Matzav

The wife of a chareidi teacher who was wounded in a terror attack on Friday described harrowing moments following the assault, saying the terrorist attempted to crush her husband’s skull after running him down.

Among those injured in the attacks in the Afula and Beit She’an areas was Yaakov Gerber, 37, a melamed from Hadera who was struck by a vehicle in Afula. The attacker was later neutralized by a passerby. Gerber was evacuated to Rambam Medical Center, where he was treated in the trauma unit while conscious.

Gerber recounted the incident, saying he had been returning from the school in Hadera where he teaches and was walking on the sidewalk near the dormitories junction in Afula. “I saw a pickup truck coming toward me and mounting the sidewalk. At first I thought it might be an accident and that the driver had veered off the road, but he kept advancing. I tried to run toward a nearby field, but he hit me. I remember being on the ground and feeling blows to my head. Then people came to help and called an ambulance,” he said.

His wife, Naomi Gerber, who manages Meuhedet clinics in Afula, told Ynet on Friday that her husband suffered a head injury. “It horrifies me to think that this terrible terrorist hit Yaakov and then got out of the vehicle and tried to smash his skull with blows or with some other object—we don’t know exactly what,” she said. “We are praying that he recovers and that the injuries are reversible.”

Gerber was treated over Shabbos in a surgical ward. His condition improved, and he was released from the hospital on Saturday evening and returned home. He is a member of the chareidi community in Afula Illit, led by the city’s mara d’asra, Rabbi Betzalel HaKohen Kook.

In the broader terror attack carried out by a Palestinian illegal entrant from northern Samaria in the Jezreel Valley region, two people were murdered. Aviv Maor, 18, from Ein Harod Ihud, was stabbed to death near the kibbutz, and Shimshon Mordechai, 68, from Beit She’an, was killed after being run over in the city. Two additional people were injured: a 16-year-old boy who was struck at the first scene in Beit She’an and suffered light injuries, and Gerber, who was hit at the final scene in Afula, where the attacker was neutralized by a civilian.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yissachar Dov Rosenthal zt”l, the longtime rov of the Mishkenos Sha’ananim and Nachlaot neighborhoods of Yerushalayim. He was 96.

In recent weeks, Rav Rosenthal’s health had declined. During Chanukah he was hospitalized in serious condition. He was niftar on Shabbos morning at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

Rav Rosenthal was born on the 21st of Iyar, 5689 (1929), to his father Rav Avraham Dovid Rosenthal, a renowned dayan who served as Raavad of the beis din founded by Rav Shmuel Salant and author of Be’er HaMelech, and to his mother, Rebbetzin Ruchama Keilah Yehudis, daughter of Rav Alter Yosef Zundel Shub.

He married Rebbetzin Sima, daughter of Rav Shlomo Tzadok Zeibald. Throughout her life, she devoted herself selflessly so that her husband could dedicate himself fully to Torah, rabbanus, and bringing Jews closer to their Father in Heaven.

Over the years, Rav Rosenthal was appointed rov of the Mishkenos Sha’ananim and Nachlaot neighborhoods in Yerushalayim, a position he held with distinction for decades. He also served as nasi of Yeshivas Ziv Yisrael.

He is survived by a distinguished family—sons and daughters, and many grandchildren and descendants—continuing his legacy of Torah and yiras Shamayim.

The levayah took place on Motzaei Shabbos, Parshas Vayigash, departing from Shamgar Funeral Home and proceeding to Har Hazeisim for kevurah.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

The meeting of the Chassidishe Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of the Agudas Yisroel faction of UTJ, which was scheduled to convene to determine the party’s official stance on the proposed draft law, was canceled due to the medical condition of the Gerer Rebbe.

During Shabbos, the Rebbe did not participate in tefillos, and following this development, a decision was made to postpone the gathering.

Estimates indicate that the meeting will likely be rescheduled for later in the week.

The canceled session was regarded as politically significant, as it was set to take place in the midst of intensive deliberations in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee over the draft law, which is being advanced by committee chairman Boaz Bismuth.

The meeting was expected to be attended by members of the Chassidishe Moetzes, including the Rebbes of Ger, Belz, Vizhnitz, Sanz, Boyan, Slonim, Biala, Seret-Vizhnitz, and Modzitz, along with the faction’s Knesset members, Yitzchok Goldknopf, Meir Porush, Yisrael Eichler, and Yaakov Tessler.

At this stage, it remains unclear whether all members of the Moetzes will be able to participate in the rescheduled session.

The Moetzes is expected to oppose the legislation. However, with only four Knesset seats, its opposition alone is insufficient to bring down the coalition. In contrast, Shas and Degel HaTorah, which together hold 14 mandates, are at present supporting the advancement of the law, giving it a projected majority of 64 Knesset members.

That picture could change if additional lawmakers from Likud or other coalition factions join the opposition. Among those who have already expressed reservations about the law in its current form are Yuli Edelstein, Dan Illouz, and Sharren Haskel. Should such opposition grow, the coalition’s majority could erode, making passage of the law significantly more complicate and potentially politically perilous for the government.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of mekubal Rav Chanania Aryeh Baron zt”l, one of the rabbonim of Yeshiva Beit El in the Old City of Yerushalayim. He was niftar on Shabbos at the age of 91.

Rav Baron was born on the 12th of Iyar, 5694, to his father, Rav Avraham Chaim, among the distinguished אנשי ירושלים והכותל המערבי for many decades. He was a devoted talmid of Rav Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag and would frequently go to be mispallel and to hear shiurim in Zohar at the Ashlag beis medrash.

For many years, Rav Baron lived on Rechov Yismach Moshe in Bnei Brak. In recent years, he moved to Modi’in Illit, where he resided near his children. Despite the distance, he traveled daily to Yerushalauyim, where he was shoked al talmudo at Yeshiva Beit El in the Old City. He was a great baki in Toras HaKabbalah and was known as a tzaddik nistar.

