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Diplomatic discussions scheduled for Friday between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will not take place, Axios reported, after the two sides failed to agree on how and where the meeting would be held.

According to the report, Washington informed Tehran that it would not accept Iran’s requests to alter either the venue or the structure of the talks. The meeting had been set for Istanbul and was expected to include representatives from other countries, but Iran pushed for changes that the U.S. ultimately refused.

While U.S. officials reviewed the proposal to move the talks, they decided against it and delivered a firm response. “We told them: ‘It’s either this or nothing.’ They said, ‘Okay, then nothing,’” a senior American official said. The official added, “We want to reach a real deal quickly, or people will look for other options.”

After news broke that the discussions had been called off, U.S. officials told Reuters that President Donald Trump is now increasingly inclined toward the use of military force against Iran.

Speaking earlier at a press conference, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to frame the negotiations as pragmatic rather than symbolic. “We do not view these meetings as concessions or legitimization. We are ready to talk to any adversary or ally of ours,” Rubio said.

Rubio also outlined what Washington believes must be addressed for any negotiations to have substance. “I think for the talks to bring something meaningful, they must include several issues – including ballistic missile ranges, the nuclear program, support for terrorist organizations in the region, and their treatment of their people,” he said.

An Iranian official rejected that broader scope, making clear that Tehran would not expand the agenda. “The talks with the US in Oman will only focus on the nuclear program. Ballistic missiles are not on the table,” the official said.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Elyakim Schlesinger zt”l, one of the ziknei roshei yeshivos, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Harama and author of Bais Av. He was 104 years old.

Rav Schlesinger was born on 22 Cheshvan 5682 (November 23, 1921) in Vienna to Rav Dovid Schlesinger and his mother, Baila. In 1931, as a young child, he moved with his family to Eretz Yisroel, where they settled in Tel Aviv. His formative Torah education began under the guidance of Rav Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, and he later continued his learning at Yeshivas Kaminetz and at Yeshivas Lomza in Petach Tikvah.

Rav Schlesinger married his wife, Dina Yehudis, daughter of Rav Moshe Blau. Following the passing of his father-in-law, he was appointed Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Pnei Moshe in Yerushalayim, a mosad established in Rav Blau’s memory. At the recommendation of the Brisker Rov, Rav Schlesinger later relocated to Europe. He first served as Rosh Yeshiva in the city of Kapellen, Belgium, for two years, before moving to London, where he founded Yeshivas Harama. The yeshiva was named in honor of the Chasam Sofer’s son, the Kesav Sofer, and later also in recognition of the Daas Sofer, who had been one of Rav Schlesinger’s rabbeim.

Over the decades, Rav Schlesinger became one of the central figures of the chareidi community in England, maintaining close relationships with many of the gedolei Yisroel of his generation, including the Brisker Rov and the Chazon Ish. His personal recollections and insights into those figures were later recorded in his sefer Hador Vehatekufah, which offers a rare first-hand window into the Torah leadership of the previous generation.

Beyond his role as Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Schlesinger was deeply involved in communal matters. He was long active in the protection of kevorim across Europe and served as chairman of the committee dedicated to safeguarding Jewish cemeteries on the continent. His principled stance on a range of public issues, particularly matters affecting Torah education and religious autonomy, made him a prominent voice of daas Torah and the preservation of authentic Yiddishkeit.

Rav Schlesinger was the author of numerous Torah works, including multiple volumes of Bais Av on Shas, halacha, machshavah, and drush, as well as a Haggadah shel Pesach and other seforim that reflect his breadth in both learning and hashkafah.

He is survived by a family of noted rabbonim and marbitzei Torah.

Yehi zichro boruch. 

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that he has no intention of apologizing to the family of Alex Pretti, the anti-ICE protester who was killed in Minneapolis, after Vance amplified a claim labeling Pretti an “assassin.”

Asked by The Daily Mail whether he would retract the description, Vance brushed aside the suggestion.

“For what?” Vance retorted.

He said the facts still need to be established and warned against drawing conclusions before investigators finish their work. “If something is determined, that the guy who shot Alex Pretti did something bad, then a lot of consequences are going to flow from that,” he added. “We’ll let that happen. I don’t think it’s smart to prejudge the investigation.”

Pretti, 37, an ICU nurse, was fatally shot on January 24 during a confrontation with a Border Patrol agent and a Customs and Border Protection agent in Minneapolis. In the hours following the shooting, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut criticized federal immigration enforcement, writing on X that “ICE must leave Minneapolis” and that “Congress should not fund this version of ICE.”

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, responded sharply to Murphy’s post.

“An assassin tried to murder federal agents,” Miller fired back at Murphy, “and this is your response.”

