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A medical resident at a hospital in Argentina has been suspended after posting a series of antisemitic messages on social media that included calls to murder Jews. In one post, Miqueas Martinez Secchi, an intensive care resident at the José de San Martín Hospital in La Plata, wrote, “Instead of performing circumcision, one should cut […]

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At least 12,000 people were killed in Iran amid nationwide protests as the regime imposed an unprecedented nationwide blackout that appears aimed not only at maintaining security control but also at concealing the scale of the violence, Iran International reported on Tuesday. Internet shutdowns, crippled communications, the silencing of media outlets, and intimidation of journalists […]

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A winter storm began in Israel on Monday night, with heavy rain and powerful winds of up to 100 km/h. The extreme weather conditions are expected to reach their peak on Tuesday. As of Tuesday morning, the winds had caused extensive damage in the coastal area, including the collapse of a historic winery wall in […]

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

The Rambam in Pirush Hamishnayos 5:4 explains that the ten miracles were the fact that the Yidden were saved from the ten makkos. Since each makka was inflicted exclusively upon the Mitzriyim and not upon the Yidden, that itself was a great miracle. When the Torah mentions each makka, it generally states explicitly that it took place only in Mitzrayim, with the exception of Makkas Kinnim. Although the Torah does not explicitly say that the Yidden were spared from Kinnim, it is obvious that they were not afflicted.

During the makka of Dam, we see that the Mitzriyim became exhausted searching for water. During the makka of Tzfardea, the posuk warns that the frogs will enter your houses, ovens, and other places. With regard to the makka of Arov, the posuk states that Hashem will make it clear that there is a distinction between Goshen and Mitzrayim. When discussing the makka of Dever, the posuk says that not a single animal belonging to the Yidden died. Regarding Shechin, the posuk states that the boils afflicted the Mitzriyim and their chartumim. The posuk describing the makka of Barad says that only in the land of Goshen there was no hail. During the makka of Arbeh, the posuk warns that it will fill your houses and the houses of your servants. Regarding Makkas Choshech, the posuk says that there was light for all of Bnei Yisroel.

The Meiri explains that from the pesukim we see that none of the makkos took place in the vicinity of the Yidden, with the exception of Kinnim, which afflicted the bodies of people. The posuk does not state that Kinnim did not reach the vicinity of the Yidden. The Gemara explains that although Kinnim was present in Goshen, it did not harm the Yidden in any way.

The Reshash asks on the Rambam from the posuk regarding Arbeh, which states that it would fill your house and the houses of all of Mitzrayim. This would seem to include Goshen, which was located within Mitzrayim. Yet when it comes to Kinnim, where the posuk says that it was in all of Mitzrayim, we say that Kinnim was also present in Goshen.

The Chida explains that regarding all the other makkos, the Mitzriyim were not fully convinced that they came from Hashem, since their magicians were able to replicate them. Hashem therefore demonstrated that these makkos were from Him by excluding Goshen, clearly showing that the plagues were divinely controlled. However, when it came to the makka of Kinnim, which the chartumim were unable to replicate due to its small size, they themselves admitted that it was the finger of Hashem. Since the source of the makka was already acknowledged, there was no need to exclude Goshen in order to prove that it came from Hashem.

The Yaavetz, in Avos 5:4, explains that proof that Kinnim did not affect the Yidden, but only the Mitzriyim, can be derived from the posuk in Shmos 8:13, which states that the Kinnim were “on adam and beheima.” This is explained to mean that it afflicted only an adam who is comparable to a beheima, as the Torah describes the Mitzriyim as “am hadomeh lachamor.” This posuk therefore indicates that the makka afflicted only the Mitzriyim and not the Yidden.

Based on the premise that Kinnim was present in Goshen, albeit without affecting the Yidden, we can answer a question raised by the Achronim regarding Yaakov’s request not to be buried in Mitzrayim. One of the reasons given is that Yaakov foresaw the makka of Kinnim and did not wish to be buried in a land that would be infested with it. If so, one could ask why he did not request to be buried in Goshen, where the makkos did not occur. The answer must be that Makkas Kinnim was the exception to the rule of Goshen being spared, and therefore Yaakov did not want to be buried in a place where Kinnim would be present.

May we be zocheh to the Geulah Sheleima and witness the wonders of the Geulah Ho’asida.

