתניהו.

🔴החוקרים חרגו מאישור מנדלבליט בתחילת החקירה בתיק 1000: חבקין הודה שמנדלבליט תחם את האישור רק לשימוש בדירת ג’יימס פאקר במלון רויאל ביץ’ אך צוות החקירה התעלם מכך, חרג מהאישור ושאל על מתנות לבני הזוג נתניהו – “אמרתי רגע, זה משהו שחרגנו. שאלנו שאלות רחבות בשלבים מוקדמים”.

🔴מנדלבליט לא איפשר לחקור את יוסי כהן, לשעבר ראש מוסד, על שימוש בדירת פאקר במלון רויאל ביץ’, אבל אישר לחקור את יאיר נתניהו למרות שאינו עובד ציבור: חבקין הודה שראה בשימוש של יוסי כהן בדירה כעבירה – “חשבתי שנכון וצריך לפתוח בחקירה, או לכל הפחות בבדיקה. מנדלבליט הנחה שנעשה הפרדה מלאה של החומרים והאירוע של יוסי כהן ייחקר בהמשך בנפרד. עד שאני עזבתי הוא לא נחקר”.

🔴 החוקרים ידעו בזמן אמת שגרסת פילבר על פגישת ההנחייה, עליה התבסס כתב האישום בתיק 4000, אינה מתיישבת עם הראיות: חבקין הודה שכבר בזמן אמת ידע צוות החקירה שמועד תאריך פגישת ההנחייה על פי עדות פילבר אינו תואם את האיכונים ושאר הראיות – “זה נושא שדובר ביחידה”.

🔴 אילן ישועה לא נחקר באזהרה למרות שהיה שותף לשיטתו לעבירות: חבקין הודה שלא הבין למה אילן ישועה אינו נחקר באזהרה למרות שסיפר בעדותו שהוא בפועל שותף לעבירות כביכול – “ישועה סיפר מרצונו שהוא חלק מהעבירה. שאלתי למה לא נחקר באזהרה, אמרו זה מה שהיועץ מנדלבליט הנחה וזה מה שעשו”.

🔴 מוטיבציית שיא בחקירות תיקי נתניהו: חבקין הודה שהייתה מוטיבציית שיא אצל היחידות החוקרות בתיקי נתניהו – “עשינו מאמצי על, יחידות החקירה יעשו הכל כדי להצליח”.

Translated from Hebrew
An important post written by Eli Tzipori. Read it:

The drama today in the Netanyahu trial:
🔴 Investigator Dubi Shertzer revealed the name of the investigator who approached the Department of Investigation of Police Officers (Machash) in real time to complain about improper conduct in the investigations of the Netanyahu cases – it is retired Deputy Superintendent Tsahi Havkin, who was involved in Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000. Havkin’s complaint was never investigated because Karen Bar Menachem, head of Machash, demanded that he provide his name and rank, while Havkin wanted to remain anonymous.
Havkin began testifying today, despite the prosecution’s attempts to delay his testimony, and listed a long series of events that, in his view, indicate “improper” or “irregular” conduct in the Netanyahu cases.

🔴 The investigators exceeded Mandelblit’s authorization at the start of the Case 1000 investigation: Havkin admitted that Mandelblit had limited the authorization to only the use of James Packer’s apartment at the Royal Beach Hotel, but the investigation team ignored this, exceeded the authorization, and asked about gifts to the Netanyahu couple – “I said, wait a minute, this is something we went beyond. We asked broad questions in the early stages.”

🔴 Mandelblit did not allow the investigation of Yossi Cohen, former Mossad chief, regarding the use of Packer’s apartment at the Royal Beach Hotel, but permitted the investigation of Yair Netanyahu despite him not being a public official: Havkin admitted that he viewed Yossi Cohen’s use of the apartment as an offense – “I thought it was right and necessary to open an investigation, or at the very least a review. Mandelblit instructed that the materials be completely separated, and the Yossi Cohen incident would be investigated separately later. Until I left, it was not investigated.”

🔴 The investigators knew in real time that Filber’s version of the guidance meeting, on which the indictment in Case 4000 was based, did not align with the evidence: Havkin admitted that the investigation team already knew in real time that the date of the guidance meeting according to Filber’s testimony did not match the location data and other evidence – “This was a matter discussed in the unit.”

🔴 Ilan Yeshua was not investigated under caution despite being a partner, according to him, in the offenses: Havkin admitted that he did not understand why Ilan Yeshua was not investigated under caution despite testifying that he was actually a partner in the alleged offenses – “Yeshua voluntarily said he was part of the offense. I asked why he wasn’t investigated under caution, and they said that’s what the Attorney General Mandelblit instructed, and that’s what was done.”

🔴 Peak motivation in the investigations of the Netanyahu cases: Havkin admitted that there was peak motivation among the investigating units in the Netanyahu cases – “We made extraordinary efforts, the investigation units would do everything to succeed.”

Benjamin Netanyahu-tweet-22October2025-Lawfare-The Benjamin Netanyahu trial

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Netanyahu on trial: Case 4000 unravels as witness exposes alleged suppression of exculpatory evidence

This is no longer merely a trial of a prime minister. It has become a trial of the system that brought him to the dock.

https://www.jns.org/netanyahu-on-trial-case-4000-unravels-as-witness-exposes-alleged-suppression-of-exculpatory-evidence/

Alex Traiman

Alex Traiman is the CEO and Jerusalem bureau chief of the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) and host of “Jerusalem Minute.” A seasoned Israeli journalist, documentary filmmaker and startup consultant, he is an expert on Israeli politics and U.S.-Israel relations. He has interviewed top political figures, including Israeli leaders, U.S. senators and national security officials with insights featured on major networks like BBC, Bloomberg, CBS, NBC, Fox and Newsmax. A former NCAA champion fencer and Yeshiva University Sports Hall of Fame member, he made aliyah in 2004, and lives in Jerusalem with his wife and five children.

(25December2025 / JNS) Case 4000—the most serious and consequential of the criminal cases against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—has long been portrayed by prosecutors as the centerpiece of their corruption allegations. Yet testimony heard this week in the Jerusalem District Court has intensified claims by Netanyahu’s allies that the case is not merely weak, but compromised by investigative misconduct.

According to Likud spokesman Guy Levy, testimony delivered on Tuesday by Ron Solomon, a serving senior investigator in the Israel Police’s signals intelligence (SIGINT) unit, revealed evidence of intentional suppression of exculpatory material, alteration of professional findings and continued investigative activity even after indictments were filed—all in service of sustaining a narrative that was unraveling under its own weight.

The flagship case—and why it mattered most

Among the three cases against Netanyahu—Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000—Case 4000 has always been regarded by prosecutors as the most severe. Unlike the others, it alleged a direct quid pro quo: that Netanyahu, while serving as communications minister, advanced regulatory decisions favorable to Bezeq, Israel’s largest telecom company, owned by Shaul Elovitch, in exchange for favorable coverage on the Walla news site.

Central to that theory is an alleged meeting between Netanyahu and Filber during the latter’s first week in office. The prime minister has consistently denied that such a conversation ever took place.

On the witness stand, Solomon testified that cell phone location data never placed Filber together with Netanyahu at the time of the alleged meeting. According to his testimony, the police had assembled a detailed chronology early in the investigation demonstrating that the meeting did not occur.

That data, Solomon said, was transferred to the prosecution.

According to Levy, the significance is unmistakable: The prosecution allegedly knew that the foundational claim of the meeting was false, yet indicted Netanyahu anyway—while withholding the contradictory location evidence from the defense and the court.

If correct, this would amount to concealment of exculpatory material, misrepresentation to the court and the filing of indictments based on claims known to be untrue.

From “favorable coverage” to “exceptional responsiveness”

Solomon’s testimony also addressed the prosecution’s shifting theory regarding media coverage.

Initially, prosecutors alleged that Netanyahu received positive coverage from Walla. During pre-indictment hearings before then–Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, the defense demonstrated that the coverage was frequently hostile, inconsistent and often negative.

Faced with that reality, the prosecution rebranded the allegation as “exceptional responsiveness” or unusually preferential treatment.

Solomon testified that he was tasked with reviewing Walla’s coverage of Netanyahu’s controversial Election Day 2015 statement warning that Arab voters were turning out “in droves.”

His findings contradicted the prosecution’s narrative. Walla was the third outlet to report the statement, later published a follow-up article debunking Netanyahu’s claim, and framed its coverage in a sharply hostile tone, including accusations of racism from opposition leaders.

Solomon testified that he had submitted these findings to the commander of the police’s financial crimes unit—only to be instructed to delete the information supporting Netanyahu’s position.

According to Solomon, the directive came from above, under guidance from the prosecution.

The big picture

The developments in Case 4000 come against the backdrop of the other cases against Netanyahu, each of which the defense and Likud officials describe as increasingly tenuous.

In Case 1000, prosecutors allege that Netanyahu and his family received gifts—including cigars, champagne and even a Bugs Bunny doll—valued at approximately $230,000 over many years from wealthy acquaintances. The prosecution concedes there was no specific quid pro quo, arguing instead that accepting gifts constituted a breach of trust because it might have compromised Netanyahu at some undefined future point.

In Case 2000, Netanyahu is accused of discussing a possible quid pro quo with Arnon “Noni” Mozes, publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth, under which Netanyahu would advance legislation restricting the free distribution of the pro-Netanyahu daily Israel Hayom in exchange for more favorable coverage. The prosecution openly acknowledges that the quid pro quo never occurred, yet argues that the mere conversation constitutes a criminal breach of trust.

A broader pattern alleged misconduct
Likud spokesman Levy argues that when viewed together, the cases reflect an unprecedented legal theory: criminal liability without demonstrated corruption, benefit or outcome. The picture that emerges is not of an investigation following evidence, but of evidence being reshaped to fit a predetermined conclusion.

Likud officials further allege that evidence in the cases was illegally collected and then selectively leaked to the media during consecutive election cycles, shaping public opinion and influencing electoral outcomes. They also point to the use of state witnesses who, they claim, were subjected to intense pressure and threatened with severe consequences unless they provided testimony aligning with the prosecution’s theory.

These claims remain contested, but Solomon’s testimony, Levy argues, lends new credibility to longstanding allegations of investigative overreach.

The pardon question

Against this backdrop, Netanyahu recently requested a presidential pardon from Isaac Herzog, who possesses the constitutional authority to bring the proceedings to an end.

Supporters of the move argue that after years of political paralysis, repeated elections and deep social division, a pardon would serve the national interest regardless of one’s view of Netanyahu himself.

The issue gained international attention after President Donald Trump sent a letter to Herzog urging him to grant a pardon, describing the case as politically driven and destabilizing.

Whether Herzog will act remains unclear. But after Solomon’s testimony, pressure on the prosecution—and on Israel’s political leadership—to address the legitimacy of the proceedings is likely to intensify.

A case on trial

Ultimately, the court will determine the weight of Solomon’s testimony and the credibility of the allegations surrounding it. Yet one conclusion is already evident: the case once billed as the prosecution’s strongest is now the one most visibly unraveling.

As Levy put it, Case 4000 is no longer merely a trial of a prime minister. It has become a trial of the system that brought him to the dock.

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The Western Wall: Defending Jewish identity against Reformism

Heritage Minister Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu issues strong critique of the Reform movement’s stance on Israel and the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, highlighting the ongoing battle to protect Jewish identity and the sanctity of the Western Wall. Op-ed.

Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu / Published: 20February2026, 1:04 PM (GMT+2) / https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422725

The riots at the Western Wall
Western Wall Heritage Foundation

While our sons are risking their lives on the frontlines, jumping on grenades, shielding civilians in bomb shelters with their own bodies, and paying the ultimate price so this country can continue to exist, there are those sitting in air-conditioned rooms in the United States, sipping lattes, and spitting in their faces. And then they demand a prize for it at the Western Wall.

What hides beneath the whitewashed words of “pluralism” and “inclusion”?

In May 2021, when Israel was burning during Operation Guardian of the Walls, when millions of Israelis, children and the elderly, sat day and night in shelters under barrages of Hamas rockets – over 90 rabbinical students of the Reform movement published a public letter. The future generation of their leadership. What did they write there? Did they condemn the terror? Did they send strength to their brethren under attack? Absolutely not. They accused the State of Israel of “apartheid,” called to halt military aid to the IDF, and cried crocodile tears over the suffering in Gaza.

This is not a one-time slip. This is a movement from which vast sections are today providing a tailwind, funding, and legitimacy to radical left-wing organizations on US campuses. Organizations that promote BDS, that call for boycotting Israeli products, and that persecute Jewish students who dare to support Zionism. As far as they are concerned, Judaism is universal, global, one that embraces everyone – except for the Israeli Jew fighting for his life.

This disdain for everything related to our nationalism comes from the highest levels. Listen to what happens at their “rabbinical” ordination ceremony (Hebrew Union College). The keynote speaker who takes the stage, to the sound of applause, doesn’t speak about the eternity of Israel. On the contrary. He stands there and trashes the IDF. He describes our presence here as “walls made from the bodies of teenage soldiers.” Do you understand? Those 19-year-old heroes standing on the firing line to prevent the next massacre are to him just pawns of an occupation protecting a “ghetto of zealots.”

And more than that – he explains to their prospective clergy that there is no problem whatsoever, and it is even desirable, for the Jewish people to disappear and assimilate. He calls on them to tear down the “walls” of Judaism, preaches that intermarriage is the right path, and declares that if Judaism disappears from the world in favor of some enlightened “global tribe” – that is completely fine. For two thousand years, Jews sacrificed their lives so as not to assimilate, to preserve our heritage and our unique identity, and today, on their main stage, they celebrate the erasure of the Jewish people.

And here is the numerical absurdity that simply cries out to high heaven:

Out of about 12,000 synagogues in Israel, the Reform movement holds barely 50 congregations. That is less than half a percent. A marginal group that barely exists on the ground in Israel. It is exactly like one person, within a congregation of 300 worshippers, standing up in his audacity and demanding to expropriate a quarter of the synagogue for himself and his friends from abroad. Not just expropriate – but to bring loudspeakers there, change the prayer arrangements, and conduct ceremonies that trample on the tradition of the 299 other worshippers. In any normal place in the world, they would show him the door.

But then comes the Supreme Court.

Last night, in a decision that proves once again how disconnected the Supreme Court justices are from Jewish identity – excuse me, they are not disconnected. They are actively working against it.

Against tradition, against Judaism, and against the majority of the Israeli public, they decided to hand this movement a victory. In the name of those empty words of “equality,” the Supreme Court is forcing the State of Israel to grant an official allocation and space at the Western Wall – the beating heart of the Jewish people – to those same people who despise us from afar.

They don’t come to the Kotel (Western Wall) to pray. The Kotel doesn’t really interest someone who dreams of becoming a citizen of the world and views our nationalism as a crime. They come to the Kotel as a battering ram. They want a foothold in our holiest place in order to gain political recognition, to poke a finger in the eye of traditional Judaism, and to undermine the Jewish identity of the state from within.

It is time that we, the sane majority in Israel, stop apologizing and stop bowing our heads to these manipulators.

The Western Wall is not real estate to be divided, nor is it playdough that can be molded according to the political whims of the Supreme Court. It belongs to a nation that is proud of its Judaism, that preserves its heritage, and that loves its soldiers. Whoever dreams of a world without a Jewish people – should not look for an estate at our Kotel.

