Matzav

[Video and photos below.] The Kol Yisroel organization made its first official visit to Albany on January 20, marking the launch of an effort to introduce the organization and begin building working relationships with elected officials across New York State.

The visit opened with a meet-and-greet with Rockland County Assemblymember Karl Brabenec. Over the course of the day, Kol Yisroel representatives met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and senior staff, including Assemblymembers Bill Magnarelli, Patrick Carroll, Al Taylor, Emily Gallagher, Stacey Pheffer Amato, and Aron Wieder.

Additional meetings were held with the chiefs of staff for Assemblymembers Steve Stern and John Zaccaro Jr., as well as staff from the office of Assemblymember Micah Lasher. Kol Yisroel also met with staff from the offices of State Senators James Skoufis and Shelley Mayer, including Senator Mayer’s chief of staff. Senator Mayer currently serves as chair of the Senate Education Committee.

The day concluded with a meeting with Rockland County State Senator Bill Weber.

Two central issues were discussed throughout the visit. The first involved the possible introduction of legislation to establish a new school district in East Ramapo, based on Wards 1–4 and Wards 5–9. The second focused on advocating for an expansion of legislation creating buffer zones around houses of worship. Kol Yisroel voiced disappointment with the currently proposed 25-foot buffer, stating that it falls short of providing meaningful protection, and urged lawmakers to consider a 100-foot standard.

Kol Yisroel described the meetings as productive and encouraging and said it plans to return to Albany in the coming weeks to continue discussions. The organization added that it will keep the community informed as the effort moves forward.

VIDEO AND PHOTOS:

{Matzav.com}

Israel is home to more than half a million children from birth to age three, yet oversight of early childhood care remains uneven, with large numbers of infants and toddlers placed in settings that operate outside the state’s licensing framework, according to a report published Wednesday by Yediot Acharonot.

The report states that of roughly 540,000 young children nationwide, only about half are enrolled in supervised childcare facilities. An additional 114,000 infants and toddlers are cared for in centers that do not hold official licenses.

Although a Supervision Law enacted in 2021 was intended to extend regulatory oversight to private childcare centers, implementation has faced mounting difficulties since the legislation was approved, affecting enforcement and compliance across several areas.

Those challenges are expected to intensify next year. In 2026, the budget designated for monitoring daycare centers is projected to drop sharply to 46 million shekels, down from approximately 190 million shekels in 2023.

Officials warn that the reduced funding could significantly weaken efforts to shut down illegal daycare operations. Estimates from the Israeli Tax Authority suggest that between 1,000 and 1,500 daycare centers are currently operating without proper authorization.

Data gathered since last August by the Education Ministry and the Welfare Ministry show that 470 unlicensed daycare centers have already been identified. Authorities note that these facilities are spread across different sectors and that there has also been a rise in the detection of daycare centers that are failing to report income to the tax authorities.

{Matzav.com}

New Jersey will once again require cursive writing instruction in its public schools, with a new law directing districts to teach the skill to students in grades three through five starting next fall.

Governor Phil Murphy signed the legislation on Monday, making cursive a formal part of the curriculum once again. Supporters of the measure argue that handwriting instruction equips students with practical life skills, including the ability to sign documents and manage everyday tasks such as opening bank accounts and writing checks.

“For those of us who grew up handwriting our school papers, it’s hard to imagine that some children can no longer read or write using cursive,” said bill supporter and state Assemblywoman Shanique Speight.

“Requiring that cursive be taught in our public schools will benefit our students and prepare them for the future, so I am pleased to see this bill signed into law.”

Murphy also framed the move in a broader historical context, pointing to the nation’s approaching 250th anniversary and emphasizing the importance of giving students direct access to foundational texts through penmanship. He said cursive instruction allows students to “read our nation’s founding documents.

“We owe it to our students to give them a well-rounded education that ensures they have the tools to fully understand our rich history and become competent leaders,” Murphy said in a statement.

According to the governor’s office, the requirement will take effect with the next full academic year.

State Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer said the change reinforces the state’s educational goals by integrating traditional skills with modern learning standards.

“By embedding cursive instruction into the curriculum for grades three through five, this legislation strengthens our commitment to a well-rounded education that prepares students for real-world tasks, helps them connect with historical texts, and complements other learning,” Dehmer said.

Cursive instruction largely disappeared from classrooms around 2010, when the Common Core standards were introduced and districts shifted focus away from handwriting. In recent years, however, several states have reconsidered that approach.

New Jersey now joins states such as California and New Hampshire that have reinstated cursive as a required part of elementary education.

In New York, cursive remains optional at the district level, though efforts have been made to change that. A bill introduced by state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island, would mandate cursive instruction statewide, but it has failed to advance despite being introduced repeatedly over the past decade.

