Matzav

Israel’s Religious Services Ministry announced Tuesday that elections will be held next month to appoint a chief rabbi for Tel Aviv–Yafo, bringing to an end an eight-year period during which the city has not had a rabbi serving in the position.

The move comes after approval by the Tel Aviv City Council plenum, paving the way for the long-delayed vote. The election has been scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026 (8 Nissan 5786). On that day, the electing body will convene at the Tel Aviv Religious Council building on Uri Street to select the rov who will guide the city in the years ahead. Polls will be open from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by the counting of votes.

The election process is being overseen by an independent professional committee headed by Rabbi Yaakov Zamir, a retired judge of the Supreme Rabbinical Court. The committee’s work is being coordinated by its secretary, Tzuriel Porat.

Twenty candidates initially submitted their candidacies. Eighteen were approved by the election committee and will compete for the position. They are: Rabbi Oshri Moiel, Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Lau, Rabbi Ben Zion Shmuel Avidan, Rabbi Ram Moshe Raavad, Rabbi Zevadia Nissim Cohen, Rabbi Natan Nachman Zeidman, Rabbi Aryeh Levin, Rabbi Amos Chai Shoshan, Rabbi Dov Berkowitz, Rabbi Yitzchak Mordechai Bar Ze’ev, Rabbi Chaim Amsalem, Rabbi Eldad Yona, Rabbi Shimon Nissim Lagarsi, Rabbi Eldar Sami Levy, Rabbi Uziel Moshe Berkowitz, Rabbi Tomer Portal Biton, Rabbi Ben Zion Algazi and Rabbi Barak Cohen.

Religious Services Ministry Director-General Yehuda Avidan said following the decision that the ministry worked to ensure a democratic, transparent and dignified selection process befitting a major Israeli city. He thanked Rabbi Yaakov Zamir for chairing the committee and said the goal is to appoint a rabbi who will unite the city’s diverse communities and serve as a spiritual address for all sectors of the population.

{Matzav.com}

The New York City Police Department released surveillance images Tuesday in an effort to identify several men accused of hurling snow and ice at officers in Washington Square Park, an incident that unfolded just hours after Mayor Zohran Mamdani described those involved as “kids” and suggested they should not face criminal charges.

According to police, two uniformed officers responded Monday to reports of a large and unruly gathering in the Lower Manhattan park. During the response, two men allegedly “intentionally struck the police officers multiple times with snow and ice in the head, neck and face, causing injuries,” the NYPD said.

Authorities stated that emergency medical services transported the officers to Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition. The suspects fled before officers could detain them.

The NYPD confirmed that the two primary suspects are being sought on charges of assault on a police officer, which constitutes a felony under New York law.

At a press briefing Tuesday afternoon, Mamdani characterized the episode as something less severe, saying the situation “looked like kids at a snowball fight,” despite a police image showing an individual with facial hair holding what appeared to be a large, packed snowball.

Later, police officials indicated that the individuals believed to be involved were estimated to be between 18 and 20 years old.

Investigators subsequently released additional photos of two more men suspected of participating in the confrontation.

Sergeants Benevolent Association President Vincent Vallelong told Fox News Digital that “many” of the individuals under scrutiny are “believed to be NYU students.”

A spokesperson for New York University, Joseph Tirella, told Fox News Digital that the school has found no evidence linking any NYU students to the incident.

“We have enormous appreciation for the NYPD officers who keep our community safe,” Tirella said. “Assaulting police officers is a serious offense.”

Police described the first suspect as having a “light complexion” and said he was last observed wearing a black jacket, black ski mask, and black sweatpants with white stripes.

The second suspect was described as having a “dark complexion” and was reportedly last seen wearing a green jacket over a blue sweatshirt, blue gloves, and partial facial hair.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran for mayor last year, criticized Mamdani’s response, saying the mayor, “who has a history of calling the police ‘racist, evil, wicked and corrupt’” had “set the tone.”

“Words have consequences,” Cuomo wrote on social media. “We are seeing that in the growing disrespect for law enforcement — just as we’ve seen it in the rise in antisemitism. Real leaders understand that. This mayor does not. @NYCMayor must denounce this at once.”

Vallelong also said that those responsible for throwing snow and ice at officers had “cross[ed] a clear line.”

“[Officers] are tasked with maintaining public safety in crowded public spaces, often while facing hostility simply for wearing the uniform,” Vallelong wrote. “When individuals choose to turn a park into a launching ground for attacks on police, they cross a clear line. Today it is snowballs. Tomorrow it could be rocks, bottles, or worse.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the episode “disgraceful” and “criminal,” adding that detectives are actively investigating the matter.

As of Tuesday afternoon, police had not announced any arrests in connection with the snow-throwing incident.

{Matzav.com}

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[Video below.] President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address to take aim at New York City’s leadership while offering surprisingly cordial words for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, blending criticism of Democratic policies with praise for the mayor personally as he outlined Republican priorities ahead of the midterm elections.

During his nearly two-hour speech at the U.S. Capitol, Trump referenced Mamdani directly, repeating a line he has used for months to describe the democratic socialist mayor.

