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MK Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism visited a military detention facility on Sunday where yeshiva students who declined to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces are being held, offering words of encouragement while sharply criticizing the policy that led to their imprisonment.

Speaking after the visit, Porush described his encounter with the detainees, saying, “I met several young men who are imprisoned for the ‘offense’ of studying Torah. I found them determined; they believe in the importance of sitting and studying Torah. Of course, it’s not comfortable for them,” he said.

Porush said the situation was emotionally wrenching and explained that, despite his limited availability, he is working on the issue through official channels. “It breaks the heart to see this situation. We should try to come here more often, but I am also busy with discussions in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and I shared with them what is happening in those discussions. We pray that Hakadosh Boruch Hu, will help us and deliver us from this trouble,” he said.

He went on to assail those responsible for the current policy, calling the circumstances intolerable. “This situation is truly unbearable. We are required to strengthen them. They are sitting in prison in a state governed by Jews because they are studying Torah. This is an absurdity that neither my father nor my grandfather ever imagined we would reach here in the Land of Israel,” Porush said.

The visit took place against the backdrop of heightened public debate over the draft law and the ongoing dispute surrounding the enlistment of yeshiva students into military service.

{Matzav.com}

The Syrian government Sunday announced a ceasefire with the Syrian Democratic Forces, taking almost full control of the country and dismantling the Kurdish-led forces that controlled the northeast for over a decade. The announcement comes as tensions between government forces and the SDF boiled over earlier this month, eventually resulting in a major push by government forces […]

and heavy financial penalties for stealing from the scene of the Nova Music Festival massacre.

Both men were convicted based on their own admissions of aggravated theft, after entering the festival grounds and taking personal belongings left behind by victims of the attack.

According to the revised indictment submitted by prosecutor Adar Bachar of the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office, the two arrived at the site on October 8, 2023—just one day after the terror assault in which at least 347 civilians and 17 police officers were murdered at the festival location—and proceeded to loot items belonging to those who had been killed.

Arguing for strict punishment, Bachar emphasized the extraordinary gravity of the case, stating: “The circumstances of this case are unique and severe, and the actions of the defendants, who, one day after the worst disaster in the country’s history, got together and stole property belonging to the victims of the Nova Festival, must be condemned. The defendants took advantage of the situation in the country at the time to carry out their plan.”

In his ruling, Judge Amir Doron described the national trauma surrounding the events, writing: “The morning after October 7th, 2023, was one of the most difficult days in the country’s history. The country experienced a planned spree of murder and destruction, which caused substantial damage to life and property, which was reflected in the various strata of Israeli society in general, and the victims of the massacre and their families in particular.”

Judge Doron went on to deliver a scathing moral assessment of the defendants’ conduct. “The defendants failed in a disgraceful and particularly severe manner on the moral and ethical level. Through their actions, carried out together with one another, the defendants demonstrated a blatant trampling of every component of basic human compassion. The defendants stole equipment from the victims of the massacre, while the blood of those victims cried out from the ground before them. Driven by greed, the defendants chose to steal whatever they could lay their hands on, with particular emphasis on property of significant economic value.”

He added that such behavior strikes at the core of society itself. “Stealing from the scene of a massacre is not only an injustice toward the victims; it is considered a ‘stain on our camp,’ eroding social trust and the sense of solidarity,” he wrote.

At the end of the case, the court imposed identical sentences on both defendants: 38 months in prison, a suspended term, and a fine of 45,000 shekels each.

{Matzav.com}

Three new F-35I fighter jets arrived in Israel on Sunday, increasing the Israeli Air Force’s fleet of fifth-generation stealth aircraft to 48. According to the IDF, the jets flew from the United States to Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel. The aircraft will be assigned to the Israeli Air Force’s 116th and 140th squadrons. The newly […]

The U.S. military was prepared last week to carry out strikes against Iran and was awaiting authorization from U.S. President Donald Trump, but the order was ultimately never given amid pressure from Israel and key Arab allies, according to a report by Axios. The report cites four U.S. officials, two Israeli officials, and two additional […]

Rav Yaakov Jan, the rov of Uman, issued a rare public warning on Sunday calling on Jews in Israel and abroad to avoid traveling to Uman in light of unusually severe winter weather that has made conditions in the area unsafe.

