After the last system was forecast to bring just 1–3 inches and instead delivered one of Central Park’s Top 10 snowfalls ever, forecasters are again calling for 1–3 inches Tuesday night across the region.

This time, the ingredients for a blockbuster storm are not expected to align — but as we’ve learned, surprises can happen.

• 1–3 inches expected across NYC, Hudson Valley, Long Island and Connecticut coast
• Slightly higher totals possible inland
• Light snow and rain early Wednesday with potential morning commute impacts
• Precipitation should taper off by midday

A stronger system may bring additional light snow or a wintry mix Thursday into Thursday night. More details expected soon.

Meanwhile, cleanup continues from the historic blizzard:

• Central Park: 19.7 inches (9th largest snowfall on record)
• Islip, LI: 31 inches (highest total in tri-state)
• Multiple Long Island towns: 29–30+ inches
• Bergen County, NJ: Up to 30.7 inches
• Newark Airport: 27.2 inches

After a storm that paralyzed the Northeast, even a few inches now carries weight.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A veteran former State Department official said Tuesday that President Donald Trump may use his State of the Union address to reveal the start of US military action against Iran, an unprecedented move that would mark a dramatic escalation in tensions.

Aaron David Miller, a longtime diplomat who is now a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, raised the possibility in a post on X hours before the president’s scheduled speech.

“Rubio briefing Congress hours before SOTU, delaying his trip to Israel from Saturday to Monday, wouldn’t surprise if Trump announces beginning of strikes against Iran in speech,” Miller wrote on X today (Tuesday).

He added, “No President has ever announced the start of military conflict in a SOTU. Why would they? That’s reason enough for Trump to do it,”

Miller previously served as an adviser on Arab-Israeli negotiations to six Secretaries of State between 1988 and 2003.

President Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday night.

The speculation follows Trump’s forceful rejection on Monday of media reports claiming that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine had cautioned him against launching a strike on Iran.

In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump also pushed back against reports suggesting he was weighing limited military action against the Islamic Republic. He reiterated that Tehran faces severe consequences if it fails to reach an agreement with Washington.

“Numerous stories from the Fake News Media have been circulating stating that General Daniel Caine, sometimes referred to as Razin, is against us going to War with Iran. The story does not attribute this vast wealth of knowledge to anyone, and is 100% incorrect,” wrote Trump.

He continued, “General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won. He knows Iran well in that he was in charge of Midnight Hammer, the attack on the Iranian Nuclear Development. It is a Development no longer, but rather, was blown to smithereens by our Great B-2 Bombers. Razin Caine is a Great Fighter, and represents the Most Powerful Military anywhere in the World. He has not spoken of not doing Iran, or even the fake limited strikes that I have been reading about, he only knows one thing, how to WIN and, if he is told to do so, he will be leading the pack.”

Trump also dismissed broader coverage of a possible confrontation as inaccurate and politically motivated.

“Everything that has been written about a potential War with Iran has been written incorrectly, and purposefully so. I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them,” stated Trump.

{Matzav.com}

A young child in Lakewood, NJ was rescued alive yesterday after being completely buried under heavy snow when a bulldozer clearing the streets inadvertently pushed large piles of snow on top of a snow igloo in which he was playing.

The frightening incident unfolded during snow removal operations following one of the region’s most intense winter storms. The child had been inside a snow structure he had built when a large bulldozer operator, unable to see the igloo, pushed a massive accumulation of snow directly over it. Within moments, the child was entirely covered.

Family members soon realized the boy was missing, triggering an immediate and frantic search. Relatives and neighbors began combing the area, fearing the worst as precious minutes ticked by.

For two hours and forty-five agonizing minutes, the search continued as rescuers worked desperately to locate him beneath the deep snow. The urgency intensified as the realization set in that he may have been trapped without air under the heavy accumulation.

Finally, after nearly three hours, the child was located and pulled from beneath the snow. In what family members described as nothing short of a neis, he was found alive and rescued.

“It’s a neis,” a Chaveirim members told Matzav.com. “Nothing short of it.”

Emergency responders evaluated the child at the scene.

The incident left the family and local residents shaken but deeply grateful, as they reflected on what could have ended in tragedy.

{Matzav.com}

A driver is being hospitalized after going airborne off the 195 overpass, landing on Rt. 9 in Howell.

As first reported on TLS Communities, the accident happened shortly after 10:00 AM.

The driver is being transported to the hospital. No word on her current condition.

Avoid the area as police investigate the incident and clear the scene.

MIAMI (VINnews) — An American Airlines jet arrived in Miami with apparent bullet damage after a flight from Colombia, according to a published report.

Flight AA923 landed Monday at Miami International Airport, where a post-flight inspection identified puncture marks on the right aileron of the aircraft, AirLive reported. The aileron helps control an airplane’s lateral balance during flight.

The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, completed the trip without incident and landed safely, the report said. The damage was discovered during routine maintenance checks after arrival.

It was not immediately clear when or where the damage occurred. Neither American Airlines nor aviation authorities had publicly detailed the circumstances as of Tuesday afternoon.

There were no reports of injuries among passengers or crew.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A small robot is lending a hand — or wheel — in clearing snow from New York City streets as a powerful blizzard blankets the region.

New York-based company Reflex Robotics shared video of one of its robots plowing snow outside its office, carving a narrow path through thick accumulation as wind and heavy snowfall swept across the city.

The footage comes as New York City faced its first blizzard warning since 2017. The storm coated streets, sidewalks and vehicles in a heavy layer of snow, disrupting travel and daily life across the five boroughs.

City officials also declared the first snow day for public schools since 2019, underscoring the severity of the storm.

While traditional plows and sanitation crews handled the bulk of snow removal, the robot’s appearance offered a glimpse into how emerging technology could assist with urban cleanup during extreme weather events.

Reflex HQ SLAMMED by snow pic.twitter.com/FgdlIkno89

— Reflex Robotics (@ReflexRobot) February 23, 2026

At the conclusion of Monday’s shiur kloli at Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dovid Levy addressed thousands of talmidim, calling on them to reinforce the well-established Purim learning sedarim observed in the yeshiva each year.

The shiur klali focused on a sugya in the second perek of Maseches Bava Basra, a weighty discussion involving the laws of tumah and taharah. During the shiur, Rav Levy cited a foundational teaching from his rebbi, Harav Shmuel Rozovsky zt”l, regarding the parameters of tumah in cases involving less than the minimum shiur.

Following the shiur, the Rosh Yeshiva delivered special remarks in anticipation of Purim. Continuing the longstanding tradition instituted at Ponovezh by Rosh Yeshiva Harav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, the yeshiva prepares unique learning frameworks for both the night of Purim—immediately after the reading of the Megillah—and for Purim day itself.

As part of these sedarim, thousands of bochurim sit and learn Torah for extended, uninterrupted hours, filling every available seat throughout the batei medrash and the various wings of the yeshiva. The sight, observers say, is awe-inspiring, with no empty spaces in the botei medrash, reminiscent of the atmosphere on the night of Shavuos. The sedarim are organized by Rav Shimon Margulies, a close associate of the Rosh Yeshiva, and conclude with a large public tefillah led by the yeshiva’s nosi, Rav Eliezer Kahaneman, together with the entire student body.

In his remarks, Rav Levy referenced the Rambam’s teaching that although all the moadim will be nullified in the future era of Moshiach, the days of Purim and Megillas Esther will never be annulled. From this, he said, it is evident that Purim is an exceptionally elevated time, and it would be a loss to squander it on trivial matters such as excessive drinking and the like. Instead, he urged the bochurim to devote the day to vigorous and enthusiastic Torah study, as is customary in the yeshiva, where extended sedarim known as “Kimu V’Kiblu” are held. Through these sessions, he explained, the talmidim symbolically accept the Torah anew each year with love and willingness.

The Rosh Yeshiva further emphasized that especially in these times—when “our enemies have raised their heads” and seek to uproot Torah from Klal Yisrael and restrict the yeshiva world—it is incumbent upon the bochurim to publicly demonstrate their unbreakable bond with Torah. That connection, he said, must remain firm without interruption—even on Purim itself.

Concluding his address, Rav Levy expressed hope that from Ponovezh, the light of Torah on Purim would radiate throughout the entire yeshiva world, and that in turn the influence would return to Ponovezh. Just as waves travel from place to place, he said, so too should the voice of Torah spread from one makom Torah to another, strengthening dedication and diligence in Torah study during these especially auspicious days of Purim.

{Matzav.com}

A squadron of U.S. Air Force F-22 stealth fighters departed Royal Air Force Lakenheath earlier today and has now landed at an Israeli Air Force base in southern Israel, according to reports from Kan News.

Twelve F-22 Raptors, widely considered among the most advanced air superiority fighters in the world, were seen taking off from the UK installation. One aircraft reportedly returned mid-flight due to a technical issue, while the remaining jets continued on to Israel.

The arrival of American fighter jets on Israeli soil is itself uncommon. The deployment of F-22 stealth aircraft in the country is described by Kan as highly unusual, signaling a notable shift in the current military posture.

The left has been looking for any way to besmirch the Justice Ministry’s Legal Adviser, Yael Kotik, ever since she signed a legal opinion barring Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara from heading the investigation into the leak of the Sdei Teiman video by disgraced Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi.

Apparently, there wasn’t much dirt to dig up on Kotik, but a few days ago, Haaretz journalist Michael Hauser Tov was about to publish an article against her. First, he sent a message to Kotik asking for her “response” to the story, but refused to reveal the details. Kotik quickly obtained a gag order, blocking the story. But after she was informed about the details of the “story” in court, she waived the gag order.

So what “dirt” did Haaretz dig up on Kotik? According to i24News journalist Avishai Grinzeig, the matter concerns an incident from 33 years ago involving allegations about recording attendance when she served as a junior police officer in her early twenties—an incident for which disciplinary proceedings were opened against her and from which she was acquitted.

Grinzeig wrote: “With all due respect to my friend Michael Hauser Tov, this publication teaches much more about the journalist than about the subject of the ‘expose.’”

The Justice Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday saying, “Attorney Kotik informed the Magistrate’s Court today that she is requesting—on her own initiative—to remove the gag order. The request for the order was filed because when the reporter approached her for comment, he did not provide the required information that would allow her to respond.”

“At the court’s recommendation, a discussion was held, after which she decided she has no objection to the publication, which are baseless claims from about 33 years ago. The allegations were examined in real time by the competent authorities and yielded nothing.”

“Attorney Kotik has served in the Justice Ministry for about 26 years. No blemish has ever been found in her professional or personal conduct, and she is highly regarded. Presenting events from more than three decades ago, at this timing, as if they were just now discovered, creates a false and misleading impression regarding baseless claims that have long since gathered dust.”

Attorney Yael Kotik stated, “Since the moment I published my professional opinion, I have been subjected to daily, unrestrained attacks, including slander and attempts to harm my reputation and professionalism. Once I understood the ‘story’ in question, I acted on my own initiative to have the order removed. I will continue to carry out my duties faithfully and objectively, as I have until now.”

Haaretz regularly engages in witch hunts against any public officials who interfere with its leftist agenda.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

An accident on River Avenue at the Lakewood/Toms River border has knocked out power in the area.

No injuries reported.

Expect also heavy delays for the repairs and cleanup.

Tensions between the United States and Iran are escalating rapidly as the US military deploys advanced fighter jets to Israel and the CIA launches a public digital campaign to recruit Iranian anti-regime protesters. Meanwhile, the White House remains locked in high-level deliberations over the scale of potential military action.

American F-22 fighter jets arrived at an Israeli Air Force base on Tuesday evening, signaling a hardened US military posture in the Middle East. Despite this show of force, military leadership has reportedly expressed significant reservations about the consequences of a direct conflict.

President Donald Trump is facing growing frustration regarding the limits of US military leverage against Tehran. Aides have cautioned the President that military action in Iran would be vastly different from the recent US operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Unlike the Venezuela operation, engaging Iran would require multiple strikes and could entangle the US in a protracted regional war.

Key Pentagon officials have voiced specific operational concerns:

Casualty Risks: Officials warn that a prolonged campaign could cost the lives of US troops and regional allies.

Leadership Apprehension: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine has reportedly expressed opposition to a full-scale war with Iran.

President Trump addressed reports of General Caine’s opposition on Truth Social, clarifying the general’s stance:

“[He] would [not like] to see war in Iran, but if a decision is made on going against Iran at a military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won.”

Meanwhile, the CIA has initiated a rare public appeal targeting Iranian anti-regime activists. In a Tuesday post published in Farsi on X, the intelligence agency declared that it “can hear your voice and wants to help you,” providing strict digital security protocols for citizens wishing to make contact.

The agency’s directives for secure communication emphasize bypassing state surveillance:

– Use new, disposable devices rather than personal or workplace hardware.
– Employ external browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox in Private/Incognito mode.
– Clear all device and browsing history immediately after making contact.
– Utilize Dark Web browsers or other non-native anti-filtering services provided by the CIA.
Activists who reach out are instructed to provide their location, full name, occupation, the type of information or skills they can offer the agency, and secure contact methods.

Despite the rapid military and intelligence developments, top US and Israeli officials remain uncertain about the administration’s ultimate strategy.

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has issued a public warning over multiple imported food products found to carry misleading or unauthorized kosher certifications, raising concerns about kashrus and consumer transparency.

In a special update, the Kashrut Fraud Division of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel detailed deficiencies involving dairy, fish, and meat products sold in major food chains.

One case involves long-life whole milk produced in Belgium by Solarec and imported by Euro Dairies Europe (Gold Frost) Ltd. of Yavne. The cartons claimed supervision by Badatz Beit Yosef and approval from the Chief Rabbinate, presenting the product as chalav Yisrael.

However, inspectors from the Rabbinate’s Import Department found that the milk was never authorized. As a result, officials ordered the product to be removed from shelves and returned to the importer.

The Rabbinate also cited serious problems with “100% smoked cod liver in fish oil,” imported by G. Willifood International Ltd.. Although the packaging displayed kosher approval and supervision by the Orthodox Union, the Import Department had rejected approval requests for production batches beginning in January 2025.

According to the Rabbinate, the rejection stemmed from missing documentation regarding parasite treatment and uncertainty over compliance with bishul Yisrael requirements.

In the meat sector, inspectors identified misleading labeling on frozen beef shank imported from Argentina and marketed by Tnuva. An on-site inspection found that outer packaging described the meat as kosher-chalak, while the stamp on the meat itself indicated only standard kosher certification.

The Rabbinate said the discrepancy could mislead consumers who rely on stricter kashrut standards.

“In light of this discrepancy, which constitutes misleading a consumer,” the agency said, the products were ordered returned to the distributor to prevent further violations.

The Kosharot organization urged shoppers and supervisors to closely examine certification notices.

“We call upon the general public and kashrus supervisors to pay attention to the details of the kashrus update,” the group said, warning against purchasing products that do not meet official standards.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran is nearing a deal with China to purchase advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, according to multiple people familiar with the negotiations, as the United States intensifies its military posture near the Iranian coast amid rising regional tensions.

The potential agreement would involve China’s CM-302 supersonic missiles, weapons capable of flying low and fast to evade ship defenses and strike targets nearly 300 kilometers away. Defense analysts say their deployment would significantly strengthen Iran’s ability to threaten U.S. and allied naval forces in the region.

Six people with knowledge of the talks told Reuters that the missile deal is close to completion, though no delivery timeline has been finalized.

Negotiations between Tehran and China began at least two years ago but accelerated following last summer’s brief war between Israel and Iran, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

As talks intensified, senior Iranian defense officials reportedly traveled to China, including Deputy Defense Minister Massoud Oraei. Reuters said the visit had not previously been reported.

“It’s a complete game-changer if Iran has supersonic capability to attack ships in the area,” said Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer now affiliated with a security think tank. “These missiles are very difficult to intercept.”

Neither Beijing nor Tehran has publicly confirmed the deal. China’s foreign and defense ministries did not respond to requests for comment, while an Iranian foreign ministry official told Reuters that Tehran is prepared to activate military agreements with its allies.

The White House has not directly addressed reports of the missile negotiations. A senior administration official reiterated that Trump has warned Iran it must reach a nuclear agreement or face tougher action.

The developments come as U.S. forces assemble a major naval and air presence within striking distance of Iran, including multiple aircraft carrier strike groups, dozens of fighter jets, and hundreds of support flights since mid-February.

Analysts say the potential missile sale highlights growing military cooperation between China and Iran at a sensitive moment for U.S. policy in the Middle East.

China, Iran, and Russia regularly conduct joint naval exercises, and Washington has previously sanctioned Chinese companies accused of supporting Iran’s missile program.

During a visit by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Beijing last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China supported Iran’s sovereignty and national dignity.

Beijing has also joined Moscow and Tehran in criticizing the reimposition of international sanctions on Iran’s weapons programs.

“Iran has become a battlefield between the U.S. on one side and Russia and China on the other,” an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters.

The CM-302 missiles would represent some of the most advanced weapons transferred to Iran by China in decades and could violate United Nations restrictions on arms transfers.

Those sanctions were first imposed in 2006, eased under the 2015 nuclear agreement, and reinstated last year after the collapse of diplomacy.

Western officials say any confirmed transfer would complicate efforts to contain Iran’s missile development and limit its military reach.

The reports also follow renewed threats from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who last week warned that U.S. warships could be targeted in any conflict.

“A warship is dangerous,” Khamenei said, “but more dangerous is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Tucker Carlson was interviewed on Saudi state TV on Saturday, following his interview with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, in which the podcast host and former Fox News personality did not leave the airport, staying only for a few hours to cross-examine Huckabee on his various positions, including his meeting with Jonathan Pollard.

It appeared that Huckabee had failed to make a dent in Carlson’s views, as Carlson reiterated his past anti-Israel positions and took some shots at the ambassador. While Carlson pressed Huckabee pretty hard during their interview, he was much friendlier toward his Saudi host and failed to mention past Saudi human rights abuses, like the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Doubling down on his dual loyalty charge, Carlson said, “What I really object to, what makes me mad, is when American leaders, whose job it is to represent Americans, are more loyal to a foreign country than they are to their own.”

“They have instead sent billions and billions and billions of dollars to a foreign country. And none of that has helped the United States. In fact, it’s hurt the United States,” he added.

“How is it in America’s interest to decapitate the government of Iran on behalf of Israel?” he asked, lashing out at the United States government for its involvement in Iran. “Not to rebuild a new Iran, but just to kind of kill the people in charge and hope something better happens. To create chaos in Iran, as we have done at Israel’s behest in so many countries in the region, as you well know since you live in the region.”

“This is bad for us, this is bad for the surrounding countries, it is bad for the world, I don’t think it’s good for Israel,” he fumed. “Actually, I don’t think Israel understands its own long-term interest very well, [but] that’s my view.”

He also blasted Israel for what he called a “land grab” in Gaza.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“The idea that we had to pretend that the Gaza operation is like a response to October 7, and it’s not an effort to expand the territory of Israel, that’s insulting to me because that’s a lie,” he raged. “That’s what it is.”

In the interview, Carlson was asked about a clip in which he denounces Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in these words:

“He’s not the only world leader who’s evil and destructive, by the way, again, but he is. And he’s hurting the United States, and he’s destroying his own country, and I think he imperils the world. I think that clearly they’re going to try and blow up al-Aqsa Mosque, I believe that, on the Temple Mount to build a third temple, and then you’ve got global war. So like he’s a threat. There’s no question he’s a threat to the Trump administration. No question.”

Carlson said he stands by every vile word.

Carlson also blasted Huckabee and presented himself as the clear-eyed Cassandra watching politicians stumbling around in “a haze,” befuddled by Israel’s cunning.

“I watched someone like Mike Huckabee, who’s the U.S. ambassador to Israel … betray the United States again and again and again by promoting Jonathan Pollard, who was a spy against the United States, who betrayed the United States, and Mike Huckabee, who’s our ambassador, is helping, truly, the most destructive spy in American history,” he said.

Pro-Israel politicians in the United States are under “a kind of spell, a kind of hypnosis, a kind of haze that people are in, where they’re doing things for reasons they don’t understand.”

Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal posted a video on Sunday revealing the attempts of the leftist anti-government Brothers in Arms organization to whitewash its calls for IDF refusal in the months before the October 7 massacre.

The report comes after Democrats chairman Yair Golan announced last week that one of the leaders of Brothers in Arms, Omri Ronen, is joining his party. The announcement prompted some social media users to remind Israelis of Ronen’s actions before the massacre, including calling for widespread IDF refusal and appearing on 60 Minutes_—_slandering Israel and the IDF to the entire world and provoking Israel’s enemies by saying that IDF refusal is weakening Israel’s security.

After the organization’s efforts to harm Israel bore fruit and the October 7 massacre occurred, Brothers in Arms held a highly publicized campaign to assist IDF soldiers and evacuees, claiming that the organization transformed itself into an assistance organization. While they actually did distribute supplies to IDF soldiers (although many units refused to receive anything from the notorious organization), they later reverted to their political activities.

Segal stated in the video: “Eyal Naveh, one of the leaders of the Brothers in Arms movement, waited for Shabbat—when I can’t respond—to upload a video saying: ‘How did you call us thugs after we helped you in real time—after the October 7 massacre?’”

“That’s a blatant lie,” Segal asserted. “Five days after the war broke out, the Brothers in Arms organization—which was not fond of me and vice versa—called me to invite me for a tour of its headquarters.”

Segal said that he happily agreed to the request, with the goal of using his influence to encourage unity during that harrowing time. And afterward, at the request of Naveh, he “held his nose” and published a post in support of the organization.

Segal noted: “I have to note that I’ve been at many headquarters, and I’ve assisted many volunteer organizations, and I’ve never seen an organization that was so obsessed with public relations—branding and publicity—as Brothers in Arms. Many people support giving to others secretly. Brothers in Arms supported ‘giving secretly’ as long as everyone knew about it. That’s why the sandwiches they distributed were branded, and the volunteers always wore Brothers in Arms T-shirts.”

Segal added that he regretted posting in support of the organization when he later realized its true intentions. “Well, as it turned out, the goal for Naveh and his friends at Brothers in Arms was less to help the public and more to whitewash their reputation and remove their sin of calling for IDF refusal,” he said.

“All this was an attempt to erase that crime of mass IDF refusal pre-October 7—when Naveh yelled out the names of the IDF units that would refuse to serve, the call to break apart the people’s army, and the threat to harm state security—and the confirmation that his actions did indeed harm Israel’s security.”

Segal concluded: “I have news for you, Naveh—it will never be erased.”

A notice from Brothers in Arms after October 7 informing IDF soldiers that they can receive a free barbecue dinner—on the condition that they agree to be photographed wearing Brothers in Arms coats. (Amit Segal)

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The State of the Union is tonight, and President Donald Trump is scheduled to give his diagnosis on how the country is doing one year into his second term.

The nation’s attention will be on the president, but the audience may be where the action happens.

Not too long ago, members were expected to watch the speech respectfully. They could clap or stand to express approval, but otherwise had to be quiet. Increasingly, members of Congress are using the speech as a platform for their own political stances and making themselves the main characters of the night.

When one Republican, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, shouted “You lie!” at President Barack Obama during a 2009 address before a joint session of Congress, it was a national scandal. The House voted to formally reprimand Wilson in a bipartisan move.