“The new communist mayor of New York City, I think he’s a nice guy, actually” Trump said in the middle of his nearly two-hour speech at the U.S. Capitol. “I speak to him a lot. Bad policy, but nice guy.”

Trump has frequently labeled Mamdani “a communist,” though the two men met amicably in the Oval Office in November. Since taking office, Mamdani has largely refrained from publicly sparring with the president. City Hall did not immediately issue a response Tuesday night, but the mayor has previously said that he regularly exchanges text messages with Trump.

The president sharpened his criticism later in the speech, accusing Democrats such as Mamdani of applying inconsistent standards when it comes to identification requirements. Trump pointed to a New York City emergency snow shoveling initiative that requires workers to present two forms of identification and a Social Security card before receiving payment, contrasting that with Democratic opposition to voter ID mandates.

“Yet they don’t want identification for the greatest privilege of all, voting in America,” Trump said.

Under current New York law, residents must provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, though they are not required to show identification at the polls when casting a ballot.

Trump’s renewed push for a nationwide voter identification requirement drew a standing ovation from Republican lawmakers, one of many moments of sustained applause as he revisited core elements of the GOP platform. He reiterated his calls to curb illegal immigration, described sanctuary cities such as New York as “deadly,” and highlighted the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last year.

With congressional control at stake in the upcoming midterm elections, Trump also emphasized proposals aimed at reducing living expenses. He argued that Democrats in Washington contributed to rising costs and are now campaigning on “affordability,” a term that has been central to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s legislative program over the past two years and a key theme in Mamdani’s 2025 mayoral campaign.

The president said he had signed an executive order prohibiting Wall Street investment firms from purchasing single-family homes and urged Congress to codify the restriction into law.

“We want homes for people, not for corporations,” the president said. “Corporations are doing just fine.”

New York lawmakers also made their own statements through the guests they invited to the address. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer brought a union ironworker from Long Island to attend the speech. Other members of the state’s delegation selected guests reflecting their policy priorities, including Rep. Dan Goldman, who invited a Lutheran pastor known for advocating on behalf of immigrants held in detention facilities in lower Manhattan.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remained seated for most of the address. Several Democrats opted not to attend at all, among them Reps. Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who joined dozens of colleagues in boycotting the speech.

[Video below.] President Donald Trump used his 2026 State of the Union address Tuesday night to highlight what he described as sweeping economic improvements, strengthened border enforcement and renewed American influence abroad, while also addressing tensions with Iran as his administration weighs possible military action.

Speaking for nearly two hours before a joint session of Congress, Trump reviewed his first year back in office, emphasizing domestic achievements and outlining his administration’s approach to key foreign policy challenges, particularly in the Middle East.

Opening his remarks on an upbeat note, Trump declared, “Our nation is back- bigger, better, stronger, and richer than ever before!”

He continued by looking ahead to the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations. “This July 4th, we will mark two and a half centuries of liberty and triumph, progress and freedom in the most incredible and exceptional nation ever to exist on the face of this earth – and you’ve seen nothing yet… this is the Golden Age of America,” he added.

Turning to economic matters, Trump sharply criticized President Joe Biden’s tenure, asserting that inflation had reached historic highs under the prior administration. “The Biden administration and its allies in Congress gave us the worst inflation in the history of our country. But in 12 months, my administration has driven core inflation down to the lowest level in more than 5 years – and in the last 3 months of 2025, it was down to 1.7%.”

He pointed to housing costs as further evidence of improvement. “Mortgage rates are the lowest in 4 years, and falling fast – and the annual cost of the typical new mortgage is down almost $5,000 dollars just since I took office.”

Recalling his address to Congress a year earlier, Trump contrasted what he described as a nation in turmoil with what he portrayed as a dramatically improved landscape today. “When I last spoke in this chamber 12 months ago, I had just inherited a nation in crisis. Today, our border is SECURE, our spirit is RESTORED, inflation is PLUMMETING, incomes are RISING FAST, the economy is ROARING, our enemies are SCARED, our military and police are STACKED, and America is RESPECTED again – perhaps like never before.”

He also highlighted investment figures, comparing them to those under Biden. “In four long years, the last administration got less than $1 trillion dollars in new investment in the United States… In 12 months, I secured commitments for more than $18 trillion dollars pouring in from all over the globe.”

On trade policy, Trump reiterated his long-standing support for tariffs, suggesting they could eventually reduce reliance on income taxes. “As time goes by, I believe that tariffs, paid for by foreign countries, will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love.”

Adopting a celebratory tone, the President remarked on what he characterized as a string of victories. “We are winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, ‘Please, please, Mr. President, we are winning too much, we can’t take it anymore, we are not used to winning,'” stated Trump, who added, “I say, ‘No, no, no, you are going to win again, you are going to win big.'”

On immigration and election policy, Trump urged lawmakers to pass new restrictions. He called for legislation preventing states from issuing commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens and advocated barring illegal aliens from voting in federal elections. He also pressed for voter ID requirements and tighter limits on mail-in ballots.

