Jooish News

BUENOS AIRES (VINnews) – Argentines are scooping up Apple computers, Lego sets and Stanley thermoses from overseas as President Javier Milei’s libertarian reforms dismantle long-standing tariffs and import controls, according to a Financial Times report citing official data.

Consumer goods imports surged 55% in 2025 from the previous year, reaching a record $11.4 billion, the data show. Cross-border online shopping grew even faster, with purchases through international e-commerce platforms nearly tripling to a record $955 million as Amazon, Shein and Temu established a foothold in the country for the first time.

The boom follows Milei’s rollback of protectionist policies that had made foreign products scarce and expensive. Among top sellers on regional e-commerce site Tiendamia last year were a Harry Potter Lego flying car set, Apple’s 2024 Mac Mini and a 940-milliliter Stanley flask.

“Argentina sales increased 55% year on year in 2025,” Tiendamia country manager Santiago García Milán said.

Regulatory changes accelerated the trend. In November 2024, Milei raised the value cap for courier shipments from $1,000 to $3,000 and permitted individuals to import up to $400 in goods tariff-free annually.

The result has been a sharp rise in direct-to-consumer overseas orders, still a niche but rapidly growing segment after gains during the pandemic and the 2022-2023 inflation crisis.

“There used to be a big risk that your overseas order would get stuck in customs and never arrive,” said Natacha Izquierdo, a director at Abeceb consultancy. “Now everything flows, so you are seeing a big jump — albeit from a very small baseline.”

Izquierdo noted that Argentina’s overall import levels remain well below those of regional peers.

Global retailers moved quickly to capitalize. Amazon began offering free U.S. delivery to Argentina in late 2024 and later added the country to its low-cost Amazon Bazaar app. Shein and Temu recorded their first major sales in Argentina in 2025, as consumer goods imports from China doubled to $1.9 billion.

Social media has filled with influencers showcasing their purchases, and a Shein resale shop opened in Buenos Aires last year.

Price differences drive much of the demand. On Tiendamia, Stanley flasks — highly popular in Argentine culture — sell for about 45% less than at the brand’s official local store. International platforms also provide wider selection than domestic retailers burdened by high costs and taxes.

The shift has drawn backlash. Argentina’s textile industry, long protected by high tariffs, is pressing Congress to address what it calls unfair competition from Chinese e-commerce firms. The sector has lost 16,000 jobs — about 13% of its workforce — since Milei took office, according to the Federation of Argentine Textile Industries.

Tensions have also risen with Mercado Libre, the country’s leading e-commerce platform. Last August, the company filed a complaint with the economy ministry accusing Temu of misleading advertising and unfair practices. Temu denies the allegations, and Argentina’s Supreme Court is expected to hear the case.

The state of New Jersey has begun distributing the first round of payments under Stay NJ, a new property tax relief program for eligible seniors and disabled residents, state officials announced today.

The Treasury Department’s Division of Taxation has started mailing paper checks to about 430,000 taxpayers who qualified for the program and applied through the PAS-1 combined application used for Stay NJ, ANCHOR, and Senior Freeze benefits.

Stay NJ benefits are being issued in equal quarterly installments rather than a single payment. The average first installment is about $637. The next payment is scheduled to be mailed in mid-May.

State officials said benefit amounts are calculated using a formula that considers a taxpayer’s property tax bill as well as eligibility for other state property tax relief programs, including ANCHOR and Senior Freeze.

Applicants received letters in fall 2025 outlining the benefits they qualified for under the three programs. Senior Freeze payments were distributed in summer 2025, followed by ANCHOR payments in the fall.

The current Stay NJ payments cover the 2024 tax season. Meanwhile, the application period for the next round of benefits – covering tax year 2025 – is already underway. Eligible residents can apply using the PAS-1 combined application online through the state’s property tax relief system. The deadline to apply is Nov. 2, 2026.

State officials noted that funding for New Jersey’s property tax relief programs remains subject to annual state budget appropriations.

Cuban-American lawmakers are calling on the Trump administration to sharply intensify its campaign against Cuba’s Communist leadership, contending that the government in Havana is more vulnerable than at any point in decades and that sustained pressure could finally bring about change.

“It’s a failed nation, and they’re not getting any money from Venezuela, and they’re not getting any money from anyone,” President Trump said during remarks to reporters on Feb. 2, as reports circulated that he is considering a push for regime change in Cuba before the end of the year. His comments came shortly after he warned of tariffs on countries that sell or supply oil to the island.

Signs of strain inside Cuba have become increasingly visible. President Miguel Díaz-Canel conceded Thursday, during an unusual press conference, that the government can no longer ensure consistent electricity or even maintain “basic activities” because of severe fuel shortages.

Although Díaz-Canel signaled a willingness to engage in talks with the Trump administration, he stressed that Cuban sovereignty would not be negotiable and said the government was drawing up a “defense plan” in response to pressure from Washington.

“We aren’t in a state of war,” Díaz-Canel said, “but we are preparing ourselves in case we have to move to a state of war.”

At the same time, Trump has suggested that behind-the-scenes discussions with senior Cuban figures are already underway. He said last week that “I think we’re pretty close” to reaching an agreement.

Alejandro Castro Espin, the son of Raúl Castro, is reportedly among the senior officials involved in those contacts, which could offer the ruling elite a way to preserve its grip on power.

Still, Trump has insisted that any agreement he pursues must lead to fundamental change, saying the goal is for Cuba to “be free again” after 67 years under authoritarian rule.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), who fled Cuba as a child following Fidel Castro’s 1959 takeover, told The Post that he believes the end of the regime is approaching.

“I’ve been here 65 years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the regime as weak as it is right now,” he said.

“I think what the administration should be doing is what they’re doing — putting pressure on supposed friends of ours that are helping to maintain the regime.”

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), whose family also escaped Cuba after the Communist revolution, echoed that view and urged even tougher measures.

“What needs to happen is to increase the pressure, and what I mean by that is pressure in every way: economic, diplomatic, in every way possible,” he said.

“It’s the only thing that’s ever worked in the history of our planet when you have a dictatorship like this that doesn’t want to give up power,” Diaz-Balart added. “Zero tolerance and total pressure.”

Mexico has long expressed “solidarity” with Cuba and has historically supplied the island with limited quantities of crude oil.

Those shipments have dropped sharply since the Jan. 3 arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, falling to roughly 3,000 barrels per day this year from about 20,000 barrels per day in 2025, according to the Wall Street Journal. Trump has made clear he wants that number reduced to nothing.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has described the oil transfers as “humanitarian,” but on Feb. 1 she reluctantly indicated that Mexico would stop sending oil to Cuba.

According to trade intelligence firm Kpler, the island now has only 15 to 20 days’ worth of oil remaining.

“The word ‘choke off’ is awfully tough,” Trump said when asked about his approach. “I’m not trying to, but it looks like it’s something that’s just not going to be able to survive.”

Sebastián A. Arcos, interim director of Florida International University’s Cuban Research Institute, said expectations have shifted dramatically.

“there is no longer an expectation that the regime will survive in the medium term.”

“Before [Maduro’s arrest] Jan. 3, it was understood that the regime was in a terminal crisis with a long horizon … that assumption evaporated after what Trump did in Venezuela,” Arcos said. “Without Venezuela and oil, the Cuban economy will go from limping along to collapsing.”

“There is no one who can come to save them from their own economic incompetence. The economy will shut down once they run out of oil.”

For years, Cuba relied on subsidized Venezuelan oil under an arrangement forged in the 2000s by Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez.

Under that pact, Cuba sent doctors along with military and security personnel to Venezuela in exchange for discounted petroleum.

Instead of using the fuel domestically, however, about 60% of the 70,000 barrels per day Venezuela supplied last year was resold to Asia, according to a US official.

With rolling blackouts spreading across the island, that decision to sell oil was described by a State Department official as “further proof that the illegitimate Cuban regime only prioritizes enriching itself all while the Cuban people suffer the consequences of their corrupt nature and incompetence.”

Politico reported in late January that the White House is weighing a full naval blockade to stop any future oil deliveries to Cuba.

“Look, this regime has destroyed the island,” Gimenez said. “There’s no power, there’s no food, there’s no medicine — it’s at its end, it’s time for them to go.

“Any and all pressure that can be exerted to make this cancer go away is what the United States needs to do.”

Neither Gimenez nor Diaz-Balart believes US troops will be needed to bring down the government.

“Because it is so weak, I think you exert as much pressure as possible and let the regime collapse under its own weight,” Gimenez said.

“If pressure is increased, I think its days are numbered,” Diaz-Balart said. “The president — and this president particularly — always keeps all options on the table, but I just don’t think [US military intervention] necessary.”

Arcos said military action could become likely if mass protests erupt and the government responds with violent repression.

“If anti-government demonstrators take to the streets and the regime decides that they will do what the Iranians did, and they start massacring innocent Cubans,” he said, “the pressure on the US government to do something [in that scenario] will be immense.”

He added that he has no doubt “there will be blood in the streets” if Cubans rise up against the state.

Raúl Castro handed the presidency to Díaz-Canel in 2021, but analysts say he and his family continue to hold real power and would almost certainly be central to any talks with Washington.

“Everyone in Havana — even Cuban government officials — acknowledge Raúl Castro is really in charge, but he’s 94 years old, and his top aides are in their 90s as well,” said Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

“Miguel Díaz-Canel is just a figurehead, and figureheads whose patrons die soon find themselves in exile or hanging from the gallows,” Rubin added.

Rubin warned that a prolonged power vacuum could invite outside interference from adversaries.

“Russians, Chinese, or even their Nicaraguans proxies” could step in, he cautioned.

He argued that Secretary of State Marco Rubio should begin laying the groundwork for a constitutional process.

“What [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio should be doing now is setting up the parameters of a constitutional convention so Cubans have some degree of insight into their future,” Rubin said.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that the administration has already been meeting with Cuban exile groups while assessing which figures inside the regime might assist in a transition toward a pro-American government.

“The department regularly meets with civil society types. As is typical in routine meetings such as these, no commitments were made,” a senior State Department official said.

Unlike Venezuela, Cuba has no legal opposition party or recognized opposition leader, a reality that could complicate any democratic transition.

“There are more political prisoners in Cuba than in Venezuela, and Venezuela is four times bigger,” Arcos said. “So there is an active political opposition in Cuba, but it is completely repressed by the government.

“The opposition exists, but it cannot grow into what the Venezuelan opposition did, because this is a police state … It’s a different kind of animal.”

Rubin, who previously served at the Pentagon, said he believes the administration, including the CIA, is actively exploring potential partners within Cuba.

“When a country’s economy collapses and its ideology is discredited, people will do anything for money,” he said. “I’m sure the CIA’s biggest problem is actually handling all the potential sources rather than finding one.”

If the regime were to collapse, analysts say Washington might seek to work with Cuba’s powerful military to enforce change.

Arcos estimates the armed forces control roughly $20 billion through their dominance of the island’s most lucrative industries, including tourism, fuel distribution, money transfers, and currency exchange.

The Trump administration could attempt to build a relationship with Cuba’s military akin to its ties with Venezuela’s former Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, though Arcos warned that the generals would resist reforms that undermine their dominance.

“They will try to dupe the United States government,” he said. “They will probably enter in some sort of negotiation to gain time … to see if Trump goes away and someone else comes that is different.

“They’re masters at doing this. They did it with Clinton, they did it with Obama, and they will do it to Trump.”

“And in the meantime, you know, we have to send Cuba humanitarian assistance — because the poor Cubans are starving and dying of diseases that didn’t exist 50 years ago — and they remain in power,” he continued.

“So it could be a trick, and they will try to negotiate that way … to fool the United States into a very long-term negotiation where they don’t give much and they get enough to survive.

“If the pressure is not applied,” Arcos said, “then we might have another extended period of uncertainty.”

Both Gimenez and Diaz-Balart acknowledged that even if change comes, Cuba’s path to democracy will be difficult and protracted, but they said it is a goal worth pursuing.

“It will not be easy,” Gimenez said. “Will it be long? Yeah, I could see it taking some time, but it’s something that we must, must attain, something that we have to reach.

“It took like, what, seven years for America to gain its independence from Great Britain? So things like that don’t happen overnight. But, you know, I’m sure glad we stuck it out, because that’s how we created the greatest country on Earth, and we can create an unbelievably great country in Cuba.”

{Matzav.com}

February 25, 2026- BOE Meeting Public Announcement- In Person

Israeli Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich said Israel has no choice but to confront the Iranian regime, which he described as a direct danger to the country’s survival, in an interview with Arutz Sheva.

“Our position is clear,” Smotrich said. “The Iranian regime is a regime of terror. It openly declares its desire to destroy the State of Israel and backs those words with actions, producing conventional and non-conventional weapons and constructing a ring of fire around us. This is not something we can live with. Either it destroys us, or we destroy it.”

Turning to Israel’s ties with Washington, Smotrich said that while disagreements may exist about the best approach to Iran, cooperation remains unusually close. “I believe the relationship between the current U.S. administration, the State of Israel, and the current prime minister is closer than I have ever seen,” he said. “I hope we will also reach an understanding regarding Iran.”

Smotrich again rejected the idea of negotiating with Tehran, warning against any diplomatic compromise. “We believe there should be no agreement at all, and certainly not a bad one,” he said. “If there is an agreement, it must include a demand that Iran halt the production of ballistic missiles that threaten Israel and stop financing terrorism and its proxy forces throughout the region.”

Asked whether Israel is prepared to take military action against Iran, the finance minister refused to go into specifics. “Do not expect me to discuss this in the media,” he said. “All options are always on the table.”

The interview also touched on friction with charedi parties over the national budget, with Smotrich cautioning against politicizing fiscal decisions. “Using the budget as a weapon is irresponsible,” he said.

He stressed that he intends to continue pursuing his economic program, including lowering taxes, dismantling monopolies, boosting competition in banking, and reducing borrowing costs. “I expect the charedi parties to act responsibly toward the State of Israel,” Smotrich said.

In closing, Smotrich addressed the disparity between his party’s influence in government and its showing in opinion polls. Despite playing a central role in wartime decision-making, economic policy, and settlement development, the Religious Zionist Party has struggled to convert that impact into electoral strength, with recent surveys suggesting it may fall short of entering the next Knesset. Citing the late minister Uri Orbach, Smotrich said, “We succeeded too much.”

He argued that the national-religious community is raised to integrate fully into Israeli society, which can make some voters uneasy about supporting a party seen as serving a single sector. Rejecting that label, he said his aim is to present the principles of “the people of Israel, the Land of Israel, and the Torah of Israel” as the foundation of the country’s mainstream identity.

When New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his appointment to lead the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, he had one job: choose someone who could unite a frightened community and demonstrate serious commitment to addressing the alarming surge in anti-Jewish hate crimes. Instead, he chose Phylisa Wisdom—a pick so tone-deaf, so riddled with red flags, that it reads like a tragic joke.

Mamdani’s first month in office saw antisemitic hate crimes spike by a staggering 182%. Jewish New Yorkers are being targeted at record levels, synagogues need bollards, and families are afraid. And who did Mamdani tap to address this emergency? Someone who has spent more energy joking about Judaism and criticizing Israel than confronting the actual antisemitism plaguing New York.

Start with a post from 2009. Wisdom casually announced she’d “totally missed” Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, adding: “Oh well, I’ll repent next year??? (What kind of Jew flakes on YOM KIPPUR).”

Setting aside personal observance, the cavalier, joking tone is revealing. Even non-observant Jews tend to treat Yom Kippur with a certain gravity. Treating it like a forgotten dentist appointment and laughing about it publicly doesn’t exactly signal deep connection to Jewish communal life or concerns.

Would this matter for most positions? Probably not. But for the face of New York City’s efforts to combat antisemitism? It’s a problem.

In May 2021, as Hamas launched an 11-day assault that would kill at least 13 Israeli civilians—firing hundreds of rockets deliberately at civilian population centers—then-mayoral candidate Andrew Yang condemned the attacks. His statement was unremarkable, the kind of thing most elected officials say reflexively when terrorists target civilians: “The people of NYC will always stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel who face down terrorism and persevere.”

Wisdom’s response? She was “floored” by it. Not by the rocket fire. Not by the civilian casualties. By the condemnation of the rocket fire.

“As an American Jew and a New Yorker, I am floored by this tweet,” she wrote, before pivoting immediately to what apparently concerned her more: “NYC deserves a mayor who will stand up for Palestinians in the face of state-sanctioned violence.”

Read that again. Hundreds of rockets. Civilian deaths. And what floors her is someone standing with Israel.

Wisdom’s professional background doesn’t inspire confidence either. As former executive director of New York Jewish Agenda, she led an organization that has consistently criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza—an organization bankrolled, notably, by George Soros’ Open Society Foundations. She describes herself as a “liberal Zionist” supporting a two-state solution, which is a perfectly legitimate political position. But there’s a pattern here: when the moment calls for standing clearly against violence targeting Jews, her instinct seems to be deflection and equivocation.

Mamdani himself is a vocal Israel critic, which makes this choice feel less like a good-faith effort to heal a wounded community and more like ideological box-checking.

“Who in their right mind takes a job to supposedly fight antisemitism for a mayor who markets in antisemitism?” State Assemblyman Kalman Yeger noted to the New York Post—a blunt assessment, but not an unfair question.

The mayor’s office released the standard boilerplate, calling Wisdom a “principled and effective leader.” But principled leadership in combating antisemitism requires more than progressive credentials. It requires someone who, when terrorists fire rockets at civilians, doesn’t get “floored” by people condemning it. It requires someone whose first instinct is to stand unequivocally against violence targeting Jews—not to immediately pivot to joking about Judaism and criticizing the world’s only Jewish state.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

PARIS (VINnews)- For the first time since the recent wave of protests erupted in Iran, former Empress Farah Pahlavi gave a public interview, voicing strong support for demonstrators and asserting that the Islamic Republic is displaying clear signs of instability and decline.

In an exclusive conversation with i24NEWS journalist Christian Mallard conducted in French, Pahlavi reflected on the 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the Pahlavi monarchy, life in pre-revolutionary Iran, and the country’s current political and social turmoil.

Crowned Shahbanu at age 29, she became the first woman in modern Persian history to hold the title of empress. During the 1960s and 1970s, she emerged as a prominent figure representing secularism, modernization, and cultural openness. The 1979 revolution forced the royal family into permanent exile.

Addressing the latest protests, which broke out in recent weeks and were met with violent crackdowns, Pahlavi expressed deep solidarity with those challenging the authorities. She condemned more than four decades of repression under the Islamic Republic.

“For more than half a century, the Iranian people have lived under a regime that has silenced their voices and stripped them of their freedoms and dignity,” she said. “Today, the signs of weakness and instability are evident. The regime survives through fear, but history shows that such systems do not endure.”

Pahlavi recounted a striking personal anecdote: a recent Zoom call with the niece of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who reportedly told her, “We miss you,” before being arrested soon afterward. She presented the episode as evidence of the regime’s intolerance for even the slightest dissent, including within its own ranks.

She emphasized that her son, Reza Pahlavi, harbors no ambition for power, only a desire to serve. “The priority is to restore sovereignty to the Iranian people and guarantee fundamental freedoms,” she said. “The future of Iran must be decided by its citizens themselves.”

Pahlavi expressed unwavering confidence in the Iranian people and their capacity to bring about a free and democratic future.

The remarks come amid heightened international scrutiny of Iran, where ongoing demonstrations have spotlighted allegations of widespread human rights violations and brutal suppression by security forces.

Yesterday, TLS reported about a shooting on River Avenue in Lakewood, though at the time, there were no reports of anyone or anything struck.

Today, police were called after employees at Gourmet Glatt South noticed a bullet hole in their delivery van.

Anyone with additional information surrounding the shooting is asked to call the Lakewood Police Department.

The IDF issued an apology Monday night following an incident in which a yungerman who was taken into custody was prevented from putting on tefillin for many hours, even after his family brought them to him.

According to the IDF spokesperson, the incident began after the young man was arrested by Israeli police on Motzoei Shabbos and subsequently handed over to the military police. He remained in custody overnight and into the late morning hours. When he arrived at a military detention facility in the afternoon, he requested to put on tefillin and was informed that he would be able to do so upon reaching the detention platoon. However, due to delays in the intake process, he was ultimately unable to fulfill the mitzvah.

“The detainee was arrested on Motzei Shabbos by the Israeli police and transferred to the military police’s custody. The detainee remained in detention overnight until late morning. During his detention, when he arrived at the military prison in the afternoon, he asked the reception team to wear tefillin, and he was told he would be given the opportunity when he arrived at the detention platoon. However, due to an unexpected delay in his processing, and according to the report given afterwards, the detainee was ultimately unable to wear tefillin,” the IDF spokesperson stated.

The army emphasized that the incident was highly unusual and does not reflect standard procedure. “This is an extremely rare case, which is not in line with the IDF’s regulations. The IDF regrets the distress caused, and the procedures at the prison have been clarified for immediate implementation. The matter will be thoroughly investigated by the commanders to prevent similar incidents in the future. The detainee is currently in a facility where all the necessary equipment is provided according to his way of life,” the statement added.

The detainee was identified as Avraham Ben Dayan, 23, a talmid of Maor HaTalmud Yeshiva who was married just two months ago. He was stopped at a police checkpoint in southern Israel, where it was discovered that he was listed as a draft dodger. He was then transferred to the custody of the military police.

Family members who were summoned to the scene said they hurried to bring his tefillin, but were repeatedly denied permission to allow him to put them on. According to them, he was only permitted to wear tefillin at approximately 5 p.m. “This is a severe religious violation and the prevention of a basic mitzvah,” the family claims.

They further allege that authorities deliberately misled them throughout the night. According to the family, Ben Dayan was moved between several facilities — from Netivot to Ofakim and then to Sde Teyman — while they were given inaccurate information at each stage regarding his whereabouts. As a result, they say, they were unable to see him or provide him with basic personal necessities.

Ultimately, Ben Dayan was sentenced to ten days in a military prison.

MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, sharply condemned the conduct of the authorities. “This man was arrested for no reason, and according to his family, they didn’t allow him to wear tefillin. This is a military called the Jewish army, and they don’t let a yeshiva student wear tefillin.”

Gafni added that he intends to pursue the matter at the highest levels. “This will not go quietly. I will contact the Minister of Defense and not let this matter slide – this hatred towards everything Jewish.”

Ben Dayan’s attorney, Shlomo Hadad, has filed an appeal against the ruling in an effort to secure his immediate release.

{Matzav.com}

WASHINGTON — A Ford Motor Co. employee who heckled President Donald Trump during a January visit to the automaker’s Dearborn Truck Plant remains employed and has “no discipline on his record,” a United Auto Workers official said Monday.

TJ Sabula, a 40-year-old line worker and member of UAW Local 600, shouted “pedophile protector” at Trump as the president toured the plant on Jan. 13 alongside Ford Chairman Bill Ford Jr. and CEO Jim Farley.

Video of the exchange shows Trump responding by with an obscene gesture and mouthed, “You’re fired.”

“Well, this ain’t ‘The Apprentice,’” UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson said during remarks at the union’s national political conference in Washington. “TJ, we got your back.”

Sabula was initially suspended pending an investigation. He later told The Washington Post he had “no regrets whatsoever,” though he expressed concern he could face political retaliation.

More than $810,000 was raised through two online fundraising campaigns in support of Sabula in the days following the incident.

UAW President Shawn Fain also praised Sabula at the conference. “That’s a union brother who spoke up,” Fain said. “He put his constitutional rights to work. He put his union rights to work.”

Ford and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Rep. John Rose said Monday that he could support requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to carry identification while on duty, using the discussion to argue that Democrats apply different standards to voter ID as Congress moves toward a confrontation over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Speaking on Newsmax, Rose said Democrats have pushed for ICE officers to carry identification in the field and suggested the idea itself is not unreasonable. “Democrats want “ICE agents to have identification on them when they are in the field,” Rose said. “Novel idea. I think it’s a pretty good one, actually.

“I think that maybe it’s OK if ICE agents have identification — and maybe you should have an ID when you vote.”

In an interview on Wake Up America, the Tennessee Republican said the identification proposal is one of several Democratic conditions tied to DHS funding and could represent limited common ground, even as he faulted Democrats for pushing restrictions he says would undermine immigration enforcement.

Democrats have warned they may block continued funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless the Trump administration agrees to policy changes designed to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

Republicans, meanwhile, have cautioned that a shutdown would disrupt critical agencies and services, including DHS, FEMA, TSA, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service.

Rose accused Democrats of leveraging the funding deadline to advance what he characterized as a “sanctuary country” agenda, saying their proposals would weaken federal law enforcement and put the public at risk.

“They’re willing to harm American citizens to protect illegal aliens that are committing crimes in our country,” Rose said, adding that Democrats appear ready to shut down essential agencies to extract concessions.

He also pushed back on claims that ICE activity should be curtailed, arguing that lawmakers ought to stand behind officers enforcing federal statutes.

“My parents taught me when you see a police officer or law enforcement officer, you comply,” Rose said. “We shouldn’t be interfering with our federal law enforcement agents’ duty to enforce the laws of this country.”

Rose said he initially intended to vote against last week’s spending package because it did not include the SAVE Act, a Republican-backed election integrity proposal, but ultimately supported the bill.

“I think the bill that we initially passed was right on target,” Rose said. “Frankly, I think it was probably a mistake to separate that issue and give Democrats a chance to negotiate on this further.”

While signaling some openness on the narrow question of ICE identification, Rose said Democrats’ broader list of demands shows they have failed to absorb voter dissatisfaction with border policies during the Biden administration.

“They’ve decided these criminal illegal aliens are more important than American citizens and American citizens’ safety,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban aviation officials have warned airlines that there isn’t enough fuel for airplanes to refuel in the island, part of a critical energy rationing going into place as the Trump administration cuts the island off from its fuel resources, a commercial pilot confirmed on Monday.

A notice was sent to companies and airline personnel on Sunday, said the pilot, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the matter. He noted that while refueling issues have occurred before, an official announcement of this scale is extraordinary even for an island accustomed to perpetual crisis.

The move comes as political pressure by U.S. President Donald Trump on Latin America has effectively severed Cuba’s access to its primary petroleum sources in Venezuela and Mexico.

Late last month, Trump signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, a move that could further cripple an island plagued by a deepening energy crisis.

While the rationing may not disrupt shorter regional flights, it presents a significant challenge for long-haul routes from countries like Russia and Canada — a critical pillar of Cuba’s tourism economy.

On Monday, Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to the island.

The last time such cuts occurred — more than a decade ago — aircraft bound for Europe refueled in Nassau, Bahamas, the pilot recalled. Now, regional airlines could avoid problems by bringing extra fuel, while others could refuel in Cancun, Mexico, or in the Dominican Republic.

It remains unclear how long the notice will remain in effect and Cuban officials have made no public comments on the matter.

The fuel shortage deals another blow to a country that relies heavily on tourism, an industry that once generated $3 billion in annual revenue and served as a vital economic lifeline.

Cuban officials also announced Monday that bank hours have been reduced and cultural events suspended. In Havana, the public bus system has effectively ground to a halt, leaving residents stranded as endemic power outages and grueling fuel lines reach a breaking point.

The energy emergency has forced the suspension of major events like the Havana International Book Fair this weekend and a restructuring of the national baseball season for greater efficiency. Some banks have cut operating hours and fuel distribution companies said they would no longer sell gas in Cuban pesos — and that sales will be made in dollars and limited to 20 liters per user.

The latest measures add to others announced Friday, including cuts to bus transportation and limited train departures.

On Thursday, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel delivered a two-hour televised address, acknowledging the impact and warning that measures would be taken in the coming days.

U.S. sanctions against Cuba have been in place for more than six decades and have long crippled Cuba’s economy. But they grew to new extremes after a U.S. military operation deposed former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and Trump began to take an even more confrontational tone toward Latin America.

For many Cubans, the crisis has translated into power outages lasting up to 10 hours, fuel shortages for vehicles, and a lack of food or medicine that many compare with the severe economic depression in the 1990s known as the Special Period that followed cuts in Soviet aid.

SYDNEY — A petition opposing Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s state visit to Australia included several fake signatures, some belonging to historical figures tied to Nazi collaboration, Jewish organizations said Monday.

The petition, published as full-page ads in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, was promoted by an Australian Jewish anti-Zionist group. The organization claimed “over 1,000 Jews and thousands of allies” had signed the open letter declaring Herzog unwelcome in the country.

Observers quickly flagged inconsistencies, including one name, “Milkek Tachat,” which translates to an offensive Hebrew insult. It’s fitting that the names also include Eliezer Gruenbaum, Carmen Mory, and Josef Heiden — famous for their roles as Kapos in Nazi concentration camps.

The Jewish Council of Australia criticized the petition, calling the inclusion of such names “deeply offensive and misleading.” The group said it had alerted authorities to the fraudulent entries.

JERUSALEM — The proportion of Poles expressing negative attitudes toward Jews has risen to 40%, the highest in two decades, according to a national survey published Monday by the Polish state research agency CBOS. Positive sentiment toward Jews has fallen to just 22%, the lowest level recorded since 2006.

The survey, published by The Jerusalem Post on Monday, is carried out annually and asks respondents to rate their feelings toward 21 national and ethnic groups. The latest results show that dislike of Jews and Americans increased by eight percentage points over the past year, with Ukrainians also seeing a five-point rise in negative sentiment. Russians, Belarusians, and Roma remain among the most disliked groups, while Italians, Czechs, and Slovaks are the most favored.

CBOS analysts linked some of the shift to geopolitical developments, noting that attitudes toward nations perceived as benefiting from the war in Ukraine — including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine itself — have deteriorated. “Comparing the results from 2023 and 2026, we notice that the national sympathies of Poles are no longer lasting and obvious. They are increasingly dependent on current political events and narratives present in the public debate,” the report said.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, 74% of Poles reported negative feelings toward Russia, while only 7% expressed sympathy.

The findings reflect a broader trend of declining trust and rising suspicion among Poles toward other nations, according to CBOS, and highlight an alarming surge in antisemitism in a country long shaped by Holocaust memory.

Iran and Oman received advance notice that US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner would be traveling to the USS Abraham Lincoln over Shabbos, according to reports.

