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A significant development took place Sunday night in efforts to forge a unified chareidi front regarding the emerging draft law. A pivotal meeting was held at the residence of the Sanzer Rebbe in Kiryat Sanz, Netanya, bringing together the Modzitzer Rebbe, Rav Tzvi Rabinowitz, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Elyon of Boyan, and Rav Yaakov Valtzer, secretary of the Agudah’s Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.

The meeting focused on coordinating the final steps ahead of a mission assigned to the Sanzer and Modzitzer Rebbes: to travel to the homes of Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch in order to present Agudas Yisroel stance on the so-called Bismuth draft bill and, in particular, to the sanctions it would impose on bnei yeshiva.

The gathering in Netanya followed directly on the heels of the dramatic session of the MAgudah oetzes Gedolei HaTorah held last week at Bais Malka Hall in Yerushalayim. That meeting was attended by the Rebbes of Gur, Belz, Vizhnitz, Sanz, Boyan, Seret-Vizhnitz, and Modzitz. At the conclusion of that assembly, a principled decision was reached to reject any draft legislation that includes sanctions, though the publication of concrete operational steps was deferred “until the appropriate time.”

Against this backdrop, the Moetzes published a sharply worded statement expressing deep disappointment, which appeared in the party-affiliated newspapers Hamodia and Hamevaser. The statement emphasized that any attempt to turn yeshiva students into criminals necessitates a firm and resolute response.

That position was reinforced by a forceful letter from the Slonimer Rebbe, who did not attend the Moetzes gathering but sent pointed remarks that were read aloud to its members. “We will not abandon the halls of the yeshivos under any circumstances,” the Rebbe wrote, making clear his opposition to any law that imposes penalties on those engaged in Torah study.

Attention is now focused on the anticipated meetings between the Chassidic Rebbes and the leading gedolim. The emissaries are expected to urge the leadership of Degel HaTorah to join a coordinated and public stance that will send a clear message to the government that the chareidi public cannot accept legislation that strikes at what it views as the very soul of chareidi Judaism.

{Matzav.com}

Trump’s Smithsonian portrait reportedly no longer includes text referencing his impeachment after he complained about it.

NEC Director Kevin Hassett: “I’m looking at the output numbers, and we got GDP now north of 5% in the 4th Quarter after two 4% the previous quarters. So, I think you gotta say that Trump policies are really working.”

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Up to 1,000 additional ICE agents are set to surge into Minneapolis following left-wing protests, on top of the 2,000 agents already deployed.

The Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg arriving at Sheva Brachos for the son of philanthropist Yoily Landau.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that he intends to speak with billionaire Elon Musk about reestablishing internet access in Iran, where authorities have shut down online services for four consecutive days amid widespread anti-government demonstrations.

Responding to questions from reporters about potential involvement by Musk’s company SpaceX, which operates the satellite-based internet system Starlink, Trump said, “He’s very good at that kind of thing, he’s got a very good company.”

Neither Musk nor SpaceX immediately commented when asked about the possibility of providing service.

Access to information from Iran has been severely limited since Thursday, as the government imposed an internet blackout during what has become the most extensive wave of protests against the ruling clerical establishment since 2022.

The relationship between Trump and Musk has fluctuated in recent years, particularly after Musk played a role in financing Trump’s successful presidential campaign and later oversaw sweeping reductions across the federal government.

Their alliance fractured publicly last year when Musk opposed Trump’s signature tax legislation, though recent events suggest the billionaire has reestablished ties with the Trump administration.

Earlier this month, Trump and Musk were spotted dining together at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is scheduled to tour a SpaceX facility in Texas on Monday.

Musk has previously backed efforts to make Starlink available to Iranians as a way to bypass government-imposed restrictions, including during the protests that erupted in 2022. That year, the Biden White House worked with Musk to facilitate Starlink access after Iran was rocked by demonstrations following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody.

Starlink has also been deployed in other conflict zones, including Ukraine, where Musk ordered the service shut down in 2022 during a critical Ukrainian military offensive, according to Reuters.

The current unrest in Iran began on December 28 as protests over soaring prices, before evolving into broader opposition to the clerical leadership that has ruled the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Human rights organizations estimate that hundreds of people have been killed since the demonstrations began.

The U.S.-based group HRANA said it has confirmed the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 members of the security forces, with more than 10,600 people arrested over two weeks of unrest. Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures, and Reuters said it was unable to independently verify the numbers.

{Matzav.com}

Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, a development he confirmed late Sunday in a public statement, marking a sharp intensification of a prolonged challenge to the central bank’s independence.