During his speech, Trump referenced New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, labeling him a “Communist” while noting that he remains in communication with him. The President said Mamdani “speaks a lot” with him and described him as a “nice guy” who has “bad policies.”

Addressing foreign affairs, Trump asserted that his administration had brokered the end of eight conflicts early in his term, including hostilities between Israel and Iran as well as the war in Gaza. He expressed appreciation for his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner for their roles in negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza.

According to Trump, the agreement resulted in the return of every hostage, both living and deceased, even though “nobody thought it was possible.”

Describing the recovery efforts, Trump said, “Believe it or not,” continued Trump, “Hamas worked along with Israel, and they dug, and they dug, and they dug. It’s a tough thing to do, going through bodies all over – sometimes passing up 100 bodies for each one they found. Tough job. And, uh, they finally got it back to 27. And then they found all 28.”

The President also revisited last June’s U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, stating they had “obliterated” the country’s nuclear capabilities. However, he claimed that Tehran has since killed more than 32,000 protesters and is seeking to revive its nuclear program, while developing missiles capable of reaching Europe and potentially the United States.

“We’re in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words, ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon’. My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.”

He concluded that portion of his remarks with a warning and a show of strength. “No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve. We have the most powerful military on earth – hopefully, we seldom have to use it,” continued the President.

{Matzav.com}

[Videos below.] President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night was marked by sharp confrontations with Democratic lawmakers, as tensions flared over his comments on immigration and allegations of fraud.

As the president spoke about what he described as a fraud investigation involving members of the Somali community in Minnesota and broader concerns about illegal immigration, Democratic members of Congress interrupted with shouts from the chamber.

Trump fired back at his critics, declaring that Democrats should be “ashamed.”

‘You should be ashamed!” Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., could be seen shouting back at the president.

“Liar!” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., yelled at one point.

As the address continued, both Tlaib and Omar grew increasingly vocal in their objections, repeatedly interrupting Trump’s remarks.

“You have killed Americans!” Omar and Tlaib yelled.

Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., was also seen calling out toward the president during the speech.

Meanwhile, Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., displayed a sign featuring photographs of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti — two U.S. citizens who were killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis in January.

In early January, Trump cited an ongoing fraud investigation in Minneapolis as justification for sending approximately 3,000 immigration officers into the state.

During Tuesday’s address, Trump said “Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption, and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception.”

[Video below.] President Donald Trump has established a new modern-era benchmark for the longest State of the Union address, exceeding the duration of President Bill Clinton’s 2000 speech.

The State of the Union serves as the president’s yearly message to Congress and the American public, functioning both as a report on the administration’s progress and a roadmap for future priorities. During Tuesday night’s address, Trump concentrated heavily on economic issues and emphasized what he described as the beginning of a national “golden age.”

“After just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before,” Trump declared from the dais Tuesday evening.

Clinton’s Jan. 27, 2000, address lasted approximately 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 49 seconds and had long been recognized as the longest televised State of the Union under modern recordkeeping.

Trump surpassed that mark shortly before 10:40 p.m. Tuesday night, officially moving into first place for length among modern addresses.

Ahead of the speech, Trump had signaled it would be extensive, telling reporters, “It’s going to be a long speech because we have a lot to talk about.”

Tuesday’s event marked the first official State of the Union of Trump’s second term. Earlier, in March 2025, he delivered a joint address to Congress that functioned in much the same way but was not formally designated as a State of the Union because it came early in his term.

That March 4, 2025, address lasted roughly 1 hour, 39 minutes, and 32 seconds—longer than Clinton’s 2000 address—though it did not count as an official State of the Union under traditional classification.

Clinton’s final State of the Union in 2000 focused on the economic expansion and budget surpluses of the late 1990s, while outlining proposals on education, healthcare, Social Security, and climate change for the coming century.

“My fellow Americans, each time I prepare for the State of the Union, I approach it with great hope and expectations for our nation. But tonight is special—because we stand on the mountaintop of a new millennium. Behind us we see the great expanse of American achievement; before us, even grander frontiers of possibility,” Clinton said in his final State of the Union speech.

Historical trends indicate that modern presidents tend to deliver far longer State of the Union addresses than those given in earlier decades. During the 1960s and 1970s, many speeches ran under an hour, whereas contemporary addresses frequently extend well beyond that timeframe.

President Richard Nixon delivered the shortest average State of the Union speeches at approximately 35 minutes. By contrast, Trump’s first term featured some of the lengthiest, with an average runtime of about 80 minutes.

Trump has consistently delivered extended speeches throughout his political career, from lengthy campaign rallies to major presidential appearances.

For instance, he spoke for two hours and two minutes at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference. He also holds the record for the longest presidential nomination acceptance speech, delivering a 93-minute address at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, surpassing his previous 75-minute acceptance speech in 2016.

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{Matzav.com}

More than a dozen states filed suit Tuesday against the Trump administration, contesting its decision to scale back federal vaccine recommendations for children and arguing that the move unlawfully endangers public health.

