Disgraced NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, candidate for Mayor of New York City, today received the endorsement of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition (FJCC). The FJCC joins the Sephardic Community Federation, Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance, the Bobov community in Borough Park, and Crown Jewish United and the Crown Heights PAC, in backing Cuomo’s bid. “I am truly honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition, and I want to thank FJCC Chair Josh Mehlman for his partnership,” Governor Cuomo said. “Our Orthodox community has experienced trauma unlike any other, from surging hate crimes and antisemitism to the unspeakable targeted attacks we saw in Washington, DC and in Denver.

A battalion of 500 U.S. Marines are mobilizing to Los Angeles to respond to anti-immigration enforcement riots. The Marines will be tasked with protecting federal property and federal personnel, according to a senior defense official, and the deployment is open-ended. The Marines will not be carrying out a law enforcement role, but it’s unclear what their use of force rules are if protesters throw things or spit at them. The new deployment comes after President Donald Trump sent some 2,000 National Guardsmen to the riot-racked city over the weekend. The Marines are from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Twentynine Palms, California.

Members of Hewlett’s Jewish community awoke Monday morning to reports of three disturbing incidents that occurred overnight within blocks of the shul and surrounding Jewish homes. The incidents, all of whom took place around 3:00 a.m., have sparked fears of coordinated antisemitic attacks, though details surrounding them remain vague and scant. The first incident involved a fire at Avi’s Auto Repair, where a tow truck parked in the lot was set ablaze, and the flames spread to the office building. Minutes later, ASAP Restoration had its windows smashed. A third incident occurred at the Chesed Center, where a banner bearing anti-Israel and antisemitic messaging was tied to the building’s front gate.

Documents obtained by the IDF during operations in Gaza have revealed significant collaboration between the Qatari government and Hamas, including covert financial support and joint efforts to hinder U.S.-led peace initiatives, Channel 12 News reported on Sunday eveving. The documents outline how Qatari financial aid served as a critical lifeline for Hamas and enabled it to carry out the October 7 massacre. In one letter, Haniyeh informed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar that the Emir of Qatar had pledged to covertly support the group’s armed resistance. “So far, $11 million has been raised by the Emir for the leadership,” the document states.

White House Calls Newsom ‘too weak’ to protect Los Angeles California Gov. Gavin Newsom was “too weak” to protect Los Angeles as violent rioters attacked federal law enforcement officers during anti-ICE demonstrations over the weekend, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday morning. Leavitt claimed that Newsom “did nothing” as the riots erupted in the city on Friday and continued through the weekend. “Federal law enforcement officers were attacked by violent radicals and illegal criminals waving foreign flags because Governor Newsom was too weak to protect the city,” Leavitt said. “The Los Angeles Police Chief has even said the riots were getting out of hand.” “President Trump has stepped in to maintain law and order and protect federal buildings,” she added.

Hagaon Harav Shmuel Kamenetzky shlit”a, the revered Rosh Yeshiva of Philadelphia and zkan roshei yeshiva in America, made a surprise appearance at the Adirei HaTorah Maamad at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Sunday night. Despite his advanced age, frailty, and recent hospitalizations, Rav Shmuel traveled in person to show his unbreakable ahavah and support for lomdei Torah and their supporters. His presence electrified the already-charged atmosphere in the arena, where over 30,000 participants had gathered for the fourth annual Adirei HaTorah event—a revolutionary movement dedicated to raising the stature and financial stability of Kollel yungeleit.

Crown Heights has officially thrown its support behind Andrew Cuomo in the upcoming mayoral primary, making it the third Orthodox Jewish community to endorse the former governor. The neighborhood joins Far Rockaway and the Bobov community in Borough Park in backing Cuomo’s bid. This endorsement is particularly significant, as YWN reported in may 2021, Crown Heights was the first Chassidic community to endorse Mayor Eric Adams in the 2021 primary. With Mayor Adams not running in the democratic primary, and polls showing a competitive contest between Zohran Mamdani and Cuomo, the Crown Heights Jewish community has now united behind Cuomo.

A Brazilian activist (aka anti-semite) aboard the Gaza-bound vessel Madleen claimed Sunday that the ship’s navigation and communication systems were being jammed, suggesting that Israel is preparing to intercept the controversial flotilla before it reaches the Gaza Strip. Thiago Ávila, a left-wing activist sailing with the flotilla, posted a video alleging that their onboard tracker was spoofed, showing their location not near Gaza but bizarrely at Jordan’s airport. “We know what this means,” he said.

HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef arrived at the Ohr Chaviv shul on Sunday afternoon and witnessed the damage caused by a deliberate act of arson overnight. The sight caused tears to roll down his face. HaRav Yosef arrived at Ohr Chaviv together with Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, who met earlier with senior police officials at his home. Deri also spoke with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who informed him that the Shin Bet is treating the incident with the highest level of severity, as a nationalistic terror attack, and that an accelerated investigation is underway. According to a Kikar H’Shabbat report, the Shas party is paying for a personal security guard for HaRav Yosef until the end of the investigation.

An arsonist broke into the shul of the former Rishon L’Tzion, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef, in the Sanhedria Murchevet neighborhood of Jerusalem and set it on fire in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning. Before fleeing the scene, he also sprayed crosses and other Christian symbols on the buildings next to the shul. Security camera footage shows the arsonist entering the shul around 3 a.m., approaching the Aron Kodesh and lighting the fire. The fire caused extensive damage to the shul, HaRav Yosef’s office and his magnificent chair, as well as his sefarim and those of his illustrious father, HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef, z’tl. Firefighters who were called to the scene brought the fire under control. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)