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New Jersey will once again require cursive writing instruction in its public schools, with a new law directing districts to teach the skill to students in grades three through five starting next fall.

Governor Phil Murphy signed the legislation on Monday, making cursive a formal part of the curriculum once again. Supporters of the measure argue that handwriting instruction equips students with practical life skills, including the ability to sign documents and manage everyday tasks such as opening bank accounts and writing checks.

“For those of us who grew up handwriting our school papers, it’s hard to imagine that some children can no longer read or write using cursive,” said bill supporter and state Assemblywoman Shanique Speight.

“Requiring that cursive be taught in our public schools will benefit our students and prepare them for the future, so I am pleased to see this bill signed into law.”

Murphy also framed the move in a broader historical context, pointing to the nation’s approaching 250th anniversary and emphasizing the importance of giving students direct access to foundational texts through penmanship. He said cursive instruction allows students to “read our nation’s founding documents.

“We owe it to our students to give them a well-rounded education that ensures they have the tools to fully understand our rich history and become competent leaders,” Murphy said in a statement.

According to the governor’s office, the requirement will take effect with the next full academic year.

State Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer said the change reinforces the state’s educational goals by integrating traditional skills with modern learning standards.

“By embedding cursive instruction into the curriculum for grades three through five, this legislation strengthens our commitment to a well-rounded education that prepares students for real-world tasks, helps them connect with historical texts, and complements other learning,” Dehmer said.

Cursive instruction largely disappeared from classrooms around 2010, when the Common Core standards were introduced and districts shifted focus away from handwriting. In recent years, however, several states have reconsidered that approach.

New Jersey now joins states such as California and New Hampshire that have reinstated cursive as a required part of elementary education.

In New York, cursive remains optional at the district level, though efforts have been made to change that. A bill introduced by state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island, would mandate cursive instruction statewide, but it has failed to advance despite being introduced repeatedly over the past decade.

“The notion that a pupil could graduate from twelve years of education without knowing how to sign his or her name in cursive is unacceptable,” according to her proposal.

“This bill would require that this fundamental building block of our children’s education be removed from schools simply because they are not required as part of any of the numerous standardized tests students are subjected to.”

Back in New Jersey, the cursive mandate drew broad support from lawmakers across the state.

“Cursive writing is not about nostalgia – it’s about development,” said state Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie.

“From a learning-science perspective, handwriting engages neural pathways connected to literacy, attention and memory,” she said.

Murphy left office on Tuesday, with Democrat Mikie Sherrill being sworn in as New Jersey’s new governor later that day.

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset on Tuesday approved in a preliminary reading a bill that would advance regulation to allow ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft to operate in Israel. The bill passed by a vote of 37-2, receiving broad support in a rare show of bipartisan cooperation. It was co-sponsored by Blue and White MK Eitan […]

A House committee advanced bipartisan contempt resolutions Wednesday targeting Bill and Hillary Clinton, escalating a dispute over their refusal to appear for sworn testimony connected to the panel’s investigation.

Members of the House Oversight Committee approved a measure recommending contempt charges against Bill Clinton by a 34–8 vote, citing his failure to comply with a subpoena seeking testimony about his ties to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. A separate resolution addressing Hillary Clinton’s refusal to testify passed by a 28–15 margin.

The subpoenas at issue were authorized last July, when Oversight Committee members and staff from both parties agreed to compel testimony from the Clintons. Despite that action, neither appeared for depositions.

Committee leaders said the stalemate followed months of negotiations between the Clintons’ legal team and Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), which did not result in voluntary compliance.

Several Democrats crossed party lines to support the contempt measures, joining Republicans in backing both resolutions against the former first couple.

{Matzav.com}

Mexico sent 37 cartel members to United States at the request of the U.S. Justice Department, with President Claudia Sheinbaum saying Wednesday that it was a “sovereign decision” by her government. Sheinbaum responded to criticism from analysts and opponents who said that the transfers on Tuesday were the result of mounting pressure from Washington. U.S. […]

One of the most beautiful if not the most breathtaking state in America, with gorgeous weather in the summer months, this is the place to be, if you are the adventures type who is looking for a structured program with daily trips and activities every single day, Alaska should be your #1 go to.For Bochurim […]

President Trump said he has reached what he described as a preliminary framework for a future agreement involving Greenland, announcing at the same time that he will no longer move forward with planned tariffs on European countries that were set to take effect next month.

“We have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump wrote on Truth Social following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

“This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations. Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st,” he added.