According to Powell, the inquiry stems from testimony he delivered earlier this year concerning the long-running renovation of Federal Reserve facilities. He addressed the matter in a video message released by the Federal Reserve.

Powell made clear, however, that he believes the investigation fits into a broader effort by the administration of President Donald Trump to exert pressure on the Fed to reduce interest rates.

“This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions — or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation,” Powell said.

Responding to questions from ABC News, a spokesperson for Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “The Attorney General has instructed her U.S. Attorneys to prioritize investigating any abuse of taxpayer dollars.”

Tim Lauer, speaking on behalf of D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, told ABC News, “We do not comment on ongoing investigations.”

President Trump rejected any role in the investigation during a short interview with NBC News on Sunday night.

“I don’t know anything about it, but he’s certainly not very good at the Fed, and he’s not very good at building buildings,” Trump said.

Trump also pointed to current interest rate levels, saying, “What should pressure him is the fact that rates are far too high. That’s the only pressure he’s got,” according to NBC News. “He’s hurt a lot of people,” he added. “I think the public is pressuring him.”

In July, Trump made a highly publicized visit to the Federal Reserve, renewing his demands for lower rates while appearing alongside Powell.

Wearing matching white hard hats, Trump and Powell toured the central bank’s $2.5 billion renovation project. At the time, Trump repeatedly criticized Powell over what he described as excessive construction costs.

The Federal Reserve has said the higher expenses were driven by unexpected increases, noting on its website that the renovation will ultimately “reduce costs over time by allowing the Board to consolidate most of its operations.”

Following the tour, Trump took questions from reporters with Powell standing nearby. During the exchange, Trump asserted that the renovation costs were higher than previously reported, prompting Powell to correct him by explaining that Trump had mistakenly included expenses from an earlier, unrelated project.

Later that month, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida, sent an initial criminal referral to the Department of Justice, accusing Powell of misleading the Senate Banking Committee in his testimony about the renovation.

Luna alleged that Powell had made false statements regarding the scope and cost of the headquarters project.

On Sunday night, Sen. Thom Tillis, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, posted a statement on X saying, “If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none.”

Tillis added that he would “oppose the confirmation of any nominee” to the Federal Reserve, including the next chair, until the legal issue is resolved.

Powell’s term as chair of the Federal Reserve concludes in May, though he is expected to remain on the Board of Governors until 2028.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes. The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and […]

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, […]

President Donald Trump circulated an image online depicting him as the “Acting President of Venezuela,” drawing attention for its unusual presentation.

The image appeared to be a doctored Wikipedia entry listing Trump as the “incumbent Venezuelan president” as of January 2026, while also noting his real positions as the 45th and 47th President of the United States.

The post surfaced as Trump spoke optimistically about U.S. engagement with Caracas, saying relations with Venezuela’s leadership are progressing smoothly, citing energy cooperation and diplomatic contacts as evidence.

“Venezuela is really working out well. We’re working along really well with the leadership, and we’ll see how it all works out,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked about ties with the new authorities in Caracas following the U.S. operation that removed Nicolas Maduro from power.

Trump said Venezuelan officials had requested that the United States receive a massive oil shipment. “She asked us, can we take 50 million barrels of oil? And I said, yes we can,” he said. “It’s $4 billion, $4.2 billion, and it’s on its way right now to the United States.”

When questioned about a potential meeting with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, Trump indicated openness to talks. “At some point I’ll meet. Yeah, she’s been very good.”

He also hinted that a sit-down with opposition figure Maria Corina Machado could take place soon. “I hear Tuesday or Wednesday. I look forward to that,” he said.

According to Trump, major energy companies are eager to do business in Venezuela, though he singled out ExxonMobil for criticism. “I didn’t like Exxon’s response,” he said. “They’re playing too cute.”

Addressing concerns from energy firms, Trump said the administration would provide firm assurances. “Guarantees that they’re gonna be safe, that there’s gonna be no problem, and there will be. There’s not gonna be a problem.”

He blamed earlier complications on past U.S. leadership. “They had problems in the past because they didn’t have Trump as a president,” he said.

Trump also alluded to wider regional negotiations, including discussions involving Cuba, though he declined to elaborate. “You’re gonna find out pretty soon,” he said.

In an earlier social media message, Trump declared that Venezuela would no longer be sending “oil or money” to Cuba and said the U.S. military would play a role in ensuring separation between the two nations.

