Encouraging news has emerged regarding the health of the Rosh Yeshiva of Grodno, as doctors report a noticeable improvement in the condition of Rav Yitzchak Hacker. Even as the positive update is shared, tefillos continue across the Torah world for his complete recovery.
After a deterioration in his condition last week, sources at Tel HaShomer Hospital now say that Rav Hacker’s medical indicators are stable, and that he is steadily regaining strength in multiple respects.
Associates of the Rosh Yeshiva emphasized that the situation remains serious and still requires abundant rachamei Shamayim. “There is still inflammation in his body and his condition is difficult,” they said. “But just as we have personally witnessed miracles and wonders until now, we are confident that we will continue to see open signs of Divine kindness until our rebbi returns to teaching Torah.”
As previously reported, Rav Hacker was hospitalized at Tel HaShomer approximately two weeks ago after developing a severe infection in his leg. During his hospitalization, he underwent two catheterization procedures and was at one point in life-threatening danger.
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Yitzchak ben Nechama.
{Matzav.com}
Former captive Eli Sharabi spoke candidly in an emotional interview aired Monday night on Kol Chai Radio’s flagship program, reflecting on the return of the final hostage, Ran Gvili Hy”d, his own recovery after captivity, and his call for unity within Israeli society.
In a conversation with host Avi Mimran, Sharabi described the moment as a painful yet meaningful turning point for the Gvili family. “Everything you said about Ran, that he’s a hero of Israel — it’s simply incredible,” Sharabi said. “This really is a nation of heroes. Like Ran, many others went out that day, took initiative, and came to rescue the residents of the Gaza border communities.” He added that for the family, it is “a very complex moment. It’s not a happy moment, but perhaps a moment of closure, of farewell, and the beginning of a healing process.”
Mimran asked Sharabi about his personal path toward recovery following prolonged captivity and devastating personal loss. Sharabi responded with striking honesty. “For me, this is who I am. I always knew how to look for solutions and not focus on problems,” he said. “After 500 days of people fighting for me — my family, my friends, the people of Israel who prayed — I don’t have the privilege to stay in bed and cry all day. I will get up and rebuild. But that’s what suits me, and it’s forbidden to judge others by my standards.”
Sharabi also spoke about the faith that sustained him during captivity deep underground. “Faith is a support for everything,” he said. “From the very first moment in captivity, I rediscovered faith. Fifty meters underground, it only grew stronger. There were crossroads of life and death over 491 days, and each time I came out alive. The light and love I receive from my family and from the people — I have no words to thank them.”
Turning to the broader national conversation, Sharabi addressed what he described as a painful gap between the inner strength shown by former captives and their families and the tone of Israel’s public and political discourse. “I agree that there is a gap,” he said, “but I don’t agree that it can’t be narrowed. We have a duty — each person in their own sphere — to talk about what unites us and not what divides us. Even when we argue, it can be done in a calm and respectful way. That responsibility rests first and foremost with elected officials.”
Mimran noted that since his release, Sharabi has chosen to speak publicly in Israel and abroad, becoming one of the most prominent voices among former hostages. Asked about his central message, Sharabi replied: “We have no other country. That’s the message I convey to the world. We have a wonderful nation, warm and deeply committed to its state, and we must do everything to continue living here. Only if we are united can we continue to exist in the State of Israel. There is no alternative.”
Addressing whether social division played a role in the events of October 7, Sharabi said, “I don’t know how to judge whether there is a direct connection, but it’s clear it didn’t do us any good. We need to be careful of people with interests who fuel the rift. Disagreements are healthy in a democracy — but not hatred. Hatred is a terrible word.”
The interview concluded with a personal reflection on faith. “My faith is very strong,” Sharabi said. “I’m not a religious person, and everyone finds faith and strength in their own way. That needs to be respected.” He closed with a message to the nation: “I wish the people of Israel to set out on a new path and to heal from this terrible trauma.”
{Matzav.com}
Eylon Levy addressed the end of the October 7 hostage crisis on Monday, explaining in a social media video why he has stopped wearing the yellow ribbon symbolizing the captives, while still keeping it with him as a reminder of the unresolved dangers ahead.
“The October 7 hostage crisis is over, but it won’t be the last hostage crisis,” Levy said in the video.
He went on to describe the circumstances surrounding the return of the final hostage, emphasizing that it was achieved through Israeli action rather than cooperation from Hamas. “The final hostage, Ran Gvili, is finally home for burial, but fittingly, it’s not because the kidnappers honored their side of the ransom. It’s because Israel went in itself to get him out.”
Levy stressed that despite this outcome, Israel paid a heavy price to secure the release of hostages. “But make no doubt, we paid a ransom to get the hostages out. We left Hamas in power, and we freed thousands of terrorists from jails. We put the hostage takers of tomorrow back on the streets to get out the hostages of yesterday,” he said.
He warned that such concessions carry long-term consequences, noting the broader implications of negotiating with terrorist groups. “And everyone knows that when you pay a ransom to terrorist hostage takers, you encourage more kidnappings. It’s why most countries say they don’t negotiate with terrorist hostage takers, but we did, because we had no choice, because we were blackmailed, because we had to bring everyone home, because there can be no one left behind. But have no doubt, Israel has taught Hamas that taking hostages works, that it will pay a ransom in future,” Levy cautioned.