While underscoring the spiritual value of visiting the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov, Rav Jan said the current situation warrants delaying any trips until circumstances improve, citing heightened dangers both on regional roads and within the city itself.

He explained that temperatures have plunged to extreme sub-zero levels not experienced in years, alongside extended power failures, darkened and icy streets, and dangerously cold conditions inside homes—factors that collectively pose serious risks to visitors and local residents.

Rav Jan further cautioned those already in Uman to avoid using gas heaters indoors, emphasizing the particular hazards they present during outages. He pointed to a tragic incident late last week in which a 28-year-old man was found dead in his home, with carbon monoxide poisoning suspected, and urged the public to act responsibly and minimize exposure to danger.

The rov added that anyone who nevertheless decides to travel to Uman during this period should make certain they carry valid, comprehensive medical insurance before doing so.

{Matzav.com}

The FBI has captured a Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitive, Alejandro “Alex” Rosales Castillo, in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, on January 16. He had been on the run for nearly a decade after being added to the list in 2017 for the 2016 murder of his former coworker.

Iranian diplomat reportedly seeks asylum in Switzerland Iran International reports that a senior Iranian diplomat stationed in Geneva has left his post and requested asylum in Switzerland. The diplomat, Alireza Jeyrani Hokmabad, served as a senior official at Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva and reportedly sought asylum together with his family. […]

U.S. expands air-defense presence in Israel The United States has expanded its air-defense deployments in Israel, adding to systems already in place amid heightened regional tensions. The presence includes THAAD missile-defense systems, designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitude, as well as additional U.S. air-defense assets, including Patriot systems. The deployment is described as […]

A U.S.-based activist agency said Sunday it has verified at least 3,919 deaths during a wave of protests that swept Iran and led to a bloody crackdown, and fears the number could be significantly higher. The Human Rights Activists News Agency posted the revised figure, up from the previous toll of 3,308. The death toll […]

The Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) carried out Operation “Red South,” in Gaza about a year ago, the IDF revealed on Sunday. The covert operation recovered the body of fallen hostage, Staff. Sgt. Oron Shaul, and returned it to Israel.

Shaul fell in combat in Shejaiya on July 20, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, and was then abducted by the Hamas terrorist organization.

During interrogations of detainees, initial information was received regarding a civilian property in which the fallen hostage had been held over the years.

Based on additional intelligence, a decision was made to carry out an operation at the site and a key individual residing at that property was apprehended.

During his interrogation by the ISA, precise information was obtained regarding Shaul’s location. The operation to recover his body was carried out by troops of the elite Sayeret Matkal unit.

On Aug. 1, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, Lt. Hadar Goldin was killed near Rafah and his body was taken by Hamas. On Nov. 9, 2025, his body was returned by Hamas as part of the Gaza peace plan.

In addition to recovering the fallen from previous operations, the IDF has been doling out justice for previous attacks.

On Jan. 17, the IDF killed a Hamas terrorist in Gaza responsible for the murder of an Israeli civilian at the Nahal Oz checkpoint in 1995.

Muhammad Hamed Muhammad al-Hawli was a key figure in the terrorist organization for decades, the IDF said.

Al-Hawli directed the terrorists who carried out an attack on Feb. 6, 1995, in which Ashkelon resident and security guard Yevgeny Gromov was murdered. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused his chief political rivals, former prime ministers Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett, of planning to form a future government with the Islamist United Arab List, escalating an already volatile pre-election battle over legitimacy, security and the role of Arab parties in Israeli politics. “The cat is out of […]

Dear Matzav Inbox,

There is a certain tactic that has become all too familiar: arrive with a camera and a microphone, present oneself as curious and respectful, provoke just enough friction to spark a reaction, and then disappear into the editing room to manufacture a narrative that was decided long before the first question was ever asked.

That is precisely what blogger Tyler Oliveira has been doing as he deliberately travels to frum neighborhoods. His latest victim was Kiryas Yoel, as you can see in the video below.

