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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warned on Monday that America’s heavy dependence on ultra-processed foods is damaging children’s health, characterizing efforts to confront the problem as “spiritual warfare,” according to a report by the Washington Examiner.

Kennedy made the remarks during a sit-down conversation with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts marking the first anniversary of his Make America Healthy Again initiative. He argued that highly processed foods now dominate what Americans eat and are a major driver of chronic illness, especially among children.

“It’s spiritual warfare. It’s a war at scale against cellular activity. It’s an assault on children,” Kennedy said, citing administration figures indicating that about 70% of the calories consumed by American children come from ultra-processed foods.

He likened the long-term health consequences of these products to tobacco use, asserting that ultra-processed foods are “much worse than cigarettes” in terms of their lasting impact on health.

Kennedy also pointed to the financial toll of poor diet, saying chronic illnesses linked to nutrition now account for a substantial portion of federal healthcare spending. He estimated that roughly 40 cents of every taxpayer dollar is spent treating preventable metabolic disease.

Addressing criticism that his approach could lead to excessive government control, Kennedy dismissed claims that his policies amount to a “nanny state.”

He emphasized that Americans should continue to have the freedom to decide what they eat, including indulgences like soda or sweets, but argued that people are entitled to clear, honest information about the health effects of those choices.

“I’m not going to take away anybody’s donuts or Coca-Cola,” Kennedy said, stressing that individual choice must go hand in hand with accurate and transparent guidance.

Kennedy further took aim at what he described as outsized corporate influence on nutrition research and public health messaging, urging parents to view food advertising and official recommendations with “fierce skepticism.”

He maintained that both government institutions and the food industry have fallen short in protecting children from harmful dietary patterns.

As part of his broader agenda, Kennedy has advocated for changes to the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans, calling for increased emphasis on protein, healthy fats, and whole foods, while reducing reliance on refined carbohydrates and processed products.

The remarks reflect Kennedy’s wider push to challenge established public health assumptions and redirect federal policy toward what he says is a more candid, preventive, and health-focused approach.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

An extremist was detained after allegedly planning to spray pepper spray at the Stoliner Rebbe, according to sources on Monday, following a separate incident earlier in the day in which radical protesters publicly harassed the rebbe.

Journalist Yoeli Brim reported that a zealot was apprehended while carrying pepper spray that he intended to use against the Stoliner Rebbe. According to the report, police later released the suspect and did not confiscate the pepper spray.

Earlier in the morning, a group of extremists from the fringes of the chareidi community confronted and humiliated the Stoliner Rebbe as he arrived in the Gush Shemonim area to attend a bris for the son of one of his chassidim.

The protesters, who oppose the Rebbe’s involvement in efforts to arrange adapted military service frameworks for the chareidi public, lay in wait for him and vandalized his vehicle by throwing eggs, ketchup, and other objects at it.

The Rebbe himself was not harmed in the attack, though visible damage was caused to his car, as seen in the photo above obtained by Matzav.com.

Despite the incident, the Rebbe instructed his chassidim—consistent with his long-standing approach over decades—to remain silent and not respond in any way to the provocations.

Across the chassidic world and beyond, strong condemnations were voiced over what many described as a severe affront to kavod haTorah.

{Matzav.com}

Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz announced Monday that Shas and Degel HaTorah will vote in favor of splitting Israel’s Arrangements Law, despite sharp disagreements that last week led to a last-minute postponement amid strong chareidi opposition.

Speaking after intensive coalition talks, Katz said that although disputes remain, the two chareidi parties will support the move alongside the coalition. He added that negotiations over the draft exemption legislation and passage of the state budget will continue “until a solution is reached.”

The vote had been delayed just days earlier after chareidi factions signaled anger over unresolved issues, threatening to withhold support. Even on Monday, coalition tensions persisted, with last-minute efforts underway to secure agreements and prevent another breakdown.

At the same time, criticism of the chareidi parties is growing from within the coalition itself. Eli Dalal, a Likud lawmaker who serves as coalition coordinator on the Knesset Finance Committee, publicly called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to restore order.

“What is happening in the Knesset these days is simply unbearable, inappropriate, and must stop,” Dalal wrote on X. “I call on Prime Minister Netanyahu to announce that if the chareidi parties do not immediately agree to pass the budget, he should declare elections. It is unacceptable to hold the entire people of Israel hostage.”