“The notion that a pupil could graduate from twelve years of education without knowing how to sign his or her name in cursive is unacceptable,” according to her proposal.

“This bill would require that this fundamental building block of our children’s education be removed from schools simply because they are not required as part of any of the numerous standardized tests students are subjected to.”

Back in New Jersey, the cursive mandate drew broad support from lawmakers across the state.

“Cursive writing is not about nostalgia – it’s about development,” said state Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie.

“From a learning-science perspective, handwriting engages neural pathways connected to literacy, attention and memory,” she said.

Murphy left office on Tuesday, with Democrat Mikie Sherrill being sworn in as New Jersey’s new governor later that day.

{Matzav.com}

A House committee advanced bipartisan contempt resolutions Wednesday targeting Bill and Hillary Clinton, escalating a dispute over their refusal to appear for sworn testimony connected to the panel’s investigation.

Members of the House Oversight Committee approved a measure recommending contempt charges against Bill Clinton by a 34–8 vote, citing his failure to comply with a subpoena seeking testimony about his ties to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. A separate resolution addressing Hillary Clinton’s refusal to testify passed by a 28–15 margin.

The subpoenas at issue were authorized last July, when Oversight Committee members and staff from both parties agreed to compel testimony from the Clintons. Despite that action, neither appeared for depositions.

Committee leaders said the stalemate followed months of negotiations between the Clintons’ legal team and Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), which did not result in voluntary compliance.

Several Democrats crossed party lines to support the contempt measures, joining Republicans in backing both resolutions against the former first couple.

President Trump said he has reached what he described as a preliminary framework for a future agreement involving Greenland, announcing at the same time that he will no longer move forward with planned tariffs on European countries that were set to take effect next month.

“We have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump wrote on Truth Social following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

“This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations. Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st,” he added.

The announcement marks a significant shift in what had become one of the most heated disputes between the Trump administration and European governments. While the president characterized the development as a breakthrough, no specific details of the framework were immediately released.

Trump has repeatedly stated his interest in U.S. control of Greenland, a vast island in the North Atlantic, while Denmark has consistently insisted it intends to retain sovereignty over the territory.

As European leaders resisted Trump’s push on Greenland, the president responded earlier this week by threatening sweeping trade penalties. He warned of a 10% tariff “on any and all goods” imported into the United States from the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland, with the rate scheduled to rise to 25% beginning June 1.

That plan has now been withdrawn. Trump said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will take the lead in negotiations related to Greenland.

Greenland also dominated Trump’s address Wednesday to the World Economic Forum, where he made clear that military action is not part of his approach.

“I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

“All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland,” he added.

The president openly criticized Denmark’s refusal to agree to U.S. control of the island, dismissively referring to Greenland as a “piece of ice.”

“We want a piece of ice for world protection — and they won’t give it,” he said.

“So they have a choice. You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember.”

Trump pointed to historical precedent, noting that the United States administered Greenland during World War II after Denmark fell to Nazi Germany, before returning it at the war’s end.

“After the war, we gave Greenland back to Denmark. How stupid were we to do that? But we did it. But how ungrateful are they now?”

“We’ve never asked for anything else and we could have kept that piece of land and we didn’t sell,” he continued. “They have a choice. You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative — or you can say no and we will remember.”

The president again stressed his argument that American control of Greenland is necessary to counter potential threats from China and Russia, citing the island’s strategic position in the Arctic.

“If there is a war, much of the action will take place on that piece of ice, think of it. Those missiles will be flying right over the center of that piece of ice,” he said.

In his statement announcing the framework, Trump said the discussions would also include The Golden Dome, the missile defense system he has proposed to protect the United States from incoming attacks.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein spoke out forcefully against efforts to assign blame to Israel’s attorney general for the recent tragedy at a Yerushalayim daycare facility, stressing that such an approach is fundamentally mistaken and contrary to Jewish belief.

In recorded remarks broadcast Tuesday evening on the Siach Yitzchok hotline, Rav Zilberstein addressed public claims that the disaster was the result of policies pursued by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, which critics say have restricted the chareidi community and led some parents to place children in unlicensed childcare settings.

According to the recording, Rav Zilberstein’s student, Rav Yaakov Ben Serouk, told listeners that when the rav learned of the tragic incident and heard the accusations circulating in the media, he reacted sharply and rejected them outright. Rav Zilberstein made clear that it is forbidden to speak in such terms or to attribute a tragedy of this nature to the actions of specific officials.

“Do not say such things,” Rav Zilberstein said. “A person must know that everything is from Shomayim. Our obligation is to strengthen ourselves and improve our ways, not to search for others to blame.”

