NEW YORK NEWS
Jewish-owned Manhattan coffee shop Caffe Aronne faced a staffing crisis when anti-Israel baristas walked out over a dispute
about “Free Palestine” pins and the cafe’s pro-Israel stance. Owner Aaron Dahan, disappointed by the resignations, called on his mother, Peggy, to run the store. Members of the Jewish community rallied, volunteering to work shifts and forming long lines around the block to support the cafe. The cafe had put up an Israeli flag and initiated a fundraiser for Magen David Adom, the Israeli Red Cross, leading to disagreements with some staff. Despite the challenges, the community’s response showcased solidarity, with people offering assistance and expressing support for the cafe in the face of controversy.
Mayor Eric Adams had multiple electronic devices, including cellphones and an iPad, seized by the FBI earlier this week as part of a federal investigation into his campaign’s fundraising practices and potential ties to foreign powers. Adams complied with the FBI’s request after being approached by federal officials on Monday evening. His campaign lawyer emphasized that the mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing and is cooperating with the investigation. The seizure followed a recent FBI raid on a Brooklyn residence linked to campaign fundraiser Brianna Suggs. The investigation is reportedly examining whether Adams’ campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive donations from foreign sources. Adams, a former member of law enforcement, stated he expects his staff to follow the law and fully cooperate with investigations. The search warrant sought records related to campaign contributions, travel to Turkey, and interactions between the campaign and Turkey’s government. The mayor has hired a criminal defense firm in response to the ongoing investigation.
Pro-Palestinian protesters, organized by groups like Within Our Lifetime and the City University of New York for Palestine, engaged in disruptive actions in New York City as part of a “flood Manhattan for Gaza” protest. Demonstrators attempted to kick in a door at Grand Central Station, tore down American flags, vandalized buildings, and harassed individuals, including reporters. The NYPD temporarily shut down Grand Central Station, and multiple arrests were made. The protests occurred in the aftermath of Hamas attacks against Israel, leading to pro-Palestinian demonstrations worldwide.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, part of a series of near-nightly protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza, occupied The New York Times’ lobby, accusing the media of bias towards Israel. Thousands marched through Midtown Manhattan, and a group called “Writers Bloc” led a small demonstration inside The Times building, calling for an immediate cease-fire. The protesters remained for over an hour, reading names of Palestinians killed in Gaza, including journalists, and distributing a mock newspaper criticizing The Times for alleged complicity in “laundering genocide.” Photos showed “Lies” painted on The Times’ headquarters doors. The protest, described as “peaceful” in an internal email, followed citywide student walkouts in support of Palestinians and is part of ongoing actions drawing attention to the Gaza death toll.
Approximately five weeks after terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, rabbis and lay leaders from around the world, including 6,500 Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries and lay leaders, gathered in New York for the International Conference of Chabad Emissaries. The conference, the largest gathering of rabbis globally, focuses on supporting Israel and strengthening Jewish pride amid rising hate and antisemitism. Despite increased fear among Jewish community members, a Chabad.org survey found elevated levels of Jewish pride, connection to Israel, and stronger Jewish identity. The rabbis aim to channel the global Jewish awakening into concrete actions, emphasizing unity, prayer, observance of mitzvahs, and education. The conference also acknowledges the dedication of 1,400 Chabad representatives in Israel who remained with their communities during times of need. The event features live presentations from Israel and a prayer at the Western Wall. The gathering concludes with a prayer at the Ohel, the Rebbe’s resting place, imploring peace for Israel and humanity.
US NEWS
Rep. Rashida Tlaib was censured by the U.S. House of Representatives in a 234-188 vote, with 22 Democrats and 212 Republicans supporting the censure. The resolution criticized Tlaib for promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for advocating the destruction of the state of Israel. The censure resolution highlighted Tlaib’s defense of actions by Hamas, including brutal acts, and her dissemination of the false narrative that Israel intentionally bombed a hospital. It also noted Tlaib’s use of the phrase “from the river to the sea,” widely recognized as a genocidal call to violence against Israel. The Democrats who voted to censure Tlaib included 22 representatives, while four Republicans voted against it.
MIT admitted it did not suspend students involved in an unauthorized anti-Israel protest due to fears of deportation, as many protesters were international students. The protest organized by the Committee Against Apartheid violated university regulations, prompting a counter-protest by Jewish and Israeli students. MIT President Sally Kornbluth, citing concerns about potential visa issues for the students, opted for an interim suspension from non-academic campus activities rather than a complete suspension. The statement acknowledged that the lead organizers of anti-Israel protests were not American citizens. The semi-suspension will be reviewed by an ad-hoc complaint response team, and the incident raised concerns about the safety of Jewish and Israeli students on campus.