The developments underscore continued friction within the governing coalition as it works to advance key budgetary legislation while navigating disputes over military service exemptions and broader arrangements tied to the state budget.

{Matzav.com}

El Al has informed passengers of a new safety policy prohibiting the use of portable power banks during flights, citing concerns over fire hazards caused by overheating and ignition incidents onboard aircraft.

The Israeli airline announced over the weekend that passengers are no longer permitted to use portable chargers at any point during a flight, nor may they charge such devices using the aircraft’s electrical outlets. The move brings El Al in line with international aviation safety standards already adopted by many global carriers.

In a notice to customers, the airline stated that there is now an absolute ban on using portable power banks during flight, as well as a prohibition on charging them through onboard power sockets. El Al also clarified that power banks with a capacity exceeding 100 watt-hours are not approved for air travel.

Under the updated guidelines, each passenger may bring only one portable power bank onboard, and its capacity must not exceed 100Wh. Chargers that do not clearly display their watt-hour rating will not be permitted on the aircraft.

El Al warned that passengers who do not comply with the new requirements risk having the device confiscated by the flight crew. The airline emphasized that it bears no responsibility for loss or damage to power banks that are seized due to failure to meet safety regulations.

The airline said the decision was driven by multiple cases worldwide in which portable chargers caught fire during flights, posing a serious safety risk.

The updated policy aligns with recommendations issued by international aviation authorities, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the International Air Transport Association, and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Similar restrictions have already been implemented by other airlines. Swiss International Air Lines, for example, banned the use of portable power banks during flights beginning January 15 and limited passengers to carrying no more than two such devices.

El Al said the new measures are part of its ongoing efforts to enhance onboard safety and reduce the risk of fire-related incidents during air travel.

{Matzav.com}

What was once considered an eccentric indulgence reserved for a handful of outliers has quietly become a mainstream choice across the chareidi world: spending the Yom Tov season abroad. A quick glance at the chareidi press today reveals an almost endless list of mehadrin kosher Yom Tov programs in destinations across Europe and beyond. To understand how this shift happened—and why it continues to accelerate—we spoke with program organizers, participants, and kashrus supervisors who accompany this rapidly growing industry year after year.

Anyone passing through Ben Gurion Airport’s Terminal 3 in the weeks leading up to Pesach might momentarily think they’ve wandered onto Rechov Rabi Akiva or into the heart of Geulah. Thousands of families, weighed down with suitcases, children, and seforim, stream through the terminal, leaving behind the dust, scrubbing, and pressure of pre-Pesach cleaning in favor of a fully prepared, strictly kosher Yom Tov experience overseas.

What began roughly a decade ago as a trickle has since turned into a flood. Today, Pesach programs abroad are no longer the domain of the wealthy elite. Instead, they have become a practical—and often preferable—option for the average chareidi family.

“It’s simple math,” says Menachem, a father of seven from Modi’in Illit, as he compares offers. “A decent hotel in Yerushalayim or Netanya for ten days can cost me like a mortgage. In Greece or Cyprus, I get a five-star resort, flights for the entire family, and food at the level of high-end weddings—and when all is said and done, the final number in my bank account is often lower than if I stayed in Israel.”

Paradoxically, economics have become the main engine driving the phenomenon. In the past, foreign vacations were seen as extravagant, while Israeli alternatives felt more reasonable. Today, the reality has flipped. With Israeli hotels burdened by high kashrus costs and peak demand from the general public, chareidi entrepreneurs abroad capitalize on Europe’s off-season. Entire resorts are rented at bargain rates, kashered from the ground up, and transformed into all-inclusive Pesach destinations that would be unthinkable in Israel.

But money is only part of the story.

For many families, the overseas experience offers something Israel simply cannot: Yom Tov Sheini. “There’s something uplifting about two consecutive days of Yom Tov,” explains Rav Y., a veteran mashgiach who has accompanied these programs for years. “It gives families real time to elevate themselves spiritually, without the abrupt rush of Yom Tov ending so quickly like it does in Israel. The tefillos, the seudos, the singing at the second ‘closing’ of the chag—it creates an atmosphere of a Yom Tov that lingers. It’s not just a vacation; it’s a spiritual experience that leaves a lasting impression on children.”

Concerns that once surrounded “foreign food” have also largely disappeared. Today’s Pesach programs operate with near-military precision. Teams of mashgichim arrive weeks in advance, dismantling kitchens and rebuilding them from scratch with brand-new Pesach equipment.

