*40 YESHIVA BOCHURIM BEHIND BARS: Detainees to Spend Shabbos Parshas Toldos in Israeli Military Prison*
Forty yeshiva bochurim and other chareidi detainees who refused to enlist in the Israeli military are spending this Shabbos Parshas Toldos behind bars, as the continuing crackdown on those who have not reported for military service fuels growing concern throughout the chareidi community in Eretz Yisroel.
*GADOL HADOR IN ASBURY PARK: Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch to Lead Special Shabbos Gathering Marking 80 Years of Slabodka Yeshiva*
A special Shabbos gathering celebrating 80 years of Yeshivas Slabodka will take place this Shabbos, Parshas Toldos, at the Berkeley Resort Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey, with the participation of the rosh yeshiva, Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch.
*KASHRUS UPHEAVAL IN RECHOVOT: Rav Rubin Warns Against Relying on City Rabbinate’s Hashgachah, Reversing Earlier Approval*
A major kashrus controversy has erupted in Rechovot after Rav Avraham HaKohen Rubin, rov of the city’s Bnei Torah community and a member of Badatz Shearis Yisroel, issued an unusual public warning instructing residents not to rely on the kashrus certification of the Rechovot Rabbinate, including establishments operating under its mehadrin supervision.
*NEW TERROR CHARGE: Suspect in Attempted Assassination of Trump at Washington Dinner Faces Life in Prison*
Federal prosecutors have brought an additional terrorism charge against a California man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C., in April, raising the possibility that he could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted.
*PRESSURE ON TRUMP: Mossad Chief Holds Washington Talks as Netanyahu Pushes for New Strikes on Iran*
Mossad Director Roman Gofman traveled to Washington on Friday for high-level discussions with senior Trump administration officials as Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu intensifies efforts to persuade President Donald Trump to resume military strikes against Iran, according to a report by Axios.
*NIS 147,000 FOR JAILED YESHIVA BOCHURIM: Major Bnei Brak Gathering to Honor Those Imprisoned Over Military Draft*
A major gathering is scheduled to take place in Bnei Brak this Motzoei Shabbos, Parshas Toldos, during which NIS 147,000 in financial grants will be distributed to yeshiva bochurim and avreichim who were imprisoned in Israeli military detention facilities in connection with the ongoing controversy over the drafting of yeshiva students.
*SILENCE AFTER DEFEAT: Aryeh Deri Dodges Reporters Following Meeting With Rav Yitzchok Yosef as Shas Faces Political Crisis*
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri made a rare public appearance Friday, attending his regular weekly learning session with the party’s spiritual leader, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, before leaving without answering questions from reporters who had gathered outside.
*VISA MIRACLE: Singer Gad Elbaz Credits Visit to the Yenuka With Unexpected Approval to Return to America*
Jewish singer Gad Elbaz has shared an account of what he describes as a remarkable yeshuah that enabled him to return to the United States, despite warnings from his immigration attorneys that he would be unable to reenter the country.
*KASHRUS ALERT: Surprise Inspection at Israeli Doughnut Factory Uncovers Unexpected Bishul Akum Concern Ahead of Chanukah*
A surprise kashrus inspection at a large sufganiyah factory in Ashdod uncovered an unexpected halachic concern after rabbonim discovered that a non-Jewish employee was manually turning doughnuts that failed to flip automatically during frying, raising questions about bishul akum and prompting an immediate change in the factory’s production procedures.
*WEIGHT-LOSS WARNING: Doctors Identify Six Health Risks That Can Follow Stopping Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound*
Patients who discontinue popular weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound may face a series of unexpected health consequences, including the rapid return of lost weight, increased hunger, muscle loss and the reversal of improvements in blood sugar and cardiovascular health, according to a physician warning that the benefits of these drugs can be difficult to maintain after treatment ends.
*ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN FUNDING? Pindrus Demands Investigation Into Alleged American Foundation Support for Chareidi Political Party*
MK Yitzchok Pindrus has called on Israel’s State Comptroller to launch an urgent investigation into allegations that an American philanthropic foundation provided financial assistance and other resources to the Chareidi Public Party, headed by Moti Leitner, potentially violating Israeli campaign finance laws.
*MIRACLE ON THE ROAD: Frum Family Escapes Burning Car After Wedding, Shtreimel and Valuables Destroyed*
A frum family returning home from a wedding in Modiin Illit narrowly escaped disaster early Friday morning when their vehicle suddenly caught fire during the drive to Bnei Brak, forcing them to flee moments before the flames engulfed the car.
*A PRINCIPLED DECISION: Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein Turned Down Slabodka Leadership Position After Advice From Rav Elyashiv*
A remarkable story about Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein’s decision to turn down a prestigious position at Yeshivas Slabodka during his younger years was revealed at a special gathering marking the opening of the 13th branch of the Ittim LaTorah kollel network, which provides structured evening learning opportunities for bnei Torah who work to support their families.
*TORAH OVER POLITICS: 2,763 Avreichim Shun Election Results for 90 Minutes of Learning; Rav Zilberstein Conducts Drawing for 38 Winners*
While much of Israel was following the results of the Knesset elections, 2,763 avreichim chose to spend 90 uninterrupted minutes immersed in Torah learning, refraining from conversation and political updates in a special initiative that culminated in a drawing conducted personally by Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein.
*PEACE TALKS AMID BLOODSHED: Putin Meets Trump Envoys in Moscow as Russian Drone Strike Kills Woman in Kyiv*
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Thursday in Moscow with President Donald Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as Washington intensified efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, even as Russian attacks continued to claim civilian lives.
*JIHAD IN THE US: Muslim Senator-Elect Abdul El-Sayed Plans to Use Quran Instead of Bible at Senate Swearing-In*
Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed says he intends to use a Quran when he takes office in January, becoming the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate and setting the stage for an unprecedented ceremonial swearing-in at the Capitol.
*SIGNS OF RECOVERY: Microsoft 365 and Outlook Coming Back Online for Many Users After Massive Global Outage*
Microsoft 365 services began returning to normal for many users Friday morning following a massive worldwide outage that disrupted Outlook email, Microsoft Teams and other widely used applications for more than 18 hours, although the company cautioned that full service had not yet been restored.
*DRAFT LAW DEMANDS: Report Claims Agudas Yisroel Seeking Personal Pledges From 48 Left-Wing MKs, but Senior Lawmakers Deny Involvement*
A report that senior figures associated with Agudas Yisroel are demanding personal commitments from all 48 members of Israel’s left-wing parliamentary bloc to support legislation protecting yeshiva bochurim from military conscription has sparked controversy, with two prominent Agudas Yisroel lawmakers denying any knowledge of the reported negotiations.
*A LETTER THAT TOUCHED A BILLIONAIRE: Five Jewish New York Children Thank Michael Dell for Trump Accounts Gift*
A handwritten thank-you letter from five Jewish children in New York has drawn a heartfelt response from billionaire businessman Michael Dell, who shared the message on social media Thursday evening and expressed his pride in the youngsters for appreciating a major financial gift intended to help millions of American children build savings for their futures.
*NYPD SHAKEUP: Mamdani Moves to Dismantle Elite Police Unit That Handles Violent Protests and Terror Threats*
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is preparing to eliminate the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group, a specialized unit responsible for responding to violent demonstrations, major emergencies and counterterrorism threats, as his administration moves toward fulfilling one of his most controversial campaign commitments.
