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When Zohran Mamdani takes office at midnight on Jan. 1, he will become the first mayor of New York City to be sworn in on a Quran, according to city officials.

The initial oath will be administered in a private ceremony shortly after midnight at the long-abandoned Old City Hall subway station. State Attorney General Letitia James will conduct that swearing-in, while Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is scheduled to administer the oath again later in the day during public festivities.

Mamdani plans to use multiple copies of Islam’s holy book during the ceremonies. His spokesperson said the mayor-elect will rely on at least three Qurans across the private and public events.

Among them will be a Quran that belonged to his grandfather, along with another tied to the legacy of writer and historian Arturo Schomburg. That volume is being lent for the occasion by the New York Public Library and will be used during the midnight ceremony.

For the daytime swearing-in outside City Hall, Mamdani will again place his hand on his grandfather’s Quran, along with at least one additional family copy. The New York Times first reported the details, which were later confirmed by Mamdani’s representative.

Mamdani, who will be the first Muslim to lead City Hall, has spoken openly about faith and identity during his campaign. In October, after drawing criticism for appearing in a photograph with a controversial imam, he addressed the issue directly.

“The dream of every Muslim is simply to be treated as any other New Yorker, and yet for too long we have been told to ask for less than that and to be satisfied with whatever little we receive,” the progressive said at the time.

The use of the Schomburg Quran carries additional historical weight. Although Schomburg himself was not Muslim, the text was part of his extensive collection documenting Black history and culture. Born in Puerto Rico in 1874 and later settling in Harlem, Schomburg became a leading figure in promoting African American scholarship and research, according to the New York Public Library.

The selection of that Quran was made by senior advisor Zara Rahim and Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, working with Hiba Abid, the NYPL’s curator for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, the Times reported.

“It’s a highly symbolic choice because we’re about to have a Muslim mayor swearing in using the Quran but also a mayor who was born on the African continent, in Uganda,” Abid said.
“It really brings together here elements of faith, identity and New York history.”

Recent New York City mayors have frequently chosen religious texts with personal or historical significance for their inaugurations. Eric Adams, who served one term after withdrawing from his re-election bid, was sworn in on a family Bible in 2022 while holding a portrait of his late mother as the New Year’s Eve ball dropped in Times Square.

Bill de Blasio, when beginning his first term in 2014, selected a Bible once owned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. That historic volume briefly went missing after the ceremony, prompting concern before it was eventually recovered.

Michael Bloomberg, sworn in during the months following the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, placed his hand on the same Jewish Bible he had used at his bar mitzvah, according to a 2002 report.

At the federal level, former House Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota made history in 2007 as the first lawmaker to use a Quran during a congressional swearing-in, a precedent that Mamdani’s inauguration will now echo on the city stage.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s justice minister, Yariv Levin, on Wednesday sharply criticized a High Court interim order freezing roughly NIS 1 billion in government funding earmarked for chareidi education, calling on chareidi lawmakers to take immediate steps against the judiciary.

Earlier in the day, Yael Wilner issued an interim injunction halting the transfer of funds to chareidi educational institutions. The decision sparked furious reactions from chareidi members of Knesset, with Levin later joining the condemnation.

“I am joining the protests of my United Torah Judaism colleagues over the High Court’s decision regarding chareidi educational institutions,” Levin wrote in a public post. He urged lawmakers not to stop at statements alone, but to announce their immediate support for advancing a series of judicial reform bills that, he said, have been stalled in the Knesset for months.

“This is the best response to the deliberate harm being inflicted on the chareidi public,” Levin concluded.

Following the High Court’s move, the Yesh Atid party said it would not be satisfied with the interim injunction alone and plans to demand an expanded remedy. According to the party, the court should require chareidi teachers to return funds already received earlier in the day, since part of the frozen allocation had reportedly been transferred before the injunction took effect.

The chairman of Degel HaTorah, MK Moshe Gafni, responded with unusually harsh language, declaring that “the court has declared war on the chareidi public and on Torah institutions.” He accused the justices of intentionally harming educators’ livelihoods and damaging the entire system, vowing, “We will do everything to restore the situation to what it was.”

