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During a special shmuess delivered this week to talmidim of Yeshiva Derech Chaim, Rav Shaul Alter offered pointed guidance on the purpose of life, the proper approach to limud haTorah, and the true meaning of spiritual growth during the days of Shovavim.

The talmidim were received in the rosh yeshiva’s beis medrash in Yerushalayim, where Rav Alter delivered a brief but incisive talk. Reflecting on the name Derech Chaim, he drew a sharp distinction between Torah learning and other pursuits. While people often treat a “way of life” as an end in itself, Rav Alter emphasized that the Torah teaches otherwise.

“Today there are those who adopt a ‘derech chaim’ or an ‘orach chaim,’ and the path itself becomes the goal,” he said. “But the Torah reveals to us that life itself is only a path, a marathon toward the World to Come. We are running toward that destination, and we must constantly remember our mission.”

Following the address, the yeshiva’s ramim posed questions regarding the proper balance in learning. Rav Alter explained that talmidim must engage in both in-depth study that fully challenges the mind and broad-based learning that expands knowledge and horizons.

He also addressed the question of how halacha should be studied, advising that talmidim begin with concise halachic works. “First and foremost, one should learn from sifrei kitzur,” he said, explaining that these works provide the essential “road signs” needed to navigate practical halacha.

In response to a question about whether yeshiva bochurim should undertake fasts during the days of Shovavim, Rav Alter answered unequivocally in the negative. “During Shovavim, we are required to do what we do all year, but with greater seriousness,” he said. “Instead of fasting, it is preferable to simply refrain from saying a hurtful word to a fellow. That is more important than any fast.”

{Matzav.com}

Mrs. Sarah Zlata Segal a”h, the only daughter of Rav Simcha Zissel Broide zt”l, has passed away in Yerushalayim at the age of 80.

Mrs. Segal, a revered figure known for her dignity and yiras Shamayim, was the daughter of Rav Simcha Mordechai Ziskind (Simcha Zissel) Broide zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Chevron Yeshiva. Her mother was Mrs. Golda Miriam Broida a”h, daughter of Rav Moshe Finkel, son of the Alter of Slabodka and son-in-law of Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein.

Born on the 10th of Kislev 5706, Mrs. Segal was raised in an illustrious home steeped in Torah and mesorah. Upon reaching marriageable age, she married Rav Shmuel Yitzchak Segal, rosh kollel of Beis Reuven and a great-grandson of the Alter of Novardok.

Throughout her life, she exemplified nobility, faith, and inner strength. A woman of exceptional stature, she merited establishing a faithful Torah home and raising generations of bnei Torah and yirei Shamayim. For many years, she endured profound suffering with quiet fortitude and unwavering emunah.

The levayah took place tonight, departing from the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and proceeding to Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

The family will be sitting shivah at her home, 6 Rechov Panim Me’iros, third floor, in Yerushalayim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A missing hiker was located and safely rescued tonight following a coordinated search-and-rescue operation led by the Matzil Search and Rescue.

The incident began at approximately 5:30 p.m., when Matzil’s communications center received an emergency call reporting that a female hiker had become lost in the area of the Storm Mountain trailhead. The caller indicated that the hiker had lost her bearings and was unable to find her way back.

Within minutes of receiving the report, Matzil, together with Chaveirim of Rockland, activated a specialized search-and-rescue task force composed of trained personnel equipped for rapid response in rugged and off-trail terrain. Teams were dispatched immediately to the scene.

Upon arrival at the trailhead, search-and-rescue managers established a unified command structure in coordination with local park police. Command staff initiated a structured search plan, including terrain analysis, communications coordination, and the development of a search grid to methodically cover the area.

Rescue teams conducted an extensive search through challenging terrain beyond marked trails.

After several hours, responders located the missing hiker. She was found alert and in good condition, bechasdei Hashem.

Matzil’s medical and extraction specialists assessed the hiker on scene and safely escorted her back to the trailhead. She was subsequently reunited with her family, who expressed deep hakoras hatov to the responders for their swift and professional efforts.

{Matzav.com}

The Breslover community is mourning the passing of Rav Moshe Tzanaani zt”l, a unique figure of uncompromising truth and ascetic devotion who famously did not sleep on a bed for five decades.

Rav Tzanaani passed away after years of severe suffering at the age of 72.

Rav Tzanaani, described by his followers as an ish emes—a man of absolute integrity—was known for a life of extreme simplicity, self-denial, and total immersion in Torah and avodas Hashem. For decades, he would study late into the night and fall asleep over his seforim, refusing the physical comfort of a bed. His eating was minimal to the point of self-affliction, and his vigilance in personal sanctity was legendary. Acquaintances said he rarely lifted his eyes beyond his immediate surroundings.