He does not come to understand. He does not come to learn. He comes to extract moments — clipped, rearranged, stripped of context — that can later be repackaged to portray Jews in a negative light. A pause becomes hostility. A thoughtful answer becomes evasive. A nuanced explanation becomes a punchline.

Many frum Jews, when approached by someone with a microphone, engage in good faith. They assume, perhaps naively, that the person asking questions is genuinely interested in hearing how they live, what they value, and why their communities function as they do. They speak openly, respectfully, and sincerely. What they do not realize is that their words may later be selectively edited, reframed, or mocked to serve a predetermined storyline. That’s Tyler Oliveira game.

A recurring theme in Oliveira’s content is hostility toward Orthodox Jews for having large families. He repeatedly frames this as “draining the system,” deliberately conflating lawful, government-approved benefits with fraud. That framing is incorrect and deeply misleading. Families across America utilize tax credits, subsidies, and benefits explicitly created by law, yet only Orthodox Jews are singled out and cast as morally suspect for doing so.

This double standard is not accidental. It reinforces an ugly and dangerous narrative that paints religious Jews as parasitic, dishonest, and undeserving, a narrative with a long and troubling history. That’s what Tyler Oliveira is engaged in.

This is not journalism. It is not honest inquiry. It is provocation followed by selective editing, designed to generate clicks by inflaming resentment. And the damage is real. These videos circulate far beyond their original platforms, shaping opinions among viewers who have never set foot in a Jewish neighborhood and who will never meet the people being caricatured on their screens.

The Orthodox Jewish community does not owe Tyler Oliveira — or anyone else — performative explanations of its existence. Nor does it need to submit itself to bad-faith interrogations disguised as curiosity. Awareness is essential. Walking away, declining interviews, and refusing to participate in staged encounters may be the most responsible response.

Truth does not fear questions. But questions asked with an agenda, and answers twisted to fit it, have nothing to do with truth at all.

Tyler Oliveira, go away and target someone else.

Moshe Binem Schwartz

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President Donald Trump is proposing a steep price of entry for countries seeking a permanent role in a new U.S.-backed body aimed at rebuilding Gaza after Israel’s war with Hamas — at least $1 billion in cash, according to a Bloomberg report published Saturday. A draft charter obtained by Bloomberg outlines plans for what it […]

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sharply criticized the federal government’s stepped-up immigration enforcement in his city, describing it as an overreach that could spark confrontations between local police and federal agents, while urging demonstrators to keep protests peaceful.

The Democratic mayor said residents have the right to observe and record ICE activity on city streets and cautioned against escalating tensions as federal operations expand.

“We will not counter Donald Trump’s chaos with our own brand of chaos here,” Frey said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “And we’re not going to give them an excuse to do the thing that clearly they’re trying to set up to do right now.”

Reflecting on the scope of the federal presence, Frey added, “I never thought in a million years that we would be invaded by our own federal government.”

The enforcement surge began last year after Minnesota was rocked by a major welfare fraud scandal, prompting the Trump administration to intensify operations across the state.

Since then, roughly 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol officers have been assigned to Minneapolis, a city with a local police force of about 600 officers. Reuters has reported that the administration is also preparing to send 1,500 military personnel into the city.

Frey said the increased presence has heightened anxiety among residents. He noted that some people have asked police to confront federal agents directly.

“We can’t have that in America,” Frey said Sunday when asked about those concerns. “What we are hopeful for here is the judicial system to do its part to see that necessary check and balance.”

Minnesota and Illinois have filed lawsuits seeking to block the influx of federal personnel, arguing that the deployments overstep federal authority.

President Trump has also suggested he could invoke the Insurrection Act — last used in 1992 — to deploy the National Guard to Minnesota, a move Frey said would “be a shocking step.”

Border czar Tom Homan has said the administration could reduce the federal footprint if local officials agree to “let us in the jail.”

Pressed on that point, Frey pushed back.

“I don’t think Homan understands the basic dynamic as to how stuff works in Minnesota here,” Frey said, insisting that Minneapolis enforces the law and is serious about public safety. “But the bottom line is, as we know, this is not about safety. It’s not about crime.”

