New York
Several Lubavitch yeshiva students were subjected to a violent antisemitic assault on a No. 3 subway train while returning to Crown Heights from Chanukah outreach activities in Manhattan.
Two assailants, described as a father-and-son duo, boarded the train shortly after it left Manhattan and immediately directed slurs and insults at the visibly Jewish young men. The verbal abuse rapidly escalated to physical violence, including choking one victim by the neck, punches, kicks, and shoving in the crowded car. The bochurim fled one stop early, near Kingston Avenue, with no passengers intervening. One victim captured part of the incident on video, which was later shared online. The group reported the attack to police upon exiting. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the case as a bias incident, with no arrests reported yet.
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani attended the Satmar Aronim faction’s Kof-Alef Kislev celebration in Williamsburg, joining thousands of Hasidic Jews commemorating the 1944 rescue of Grand Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum from Nazi-occupied Hungary via the Kastner train. Mamdani, whose progressive platform includes strong criticism of Israel, was invited by community leaders seeking dialogue with the incoming administration on issues such as housing and education funding. He greeted attendees in Yiddish, emphasizing shared values of community support and social justice, while avoiding foreign policy topics. The appearance, rare for a secular politician, drew mixed reactions: Some praised outreach to Orthodox voters, while others questioned the alignment given Mamdani’s pro-Palestinian positions.
A unique menorah crafted entirely from fragments of Iranian ballistic missiles and Hamas rockets fired at Israel was lit at New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ annual Chanukah reception in Lower Manhattan. The installation, originally displayed at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv as a symbol of turning destruction into light, was brought to the event to represent resilience amid ongoing threats. Adams, hosting Jewish leaders and community members, highlighted the menorah’s message of hope and remembrance during the Festival of Lights. The reception emphasized unity and public celebration of Chanukah, with Adams reaffirming the city’s commitment to combating antisemitism.
The New York State Gaming Facility Location Board awarded three downstate casino licenses, authorizing the city’s first full-scale Las Vegas-style gaming resorts outside Manhattan. The selected sites include Willets Point near Citi Field in Queens, where Mets owner Steve Cohen’s $8 billion proposal features a Hard Rock casino, hotel, and entertainment complex; Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx, the former Trump Organization-operated course now redeveloped with a Bally’s casino and resort; and Resorts World at Aqueduct Racetrack near JFK Airport in Queens, expanding the existing slots facility into a full casino under Genting Group. The decisions, following a competitive bidding process, unlock billions in investment and thousands of jobs while generating significant tax revenue for education and addiction programs.
Seven Brooklyn Jewish leaders were inducted into the Brooklyn Jewish Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Borough Hall, celebrating the initiative’s 10th anniversary. The 2025 honorees—Emily Austin, Assemblymember Simcha Eichenstein, Henry Sapoznik, Chazan Basya Schechter, Debra Lea Schwartzben, former Councilmember David Yassky, and NYPD Deputy Chief Richie Taylor—were recognized for exemplary contributions to public service, cultural preservation, community leadership, and public safety. Organized by the Brooklyn Jewish Historical Initiative, the event highlighted their impact on the borough’s vibrant Jewish community. The inductees join more than 70 prior honorees spanning a decade of celebrating figures who have shaped Brooklyn’s Jewish heritage and civic life.
U.S.
A gunman opened fire inside the Barus and Holley Engineering Building at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, during final exams, killing two students and wounding nine others. The victims were identified as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, an aspiring neurosurgeon, and Ella Cook, 19, a talented pianist and vice president of the university’s Republican Club. The shooter, described as a stocky man approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, dressed in black with a face mask, burst into a first-floor classroom around 4 p.m. and fled on foot. Authorities released surveillance images and videos of the suspect taken hours before the attack, offering a $50,000 FBI reward for information leading to his arrest. A previously detained person of interest was released Sunday after evidence shifted directions. The manhunt continues with no credible threats to the community, though campus classes were canceled for the semester.
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, made his first in-person court appearance in Provo’s Fourth District Court. The hearing focused primarily on media access, with defense lawyers pushing to ban cameras to ensure a fair trial, while Kirk’s widow, Erika, advocated for transparency. Prosecutors seek the death penalty on aggravated murder charges. Robinson’s next appearance is set for January 16, 2026.
