Matzav

A group of immigration advocates and affected individuals has gone to court to challenge a Trump administration decision that stopped the final processing of immigrant visas for applicants from dozens of countries.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Manhattan, contends that the policy effectively bars legal immigration based on nationality and is grounded in what the plaintiffs describe as an “unsupported and demonstrably false claim” that immigrants from the affected countries are more likely to rely on government assistance.

At the center of the case is a State Department directive issued in January and implemented on Jan. 21, which placed an open-ended freeze on the issuance of immigrant visas to nationals of 75 mostly non-European countries, among them Brazil, Russia, Iran, and Somalia. The government said the move was tied to concerns about future dependence on public benefits.

While applicants from those countries are still permitted to submit applications and attend consular interviews, the State Department has suspended the final approval and issuance of visas while it reviews how it applies its “public charge” standards.

Opponents argue that the policy represents one of the broadest limits on lawful immigration in years, saying it resurrects and significantly widens prior public-charge enforcement by applying it wholesale to entire countries rather than evaluating applicants on an individual basis. They warn that this approach raises serious statutory and constitutional issues.

According to the plaintiffs, internal cables and guidance from the State Department replaced the traditional case-by-case “public charge” review with a blanket refusal system based on nationality. The lawsuit alleges that the policy:
• Automatically blocks immigrant visa approvals for applicants from 75 designated countries.
• Instructs consular officials to enforce “public charge” findings in an inflexible manner, weighing factors such as benefit usage, health history, and income in ways the plaintiffs say exceed the limits set by Congress.
• Abandons the individualized determinations required by the Immigration and Nationality Act in favor of categorical denials tied to country of origin.

The suit asks the court to issue both temporary and permanent orders stopping the policy and to formally rule that it violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution.

One of the plaintiffs, a U.S. citizen from Long Island, says the policy has left him separated from his immediate family. After traveling to Guatemala for his wife’s visa interview, Cesar Andred Aguirre returned to the United States alone, while consular officials informed his wife, Dania Mariela Escobar, that she would not be permitted to come back with him, leaving her and their young daughter abroad.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shmaryahu Meltzer zt”l, one of the outstanding talmidei chachamim and marbitzei Torah of our generation, who devoted his entire life to Torah, avodah, and raising generations of bnei Torah. Rav Meltzer, Rosh Kollel of Beis Moshe and one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Toras Simcha in Yerushalayim, was niftar today at the age of 90.

Rav Meltzer was born in the month of Sivan 5695 to his father, Rav Shmuel Avraham Meltzer, mechaber of Ashdos HaPisgah. His father was among the prominent talmidim of Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz zt”l in Kamenitz, and later relocated to the United States, where he was moser nefesh to uphold Torah and shechitah during a turbulent period, standing firm against the pressures of the time.

Shortly after his marriage in Chicago to the daughter of Rav Chaim Zalman Frank zt”l, Rav Shmaryahu was appointed as a rebbi in a yeshiva ketanah. Even at a young age, his gadlus baTorah was already evident, and he received semichah lehoraah.

In later years, Rav Meltzer served for an extended period as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Itri, together with Rav Mordechai Elefant. He subsequently stood at the helm of Yeshivas Mishkan HaTorah on Rechov Sorotzkin for many years. At the direction of Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, and with the support of the philanthropist Morris Esformes, he founded Kollel Beis Moshe.

Many of his talmidim attributed their entire ruchniyus to the foundations he laid. Despite his stature, he walked humbly, learning with constant hasmadah and never holding himself above others.

Rav Meltzer was deeply connected to his rabbeim and would often recount what he heard from his father in the name of Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz. He would repeat the teaching Rav Baruch Ber said in the name of Rav Chaim Soloveitchik zt”l that one who educates his children merely to be an ehrlicher Yid is removing Torah from future generations; rather, a father must be mechanech his children to gadlus baTorah. Rav Meltzer lived this yesod, constantly instilling a drive for gadlus and ahavas Torah in all his talmidim.

He frequently spoke of his rabbeim in Eretz Yisroel and shared memories of his visits to Rav Shach and the Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky. His hasmadah was legendary. Those who entered his home would find him immersed in learning deep into the night, and at times until morning, with remarkable diligence and sweetness. His shiurim were clear and illuminating, opening the eyes of talmidim to true understanding and depth in the sugya.