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By Staff | Posted in War News and Comments | Tagged Gaza, Hamas, hostages, Iran, Israel, qatar, trump peace plan | Comments Off

ISRAEL AT WAR 5786: Time and Again

25/09/2025 – ג׳ בתשרי ה׳תשפ״ו – ג׳ בתשרי ה׳תשפ״ו – 04:10

Tel Aviv-We’re going to be fine

📌 Tel Aviv

We’re going to be fine pic.twitter.com/FRT7OYLS7s

— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) October 14, 2025

Eylon Levy-tweet-14October2025-Tel Aviv-We’re going to be fine
📌 Tel Aviv

We’re going to be fine

Eylon Levy-tweet-14October2025-Tel Aviv-We’re going to be fine

God’s Level of Morality, Not Man’s
Quiet megillah readings: Combat veterans, loud sounds and firecrackers can cause traumatic flashbacks
HELL you wanted and HELL you will get!
Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu: This is why fewer Arabs visit Temple Mount
Prayer gathering called in Hevron for Dec 22nd
22 wounded as Houthi drone from Yemen hits Eilat
Israeli forces kill two PIJ terrorists in Samaria
BACKGROUND: What Israel has to deal with. Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf in Arabic
Who’s afraid of diplomatic isolation?
A Massive Awakening is Happening in Israel
CABINET APPROVES MAJOR STEPS TO EXPAND ISRAELI SOVEREIGNTY IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA
FIRST U.S. EMBASSY CONSULAR SERVICE IN JUDEA
Gaza, A collection of memories from the Gaza Strip, BOOM
Enough with the Blood Libels – There Is No ‘Settler Violence’

The first brick in Israel’s ‘deep state’ wall has fallen
Haaretz dismisses Chaim Levinson for taking NIS 200,000 from Qatargate suspect
Israeli union leader detained in major bribery, fraud probe
Military Advocate General: Top IDF lawyer faces criminal probe after admitting to misleading High Court
Police arrest Military Advocate General and former Chief Military Prosecutor

Nearly 50,000 Jews celebrate Sukkot in Hebron
Michael Eisenberg: ‘Aliyah is about growth, not just integration’
Netanyahu Says IDF Losses Due to Ammunition Shortage Before Trump Intervention
Israel will build ‘Independent Arms Industry’ amid worry of international constraints: Netanyahu
Israel investing over $100 billion in homegrown arms production, Netanyahu reveals
Amid embargoes, how independent can Israel’s defense industry be?
Failed leftist Jewish leadership is causing needless antisemitism
Biased media fuels American Jewish opposition to Israel
washingtonpost poll 9-2025 Many American Jews sharply critical of Israel on Gaza, Post poll finds
Sept. 2-9, 2025, Washington Post Jewish Americans poll
Gaza ‘Doctor’ Murdered Hostage Noa Marciano, 19, as She Begged For Mercy
A warning shot to Erdogan: Israel’s message to Turkey comes via Athens and Nicosia
Since 1947, one truth has never changed: Israel chooses peace. Arabs chose war
BREAKING: HAMAS ALREADY PLANNING THE NEXT MASSACRE
HEBRON OCT 7 STYLE ATTACK AVERTED

7 Hostages Released

After 738 days in captivity in Gaza, Matan, Gali, Ziv, Alon, Eitan, Omri and Guy are coming home. 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/gklAwKhG1u

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-7 Hostages Released
After 738 days in captivity in Gaza, Matan, Gali, Ziv, Alon, Eitan, Omri and Guy are coming home. 🇮🇱

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-7 Hostages Released

13 Hostages Released

It’s official: There are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity. pic.twitter.com/qa1Lh4vhhv

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2025

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-13 Hostages Released
It’s official: There are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity.

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-13October2025-13 Hostages Released

God’s Level of Morality, Not Man’s

For ages, spiritual movements reshaped themselves to match human appetite. Only Judaism was bound to G-d Who demanded we confront these appetites. He dares us to fight our lowly human natures and rise higher.

David Ben Horin | Posted on 03February2026 | https://breslev.com/5205718/

God’s Level of Morality, Not Man’s by David Ben Horin

For more than 1,300 years, the banner of jihad or “holy war” has been used to justify an unbroken trail of bloodshed. The Sunni–Shia feud that started in the first generation after Muhammad evolved into a centuries-long cycle of massacres, reprisals, and “holy” score-settling.

The same script played out in Lebanon and Syria, where entire cities were dragged into wars fought less for God and more for power dressed in “holy” clothing.

On October 7, that same ideology tore through our own communities, transforming homes and families into targets.

And in Iran, tens of thousands of men and women—people who dared to push for something as simple as human freedom—were eliminated under the pious marketing slogan of “religious duty.” Thousands more face the death penalty after being branded “enemies of god” for wanting their own taste of what Judeo-Christian values label “God-given freedoms.”

A religion made to validate and even accommodate their darkest impulses.

Although Christianity is far less egregious in its blanket permissions for evil such as murder, it still falls far short of pushing mankind to the highest levels of morality, honesty, and refined behavior.

A Covenant That Elevates Rather Than Accommodates

Judaism, on the other hand, demands as the basis of Jewish law or halacha the highest, exacting standards of honesty and morality. Even jealousy, which is a normal human emotion in a particular set of circumstances – is banned – as one of the Ten Commandments! Jewish law demands 10% of income be tithed to the poor, demands honest weights and measures and honesty in business, demands lost items be returned and not taken as “finders keepers,” and so much more. There is no “well, I’m not evil so I’m good” in Judaism. Goodness, honesty and morality are demanded as the most basic level of keeping Jewish law!

An excellent example of this requirement not just to be OK, but to be moral and honest to the highest degree, is found in the story of the young rabbi who bought a desk, and discovered $98,000 cash that had been hidden by the owner, and the recipient of his inheritance didn’t know was there. He asked his rabbi who confirmed that the money had to be returned since the owner didn’t intend to include it in the sale of the desk. The Los Angeles Times titled the article on this story “The Most Honest Man in America?”¹ The answer is that any Jew who follows Jewish law would have done the exact same thing, because this is the standard of honesty and morality that G-d demands and Judaism does not water it down for the desires of humans!

This is what makes the covenant, or Brit, between Hashem and the Jewish People so extraordinary. It isn’t shaped to suit our whims or comforts. Instead, God invites us to rise, to grow, to refine ourselves so we can live in alignment with Him.

It begins on the eighth day of life, with a moment that signals something profound: our journey toward discipline, holiness, and purpose. It extends by controlling the desires attached to the organ we circumcise.

What the ancient Romans dismissed as strange, and what later cultures would never dare attempt, becomes for us a declaration of devotion. It is not an act against others, but an act of commitment — a reminder that our path starts with transforming ourselves.

God doesn’t shape His Torah to match our impulses. He gives us the Torah as a blueprint for reshaping who we are. He asks us to mold our lives, our desires, and our choices toward Him — not the other way around.

The Brit is a lifelong pledge to elevate our instincts, to channel the strongest human drives toward something higher, something sacred. From the eighth day onward, we carry a sign that our bodies, our passions, and our purpose are meant to serve something far greater than ourselves.

It is the beginning of a life lived with intention, direction, and holiness — a covenant that lifts us toward God every single day.

Walking the Straight Path to God Under Fire

We stand in the days of Shovevim — our season of intensity, commitment, and spiritual fire.

This is the time when we’re called to go all-in, to awaken every ounce of discipline, drive, and conviction inside us. Not to unleash violence on the world, but to unleash force on ourselves — on the impulses that pull us away from God.

What are our Jewish fantasies?

To wage war on our own yetzer hara with the same relentless determination that empires used on their enemies. To confront our desires head-on and overpower them with the ferocity of a soldier who refuses to surrender his ground.

Loyalty to Hashem means guarding every doorway into the soul — from the phone, the screen, the bar, the office, the street — and shutting down temptation the way an IDF defender shuts down a Hamas terrorist.

🔥This is our battlefield.
🔥This is our mission.

Every victory is carved inside the heart long before it appears in the world.

The name “Israel” means Yashar Kel — the straight path to God. Walking that path demands that we move toward Him, not toward comfort or indulgence. It means choosing His will over our wants, His discipline over our impulses, His direction over our distractions.

🔥This is our war — the only war that matters.

Every act of resistance against the pull away from the path God commands us is a step closer to His mercy, His compassion, and His wrath against those trying to destroy us.

God is great.

He calls us to greatness.

Editor’s Notes:

¹Los Angeles Times, November 12, 2013

***
David Ben Horin lives in Afula with his family, 60,000 passionate Israelis, and Matilda, our local camel.

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Quiet megillah readings: Combat veterans, loud sounds and firecrackers can cause traumatic flashbacks

Rabbinical Organization: Skip the Noisemakers This Purim for IDF Veterans

Tzohar calls on communities to avoid loud noisemakers during Megillah readings, citing trauma triggers for veterans and war-affected Israelis.

Israel National News

25February2026, 7:34 PM (GMT+2) / https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422982

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HELL you wanted and HELL you will get!

GOOD!!!
Keep going… pic.twitter.com/D9Xa1a6A8L

— Rotem (@rtmnmk) January 16, 2026

Rotem-tweet-16January2026–HELL you wanted and HELL you will get
GOOD!!!
Keep going…

Rotem-tweet-16January2026–HELL you wanted and HELL you will get

-HELL you wanted and HELL you will get!

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Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu: This is why fewer Arabs visit Temple Mount

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu says number of Arabs visiting Temple Mount has dropped by half – and shares why.

Dvir Amar

6February2026, 1:23 PM (GMT+2) https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422052

Tzfat Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu has offered an explanation for the decline in the number of Arabs ascending the Temple Mount.

According to Rabbi Eliyahu, the number of Arabs visiting the Temple Mount is now down by half.

Sharing a conversation that one of his friends had with a senior Arab official on the Temple Mount, Rabbi Eliyahu said that the Arab official claimed that Jews bowing on the ground on on the Temple Mount caused less Arabs to visit the site.

Rabbi Eliyahu quoted the Arab as saying to his friend, “The reason is that you started bowing on the ground to the Holy One, Blessed Be He. When we see you bowing, we are afraid of you, because you humble yourselves before G-d. If you humble yourselves before G-d, who can stand against you? So, we don’t come anymore.”

The Temple Mount Yeshiva issued a statement: “Blessings to Minister Ben-Gvir for restoring governance and honor to the Temple Mount, the holiest and most important place for the People of Israel. Since Ben-Gvir took office, the Temple Mount has returned to being a holy and pleasant place, and instead of chants inciting the murder of Jews, we now hear wedding songs, prayers, and Torah lessons. It is moving to witness the awakening of the rabbis ascending, and the bowing which is growing stronger. The People of Israel have returned to the Temple Mount.”

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Prayer gathering called in Hevron for Dec 22nd

Rivka Levy / 19December2025 https://thinkforyourselfpublishing.com/prayer-gathering-called-in-hevron-for-dec-22nd/

More details when I have them, but Rav Berland is calling for a prayer gathering in Hevron on December 22nd.

The time: Starting 8pm.
The place: Me’arat HaMachpela.

The reason: Your guess is as good as mine, but I have lost count of the number of times the Rav has called prayer gatherings to ‘ward off’ some bad decree before we even know about it.
The other reason for the prayer gatherings is to try to ‘sweeten’ bad decrees that have already manifested, lo alenu, like the ‘Stabbing Intifada’ in Jerusalem a few years back, when the Rav said it would stop if 10,000 Jews gathered at the Me’arat HaMachpela to do 7 Tikkun Haklalis.

And, exactly as he said, it stopped to the day.

====

What was interesting is that the Rav barely called for any prayer gatherings during the Gaza War.

I guess he already knew that was a massive decree, a tikkun, that would take the time it took, prayer gatherings or no.

So instead, he asked for a special Torah scroll to be written, and told us that the day the Torah scroll was ready and given to him, the war in Gaza would stop.

Again, to the day, that’s what happened.
All this stuff has been documented ‘live’ on the blog here, there is no funny business going back and rewriting history.

Or faking ‘history’, right from the start…

====

So, it looks like something ‘big’ is brewing again, in my opinion, and the Rav is trying to ward it off.

The natural-resource-gobbling Evils have their eye on the oil fields in the Golan Heights now, as they had their eye on the gas fields off the Gaza coast.
Once you look at world events from the prism of ‘where are the natural resources, and who wants to exploit them’, all this starts to make far, far more sense.

Remember, we said years ago that Trump and his team of ‘businessmen’ had an eye on the Golan resources (remember ‘Trump Heights’?) and the Gaza gas fields.

They are just seeing which of their ‘puppet politicians’ will find it easier to sell their own people out and deliver the goods, without anyone noticing.
Al-Golani, or our own dear leader, who has served them so very faithfully for years and years, but now maybe doesn’t have the cred and power to carry on just giving away bits of Eretz Yisrael under the guise of more American-sponsored and orchestrated ‘war and peace’.

====

So, 8pm, December 22nd, 2025, at Hevron.

That is this coming Monday night.
If you live abroad and can’t make it yourself, consider helping Shuvu Banim to sponsor a bus, to bring people in from around the country.
That stuff costs hundreds of thousands of shekels, and there are no slick ‘Go Fund Me‘ campaigns being set up for the Rav, within 10 seconds of ‘bad stuff happening’ that get millions in donations in less than 24 hours.

(Mamash, ask anyone who knows anything about crowdfunding, and they will explain to you just how very unusual all this is… And BTW, it’s also a super-great way of laundering funds, to make sure no one knows where exactly all that cash is coming from…)

Just a simple link, on a very simple site that has been under attack, in so many senses of the word, for years and years, which you can access here:

https://ravberland.com/en/donate
And may we just hear good news.

====

PS: Here’s a bit more about Ahmed Al Ahmed ‘Go Fund Me’ campaign, screenshot from HERE:

Ahmed Al Ahmed ‘Go Fund Me’ campaign

Tom Traynor starting things off with a $50k donation… then Bill Ackerman (yes, that Bill Ackerman) joined in with $99.99k – the most you can give, apparently. And then, Greg and Anna Brockman of Open AI joined in with another almost $40k…
You can always tell when the billionaires get involved, that it must be something very good and very special for humanity.

Deep, deep sigh.

====

Meanwhile, look at this:

One Mitzvah for Bondi Screenshot-2025-12-19 ICA

====

I went looking for this, and here is the OFFICIAL New South Wales government website for this project:

One Mitzvah for Bondi | NSW Government
Screenshot:

One Mitzvah for Bondi Screenshot-2025-12-19

====

Here’s the text (screenshot):

One Mitzvah for Bondi Screenshot-2025-12-19 text

====

Here is a headline from the JC, 2024, for comparison:

https://www.thejc.com/community/interfaith-action-is-at-the-heart-of-mitzvah-day-2024-o5co4pmq

====

And here is the page from ‘badd outreach, again, just for comparison:
https://www.chabadoutreach.org/therebbe/onemitzvah_cdo/jewish/One-Mitzvah.htm

====

Great, how all these billionaires and interfaith people are jumping on the bandwagon, here.

