Thursday, April 16, 2026
Argentinian judge to be tried for antisemitism after calling Jews 'rats' and 'vipers'
For the first time in history, an Argentinian judge is set to be tried for antisemitism due to discriminatory remarks made about Jews on social media.
The proceedings follow complaints filed in March 2025 by the Delegation of Argentine Israelite Associations (DAIA) and the Argentine Forum Against Antisemitism (FACA).
On Wednesday, the plenary of the National Council of the Judiciary unanimously voted to begin removal proceedings against Judge Alfredo Lopez of Federal Court No. 4 of Mar del Plata (Buenos Aires) for poor performance, citing antisemitic expressions on social media.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Israeli Tech Experts and Jewish Leaders Advance New Front Against Digital Antisemtism
Meta reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that its artificial intelligence systems are developed with sensitivity to Jewish community perspectives during a high-level gathering at the Yeshiva University Museum on Tuesday evening, as Jewish communities in Israel and around the world marked Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Speaking during Hack the Hate NYC 2026, a global initiative by the 8200 Alumni Association and Generative AI for Good, Ben Good, Meta’s Public Policy Director, addressed the company’s approach to the rise of antisemitism online, including Holocaust denial and distortion promoted by users across digital platforms, and emphasized the responsibility of the tech industry to ensure that new systems such as Meta’s own Llama are developed with a deeper awareness of how anti-Jewish hatred manifests in the digital sphere.
“Meta is firmly committed to combatting antisemitism on our platforms, and we are optimistic about the promises of new technologies that we can deploy in that fight,” stated Good during a fireside chat with WJC TecHRi Executive Director Yfat Barak-Cheney.
Prior to Good’s remarks, Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University, welcomed an audience of more than 150 participants and underscored the importance of bringing Jewish communal leadership, academic institutions, and emerging innovators together to ensure that Jewish voices contribute meaningfully to some of the most consequential conversations shaping the future.
“Yeshiva University is proud to participate again this year in Hack the Hate 2026 NYC. At a moment when division and antisemitism persist, this initiative affirms our shared responsibility to confront hatred with courage, creativity, and moral clarity," said he said.
Organized by Generative AI for Good and the 8200 Alumni Association in partnership among the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Geshser Israel, Maccabee Ventures, President Isaac Herzog’s Voice of the People initiative, the World Jewish Congress’s TecHRI, and Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business, the presentations throughout the evening focused on how emerging technologies can be used not only to identify and counter online hate, Holocaust denial, and distortion of the October 7th attacks, but also to ensure that new AI systems are trained on more accurate and representative understandings of Jewish life, identity, and history.
Participants emphasized the need to move beyond reactive moderation and instead help shape the systems, platforms, and datasets that will influence public understanding of nuanced issues for years to come. Among them were members of President Herzog's Voice of the People initiative, who presented projects developed at the intersection of technology and Jewish identity.
Chen Shmilo, former CEO of the 8200 Alumni Association, and Shiran Mlamedovsky-Somech, founder and CEO of Generative AI for Good, announced the creation of the One Signal Collective, an innovation community aimed at connecting Israeli technological expertise with the lived experience and practical needs of Diaspora Jewish communities. The initiative is intended to establish an ongoing framework through which entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors can collaborate on deep-tech responses to online antisemitism, including Holocaust denial in large language models, cross-platform incitement, and other emerging forms of digitally amplified hate.
Mlamedovsky-Somech presented Hearing Their Voices (theirvoices.ai), a responsible AI platform enabling survivors of conflict-related sexual violence to testify publicly without revealing their identities. Winner of the inaugural SIMA AI Impact Award, the platform counters Holocaust Inversion by placing Israel's testimony alongside Syria, Iraq, and Iran, transforming isolated denial into a documented cross-regional pattern.
Among the highlights of the evening was the launch of One Five Seven (157), a new initiative presented by Dr. Maya Ackerman and Hannah Geller, as part of the Voice of the People initiative. Designed to embed accurate, diverse, and positive Jewish representation into AI systems, the initiative seeks to reduce antisemitic bias and equip institutions to engage responsibly with the opportunities and risks of the AI era. Taking its name from the world’s approximately 15.7 million Jews, the project is rooted in the conviction that as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how societies understand identity and history, Jewish communities must help ensure that those systems learn from truthful, representative, and dignified source material.
Ofer Familier, Co-Founder and CEO of dig, demonstrated how AI tools can identify the evolution of viral hate narratives, expose bot-driven amplification, and map the emotional triggers that allow antisemitic conspiracies to spread rapidly and at scale online. His presentation focused on the ways in which a false and inflammatory narrative accusing Jews of involvement in the murder of Charlie Kirk was able to gain traction online, illustrating how AI-powered analysis can help detect when fringe accusations begin to mutate into broader, more dangerous campaigns of incitement. By tracing how such narratives are emotionally engineered, artificially amplified, and adapted for virality, Familier highlighted the urgent need for tools capable of intervening before digital blood libels harden into mainstream discourse.
Across the evening’s discussions, speakers returned to their shared concern that the systems being built today will increasingly shape how future generations understand Jews, Jewish history, and the Holocaust, and that this demands earlier, more deliberate engagement from Jewish communities and their partners. Together, the discussions and announcements reflected a growing consensus among participants that confronting antisemitism in the digital age requires not only moral clarity, but also technological sophistication, stronger partnerships, and earlier intervention in the systems shaping online discourse.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2026
New Kentucky law says authorities must contact Chabad before cremating unnamed body
The state of Kentucky has passed a law requiring authorities to contact Chabad before cremating an unclaimed deceased individual.
The bill, sponsored by Republican state Senator Greg Elkins, allows coroners to cremate bodies but requires them to work with religious organizations that volunteer to provide burial for anyone of their faith.
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Sunday, April 12, 2026
As the Greens prepare for its biggest ever elections is their antisemitism crisis even worse than feared?
There are growing fears that evidence of open Jew-hatred amongst Green Party candidates has been seriously underestimated, amid a failure to conduct proper due diligence ahead of next month’s local elections.
A Jewish News investigation has discovered multiple examples of Green candidates sharing conspiracy theories about Jews, including some originating on far-right neo-Nazi websites, along with clear evidence of Holocaust distortion.
Some observers now even fear that the antisemitism crisis with Zack Polanski’s party, which is fielding thousands of candidates at the May 7 elections, is comparable to, or even worse than, the similar problem that caused havoc to Labour under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
Challenged at the launch of the Greens’ election campaign over fears of an inadequate vetting process by party chiefs ahead of next month’s poll, Polanski himself admitted: “I recognise we’re dealing with an immense amount of people very quickly, and so I won’t be surprised if we have the odd candidate where we have to distance from them.”
He claimed: “We’re doing everything we can to make sure we’re doing due diligence … We’re not being complacent about it for a second and recognise the scale of the task that’s in front of us.”
The widely predicted Green success in the local elections could impact significantly on Jewish voters, especially within areas of London.