CNN said Sunday that both Tehran and Muscat were informed beforehand, a step widely viewed as a deliberate signal that the United States retains the option of military action should Iran refuse to reach an agreement limiting its nuclear activities.

Channel 12 likewise reported that Iranian officials were alerted ahead of the visit, underscoring the message being conveyed alongside the diplomatic track.

Witkoff and Kushner, who headed the American delegation for talks with Iran in Oman on Friday, toured the aircraft carrier at the invitation of the commander of US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper.

Washington and Tehran returned to the negotiating table after earlier nuclear discussions were halted following Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June 2025, a conflict that concluded with a US strike on multiple Iranian nuclear facilities.

Western governments believe Iran is pursuing the capability to build a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran denies. Still, Iran has enriched uranium to levels with no civilian use, restricted access for international inspectors, and significantly expanded its ballistic missile program. Before the June fighting, Israel said Iran had recently taken concrete steps toward weaponization.

Despite the renewed talks, the possibility of conflict continues to loom. Trump described the discussions as “very good,” while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on social media that they “constitute a step forward.” Iran, however, has consistently rejected Washington’s central demand that it halt uranium enrichment altogether.

After the first round of negotiations in Oman, Trump signed an executive order calling for the “imposition of tariffs” on countries that continue trading with Iran in defiance of US sanctions.

At the same time, the United States unveiled additional sanctions targeting a range of shipping companies and vessels as part of efforts to restrict Iran’s oil exports.

Amid the diplomatic activity, Tehran saw a stark warning displayed in public. A newly erected billboard overlooking Palestine Square threatened Tel Aviv with missile attacks, featuring a map of the city’s metropolitan area beneath Hebrew text reading, “Under raining missiles, it’s a small area!”

An English line beneath the image declared, “You start… We finish it!”

The billboard depicted the map placed on a table alongside a red button labeled “FIRE,” a walkie-talkie, and scale models of an aircraft and missiles.

Iran has previously displayed threatening imagery toward Israel in the same square, including a clock it claimed was counting down to Israel’s destruction.

During last June’s fighting, Iran launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and approximately 1,100 drones at Israel.

The renewed contacts between Washington and Tehran are taking place against the backdrop of a major US military buildup in the region, which followed Iran’s violent suppression of protests that erupted in late December over economic conditions.

Iranian authorities have said that 3,117 people were killed during the unrest, releasing on Sunday a list of 2,986 names they said consisted largely of security personnel and civilians.

International organizations and news outlets have estimated the death toll to be far higher, potentially reaching into the tens of thousands.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security authorities last week detained an independent journalist on suspicion of contact with Iranian operatives, according to a new report from Ynet.

The journalist — who holds a government-issued press card — was arrested in a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the Jerusalem District Police after authorities alleged he had been in contact with Iranian-linked figures.

The arrest followed an unusual sequence of events: the journalist had voluntarily contacted the police Cyber Unit after receiving unsolicited messages from unknown individuals. According to sources familiar with the questioning, he grew concerned about the nature of the outreach and alerted authorities on his own initiative, only to find himself detained days later.

Security officials questioned the journalist for several hours before transferring him to police custody for continued investigation. He denied any wrongdoing, telling investigators he was unaware the correspondents were allegedly connected to Iran and that the messages resembled routine inquiries he receives as part of his reporting.

Associates of the journalist said he believed he was acting in the interest of Israel’s Chareidi community and did not carry out any request that could endanger national security.

In one instance, he was asked to photograph a street but declined after becoming suspicious, they said. In another, he reportedly received a request — framed as support for Chareidi protests against mandatory military service — to provide images from demonstrations in exchange for a small payment.

He did not comply, according to people familiar with the case.

Despite those claims, authorities moved forward with the arrest. On Jan. 29, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court extended the journalist’s detention by eight days, citing the seriousness of the allegations.

That decision, however, lasted less than 24 hours.

Following an appeal by defense attorney Nati Rom, the Jerusalem District Court overturned the lower court’s ruling and ordered the journalist’s release under unspecified restrictive conditions.

Rom criticized the handling of the case, calling it an example of overreach in national security investigations.

“Behind the serious allegations stands a law-abiding journalist, a man of integrity and a patriot who would never consider lifting a finger against Israel’s security,” Rom said in a statement. “He did not engage in any act that could be interpreted as serving hostile interests.”

“I am saddened to encounter yet again the police’s aggressive approach in cases that carry headlines about state security, where common sense and due process are often set aside,” he said.

The Shin Bet has not publicly detailed the evidentiary basis for the arrest, and authorities have declined to comment on the scope of the investigation. Still, the case lands amid heightened Israeli concern about Iranian intelligence activity, particularly efforts to exploit journalists, activists, and protest movements to gather open-source intelligence.

Legal experts note that Israeli law allows security agencies wide latitude when investigating suspected foreign contacts — even absent clear intent — but the district court’s swift intervention suggests judicial unease with how that authority was applied here.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Anyone who stays updated with the latest in Jewish music has surely seen the “Real Yidden” song “Emese Yid” that decries the TYH (Thank You Hashem) brand. I was, as I’m sure many of you were as well, shocked that Jews have descended to writing diss-tracks on each other in an effort to communicate about our culture. This on its own is an unfortunate slide in the perceived integrity of Jews on the public stage. Nonetheless, this debate has sparked a conversation of which values we hold dear as Orthodox Jews in 2026.

Thank You Hashem is a Jewish hype brand that makes religious Judaism more accessible and palatable for today’s younger generation. Such a cause is a great cause. For so many who have had negative experiences with their Judaism now have an inclusive, welcoming, and inspiring movement to be a part of.

Unfortunately, such a message of inclusivity and “Hashem loves me no matter what” is not without pitfalls. Yes, Hashem loves you no matter what. And yet, Hashem still has expectations of you. If coming close to Him means connecting to a Tzaddik for guidance and inspiration, then that is appropriate. But to supplant traditional Jewish values such as Torah study and adherence to Halacha with pseudospirituality is a mistake.

The problem is not that TYH followers consciously reject Torah – they don’t – it’s that the branding can unconsciously shift priorities for impressionable youth. The issue is subtle drift, not outright rebellion.

The real problem, however, arises in the practical implementation of this Hashkafa. To put it succinctly, “how am I to find my way in serving Hashem?”, “which avenues of connection are genuine, and which are imitation?”. That is the crux of this controversy.

Before assessing the arguments on both sides, it’s important to ask, “why is this controversy happening now?” The answer is that we find ourselves in a digital landscape. An environment where ideas are shared faster than they are conceived. A platform where anyone can build a following. Before social media, the barrier to becoming a leader was steep. One had to prove their authenticity to their community to become a valued source of wisdom. Mesorah trumped entertainment. This standard is eroding. For better or for worse, anyone can profess their philosophy online and attract a following. This cultural shift has set the stage for this controversy.

The implications of this shift are important. The burden of identifying reputable sources of Torah and Hashkafa has increased. Slop (drivel at best, obscenities at worst) is served around the clock. But more narrowly, we now have a schism in our own values.

So who’s right, Thank You Hashem or Real Yidden? Both and neither. This debate calls for a dialectical synthesis: Each position contains truth, but the real answer transcends both. When Real Yidden says, “If you want to be a real Emese Yid, open Shulchan Aruch it’s what your Zeidas did”, he is correct. A life without Halacha observance is a life squandered. However, the follow-up lyric, “It’s the only way Hashem wants to be close to you”, is false. There are many ways of connecting to Hashem that don’t fall squarely into narrowly defined Halacha observance. Character development, chesed, supporting one’s family, to name a few.

When TYH has children singing, “I want to be like Zusha”, and not “I want to be like Moshe Rabbeinu”, one has every right to object. At the same time, however, these lyrics need to be judged for what they are. These are song lyrics meant to inspire, not comprehensive Hashkafic statements. The danger isn’t in the songs themselves, but in letting them replace deeper Torah education rather than complement it.

Ultimately, neither side deserves the authority we’re giving them. Neither side is, or even claims to be, the standard of Orthodox Jewish Hashkafa. They’re just expressing what resonates with their audience – and yes, each captures some truth.

The real controversy isn’t TYH vs. Real Yidden – it’s whether we’ll let social media determine our Torah priorities, or whether we’ll reclaim the responsibility to seek guidance from our Rebbeim and Mesorah. The diss-track is just a symptom. The disease is thinking we can download Yiddishkeit from our feeds.

With hope and optimism for the future,

Zev Levin

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

In a deeply personal moment on live Israeli radio, popular singer Benny Friedman revealed that his seven-year-old son is on the autism spectrum, sharing details of the family’s private journey for the first time during a broadcast of the Motzaei Shabbos program Motzaei Shabbos Chai in Israel.

The disclosure came during what began as a routine interview with host Menachem Toker, focusing on Friedman’s latest album. While discussing song selections, Friedman unexpectedly spoke about his fourth child, who is celebrating his seventh birthday this week, and his experience living with autism.

The revelation arose while Friedman described a song he received from composer Ari Goldwag. “I have a son with autism, and he absolutely lit up from this song,” Friedman said simply. “So I told my wife — I’m not sure about the song, but our son loves it.”

Toker, taken aback by the candid admission, responded emotionally, saying, “Wow, that’s incredibly moving.”

Friedman went on to explain that his son is high-functioning, able to speak and communicate, and shared especially uplifting news about his recent progress. “It’s a huge miracle from Shomayim,” the singer said. “He’s now beginning to learn a full day in a regular school.”

The singer was careful not to take credit for the breakthrough himself, instead praising his wife’s extraordinary dedication. “My wife is a miracle worker,” Friedman said on air. “She worked with him incredibly hard.”

The heartfelt disclosure offered listeners a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs behind the scenes of one of the leading figures in Jewish music.

{Matzav.com}

A major inauguration ceremony planned by the Skverer chassidus in Beit Shemesh has been postponed amid heightened security tensions and concerns over a possible escalation involving Iran.

An official announcement confirmed that the chanukas habayis celebration for the new Skverer Beis Medrash in the Ramat Daled neighborhood of Beit Shemesh will be delayed.

The decision followed consultations with the Skverer Rebbe, who instructed his eldest son, Rav Aharon Mendel, to cancel his planned trip to Israel in light of the current regional situation.

The development came at an advanced stage of preparations for the large-scale event, which had been expected to draw significant crowds. In a message circulated to chassidim, organizers explained that the question was presented to the Rebbe due to the unpredictable security climate. The Rebbe ruled that since the event can be held at a later date without loss, it would be preferable to wait for a calmer and safer time.

In further remarks, the mosdos’ leadership said the goal is to celebrate the inauguration of the new and impressive building with full peace of mind, allowing the many participants—traveling from across Israel and from abroad—to attend safely and joyfully, without concern or fear.

The Skverer chassidus emphasized that the decision constitutes a postponement, not a cancellation. Details regarding a new date will be released in the future. For now, the community will wait for an easing of the security situation so the event can take place as originally envisioned, with proper splendor and elevated simcha.

It was also reported that another planned gathering—a special chizuk assembly for all Skverer chassidim in Israel, marking one year since a historic hachnassas Sefer Torah during which communal commitments were undertaken—has likewise been called off at this time.

{Matzav.com}

Nurses and two major hospital systems in New York City have reached a deal to end a nearly monthlong strike over staffing levels, workplace safety, health insurance and other issues.

The tentative agreement announced Monday by the union representing nurses involves the Montefiore and Mount Sinai hospital systems. Nurses remain on strike at NewYork Presbyterian.

The walkout began Jan. 12, prompting the hospitals to scramble to hire legions of temporary nurses to fill in during a demanding flu season.

The union said members at Montefiore and Mount Sinai hospitals will vote on whether to ratify the contracts and return to work this week.

The three-year deal affects roughly 10,500 of the some 15,000 nurses on strike at some of the city’s biggest private, nonprofit hospitals, with thousands of beds among them.

“For four weeks, nearly 15,000 NYSNA members held the line in the cold and in the snow for safe patient care,” Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association, said in a statement. “Now, nurses at Montefiore and Mount Sinai systems are heading back to the bedside with our heads held high.”

The nurses union said the agreement calls for a 12% pay raise over three years as well as maintain nurses’ health benefits with no additional out-of-pocket costs.

The pact also includes new protections against workplace violence, including specific protections for transgender and immigrant nurses and patients, as well as safeguards against artificial intelligence, the union said.

Nurses at Montefiore, Mount Sinai, and Mount Sinai Morningside and West will vote to ratify their contracts starting today, the union said.

If the tentative contract agreements are ratified, nurses will return to work on Saturday.

A Montefiore spokesperson declined to comment other than to say its nurses are expected to vote Wednesday on the pact.

Spokespeople for the other two hospital systems didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

The affected hospitals have insisted their operations are running smoothly during the walkout, with organ transplants, cardiac surgeries and other complex procedures largely uninterrupted. Many of the medical centers, however, canceled scheduled surgeries, transferred some patients and discharged others ahead of the strike.

The striking nurses priorities vary by hospital, but staffing has generally been a central issue. Nurses said they have been overloaded, and that the hospitals wouldn’t commit to staffing levels that are manageable for nurses and safe for patients.

The hospitals maintain they’ve filled and even added nursing jobs over the last three years, digging out of a pandemic-era staffing crisis.

The hospitals and nurses also have been at odds over benefits, and the union sought workplace security upgrades and restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence.

Hospital staffers’ longstanding security concerns flared into public view when a gunman entered Mount Sinai in November and a man holed up in a Brooklyn hospital with a sharp object last month. Police killed both men.

The hospitals said the union’s demands were exorbitant. They say unionized nurses’ salaries already average $162,000 to $165,000 a year, not including benefits.

The nurses countered that the medical centers’ top executives make millions of dollars a year, an argument underscored by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and other politicians who have visited the picket lines over the weeks.

Not every hospital in the three health care systems was affected by the strike. Nor were any city-run public hospitals. Other private hospitals reached last-minute deals with the union.

Nurses staged a three-day strike in 2023 in the Mount Sinai and Montefiore systems. They ultimately inked contracts that raised pay 19% over three years and sought to make staffing improvements enforceable by allowing for extra pay if nurses worked short-handed.

(AP)

JERUSALEM — The Israel Defense Forces apologized Monday to a Haredi man arrested as a draft dodger after he was prevented from wearing tefillin for several hours during his detention.

Avraham Ben Dayan, 23, a recent yeshiva graduate and newlywed, was taken into custody Saturday night at a police checkpoint in southern Israel. The IDF said he remained in detention overnight and was only allowed to don tefillin late in the afternoon.

“The detainee was ultimately unable to wear tefillin due to an unexpected delay in processing,” an IDF spokesperson said. “This is an extremely rare case and not in line with IDF regulations. We regret the distress caused and have clarified procedures to prevent similar incidents.”

Ben Dayan’s family said they were repeatedly denied the ability to deliver his tefillin during transfers between detention facilities in Netivot, Ofakim, and Sde Teyman. They described the delays as a severe violation of religious practice.

Lawmakers and religious leaders criticized the handling of the case. MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of the Degel HaTorah party, called it “hatred towards everything Jewish” and said he would raise the matter with the defense minister.

Ben Dayan was sentenced to 10 days in military prison. His attorney, Shlomo Hadad, has filed an appeal seeking his early release.

Israeli police have launched an investigation in recent days into suspected abuse at a daycare center, following a report received at the police station in Modiin Illit that raised concerns of harm to helpless minors.

According to police, the complaint pointed to serious suspicions of mistreatment of toddlers at the facility. As a result, officers opened a formal investigation to examine the allegations.

Shortly after the report was received, police arrested six caregivers employed at a daycare center in the community of Beit Aryeh, and the daycare’s director was detained for questioning.

The suspects, women in their 20s through 40s who are residents of Beit Aryeh, were taken in for interrogation. Police are expected to ask the court to extend their detention as the sensitive investigation continues.

Authorities emphasized that the probe is ongoing and that all actions are being taken to fully clarify the serious suspicions surrounding the alleged abuse of the children.

{Matzav.com}

In an unprecedented ruling, the Jerusalem District Court ordered National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Monday to immediately stop blocking the promotion of Police Superintendent Rinat Saban to the rank of deputy commander.

In an unusual move for a civil servant, Saban filed a petition to the court against Ben-Gvir through the controversial and left-wing Movement for Quality Government organization. She was also supported by Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara.

The chain of events began when Ben-Gvir approved a recommendation to promote Saban, who served as a central investigator in Case 4000 against Prime Minister Netanyahu, to the position of assistant head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division, subject to her completing a command course. While completing the course, she was summoned to testify against Netanyahu in Case 4000.

During her testimony, Saban repeatedly stated that she did “not recall” important details, despite her senior role in the investigation. It was also revealed during the hearing that she ordered searches of suspects’ phones without proper warrants.

Following her testimony, Ben-Gvir reversed his decision on her promotion, raising issues relating to her testimony against Netanyahu and her handling of the case involving the prime minister’s advisers Yonatan Urich and Ofer Golan.

During the hearing, Ben Gvir detailed the professional reasons for his refusal to approve Sivan’s promotion, pointing first to the Supreme Court’s criticism—by a nine-justice panel—of Sivan’s conduct in the phone affair, as well as to her low evaluation score on a police assessment. “Why doesn’t she mention that I signed off on a rank for her husband, if she claims I am personally persecuting her?” the minister asked, in response to allegations of a personal vendetta.

In his ruling, Judge David Gidoni sharply criticized the minister’s conduct and held that his refusal to make a decision amounted to extreme unreasonableness. The court further stated that the sequence of events “raises a real concern that ‘improper considerations’ were involved” in light of the link between the delay in the promotion and Saban’s testimony.

Channel 14 journalist Yinon Magal responded to the court’s decision by wryly asking, “Why don’t the judges promote her to the rank of major general and give her the ranks themselves in an official ceremony at the courthouse?”

In response, Ben-Gvir stated, “Once again it has been proven that there are no judges in Jerusalem. The claim of the Jerusalem District Court that a minister is forbidden from considering Saban’s involvement in illegal investigations of the Prime Minister’s Office is itself an ‘improper consideration’ and shows that the entire ruling is based on improper considerations.”

Ben-Gvir added: “In a properly run country, an investigator who was involved in an illegal investigation would end her service in the police and not receive protection from Yitzhak Amit and his envoys. Judicial reform now!”

Likud MK Chanoch Milwidsky also slammed the ruling and called on the minister to defy it. “Mr. Minister, I very much hope that you will not cooperate with this illegal decision and will simply say no!!” Milwidsky wrote.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

NEW YORK (AP) — Nurses and two major hospital systems in New York City have reached a deal to end a nearly monthlong strike over staffing levels, workplace safety, health insurance and other issues.

The tentative agreement announced Monday by the union representing nurses involves the Montefiore and Mount Sinai hospital systems. Nurses remain on strike at NewYork Presbyterian.

The walkout began Jan. 12, prompting the hospitals to scramble to hire legions of temporary nurses to fill in during a demanding flu season.

The union said members at Montefiore and Mount Sinai hospitals will vote on whether to ratify the contracts and return to work this week.

The 3-year-deal affects roughly 10,500 of the some 15,000 nurses on strike at some of the city’s biggest private, nonprofit hospitals, with thousands of beds among them.

“For four weeks, nearly 15,000 NYSNA members held the line in the cold and in the snow for safe patient care,” Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association, said in a statement. “Now, nurses at Montefiore and Mount Sinai systems are heading back to the bedside with our heads held high.”

The nurses union said the agreement calls for a 12% pay raise over three years as well as maintain nurses’ health benefits with no additional out-of-pocket costs.

The pact also includes new protections against workplace violence, including specific protections for transgender and immigrant nurses and patients as well as safeguards against artificial intelligence, the union said.

Spokespeople for the three hospital systems didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Israel has made its mark in America’s biggest sporting event — though not with a touchdown or a field goal.

The milestone came courtesy of Base44, an AI-powered app-building platform founded in Israel, which aired its first Super Bowl commercial during Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, 2026. The spot, themed around a familiar office setting reminiscent of “The Office,” carried the slogan “It’s App to You” and highlighted how anyone can create functional apps using simple prompts, no coding required.

Base44, originally launched in 2024 by Israeli developer Maor Shlomo as a tool to democratize app development, experienced explosive growth in its early months. The company reached 250,000 users and operated with just eight employees before being acquired by Israeli tech giant Wix in June 2025 for $80 million. The acquisition aligned with Wix’s push into advanced AI tools for creation and development.

The Super Bowl ad, part of a broader Wix campaign that also featured its AI website-building tool Wix Harmony, marked the company’s return to the Big Game after a seven-year absence. Base44’s 30-second spot demonstrated the platform’s ease of use — showing an office worker building a budgeting app in minutes amid a dull meeting — and underscored its “vibe-coding” approach, where natural language drives app creation.

While Israeli basketball star Deni Avdija has gained attention in the NBA, Israel has yet to field a presence in the NFL. But in the high-stakes world of Super Bowl advertising, where 30-second spots command millions, Base44’s appearance represented a scrappy underdog story: a young startup, barely over a year old post-acquisition, reaching one of the world’s largest audiences.

“The pace of growth at Base44 over the past year has been extraordinary, and appearing during the Big Game is a marker of that momentum,” Shay Korin, vice president of marketing at Base44, said in a statement ahead of the game.

Wix co-founder and CEO Avishai Abrahami celebrated the achievement on social media, congratulating Shlomo and the Base44 team on their Big Game debut.

The commercial’s office-themed humor and empowering message resonated with viewers seeking accessible tech solutions, fitting into a broader trend of AI companies showcasing tools during the Super Bowl. For Base44, the spot was more than advertising — it was proof that innovation from a small Israeli startup can compete on America’s biggest stage.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn knows the Olympic downhill course better than anyone.

She’s won a record 12 World Cup races on the Olympia delle Tofane track — split evenly between six downhills and six super-Gs — and has a total of 20 podium results there, stretching back to her very first podium on the entire circuit in 2004.

So how did the 41-year-old American standout lose control just 12.5 seconds into her run and crash so spectacularly at the Milan Cortina Winter Games on Sunday?

Here’s what happened and why:

Critical early section
The highlight of the downhill course is the Tofana schuss, a narrow chute between two walls of Dolomite rock where the skiers accelerate to 80 mph (130 kph).

But the real key to the Olympia delle Tofane track comes above the schuss, where there’s a key right turn that includes an uphill stretch. That’s where Vonn went down.

“It’s incredibly reverse banked,” said Kristian Ghedina, the Cortina native and former racer who grew up in a home just below the finish line. “That’s where your speed for the rest of the course gets determined and if you don’t take the right trajectory it makes a huge difference because you end up going uphill.”

Bumped into the air and clipped a gate
Vonn was fighting that reverse bank and trending slightly uphill when she got rocked into the air by a bump, causing her to clip the fourth gate with her right side.

That’s when the real disaster started to unfold.

Vonn tried to twist and regain her balance in mid-air but landed awkwardly with her skis perpendicular to the fall line, ensuring a brutal fall. She tumbled over, got bounced into the air again and landed on her neck area and slid down a ways before coming to a stop in the middle of the course, away from the safety netting but clearly in serious trouble.

Hours later, Vonn underwent surgery for a broken left leg and was in stable condition.

“It’s super flat after it so the goal is to be as close to that gate as possible and she really nailed the turn but she was too close to it so she got hooked into it,” Norwegian skier Kajsa Vickhoff Lie said of the gate. “But that’s how it is with the Olympics, you really want to be on the limit and she was a little bit over the limit.”

While it’s always bumpy in that section, this year the final bump is “more of a kicker,” Lie noted, which is why Vonn got popped up suddenly into the air.

“I watched the video, and probably like anybody else, saw that she went through that panel, that uphill double, and for sure kicked her in the air and there was a pretty significant fall after that,” head U.S. ski coach Paul Kristofic told The Associated Press.

Organizers defend course preparation in section where Vonn crashed
Women’s race director Peter Gerdol said the section where Vonn lost control was “not really more different than other years.”

“This is the Cortina downhill and this year we’re talking about the Olympics,” he told AP. “It’s awarding Olympic medals so has to be somehow challenging.”

Had attention been paid to controlling the size of that bump?

“Not severely,” Gerdol said. “Because actually today, all the athletes went through quite easily. Lindsey made a mistake and it happens. It can happen in any section of the course. It happened there but it could have been in another.”

Mandatory air bag inflated under Vonn’s racing suit
When she came to a stop, Vonn’s skis were facing in opposite directions, still attached to her bindings. She then moved her left arm toward her body and was lying there alone and virtually immobile until help arrived after some tense moments. She received care for long minutes before she was airlifted away by helicopter.

The mandatory safety air bag inflated under her racing suit during the crash, supplier Dainese confirmed to the AP. The air bag, which is triggered by a complicated algorithm when racers lose control, may have softened her landing.

It was evident that the air bag had opened, because Vonn’s chest appeared puffed out when she was lying on the snow.

Marco Pastore, who works on the safety system for Dainese, said the air bag deflates after about 20 seconds, so that likely happened while Vonn was lying on the snow after her crash. Eventually, Dainese will try to retrieve a sort of “black box” sensor that could reveal data on the fall.

“She was wearing it when they took her away in the helicopter,” Pastore said. “So we haven’t gotten the data yet.”

OSLO, Norway (AP) — A Norwegian ambassador who was involved in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts in the 1990s and most recently served in Jordan has resigned as she faces scrutiny over her contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, the country’s Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry announced Mona Juul’s resignation on Sunday evening, days after she was suspended as Norway’s ambassador to Jordan. That followed reports that Epstein left the children of Juul and her husband, Terje Rød-Larsen, $10 million in a will drawn up shortly before his death by suicide in a New York prison in 2019.

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said Juul’s decision was “correct and necessary.” Her contact with the convicted sex offender showed a “serious lapse in judgment,” he said, adding that “the case makes it difficult to restore the trust that the role requires.”

A ministry investigation into Juul’s knowledge of and contact with Epstein will continue, and Juul will continue discussions with the ministry “so that the matter can be clarified,” Eide said.

The ministry said it also launched a review of its funding of and contact with the International Peace Institute, a New York-based think tank, during the period when it was headed by Rød-Larsen. Eide said Rød-Larsen also had shown poor judgment regarding Epstein.

Rød-Larsen and Juul were among those involved in facilitating the landmark Oslo Accords aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the 1990s.

Norway’s National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime, or Økokrim, said Monday that it decided last week to open an investigation of Juul and Rød-Larsen.

It said in a statement that Juul is suspected of gross corruption based on her position at the Foreign Ministry, and Rød-Larsen of aiding and abetting gross corruption. Investigators will look among other things into whether Juul received benefits in connection with her position. On Monday, they searched an apartment in Oslo’s Frogner district and the home of a witness.

Juul acknowledged in a statement to Norwegian news agency NTB last week that it had been “imprecise” to describe her contact with Epstein as minimal, but said that the contact originated in her husband’s relationship with Epstein and she had no independent social or professional relationship with him.

She wrote that her contact with Epstein had been sporadic and private, not part of her official duties, but acknowledged that she should have been much more careful.

The latest batch of Epstein files has cast an unflattering spotlight on several prominent Norwegian figures. Crown Princess Mette-Marit on Friday issued an apology “to all of you whom I have disappointed” after documents offered more details of her relationship with Epstein.

Økokrim already opened a corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland — who also once headed the committee that hands out the Nobel Peace Prize — over his ties with Epstein. His lawyer said Jagland would cooperate.

The IDF announced that it is moving to trim excess reserve deployments after the government directed the military to limit how many reservists may be on active duty this year, while pledging that the benefits provided to those who do serve will remain intact, Times of Israel reports.

During the height of the war, roughly 300,000 reservists were mobilized. Prior to the latest budget decisions, the military had anticipated calling up about 60,000 reservists in 2026 for routine assignments. In December, however, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich agreed as part of the state budget to restrict the daily number of active reservists in 2026 to 40,000, a step they say will save billions of shekels.

According to the IDF, the reductions will focus on positions it considers nonessential, including full-time reservists assigned to bolster civil defense teams in border communities, along with certain roles at headquarters.

The military also said it will shorten the length of routine reserve duty — excluding emergency call-ups — reducing the requirement from 72 days to 55. In addition, several practices adopted after the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, will be discontinued.

At the same time, the IDF emphasized that benefits for reservists who serve extended periods will not be cut. Under the revised framework, many benefits will now be provided after 45 days of reserve duty, which the military says is meant to discourage unnecessary extensions of service beyond that point and encourage reservists to return to their civilian employment.

Extended and repeated reserve mobilizations during the war drew sharp criticism from the Finance Ministry, which argued that the approach reflected inefficiency and significant waste of funds within the military.

As part of efforts to prevent the use of surplus reservists, the IDF said units will no longer be allowed to recruit reserve soldiers through social media advertisements, a method that became common during the war. In many cases, reservists would finish an assignment in one unit and then join another to continue serving.

Under new army rules, reservist recruitment will be permitted only through an official military website, a change intended to stop reservists from moving between units without proper oversight.

The military is also ending the practice known as “hybrid service,” in which reservists fulfill their military duties while simultaneously maintaining their civilian jobs, sometimes on a week-on, week-off schedule.

Beyond financial considerations, the IDF said the week-on, week-off model has undermined unit cohesion, as some soldiers never actually serve alongside those designated as their teammates.

The overall direct cost of the war has been estimated at approximately NIS 220 billion ($67 billion), with roughly NIS 50–70 billion of that total spent on mobilizing hundreds of thousands of reservists for lengthy periods.

{Matzav.com}

Family members of the newlywed avreich, Avraham Ben Dayan, who was prevented from putting on tefillin on Sunday after he was imprisoned on Motzei Shabbos for “draft dodging,” are furious at IDF officials for their violation of his most basic religious rights.

The avreich’s wife of two months, Esty, spoke with Kol Barama Radio on Monday morning.

“Police officers stopped the car for a routine check, and the policewoman arrested my husband and told him he was coming with them to Sde Teiman,” she said.

“I went there but no one could tell me where he was. They told me he was on the way to Ofakim, and then a soldier called me and told me he was at the Bahad base. All night they lied to us. They took him and didn’t let me speak to him.”

“They sent us all night from place to place as if he were a terrorist. I had always heard from afar about arrests. My husband only received two draft notices. He learns Torah day and night, a kollel student who learns a full day.”

