It’s that time of year again when parents already stretched thin by tuition and groceries face a new financial hurdle: summer camps. If you’re not familiar with what I’m talking about, take a look at recent ads in Jewish magazines and newspapers. We haven’t even hit winter, yet parents are being bombarded with camp ads pushing all sorts of “incentives” to draw kids in. But it’s not the timing that’s the problem—it’s what these camps are selling. Gone are the days of fun and relaxation. Today’s camps are promising a luxury experience, designed to pamper kids with every indulgence imaginable. Let’s start with the cost. Camps are charging astronomical fees that most parents simply cannot afford. I recently saw one charging $5,000 for just two weeks—and that’s per child!

In what will likely go down as one of the most extravagant failures in American campaign history, Vice President Kamala Harris managed to blow through more than $1 billion in just three months—only to lose to former President Donald Trump. The lavish spending, complete with a parade of A-list concerts and influencer contracts, ended up yielding little more than empty hype as Trump sailed to victory, winning critical battleground states and becoming the first former president since Grover Cleveland to reclaim the White House in a nonconsecutive term. Harris’s fundraising spree brought in unprecedented amounts from wealthy Democratic donors, filling her war chest with cash from Silicon Valley titans like George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. And it sure didn’t take long to spend it.

Over the past number of years, MAGA ideology has seeped into our oilam hatorah and impacted our hashkafas hachaim. Much of the frum media has become a mouthpiece for this ideology. The standard reading material available to the chareidi consumer presents a one-sided approach to the day’s issues. Instead of articles addressing issues with chochmah and nuance, it becomes brash and divisive. Sadly, this trickles down and affects middos and how people deal with others of legitimate divergent opinions. Loyalty to Donald Trump and his ideology has become a litmus test of acceptable hashkafa for many. Those who dissent are called leftists, self-hating Jews, enemies of klal yisrael, not true bnei Torah, kapos, and worse.

Israel has formally notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw from the 1967 agreement that recognized the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), following recent Knesset legislation that limits the agency’s operations within Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Jacob Blitshtein, Director-General of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, conveyed the decision in a letter to UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang. Blitshtein emphasized Israel’s commitment to working with international partners and other UN agencies to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza without compromising Israeli security. “Israel expects the United Nations to contribute to and cooperate in this effort,” he wrote.

As a Jewish voter, I’ve spent a lot of time weighing my options in this election, and I’ve come to a decision that might surprise some: I’m voting for Kamala Harris over Donald Trump. I believe that Harris, as a continuation of the Biden administration, brings a steadier, more principled approach to issues that matter deeply to both the Jewish community and America’s standing in the world. For me, this choice goes far beyond any one issue. It’s about a broader approach to governance, foreign policy, and values. I’ve listened to my friends who support Trump. Without doubt, Trump has championed policies that are supportive of Israel. But in my view, his position lacks depth. He’s pro-Israel, yes, but only because he has Jewish friends and allies who support him.

Former President Donald Trump is reportedly feeling the pressure as Election Day approaches, grappling with anxiety and sleepless nights as he monitors polling numbers in his bid to reclaim the White House. According to a campaign official who spoke with Axios, Trump has been more hands-on than ever, frequently questioning his staff and urging them to ramp up efforts to secure victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. “Trump’s anxiety is evident in his late-night and early morning calls to aides, peppering them with questions on how things are going—and whether they think he’ll win,” reported Axios.

The IDF’s operation to dismantle Hamas strongholds in northern Gaza could take at least six more months, IDF officials told Ynet on Sunday, as they work to clear the area of terrorists and secure the region. Key progress has been made in Jabaliya, a major Hamas stronghold just 2.5 miles from Gaza City, where Israeli forces have taken control, allowing civilians to evacuate and cutting off the area from further infiltration. To prevent terrorists from escaping among civilians, Israeli forces have employed facial recognition technology at checkpoints, identifying and detaining around 600 suspected Hamas operatives to date.

As the annual New York City Marathon gears up for Sunday, residents and travelers should prepare for significant road closures along the marathon route. The 26.2 marathon route starts in Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island before traveling across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn. The race begins with the professional wheelchair division at 8 a.m., with the final wave of runners taking off at 11:30 a.m. The marathon route then moves into Brooklyn, over the Pulaski Bridge into Queens, the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan, the Madison Avenue Bridge into the Bronx and the Willis Avenue Bridge into Manhattan. The finish line is located at West 67th Street in Manhattan’s iconic Central Park.

Iran is preparing a “definitive and painful” response to Israel’s recent strike on its territory, expected to occur ahead of the U.S. presidential election on November 5, according to a senior Iranian source cited by CNN. The anonymous source, who reportedly has insight into Iranian government discussions, confirmed that Tehran intends to retaliate, saying: “The response of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Zionist regime’s aggression will be definitive and painful.” This anticipated move follows heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, stemming from Israel’s counterstrike in response to Iran’s October 1 missile attack. While Israel has anticipated a reaction, Iran had previously appeared cautious about escalating the situation.

Ballot drop boxes in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, that were set on fire early Monday morning, were found with incendiary devices inside that were marked “Free Gaza” at both locations. In Vancouver, the blaze may have damaged hundreds of ballots before it was extinguished. Similarly, Portland authorities reported arson at a ballot drop box the same night. Investigators are connecting these attacks to a previous incident on October 8 in Vancouver, where officials removed an incendiary device marked with “Free Gaza” and “Free Palestine” from a ballot box. Although that device caused no damage, the repeated targeting and political messaging have prompted the FBI to investigate whether the markings were meant to convey a message or to distract from other possible motives.