Iranian plot to abduct Israeli journalist foiled

 

Babak Itzhaki

The Iranian opposition news website IranWire reports that the IRGC planned to kidnap the Israeli correspondent for Iran International Babak Itzhaki.

According to the report, Iran tried to use Mohammad Hawashmazada, a former political prisoner currently held in Armenia, to lure Babak and another journalist to the city of Van in Turkey, from where they were to be taken to Tehran. The plan failed due to the refusal of Hawashmazada and his cellmate to cooperate due to their personal connection to Babak.

Babak told Kan: "Iran International is the free voice of independent news in Iran, and for over seven years, my colleagues and I have been reporting the truth of what is happening in Israel to the Iranian people without censorship. This, of course, greatly angers the Iranian regime, which does not want the people to know the truth."

"Neither threats nor acts of terror will stop our revelation of the truth,' Babak stressed, adding that he is an Israeli citizen and trusts Israel's security agencies to protect him and the free press in Israel. "Threats against me are threats against all journalists who uphold free journalism, and I expect all journalistic organizations to issue a statement condemning attacks and threats by the Iranian regime against journalists," he concluded.

Is this guy really a "Tzaddik" or is he an "Evil Rasha" ..Who Hasn’t Seen Human Face In 40 Years Makes Appearance At Son’s Wedding

 

A video has surfaced featuring a man, his face entirely covered, reportedly attending the wedding of his son, Yaakov Amrani. The man is alleged to have lived in a stunning form of isolation, without having seen a single human face, for the past 40 years! Details about his identity and background remain unknown.

It’s also worth noting that Israel often sees the emergence of tzadikim whose backgrounds are not widely known.

Haniyeh Assassination in Tehran Nearly Foiled by Broken AC Unit

Israel waited until after the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to carry out the assassination of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, according to Channel 12, which revealed new details of the operation. Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed Israel’s involvement last week.

Haniyeh was killed in his guest house by a remotely detonated bomb during his visit to Tehran for the July inauguration. The operation, months in the making, nearly failed when an air conditioner in Haniyeh’s room malfunctioned in the middle of the night. Haniyeh left the room to wait for repairs, sparking fears that he might avoid the bomb if he switched rooms. However, the air conditioner was quickly fixed, and Haniyeh returned to his room, where the bomb was detonated around 1:30 a.m.

After Haniyeh’s death, Yahya Sinwar, previously Hamas’s military chief, succeeded him as the group’s political leader. Sinwar’s leadership ended when he was killed in Rafah, Gaza, in October.

 

Chareidei Hypocrites Say Hallel in Memory of the Hellenized State, Yet Say "Tachnun" on the Anniversary miracle of the establishment of the Jewish state in our time.

 

The article below was printed in Hebrew in the Hebrew Newsletter "Matzav Haruach," I translated this into English! The original article in Hebrew can be seen on their website!

by  Menachem Rahat

The people of Israel, and the Chareidim among them, say Hallel and thanksgiving, in memory of the Hellenized Jewish state, which existed here 2,000 years ago, but refuse to acknowledge the good that the Creator of the world influenced us in the miracle of the establishment of the Jewish state of our time.

1. Of the two leading miracles in the story of the days of Chanukah, the miracle of victory in the war and the miracle of finding the jug of oil and relighting the Menorah of the Temple (and there are two other miracles that we mentioned last week: the return of the kingdom to Israel and the establishment of a Jewish state), which of the two preceded chronologically?

A study of the Jewish and general historical sources makes it clear that the tradition of the story of the miracle of victory is older.

In the ancient sources, only the miracle of victory is mentioned. 

This is the case in the books of the Maccabees and in the writings of Josephus, and so in the prayer for the miracles that we say in the prayers of the days of Chanukah and in the blessings of food: "For the miracles, and for the chapters, and for the mighty, and for the salvation, and for the wars that You made for our forefathers in those days at this time."

 Not a word about the miracle of the jug of oil.

Later on, too, in reference to the purification of the Temple, there is no mention of the miracle of the jug of oil:

 "And afterwards [i.e., after the military victory], they lit candles in Your holy courtyards and established these eight days of Chanukah." All the miracles followed the miracle of the military victory that gave rise to the purification of the Temple, the lighting of the menorah and the establishment of the only Jewish state between the First and Second Temples.

