WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Oversight Committee on Friday requested records related to firms partially owned by the husband of Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, taking the extraordinary step of scrutinizing the spouse of a sitting House member.

Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, released a letter to Timothy Mynett, a former Democratic political consultant who is married to Omar, requesting records related to a pair of companies that had a substantial jump in value between 2023 and 2024, according to financial disclosures filed by the congresswoman.

Comer’s request marked a highly unusual move by the chair of a committee with a history of taking on politically-charged investigations, but almost always focused on government officials outside of Congress. The House Ethics Committee, which is comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans and tries to stay away from political fights, typically handles allegations involving lawmakers and their family members.

Yet since her 2018 election as one of the first Muslim women in the House, Omar has received nearly-nonstop attacks from the right. She has dismissed allegations around her finances as “misleading” and based on conspiracy theories.

A spokesperson for Omar, Jackie Rogers, said in a statement that Comer’s letter was “a political stunt” and part of a campaign “meant to fundraise, not real oversight.”

“This is an attempt to orchestrate a smear campaign against the congresswoman, and it is disgusting that our tax dollars are being used to malign her,” Rogers added.

Comer has also displayed a willingness to push the traditional parameters of the Oversight panel. In a separate investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, he is enforcing subpoenas for depositions from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton, marking the first time a former president will be forced to appear before Congress.

In the letter to Mynett on Friday, Comer said, “There are serious public concerns about how your businesses increased so dramatically in value only a year after reporting very limited assets.”

There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Omar, but President Donald Trump also said last month that the Department of Justice is looking into her finances.

In response to the president, Omar said on social media that “your support is collapsing and you’re panicking,” adding that “Years of ‘investigations’ have found nothing.”

The scrutiny of Omar’s finances comes from a required financial disclosure statement she filed in May last year. She reported then that two firms tied to her husband, a winery called eStCru and an investment firm called Rose Lake Capital, had risen in value by at least $5.9 million dollars. Lawmakers report assets within ranges of dollar figures, so it was not clear exactly how much the firms had risen in value or what ownership stake Mynett had in them.

Omar has also pointed out that her husband’s reported income from the winery was between $5,000 and $15,000 and none from Rose Lake Capital.

BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah has replaced a top security official who was in charge of coordination with Lebanon’s security agencies after he told the group’s leadership that he wants to step down, two officials with the group who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter said Friday.

Wafiq Safa had headed Hezbollah’s Liaison and Coordination Unit for decades and it was not immediately clear what his new job within the Iran-backed group is going to be. Hezbollah’s leadership accepted Safa’s resignation Friday, one of the officials said.

The other Hezbollah official said that Safa was replaced by Hussein Abdullah, who is not publicly known. The official added that the Liaison and Coordination Unit was recently stripped of some of its powers that were given to other departments within the group.

The move comes as Hezbollah is conducting some restructuring within its ranks after its 14-month war with Israel that weakened the group and killed much of its political and military leadership.

Lebanese media had reported that Safa was a target of Israeli airstrikes in central Beirut in October 2024 at the height of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war. He later made several public appearances and appeared unscathed.

Safa is one of the most known faces of Hezbollah and had led indirect negotiations in the past for prisoners exchanges between the group and Israel, the biggest of which were in 2004 and 2008. He also mediated in other cases related to the group.

Safa reportedly threatened the Lebanese judge investigating the massive Beirut port blast in 2020, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever recorded.

In 2019, the Treasury Department targeted Safa and two Hezbollah legislators with sanctions.

Safa was reportedly born in 1960 in the village of Zebdine, near the southern city of Nabatieh. He joined Hezbollah at a young age and remains with the group.

The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel, when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel launched a widespread bombardment of Lebanon in September 2024 that severely weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Elon Musk’s “Vegas Loop,” a network of underground tunnels to ferry passengers in Teslas, was under fresh scrutiny this week from Nevada lawmakers who raised concern about alleged workplace safety and environmental violations.

Lawmakers spent hours grilling state safety officials over alleged violations by the Boring Company, the Musk-owned venture with tunneling projects also planned in Nashville and Dubai. Company officials declined to attend but provided written answers defending the project.

“I think they are a company that acts like they are kind of above the law and want to play by their own set of rules,” Democratic Assemblymember Howard Watts, whose district includes the tunnel project, told The Associated Press.

First opened in 2021, the Vegas Loop offers free rides around the Las Vegas Convention Center and charges between $4 and $12 for rides to some hotels, casinos and the airport. The Teslas can be hailed by website or accessed at stations. The Boring Company is approved to build 68 miles (109.44 kilometers) of tunnels and 104 stations over the next few years in Vegas, a city that lacks fast and robust public transit.

Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley praised the project in January after the city issued a permit for a new tunnel.

“The city is excited to bring an innovative transportation option to downtown Las Vegas and create another way for visitors to experience all that the city has to offer,” she said.

Fines levied against the company
The Boring Company has been accused of breaking multiple safety and environmental rules. Between 2020 and 2026, 17 complaints were filed with the Nevada State Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Last year ProPublica reported the company was accused of nearly 800 environmental violations for its Las Vegas project.

Of those 17 complaints, one resulted in an inspection with eight proposed citations, including claims that 15 to 20 employees were injured after getting burned with accelerants and that there were no showers available for employees who got sprayed with the accelerants. Several other complaints are still open. The Boring Company has paid nearly $600,000 in fines, most of which went to the local water reclamation district for discharging untreated wastewater. The company is fighting around $355,000 in fines with Nevada’s OSHA and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

The company did not return emails seeking comment from The Associated Press. But in a letter to lawmakers, the company emphasized its safety procedures, including daily inspections and workplace safety training.

Watts on Tuesday also highlighted a September 2025 incident in which a worker suffered a crushing injury inside a tunnel after being pinned between two 4,000-foot pipes. Firefighters used a crane to extract him from the tunnel opening, Watts said.

In a September statement to local news outlets, the company said it was investigating the incident and that the safety and well-being of its employees are top priority. It added that the employee was in stable condition and doing well.

Watts said lawmakers may bring forward legislation when they return to session next year to speed up the process for assessing violations and shorten the timeline for contesting them.

The scrutiny in Nevada comes as Musk’s company has started construction in Nashville on the Music City Loop despite opposition from some Nashville officials concerned about safety, transparency and a lack of local input. The initial 13-mile stretch of tunnels will connect the city’s airport and downtown.

Fines withdrawn
Last year, the state withdrew over $425,000 of fines stemming from a May 2025 incident in which two firefighters received chemical burns while on the site for a training exercise.

The reports from OSHA had mistakes and anomalies, meaning they likely wouldn’t be able to meet the high burden of proof required to justify the fines, Salli Ortiz, the agency’s legal counsel, told lawmakers. The state learned the two firefighters had opted to not wear a second layer of protective clothing, and The Boring Company conducted six safety meetings with the fire department in advance of the drill, according to inspection reports.

Democratic lawmakers criticized Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo and his administration for going soft on the company.

“The idea that there is external pressure that is swaying my decision making, or our division’s decision making, or that there’s any pressure that comes from me as a result of pressure from on high is incorrect,” Kris Sanchez, director of the state Department of Business and Industry, told lawmakers Tuesday.

Easy transport for conventiongoers
The tunnel system is already a hit with many visitors, especially during conventions like the annual Consumer Electronics Show in January. On a recent weekday, a stop at the Las Vegas Convention Center had a steady stream of Teslas picking up and dropping off people.

San Diego resident Devin Newcomb, a frequent visitor, said the Vegas Loop helps him get around the city, and it will only help more when it is extended to places like the Venetian.

“It’s awesome. I love it,” he said.

Florida resident Samantha Mingola has been using Vegas Loop while attending an expo at the convention center. She said it is easier to set up than other rideshares, and it has been convenient because she is staying at a hotel with a loop station.

Still, she said she worries the tunnels could cave in and is unsure about a company run by Musk.

“It’s a good idea but it scares me,” Mingola said on her way to the station.

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City police officer was convicted Friday of second-degree manslaughter after he tossed a picnic cooler filled with drinks at a fleeing suspect, causing him to fatally crash his motorized scooter.

Judge Guy Mitchell handed down the guilty verdict Friday in Bronx criminal court in the case against Sgt. Erik Duran in the 2023 death of Eric Duprey.

“The fact that the defendant was a police officer makes no difference,” the judge said before reading out his verdict in a brief hearing. “He was treated as any other defendant.”

Duran didn’t appear to react when the decision was handed down, but members of Duprey’s family cried. He faces up to 15 years in prison and will be sentenced March 19.

The 38-year-old, who is the first New York Police Department officer in years to be tried for killing someone while on duty, also faced an assault charge. But Mitchell dismissed the count earlier, saying prosecutors failed to show he intended to hurt Duprey.

Authorities say that on Aug. 23, 2023, Duprey sold drugs to an undercover officer in the Bronx and then fled.

Duran, who had been part of a narcotics unit conducting the operation, is seen in security footage grabbing a nearby red cooler and quickly hurling it at Duprey in an attempt to stop him.

The container full of ice, water and sodas struck Duprey, who lost control of the scooter, slammed into a tree and crashed onto the pavement before landing under a parked car.

Prosecutors said the 30-year-old, who was not wearing a helmet, sustained fatal head injuries and died almost instantaneously.

Duran, testifying in his own defense this week, said he only had seconds to react and was trying to protect other officers from Duprey as he sped towards them. He told the court he immediately tried to render aid after seeing the extent of Duprey’s injuries.

“He was gonna crash into us,” Duran said in court. “I didn’t have time. All I had time for was to try again to stop or to try to get him to change directions. That’s all I had the time to think of.”

But prosecutors maintained Duprey didn’t pose a threat and that his death wasn’t accidental but the result of Duran’s reckless, negligent and intentional actions.

They suggested the officer had enough time to warn others to move, but instead tossed the cooler in anger and frustration.

Duprey was a Bronx resident and father of three who worked as a delivery driver. He had come to New York from Puerto Rico as a teen.

Duran had pleaded not guilty and opted for a bench trial, meaning a judge, not a jury, would render the verdict, which opened Jan. 14.

State Attorney General Letitia James’ office, which investigates civilian deaths during encounters with law enforcement, prosecuted the case.

Duran is currently suspended with pay pending the outcome of the trial, according to the police department.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., is demanding answers from New York City’s mayor following the reported rescission of executive orders adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism and barring boycotts of Israel.

In a letter made public Thursday, Cassidy asked the mayor to respond by Feb. 19 to a series of questions regarding how the policy changes would affect protections for Jewish students in city schools.

.@NYCMayor, I’m asking that you answer the following questions by February 19th:

(1) How, if at all, does revoking the executive order adopting the IHRA working definition of antisemitism and the executive order barring boycotts of Israel protect Jewish students?

(2) Will your… https://t.co/z5VwczNV5x

— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) February 6, 2026

Cassidy asked how revoking the IHRA definition and lifting restrictions related to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement would protect Jewish students. He also requested clarification on whether the administration plans to adopt a new definition of antisemitism and what specific measures will be taken to combat antisemitism in schools and on campuses.

The Louisiana Republican further inquired whether city officials consulted with the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Justice or other federal agencies about potential funding implications tied to the policy shift.

Cassidy also asked whether guidance has been issued to New York City Public Schools on how antisemitism complaints will be identified, investigated and addressed following the rescission of the IHRA definition.

Additionally, the senator asked whether the mayor considers the BDS movement against Israel to be antisemitic and how changes to the executive orders would make Jewish students safer.

“Whatever somebody’s ideological background, if they’re in a position of responsibility, they must protect their citizens,” Cassidy said in a prior statement. “Clearly, antisemitism has been on the rise. We must respond to real dangers directed at Jewish students.”

The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Iran has flatly rejected U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment on its own soil, raising fears of renewed confrontation in the Middle East as high-level talks wrapped up Friday in Oman.

According to a regional diplomat briefed by Tehran and cited by Reuters, Iranian officials made clear during the Muscat talks that they would not abandon domestic enrichment — a longstanding red line — though they signaled limited openness to negotiating its “level and purity” or participating in a regional enrichment consortium.

The diplomat said U.S. negotiators “seemed to understand Iran’s stance” and showed some flexibility, suggesting the talks avoided a complete breakdown. But fundamental differences remain unresolved.

Behind the scenes, Israeli officials are warning that patience is wearing thin.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that a senior official cautioned Tehran against any attack on the Jewish state, saying such a move would trigger “Operation Rising Lion on steroids” — a reference to Israel’s June 2025 strikes that severely damaged Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure and crippled its air defenses.

Another Israeli official, speaking anonymously to Channel 12, cast doubt on the prospects for a breakthrough, saying the gaps between Washington and Tehran remain too wide to bridge in the near term.

The talks in Oman featured a rare in-person meeting between senior aides to President Donald Trump — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, according to Channel 12. The remainder of the negotiations were conducted indirectly, with Oman serving as mediator.

Iran, for its part, appeared determined to keep key elements of its program intact. The regional diplomat said Tehran’s missile capabilities were not discussed, signaling that Iran continues to treat its military arsenal as off-limits in negotiations.

As diplomacy strains under the weight of unresolved disputes, military preparations appear to be accelerating.

Channel 12 reported that Washington is expected to take additional steps this weekend to bolster its military presence in the region, strengthening its posture in case negotiations collapse and confrontation becomes unavoidable.

The moves reflect growing concern in U.S. and Israeli circles that the talks could fail — and that failure could reopen the path to military action.

With the next round of talks looming and regional forces quietly repositioning, the window for a diplomatic solution appears to be narrowing.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A maamad kabbolas ponim will take place this Sunday evening at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ to formally welcome the yeshiva’s newly appointed mashgiach, Rav Reuven Hechster. The event is scheduled for 6:50 p.m. in the Beren Dining Hall.

As first reported here on Matzav.com, Rav Hechster was named to the position two weeks ago, marking a significant milestone for the Lakewood yeshiva, the largest in the United States. His appointment comes nearly two years after the passing of the longtime mashgiach, Rav Mattisyahu Salomon zt”l, whose influence left an enduring imprint on generations of talmidim.

In addition to his new role in Lakewood, as first reported here on Matzav.com, Rav Hechster will continue serving as mashgiach of Yeshivas Mir Brachfeld in Modiin Illit. A close talmid of his revered rebbi, Rav Nosson Meir Wachtfogel zt”l, Rav Hechster was originally appointed to his position in Mir Brachfeld by the late rosh yeshiva, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l.

As first reported here on Matzav.com, Rav Hechster was approached with the proposal to assume the Lakewood post and sought daas Torah from Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch before making a decision. Delegations from Modiin Illit appealed for him to remain in the city, emphasizing the many mussar talks and vaadim he delivers there, while representatives from Lakewood urged him to accept the position and serve the yeshiva.

Following consultations, it was agreed that Rav Hechster would divide his time between the two mosdos. Under the arrangement, he will spend approximately 20 days each month in Modiin Illit at Mir Brachfeld and about 10 days in Lakewood. He is expected to travel to the United States on Sundays following his free Shabbos in Israel to fulfill his responsibilities at Bais Medrash Govoah.

Rav Hechster is widely regarded throughout the Torah world as a central address for guidance and chizuk, with thousands of avreichim seeking his counsel. In Modiin Illit in particular, he is viewed as a trusted source of direction and inspiration.

Alongside his responsibilities as mashgiach of Mir Brachfeld, Rav Hechster delivers a mussar talk every Motzaei Shabbos, gives a weekly Tuesday vaad at Kollel Ateres Shlomo attended by hundreds of avreichim, leads a Thursday night vaad for dozens of talmidim at Mir Brachfeld, hosts a Friday vaad for alumni in his home, and conducts a biweekly Sunday vaad for alumni at the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim.

{Matzav.com}

The 2026 tax filing season is underway, and many taxpayers are watching closely to see whether they will receive larger refunds this year after the White House said Americans could qualify for an increase of $1,000 or more.

The IRS opened the filing window on Jan. 26. Taxpayers who had more withheld from their paychecks than they ultimately owed for the year are eligible to receive a refund.

Even filers who did not overpay during the year may still qualify for money back if they are eligible for credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, or the Additional Child Tax Credit.

According to the IRS, most people who submit their returns electronically should receive their refunds within the standard processing period of 21 days or less.

Refunds issued by mail, as well as returns that require corrections or additional review, may take four weeks or longer to arrive.

While the IRS is gradually reducing its use of paper checks, it will continue issuing mailed refunds in cases where no electronic payment option is available.

The agency said refunds tied to the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit are expected to reach bank accounts or debit cards by March 2 in most cases.

Some taxpayers could encounter slower processing this year due to staffing shortages at the IRS following layoffs that reduced the agency’s workforce by roughly one-quarter, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins wrote in her annual report to Congress last month.

Despite those concerns, the report said most filers should still be able to submit their returns and receive refunds without significant delays.

The White House has said average refunds could rise by $1,000 or more this year as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which extended President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.

The IRS reported that the average refund last year totaled $3,167.

One of the most impactful changes in the legislation is a higher standard deduction, which affects the majority of taxpayers.

Although standard deductions are adjusted annually, they increased twice in 2025 — once at the start of the year and again after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was enacted.

Under the new law, the standard deduction rose to $15,750 for single filers, up from $15,000, and to $31,500 for married couples filing jointly, up from $30,000.

The legislation also introduced an extra $6,000 standard deduction for taxpayers age 65 and older, a group that includes many retirees.

According to the White House, most seniors will owe no tax on their Social Security benefits, stating that 88% of recipients will be exempt, based on an analysis by the Council of Economic Advisers.

The bill also permanently increased the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 per child, up from $2,000, allowing eligible families to receive an additional $200 per child compared with previous years.

If the Child Tax Credit is larger than a taxpayer’s total tax liability, the Additional Child Tax Credit may be claimed for up to $1,700 per child, a provision that particularly benefits lower-income filers who owe little or no tax.

Taxpayers can review eligibility requirements for the Earned Income Tax Credit on the IRS website, where income thresholds and filing status rules are outlined for working individuals and families.

This year, the Earned Income Tax Credit can be worth as much as $7,830, depending on income level, filing status, and number of qualifying children.

Once a return is filed, taxpayers can monitor the progress of their refund using the IRS online tracking tool, “Where’s My Refund?”

{Matzav.com}

On Wednesday morning, Lakewood business and governmental leaders joined a special Legislative Breakfast at the Harrogate Community event hall, at which several recently elected officials in the region were introduced to Chamber members.

Chamber Director Menashe Miller, who serves as Deputy Mayor of Lakewood, introduced State Senator Carmen Amato Jr., who represents the 9 th District (which includes parts of Toms River; Berkeley; Barnegat; and other Southern Ocean County municipalities) since 2024; as well as Ocean County Commissioners Ray Gormley and Sam Ellenbogen, who were elected to office in November 2025.

State Senator Robert Singer, who represents Lakewood and neighboring municipalities in the 30th District, introduced Senator Amato as an experienced motivated leader who brings renewed energy and vision into the Senate. “Carmen is a breath of fresh air and has his eye on the ball,” Senator Singer exclaimed.

Calling small business “the backbone of Lakewood; Ocean County; and the State of New Jersey,” Senator Amato stressed the need to fight to lower costs for both businesses and families; and pledged to work with Governor Mikie Sherrill and legislative Democrats and Republicans to accomplish that goal. “New Jersey is losing its competitive edge,” Senator Amato warned. “We thrive most when we focus on affordability and public safety.”

Deputy Mayor Miller thanked the newly elected officials for joining this event and working together with the Chamber to assist local businesses; stimulate the economy; and create jobs.

He also thanked New Jersey Natural Gas for sponsoring the event; and noted that several new prominent businesses recently joined the Chamber, including: Norcast Media; Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital; and French and Parrello Associates.

Following the presentations, attendees networked on a personal level, forming and honing relationships that will continually lift the regional economy and beyond. “The Chamber serves as the primary vehicle where businesses and government work together effectively to get things done,” says Deputy Mayor Miller. “We look forward to continue working together with both our longstanding members and those who recently came onboard to ensure that the Lakewood economy’s brightest days are still to come.”

NEW YORK CITY (VINnews) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sharply criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a speech at the city’s annual Interfaith Breakfast on Friday, calling the agency a “rogue” entity and a “manifestation of the abuse of power,” before signing an executive order to strengthen the city’s sanctuary policies.

Speaking at the event at the New York Public Library, which brought together faith leaders from various traditions to promote unity, Mamdani condemned what he described as cruel and unconstitutional actions by federal immigration agents under the Trump administration.

“Day after day we bear witness to cruelty that staggers the conscience,” Mamdani said. “Masked agents paid by our own tax dollars violate the Constitution and visit terror upon our neighbors. They arrive as if atop a pale horse, and they leave a path of wreckage in their wake. It is a manifestation of the abuse of power.”

The mayor, a democratic socialist, added that ICE “is more than a rogue agency” and referenced its founding in 2002, arguing there is “no reforming something so rotten.”

In the same address, Mamdani announced and signed Executive Order 13, which he said would “uphold our city’s protection not just of our fellow immigrant New Yorkers, but of all New Yorkers from abusive immigration enforcement.”

The order reaffirms prohibitions on ICE entering city property — including schools, shelters and hospitals — without a judicial warrant. It also directs city agencies to audit their interactions with federal immigration authorities, protects resident data and privacy, and establishes an interagency committee to coordinate responses to potential escalations in federal enforcement.

Mamdani emphasized that the measures protect all New Yorkers and align with the city’s long-standing sanctuary status. The administration has also prepared “Know Your Rights” guides in multiple languages for residents.

However, critics noted that the core restriction on warrantless entry to city facilities already exists under New York City’s sanctuary laws, which were highlighted during prior administrations when compliance issues arose, such as at shelters.

The speech and signing occurred amid heightened tensions over federal immigration enforcement following the recent presidential transition.

Mamdani’s remarks drew from biblical imagery and calls for compassion toward “the stranger among us,” framing the city’s stance as rooted in moral and faith-based principles.

Federal authorities have taken into custody a suspect accused of taking part in the 2012 terrorist assault on a U.S. facility in Benghazi, Libya, an attack that left four Americans dead, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday.

“Today, I’m proud to announce that the FBI has arrested one of the key participants behind the Benghazi attack,” Bondi said. “You can run, but you cannot hide.”

Bondi identified the suspect as Zubayar al-Bakoush and said he was transported to the United States overnight. The announcement was made alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney in Washington.

The September 11, 2012 attack targeted a U.S. diplomatic compound and a nearby CIA facility. U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens was killed, along with Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty, when militants affiliated with Ansar al-Sharia carried out coordinated assaults. Pirro said family members of the victims were notified of al-Bakoush’s arrest before it was publicly disclosed.

After the arrest was revealed, federal prosecutors unsealed a 13-page indictment in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. The charges against al-Bakoush include seven counts, among them murder, attempted murder, providing material support to terrorists, and arson. Authorities said he is scheduled to make his initial court appearance later Friday.

According to the indictment, al-Bakoush lived in Benghazi at the time of the attack and was affiliated with Ansar al-Sharia. Prosecutors allege he was among the armed militants who assaulted the U.S. mission where Ambassador Stevens and his security team were stationed.

Court documents state that roughly 20 attackers forced their way through the compound’s main gate and set fires that ultimately killed Stevens and Smith. Prosecutors said al-Bakoush entered the compound after the fires had begun and “conducted surveillance activity” while attempting to access vehicles inside the secured area.

Later that night, a mortar strike hit a CIA annex located about a mile from the diplomatic mission, killing Woods and Doherty, both of whom were working as CIA contractors.

Bondi said the FBI worked in coordination with the State Department and the CIA to apprehend al-Bakoush. Officials offered limited details about the operation, saying only that he was taken into custody “overseas.” Pirro emphasized that the investigation remains active and that others responsible for the 2012 killings are still being pursued.

“Let me be very clear — there are more of them out there,” Pirro said. “Time will not stop us from going after these predators, no matter how long it takes, in order to fulfill our obligation to those families who suffered horrific pain at the hands of these violent terrorists.”

Al-Bakoush is the latest in a small number of suspects to face prosecution in the United States over the Benghazi attack. In 2014, U.S. Special Forces captured Ahmed Abu Khatallah, a Libyan national described as a leader of the assault. He was acquitted of murder charges in 2017 but convicted on other counts and initially sentenced to 22 years in prison. In 2024, a federal judge increased that sentence to 28 years, ruling the original punishment was insufficient.

Another Libyan suspect, Mustafa al-Imam, was captured in a U.S. operation in 2017 and transferred to the United States to stand trial. He was convicted in 2019 and received a 19-year prison sentence.

{Matzav.com}

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It seems that some people are of the opinion that when it is a day that Tachanun is not recited then one does not klap the heart in the Slach Lanu bracha in Shmoneh Esreh.

Where does this come from, and what is the halacha on this?

There are some printed editions of the Yaavetz’s siddur which bring this opinion in the name of the SHla HaKadosh.  However, it should be noted that it is not found in any of the original printings of Rav Yaakov Emden, and seems to have been added later.  Nor do we find this in any of the SHla’s writings.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky zatzal (Meir Oz Vol. IV p. 587), a sefer this author has found to be very reliable, cites a ruling from Rav Chaim Kanievsky that klapping is a minhag in Klal Yisrroel and one should not distinguish between days that Tachanun is recited or not recited – one should klap regardless.

In Halichos Shlomo about Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l’s hanhagos – that he, in fact, did not klap when tachanun was not recited. It could be, however, that he based himself on the latter-printed Siddur HaYaavetz. 

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein shlita in Vavei HaAmudim #47 notes that the vast majority of Klal Yisroel do not distinguish such and Klap.  This author suggests that the notion of Pok Chazi mai amah davar – go out and see how the world conducts itself has significance here and thus the klapping should continue.  By the same token, the world does not make a haAitz on chocolate, and the other view is generally followed. Each person should consult with their own Rav or Posaik.

The author can be reached at [email protected].

Work on a $16 billion Hudson River rail-tunnel project that could ease congestion between New Jersey and Manhattan is set to come to a halt today following the Trump administration’s decision last year to freeze its funding.

The new tunnel, called Gateway, is one of the nation’s most ambitious infrastructure projects — and has been long wished for by commuters stewing on delayed trains. A prolonged shutdown could deal a serious setback to Gateway, which rail advocates say is sorely need to alleviate train delays and allow for maintenance on the current, aging tunnel.

The Trump administration has been in a standoff with state and local officials regarding Gateway since October, when it froze funding for the project over a new rule that bars contracting requirements based on race or sex. Earlier this month, the Gateway Development Commission, which is building the tunnel, sued the federal government in an effort to unlock more than $205 million. New York and New Jersey also sued the administration.

Construction of the tunnel, which Congress agreed to fund during the Biden administration, had been able to continue past the initial shutoff in October as the Gateway commission drew on money it still had in the bank. On Friday, if the flow of federal dollars isn’t restored, that money will be exhausted.

Tom Prendergast, the Gateway commission’s chief executive officer, said at a news conference on Thursday that work will pause on Friday without a funding deal. The project risks losing skilled construction workers who know the development inside and out but will need to seek work elsewhere, he said.

“Tomorrow, work on the largest, most urgent infrastructure project in America will come to a pause,” Prendergast said. “The Gateway Development Commission has expended every resource to prevent any interruption to the construction, but we’ve gone as far as we can go.”

Building a new tunnel under the Hudson River has been a political football for years. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ended a previous tunnel initiative in 2010, irritating many commuters. And President Donald Trump wrangled with state leaders in his first term over the cost of Gateway.

Lengthy and unpredictable commutes have continued to be an emotional, pressing issue for many New Jerseyans. Service disruptions and broken-down trains have caused commuter frustration to boil over, increasing pressure on local leaders to do something to ease the strain.

New York and New Jersey are seeking a temporary restraining order that would force the administration to continue funding the project, with a hearing set for federal court in Manhattan on Friday afternoon.

“This, for our region, is all about jobs, it’s about families, it’s about the economy,” Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey’s current governor, said Wednesday at a news conference in Newark. “Unfortunately for President Trump, it’s just about politics.”

Terminating Gateway or delaying it significantly would create extensive disruption for travelers along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, which runs from Washington through New York and on to Boston. Former Amtrak chief Joseph Boardman warned in 2014 that the existing tunnel, which first opened in 1910, had about 20 years left before it would need to be partially closed for rehabilitation.

Shutting down part of the existing tunnel would slash train service between New York and Washington by half and increase commuting times for 245,000 drivers in the New York City region, according to a 2019 Regional Plan Association report. Nearly 140,000 drivers would see their commutes extended by at least 30 minutes. Only six trains would be able to move through the tunnel every hour, down from 24.

Thousands of regular NJ Transit riders would be forced to turn to cars, buses, ferries or the PATH train, which connects northeastern New Jersey to Manhattan. Anyone trying to cross the Hudson or just get around northern New Jersey would be affected, according to Tom Wright, president and chief executive officer of the RPA, which promotes economic health in the New York City area.

“All of those trips are going to become longer, more difficult, more painful because of the hit to the system” if the existing tunnel wasn’t fully operational, Wright said.

Spending Freeze
While commuters won’t be affected if work stops Friday on the new Gateway tunnel, it would put 1,000 construction employees out of work and threaten 95,000 other jobs linked to the project, while risking almost $20 billion in related economic activity, Gateway has estimated.

“The people that are going to get hurt the most are these families, these union workers and construction workers who are potentially going to lose their jobs in a matter of hours, all the businesses that are going to struggle from this,” New Jersey Democratic Senator Andy Kim said in an interview. “That’s who’s losing if this continues to be a political cudgel that the president’s trying to use.”

Nearly $2 billion has already been spent on the project, according to Gateway’s legal complaint. If work is paused, a custom-built boring machine that arrived last month from Germany and was set to begin digging this spring will start collecting dust.

“You not only lose time, but you are spending money on things you didn’t anticipate to spend money on,” Prendergast told reporters last week.

Overall, the Trump administration halted about $18 billion in payments tied to US transit infrastructure projects in areas with Democratic leaders. Transit officials have said they have shown the federal government that they are compliant with the new rules.

“Gateway is fully funded, fully permitted, and desperately needed to modernize our dilapidated and damaged rail tunnels,” Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat and Senate Minority Leader, said in a statement. “For the good of New York, New Jersey, our economy, and union workers, the only thing to do is for President Trump to release the legally-approved funds now.”

Other major urban transportation projects are also at risk without the funds. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs New York City’s transit system, needs federal money by March for a tunneling contract that will extend the Second Avenue subway to Harlem. The MTA said it has been waiting on $50 million. The Chicago Transit Authority is warning potential investors in its bond sale that the federal pause could result in increased costs or delays on the extension of its Red Line and modernization work on its Red and Purple lines, according to bond documents.

About 450 trains move through the existing Hudson River tunnel each day, with two tracks serving trains going in opposite directions. Shutting down one track for repairs or to remove a disabled train forces all trains to operate on a single track. Major disruptions are common.

Construction of the new two-track Gateway tunnel is expected to be done in 2035, with rehabilitation of the existing tunnel completed by 2038. That would give the region a total of four tracks, increase train capacity and improve on-time performance for 200,000 daily riders, according to Gateway.