The Department of Education is reminding schools and colleges of their legal obligation to address discrimination, including antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents on campuses. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona noted an increase in complaints filed with the Office of Civil Rights since the recent Hamas terror attacks on Israel. The department could withhold federal funding from institutions failing to address discrimination, though Cardona emphasized providing support and guidance first. The Office of Civil Rights is updating its discrimination complaint form to explicitly include protection against discrimination for students perceived to be Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, or based on other shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics. The department is also developing additional guidelines to help institutions handle discrimination incidents.
Columbia University has announced the suspension of two student groups, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), for the remainder of the fall term due to repeated violations of school rules. The decision was made after the groups violated policies related to campus events, including an unauthorized event with threatening rhetoric and intimidation. The suspension means they are ineligible to hold events on campus or receive university funding. The ban will be lifted contingent on the groups demonstrating a commitment to compliance with university policies. Jewish Voice for Peace has been labeled as a radical anti-Israel and anti-Zionist group by the ADL, advocating for the boycott of Israel and expressing support for violence and antisemitic tropes. Students for Justice in Palestine has explicitly endorsed the actions of Hamas and its armed attacks on Israeli civilians, promoting a radical call to confront and “dismantle” Zionism on U.S. college campuses. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis previously ordered actions against these groups for expressing clear support for Hamas, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization in the U.S.
Jewish billionaire investor and philanthropist Henry Swieca resigned from the board of Columbia Business School, citing concerns that the campus had become unsafe for Jews amid anti-Israel sentiment following the Israel-Hamas war. In a letter, Swieca expressed dismay at the university’s handling of anti-Jewish groups and professors, stating that the campus had allowed them to operate without consequences. Swieca, a member of the Board of Overseers since 2014, highlighted the rise of anti-Israel protests and the use of slogans advocating the destruction of Israel. His resignation is part of a larger trend where prominent supporters of elite universities express dissatisfaction with their handling of issues related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The suspect in the murder of Detroit synagogue president Samantha Woll, who was found stabbed to death outside her home on October 21, has been released, as confirmed by the suspect’s attorney. The arrest was initially announced by the Detroit Police Department on November 8, and the suspect was apprehended in Kalamazoo. Woll, 40, president of Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, attended a wedding the night before her death, and investigators believe she was stabbed inside her home before being found in her yard. Despite the arrest, authorities previously indicated that the crime was not motivated by anti-Semitism. Woll had led the synagogue since 2022 and had served on Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin’s team.
Jeffrey Mindock, a 47-year-old man from Tempe, Arizona, was arrested and charged with federal offenses for allegedly threatening to execute a Scottsdale rabbi and “every other JEW” in an email. The email, sent last Friday, demanded the rabbi’s influence to drop charges against Mindock in a separate case in Utah. The subject line read “HITLER WAS RIGHT RABBI” and referenced the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Mindock claimed that Jews were to blame for all evil in the world. Prosecutors noted his history of threatening behavior, including a prior threat to hang a judge and expressing admiration for Ted Kaczynski. Mindock is currently held pending a detention hearing.
CNN severed ties with freelance photojournalist Hassan Eslaiah, based in Gaza, after a photo surfaced allegedly showing him being friendly with Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind an October 7 massacre. The pro-Israel watchdog group HonestReporting claimed Eslaiah and other journalists were embedded with Hamas terrorists on the attack day. CNN stated Eslaiah wasn’t working for the network on October 7 and cut all ties with him. Associated Press also ended its association with Eslaiah, but Reuters, The New York Times, and other media outlets have not commented on his alleged ties to Hamas. The report raises questions about journalists’ ethics and association with Hamas but doesn’t directly accuse outlets of collusion.
Senator Tim Scott officially ended his Republican presidential campaign, citing a lack of traction with GOP primary voters. Speaking in an interview with former Rep. Trey Gowdy on Fox News, Scott announced the suspension of his campaign, acknowledging the voters’ clear message of “not now, Tim.” He emphasized Romans 8:28 and expressed no plans to endorse other Republican candidates, encouraging voters to study each candidate and make informed decisions. Despite the shock among his campaign staff and political observers, Scott hinted at potential future political ambitions and did not rule out running for president again. The announcement follows the recent exits of other Republican candidates, including former Vice President Mike Pence, former Rep. Will Hurd, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. Calls for North Dakota Governor Burgum and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson to drop out have also increased due to their non-qualification for the latest Republican presidential debate.
US Representative Monica De La Cruz’s South Texas office was vandalized by pro-Hamas sympathizers upset over her support for Israel in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists. The attack resulted in the death of 1,400 Israelis. The vandals spray-painted messages on De La Cruz’s office, accusing Israel of killing Jews and committing genocide against Palestinians, and expressing anger over the congresswoman’s support for Israel. De La Cruz condemned the vandalism, reaffirmed her commitment to Israel, and stated that she would not be intimidated or silenced by the actions of the vandals.