Pushing that idea that ‘we’re all just one big, happy family’…
That is the hallmark of the satanic freemasons, and has been for at least 200 years.

====

Tov.

Don’t forget, if you want an authentic Jewish response to the madness going on in the world, that really will make a positive difference for the very difficult situation we currently find ourselves in, join in, however you can, with the Rav’s prayer rally on Monday, December 22nd.

It feels like a lot is hanging in the balance again.

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22 wounded as Houthi drone from Yemen hits Eilat

Magen David Adom medics treated victims at the scene and evacuated them—including two in serious condition—to Yoseftal Hospital.

Charles Bybelezer

https://www.jns.org/five-injured-as-houthi-drone-from-yemen-strikes-eilat/

Israeli security forces at the scene of a Houthi drone strike in Eilat, Sept. 24, 2025. Photo by Yehuda Ben Itach/Flash90.

(24September2025 / JNS) Twenty-two people were injured on Wednesday evening when a drone launched by Houthi terrorists in Yemen struck the southern Israeli city of Eilat.

Magen David Adom said its medics treated victims at the scene and evacuated them—including two in serious condition—to the city’s Yoseftal Hospital.

Video circulating online showed people scrambling for cover as air-raid sirens sounded, with the UAV appearing to strike near a major shopping center adjacent to Eilat’s main boardwalk.

The Israel Defense Forces said interception attempts were made, and that search-and-rescue teams were operating at the impact site.

The Israeli Air Force opened an investigation after the two Iron Dome interceptor missiles failed to down the UAV.

דיווח ראשוני על נפילת כטב”ם חותי באילת , שני בתוך שבוע pic.twitter.com/ON9McC5Ox8

— איתי בלומנטל 🇮🇱 Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) September 24, 2025

Itay Blumental-tweet-24September2025-Houthi UAV in Eilat
Initial report on the fall of a Houthi UAV in Eilat, the second within a week

דיווח ראשוני על נפילת כטב”ם חותי באילת , שני בתוך שבוע

Itay Blumental-tweet-24September2025-Houthi UAV in Eilat

The Israel Police urged residents to stay away from the crash site and avoid touching debris, warning it may contain explosives.

The military urged the public to continue adhering to Home Front Command guidelines.

Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday night wished a full recovery to those injured in Eilat.

“The Houthi terrorists refuse to learn from Iran, Lebanon and Gaza—and they will learn the hard way,” Katz said, adding, “Those who attack Israel will be struck back sevenfold.”

Israeli security forces at the scene of a Houthi drone strike in Eilat, Sept. 24, 2025. Credit: Israel Police.

Last Thursday, an unmanned aerial vehicle that was launched toward Israel “from the east” impacted in the courtyard of a hotel in Eilat. No injuries were reported.

A second drone was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force minutes later, the IDF said.

The term “from the east” is typically used by the IDF to refer to attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

Approximately an hour later, the Houthis fired a ballistic missile that triggered air-raid alerts across central Israel, sending millions of civilians to bomb shelters.

On Sept. 16, the IDF struck Hudaydah Port in Houthi-controlled Yemen, accusing the terrorist group of using the facility to transfer Iranian-supplied weapons for attacks on Israel and its allies.

The strike targeted a “military infrastructure site,” with the IDF saying it was “in response to the repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel, including the launch of UAVs and surface-to-surface missiles.”

The Houthis have carried out missile and drone attacks on the Jewish state—including a direct missile hit near Ben-Gurion International Airport on May 4—since the Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

A Houthi explosive drone crashed into Ramon Airport near Eilat on Sept. 7, shortly after the IAF intercepted three UAVs launched from Yemen.

Jerusalem has conducted several rounds of strikes against the Houthis, including an Aug. 28 operation that killed their “prime minister” and several other Cabinet officials.

Defense Minister Katz said on Friday that Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of the Houthis, and his government would be sent to “the depths of hell.”

“Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, your time will come,” Katz said, adding that he and his subordinates will meet “all the envoys of the Axis of Evil.”

The slogan “Death to Israel, curse upon the Jews,” written on the Houthi flag, Katz added, “will be replaced by the blue-and-white Israeli flag that will fly in the capital of united Yemen.”

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Israeli forces kill two PIJ terrorists in Samaria

Alaa Ga’udat Bani Ouda and Mohammad Qassem Suleiman were part of a cell planning an imminent attack.

JNS Staff

https://www.jns.org/israeli-forces-kill-two-pij-terrorists-in-samaria/

(25September2025 / JNS) Israeli forces operating overnight Wednesday in the Palestinian town of Tammun, eight miles northeast of Nablus in Samaria, neutralized a terrorist cell planning an imminent attack.

Acting on intelligence, the forces located members of the cell affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including Alaa Ga’udat Bani Ouda and Mohammad Qassem Suleiman, both armed operatives involved in planning shooting and explosive attacks.

During the operation, forces encircled the building where the terrorists had barricaded themselves, engaged them with precise fire, and killed them.

During Israeli operations on Wednesday in the Anzah area, near Jenin in northern Samaria, a terrorist hurled an explosive device at soldiers. The troops returned fire, killing the assailant. No IDF injuries were reported.

A day earlier, Israeli forces identified a rocket in the Palestinian city of Tulkarem, in western Samaria. The Israel Defense Forces said the rocket was neutralized by Border Police sappers, while troops scanned the area. The military has opened an investigation into the incident.

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BACKGROUND: What Israel has to deal with. Mein Kampf

Look what you can see at the Cairo International Book Fair. pic.twitter.com/YvCPsGco0N

— Elder of Ziyon 🇮🇱 (@elderofziyon) February 4, 2025

Elder of Ziyon-tweet-4February2025-What Israel has to deal with-Mein Kampf

Elder of Ziyon-tweet-4February2025-What Israel has to deal with-Mein Kampf

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Mein Kampf in Arabic

Mein Kampf in Arabic in Gaza

Antisemitism kills.

IDF forces found a copy of Hitler’s antisemitic work “Mein Kampf” in a child’s room of a home in Gaza used by Hamas as a terrorism hub.

The terrorist highlighted portions of the book and included his own notes.

It starts with words. It ends with Jewish… pic.twitter.com/eQVasLJWkC

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) November 12, 2023

Israel-tweet-12November2023-Mein Kampf in Gaza
Antisemitism kills.

IDF forces found a copy of Hitler’s antisemitic work “Mein Kampf” in a child’s room of a home in Gaza used by Hamas as a terrorism hub.

The terrorist highlighted portions of the book and included his own notes.

It starts with words. It ends with Jewish blood in the streets.

Israel-tweet-12November2023-Mein Kampf in Gaza

They found “Mein Kampf” in every second house in Gaza

The Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, @SharrenHaskel, told German Media that they found “Mein Kampf” in every second house in Gaza.

How much more proof do you need that lying comes as naturally to them as breathing? https://t.co/MlKajxM3pH

— Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) October 16, 2025

Dr. Simon Goddek-tweet-16October2025-They found Mein Kampf in every second house in Gaza
The Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, @SharrenHaskel, told German Media that they found “Mein Kampf” in every second house in Gaza.

How much more proof do you need that lying comes as naturally to them as breathing?
WELT-tweet-16October2025
„In jedem zweiten Haus in Gaza fanden wir ‚Mein Kampf‘ von Hitler“
Translated from German by Grok
“In every second house in Gaza we found ‘Mein Kampf’ by Hitler”
https://www.welt.de/videos/video68f095c6dbad4b72062aefe0/israels-vize-aussenministerin-in-jedem-zweiten-haus-in-gaza-fanden-wir-mein-kampf-von-hitler.html?wtrid=socialmedia.socialflow….socialflow_twitter

Dr. Simon Goddek-tweet-16October2025-They found Mein Kampf in every second house in Gaza

Mein Kampf in Arabic in Judea and Samaria

No, our fighters didn’t find it in Gaza but in “Judea and Samaria” (what the jihadist-loving left calls the “The West Bank”), 20 minutes from our central cities.

This is a school textbook based on Hitler’s “Mein Camp”, on the extermination of the Jewish people, with additions,… pic.twitter.com/MzRhS4M0AS

— Rubi Yona 💙🇮🇱 רובי יונה (@RubiYona) October 15, 2024

Rubi Yona-tweet-15October2024-Mein Kampf in Arabic in Judea and Samaria
No, our fighters didn’t find it in Gaza but in “Judea and Samaria” (what the jihadist-loving left calls the “The West Bank”), 20 minutes from our central cities.

This is a school textbook based on Hitler’s “Mein Camp”, on the extermination of the Jewish people, with additions, upgrades and streamlining suggestions for the jihadist Muslims known as “Palestinians”.

We fight monsters.

#AINewsIL #MuslimInvaders #TheWestIsNext

Rubi Yona-tweet-15October2024-Mein Kampf in Arabic in Judea and Samaria

Mein Kampf sold at many Palestinian stores

SEE: From 9January2014 Sales Of Hitler’s Mein Kampf Are Surging

While visiting different Palestinian cities in the West Bank, I was shocked to see Mein Kampf sold at many stores (even those that are not bookshops).

When you hear how many Palestinians talk about Hitler, you quickly understand why.

Listen to Yussuf from Bethlehem. pic.twitter.com/G5F1pYn2Fv

— Eli Kowaz (@elikowaz) January 4, 2024

Eli Kowaz-tweet-4January2024-Mein Kampf sold at many Palestinian stores
While visiting different Palestinian cities in the West Bank, I was shocked to see Mein Kampf sold at many stores (even those that are not bookshops).

When you hear how many Palestinians talk about Hitler, you quickly understand why.

Listen to Yussuf from Bethlehem.

Eli Kowaz-tweet-4January2024-Mein Kampf sold at many Palestinian stores

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Who’s afraid of diplomatic isolation?

There is no Palestinian state not only because Israel maintains full control over the territory, but also because of the Palestinian Authority’s failure to establish functioning governing institutions, and Hamas’ dominance.

by Prof. Eyal Zisser – Published on 09-28-2025 10:05 – Last modified: 09-28September2025 10:15 https://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/whos-afraid-of-diplomatic-isolation/
Eyal Zisser is a lecturer in the Middle East History Department at Tel Aviv University.

On December 13, 1949, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel and ordered the transfer of state institutions there from Tel Aviv. In the UN Partition Plan of November 1947, Jerusalem was not included in the Jewish state’s territory. During and after the 1948 War of Independence, proposals were even raised internationally to place the city under international rule, or to hand it over to Jordan. Israel effectively set its capital in Tel Aviv, where the president, government, Knesset and other state institutions sat.

Ben-Gurion’s announcement came, naturally, as the UN General Assembly was meeting in New York to debate the Middle East. At the time, Israel was waging a tough diplomatic battle to preserve the gains of the War of Independence, against most of the world, which demanded territorial concessions and the return of Palestinian refugees as the only path to peace.

But Ben-Gurion did not back down and decided to move the capital to Jerusalem. As expected, the world erupted in protest, condemned Israel harshly, and threatened retaliatory steps. Leading the opposition, as usual, were European countries, joined by the United States, whose ties with Israel in those years were cool and even hostile. But the die was cast, and Jerusalem became the capital. Inside Israel, too, many opposed the move. Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett even submitted his resignation to Ben-Gurion, perhaps as protest, having warned that the step would bring disaster, or perhaps, as he later claimed, because he had not foreseen the diplomatic tsunami that swept over Israel.

Today we are once again warned that Israel is on the verge of diplomatic isolation, highlighted by the recognition of a Palestinian state by Britain, France and other Western countries. But such warnings should be taken with a grain of salt. First, most of the world, 147 of the UN’s 193 member states, has already recognized a Palestinian state for years, yet it has not come into being nor is it likely to in the near future. Second, a Palestinian state has not emerged not only because Israel controls the territory, but also because of the Palestinian Authority’s ongoing failure to maintain functioning institutions and, above all, because of the looming threat of Hamas, which could seize control of any area handed over to the Palestinians.

In 1955, as Israel battled waves of terrorist attacks while being urged to exercise restraint out of fear of international criticism, Ben-Gurion declared: Only the courage of the Jews established the state, not some ‘UN-shmun’ decision… Our future depends not on what the nations say, but on what the Jews do. Still, Ben-Gurion was mindful of limits and the need for alliances. He launched the 1956 Sinai Campaign only after securing French backing, which for a time provided Israel with political cover and military aid.

The historical lesson is clear. A country like Israel, facing existential security challenges in a complex and hostile regional and global arena, cannot base its actions solely on how the world will respond.

The decision by some European states and others to recognize a Palestinian state stems from political calculations, appeasing the radical left and Muslim immigrant communities. It carries no real weight or meaning and will ultimately fade into history. Yet Israel must know what it seeks and can achieve, what is worth fighting for, and where to show flexibility. With all due respect to Gaza, it is not Jerusalem. As Menachem Begin once put it: Learn from Masada how not to reach it, and from Modiin how to build it.

The real question we must keep in sight is how to preserve cohesion and unity within Israeli society, and around what shared principles and goals to forge broad national consensus.

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Politicians Are Speaking Out! A Massive Awakening is Happening in Israel…

Posted 28September2025 JNS-TV:

Most people outside of Israel probably don’t realize what’s happening right now. In the middle of a war, with the country on edge, one unexpected name has suddenly been thrust into the spotlight: David Zini. He’s not a politician or a public figure, but a career IDF general who has just been appointed to head Israel’s most powerful security agency, the Shin Bet. In this episode, we break down who he is, why this move surprised so many, and how his sudden rise is already sparking political battles inside Israel.

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CABINET APPROVES MAJOR STEPS TO EXPAND ISRAELI SOVEREIGNTY IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA

🚨 CABINET APPROVES MAJOR STEPS TO EXPAND ISRAELI SOVEREIGNTY IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA

Just before Prime Minister Netanyahu’s departure on an official flight, the cabinet approved a series of dramatic policy decisions affecting land policy in Judea and Samaria, led by Ministers… pic.twitter.com/bAG8J3V6D0

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) February 8, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-8February2026-EXPAND ISRAELI SOVEREIGNTY IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA
🚨 CABINET APPROVES MAJOR STEPS TO EXPAND ISRAELI SOVEREIGNTY IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA

Just before Prime Minister Netanyahu’s departure on an official flight, the cabinet approved a series of dramatic policy decisions affecting land policy in Judea and Samaria, led by Ministers Israel Katz and Bezalel Smotrich, according to reports.

Key elements of the decisions reportedly include:
• Changes to land registration and acquisition procedures
• Removal of confidentiality protections on certain land registries
• Measures that could enable demolition of unauthorized Palestinian construction in Area A
• A significant expansion of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria

The moves are described as deepening de facto Israeli sovereignty in the region and could have major legal and diplomatic implications.

Some analysts say the decisions may conflict with understandings from the 1997 Hebron Agreement, part of the Oslo-era framework.

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil.

Mossad Commentary-tweet-8February2026-EXPAND ISRAELI SOVEREIGNTY IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA

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FIRST U.S. EMBASSY CONSULAR SERVICE IN JUDEA

🇺🇸 FIRST U.S. EMBASSY CONSULAR SERVICE IN JUDEA

The town of Efrat in Gush Etzion is set to host the first U.S. Embassy consular service branch in Judea, part of the embassy’s “Outreach Program.”