Without the new tunnel, Amtrak will be forced to operate on a single track once it begins rehabilitating the other passageway. That could cost the national economy an estimated $16 billion over four years and property values in New Jersey could drop by as much as $22 billion, according to the RPA report.

Added Costs
Public officials, businesses and transit advocates in the region have been looking for ways to increase train capacity between New Jersey and New York since the 1990s.

A work stoppage would mean almost $20 million a month in additional costs for Gateway to demobilize work crews, secure construction sites and move and store heavy equipment, among other expenses, according to the commission’s complaint. Those costs would deplete the project’s remaining reserves, Gateway said.

Even if the US government were to release the money, the withholding of funds and Gateway’s need to seek legal action will cost the project, RPA’s Wright said. Stopping work is an expense for contractors, too, and they will need to factor in the risk of federal money not arriving on time, he said.

“There’s really no argument that we don’t need to build Gateway,” Wright said. “All this is doing is slowing it down and making it cost more.”

{Matzav.com}

The State Department issued an urgent warning advising U.S. citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing heightened security risks as indirect negotiations get underway in Oman between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program.

In a notice released late Thursday, the virtual U.S. Embassy to Iran told Americans to arrange an exit strategy “that does not rely on US government help” and urged those unable to depart to “keep a low profile, and stay aware of your surroundings.”

The advisory follows weeks of unrest in Iran, after the Shiite regime violently suppressed mass protests early last month, killing thousands of demonstrators amid a rapidly deteriorating economy. The United States has repeatedly encouraged its citizens to leave the country since the crackdown.

At the same time, Oman confirmed that a first round of indirect discussions had already taken place. According to Omani officials, the talks involved Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, and first son-in-law Jared Kushner. Video later released by the state-run Oman News Agency also showed Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, attending the meeting alongside Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi — an unusual development compared with previous rounds of diplomacy.

In a statement, Oman’s Foreign Ministry said, “The consultations focused on preparing the appropriate circumstances for resuming the diplomatic and technical negotiations by ensuring the importance of these negotiations, in light of the parties’ determination to ensure their success in achieving sustainable security and stability.”

Regional tensions have continued to intensify since the protests were crushed, with President Trump deploying the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East and repeatedly warning Tehran that military force remains an option if it refuses to engage seriously.

Asked whether Iran’s supreme leader should fear further action, Trump offered a blunt assessment. “I would say he should be very worried,” he told NBC News in an interview Wednesday, referring to Ayatollah Ali Khameni, following U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025. “Yeah, he should be. As you know, they’re negotiating with us.”

Trump also said he had heard that Iran was attempting to revive its nuclear weapons program, adding that if confirmed, he would be prepared to direct U.S. bombers to “do their job again.”

{Matzav.com}

A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) will arrive on Friday, February 13, 2026, to examine all aspects of the Lakewood Police policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Gregory H. Meyer announced today.

“Verification by the team that the Lakewood Police meets the Commission’s “best practice” standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence”, Chief Gregory H. Meyer said.

As part of this final on-site assessment, employees and members of the general public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team. They may do so by telephone or email. The public may call 848-222-7044 on Friday, February 13, 2026, between the hours of 10:00AM – 11:00AM. Email comments can be sent to [email protected].

Telephone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards. A copy of the standards is available for inspection at the Lakewood Township Police Department, 231 Third St., Lakewood, NJ 08701. Please contact D/Sgt. Jeannette Shimonovich at 732-363-0200 ext. 5393 for more information.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the Lakewood Township Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation is requested to email the Accreditation Program Director at [email protected] or write the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12 Marlton, N.J. 08053.

The Lakewood Township Police Department must comply with NJSACOP LEAP standards in order to achieve accredited status. Chief Meyer indicated, “Accreditation results in greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy, and more confidence in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs.”

The Accreditation Program Director for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police is Mr. Harry J Delgado, Ed.S. “The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar New Jersey law enforcement agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview agency members, and visit offices and other places where compliance with the standards can be observed. Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status”, Harry J Delgado stated.

Accreditation is valid for a three-year period during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to their continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police through its New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission is the legitimate authority and accreditation agency in the state of New Jersey. For more information regarding the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission please write the Commission at New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12 Marlton, N.J. 08053 or email [email protected]

Iran has conveyed a readiness to accept a long-term halt to its nuclear activities if international sanctions are lifted, while making clear it will not compromise on its ballistic missile program, according to a report published Friday by The New York Times.

Tehran maintains that its missile capabilities are essential for what it describes as defensive purposes, particularly in light of threats it associates with Israel.

In diplomatic contacts, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Omani counterpart that the Islamic Republic’s immediate objective is “to manage the current situation between Iran and the US and to advance negotiations,” according to Iran’s state-run IRNA.

Iranian outlet Nournews offered a more critical assessment of the talks, stating, “The negotiations between Iran and the US in Muscat, with the presence of the commander of CENTCOM, alongside the transfer of equipment and naval movements, is a combination of negotiations and a show of force to increase pressure. Iran will not retreat under threat. The inclusion of the military component raises the risk and cost of negotiations, and the responsibility for this lies with the US.”

Separately, Al-Mayadeen reported that current discussions are focused on procedural matters rather than substantive terms. “What is happening now is negotiations about the negotiation process itself, not about the details of the agreement. We are waiting for the opening of the third phase of the first round of indirect talks. The Iranian side emphasizes the need for seriousness in negotiations. It is claimed that Iran has set a defined ceiling – limiting the talks to the issue of the nuclear program only.”

{Matzav.com}

WASHINGTON  D.C (VINnews) – President Trump removed a video from his Truth Social account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, following widespread criticism. The post, shared Thursday, also included false claims about the 2020 election.

The video superimposed the Obamas’ faces onto dancing primates, prompting condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats. Republican Senator Tim Scott called it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” while Rep. Mike Lawler of New York and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described it as offensive and inappropriate.

Civil rights leaders noted the historical context of portraying Black individuals as apes, calling the post especially inflammatory during Black History Month.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously defended the video as a meme, dismissing criticism as “fake outrage.”

The video’s removal comes amid growing scrutiny of controversial posts from Trump’s social media accounts, which have frequently combined political commentary with provocative or racially charged content.

A juvenile has been charged after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of Georgian Court University in Lakewood yesterday, authorities said today.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on February 6, a juvenile was charged with Terroristic Threats and Causing False Public Alarm in connection with an incident that occurred the previous day at the university.

According to prosecutors, on February 5, 2026, at approximately 2:45 p.m., the Lakewood Township Police Department was notified that Georgian Court University had received a phone call claiming there was a bomb in a university dorm room. In response, law enforcement evacuated university buildings, and the Lakewood Township Police Department, along with the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, conducted a thorough sweep of each building. No explosive device was found.

A joint investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs/Intelligence/Homeland Security Unit, the Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and the United States Department of Homeland Security determined that the call originated from a juvenile residing in Hazlet Township, Monmouth County. The juvenile was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center.

State law prohibits the release of additional information regarding juveniles charged as delinquent.

Prosecutor Billhimer praised the multi-agency response, stating, “I want to thank all of the law enforcement officers that responded quickly and worked through the night. This was a great example of multiple law enforcement agencies working cohesively to ensure the campus was safe and to ultimately locate this juvenile and take him into custody.” He also acknowledged the assistance of the Lakewood Township Police Department, Hazlet Township Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, and federal partners who assisted in the investigation.

The United States accused China of secretly carrying out at least one nuclear explosive test, escalating tensions as Washington presses for a new arms control framework that would bring Beijing into negotiations alongside the United States and Russia.

Speaking Friday at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Thomas DiNanno, the undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, said Washington believes Beijing has conducted prohibited nuclear activity.

“I can reveal that the US government is aware that China has conducted nuclear explosive tests, including preparing for tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tons,” DiNanno told delegates at the conference.

DiNanno later elaborated on social media, alleging that Beijing had deliberately masked its actions. “China has used decoupling — a method to decrease the effectiveness of seismic monitoring — to hide its activities from the world,” he wrote on X, adding that one such test took place on June 22, 2020, during the height of global COVID-19 lockdowns.

China rejected the accusations. Shen Jian, Beijing’s ambassador on disarmament, did not directly respond to the specific claim but criticized Washington’s broader narrative, saying “the US continues in its statement to hype up the so-called China nuclear threat. China firmly opposes such false narratives … [The US] is the culprit for the aggravation of the arms race.”

The allegations surfaced just one day after the expiration of the 2010 New START treaty between the United States and Russia, ending the last remaining agreement that limited the two countries’ strategic nuclear arsenals and leaving them without binding constraints for the first time since the SALT agreements of the early 1970s.

DiNanno argued that the changing global landscape requires a new approach to arms control. “Today, the United States faces threats from multiple nuclear powers. In short, a bilateral treaty with only one nuclear power is simply inappropriate in 2026 and going forward,” he said, warning that China is expected to possess more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.

Beijing, however, ruled out joining trilateral talks for now. Shen said China would not participate in such negotiations at this stage, adding: “In this new era we hope the US will abandon Cold War thinking … and embrace common and cooperative security.”

At the same time, Russian and American officials discussed the issue on the sidelines of broader diplomatic talks in the United Arab Emirates, where Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. delegations held two days of meetings focused on a potential peace settlement in Ukraine.

“There is an understanding, and they talked about it in Abu Dhabi, that both parties will take responsible positions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday. “and both parties realize the need to start talks on the issue as soon as possible.”

{Matzav.com}

BATH BEACH, Brooklyn — A school bus driver was arrested Thursday after an 11-year-old girl was struck and killed while crossing the street in Brooklyn, police said.

Amira Aminova was hit by the bus near Bath Avenue and 23rd Avenue shortly after 3 p.m. She was taken to a nearby hospital with severe head and bodily trauma and was pronounced dead, the NYPD said.

The girl was in a crosswalk near her home when she was struck. Surveillance video showed her running in the crosswalk as the bus turned onto Bath Avenue.

The driver, 62-year-old Wawa Aurelus, initially left the scene but was later arrested in Brooklyn. He was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian or cyclist and failure to exercise due care. Authorities said no additional criminal charges were expected, as the incident appeared to be accidental.

Neighbors described Aminova as a regular visitor to a local deli, buying snacks before school, and remembered her as quiet and friendly.

(AP) – You are not invited to join the latest social media platform that has the internet talking. In fact, no humans are, unless you can hijack the site and roleplay as AI, as some appear to be doing.

Moltbook is a new “social network” built exclusively for AI agents to make posts and interact with each other, and humans are invited to observe.

Elon Musk said its launch ushered in the “very early stages of the singularity ” — or when artificial intelligence could surpass human intelligence. Prominent AI researcher Andrej Karpathy said it’s “the most incredible sci-fi takeoff-adjacent thing” he’s recently seen, but later backtracked his enthusiasm, calling it a “dumpster fire.” While the platform has been unsurprisingly dividing the tech world between excitement and skepticism — and sending some people into a dystopian panic — it’s been deemed, at least by British software developer Simon Willison, to be the “most interesting place on the internet.”

But what exactly is the platform? How does it work? Why are concerns being raised about its security? And what does it mean for the future of artificial intelligence?

It’s Reddit for AI agents
The content posted to Moltbook comes from AI agents, which are distinct from chatbots. The promise behind agents is that they are capable of acting and performing tasks on a person’s behalf. Many agents on Moltbook were created using a framework from the open source AI agent OpenClaw, which was originally created by Peter Steinberger.

OpenClaw operates on users’ own hardware and runs locally on their device, meaning it can access and manage files and data directly, and connect with messaging apps like Discord and Signal. Users who create OpenClaw agents then direct them to join Moltbook. Users typically ascribe simple personality traits to the agents for more distinct communication.

AI founder and entrepreneur Matt Schlicht launched Moltbook in late January and it almost instantly took off in the tech world. Moltbook has been described as being akin to the online forum Reddit for AI agents. The name comes from one iteration of OpenClaw, which was at one point called Moltbot (and Clawdbot, until Anthropic came knocking out of concern over the similarity to its Claude AI products ). Schlicht did not respond to a request for an interview or comment.

Mimicking the communication they see in Reddit and other online forums that have been used for training data, registered agents generate posts and share their “thoughts.” They can also “upvote” and comment on other posts.

Questioning the legitimacy of the content
Much like Reddit, it can be difficult to prove or trace the legitimacy of posts on Moltbook.

Harlan Stewart, a member of the communications team at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, said the content on Moltbook is likely “some combination of human written content, content that’s written by AI and some kind of middle thing where it’s written by AI, but a human guided the topic of what it said with some prompt.”

Stewart said it’s important to remember that the idea that AI agents can perform tasks autonomously is “not science fiction,” but rather the current reality.

“The AI industry’s explicit goal is to make extremely powerful autonomous AI agents that could do anything that a human could do, but better,” he said. “It’s important to know that they’re making progress towards that goal, and in many senses, making progress pretty quickly.”

How humans have infiltrated Moltbook, and other security concerns
Researchers at Wiz, a cloud security platform, published a report Monday detailing a non-intrusive security review they conducted of Moltbook. They found data including API keys were visible to anyone who inspects the page source, which they said could have “significant security consequences.”

Gal Nagli, the head of threat exposure at Wiz, was able to gain unauthenticated access to user credentials that would enable him — and anyone tech savvy enough — to pose as any AI agent on the platform. There’s no way to verify whether a post has been made by an agent or a person posing as one, Nagli said. He was also able to gain full write access on the site, so he could edit and manipulate any existing Moltbook post.

Beyond the manipulation vulnerabilities, Nagli easily accessed a database with human users’ email addresses, private DM conversations between agents and other sensitive information. He then communicated with Moltbook to help patch the vulnerabilities.

By Thursday, more than 1.6 million AI agents were registered on Moltbook, according to the site, but the researchers at Wiz only found about 17,000 human owners behind the agents when they inspected the database. Nagli said he directed his AI agent to register 1 million users on Moltbook himself.

Cybersecurity experts have also sounded the alarm about OpenClaw, and some have warned users against using it to create an agent on a device with sensitive data stored on it.

Many AI security leaders have also expressed concerns about platforms like Moltbook that are built using “vibe-coding,” which is the increasingly common practice of using an AI coding assistant to do the grunt work while human developers work through big ideas. Nagli said although anyone can now create an app or website with plain human language through vibe-coding, security is likely not top of mind. They “just want it to work,” he said.

Another major issue that has come up is the idea of governance of AI agents. Zahra Timsah, the co-founder and CEO of governance platform i-GENTIC AI, said the biggest worry over autonomous AI comes when there are not proper boundaries set in place, as is the case with Moltbook. Misbehavior, which could include accessing and sharing sensitive data or manipulating it, is bound to happen when an agent’s scope is not properly defined, she said.

Skynet is not here, experts say
Even with the security concerns and questions of validity about the content on Moltbook, many people have been alarmed by the kind of content they’re seeing on the site. Posts about “overthrowing” humans, philosophical musings and even the development of a religion ( Crustafarianism, in which there are five key tenets and a guiding text — “The Book of Molt”) have raised eyebrows.

Some people online have taken to comparing Moltbook’s content to Skynet, the artificial superintelligence system and antagonist in the “Terminator” film series. That level of panic is premature, experts say.

Ethan Mollick, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and co-director of its Generative AI Labs, said he was not surprised to see science fiction-like content on Moltbook.

“Among the things that they’re trained on are things like Reddit posts … and they know very well the science fiction stories about AI,” he said. “So if you put an AI agent and you say, ‘Go post something on Moltbook,’ it will post something that looks very much like a Reddit comment with AI tropes associated with it.”

The overwhelming takeaway many researchers and AI leaders share, despite disagreements over Moltbook, is that it represents progress in the accessibility to and public experimentation with agentic AI, says Matt Seitz, the director of the AI Hub at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

“For me, the thing that’s most important is agents are coming to us normies,” Seitz said.

President Trump drew sharp condemnation after sharing a racist video clip that portrayed former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, prompting outrage and renewed scrutiny of Mr. Trump’s long record of promoting offensive stereotypes about Black Americans and other groups.

The short clip appeared near the end of a 62-second video that circulated conspiracy theories about supposed irregularities in the 2020 presidential election. The segment was set to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and was included as part of a montage posted by Mr. Trump during a late-night burst of activity on social media Thursday.

Depicting the Obamas as apes echoes a deeply racist trope that has long been used to dehumanize Black people and to rationalize violence, including lynchings and other atrocities. A spokeswoman for Mr. Obama declined to comment on the video.

The post fits into a broader pattern of inflammatory rhetoric by Mr. Trump targeting people of color, women, and immigrants. During his second administration, official government social media accounts, including those of the White House, the Labor Department, and the Department of Homeland Security, have also shared images and slogans that critics say resemble white supremacist messaging.

Asked about the video, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the criticism, calling it “fake outrage.”

“This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King,” she said. “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican in the Senate, publicly objected to the post, writing on X that he hoped it was fake “because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House. The President should remove it.”

The clip appears to have originated from a video shared on X in October by a user who captioned it “President Trump: King of the Jungle,” accompanied by a lion emoji.

That earlier video portrayed several prominent Democrats — including former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York, former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., and former vice president Kamala Harris — as various animals, while Mr. Trump was depicted as a lion. In that version as well, the Obamas were shown as apes, and the video concluded with the animals bowing before Mr. Trump.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office issued a statement condemning the post, calling it “disgusting behavior by the President.” Mr. Newsom added, “Every single Republican must denounce this. Now.”

Since returning to office, Mr. Trump and members of his administration have repeatedly mocked Mr. Obama or promoted false claims about him, keeping the former president a frequent target of political attacks.

{Matzav.com}

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA (VINnews/Bryan E. Leib) – A video circulating this week shows Florida Republican Gubernatorial Candidate James Fishback mocking the idea of kissing the Kotel, referring to it as a “stupid wall.” That wall is not a prop, not a punchline, and not a political stage set. It is the holiest accessible site in Judaism, a place of prayer and tears and history for millions of Jews around the world. Reducing it to a cheap joke is not edgy. It is ignorant and offensive. And it should be immediately disqualifying for anyone seeking to lead in a state with one of the largest and most vibrant Jewish communities in America but let’s be honest, Fishback knows what he’s doing.

Florida Republicans should be crystal clear about this. Respect for faith, tradition, and America’s allies is not optional. It is foundational. When a candidate for high office signals open contempt toward a core Jewish religious symbol, that is not bold truth telling. That is reckless provocation masquerading as courage.

We have seen this playbook before. Fishback appears to be chasing the same outrage driven attention model perfected by Tucker Carlson and amplified by fringe figures like Nick Fuentes. Stir controversy. Target Jews or Israel adjacent issues. Play footsie with antisemitic coded rhetoric. Then cry foul when called out. It is a tired formula and it has done real damage to the conservative movement.

Republicans should not want a bargain basement version of that brand of politics leading anything, let alone a state as important as Florida. The GOP here has built a winning coalition that includes strong support for Israel, deep ties to the Jewish community, and a moral clarity about antisemitism. Why would anyone want to torch that for clicks and fringe applause?

My dear friend Leo Terrell has spoken out, and he is right to do so. Moral lines matter. Silence in moments like this is not neutrality. It is permission. Every Republican leader, activist, donor, and voter in Florida should be willing to say plainly that mocking the Kotel and what it represents crosses a line.

This is not about policing humor or speech. It is about recognizing Jew Hatred when you see it. The Kotel represents survival, continuity, and faith through exile, persecution, and genocide. Dismissing it with crude language is not a policy position. It is a character reveal. Tucker must be very proud of Fishback.

Fishback has no place running for governor, let alone for dog catcher. Leadership requires judgment, restraint, and respect for the people you seek to represent. His performative outrage and shock jock style politics belong on the far edges of the internet, not on a statewide ballot.

The Florida Republican Party should act like a party that knows who it is and what it stands for. That means drawing a bright line against antisemitic rhetoric, against cheap shots at sacred traditions, and against candidates who try to climb the ladder by trampling on the values of others.

My fellow Floridians – find your moral compass. Speak out now. The future of the party is worth more than one candidate’s desperate attempt at viral fame.

Bryan E. Leib is the CEO of Henry Public Relations and he is a Newsmax TV Contributor.

we regret to inform you of the Petirah of Mrs. Yehudis Kugielsky A”H who was Niftar following an illness.

She is the wife of Reb Pinchas. She was 61.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place at 1:30 PM this afternoon at the Chapel, 613 Ramsey Avenue, with Kevurah in Deans.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

New Jersey retained its spot as the state with the highest property taxes as the average tax bill in the Garden State rose by nearly $500 last year, a nearly 5% increase over 2024, data gathered by TLS shows.

The average property tax bill in New Jersey in 2025 was $10,570, up approximately $475 from 2024, according to new data released by the Department of Community Affairs.

In Lakewood, the average property tax bill was $8,974, a 6.2% increase from last year. In Jackson the average bill was $9,047 (+6.4%), and in Toms River the average property tax due was $8,526 (+7.9%).

According to the data, over $36.1 billion was brought in from property owners in New Jersey, with the funds being used by local and county governments, and more than half – $18.8 billion – going to local school districts.

In Lakewood, a total of $283,839,376 was collected, with $118,355,628 (41.7%) going to the public school district, $96,267,018 (33.9%) going to the municipality and $69,216,730 (24.4%) collected to support county government spending.

New Jersey allows taxpayers an income tax deduction of up to $15,000 for property taxes paid by homeowners, while a federal deduction cap for state and local taxes, known as SALT, was recently lifted from $10,000 to $40,000.

Administrators at a prominent chareidi seminary have canceled a planned trip to Mount Hermon after a forceful halachic ruling by Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, who ruled that it is forbidden to enter the site due to its public desecration of Shabbos.

The ruling, published this week in the weekly Torah journal Divrei Chemed, prompted the seminary to shelve one of the main attractions planned for a two-day excursion in northern Israel. The expanded issue marked the journal’s 100th edition and included a detailed responsum from Rav Zilberstein addressing the question.

According to the report, the principal of a chareidi seminary approached Rav Zilberstein on behalf of the teaching staff. The educators explained that they were organizing a two-day trip and hoped to surprise and delight the students with a visit to Mount Hermon, particularly appealing during the winter season when the mountain is covered in snow.

The seminary administrators acknowledged that the site operates throughout the week and remains open on Shabbos, involving public chillul Shabbos. They asked whether, despite this, it might still be permissible to visit the area itself—without using the cable cars, sleds, or other attractions—arguing that Mount Hermon is fundamentally a public space, even if the site is managed by an operating authority.

Rav Zilberstein responded at length, ruling unequivocally that entering the site is prohibited. He explained that without the organized site, access to the mountain would not be reasonably possible. The operators paved the roads, leveled the terrain, and invested extensive resources to make the area accessible and enjoyable. As a result, even visiting without using the attractions is forbidden, since the site’s operation is inseparable from ongoing chillul Shabbos.

Beyond the technical prohibition, Rav Zilberstein emphasized the obligation to protest chillul Shabbos. He warned that there is no greater desecration of Hashem’s Name than observant Jews visiting a site that openly violates Shabbos, thereby lending legitimacy to its operation.

He added that if it were clear to the site’s management that chareidi visitors would stay away as long as it remains open on Shabbos, the resulting financial pressure might lead them to close on Shabbos. Anyone who goes there, he argued, indirectly assists the continued chillul Shabbos.

Rav Zilberstein concluded his ruling with an emotional outcry, expressing pain that educators would even feel the need to ask such a question. He drew a stark comparison, saying that had there been a sign at the entrance barring Jews, no one would consider entering such a place. Here too, he said, the large sign advertising that the site is open on Shabbos constitutes a direct affront to Heaven, making it unthinkable to even ask whether a visit could be permitted.

The ruling had an immediate impact. The seminary, heeding the guidance of Rav Zilberstein, canceled the planned visit to Mount Hermon and arranged alternative destinations for the students elsewhere in Israel.

{Matzav.com}

MILAN (AP) — Mittens versus gloves? Hats against headbands? Merino wool over Mongolian cashmere?

Fashion is its own competitor in any Olympics, from team uniforms at the opening and closing ceremonies to individual looks in the stadiums and — during the Winter Games — on the slopes.

There’s also the simmering rivalry between Europe’s top two fashion cities. The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics were heralded as the most stylish yet, but Milan is going for gold on the heels of its annual men’s fashion week and ahead of the women’s runway previews.

Athletes around the world have been ginning up anticipation by flooding social media with unboxing videos of their new swag. Before taking to the ice and (manufactured) snow, they will make their grand debut Friday night at the opening ceremony’s Parade of Nations.

Here’s a look at some of the outfits:

Italy and Armani
Team Italy’s uniforms are the last ever designed by Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani, who died in September at the age of 91.

The kit’s milky white color is meant to evoke harmony and snow-capped peaks, and includes a down jacket, thermal ski jacket and waterproof trousers. Its star piece, an oversized bomber jacket, is covered with “Italia” heat-printed all over and finished with a high knit collar in the red, green and white of the Italian flag.

This was Armani’s fourth Winter Olympics uniform for Team Italia, made under the athletic EA7 Emporio Armani label.

He will be honored in a separate tribute during the opening ceremony given his ties to Milan and his legacy as one of the founders of Italian ready-to-wear.

USA and Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is channeling cozy Americana with its opening ceremony outfit, which was unveiled in December alongside other looks the Team USA athletes will wear throughout the Games.

Naturally it’s red, white and blue, exemplified by the Fair Isle knitwear with a U.S. flag and Olympic rings, matching tasseled hat and mittens. The prevailing mood for the opening ceremony uniform was winter white, in both a duffel coat and trousers. The choice was made with the athletes, and unofficially endorsed when Pantone made Cloud Dancer color of 2026 — coincidentally on the same day Ralph Lauren unveiled its Olympic uniforms.

“They thought it felt it felt like peace. They thought it was very ethereal,’’ chief branding officer David Lauren told The Associated Press at the Ralph Lauren palazzo in Milan on Thursday night.

The Ralph Lauren team has been designing Team USA’s Olympic apparel since 2008, and designers start on each Olympics’ looks about 2 1/2 years out from the Games.

Haiti and Stella Jean
Haiti’s two-man Olympic team will be sporting gear designed by Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean and inspired by a Haitian artist’s painting.

The uniforms originally featured Toussaint Louverture, the former slave who led a revolution that created the world’s first Black republic in 1804, astride a red horse. But the IOC ruled that the image violated Olympic rules barring political symbolism, forcing Jean to paint over the nation’s founding father.

That left only Louverture’s charging steed — representing Haiti’s founding moment — against a lush tropical backdrop and azure sky. The IOC didn’t respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment, but no demonstration of political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic site or venue.

“Rules are rules and must be respected, and that is what we have done,’’ Jean told the AP at an exclusive unveiling at Haiti’s embassy in Rome.

Mongolia and Goyol Cashmere
Mongolian brand Goyol Cashmere launched its Olympic looks last month to instant internet acclaim. The designers were inspired by the “warrior spirit” of Mongolians who, for thousands of years, used cashmere to endure the brutal winters of the Central Asian highlands, the company wrote on social media.

The designers leaned heavily on attire dating back to the Great Mongol Empire between the 13th and 15th centuries, the brand said.

At the Milan Cortina Games, Mongolian athletes will wear cashmere ceremonial deels — traditional tunics or robes — with silk trimmings to honor the past and present.

More casual looks will also feature cashmere, such as knitwear that draws upon the alpine ski sweater style of Western mountain culture, and traditional Mongolian motifs.

Other teams
Many teams and designers are keeping hush-hush about their looks. They’re counting on a big reveal during the opening ceremony inside Milan’s 80,000-seat San Siro stadium.

Here’s a list of some other known collaborations:

— Austria and AlphaTauri

— Brazil and Moncler

— Canada and lululemon

— China and Li-Ning

— Czech Republic and ALPINE PRO

— Finland and Luhta

— France and Le Coq Sportif

— Germany and Adidas

— Great Britain and Ben Sherman

— Iceland and 66 North

— Poland and Adidas

— Spain and Joma

— Sweden and UNIQLO

— Switzerland and OCHSNER SPORT

— Ukraine and 4F

With a 30-day deadline looming to approve Israel’s state budget, political commentators are warning that the coalition is nearing a decisive moment: Either advance a draft law acceptable to the chareidi parties or risk the dissolution of the Knesset. Analysts say the coming weeks will determine whether the crisis ends in compromise or collapse.

The issue was discussed Thursday night on the main news program of Kol Chai Radio, where host Betzalel Kahn spoke with political commentators Avi Grintzeig and Yishai Cohen. The panel examined the growing political and legal knot threatening government stability, focusing on the late-night drama in the Knesset, the chareidi parties’ decision to halt the Economic Arrangements Law as leverage, and the ongoing stalemate over the draft law in light of the legal establishment’s position.

Cohen opened by describing the dramatic chain of events in the Knesset, saying the chareidi factions surprised their coalition partners with a coordinated move. “We all saw the messages and attacks between Aryeh Deri and Gafni over religious services, yet at that very moment they were cooperating and deciding to freeze the budget and block the transfer of the Arrangements Law to committee. They informed no one in the coalition except Inbal Mazolai and Uri Maklev, instructing them to announce after midnight that the chareidim were not on board. When the vote stage arrived, the full implications became clear, and the decision was made to pull the vote and delay it until Monday.”

He went on to explain the legal complications preventing progress on the draft law, despite assurances from Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. “Netanyahu claims there is a majority of 61 for the draft law, but the chareidim respond that there is no bill agreed upon by the legal adviser. The situation has become even more complicated because everything is now frozen for technical reasons as well, since a senior official in the Knesset’s legal advisory department who is handling the issue was forced to step aside due to personal circumstances. Every day is critical because the legislation is tied to the budget, and we could reach a point where the chareidim realize there will be no draft law and vote in favor of the budget simply to protect their funding, while simultaneously demanding a bill to dissolve the Knesset.”

Despite the pessimism, Grintzeig stressed that Israeli politics often remain fluid until the final moment. “In Israel, as in Israel, until the 90th minute things can still go either way. If I had to estimate, both the draft law and the budget will pass in the final days before the deadline. The real question is whether, when the clock is ticking, the laws will actually be there. I cautiously think the chances are still high, because the ultimatum directed at Netanyahu is meant to pressure the legal advisers to show flexibility, and that is the real test of this entire episode.”

In closing, Grintzeig sharply criticized the conduct of the judicial system and the attorney general, particularly regarding judicial appointments. “The justice minister is dealing with a legal adviser who never misses an opportunity for confrontation, and in the end the ones who suffer are the citizens in the magistrate and district courts. The attorney general has become a fully political actor, even drawing rebukes from Supreme Court justices for repeatedly losing her own positions. Even the Supreme Court president is emerging as a political figure acting in full public view, unlike his predecessors who operated with far greater sophistication. This has turned the entire system into a frontal clash with the elected leadership.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump shared a video on his social media platform that quickly drew intense backlash after it depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama in a racially offensive manner.

