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Jim Beam has announced that it will suspend operations at its primary bourbon-making facility in Kentucky beginning January 1, even as the broader whiskey industry grapples with slowing demand and shifting consumer habits.

In a statement sent to CBS News, the company said its Clermont, Kentucky distillery will shut down production for a limited period “while we take the opportunity to invest in site enhancements.” Despite the pause, Jim Beam noted that the James B. Beam campus will remain open to the public throughout the shutdown.

While activity at the main site will be paused, distilling will continue at other company facilities. Production will carry on at the Fred B. Noe craft distillery in Clermont as well as the Booker Noe distillery located in Boston, Kentucky.

The temporary shutdown comes during a challenging period for the spirits industry. Americans are drinking less overall, with Gallup reporting that only 54% of U.S. adults now consume alcohol — a level close to a 90-year low.

International sales have also taken a hit. According to an October report from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, exports of American-made spirits dropped 9% in the second quarter. The report pointed to the impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, noting especially sharp declines in shipments to Canada. Exports to that market plunged 85% after Canadian retailers removed U.S. spirits from store shelves in response to President Trump’s trade measures.

Domestic production data reflects the slowdown as well. Through August, whiskey makers produced 55 million fewer proof gallons than during the same period last year, a decrease of 28%, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. A proof gallon is defined as one U.S. gallon of liquid containing 50% alcohol by volume.

Even so, consumers are unlikely to see shortages anytime soon. Kentucky distilleries are currently storing a record 16.1 million barrels of aging bourbon, according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. Reported in October, that figure represents the highest total since Prohibition ended and marks a 27% increase compared with 2024.

Industry groups attribute the buildup to both a growing number of distillers operating in Kentucky and a recent cooling in demand. Trade uncertainty, softer export markets, and changes in drinking patterns have all contributed to the slowdown, the association said.

To qualify as bourbon, whiskey must meet specific U.S. legal standards. Among other requirements, it must be aged in new, charred oak containers and made from a grain mixture containing at least 51% corn, according to the whiskey tourism site Bourbon Country.

{Matzav.com}

Two Tunisian nationals were convicted of plotting an Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack targeting Jews in the Manchester area. Prosecutors said the men planned to launch an attack at an antisemitism march before heading to north Manchester to kill more Jews. The plot was disrupted after they unknowingly revealed their plans to an undercover counter-terrorism officer. […]

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For those who crave serious Torah, total immersion, and an atmosphere charged with intensity and purpose, the announcement of the Agudah 5786 Yarchei Kallah in Yerushalayim lands like a jolt of electricity. This winter, Agudath Israel of America will once again bring together lomdei Torah from around the world for five unforgettable days of learning in Yerushalayim, from Sunday, February 15 through Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The Yarchei Kallah is a full-throttle ascent into a single sugya, treated with focus, clarity, and discipline, from the first seder to the last. In the span of one week, participants work toward real mastery, guided by a carefully structured program that pairs high-level shiurim with serious hachanah and in-depth preparation.

At the center of the week are shiurim from Gedolei Yisroel, whose presence sets the tone and elevates the entire experience.

The atmosphere is unmistakable. Hundreds of bnei Torah learning shoulder to shoulder. The hum of chavrusos locked in debate. Tables filled from early morning until late at night. A sense that every moment matters, that this is time reclaimed and used properly.

And while the learning is intense, everything around it is designed to support it. Comfortable hotel accommodations, gourmet meals, and seamless logistics allow participants to stay focused, energized, and fully present in the beis medrash, without distractions pulling them away.

The Yarchei Kallah has long been known as a place where people come to reset their learning, raise their level, and reconnect with why they learn in the first place. In Yerushalayim, during these charged winter days, that impact is felt even more sharply.

For those ready to push harder, think deeper, and experience what a week of real Torah immersion can feel like, the Yarchei Kallah 5786 is on the calendar — and it promises to be nothing short of powerful.

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Two men who plotted a mass-casualty gun attack aimed at British Jews—an assault police say could have become the deadliest terrorist atrocity in UK history—have been found guilty after their plan was dismantled by an undercover operative. Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were convicted at Preston Crown Court of planning acts of terrorism […]

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu warned on Monday of a “very severe response” should Iran take action against Israel, while emphasizing that the Jewish state is “not seeking confrontation.”​

Speaking at a joint press conference in Yerushalayim alongside the leaders of Greece and Cyprus, the premier said that Israel is aware of recent Iranian “exercises,” referring to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps missile drill which, according to Axios, Israel has warned the Trump administration could be a cover for a strike against Israel.