In their complaint, the states contend that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention jeopardized children’s safety when it revealed last month that it would no longer advise universal immunization for all children against influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, certain strains of meningitis, and RSV.

The updated policy, which drew objections from segments of the medical community, now limits recommendations for those vaccines to specific high-risk populations or situations in which physicians and families engage in what is termed “shared decision-making.”

According to the states — among them Arizona and California — the revised guidance disregards decades of established medical standards and will force state governments to allocate additional resources to guard against potential disease outbreaks.

“The health and safety of children across the country is not a political issue,” said Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, at a news conference. “It is not a culture war talking point.”

Neither the CDC nor the Department of Health and Human Services immediately issued a response to inquiries regarding the legal challenge.

The lawsuit intensifies a broader dispute between Democrat-led states and President Donald Trump’s administration concerning shifts in federal public health policy under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has reduced staffing levels across federal public health agencies, decreased financial support for scientific research, and revised federal recommendations on matters including fluoride and other health-related issues.

Last year, Kennedy removed all members of a federal vaccine advisory panel and appointed new members of his choosing, a move that Tuesday’s filing claims violated the law.

The legal action follows an initiative launched months earlier by the Democrat governors of California, Washington state, and Oregon to coordinate their own vaccine guidelines. Those governors argued that the Trump administration was putting public health at risk by injecting politics into the CDC’s work.

While states possess the legal authority to mandate vaccinations for students attending public schools, federal guidance from the CDC has traditionally played a significant role in shaping state-level vaccination requirements.

{Matzav.com}

Ghazi Hamad, a senior figure in the political bureau of the Hamas terrorist organization, has dismissed demands from Israel and the United States that the group relinquish its weapons.

Speaking in an interview with the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Hamad indicated that the question of disarmament cannot be easily settled, citing what he called “many sensitivities.” He further stated that attempts to pressure the organization into surrendering its weapons are “disrespectful to the efforts of the mediators.”

A Palestinian Arab source told the newspaper that the disagreement over the issue remains at a standstill. The source argued that objectives Israel did not accomplish during more than two years of fighting will not be achieved now, and said the immediate focus should be ending the “aggression and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation.”

An Egyptian source also addressed the matter, saying Hamas’s disarmament has come up in discussions that include Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, and the “technocrat committee.” The source expressed optimism that understandings could still be reached, particularly in light of US President Donald Trump’s determination to see his political initiative succeed.

According to the newspaper, analysts believe that Israeli warnings about potential military steps to strip Hamas of its weapons are intended as psychological pressure ahead of upcoming Knesset elections.

Hamas has consistently rejected calls to disarm, despite Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza requiring the organization to give up its arms. The group maintains that its arsenal serves as “self-defense against the occupation.”

Senior Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal recently reiterated the organization’s position in response to Trump’s appeal for disarmament, declaring, “As long as our people are under occupation, talk of disarmament is an attempt to turn our people into victims, to make their elimination easier and to facilitate their destruction at the hands of the Israeli side, which is armed with every international means of warfare.”

{Matzav.com}

An El Al plane traveling from Tel Aviv to New York was compelled to head back to Israel over the past day after running into dangerous weather conditions while crossing the Atlantic.

Roughly eight hours after departure, the flight crew chose to return when officials at Newark Airport temporarily shut down operations because of extreme weather, resulting in altered landing directives. Under the updated conditions, the aircraft could not complete a safe landing.

With reports pointing to a strengthening storm system battering the U.S. East Coast, the pilots decided to fly back to Ben Gurion Airport, placing passenger safety above all other considerations.

Following the disruption, a spokesperson for Arkia said the airline’s flights were also experiencing delays as crews awaited an improvement in weather conditions. The company said it is closely monitoring the situation in New York and remains in constant contact with airport authorities to ensure passenger safety.

At the same time, hundreds of Israeli travelers have been stranded in hotels amid significant snowfall in New York, and there is still no definite schedule for when departures and arrivals will return to normal.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchok Yosef, the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, ruled this week that residents of the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim should once again read the Megillah on the 15th of Adar, in accordance with the custom observed throughout Yerushalayim.

During his weekly shiur, Rav Yosef addressed the annual halachic questions that arise ahead of Purim regarding the city’s boundaries and the proper date for Megillah reading in outlying neighborhoods. He clarified that areas such as Ramot are considered fully part of Yerushalayim for this purpose.

In his remarks, Rav Yosef highlighted the efforts of Yerushalayim Deputy and Acting Mayor Tzvika Cohen, who arranged for several caravans to be placed in open areas in order to create a continuous residential link between Ramot and the main urban expanse of the walled city.

According to halachah, for a distant neighborhood to be regarded as part of a walled city with respect to reading the Megillah on the 15th of Adar, there must be an unbroken residential continuity. The placement of the caravans establishes that continuity, thereby ensuring that residents of Ramot can celebrate Purim and fulfill the mitzvah of Megillah reading on the fifteenth, in line with the ruling of Rav Ovadia Yosef.