Vance shared Miller’s message on his personal social media account, where it remains visible even after video footage surfaced showing Pretti had been disarmed before the shooting.

Three days later, on January 27, President Trump declined to repeat Miller’s characterization when questioned by reporters outside the White House.

“I haven’t heard that. But he shouldn’t have been carrying a gun,” Trump said.

“Bottom line, everybody in this room, we view that as a very unfortunate incident, OK?” the president added. “Everyone, unless you’re a stupid person. Very, very unfortunate … I don’t like that he had a gun, I don’t like that he had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff.”

In the aftermath of the killing, Trump sent border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis in an effort to ease tensions. The two agents involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave, and the Justice Department opened a probe into whether Pretti’s civil rights were violated.

Vance again emphasized the need to wait for the investigative process to play out.

“Let’s do the investigation,” he said Tuesday. “Let’s figure out, did these officers have a reasonable fear of Alex Pretti given what happened? Did they engage in lawful conduct or unlawful conduct? Let’s let the investigation determine those things.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Thursday released a new architectural rendering of a proposed White House ballroom, a project estimated to cost $400 million that would significantly expand the East Wing’s capacity to host foreign leaders and official guests.

The image, which Trump posted on Truth Social, presents an east-facing view of the planned structure, appearing to look across the South Lawn from the direction of the Treasury Building.

“This beautiful building will be, when complete, the much-anticipated White House Ballroom — The Greatest of its kind ever built!” Trump wrote.

“It is a rendering from the Treasury Building, directly across the street, and it replaces the very small, dilapidated East Wing, which has been rebuilt many times, with a magnificent new East Wing consisting of a glorious ballroom that has been asked for by presidents for over 150 years.”

The illustration shows a substantial neoclassical extension connected to the White House, marked by a long row of tall columns, ornate arches, and a large triangular pediment dominating the front of the structure.

According to the rendering, the design is intended to complement the existing look of the executive mansion while giving the new wing a more imposing and ceremonial presence.

In the foreground, a black iron security fence and stone wall frame the view from outside the White House grounds, while a portion of the current White House complex is visible on the right side of the image.

Trump said the proposal respects the proportions of the historic residence.

“Being an identical height and scale, it is totally in keeping with our historic White House,” Trump wrote.

“This is the first rendering shown to the Public.

“If you notice, the North Wall is a replica of the North Facade of the White House, shown at the right-hand side of the picture.

“This space will serve our Country well for, hopefully, Centuries into the future!” he wrote.

The ballroom project has sparked opposition from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop construction until additional reviews are conducted.

In its filing, the organization alleges that the Trump administration demolished the East Wing in late October to clear space for a ballroom spanning roughly 90,000 square feet, contending that the work proceeded without congressional approval or required historic preservation and environmental reviews.

The complaint states that the area is already an active construction site, citing the presence of heavy equipment, pile driving operations, and cranes.

The National Trust argues that the administration was obligated to submit detailed plans to federal oversight bodies and provide an opportunity for public comment before beginning construction.

The group is asking the court to halt further progress on the project until those procedures are completed.

The Trump administration has responded that changes and expansions to the White House have been carried out by presidents throughout history.

Dear Matzav Inbox,

“Even the most elegant celebration must bow to the sanctity of Shabbos — for beauty without Halachah is an illusion, but observance brings true splendor.”

It was a lavish affair — a Shabbos Bar Mitzvah held in an elegant Connecticut hotel, where fine linens gleamed under crystal chandeliers and every detail had been orchestrated by a professional party planner. The atmosphere was refined, the décor impeccable — but for the host, a yirei Shamayim, there was one priority above all: that every moment of Shabbos be conducted with kedushah and halachic precision.

To ensure this, an experienced mashgiach was hired to supervise the entire weekend. From the moment he arrived, he worked with quiet precision, overseeing every preparation — from the kitchen’s eiruv tavshilin to the careful handling of the hot plates and the sealing of the refrigerators before Shabbos.

The planner, however, had never worked under such rigorous religious supervision. To her, timing was everything, presentation was everything — and the Mashgiach’s insistence on halachic boundaries felt like interference.

By the time the Friday night seudah began, tension filled the air behind the scenes. The planner approached the host, visibly flustered. “I can’t work like this,” she whispered urgently. “He’s stopping everything — even simple things that I need done to serve your guests properly!”

The host looked at her calmly, understanding both her frustration and the Mashgiach’s role. “Please,” he said softly but firmly, “whatever the Mashgiach says — that’s how it must be. It’s not personal; it’s Shabbos. This is not like any weekday event. He carries the responsibility before Heaven for every detail.”

The planner hesitated, her professional pride warring with unfamiliar reverence. “But I’ve never been told I couldn’t adjust the lighting or reheat something before,” she said.The host’s voice was kind, but resolute. “On Shabbos, we adjust ourselves — not the lights.”

