Sunday, October 5, 2025
ADL split marks FBI shift away from targeting right-wing violence, scholars say
https://www.axios.com/2025/10/04/trump-fbi-kash-patel-adl
The FBI's split with the Anti-Defamation League this week is the latest evidence that the Trump administration is moving away from targeting hate groups in favor of investigating what it deems left-wing violence, scholars told Axios.
Why it matters: The ADL had, since at least 1940, worked with law enforcement to combat extremism and antisemitism, which the Trump administration has maintained is still a priority.
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Manchester Jews say they feel let down by UK after Yom Kippur terror attack at synagogue
Hundreds of mourners gathered in wind and rain Friday for a vigil that combined grief and defiance in the remembrance of two men who were killed when a knife-wielding assailant attacked their synagogue in the English city of Manchester on Yom Kippur.
Standing behind the police cordon that still surrounds the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the city’s Crumpsall neighborhood, the mourners said they felt forgotten by a society that has allowed antisemitism in the UK to grow unchallenged over the last two years.
Politicians and other leaders have failed to reject anti-Jewish speech or protect Jews from hate crimes, they said.
Trump's statement thwarts Israeli plans as Hamas plays for time
Decision-makers in Jerusalem believed that Hamas intended to use Trump's proposal as a starting point for negotiations, without backing down from its long-standing demands. However, Trump's congratulatory statement to Hamas for accepting the framework cemented a new reality and effectively cornered Israel.
UK police say officers accidentally shot victim who died in synagogue attack
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-police-name-victims-manchester-synagogue-attack-2025-10-03
British police said on Friday they accidentally shot a victim who died in the attack on a synagogue in Manchester, as well as one of the survivors, as they attempted to stop an attacker who appeared to be wearing an explosive belt.
In Thursday's attack two men, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were killed after a British man of Syrian descent drove a car into pedestrians and then began stabbing people outside Manchester's Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Manchester’s Jewish community left reeling after deadly attack on holiest day
Jews make up a small minority of the UK population, with just under 300,000 people living in England and Wales identifying as Jewish during the most recent census in 2021.
But the community is feeling increasingly targeted, with the number of antisemitic incidents rising over the past decade and reaching new record levels last year, according to Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that monitors incidents and protects British Jews from terrorism and antisemitism.
50 Arabs attack Jews near Carmel in Southern Hebron Hills; Four injured
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/415787
Around 50 Arabs violently attacked six Jews near Carmel in the Southern Hebron Hills. Four Jews were hospitalized with head injuries; IDF forces restored order and made arrests.
US Treasury planning to mint $1 coins with Trump's image
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/us-treasury-planning-mint-1-coins-trumps-image
The Treasury Department is considering a plan to mint new $1 coins bearing President Donald Trump's image as part of a push to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America's founding, FOX Business has learned.
'Jews not allowed, can't stand you': Antisemitic sign at German store sparks outrage
Shop owner in Flensburg under fire after posting sign banning Jews from his store; officials and residents condemn act as blatant antisemitism reminiscent of Nazi era; Israeli envoy urges authorities to act 'before words once again turn into actions'
Modesty goes viral: Israeli women turn covered fashion into faith, empowerment, and online influence
https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/rkfmc4a2le
From boutique owners who gift dresses to women embracing modesty, to viral TikTok videos blending humor and holiness—modest fashion in Israel is booming, reflecting a broader spiritual shift since the war and a new cultural trend
‘Military-Style’ ICE Raid On Chicago Apartment Building Shows Escalation in Trump’s Crackdown
https://time.com/7323334/ice-raid-chicago-pritzker-trump
At around 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning, armed federal agents rappelled from helicopters onto the roof of a five-storey residential apartment in the South Shore of Chicago, according to witnesses and local reporting. As they worked their way through the building, they kicked down doors, threw flash bang grenades, and rounded up adults and screaming children alike, detaining them in zip-ties and arresting dozens, they said.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker accused the federal agents of separating children from their parents, zip-tying their hands, and detaining them in “dark vans” for hours. Videos show flashbangs erupting on the street, followed by residents of the apartment building—children among them—being led from the building. Photos of the aftermath show toys and shoes littering the apartment hallways, evidence of those pulled from their beds by the operation that included FBI and Homeland Security agents.
Chinuch: Divine Providence applies only to man
Does a victim have to forgive abuser if he asks three times?
Shulchan Aruch (C.M. 1:5): Even though that judges without the true semicha can not collect fines nevertheless they place the assailant in cherem until he placates the victim. As soon as he gives the victim an amount which appropriate then he is released from cherem (and this is true whether or not the victim has been placated). Alternatively if the victim himself forcibly takes that amount of money that is appropriate for him - the judges don't take it away from him. [...]
[Updated section ]
It is apparently also the view of the Mishna Berura (156:4) that the prohibition of revenge and bearing a grudge applies only to monetary issues
Therefore the question remains why the Rambam and the Chinuch apparently rule contrary to the gemora.
Rabbi Dovid Castle states in his excellent source book (To live Among Friends 28.42 page 913): "Most Poskim maintain that the sins of taking revenge and of bearing a grudge apply only to offenses related to monetary issues, such as refusal to lend something, but not to physical pain which includes degradation, lashon hara and embarrassment. For such matters bearing a grudge and taking revenge are permitted even if the offenses were not committed in your presence. For these matters it is only a measure of extreme piety not to bear a grudge or take revenge, but not an obligation. "
More relevant to the question of how the Rambam and Chinuch can ignore Yoma (23a) Rabbi Castle notes (28.47 page 926) [that even though the Chinuch prohibits revenge and grudges even for physical offenses the Chinuch (#338) also states that the Torah does not expect one to remain like a stone]. "Some say that everyone forbids taking revenge even for physical pain and embarrassment, but everyone permits bearing a grudge in such cases [of physical assault] because it is too much to demand from a person not to bear a grudge in such situations...." [He has much additional discussion in his chapter 28 on "Returning Hatred, Gruge, Revenge" pages 877-1043]
Thus it is possible to understand that everyone - including the Rambam and the Chinuch - do not require forgiveness for non monetary abuse when it is too difficult. However that is only while the pain or embarrassment is still being experienced. However when the pain subsides and the victim is able to forgive - then it is possible that he will accept a sincere apology in order not to be cruel. Obviously if the apology is not sincere there is no need to consider it. With sexual abuse that time might never happen.
In sum: The requirement to forgive after three sincere requests therefore only apply to monetary issues where the victim doesn't experience serious emotional upset and trauma. In the case of non-monetary issues in addition there is the requirement for compensation which is required whether or not the victim forgives.