There are no “secondary kitchens” or compromises. Menus are built to the highest standards: no gebrokts, no kitniyos, and meat from the most stringent shechitos, including Kehillos, Eidah HaChareidis, and Rav Landau. “The luxury is American-level,” says one organizer, “but the kashrus is Meah Shearim. Guests don’t need to ask questions—they know every crumb has passed through layer upon layer of supervision.”

And then there is perhaps the most transformative element of all: freedom for mothers.

In a community where Pesach preparations are a relentless logistical operation, the decision to go to a hotel is, above all else, an act of self-preservation. Instead of scrubbing shutters and baking under pressure, chareidi mothers find themselves by the pool or in a plush lobby, while their children attend organized Pesach day camps staffed by counselors flown in from Israel.

It is one of the few settings in which a chareidi mother truly does not have to cook, clean, or serve. For once, she is genuinely free.

Judging by the numbers, the trend shows no sign of slowing. The chareidi market has discovered that the world is wide, and that it is possible to combine halachic stringency with a high standard of living. What was once viewed as a reluctant compromise has become, for thousands of families, the preferred option—Pesach celebrated lechatchilah, with hiddur, joy, rest, and a very real sense of cheirus.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas on Monday evening issued a sharp response to reports that Israel is fast-tracking approval of legislation that would allow the death penalty for terrorists, following disclosures that preparations for implementing the law have already begun.

The terror group reacted to a report aired on Channel 13 News regarding the acceleration of the legislative process and initial steps to establish enforcement mechanisms. In a statement, Hamas accused Israel of exposing what it called its true nature. “(The move) exposes the true face of this entity, which exists on bloodshed, organized crime and collective punishment,” the organization claimed.

Hamas further alleged that advancing the legislation constitutes a serious violation of international law and global conventions. Referring to Israel’s prison policies, the group described the proposed law as part of what it termed an escalation against incarcerated terrorists.

“It is about unprecedented steps within a policy of ‘slow killing’ that the occupation is carrying out against the prisoners,” the statement asserted, adding that the measures reflect “sadism and systematic torture inside the prisons.”

The organization also alleged that prisoners are subjected on a daily basis to “abuse, medical neglect and deliberate starvation,” which it claimed is a continuation of what it described as Israel’s war against the Palestinian people.

Hamas concluded its statement with an appeal to the international community, calling for immediate intervention. “We call on the United Nations and all international legal and humanitarian institutions to act immediately and effectively to protect our prisoners and to stop this dangerous crime,” the statement read.

As previously reported, the Israel Prison Service has in recent days begun advancing dedicated preparations for the possible implementation of the death penalty law for terrorists, which has already passed its first reading in the Knesset. The preparations reportedly include establishing a designated facility for carrying out sentences, formulating operational procedures, training personnel, and examining practices in countries where similar punishment exists.

{Matzav.com}

Reports from the Gaza Strip said Monday that one of four terrorists killed earlier in the day in eastern Rafah was Anas Issa al-Nashar, the son of Issa al-Nashar, identified as one of the founders of Hamas.

According to the reports, the four terrorists were killed after emerging from an underground shaft connected to the subterranean tunnel network in the eastern Rafah area. Al-Nashar was named as one of those eliminated during the incident.

Additional details circulating in Gaza claimed that the slain terrorist’s mother is a senior figure in Hamas’ women’s movement. It was also reported that one of his brothers was killed in 2006, while another brother and other members of the family were killed during the current war. The reports further noted that al-Nashar was the nephew of Abu Ahmad al-Bawwab, the commander of Hamas’ eastern Rafah battalion, who was killed in early 2025.

The incident occurred during ongoing operations by Israel Defense Forces to clear the area of terrorists and terror infrastructure in eastern Rafah. According to the IDF, troops identified four terrorists emerging from an underground shaft in the area and opening fire on forces from the 7th Brigade.

IDF troops returned fire and killed all four terrorists. The military said that, b’chasdei Shomayim, there were no injuries to Israeli forces during the exchange.

{Matzav.com}

Senior rabbis from the Religious Zionist community issued a public warning on Monday against what they described as deliberate attempts to inflame tensions and sow division between Religious Zionists and the chareidi public, particularly surrounding the ongoing debate over military conscription.

