The IDF continues operations against Hamas, recently destroying a command hub in northern Gaza.
Breaking News Alert: Joe Biden to resign so Kamala Harris can become first female president.
OK, it hasn’t happened yet, but don’t be shocked if the president makes the dramatic move to improve his awful legacy.
He’s already using every trick in the book to try to wipe away the Big Stink from his tenure, but nothing is working.
Following the election, Biden has spent two months trying to get people to forget the last four years.
The effort hit a cringe-inducing low this week when he awarded prestigious civilian medals to the undeserving likes of Liz Cheney, Hillary Clinton, George Soros and a list of left-leaning celebrities.
The one consistency is that they all supported him. Instead of medals, they ought to get free psychiatric care.
In the real world, Biden leaves office in utter disgrace.
Beyond his disastrous policies on the economy and the border, he corrupted the Justice Department to go after Donald Trump and was able to keep his job for four years only because the White House, aided and abetted by a partisan press corps, engaged in a massive coverup of his frightening cognitive decline.
The concern is that the deteriorating situation Iran finds itself in may push it to desperate measures. Iran's rial currency is in freefall and lost 10% of its value in the first month after US President-Elect Donald Trump's reelection in November. Iran is also facing a severe energy crisis that has led it to ration electricity and to blackouts in much of the country. The regime is facing growing internal criticism and protests among its citizenry.
In addition, Iran's foreign policy is collapsing with the destruction of the military capabilities and leadership of its terrorist proxies Hamas and Hezbollah, the fall of its ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and the destruction of its air defense systems following Iran's massive ballistic missile attacks on Israel.
With Trump set to take a harder line against the Iranian regime when he takes office in a little over two weeks, Iran has few options to recover from these setbacks. Israeli officials believe that Trump's policy will constitute a large shift that may change the strategic balance in the Middle East, whether through military moves or economic sanctions.
At the same time, Iran's efforts to maintain its influence in the region continue. Walla reported that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps are attempting to transfer funds to Hezbollah in Lebanon using civilian aircraft to help the terror group rebuild following its losses in the war with Israel, including Israel's destruction of banks and vaults full of money reserves belonging to Hezbollah.
Iranian involvement in the fighting in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, along with the economic and political implications within Iran itself, creates concern that Iran's response to pressure will focus specifically on Israel. The IDF is preparing for every scenario, with the understanding that extreme steps by Iran, even with a low probability, require maximum vigilance.
There is also concern that Iran may seek to rush toward nuclear breakout and the development of nuclear weapons if the regime feels that this is its only option for survival or to deter its enemies.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, discussed the recent budget vote in which his party opposed the coalition's proposed bill.
He stated, "We will continue to vote according to our principles until a solution is found to prevent the closure of police stations, disbanding of civilian emergency squads, and the reduction in salaries of police officers, prison guards, and all of Israel's national security forces."
Ben Gvir expressed regret over his conduct: "After significant soul-searching on Shabbat, I see that I was wrong when I saw the Prime Minister and MK Boaz Bismuth (Likud) in the plenary and we did not offset them. I apologize to the Prime Minister and my friend Boaz Bismuth. From now on, we will offset the PM until his full recovery, God willing."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Ben-Gvir after the vote that passed by a narrow margin. "Today, despite the difficulties, we passed important budgetary legislation for Israel's security and economy. Israel is at war against existential challenges; there is no greater irresponsible folly than shaking the coalition at this time or risking the fall of a right-wing government."
In an extraordinary decision, a judge set US President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush money criminal case for January 10, just over a week before his scheduled return to the White House but made clear that Trump would not face jail time, The Associated Press reported.
The decision which was handed down on Friday, positions Trump to become the first president to assume office while holding a felony conviction.
Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan, who oversaw Trump’s trial, announced in a written ruling that the former and future president would receive an unconditional discharge. This outcome leaves the conviction intact but closes the case without imposing jail time, fines, or probation. Trump has the option to appear virtually for the sentencing.
Merchan rejected Trump’s motion to dismiss the verdict on the grounds of presidential immunity and his upcoming second term. He emphasized that resolving the case was essential to serving the interests of justice.
