An unusually forceful editorial published Tuesday in the Israeli daily Yated Neeman launched a sweeping and uncompromising attack on Israel’s judicial system and the military establishment, declaring that the Torah world will not yield to arrests, sanctions, or political pressure. The editorial frames the current moment as a decisive struggle over the identity of the state and the standing of Torah learners, asserting that Torah alone is the true and unchangeable constitution of the Jewish people.
The article describes what it calls an escalation in the battle over the character of the country, insisting that Torah cannot and will not be reshaped to suit political circumstances. Against the backdrop of growing pressure on yeshivos and kollelim, the editorial quotes Rav Dov Landau as saying: “At this time, when the burden on the yeshivos and kollelim has grown heavier due to decrees and harassment by state authorities, the urgent need of the hour is to strengthen those who learn Torah.” The paper notes that Rav Landau undertook a demanding campaign of encouragement across Torah institutions of all communities and backgrounds, a campaign that is continuing in the present days.
According to the editorial, the goal of this effort is to reinforce resolve, prevent spiritual weakening, increase kevod Shomayim, and raise high the banner of Torah and respect for its learners. The message delivered during these visits is quoted as: “The Torah unites the entire Jewish people, and through it we will merit salvation from all troubles, from within and from without.”
The article then turns to the parsha of Yisro, portraying the annual renewal of the covenant between the Jewish people and the Ribono Shel Olam. The editorial presents the current struggle as a spiritual campaign against what it calls the dominant Israeli cultural current, urging the nation to close ranks in a unified front.
In one of its sharpest passages, the editorial accuses the judicial system and its allied bodies, together with the military authorities, of adopting an agenda aimed at reducing the presence of Torah in Israel. It asserts that opponents of Torah and adversaries of the chareidi public have revealed their intentions, aided by what the paper describes as collaborators from religious-Zionist circles who, it claims, are intensifying public campaigns through their media outlets.
The article expands at length on the battle with Amalek, arguing that true victory was achieved not on the battlefield itself but in the place where Moshe Rabbeinu stood engaged in tefillah and spiritual leadership. According to the editorial, wars arise when commitment to Torah weakens, while victory comes through strengthening Torah study. It highlights Yehoshua’s role as a devoted Torah figure, chosen to lead precisely because of his lifelong immersion in Torah rather than any military training or command experience.
The editorial argues that although the physical fighting was carried out by soldiers, victory was achieved solely through the spiritual power of Torah. It stresses that this reality may not be perceptible to the physical senses, but is an accepted truth transmitted through Torah Shebaal Peh.
The piece goes on to describe Israeli society as being under what it calls a foreign spiritual domination by a small but aggressive minority. It accuses this group of seeking to uproot the covenant of Sinai and strip away what the editorial describes as the true spiritual protection that shields the nation. According to the article, efforts by the judiciary and political actors to undermine the Torah-based foundation of Jewish life are steadily intensifying.
Addressing arguments that Torah law should be adjusted to modern realities, the editorial challenges the notion that divine law is meant to adapt to human circumstances. Instead, it argues that the world itself was created in accordance with the Torah, and therefore reality must conform to Torah rather than Torah bending to reality. It maintains that attempting to replace Torah law with human-devised legal systems represents a distortion of the divine design underlying creation.
In response to what it describes as coercive measures, the editorial declares unequivocal defiance. It states that no Torah learner will abandon his studies because of arrests, enforcement actions, or sanctions. The article emphasizes that the Torah was accepted at Sinai as the binding constitution of the Jewish people, accepted unanimously and irrevocably.
The editorial draws a distinction between a state constitution, which it says can be changed by majority vote, and the constitution of a nation, which it argues cannot be altered. Jewish nationhood, it asserts, was forged at the giving of the Torah, not through international resolutions, parliamentary decisions, or judicial rulings.
Reiterating its core message, the article declares that loyalty to Torah will never change under any circumstances. It insists that “the Torah will not be adjusted to fit circumstances”; rather, “circumstances must be reshaped to align with the Torah, regardless of the cost.”
In one of its most striking lines, the editorial concludes that just as past adversaries failed, current efforts will also collapse. “Even the Israelis will not prevail over the Jews,” it states, warning that incitement, coercion, arrests, and sanctions are destined to fail. The struggle, the editorial says, is not about communal rights but about the honor of Hashem, framing the confrontation as a spiritual battle fought for a higher purpose.