The new office, expected to open in the coming weeks, will provide passport… pic.twitter.com/2c844Z9FQs

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) February 8, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-8February2026-FIRST U.S. EMBASSY CONSULAR SERVICE IN JUDEA
🇺🇸 FIRST U.S. EMBASSY CONSULAR SERVICE IN JUDEA

The town of Efrat in Gush Etzion is set to host the first U.S. Embassy consular service branch in Judea, part of the embassy’s “Outreach Program.”

The new office, expected to open in the coming weeks, will provide passport renewals, birth registration, and other consular services for American citizens, eliminating the need to travel to Jerusalem.

With a large English-speaking population and many American residents, Efrat was seen as a natural location for expanded U.S. services.

Local leaders are calling the move both a practical improvement for residents and a symbolic milestone in U.S.–Israel relations in Judea and Samaria.

Source: The Jewish Edition

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil

Mossad Commentary-tweet-8February2026-FIRST U.S. EMBASSY CONSULAR SERVICE IN JUDEA

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Gaza, A collection of memories from the Gaza Strip, BOOM

A collection of memories from the Gaza Strip.

Have a Good night. pic.twitter.com/kU2lGfEMnc

— Eli Afriat 🇮🇱🎗 (@EliAfriatISR) November 27, 2025

Eli Afriat-tweet-27November2025-Gaza-A collection of memories from the Gaza Strip
A collection of memories from the Gaza Strip.

Have a Good night.

Eli Afriat-tweet-27November2025-Gaza-A collection of memories from the Gaza Strip

Bye bye Gaza

Bye-bye, Gaza!!! pic.twitter.com/6yNLSvhUn4

— REAL JEW (@THEREALJEW613) February 5, 2025

REAL JEW-tweet-5February2025-Bye bye Gaza
Bye-bye, Gaza!!!

REAL JEW-tweet-5February2025-Bye-bye Gaza

Boom morning Gaza-For the children’s sake keep going

For the children’s sake keep going pic.twitter.com/CXOetGnJJI

— Cheri Vince (@dodi_moon_314) April 14, 2025

daniel hanuka-tweet-14April2025-Boom morning Gaza
Boom morning Gaza
Cheri Vince-tweet-14April2025-For the children’s sake keep going
For the children’s sake keep going

daniel hanuka-tweet-14April2025-Boom morning Gaza

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SOVEREIGNTY-logo https://www.ribonut.co.il/

Enough with the Blood Libels – There Is No Settler Violence

Enough with the Blood Libels – There Is No “Settler Violence”

They are trying to manipulate your consciousness through the blood libel known as “settler violence.” Do not be dragged into this false discourse. Before you condemn, stop and think for a moment…

Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar

28December2025 https://www.ribonut.co.il/BlogPostID.aspx?BlogPostId=1010

Once again, we are witnessing videos that serve the “settler violence” campaign—a campaign that raises its head whenever the left identifies an opportunity for diplomatic pressure that could lead to further Israeli withdrawals.

The purpose of the blood-libel campaign against the Jews living in Judea and Samaria (labeled in English “settlers” but really should be called “inheritors of the land”) is to serve as a tool in the hands of those demanding their uprooting and expulsion from Judea and Samaria and the establishment of an Arab terror state in the heart of our land. It is entirely possible that the current timing of the renewed push of the false and libelous “settler violence” campaign was chosen due to the Prime Minister’s visit to the White House and the left’s hopes for American pressure to force Israel’s willingness to establish a Palestinian state.

In the face of this campaign of lies and defamation, we must stand firm with a decisive response whose headline is clear: there is no settler violence! To clarify this, we will begin with the obvious—unlike what occurs among the Arab enemy, where education toward hatred of Jews and the aspiration to kill Jews begins even before kindergarten and only intensifies over time, among Jews there are no people who wake up in the morning burning with a desire to attack Arabs for no reason. Jewish lives revolve around a normative daily routine of work, study, and family life.

Because this fact is well known, clear, and self-evident, when we are exposed in the media or on social networks to a widely circulated video showing a Jew who supposedly attacks an Arab, before rushing to condemn and defame, stop for a moment, take a deep breath, use your brain, and ask the necessary question: if a Jew arrived at such a situation, it is entirely possible that this is a completely different event—that it is part of a broader story deliberately not presented to us. Someone is trying to manipulate our consciousness in order to weaken the people of Israel and the State of Israel.

In these lines we wish to present one incident that occurred several months ago—one example that illustrates many others:

One day we received an agitated phone call. On the other end of the line was a distressed friend who told us how shocked she was by a video she had seen showing a Jew attacking an Arab and stealing his mobile phone. “Settler violence is shocking,” she concluded.

As we listened to her shock, it was already clear that this was a biased video backed by “consciousness engineers” and experts at manipulating the minds of innocent viewers. Nevertheless, we needed to present this friend with verified facts to prove that she too had fallen victim to the illusions of blood libels. The facts indeed arrived after an inquiry that took a little over a day. The story, as we suspected, was completely different:

It involved two young Jewish shepherds grazing their flock on pastureland belonging to a nearby Jewish community. A group of Arabs arrived at the scene and began throwing stones at them. One of the stones struck the head of one of the Jewish shepherds, who fell to the ground bleeding. The injured shepherd’s friend pulled out his phone and began filming the Arab attackers. When they realized they were being filmed, they attacked him, beat him, stole his phone, and began fleeing toward the Arab village from which they had come.

The shepherd did not give up and bravely pursued the fleeing rioters. He reached the village, entered a building where one of the rioters was hiding with the phone, struggled with him, and extracted the device from his hands. Friends of that rioter (in other words, a terrorist) filmed the struggle and the moment when the shepherd reclaimed the phone that had been stolen from him, and immediately distributed the end of the story detached from everything that had occurred beforehand. Thus, we are presented with an entirely different spectacle: a Jew beating someone and stealing a phone, instead of the true story of a Jew fighting to recover his phone, which contained footage of rioters who had attacked him and his friend.

Such incidents occur again and again throughout Judea and Samaria. There is no settler violence here, but rather straightforward self-defense.

Another incident occurred just in recent days, in which footage was circulated showing a reservist allegedly running over a praying Arab. Knowing the Jewish population of Judea and Samaria, we know full well that no one simply gets on a tractoron and runs over Arabs during prayer. However, the quick tendency to react from the gut without thinking lead to condemnations and rejection. Therefore, once again, the recommendation is to pause, breathe, and think before responding.

In this most recent incident, the truth became clear the following day. Once again, it was an attack on Jewish shepherds. This time, after the shepherds called for help, that same reservist arrived at the scene and, alone, managed to drive away the Arab rioters. Instead of being praised for his swift action in defending the shepherds and for his effective activity without fear, even as one man facing the rioters, he was met with condemnation, attacks, and accusations. After the true circumstances of the event became clear, did any of those who condemned and defamed him apologize?

Defamation of this kind has been repeatedly directed in recent years at hilltop youth and at the residents of the farms—noble-spirited and idealistic people who abandoned comfortable bourgeois lives and invest all their strength, resources, and energy in the people of Israel and the Land of Israel. Yet the day will come when we all look back, remember their deeds, and thank them for safeguarding national lands and maintaining a presence on the ground.

In summary, the next time you encounter a supposedly “shocking” video, do not fall into the trap of blood libels and consciousness manipulation. Do not rush to condemn. Do not become a plaything in the “settler violence” campaign, whose goal is to turn the residents of Judea and Samaria into a cruel demon that must be fought and expelled from its land—our G-dgiven Biblical heartland. At a time when settlement is developing and discourse about sovereignty is returning to the table, do not be dragged into the places the radical left is trying to pull us toward.

Say it clearly and loudly: there is no settler violence. There is self-defense by Jews living in their land.

Beware! Blood Libel ahead

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The first brick in Israel’s ‘deep state’ wall has fallen

Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi must be stripped of her rank and face jail time for the damage she did to IDF soldiers and the State of Israel.

Avi Abelow

https://www.jns.org/the-first-brick-in-israels-deep-state-wall-has-fallen/

(2November2025 / JNS) In a disturbing revelation this past week, Israel’s Military Advocate General (MAG) Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi admitted to personally authorizing not just the release, but the amplification of a fabricated video accusing IDF soldiers of committing sexual atrocities against Hamas prisoners.

The individual entrusted with defending our military instead became the mouthpiece for a lie so grotesque it painted our defenders as monsters and helped fuel anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations, branding them as rapists.

In doing so, this senior legal official created the worst blood libel in all of Jewish history, with billions of people around the world seeing that doctored video and believing the outrageous charges.

It only came to light because of an internal Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) report that surfaced, showing that officials admitted the MAG authorized sending the fabricated video to the media. Not because of the attorney general (AG). Not because of the Supreme Court. And certainly not because of the mainstream media.

They all covered up this scandal for a year and a half while some of them screamed for a proper investigation. The explosive piece of intelligence did not emerge by chance. It was escalated thanks to the courage and integrity of the new head of the Shin Bet, David Zini. Remember his name.

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nominated Zini for the Shin Bet position, the legal establishment and its mainstream media allies launched an all-out smear and legal campaign to destroy his appointment. They called him “unqualified,” “dangerous,” and “politicized” because he is a religious man with 11 children!

Now we know why. Zini represents a serious threat to the political Left deep state, not to Israel’s security, but to their deep state’s control of the running of the country. They were right to fear his appointment.

Had someone from the deep state’s approved list been appointed instead of Zini, this whole scandal would have stayed hidden. Their approval always comes with a price, loyalty to their cover-ups.

Zini took office because Netanyahu stood firm through a year of legal warfare and smear campaigns, and the truth finally broke through their wall of silence. The first brick of Israel’s deep state has fallen, and now the decay underneath is being exposed for all to see.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara appointed the same MAG who opposed his appointment to investigate the scandal, despite the conflict of interest, since only someone in her office could have escalated the fabricated video.

When that decision was challenged in the Supreme Court, justices sided with her, approving an arrangement that would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous. It’s like letting the arsonist lead the fire investigation, with one corrupt legal official covering for another.

For years, many of us have warned that senior figures in Israel’s legal system operate as a self-protecting, ideologically driven network. This deep state shields its own and crushes dissent. And every time we spoke out, we were called conspiracy theorists or extremists.

• The MAG caught approving a fabricated attack on IDF soldiers.

• The AG blocking accountability and covering for her.

• The Supreme Court signing off on the cover-up.

• The mainstream media cheering them on and ignoring any factual investigative reporting on this huge scandal.

Yet despite it all, Zini and the brave people inside the Shin Bet who refused to stay silent changed everything

The political Left, which never stops preaching about “democracy” and “rule of law,” has been defending a system that subverts both, a system that protects corrupt insiders while targeting the patriots who defend this country.

This scandal is a turning point. The mask has fallen. The wall of lies and power that has propped up Israel’s deep state for decades is starting to crack.

Tomer-Yerushalmi must be stripped of her rank and face jail time for what she did to IDF soldiers and for the diplomatic damage she did to the State of Israel.

And that’s only the beginning. We must demand true, comprehensive judicial reform to dismantle the unelected fortress that has hijacked Israel’s democracy, betrayed its soldiers and manipulated the public for years.

Israel belongs to its people, not to the legal elites, not to the mainstream media and not to the deep state. The first brick has fallen. Now it’s time to bring down the entire wall.

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Haaretz dismisses Chaim Levinson for taking NIS 200,000 from Qatargate suspect

Between 2019 and 2024, Surlik Einhorn’s company Perception transferred the money to a company that Levinson owned, the Israeli daily paper reported.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
OCTOBER 31, 2025 07:39 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-872278

Israeli journalist Chaim Levinson was dismissed from Haaretz due to allegations that he received at least 200,000 NIS from the Qatargate and leaked document affair suspect Yisrael “Srulik” Einhorn’s company, Haaretz reported on Thursday.

Between 2019 and 2024, Srulik Einhorn’s company Perception transferred the money to a company that Levinson owned, the Israeli daily paper reported.

Levinson, a host on Channel 12 news and former Haaretz political correspondent, denied any connection to Qatar, but confirmed that he worked with Perception, and added that he was unaware that Einhorn was working for Qatar.

He further alleged that the money transferred to him was payment for campaigns he had ghostwritten for Einhorn in eastern Europe.

Haaretz’s Editor-in-Chief Aluf Benn terminated Levinson’s position at the newspaper.

Levinson also admitted that he and Einhorn had been friends for many years.

A poster reading ”Qatar sponsored the massacre and Netanyahu’s office”, seen in Tel Aviv. April 20, 2025. (credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90)

Einhorn’s role in Qatargate, leaked document affair

Einhorn is suspected of fraudulently receiving funds from Qatar as part of a public relations campaign to improve the state’s image.

He also reportedly acted as a liaison between the Prime Minister’s Office and Bild, a German tabloid that published classified documents reportedly leaked from within Israel’s security establishment. Einhorn is further suspected of harassing Shlomo Filber, a state witness in Case 4000.

He was deposed in Serbia in July by both Israeli and Serbian investigators, according to Channel 13.

In September, Einhorn addressed the allegations against him for the first time, claiming that his work had been entirely legal.

“Hamas is a Nazi terrorist organization. Israel must eliminate it. Hamas leaders are in Doha because Israel and the United States asked Qatar to gather them there, to enable a monitoring and communication channel,” he added. “The alternative would have been Beirut or Tehran.”

“We worked together with Jay Footlik and Eli Feldstein to present the reality to the public, even if it’s uncomfortable to hear. Footlik approached us in an attempt to help with the release of hostages, endorsed with a legal opinion from attorney Gilad Sher,” he continued.

Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.

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Israeli union leader detained in major bribery, fraud probe

Over 350 people were reportedly questioned Monday following a raid on the Histadrut’s Tel Aviv offices.

JNS Staff

https://www.jns.org/israeli-union-leader-detained-in-major-bribery-fraud-probe/

(3November2025 / JNS) Arnon Bar-David, who heads the Histadrut, Israel’s most powerful trade union, was detained for questioning by police alongside his wife on Monday morning as part of a major probe into bribery and fraud.

According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, over 350 people were questioned Monday, including several mayors and “very senior” players in the Israeli economy, following a raid on the Histadrut’s Tel Aviv offices.

The affair, dubbed “Hand Shaking Hand” by police, is “one of the most serious cases we have encountered,” Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levi said in remarks to fellow officers cited by the channel.

“There is a link between businesspeople and senior figures in the economy, including labor union officials, involving the creation of electoral and promotional connections in parallel,” Levi stated.

“We will act with determination and without fear of investigating senior officials in order to uncover the truth,” he vowed.

A prominent businessperson from Israel’s insurance sector, described as a close associate of Bar-David, allegedly leveraged his Histadrut ties to secure lucrative jobs and install allies in key union and board positions with local authorities, state-owned enterprises and major companies.

Police allege the businessman used his connections to obtain insurance contracts with labor unions and municipalities, offering senior roles in return, including positions at Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) and Israel Railways. Police also allege that the suspect spent illicit funds on luxury dining, travel and personal expenses.

The arrests followed a two-year undercover probe led by the police’s Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit, which led to the wave of coordinated raids at 50-plus homes and municipal offices of six local authorities.

Authorities said that the arrested suspects are under investigation for bribery, fraud, breach of trust, money laundering and tax offenses.