Eida Hachreidis Issues Prohibition to Leave Israel Even to Daven on "Kivrei Tzadikim"

 

The Jerusalem ultra-Orthodox community, which is considered the extreme right-wing marker that most of the ultra-Orthodox public usually follows, imposed a complete ban on young people traveling to the Kivrei Tzaddikim abroad, following the serious car accident in Morocco, in which five young ultra-Orthodox men from the Breslov community in Safed were killed, after their car crashed into a deep abyss.

Under the headline 'Death Rose at our Window,' the Beit Din Tzedek (Badatz) of the ultra-Orthodox community ruled that "in light of the horrific multitude of disasters in recent years in a frightening manner, involving young people traveling abroad alone, prostrating themselves on the graves of the righteous, as well as for the purpose of a trip and the like, we have therefore come to fence off and establish important regulations to save souls from death and to prevent the tears of widows and the cry of orphans that come to us, and to fulfill the religious commandment of our holy Torah, 'Thou shalt not stand on the blood of thy neighbor.'"

The Badatz emphasizes that the travel of young people will take place only for the purpose of a mitzvah, or also to "regain their strength," but only with the permission of a rabbi, each trip on its own merit, or in organized travel, and in any case, at least one person under the age of 40 will have to be among the passengers.

The Badatz further notes that "since most disasters are caused by disorientation in the foreign country, and the large number of travel hours, it is necessary to change the driver of the car every two hours, or to stop for rest, and for trips that last more than ten hours, it is mandatory to hire a local driver who is well versed in all the road conditions."

The Badatz emphasizes that "it is strictly and terribly forbidden to disregard or take lightly the laws of travel, both in terms of speed and in compliance with all other driving rules. And all the more so that it is forbidden to act under the influence of alcohol or smoking drugs, and it is important as a real bloodshed."

The Badatz notes that non-compliance with all these rules on the part of the traveler abroad, "enters into serious concerns of Torah prohibitions and commits oneself, and if, God forbid, there is a disaster, the family members will not be able to demand that the Tzedakka foundations establish a fund for his descendants. 

And to those who hear it, and a blessing of goodness will come upon them,

 , ולא יישמע עוד שוד ושבר בגבולנו אכי"ר"

Letter Signed by ‘National Security Professionals’ Against Tulsi Gabbard Includes Unfounded Smears

 

A letter signed by nearly 100 “national security professionals” against Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence contains smears rather than facts, according to a closer review by Breitbart News.

The letter was published earlier this month by Foreign Policy for America, a “left-of-center,” Soros-funded organization founded in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016, according to InfluenceWatch.org.

The letter, signed by a number of former Obama and Clinton administration officials and partisan retired military officers, claimed that following Gabbard’s trip to Syria in 2017, she “aligned” herself with Russian and Syrian officials.

It said, “She publicly cast doubt on U.S. intelligence reports and overwhelming public reporting that Assad carried out chemical weapons attacks against Syrian civilians, giving credence to the debunked conspiracy that the attack was staged by agents of the United Kingdom.”

NYC’s new $9 congestion toll may rise to $11.25 on busy days, sparking outrage.

 

NYC’s new $9 congestion toll may rise to $11.25 on busy days, sparking outrage. 

Critics slam Hochul’s rush to implement it before Trump’s term, with lawsuits and commuter backlash mounting. 

Fee could hit $15 by 2031.

The Best Pro-Israel Argument You Will Ever Hear

 

Wow. Holy sh*t

This is a 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 watch and a 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 share.

Give yourself a minute or so to watch this.

Brilliant

pic.twitter.com/0ppAMTeBBi

— Kosher🎗🧡 (@koshercockney) December 26, 2024

.This is how the moments of Thursday’s Israeli strike in Yemen unfolded.

 

*ISRAEL’S ATTACK ON THE HOUTHIS:* 

The Director-General of the World Health Organization evacuated—then the control tower was destroyed: 

This is how the moments of Thursday’s Israeli strike in Yemen unfolded.

2024 was a year of gaslighting — here are the worst media lies

 

Let’s be blunt: 2024 was the worst year ever for legacy media, and it ain’t even close.

Journalism morphed into blatant activism before our eyes.

We were told things we all witnessed or heard didn’t actually happen.

But Americans knew better, and the gaslighting got increasingly hysterical as the year went on.