Last Nissan, Rav Meltzer suffered a devastating personal loss with the petirah of his son, Rav Hillel Yosef Meltzer zt”l, one of the prominent talmidei chachamim of Petach Tikva and among the city’s rabbanim, who was niftar at the age of 57.

Rav Shmaryahu leaves behind sons and sons-in-law who are all talmidei chachamim and marbitzei Torah, among them Rav Yeshayah Nosson Meltzer, mechaber of numerous seforim in halachah; Rav Dov Gershon Meltzer, a marbitz Torah in the Mir; and his sons-in-law Rav Daniel Septner, a talmid muvhak of Rav Nochum Pertzovitz zt”l; Rav Yitzchak Eizik Silver, a dayan, moreh tzedek, and mechaber of seforim, widely known for Mishpetei HaShalom; Rav Yaakov Yerucham Katzenelbogen of Neve Yaakov; and Rav Eliezer Yehuda Shmulevitz, among the chashuvei avreichim of Kiryas Mattersdorf.

The levayah took place today at Yeshivas Toras Simcha on Rechov Sorotzkin in Yerushalayim and proceeding to Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

A 34-year-old chosson collapsed Monday night during his wedding at an event hall in a kibbutz within the Gezer Regional Council and was evacuated to the hospital in serious condition following prolonged efforts to revive him.

According to a statement from United Hatzalah, medical teams from the organization were called to the scene after reports that a man had suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness in the midst of the simcha.

Ben Sinai, a United Hatzalah volunteer who was present at the wedding as one of the guests, described the dramatic moments inside the hall. “I was in the hall as one of the guests when I suddenly noticed a commotion and calls for help. I saw the chosson unconscious and without a pulse. I immediately called for assistance and began performing resuscitation together with other medics, including the use of the hall’s defibrillator. After prolonged resuscitation efforts, boruch Hashem, his heart began beating again,” he said.

The chosson was then transported by a mobile intensive care unit to the hospital, where his condition is currently described as serious.

The tzibbur is asked to be mispallel for hachosson Evyatar ben Vivian.

{Matzav.com}

ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני

ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני

ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני

ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני

ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני ט”ו בשבט אצל פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: דוד ארזני

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that federal immigration officers operating in Minneapolis will begin wearing body cameras, backing a measure long pushed by Democrats as tensions continue to run high around immigration enforcement in the city.

In a post on X, Noem said the decision followed consultations with border czar Tom Homan, Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd Lyons, and Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott. She wrote that “every officer in the field in Minneapolis” will now be equipped with body cameras.

Noem added that the initiative will not be limited to one city, explaining that broader implementation is planned as resources allow. “As funding is available, the body camera program will be expanded nationwide. We will rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to DHS law enforcement across the country,” the DHS chief added.

She framed the move as part of a broader commitment to openness under the current administration, writing, “The most transparent administration in American history—thank you @POTUS Trump.”

The deployment of body cameras is one of several changes congressional Democrats are seeking to include in a Department of Homeland Security funding bill expected to be debated this month. Their push follows the fatal shooting of two anti-ICE agitators in Minneapolis during an encounter with federal agents, an incident that intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices.

President Donald Trump reached an agreement last week with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to pass a temporary funding measure for DHS. The stopgap bill is intended to keep the department operating while lawmakers negotiate additional proposals, including restrictions on ICE agents wearing masks, requirements that agents clearly identify themselves, and mandates for judicial warrants prior to removals.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump signaled his support for Noem’s decision to move forward with body cameras. “I leave it to her,” he said. “They generally tend to be good for law enforcement, because people can’t lie about what’s happening. So it’s generally speaking, I think 80% good for law enforcement. But if she wants to do that, I’m okay with it.”

{Matzav.com}

ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר

ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר

ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר

ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר

ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר

ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר

ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר

ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר

ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר

ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר ט”ו בשבט בסאטמרצילום: בחצרות סאטמר

Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said Monday that Tehran is prepared for a military confrontation, declaring in an interview with Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV that “Iran is ready for any war.”

Shamkhani warned that a US attack on Iran would automatically expand the conflict to include Israel, arguing that the two countries act in concert. “Israel and America are not two different elements. They are one entity. Our response to Israel is inevitable and is tied to their actions and steps,” he said.