{Matzav.com}

In a wide-ranging and unusually blunt interview, Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, made clear that the chareidi parties will not vote in favor of the state budget unless legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students is passed first. Speaking with Yishai Cohen of Kikar HaShabbat, Gafni said the position has already been conveyed directly to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

“Will we vote for the budget without a draft law? No. The answer is no,” Gafni said. “That is what we heard from our rabbanim. First there must be a law — not even just a first reading. This is the message we also delivered to the prime minister. Everyone knows it.”

Gafni devoted significant attention to the petition filed by Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, which challenges the transfer of funds to chareidi educational institutions and demands stricter state oversight of core curriculum studies.

“He has completely lost his bearings,” Gafni charged, arguing that salary payments to educational institutions have historically been approved in this manner for years — including during Lapid’s own tenure as finance minister. “All salaries were always paid on time. Many times, until the Treasury brings the transfer to the Finance Committee and the committee approves it, the salaries are already paid. He did the same thing himself.”

Gafni lashed out at Lapid in unusually harsh language, accusing him of singling out chareidi institutions while ignoring similar funding transfers to state-religious schools. “Everything connected to the chareidi public — he has something to say, and he says it aggressively. He wants the money returned. There has never been such a thing. He lost all restraint. His main goal is to bring down this government. Who is he anyway? Zero.”

Addressing recent rulings and judicial conduct, Gafni said the behavior of the Supreme Court of Israel toward the chareidi public has pushed the chareidi factions to actively support judicial reform legislation.

“Today they are doing it openly,” he said. “There is no justice here, no fairness, nothing equal, only against the chareidim. Now we are voting for laws to reduce their power and limit their ability to influence.”

Responding to criticism that he has spoken against the right-wing government, Gafni rejected ideological labels. “We are not right and we are not left,” he said. He accused elements within the right, including factions in Likud and Religious Zionism, of adopting narratives created by the left in order to undermine the coalition — particularly surrounding the draft law.

“They promised to make our lives bitter because we went with Netanyahu,” Gafni said. “From time to time you hear voices on the right repeating claims that were invented to bring down this government.”

Gafni also addressed growing tensions within United Torah Judaism, warning that disagreements with Agudas Yisrael could threaten the joint framework ahead of elections. He accused Agudah of violating a written agreement requiring a resignation to allow MK Yitzchak Pindrus to enter the Knesset.

“They are not honoring the agreement — black on white,” he said. “If someone thinks Agudah has four mandates and we have three, they should wake up quickly from that dream. They are endangering the possibility of running together.”

On his ongoing dispute with Shas chairman Aryeh Deri over control of the Yerushalayim Religious Council, Gafni said Degel HaTorah is at least as strong as Shas in the capital and cannot be sidelined. “You cannot act as if one side takes over the entire system,” he said. “We also have agreements.”

Asked about Arab parties announcing opposition to the draft law, Gafni rejected claims of any political alliance. “There was never a pact between Tibi and Gafni,” he said. “I believe there is a halachic obligation to preserve the rights of all communities living in Israel. Sometimes I ask Arab MKs to support us, sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. When the vote comes, we will try to speak with whoever is possible so they do not vote against us.”

Gafni also reiterated his opposition to the death penalty for terrorists promoted by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, warning against populist legislation that could further inflame tensions.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized a CNN reporter during an exchange on Air Force One on Sunday after she questioned whether Iran takes his warnings seriously, turning the moment into a pointed back-and-forth during a flight back to Washington.

The interaction took place while the president was traveling from Palm Beach, Florida, to Washington, DC, where reporters were gathered in the cabin for an informal press gaggle.

“Do you think Iran takes your threats seriously?” the reporter asked.

“I think so, don’t you think so, CNN?” Trump replied curtly, as he pointed to past military actions carried out under his leadership, including the killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimani and terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi during his first administration, as well as B-2 bomber strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan in 2025 as part of Operation Midnight Hammer.

“Wouldn’t you say that they probably do at this point, after going through it for years with me? Being hit, Soleimani, al-Baghdadi, the Iran nuclear threat wiped out…And then you just had Venezuela,” Trump continued.

“Wouldn’t you say they do, after all of the things we’ve done? What a stupid question,” the president added.

