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A man in his mid-40s was injured tonight after falling into the shaft of an underground trash container in Bnei Brak during a garbage removal operation. He was rescued from the pit and transported to the hospital in moderate condition.

Emergency responders were dispatched at approximately 10:30 p.m. to Rechov Ha’admur MiSanz in Bnei Brak following reports that a man had fallen into the deep shaft of a buried garbage compactor while it was being emptied.

Volunteers from Hatzalah arrived at the scene together with paramedics and EMTs from Magen David Adom and provided initial medical care to the victim, who sustained multiple injuries. Initial assessments indicated that he suffered trauma to his shoulder, and additional reports noted a head injury as well.

After several minutes, rescue teams succeeded in extracting the man from the shaft. He was fully conscious at the time of the rescue and was evacuated by Magen David Adom ambulance to Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center for further medical treatment.

Hatzalah chairman Ushi Shlomovitz, along with Hatzalah medics Leiby Zelman and Eliakim Gross, described the scene: “When we arrived, we found a 45-year-old man suffering from a head injury after falling into an underground trash pit at a depth of approximately four meters. Together with Hatzalah and MDA medics and paramedics, we provided him with initial medical treatment, including immobilization and bandaging, and he was evacuated in moderate condition to Mayanei Hayeshua Hospital for continued care.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump on Thursday announced the launch of TrumpRx, a new prescription drug discount platform he described as “one of the most transformative health care initiatives of all time,” saying it would dramatically cut medication costs for Americans.

“This launch represents the largest reduction in prescription drug prices in history by many, many times,” he said.

While the administration is promoting TrumpRx as a major step toward lowering drug costs, The Hill reports that health policy specialists and consumer advocates are questioning how broadly the program will help patients and whether the advertised savings are as substantial as claimed.

TrumpRx currently offers discount coupons for 43 prescription medications, advertising price reductions ranging from 33 percent to 93 percent off list prices. The drugs cover a range of conditions, including obesity, respiratory disorders, infertility, bladder issues, and menopause.

Some analysts quickly pointed out that even with the discounts, the prices shown on TrumpRx may still exceed what insured patients typically pay through their health plans.

“If you have insurance, your out-of-pocket costs are probably going to be less than the discounted list price that’s being advertised on TrumpRX,” Juliette Cubanski, deputy director of the Program on Medicare Policy at KFF, told The Hill.

“For people who are looking at this website and maybe they recognize a drug that they take, they really need to understand how their out-of-pocket cost under insurance would compare to the TrumpRx price.”

Cubanski added that TrumpRx could still provide meaningful savings for certain medications that are not consistently covered by insurance plans, including some weight loss treatments and in vitro fertilization drugs, potentially making the program attractive to a broader group of patients.

“It’s a valuable effort for some medications, for some people, and I think especially people who don’t have good coverage of some of these medications,” she said.

All of the drugs listed on TrumpRx are branded medications sold directly by pharmaceutical companies that have entered into “most favored nation” pricing agreements with the Trump administration.

Critics note, however, that many of these branded drugs have generic versions available at far lower prices through existing discount programs.

For example, Protonix, a branded acid-reducing medication produced by Pfizer, is advertised on TrumpRx at a 55 percent discount, reducing its price from $447.28 to $200.10 for a 30-day supply of 20 mg tablets.

By comparison, data from GoodRx shows that the generic version, pantoprazole, can be purchased for $10.47 for the same dosage and quantity using a standard coupon. Even without a coupon, the estimated cost is just under $80.

A similar pattern appears with Tikosyn, another Pfizer drug used to treat irregular heart rhythms. TrumpRx lists Tikosyn at a discounted price of $336 for 60 capsules at a 0.125 mg dosage. GoodRx shows the generic equivalent, dofetilide, available for $23.06 with a coupon, reflecting a 94 percent reduction from the listed price of $373.96.

Generic medications account for the vast majority of prescriptions in the United States. According to the Food and Drug Administration, 91 percent of prescriptions were filled with generic drugs in 2023.

Anthony Wright, executive director of FamiliesUSA, a nonpartisan consumer health advocacy organization, sharply criticized the initiative, calling TrumpRx a “trumped-up catalog of coupons.”

“This is not actually lowering drug prices. It steers consumers to the existing drug company programs for uninsured patients that have been around for a while,” Wright said. “This is pretty limited in terms of both who it effects, what drugs it offers and what the benefits are, especially compared to what already existed previously.”