Turning to the prospect of renewed diplomatic engagement, Shamkhani said Iran is open only to direct talks with Washington, dismissing any European role. He said Tehran is ready for “practical negotiations with Washington and no one else, as Europe has proven its inability to do anything,” adding that any discussions would be limited strictly to the nuclear file.

He emphasized that Iran has no intention of exporting uranium enriched to high levels and rejected international demands to do so. “There is no reason to transfer the stored materials outside Iran. There is no need for all these complicated procedures. Our program is peaceful, our capabilities are domestic, and the 60% enrichment level can be reduced to 20%, but they must pay a cost,” Shamkhani said.

According to Shamkhani, Iran’s core positions in negotiations remain unchanged from earlier rounds. “In the previous rounds [of talks], we had three no’s: we do not seek a nuclear weapon, we will not go to produce it, and we will not store it, and they must offer a price for that,” he said.

His remarks come amid reports that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are scheduled to meet Friday in Istanbul to explore the possibility of a renewed nuclear agreement.

US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to strike a deal with Washington over its nuclear program, while also signaling that military action remains an option if diplomacy fails.

Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Trump addressed recent warnings from Iran’s supreme leader, who cautioned that if “they start a war, this time it will be a regional war.”

“We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there… hopefully, we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, then we’ll find out whether or not he was right,” Trump said.

Trump also said Saturday night that Iran is “seriously talking” with the United States, adding that he hopes Tehran ultimately agrees to a deal that involves abandoning its nuclear weapons ambitions.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump addressed reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, offering pointed remarks about ongoing US engagement with Iran and emphasizing that diplomacy is unfolding alongside a significant show of force.

Trump said the United States is deploying major naval assets to the region even as discussions proceed. “We have big ships heading to Iran right now. The biggest and the best. We have talks going on with Iran, we will see how it all works out,” he said.

He declined to outline any next steps, stressing that the administration intends to keep its options close. “I can’t tell you what I’m going to do, because right now we have a tremendous force going there, just like we did in Venezuela – even bigger. And they’ll be there soon,” Trump continued.

Trump:

We have big ships heading to Iran right now.

We have talks going on with Iran, we will see how it all works out. pic.twitter.com/NcdvNjFXdW

— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 2, 2026

At the same time, Trump reiterated that he would prefer a negotiated outcome, while warning of consequences if talks fail. “I’d like to see a deal negotiated. I don’t know that that’s going to happen. But if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you. I’d be very foolish if I were to tell you. But right now we’re talking to them. We’re talking to Iran. And if we could work something out, that’d be great. And if we can’t, probably bad things will happen.”

The comments come amid reports that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are set to meet Friday in Istanbul to explore the possibility of a renewed nuclear agreement.

Trump has repeatedly urged Tehran to reach an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program, while making clear that military action remains an option if diplomacy does not succeed.

On Sunday, the president responded to recent warnings from Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who cautioned that if “they start a war, this time it will be a regional war.”

“We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there… hopefully, we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, then we’ll find out whether or not he was right,” Trump told reporters.

Trump also said on Motzoei Shabbos that Iran is “seriously talking” with the United States, adding that he hopes Tehran ultimately agrees to a deal that involves giving up its nuclear weapons.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of the prominent Satmar philanthropist and supporter of Torah and chessed, Rabbi Yisroel Dov Goldberger z”l. A leading figure among the Satmar community in Kiryas Yoel, he was 86 years old.

Rabbi Goldberger was born to his father, Rabbi Yitzchak Goldberger, and was the eldest grandson of Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Goldberger, who survived the Holocaust together with all of his children. From a young age, he was deeply connected to the rebuilding of Torah life after the devastation of Europe.

Throughout his lifetime, Rabbi Goldberger played a central role in constructing and expanding Satmar mosdos in Kiryas Yoel, contributing sums totaling millions of dollars. Most recently, he financed the construction of a massive new building for the Bais Rochel girls’ school in Kiryas Yoel, continuing his lifelong commitment to chinuch.

Over the past 15 years, Rabbi Goldberger donated an estimated $40 million toward the building and expansion of Satmar mosdos. His most recent contribution, made just one month ago, was a donation of $3.5 million toward the renovation and enlargement of the Satmar Bais Medrash on Rodney Street in Williamsburg. The expanded bais medrash was named in his honor, Heichal Yisroel Dov.