There was silence. Slowly, the tension dissipated. The planner nodded, humbled, and the event continued smoothly. The food was served with grace, the songs of zemiros filled the hall, and the atmosphere became one of quiet holiness rather than glittering showmanship.

In the following week, reflecting on the experience, the host and the Mashgiach consulted Rav Dovid Feinstein zt”l, seeking his wisdom about whether hashgachos should be provided for events managed by secular or non-religious planners. Rav Dovid listened carefully, then gave his clear and measured response.

“It is best not to give Hashgocha at all,” he said. “A party planner’s goal is to please guests — but Shabbos is not about convenience. When the one running the event does not understand hilchos Shabbos, chillul Shabbos is almost inevitable — even without intent.” His words carried weight — calm, simple, and absolute. The lesson was clear: Shabbos cannot be managed by those who do not live it.

From that point onward, the Mashgiach and others who heard of the incident followed Rav Dovid’s advice with conviction. If the planner did not live by Shabbos, there would be no Hashgachah. Better to lose a contract than to compromise the sanctity of Heaven’s gift.

Yehuda Shain

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Jewish billionaire Robert Kraft’s Blue Square Alliance has unveiled an ad targeting Jew-hatred that will be aired during the Superbowl this upcoming weekend.

U.S. Central Command said it carried out five strikes against multiple ISIS targets across Syria between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2. •⁠ ⁠CENTCOM said U.S. forces destroyed an ISIS communications site, logistics node, and weapons storage facilities, using 50 precision munitions delivered by manned and unmanned aircraft. •⁠ ⁠The strikes are part of Operation Hawkeye […]

Federal authorities say a man living in the United States illegally, who was already under a standing deportation order, was hired by the New Orleans Police Department and issued a firearm while training to become an officer.

The individual, Larry Temah, 46, a migrant from Cameroon, was arrested by ICE at his residence on January 26, just days before he was scheduled to complete police academy training.

“This illegal alien from Cameroon, Larry Temah, is not only breaking the law with every step he takes in this country illegally, but the New Orleans Police Department hired him and issued him in a firearm — what kind of law enforcement department gives criminal illegal aliens guns and badges?” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.

“It’s a felony for illegal aliens to even possess a firearm.”

According to ICE, Temah initially entered the United States lawfully in 2015 on a visitor visa. The following year, he received conditional permanent residency after marrying a U.S. citizen.

Federal officials say that arrangement later came under scrutiny. In 2022, Temah’s green card application was denied after authorities raised concerns that the marriage was not legitimate.

ICE said Temah was ordered to appear in immigration court but failed to attend hearings on three separate occasions.

An immigration judge later issued a formal deportation order against him.

The Trump administration has accused the New Orleans Police Department of recruiting Temah and providing him with a firearm despite his immigration status and the active removal order.

Police department officials strongly rejected those allegations, saying the claims mischaracterize the facts.

“The New Orleans Police Department verified Mr. Temah’s employment eligibility through ICE’s E-Verify system prior to hiring and was never notified of any ICE detainer,” a department spokesperson said.

“New Orleans is not a sanctuary city, and NOPD does not control jail operations or detainer decisions, which fall under the Sheriff’s Office.”

“Any claim that NOPD knowingly violated the law is false,” the spokesperson added.

{Matzav.com}

Fulton County has filed a motion in federal court seeking the return of all documents from the 2020 election that were seized last week from a warehouse near Atlanta by the FBI, officials in the Georgia county said Wednesday. The motion also asks for the unsealing of a law enforcement agent’s sworn statement that was […]

IDF forces apprehended two terrorists involved in terrorist activity throughout the war in the Al- Amari area. The suspects were transferred to security forces for further questioning.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will immediately reduce its on-the-ground presence by 700 agents and place Customs and Border Protection officers under a single command structure led by ICE, border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday, describing the move as a shift toward a more efficient and safer enforcement model.

“I have announced, effective immediately, we will draw down 700 people — effective today — 700 law enforcement personnel,” Homan said during a press conference broadcast live on Newsmax and Newsmax2.

He said the reorganization also folds CBP personnel directly into ICE’s operational framework. “We have also fully integrated CBP personnel into the ICE team structure under one unified chain of command, not two chains of command. There’ll be one chain of command here.”

According to Homan, the reduction is possible because local and county jails in Minnesota have dramatically increased their cooperation with federal immigration authorities, routinely alerting ICE before inmates are released.

With advance notice, federal agents can assume custody inside secure jail facilities instead of making arrests in neighborhoods, a change Homan said cuts down on manpower needs and risk.