She added that the most disturbing part was the violation of her husband’s basic rights during his detention. “At five in the afternoon, before the court hearing, they let him speak to me for one minute. He was broken and told me that they didn’t allow him to put on tefillin. He was devastated by it—completely broken and crushed. In a Jewish state, not allowing someone to put on tefillin? It’s a busha and cherpah.”

Esty said that she is still shocked and devastated but was mechazeik after receiving a phone call from HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch. ““The Rosh Yeshiva called us and was mechazeik us,” she said.

During a Knesset meeting on Monday, Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni harshly criticized the conduct of the IDF, saying, “I don’t intend to remain silent about this matter. A person who was arrested for no reason was not allowed to lay tefillin for an entire day—it’s reminiscent of communist Russia.”

Meanwhile, the police are preparing today for protests by Peleg Yerushalmi in several areas following the arrests of Ben Dayan and a bochur in Be’er Yaakov.

According to the group’s statements, the protests are expected to begin at 4:00 p.m. in the Bnei Brak area and in southern cities.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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A mysterious intercepted phone call, a locked-down intelligence report, and months of behind-the-scenes maneuvering have ignited a political storm inside the U.S. intelligence community, placing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard at the center of a widening controversy.

According to the attorney for a federal whistleblower, the National Security Agency last spring flagged an unusual conversation between two members of foreign intelligence that referenced a person close to Donald Trump. The highly classified intercept was considered sensitive enough to be elevated to the highest levels of government.

Instead of allowing the NSA to circulate the report through standard intelligence channels, Gabbard allegedly took a paper copy directly to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, according to whistleblower lawyer Andrew Bakaj.

Within a day, Bakaj said, Gabbard instructed the NSA not to publish the intelligence assessment and ordered officials to route future information exclusively through her office. The move, he claims, effectively halted the report’s normal distribution.

“These details were never meant to be shelved,” Bakaj said, describing the intelligence as a matter of “urgent concern” with potential national security implications.

Alarmed by the handling of the report, a whistleblower contacted the intelligence community’s inspector general in April and filed a formal complaint in May, alleging that Gabbard had blocked classified material from reaching Congress.

However, for nearly eight months, the intelligence report was kept sealed, even as the whistleblower pushed for disclosure to congressional oversight committees. Acting Inspector General Tamara A. Johnson ultimately dismissed the complaint after a brief review, saying her office could not determine whether the allegations were credible.
The whistleblower was told that any approach to Congress would require prior guidance from Gabbard’s office.

Initial reporting suggested the call was between someone close to Trump and a foreign intelligence contact. Bakaj later corrected that account, clarifying that the NSA intercepted a call between two foreign intelligence operatives that involved references to someone close to the Trump White House.

“The NSA does not monitor individuals without a reason,” he said.

Officials familiar with the matter say the person referenced is not believed to be a government employee.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has rejected the allegations outright.

In a statement, an ODNI spokesperson said Gabbard’s actions were “fully within her legal and statutory authority,” calling the reporting politically motivated and misleading.

The office also cited factors such as the classified nature of the material, a government shutdown, and internal reporting failures as reasons for the delay.

Two prior inspector general reviews, the statement added, found the allegations to be baseless.

Despite those assurances, lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns.

Members of the elite “Gang of Eight” leadership group recently received a heavily redacted version of the complaint. Reactions were sharply divided.

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton defended Gabbard, saying she followed the law in handling sensitive material.

“The law is clear,” said Sen. Mark Warner, the senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. “This whistleblower complaint was issued in May. We didn’t receive it until February.”

Warner accused officials of attempting to “bury the complaint.”

Further controversy erupted after Gabbard assigned a senior adviser, Dennis Kirk, to work inside the inspector general’s office shortly after the complaint was filed. Critics say the move may have compromised the watchdog’s independence.

Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, warned in a letter that Kirk’s appointment raised “troubling questions” about political interference.
Kirk previously served in the Trump administration and helped author Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for restructuring government agencies.

Much of the whistleblower complaint released to lawmakers remains blacked out. Bakaj said Gabbard’s office cited executive privilege, signaling that the matter may involve presidential actions.

“By invoking executive privilege, they’re telling us this goes straight to the Oval Office,” he said.

Bakaj has since requested guidance on how to provide Congress with the full report. After receiving no response by a recent deadline, he plans to brief intelligence committees in the coming days.

Meanwhile, members of Congress have begun requesting the underlying intelligence directly from the NSA, bypassing the ODNI.

What exactly was discussed in the intercepted phone call — and why it triggered such an extraordinary chain of events — remains unknown.

With key documents still classified, lawmakers divided, and accusations of political interference mounting, the episode has become a test of transparency and trust inside America’s intelligence system.

As Bakaj put it, “This disclosure impacts our national security and the American people. And until the full truth comes out, it will remain a shadow hanging over Washington.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Submitted. The end of 2025 marked the expiration of the residential federal solar income tax credit, followed by a sudden proliferation of advertisements promising “Free Solar.” The word free—that magical four-letter term that soothes the ears and often shuts off the brain—has pushed into obscurity the age-old wisdom that you get what you pay for. Otherwise sharp kollel minds and even savvy businesspeople have been lured by the promise of effortless riches, suddenly bestowed by some invisible benefactor, usually assumed to be the government.

Alas, old wisdoms remain true, and the government is not nearly as generous as it may appear. So what, then, is the secret behind “Free Solar”? It is not a Ponzi scheme. Rather, “Free Solar” is simply the marketing name for solar leasing.

In a leasing arrangement, a solar leasing company purchases and owns the photovoltaic (PV) system installed on a customer’s roof. The electricity produced by the system reduces the customer’s electric bill, and in exchange the customer pays a fixed monthly lease payment. In addition, the leasing company collects the Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs), which are payments made by the State of New Jersey to solar system owners for energy production. The leasing company also claims the commercial federal investment tax credit, which—unlike its residential counterpart—has, for now, survived the passage of the OBBB legislation. This combination of revenue streams allows leasing companies to generate sufficient profit to generously compensate installers and sales teams, and in some cases even pay for a customer’s new roof.

What, then, does the customer gain? In most cases, the customer does save money, since the reduction in the electric bill typically exceeds the lease payment. When a new roof is included, that benefit may in fact become the primary financial incentive. However, there are important strings attached. Solar leases generally require a 25-year commitment, during which the customer is prohibited from removing the panels. If the homeowner undertakes construction that significantly alters the roof, they may be required to buy out the system at a contractually defined “buyout price,” which is often substantially higher than the system’s actual market value at that time.

The reader may wonder whether a better option exists. The answer is yes.

One alternative is for a friend or relative to purchase a solar system and lease it to the homeowner on more favorable terms than those offered by commercial leasing companies. This approach allows the system owner to claim the 30% federal income tax credit and potentially other tax benefits. The precise structure of such an arrangement should, of course, be reviewed with a qualified tax professional.

Another option is to purchase the system outright. While this requires significant upfront investment, the total cost is typically less than half of the cumulative lease payments over a 25-year period. In this case, the homeowner receives the SREC income directly, which—together with electric bill savings—generally pays back the system cost within 4.5 to 6 years.

Finally, solar systems can be financed. Financing with zero down payment may appear similar to leasing at first glance, but the loan term is usually shorter, and the homeowner retains ownership of the system and receives the SREC income. This significantly increases monthly savings compared to a lease.

Below is a case study comparing a 25-year lease with a 20-year financing option offered by Climate First Bank. Both proposals are for an 18.92 kW solar PV system installed on a home in Lakewood, New Jersey, and were issued in January 2026.

Table 1. Comparison of the monthly payments and average monthly savings

Option

Monthly Payment

Electric Savings

SREC income

Net Savings

Lease

$224.7

$361.47

$0

$136.77

Finance

$294.01

$361.47

$155.50

$222.96

As shown in Table 1, the financing option produces substantially higher monthly savings. It should be noted that SREC income is available only for the first 15 years of operation. As a result, during the final five years of the loan, monthly savings under the financing option will be lower than those of the lease. However, this temporary disadvantage is more than offset by the fact that loan payments end after year 20, while lease payments continue for the full 25 years.

The total savings over the system’s lifetime are shown below.

Table 2. Lifetime savings from leasing and financing options

Option

Total Savings

Lease

$41,031.00

Finance

$65,868.60

As can be seen from this table the lifetime solar savings with financing are 60% higher than with the leasing option.

Solar energy can indeed reduce household energy costs, but the way in which a homeowner goes solar matters greatly. While leasing arrangements marketed as “Free Solar” can offer modest monthly savings and low upfront costs, they come with long-term contractual limitations and significantly lower lifetime financial benefits. Ownership—whether through direct purchase or financing—allows homeowners to capture the full value of their solar systems, including SREC income and long-term savings after payments end. As the case study demonstrates, financing in particular provides substantially greater lifetime savings than leasing. For homeowners who can qualify, owning solar is not only the more flexible option—it is also the more financially sound one.

The Israel Prison Service has started moving forward with operational planning tied to proposed legislation that would allow the death penalty for terrorists, following the bill’s approval in its first Knesset reading.

A report by Channel 13 News said the preparations focus on building a structured logistical and administrative system, including the creation of a secure, secluded compound designated specifically for executions. Within the prison system, the planned site has reportedly been nicknamed the “Israeli Green Mile,” echoing the well-known American film centered on death row inmates.

According to the report, the facility would be designed for executions by hanging, with the process carried out at the same moment by three prison officers.

Only officers who volunteer would be eligible to take part, and those selected would receive dedicated training to prepare them for the emotional and professional complexities involved.

Channel 13 further reported that executions would take place within 90 days of a final court decision. At the outset, the measure would be applied to Hamas Nukhba force terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre, with the scope later expanded to include terrorists convicted of especially grave attacks in Judea and Samaria.

As part of the groundwork, the Israel Prison Service is also expected to send a delegation to an East Asian country to examine how the death penalty is administered there, focusing on the legal framework, operational procedures, and ethical considerations in systems where capital punishment is carried out under formal regulation.

{Matzav.com}

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Never before had Sam Darnold and his dad cried together.

“We don’t do that,” Darnold said.

Then, on Sunday night, they let the tears flow — years’ worth of them. As Super Bowl champions.

How fitting that Darnold delivered the capstone of his topsy-turvy NFL career in the very same place where he recently revived it, and then celebrated afterward with those who supported him the most through it all: father Michael, mom Chris and fiancee Katie.

“It’s special. I shared a great moment with my parents and my fiancee Katie after the game and I think that’s what kind of got me a little bit,” Seattle’s quarterback said of his rare display of emotion.

“Me and my dad don’t really cry very often and I told my dad, and my mom, I’m here because of their belief in me. They believed in me throughout my entire career and I think that’s why I was able to believe in myself almost ad nauseam. Some people called me crazy throughout my career for believing in myself so much and having so much confidence but it was because of my parents.”

On the sideline of Levi’s Stadium two seasons ago, Darnold patiently paid his dues behind Brock Purdy as San Francisco’s backup quarterback and soaked up every ounce of knowledge he could from the coaches.

Back in the Bay Area on Sunday and beneath the bright lights, Darnold won a Super Bowl in his first year under center for the Seahawks — his fifth team in eight seasons.

Seattle captured the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy with a dominant 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots. Darnold even dressed in the same locker room Sunday where he once roamed with the 49ers, then took the field and completed 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown.

The 28-year-old Darnold now has an NFL title to his name, and that should be plenty to prove he belongs among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks after a much-criticized beginning to his professional career.

He hung tough for the Seahawks this season through the ups and downs, time and again. Just as he had done so many times before while facing the doubters who largely considered him a bust.

“It’s a unique story. I’m super blessed that that guy’s my quarterback,” linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “He just models what everybody on that team’s been through. We’ve all been rejected, we’ve all not been respected, and he’s just a guy at the helm for us.”

That forgettable, four-interception game in a 21-19 Week 11 road loss to the Rams in mid-November seems so long ago now. Darnold’s teammates stuck by him, and he used that day as fuel to be better: beating the Rams the next two meetings, rallying his team to a 38-37 overtime victory Dec. 18 before a 31-27 triumph in the NFC championship game last month.

“Everyone in that locker room believes in me,” Darnold said. “They’ve had my back from the jump and I have everyone’s back as well. That’s just kind of how we roll as a team. The journey and everything that comes with it and being able to win a Super Bowl, it hasn’t really sunk in, even just saying it out loud. It’s an awesome moment that I was able to share tonight with a lot of my teammates and coaches.”

Darnold credited that time with San Francisco playing in coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense while learning from Purdy as crucial to reviving his career, then he produced a breakout year with Minnesota last season before heading off to the Pacific Northwest.

Darnold started one game in 2023 for the 49ers and appeared in 10, throwing 46 total passes with 28 completions and a pair of touchdowns. He cherished the guidance he received from quarterbacks coach Brian Griese, an 11-year NFL veteran himself.

It has been quite a path for Darnold to find his footing in the pros after being drafted third overall by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2018 draft out of USC.

He had a 13-25 record and a 78.6 passer rating over his initial three seasons for the Jets — the second worst in the league among 43 quarterbacks with at least 15 starts from 2018-20.

“It’s all about my journey, the reason I’m up here is because of my journey, because of the ups and downs, especially the downs that I went through early on in my career,” Darnold said. “I learned so much about myself, about football. It’s funny how it works, I didn’t play great football my first few years of my career and then I come here to San Francisco and I learn a ton.”

In Seattle, Darnold has thrived — still with some of those same San Francisco ties. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak directed the Niners’ passing game in 2023.

It filled general manager John Schneider with joy that Darnold led the way for Seattle and so beautifully navigated the highs and lows of an NFL season.

“We’re all rooting for people like that, right?” Schneider said in the Seahawks’ cigar-smoke filled locker room. “He was the third pick of the draft for a reason. He’s a resilient guy, and I think that’s been a reflection of our team, too. … He’s a real person. He doesn’t fake anything. He’s like, ‘I am who I am, deal with it.’”

NEW YORK(VINnews) — As the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group continue to patrol the waters of the Persian Gulf, an Iranian drone that staged a show of presence was intercepted and destroyed en route toward the carrier.

The real story, however, is unfolding dozens of meters below the surface, where Tehran is implementing an asymmetric naval doctrine designed to challenge American dominance along the world’s most critical energy corridor.

Iran is not attempting to build a navy capable of confronting the U.S. Fifth Fleet head-on. Instead, it is deploying a “silent swarm” of submarines aimed at turning the Strait of Hormuz into a strategic trap, exploiting the fact that oil and goods worth more than $1 trillion pass through the narrow waterway each year.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards media recently released a new AI-generated video depicting a simulated attack and the sinking of the USS Abraham Lincoln. Iran currently operates one of the largest and most diverse submarine fleets in the Middle East, estimated at between 28 and 30 vessels.

This pathetic AI-generated clip visualizes a fantasy scenario where the Islamic Republic in Iran sinks the USS Abraham Lincoln. It shows them magically blinding US radars, swarming the fleet with speedboats, and forcing a retreat using submarines and mines. pic.twitter.com/VGKuvJM7s6

— Armin Navabi (@ArminNavabi) February 6, 2026

At the core of this strategy are approximately 20 Ghadir-class midget submarines—small but lethal platforms that Iranian commanders nostalgically compare to World War II-era German U-boats.

Weighing just 125 tons, these submarines were specifically designed for the shallow, complex waters of the Persian Gulf. They are capable of resting on the seabed, blending into background noise, and becoming extremely difficult to detect even by advanced sonar systems. Despite their size, they are armed with heavy torpedoes and can also launch Jask-2 cruise missiles from underwater, enabling surprise ambushes followed by rapid withdrawal.

Operating alongside them is the Fateh-class submarine, Iran’s flagship domestic production and the bridge between midget and heavy submarines. The Fateh is a semi-heavy platform equipped with modern combat management systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and an underwater endurance of up to 35 days. Iranian planners aim to create constant uncertainty for adversaries, calculating that even a limited incident, such as a small submarine striking an oil tanker, could send global energy prices soaring by tens of dollars per barrel.

Completing the fleet are Iran’s so-called “heavy” submarines: three Russian-built Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines, each 74 meters long, capable of launching torpedoes, missiles, and deploying naval mines.

Yet when the layers of propaganda are peeled back, the picture appears far less threatening. Despite rhetoric about naval power, Iran’s submarine fleet faces significant technological and physical limitations. The Russian-built Kilo-class submarines are largely ineffective within the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf, forcing them to operate mainly in deeper waters away from the primary theater.

Moreover, despite repeated declarations about ambitions to build nuclear-powered submarines, experts say such goals remain far beyond Iran’s current technical capabilities. The entire fleet remains dependent on diesel-electric propulsion with inherent operational constraints.

Ultimately, there is little reason for excessive alarm. Iran continues to struggle under heavy sanctions that hamper fleet maintenance, and a significant portion of its larger submarines reportedly spend extended periods out of service for repairs. Opposing them are U.S. and allied anti-submarine warfare systems, widely regarded as the most advanced in the world and specifically adapted to counter threats in shallow waters.

Iran’s undersea force may constitute an operational nuisance and a tool of psychological warfare, but it falls far short of altering the maritime balance of power against Western technological superiority.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Rabbi Aharon Botbol, a prominent Sephardic Haredi rabbi and son‑in‑law of the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, sharply criticized the Ashkenazi Haredi community during a live broadcast on Kol Barama radio on Monday, calling it racist in the context of matchmaking between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews.

Botbol’s comments came in response to a question from a teacher at a religious‑Zionist school, who asked how to explain to her students why intermarriage between Ashkenazim and Sephardim is rare in the Haredi sector.

“What do you want me to sugarcoat? The Ashkenazi public is racist, there’s nothing to do about it,” Botbol said. “Ashkenazim have many good qualities, but in this area, there is a problem.”

הגאון הרב אהרון בוטבול שליט"א: "הציבור האשכנזי גזען, זו האמת לאמיתה. א"א ליפות את המציאות" pic.twitter.com/WrER2b4wAh

— קול ברמה (@KolBarama) February 9, 2026

He praised the religious‑Zionist community and the Chabad movement for bridging ethnic gaps. “The ‘knitted kippah’ community overcame the issue of ethnic divisions, and in Chabad there isn’t much of this kind of racism,” he said.

Botbol concluded with a surprising remark: “The Haredi public has remained like in the days of Antiochus, but the Messiah will fix it when he comes. The Messiah will probably also be Sephardic, by the way.”

Botbol, 66, who serves as a halachic authority, heads the Yevia Omer rabbinical institute and oversees kashrut operations in the Modi’in region. Born in Morocco and based in Jerusalem, he studied at Yeshivat Itri and has become known in the religious‑Zionist and Haredi world for his weekly halacha programs and public lectures. He also broadcasts a halachic Q&A program on Kol Barama radio and has been involved with the Dorot Institute for Jewish law and medicine.

Q: If Hashem always does what’s best for us, how does tefillah help m’mo nafshach? If what we’re mispalel for is good for us, Hashem should do it anyway. If it’s not good for us, Hashem won’t do it.

A: Question: What’s the sense of praying for Hashem to change our status? If He sent something upon us, it certainly is for our benefit?

So briefly it’s like this: When we pray, we say to Hakodosh Boruch Hu as follows. “Ribono Shel Olam, o Master of the World, we know why You sent upon us, this-and-this, let’s say a toothache or a headache. It’s because we ignored you all the time, when we didn’t have a toothache or didn’t have a headache, we should have thanked You all the time,” because it’s a miracle that you don’t have a headache.

The head is full of circuits and the smallest circuit gets confused, there’s a mistake in the routing of the electric messages, you get a headache. Small things can cause big headaches. Sometimes allergies disturb the function of the brain, the function of the nerves and they send messages of pain. So many causes. Why we don’t have headaches all the time is a miracle. Why we don’t have toothaches all the time is a miracle. And why do we forget Hashem during all these days and months that the things are working perfectly, He’s doing the miracle for us?

So we say, “Hashem, we know the reason you sent us the headache today. It’s to remind us that you’re around.” So therefore, we say to Hakodosh Boruch Hu, “Now we acknowledge, we recognize that You’re around and from now on, if You’re going to heal us, we’re going to see to it that we’ll recognize You by thanking You constantly. That’s all You want. So why should we be aware of You by headaches? We’ll be aware of You by lack of headaches.”

So Hakodosh Boruch Hu says, “Well, if you really mean it, I’ll give you a try and let Me see if lack of headaches will cause you to thank Me as much as headaches will cause you to think about Me. Let Me see if lack of tzaros, if things go quietly and peacefully with you, when you’ll say, ‘ברוך אתה ה at the end of shemoneh esrei, המברך את עמו ישראל בשלום,” it’s peace. Peace means there’s no war. There’s no civil war, no invasions. Nobody’s gunning for you right now.

Once a man called me up late at night, an ex-yeshiva boy, he can’t leave the house because he borrowed a lot of money from loan sharks, gangsters. He was on narcotics, nebach and he couldn’t pay. It was 12:00 at night and he needed a few hundred dollars in emergency, otherwise he’ll be gunned down. What I did for him I can’t tell you. I didn’t do anything for him. But that fellow was in terror.

But tonight when you go home, nobody’s gunning for you. That’s shalom. Are you thanking Hakodosh Boruch Hu? There’s so many reasons why there shouldn’t be shalom, so many bad people in the world. Nobody’s bothering you.

You know at night when you go to sleep, you leave your telephone on, it’s a miracle why it doesn’t ring in the middle of the night, a drunkard, is calling up Mamie… It happens rarely. Our telephones are silent during the night. Bums don’t pound on our door. Accidents could happen, they need an emergency telephone. They’d pound on your door, “Open up quickly, you have to save a life.” What could you do? Run down in your pajamas. And so you live in peace. Do you appreciate peace? Are you thanking Hashem for peace?

So if you do, you always are thinking of Hakodosh Boruch Hu, no toothache, ah, boruch Hashem. Get up in the morning, no headache, boruch Hashem! If you get up with a headache, thank you for not having a toothache. There are worse things than headaches. Thank you for not having arthritis. People ache in many bones. Thank you for a lot of other things.

And this fellow who is being pursued by the loan shark gang, if he could get up in the morning with a good headache but know that his pursuers are all gone, he wouldn’t mind the headache. He’d be singing. He’d be humming in the bathroom.

And so, Hakodosh Boruch Hu says to us, “If you are sincere, then I’ll see that you don’t have to be reminded by headaches, because you’ll remind yourself by lack of headaches.”

And that’s the purpose of praying. Praying means, we know that You want us to think about You, that’s why You send the trouble on us. We promise You that instead of that, we’ll thank You all the time. And so Hakodosh Boruch Hu is willing to take your word for it, and He’ll exchange one reminder for the other reminder.

(Toras Avidgor – March 1981)

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Vice President JD Vance landed in Armenia on Monday — a country that no sitting U.S. vice president or president has visited before — as the Trump administration looks to advance a U.S.-brokered deal aimed at ending a decades-long conflict with Azerbaijan.

The vice president and his wife, Usha, were greeted with a red carpet, an honor guard and a delegation of officials. Armenian and American flags hung from poles from as the delegation drove to the vice president’s meeting, with some demonstrators on the side of the road, including one with a sign that said, “Does Trump support Devils?”

Vance is meeting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who signed a deal at the White House in August intended to reopen key transportation routes with Azerbaijan. At that meeting, the countries signed agreements reaffirming their commitment to signing a peace treaty. The text of the treaty was initialed by foreign ministers, which indicates preliminary approval. But the leaders have yet to sign the treaty and parliaments have yet to ratify it.

Vance arrived in Yerevan after spending four days in Milan at the Winter Olympics with his family, and plans to travel to Azerbaijan on Tuesday.

Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are both on President Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace. The group was originally envisioned to oversee the Gaza ceasefire plan, but has since expanded in size and ambition. Trump plans to convene the first meeting of the board in Washington this month.

The deal with the two former Soviet republics calls for the creation of a major transit corridor dubbed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. It is expected to connect Azerbaijan and its autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, which are separated by a 32-kilometer-wide (20-mile-wide) patch of Armenian territory.

The land bridge had been a sticking point in resolving a conflict that lasted for nearly four decades over control of the Karabakh region, known internationally as Nagorno-Karabakh. The region had been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since 1994. A six-week war in 2020 resulted in Azerbaijan regaining control of parts of the region and the surrounding areas. In September 2023, Azerbaijan launched a blitz that forced the separatist authorities to capitulate. After Azerbaijan regained full control of Karabakh, most of its 120,000 Armenian residents fled to Armenia.

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch personally called the wife of yungerman Rav Avraham Ben Dayan late Sunday night to offer chizuk and encouragement after her husband was taken into military custody, just four months after the couple’s wedding.

According to the report, the Rosh Yeshiva spoke with the young woman and sought to calm her fears following her husband’s transfer to the military police.

During the conversation, Rav Hirsch offered a clear reassurance regarding the length of the detention. “With Hashem’s help, they will do the maximum that can be done. With Hashem’s help, he will be released in a few days,” the Rosh Yeshiva told her.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Reb Avraham, a talmid of Yeshivas Me’or HaTalmud, had been sentenced to ten days of detention in a military prison.

The incident that led to the arrest occurred over the past Shabbos, when Reb Avraham was visiting the community of Tifrach. While there, he was stopped by a traffic officer on suspicion of a traffic violation. During the check, the officer determined that Reb Avraham had been classified as a “deserter” after failing to report to the draft office. He was taken to a local police station and subsequently transferred to the military police.

In the wake of the arrest, the case has sparked strong reactions within the chareidi community. Separate claims by the family alleged that the army prevented the detained yungerman from putting on tefillin on Sunday, an allegation that prompted the IDF to say it is examining the details of the complaint.

Public anger over the arrest spilled into the streets on Sunday night, when hundreds of protesters blocked the entrance to the police station and Route 241 at the entrance to the city of Ofakim. Police forces dispatched to the scene arrested three demonstrators and used crowd-control measures to disperse the protest, including stun grenades.

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews) — The Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 50,000 on Friday, a milestone that President Donald Trump celebrated on social media, predicting the benchmark index could reach 100,000 by the end of his term in January 2029.

The Dow crossing 50,000 marks a psychological milestone for investors, capping years of gains driven by corporate earnings growth, artificial intelligence investments and resilient consumer spending.

Trump said the rally reflects confidence in the U.S. economy and suggested the index could double again before he leaves office.

Market analysts say while 100,000 is mathematically possible, it would require an extraordinary pace of gains.

To climb from 50,000 to 100,000 in three years, the Dow would need to rise roughly 26% per year, far above its long-term historical annual average return of about 10%.

“That would require powerful, sustained gains across nearly all 30 components,” said one Wall Street strategist. “It’s not impossible — but it would be historically aggressive.”

What the Dow 30 Would Look Like at 100,000

The Dow is a price-weighted index, meaning the share price of each of its 30 companies — not its overall market value — determines its influence on the index.

At current levels, the combined share prices of the Dow’s 30 stocks total roughly $8,000–$9,000. To reach 100,000, the combined share prices would need to approach roughly $15,000, depending on changes to the Dow divisor.

Below is an illustrative estimate of where current Dow components would trade if prices roughly doubled proportionally:

Company

Ticker

Approx. 2026 Price

Illustrative Price for Dow 100,000

3M

MMM

~$110

~$220

American Express

AXP

~$240

~$480

Amgen

AMGN

~$380

~$760

Apple

AAPL

~$280

~$560

Boeing

BA

~$210

~$420

Caterpillar

CAT

~$725

~$1,450

Chevron

CVX

~$155

~$310

Cisco Systems

CSCO

~$80

~$160

Coca-Cola

KO

~$73

~$145

Disney

DIS

~$110

~$220

Goldman Sachs

GS

~$460

~$920

Home Depot

HD

~$325

~$650

IBM

IBM

~$195

~$390

Johnson & Johnson

JNJ

~$165

~$330

JPMorgan Chase

JPM

~$320

~$640

McDonald’s

MCD

~$295

~$590

Merck

MRK

~$125

~$250

Microsoft

MSFT

~$430

~$860

Nike

NKE

~$100

~$200

Procter & Gamble

PG

~$160

~$320

Salesforce

CRM

~$285

~$570

Travelers

TRV

~$225

~$450

UnitedHealth Group

UNH

~$510

~$1,020

Visa

V

~$275

~$550

Walmart

WMT

~$130

~$260

Prices are approximate and fluctuate daily. Estimates assume broadly proportional increases and do not account for index divisor changes or component swaps.

EXPLAINER: How the Dow Is Calculated

Unlike the S&P 500, which is weighted by market capitalization, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is price-weighted.

That means:

• A higher share price carries more influence — regardless of company size
• A $700 stock moves the index far more than a $70 stock
• Stock splits reduce a company’s influence unless adjusted by the divisor

The index is calculated by adding together the share prices of its 30 components and dividing by a figure known as the Dow divisor, currently a fraction below 0.2. The divisor is periodically adjusted to account for stock splits, spin-offs and company replacements so the index doesn’t artificially jump or fall.

Because of this structure, large gains in high-priced stocks like Caterpillar, UnitedHealth or Goldman Sachs can disproportionately drive the Dow higher.

Can It Happen?

For the Dow to hit 100,000 by early 2029, investors would likely need:

• Sustained corporate earnings growth
• Stable or falling interest rates
• Continued AI-driven productivity gains
• No major recession or global shock

Historically, doubling in three years would represent one of the fastest sustained advances in modern market history.

Strategists caution that round-number targets often carry more symbolic weight than predictive value.

“Markets don’t move on slogans,” one analyst said. “They move on earnings, liquidity and economic conditions.”

Still, with the Dow now at 50,000, Wall Street is watching closely to see whether the rally has further room to run.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – A group of prominent Israeli rabbis has called on the public to boycott the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, alleging that some of its exhibits promote intermarriage and ideas they describe as contrary to Jewish law.

In a public proclamation titled “Remove the Obstacle from the Path of My People,” leading rabbinic authorities from across the religious spectrum urged observant Jews not to visit the museum. The statement followed appeals by the Orthodox outreach organization Yad La’Achim, which said it had repeatedly asked museum officials to remove exhibits it considers offensive and spiritually harmful.

