New York
Magen David Yeshivah, a prominent Orthodox Jewish school in Brooklyn, has implemented a policy requiring parents to provide proof of voter registration before the new school year, ahead of the November 2025 New York City mayoral election.
The school, serving the Sephardic Jewish community, frames the requirement as a civic and communal duty to strengthen engagement and safeguard Jewish interests. The policy appears to be a response to concerns over frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist with pro-Palestinian views, who is opposed by many Orthodox and right-wing Jewish voters. Legal experts, including Samuel Issacharoff of NYU, confirm that private schools can set such nonpartisan requirements, as they are not subject to the same restrictions as public institutions. Local leader Joey Cohen-Saban is among those promoting the policy, which aligns with broader Jewish get-out-the-vote efforts in the city.
Leviah Ehrlich, a 27-year-old Jewish nurse from Long Island, filed a lawsuit against NYU Langone Hospital in Mineola, alleging religious discrimination after facing disciplinary action for private Instagram posts supporting Israel following Hamas’ October 7 attacks. Ehrlich’s posts included the statement, “You either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism,” alongside a Star of David and Hamas symbols, and a photo of a kidnapped Israeli soldier, her former classmate. The hospital’s HR department deemed the posts “wrought with bias and hatred,” requiring her to issue a company-approved apology referencing “innocent people from both Israel and Palestine.” Ehrlich was later asked to repay a $6,000 raise, totaling over $11,000. The lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn Federal Court, seeks unspecified damages for financial penalties and harassment.
A New York appeals court overturned a $527 million civil fraud penalty against President Donald Trump, his company, and his sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., on August 21, 2025. The Appellate Division’s five-judge panel unanimously ruled the fine, initially set at $355 million plus interest by Judge Arthur Engoron in February 2024, was excessive and violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on excessive fines. The court upheld the finding that Trump and his company committed fraud by inflating asset values to secure favorable loans and insurance terms. Non-monetary penalties, including a three-year ban on Trump serving as a corporate officer in New York, were maintained. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced plans to appeal to the state’s highest court. Trump declared the ruling a “total victory” on Truth Social, while James emphasized the upheld fraud liability.
Approximately 20 masked activists from the group Crown Heights Bites Back held a vigil in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights, distributing flyers accusing the Chabad Lubavitch community of “brutally killing” 7-year-old Gavin Cato in a 1991 car accident that triggered three days of antisemitic riots. The accident occurred when a vehicle in the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s motorcade ran a red light, killing Cato and injuring his cousin. The vigil, held at the crash site, drew counter-protesters from the Chabad community and local residents, with police present to maintain order. New York City Mayor Eric Adams and local officials, including Council Member Crystal Hudson, condemned the event as antisemitic for attempting to inflame racial tensions. A minor scuffle occurred when a Jewish counter-protester was pushed, but the vigil ended peacefully by 8:30 p.m. without major incidents.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced the hiring of 1,093 police officer recruits, marking the largest NYPD academy class since January 2016. This class surpasses the previous record set in January 2025 under the Adams administration, which hired 1,045 recruits. The 2025 total of 2,911 recruits is the highest annual figure since 2006, with another class still scheduled this year. The recruits, hailing from 51 countries and speaking 34 languages, reflect New York City’s diversity and include 80 individuals with military service. The hiring surge follows recruitment reforms, including reducing college credit requirements from 60 to 24, leading to a 579 percent increase in exam applications. The NYPD’s total headcount now stands at 34,455, bolstered by nearly 10,000 officers hired during Adams’ tenure.
Manhattan prosecutors announced new bribery and conspiracy charges against seven individuals, including Ingrid Lewis-Martin, former chief of staff to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in a two-year corruption probe targeting City Hall. Lewis-Martin, her son Glenn D. Martin II, former state Senator Jesse Hamilton, and Adams’ political donors, siblings Tony and Gina Argento, were among those charged, alongside developers Tian Ji Li and Yechiel Landau. Prosecutors allege Lewis-Martin accepted over $75,000 in bribes, including cash, home renovations, and a TV role, to expedite city contracts and permits. All defendants pleaded not guilty during their arraignment in Manhattan criminal court.