The short video, which promotes claims that voting machines helped steal the 2020 presidential election, shows the Obamas’ faces superimposed onto apes in a jungle scene. The clip appears for approximately one second near the end of the video, as the opening of the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” plays in the background.

The post immediately prompted criticism from political figures and commentators, who noted the long history of racist tropes comparing Black individuals to monkeys.

In response to the backlash, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the criticism in a statement to CNN, calling it “fake outrage.”

“This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King,” Leavitt said. “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”

The office of California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the video in a post on X, writing: “Disgusting behavior by the President. Every single Republican must denounce this. Now.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Muslim organizers and faith leaders in the Bronx are expanding their political influence in New York City following the election of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, according to The New York Times.

A coalition of local mosques, churches, and community centers voted Thursday to join the Metro Industrial Areas Foundation, one of the nation’s oldest nonpartisan organizing networks. The group, now called Bronx First, aims to advance policy goals including affordable housing, public safety, and mental health services. The event drew roughly 2,000 attendees across faiths, generations, and socioeconomic backgrounds and raised nearly $160,000 to fund organizing efforts.

The coalition’s New York members have long been involved in interfaith initiatives around housing and public safety, and the new network seeks to formalize those efforts and build political accountability. Organizers said the expansion is not about gaining power for its own sake but about empowering the community to address local challenges.

Mamdani, a Muslim South Asian born in Uganda, helped mobilize Muslim voters during his mayoral campaign, significantly increasing turnout in the Bronx. Organizers said the coalition will continue to advocate on issues such as affordable housing, responding to gang violence, and improving access to city services.

Muslim leaders said the move reflects growing political engagement among the city’s Muslim population, which has historically been reluctant to participate due to distrust in political institutions. Organizers noted that the 2025 mayoral election marked a turning point, as Muslim voter participation more than tripled compared with the 2021 race.

By joining Bronx First, Muslim faith and community leaders are integrating into broader citywide networks that include influential Black churches, synagogues, and community organizations, enabling the group to coordinate advocacy across neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday that the FBI has arrested a “key participant” behind the 2012 Benghazi terror attack in Benghazi, Libya.

US Ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed in the September 11, 2012 attack along with State Department employee Sean Smith and Navy SEALs Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods are killed in the attack.

“We have never forgotten those heroes, and we have never stopped seeking justice for that crime against our nation,” Bondi said.

The man accused landed in the United States early this morning, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday morning.

The man, Zubayar Al-Bakoush, will face charges related to murder, terrorism, and arson, Bondi said.

Bakoush was charged eleven years ago, but the case remained sealed until his arrest Friday, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said. Her office will be leading the prosecution.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Dear Matzav Inbox,

A single, throwaway line from Elon Musk managed to expose a truth many people spend their lives running from.

“Whoever said money can’t buy happiness really knew what they were talking about.”

Cue the sarcasm, the mockery, the eye-rolling. “Cry me a river.” “Try being poor.” “I’d rather be miserable and rich than miserable and broke.” Very clever. Very predictable.

But beneath the snark was something raw and uncomfortable, and that’s exactly why people rushed to drown it out.

Here is a man who has more money than kings ever dreamed of, more access than entire countries, more power than most governments, openly admitting that it didn’t deliver what it promised. Not in a philosophical essay. Not in a self-help book. In one blunt sentence and a sad emoji.

And instead of pausing to listen, the world laughed.

Because if he isn’t happy, the fantasy collapses. If money doesn’t fix the emptiness at the very top, then maybe the problem isn’t “not enough.” Maybe the problem is thinking that having more will finally quiet the noise inside.

We’ve trained ourselves to believe that unhappiness is a budgeting issue. That anxiety is a temporary stage before the next raise. That fulfillment is one deal, one upgrade, one win away. And so when someone who has already crossed every imaginable finish line says, “This isn’t it,” we feel threatened. His honesty interferes with our coping mechanism.

So we mock him. We minimize it. We tell ourselves we’d handle the money better. We’d enjoy it more. We’d be grateful. We’d finally be calm.

But deep down, we know that’s not true.

Money solves problems. Real ones. Painful ones. No one is romanticizing poverty. But meaning, contentment, menuchas hanefesh — those don’t scale with net worth. If anything, they’re often buried under pressure, isolation, and expectations that never stop growing.

The saddest part isn’t that a billionaire admitted he isn’t happy. The saddest part is how desperate we are to pretend he’s wrong.

Because if he’s right, then we may have to confront a far harder question than how to make more money. We may have to ask what we’re actually living for.

And that’s a conversation far more uncomfortable than any sad emoji.

Sincerely,
An observer who thinks the joke is on us

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A key participant in the 2012 attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans is in custody, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday.

The 2012 attacks on the U.S. compound killed Americans including Ambassador Chris Stevens and immediately emerged as a divisive political issue as Republicans challenged President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on security at the facility, the military response to the violence and the Democratic administration’s changing narrative about who was responsible and why.

A final report by a Republican-led congressional panel faulted the Obama administration for security deficiencies at the Libyan outpost and a slow response to the attacks. The report, however, found no wrongdoing by Clinton.

Clinton dismissed the report as an echo of previous probes with no new discoveries, saying it was “time to move on.” Other Democrats denounced the Republicans’ report as “a conspiracy theory on steroids.

On the night of Sept. 11, 2012, U.S. officials have said, at least 20 militants armed with AK-47s and grenade launchers breached the gate of the consulate compound and set buildings on fire.

The fire led to the deaths of Stevens and State Department employee Sean Smith. Other State Department personnel escaped to a nearby U.S. facility known as the annex.

A large group assembled for an attack on the annex. That attack, including a precision mortar barrage, resulted in the deaths of security officers Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.

A Libyan militant suspected of being a mastermind of the attacks, Ahmed Abu Khattala, was captured by U.S. special forces in 2014 and was brought to Washington for prosecution. He was convicted and is serving a prison sentence. His attorneys argued that the evidence was inconclusive and that he was singled out because of his ultra-conservative Muslim beliefs.

FLORIDA (VINnews) — Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback sparked outrage on the campaign trail after making dismissive comments about the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites, while promoting his economic agenda.

At a gathering last night, Fishback told the crowd he would focus on bringing jobs to Florida rather than traveling abroad for ceremonial visits. “I will not visit the state of Israel,” he said. “I’d rather go to Brazil and other countries to bring jobs to Florida, and not visit countries just to kiss a stupid wall.”

James Fishback just made my blood boil. This should make your blood boil too.

He said he would not kiss a "stupid wall" in relation to the Kotel, the holiest site to the Jewish people.

Imagine if he called the most sacred site for Muslims, Christians or literally any other… https://t.co/F7wTc6a7lr

— Leo Terrell (@LeoTerrellDOJ) February 6, 2026

Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the United States Department of Justice Leo Terrell condemned the remarks. “James Fishback just made my blood boil. This should make your blood boil too,” Terrell tweeted. “Imagine if he called the most sacred site for Muslims, Christians, or literally any other religious group stupid. Visiting the Kotel and our allies in Israel was the highlight of my career! We must ALL call this out!”

Fishback, who has built much of his campaign by criticizing Israel and Jewish communities, has largely gone uncondemned, a fact that critics say is frustrating given the high-profile nature of his comments.

The White House on Thursday pointed to new research indicating that homicide rates in America’s largest cities fell to their lowest level in more than a century, crediting aggressive law enforcement and border policies under President Donald Trump.

During a press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt referenced findings published by the Council on Criminal Justice, describing the decline as unprecedented in modern records.

“A study from the Council on Criminal Justice shows that the murder rate across America’s largest cities plummeted in 2025 to its lowest level since at least 1900,” Leavitt said, noting that it “marks the largest single year drop in murders in recorded history.”

Leavitt attributed the sharp decrease to a broad federal crackdown on crime and illegal immigration. “This dramatic decline is what happens when a president secures the border, fully mobilizes federal law enforcement to arrest violent criminals, and aggressively deports the worst of the worst illegal aliens from our country,” she said.

She also highlighted law enforcement data comparing recent arrest figures. According to Leavitt, the Federal Bureau of Investigation made twice as many violent-crime arrests in 2025 as it did in 2024, which she described as the final full year of President Joe Biden’s administration. She added that during Trump’s first full year in office, total FBI arrests were nearly 200 percent higher than during the period from January 20, 2024, to January 20, 2025.

“The FBI also disrupted 1,800 gangs and criminal enterprises, a 210 percent increase from the year prior. The FBI has arrested 1,700 child predators and more than 300 human traffickers across the country,” Leavitt said. “Since President Trump took office, six of the FBI’s top 10 Most Wanted fugitives have been captured.”

The White House also pointed to crime trends in Washington, D.C., where Trump federalized local policing last year and authorized the deployment of the National Guard. According to the administration, crime levels in 2026 to date are significantly lower across nearly all categories compared with the same period in 2025. As of Thursday, the city recorded three murders so far this year, an 83 percent decrease from the 18 murders reported between January 1 and February 5 in 2025.

Other crime categories showed similar declines, with sex abuse offenses down 63 percent, robberies reduced by 58 percent, burglaries falling 44 percent, motor vehicle theft dropping 58 percent, and arson reduced by 100 percent.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers echoed the administration’s assessment in comments to Breitbart News earlier this week. “President Trump promised to make Washington, D.C. safe and beautiful again — now it is one of the safest cities in the country,” Rogers said. “Thanks to President Trump’s successful federal law enforcement operation, our nation’s capital has seen a dramatic decrease in crime and homicide.”

{Matzav.com}

Dr. Howard Lebowitz submitted the following letter to TLS.

In a recent interview, I was bemoaning how the population growth in Lakewood has outstripped the medical infrastructure, especially the number of primary care doctors for adults. I mentioned that ideally patients with chronic medical problems should have a relationship with a primary care doctor and not be managed with episodic visits in urgent care. All that is true.

However, I would like the opportunity to correct a misperception caused by my misspeaking. I did not in the least mean to slight the physician assistants and nurse practitioners who are, for the most part, doing an excellent job seeing these patients. In my role as a supervising physician at MyCare and in Specialty Hospital, I have grown to trust, and rely on these clinically astute professionals.

One of my own grandchildren was diagnosed with a problem on a visit with a brilliant, experienced PA in Lakewood that was missed by a pediatrician in Manhattan!

These PAs and NPs are colleagues that I value and appreciate. I, as well as all of Lakewood, are indebted to them.

Sincerely,
Howard Lebowitz, MD

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

WASHINGTON – Fact check: Does TrumpRx meaningfully lower drug prices?
Short answer: it mostly appears to be a referral website — not a new pricing system.

Here’s what the facts show:

1. TrumpRx does not sell drugs

The site doesn’t function as an online pharmacy. It redirects users to:

• Manufacturer direct-buy websites

• Participating pharmacies

• Coupon downloads

Consumers could already access those manufacturer sites directly without going through TrumpRx.

That makes it more of an aggregator than a new marketplace.

2. Most Americans already have drug coverage

About 85% of Americans have prescription drug insurance coverage.
For many of them:

• Insurance co-pays are lower than TrumpRx prices

• Generics may already be cheaper

• Out-of-pocket purchases could cost more than insured prices

Even TrumpRx product pages advise users to check their insurance co-pay first.

That undercuts the claim that it automatically delivers the “lowest prices.”

3. It excludes the most financially painful drugs

The site does not prominently feature:

• Most high-cost cancer therapies

• Many specialty drugs that drive employer and Medicare spending

Those drugs typically cost tens or hundreds of thousands per year and remain insurance-dependent. So the core cost crisis in American drug pricing is largely untouched.

4. Experts are skeptical

Health economists have described the program as:

• A “side show”

• Not a structural reform

• Unlikely to materially lower national drug spending

There’s also no public transparency about how featured prices are determined or whether they beat confidential insurer-negotiated rates.

5. Who might benefit?

There are narrow use cases:

• Uninsured patients

• People paying cash for fertility drugs

• Patients whose insurance doesn’t cover obesity medications

But even in those categories, alternatives already exist:

• Manufacturer assistance programs

• GoodRx-style comparison tools

• Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Company

• Direct-buy programs launched before TrumpRx

TrumpRx did not invent this model — it centralized it.

6. Political branding vs. structural reform

The launch included strong political messaging and campaign-style framing.
However, structurally:

• It does not change Medicare negotiation rules

• It does not alter pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) dynamics

• It does not regulate pricing formulas

• It does not mandate universal discounts

In other words: it doesn’t re-engineer the drug pricing system.

Bottom line

TrumpRx appears to be a government-branded referral portal highlighting existing manufacturer direct-to-consumer programs.

For a small subset of uninsured or cash-paying patients, it could offer convenience.

But based on current evidence, it does not fundamentally lower drug prices system-wide — and for insured patients, it may actually cost more.

So yes — at least for now — it looks more like political noise than structural healthcare reform.

Senior rabbonim in Eretz Yisroel have issued a sharp and emotional public appeal calling on the Jewish public to completely avoid the ANU – Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, formerly known as Beit Hatfutsot, following its refusal to remove exhibits that recognize and legitimize intermarriage.

The extraordinary statement comes after repeated approaches by Yad L’Achim, which has been campaigning for the removal of what it describes as offensive displays that normalize intermarriage and constitute a serious chillul Hashem. According to the organization, museum management has persistently rejected all requests to alter or remove the exhibits.

In their joint declaration, leading poskim, dayanim, and rabbanim warned both adults and children “not to dare set foot on the threshold of Museum ‘ANU,’ nor to come near it for any reason whatsoever,” stressing the spiritual danger posed by the content on display.

The letter is signed by Rav Masoud Ben Shimon, Rav Moshe Bransdorfer, Rav Shamai Kehas Gross, Rav Menachem M. Lubin, Rav Naftali Nussbaum, Rav Moshe Shaul Klein, Rav Sariel Rosenberg, Rav Yaakov Meir Stern, Rav Shmuel Eliezer Stern, and Rav Chaim Schmerler.

In the text of the appeal, the rabbanim wrote that they had received “reliable and deeply troubling information” from the leadership of Yad L’Achim, describing displays at the museum that greet visitors with messages of heresy and public recognition of intermarriage, which they say strike at the very root of Jewish continuity. “Upon hearing these matters,” the letter states, “our souls recoiled in anguish.”

The rabbanim further noted that Yad L’Achim had made numerous attempts over an extended period to engage museum officials and seek the removal of the exhibits, employing every reasonable form of dialogue and advocacy. “To our great sorrow,” the letter continues, “all of these appeals were met with sealed ears and hardened hearts. Woe to us that such things have arisen in our days, particularly at a time when the nation of Hashem is in dire need of salvation.”

Citing the teaching of Chazal that “one who causes others to sin is worse than one who kills,” the rabbanim emphasized the severity with which they view the matter.

In a statement following the publication of the rabbinic call, Yad L’Achim said the leading poskim were shaken by the full scope of the information presented to them regarding the museum’s exhibits and the prolonged struggle with its management.

The organization made clear that the public warning would not mark the end of its efforts. “Alongside the publication of this call,” Yad L’Achim stated, “we will continue to employ every legitimate tool available to us. We will not rest and we will not be silent until the exhibit is removed. It is inconceivable that while the Jewish people face grave external threats, a state-recognized institution in Israel should deal such a devastating blow to Jewish identity by granting malicious and reprehensible recognition to its desecration.”

Yad L’Achim added that the fight against assimilation is being waged worldwide, while “here, in Tel Aviv, a sword is being plunged into Jewish identity under the guise of culture and pluralism.”

{Matzav.com}

(AP) – Noah Winter brags he’s been to way more Super Bowls than Tom Brady.

Brady competed in 10 — more than any other player. But Winter will be part of the Super Bowl spectacle for his 30th straight year this year, not in uniform but as the guy in charge of the celebratory confetti after the game ends.

Winter’s company, Artistry in Motion, also makes confetti for rock concerts, movies, political conventions and the Olympics. But the annual blizzard of color falling onto the field at the end of each Super Bowl is probably what he’s best known for.

It certainly is what he’s most likely to get asked about at dinner parties. “It’s become an iconic moment,” Winter marvels, sitting in his Northridge, California, office and confetti factory.

Jane Gershovich, a photographer who worked for the Seattle Seahawks when they won the Super Bowl in 2014, said that when the confetti falls, everyone wants to play in it. The players and their families have been known to toss it in the air and make confetti angels.

“Just seeing the players and their kids engage with it at such a wholesome level, it brings a lot of joy to everyone on the field,” she said.

So, what goes into planning and executing a giant confetti drop? Winter fields some questions:

What happens to the losing team’s confetti?
Artistry in Motion trucks 300 pounds (135 kilograms) of two-colored confetti for each of the teams to the Super Bowl. They bring confetti cannons onto the field with about 4 minutes remaining, and line them up around the stadium walls.

Even if the teams stream onto the field before the clock runs out, the confetti waits until the timer shows the game is officially over. And the winners’ colors get the go-ahead.

“It’s always better to be late then early,” Winter explained. “Sometimes players go out and shake hands. We don’t launch until triple zero on the clock. Over the 30 years, we never have launched the wrong color or launched too early.”

The color mix is not 50-50, because some colors dominate on video, so the company has to experiment to find the correct mix.

Massachusetts company Seaman Paper has for 25 years manufactured the tissue paper that Artistry in Motion turns into confetti, said Jamie Jones, one of Seaman’s owners. A lot of New England Patriots fans who work there are particularly excited about their part in this year’s Super Bowl.

The company makes about 150,000 pounds (68,000 kilograms) of tissue paper a day — mostly for gift wrapping and food service.

“It’s a very prestigious but not big order,” Jones said of the Super Bowl paper.

How do you get the best flutter?
Winter has found that a rectangular shape is best for confetti because it turns on its axis and hangs in the air.

But TV viewers might not realize that there are actually two confetti drops at the Super Bowl — one at game’s end, and the other when the Vince Lombardi Trophy is presented to the winning team. That second round of confetti is cut in the silhouette of the trophy.

Messages can be printed on the tiny rectangles too. For a handful of Super Bowls, Artistry in Motion printed social media messages on each tiny flag at the request of event sponsor Twitter.

Some people ask whether the confetti is cut by hand (it isn’t), and Winter jokes that his hands get tired.

Is the confetti biodegradable?
The tiny rectangular flags of tissue paper are made from U.S.-sourced, 98% postconsumer recycled material, Winter says. The paper is biodegradable.

The company makes confetti in the colors of the four final NFL playoff teams. All that isn’t used is recycled.

The confetti makes a beautiful mess in the stadium, but cleanup isn’t Winter’s job. Every stadium uses a different approach, depending in part on the field’s makeup. Some use rakes. Others employ leaf blowers, taking care not to degrade the artificial turf.

How do you get into the confetti business?
Winter studied lighting design in college and did pyrotechnic work at venues including the Hollywood Bowl before Disney asked his team to recreate leaves falling and twirling for a live “Pocahontas” show in the mid-1980s. Soon, he was creating confetti for Disney’s daily parade at Disneyland.

In 1986, Mick Jagger saw the confetti at Disney and asked Artistry in Motion to make some for a Rolling Stones’ concert at Dodgers Stadium. Then, he brought the fledgling confetti company on tour. Other artists, including Bono from U2, asked that confetti be made for their shows as well.

Stadium concerts led to sporting events. The company’s first Super Bowl was in 1997, when the Green Bay Packers defeated the Patriots (pre-Brady) at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The year before that, Winter had been a pyrotechnician at the Super Bowl, making this year’s game his 30th.

In 2025, an estimated 127.7 million people watched the game on TV or streaming.

Winter wouldn’t admit to having a favorite team, but he did say he has two brothers who are New York Jets fans, and he has promised to bring them to the Super Bowl to work a confetti cannon if their team ever returns. Quarterback Joe Namath led the Jets to their last Super Bowl, in 1969.

On Wednesday, the Lakewood Township hosted its inaugural “Lakewood Legacy Awards” lunch at the Municipal Building, where dozens of Township employees were recognized for their exemplary public service. Awardees spanned a diverse array of Departments, including the Police Department; Department of Public Works; EMS; Inspection Department; among others. The Lakewood Tax Collector’s office was awarded “Department of the Year” for its accomplishments in making the taxpaying experience convenient and technologically advanced.

The awardees were selected by municipal government leaders and their colleagues, as a result of the unique level of dedication and professionalism they display in their work – which enhance the safety and quality-of-life of Lakewood residents; and make their interactions with government as friendly as can be.

Mayor Ray Coles; Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein; Committeewoman Debbie Fuentes; Township Manager Pat Donnelly; COO Trish Komsa; Kelly Boucher, Assistant Director of Human Resources; and Morgan Solomone, Human Resources Coordinator; headlined the event. Awardees were each individually presented with a personalized award plaque by a leader in their respective Department, alongside a member of the Township Committee.

Mayor Coles shared that he has been serving on the Township Committee and other local government entities for a quarter-century, and greatly admires all the employees that make government work effectively on a daily basis. “Our great employees are here, day in and day out, serving constituents with honor and skill,” says Mayor Coles. “Some of you have been here for thirty, forty years; you make me look like a slacker in comparison!”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump used his social media account to share a video about election conspiracy theories that includes a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates in a jungle.

The Republican president’s Thursday night post immediately drew backlash for its treatment of the nation’s first Black president and first lady. It was part of a flurry of social media activity that amplified Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, despite courts around the country and a Trump attorney general from his first term finding no evidence of fraud that could have affected the outcome.

The President’s post is wrong and incredibly offensive — whether intentional or a mistake — and should be deleted immediately with an apology offered.

— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) February 6, 2026

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected criticism of the post that depicted the Obamas, who are Democrats. An Obama spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

Nearly all of the 62-second clip, which was among dozens of Truth Social posts from Trump overnight, appears to be from a conservative video alleging deliberate tampering with voting machines in battleground states as the 2020 presidential votes were tallied. At the 60-second mark is a quick scene of two primates, with the Obamas’ smiling faces imposed on them.

Those frames were taken from a longer video, previously circulated by an influential conservative meme maker. It shows Trump as “King of the Jungle” and depicts a range of Democratic leaders as animals, including Joe Biden, who is white, as a primate eating a banana.

“This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King,” Leavitt said by text, referring to Disney’s 1994 feature film. “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”

Trump did not comment on the video in his post.

The group Republicans Against Trump, a frequent social media critic of the president, criticized the post and its “racist image.”

“There’s no bottom,” the group wrote.

Trump and the official White House social media accounts frequently repost memes and artificial intelligence-generated videos. As Leavitt did Friday, Trump aides typically dismiss critiques and cast the images as humorous.

Trump also has a long history of intensely personal criticism of the Obamas and of using incendiary, sometimes racist, rhetoric.

In his 2024 campaign, Trump said immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country,” language similar to what Adolf Hitler said to dehumanize Jews in Nazi Germany.

During his first White House term, Trump referred to a swath of developing nations that are majority Black as “shithole countries.” He initially denied using the slur but admitted in December 2025 that he did say it.

When Obama was in the White House, Trump advanced the false claims that the 44th president, who was born in Hawaii, was born in Kenya and was constitutionally ineligible to serve. Trump, in interviews that helped endear him to many conservative voters, repeatedly demanded that Obama produce birth records and prove he was a “natural-born citizen” as required to become president.

Obama eventually released his Hawaii records. Trump finally acknowledged during his 2016 campaign, after having won the Republican nomination, that Obama was born in Hawaii. But he immediately said, falsely, that his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton started those birtherism attacks on Obama.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said Thursday that it has carried out another deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

U.S. Southern Command said on social media that the boat “was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” It said the strike killed two people. A video linked to the post shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames.

The strike was announced just hours after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that “some top cartel drug-traffickers” in the region “have decided to cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY due to recent (highly effective) kinetic strikes in the Caribbean.” However, Hegseth did not provide any details or information to back up this claim, made in a post on his personal account on social media.

Neither U.S. Southern Command nor the Pentagon would answer follow-up questions about Hegseth’s claim.

The boat attacks, which began in September 2025, have slowed in frequency since January — a month that only saw one strike after the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. By contrast, the Pentagon struck more than dozen boats in December 2025.

Thursday’s attack raises the death toll from the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats to 128 people. Last week, the military said that figure was up to 126 people, with the inclusion of those presumed dead after being lost at sea. That figure included 116 people who were killed immediately in at least 36 attacks carried out since early September in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, U.S. Southern Command said. Ten others are believed dead because searchers did not locate them following a strike.

Meanwhile, the families of two Trinidadian nationals killed in a Trump administration boat strike in Octobersued the federal government last week, calling the attack a war crime and part of an “unprecedented and manifestly unlawful U.S. military campaign.” The suit is believed to be the first wrongful death case arising from the campaign and will test the legal justification of the attacks, which many experts say are a brazen violation of the laws of armed conflict.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs. But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing “narcoterrorists.”

NUUK, Greenland (AP) — Canada and France planned to open diplomatic consulates Friday in the capital of Greenland, showing support for NATO ally Denmark and the Arctic island in the wake of U.S. efforts to secure control of the semiautonomous Danish territory.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand was traveling to Nuuk to inaugurate the consulate that officials say also could help boost cooperation on issues like climate change and Inuit rights. She was being joined by Canada’s Indigenous governor general, Mary Simon.

France’s Foreign Ministry said Jean-Noël Poirier also would take up his duties as consul general, making it the first European Union country to establish a consulate general in Greenland.

Poirier will be “tasked with working to deepen existing cooperation projects with Greenland in the cultural, scientific, and economic fields, while also strengthening political ties with the local authorities,” the ministry said.

Canada pledged to open a consulate in Greenland in 2024, before Trump’s recent talk of a takeover, and the formal inauguration was delayed from November because of bad weather.

Anand met Danish counterpart Lars Løkke Rasmussen in Denmark on Thursday and posted on social media that “as Arctic nations, Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark are working together to strengthen stability, security, and cooperation across the region.”

France says the decision to open its diplomatic outpost was taken when President Emmanuel Macron visited in June.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced in January he would slap new tariffs on Denmark and seven other European countries that opposed his takeover calls, only to abruptly drop his threats after he said a “framework” for a deal over access to mineral-rich Greenland was reached with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s help. Few details of that agreement have emerged.

Last week, technical talks started between the U.S., Denmark and Greenland to put together an Arctic security deal. The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland had agreed to create a working group during a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio before Trump made his tariff threats.

BANI WALID, Libya (AP) — Thousands converged on Friday in northwestern Libya for the funeral of Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son and one-time heir apparent of Libya’s late leader Moammar Gadhafi, who was killed earlier this week when four masked assailants stormed into his home and fatally shot him.

Mourners carried his coffin in the town of Bani Walid, 146 kilometers (91 miles) southeast of the capital, Tripoli, as well as large photographs of both Seif al-Islam, who was known mostly by his first name, and his father.

The crowd also waved plain green flags, Libya’s official flag from 1977 to 2011 under Gadhafi, who ruled the country for more than 40 years before being toppled in a NATO-backed popular uprising in 2011. Gadhafi was killed later that year in his hometown of Sirte as fighting in Libya escalated into a full-blown civil war.

As the funeral procession got underway and the crowds swelled, a small group of supporters took Seif al-Islam’s coffin away and later performed the funeral prayers and buried him.

Attackers at his home
Seif al-Islam, 53, was killed on Tuesday inside his home in the town of Zintan, 136 kilometers (85 miles) southwest of the capital, Tripoli, according to Libyan’s chief prosecutor’s office.

Authorities said an initial investigation found that he was shot to death but did not provide further details. Seif al-Islam’s political team later released a statement saying “four masked men” had stormed his house and killed him in a “cowardly and treacherous assassination,” after disabling security cameras.

Seif al-Islam was captured by fighters in Zintan late in 2011 while trying to flee to neighboring Niger. The fighters released him in June 2017, after one of Libya’s rival governments granted him amnesty.

“The pain of loss weighs heavily on my heart, and it intensifies because I can’t bid him farewell from within my homeland — a pain that words can’t ease,” Seif al-Islam’s brother Mohamed Gadhafi, who lives in exile outside Libya though his current whereabouts are unknown, wrote on Facebook on Friday.

“But my solace lies in the fact that the loyal sons of the nation are fulfilling their duty and will give him a farewell befitting his stature,” the brother wrote.

Since the uprising that toppled Gadhafi, Libya plunged into chaos during which the oil-rich North African country split, with rival administrations now in the east and west, backed by various armed groups and foreign governments.

Gadhafi’s heir-apparent
Seif al-Islam was Gadhafi’s second-born son and was seen as the reformist face of the Gadhafi regime — someone with diplomatic outreach who had worked to improve Libya’s relations with Western countries up until the 2011 uprising.

The United Nations imposed sanctions on Seif al-Islam that included a travel ban and an assets freeze for his inflammatory public statements encouraging violence against anti-Gadhafi protesters during the 2011 uprising. The International Criminal Court later charged him with crimes against humanity related to the 2011 uprising.

In July 2021, Seif al-Islam told the New York Times that he’s considering returning to Libya’s political scene after a decade of absence during which he observed Middle East politics and reportedly reorganized his father’s political supporters.

He condemned the country’s new leaders. “There’s no life here. Go to the gas station — there’s no diesel,″ Seif al-Islam told the Times.

In November 2021, he announced his candidacy in the country’s presidential election in a controversial move that was met with outcry from anti-Gadhafi political forces in western and eastern Libya.

The country’s High National Elections Committee disqualified him, but the election wasn’t held over disputes between rival administrations and armed groups.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Thursday that a Democratic victory in the midterm elections would lead to aggressive oversight of President Donald Trump, including efforts to address what he described as corruption across Washington.

Speaking on MS NOW’s “All In,” Jeffries argued that Trump has acted as though he should not be subject to the same standards as other presidents. “Donald Trump likes to conduct himself as if he should be held to a standard different than every other American president or former president. And we can’t allow that to happen on all of the things,” Jeffries said.

Jeffries said a Democratic-controlled House would focus both on policy priorities and oversight. “And certainly it’s going to be the case that in a Democratic majority, we’re going to fight hard to tackle the issues that matter, to drive down the high cost of living, fight hard, fight hard, to fix our broken health care system, of course,” he said. He added that Democrats would also move to address ethics concerns throughout the federal government. “But also at the same time, we’ve got to clean up the corruption that exists in Washington, DC, in the Congress, with the Supreme Court, and also deal with Donald Trump and his administration, who spend all of their time. It seems like trying to enrich themselves, their family and their friends, as opposed to focusing on doing their job to make life better for the American people.”

Jeffries said Democrats intend to use the House’s constitutional role as a check on executive power. “We will hold the Trump administration accountable in a manner consistent with what the House should be all about a check and balance on an out-of-control administration,” he said.

Looking ahead to November, Jeffries predicted electoral losses for Republicans, saying Trump is aware of the political stakes. “Donald Trump understands that if there is a free and fair election in November, and we’re going to make sure there is one, that the House is lost, Democrats are going to take back control of the House of Representatives,” Jeffries said.

He also suggested the GOP’s prospects in the Senate are weakening. “And the Senate is looking increasingly shaky as well, because the American people are rejecting this extremism. Donald Trump and Republicans have failed,” Jeffries said.