The piece closes by returning to the theme of the covenant renewed each year with the reading of Parshas Yisro, asserting that Torah learners understand the roots of the struggle and will not abandon their posts. It ends by quoting Rav Landau’s declaration: “Even things that are well known must be said. Nothing overrides Torah study, and through the study of Torah we will merit salvation from all troubles, from within and from without.”
{Matzav.com}
[Video below.] President Trump lashed out at CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins during a tense Oval Office question-and-answer session on Tuesday, criticizing her demeanor and attacking her credibility as she pressed him on the release of files connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
As Collins posed a series of questions about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein materials, Trump cut her off with a personal rebuke, telling her, “CNN has no ratings because of people like you,” and labeling her the network’s “worst reporter.” He added a remark about her expression, saying, “You know, she’s a young woman. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile.”
Trump escalated his criticism moments later, referencing his long familiarity with Collins and broadening the attack to her employer. “I’ve known you for 10 years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile, because you know you’re not telling the truth and you’re you’re a very dishonest organization and they should be ashamed of you,” he said.
Collins tried to interject, quietly noting that she was “talking about survivors of a … abusers,” suggesting that the subject matter did not lend itself to levity.
Collins began her journalism career covering entertainment before moving into political reporting, later serving as a White House correspondent for the Daily Caller starting in 2016.
She joined CNN in 2017 and reported on Trump’s first term from the White House before transitioning into anchor positions in 2023.
WATCH:
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For many residents of Bnei Brak and the wider chareidi public who use kosher phones, a routine task—adding credit to a Rav-Kav public transportation card—has become a daily frustration. Speaking on the radio program Osim Seder BaMoked HaTziburi, hosted by Tzvi Tessler, a caller described how the lack of accessible charging options has turned simple bus travel into a logistical ordeal.
Leah, a Bnei Brak resident and computer teacher, told the program that she is routinely forced to walk significant distances just to reload her card. “I go specifically to the light rail, a ten-minute walk each way, just to top it up,” she said on air. According to Leah, neighborhood stores and groceries that once offered Rav-Kav charging services have shut down their terminals due to technical problems and a lack of financial viability.
The difficulty becomes even more acute when children are involved. Without access to smartphone apps on kosher phones, parents have no way of checking the remaining balance on their children’s cards. “Kids come to me and ask, ‘Mom, is there money?’ and I have to rack my brain every time,” Leah said, describing the constant uncertainty. The current system, in which no receipt is issued on the bus, leaves parents in the dark and forces them to physically visit distant service points just to find out whether a card still has credit.
In response to inquiries, Israel’s Ministry of Transport Israel said it is aware of the difficulties and is working on alternative solutions. The ministry said there are more than 150 dedicated service stations nationwide, along with thousands of charging points in retail stores and ATMs. It also pointed to a telephone service center at 03-7207406 that allows credit-card top-ups by phone.
However, that option has its own limitation: phone recharging still requires users to physically visit a service terminal to “activate” the credit on the card, effectively sending them back to square one.
Drawing on her technological background, Leah suggested what she described as a straightforward fix—direct charging by entering a Rav-Kav card number and credit-card details, similar to other bill-payment systems. Tessler explained that this is technically complex because the Rav-Kav is a physical card that does not transmit data. He did note, however, that a proposal raised in the past with then–Deputy Minister Maklev, involving a monthly direct-debit system, has yet to be implemented.
Leah concluded by arguing that the current situation ultimately hurts state revenues. “It’s in their interest that there should be money,” she said, explaining that many children board buses unable to pay because their cards are empty, forcing parents into complicated tracking and double payments after the fact. “There need to be more logical solutions,” Tessler said, promising to continue following the issue.
In a formal response, the Ministry of Transport said: “The Ministry of Transport and the National Public Transportation Authority are aware of the difficulties raised by passengers who do not have smartphones, and are working to provide a range of alternative and accessible solutions for topping up and checking Rav-Kav balances. Today, Rav-Kav cards can be charged at dedicated stations deployed across the country (more than 150 stations), as well as at thousands of retail outlets and ATMs that provide charging and balance-inquiry services.