“We are following this and we are making the necessary preparations,” said Netanyahu. “I want to make it clear to Iran here, any action against Israel will be met with a very severe response.”​

Netanyahu spoke following a trilateral summit with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

​Asked if the Islamic Republic would be on the table during his sixth meeting with President Donald Trump, scheduled for Dec. 29 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Netanyahu affirmed that it will be discussed, saying that “we are not seeking confrontation with anyone … we seek stability, prosperity and peace.” The premier added that there were “great achievements” during the 12-day war with Iran in June, stressing that “our basic expectations from Iran have not changed,” a position that Washington shares, namely, “the level of enrichment and other activities, the ending of the proxy wars against us.”​

Huckabee: Iran didn’t get Trump’s full message​

In a video aired on Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee responded to reports that the Islamic Republic is attempting to rebuild its nuclear and missile programs just six months after the joint Israeli-American operation, arguing that Tehran’s actions pose a threat to the entire world, not just the Jewish state.

“Iran, I don’t know if they ever took him [Trump] seriously, until the night that the B-2 bombers went to Fordow. I hope they got the message, but apparently they didn’t get the full message,” he said during an interview with the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. “They appear to be trying to reconstitute and find a new way to dig the hole deeper, secure it more,” he added.​

Huckabee stressed that Iran threatens not just Israel, but the United States and Europe, and warned that if the Europeans fail to comprehend this, “then they’re dumber than I sometimes think they are.” At the same time, he said he was pleased that snapback sanctions were recently reimposed against the regime in Tehran, calling them “very important” and saying that more of these types of actions “will help to maybe choke off Iran’s ability to do what they’re trying to do.”​

Huckabee emphasized that the Iranian regime has “threatened America for 46 consecutive years” since 1979, when the ayatollahs took power.​

“They’ve always said, ‘Death to Israel, death to America,’ in the same sentence. This was never a separation. Israel is only the appetizer because you’re closer and you’re an easier target than the vast geographical expanse that represents the United States,” said Huckabee.​

“But they’ve never hidden the fact that the real entrée, their ultimate goal, is to destroy the United States, because if you want to destroy Western civilization and move the world back to the 7th century and take us back to a place that, thank God, doesn’t exist anymore, then you cannot do that without taking the United States down,” the diplomat continued. “And that’s why they have said for all of these 46 years, ‘Death to America.’” JNS

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. economy grew at a surprisingly strong 4.3% annual rate in the third quarter, the most rapid expansion in two years, as government and consumer spending, as well as exports, all increased. U.S. gross domestic product from July through September — the economy’s total output of goods and services — rose from its 3.8% […]

Brown University’s president on Monday placed its campus police chief on leave as the Rhode Island university reviews its security policies after a gunman killed two students and injured nine others earlier this month. Questions surrounding Brown’s security policies have only intensified since the Dec. 13 shooting that rocked the Providence community and led to […]

A head-to-head clash between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the 2028 Republican primary is unlikely, Rep. Mike Lawler said Monday, suggesting instead that the two could ultimately join forces.

Speaking on CNN’s “The Arena” with Kasie Hunt, the New York Republican said, “frankly, I think it’s more likely that you’ll have a Vance-Rubio ticket than anything else.” While stopping short of a formal endorsement, Lawler said the vice president would enter the race with a clear advantage, calling him a “formidable candidate” who has a “leg up” should he decide to run.

Lawler also framed the next cycle as crowded and competitive. “It’s going to be a robust 2028 cycle,” he said. “I know many of the players involved and considering it, and like and respect many of them. But of course, it’s always healthy to have debate and discussion.”

Vance has not declared his intentions but has left open the possibility of a presidential bid. He received a prominent endorsement last week from Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA and the widow of Charlie Kirk, during the organization’s AmericaFest gathering in Phoenix. “We are going to get my husband’s friend, JD Vance, elected as 48 in the most resounding way possible,” she told the crowd.

Recent polling underscores Vance’s early strength. In Race to the White House’s national polling average, the vice president holds more than 45 percent support among potential Republican contenders. He is followed by Rubio, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump Jr., and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, with support levels of 10.9 percent, 9.4 percent, 8.6 percent, and 4.2 percent, respectively.

Reports have also pointed to a cooperative relationship between the vice president and the secretary of state. Politico said last month that Rubio would support Vance if he entered the race, and Vance told the New York Post in October that Rubio is his “best friend” in the Trump administration.

Not everyone in the party is on board. Sen. Rand Paul suggested in an interview with ABC News on Sunday that Vance would not be his top choice for 2028, pointing to disagreements with the administration’s protectionist trade agenda.

Despite policy differences, Lawler praised the vice president’s abilities, describing him as “one of the smartest and most articulate” Republicans in national politics. He added that a general-election debate between Vance and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would be a “debate for all ages.”