His generosity extended beyond the United States. At the Satmar girls’ school in Yerushalayim, he funded an entire floor of the building, which bears his name as Komat Rav Yisroel Dov.

Rabbi Goldberger amassed his wealth through real estate ventures, but those close to him said his heart was as open as a great hall when it came to supporting tzedakah and building places of Torah and chassidus. His philanthropy was quiet, consistent, and driven by a deep sense of responsibility to Klal Yisroel.

He was closely attached to the leaders of the Satmar dynasty, maintaining a lifelong bond with the Satmar Rebbes, the Vayoel Moshe, the Berach Moshe, and the current Satmar Rebbe.

In recent weeks, Rabbi Goldberger’s health deteriorated and he was hospitalized in Florida. During that time, the Satmar Rebbe traveled specially for a 24-hour visit to be at his bedside.

Rabbi Goldberger is survived by his devoted family and by his wife, Hendel Miriam.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Monday that 16 people have been discovered dead outdoors across New York City since a severe cold spell set in more than a week ago.

According to the mayor, initial assessments show that most of the deaths were linked directly to the extreme temperatures. Of the 16 fatalities recorded since Jan. 24, 13 appear to have resulted from hypothermia, while three were attributed to drug overdoses.

City officials said none of the individuals were found inside homeless encampments, even as some advocates and critics have urged the city to dismantle such sites, arguing they pose safety risks for people reluctant to enter shelters.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Mamdani said the city has intensified its outreach efforts, deploying teams around the clock to locate people living outdoors and persuade them to seek shelter indoors.

“We’ve expanded more mobile warming units to a fleet of 20, which are moving throughout the city equipped with clinical staff to treat New Yorkers’ needs and get them off the street,” the mayor said.

Mamdani added that since the cold snap began, outreach workers have succeeded in bringing roughly 1,000 people indoors.

Beyond the humanitarian response, city agencies continue to work on clearing snow and ice. Mamdani said multiple departments are assisting sanitation crews as they clear streets, sidewalks, curbs, and corners throughout the city.

Although temperatures are expected to inch slightly higher this week — with daytime highs hovering around 32 degrees on Monday and Tuesday — conditions are forecast to remain near freezing for the rest of the week. Officials noted that if the pattern continues, the city could be experiencing its longest stretch of freezing weather in 65 years.

{Matzav.com}

Pesach 2026 offers a rare opportunity to experience Yom Tov in a setting that blends serenity, elegance, and spiritual uplift, as Greenwald Caterers and Elegant Essen Retreats present a premier Pesach program at the renowned Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, Arizona.

Set on more than 400 pristine acres, the Wigwam Resort is a two-story luxury property known for its expansive grounds, refined accommodations, and tranquil desert beauty. With palm-lined walkways, resort-style pools, and wide open spaces, the setting provides the perfect backdrop for a relaxed yet elevated Pesach atmosphere—one that allows guests to truly feel the cheirus of the Yom Tov.

The program features Glatt kosher catering by Greenwald Caterers, celebrated for its exceptional cuisine, attention to detail, and uncompromising standards. Guests can expect thoughtfully prepared Yom Tov meals, beautifully presented, in an environment that reflects true Pesach dignity and warmth.

Spiritual enrichment and engaging programming will be led by a distinguished lineup, including Rabbi Bezalel Rudinsky, Rabbi Eli Mansour, Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Rabbi Dovid Newman, Dr. David Lieberman, and Rabbi Kalman Topp. Musical highlights will include Beri Weber, Yumi Lowy, and Gershon Freishtat and Orchestra.

With direct flights available to Phoenix, travel is simple and convenient, making this destination easily accessible for families and guests from across the country. For those wishing to extend the experience, an optional post-Pesach Shabbos offers the chance to unwind further and savor the atmosphere beyond Yom Tov.

Arizona’s famously beautiful weather, combined with luxury amenities and a carefully curated Pesach program, creates an experience that is both restful and inspiring—ideal for families seeking a meaningful Yom Tov without compromise.

For additional information and reservations, please visit wigwampesach.com, email info@wigwampesach.com, or call 636-2-PESACH. WhatsApp inquiries are welcome at 973-780-6900 or via https://wa.me/7183540281.

Pesach 2026 at the Wigwam Resort promises to be Pesach as it’s meant to be—elegant, uplifting, and truly unforgettable.