In Iyar 5784, his wife, Rebbetzin Bracha Brenda Baron a”h, passed away.

The levayah took place tonight, Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Vayigash. It departed from his home on Rechov Chafetz Chaim in Modi’in Illit, continued from the beis medrash Toras Chacham on Rechov Ohaley Yosef 18 in Yerushalayim, and concluded with kevurah on Har HaMenuchos.

The family is sitting shivah at Rechov Chafetz Chaim 10 in Modi’in Illit.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security forces have imposed a “complete siege and cordon” on the Palestinian city of Qabatiya in northern Samaria, from where a terrorist set out on his killing spree in northern Israel the previous day, Defense Minister Yisroel Katz stated this evening.

The Israel Defense Forces are “operating with full force against the terror hotspots in the village of Qabatiya from which the terrorist murder set forth,” he tweeted.

“We will continue to lead an uncompromising offensive policy against Palestinian terrorism in the terror camps in northern Samaria and throughout Judea and Samaria. Whoever provides backing and shelter to terrorism will pay the full price,” Katz added.

Two people were killed and two wounded in an attack that lasted 50 minutes in the Beit She’an Valley before the terrorist was shot and detained in the entrance to the city of Afula, according to Hebrew-language outlet Ynet.

The sole assailant, identified as Ahmad Abu al-Rub, a 34-year-old Palestinian man from Qabatiya, near Jenin, had been working illegally in Israel, the Kan public broadcaster reported.

He was subsequently hospitalized in moderate condition. On Saturday, he was released from the hospital and transferred to a security facility for questioning by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).

On Saturday, the Israel Border Police’s Yamam National Counter-Terrorism Unit and the Shin Bet arrested two brothers of Abu al-Rub, the police said in a statement. They were transferred for questioning by the Northern Police District’s Central Unit together with the Shin Bet.

“Following yesterday’s deadly attack in the city of Beit She’an, on Route 71, and in Afula, rapid investigative actions raised the suspicion that the terrorist had been inside the territory of the State of Israel together with his two brothers, aged 30 and 33, who had been staying in the Galilee area in recent days,” the statement read.

“Overnight, after indications emerged regarding the whereabouts of the two brothers—who had been acting to conceal their location—Yamam fighters, together with Shin Bet forces, and with the assistance of numerous forces from the Northern District, Border Police fighters and National Guard Border Police units, raided an agricultural structure near the town of Arraba and carried out their arrest,” the statement continued.

Arraba is an Arab city in Israel’s Lower Galilee.

The police said the arrests were followed by the apprehension of Abu al-Rub’s employer the previous day.

“The employer’s vehicle was used by the terrorist during the deadly killing spree. This evening, the police are expected to request an extension of the suspects’ detention at the magistrate’s court in Nazareth,” the Israel Police added.

Meanwhile, IDF soldiers continued to operate in the Qabatiya area throughout Saturday.

Military forces mapped the terrorist’s home and have begun sealing it before its demolition, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said.

The seizure and sealing order was signed by the head of the IDF Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth.

The troops, together with commando forces, arrested several suspects involved in terrorist activities and questioned dozens of additional suspects at the scene, the IDF added.

The terrorist attack on Friday began some time before 12:30 p.m.

The Magen David Adom emergency medical services organization received a call about an injured woman on Route 71, near Kibbutz Ein Harod in the Gilboa region.

The woman, 19, had been run over and then stabbed. She was later pronounced dead at HaEmek Medical Center in Afula and identified as Aviv Maor from Ein Harod.

Shortly beforehand, a man aged 69, identified as Shimshon Mordechai, was fatally struck by a vehicle in Beit She’an. A 16-year-old boy was attacked in a separate ramming incident in the city and was reported to have light injuries. A 37-year-old man was later wounded when the terrorist got out of his car and attacked him with a rock outside Afula.

{Matzav.com}

Americans may be in for larger-than-usual tax refunds next filing season, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who says the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act could produce a noticeable windfall when returns are filed.

Speaking on the All-In Podcast, Bessent explained that the tax changes signed by President Donald Trump in July were applied retroactively to the start of the year. Because most workers did not revise their payroll withholding after the law took effect, he said many households may receive the benefit in the form of refunds rather than higher paychecks throughout the year.

“I can see that we’re gonna have a gigantic refund year in the first quarter because working Americans did not change their withholdings,” Bessent told the “All-In Podcast” hosts. “I think households could see, depending on the number of workers, $1,000- $2,000 refunds.”

An independent analysis points in the same direction. In a December 17 report, the Tax Foundation said that refunds are likely to be larger than usual in the upcoming filing season as a result of the OBBBA’s tax reductions for 2025.

According to the group, the legislation lowered individual tax liabilities by an estimated $144 billion for the year. Outside projections suggest that as much as $100 billion of that reduction could show up in the form of higher refunds. While the impact will vary by taxpayer, the foundation said the average refund could rise by as much as $1,000.

“But because the IRS did not adjust withholding tables after the law passed, workers generally continued to withhold more taxes from their paychecks than the new law required. As a result, instead of gradually receiving the benefit of the tax cuts through higher take-home pay during the year, most taxpayers will receive it all at once when they file their returns,” the Tax Foundation wrote.

The organization also outlined several provisions in the OBBBA that could drive refunds higher, citing expanded or new tax breaks such as a larger child tax credit, a higher standard deduction, an increased cap on the SALT deduction, and added deductions tied to senior income, auto loan interest, tips, and overtime pay.

{Matzav.com}

Podcast host Joe Rogan said the newly installed White House plaques commenting on past presidents cross a line and risk turning a historic institution into a political weapon.