Born approximately 72 years ago in Tel Aviv’s Hatikva neighborhood, Rav  Tzanaani’s early life followed a very different path. As a young man, he studied at a university and distinguished himself as an exceptional talent in nuclear physics. After completing his studies, he worked in Israel’s military industry, where he was regarded as a brilliant scientist. About fifty years ago, he experienced a profound spiritual awakening, after which he abandoned material pursuits entirely and dedicated his life to serving Hashem through radical separation from worldly concerns.

Those who knew him often compared him to holy figures of earlier generations. His fiery shiurim, delivered with visible inner burning and deep love of Hashem, inspired many to teshuvah and sincere inner growth. Despite his personal austerity and living with virtually nothing, Rav Tzanaani was renowned for extraordinary chesed and kindness, quietly distributing thousands of shekels each week to families in need.

In recent years, his body weakened significantly as a result of the fasts and self-imposed afflictions he had accepted upon himself. Even so, while connected to an oxygen machine, he continued with remarkable self-sacrifice to attend Shacharis at neitz and to deliver words of chizuk to his listeners.

On Rosh Chodesh Teves, while standing in tefillah, Rav Tzanaani suddenly collapsed. Family members urged him to seek immediate medical care, but he insisted on completing the Rosh Chodesh tefillah despite intense pain. Only afterward did he agree to be taken to the hospital. Following two weeks in intensive care at Hadassah Ein Kerem, his condition appeared to improve. However, this week his systems failed and he was niftar.

The levayah was held at the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim. Large crowds accompanied the bier as it passed his home on HaChomah HaShlishit. Breslover mashpi’im and rabbanim delivered tearful hespeidim. From there, the procession continued to Har HaZeisim for kevurah.

Rav Tzanaani is survived by six sons and many grandchildren.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s police are preparing to move away from the use of the malodorous crowd-dispersal agent known as “Skunk,” amid sustained criticism and legal challenges over its effect on civilians, Hamevaser reported.

According to the report, recent internal deliberations within the police have resulted in a decision to begin examining other ways of addressing riots and public disturbances, with the long-term goal of abandoning the odor-based substance altogether.

“Skunk,” which was developed in Israel, is intended to scatter crowds through an overwhelming stench instead of tear gas or physical force. It is most commonly deployed via water cannons mounted on riot-control vehicles, though it has also been used in handheld devices and other delivery mechanisms. The product has additionally been sold to law-enforcement bodies outside Israel.

For years, the spray has drawn sharp opposition, especially in chareidi neighborhoods, where residents and communal leaders have said its use amounts to collective punishment, impacting families and passersby who have no connection to protests. Detractors have also warned that the substance can leave long-term damage to homes, streets, and the local environment.

The reported change in policy comes in the wake of a petition submitted to Israel’s Supreme Court by Yerushalayim Deputy Mayor Yitzchok Meir Brim, head of the Agudats Yisroel faction on the city council. Brim has maintained that the spray causes disproportionate harm to children, the elderly, and other vulnerable residents, and has called on police to stop deploying it in densely populated areas.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said the United States stands ready to respond forcefully if Iran moves to execute people detained during the ongoing anti-government demonstrations, warning that Washington would not tolerate mass hangings of protesters.

Trump made the remarks in an interview with CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil scheduled to air Tuesday evening, addressing reports of severe repression as unrest continues across Iran.

“We will take very strong action. If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action,” Trump said.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW:

The President said he is aware that a significant number of demonstrators have already lost their lives during more than two weeks of turmoil. According to information cited by CBS News, at least 12,000 people are believed to have been killed, with some estimates placing the figure as high as 20,000.

Trump reiterated that aid is being directed toward the Iranian public, saying “there’s a lot of help on the way” and noting that support is coming in “different forms,” including economic assistance. He also referred to U.S. airstrikes carried out last year against three Iranian nuclear sites, though he did not elaborate.

When asked what outcome he is seeking in Iran, Trump replied: “The end game is to win. I like winning.”

Pressed to explain what that means, the President pointed to major actions carried out during his first and second terms, including the recent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the 2019 U.S. raid in Syria that killed ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and the 2020 operation that eliminated Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force.

“We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran happen,” Trump said. “And you know, if they want to have protests, that’s one thing, when they start killing thousands of people, and now you’re telling me about hanging – we’ll see how that works out for them. It’s not going to work out good.”