Naftali Bennett said Monday night at a closed-door gathering of activists that he does not regret forming a coalition government with Mansour Abbas and the Ra’am party, despite the controversy it generated.

Bennett acknowledged that the move hurt many people but said he remains convinced it was the correct choice under the circumstances at the time. “I regret that I caused pain to people, but I stand behind my considerations. I stand behind the decision. At the time, we went to elections and I truly did not know Mansour Abbas; like all the parties, I said I would not sit with them,” he said.

At the same time, Bennett made clear that his current position is fundamentally different in light of the October 7 attacks. He said that the political reality in Israel has changed and ruled out any future reliance on Arab parties. “Since October 7, there is no mandate in the State of Israel to form a government based on Arab parties. We will establish a unity government under my leadership, a Zionist government based on an alliance of those who serve, and that is what will happen. We are going to win and we are going to form it,” Bennett declared.

While Bennett was speaking inside the venue, Likud activists gathered outside to protest. Addressing the demonstration, Bennett accused Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of avoiding a direct confrontation and instead encouraging disruption.

“Instead of doing a debate, which he is afraid to do, he sends activists to disrupt. Be a man, face me, don’t send activists. Whenever you want-name a place, name a time-I am ready to face Bibi on any issue. But not through paid activists; that’s not being a man,” Bennett said.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration is restricting cities from using road safety grants for automated cameras that enforce speed limits or other traffic laws, part of a shift away from safety measures that might slow or otherwise inconvenience car travel.

The letters to city officials went out in December, saying that “for consistency with Administration priorities,” traffic cameras outside of school or work zones will not get approval under the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The program was created by the 2021 infrastructure law and funds projects aimed at eliminating traffic deaths.

“This Administration will not allow critical safety dollars to subsidize the purchase of speed cameras so governments can pursue unfair revenue schemes,” U.S. Department of Transportation spokesman Nathaniel Sizemore said in a statement.

Proposals to extend sidewalk curbs farther into a roadway are also barred, although the number of exceptions is greater: transit stops, roundabouts, school zones, on-street parking and curb extensions that don’t take away lanes of traffic, according to the letters from the U.S. Department of Transportation. As with other administration grants, the language also says any “equity analysis” is disqualifying.

The cities had been awarded grants but did not yet have a signed agreement with the White House for their implementation. Until that happens, funds can be clawed back. The Trump administration has previously said grants that include “reducing lane capacity for vehicles” with bike lanes or pedestrian infrastructure are “hostile” to cars and “counter to DOT’s priority of preserving or increasing roadway capacity for motor vehicles.”

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has signaled his enthusiasm for driving in various ways. He has tried to stop congestion pricing in New York, has encouraged Americans to take road trips and on Friday announced plans to host an IndyCar street race around the capital in August, saying, “Freedom doesn’t ring, it revs!”

Alex Engel, a spokesman for the National Association of City Transportation Officials, a nonprofit coalition, said the change is an unwarranted restriction on “proven, lifesaving tools,” and that “limiting speed and red-light enforcement to construction and school zones leaves many of the most dangerous city streets unaddressed.”

Research indicates that speed, red-light and stop sign cameras are effective at reducing crashes and fatalities and popular with the public. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calls them a “proven safety countermeasure” in a 2023 report and noted that “support appears highest in jurisdictions that have implemented red-light or speed cameras.”

Advocates say merely cutting federal funding is unlikely to slow the growth of camera programs because they generally pay for themselves with fines.

“I don’t see it as a huge barrier, given that that’s not usually where the funding comes from,” said Leah Shahum, who leads a Vision Zero Network that offers support to cities and counties trying to end road deaths. “It’s still consequential for those that have applied, and I would worry a little bit that it may send a message, that in some places it would slow enthusiasm.”

In-person traffic enforcement has collapsed across the country in the past six years, and more communities are turning to cameras to fill the gap. But there are vocal opponents who argue that it isn’t fair to enforce traffic laws without the discretion of a human officer and that cameras are used to fine people for speed limits that are too low.

Last month, Politico reported that the administration suggested stripping funding for the District of Columbia unless the city eliminates its many traffic cameras. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) pushed back, saying doing so “would endanger people in our community” and “mean cuts to everyday services.” Cameras bring in more than $100 million a year through ticket revenue.