While Polanski’s party is unlikely to make dramatic inroads in Barnet, home to the largest Jewish electorate, the predicted Green surge in boroughs like Camden, Brent, Hackney, Haringey, Lewisham and Islington is now a major concern for communal leaders in the run-up to the local elections.
A Jewish News investigation has discovered multiple examples of Green candidates sharing conspiracy theories about Jews, including some originating on far-right neo-Nazi websites, along with clear evidence of Holocaust distortion.
Some observers now even fear that the antisemitism crisis with Zack Polanski’s party, which is fielding thousands of candidates at the May 7 elections, is comparable to, or even worse than, the similar problem that caused havoc to Labour under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
Challenged at the launch of the Greens’ election campaign over fears of an inadequate vetting process by party chiefs ahead of next month’s poll, Polanski himself admitted: “I recognise we’re dealing with an immense amount of people very quickly, and so I won’t be surprised if we have the odd candidate where we have to distance from them.”
He claimed: “We’re doing everything we can to make sure we’re doing due diligence … We’re not being complacent about it for a second and recognise the scale of the task that’s in front of us.”
The widely predicted Green success in the local elections could impact significantly on Jewish voters, especially within areas of London.
While Polanski’s party is unlikely to make dramatic inroads in Barnet, home to the largest Jewish electorate, the predicted Green surge in boroughs like Camden, Brent, Hackney, Haringey, Lewisham and Islington is now a major concern for communal leaders in the run-up to the local elections.
New evidence unearthed by Jewish News includes a Green Party candidate standing for election in Camden, north London, who shared antisemitic claims that the Old Testament commands Jews to kill children, that Zionists carried out the 9/11 terror attacks, and “false flag” lies about the Golders Green Hatzola arson attack.
Jewish News has approached the Green Party for comment after being shown a series of deeply troubling social media posts shared or written by Aziz Hakimi, who is standing in Camden’s Haverstock ward.
One post shared by Hakimi in August 2025 shows him sharing a graphic of the flaming twin towers after the 9/11 terror attack and openly blaming it on “Zionists.”
A second post shared by the Green candidate last month appears to be a far-right originating video sharing antisemitic claims that Jews are commanded by the Old Testament to kill children.
Hakimi also shared an article widely circulated after last month’s Golders Green arson attack that stated: “The London Ambulance Attack — Of Course It Was A False Flag.”
Another post shared by Hakimi originally appeared on the Islamist 5 Pillars website and shows footage of Charedi Jews being abused and told to “go back home” after arriving at Krakow airport in Poland on a flight from Israel.
Jewish News has also been sent evidence showing how the Green Party has willingly accepted candidates who faced antisemitism allegations in the Labour Party. Karen Sudan, now standing for the Greens in West Sussex, resigned from Labour amid such claims.
In August 2018, she accused the media of being “too busy making up and/or exaggerating stories about antisemitism in the Labour Party to raise an outcry over other forms of racism.”
Jewish News has approached the Green Party for comment after being shown a series of deeply troubling social media posts shared or written by Aziz Hakimi, who is standing in Camden’s Haverstock ward.
One post shared by Hakimi in August 2025 shows him sharing a graphic of the flaming twin towers after the 9/11 terror attack and openly blaming it on “Zionists.”
A second post shared by the Green candidate last month appears to be a far-right originating video sharing antisemitic claims that Jews are commanded by the Old Testament to kill children.
Hakimi also shared an article widely circulated after last month’s Golders Green arson attack that stated: “The London Ambulance Attack — Of Course It Was A False Flag.”
Another post shared by Hakimi originally appeared on the Islamist 5 Pillars website and shows footage of Charedi Jews being abused and told to “go back home” after arriving at Krakow airport in Poland on a flight from Israel.
Jewish News has also been sent evidence showing how the Green Party has willingly accepted candidates who faced antisemitism allegations in the Labour Party. Karen Sudan, now standing for the Greens in West Sussex, resigned from Labour amid such claims.
In August 2018, she accused the media of being “too busy making up and/or exaggerating stories about antisemitism in the Labour Party to raise an outcry over other forms of racism.”
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Friday, April 10, 2026
Israeli Restaurant in Munich Targeted in Suspected Antisemitic Attack
An Israeli restaurant in the German city of Munich was attacked on Thursday night when assailants smashed multiple windows and threw pyrotechnic devices inside in what authorities suspected was an antisemitic assault — the latest in a series of incidents unfolding against a backdrop of rising hostility toward Jews and Israelis nationwide.
As of Friday morning, local law enforcement had opened a criminal investigation into the attack in southern Germany, with authorities probing a possible antisemitic motive and reviewing security footage and witness accounts as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The restaurant was closed at the time of the attack, and no one was injured, though the perpetrators caused damage estimated at several thousand euros.
Police said the assailants had not yet been identified, and it remained unclear how many people were involved in the attack.
Munich’s State Security Service, which handles politically motivated crimes, took over the case, as authorities worked to determine the circumstances and identify those involved.
“According to the current state of investigations, the display windows were forcibly damaged, and pyrotechnic devices were thrown into the restaurant,” police said in a statement, adding that the origin and type of the devices had yet to be determined and remained a key line of inquiry.
Opened in 2007, the restaurant is located on Hessstrasse in the Maxvorstadt district, Munich’s central university quarter near the Old Town and the main railway station, an area known for its cultural institutions, student life, and busy pedestrian streets.
Restaurant employee Grigori Dratva, the owner’s brother-in-law, told the German DPA news agency that there had been “no direct threats” ahead of the incident.
“We don’t want to make accusations, but we are a visible Israeli restaurant, so the assumption is obvious,” Dratva said.
Despite the attack, Dratva said the restaurant planned to reopen later the same day after the damaged windows were temporarily secured and scheduled for replacement, adding, “We won’t be intimidated.”
The Munich-based Conference of European Rabbis (CER) strongly denounced the attack, warning it reflected a troubling and escalating pattern of antisemitic incidents, while calling for swift measures to strengthen protections for Jews and prevent further violence.
“This attack is not a one-off, but rather part of a dangerous trend that we have been seeing since Oct. 7, 2023,” CER’s General Secretary Gady Gronich said in a statement, referring to the ongoing surge in antisemitic incidents following Hamas’s invasion of southern Israel over two years ago.
“Until now, Munich was a safe place for Jews, and it must stay that way. What’s needed is a clear line: zero tolerance against antisemitism, with harsh punishments that do not lead to repeat incidents, and no room for those who sow hate in our society,” he continued.
Like most countries across Europe and the broader Western world, Germany has seen a shocking rise in antisemitic incidents over the last two years, in the wake of the Hamas-led Oct. 7 massacre.
According to recently released figures, the number of antisemitic offenses in the country reached a record high in 2025, totaling 2,267 incidents, including violence, incitement, property damage, and propaganda offenses.