Trump criticized Merchan on his Truth Social platform, claiming that allowing the ruling to stand would mean “the end of the Presidency as we know it.” He also reiterated his stance that the case was an “illegitimate political attack” and “nothing but a Rigged Charade” orchestrated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office declined to comment on the ruling.
Trump was convicted in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records tied to an alleged scheme to conceal a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the final weeks of his 2016 campaign.
Initially, Trump’s sentencing was scheduled for July 11 but was postponed twice at his defense’s request. Following Trump’s victory in the November 5 election, the judge delayed the sentencing once more to allow both sides to address the implications of Trump’s presidency on the case.
Trump’s lawyers urged Merchan to dismiss the conviction, arguing that it would otherwise disrupt the president-elect’s ability to govern effectively. Prosecutors conceded that accommodations should be made for Trump’s upcoming term but insisted the conviction remain. They proposed several options, including pausing the case during his presidency or finalizing it with a no-jail sentence.
Ultimately, Merchan determined that Trump’s status as president-elect does not grant him immunity equivalent to that of a sitting president. Setting aside the verdict, he argued, would be a “drastic” measure that would “undermine the Rule of Law in immeasurable ways.”
This case is the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments to go to trial.
Special counsel Jack Smith has since dismissed two federal cases against Trump: one concerning his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and another alleging he mishandled classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
The two young Israelis injured in the attack in New Orleans reportedly fought in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
Yediot Aharonot reports that they were on a vacation after extended military reserve service when they were injured in the attack. The critically injured young man underwent two surgeries and remains in critical condition. His friend, suffering severe limb injuries, is not in danger.
The Israeli Consul in the Southwestern US, Elad Shoham, told the New York Post: "It's tragic irony. They left terrorism in one country and were hurt by terrorism in another. They came here to relax but experienced the unexpected in the harshest way. The fight is against the same ideology, the same enemy."
He shared his conversation with the severely injured man before surgery. "He shook my hand, suffering intense pain in all parts of his body. When people in the US shout 'Intifada,' it means importing violence from one region to another, and that's exactly what's happening. They want to bring violence and terrorism to America. Israel and the US are fighting the same ideology, the same enemy as on October 7. Hamas acted like ISIS, which was the inspiration – exactly like this terrorist did."
With the help of the Foreign Ministry, the victims' families were flown to Louisiana to be with their loved ones. The two will be flown to Israel for further medical treatment only when their condition stabilizes.
by Rabbi Yair Hoffman
Now teachers of Torah have a new tool that redefines the teaching field for Torah teachers. It is a resource which can be projected, copied, pasted, and utilized in many different ways. Best of all, it was created by observant people – which takes away
AlHaTorah.org is a site that offers the Torah texts that we all need in a readily available format.
Their mission is:
Revitalizing the Torah Learning Experience
Panoramic and 3D View of Torah – AlHaTorah.org’s wide array of lenses and modes of analysis helps the learner appreciate the breadth and depth of the Biblical text and its commentaries. By employing everything from Ancient Near Eastern documents to medieval commentaries to modern art and literature, the text of Torah is brought to life.
Empowering – AlHaTorah.org provides the resources, tools, and replicable methodology for active learning, allowing the user to act, react, and interact.
Harnessing Modern Technology – The dawning of the new age of the electronic book has enabled the reimagining of how knowledge can be organized, personalized, interconnected, and continuously expanded. With its tree structured, customizable, ever editable and expandable, hyperlinked, and audio-visually integrated commentary, AlHaTorah.org begins to capture and realize some of this incredible potential.1
Bonding with our Heritage – The reader explores a vast spectrum of commentaries, ranging from the Second Temple period to modern times, all presented in their historical and exegetical contexts. Biblical study becomes a way of reconnecting with the plurality of cultural riches of the thousands of years of our history.
Addressing Fundamental Issues – AlHaTorah.org confronts the challenges posed by classical questions such as the relationship between peshat and derash, and modern issues such as textual criticism and source criticism.
Contract Connecting People through a Social Torah Network
Communal Participation – AlHaTorah.org provides a platform which allows ongoing worldwide collaboration and input from people on all levels and with various types of expertise, in creating the Torah equivalent of Wikipedia and beyond. As the editorial team builds the underlying foundation and structure of the comprehensive Torah commentary, the wider public of all ages will contribute additional sources, insights, translations, and novel interpretations. Vigorous debate and discussion via the Forum will stimulate and foster close bonds and contacts.