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience with comedian Shane Gillis, Rogan reacted strongly after reading the plaque describing President Joe Biden.

“This is so crazy,” Rogan said. “You shouldn’t be allowed to do this. Right?”

Rogan argued that such descriptions should be written by historians rather than the sitting president, saying the plaques undermine the dignity of the White House. He took particular issue with language on Biden’s plaque that labels him “Sleepy Joe Biden,” a nickname used by President Donald Trump.

“‘Nicknamed both “Sleepy” and “Crooked,”‘” Rogan said. “— by you! Nicknamed? Like the whole public got together — ‘I’ve got a name for this guy!’”

He warned that allowing one president to editorialize about predecessors could open the door for retaliation and chaos.

“Someone needs to tell him like, ‘Hey, this is not good. You can’t do that, because other people could do that too and then the White House stops being the White House,’” Rogan said, adding that it could become “whoever is in its house, where he could just go crazy and say everybody else is a crook.”

Gillis commented that the language was not helping Trump counter accusations that he governs like a strongman, though he suggested future presidents were unlikely to repeat the move.

“God, I hope not,” Rogan replied.

The discussion turned to hypothetical future leaders, with Gillis saying California Gov. Gavin Newsom would probably avoid similar behavior if elected president.

“Of course he would,” Rogan shot back. “He copies everything that Trump does. He even tries to talk like Trump on Twitter. You don’t think that he would put up plaques that talk about how corrupt Trump was and about how terrible — ‘He was quoted as lying over 5,000 times by The Washington Post,’ you know.”

The plaques were installed last week beneath photographs of past presidents lining the West Wing Colonnade, part of what has been dubbed a “Presidential Walk of Fame.” Several inscriptions ridicule the presidents depicted, while others insert flattering references to Trump.

Biden’s plaque, placed under an image of an autopen, calls him “the worst president in American history.” A plaque for President Obama describes him as “one of the most divisive political figures in American history.”

Another plaque referencing President Clinton highlights Trump’s 2016 election victory over Hillary Clinton, who served as first lady from 1993 to 2001. The plaque beneath President Reagan’s image states that the 40th president was “a fan of President Donald J. Trump long before President Trump’s Historic run for the White House.”

{Matzav.com}

A political science professor from Morgan State University sharply criticized U.S. military action in Nigeria, saying the strikes reflect what he views as a pattern of force used by the Trump administration rather than a coherent foreign policy response.

Appearing Sunday on The Weekend on MS NOW, Jason Johnson told host Eugene Daniels that the justification for the operation does not align with past rhetoric from President Donald Trump, particularly regarding African nations.

“Look, if the president of the United States suddenly decided that he cared about the very same countries that he called [garbage] countries five years ago — that the president of the United States sat there with a giant chess board … and was like, ‘Where should the Barbs go?’ OK, fine. Maybe this all makes sense, but it doesn’t,” Johnson said.

He argued that the airstrikes were less about humanitarian concern and more about demonstrating strength abroad.

“We know that this is just another opportunity for this administration to engage in violence in a Brown country in order to flex their power.”

Johnson also pointed to remarks made last week by rapper Nicki Minaj at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025, where she called for greater attention to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, a claim frequently echoed by Republicans.

The professor questioned whether widely circulated figures about Christian deaths in the country are accurate.

“BBC did a whole investigation as to whether or not the numbers being spread by Republicans are even true. Has it been 100,000 people? Has it been 6,000 people? Are they conflating different kinds of numbers?” Johnson asked.

He further contended that extremist groups operating in Nigeria are not selectively targeting one faith community, pushing back on claims that Christians are uniquely under assault.

“They don’t care if you are a Christian or a Muslim or any other religion. They’re attacking everybody,” Johnson said, adding that Republicans are overstating the scope of anti-Christian violence.

Johnson did acknowledge what he described as a limited positive aspect of the operation, noting that it was carried out in coordination with Nigeria’s government rather than as a unilateral U.S. action, a nuance he said has largely been overlooked.

On Thursday night, Trump announced the strikes in a Truth Social post, saying the U.S. military carried out airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas targeting ISIS militants he blamed for killing Christians.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump wrote.

The operation was later confirmed by U.S. Africa Command in a post on X.

The strikes came amid a recent wave of attacks in Nigeria involving Christian communities and institutions. Last month, gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, killing two people and abducting dozens of worshipers, who were released nearly a week later.

Days afterward, armed attackers raided St. Mary’s School in Niger State, abducting more than 300 students and staff. Officials said 50 students between the ages of 10 and 18 managed to escape in the days that followed, while 253 students and 12 teachers remain in captivity.

{Matzav.com}

Rudy Giuliani said New York City still has the capacity to safely host massive public events if its leaders place confidence in law enforcement and base decisions on intelligence rather than fear, arguing that canceling celebrations in response to threats only emboldens enemies.

Speaking on Newsmax’s “Saturday Report” on Shabbos, the former mayor contrasted New York with Paris, which canceled live New Year’s Eve festivities this year amid ISIS-related concerns. Giuliani said the determining factor should be police preparedness, not political pressure or public anxiety.

“If it were me in New York, I would go ahead, but that’s because I know I have the greatest police department in the world,” Giuliani said, adding that the city is still being run by Mayor Eric Adams and not by “the communist who’s going to run it,” a reference to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

Giuliani expressed confidence in current police leadership, describing Police Commissioner Jessica Sarah Tisch as a “fine police commissioner in the right tradition,” and said he remains “very confident” in the city’s ability to safeguard large crowds.

“If New York can’t pull this off, nobody can,” Giuliani said.

He drew on his own experience overseeing security for Times Square during the turn of the millennium, when al-Qaida threats raised serious concerns nationwide. Giuliani recalled that despite warnings linked to Osama bin Laden and the decision by other cities to cancel events, New York proceeded after intensive preparation.