Rav Zilberstein further explained that tragedies are meant to serve as a spiritual awakening. He said that such events are intended to prompt self-examination and repentance, with each individual reflecting on personal conduct and considering what message is being conveyed from Above.

{Matzav.com}

A severe Arctic air mass is poised to sweep across the eastern United States in the days ahead, bringing life-threatening cold that will drive temperatures well below zero in some areas and into the single digits in others, prompting warnings for residents to remain indoors to avoid hypothermia.

Meteorologists say the cold wave will intensify as the week progresses, with major impacts expected across the Midwest and Northeast. Chicago, large parts of Michigan, and upstate New York are among the locations forecast to experience the harshest conditions.

“It is dangerously cold,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines told The NY Post. “This Arctic air — an Arctic blast — is coming. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

According to Kines, the Northeast will bear the brunt of the frigid conditions over the weekend, as temperatures plunge to roughly 30 degrees below what is typical for late January.

As the Arctic air pours south from Canada, residents in the most affected regions — including parts of Minnesota and Illinois — could face serious health risks if they remain outdoors for extended periods without adequate protection, Kines warned.

“If you have to go outside, respect the cold,” he said, urging people to dress in layers and limit time outdoors to essential trips only.

“When it’s that cold, it actually hurts sometimes when you first breathe in,” he said. “It’s nothing to sneeze at.”

The extreme cold could also strain power systems, as households increase heating use and potentially overload local electrical grids, Kines added.

In New York City, temperatures are expected to tumble into the low teens over the weekend, coinciding with a snowstorm forecast to arrive on Sunday, according to Kines.

The storm is expected to bring several inches of snow — “at least enough to shovel and plow” — to the city, he said.

Before the cold fully sets in, conditions in the city are expected to remain milder on Thursday, with a high near 45 degrees and a low around 29, forecasters said.

By Friday, skies will be partly sunny, with temperatures reaching a high of 36 and dipping to 12 overnight. Shabbos is expected to be even colder, with a high of just 19 degrees and a low of 12.

On Sunday, as snow falls across the city, temperatures are forecast to reach a high of 20 degrees and a low of 15, forecasters said.

Relief from the deep freeze is not expected until sometime after next week, Kines said.

“So if you don’t like the cold, you better jump on a plane soon,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

The Gerer community is mourning the passing of Reb Yosef Chaim (Yossel) Roshitzky z”l, an elder and respected figure among Gerer Chassidim, who passed away today at 95.

Reb Yossel was niftar after a long and full life marked by deep devotion to Torah, chassidus, and unwavering attachment to the rebbes of Gur. His levayah is scheduled to take place Wednesday evening, departing from his home on Simtas Menashe 3 in Bnei Brak, proceeding past the Gerer Beis Chassidim on Or Hachaim  and continuing to the cemetery in Ashdod.

Born in Lodz, Poland, on the 21st of Sivan 5690, Reb Yossel was the son of Reb Yitzchak and Mrs. Chaya Roshitzky. In 5695, his parents immigrated to Eretz Yisroel, settling in Yaffo. During his youth in Tel Aviv, he absorbed chassidus and Torah from the Rav of Wieruszow, Rav Shaul Moshe Zilberman, whose teachings left a lifelong impression on him.

When the Imrei Emes arrived in Eretz Yisroel, Reb Yossel forged a deep bond with the Rebbe, regularly entering to seek guidance, advice, and brachos. On one occasion, when he submitted a kvittel, the Imrei Emes read his name aloud as “Yosef Chaim.” Reb Yossel viewed this as a clear blessing for long life, a brachah that was fulfilled.

Throughout his life, he remained deeply attached to the successive Gerer rebbes, including the Beis Yisroel, the Lev Simcha, the Pnei Menachem, and the current Rebbe. He would describe the awe he felt before entering the Rebbe, recalling how his teeth would chatter from reverence. He once recounted entering the Pnei Menachem and momentarily forgetting what he wished to ask. The Rebbe smiled and encouraged him to remember, and when Reb Yossel finally spoke, the Rebbe immediately blessed him for everything he had intended to request. Reb Yossel later said he felt the Rebbe had known all along but wished to give him a sense of comfort.

In the first year of the Beis Yisroel’s leadership, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5709, travel conditions were extremely difficult. Nevertheless, Reb Yossel journeyed with great mesirus nefesh to be with his Rebbe. When he arrived, the Beis Yisroel remarked warmly, “Yossel is here as well,” words that Reb Yossel cherished for the rest of his life.

He enjoyed a particularly close relationship with the Lev Simcha, in part because his son, Reb Mordechai Shmuel, served the Rebbe faithfully. The Rebbe, in turn, showed him great affection and appreciation. Reb Yossel was also among the last members of the close circle of Rav Zev (Vove) Zilberstein.