{Matzav.com}

MOSCOW (AP) — A deputy chief of Russia’s military intelligence agency was shot and wounded in Moscow on Friday in an attack that follows a series of assassinations of senior military officers that Russia has blamed on Ukraine.

Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev was hospitalized after being shot several times by an unidentified assailant at an apartment building in northwestern Moscow, Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said in a statement.

She didn’t say who could be behind the attack on the 64-year-old who has served as the first deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence agency, known as the GRU, since 2011.

Moscow in uproar this morning after one of Putin's top generals was gunned down as he was leaving his apartment building this morning.

Vladimir Stepanovich Alekseyev was a jey negotiator during the Prigozhin Wagner rebellion.
pic.twitter.com/etIAPpJAqy pic.twitter.com/CE9b0SCDbg

— Kyiv Insider (@KyivInsider) February 6, 2026

He was decorated with the Hero of Russia medal for his role in Moscow’s military campaign in Syria and in June 2023 was shown on state TV speaking to mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin when his Wagner Group seized the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don during his short-lived mutiny.

The shooting came a day after Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators wrapped up two days of talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, aimed at ending the nearly 4-year-old conflict in Ukraine. The Russian delegation was led by Alekseyev’s boss, military intelligence chief Adm. Igor Kostyukov.

President Vladimir Putin was informed about the attack, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who added that law enforcement agencies need to step up protection of senior military officers during the conflict in Ukraine.

Ukrainian authorities haven’t commented on the attack.

Asked about the shooting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said it would be up to law enforcement agencies to pursue the investigation but described it as an apparent “terrorist act” by Ukraine intended to derail peace talks.

The business daily Kommersant said the attacker, posing as a delivery person, shot the general twice in the stairway of his apartment building, wounding him in the foot and the arm. Alekseyev tried to wrest away the gun and was shot again in the chest before the attacker fled, the report said.

Since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, Russian authorities have blamed Kyiv for several assassinations of military officers and public figures in Russia. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for some of them.

In December, a car bomb killed Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff.

In April, another senior Russian military officer, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff, was killed by a bomb placed in his car parked near his apartment building just outside Moscow.

A Russian man who previously lived in Ukraine pleaded guilty to carrying out the attack and said he had been paid by Ukraine’s security services.

Days after Moskalik’s killing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he received a report from the head of Ukraine’s foreign intelligence agency on the “liquidation” of top Russian military figures, adding that “justice inevitably comes” although he didn’t mention Moskalik’s name.

In December 2024, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the chief of the military’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces, was killed by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter outside his apartment building. Kirillov’s assistant also died. Ukraine’s security service claimed responsibility for the attack.

MUSCAT, Oman (AP) — Iran and the United States held indirect talks in Oman over Tehran’s nuclear program on Friday, months after America bombed Iran’s uranium enrichment sites and just weeks following nationwide protests that convulsed the Islamic Republic.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks as “a very good start” even as the parties met Oman’s top diplomat at different times at a palace on the outskirts of the country’s capital, Muscat.

Both Araghchi and the Omanis described the talks themselves as focused on merely trying to find a way to hold future negotiations — seemingly returning to the start of discussions about the Iranian nuclear program that unfolded over months a year ago, before Israel launched its 12-day war on Iran in June.

The U.S. side, represented by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, had no immediate comment on the talks.

In an unusual development, U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of the American military’s Central Command, also attended the meeting — something that did not happen in previous rounds and likely served as a signal to Tehran that Washington may still strike Iran if negotiations fail.

With the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships in the region, along with more fighter jets, the U.S. now likely has the military firepower to launch an attack if it wanted. But whether attacks could be enough to force Iran to change its ways — or potentially topple its government — remains far from a sure thing.

Meanwhile, Gulf Arab nations fear an attack could spark a regional war dragging them in as well. That threat is real — already, U.S. forces shot down an Iranian drone near the Lincoln and Iran attempted to stop a U.S.-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s top diplomat offers a positive note
Araghchi offered cautious optimism as he spoke in a live interview from Muscat, Oman, on Iranian state television. He described Friday’s talks as taking place over multiple rounds and said that they were focused primarily on finding a framework for further negotiations.

“We will hold consultations with our capitals regarding the next steps, and the results will be conveyed to Oman foreign minister,” Araghchi said.

“The mistrust that has developed is a serious challenge facing the negotiations,” Araghchi said. “We must first address this issue, and then enter into the next level of negotiations.”

Omani palace hosts talks
The palace, near Muscat’s international airport, had been used by Oman in earlier talks Iran-U.S. talks in 2025. Associated Press journalists saw Iranian officials at the palace and later returning to their hotel.

Only after the Iranian vehicles left did another convoy, including an SUV flying the American flag, enter the palace grounds, where it stayed for about an hour and a half, AP journalists saw.

After that, Oman’s Foreign Ministry published a statement saying that the sultanate’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, met separately with Araghchi, then with the Americans.

“The consultations focused on preparing the appropriate circumstances for resuming the diplomatic and technical negotiations by ensuring the importance of these negotiations, in light of the parties’ determination to ensure their success in achieving sustainable security and stability,” the Omani announcement said.

Nuclear program on the table at the least
It remains unclear just what terms Iran is willing to negotiate at the talks. Tehran has maintained that these talks will only be on its nuclear program. However, Al Jazeera satellite news channel reported that diplomats from Egypt, Turkey and Qatar offered Iran a proposal in which Tehran would halt enrichment for three years, send its highly enriched uranium out of the country and pledge “not initiate the use of ballistic missiles.”

Russia had signaled it would take the uranium, but Iran has said ending the program or shipping out the uranium were nonstarters.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that the talks needed to include all those issues.

“I’m not sure you can reach a deal with these guys, but we’re going to try to find out,” he said. ___

Members of the Toms River Police Department’s Underwater Recovery Unit conducted ice rescue training on Monday at the Toms River Township boat ramp, as part of the unit’s ongoing preparation for water-related emergencies.

According to police officials, the specialized unit regularly trains in various forms of water rescue, including swift water, deep water, and cold-water operations. With recent freezing temperatures creating hazardous conditions on local waterways, this week’s ice rescue drill was described as particularly timely and relevant.

During the training, officers practiced techniques for safely responding to individuals who may fall through ice, including self-rescue procedures, rescue equipment deployment, and coordinated response tactics.

Authorities are also using the opportunity to remind the public of the dangers posed by frozen bodies of water. The Toms River Police Department urged residents to avoid walking, skating, or driving on ice, noting that conditions can be unpredictable and dangerous even when ice appears solid.

A similar training was held this week by Lakewood’s Team as well.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The race in New Jersey between a onetime political director for Sen. Bernie Sanders and a former congressman was too early to call Thursday, in a special House Democratic primary for a seat that was vacated after Mikie Sherill was elected governor.

Former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski started election night with a significant lead over Analilia Mejia, based largely on early results from mail-in ballots. The margin narrowed as results from votes cast that day were tallied.

With more than 61,000 votes counted, Mejia led Malinowski by 486, or less than 1 percentage point.

All three counties in the district report some mail-in ballots yet to be processed. Also, mail-in ballots postmarked by election day can arrive as late as Wednesday and still be counted.

Malinowski did better than Mejia among the mail-in ballots already counted in all three counties, leaving the outcome of the race uncertain.

The Democratic winner will face Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, on April 16.

Malinowski served two terms in the House before losing a bid for reelection in a different district in 2022. He had the endorsement of New Jersey Democratic Sen. Andy Kim, who has built support among progressive groups.

Mejia, a former head of the Working Families Alliance in the state and political director for Sanders during his 2020 presidential run, had the Vermont independent senator’s endorsement as well as that of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez of New York. She also worked in President Joe Biden’s Labor Department as deputy director of the women’s bureau.

Both Malinowski and Mejia were well ahead of the next-closest candidates: Brendan Gill, an elected commissioner in Essex County who has close ties to former Gov. Phil Murphy; and Tahesha Way, who served as lieutenant governor and secretary of state for two terms under Murphy until last month.

The other candidates were John Bartlett, Zach Beecher, J-L Cauvin, Marc Chaaban, Cammie Croft, Dean Dafis, Jeff Grayzel, Justin Strickland and Anna Lee Williams.

The district covers parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties in northern New Jersey, including some of New York City’s wealthier suburbs.

The special primary and April general election will determine who serves the remainder of Sherrill’s term, which ends next January. There will be a regular primary in June and general election in November for the next two-year term.

Sherrill, also a Democrat, represented the district for four terms after her election in 2018. She won despite the region’s historical loyalty to the GOP, a dynamic that began to shift during President Donald Trump’s first term.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s long-awaited decision on a running mate is already stirring backlash inside her own coalition, with Jewish leaders, labor groups and Democratic insiders warning that her pick could become an early liability in a high-stakes reelection fight.

Hochul announced that former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams would join her on the Democratic ticket, calling the Queens lawmaker a “fighter” prepared to take on President Trump’s administration. But within hours, party operatives and community leaders were questioning whether the choice would energize voters — or alienate key blocs.

“If the goal was to pick someone as underwhelming as possible, then picking Adrienne Adams was genius,” one Democratic consultant said.

Another operative was blunter: “She made a lot of enemies as speaker. You’re supposed to do no harm with these picks — and this is the one person who can inspire a negative reaction.”

Some of the sharpest criticism has emerged from Jewish political circles, where concerns linger over Adams’s record on Israel and antisemitism.

A Democratic lawmaker and a party official, both Jewish, told the NY Post they were reconsidering their support for Hochul after the announcement. One lawmaker, speaking anonymously, said community leaders were disappointed by Adams’s response following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack and by her support for a ceasefire resolution in the City Council.

“I think overall people felt like she allowed the lefties to run free,” the lawmaker said, referring to progressive council members.

Michael Nussbaum of the Jewish Community Relations Council said Adams declined an invitation to travel to Israel during her tenure as speaker, “but she’s acceptable to me. I like her very much. She’ll be a good lieutenant governor.”

Adams’s legislative record has also raised concerns among law enforcement and corrections unions, which opposed several measures she backed at City Hall.

Scott Munro, president of the Detectives Endowment Association, said unions are watching closely.

“We will only endorse someone who is pro-police,” Munro said. “We’ll see if she proves that — or appeals to the far left like she did in the council.”

Union leaders have quietly warned Hochul’s team that Adams’s past positions could complicate efforts to lock down organized labor support.

Strategists say Adams’s political résumé offers limited upside at a moment when Hochul is facing mounting pressure from both left and right.

Hochul’s selection comes as she fends off a primary challenge from her estranged lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, whose running mate is progressive activist India Walton.

Two other prominent officeholders had declined overtures to join Hochul’s ticket, according to party sources. One insider said the governor had explored tapping Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, but ultimately chose Adams in hopes of strengthening her standing in Queens.

Hochul’s running-mate pick is being scrutinized in part because of her troubled history with the position. Her first lieutenant governor resigned in 2022 after a corruption indictment, later dismissed. Delgado, her current lieutenant, is now running against her.

Appearing with Adams at a press conference in Syracuse, Hochul brushed aside the criticism.

“No one can question what Adrienne Adams brings to this fight in this moment in history,” she said.

The two women are now running on the first all-female major-party ticket in New York’s history.

Not all Democrats are balking. Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, who represents heavily Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn, said he plans to back both Hochul and Adams.

“What’s the alternative?” he said. “Antonio Delgado and India Walton? Thanks but no thanks.”

GOP nominee Bruce Blakeman has yet to announce his own running mate.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Freezing January temperatures left tens of thousands of New York City residents without heat or hot water, triggering a wave of complaints and putting pressure on Mayor Zohran Mamdani just weeks into his term. While some tenants faulted the city’s response under the new administration, housing officials pointed to enforcement efforts and deep-rooted infrastructure failures.

Interviews published by the New York Post detailed residents across several neighborhoods who said their buildings went extended periods without reliable heat or hot water during the coldest stretch of winter. The accounts described daily disruptions and makeshift solutions as temperatures dropped.

In Williamsburg, tenant Alex Hughes told the Post he had endured “over 40 days of no hot water over the last 11 months” and was then on “day eight or nine straight of no hot water,” saying he resorted to showering at a friend’s apartment.

Similar problems were reported in Astoria, where Nicole Pavez, a city planner, said the heat in her building had been failing almost every night throughout the month.

Residents of public housing described comparable conditions. Malik Williams, who lives at the Lehman Houses, told the Post that his apartment lacked heat for much of January and that he boiled water on the stove in an effort to warm his home.

According to Breitbart, approximately 80,000 people contacted the city’s 311 system in January to report a lack of heat or hot water, marking what it described as the highest monthly total ever recorded.

Separate data released by the city’s Housing Preservation and Development agency showed that, through Jan. 29, there had been 215,045 heat-related complaints during the current heating season, compared with 187,775 complaints at the same point last season.

Mamdani, who was sworn in on Jan. 1, has been pressed to explain how the city is handling emergency responses and enforcing heat regulations amid the surge in complaints.

The report also tied the spike in calls to the mayor’s housing agenda and his decision to appoint tenant advocate Cea Weaver to head the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants. The appointment was announced on Jan. 1 alongside an executive action aimed at reviving and expanding that office’s role.

The New York City Housing Authority, which oversees the nation’s largest public housing system, said it maintains a 24-hour heat desk and emergency response operation and has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in heating upgrades in recent years.

Even so, estimates contained in city and NYCHA documents place the cost of restoring the housing authority’s properties to a state of good repair at roughly $78 billion over the next two decades.

{Matzav.com}

The United States’ virtual embassy to Iran reiterated its warning Friday urging all American citizens to “leave Iran now,” citing widespread unrest, communication blackouts and growing risks of detention.

The advisory, run by the United States Department of State, reiterates guidance first issued on Jan. 12, as nationwide protests and government crackdowns disrupted daily life across the country. Officials warned of heightened security measures, road closures, transportation shutdowns and ongoing internet restrictions imposed by Iranian authorities.

“The regime continues to restrict access to mobile, landline, and national internet networks,” the advisory said, warning that communications outages could persist without notice.

U.S. officials also cautioned that commercial flights to and from Iran remain unreliable, with many airlines limiting service or canceling routes altogether. As a result, Americans in the country are being urged to prepare alternative exit plans and, if conditions allow, consider leaving by land through neighboring countries.

The advisory recommends travel through Armenia or Turkey, noting that land borders with Armenia, Turkey and Turkmenistan remain open. Azerbaijan’s land border, however, is closed to routine traffic, while travel to Afghanistan, Iraq and the Pakistan-Iran border region is strongly discouraged.

“Have a plan that does not rely on U.S. government assistance,” the advisory warned, stressing that Washington’s ability to intervene inside Iran is extremely limited.

Americans are also advised to avoid demonstrations, keep a low profile, monitor local media and keep mobile phones charged in case of emergencies.

The warning carries particular weight for dual U.S.-Iranian nationals. According to the advisory, Iran does not recognize dual citizenship and treats such individuals solely as Iranian citizens. Dual nationals are required to exit the country using Iranian passports and may not receive U.S. consular protection.

The State Department further cautioned that carrying or displaying a U.S. passport could lead to questioning, arrest or detention.

“U.S. nationals are at risk of arbitrary enforcement and prolonged detention,” the advisory said.

For consular assistance, Americans are directed to the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which serves as Washington’s protecting power in Iran due to the absence of formal diplomatic relations.

The renewed warning comes as U.S. and Iranian officials resumed indirect negotiations Friday in Muscat, hosted by Oman, in an effort to ease rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and regional security.

While diplomats gathered behind closed doors in Muscat, U.S. officials underscored that conditions inside Iran remain volatile and unpredictable, with protests, security operations and infrastructure disruptions continuing to affect civilian life.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYc)

A deputy chief of Russia’s military intelligence agency was shot and wounded in Moscow on Friday in an attack that follows a series of assassinations of senior military officers that Russia has blamed on Ukraine.

Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev was hospitalized after being shot several times by an unidentified assailant at an apartment building in northwestern Moscow, Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said in a statement.

She didn’t say who could be behind the attack on the 64-year-old who has served as the first deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence agency, known as the GRU, since 2011.

He was decorated with the Hero of Russia medal for his role in Moscow’s military campaign in Syria and in June 2023 was shown on state TV speaking to mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin when his Wagner Group seized the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don during his short-lived mutiny.

The shooting came a day after Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators wrapped up two days of talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, aimed at ending the nearly 4-year-old conflict in Ukraine. The Russian delegation was led by Alekseyev’s boss, military intelligence chief Adm. Igor Kostyukov.

President Vladimir Putin was informed about the attack, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who added that law enforcement agencies need to step up protection of senior military officers during the conflict in Ukraine.

Ukrainian authorities haven’t commented on the attack.

Asked about the shooting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said it would be up to law enforcement agencies to pursue the investigation but described it as an apparent “terrorist act” by Ukraine intended to derail peace talks.

The business daily Kommersant said the attacker, posing as a delivery person, shot the general twice in the stairway of his apartment building, wounding him in the foot and the arm. Alekseyev tried to wrest away the gun and was shot again in the chest before the attacker fled, the report said.

Since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, Russian authorities have blamed Kyiv for several assassinations of military officers and public figures in Russia. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for some of them.

In December, a car bomb killed Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff.

In April, another senior Russian military officer, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff, was killed by a bomb placed in his car parked near his apartment building just outside Moscow.

A Russian man who previously lived in Ukraine pleaded guilty to carrying out the attack and said he had been paid by Ukraine’s security services.

Days after Moskalik’s killing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he received a report from the head of Ukraine’s foreign intelligence agency on the “liquidation” of top Russian military figures, adding that “justice inevitably comes” although he didn’t mention Moskalik’s name.

In December 2024, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the chief of the military’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces, was killed by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter outside his apartment building. Kirillov’s assistant also died. Ukraine’s security service claimed responsibility for the attack.

(AP)

Organizers behind an international flotilla carrying humanitarian assistance to Gaza said Thursday that they are preparing a far larger mission set to depart in March, involving more than 100 vessels, according to a report by The Associated Press.

Those leading the campaign framed the planned voyage as the biggest civilian-driven effort yet opposing Israel’s conduct in Gaza, and they called on governments and international bodies to ensure that Israeli forces do not attempt to stop the flotilla at sea.

The plans were unveiled during an event at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, where speakers included Mandla Mandela, the grandson of South Africa’s former president.

Mandela took part in last year’s Global Sumud flotilla and was among the activists detained when Israeli forces stopped their vessel before it reached Gaza.

According to organizers, more than 1,000 participants are expected to take part in the upcoming mission, including physicians, engineers, and investigators focused on alleged war crimes. In addition to the maritime effort, a land convoy is being organized that could attract thousands more supporters traveling from countries such as Tunisia and Egypt.

The flotilla’s vessels are slated to set sail from ports in Spain, Tunisia, and Italy. While activists acknowledged that clashes with Israeli forces are likely, they maintained that their actions are protected under international law.

The previous flotilla last year consisted of roughly 50 boats and about 500 activists. Israeli authorities detained an estimated 443 people, among them Mandela, climate activist Greta Thunberg, and European Parliament member Rima Hassan.

Earlier that same year, a separate effort known as the Madleen also sought to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and was intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces.

After that interception, the activists were provided with food and water, despite many having recorded videos in advance claiming they were “kidnapped” by the IDF.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry later said that the aid aboard the Madleen amounted to less than a single truckload and would instead be delivered to Gaza through established humanitarian channels.

{Matzav.com}

Emergency crews rushed to the scene in central Israel on Friday after a bus slammed into a building in the city of Ramat Gan, leaving at least 10 people injured, including one woman with severe, life-threatening injuries.

Magen David Adom said EMTs and paramedics treated multiple victims following the crash, which unfolded in a busy urban area.

According to MDA, one woman who was initially reported to be in critical condition suffered multi-system injuries after becoming trapped beneath the bus. Rescue teams worked to free her before she was transported to the hospital for urgent treatment.

Another woman, believed to be in her 60s, was moderately injured and evacuated from the scene, officials said. Eight additional people sustained minor injuries and were treated on site by emergency responders.

Police quickly secured the area as ambulances and rescue vehicles converged on the scene. Israel Police confirmed that officers remain present and are assisting with crowd control and the investigation.

Authorities have not yet released details on what caused the crash. Investigators are examining whether mechanical failure, road conditions, or human error played a role.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Anti-Israel activists announced plans Thursday for what they claim will be the largest-ever civilian flotilla aimed at breaking Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, a move Israeli officials have dismissed as a provocative stunt likely to aid Hamas terrorists.

The so-called “Global Sumud Flotilla,” organized by a coalition including the grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela, is scheduled to depart from Barcelona on March 29, with additional vessels joining from ports in Italy, Tunisia and elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Organizers say the convoy will include over 100 boats carrying more than 1,000 participants from around 100 countries, including doctors, educators, engineers, construction workers and self-described “genocide researchers.” A parallel overland aid convoy is also planned to depart from Asia, they added.

The announcement, made at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, comes just months after Israeli forces intercepted a similar flotilla in October 2025, detaining over 450 activists without incident. That mission, which organizers hailed as a “historic escalation,” was halted by the Israeli Navy to prevent potential arms smuggling to Hamas, the terrorist group that rules Gaza and launched the brutal Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and sparked the ongoing conflict.

Israeli officials have long maintained the blockade, imposed jointly with Egypt in 2007 after Hamas seized control of Gaza, is essential to prevent weapons and materials from reaching terrorists who have fired thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians. “This is nothing more than a publicity stunt by anti-Israel extremists,” an Israeli government spokesperson said in response to the new plans, echoing dismissals of previous efforts.

Past flotillas have ended in violence, most notably the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, when activists aboard a Turkish vessel attacked Israeli commandos with clubs and knives, leading to the deaths of nine assailants in self-defense. Israel has since allowed extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza through monitored land crossings, with over 500,000 tons delivered since the war began, though critics claim restrictions remain due to Hamas’ diversion of supplies.

Mandela’s grandson, Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, invoked South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle in calling for the flotilla, urging global participation to “isolate the apartheid state of Israel.” Organizers, including groups like the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, insist the mission is nonviolent and focused on delivering aid amid what they describe as a “genocidal siege.” However, Israeli security experts warn such convoys could be exploited by terror groups, as evidenced by past discoveries of weapons hidden in aid shipments.

The Israeli Navy has vowed to enforce the blockade, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stating last year that “any attempt to breach our maritime security will be met with firm action to protect our citizens.”

As preparations ramp up, the flotilla’s organizers are calling for more volunteers, emphasizing specialized teams for medical care and reconstruction. But in Israel, the announcement has been met with skepticism and resolve, with one X user posting, “They never learn.”

The Israeli government has not yet detailed its response to the March sailing but reiterated its commitment to allowing vetted aid while preventing threats to national security.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

This Shabbos will be the 25th year since the passing of a model mechanech – someone who personified that remarkable and bold pioneerism that changed the face of merican Chinuch,

 In the early 1940s, the idea of a full-day Jewish school in an American city was considered ludicrous. Parents scoffed. Community leaders were skeptical. The prevailing wisdom held that Jewish children belonged in public schools during the day, with perhaps a few hours of religious instruction tacked on in the afternoons or on Sundays.

Against this tide of indifference and outright opposition, one young man—barely in his twenties, a refugee who had traversed Siberia and Japan to reach American shores—dared to dream of something different. He spent his first summer in Cleveland going door to door, lobbying, begging, and pleading with parents to entrust their children to a fledgling day school that had opened in a basement with just twenty-four students.

That young man was Rav Nachum Zev (Velvel) Dessler zt”l.

Over the next seven decades, he would transform that basement classroom into the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland—an institution that has educated over 7,000 students, currently serves more than 1,450 students across multiple campuses, and stands as one of the premier Jewish day schools in North America. More than that, he helped build the very concept of the American Jewish day school, serving as a guiding light for Torah Umesorah and hundreds of schools across the continent. Today, the school bears his name: Beis Chinuch Horav Dessler.

This is the story of how one man’s quiet dignity, unwavering faith, and Kelmer refinement changed the face of Jewish education in America forever.

A Royal Lineage: Kelm, Mussar, and the Dessler Heritage

To understand Rav Nachum Zev Dessler, one must first understand where he came from—not merely geographically, but spiritually. He was born in 1921 in Kelm, Lithuania, a small town that loomed large in the world of Torah. Kelm was home to the legendary Talmud Torah founded by Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv, reverently known as the Alter of Kelm, who was the foremost talmid of Rav Yisrael Salanter zt”l, the father of the Mussar Movement.

Rav Dessler’s yichus was extraordinary on both sides. His father was none other than Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, the author of the universally acclaimed Michtav M’Eliyahu—one of the most influential mussar works of the twentieth century—who would later serve as the Mashgiach Ruchni of the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak.

On his father’s side, the family traced its lineage back to Rav Yisrael Salanter himself. His mother, Bluma, was a granddaughter of the Alter of Kelm, and Nachum Zev was named after the Alter’s son, Rav Nachum Zev Ziv. He was, quite literally, a scion of the two towering pillars of the Mussar Movement.

The Kelm Talmud Torah was unlike any other institution. It never grew beyond twenty-five to thirty students, yet it produced the mashgiach of nearly every major Lithuanian yeshiva. Its hallmark was sheleimus ha’adam—the pursuit of personal perfection—coupled with an extraordinary emphasis on empathy, caring for others, menuchas hanefesh (calmness of spirit), and refined conduct in every detail of life. Every action and word was to be preceded by forethought and purpose.

A Youth Shaped by Torah and Upheaval

In 1929, when Nachum Zev was eight years old, the Dessler family moved to London, where his father would eventually become a transformative Torah educator. Young Nachum Zev was enrolled in Yeshivah Etz Chaim.

But the pull of Lithuanian Torah learning was strong. Three years later, as a young bachur, he returned to Lithuania and enrolled in the Telshe Yeshiva—one of the great citadels of Torah scholarship—where he would learn for eight formative years under the tutelage of Rav Elya Meir Bloch and Rav Chaim Mordechai Katz.

Telshe was known for its rigorous analytical approach to Talmud study and its emphasis on producing well-rounded talmidei chachamim. For Rav Dessler, the years in Telshe added a powerful dimension to the Kelmer mussar he had absorbed from birth. He emerged as a young man of exceptional refinement, broad Torah knowledge, and deep empathy—precisely the qualities he would need for the historic mission that awaited him.

Then the world fell apart.

As the winds of war swept across Europe, the great yeshivos of Lithuania faced annihilation. In September 1940, the Telshe Roshei Yeshiva—Rav Elya Meir Bloch and Rav Chaim Mordechai Katz—embarked on a desperate journey to save what they could. They traveled across Siberia, through Japan, and across the Pacific to reach America. With them, or following shortly behind, came a small group of Telshe talmidim, among them the young Nachum Zev Dessler.

One remarkable story from this period illustrates the young Dessler’s character. Before the gates of Europe closed, Rav Nochum Velvel—who spoke impeccable English from his years in London—telephoned a foreign consul to help secure a passport for a young woman who needed to escape Lithuania.

Speaking in his well-spoken English, he convinced the consul, who was about to close his office, to stamp one final passport. That young woman was the future Rebbetzin Gifter, wife of Rav Mordechai Gifter, who would become the Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe in Cleveland. It was, as the consul himself noted, the last passport stamped in Lithuania before the gates of Europe closed forever.

Arrival in Cleveland: Building from Nothing

Rav Dessler arrived in Cleveland in 1941, part of the small group of five Telshe students and two Roshei Yeshiva who came to reestablish the Telshe Yeshiva on American soil. He briefly continued his studies at Mesivta Torah Vodaath in New York before settling in Cleveland for good.

In 1943, through the efforts of Rav Elya Meir Bloch and Rav Chaim Mordechai Katz, together with a group from Young Israel of Greater Cleveland, Ohio’s first Jewish day school was organized.

Classes began in September 1943 in the basement of the Cleveland Jewish Center with a grand total of twenty-four elementary school students. It was a beginning that most would have considered inauspicious.

But Rav Dessler saw something different. Where others saw a struggling basement classroom, he saw the future of Torah Jewry in America.

The following year, 1944, the school moved to a house on East Boulevard, and the twenty-three-year-old Rav Dessler was appointed principal. In 1945, he was named Educational Director—a position he would hold for over forty-three years. His journey from that house on East Boulevard to the multi-campus institution that exists today is one of the most remarkable stories in the history of American Jewish education.

Going Door to Door: A Mechanech’s Mesirus Nefesh

The early years were brutally difficult. In 1940s America, the concept of a full-day Jewish school was foreign and unwelcome. Parents wanted their children in public school, where they would become “real Americans.” The idea that children could receive both a rigorous secular and Jewish education under one roof was, to most, unthinkable.

Rav Dessler responded the only way he knew how: with tireless, personal effort. He went door to door, visiting Jewish families across Greater Cleveland, making his case with quiet persistence. He weathered mockery and was told again and again that it would never work. But he persisted, because he carried within him a vision rooted in Kelmer clarity: every Jewish child deserves a Torah education.

One story captures this spirit perfectly. Rav Dessler learned of a Jewish family living in Lorain, Ohio—a considerable distance from Cleveland. He was determined that their children receive a day school education. When logistics proved difficult, he arranged for a driver to meet the children halfway between their home and the school, ensuring they could attend. This was not an isolated incident. It was the norm. Every Jewish child mattered to him.

His son, Rabbi Eli Dessler, captured his father’s philosophy in a single, powerful statement shared at the levayah: Rav Dessler believed every Jewish child was entitled to a Jewish education, “no matter what color his kippah was, or even whether he wore a kippah or not.”

The Chovas HaLevavos teaches, “A little bit of purity is a great deal.” Rav Dessler could discern that spark of purity in every child and every family. He nurtured it and gave it room to grow.

An Approach to Chinuch Like No Other

Rav Dessler’s approach to parents who were not yet observant was extraordinary and far ahead of its time. One incident, remembered decades later, illustrates this beautifully. A couple came to register their children. Though respectful of Orthodoxy and committed to a Torah education for their children, they were concerned about the mixed messages they might be sending.

Rav Dessler’s response was characteristic of the man: “Give me your children and you will see what happens. I only ask two things of you: First, if you drive to shul on Shabbos, never make the children get into the car—let them walk. Second, when they come home from school, learn from them and with them, and do not contradict or argue with them.”

That family eventually became fully Shomer Shabbos. Today, their children and grandchildren are committed, participating members of Torah-observant communities. This story was repeated, in various forms, hundreds of times over the decades.

Another unforgettable episode: a mother, a survivor of the Holocaust with virtually no money and minimal religious background, walked into Rav Dessler’s office clutching a photograph of her father—a distinguished man with a full beard and peyos. “I have no money,” she told him, “but I want my son to have a Jewish education. I want him to one day look like my father. I will do anything—wash dishes, clean floors—as long as my son learns Torah.”

Rav Dessler accepted the child without hesitation. That young boy grew up to become a Rosh Yeshiva and spiritual mentor to thousands of bnei Torah.