The proclamation, signed by several senior halachic authorities and rabbinical judges, said the rabbis had received “reliable information” that certain displays publicly recognize intermarriage. The rabbis described the content as deeply troubling and warned it poses a serious spiritual danger.

Yad La’Achim said its efforts to persuade museum management to alter or remove the exhibits were rejected. The organization said it would continue to pursue “all legitimate means” to press for changes, arguing that a state-recognized institution should not legitimize intermarriage.

The ANU Museum, formerly known as Beit Hatfutsot or the Diaspora Museum, presents exhibitions on Jewish history and identity around the world. Museum officials have not publicly responded to the latest call for a boycott.

ANU exhibit glorifying mixed marriage

BEIRUT (AP) — The number of people killed in a building collapse in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon has risen to 15, state media reported Monday.

A further eight people were injured, the state-run National News Agency reported. Lebanon’s civil defense said at least one person suffered a gunshot wound. Residents of the area gathered around the crater where the building had fallen and fired in the air following the collapse.

The six-story apartment building in the impoverished Bab Tabbaneh neighborhood collapsed Sunday afternoon. Resident of Tripoli, Lebanon’s second largest city, have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure.

Rescue workers and residents search for survivors in the rubble of a building that collapsed in the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo)

Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli due to poor building standards, but the incident on Sunday sparked particular outrage due to the high death toll.

Surrounding buildings in the area were evacuated out of fear that they, too, might be structurally compromised.

Officials have pledged to investigate the cause of the collapse and take legal measures against those found to be responsible for it.

Anger has swept through the chareidi public following revelations surrounding the arrest of a 23-year-old yungerman who was transferred to military police custody on Motzaei Shabbos, with his family alleging severe mistreatment that included preventing him from putting on tefillin and misleading them about his whereabouts. Senior Knesset member Moshe Gafni warned that “this will not pass quietly.”

The case, detailed extensively in the Israeli daily Yated, has raised serious accusations of callous and harmful conduct by law enforcement authorities toward the detainee and his family.

The incident began when Reb Avraham Ben Dayan, a talmid of Yeshivas Me’or HaTalmud who married just months ago, was stopped for a routine check by police in southern Israel. After authorities determined that he was listed by the army as a deserter, he was transferred to the military police. According to family accounts, what began as a standard arrest quickly escalated into a prolonged ordeal. Relatives who rushed to the scene brought his tefillin with them, but say officials categorically refused to allow him to put them on.

Beyond the religious violation, the report describes what the family says was deliberate deception. According to their account, Avraham was moved repeatedly throughout the night from one station to another—first from Netivot to Ofakim, and then to Sde Teiman—while each time the family was given incorrect information about his location. This, they say, prevented them from seeing him or delivering basic personal items.

Ultimately, Ben Dayan was tried in an expedited proceeding and sentenced to ten days of detention in a military prison. The episode sparked sharp reactions within the political system. Knesset member Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, condemned the incident in unusually strong terms.

“This avreich was arrested for no wrongdoing, and according to the family he was not allowed to put on tefillin,” Gafni said. “This is an army that calls itself a Jewish army, and they prevent a ben yeshiva from putting on tefillin.” He added, “This will not pass quietly. I will turn to the defense minister, and I will not let this hatred toward anything connected to Judaism pass as routine.”

Avraham’s attorney, Shlomo Hadad, has filed an appeal against the sentence in an effort to secure his prompt release, as scrutiny over the conduct of the authorities continues to intensify.

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed that unexploded bombs remain at nuclear facilities struck by the United States during the 12-day war in June 2025, creating safety concerns that must be addressed before international inspections can resume.

Speaking to Iranian media, Araghchi said he raised the issue with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi and asked whether there was any law or special protocol governing visits to nuclear facilities that had been attacked militarily. “He said, ‘No, there is no precedent for this problem,’” Araghchi said.

“I told him that a protocol is needed before visits take place, because there are safety and security concerns. There are unexploded bombs, and there are issues we need to agree on,” he added.

Araghchi said inspections should only proceed once agreement is reached on these safety matters, noting that Iran “is in contact with the agency on this issue.”

During the 12 days of the “Rising Lion” war in June 2025, Israel carried out extensive strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military sites. The United States struck the nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan.

Iran’s chief of staff, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and several senior commanders were killed in the strikes, along with nine nuclear scientists.

The Iranian foreign minister also said Iran would not accept demands for “zero enrichment,” calling such conditions “unacceptable.”

“If there are concerns about the objectives of Iran’s nuclear program, we are ready to respond through diplomacy, provide transparency and build confidence,” Araghchi said. “However, zero enrichment at the demand of others is unacceptable.”

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The fallout from Lindsey Vonn’s devastating crash in the Olympic downhill on a severely injured knee included a key question: Should she have even been allowed on a course that is dangerous even to perfectly healthy skiers?

The resounding answer on social media was no. The answer from the skiing community remains yes.

Nine days before Sunday’s crash, the 41-year-old American said she had ruptured the ACL in her left knee. It is an injury that sidelines pro athletes for months, but ski racers have on occasion competed that way. She appeared stable in two downhill training runs at the Milan Cortina Games.

When she arrived in Cortina last week, Vonn said she had consulted with her team of physicians and trainers before deciding to move ahead with racing. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) does not check on the injury statuses of athletes.

“I firmly believe that this has to be decided by the individual athlete,” FIS president Johan Eliasch said Monday in Bormio. “And in her case, she certainly knows her injuries on her body better than anybody else. And if you look around here today with all the athletes, the athletes yesterday, every single athlete has a small injury of some kind.

“What is also important for people to understand, that the accident that she had yesterday, she was incredibly unlucky. It was a one in a 1,000,” Eliasch added. “She got too close to the gate, and she got stuck when she was in the air in the gate and started rotating. No one can recover from that, unless you do a 360. … This is something which is part of ski racing. It’s a dangerous sport.”

The Italian hospital in Treviso where Vonn was being treated said late Sunday she had undergone surgery to repair a broken left leg. The U.S. Ski Team has said only that Vonn “sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians.”

The hospital had initially said it would release an update Monday, then said updates regarding Vonn’s condition would come from her team.

Onlookers on social media wondered if Vonn’s ruptured ACL could have played a factor in her crash near the top of the Olympia delle Tofana course, where she has a World Cup record 12 wins. That maybe, on a healthy left knee, she would not have clipped a gate and been able to stave off a crash.

“Totally incorrect,” Keely Cashman, her teammate, said Monday. “People that don’t know ski racing don’t really understand what happened yesterday. She hooked her arm on the gate, which twisted her around. She was going probably 70 miles an hour, and so that twists your body around. That has nothing to do with her ACL, nothing to with her knee. I think a lot of people are ridiculing that, and a lot people don’t (know) what’s going on.”

The hours after her crash was filled with opinions, mostly of the second-guessing nature. Like, should someone have intervened?

“It’s her choice,” veteran skier Federica Brignone of Italy said. “If it’s your body, then you decide what to do, whether to race or not. It’s not up to others. Only you.”

Brignone suffered multiple fractures in her tibial plateau and fibula bone in her left leg during a crash in April and made it back to compete in the Olympic downhill — finishing 10th.

American downhiller Kyle Negomir echoed that thought.

“Lindsey’s a grown woman, and the best speed skier to ever do this sport. If she made her decision, I think she should absolutely be allowed to take that risk,” Negomir said. “She’s obviously good enough that she’s capable of pulling it off. Just because it happened to not pan out yesterday doesn’t mean that it definitely wasn’t a possibility that she could just crush it and have a perfect run.”

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — New video footage from the day of the Brown University shooting that killed two students and injured nine others was released Monday, with city officials saying they had redacted the most graphic, violent images to avoid harming victims and “maintain the trust we have built in our community.”

“It is incredibly important to me that the city of Providence remains fully transparent, accountable and compliant with the state’s Access to Public Records Act,” Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said in a statement. “We also know that the footage and audio we are required to release will likely be harmful and traumatizing for the victims, families and neighbors who are still trying to heal and recover from this incident.”

News outlets across the U.S. and other countries had been requesting body camera footage, audio clips and other public records shortly after the shooting took place in mid-December.

The newly released material includes audio of a campus police officer calling city police at 4:07 p.m. “This is Brown police. We have confirmed gunshots at 184 Hope Street,” the officer said. “We do have a victim but we do not know where they are.”

Four minutes later, campus police called back with an update: “We have a suspect description, wearing all black and a ski mask, unknown travel direction.”

The city also released audio of communication among responding officers and dispatchers.

“We’ve got victims in the this building, get some rescues over here,” said one officer.

“Be advised this is an active shooter situation. We have multiple victims in this building.”

The city released those records Monday, saying they waited at the request of the victims′ families until after a memorial service was held the previous week on Brown’s campus.

On Dec. 13, gunman Claudio Neves Valente, 48, entered a study session in a Brown academic building and opened fire on students, killing 19-year-old sophomore Ella Cook and 18-year-old freshman MukhammadAziz Umurzokov and wounding nine others.

Two days later, authorities say Neves Valente, who had been a graduate student at Brown studying physics during the 2000-01 school year, also fatally shot Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro at Loureiro’s Boston-area home.

Neves Valente, who had attended school with Loureiro in Portugal in the 1990s, was found dead days later in a New Hampshire storage facility.

The Justice Department has since said Neves Valente planned the attack for years and left behind videos in which he confessed to the killings but gave no motive. The FBI recovered the electronic device containing the series of videos during a search of the storage facility where Neves Valente’s body was found.

[Video below.] King Charles III has sent a personal letter to Rav Moshe Sternbuch, raavad of the Badatz of the Eidah HaChareidis, extending his warm wishes on the occasion of the Rav’s 100th birthday.

The letter was sent in keeping with a long-standing royal tradition, initiated during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, under which individuals in the United Kingdom and certain Commonwealth countries who reach the age of 100 are eligible to receive an official message of congratulations from the reigning monarch. Rav Sternbuch, who was born in London in 1926, qualifies for the honor by virtue of his British birth.

The gesture has drawn attention across Torah circles, highlighting the remarkable life and enduring influence of one of the senior gedolei Torah of our generation, whose century of life has been devoted entirely to limud haTorah, harbotzas Torah, and psak halachah.

During the years of the Blitz in World War II, the family fled London, and Rav Sternbuch spent time sharing a room with Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, later the author of Michtav M’Eliyahu, who predicted that the young Moshe would grow into one of the gedolei hador. In a moment of hidden hashgachah pratis, Rav Sternbuch narrowly avoided boarding a ship that later sank with hundreds of children aboard, after guidance from Rav Elya Lopian led his mother to keep him home.

He learned for a decade in Yeshivas Toras Emes in Stamford Hill under Rav Moshe Schneider, alongside future Torah leaders and prominent figures, developing into one of the outstanding bnei aliyah of his generation.

After the war, Rav Sternbuch came to Eretz Yisroel to immerse himself further in Torah and to be close to the great gedolim of the era. He learned in Yeshivas Chevron and forged close relationships with the Brisker Rov, the Chazon Ish, and the Chebiner Rav, Rav Dov Berish Weidenfeld. Following his marriage in 1954, he served as rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Hamasmidim and later devoted himself to strengthening Torah in a variety of settings, including the establishment of Torah institutions and chesed frameworks for immigrant communities.

For many years, Rav Sternbuch has resided in the Har Nof neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where he serves as the rav of the Gra Shul, named for the Vilna Gaon, of whom he is a direct descendant. Since 2003, he has served as raavad of the Eidah HaChareidis.

The letter from King Charles III arrives as Rav Sternbuch continues, even at the age of 100, to learn, write, and guide Klal Yisroel. His extensive sefarim—including Teshuvos VeHanhagos, Moadim Uzmanim, Ta’am VeDaas Al HaTorah, and many others in both Hebrew and English—are studied throughout the yeshivah world and remain foundational works in contemporary halachic discourse.

WATCH RAV SHTERNBUCH RECEIVE THE LETTER FROM THE KING:

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Following intelligence indications gathered in recent weeks, IDF forces conducted a nighttime operation between Sunday and Monday in the Har Dov region of Southern Lebanon, arresting a senior operative from the Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya terrorist organization.

The suspect was detained and transferred for further interrogation inside Israeli territory. Weapons were also discovered inside the building where he was arrested.

Security officials said the Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya terrorist organization has promoted, and continues to attempt to  promote, terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and its civilians along the northern border during the course of the war.

The IDF Spokesperson stated: “IDF forces will continue to act to remove any threat to the State of Israel.”

The Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyya organization, which is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in Lebanon, confirmed the arrest and claimed that IDF troops entered the village of Al-Habbariyah on foot and “abducted” Atwi Atwi, a senior member of the organization.

The arrest follows IDF strikes carried out late last week on shafts used for weapons storage at Hezbollah military sites in several areas in Lebanon. Secondary explosions were identified following the strikes, indicating the presence of weapons at the sites.

The IDF noted that Hezbollah terrorist activity had been identified at the targeted locations in recent months and stated that the activity constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon. Israeli security officials said the decision to arrest the operative rather than kill him stemmed from the significant intelligence value expected from his interrogation, including information related to Hezbollah.

In a separate incident in Rafah, four Hamas terrorists were killed on Monday morning during a clash in eastern Rafah after emerging from an underground tunnel and opening fire on IDF troops from the 7th Armored Brigade.

The incident occurred around 8 a.m. as the force was operating against a tunnel in Israeli-controlled territory along the so-called Yellow Line in eastern Rafah. The terrorists exited the tunnel and opened fire, prompting a close-range exchange in which the soldiers returned fire and killed all four attackers. No Israeli troops were injured.

The IDF described the incident as a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas.

The New Jersey state Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee advanced legislation that, if enacted, would create a tax-advantaged savings program aimed at helping residents afford their first home.

The bill, sponsored by Senators Troy Singleton and Vin Gopal, would establish the New Jersey First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account Program, designed to help prospective buyers save for down payments and other home-purchase expenses amid rising housing costs.

Under the proposal, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency would certify eligible first-time buyers and coordinate with financial institutions to create dedicated savings accounts. Participants could contribute up to $15,000 annually, with a lifetime contribution limit of $75,000 and a maximum account balance of $150,000.

Account holders would receive a 5% state income tax credit on annual contributions, and interest earned on the accounts would be tax-free if the funds are used for qualified home-purchase expenses.

Gopal, a Monmouth County Democrat, said the legislation would help young professionals and working-class residents who are struggling to save while managing debt and rising rents. The program, he said, would provide “a clear, structured path to help them move toward homeownership.”

To qualify, applicants would need to earn less than $175,000 annually, have no recent history of homeownership, and complete a homebuyer education course. The program would require annual reporting to ensure funds are used for eligible purposes. Withdrawals for non-qualified expenses would face a 10% penalty, except in hardship cases such as death or disability.

The proposal is modeled on similar programs in states including Colorado and Virginia and is part of a broader effort by lawmakers to address declining first-time homeownership rates. According to the National Association of Realtors, first-time buyers accounted for just 24% of home purchases recently, down from a historic average of about 40%.

After days of punishing cold across New York, forecasters say temperatures are expected to slowly climb as the new week gets underway, offering relief following one of the harshest cold spells of the winter.

The recent freeze brought conditions described as “colder than parts of Antarctica,” with thermometers plunging to just three degrees on Sunday. Wind chills made it feel even more severe, dropping perceived temperatures to 14 degrees below zero, according to a report by the New York Post.

The Weather Channel warned that the Northeast was in the grip of an intense cold wave, stating:
“Bitterly cold temperatures are here for the Northeast, including New York City and Boston. Cold alerts blanket most of the region…where wind chills up to 15 degrees below zero are possible for millions. Single-digit high temperatures are possible for interior portions of the Northeast, and frostbite is a major concern. These temperatures are expected to be the coldest this winter season for the region.”

Despite the brutal conditions, meteorologists say a gradual shift is expected, with milder air moving into the New York City area as the week progresses.

City officials, meanwhile, are grappling with the human toll of the cold. Zohran Mamdani said Monday that 16 people were found dead outdoors during the extreme weather, according to Breitbart News. He reiterated that a “Code Blue” had been declared on January 19, urging residents to seek shelter indoors.

Addressing the deaths, Mamdani said, “Each of these lives lost is a tragedy. My heart was with the families of those mourning their loved ones,” and added that city agencies were continuing efforts to bring vulnerable individuals into warming centers.

Throughout January, tens of thousands of residents reported being without heat or hot water, with many placing responsibility on the mayor, Breitbart News reported.

Mamdani has also reportedly been summoned to appear before the City Council to answer questions about how the city handled the emergency. The outlet noted that “lawmakers are asking if the socialist mayor has done enough to protect tenants as heat complaints reach record highs.”

As the cold lingered, video footage captured frozen waterways in parts of the city, underscoring the severity of the conditions.

The New York Post cited a National Weather Service warning that read: “Rare Extreme Cold Warnings have been issued for more than 43 million people, including major metro areas such as New York and Philadelphia, through Sunday evening by the National Weather Service.”

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews) — President Donald Trump criticized Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show, calling it “absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER,” in a social media post on Sunday.

Trump added that the show is a “‘slap in the face’ to our country,” saying there is “nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show.”

“It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World,” Trump wrote.

Trump also predicted that the show would get rave reviews from the media, something it did ultimately receive, because “they haven’t got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD.”

Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny has faced a wave of conservative backlash since he was announced as the Super Bowl performer last year. The Grammy-winning artist brought his Puerto Rican culture to the stage at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California, playing a collection of his hit songs in a predominantly Spanish performance.

During the performance, Bad Bunny delivered a unifying message, expanding the meaning of “God bless America” to include all nations of the Americas – from Chile to Canada.

“God bless America, whether it’s Chile, Argentina,” Bad Bunny said as he proceeded to list more than 20 nations in North and South America, and displayed the flags of many of them. He stood beside the US flag and the flag of Puerto Rico, a US territory.

He also displayed a message written on a football that read: “Together we are America.”

The singer stopped short, however, of making a political statement about US immigration policies as he has done at the Grammy ceremony a week ago. Instead, Bad Bunny indulged in nostalgia. During one of his musical transitions, he referenced his journey to make it to the Super Bowl stage, saying, translated from Spanish, “It’s because I never, never stopped believing in myself, and you too, you too (as he pointed to the screen) should believe in yourself.”

Bad Bunny sang as he walked through a set designed like sugar cane fields, widely representing those in the Caribbean, like Puerto Rico and Cuba. He also stopped at a shaved ice stand, known as piragua. Bad Bunny went on to perform a large collection of hit songs, including “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” and “NUEVAYoL,” which he sang in front of a set design of a market called “La Marqueta.”

One of the most viral moments came when a couple held a real wedding ceremony during the performance, after being invited by Bad Bunny himself. The moment was later confirmed as legitimate.

Fireworks erupted at the end of the performance during a rendition of his hit song “DtMF.” Lady Gaga joined Bad Bunny on the field, performing a Salsa-inspired version of her song “Die With a Smile,” followed by a performance by Latin star Ricky Martin.

[Video below.] Rep. Mike Lawler said Sunday that removing more than 25 million undocumented immigrants from the United States is not a practical option, arguing instead for immigration reforms that combine border enforcement with a structured legal framework for those already living in the country.

Appearing on This Week, Lawler was questioned by host Jon Karl about an opinion piece he recently authored addressing immigration policy. Karl said, “You had an interesting op ed in the New York Times, about immigration, saying that, you know, not only do we need security on the border, we need, and reforms to, to to the way ICE is operating. We need a legal pathway forward for the people who are here illegally. Tell me why this is important and if you’ve gotten any traction on this.”

Lawler responded by pointing to decades of inaction on immigration and what he described as widespread public frustration. “Look, this is an issue that I’ve been focused on for years. You know, for 40 years, we have not solved our immigration crisis. The American people were rightly outraged by what happened under the Biden administration, where you had over 10.5 million migrants cross our border, most of them illegally. You know, porous Southern border needed to be shut down. President Trump did that. The fact is, we have had nine straight months of net-zero illegal border crossings. You’ve had 675,000 people deported, 1.9 million people. Self-deport. Many of those folks are criminal aliens or people who have been involved in the criminal justice system. The American people overwhelmingly support that. But what they do believe, if you’ve been in this country, right or wrong, for five, ten, 15, 20 years, your children and your grandchildren are American citizens. People don’t want to see families broken apart. And so there’s got to be a legal path forward, not a path to citizenship, but a legal path forward for people to come out of the shadows so that they can work legally, that they can pay their taxes, pay any back taxes owed, pay a fine, not collect government benefits, and not commit a crime.”

He concluded by tying his position to pending legislation and reiterating that large-scale removals are not feasible. “That is the basis of the Dignity Act, so that we can actually start to solve a crisis that has been, in effect, for 40 years. We have over 25 million people in this country who are undocumented. You’re not rounding them all up and kicking them out. It’s not realistic.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of pro-Hamas rioters held protests in Sydney and other cities across Australia during the visit of President Isaac Herzog

On Monday, Herzog spoke at the main memorial ceremony in memory of the Bondi Beach massacre victims. The event was attended by 9,000 people.

During his speech, the police clashed with antisemitic, terror-supporting protesters on the streets of the city. The police used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

The police acted forcefully against many of the protesters:

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Crowds of people outside Sydney Town Hall and outside St. Andrews Cathedral chanted, “Globalize the intifada,” calling for the murder of Jews worldwide.

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In Melbourne, a protest stand openly sold T-shirts calling for the murder of Jews.

Photo: Australian Jewish Association

Inside the hall, civilized Australians and Jews gave Herzog a standing ovation.

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(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

JERUSALEM(VINnews) — Israel’s National Public Diplomacy Directorate claims that “The State of Israel is authorizing the continuous entry of essential aid into the Gaza Strip, as no country has done in any war.” An official message from the directorate further stated that “The enormous quantities of food that have entered and continue to enter the Strip exceed the current needs of Gaza’s population by four times, according to UN methodologies.”

The reason for conveying this message by the Israeli government is clear: these days, just as throughout the war, Israel is being accused of responsibility for a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including allegations of starving the population and starving children. This message, at a sensitive point in time, both regarding progress in the phased plan for Gaza and in the Iranian context and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Washington this week,could be considered important in these contexts. The problem, however, is not the message but the reality.

While Hamas repeatedly violates the agreements that led Israel to a ceasefire, Israel continues to bow its head and sustain the terrorist organization. No amount of international credit is worth the heavy price of aiding the continued entrenchment of Hamas in Gaza.

According to shocking data published by military correspondent Avi Ashkenazi, officials in the Civil Administration believe that the number of trucks entering the Strip should be reduced from the current 600 to no more than 200, and even believe that 120, the minimum number mentioned by the UN, could be enough.

The report indicates that despite the fact that the supplies are ostensibly intended for the residents of the Strip, and even if one ignores the widely known fact that there are no innocents in Gaza, Hamas levies a direct tax on every truck entering Gaza amounting to 15%, approximately 75,000 shekels per truck. This totals 45 million shekels per month, going directly into the pockets of the terrorist organization—all under the auspices of the Israeli government.

One can decide that there is no choice, and as long as Hamas controls Gaza, with the hope and aspiration that this situation will remain temporary and end soon, trucks must enter. But why more than is necessary? This amounts to 45 million shekels flowing directly to terrorists instead of serving the needs of the population in the Strip.

In the coming period, decisions regarding Gaza will be made through the introduction of a technocratic government in an attempt to dismantle Hamas’s weapons either voluntarily or through an Israeli military operation. Even if the situation in Gaza is temporary and Hamas’s rule is expected to end soon, there is not a shred of mandate for anyone to assist the terrorist organization and finance it through those unnecessary trucks.

The message from the public diplomacy apparatus does not serve Israel’s interests. It serves those who argue against the state and indirectly even justifies the accusations leveled against it. Not to mention the damage to morale it causes among Israeli citizens, first and foremost IDF soldiers, who are dealing these days with an impossible reality: constant and tangible life-threatening danger and ongoing violations by terrorist organizations both within and beyond the “yellow line,,” while Israel continues to indirectly fund the same terrorist organizations.

[Video below.] Sen. Adam Schiff said Sunday that President Donald Trump is laying the groundwork to interfere with upcoming elections, asserting that the president is openly signaling an intention to manipulate or overturn the democratic process.

Speaking on This Week, Schiff responded to questions from host Jon Karl, who pressed him on what Trump meant by statements suggesting federal control over elections and Republican involvement in voting procedures. Karl asked, “What does he mean? What do you think he means when he says nationalize the elections? Or specifically that Republicans should take control of the voting?”

Schiff replied, “I think he fully intends to try to subvert the elections. He will do everything he can to suppress the vote. And if he loses the vote, and I think the Republican does now expect they’ll get a real drubbing in the midterms. He’s prepared to try to take some kind of action to overturn the result, and we really shouldn’t question that. We saw him try to the point of insurrection to overturn the 2020 election. We see him now taking these extraordinary steps with an election now five years ago. He’s basically telling us he intends to interfere in this coming upcoming election. He hasn’t brought prices down. There’s chaos and killing in American streets by ICE agents. The public has turned against him in every election we’ve had since his election.”

Continuing his remarks, Schiff argued that Trump’s political standing has steadily eroded and that the president is unwilling to accept another defeat at the ballot box. “The voters have swung wildly against him. And as you know, he said at that prayer breakfast, his ego cannot stand another loss. So we have to prepare for the worst. We have to prepare in every way we can. And frankly, the best preparation we have is not the Congress, because Republican senators, for the most part, are not going to stand up to him. The courts are useful at the lower levels, but at the Supreme Court, they have left him unrestrained. The best protection we have is to mobilize the largest voter turnout in U.S. history to so overwhelm the vote and get the kind of margins we saw in Texas in that special election so that there’s no way they can cheat.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

A UK political activist is calling for a massive “Freedom Flotilla” to Gaza and urging foreign governments to send warships to confront Israel — saying the effort would “terrorize the ‘Zionist masters that think they’re immune.’”

Ousman Babir Noor made the remarks during a January 25, 2026 conference at the Old Print Works in Birmingham, UK, outlining plans for what he claimed would be a flotilla of “1,000 ships” carrying civilians to Gaza this coming spring.

According to footage later posted online, Noor said organizers are attempting to “mobilize” countries “with a history of beating imperialism” — naming Cuba, Venezuela, Columbia, Malaysia, South Africa, and Namibia — and urged them to “do the right thing” by sending warships to “protect” the flotilla.

He claimed such a move would “terrorize the ‘Zionist masters that think they’re immune,’” could “captivate the world,” and could ultimately lead to a “one-million-man march into the West Bank.”

Noor is listed as a candidate for the Lozells Ward council elections in Birmingham on behalf of the Workers Party GB. His address was later posted to the Crispin Flintoff Show YouTube channel on February 2, 2026.

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WATCH:

Three Jewish men wearing yarmulkes were targeted Friday evening by an assailant with a knife in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, the European Jewish Press reported.

The incident occurred at about 7:00 p.m. after the Jewish men left shul and were walking home. A man approached them and asked them several times, “Are you Jews? Are you Israelis?” When one man responded affirmatively, the attacker shouted “Israelis,” pulled a knife from his pocket, and began threatening them.

The men fled the scene and alerted nearby police. Baruch Hashem, they were unharmed. An investigation was opened into the incident, but the assailant has not yet been arrested.

16th arrondissement Mayor Jérémy Redler denounced the attack “in the strongest terms” on social media. “Hatred and violence against a community have no place in Paris,” he vowed, adding that he will continue to “fight relentlessly against antisemitism.”

Last week, a group of thugs vandalized a Chabad elementary school in Paris.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Rav Reuven Hechster – From Talmid Muvhak to Mashgiach of Two of the World’s Premier Yeshivos

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

There are moments in the history of the Torah world that carry echoes of the past while charting the course of the future. The recent appointment of Rav Reuven Hechster as mashgiach ruchani of Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey – the largest yeshiva in the United States – is one such moment. It is a story of a quiet, self-effacing talmid chacham whose devotion to his rebbi, dedication to mussar, and love for bnei Torah have brought him to the forefront of Jewish spiritual leadership on two continents.

Rav Hechster’s formal inaugural shmuess took place recently at the Beren Dining Hall of Bais Medrash Govoha at the close of second seder, marking the culmination of a process that began two weeks earlier with the announcement of his appointment. The event was a powerful testament to the esteem in which Rav Hechster is held by talmidim, colleagues, and Torah leaders across the globe.

Now fifty-seven years old, this son of a Holocaust survivor has spent decades quietly building, teaching, and inspiring. His trajectory – from the batei medrash of Yerushalayim to the halls of Lakewood, from devoted talmid to the mashgiach of two of the world’s most prestigious yeshivos – is a testament to the power of a life lived in the pursuit of emes.

Roots of Greatness: Early Years in Eretz Yisroel

Rav Reuven Hechster was born on the 30th of Av, 5728 (1968), in Eretz Yisroel, to his father Rav Shmuel Hechster, a Holocaust survivor whose own journey through the fires of the Churban instilled in his family an unwavering commitment to Torah and avodas Hashem. That a man who had witnessed the destruction of European Jewry would raise a son destined to carry the torch of the great European mashgichim is itself a remarkable chapter in the story of Torah’s resilience.

Growing up in Yerushalayim, young Reuven was immersed from his earliest years in the atmosphere of kedushah that pervades the holy city. As a young man, he learned in Yeshivas Beis HaTalmud and later in Yeshivas Yerucham, absorbing the rich traditions of Torah scholarship and the foundations of mussar that would later define his life’s work. It was during these formative years that the seeds of his future role were planted – a deep thirst for truth, a sensitivity to the inner life of a ben Torah, and an appreciation for the transformative power of mussar.

The Pivotal Move to Lakewood: Finding a Rebbi

The next chapter in Rav Hechster’s life proved to be the defining one. He made the momentous decision to cross the ocean and join Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey. There, he was drawn into the orbit of the legendary mashgiach, Rav Nosson Meir Wachtfogel, zt”l – the man who would become his rebbi muvhak and whose teachings would shape every dimension of his avodas Hashem.