Looking ahead, Levy argued that Israel must now confront the reality that more abductions are likely and develop strategies to prevent them. “And so Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups will now try to take more Israeli hostages. And Israel is going to have to think of creative and maybe aggressive ways to deter more hostage taking in future. That needs to be a national priority now that the October 7th hostage crisis is over. How do we stop Israelis from ever getting taken hostage again? Now that we taught the kidnappers that taking hostages pays. So I’m keeping this safe,” he concluded.
{Matzav.com}
A New York City police officer has been reassigned to modified duty after shooting and killing a raccoon that authorities say charged aggressively toward people in Rockaway Beach.
The incident took place at about 7:45 a.m. Thursday, after a 911 call reported an aggressive animal in the area, according to a police department spokesperson in a statement emailed Monday.
Police said officers responded to the boardwalk and attempted to guide the raccoon away from the area and toward a safer location. During that effort, the animal suddenly charged, prompting one officer to fire his weapon and strike the raccoon. No bystanders were hurt in the incident.
The officer involved has not been publicly identified. The department’s Force Investigation Division, which examines cases in which officers discharge their firearms, is handling the internal review.
As of Monday, it remained unclear whether officials intended to test the raccoon for rabies.
{Matzav.com}
[Video below.] NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivered a blunt message to European leaders on Monday, cautioning that the continent cannot ensure its own security without continued support from the United States.
Speaking to the European Parliament in Brussels, Rutte dismissed the notion that Europe could stand alone militarily, underscoring the depth of transatlantic dependence in defense matters. “If anyone thinks here again that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming. You can’t. We can’t. We need each other,” he said.
Rutte went on to warn that any serious attempt by Europe to act independently would require a massive and politically fraught increase in military investment. He said defense spending would need to rise to 10% of GDP if European nations “really want to do it alone,” along with the development of an independent nuclear deterrent—an undertaking that would cost billions.
Without U.S. backing, he cautioned, Europe would forfeit its most critical security protection. “In that scenario, you will lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the US nuclear umbrella. So hey, good luck,” Rutte said.
His remarks followed a turbulent week for Europe and its Western partners, driven largely by President Donald Trump’s renewed push for U.S. ownership of Greenland. Trump raised the issue repeatedly before publicly ruling out the use of force to annex the Arctic island during his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Rutte nevertheless offered praise for Trump’s focus on Arctic security, even as he acknowledged that such comments might be unpopular with his audience. “I think he’s right. There is an issue with the Arctic region. There is an issue of collective security, because these sea lanes are opening up, and because the Chinese and the Russians are more and more active,” he said.
The NATO secretary general laid out two parallel tracks for addressing the Greenland issue. One would center on NATO assuming a greater collective role in safeguarding the Arctic, aimed at limiting both military and economic access by Russia and China.
The second track would continue through direct talks among the United States, Denmark, and Greenland. Rutte stressed that he would not take part in those discussions, saying he lacks any mandate to negotiate on Denmark’s behalf and has no intention of doing so.
Earlier this month, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeld, met in Washington with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rasmussen later described the talks as “constructive,” while acknowledging that a “fundamental disagreement” remains unresolved.
A week later, Trump met with Rutte in Davos and said he had reached a framework for a Greenland deal with the NATO chief. Trump also announced that, as a result, he would refrain from imposing tariffs on European countries that had opposed his efforts to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. While the details of the framework—and Rutte’s precise role—remain unclear, Trump’s abrupt reversal once again placed the NATO secretary general at the center of the debate.
WATCH:
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump has remained publicly silent on whether the United States is preparing for a direct strike on Iran, even as Washington concentrates a significant naval force near the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Reports suggest that the buildup may be intended less as a prelude to immediate military action and more as leverage for intensified economic pressure.
Despite dramatic reports in recent days describing severe internal violence against Iranian civilians, the U.S. has not launched any overt attack on Tehran. Instead, Trump told Israeli journalist Barak Ravid on Sunday evening that “Iran wants to talk,” a remark that has added uncertainty about the administration’s intentions.
According to a senior American official cited by Ynet, Washington has conveyed a message to Tehran indicating it is open to negotiations.
Trump later elaborated on that stance, saying, “We are ‘open for business,’ as they say. If they want to reach out to us and they know the conditions, we’ll have talks. The Iranians know the conditions. They are very well aware of our terms.”
A new report aired by i24 News, and echoed by the Iranian opposition outlet Iran International, suggests that the White House may be weighing a strategy short of full-scale war: a naval blockade and economic chokehold on Iran, modeled on measures previously taken against Venezuela.
According to the report, the concept is actively being discussed within the White House, though no final decision has been made.
Despite extensive international sanctions and the recent reactivation of the “snapback” mechanism, Iran remains a major oil supplier to countries such as Russia and China. U.S. officials are said to be examining ways to disrupt those exports through maritime pressure rather than airstrikes.
The approach would mirror actions taken against Venezuela in recent years, aimed at weakening the regime of Nicolás Maduro by targeting its economic lifelines. Some analysts have dubbed the possible Iran strategy “Maduro 2.0.”
Still, observers caution against taking the administration’s conciliatory rhetoric at face value. Trump’s statements have fueled speculation that Washington may again be employing misdirection — similar to tactics used ahead of past operations.
Analysts point to a previous episode in which the White House announced that Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, would begin talks with Iran “the following week,” even as U.S. B-2 Spirit bombers were already preparing for a historic strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
For now, the presence of the USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group signals that, regardless of public diplomacy, the military option — or at least the threat of it — remains firmly on the table.
{Matzav.com}
