Matzav

Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, delivered a special address at the beis medrash of Yeshivas Zichron Meir for younger bochurim in Yerushalayim, focusing on the inner essence of Purim and warning against inappropriate conduct.

“Purim is among the greatest days of the year,” he declared, while cautioning that frivolity and recklessness are not befitting a ben Torah.

He also addressed the current matzav, emphasizing that “our very existence depends solely on the Torah of the bochurim.”

At the outset of his remarks, the rosh yeshiva spoke about the unique stature of these days as a time of preparation for Purim. He cited a responsum of the Ridbaz, who discusses a case of a prisoner permitted to leave jail only two days a year and faced with a choice: Should he select the two holiest days—Yom Kippur and Purim—or leave at the earliest possible opportunity? “The question was whether to go out on the two most important days of the year—Yom Kippur and Purim—or to leave as early as possible. From the very question we see how Purim is defined; these are the greatest days of the year.”

Rav Cohen elaborated on the connection between Purim and Yom Kippur, explaining that both are days of renewed acceptance of the Torah with love and willingness. He then warned against diminishing the sanctity of the day through excessive revelry. “Sometimes people lose the true meaning of Purim. As a great man once told me, there are those who go through this day in a state of wildness. That is not correct! That is not the way of a ben Torah, and it is not the way of a Jew at all. Although Chazal said that one is obligated to drink on Purim, the Beis Yosef emphasizes that a person must not cast off the yoke. Rather, it should be an increased joy that is entirely connection and closeness to the Creator.”

Turning to the broader challenges facing the generation, the rosh yeshiva spoke about the centrality of ameilus baTorah. “We all know the situation, that we are humiliated and pursued. But the fundamental truth that every person must recognize is that Klal Yisrael survives only through the power of Torah. In the face of all dangers and decrees—this is your strength, the young bochurim immersed in learning. This is what sustains us!”

He concluded with words of blessing and encouragement for the talmidim and the yeshiva staff. “Baruch Hashem, you are a very important group. There are bochurim here with tremendous abilities and great rabbanim who invest in you. Make the most of these years; these are the years that build a bochur for life. One who understands that these are years of construction and invests in them receives a solid foundation for the next stage in yeshiva. May it be Hashem’s will that you merit years of joy and spiritual elevation and become great talmidei chachamim.”

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri clarified Thursday that his party will not return to the government until the draft law is passed in its final readings in the Knesset plenum, pushing back against claims within the coalition that he is seeking an immediate return.

Amid renewed political maneuvering following MK Yinon Azoulay’s return to his role as chairman of the Knesset Health Committee, coalition officials had speculated that Deri was aiming to reenter the government quickly in order to regain control of key ministries, including the Interior Ministry, the Religious Services Ministry, and the Health Ministry.

Sources in Degel HaTorah reportedly told senior coalition figures this week that Deri intended to bring Shas back into the government immediately after the draft law is approved by the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, without waiting for final passage in the plenum.

However, it was learned that in a conversation Thursday with close associates, Deri made clear that Shas would not settle for committee approval alone. “Shas will not return to the government until the draft law passes second and third readings in the Knesset plenum; we will not suffice with approval of the law in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.”

As previously reported, during a discussion with rabbonim in Tiveriah, where Deri spent last Shabbos, the Shas chairman expressed his assessment that national elections are likely to take place in the middle of the month of Elul.

In the Knesset, coalition members are said to prefer scheduling elections at least a week before Rosh Hashanah in order to allow the thousands of voters who travel to the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov in Uman to cast their ballots.

The date being discussed within the coalition, and one Deri himself is said to view as likely, is Tuesday, the 19th of Elul, which falls about a week and a half before Rosh Hashanah, corresponding this year to September 1.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Moshe Sternbuch, leading senior posek, issued a sharp and emotional protest after extremist youths in Yerushalayim’s Meah Shearim neighborhood hung effigies bearing the names of gedolei hador. The act was seen as a shocking humiliation of revered gedolei Torah, and Rav Sternbuch declared that he could not remain silent in the face of such disgrace.

The incident involved fringe youths who hung dolls labeled with the names of senior rabbonim, apparently distorting the Purim custom of hanging figures symbolizing Haman. Community leaders described the act as crossing every red line and constituting a grave insult to the honor of gedolei hador.