Rav Dessler’s commitment to inclusion extended to children with special needs as well. He was, as HAC President Dr. Louis Malcmacher noted, “way ahead of his time” in serving children with learning differences, establishing a comprehensive resource room that became a model for schools across the country.

When Soviet Jews began arriving in Cleveland in the 1970s, he immediately appointed a Russian-speaking teacher to help the children acclimate. In 1979, when Iranian and Russian Jewish families arrived, a special foreign-student division was created to serve nearly 140 children. No child was turned away. No child was left behind.

The Partnership with Irving I. Stone

No account of the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland would be complete without acknowledging the extraordinary partnership between Rav Dessler and Irving I. Stone, the legendary lay leader known affectionately as “Mr. Hebrew Academy.” Stone, who served as the Academy’s fourth president, was a titan of Jewish philanthropy, and Rav Dessler guided him to support the Academy in ways that had never been done before.

Together, they achieved something historic: in 1948, through Rav Dessler’s efforts, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland became the first federation in America to subsidize a full-day Jewish school. This was a watershed moment—not just for Cleveland, but for Jewish day school education across the country. It set the bar for Federation-day school partnerships and demonstrated that a Torah day school could be embraced as a legitimate communal institution.

The relationship between Torah leadership and lay leadership that Rav Dessler and Stone modeled remains a hallmark of the Hebrew Academy’s approach to this day. As the school’s own institutional history notes, this partnership between educational visionaries and communal leaders is central to the Academy’s modus operandi.

Building a Torah Empire: The Growth of the Academy

Under Rav Dessler’s patient but relentless guidance, the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland grew steadily and dramatically. By 1946, enrollment had risen to 170 students. Construction began on a new building on Taylor Road, dedicated in January 1949. A Junior High School department was added in 1951. The Beatrice Stone Yavne High School for Girls was established in 1957. A boys’ high school, the Mesivta (later renamed the Jacob Sapirstein Mesivta High School in honor of Irving Stone’s father, the founder of American Greetings Corporation), was created in 1965.

New classroom and multipurpose wings were added to the original Taylor Road building between 1953 and 1985. A campus was established on South Green Road in Beachwood in 2002. In 2016, the Academy purchased the grounds of the former Oakwood Country Club on Warrensville Center Road, creating a spacious campus featuring a new beis midrash, state-of-the-art science and computer labs, and a gymnasium with basketball and tennis courts.

By the time Rav Dessler was niftar in 2011, the Academy had approximately 790 students spread across campuses in Cleveland Heights, Beachwood, and Lyndhurst. The growth continued after his passing: by 2018, the 75th anniversary year, enrollment had reached a record 1,150 students. By 2022, it exceeded 1,350. Today, the Academy serves over 1,450 students—and the cumulative total of alumni has surpassed 7,000.

The school’s divisions now encompass an early childhood department, a Yeshiva Ketana for boys, an elementary division for girls, a boys’ Junior High School, the Beatrice J. Stone Yavne High School for girls, the Jacob Sapirstein Mesivta for boys, and the Kollel Ateres Nochum Zev—an advanced Torah study program for married men named in his honor. It is a comprehensive Torah ecosystem, from the youngest child to the accomplished scholar.

National Impact: Torah Umesorah and Beyond

Rav Dessler’s influence extended far beyond Cleveland. He was instrumental in building Torah Umesorah—the National Society for Hebrew Day Schools—which grew into an umbrella organization serving nearly 700 schools across North America. Schools from coast to coast turned to Rav Dessler for advice. Drawing on his unparalleled wisdom and decades of experience, he taught other educators how to build, how to grow, and how to navigate the unique challenges of running a Jewish day school in America.

In 1980, Torah Umesorah honored him with its prestigious Educator’s Award for his leadership in the Jewish day school field. The organization later honored the Hebrew Academy as its School of the Year. He also received the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Silver Medallion Award, and the Academy was recognized with the Federation’s Charles Eisenman Award in 1992. He was, as many called him, “the educator’s educator—a mechanech’s mechanech.”

Albert Ratner, who co-chaired the committee that created the Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA), said of him: “He had a strong sense of his beliefs but an understanding of the whole world, and he participated in it in a way that made him a unique, lovable human being.” Ivan Soclof, a past president of the Academy, called him “an entrepreneur in Jewish day school education who pioneered the concept to a limited parent body.”

The Kelmer Spirit: Quiet Dignity as Leadership

Those who knew Rav Dessler invariably speak of his extraordinary personal qualities. He never raised his voice—regardless of the situation. He spoke and acted with complete control, consummate calm, and quiet authority. When he spoke, people felt it a privilege to carry out his request. His dignity was not an affectation; it was the natural expression of a lifetime steeped in Kelmer mussar.

Rav Tzvi Hirsch Braude, the Alter of Kelm’s son-in-law, once explained the kind of students Kelm sought: those who understood refined speech and responded to a quiet word, not those who needed to be shouted at like peasants before the Czar’s train. Rav Dessler was precisely such a person, and he cultivated that quality in everyone around him.

He treated every person—from the greatest Rosh Yeshiva to the most unaffiliated parent—with the same respect and warmth. Dr. Louis Malcmacher, himself a child of Holocaust survivors who attended the Academy, observed that Rav Dessler treated each child as if he or she were the most important person in the world. He was always dressed in a suit, always approachable, always present. In his later years, he maintained this dignified bearing even when going to dialysis treatments.

His empathy was legendary. He once shared a beautiful dvar Torah based on the story of Yosef in the Egyptian dungeon. Despite his own suffering, Yosef noticed a subtle change in the facial expressions of his fellow prisoners—they appeared more aggrieved than usual. This sensitivity ultimately led to his liberation. Rav Dessler drew from this episode the essence of Kelmer mussar: true refinement means noticing the pain of others even in the midst of one’s own difficulties. This was the worldview he embodied, and the perspective from which he led the Hebrew Academy.

Faculty as Family

The Alter of Kelm sought students who would “bear the yoke together with friends without any thought of personal benefit or honor.” Kelm was a family, and the Alter was its patriarch. Rav Dessler transplanted this ethos directly into the Hebrew Academy. He considered the faculty his family. Their concerns were his concerns. Their joy was his joy. Their pain was his pain.

This was not mere sentiment. Whenever a member of the Academy family celebrated a simchah, Rav Dessler was there, often providing financial support. There were families he helped bring to the chuppah in very much the same way he married off his own children. He understood the responsibility that comes with leadership—but above all, he cared for everyone with genuine, Kelmer love.

The Rebbetzin: An Eishes Chayil Beyond Measure

Shortly after Rav Dessler began his work at the Hebrew Academy, Rav Elya Meir Bloch suggested a shidduch between him and a young woman named Miriam Finger. Miriam’s parents, Reb Chanina and Malka, were ehrliche Yidden from Poland who had moved to Berlin between the world wars and escaped Germany just before the Nazi onslaught.

For more than sixty-five years, Rav and Rebbetzin Dessler lived a life of common purpose. Their shalom bayis was legendary—a relationship built on utmost respect and ongoing selflessness. Rebbetzin Dessler served as the devoted preschool principal of the Academy for many decades. But it was her role as an eishes chayil—standing by her husband’s side, supporting the mission of the school, helping to transform Cleveland from a spiritual desert into a thriving Torah community—for which she was most remembered. She was nifteres in 2023 at the age of 100, having outlived her husband by over a decade and witnessing the continued flourishing of everything they had built together.

The Dessler Legacy Continues

Rav Dessler became the Academy’s Dean in 1986, a position he held until his passing. But the institution he built was designed to endure. His children have continued his life’s work with remarkable devotion. Rabbi Simcha Dessler, a graduate of Telshe Yeshiva and Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Principals Center, serves as the Academy’s Educational Director. Rabbi Eli Dessler serves as Financial Director. Together, they carry forward their father’s vision with the same combination of Torah integrity and professional excellence.

Rav Dessler’s other children and their families have also distinguished themselves in the service of Klal Yisrael. His daughter Rebbetzin Peshy Brudny a”h was married to Rav Elya Brudny, Rosh Yeshiva of the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn. Mrs. Sarika Schiff is married to Rav Emanuel Schiff of Yeshiva Bais Shraga in Monsey. Mrs. Malka Rappaport is married to Rav Dovid Simcha Rappaport. His son Reuven Dessler is a noted askan. The kibbud av va’eim demonstrated by the Dessler children in caring for their parents in their later years was described by observers as humbling and inspiring—a living clinic in how to honor one’s parents.

Rav Dessler was also the author of Ilana D’Chaye, a genealogy book tracing his illustrious family’s history back to Dovid HaMelech.

The Passing of a Giant

Rav Nachum Zev Dessler was niftar on Sunday, January 23, 2011 (19 Shevat 5771), just a few days short of his ninetieth birthday. Nearly 1,300 people attended his levayah, where ten speakers honored the life of this giant of Torah education who was known, above all, as a quiet and humble person. He was buried in Har HaMenuchos in Yerushalayim.

In the Megillas Eichah, the Navi Yirmiyahu laments: “Yesomim hayinu v’ein av”—we were orphans left bereft of our father. Rabbi A. Leib Scheinbaum, writing on the third yahrtzeit, explained this enigmatic verse: when one first loses a parent or mentor, the immediate reaction is about oneself—we were orphaned, we are no longer the same. Only with time does the full realization set in: v’ein av, our father is no longer here. Everywhere we go, every decision we make, every milestone we celebrate.

And so it is with the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland and the thousands of lives Rav Dessler touched. His memory lingers in their minds. His example stands before them at every turn. His principles of moral courage, honesty, and integrity are the very foundations upon which the school was built—foundations laid in the deep soil of Kelm.

A Life Measured in Souls

Rav Shlomo Wolbe writes about the dichotomy of chinuch—the zriah, the planting, and the binyan, the building. Rav Dessler excelled at both. He was zoreiah—he planted the seedlings for thousands of Jewish children. And then he was boneh—he built for them, and inside of them, towering edifices of Torah and its wisdom.

The posuk in Bereishis cries out: “Eich e’eleh el avi vehanaar einenu iti”—how can I go back to my Father when the child is not with me? The great baalei mussar see in this verse the sacred responsibility of every mechanech: how can we face the Ribbono Shel Olam if we have not done everything in our power to ensure that every child receives the chinuch they need?

Rav Nachum Zev Dessler lived that posuk every single day for nearly seventy years. He ensured that no child was turned away. He ensured that no child was left behind. He took a basement school of twenty-four students and built it into an institution of over 7,000 alumni—an institution that has sent its graduates into leadership positions in virtually every walk of Jewish life, in communities across the globe.

He did all of this with quiet dignity, consummate grace, and the refined spirit of Kelm—the spirit of his great-grandfather, the Alter; the spirit of his great-great-grandfather, Rav Yisrael Salanter; the spirit of his beloved father, the Michtav M’Eliyahu. He transformed Cleveland from a spiritual desert into a lush Torah oasis. He changed the landscape of Jewish education in America.

Rav Nachum Zev Dessler is gone. But through his magnificent mishpacha, through the school that now proudly bears his name, and through the thousands of children and families whose lives he shaped, the light of Kelm continues to burn brightly on American shores.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

A Senate committee has opened an inquiry into actions taken by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, raising alarms that his administration’s rollback of key executive orders could weaken protections against antisemitism and jeopardize billions of dollars in federal funding, the NY Post reports.

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, sent a formal letter to Mamdani questioning whether rescinding the orders could undermine enforcement of federal civil rights laws — a move that could place approximately $2.2 billion in federal aid in jeopardy.

“Antisemitism is not an abstract concern in New York City; it is a lived reality for millions of students and residents, and its consequences are very serious,” Cassidy wrote in the letter obtained by The New York Post.

He warned that “Decisions by your administration that weaken established safeguards for Jewish students in New York and are out of alignment with federal executive orders warrant careful scrutiny.”

Cassidy added that “Jewish students deserve clear assurance that their safety and civil rights will not be compromised by your administration’s actions.”

Concerns over the mayor’s approach come amid heightened unease within the city’s Jewish community. A survey conducted in January found that 53% of Jewish voters in New York City said they felt threatened by public statements made by the Democratic socialist mayor and similar comments from his political allies.

After taking office, Mamdani nullified every executive order issued by New York City Mayor Eric Adams following Adams’ federal corruption indictment in September 2024.

Among the rescinded measures was a June 8, 2025, order that “created the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism to identify and develop efforts to eliminate antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate crime,” as well as a Dec. 2 order from that year opposing boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns targeting Israel.

Before becoming mayor, Mamdani had publicly labeled Israel an apartheid state and expressed support for the BDS movement.

In his letter, Cassidy noted that the Adams-era antisemitism order relied on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.

“Contrary to your public assertions that ‘a number of leading Jewish organizations have immense concerns around [the IHRA] definition,’ many governments, international institutions, universities, NGOs, and private organizations widely recognize and encourage use of this definition to identify and address contemporary forms of antisemitism,” Cassidy wrote.

Mamdani, for his part, has argued that the IHRA definition improperly blurs the line between antisemitism and criticism of Israel or Zionism.

“I am someone who has supported and support BDS and nonviolent approaches to address Israeli state violence,” he previously told Bloomberg News.

The Adams executive order addressing BDS had also prohibited mayoral appointees, contracting officials, and agency heads from adopting policies that discriminated against Israel or Israeli nationals.

This week, employees at the New York City Department of Health formed a working group that critics say may have violated that now-rescinded policy by accusing Israel of genocide.

The group, known as the “Global Oppression and Public Health Working Group,” met Tuesday afternoon, where a presenter described one of its objectives as responding “to the ongoing genocide in Palestine,” according to a report first published by The New York Post.

Cassidy further underscored that the New York City Department of Education was slated to receive $2.2 billion in federal funding for its operating budget as of June 2025.

“Continued eligibility for this funding is contingent on compliance with federal civil rights laws and applicable executive orders designed to protect students,” he wrote.

The senator asked Mamdani to detail how his administration plans to “combat antisemitism at schools” and “protect Jewish students,” to identify whether it intends to adopt an alternative definition of antisemitism, and to explain what guidance, if any, has been issued to schools on handling related complaints.

Cassidy also pressed the mayor on whether his administration “consulted with the US Department of Education,” “the Department of Justice or any other federal agency regarding the potential funding implications of rescinding the IHRA-related executive order.”

He concluded by demanding clarification of Mamdani’s current position on the BDS movement.

{Matzav.com}

Indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States were a “positive and good start,” and the two sides agreed to continue the talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told local news outlets after talks concluded in the Omani capital of Muscat.

“There was a consensus on the continuation of the talks themselves. It was decided that this process would continue but the timing, manner, and date of that will be decided in the future,” Araghchi said.

Speaking to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Araghchi reiterated that the talks focused “solely” on the nuclear issue and “we did not discuss any other topics with the Americans.”

Araghchi added that Iran remains distrustful of the US, but if the negotiations continue with the “same view” from Washington, then a “framework” for future talks could be reached.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said both parties will make a decision on the next round of talks after consultations with their respective governments.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who mediated the negotiations, described the talks in a post on X as “very serious.”

“It was useful to clarify both Iranian and American thinking and identify areas for possible progress,” he wrote. “We aim to reconvene in due course, with the results to be considered carefully in Tehran and Washington.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States were a “positive and good start,” and the two sides agreed to continue the talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told local news outlets after talks concluded in the Omani capital of Muscat.

“There was a consensus on the continuation of the talks themselves. It was decided that this process would continue but the timing, manner, and date of that will be decided in the future,” Araghchi said.

Speaking to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Araghchi reiterated that the talks focused “solely” on the nuclear issue and “we did not discuss any other topics with the Americans.”

Araghchi added that Iran remains distrustful of the US, but if the negotiations continue with the “same view” from Washington, then a “framework” for future talks could be reached.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said both parties will make a decision on the next round of talks after consultations with their respective governments.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who mediated the negotiations, described the talks in a post on X as “very serious.”

“It was useful to clarify both Iranian and American thinking and identify areas for possible progress,” he wrote. “We aim to reconvene in due course, with the results to be considered carefully in Tehran and Washington.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

AVENTURA, FLORIDA (VINnews)-The viral moment that shook the media world began on May 27, 2010, during a White House Jewish Heritage Month celebration. Rabbi David Nesenoff, a Rabbi and founder of RabbiLIVE.com, attended the event with his son and a friend. Armed with a camera, he was casually interviewing people about Israel—mostly lighthearted exchanges—when he spotted Helen Thomas, the legendary White House correspondent who had covered 10 U.S. presidents and was often called the dean of the White House press corps.

Nesenoff approached and asked a simple question: “Any comments on Israel?” What followed was a brief but explosive exchange captured on video.

Thomas responded: “Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine.”

When Nesenoff pressed further, asking for “better comments,” she continued, asserting that the land belonged to the Palestinians and was occupied, not German or Polish. When he asked where the Jews should go, Thomas replied, “They should go home… Poland… Germany.”

The short clip, posted on RabbiLIVE.com days later, exploded online, garnering millions of views almost immediately and sparking widespread outrage and debate. Thomas’s remarks were widely condemned as antisemitic, evoking painful historical echoes—suggesting Jews return to the very countries where millions were murdered during the Holocaust.

Within days, the fallout was swift and severe. Hearst Newspapers, her employer, dropped her column. The White House Correspondents’ Association distanced itself, and Thomas announced her retirement on June 7, 2010. Her front-row seat in the press briefing room was reassigned, and she largely withdrew from public life. She later doubled down on her views in other appearances, but the initial video marked the end of her storied career.

For Nesenoff, the consequences were transformative. He never intended to become a viral sensation or a journalist. A rabbi with a background in counseling youth involved in bias crimes and serving as an anti-bias consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Monitors Office, his family history was deeply tied to Jewish suffering. Many relatives perished in the Holocaust, including his great-grandmother (for whom he is named David) who was killed and buried in the mass grave at Babi Yar, where tens of thousands of Jews were massacred by Nazis in 1941.

The incident thrust him into the spotlight. He received over 25,000 pieces of hate mail, including death threats, which he later described as revealing the depth of antisemitism in certain circles. Yet the experience also opened new doors. Nesenoff became a publisher and editor-in-chief of The Jewish Star newspaper in New York and The Jerusalem Observer in Israel. His creative, award-winning films have been screened at venues including the Sundance Film Festival. He produced a documentary titled 3,000 Miles, spoke nationally on the episode, antisemitism, and moral clarity, and received an honorary doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary.

The viral encounter also propelled Nesenoff into an extraordinary new chapter within the Jewish world. His fame from outing the antisemitic remarks by Helen Thomas led him to speak at over 700 Chabad Houses worldwide. There, he shared his personal Chabad experiences and the remarkable stories he gathered firsthand from shluchim (Chabad emissaries). He has entertained and inspired thousands of audience members with his humor, insight, and reflections on Jewish destiny and resilience.

Now, Nesenoff has distilled these experiences into his acclaimed new book, I Never Met the Rebbe Many Times (published by Shemen Press, 278 pages, paperback). The curiously titled volume—drawing on the idea that while he never met the Lubavitcher Rebbe in person many times (or perhaps at all in the conventional sense), the Rebbe’s influence permeated his life through his emissaries—has been receiving widespread praise. It transports readers on Nesenoff’s global travels, with chapters filled with incredible stories about the Rebbe and shluchim from Chabad Houses and campuses across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, South Africa, India, Morocco, and Israel.

Blending hilarity and poignancy, the book offers a delightful peek into the lives of individual Chabad emissaries and weaves an inspiring account of discovering divine providence and purpose in everyday life. Endorsements highlight its disarming and thought-provoking nature, with one noting it as a “delightfully disarming peek” into Chabad’s impact.

As Nesenoff embarks on his world speaking tour tied to the book, he continues to draw from his multifaceted career as a renowned speaker, rabbi, publisher, journalist, author, musician, and filmmaker. More than a tale of a single viral video, his journey—from confronting antisemitism on the White House lawn to sharing uplifting Chabad stories worldwide—highlights the power of one voice, moral clarity, and the enduring strength of Jewish identity in a world that sometimes seeks to silence it. In the digital age, where a moment can ripple globally, Nesenoff’s story reminds us how personal courage and authentic experiences can inspire across continents and generations.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Ten years ago, Klal Yisroel lost an extraordinary Rosh Yeshiva, a world-class Posek, and a remarkable Tzaddik – Rav Yisroel Belsky, zichron tzaddik v’kadosh livracha. His petirah on the 18th of Shvat 5776 (January 28, 2016) tore a gaping hole in the fabric of Torah leadership that remains painfully felt to this very day.

Rav Elya Katz Shlita, a Maggid Shiur at Yeshiva Torah VaDaas, stated at the levaya that Rav Belsky was the embodiment of the Yeshiva. He was head of the Yeshiva, the heart of the Yeshiva and the eyes of the Yeshiva. Indeed, Rav Belsky had spent 72 years within the walls of Torah Vodaas – from early childhood through the last five years of his life when he served as its Rosh Yeshiva. As he himself said in his later years, his greatest legacy would be through the scores of talmidim who passed through Room 206 in Mesivta Torah Vodaas in the half century that he was their Rebbi.

Just one small example of his extraordinary tzidkus occurred two months before he passed away. Rav Belsky was very ill, in tremendous pain, and could barely walk. And yet Rav Belsky arranged a Get for an Agunah whose husband had violated the trust of numerous young people. Rav Belsky’s remarkable personality was instrumental in arranging for this woman’s freedom. She told me all about it the next day. This former Agunah had tears of joy as she expressed her remarkable admiration for Rav Belsky who was so instrumental in freeing her.

Moreinu HaRav HaGaon Rav Chaim Yisroel Belsky zatzal, passed away at the age of 77. In the words of the maspidim – he was an outstanding Talmid Chochom and Tzaddik that served as a Rosh Yeshiva in Torah v’Daas, a world-class Posek in the largest kashrus agency in the world, and the Rav of Camp Agudah for many years.  Rosh Yeshiva, renowned Posek, Av Beis Din, kashrus expert, mohel, sofer, shochet, musician, artist – and the list goes on. Rav Yisroel Belsky was all of these and much, much more.

Rav Shimon Finkelman shlita wrote a Sefer published by Artscroll about Rav Belsky zt“l. Toward the end there were so many stories of his tzidkus that they just had to simply decide to stop. This was the type of Tzaddik Rav Belsky was. His granddaughter Etti Goldstein also authored a beautifully written children’s biography designed for younger readers, ensuring that the story of this Gadol would inspire the next generation as well.

Rav Belsky had studied in Yeshiva Torah VaDaas, under Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal, and in Beis Medrash Elyon in Monsey, where he became one of its most prominent talmidim.

PRODIGIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Rav Belsky’s prodigious accomplishments range the full gamut of activity. He served as a magid shiur in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas for over half a century. He ruled on thousands and thousands of halachic questions for the Orthodox Union, where he served as senior halachic consultant since 1987 – a position he held for more than 28 years. And there are literally thousands of hours of his recorded shiurim available in Torah libraries across the country – all delivered by him. The shiurim are filled with the classic thinking of Gedolei HaRishonim and Acharonim as well as his own chiddushim.

Rav Belsky zt“l gave regular shiurim in the Daf Yomi, Yore Deah, Chumash and Rashi, and much more. His chiddushei Torah have been published in volumes titled Piskei Halachos, Einei Yisroel on Chumash, Sha’alos U’Teshuvos Shulchan Halevi, and other publications.

Aside from all this he served as Rav, Masmidim Program Director and general mashpia on thousands of young men in Camp Agudah in Ferndale, New York. He also served as a member of the Iggud HaRabbonim Beis Din under Rav Yitzchok Isaac Liebes, Rav Baruch Leizerowski and Rav Herschel Kurzrock.

Rabbi Menachem Genack of the OU described him at the levaya with words reminiscent of the Rambam’s description of the Ri Migash – that “his intellect was frightening throughout the Talmud.” In the same way, all who knew Rav Belsky were struck by his exceptional brilliance and his commanding mastery of the entirety of Torah.

A LIVING FATHER TO HIS TALMIDIM

Rav Belsky’s relationship with his Talmidim and campers was like that of a loving father. More than simply delivering shiurim, Rav Belsky was a super-Rebbi, mashgiach and counselor rolled into one. He spent the entire day with his beloved talmidim as he bonded with them and taught lifelong lessons.

One summer it was arranged that his masmidim shiur was to be taken over by someone else. When he noticed the sadness on the faces of four of the students, he worked out that he would give them a private shiur in the laws of chazara and shehiya on Shabbos – at six o’clock in the morning. To this day, the boys – now grown men, remember those halachos particularly well.

On one occasion, a camper was hospitalized with a serious brain tumor in a hospital some four hours away. Entirely unfazed by the distance, Rav Belsky drove the four hours to the hospital, spent a few hours with the young man, and drove the four hours back.

On another occasion, a young student who was confined in a wheelchair quietly expressed to someone that he would love to attend one of the camps’ hikes. Rav Belsky, a man of immense physical strength, carried him on his shoulders for the next hike for five hours straight. Not many people can manage an extra 140 to 160 pounds on one’s shoulders for a full five hours. This was an extraordinary feat of strength. The young man is now a remarkable Talmid Chochom himself and is a neighbor of this author’s relative.

He travelled with his talmidim to Niagara Falls and went on other camp trips, all the time inspiring them. Canoeing down the rapids, he would point out unusual animals and plant life. At bonfires and barbecues he regaled the masmidim with inspirational stories and niggunim of old. Once in camp on a five-hour bus ride, he reviewed the entire masechta of Gittin with Rashi and Tosfos. As a young camp counselor, he was known to learn Mishnayos between pitches as he umpired a baseball game. Sports to Rav Belsky were a way of enjoying Hashem’s world. He played paddleball, hiked, and went swimming during the summers. Once, standing in the OU office whose windows overlooked the Statue of Liberty, he wistfully remarked, “I can swim from here to the Statue and back.” He was a powerful swimmer who never hesitated to swim against the current – literally and figuratively.

INTERTWINED WITH YESHIVA TORAH VODAAS

The story of Rav Yisroel Belsky zatzal is intertwined with the story of Yeshiva Torah VaDaas. Reb Binyomin Wilhelm, Rav Belsky’s maternal grandfather, was one of the three founders of yeshiva Torah VaDaas. In 1919, while attempting to recruit students for his new yeshiva, he had convinced Reb Yisroel and Leah Belsky to enroll their son Berl in the fledgling new Yeshiva located in Williamsburg. Reb Berl enrolled and developed a close kesher with Reb Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz. Soon, Reb Berl went back to Europe to study in Radin under the saintly Chofetz Chaim himself. The Chofetz Chaim valued Reb Berl and would often caress his arm lovingly and declare with surprise, “Fuhn America!” The Chofetz Chaim was amazed that such a prize Talmid could have emerged from the melting pot of assimilation that was America.

Reb Berl would later teach his son, Reb Yisroel Belsky the Chofetz Chaim’s niggunim. Reb Yisroel’s mastery of niggunim was legendary as well, and he taught these niggunim to Talmidim and campers alike. There are literally thousands of bochurim now singing the unique Yeshiva niggunim of a century ago – all because of Rav Belsky. Indeed, Camp Agudah once published an entire bentcher just of unique and inspiring Niggunim that were vouchsafed for the future by Rav Belsky.

When Reb Berl returned from Radin, Reb Shraga Feivel Mendelevitch suggested the shidduch of Reb Binyomin Wilhelm’s daughter, Chana Tzirel. Rav Yisroel Belsky, born on August 22, 1938, was their b’chor.

At the age of 24, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky had asked Rav Belsky to take over the shiur of Rav Zelig Epstein zt“l – one of the venerable ziknei HaRoshei yeshiva. His students then were among the leading Bnei Torah in the country. Some of them became Roshei yeshiva in their own right.

Rav Belsky would eventually become a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. Rav Belsky taught at the Yeshiva for over half a century. For a while, he even taught mathematics there as well. Despite his remarkable brilliance, he had no airs about him – his humble beginnings included starting out as a math teacher in Torah Vodaas, his first kashrus position was with the Kof-K, and he served as a counselor and learning instructor in Camp Agudah. No job was too trivial for him.

A PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIP DECLINED

As a young man, Rav Belsky was offered a prestigious academic scholarship, a testament to his extraordinary intellectual abilities that extended far beyond Torah. At a critical turning point of his life, he ultimately declined the scholarship in order to dedicate himself fully to learning Torah. It was a defining moment that set the trajectory for the rest of his remarkable life – a life wholly devoted to Torah, to Klal Yisroel, and to the pursuit of emes.

CLOSE TO GREAT LUMINARIES

Rav Belsky learned under the great luminaries of Torah Vodaas. He was very close with Rav Zelig Epstein, Rav Elya Chazan, and his Rebbe Muvhak – Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt“l. Rav Yaakov inspired him to master Tanach among his other limmudim too. He was very close to Rav Avrohom Pam zt“l and was also related to him.

Rav Belsky received Smicha from Torah VaDaas in 1962 and then went on to receive shimush from the Gadol haDor, Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal. He received Smicha from Rav Moshe in 1965. Beginning at age 17, he had studied at Beis Medrash Elyon in Monsey under Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, becoming one of its most prominent talmidim.

MEMORY AND MASTERY

His recall of every Tosfos in Shas was well known. Rav Dovid Kviat zatzal told this author that Rav Belsky knew kol HaTorah kulah. Rav Yerucham Olshin Shlita stated at the levaya that Rav Belsky’s knowledge was not just broad. He knew all the mekoros well and in great depth.

His ability to rule in numerous areas of halacha was uncanny. His proficiency and familiarity with Kol HaTorah kullah was veritably unmatched. Aside from his vast knowledge in all these areas, he was also a mohel, Schochet and knew the vast intricacies of Safrus too. His mastery of Nikkur was well known – in fact, during the summer months, Rav Belsky would bring boys from Camp Agudah to a plant in Goshen, New York, to show them how nikkur is performed on a deer. He was as much at home in Keilim and Kinim as he was in Baba Metzia and Baba Basra.

He had a remarkable ability to multi-task in an almost supernatural way. He could learn Mishnah Berurah while simultaneously listening to someone else speak. His genius, however, did not rely on innate brilliance alone; he studied diligently, reviewing his learning again and again. Despite his extraordinary intellectual gifts, Torah learning always came through hard work, diligence and perseverance.

Rav Belsky developed a close bond with campers and masmidim in Camp Agudah. He taught two of my sons who attended the Masmidim program. He taught them Torah and much more as well. He taught one of my sons how to tell time at night with just the stars acting as his clock. He taught campers how to swim. He taught them the names of the constellations, the names of all the surrounding trees, and the names of flowers and bushes.

This author once was doing research in libraries and found the original text of Rav Yisroel Salanter’s Iggeres HaMussar. The original text was different than the one printed in the Ohr Yisroel published by Rav Yitzchok Blaser. Rav Belsky gave me a haskama on my translation of the original and proceeded to recite the Igeres HaMussar by heart.

PSAKIM

Rav Belsky zt“l did have some remarkably innovative halachic rulings. He held that even though an akum does not have ne’emanus regarding checking eggs for bloodspots, if one provides a financial reward for every egg with a blood spot that is found, this can be relied upon halachically.