New York City has granted Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, its first permit to test up to eight autonomous vehicles in Manhattan south of 112th Street and in Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, and DUMBO, effective immediately through late September 2025. The pilot requires a trained safety specialist behind the wheel at all times, adhering to New York state law prohibiting fully driverless operations. Waymo must coordinate with the NYC Department of Transportation, submit regular data reports, and comply with strict cybersecurity standards. The program marks the city’s first autonomous vehicle testing initiative, with an option for Waymo to apply for an extension.
U.S.
FBI agents conducted court-authorized searches of former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s home in Bethesda, Maryland, and his Washington, D.C., office as part of a national security investigation into the handling of classified documents. The raids, ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, followed intelligence from CIA Director John Ratcliffe alleging Bolton mishandled classified material. Agents were seen carrying boxes from both locations, but Bolton was not detained or charged. The investigation, initially launched during Trump’s first term over Bolton’s 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened, was reopened after being closed by the Biden administration in 2021. Bolton, a vocal Trump critic, called the raids politically motivated retribution. Trump denied prior knowledge, learning of the searches from television reports.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on four International Criminal Court (ICC) officials—judges Kimberly Prost of Canada and Nicolas Guillou of France, and deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal—for their roles in investigating U.S. and Israeli nationals. The sanctions, enacted under President Trump’s February 2025 executive order, freeze any U.S. assets of the targeted individuals and bar them from U.S. entry, citing the ICC’s actions as a “national security threat” and “instrument of lawfare.” Prost was sanctioned for authorizing an ICC probe into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan, while Guillou, Khan, and Niang were targeted for supporting arrest warrants against Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. The ICC condemned the sanctions as a “flagrant attack” on its independence.
The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, lifted a lower court’s order, allowing the Trump administration to terminate $783 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and gender identity studies. The majority, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett as the deciding vote, ruled that challenges to the grant terminations belong in the Court of Federal Claims, not district courts. The court upheld a block on the administration’s anti-DEI guidance for future funding. Chief Justice John Roberts and the court’s three liberals dissented, arguing the lower court had jurisdiction. The decision affects over 1,700 grants.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an immediate pause on issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers, citing safety concerns and economic impacts on American truckers. The decision, affecting H-2B, E-2, and EB-3 visa classifications, follows a fatal Florida crash on August 12, where an Indian national illegally in the U.S. allegedly caused three deaths by making an illegal U-turn. Rubio stated that the increasing number of foreign drivers operating large trucks endangers American lives and undercuts domestic truckers’ livelihoods. The State Department is reviewing screening protocols in coordination with the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security. The American Trucking Associations supported the pause, emphasizing the need for stricter licensing standards.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the first 10 days of the National Guard’s law enforcement operation in Washington, D.C. resulted in over 1,000 arrests and the seizure of more than 100 illegal firearms. Among those detained was a suspected member of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang linked to violent crimes across the U.S. The operation, part of a broader effort to enhance public safety, targeted criminal activity in the city. That same period saw no homicides in the city and a massive reduction in carjackings, assaults, and other violent crimes.
The Trump administration announced that it is reviewing the records of over 55 million foreigners holding valid U.S. visas for potential deportable violations, as part of an expanded immigration enforcement effort. The U.S. State Department stated that all visa holders, including tourists, are subject to “continuous vetting” for indicators of ineligibility, such as overstaying visas, criminal activity, threats to public safety, or links to terrorism. If violations are found, visas may be revoked, and individuals in the U.S. could face deportation. The review includes social media accounts, law enforcement records, and immigration histories from visa holders’ home countries. Since January 2025, the administration has revoked over 6,000 student visas, with 4,000 due to legal infractions like assault or DUI. The process, initially focused on students involved in pro-Palestinian activities, now covers all visa categories.
Sephora removed Huda Beauty from its fall “Experts” campaign following backlash over a TikTok video posted by Huda Beauty’s CEO, Huda Kattan, in July. In the video, Kattan falsely claimed Israel orchestrated World War I, World War II, the 9/11 attacks, and Hamas’ October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. The video, viewed by her 1.7 million followers, was removed by TikTok for violating community guidelines on hate speech and misinformation. Jewish organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, condemned Kattan’s claims as antisemitic. Sephora, Huda Beauty’s exclusive North American retailer since 2015, faced boycott calls and confirmed it is reviewing its partnership with the brand. Kattan later claimed her words were misrepresented, alleging a smear campaign.