Because of the seriousness of the matter and the importance Rav Sternbuch placed on issuing a clear and forceful protest, unusual footage was released from inside his private study. The video shows him carefully dictating the exact wording of his condemnation, word by word.

In the rare recording, Rav Sternbuch is seen instructing his longtime chavrusa to prepare a strongly worded public statement condemning what he described as a disgraceful act carried out by irresponsible youths on the fringes of Meah Shearim.

The footage captures his chavrusa, his grandson Rav Eliyahu Sternbuch, head of the Teshuvos V’Hanhagos kollel in Modi’in Illit, seated beside him at the end of their regular learning session, writing down each sentence precisely as dictated by his grandfather for publication in his name.

Observers noted how Rav Sternbuch carefully weighed every word before speaking, following closely as each line was written to ensure that the statement accurately reflected his position.

In his recorded remarks, Rav Sternbuch said: “I hereby strongly protest the mockery in Meah Shearim that was done to disgrace talmidei chachomim. There is no limit to the severity and gravity of this sin, R”l. The wrongdoing is terrible and frightening, and I cannot remain silent over such a desecration even for a single moment.”

Rav Sternbuch concluded his remarks with stirring words: “What more can we do other than cry out to Hakadosh Boruch Hu that He should not punish us, that He should pour upon us a spirit of purity from above, and that He should hasten our redemption speedily.”

A two-year-old child who was found wandering alone Thursday afternoon on Rechov Malchei Yisrael in Yerushalayim’s Geula neighborhood was safely returned to his mother after a swift police response and community search effort.

The incident began when a concerned woman noticed the toddler walking by himself without adult supervision and immediately contacted police. Officers from the Lev HaBira station were dispatched to the scene, met with the caller, and quickly launched efforts to locate the child’s family.

During the search, police made public announcements in both Hebrew and Yiddish in the surrounding area, circulated the child’s photograph in community groups, and alerted the local community policing commander in an attempt to identify his parents as quickly as possible.

The toddler was brought to the police station, where officers cared for him, offered comfort, and ensured his well-being while attempts continued to locate his family. A short time later, the boy’s mother arrived at the station and reported that her son was missing. The shift commander conducted a rapid cross-check of the details, confirmed the identification, and the child was reunited with his mother in good health.

Police urged parents to exercise heightened awareness and careful supervision of young children in order to prevent similar incidents.

{Matzav.com}

A Yerushalayim Magistrate’s Court judge on Thursday extended by one day the detention of an 18-year-old bochur arrested during a protest against the arrest of a ben yeshiva on Highway 1 in Yerushalayim. Police have announced their intention to file an indictment against him in expedited proceedings.

According to police suspicions, the young man threw a stick toward a garbage bin that had been set on fire by demonstrators, thereby fueling the blaze. Officers also said that a stone was found in his possession, which they believe he intended to hurl at police. While investigators acknowledged that there was no concern he would interfere with the investigation if released, they requested that his detention be extended due to what they described as the dangerous nature of his alleged actions. Police stated they plan to move quickly in filing charges, as reported by i24news.

His attorney, Daniel Shimshilashvili, opposed the request and sharply criticized the decision to seek continued detention. “Why are you penalizing him? In more serious incidents you request release under conditions. In a more severe case of throwing a torch at a mounted police officer, the court released the suspect. He did not ignite the dumpster, and the stick he added did not burn.”

Judge Ariel Ehrlich rejected the defense’s arguments and addressed the broader issue of protest rights in his ruling. “Counsel for the suspect argued regarding the right to protest, and that this right has received primacy in court rulings, to the point that courts have shown tolerance even for violent actions within a protest. I do not share this view. The right to protest, which is among the foremost expressions of political free speech, does not include the right to protest violently.”

The judge further wrote that “Setting objects on fire during a protest, while confronting police forces, is an action that carries significant danger.” He added that although the investigative steps presented thus far were limited, police have made clear their intention to pursue full legal action in such cases and to file an indictment promptly.

The Vizhnitzer kehilla in London is mourning the petirah of Rav Meshulam Zusha Fuchs zt”l, who was niftar at the age of 75.

Rav Meshulam Zusha was born to his father, Rav Shabsai Zev Fuchs, a descendant of the renowned chassid Rav Mordechai Chuna Fuchs.

He married the daughter of Rav Shimon Lorenz and together they built a home of Torah.