“We invested an enormous amount of money. We started our security a month before,” Giuliani said.

“For three days before, police officers were on the ground making sure there was nothing there. It was a very close decision.”

Giuliani said that choice followed close consultation with then-FBI Director Louis Freeh and a reliance on NYPD assessments rather than outside pressure.

“If the greatest police department in the world couldn’t deal with a bunch of horrible terrorists, then we were in terrible trouble,” he said.

“We’re much stronger, much smarter, much more moral than they are,” Giuliani added.

He warned, however, that future political leadership could undermine public safety, saying he is deeply concerned about Mamdani’s views and the people advising him.

“He isn’t surrounded by a single sensible adult moderate adviser,” Giuliani said.

“People focus on his being a communist and an antisemite, but he’s also a supporter of Islamic terrorism — he supports Hamas, he doesn’t condemn them.”

Giuliani also criticized Mamdani’s opposition to police sweeps of homeless encampments, arguing that ignoring quality-of-life enforcement leads directly to increased violence.

“Instead of taking care of the small things, you’re making the small things bigger,” Giuliani said. “You’re breeding violence on the streets of the city.”

Shifting briefly to a more upbeat subject, Giuliani voiced support for upcoming plans to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, including special ceremonial ball drops in Times Square tied to both New Year’s Eve and Independence Day.

“It is important to celebrate our history, our tradition,” he said.

“Our culture is greater than any one person. If we take care of our part, we’ll squish out the immature, communist, terrorist-loving Jew haters,” Giuliani said.

Giuliani concluded by calling for unity, resolve, and vigilance as the nation enters a new year amid ongoing global security challenges.

{Matzav.com}

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A late-night social media post from Elon Musk ignited a fierce debate over New York City’s incoming leadership at the Fire Department, after Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced his choice to place longtime EMS official Lillian Bonsignore at the helm of the nation’s largest fire service.

Responding Friday to a circulating video that underscored Bonsignore’s lack of frontline firefighting experience, Musk delivered a blunt warning on X. “People will die because of this,” he wrote, adding shortly after, “Proven experience matters when lives are at stake.”

The criticism quickly spread as details of the appointment became widely known. Bonsignore, who spent 31 years with the FDNY as an emergency medical technician before retiring in 2022, is set to become only the second woman to run the department. She will also make history as its first openly gay commissioner.

Despite Musk’s dire prediction, the selection arrived with institutional backing. The three unions representing city firefighters, FDNY officers, and medics publicly endorsed Mamdani’s decision, signaling confidence from within the department’s ranks.

Online reaction, however, was swift and polarized. Musk’s post surged past 25 million views in its first day and drew more than 184,000 likes, as critics piled on with sharp commentary. “Here we go again,” wrote attorney and media personality Megyn Kelly.

Others were harsher. “Zohran Mamdani appointed Lillian Bonsignore as new FDNY Commissioner. Only problem is…she’s never been a firefighter. Word of advice, you can’t put out fires with rainbow flags,” posted Infowars host Breanna Morello. Eric Daugherty of RightLine News went further, declaring, “This is a freaking train wreck. Glad I don’t live in NYC.”

Supporters countered that the criticism ignored recent precedent. Retired NYPD lieutenant John Macari argued that operational firefighting experience has not been a prerequisite for the role in recent years. “The last 2 FDNY Fire Commissioners appointed by [NYC Mayor] Eric Adams had 0 actual FDNY operational experience,” he wrote. He continued, “Eric Adams current NYPD Police Commissioner [Jessica Tisch] also has 0 Law Enforcement experience. Lillian Bonsignore has 30 years of FDNY EMS experience. The overwhelming majority of calls handled by firefighters are EMS runs.”

Praise also came from a former occupant of the office. Former FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, who herself did not come up through firefighting ranks, applauded the move on LinkedIn. “When I was sworn in, I said it only meant something to be first if I wasn’t the last. I’m so happy I didn’t have to wait long for that to be the case,” she wrote. She added, “Mayor-elect Mamdani has made a terrific choice, and the City and FDNY are lucky to have her.”

Bonsignore is slated to take command of the department once Mamdani is sworn in on Jan. 1, assuming responsibility for America’s largest fire service at a moment of intense public scrutiny.

The transition comes amid other changes at City Hall. Earlier this week, Mayor Eric Adams announced a separate appointment to manage the department through the final days of his administration. Mark Guerra, who had been serving in an interim capacity, was named to replace Robert Tucker following Tucker’s resignation last month.

{Matzav.com}

New questions are emerging around Rep. Ilhan Omar after her husband’s venture capital company quietly removed the names and biographies of key officers and advisers from its website, including several former Obama-era officials, amid intensifying focus on the family’s rapidly expanding wealth.

The developments come as Omar’s personal net worth has surged dramatically in a short period of time. Financial disclosures show she went from having virtually no assets to being worth as much as $30 million within roughly a year, even as federal authorities uncovered what they have described as a massive fraud scheme tied to Minnesota’s Somali community that could reach as high as $9 billion.

Nearly 90 people have been charged so far in connection with the case. At least three individuals have direct ties to Omar, though she herself has not been charged.

Omar, who was born in Somalia, has drawn particular attention for her role in shaping policy critics say enabled the fraud. A resurfaced video from last month shows her handing out food at a Minneapolis restaurant that later became central to the federal investigation.

In 2020, Omar introduced the MEALS Act, legislation that loosened oversight of federally funded children’s meal programs during the pandemic. Critics argue the changes allowed fraudsters to falsely claim they served millions of meals without proper verification while collecting millions of dollars in government funds.

The congresswoman, known for her progressive politics and high-end fashion tastes, put forward the legislation at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.