Amid the relentless madness, some egregious examples deserve special mention.

And if we staged an annual tournament of media malfeasance and meltdowns, my bracket would peg these as the Final Four of 2024. 

All of Team Joe aided in the Big Lie — now the world knows the truth of the Biden crime family

hen-Vice President Joe Biden and son Hunter meet with China’s then-Vice President Li Yuanchao in December 2013.

Ever since The Post broke the story of Hunter Biden’s laptop in October of 2020, it’s been obvious that Joe Biden was involved in his son’s influence-peddling schemes.

The president’s serial denials were as credible as Bill Clinton’s claim that “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.”

Biden’s most ridiculous lie was that he never even discussed Hunter’s foreign business with him.

Laptop messages and photos showing Joe meeting with some of Hunter’s skeezy clients proved otherwise.

Revelations that the son got millions from Ukraine energy company Burisma, despite knowing nothing about energy or Ukraine, destroyed the fiction that this was a merit-based business.

So did crucial public statements by Tony Bobulinski, a former Hunter Biden partner who bravely authenticated many of the emails and identified Joe as the “big guy” slated for a 10% cut in a Chinese deal.

Central to this picture of a sprawling scam was the 2013 China trip where Hunter flew with his vice-president father on Air Force Two and returned with a huge investment from a Chinese bank.

Apparently, we were supposed to believe the father never asked the son, “Hey, what are you doing on my plane and why are you going to China?”

In the event that any dead-enders believed Biden’s absurd denials, the nearby photos from that trip settle the argument.

New details emerge on Herzliya stabbing attack

 

Israel's defense echelon is continuing its investigation of a Friday stabbing attack which left Defense echelon continues investigation of Herzliya stabbing attack, which left Holocaust survivor Ludmilla Lipovsky dead.

Lipovsky, 83, was murdered by a Palestinian Authority Arab from Tulkarm, who had served time in an Israeli prison and was formerly an ISA informant brought into Israel following his discovery.

The investigation revealed that the terrorist, who was shot by a security guard and evacuated to an Israeli hospital, underwent a polygraph test two weeks ago at the request of the defense echelon. The test did not show any unusual results.

It is estimated that the stabber made the decision to carry out the attack shortly before the attack itself, in a spontaneous fashion. This estimate is supported by his choice of weapon - a knife. The defense echelon stressed that ISA informants work for Israel's benefit in the very heart of terror cells in the field. They aid in thwarting terror attacks and save many lives. It was also stressed that the vast majority of those rehabilitating in Israel are reintroduced into society in a variety of ways - employment, academic studies, and sometimes even into the IDF.

The defense echelon claims that the current terror attack is "rare and unusual," and from an initial investigation, there does not seem to be another known similar incident, in which a former ISA accomplice who is in Israel to rehabilitate, carries out a terror attack. The terrorist will be interrogated after he is released from the hospital, and it is expected that it will then be clear what prompted him to carry out the attack.

The terrorist was neutralized by security guards employed by Israel Post, who were responsible for transferring funds in secured vehicles. The guards were at the site due to their employment, noticed what was happening, and opened fire.

Lipovsky, a Holocaust survivor, immigrated to Israel from Russia in 1982, and lived in a nursing home provided by the Absorption Center in Herzliya. On Friday morning, prior to her murder, she was waiting on a street bench for her daughter. When the terrorist began attacking her, she tried to fight him, but was unsuccessful. Lipovsky was transferred to the hospital in critical condition, and the hospital staff were forced to declare her death shortly after her arrival.

New Syrian government is a gang of terrorists, not a stable gov't ....FM Gideon Sa'ar

 Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has claimed that the new Syrian government should be keeping Israel's defense echelon awake at night.

During a working meeting held with civilian sources in the Foreign Ministry, Sa'ar discussed Syria's political and military echelons, expressing doubt about the stability of the new regime.

"Around the world, they speak of 'organized regime change in Syria,' but it's not like a new government was chosen in a democratic fashion and that it rules all of Syria," he said. "This is a gang of terrorists who were first in Idlib and then took over the capital city of Damascus and other areas."

"The world really wants to see in them a new and stable regime, because the countries want to return the evacuees who they are hosting to Syria. But that's not the situation. There are battles with the Alawites along the coastline. There are explicit threats by [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan to eliminate the Kurdish autonomy; there is harassment of the Christian community in Syria."

