Israel’s Religious Services Ministry announced Tuesday that elections will be held next month to appoint a chief rabbi for Tel Aviv–Yafo, bringing to an end an eight-year period during which the city has not had a rabbi serving in the position.
The move comes after approval by the Tel Aviv City Council plenum, paving the way for the long-delayed vote. The election has been scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026 (8 Nissan 5786). On that day, the electing body will convene at the Tel Aviv Religious Council building on Uri Street to select the rov who will guide the city in the years ahead. Polls will be open from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by the counting of votes.
The election process is being overseen by an independent professional committee headed by Rabbi Yaakov Zamir, a retired judge of the Supreme Rabbinical Court. The committee’s work is being coordinated by its secretary, Tzuriel Porat.
Twenty candidates initially submitted their candidacies. Eighteen were approved by the election committee and will compete for the position. They are: Rabbi Oshri Moiel, Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Lau, Rabbi Ben Zion Shmuel Avidan, Rabbi Ram Moshe Raavad, Rabbi Zevadia Nissim Cohen, Rabbi Natan Nachman Zeidman, Rabbi Aryeh Levin, Rabbi Amos Chai Shoshan, Rabbi Dov Berkowitz, Rabbi Yitzchak Mordechai Bar Ze’ev, Rabbi Chaim Amsalem, Rabbi Eldad Yona, Rabbi Shimon Nissim Lagarsi, Rabbi Eldar Sami Levy, Rabbi Uziel Moshe Berkowitz, Rabbi Tomer Portal Biton, Rabbi Ben Zion Algazi and Rabbi Barak Cohen.
Religious Services Ministry Director-General Yehuda Avidan said following the decision that the ministry worked to ensure a democratic, transparent and dignified selection process befitting a major Israeli city. He thanked Rabbi Yaakov Zamir for chairing the committee and said the goal is to appoint a rabbi who will unite the city’s diverse communities and serve as a spiritual address for all sectors of the population.
{Matzav.com}
The New York City Police Department released surveillance images Tuesday in an effort to identify several men accused of hurling snow and ice at officers in Washington Square Park, an incident that unfolded just hours after Mayor Zohran Mamdani described those involved as “kids” and suggested they should not face criminal charges.
According to police, two uniformed officers responded Monday to reports of a large and unruly gathering in the Lower Manhattan park. During the response, two men allegedly “intentionally struck the police officers multiple times with snow and ice in the head, neck and face, causing injuries,” the NYPD said.
Authorities stated that emergency medical services transported the officers to Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition. The suspects fled before officers could detain them.
The NYPD confirmed that the two primary suspects are being sought on charges of assault on a police officer, which constitutes a felony under New York law.
At a press briefing Tuesday afternoon, Mamdani characterized the episode as something less severe, saying the situation “looked like kids at a snowball fight,” despite a police image showing an individual with facial hair holding what appeared to be a large, packed snowball.
Later, police officials indicated that the individuals believed to be involved were estimated to be between 18 and 20 years old.
Investigators subsequently released additional photos of two more men suspected of participating in the confrontation.
Sergeants Benevolent Association President Vincent Vallelong told Fox News Digital that “many” of the individuals under scrutiny are “believed to be NYU students.”
A spokesperson for New York University, Joseph Tirella, told Fox News Digital that the school has found no evidence linking any NYU students to the incident.
“We have enormous appreciation for the NYPD officers who keep our community safe,” Tirella said. “Assaulting police officers is a serious offense.”
Police described the first suspect as having a “light complexion” and said he was last observed wearing a black jacket, black ski mask, and black sweatpants with white stripes.
The second suspect was described as having a “dark complexion” and was reportedly last seen wearing a green jacket over a blue sweatshirt, blue gloves, and partial facial hair.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran for mayor last year, criticized Mamdani’s response, saying the mayor, “who has a history of calling the police ‘racist, evil, wicked and corrupt’” had “set the tone.”
“Words have consequences,” Cuomo wrote on social media. “We are seeing that in the growing disrespect for law enforcement — just as we’ve seen it in the rise in antisemitism. Real leaders understand that. This mayor does not. @NYCMayor must denounce this at once.”
Vallelong also said that those responsible for throwing snow and ice at officers had “cross[ed] a clear line.”
“[Officers] are tasked with maintaining public safety in crowded public spaces, often while facing hostility simply for wearing the uniform,” Vallelong wrote. “When individuals choose to turn a park into a launching ground for attacks on police, they cross a clear line. Today it is snowballs. Tomorrow it could be rocks, bottles, or worse.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the episode “disgraceful” and “criminal,” adding that detectives are actively investigating the matter.
As of Tuesday afternoon, police had not announced any arrests in connection with the snow-throwing incident.
