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16+ min ago (455+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 802 JTA " The Sydney Opera House was illuminated by a large menorah Monday night, a solemn tribute to the 15 lives lost the previous day in an antisemitic terror attack that rocked Australia's Jewish community. The projected menorah, displayed on the iconic opera house's largest sail, was called for by the premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns. "Lighting the Opera House is a simple but powerful gesture: a message to the world that we cherish our Jewish community, that we honour their courage, and that we stand with them in solidarity and love," Minns said in a statement. "Tonight, those candles are a symbol of resilience and a reminder that even in darkness, we choose to stand with one another." The light of the menorah was one of several acts of remembrance that sprung up across Australia…...

25+ min ago (202+ words) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited on Tuesday with Ahmed al Ahmed, the bystander who wrestled a gun from one of the Bondi Beach terrorists, at the hospital where he is being treated for his injuries. Ahmed, 43, who had been shot several times in the shoulder, is the son of refugees who recently arrived in Sydney from Syria, according to Australia's national broadcaster ABC. "It was a great honor to meet Ahmed al Ahmed. He is a true Australian hero. He's very humble," Albanese told reporters following the hospital visit. The Prime Minister said Ahmed had been at Bondi Beach on Sunday with family and friends, attempting to get a cup of coffee when the attack, targeting a Hanukkah celebration, began. "He then found himself at a moment where people were being shot in front of him," Albanese recounted. "He…...

32+ min ago (324+ words) " " " | December 15, 2025 The story of Reuven Morrison is far greater than most people realize. At the moment of the attack, street camera footage shows that Reuven did not run from the shooters to save his own life " he ran toward them to save the lives of others. The story of Reuven Morrison, 62, a member of the Chabad community in Australia, and one of the 15 murdered in yesterday's terror attack in Sydney, may Hashem avenge their blood, is far greater than most people realize. Publicized street camera footage from the moment of the attack shows that Reuven did not run from the shooters " he ran toward them to save lives. In the video, Reuven is seen approaching, carrying a stone in his hand, to distract and confront one of the terrorists. He managed to delay them for a few moments as the…...

46+ min ago (331+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 802 Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent. Over a year since he fled to Moscow after his regime was toppled by rebel forces, former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad is taking ophthalmology lessons and enjoying a luxurious lifestyle with his family in Russia, according to a Monday report by The Guardian, citing sources familiar with his situation. Assad, a London-trained ophthalmologist, is currently "studying Russian and brushing up on his ophthalmology again," a friend of the Assad family said in the report, adding that the ex-ruler is potentially aiming to practice medicine among Moscow's elite. "It's a passion of his, he obviously doesn't need the money. Even before the war in Syria began, he used to regularly practice his ophthalmology in Damascus." Assad was deposed in November 2024 after 14 years of civil war in Syria…...

51+ min ago (45+ words) Australian PM Anthony Albanese says the Bondi Beach shooting was motivated by "Islamic State ideology," calling it an act of hate and confirming authorities are investigating further. Australian PM: Bondi Beach attack driven by ISIS ideology Australian PM: Bondi Beach attack driven by ISIS ideology...

59+ min ago (219+ words) " " " | December 14, 2025 R" Mendel Gopin of Kfar Chabad, who served as a mashpia in numerous mosdos in Eretz Yisrael and was mekarev many Yidden to the Rebbe and to Chassidus, passed away on the first night of Chanukah, 25 Kislev.He was 76 years old. A descendant of Reb Mordechai, brother of the Alter Rebbe, he was born in Paris following World War II to Reb Boruch and Gneshe Kaminetzki Gopin. He was raised in Kfar Chabad and studied in Tomchei Temimim Lod under Reb Shlomo Chaim. In 1967, he traveled to the Rebbe and learned in 770 for several years. He merited numerous yechiduyos with the Rebbe, including one in which the Rebbe emphasized the great zechus he had that both of his grandfathers were chassidim of the Rebbe Rashab and learned in Lubavitch. In recent years, he served as a mashpia in numerous…...

1+ hour, 9+ min ago (433+ words) By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego Articles below culled from a variety of news sources and messages to San Diego Jewish World. At a vigil near the site of the shooting, hundreds of flower bouquets were left in a massive pile on Monday." Police removed from the vigil Michelle Berkon, an anti-Zionist Jewish activist who had garbed herself in a Palestinian kaffiyeh. In contrast, Trump's living three Democratic predecessors as U.S. President " Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton posted traditional condolences on social media. Joe Biden: "Jill and I send our deepest condolences to everyone whose lives were touched by Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner's extraordinary contributions. We take solace in knowing their work will live on for generations to come." Rob Reiner, the son of comedian Carl Reiner, debuted in 1971 as an actor in All in the Family,…...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (474+ words) Jewish hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman donated $66,500 to a GoFundMe page for al Ahmed. A crowdfunding campaign to support Ahmed al Ahmed, the Muslim fruit seller shot after disarming one of the men who was attacking a Hanukkah event in Sydney, generated $1.3 in its first day " with the largest donation coming from the American Jewish billionaire Bill Ackman. Ackman gave $66,000 to the GoFundMe for al Ahmed and promoted the campaign to his followers, tweeting, "This is the verified link for the Bondi hero." In a viral video on Sunday, shortly after the attack on Bondi Beach that left 15 killed and over 40 injured, al Ahmed, 43, can be seen crouching behind a car before jumping into action as one of the terrorists shoots a firearm at the Jewish celebration. Al Ahmed, a Syrian-born father of two who was unarmed, then jumped on…...

1+ hour, 21+ min ago (118+ words) The lower house of Germany's parliament experienced a major malfunction in its email system, raising suspicions of a cyberattack, during talks in Berlin aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Financial Times reported, citing three senior members of parliament.According to the report, lawmakers were unable to access their email accounts for about four hours. The lower house of Germany's parliament experienced a major malfunction in its email system, raising suspicions of a cyberattack, during talks in Berlin aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Financial Times reported, citing three senior members of parliament. According to the report, lawmakers were unable to access their email accounts for about four hours....

1+ hour, 32+ min ago (595+ words) Increasingly, Sephardi and Mizrahi children are enrolling in Jewish day schools and camps in Los Angeles and New York. As a new study commissioned by the nonprofit JIMENA, Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa, shows, these institutions are responding with inclusive programs " but there are still improvements to be made. According to the study, 79% of educators report feeling comfortable teaching about other cultures, but only 31% feel confident in their knowledge of both Sephardi and Mizrahi culture and history. Even though71% say they want to learn more, only17% report that their schools provide training or the opportunities to make it happen. The New York assessment was funded by UJA Federation of New York and received IRB approval through Yeshiva University. It was authored by Elana Riback Rand, PhD, and Rosov Consulting. The LA assessment was funded by the Los Angeles…...