He also stressed that Syria's new government "is an Islamist regime which will try to achieve unified control of all of Syria."

Firing Attorney General More Important Than Freeing Hostages Or Destroying Iranian Regime

 

Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu declared that removing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is the most critical task facing Israel’s government, even as tensions rise with Iran’s nuclear ambitions and dozens of hostages remain captive in Gaza.

Eliyahu made the remarks during an interview with Army Radio on Wednesday. When pressed about prioritizing Baharav-Miara’s dismissal over national security threats, Eliyahu responded, “That’s exactly what we’re saying, that there’s nothing more important than that.”

Asked if his position held despite Iran’s nuclear progress and the ongoing hostage crisis, Eliyahu defended himself. “I think you’re wrong in your analysis because today I perceive the legal problem as a problem that harms Israel’s security,” he argued.

“Those who care about the hostages must understand that now more than ever, an unequivocal clarification is needed on the issue of the powers of the attorney general, military prosecutors, and the state prosecutors,” he said.

He added, “The path to the release of the hostages passes through a complete military victory, and to achieve this it is our duty to ensure a deep reform of the legal system.”

Currently, 96 hostages remain in Gaza from the October 7 Hamas attack, including the bodies of at least 34 who have been confirmed dead by the IDF. Despite renewed efforts to negotiate a hostage release, talks have stalled, with both Israel and Hamas blaming each other for setbacks.

Efforts to dismiss Baharav-Miara have been ongoing, driven by frustrations among coalition lawmakers over her refusal to defend certain government initiatives she deemed unlawful. These include disputes over civil service appointments and policies related to Charedi military draft exemptions.

On Wednesday, Likud’s Regional Cooperation Minister David Amsalem escalated the rhetoric, blaming Baharav-Miara and the judiciary for creating conditions that enabled the October 7 attack. “There is no doubt that they created the atmosphere Hamas wanted and planned,” Amsalem said.

Amsalem has previously labeled Baharav-Miara as the “enemy of the people.”

While coalition leaders have tentatively agreed to hold a hearing on Baharav-Miara’s future, it remains unclear if the initiative will garner enough support, particularly given the likelihood of widespread protests.

Eliyahu, known for his incendiary remarks, has previously accused Israel’s security leaders of “rebelling” against the coalition and referred to anti-government protesters as “evil.” In November 2023, he caused an international uproar by suggesting a nuclear strike on Gaza was “an option.” The remark was denounced by Prime Minister Netanyahu and later cited by South Africa in genocide allegations against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Eliyahu later boasted, “Even in The Hague they know my position.”

Zera Shimshon Parshas Me'Keitz

 

Storekeepers Say they are losing Money on their $10.. Donuts!

 

Biden administration told Benny Gantz that it was taking over the efforts to overthrow the Netanyahu

 

This video, taken 9 months ago, shows one of the heads of the groups of former commanders that have been trying to overthrow Netanyahu for a decade explaining how at the time, the Biden administration told Benny Gantz that it was taking over the efforts to overthrow the Netanyahu… https://t.co/airEiAOkuN

— Caroline Glick (@CarolineGlick) December 26, 2024

EL-AL suspending all flights to Russia for the next week

EL-AL are suspending all flights to Russia for the next week at following confirmation that it was in fact a Russian missile that took down the plane in Azerbaijan.

 

Happy Chanukah Houthis

 

Happy Hanukkah, Houthis!

When we say that this is the holiday of lights, we mean it.

Candles aren’t the only thing we’re lighting up this Hanukah.

You might not know it yet, but you’ll soon find out that you messed with the wrong country! 💪🇮🇱✡️🙏🔥💥 pic.twitter.com/ARgFQQRSUT

— Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) December 26, 2024

Kamala's stupid lie "I grew up celebrating Kwanzaa"

 

Kamala: "I grew up celebrating Kwanzaa"

Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by Marxist professor Maulana Karenga to undermine Christmas, 2 years after Harris was born.

5 years later he was jailed for kidnapping, torturing innocent women in California.

Karenga also founded the United… pic.twitter.com/iLRzS1Njl6

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 26, 2024

Yemen is the second hungriest country on Earth but have billions for ballistic millions

 

80% of Yemen lives below the poverty line.

Yemen is the second hungriest country on Earth.