Even in his advanced years, Reb Yossel continued to serve as a living example of a true chassid. During the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, he made a point of coming at least one day to learn in the beis medrash together with younger men. For many years, he learned b’chavrusa with his close friend Reb Yechezkel Eisenberg. When a kollel for working men was established, the two of them were the first chavrusashaft to arrive and learn together.

Until just two weeks ago, Reb Yossel was still walking the streets of Bnei Brak on his own, despite his advanced age. He also attended the levayah of the Rav of the Gerer community in Bnei Brak, Rav Yehuda Aryeh Leib Zilberstein, who passed away recently at the age of 67.

He is survived by a distinguished family devoted to Torah and communal service. His sons include Rav Yisrael Roshitzky, Rav of Mevo’os HaChermon, and Rav Mordechai Roshitzky, who served as an aide to the Lev Simcha and later as manager of the Satentzia of Gur. He is also survived by his daughter, Mrs. Zelman, wife of Rav Berel Zelman, manager of the Gerer consumer cooperative in Bnei Brak.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli court on Wednesday moved to release the driver suspected of killing 16-year-old bochur Naftali Zvi Kramer z”l in a traffic incident near Kiryat Gat, even as police immediately challenged the decision and secured a temporary delay.

The Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court ruled that the suspect be transferred to house arrest, but prosecutors filed an appeal on the spot. The court granted a 24-hour stay of the release, meaning the driver will remain behind bars until the appeal is heard.

Investigators are examining allegations that the driver caused Kramer’s death through negligence, along with other possible offenses. In his statement to police, the driver said he never noticed the bochur before the crash. During the hearing, police argued that the suspect posed a danger to the public, with a representative telling the court, “Instead of accelerating toward a crowd of people, one should brake. That is the proper course of action.”

Judge Yariv Ben David nonetheless determined that the driver could be released to strict house arrest with supervision and limitations on his movement. While acknowledging the fatal outcome, the judge pointed to a range of considerations weighing against continued detention, including findings from the investigation, video footage shown in court, the driver’s cooperation, his decision to stop the bus immediately after the collision, and the absence of any prior criminal history.

Summarizing his reasoning, the judge wrote, “Despite the severe outcome, I find that in these specific circumstances, an alternative less harmful than detention is appropriate and proportionate to both the act and the individual involved,” referring to the incident, which took place amid demonstrations at the Komemiyus Junction.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that U.S. control of Greenland is necessary to support construction of a massive “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, arguing that the project would also safeguard Canada and underscoring his view that Ottawa relies heavily on American security.

Addressing participants at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the proposed defense network would automatically extend protection north of the U.S. border. “We’re building a Golden Dome that’s going to, just by its very nature, going to be defending Canada. Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful also,” he told the audience.

Trump went on to criticize Canada’s leadership, saying he was unimpressed by remarks delivered a day earlier by the Canadian prime minister. “But they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful. They should be grateful to us, Canada. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s appearance at the forum.

Whether Canada will ultimately join the Golden Dome initiative remains uncertain. The White House first revealed the missile defense concept in May, and while participation from allies has not been finalized, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that the administration has formally invited Canada to take part.

Speaking in Davos during an interview with CNBC, Bessent emphasized Greenland’s central role in the plan. “Greenland is strategically important for [Trump’s] Golden Dome project to protect the U.S. and he’s invited Canada into that if they want to pay their share,” he said.

According to administration estimates, the Golden Dome system would cost about $175 billion and rely on a network of space-based sensors, interceptors, and other cutting-edge missile defense capabilities.

Those figures could climb substantially over time. In a report released in May, the Congressional Budget Office projected that deploying space-based interceptors alone could run anywhere from $161 billion to $542 billion over a 20-year period.

Carney, in his own Davos address, avoided naming Trump directly but cautioned that the global, rules-based system is eroding as “great powers” increasingly apply economic and security pressure to influence allies.

He said countries that fall into the category of “middle powers,” including Canada, should treat the moment as a “wake-up call,” arguing that cooperation alone does not ensure security. Instead, he urged nations to strengthen themselves through diversification, collective efforts, and respect for national sovereignty.

Carney also reiterated Canada’s backing of Greenland and Denmark’s right to decide the island’s future, signaling resistance to any attempt to tie security arrangements to territorial claims or economic coercion.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, outlining his views on a range of international developments, including Venezuela, Greenland, Israel, and the situation in Gaza.

Speaking about events following the recent capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro earlier this month, Trump said the country was now positioned for success and praised the cooperation his administration received. “Venezuela is going to do fantastically well. We appreciate all of the cooperation we’ve been given. We’ve been given great cooperation. Once the attack ended. The attack ended, and they said, ‘Let’s make a deal.’”