Not everyone shared that assessment. Ashish Jha, who served as the Biden administration’s White House COVID-19 response coordinator, described TrumpRx as a positive development, particularly for people without insurance.

He said the platform was a “good thing” that “is going to be really, really helpful for people who don’t have health insurance” in comments to The Hill’s sister network, NewsNation.

The TrumpRx website specifies that individuals enrolled in government health programs, including Medicaid, are not eligible to use the discount coupons.

That restriction is likely tied to federal anti-kickback laws, which prohibit offering or receiving anything of value in connection with items reimbursed by government health programs such as Medicaid.

The Hill contacted the Trump administration seeking clarification on whether individuals with private health insurance are eligible to use TrumpRx coupons.

Even if privately insured patients are permitted to participate, the overall reach of the program may remain limited, according to Yunan Ji, an assistant professor of strategy at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

“It really only applies to cash-pay patients. So, just considering the scale is cash-pay patients we’re thinking about, you know, a percent of the uninsured, plus some of the people who may be underinsured because their insurance coverage may be limited, but the scope is quite limited at the moment,” she said.

About 8 percent of Americans currently lack health insurance, and with only 43 drugs included so far, TrumpRx is positioned to assist only a small portion of that population. Administration officials have said additional medications will be added in the coming weeks.

Ji also raised concerns about the broader implications of the administration’s “most favored nation” pricing policy.

“The thing about MFN in general — so this is interesting, because MFN is something I teach my MBA students — is that actually, in the long run, it actually puts upward pricing pressure,” she said.

Under Trump’s signature drug pricing approach, pharmaceutical companies are required to sell drugs in the United States at prices no higher than those charged in other countries.

Ji explained that when drugmakers anticipate MFN requirements, they may respond by launching new medications at higher initial prices or delaying introductions in countries with strict pricing controls.

President Trump acknowledged that the policy could have consequences abroad when he announced TrumpRx.

“Drug prices in other nations will go up by doing this, they had to agree,” he said. “In many cases, the drug costs will go up by double and even triple for them, but they’re going way down for the United States.”

{Matzav.com}

During the Sanzer Rebbe’s historic visit to the United States to meet with his chassidim, he paid a visit to the home of the Bobover Rebbe in Boro Park. Their discussion touched on the difficult situation in Eretz Yisroel, the decrees affecting yeshiva students, and whether earlier rebbes of the Sanzer dynasty had traveled to America.

Below is a transcription of portions of the conversation between the two rebbes.

At the outset of the visit, the Bobover Rebbe said to the Sanzer Rebbe:
“Did you come to see the spiritual coldness of America…?”

The Sanzer Rebbe responded:
“I said that one can learn from this now, that in America one needs special caution — ‘not to slip’… although in Eretz Yisroel that same caution is also necessary…”

The Bobover Rebbe said:
“It is known that the Gorlitzer Rebbe zy”a said in his time that there would yet be a Jewish settlement in America.”

The Sanzer Rebbe replied:
“He indeed had a desire to come to America, and he traveled for that purpose to his brother, the Shinova Rebbe zy”a to ask him to join him on the journey.”

The Bobover Rebbe said:
“Yes, I heard from my father zt”l that the holy Gorlitzer Rebbe wanted to come here, and for that reason traveled especially to the Shinova Rebbe to ask him to go along with him. But the Shinova Rebbe refused and said that he was already too old and did not have the strength.”

The Sanzer Rebbe reflected:
“When I was a young child and we came to live in Netanya, it was very uncommon to see even a single child with peyos. People looked at us as something strange and unusual. Today, however, there are many thousands of baalei teshuvah in Netanya, primarily from the Sephardic community, with many kollelim and yeshivos.”

The Bobover Rebbe responded:
“In every place there is a mixture of good and bad, but there is an entire world of good, baruch Hashem. Everyone agrees that Moshiach must come… the situation there in Eretz Yisroel with the bochurim is not simple… what will yet boil over there…”

The Sanzer Rebbe said:
“It is clear that in the end, didan natzach — the bochurim will remain learning in yeshivos. But the current situation is very difficult, both because of the financial pressures they create and the persecutions, and so on.”

The Bobover Rebbe added:
“Truly, until now the calculation ‘did not add up,’ that they gave what they did…”

The Sanzer Rebbe explained:
“When their decrees first began, I said that there are those who do not understand why suddenly they began persecuting Torah learners. But in truth, this is their real nature. The fact that until now they did not interfere was the novelty. The reason was that in the early years after the war, in order to establish the Torah world and build Torah institutions, their choice was taken away and they were compelled to give and assist. But now, when, baruch Hashem, a generation of Torah has been established and Torah institutions have the strength to exist, their free choice was returned. Now their true face has been revealed — that they truly have no desire whatsoever to give space to Torah learners. On the one hand, we see abundant Divine assistance, and on the other hand, there is also hester panim.”