Reaching Every Individual from Beginners to Scholars – With the range and richness of its approaches and the customizability of its levels, AlHaTorah.org is becoming a central Torah clearinghouse, offering a product from which every person can gain, and an online learning community in which every person can contribute, discuss, and find meaning.
Contract Impacting Jewish Education Worldwide
Providing Resources for Professional Educators – A good teacher never has nearly enough time to prepare for their classes. The wealth of distilled information, sources, and visual aids on this site will be invaluable in saving countless hours of time, in making material available which otherwise would be inaccessible, and in helping to sculpt better structured classes.
Learning as a Family – Animating the Shabbat Table – Through Shabbat table discussion topics and puzzles for both children and adults, AlHaTorah.org piques one’s curiosity and leads one step by step down the path to deeper exploration of the Torah topics. The family Shabbat table experience will be greatly enhanced.
Law enforcement authorities in Guatemala have begun extradition proceedings.
“We received official confirmation from the authorities in El Salvador regarding the start of the extradition process,” said Juan Francisco Reyes, an assistant prosecutor in the Guatemalan combatting human trafficking department.
Castillo, 23, is suspected of having brutally abused women and children as part of the cult’s activities, engaged in human trafficking, and forced minors to marry.
In a statement to local media, a former member of the Lev Tahor cult, who spoke anonymously, said that Castillo’s behavior had changed drastically since he joined the cult. He noted that he had become violent and threatened to kill children.
Uriel Goldman, one of the cult leaders, claimed that Castillo was expelled from the cult due to his behavior and presented documents supporting this claim. Local media reported that he claimed other people had tried to join the cult but were “rejected due to alleged connections to drug trafficking.”
Meanwhile, another member of the cult was arrested while attempting to flee to Mexico.
New York City’s congestion pricing program will officially take effect on Sunday, January 5, targeting Manhattan’s busiest streets in a bid to reduce traffic and fund public transit. Governor Kathy Hochul’s revived plan will toll vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone, covering streets and avenues at or below 60th Street.
The program aims to cut congestion by at least 80,000 vehicles per day, easing pressure in what the MTA calls the most crowded district in the U.S. Currently, average travel speeds in the zone hover at just 7.1 mph, down 23% since 2010. The MTA reports that drivers waste 117 hours annually sitting in gridlock, contributing to $20 billion in lost productivity.
New York City’s congestion pricing program will officially take effect on Sunday, January 5, targeting Manhattan’s busiest streets in a bid to reduce traffic and fund public transit. Governor Kathy Hochul’s revived plan will toll vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone, covering streets and avenues at or below 60th Street.
The program aims to cut congestion by at least 80,000 vehicles per day, easing pressure in what the MTA calls the most crowded district in the U.S. Currently, average travel speeds in the zone hover at just 7.1 mph, down 23% since 2010. The MTA reports that drivers waste 117 hours annually sitting in gridlock, contributing to $20 billion in lost productivity.
In recent years, Israel has attacked the site four times, attacks that delayed and disrupted the construction work. The site was meant to produce advanced ballistic missiles with ranges of 70 to 300 km, all of which were intended to be sent to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Due to its depth inside the mountain, the site was defined by Israel as a “secure site.”
IDF spokesperson: The intelligence agencies in Israel understood that the site was close to becoming operational and would soon begin producing advanced missiles. The understanding was that once the site became an active manufacturing facility, it would become a much more protected and secured site—where the number of guards and security posted by the Syrians and Iranians would increase significantly. Operation “Many Ways” was an opportunity to reach the site on the ground while security was still relatively light—only a few dozen guards—before the industrial production process began.
The preparations for the operation began two months earlier, in July 2024. A month later, production of engines had already begun at the site. The IDF says: “If we had waited any longer to carry out the operation, it might have already been too late, or the entire operation might have needed to look completely different.”
The objective of the operation was to destroy as many production machines as possible within the underground site, with the highest priority being the destruction of the planetary mixers, the most critical component in the production process of advanced missiles.
