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Hamas-Transferred Body Sent to Abu Kabir for Forensic Identification
Netanyahu: Syria Must Establish Demilitarized Zone Near Mount Hermon
Israeli Traveler Attacked in Kathmandu, Nepal After Speaking Hebrew
Michael and Susan Dell Donate $6.25B to Launch Federal “Trump Accounts” Program
Badatz Nevah Tzion Delegation Visits Spanish Slaughterhouse to Oversee Premium Kosher Production
A delegation of senior members of the Nevah Tzion Beis Din traveled to Spain in recent days to personally supervise a special round of sheep slaughter, ensuring the highest standards of kashrus for the bnei Torah community. The mission was carried out under the direction of Rav Masoud Ben Shimon, Gaavad of Nevah Tzion and Chief Rabbi of Bnei Brak.
The trip was part of an ongoing effort by Ashpar, a leading kosher meat company, to provide top-quality meat for consumers seeking the most meticulous levels of supervision. Spanish sheep are widely regarded as among the finest in the world, known for their exceptional taste, texture, and overall quality.
The visiting delegation included Rav Yaakov Ben Shimon, son of the Gaavad and son of the late Rav Shlomo Ben Shimon; Rav Chanoch Cohen, Rosh Yeshivas Be’er HaTalmud; Rav Yitzchak Zayat, a veteran member of the Badatz and son-in-law of Rav Shalom Cohen; and Ashpar CEO Rav Yitzchak Ovadia. Rav Cohen and Rav Ben Shimon are among the newest additions to the Beis Din.
Upon arriving at the Spanish facility, the Badatz members conducted thorough, hands-on oversight of the entire operation. They followed each stage of the slaughtering process, ensuring that all procedures adhered precisely to the strict halachic requirements and meticulously applied standards instituted by Rav Shalom Cohen.
The Gaavad personally assembled and approved the team of shochetim, bodkim, and supervisors after an extensive vetting process. Each team member was evaluated individually to confirm both professional skill and uncompromising yiras Shamayim — qualities the Gaavad emphasized as essential.
After observing the process, Rav Yaakov Ben Shimon and Rav Chanoch Cohen expressed deep admiration for the precision and devotion exhibited by the slaughtering teams. They noted that every element was carried out with the utmost hidur, in full accordance with the rigorous standards long associated with the Nevah Tzion certification.
Rav Chanoch Cohen added, “For years we have known that Badatz Nevah Tzion represents the highest level of mehadrin kashrus for bnei Torah. Since joining the Beis Din, I have been overwhelmed by what I have seen firsthand — the level of supervision, the meticulous observance of every stringency, and the care taken to uphold every halachic detail in the most exalted manner.”
The Spanish slaughter initiative is one component of Ashpar’s broader mission to supply premium-quality, mehadrin kosher meat. The company, together with the Nevah Tzion Badatz, aims to deliver the finest products to the community while maintaining the uncompromising halachic standards for which the certification is renowned.
חברי בד”ץ נווה ציון בביקור במשחטהצילום: באדיבות המצלם חברי בד”ץ נווה ציון בביקור במשחטהצילום: באדיבות המצלם
חברי בד”ץ נווה ציון בביקור במשחטהצילום: באדיבות המצלם
חברי בד”ץ נווה ציון בביקור במשחטהצילום: באדיבות המצלם
חברי בד”ץ נווה ציון בביקור במשחטהצילום: באדיבות המצלם
{Matzav.com}
More Than 1,300 Dead From Floods In Indonesia, Sri Lanka And Thailand As Rescue Efforts Intensify
Saudi Arabia Transfers $90 Million To The Palestinian Authority
Saudi Arabia has delivered a fresh infusion of financial aid to the Palestinian Authority, transferring $90 million as an installment of its 2025 support package. The latest grant reflects Riyadh’s continued effort to bolster the PA amid ongoing economic pressure.
The funds were handed over in Amman, where Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Jordan, Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan, met with Estephan Salameh, the PA official responsible for planning and international cooperation. During the meeting, the ambassador emphasized that the new allocation is meant “to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian Arab population, alleviate their suffering, and support vital sectors,” with particular focus on health and education.
Deputy PA chairman Hussein al-Sheikh welcomed the financial boost, noting that the assistance helps the leadership in Ramallah navigate severe budgetary strain. He said the contribution ensures that key PA institutions can continue functioning and providing services to the public.
This latest transfer follows high-level engagement between the two sides. In November, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held discussions with PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas, reiterating his intention to maintain strong backing for the Authority. During that meeting, the Crown Prince vowed to oppose what he described as “Israeli aggression,” to promote the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and to support efforts toward releasing PA tax revenues currently withheld by Israel.
Alongside its direct support, Riyadh has also been working with global partners in recent weeks, encouraging other countries to step forward with financial contributions. Its goal, officials say, is to help stabilize the PA’s fragile economy and avert a deeper crisis that could undermine governance in Ramallah.
{Matzav.com}Trump Pardons Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández
House Unanimously Passes Bill Blocking Hamas Terrorists from Entering U.S.
Texas Imam’s Sermon Calls for Allah to “Destroy Zionists,”
El Al Alerts Public to Sophisticated Phishing Scam Masquerading as Airline Prize Giveaway
El Al and the National Cyber Authority are sounding the alarm over a fresh wave of phishing attempts circulating under the airline’s name. The fraudulent campaign spreads through WhatsApp groups, social media platforms, and SMS messages, offering what appears to be a lavish “prize-winning quiz” with vouchers worth hundreds or even thousands of shekels, a promise officials stress is nothing more than “an impersonation attempt.”