Over 600,000 Yemeni children are malnourished from lack of food.

The evil Houthis prioritise a losing battle against the Jews over the survival of their own people. Shameless monsters. pic.twitter.com/Odp3Du2DUE

— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) December 26, 2024

The Most Corrupt Presidents .... Nope its not Trump

 

Massive Covid coverup confirmed ....it really did come from China...Trump was right all along

 

Spy bosses ‘silenced’ Defense Department, FBI scientists from briefing Biden on COVID lab leak evidence

Spy chiefs “silenced” researchers in the Defense Department and FBI who discovered strong evidence that COVID-19 most likely leaked from a Chinese lab, The Post has learned.

As a result, their findings were kept out of an August 2021 report to President Biden on the origins of the global pandemic.

That report concluded that the virus behind COVID “was probably not genetically engineered.”

After the pandemic erupted in Wuhan, China, three scientists from the Defense Intelligence Agency began trying to figure out exactly where it came from — whether SARS-CoV-2 jumped from bats into humans, or whether the virus was man-made and came from a lab accident.

The “zoonotic origin” theory was backed by powerful members of the public health establishment, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, and questions about a possible “lab leak” were repeatedly dismissed as a conspiracy theory.

But the researchers’ analysis compiled dozens of data points in favor of a lab leak — compared with a “paucity of evidence supporting the natural origin theory,” a source familiar with their investigation told The Post.

The analysis was conducted by John Hardham, Robert Cutlip and Jean-Paul Chretien, three scientists in the Defense Intelligence Agency’s National Center for Medical Intelligence, which is tasked with examining potential biological weapons threats and dangerous infectious diseases.

Among their damning findings:

The evil Attorney General Calls for Investigation into Sara Netanyahu

The leftists in Israel just can’t stop trying to overthrow the Netanyahu government. On Thursday, the office of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara called for an investigation into claims that Sara Netanyahu attempted to intimidate a witness and interfere in the corruption case involving her husband.

In a concise statement, the attorney general and state attorney announced that they are requesting an inquiry into Netanyahu based on allegations of witness harassment and obstruction of justice, referencing a recent investigative report aired by Channel 12’s “Uvda.”

The report, which relied on the correspondence of Benjamin Netanyahu’s late aide Hanni Bleiweiss, revealed that Sara Netanyahu had organized a protest outside the home of a family who had lost their son, a fighter pilot, in combat; encouraged police officers to use violence against anti-government demonstrators; attempted to intimidate key witnesses and prosecutors in her husband’s corruption cases; and mistreated the prime minister’s long-time secretary, who passed away from cancer in 2023.

Earlier today, Benjamin Netanyahu released a four-minute video criticizing the media for allegedly attacking his wife, accusing them of spreading a “blood libel” against her.

For months, members of the right-wing government have been leading efforts to dismiss Baharav-Miara, with coalition party leaders already agreeing to pursue this move.

 

Rare 1,700-Year-Old Oil Lamp Bearing Temple Symbols Unearthed Near Har Hazeisim

 

A rare ceramic oil lamp from the Late Roman period, adorned with depictions of the Temple menorah, an incense shovel, and a lulav, has been unearthed near the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. This extraordinary find, used for lighting approximately 1,700 years ago, offers a unique glimpse into Jewish cultural and religious life of that era.

Michael Chernin, the Israel Antiquities Authority excavation director, highlighted the lamp’s exquisite craftsmanship and historical significance. “The symbols connect to the Jewish Temple, and its discovery is surprising given the limited evidence of Jewish presence around Jerusalem after the Bar Kochba rebellion in 135 CE,” he said.

Identified as a “Beit Nattif” type lamp, the artifact was made using limestone molds, producing intricate designs, including a seven-branched menorah. According to archaeologist Benjamin Storchan, such lamps are rare, with only a few similar examples in Israel’s National Treasures archive.

Storchan noted that the lamp likely belonged to a Jew who valued its religious significance and connection to the Temple. “The menorah image became a symbol of Jewish identity and collective memory after the Temple’s destruction,” he explained.

Minister of Heritage Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu reflected on the lamp’s symbolic resonance: “It connects the lights of the past with today’s Chanukah holiday, highlighting the enduring bond between the Jewish people, their heritage, and the memory of the Temple.”

The lamp, along with molds used in its creation, will be displayed during Chanukah at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel as part of a Ministry of Heritage conference.