{Matzav.com}
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[Video below.] President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address to take aim at New York City’s leadership while offering surprisingly cordial words for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, blending criticism of Democratic policies with praise for the mayor personally as he outlined Republican priorities ahead of the midterm elections.
During his nearly two-hour speech at the U.S. Capitol, Trump referenced Mamdani directly, repeating a line he has used for months to describe the democratic socialist mayor.
“The new communist mayor of New York City, I think he’s a nice guy, actually” Trump said in the middle of his nearly two-hour speech at the U.S. Capitol. “I speak to him a lot. Bad policy, but nice guy.”
Trump has frequently labeled Mamdani “a communist,” though the two men met amicably in the Oval Office in November. Since taking office, Mamdani has largely refrained from publicly sparring with the president. City Hall did not immediately issue a response Tuesday night, but the mayor has previously said that he regularly exchanges text messages with Trump.
The president sharpened his criticism later in the speech, accusing Democrats such as Mamdani of applying inconsistent standards when it comes to identification requirements. Trump pointed to a New York City emergency snow shoveling initiative that requires workers to present two forms of identification and a Social Security card before receiving payment, contrasting that with Democratic opposition to voter ID mandates.
“Yet they don’t want identification for the greatest privilege of all, voting in America,” Trump said.
Under current New York law, residents must provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, though they are not required to show identification at the polls when casting a ballot.
Trump’s renewed push for a nationwide voter identification requirement drew a standing ovation from Republican lawmakers, one of many moments of sustained applause as he revisited core elements of the GOP platform. He reiterated his calls to curb illegal immigration, described sanctuary cities such as New York as “deadly,” and highlighted the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last year.
With congressional control at stake in the upcoming midterm elections, Trump also emphasized proposals aimed at reducing living expenses. He argued that Democrats in Washington contributed to rising costs and are now campaigning on “affordability,” a term that has been central to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s legislative program over the past two years and a key theme in Mamdani’s 2025 mayoral campaign.
The president said he had signed an executive order prohibiting Wall Street investment firms from purchasing single-family homes and urged Congress to codify the restriction into law.
“We want homes for people, not for corporations,” the president said. “Corporations are doing just fine.”
New York lawmakers also made their own statements through the guests they invited to the address. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer brought a union ironworker from Long Island to attend the speech. Other members of the state’s delegation selected guests reflecting their policy priorities, including Rep. Dan Goldman, who invited a Lutheran pastor known for advocating on behalf of immigrants held in detention facilities in lower Manhattan.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remained seated for most of the address. Several Democrats opted not to attend at all, among them Reps. Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who joined dozens of colleagues in boycotting the speech.
WATCH: {Matzav.com}[Video below.] President Donald Trump used his 2026 State of the Union address Tuesday night to highlight what he described as sweeping economic improvements, strengthened border enforcement and renewed American influence abroad, while also addressing tensions with Iran as his administration weighs possible military action.
Speaking for nearly two hours before a joint session of Congress, Trump reviewed his first year back in office, emphasizing domestic achievements and outlining his administration’s approach to key foreign policy challenges, particularly in the Middle East.
Opening his remarks on an upbeat note, Trump declared, “Our nation is back- bigger, better, stronger, and richer than ever before!”
He continued by looking ahead to the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations. “This July 4th, we will mark two and a half centuries of liberty and triumph, progress and freedom in the most incredible and exceptional nation ever to exist on the face of this earth – and you’ve seen nothing yet… this is the Golden Age of America,” he added.
Turning to economic matters, Trump sharply criticized President Joe Biden’s tenure, asserting that inflation had reached historic highs under the prior administration. “The Biden administration and its allies in Congress gave us the worst inflation in the history of our country. But in 12 months, my administration has driven core inflation down to the lowest level in more than 5 years – and in the last 3 months of 2025, it was down to 1.7%.”
He pointed to housing costs as further evidence of improvement. “Mortgage rates are the lowest in 4 years, and falling fast – and the annual cost of the typical new mortgage is down almost $5,000 dollars just since I took office.”
Recalling his address to Congress a year earlier, Trump contrasted what he described as a nation in turmoil with what he portrayed as a dramatically improved landscape today. “When I last spoke in this chamber 12 months ago, I had just inherited a nation in crisis. Today, our border is SECURE, our spirit is RESTORED, inflation is PLUMMETING, incomes are RISING FAST, the economy is ROARING, our enemies are SCARED, our military and police are STACKED, and America is RESPECTED again – perhaps like never before.”
He also highlighted investment figures, comparing them to those under Biden. “In four long years, the last administration got less than $1 trillion dollars in new investment in the United States… In 12 months, I secured commitments for more than $18 trillion dollars pouring in from all over the globe.”
On trade policy, Trump reiterated his long-standing support for tariffs, suggesting they could eventually reduce reliance on income taxes. “As time goes by, I believe that tariffs, paid for by foreign countries, will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love.”
