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In the immediate aftermath of the evacuation of dozens of infants from a daycare center in Yerushalayim—and the confirmation that two of them had died—sharp criticism of the judicial system emerged from within the chareidi community, with senior figures arguing that recent policies created the conditions that led to the disaster.

Moshe Arbel of Shas tied the incident at the unlicensed, so-called “pirate” daycare to court rulings that resulted in the removal of state daycare subsidies for families of married yeshiva students who are not registered for military service. Arbel said the policy had forced families out of regulated frameworks and into unsafe alternatives.

Addressing the issue directly, Arbel stated: “In the State of Israel, the children of illegal infiltrators are entitled to daycare centers and preschools. In the name of the battle against the haredi public, the children of yeshiva students are expelled from supervised daycare centers. The blood of innocent infants, who never tasted sin, cries out from the ground. We must all stop the persecution – children’s lives must be kept outside of any political struggle.”

Chareidi journalist and commentator Yisrael Cohen echoed that criticism, placing responsibility squarely on legal authorities. He wrote: “The blood is on their hands! Just a reminder that the Attorney General and the judicial system pushed an entire haredi public into a corner, canceled daycare subsidies for haredi toddlers, and parents were economically forced to move them to private daycare centers. Today’s severe incident is already the painful and tragic result.”

Earlier on Monday, two four-month-old infants were pronounced dead at Hadassah Mount Scopus and Shaare Zedek Medical Center after being rushed there unconscious from the daycare facility. Paramedics from Magen David Adom carried out extended resuscitation attempts, but were ultimately unable to save the infants.

A total of 53 infants were removed from the daycare. The remaining children were taken to hospitals for evaluation and were later described as being in mild condition. As the investigation progressed, three caregivers and assistants were taken into custody for questioning after authorities determined that the daycare had been operating without the required license.

In response to the events, the National Council for the Welfare of the Child said it was in “deep shock” and called for immediate scrutiny, declaring: “The police and the Ministry of Education must immediately examine not only severe negligence, but also the issue of the preschool’s operating license.”

The council further warned that regulatory failures place vulnerable children at risk, adding that “swift and comprehensive action is needed to ensure that frameworks which do not meet legal licensing requirements, standards, and supervision are not allowed to operate, and that they do not endanger the lives of those who cannot even warn of immediate, life-threatening dangers.”

{Matzav.com}

Protesters gathered outside the U.S. consulate in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, condemning recent attacks on Kurdish forces in northern Syria.

Denmark sends a number of troops to defend Greenland from the Trump.

Aerial footage shows the damage caused by devastating wildfires in Chile.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The UK government has launched a formal investigation into antisemitism in schools following an incident in which a Jewish member of Parliament was barred from visiting a school in his own constituency. UK Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson announced the probe in an article published Sunday in *The Telegraph*, vowing that the government […]

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Monday approved a police and prosecution request to carry out autopsies on the bodies of two infants who died in the devastating daycare tragedy in Jerusalem — Leah Tzipora Golubentzitz A”H, three months old, and Aharon Katz, four months old. During the hearing, the families were represented by Shenir Elmalich […]

An antisemitic confrontation erupted at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle International Airport after a woman verbally abused a Jewish man who was carrying a Sefer Torah, according to video that has circulated widely on social media. The incident unfolded in a public area of the terminal, drawing the attention of nearby travelers.

The footage captures the woman repeatedly yelling at the man, “Leave France, I’m Muslim.” At one point, she is seen spitting at him as he continues to hold the Sefer Torah.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2013265556330127615

As the exchange grew increasingly heated, a second man at the scene stepped in and positioned himself between the two in an apparent effort to defuse the situation. His actions appeared aimed at preventing the confrontation from escalating into physical violence in the crowded airport setting.

The video was shared on X by Chen Mazzig, an Israeli activist known for his advocacy work and opposition to the BDS movement. Commenting on the incident, Mazzig wrote: “Spitting on a Jewish man carrying a Torah scroll is not random aggression. It is deliberate humiliation. It is an attack on faith, identity, and presence. A man carrying a Torah scroll should be able to walk through an airport without being humiliated. The fact that this even needs to be said shows exactly where we are.”

As of the latest reports, neither airport officials nor French law enforcement have released a statement addressing the incident or indicating whether any action has been taken.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s plans to acquire Greenland could cost U.S. taxpayers up front and over the long term. Denmark’s leaders have said the semi-autonomous Danish territory isn’t for sale. So have Greenland’s leaders, who depend on fishing and subsidies from Copenhagen. Denmark’s central bank noted in a recent report that Greenland’s “economy is slowing down, […]

Demonstrators gathered Monday night at the Bar Ilan Junction in Yerushalayim to protest authorities’ intention to perform autopsies on the bodies of two infants who died earlier in the day at a daycare facility in the Romema neighborhood.