The Bobover Rebbe said:
“Even in America we suffer greatly, as there are those who stand against us with actual hatred…”

The Sanzer Rebbe replied:
“Seemingly, there is no reason why they should not hate Jews…”

The Bobover Rebbe said:
“It is a known halachic principle that Eisav hates Yaakov…”

The Sanzer Rebbe responded:
“And because he lives in America he is different? They are gentiles like all other gentiles…”

The Bobover Rebbe concluded this part of the discussion by saying:
“Unfortunately, here too we suffer from those ‘your destroyers and those who lay you waste come forth from among you,’ who act against Torah institutions. And the situation in England regarding this is even worse — they are actively seeking to destroy and to uproot.”

At the conclusion of the visit, the Bobover Rebbe honored the Sanzer Rebbe with a lechayim, and they exchanged warm blessings. The Bobover Rebbe inquired about the Sanzer Rebbe’s health and said to him: “You shall renew yourself like the eagle of your youth… The Rebbe of Ropshitz zy”a said regarding the verse ‘and with good wine the soul rejoices’ — with good physical strength, the soul rejoices as well.”

The Bobover Rebbe then arose and personally escorted the Sanzer Rebbe to the exit, bringing the visit to a close.

{Matzav.com}

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Protests against military conscription broke out Sunday evening in several locations across Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh, following a series of recent arrests of chareidi draft evaders and amid mounting concern over the future of the Torah world.

In Yerushalayim, demonstrators gathered along Jaffa Road and Sarei Yisrael Boulevard, while in Beit Shemesh protesters blocked Route 3855, commonly known as the Beit Shemesh bypass road. The demonstrations unfolded as tensions rose over enforcement actions taken against yeshiva students and avreichim in recent days.

At the same time, a military court sentenced yungerman Reb Avraham Ben Dayan to ten days of detention. As reported on Matzav, he was arrested yesterday in the community of Tifrach and brought before the court following his transfer to military custody.

Earlier, a second arrest was reported within a span of less than 24 hours. A yeshiva student was detained in Be’er Yaakov by military authorities on charges of draft evasion and is expected to face legal proceedings, according to a statement from the Committee for the Rescue of the Torah World.

According to the student’s mother, military police detectives entered their home, presented identification, and took her son, Eliyahu Kashi, who until recently had been learning in yeshiva. Dozens of people rushed to the scene and attempted to prevent the arrest, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

The initial arrest that sparked the latest wave of protests occurred last night when Reb Avraham Ben Dayan was detained while in Tifrach. After being stopped by traffic police, he was transferred to the police station in Ofakim and later handed over to the military police.

That arrest led to a protest at the entrance to Ofakim, where dozens of demonstrators converged at the city’s main junction on Route 241 and blocked traffic. Clashes were reported between protesters and police forces at the scene. During the dispersal of the demonstration, police employed crowd-control measures, and three protesters were taken into custody.

{Matzav.com}

After a razor-thin and highly charged contest, Be’er Sheva has a new chief rabbi. Rabbi Avraham Deri was elected to serve as the city’s rabbi, winning by a margin of just one vote in an election widely viewed as a significant test of strength for Shas and for broader chareidi and political influence.

The closely fought race ended with Rabbi Deri securing 26 votes. His main rival, Rabbi Yoram Cohen, who was backed by Be’er Sheva Mayor Ruvik Danilovich, received 25 votes. A third candidate, Rabbi Gad Revach, garnered two votes, and one ballot was found to be blank.

Rabbi Avraham Deri is the son of the late Rabbi Yehuda Deri zt”l, the longtime and iconic chief rabbi of Be’er Sheva, and a nephew of Shas chairman Aryeh Deri. With his election, he formally assumes the rabbinic mantle once held by his father.

The election committee was chaired by retired Supreme Rabbinical Court judge Rabbi Yitzchak Elmalich. Other committee members included Rabbi Yitzchak Levi, the chief rabbi of Nesher; Moshe Ben Zaken; Dr. Chefzi Zohar; and representatives of the legal department of the Ministry of Religious Services. The committee secretary was Tzuriel Porat.

As noted, the newly elected rabbi is the son of Rabbi Yehuda Deri zt”l, who served as Be’er Sheva’s chief rabbi, head of the city’s rabbinical courts, and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel.