Shas likewise denounced the ruling, branding it “antisemitic harassment.” In a statement, the party said the High Court was “rampaging like a reckless driver on a crowded road, brutally and unprecedentedly running over the chareidi public — from robbing young children of their daily bread to undermining Torah study and the education of tens of thousands of students.”

“There are no judges in Yerushalayim, only a dangerous group of arsonists,” the statement continued, accusing the court of taking the chareidi community “hostage” in a desperate effort to preserve its waning power. Shas called on Jews worldwide to raise an outcry against what it termed “this antisemitic persecution,” adding that “the chareidi public will stand firm, like an impenetrable wall, against these malicious decisions.”

{Matzav.com}

IDF Central Command chief Avi Bluth warned Tuesday that forces must remain prepared for the possibility of a sudden outbreak of war. “The baseline scenario we must prepare for is readiness for a surprise war,” Bluth said at the conclusion of a surprise inspection of units in the West Bank, according to an IDF statement. […]

Amid renewed diplomatic maneuvering to halt the war, President Trump reacted sharply to claims relayed to him by Vladimir Putin that a Ukrainian drone operation had targeted the Russian leader’s residence. Speaking to reporters, Trump said he was upset by the allegation and stressed the sensitivity of the moment.

“I don’t like it; it’s not good. I heard about it this morning. You know who told me about it? President Putin told me about it,” Trump told reporters Monday, when asked about the strike. “Early in the morning, he said he was attacked. That’s no good. It’s no good.”

He continued by underscoring the stakes surrounding ongoing talks. “It’s a delicate period of time. This is not the right time,” he added, likely referring to ongoing peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. “It’s one thing to be offensive, because [Russia is] offensive, it’s another thing to attack [Putin’s] house. It’s not the right time to do any of that. … I was very angry about it.”

Pressed on whether there was proof of the alleged strike, Trump left the question open. “Well, we’ll find out. You’re saying maybe the attack didn’t take place? That’s possible, I guess, but President Putin told me this morning.”

The comments followed a phone call between Trump and Putin that came one day after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., where the two discussed the latest draft framework for ending the conflict.

Earlier, Moscow escalated its rhetoric. Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and now a senior figure on the country’s security council, issued a stark message aimed at Zelensky in a post on X, accusing him of sabotaging efforts to resolve the war.

“He wants war,” Medvedev continued, referring to Zelensky. “Well, now at least he’ll have to stay in hiding for the rest of his worthless life.”

Russian officials have asserted that Ukraine attempted to strike Putin’s northern residence using a large swarm of long-range drones, an allegation Kyiv flatly denies. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia’s negotiating posture was being reassessed in light of what he described as an overnight launch of 91 drones toward the area.

According to Lavrov, Russian air defenses intercepted every drone, and the incident resulted in no injuries or damage.

Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha dismissed the claim as fiction, saying Moscow has failed to substantiate it. Writing on X early Tuesday, he said Russia has offered no proof and will not be able to do so, adding, “And they won’t. because there’s none. No such attack happened.”

Sybiha went further, pointing to what he described as a pattern in Moscow’s conduct. “Russia has a long record of false claims — it’s their signature tactic. For instance, Russia claimed it wouldn’t attack Ukraine in the beginning of 2022,” he continued. “They also often accuse others of what they themselves plan to do. Their words should never be taken at face value.”

Even as U.S.-brokered talks continue, Russia has kept up its bombardment of Kyiv, fueling skepticism about Moscow’s intentions. Trump has said he believes Putin wants peace, despite the continued strikes.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. on Wednesday imposed sanctions on four firms operating in Venezuela’s oil sector and designated four additional oil tankers, which the U.S. accuses of being part of a shadow fleet serving Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government, as blocked property. The action is part of the Trump administration’s monthslong pressure campaign on Maduro. U.S. forces […]

[COMMUNICATED]

Shabbos Vayechi highlights an important and often overlooked message. As we read about Yaakov Avinu preparing for the end of his life and giving clear instructions regarding his kevurah, we are reminded that planning ahead is not only responsible but deeply rooted in Torah values.