In 2006, Beverly Young, the wife of then-Rep. Bill Young of Florida, was ejected from the House chamber ahead of President George W. Bush’s State of the Union for wearing a T-shirt supporting the Iraq War. Cindy Sheehan, an anti-war protester, was arrested at the same speech for wearing a T-shirt protesting the war.

Not for yelling. Not for interrupting. For a T-shirt. (The U.S. Capitol Police chief said later that he regretted removing the women from the chamber.)

Those norms are changing. In recent years, there have been a variety of theatrics that make calling the president a liar look positively quaint. Jeers and boos are the norm. Former representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) caused President Joe Biden to pause his speech in 2024 by shouting the name of nursing student Laken Riley, who had been killed by an undocumented immigrant.

In 2023, she repeatedly screamed “liar” during his address when he said some Republican lawmakers wanted to sunset Social Security, and she was hardly the only one. Reps. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Eli Crane (R-Arizona) joined her on their feet, and a chorus of Republicans booed the president in an attempt to drown him out.

Democrats have also used the speech to express disapproval in ways that have become more visible over time. During his first address to Congress as president in 2017, Democratic congresswomen wore white in homage to the women’s suffrage movement and in rebuke of Trump’s sexist comments. Dozens of Democratic congresswomen have continued to wear white since.

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi dramatically tore up Trump’s speech in 2020 from the dais, later telling reporters it was “a manifesto of mistruths.” During last year’s speech, several Democrats simply left the chamber.

Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was removed from the House floor last year for yelling “you have no mandate to cut Medicaid” while waving his cane, after which he was censured, with 10 Democrats joining all Republicans.

Many Democrats are uneasy with the outbursts like Green’s, fearing they distract from the party’s more measured formal rebuttal after the speech (this year given by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger). House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told his fellow Democrats this year to either be quiet or don’t come.

“The two options that are in front of us, in our House, is either attend with silent defiance, or to not attend, and send a message to Donald Trump in that fashion, which will include participation in a variety of different alternate programming,” Jeffries said during a news conference last week.

Several Democratic lawmakers are planning to speak at a “People’s State of the Union,” organized by left-leaning advocacy groups on the National Mall.

For reporters who sit in the chamber, watching the audience is often the biggest part of the job. Where we sit, high up behind the dais, we can’t see (and often can’t hear) the president but have a clear view of almost every seat on the floor. Not everything we notice is dramatic enough to make the headlines, but members’ behavior does give us an insight into where they stand on policy.

It’ll be interesting to watch how pro-free-trade Republicans react to Trump’s rhetoric on tariffs, a topic he’s almost certain to bring up tonight following the Supreme Court’s ruling last week that shot down much of his trade policy.

Trump is also weighing a strike on Iran, building up the U.S. military presence near the country. If he engages in an extended operation in Iran, he would be going back on a major promise made in his campaign: that he wouldn’t engage in new wars or nation building. We’ve already seen a scattering of Republicans voice opposition to an attack on Iran. Will more refuse to clap tonight?

Expect tonight’s speech to be long – Trump said it would be “because we have so much to talk about.” In case you missed it, Amber Phillips of The 5-Minute Fix newsletter (you can sign up here) wrote about what’s on Trump’s mind ahead of tonight’s speech. Be sure to follow our team’s coverage from the chamber tonight.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post

Former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is facing a fresh storm of condemnation after promoting grotesque allegations accusing Israel of harvesting organs from Palestinian victims in Gaza.

In a video circulated on social media, Corbyn alleged that IDF troops had delivered boxes of human skulls and mutilated bodies to Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital, claiming that organs had been removed from deceased women.

“They opened the boxes,” Corbyn said, “and each one contained the skull of a Palestinian who had been killed.” He further asserted that bodies had been “opened and some of the organs removed,” declaring the allegations “the cause of our age.”

The video was first published on Instagram by Wear the Peace, a self-described ethical clothing brand that claims to donate portions of its profits to humanitarian causes. The post quickly went viral, drawing criticism from journalists, lawmakers, and Jewish organizations.

Corbyn’s accusations collapse under even minimal scrutiny.

Al-Shifa Hospital lies in an area controlled by Hamas, from which Israeli forces withdrew in October 2025. Since then, any return of Palestinian bodies has been carried out through internationally supervised procedures, coordinated with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The most recent such handover took place on January 29—months before Corbyn’s claims—and was conducted under international oversight.

There is, of course, no independent evidence supporting Corbyn’s assertions. No medical records, eyewitness testimony, or humanitarian reports corroborate his account. No international agency has substantiated any allegation of organ removal by Israeli forces.

Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, International Spokesperson for the IDF, condemned Corbyn’s remarks.

“What happened to fact checking before spreading a wild blood libel?” Shoshani wrote on X.

He emphasized that IDF troops “haven’t been anywhere near the Shifa hospital in months” and dismissed the claims as “crazy baseless stories.”

“The ‘cause of our generation’ is double checking claims,” Shoshani added, “and not believing journalists who spread misinformation.”

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Bloomberg reports Turkey is making preparations for a possible US-led strike on Iran, including contingency thinking about moving into Iranian territory if a “power vacuum” emerges, aimed at blocking a refugee surge toward Turkey.

Turkey shares a long frontier with Iran and is already politically scarred by past migration shocks, still hosting millions of Syrians. Separate reporting in recent weeks has described Turkish planning for an on-the-ground “buffer” on the Iranian side of the border in a worst-case collapse scenario.

Turkey and Iran on the map of Middle East (Western Asia) in soft grunge and vintage style, like old paper with watercolor painting.

Publicly, Turkey has also warned that foreign intervention in Iran would deepen the crisis, while urging Washington to pursue negotiations and de-escalation.

If the US escalates pressure on Tehran, border moves by a NATO member could redraw the map fast, and pull new actors into a conflict zone that Israel has been warning could widen beyond Iranian proxies.

New York City will not dismantle homeless encampments during one of the most severe snowstorms in its history, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Monday, even as many people living on the streets declined repeated offers of shelter.

The powerful winter system, known as Winter Storm Hernando, brought a fresh challenge for Mamdani’s administration. His handling of a major January storm drew sharp criticism after it spiraled into a deadly crisis during his opening weeks in office.

“The blizzard is a time when our focus should be not on physical infrastructure, but on people and on getting them indoors,” Mamdani argued during a news conference over Winter Storm Hernando.

The earlier storm resulted in 19 deaths across the city, many linked to hypothermia, fueling accusations that City Hall had failed to move vulnerable residents into safe housing quickly enough.

Just days ago, Mamdani had shifted course on his prior stance against dismantling homeless encampments, announcing that the city would resume clearances but provide individuals with seven days’ notice before any action was taken.

During the current storm, outreach teams helped 79 people enter shelters while snowfall totals approached two feet, according to the mayor. He emphasized that none of those placements were forced.

Still, some individuals remained outside despite the dangerous conditions. On the Manhattan Bridge pedestrian walkway, several tents were buried in snow on the Manhattan side as FDNY personnel, NYPD officers, and a private ambulance crew checked on those inside.

“I’m alright,” one man said, shaking his head as responders peeled back the tarps.

An FDNY EMT said the man had rejected appeals made in both English and Spanish.

“We can’t remove them. People have the right to be homeless in New York City,” the EMT said.

Two NYPD officers remained nearby while outreach workers attempted to persuade those sheltering in tents to relocate, but the man was not taken from the scene.

Police officials said officers made contact with 130 homeless individuals during the storm, and 127 declined offers to enter shelters. Only two agreed to accept city assistance.

Although outreach staff did not compel anyone to leave the streets, police did carry out one involuntary removal after determining the person posed a danger to themselves, according to a department spokesperson.

Under city policy, officers may remove someone against their will if they are considered a threat to themselves or others, though emergency medical technicians lack authority to enforce such removals.

These involuntary transports are distinct from broader encampment clearances, commonly referred to as “homeless sweeps.”

Both policies were heavily debated during January’s storm, when Mamdani faced intense backlash over the 19 outdoor deaths while maintaining that involuntary removals should remain a measure of last resort.

City officials said outreach teams accompanied by licensed clinicians conducted 33 involuntary removals between Jan. 19 and Feb. 10, encompassing the prior storm and the following cold spell.

During that same period, NYPD officers carried out 52 removals, according to a police spokesperson.

As of Monday, the mayor said there had been no confirmed fatalities connected to the latest blizzard.

“We are not aware of any deaths related to this blizzard on our city streets or in public areas,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

PARIS (AP) — The U.S. ambassador to France sought Tuesday to smooth over a diplomatic spat with Paris, calling up the French foreign minister who had said earlier in the day that the U.S. diplomat would lose access to French government officials after he skipped a meeting.

French authorities had summoned Ambassador Charles Kushner — the father of U.S. President Donald Trump ’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner — over comments from the Trump administration that France objected to. But Kushner did not show up for the Monday night meeting, the foreign ministry said.

After French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Tuesday morning that the no-show would dent the ambassador’s ability to serve in France, Kushner telephoned the minister and they agreed to meet in coming days, his office said.

The U.S. Embassy in Paris said in a statement after the call that Kushner and Barrot “spoke today in a frank and amicable call, reaffirming their shared commitment to working together, along with all other ministers and French officials, on the many issues that impact the United States and France, particularly as the two countries celebrate 250 years of rich diplomatic relations.”

The affair was sparked by Trump administration tweets relating to the beating death in France of a far-right activist, Quentin Deranque. The 23-year-old student, described as a fervent nationalist, was beaten by a group of people earlier this month in the city of Lyon, in fighting that erupted between far-left and far-right activists. He later died of brain injuries.

In a post last week on X, the State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau said “violent radical leftism is on the rise and its role in Quentin Deranque’s death demonstrates the threat it poses to public safety.”

The U.S. Embassy in Paris posted the same statement, in French.

The Paris government bristled at what it regarded as interference in French affairs and summoned Kushner. The ambassador’s subsequent call to Barrot on Tuesday after his no-show appeared to then help turn the page.

Barrot reiterated to the ambassador that France cannot accept foreign interference, the minister’s office said. Kushner “took note, expressed his willingness not to interfere in our public debate, and recalled the friendship that binds France and the United States,” it said. They agreed to meet in coming days, it said.

Before the call, Barrot had described the no-show as “a surprise” that flew in the face of diplomatic protocol.

“It will, naturally, affect his capacity to exercise his mission in our country,” Barrot said, speaking to public broadcaster France Info.

He said that Kushner “is bringing difficulties on himself. Because for an ambassador to be able to do his job he needs access to members of the government. That’s the basics.”

“There is nothing more usual than summoning an ambassador when explanations need to be made,” he said. “When these explanations have taken place, then the U.S. ambassador in France will, naturally, regain access to members of the French government.”

“We don’t accept that foreign countries can come and interfere, invite themselves, into the national political debate,” he said.

Barrot had earlier made clear that the dust-up should not hurt broader U.S.-France relations.

“Not showing up is his personal responsibility,” he said. “It does not affect the relationship between France and the United States in any way.”

Last August, Paris also summoned Kushner over a letter he wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron alleging that France did not do enough to combat antisemitism. The foreign ministry called his allegations “unacceptable.”

At the time, Kushner also did not respond to the summons but sent his No. 2 instead.

For more than 24 hours, families across Puerto Vallarta stayed indoors as security operations and cartel retaliation rippled through parts of Jalisco and beyond. When Rabbi Shneur and Mushkie Hecht of Chabad of Puerto Vallarta finally took their children out for a short drive to breathe, they described a scene that felt unreal: burned-out cars and trucks, scorched storefronts, and the kind of destruction that makes a place look unfamiliar in an instant.

Authorities say the violence followed a major Mexican special forces operation that killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), triggering road blockages and arson attacks in multiple areas, including Puerto Vallarta. The U.S. Mission’s security alert urged U.S. citizens in Puerto Vallarta (and nearby areas) to shelter in place until blockades were cleared, noting that flights had begun departing Puerto Vallarta again and advising travelers to confirm flight status before heading to the airport.

But the Hechts’ message isn’t primarily about what burned. It’s about what didn’t. As smoke and rumors spread, they wrote, “Phones were ringing nonstop, not with panic, but with care.” Neighbors checked on neighbors. Community members offered food, water, and help, whatever was needed, without waiting to be asked. In a moment designed to isolate people behind locked doors, the instinct was the opposite: to connect, to account for one another, to hold the line together.

They anchored that instinct in an old Torah image that feels painfully current. When Noah steps out of the ark into a world stripped down by catastrophe, his first act isn’t rebuilding a house or counting what’s missing, it’s gratitude. The Hechts invoked that moment plainly: devastation can be real without being the final word. Material things can burn. Bonds between people can deepen.

On the security front, Mexico has moved additional forces into Jalisco as officials try to stabilize the region and prevent further flare-ups.

The Hechts ended with what reads like a communal mission statement for the days ahead: peace of mind, peace of heart, and forward movement together. Destruction is visible, but so is love, unity, and the kind of responsibility that turns a frightened city into a caring one.

[Photos and videos below.] An Israel-to-JFK flight that was unexpectedly diverted to Detroit turned into a powerful display of achdus and chesed, as members of the Detroit Jewish community mobilized within hours to provide passengers with kosher food and emergency assistance.

The flight, originally scheduled to land at JFK Airport in New York, was rerouted to Detroit due to unforeseen circumstances, leaving dozens of passengers stranded far from their intended destination. With little notice and limited airport food options that met kosher standards, the situation quickly became challenging for the frum travelers.

Enter Daniel Greenbaum, owner of Metropolitan Dry Cleaners, who immediately began coordinating a community response. Working together with the owners of Jerusalem Pizza and members of Hatzalah Detroit, Greenbaum helped organize a large-scale food delivery to the airport to ensure that every passenger in need would be taken care of.

Within a short time, cars were packed and dispatched to the airport loaded with an extraordinary amount of food and supplies. The shipment included 65 large pizza pies, 8 gluten-free pies, and several vegan and cheeseless pies to accommodate a range of dietary needs. In addition, volunteers prepared and delivered 150 individually plated orders of fries and 50 tuna and egg sandwiches.

Several cases of water and Snapple were also included to make sure passengers had drinks after hours of unexpected delay.

Community members described the effort as seamless and inspiring. Volunteers worked quickly to prepare, pack, and transport the food, transforming what could have been a stressful and uncomfortable ordeal into a moment of genuine ahavas Yisroel.

Hatzalah Detroit members were also on hand to assist with any medical or emergency needs, ensuring that passengers had access not only to food but to support and reassurance as well.

What began as a routine international flight disruption became an unforgettable example of how a Jewish community—no matter the city—steps up instantly when fellow Yidden are in need.

Passengers expressed deep appreciation for the outpouring of support, many noting that after a long and uncertain travel interruption, the sight of cars arriving filled with hot kosher food was both comforting and uplifting.

{Matzav.com}

MOSCOW (AP) — Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, said Tuesday that the Russian government had opened a criminal investigation against him on charges of “aiding terrorism.”

Durov, who was born and began his career in Russia, accused Moscow of fabricating pretexts to restrict access by Russians to the Telegram service as part of an attempt to “suppress the right to privacy and free speech.”

“A sad spectacle of a state afraid of its own people,” Durov wrote on social media.

Russian media outlets had begun circulating unconfirmed reports earlier in the day that a criminal investigation had been opened against Durov by Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB.

It comes two weeks after Russia’s communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, said it was restricting the Telegram app, accusing the company of refusing to abide by Russian law.

The move triggered a rare wave of public outcry, including widespread criticism from pro-Kremlin military bloggers, who warned that Telegram was widely used by Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and restricting its service would derail military communications.

However, Russian officials have continued to portray Telegram as a security risk. Digital development minister Maksud Shadayev told Russian news wire Interfax that foreign intelligence agencies could be reading messages sent through Telegram by Russian soldiers on the front line.

When asked about the case, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that the FSB had gathered information on a “large number of violations” by Telegram, as well as content that could “potentially pose a danger to our country.” He said Telegram had been unwilling to cooperate with the authorities.

“Based on this, the relevant agencies are taking measures they deem appropriate,” Peskov said.

Under President Vladimir Putin, the authorities have engaged in multipronged efforts to rein in the internet. They have adopted restrictive laws and banned websites and platforms that don’t comply, and focused on improving technology to monitor and manipulate online traffic.

Russian authorities have targeted YouTube and imposed restrictions on popular messaging platforms, blocking Signal and Viber and banning online calls on WhatsApp and Telegram. In December, restrictions were imposed on Apple’s FaceTime video calling service.

While it’s still possible to circumvent some of the restrictions by using virtual private network services, many of them are routinely blocked too.

At the same time, Russia actively promotes the “national” messaging app known as MAX, which critics say could be used for surveillance. The platform — touted by developers and officials as a one-stop shop for messaging, online government services, making payments and more — openly declares it will share user data with authorities upon request. Experts also say it doesn’t use end-to-end encryption.

Durov has faced criminal investigations elsewhere. In 2024, he was arrested in Paris over allegations that his platform was being used for illicit activity, including drug trafficking and the distribution of child sexual abuse images.

A senior Israeli defense figure has told BNN that Iran may already possess operational chemical and biological warheads for its ballistic missiles, with the IDF confirming to BNN that there has been no change in Home Front Command (Pikud HaOref) civil-defense directives.

The assessment gained fresh attention after Brig. Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi, founder of the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF) and an adviser to the Israeli government on defense matters, said the threat is “not theoretical” and that there is “a good chance they already have it,” describing the capability as something Israel believes “may be operational.” In a separate interview with the Washington Free Beacon, Avivi said Israel’s defense establishment is actively discussing the possibility of chemical and biological warheads and is factoring those capabilities into target planning for any potential strike, warning that missile production is continuing “around the clock” and that newer systems are more sophisticated than those used in the June 2025 war.

That dovetails with reporting from Iran International, which cited informed military sources saying the IRGC is developing biological and chemical warheads for long-range ballistic missiles, alongside upgrades to command-and-control and moves involving launcher deployments, while also noting Tehran’s longstanding denials of pursuing “unconventional” weapons.

BNN pressed Avivi directly on the obvious public question: if the chemical/biological threat is real, why hasn’t Pikud HaOref distributed gas masks or issued new guidance? Avivi’s answer was blunt, Israel will prioritize offense and military defense layers, and he does not expect a gas-mask push “at this time.” He argued Israel’s air-defense architecture can handle the threat, even as he acknowledged the unique psychological impact of non-conventional warheads and the limits of standard sheltering if chemical agents are dispersed at scale.

Avivi also framed what he sees as Iran’s motive and timing. He said Tehran accelerated missile production after the June 2025 “12-Day War,” driven by a desire for revenge and to rebuild deterrence after what it views as a damaging blow. He outlined three potential paths to escalation: an Iranian preemptive missile strike (including possible “non-regular” warheads), an Israeli preemptive strike, or a U.S.-led operation—which he said he expects, claiming Washington has effectively decided to confront the regime decisively.

The civil-defense question is especially charged because Israel previously halted routine gas mask distribution to the general public years ago, shifting production mainly toward rescue services and ending broad civilian distribution programs.

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Finally, the “unconventional warhead” fear sits inside a wider chemical-weapons context. Open-source research and U.S.-linked assessments have pointed to Iranian work on pharmaceutical-based agents affecting the central nervous system and to concerns about Chemical Weapons Convention compliance, while Iran simultaneously invokes its history as a chemical-weapons victim, including the 1987 Sardasht mustard gas attack that the OPCW notes killed over 100 people.

YS GOLD 

This week’s captured moment brings us not to a building or landmark, but to a “mishenichnas Adar sign” which hung in a 3rd floor shtiebel for about ninety years. 

The shtiebel was led by a great tzaddik and ba’al mesirus nefesh who left behind countless descendants who follow in his ways, and was situated on 16th Avenue in the 50’s. 

Can any of our readers identify the shul in question? 

___ 

Answer to last week’s captured moment: 

The Stuchiner Rebbe, zt”l, is seen approaching his beis medrash on 50th Street. The home in the background is still standing, and looks similar to the way it did back then.

NEW YORK — A group combating antisemitism is running rooftop ads on 4,000 New York City yellow cabs, taking a swipe at Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to eliminate bus fares. The pink-and-white digital ads read, “Not gonna hide my Jewish star for a free bus ride,” and will run through March 10 along Manhattan’s East and West Sides, the NY Post reported.

The campaign, launched by the group JewBelong, also includes a large billboard in the Bronx. Founder Archie Gottesman said the ads highlight the rising threat of antisemitism, noting NYPD data showing a 182% jump in anti-Jewish hate crimes in January compared with last year.

Mamdani has vowed to fight antisemitism, but the group criticized his support for the BDS movement and his statements on Israel. The New York City Human Rights Commission condemned antisemitism in a separate statement, affirming support for the city’s Jewish community and funding local anti-hate initiatives.

President Donald Trump is pressing ahead with an ambitious plan to remake post-war Gaza under an international framework that excludes Hamas. But newly revealed documents suggest the terrorist group is quietly positioning itself to retain power behind the scenes, raising questions about the durability of U.S.-led stabilization efforts.

According to evidence reviewed by The Times of Israel, Hamas is preparing a shadow governing structure while embedding loyalists — including military commanders — into civilian institutions expected to operate under a new technocratic administration.

At last week’s Board of Peace meeting in Washington, Trump secured roughly $7 billion in international pledges for Gaza’s reconstruction, along with commitments from five countries to contribute troops to a planned International Stabilization Force intended to replace Israeli forces.

The gathering marked a major diplomatic push to advance a post-war transition. A newly formed body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), has begun operating from Cairo, recruiting staff and organizing a transitional police force.

“When you think of Israel, we’ve done the biggest thing of all,” Trump said at the meeting. “We have peace in the Middle East right now.”

But on the ground, progress remains limited. Nearly four months into the ceasefire, Israel still controls more than half of Gaza, while most of the enclave’s roughly 2 million residents live in areas where Hamas remains dominant.

Under the ceasefire framework, Hamas is required to hand civilian governance to the NCAG, a 15-member technocratic body led by former Palestinian Authority official Ali Shaath and overseen by High Representative Nikolay Mladenov.

Publicly, Hamas has portrayed itself as cooperative. Spokesman Hazem Qassem told Agence France-Presse that the group had prepared protocols and files for a full transfer of authority.

Privately, however, internal documents paint a different picture.

The Times of Israel reports that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who assumed leadership after Muhammad Sinwar was killed in an Israeli strike last year, ordered members to copy government records before transferring them, allowing Hamas to maintain leverage over civil servants.

Israeli military officials warned in January that Hamas is embedding supporters “from the bottom up” in local authorities and security services, according to a briefing submitted to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The documents indicate that commanders from Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, are being shifted into civilian posts. Two Palestinian sources told Reuters that five district governors with militant ties have already been appointed.

“Shaath may have the key to the car, and he may even be allowed to drive, but it is a Hamas car,” one source said.

Despite formal steps toward civilian rule, Hamas’s intelligence and security networks appear largely untouched. Internal orders reviewed by The Times of Israel show commanders directing increased surveillance, including around hospitals and public facilities.

A recently released health ministry video showed a new deputy health minister touring medical centers — an example, analysts say, of how Hamas-linked officials are integrating into emerging institutions.

The IDF has warned that Hamas is rebuilding its underground infrastructure and preserving its operational capacity in violation of ceasefire terms.

“Since the ceasefire came into effect, Hamas has violated the understandings and is working to restore its military capabilities,” an IDF spokesperson said.

Israeli and Hamas officials appear to agree on one point: another major conflict is likely.