Rob Reiner, the acclaimed actor and director known for films such as When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to a medical emergency call around 3:30 p.m., discovering the bodies and immediately initiating a homicide investigation. Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains held without bail. Sources familiar with the case indicate Nick had a documented history of substance abuse and was involved in a heated argument with his father at a holiday party the night before. Prosecutors have not yet filed formal charges, pending autopsy results and further evidence review. The tragedy has shocked Hollywood, with tributes pouring in for Reiner’s legacy in entertainment and progressive activism.
The FBI and Department of Justice announced the disruption of a credible New Year’s Eve terror plot in Southern California, arresting four members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front, a far-left extremist group motivated by pro-Palestinian, anti-government, and anti-capitalist ideology. Four people face federal charges including conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device after allegedly planning coordinated bombings at five locations in Los Angeles and Orange County targeting U.S. companies, with devices set to detonate at midnight. A fifth linked individual was arrested in New Orleans for a separate plot. Authorities intervened December 12 in the Mojave Desert as suspects tested explosives, preventing assembly of functional IEDs. FBI Director Kash Patel called the threat “imminent,” praising the Joint Terrorism Task Force for averting mass casualties.
President Donald Trump announced that he is signing an Executive Order formally classifying fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction, citing its role in over 100,000 annual American overdose deaths and its primary sourcing from Chinese precursors smuggled through Mexican cartels. The designation enables military involvement in interdiction operations, asset freezes against producers, and prioritization in defense budgeting for counter-narcotics technology. Trump stated at the Oval Office signing, “Fentanyl is killing our people like a battlefield weapon—we’re treating it as one.”
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Natural Gas Pipeline Acceleration Act by a vote of 213–184, largely along party lines, with 11 Democrats joining all Republicans in support. The legislation shortens environmental review timelines under the National Environmental Policy Act from up to four years to a maximum of 18 months for interstate natural gas pipeline projects, mandates concurrent rather than sequential agency reviews, and limits judicial challenges to 150 days post-approval. Sponsors argued the bill removes bureaucratic delays hindering domestic energy production and lowers consumer costs amid winter heating demand. Opponents warned it guts NEPA protections, risks safety by rushing approvals, and prioritizes fossil fuel interests over communities and the environment. The White House endorsed the measure, aligning with President Trump’s executive orders to expedite infrastructure. The bill now heads to the Senate, where similar provisions face uncertain prospects.
The Indiana Senate rejected a Republican-proposed congressional redistricting plan in a 31–19 vote, with 21 Republicans joining all 10 Democrats to block the measure that would have created two additional GOP-leaning seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. The map, which passed the state House last week, aimed to eliminate Indiana’s two Democratic-held districts, potentially yielding a 9–0 Republican delegation. Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray emphasized that many Republicans viewed mid-cycle redistricting as unnecessary and risky. The defeat marks a setback for President Donald Trump, who had pressured lawmakers for months. Trump downplayed the loss, claiming success in other states.
Time magazine named “The Architects of AI” as its 2025 Person of the Year, recognizing the collective scientists, engineers, executives, and innovators propelling the artificial-intelligence revolution. The cover features key figures including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, xAI founder Elon Musk, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, alongside researchers such as Ilya Sutskever and Noam Shazeer. The designation highlights AI’s transformative impact on industries from healthcare to defense, while acknowledging risks such as job displacement and ethical concerns.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell officially launched his campaign for Minnesota governor, filing paperwork to seek the Republican nomination in the 2026 election against incumbent Democratic Governor Tim Walz. The 64-year-old businessman and vocal Trump supporter framed his bid as a mission to restore election integrity, cut taxes, and combat crime in the state. Lindell, who has spent millions promoting unsubstantiated 2020 election-fraud claims and faces ongoing Dominion Voting Systems litigation, joins a crowded GOP field. Early polls show Lindell trailing frontrunners but leading among Trump loyalists.
Israel
Avi Marciano, father of slain Israeli hostage Noa Marciano, revealed in an interview that he received a video showing his 19-year-old daughter’s murder by a Gaza doctor during her captivity. The footage, obtained through intelligence channels, depicts the physician injecting air into Noa’s veins, causing her death. Avi stated, “There are still many mornings I wake up with that video,” describing the haunting images that replay in his mind. Noa, a soldier abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, was killed by Hamas shortly thereafter, with her body later returned in a hostage deal. Avi, speaking at a Tel Aviv event marking the anniversary of the attack, urged continued pressure on Hamas to release remaining captives and condemned the doctor’s actions as a war crime.