Yet for many, end-of-life planning is postponed indefinitely. Even in the frum community, many are unaware of the practical and halachic details that can significantly affect kavod hameis and a family’s peace of mind. When these matters are addressed thoughtfully in advance, families avoid unnecessary stress and uncertainty during already difficult moments.

To help the community gain the clarity they need, NASCK is offering two free live workshops over Shabbos Vayechi weekend, presented by Rabbi Elchonon Zohn and followed by audience Q&A. Rabbi Zohn, a highly acclaimed expert in afterlife care, is widely respected for his deep knowledge and decades of practical experience advising rabbonim, chevros kadisha, and crisis-response organizations.

The Kevurah K’Halacha Workshop will address questions that rarely get discussed—questions many people don’t even realize they should be asking. These include what to consider when choosing a burial plot, how to evaluate Jewish cemeteries, whether kevurah in Eretz Yisrael is appropriate for one’s family, and other essential details. The workshop aims to give participants the clarity and confidence to make responsible, informed decisions for themselves and their family members.

The Cremation Crisis Workshop confronts an increasingly urgent issue: the rapid rise of cremation in the American Jewish community. Today, approximately half of American Jews who pass away are cremated—about 30,000 Jews each year. The likelihood is that someone in your extended circle—perhaps a coworker, neighbor, cousin, or old friend—is planning to be cremated. NASCK receives heartbreaking calls almost daily from individuals who discover too late that a loved one had arranged for cremation. In most cases, this choice stems not from ideology but from societal trends and a lack of early guidance.

In this workshop, you will learn why cremation is a profound tragedy for the neshamah and for Klal Yisrael, what is driving this growing trend, and how proactive, sensitive conversations can prevent someone you know from being cremated.

As we learn from Yaakov Avinu, the time to act is before a crisis. These workshops offer a meaningful opportunity to ensure proper kevurah—for you, for your family, and for every Jew.

Registration for both workshops is free HERE!

This tzedakah is for one family living in deep and painful financial distress. A mother and father doing everything they can, yet buried under crushing debt with no way out. They have children to care for — children who rely on them for food, clothing, schooling, and stability — while the weight of unpaid bills, […]

Beginning Thursday, residents in a handful of states who rely on federal assistance to buy groceries will face new limits on what they can put in their carts, with soda, candy, and other products newly off-limits under updated rules.

The changes apply first in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia, which are the earliest adopters of state waivers restricting purchases through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. At least 18 states are expected to follow with similar requests.

Federal officials backing the shift say the goal is to steer the $100 billion nutrition program toward healthier outcomes. The initiative has been championed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who have urged states to remove foods they consider harmful from eligibility under a program that serves roughly 42 million people nationwide.

“We cannot continue a system that forces taxpayers to fund programs that make people sick and then pay a second time to treat the illnesses those very programs help create,” Kennedy said in a statement in December.

Supporters of the waivers say cutting back on sugary drinks and snack foods could help curb chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes, priorities tied to Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again campaign.

Retailers and health policy specialists, however, warn that the rollout is happening faster than stores and states can realistically handle. They say SNAP systems are already strained by funding cuts, and many states have not issued clear or comprehensive lists of which items are banned. Technical hurdles at checkout counters also vary widely by retailer and location. Researchers are also divided on whether limiting SNAP purchases meaningfully improves nutrition or long-term health.

The National Retail Federation has cautioned that shoppers should expect longer lines and more confusion at registers as customers and cashiers navigate the new rules.

A standard notice accompanying coverage of the changes states that readers who register agree to applicable terms and privacy policies and may receive communications and advertising from affiliated media companies.

“It’s a disaster waiting to happen of people trying to buy food and being rejected,” said Kate Bauer, a nutrition science expert at the University of Michigan.

Industry groups say the costs could be substantial. A report from the National Grocers Association and allied trade organizations estimated that retailers would spend about $1.6 billion upfront to implement the restrictions, followed by roughly $759 million in additional annual expenses.