.@POTUS: "We had a wonderful speech in front of great people in Detroit… I'm going back to the White House now, we're going to look at the whole situation that's going on in Iran… We'll get some accurate numbers as to what's happening with regard to the killing." pic.twitter.com/g0WZ1lXdyr

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 13, 2026

Later, after returning from a visit to Detroit, Trump told reporters that he planned to review the situation further upon his return to Washington. “I’m going back to the White House now, we’re going to look at the whole situation that’s going on in Iran… We’ll get some accurate numbers as to what’s happening with regard to the killing,” he said.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump posted a message on social media warning Iranian authorities that they would “pay a big price” if the violence continues, while telling Iranian citizens that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.” He also said that all contacts and meetings with Iranian officials would be suspended until the killings stop.

An Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday that approximately 2,000 people have been killed during about two weeks of protests nationwide, including members of the security forces.

The official described those responsible for the unrest as “terrorists” and said fatalities included both demonstrators and security personnel, without providing a detailed accounting.

On Monday night, two Defense Department officials speaking to CBS News said Trump has received briefings on a wide range of military and covert tools available for use against Iran, options that go well beyond traditional airstrikes.

Multiple sources familiar with the discussions said the President’s national security team is scheduled to convene at the White House on Tuesday to assess updated courses of action regarding Iran. It is not yet clear whether Trump will personally attend the meeting.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge has scheduled an April 27 trial date for the lawsuit filed by Elon Musk against OpenAI chief executive Samuel Altman and other defendants, including Microsoft, according to a court order issued Tuesday.

The case will focus on Musk’s contention that OpenAI and Altman strayed from the organization’s founding purpose as a nonprofit created to serve the public good, and that he was misled as the group evolved into a profit-driven operation closely tied to Microsoft.

In his complaint, Musk alleges that Altman “intentionally courted and deceived” him by presenting OpenAI as a nonprofit meant to counter Google’s DeepMind research arm and to develop artificial intelligence as open-source technology for the benefit of humanity.

The lawsuit argues that OpenAI’s leadership later reorganized the company, established for-profit entities, and entered into multibillion-dollar agreements that, according to Musk, conflicted with that original mission.

Musk, who leads Tesla and SpaceX, was among OpenAI’s original founders and its largest early backer when it launched in 2015, contributing tens of millions of dollars in initial funding before departing three years later.

After OpenAI released ChatGPT in 2022, Musk went on to start a competing artificial intelligence venture, xAI.

Microsoft, which began investing in OpenAI in 2019, has since committed billions of dollars to the company and became its largest shareholder following a restructuring completed last year.

The jury trial will take place in Oakland, California, under the supervision of US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.

{Matzav.com}

France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen denied any wrongdoing as she appeared in court on Tuesday to appeal an embezzlement conviction, with her 2027 presidential ambitions hanging on the outcome of the case. Le Pen, 57, is seeking to overturn a March ruling that found her guilty of misusing European Parliament funds in the hiring of […]

Israel’s High Court of Justice on Tuesday evening canceled a hearing that had been scheduled for Thursday on petitions seeking the dismissal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The justices ruled that, in the absence of a substantive response from the prime minister—whose decision is at the center of the petitions—there was no practical purpose in holding the hearing at this stage.

In its decision, the court stated that “given the lack of substantive engagement with the merits by the prime minister, whose decision stands at the heart of the petitions, we see no practical value in proceeding with the hearing.”

The hearing has been postponed until March, and the judicial panel will be expanded to five justices. According to the court, the new hearing date will be set no later than the end of March 2026.

The decision also noted that the government’s response failed to provide a detailed engagement with the factual foundations presented by the other parties to the case. The justices further pointed to the absence of a direct, substantive position from the prime minister himself regarding the contested decision.

In addition, following a request by Ben Gvir and in light of what the court described as the “significant weight of the claims” raised in the petitions, the justices ordered the immediate expansion of the panel.

At the same time, the court signaled that the matter remains active and unresolved. Citing the continued lack of a substantive response, the justices indicated that the expanded panel would consider issuing a conditional order and said that a decision on that question would be issued by the end of the month.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian authorities are targeting users of Starlink in an effort to choke off the flow of protest footage leaking out of the country, according to human rights groups and media reports. The Iranian government cut off broad public internet access last week as anti-regime demonstrations intensified, leaving protesters with few options to document and share […]

A senior U.S. State Department official said Washington is prepared to consider a wide range of responses if Britain follows through on a possible ban of Elon Musk’s social media platform X, as U.K. regulators investigate the spread of AI-generated sexualized deepfakes.