Last month, a senior Israeli security official said military action may be unavoidable if Hamas refuses to disarm. Hamas leaders have also said further conflict is likely.

“Criminalizing the resistance and its weapons is something we should not accept,” said senior Hamas figure Khaled Mashaal at a recent conference in Doha.

Israeli sources say Hamas is willing to store heavy weapons under international supervision and share partial tunnel maps, but intends to keep rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. The IDF estimates that at least 60 percent of Hamas’s tunnel network remains intact.

An Israeli security official told The Times of Israel that Israel would permit only handguns for a future Gazan police force — and only if Hamas is excluded.

Israeli officials have intensified lobbying of the Trump administration, arguing that Hamas must be fully disarmed for any lasting peace to emerge.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, Israeli leaders have told the White House that renewed military intervention may be the only way to dismantle Hamas’s remaining capabilities — and that any future operation would be faster and more expansive than previous campaigns.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A judge in Utah is set to determine Tuesday whether the local prosecuting team should be barred from handling the case against the man accused of killing conservative figure Charlie Kirk, after it emerged that the daughter of a senior prosecutor witnessed the shooting.

Earlier this month, Utah County District Court Judge Tony Graf convened a hearing to consider a motion filed by attorneys for Tyler Robinson, who argue that lawyers from the Utah County Attorney’s Office should be taken off the case due to a potential conflict of interest.

According to the defense, the 18-year-old daughter of a high-ranking prosecutor was present when the fatal shooting occurred on September 10.

They contend that the office’s move to pursue capital punishment less than a week after the killing reflected a “strong emotional reaction” by Chad Grunander, a deputy county attorney whose daughter notified him of the shooting through a series of text messages.

Grunander took the stand and rejected the claim that his daughter’s involvement influenced the office’s decision. He testified that prosecutors sought the death penalty only after concluding that the evidence against Robinson was strong enough to support it.

“We felt there’s simply no conflict here,” Grunander told the Provo, Utah, court during a Feb. 3 hearing.

Court proceedings and filings have not addressed who would assume responsibility for prosecuting the case if Judge Graf rules that Grunander and his colleagues must step aside. Defense attorneys have previously asked that the Utah Attorney General’s Office respond to their allegations of a conflict, rather than the Utah County Attorney’s Office.

Robinson, 22, had been training to work as an electrician. Authorities allege that he fired a single shot from a rooftop, killing Kirk while the conservative activist was engaged in a debate with students at Utah Valley University in Orem as part of a nationwide campus tour.

Kirk was widely recognized for energizing young voters who contributed to President Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election. His killing, carried out before a large crowd, underscored what many have described as a disturbing rise in political violence across the country.

Robinson faces charges of aggravated murder, tampering with a witness, and obstruction of justice. He is not expected to enter a plea until after a preliminary hearing that is currently anticipated to take place in mid-May.

{Matzav.com}

The secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the umbrella to which the Palestinian Authority belongs, blasted calls for Hamas to disarm and transfer its civil authority to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza on Monday. He also said that Hamas is not a terrorist group.

“They don’t want Hamas to have any role in the Strip,” said Azzam al-Ahmad in an interview with an Egyptian paper. “We completely reject this, because Hamas is part of the Palestinian national movement.”

He also said that the PLO has held “continuous national dialogue with [Hamas] in order to fulfill the requirements for their entry into the organization,” with the expectation that Hamas would join the PLO.

The PLO is internationally recognized as the organization that represents all Arabs who originate from Gaza, Judea and Samaria, wherever they live throughout the world, while the PA more narrowly administers to Arabs in parts of Judea and Samaria. The PLO, headed by al-Ahmad, establishes guiding principles for all the institutions it oversees.

Azzam al-Ahmad, PLO Sec. Gen., sits for an interview with an Egyptian paper. (From a post on X)

Al-Ahmad insisted that the PLO “always rejected decisions issued by international institutions or governments to classify [Hamas] as a terror organization, as they are part of the Palestinian national fabric.”

“Everything that is said about disarming Hamas and that it is a terrorist group is rejected by us,” he added, stressing that “Hamas is not a terror organization.”

The Fatah official said that he also rejects any reforms to the PA’s educational materials that contain indoctrination of Jew hatred and incitement to violence against Jews and Israelis, because his folks are smarter than those calling for reform.

“We will not allow them to be modified,” he insisted. “What they are calling for is fabricated reform, and we tell them that we have minds and educated people more than you do, and we have more scholars than they do — some of whom America relies upon.”

“We challenge anyone who says that the security services are pursuing resistance fighters,” he added, unapologetic and unabashed about terror attacks carried out against Israelis.

Al-Ahmad said that the PLO has been negotiating with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine — all terror groups — to join the body of the PLO, which he hopes will happen soon.

“We have begun … with the comrades in the Popular Front, and made significant progress with them so that they’ll return to engagement. An agreement has also been reached with the Democratic Front,” he said.

All of these groups are designated terrorist organizations with the blood of innocent civilians on their hands, having murdered or caused lifelong injuries to both Israelis and Americans.

Disturbingly, while the Palestinian Authority — the very body that al-Ahmad oversees — has not been invited to join the Board of Peace, a committee to liaise with the board has been established, with Board of Peace High Representative Nickolay Mladenov serving as the liaison.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday declined to characterize a snowball-throwing incident involving police officers in Washington Square Park as criminal, saying video of the encounter appeared to show “a snowball fight.”

Clips shared widely on social media show a crowd tossing snow at uniformed officers and a marked police vehicle during a winter storm that covered the city in heavy snowfall. Police had responded to reports of a disorderly gathering in the park.

Asked whether he agreed with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch that the conduct amounted to a crime, Mamdani said the footage he reviewed did not suggest that. He praised officers for working extended hours during the storm and said city employees “deserve respect.”

“If anyone in city government should be hit with a snowball, it’s me,” he added in a lighthearted remark.

When questioned about whether the participants were minors, Mamdani said the video he saw appeared to show young people engaged in what he described as a snowball fight.

Tisch, however, called the behavior “disgraceful” and said it was under criminal investigation. She said detectives were reviewing the footage and seeking to identify those involved.

The head of the city’s largest police union urged authorities to pursue assault charges against anyone responsible.

Gov. Kathy Hochul also weighed in, saying it is never acceptable to throw objects at law enforcement officers.

Police said the matter remains under investigation.

(AP) – The House failed to approve a bill Tuesday that was crafted after last year’s tragic midair collision near Washington D.C. to require all aircraft flying around busy airports to have key locator systems to prevent such crashes. The collision of an airliner and an Army helicopter killed 67 people in January 2025.

The National Transportation Safety Board has been recommending such Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast systems to be installed since 2008. The bill that already passed the Senate would have required aircraft to be equipped with a system that can receive data about the locations of other aircraft. The complementary ADS-B Out system that broadcasts an aircraft’s location is already required.

The families of the victims who died when an American Airlines jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter strongly supported the measure. But the Airlines for American trade group, the military and the major general aviation groups that represent business jets and small plane owners backed a competing and more comprehensive House bill that was just introduced last week.

Tim Lilley, whose son Sam was the first officer on the airliner, said he’s really disappointed, but he and the other families will continue to press for meaningful reforms and stronger requirements in the House bill. And he hopes that will happen before the next tragedy.

“We’re going to end up back here having the same conversation because of another midair is what’s going to happen. Hopefully — fingers crossed — that doesn’t,” Lilley said.

Under the special process that was used to fast-track the bill, the ROTOR Act needed to receive more than two-thirds support to pass the House. It received 264 votes, but 133 other representatives voted against it.

House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves pledged to continue working with the families and the Senate to address the aviation safety concerns exposed by last year’s collision. He said that the House bill could be marked up in committee as soon as next week. That bill is designed to address all 50 of the recommendations the NTSB made — not just the locator technology, but NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy has said the House bill falls short of accomplishing that.

Lilley said the bill Graves helped write needs to be improved.

“They’ve had 18 years to get it right. He’s talking about getting it right and he’s not even close on the collision avoidance piece,” he said.

The cost of the ADS-B In mandate has been a concern. It’s not clear exactly how much it would cost partly because the systems haven’t yet been designed for every aircraft, but Homendy testified in Congress that American Airlines was able to equip more than 300 of its Airbus a321s for $50,000 apiece, and general aviation pilots have the option of using a portable receiver that costs about $400 and works with an iPad.

One of the key researchers who helped develop these locator systems, Fabrice Kunzi, said a plane’s dashboard shouldn’t have to be overhauled to add a new display because the system is designed to give pilots an audible warning about nearby traffic with details of their locations if there is a risk of a collision.

House and Senate bills took a different approach
The key difference between the bills is that the House version would not require both kinds of the proven Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast systems to be installed. Instead, the House bill would require the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate what technology might be best as part of a lengthy rulemaking process before requiring a solution. The House bill also covers many more aspects of the systemic failures the NTSB identified as causing the crash last Jan. 29.

The bipartisan group of Senate leaders behind the ROTOR Act — led by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democrat Maria Cantwell — had argued their bill would be a good first step before drafting additional legislation.

The main Families of Flight 5342 group had said that while the House bill includes a number of good reforms that should be considered, they can’t support it as written because it doesn’t clearly require ADS-B In equipment. Everyone aboard the helicopter and the American Airlines jet flying from Wichita, Kansas, including the parents of Olympic figure skater Maxim Naumov and 26 other members of the figure skating community, died when the aircraft collided and plummeted into the icy Potomac River.

Doug Lane said that as he learned more about the crash that killed his wife and young figure skating son, he couldn’t understand why airplanes aren’t already equipped with this technology.

“It was inconceivable to me that in the age of GPS-enabled smartphones in every pocket that there was no way for pilots flying aircraft with price tags in the tens of millions of dollars to see visually whether other aircraft in the airspace were on a collision course,” Lane said ahead of the vote on Tuesday..

Improving the collision warning system
Any plane flying around a major airport is already required to have an ADS-B Out system that continually broadcasts an aircraft’s location and speed installed. ADS-B In systems that can receive those signals and be used to create a display showing pilots where all air traffic is located around them are not standard on airliners, though many general aviation pilots already use a portable receiver to display that information on an iPad.

The NTSB investigation showed that system would have provided significantly more warning to the pilots involved in the crash and would have allowed them to avoid the collision. A plane equipped with ADS-B In can give the pilot a detailed description of where other aircraft are whereas the current technology can only warn that traffic is in the area.

An El Al flight was sent back to Israel after eight hours in the air due to the snowstorm that hit the northeastern coast of the United States on Monday.

El Al Flight 1027 was flying near Corsica in southern Europe when it received the message that Newark Liberty International Airport, where it was scheduled to land, had suspended landings due to the heavy snows, high winds and poor visibility. After discussing several options, including transferring to a North American airline, the decision was ultimately made to return to Ben Gurion Airport.

The airplane touched down safely at Ben Gurion Airport a few hours later.

Thanks to the storm, Newark Airport had widespread cancellations and delays. Once the airport resumes regular operations, the flight will be rescheduled, according to an El Al official.

After already having a snow day yesterday, many parents were stunned to learn there will be no school again today, not because of impassable roads, but because of a chain reaction that began with transportation.

First, LSTA canceled bussing. Then, several girls’ schools announced closures because there would be no transportation. Boys’ schools followed with modified or shortened schedules, explaining that many of their afternoon teachers, who have children, would be home with their own children and unable to teach.

The result? Widespread closures across the community.

Meanwhile, NY Mandami is holding school.

Parents are left asking a simple question: if roads are safe enough for carpools, why aren’t they safe enough for school? On days without bussing, carpools somehow work. Parents who choose to sit in traffic do so voluntarily. That decision should belong to families, not be made preemptively for everyone.

We all remember the last major snowstorm, when roads truly were a mess. No one questioned school closures then. Safety must always come first.

But this situation feels different.

If a high school can hold a school play tonight, clearly concluding that roads are safe for evening travel, why is it unsafe to hold classes during daylight hours?

This decision has already cost families hundreds of dollars in lost wages from yesterday’s snow day. A second day compounds that loss. Many households cannot afford two missed workdays in a row. In a town that runs heavily on kollel families, many men may now need to stay home because their wives cannot afford to miss a second day of work. Either way, income is lost.

The financial ripple effect is real and immediate.

If schools charged $100 per day of class, trust me, they would find a way to open tomorrow. Every business will be open for one simple reason: they only make money when they’re open.

The two entities closed today are bussing and many morahs; the only ones that continue getting paid regardless. And the economic and communal impact of that reality is significant.

Tuition continues to rise. Donations are requested regularly. Parents are asked, often, to go the extra mile for the school. But when families feel that schools are not going the extra mile in return, frustration builds.

At this point, many parents feel the system is taking advantage, plain and simple, because there is zero accountability. Not from LSTA, and not from the schools. When no one must answer for the consequences, cancellation becomes the easiest choice.

But the easiest choice for institutions is not always the most responsible one for families.

Parents are not asking schools to compromise safety. We are asking for coordination, consistency, and shared responsibility. Snow days are part of winter.

Unnecessary snow days — especially when roads are navigable and other institutions remain open — feel less like safety measures and more like avoidable disruption.

Families deserve better leadership and clearer standards. Our children’s education and the stability of our community depend on it.

This letter is a sequel to my previous piece, “An Open Letter to Our Schools: Reconsidering Pre-Pesach School Closures,” published in The Lakewood Scoop.

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

YS GOLD 

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of HaRav HaGaon Reb Shlomo Leib Zweiback, zt”l, a distinguished talmid chacham and pillar of the Mountaindale community. 

Rav Zweiback served with devotion as the R”M and Posek of Yeshiva Zichron Mayer in Mountaindale, New York, leaving behind a legacy of profound learning and guidance.

Born on the 11th of Iyar, 5702 (1942), in the Boro Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, Rav Zweiback grew up in an atmosphere saturated with Torah. He became a primary talmid of HaRav Yehuda Davis, zt”l, under whose tutelage he flourished.

His commitment to his Rebbi was unwavering; when the Yeshiva and Kollel relocated from Brighton to Mountaindale, Rav Zweiback moved along with the Kollel to the Catskills. This move marked the beginning of decades of service to the Mountaindale community, where he became a cornerstone of the local institution.

As a R”M and Posek of the community, Rav Zweiback was known for his clarity in Shulchan Aruch and his ability to transmit complex concepts to his talmidim. His life was a testament to the endurance of the Yeshiva movement in America, bridging the world of his youth in Brooklyn with the vibrant center of Torah he helped maintain in the mountains.

The Levaya will be held today, Tuesday, February 24, at 2:00 PM at 613 Ramsey Avenue, Lakewood, NJ, and The family will sit Shiva at 50 Pawnee Road, Lakewood, NJ.

Yehi zichro baruch.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A leading figure in Israel’s ultra-Orthodox matchmaking world says thousands of men and women over age 28 remain unmarried, calling the situation a “hidden epidemic” with broad social consequences.

On the program “Dvar HaShavua” with Moshe Manes, Rabbi Yitzhak Perahim, head of the national matchmaking organization Lev Echad, said an estimated 16,000 singles — roughly 8,000 men and 8,000 women — in Israel’s Haredi community are currently without prospects.

“This is not only a personal tragedy,” he said. “It’s like losing an entire city.”

Perahim described what he called a growing “vacuum,” with some singles reporting they have not received a single call from a matchmaker for two or three years. Families, he said, often blame themselves or others, unaware that the problem is systemic.

He attributed part of the crisis to a shortage of professional matchmakers, saying the work requires extensive time and effort with relatively modest pay. Without strong motivation or financial sustainability, many leave the field, he said.

Perahim also pointed to what he described as market dynamics within the community. Once men reach their mid-20s, he said, matchmakers may focus instead on younger candidates, leaving older singles with fewer opportunities. At the same time, he said, older singles can become more selective over time, complicating efforts to find matches.

His organization has introduced counseling programs aimed at helping singles reassess expectations and navigate what he described as emotional and psychological barriers to marriage.

Perahim also urged families to value and support matchmakers, including through financial compensation, arguing that the role is comparable in importance to other professional services.

He called on community members to become more proactive in suggesting potential matches and supporting older singles.

“Everyone can take part,” he said. “One suggestion can bring light into an entire home.”

Thousands of bnei Torah packed the Armonot Chen halls in Bnei Brak last night for the major “Romamtnu L’Dorot” gathering,  an event marked by a powerful display of kavod haTorah. Yet the most moving moment of the evening did not take place on the main stage, but rather behind the scenes — in the kitchen.

A photograph obtained this morning captured Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, seated quietly in a corner of the Armonot Chen kitchen. There was no seat of honor and no prepared table, just a simple plastic chair positioned near beverage carts and stacks of dishes. Amid the bustle of preparations, the rosh yeshiva was seen deeply immersed in learning, completely detached from the surrounding commotion.

Sources told Matzav that his presence in the kitchen was not due to a lack of space, but rather reflected a deliberate act of humility and sensitivity. When Rav Cohen arrived at the entrance to the hall, he was informed that three prominent rabbanim were in the midst of delivering a central Torah panel.

In his characteristic modesty, the rosh yeshiva was concerned that his entrance into the main hall would prompt the audience to rise in his honor and applaud, thereby interrupting the speakers and diverting attention from the rabbanim currently addressing the crowd. To avoid diminishing their kavod, he asked to enter through a side kitchen door instead.

For nearly half an hour, Rav Cohen remained in the kitchen, waiting until the panel concluded. Sitting on a simple chair, he utilized the moments to learn with the diligence for which he is well known.

{Matzav.com}

(AP) – Waymo will begin dispatching its robotaxis in four more cities in Texas and Florida, expanding the territory covered by its fleet of self-driving cars to 10 major U.S. metropolitan markets.

The move into Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando, Florida, announced Tuesday, widens Waymo’s early lead in autonomous driving while rival services from Tesla and the Amazon-owned Zoox are still testing their vehicles in only a few U.S. cities.

In contrast, Waymo’s robotaxis already provide more than 400,000 weekly trips in the six metropolitan areas where they have been transporting passengers: Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, and Austin, Texas.

Waymo operates its ride-hailing service through its own app in all the U.S. cities except Atlanta and Austin, where its robotaxis can only be summoned through Uber’s ride-hailing service.

The expansion into four more markets marks a significant step toward Waymo’s goal to surpass 1 million weekly paid trips by the end of 2026. Without identifying where its robotaxis will be available next, Waymo is targeting a list of eight other cities that include Las Vegas, Washington, Detroit and Boston while signaling its first overseas availability is likely to be London.

To help pay for more robotaxis, Waymo recently raised $16 billion as part of the financial infusion that puts the value of the company at $126 billion. The valuation fueled speculation that Waymo may eventually be spun off from its corporate parent Alphabet, where it began as a secret project within Google in 2009.

Although Waymo is opening up in four more cities, its robotaxis initially will only be made available to a limited number of people with its ride-hailing app in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando before the service will be available to all comers in those markets.

Five Israeli yeshiva bochurim were arrested and transferred to Israeli military police custody over the past 24 hours, according to the Notnim Gav organization, which assists families and provides legal support to detainees. The arrests, some of which took place late at night and involved Israel Police officers, have sparked protests in Yerushalayim.

According to the organization, a bochur from Yeshivas Ateres Yaakov in Beit Shemesh was arrested at approximately 2:00 a.m. Family members claimed that 12 military police officers arrived at the home, six of whom entered the apartment, conducted a search, and left the residence in disarray. The bochur is receiving legal assistance from the Chayei Olam organization and was sentenced to 20 days in military detention. Another yeshiva bochur was also reportedly sentenced to 20 days.

In a separate case, a bochur described as a “prosecution draft evader” was transferred at 4:00 a.m. by police to military police authorities in Beit Shemesh. Both detainees are being represented by attorneys Shlomo Hadad and Itai Cohen on behalf of the Hatzalah LaAchim organization.

Another yeshiva bochur was arrested this morning at Ben Gurion Airport and is receiving legal representation from attorney Shlomo Hadad on behalf of Notnim Gav.

In addition, a further arrest took place yesterday at the IDF induction center in Tel Hashomer. According to the organization, the bochur had arrived with exemption documents after being absent for only three days. He was also sentenced to 20 days in military detention and is being represented by attorney Shlomo Hadad on behalf of the organization.

Amid the arrests, demonstrators blocked Rechov Shivtei Yisrael in Yerushalayim in recent hours. Police forces are operating at the scene to manage traffic. As of now, no additional arrests have been reported during the protest.

{Matzav.com}

An approximately 9-year-old Jackson resident suffered moderate injuries on Sunday evening after he was struck and became pinned under a vehicle in the Brookwood 1 neighborhood.

The circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately clear, and officials have not confirmed whether the accident was weather-related.

Hatzolah paramedics transported the injured boy to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. He has since been released back home.

Please daven for Yitzchok Zelig ben Malka for a refuah sheleima.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Washington Post reports that the United States has amassed an unprecedented concentration of military power in the Middle East, including roughly one-third of its active naval fleet, a deployment that would allow Washington to carry out anything from limited, targeted strikes to a wide-ranging bombing campaign against Iran.

The report comes amid recent claims that elements within the U.S. military establishment oppose a potential strike on Iran being considered by President Donald Trump. According to the Post’s counter-report, however, the scale and scope of the current buildup signal that the administration now has a full spectrum of operational options at its disposal.

According to the report, the U.S. military has assembled forces sufficient to sustain either a prolonged military campaign or a series of focused, limited strikes. Contrary to earlier reports suggesting a short, five-day intensive assault, the Post indicated that the American forces currently positioned in the region could support a broader and more significant operation.

Dana Stroul, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, told the newspaper that the massive concentration of forces gives President Trump the ability to implement virtually any operational decision, ranging from limited missions to an extensive kinetic campaign.

Defense analysts cited in the report assessed that the military assets now in place point to preparations for a multi-day air operation, though not one that would include a ground invasion.

The scale of the U.S. military presence in the region is considered one of the largest in more than two decades, rivaling levels seen in the lead-up to the Iraq War in 2003.

The buildup follows the conclusion of a second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran on February 17 that ended without a breakthrough, as well as President Trump’s warnings that Iran could face military action if no agreement is reached to curb its nuclear ambitions.

While Tehran has maintained that an agreement remains achievable but requires additional time, Washington has accelerated its force deployments beyond the reinforcements observed prior to American strikes last June.

Flight tracking data and satellite imagery cited in the report show that more than 150 aircraft have been transferred to bases in the Middle East and Europe since the collapse of negotiations.

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrived Monday off the coast of Crete carrying dozens of aircraft, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is currently stationed off the coast of Oman.

The arrival of the Ford underscores that approximately one-third of the United States’ active naval vessels are now concentrated in the Middle East region.

Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base has become a central hub for U.S. forces. Satellite images from Friday reportedly showed more than 60 aircraft stationed there, including F-35 fighter jets used to neutralize air defense systems.

At the same time, more than half of the recently deployed aircraft have landed at bases in Europe. Experts cited in the report explained that positioning aircraft in Europe places them outside the range of Iranian missile systems, reducing their vulnerability while preserving the ability to rapidly move personnel and equipment as needed.

The reinforcements also include the deployment of one-third of the U.S. fleet of E-3G Sentry airborne early warning aircraft, as well as F-22 fighter jets stationed in the United Kingdom and F-16 aircraft positioned in Portugal.