In 2022, shortly after the alleged fraud scheme played out, Omar’s husband, political consultant Tim Mynett, launched Rose Lake Capital, a venture capital management firm.

According to public filings, the firm’s reported value jumped from nearly nothing in 2023 to somewhere between $5 million and $25 million just a year later. The company also claims to manage $60 billion in assets — a figure that has raised eyebrows across the financial industry.

“There’s a lot of strange things going on,” said Paul Kamenar, counsel to the National Legal and Policy Center. “She was basically broke when she came into office and now she’s worth perhaps up to $30 million…she needs to come clean on these assets.”

Rose Lake Capital promotes its “deep global networks built from on-the-ground work in more than 80 countries,” yet Omar’s own financial disclosure shows the firm held less than $1,000 in assets in 2023.

Despite the company’s reported growth, its listed address is a WeWork office in Washington, DC, according to its LinkedIn profile.

Between September and October — around the same time federal prosecutors announced charges against eight additional suspects, including six of Somali descent — Rose Lake Capital removed the names and biographies of nine officers and advisers from its website. None of those individuals were charged.

Among the removed names were former Obama Ambassador to Bahrain Adam Ereli, former Senator and Obama Ambassador to China Max Baucus, Democratic National Committee finance associate Alex Hoffman, former DNC treasurer William Derrough, and former Amalgamated Bank CEO Keith Mestrich, who once described the institution as “the institutional bank of the Democratic Party.”

At the same time, Mynett’s other venture — a California winery previously described as a failed business — also saw a startling jump in reported value. The winery, which had been declared unsuccessful in 2023, was suddenly valued between $1 million and $5 million in 2024, representing an increase of roughly 9,900%.

The winery was the subject of a lawsuit filed in October 2023 by a wine investor who accused Mynett of defrauding him out of $900,000, alleging he “fraudulently misrepresented … that estCru, LLC was a legitimate company.” Mynett countered that the business struggled because of the pandemic. The case was settled out of court the following month.

The winery, eStCru, at one point promoted wines with names such as “Blockchain” and “The Devil’s Lie,” in partnership with a well-known California winemaker who later said she stopped being paid in early 2023. That year, the winery was listed on Omar’s financial disclosure as being worth just $15,000 to $50,000, making the sudden valuation spike the following year particularly striking.

Like Rose Lake Capital, the winery is listed as operating out of a WeWork office. It no longer appears to sell wine, based on extensive online searches.

Despite its reported value, the winery’s website no longer works, its phone number is disconnected, and its last social media post dates back to 2023.

“While working families were being ripped off by a massive welfare scam, Omar’s campaign took money from convicted fraudsters, her husband launched a firm that suddenly ballooned in value, and [Minnesota Gov.] Tim Walz looked the other way,” said Kiersten Pels, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee.

When Omar first entered Congress in 2019, she reported a net worth ranging from negative $25,000 to negative $65,000, owning no assets and carrying only student loan and car debt.

Her most recent financial disclosure now places her assets between $6 million and $30 million, filed just months after she dismissed reports that she was a millionaire as “ridiculous” and “categorically false.”

Connections between Omar and the Minnesota welfare fraud case have continued to surface.

Her campaign accepted $7,400 in donations from at least three individuals who were later convicted in the fraud case, though Omar said the contributions were returned once the scandal became public.

She has also been linked to at least two members of Minnesota’s Somali community who have since been charged.

One is Salim Ahmed Said, co-owner of Safari Restaurant, where Omar held her 2018 congressional victory celebration. Said was convicted in August of stealing more than $12 million by claiming to serve 3.9 million nonexistent meals during the pandemic, prosecutors said. Authorities said he spent the money on a $2 million Minneapolis home and a $9,000-per-month shopping habit at Nordstrom.

“Does Ilhan Omar know these people? Are they from her wonderfully managed Home Country of Somalia?” President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social when the charges were first announced. “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great state, and billions of dollars are missing. Send them back to where they came from.”

During the height of the program in 2020, Omar appeared in a video filmed at Safari Restaurant praising the initiative.

“Every day Safari provides 2,300 meals to children and their families,” she said in Somali, while handing out food trays in a parking lot with her face mask pulled below her nose.

Another individual, Guhaad Hashi Said, worked on Omar’s campaigns in 2018 and 2020. He pleaded guilty in August to operating a fake food distribution site, Advance Youth Athletic Development, falsely claiming to serve 5,000 meals per day and pocketing $3.2 million.

Asked on Capitol Hill last week whether she regretted introducing the MEALS Act, Omar stood by the legislation.

“Absolutely not, it did help feed kids,” she said.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has also faced growing criticism for allowing the scheme to unfold during his administration. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has called for his resignation, and Rep. Tom Emmer suggested possible criminal exposure.

“Ilhan Omar is as disingenuous as they come,” Emmer told The Post Saturday. “She promotes socialist policies while cashing in a taxpayer-funded paycheck and sitting on tens of millions of dollars. At least now we have an explanation for why she’s so out of touch with the priorities of hardworking, everyday Minnesotans.”

The Treasury Department and Justice Department have already opened investigations into potential money laundering tied to the broader fraud case.

Ukraine came under one of its heaviest aerial assaults in months early Shabbos, as Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones against Kyiv and surrounding areas just a day before scheduled talks between Ukraine and the United States, Ukrainian authorities said.

Explosions echoed across the capital for hours as ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles struck multiple parts of the city beginning in the early morning hours of Shabbos and continuing into daylight. One person was killed and at least 27 others were wounded, according to officials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched an enormous overnight assault, firing nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles at Ukraine, with energy facilities and civilian infrastructure among the primary targets.