The protest took place as the families of the infants voiced their opposition to the procedure. Participants shut down major thoroughfares in the area, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Angry demonstrators blocked the intersection of Bar Ilan and Yirmiyahu streets, halting buses and private vehicles, and some were heard shouting insults at police officers, including calling them “Nazis.” Police later moved in to clear the intersection, using force to disperse the crowd and reopen the roads.

חרדים קיצונים מפגינים נגד נתיחת הפעוטות שמתו באסון בגן הילדים בשכונת רוממה. חוסמים אוטובוס. כזכור, לפני שבועיים נער נדרס למוות בסיטואציה כזו בדיוק, במרחק שני רחובות מכאן pic.twitter.com/4Jq0a4bedP

— Inbar Twizer ענבר טויזר (@inbartvizer) January 19, 2026

At the same time, the Institute of Forensic Medicine completed initial external examinations of the infants. Officials said the examinations did not determine a cause of death, prompting prosecutors and police to seek approval for full autopsies to establish what led to the tragedy.

Authorities also confirmed that three caregivers who operate the daycare center were taken in for questioning as part of the criminal probe into the circumstances surrounding the infants’ deaths.

The daycare manager’s attorney, Uri Korb, said: “Our client has no knowledge of how this terrible and tragic disaster occurred, and she is fully cooperating with the investigation in order to assist in clarifying the circumstances of the incident. We trust the law enforcement authorities to carry out their work.

{Matzav.com}

The World Economic Forum has disinvited Iran’s foreign minister from this year’s Davos conference, following mounting international outrage over the Islamic Republic’s deadly crackdown on anti-regime protests. In a statement, the World Economic Forum said the decision was driven by the heavy civilian death toll in Iran in recent weeks. “The tragic loss of lives […]

The Trump administration is set to hold the Board of Peace charter signing ceremony on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in Davos, Switzerland.

BREAKING: Chareidim are currently protesting at several locations across Jerusalem following police intentions to carry out an autopsy on the body of one of the infants who was Niftar earlier today in the daycare disaster. The main protest is taking place at the Yechezkel–Shmuel HaNavi intersection, where dozens of demonstrators have gathered. Trash bins have […]

A bipartisan effort is underway to remove Sen. Bernie Sanders from the governing board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum after records showed that he has failed to attend a single meeting during his 18 years of service, according to a report by The New York Post.

Sanders (I-Vt.) was appointed in 2007 to the Holocaust Memorial Council, the body that oversees the Washington museum located roughly two miles from the U.S. Capitol. The council convenes twice annually to guide the institution’s operations and educational mission.

Documentation provided to The Post by museum staff indicates that Sanders has been absent from every council meeting since joining the board. During that same period, Sanders rose to national prominence through his 2016 and 2020 campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination, which helped bring democratic socialism into the political mainstream.

“There are two large meetings every year where people fly in from all over the country for it. But Bernie Sanders couldn’t be bothered to walk across the road in DC,” said board member Robert Garson, president of the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists.

Another council member, Wall Street executive Jonathan Burkan, also criticized Sanders’ record. “Eighteen is a good number in Judaism, but not in this case,” Burkan said. Both Garson and Burkan emphasized that they were speaking in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the museum.

The Holocaust Memorial Council was created by Congress in 1980 and is made up of 55 presidential appointees serving five-year terms, along with 10 members selected by congressional leadership, split evenly between the House and Senate.

Garson and Burkan, both appointed by President Donald Trump, are among roughly a dozen signatories to a letter urging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to replace Sanders. The letter cites Sanders’ failure to attend meetings as well as his repeated public claims that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.

“In the current context, with Jew hatred and Holocaust distortion rising globally, it is imperative that Senate-appointed representatives on the Council are fully engaged and steadfastly supportive of its mission,” the letter states. The signatories also objected to Sanders’ “public statements regarding contemporary genocidal conflicts” and noted that he “has rarely, if ever, attended Council meetings.”

“This is not a partisan issue, just common sense,” said Alex Heckler, a longtime Democratic Party activist and fundraiser who was appointed to the board by President Joe Biden.

“[Sanders’] beliefs and public statements do not reflect the stated mission of the museum. Also, he has never attended a meeting in the years I have been on the Council,” Heckler added. Heckler previously served as deputy national finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee during the 2020 campaign and remained on the board after Trump removed other Biden appointees earlier this year.