Reb Avraham, a native of Be’er Sheva, learned at the Ateres Yisrael Yeshiva, Yeshivas HaNegev in Netivot, and a kollel for rabbinic and judicial ordination. He received semichah for both rabbinic leadership and dayanus from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and holds formal certification to serve as a city rabbi and dayan. He previously served as a dayan in a rabbinical court abroad recognized by the Chief Rabbinate.

The dramatic result, decided by a single vote, is seen as a major achievement for Shas in the race for the city rabbinate. Beyond the personal identity of the chief rabbi, the election was widely interpreted as a broader barometer of power within the chareidi public and the national and local political arenas.

Rabbi Deri enjoyed the backing of leading Torah authorities, including the nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, Rav Yitzchak Yosef. In the weeks leading up to the vote, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri invested considerable effort to secure his nephew’s victory in the tightly contested race. On the other side, Rabbi Cohen benefited from the open support of the mayor, heightening the tension and sensitivity surrounding the election.

In the end, the narrow decision brought the contest to a close: Be’er Sheva has a chief rabbi, and the struggle over the city’s rabbinic leadership concluded with a Shas victory—by the slimmest possible margin.

Following the announcement, the Rishon LeTzion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, rav Dovid Yosef, spoke with Rabbi Avraham Deri to congratulate him on his election and his entry as a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel. He told him: “You have merited to fill the place of your great father zt”l; under your fathers shall be your sons.”

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, the rov’s uncle, also responded, saying: “It is a day of joy for me with the election of my dear one, the gaon Rabbi Avraham Deri, as chief rabbi of the city of Be’er Sheva, as the successor of his father, my beloved brother, the gaon Rabbi Yehuda Deri zt”l, who brought about a spiritual revolution in the city with selfless dedication. This is an especially moving moment also for his wife, the rebbetzin Miriam, may she live long, who worked at my brother’s side for decades with devotion and sacrifice, and now merits seeing her son continue his path in the city rabbinate.”

“I bless Rabbi Avraham that he continue to carry the legacy, to work among all the residents of the city, to bring hearts closer together, to strengthen Torah and Judaism, with a pleasant countenance and gentle ways, and to sanctify the name of Heaven.”

Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services Yehuda Avidan thanked the chairman of the election committee, retired Supreme Rabbinical Court judge Rabbi Yitzchak Elmalich, and Mayor Ruvik Danilovich, and congratulated the new rabbi: “Thanks to an orderly process that began under the outgoing minister for religious services, MK Michael Malchieli, and was coordinated with all relevant parties, we are able to congratulate Rabbi Avraham Deri on his selection as chief rabbi of the city.”

“I believe the rabbi shlit”a will continue his father’s tradition in the city rabbinate and work to connect residents to the world of Torah while making Judaism accessible and welcoming. Appointing a chief rabbi for Be’er Sheva provides spiritual and communal stability. The appointment also strengthens the Chief Rabbinate of Israel with his joining it as a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, and enables residents to benefit from clear and committed Torah leadership.”

Religious Council chairman Ofer Karadi also congratulated the new rabbi, saying: “This is a historic and formative day for religious services in Be’er Sheva. The election of Rabbi Avraham Deri is truly good news for every resident of the city. The religious council will stand at the side of the newly elected chief rabbi to ensure accessible, illuminating, and unifying religious services, with respect for the glorious legacy of his late father and with an eye toward a future of unity and spiritual growth.”

{Matzav.com}

Bitter cold will remain in place in the tri-state area through early Monday, Feb. 9, but a shift is on the way, with temperatures forecast to climb above freezing by Monday afternoon.

Those heading out this evening will not have to deal with snowfall, though they should dress for the cold, according to James Tomasini, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Brookhaven office.

An extreme cold warning issued by the National Weather Service is set to remain in effect tonight.

Alongside the arctic air, gusty winds are expected to persist through tonight. However, they will be weaker than yesterday’s powerful gusts, which prompted officials to caution about possible power outages and encouraged residents to stay indoors.

A cold weather advisory will take effect from 1 p.m. Sunday through 10 a.m. Monday. During that period, wind chills are expected to make temperatures feel like below 15 degrees to below 25 degrees Sunday morning, and between below 5 degrees and below 15 degrees from the afternoon into early Monday.

Gusts approaching 35 mph are anticipated later in the day, and officials warn that frostbite and hypothermia are possible if people do not take appropriate precautions.