“If Russia turns even the X-mas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes and burned apartments, of ruined power plants, then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, urging the United States and Europe to intensify pressure on Moscow.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed it carried out what it described as a “massive strike” overnight using “long-range precision-guided weapons from land, air and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles” along with drones. The ministry said the targets included energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s military and defense industries, framing the attack as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on what it called “civilian objects” inside Russia.

Earlier on Shabbos, the ministry also claimed Russian air defenses intercepted seven Ukrainian drones over the Krasnodar and Adygeya regions.

Ukraine’s air force later said Russia actually deployed 519 drones and 40 missiles in the attack, with Kyiv’s energy and civilian infrastructure bearing the brunt. Zelenskyy said several districts were left without electricity or heating as a result.

“Today Russia demonstrated how it responds to peace talks between Ukraine and the United States on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. They carried out massive attacks on Ukraine precisely as we move toward peace negotiations,” Zelenskyy said in an audio message to reporters while traveling. “That is Russia’s response.”

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said more than 10 residential buildings were damaged, and emergency crews were working to rescue people trapped beneath collapsed structures.

One Kyiv resident, Olena Karpenko, 52, described hearing a man die in the blaze caused by the strikes. “His scream is still in my ears. I can’t believe it,” she said through tears.

Karpenko said the attack began with an explosion at a nearby thermal power plant, followed by a more powerful blast that rattled her windows before her own building was hit. “I saw how the apartment was burning, there was a fire and we heard a man’s screams, begging for help,” she said.

Kyiv Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said seven locations across the capital were struck and that two children were among the wounded. He said a body was recovered from beneath the rubble of one damaged building.

“In fact, the entire center of Kyiv was under attack by drones,” Tkachenko said, adding that the assault was meant to signal that Russia “it is raising the stakes in this war.”

Fires broke out in multiple residential towers, including an 18-story building in the Dnipro district and a 24-story building in Darnytsia. Additional blazes erupted in the Obolonskyi and Holosiivskyi districts as emergency crews rushed to contain the damage.

In the broader Kyiv region, Ukraine’s Emergency Service reported strikes on industrial and residential sites. In the Vyshhorod area, rescue teams pulled one person alive from the ruins of a destroyed home.

The attacks also triggered heightened alert levels in neighboring Poland. Polish armed forces scrambled fighter jets and temporarily shut down airports in Lublin and Rzeszow near the Ukrainian border, officials said on X. Authorities later said Polish airspace was not violated, and the civil aviation authority Pansa confirmed airport operations had resumed. It remained unclear why the alert was triggered, given that the Russian strikes were concentrated on Kyiv, far from Poland’s border.

Zelenskyy, who was traveling to Florida to meet with President Donald Trump on Sunday, told reporters he aimed to minimize unresolved issues in their discussions while maintaining Ukraine’s core positions.

“I am confident there are compromise proposals — we know the Americans — and, obviously, our enemy also always has its own goals, which we know well,” he said in an audio note shared via a WhatsApp chat with journalists.

He said security guarantees would be his top priority, noting US commitments to provide protections similar to NATO’s Article 5, under which an attack on one member triggers a collective military response, though details remain unresolved.

Zelenskyy said the most sensitive topics would involve territory, including the Donetsk region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, stressing that Ukraine would never recognize occupied land as Russian. “But the most important issue I want to stress today is security guarantees. Beyond territorial issues and the ZNPP (nuclear plant), security guarantees are critically important for us,” he said.

Zelenskyy also said he plans to brief European leaders in online meetings following his talks with Trump.

A viral video circulating this week has sparked new scrutiny over a Minneapolis daycare facility that has received roughly $4 million in public funding, after a YouTuber reported finding no children on site and noticed a misspelling on the center’s front signage.

The incident has unfolded against the backdrop of a widening welfare fraud investigation tied to Minnesota’s Somali community, which federal authorities have warned could ultimately exceed $9 million.

In the video, YouTuber Nick Shirley and another man walk up to a building marked as a daycare, where a sign on the door reads “Quality Learing [sic] Center,” incorrectly spelling the word “learning.”

Moments later, a white woman — who did not appear to be affiliated with the facility — approaches while recording on her phone and shouts, “Don’t open up. We have ICE here.”

Shirley immediately pushes back in the exchange, responding, “How do you have ICE here ma’am, I’m literally a YouTuber?”

Shirley and his companion then display documents indicating that the daycare is licensed to care for 99 children and has received approximately $1.9 million per year from the state over the past two years.

“You do realize there’s supposed to be 99 children here in this building and there’s no one here?” Shirley asks in the video.

No children are seen inside the facility during the recording, though the exact date of Shirley’s visit is not clear.

Records on the Minnesota Department of Human Services website confirm that the Quality Learning Center is licensed for up to 99 children.

The video drew sharp criticism from Minnesota Republicans, including Rep. Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip, who blasted Gov. Tim Walz in a post on X.

“4 million dollars of hard-earned tax dollars going to an education center that can’t even spell learning correctly. Care to explain this one, Tim Walz?” Emmer wrote.

According to St. Paul’s ABC affiliate, the Quality Learning Center accumulated 95 violations cited by the state’s human services agency between 2019 and 2023. Those violations reportedly include missing records for more than a dozen children listed at the center and failures to properly secure hazardous items away from children.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump signaled skepticism toward a newly unveiled peace initiative from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the two leaders prepared to meet Sunday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Speaking to Politico, Trump made clear that he is not yet persuaded by the Ukrainian proposal. “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” Trump said. “We’ll see what he’s got.”

Despite his reservations, Trump expressed confidence that the upcoming discussions would be productive and said he is also looking to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future. “I think it’s going to go good with him,” Trump said to Politico. “I think it’s going to go good with Putin.”

Trump added that he intends to meet with Putin “as much I want.”