“In addition, a telephone service center is available at 03-7207406, through which passengers can receive information, assistance in locating charging points, and even perform Rav-Kav top-ups by phone, with activation completed at service stations.
“There is also an option to top up Rav-Kav cards through the ‘Nedarim Plus’ system, available in synagogues and other community centers. The ministry continues to examine additional ways to improve accessibility and service for all passengers, with the goal of ensuring public transportation that is available, simple, and equitable for the entire population.”
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SAN FRANCISCO – Immigration and Customs Enforcement has no planned immigration operations at Sunday’s Super Bowl LX, according to a communication from the game’s host committee to local officials.
The Bay Area’s host committee informed elected officials in San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Jose of the development in a memo following calls Friday with members of the NFL security and events teams and federal and local law enforcement officials.
The host committee wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained Monday by The Washington Post: “Public safety is our top priority for Super Bowl LX. We have been in daily contact with the NFL, which has confirmed the following with the Department of Homeland Security: There are no planned ICE immigration enforcement operations associated with SBLX.”
The committee wrote that in “coordination with NFL security and local law enforcement, DHS will have federal agents at the Super Bowl to keep fans safe.” It added that the “federal security presence at SBLX is consistent with past Super Bowls and comparable to how DHS protects other major sporting events like the Olympics and World Cup.”
Cathy L. Lanier, the NFL’s chief security officer and a former D.C. police chief, confirmed the host committee’s assertion Tuesday.
“There are no planned ICE or immigration enforcement operations that are scheduled around the Super Bowl or any of the Super Bowl-related events,” Lanier said at a news conference related to Super Bowl security.
As with any Super Bowl, there are many related events for fans scheduled for the week leading up to the game.
“That includes all of the Super Bowl-related events,” Lanier said. “Again, we’ve been working with our DHS partners for 18 months. Everybody has got specific roles that they’re assigned to. There’s no ICE agents assigned as a part of our security team here. But everybody is focused on our mission here and already at it as of this morning.”
Jeffrey M. Brannigan, the Department of Homeland Security’s designated federal coordinator for Super Bowl LX, was asked during Tuesday’s news conference whether he also would commit to no ICE operations at the Super Bowl.
“I defer to Chief Lanier on those questions,” Brannigan said.
Of the DHS role at the Super Bowl, Brannigan said: “Our responsibility is to support the security planning of the cities that are responsible for these events. And that is what we are doing. There are multiple DHS agencies involved in that effort, including DHS law enforcement but not exclusive to DHS law enforcement. … The department’s depth in providing services, technical expertise and personnel to this event and other special events is wide ranging and well established.”
The Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to face the New England Patriots on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
The Department of Homeland Security did not specify its plans Monday.
“DHS is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the Super Bowl is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the World Cup. Our mission remains unchanged,” assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “We will not disclose future operations or discuss personnel. Super Bowl security will entail a whole of government response conducted in-line with the U.S. Constitution. Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.”
Protests have erupted in cities nationwide in recent weeks over federal immigration personnel’s deployment across the country and the fatal shootings of two Americans, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis last month.
The killing of Pretti, an ICU nurse, two weeks after immigration officers fatally shot Good, a poet and mother of three, added to mounting public outrage and demands for accountability over the militarized tactics the Trump administration has pursued while ramping up immigration enforcement.
Bad Bunny, the halftime performer at the Super Bowl, sharply criticized ICE during Sunday’s Grammy Awards. The Puerto Rican rapper, who won best música urbana album, received a standing ovation for his remarks.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say: ICE out,” Bad Bunny said. “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans. And we are Americans. … The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”
President Donald Trump, after attending last year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, has said he will not attend this year’s game. He has cited the distance of the game from the East Coast and the selections of the musical performers.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem previously said ICE would conduct enforcement activities at the Super Bowl.
“I have the responsibility to make sure everybody who goes to the Super Bowl has the opportunity to enjoy it and to leave safely,” Noem told Benny Johnson on “The Benny Show” in October, according to Fox News. “That’s what America’s about. We’ll be all over that place.”
Noem said then that those attending the Super Bowl should be law-abiding Americans “who love this country.”
The Super Bowl is classified as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event, which DHS defines as “significant events with national and/or international importance that require extensive federal interagency support.” As with other NFL games, flight above the stadium will be temporarily restricted. Federal authorities will be on hand to mitigate any threatening drone activity. State and local authorities and local law enforcement, the NFL and a collection of federal agencies are involved in the planning.