In a letter signed by dozens of rabbis along with bereaved families, the authors cautioned that outside interests are exploiting the sensitive issue of the draft to pit one sector against another. “In recent times, parties with vested interests are trying to stir conflict between different groups in Israeli society, including between the chareidi public and the national camp,” the letter states.

The rabbis acknowledged that disagreements exist, including within the Religious Zionist camp itself, but stressed that these differences must not become a source of internal fracture. “It is no secret that there are ideological gaps and disagreements on the issue of conscription between different streams within the national camp,” they wrote, adding, “We will continue to discuss and argue, but we will do so as loving brothers.”

They further warned that political maneuvering around the draft issue could have broader consequences, cautioning that “the attempt to dismantle the national camp and the right-wing government under the pretext of the ‘draft law’ is falling into a trap.”

Alongside the warning, the rabbis voiced support for the proposed draft legislation, saying that in its current form it has the potential to significantly increase enlistment from the chareidi sector. They wrote that the bill could result in “triple the number of chareidim being drafted into the IDF in a way that will ease the burden on reserve soldiers and strengthen the IDF.”

The letter described chareidi backing for the legislation as a rare opportunity, stating, “The chareidi agreement to the law is a historic opportunity that must not be missed.” The rabbis concluded by expressing support for political leadership on the right, saying, “We strengthen the hands of the leaders of the camp to continue leading the right-wing government for many more years.”

{Matzav.com}

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Indonesia is expected to become the first country to deploy troops to the International Stabilization Force (ISF), a multinational mission tasked with overseeing aspects of security and stabilization in Gaza during the second phase of the ceasefire, according to Kan News. The report said Indonesia will be the first nation to move beyond general pledges […]

Iran could agree to dilute its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent in exchange for the lifting of sanctions related to its nuclear program, according to comments made Monday by Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. Speaking to reporters, Eslami said Tehran is open to reducing its highly enriched uranium […]

Israel Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Amitai Gonen, an 11-year-old boy from Shilo–Shvut Rachel, who has been missing since Monday afternoon.

According to police, Amitai left school in Ofra at approximately 1:30 p.m. and was last seen in the area of the Ofra hitchhiking point. Since then, contact with him has been lost and his whereabouts remain unknown. Searches are currently ongoing in the Binyamin region.

Amitai is described as approximately 1.35 meters (4 feet 5 inches) tall, with a slim build, light complexion with freckles, light brown hair, and blue eyes. At the time he was last seen, he was reportedly wearing a light brown hoodie and matching light brown pants.

Anyone with information regarding Amitai’s location, or who may have seen him, is urged to contact the Israel Police emergency center by dialing 100, or to call the Binyamin police station at 02-970-6444.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s state-owned defense firm Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) marked a major milestone Monday with the delivery of its 350th set of fighter jet wings to Lockheed Martin for use in the production of F-35 aircraft. The announcement highlights Israel’s expanding role in the global supply chain for the advanced stealth fighter, which has become a […]

CIA moves to speed up access to new technology amid China race •⁠ ⁠The CIA announced a new acquisition framework designed to cut red tape and speed up access to breakthrough technologies. •⁠ ⁠The agency says the move will help it deploy innovative tools faster as it competes with China. •⁠ ⁠CIA Deputy Director Michael […]

House passes bipartisan housing bill as Trump targets affordability concerns The House passed bipartisan legislation aimed at expanding affordable housing supply, as President Trump focuses on lowering housing costs nationwide. •⁠ ⁠The bill streamlines federal housing programs and reduces regulatory barriers to encourage new home construction. •⁠ ⁠Lawmakers said the measure is designed to increase […]

All New York DMV offices are temporarily closing this week for a ‘much-needed’ upgrade. The closure will take place from February 13 to February 18.

Earlier today, the U.S. Southern Command struck a vessel involved in drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific. Two suspects were killed in the operation, and one survivor was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

On the hills of Givat Ze’ev, Givat Hashalvah is being developed around a goal many frum families feel strongly about. Life in Eretz Yisroel should come with dignity, pride, and a standard that reflects who we are and what we value. That mindset guides the project from the quality of construction to the shared spaces designed to support […]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has advanced his scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to this week in order to deliver a detailed, in-person briefing on Israel’s latest intelligence regarding Iran, according to a report by Channel 12. The Israeli outlet reported that Netanyahu intends to personally present Trump with the same intelligence assessment […]