The announcement marks a significant shift in what had become one of the most heated disputes between the Trump administration and European governments. While the president characterized the development as a breakthrough, no specific details of the framework were immediately released.

Trump has repeatedly stated his interest in U.S. control of Greenland, a vast island in the North Atlantic, while Denmark has consistently insisted it intends to retain sovereignty over the territory.

As European leaders resisted Trump’s push on Greenland, the president responded earlier this week by threatening sweeping trade penalties. He warned of a 10% tariff “on any and all goods” imported into the United States from the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland, with the rate scheduled to rise to 25% beginning June 1.

That plan has now been withdrawn. Trump said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will take the lead in negotiations related to Greenland.

Greenland also dominated Trump’s address Wednesday to the World Economic Forum, where he made clear that military action is not part of his approach.

“I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

“All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland,” he added.

The president openly criticized Denmark’s refusal to agree to U.S. control of the island, dismissively referring to Greenland as a “piece of ice.”

“We want a piece of ice for world protection — and they won’t give it,” he said.

“So they have a choice. You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember.”

Trump pointed to historical precedent, noting that the United States administered Greenland during World War II after Denmark fell to Nazi Germany, before returning it at the war’s end.

“After the war, we gave Greenland back to Denmark. How stupid were we to do that? But we did it. But how ungrateful are they now?”

“We’ve never asked for anything else and we could have kept that piece of land and we didn’t sell,” he continued. “They have a choice. You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative — or you can say no and we will remember.”

The president again stressed his argument that American control of Greenland is necessary to counter potential threats from China and Russia, citing the island’s strategic position in the Arctic.

“If there is a war, much of the action will take place on that piece of ice, think of it. Those missiles will be flying right over the center of that piece of ice,” he said.

In his statement announcing the framework, Trump said the discussions would also include The Golden Dome, the missile defense system he has proposed to protect the United States from incoming attacks.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s foreign minister issued the most direct threat yet Wednesday against the United States after Tehran’s bloody crackdown on protesters, warning the Islamic Republic will be “firing back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack.” The comments by Abbas Araghchi, who saw his invitation to the World Economic Forum in Davos rescinded over the killings, […]

The conference center hosting the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, has been evacuated. The circumstances behind the evacuation remain unclear at this time.

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein spoke out forcefully against efforts to assign blame to Israel’s attorney general for the recent tragedy at a Yerushalayim daycare facility, stressing that such an approach is fundamentally mistaken and contrary to Jewish belief.

In recorded remarks broadcast Tuesday evening on the Siach Yitzchok hotline, Rav Zilberstein addressed public claims that the disaster was the result of policies pursued by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, which critics say have restricted the chareidi community and led some parents to place children in unlicensed childcare settings.

According to the recording, Rav Zilberstein’s student, Rav Yaakov Ben Serouk, told listeners that when the rav learned of the tragic incident and heard the accusations circulating in the media, he reacted sharply and rejected them outright. Rav Zilberstein made clear that it is forbidden to speak in such terms or to attribute a tragedy of this nature to the actions of specific officials.

“Do not say such things,” Rav Zilberstein said. “A person must know that everything is from Shomayim. Our obligation is to strengthen ourselves and improve our ways, not to search for others to blame.”

Rav Zilberstein further explained that tragedies are meant to serve as a spiritual awakening. He said that such events are intended to prompt self-examination and repentance, with each individual reflecting on personal conduct and considering what message is being conveyed from Above.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump issued a stark warning to Hamas on Thursday, saying the terror group will be “blown away very quickly” if it fails to disarm in the near future. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump claimed that Hamas has already agreed to give up its weapons, despite public statements from the […]

As tensions simmered between the United States and Europe this week over President Donald Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, Russian officials, state-backed media and pro-Kremlin bloggers responded with a mixture of glee, gloating and wariness. Some touted Trump’s move as historic, while others said it weakens the European Union and NATO — something that Moscow would seem […]

Yaakov and Chani Katz, the parents of the baby Ari, z’l, who passed away in the daycare disaster in the Romema neighborhood of Jerusalem, slammed the incitement against the Chareidi sector and specifically against the daycare owner. Speaking to Kan News only hours after their baby’s levaya, they expressed full and unconditional support for the […]

A severe Arctic air mass is poised to sweep across the eastern United States in the days ahead, bringing life-threatening cold that will drive temperatures well below zero in some areas and into the single digits in others, prompting warnings for residents to remain indoors to avoid hypothermia.