Trump-appointed board member Jimmy Resnick also voiced frustration over Sanders’ absence. “Why take someone’s place who will show up? I just don’t understand it,” Resnick said.

“He doesn’t care. It’s like a non-existent position,” Resnick added, noting that his late father, Abe Resnick, had also served on the council.

Resnick said other Democratic appointees had attended meetings, including Biden appointees Susan Rice and former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, both of whom participated as recently as last year before being removed from the board.

The reasons behind Sanders’ longstanding disengagement from the council remain unclear. Historically, socialist and communist groups played significant roles in armed resistance to the Nazis, and socialist Zionist leaders — including Israel’s first president, David Ben-Gurion — were central to the establishment of the Jewish state.

Neither Schumer nor Sanders responded to requests for comment. Senate President pro tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who may also have authority to make a replacement, likewise did not respond.

Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, is one of 10 Jewish senators currently serving in the Senate. His critics argue that there are many other qualified candidates who could take his place on the council.

While the Holocaust museum does not shape government policy, it is widely regarded as one of the most significant Jewish cultural institutions in Washington and plays a major role in Holocaust education nationwide.

Sanders has been an outspoken critic of the Israeli government and earlier this month administered the oath of office to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a fellow socialist who has threatened to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu should he visit New York City.

In a lengthy statement published in September, Sanders accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, writing: “The intent is clear. The conclusion is inescapable.”

“That word emerged from the Holocaust — the murder of six million Jews — one of the darkest chapters in human history,” Sanders wrote. “Make no mistake. If there is no accountability for Netanyahu and his fellow war criminals, other demagogues will do the same. History demands that the world act with one voice to say: enough is enough. No more genocide.”

{Matzav.com}

Chareidim are currently protesting at several locations across Jerusalem following police intentions to carry out an autopsy on the body of one of the infants who was Niftar earlier today in the daycare disaster. The main protest is taking place at the Yechezkel–Shmuel HaNavi intersection, where dozens of demonstrators have gathered. Trash bins have been […]

Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters clashed Monday around two prisons housing members of the Islamic State group in Syria ’s northeast. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said several of its fighters have been killed and over a dozen others wounded. The clashes came as SDF chief commander Mazloum Abdi is said to be in […]

Federal authorities say more than 10,000 illegal immigrants have been taken into custody in Minneapolis since the beginning of the second Trump administration, with roughly 3,000 arrests made in just the past six weeks, according to an announcement Monday from the Department of Homeland Security.

“PEACE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN MINNEAPOLIS!” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem declared in a post on X.

Noem said those arrested “were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis because Tim Walz and Jacob Frey refuse to protect their own people and instead protect criminals.”

The stepped-up enforcement effort comes amid sharp criticism from city leaders. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey drew attention Sunday after describing ICE activity in the city as an “invasion” by the federal government during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

DHS said the arrests are part of what it has described as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever conducted in Minneapolis. Beginning shortly after Thanksgiving, the department deployed approximately 3,000 personnel from multiple agencies, including ICE, Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and other federal units.

“In the last 6 weeks, our brave DHS law enforcement have arrested 3,000 criminal illegal aliens including vicious murders, rapists, child pedophiles and incredibly dangerous individuals. A HUGE victory for public safety,” Noem said, before shifting her focus to a massive fraud investigation underway in the state.

“There is MASSIVE Fraud in Minneapolis, at least $19 billion and that’s just the tip of iceberg. Our Homeland Security Investigators are on the ground in Minneapolis conducting wide scale investigations to get justice for the American people who have been robbed blind,” she wrote.

The $19 billion figure cited by Noem exceeds earlier estimates. U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson previously put the total amount stolen by illegal immigrant fraud rings from Minnesota’s human services programs at approximately $9 billion, much of it allegedly tied to members of the state’s Somali community. The higher number was also referenced by President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post late Sunday criticizing Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

“There is 19 Billion Dollars in Somalia Fraud. Fake ‘Congresswoman’ Ilhan Omar, a constant complainer who hates the USA, knows everything there is to know. She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalis, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World. She could help to MAKE SOMALIA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote.

{Matzav.com}

New developments have emerged in the investigation into the tragic deaths of two infants at a private daycare in Jerusalem. Following initial examinations at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, authorities say no dangerous or toxic substances were found in the bodies of the infants. As a result, investigators have moved away from earlier suspicions of […]

The names of the two infants who were tragically Niftar in the horrific daycare disasterin Jerusalem’s Romema neighborhood have been released. The victims are Leah Tzipora Golubentzitz A”H, aged three and a half months, and Ari (Aharon) Katz Z”L, aged four months. Both infants were transferred to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute for examination. Their […]