In previous years, Cohen worked together with Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion to resolve the issue of residential continuity. The solution, approved by professional authorities, involved positioning caravans in the open spaces between Ramot and neighborhoods already contiguous with Yerushalayim, thereby formally establishing Ramot’s status as one of the city’s neighborhoods.

The continued placement of the caravans at the initiative of the deputy mayor ensures that this year as well, thousands of Yerushalayimresidents will be able to observe the mitzvos of Purim properly, with Ramot residents celebrating on the 15th of Adar together with the rest of Yerushalayim.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has directed retailers to pull several imported food products from store shelves after uncovering significant irregularities in their kashrus representations. The Rabbinate’s Kashrus Fraud Division released an update detailing what it described as serious deficiencies and misleading labeling involving dairy, fish and meat items sold in major food chains.

One case involves long-life whole milk containing 3.7% fat, sold in one-liter cartons and manufactured in Belgium by Solarec. The product is imported by Euro Dairies Europe (Gold Frost) Ltd. of Yavne. The packaging carries a claim that the milk is Chalav Yisrael under the supervision of Badatz Beit Yosef and with the approval of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. However, a review conducted by the Rabbinate’s Import Department determined that the product never received such approval. Authorities have therefore ordered that the milk be immediately removed from shelves and returned to the importer.

In a separate matter, officials identified a significant concern with “100% smoked cod liver in fish oil,” packaged in 115-gram containers. The item is produced in Iceland and brought into Israel by G. Willifood International Ltd. Although the packaging indicates that the product is kosher with the approval of the Rabbinate and under the supervision of the private kashrus organization OU, the Import Department had denied authorization for production batches beginning in January 2025.

Addressing the issue, the Rabbinate stated that “the refusal to approve the fish product stems from a lack of essential details regarding parasite treatment, as well as the absence of clarification as to whether the required close supervision was maintained concerning bishul Yisrael.”

Concerns were also raised in the meat sector. Inspectors discovered a labeling discrepancy involving frozen beef shank No. 8 produced by Marcovif in Argentina and imported and distributed by Tnuva. During an on-site review, officials found that the outer red weighing label described the meat as kosher-chalak, while the stamp directly on the meat indicated only kosher, without the chalak designation.

“In light of this discrepancy, which constitutes misleading a consumer who is careful about a specific level of kashrus, the Rabbinate has instructed that these products be returned to Tnuva in order to prevent the continued halachic stumbling block of marketing meat that does not correspond to its external kashrus declaration,” the Rabbinate said.

Following the announcement, the Kosharot organization issued its own response urging heightened awareness. “We call upon the general public and kashrut supervisors to pay attention to the details of the kashrut update and to remain vigilant when purchasing imported products marketed contrary to the kashrut procedures of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, in order to avoid, G-d forbid, any halachic mishap.”

{Matzav.com}

Rav Dov Landau voiced sharp criticism over the practice of screening girls during seminary (high school) admissions based on aptitude and “suitability,” even when they and their families are regarded as spiritually exemplary.

During a conversation that was recorded and later circulated, a questioner described the situation: “Girls who are outstanding in spirituality, their families are outstanding in spirituality, but the girls are not the most brilliant.”

Rav Landau responded pointedly: “What is this? Yeshivos?”

The questioner continued, noting that “the major seminaries don’t want them.”

Rav Landau reiterated: “What is this, yeshivos?!”

At that point, a grandson present added, “Yes! It’s terrible and awful. He is right.”

Rav Landau concluded emphatically: “It will not be kli gever al isha,” invoking the Torah prohibition of adopting inappropriate models from the opposite gender, in a clear rejection of applying yeshiva-style academic selectivity to girls’ seminaries.

The remarks come against the backdrop of ongoing tensions surrounding seminary admissions in Yerushalayim. At the beginning of the current academic year, a major dispute erupted when the municipality imposed student placements on several seminaries. In response, a number of institutions delayed opening the school year for days.

Subsequently, at Rav Landau’s personal request, an agreement was reached to open two additional ninth-grade classes at the Beis Yaakov Teachers Seminary (“the old seminary”) in Yerushalayim. The move ensured placements satisfactory to all girls who had remained at home without assignments.

In a personal letter to the seminary’s director, Rabbi Yisrael Levin, Rav Landau wrote that “the cry of the students is piercing and it is impossible to stand aside,” instructing him to open the additional classes. Following that intervention, Rav Landau directed that the school year begin in all ninth-grade classes throughout the city’s seminaries once the arrangements were finalized.

{Matzav.com}

In the wake of the recent arrest of several yeshiva bochurim by Israeli military authorities for the “offense” of learning Torah, the senior posek, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, penned a special letter of chizuk addressed to the bochurim who were taken into custody.

The letter was written to strengthen the detained bochurim, as well as their parents and families, many of whom are anxious and uncertain about what lies ahead. Rav Zilberstein framed the painful events within the timeless perspective of Chazal, emphasizing that everything unfolds with precise hashgachah from Shamayim.