Lahav 433 head Meni Binyamin said the probe revealed “a pattern of quid-pro-quo relationships between businesspeople and public-sector officials,” emphasizing that the unit “will continue its uncompromising fight against public corruption with professionalism and integrity.”

The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of the Economic Department in the Office of the State Attorney, which is reportedly preparing indictments against key suspects in the case.

In a statement cited by Ynet, the Histadrut said it would fully cooperate with the investigation: “The Histadrut, its traditions, and its people are committed to transparency and law enforcement.” It added, “We are confident the probe will prove that no wrongdoing was committed.”

In September 2024, an Israeli labor court cut short a strike called by the Histadrut in protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s failure to secure a truce deal with Hamas terrorists.

It came after the military announced that the bodies of six hostages had been found in a tunnel in southern Gaza, sparking anti-government protests and calls by left-wing political leaders for a general strike.

Judge Hadas Yahlom, president of the Labor Court in Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv, said in her decision that “the strike is political; there is no connection between the killing of the hostages and the economy.”

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Military Advocate General

Top IDF lawyer faces criminal probe after admitting to misleading High Court

Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi’s abrupt departure and confession come amid a criminal probe into alleged obstruction and false statements to the High Court, deepening a scandal that has shaken the military and sparked fierce political backlash

Tova Zimuky, Yoav Zitun, Yuval Karni | 31October2025 | 14:51 | https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1njr7zywx

The resignation of Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer‑Yerushalmi on Friday and her admission that she authorized the leak of the video depicting alleged abuse of a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman base have marked a major turning point in the investigation rocking the IDF.

The focus of the inquiry is now shifting from who leaked the video to whether Tomer‑Yerushalmi obstructed justice by providing false information to the State Prosecution’s High Court department and other legal bodies, and whether she deliberately misled the courts.

The leak in question involved footage that allegedly showed reservists abusing a Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman. It sparked a High Court petition demanding an investigation into the source of the leak and questions over whether the clip was edited with bias.

Tomer‑Yerushalmi had previously told the court that an internal investigation failed to identify the responsible party—but in her resignation, she wrote that she bore “full responsibility” for the release of the material.

Among those who weighed in, former defense minister Yoav Gallant said Tomer‑Yerushalmi had lied to him when he asked why the leaker had not been found. “Her resignation letter is a mockery,” he said, adding that the matter must be fully investigated.

In the wake of her departure, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced they would jointly seek to bring immediate stability to the Military Advocate General’s Office, with the chief of staff compiling a list of candidates for a successor and the minister to approve the final choice.

The probe’s outcome could carry significant implications for the IDF’s legal and operational procedures during the war in Gaza and for the military’s public standing.

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Police arrest Military Advocate General and former Chief Military Prosecutor

Police arrest Military Advocate General, Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, along with the former Chief Military Prosecutor. Both are being questioned on suspicion of obstruction of investigative proceedings and breach of trust.

Israel National News / Published: 3November2025, 12:49 AM (GMT+2) Updated: 1:07 / https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/417197

Police arrested the Military Advocate General, Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, along with the former Chief Military Prosecutor, early Monday morning.

Both are being questioned on suspicion of obstruction of investigative proceedings and breach of trust, partly in connection with the disappearance of Tomer-Yerushalmi’s mobile phone.

The Israel Police spokesperson said, “Following inquiries from reporters, we update that as part of the ongoing investigation conducted by a special team within the Israel Police – on suspicion of leaking and other serious criminal offenses – it was recently decided to arrest two key individuals involved in the case.”

The statement noted, “Depending on the progress of the investigation, the two are expected to be brought tomorrow for a remand hearing at the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court.”

On Sunday evening, police announced that Tomer-Yerushalmi had been found safe and sound after being declared missing with serious concern for her life. She contacted her husband, who immediately informed the police.

Despite being found safe and sound, police continue to search for her mobile phone, which has not yet been found and is currently believed to be turned off.

Tomer-Yerushalmi was scheduled to be questioned in the coming days on suspicion of obstruction of investigative proceedings, unauthorized disclosure of classified materials, and submitting a false affidavit.

She is currently at the center of a public storm after it was revealed that she was behind the leak of a video from the Sde Teman base, in which soldiers were allegedly seen assaulting a Hamas terrorist.

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Nearly 50,000 Jews celebrate Sukkot in Hebron

Fifty percent more worshippers than last year visited Judaism’s second-holiest site during the first days of the Feast of Booths.

JNS Staff

https://www.jns.org/nearly-50000-jews-celebrate-sukkot-in-hebron/

Israel flags decorate the 2,000-year-old Cave of the Patriarchs complex in Hebron in anticipation of Independence Day, May 2018. The same Herodian masonry is used for the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Photo by Yishai Fleisher

( 12October2025 / JNS) Almost 50,000 Jews visited the Cave of the Patriarchs in the Judea city of Hebron Octoberduring the first two days of the joyous Sukkot festival on Oct. 7-8, according to Israel Defense Forces data.

A total of 47,000 Jews visited Judaism’s second-holiest city during the first two days of the weeklong Feast of Booths—1.5 times as many worshippers as last year, the data cited by Arutz 7 on Sunday indicated.

The Cave of the Patriarchs (“Mearat Hamachpela“) is the burial place of the Jewish patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca and Leah. According to the biblical account, the cave was purchased by Abraham from Ephron the Hittite more than 3,000 years ago.

Hebron is home to some 800 Jewish residents—there is a waiting list to move there—who live surrounded by some 200,000 Arabs.

At dawn on Wednesday, thousands of Jewish worshippers gathered at the Cave of the Patriarchs for a traditional Hallel prayer led by Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the chief rabbi of Safed in the Upper Galilee, and Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Schwartz, the chief rabbi of Hebron-Kiryat Arba.

Among those attending the service were bereaved Israeli families, IDF troops and their relatives, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu and other senior officials.

Eliyahu told attendees at the prayer service, “The Zohar [book of Jewish mysticism] teaches that in the future, the enemies of Israel throughout generations will reappear in the enemies of today. At the same time, the patriarchs themselves are revealed through the righteous of our time.”

He added that this includes “all the righteous and soldiers who risk their lives not just to save one soul, but to save an entire people—and through them, an entire world.”

Also on Wednesday, Ben-Gvir visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City, declaring victory at the holiest site in Judaism two years after the Hamas-led Palestinian terrorist invasion of the northwestern Negev.

“We are two years after the terrible massacre—here at the Temple Mount there is victory, in every house in Gaza there is a picture of the Temple Mount, and we today, two years later, are victorious at the Temple Mount,” the leader of the Oztma Yehudit Party exclaimed.

Almost 70,000 Jews ascended the Mount in the Hebrew year 5785, a 22% increase compared to the previous year and a modern-day record, the Beyadenu—Returning to the Temple Mount group stated on Sept. 24.

According to the Israeli advocacy group, 68,429 Jewish worshippers entered Judaism’s holiest site since the previous Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year, on Oct. 2, 2024. In 5784, 56,057 visited the site.

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Michael Eisenberg: ‘Aliyah is about growth, not just integration’

Speaking with Arutz Sheva at the Ministry of Immigration’s conference, Michael Eisenberg called on Israeli companies to lead a ‘million Olim’ initiative to boost growth.

Israel National News / Published: 22October2025, 10:13 PM (GMT+3) https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/416663

Aleph Venture Capital Co-founder and General Partner Michael Eisenberg stopped by the Arutz Sheva-Israel National News broadcast booth at a special conference organized by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration titled ‘Aliyah as a Growth Engine for the Israeli Economy,’ and spoke about the vital role of Israeli industry and the private sector in supporting new Olim and strengthening Israel’s economy.

Eisenberg emphasized that Aliyah should not be viewed merely as an integration process, but as a key driver of national growth. “This is about growth. This is about economic growth. Olim, with the talent that they bring to Israel, are an incredibly rare asset, and one that we need here to grow our economy,” he said. “A strong Israel, both from a defense perspective and from an economic perspective, is what will enable us to be safe in this area.”

He cited remarks by President Trump in the Knesset, saying, “You are a small country, and that is a problem. You know how we can become a big country? In three ways: innovation, a strong economy, and Aliyah – and of course, having babies. We do that well. Now we need immigration to increase, and particularly bring talent that grows the economy.”

When asked about the role of Israeli companies in the process, Eisenberg stressed that Zionism itself includes building a sustainable economy. “This is Zionism. When Herzl writes Altneuland, he talks about the economy too, a uniquely Israeli economy. This is Zionism. Zionism is building this country. They built railroads. They built roads. They built hospitals. They built a labor union that we’re still stuck with. It always needs to build the economy,” he said.

Eisenberg highlighted that the government alone cannot carry the responsibility for absorbing new immigrants. “The world is moving so fast, the government cannot do this on its own. I question whether it can do it at all. They can kind of point the direction and clear the bureaucracy. Citizens need to take responsibility for this. Businesses need to take responsibility for this. High-tech entrepreneurs need to take responsibility for this. We can do this. We can bring one million Olim in the next 10 years.”

Asked what should happen next, Eisenberg called for a shift in mindset and an appreciation of Israel’s achievements. “There’s a tendency sometimes in Israel to look at the glass half empty. The glass is not only half full, it’s very full. It’s been a very difficult two years, but also very inspiring. We have the greatest citizens in the world. This is the greatest place in the world to raise a family. This is one of the most innovative economies in the world, top three. This is an incredible place to live. And we need to say that openly to people. Come here. This is the best place to raise a family on planet Earth.”

He urged company leaders to take practical steps and personally reach out to potential immigrants. “I told 150 people in there, leaders of companies: get on a plane. You take Australia, you take France, you take the UK, you take the United States, you take Argentina – get on there. Tell them there’s economic opportunity here. Tell them you can help them. Be their best friend. Because when you land here, look, I’m an immigrant, you’re an immigrant. I came 32 years ago. I still have an accent in Hebrew. There are still things I don’t understand. I struggle to read my bank statement. People need help when they come here.”

Eisenberg concluded with a call for collective responsibility: “When they land here, you actually encounter the reality and the bureaucracy, and everyone needs help. We have to help these people. We have to stand by their side. Before the end of the plane and when they get here, everyone needs to take responsibility for an Oleh.”

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Netanyahu Says IDF Losses Due to Ammunition Shortage Before Trump Intervention

Israeli prime minister vows no reconstruction or Palestinian state in Gaza before full demilitarization.

28January2026 https://israfan.com/p/netanyahu-idf-losses-gaza-trump-ammunition

In a powerful joint press conference with Hostage Coordinator Gal Hirsch, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that IDF soldiers who fell in Gaza did so, in part, due to an ammunition shortage one he claims was corrected after U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office.

“Our soldiers fell [in Gaza] because we didn’t have enough ammunition,” Netanyahu said on Tuesday evening. “That changed when Trump took office.” The statement marked a sharp reflection on recent military challenges and underscored the importance of strong international partnerships.

Netanyahu and Hirsch stood before the nation with a bittersweet announcement: for the first time in over a decade, no Israeli hostages remain in the Gaza Strip. The return of St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili’s remains, after he was killed defending Israeli civilians on October 7, completed what both leaders called a sacred mission.

“One hundred and sixty-eight hostages were returned alive. Eighty-seven were returned dead,” Hirsch said emotionally. “I remember each name and face.”

“This was the most difficult task of my life,” he added, visibly moved by the weight of the mission.

Netanyahu declared that Israel had achieved what many thought impossible, bringing all hostages home. But the mission is far from over. The prime minister reiterated his unwavering objective: the total dismantling and disarmament of Hamas and the Gaza Strip.

“There are only two ways to disarm Gaza the easy way or the hard way,” Netanyahu said, echoing prior statements made in coordination with President Trump.

He dismissed any speculation about rebuilding Gaza before it is demilitarized. “That won’t happen,” Netanyahu asserted. “I’m also hearing that we will bring Turkish and Qatari soldiers into Gaza. That won’t happen. I’m hearing that I will allow the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza. That hasn’t happened, and it won’t happen.”

The prime minister also issued a stark warning to Iran. “If Iran makes the grave mistake of attacking Israel, we will respond with a force that Iran has never seen before.”

Netanyahu acknowledged that while Israel and the U.S. may take different tactical approaches to Tehran, both nations remain in close communication. “I don’t want to dictate to President Trump what he will or will not do,” he said, “but we report fully to one another on Iran.”

Tuesday’s press conference followed the recovery of Sgt. Ran Gvili’s body from northern Gaza, where he fell heroically protecting civilians during the October 7 terror assault. His return symbolizes not only national closure, but renewed resolve.

Israel’s defense and future cannot depend on others’ permission. The path ahead is clear: no reconstruction before disarmament, no surrender to terror, and no tolerance for threats to Jewish sovereignty.

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Israel will build ‘Independent Arms Industry’ amid worry of international constraints: Netanyahu

Posted 25September2025 The Economic Times:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday (September 16) that Israel will create an “independent arms industry” that can “withstand international constraints”. In his address, Netanyahu spoke about the Israeli economy and that it withheld through two economic crisis, the COVID and the two year war on Gaza. He also added that President of the United States, Donald Trump had invited him to the White House in two weeks, after his speech at the U.N.

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Israel investing over $100 billion in homegrown arms production, Netanyahu reveals

Premier says country will build an independent munitions industry over the next decade, ‘reduce dependence on all players’ after threat of arms embargoes, boycotts during Gaza war

By Lazar Berman
25 December 2025, 1:33 am https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-investing-more-than-100-billion-into-independent-arms-industry-netanyahu-reveals/

Israel is working to gain as much independence as possible in its weapons production, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday, in a development he said was the result of the lessons learned during the past two years of war on multiple fronts.

“I approved, along with the defense minister and finance minister, a sum of NIS 350 billion [$108 billion] over the next decade to build an independent Israeli munitions industry,” Netanyahu said in an address at a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots.

The move, he said, stemmed from a desire to “reduce our dependence on all players, including friends,” after allies including the US, UK, and Germany all imposed various restrictions on weapons sales to Israel since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

Still, he noted, many countries around the world, including Germany, “want to buy from us more and more systems.”

The premier has long been calling for Israel to develop its own self-reliant military industry, and in January 2024 announced that the government would invest in a “multi-year plan to free Israel from dependence on external purchases.”

The matter returned to the public eye earlier this year as Jerusalem’s European allies began to grow impatient with Israel’s conduct in Gaza, with some calling for arms embargoes and sanctions.

People march behind a banner reading “Against Genocide Let’s block everything” during a nationwide strike in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and calling for a halt to arms shipments to Israel, in Rome on September 22, 2025. (Andreas SOLARO / AFP)

In that light, Netanyahu briefly caused an uproar in September when he admitted that Israel was facing increased isolation on the world stage and that, to combat that, it would have to become a more self-reliant “super-Sparta” in the years to come.

The remarks sparked outrage and spooked the markets, forcing him to clarify them in a follow-up press conference the next day, when he insisted that he had been referring only to the defense ministry rather than the overall Israeli economy.

In his speech on Wednesday, Netanyahu also addressed Israel’s aerial superiority, in what appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to Turkey’s quest to receive F-35 fighter jets from the US.

Israel will “prevent whoever must be prevented from receiving these instruments,” the premier promised, adding that the Jewish state’s “aerial superiority in the Middle East is a cornerstone of our national security.”

