New York
Angelo Robinson, 61, a career criminal with five prior felony convictions and over 20 years in state prison, continued targeting kosher supermarkets in Borough Park
on Shabbos and Jewish holidays when stores are closed and alarms disabled. On October 16, NYPD detectives arrested him for burglarizing Kosher Korner on 16th Avenue, stealing $30,000 in cash and checks, and Jerusalem Glatt Kosher on 13th Avenue, where he allegedly made off with $107,000. Surveillance footage captured Robinson prying open safes and stuffing cash into a backpack. Despite facing charges of burglary, grand larceny, and criminal mischief, he walked free in the Jerusalem Glatt case after a delayed fingerprint match from the state crime lab. Prosecutors discovered the error only after Robinson’s arrest in the second heist. The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is probing links to three additional kosher-store break-ins on Yom Kippur and Sukkos. Community leaders praised the arrest but demanded bail reform, noting Robinson was released without bail under current laws. He remains held on $50,000 bail for the Kosher Korner case.
Hundreds of mourners, including NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Chief of Department Michael LiPetri, and Borough Park Shomrim founder Yanky Meyer, gathered Monday at Shomrim’s 16th Avenue headquarters in Brooklyn for the funeral of Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass, the NYPD’s longest-serving chaplain, who died Sunday at 89. For 59 years, Rabbi Kass rode with patrol cars, counseled grieving officers, and delivered invocations at every promotion and memorial since 1966. Tisch called him “the soul of the NYPD,” while Hatzalah coordinator Heshy Jacob credited Kass with saving countless lives through crisis mediation. The casket, draped in an NYPD flag, was escorted by motorcycle honor guard to Mount Judah Cemetery in Queens. Mayor Eric Adams ordered all precinct flags lowered, and a moment of silence was observed citywide at 10 a.m. Rabbi Kass is survived by his wife Miriam, three children, and twelve grandchildren.
The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a full ground stop at John F. Kennedy International Airport last Thursday, halting all departures and holding inbound flights at origin airports due to acute air traffic controller staffing shortages at the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility. The stop, effective until 7:30 p.m. ET, compounded high winds gusting over 40 mph that reduced arrival rates to 24 per hour. Over 300 flights faced delays averaging two hours, with 85 cancellations by evening. Similar restrictions hit Newark and LaGuardia, triggering a regional cascade affecting 1,200 flights. FAA officials attributed the crisis to the 33-day government shutdown leaving 13,000 controllers unpaid, prompting elevated sick calls and fatigue.
Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency after the USDA confirmed SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans—including 16 million children—will freeze nationwide due to exhausted contingency funds in the 38-day government shutdown. Hochul committed an additional $65 million in state emergency food relief, bringing New York’s total to $106 million since October, to sustain electronic benefit transfers for 3.1 million New York recipients through December. The funds will flow through the Emergency Food Program and Nourish New York network, stocking 2,600 pantries and soup kitchens statewide.
U.S.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney died Monday night at age 84 due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, surrounded by his wife Lynne, daughters Liz and Mary, and other family members. The family statement praised him as a “great and good man” who served as White House chief of staff, Wyoming congressman, defense secretary, and vice president under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. Cheney, a key architect of post-9/11 policies including the Iraq invasion, wielded unprecedented influence in expanding executive power and the war on terror. President Trump called him a “true American patriot,” while former President Bush described the loss as “a sorrow to his friends.” Tributes highlighted his resilience through five heart attacks and a 2012 transplant.
Representative Nancy Pelosi, the 85-year-old Democratic icon and former House Speaker, informed close allies she will not seek reelection to her San Francisco-based seat in 2026, ending a 38-year congressional career that made her the first woman to wield the gavel. Multiple California and national Democratic sources confirmed the decision, with Pelosi planning a formal announcement after Tuesday’s special election on Proposition 50, a ballot measure she championed to counter Republican mid-decade redistricting in states like Texas. Pelosi, who filed initial reelection paperwork in November 2024, has faced mounting primary challenges from progressives like state Sen. Scott Wiener and former congressional staffer Saikat Chakrabarti. Her exit clears the path for a competitive Democratic primary in the deep-blue district while removing a lightning rod for GOP attacks on insider trading and age.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee filed a federal challenging California’s AB 715, a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom last month to combat antisemitism in K-12 public schools. The suit, brought on behalf of teachers, students, and the Los Angeles Educators for Justice in Palestine, argues the measure is unconstitutionally vague for failing to define antisemitism, potentially chilling classroom discussions on Israel, Zionism, or Palestinian perspectives. Plaintiffs claim educators self-censor broadly to avoid penalties. The law establishes an Office of Civil Rights with an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator to develop training and resources, requiring districts to address discriminatory content. Supporters, including the Anti-Defamation League, cite a surge in antisemitic incidents, with 860 reported at non-Jewish K-12 schools nationwide last year.