WATCH:

The exchange unfolded as Trump had been commenting on unrest inside Iran, saying over the weekend that the United States “stands ready to help” as the country looks “at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before,” amid ongoing protests and demonstrations against the Islamic Republic led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to AFP, at least 192 protesters had been killed as of Sunday.

Trump had already confronted the same reporter earlier in the flight after she declined to immediately identify the news outlet she represented.

During the same gaggle, another reporter asked whether Iran had crossed a “red line yet to trigger a response.” Trump responded, “They’re starting to, it looks like.”

“There seemed to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed,” he said, adding that “the military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options.”

The CNN reporter then pressed Trump to specify what options had been presented to him.

“Why would I tell you that…Are you asking me to say what will I do, where will we attack, when, and at what angle will we attack from? Who are you with?” Trump shot back.

She replied that she was part of the White House press pool, avoiding naming CNN, but later acknowledged her affiliation after Trump continued to press her.

“Why don’t you just say, ‘I’m with CNN,’” Trump said, adding that CNN is “fake news.”

{Matzav.com}

The White House said Monday that President Donald Trump is not ruling anything out in dealing with Iran, stressing that both diplomatic and military paths remain under consideration as unrest continues inside the country.

Speaking to reporters during an afternoon press gaggle outside the West Wing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked whether the administration had excluded the possibility of military action — including airstrikes — against Iran amid growing protests against the regime led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Well, I think one thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table, and airstrikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the Commander in Chief. Diplomacy is always the first option for the president,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt emphasized that the Iranian government’s public rhetoric does not match what it is privately conveying to Washington, suggesting internal contradictions within the regime’s messaging.

“He’s told all of you last night that what you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite differently [sic] from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,” Leavitt detailed.

At the same time, she underscored that the administration is prepared to escalate if circumstances warrant it, pointing to Trump’s record of acting decisively when he believes U.S. interests are threatened.

“However, with that said, the president has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary, and nobody knows that better than Iran,” she added.

Leavitt also highlighted the continued role of special envoy Steve Witkoff in diplomatic efforts related to Iran, describing him as a key figure in ongoing and potential talks.

Meanwhile, Trump addressed the situation publicly over the weekend, posting on Truth Social that the United States “stands ready to help” as Iran appears to be facing an unprecedented push toward “FREEDOM” amid nationwide protests. CNN has reported that more than 500 demonstrators have been killed as of Monday.

During a return flight to Washington, DC, aboard Air Force One on Sunday night from Palm Beach, Florida, Trump voiced concern over the growing death toll and signaled that Iran may be nearing a critical threshold in his assessment.

“There seemed to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed,” he said. “The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options.”

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein delivered a forceful and emotional shmuess Sunday evening at Yeshiva Maor HaTalmud, sharply criticizing Israel’s conscription policies and warning that enlistment in so-called “chareidi tracks” within the Israel Defense Forces poses a grave spiritual danger to yeshiva students.

Speaking during a special chizuk gathering convened in light of recent cases of yeshiva students enlisting in the army, Rav Eichenstein cautioned that programs marketed as suitable for the chareidi public are fundamentally misleading. “Someone who enlists there may enter as chareidi,” he warned, “but he will not emerge chareidi.” He expressed particular anguish over what he described as “modern” families who encourage their sons to join such frameworks.

Rav Eichenstein, who serves as rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Yad Aharon, said he has been deeply involved in assisting yeshiva students who received draft notices or were detained over refusal to enlist.

During his remarks, he revealed that he recently held a three-hour conversation with a senior IDF official regarding the issue of chareidi conscription. He told the officer that he could not understand the approach of Israel’s High Court. “If they truly want us to enlist,” Rav Eichenstein said he argued, “why do they impose sanctions against us? That only causes us to hate the state and turn against it.”

According to Rav Eichenstein, the senior military official responded candidly, telling him: “You are naïve. What they really want is this: after October 7, there was a wave of teshuvah across Israel, and they are afraid that within a few years the chareidim will dominate the country. That is why they are imposing sanctions — to force chareidim into the army and stop that process.”

Rav Eichenstein emphasized that while Israel may indeed face genuine security challenges, he believes this is not the true motivation behind the push to draft chareidi youth. “The real goal is not security,” he said, “but to prevent the possibility of chareidim influencing the state — and in practice, to secularize those who enlist.”