Maintaining this, he said, rests on Israel’s skilled pilots and “the best aircraft in the world.”

Israel is currently the only country in the Middle East with F-35s in its arsenal, currently operating 45 of the aircraft with another 30 units on order.

During US President Donald Trump’s first term, Washington removed Turkey, a NATO ally, from its flagship F-35 fighter jet program, after Ankara purchased the S-400 surface-to-air missile system from Russia.

But now, anxious to bolster its air power, Turkey has proposed to European partners and the US ways it could swiftly obtain the fighter jets as it seeks to make up ground versus regional rivals such as Israel.

Turkey is one of the world’s most outspoken critics of Israel, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan often accusing Israel of genocide over the past two years, and praising Hamas.

Further bolstering Israel’s fears, Trump recently announced the sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia, although US officials and defense experts told Reuters that the jets to be sold to the Saudis will be less advanced than those used by the IDF.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

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Amid embargoes, how independent can Israel’s defense industry be?

Analysts agree with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel could become more self-sufficient, but there are clear limits to the push.

By Seth J. Frantzman on September 30, 2025 12:43 pm https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/amid-embargoes-how-independent-can-israels-defense-industry-be/

JERUSALEM — Facing foreign arms embargoes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently called for Israel to become far more self-reliant on homegrown defense products, describing his vision of the Middle Eastern power as a “super Sparta.”

But analysts told Breaking Defense that while it would be in Jerusalem’s interest to build more defense components and platforms at home, there are clear limits to what the defense industry is capable of on its own.

“Israel will not be totally independent,” Yaakov Amidror, who served as Netanyahu’s national security advisor between 2011 and 2013, told Breaking Defense. “It will not produce F-35s or submarines, for example, but Israel can be and should be less dependent on others regarding munitions and spare parts.”

In a speech on Sept. 15 Netanyahu acknowledged that economically Israel is “in a sort of isolation.”

“I am a believer in the free market, but we may find ourselves in a situation where our arms industries are blocked. We will need to develop arms industries here — not only research and development, but also the ability to produce what we need,” he said. After the comments sparked a vocal backlash, Netanyahu clarified that the defense industry was already “soaring,” but reiterated Israel needed to “achieve security independence.” (Days later, scores of delegates walked out ahead of Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly.)

Eran Lerman, a former deputy for foreign policy and international affairs at the national security council in the Israeli prime minister’s office, noted “there is a reason Netanyahu quickly walked back his earlier comment about becoming generally self-reliant — it simply cannot work in an economy fully geared towards export.” Lerman, who is vice president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, added that in more narrow terms relating to military supplies, “it does make sense to generate alternatives to the occasionally problematic chains of supply. But to wrap this in the red battle cloak of Sparta was an obvious mistake.”

Yaakov Katz, author of Shadow Strike, a book about Israel’s raid on Syria’s nuclear program and a fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, said that Netanyahu was right regarding Israel’s need to be more self-reliant in terms of weapons production. However, he agreed with Amidror that when it comes to major platforms like warplanes, it won’t be possible.

“Take the Air Force as an example: All of the IAF’s aircraft except the trainer aircraft are US made. [These] are F-15s, F-16s, F-35s and so much more. Without spare parts, maintenance and more from the US, Israel will not be able to fly and hence, will not be able to fight. So while independence is important, so is ensuring we have bipartisan support in the US for decades to come.”

While some European nations have announced embargoes on arms sales to Israel over its conduct in Gaza, Washington has maintained its close relationship with Jerusalem, even if President Donald Trump appears at times to have been frustrated with Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister concluded a visit to the White House on Monday, after which Trump presented a 20-point plan to end the conflict in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli defense firms have been logging record export sales, despite the ongoing war against Hamas. Israel has also been plowing funds into local defense contracts, which Israel’s Ministry of Defense says is part of an attempt to invest in what are called “blue and white” local industries to create “manufacturing independence.” This has included everything from manufacturing munitions to repairing and producing tanks.

One way Israel is responding to the new self-reliance drive is to establish a National Armament Council. Israel Ministry of Defense Director General Amir Baram said on Sept. 15 that the new council would “accelerate our preparedness for third- and fourth-tier threats dramatically. This comprehensive body will unite all stakeholders around a unified table: the defense establishment, Treasury officials, the Ministry’s R&D directorate, defense industries, and additional relevant entities.”

Speaking that day — a day before Netanyahu’s controversial comments — about Israel’s outlook, Baram noted that “security and economic strength are inextricably linked, particularly in Israel. Fundamental security is a cornerstone of national security — alongside robust economics, social cohesion, and cutting-edge technology.”

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Failed leftist Jewish leadership is causing needless antisemitism

By Seth Grossman 21October2025 https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/10/failed_leftist_jewish_leadership_is_causing_needless_antisemitism.html

A new and vicious antisemitism has become fashionable for many young Americans on both the left and, sadly, the right. Conversations praising Hitler and joking about “a so-called Holocaust” are all over X, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Most Jews of my “Boomer” generation know nothing about this.

We grew up in an America where it was normal for Jews to live safe and comfortable lives. We laughed at Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah Song because it seemed like almost everyone in public life had a Jewish connection. American Jews generously funded the ADL, AIPAC, and countless Jewish Federations and other organizations to protect Jews and fight antisemitism.

What happened?

The short answer is that America today is no longer the “goldene medina” (golden land) it was for us Boomers, our parents, and our grandparents. It is quickly becoming like the “Old Country” that our parents and grandparents left.

To make things worse, the “best and brightest” of American Jews—that is, the ones lauded and given power with the Democrat party and further left—openly and loudly promoted and cheered that “fundamental transformation” and advanced many of the worst tropes.

We need to talk. We cannot blame Netanyahu. We saw this antisemitism on October 8, 2023. That was months before Israel attacked Gaza.

Until recently, there was very little antisemitism from conservatives. Most hatred and deadly attacks against Jews came from Blacks, Muslims, and “woke” activists on the left.

Notably, in 2017, “Unite the Right” could bring only a hundred Tiki Torch boys to Charlottesville, Virginia, from all over America. Many were undercover police agents or as fake as Jussie Smollett. The media made them important headline news for weeks to embarrass President Trump. They chanted “Jews will not replace us.”. This was after the ADL joined President Obama’s lawsuit to stop Arizona from enforcing immigration laws. It was after Jewish charities like HIAS resettled thousands of Muslim “refugees” throughout America.

Leftist Jewish elites—and it’s very important here to distinguish between religious Jews and those whose creed is variations of Marxism—created similar hatred against Jews in America. Here are seven examples:

1. Openly and proudly supported socialist and left-wing causes and politicians. This included “Diversity Equity and Inclusion” programs and the transgender madness that put men into women’s sports.

2. Attacked and ridiculed Christian and American values and traditions in the media, Hollywood, and TV pop culture, and in schools and colleges.

3. Openly supported, defended, and advised politicians who got rich and powerful from massive government spending, debt, bureaucracies, and Wall Street bailouts that crushed the middle class.

4. Falsely accused Bible-based Christians who supported and defended Jews and Israel of being “far-right” and “white-supremacists.”

5. Taught a narrative that falsely blamed irrational “hate” and the “far-right” for the Holocaust while avoiding the obvious cause—National Socialism. (Goetz Aly explained this in his book Why the Germans, Why the Jews?).

6. Openly and proudly supported massive legal and illegal immigration to America of Muslims and others who hate Christians and Jews and basic American values.

7. “Built bridges” with Muslims while snubbing Hindus and Christians whose families were persecuted and murdered by Muslims in Africa and Bangladesh.

For the past fifty years, nonreligious or superficially religious American Jews within the Democrat party enabled and supported our worst enemies. At the same time, they insulted and attacked our best friends. Now we are hated by both sides. We need to talk.

Seth Grossman is a retired attorney in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was active in Republican politics for many years. He was a member of the city council and county commissioners during the 1980s. He was the Republican nominee for the House of Representatives in 2018 and was narrowly defeated by the “Blue Wave” that defeated most Republicans then. He is the Executive Director of Liberty and Prosperity. That is a New Jersey organization that has promoted American liberty and constitutional government since 2003.

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Biased media fuels American Jewish opposition to Israel

A poll shows that liberals and those who think being Jewish is unimportant are more likely to believe Hamas propaganda that the mainstream press reports as facts.

https://www.jns.org/biased-media-fuels-american-jewish-opposition-to-israel/

Jonathan S. Tobin

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate, a senior contributor for The Federalist, a columnist for Newsweek and a contributor to many other publications. He covers the American political scene, foreign policy, the U.S.-Israel relationship, Middle East diplomacy, the Jewish world and the arts. He hosts the JNS “Think Twice” podcast, both the weekly video program and the “Jonathan Tobin Daily” program, which are available on all major audio platforms and YouTube. Previously, he was executive editor, then senior online editor and chief political blogger, for Commentary magazine. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of The Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia and editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger. He has won more than 60 awards for commentary, art criticism and other writing. He appears regularly on television, commenting on politics and foreign policy. Born in New York City, he studied history at Columbia University.

(10October2025 / JNS) The data is staggering. No matter how you look at it, a Washington Post poll conducted last month showing that 61% of American Jews believe that Israel has committed “war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza” is shocking for those who worry about declining Jewish support for Israel. The same survey shows that 39% of American Jewry believes that Israel is committing “genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.”

The headline on the article discussing the results characterized them as demonstrating that “many American Jews are sharply critical of Israel on Gaza.” It fits with the results that showed them disapproving of Israel’s war in Gaza by a slender but still telling 48% to 46% margin.

The ‘genocide’ blood libel

The answers to the questions about “war crimes” and “genocide” demonstrate that—at least as far as the respondents in question—the state of American Jewish opinion about Israel has gone far beyond criticism. It’s one thing for Jewish liberals living in the United States to think ill of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as his coalition of nationalist and religious parties, whose supporters have very different worldviews about a variety of topics, not the least of which is their support for U.S. President Donald Trump.

But if a critical mass of those who self-identify as Jewish is willing to swallow blood libels that allege that Israelis are attempting to wipe out an entire people, then clearly something is very wrong. That’s the sort of news that should be enough to send Jewish leaders and organizations into a state of panic, as well as worry Israelis, many of whom have already begun to conclude that their Jewish brethren are far less reliable supporters of their right to live in peace and security than evangelical Christians.

This data will, like many other surveys over the years that have provided results that demonstrate a decline in Jewish support for Israel, provoke discussions and plans for more projects aimed at reversing this trend. While efforts along these lines are, in principle, praiseworthy, those friends of Israel who are panicking about this particular poll—and those antisemites and other enemies of Israel that are rejoicing over it—need to place it in perspective.

It tells us a lot more about the state of American Jewry in 2025 than it does about Israel’s conduct of the post-Oct. 7 war against Hamas in Gaza.

Just as important, the survey answers are in large measure a direct result of the biased coverage of Israel and the war in the Gaza Strip that has been provided by corporate legacy press outlets like The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN and MSNBC. So, as much as anything else, what the Post is revealing in this poll is that people who depend on mainstream liberal media for their information are frankly ignorant of the truth about the war, believing what the misleading and often downright lying coverage about Israelis and the Palestinian Arabs tells them. No wonder they believe the misinformation they are being fed about the Jewish state committing “war crimes” and “genocide.”

The survey’s breakdown of their respondents’ beliefs helps us understand why they are so “critical” of Israel.

Decline in Jewish peoplehood

Like more detailed studies of American Jewry, the Post’s sample showed that a significant portion of those who identify as Jewish don’t consider their identity to be very important to them, with 29% saying it meant little or nothing to them and 24% saying they did not consider Judaism to be their religion. Some 42% of them said they had little or nothing in common with Israelis, and 44% said they were not emotionally attached to the Jewish state. If you drill down further into the numbers, you see that those who are not “Jewish by religion” are much more likely to blame Israel for the suffering in Gaza than those who do claim Judaism as their faith.

The point being that those who are either more likely to be religious or deeply connected to Israel—or are politically conservative and reject the toxic leftist myths of critical race theory, intersectionality and settler-colonialism that claim Israelis and Jews are “white” oppressors—are more likely to have alternate sources of information about the war and Israel. As a result, they are also less likely to believe the Hamas blood libels about Israeli war crimes and genocide that have been normalized and mainstreamed by international media.

Not all the results in the poll are bad news for the U.S.-Israel relationship. A whopping 76% of the respondents say that Israel’s existence is vital to the future of the Jewish people, although considering that about half of the world’s Jews live there, that’s a fairly obvious truth. More of them believe that Hamas—the side that started the war with unspeakable atrocities on Oct. 7, 2023—is more responsible for the war than those who blame the Israelis, who were attacked in the early-morning hours that Saturday, and their leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

But most of the results simply reflect what anyone who depends on liberal media like the Post for information, with otherwise little knowledge about the conflict, would be expected to think.

It’s also true that the way the questions were framed and the sequencing of them were designed to produce “both sides are bad” answers that inflated the number of those who supported the most egregious accusations against Israel.

Yet at its heart, the poll is a reflection of not so much failures in Israel’s information policy and the success of Hamas propaganda (or even genuine evaluations of the shortcomings of Netanyahu’s government) as it is American Jewish demography.

As Jews assimilate, drop Judaism as a religion, and even more importantly, lose a sense of Jewish peoplehood in which they identify with and feel responsible for the safety of other Jews and Israel, it stands to reason that fewer of them are supportive of a Jewish state under fire. For these reasons, it’s not surprising that so many of them are willing to believe the outrageous lies about Israel that have gone viral amid a worldwide surge of antisemitism primarily aimed at demonizing the one Jewish state on the planet and its supporters.

But their lack of a sense of Jewish peoplehood and the left-leaning tilt of the majority of American Jews also makes them more likely to be consumers of anti-Israel mainstream media, rather than the few independent and/or Jewish news outlets, like JNS, that reject the pro-Hamas spin, and whose coverage tells the truth about the care Israeli forces take to avoid civilian casualties and the way the Palestinian terrorists seek to sacrifice as many of their civilians as possible.

Biased coverage influences opinions

It’s simply a matter of “garbage in—garbage out” as with any system. If people are fed biased coverage produced by a generation of liberal editors and writers more interested in activism than journalism, and who have already been indoctrinated to believe that Zionism is racism, then why be surprised that a demographic slice of their most loyal readers and viewers—liberal Jews—have been heavily influenced by their efforts?<

So, what should be the response of the Jewish community to these troubling results?

While an increased campaign to combat anti-Israel disinformation on social media is important, let’s not kid ourselves. Clever use of the tools of modern communication certainly can help. Still, no matter how much effort is put in, it wouldn’t be enough to counteract belief systems that are the result of choices about identity, religion and politics that predispose people on the left to think that Israel is always wrong and the Palestinians are right, no matter what either of them actually does.

Encouraging more Jews to care about Israel, and to be willing to listen to the truth and disregard blatant falsehoods about it, involves investments in education and Jewish experiences like schools, summer camps and trips to the Jewish state, not hiring influencers to post on TikTok. And if you want to put them in touch with accurate information about what actual Israelis and Palestinians do and believe, then you have to invest in alternatives to a corrupt and biased mainstream media that is more interested in producing work that conforms to their ideological prejudices about intersectional victims than in telling the truth.