Adopting a celebratory tone, the President remarked on what he characterized as a string of victories. “We are winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, ‘Please, please, Mr. President, we are winning too much, we can’t take it anymore, we are not used to winning,'” stated Trump, who added, “I say, ‘No, no, no, you are going to win again, you are going to win big.'”
On immigration and election policy, Trump urged lawmakers to pass new restrictions. He called for legislation preventing states from issuing commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens and advocated barring illegal aliens from voting in federal elections. He also pressed for voter ID requirements and tighter limits on mail-in ballots.
During his speech, Trump referenced New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, labeling him a “Communist” while noting that he remains in communication with him. The President said Mamdani “speaks a lot” with him and described him as a “nice guy” who has “bad policies.”
Addressing foreign affairs, Trump asserted that his administration had brokered the end of eight conflicts early in his term, including hostilities between Israel and Iran as well as the war in Gaza. He expressed appreciation for his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner for their roles in negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza.
According to Trump, the agreement resulted in the return of every hostage, both living and deceased, even though “nobody thought it was possible.”
Describing the recovery efforts, Trump said, “Believe it or not,” continued Trump, “Hamas worked along with Israel, and they dug, and they dug, and they dug. It’s a tough thing to do, going through bodies all over – sometimes passing up 100 bodies for each one they found. Tough job. And, uh, they finally got it back to 27. And then they found all 28.”
The President also revisited last June’s U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, stating they had “obliterated” the country’s nuclear capabilities. However, he claimed that Tehran has since killed more than 32,000 protesters and is seeking to revive its nuclear program, while developing missiles capable of reaching Europe and potentially the United States.
“We’re in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words, ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon’. My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.”
He concluded that portion of his remarks with a warning and a show of strength. “No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve. We have the most powerful military on earth – hopefully, we seldom have to use it,” continued the President.
{Matzav.com}
[Videos below.] President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night was marked by sharp confrontations with Democratic lawmakers, as tensions flared over his comments on immigration and allegations of fraud.
As the president spoke about what he described as a fraud investigation involving members of the Somali community in Minnesota and broader concerns about illegal immigration, Democratic members of Congress interrupted with shouts from the chamber.
Trump fired back at his critics, declaring that Democrats should be “ashamed.”
‘You should be ashamed!” Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., could be seen shouting back at the president.
“Liar!” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., yelled at one point.
As the address continued, both Tlaib and Omar grew increasingly vocal in their objections, repeatedly interrupting Trump’s remarks.
“You have killed Americans!” Omar and Tlaib yelled.
Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., was also seen calling out toward the president during the speech.
Meanwhile, Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., displayed a sign featuring photographs of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti — two U.S. citizens who were killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis in January.
In early January, Trump cited an ongoing fraud investigation in Minneapolis as justification for sending approximately 3,000 immigration officers into the state.
During Tuesday’s address, Trump said “Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption, and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception.”
WATCH:
[Video below.] President Donald Trump has established a new modern-era benchmark for the longest State of the Union address, exceeding the duration of President Bill Clinton’s 2000 speech.
The State of the Union serves as the president’s yearly message to Congress and the American public, functioning both as a report on the administration’s progress and a roadmap for future priorities. During Tuesday night’s address, Trump concentrated heavily on economic issues and emphasized what he described as the beginning of a national “golden age.”
“After just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before,” Trump declared from the dais Tuesday evening.
Clinton’s Jan. 27, 2000, address lasted approximately 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 49 seconds and had long been recognized as the longest televised State of the Union under modern recordkeeping.
Trump surpassed that mark shortly before 10:40 p.m. Tuesday night, officially moving into first place for length among modern addresses.
Ahead of the speech, Trump had signaled it would be extensive, telling reporters, “It’s going to be a long speech because we have a lot to talk about.”
Tuesday’s event marked the first official State of the Union of Trump’s second term. Earlier, in March 2025, he delivered a joint address to Congress that functioned in much the same way but was not formally designated as a State of the Union because it came early in his term.
That March 4, 2025, address lasted roughly 1 hour, 39 minutes, and 32 seconds—longer than Clinton’s 2000 address—though it did not count as an official State of the Union under traditional classification.
Clinton’s final State of the Union in 2000 focused on the economic expansion and budget surpluses of the late 1990s, while outlining proposals on education, healthcare, Social Security, and climate change for the coming century.
“My fellow Americans, each time I prepare for the State of the Union, I approach it with great hope and expectations for our nation. But tonight is special—because we stand on the mountaintop of a new millennium. Behind us we see the great expanse of American achievement; before us, even grander frontiers of possibility,” Clinton said in his final State of the Union speech.