Several House Republicans are adamantly opposed to traffic cameras and have pushed for legislation banning them both in D.C. and nationwide. According to two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, officials at the Federal Highway Administration have also been gathering information on the city’s bike lanes and whether they took space away from cars and caused congestion.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

{Matzav.com}

New York City’s transit system, the largest in the US, is creating a new unit to steer a $12 billion effort to replace decades-old trains and modernize its bus fleet.

Jessie Lazarus, who led the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s shift from the MetroCard to the tap-and-go OMNY fare system, will head the agency’s new Rolling Stock Program. The group, which will include about 10 staff members, will focus on performance-based specifications for manufacturers rather than being overly prescriptive on design, she said.

Given the scale of its procurement needs, the MTA aims to broaden the domestic manufacturing base and boost competition among suppliers, Lazarus said in an interview, describing the agency as “truly the market maker” that must be strategic about capital deployment and rail production capacity.

“This is one of the largest investments in manufacturing that’s happening in America,” Lazarus said. “And we should think about our power to structure policies that can stabilize the supplier base for the benefit of domestic public transit.”

The MTA plans to buy about 1,500 subway cars, more than 500 commuter-rail cars and roughly 2,200 buses under its 2025–2029 capital program. The rolling stock initiative accounts for nearly 20% of the agency’s $65.4 billion capital plan through 2029.

Many of the MTA’s rail cars date back to the 1980s and are nearing the end of their useful life. Older trains break down about six times as often as newer models, according to the agency. Roughly 40% of the bus fleet will also be eligible for replacement in the coming years.

Lazarus joined the MTA in 2023 after working at Carmera Inc., an artificial-intelligence company acquired by Toyota Motor Corp. in 2021. She previously served as New York City’s chief digital officer from 2014 to 2016. Lazarus holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College.

(c) 2026, Bloomberg 

Despite repeated assurances by Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu that neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority would have any role in a technocratic body overseeing Gaza, developments on the ground suggest otherwise, Arutz Sheva reports.

Reporting on i24NEWS, Amichai Stein disclosed that the newly unveiled emblem of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) incorporates the official insignia of the Palestinian Authority, raising questions about the committee’s true affiliations.

Beyond the logo itself, the composition of the 12-member panel further underscores those concerns. The committee, headed by Dr. Ali Shaath, is largely made up of individuals identified with the Fatah movement and the Palestinian Authority, including several who previously held positions within PA government frameworks or public institutions.

The roster includes Sami Nasman, who once served as a senior figure in Palestinian General Intelligence and was later imprisoned by Hamas while in Gaza. Another member is Hanaa’ Al-Tarazi, the sole woman on the committee, a Christian attorney whose professional focus is Islamic law.

{Matzav.com}

NEW DELHI – The United States and India have finalized a trade agreement, President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post Monday, putting an end to rancorous, months-long negotiations and steadying a relationship that had plummeted to its lowest point in decades.

The agreement calls for Washington to lower its 25 percent tariff on goods imported from India to 18 percent, with India reducing its tariffs on U.S. goods to zero, according to Trump. It is unclear whether the additional 25 percent tariff Trump levied on New Delhi for its purchases of Russian oil in August will remain, though the president wrote that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also agreed to “stop buying Russian Oil.”

“Our amazing relationship with India will be even stronger going forward,” Trump said.

In a post on X, Modi thanked Trump “for this wonderful announcement” and said that “when two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.”

The long-sought agreement between Washington and New Delhi was reached just days after India signed a sweeping trade deal with the European Union, part of the country’s efforts to diversity its global partnerships amid tensions with the White House.

Trump, in his Truth Social post, said India would also purchase more than $500 billion of U.S. energy, technology, agriculture and coal products.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

{Matzav.com}

Top Justice Department officials have stripped Ed Martin of the bulk of his expansive responsibilities, leaving the staunch ally of President Donald Trump on the sidelines of many of the controversial investigations he has championed, according to two people familiar with the personnel move.

As a result of the changes, Martin will no longer chair the department’s Weaponization Working Group, which was tasked with reviewing special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecutions of Trump and other perceived examples of “prosecutorial abuse,” according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel move that has not been made public.