He then launched a blistering critique of the state itself, declaring that Israel can no longer be considered a democracy. “There are many religions,” he said. “Communism is a religion. Zionism is a religion. The state is built on that religion. Zionism is a religion. You want to impose your religion on us — is that democracy? No. No one answers this question. There is no answer. This is not a democratic state. There is no such thing anywhere in the world as forcing religion.”

Rav Eichenstein contrasted Israel’s policies with those of Western democracies, noting that during periods of conscription in the United States, yeshiva students were exempt. “In Christianity,” he said, “they divided society into three groups: those devoted to Torah were exempt, the clergy were exempt, and the common people were obligated. In all Western democratic countries, yeshiva students were exempt, just as Christian seminarians were. The only ‘democratic’ country that does not do this is here — because it is not democratic. There is no freedom of religion here. They impose their religion.”

Addressing a question posed by students regarding how to relate to a yeshiva student who has already enlisted, Rav Eichenstein responded cautiously. “Such a person does not understand the essence of life,” he said. “It is best to speak with him as little as possible — but not to hurt him. If he approaches you, speak with him, but do not go out of your way to approach him.”

Toward the end of his address, Rav Eichenstein broadened his critique to what he described as historical attempts to combine Torah with external ideologies. “Since the Haskalah,” he said, “there have been endless efforts to create Torah with derech eretz, Torah with enlightenment, Torah with Zionism, Torah with something else — and not Torah alone. What came of all of this? Movements full of confusion.” He argued that frameworks such as religious Zionism and “modern chareidi” life represent attempts to merge Torah observance with secular or national identity, a blend he believes is ultimately unsustainable.

“All the programs in the army — Kodekod, Chashmonaim — what is their real goal?” he asked. “Security? To say that is naïve. The real goal is to create a ‘modern chareidi.’ Open your eyes and you will see it.”

Rav Eichenstein concluded with a stark warning. “When you pursue two goals in life,” he said, “there is no blessing in it. Every movement that tried to combine Torah with something else did not last. Look at what became of them. Torah leads to one thing only — closeness to the Ribbono Shel Olam. The moment life is divided between two purposes, nothing remains.”

{Matzav.com}

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman confirmed on Sunday that he donated $10,000 to a GoFundMe campaign supporting the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent accused of fatally shooting Renee Good during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis last week, which touched off a fierce national debate over the deadly encounter and the broader immigration […]

Greenland’s government issued a firm rejection Monday of any attempt by the United States to take control of the Arctic territory, insisting such a move would be unacceptable under all conditions and calling on NATO to ensure its defense amid renewed interest from President Trump.

“The United States has once again reiterated its desire to take over Greenland. This is something the government coalition in Greenland cannot accept under any circumstances,” said a statement released by the prime minister’s office.

“Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark,” the statement continued. “As a part of the Realm, Greenland is a member of NATO, and the defense of Greenland must therefore be insured through NATO.”

Trump, who has long spoken about acquiring Greenland, said last week that the United States intends to secure control of the territory for national security reasons and suggested that outcome would occur regardless of resistance.

“We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor,” Trump said.

“I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way. And I am a fan of Denmark,” he added.

Senior administration officials have not ruled out the possibility of using force, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying last week that military action “is always an option.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Monday that alliance members are actively discussing Arctic security, though not in the context of defending against the United States.

“All allies agree on the importance of the Arctic and Arctic security,” Rutte said during a press conference in Croatia. “With sea lanes opening up, there is a risk that the Russians and the Chinese will be more active.”

Rutte said conversations on Arctic defense have been underway since last year and that NATO members are now “discussing the next step to that, how to make sure that we give practical follow up on those discussions.”

Greenland’s statement mirrored concerns raised by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) during an appearance Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“I mean, NATO would have an obligation to defend Greenland,” Murphy said, referring to a hypothetical U.S. annexation attempt. “And so query whether we would be at war with Europe, with England, with France.”

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, warned that a forced takeover would fundamentally shatter the transatlantic alliance.

“If [Trump] were to take an action against Greenland, that would completely destroy NATO,” Warner said on “Fox News Sunday.”