He issued a ruling once regarding the use of a cell phone to prevent yichud in a taxi ride home between a married woman and a taxi driver. He used the cell phone as an additional factor to issue a permissive ruling.

In another innovative psak, Rav Belsky held that it was possible to establish an individual chezkas kashrus on a gentile’s ne’emanus by checking upon him or her three times in specific situations where the gentile is unaware of the fact that he is being checked up on. Other Poskim, however, were not in agreement with this view.

Rav Belsky also held that Styrofoam cups did not have the halachic status of a kli shaini because its walls did not absorb the heat from the liquid inside. This too was rather innovative and was not accepted by other Poskim. In another stringency, Rav Belsky held that during the Nine Days underclothing also had to be pre-worn and otherwise would have been considered freshly laundered.

When the copepod in the New York City water controversy arose, Rav Belsky was one of the few Poskim who ruled leniently. He also issued a lenient ruling regarding the consumption of the anisakis worm in fish. As Rabbi Genack proclaimed at the levaya, “If not for Rav Belsky, none of us here would be eating fish!” Indeed, when the issue of fish infested with Anisakis arose, there was great concern in the halachic world that fish would have to be declared non-kosher. Rav Belsky’s halachic expertise and profound study of the issue convincingly demonstrated that the kosher status of fish could still be affirmed without question.

In the late 1980’s when the Displaced Abomasum of cows controversy arose, he issued a lenient ruling saying that Rav Moshe had already paskened on the issue in his lifetime. The Cholov Yisroel companies chose not to follow his leniency and to this day make sure that all cows that had DA surgery are removed from the line.

Rav Belsky brooked no tolerance for “Halacha by tumult.” He simply could not stand when people with insufficient knowledge of the facts or Halacha made a tempest in a teapot about important halachic matters. He always insisted on knowing the facts before issuing a ruling, and his relentless pursuit of truth was a hallmark of his approach to psak.

BAAL TEFILLAH

Rav Belsky was a master Baal Tefilah. His intense kavanah and his beautiful nusach was enrapturing. He was the Baal Tefilah on Yomim Noraim for Khal Adas Yereim in Kew Gardens for many years. The Rav of the shul was Rav Yaakov Teitelbaum zatzal, the Morah d’Asra of Camp Agudah prior to Rav Belsky.

One could see him occasionally at the late Maariv in the Five Towns at the 11:30 PM minyan at Rav Yaakov Horowitz, the Bostoner Rebbe of Lawrence. Rav Horowitz told me recently that Rav Belsky had also been the Baal Tefilah at the shul of his great-grandfather in Brooklyn a half century earlier.

VAST KNOWLEDGE OF MILI D’ALMA

He not only gave deep shiurim in Gemorah and Halacha, but had a vast knowledge in mili d’alma, worldly matters. He had tremendous intellectual curiosity and was self-taught in many different disciplines. He had a strong grasp of mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, anatomy, botany, zoology, musicology, food technology, and history – all of which he used for the benefit of Torah study. He would often lead campers in trips where he identified for them every tree, plant, insect and star chart. In his work as one of the two Poskim in the Orthodox Union he had a deep grasp of the manufacturing process, never refraining from climbing or getting his hands dirty to investigate manufacturing processes.

There is a legendary story of Rav Belsky gazing at the stars together with his talmidim in Camp Agudah. He suddenly expressed surprise at seeing a star in the sky that he had not noticed before. A call to NASA the next day revealed that it was a star that is only visible on rare occasions. His knowledge of the heavens was that precise.

Rabbi Genack recalled how he first met Rav Belsky on a huge tanker ship used for transporting oil from Asia. Rav Belsky insisted on knowing the kind of metal used for the tanks, the proportions of the tanks, and how the different tanks in the hold of the ship were connected. He literally went into the belly of the boat to ascertain this information. The tanks where the oil was stored were several stories high, and Rav Belsky climbed down on a ladder into one of the tanks. When it came to calculating echad b’shishim for those enormous oil tankers, Rav Belsky was able to make the mathematical calculations entirely in his head.

In a conversation I had with Rav Yisroel Belsky having to do with the halachos of Shechita on the 27th of Tishrei 5769, he explained that the actual Blood Alcohol Content level necessary to be considered “The stage of drunkenness of Lot” would be 0.21% to 0.29% depending upon the person. This was based upon a study by Virginia Tech University ruled by Rabbi Belsky as authoritative entitled “Alcohol’s Effects.”

Another time, I spoke to him about the halachos of when a vessel becomes non-kosher only to Kdai Klipah, i.e. skin deep, how one calculates whether we have shishim of food against the kdai klipah. Within a minute and a half he provided the equation to determine whether hot food subsequently placed in the pot is sixty times the ratio of the kdai klipah of the pot [assuming that in this pot we say cham miktzaso cham kulo]. X represents the percentage of the pot that must be full and m represents in mills the kdai klipah of that particular metal.

x=6m(r+2h)/ rh

Thus, for example, if one were to assume that the kdai klipah of an aluminum pot is one mil and that the pot is ten inches high and ten inches wide the pot must be 3 percent full in order to have shishim against the klipah.

Rabbi Menachem Genack of the OU mentioned this aspect about him at the levaya as well. It was fascinating to hear of someone from the Torah uMadah school speak in such absolute awe of the mathematical mastery of someone from a Torah-only background. Dr. Avrohom Meyer, the OU’s Senior Overseas Field Representative and an internationally-recognized expert on the scientific aspects of kashrus, described Rav Belsky as “the most amazing man I have ever met.” He recalled discussing kashrus and microbiology with Rav Belsky over lunch at an OU conference, and marveled at the intellectual speed, the interest in and understanding of complex science and technology, and the innovative thinking.

At the OU office, Rav Belsky would complete the New York Times Thursday crossword puzzle – notoriously the most difficult of the week – in the space of half an hour during lunch, which usually consisted of a slice of rye bread and a can of sardines.

Another time, I was a Rav in a shul where an actual food and fist fight had emerged after an argument between two of the Baal HaBatim. Rav Belsky was instrumental in deciding how best to deal with both parties. Later, someone had told me that the incident had gotten on one of Rav Belsky’s Hashkafa lessons that he delivered to his Talmidim in Torah Vodaas.

CHAMPION OF RUSSIAN JEWRY

Rav Belsky had a special place in his heart for our brethren that are in and came from the Soviet Union. Remarkably, he taught himself Russian entirely on his own – a language with no parallel to the Yiddish and Lashon Kodesh he was accustomed to. The following summer after learning Russian, two Soviet fellows came to Camp Agudah. They knew no English, and the only one able to communicate with them was Rav Belsky. It was then, Rav Belsky explained, that he understood why Hashem put into his head to learn Russian.

As the Nasi of the Russian Kehilla and leader of the Vaad Lihatzalas Nidchai Yisrael, he devoted himself to helping Russian Jews reclaim their religious heritage. He spent much of his time with them, helping them not only with Torah, but with solving practical problems too.

OHEV ES HABRIOS

Rav Belsky’s entire nature was such that he would empathize wholly and completely with the problem of whoever approached him or called him. He would cry with them. He would spend time with them. From early morning until well past midnight, Rav Belsky was working on behalf of Klal Yisroel, serving as a shliach Hashem and imparting advice and guidance from his wellspring of Torah knowledge.

On one occasion, a man had passed away in Far Rockaway without leaving a child. His only brother was severely developmentally disabled, and the man’s wife faced a difficult halachic question. Could her brother-in-law perform Chalitza or was he considered a halachic shoteh making him ineligible?

The last time this question arose was in the early 1960’s with Rav Moshe Feinstein. I called Rav Belsky at the behest of the man’s Rosh Yeshiva. Rav Belsky immediately asked if I could pick him up to go to the Shiva. I did.

Rav Belsky came down to the shiva home and spent three hours with the deceased man’s family. Rav Belsky consoled and comforted the parents while simultaneously determining the status of the brother. The nichum aveilim was so comforting to the parents that they thanked the Rabbi who had brought them this “wonderful holy Rabbi.”

This quality extended even to the simplest encounters. There is a woman named Elaine who works in the OU mailroom. When Rav Belsky was ill in the hospital, Elaine visited him twice. Even in his weakened state, he managed to lift his hand and wave to her with a forced smile. When asked why she felt close enough to visit, she explained that whenever Rav Belsky would see her in the office he made sure to greet her warmly. He really was a special person who treated every human being with dignity and warmth.

Rav Belsky’s home was open to people who came to him for help at all times of the day and night. Those close to the Rosh Yeshiva attest to the fact that while all he wished to do was sit and learn the Torah that was so beloved to him, he sacrificed his time to pasken shailos and answer halachah queries on a continuous basis.

HACHNASAS ORCHIM AND TZEDAKAH

The selfless hachnasas orchim of Rav and Rebbetzin Belsky was legendary. Their willingness to extend themselves on behalf of total strangers, if only they could make another Jew’s life a bit brighter, was a hallmark of their home.

During his final illness, while in the hospital, Rav Belsky suffered deeply and slipped in and out of consciousness. In order to assuage his discomfort, the attending nurse suggested that he be given some protein to eat. Rav Belsky’s daughter placed a plate of homemade scrambled eggs before him and pressed her father to taste something. But Rav Belsky would not eat until he was assured that the poor were being served the same quality food. Only after his daughter was able to convince him of this did Rav Belsky partake of his lunch. Even on his sickbed, his concern was for others.

SENSE OF ACHRAYUS

Rav Belsky had a strong sense of achrayus for Klal Yisroel. When the Indian Sheitel controversy took place he made great effort to convey to the Gedolim in Eretz Yisroel the research he had done. I was in his office in Torah VoDaas at the time. His purpose, aside from seeking emes – truth, was to save the women of Klal Yisroel vast sums of money.

Once there was a certain chazzan that would pursue under-age girls, ply them with alcohol and do unspeakable things. Rav Belsky issued a psak that he should be put in jail and arrested. He issued this psak out of a sense of achrayus to Klal Yisroel. I was there when he issued this psak.

Another time a political issue developed in regard to one of the big chicken plants. The issue required that a second hechsher also be obtained on the plant. Rav Belsky’s role was not personal or political – his efforts were to save someone’s life and he was technically working against his own interest in this shtadlanus.

This was Rav Belsky. He fought heroically for the underdog, the lonely, the embattled, those for whom no one else would care. He put his reputation on the line, time and again, to stand up for what he felt was right. He was not necessarily always right, but he did it because he loved truth. He was willing to fight for what he felt was right – regardless of popular opinion.

Rav Belsky was selfless in numerous ways, with his money, with his reputation, and with his time.

Rav Belsky authored a few seforim. He wrote teshuvah seforim in halacha and shiurim on chumash. He could have authored many more but he didn’t because his day was fully devoted to matters of Klal Yisroel. He penned hundreds of haskamos to other people’s seforim too. Such was his extraordinary sense of selflessness.

WISDOM IN SHALOM BAYIS

Rav Belsky’s wisdom extended to the most personal areas of life. He once taught that the word “Shochad” (bribe) is linked to the word “Chad” (one), teaching that a bribe creates a unity between giver and receiver. He applied this concept to marriage, explaining that marital unity requires a husband and wife to do chasadim – even tiny ones – for each other constantly. He also offered practical advice for fostering unity in marriage: develop a habit to smile very often, because it shows approval of your wife and shows you feel good when you’re with her.

FIRM IN TORAH

Notwithstanding his remarkable Ahavas Yisroel, Rav Belsky could be very sharp and strong when he disagreed with someone in Torah. People who were not used to this could be intimidated. Yet, he did welcome conversation and discussion and at times he relented in argument too.

Once he recollected how his Rebbe, Rav Moshe Feinstein, read and reread Rav Akiva Eiger’s view about a Mezuzah on a room that was less than 4 cubits by 4 cubits that was adjacent to a room that was fully obligated in a Mezuzah. He explained how Rav Moshe zatzal reread that Rav Akiva Eiger ten times and finally stated that he did not understand his view.

He cited the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos (1:10): “Ehov es hamelachah u’sena es harabbanut, ve’al titvada larashut – Love work, hate public office and do not become too intimate with the ruling power.” He asked the obvious question: how could Chazal tell us to avoid the rabbinate? His answer revealed his approach to leadership – that the rabbinate was to be a calling of service, not a pursuit of honor.

A LIFE OF INTROSPECTION

The Chofetz Chaim was known to spend two hours a day on self-introspection. Rav Belsky once said that when he first heard this, he thought to himself, “What a waste of time! Imagine how much more the Chofetz Chaim could have learned those two extra hours each day!” But Rav Belsky came to realize that it was precisely the time the Chofetz Chaim used for introspection that made him who he was. This realization shaped Rav Belsky’s own approach to growth – an integration of ceaseless Torah study with constant self-refinement.

ILLNESS AND FINAL YEARS

In February 2012, Rav Belsky developed a life-threatening illness which almost took his life. He suffered from a ruptured esophagus and a collapsed lung and was rushed to the hospital by Hatzolah. Miraculously, he recovered to the extent that he was able to resume activities in Yeshiva, in the OU and at Camp Agudah. The amount he had accomplished just in those four years was beyond what many accomplish in a lifetime.

When one of his younger children was born, the doctor had asked, “Why do you have so many children?” To which Rav Belsky replied on the spot, “We Jews are an endangered species!”

In the ten years since his petirah, a tremendous void has only continued to grow. Rav Belsky’s imprint on Torah Judaism in the past half century will certainly have an impact for generations to come. As his close talmid Yaakov Melohn wrote: “For over 42 years, Rav Belsky was not only my beloved rebbe, chavrusa, best friend and confidant – he was also like a father to me, and a grandfather to my children.”

The world is a vastly different place without him. A number of today’s great askanim in Klal Yisrael are talmidim of Rav Belsky. His impact in the field of kashrus, his innovations and rulings in that area will have a positive effect for generations to come. Each talmid, whatever his walk of life, impacts on his family and community, and in that sense, Rav Belsky and his teachings live on.

Rav Chaim Yisroel Belsky was truly sui generis. Mi yiten lanu temuraso? He is indeed irreplaceable. Chaval al d’avdin. Nafla Ateres Rosheinu.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

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By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It seems that some people are of the opinion that when it is a day that Tachanun is not recited then one does not klap the heart in the Slach Lanu bracha in Shmoneh Esreh.

Where does this come from, and what is the halacha on this?

There are some printed editions of the Yaavetz’s siddur which bring this opinion in the name of the SHla HaKadosh.  However, it should be noted that it is not found in any of the original printings of Rav Yaakov Emden, and seems to have been added later.  Nor do we find this in any of the SHla’s writings.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky zatzal (Meir Oz Vol. IV p. 587), a sefer this author has found to be very reliable, cites a ruling from Rav Chaim Kanievsky that klapping is a minhag in Klal Yisrroel and one should not distinguish between days that Tachanun is recited or not recited – one should klap regardless.

In Halichos Shlomo about Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l’s hanhagos – that he, in fact, did not klap when tachanun was not recited. It could be, however, that he based himself on the latter-printed Siddur HaYaavetz. 

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein shlita in Vavei HaAmudim #47 notes that the vast majority of Klal Yisroel do not distinguish such and Klap.  This author suggests that the notion of Pok Chazi mai amah davar – go out and see how the world conducts itself has significance here and thus the klapping should continue.  By the same token, the world does not make a haAitz on chocolate, and the other view is generally followed. Each person should consult with their own Rav or Posaik.

The author can be reached at [email protected].  E

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It seems that some people are of the opinion that when it is a day that Tachanun is not recited then one does not klap the heart in the Slach Lanu bracha in Shmoneh Esreh.

Where does this come from, and what is the halacha on this?

There are some printed editions of the Yaavetz’s siddur which bring this opinion in the name of the SHla HaKadosh.  However, it should be noted that it is not found in any of the original printings of Rav Yaakov Emden, and seems to have been added later.  Nor do we find this in any of the SHla’s writings.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky zatzal (Meir Oz Vol. IV p. 587), a sefer this author has found to be very reliable, cites a ruling from Rav Chaim Kanievsky that klapping is a minhag in Klal Yisrroel and one should not distinguish between days that Tachanun is recited or not recited – one should klap regardless.  This is also the position of Rav Shlomo Zalman Ulman (Teshuvos p.6)

In Halichos Shlomo about Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l’s hanhagos, however, it is stated that he, in fact, did not klap when tachanun was not recited. It could be, however, that he based himself on the latter-printed Siddur HaYaavetz. 

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein shlita in Vavei HaAmudim #47 notes that the vast majority of Klal Yisroel do not distinguish such and Klap.  This author suggests that the notion of Pok Chazi mai amah davar – go out and see how the world conducts itself has significance here and thus the klapping should continue.  By the same token, the world does not make a haAitz on chocolate, and the other view is generally followed. Each person should consult with their own Rav or Posaik.

The author can be reached at [email protected].  E

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — No foreign powers are poised to support Iran’s current regime, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren said in a television interview.

“This is such a heinous regime,” Oren told NewsNation anchor Elizabeth Vargas on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.” He added, “No one’s coming to Iran’s aid.”

Oren, a historian and former Knesset member who served as ambassador from 2009 to 2013, made the comments amid heightened scrutiny of Iran’s government following its conflicts with Israel, proxy setbacks and internal challenges.

The remarks reflect a view that Iran has become increasingly isolated internationally, with its regional allies weakened and major powers reluctant to provide backing.

Oren has frequently critiqued Iran’s leadership in past writings and interviews, arguing that years of Western policy have failed to curb its aggression and nuclear ambitions.

Thirty days after the tragic death of Yosef Eisental z”l, a matzeivah was erected this week at his kever on Har HaMenuchos in Yerushalayim. The inscription, composed by his parents, records the circumstances of his death and reflects the profound impact his passing has had on the Torah community.

According to the inscription, he was struck down “at the height of his blossoming” by a criminal act while on his way home from an atzeres.

The wording engraved on the monument describes Yossi as a devoted yeshiva bochur, deeply immersed in Torah study and especially sensitive to the needs and wellbeing of those around him. It expresses the family’s shattered hopes of seeing him grow old within the walls of the beis medrash and records the spiritual awakening his passing inspired among many, strengthening their commitment to Torah learning, self-improvement, and teshuvah.

The following is the full inscription:

פ”נ
בן הישיבה
בננו אחינו ונכדנו האהוב והיקר
עלם חמודות וילד שעשועים
יגע בתורה וטרוד לדעת סודה
נתייחד מאוד בנתינת עיניו וליבו
על טובתם של רעיו ומכריו
בצפייתנו ציפינו לראותו
שתול בבית ד’ עד זקנה ושיבה
ולדאבוננו נקטף מעמנו
בשיא פריחתו ע”י בן עוולה
בעת שובו מעצרת תפילה
למען קיומה של תורה בארצנו הקדושה
הקדוש חיים יוסף
איזנטל הי”ד.
בן יבלחט”א הר”ר שמואל שליט”א
נולד בט’ אלול התשע”א
נלב”ע בח”י טבת התשפ”ו
זכה ופטירתו עוררה
התחזקות עצומה ונוראה
בקרב עם סגולה
לחיזוק שקידת התורה ועמלה
לתקן כל מידה נכונה
ולהיכנס לשערי תשובה
ת. נ. צ. ב. ה.
ויעמוד לגורלך לקץ הימין
חנון הביטה ממרומים
תשפוכת דם הצדיקים ותמצית דמים
תראה בפרגודך והעבר כתמים
קל מלך יושב על כסא רחמים
הקדוש
חיים יוסף איזנטל הי”ד

Full Translation of the Inscription

Here lies
A yeshiva student,
Our beloved and precious son, brother, and grandson,
A charming youth, a child of delight,
Toiling in Torah and striving to understand its hidden depths,
Distinguished in placing his eyes and heart
On the welfare of his friends and companions.

We longingly hoped to see him
Planted in the House of Hashem until old age and longevity,
But to our great sorrow he was taken from us
At the height of his blossoming by a man of evil,
While returning from a prayer assembly
For the sake of the continued existence of Torah in our Holy Land.

The holy one,
Chaim Yosef Eisental, Hy”d,
Son of his father, may he live long,
Harav Shmuel, shlita.

Born on the 9th of Elul, 5771
Passed away on the 18th of Teves, 5786.

Merited that his passing aroused
An immense and awesome strengthening
Among the treasured nation,
To reinforce diligence and toil in Torah,
To refine every proper trait,
And to enter the gates of repentance.

May his soul be bound in the bond of eternal life.
He shall arise to his destined lot at the end of days.

Gracious One, look down from the heavens,
See the spilling of the blood of the righteous and the essence of their blood
Before Your inner chamber, and remove the stain.
Mighty G-d, King Who sits upon the Throne of Mercy.

The holy one,
Chaim Yosef Eisental, Hy”d.

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews)-The United States urged American citizens to leave Iran immediately, warning of widespread internet shutdowns, transportation disruptions and heightened security measures across the country.

In a security alert, U.S. officials said Iranian authorities continue to impose restrictions on mobile, landline and national internet networks, limiting communications nationwide. Airlines have also reduced or canceled flights to and from Iran, raising concerns that Americans could face difficulty departing on short notice.

The advisory said U.S. citizens should expect continued internet outages and prepare alternative means of communication. If it is safe to do so, Americans were advised to consider leaving Iran by land through Armenia or Türkiye.

“Leave Iran now,” the alert stated, adding that travelers should not rely on U.S. government assistance to depart the country.

Those unable to leave were urged to find secure shelter, maintain adequate supplies of food, water and medications, and avoid public demonstrations. U.S. officials also advised Americans to keep a low profile, monitor local media for breaking developments, and be prepared to change plans quickly.

The State Department noted that flight cancellations and disruptions could occur with little or no warning and encouraged travelers to check directly with airlines for updates.

Americans in Iran were further urged to keep phones charged, maintain contact with family and friends, and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates.

Sec. Marco Rubio and the United States Department of State are urging all Americans to leave Iran immediately.
“Have a departure plan that does not depend on U.S. government assistance.”

The alert comes amid ongoing instability and heightened tensions in the region, prompting increased security measures by Iranian authorities and renewed warnings from the U.S. government about the risks of remaining in the country.

The wedding of a daughter of Mr. Lazer Scheiner is scheduled to take place next week in Morocco, with several events planned over the course of the celebration.

Mr. Scheiner is a noted philanthropist who is the founder of Scheiner’s Shul in Monsey and the head of the Adirei HaTorah initiative that raises millions of dollars to support the kollel budget of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ.

The weeklong schedule of festivities for next week’s wedding will begin on Monday with a siyum and birthday celebration for Mr. Scheiner.

The wedding itself will be held on Tuesday, followed by sheva brachos on Wednesday, which will feature a Moroccan theme. The celebrations will conclude on Thursday with a bon voyage event.

Attire guidelines have been provided for various events throughout the week. Monday’s siyum and birthday celebration will be business casual, while the wedding on Tuesday will be formal, with an evening coat requested. Guests attending the sheva brachos have been encouraged to dress in accordance with the Moroccan theme.

In a message addressed to family and friends, the hosts emphasized that the wedding is intended to be a personal and intimate celebration. Guests have been asked to refrain from sharing any content, photographs, or videos from any of the wedding events and to help ensure that the details of the celebration remain private.

Amichay and Leah are the chosson and kallah. Rachamim and Margolit, and Lazer and Heather, are the respective parents of the chosson and kallah.

{Matzav.com}

A new poll published Thursday evening by Israel’s Channel 14 points to a dramatic shift in the country’s political landscape, with the right-wing bloc reaching an all-time high while center-left parties continue to lose ground.

The survey, conducted by the Filber Institute and aired on Channel 14’s main news broadcast, indicates a clear strengthening of the right and increasing fragmentation among center-left factions.

The poll was based on a representative sample of 644 respondents. According to the findings, Bibi Netanyahu’s Likud party remains by far the largest faction in the Knesset, securing 34 seats. The Joint List emerges as the second-largest party with 13 mandates.

Shas and the party led by Naftali Bennett each receive 11 seats. United Torah Judaism and the Democrats party stand at 9 seats apiece. Yisrael Beytenu, led by Avigdor Lieberman, receives 8 mandates, followed by Otzma Yehudit with 7 seats. The party headed by Gadi Eisenkot wins 6 seats.

Blue and White, Religious Zionism, and Yesh Atid each fall to 4 seats, hovering near the electoral threshold.

Clear Right-Wing Majority

According to the poll, the right-wing bloc currently commands a solid and stable majority of 65 Knesset seats, enough to form a broad governing coalition. By contrast, the left-wing bloc stands at just 42 seats, with Arab parties holding an additional 13 mandates.

Prime Ministerial Suitability

In a separate question measuring suitability for the role of prime minister, Netanyahu leads decisively with 52 percent support. Bennett trails far behind with 20 percent, followed by Eisenkot at 14 percent.

Yair Lapid and Lieberman each receive 6 percent, while Benny Gantz brings up the rear with just 2 percent support.

Poll Snapshot

Right-wing bloc: 65 seats
Left-wing bloc: 42 seats
Arab parties: 13 seats

{Matzav.com}

On the eve of high-stakes U.S.-Iran talks in Oman, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an unscheduled meeting of his security cabinet Thursday night, potentially signaling unease in Jerusalem over the direction of diplomacy between Washington and Tehran.

The meeting, moved up from Sunday at Netanyahu’s direction, came less than 24 hours before Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was set to meet in Muscat with senior U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the closed-door session, though Israel’s Channel 12 reported that it included briefings on multiple security and regional issues, including the Palestinian Authority’s finances, and was not exclusively focused on Iran.

Earlier Thursday, Netanyahu, speaking to lawmakers in the Knesset, said there was “a buildup of conditions toward a critical mass” that could destabilize Iran’s ruling regime, while cautioning that the outcome remained uncertain.

He also warned that any Iranian attack on Israel would trigger “a powerful response,” according to the Knesset Spokesman’s Office.

Behind the scenes, Israeli officials remain skeptical that the Oman talks will yield results. Kan reported that Jerusalem views the negotiations largely as a preliminary effort to map differences, which officials believe remain wide.

“The expectation for a breakthrough is low,” one Israeli source told the network.

In Washington, President Donald Trump stressed that the talks are taking place under the shadow of U.S. military power.

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, Trump said Iran was negotiating because “they don’t want us to hit them,” reiterating that a major U.S. naval force was positioned near the region.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later told reporters the administration was waiting to see what Witkoff and Kushner brought back from Oman.

“Zero nuclear capability is something the president has been very explicit about,” Leavitt said. “He has many options at his disposal aside from diplomacy.”

Iranian officials, meanwhile, have sought to project confidence ahead of the talks.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran would negotiate “with authority” and aim for a “fair, mutually acceptable and dignified” agreement focused on the nuclear issue. He emphasized that Iran would not expand discussions to include its missile program.

That position puts Tehran at odds with Washington, which has insisted that any deal must cover Iran’s ballistic missiles and regional activities.

Complicating the talks, several Middle Eastern countries have been promoting a broader framework aimed at reducing the risk of regional war. Diplomats told Israeli media that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan have pushed for a non-aggression pact between the U.S. and Iran, covering nuclear issues, missiles and proxy forces.

But Iran objected to holding talks in Turkey with multiple countries present, prompting Washington to relocate negotiations to Oman for bilateral discussions only. It remains unclear whether the regional proposal will be addressed.

Kushner and Witkoff were in Doha on Thursday meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani ahead of Friday’s session.

According to Channel 12, the Oman talks are expected to center on Iran’s nuclear stockpile, particularly uranium enriched to 60 percent, just short of weapons-grade levels.

U.S. officials are pressing Tehran to hand over existing stockpiles and halt further enrichment. Washington is also seeking guarantees that Iran will not resume advanced nuclear activity.

Kushner’s presence, absent from earlier rounds, is being interpreted in Jerusalem as a signal that the White House has elevated the talks and is prepared to make high-level decisions.

Despite Iran’s weakened position following last year’s brief regional war and continued U.S. military buildup, Israeli officials worry Washington could soften its stance — particularly on Iran’s missile program — to secure a limited nuclear deal.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Ten years ago, Klal Yisroel lost an extraordinary Rosh Yeshiva, a world-class Posek, and a remarkable Tzaddik – Rav Yisroel Belsky, zichron tzaddik v’kadosh livracha. His petirah on the 18th of Shvat 5776 (January 28, 2016) tore a gaping hole in the fabric of Torah leadership that remains painfully felt to this very day.

Rav Elya Katz Shlita, a Maggid Shiur at Yeshiva Torah VaDaas, stated at the levaya that Rav Belsky was the embodiment of the Yeshiva. He was head of the Yeshiva, the heart of the Yeshiva and the eyes of the Yeshiva. Indeed, Rav Belsky had spent 72 years within the walls of Torah Vodaas – from early childhood through the last five years of his life when he served as its Rosh Yeshiva. As he himself said in his later years, his greatest legacy would be through the scores of talmidim who passed through Room 206 in Mesivta Torah Vodaas in the half century that he was their Rebbi.

Just one small example of his extraordinary tzidkus occurred two months before he passed away. Rav Belsky was very ill, in tremendous pain, and could barely walk. And yet Rav Belsky arranged a Get for an Agunah whose husband had violated the trust of numerous young people. Rav Belsky’s remarkable personality was instrumental in arranging for this woman’s freedom. She told me all about it the next day. This former Agunah had tears of joy as she expressed her remarkable admiration for Rav Belsky who was so instrumental in freeing her.

Moreinu HaRav HaGaon Rav Chaim Yisroel Belsky zatzal, passed away at the age of 77. In the words of the maspidim – he was an outstanding Talmid Chochom and Tzaddik that served as a Rosh Yeshiva in Torah v’Daas, a world-class Posek in the largest kashrus agency in the world, and the Rav of Camp Agudah for many years.  Rosh Yeshiva, renowned Posek, Av Beis Din, kashrus expert, mohel, sofer, shochet, musician, artist – and the list goes on. Rav Yisroel Belsky was all of these and much, much more.

Rav Shimon Finkelman shlita wrote a Sefer published by Artscroll about Rav Belsky zt“l. Toward the end there were so many stories of his tzidkus that they just had to simply decide to stop. This was the type of Tzaddik Rav Belsky was. His granddaughter Etti Goldstein also authored a beautifully written children’s biography designed for younger readers, ensuring that the story of this Gadol would inspire the next generation as well.

Rav Belsky had studied in Yeshiva Torah VaDaas, under Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal, and in Beis Medrash Elyon in Monsey, where he became one of its most prominent talmidim.

PRODIGIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Rav Belsky’s prodigious accomplishments range the full gamut of activity. He served as a magid shiur in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas for over half a century. He ruled on thousands and thousands of halachic questions for the Orthodox Union, where he served as senior halachic consultant since 1987 – a position he held for more than 28 years. And there are literally thousands of hours of his recorded shiurim available in Torah libraries across the country – all delivered by him. The shiurim are filled with the classic thinking of Gedolei HaRishonim and Acharonim as well as his own chiddushim.