Exposed skin could develop frostbite in as little as 15 to 30 minutes. The sustained freezing conditions may also cause inadequately insulated water pipes along exterior walls to freeze and burst.

According to Tomasini, wind gusts measured Saturday afternoon into the early evening reached 52 mph at Teterboro Airport, 45 mph in Fair Lawn, and 40 mph in Wayne.

Those winds caused damage on Saturday, Feb. 7, when the roof covering the gas pumps at the Pompton Lakes Delta station on Wanaque Avenue was blown down. City officials said the debris has since been cleared and the station has reopened.

Conditions are expected to improve beginning Monday, with daytime highs reaching the low 30s. Tomasini said temperatures will continue trending upward as the week progresses. Starting Monday morning, “we’re looking at highs starting to increase each day through the middle of the week. By Tuesday, it will feel more moderate, with temperatures in the mid- to upper-30s, he said.

“It will feel warm compared to yesterday and today, but those temperatures are still below normal for this time of year,” Tomasini said. “We will still see several days of 5 to 10 degrees below normal but it won’t be as cold as these arctic air breaks we’ve been experiencing the past couple of weeks.”

He noted that average temperatures for this point in the season are usually around 42 degrees.

Meanwhile, the deep cold early Sunday set a new daily record in Bergenfield, according to Bob Ziff, a spokesperson for North Jersey Weather Observers in Ramsey. Temperatures there dropped to 2 degrees, surpassing the previous record low of 9 degrees set in 1995.

{Matzav.com}

The chareidi public has traditionally played little to no role in the struggle over settlement in Judea and Samaria, and certainly not in Gaza. These questions have generally been identified with the Religious Zionist sector, especially in light of past rulings by leading Torah authorities who supported territorial concessions in exchange for peace agreements.

In recent years, however, a new phenomenon has begun to take shape. Several unregulated outposts associated with chareidi groups have quietly emerged. Across Judea and Samaria, five settlement points are now inhabited by chareidi families and youths.

More recently, a chareidi headquarters has been established with the explicit goal of creating a chareidi settlement in Gaza. The group operates within the framework of the right-wing Nachala movement, which is largely identified with the Religious Zionist community. In the wake of the war, however, the movement decided to form a unit defined specifically as a chareidi, “mehadrin” framework.

The Nachala movement works publicly to build awareness and support for settlement in Gaza through media campaigns, solidarity marches, conferences, and public statements of support from right-wing ministers and Knesset members. At the same time, it is quietly organizing six separate settlement nuclei that are meant to move into Gaza on “the day of command,” establishing roughly six communities.

One of these is the chareidi nucleus, which consists of approximately 40 families who have declared their readiness to move onto the land immediately.

“The families are ready tomorrow morning to go up to Gaza,” says Pinchas Farber, who heads the chareidi headquarters. Addressing the fact that chareidim are taking part in a struggle typically associated with the knitted-kippah sector, he says: “The chareidi public is part of the State of Israel. As a ציבור, it should join this struggle, but every chareidi individual also needs to ask himself whether he wants to see another massacre.”

Among the participating families is the Horowitz family from Beit Shemesh. The father, Yedidya, explains their willingness to relocate to Gaza. “We see this as a mission. We will not do this recklessly. When we go up to Gaza, it won’t be just a few tents—it will be a community, with buildings and institutions.”

“In recent years, there has been a growing sense within the chareidi public of belonging to what is happening to the Jewish people,” he continues. “When it comes from a Torah perspective, from a desire to fulfill Hashem’s will, chareidim also need to take part. And regardless of that, if there is no settlement in Gaza, Jews will continue to be slaughtered.”

The headquarters focuses primarily on gatherings among the families themselves, most of whom approach the group independently. At the same time, they are working to recruit additional chareidi families, including through small home-based meetings and information booths.

The organizers acknowledge that at present it is not feasible to set up outreach stands in Bnei Brak, due to concerns about disruptions from extremist elements. However, they do not rule out doing so in the future, with the goal of increasing exposure within the broader chareidi public.

Several weeks ago, the group organized a special Shabbos program for chareidi yeshiva bochurim near Gaza. During the Shabbos, about 20 youths stayed in the area, slept in tents, and strengthened their resolve to take hold of the land.

“As a chareidi bochur, it feels very natural to me to act for the sake of settling Gaza. Gaza is an inseparable part of Eretz Yisroel,” says Yisrael S., who participated in the Shabbos. “During Shabbos there were very moving tefillos and joint learning sessions facing Gaza. It was inspiring to see more and more bochurim joining the effort and understanding that Gaza is an inseparable part of us and that we have an obligation to settle it.”