Trump also returned to the issue of Greenland, reiterating his belief that the massive Arctic island should become part of the United States. He described Greenland as strategically vital, saying, “This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America, on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere. That’s our territory.”

Emphasizing security concerns, Trump argued that only the United States is capable of protecting Greenland effectively. He said the U.S. needs control of the territory to “make it so that it’s good for Europe and safe for Europe, and good for us.. And the fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States.”

At the same time, Trump stressed that he does not intend to use military force to obtain the island. “People thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” he said, adding that he prefers diplomacy. “I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, just as we have acquired many other territories,” he said.

Turning to Israel, Trump credited the United States with major contributions to its security and defense capabilities. “What we did for Israel was incredible,” he said, while pledging to pursue even more advanced missile defense technology for North America.

He recounted a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “We did it for Israel. And by the way, I told Bibi: ‘Bibi, stop taking credit for the dome. That’s our technology, that’s our stuff.’” Trump added that Israel’s military efforts were decisive, saying the Israelis “were good fighters and they had a lot of courage and we wiped out the Iran nuclear threat.”

After concluding his prepared remarks, Trump was asked about the creation of the Gaza Board of Peace and whether he believes the current ceasefire can last. He expressed optimism, responding, “I do. I think we have peace in the Middle East.”

He acknowledged remaining challenges, particularly regarding Hamas. “There are some little situations,” he said, “like Hamas. And Hamas has agreed to give up their weapons. They were born with a weapon in their hand, so it’s not easy to do. When they were born, they were born with a rifle in their hand. It’s not an easy thing for them, but that’s what they agreed to. They’ve got to do it. And we’re going to see over the next two or three days, certainly over the next three weeks, whether or not they’re gonna do it. If they don’t, they’re going to be blown away very quickly.”

An awe-inspiring encounter took place in Tiveriah, as the venerable mashgiach Rav Don Segal paid a special and uplifting visit to the home of the tzaddik Rav Dov Kook. The meeting revolved around yearning for the geulah and the deep spiritual chain connecting the great ones of past and present generations.

Rav Segal, who is spending time in Tiveriah for rest, made a point of going to Rav Kook’s home for a private meeting. Despite Rav Kook’s relatively young age, Rav Segal is known to accord him exceptional kavod. Conversely, those close to Rav Kook note that the rare expressions of praise he voiced regarding Rav Segal are almost never heard within his home.

A transcript of their conversation reveals fiery words concerning the pursuit of geulah and the enduring spiritual bond between generations. At the heart of the discussion stood the towering figure of the legendary mashgiach of Lakewood, Rav Nosson Wachtfogel zt”l, whose entire life was bound up with constant anticipation of Mashiach.

Rav Segal shared emotionally, saying, “He was here once, the mashgiach Rav Nosson zt”l. He lived with anticipation for Mashiach literally every moment.” Rav Segal recalled what he declared at the levayah: “When he passed away, I said at the levayah, ‘Now Mashiach can already come.’ The reason is that Mashiach comes only with hesach hadaas. As long as Rav Nosson was alive, there was no such thing in the world as distraction from Mashiach, because he thought about it every moment. Now that he has passed, there is hesach hadaas, and Mashiach can come.”

Rav Kook listened intently and asked in earnest, “Who was the mashgiach of Lakewood?” Rav Segal then continued, elaborating on the wondrous conduct and inner world of Rav Nosson Wachtfogel.

Rav Segal recounted a rare meeting between Rav Nosson and the mekubal Rav Yaakov Hillel. “I asked Rav Yaakov Hillel after their meeting what they discussed,” Rav Segal said, “and he answered me in astonishment: ‘For two hours he spoke with me about only one thing — how to bring Mashiach.’ Again and again, back and forth, constantly just that one question: how to bring the geulah.”

Rav Kook responded with a stirring statement: “And I, the small one, add that even now he continues like this in Shamayim.” Rav Segal immediately agreed, replying, “That is absolutely correct. That is why I mentioned it. I did not come here to tell stories for their own sake.”

During the visit, Rav Segal inquired with concern about Rav Kook’s health, asking, “Is the Rav feeling better now?”

Rav Kook answered with his characteristic sincerity, “Just now I received another bout of suffering.”

Rav Segal immediately responded with a warm brachah: “First and foremost, there should be a complete refuah sheleimah, and may the yissurim be separated from him.”