Rav Belsky zt“l gave regular shiurim in the Daf Yomi, Yore Deah, Chumash and Rashi, and much more. His chiddushei Torah have been published in volumes titled Piskei Halachos, Einei Yisroel on Chumash, Sha’alos U’Teshuvos Shulchan Halevi, and other publications.

Aside from all this he served as Rav, Masmidim Program Director and general mashpia on thousands of young men in Camp Agudah in Ferndale, New York. He also served as a member of the Iggud HaRabbonim Beis Din under Rav Yitzchok Isaac Liebes, Rav Baruch Leizerowski and Rav Herschel Kurzrock.

Rabbi Menachem Genack of the OU described him at the levaya with words reminiscent of the Rambam’s description of the Ri Migash – that “his intellect was frightening throughout the Talmud.” In the same way, all who knew Rav Belsky were struck by his exceptional brilliance and his commanding mastery of the entirety of Torah.

A LIVING FATHER TO HIS TALMIDIM

Rav Belsky’s relationship with his Talmidim and campers was like that of a loving father. More than simply delivering shiurim, Rav Belsky was a super-Rebbi, mashgiach and counselor rolled into one. He spent the entire day with his beloved talmidim as he bonded with them and taught lifelong lessons.

One summer it was arranged that his masmidim shiur was to be taken over by someone else. When he noticed the sadness on the faces of four of the students, he worked out that he would give them a private shiur in the laws of chazara and shehiya on Shabbos – at six o’clock in the morning. To this day, the boys – now grown men, remember those halachos particularly well.

On one occasion, a camper was hospitalized with a serious brain tumor in a hospital some four hours away. Entirely unfazed by the distance, Rav Belsky drove the four hours to the hospital, spent a few hours with the young man, and drove the four hours back.

On another occasion, a young student who was confined in a wheelchair quietly expressed to someone that he would love to attend one of the camps’ hikes. Rav Belsky, a man of immense physical strength, carried him on his shoulders for the next hike for five hours straight. Not many people can manage an extra 140 to 160 pounds on one’s shoulders for a full five hours. This was an extraordinary feat of strength. The young man is now a remarkable Talmid Chochom himself and is a neighbor of this author’s relative.

He travelled with his talmidim to Niagara Falls and went on other camp trips, all the time inspiring them. Canoeing down the rapids, he would point out unusual animals and plant life. At bonfires and barbecues he regaled the masmidim with inspirational stories and niggunim of old. Once in camp on a five-hour bus ride, he reviewed the entire masechta of Gittin with Rashi and Tosfos. As a young camp counselor, he was known to learn Mishnayos between pitches as he umpired a baseball game. Sports to Rav Belsky were a way of enjoying Hashem’s world. He played paddleball, hiked, and went swimming during the summers. Once, standing in the OU office whose windows overlooked the Statue of Liberty, he wistfully remarked, “I can swim from here to the Statue and back.” He was a powerful swimmer who never hesitated to swim against the current – literally and figuratively.

INTERTWINED WITH YESHIVA TORAH VODAAS

The story of Rav Yisroel Belsky zatzal is intertwined with the story of Yeshiva Torah VaDaas. Reb Binyomin Wilhelm, Rav Belsky’s maternal grandfather, was one of the three founders of yeshiva Torah VaDaas. In 1919, while attempting to recruit students for his new yeshiva, he had convinced Reb Yisroel and Leah Belsky to enroll their son Berl in the fledgling new Yeshiva located in Williamsburg. Reb Berl enrolled and developed a close kesher with Reb Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz. Soon, Reb Berl went back to Europe to study in Radin under the saintly Chofetz Chaim himself. The Chofetz Chaim valued Reb Berl and would often caress his arm lovingly and declare with surprise, “Fuhn America!” The Chofetz Chaim was amazed that such a prize Talmid could have emerged from the melting pot of assimilation that was America.

Reb Berl would later teach his son, Reb Yisroel Belsky the Chofetz Chaim’s niggunim. Reb Yisroel’s mastery of niggunim was legendary as well, and he taught these niggunim to Talmidim and campers alike. There are literally thousands of bochurim now singing the unique Yeshiva niggunim of a century ago – all because of Rav Belsky. Indeed, Camp Agudah once published an entire bentcher just of unique and inspiring Niggunim that were vouchsafed for the future by Rav Belsky.

When Reb Berl returned from Radin, Reb Shraga Feivel Mendelevitch suggested the shidduch of Reb Binyomin Wilhelm’s daughter, Chana Tzirel. Rav Yisroel Belsky, born on August 22, 1938, was their b’chor.

At the age of 24, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky had asked Rav Belsky to take over the shiur of Rav Zelig Epstein zt“l – one of the venerable ziknei HaRoshei yeshiva. His students then were among the leading Bnei Torah in the country. Some of them became Roshei yeshiva in their own right.

Rav Belsky would eventually become a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. Rav Belsky taught at the Yeshiva for over half a century. For a while, he even taught mathematics there as well. Despite his remarkable brilliance, he had no airs about him – his humble beginnings included starting out as a math teacher in Torah Vodaas, his first kashrus position was with the Kof-K, and he served as a counselor and learning instructor in Camp Agudah. No job was too trivial for him.

A PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIP DECLINED

As a young man, Rav Belsky was offered a prestigious academic scholarship, a testament to his extraordinary intellectual abilities that extended far beyond Torah. At a critical turning point of his life, he ultimately declined the scholarship in order to dedicate himself fully to learning Torah. It was a defining moment that set the trajectory for the rest of his remarkable life – a life wholly devoted to Torah, to Klal Yisroel, and to the pursuit of emes.

CLOSE TO GREAT LUMINARIES

Rav Belsky learned under the great luminaries of Torah Vodaas. He was very close with Rav Zelig Epstein, Rav Elya Chazan, and his Rebbe Muvhak – Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt“l. Rav Yaakov inspired him to master Tanach among his other limmudim too. He was very close to Rav Avrohom Pam zt“l and was also related to him.

Rav Belsky received Smicha from Torah VaDaas in 1962 and then went on to receive shimush from the Gadol haDor, Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal. He received Smicha from Rav Moshe in 1965. Beginning at age 17, he had studied at Beis Medrash Elyon in Monsey under Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, becoming one of its most prominent talmidim.

MEMORY AND MASTERY

His recall of every Tosfos in Shas was well known. Rav Dovid Kviat zatzal told this author that Rav Belsky knew kol HaTorah kulah. Rav Yerucham Olshin Shlita stated at the levaya that Rav Belsky’s knowledge was not just broad. He knew all the mekoros well and in great depth.

His ability to rule in numerous areas of halacha was uncanny. His proficiency and familiarity with Kol HaTorah kullah was veritably unmatched. Aside from his vast knowledge in all these areas, he was also a mohel, Schochet and knew the vast intricacies of Safrus too. His mastery of Nikkur was well known – in fact, during the summer months, Rav Belsky would bring boys from Camp Agudah to a plant in Goshen, New York, to show them how nikkur is performed on a deer. He was as much at home in Keilim and Kinim as he was in Baba Metzia and Baba Basra.

He had a remarkable ability to multi-task in an almost supernatural way. He could learn Mishnah Berurah while simultaneously listening to someone else speak. His genius, however, did not rely on innate brilliance alone; he studied diligently, reviewing his learning again and again. Despite his extraordinary intellectual gifts, Torah learning always came through hard work, diligence and perseverance.

Rav Belsky developed a close bond with campers and masmidim in Camp Agudah. He taught two of my sons who attended the Masmidim program. He taught them Torah and much more as well. He taught one of my sons how to tell time at night with just the stars acting as his clock. He taught campers how to swim. He taught them the names of the constellations, the names of all the surrounding trees, and the names of flowers and bushes.

This author once was doing research in libraries and found the original text of Rav Yisroel Salanter’s Iggeres HaMussar. The original text was different than the one printed in the Ohr Yisroel published by Rav Yitzchok Blaser. Rav Belsky gave me a haskama on my translation of the original and proceeded to recite the Igeres HaMussar by heart.

PSAKIM

Rav Belsky zt“l did have some remarkably innovative halachic rulings. He held that even though an akum does not have ne’emanus regarding checking eggs for bloodspots, if one provides a financial reward for every egg with a blood spot that is found, this can be relied upon halachically.

He issued a ruling once regarding the use of a cell phone to prevent yichud in a taxi ride home between a married woman and a taxi driver. He used the cell phone as an additional factor to issue a permissive ruling.

In another innovative psak, Rav Belsky held that it was possible to establish an individual chezkas kashrus on a gentile’s ne’emanus by checking upon him or her three times in specific situations where the gentile is unaware of the fact that he is being checked up on. Other Poskim, however, were not in agreement with this view.

Rav Belsky also held that Styrofoam cups did not have the halachic status of a kli shaini because its walls did not absorb the heat from the liquid inside. This too was rather innovative and was not accepted by other Poskim. In another stringency, Rav Belsky held that during the Nine Days underclothing also had to be pre-worn and otherwise would have been considered freshly laundered.

When the copepod in the New York City water controversy arose, Rav Belsky was one of the few Poskim who ruled leniently. He also issued a lenient ruling regarding the consumption of the anisakis worm in fish. As Rabbi Genack proclaimed at the levaya, “If not for Rav Belsky, none of us here would be eating fish!” Indeed, when the issue of fish infested with Anisakis arose, there was great concern in the halachic world that fish would have to be declared non-kosher. Rav Belsky’s halachic expertise and profound study of the issue convincingly demonstrated that the kosher status of fish could still be affirmed without question.

In the late 1980’s when the Displaced Abomasum of cows controversy arose, he issued a lenient ruling saying that Rav Moshe had already paskened on the issue in his lifetime. The Cholov Yisroel companies chose not to follow his leniency and to this day make sure that all cows that had DA surgery are removed from the line.

Rav Belsky brooked no tolerance for “Halacha by tumult.” He simply could not stand when people with insufficient knowledge of the facts or Halacha made a tempest in a teapot about important halachic matters. He always insisted on knowing the facts before issuing a ruling, and his relentless pursuit of truth was a hallmark of his approach to psak.

BAAL TEFILLAH

Rav Belsky was a master Baal Tefilah. His intense kavanah and his beautiful nusach was enrapturing. He was the Baal Tefilah on Yomim Noraim for Khal Adas Yereim in Kew Gardens for many years. The Rav of the shul was Rav Yaakov Teitelbaum zatzal, the Morah d’Asra of Camp Agudah prior to Rav Belsky.

One could see him occasionally at the late Maariv in the Five Towns at the 11:30 PM minyan at Rav Yaakov Horowitz, the Bostoner Rebbe of Lawrence. Rav Horowitz told me recently that Rav Belsky had also been the Baal Tefilah at the shul of his great-grandfather in Brooklyn a half century earlier.

VAST KNOWLEDGE OF MILI D’ALMA

He not only gave deep shiurim in Gemorah and Halacha, but had a vast knowledge in mili d’alma, worldly matters. He had tremendous intellectual curiosity and was self-taught in many different disciplines. He had a strong grasp of mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, anatomy, botany, zoology, musicology, food technology, and history – all of which he used for the benefit of Torah study. He would often lead campers in trips where he identified for them every tree, plant, insect and star chart. In his work as one of the two Poskim in the Orthodox Union he had a deep grasp of the manufacturing process, never refraining from climbing or getting his hands dirty to investigate manufacturing processes.

There is a legendary story of Rav Belsky gazing at the stars together with his talmidim in Camp Agudah. He suddenly expressed surprise at seeing a star in the sky that he had not noticed before. A call to NASA the next day revealed that it was a star that is only visible on rare occasions. His knowledge of the heavens was that precise.

Rabbi Genack recalled how he first met Rav Belsky on a huge tanker ship used for transporting oil from Asia. Rav Belsky insisted on knowing the kind of metal used for the tanks, the proportions of the tanks, and how the different tanks in the hold of the ship were connected. He literally went into the belly of the boat to ascertain this information. The tanks where the oil was stored were several stories high, and Rav Belsky climbed down on a ladder into one of the tanks. When it came to calculating echad b’shishim for those enormous oil tankers, Rav Belsky was able to make the mathematical calculations entirely in his head.

In a conversation I had with Rav Yisroel Belsky having to do with the halachos of Shechita on the 27th of Tishrei 5769, he explained that the actual Blood Alcohol Content level necessary to be considered “The stage of drunkenness of Lot” would be 0.21% to 0.29% depending upon the person. This was based upon a study by Virginia Tech University ruled by Rabbi Belsky as authoritative entitled “Alcohol’s Effects.”

Another time, I spoke to him about the halachos of when a vessel becomes non-kosher only to Kdai Klipah, i.e. skin deep, how one calculates whether we have shishim of food against the kdai klipah. Within a minute and a half he provided the equation to determine whether hot food subsequently placed in the pot is sixty times the ratio of the kdai klipah of the pot [assuming that in this pot we say cham miktzaso cham kulo]. X represents the percentage of the pot that must be full and m represents in mills the kdai klipah of that particular metal.

x=6m(r+2h)/ rh

Thus, for example, if one were to assume that the kdai klipah of an aluminum pot is one mil and that the pot is ten inches high and ten inches wide the pot must be 3 percent full in order to have shishim against the klipah.

Rabbi Menachem Genack of the OU mentioned this aspect about him at the levaya as well. It was fascinating to hear of someone from the Torah uMadah school speak in such absolute awe of the mathematical mastery of someone from a Torah-only background. Dr. Avrohom Meyer, the OU’s Senior Overseas Field Representative and an internationally-recognized expert on the scientific aspects of kashrus, described Rav Belsky as “the most amazing man I have ever met.” He recalled discussing kashrus and microbiology with Rav Belsky over lunch at an OU conference, and marveled at the intellectual speed, the interest in and understanding of complex science and technology, and the innovative thinking.

At the OU office, Rav Belsky would complete the New York Times Thursday crossword puzzle – notoriously the most difficult of the week – in the space of half an hour during lunch, which usually consisted of a slice of rye bread and a can of sardines.

Another time, I was a Rav in a shul where an actual food and fist fight had emerged after an argument between two of the Baal HaBatim. Rav Belsky was instrumental in deciding how best to deal with both parties. Later, someone had told me that the incident had gotten on one of Rav Belsky’s Hashkafa lessons that he delivered to his Talmidim in Torah Vodaas.

CHAMPION OF RUSSIAN JEWRY

Rav Belsky had a special place in his heart for our brethren that are in and came from the Soviet Union. Remarkably, he taught himself Russian entirely on his own – a language with no parallel to the Yiddish and Lashon Kodesh he was accustomed to. The following summer after learning Russian, two Soviet fellows came to Camp Agudah. They knew no English, and the only one able to communicate with them was Rav Belsky. It was then, Rav Belsky explained, that he understood why Hashem put into his head to learn Russian.

As the Nasi of the Russian Kehilla and leader of the Vaad Lihatzalas Nidchai Yisrael, he devoted himself to helping Russian Jews reclaim their religious heritage. He spent much of his time with them, helping them not only with Torah, but with solving practical problems too.

OHEV ES HABRIOS

Rav Belsky’s entire nature was such that he would empathize wholly and completely with the problem of whoever approached him or called him. He would cry with them. He would spend time with them. From early morning until well past midnight, Rav Belsky was working on behalf of Klal Yisroel, serving as a shliach Hashem and imparting advice and guidance from his wellspring of Torah knowledge.

On one occasion, a man had passed away in Far Rockaway without leaving a child. His only brother was severely developmentally disabled, and the man’s wife faced a difficult halachic question. Could her brother-in-law perform Chalitza or was he considered a halachic shoteh making him ineligible?

The last time this question arose was in the early 1960’s with Rav Moshe Feinstein. I called Rav Belsky at the behest of the man’s Rosh Yeshiva. Rav Belsky immediately asked if I could pick him up to go to the Shiva. I did.

Rav Belsky came down to the shiva home and spent three hours with the deceased man’s family. Rav Belsky consoled and comforted the parents while simultaneously determining the status of the brother. The nichum aveilim was so comforting to the parents that they thanked the Rabbi who had brought them this “wonderful holy Rabbi.”

This quality extended even to the simplest encounters. There is a woman named Elaine who works in the OU mailroom. When Rav Belsky was ill in the hospital, Elaine visited him twice. Even in his weakened state, he managed to lift his hand and wave to her with a forced smile. When asked why she felt close enough to visit, she explained that whenever Rav Belsky would see her in the office he made sure to greet her warmly. He really was a special person who treated every human being with dignity and warmth.

Rav Belsky’s home was open to people who came to him for help at all times of the day and night. Those close to the Rosh Yeshiva attest to the fact that while all he wished to do was sit and learn the Torah that was so beloved to him, he sacrificed his time to pasken shailos and answer halachah queries on a continuous basis.

HACHNASAS ORCHIM AND TZEDAKAH

The selfless hachnasas orchim of Rav and Rebbetzin Belsky was legendary. Their willingness to extend themselves on behalf of total strangers, if only they could make another Jew’s life a bit brighter, was a hallmark of their home.

During his final illness, while in the hospital, Rav Belsky suffered deeply and slipped in and out of consciousness. In order to assuage his discomfort, the attending nurse suggested that he be given some protein to eat. Rav Belsky’s daughter placed a plate of homemade scrambled eggs before him and pressed her father to taste something. But Rav Belsky would not eat until he was assured that the poor were being served the same quality food. Only after his daughter was able to convince him of this did Rav Belsky partake of his lunch. Even on his sickbed, his concern was for others.

SENSE OF ACHRAYUS

Rav Belsky had a strong sense of achrayus for Klal Yisroel. When the Indian Sheitel controversy took place he made great effort to convey to the Gedolim in Eretz Yisroel the research he had done. I was in his office in Torah VoDaas at the time. His purpose, aside from seeking emes – truth, was to save the women of Klal Yisroel vast sums of money.

Once there was a certain chazzan that would pursue under-age girls, ply them with alcohol and do unspeakable things. Rav Belsky issued a psak that he should be put in jail and arrested. He issued this psak out of a sense of achrayus to Klal Yisroel. I was there when he issued this psak.

Another time a political issue developed in regard to one of the big chicken plants. The issue required that a second hechsher also be obtained on the plant. Rav Belsky’s role was not personal or political – his efforts were to save someone’s life and he was technically working against his own interest in this shtadlanus.

This was Rav Belsky. He fought heroically for the underdog, the lonely, the embattled, those for whom no one else would care. He put his reputation on the line, time and again, to stand up for what he felt was right. He was not necessarily always right, but he did it because he loved truth. He was willing to fight for what he felt was right – regardless of popular opinion.

Rav Belsky was selfless in numerous ways, with his money, with his reputation, and with his time.

Rav Belsky authored a few seforim. He wrote teshuvah seforim in halacha and shiurim on chumash. He could have authored many more but he didn’t because his day was fully devoted to matters of Klal Yisroel. He penned hundreds of haskamos to other people’s seforim too. Such was his extraordinary sense of selflessness.

WISDOM IN SHALOM BAYIS

Rav Belsky’s wisdom extended to the most personal areas of life. He once taught that the word “Shochad” (bribe) is linked to the word “Chad” (one), teaching that a bribe creates a unity between giver and receiver. He applied this concept to marriage, explaining that marital unity requires a husband and wife to do chasadim – even tiny ones – for each other constantly. He also offered practical advice for fostering unity in marriage: develop a habit to smile very often, because it shows approval of your wife and shows you feel good when you’re with her.

FIRM IN TORAH

Notwithstanding his remarkable Ahavas Yisroel, Rav Belsky could be very sharp and strong when he disagreed with someone in Torah. People who were not used to this could be intimidated. Yet, he did welcome conversation and discussion and at times he relented in argument too.

Once he recollected how his Rebbe, Rav Moshe Feinstein, read and reread Rav Akiva Eiger’s view about a Mezuzah on a room that was less than 4 cubits by 4 cubits that was adjacent to a room that was fully obligated in a Mezuzah. He explained how Rav Moshe zatzal reread that Rav Akiva Eiger ten times and finally stated that he did not understand his view.

He cited the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos (1:10): “Ehov es hamelachah u’sena es harabbanut, ve’al titvada larashut – Love work, hate public office and do not become too intimate with the ruling power.” He asked the obvious question: how could Chazal tell us to avoid the rabbinate? His answer revealed his approach to leadership – that the rabbinate was to be a calling of service, not a pursuit of honor.

A LIFE OF INTROSPECTION

The Chofetz Chaim was known to spend two hours a day on self-introspection. Rav Belsky once said that when he first heard this, he thought to himself, “What a waste of time! Imagine how much more the Chofetz Chaim could have learned those two extra hours each day!” But Rav Belsky came to realize that it was precisely the time the Chofetz Chaim used for introspection that made him who he was. This realization shaped Rav Belsky’s own approach to growth – an integration of ceaseless Torah study with constant self-refinement.

ILLNESS AND FINAL YEARS

In February 2012, Rav Belsky developed a life-threatening illness which almost took his life. He suffered from a ruptured esophagus and a collapsed lung and was rushed to the hospital by Hatzolah. Miraculously, he recovered to the extent that he was able to resume activities in Yeshiva, in the OU and at Camp Agudah. The amount he had accomplished just in those four years was beyond what many accomplish in a lifetime.

When one of his younger children was born, the doctor had asked, “Why do you have so many children?” To which Rav Belsky replied on the spot, “We Jews are an endangered species!”

In the ten years since his petirah, a tremendous void has only continued to grow. Rav Belsky’s imprint on Torah Judaism in the past half century will certainly have an impact for generations to come. As his close talmid Yaakov Melohn wrote: “For over 42 years, Rav Belsky was not only my beloved rebbe, chavrusa, best friend and confidant – he was also like a father to me, and a grandfather to my children.”

The world is a vastly different place without him. A number of today’s great askanim in Klal Yisrael are talmidim of Rav Belsky. His impact in the field of kashrus, his innovations and rulings in that area will have a positive effect for generations to come. Each talmid, whatever his walk of life, impacts on his family and community, and in that sense, Rav Belsky and his teachings live on.

Rav Chaim Yisroel Belsky was truly sui generis. Mi yiten lanu temuraso? He is indeed irreplaceable. Chaval al d’avdin. Nafla Ateres Rosheinu.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

A notable engagement was announced this week within the Brisker world, bringing together two prominent branches of the Soloveitchik family.

The chassan is Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, the eldest son of Rav Yankel Soloveitchik, who is himself the eldest son of Brisk rosh yeshiva Rav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik.

The kallah is the daughter of Rav Yisrael Yaakov Kaplan, son of Rav Nechemia Kaplan, rosh yeshiva of Shaar Hatalmud, who is a son of Rav Boruch and Rebbetzin Vichna Kaplan and a son-in-law of Rav Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik zt”l. The engagement was announced on the fifth yahrzeit of Rav Dovid’s petirah.

Rav Nechemia’s wife, Rav Dovid’s daughter, Rebbetzin Hendel a”h, was tragically niftar last year. Just recently, Rav Nechemia became engaged to Mrs. Esther Lerner. 

Observers noted that the Kaplan-Soloveitchik shidduch is particularly striking within Brisk circles, as it formally connects the families of Rav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik and his uncle, Rav Meshulam Dovid, in a manner more commonly associated with dynastic ties in chassidic courts.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released new internal records from the weeks leading up to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, revealing senior defense officials repeatedly described the Gaza front as “stable” and urging restraint, even as the country stood on the brink of its deadliest security failure.

The documents, published as part of Netanyahu’s response to a state inquiry, were submitted to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman on Dec. 25, 2025, and were made public on Thursday. They form part of the prime minister’s effort to shift responsibility for the Oct. 7 collapse toward Israel’s military and intelligence leadership.

Among the most striking revelations is a transcript from a Sept. 12, 2023, cabinet meeting, less than a month before the Hamas invasion. In that session, then-defense minister Yoav Gallant described the security situation in Gaza as “stable” and urged Israel to “hold back its forces” against Hamas.

Gallant, who was later fired by Netanyahu during the war, also pushed for a long-term arrangement with Hamas to preserve calm along the border.

The document shows that senior officials were convinced that deterrence and limited engagement were working and that escalation should be avoided.

Netanyahu’s submission also includes a summary of a Sept. 21, 2023, security assessment led by then-IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi. According to the report, Halevi believed it was possible to “create a positive direction with Hamas” through economic incentives and gradual stabilization.

Ten days before the attack, intelligence officials delivered mixed but largely reassuring messages. A representative of the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate warned that Hamas “does want to reach an escalation,” while Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar said the group “very much wants to avoid a round of fighting.”

Bar, whom Netanyahu later dismissed during the war, is a central figure in the prime minister’s account. Netanyahu highlights multiple statements in which Bar assessed that quiet had returned to the border and that a “deeper arrangement” with Hamas was possible.

Through carefully selected excerpts, Netanyahu seeks to present himself as the lone senior figure consistently pushing for tougher measures while ministers and security chiefs focused on buying time and maintaining calm.

Netanyahu’s response also includes a detailed timeline of his actions on the morning of the Hamas assault.

According to the document, at 6:29 a.m., his military secretary, Maj. Gen. Avi Gil, informed him that an attack had begun.

Fifteen minutes later, at 6:44 a.m., Netanyahu asked whether Israel could eliminate Hamas leaders and whether reservists should be mobilized.

He arrived at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv at 8 a.m. By 9:55 a.m., he ordered the Gaza border sealed “hermetically” to prevent further infiltrations and hostage-taking. He also instructed officials to carry out a full reserve call-up, prepare for possible attacks from the north, and begin planning a ground invasion of Gaza.

Perhaps most controversially, Netanyahu reveals excerpts from a Shin Bet situational assessment that concluded shortly before the attack, at 5:15 a.m. In the fragmented quotes he shares, the assessment stated that the likelihood of a broad conflict with Hamas was low and that Israeli actions should focus on preventing isolated incidents rather than risking miscalculation and war.

Netanyahu emphasizes that the summary contained no directive to update his military secretary, arguing that critical information never reached him in time.

“Nowhere is there an instruction to inform my office,” he notes, bolstering his claim that key warnings were withheld.

The release deepens an already fierce public battle over responsibility for Israel’s worst security disaster. Families of Oct. 7 victims and many opposition lawmakers accuse Netanyahu of years of strategic complacency and political maneuvering that weakened Israel’s readiness. They argue that intelligence failures and misjudgments occurred under his watch — regardless of what advisers recommended.

Netanyahu, facing mounting political and legal pressure, is using the comptroller’s inquiry to construct a counter-narrative: that he warned, questioned, and pushed for action, while the security establishment consistently underestimated Hamas.

The documents do not resolve that dispute. But they reveal how, in the weeks before Oct. 7, Israel’s leadership — from cabinet ministers to intelligence chiefs — remained divided, uncertain, and ultimately wrong about Hamas’s intentions.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

BAL HARBOUR, Fla. — The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour, a luxury hotel popular with New York’s Jewish community, will close for a major renovation on or about April 6, forcing more than 100 employees into temporary layoffs.

The hotel at 10295 Collins Avenue plans to remain closed for at least seven months. A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification letter filed with the Florida Department of Commerce on Feb. 5 said 108 employees will be affected during the renovation period.

The affected positions span multiple departments, including food and beverage, housekeeping, guest services, engineering, security, and administrative roles. Job titles listed in the filing include chefs and cooks, concierge staff, bartenders, engineers, loss prevention officers, utility cleaners, and several management and supervisory roles.

Stephen Power, area general manager for Enclosure at The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour, wrote in the notice that employees are expected to be recalled once renovations are complete, though the timeline could change depending on business conditions. The notice also said affected employees do not have bumping rights, meaning they cannot displace other workers to retain employment during the temporary layoff, and encouraged staff to apply for other positions within the company.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that Iran’s ruling elite may believe their grip on power is slipping, as American sanctions trigger a financial crisis that has sent the country’s economy into free fall.

Testifying before the United States Senate Banking Committee, Bessent said the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign has systematically strangled Iran’s access to global dollars, fueling bank failures, runaway inflation and mounting public unrest.

“What we have done is created a dollar shortage in the country,” Bessent told lawmakers. “It came to a swift and, I would say, grand culmination in December, when one of the largest banks in Iran went under. There was a run on the bank.”

At the center of the turmoil was the collapse of Ayandeh Bank, one of Iran’s largest private lenders, which folded in October after racking up more than $5 billion in losses tied to regime-backed projects.

According to Bessent, the failure sent shockwaves through the financial system.

“The central bank had to print money, the Iranian currency went into free fall, inflation exploded, and hence we have seen the Iranian people out on the street,” he said.

The bank had attracted millions of ordinary depositors by offering unusually high interest rates, a strategy one Iranian oversight official later described as resembling a Ponzi scheme. When Ayandeh collapsed, thousands of families saw their savings wiped out, triggering widespread anger.

The The Wall Street Journal reported in January that the bank’s implosion helped ignite nationwide protests in December, as frustrated Iranians poured into the streets over rising prices and financial losses.

U.S. officials say Tehran’s response to the banking crisis only worsened the damage. Efforts to prop up failing institutions and inject emergency liquidity accelerated the collapse of the rial and sparked massive capital flight.

Iran’s central bank was forced to print money to stabilize the system, further eroding confidence and driving inflation sharply higher. Investors and businesses rushed to move assets abroad, hollowing out the economy.

“We have seen the Iranian leadership wiring money out of the country like crazy,” Bessent told senators.

“The rats are leaving the ship, and that is a good sign that they know the end may be near.”

While Iran’s leadership has publicly dismissed U.S. sanctions as ineffective, Bessent’s testimony suggests Washington believes the opposite is true, and that economic collapse is reshaping political calculations in Tehran.

Despite the mounting strain, U.S. officials caution that economic collapse does not automatically translate into political change. Iran’s security apparatus remains powerful, and past crises have not dislodged the ruling system.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Lakewood First Aid squad this evening held its annual members’ appreciation dinner, which was attended by local officials.

A brief message posted by tech billionaire Elon Musk has set off a wide-ranging online debate about whether vast wealth brings personal fulfillment, drawing sharp reactions across social media.

Musk wrote on X, “Whoever said ‘money can’t buy happiness’ really knew what they were talking about,” adding a sad emoji.

The comment, coming from the world’s wealthiest individual, immediately resonated with users and prompted intense scrutiny.

The post spread rapidly, reaching close to 30 million users within hours and generating a flood of responses that ranged from genuine curiosity to outright ridicule.

Many commenters focused on what they saw as the contradiction at the heart of the statement. “So you’re not happy?” one user asked directly.

Others leaned into sarcasm. “Give me $1 billion first, let me also confirm for myself,” one reply read, while another joked, “You’ve got to be kidding me. $840 billion doesn’t make you happy?”

A particularly dry comment captured the tone of much of the discussion: “I’d genuinely rather be miserable and a billionaire than miserable and not a billionaire.”

At the same time, some users came to Musk’s defense, arguing that immense wealth does not insulate a person from stress, pressure, or emotional difficulty. Critics, however, said the remark felt disconnected from the financial struggles facing much of the world.