By comparison, officially recorded antisemitic crimes were significantly lower at 1,825 in 2024, 900 in 2023, and fewer than 500 in 2022, prior to the Oct. 7 atrocities.
Officials have warned that the real number of antisemitic crimes is likely much higher, as many incidents go unreported.
As of Friday morning, local law enforcement had opened a criminal investigation into the attack in southern Germany, with authorities probing a possible antisemitic motive and reviewing security footage and witness accounts as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The restaurant was closed at the time of the attack, and no one was injured, though the perpetrators caused damage estimated at several thousand euros.
Police said the assailants had not yet been identified, and it remained unclear how many people were involved in the attack.
Munich’s State Security Service, which handles politically motivated crimes, took over the case, as authorities worked to determine the circumstances and identify those involved.
“According to the current state of investigations, the display windows were forcibly damaged, and pyrotechnic devices were thrown into the restaurant,” police said in a statement, adding that the origin and type of the devices had yet to be determined and remained a key line of inquiry.
Opened in 2007, the restaurant is located on Hessstrasse in the Maxvorstadt district, Munich’s central university quarter near the Old Town and the main railway station, an area known for its cultural institutions, student life, and busy pedestrian streets.
Restaurant employee Grigori Dratva, the owner’s brother-in-law, told the German DPA news agency that there had been “no direct threats” ahead of the incident.
“We don’t want to make accusations, but we are a visible Israeli restaurant, so the assumption is obvious,” Dratva said.
Despite the attack, Dratva said the restaurant planned to reopen later the same day after the damaged windows were temporarily secured and scheduled for replacement, adding, “We won’t be intimidated.”
The Munich-based Conference of European Rabbis (CER) strongly denounced the attack, warning it reflected a troubling and escalating pattern of antisemitic incidents, while calling for swift measures to strengthen protections for Jews and prevent further violence.
“This attack is not a one-off, but rather part of a dangerous trend that we have been seeing since Oct. 7, 2023,” CER’s General Secretary Gady Gronich said in a statement, referring to the ongoing surge in antisemitic incidents following Hamas’s invasion of southern Israel over two years ago.
“Until now, Munich was a safe place for Jews, and it must stay that way. What’s needed is a clear line: zero tolerance against antisemitism, with harsh punishments that do not lead to repeat incidents, and no room for those who sow hate in our society,” he continued.
Like most countries across Europe and the broader Western world, Germany has seen a shocking rise in antisemitic incidents over the last two years, in the wake of the Hamas-led Oct. 7 massacre.
According to recently released figures, the number of antisemitic offenses in the country reached a record high in 2025, totaling 2,267 incidents, including violence, incitement, property damage, and propaganda offenses.
By comparison, officially recorded antisemitic crimes were significantly lower at 1,825 in 2024, 900 in 2023, and fewer than 500 in 2022, prior to the Oct. 7 atrocities.
Officials have warned that the real number of antisemitic crimes is likely much higher, as many incidents go unreported.
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Tuesday, April 07, 2026
NYPD arrests teen for threatening to kill Jewish kids in Brooklyn
A New York City teen has been arrested and charged with hate crime and aggravated harassment, making terrorist threats and threatening mass harm after announcing her intention to kill Jewish children in Brooklyn, N.Y., the New York City Police Department said on Tuesday.
In a video chat recording shared on social media by New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, 18-year-old Eslam Alsaedi said, “If I see Jewish people in the U.S.A., I swear to God I’ve got to kill them. I try to kill kids. You know the kids for the Jewish people? I try to kill them.”
In the video, Alsaedi said he lives in Harlem and wanted to go to Brooklyn because he reportedly heard somebody say a lot of Jews live there. “I want big building, a lot of Jewish people, a whole school with kids,” he said.
The NYPD told JNS a complaint report was “filed for terrorism” on Monday in the 32nd Precinct.
Alsaedi was arrested on April 6 at about 6:30 p.m.
“He thought he would get away with it. We contacted NYPD’s counterterrorism unit, and they were immediately on it,” Vernikov said. “This must be prosecuted both locally and federally to the fullest extent of the law.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has not yet commented on the terror threat or the arrest.
In a video chat recording shared on social media by New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, 18-year-old Eslam Alsaedi said, “If I see Jewish people in the U.S.A., I swear to God I’ve got to kill them. I try to kill kids. You know the kids for the Jewish people? I try to kill them.”
In the video, Alsaedi said he lives in Harlem and wanted to go to Brooklyn because he reportedly heard somebody say a lot of Jews live there. “I want big building, a lot of Jewish people, a whole school with kids,” he said.
The NYPD told JNS a complaint report was “filed for terrorism” on Monday in the 32nd Precinct.
Alsaedi was arrested on April 6 at about 6:30 p.m.
“He thought he would get away with it. We contacted NYPD’s counterterrorism unit, and they were immediately on it,” Vernikov said. “This must be prosecuted both locally and federally to the fullest extent of the law.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has not yet commented on the terror threat or the arrest.
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Federal judge orders Penn to turn over information on Jewish staffers as part of discrimination investigation
A federal judge has ordered the University of Pennsylvania to comply with a federal government subpoena demanding information on Jewish faculty, ostensibly part of an investigation into antisemitism on campus.
U.S. District Judge Gerald J. Pappert said employees can refuse to take part in the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation, but the agency "needs the opportunity to talk to them directly to learn if they have evidence of discrimination."
Pappert, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, determined that the EEOC request fell within its authority to investigate workplace discrimination and that the agency is entitled to obtain relevant information for its inquiry. The investigation was opened in 2023 following complaints of antisemitism following the Oct. 7 attack.
U.S. District Judge Gerald J. Pappert said employees can refuse to take part in the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation, but the agency "needs the opportunity to talk to them directly to learn if they have evidence of discrimination."
Pappert, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, determined that the EEOC request fell within its authority to investigate workplace discrimination and that the agency is entitled to obtain relevant information for its inquiry. The investigation was opened in 2023 following complaints of antisemitism following the Oct. 7 attack.
Penn challenged the scope of the EEOC's request, arguing that it was overly broad and raised legal and privacy concerns for students and staff. Jewish-oriented groups, including the American Academy of Jewish Research and the Jewish Law Students Association of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, supported Penn on Tuesday.
Senior Regional Director Andrew Goretsky said ADL Philadelphia is still reviewing the decision but pointed to a November statement, saying it "shares the EEOC's commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting Jewish employees from discrimination and harassment on college campuses and we appreciate that the EEOC has undertaken a number of critical investigations to help do just that."
Senior Regional Director Andrew Goretsky said ADL Philadelphia is still reviewing the decision but pointed to a November statement, saying it "shares the EEOC's commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting Jewish employees from discrimination and harassment on college campuses and we appreciate that the EEOC has undertaken a number of critical investigations to help do just that."
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Monday, March 30, 2026
'Damn Jews' shouted at Haredi men in Melbourne as stolen car swerves toward group
A serious antisemitic incident is under investigation in Melbourne, Australia, after four women traveling in a stolen car approached a group of Hasidic men on Saturday morning and shouted abuse at them.