“Punishing SNAP recipients means we all get to pay more at the grocery store,” said Gina Plata-Nino, SNAP director for the anti-hunger advocacy group Food Research & Action Center.

The policy marks a sharp break from decades of federal practice. SNAP was created in 1964 and later governed by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which allows benefits to be used for “any food or food product intended for human consumption,” with limited exceptions such as alcohol, tobacco, and hot prepared foods. Over the years, proposals to bar purchases like steak, chips, or ice cream have repeatedly failed.

Those earlier efforts were turned down after USDA research found that restrictions would be expensive to administer, difficult to enforce, and unlikely to significantly alter buying habits or reduce health problems like obesity.

Under the second Trump administration, states have been encouraged — and in some cases incentivized — to revisit the idea. This time, several moved quickly.

“This isn’t the usual top-down, one-size-fits-all public health agenda,” Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said when announcing his state’s waiver request last spring. “We’re focused on root causes, transparent information and real results.”

Collectively, the five waivers taking effect Jan. 1 affect about 1.4 million people. Utah and West Virginia will block SNAP purchases of soda and soft drinks, Nebraska will ban soda and energy drinks, Indiana will restrict soft drinks and candy, and Iowa has adopted the broadest limits so far. Iowa’s rules cover taxable foods like soda and candy as well as certain prepared items.

“The items list does not provide enough specific information to prepare a SNAP participant to go to the grocery store,” Plata-Nino wrote in a blog post. “Many additional items — including certain prepared foods — will also be disallowed, even though they are not clearly identified in the notice to households.”

For recipients like Marc Craig, 47, of Des Moines, the changes feel personal. Craig, who said he has been living out of his car since October, relies on $298 a month in SNAP benefits. He worries the new rules will make it harder to budget and will intensify the embarrassment he already feels at checkout counters.

“They treat people that get food stamps like we’re not people,” Craig said.

According to the Agriculture Department, the waivers approved now and in the coming months will remain in place for two years, with the option for states to extend them for up to three more. Each participating state must evaluate how the restrictions affect participants and outcomes.

Public health experts caution that the policy may miss the bigger picture. Anand Parekh, chief health policy officer at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, said focusing solely on SNAP ignores broader structural problems.

“This doesn’t solve the two fundamental problems, which is healthy food in this country is not affordable and unhealthy food is cheap and ubiquitous,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump said Wednesday that National Guard troops will be pulled out of three major cities where they had been stationed to help deter crime and support federal immigration enforcement.

The announcement came days after the Supreme Court declined to intervene in the administration’s effort to overturn a lower court ruling that blocked the deployment of roughly 300 National Guard troops to Chicago to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The administration had argued that the deployment was justified under a federal statute allowing the president to assume control of the National Guard when he determines that the law cannot be carried out using “regular forces.”

Despite the legal setback, Trump insisted that the Guard’s presence had already made a dramatic difference in the cities where troops were sent. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, “We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact.”

The president went on to argue that federal intervention had prevented a complete breakdown of public safety in those areas. “Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago were GONE if it weren’t for the Federal Government stepping in,” he wrote. “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again – Only a question of time!”

Trump also sharply criticized local leadership in the affected cities, expressing disbelief that officials would oppose the continued presence of federal forces. “It is hard to believe that these Democrat Mayors and Governors, all of whom are greatly incompetent, would want us to leave, especially considering the great progress that has been made???”

{Matzav.com}

The petition filed by the Yesh Atid party on Tuesday against the transfer of approximately one billion shekels to Chareidi educational institutions was accepted by the Supreme Court, and Justice Yael Wilner announced an interim order freezing the transfer of the funds on Wednesday evening Chairman of Degel HaTorah MK Moshe Gafni responded to the decision: […]

President Donald Trump said he’s dropping — for now — his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, a move that comes after legal roadblocks held up the effort. “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again – Only […]

President Donald Trump on Wednesday sharply criticized Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass after she suggested that Hispanic U.S. Border Patrol agents are motivated to take the job primarily because of financial pressures.