The Israel Defense Forces conducted airstrikes on a Hezbollah training compound in southern Lebanon, targeting a facility used for weapons training and specialized courses to prepare operatives for potential attacks on Israeli civilians and forces. The IDF stated the site housed advanced simulation equipment and served as a hub for tactical instruction amid Hezbollah’s ongoing rearmament efforts in violation of the November 2024 ceasefire and UN Resolution 1701. No civilian casualties were reported, with strikes designed to minimize broader impact.
Archaeologists unearthed a rare 1,400-year-old lead pendant featuring a seven-branch menorah during excavations at the Davidson Archaeological Park near Jerusalem’s Western Wall. The small personal artifact dates back to the late Roman-Byzantine period around the 6th–7th century CE. IAA Director Eli Escusido described the pendant as evidence of Jewish presence and religious practice in Jerusalem centuries after the destruction of the Second Beis HaMikdash. The seven-branch design aligns with biblical descriptions in Sefer Shemos, distinguishing it from later nine-branch Chanukah menorahs. Researchers believe it served as an amulet for protection or identity.
Israel has been ranked as the third-strongest economy globally in the 2025 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, climbing from fifth place last year, behind only the United States and Singapore. The assessment, based on 12 pillars including innovation capacity, infrastructure, and financial stability, highlights Israel’s leadership in startup density, R&D investment at 5.7 percent of GDP, and tech exports exceeding $60 billion annually. Key strengths include a highly educated workforce, a robust venture-capital ecosystem attracting $25 billion in 2024, and advancements in cybersecurity and AI sectors. The report notes challenges such as high living costs and geopolitical risks but praises fiscal policies maintaining a 3 percent deficit. This ranking underscores Israel’s economic prowess despite ongoing security operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
WORLD
Marika Pogany, an 82-year-old beloved member of Sydney’s Jewish community, was identified as one of the victims killed in the terror attack at Bondi Beach during a public Chanukah menorah-lighting ceremony. The assailants targeted the gathering, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries among attendees celebrating the holiday. Pogany, a dedicated ba’alas tz’dakah known for her acts of kindness, volunteered with Kosher Meals on Wheels for more than a decade, personally delivering over 12,000 meals to homebound individuals and earning community honors for her selfless service. Friends and family described her as a pillar of compassion, always ready to help those in need. Her funeral drew hundreds, reflecting the profound loss to Sydney’s tight-knit Orthodox community.
Australian authorities confirmed that two improvised explosive devices were discovered at the scene of the terror attack. New South Wales Police bomb-squad technicians safely neutralized the IEDs, described as viable but rudimentary pipe bombs containing shrapnel, hidden near the stage area. The devices indicate premeditation, with the attackers intending secondary blasts to maximize casualties among first responders and fleeing crowds. No detonations occurred, averting further tragedy. The find has elevated the investigation’s terrorism classification, with federal resources now leading the probe into potential networks.
Three U.S. service members were killed and several wounded in an ISIS-claimed suicide bombing targeting a joint U.S.-Syrian patrol in a remote area of eastern Syria, marking the deadliest attack on American forces in the region since 2019. President Donald Trump described the fallen as “Great American Patriots” in a statement, vowing “very serious retaliation” and noting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s outrage over the incident on territory his government struggles to secure. Al-Sharaa condemned the assault as an affront to Syria’s sovereignty and pledged full cooperation with U.S. forces for a joint response. The Pentagon confirmed the casualties involved Green Berets attached to a training mission supporting Syrian Democratic Forces allies.
Syria’s government approved the establishment of the Syrian Jewish Heritage Organization, the first entity dedicated to preserving the nation’s Jewish heritage amid efforts to rebuild cultural diversity in the post-Assad era. Founded by members of the Syrian Jewish diaspora, primarily in the United States and Israel, the nonprofit aims to document abandoned Jewish properties, pursue restitution for assets confiscated under previous regimes, and restore historic synagogues and cemeteries. The organization, registered under new laws easing civil-society restrictions, will collaborate with local authorities on projects such as rehabilitating Damascus’s Jobar Synagogue, damaged in the civil war.
Heavy combat along the Thailand-Cambodia border entered its second week, with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of deeper airstrikes nearing civilian shelters for displaced persons. The renewed clashes, rooted in longstanding territorial disputes over colonial-era maps, have displaced over 500,000 people and caused dozens of casualties since erupting December 7. President Donald Trump announced Friday that both nations agreed to renew a ceasefire at his urging after phone calls with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. However, Anutin denied any commitment, insisting Cambodia must first withdraw troops and remove landmines. Cambodia described its actions as self-defense while closing border crossings. Fighting continued unabated over the weekend.