Martin will continue to serve as the Justice Department’s pardon attorney but will no longer work at Justice Department headquarters. Instead, his office will be located in another DOJ building in Northeast Washington, pulling him away from the attorney general and the most powerful figures in the department, according to a person familiar with the move. The pardon office is in that Northeast Washington building.

“President Trump appointed Ed Martin as pardon attorney, and Ed continues to do a great job in that role,” a Justice Department spokesperson said.

Martin is a longtime antiabortion activist who helped plan and finance the rally that preceded the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Trump first named Martin to serve as the U.S. attorney for D.C.

Martin, who had no previous trial or prosecutorial experience, served in that role for 15 weeks on an interim basis, with his tenure marked by his threats to investigate Trump’s perceived political adversaries and firings and demotions of career prosecutors who handled cases involving the president and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Trump pulled the nomination because Martin did not have enough Senate support and instead gave him a senior Justice Department role, which did not require Senate confirmation.

As leader of the Weaponization Working Group, Martin has played an important role in the largely unsuccessful prosecutions of Trump’s political foes, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI director James B. Comey and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California).

In November, The Washington Post reported that federal prosecutors appeared to be questioning a witness in the Schiff mortgage fraud investigation about her contact with Martin and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte.

The questioning suggested that investigators were looking at whether Martin and Pulte used inappropriate tactics to launch probes of Schiff and others, questioning whether the two Trump officials divulged information about the Schiff investigation to people who were not authorized to be a part of it.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

{Matzav.com}

A classified internal memo circulated by Hamas leadership to its senior administrators in the Gaza Strip, ahead of the expected arrival of a technocratic government, lays out a strategy for maintaining Hamas’s rule over the territory even after the new administration formally takes office, according to a report by Kan News.

The document reportedly provides specific guidance to Hamas’s administrative officials on how they are expected to conduct themselves on a daily basis in relation to the incoming technocratic government.

Under the instructions outlined in the memo, officials are told to carry on with their regular responsibilities without alteration, effectively behaving as though no transition has taken place and ensuring that existing control structures remain intact.

The document also warns officials against criticizing members of the technocratic government or its leader on social media platforms, a move intended to prevent visible clashes or public disputes.

At the same time, the memo explicitly orders officials not to form any direct personal relationships with government representatives and not to transfer information or reports to them, except via the “relevant authority,” which, in practice, refers to Hamas itself.

Through these directives, the document describes an arrangement in which the technocratic government appears to function outwardly, while actual authority over administrative systems, information channels, and bureaucratic operations continues to rest firmly with Hamas.

Alongside these political maneuvers, the terror group is reportedly advancing its military capabilities under the protection of the ceasefire. Channel 13 News reported that the Israel Defense Forces recently placed a formal warning document on the desk of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, alerting him to a marked increase in Hamas’s military buildup in Gaza.

According to that assessment, the IDF believes Hamas is actively working to safeguard its strength and preserve both its civilian authority and military dominance in the Strip.

The core concern raised in the warning is that even within a “technocratic government” framework, Hamas will be able to retain effective control over Gaza unless the organization is fully disarmed.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei released a string of statements alleging that recent unrest in Iran was not spontaneous but rather a coordinated operation directed by foreign actors, which he labeled a “sedition” aimed at destabilizing the Islamic Republic.

In his remarks, Khamenei asserted that the disturbances were engineered by external forces, specifically blaming “Zionists & the US.” He said he had learned “through a certain channel that the CIA & Mossad deployed all of their resources into the field,” but maintained that despite those efforts, “they were defeated.” According to him, the sedition’s plan “was developed abroad, and it was managed from abroad.”

Khamenei further argued that Washington’s role was evident from comments made by the US President. “When we say the sedition was orchestrated by the US, it isn’t merely a claim,” he wrote, adding that the President’s own words made this clear. He claimed that the US President directly addressed the rioters, telling them, “Keep going, keep going. I’m coming [to help].”

The Iranian leader said such unrest was not an isolated incident, describing Iran as a nation that remains “in friction with the interests of global aggressors.” He posed the question of how long these attempts would persist and answered that they would continue “until the Iranian nation reaches a point where the enemy is left hopeless,” concluding, “And we will reach that point.”

Khamenei praised the actions of Iran’s security forces, stating that law enforcement, the Basij, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “carried out their duties in full.” At the same time, he emphasized that the decisive factor was public action, saying “it was the people themselves who trampled the fire of sedition into ashes.”