The Trump administration announced it will partially fund November SNAP benefits using $4.65 billion from the program’s contingency fund, providing roughly 50 percent of normal allotments to over 42 million recipients after federal judges ordered the USDA to tap emergency reserves amid the 34-day government shutdown. The decision, detailed in court filings, depletes the fund entirely, leaving no resources for new applicants, disaster aid, or Puerto Rico and American Samoa nutrition programs. USDA Deputy Under Secretary Patrick Penn stated that calculating and issuing reduced payments could take weeks to months in some states due to administrative hurdles, with retroactive full payments promised once Congress reopens the government. President Trump called it an “honor” to provide relief, though critics like Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin accused the administration of prolonging hardship for political leverage.
Two Dearborn, Michigan, residents, Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud, both 20-year-old U.S. citizens, were charged with receiving, transferring, and conspiring to transfer firearms knowing they would be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism. A 73-page FBI affidavit details an ISIS-inspired plot to launch a mass shooting at LGBTQ-friendly bars on Halloween, codenamed “pumpkin.” The pair, along with a juvenile and unnamed co-conspirators, allegedly scouted venues, trained at gun ranges, and discussed replicating the 2015 Paris attacks that killed 130. Agents seized three AR-15-style rifles, a shotgun, pistols, over 1,600 rounds of ammunition, tactical vests, and forced-reset triggers from homes and a storage unit. Encrypted chats revealed pledges to ISIS and debates over timing, with one stating, “We only get one chance.” FBI Director Kash Patel praised the Joint Terrorism Task Force for averting disaster.
Mark Goldfeder, CEO of the National Jewish Advocacy Center and a prominent Orthodox rabbi representing Jewish and Zionist causes in U.S. courts, resigned from the Heritage Foundation’s National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. In an open letter posted on X, Goldfeder cited Heritage President Kevin Roberts’ defense of Tucker Carlson’s friendly interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes, whose Holocaust denial and calls for Jewish persecution are well-documented. Goldfeder wrote, “I cannot serve under someone who thinks Nazis are worth debating,” arguing that free speech protects expression but does not require amplifying hate. Roberts had called Carlson a “close friend” and labeled critics a “venomous coalition,” while rejecting cancellation of Fuentes despite abhorring his views. The resignation, amid broader conservative backlash including from Sens. Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell, highlights tensions over red lines on antisemitism within MAGA circles. Heritage later denounced Fuentes explicitly but stood by Carlson.
Kimberly-Clark agreed to acquire Kenvue, maker of Tylenol, in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $48.7 billion, creating a consumer health giant with projected 2025 net revenues of $32 billion. The deal combines Kimberly-Clark’s Huggies, Kleenex, and Kotex brands with Kenvue’s Tylenol, Band-Aid, Listerine, and Neutrogena portfolios, yielding 10 billion-dollar brands. Kenvue shareholders will receive $3.50 cash plus 0.14625 Kimberly-Clark shares per share, totaling $21.01 based on October 31 closing prices. Post-closing, Kimberly-Clark holders will own 54 percent, Kenvue shareholders 46 percent. CEO Mike Hsu will lead the Irving, Texas-headquartered entity, expecting $1.9 billion in cost synergies and $500 million in revenue gains within three years. The merger, unanimously board-approved, awaits shareholder and regulatory nods for a second-half 2026 close.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 on Friday night, clinching back-to-back World Series titles for the first time since the Yankees in 1999-2000. The Dodgers swept Milwaukee in the NLCS and overcame a Toronto squad that led the AL in runs scored. Celebrations erupted across Los Angeles, with a parade set along Figueroa Street. The victory marks L.A.’s ninth championship and the first MLB championship repeat since the New York Yankees three-peated in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Israel
Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, Israel’s former Military Advocate General, was arrested after admitting she authorized the August 2024 leak of surveillance footage showing reservists abusing a Palestinian detainee at a detention facility. The video, broadcast on Channel 12, depicted soldiers shielding the assault with riot gear, fueling global outrage and far-right protests that stormed the base in July 2024. Tomer-Yerushalmi stated the release countered “false propaganda” against military prosecutors investigating the incident, where five soldiers face charges. She vanished Sunday, leaving a note and her car running near Tel Aviv’s Hatzuk Beach, prompting a massive search; police found her unharmed hours later but missing her phone. Arrested overnight Sunday, she faces fraud, breach of trust, obstruction of justice, and abuse of office. A Tel Aviv judge extended her detention Monday until Wednesday, citing evidence interference risks. Former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomesh was also detained for allegedly concealing the leak. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the affair Israel’s worst PR blow since its founding, while Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed sanctions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized an immediate Israeli humanitarian delegation to Jamaica in response to Hurricane Rafael, a Category 4 storm that killed 47 people, injured over 1,200, and destroyed 70 percent of homes in the eastern parishes. The 42-member team, coordinated by IsraAID and the Foreign Ministry, includes search-and-rescue specialists from United Hatzalah, trauma surgeons from Sheba Medical Center, and engineers carrying water-purification units and 10 tons of medical supplies. The convoy departed Ben Gurion Airport aboard an El Al cargo flight Tuesday evening, landing in Kingston Wednesday morning. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness welcomed the aid, noting Israel’s rapid response mirrors its 2010 earthquake assistance to Haiti. The delegation will establish a field hospital in St. Thomas parish and distribute 5,000 hygiene kits. This marks Israel’s third Caribbean disaster mission in 2025.