“Venezuela doesn’t need protection anymore from the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for so many years,” he wrote. “Venezuela now has the United States of America, the most powerful military in the World (by far!), to protect them, and protect them we will,” Trump said.

{Matzav.com}

Three coalition members submitted a bill on Monday to repeal the crime of fraud and breach of trust—an ambiguous charge that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is standing trial for (along with a bribery charge, which has been repeatedly disproven in court). The bill’s explanatory notes state that the crime of breach of trust has drawn […]

Hamas said it has instructed its government agencies in Gaza to prepare to transfer their authorities to an independent committee of Palestinian technocrats envisioned under a ceasefire plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. In a video statement, Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassem said the group had issued directives to all governmental bodies to begin preparations […]

President Donald Trump said there is no place for antisemites in the Republican Party or the MAGA movement, delivering an unequivocal — and characteristically self-referential — rebuke during a sweeping, two-hour interview with The New York Times published Sunday. Pressed on whether prominent figures on the right who espouse antisemitic views belong in his political […]

A tense incident near the Gaza border last week has renewed IDF concerns over growing misidentifications along the “yellow line,” the boundary marking Israeli‑controlled areas of Gaza, Ynet reported. A Gazan terrorist, unarmed and dressed as a civilian, managed to approach within roughly 150 meters (500 feet) of an IDF post. Some soldiers initially assumed […]

A communal shatnez advisory from the Vaad L’Mishmeres Shatnez is warning that couches and pillows may contain prohibited mixtures of wool and linen, a concern that many people may not be aware of. According to the notice, upholstered furniture and decorative pillows—particularly custom-made items—can be manufactured using both wool and linen fibers. Examples cited include […]

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to Iranian officials on Monday, local time, to show restraint as unrest continues to grip the country, urging authorities to ensure that fundamental freedoms are upheld. He stressed that the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly “must be fully respected” and safeguarded.

His comments come against the backdrop of widespread protests in Iran that have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 420 demonstrators over the past 15 days, including eight children. The figures were cited by Human Rights Activists in Iran and reported by CNN.

In a message posted on X, the UN chief underscored the importance of avoiding what he described as the “unnecessary or disproportionate use of force” in responding to public demonstrations.

“Shocked by reports of violence & excessive use of force by the Iranian authorities against protesters resulting in deaths & injuries in recent days. The rights to freedom of expression, association & peaceful assembly must be fully respected & protected. I urge the Iranian authorities to exercise maximum restraint & refrain from unnecessary or disproportionate use of force,” Guterres said in his post.

“I also urge steps that enable access to information in the country, including restoring communications,” the UN Secretary-General said.

At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said Israel is “closely monitoring” developments in Iran as demonstrations calling for greater freedom continue to spread.

Netanyahu expressed firm backing for the Iranian population in its confrontation with what he labeled “tyranny.”

In a separate post on X, Netanyahu wrote, “Israel is closely monitoring the events unfolding in Iran. The protests for freedom have spread throughout the country. The people of Israel, and the entire world, stand in awe of the immense bravery of Iran’s citizens.”

The unrest began on December 28 with protests over rising inflation and worsening economic conditions, before rapidly expanding into nationwide turmoil marked by violent confrontations between demonstrators and security forces.

Rallies have since erupted in numerous cities, with authorities responding through arrests, sweeping crackdowns, and forceful measures. Human rights organizations have repeatedly voiced alarm over the number of casualties and allegations of mistreatment of those detained.

Iranian officials have attributed the violence to what they describe as “rioters” and foreign involvement, while insisting that legitimate economic complaints will be addressed through official channels.

Against this backdrop, U.S. officials told CNN that President Trump is considering multiple military options related to Iran following the deadly protests, after issuing warnings to Tehran over the use of lethal force against demonstrators.

Iran’s Attorney General, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, said that the legal response to the protests would be uncompromising. According to Tasnim News Agency, he stated that cases would be pursued “without leniency, mercy or appeasement.” “The charges against all rioters are the same,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

A police interrogation of Tzachi Braverman, chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, concluded after approximately 13 hours on Sunday, according to Hebrew media reports. The questioning reportedly included a face-to-face confrontation with Eli Feldstein, a former spokesman to Netanyahu who is a central figure in an ongoing investigation involving the alleged leak […]

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was rushed to a hospital in Ramallah on Monday, the Saudi Asharq outlet reported. However, Palestinian media outlets claim that Abbas, 90, was brought to the hospital to undergo routine medical checkups Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, added that Abbas underwent routine medical examinations several months ago and his […]

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