Turning to economic demonstrations, Khamenei acknowledged that some participants had legitimate complaints. He said shopkeepers “did have grievances and their demands were logical and justified,” but alleged that violent elements used those protests as cover. Once merchants understood that the demonstrations were turning into riots, he claimed, “they separated themselves.”

Khamenei likened the events to a coup attempt and explained why he believed that definition applied. He said it was because “the goal was to destroy the centers effective in the country’s governance,” asserting that attackers focused on police units, IRGC bases, government offices, and banks.

He also alleged that certain ringleaders, whom he claimed were trained by the US and Zionists, were responsible for what he described as “engineered killings.” According to Khamenei, these figures even turned on “the foot soldiers whom they themselves had drawn into the field with their propaganda,” attacking them from behind.

According to Khamenei, the central objective of the sedition was to erode internal security. He warned that “when security is gone, nothing is left,” adding that without security there can be “no production, no schools, no research, no scientific knowledge, and no progress.”

He concluded by comparing the violence to that of the Daesh terror organization. “A defining feature of this sedition was its violence; it was like that of the Daesh,” he said. Referring to the origins of ISIS, Khamenei cited a statement he attributed to President Donald Trump, saying, “We created ISIS.” He claimed that, similar to Daesh, those involved in the unrest “burned people alive” and “beheaded people,” carrying out the same kinds of atrocities.

{Matzav.com}

The United States may be on the brink of its first-ever population decline, potentially as soon as this year, far earlier than long-range forecasts once suggested. New estimates from federal agencies and independent economists indicate that President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement has sharply reduced net migration, pushing the country toward a demographic milestone never before recorded, Bloomberg reported Monday.

For generations, population gains in the U.S. were sustained largely by immigration, which compensated for declining birth rates and a rising number of deaths as the population aged.

That long-standing pattern appears to be breaking faster than expected. Analysts from across the ideological spectrum now say that immigration policies enacted during Trump’s second term are hastening a demographic shift that had previously been projected to occur much later.

As recently as 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau’s long-term outlook estimated that the nation’s population would not begin to contract until 2081.

More recent figures, however, suggest that schedule may have dramatically changed.

According to Census Bureau data released this week, the U.S. population increased by only 0.5%, or about 1.8 million people, in the year ending July 1, 2025. That marked the slowest annual growth rate since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials attributed most of that slowdown to a steep decline in net migration, which dropped to 1.3 million from 2.7 million the previous year.

During the same period, births exceeded deaths by 519,000, a margin that continues to shrink each year.

The Congressional Budget Office has warned that by around 2030, deaths are expected to surpass births entirely, meaning immigration would become the only factor preventing population loss.

Census officials now anticipate that net migration will decline even further, to roughly 316,000 in the year ending July 2026, with the United States, in their words, “trending toward negative net migration.”

Independent analysts suggest the shift may already be underway. Economists from the American Enterprise Institute and the Brookings Institution estimate that net migration may have turned negative in 2025, with the immigrant population shrinking by between 10,000 and 295,000 people.

Their projections for this year are even more stark, forecasting outcomes ranging from a modest increase of 185,000 immigrants to a decline of as many as 925,000 — estimates calculated before additional legal immigration restrictions were announced this year.

Should immigration losses outweigh the already diminishing excess of births over deaths, the total U.S. population would begin to fall. Under the most pessimistic scenario outlined by the researchers, the population would shrink by more than 400,000 people this year.

“We could be at around zero or negative on population,” said Tara Watson, director of the Brookings Center for Economic Security and Opportunity and a co-author of the analysis.

Demographers note that since the first national census was conducted in 1790, the United States has never officially recorded a nationwide population decline.

Some historians point to 1918 as a possible exception, when the Spanish flu outbreak combined with the overseas deployment of millions of U.S. troops may have temporarily reduced the number of people living in the country.

Economists caution that the consequences of reduced immigration and potential population decline would likely unfold gradually, affecting labor force growth, economic output, and government finances over time rather than triggering immediate shocks.

The Trump administration maintains that stricter immigration policies will strengthen opportunities for native-born workers and relieve strain on housing markets and public services.

White House officials have also cited expanded workforce training initiatives and broader access to temporary worker visas as measures intended to address potential labor shortages.

{Matzav.com}