U.S. defense officials confirmed the large-scale deployment but declined to provide specific operational details for security reasons. Military analysts noted that the emerging strategy appears designed to enable swift, high-intensity action while minimizing the risks of severe retaliatory strikes.

{Matzav.com}

While the historic blizzard is still pounding the Northeast, forecasters are already tracking a potential second system for Thursday–Friday.

• Long-range models show possible accumulating snow for NYC and Boston
• Some projections suggest up to an additional half foot in parts of the region
• Other models indicate a weaker storm with limited impacts
• Significant uncertainty remains this far out

Forecasters caution it’s too early to determine exact totals, especially while the current bomb cyclone is still influencing conditions.

Stay with YWN for updates as the forecast evolves.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

There is a controversy brewing in regard to dishwashers – that can be viewed as a possible divide between the Chareidi community and other religious communities in Eretz Yisroel in.  There is also a 50 year old salmon recipe that may possibly help determine which side may be correct.

Just as an aside, before we begin – there is now a trend in many communities to install two dishwashers – both, yes, fleishig and zero milchig!   Practitioners explain that it is a huge time and money saver.  How so? You fill them both up on a Motzai Shabbos and then put them away Sunday morning.  Easy-peezy.

But let’s get back to the halachic discussion

In Igros Moshe Yoreh De’ah (vol. 2, #28, 1964), Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal provides three explanations as to why one could possibly be permitted to get by with a single dishwasher and two separate racks for both milchigs and fleishigs used during separate times.

One of the reasons was that dishwashers do not have an internal heating mechanism and would be considered a Kli Sheini and not a Kli Rishon.  This author was once on a plane flight and sat next to his esteemed son-in-law, Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler zt”l on a flight from Los Angeles to New York.  Rabbi Tendler, at first, stated that they do not have internal heating mechanisms, and that his shver had consulted with him on this very matter – not once, but twice.  I then proceeded to draw the schematic of a few different models.  Rabbi Tendler zt”l then responded that if that is the case, then the halacha would need to be re-exaimed.

Rav Feinstein quoted the Rama (YD 95:3) who rules that the very same basin of water could be used for cleaning meat and dairy dishes consecutively. Rav Moshe explained that nosain ta’am bar nosain ta’am, would render it such that the ta’am of the meat and dairy would be lessened – once one type of dish is removed.  This Rama, however, is dealing with a kli sheini and not a kli rishon. Also, there is almost always b’en – solid fleishigs in the trap or drain that is fully edible. 

Another point Rav Moshe zatzal made was that the huge amount of water would make for bittul b’shishim, a nullification in a 60:1 ratio.  This too, does not account for the minimum amount of wather that comes in contact with the meat that is in the trap and would send ta’am upward since it is piping hot.

The modern communities in Eretz Yisroel have extended these arguments even more and do not even require separate racks as Rav Feinstein zatzal had argued.

Rav Moshe continued the discussion a bit eight years later in Teshuvah #29 (1972) as well as in YD #43,  YD III #28 and #29. He explains that soap or detergent is considered a davar hapogaim, and while that may be a mitigating factor the soap may not pogaim the meat in the trap, as the soap is often washed away in a manner not too different from strawberries and other vegetables that the Kashrus agencies are now requiring. The mitigating factor of nosain ta’am lifgam after 24 hours does not apply to real b’ain.

Rabbi Yehuda Spitz shlita (an outstanding Talmid Chochom and Posaik) in his Ohr Samayach’s Insights into Halacha, cites a number of Poskim who disagreed with Rav Moshe’s heter and mitigatim factors – for a number of reason. They are: See Shu”t Ba’er Moshe (vol. 7, 60), Shu”t Beis Avi (vol. 2, 93), Shu”t Avnei Yashpei (vol. 3, 71), Yalkut Yosef (IV”H vol. 3 pg. 491, s.v. ulam), Badei Hashulchan (Y”D 95, 81; Biurim pg. 309, s.v. u’linyan), Pischei Halacha (English version ppg. 258 – 262), Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Pfeiffer, on BB”C vol. 2, Kuntress HaBiurim 6), Kovetz M’Beis Levi (vol. 1, HaKashrus HaMitbach pg. 30, 7, footnote 6), HaKashrus (Ch. 1, pg. 75 -76), Kashrus V’Shabbos B’Mitbach HaModerni (pg. 114), Ohel Yaakov (on IV”H 1st edition pg. 296 – 297, 26, footnotes 52 & 53).

Two more thoughts:  In the 1960’s and early 1970’s, frum American families were still relatively poor and were not in a position to afford two dishwashers or significant household help.  Rav Moshe zatzal looked out for Klal Yisroel as much as possible – something that should be taken more into account even nowadays. 

But the second thought goes back to 1975.  An actor who played villians went on national television with a recipe as to how to “cook salmon” in, yes, a dishwasher.

What follows is just such a recipe.  The purpose of printing it is to show that dishwashers are clearly a kli rishon.  There are two main types of the internal heating mechanism: 1]An exposed one – generally a visible coil at the bottom of the tub, similar to an oven element. They are common in many American-brand budget and mid-range models (GE, Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana). These heat up the wash water and also do a “heated dry” by radiating heat after the wash cycle. 2] Those with hidden/concealed heaters — they are built into the base or integrated into the circulation pump. Brands like Bosch, Miele, and many European-style dishwashers use this approach. They heat the water but typically rely on condensation drying rather than a hot exposed element, which is gentler on plastics and are more energy-efficient.

The Recipe

Begin by pulling out two pieces of aluminum foil, each roughly 16 inches long. Lay your salmon fillet in the center of the first sheet and sprinkle it generously with garlic salt and lemon pepper. Once seasoned, place the second sheet of foil directly on top.

Carefully press the edges of the two sheets together and fold them over several times, crimping tightly all the way around. The goal is to create a fully sealed packet that hugs the fish closely and prevents any water from getting inside.

To cook it, position the foil-wrapped salmon on the top rack of your dishwasher and run a standard wash cycle. DO NOT ADD DETERGENT!  The heat generated during the normal cycle is intended to cook the fish. When the dishwasher finishes, open the door and take note of the smell. If the foil packet was sealed properly, the interior of the dishwasher should smell as it normally does, without any trace of fish.

Remove the packet, carefully unwrap the salmon, and transfer it to a plate. You may see a bit of liquid inside the foil — that’s simply moisture released during cooking, assuming the seal held. Before serving, check that there is no scent of detergent on the fish. For safety, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the fillet and confirm it has reached an internal temperature of 145°F. If it has, the salmon should be tender, moist, and ready to eat — unconventional method notwithstanding.

Potential Concerns

However, several safety issues should be considered. If the fish fails to reach the USDA-recommended minimum internal temperature of 145°F, there is a risk of foodborne illness. Dishwashers vary widely in temperature output and cycle duration, so results are inconsistent. Additionally, if the foil packet is not perfectly sealed, water and detergent can penetrate the wrapping, contaminating the food. For these reasons, appliance manufacturers strongly advise against using dishwashers for cooking, as they are not engineered for food preparation.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

Feb. 24 marks four years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine — an assault widely expected at the outset to conclude within days but which has instead evolved into one of Europe’s bloodiest wars since World War II.

Putin’s move to attack a sovereign neighboring state upended long-standing international norms and has resulted in immense human and physical devastation. The war has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, left millions wounded, and reduced large swaths of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure to ruins.

Because both Moscow and Kyiv tightly control the release of battlefield data, establishing precise casualty figures remains impossible.

Still, independent assessments paint a grim picture of the scale of the conflict:

• Combined military casualties — including those killed, injured, or missing — are estimated to reach as many as 1.8 million. Of that total, Russia is believed to have suffered about 1.2 million casualties, including up to 325,000 fatalities, while Ukraine’s losses are estimated at roughly 500,000 to 600,000, with as many as 140,000 dead.

• Ukrainian government data indicates that approximately 55,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed, with many others either wounded or unaccounted for.

• Civilian suffering has also been severe. The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission reports at least 14,999 civilian deaths and more than 40,600 injuries in Ukraine since 2022, though the actual numbers are widely believed to be higher.

• At least 763 children are among the civilian dead, and 2025 has proven to be the most lethal year yet for non-combatants since the war began.

Altogether, even conservative tallies suggest that the total number of dead and wounded on both sides approaches or surpasses two million — underscoring the enormous human cost of the war.

Numerous diplomatic initiatives and international summits have failed to produce a durable ceasefire.

In August 2025, President Donald Trump welcomed Putin to Alaska for a much-anticipated summit focused on ending the fighting.

Those discussions concluded without an agreement to halt hostilities. Reports afterward indicated that Russia’s demands — including territorial concessions and formal recognition of annexed areas — were deemed unacceptable by Ukraine and its Western allies.

Moscow also continued to insist that Ukraine be denied meaningful security guarantees from the United States, NATO, or leading European powers.

Following the summit, Russian forces intensified their campaign, carrying out ongoing drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian cities, power systems, and other civilian infrastructure.

Just in the past week, Russia unleashed a large-scale wave of drones and missiles aimed at energy facilities and residential districts in several Ukrainian regions, killing and injuring civilians and highlighting the ongoing instability.

Ukraine, increasingly exasperated by stalled negotiations, has answered with expanded strikes inside Russian territory, targeting military and industrial assets in an effort to undermine Moscow’s war-making capabilities.

Human rights groups, U.N. observers, and independent investigators have documented numerous alleged breaches of international humanitarian law during the conflict:

• Russian forces have been accused of deliberately striking civilian sites, including hospitals, schools, electrical grids, and housing complexes — actions that run afoul of the Geneva Conventions.

• Episodes such as the April 2025 airstrike in Sumy, which killed 35 civilians, including children, and wounded 129 others, have been cited as evidence of indiscriminate attacks.

• The International Criminal Court has issued war crimes charges and arrest warrants for Putin and senior Russian officials, including allegations related to the unlawful deportation of children and other offenses, emphasizing the seriousness of the accusations tied to the war.

Many analysts describe repeated attacks on civilian and non-military targets as clear violations of accepted rules of armed conflict and, in some cases, as war crimes.

Policy experts caution that without stronger backing from the United States and its allies, the conflict could settle into a prolonged and destructive stalemate.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with numerous Western security specialists, argues that Russia will press forward militarily unless it faces sustained pressure on the battlefield and through diplomacy, calling on Washington to maintain defensive assistance and leadership.

Recent analysis suggests that the war’s consequences extend well beyond Ukraine’s borders.

Zelenskyy has portrayed Putin’s campaign not merely as a regional war but as a trigger for broader global instability comparable to the early stages of a Third World War, urging more robust guarantees from the United States and NATO to deter further escalation.

As the war enters its fourth year, Putin’s original calculation — built on expectations of a rapid triumph and divided Western resolve — has not materialized.

Instead, the conflict has settled into a grinding deadlock that continues to take lives, destroy communities, and alter the security landscape of Europe.

The international community looks on, with hopes that renewed unity and determination from the United States and its partners might yet help Ukraine achieve a just resolution — one that ends the violence and ensures accountability for those responsible.

{Matzav.com}

The accident happened this morning on County Line Road.

No injuries were reported.

(This video was posted earlier today on TLS Communities)

(AP) – The winners of this year’s Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge created innovative projects to improve their cities’ core services – many using some combination of artificial intelligence and the wisdom of their residents.

That’s what South Bend, Indiana, Mayor James Mueller did with his initiative that uses AI to interpret data about residents, like a family falling behind on paying its water bill, and to help offer them services and support that could prevent larger issues.

“Technology is not necessarily good or bad – it’s how it’s used and how you protect against abuses,” said Mueller, a Democrat who has been mayor since 2020. “We’re trying to use cutting edge tools to deliver city services in a proactive way that meets our residents’ needs.”

The twenty-four winners announced Tuesday range from Boise, Idaho, where they are using geothermal energy to lower residents’ heating bills, to Beira, Mozambique, where they are relocating fishermen and their families from flood-prone coastal homes to safer inland houses. Each will receive $1 million to implement the program, as well as support from Bloomberg Philanthropies experts to help the new initiative succeed.

The hope, says former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P., is that successful programs from Mayors Challenge winners can be used in other cities.

“The most effective city halls are bold, creative, and proactive in solving problems and meeting residents’ needs – and we launched the Mayors Challenge to help more of them succeed,” Bloomberg said in a statement.

James Anderson, head of government innovation programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said many of this year’s winners are integrating AI technology into their work in sophisticated ways, bringing municipal governments closer to the residents they serve.

“Testing and learning and adapting new ideas don’t generally get funded with public dollars,” Anderson said. “It is up to philanthropy to support experimentation.”

Vico Sotto, mayor of Pasig City in the Philippines, said becoming one of this year’s Mayors Challenge winners will speed up his project to build floating parks in the Pasig River that will become new community space and reduce flooding threats in the area. Without the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies, Sotto said the initiative wouldn’t be able to start for another year or two.

“The government doesn’t have a great reputation when it comes to maintaining infrastructure,” Sotto said. “So we will be creating a governance council, including people who live in the area, so definitely they’re not going to abandon these parks. They’re going to take care of them because they’re using them as well.”

In Lafayette, Louisiana, the city-parish had the opposite problem. Lafayette wanted to update parts of its sewer system, but because some parts were on homeowners’ property the city wasn’t allowed to pay for it.

Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet said the Mayors Challenge encouraged her administration to figure out a solution that will now allow Lafayette to make the repairs and, as a result, encourage development in the city. The plan was also named a Mayors Challenge winner.

“Bloomberg Philanthropies, the staff, Michael Bloomberg – all of them – have such a global impact in ways that most people will never know,” said Boulet, a Republican elected in 2023. “They bring in a level of capacity and give you the space to really be creative and to come up with solutions that can change lives.”

South Bend’s Mueller said that the Mayors Challenge comes at a time when more and more global problems need to be solved at a local level.

“Trust in government is at an all-time low, but local governments consistently perform better in surveys about trust from their residents,” Mueller said. “It is critical for us to maintain that level of trust with our residents and build it even further. So that’s why we’re always looking at innovative ways of doing things better and making the city a better place to live.”

The winners of the 2026 Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge are: As-Salt, Jordan; Barcelona, Spain; Beira, Mozambique; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Benin City, Nigeria; Boise, Idaho, United States; Budapest, Hungary; Cape Town, South Africa; Cartagena, Colombia; Fez, Morocco; Fukuoka, Japan; Ghaziabad, India; Ghent, Belgium; Kanifing, The Gambia; Lafayette, Louisiana, United States; Medellín, Colombia; Netanya, Israel; Pasig, Philippines; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; South Bend, Indiana, United States; Surabaya, Indonesia; Toronto, Canada; Turku, Finland; Visakhapatnam, India.

[Video below.] In an emotional radio interview, internationally acclaimed Jewish singer Gad Elbaz disclosed a deeply personal secret he carried unknowingly for nearly four decades. Speaking live on Kol Chai Radio in Israel, Elbaz revealed that until recently he had never undergone a bris milah, a discovery that led him, at age 39, to undergo the procedure and formally enter the covenant of Avrohom Avinu.

The stunning revelation has sent ripples through the Jewish music world. Elbaz, known for performing on major stages around the globe and widely seen as a symbol of connection to Jewish heritage and tradition, told listeners: “I was uncircumcised my entire life.”

In a heartfelt conversation with radio host Menachem Toker, Elbaz described the moment he accidentally discovered that he had not been circumcised as an infant. “At age 39, I had a bris milah after I discovered that they did not circumcise me when I was born,” Elbaz told a stunned Toker.

WATCH:

The singer spoke candidly about the shock and emotional turmoil that accompanied the revelation, as well as the medical and spiritual journey he undertook to correct what he described as a lifelong omission. Undergoing the procedure as an adult, he said, was both physically and emotionally challenging, but ultimately transformative.

According to Elbaz, performing the mitzvah marked the closing of a profound personal circle and reshaped his understanding of his identity. He said the experience gave renewed meaning to the songs and tefillos he has sung throughout his extensive career, infusing them with a deeper sense of personal connection and spiritual authenticity.

{Matzav.com}

Human Rights Watch released a report Tuesday documenting the horrific and outrageous human rights abuses the Iranian regime has been perpetrating on its own people since the bloody crackdown on protesters in January to suppress the demonstrations and mask its actions.

The regime continues to detain massive numbers of people, holding them in unofficial and often undisclosed locations, where they are tortured, forced to sign false confessions under duress and subject to arbitrary and secret executions.

The report focused on interviews with 23 people whose relatives were killed, detained, or disappeared, as well as with doctors, other professionals and prisoners. It also examined abuses in the provinces of Alborz, Eastern Azerbaijan, Fars, Golestan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, Kurdistan, Lorestan, Mazandaran, Razavi Khorasan and Tehran.

Despite the bloody crackdown last month, Iranians defiantly march against the Iranian regime. (From a post on X)

In addition, the human rights group reviewed footage of violence committed by security forces and more than 100 televised forced confessions.

“As a whole nation remains in shock, horror, and grief and families still search for their loved ones in the aftermath of the massacres of Jan. 8 and 9, authorities continue to terrorize the population,” said Human Rights Watch senior Iran researcher Bahar Saba. “Arrests continue, and detainees face torture, coerced ‘confessions’ and secret, summary and arbitrary executions.”

“Given the immense dangers those detained and forcibly disappeared face, international monitors should immediately be given unhindered access to all detention facilities and prisons,” he said.

A 19-year-old wrestling champion, Saleh Mohammadi, was accused of killing a member of the security force. Following a forced confession and a brief trial that reportedly included zero evidence, Mohammadi was sentenced to death by public execution. In two videos reviewed by the NGO, two 16-year-old girls were forced to say that they had received foreign support to protest.

Saleh Mohammadi, a 19-year-old wrestling champion, is sentenced to a public execution. (From a post on X)

When protests initially broke out, the regime sought to pacify the people by offering a $7 monthly stipend. When that didn’t work, they initiated the bloodiest crackdown in recent memory. The Iranian regime cracked down on the protesters by shooting live rounds into dense crowds and ramming vehicles into protesters, among other methods. In one particularly grisly incident, protesters fled into the twisting alleyways of a bazaar to escape the gunfire of security forces, but one of the stores caught fire, with hot winds quickly spreading the conflagration. With no choice but to escape the flames, protesters ran straight into a hail of bullets, as a ring of gunmen had surrounded the perimeter and shot them to death as they broke out of the raging inferno.

One Iranian doctor told The Jerusalem Post that people who had come to the hospital for treatment for wounds inflicted by security were then killed by those forces in their hospital beds during treatment.

The authorities also shut down the internet, plunging the country into a communications blackout that served two purposes: to prevent the protesters from organizing and to conceal their murderous activities from the rest of the world.

The regime succeeded on both counts. The protests quickly fizzled out, and the number of those killed remains unclear. However, some reports put the death toll at upwards of 36,000 people, the overwhelming majority of whom were killed on Jan. 8 and 9, the two bloodiest days of the protests.

These are alleged photos of a teenager, left, sentenced to death, and a young married woman killed in the protests. (From posts on X)

The Iranian authorities admit to about 3,000 deaths and 11,000 detentions.

“Everyone you see has been horribly tortured… All [confessions] are coerced, they [the authorities] would write up what they want themselves or would dictate what to write … and if you did not accept to sign, they would hit you with a[n electric] shocker on the head,” said a message from a detainee who is being held in solitary confinement. “You are sitting there blindfolded, shackled and in handcuffs, encircled by several men; you would accept anything.”

Families have complained that the bodies of their loved ones were not returned to them for burial. Detainees have been denied access to legal counsel and communication with their loved ones.

“Detainees have no access to lawyers,” one lawyer explained to the human rights NGO. “Families do not want to retain Article 48 lawyers. Independent lawyers who go to officials to take on protest detainees’ cases are told by the authorities, ‘Are you an Article 48 lawyer? No? Then leave, you cannot take the case.’”

Article 48 lawyers are government-approved and have been known to participate in human rights violations, so families of detainees don’t trust them.

According to HRW, detainees have reported being beaten until they lost consciousness multiple times and being subjected to sexual violence.

The White House on Tuesday sought to tamp down speculation about potential U.S. military action against Iran, stressing that President Donald Trump remains focused on diplomacy while retaining the option to use force if necessary.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump prefers negotiations over conflict but is prepared to act decisively to protect U.S. interests.

“The president’s first option is always diplomacy,” Leavitt said. “But as he has shown, he is willing to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary.”

Her comments come amid heightened tensions with Iran and a wave of media reports suggesting that the administration is weighing imminent military action.

Leavitt pushed back strongly against what she described as inaccurate and exaggerated coverage, accusing some outlets of relying on anonymous sources to fuel speculation.

“I’ve seen a lot of sensationalist reporting over the past day that is just completely untrue,” she said. “Anyone speculating to the media, hiding behind an anonymous source, pretending to know what President Trump is thinking or a decision he will make with respect to action against Iran, has no idea what they’re talking about.”

According to Leavitt, Trump will personally determine the administration’s next steps, balancing diplomatic efforts with military readiness.

“President Trump will be the one who decides what course of action to take,” she said.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The U.S. military has begun repositioning a dozen F-22 stealth fighter jets toward the Middle East, according to open-source flight tracking data and aircraft spotters, signaling a further escalation in Washington’s military buildup in the region.

The F-22s were seen departing from RAF Lakenheath in England on Tuesday and linking up with KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft as they headed south, based on publicly available flight data.

The jets had arrived at the UK airbase last week and remained there for several days, reportedly due to technical issues involving refueling support aircraft.

In recent weeks, the Pentagon has accelerated deployments of air and logistics assets to the Middle East, as U.S. officials seek to reinforce deterrence and protect American forces and interests.

Dozens of combat aircraft — including F-35s, F-22s, F-15s, and F-16s — have been observed heading toward the region, according to the Military Air Tracking Alliance, a network of analysts that monitors military and government flight activity.

The group says it has also tracked dozens of refueling tankers and hundreds of cargo aircraft moving into the Middle East since mid-February, suggesting a large-scale logistical effort to sustain expanded operations.

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

(JNS) – Legislation introduced on Monday would set parameters for the United States to ban the use of U.S.-origin weapons in Palestinian-administered territories.

The Ceasefire Compliance Act, led by Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.), would implement a ban if Israel is found to have violated the U.S.-brokered Oct. 10, 2025, ceasefire with Hamas or the 20-point Gaza peace framework proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The measure would also trigger a ban in cases of Israeli application of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria or a failure to address settler violence.

Under the bill, determinations would be made through a monitoring mechanism with congressional oversight.

“As one of the United States’ most important allies, Israel must ensure that its policies and the use of U.S. military assistance align with American values, interests and the law,” Casten stated. “This legislation creates clear enforcement mechanisms, transparency and consequences when those conditions are not met.”

The legislation explicitly exempts defensive missile systems, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow 3.

It is backed by organizations heavily critical of the Israeli government and military’s prosecution of the war against Hamas, including J Street and New Jewish Narrative.

“U.S. assistance—whether aid or arms—should never come as a blank check,” stated Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street. “Passing this bill is a critical step to lay the foundation for broader regional peace that creates a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel and guarantees Israel’s long-term security.”

The measure, which has 25 Democratic cosponsors, would not restrict U.S. intelligence sharing with Israel or American support for Israeli defensive activities.

TUCSON Arizona The family of Nancy Guthrie has increased the reward for information leading to her recovery or the arrest of those responsible to one million dollars as the search for the 84 year old enters its twenty fourth day.