“That requires one or two officers instead of eight or 10 going into neighborhoods,” he said, calling the method safer and more efficient for civilians, officers, and detainees alike.

After the drawdown, Homan said roughly 2,000 agents will remain assigned, compared with a much smaller footprint before the current operation began. He estimated that initial staffing levels were around 150 people.

He also clarified that agents temporarily assigned to conduct fraud investigations are not part of the reduction. “We’ve got to remember that we’ve got special agents on detail here doing the fraud investigation,” he said. “They’re not going anywhere. They’re going to finish their job.”

Personnel responsible for officer protection and security will also remain in place, Homan said, stressing that safety considerations will determine whether any additional reductions occur. He cited ongoing threats and confrontations targeting federal agents.

“We will not draw down on personnel providing security for our officers,” Homan said, adding that authorities would continue to respond forcefully to hostile incidents.

Homan attributed the operational shift to growing cooperation from state and local officials, including sheriffs and jail administrators, saying that coordination has expanded rapidly in recent weeks.

“We currently have an unprecedented number of counties communicating with us now and allowing ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets,” he said.

He underscored that local agencies are not being asked to detain inmates beyond their scheduled release times or to carry out immigration enforcement themselves.

“We are not requiring jails to hold people past their normal release time,” he said, adding, “We’re not asking anyone to be an immigration officer.”

Under the new system, ICE agents take custody immediately upon an inmate’s release, a process Homan said lowers public safety risks while allowing federal officers to concentrate on higher-priority cases.

Homan said the changes fit within the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement approach, which he said focuses on public safety and national security while continuing to enforce immigration law nationwide.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian Embassy Official Seeks Asylum in Switzerland   •⁠ ⁠Iranian authorities are reportedly concerned after Gholamreza Derikhvand, an official responsible for relations at Iran’s embassy in Vienna, sought political asylum in Switzerland.   •⁠ ⁠Derikhvand is described as a senior diplomatic figure who handled sensitive contacts and internal coordination for the Iranian mission.   •⁠ […]

Israeli police have begun testing a new crowd-control method that mixes pepper spray into water cannons, replacing the controversial “skunk” liquid that has drawn years of public criticism and legal challenges. The move is being examined as a possible permanent policy change, according to a report by Ynet.

In recent weeks, police have conducted trials of the new measure at several hafganah events. Police sources say the pepper-spray-infused water has proven more effective at dispersing gatherings and that there is growing momentum within the force to adopt it as a standard alternative. The tests are part of a broader reassessment of crowd-control tactics.

Internal discussions were prompted by sustained criticism of the skunk liquid—a foul-smelling substance sprayed from water cannons that leaves an intense odor lingering for days. The skunk agent was first introduced in 2008 by the Border Police to address violent disturbances, but opposition to its use has mounted over time.

In recent months, dozens of chareidi residents of Yerushalayim, together with Deputy Mayor Tzachi Berr, petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice against the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir and the Israel Police, demanding an end to the use of the skunk liquid. The petition argued that the substance poses health and environmental risks, has never undergone a formal safety review, and lacks approval from the Health Ministry.

Petitioners further claimed that the liquid has been deployed during hafganah activity in densely populated areas and narrow streets, causing respiratory and skin irritation, endangering children, the elderly, and pregnant women, and resulting in property damage and persistent odors that can linger for days.

At the time, police responded that their contract with the skunk liquid’s manufacturer was nearing its end and that alternative methods for dispersing hafganah events were under review. The current trials involving pepper spray mixed into water cannons now appear to be the first concrete step in that transition.

{Matzav.com}

A man has been arrested by the FBI for doxxing and threatening a federal agent and his child using information stolen from a government vehicle in Minneapolis during recent anti-ICE protests.

French Court Rejects Lawsuit Over Baghdad Embassy Property •⁠ ⁠A Paris administrative court ruled it is not competent to hear a lawsuit by descendants of Iraqi Jewish owners of a building used by France’s embassy in Baghdad. •⁠ ⁠The families are seeking over €21 million in unpaid rent and moral damages, saying France stopped paying […]

The Trump administration wants to create a critical minerals trading bloc with its allies that will use tariffs to maintain price floors and defend against China’s tactic of flooding the market to undermine any potential competitors. Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that the trade war over the past year exposed how dependent most countries […]

In his will, the Chofetz Chaim, with his characteristic humility, composes an emotional summary of his life — an autobiography — and gives thanks to Hashem for the merit of his activities on behalf of the public.

The IDF released drone footage it says shows armed Hamas terrorists using ambulances to transport weapons in Jabalia, northern Gaza. The IDF said routine drone activity near the Gaza ceasefire line revealed systematic use of ambulances to move terrorists and weapons from a hospital to a school.