According to accounts given to local media, the passengers yelled antisemitic slurs, including "damn Jews," as they drove near the group. The vehicle was also reported to have swerved dangerously toward them, with one person forced to jump backward to avoid being struck as the car neared the curb. No injuries were reported.
Local police confirmed an investigation has been opened, describing the incident as one of several linked to the same vehicle. Victoria Police said they had received multiple reports of dangerous and offensive behavior by occupants of a Hyundai believed to have been involved in additional incidents around the city.
Police said the suspects were also involved in other incidents in which eggs were thrown at people while abusive remarks were shouted at several locations across the city. The vehicle was stolen from a home in the Caulfield suburb last Wednesday and has since been seen driving erratically.
Footage from the scene shows the car sharply veering into the opposite lane as the passengers continue shouting at the group of Jewish men. A police spokesperson said the behavior endangered the public and that efforts are ongoing to locate the suspects and bring them to justice.
The incident has raised concern within the local Jewish community amid a recent increase in reports of antisemitic incidents in Australia.
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Friday, March 27, 2026
USPS worker charged for allegedly shoving 4-year-old to the ground in Monsey
A United States Postal Service worker was arrested for shoving a 4-year-old boy to the ground in Monsey, Ramapo Police said.
The shocking incident took place Thursday at 6:25 p.m. and was caught on surveillance video posted on social media.
The video shows a young Hasidic boy approaching the USPS worker who is outside his van. The worker can then be seen lunging toward the boy and shoving him forcefully to the ground. The boy rolls backwards with the force of the shove, with his legs hanging above his head. He then stands up, picks up his yarmulke, and leaves.
The surveillance video is silent, so it was not immediately known what, if any, words were exchanged between the two prior to the incident.
"The content of this video is very disturbing," Ramapo Town Supervisor Michael Specht posted on social media. "Ramapo Police have treated whit matter with extreme seriousness and have now arrested the suspect."
Ramapo Police identified the suspect as 39-year-old Gabriel Stan from Stony Point, who works for the USPS. Stan has ben charged with felony attempted assault in the second degree, as well as misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child. Stan was released on his own recognizance.
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Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Jewish pilgrims flock to Poland's Leżajsk
Before entering the local cemetery, pilgrims visit a mikveh, or ritual bath, from where they proceed to the ohel, a structure built around Weisblum's grave.
There, they place written prayers on small pieces of paper at the rabbi's tomb, asking for his intercession in matters of personal importance.
The prayers, accompanied by traditional dances and the singing of psalms, conclude with a kosher meal consisting of salmon, beef, pancakes, soup, vegetables and cholent, a traditional Sabbath stew.
Michał Konieczny of the Leżajsk Hasidic Jews Foundation told Poland's PAP news agency that because of the conflict in the Middle East, about 4,000 Jews were expected to arrive, instead of the roughly 15,000 anticipated earlier.
The ceremonies were set to run until late on Tuesday.
Weisblum was one of the founders of the Hasidic movement, which sought to revive Judaism in the 18th century. He was known as both a spiritual healer and a leader of Jewish mysticism.
Before World War II, Leżajsk was home to about 3,000 Jews and was an important centre of Hasidic Judaism in Poland. The town's two synagogues were burnt down in September 1939.
The tradition of annual prayers at Weisblum's tomb was revived in the 1970s.
Today, Leżajsk, a town of about 14,000 residents, remains one of the most sacred sites for Hasidic Jews, attracting pilgrims year-round for Jewish holidays and private visits.
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Monday, March 02, 2026
Man Wanted Over Argentina Jewish Center Bombing Now Leads IRGC
On March 1, Ahmad Vahidi was named the new Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), replacing Mohammad Pakpour, who was killed in Saturday's Israeli strikes after serving in the role for less than a year.
Vahidi had been introduced as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC in early January. His final words in that role were: "The enemies must review their calculations over and over again, for a miscalculation will cause them immense trouble." Previously, he had dismissed the buildup of Western naval forces in the region, stating: "The presence of these carrier groups is nothing new; we evaluate it as part of the enemy's psychological operations, which should be ignored."
To Interpol, Vahidi is a fugitive under a "Red Notice"; to Argentina, he is the alleged mastermind of a "crime against the Jewish people"; and to Tehran, he is an iron-willed operative who has never faltered during days of brutal suppression and crisis. After decades of operating in the shadows of the intelligence and security apparatus, Vahidi has now emerged from the ashes of the June 2025 and March 2026 attacks to lead the IRGC during its most complex existential crisis. However, he has inherited an extremely precarious position; his own assassination could occur at any moment. Given his alleged direct involvement in the killing of Jews in Argentina, his continued survival remains a significant question mark.
A Path of Suppression to the High Command
Ahmad Vahidi, born Vahid Shahcheraghi in 1958 in Shiraz, aligned himself with the IRGC early in life. He joined the force in 1980 and fought throughout the eight-year Iran–Iraq War, rising to the rank of field commander. In 1988, he became the first commander of the Quds Force, the IRGC's overseas operations arm, a position he held until 1997. Since then, he has remained a central figure in shaping the Guard's operations beyond Iran's borders.
He later served as Minister of Defense under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. However, in 2006 - three years before joining the cabinet - Interpol placed him on a "Red Notice" list. After his ministerial term, he became a member of the Expediency Discernment Council.
During that period, while holding positions in both the Council and the Guard, his name became closely associated with the crackdown on the 2022 nationwide protests - a time when security forces were reported to have shot demonstrators not only in the head but also in the legs. He was also a firm supporter of the mandatory hijab policy, backing the use of warning text messages as a tool of enforcement. In January 2023, he stated: "Those who wear abnormal, inappropriate clothing or lack a hijab will receive warnings; submitting to the mandatory hijab law is a matter of citizenship rights." Furthermore, during the wave of mysterious schoolgirl poisonings in March 2023, he claimed: "Suspicious samples are being analyzed in reputable labs and results will be announced soon" - yet no convincing answer was ever provided.
Vahidi then became Minister of Interior in the government of Ebrahim Raisi. His tenure was marked by multiple controversies. In June 2023, a directive from his political deputy regarding restrictions on interaction between governors and parliament members during an election year sparked outrage. One MP stated on the floor: "This directive effectively limits a parliamentary term to three years and is an insult to the Majlis." Despite a massive push for his impeachment by over 100 MPs, he remained in his post.
Vahidi's ascent within the IRGC accelerated in 2025. A massive Israeli strike in June killed Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami, who was succeeded by Mohammad Pakpour. On December 31, 2025, Vahidi was named Deputy Commander. Many described this appointment as "strategic and surprising," as it coincided with the popular protests of January 8 and 9, 2026, which resulted in a massacre in which the IRGC played the leading role. The peak of his career occurred in March 2026, when Pakpour was killed alongside the Supreme Leader in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, and Vahidi was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC.