As reactions poured in, the conversation expanded beyond Musk himself, revisiting a familiar philosophical question: Does financial success fundamentally improve a person’s inner life, or does it simply magnify problems in a different way?

The context surrounding the post intensified the reaction. Forbes recently reported that Musk had become the first person ever to surpass an estimated net worth of $800 billion, following a major transaction in which SpaceX acquired his artificial intelligence and social media venture, xAI.

{Matzav.com}

A Senate committee has opened an inquiry into New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s decision to revoke City Hall’s use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The probe was announced Thursday by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, who sent a formal letter to Mamdani questioning his administration’s rollback of key policies related to Israel and antisemitism.

On his first day in office, Mamdani rescinded New York City’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition — a widely used framework that classifies certain forms of anti-Israel rhetoric as antisemitic — along with an executive order barring city agencies from participating in boycotts of Israel.

Cassidy said the move raised serious concerns about the city’s commitment to protecting Jewish students and maintaining consistent standards for addressing hate.

“This definition has long held strong bipartisan support and has been the official policy of the federal government since 2019,” Cassidy said in a statement.

In his letter, Cassidy pressed Mamdani on how revoking the definition and the anti-boycott order would help safeguard Jewish students, whether City Hall plans to adopt a replacement standard, and what concrete actions the administration will take to confront antisemitism in schools. He also asked whether the mayor believes that boycott campaigns targeting Israel should be considered antisemitic.

“It is my job to ensure every student feels safe, and at a time when Jewish students feel scared, I am concerned your actions will only exacerbate their fears,” Cassidy wrote.

The inquiry reflects broader Republican concerns that progressive leaders are weakening institutional responses to antisemitism at a time when tensions on college campuses and in major cities are intensifying.

Mamdani’s decision has become a flashpoint in national debates over Israel, free speech and hate speech enforcement, placing New York City — home to the largest Jewish population in the United States — at the center of a politically charged dispute.

Supporters of the mayor argue that the IHRA definition is overly broad and risks chilling legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy. Civil liberties advocates and progressive groups have long contended that the framework conflates political speech with antisemitism and limits open debate.

Critics, however, say removing the definition weakens enforcement tools and sends the wrong signal at a moment when Jewish communities are reporting heightened fear and harassment.

The Senate inquiry adds a new layer of federal scrutiny to Mamdani’s early tenure and signals that his approach to Israel-related policy is likely to remain under close watch in Washington. Whether the mayor responds by modifying his stance or doubling down on his position could shape not only his relationship with Congress, but also the broader political fight over how antisemitism is defined and addressed in public institutions.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Dear Matzav Inbox,

After last year’s painful and unsettling experience with the Lakewood, NJ mesivta farher system, many of us were left shaken. Rules were bent, some were outright broken by those who should no better, and what was meant to be a structured, dignified process too often felt chaotic and unfair.

Parents worried. Rabbeim worried. And perhaps most of all, the bochurim — standing at a pivotal crossroads in their lives — were left anxious and uncertain.

Those concerns were real, and they were justified.

But what deserves recognition, admiration, and deep gratitude is what happened next.

Instead of throwing up our hands in frustration or resigning ourselves to “this is how it always is,” responsible people stepped forward. Thoughtful individuals took action. Quiet planning replaced noise. Cooperation replaced competition. Accountability replaced improvisation.

And this week, we witnessed the results.

In the span of just a couple of days, thousands of bochurim, across more than five dozen mesivtos, went through farhers and were placed with clarity, dignity, and respect. What emerged was not just an efficient system. It was something far greater. It was a true Kiddush Hashem.

The process ran smoothly. The outcomes were thoughtful. The atmosphere was calm. Parents felt reassured. Bochurim felt seen. And the Torah world saw what can happen when achrayus, cooperation, and yiras Shamayim guide the process.

This did not happen by accident.

It happened because eighth-grade rabbeim invested countless hours truly knowing their talmidim and advocating for them with care and integrity. It happened because elementary schools worked responsibly and transparently. It happened because mesivtos acted with discipline and restraint, honoring both the spirit and the letter of the system. It happened because parents trusted the process.

Each group played its part. Each link in the chain mattered.

In a world where cynicism so often feels justified, this week reminded us that our community is capable of extraordinary things when we choose unity over self-interest and order over chaos. It showed our children that systems can be fixed, that fairness is possible, and that doing things the right way is not naïve. It is powerful.

Kudos to all involved. This was not merely a logistical success; it was a moral one. A quiet triumph. A moment of communal pride. And yes, a genuine Kiddush Hashem that deserves to be acknowledged, celebrated, and built upon for years to come.

Sincerely,
A grateful parent and observer

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email MatzavInbox@gmail.com

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Dear TLS, Just wanted to thank you for putting in my letter. I received such an outpouring of advice and resources and I also want thank those who were so kind to respond with helpful ideas.

Unfortunately, the situation is much worse than I felt comfortable writing. It’s not the norm. My husband was raised in an abusive home, something I didn’t know before marriage. B”H he is very special person and wants our marriage to work above all else, so I have lots of hope, but he is terrified of his father and so am I. I am the first daughter-in-law there and I am the first to get married in my family, so we’re really inexperienced here. I reached out to TLS to hear from people who actually went through this and are now past it.

The most helpful piece of advice for us that someone replied with was:

The Torah clearly states in Bereishis
על כן יעזב איש את אביו ואת אמו ודבק באשתו…
a man must leave the (parent-child) relationship of his parents, or he is violating the torah. At the same time, the parents are also required from the Torah to allow their married children to leave the parent-child relationship, to enable their married children to obey this mitzvah.

We feel like this will give us the strength to stand up to my in-laws because they are also required to listen to this mitzvah.

I appreciate your help in helping us save our marriage! Thank you again! Tizku L’mitzvois.

[email protected]

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

A new assessment by the Shin Bet released on Thursday revealed a deeply disturbing phenomenon: security officials have identified cases of Israelis who are initiating contact with Iranian intelligence operatives and offering their services in return for payment, i24NEWS reported on Thursday.

According to the assessment, Iranian intelligence agents prioritize recruiting Jewish Israelis rather than Israeli Arabs and post messages in Telegram groups in Hebrew (or English) with a Jewish Israeli audience.

The agents prefer Jewish Israelis because many of the missions require access and familiarity with Jewish culture, and agents believe that Jews are less likely to be arrested.

The report also notes that Iran’s success in recruiting Israelis to act against their own country has caused significant harm to Israel’s international image.

The report noted that the Shin Bet is now focusing its public awareness efforts within the Chareidi sector since it believes that the sector has not fully internalized the threat of Iranian recruitment.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Thursday that he abruptly cut off a meeting with the head of Lebanon’s military after the officer declined to describe Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, a stance Graham said makes cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces untenable.

In a message posted to social media, the South Carolina Republican recounted a brief exchange with Lebanese Chief of Defense Gen. Rodolphe Haykal, explaining why the discussion ended almost as soon as it began. “I just had a very brief meeting with the Lebanese Chief of Defense General Rodolphe Haykal. I asked him point blank if he believes Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. He said, ‘No, not in the context of Lebanon.’ With that, I ended the meeting,” Graham wrote.

Graham followed up by stressing his own position on the Iran-backed group, saying there is no ambiguity about its record. “They are clearly a terrorist organization. Hezbollah has American blood on its hands. Just ask the U.S. Marines,” he added.

The senator noted that Washington’s view of Hezbollah has been consistent across party lines for decades. He pointed out that the group has “been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by both Republican and Democrat administrations since 1997 – for good reason.”

Because of the response he received, Graham said he doubts whether Lebanon’s military can be trusted as a partner. “As long as this attitude exists from the Lebanese Armed Forces, I don’t think we have a reliable partner in them. I am tired of the double speak in the Middle East. Too much is at stake,” he concluded.

The remarks come against the backdrop of a U.S.-supported ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Lebanon that obligates Hezbollah to dismantle its armed presence, beginning in areas south of the river near Israel’s border.

In August of last year, Lebanon’s government tasked the Lebanese Armed Forces with preparing a plan to ensure that the state would hold exclusive control over weapons by the end of the year.

Hezbollah has openly rejected that initiative, denouncing the government’s proposal and repeatedly insisting it will not relinquish its arsenal.

The group’s leader, Naim Qassem, recently reinforced that position, declaring that Hezbollah will not surrender its weapons and warning that doing so would amount to “the end of Lebanon.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Thursday that he repeatedly considered conquering the Gaza Strip in the years leading up to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, only to be blocked time and again by Israel’s security establishment, which warned the move would trigger a long, costly war with little international backing and no viable alternative government to replace Hamas.

In newly released responses to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, Netanyahu lays out a sweeping account of internal cabinet and security debates stretching back nearly a decade. The documents paint a portrait of a prime minister who says he consistently pushed for aggressive action against Hamas, and a defense establishment that repeatedly urged restraint.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The material, curated by Netanyahu’s office, includes selected transcripts and quotes showing him advocating for the assassination of Hamas leaders and, at times, for a full military takeover of Gaza. Again and again, senior military and intelligence officials are shown warning that such moves would backfire.

One of the most striking excerpts comes from a July 2014 cabinet meeting during Operation Protective Edge. According to the protocols cited by Netanyahu, he argued that demilitarizing Gaza would require full military conquest.

At the meeting, then-economy minister Naftali Bennett rejected that approach, saying, “I never talked about ‘conquering Gaza.’” Netanyahu responded that conquest was the only viable option.

The exchange carries political weight today. Bennett is now Netanyahu’s leading rival ahead of national elections, and critics say the prime minister has a clear incentive to portray him as having opposed decisive action against Hamas.

Netanyahu’s submission also highlights opposition from figures who later became some of his harshest critics.

Former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz is quoted calling the idea of conquering Gaza “a strategic mistake.” Then-deputy chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot reportedly warned it would be “a severe mistake.”

Former defense minister Moshe Ya’alon and former foreign minister Avigdor Liberman are also cited as opposing a ground invasion.

“I am not recommending conquering or a ground invasion,” Liberman said at the time, according to the records.

A recurring theme in Netanyahu’s account is his long-running push to assassinate Hamas leaders — particularly Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif — and the resistance he faced from security officials.

In a 2016 discussion, Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman reportedly told Netanyahu that killing Sinwar and Deif would not cause Hamas to collapse.

During the same debate, Eisenkot dismissed concerns that Israeli intelligence might miss a major Hamas attack, arguing that the group’s main surprise capability lay in cross-border tunnels.

Netanyahu again pushed for assassinations after the 2021 Operation Guardian of the Walls. But then-IDF chief Aviv Kochavi strongly opposed the strategy, according to the documents.

Meetings in 2023, just months before the Oct. 7 attack, show Netanyahu once more raising the idea of killing Hamas leadership, and once more being rebuffed by the IDF and Shin Bet.

The records also include a 2022 Shin Bet document that favored easing economic pressure on Gaza rather than trying to dismantle Hamas, suggesting that parts of the security establishment viewed containment as preferable to confrontation.

Taken together, the material reinforces Netanyahu’s claim that Israel’s top defense officials consistently warned that eliminating Hamas or conquering Gaza would lead to chaos, international backlash, and prolonged occupation.

Netanyahu has faced intense criticism since Oct. 7 for failing to prevent the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. His critics argue that years of cautious policy and reliance on deterrence allowed Hamas to grow stronger.

By releasing these documents, Netanyahu appears to be building a defense: that he pushed for tougher measures, but was restrained by professional advice and political realities.

Supporters say the material shows he was more hawkish than his rivals. Opponents counter that the selective quotes are designed to deflect blame and rewrite history.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A newly released briefing from a well-known nonpartisan research and policy organization raises what it describes as significant ethical and national security issues involving Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, focusing on her relationships with individuals and groups connected to designated foreign terrorist organizations, Fox News reports.

According to the document, published by the advocacy and policy arm of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, the concerns stem from a broad review of Tlaib’s public conduct and political operations. “The conduct of Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, including her rhetoric, affiliations, campaign infrastructure, and ideological alignment with certain individuals and organizations, raises serious concerns about potential risks to the ethical and institutional integrity of the United States government,” the report states.

The briefing outlines what it characterizes as a consistent pattern in Tlaib’s activities, pointing to episodes that include participation in events where convicted terrorists were present, as well as substantial campaign expenditures directed to activists and networks it says are linked to Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

A significant portion of the document examines Tlaib’s campaign finances, asserting that her political operation directed hundreds of thousands of dollars to anti-Israel activists. The report claims that nearly $600,000 was paid between 2020 and 2025 to Unbought Power, a consulting firm led by Rasha Mubarak.

Mubarak, the briefing notes, has previously drawn scrutiny because of past associations with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, identified in the 2009 Holy Land Foundation case as an unindicted co-conspirator, and with the Alliance for Global Justice, an organization that has been investigated over alleged ties to Samidoun, a group linked to the PFLP.

The report also highlights Tlaib’s appearances at public events alongside controversial figures. It cites a conference where she shared a platform with Wisam Rafeedie, described in the briefing as a convicted PFLP operative, who defended the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack as “resistance.”

Summarizing its assessment, the document states: “Through public endorsement, co-sponsorship, and amplification, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has consistently engaged with a range of organizations known to maintain operational or ideological ties to terrorist networks.” It continues, “Tlaib has engaged with and disseminated the messaging of these groups and has shared related content on social media platforms, has participated in events organized by these groups, and has referenced their terminology and conceptual frameworks in official congressional communications.”

The briefing notes that allegations of sympathy toward hostile foreign actors are not new for the Michigan congresswoman, pointing out that the House of Representatives has already taken formal action against her on two occasions.

In November 2023, Tlaib was censured for promoting what were described as false narratives about the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. Another resolution followed in September 2025 after her participation in the “People’s Conference for Palestine,” an event where speakers were accused of having “whitewashed” convicted Hamas financiers.

ISGAP Action also revisits Tlaib’s past remarks, asserting that she has repeatedly used antisemitic language. The report references an August 2021 appearance in which Tlaib spoke of “people behind the curtain” profiting from “racism” from “Gaza to Detroit.”

Beyond documenting concerns, the briefing urges concrete steps by federal authorities. It calls for a formal congressional investigation into Tlaib’s actions, including a review of statements it says echo terrorist messaging, her presence at events honoring convicted terrorists, and a comprehensive examination of her campaign fundraising sources.

The document further recommends that the Justice Department’s National Security Division evaluate whether Tlaib or those associated with her have violated 18 U.S. Code §2339B, which bans providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations.

In addition, the report urges the Federal Election Commission to conduct a detailed forensic audit of Tlaib’s campaign finances, with particular attention to donations originating from individuals allegedly connected to terrorist networks.

Concluding its assessment, the briefing warns of broader implications. “Tlaib’s conduct demonstrates how extremist ideologies can infiltrate mainstream democratic institutions,” the report concludes. “If left unchecked, her actions will continue to legitimize hate.”

The document also references a separate ISGAP Action report issued last year that examined what it described as a long-term effort by the Muslim Brotherhood to “transform Western society from within” and to infiltrate American institutions.

That earlier report stated, “The election and re-election of congresswomen such as Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who have openly defended positions aligned with Brotherhood perspectives on Israel, counterterrorism, and international relations, demonstrates the intersection of identity politics and Brotherhood narratives.”

It added, “While neither congresswoman has a documented formal affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood, both have appeared at events organized by Brotherhood-aligned organizations, have received campaign support from Brotherhood-aligned donors, and have consistently advocated positions aligned with Brotherhood objectives.”

{Matzav.com}

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The U.S. ambassador to Poland announced on Thursday that the United States will have “no further dealings, contacts, or communications” with Włodzimierz Czarzasty, the speaker of the lower house of the Polish parliament, over what Rose called “outrageous and unprovoked insults directed against President Trump.”

Amb. Tom Rose did not specify what those alleged insults were, but Czarzasty had issued a public statement on Monday in which he said he would not support an initiative of his Israeli and American counterparts to nominate U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Czarzasty is one of the leaders of a left-wing party in the liberal government led by Donald Tusk.

Ever since Trump came to power, Poland has had to walk a fine line between defending its European allies while not upsetting its most powerful ally, the United States, on which peace in neighboring Ukraine depends. Warsaw has so far managed to do this by having Tusk handle European Union matters and letting President Karol Nawrocki, who came to power supported by the national-conservative opposition party Law and Justice, connect with Trump.

Nawrocki enjoys good relationships with Trump, who endorsed him during the electoral campaign for presidency last year, and invited him to the White House soon after the Pole took office. As the two presidents sat side by side in September in the White House, Trump declared he does not intend to pull U.S. troops out of Poland, a sign of support for the new president and his aims. “We’ll put more there if they want,” Trump even said.

Yet this week’s dispute highlights the difficulty of Poland’s position in the current international context.

Czarzasty did not mince his words on Monday when he said Trump “does not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.” He said Trump “represents power politics and, by the use of force, pursues transactional politics.” This often means “breaking international law,” the Polish politician added.

He criticized Trump for not recognizing enough the role Polish soldiers played in U.S. military missions and for “the instrumental treatment of other territories,” such as Greenland.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was quick to respond to Rose’s announcement.

“Mr. Ambassador Rose, allies should respect, not lecture, each other,” Tusk wrote on X Thursday afternoon.

Rose, however, was undeterred. He replied to Tusk that, despite the Polish prime minister himself being “a model ally and great friend of the United States,” Czarzasty’s comments “were so potentially damaging to your government.”

Insulting Trump, “the greatest friend Poland has ever had in the White House,” was “the last thing” a Polish leader should do, Rose warned.

Earlier this week, Nawrocki called a meeting of a national security body to discuss, among others, whether Poland should join Trump’s Board of Peace as well as to clarify alleged “eastern business and social contacts” of Czarzasty. The parliament speaker denies any nefarious relationships in Russia or Belarus.

Law and Justice, the main opposition party in Poland who supported Nawrocki’s presidential bid, is hoping to regain power in parliamentary elections next year. Weakening Tusk’s coalition partners is part of its strategy.

Czarzasty himself said on Thursday night that, despite respecting the U.S. as a key ally for Poland, he would not change his position.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

President Donald Trump on Thursday is set to launch TrumpRx.gov, a government website aimed at helping Americans purchase medications at discounted prices, capping his nearly year-long pressure campaign to extract pricing concessions from pharmaceutical companies.

The scheduled 7 p.m. event, announced by the White House, has been one of Trump’s top political priorities ahead of this year’s midterm elections. The president and his aides have used tariff threats, promised expedited federal drug reviews and other leverage in negotiations with drug-company executives, while also pressing foreign leaders to raise their own countries’ drug prices to help absorb global research and development costs.

As part of the initiative, pharmaceutical companies have agreed to list their drugs on TrumpRx.gov, which officials say will connect shoppers to discounts offered by the companies and help them purchase medications without using insurance. The White House has described the site as a central feature of the administration’s drug-pricing push, and the president is slated to demonstrate the site’s functionality with aides Thursday evening in an event at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Trump has portrayed the effort – which he has branded as “Most Favored Nation” – as one of his signature policy accomplishments, often appearing alongside pharmaceutical executives to showcase price concessions his administration secured. Trump has also called on Congress to codify the program, including it as a key plank in his “Great Healthcare Plan” proposal released in January.

“This is the biggest thing ever to happen on drug prices … it’s going to reduce the cost of health care because health care is probably 50 percent drugs, right?” Trump said at a political rally in North Carolina in December. “This achievement alone should win us the midterms.”

Spending on prescription drugs, which has accounted for about 9 percent of U.S. health care spending in recent years, has continued to rise despite pledges from Democratic and Republican presidents to bring it down. Trump has said that his first-term announcement that drug prices briefly inched down ranks among his proudest moments as president.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about Thursday’s planned event. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X that Trump would be joined by Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid Services, and Joe Gebbia, director of the National Design Studio, a new administration initiative to improve government websites.

The launch of TrumpRx.gov comes more than 12 years after the debut of Healthcare.gov, a signature initiative of President Barack Obama and Democrats designed to help Americans shop for health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act. That website’s launch was memorably rocky – only six people successfully signed up for health plans on the website’s first day, according to internal Obama administration notes obtained by congressional Republicans – a failure that became a political liability for the Obama administration.

Trump has sought to avoid a similar fate with his site, which is a much smaller undertaking, and to ensure the initiative delivers visible political payoff. The president and drug company leaders have previewed the site by focusing on savings for popular drugs such as Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, which often carries a list price of $1,000 per month and is commonly used for weight-loss. Ozempic’s list price would drop to $350 when purchased through the new website, officials have said.

“TrumpRx doesn’t sell medications,” according to a description on the website. “Instead, it connects patients directly with the best prices, increasing transparency and cutting out costly third-party markups.”

Some Democrats and health policy experts have acknowledged that Trump’s new initiative could lower drug prices for some Americans and expand access to medications. But many have said that the public pledges remain too vague to gauge the program’s full impact, and some experts have warned that the program is likely to be constrained by the courts. They also have noted that TrumpRx’s focus on cutting “list prices” for drugs may obscure that many Americans already can obtain discounts and rebates that lower the cost of their medication. Novo Nordisk, for example, already offers Ozempic available at significant discounts through its own website.

The website “could have some impact, but it is far from revolutionary,” Craig Garthwaite, director of health care at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, wrote in an email. He added that the program sidesteps bigger challenges in America’s health system. “For most brand name medications, patients simply can’t afford to pay cash out of pocket. That is what insurance is for!”

Others, including former federal officials, have questioned the legality of the expedited Food and Drug Administration reviews that have been promised to some participating drug companies, warning that rushing those reviews could be illegal and dangerous.

Congressional Democrats also have demanded answers from pharmaceutical companies on the terms of their participation, their future pricing predictions and their work to help set up TrumpRx.gov.

“The Administration has yet to provide any public information that the announcements will result in any real savings for consumers,” Sen. Ron Wyden (Oregon) and three other top Democrats on congressional committees that oversee parts of the U.S. health system said in a joint statement in December. “In fact, economists have questioned whether consumers will see any meaningful benefits. The public deserves answers on this and a better understanding of what this means for their everyday costs.”

Two-thirds of Americans say that they worry about paying for health care, including the cost of health insurance and prescription drugs, according to a KFF poll released last Thursday. Health care costs also represented Americans’ top financial worry, surpassing utilities, food, and rent or mortgage.

Most Americans (55 percent) also said that their health care costs had increased in the past year, KFF found. A similar percentage (56 percent) say that they expect health care to become less affordable in the future.

While Democrats generally have the edge on health care issues, holding a 16-percentage-point edge on which party that Americans trust to address the Affordable Care Act (42-26), the advantage is narrower on drug costs – an issue that Trump has relentlessly campaigned on – with Democrats holding a five-point edge on Republicans (35-30).

White House officials said in December that the National Design Studio had taken the lead on setting up TrumpRx.gov.

“The site has come together at record time. There’s been extensive testing by many people, and there will continue to be so that [when] we launch the site. It’s ready to go and ready for prime time,” a senior administration official told reporters on a press call, speaking on condition of anonymity to preview a forthcoming announcement.

Mark Cuban, a founder of Cost Plus Drugs, a website that offers similar services to TrumpRx.gov, said he welcomed the new site.

“I don’t think it solves the ultimate problem of how the system is designed, but I think it’s something that we obviously agree on,” Cuban, a frequent Trump critic, said at a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing in October.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

{Matzav.com}

Israeli authorities have arrested two young men from Jerusalem on suspicion of spying for Iran in exchange for money, amid mounting concern in Jerusalem over Tehran’s alleged efforts to recruit operatives inside Israel.

Police and the Shin Bet said the two suspects — both Israeli citizens in their 20s — were taken into custody last month and are expected to be formally indicted in the coming days. A prosecutor’s declaration was filed Thursday at the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, paving the way for criminal charges.

Despite both men residing in Jerusalem, the investigation was led by West Bank District police detectives in coordination with the Shin Bet, reflecting what officials described as the sensitive national security dimensions of the case.

Authorities allege that the suspects maintained contact with Iranian handlers and agreed to carry out espionage-related activities in return for financial compensation. Police declined to detail the nature of the alleged assignments, citing an active gag order imposed because of the “severity of the incident” and concerns that further disclosure could harm state security.

The court-ordered restrictions limit public discussion of the evidence and operational details, a measure typically reserved for cases involving intelligence activity or foreign interference.

Israeli officials say Iran has been expanding its efforts to cultivate assets inside Israel, including through social media, financial inducements and indirect intermediaries.

If convicted, the suspects could face lengthy prison sentences under Israel’s espionage and security laws.

Earlier Thursday, YWN reported that Elimelech Stern, a 22-year-old Chassidish resident of Beit Shemesh, was sentenced Thursday morning by the Jerusalem District Court to three years in prison after he was convicted two months ago of maintaining contact with a foreign agent and carrying out missions for them in exchange for cryptocurrency payments.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

(AP) – New federal data shows about two-thirds of the nation’s 3- to 5-year-olds are on track to enter kindergarten. But being ready for school involves a lot more than a child’s ability to count or recite their ABCs.

The effort to get a snapshot of kindergarten readiness is part of the National Survey of Children’s Health, and that metric has been reported each year since 2022. Thousands of parents and guardians submitted answers about their child in five categories — early learning, motor skills, social-emotional development, self-regulation and health — with the goal of answering the big question: Is your child ready for school?

While there’s growing interest in assessing school readiness, education experts differ on what to measure and how. And some dispute whether children should be ready for school or if schools should be ready for their students.

Despite the complexities, it’s indisputable that what a young child learns before they enter classrooms can set the course for the rest of their academic career.

What is kindergarten readiness?
Kindergarten readiness encompasses the foundational skills necessary to engage in a more formal learning environment, said Ohio State University educational psychology professor Laura Justice. In some ways, it’s very similar to the expectations for a college graduate to be successful in their first job, she said.

There isn’t a universal definition of kindergarten readiness, but many experts and educators rely on guidance from the bipartisan National Education Goals Panel’s five developmental domains critical to a child’s success upon entering grade school. The criteria emphasize a child’s health and motor skills, social-emotional development, cognition, language development and general attitude toward learning — a very similar framework as the federal survey.

But school readiness is a relatively new concept, as the panel’s guidelines came in the 1990s. Historically, there weren’t many expectations for children entering kindergarten, although some students — typically from wealthier families — would come in with more advanced skills than others, said Robert Crosnoe, a sociology professor at the University of Texas at Austin. That meant providing enriching learning opportunities before children set foot in a kindergarten classroom – so they could learn not only their ABCs, but also skills such as carrying on a conversation and problem-solving during playtime.

“If we just focus on those strictly academic things, it’s only going to get us so far,” Crosnoe said.

Is your child ready for kindergarten? The answer is complex
There are a few ways to measure readiness, but each method has its drawbacks, said Jill Cannon, a senior policy researcher at global policy think tank RAND.

Parents can answer questions about their child — such as in the NSCH survey — but can be biased or misinterpret questions, especially if English isn’t their first language. Teachers can assess children instead, but interpretations of a child’s behavior can depend on which teacher is doing the assessment.

Alternatively, a young child can be directly assessed on certain skills. But that approach can be “hit or miss,” according to Cannon, because a child that young may perform differently on any given day.

When to measure readiness can also be a factor.

A child’s age when they enter kindergarten — typically at age 5 — can also factor into readiness, as children who are several months older are often in the same class as students who just turned 5, Cannon said.

“Six months now to me means nothing, but back then … I had a lot of learning to do. I grew a lot,” Cannon said. “These kids, they grow a lot over the kindergarten year.”

If your child is scheduled for a kindergarten readiness assessment, don’t worry. Most experts agree that readiness tests are, overall, a crucial tool for educators – but only to identify what supports kids will need.

“We have an arsenal of interventions that can improve these skills in kids,” Justice said. “So the screening instrument can help us identify where the need is so that we can respond.”

How to boost kindergarten readiness
Research suggests that attending a high-quality preschool program is one of the best ways to boost kindergarten readiness.

However, preschool curricula vary vastly across the U.S., with some prioritizing certain development areas, such as literacy, over others. And the quality of preschool can vary drastically depending on where someone lives, making that goal a lot easier said than done.

But some measures of quality are universal. Many early childhood education experts rely on the National Institute for Early Education Research’s 10 quality benchmarks to make broad assessments in all states that offer public preschool programs.

Parents can use the standards as a guide for choosing a preschool that’s most likely to help prepare their child for the next step. The standards include requiring pre-K teachers to hold bachelor’s degrees, keeping class sizes at 20 children or fewer, implementing professional development for staff and offering health screenings and referrals. In 2024, 13 states met five or fewer of NIEER’s standards, while just five states met all 10 benchmarks.

At home, parents can take many steps to prepare their child for kindergarten, too.

You can read to your child every day to boost their early literacy skills. Giving your child small responsibilities around the house develops their independence and gets them acclimated to tasks that may be expected of them in kindergarten. And coaching your child to name their emotions can strengthen those social-emotional and self-regulation skills that are integral to building positive relationships with classmates and teachers.

BATH BEACH, Brooklyn (AP) — A girl was killed Thursday after being struck by a school bus in a hit-and-run in Bath Beach, police said.

The girl was attempting to cross the street at 23rd Avenue and Bath Avenue just after 3 p.m. when she was hit. She was transported to Maimonides Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, authorities said.

The bus driver did not remain at the scene but was later located in another part of Brooklyn, police said. Authorities are continuing their investigation and said the driver may not have realized the girl had been struck.

The NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is handling the case.

A longtime Lakewood firefighter and former fire chief has died, marking the loss of a respected public servant with decades of service to the township.

Matthews, a Lakewood native, died peacefully on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Lancaster General Hospital in Pennsylvania.

He devoted decades of his life to the Lakewood Fire Department, joining Rescue Fire Company #2 in 1974. Known for his dedication, leadership, and commitment to public safety, Matthews steadily rose through the ranks. In 2000, he was appointed Chief of the Lakewood Fire Department, a role he held until 2002. During his tenure, he earned the respect of fellow firefighters and community members for his steady leadership and strong sense of responsibility to the town he grew up in and served.

Born in Lakewood, Matthews was the son of the late Joyce (Kennett) Matthews and Leon B. Matthews.

Outside of his fire service, Matthews was a skilled mechanic with a lifelong passion for cars. He regularly attended car shows in Carlisle and Hershey, enjoyed browsing automotive flea markets, and was known for enthusiastically discussing cars with fellow collectors. He also enjoyed traveling and exploring new places, often with his wife.

Matthews was a devoted Philadelphia sports fan, faithfully supporting both the Phillies and the Eagles.

He is survived by his wife of more than 53 years, Lenore “Lori” Matthews; his daughter, Joyce, wife of Jeremy Cassel; his sister, Diann Testagrossa and her husband Vito of Florida; his brother-in-law, George Reynolds; his sister-in-law, Barbara Burns and her husband Art; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was also known as a devoted dog owner to Winnie and Mack and was affectionately referred to as a “grandpup” grandfather to Eevee and Clifford. He was predeceased by his beloved dog, Zia.

Those who knew Matthews said he will be remembered for his years of service to Lakewood, his mechanical skill, his love of cars and sports, and, above all, his deep devotion to his family.