One of the messages, labeled “El Al – Government Subsidies Gift,” offered a cash reward for filling out a brief survey and then pushed users to forward the link through WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. With El Al logos and formatting that mimic the company’s style, the scheme was crafted to appear authentic while quietly harvesting personal details that could later be resold or used in additional cyberattacks.
El Al has made it clear that the circulating message is not from the airline, stressing that it is a phishing scam crafted to deceive recipients and that the company has absolutely no connection to the supposed offer or any of its contents.
The airline’s warning highlights a broader trend within the cyber world. Attackers frequently target airline passengers because they are accustomed to receiving time-sensitive travel notices, booking updates, ticket confirmations, and reward alerts — making them more likely to click quickly. Yet the techniques on display here mirror the same strategies deployed daily against companies across all industries: mimicking trusted brands, creating false urgency, driving users to malicious forms, and prompting victims to spread the threat further. {Matzav.com}Netanyahu Visits Injured IDF Soldiers at Sheba Medical Center
Trump Holds Ninth Cabinet Meeting, Immigration Focus Expected
Trump to Make Announcement at 2 PM ET
Yamam Releases Footage of Hamas Terrorist Arrest in Nablus
Witkoff and Kushner in Moscow for Ukraine Peace Talks with Putin
Shabbos Violations and Improper Training Alleged Inside New “Adi” Chareidi IDF Company
Serious claims are emerging from soldiers serving in the IDF’s newly formed “Adi” company in Tzeilim, raising doubts about whether the unit is truly functioning as a chareidi framework as originally presented.
The situation came to light Monday night on the main broadcast of Kol Barama Radio, where reporter Mendy Rizel shared testimony from soldiers inside the unit. The company, created less than a year ago to provide security for the Tzeilim base, is officially designated for chareidi recruits, but the soldiers describe something very different.
Several servicemen say that most of the current members of the unit are no longer religious. They describe an environment that looks nothing like the halachically sensitive structure that the IDF had pledged to maintain for chareidi soldiers.
One soldier explained: “Most of the soldiers are formerly chareidi and are not religious at all today. The result: public Shabbos desecration, fitness training with a female instructor, and a Torah class once a month instead of every day, as the regulations require.”
Another soldier shared his pain openly: “For the first time, I started violating Shabbos during my service, because of the environment.”
A different soldier said that when he entered the program and stated that he was not religious, he was simply told, “You’ll strengthen yourself.”
According to IDF regulations, a chareidi-designated company is supposed to maintain a strict religious setting, including daily Torah learning, a fully halachically appropriate environment, and zero compromise on religious standards. The accounts coming out of the unit indicate major departures from that commitment.
In response to the reports, the IDF Spokesperson addressed the issue involving a female fitness instructor: “The incident will be investigated by the relevant command authorities and handled accordingly. In the case in question, the fitness instructor opened the gym for the soldiers but did not run the training. The IDF places great importance on maintaining suitable service conditions for chareidi soldiers and works to preserve them through inspections and ongoing command dialogue.”
The IDF further stated: “Chareidi soldiers in chareidi tracks undergo a screening and affiliation interview with the relevant authorities. The soldiers in the Adi company serve in a designated framework for soldiers from the chareidi sector with all the necessary conditions to maintain their way of life, including set times for prayers, Torah classes, and conversations with rabbanim.”
{Matzav.com}
TSA to Impose $45 Charge on Travelers Flying Without REAL ID
Travelers in the United States who show up to fly without a REAL ID will soon face a new financial penalty. The Transportation Security Administration announced that starting in February, passengers lacking the federally compliant identification will be required to pay a $45 fee.
Although the REAL ID requirement has technically been in place since May, the TSA has until now allowed passengers to proceed after undergoing extra screening and receiving a reminder to update their documentation. According to the Department of Homeland Security, “94% of passengers are already compliant,” and the fee is being introduced as a stronger push for the remaining travelers to obtain the proper ID.
REAL ID licenses—recognizable in most states by a white star inside a yellow circle—meet enhanced security standards that were mandated after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Getting one generally requires bringing additional paperwork to the DMV compared to what is needed for a standard driver’s license. While the program was originally scheduled to launch back in 2008, its rollout has been postponed several times over the years.
Beginning Feb. 1, domestic flyers aged 18 and older who arrive without a REAL ID and who do not have any other approved identification, such as a passport, will be required to pay the non-refundable fee to attempt verification through TSA’s alternative identity-checking process, known as “Confirm.ID.”
TSA officials warned that “paying the fee does not guarantee verification,” and anyone whose identity cannot be confirmed may be denied entry to the secure area of the airport. For those who are approved, the identity confirmation remains valid for a 10-day travel window.
The TSA said passengers will be able to pay the fee in advance online before traveling, or at the airport—though officials cautioned that the on-site process could take as long as half an hour. Initially, the agency suggested an $18 fee, but explained it was raised to $45 after determining that the cost of running the alternative system was higher than first estimated.
Aside from REAL ID cards, other valid forms of identification include permanent resident cards, military IDs, and photo identification issued by federally recognized tribal nations. In addition, TSA accepts certain digital IDs stored in Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet at more than 250 airports across the country.
{Matzav.com}