As the conversation neared its conclusion, the two gedolim reflected on the wondrous timing of Rav Nosson Wachtfogel’s petirah. “It was truly a פלא of ‘r’tzon yereiav ya’aseh,’” Rav Segal said. “He passed away on the very yahrtzeit of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l. Over the years, the powerful bond between them may not always have been spoken about, but on the day of his passing, the heavenly connection was revealed — on that very same day.”

{Matzav.com}

Conservative media figure Tucker Carlson is under fire following the release of a newsletter in which he floated the idea that Iran obtaining nuclear weapons might actually calm tensions in the Middle East, comparing the scenario to North Korea’s nuclear deterrence.

In the essay, titled “Could a Nuclear Iran Stabilize the Middle East?” and published on the Tucker Carlson Network website, Carlson revisits long-standing alarms about Iran’s nuclear aspirations and casts doubt on their validity. He wrote, “Those warnings sound pretty scary, but the past 20 years have proven them unwarranted. North Korea became a known nuclear nation in October 2006, and its proliferation has yielded a total of zero nuclear strikes on America, the West, or any other country.”

Expanding on that comparison, Carlson suggested that nuclear capability may have had a pacifying effect in East Asia. “Could the Iranians obtaining The Bomb wind up being a good thing? Whether anyone in the foreign policy establishment admits it, North Korea’s nuclearization has undeniably stabilized the Korean Peninsula. The region has seen no wars, coups, or interventionist-forced regime changes since 2006,” he argued.

Carlson went on to question whether a similar outcome could occur in the Middle East, asking, “Would Iran becoming a nuclear power have the same effect on its region? Could it finally prompt America to leave the area alone, and incentivize Israel to drop its stated goal of controlling the Gaza Strip and the West Bank?”

The commentary pushes back against warnings from U.S. and Israeli officials — including Senator Lindsey Graham and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who have repeatedly said that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an existential danger, potentially threatening Israel or even the United States.

According to Carlson, regimes labeled part of an “Axis of Evil” have refrained from using nuclear weapons precisely because doing so would amount to “an act of suicide.” He suggested that dire predictions are overstated and are often used to build public support for a military strike against Iran.

The newsletter sparked an immediate and heated reaction on social media. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded on X by writing, “Unbelievable. Now @TuckerCarlson is arguing it would be ‘a GOOD thing’ if the Ayatollah had a nuclear weapon. READ it yourself. Apparently ‘Death to America’ is an ambiguous sentiment to Mr. Qatarlson. #TuckerIsAmericaLast.”

Others joined the criticism, including commentator Eyal Yakoby, who wrote, “Tucker Carlson now argues in his newsletter that Iran getting nukes would be good and that North Korea having them is good too. The mental gymnastics required to apologize for some of the world’s most brutal regimes isn’t contrarianism. It’s indefensible.”

Additional reactions focused on Iran’s internal repression. One user wrote, “Tucker’s newsletter today argues that it would actually be a good thing if The Islamic Republic, the same ones who just massacred thousands of their own citizens for simply protesting, obtained a nuke.” Another likened the argument to handing matches to arsonists, warning of catastrophic consequences.

President Donald Trump said he has no intention of resorting to military action to obtain Greenland, even as he argued that the massive Arctic landmass belongs within North America and should fall under U.S. control.

“This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America,” Trump said. “That’s our territory.”

While outlining his view of Greenland’s strategic importance, Trump acknowledged that the United States would be unlikely to gain control of the island unless he chose to act militarily, a step he described as involving overwhelming power. The U.S., he said, “probably won’t get anything” unless he opted to “use excessive strength and force,” which he claimed would make the country “frankly unstoppable.”

He quickly dismissed that option, however. “But I won’t do that. Okay?” Trump said.

Moments later, he reinforced the point, stating, “I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

Trump made the remarks while addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he criticized European leaders and reiterated his belief that the United States should ultimately control Greenland.

[Video below.] President Donald Trump told an international audience on Wednesday that the strong performance of the U.S. economy one year into his second term is driving growth far beyond America’s borders, delivering benefits to countries around the world.

Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in remarks broadcast live on Newsmax and Newsmax2, Trump argued that global prosperity is closely tied to America’s economic health. “The USA is the economic engine on the planet, and when America booms, the entire world booms,” Trump said. “It’s been the history. When it goes bad, it goes bad… when America booms, the entire world booms.”

Marking the anniversary of his inauguration, Trump portrayed an economy that he said is gaining momentum across multiple fronts, including faster growth, higher productivity, rising investment, and increasing incomes for Americans.

He asserted that inflation has been brought under control and claimed that the southern border is now shut down and effectively sealed off.

Pointing to recent figures, Trump said inflation has run at 1.6 percent over the last three months and projected that economic growth in the fourth quarter will reach 5.4 percent, calling those numbers proof of a sharp turnaround.