Target Corporation announced that CEO Brian Cornell will step down on February 1, 2026, after 11 years, amid a persistent sales decline. The company reported a 0.9% drop in sales for the second quarter of 2025, with comparable sales falling 1.9%, marking the third consecutive quarter of declines. The retailer faced challenges from consumer boycotts over its rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and tariff-related pressures. Target’s stock fell over 10% in premarket trading following the announcement.
Bed Bath & Beyond, under Executive Chairman Marcus Lemonis announced plans to open over 300 new stores nationwide over the next two years, starting with a Bed Bath & Beyond Home store in Nashville, Tennessee, but none will be in California. Lemonis cited California’s high taxes, strict regulations, and costly business environment as reasons for the exclusion, stating the decision prioritizes customer value and shareholder interests. The company, which filed for bankruptcy in 2023 and closed all stores, was acquired by Overstock.com, now rebranded as Beyond Inc., and is relaunching through a partnership with The Brand House Collective, formerly Kirkland’s. California customers will be served via online orders with 24-to-48-hour delivery. The iconic 20% off coupon has also returned with restrictions.
President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. government would acquire a 10% stake in Intel, valued at approximately $8.9 billion, through a deal converting grants from the Biden-era CHIPS and Science Act. The agreement involves purchasing 433.3 million shares of non-voting stock at $20.47 per share, funded by $5.7 billion in unpaid CHIPS Act grants and $3.2 billion from the Secure Enclave program. Intel’s CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, finalized the deal after negotiations prompted by Trump’s earlier call for his resignation over alleged ties to Chinese firms. The stake, which lacks board representation or governance rights, aims to bolster U.S. semiconductor production.
Fidelity Investments terminated employee Danielle Gordon, a telecenter operator, after she sent antisemitic messages to Jewish columnist Bethany Mandel via social media. Mandel had posted about a paraglider spotted near her children’s Jewish summer camp, which promotes Zionism, evoking trauma from Hamas’ October 7, attack in Israel that used paragliders and killed over 1,200 people. Gordon’s messages called the camp “Nazi” and included phrases like “[expletive] your kid who goes to Nazi summer camp!” and “Free Palestine from you sick [expletive]!” The exchange, shared by Mandel on X, garnered over a million views, prompting swift backlash. Fidelity confirmed Gordon’s termination, stating it does not tolerate hateful behavior. StopAntisemitism praised the company’s decisive response.
Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized for two Israeli airstrikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, which killed at least 20 people, including five journalists from Reuters, The Associated Press, Middle East Eye, and Al Jazeera. The first strike hit the hospital’s upper floor around 10 a.m., followed by a second strike minutes later as journalists and rescue workers arrived, in what is described as a “double-tap” attack. Netanyahu called the incident a “tragic mishap,” expressing regret and stating Israel values journalists, medical staff, and civilians. The Israeli military launched an investigation, with reports suggesting the strikes targeted a suspected Hamas surveillance camera.
The IDF, in collaboration with the Shin Bet, eliminated Muhammad Naif Abu Shamala, a Hamas Nukhba company commander, in southern Khan Yunis, Gaza. Abu Shamala infiltrated Israel during the October 7 massacre and participated in an attempted assault on the Ma’aras IDF Post. Throughout the ongoing conflict, he orchestrated multiple terrorist attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians, according to military reports. The operation was conducted by the Kfir Brigade, targeting Abu Shamala nearly 22 months after the October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
Eighteen armed Hamas operatives emerged from multiple tunnel shafts near Khan Yunis, Gaza, and attempted to raid an IDF outpost along the Morag Corridor, opening fire with machine guns and RPGs. Some terrorists infiltrated a fortified IDF compound before troops from the Kfir Brigade’s Nachshon Battalion engaged them in close-quarters combat, killing about ten. Two Israeli Air Force UAVs provided intelligence and conducted precision strikes, with the first strike occurring at 09:18. Eight operatives escaped back into the tunnels, and IDF forces are actively pursuing them. Three Kfir soldiers were wounded—one seriously and two moderately. The IDF released footage showing the elimination of one terrorist attempting to flee.