Historical trends indicate that modern presidents tend to deliver far longer State of the Union addresses than those given in earlier decades. During the 1960s and 1970s, many speeches ran under an hour, whereas contemporary addresses frequently extend well beyond that timeframe.
President Richard Nixon delivered the shortest average State of the Union speeches at approximately 35 minutes. By contrast, Trump’s first term featured some of the lengthiest, with an average runtime of about 80 minutes.
Trump has consistently delivered extended speeches throughout his political career, from lengthy campaign rallies to major presidential appearances.
For instance, he spoke for two hours and two minutes at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference. He also holds the record for the longest presidential nomination acceptance speech, delivering a 93-minute address at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, surpassing his previous 75-minute acceptance speech in 2016.
WATCH:
{Matzav.com}
More than a dozen states filed suit Tuesday against the Trump administration, contesting its decision to scale back federal vaccine recommendations for children and arguing that the move unlawfully endangers public health.
In their complaint, the states contend that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention jeopardized children’s safety when it revealed last month that it would no longer advise universal immunization for all children against influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, certain strains of meningitis, and RSV.
The updated policy, which drew objections from segments of the medical community, now limits recommendations for those vaccines to specific high-risk populations or situations in which physicians and families engage in what is termed “shared decision-making.”
According to the states — among them Arizona and California — the revised guidance disregards decades of established medical standards and will force state governments to allocate additional resources to guard against potential disease outbreaks.
“The health and safety of children across the country is not a political issue,” said Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, at a news conference. “It is not a culture war talking point.”
Neither the CDC nor the Department of Health and Human Services immediately issued a response to inquiries regarding the legal challenge.
The lawsuit intensifies a broader dispute between Democrat-led states and President Donald Trump’s administration concerning shifts in federal public health policy under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has reduced staffing levels across federal public health agencies, decreased financial support for scientific research, and revised federal recommendations on matters including fluoride and other health-related issues.
Last year, Kennedy removed all members of a federal vaccine advisory panel and appointed new members of his choosing, a move that Tuesday’s filing claims violated the law.
The legal action follows an initiative launched months earlier by the Democrat governors of California, Washington state, and Oregon to coordinate their own vaccine guidelines. Those governors argued that the Trump administration was putting public health at risk by injecting politics into the CDC’s work.
While states possess the legal authority to mandate vaccinations for students attending public schools, federal guidance from the CDC has traditionally played a significant role in shaping state-level vaccination requirements.
{Matzav.com}
Ghazi Hamad, a senior figure in the political bureau of the Hamas terrorist organization, has dismissed demands from Israel and the United States that the group relinquish its weapons.
Speaking in an interview with the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Hamad indicated that the question of disarmament cannot be easily settled, citing what he called “many sensitivities.” He further stated that attempts to pressure the organization into surrendering its weapons are “disrespectful to the efforts of the mediators.”
A Palestinian Arab source told the newspaper that the disagreement over the issue remains at a standstill. The source argued that objectives Israel did not accomplish during more than two years of fighting will not be achieved now, and said the immediate focus should be ending the “aggression and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation.”
An Egyptian source also addressed the matter, saying Hamas’s disarmament has come up in discussions that include Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, and the “technocrat committee.” The source expressed optimism that understandings could still be reached, particularly in light of US President Donald Trump’s determination to see his political initiative succeed.
According to the newspaper, analysts believe that Israeli warnings about potential military steps to strip Hamas of its weapons are intended as psychological pressure ahead of upcoming Knesset elections.
Hamas has consistently rejected calls to disarm, despite Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza requiring the organization to give up its arms. The group maintains that its arsenal serves as “self-defense against the occupation.”
Senior Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal recently reiterated the organization’s position in response to Trump’s appeal for disarmament, declaring, “As long as our people are under occupation, talk of disarmament is an attempt to turn our people into victims, to make their elimination easier and to facilitate their destruction at the hands of the Israeli side, which is armed with every international means of warfare.”
{Matzav.com}
An El Al plane traveling from Tel Aviv to New York was compelled to head back to Israel over the past day after running into dangerous weather conditions while crossing the Atlantic.
Roughly eight hours after departure, the flight crew chose to return when officials at Newark Airport temporarily shut down operations because of extreme weather, resulting in altered landing directives. Under the updated conditions, the aircraft could not complete a safe landing.
With reports pointing to a strengthening storm system battering the U.S. East Coast, the pilots decided to fly back to Ben Gurion Airport, placing passenger safety above all other considerations.
Following the disruption, a spokesperson for Arkia said the airline’s flights were also experiencing delays as crews awaited an improvement in weather conditions. The company said it is closely monitoring the situation in New York and remains in constant contact with airport authorities to ensure passenger safety.
At the same time, hundreds of Israeli travelers have been stranded in hotels amid significant snowfall in New York, and there is still no definite schedule for when departures and arrivals will return to normal.
{Matzav.com}