His career reached its highest point in March 2026, after Pakpour was killed alongside the Supreme Leader in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes. In the aftermath, Vahidi was named Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC.
Unlike figures such as Qasem Soleimani, Vahidi has largely remained out of the public spotlight, working behind the scenes rather than cultivating a public profile. Notably, some of his family members live in the United States and Canada - a detail that has fueled speculation about possible external connections and prompted questions about why he has not been targeted. His appointment at this critical moment suggests that, as the leadership structure weakens, the regime is turning to someone with deep experience in managing both internal unrest and external confrontations.
The mention of family members living in the West is a common point of contention for Iranians. Many high-ranking officials who chant "Death to America" have children living, studying, or investing in the very Western countries they claim to despise.
Vahidi: The Code Name for International Terror
Vahidi's activities beyond Iran's borders began with his role in establishing and leading the Quds Force, and many international observers see that period as laying the groundwork for Iran's asymmetric operations abroad. The most contentious allegation tied to his record is that he planned and oversaw the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The attack, which killed 85 people, remains one of the deadliest unsolved terrorist incidents of the 20th century. Argentine prosecutors, referring to judicial documents, say that Vahidi - who was serving as commander of the Quds Force at the time - played a central role in coordinating the operation through proxy networks.
In July 2024, Argentina issued an official statement during Vahidi's trip to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, asking Interpol and the host countries to arrest him for his alleged participation in the bombing. Furthermore, Argentina's Criminal High Court issued an unprecedented ruling describing Iran as directly responsible for the attack and labeling it a "crime against humanity." This international request is based on the "Red Notice" that has been active since 2006.
The growing judicial pressure over the past two years reflects the strategy of Argentina's right-wing President, Javier Milei, to bring an end to three decades of stalled progress in the AMIA case. Marking the 30th anniversary of the attack, Milei described the Iranian government as "terrorist" and proposed that suspects including Vahidi, Mohsen Rezaee, and Ali Akbar Velayati be tried in absentia.
Although the Islamic Republic has consistently denied the accusations and refused to extradite its officials, the contrast between Vahidi's high-ranking position at home and his legal standing abroad has turned him into one of Iran's most diplomatically isolated figures - while at the same time remaining one of its most powerful security strategists, known for operating in the shadows where the lines between formal diplomacy and covert action often blur.
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NYPD enhances patrols due to Jewish holiday, security concerns after Iran attack
The NYPD is on high alert in response to the attacks on Iran and police are stepping up patrols at houses of worship and other sensitive locations.
Adding to the tension is the fact that Monday marks the start of the Jewish holiday of Purim and synagogues across the city will host celebrations.
The NYPD said Monday it would maintain "enhanced high visibility patrols" due to the heightened threat environment.
Experts believe the Iranians will continue to hit back at targets around the world and they say the risk here in New York is real.
"We're looking really carefully at any threats and following up on leads and making sure that we're staying ahead of any threat that might materialize here in our city," said NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner.
The attack on Iran has killed hundreds of Iranians, including the nation's Supreme Leader and key commanders. But Iranian missiles continue to rain down on Israel and several Gulf states.
Local and federal law enforcement must assume that Iran can coordinate terrorist attacks and conduct cyber warfare.
Power grids and water supply infrastructure and among many likely targets.
"This is all in the mode of prevention and preemption, but if there is a specific or credible threat that requires us to message to the public to avoid an area, then we will certainly do that," Weiner said.
The NYPD is stepping up security at a number of locations throughout the city -- from the Israeli Mission to the UN, to prominent synagogues and transportation hubs.
A high-profile presence is intended to deter an attack or to respond quickly should one take place.
Over the weekend, a man opened fire in Texas, killing two people and wounding 14 others. Authorities say the gunman may have been inspired by the US attack on Iran.
"The resources that we're deploying, again this is to deter any would-be bad actor whether it's a 'lone wolf' type of person who's inspired by what's happening overseas and wants to take action here or something that's more concerted or planned," Weiner said.
Authorities say there are no credible threats in New York City, but they're urging the public to stay vigilant.
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Thursday, February 26, 2026
Jewish congressional candidate Lander and Mamdani condemn AIPAC in campaign video
New York City politician Brad Lander and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemn AIPAC in a video for Lander's congressional campaign.
Lander is running to represent New York City's 10th Congressional District against incumbent Dan Goldman.
Lander and Goldman are both Jewish progressives who are largely in line in their opposition to issues like the Trump administration's immigration crackdown and other issues.
Lander is to the left of Goldman, though, particularly on Israel. Goldman is a critic of the Netanyahu government, but Lander goes further, such as charging Israel with genocide. Lander, the former city comptroller, is also marked by his alliance with Mamdani, whom he backed in the mayoral campaign.
"I'm Brad Lander, a lifelong progressive, and I'm running for Congress," Lander says in the kitschy campaign video while walking alongside Mamdani.
"A lifelong progressive? You mean you haven't sold out to special interests?" Mamdani says.
"Or AIPAC either," Lander says.
"That's impressive, though it shouldn't be," Mamdani responds.
AIPAC is the sole target mentioned in the brief clip.
AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby, has become a ubiquitous subject of derision on both the left and right.
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Wednesday, February 25, 2026
City lawyer suspended after alleged antisemitic slurs and harassment at work events
Ryan Williams, formerly a partner at SBP Law, was accused of making racist comments, engaging in unwanted sexual contact and becoming severely intoxicated at firm gatherings in London.
According to documents filed before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, Mr Williams allegedly told a Jewish colleague at a summer party in north London in 2021 that antisemitism "doesn't exist", adding: "You're all on top".
The tribunal also heard claims that he repeatedly used a racist slur at the same event and later became "incredibly drunk", at one point urinating on his clothes and being unable to stand.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which brought the case, said Mr Williams became "increasingly loud and aggressive" during the evening, throwing pizza around a pub garden before an Uber driver refused to take him home.
Further allegations relate to comments made while Mr Williams was working on a case involving a Jewish security charity. A Jewish colleague told the tribunal that Mr Williams said antisemitism "did not exist" and claimed there was only security outside synagogues "because they have lots of money".
At the firm's Christmas party later that year, Mr Williams is alleged to have told the same colleague: "You only got your job because you are Jewish" and "you Jewish people think you're better than everyone else". He is also said to have referred to another colleague's "big Jew hands".
The tribunal also heard allegations of sexual misconduct. Following a Christmas lunch at the Dorchester Hotel, Mr Williams is accused of slapping one female colleague on the inner thigh and touching her and another colleague on the bottom while in a bar later that day.
The SRA said the behaviour amounted to bullying, harassment and discrimination, and accused Mr Williams of failing to uphold public trust and confidence in the legal profession.
It is understood that the tribunal has imposed a 12-month suspension, with a full judgment yet to be published.
Mr Williams, now a partner at Healys, denied making any antisemitic comments or ever using the racist slur. He admitted suggesting that two colleagues should sleep together, but said he did not recall using the words alleged and had no recollection of touching anyone inappropriately.