At the beginning of the letter, Rav Zilberstein wrote:

“To the dear bochurim who were taken to prison because of Torah learning, and to all the bochurim and their parents who are worried and do not know what tomorrow will bring: In Maseches Berachos (61b) it is stated that once the wicked government decreed that Klal Yisroel should not engage in Torah study. Pappus ben Yehuda came and found Rabbi Akiva publicly assembling gatherings and learning Torah. He said to him: Akiva, are you not afraid of the government?”

The letter continues with the well-known mashal brought in the Gemara:

“He said to him: I will tell you a parable. To what is this comparable? To a fox walking along the riverbank who saw fish… He said to them: Why are you fleeing? They said to him: Because of the nets that men bring against us. He said to them: Would you like to come up onto dry land and dwell together, you and I, just as my ancestors dwelled with your ancestors? They said to him: Are you the one they call the cleverest of animals? You are not clever, but foolish. If in the place of our life we are afraid, in the place of our death all the more so. So too, we—now that we sit and engage in Torah, about which it is written ‘For it is your life and the length of your days’—if we go and neglect it, how much more so. It was not many days before they seized Rabbi Akiva and imprisoned him, and they also seized Pappus ben Yehuda and imprisoned him with him. Pappus said to him: Who brought you here? He replied: Fortunate are you, Rabbi Akiva, that you were seized for matters of Torah; woe to Pappus who was seized for idle matters.”

Rav Zilberstein then elaborated on the identity of Pappus and the deeper lomdus underlying the exchange.

“Who was Pappus?” Rav Zilberstein wrote. “The Vilna Gaon explains that he was among the gedolei hador, for he addressed Rabbi Akiva simply as ‘Akiva,’ implying that he was his colleague. If so, there was a genuine halachic discussion here—whether one is permitted to be moser nefesh for the sake of publicly gathering kehillah gatherings for limud haTorah. At first glance, Pappus seems correct, for we are commanded to give up our lives only for the three cardinal aveiros, and not for limud haTorah b’rabim.”

In concluding, Rav Zilberstein cited the explanation of the Birchas Shmuel:

“The Baal Birchas Shmuel explained that Pappus, too, understood that one must be moser nefesh for limud haTorah. Even though nothing is more beloved before the Ribbono Shel Olam than Rabbi Akiva and his chaveirim when they are alive in this world and learning Torah, nevertheless the continuity of Torah learning is the kiyum of the entire Torah. For if the young goats are not taught, there will be no mature rams—meaning that without transmitting Torah to the next generation, there is a bitul of the entire Torah. For that, one must be moser nefesh. This is a simple and clear matter.”

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said he has encouraged President Donald Trump to act decisively against Iran’s leadership, arguing that the current moment presents a rare strategic opening that should not be squandered. In an interview with CNBC, Cruz described what he believes is a historic opportunity for sweeping geopolitical change if hostile regimes collapse and are replaced with governments aligned with the United States.

“We are at a moment where, in the next six months, we could realistically see the regimes in Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba all fall, and we could see them replaced with governments that want to be friends with America,” he stated.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2026338689215766914

While acknowledging the risks involved in such dramatic shifts, Cruz stressed the magnitude of the potential outcome. He conceded that “there are a thousand ways that can go wrong,” but he emphasized, “if that happened, that would be the biggest geopolitical shift since the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

Cruz said he spoke with the President last week and argued that Iran’s government is in a uniquely vulnerable position following its loss in the 12-Day War with Israel in June 2024. “They’re teetering. There are real-world consequences to losing a war.”

He explained that he urged Trump to capitalize on what he sees as a fleeting chance to weaken or remove the ruling clerical leadership in Tehran. “What I’ve urged the President is: Do not miss this opportunity. If the Ayatollah is removed from power, it will make America much safer,” he said. “This is the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world. The Iranian regime is responsible for murdering hundreds of American servicemen and women. They fund terrorism all over the world. So, What I’ve urged the president is, number one, support the protesters and arm the protesters. Let the people of Iran have the ability to overthrow their government.”

Cruz also suggested that limited U.S. military action could be imminent, though he made clear he does not anticipate a large-scale ground deployment. He said that “there’s a very real possibility we will see potentially in a matter of days limited strikes. What we’re not going to see is boots on the ground.”

Earlier Tuesday, former State Department official Aaron David Miller speculated that President Trump could use his State of the Union address to announce military action against Iran.

“Rubio briefing Congress hours before SOTU, delaying his trip to Israel from Saturday to Monday, wouldn’t surprise if Trump announces beginning of strikes against Iran in speech,” Miller wrote.

“No President has ever announced the start of military conflict in a SOTU. Why would they? That’s reason enough for Trump to do it,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

What a busha.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani characterized Monday’s confrontation in Washington Square Park as a “snowball fight,” even as police officials confirmed that several NYPD officers were injured and required hospital treatment for facial cuts after being struck while responding to a disturbance call.

According to an NYPD spokesperson, officers were dispatched to the park following reports of a large, unruly crowd. While attempting to manage the situation, multiple officers were hit in the head with snowballs.