Trump also cited gains on Wall Street, saying markets have reached 52 record highs since the election and that retirement accounts and personal savings have grown by an estimated $9 trillion.

He contrasted the current economic environment with conditions during the previous administration, which he described as a period defined by stagnation and rising prices. “America was plagued by the nightmare of stagflation, meaning low growth and high inflation, a recipe for misery, failure, and decline,” said Trump. “But now, after just one year of my policies, we are witnessing the exact opposite: virtually no inflation and extraordinarily high economic growth.”

According to Trump, businesses and investors have pledged a combined $18 trillion in new investments, a figure he said could ultimately climb to $20 trillion, which he described as unprecedented anywhere in the world.

He added that U.S. economic expansion is now running at almost twice the pace forecast by the International Monetary Fund last spring and said additional acceleration is expected as a result of his economic and tariff agenda. “And with my growth and tariff policies, it should be much higher,” he said. “I really believe we can be much higher than that, and this is all great news, and it’s great for all nations.”

Trump concluded by stressing how quickly the shift has taken place, saying the pace of improvement exceeded his own expectations and describing the change as the most significant economic turnaround in American history.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I recently conducted a brief, informal survey of about twenty people. No experts. No studies. Just conversations with ordinary, functioning members of our communities.

What emerged was not just troubling, it was downright disturbing.

We have people among us who are spending five, six, seven hours a day on their phones. Every day. Not once in a while. Not during a crisis. As a routine. Some knew it. Some guessed it. Others were shocked when their screen-time data forced them to confront the truth.

This is not a minor habit. This is not “just the times we live in.” This is sickness, normalized.

We have quietly trained ourselves to be incapable of silence. A free moment feels unbearable. Standing in line, sitting in a waiting room, even walking from one place to another … the reflex is immediate: reach for the phone. Not because we need it, but because we cannot tolerate being alone with our thoughts for more than a few seconds.

And then we wonder why people feel anxious. Why attention spans are shot. Why conversations feel shallow. Why we are impatient, irritable, and perpetually distracted.

We talk about chinuch nonstop. About children who can’t focus, teens who feel disconnected, families that feel fractured. But no one wants to say the obvious: We are modeling obsession. We are teaching our children that reality is something to escape from, not engage with.

We are sick!

Imagine a parent who spends seven hours a day reading magazines. Or pacing the house with a radio pressed to their ear. We would call it unhealthy. We would intervene. But scrolling? That gets a pass.

Why?

Because it looks productive? Because it’s “news”? Because it’s “work”? Because it’s “hock”? Because your checking Matzav and all the brilliant comments?

You’re sick!

Let’s be honest. Much of it is mindless consumption dressed up as necessity. Endless updates, outrage cycles, dopamine hits, and trivialities we won’t remember an hour later.

We have become a community that cannot sit through a meal without glancing down. That cannot daven without checking messages. That cannot have a conversation without half-listening, eyes darting toward a screen.

And the scariest part? We don’t even feel embarrassed anymore.

We used to worry about bittul zman. Now we carry it in our pockets and defend it aggressively. Anyone who dares question this addiction is dismissed as “out of touch.”

This isn’t about banning phones. It’s about reclaiming sanity. About asking whether five to seven hours a day glued to a device is something we want to accept as normal, or whether, at some point, we admit that something has gone very wrong.

Because if this is what adulthood looks like, what chance do our children have?

Name Withheld

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{Matzav.com}

Rav Ben Zion Mutzapi, leading Sephardic posek and rosh yeshiva of Bnei Tzion, delivered a forceful message addressing what he described as mounting decrees against Torah learners, set against the backdrop of the ongoing struggle over the draft law and the legal status of yeshiva students.

Rav Mutzapi’s remarks came in response to a question from one of his talmidim, who described the severe financial pressure facing many kollel families. The avreich explained that while the men learn in kollel throughout the day and their wives work and earn limited incomes, the cost of placing infants in licensed daycare facilities has become overwhelming. For families with two young children, he said, the expenses are often impossible to meet, leaving many avreichim without a viable way to support their households.

In his response, Rav Mutzapi said the hardships are not incidental, but intentional. He stated that the aim of the authorities is to break the spirit of Torah learners, distance them from Torah study, and secularize the chareidi community. He added that those advancing these policies neither recognize nor believe in Hashem or His Torah, and he sharply criticized what he described as rampant incitement against yeshiva students who are already struggling to obtain even basic necessities.

Rav Mutzapi went on to say that the Torah community has been brought low and called on the public to cry out to their Father in Heaven. He expressed hope that Hashem will hear their voices, have mercy on them, and bring salvation. He davened for better days, asking that Hashem overturn unjust rulings and disrupt the plans and schemes directed against Torah learners.