A spokesman for SBP Law said: "Immediately these events were brought to our attention, we suspended Mr Williams, and upon our investigation of matters, he resigned from the practice. We do not tolerate such conduct."
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Tuesday, February 24, 2026
One of the youths arrested in Bnei Brak riot is grandson of two Hasidic leaders
A senior Agudat Yisrael source confirms that a minor arrested on suspicion of overturning a police car during a riot in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak earlier this month is the grandson of two senior Hasidic leaders, both of whom are members of the faction's ruling Council of Torah Sages.
According to Channel 13 reporter Yoeli Brim, the unnamed 15-year old suspect is the grandson of both Rabbi Eliezer Hager, the Rebbe of Seret-Vizhnitz, and Chaim Shaul Taub, the Rebbe of Modzitz.
"It is true that he was arrested," the source tells The Times of Israel, adding that "he denied any connection with the matter" and was subsequently ordered released from custody by the court.
The riot, during which a patrol car was overturned and a police motorcycle was set ablaze, saw police rescued two IDF servicewomen from a mob of hundreds of Haredim.
Most of those arrested following the riot were released the next day, although according to the ultra-Orthodox news site Kikar Hashabbat, the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Sunday extended the remand of one another suspect in the overturning of the car, who remains in custody.
The involvement of the grandson of two of the Agudat Yisrael party's spiritual leaders would appear to undercut Haredi politicians' claims that the rioters were from an extreme minority that does not represent the mainstream ultra-Orthodox community. Critics have linked the violence to increasingly harsh rhetoric by mainstream Haredi leaders, although several prominent rabbis have banned attending demonstrations.
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Miracle Amid Flames: Fire Erupts at Rabbi Elimelech's Tomb in Lizhensk, No Injuries Reported
A fire broke out earlier today at the tomb of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk in Leżajsk (known as Lizhensk in Yiddish), a revered pilgrimage site for Hasidic Jews worldwide.
The incident occurred during an educational tour involving approximately 300 girls, leading to panic but miraculously resulting in no injuries despite the large crowd present.
Reports indicate the blaze was triggered either by gas-filled balloons exploding unexpectedly or by hundreds of candles lit in a nearby hospitality tent set up for visitors.
The fire caused severe damage to an adjacent guest housing structure and a tent providing food and refreshments, but emergency responders arrived swiftly and contained the flames.
Baruch Hashem, all individuals escaped unharmed, with many describing the outcome as a "miracle" given the potential for catastrophe amid the crowded site.
While today's event was not during the yahrzeit peak, the site remains a focal point for prayer and tours year-round.
Similar fires have occurred in the past, including a 2018 incident during the yahrzeit caused by candles, which also resulted in damage but no injuries.
Local authorities are investigating the exact cause, with initial assessments pointing to the hazards of open flames or flammable decorations in enclosed spaces.
The community has expressed gratitude for the swift response and the absence of casualties, viewing it as divine protection at this holy site.
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Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Mayor warns ultra-Orthodox mall owners against undermining city’s secular identity
The mayor of the southern city of Arad issued a formal warning to the new owners of the city's main shopping mall on Monday after reports that tenants were asked to remove images of women from storefronts and kiosks.
Mayor Yair Maayan sent a letter to members of the Ger Hasidic community — an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect known for its strict religious observance — who recently purchased the mall.
In the letter, he said the municipality "views with severity the attempt by the buyers to change the character of a mall that serves a secular city, in an effort to alter the city's character. An attempt to exclude women from the public sphere in violation of the law."
For years, Arad, a small desert city in southern Israel, has been the site of tensions between members of the Ger community and longtime secular residents over the city's identity, land use and political influence.
Last month, the dispute intensified after Arad Mall was sold in a 40 million shekel (about $13 million) deal from the Ashtrom Group and a group of local shop owners to businessmen Menachem Kain and Simcha Greenboim, who are affiliated with Ger.
Soon after the sale, shop owners reported that images of women were removed, mannequins were dressed more modestly in line with ultra-Orthodox standards of dress and the background music was changed.
In a warning letter to mall management, the city's legal adviser, attorney Haim Shiman, wrote that any demand to remove images of women constitutes a "serious, improper and unlawful instruction."
"The municipality or anyone on its behalf will not ignore this," Shiman wrote. "This directive directly harms human dignity, gender equality and the fabric of public life in the State of Israel in general and in the city of Arad in particular, which is a secular and liberal city."
Shiman added that "systematic exclusion of women from the public sphere, whether under the guise of sensitivity, modesty or any other euphemism, is not an innocent cultural matter but severe discrimination." He said such actions normalize the erasure of women and subject public space to extremist interpretations that conflict with Israeli law and democratic values.
Under Israeli law, businesses that provide services to the public, including shopping malls, are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of gender. The municipality demanded that mall owners rescind any such instructions, restore any visual materials removed for those reasons and clarify that the new management does not promote gender-based exclusion.
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Monday, February 16, 2026
Suspect in mass shooting at Bondi Beach Jewish festival appears in court
A man accused of killing 15 people in a mass shooting at a Jewish festival on Sydney's Bondi Beach appeared in court Monday for the first time since his release from the hospital.
Naveed Akram appeared in Sydney's Downing Center Local Court via a video link from the maximum security Goulburn Correctional Center 200 kilometers (120 miles) away.
He did not enter pleas to the charges against him, including murder and committing a terrorist act. The brief court appearance focused on extending a gag order that suppresses the identities of victims and survivors of the attack who have not chosen to identify themselves publicly.
Defense lawyer Ben Archbold told reporters outside court that Akram was doing as well as could be expected and it was too early to indicate any intention of pleas.
Akram, 24, was wounded and his father Sajid Akram, 50, was killed in a gunbattle with police after the attack on a Hanukkah celebration at the beach Dec. 14.
The younger Akram is next scheduled to appear in court April 9.
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Holocaust survivor ordered to leave Spanish museum
Three elderly Israeli women, one of them a Holocaust survivor, were escorted out of Madrid's Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía on February 14 after other visitors verbally confronted them for visibly identifying as Jewish, according to the Spanish news outlet Okdiario.
Okdiario reported that tensions began when museumgoers noticed the women carrying a small Israeli flag and wearing a Star of David necklace.
Several visitors reacted angrily and shouted insults at the women, including accusations that they were "crazy child killers."
Rather than removing those who initiated the harassment, museum staff instructed security personnel to escort the Israeli women out of the building.
During the exchange, a security guard told the women they had to leave because "some visitors were disturbed that they are Jewish," according to accounts of the incident.
The guard also instructed them to hide their Jewish symbols, saying such items could not be displayed inside the museum.
The women were accompanied by a Spanish companion who disputed that claim.
She argued that Spanish law permits the wearing of religious symbols and the carrying of national flags in public institutions, and said the women had not violated any museum rules.