Israel NEWS
A statement from Israel’s Foreign Ministry mentioned that around 1,200 people were killed by Hamas militants on October 7. This is considered the updated estimate, and the toll might still change. The discrepancy of about 200 fewer victims is attributed to some remains initially being misidentified, given the challenging conditions on that day where many bodies were burned and mutilated. The process of identifying them is still ongoing. The number of hostages being held in Gaza remains around 240. The revised estimate highlights the difference between reporting agencies in Israel and those under the control of Hamas in Gaza, who provide unverifiable casualty numbers that are quickly used by activists and media.
The Israel Defense Forces have discovered additional tunnels in the northern Gaza Strip, one located near an old amusement park and another adjacent to a university. Paratroopers operating in the area found and subsequently destroyed both tunnels. Additionally, in the vicinity of the university, a weapons depot was uncovered, containing chemical substances, assault rifles, RPGs, mines, and other equipment. The IDF took control of these findings.
Saudi-Israel normalization remains a possibility despite the recent war in Gaza, according to Saudi Arabia’s investment minister, Khalid Al-Falih. He emphasized that diplomatic relations with Jerusalem are contingent on a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian question. Al-Falih announced that Saudi Arabia would host three summits focused on the Israel-Hamas conflict, aiming for a peaceful resolution. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman indicated during a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden that talks about Israeli normalization could resume after the war. Republican members of Congress suggested that the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks aimed to undermine Saudi-Israeli peace efforts. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit highlights diplomatic developments in the region.
Israel’s Air Force successfully utilized the ‘Arrow 3’ air defense system to intercept a missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the southern city of Eilat. This marks the first-ever use of the ‘Arrow 3’ system, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, and follows the recent successful deployment of the ‘Arrow 2’ system for a similar purpose, marking the first-ever combat engagement outside Earth’s atmosphere. The ‘Arrow 3’ system is designed for intercepting ballistic missiles in space, and Israel has recently announced a significant deal to sell this system to Germany amid the latter’s efforts to upgrade its defenses in response to global geopolitical events. This successful interception is deemed historic and underscores Israel’s multi-layered response to long-term ballistic threats.
The IDF discovered an Arabic copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf in a child’s room used as a Hamas terrorist base in Gaza. President Isaac Herzog revealed the finding, showing that terrorists had annotated and highlighted passages in the book. The IDF stated that the discovery reflects Hamas embracing Hitler’s ideology. During World War II, Hitler met with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, a figure seen as one of the fathers of Palestinian nationalism, who expressed admiration for Hitler’s anti-Jewish stance. There are reports of Palestinian schools being named after Nazi collaborators, and the Palestinian Authority’s Fatah movement has shared covers of anti-Semitic children’s books from Nazi Germany on social media.
WORLD NEWS
Two Jewish schools in Montreal were targeted in shootings, following a Molotov cocktail attack on a Jewish community center in the city three days earlier. No injuries were reported, but bullet holes were found in the front doors of a Jewish elementary school and a yeshiva. This incident came in the wake of increased antisemitic attacks in the region, including a Molotov cocktail thrown at a synagogue in Dollard-des-Ormeaux. The attacks are under investigation, and it’s unclear if they are related. The escalation of anti-Semitic incidents in the province prompted condemnation from Anthony Housefather, a Liberal Party member of Parliament, and drew attention from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a press conference. Trudeau denounced violence, hate, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia, referencing incidents at Concordia University where clashes occurred during protests related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. A history professor at the university reportedly yelled at Jewish students to “go back to Poland” during a demonstration. Investigations into the incidents are ongoing.
Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, collaborated with Brazilian security services and international agencies to thwart an attack on Jews in Brazil planned by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. Brazil’s Federal Police arrested two individuals on terrorism charges in Sao Paulo and conducted search and seizure operations in multiple states. Mossad acknowledged the role of Brazilian security services in preventing the terrorist attack, revealing that the Hezbollah-operated cell aimed to target Israeli and Jewish interests in Brazil. Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization by various countries, including Argentina, Britain, Canada, Germany, Honduras, the United States, and most U.S.-allied Gulf states, has not commented on the incident. The Federal Police operation follows global security concerns in the aftermath of the October 7 attack by Hamas. Brazilian Jewish leaders expressed apprehension about the operation, emphasizing Brazil’s limited history of terrorism and hoping to prevent the importation of Middle East conflicts into the country.
Over 180,000 people, including 100,000 in Paris, peacefully marched in France to protest against rising anti-Semitism following Israel’s conflict with Hamas. Various political figures attended, except for far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who criticized the event. The march aimed to denounce anti-Semitic acts that surged since the start of Israel’s war against Hamas. France, with the largest Jewish population in Europe, witnessed a significant turnout, and concerns were expressed about the importation of Middle East conflicts. Despite the absence of major incidents, far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s participation drew criticism, highlighting ongoing debates about her party’s stance on anti-Semitism. The march is considered the largest denouncement of anti-Semitism in France since a 1990 demonstration against a desecrated Jewish cemetery.