“Our Enlistment Numbers are at RECORDS, and we’ll keep it that way,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social. “There is no group I am more proud of than Border Patrol and ICE, and nobody understands the Border better than our fantastic Hispanic population, which continues to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Trump also defended Border Patrol leadership and highlighted the agency’s demographics in the same post.

“[National Border Patrol Council President] Paul Perez and the Border Patrol have done a fantastic job, and so proud that more than half are of Hispanic heritage, which Los Angeles’ incompetent Mayor, Karen Bass (who hasn’t even gotten the permits for people rebuilding their homes after the record setting fire that took place), and other Third Rate Politicians, are complaining about,” Trump wrote.

The comments followed a question Bass answered during a CNN interview prompted by a report showing an increase in Hispanic Americans joining the Border Patrol. Speaking with Wolf Blitzer, Bass expressed skepticism about how those recruits might view their work once on the job.

“I think that those Border Patrol agents are going to have a difficult time when they’re out in the field and they see what actually happens in real life, separate from their training,” she told Blitzer. “But I do understand that their primary incentive is financial. I think it just speaks to the financial situation that millions of Americans find themselves in.”

The Hill said it reached out to Bass’s office seeking comment following Trump’s remarks.

Bass’s comments drew a strong response from Paul Perez, president of the National Border Patrol Council, who appeared on Fox News later Wednesday. Perez said Bass’s characterization was wrong and offensive to agents of Hispanic background.

“She doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” Perez said during the interview, adding that the remarks were upsetting for Hispanic Border Patrol agents.

“We’re all Border Patrol agents, we all want to do the job,” Perez told Fox News co-host Griff Jenkins. “What she should concentrate on, what is sad, is her having a sanctuary city and not allowing the [Los Angeles Police Department] assist Border Patrol or [Immigration and Customs Enforcement].”

A standard disclaimer accompanying coverage of the issue notes that readers who register agree to terms of use and privacy policies and may receive communications and advertising from affiliated media outlets.

The exchange is the latest chapter in a long-running feud between Trump and Bass. The mayor has frequently criticized the president, and Trump has repeatedly targeted her leadership.

After Trump previously floated the idea of using the military to train in Democratic-run cities, Bass accused him of “creating warfare within” those cities. Earlier this year, following destructive wildfires in Los Angeles, Trump referred to Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom as “incompetent.”

When asked about that label during an August interview with CNN, Bass dismissed it outright.

“I know that he has an ongoing feud with the governor, but, you know, again, he calls everyone incompetent,” she told CNN host Erin Burnett. “He’s called all of the mayors from the cities that he’s targeted as incompetent. So, it does leave you wondering how he makes those judgments, but, clearly they’re not based in facts.”

{Matzav.com}

WSJ: Saks Global, owner of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy within days after missing an interest payment of more than $100 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The company has struggled under heavy debt since its 2024 merger and has also faced delays paying […]

US forces targeted three suspected narco-trafficking vessels traveling in international waters. Three narco-terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed in the initial strike.

Wall Street closed out another banner year for stocks Wednesday with a downbeat finish that extended the market’s recent losing streak to a fourth day. The S&P 500 gave up 0.7%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6% and the Nasdaq composite closed 0.8% lower. Trading volume was very thin ahead of the New Year’s […]

President Donald Trump on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Minnesota’s Democratic leadership, accusing state officials of presiding over widespread fraud and linking the allegations to illegal immigration.

In an early-morning post on Truth Social, Trump took direct aim at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. “Tim Waltz of Minnesota is a Crooked Governor!!!” Trump wrote at 9:26 a.m. ET.

About an hour and a half later, Trump escalated his remarks, asserting that “much of the Minnesota Fraud, up to 90%,” stems from people who “came into our Country, illegally, from Somalia.” In that same message, he singled out Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., while calling for those involved in fraud schemes to be deported.

Trump described Omar as “an ungrateful loser who only complains and never contributes,” and claimed she was among the “many scammers” tied to the alleged misconduct.