The Shabbos gathering came to the attention of the newspaper HaPeles, the mouthpiece of the Yerushalmi faction, which launched a sharp attack on the initiative. Under the headline “Another Delusional Project,” the paper reviewed the advertisement inviting the chareidi public to spend Shabbos near Gaza and claimed that the plans to settle Gaza were “far-reaching schemes.”

“This is another development that illustrates the ideological bankruptcy seeping into the fringes of the chareidi public,” the paper wrote. It accused certain chareidi politicians, saying that their “identification with settler circles and Religious Zionism” enabled initiatives such as the Gaza Shabbos to take place.

The question of rabbinic support remains a particularly sensitive issue. At present, there is no chareidi rav publicly calling for settlement in Gaza, and in the past, leading Torah authorities spoke in favor of relinquishing territory. According to Farber, however, this should not prevent a chareidi individual from taking part in the struggle.

“This is an existential question, not an ideological one,” he argued. “It goes beyond whether we are for or against the state. This is critical. If we don’t act, it will happen again. We would be happy to have the agreement of the Moatzos Gedolei Hatorah, but before that, action is required,” he added, his eyes shining.

{Matzav.com}

Billionaire Elon Musk is once again emerging as a significant financial force for Republicans as the 2026 midterm elections approach, with reports indicating he has poured tens of millions of dollars into GOP-aligned political groups over the past year.

By the end of 2025, Musk had contributed at least $20 million to leading Republican super PACs, and he followed that with another $10 million donation last month tied to Kentucky’s closely watched Senate contest.

The renewed wave of contributions represents a notable shift from Musk’s public commitment last spring to pull back from political spending after investing an estimated $250 million in President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.

“Musk as a donor is important – money in politics is important – but Musk himself is a politically polarizing figure,” Virginia Tech public relations professor Cayce Myers told The Hill.

“As his money is needed, the fact that he is involved does create a complicated political situation for Republicans.”

Campaign finance disclosures show that Musk has restarted large-scale donations to Republican House and Senate leadership funds, strengthening GOP fundraising efforts as the fight for congressional control heats up, according to The Hill.

The filings also indicate that Musk directed $2.9 million into his America PAC during the final half of 2025, pushing the group’s total fundraising for the year to $48 million.

“It’s a big deal for Trump and for the Republicans to have the world’s richest man on their side,” Republican strategist Brian Seitchik, who served as Trump’s 2016 Arizona state campaign director, told The Hill.

“It certainly feels like the president and Elon Musk are back in a good place. For Republicans running around the country, I hope that holds as long as possible.”

Political analysts say the influx of Musk’s money could significantly aid Republican candidates, even as his controversial public image presents potential challenges in closely contested races.

“It’s no surprise to me that someone like Elon Musk sees a fracturing Republican Party and cannot resist reengaging and trying to make that party his own,” Wisconsin-based Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki told The Hill.

Democrats contend that Musk’s growing involvement could backfire on Republicans, citing criticism surrounding his role in the Department of Government Efficiency and increased regulatory attention on his social media platform, X.

“Especially after DOGE and his reputation, his political salience is probably becoming less positive than it was, but I’m not sure that just giving money necessarily is going to hurt the Republican cause or a particular candidate,” Northwestern University law professor and campaign finance specialist Michael Kang told The Hill.

“I would bet most of the Republican interests are happy to have the money, and maybe a little bit more ambivalent about his heavy and very public involvement.”

Despite those reservations, many Republican operatives view Musk’s financial reentry as a potentially decisive edge in what is expected to be a fiercely competitive election cycle.

{Matzav.com}

With measles cases climbing in several parts of the country and concerns growing that the United States could lose its long-standing measles elimination status, a senior federal health official on Sunday called on Americans to get vaccinated against the disease.

“Take the vaccine, please,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, during a public appeal. “We have a solution for our problem.”

Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon by training, used the appearance to defend newly adjusted federal vaccine guidance and to push back against criticism surrounding past remarks by President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding vaccines. He delivered an unambiguous message when it came to measles prevention.

“Not all illnesses are equally dangerous and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “But measles is one you should get your vaccine.”

Health officials are tracking a significant outbreak in South Carolina involving hundreds of cases, which has now exceeded the size of Texas’ 2025 outbreak. Additional clusters have been identified along the Utah-Arizona border, and several other states have reported confirmed infections this year.