Sarah B. Rogers, the under secretary of state for public diplomacy, told GB News that the United States is closely watching the actions of British authorities and is not ruling out any options tied to free speech concerns. “I would say from America’s perspective … nothing is off the table when it comes to free speech,” Rogers said during the interview, which aired early Tuesday in the U.K.

She added that the next steps hinge on decisions by Britain’s media regulator, saying, “Let’s wait and see what Ofcom does and we’ll see what America does in response.”

Rogers, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, has been a vocal critic of European governments’ approaches to regulating online speech. She played a role in the State Department’s move last month to sanction former European Commissioner Thierry Breton along with four other European nationals connected to initiatives aimed at combating disinformation.

Support for X has also come from Capitol Hill. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican aligned with Trump, said last week that she is preparing legislation that would impose sanctions on the U.K. should it decide to bar the platform.

During her GB News appearance, Rogers accused British officials of seeking “the ability to curate a public square, to suppress political viewpoints it dislikes.” She went on to argue that X carries a “political valence that the British government is antagonistic to, doesn’t like, and that’s what’s really going on.”

When asked whether Rogers’ comments reflected official administration policy, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in London responded briefly: “Her remarks speak for themselves.”

British officials pushed back strongly on the suggestion that the issue involves suppressing expression. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer rejected that characterization, stressing that the country has defended free expression “for many hundreds of years, and will do in future too.”

The spokesperson said the focus is instead on criminal material produced through artificial intelligence. “It’s about the generation of criminal imagery of children and women and girls that is not acceptable. We cannot stand by and let that continue. And that is why we’ve taken the action we have.”

Ofcom, the U.K.’s online safety regulator, is examining whether X breached obligations under the Online Safety Act by allowing its Grok AI chatbot to generate and share non-consensual intimate images, including material that could constitute child sexual abuse.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall told Parliament on Monday that the government fully supports Ofcom using the strongest measures available if violations are confirmed. Those powers include fines of up to £18 million or 10 percent of a company’s global turnover, and in extreme circumstances, seeking a court order that would block X’s operations in Britain.

Kendall rejected claims that the enforcement effort threatens civil liberties. “This is not, as some would claim, about restricting freedom of speech, which is something that I and the whole Government hold very dear. It is about tackling violence against women and girls. It is about upholding basic British values of decency and respect, and ensuring that the standards that we expect offline are upheld online. It is about exercising our sovereign power and responsibility to uphold the laws of this land,” she said.

According to people familiar with the discussion, Starmer reinforced that message in a closed-door meeting with Labour lawmakers on Monday, warning that swift action would follow if the platform fails to rein in its AI tools. “If X cannot control Grok, we will — and we’ll do it fast because if you profit from harm and abuse, you lose the right to self regulate,” the prime minister said.

{Matzav.com}

The father of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sharply criticized Columbia University’s antisemitism task force during a faculty senate meeting, accusing the panel of operating like a punitive authority rather than serving the campus community, according to a report published Tuesday by The Washington Free Beacon.

Mahmood Mamdani, a veteran Columbia professor, delivered the remarks at a Dec. 12 meeting of the university senate, based on transcripts reviewed by the outlet.

“It became very clear that [the task force] saw itself not as representing the community, but as a prosecutorial agency,” Mamdani said, arguing that the group’s approach was intensifying divisions on campus instead of confronting antisemitism constructively.

He went on to liken the task force’s methods to the British Empire’s colonial-era policy of “divide and rule,” contending that its work was breeding suspicion and alienation among both students and faculty. Mamdani asserted that the panel’s actions were leaving segments of the university population feeling excluded.

Addressing fellow senators, Mamdani, whose academic work focuses on decolonization, colonialism, and racial capitalism, said the task force was escalating conflict rather than fostering cohesion within the university.

Two individuals present at the December meeting confirmed that Mamdani made the statements as described, while a third attendee said the unofficial transcript accurately matched his own notes from the session.

After Mamdani finished speaking, acting Columbia President Claire Shipman, who was chairing the meeting, publicly expressed appreciation for his comments and requested his input, formally referring to him as “senator.”

The remarks come as Columbia continues to face heavy criticism over its response to antisemitism, particularly following months of pro-Palestinian protests that erupted on campus after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.

Columbia is among several elite universities where demonstrations have featured chants widely denounced as antisemitic, rhetoric calling for Israel’s destruction, and significant disruptions to campus operations. Jewish students and advocacy organizations have accused university leadership of failing to protect them from harassment and intimidation.