"It is unacceptable for someone to be punished in this way without having broken any law, in an official institution supported by the Spanish government," she later said.
The Reina Sofía operates under Spain's Culture Ministry and is one of the country's most prominent state-affiliated cultural institutions.
During the Israel-Hamas war, the museum presented an exhibition titled "From the River to the Sea" in solidarity with Palestinians and has also hosted anti-Israel demonstrations.
No action was reported against those who allegedly shouted insults or initiated the confrontation.
The museum has not publicly detailed any disciplinary measures taken against the visitors who allegedly shouted insults at the women.
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Thursday, February 12, 2026
Trump invited to Jerusalem to receive Israel Prize
Minister of Education Yoav Kisch on Tuesday invited U.S. President Donald Trump to attend the Israel Prize Award Ceremony in Jerusalem on April 22, at which he will be awarded the Israel Prize for Lifetime Special Contribution to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
"This evening I sent a formal invitation to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to participate in the Israel Prize ceremony," Kisch posted to X.
He included a copy of the letter in his post.
Kisch's ministry oversees the prizes, which are awarded annually on Israel's Independence Day.
On Dec. 29, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Trump would receive the Israel Prize in the category of "Unique Contribution to the Jewish People."
It is the first time a foreign leader will receive the award.
"[It was] a historic decision that expresses recognition of his extraordinary contribution and its lasting impact on the Jewish people in Israel and around the world," Kisch posted.
"Your presence in Jerusalem to personally receive the Israel Prize would be a moment of profound significance for the people of Israel and a powerful expression of the deep and enduring friendship between our two nations," Kisch wrote in the letter.
"On behalf of the Government of Israel and the citizens of the State of Israel, I would be deeply honored if you would accept this invitation," he continued.
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Monday, February 09, 2026
ADL Rebukes Dr. Oz Over Claims Tying Hasidic Jews to Health Fraud
The ADL is sharply criticizing Dr. Mehmet Oz after comments he made about New York State's Chasidic community in a recent television interview, saying his remarks reinforce classic antisemitic themes at a time of rising hate crimes.
In a discussion about health care fraud investigations, Oz, who currently leads the federal agency overseeing Medicare and Medicaid, cited cases in Minnesota and then pointed to Hasidic Jews in New York as an additional example. The comparison was framed as an effort to show that fraud is not limited to one state. However, the group says the way he singled out a visible religious minority effectively cast Hasidic Jews as uniquely tied to criminal schemes rather than as full and ordinary participants in American life.
Advocates argue that portraying Hasidic communities as foreign, suspect, or collectively responsible for wrongdoing mirrors long-standing antisemitic narratives. They warn that such messaging can fuel bias and harassment, especially against visibly Orthodox Jews who already face elevated levels of street harassment and violence.
The organization linked Oz's comments to a broader climate in New York City, where police data for January show a dramatic year-over-year rise in reported antisemitic incidents. Jewish community leaders contend that when public figures highlight specific Jewish groups in the context of crime, it can help normalize hostility and make members of those communities feel less safe in their own neighborhoods.
Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and former Republican Senate candidate, has increasingly used his platform to weigh in on political issues. His critics say that taking on a senior federal health role brings added responsibility to speak carefully about vulnerable populations, particularly when discussing law enforcement and fraud. They are calling on him to clarify or retract his remarks and urging other officials to avoid broad generalizations about religious or ethnic communities when debating policy.
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Wednesday, February 04, 2026
Haredi Jew assaulted in Zurich
A 26-year-old Haredi man was the victim of an antisemitic attack in Zurich on Monday night. Around 8:15 PM, Zurich city police received a report that a Haredi man had been attacked by another individual.
Officers who arrived at the scene found several people preventing a man from fleeing. The detained man had attacked the 26-year-old Haredi Jew with his fists without any provocation from the victim. Thanks to the help of several passersby – including a Hasidic man and another non-Jewish individual – the attacker was held until Zurich police arrived. The attacker repeatedly shouted offensive and antisemitic remarks, even in the presence of police officers. The Haredi victim sustained minor injuries in the incident.
The 40-year-old Muslim man from Kosovo, known to police and without a permanent address in Switzerland, was arrested. Additional police investigations are currently underway. After an initial investigation, the suspect was transferred to the Zurich Public Prosecutor's Office.
In a police statement, officials said, "The attack was not random but specifically targeted a Jewish person." This incident is part of a series of antisemitic attacks that have increased in Switzerland since October 2023. Jews are suffering from insults and physical violence solely because of their Jewish identity.
According to a report by the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG), the victim suffered abrasions on his body and neck.
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Monday, February 02, 2026
Hasidic World Mourns as Lelov-Piotrkow Rabbi Yissachar Dov Biderman Dies Suddenly in Mikvah
Shock and grief swept through the Hasidic community on Sunday following the sudden passing of Rabbi Yissachar Dov Biderman, the Lelov Rebbe, who collapsed inside a mikveh in Jerusalem and could not be revived. He was 84.
The incident occurred at a mikveh in Jerusalem, where concerns were raised after the Rebbe remained inside longer than usual. Community members entered and found him unresponsive. Emergency medical teams from Magen David Adom rushed to the scene and carried out prolonged resuscitation efforts, but he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Rabbi Biderman was born in Tel Aviv and was the son of Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Biderman of Lelov. After the passing of his brother, Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Biderman, he assumed leadership of the Lelov Hasidic dynasty, heading the Kedushat Mordechai Lelov beit midrash on Bar Ilan Street in Jerusalem.
Known for his quiet devotion, humility, and steadfast leadership, Rabbi Biderman was regarded as a central spiritual figure within the Lelov community. Tributes and condolences have continued to pour in as preparations for his funeral and succession arrangements move forward.
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Wednesday, January 28, 2026
NY judge cuts sentence of Hasidic therapist imprisoned for child sex abuse
Nechemya Weberman, an unlicensed therapist in the New York City Hasidic community who was imprisoned for abuse in 2013, has his sentence cut.
Weberman was initially sentenced to 103 years in prison in a high-profile case for the city's Jewish community. The sentence was reduced months later to 50 years.
Weberman was convicted of 59 counts, including sustained sexual abuse of a child, endangering the welfare of a child and sexual abuse.
Judge Matthew J. D'Emic of the Kings County Supreme Court in Brooklyn cuts that sentence further, resentencing Weberman to 18 years in prison, meaning he can be released five years from now.
Weberman also admitted to his crimes and apologized to the victim for the first time.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez backed a move to issue a new sentence for Weberman last year. An array of Jewish leaders also backed his release in a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul that was first reported by The Times of Israel in November.
The letter argued against Weberman's "excessive sentence" and said he was a "scapegoat," while condemning his crimes.
The Brooklyn district attorney's office said last year that his sentence was "wildly outside the range for other defendants convicted of the same crimes."
"This was a horrific case and we stand by the conviction, which warranted a significant prison term. But the extreme 103-year sentence in a politicized environment was excessive and unjust, and with today's proceeding the defendant admitted his guilt, apologized to the victim for his crimes, and the court resentenced him within the normal range for this type of criminal conduct," a spokesperson for the district attorney's office says.