Children have accounted for most of the cases, as public health specialists warn that declining confidence in vaccines may be fueling the return of a disease that had previously been declared eliminated in the United States.

When asked during the interview whether measles should be feared, Oz responded, “Oh, for sure.” He added that coverage for the measles vaccine will remain in place under Medicare and Medicaid.

“There will never be a barrier to Americans get access to the measles vaccine. And it is part of the core schedule,” Oz said.

At the same time, Oz emphasized that federal officials have consistently supported measles vaccination, saying, “we have advocated for measles vaccines all along,” and asserting that Kennedy “has been on the very front of this.”

Vaccines were not addressed later in a Fox News Channel interview with Kennedy on “The Sunday Briefing,” where the health secretary was instead asked about his preferred Super Bowl snacks and eating habits, including yogurt and steak with sauerkraut for breakfast.

Critics of Kennedy argue that his long history of questioning U.S. vaccine policy and his past openness to discredited claims linking vaccines to autism could shape public health decisions in ways that conflict with established medical consensus.

Oz countered that Kennedy has supported measles vaccination even while questioning broader vaccine schedules.

“When the first outbreak happened in Texas, he said, get your vaccines for measles, because that’s an example of an ailment that you should get vaccinated against,” Oz said.

Last month, the Republican administration removed certain childhood vaccine recommendations, a significant change to the traditional immunization schedule. The Department of Health and Human Services said the move followed a request from Trump.

Trump asked the agency to examine how other developed nations approach vaccine guidance and to consider potential changes to U.S. recommendations.

Vaccination mandates for schoolchildren are set by individual states, not the federal government. While federal guidance often shapes those policies, some states have begun forming alliances aimed at countering the administration’s direction on vaccines.

Federal data show that vaccination rates have declined nationwide, while the percentage of children receiving exemptions has reached a record high. At the same time, cases of vaccine-preventable illnesses, including measles and whooping cough, are increasing across the country.

Oz’s remarks reflect a broader pattern within the administration, where officials have issued mixed and sometimes conflicting statements about vaccines amid sweeping changes to national public health policy.

Administration figures have sought to criticize previous vaccine strategies while at times appearing sympathetic to unsupported claims promoted by anti-vaccine activists, even as they avoid fully departing from mainstream scientific conclusions.

At a Senate hearing Tuesday, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya stated that no individual vaccine causes autism, though he said he could not rule out future research identifying harmful effects from certain vaccine combinations.

Kennedy, however, has testified before Congress that a link between vaccines and autism has not been definitively disproven.

He has also previously claimed that vaccine components such as the mercury-based preservative thimerosal may contribute to childhood neurological conditions like autism. Most measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines do not contain thimerosal. A federal vaccine advisory panel restructured by Kennedy last year voted to stop recommending vaccines that include the preservative.

Public health officials within the administration frequently cite the need to rebuild trust in health institutions following the coronavirus pandemic, a period when vaccine policy and the broader response became sharply divisive in American politics.

False information and conspiracy theories about public health spread widely during the pandemic, drawing increased attention to long-established anti-vaccine groups.

Kennedy, who previously led the anti-vaccine organization Children’s Health Defense, has faced criticism for ordering reviews of vaccines and health guidelines that major medical bodies consider settled science.

Public health experts have also faulted the president for promoting unsupported claims on politically sensitive health topics. During an Oval Office event in September, Trump asserted without evidence that Tylenol and vaccines are connected to rising autism rates in the United States.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli defense officials have cautioned their American counterparts that Israel is prepared to carry out military action against Iran independently if Tehran advances beyond an Israeli-defined threshold regarding ballistic missiles.

According to the report, Israeli officials have characterized Iran’s ballistic missile program as a direct existential danger and have recently told U.S. officials that Israel would not hesitate to act on its own should that danger intensify.

One source familiar with the discussions said Israel has not yet determined that Iran has crossed the critical line that would trigger such action.

“We told the Americans we will strike alone if Iran crosses the red line we set on ballistic missiles,” the source was quoted as saying, noting that Israel is closely monitoring developments within Iran on an ongoing basis.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli officials have communicated a clear objective of dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities and its production network through senior-level contacts, including conversations about potential strikes on major manufacturing hubs and other facilities tied to the program.

The report also noted concerns among some Israeli officials that President Donald Trump may favor a more limited military response, similar to recent U.S. actions against the Houthis, warning that such a restrained approach could leave Iran’s central capabilities largely untouched.

These developments come ahead of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s planned visit to Washington, where he is scheduled to meet with Trump on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

Sources said Brig. Gen. Omer Tischler is expected to travel with Netanyahu and serve as the representative of IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir during the meetings.