Rav Nosson Meir Wachtfogel zt”l – known simply as “the Mashgiach” – was one of the towering figures of American Torah Jewry. Born in 1910 in the small Lithuanian town of Kuhl, where his father served as rav, the young Nosson Meir studied in the famed Kelm Talmud Torah as a child and later at Yeshivas Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan in New York, where his peers included such future gedolim as Rav Moshe Bick and Rav Avigdor Miller. He went on to learn in the great yeshivos of Europe – Mir, Kaminetz under Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz, and then returned to Kelm – before a harrowing wartime escape through Russia, Vladivostok, and Australia brought him back to North America.

Handpicked by Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, in 1943, Rav Wachtfogel served as mashgiach ruchani of Bais Medrash Govoha for over fifty years. With a deep understanding of human nature and an ability to convey the mesoras ha’Torah and mussar from European giants like Rav Boruch Ber, Rav Yerucham Levovitz, and Rav Daniel Movshovitz, he connected with American talmidim in a profound and lasting way. His humility was legendary. “He strove with all his might his entire lifetime to conceal his true abilities and deeds,” one of his close talmidim wrote.

It was to this giant of a man that the young Reuven Hechster attached himself with the fierce devotion of a talmid who recognizes that he has found the source of truth. Rav Wachtfogel zt”l became his rebbi muvhak – his primary and most influential teacher – and the relationship that developed between them would shape the course of Rav Hechster’s entire life. The talmid drank deeply from the wellsprings of his rebbi’s Torah, mussar, and avodas Hashem, absorbing not merely the content of Rav Wachtfogel’s teachings but the very essence of how a mashgiach builds, inspires, and guides bnei Torah.

Building a Bayis Ne’eman

Rav Hechster married the daughter of Rav Tzvi Hirsh Josephs of Detroit, and the young couple settled in Lakewood, where he continued his growth in Torah as a member of the yeshiva’s prestigious Kollel Avreichim. These years of intensive, undistracted learning – spent in close proximity to his rebbi – further solidified the foundation upon which his future avodah would be built. Living in Lakewood during this period, Rav Hechster was able to absorb Rav Wachtfogel’s approach not only through formal shmuessen but through the daily example of a life lived entirely for Torah and mussar.

Leket Reshimos: Preserving the Mashgiach’s Legacy

One of the most significant contributions Rav Hechster has made to the Torah world is his monumental series of seforim titled “Leket Reshimos” – literally, “Collected Notes.” These volumes are a lovingly curated collection of the teachings, shmuessen, and insights of Rav Nosson Meir Wachtfogel, assembled from notes taken by talmidim who heard them directly from the Mashgiach himself.

Examples of what appears in his Leket Reshumos are as follows: 

When beginning to serve the public, one must realize that the fundamental principle is to stay away from self-interest.  This is both in financial matters as well as matters involving honor.  A person should rather befriend those who are concerned for the public welfare – with no self-interest.  There is a certain idol-worship within us and that is looking out for oneself.  This is truly a form of idol-worship.  The more we minimize it – the more we can reach love of G-d.

A person who uses the public to advance his own interests heaven forbid – distances himself entirely from connecting with the public – since he is only working toward his own self-interest. [Leket Reshimos, Purim p. 12]

The Yetzer HaRah’s main power to knock us out is to have us forget our lofty status – man is truly a prince. When the Yetzer HaRah makes us forget this, we trip up and do things that are unbefitting for a prince. Yoseph HaTzaddik during the period of the greatest test of his life responded to the wife of Potiphar, “I have a connection to the Patriarchs themselves! How can I have anything to do with what you are suggesting?” In this manner – he stood up to his challenge.

This is the way we can approach Elul. Elul can be understood and appreciated as an abbreviation for Ani Ledodi v’dodi Li. With this thought in mind, we can lift ourselves up and come ever closer to Hashem with this truth of I am to my Beloved – Hashem, and my Beloved is to me. When you remember and you feel that you are a ben Melech, a prince – you will act in an entirely different manner.

Regarding the general method of Avodah during Elul, Rav Hechster repeats the Mashgiach’s words:

“I do not know.  I just have a kaballah in my hands from all of my Rebbeim that whoever works hard, and exerts effort, and sweats, and does not stop, at the end he will achieve.  There are no yachsanim – people with yichus.  The nature of a person is established based upon his effort and sweat in serving our Creator.  If someone does not work and does not exert effort – he is left with nothing.  “a trapen shveis vart nit farlahren – a drop of sweat never goes to waste.”

The main Avodah in Elul has to be from the perspective of Assei Tov as opposed to focusing on sur merah. Rabbi Yisroel Salanter made a special seder for his students during Elul where they studied for 18 hours straight.  That is, they placed an emphasis on the “Assai Tov.”

Now, HaGaon HaRav Yisroel Salanter and his students were Gedolei Olam – they learned throughout the entire year to the best of their abilities.  If so, why davka during Elul did they learn 18 hours straight? The reason is that during the year, they did not have the strength to learn so much.  Only during these days. Which are days of Rachamim and ratzon, the mind opens up and the heart widens, and we become ever closer to Hashem, who is the teacher of Torah to His nation, Israel – then they felt that they had the ability to learn 18 hours straight.

When discussing the pressure – the anxiety that we are standing in Elul, Rav Wachtfogel answered: This is the wrong approach. We are now at the very beginning of Elul – it is not the last moment. There is a whole Elul Zman before us.  The Avodah of Elul must be normal: to daven well, to learn well, to guard the sedarim and learning times well, and to study Mussar.  If you conduct yourself in this manner, you will succeed – b’ezras Hashem!

The series spans a remarkable breadth of topics central to the inner life of a ben Torah. The first volume, published in Lakewood in 5759 (1999), addresses the study of mussar and avodas Hashem. Subsequent volumes have covered tefillah (5765), Elul and the Yamim Nora’im (5766), Chanukah (5767), the Bais HaMikdash (5768), and the defining qualities and essence of a ben Torah (5780). An additional volume, published in 5777, presents the Mashgiach’s teachings in light of the approach of the rosh yeshiva, Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l.

These seforim are not mere academic compilations. They are windows into the soul of a gadol b’Yisroel, presented by a talmid who understood his rebbi’s message with rare depth and clarity. The Mashgiach once taught: “When a person learns mussar, it should bring him to great simchah. If someone learns mussar and then becomes sad and depressed, it means that he learned it wrong!” This joyous, life-affirming approach to mussar permeates every page of the Leket Reshimos, and it is an approach that Rav Hechster himself has come to embody in his own teaching and hashpa’ah.

A Call from Mir Brachfeld: Returning to Eretz Yisroel

In 1999, a new chapter opened with the founding of Yeshivas Mir in Modiin Illit (also known as Mir Brachfeld). The rosh yeshiva of the Mir, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, zt”l – the legendary builder who expanded the Mir Yeshiva into one of the largest yeshivos in the world – personally sought out Rav Hechster to serve as mashgiach alongside Rosh Yeshiva Rav Aryeh Finkel, zt”l.

That Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel chose Rav Hechster for this role speaks volumes. Rav Nosson Tzvi was known for his extraordinary ability to discern greatness and to place the right person in the right position to maximize their impact on Klal Yisroel. In Rav Hechster, he recognized a man who carried within him the authentic mesorah of mussar from Kelm through Rav Wachtfogel – a golden chain of spiritual mentorship stretching back to the very foundations of the mussar movement.

Heeding the call, Rav Hechster returned to Eretz Yisroel with his family and settled in Modiin Illit, beginning the work that would define him for over a quarter of a century. His period of active leadership, stretching from 1999 to the present day, has been marked by an ever-expanding circle of influence and an ever-deepening impact on the lives of thousands.

Encounters with Gedolei Yisroel: Glimpses of a Mashgiach’s Soul

Two remarkable episodes – both of which Rav Hechster shared openly with his talmidim – offer a rare window into the kind of person he is and the kind of questions that occupy his mind. They reveal a man who seeks truth with relentless honesty, who consults the gedolei hador with reverence and yet is unafraid to say when an answer has not yet satisfied him, and who brings his talmidim along on every step of the journey.

Three Prophets, One Answer

Rav Hechster once related a remarkable incident that had occurred that very week. He had gone up to the home of Maran the Sar HaTorah, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, and posed to him a question that clearly weighed on his heart: “How can one know whether a person truly has yiras Shamayim?”

Rav Chaim, in his characteristically brief and penetrating manner, replied: “Look at his face carefully, and you will see.”

“The answer did not satisfy me,” Rav Hechster responded candidly. And so, with the relentless pursuit of clarity that defines a true ben Torah, he proceeded to the home of Maran the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman, zt”l, and posed the identical question. Rav Shteinman’s response was strikingly similar: “You look at him and you see.”

When Rav Hechster arrived at the yeshiva, he shared the entire episode with his talmidim, adding with characteristic honesty that the matter was still not entirely clear to him. One of the bachurim then went in to the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Aryeh Finkel, zt”l, and presented the question: How can one tell if a bachur is a yarei Shamayim?

And here was the wonder of it all – sheloshah nevi’im nisnab’u b’signon echad – three prophets prophesied in the same style. Rav Aryeh immediately cited the pasuk: “U’va’avur tih’yeh yiraso al p’neichem l’vilti secheta’u” – “And in order that His fear shall be upon your faces, so that you shall not sin” (Shemos 20:17). Rav Aryeh declared: “Yiras Shamayim is seen on the face.”

Three of the generation’s greatest Torah leaders – Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, and Rav Aryeh Finkel – each independently arrived at the identical answer, rooted in the same fundamental truth of Torah. And it was Rav Hechster’s relentless pursuit of clarity, his refusal to accept what he did not fully understand, and his transparency in sharing the journey with his talmidim that brought this extraordinary convergence to light.

The Mofes of the Tzitzis

A second episode, which took place before Rosh Hashanah of 5777 (2016) and which Rav Hechster himself shared with his talmidim at Mir Brachfeld, sent waves of astonishment through the yeshiva.

As the Yamim Nora’im approached, Rav Hechster traveled to Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman, zt”l, to consult with him about what topic he should address in the yeshiva before Rosh Hashanah – how best to strengthen the bachurim as they prepared for the days of judgment. Rav Shteinman’s answer was direct: “Speak about strengthening themselves in shemiras halashon – guarding one’s tongue from lashon hara.”

Rav Hechster responded: “That is a matter of shev v’al ta’aseh – refraining from a negative act. What about kum va’aseh – a positive action they can take upon themselves?”

A silence filled the room. And then Rav Shteinman offered a surprising reply: “Strengthen them in the mitzvah of tzitzis.”

“I did not understand the reasoning behind the Rav’s answer,” Rav Hechster later told his talmidim. “It seemed very puzzling to me that the Rav chose specifically the mitzvah of tzitzis.”

But then, while riding the bus back home, a thought struck him: perhaps he should check the tzitzis he himself was wearing. He examined them – and to his astonishment, discovered that his own tzitzis were pasul.

Only then did the full meaning of Rav Shteinman’s words become clear. The gadol hador had not merely been offering general advice for the bachurim – he had, with a kind of ruach hakodesh, directed the Mashgiach to a personal tikkun that he himself needed. The story spread through the yeshiva like wildfire, leaving the talmidim awestruck at the hidden depths of the gedolei Yisroel and at their mashgiach’s willingness to share so personal a moment with them.

These two episodes, taken together, paint a portrait of a mashgiach who is far more than a lecturer or an authority figure. Rav Hechster is a mevakeish – a seeker – who models for his talmidim what it means to pursue truth with humility and courage. He asks the hardest questions, he consults the greatest minds, he is honest about what he does not yet understand, and he shares the entire process with those he is charged with guiding. It is this quality – this radical transparency in avodas Hashem – that has made him so beloved and so effective as a mashgiach.

A Pillar of Modiin Illit: Building a Community of Ruchniyus

Over the past twenty-five-plus years, Rav Hechster has become far more than the mashgiach of a yeshiva. He has become the spiritual backbone of an entire community. In Modiin Illit – one of the fastest-growing chareidi cities in Eretz Yisroel – he is universally regarded as a trusted source of direction, inspiration, and personal guidance.

The scope of his weekly schedule alone is staggering and reflects a man who has given himself entirely to the klal. Beyond his formal responsibilities as mashgiach of Mir Brachfeld, Rav Hechster delivers a mussar shmuess every Motzoei Shabbos. Each Tuesday evening, he gives a vaad at Kollel Ateres Shlomo that draws hundreds of yungeleit. On Thursday nights, he leads a vaad for dozens of talmidim at Mir Brachfeld. On Fridays, he opens his home for a vaad with alumni. And every other Sunday, he travels to the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim for a vaad with graduates there. He also delivers regular shiurim at Yeshivas Kinyan Da’as in Beit Shemesh and conducts monthly vaadim for yeshiva alumni in Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak, and Modiin Illit.

Thousands of yungeleit seek his counsel – not merely for momentary chizuk, but for sustained, ongoing guidance in their avodas Hashem, their family life, their chinuch, and their personal growth. He has become, in the fullest sense, what his rebbi Rav Wachtfogel was in Lakewood for over half a century: a living repository of the mussar tradition and a compassionate, accessible guide for those striving to grow in their Yiddishkeit.

A Historic Appointment: Mashgiach of Bais Medrash Govoha

With the petirah of Rav Mattisyahu Salomon, zt”l, in early 2024, Bais Medrash Govoha found itself without a mashgiach for the first time in decades. The position – stretching back through Rav Salomon to Rav Wachtfogel to the very founding of the yeshiva by Rav Aharon Kotler – carries enormous weight and significance. It is a role that requires not merely scholarly brilliance, but the ability to touch hearts, to understand the struggles of the modern ben Torah, and to transmit the timeless values of mussar to a new generation.

Nearly two years after Rav Salomon’s petirah, the yeshiva approached Rav Hechster with the proposal to assume the position. The choice was laden with deep symbolism: here was a talmid muvhak of Rav Wachtfogel – the man who had held the position for fifty years – being asked to return to the very yeshiva where he had grown, to carry forward the legacy of his rebbi in the place where that legacy had been forged.

With characteristic humility and deliberation, Rav Hechster did not make the decision on his own. He sought daas Torah from Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlit”a, one of the senior roshei yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak and a leading posek of the generation. The decision was not simple. Delegations from Modiin Illit appealed passionately for him to remain, pointing to the irreplaceable role he plays in the city’s spiritual life – the many shmuessen, vaadim, and the personal guidance he provides to avreichim throughout the community. At the same time, representatives from Lakewood urged him to accept the position and serve Bais Medrash Govoha.

Following consultations, a remarkable arrangement was reached: Rav Hechster would divide his time between the two mosdos, spending approximately twenty days each month in Modiin Illit at Mir Brachfeld and about ten days in Lakewood. He would travel to the United States on Sundays following his free Shabbos in Eretz Yisroel. It is an arrangement that speaks to the extraordinary regard in which Rav Hechster is held by both institutions – each unwilling to relinquish his presence, and each recognizing the unique gifts he brings.

Carrying the Torch: The Chain of Mussar

There is a profound historical symmetry in Rav Hechster’s appointment. Rav Aharon Kotler handpicked Rav Nosson Meir Wachtfogel to be the mashgiach of his fledgling yeshiva in 1943. When Rav Wachtfogel protested that he did not know the art of public speaking, Rav Aharon waved away his concerns: “You’ll pick it up.” Rav Wachtfogel went on to serve with unparalleled distinction for over fifty years. Now, Rav Wachtfogel’s own talmid muvhak returns to that same yeshiva to assume the mantle his rebbi held for half a century.

Rav Wachtfogel was a product of the Kelm Talmud Torah, where the mussar movement was refined into a systematic approach to character development and spiritual growth. Through Rav Hechster, that tradition – from Rav Yisroel Salanter to Kelm, from Kelm to Rav Wachtfogel, and from Rav Wachtfogel to his devoted talmid – continues to live and breathe in the yeshivos of Modiin Illit and Lakewood.

Those who know Rav Hechster describe a man of remarkable warmth, genuine humility, and a burning desire to help every Yid grow closer to the Ribbono Shel Olam. He is not a distant, unapproachable figure perched on a pedestal. Like his rebbi before him – Rav Wachtfogel, who lived among his talmidim and was always accessible – Rav Hechster opens his home, his time, and his heart to the thousands who seek his guidance.

His shiurim and shmuessen, many of which are available through Kol HaLashon, reflect the same quality that characterized his rebbi’s approach: mussar as a source of simchah and growth, not gloom and self-flagellation. Rav Wachtfogel taught that if mussar makes a person sad, he is learning it wrong. Rav Hechster has internalized this message and transmits it to a new generation with clarity, warmth, and deep conviction.

He is, in sum, the son of a survivor who has dedicated his life to ensuring that the spiritual legacy of pre-war Europe not only survives but flourishes – in Yerushalayim, in Modiin Illit, and now, once again, in Lakewood.

A New Chapter for a Storied Institution

As Rav Hechster assumes his dual role, the Torah world watches with admiration and anticipation. Bais Medrash Govoha, the yeshiva that Rav Aharon Kotler built from a handful of talmidim into the largest makom Torah in the Western hemisphere, now has as its mashgiach a man who embodies the very ideals upon which it was founded. And Mir Brachfeld, the yeshiva that Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel entrusted to his care, will continue to benefit from his tireless devotion.

May Hakadosh Baruch Hu grant Rav Hechster the strength, the wisdom, and the siyata d’Shmaya to continue his extraordinary avodah for many years to come, and may the thousands who will benefit from his guidance find in him the same wellspring of chizuk, inspiration, and emes that he found in his beloved rebbi.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

LISTEN:

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​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

Lahav 433 police officers detained seven suspects for questioning for allegedly defrauding the state by receiving payments as part of the war evacuation grants for evacuation from northern Israel, despite never having lived in the north, the police announced on Monday.

According to reports, the suspects were arrested in the cities of Elad, Beitar Illit, Tzfas, and Jerusalem.

Investigators from the National Unit for Economic Crime at Lahav 433, together with the Investigations Division of the National Insurance Institute, conducted a large-scale covert investigation in recent months into the suspects on suspicion of bribery, aggravated fraud, conspiracy to commit a crime, and other serious financial offenses.

According to the suspicions, several suspects conspired and bribed an employee of the Population and Immigration Authority to change their registered home addresses to locations in northern Israel in order to create a false impression that they had been evacuated from communities along the northern border during the war.

By means of this false representation, the suspects allegedly obtained compensation and financial assistance unlawfully, as part of the evacuation grant paid by the National Insurance Institute.

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The police say these are serious suspicions that damaged the public coffers by millions of shekels, particularly in light of the fact that the alleged acts were carried out during a period of national emergency and wartime.

The suspicions include offenses of bribery, obtaining something by fraud under aggravated circumstances, conspiracy to commit a crime, and other serious financial offenses.

Police officials noted that the investigation is still in its early stages.

Subject to developments in the investigation, the suspects will be brought before the Petach Tikva Magistrate’s Court for remand hearings.

“The Israel Police in general, and the National Unit for the Fight Against Economic Crime at Lahav 433 in particular, will continue to act in cooperation with the National Insurance Institute to expose offenses of this kind and to bring all those involved to justice,” the police stated.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A teacher and several assistants at a supervised daycare center in the yishuv of Beit Aryeh in the northern Shomron were arrested for suspected abuse of babies and toddlers, the police announced on Monday morning.

According to reports, after the police received a report of abuse at the center, they reviewed security camera footage that revealed serious suspicions of abuse, including physical violence, against helpless babies.

The suspects, residents of Beit Aryeh in their 20s to 40s, were transferred for interrogation. The director of the daycare was also detained for questioning, and the police are expected to request an extension of their detention in court later on Monday.

Beit Aryeh is a secular yishuv established in 1981 with 60 families, most of whom were employees of the Israel Aerospace Industries. It was later recognized as a local council, and in 2004, it merged with the yishuv of Ofarim and is now known as the Beit Aryeh-Ofarim local council. About 1,250 families live on the yishuv.

In a separate case, an abusive aide from a daycare in Netanya has been convicted of over 60 horrifying incidents of abuse against babies aged seven months to eighteen months old.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

LISTEN:

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The IDF spokesperson on Monday morning reported a serious shooting incident during an IDF operation to clear an area in Rafah of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure.

During the operation, four terrorists emerged from a tunnel shaft within the Yellow Line and opened fire at the soldiers. The soldiers quickly returned fire, killing all four terrorists.

The incident is the third ceasefire violation within the past week.

The IDF spokesperson stressed that the incident represents a serious breach of the ceasefire, and it views the incident with the utmost gravity.

The spokesperson added that IDF forces of the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to take action to neutralize any immediate threat.

As Hamas carries out repeated violations of the ceasefire, Israel continues to transfer massive amounts of “humanitarian” aid to the Strip.

Activists of the Tzav 9 movement expressed outrage about the convoys of humanitarian aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip on Monday morning through the Kerem Shalom Crossing.

Tzav 9 chairwoman Reut Ben Haim stated, “No disarming of Hamas, no disbanding of Hamas—we are effectively paving the way for the next massacre against the residents of the border communities.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Chapter Two: The Dawn Begins — Garments, Lotteries, and the First Stirrings of Avodah

One day, every one of us will be asked: Tzipisa l’yeshuah? Did you actively yearn for the Geulah?  Not “did you believe it would come.” Not “did you hope.” Did you yearn?  But how do you yearn for something you barely know?

There is an answer. Learn about it. The more you learn about the Beis HaMikdash, the more real it becomes. And the more real it becomes, the more your heart will pull toward it — until the yearning is no longer something you have to work at. It simply lives inside you.

So read my diary. I am Har HaBayis. [This diary is based upon Avodas HaKorbanos, by teh Chofetz Chaim’s son-in-law. It can be reviewed in 30 days by reading each article. For the first click here.]

Entry Six — Before the Sun Rose, They Were Already Preparing

The night was still heavy upon Yerushalayim, but inside me, the Beis HaMikdash was already stirring. The guards had kept their watch. The Leviim had stood at their posts. And now — in those hushed hours before dawn — the Kohanim began to prepare for the very first avodah of the day.

It was called terumas hadeshen. A Kohen would climb to the top of the Outer Mizbei’ach — the great Altar that stood in my Courtyard — and take a small amount of ash from its peak. He would carry it down and place it gently on a designated spot on the Courtyard floor, known as the beis hadeshen. It sounds simple. But nothing in the Beis HaMikdash was ever simple. Every act was a meeting between Heaven and earth, and this quiet removal of ash was no different.

But before any of this could happen, the Kohen had to be properly dressed. He had to be clothed in his Bigdei Kehunah — his priestly garments. Because in Hashem’s house, you do not approach the Avodah as you are. You approach it as you are meant to be.

Those Kohanim who were physically fit and eager to serve would wake up very early — even before the administrator in charge of the lotteries arrived. Each one would go to the mikveh, immerse himself, dry off, and then put on four priestly garments. The Torah itself commands this (Vayikra 6:3): “The Kohen shall don his tunic of linen, and breeches of linen shall he don upon his flesh; he shall separate some of the ash” (Rambam, Hil. Temidin U’Mussafin 2:10).

I would feel them moving through the early darkness — quiet footsteps, splashing water, the soft rustle of linen being drawn over clean skin. They were getting ready to serve the Ribbono Shel Olam. And I was getting ready to hold them while they did.

Entry Seven — The Humble Garments of the Terumas HaDeshen

There was a detail about the terumas hadeshen that always touched me. The garments the Kohen wore for this service were not his finest. They were supposed to be of lesser quality than the ones he would wear later in the day for the other avodos.

Why? The Torah itself hints at it (Vayikra 6:4): “Then he shall remove his garments and don other garments; then he shall remove the ash.” The Gemara (Yoma 23b) explains that the word “other” teaches that these garments should be of lower quality. And the reason is beautiful in its simplicity: it would not be proper for a servant to wear the same fine clothes while cleaning up ashes as he would while serving his master a cup of wine.

Think about that. Even the act of cleaning the Mizbei’ach was an avodah — a sacred service. But the Kohanim understood distinctions of kavod. They understood that there are levels and layers to honoring the King. The ash had to be removed with reverence, but the finer garments were reserved for the finer service. Derech eretz — proper conduct — came before everything.

I loved that about my Kohanim. They never forgot that avodas Hashem is not just about doing the right thing. It is about doing it in the right way.

Entry Eight — The Four Garments of the Kohen Hedyot

Let me describe what an ordinary Kohen — a Kohen hedyot — looked like when he was dressed for the Avodah. He wore four garments: breeches, a tunic, a sash, and a turban. Four garments, and each one carried the weight of the Torah’s command.

The very first garment to go on was the breeches. The Torah says (Vayikra 16:4): “A tunic of linen that is sacred he shall don; and breeches of linen shall be upon his flesh.” From here we learn that the breeches went on first, directly upon the body. They covered the Kohen from just above the navel down to the end of the thigh, near the knee. The Torah states (Shemos 28:42): “You shall make for them pants of linen to cover the flesh of nakedness; from the waist to the thighs shall they be.” They had drawstrings along the top edges, which the Kohen would tighten around his waist, and two openings at the bottom for his legs.

Next came the tunic. The Torah says (Shemos 29:8): “His sons you shall bring near, and you shall clothe them in tunics.” The tunic fit closely to the Kohen’s body, with a round opening near the top for his head (Rambam, Hil. Klei HaMikdash 8:16).

Then the sash. The Torah states (Shemos 29:9): “You shall gird them with a sash — Aharon and his sons.” It was tied at about elbow height (Rambam, Hil. Klei HaMikdash 10:1–2 and 8:18–19; Zevachim 18b).

And finally, the turban. “And you shall wrap turbans on them” (Shemos 29:9).

Four garments. Four layers of kedushah wrapped around a human being, transforming him from a man into a servant of the Most High. I could feel the change every time a Kohen finished dressing. It was as if the air around him shifted. He was no longer just himself. He was carrying the mission of Klal Yisrael on his body.

Entry Nine — Every Garment Had to Be Perfect

I must tell you something that reveals just how exacting the Avodah was — and how seriously the Torah takes every detail of serving Hashem.

If a Kohen’s garments were invalid for any reason — any reason at all — he was considered unfit to perform any of the services. It was as if he were not a Kohen at all. The garments were not accessories. They were part of the Avodah itself.

And the fit had to be exact. The Torah says (Vayikra 6:3): “The Kohen shall don his tunic of linen.” The Gemara (Yoma 23b) explains that the unusual word “mido” — meaning “his tunic,” with the possessive — teaches that the garment must fit him precisely. The tunic had to reach just above the floor, close to his heels. The sleeves had to extend to the start of his palms. The width had to be fitted exactly to his arms. Not too long, not too short, not too loose, not too tight (Rambam, Hil. Klei HaMikdash 8:4 and 17; Yoma 23b, 72b).

And there was more. Absolutely nothing could come between the priestly garments and the Kohen’s skin. The Torah says (Vayikra 6:3): “Breeches of linen shall he don upon his flesh.” The words “upon his flesh” teach us that nothing may separate the garments from his body. Even a single loose hair. Even a tiny bit of dirt. Even a dead louse. Any of these would be a chatzitzah — a halachic barrier — and the entire service would be invalid (Rambam, Hil. Klei HaMikdash 10:6; Zevachim 19a).

I marveled at this. A hair. A speck of dust. In the eyes of the world, these are nothing. But in the Beis HaMikdash, they were everything. Because when you stand before the Ribbono Shel Olam, there is no such thing as “close enough.” There is only truth.

Entry Ten — The Eight Garments of the Kohen Gadol

And then there was the Kohen Gadol.

If the ordinary Kohanim moved me with their four garments, the Kohen Gadol took my breath away with his eight. He wore the same breeches, tunic, and sash as every other Kohen. But layered upon those were four additional garments that belonged to him alone — garments that carried the names of the Shevatim, the glow of techeiles, and the whisper of the Urim V’Tumim.

After tying his sash, the Kohen Gadol would put on the Me’il — the Robe — made entirely of techeiles wool. The Torah states (Shemos 28:31): “And you shall make the Robe of the Ephod entirely of techeiles wool.” Along its hem hung golden bells and pomegranates, and the Torah says (Shemos 28:35): “It must be on Aharon in order for him to serve, and its sound shall be heard when he enters into the Sanctuary before Hashem, and when he leaves” (Rambam, Hil. Klei HaMikdash 10:3 and 9:3).

I remember that sound. The gentle ringing of the bells as the Kohen Gadol moved through the Heichal. It was the most beautiful sound I have ever held within my walls. It said: The Kohen Gadol is here. He is serving. Hashem is listening.

On top of the Robe, he would place the Ephod — a kind of apron — with the Choshen, the Breastplate, attached to it. He would tighten the belt of the Ephod over the Robe, just beneath where the Choshen rested upon his chest. The Torah says (Shemos 28:29–30): “And Aharon shall carry the names of the sons of Israel on the Breastplate of Judgment upon his heart when he comes into the Sanctuary, as a remembrance before Hashem constantly. And you shall place into the Breastplate of Judgment the Urim and the Tumim, and they shall be upon the heart of Aharon when he comes before Hashem; and Aharon shall carry the judgment of the Children of Israel upon his heart before Hashem constantly.” And it says (Shemos 29:5): “And you shall take the garments and you shall clothe Aharon with the tunic, with the Robe of the Ephod, the Ephod, and with the Choshen; and you shall gird him with the belt of the Ephod” (Rambam, Hil. Klei HaMikdash 9:5–10).

The names of all twelve Shevatim, resting on his heart. Every time the Kohen Gadol entered the Kodesh, he carried all of Klal Yisrael with him. No one was forgotten. No one was left outside.

After the Ephod and Choshen were fastened, the Kohen Gadol would wrap his turban upon his head and then tie the Tzitz — the golden Head-plate — above the turban. His hair could be seen between the Tzitz and the turban, and it was in that very space that he placed his tefillin. The Torah says (Shemos 29:6): “And you shall place the turban on his head, and you shall place the crown of sanctity upon the turban.” The Gemara (Chullin 138a) teaches that a woolen dome-like covering rested on the Kohen Gadol’s head, and the Tzitz sat upon it, as the Torah says (Shemos 28:37): “And you shall place it on a ribbon of techeiles wool, and it shall be upon the turban; opposite the front of the turban shall the Tzitz be” (Rambam, Hil. Klei HaMikdash 10:3).