The Trump administration has previously confronted Columbia and other universities over their handling of antisemitism, warning that federal funding could be jeopardized if institutions do not uphold civil rights protections for Jewish students.

As part of that effort, the administration has urged colleges to adopt clearer definitions of antisemitism and to discipline students and faculty involved in extremist or discriminatory behavior.

Columbia’s antisemitism task force was formed amid that federal pressure, alongside congressional probes examining whether universities violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by permitting a hostile environment for Jewish students.

University officials have maintained that the task force is a necessary mechanism to address antisemitism and ensure compliance with federal law, while critics within the campus community argue it has been wielded to silence political speech critical of Israel.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. defense and intelligence officials are examining specialized equipment acquired covertly in recent years that some investigators believe could be linked to the mysterious medical incidents known as Havana Syndrome, reopening a long-simmering dispute inside the government over the cause of the condition, according to CNN, citing multiple people briefed on the matter. The equipment […]

Why This Raffle? R’ Mendy Rosenberg z”l was a devoted Hatzolah member who saved lives and helped thousands. After being diagnosed with ALS, he endured years of suffering — yet still completed the entire Shas, inspiring Klal Yisrael with his strength and faith. He left behind his wife and five children. Mendy’s Legacy Fund helps […]

Trump on Greenland’s premier saying they prefer to stay with Denmark: “That’s going to be a big problem for him.”

REPORTER: Do you have a message for the leaders of Iran? TRUMP: “The message is they’ve got to show humanity. They’ve got a big problem, and I hope they’re not going to be killing people… it would seem to me that they have been badly misbehaving, but that is not confirmed.”

President Donald Trump is expected to announce the next stage of a U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire, advancing a strategy designed to marginalize Hamas terrorists and overhaul how the devastated territory is governed, according to a report published Tuesday by the Financial Times.

Despite doubts from some U.S. allies and a shortfall in international funding, officials in Washington and Jerusalem say they are pressing ahead with what they describe as “phase two” of the ceasefire arrangement that brought an end to more than two years of fighting, the report said.

This next phase is expected to focus on restructuring Gaza’s civil administration, increasing humanitarian access, and taking concrete steps to strip Hamas of control over civilian institutions within the enclave.

According to the Financial Times, the United States could present a new governance model for Gaza as soon as Wednesday. The plan would transfer daily administrative responsibilities from Hamas to a Palestinian technocratic committee.

The report said Nickolay Mladenov, a former United Nations envoy and Bulgarian defense minister, is slated to be appointed as “high representative” for Gaza. In that role, Mladenov would supervise a 14-member Palestinian technocratic panel responsible for restoring essential services and rebuilding civilian governing structures.

At the same time, the report noted that the formal launch of Trump’s proposed Board of Peace is expected to face delays.

U.S. and Israeli officials involved in shaping the plan argue that visible progress is achievable in the near term, pointing to potential “early wins” such as reopening the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, increasing medical assistance, and loosening restrictions on imports into Gaza.

Significant hurdles remain, however, including the absence of an international peacekeeping force and a major gap in reconstruction funding. The report said only about $1 billion has been secured so far, well below the tens of billions of dollars estimated to be necessary for rebuilding.

Western and Muslim nations have been hesitant to provide troops or substantial financial support while Israeli forces continue operating in parts of Gaza and Hamas terrorists maintain influence in other areas, the Financial Times reported.

Another unresolved issue is Hamas’ disarmament, which Israeli leaders insist must be addressed before any broad reconstruction effort or large-scale withdrawal of forces can take place.

The report also pointed to disagreements within policy circles over earlier aid initiatives, including the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-supported effort intended to deliver assistance while bypassing Hamas-controlled distribution channels.

That program encountered serious challenges, including security breakdowns and disputes over who was responsible for food shortages and deadly incidents near aid distribution centers.

Even so, officials in the Trump administration remain optimistic, citing the ceasefire itself and the release of Israeli hostages as evidence that their strategy is producing results. They are expected to seek further political and financial support at the Davos economic forum later this month.

{Matzav.com}

REPORTER: “Iran says that it will retaliate in the instance of U.S. strikes…” TRUMP: “Yeah, Iran said that the last time I blew them up with the nuclear capability, which they don’t have any longer, so… they better behave.”

A major development in Trump’s Fed feud is set to happen next week in the Supreme Court * A court case next week will likely be the next big development for the central bank in its quest to maintain political independence. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Jan. 21 related to President Donald Trump’s […]

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen rejected US President Donald Trump’s push to take control of the island, declaring Greenland would rather remain part of Denmark amid rising geopolitical tensions