Israel’s Civil Administration approved a settlement project in the E1 area east of Jerusalem, authorizing 3,412 housing units to connect with the Ma’ale Adumim settlement. The 12-square-kilometer zone, strategically located between Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Bethlehem, has been a focal point of contention for decades. Critics, including the UN and EU, condemned the decision, stating it would bisect the West Bank, severely undermining the territorial contiguity needed for a viable Palestinian state. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich hailed the approval as “historic,” asserting it counters recent international moves to recognize Palestinian statehood. Infrastructure work could begin within months, with construction potentially starting in a year. The Palestinian Authority called the move illegal, alleging it isolates Jerusalem and fragments the West Bank.
The IDF and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) criticized international media for spreading Hamas propaganda regarding 3-year-old Karim Abu Mu’amar, who was falsely portrayed as a victim of Israeli-imposed starvation in Gaza. A Daily Mirror article published August 23 claimed the child’s condition resulted from malnutrition caused by Israel’s blockade. COGAT clarified that Karim suffers from Fanconi syndrome, a hereditary kidney disorder unrelated to starvation, as confirmed by medical records from Gaza’s Nasser Hospital. The IDF accused Hamas of exploiting the child’s image in a deliberate campaign of deception to vilify Israel. COGAT urged media outlets to verify claims before publishing, emphasizing that Hamas manipulates narratives to obscure its own governance failures in Gaza.
Israel downgraded diplomatic ties with Brazil after the Brazilian government refused to approve the appointment of Gali Dagan as Israel’s ambassador. The Israeli Foreign Ministry cited Brazil’s “critical and hostile” stance toward Israel, intensified by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s remarks comparing Israel’s actions in Gaza to the Holocaust. Israel withdrew Dagan’s nomination, and relations are now conducted at a lower diplomatic level. Lula’s comments, made in February 2024, prompted Israel to declare him persona non grata. Brazil recalled its ambassador, Frederico Meyer, in May 2024, and has not appointed a replacement. The rift reflects broader tensions, as Brazil has supported South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
During an excavation at the City of David National Park in Jerusalem, archaeologists uncovered a 2,200-year-old gold coin featuring the portrait of Egyptian Queen Berenice II, wife of Ptolemy III, from the Ptolemaic dynasty. The coin, found in August 2025 and announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority, dates to the 3rd century BCE when Jerusalem was under Egyptian rule. Minted in Alexandria, Egypt, the rare artifact depicts Berenice II with a diadem and veil, reflecting her status as a Ptolemaic co-ruler. The discovery, near the Temple Mount’s southern wall, suggests Jerusalem’s significance as a regional hub during the Hellenistic period. Archaeologists noted the coin’s excellent preservation, offering insights into the economic and cultural connections between Jerusalem and the Ptolemaic Empire.
WORLD
Orthodox Jewish families vacationing in Châtel, France, discovered their vehicles defaced with “Free Palestine” graffiti in orange paint. The vandalism targeted four to nine cars belonging to Haredi families, primarily from the UK, staying near the Swiss border. Local authorities opened an investigation into the incident as “damage committed because of the victim’s religion.” The incident reflects a 73% rise in antisemitic acts in France in 2024.
Ehud Woodbridge, a Jewish man in Manchester, UK, was spat on and punched in the eye during a discussion about Israeli politics, as reported to the Jerusalem Post. The assailant, who fled after Woodbridge defended himself, was not reported to police due to Woodbridge’s belief that authorities would not act. He described the attack as part of a broader surge in antisemitism across the UK.
German federal prosecutors charged a Russian teenager, identified as Akhmad E., with plotting an attack on the Israeli embassy in Berlin and attempting to join the Islamic State, according to Reuters. The suspect, arrested in Bavaria in July 2025, allegedly sought online instructions to build explosives but failed to obtain materials. Prosecutors stated he communicated with Islamic State members to plan the attack and join the group in Syria. The case is being handled under Germany’s anti-terrorism laws, with the suspect detained pending trial.
Three Jewish men were doused with red paint by anti-capitalist activists while placing posters of 50 hostages held by Hamas in Frankfurt’s Grüneburgpark, as reported by Bild. The activists, part of a pro-Palestinian group, accused the men of supporting “genocide” before fleeing. The posters highlighted captives from the October 7 Hamas attack. Frankfurt police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime, with no arrests reported. The incident follows a reported 60% increase in antisemitic acts in Germany in 2024.