"Accountability does not end upon the defendant's eventual release: he will be a registered sex offender for the remainder of his life and subject to monitoring for a decade to ensure community safety. We will continue to vigorously prosecute sex offenders and stand with survivors, mindful to do equal justice based on the facts of each case," the spokesperson says.
Za'akah, a nonprofit that supports Jewish community survivors of abuse, expresses "outrage" over the resentencing and adds that Weberman's victim opposed the move.
"This decision is a devastating betrayal of survivors. It tells them that the system meant to protect them is willing to prioritize their abusers over their safety and justice. Nechemya Weberman's early release endangers the community," says the director of Za'akah, Asher Lovy. "Justice must never be compromised by community pressure or political considerations. We are outraged by this decision."
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Tuesday, January 27, 2026
NYC DA appears poised to try to help free infamous pedophile, critics claim
Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez appears poised to try to help free a convicted pedophile from the Hasidic community, critics say — and things got so heated about it at the State of the State address that he and a foe had to be separated.
Activists opposing the upcoming resentencing of disgraced former prominent Hasidic school mental-health counselor Nechemya Weberman said they fear that the DA will ask for a new sentence of time served, effectively freeing the convicted sicko.
Hasidic victim-advocates claimed that Gonzalez is clearly showing his hand about what he intends to do by posing for pictures with Weberman supporters and icing out the victim so harshly that she was forced to hire her own advocate lawyer.
Weberman, a former counselor at a Williamsburg Yeshiva, was convicted on 59 counts and originally sentenced to 103 years in prison for repeatedly sexually abusing then-12-year-old Rivky Deutsch for three years.
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Leading Hasidic rabbi tells followers to stop taking part in anti-draft protests
A leading Satmar rabbi has instructed his followers to stop taking part in protests against military conscription, after two ultra-Orthodox teenagers were killed this month when they were struck by buses during demonstrations.
Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, one of the two spiritual leaders of the Satmar Hasidic movement, told followers that participation in protests and road blockages posed a serious danger. Speaking over the weekend to community members, he said students from Satmar institutions in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh must not join such demonstrations.
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Thursday, January 22, 2026
Hasidic Dean Twerski of Hofstra Law Wins At JITC’s 2nd Jewish Media Awards
At JITC's 2nd Jewish Media Awards, we were proud to honor Hasidic Jew Professor Aaron D. Twerski with a Jewish Media All-Star Award.
A leading legal scholar and educator, Professor Aaron Twerski is the Irwin and Jill Cohen Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School, a former dean at Hofstra University School of Law, and one of the most influential voices in tort law today.
In his acceptance speech, he spoke candidly about breaking stereotypes — challenging assumptions about what Orthodox Jews look like, how they think, and where they belong.
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Brooklyn judge allows Hasidic school principal’s discrimination case to proceed against NYC Department of Education
A longtime New York City school principal's lawsuit alleging religious discrimination will partially move forward after a federal judge ruled that parts of her case against the Department of Education (DOE) can proceed to trial.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan issued the decision in Gahfi v. New York City Department of Education et al., granting in part and denying in part the defendants' motion for summary judgment. The plaintiff, Hadar Gahfi, who practices Hasidic Judaism, alleges that DOE officials discriminated against her because of her faith and retaliated against her following a workplace injury.
Gahfi has worked for DOE for more than 25 years, including 15 years as assistant principal of P.S. 191 in Brooklyn's District 17. In 2018, she was promoted to principal and began a mandatory probationary period under New York education law. During her tenure, Gahfi claims that DOE failed to replace her former assistant principal position, leaving her without necessary administrative support.
The dispute escalated after Gahfi sustained an injury at work and later applied for paid leave under the city's Line of Duty Injury (LODI) policy. Community Superintendent Shenean Lindsay, a named defendant, denied the request, citing Gahfi's failure to report the injury within 24 hours as required by policy. Instead, Gahfi was placed on unpaid leave and forced to use hundreds of accrued vacation days to maintain her salary.
While on leave, Gahfi received two letters from Lindsay extending her probationary period by one year, citing concerns about her leadership effectiveness. Gahfi contends that these actions were discriminatory and retaliatory, linked to her religious identity and medical condition.
Judge Cogan previously dismissed some of Gahfi's claims, including her federal hostile work environment and state retaliation allegations. However, in the latest ruling, he found that sufficient factual disputes remain for a jury to consider on certain discrimination and retaliation counts under federal and state civil rights laws.
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Tuesday, January 20, 2026
The Hasidic chicken man of Crown Heights
The chicken coop is located about 300 feet from Lubavitcher World Headquarters in Brooklyn. It's part of The Crown Heights Homestead, which, according to Google Maps, is "permanently closed,"
Don't believe everything you read on the Internet. The Hasidic homestead was very much in operation when I visited on a recent frigid weekday afternoon. Emerging from the Kingston Avenue subway station, I walked over to the four-story building that is home to Daniel Yeroshalmi and his family. Yeroshalmi, 21, is a member of Chabad.
He showed me the 20 hens he keeps in his cement backyard and I watched as he retrieved a single egg from the chicken coop he built.
"I got a lot more eggs when they were younger," Yeroshalmi told me. "But as they get older they lay a lot less."
Built from bookshelves Yeroshalmi salvaged from a yeshiva renovation, the chicken coop is a demonstration of his tech chops, which extend into video production, social media and security surveillance. The insulated coop has an automatic door that goes up in the morning and down at night.
As I stood next to him and marveled at the chickens scurrying about, I felt my foot sink into something mushy. It turned out to be a huge piece of squash that had been left on the ground for the chickens to eat.
A local yeshiva donates squash and other produce that he feeds to the flock.
"Whatever they have that's going bad, they give to me," Yeroshalmi explained.
The urban homesteader also composts the yeshiva donations, as evidenced by a huge pile of eggplants and cucumbers decomposing in his yard. At the base of the compost pile on the day I visited were several esrogim, the yellow citron used during the holiday of Sukot.
"A lot of Crown Heights people don't know what compost is. They just wonder why I'm piling up vegetables in my front yard," he said.
His homestead may be Hasidic but the soil is too acidic to grow corn and wheat. Yeroshalmi tried.
He did grow 10-foot tall sunflowers. And his garden has yielded tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, a veritable Israeli salad. There are cherry and fig trees, some of which were propagated from the branches of fig trees his family brought to America from Iran over the years. One of the fig trees is a variety known as the Chicago Cold Hardy Fig, but Yeroshalmi, who davens three times a day, is following the commandment known as orlah that forbids consuming a tree's fruit during the first three years.
Yeroshalmi's quest to make green things flourish in this Kings County soil started early. A 2012 Google Maps photo shows him planting radishes in the front lawn when he was seven.
"I think there's more of a connection between Judaism and plants than people think about," he told me.
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