Candace Owens Get Shredded by both Right and the Left After Her Meltdown Against…Babylon Bee??

 ‘Antisemite of the year’ Candace Owens was ridiculed and trolled on X by conservatives and leftists–after having a meltdown following a spoof headline from the satirical Babylon Bee. One of the highlights came when Kyle Mann, the Bee’s Editor-in-Chief, posted an AI-generated photo of a group of Chassidim, and joked that it was photo of a Babylon Bee staff meeting.

The wackiness began when Owens melted down on Monday and attacked the The Babylon Bee for an article aimed at her.

The Bee’s piece was entitled, “Candace Owens Horrified To Learn Christmas Was Started By Birth Of A Jew.”

Mann defended the article on X, writing, “I think maybe you just didn’t get the joke. Let me try to explain. It’s that Candace Owens was horrified to learn Christmas was started by the birth of a Jew. Hope this helps.”

Owens replied, “Everyone is just starting to see the agenda behind your “jokes”. Hope this helps.”

Mann went on to defend the article in a series of replies to angry X users, including one who wrote, “I’m kinda confused why the Bee pretends to be Christian when it’s run by a bunch of jews? The Daily Wire does the exact same thing. Why???”

Mann replied, “It’s a conspiracy, we’re all out to get you.”

Shoplifter punches security guard in the face and receives a quick education:

 

Shoplifter punches security guard in the face and receives a quick and helpful education:

pic.twitter.com/pTX8ILaEh6

— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) December 23, 2024

Dina Azzam Virginia Real-Estate Agent is a Threat to any Jewish Family Searching For Home

 

Dina Azzam, a Virginia-based real estate agent, is a threat to any Jewish family searching for a home. Her troubling tweets include:

- denying the sexual violence that occurred during the 10/7 massacre, despite evidence confirmed by the UN and Hamas terrorists' own admissions.
-… pic.twitter.com/3iSXaYwkL6

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 24, 2024

This Upsets the Arab Propagandists

 

When the propagandists talk about the so-called “Deir Yassin massacre”, just send them this. Nothing upsets the Arab propagandists more than the truth.

pic.twitter.com/D5DyIjun1W

— Cheryl E 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🎗️ (@CherylWroteIt) December 24, 2024

IDF Soldier Shares Emotional Moment With Her 93-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Grandmother

 

93-year-old Holocaust survivor Charlotte Roth and her great-grandchild, IDF soldier SGT Gali, share this emotional moment as they tell their story. pic.twitter.com/awvHnUXWy5

— Shulem Shkolnik (@musicby_shulem) December 24, 2024

Gwyneth Paltrow Lights Menorah for Chanukah reciting the Bracha Flawlessly

 

Noa Tishby Visits Academy Award Winner Gwyneth Paltrow as She Lights Menorah for Chanukah*

Noa Tishby has enlisted Gwyneth Paltrow to kick off her #BringOnTheLight video series, an eight-night campaign celebrating Chanukah and the strength of Jewish traditions. 

The series launched with a heartfelt video featuring Paltrow, who lit the menorah and flawlessly recited the Hebrew blessing, earning Tishby’s affectionate nickname, “Rebbetzin Paltrovich.”

In the video, the Oscar-winning actress reflected on her connection to Judaism, sharing memories of celebrating Chanukah with her father, Bruce Paltrow, and her grandparents. She highlighted the deep ties to her heritage, noting her family’s 17 generations of rabbis. “The traditions, the warmth, the food, the yelling, and the love—these are the things that bring us together and make our family so close,” she said.

Tishby, author of Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth, said working with Paltrow was truly inspiring.

After Decades of Loyalty Syria Delivers Stunning Rebuke to Iranian Regime

Syria’s new Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, warned Iran against sowing discord in Syria, emphasizing the need to respect Syrian sovereignty. 

This follows remarks by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging Syrian youth to resist perceived insecurity. 

The rebuke signifies a shift after decades of close Iran-Syria relations.

Turns out that the "Flask of Oil" they found Wasn't Kosher After All!

 

Trump’s second inaugural will be the largest in history!

Trump’s second inaugural fund has surpassed its $150M goal, breaking records and drawing major donations from companies like Amazon and Meta.

 It’s set to be the largest in history.
 