It is awful that so many people who claim some sort of Jewish identity are willing to believe the lies spread about Israel. That they do so even while telling pollsters that they feel less safe because of the increase in antisemitism fueled by such coverage is not so much ironic as indicative of the problem posed by the spread of disinformation about Israeli “genocide.”

Support alternative voices

The good news is that outlets like the Post, which lie at the heart of the problem in Jewish disaffection, are declining in influence. Even as the liberal-leaning plurality sinks further into assimilation and a willingness to believe smears of Israel as being true, alternatives to mainstream thinking are proliferating. Outlets like JNS, The Free Press, Tablet and a host of non-leftist foundations and educational institutions are gaining in strength and growing both their reach and support. That’s the real story of Jewish revival that papers like The Washington Post and The New York Times ignore while they highlight the activities of anti-Israel and even antisemitic organizations that claim to be Jewish.

As this poll shows, much of American Jewry is abandoning its heritage and drifting toward the acceptance of antisemitic blood libels to stay in sync with liberal fashion. We have all witnessed the way antisemitic propaganda has been promoted by the political left, as well as by a loud but influential minority on the political right.

But the battle for the soul of America and American Jewry is not lost. Those Jews who understand that their safety—and that of Israel—is bound up with a struggle to defend Western civilization against toxic leftist doctrines, and the bizarre red-green alliance of Marxists and Islamists, are not giving up. More to the point, they are on the same side as the majority of Americans who, with good reason, don’t believe what the liberal press tells them about any topic. The triumph of woke progressivism that is integral to the turn against Israel reached its peak during the Black Lives Matter summer of 2020 and then during the Biden administration. It is now in retreat.

As sobering as some of the recent samples of public opinion about Israel may be, we should not be too discouraged. The majority of Americans, and even most Jews, still stand by Israel. Poll results notwithstanding, Jewish backers of Israel are still on the right side of history.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate). Follow him: @jonathans_tobin.

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Many American Jews sharply critical of Israel on Gaza, Post poll finds

Most Jews say Israel is committing war crimes — and 39 percent say genocide — while often distinguishing between the country and its leadership.

Updated 6October2025 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/06/jewish-americans-israel-poll-gaza/

By Naftali Bendavid, Scott Clement and Emily Guskin

Many American Jews sharply disapprove of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, with 61 percent saying Israel has committed war crimes and about 4 in 10 saying the country is guilty of genocide against the Palestinians, according to a Washington Post poll.

The findings are striking given the long-standing ties between the U.S. Jewish community and Israel, suggesting the potential for a historic breach over the Gaza war. Two years after Hamas militants poured into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage, Israel’s retaliatory incursion has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry — which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians but says the majority of the dead are women and children — displaced many more, and led to widespread hunger in the territory.

washingtonpost poll 9-2025 Most American Jews say Israel has committed war crimes against Palestinians

American Jews are particularly unhappy with the current Israeli government. Sixty-eight percent give negative marks to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership of Israel, with 48 percent rating it “poor” — a 20-percentage-point jump from a Pew Research Center poll five years ago. But Jews also overwhelmingly blame Hamas, with 94 percent saying Hamas has committed war crimes against Israelis.

washingtonpost poll 9-2025 American Jews are much more critical of Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership than in 2020

Jews in the poll are almost evenly divided over Israel’s actions in Gaza, with 46 percent approving and 48 percent opposing. That remains more supportive than many other groups: Among all Americans, 32 percent approved of Israel’s actions and 60 percent disapproved, according to a July Gallup poll.

Many of those who spoke to The Post in follow-up interviews said they supported Israel’s military incursion at first, given the brutality of the Hamas attack and the need to respond. But as the war has dragged on, with reports of atrocities accumulating and little evident progress, they have recoiled at Israel’s actions.

“Initially, Israel in a sense had no choice. You can’t let your national security be threatened that way,” said Julia Seidman, 42, a writer from Issaquah, Washington. “But in no way does that justify what is happening now, two years later. The amount of human suffering that we are seeing now … I’m just disgusted.”

Still, the poll finds that many American Jews retain strong emotional, cultural and political bonds with Israel and its identity as a Jewish state. About three-quarters, 76 percent, believe Israel’s existence is vital for the future of the Jewish people, and 58 percent say they have some or a lot in common with Israeli Jews.

washingtonpost poll 9-2025 How connected American Jews feel to Israel

“When things get tough, the first suspects and therefore the first victims are Jews, so I think the existence of Israel is very important to the Jewish people,” said Bob Haas, 71, a business consultant in Devon, Pennsylvania, whose grandfather fled to the United States to escape pogroms in Poland. “But the way the Netanyahu government has conducted itself does nothing to safeguard Jews, in Israel or around the world.”

The poll reflects a community in deep turmoil, with multifaceted and sometimes conflicting feelings about the Jewish state 77 years after its founding. The Gaza war in a sense accelerated trends that were already underway, as a relatively liberal U.S. Jewish community has for years been edging away from an increasingly militant and conservative Israeli leadership.

The Gaza war has also torn apart the population of Israel itself, with tens of thousands of Israelis regularly taking to the streets to protest policies that are isolating the country globally. Many Israelis say Netanyahu is prolonging the war for his own political benefit, hoping to postpone his corruption trial and an inquiry into the security failures of Oct. 7.

The growing divide between American Jews and Israel may have consequences for U.S. politics as well. Top Democrats, including Jewish lawmakers, are far more critical of Israel than in the past, and they arguably face less risk of a backlash from Jewish voters deeply skeptical of Netanyahu.

When the Senate in July voted on two resolutions to block the sale of arms to Israel, most Democrats voted yes, although the resolutions failed in the face of Republican opposition. The resolutions were offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), who is both a prominent Jewish politician and a leading voice urging consequences for Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Also in July, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) and other Jewish senators, including California’s Adam Schiff and Hawaii’s Brian Schatz, led a call for a major expansion of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Schumer last year called for Netanyahu to step down and allow new elections.

The mix of emotions among many Jews — concern for Israel combined with abhorrence at its behavior — has yielded complicated feelings about how much America should keep supporting the Jewish state, the poll suggests. Most American Jews, about 6 in 10, say they want the U.S. to keep sending military aid for Israel’s fight against Hamas.

But when the merits of the U.S.-Israel alliance are divorced from the Gaza war, 47 percent say U.S. support for Israel is at about the right level, with 32 percent — about a third — saying the U.S. is too supportive of Israel and 20 percent saying it is not supportive enough. The share saying the U.S. supports Israel too much is up 10 points since 2020 and 21 points since 2013 compared with Pew surveys conducted those years.

washingtonpost poll 9-2025 Share of American Jews saying the U.S. is too supportive of Israel

Max Parke, 38, a software engineer in Brooklyn, said the fastest way to improve conditions in Gaza is for the U.S. to restrict aid to Israel or impose conditions on it.

“Jewish principles would say we need to respect everyone’s humanity,” he said. “In Israel, that is not the case; it privileges Jewishness in countless policies, without following actual Jewish principles.”

President Donald Trump, unlike many Democrats, has strongly embraced Netanyahu’s prosecution of the war in Gaza. Still, his pro-Israel message sometimes appears aimed more at his conservative and evangelical Christian supporters than at American Jews, who he has complained are insufficiently appreciative of his positions on the Middle East.

Trump and Netanyahu met at the White House on Monday, and Trump put forward a multipart peace deal for Gaza that Netanyahu said he accepted.

But with 22 hostages remaining in captivity, many complications remain. Hamas said on Friday that it would accept the deal to release all the hostages, but with unstated conditions and a call for continued negotiations over many of the details.

Among the poll’s most striking findings is the relatively large minority of American Jews who believe that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

The term genocide was introduced in 1944, amid revelations of the Nazis’ killing of millions of Jews and a sense that a new word was needed to describe the enormity of trying to wipe out an ethnic group. The state of Israel, born four years later, was seen by many Zionist leaders as a safeguard against anything like the Holocaust happening again.

The accusation that Israel itself is committing genocide — reiterated by a team of United Nations experts last month — has prompted furious reactions. Netanyahu’s government sharply denounced it, saying it mischaracterizes a war aimed at defeating a terrorist group after a savage attack.

Yet a significant minority of American Jews agree with the U.N. panel’s conclusion.

In the poll, respondents were told that the United Nations defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.” Asked whether they thought Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, 39 percent said yes, 51 percent said no, and 10 percent had no opinion.

Dana Witten, 59, who lives in Boston, was among those respondents who rejected the genocide allegation. The Israelis are clearly not trying to eliminate all Palestinians the way the Nazis sought to erase every Jew, he said.

“To call it a genocide is a false equivalence to in some ways demean the Jews, because they should know better or something,” Witten said. “I don’t understand that. And it’s harmful to the discourse. It’s craziness to say it’s genocide.”

In an illustration of how the genocide question has split the Jewish community, Seidman, the writer from Washington state, said she and her husband have had “repeated disagreements” about it. Seidman said she is not an expert on the definition of genocide but is open to the possibility that it is occurring.

“He believes you shouldn’t use the word unless it absolutely meets the textbook definition,” Seidman said. “It’s not because he thinks what is going on is excusable; it’s certainly not. But if we muddy the waters by calling it genocide when it’s not, he thinks we risk losing the moral authority. I am much less certain about that.”

washingtonpost poll 9-2025 More than twice as many American Jews blame Hamas than Israel

The Post poll also revealed a generational divide. While 56 percent of Jewish Americans overall say they are emotionally attached to Israel, among those ages 18 to 34, that drops to 36 percent. But that share rises steadily for older groups, jumping to 68 percent for those over 65. Younger Jews are also more likely to say Israel has committed genocide, with 50 percent of those ages 18 to 34 saying so and the number hovering in the 30s among older groups.

On other issues, the generations are far more aligned. More than 80 percent of Jews of all ages said they are concerned about civilian deaths in Gaza and Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas. And majorities across age groups say they are concerned about the safety of Israeli soldiers in Gaza and the threat Hamas poses to Israel.

washingtonpost poll 9-2025 Most American Jews voice concern over Israeli hostages

Jewish Americans’ views of the war also split sharply by partisanship, gender and education. More than 8 in 10 Jewish Republicans support Israel’s military actions in Gaza, compared with about half of independents and roughly 3 in 10 Democrats. A 56 percent majority of men approve, while 55 percent of Jewish women disapprove. And although 54 percent of Jews with some college education or less approve of Israel’s actions, that falls to 47 percent among those with bachelor’s degrees and 36 percent of postgraduates.

washingtonpost poll 9-2025 American Jews are split on whether they approve or disapprove of the military action Israel

Overall, American Jews’ view of the situation unfolding in Gaza appears to be that everyone involved bears some culpability. Asked who is responsible for the war’s continuation, 91 percent say Hamas bears responsibility, 80 percent say Israel does and 86 percent say Netanyahu bears responsibility. A 61 percent majority holds the U.S. responsible.

washingtonpost poll 9-2025 Most American Jews say Hamas and Netanyahu bear a great deal of responsibility

But as reports of hunger and starvation multiply, 59 percent of American Jews say Israel is not doing enough to allow food into the territory, while 30 percent say it is doing enough. Israel has denied that people are starving in Gaza, questioning international organizations that say otherwise and insisting it has made efforts to improve the humanitarian conditions.

Despite the bleak assessment, many Jews remain optimistic that Israelis and Palestinians can ultimately reach a peace agreement. The poll finds that 59 percent say a way can be found for Israel and an independent Palestine to coexist peacefully, while 41 percent disagree.washingtonpost poll 9-2025 A majority of American Jews say Israel and an independent Palestinian state

washingtonpost poll 9-2025 A majority of American Jews say Israel and an independent Palestinian state

Yet challenges are apparent even in this modestly hopeful outlook.

Sixty-two percent of American Jews say it would be acceptable for Gaza to be governed by an elected Palestinian government, and only 4 percent say it would be acceptable for it to be governed by Hamas. Yet when elections were held in the Palestinian territories in 2006, it was Hamas that emerged victorious.

washingtonpost poll 9-2025 Most American Jews accept Gazans being governed by leaders of their choice but reject Hamas

For many Jews, the rise in antisemitism has only bolstered the sense that a Jewish state is necessary.

“I think that it’s the only place they can call home,” Witten said. “It’s certainly the only place that can feel, you can’t say safe, but at least they have a place they can defend. It’s hard. When there is antisemitism running rampant in Europe and our own country, at the highest levels of academia, what does a Jew do?”

But for Jews like Parke, Israel has forfeited any claim to represent the Jewish people. He said he has taken to distinguishing between Israel as a nation, a land and a state.

“As a nation, the Jewish people around the world, that is a connection I feel,” Parke said. “Israel as a place, a land where we have history, that is a connection I could see myself having. But Israel the state — even though it has the same name as the land and the people, it does not speak for me.”

The Washington Post poll was conducted Sept. 2-9, among a random national sample of 815 Jewish Americans drawn through SSRS’s Opinion Panel, an ongoing survey panel recruited through random sampling of U.S. households. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.

The sample includes adults who identify as Jewish by religion as well as those who identify as adults with no religious affiliation but Jewish ethnically, culturally or through their family background — and either were raised Jewish or have a parent who is Jewish.

In all, 76 percent of the sample was Jewish by religion and 24 percent was Jewish without a religious affiliation.

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Sept. 2-9, 2025, Washington Post Jewish Americans poll

Results from a nationwide survey of Jewish Americans on views of Israel, Gaza and other topics.

6October2025
By Washington Post staff https://www.washingtonpost.com/tablet/2025/10/06/sept-2-9-2025-washington-post-jewish-americans-poll/

Click to download PDF file Many American Jews sharply critical of Israel on Gaza, Post poll finds

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Gaza ‘Doctor’ Murdered Hostage Noa Marciano, 19, as She Begged For Mercy

Shocking: Father of Noa Marciano reveals how she was murdered

Avi Marciano, the father of IDF lookout Noa Marciano, who was abducted from the shelter at the Nahal Oz outpost on October 7, recounts for the first time how his daughter was murdered in Hamas captivity.

Israel National News / 11December2025, 12:07 AM (GMT+2) / https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/419132

Avi Marciano, the father of IDF lookout Noa Marciano, who was abducted from the shelter at the Nahal Oz outpost on October 7, appeared in a video posted on Instagram by pro-Israel activist Shai DeLuca, where he revealed for the first time how his daughter was murdered in Hamas captivity.

In a recording sent to him, Noa described the airstrikes in the area and pleaded for her distress to be conveyed: “They’re bombing us,” she said in the video. She made a desperate request: “Stop the bombings because you might hit us.”

Later, as IDF forces approached the area, Hamas terrorists attempted to move Noa into central Gaza City. On the way, the car she was in was struck, and Noa sustained injuries to her leg and head, though they were not life-threatening. She was evacuated to Shifa Hospital in Gaza.

one of the medical staff at the hospital decided to murder her. “He injected air into her vein,”

Her father recounted that one of the medical staff at the hospital decided to murder her. “He injected air into her vein,” he said. Marciano received confirmation of Noa’s death through another video sent to him, in which his daughter is seen begging for her life. At the end of the footage, she appears to be sweating but lifeless.