Guthrie was taken from her home in the dark of night on February 1 in what authorities are investigating as a suspected abduction. Surveillance footage released by investigators shows a masked individual near her front door the night she disappeared.

Initially the reward was set at just 2500 dollars by the Pima County Sheriff. As the case drew national attention and concern for her safety intensified the amount grew substantially. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is also offering a 100000 dollar reward.

In an emotional plea her daughter Savannah Guthrie described the unbearable pain the family has endured.

“It is Day 24 since our mom was taken in the dark of night from her bed, and every hour and minute and second and every long night has been agony since then of worrying about her and fearing for her and aching for her and most of all just missing her,” Guthrie said.

She added, “Someone out there knows something that can bring her home. Somebody knows, and we are begging you to please come forward now.”

Investigators say they have received thousands of tips but no major breakthrough has been announced. Authorities remain deeply concerned for Nancy Guthrie’s health, noting that she requires daily medication.

The FBI encouraged anyone with information to contact the tip line at 1 800 CALL FBI or 1 800 225 5324 as the search continues.

Law enforcement officials say the investigation remains active and they are pursuing every possible lead as the family waits for answers and holds onto hope.

Israeli police have dismantled a suspected drug laboratory in Bnei Brak, arresting two young men and seizing dozens of cannabis plants. Police said detectives from the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan station, operating under the Israel Police, raided an apartment on Dangur Street on Sunday after obtaining a court-issued search warrant.

Inside the residence, officers discovered what they believe was a fully functioning drug-growing facility. Police said the lab contained 156 cannabis plants weighing a combined 31 kilograms.

In addition to the plants, investigators found approximately 10 grams of a substance suspected to be cocaine inside a vehicle parked near the apartment.

Two suspects were taken into custody at the scene: a 25-year-old resident of Bnei Brak and a 24-year-old man from Rechovot.

Both men were transferred for questioning and later remanded into custody. A court has extended their detention until Thursday as the investigation continues.

Police officials have not yet said whether additional suspects are being sought or whether the operation is linked to wider drug distribution networks.

Following the raid, Tel Aviv District Commander Haim Sargrof signed an administrative order mandating the closure of the apartment for one month, through March 23.

Authorities said the measure is intended to prevent further illegal activity at the site and to deter similar operations in residential areas.

The bust comes amid stepped-up efforts by Israeli law enforcement to crack down on domestic drug production, which has increasingly shifted from rural greenhouses to hidden urban apartments.

Police officials say such operations pose risks not only due to illegal drug activity but also because of fire hazards, electrical tampering, and public safety concerns.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In an escalation in the struggle against Israel’s corrupt judicial system, Prof. Moshe Cohen-Eliya, one of Israel’s leading critics of what he calls the “judicial system’s tyranny,” has launched an initiative to ask U.S. President Donald Trump to impose personal sanctions on Supreme Court Justice Yitzchak Amit and the dismissed Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara.

Cohen-Eliya is working to collect 100,000 Israeli signatures on an open letter to President Trump urging him to use his authority ” to help rescue Israeli democracy from what we view as an institutional revolt against the sovereignty of the people.”

The letter draws a direct comparison between Trump’s own experiences and the situation in Israel: “As someone who has personally experienced political prosecution by a legal establishment captured by political rivals, you understand that one effective way to curb abuses of prosecutorial power is through targeted sanctions.”

“As you know, Israel’s Prime Minister has been persecuted by the state prosecution in a case that many believe is politically motivated and lacking solid legal foundation, as developments during the trial have exposed. The judges themselves suggested that the prosecution withdraw the bribery charge, while the remaining allegations largely concern claims regarding cigars and champagne allegedly received from friends in limited quantities.”

“Israel’s Supreme Court has assumed authority to invalidate constitutional amendments without explicit constitutional authorization. It intervenes extensively in public appointments based on what it terms the ‘reasonableness’ doctrine. At the same time, Attorney General Baharav-Miara is, in the view of many, engaged in politically driven actions against right-wing leadership. Over several years, law enforcement authorities also deployed intrusive surveillance tools, which in some cases were reportedly used in matters connected to the Prime Minister. When a governmental commission of inquiry was established to investigate this affair, actions by the Attorney General and the Court effectively led to the resignation of the commission’s distinguished members.

“We are fully aware that our request as citizens of Israel is unusual and may be perceived as implicating issues of sovereignty. However, many Israelis believe that democratic sovereignty has been significantly eroded. A government enjoying a clear public mandate is struggling to function in the face of what many view as the most activist high court in the democratic world — one that intervenes deeply in security, political, and appointment matters.

“Israel is unraveling, and Israel’s deep state is acting in ways that undermine American interests. It weakens the United States’ central ally in the Middle East and obstructs the critical cooperation between Israel’s Prime Minister and you in advancing the shared objectives of our two free peoples.

“Accordingly, we call upon you to impose sanctions on Gali Baharav-Miara and Yitzchak Amit, similar to measures previously directed at judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague and its chief prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan.

“We believe such action would make a meaningful contribution to strengthening Israeli democracy.

“We thank you for your attention and for your continued leadership in support of the free world and the people of Israel,” the letter concludes.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

PARIS (VINnews) — A kosher restaurant in Paris’s 17th arrondissement was vandalized with acid for the third time in recent months, in what authorities are investigating as a suspected antisemitic attack.

Employees at Kokoriko discovered Friday morning that a corrosive liquid had been sprayed overnight on tables, walls, floors, and other surfaces inside the establishment. The substance rendered all dishes, cutlery, and glassware unusable and caused significant corrosion, forcing the restaurant to close pending specialized cleaning.

The Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into property damage committed on grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Specialized nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical units were deployed to analyze the liquid.

Damage to the restaurant is estimated at about €150,000 ($176,000), according to French media reports citing the prosecutor’s office.

The same establishment was targeted in two previous suspected acid attacks in October 2025, including one on its facade on Oct. 9. Those cases were closed without identifying the perpetrators.

The latest incident comes amid a reported surge in antisemitism in France and globally, with Jewish communal leaders expressing concern over repeated targeting of Jewish businesses.

The restaurant, located in an upscale district with a significant Jewish population, remains closed as authorities continue their probe. No arrests have been reported.

HIGHLANDVILLE, Mo. (AP) — Two Missouri sheriff’s deputies were fatally shot, one during a traffic stop and the other hours later during a shootout with the suspect, who was also killed, authorities said.

Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole said the initial shooting happened during a traffic stop south of Highlandville on Monday in southwest Missouri, news outlets reported.

About 100 officers, deputies, and state troopers helped with the search for the suspect, Cole said. He says U.S. Marshals and FBI and ATF agents were also involved.

The suspected shooter’s truck was found abandoned several miles south near Reeds Spring and law enforcement officers searched the area nearby, Cole said. Early Tuesday, deputies approached a heat signature detected in the woods. Cole said the suspect opened fire, hitting three deputies.

One Christian County deputy was killed and two other deputies — from Christian and Webster counties — were wounded with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, Cole said. Law enforcement officers shot back, killing the suspect, he said.

Cole identified the deputy killed in the initial shooting as Deputy Gabriel Ramirez.

“Deputy Ramirez was always kind to everybody, Cole said. “He was always a friend, was always there for anybody who needed a shoulder to lean on.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quipped Sunday that if there is ever a spike in pizza deliveries near the Pentagon, it might simply be him placing large orders to mislead online observers who monitor such activity as a predictor of major world events.

Appearing on Fox News, Hegseth was asked about the “Pentagon Pizza Report,” an account on X that tracks ordering patterns at pizzerias located near the Pentagon and other key military facilities. The account analyzes Google Maps “popular times” data under the theory that unusually high late-night demand may signal that senior officials are working extended hours in response to unfolding military developments.

Hegseth acknowledged he is familiar with the account and joked about deliberately disrupting its conclusions.

“I’ve thought of just ordering lots of pizza on random nights just to throw everybody off,” he said Sunday on Fox News. “Some Friday night when you see a bunch of Dominos orders, it might just be me on an app, throwing the whole system off so we keep everybody off balance. We look at every indicator.”

The Pentagon Pizza Report focuses on spikes in evening activity at restaurants near U.S. military headquarters, suggesting that sudden increases could indicate heightened operational tempo or pending action abroad.

On June 12, for instance, hours before reports emerged of Israel launching a major strike on Iran, the account noted a sharp rise in activity at four pizza establishments close to the Pentagon around 7 p.m., interpreting it as a sign that top officials remained on site to monitor events.

“As of 6:59 p.m. ET nearly all pizza establishments nearby the Pentagon have experienced a HUGE surge in activity,” the account posted on X that evening.

Although the United States initially said it did not take part in the first wave of attacks against Iran, it later entered the 12-day conflict. On June 22, U.S. forces carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in an operation known as Midnight Hammer.

Hegseth maintained that Pentagon officials are conscious of publicly available tracking methods and take them into account.

“There’s a reason Midnight Hammer worked, because we understood open sourced, we understand classified ways in which the public and others are trying to watch movements and in sensitive ways, we control for a lot that,” he said.

Launched in August 2024, the Pentagon Pizza Report is part of a longer-standing public fascination with pizza deliveries as a barometer of military activity, a pattern observers have noted since the 1980s.

In January 1991, Frank Meeks, who owned 43 Domino’s locations in the Washington area, told the Los Angeles Times that pizza delivery patterns sometimes reveal more than official briefings.

“The news media doesn’t always know when something big is going to happen because they’re in bed, but our [pizza] deliverers are out there at 2 in the morning,” Meeks said.

He recalled that on Aug. 1, 1990, the CIA placed an order for 21 pizzas — a one-night record at the time — just hours before Iraqi troops moved into Kuwait, setting off the Gulf War.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli intelligence officials have assessed that the US only has enough firepower in the Middle East to carry out four or five days of intense airstrikes on Iran, according to a report in the UK’s Financial Times on Tuesday.

The assessment comes despite the fact that the US has deployed the most firepower in the region since the 2003 Iraq invasion.

According to an Israeli intelligence source quoted in the report, the US could sustain a week of “lower-intensity strikes.”

The report added that Israeli security officials are concerned that if the US carries out only limited strikes on the Islamic Republic, it would escalate the regional tension by provoking the regime.

The warning comes after reports published in US media that the US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, has warned President Donald Trump against a war with Iran due to concerns that it will drag the US into an extended regional confrontation and leave the US army depleted of air defense munitions. Trump later denied the reports, saying that Caine believes that the US could easily win a war with Iran.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

YS GOLD 

We regret to inform you of the passing of Reb Shulem Oberlander, a longtime Boro Park resident who was renowned for his piety and ehrlichkeit.  He was 69 years of age and had battened a terrible illness. 

The niftar was among the esteemed viznitzer chassidim in Boro Park, and despite his terrible suffering went on with a life of Torah and avodas Hashem. 

An acquaintance described Reb Shulem as “ah tzaddik fin ah Yid.” 

Together with his eishes chayil, he established a beautiful Torah family, with a number of askonim among them. 

He was sadly stricken with a terrible illness and suffered through it with great Emunah. 

The levaya will take place at 10:30 in the Viznitzer Beis Medrash in Boro Park and at 12:30 in Monsey. 

Yehi zichro baruch.

NEW YORK (VINnews) – A powerful blizzard that battered New York City over the weekend has officially become one of the city’s 10 largest on record, with more snow expected this week.

As of Monday afternoon, Central Park had received 19.7 inches, surpassing the January 2011 storm. Some neighborhoods reported even higher totals: Grasmere, Staten Island, measured 24.1 inches; Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, 22.5 inches; and Babylon, Long Island, 29.5 inches.

The U.S. Department of Justice has sued the state of New Jersey and Governor Mikie Sherrill, challenging a newly signed executive order that limits federal immigration enforcement on state property and escalating tensions between the Democratic governor and the Trump administration.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, targets Executive Order No. 12, which prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal immigration officials from conducting secure arrests of criminal suspects in nonpublic areas of state property, including state correctional facilities, without a judicial warrant.

Federal officials argue the order unlawfully interferes with immigration enforcement and violates the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which establishes that federal law takes precedence over conflicting state policies.

“Federal agents are risking their lives to keep New Jersey citizens safe, and yet New Jersey’s leaders are enacting policies designed to obstruct and endanger law enforcement,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. “States may not deliberately interfere with our efforts to remove illegal aliens and arrest criminals — New Jersey’s sanctuary policies will not stand.”

The Justice Department alleges that New Jersey’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities has resulted in the release of individuals convicted of crimes including aggravated assault, burglary, drug offenses and human trafficking who otherwise would have been subject to removal proceedings.

Bondi, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, directed the department’s Civil Division earlier this year to identify state and local policies that impede federal immigration enforcement. The lawsuit against New Jersey is part of a broader effort targeting so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, including legal actions filed against officials in New York, Minnesota and Los Angeles.

State officials sharply criticized the lawsuit.

In a statement, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport called the case “a pointless legal challenge” and said the state would defend the executive order in court.

“Instead of working with us to promote public safety and protect our state’s residents, the Trump Administration is wasting its resources,” Davenport said. “Under Governor Sherrill’s leadership, New Jersey will continue to ensure the safety of our state’s immigrant communities.”

Speaking to reporters following a snow-related press conference this morning, Sherrill also defended her administration’s position and criticized federal enforcement practices.

“I think what the federal government needs to focus on right now instead of attacking states like New Jersey working to keep people safe is actually training their ICE agents with some modicum of training, like any law enforcement officer in the state of New Jersey would have so that they can operate better and more safely,” the governor said.

Sherrill has said the executive order is intended to promote public safety and build trust between immigrant communities and state authorities by ensuring that federal agents operate with judicial oversight while on state property.

The case sets up a high-profile legal fight over the limits of state authority in the realm of immigration enforcement, an area where courts have historically affirmed broad federal power, but where states have sought to define the scope of their cooperation.

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday accepted the resignation of the Louvre Museum’s director. She had been under fire in the wake of a stunning and embarrassing heist of the French Crown jewels.

The resignation of Laurence des Cars was announced by the presidential office in a statement.

It said Macron praised des Cars’ resignation decision as “an act of responsibility at a time when the world’s largest museum needs calm and a strong new impetus to carry out major projects involving security upgrades, modernization” and other initiatives.

Thieves took less than eight minutes in October to steal 88 million euros ($102 million) worth of crown jewels in a weekend heist at the world’s most visited museum, shocking the world.

By BoroPark24 Staff

The historic blizzard of 2026 turned the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into a ghostly span of white, effectively cutting off Staten Island from the rest of the city. While most of New York retreated behind locked doors, Dr. Joseph Felicia, an esteemed orthopedic surgeon at Maimonides, faced a harrowing reality: patients were prepped for surgery at Maimonides Medical Center, and the specialized expertise required for their procedures was currently trapped behind three feet of snow.

The commute, which usually takes thirty minutes, had become an impossible feat for a standard vehicle. Recognizing the urgency, Chaveirim of Boro Park dispatched a heavy-duty, four-wheel-drive SUV to the doctor’s home.

The journey was a slow-motion battle against nature. Visibility was near zero, with the SUV’s wipers struggling against the relentless accumulation of ice. The Chaveirim driver navigated through unplowed side streets and drifted highways, guided by a singular mission to get the surgeon to the operating theater to perform surgery on three patients. 

By the time the SUV pulled up to the Maimonides entrance in Brooklyn, the city was at a total standstill. Dr. Felicia stepped out of the vehicle and directly into the hospital. Without a moment’s hesitation, he transitioned from the chaos of the storm to the calculated precision of the OR. 

Because of a dedicated team of volunteers and a surgeon’s refusal to let a historic weather event dictate patient outcomes, the scheduled surgeries proceeded successfully. It was a morning defined not by the height of the snow, but by the depth of a community’s commitment to its neighbors.

A major development has shaken the Sephardic Torah world: the historic Yeshivas Reishis Chochmah in Yerushalayim, founded nearly six decades ago, will close its bochurim division at the end of the current zman. The decision was made following consultations with rabbanim, and the yeshiva’s building is expected to operate exclusively as a kollel for married avreichim going forward.

In an official statement released Sunday, the yeshiva’s administration announced: “After careful consideration and consultation with rabbanim, it was decided that the yeshiva will continue in its current format only for kollel avreichim, and the bochurim division will conclude at the end of the present term.”

The dramatic move marks the end of a significant chapter in the history of the Sephardic Torah world, after decades of harbotzas haTorah.

Yeshivas Reishis Chochmah is among the most veteran institutions in the yeshiva landscape and has long been regarded as a cornerstone in the building of the Sephardic Torah world in Eretz Yisroel. It was founded approximately 60 years ago by Rav Shabtai Aton zt”l, a member of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, and is remembered as one of the first Sephardic yeshivos established aside from Porat Yosef. Over the decades, it produced thousands of talmidim who today serve with distinction as rabbanim, dayanim, and marbitzei Torah throughout the country.

Despite its distinguished reputation, recent years have presented serious challenges. Considerable efforts were made to preserve the honor of the Yerushalayim institution and to breathe new life into it. In recent years, the rabbanim, together with the rosh yeshiva, attempted to restore the yeshiva to its earlier stature, but the complex reality ultimately proved decisive.

In the end, Rosh Yeshiva Rav Ben Zion Aton decided that the yeshiva would close its bochurim division at the end of the current zman, with the intention of continuing its Torah legacy on the premises through a kollel for avreichim alone.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Leah Rila Meisels a”h, wife of Rav Yekusiel Yehuda Meisels zt”l, Gaavad of Kehillas Yereim of Sea Gate, Brooklyn. She was 98 years old.

For decades, the rebbetzin stood devotedly at the side of her illustrious husband as he spread Torah to multitudes and led the community. Known for her exceptional warmth, she merited to become related by marriage to many of the leading rebbes and rabbanim in Eretz Yisroel and around the world. Those who knew her recount that she received every visitor — from gedolei hador to the poor who knocked at her door — with a radiant countenance and genuine kindness.

Acquaintances describe her as a remarkable figure of hachnosas orchim and chesed. She quietly distributed large sums of tzedakah without seeking recognition, often ensuring that no one would ever know the source of the assistance. She served as a pillar of strength for both her family and the broader community and merited to see upright and distinguished generations continuing in her path.

The rebbetzin is survived by eleven children, all prominent rabbanim and admorim serving with distinction across the globe.

Her sons include: Rav Yisroel Shlomo Meisels, Av Beis Din of Limanov; Rav Dovid Dov Meisels, rav hatzair of Sea Gate and author of the seforim “Otzar HaShabbos”; Rav Yisroel Moshe Meisels, Av Beis Din of Alesk; Rav Pinchos Mordechai Meisels, Dayan in Sea Gate; and Rav Shmuel Zev Meisels, Av Beis Din of Yismach Moshe in Kiryas Yoel and son-in-law of the Satmar Rebbe. Among her sons-in-law are prominent admorim and rabbanim, including the Dushinsky Rebbe; Rav Yisroel Eliezer Unsdorfer, Rav of Kehillas Reishis Chochmah in Montreal; Rav Yisroel Meisels, Av Beis Din of Uhel-Williamsburg; Rav Yisroel Horowitz, Av Beis Din of Kinyan Torah in Flatbush; Rav Avrohom Yehuda Lowy, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Tiferes Eliezer; and Rav Avrohom Anshel Schorr, Av Beis Din of Klausen.

The levayah took place at Kehillas Yereim of Sea Gate in Brooklyn and proceeded to the Satmar cemetery in New Jersey for kevurah.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Paris’s 19th arrondissement was the site of a troubling antisemitic incident in which an elderly Jewish woman was verbally attacked by activists from the far-left party LFI, according to a Tuesday report by Europe1.

The confrontation took place on Sunday during a leaflet distribution effort for the party’s mayoral candidate, Sophia Shikiru. When the activists noticed a mezuzah on the woman’s door and she chose not to open it, they responded with hostility, shouting slurs such as “dirty Jew” and warning, “We’ll be back,” before fleeing.

The woman contacted police immediately and is now considering whether to file a formal complaint. Investigators are reviewing security camera footage from the building’s entrance in hopes of identifying those involved.

This episode occurred amid a broader escalation of antisemitic incidents in the city. Two days earlier, the Cocorico restaurant in the 17th arrondissement was attacked with acid, leaving extensive damage to the floor, dining room, dishes, and furniture. Authorities are investigating that case as well, underscoring growing concern over rising antisemitism in Paris.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly scheduled to brief congressional leaders later today, Tuesday, about Iran, as President Trump is considering possible military strikes, to two people familiar with the matter told Politico.

The meeting will take place at the White House and will include House and Senate leadership and the top members of the Intelligence Committees. The closed door briefing will take place just a few hours before President Trump will deliver his State of the Union address.

This meeting comes as the Trump administration has significantly increased U.S. military forces in the Middle East amid tensions and so far failed talks with Iran. Trump publicly warned of severe consequences if no agreement is reached with Tehran on its nuclear enrichment program, with some lawmakers pushing for a congressional vote on a resolution requiring approval before any use of force against Iran.

New York remains under a State of Emergency with a hazardous travel advisory in effect through midnight. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said city agencies have been “working nonstop” to keep New Yorkers safe.

Here’s the citywide breakdown:

• 2,600 sanitation workers deployed on every 12-hour shift
• 2,300+ plows mobilized, including 700 salt spreaders
• 800 emergency snow shovelers deployed this morning (575 overnight)
• 50+ million pounds of salt distributed
• 99.5% of city streets plowed at least once
• 22 warming buses, 11 hospital warming spaces, 13 school warming centers open
• 100 additional low-barrier stabilization beds opened in Upper Manhattan
• 8,000 of 11,000 Rockaways customers have had power restored

Officials say the coordinated effort reflects a “whole of government” response to the historic storm.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In a stinging defeat for Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich and an embarrassment to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the Knesset overnight Monday voted down Smotrich’s order doubling the VAT exemption on overseas online purchases from $75 to $150.

The vote was an unprecedented political drama, as it was the first time since the government was formed that opposition MKs, joined by numerous coalition members—mainly from the Likud—succeeded in overturning an order against the position of Netanyahu, despite his frantic efforts until the last minute to secure a majority.

The background to the incident is that although Smotrich’s order was welcomed by the majority of Israelis, small business owners whose sales would be negatively affected by the measure managed to win the support of many prominent Likud members, prompting an internal rebellion. Netanyahu, preoccupied with sensitive security discussions regarding a potential US strike on Iran, made efforts until the last minute to persuade Likud members to vote for the measure—unsuccessfully. After realizing that he had failed to win a majority, he was forced to declare a “free” vote—leading to the order being toppled 59-25.

Likud members who voted against the bill include Economy Minister Nir Barkat, Knesset Finance Committee chair Chanoch Milwidsky, and MKs Eli Dalal, David Bitan, Yuli Edelstein, Sasson Guetta, Shalom Danino, and Osher Shklalim. Otzma Yehudit members Minister Amichai Eliyahu and MK Limor Son Har-Melech also voted against the bill along with New Hope MKs Michael Biton and Akram Hasson, UTJ MK Yitzchak Goldknopf, and Noam chairman Avi Maoz.

Senior Likud ministers—including Yariv Levin, Yisrael Katz, and Avi Dichter—chose to be absent from the plenum, while most of the Shas and Degel HaTorah MKs voted in favor.