When the Kohen Gadol was fully dressed — all eight garments in place, the Tzitz gleaming on his forehead with the words “Kodesh LaHashem” — I felt as if all of Creation was holding its breath. Here was a human being clothed in the very language of Heaven, standing in the place where Heaven and earth met. And I was that place. I held him. I held them all.

Entry Eleven — The Lottery: Who Will Serve?

One of the things I remember most vividly was the lottery. The payis.

Each beis av — each family group of Kohanim — was assigned a specific day of the week when only they would serve. But even within one family, there were often many Kohanim who all wanted the zechus of performing the various parts of the daily Tamid offerings. The desire to serve was so strong, the eagerness so fierce, that the Chachamim had to set up a system to keep things fair and peaceful.

And so they created the lotteries.

After the Kohanim had prepared themselves in the early morning — immersing in the mikveh, putting on their priestly garments — they would wait in the Beis HaMoked for the administrator to arrive. He would come and knock softly on the door. They would open it for him. And he would say: “Whoever has immersed himself and is prepared to perform the avodah of separating the ash from the Mizbei’ach should come and take part in a lottery.” Then they held the lottery. And whoever won, won (Rambam, Hil. Beis HaBechirah 8:11; Tamid 26a, Yoma 25a).

Here is how it worked: The Kohanim would stand in a circle and agree on a random number — perhaps eighty, perhaps one hundred. The administrator would call out: “Put out your fingers!” Each Kohen would hold out one or two fingers. The administrator would remove the turban of one Kohen to mark where the count would begin, then replace it. He would go around the circle, counting each outstretched finger, until the total reached the chosen number. The Kohen on whom the count landed was the winner. He had earned the zechus of performing the terumas hadeshen (Rambam, Hil. Temidin U’Mussafin 4:1 and 3; Yoma 24b–25a).

I loved those moments. The circle of Kohanim. The outstretched fingers. The hush as the count moved around the ring. And then — the quiet joy on the face of the one who was chosen. He would step forward, knowing that in a few moments he would climb my Mizbei’ach and perform the first sacred act of the day.

It was never about competition. It was about longing. Every one of those Kohanim wanted to serve. And the lottery made sure that the longing itself was honored.

Entry Twelve — The Morning Inspection

After the first lottery was complete, the Kohanim were ready to enter my Courtyard. But they did not rush in. The first thing they did each morning was something quiet, something careful, something that spoke of their deep reverence for the sacred space: they inspected the entire Azarah.

The administrator took the key and opened the smaller entrance that led from the Beis HaMoked into the Temple Courtyard. He walked in first, and the other Kohanim followed behind him, carrying two flaming torches in their hands.

Then the group split in two. One group walked along inside the portico to the east. The other walked along inside the portico to the west. As they moved through the early darkness, they carefully checked everything — every holy vessel, every sacred utensil — making sure that all was in its proper place. They kept walking until the two groups met at the Chamber of the Makers of the Chavitin (Rambam, Hil. Beis HaBechirah 8:11–12; Tamid 28a).

And when they met, one group would ask the other: “Is it well?” And the answer would come back: “All is well.”

“Is it well?” “All is well.”

Those words echoed through my stones every single morning. They were not a formality. They were a declaration: The Beis HaMikdash is intact. The kedushah is undisturbed. We are ready to begin.

I ache to hear those words again.

Entry Thirteen — The Chavitin: The Kohen Gadol’s Personal Offering

When the two groups of Kohanim met at the Chamber of the Chavitin and confirmed that all was well, some of them were appointed to begin preparing something extraordinary: the chavitin loaves.

This was a daily offering that the Kohen Gadol brought from his own personal money. Not from the communal funds. Not from the treasury. From his own pocket. It was a positive commandment from the Torah (Vayikra 6:13): “This is the offering of Aharon and his sons, which they shall offer to Hashem — a tenth of an eiphah of fine flour.” Half was offered in the morning and half in the afternoon.

There was something deeply moving about this. The Kohen Gadol — the man who represented all of Klal Yisrael before Hashem — also had his own personal korban. His own private conversation with the Ribbono Shel Olam, baked into twelve loaves and offered on the fire of the Mizbei’ach.

Entry Fourteen — How the Chavitin Was Prepared, Step by Step

The preparation of the chavitin was meticulous. Every step was performed with precision, because every step was Torah.

First, the Kohen Gadol would bring from his home a full tenth of an eiphah of flour and sanctify it as one unit in a kli shareis — a holy vessel. Then he would divide it in two, using a special half-issaron measuring cup that was kept in the Mikdash for this purpose. The Torah says: “As a minchah that is continual; half of it…” This teaches that the complete issaron was first brought as one, and only then divided into two portions (Rambam, Hil. Maaseh HaKorbanos 13:2–3).

He would also bring three log-measures of oil, as the Torah says (Vayikra 6:14): “With oil it should be made.” He would divide the oil into twelve equal parts, using the quarter-log measure kept in the Mikdash. Then he would take each half-issaron of flour and divide it into six portions — giving him twelve measures of flour and twelve quarter-logs of oil in total.

Each measure of flour was mixed with its matching quarter-log of oil. The Torah says (Vayikra 2:5): “Fine flour mixed with oil.” Then the mixture was scalded in boiling water, as the Torah instructs (Vayikra 6:14): “With oil it should be made, scalded shall you bring it.”

After scalding, the flour was kneaded with warm water, but great care was taken to ensure it did not become chametz. The Torah says (Vayikra 2:5): “Unleavened shall it be.”

They would form six loaves from each half-issaron — twelve loaves in total. This was learned through a gezeirah shavah from the laws of the lechem hapanim, the Showbread. Each loaf was partially baked in the oven — the Torah (Vayikra 6:14) calls them “tufinei,” meaning parcooked. Then each loaf was lightly fried on a shallow pan, using the remainder of its corresponding oil.

Entry Fifteen — Breaking the Loaves and Adding the Levonah

The Kohen would then take each of the six loaves in each group and break them by hand into two approximately equal halves. This gave him twelve half-loaves for the morning offering and twelve half-loaves for the afternoon.

But there was one more step — and it was exquisite in its care. Each half-loaf was taken, folded in two, and then broken apart in such a way that each remaining piece was itself still a folded-over piece. The Torah says (Vayikra 6:14): “A meal-offering, broken into pieces.” The Sifra explains that the Kohen must fold each piece over in two (Rambam, Hil. Maaseh HaKorbanos 14:4; see Raavad there, who disagrees).

Finally, the Kohen would take a kometz — a handful — of levonah, frankincense, and divide it in two. Half was placed with the twelve half-loaves of the morning chavitin, and the other half with the twelve half-loaves of the afternoon. The levonah could be placed to one side, as long as it rested upon some of the loaves (Rambam there).

I remember the fragrance. The warm scent of freshly baked loaves mingled with the sharp sweetness of the levonah. It filled the Chamber and drifted out into the Courtyard. It was the scent of devotion — the Kohen Gadol’s own personal gift to the Ribbono Shel Olam, prepared with his own hands, from his own resources, offered twice each day without fail.

That scent is gone now. My stones no longer carry it. But somewhere, in a place deeper than memory, I still hold it. And I wait for the day when the Kohen Gadol will bring his flour and his oil once more, and the fragrance of the chavitin will rise from my Mizbei’ach again.

B’ezras Hashem. Bimheirah b’yameinu. The first entry can be read here. 

The author can be reached at [email protected]

In a dramatic operation overnight Sunday, IDF special forces raided a building in southern Lebanon and arrested a senior terrorist from the Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya terror organization and transferred him to Israel for interrogation.

Shortly after the IDF spokesperson issued a statement about the raid on Monday morning, the Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya terror group confirmed the report, stating that IDF soldiers entered the village of Al-Habbariyah on foot and “abducted” Atwi Atwi, one of the organization’s senior terrorists.

The raid, which took place at a building in the Har Dov area only five kilometers from Israel’s northern border, was launched on the basis of intelligence findings collected in recent weeks. The IDF said that weapons were found in the building.

The Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya terror group, affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in Lebanon, has carried out and promoted multiple attacks against Israel since the outbreak of the war following the October 7 massacre—at times operating in coordination with Hezbollah.

Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya is a Sunni Islamist movement founded in 1964 as the Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. The group advocates for implementing Islamic law across Lebanon and maintains a presence throughout much of the country.

Its military wing, the Al-Fajr Forces, was formed in 1982 during Israel’s First Lebanon War and fought the IDF until Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000.

As a Muslim Brotherhood affiliate, Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya shares close ideological alignment with Hamas. Some reports say that Hamas even pays salaries to some of its Lebanese members. The groups have conducted “joint operations” in southern Lebanon since October 8, 2023, and issued joint statements about fallen fighters. Two of Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya operatives were killed in the same Israeli airstrike that eliminated Hamas deputy political bureau chief Saleh al-Arouri.

Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya also maintains ties and cooperation with Hezbollah, despite deep ideological differences. The two groups fought together against the IDF after Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon and cooperated in terror activities against Israel after the October 7 massacre. At least 10 of its terrorists—some identified as commanders—were killed during the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2024.

Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya is also now entrenched in southern Syria. In November 2025, IDF forces carried out an arrest operation in the village of Beit Jann in southern Syria against Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya terrorists who were planning attacks against IDF soldiers and targets in Israel. In the ensuing firefight, six IDF soldiers were wounded, and about 20 terrorists were killed.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

an Op-Ed by Shira Miller

Naftali Bennett has a gift for dramatic rhetoric. On Sunday evening, the former Prime Minister launched a blistering attack on Benjamin Netanyahu, comparing him to Forrest Gump — “a weak, pitiful, helpless nebbish who just happened to stumble into events.” It was a clever sound bite, delivered in a slick, pre-recorded video statement timed to maximize media impact. It was also breathtakingly hypocritical, coming from the man whose own political choices helped set the stage for the very catastrophe he now decries.

Before we address the substance of Bennett’s critique, we must address the critic himself.

This is the man who, in June 2021, made a coalition deal with Ra’am — the political wing of the Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, an Islamist party whose platform supports the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Right-wing voters who had trusted Bennett felt profoundly betrayed. He had won just seven Knesset seats with their votes and leveraged those seats into a coalition with ideological adversaries spanning the entire political spectrum — from the hard-left Meretz to the Islamist Ra’am. Bennett himself praised Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas as “courageous” and later, in a New York Times op-ed, called him “a mensch.” Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, by contrast, publicly denounced Abbas as “Abu Righal” — a legendary traitor in pre-Islamic lore — for propping up an Israeli government.

Then came the defections. First Amichai Chikli. Then Idit Silman. Then Nir Orbach. Bennett’s own party disintegrated beneath him. He was forced to announce he would not seek re-election, and his Yamina party effectively ceased to exist as a political force. Polls showed the party hovering near or below the 3.25% electoral threshold. His former partner Ayelet Shaked ran the remnants under “Zionist Spirit.”

She was wiped out at the ballot box.

Bennett served as Prime Minister for just 381 days — Israel’s shortest-serving Prime Minister in history. This is the man now lecturing Netanyahu about leadership.

But the betrayal was not merely symbolic. It was operational. And it was lethal.

Bennett’s coalition government dramatically expanded the number of Gazan work permits — a policy with devastating consequences. Under Bennett’s direct authority, the number of permits tripled from roughly 5,000 to 15,000, a decision he personally made as Prime Minister. Defense Minister Benny Gantz assessed and approved the expansion. By late 2022, the number had swelled to approximately 17,000, and monthly exits from Gaza into Israel skyrocketed from 7,500 in 2021 to over 35,000 by July 2022 — more exits than at any point since 2005. On the eve of October 7th, some 18,500 Gazans held active Israeli work permits according to COGAT, the Defense Ministry body that coordinates Palestinian civil affairs.

These workers gained intimate knowledge of Israeli border communities — the very communities that were devastated on October 7th. Reporting after the massacre revealed that Hamas attackers carried detailed maps and building layouts. One survivor whose husband and son were murdered testified:

“The Hamas terrorists knew the names of the people, how many children they had, and even which of them owned dogs.”

Among the debris left by dead Hamas terrorists — alongside guns, Qurans, and maps — were green Gaza IDs with Israeli work permits. Read that again. Green Gaza IDs. With Israeli work permits. Issued under Bennett’s government.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken himself acknowledged at a J Street event that the Biden administration had pushed Israel to issue “thousands of work permits for Palestinians in Gaza.” Bennett’s government enthusiastically complied. As Lapid boasted at the time:

“We are telling our Palestinian neighbors, ‘When it is quiet you will enjoy the economic flourishing.’ That’s the case in Gaza.”

It was not quiet. It was reconnaissance. If Bennett wishes to assign blame for the security failures that preceded the massacre, he might start with a mirror.

And then there is the matter of what happened when Bennett stepped aside. He handed the premiership to Yair Lapid during the transition period — a man who then signed the Lebanon maritime agreement on October 27, 2022, just five days before a national election in which neither he nor his party had a public mandate.

This caretaker government ceded approximately 840 square kilometers of disputed Mediterranean waters to Lebanon, effectively handing Hezbollah’s patron state access to the potentially hydrocarbon-rich Qana gas field while Israel received only a 17% royalty share. The deal was rushed through without a Knesset vote, despite the Attorney General’s own recommendation that it be brought for parliamentary approval given that the government was merely a caretaker administration and the agreement was irreversible.

Lapid rejected the Attorney General’s advice.

Professor Eugene Kontorovich of the Kohelet Policy Forum called it what it was:

“A lame duck government agreeing to give up the country’s sovereign territory to an enemy state days before an election.”

Four petitions challenging the deal reached the Supreme Court. The Court dismissed all of them. One might contrast this with the Court’s track record of intervening aggressively when right-wing governments attempt far less consequential actions during transitions. As MK Itamar Ben Gvir noted at the time:

“For a right-wing government — intervention on every step. For a left-wing government, no intervention in state policy.”

Former National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror questioned whether the final agreement “was a result of an American decision to have Israel make concessions” or “an Israeli decision to completely surrender for the sake of an agreement.” And today, after the war with Hezbollah, the verdict is clear: the deal failed to buy quiet. It whetted Hezbollah’s appetite. Bennett enabled this entire chain of events. He set the dominoes in motion. Then he walked away.

Now, to Bennett’s actual argument. He accuses Netanyahu of being passive, addicted to containment, and of paying “protection money” to Hamas via Qatari cash transfers to Gaza. He claims that Netanyahu “did nothing other than build walls, fences, and concrete barriers” for 12.5 of the 14 years preceding October 7th. These are serious charges. But context matters enormously.

The policy of managing Hamas through economic incentives rather than military confrontation was not Netanyahu’s private invention. It was the consensus recommendation of the IDF, the Shin Bet, and the Mossad across multiple security cycles. The international community reinforced this approach at every turn, threatening diplomatic consequences for military escalation. The Biden administration actively pushed for more work permits and economic engagement with Gaza. And the Israeli public overwhelmingly preferred quiet on the Gaza border to the costs of war — casualties, reservist call-ups, international condemnation, and economic disruption. Indeed, Lapid himself publicly championed the work-permit strategy as a path to peace.

Was the containment policy ultimately a catastrophic miscalculation? Yes. But it was a miscalculation shared by virtually the entire Israeli security establishment and political class — emphatically including Naftali Bennett, whose government expanded the very work-permit program that gave Hamas its intelligence windfall. Bennett’s framing — that Netanyahu alone was responsible while everyone around him urged action — is a convenient fiction. The intelligence community failed to predict October 7th. The IDF’s Southern Command was unprepared. These were systemic failures. Not the failures of one man. And the man now pointing the finger presided over the single most consequential expansion of Gazan access to Israeli border communities in the years immediately preceding the attack.

Bennett boasts of his own record during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, claiming he single-handedly pushed the IDF into an offensive posture and caused the destruction of 30 cross-border tunnels. “Everything is documented in the State Comptroller’s investigative report,” he says. Let us grant him that claim for the sake of argument. He was a cabinet minister at the time — one voice among many. Being an energetic cabinet minister is admirable. But it is a fundamentally different challenge from leading a nation through decades of complex, multi-front security threats while simultaneously managing coalition politics, economic policy, and relentless international pressure.

Bennett served as Prime Minister for 381 days. Netanyahu has served for over 16 years. Bennett’s government collapsed from within, undone by defections from his own party. He did not face a fraction of the sustained pressure that Netanyahu has navigated — however imperfectly — over more than a decade and a half.

The Forrest Gump comparison is also revealing in ways Bennett did not intend. The film’s protagonist, for all his apparent simplicity, consistently ends up in the right place, survives every crisis, and achieves extraordinary things through persistence, loyalty, and an unshakable moral compass. If Bennett meant to diminish Netanyahu with this analogy, he chose poorly.

Netanyahu personally lobbied Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla through 17 phone calls to secure Israel’s world-leading COVID-19 vaccination deal, making Israel the first country to vaccinate the majority of its adult population in early 2021 — while Bennett’s government later took credit for the booster program that Netanyahu’s procurement had made possible. Netanyahu guided the Abraham Accords — normalization agreements with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan that reshaped the strategic landscape of the Middle East. He managed the Iranian nuclear threat through a combination of covert operations, international diplomacy, and military preparedness. He led Israel through multiple wars and military operations.

Passive bystander? The suggestion is laughable.

Bennett concludes his attack by calling for Israel to “part ways” with Netanyahu “with dignity.” One wonders: part ways in favor of whom? Bennett himself?

The man who is now forming “Bennett 2026,” a new party structured so that he will maintain personal control as chairman until 2034 and serve as permanent faction leader — apparently having learned from his last party’s implosion not by developing better political judgment, but by ensuring no one can defect? The man who couldn’t hold a coalition together for a single full year? The man who allied with the Islamist political movement and whose previous political party no longer exists as a viable electoral force? The man whose own New Right party missed the electoral threshold by fewer than 1,500 votes in April 2019, who was saved only by the political chaos that forced yet another election?

The voters have already rendered their judgment.

There is a deeper irony in Bennett’s timing. His attack came in response to Netanyahu’s submission to the State Comptroller regarding October 7th. Bennett seized on the document to portray Netanyahu as someone who merely reacted to events rather than shaping them. Yet Bennett’s own record is one of the most consequential case studies in Israeli history of a leader who shaped events — catastrophically — and then disclaimed all responsibility for the outcome.

He formed an ideologically incoherent coalition. He dramatically expanded Gazan access to Israeli soil. He handed power to Lapid, who gave away maritime territory to an enemy state without parliamentary approval. And then he walked away from politics entirely, only to return now as a self-appointed moral authority.

No accountability. No self-reflection. Just ambition.

Israel deserves a serious reckoning with the failures that led to October 7th. That reckoning must be honest, comprehensive, and must hold all responsible parties accountable — including the security establishment, the intelligence community, and yes, the political leadership of the past two decades, across all governments. What Israel does not need is a failed former Prime Minister — whose own 381 days in office helped create the precise conditions for catastrophe — using selective outrage as a vehicle for his own political rehabilitation.

Bennett’s critique would carry far more weight if it were accompanied by even a hint of self-reflection about his own role in the chain of events that left Israel vulnerable. Instead, he offers a polished video, a clever movie reference, and zero accountability.

Netanyahu has much to answer for. But the person asking the questions should not be Naftali Bennett.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Defense won this championship.

Devon Witherspoon, Derick Hall, Byron Murphy and the rest of Mike Macdonald’s ferocious unit pummeled Drake Maye, and the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 on Sunday to win the franchise’s second Super Bowl.

Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass to AJ Barner, Kenneth Walker III ran for 135 yards and Jason Myers set a super Bowl record by making all five of his field-goal tries.

Uchenna Nwosu punctuated a punishing defensive performance by snagging Maye’s pass in the air after Witherspoon hit his arm and ran it back 45 yards for a pick-6.

Seattle’s “Dark Side” defense helped Darnold become the first quarterback in the 2018 draft class to win a Super Bowl, ahead of Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson.

Labeled a bust, dumped by two teams and considered expendable by two others, Darnold proved his doubters wrong while helping the Seahawks go 17-3.

After leading the NFL with 20 turnovers in the regular season, Darnold didn’t have any in three playoff games. He wasn’t particularly sharp against a solid Patriots defense but protected the ball and made enough plays, finishing 19 of 38 for 202 yards.

The Seahawks sacked Maye six times, including two apiece by Hall and Murphy. Hall’s strip-sack late in the third quarter set up a short field and Darnold connected with Barner on 16-yard scoring toss to make it 19-0.

Julian Love’s interception set up another field goal that made it 22-7 with 5:35 left.

The Patriots (17-4) punted on the first eight drives, excluding a kneel-down to end the first half.

Down 19-0, Maye and the New England offense finally got going. He hit Mack Hollins over the middle in traffic for 24 yards and then lofted a perfect 35-yard TD pass to Hollins down the left side to cut the deficit to 19-7.

Tom Brady once led Bill Belichick’s Patriots to the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, when New England rallied from a 28-3 deficit against Atlanta for a 34-28 overtime victory.

But Maye, who was runner-up to Matthew Stafford for the AP NFL MVP award in the closest race in two decades, didn’t come close. He had a chance to get it closer, but his ill-advised pass into triple coverage was picked by Love and the Patriots trailed by 15 when they got the ball back with 5:35 left.

Then came Nwosu’s touchdown, a fitting way to cap an overwhelming effort by the NFL’s stingiest defense.

Maye’s 7-yard TD pass to Rhamondre Stevenson late in the game only made the margin smaller.

The Seahawks took a 3-0 lead on Myers’ 33-yard field goal on the game’s opening drive. Myers connected from 39 and 41 yards to extend the lead to 9-0 at halftime. He was good from 41 on Seattle’s first drive of the third quarter to make it 12-0.

Patriots player of the game
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez made two outstanding plays to prevent potential touchdowns in the second quarter. He raced back and leaped in the air to slap away a deep pass to Rasheed Shahid that could have been a 76-yard TD.

On Seattle’s last drive in the first half, Gonzalez knocked down a pass to All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba that would have been a 23-yard TD.

Mills gets a two-for-one sack
Rylie Mills pushed left guard Jared Wilson into Maye and took both of them down on one of Seattle’s sacks.

Bad Bunny shines at halftime
Bad Bunny headlined a visually stunning halftime performance that also featured appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. The Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist entirely in Spanish.

Patriots denied a record 7th title
The Patriots failed to win the franchise’s seventh Super Bowl, which would have set an NFL record. They’re tied with the Steelers with six championships.

AP NFL Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel was aiming to become the fifth person to win a Super Bowl as a player and head coach and the first to do both with the same team.

The 23-year-old Maye was trying to become the youngest QB to win a Lombardi Trophy. Ben Roethlisberger still holds that mark.

President Donald Trump said he is weighing a plan to send Americans $2,000 rebate checks using money generated from tariffs, signaling a potential new round of direct payments tied to his trade policies.

Speaking in an interview with NBC News correspondent Tom Llamas that aired ahead of the Super Bowl, Trump said the idea is under active consideration, citing the scale of revenue he says tariffs are producing for the country.

“We’d make it — I’m looking at it very seriously,” Trump said in the interview. “I’m the only one who can do it because I’m taking in hundreds of billions of dollars of money from tariffs.”

When asked whether the public should anticipate receiving the payments, Trump indicated it was possible but said a final decision has not yet been made.

“Oh yeah, sure. I can do that,” he said. “I haven’t made the commitment yet, but I may make the commitment.”

Trump likened the potential rebates to recent one-time bonus payments issued to U.S. service members, pointing to a $1,776 check tied to his budget initiatives.

The comments come as Trump continues to aggressively defend his tariff strategy, arguing that it has boosted the American economy while compelling other countries to contribute financially to U.S. prosperity. He said tariffs are “making our country rich” and bringing in “tremendous amounts of money.”

“The one thing that they don’t say anymore is affordability, because I fixed the problem that they created,” Trump said.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

A 13- or 14-year-old boy approaches mesivta with excitement, hope, and genuine fear. For him, this is not just another school year. It is the most consequential decision of his young life so far — the place where he hopes to grow in Torah, mature emotionally, and begin shaping the person he will become.

Yet the reality confronting many boys and families this year is deeply troubling.

A boy is required to choose a “first-choice” mesivta without knowing whether that yeshiva views him the same way. Acting responsibly, with the guidance of devoted parents, rebbeim, and a menahel who know him well, he selects the yeshiva where he is most likely to succeed — academically, socially, and spiritually. He applies to a small number of appropriate options, honestly informing the others that they are not his first choice.

And then the system collapses around him.

He is not offered a first-round farher at his top choice. By design, he is also excluded from consideration at his second, third, and fourth choices. Within days, he is no longer choosing between yeshivos. He is scrambling for anything available — sometimes ending up at a 25th or 30th option, a place wholly unsuited to his abilities, temperament, or needs.

In an instant, a hopeful trajectory is altered. A boy who entered the process with enthusiasm is left confused and demoralized. Parents are forced to explain to their child why sincerity, honesty, and following guidance led not to placement, but to exclusion. The question hangs painfully in the air: who created a system in which a child bears all the risk, while having almost no agency?

How did we arrive at a process so lopsided that it overwhelmingly favors mosdos while effectively silencing the interests of the boys themselves?

Yes, last year’s chaos was real. Yes, corrective measures were necessary. But is the answer truly to swing the pendulum so far that fear of disorder justifies outcomes that are devastating to children and families? Can it really be acceptable that, in the name of avoiding past mistakes, we knowingly consign boys to environments that are inappropriate for them — academically, socially, or culturally?

This is not theoretical. The pain is real. The fallout is real. And the long-term consequences are real.

If our goal is to build bnei Torah, then a system that extinguishes hope at the very entry point of a boy’s mesivta years demands serious reexamination. We owe our children better than a process that treats their futures as collateral damage.

Respectfully,
Chaim Shimon Charlap

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email MatzavInbox@gmail.com

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[Video below.] President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States is already operating under what he called the “Trump economy,” expressing pride in current conditions and forecasting an even stronger year ahead in 2026.

“I think ’26 is even going to be better,” Trump told “NBC Nightly News” anchor Tom Llamas during the network’s annual presidential interview tied to the Super Bowl, a tradition Trump resumed in 2025 and continued in 2026 after it was skipped in prior years.

Trump pointed to a surge of investment and construction activity across the country as evidence of economic momentum, describing unprecedented levels of capital flowing into the U.S.

“You know, we have hundreds of billions of dollars pouring into our country. Actually, trillions: $18 trillion is being invested in our country as we speak. And there are factories and plants and thousands of businesses being built all over the country.

“Nobody has ever seen anything like what’s happening right now in America.”

The president also took aim at Democrats, saying they have struggled to craft an effective economic message against him after what he characterized as years of inflation under the previous administration.

“In the last four days, it’s only four days, the Democrats have not uttered the word ‘affordability,'” Trump said in the interview, which was recorded earlier in the week and aired on Super Bowl Sunday. “They’re the ones that caused the problem.

“I took over a mess in every way.”

Trump highlighted growth figures under his leadership, asserting that gross domestic product has increased by 5.6% since he took office, alongside what he described as historic investment commitments.

While acknowledging that the president’s party often faces losses in midterm elections, Trump said he hopes Republicans can counter that trend by advancing election-related legislation, including the SAVE Act, which would establish voter ID requirements, require proof of citizenship, and limit mail-in voting to specific circumstances such as illness, military service, disability, or travel.

“We’re working on the SAVE America Act, which is going to secure up our – a lot of things – but secure up our voting,” Trump said. “I think people would like to do it. And I think Democrats would, too.

“You know, when you go to voter ID and you ask Democrats, it’s polling at 82% with Democrats.

“I’m not talking about Democrat politicians. I’m talking about Democrats.

“We have to do something about our voting. We need strong borders. We need a fair press, which we don’t have.

“We need elections where people aren’t able to cheat. And we’re gonna do that. I’m gonna do that.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

[Videos and photos below.] A maamad kabbolas ponim was held this evening at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ to formally welcome the yeshiva’s newly appointed mashgiach, Rav Reuven Hechster.

The event took place at the end of second seder at the Beren Dining Hall of the yeshiva.

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.

In addition to his new role in Lakewood, 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_,_ Rav Hechster was originally appointed to his position in Mir Brachfeld by the late rosh yeshiva, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel.

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.

Rav Hechster is widely regarded throughout the Torah world as a central address for guidance and chizuk, with thousands of yungeleit 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 Motzoei Shabbos, gives a weekly Tuesday vaad at Kollel Ateres Shlomo attended by hundreds of yungeleit, 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.

WATCH BELOW FOR CLIPS FROM TODAY’S MAAMAD KABBOLAS PONIM:

{Matzav.com}

A man in his mid-40s was injured tonight after falling into the shaft of an underground trash container in Bnei Brak during a garbage removal operation. He was rescued from the pit and transported to the hospital in moderate condition.

Emergency responders were dispatched at approximately 10:30 p.m. to Rechov Ha’admur MiSanz in Bnei Brak following reports that a man had fallen into the deep shaft of a buried garbage compactor while it was being emptied.

Volunteers from Hatzalah arrived at the scene together with paramedics and EMTs from Magen David Adom and provided initial medical care to the victim, who sustained multiple injuries. Initial assessments indicated that he suffered trauma to his shoulder, and additional reports noted a head injury as well.

After several minutes, rescue teams succeeded in extracting the man from the shaft. He was fully conscious at the time of the rescue and was evacuated by Magen David Adom ambulance to Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center for further medical treatment.

Hatzalah chairman Ushi Shlomovitz, along with Hatzalah medics Leiby Zelman and Eliakim Gross, described the scene: “When we arrived, we found a 45-year-old man suffering from a head injury after falling into an underground trash pit at a depth of approximately four meters. Together with Hatzalah and MDA medics and paramedics, we provided him with initial medical treatment, including immobilization and bandaging, and he was evacuated in moderate condition to Mayanei Hayeshua Hospital for continued care.”

{Matzav.com}

SYDNEY (AP) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Sydney on Sunday for a multi-day visit marked by heightened security and planned demonstrations, as tensions tied to the war in Gaza ripple far beyond the Middle East.

Australian authorities declared the trip a major event, deploying a large police presence across parts of the city, including central Sydney and surrounding neighborhoods. Temporary exclusion zones and road closures were put in place, granting officers expanded powers aimed at maintaining public safety.