Eliyahu Libman, whose son Elyakim was murdered on October 7 opposes the hostage release deal in its current form.

 

Eliyahu Libman, father of Elyakim who was murdered on October 7, 2023, is calling for opposition to what he defines as "possible deals of surrender" with Hamas.

Libman, whose son was thought to have been held hostage for several months before it was revealed that he had been killed on Simchat Torah, said, "The terrorists who murdered my brother (Shneur Shlomo Libman who was murdered by terrorists in 1998 at the age of 24 -ed.) were released in a reckless and irresponsible deal. Such a deal encourages terrorism and gives legitimacy to murdering more Jews. My son, along with many other Jews who were killed and massacred starting on Simchat Torah, could have remained alive had it not been for such deals."

"We want all the hostages back home as soon as possible, and we also want no more kidnappings and no more Jews murdered. We have a responsibility to future generations," he added.

The bereaved father called on the government and officials in the defense establishment to demonstrate strength and boldness.

"Even 2,200 years ago, during the holiday of Hanukkah, there was despair. People thought surrender was the only option. But then we had Matityahu the Macabee. We expect Prime Minister Netanyahu and the heads of the security branches to show strength and courage to win and decisively defeat the enemy, by exacting a price in land, communities, and continued fighting until the enemy surrenders."

Russian Antiaircraft Fire Likely Behind Deadly Passenger Jet Crash in Kazakhstan

 New evidence has surfaced suggesting that the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet that crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday was likely shot down by Russian antiaircraft fire, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The crash, which claimed the lives of at least 38 people, initially puzzled investigators who considered bird strikes and poor weather as possible causes. However, aviation experts and Ukrainian officials now believe the plane was accidentally targeted by Russian air defenses.

The Embraer 190 jet was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, with 62 passengers and five crew members aboard. While approaching Grozny, the flight unexpectedly changed course over the Caspian Sea and attempted to make an emergency landing near Aktau. Despite the crash, 29 passengers miraculously survived.

Video footage from the crash site, analyzed by aviation security firm Osprey Flight Solutions, revealed patterns of damage on the aircraft that align with missile strikes or antiaircraft fire – not a bird collision. Footage shows perforations in the tail section, which experts say resemble impacts from shrapnel or heavy-caliber rounds.

Ukrainian national security official Andriy Kovalenko concurred with this assessment, blaming Russia’s failure to close airspace over Grozny, an area where Moscow’s air defenses have been highly active due to increased Ukrainian drone attacks.

“Russia should have closed the airspace, but they didn’t,” Kovalenko said. “The plane was damaged by Russian forces and diverted to Kazakhstan instead of landing urgently in Grozny to save lives.”

In recent weeks, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting dozens of Ukrainian drones over southern Russia, including the North Caucasus region near Grozny. On the night before the crash, Russian air defenses reportedly shot down 59 drones, including one over Vladikavkaz, west of Grozny. This heightened military activity raises concerns that the Azerbaijan Airlines jet may have been mistaken for a hostile target.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 also showed heavy GPS interference in the region, which can obscure aircraft positions and complicate emergency diversions. Experts suggest this could have contributed to confusion during the flight.

Azerbaijan Airlines initially suggested the crash could have been caused by a bird strike, while Azerbaijan’s president said the plane diverted due to poor weather conditions. However, neither explanation fully accounts for the patterns of damage found on the wreckage.

Russian officials have not yet commented on the claims from Osprey Flight Solutions and Ukrainian authorities. Meanwhile, investigators have recovered the plane’s black box, which could provide further insight into the final moments before the crash.

Chabad Soldier Has Kippah Snatched In Meah Shearim After He Was Thrown Out Of Farbrengen

 

 Journalist Yisrael Shapira described on Kikar Hashabat how a Chabad-affiliated soldier was painfully mistreated when he attended a 19 Kislev Farbrengen in Meah Shearim. The soldier was heckled and asked to leave and one person even stole his Kippah.

Shapira contrasted this with the behavior of Rabbi Amram Bloi, one of the greatest Kanoim [zealots], who was a Torah scholar and a God-fearing man but his views were not accepted by the general public. Despite his opinions, he did not have personal animosity towards his opponents and was one of the greatest lovers of the Jewish people. His fight against Zionism (which, in his view, opposed Judaism and the Torah of Israel) did not contradict his closeness to and love for every Jew.