Israel’s Defense Ministry has publicly identified Zamir as the 24th chief of the general staff, and Israeli media outlets have reported that Tischler is slated to take part in the trip in an official capacity.

The Times of Israel reported that Tischler’s participation is unusual, as Israel currently does not have a permanent defense attaché stationed in the United States, and that Tischler was “appointed as a sort of military envoy to the Pentagon.”

Tischler is also described as the “incoming Israeli Air Force chief,” with the Times reporting that he is expected to formally assume the position in April.

At present, the role of interim Israeli defense attaché in Washington is being filled by Brig. Gen. Arik Ben Dov.

{Matzav.com}

As a new crew prepares to launch to the International Space Station from Florida next week, one small personal item will make the journey alongside the astronauts: a child’s stuffed rabbit belonging to Jewish astronaut Jessica Meir’s young daughter.

Meir, an American Jewish astronaut and one of four crew members assigned to the mission, shared that she plans to bring the toy as a way to stay connected to her three-year-old child during the long stay in orbit.

Astronauts traveling to the space station, which circles Earth at an altitude of about 250 miles (400 kilometers), are traditionally allowed to bring along a few meaningful items from home to accompany them during their months in space.

“I do have a small stuffed rabbit that belongs to my three-year-old daughter, and she actually has two of these because one was given as a gift,” Meir, 48, tells an online news conference.

“So one will stay down here with her, and one will be there with us, having adventures all the time, so that we’ll keep sending those photos back and forth to my family,” she says.

According to NASA, the SpaceX Crew-12 mission is scheduled to depart early Wednesday, launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, bound for the orbiting research facility.

Meir, who is a marine biologist and physiologist, previously served as a flight engineer on a 2019–2020 expedition to the station and took part in the first all-female spacewalks. She is the daughter of an Iraqi-Israeli father and a Swedish mother.

Since her last mission, Meir has become a mother, and she acknowledged the emotional difficulty of preparing for an extended separation that is expected to last about eight months.

“It does make it a lot difficult in preparing to leave and thinking about being away from her for that long, especially when she’s so young; it’s really a large chunk of her life,” Meir says.

“But I hope that one day, she will really realize that this absence was a meaningful one, because it was an adventure that she got to share in and that she’ll have memories about, and hopefully it will inspire her and other people around the world,” Meir adds.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s government is advancing legislation aimed at significantly increasing punishments for dangerous driving, as road fatalities continue to mount early in the year.

Since January 1, 2026, seven children have been killed in traffic accidents across the country, intensifying pressure on officials to act.

In response, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation has signed off on a broad package of measures that would sharply raise fines and penalty points for a range of serious traffic violations, including mobile phone use behind the wheel, speeding, and failure to yield.

The committee’s approval clears a major procedural hurdle and sets the stage for the proposed changes to move forward in the legislative process, with the new penalties expected to take effect once the process is completed.

At the heart of the proposal is a focus on what ministers have labeled the “seven deadly sins” of Israeli drivers: using a mobile phone while driving, running a red light, excessive speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, overtaking another vehicle while crossing a solid dividing line, driving while disqualified, and driving without a valid license. The plan under discussion includes fines reaching as high as NIS 10,000, along with expanded authority for police to administratively seize vehicles on the spot.

According to Channel 12 News, motorists caught using a phone while driving, running a red light, or traveling at extreme speeds would be fined 5,000 shekels and assessed 10 penalty points. A second violation would double the fine to 10,000 shekels, while a third offense would result in vehicle confiscation and a court summons.

Other infractions are also slated for steeper punishment. Drivers who cross a solid dividing line or use the road shoulder would face a 5,000-shekel fine and 10 points. Failing to yield to a pedestrian would carry a 3,000-shekel fine for a first offense and 6,000 shekels for a second, along with mandatory penalty points.

Officials say the proposed crackdown is grounded in accident-risk data that draws a clear connection between these behaviors and deadly crashes. Government figures indicate that excessive speed plays a role in roughly one-third of fatal accidents, failure to yield in 19 percent, and running red lights in another 11 percent.

With the committee’s endorsement secured, the draft amendments are expected to move ahead in the Knesset in the coming weeks. Enforcement agencies are betting that a mix of hefty fines, accumulating penalty points, and the threat of vehicle impoundment will discourage reckless driving and ultimately reduce road accidents and loss of life.

{Matzav.com}

i24NEWS reports on the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump.

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