Zelenskyy’s latest proposal, described this week, consists of a 20-point framework that would effectively freeze the conflict along its current front lines. The plan would allow Ukraine to redeploy forces from parts of the eastern front while establishing demilitarized buffer zones, according to details provided by the Ukrainian leader.

In recent days, Zelenskyy met with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a meeting he described as a “good conversation.”

A senior U.S. official told Axios that the talks were “positive and constructive,” adding that the administration has made more progress over the past two weeks than during the previous year of stalled diplomatic efforts.

According to Zelenskyy, his meeting with Trump will also address the future management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the question of territorial control in Donbas, the eastern region claimed by Moscow. The plan further calls for Russia to pull its forces out of a specific area in Donetsk.

Russia, however, has already pushed back strongly. On Friday, Moscow accused Zelenskyy and supportive European Union governments of attempting to derail a U.S.-mediated effort to halt the fighting, signaling opposition to the proposal ahead of the Florida talks.

The Kremlin said foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov held phone discussions with U.S. officials, while Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov sharply criticized Kyiv’s position.

“Our ability to make the final push and reach an agreement will depend on our own work and the political will of the other party, especially in a context where Kyiv and its sponsors — notably within the European Union, who are not in favor of an agreement — have stepped up efforts to torpedo it,” Ryabkov said on Russian TV.

Ryabkov said the proposal developed with Zelenskyy’s involvement “differs radically” from the points previously outlined in recent contacts between U.S. and Russian officials.

“Without an adequate resolution of the problems at the origin of this crisis, it will be quite simply impossible to reach a definitive accord,” he added.

He also insisted that any agreement must “remain within the limits” established by Trump and Putin during their August meeting in Alaska, warning that otherwise “no accord can be reached.”

{Matzav.com}

Concerns over President Donald Trump’s personal safety have resurfaced following a September incident in Washington, DC, where protesters managed to disrupt a public appearance despite the presence of the United States Secret Service, prompting accusations of serious security breakdowns and a lack of government transparency, the NY Post reports.

Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, said his organization fears critical details about the incident are being withheld. “I’m just really concerned about the president’s safety,” Fitton told The Post.

Fitton pointed to Trump’s visit to Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, saying the security arrangements there placed the president in unnecessary danger. “He was almost killed twice supposedly under the protection of the Secret Service and then they walked him into a potentially dangerous ambush,” he said of the September incident at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab.

According to Judicial Watch, protesters affiliated with Code Pink were able to position themselves close to Trump after apparently learning about his movements in advance. The group has spent months seeking records that could explain how that information leaked from what should have been tightly controlled planning.

“These people were allowed to get within arm’s length of the sitting president with knives and who knows what else in the restaurant available to them,” Fitton said.

Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker also criticized the handling of the situation, describing it as “an unbelievable security lapse.” He added, “I can’t believe they would let random people sit in that close proximity to them,” and compared the scene to another era, saying, “That’s crazy. That’s like’s like the days when Abraham Lincoln would ride down Pennsylvania Avenue in his coach and buggy with no protection.”

Judicial Watch filed suit on December 18 in Washington, DC federal court, demanding access to records tied to the incident. The lawsuit seeks “all internal emails and text messages among USSS officials in the Presidential Protective Division regarding the presence of Code Pink protestors” at the restaurant, as well as “all emails sent between USSS officials and any email account ending in @codepink.org.”

Court filings allege the government missed a December 9 deadline to release the records under the Freedom of Information Act.

Trump’s dinner on September 9 included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. While none of the protesters were charged with violence, Fitton warned that anyone with foreknowledge of the president’s whereabouts could pose a serious threat.

Video from the restaurant showed members of Trump’s security team speaking into hand-held radios as the disruption unfolded, with Trump himself gesturing toward the protesters as chants erupted, including “Free DC. Free Palestine. Trump is the Hitler of our time!”

The restaurant incident came after two assassination attempts against Trump during the 2024 campaign — one in July in Butler, Pennsylvania, and another in September at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. A subsequent House task force concluded that inexperienced personnel involved in his protection “did not clearly understand the delineation of their responsibilities.” Judicial Watch is also seeking Secret Service records related to those episodes.

Reports at the time said the protesters at Joe’s had more than an hour to make reservations and managed to secure seats directly next to Trump before confronting him, after which they left money on the table and were escorted out.

Security concerns were further heightened by a separate episode at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, where the Secret Service failed to detect a guest who brought a Glock handgun onto the property while the president was present. The weapon was reportedly carried in a bag as agents conducted manual searches.

Responding to that incident, a Secret Service spokesperson said, “The US Secret Service takes the safety and security of our sites very seriously and there are redundant security layers built into every one,” adding that the armed individual was never close to Trump.

The agency also said that all diners at the restaurant were screened before Trump arrived, but it declined to comment on the pending lawsuit.

{Matzav.com}

A Russian court has handed down a lengthy prison sentence to a onetime Foreign Ministry staffer who previously served at a Russian diplomatic mission in the United States, convicting him of passing sensitive material to American intelligence services.

Russia’s Federal Security Service said the Moscow City Court found Arseniy Konovalov guilty of high treason and ordered him to serve 12 years in a high-security penal colony. In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a fine of 100,000 rubles, or about $1,200.

According to the FSB, Konovalov was detained in March 2024 on suspicion of supplying classified information to US intelligence in exchange for payment while stationed at Russia’s Consulate General in Houston between 2014 and 2017.

Russian authorities did not specify the nature of the information Konovalov allegedly passed on or provide details about when the contacts with US officials occurred. Unconfirmed reports in Russian media claimed that he had been recruited by the CIA.

On Friday, state media aired video released by the FSB showing Konovalov’s arrest last year, along with footage of him appearing in court. Until then, Russian law enforcement had not publicly acknowledged his detention or disclosed the accusations against him.

The case was adjudicated by the Moscow City Court, which the FSB said formally concluded the proceedings with the treason conviction and sentence.