“This is about intimidation. And, in Minneapolis, we’re not going to be intimidated.”

Separately, CBS News reported last week that the Justice Department is examining whether Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz have worked together to obstruct federal immigration enforcement.

“We haven’t received anything, a subpoena or otherwise,” Frey said Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” “And obviously it would be deeply concerning if the federal government is targeting someone for [an action] that is quite literally my job.”

{Matzav.com}

The Defense Department has directed approximately 1,500 active-duty service members to be ready for a potential deployment to Minnesota amid concerns that tensions in the state could intensify, according to defense officials.

Army units have been issued prepare-to-deploy orders, a step meant to ensure they can be mobilized quickly if conditions on the ground deteriorate and violence escalates beyond the control of local authorities.

The heightened military readiness follows warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump that he could invoke the Insurrection Act if state leaders fail to prevent protesters from interfering with federal immigration enforcement operations.

“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Thursday.

Officials stressed that the order does not mean troops will automatically be sent into the state, but rather that the military is positioning itself to respond swiftly should the situation worsen.

{Matzav.com}

Reports in Iran – State television broadcasts were reportedly disrupted by a cyberattack, with footage aired showing the Shah alongside scenes from anti-regime protests.

Last Wednesday, Agudath Israel of America led a New York delegation of advocates from across the state to Washington, D.C. for a full day of high-level federal advocacy. The delegation spent the day meeting with more than a dozen members of Congress to advance issues of critical importance to the Jewish community.

Throughout the day, delegates highlighted key federal priorities, ranging from the new Federal tax Credit Scholarship (FSTC) to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), as well as other issues affecting Jewish families, schools, and institutions.

At the top of the agenda was the issue of rising antisemitism. Just last week a synagogue in Mississippi was destroyed by arson, and in New York protestors gathered in front of a shul and Jewish school, leading antisemitic chants such as, “We support Hamas” and “Intifada revolution.” Delegates thanked the members for speaking out about these incidents and discussed additional steps to better protect Jewish institutions and communities.

As part of its comprehensive approach to communal safety, Agudath Israel emphasized the importance of both the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) and the Pray Safe Act.

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides critical federal support to nonprofits facing elevated security risks, helping them obtain the equipment needed to protect their facilities. With shuls, schools, and Jewish organizations in New York relying heavily on this program, Agudath Israel emphasized to lawmakers the need for reliable access and increased funding.

The delegation also discussed the Pray Safe Act, legislation sponsored by Representative Grace Meng, that would direct federal agencies to collect – and help faith-based organizations and houses of worship access – information on best practices, federal grants, and training programs to better safeguard and secure their religious facilities.

On the education front, the group talked about the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC). Starting in 2027, the FSTC allows individual taxpayers to contribute to a nonprofit scholarship granting organization (SGO) and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit worth up to $1700. The SGO then pools the funds and distributes scholarships to eligible students for a wide range of K-12 educational expenses including private school tuition However, in order for SGOs to be approved, the state in which they are located must opt in to the tax credit and include them on a list sent to Treasury. Treasury and the IRS recently requested public input on key issues necessary for implementation. The group urged legislators to do what they can to ensure that New Yorkers can fully benefit from the law and expand educational opportunities for families across the state.

The delegation met with Representatives Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), Laura Gillen (D-NY-04), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23), George Latimer (D-NY-16), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Pat Ryan (D-NY-18), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), as well as staff of Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24).

{Matzav.com}

Several members of Israel’s security cabinet have privately placed blame on Jared Kushner for the controversial composition of the Executive Board of the Gaza Board of Peace, which includes representatives from Turkey and Qatar — countries Israel strongly opposes having any role in Gaza’s future governance. According to remarks made during a closed cabinet discussion […]

  Three Wedding Invitations – One Overwhelmed Father. In a small, old 40-square-meter apartment in Yerushalayim, lives R’ Yosef Kornblit – a true Yirei Shamayim, a father of 15 children, raising each one with love, simplicity, and deep Emunah.   Eight are already married.   Now – three more children got engaged, one after the other.   […]