He also repeated a long-standing allegation about Omar’s family life — an accusation she has previously denied.

Trump’s comments come against the backdrop of expanding investigations and prosecutions in Minnesota related to alleged misuse of public funds during the COVID-era response, particularly involving meal programs and social services.

The New York Post has reported that federal prosecutors have charged nearly 90 individuals in connection with what it characterized as a sweeping fraud operation centered in the Somali community within Omar’s congressional district. The paper noted that Omar herself has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing.

The Post also examined Omar’s personal finances, reporting a sharp rise in her wealth over recent years. According to the outlet, her most recent financial disclosures list assets valued between roughly $6 million and $30 million, compared with a negative net worth when she first entered Congress.

In addition, the newspaper reviewed business ventures associated with Omar’s husband, political consultant Tim Mynett, including a venture capital firm and a winery project, raising questions about asset valuations and financial transparency.

Mynett has not been charged in any of the Minnesota fraud cases cited by the Post, and some of the matters referenced were described as having been resolved outside of court.

The political fallout has intensified as Republicans ramp up congressional scrutiny. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., announced that the panel will hold a hearing next week titled “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part I,” scheduled for Jan. 7.

Comer has also invited Gov. Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to testify before the committee on Feb. 10, accusing state leaders of being “asleep at the wheel or complicit” while taxpayer money was allegedly drained from public programs.

Trump, who has made border enforcement and government accountability central themes of his agenda, pointed to the Minnesota cases as evidence that weak immigration controls and lax oversight reinforce one another.

Many conservatives argue that when Washington and Democratic-led states expand taxpayer-funded benefits without strong safeguards, those programs become magnets for fraud — and they say Minnesota has now become a high-profile example.

Democrats, meanwhile, have rejected broad political claims linking fraud to immigration status, stressing that criminal allegations should be addressed through investigations and the judicial system rather than sweeping generalizations.

{Matzav.com}

A powerful Shabbos experience focused on strengthening emunah and bitachon is set to take place this winter in New Jersey, bringing together leading rabbonim, gifted speakers, and families from across the region for an immersive, uplifting weekend.

The 5th Annual Shabbos of Emunah & Bitachon will be held February 6–8 at The Westin Princeton, NJ, offering participants a rare opportunity to step away from the pressures of daily life and reconnect with clarity, purpose, and inner strength through Torah, tefillah, and meaningful human connection.

At the heart of the Shabbos is Rabbi Sholom M. Rubashkin, whose personal journey and teachings on faith and trust have inspired tens of thousands around the world. Throughout the Shabbos, Rabbi Rubashkin will deliver powerful addresses, lead spirited seud­os and oneg Shabbos, and engage in personal conversations with attendees. Special sessions for women will be presented by Rabbi Rubashkin together with Mrs. Rubashkin, offering depth, chizuk, and practical guidance.

The program features an exceptional lineup of singers and speakers, each bringing a unique voice and perspective to the themes of emunah and bitachon, including Avraham Fried, Rabbi Joey Haber, Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Rabbi Shloime Taussig, and Rabbi Getzel Rubashkin. Together, they will create an atmosphere of inspiration that speaks to the heart and resonates long after Shabbos ends.

Beyond the powerful content, the Shabbos is designed as a complete experience. Guests will enjoy luxury accommodations and a five-star menu, creating an environment of menuchas hanefesh that allows participants to fully absorb the message of the weekend. Inspiring tefillos, warm communal moments, and carefully curated programming ensure that every aspect of Shabbos contributes to spiritual elevation.

The event is truly for the entire family. Alongside adult programming, there will be special sessions for teens, an exciting and meaningful kids’ program led by Rabbi Motty Zeiger, and babysitting for infants—making it possible for parents to participate fully while knowing their children are engaged and cared for.

Over the years, the Shabbos of Emunah & Bitachon has earned a reputation as a life-changing experience for individuals and families alike. Many attendees describe leaving recharged, refocused, and better equipped to face life’s challenges with calm, confidence, and trust in Hashem.