After the incident, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch issued a statement condemning what occurred, calling the conduct “disgraceful” and “criminal,” and confirming that detectives have opened an investigation.

When questioned about the matter during a press conference Tuesday, Mamdani said he had watched footage of the encounter and maintained that “it looked like kids at a snowball fight.”

The mayor further indicated that he does not believe those involved should be charged with assaulting a police officer.

Authorities confirmed that, as of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the episode.

Police unions, however, sharply rejected the mayor’s characterization. The Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) told Fox News Digital that while “some people” may attempt to dismiss the incident as “college hijinks or harmless kids throwing snowballs,” deliberately hurling objects at uniformed officers engaged in official duties amounts to assault.

“We cannot condemn strongly enough the recent disgraceful and dangerous attacks on NYPD Police Officers while responding to a 911 call in Washington Square Park,” SBA president Vincent Vallelong wrote in a statement. “The behavior of the people throwing the snowballs, many of whom are believed to be NYU students, was reckless and unlawful, and put the lives and safety of others at risk.”

Vallelong said those responsible for throwing snow and ice at officers “cross[ed] a clear line.”

“[Officers] are tasked with maintaining public safety in crowded public spaces, often while facing hostility simply for wearing the uniform,” he wrote. “When individuals choose to turn a park into a launching ground for attacks on police, they cross a clear line. Today it is snowballs. Tomorrow it could be rocks, bottles, or worse.

“No worker in this city should be subjected to having objects thrown at them while they do their job — least of all the men and women who run toward danger to protect others. This conduct emboldens further disorder and undermines respect for the rule of law.”

Vallelong also questioned why the mayor, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and NYU leadership had not forcefully denounced the incident.

“We call on city leadership, prosecutors, and the courts to treat these incidents with the seriousness they deserve,” he wrote. “… The members of the NYPD will continue to serve and protect every New Yorker — even those who show them disrespect. But they deserve the full support of city officials and the public when they are so brazenly attacked.”

The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York likewise blasted the events as “unacceptable and outrageous.”

“This is the environment that NYC police officers are up against,” the association wrote in a statement. “Our police officers are being treated for their injuries, but the case CANNOT end there. The individuals involved must be identified, arrested and charged with assault on a police officer. And all of our city leaders must speak up to condemn this despicable attack.”

The Detectives’ Endowment Association also criticized those who targeted officers in the park.

“What we saw in Washington Square Park today was not harmless fun — it was a deliberate, outrageous, and dangerous attack on uniformed police officers,” the group’s President Scott Munro wrote in an X post. “The Detectives’ Endowment Association is calling on Mayor Mamdani and District Attorney Bragg to ensure every individual responsible for this illegal behavior is prosecuted. No free pass. No get out of jail free card.”

“Make no mistake: detectives will do what they always do,” he added. “They will identify those involved and they will apprehend them. Our men and women in blue deserve to be safe. They deserve to be protected. And they deserve to be respected. They earn it every single day.”

Although Mamdani did not directly address accusations that dismissing the incident was “an overreaction,” he later posted a message on social media urging respect for law enforcement.

“I’ve seen the videos of kids throwing snowballs at NYPD officers in Washington Square Park. Officers, like all city workers, have been out in a historic blizzard, keeping New Yorkers safe and cars moving. Treat them with respect. If anyone’s catching a snowball, it’s me,” Mamdani wrote.

Political leaders, including Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, also pressed the mayor to unequivocally condemn the attack.

“This is disgraceful,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., wrote on X. “@NYCMayor and every elected official in our city should denounce this juvenile attack on our #NYPD. Back the blue and hold those who disrespect them accountable.”

Cuomo added that Mamdani, “who has a history of calling the police ‘racist, evil, wicked and corrupt’” had “set the tone.”

“Words have consequences,” Cuomo wrote on social media. “We are seeing that in the growing disrespect for law enforcement — just as we’ve seen it in the rise in antisemitism. Real leaders understand that. This mayor does not. @NYCMayor must denounce this at once.”

Former NYPD Chief of Department John Chell also condemned the episode, calling it a “f—ing disgrace,” and noting that the officers “were outnumbered — yet stood tall the best they could.”

He said he expects a firm response from City Hall.

“Tomorrow morning at about 0800 hours the @NYPDnews better be in full force in Washington Square Park and other parks in full force,” he said in another post. “Let me be clear — if one snowball hits a cop, there should be very forceful arrests – make it legally painful.”

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed the Israeli High Court of Justice on Tuesday that the government’s failure to revoke personal economic benefits from yeshiva students obligated to enlist constitutes a “lapse,” arguing that the lack of sanctions contradicts prior court rulings and harms both the army’s needs and the principle of equality in bearing the burden of service.

In her response to petitions questioning why no sanctions have been imposed on members of the chareidi community who received draft orders but did not report for service, Baharav-Miara wrote: “The government has not formulated a plan to revoke personal economic benefits from those evading service, despite the fact that personal and economic sanctions against draft evaders from the chareidi public have proven effective. This lapse contradicts the High Court’s ruling, harms the needs of the army, and undermines equality in the burden of service.”