He concluded his response with words of faith, stating that just as Hashem saved Klal Yisroel from Paroh and his forces, He will save them again in the present time as well.

{Matzav.com}

Mrs. Brochi Goloventzitz, the mother of Leah Goloventzitz a”h, one of the two toddlers who died in the tragic incident at a daycare center in the Romema neighborhood, issued a public appeal, describing the family’s anguish and pleading for restraint amid a wave of rumors and misinformation.

In a personal statement addressed directly to the public, Goloventzitz wrote that the family is grappling with a devastating loss while simultaneously being forced to confront speculation, commentary, and inaccurate information circulating online and in public discourse.

The grieving mother emphasized that aside from those directly involved, no one truly knows the full facts surrounding the circumstances that led to Leah’s passing. She noted that the family has been exposed to headlines, images, and statements taken out of context, some of which are based on partial or incorrect information that does not represent the full reality.

Mrs. Goloventzitz further explained that the public is unaware of the considerations and decisions made following the incident, including the family’s refusal to allow an autopsy. She said those decisions were reached only after in-depth consultations and careful deliberation, based on information received from both the police and medical professionals.

She added that even the family itself does not yet have a complete understanding of what occurred. “We are not sleeping, we are not eating,” she wrote, explaining that their sole focus has been trying to piece together what truly happened.

[Video below.] President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning Tuesday, saying the United States would respond with overwhelming force if Iranian authorities kill protesters or carry out assassination threats directed at him.

Speaking in an interview with NewsNation host Katie Pavlich, Trump was asked about reports alleging that Iranian officials continue to burn protesters alive, as well as about a reported assassination threat against him over the weekend.

“Well, they shouldn’t be doing it, but I’ve left notification: Anything ever happens, the whole country is going to get blown up,” Trump said.

He went on to criticize President Biden’s silence on the matter, arguing that American leadership must speak clearly when threats are made. “Biden should have said something. When they made a statement, we always said, ‘Why isn’t Biden saying anything?’ Because he didn’t. But a President has to defend a President…like if I were here and they were making that threat to somebody, even not even a President but somebody, like they did with me, I would absolutely hit them so hard. But I have very firm instructions: Anything happens, they’re going to wipe them off the face of this earth.”

Trump’s remarks come against the backdrop of escalating friction between Washington and Tehran, driven by Iran’s violent suppression of anti-regime demonstrations and Trump’s repeated warnings that the United States would retaliate if protesters were harmed.

At one point on Wednesday, the standoff appeared to be nearing a breaking point, with U.S. military action against Iran seemingly imminent. The situation later eased, however, after Trump said the reported killing of protesters had stopped.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump addressed the possibility of ordering a military strike in response to Iran’s actions against demonstrators.

“So with Iran, they were going to hang 837 people…and we let them know that if that happens that it will be a very bad day for them, and they decided not to do it,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

“I can’t tell you what’s going to happen in the future but supposedly they’ve taken that off the table,” he added. “Is the military option off the table? No.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

A new Knesset seat poll published overnight shows Bibi Netanyahu’s Likud retaining its position as Israel’s largest party, while Shas has climbed to become the country’s third-largest political force.

According to the survey conducted by the Maagar Mochot research institute and broadcast on Channel 13 News, Likud would win 25 seats if elections were held today. Close behind is the newly formed “Bennett 2026” list led by former prime minister Naftali Bennett, which places second with 23 seats, down one mandate from the previous poll.

Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, ranks third with 10 seats. Three parties are tied just behind it with nine seats each: Otzma Yehudit headed by Itamar Ben Gvir, The Democrats led by Yair Golan, and Yisrael Beiteinu under Avigdor Lieberman.

The poll shows a further decline for Yesh Atid, headed by Yair Lapid, which would receive just eight seats. Yeshar, led by Gadi Eisenkot, stands at seven seats, the same number projected for United Torah Judaism.

Among Arab parties, Hadash-Ta’al is projected to win five seats, while Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, would secure four seats. The poll also shows Balad crossing the electoral threshold for the first time in recent surveys, also with four seats.

Several parties are shown failing to enter the Knesset at all, including Blue and White led by Benny Gantz, Religious Zionism headed by Bezalel Smotrich, and The Reservists under Yoaz Hendel.

In terms of political blocs, the poll gives Netanyahu-aligned parties 51 seats, while parties opposed to Netanyahu total 56 seats. Arab parties collectively account for 13 seats.

The survey also examined public opinion regarding Gantz’s political future amid his party’s continued failure to cross the electoral threshold. According to the findings, 48 percent of respondents believe Gantz should retire from politics, while 29 percent say he should continue and run in the next election.

{Matzav.com}