Registration information and additional details are available at bitachonshabbos.com and alephbeisgimmel.com, or by calling or texting (732) 354-1496.

{Matzav.com}

Federal immigration agents are not planning to scale back their operations in Chicago anytime soon, according to U.S. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, who has repeatedly emphasized that enforcement efforts in the city are intended to last.

“Don’t worry, Chicago, we will be here for YEARS!” Bovino wrote in an online post last week.

“Despite calls for violence against our agents, the brave men and women of the United States Border Patrol have come together and developed serious plans to help Chicago rid their streets of criminal illegal aliens. We work for YOU,” he added.

Those remarks followed a statement Bovino issued Tuesday, amid ongoing backlash and protests over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the Windy City. In that message, he dismissed suggestions that federal authorities were preparing to leave.

“If you think we’re done with Chicago, you’d better check yourself before you wreck yourself,” Bovino wrote on the social platform X.

“Don’t call it a comeback; we’re gonna be here for years,” he added.

The post was accompanied by a video montage showing immigration officers chasing, tackling, and arresting individuals, set to “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J. In one segment of the clip, an officer appears to gesture mockingly by waving his finger through a hole in his pants. The footage drew sharp criticism from some Chicago residents, many of whom have protested federal immigration actions with large demonstrations.

Tensions escalated earlier this fall. In September, the Department of Homeland Security said that more than 100 demonstrators “surrounded” an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center. According to DHS, protesters “assaulted law enforcement, threw tear gas cans, slashed tires of cars, blocked the entrance of the building and trespassed on private property.”

The department said at least three people were arrested and claimed that local police “refused” to respond to “multiple” requests for assistance.

A standard disclaimer accompanying coverage of the issue notes that readers who register agree to terms of use and privacy policies and may receive communications and advertising from affiliated media outlets.

The standoff has also strained relations with local authorities. Confusion and conflict between federal agents and the Chicago Police Department have been reported during several confrontations.

In early October, officials said 27 Chicago police officers were “affected” by chemical agents released by federal officers during clashes with protesters near enforcement sites.

Despite the controversy and interagency friction, Bovino has continued to insist that federal immigration operations in Chicago are not temporary. His repeated online statements underscore the administration’s position that the city will remain a focal point of enforcement efforts for the foreseeable future.

{Matzav.com}

The Jan. 6., 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol “does not happen” without Donald Trump, former special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers earlier this month in characterizing the Republican president as the “most culpable and most responsible person” in the criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee […]

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a senior Treasury official says plans are being explored for new currency that would feature President Donald Trump.

U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Wednesday that he is pursuing the idea of issuing a $250 bill bearing Trump’s likeness, tying the proposal to the nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial.

“When Trump appointed me to the job, I told him I wanted to do a $250 bill with his picture on the 250th birthday celebration” of the U.S., Beach told the Caller, while noting that current law would first need to be changed by Congress, since presidents must be deceased to appear on paper currency.

Beach said that if Congress passes such legislation and it is signed into law, he would move immediately to begin work on the new $250 bill, which would rank among the highest-denomination notes in circulation.

In his role as U.S. treasurer, Beach oversees the production of the nation’s paper money and coins, including direct supervision of the U.S. Mint and Fort Knox.

Before joining the Treasury Department, Beach spent more than ten years as a Republican member of the Georgia State Senate and was appointed to his current post by Trump in May.

The proposed $250 bill is not the only Trump-related currency under consideration. Beach said in October that design work is already underway on a $1 coin that would feature Trump’s image.

That effort follows congressional passage of the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act, which authorizes the Treasury Department to mint special $1 coins to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary, with issuance set to begin on July 4.

Beach emphasized that the planned Trump $1 coin would function as everyday money. “It is going to be legal tender,” he told the Caller.

“This is not a commemorative coin. You can go in and buy something with this $1 coin with Trump’s picture on it,” he said.

Beyond the semiquincentennial designs, Beach added that the administration is also preparing additional coin releases to mark other major events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when most matches are scheduled to take place in large U.S. cities.

{Matzav.com}