At the outset of her submission, the Attorney General emphasized that the respondents recognize their obligation to take effective personal enforcement measures against individuals who were issued draft orders and failed to appear. Such enforcement, she wrote, is necessary to ensure equal application of the draft requirement to the entire public. This includes both criminal proceedings and the development of an effective, equitable, and proportionate government enforcement policy that incorporates complementary economic-civilian measures against evaders, in accordance with the principles established in the relevant High Court ruling.

Baharav-Miara noted that, in recognition of this duty, IDF authorities have for some time been working to enforce the draft requirement on members of the chareidi community through continued implementation of the army’s enlistment plan and increased enforcement efforts. As part of this process, draft appearance orders were gradually issued to all eligible chareidi draft candidates, marking what she described as a milestone enabling equal enforcement. Following the issuance of these orders, the “enlistment chain” began, eventually leading to a significant increase in the number of draft-eligible individuals who completed the summons process, many of whom were later formally designated as draft evaders.

At that stage, she explained, authorities are able to take personal enforcement steps using tools available to the military, including arrests at border crossings and coordinated enforcement and arrest operations in civilian areas, subject to coordination with Israel Police.

According to updated data cited in the filing, implementation of the army’s enforcement plan and what she described as unprecedented outreach efforts have led to an increase in the number of chareidi recruits compared to the corresponding third of the previous recruitment year. Military officials estimate that during the first third of the 2025 recruitment year (July–October 2025), approximately 1,100 chareidi recruits enlisted.

However, the Attorney General stressed that the upward trend remains far from meeting the army’s operational needs or satisfying the value of equality. She therefore underscored the importance of expanding the measures that led to the increase, including strengthening and refining enforcement tools, with particular emphasis on personal enforcement steps.

She further wrote that the government must, without delay, formulate an effective enforcement policy that fully utilizes available tools and economic sanctions, including revocation of personal financial benefits. According to professional officials in the Finance Ministry, such measures are expected to have a particularly significant impact on enlistment numbers. These officials assess that combining enforcement actions with economic sanctions would increase incentives to enlist, enhance deterrence against draft evasion, and lead to further growth in recruitment figures.

In addition, Baharav-Miara stated that, in the view of government professionals, the expectation within the chareidi sector that legislation will be passed effectively granting exemptions from service and canceling criminal and disciplinary proceedings against those declared evaders currently serves as a negative incentive for enlistment. Absent such expectations, she argued, enforcement efforts would likely yield even higher results.

She also highlighted the significance of the IDF Chief of Staff’s July 2025 decision to issue blanket summons orders to all draft-eligible members of the chareidi public and to shorten the time frame for declaring an individual a draft evader.

According to assessments by professional officials in the army and various government ministries, the use of personal sanctions—such as detention and arrest at border crossings—is a vital tool in strengthening the standing army and combating draft evasion. These measures, she wrote, have a substantial deterrent effect and prompt eligible recruits to regularize their status.

She explained that only after a draft-eligible individual is formally declared an evader—following exhaustion of all summons procedures—can authorities initiate proactive enforcement actions or pursue disciplinary or criminal proceedings, depending on the circumstances. With the broad issuance of summons orders and adjustments made to the enlistment process that shortened the timeline to evader designation, those personal sanctions now apply to a larger group of draft-eligible individuals, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of draft enforcement.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran is eager to reach an agreement with the United States but continues to stop short of explicitly renouncing its pursuit of nuclear weapons, a sticking point he highlighted just hours before delivering his State of the Union address.

The President made the remarks during a meeting at the White House with television anchors from several major networks, where he discussed themes expected to feature prominently in his speech.

“Iran wants to make a deal more than I do, but they just say the sacred phrase, we won’t build nuclear weapons,” the President told the anchors, as quoted in The Hill.

A day earlier, Trump dismissed media reports claiming that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine had cautioned him against proceeding with a potential strike on Iran. The President pushed back on the characterization and rejected suggestions that he was facing internal resistance over military options.

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump also denied reports that he was weighing limited strikes against Iranian targets. At the same time, he reiterated his warning to Tehran that failure to reach an agreement would carry serious consequences, stating that if a deal is not made, “it will be a very bad day” for them.

As tensions continue to simmer, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, cautioned that any military action against his country would have far-reaching effects.

“We call upon all nations committed to peace and justice to take meaningful steps to prevent further escalation,” Gharibabadi said during a speech at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

He further warned that an attack would not remain confined to the targeted state, stressing that those who initiate or back such measures would ultimately be held accountable for the fallout.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump will address a joint session of Congress tonight for his first State of the Union address since returning to the White House just over one year ago. It’s an opportunity for the president to tout his agenda and shape his party’s messaging ahead of this year’s midterm elections.

The president is expected to begin at 9 p.m. ET., and if history is any indication, prepare for a long night. Last year, in what was technically not a State of the Union speech, Trump addressed Congress for over 90 minutes, breaking records as the longest joint address in at least 60 years.

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