In his final day as Israel’s Defense Minister, just before his official dismissal went into effect, Yoav Gallant approved a project that will add additional roofing at Ma’aras Hamachpeila, which will make the holy site more accessible.  After months of speculation, Gallant was fired by Prime Minister Netanyahu over disagreements regarding the war, hostage negotiations, and Charedi enlistment.

Noted badchan R’ Yonason Schwartz, CEO of Toys To Discover, recently discovered a concerning issue in a Williamsburg bais medrash: vapes and cigarettes are being sold openly on the premises, with little restriction on who can purchase them.
According to R’ Yonason, seen in the video below, the products are readily available, creating the possibility that young children, teens, and other impressionable youth have easy access to them.
R’ Yonason was shocked to find these items on sale in a space usually reserved for davening and learning. Recognizing the potential impact on local youth, he immediately raised the issue with those overseeing the shul.

You have seen the results and heard the pundits, but what does the election mean for you, your school, and your community?
We invite you to join Agudath Israel’s post-election webinar, on Thursday, November 7, at 1:00 PM. This webinar will feature discussions about the key outcomes of this election and what they mean for the issues that matter most to our community.
From religious freedom and education policy to combating antisemitism and support for Israel, this year’s election results will shape policies that impact our lives. Agudath Israel’s team will break down the most important takeaways, provide analysis on what to expect in the months ahead, and answer questions from the community.

In a new alert issued by Lakewood’s Shatnez testers, a woolen suit from the men’s brand Alesso was found to contain shatnez.
The suit, which is produced and sold by a Jewish-owned company, has sparked concern.
The discovery is significant because the fabric in question, which contains both wool and linen, qualifies as shatnez even if found in a suit made of polyester or other materials.
This revelation follows reports from shoppers who were assured by salespeople that the suit did not contain shatnez, highlighting the need for vigilance when purchasing clothing, particularly from Jewish-owned stores.

A 13-year-old Jewish boy from Crown Heights was assaulted as he rode his bike to school in the heavily-Jewish Brooklyn neighborhood at about 8 a.m. on Monday, the victim’s mother told JNS.
“Whatever the motivation was, whether it was hate or not, this was a case where a 40-year old adult smacked a kid who looks like he is 10-years-old,” said the mother, who asked not to be named. “It’s just completely inappropriate.”
“We should be able to send our boys off to school on their bikes without worrying,” she added.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s landslide victory on Tuesday points to significant gains for the Republican among New York-area Jewish voters.
The Fox News exit poll of 4,235 New Yorkers showed that among the 8% of respondents who identified as Jewish, 46% backed the former president over Vice President Kamala Harris, who received the other 54%. In the same exit poll in 2020, Trump garnered 37% of the state’s Jewish vote, compared to President Joe Biden’s 63%.
Yesterday’s polling results appear to be borne out in some of New York’s county-level voting. In Rockland County, which has the largest per capita Jewish population of any U.S. county, Trump beat Harris 56% to 44%, an eight percentage-point swing from 2020, when Biden won more than half of the vote.

In a decisive victory, longtime Lakewood askanim Menashe Miller and Meir Lichtenstein have been reelected to serve on the Lakewood Township Committee.
Both Miller and Lichtenstein have been prominent figures on the committee for many years, consistently advocating for the needs and interests of the Lakewood kehillah.
Miller, a Republican, led the race with 29,393 votes, accounting for 42.16% of the total ballots cast. Lichtenstein, a Democrat, followed closely with 23,090 votes, representing 33.12% of the vote. Their combined leadership has been a staple of Lakewood’s governance.

R’ Mendel Roth, the son of the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe from Ashdod and a descendant of Rav Aharon Roth, publicly declared his intention to join the newly established charedi Hashmonaim Brigade on Monday evening.
R’ Roth is widely recognized for his bold and candid stances on both public and halachic matters.
In a heartfelt post on his Facebook page, R’ Roth, who is also a musician, described the inner struggles he has faced over the past year since the onset of the war: “Throughout the year, I’ve been plagued by a deep sense of unease. As the blood of my fellow Jews flows freely, I’ve remained silent,” he confessed. “Instead of compiling a list of justifications while my conscience gnaws at me, I must confront the truth head-on and take decisive action.”

Concerns over voter interference and election integrity emerged early this morning at PS 164 in Queens, NY, where scanner malfunctions reportedly disrupted the voting process during the ongoing 2024 elections, Matzav.com has learned.
Voters were initially told to leave their ballots with election workers due to problems with the scanning machines. As a result, it is claimed that hundreds of ballots have been voided.
A call has gone out for individuals who cast their votes before 8:30 AM to return and vote again, sparking outrage among some community members.

Today is Election Day! This is your last chance to vote and make your voice heard at the polls. Each of us has the opportunity—and responsibility—to take part in shaping the future for our community, our families, and the values we hold dear.