MK Eli Dalal explained his rejection of the bill, saying, “This activity is a death sentence for the business sector. I’m talking about small businesses.” He added that the high cost of living in Israel is due to the prices of housing, rent, and food, and “unfortunately those haven’t been addressed over the past three years.”

Smotrich responded to the vote by announcing that he will soon sign the order again. “The economic left in Likud is trying to defeat Israeli citizens in the service of monopolies and for a few votes in the primaries,” he said. “While Prime Minister Netanyahu is preoccupied with Israel’s security, a handful of Likud MKs are busy with petty politics and, together with the opposition, want to make us all pay dearly.”

“I will not let the public lose. Narrow personal interests will not defeat the good of Israel’s citizens. I do not intend to give up and surrender to the left. B’ezrat Hashem, I will sign a new order and continue to look after Israeli citizens. Despite the left, things can be affordable here.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid rushed to celebrate the defeat, stating: “Netanyahu has no coalition, and his government is falling apart. He doesn’t even control his own party. He and Smotrich were humiliated again today in the plenum. We will continue to fight in the Knesset against the worst government in the state’s history.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

(AP) – A record-setting snowstorm has prompted managers of The Boston Globe to call off printing their daily newspaper for the first time in its 153-year-old history.

Snow and winds prevented staff from safely getting to the Globe printing plant to print Tuesday’s paper, the newspaper said in an article on its website. Parts of Massachusetts’ Bristol County, where the Globe’s printing press in Taunton is located, recorded 32 inches (81 centimeters) of snow by Monday night, the National Weather Service said.

Readers are much less reliant on newsprint for their news in today’s internet age. A 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center found that only 7% of U.S. adults often got their news from printed newspapers or magazines. That’s compared to 56% who said they often got their news from a smartphone, computer or tablet.

Tuesday marks the first time Globe management has called off the newspaper’s daily production since its 1872 founding. Labor strikes halted printing a few times in the 1950s and ’60s.

The Globe said it went to press during another record-setting blizzard nearly five decades ago, when it printed a few thousands copies of a Feb. 7, 1978, edition. Few papers actually made it to readers, however, because piles of snow prevented delivery trucks from getting farther than a mile or two from its building.

Monday’s blizzard set snowfall records in nearby Rhode Island, where the T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick received nearly 38 inches (96.5 centimeters) to break a 1978 record.

The Globe said print subscribers will get Tuesday’s paper delivered on Wednesday.

Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Nissim Vaturi made unusually sharp remarks Sunday evening regarding Iran, suggesting that Israel could use weapons it has never previously deployed if it faces an existential threat.

Vaturi, who serves on the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, spoke in an interview with the chareidi news hotline “Zirat HaNews,” where he hinted at additional Israeli capabilities that have not yet been utilized.

“We also have tools that we haven’t used. No one wants to test us — not the Iranians and not anyone else. I don’t want to elaborate too much,” Vaturi said.

He then issued a pointed metaphor that was widely interpreted as a reference to unconventional weapons.

“They have Persian carpets, we have the textile factory. I don’t think one stands against the other, and if Israel uses that weapon on Judgment Day, then no one should bring us to a situation of Judgment Day.”

Vaturi’s remarks appear to stray from Israel’s long-standing policy of strategic ambiguity and carefully calibrated language regarding its defense capabilities. His statements included direct hints at the possible use of extraordinary measures, though he stopped short of specifying exactly what he meant.

{Matzav.com}

Please take a moment to be Mispallel for 13-year old Mayer Yitzchok Zelig ben Malka, the boy who was pulled out from underneath a car this evening.

Screenshot

President Donald Trump said tonight that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has “just dropped out of the Presidential Race,” despite the fact that Newsom has made no such announcement and has not formally declared a 2028 campaign.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the California governor had exited the contest,  writing “Wow! Gavin Newscum just dropped out of the Presidential Race!!! President DJT,” a statement that conflicts with Newsom’s own public comments. Although Newsom has long been viewed as a potential White House contender, he has neither confirmed nor ruled out a future bid in recent months.

Speculation about Newsom’s national ambitions has circulated for several years. In 2021, he flatly rejected the idea, saying he had “sub-zero interest” in seeking the presidency. More recently, however, his rhetoric has softened. In a June 2025 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Newsom said “it’s a path that I could see unfold,” while stressing that he had not made any immediate plans. His expanded national presence — including a widely covered CNN speech criticizing Trump’s decision to deploy military personnel to Los Angeles — has only intensified talk about his political future.

Newsom has remained active in national debates and has continued to challenge Trump directly, including publicly correcting what he described as false statements made on Truth Social. Those posts included accusations that California was harboring a “drug cartel” and claims regarding Walmart’s business operations, both of which Newsom disputed. The two have repeatedly sparred in public settings, including at the 2024 Munich Security Conference, where Newsom accused Trump of fostering an “age of authoritarianism”

Political observers say Newsom’s recent activity suggests a deliberate effort to build a broader national profile. Larry Sabato, who directs the University of Virginia Center for Politics, characterized one of Newsom’s recent comments as a “home run,” arguing that it effectively positioned the governor’s opposition to Trump as part of a larger defense of democratic norms. At the same time, a December 2024 survey found that more than half of California voters believe Newsom is more focused on potential presidential ambitions than on governing the state.

For now, Newsom has not provided a clear answer about whether he intends to pursue the presidency in 2028. His office has declined to clarify his shifting tone or respond directly to Trump’s latest assertion.

{Matzav.com}

BALTIMORE (VINnews)-The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing more than 2,500 traditional Orthodox rabbis engaged in American public policy, has released a new scriptural guide aimed at identifying antisemitism and tracing its historical and biblical roots.

Titled “The Jew-Hatred Mindset: A Scriptural Guide,” the document was authored by CJV Executive Vice President Rabbi Yaakov Menken and Southern Regional Vice President Rabbi Moshe B. Parnes. It draws on biblical narratives and over 3,300 years of Jewish historical experience to explain how antisemitism adapts across generations, often repackaged to seem acceptable, moral or even virtuous in contemporary contexts.

The guide highlights attacks on Israel and Zionism as a modern manifestation of ancient patterns of hostility.

“Rabbis are the natural experts on antisemitism,” Rabbi Parnes, who also serves as dean of the Hollywood Community Kollel in Hollywood, Florida, said in a statement. “They carry generations of cumulative experience guiding Jewish communities through persecution, and they are equipped with Biblical wisdom that identified and explained hatred against Jews long before modern attempts to rationalize it.”

The paper seeks to educate both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences, particularly addressing confusion among some Christian supporters of Israel who encounter misleading narratives about Jews and the Jewish state.

“Many allies of the Jewish community, while harboring no hatred themselves, are mystified by the irrational and transparently bigoted accusations directed at Jews and Israel,” Rabbi Menken said. “Our goal was to clear that confusion and connect today’s rhetoric to its ancient origins.”

The release coincides with the inaugural Judeo-Christian Zionist Congress, held this week in Nashville, Tennessee. The event brought together faith leaders to bolster cooperation between Jewish and Christian communities and combat antisemitism. Organizers noted that the guide’s emphasis on shared biblical foundations makes it especially relevant for Christian participants who revere the Hebrew Bible.

CJV leaders described the publication as an accessible tool offering an objective framework for recognizing antisemitism and its persistent patterns.

The full guide is available on the CJV website.

An artist in Lakewood carved out this sculpture of Mordechai on a horse – just in time for Purim!

And no, it’s not AI – it’s pure talent!

President Donald Trump sharply criticized the Supreme Court on Monday following its 6-3 decision last week invalidating his broad tariff program, ruling that he did not have authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose the sweeping trade measures.

In its Friday opinion, the high court overturned lower court decisions and concluded that IEEPA does not grant the president the power to enact tariffs, delivering a significant blow to a central element of Trump’s trade strategy.

Responding in a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump contended that the ruling could ultimately strengthen his hand in dealing with foreign governments, even as he denounced both the logic and tone of the majority opinion.

Trump wrote: “The supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!) of the United States accidentally and unwittingly gave me, as President of the United States, far more powers and strength than I had prior to their ridiculous, dumb, and very internationally divisive ruling.”

He maintained that the decision highlighted other authorities he believes he can still use, stating, “For one thing, I can use Licenses to do absolutely ‘terrible’ things to foreign countries, especially those countries that have been RIPPING US OFF for many decades, but incomprehensibly, according to the ruling, can’t charge them a License fee – BUT ALL LICENSES CHARGE FEES, why can’t the United States do so?”

Trump continued, “You do a license to get a fee! The opinion doesn’t explain that, but I know the answer!”

Addressing tariffs again, Trump argued that the ruling leaves intact other forms of trade penalties and enforcement tools. He wrote, “The court has also approved all other Tariffs, of which there are many, and they can all be used in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty, than the Tariffs as initially used.”

He directed sharp criticism at the majority of the justices while praising three members of the court, declaring, “Our incompetent supreme court did a great job for the wrong people, and for that they should be ashamed of themselves (but not the Great Three!).”

Trump broadened his critique beyond trade policy, suggesting the court could rule in ways he believes would benefit foreign nations. He claimed, “The next thing you know they will rule in favor of China and others, who are making an absolute fortune on Birthright Citizenship, by saying the 14th Amendment was NOT written to take care of the ‘babies of slaves,’ which it was as proven by the EXACT TIMING of its construction, filing, and ratification, which perfectly coincided with the END OF THE CIVIL WAR.”

He added, “How much better can you do than that? But this supreme court will find a way to come to the wrong conclusion, one that again will make China, and various other Nations, happy and rich.”

Despite the legal setback, Trump signaled he intends to continue pursuing his trade agenda, concluding, “Let our supreme court keep making decisions that are so bad and deleterious to the future of our Nation – I have a job to do.”

The court’s ruling on tariffs triggered fresh volatility in global markets and left U.S. trading partners seeking answers about the administration’s next move.

{Matzav.com}

A four-year-old boy in Israel was rushed to the hospital after suffering from severe abdominal pain and repeated vomiting. Following a series of comprehensive examinations, doctors discovered that he had swallowed eight small magnets.

The child arrived at Bnai Zion Medical Center with his parents after complaining of intense stomach pain and frequent vomiting. After undergoing thorough testing in the Pediatric Emergency Department, physicians identified the cause of his symptoms.

Dr. Liat Yaniv, a senior physician in the Pediatrics Department at Bnai Zion Medical Center, noted that the vomiting occurred without diarrhea and was an unusual color — findings that raised concern for a serious gastrointestinal issue. An urgent imaging scan revealed magnets lodged in the small intestine, along with evidence of an intestinal blockage.

In consultation with Dr. Raouf Naser, a pediatric gastroenterology specialist, the toddler was referred for surgical intervention. He underwent emergency surgery performed by Dr. Daniel Dubin, Deputy Head of the Pediatric Surgery Department at Bnai Zion Medical Center, together with Dr. Yair Ben Shmuel, a senior pediatric surgeon. Dr. Omar Abu Ras served as the senior anesthesiologist during the procedure. Surgeons successfully removed eight magnetic balls from the child’s small intestine.

The toddler was subsequently hospitalized in the Pediatric Surgery Department for continued monitoring and treatment and was discharged home several days later.

Dr. Yaakov Genizi, Head of the Pediatrics Department at Bnai Zion Medical Center, warned of the significant dangers posed by swallowed magnets. “They can attach to one another through the intestinal wall and cause blockage, tissue death, and even perforation of the intestine,” he cautioned. “Parents are urged to keep magnets and small parts out of reach of children.”

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews) — The head of the federal agency overseeing Medicaid said Sunday that New York’s $124 billion program is burdened by fraud and waste, with investigators reviewing parts of the system.

Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said in a radio interview that questionable providers are costing taxpayers significant sums and undermining care for vulnerable residents.

He said fraudulent activity “strips resources” from the system and ultimately harms those who depend on it.

New York’s Medicaid program covers more than 6.8 million residents and funds services including hospital care, nursing homes and home-based assistance.

Past federal reviews have identified concerns in specific programs, including transportation services and consumer-directed home care, where auditors cited substantial improper payments.

Programs expanded during the administration of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo have continued under Gov. Kathy Hochul.

A spokesperson for Hochul said the state has enacted reforms aimed at eliminating waste and improving oversight, adding that officials remain focused on safeguarding healthcare access while addressing fraud and abuse.

No formal enforcement actions were announced in connection with the latest comments.

Yediot Achronot journalist Ben-Dror Yemini wrote an article excoriating Keir Starmer, the leftist prime minister of the UK, for citing “international law” as an excuse to “embolden the axis of evil.”

“You can never know where help for a repressive regime of terror will come from,” he wrote. “But it always comes. Even when the assistance is not massive but merely symbolic, it emboldens the axis of evil. It signals weakness in the democratic camp. The tragedy is that it is the ostensibly enlightened politicians, along with their supporters and those who fear harming international law, who time and again cause far greater damage, not only to fundamental rights but also to human life.”

“This time it is Britain, once again Britain, which informed the United States that it opposes the use of its military bases in the region for a strike on Iran. The reference is mainly to Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago, which under a May 2025 agreement is set to pass largely to the sovereignty of Mauritius. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 that sovereignty over the entire archipelago should be transferred to Mauritius and that the military base on Diego Garcia should be dismantled and evacuated. For years, Britain has not complied. But when it comes to saving the Iranian people from a murderous regime of terror, Britain suddenly expresses concern for international law.”

“This is not the 1930s. Iran is not Germany. In Germany at the time there were no masses chanting “Death to Britain,” and barely, if at all, “Death to the Jews.” Nazism’s genocidal character was revealed later. Iran and its proxies, by contrast, openly espouse an ideology of genocidal racism. Hassan Nasrallah, until his assassination the most prominent protégé of the Iranian regime, once declared that Jews should be concentrated in one place so they could be eliminated more easily.”

“The Houthi flag bears the words ‘Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse upon the Jews, Victory to Islam.’ Hamas, backed by Iran, indoctrinates Palestinians, including children, to destroy Jews and conquer the entire world. Iran itself recently demonstrated its nature when it killed tens of thousands of its own citizens only weeks ago. It bankrolls the coalition of evil. It spreads destruction wherever it extends its reach. Alongside Qatar, it is a leading destabilizing force in the Middle East.”

“But Britain’s Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, neither hears nor sees nor understands. It seeks refuge in international law while refusing to comply with international legal rulings itself. This is not enlightenment. It is not respect for the law. It is weakness and appeasement gripping parts of the West like a disease that refuses to heal.”

“It is also striking that one of the Starmer government’s justifications for aiding Iran is the fear of Iranian retaliation against British bases in the region. According to the man in 10 Downing Street, the Iranians are apparently known for their gratitude, and in the Labour government’s imagined world, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will target only Zionists and Americans. That, it seems, is acceptable. No need for alarm,” he ominously concluded.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

There are people out there suffering in silence. Maybe others judge, but do they truly know? So many issues are addressed, but yours is off the radar. You may struggle daily with basics like home chores, work, schedules, organization, motivation, impulsivity, procrastination, relationships, davening, mood swings… the list goes on.

The problem is, you, my friend, are respected, even revered. You’re the doer in the community – you may run a school, shul, businesses, organizations, maybe even all of the above! You’re who the community counts on in tough times.

Yet you live your life with unspoken challenges, day in, day out. You’re sought after, everyone wants your help, your opinion, your money, your connections, your kind heart. If only they knew… if only they knew how hard it is to get out of bed, to deal with things before they become urgent, to live a life of normalcy, to have calm moments, to take a few minutes to decompress. Calm eludes you.

It’s hard being at the top but feeling like you’re at the bottom. It’s tough living life riding “waves” that give you a high, tackling new projects, bringing massive ideas to fruition – because waves crash, and depression sets in. How hard is it to always chase those waves and highs to keep from crashing?

Why can’t you live a 9-to-5 life for at least some days? Why can’t things slow down? Why do you have to live in a whirlwind of action, pressure, and deadlines to feel good about yourself?

And then, for some, there’s the anxiety – the ever-present anxiety that comes with it, hounding you, ringing alarm bells when there’s no smoke. Chest tight, you rack your brain, hoping to identify the source, but it never shuts down.

You were diagnosed with ADHD as a kid – don’t adults grow out of it? Why does it seem to be a major factor in your life?

It’s a lonely world to live in. People look up to you; they see a happy person leading a fulfilling life. How can they know the pain and discomfort you feel? You’re too proud to join support groups, but you desperately need someone to talk to, silently you’re screaming for help, but no one hears you.

The good news is, there is help. There are steps you can take to deal with the chaos, stabilize the whirlwind, and find comfort. There are tools to be learned that can help you.

ADHD is a double-edged sword. You can fall on it and get hurt, or learn to wield it. ADHD makes you a superman – it allows you to do so much more than anyone else. Your capacity is greater than that of everyone else; your talent and drive, unmatched.

You CAN have a better life, you can feel calm and composed, you can learn to quiet the voices and empower your condition.

I’m just like you, and I still struggle every day. I too yearn for serenity, calm, some semblance of normality. I don’t have all the answers, I wish I did… I have a ways to go. But, by learning about my challenges, and identifying the patterns, I have found some relief, you can too.

Seek out a professional who specializes in ADHD. Talk to your doctor about options. You’ll be so happy you did. Seek help. Don’t face it alone.

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

The Knesset’s Health Committee has sounded the alarm over fruits and vegetables brought into Israel from the Palestinian Authority, citing data showing that a significant portion of tested produce contains prohibited pesticides associated with severe health risks, including cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

At a recent session led by MK Limor Sohn Har-Melech, committee members reviewed figures indicating that approximately 15,000 tons of agricultural goods from the Palestinian Authority enter Israel annually. Testing conducted between 2015 and 2022 revealed that between 27% and 40% of sampled produce exceeded permitted pesticide thresholds, with contamination rates increasing over time.

Dr. Ziva Hamma of the Ministry of Health outlined the findings in detail. According to the data presented, 50% of cucumber samples, 49% of tomato samples, and 66% of hot pepper samples were found to be contaminated. Particularly troubling was the discovery that 14% of samples contained neurotoxic organic phosphorus compounds, substances known to endanger fetal and infant development and to elevate the likelihood of Parkinson’s disease. In addition, 13% of the produce tested contained a combination of more than five different pesticides in a single item, creating potential harm to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system.

Although existing rules mandate that imported produce be held until laboratory results confirm compliance with safety standards, the committee heard that contaminated goods were frequently released to the market before testing was completed. Amos Zuarets, the Health Coordinator for the West Bank, acknowledged that the Civil Administration had placed greater emphasis on preserving shelf life and supporting the Palestinian economy than on health protections — a policy he said shifted only after the events of October 7. He indicated that within eight months, a new policy will ensure that all produce is withheld from sale until it receives confirmed clearance from safety tests.

MK Amit Levi sharply rebuked both government ministries and the Civil Administration, arguing that lenient enforcement over the years contributed to avoidable illnesses. He called on members of the public who believe they were harmed to seek accountability and cautioned that the problem may be compounded by an increase in unsupervised smuggling of agricultural products.

In response to the concerns, the Ministry of Health and the Civil Administration outlined a series of corrective steps. These include establishing a digital registry of authorized farmers, conducting inspections in the fields before goods cross into Israel, expanding sampling at border crossings, and imposing substantial fines on those who violate regulations.

Concluding the session, Sohn Har-Melech issued a direct appeal to consumers: “Nearly half of imported produce is contaminated with substances that threaten health, yet some prioritize profit over the safety of Israeli citizens. Check carefully where your fruits and vegetables come from and choose supervised Israeli produce.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal and local authorities are piecing together the final days of a troubled young man who was shot and killed Sunday after sneaking onto Mar-a-Lago, the private estate of President Donald Trump, while armed with a shotgun.

The intruder, identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin, was killed Sunday after he reportedly raised his weapon into a “shooting position,” prompting Secret Service agents and Florida police to open fire.

Authorities said Martin had been reported missing by his family a day earlier, after he vanished from his home in North Carolina. His mother had circulated a missing-person poster, hoping to locate him before it was too late.

Instead, investigators now say Martin had driven south on what appears to have been a one-way journey to Trump’s Florida residence.

In the days before his death, Martin sent a series of unsettling text messages to a co-worker, obtained by TMZ, revealing an intense fixation on the so-called Epstein files.

“Evil is real and unmistakable,” he wrote in one message. “The best people like you and I can do is raise awareness.”

Colleagues later told investigators that Martin believed the government was deliberately hiding information to protect powerful elites. He reportedly grew increasingly frustrated over what he saw as corruption, economic hardship, and the inability of young people to afford independence. Sources said he had even tried — unsuccessfully — to organize a union at his workplace for higher wages.

Relatives described Martin as soft-spoken and deeply loyal to Trump. His cousin said most of the family were strong supporters of the president and insisted that violence was completely out of character.

“He wouldn’t even hurt an ant,” the cousin said. “He doesn’t even know how to use a gun.”

On Sunday, Martin allegedly entered the Mar-a-Lago grounds carrying a shotgun and a gas can. When confronted by security, he raised his weapon and was immediately shot.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were at the White House at the time and were not in danger.

Authorities have not announced a definitive motive and say the investigation remains ongoing. Residents in the area have been asked to review security footage for any additional clues.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The current U.S. ambassador to Israel and his predecessor took the stage together Monday night at a Jerusalem hotel, performing a parody song that one of them said was aimed at conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee and former Ambassador David Friedman played guitars at the The David Citadel Hotel while welcoming a visiting group from the United States.

During the informal performance, the two men sang a rendition of the song Hound Dog. Friedman indicated the performance was dedicated to Carlson, with the adapted lyric: “You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog cryin’ all the time.”

Video of the event circulated on social media, drawing mixed reactions. Carlson has frequently commented on U.S. foreign policy, including American support for Israel.

Neither ambassador immediately issued a formal statement about the performance.

Back in Jerusalem for another gig with ⁦@USAmbIsrael⁩ Mike Huckabee. Our first song dedicated to ⁦@TuckerCarlson⁩ . Enjoy! pic.twitter.com/BZrTUMtkLi

— David M Friedman (@DavidM_Friedman) February 23, 2026

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian military helicopter crashed into a fruit and vegetable market in central Iran on Tuesday, reportedly killing at least four people.

The crash happened in the town of Dorcheh, some 330 kilometers (205 miles) south of Iran’s capital, Tehran, in the country’s Isfahan province, Iranian state television reported. Isfahan is home to a major Iranian air base, as well as a nuclear site struck by the U.S. during the Iran-Israel war in June.

The army helicopter had been on a training flight, state TV said. The pilot and co-pilot died in the crash, it added, showing footage of debris and smoke rising from the market.

Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency said two people on the ground at the market died in the crash.

This is the second crash in less than a week in Iran. An F-4 fighter jet crashed near Iran’s western city of Hamedan, killing one of its pilots.

Iran has a history of fatal crashes. Western sanctions have dried up the supply of parts for aircraft in Iran, which relies on a fleet of aging helicopters and airplanes for both its government and commercial airlines.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The IDF is already preparing to kasher the kitchens on its bases ahead of Pesach, but a new report is stirring controversy.

According to a report on Tuesday by Daniel Groveis on Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), the Ministry of Defense is employing charedim who are considered “draft evaders,” some of whom reportedly even have outstanding arrest warrants, to carry out the kashering of kitchens for the holiday.

The report states that these are individuals classified as being in a status of failure to report for service, yet they are still being hired for Pesach-related logistical preparations at various IDF bases.