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Goodell on security
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did not directly address the issue of ICE operations at his annual news conference during Super Bowl week Monday.
“Security is obviously one of the things we focus on the most,” Goodell said. “It’s a SEAR 1 level event that involves unique assets at the federal level, the state level and the local level all working together. I see no change in that in the preparations for the Super Bowl. We have not seen that. We’re working with all three of those levels and doing everything we can to make sure it’s the safest environment. And the federal government is a big part of that, including this administration and every other administration before that. … I just anticipate we’ll continue to do the work to make it the safest event.”
Goodell called Bad Bunny “one of the great artists in the world” and added: “That’s one of the reasons we chose him. But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on. And this platform is to use to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talent and to be able to use this moment to do that. … I think he’ll have a great performance.”
(c) 2026, The Washington Post
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State Attorney Amit Isman has directed police to expand the list of suspected offenses against Bezalel Zini and two other soldiers to include “assisting the enemy in wartime,” a move taken at the final stage of a probe into the alleged smuggling of cigarettes into the Gaza Strip during the war.
Under Israeli law, assisting the enemy in wartime is among the gravest criminal offenses, with penalties that can reach life imprisonment or even death.
The decision marks a sharp escalation from a similar case only weeks ago, when soldiers from the Bedouin Reconnaissance Battalion accused of smuggling cigarettes into Gaza were charged with a lesser security offense carrying a maximum sentence of five years. Investigators say Zini and the two other suspects are alleged to have engaged in the same conduct.
MK Moshe Saada, who previously served as deputy and acting head of the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash), condemned the prosecutor’s decision. “Amit Isman, who is unfit and has failed, continues to use his position for political purposes and to act systematically to thwart members of the national camp,” Saada said.
Saada went further, accusing the prosecution of abusing its authority. “The delusional instruction to add an offense of assisting the enemy-punishable by death or life imprisonment-to an allegation of cigarette smuggling is part of a planned witch hunt whose goal is to trigger a constitutional crisis or to force the resignation of the Shin Bet chief, who exposed the military advocate general affair and does not fall in line with Isman and his deep-state associates.”
Earlier on Tuesday, a court approved publication of the fact that Zini is suspected of involvement in the wartime smuggling of cigarettes into Gaza.
Police told the court that Zini’s questioning has concluded and stressed that the central allegation against him relates solely to cigarette smuggling. His detention, along with that of the two other soldiers, was extended until Thursday. At the same time, authorities confirmed that all three are also under investigation for assisting the enemy in wartime.
According to police, investigators carried out a series of investigative steps over the past several weeks and have now completed the evidence-gathering phase.
Following developments in the case, prosecutors have submitted a prosecutor’s statement against Zini, a procedural step that typically precedes the filing of formal charges, which is expected on Thursday.
{Matzav.com}Legislation that U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law on Tuesday included more than $4 billion for Israel, as well as several other provisions in support of the Jewish state, according to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Trump acted fewer than three hours after the U.S. House of Representatives cleared the bill that would reopen the federal government through Sept. 30 after a short shutdown. The Senate had passed the legislation earlier.
Atop the list is $3.8 billion for the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, which includes $3.3 billion in security assistance and $500 million for missile defense, such as Iron Dome and Arrow.
“Congress sent a powerful message about the strength and vibrancy of the U.S.-Israel alliance,” AIPAC stated. “This funding makes America safer, stronger and more prosperous, and ensures our democratic ally can defend itself from our shared enemies.”
Other funding includes $47.5 million for U.S.-Israel emerging technology cooperation (a $27.5 million increase), $75 million for U.S.-Israel counter-drone and directed energy investment (up $20 million), $80 million for U.S.-Israel anti-tunnel defense cooperation (a $32.5 million increase), $37.5 million for the Nita Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act that supports economic cooperation and peace building and $3 million for U.S.-Israel international development cooperation.
The measure also bans funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry against Israel.
“Congress once again came together to send an unequivocal and bipartisan message of support for Israel and the U.S-Israel relationship,” AIPAC stated. “This strong bipartisan support reflects that the enduring partnership between the United States and the Jewish state remains stronger than ever.” JNS
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