{Matzav.com}

U.S. military planning for potential operations against Iran has moved into “advanced stages,” according to an American official, underscoring the widening gap between Washington’s escalating posture and quiet diplomatic feelers unfolding behind the scenes. Speaking anonymously to Al Jazeera on Monday, the U.S. official said military options targeting the Islamic Republic are now being “tailored […]

Iran’s top diplomat quietly reached out to the Trump administration over the weekend as protests continue to shake the Islamic Republic, signaling a potential diplomatic opening even as public threats and military warnings escalate. According to two sources familiar with the matter, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special […]

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[Video below.] NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly aligned himself with striking nurses on Monday, stepping directly into a contentious labor fight by walking the picket line with thousands of private-hospital nurses across New York City, the NY Post reports.

By doing so, the mayor set himself against the leadership of Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Montefiore Medical Center, criticizing hospital executives as among “the wealthiest in the entire city” and arguing that “these executives are not having difficulty making ends meet.”

“The hospital executives who run these hospitals, the ones where these hardworking nurses are asking for what they deserve, these executives are not having difficulty making ends meet,” Mamdani said while standing with striking workers outside NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia in Washington Heights.

“But for too many of the 15,000 NYSNA nurses who are on strike, they are not able to make their ends meet,” he added. “They are not asking for a multimillion-dollar salary.”

Outside the Manhattan hospital, thousands of nurses dressed in red gathered in a noisy demonstration, blowing noisemakers and chanting as they waved signs reading “At least the blood on our hands washes off” and “Nurses are the beating heart of the medical system.”

The labor dispute between hospital administrators and the New York State Nurses Association has grown increasingly hostile, with both sides accusing the other of greed over pay, benefits, and staffing levels. The tensions boiled over Monday as roughly 15,000 nurses formally walked off the job.

“They bragged that they spent $100 million to hire out-of-town nurses to replace us while we strike,” said NYSNA president Nancy Hagans.

“They could have easily have put that money toward our health insurance,” she said. “Nurses are asking for safe staffing. We’re asking for work protection against workplace violence. We’re asking for the greedy CEOs not to take away our medical coverage.”

Mamdani’s decision to publicly back nurses employed by private hospitals drew criticism from opponents, who questioned why a mayor responsible for the city’s public hospital system would intervene in such a charged dispute. His move contrasted with Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to stay neutral during a nurses’ strike in 2023.

“Who does he think is going to help these patients during a strike? … Communist angels?” former Mayor Rudy Giuliani said. “People are gonna die because of it.

“A mayor shouldn’t go on a picket line for people on strike who are needed to deliver critical services,” Giuliani told The Post. “He should be pushing for arbitration to get a settlement.”

One hospital official, speaking anonymously, warned that the mayor’s support could eventually rebound against him.

“Ultimately, the Mayor will learn that his public hospitals are next in line to face NYSNA’s costly and unsustainable demands—leaving taxpayers to pick up an even bigger tab,” the source said.

The standoff between the three major hospital systems and the union began with sharp accusations, including claims from one hospital network that the union is trying to shield impaired workers from discipline.

Montefiore Medical Center alleged that NYSNA was striking in part to block stronger penalties for staff who report to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

“NYSNA leadership’s demand that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job is another example of putting their own self-interest before patient safety,” Montefiore said in a statement to The Post on Monday.

The union forcefully rejected the charge, accusing the hospital of smearing its workforce.

“Montefiore’s desperate attempt to slander New York City’s nurse heroes shows just how low they are willing to go to avoid settling fair contracts that protect Bronx patients and nurses,” NYSNA said.

“Montefiore nurses are fighting for safe staffing and protections from workplace violence,” the statement continued. “Meanwhile, hospital executives show their disrespect for nurses by refusing to agree to our proposals to protect patient and nurse safety, and blatantly mischaracterizing one of our basic workplace proposals, which hospitals around the city and state have already adopted. If Montefiore wants to demonize and stigmatize substance use disorders, then they shouldn’t be allowed to call themselves a healthcare facility.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri on Monday launched a fierce attack on the left-wing protest movement in response to footage broadcast on Channel 14 showing a left-wing activist openly admitting to her efforts to create chaos within the Chareidi public as part of the effort to bring down the Netanyahu government. The video shows Ayelet […]

Hagaon HaRav Shaul Alter, the Pnei Menachem Rosh Yeshiva, with a short message about the Nisyonos today.

Last night’s Chazaq Florida Gala had over 1000 participants. The keynote address was delivered by the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, HaRav David Yosef.