According to Galei Tzahal, the workers are coordinated through civilian companies that work with the IDF. In previous years, no checks were conducted regarding the legal status of the employees, which resulted in yeshiva students classified as draft evaders being hired for pay to work inside IDF bases.

The IDF Spokesperson responded: “The IDF views the matter seriously and it will be examined. We note that no details were provided regarding specific cases; if such cases are identified, they will be addressed.”

The Ministry of Defense stated: “The claims will be reviewed.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (VINnews) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday claimed a major policy win over New York, spotlighting what he called taxpayer-unfriendly choices in New York state and New York City as Mayor Zohran Mamdani pushes for significant tax increases to address budget shortfalls.

DeSantis highlighted Florida’s population edge and leaner spending, noting the state now has nearly 4 million more residents than New York while maintaining a smaller budget.

“Florida now has almost 4 million more residents than NY, yet their budget is over TWICE AS LARGE as Florida’s!” DeSantis said in remarks that gained traction among conservative commentators and Florida Republicans.

He pointed out that New York City, with roughly 8 million residents, operates a budget larger than Florida’s entire state allocation, despite Florida delivering what he described as superior infrastructure, roads and services.

“New York City with 8 million people has a larger budget than the entire state of Florida and yet our infrastructure is better, our roads are better, services are better,” DeSantis stated.

“These are CHOICES,” he added. “They don’t respect the taxpayers in these places and people have rebelled now.”

The comments come amid Mamdani’s recent preliminary budget proposal for fiscal year 2027, which totals around $127 billion — a figure that has drawn sharp comparisons to Florida’s approximately $117 billion state budget despite the vast population difference (Florida at over 23 million residents versus New York City’s 8 million-plus).

DeSantis linked the criticism to broader New York issues, including ongoing homelessness and crime challenges in certain areas.

“It’s not just taxes. You have homeless problem. You obviously have had crime problem in some of these areas for a number of years,” he said.

The governor defended Florida’s no-state-income-tax policy, which he pledged to preserve, while noting sales tax exemptions on essentials.

“We have no state income tax in Florida, which we’re gonna keep. We have a sales tax, but the necessities of life are actually exempt,” DeSantis explained. “So food, medication, baby items, you don’t even pay sales tax on that.”

“And so if somebody is struggling trying to make ends meet, we’ve done a lot to reduce the burdens on them,” he continued. “We’ve stood for people that are working hard. We respect the taxpayers and the proof’s in the pudding!”

DeSantis questioned the justification for New York’s larger spending given perceived inferior outcomes.

“How can you possibly argue that it would be OK to have a budget TWICE as large like New York State? Given the substandard results that they have, it’s a choice of how they’re treating taxpayers,” he concluded.

Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, has proposed raising taxes on high earners and corporations as a primary solution to fiscal gaps, framing a potential 9.5% property tax hike as a “last resort” if state leaders in Albany reject his plans.

DeSantis’ remarks align with ongoing narratives of migration from high-tax states like New York to Florida, with recent population estimates showing Florida surpassing 23 million residents compared to New York’s roughly 20 million.

The White House seized on Team USA’s dramatic Olympic hockey victory over Canada to take a swipe at former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, reviving a past social media post after the Americans captured gold.

In a thrilling overtime finish at the Milan Cortina Winter Games on Sunday, the United States defeated Canada 2-1 to claim its first men’s Olympic hockey gold medal in 46 years. The winning goal came off the stick of Jack Hughes, who sealed the victory in overtime and ended the decades-long championship drought.

Following the triumph, President Donald Trump placed a congratulatory call to the team to mark the achievement.

The celebration extended beyond the ice. The official White House X account resurfaced a message Trudeau had posted last year after Canada defeated the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off. At the time, Trudeau had written, “You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.”

On Sunday, the White House reposted that statement and paired it with an image of a bald eagle standing atop a Canadian goose, signaling a pointed response to the earlier remark.

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III also weighed in, sharing Trudeau’s previous message alongside a photo of himself holding an American flag and adding the caption, “We took your game.”

Hughes scored the decisive goal after receiving a cross-ice pass from Zach Werenski, sending the crowd in Milan into a frenzy and thrilling viewers across the United States who tuned in early Sunday morning.

Speaking after netting the game-winner, Hughes expressed pride in representing the country. “This is all about our country right now.”

“I love the USA,” he said. “I’m so proud to be American today.”

“I love my country; I love my teammates,” he added.

“That’s American hockey right there,” said Hughes.

“That’s a great Canadian team, but this means so much. We are such a team.”

Among those in attendance was FBI Director Kash Patel, who watched the game from the stands in Milan and later joined the team in its postgame celebration. Patel, an avid hockey enthusiast and amateur player himself, took part in the locker room festivities.

Video circulating online shows Patel celebrating with the players, drinking and spraying beer before pounding on a table and having a gold medal placed around his neck.

Patel later addressed media attention over his presence in the locker room, posting on X: “For the very concerned media — yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys — Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth,” Patel wrote.

{Matzav.com}

Newly surfaced details in the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie indicate that at least one image captured by her Nest doorbell camera was recorded on a different day than the others, suggesting the masked suspect may have visited the property prior to her suspected abduction on Feb. 1. A source familiar with the probe confirmed the development to Fox News Digital on Monday.

According to the source, one of the images released by the FBI does not match the date of the remaining footage, pointing to the possibility that the individual surveyed the residence in advance. The source declined to identify the specific date of the earlier image, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told Fox News that the information about the differing date did not originate from him.

Investigators have at various times asked neighbors to review their home surveillance footage from the entire month of January, specifically the night of Jan. 11, and also the period between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, when Guthrie is believed to have disappeared.

ABC News was the first to report that the suspect may have scouted the property earlier, citing unnamed sources.

Jason Pack, a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent, said the apparent advance visit suggests the crime was deliberate rather than spontaneous.

“That’s sophistication. That’s the hallmark of someone who thought about this before they acted. And it matters significantly from a legal standpoint, because premeditation and planning elevate the severity of what investigators are looking at,” Pack said. “The suspect in this case may have thought they were being careful. But appearing twice on camera while trying to avoid identification isn’t careful. That’s exposure. And right now, investigators are working very hard to close that gap.”

The disclosure also implies that the information recovered by the FBI and Google from the camera system extended beyond the final event stored in the device’s memory.

According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Guthrie’s doorbell camera went offline at 1:47 a.m. on the night she was taken. Roughly 25 minutes later, at 2:12 a.m., another camera on the property detected a person but failed to record any footage.

Initially, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department directed inquiries to the FBI. After publication of the initial report, however, the department released a statement clarifying that no timestamps had been publicly disclosed in connection with the Nest images.

“We are aware that doorbell images released earlier in the investigation depict a suspect in different stages of attire, including with and without a backpack,” the PCSD said in a statement. “There is no date or time stamp associated with these images. Therefore, any suggestion that the photographs were taken on different days is purely speculative.”

Prior to this clarification, experts had raised questions about whether the masked individual shown in the images was the same person, noting differences in clothing and the absence in some images of a backpack and holstered firearm that appeared in others.

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews) — President Trump gave a hint about his current approach to the Iran issue when he retweeted conservative talk show host Mark Levin, who is calling to topple the Iranian regime and rejects the idea of a deal with them.

Levin wrote “What if we got the greatest deal ever from Iran? They’re gonna give up their nukes. They’re gonna give up their ballistic missiles. They’re gonna become boy scouts and girl scouts. No more terrorism.

That’s right. They’re gonna reject their own Islamist ideology of the seventh century that they’ve used to indoctrinate others, that they preach every single day. That’s right. Khomeini’s going to become Mahatma Gandhi and the world is gonna have peace forever. Yeah. We’ll sign that deal. Sure. We’ll sign it.

Now, why would they sign such a deal? What if it’s the greatest deal of all deals ever? Why would they sign it? You see, the problem is, ladies and gentlemen, it’s not a matter of a deal, a negotiation, or diplomacy, or playing this thing out.

Khomeini, the Islamist Nazis, have told us what they’re going to do, and they believe this is directed by God. And they have slaughtered tens of thousands of their own people in the last few weeks, over the years, in order to advance this agenda. Do you think signing a deal is going to stop anything? Do you think they’re going to honor the deal? The issue isn’t whether we negotiate. The question is why do we negotiate? The question is why do we think some deal is going to keep these people under control? It’s not.

Now it might temporarily they may pull back temporarily, exactly what North Korea did. Oh, they pulled back. They pulled back for a few years and all of a sudden, hey. Guess what? We have a few nukes. They will play this game. They look at long ball. And even if they were to pull back during the Trump presidency, that’s three more years. What about after that? What if we get a Biden or an Obama? Or what if we get some weak Republican? The only president that actually takes forceful action against Iran is President today, Donald Trump. What happens when he leaves?

Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot, as our generation, leave it to the next generation, our children and grandchildren, to deal with this. We must deal with this. Or they’ll have tens of thousands of ballistic missiles. They’ll have scores of nuclear warheads, and they will be able to reach our country. And since they’ve been willing to slaughter their own people by the tens of thousands, you better believe that they will use those nuclear warheads against our children and grandchildren. They’re weaker than ever before. They’re not gonna be this weak ever again, and they do not follow agreements.

When we pulled out of that Obama deal in 2018, they immediately began violating the deal that was still in place with Europe. Systematic breaches. Iran intentionally reduced its compliance with the agreement in a phased manner, leading to multiple ongoing violations rather than a single event. Enrichment levels. Iran increased its uranium enrichment to 60%, significantly higher than the 3.67% limit set by the agreement. Stockpile limits. By late 2019, Iran breached the 300 kilogram limit on enriched uranium, later exceeding permitted stockpiles by 30 times. Centrifuge use. Iran installed and operated advanced centrifuges prohibited by the deal. Monitoring suspensions. Since February 2021, Iran restricted the International Atomic Energy Agency of the UN from fully monitoring its nuclear facilities. Formal termination. They announced it in October 2025.

You think our envoys or somebody else’s envoys or signing an agreement is gonna change the mindset of a terrorist regime that is slaughtering its people as I speak, that is already trying to build new nukes? We signed a paper, peace in our time? No. The problem isn’t negotiations.

The problem isn’t they won’t agree to this or that, or that we can get the best deal in world history. The problem is them. The West needs to understand what we’re dealing with. For forty-seven years. I don’t know what it’s gonna take, but we need to comprehend what we’re dealing with. That regime needs to be eliminated to save our children and grandchildren from having to deal.”

In response to American calls for a strike to topple the regime, Iran announced on Monday that any attack by the United States, including limited strikes, would be considered an “act of aggression” that would trigger a response.

Iran’s Army Chief of Staff, General Amir Hatami, declared that “the enemy” is working to implement a plan described as “strategic attrition” against Iran. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for doctoral and master’s students in defense management at the army’s Command and Staff University (DAFOS), Hatami explained that the U.S. objective is to gradually weaken the Islamic regime and cause fatigue and erosion among the Iranian people, according to the Iranian news agency ISNA.

Hatami stressed that in light of current changes and developments, the responsibility placed on Iran’s military is critical. He said that over the past month the United States had attempted several times to harm the Iranian nation and regime but had failed. According to him, these failures only increase the burden now resting on the army’s shoulders.

Hatami rejected what he called the “enemies’ claims” of being invincible, describing them as “false and futile.” He cited American involvement in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq as examples of places where the enemy entered with threats but left in disgrace. In his view, modern warfare is more complex than in the past, involving “hybrid warfare” conducted across political, economic, social, military, psychological, and cognitive arenas. He warned that such warfare exposes not only the military but also families and children to threats.

Referring to internal events, Hatami claimed that the United States was attempting to carry out a kind of “coup” through unrest, based on what he described as miscalculations. He said that although the events had caused sorrow, the plot was suppressed by the Iranian people thanks to their “deep insight.” He pledged that any future conspiracy would be met with a strong and crushing response.

Hatami added that the United States is mistaken if it believes Iran is in a position of weakness. He declared that Iran has millions of soldiers prepared to sacrifice their lives, stating that the greatest honor is “falling in sanctification of God.” He said that despite the deployment of warships and threats, Iran responded with strength due to faith and the leadership of the Supreme Leader.

Hatami warned that the United States seeks to exact a price from Iran by undermining its territorial integrity, similar to other countries in the region, but said that “the Iranian people will stand firm and will not allow this plan to succeed.” He vowed that the army would defend Iran’s independence, territorial integrity, and regime “until the last breath,” expressing belief in divine victory.

During a briefing in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei addressed the possibility of American military action. Baghaei stated that from Iran’s perspective, “there is no such thing as a limited strike.” He said any act of aggression would be defined as such regardless of scope, and that every country has a natural right to self-defense.

The spokesperson emphasized that Iran would respond to any act of aggression in a “forceful” manner as part of exercising its right to defend itself. These statements reflect Tehran’s firm position that any violation of its sovereignty, even if described by the U.S. administration as limited, would lead to a decisive military response. Baghaei concluded by asserting that an act of aggression is an act of aggression, and that Iran would act resolutely against any attempt to harm its territory.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Thousands of teenagers from more than a dozen countries, many standing on their chairs in a cavernous convention hall, screamed and cheered as Josh Shapiro took the stage.

Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor still may be unknown among many Americans outside his home state, but here at BBYO, the world’s largest conference of young Jewish leaders, Shapiro is a rock star.

“We’re facing some challenges out there,” he said. He didn’t mention the arson attack his family escaped in the middle of the night last year, or the antisemitism that he says he faces regularly.

“And this is a moment,” he went on as the crowd waved Israeli flags, “where I lean on my faith. I am proud of my faith.”

Shapiro may be the nation’s most prominent Jewish politician as antisemitism surges across America, and he’s made his religion central to his political identity — what he calls living his faith “out loud.” At this pivotal moment, as he marches toward a dominant reelection this fall that is expected to propel him into the next presidential campaign, the 52-year-old governor is attempting to straddle an almost impossible chasm as both a Jewish progressive and a Zionist.

Perhaps more than any other issue, Shapiro’s ability to navigate personal and political risks related to his faith will ultimately determine how far he can rise in an evolving Democratic Party.

He is already among his party’s top White House prospects, powered by a broad political coalition he’s assembled in one of the nation’s most important swing states. He’s also one of the leaders most vilified by progressive activists, largely because of his staunch support for Israel.

Leaning on his faith
Shapiro has defended Israel’s right to defend itself after Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, while also voicing concern for Palestinian civilians and criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “dangerous and destructive force.” At home, the governor was critical of pro-Palestinian campus protests that he said were hostile toward Jewish students.

His positioning did not sit well among some critics, who still refer to him as “Genocide Josh.” Tensions were reopened with Shapiro’s recent book, in which he recalled a senior aide to Kamala Harris asking if Shapiro had ever been an agent of the Israeli government while he was being vetted as a potential vice president.

There’s never been a Jewish president or vice president, and few leading Democrats lean into their faith as openly as Shapiro. He observes Shabbat every Friday night with his family. He keeps Kosher. His kids go to Jewish day school. And on the campaign trail, he speaks openly about his spiritual values and quotes the Bible at virtually every stop.

Shapiro’s allies acknowledge the risks, but they ultimately believe his faith will help him connect with more Americans as he takes the next step in his political career.

“He is intentionally choosing to go a different route and to be a different person, and it’s authentic to who he is and also what he believes,” said Baptist Pastor Marshall Mitchell, a close friend and spiritual adviser to Shapiro. “Great elected officials, great Americans, great thinkers, never discount the influence and impact of faith.”

‘A very real problem’ with antisemitism
Shapiro said in an interview with The Associated Press that antisemitism is “a very real problem” among both Democrats and Republicans.

“I think anyone who’s trying to lead this country, anyone who’s trying to lead a state, lead a community, has a responsibility to call it out no matter which side of the aisle it’s on,” he said.

The governor said he and his family face new incidents of antisemitism on a regular basis, citing most recently the February arrest of a man near Harrisburg charged with making terroristic threats and stalking.

Anti-Defamation League leader Jonathan Greenblatt, a Shapiro ally, said he’s currently seeing the highest levels of antisemitic hate crimes and harassment nationwide since his organization began tracking such data more than a half century ago.

Greenblatt criticized extremists and leaders from both political parties, but he was quick to praise President Donald Trump for opposing anti-Israel protests on college campuses, even if the president’s approach was “heavy handed.”

“I think we need to recognize that on the far left, in progressive circles, being anti-Zionist has become very permissible,” Greenblatt said.

Zionism is the belief that the Jewish people have a right to establish a Jewish nation-state in their ancestral homeland in the Middle East.

Divisions over war in Gaza
Hamas’ attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza became a dividing line in American politics as Shapiro’s clout was rising.

As protests against Israel spread, Shapiro said universities should not tolerate antisemitic intimidation any more than they would allow white supremacy, a comparison that inflamed critics on the left.

“Gov. Shapiro has a damning history regarding U.S. policy toward Israel, including his failure to call for an end to U.S. complicity in the Israeli genocide in Gaza, and his smearing and attacks against those speaking out for Palestinian rights,” said Beth Miller, the political director for the anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace Action.

Shapiro’s leadership, Miller said, “is sharply out of line with his constituency — including American Jews.”

Polling shows that views on Israel are complex. About six in 10 American Jews said Israel has committed war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza, according to a Washington Post survey conducted in September. About four in 10 described Israel’s actions as genocide.

However, about three-quarters said Israel’s existence is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people.

In his new book “Where We Keep the Light,” which was released last month, Shapiro opened up about the vetting process as Harris considered the governor as her running mate two years ago.

He wrote that one of Harris’ advisers asked, “Have you ever been an agent of the Israeli government?”

“Had I been a double agent for Israel? Was she kidding? I told her how offensive the question was,” Shapiro wrote. He added that the episode “said a lot about some of the people around the VP.”

In his interview with the AP, Shapiro declined to expand on what the question said about Harris’ team, and he declined to say whether it was an example of antisemitism.

He said “we should all be able to agree that antisemitism is wrong” while having “honest disagreements” about U.S. foreign policy.

“When I analyze Middle East policy, I’m focused on what is in the best interest of the United States of America, what advances our national security, what advances our economic interests, what creates more stability in the globe,” he said. “And in my opinion, that’s having a safe and secure Israel, side by side with a safe and secure Palestinian state, where Palestinian leadership recognizes Israel’s right to exist, and where kids growing up on both sides of the border have an opportunity to grow up with promise and prosperity in their future.”

An attack while they slept
Shapiro, his children and some extended family were sleeping inside the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion after celebrating Passover on April 13, 2025, when a stranger broke into the house and exploded multiple Molotov cocktails.

Cody Allen Balmer, 38, then called 911 and denounced what Shapiro “wants to do to the Palestinian people.” He later told police he would have beaten the governor with a hammer if he had found him.

Balmer pleaded guilty to attempted murder, terrorism and 22 counts of arson, among other charges.

Shapiro said the incident still haunts him today.

“I’m one of the fortunate ones in that I wasn’t killed the way Melissa Hortman was or Charlie Kirk was. I wasn’t injured the way Gabby Giffords or Steve Scalise were physically,” he told AP, referring to Democratic and Republican leaders who suffered political attacks. “But I think we also walk around with the emotional scars of it.”

Shapiro said he struggles with the idea that “this work that I love” has also “brought my family close to death.”

“That’s a hard thing to work through as a as a dad,” he added. “I’m still working through it candidly.”

Rev. Jerome Fordham, who leads the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Action Network, said Shapiro’s challenges have allowed him to relate to people on a deeper level.

“He’s doing a fantastic job despite the fact that they tried to kill him and his family,” said Fordham, who was in the audience at a recent NAACP gala where Shapiro spoke. ”As a Jew, he can connect with everybody. He understands struggle, just as the Black community understands struggle.”

Shapiro told the AP that he would not back away from his faith.

“I refuse to live in fear, I refuse to back down,” Shapiro said. “Even though the threats are increasing, the light I see and the joy I find in others is also increasing. And that allows me to frankly ignore the noise and ignore the hate and focus on the goodness in people.”

(AP) – FedEx is suing the U.S. government, requesting a full refund on what it paid for tariffs set by President Donald Trump last year after the Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs are illegal.

FedEx said in a filing with the U.S. Court of International Trade that they have “suffered injury” from having to pay the tariffs and that the relief they’re seeking from the court would redress those injuries.

Other companies have already launched efforts to recoup costs from the illegal tariffs, including large U.S. corporations like Costco and Revlon.

The National Retail Federation said in a statement on Friday that the Supreme Court’s ruling provided certainty for U.S. businesses and manufacturers.

“We urge the lower court to ensure a seamless process to refund the tariffs to U.S. importers,” it said. “The refunds will serve as an economic boost and allow companies to reinvest in their operations, their employees and their customers.”

The Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs on Friday. Trump said he was “absolutely ashamed” of some justices who ruled 6-3 against him, calling them “disloyal to our Constitution” and “lapdogs.” At one point he even raised the specter of foreign influence without citing any evidence.

The court’s ruling found tariffs that Trump imposed under an emergency powers law were unconstitutional, including the sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs he levied on nearly every other country.

The Treasury had collected more than $133 billion from the import taxes the president has imposed under the emergency powers law as of December, federal data shows. The impact over the next decade has been estimated at some $3 trillion.

Trump has vowed to collect tariffs through other means. He reached for a stopgap option immediately after his defeat Friday at the Supreme Court: Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15% for up to 150 days. But any extension beyond 150 days must be approved by a Congress likely to balk at passing a tax increase as November’s midterm elections loom.

LONDON (AP) — British police on Monday arrested Peter Mandelson, a former U.K. ambassador to the United States, in a misconduct probe stemming from his ties with Jeffrey Epstein.

London’s Metropolitan Police force said “officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office” at an address in north London.

It did not name Mandelson, in keeping with British police practice, but the suspect in the case has previously been identified as Mandelson.

Police are investigating Mandelson over documents suggesting he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. He does not face any allegations of sexual misconduct.

His arrest comes four days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of a similar offense related to his friendship with Epstein.

Mandelson was fired from his diplomatic post in September after emails were published showing that he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor. When more details emerged in documents released by the U.S. Justice Department last month, police opened a criminal probe.

We regret to inform you of the Petirah of R’ Meir Oiknine Z”L (Waknin), who was Niftar today.

He is the father of R’ Moshe, a longtime Chaveirim member and renowned photographer.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place at 2:00 PM at the Chapel in Lakewood, with Kevurah in Lakewood.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel Hager, held an emotional seudas hodaah on Monday night at his residence in the moshav of Ora, commemorating 26 years since he survived a devastating car accident near the entrance to Yerushalayim. The gathering was combined with a fundraising initiative on behalf of the Vishnitzer community’s Kimcha D’Pischa campaign in Elad.

Prominent supporters of the chassidus, who contributed substantial sums toward providing Pesach necessities for families in need, were seated around the Rebbe’s table for the special occasion.

Also in attendance was the Rebbe’s son-in-law, the Vishnitzer Rebbe of Beit Shemesh, who addressed the assembled chassidim. In his remarks, he reflected on the many kindnesses of the Ribbono Shel Olam over the years and spoke of the ongoing gratitude felt by the community.

Rav Yaakov Mordechai Hager, Av Beis Din of Vishnitz in Elad, delivered heartfelt words, his voice breaking with emotion. He offered a tefillah that Hashem have mercy on the impoverished and downtrodden, and that the chassidim merit to soon see the Rebbe restored in full strength and splendor.