Afterward, Hamas terrorists attempted to smuggle Noa’s body out of the hospital, but IDF forces prevented this. Ultimately, she was brought to Israel for burial.

“What I went through is the greatest nightmare I know,” Avi Marciano said tearfully. “Noa was my eldest daughter. She was so loved, and there isn’t a moment in the day when I don’t miss her.”

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A warning shot to Erdogan: Israel’s message to Turkey comes via Athens and Nicosia

Commentary: Jerusalem denies joint military force plans with Greece and Cyprus, but has ordered the IDF to begin planning in signal to Ankara to shift course; existing trilateral ties already act as a counterweight to Erdogan’s rising influence with Trump

Ron Ben-Yishai | 20December2025 | 22:57 | https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/rksxtfexzl

Security cooperation between Israel, Greece and Cyprus, including joint air, land and naval exercises, has been ongoing for several years. While Israeli officials have denied a Greek news report claiming the three countries intend to form a “joint intervention force,” ynet has learned that the political echelon has already informed the IDF of such a plan and even issued instructions to begin preliminary planning.

However, no concrete steps have been taken, and military planners in Tel Aviv are awaiting further directives from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. For now, the government has instructed the IDF not to move beyond the initial planning stage.

The caution is understandable. If established, the main mission of a Greek-Israeli-Cypriot intervention force would likely be to counter Turkish activity in the eastern Mediterranean basin.

The envisioned force would protect the economic and strategic interests of Israel, Greece, Cyprus and potentially Egypt in the region. This includes defending offshore natural gas and oil production zones and fishing rights in areas claimed by Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a self-declared entity created following Turkey’s 1974 invasion of the island.

It would also involve safeguarding Israel’s proposed gas pipeline to Europe, which Turkey opposes, and could extend to territorial disputes between Greece and Turkey over sovereignty claims to several Aegean islands.

Although both Greece and Turkey are NATO members, their decades-long hostility, centered in large part on the Cyprus dispute, remains unresolved and could ignite at any moment. Turkey’s military, particularly its navy and ground forces, is larger, stronger and more modern than Greece’s. Ankara also holds a clear edge in defense manufacturing, thanks to Turkey’s rapidly developing military industry.

However, Turkey’s air force is relatively weak. Israeli security officials believe that if Israel joins forces with Greece and Greek Cyprus, contributing the IDF’s aerial and intelligence capabilities, it could significantly shift the balance of power in the eastern Mediterranean, potentially deterring President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from escalating tensions with Athens under such conditions.

Still, Israel’s primary strategic objective in pursuing this alliance is not to confront Turkey directly, but rather to create a flanking deterrent. The aim is to contain Erdoğan’s growing military presence along Israel’s northern and southern borders.

Since the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria, Turkey has worked aggressively to expand its military and political foothold in the country. This includes deploying early-warning radar systems and air defense batteries that could dramatically restrict Israel’s aerial freedom of operation over Syria, Iraq and even Iran, narrowing the IDF’s strategic options and its ability to pose a credible threat to Turkey itself in the event of a future conflict, fueled by Erdoğan’s increasingly hostile posture toward Israel.

The possible inclusion of Turkish troops in the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, as outlined in U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, is viewed in Jerusalem as a direct threat. Israel strongly opposes Turkey’s participation in the ISF, arguing it would limit the IDF’s operational freedom to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its military infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. Erdoğan’s open support for Hamas has further deepened Israeli concerns.

If Turkey were permitted to contribute forces to the ISF, expected to be a brigade-sized deployment of 1,000 or more personnel, Israeli officials warn it could facilitate weapons smuggling into Gaza or aid in rearming Hamas through the transfer of dual-use materials.

This may be one of the reasons Erdoğan is lobbying Trump to allow Turkish involvement, despite Israel’s firm objections. In response, Israel appears to be signaling its own potential counter-move: advancing the idea of a joint intervention force with Greece and Cyprus. Such an alliance would present a political and military counterweight to the threats and hostility Israel perceives from Turkey on both its northern and southern fronts.

Israel has no desire for direct military conflict with Turkey. However, given Erdoğan’s policies and his close ties to Trump, Israeli officials see a need to send a clear warning, strategic and symbolic, by aligning with Turkey’s historical (and predominantly Christian) rivals in the region.

However, the proposed joint intervention force remains at the conceptual stage. While preliminary planning is underway at IDF headquarters, no concrete steps have been taken. So far, the idea exists mainly through regional media reports, particularly in Greece, intended, it seems, to signal to Ankara that the option is on the table and to pressure Erdoğan and his foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, to reconsider their approach.

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Since 1947, one truth has never changed: Israel chooses peace. Arab leaders chose war

Since 1947, one truth has never changed: Israel chooses peace.
Arab leaders chose war, terror, and rejectionism – again and again.

But Israel still says YES.
YES to peace. YES to coexistence. YES to the future we deserve. 🇮🇱✨ pic.twitter.com/MxPYNvl2lp

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) November 28, 2025

Israel Foreign Ministry-tweet-28November2025-Israel chooses peace-Arabs chose war
Since 1947, one truth has never changed: Israel chooses peace.
Arab leaders chose war, terror, and rejectionism – again and again.

But Israel still says YES.
YES to peace. YES to coexistence. YES to the future we deserve. 🇮🇱✨

Israel Foreign Ministry-tweet-28November2025-Israel chooses peace-Arabs chose war

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BREAKING: HAMAS ALREADY PLANNING THE NEXT MASSACRE

BREAKING: HAMAS ALREADY PLANNING THE NEXT MASSACRE

A newly uncovered internal Hamas document, exposed by @Adkaneng, reveals preparations for a coordinated, multi front attack involving Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and Lebanon.

According to Gilad Ach, Hamas views October 7 as a… pic.twitter.com/Lv8SgZc0uK

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) December 30, 2025

Mossad Commentary-tweet-30December2025-HAMAS ALREADY PLANNING THE NEXT MASSACRE
BREAKING: HAMAS ALREADY PLANNING THE NEXT MASSACRE

A newly uncovered internal Hamas document, exposed by @Adkaneng, reveals preparations for a coordinated, multi front attack involving Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and Lebanon.

According to Gilad Ach, Hamas views October 7 as a success, not a failure, and believes the next round will be even larger.

Key takeaways from the document:
• Hamas claims it remains operational and organized
• A vast underground tunnel network is still intact
• Next war envisioned as a simultaneous multi front assault
• Goal remains unchanged: Israel’s destruction

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil

Mossad Commentary-tweet-30December2025-HAMAS ALREADY PLANNING THE NEXT MASSACRE

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HEBRON OCT 7 STYLE ATTACK AVERTED

🚨 BREAKING: OCT 7 STYLE ATTACK AVERTED

Security forces launched a large-scale counterterrorism operation overnight in the Jabal Johar area of Hebron.

• Led by the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet and dismantle terror infrastruct and seize illegal weapons
• Operation… pic.twitter.com/RfLB8LohZu

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) January 19, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-19January2026-HEBRON OCT 7 STYLE ATTACK AVERTED
🚨 BREAKING: OCT 7 STYLE ATTACK AVERTED

Security forces launched a large-scale counterterrorism operation overnight in the Jabal Johar area of Hebron.

• Led by the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet and dismantle terror infrastruct and seize illegal weapons
• Operation expected to last several days
• Explosions and heavy troop movement may be heard in the area

Security officials say the move follows intelligence warning of planned Hamas-style raids on communities in Judea and Samaria, similar to October 7 tactics.

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil

Mossad Commentary-tweet-19January2026-HEBRON OCT 7 STYLE ATTACK AVERTED

IDF operating in Hebron

⭕️Overnight, in the Jabal Johar area in Hebron, security forces began an operation to dismantle terror infrastructure sites, eradicate illegal possession of weapons, and enhance security in the area.

The operation is expected to continue for several days, and increased movement…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 19, 2026

IDF-tweet-19January2026-IDF operating in Hebron
⭕️Overnight, in the Jabal Johar area in Hebron, security forces began an operation to dismantle terror infrastructure sites, eradicate illegal possession of weapons, and enhance security in the area.

The operation is expected to continue for several days, and increased movement of IDF forces will be noticeable in the area.

IDF-tweet-19January2026-IDF operating in Hebron

IDF SEALS ROADS OUT OF HEBRON

BREAKING: IDF SEALS ROADS OUT OF HEBRON

IDF engineering units are closing all roads leading out of Hebron as part of an ongoing counterterrorism operation. Security forces say the move is intended to restrict movement and prevent the escape of suspects as the operation… pic.twitter.com/NSFFa6oKcm

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) January 19, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-19January2026-IDF SEALS ROADS OUT OF HEBRON
BREAKING: IDF SEALS ROADS OUT OF HEBRON

IDF engineering units are closing all roads leading out of Hebron as part of an ongoing counterterrorism operation. Security forces say the move is intended to restrict movement and prevent the escape of suspects as the operation continues.
Source: Israel Live News

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil

Mossad Commentary-tweet-19January2026-IDF SEALS ROADS OUT OF HEBRON

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By Staff | Posted in War News and Comments | Tagged Gaza, Hamas, Houthi, Iran, Israel, Palestinians, turkey, war | Comments Off

After you have:

Coronavirus COVID-19 Update Coronavirus: Purim impact and Torah Tidbits Purim Special

Quiet megillah readings: Combat veterans, loud sounds and firecrackers can cause traumatic flashbacks

Tzohar calls on communities to avoid loud noisemakers during Megillah readings, citing trauma triggers for veterans and war-affected Israelis.

Here is a practical day-to-day guide for celebrating the three days of Purim (Fast of Esther, Purim, and Shushan Purim).

The Difference between Purim and Chanukah

Before the Fast of Esther

Fast of Esther

Purim and Shushan Purim

Purim Day Mitzvot

Purim is NOW! if you read all this as though it was all a backstory

The “Proper” IDF Noise Makers for Purim

PURIM REVIEW from Torah Tidbits

The Most Frightening Moment?

A Purim Warning to American Jews

Field of Vision – A Night at the Garden from Field of Vision on Vimeo.

Prevention and Recovery

Purim Burn Prevention Post

Don’t Drink and Drive

Protect Jewish Girls on Purim

Jewish women and girls are not allowed to drink on Purim

Jewish girls — not just for Purim

The group notes that Muslim legal authority Sheik Abu Humam Al-Athari announced in 2011 that Islamic law encourages Arab men to capture “infidel” (Jewish and Christian) women. Since the ruling, Learn and Live reports the number of Jewish girls who have “gone missing” more than doubled.

Because of the 3 days of Prayers and Fasting in the Yishuv (Eretz Israel),This was prevented:

An example of how American Orthodox Rabbis helped the Jews in Europe – 1943

The Historic Rabbis March On Washington – 6October1943

Rare Footage Of The Historic Rabbis March On Washington – 1943

400 rabbis did not move FDR to save what was left of Europe’s Jews, nor were they helped by Reform Jews, whose descendants side with anti-Semites.

Red Cross in 1944: “We found no trace” Red Cross in 2023: “We found no evidence”

THE PURIM KABBALAH CODE

Purim: The Evil Haman or the Bright Light

In the first Purim Haman gave King Achashverosh 15 Million silver Shekels (240 Million Grams of Silver ~$127.39 Million*) for the right to kill the Jews. (Megillah 13b-14a) With Obama and Ahmadinejad, who is Haman and who is King Achashverosh

And Now for Something Completely Different

Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi – Purim – 2016

Confuse-A-Cat ~ Monty Python’s Flying Circus

Move to Israel, Get a Free Degree

This is why we need the IDF

JerusalemCats Comment: To the BDS Nazis and their supporters: You have no idea how evil the terrorist are that you are supporting.

Stalin had plans to murder millions of Russian Jews. Like Haman, the tables suddenly turned.

God will yet help…. Stalin is a mere mortal… no one can know what will be with him in a half hour.

Kol Koreh to all Acheinu Beis Yisrael in Ukraine

Now that there are sounds and fears of war, the issues are unfolding in a way as to see it as a type of call from Shamayim, to ascend to the Holy Land from ALL the foreign lands in the ENTIRE DIASPORA.

Rabbi Shalom Arush-Breslev English: Everyone come home. New York was a refuge for us. Now???

New York City Jews Do not Repeat history!

30 November

In November 2014 the Israeli government dedicated November 30 of every year as a day to honor and remember the Jewish refugees who were expelled from Arab countries following 1948’s Arab-Israeli War. These are some of their stories

Operation Solomon – (May 24-25, 1991)

When do we leave?

Rabbi Shalom Arush-Breslev English: the place to be is Israel NOW

TOTAL VICTORY

The IDF Super Bowl commercial

The Rebbe Fled During Danger!

Some really creative ideas to deal with Zohran Mamdani

Israel needs to have an Emergency Aliyah program that will entail both Nefesh B’Nefesh, The Jewish Agency and Israeli family contacting their friends and family members still living outside of Israel.

Have TV commercials in Hebrew telling Israelis that it is a matter of life and death to get home.

Make preparations for a Operation Solomon for New York City!

Two Israeli tourists attacked, robbed at knife-point in mugging at Brooklyn subway station.

מבט – גל פיגועים בארצות הברית והחמור שבהם הלילה בניו יורק | כאן 11 לשעבר רשות השידור

Israeli Ministry of Aliyah and Integration ad – יום הזיכרון

לפני שאבא יהפוך ל”Daddy” הגיע הזמן לחזור לארץ

Have TV commercials in English reminding Jews about Kristallnacht and the riots in the streets.

Kristallnacht: Night Of Broken Glass

Have TV commercials reminding the Diaspora Jews about Israels wonderful healthcare, schools, clean air and low unemployment rate. Remind everyone that Israel is the Startup Nation for innovation. Remind everyone that Israel has one of the highest standards of living and rates of longevity.

Israeli Health Care

Watch How Israeli High School Seniors Prepare for IDF

ISRAEL START-UP NATION

Have all EL-AL members (Pilots, Stewardess) in full combat gear and armed when at US and EU airports.

Arrest all CIA, DIA, DEA, FBI, MI 5/6, etc of USA, Britain & EU countries agents in Israel (including news reporters), throw them in jail, quick harsh trials for espionage, sedition, provocation of unrest & rebellion etc, harsh sentences; THEN demand release of Pollard in exchange.

Publish “dangerous region & no protection” warnings for vacationers or businessmen visit in those countries.

Arrest, imprison, charge with espionage & sedition all missionaries.

NYC-No Trucks No Goods: The Former Cuban Jews need to talk to the New York City Jews

JerusalemCats Comments: Zohran Mamdani is a Jihadist Socialist. Think Cuba under Fidel Castro

Zohran Mamdani (D) wins New York City mayor election

Zohran Mamdani’s “Useful Idiots”

New York City Mayor election 2025 Zohran Mamdani

Nefesh B’Nefesh Employee of the Month Zohran Mamdani

Women are preparing for Zohran Mamdani with Pigs

Mamdani’s victory raises concerns about community safety in city with world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel

Sunday NY Memorial for Rav Kahane – after Mamdani victory Please forward

October 20, 2023.jihadist enabler, Zohran Mamdani leads an anti-Israel rally.

JerusalemCats Comment: To the BDS Nazis and their supporters:
You have no idea how evil the terrorist are that you are supporting.