Tel Aviv will elect a new chief rabbi, ending an eight-year vacancy since Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau’s 2017 departure. The appointment committee convened for the first time November 3, unanimously scheduling the vote under former rabbinical judge Rabbi Yaakov Zamir. Members include Nesher Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Levy, Tel Aviv municipal representatives Rachel Dayan and Tal Tnaami, and ministry official Yonit Gispan. The process follows March reforms by former minister Michael Malkieli restoring local authority over city rabbi selections, criticized for prior centralization. Municipal rabbis oversee marriage licenses, kosher certifications, and burials for Jewish residents. Dozens of Israeli cities faced similar delays amid political disputes.
Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot achieved Israel’s first implantation of the EndoArt artificial cornea, restoring sight to a 72-year-old patient who had rejected three human donor transplants due to severe corneal edema. Developed by Ra’anana-based EyeYon Medical, the 50-micron bioinert film replaces only the cornea’s dysfunctional inner layer, requiring no tissue matching and eliminating rejection risks. Surgeons inserted the device through a 4-mm incision in a 30-minute outpatient procedure, with the patient reading large letters on an eye chart the same day. Lead ophthalmologist Dr. Shabtai Varsano stated, “This is a game-changer for the 1,800 Israelis on the corneal waiting list.” EyeYon CEO Nahum Ferera noted the EndoArt, already CE-approved in Europe, offers off-the-shelf availability versus donor shortages. Clinical trials showed 85 percent success at two years. The Health Ministry fast-tracked local approval, paving the way for dozens of procedures by year-end.
WORLD
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone alongside South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, marking his first overseas trip since confirmation. The two leaders toured Observation Post Ouellette, met U.S. 2nd Infantry Division soldiers, Republic of Korea Army troops, and United Nations Command guards, and received a briefing on the 1953 armistice line. The visit follows Trump’s October summit with Kim Jong-un in Singapore, where denuclearization talks stalled over sanctions relief. Hegseth also inspected a Joint Security Area tunnel and laid a wreath at the Bridge of No Return.
Ukraine received additional U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems from Germany, bolstering defenses against Russia’s relentless missile and drone barrages that target civilian infrastructure and energy grids. The sophisticated systems, the most effective against Russian ballistic missiles, arrive amid production constraints and stockpiling needs among NATO allies. In the latest overnight assault, Russian drones struck residential areas, killing a man and wounding five family members, including two children. The attack damaged homes and sparked fires, highlighting Moscow’s strategy to deprive civilians of heat and power ahead of winter.
Microsoft announced a $15.2 billion investment in the United Arab Emirates through 2029, with the majority allocated to expanding AI data centers and cloud infrastructure across Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The commitment includes $7.3 billion already invested from 2023 through year-end 2025 and $7.9 billion planned for 2026–2029, covering capital expenditures, operations, and workforce growth. Vice Chair Brad Smith stated the funds will primarily fuel AI demand. The Trump administration approved export licenses for over 60,000 Nvidia GPUs, including GB300 chips, enabling rapid deployment. The investment excludes the separate Stargate UAE supercomputer project and reinforces Microsoft’s $1.5 billion stake in G42.
U.S. Central Command and Qatar inaugurated the Middle East’s first bilateral Combined Command Post for air defense at Al Udeid Air Base with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper and Qatar Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jassim Al-Mannai. The facility, staffed by integrated American and Qatari personnel, enhances real-time coordination against aerial threats, particularly from Iran and its proxies. Cooper stated the post “will enhance regional security cooperation today and in months and years to come,” while Al-Mannai emphasized the “strategic relationship between Qatar and the United States.” Al Udeid, hosting 10,000 U.S. troops, serves as CENTCOM’s forward headquarters. The opening follows recent Iranian missile strikes on the base and underscores Qatar’s role as a key NATO non-member ally. Officials anticipate full operational integration by year-end, with joint exercises planned for 2026.