Throughout the tish, lively singing filled the room, with the Rebbe strongly encouraging the melodies, especially during the singing of “Yesh Borei Olam.” He later expanded on divrei kodesh inspired by the elevated atmosphere.

In deeply moving remarks, the Rebbe recounted the details of the accident and the miraculous chain of events that led to his rescue. He reviewed the sequence of those days and expressed gratitude for the many individuals who stood by him and assisted during that critical period.

The Rebbe also spoke with visible emotion about the hospital visit of Rav Shmuel Wosner, who came to see him shortly after the accident.

At the conclusion of the gathering, following Birchas Hamazon, the benefactors approached to receive a special gift in honor of Pesach, presented as a token of appreciation for their steadfast support of the chassidus’s charitable efforts.

{Matzav.com}

Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps military commanders have been holding meetings in hospitals in recent days, a medical staff member in a hospital in Tehran told Iran International.

“The presence of these individuals, along with their protection units, has alarmed staff because the meetings had nothing to do with medical matters,” a hospital employee said.

Similar accounts from Shiraz, Gorgan, and Tehran describe armed personnel deployed in medical centers and, in some cases, gunfire from hospital rooftops toward protesters.

In recent days, security forces have also assembled at certain stadiums and sports arenas, which sources say is intended to protect personnel and equipment from possible U.S. or Israeli strikes by positioning them within densely populated civilian areas.

During the January 8–9 demonstrations and the days that followed, multiple testimonies described security activity conducted from inside public buildings. Witnesses and local media reported gunfire at protesters from within a governor’s office and from the roof of a hospital in Gorgan. In Arak and Sari, schools were reportedly used to house forces and detain suspects.

Political analyst and journalist Jamshid Barzegar said that the use of hospitals fro military activity reflects a pattern long observed in the Islamic Republic’s proxies.

“The Islamic Republic has once again brought inside the country a criminal pattern it has tested for years through its proxy forces in the region: militarizing civilian spaces and using civilians as human shields,” he said.

“Now that the Islamic Republic has cast the shadow of war over Iran, we are seeing the same methods being applied domestically. In the bloodiest and largest crackdown on public protests in Iran’s history during January 8 and 9 and the days after, the presence of security forces resembled the conduct of terror groups.”

“This is not only a sign of strategic weakness, but a message that the lives of ordinary Iranians carry little weight in the government’s calculations. When commanders enter hospitals with protection teams and hold non-medical meetings, they are effectively taking patients and medical staff hostage to their own security considerations,” Barzegar said. “There is no justification for using civilians as human shields.”

Not just hospitals. Iranian Security forces gather in a school courtyard during the January protests in Iran.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

MEXICO CITY (VINnews) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly rejected multiple offers from U.S. President Donald Trump to deploy American military forces to combat drug cartels on Mexican soil, emphasizing national sovereignty amid ongoing violence linked to criminal organizations.

Sheinbaum has repeatedly stated that while Mexico is open to collaboration, including intelligence sharing, it will not permit foreign intervention. “It’s not going to happen,” she said in response to Trump’s suggestions, noting she has conveyed this position to Trump and U.S. officials on several occasions. She has described sovereignty as “sacrosanct” and “not for sale,” insisting that Mexico will handle operations within its own territory.

Trump has publicly floated the idea of U.S. military strikes or troop involvement to eradicate cartels, which he has described as a major source of drug trafficking into the United States. In various statements, he indicated willingness to take aggressive measures, including potential ground or air actions, to curb the flow of narcotics.

Critics, particularly in conservative U.S. circles and on social media, have slammed Sheinbaum’s refusals, arguing they allow cartels to continue operating with impunity. Some have accused her stance of indirectly enabling cartel violence, though Sheinbaum has countered that Mexico is making progress through domestic efforts and bilateral cooperation short of foreign troops.

Recent violence in Mexico has highlighted the cartels’ ongoing threat to civilians. In Jalisco and surrounding states, the killing of a high-profile cartel leader by Mexican forces prompted retaliatory attacks, including roadblocks, arson on vehicles and buildings, and widespread chaos that forced shelter-in-place warnings for U.S. citizens in affected areas. Reports described scenes of burning vehicles, torched businesses—including a Costco in Puerto Vallarta—and shootouts, as criminal groups sought to disrupt security operations and assert control.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and other syndicates have long used such tactics, including setting fires to create barriers and terrorize communities, in response to government actions. Violence has also included car bombs, drone attacks, and mass shootings in various regions, contributing to thousands of deaths annually.

Sheinbaum has maintained that U.S. assistance is welcome in non-interventionist forms, such as information sharing, and that joint efforts on security continue. Trump has acknowledged some of these conversations as positive but persisted in offering military options, which Mexico has declined, citing constitutional prohibitions on foreign interventions and historical sensitivities dating back to events like the Mexican-American War.

The bilateral relationship remains focused on migration, trade, and counternarcotics, with both leaders describing recent talks as constructive despite disagreements over military involvement.

Orthodox executive members of the World Zionist Organization published a statement denouncing an earlier statement that was published by Reform members “in the name of all executive members” without their consent and against their position.

Last week, Executive member Tami Gottleib, who also serves as the vice-chairman of the Women of the Wall organization, was arrested at the Kosel after she disturbed public order on Rosh Chodesh Adar. The police also issued a restraining order against her, banning her from the Kosel.

Following the incident, some members of the Zionist Organization’s board published a statement of support for Gottleib “in the name of all the board members.”

Rabbi Pesach Lerner from the Eretz HaKodesh faction told Kikar HaShabbat, “In all the big countries around the world—except for one or two—there is a solid and clear majority of religious Orthodox voters who voted for religious slates over Reform ones. Despite this, the representatives of the Reform and Conservative movements have the chutzpah to issue statements ‘in the name of world Jewry,’ even though it has been clearly proven that the majority is Orthodox.”

“The time has come for us to stand our ground and say clearly: the majority of world Jewry supports the Orthodox position and wants to preserve the voice of Torah and halacha in Eretz Yisrael. The Reform movement has no right to speak in the name of world Jewry.”

The statement issued by the Orthodox executive members stated: “We, members of the Zionist Executive representing the religious-Orthodox bloc, hereby express our protest and deep sorrow regarding the statement that was published – contrary to our position – and purportedly issued in the name of all Executive members, following the provocation carried out in the Western Wall plaza by Executive member Tami Gottlieb.”

“The Western Wall is one of the most important Jewish symbols, and we respect the right of every Jew to pray there in accordance with Jewish law and tradition, while preserving the status quo that has been maintained there for decades and in accordance with the directives of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, founded by the eminent Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook, of blessed memory. This is the position of millions of Jews in Israel and around the world, and we seek to express it clearly and unequivocally.”

“We express our pain over the unnecessary provocation that harmed the sanctity of the site, and that bears no connection to the compromise framework proposed by Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky and Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. We stand with and support the Israel Police and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, who are entrusted with preserving the sanctity of the site and maintaining law and order in accordance with the directives of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Following widespread complaints about road conditions during the last snowstorm, Lakewood Township officials have unveiled a bold new initiative aimed at “putting the power of snow removal directly into the hands of residents,” TLS has exclusively learned.

Already underway, every household began receiving a complimentary DIY Snow Cleanup Kit, which officials describe as “a practical, scalable solution designed for maximum community participation and minimum municipal involvement.”

At the center of the kit is a standard tabletop salt shaker.

“This isn’t just any salt shaker,” a township spokesperson told TLS in an exclusive statement, while carefully demonstrating a single grain being dispensed onto an icy sidewalk. “This is a precision-based snow mitigation device. Residents can apply it exactly where needed — one crystal at a time.”

The kit also includes a laminated instruction card encouraging residents to “think big, start small,” and a motivational sticker reading: ‘You Are The DPW Now.’

Officials emphasized that the program comes with a full guarantee: once salt is applied, results are expected within 6 to 8 weeks, or residents will receive their taxes back in full — “pending review, processing time, and several clearly defined exceptions.”

Local reaction has been mixed.

“I went through half the shaker just getting from my front door to the driveway,” one resident told TLS, noting he is optimistic conditions will improve by early spring. “They said it works. I just have to be patient.”

Others praised the township’s innovation. “It’s nice to finally feel included,” another resident told TLS. “Before this, snow removal felt like something only professionals handled.”

Township officials confirmed that if the program proves successful, Phase Two may include a Deluxe Winter Preparedness Kit, featuring a tea light candle for “ambient ice melting” and a printed photo of a plow truck “for morale purposes.”

As of press time, residents were reportedly coordinating neighborhood efforts to combine their salt shakers in hopes of clearing an entire intersection by mid-April.

TLS wishes all a safe storm and a Happy Purim.

WASHINGTON (AP) — When the American men’s hockey team retreated to their locker room to celebrate their Winter Olympics gold medal win, they were joined by a special guest from the United States: FBI Director Kash Patel.

For some supporters of the embattled law enforcement official, it was a patriotic, good-natured show of support for a team bringing home the first gold in the sport since 1980. But for Patel’s critics, it was yet another questionable use of government resources by an FBI chief already facing scrutiny over his personal travels aboard a government plane.

An FBI spokesman had said in the days leading up to the game that Patel’s trip to Milan during the Olympics was primarily for professional purposes, with the director posting on social media work-related photographs of his meetings with European security officials.

The trip took a more jocular turn Sunday when videos circulating online showed a pumped-up Patel, a hockey fan, drinking beer from a bottle and spraying the rest around the locker room. After one of the players draped his gold medal around Patel’s neck, he joined the players as they jumped up and down in celebration.

The episode deepened questions about Patel’s personal travels, a persistent storyline of his one-year tenure not only because of their frequency but also because he had chastised his predecessor, Chris Wray, for his use of the FBI plane. In this instance, the Olympics celebration took place as FBI officials were investigating a man who was shot and killed by the U.S. Secret Service after he breached the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort with a shotgun.

“The grift & corruption is unreal,” Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado posted on X. “Your taxpayer dollars funding the FBI Director’s Italian vacation.”

Patel responded to the criticism by posting on his personal X account that “yes, I love American and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys.”

The White House signaled its backing for Patel, with communications director Steven Cheung writing on X that “Kash was also in Italy meeting with regional partners and security teams” and telling a reporter “don’t be mad because America won.”

An ongoing source of criticism
Patel is not the only Trump administration figure to face questions about his use of government resources, with congressional Democrats also demanding answers from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about her department’s contract for upgraded jets.

But the FBI in particular has struggled to shake questions about Patel’s travels on the government Gulfstream G550 for flights around the country that have no known or apparent law enforcement purpose. One example came in October when it emerged that Patel had traveled to State College, Pennsylvania, for a pro wrestling event, where his longtime girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins had performed the national anthem. Photos posted to social media by Wilkins show the couple side-by-side and smiling for the camera and her holding an oversized golden championship belt.

During the Biden administration, Patel, a bombastic podcaster, had repeatedly lambasted Wray for using the FBI plane for personal travels and even suggested that the jet be grounded.

“I’m just saying Chris Wray doesn’t need a government-funded G5 jet to go to vacations. Maybe we ground that plane. $15,000 every time it takes off. Just a thought,” Patel said in one podcast interview.

FBI spokesman Ben Williamson has defended Patel, noting that he is required for security purposes to use the bureau jet even for personal trips and consistently reimburses the government.

“Kash himself has significantly limited personal travel — but he’s allowed to take personal time on occasion to see family, friends or his longtime girlfriend. He doesn’t do it often,” Williamson posted on X in November. “He works far more full weekends than he does otherwise. And maybe most importantly — ask anyone who works for him, he’s on duty 24/7 regardless.”

Even so, it’s long been a sensitive issue for the FBI and Justice Department. The department’s inspector general, for instance, last year faulted a since-retired FBI assistant director for taking government-paid trips to the official’s “bucket list” — travel that the watchdog said did include some professional meetings but mostly consisted of beach resort stays.

And in 1993, President Bill Clinton fired then-FBI Director William Sessions after a harshly critical report alleged that he had “abused government travel for personal purposes.”

Patel, for his part, has said he complies with all policies, saying in a podcast interview in December that he travels “under the rules that have been established by the prior 20 years of Congress, DOJ and FBI.”

A raucous celebration
The latest kerfuffle started last week with media reports indicating that Patel would be in Italy for the final days of the Olympics.

Williamson said on social media that the trip was not personal in nature, had been planned months ago, would include meetings with a cross-section of officials and was consistent with the FBI’s “major role” in Olympics security.

While in Italy, he posted pictures this week of his visit to the Milan Joint Operations Center, which he said was charged with protecting the security of American athletes and all those who traveled to Milan for the Winter Games. He also posted a photo of his meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Italy.

In the United States on Sunday, the FBI was investigating the intrusion at Mar-a-Lago and continuing its search for Nancy Guthrie, kidnapped from her Arizona home weeks ago. Other concerns confronting American officials included an eruption of violence in Mexico and the potential of a Trump administration attack on Iran.

Patel posted on X that the FBI was dedicating all necessary resources to the Mar-a-Lago investigation.

Soon after, videos surfaced showing Patel, in a long-sleeve white USA shirt, partaking in the festive locker room celebration. Patel posted pictures of himself with the team, including one showing him holding an unfurled American flag and another in the locker room.

The Trump Organization is expanding into Australia with plans to develop a major hotel and residential tower on the Gold Coast, marking the company’s debut project in the country.

Eric Trump revealed that the company will construct what he described as the tallest building in Australia, unveiling the Trump International Hotel & Tower Gold Coast as its inaugural Australian development. “I am so proud to announce what will soon be the tallest building in Australia — Trump International Hotel & Tower Gold Coast,” Eric wrote in a post on X. “This marks our first venture into Australia — an extraordinary country in every respect — and I couldn’t be more excited to help shape its iconic skyline forever.”

In an official statement, the Trump Organization said it has partnered with Altus Property Group to introduce the new project, formally announcing the launch of Trump International Hotel & Tower, Gold Coast. According to the release, the development will include a 285-room luxury hotel carrying the Trump name and serving as the centerpiece of a planned 91-story skyscraper.

“This landmark development reinforces The Trump Organization’s ongoing commitment to expanding its portfolio of luxury residential, hospitality, and golf projects globally,” the press release says.

Project details outlined in the announcement indicate that, in addition to the hotel, the tower will house 272 upscale residential units. The statement further explains:

The Trump International Hotel & Tower, Gold Coast will feature a 285-room luxury hotel bearing the trademark Trump logo, anchoring the 91-storey development. The project will also include 272 luxury residential apartments, a three-level podium with an exclusive Beach Club, and over 3,400 sqm of premium commercial, retail, and dining space, revitalizing the central Surfers Paradise precinct.

In a separate statement, Trump said the development demonstrates the company’s “unwavering commitment to delivering world-class luxury experiences.”

Altus Property Group Founder and Chief Executive David Young also welcomed the collaboration, emphasizing the project’s significance. “Trump International Hotel & Tower, Gold Coast will be a truly unique offering in the Australian market, bringing the prestige and allure of a world-class luxury brand,” Altus Founder and Chief Executive David Young said in a statement. “Altus Property Group is proud of its track record in delivering landmark developments across Australia, and our expertise ensures this project will be an outstanding success.”

{Matzav.com}

You can download it here.

Halachos of Parshas Zachar, Taanis Esther, Purim 2026 Free PDF

Hundreds of flights at New York City-area airports remain grounded in the aftermath of the powerful blizzard, leaving thousands of travelers stranded across the Northeast.

NYC Emergency Management confirmed Monday that there were “major flight disruptions” at all three major regional hubs — John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Despite rapid efforts to clear runways and surrounding roadways, the storm’s impact continues to ripple through Tuesday’s travel schedule.

NYC Airport Breakdown (FlightAware):

✈️ LaGuardia Airport: 263 flights canceled (49% of total flights)

✈️ Newark Liberty: 257 flights canceled (49% of total flights)

✈️ JFK Airport: 249 flights canceled (41% of total flights)

Dizzying Nationwide Cancellations

The monstrous bomb cyclone has wreaked havoc on air travel nationwide, with more than 10,000 U.S. flights canceled from Sunday through Tuesday.

That includes over 2,000 cancellations already logged for Tuesday alone. The majority are concentrated at Boston Logan International Airport, with high levels of disruption also spread across the New York City-area airports, according to FlightAware.

Airlines are now scrambling to reposition aircraft and crews after days of shutdowns, and officials warn that delays and cancellations could continue even as skies begin to clear.

The massive wave of cancellations and delays has triggered a cascading backlog that aviation experts say could take several days — and possibly up to a week — to fully unwind.

Restarting operations after a complete shutdown at major hubs is a logistical nightmare, with three critical challenges disrupting the system:

First, aircraft are scattered across the country. Jets that were scheduled to operate out of New York or Boston are parked in cities like Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles, and San Francisco — and they cannot return until runways, taxiways, and gate areas are fully cleared of more than 20 inches of snow.

Second, thousands of pilots and flight attendants are out of position. Many crews became stranded during the storm and have since exceeded their federally regulated duty limits after sitting in hotels or waiting out delays at alternate airports.

Third, the timing could not be worse. The blizzard struck at the tail end of the busy winter break travel period, when many flights were already operating at or near capacity. With planes full, airlines have limited flexibility to rebook thousands of stranded passengers, leaving many facing waits of 48 to 72 hours — or longer — for confirmed seats.

Meanwhile, frigid temperatures at major hubs such as JFK and Newark have significantly slowed de-icing operations. Limited ramp space, repeated runway closures during peak snowfall, and snow removal constraints have nearly doubled aircraft turnaround times, compounding delays even after skies have cleared.

Major carriers including Delta, United, and American have extended flexible travel waivers through the end of the month. However, meteorologists caution that another fast-moving clipper system expected midweek could further complicate efforts to restore normal schedules.

Travelers are strongly advised to check directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Senior Democrats reviewing the party’s 2024 election losses concluded that the Biden administration’s handling of the war in Gaza contributed to former Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat, according to a report by Axios.

The report, citing people familiar with the findings, said Democratic National Committee officials determined the issue was a “net negative” for the party, particularly among young voters and progressives divided over U.S. support for Israel.

According to Axios, aides compiling the internal review held a private meeting with the IMEU Policy Project, a pro-Palestinian advocacy group, which argued that U.S. backing of Israel hurt Democratic turnout. Axios reported that multiple people familiar with the discussions said party data similarly found the Gaza policy damaged Harris politically.

A DNC spokesperson confirmed to Axios that officials met with advocacy groups as part of the review but denied allegations that the report was being withheld because of its findings on Israel. Party leaders previously said the analysis would remain private to avoid distracting from future elections.

Harris, who sought to balance support for Israel with calls for a ceasefire during her abbreviated 2024 campaign, has since acknowledged that the administration could have expressed more public criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. In her recent memoir, she wrote that President Joe Biden’s perceived “blank check” to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu weighed on her candidacy.

The internal review has not been publicly released.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — About 20 lone soldiers (who have no family in Israel during their IDF service) celebrated on Monday their bar or bat mitzvah in uniform at the Western Wall plaza after completing a conversion process during their military service.

The event was held at the initiative of the “Big Brother for Lone Soldiers” association, in cooperation with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, for the fourth consecutive year. It is part of an effort to strengthen the sense of belonging of lone soldiers to the State of Israel, the Jewish people, and Jewish tradition. The soldiers were accompanied by 150 additional soldiers who provide them with personal support throughout their military service.

The event opened with a festive musical procession toward the Western Wall prayer plaza. This was followed by bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies led by instructors from the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. Participants included the Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz; Big Brother association chairman Nissim Adar; Friends Association president CPA Reuven Shiff; association CEO Daniel Aharon; founder of the Taib Group and the Menomadin Foundation, Haim Taib, and others.

In a moving ceremony, the bar mitzvah celebrants were wrapped in prayer shawls, placed tefillin, and were called up to the Torah. The bat mitzvah celebrants recited the “Shehecheyanu” blessing and received a personal prayer book and a pendant depicting the stones of the Western Wall.

The highlight of the event came when the Big Brother association surprised lone soldier Kidist Mengistu, who was deeply moved to meet her mother, flown in especially from Ethiopia for the occasion after three and a half years not seeing her daughter.

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz blessed the soldiers, stating that “It is moving to see you here at the Western Wall, the holiest place for the Jewish people, which connects us to Jewish tradition and heritage. You are the living example of the eternity of the Jewish people. Especially at this time, when we face enemies who seek to harm us, the connection to our heritage and to the Western Wall serves as an anchor for unity and faith in the justice of our path.”

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the soldiers toured various sites in the Western Wall Tunnels and visited the new “Gate of Heaven” exhibit, now open to the public, which tells the historical story of the Jewish people, those who come to the Western Wall to embrace its ancient stones and join the chain of generations.

One of the participants, B., 22, immigrated from Ethiopia about two years ago with the goal of enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces. He serves as a combat soldier in the Nahal Brigade and is expected to complete basic training in about a month.

As a child, B. grew up in a village in Ethiopia without internet or cars. He was raised with a Jewish identity, including observing Jewish holidays and maintaining tradition. B. said his military service and life in Israel fulfill a personal and family dream. He said he is happy to live in Israel and serve the country loyally.

“I always dreamed of coming to Israel and being a soldier in the IDF. For me, Israel is the place where I can realize my identity and be part of my people,” he told Ynet. “I grew up in a home that observed Shabbat and celebrated the Jewish holidays, but I did not celebrate a bar mitzvah. I always felt that something was missing, so the moving ceremony at the Western Wall gives me a sense of wholeness and closure.”

His mother died of cancer nine years ago, and his older sister has raised him since then. His brothers now live in Tiberias, while his father remains in Ethiopia. The two last met about two years ago and remain in contact by phone.

B. was accompanied by Uzi Brenner, 35, of the northern community of Hoshaya, through the nonprofit group Big Brother for Lone Soldiers. Brenner himself immigrated to Israel from Buenos Aires in 2010. Like his mentee, he served as a combat soldier in the Nahal Brigade, experience he said helps him understand what B. is going through.

Brenner first encountered the organization in 2013, shortly after it was founded, and joined as a volunteer. He met B. when B. enlisted in a Hebrew-language course at Michve Alon, an IDF base that prepares new immigrants and other recruits for service. Since then, Brenner has accompanied him consistently, helping bridge language and cultural gaps, guiding him through military and personal processes and assisting with daily needs.

Brenner now works at an investment firm and serves in the reserves in the casualty unit. “Uzi is like a big brother to me. He not only helps me, he gives me confidence and the feeling that I have someone by my side on my new path here,” B. said.
Brenner said it did not take long to realize his mentee faced language and cultural gaps he would need help closing. “When he received a computer for the first time in his life, I connected him with someone who could teach him how to use it in Amharic — so it would be accessible and help him move forward,” Brenner said. “I was filled with pride seeing B. complete both the Hebrew course and the Nativ conversion course with distinction. As a mentor, it was very meaningful to see his progress along the way.”

Big Brother for Lone Soldiers operates a personal mentoring network for lone soldiers through a community of hundreds of volunteers. Each lone soldier is paired with a “big brother” who accompanies him or her throughout military service, providing daily support and assistance. The mentorship creates a supportive, family-like framework, strengthens the sense of belonging and helps the soldiers integrate into Israeli society.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation stated that it will continue working to strengthen Jewish identity, national belonging, and a spirit of unity for all people at the holiest site of the Jewish people.