{Matzav.com}

A bloc of 21 predominantly Muslim nations, along with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, issued a coordinated statement condemning Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, warning that the move could destabilize a sensitive region and undermine international norms.

In their declaration, the countries cautioned against what they described as dangerous consequences for regional and global stability, saying the step carries “the serious repercussions of such unprecedented measure[s] on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and its serious effects on international peace and security as a whole, which also reflects Israel’s full and blatant disregard for international law.”

The statement further argued that the move sets a troubling international precedent, asserting that “the recognition of parts of states constitutes a serious precedent and threatens international peace and security, and violates the cardinal principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.”

Beyond the Somaliland issue, the countries also rejected any proposals to remove Palestinians from Gaza, pushing back against ideas that have circulated regarding population relocation following the war.

In recent discussions, Somaliland has been mentioned as a possible destination for Gazans who might emigrate from the conflict-ravaged Strip, a notion firmly opposed in the joint declaration.

The statement was backed by countries including Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and the Palestinian Authority.

Notably absent from the list of signatories were the three countries that normalized relations with Israel in 2020 — the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco — as well as Lebanon and Syria.

{Matzav.com}

Google published its annual breakdown of the most searched topics in the United States for 2025, offering a snapshot of a year dominated by political upheaval, shocking events, technological innovation, and viral cultural moments. Topping the list overall was conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose name generated unprecedented search traffic.

The surge in interest followed Kirk’s death, which propelled the founder of Turning Point USA past searches related to sweeping legislation, international crises, and major entertainment releases, making him the most searched individual of the year.

Kirk was assassinated on September 10 during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing, and prosecutors announced plans to pursue the death penalty after filing a capital murder charge.

Legislative and political developments also drove significant online attention. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act ranked second nationwide, becoming a focal point of debate after receiving backing from President Donald Trump. Searches tied to a government shutdown followed closely, reflecting widespread concern as federal operations were disrupted.

Technology and entertainment figured prominently as well. Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters placed fourth on the list, while Labubu, a collectible toy that went viral online, claimed the fifth spot. Apple’s iPhone 17 launch ranked sixth, underscoring sustained public interest in major consumer tech releases.

Emerging technologies and global events filled out the remainder of the top 10. DeepSeek, a rising artificial intelligence platform, ranked seventh. Zohran Mamdani, elected mayor of New York City, placed eighth, followed by the FIFA Club World Cup at No. 9. Searches related to tariffs rounded out the top tier amid renewed debate over trade policy and economic direction.

Beyond the top rankings, Google noted strong search interest throughout the year in topics such as the No Kings protest, the election of a new pope, and renewed attention to the Jeffrey Epstein files, highlighting a year shaped by controversy, cultural flashpoints, and political change.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview published on Shabbos that Iran is locked in what he described as a comprehensive confrontation with the United States, Israel, and Europe, portraying the struggle as more severe than past conflicts.

“In my opinion, we are at total war with the United States, Israel and Europe. They want to bring our country to its knees,” Pezeshkian said in remarks to Iranian state media.

Reflecting on past history, Pezeshkian argued that the current situation is even more complex than the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, saying that the nature of today’s confrontation is far less defined.

“During the war with Iraq, the situation was clear: they fired missiles, and we knew exactly where we were responding. But now, we are being surrounded from every angle,” he said.

Despite that assessment, the Iranian president insisted that Iran emerged militarily stronger following the June conflict with Israel, maintaining that the country’s armed forces are now better prepared for any future confrontation.

“Our beloved military forces are doing their jobs with strength and now, in terms of equipment and manpower, despite all the problems we have, they are stronger than when they attacked. So if they want to attack, they will naturally face a more decisive response,” he said.

Pezeshkian further claimed that the fighting did not weaken Iran internally, asserting instead that national cohesion improved and that government services continued to function throughout the war.

He urged the Iranian public to maintain unity and refrain from internal disputes, warning that Iran’s enemies are actively seeking to exploit domestic divisions.

The 12-day war between Israel and Iran erupted in June after a surprise Israeli strike on strategic Iranian targets. Israel said its campaign against senior military figures, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment facilities, and the ballistic missile program was aimed at preventing the Islamic Republic from carrying out its stated goal of destroying the Jewish state.

Iranian reports said that Pezeshkian himself narrowly escaped death during the fighting and sustained a leg injury in an Israeli strike.

Turning to domestic challenges, Pezeshkian acknowledged that Iran is under intense economic pressure stemming from sanctions, declining oil revenues, and the effects of war, while emphasizing that safeguarding citizens’ livelihoods remains his government’s top priority.

He said his administration has drafted a 20-point economic plan designed to stabilize the prices of basic goods and provide support for lower-income families, including expanded use of vouchers.

Pezeshkian also stressed the need for sharp reductions in government spending, the adoption of an austere budget, and major efficiency improvements. He highlighted curbing waste in water, electricity, and fuel usage, noting that he personally uses a desk lamp rather than lighting an entire room to save electricity.

According to The New York Times, Pezeshkian has described existing government spending habits as “what crazy people do.”

In separate remarks delivered in speeches and in discussions with university students, Pezeshkian expressed frustration over his limited ability to repair Iran’s struggling economy.

“If someone can do something, by all means go for it,” he told students, according to The New York Times. “I can’t do anything; don’t curse me.”

“Why should I solve [the economic problems]?” he reportedly said to provincial governors and local officials. “You shouldn’t think that the president can make miracles happen.”

Those comments drew criticism from Iranian politicians and media outlets.

Asked about the controversy, Pezeshkian said on Shabbos: “Of course, I have said many times that I cannot do it, but that we can. The country’s problems are not something I can solve alone… but we will overcome these problems.”

{Matzav.com}