More than 400 people attended the third annual gala dinner of the Israeli emergency medical service (EMS) United Hatzalah in Paris, which was held on Sunday evening at the Hôtel du Collectionneur. The event raised 800,000 euros ($842,000) to support the organization’s emergency response efforts, against the backdrop of the ongoing state of war in Israel. Among the distinguished guests were Joshua L. Zarka, the Israeli ambassador to France, writer and actress Rachel Khan as well as Imam Hassen Chalghoumi and his spouse Raïma, who are known for their friendship with the Jewish community and Israel. Israeli-French singer Amir performed during the evening, while the event’s meal was crafted by renowned French chef Ghislaine Arabian, in collaboration with kosher caterer L’Arbre de vie.

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman There is an oustanding Rabbinic figure in Persian Jewish history that is not so well known outside of the Persian Jewish community, but he stands as the earliest and most accomplished  commentators and poets in Jewish Persian history. Mulana Shahini Shirazi lived during the time of the late Rishonim and was one of Persian Jewry’s greatest commentators – fully fluent in Shas, Yerushalmi, and the various Targumim. His writing showed intimate mastery  of the major midrashic works, including Bereishis Rabbah, Shemos Rabbah, Vayikra Rabbah, Midrash Tanchuma and Midrashim that are no longer extant.

The drinking water in New Jersey’s capital city and some surrounding communities went largely untested for more than a year, the utility belatedly told roughly 200,000 affected customers, noting that it fired a worker who falsified the relevant reports. Trenton Water Works said in a letter to customers last week that it became aware of the problem a year ago and that an investigation determined that the water sample collector fudged reports meant to monitor for disinfection byproducts, E. Coli and other things from October 2022 through last December. A majority of the water samples taken by the utility during that time were deemed to be invalid, it said. The worker, who wasn’t named in the utility’s letter and who hasn’t been charged, was put on leave and then fired.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government early Wednesday lifted the martial law he imposed during a tense night of political drama in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule. Police and military personnel were seen leaving the grounds of parliament following the bipartisan vote, and the declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting. Yoon imposed martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea.

Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday as the party moves into a deeply uncertain time, with no real consensus on a strategy as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. Schumer faced no opposition in the party leadership elections, in which Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin was also reelected to the No. 2 spot and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar became the new No. 3. In a statement, Schumer, of New York, said he was honored to move the party forward “during this crucial period for our country.” “Our preference is to secure bipartisan solutions wherever possible and look for ways to collaborate with our Republican colleagues to help working families,” Schumer said.

France’s minority government appeared to be in its final hours Tuesday as opposition lawmakers from the left and the far right vowed to topple Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s Cabinet. A no-confidence vote is scheduled Wednesday in parliament in the wake of a divisive budget debate, with a strong chance of being successful. If the motion passes, Barnier’s Cabinet would be the shortest-lived government in France’s modern history, marking an unprecedented period of political instability. President Emmanuel Macron would be in charge of appointing a new prime minister. Why is the situation so volatile?

The family of Keith Siegel, a 65-year-old US-Israeli hostage still held by Hamas, has announced the death of his mother while he remains in captivity. Siegel was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the October 7 Hamas attack, which devastated the community. Siegel’s daughter, Elan, expressed her grief in a Facebook post, lamenting her father’s inability to bid farewell to his mother. “My father can’t stand with us tomorrow in the cemetery, he can’t say goodbye to the woman who loved him and raised him his whole life,” she wrote.

The number of job postings in the United States rebounded in October from a 3 1/2 year low in September, a sign that businesses are still seeking workers even though hiring has cooled. Openings rose 5% to 7.7 million from 7.4 million in September, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Still, the latest figure is down significantly from 8.7 million job postings a year ago. Last month, job openings rose sharply in professional and business services, a category that includes engineers, tech employees and accountants, as well as in the restaurant and hotel and finance industries. The pickup in job openings suggests that the job market could be stabilizing at a modest level.

Chris Cuomo and Stephen A. Smith have publicly urged President Joe Biden to pardon President-elect Donald Trump following Biden’s controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, over the weekend. During a Monday evening discussion on Cuomo’s show, Smith and Cuomo analyzed the backlash Biden has faced for the pardon, particularly since the president had previously pledged not to take such actions. Cuomo suggested Biden should extend his clemency to Trump, saying, “If I were he, I would pardon Trump. I would say, this has got to stop.” Smith echoed Cuomo’s stance, urging Democrats to focus on future elections. “Enough’s enough,” Smith said.

Israeli officials are concerned that the recent Syrian rebel advances, including the capture of military sites belonging to the Assad regime, could lead to chemical weapons falling into dangerous hands, Haaretz reported. The primary fear is that either Syrian rebels or Iran-backed militias could gain access to advanced weaponry, such as missiles or chemical agents, which would pose a significant threat to Israel. Should such a scenario occur, Israel may be compelled to take actions that could have far-reaching consequences for Syria and the wider Middle East, the report warns. Israel has reportedly sent messages to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad through Russian intermediaries, urging him to maintain control over his territory and prevent Iranian forces from operating within Syria.