Herzog is expected to meet with Australian political leaders, members of the Jewish community and families affected by recent violence. Supporters say the visit is a gesture of solidarity during a period of heightened concern about antisemitism and community safety.

Pro-Palestinian groups have organized protests to coincide with the visit, criticizing Israel’s conduct in Gaza and urging Australian officials to take a stronger stance. Organizers said they intend to demonstrate peacefully, while civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the scope of police powers under the major event designation.

New South Wales officials urged calm, saying they are seeking to balance the right to protest with the need to ensure security. No major incidents were immediately reported following the president’s arrival.

Herzog’s visit comes at a time of strained diplomatic and public debate in Australia over the conflict in Gaza, reflecting broader global divisions over the war and its humanitarian toll.

To join via Zoom:

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President Trump on Thursday announced the launch of TrumpRx, a new prescription drug discount platform he described as “one of the most transformative health care initiatives of all time,” saying it would dramatically cut medication costs for Americans.

“This launch represents the largest reduction in prescription drug prices in history by many, many times,” he said.

While the administration is promoting TrumpRx as a major step toward lowering drug costs, The Hill reports that health policy specialists and consumer advocates are questioning how broadly the program will help patients and whether the advertised savings are as substantial as claimed.

TrumpRx currently offers discount coupons for 43 prescription medications, advertising price reductions ranging from 33 percent to 93 percent off list prices. The drugs cover a range of conditions, including obesity, respiratory disorders, infertility, bladder issues, and menopause.

Some analysts quickly pointed out that even with the discounts, the prices shown on TrumpRx may still exceed what insured patients typically pay through their health plans.

“If you have insurance, your out-of-pocket costs are probably going to be less than the discounted list price that’s being advertised on TrumpRX,” Juliette Cubanski, deputy director of the Program on Medicare Policy at KFF, told The Hill.

“For people who are looking at this website and maybe they recognize a drug that they take, they really need to understand how their out-of-pocket cost under insurance would compare to the TrumpRx price.”

Cubanski added that TrumpRx could still provide meaningful savings for certain medications that are not consistently covered by insurance plans, including some weight loss treatments and in vitro fertilization drugs, potentially making the program attractive to a broader group of patients.

“It’s a valuable effort for some medications, for some people, and I think especially people who don’t have good coverage of some of these medications,” she said.

All of the drugs listed on TrumpRx are branded medications sold directly by pharmaceutical companies that have entered into “most favored nation” pricing agreements with the Trump administration.

Critics note, however, that many of these branded drugs have generic versions available at far lower prices through existing discount programs.

For example, Protonix, a branded acid-reducing medication produced by Pfizer, is advertised on TrumpRx at a 55 percent discount, reducing its price from $447.28 to $200.10 for a 30-day supply of 20 mg tablets.

By comparison, data from GoodRx shows that the generic version, pantoprazole, can be purchased for $10.47 for the same dosage and quantity using a standard coupon. Even without a coupon, the estimated cost is just under $80.

A similar pattern appears with Tikosyn, another Pfizer drug used to treat irregular heart rhythms. TrumpRx lists Tikosyn at a discounted price of $336 for 60 capsules at a 0.125 mg dosage. GoodRx shows the generic equivalent, dofetilide, available for $23.06 with a coupon, reflecting a 94 percent reduction from the listed price of $373.96.

Generic medications account for the vast majority of prescriptions in the United States. According to the Food and Drug Administration, 91 percent of prescriptions were filled with generic drugs in 2023.

Anthony Wright, executive director of FamiliesUSA, a nonpartisan consumer health advocacy organization, sharply criticized the initiative, calling TrumpRx a “trumped-up catalog of coupons.”

“This is not actually lowering drug prices. It steers consumers to the existing drug company programs for uninsured patients that have been around for a while,” Wright said. “This is pretty limited in terms of both who it effects, what drugs it offers and what the benefits are, especially compared to what already existed previously.”

Not everyone shared that assessment. Ashish Jha, who served as the Biden administration’s White House COVID-19 response coordinator, described TrumpRx as a positive development, particularly for people without insurance.

He said the platform was a “good thing” that “is going to be really, really helpful for people who don’t have health insurance” in comments to The Hill’s sister network, NewsNation.

The TrumpRx website specifies that individuals enrolled in government health programs, including Medicaid, are not eligible to use the discount coupons.

That restriction is likely tied to federal anti-kickback laws, which prohibit offering or receiving anything of value in connection with items reimbursed by government health programs such as Medicaid.

The Hill contacted the Trump administration seeking clarification on whether individuals with private health insurance are eligible to use TrumpRx coupons.

Even if privately insured patients are permitted to participate, the overall reach of the program may remain limited, according to Yunan Ji, an assistant professor of strategy at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

“It really only applies to cash-pay patients. So, just considering the scale is cash-pay patients we’re thinking about, you know, a percent of the uninsured, plus some of the people who may be underinsured because their insurance coverage may be limited, but the scope is quite limited at the moment,” she said.

About 8 percent of Americans currently lack health insurance, and with only 43 drugs included so far, TrumpRx is positioned to assist only a small portion of that population. Administration officials have said additional medications will be added in the coming weeks.

Ji also raised concerns about the broader implications of the administration’s “most favored nation” pricing policy.

“The thing about MFN in general — so this is interesting, because MFN is something I teach my MBA students — is that actually, in the long run, it actually puts upward pricing pressure,” she said.

Under Trump’s signature drug pricing approach, pharmaceutical companies are required to sell drugs in the United States at prices no higher than those charged in other countries.

Ji explained that when drugmakers anticipate MFN requirements, they may respond by launching new medications at higher initial prices or delaying introductions in countries with strict pricing controls.

President Trump acknowledged that the policy could have consequences abroad when he announced TrumpRx.

“Drug prices in other nations will go up by doing this, they had to agree,” he said. “In many cases, the drug costs will go up by double and even triple for them, but they’re going way down for the United States.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States has warned Iran that the next round of nuclear talks must deliver concrete progress, signaling growing impatience in Washington as diplomatic efforts enter a more volatile phase.

According to officials familiar with the matter, the administration of President Donald Trump has told Tehran it expects the Iranian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to arrive at the next meeting “with meaningful substance.”

The message followed high-level talks held Friday in Oman, where U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, senior adviser Jared Kushner, and U.S. Central Command commander Brad Cooper met with Araghchi and other Iranian officials.

Reports described the initial meeting as constructive but largely procedural, focused more on how negotiations would be conducted than on resolving core disputes. American officials now expect Tehran to return with tangible proposals, including potential concessions on uranium enrichment and related issues.

Those expectations were immediately tested on Sunday, when Araghchi publicly ruled out a full halt to Iran’s nuclear enrichment. He said future talks should focus on arrangements that allow enrichment to continue, accompanied by guarantees that the program remains peaceful. Araghchi also insisted that Iran’s missile program and its network of regional proxies were off the table.

“The subject of the negotiations is the nuclear issue, and that is how it will remain,” he said.
The remarks underscored the widening gap between Washington’s demands and Tehran’s public stance, raising doubts about whether the talks can move beyond preliminary discussions.

The diplomatic push is unfolding as Israeli leaders step up their own pressure campaign.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to travel to Washington on Tuesday for a meeting with Trump at the White House on Wednesday.

Ahead of the visit, Israel’s security cabinet convened Sunday to coordinate its position.
Israeli officials reiterated that any agreement with Iran must go beyond nuclear restrictions and include limits on ballistic missiles and an end to Tehran’s support for militant groups across the region.

Briefing materials distributed to ministers warned that Iran’s commitments could not be trusted and threatened severe consequences for any attacks on Israeli sovereignty.

At a separate meeting with Paraguay’s foreign minister, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles posed a danger not only to Israel, but to Europe and the wider international community.

“The Iranian regime has already used missiles against other countries in the Middle East,” he said, adding that their expanding range now threatens multiple continents.

Tehran, meanwhile, struck a defiant tone.
Iranian Army Commander Amir Hatami said Sunday that Iran’s military was closely monitoring its adversaries and was prepared to respond forcefully to any attack.

He dismissed the presence of U.S. naval forces in the region as routine and warned against miscalculation.

“We have seen this many times over the past decades,” Hatami said, adding that Iran’s air forces were ready to act if necessary.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A propaganda banner unveiled in central Tehran is openly threatening ballistic missile attacks on Israel in the event of a U.S. or Israeli strike on Iran.

Photographs of the banner, posted on social media Sunday, show it displayed in Palestine Square in Tehran, a location frequently used by Iranian authorities for high-profile anti-Israel and anti-American messaging.

The display features a detailed map of central Israel highlighting major strategic targets, including Ben-Gurion Airport, the headquarters of the IDF in Tel Aviv, and the IDF Intelligence Directorate base at Glilot near Herzliya. Several other sites across the region are also marked.
Notably, Jerusalem does not appear on the map, but Bnei Brak does.

The banner includes imagery of a military command desk with a large red “FIRE” button, a fighter jet, two ballistic missiles, and a radio, alongside handwritten political notes. Across the top, in English, it reads: “You start… We finish it.”

Hebrew text on the display declares, “Against a rain of missiles, it’s a small area,” and lists potential targets for an initial strike, including Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Herzliya, Ramat Gan, and Bnei Brak, suggesting a coordinated first wave of missile launches aimed at Israel’s densely populated central corridor.

The billboard is part of a broader pattern of increasingly explicit threats displayed in Palestine Square, which has become a focal point for regime-backed messaging against Israel and the United States.

Last month, a banner at the same location warned, “Watch out for your soldiers,” in English and Hebrew, and showed coffins draped with Israeli and American flags, implying that any attack on Iran would result in the deaths of U.S. and Israeli troops.

In December, another display praised Hezbollah and warned Israeli border towns to prepare for war, featuring armed fighters standing on a tank against the group’s signature yellow background.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Less than a week before Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre, Israeli PM Netanyahu instructed his senior advisers and security chiefs to preserve a policy of economic incentives and relative restraint toward the terror group, according to a report aired Sunday by Channel 12.

The disclosure complicates Netanyahu’s recent effort to portray himself as a consistent advocate of tougher action against Hamas, following the release last week of a 55-page document containing selected excerpts from cabinet discussions in the years preceding the attack.

Those excerpts, published as part of Netanyahu’s response to a state comptroller inquiry, depicted the prime minister as favoring aggressive measures while casting political rivals and security officials as obstacles to decisive action. However, the Channel 12 report says Netanyahu omitted a key meeting held on October 1, 2023 — just six days before the Hamas-led onslaught.

According to a leaked summary of that meeting’s protocol, Netanyahu praised Israel’s security services for maintaining calm and emphasized the need for moderation ahead of Sukkos in order to avoid escalation.

“The prime minister expressed great appreciation to all the security services on their activities to maintain the quiet on all fronts,” the summary states, “and stresses that we must act with moderation in order to cool down the fronts and avoid escalation.”

At the meeting, security chiefs reportedly urged moving toward targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders. Netanyahu, however, conditioned any such operations on the outbreak of open conflict and directed the defense establishment to prioritize potential actions in the West Bank rather than in Gaza, according to the report.

The prime minister also defined Israel’s central strategic goals at the time as advancing normalization with Saudi Arabia and preventing wider regional confrontation.

The October 1 meeting was attended by senior figures from Israel’s political and security leadership, including Mossad chief David Barnea, then-defense minister Yoav Gallant, then-Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. The session took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem.

Senior defense officials told Channel 12 that Netanyahu’s publication of selective quotations distorted internal discussions and caused what they described as “irreparable damage” to relations between political leaders and the security establishment.

The controversy has quickly spilled into Israel’s electoral arena, where accountability for the October 7 failures has become a central issue.
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, Netanyahu’s leading challenger in the upcoming elections, issued a video statement Sunday night blasting the prime minister’s account.

Bennett mocked Netanyahu’s portrayal of events by comparing him to the fictional character in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, describing him as a passive figure swept along by history rather than an active leader.

“He is not a leader, but someone who is led. He is not a commander, but a subordinate,” Bennett said, adding that Netanyahu’s document undermined his own claims of authority.

Bennett acknowledged that he, too, has criticized Israel’s security establishment, but argued that ultimate responsibility rested with Netanyahu, who served more than a decade as prime minister in the years leading up to the attack.

“He was the prime minister of Israel and the supreme commander of the State of Israel for 12.5 out of the 14 years preceding the greatest disaster in Israel’s history,” Bennett said.

He further accused Netanyahu of portraying himself as incapable of controlling the military and intelligence agencies — a stance Bennett said amounted to self-indictment.

“What emerges from it is that Netanyahu did not lead, did not manage, and did not govern,” Bennett said. “Instead of absolving himself, he has drafted the most severe indictment imaginable against a prime minister in Israel.”

Bennett also faulted Netanyahu for allowing terrorist threats to expand on multiple fronts, arguing that Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon grew unchecked under his watch.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

During the Sanzer Rebbe’s historic visit to the United States to meet with his chassidim, he paid a visit to the home of the Bobover Rebbe in Boro Park. Their discussion touched on the difficult situation in Eretz Yisroel, the decrees affecting yeshiva students, and whether earlier rebbes of the Sanzer dynasty had traveled to America.

Below is a transcription of portions of the conversation between the two rebbes.

At the outset of the visit, the Bobover Rebbe said to the Sanzer Rebbe:
“Did you come to see the spiritual coldness of America…?”

The Sanzer Rebbe responded:
“I said that one can learn from this now, that in America one needs special caution — ‘not to slip’… although in Eretz Yisroel that same caution is also necessary…”

The Bobover Rebbe said:
“It is known that the Gorlitzer Rebbe zy”a said in his time that there would yet be a Jewish settlement in America.”

The Sanzer Rebbe replied:
“He indeed had a desire to come to America, and he traveled for that purpose to his brother, the Shinova Rebbe zy”a to ask him to join him on the journey.”

The Bobover Rebbe said:
“Yes, I heard from my father zt”l that the holy Gorlitzer Rebbe wanted to come here, and for that reason traveled especially to the Shinova Rebbe to ask him to go along with him. But the Shinova Rebbe refused and said that he was already too old and did not have the strength.”

The Sanzer Rebbe reflected:
“When I was a young child and we came to live in Netanya, it was very uncommon to see even a single child with peyos. People looked at us as something strange and unusual. Today, however, there are many thousands of baalei teshuvah in Netanya, primarily from the Sephardic community, with many kollelim and yeshivos.”

The Bobover Rebbe responded:
“In every place there is a mixture of good and bad, but there is an entire world of good, baruch Hashem. Everyone agrees that Moshiach must come… the situation there in Eretz Yisroel with the bochurim is not simple… what will yet boil over there…”

The Sanzer Rebbe said:
“It is clear that in the end, didan natzach — the bochurim will remain learning in yeshivos. But the current situation is very difficult, both because of the financial pressures they create and the persecutions, and so on.”

The Bobover Rebbe added:
“Truly, until now the calculation ‘did not add up,’ that they gave what they did…”

The Sanzer Rebbe explained:
“When their decrees first began, I said that there are those who do not understand why suddenly they began persecuting Torah learners. But in truth, this is their real nature. The fact that until now they did not interfere was the novelty. The reason was that in the early years after the war, in order to establish the Torah world and build Torah institutions, their choice was taken away and they were compelled to give and assist. But now, when, baruch Hashem, a generation of Torah has been established and Torah institutions have the strength to exist, their free choice was returned. Now their true face has been revealed — that they truly have no desire whatsoever to give space to Torah learners. On the one hand, we see abundant Divine assistance, and on the other hand, there is also hester panim.”

The Bobover Rebbe said:
“Even in America we suffer greatly, as there are those who stand against us with actual hatred…”

The Sanzer Rebbe replied:
“Seemingly, there is no reason why they should not hate Jews…”

The Bobover Rebbe said:
“It is a known halachic principle that Eisav hates Yaakov…”

The Sanzer Rebbe responded:
“And because he lives in America he is different? They are gentiles like all other gentiles…”

The Bobover Rebbe concluded this part of the discussion by saying:
“Unfortunately, here too we suffer from those ‘your destroyers and those who lay you waste come forth from among you,’ who act against Torah institutions. And the situation in England regarding this is even worse — they are actively seeking to destroy and to uproot.”

At the conclusion of the visit, the Bobover Rebbe honored the Sanzer Rebbe with a lechayim, and they exchanged warm blessings. The Bobover Rebbe inquired about the Sanzer Rebbe’s health and said to him: “You shall renew yourself like the eagle of your youth… The Rebbe of Ropshitz zy”a said regarding the verse ‘and with good wine the soul rejoices’ — with good physical strength, the soul rejoices as well.”

The Bobover Rebbe then arose and personally escorted the Sanzer Rebbe to the exit, bringing the visit to a close.

{Matzav.com}

A leading U.S. health official on Sunday urged people to get inoculated against the measles at a time of outbreaks across several states and as the United States is at risk of losing its measles elimination status.

“Take the vaccine, please,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator whose boss has raised suspicion about the safety and importance of vaccines. “We have a solution for our problem.”

Oz, a heart surgeon, defended some recently revised federal vaccine recommendations as well as past comments from President Donald Trump and the nation’s health chief, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., about the efficacy of vaccines. From Oz, there was a clear message on the measles.

“Not all illnesses are equally dangerous and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses,” he told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “But measles is one you should get your vaccine.”

An outbreak in South Carolina in the hundreds has surpassed the recorded case count in Texas’ 2025 outbreak, and there is also one on the Utah-Arizona border. Multiple other states have had confirmed cases this year. The outbreaks have mostly impacted children and have come as infectious disease experts warn that rising public distrust of vaccines generally may be contributing to the spread of a disease once declared eradicated by public health officials.

Asked in the television interview whether people should fear the measles, Oz replied, “Oh, for sure.” He said Medicare and Medicaid will continue to cover the measles vaccine as part of the insurance programs.

“There will never be a barrier to Americans get access to the measles vaccine. And it is part of the core schedule,” Oz said.

But Oz also said “we have advocated for measles vaccines all along” and that Kennedy “has been on the very front of this.”

Questions about vaccines did not come up later in a Kennedy interview on Fox News Channel’s “The Sunday Briefing,” where he was asked about what kind of Super Bowl snack he might have (probably yogurt). He also he eats steak with sauerkraut in the mornings.

Critics of Kennedy have argued that the health secretary’s longtime skepticism of U.S. vaccine recommendations and past sympathy for the unfounded claim that vaccines may cause autism may influence official public health guidance in ways contrary to the medical consensus.

Oz argued that Kennedy’s stance was supportive of the measles vaccine despite Kennedy’s general comments about the recommended vaccine schedule.

“When the first outbreak happened in Texas, he said, get your vaccines for measles, because that’s an example of an ailment that you should get vaccinated against,” Oz said.

The Republican administration last month dropped some vaccine recommendations for children, an overhaul of the traditional vaccine schedule that the Department of Health and Human Services said was in response to a request from Trump.

Trump asked the agency to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising U.S. guidance accordingly.

States, not the federal government, have the authority to require vaccinations for schoolchildren. While federal requirements often influence those state regulations, some states have begun creating their own alliances to counter the administration’s guidance on vaccines.

U.S. vaccination rates have dropped and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, according to federal data. At the same time, rates of diseases that can be protected against with vaccines, such as measles and whooping cough, are rising across the country.

Kennedy’s past anti-vaccine activism

Kennedy’s past skepticism of vaccines has come under scrutiny since Trump first nominated him to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

During his Senate confirmation testimony last year, Kennedy told lawmakers that a closely scrutinized 2019 trip he took to Samoa, which came before a devastating measles outbreak, had “nothing to do with vaccines.”

But documents obtained by The Guardian and The Associated Press undermine that testimony. Emails sent by staffers at the U.S. Embassy and the United Nations said that Kennedy sought to meet with top Samoan officials during his trip to the Pacific island nation.

Samoan officials later said Kennedy’s trip bolstered the credibility of anti-vaccine activists before the measles outbreak, which sickened thousands of people and killed 83, mostly children under age 5.

Mixed messaging on autism, vaccines

Oz’s comments mark a broader pattern among administration officials of voicing discordant and at times contradictory statements about the efficacy of vaccines amid an overhaul of U.S. public health policy.

Officials have walked a fine line in criticizing past U.S. vaccine policy, often at times appearing to express sympathy for unfounded conspiracy theories from anti-vaccine activists, while also not straying too far from established science.

During a Senate hearing Tuesday, Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health, said no single vaccine causes autism, but he did not rule out the possibility that research may find some combination of vaccines could have negative health side effects.

But Kennedy, in Senate testimony, has argued that a link between vaccines and autism has not been disproved.

He has previously claimed that some components of vaccines, like the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal, may cause childhood neurological disorders such as autism. Most vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella do not contain thimerosal. A federal vaccine advisory board overhauled by Kennedy last year voted to no longer recommend thimerosal-containing vaccines.

Administration public health officials often cite the need to restore trust in public health systems after the coronavirus pandemic, when vaccine policy and the general public health response to the deadly pandemic became a highly polarizing topic in American politics.

Misinformation and conspiracy theories about the public health system also spread during the pandemic, and longtime anti-vaccine activist groups saw a swell in interest from the wider public.

Kennedy, who for years led the anti-vaccine activist group Children’s Health Defense, has been criticized for ordering reviews of vaccines and public health guidelines that leading medical research groups have deemed settled science.

Public health experts also criticized the president for making unfounded claims about highly politicized health issues. During a September Oval Office event, Trump asserted without evidence that Tylenol and vaccines are linked to a rise in the incidence of autism in the United States.

(AP)

In a previous article it was explained how hospitals are corporations, not chesed institutions, and the subsequent risks that arise without vigilance.

The following article delineates another four categories of documented error and malice that have actually occurred, irrespective of the corporate nature of hospitals.

The following list is not a conspiracy theory, nor is it an attack on doctors, nurses, or hospitals. Many medical professionals are dedicated, caring, and life-saving, and we are deeply grateful for their work.

At the same time, these incidents—drawn exclusively from mainstream newspaper reporting across multiple countries—demonstrate a recurring, structural reality: once a patient is admitted, care is governed by complex systems, handoffs, protocols, staffing pressures, and financial incentives, not by individual intention alone.

This document is therefore offered as a pikuach nefesh consumer alert.

Its purpose is not to frighten, accuse, or undermine trust, but to encourage informed, respectful vigilance by families, especially when patients are elderly, unconscious, sedated, or unable to advocate for themselves.

Awareness, presence, and calm verification are not expressions of distrust; they are responsible hishtadlus in an environment where small oversights can have irreversible consequences.

A) Failure to monitor / failure to reassess (triage neglect; deterioration unrecognized)

1. Esmin Green – Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, NY (2008) Collapsed in ER waiting area; prolonged non-response; death. Source: Associated Press; New York Daily News; CBS News.
2. Brian Sinclair – Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Canada (2008) Left untriaged for many hours; deterioration not reassessed; death. Source: CBC News; Winnipeg Free Press.
3. Kane Gorny – St George’s Hospital, London, UK (2009) Dehydration after repeated failures to provide/monitor fluids; death. Source: BBC News; The Guardian.
4. Sandi Niccum – VA Medical Center, North Las Vegas, NV (2013 reporting) Long ER wait with failure to reassess/monitor; later died. Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal; LA Times.
5. 72-year-old surgical patient – Lidköping Hospital, Sweden (2011) Intraoperative monitoring failure during staff absence; brain injury and death. Source: Swedish national press; international wire reports.
6. Jill Söderberg – Timrå, Sweden (2011) Emergency calls dismissed because she “could still speak”; deterioration not acted on; death. Source: Swedish media; Associated Press Europe.
7. Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust – England (exposed 2009–2013) Large-scale neglect patterns (hydration, infections, monitoring) associated with excess deaths. Source: BBC News; UK Public Inquiry reporting; The Guardian.
8. Daniella Jade Duchatel – Brisbane, Australia (2023) Coroner found deterioration/clot-risk assessment failures; death deemed likely preventable. Source: Courier-Mail (Australia).
9. Jacksonville Memorial Hospital – Illinois (2024) Sepsis deterioration not recognized/reassessed; death. Source: MyJournalCourier.com.
10. Bryonny Sainsbury – Midland Regional Hospital, Ireland (2021) Delayed transfer and hospital errors after injury; death later acknowledged/apology reported. Source: Irish national press; court reporting.
11. Kanpur hospital – India (reported 2025) Living patient mistakenly documented as dead; reassessment/identification failure (near-catastrophic). Source: Times of India; NDTV.
12. Multiple NHS maternity units – UK (2015–2020) Repeated maternal/infant deaths with warning signs ignored; pattern reporting. Source: BBC Panorama investigations.
13. California hospitals – Sepsis deaths (2010s) Deterioration without timely reassessment/vitals response; deaths. Source: Los Angeles Times investigations.
14. Florida ER stroke patients – United States (2010s) Stroke signs mis-triaged/ignored; sent home; later deaths. Source: Tampa Bay Times.
15. Rom Houben (“locked-in” misdiagnosis) – Belgium (reported 2009–2010) Patient long labeled vegetative while conscious; catastrophic diagnostic/assessment failure. Source: Reuters; BBC News.
16. Sweden “conscious while death/organ donation discussed” case (2010s reporting) Patient aware while prognosis/organ donation discussed; assessment failure. Source: Swedish press; international reporting.
17. Premature newborn – Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, India (2012) Infant reportedly removed from incubator over nonpayment; died. Source: India Today.

B) Wrong medication / wrong concentration / wrong route / override events (documentation and chain-of-order failure)

18. RaDonda Vaught case – Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TN (2017) Wrong drug via override (paralytic instead of sedative); death. Source: Associated Press; The Tennessean; New York Times.

19. Philadelphia-area hospital – Pennsylvania (2018) Medication error resulting in irreversible brain injury (Vanderbilt-type pattern). Source: Philadelphia Inquirer.

20. Texas pediatric patient – Houston area (2010s) Adult-dose medication due to charting/ordering failure; death. Source: Houston Chronicle.

21. Heparin overdose infants – U.S. hospitals (follow-ups 2008–2012) Massive dosing/stocking/labeling error; catastrophic harm and deaths reported. Source: New York Times; Associated Press.

22. Wrong-dose / insulin administration deaths – UK hospitals (2010s) Repeated fatal hypoglycemia events tied to insulin errors. Source: BBC Health.

23. Chemotherapy drug mix-ups – United States (2010s) Wrong drug/route; fatal outcomes reported. Source: New York Times; AP Health.

24. Florida toddler – Potassium overdose (2024) Dose/decimal-type error; fatal overdose. Source: New York Post; regional Florida press.

25. Stamford Hospital – Connecticut (2017) Post-delivery death tied to systemic mismanagement found by jury reporting. Source: Stamford Advocate.

C) Diversion/substitution (patient receives less/no drug; staff steals/switches)

26. Abbott Northwestern Hospital – Minneapolis, MN (2010/2011 reporting) Nurse diversion of fentanyl; patient suffered extreme pain during procedure. Source: Star Tribune.

27. Yale Fertility Center – Orange, CT (events June–Oct 2020; reporting 2024) Nurse replaced fentanyl with saline; patients received inadequate analgesia. Source: Associated Press.

28. Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center – Medford, OR (events 2022–2023; reporting 2023–2024) Nurse allegedly stole fentanyl and replaced IV drips with tap water; infections and severe harm; deaths discussed in reporting/litigation. Source: Associated Press.

29. Multiple VA hospitals – United States (2010s) Narcotics diversion; patients received saline instead of pain medication. Source: Washington Post investigative reporting.

30. New Jersey hospitals – Opioid diversion cases (2015) Nurse siphoned opioids; patients under-medicated/exposed to risk. Source: New York Times; Associated Press.

31. Florida surgical unit – United States (2010s) Anesthetic diversion; patients awoke during procedures. Source: Miami Herald.

D) Intentional poisoning/sabotage (criminal pattern; strongest evidentiary class)

32. VA Hospital, Clarksburg, WV – Reta Mays victims (2017–2018; charged/plea 2020) Insulin injected into non-diabetic patients; multiple deaths. Source: Washington Post; Associated Press; VA OIG report.

33. Countess of Chester Hospital, UK – Lucy Letby victims (2015–2016; conviction 2023; continuing reporting) Neonatal nurse convicted of murders/attempted murders. Source: BBC News; The Guardian; Reuters.

34. Stepping Hill Hospital, UK – Victorino Chua victims (2011–2012; conviction 2015) Insulin contamination/tampering; deaths and collapses. Source: BBC News; The Guardian.

35. Delmenhorst/Oldenburg hospitals, Germany – Niels Högel victims (reported 2015–2019; conviction 2019) Serial killings via medication overdoses; multiple patient deaths. Source: Der Spiegel; New York Times; Reuters; AP/CBS.