Meteorologists say the cold wave will intensify as the week progresses, with major impacts expected across the Midwest and Northeast. Chicago, large parts of Michigan, and upstate New York are among the locations forecast to experience the harshest conditions.

“It is dangerously cold,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines told The NY Post. “This Arctic air — an Arctic blast — is coming. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

According to Kines, the Northeast will bear the brunt of the frigid conditions over the weekend, as temperatures plunge to roughly 30 degrees below what is typical for late January.

As the Arctic air pours south from Canada, residents in the most affected regions — including parts of Minnesota and Illinois — could face serious health risks if they remain outdoors for extended periods without adequate protection, Kines warned.

“If you have to go outside, respect the cold,” he said, urging people to dress in layers and limit time outdoors to essential trips only.

“When it’s that cold, it actually hurts sometimes when you first breathe in,” he said. “It’s nothing to sneeze at.”

The extreme cold could also strain power systems, as households increase heating use and potentially overload local electrical grids, Kines added.

In New York City, temperatures are expected to tumble into the low teens over the weekend, coinciding with a snowstorm forecast to arrive on Sunday, according to Kines.

The storm is expected to bring several inches of snow — “at least enough to shovel and plow” — to the city, he said.

Before the cold fully sets in, conditions in the city are expected to remain milder on Thursday, with a high near 45 degrees and a low around 29, forecasters said.

By Friday, skies will be partly sunny, with temperatures reaching a high of 36 and dipping to 12 overnight. Shabbos is expected to be even colder, with a high of just 19 degrees and a low of 12.

On Sunday, as snow falls across the city, temperatures are forecast to reach a high of 20 degrees and a low of 15, forecasters said.

Relief from the deep freeze is not expected until sometime after next week, Kines said.

“So if you don’t like the cold, you better jump on a plane soon,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Trump is now pulling back from his decision to slap tariffs on European countries over Greenland acquisition.

The Gerer community is mourning the passing of Reb Yosef Chaim (Yossel) Roshitzky z”l, an elder and respected figure among Gerer Chassidim, who passed away today at 95.

Reb Yossel was niftar after a long and full life marked by deep devotion to Torah, chassidus, and unwavering attachment to the rebbes of Gur. His levayah is scheduled to take place Wednesday evening, departing from his home on Simtas Menashe 3 in Bnei Brak, proceeding past the Gerer Beis Chassidim on Or Hachaim  and continuing to the cemetery in Ashdod.

Born in Lodz, Poland, on the 21st of Sivan 5690, Reb Yossel was the son of Reb Yitzchak and Mrs. Chaya Roshitzky. In 5695, his parents immigrated to Eretz Yisroel, settling in Yaffo. During his youth in Tel Aviv, he absorbed chassidus and Torah from the Rav of Wieruszow, Rav Shaul Moshe Zilberman, whose teachings left a lifelong impression on him.

When the Imrei Emes arrived in Eretz Yisroel, Reb Yossel forged a deep bond with the Rebbe, regularly entering to seek guidance, advice, and brachos. On one occasion, when he submitted a kvittel, the Imrei Emes read his name aloud as “Yosef Chaim.” Reb Yossel viewed this as a clear blessing for long life, a brachah that was fulfilled.

Throughout his life, he remained deeply attached to the successive Gerer rebbes, including the Beis Yisroel, the Lev Simcha, the Pnei Menachem, and the current Rebbe. He would describe the awe he felt before entering the Rebbe, recalling how his teeth would chatter from reverence. He once recounted entering the Pnei Menachem and momentarily forgetting what he wished to ask. The Rebbe smiled and encouraged him to remember, and when Reb Yossel finally spoke, the Rebbe immediately blessed him for everything he had intended to request. Reb Yossel later said he felt the Rebbe had known all along but wished to give him a sense of comfort.

In the first year of the Beis Yisroel’s leadership, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5709, travel conditions were extremely difficult. Nevertheless, Reb Yossel journeyed with great mesirus nefesh to be with his Rebbe. When he arrived, the Beis Yisroel remarked warmly, “Yossel is here as well,” words that Reb Yossel cherished for the rest of his life.

He enjoyed a particularly close relationship with the Lev Simcha, in part because his son, Reb Mordechai Shmuel, served the Rebbe faithfully. The Rebbe, in turn, showed him great affection and appreciation. Reb Yossel was also among the last members of the close circle of Rav Zev (Vove) Zilberstein.

Even in his advanced years, Reb Yossel continued to serve as a living example of a true chassid. During the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, he made a point of coming at least one day to learn in the beis medrash together with younger men. For many years, he learned b’chavrusa with his close friend Reb Yechezkel Eisenberg. When a kollel for working men was established, the two of them were the first chavrusashaft to arrive and learn together.