Ocasio-Cortez last week drew attention to a survey showing her narrowly ahead of Vance in a hypothetical 2028 matchup, with 51 percent support to his 49 percent.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 4.3% in the third quarter in the government’s initial estimate, marking an acceleration from 3.8% growth recorded in the previous quarter.

The Louvre Museum has installed metal bars over the windows of the Apollo Gallery, where crown jewels were stolen in a daylight robbery that took place 2 months ago, as part of strengthened security measures to prevent any future break-ins at the Paris landmark.

In a mall in Toronto, footage shows a mid day robbery at a Charm Diamond Centre. One bystander is seen hitting one of the suspects with a cane before the group flees. All 5 suspects were arrested shortly afterward.

JOE KERNEN: What you hear is tariffs are a tax on US companies, and when you tax something, you get less of it. How do you dispute that? NAVARRO: As soon as you add that third-party foreign countries, it becomes not a tax but a form of leverage…

Kim Jong Un was seen with his daughter Ju Ae at the opening of several hotels in a newly announced “tourist hot zone,” highlighting Pyongyang’s effort to promote a curated image of leisure and economic growth.

WATCH: Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian Shahed drone using a U.S.-made M2 Browning heavy machine gun.

An atmosphere of excitement and uplift filled the bais medrash of Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok on Monday night during the Zos Chanukah tish held at the chassidus’ center in Yerushalayim’s Meah Shearim neighborhood. Hundreds of chassidim gathered for the tish were surprised and deeply moved when the Rebbe entered wearing the traditional kolpik hat.

While the Rebbe has worn the kolpik on isolated occasions in private settings—such as during bedikas chometz—this was the first time he donned the distinctive garment publicly for the entirety of a tish, before the assembled chassidim.

It is widely known that the Rebbe is a devoted talmid and deeply bound, heart and soul, to the Rebbes of the Vizhnitz dynasty, foremost among them the Imrei Chaim and Yeshuos Moshe. Having drawn from their wellsprings throughout his formative years, the Rebbe has consistently instilled Vizhnitzer teachings and conduct among his followers, guiding his own path in accordance with their sacred traditions.

The kolpik has long been identified as the distinctive headgear of the Vizhnitzer Rebbes throughout the generations. Seeing it worn openly by the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe during a public tish was understood by chassidim as a powerful expression of the unbreakable bond between the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok court and the legacy of Vizhnitz.

PHOTOS:

{Matzav.com}

A chareidi mother who was forcefully shoved along with her daughters by police officers during a protest in Bnei Brak has spoken out sharply against what she described as police brutality, following the circulation of disturbing footage from the incident.

In an interview with Yaakov Grodka on Kol Barama Radio, the woman recounted the moments shown in the video, which spread widely on social media. “Nazis! Anyone who drags a small child along the road and pushes a mother who is trying to protect her. I have no other word for him,” she said. “He violently pulled my daughter when we were standing on a traffic island into the road. She’s a small child, she started crying, and when I tried to protect her, he pushed me too, and my other daughter as well.”

The mother stressed that she and her daughters were not participants in the demonstration. “We weren’t part of the protest. We came to shop and were standing on the side with our bags,” she said. “My daughter was just filming, and suddenly a police officer appeared out of nowhere and dragged us by force.”

The footage shows the mother and her daughter attempting to cross the road amid the protest in Bnei Brak. Police officers at the scene are seen using force against them, initially striking the mother and then pushing her without apparent cause, in full view of her daughter, who was also shoved.

In response to the video, Israel Police issued a statement rejecting the characterization of the incident. “These were not innocent women, but two women who were present at an illegal protest that led to the blocking of a road and disruption of public order,” police said. According to the statement, one of the women shouted insults at officers—calling them “Nazis”—and pushed a camera into an officer’s face. “Israel Police will continue to maintain public order and prevent harm to freedom of movement for road users,” the statement added.

{Matzav.com}

TEHILLIM: Former Jerusalem mayor and ba’al chessed Rabbi Uri Lupolianski is hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. Lupolianski, 74, was admitted in serious condition due to acute pneumonia and breathing difficulties. He previously was ill with cancer and recovered. Lupolianski founded and chaired the renowned Yad Sarah organization, the largest national volunteer organization […]

BORO PARK: The FDNY is on the scene of a 2 alarm structure fire at Sterns Bakery, located at 4322 15th Avenue near 44 Street. The extent of the damage is unknown. Additional details shortly.

The IDF announced on Tuesday that its forces carried out an airstrike, eliminating three Hezbollah terrorists involved in planning attacks against Israeli troops and in efforts to rebuild terror infrastructure in the Sidon region of southern Lebanon. One of the terrorists was simultaneously serving in the Lebanese Army’s intelligence unit. Another terrorist was responsible for […]