Practical Recommendations for Hospital Admissions

1. Never assume that medications ordered were actually given. A doctor’s order in the chart does not mean the medication reached the patient. A family member should quietly track the medication name, dosage, route, and exact time given. A neutral way to ask is, “Can you please tell me what was just given and when the next dose is scheduled?” This is verification, not accusation.
2. Know exactly who ordered every medication and procedure. Many actions in hospitals are initiated by residents, covering physicians, or nursing protocols rather than the personal or attending physician. Ask calmly, “Was this ordered by the attending or primary doctor, or is this a standing protocol?” If it was not ordered by the personal physician, that distinction matters.
3. Track all drips, IV changes, and medication switches. Drips are frequently changed during shift changes and at night. Each time a bag is changed, ask, “Is this the same medication and concentration as before?” Most serious errors occur during handoffs or when families are absent.
4. Never leave elderly, unconscious, sedated, or confused patients alone. These patients are at the highest risk. If family cannot be present around the clock, create a rotation. Silence and absence are often mistaken for stability, but they are not.
5. Watch for failure to reassess. Once a patient is admitted and appears stable, reassessment often slows or stops. Be alert for changes in breathing, confusion, pain, responsiveness, or sudden changes in the care plan. Ask respectfully, “Has the doctor reassessed him today?” or “When were the last vitals reviewed by a physician?”
6. Know insurance coverage days in advance. Do not wait until coverage ends. Ask early how many days insurance covers at the current level of care and what changes when coverage ends. Many treatment changes occur the day coverage stops, not because the patient improved.
7. Use respectful language that keeps staff cooperative. Tone matters. Avoid accusations, raised voices, or threats. Use calm repetition and curiosity. Phrases that work include, “I just want to understand,” “Can you help me follow the plan?” and “We want to stay aligned with the doctor’s intent.”
8. Ask for names and write them down quietly. You do not need to announce that you are documenting. Simply note the nurse’s name, the resident’s name, and the time. Quiet documentation often improves attention and accountability without confrontation.
9. Request an ethics consult early when something feels off. Ethics consults are standard hospital tools, not attacks. They are appropriate when treatment changes suddenly, procedures are pushed aggressively, or goals of care feel unclear. Asking early signals seriousness without hostility.
10. Integrate halachic guidance with accurate medical facts. Rabbanim and poskim can only guide properly when they have precise information. When asking a she’eilah, provide exact medications, dosages, proposed procedures, risks, and alternatives. Do not rely only on hospital summaries.
11. Understand that hospitals are corporate systems. Hospitals are not evil, but they are governed by reimbursement, staffing pressures, and liability concerns. This reality requires vigilance, not paranoia. A passive patient becomes inventory, while an informed family becomes a partner.
12. Do not confuse Hatzolah or Bikur Cholim with hospital care. Hatzolah saves lives before admission. Bikur Cholim provides chesed during admission. Neither controls medications, drips, reassessment, or insurance-driven decisions. Family presence fills that gap.
13. Rotate advocates to prevent fatigue and mistakes. Exhaustion leads to silence. Set a simple rotation so someone is always present, someone is tracking medications, and someone is communicating with doctors. Consistency matters more than intensity.
14. Escalate calmly if concerns are ignored. If something feels wrong, repeat the question, ask for the charge nurse, ask for the attending, or involve patient relations. Escalation done calmly is responsibility, not aggression.
15. Treat hospitalization like a high-stakes transaction. Approach hospital care with more diligence than a home purchase, not less. The stakes are higher, the system is more complex, and the margin for error is smaller.
16. Frame all of this as hishtadlus, not distrust. The Torah does not ask us to be passive. It asks us to be responsible. Sharing these practices openly is not cynicism; it is pikuach nefesh.
17. Just to clarify, of course any result that occurs is only from Hashem, as we say in the first ikar of the thirteen ikkarim, that He is the Manhig for all creatures. However, irrespective of that, the Torah tells us that there is a mitzvah of v’nishmartem; there is a Shulchan Aruch; there is recourse for damages. It is not a contradiction, as delineated in perek 4 of Chovos HaLevavos, Shaar HaBitachon.

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Protests against military conscription broke out Sunday evening in several locations across Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh, following a series of recent arrests of chareidi draft evaders and amid mounting concern over the future of the Torah world.

In Yerushalayim, demonstrators gathered along Jaffa Road and Sarei Yisrael Boulevard, while in Beit Shemesh protesters blocked Route 3855, commonly known as the Beit Shemesh bypass road. The demonstrations unfolded as tensions rose over enforcement actions taken against yeshiva students and avreichim in recent days.

At the same time, a military court sentenced yungerman Reb Avraham Ben Dayan to ten days of detention. As reported on Matzav, he was arrested yesterday in the community of Tifrach and brought before the court following his transfer to military custody.

Earlier, a second arrest was reported within a span of less than 24 hours. A yeshiva student was detained in Be’er Yaakov by military authorities on charges of draft evasion and is expected to face legal proceedings, according to a statement from the Committee for the Rescue of the Torah World.

According to the student’s mother, military police detectives entered their home, presented identification, and took her son, Eliyahu Kashi, who until recently had been learning in yeshiva. Dozens of people rushed to the scene and attempted to prevent the arrest, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

The initial arrest that sparked the latest wave of protests occurred last night when Reb Avraham Ben Dayan was detained while in Tifrach. After being stopped by traffic police, he was transferred to the police station in Ofakim and later handed over to the military police.

That arrest led to a protest at the entrance to Ofakim, where dozens of demonstrators converged at the city’s main junction on Route 241 and blocked traffic. Clashes were reported between protesters and police forces at the scene. During the dispersal of the demonstration, police employed crowd-control measures, and three protesters were taken into custody.

After a razor-thin and highly charged contest, Be’er Sheva has a new chief rabbi. Rabbi Avraham Deri was elected to serve as the city’s rabbi, winning by a margin of just one vote in an election widely viewed as a significant test of strength for Shas and for broader chareidi and political influence.

The closely fought race ended with Rabbi Deri securing 26 votes. His main rival, Rabbi Yoram Cohen, who was backed by Be’er Sheva Mayor Ruvik Danilovich, received 25 votes. A third candidate, Rabbi Gad Revach, garnered two votes, and one ballot was found to be blank.

Rabbi Avraham Deri is the son of the late Rabbi Yehuda Deri zt”l, the longtime and iconic chief rabbi of Be’er Sheva, and a nephew of Shas chairman Aryeh Deri. With his election, he formally assumes the rabbinic mantle once held by his father.

The election committee was chaired by retired Supreme Rabbinical Court judge Rabbi Yitzchak Elmalich. Other committee members included Rabbi Yitzchak Levi, the chief rabbi of Nesher; Moshe Ben Zaken; Dr. Chefzi Zohar; and representatives of the legal department of the Ministry of Religious Services. The committee secretary was Tzuriel Porat.

As noted, the newly elected rabbi is the son of Rabbi Yehuda Deri zt”l, who served as Be’er Sheva’s chief rabbi, head of the city’s rabbinical courts, and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel.

Reb Avraham, a native of Be’er Sheva, learned at the Ateres Yisrael Yeshiva, Yeshivas HaNegev in Netivot, and a kollel for rabbinic and judicial ordination. He received semichah for both rabbinic leadership and dayanus from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and holds formal certification to serve as a city rabbi and dayan. He previously served as a dayan in a rabbinical court abroad recognized by the Chief Rabbinate.

The dramatic result, decided by a single vote, is seen as a major achievement for Shas in the race for the city rabbinate. Beyond the personal identity of the chief rabbi, the election was widely interpreted as a broader barometer of power within the chareidi public and the national and local political arenas.

Rabbi Deri enjoyed the backing of leading Torah authorities, including the nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, Rav Yitzchak Yosef. In the weeks leading up to the vote, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri invested considerable effort to secure his nephew’s victory in the tightly contested race. On the other side, Rabbi Cohen benefited from the open support of the mayor, heightening the tension and sensitivity surrounding the election.

In the end, the narrow decision brought the contest to a close: Be’er Sheva has a chief rabbi, and the struggle over the city’s rabbinic leadership concluded with a Shas victory—by the slimmest possible margin.

Following the announcement, the Rishon LeTzion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, rav Dovid Yosef, spoke with Rabbi Avraham Deri to congratulate him on his election and his entry as a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel. He told him: “You have merited to fill the place of your great father zt”l; under your fathers shall be your sons.”

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, the rov’s uncle, also responded, saying: “It is a day of joy for me with the election of my dear one, the gaon Rabbi Avraham Deri, as chief rabbi of the city of Be’er Sheva, as the successor of his father, my beloved brother, the gaon Rabbi Yehuda Deri zt”l, who brought about a spiritual revolution in the city with selfless dedication. This is an especially moving moment also for his wife, the rebbetzin Miriam, may she live long, who worked at my brother’s side for decades with devotion and sacrifice, and now merits seeing her son continue his path in the city rabbinate.”

“I bless Rabbi Avraham that he continue to carry the legacy, to work among all the residents of the city, to bring hearts closer together, to strengthen Torah and Judaism, with a pleasant countenance and gentle ways, and to sanctify the name of Heaven.”

Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services Yehuda Avidan thanked the chairman of the election committee, retired Supreme Rabbinical Court judge Rabbi Yitzchak Elmalich, and Mayor Ruvik Danilovich, and congratulated the new rabbi: “Thanks to an orderly process that began under the outgoing minister for religious services, MK Michael Malchieli, and was coordinated with all relevant parties, we are able to congratulate Rabbi Avraham Deri on his selection as chief rabbi of the city.”

“I believe the rabbi shlit”a will continue his father’s tradition in the city rabbinate and work to connect residents to the world of Torah while making Judaism accessible and welcoming. Appointing a chief rabbi for Be’er Sheva provides spiritual and communal stability. The appointment also strengthens the Chief Rabbinate of Israel with his joining it as a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, and enables residents to benefit from clear and committed Torah leadership.”

Religious Council chairman Ofer Karadi also congratulated the new rabbi, saying: “This is a historic and formative day for religious services in Be’er Sheva. The election of Rabbi Avraham Deri is truly good news for every resident of the city. The religious council will stand at the side of the newly elected chief rabbi to ensure accessible, illuminating, and unifying religious services, with respect for the glorious legacy of his late father and with an eye toward a future of unity and spiritual growth.”

{Matzav.com}

The family of Avraham Ben Dayan, the newlywed avreich who was arrested on Motzei Shabbos, told Kikar H’Shabbat that he was not permitted to lay tefillin on Sunday morning.

In a conversation with family members shortly before Shekiah, Ben Dayan said he requested several times to lay tefillin, but his requests were denied by those in charge at the facility. Family members expressed profound shock that in the State of Israel, a religious person is denied the ability to perform the most basic mitzvah and voiced serious concern about kashrus conditions and maintaining his religious lifestyle during detention.

Ben Dayan was detained near Ofakim after the car he was traveling in was stopped for inspection by a police officer. While the initial reason for stopping the vehicle was that one passenger was not wearing a seatbelt, the check revealed that Ben Dayan was wanted by military police for draft evasion, and he was transferred to custody.

With the help of Attorney Shlomo Haddad, family members describe an exhausting odyssey trying to locate Avraham’s whereabouts. They said they were first told he would be released from the Ofakim police station, but it turned out that he had been transferred to military police. From there the search continued between the Beit Hadassah base and Prison 10 in Netanya, with contradictory information provided at each stop about his exact location.

Attorney Haddad contacted the prison officer demanding explanations for the fog surrounding his client’s location and was told that instructions had been received from high-ranking officials not to disclose his precise whereabouts. As of now, the family has still not managed to deliver a basic care package to Ben Dayan, on the grounds that he has not yet had a military hearing—a process that was supposed to take place on Sunday morning.

Finally, on Sunday evening, at 7:41 p.m., the avreich was brought to trial and sentenced to 10 days in military prison.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].

Question:

Dear Honorable Mayor,

Rt 9 north approaching the corner at Central has a left turning lane but no left turn green arrow signal. I saw an “almost head on collision” at this corner this evening.

Please review my request. If you are in agreement, kindly set this in motion.

It is gratifying to know that we have a Mayor in Lakewood who takes a genuine interest in the needs of our residents.

Gratefully yours,
David

Response from Mayor Coles:

Thanks. We are working with the state DOT and I make improvements at this intersection as well as several others along Rt9. The road belongs to the state and we need together buy in to make it happen.

Thanks

Ray

Question:

As a long time resident living just off Spruce Street we are facing a very difficult situation. With a number of disabled resident living along the stretch of Spruce from River Avenue to Washington Ave, there are simply NO crosswalks or safe places to cross Spruce. One neighbor who had extreme difficulty walking has to wait at times 10 to 15 minutes before he can safely cross the street. With cars quickly coming from Washington, Vine, Cypress, Mark, Carol, Howard, Chelsea, Wall streets and River Avenue – directly onto Spruce street – there is no safe place to cross over. A pedestrian crosswalk should be installed somewhere. For a resident to have to travel from Cypress to River Avenue (a distance of 1/2 a mile) to cross safely seems utterly unacceptable. What can be done?

Name Withheld

Response from Mayor Coles:

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I have forwarded your email to our engineers and asked them if see what they can do.

Stay warm

Ray

—————–

Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to [email protected]

Have a question for the Chief? Send it to [email protected]

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump wants to keep home prices high, bypassing calls to ramp up construction so people can afford what has been a ticket to the middle class.

Trump has instead argued for protecting existing owners who have watched the values of their homes climb. It’s a position that flies in the face of what many economists, the real estate industry, local officials and apartment dwellers say is needed to fix a big chunk of America’s affordability problem.

“I don’t want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up for people that own their homes, and they can be assured that’s what’s going to happen,” Trump told his Cabinet on Jan. 29.

That approach could bolster the Republican president’s standing with older voters, a group that over time has been more likely to vote in midterm elections. Those races in November will determine whether Trump’s party can retain control of the House and Senate.

“You have a lot of people that have become wealthy in the last year because their house value has gone up,” Trump said. “And you know, when you get the housing — when you make it too easy and too cheap to buy houses — those values come down.”

But by catering to older baby boomers on housing, Trump risks alienating the younger voters who expanded his coalition in 2024 and helped him win a second term, and he could wade into a “generational war” in the midterms, said Brent Buchanan, whose polling firm Cygnal advises Republicans.

“The under-40 group is the most important right now — they are the ones who put Trump in the White House,” Buchanan said. “Their desire to show up in an election or not is going to make the difference in this election. If they feel that Donald Trump is taking care of the boomers at their expense, that is going to hurt Republicans.”

The logic in appealing to older voters
In the 2024 presidential election, 81% of Trump’s voters were homeowners, according to AP VoteCast data. This means many of his supporters already have mortgages with low rates or own their homes outright, possibly blunting the importance of housing as an issue.

Older voters tend to show up to vote more than do younger people, said Oscar Pocasangre, a senior data analyst at liberal think tank New America who has studied the age divide in U.S. politics. “However, appealing to older voters may prove to be a misguided policy if what’s needed to win is to expand the voting base,” Pocasangre said.

Before the 2026 elections, voters have consistently rated affordability as a top concern, and that is especially true for younger voters with regard to housing.

Booker Lightman, 30, a software engineer in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, who identifies politically as a libertarian Republican, said the shortage of housing has been a leading problem in his state.

Lightman just closed on a home last month, and while he and his wife, Alice, were able to manage the cost, he said that the lack of construction is pushing people out of Colorado. “There’s just not enough housing supply,” he said.

Shay Hata, a real estate agent in the Chicago and Denver areas, said she handles about 100 to 150 transactions a year. But she sees the potential for a lot more. “We have a lack of inventory to the point where most properties, particularly in the suburbs, are getting between five and 20 offers,” she said, describing what she sees in the Chicago area.

New construction could help more people afford homes because in some cases, buyers qualify for discounted mortgage rates from the builders’ preferred lenders, Hata said. She called the current situation “very discouraging for buyers because they’re getting priced out of the market.”

But pending construction has fallen under Trump. Permits to build single-family homes have plunged 9.4% over the past 12 months in October, the most recent month available, to an annual rate of 876,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Trump’s other ideas to help people buy houses
Trump has not always been against increasing housing supply.

During the 2024 campaign, Trump’s team said he would create tax breaks for homebuyers, trim regulations on construction, open up federal land for housing developments and make monthly payments more manageable by cutting mortgage rates. Advisers also claimed that housing stock would open up because of Trump’s push for mass deportations of people who were in the United States illegally.

As recently as October, Trump urged builders to ramp up construction. “They’re sitting on 2 Million empty lots, A RECORD. I’m asking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to get Big Homebuilders going and, by so doing, help restore the American Dream!” Trump posted on social media, referring to the government-backed lenders.

But more recently, he has been unequivocal on not wanting to pursue policies that would boost supply and lower prices.

In office, Trump has so far focused his housing policy on lobbying the Federal Reserve to cut its benchmark interest rates. He believes that would make mortgages more affordable, although critics say it could spur higher inflation. Trump announced that the two mortgage companies, which are under government conservatorship, would buy at least $200 billion in home loan securities in a bid to reduce rates.

Trump also wants Congress to ban large financial institutions from buying homes. But he has rejected suggestions for expanding rules to let buyers use 401(k) retirement accounts for down payments, telling reporters that he did not want people to take their money out of the stock market because it was doing so well.

There are signs that lawmakers in both parties see the benefits of taking steps to add houses before this year’s elections. There are efforts in the Senate and House to jump-start construction through the use of incentives to change zoning restrictions, among other policies.

One of the underlying challenges on affordability is that home prices have been generally rising faster than incomes for several years.

This makes it harder to save for down payments or upgrade to a nicer home. It also means that the places where people live increasingly double as their key financial asset, one that leaves many families looking moneyed on paper even if they are struggling with monthly bills.

There is another risk for Trump. If the economy grows this year, as he has promised, that could push up demand for houses — as well as their prices — making the affordability problem more pronounced, said Edward Pinto, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right think tank.

Pinto said construction of single-family homes would have to rise by 50% to 100% during the next three years for average home price gains to be flat — a sign, he said, that Trump’s fears about falling home prices were probably unwarranted.

“It’s very hard to crater home prices,” Pinto said.

Bitter cold will remain in place in the tri-state area through early Monday, Feb. 9, but a shift is on the way, with temperatures forecast to climb above freezing by Monday afternoon.

Those heading out this evening will not have to deal with snowfall, though they should dress for the cold, according to James Tomasini, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Brookhaven office.

An extreme cold warning issued by the National Weather Service is set to remain in effect tonight.

Alongside the arctic air, gusty winds are expected to persist through tonight. However, they will be weaker than yesterday’s powerful gusts, which prompted officials to caution about possible power outages and encouraged residents to stay indoors.

A cold weather advisory will take effect from 1 p.m. Sunday through 10 a.m. Monday. During that period, wind chills are expected to make temperatures feel like below 15 degrees to below 25 degrees Sunday morning, and between below 5 degrees and below 15 degrees from the afternoon into early Monday.

Gusts approaching 35 mph are anticipated later in the day, and officials warn that frostbite and hypothermia are possible if people do not take appropriate precautions.

Exposed skin could develop frostbite in as little as 15 to 30 minutes. The sustained freezing conditions may also cause inadequately insulated water pipes along exterior walls to freeze and burst.

According to Tomasini, wind gusts measured Saturday afternoon into the early evening reached 52 mph at Teterboro Airport, 45 mph in Fair Lawn, and 40 mph in Wayne.

Those winds caused damage on Saturday, Feb. 7, when the roof covering the gas pumps at the Pompton Lakes Delta station on Wanaque Avenue was blown down. City officials said the debris has since been cleared and the station has reopened.

Conditions are expected to improve beginning Monday, with daytime highs reaching the low 30s. Tomasini said temperatures will continue trending upward as the week progresses. Starting Monday morning, “we’re looking at highs starting to increase each day through the middle of the week. By Tuesday, it will feel more moderate, with temperatures in the mid- to upper-30s, he said.

“It will feel warm compared to yesterday and today, but those temperatures are still below normal for this time of year,” Tomasini said. “We will still see several days of 5 to 10 degrees below normal but it won’t be as cold as these arctic air breaks we’ve been experiencing the past couple of weeks.”

He noted that average temperatures for this point in the season are usually around 42 degrees.

Meanwhile, the deep cold early Sunday set a new daily record in Bergenfield, according to Bob Ziff, a spokesperson for North Jersey Weather Observers in Ramsey. Temperatures there dropped to 2 degrees, surpassing the previous record low of 9 degrees set in 1995.

{Matzav.com}

A Muslim community group in east London has stepped in to try to purchase one of the area’s last remaining shuls. The Ashaadibi community in Whitechapel has paid a £235,000 deposit and launched a major fundraising campaign to buy the century-old Nelson Street shul.

The building, currently owned by the Federation of Synagogues, had been scheduled for auction next week with a guide price of £2 million, as first reported by The Jewish Chronicle.

Instead of heading to public sale, the property could now be transferred to Ashaadibi, which hopes to convert the former shul into a mosque, community hub, and education center.

In an online appeal launched this week, the group said it is seeking to raise £2.2 million within nine months to secure the building, along with an additional £1.1 million for renovations and upgrades.

Founded in 2008, Ashaadibi describes itself as a grassroots organization focused on preserving religious and cultural identity while providing social services to local residents. The group says it currently serves more than 500 people each week but operates out of multiple rented locations.

The proposed purchase comes as Jewish institutions across parts of east London have downsized or relocated amid declining congregations and rising property values. Many historic shuls in the area have already been converted into housing, offices, or religious centers for other faiths.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The chareidi public has traditionally played little to no role in the struggle over settlement in Judea and Samaria, and certainly not in Gaza. These questions have generally been identified with the Religious Zionist sector, especially in light of past rulings by leading Torah authorities who supported territorial concessions in exchange for peace agreements.

In recent years, however, a new phenomenon has begun to take shape. Several unregulated outposts associated with chareidi groups have quietly emerged. Across Judea and Samaria, five settlement points are now inhabited by chareidi families and youths.

More recently, a chareidi headquarters has been established with the explicit goal of creating a chareidi settlement in Gaza. The group operates within the framework of the right-wing Nachala movement, which is largely identified with the Religious Zionist community. In the wake of the war, however, the movement decided to form a unit defined specifically as a chareidi, “mehadrin” framework.

The Nachala movement works publicly to build awareness and support for settlement in Gaza through media campaigns, solidarity marches, conferences, and public statements of support from right-wing ministers and Knesset members. At the same time, it is quietly organizing six separate settlement nuclei that are meant to move into Gaza on “the day of command,” establishing roughly six communities.

One of these is the chareidi nucleus, which consists of approximately 40 families who have declared their readiness to move onto the land immediately.

“The families are ready tomorrow morning to go up to Gaza,” says Pinchas Farber, who heads the chareidi headquarters. Addressing the fact that chareidim are taking part in a struggle typically associated with the knitted-kippah sector, he says: “The chareidi public is part of the State of Israel. As a ציבור, it should join this struggle, but every chareidi individual also needs to ask himself whether he wants to see another massacre.”

Among the participating families is the Horowitz family from Beit Shemesh. The father, Yedidya, explains their willingness to relocate to Gaza. “We see this as a mission. We will not do this recklessly. When we go up to Gaza, it won’t be just a few tents—it will be a community, with buildings and institutions.”

“In recent years, there has been a growing sense within the chareidi public of belonging to what is happening to the Jewish people,” he continues. “When it comes from a Torah perspective, from a desire to fulfill Hashem’s will, chareidim also need to take part. And regardless of that, if there is no settlement in Gaza, Jews will continue to be slaughtered.”

The headquarters focuses primarily on gatherings among the families themselves, most of whom approach the group independently. At the same time, they are working to recruit additional chareidi families, including through small home-based meetings and information booths.

The organizers acknowledge that at present it is not feasible to set up outreach stands in Bnei Brak, due to concerns about disruptions from extremist elements. However, they do not rule out doing so in the future, with the goal of increasing exposure within the broader chareidi public.

Several weeks ago, the group organized a special Shabbos program for chareidi yeshiva bochurim near Gaza. During the Shabbos, about 20 youths stayed in the area, slept in tents, and strengthened their resolve to take hold of the land.

“As a chareidi bochur, it feels very natural to me to act for the sake of settling Gaza. Gaza is an inseparable part of Eretz Yisroel,” says Yisrael S., who participated in the Shabbos. “During Shabbos there were very moving tefillos and joint learning sessions facing Gaza. It was inspiring to see more and more bochurim joining the effort and understanding that Gaza is an inseparable part of us and that we have an obligation to settle it.”

The Shabbos gathering came to the attention of the newspaper HaPeles, the mouthpiece of the Yerushalmi faction, which launched a sharp attack on the initiative. Under the headline “Another Delusional Project,” the paper reviewed the advertisement inviting the chareidi public to spend Shabbos near Gaza and claimed that the plans to settle Gaza were “far-reaching schemes.”

“This is another development that illustrates the ideological bankruptcy seeping into the fringes of the chareidi public,” the paper wrote. It accused certain chareidi politicians, saying that their “identification with settler circles and Religious Zionism” enabled initiatives such as the Gaza Shabbos to take place.

The question of rabbinic support remains a particularly sensitive issue. At present, there is no chareidi rav publicly calling for settlement in Gaza, and in the past, leading Torah authorities spoke in favor of relinquishing territory. According to Farber, however, this should not prevent a chareidi individual from taking part in the struggle.

“This is an existential question, not an ideological one,” he argued. “It goes beyond whether we are for or against the state. This is critical. If we don’t act, it will happen again. We would be happy to have the agreement of the Moatzos Gedolei Hatorah, but before that, action is required,” he added, his eyes shining.

{Matzav.com}

ICYMI.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicaragua’s government on Sunday blocked Cuban citizens from entering the country without a visa, effectively cutting off a key route for Cuban migration to the United States at a time when the Trump administration has put the Caribbean island in an economic chokehold.

Nicaragua’s government confirmed to The Associated Press that it suspended an exemption that allows Cubans to enter the Central American nation without a visa.

The move would effectively cut off Cubans from a country that has long acted as a bridge for Caribbean migrants traveling to the U.S. For years, Cuban migrants would fly to Nicaragua and meet up with smugglers, who would then help them migrate north through Central America and Mexico to get to the U.S. border.

Experts say Nicaragua kept its doors open to people from countries like Cuba and Haiti in a move to weaponize migrants fleeing turmoil against its longtime adversary, the U.S.

But the change comes amid mounting pressure by Trump administration on Latin American nations to fall in line with its vision for the hemisphere, particularly on issues like migration and security.

After a U.S. military operation deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January, the Trump administration began to step up pressure, particularly on adversary governments like Cuba and Nicaragua.

At the end of January, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries that provide oil to Cuba, thrusting the island into an even deepen economic and energy crisis that’s likely to fuel even more migration from a nation that has seen record numbers of people leaving in recent years.

As the Trump administrations carries out a contentious migratory crackdown and largely eliminated access to asylum along the southern border, migration to the U.S. has hit record lows, but the new rules in Nicaragua would put up extreme new barriers for Cuban migrants who hope to reach the U.S. in the future.

What remains is primarily Guyana, a small South American nation where Cubans have also traveled to in order to reach the U.S. From Guyana, Cuban migrants normally travel through the perilous jungled trenches of the Darien Gap dividing Colombia and Panama before winding their way up through the Americas.

In the past, migrants with few other options have also taken precarious boat rides hundreds from Cuba to Florida’s coast.

With measles cases climbing in several parts of the country and concerns growing that the United States could lose its long-standing measles elimination status, a senior federal health official on Sunday called on Americans to get vaccinated against the disease.

“Take the vaccine, please,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, during a public appeal. “We have a solution for our problem.”

Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon by training, used the appearance to defend newly adjusted federal vaccine guidance and to push back against criticism surrounding past remarks by President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding vaccines. He delivered an unambiguous message when it came to measles prevention.

“Not all illnesses are equally dangerous and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “But measles is one you should get your vaccine.”

Health officials are tracking a significant outbreak in South Carolina involving hundreds of cases, which has now exceeded the size of Texas’ 2025 outbreak. Additional clusters have been identified along the Utah-Arizona border, and several other states have reported confirmed infections this year.

Children have accounted for most of the cases, as public health specialists warn that declining confidence in vaccines may be fueling the return of a disease that had previously been declared eliminated in the United States.

When asked during the interview whether measles should be feared, Oz responded, “Oh, for sure.” He added that coverage for the measles vaccine will remain in place under Medicare and Medicaid.

“There will never be a barrier to Americans get access to the measles vaccine. And it is part of the core schedule,” Oz said.

At the same time, Oz emphasized that federal officials have consistently supported measles vaccination, saying, “we have advocated for measles vaccines all along,” and asserting that Kennedy “has been on the very front of this.”

Vaccines were not addressed later in a Fox News Channel interview with Kennedy on “The Sunday Briefing,” where the health secretary was instead asked about his preferred Super Bowl snacks and eating habits, including yogurt and steak with sauerkraut for breakfast.

Critics of Kennedy argue that his long history of questioning U.S. vaccine policy and his past openness to discredited claims linking vaccines to autism could shape public health decisions in ways that conflict with established medical consensus.

Oz countered that Kennedy has supported measles vaccination even while questioning broader vaccine schedules.

“When the first outbreak happened in Texas, he said, get your vaccines for measles, because that’s an example of an ailment that you should get vaccinated against,” Oz said.

Last month, the Republican administration removed certain childhood vaccine recommendations, a significant change to the traditional immunization schedule. The Department of Health and Human Services said the move followed a request from Trump.

Trump asked the agency to examine how other developed nations approach vaccine guidance and to consider potential changes to U.S. recommendations.

Vaccination mandates for schoolchildren are set by individual states, not the federal government. While federal guidance often shapes those policies, some states have begun forming alliances aimed at countering the administration’s direction on vaccines.

Federal data show that vaccination rates have declined nationwide, while the percentage of children receiving exemptions has reached a record high. At the same time, cases of vaccine-preventable illnesses, including measles and whooping cough, are increasing across the country.

Oz’s remarks reflect a broader pattern within the administration, where officials have issued mixed and sometimes conflicting statements about vaccines amid sweeping changes to national public health policy.

Administration figures have sought to criticize previous vaccine strategies while at times appearing sympathetic to unsupported claims promoted by anti-vaccine activists, even as they avoid fully departing from mainstream scientific conclusions.

At a Senate hearing Tuesday, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya stated that no individual vaccine causes autism, though he said he could not rule out future research identifying harmful effects from certain vaccine combinations.

Kennedy, however, has testified before Congress that a link between vaccines and autism has not been definitively disproven.

He has also previously claimed that vaccine components such as the mercury-based preservative thimerosal may contribute to childhood neurological conditions like autism. Most measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines do not contain thimerosal. A federal vaccine advisory panel restructured by Kennedy last year voted to stop recommending vaccines that include the preservative.

Public health officials within the administration frequently cite the need to rebuild trust in health institutions following the coronavirus pandemic, a period when vaccine policy and the broader response became sharply divisive in American politics.

False information and conspiracy theories about public health spread widely during the pandemic, drawing increased attention to long-established anti-vaccine groups.

Kennedy, who previously led the anti-vaccine organization Children’s Health Defense, has faced criticism for ordering reviews of vaccines and health guidelines that major medical bodies consider settled science.

Public health experts have also faulted the president for promoting unsupported claims on politically sensitive health topics. During an Oval Office event in September, Trump asserted without evidence that Tylenol and vaccines are connected to rising autism rates in the United States.

{Matzav.com}

Lakewood Police are investigating a reported shooting in the township this afternoon, sources told TLS.

The incident allegedly happened on River Avenue, when shots are said to have been fired from a vehicle.

There are no reports of injuries at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lakewood Police Department.