Until just two weeks ago, Reb Yossel was still walking the streets of Bnei Brak on his own, despite his advanced age. He also attended the levayah of the Rav of the Gerer community in Bnei Brak, Rav Yehuda Aryeh Leib Zilberstein, who passed away recently at the age of 67.

He is survived by a distinguished family devoted to Torah and communal service. His sons include Rav Yisrael Roshitzky, Rav of Mevo’os HaChermon, and Rav Mordechai Roshitzky, who served as an aide to the Lev Simcha and later as manager of the Satentzia of Gur. He is also survived by his daughter, Mrs. Zelman, wife of Rav Berel Zelman, manager of the Gerer consumer cooperative in Bnei Brak.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo discusses why the Supreme Court may be delaying its decision on President Trump’s tariffs and the legal uncertainty surrounding the case.

An Israeli court on Wednesday moved to release the driver suspected of killing 16-year-old bochur Naftali Zvi Kramer z”l in a traffic incident near Kiryat Gat, even as police immediately challenged the decision and secured a temporary delay.

The Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court ruled that the suspect be transferred to house arrest, but prosecutors filed an appeal on the spot. The court granted a 24-hour stay of the release, meaning the driver will remain behind bars until the appeal is heard.

Investigators are examining allegations that the driver caused Kramer’s death through negligence, along with other possible offenses. In his statement to police, the driver said he never noticed the bochur before the crash. During the hearing, police argued that the suspect posed a danger to the public, with a representative telling the court, “Instead of accelerating toward a crowd of people, one should brake. That is the proper course of action.”

Judge Yariv Ben David nonetheless determined that the driver could be released to strict house arrest with supervision and limitations on his movement. While acknowledging the fatal outcome, the judge pointed to a range of considerations weighing against continued detention, including findings from the investigation, video footage shown in court, the driver’s cooperation, his decision to stop the bus immediately after the collision, and the absence of any prior criminal history.

Summarizing his reasoning, the judge wrote, “Despite the severe outcome, I find that in these specific circumstances, an alternative less harmful than detention is appropriate and proportionate to both the act and the individual involved,” referring to the incident, which took place amid demonstrations at the Komemiyus Junction.

{Matzav.com}

CCTV captured the moment a storm surge flooded the dining room of an Italian seafront restaurant in Sicily’s Catania as Cyclone Harry struck the region.

A federal agent was involved in a shooting in Los Angeles. No one was struck by gunfire, and all suspects are in custody.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that U.S. control of Greenland is necessary to support construction of a massive “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, arguing that the project would also safeguard Canada and underscoring his view that Ottawa relies heavily on American security.

Addressing participants at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the proposed defense network would automatically extend protection north of the U.S. border. “We’re building a Golden Dome that’s going to, just by its very nature, going to be defending Canada. Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful also,” he told the audience.

Trump went on to criticize Canada’s leadership, saying he was unimpressed by remarks delivered a day earlier by the Canadian prime minister. “But they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful. They should be grateful to us, Canada. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s appearance at the forum.

Whether Canada will ultimately join the Golden Dome initiative remains uncertain. The White House first revealed the missile defense concept in May, and while participation from allies has not been finalized, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that the administration has formally invited Canada to take part.

Speaking in Davos during an interview with CNBC, Bessent emphasized Greenland’s central role in the plan. “Greenland is strategically important for [Trump’s] Golden Dome project to protect the U.S. and he’s invited Canada into that if they want to pay their share,” he said.

According to administration estimates, the Golden Dome system would cost about $175 billion and rely on a network of space-based sensors, interceptors, and other cutting-edge missile defense capabilities.

Those figures could climb substantially over time. In a report released in May, the Congressional Budget Office projected that deploying space-based interceptors alone could run anywhere from $161 billion to $542 billion over a 20-year period.

Carney, in his own Davos address, avoided naming Trump directly but cautioned that the global, rules-based system is eroding as “great powers” increasingly apply economic and security pressure to influence allies.

He said countries that fall into the category of “middle powers,” including Canada, should treat the moment as a “wake-up call,” arguing that cooperation alone does not ensure security. Instead, he urged nations to strengthen themselves through diversification, collective efforts, and respect for national sovereignty.

Carney also reiterated Canada’s backing of Greenland and Denmark’s right to decide the island’s future, signaling resistance to any attempt to tie security arrangements to territorial claims or economic coercion.

{Matzav.com}