For many years, Rav Meshulam Zusha served as a melamed in the Machnovka Belz Talmud Torah in London. He was widely recognized as a talmid chacham muflag and also devoted himself to serving as a madrich chassanim, guiding young men as they established their own batei ne’emanim.

His tefillos were filled with hislahavus and stirred hearts, and his derashos left a lasting imprint on those who heard them. He was mechanech and guided countless families in the path of Torah and yiras Shamayim, and many benefited from his wise counsel and deep understanding. He was deeply mekushar to the Rebbes of Vizhnitz and stood among the central pillars of the Vizhnitzer kehilla in London.

He leaves behind a dor yasharim mevorach. Among his sons are Rav Chaim Meir, menahel of the Vizhnitzer Talmud Torah in Williamsburg; Rav Mordechai Chuna, menahel of the Vizhnitzer Talmud Torah in Kiryas Yoel; Rav Shmuel; Rav Avraham, a melamed in the Sanzer Talmud Torah in Monsey; and Rav Mendel, who serves as a meshamesh bakodesh to the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Boro Park. He is also survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, all continuing in the path of Torah and chassidus.

His brother is Rav Menachem Mendel Fuchs, av beis din of Kiryat Shomrei HaChomos in the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

His aron will arrive in Eretz Yisroel, and the levayah will take place Friday morning, erev Shabbos Parshas Tetzaveh–Zachor, at 9:30 a.m. from the Vizhnitzer beis medrash at the corner of Givat Pinchas Street in Bnei Brak. He will be laid to rest in the new Vizhnitzer beis hachaim.

Yehi zichro baruch. 

{Matzav.com}

A press conference intended to spotlight San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s proposal to overhaul the city’s tax structure was interrupted Wednesday by protesters who began with anti-wealth slogans and then erupted into antisemitic chants, according to officials and witnesses who attended the event.

The gathering, held outside a construction site to promote joint legislation by Lurie and Supervisor Bilal Mahmood aimed at reshaping San Francisco’s real estate transfer taxes to encourage housing development and investment, drew demonstrators affiliated with the San Francisco chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Initially, protesters shouted “Tax the rich” from outside the venue.

According to those present, the rhetoric soon turned from criticism of wealth to chants focused on Israel, with at least one person yelling “Tax the Jews.” Sources said the antisemitic shouting continued for more than a minute without interruption.

“Suggesting that Jews are wealthy is a tired trope, and targeting our community at an event focused on creating economic opportunity for San Franciscans is decidedly antisemitic,” Lurie, who is Jewish, posted on X.

“I will never accept hate directed at the Jewish community or any community in our city. Those are not San Francisco values—we’re better than that.”

One shaken attendee told The Post that the chants referencing Jews and Israel lasted for approximately two minutes before “petering out,” adding that no one among the demonstrators intervened to stop the offensive remarks.

Video obtained by The Post shows a woman periodically shouting “tax Israel” and “Tax the Jews” while labor representatives were addressing the crowd from a podium.

“It was an, ‘are you hearing what I’m hearing?’ moment,” the source said.

Rudy Gonzalez, who leads the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, criticized the disruption in a post on Instagram, specifically naming the Democratic Socialists of America.

“During today’s press conference, individuals identifying themselves with the Democratic Socialists of America disrupted the event with antisemitic chants,” he wrote.

“As a father and a husband in an interfaith home, I found what was shouted today deeply disturbing. Hate directed at any community is wrong. It undermines the solidarity that working people depend on.”

The San Francisco branch of the DSA rejected claims that the woman who shouted “tax the Jews” was acting on its behalf, saying she was not part of the group and that members told her to stop.

“DSA SF members at the protest were similarly disgusted and horrified by this woman’s rhetoric, and want to make clear her words came from her alone. While we disagree on policy, we join you in condemning antisemitism.”

The disruption overshadowed what had been intended as a policy rollout by city officials and labor leaders advocating for reduced transfer tax rates on residential developments and downtown property transactions, a move they argue would help accelerate the city’s economic rebound.

Supporters of the proposal, including Lurie, Mahmood, the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council and the Chamber of Commerce, contend that adjusting the tax structure would generate employment and lower construction expenses by $32,850 per housing unit.

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes Thursday on eight Hezbollah military sites in the Baalbek region of Lebanon, targeting facilities used by the group’s elite Radwan Force, the military announced.

According to the IDF, the compounds housed a significant cache of weapons belonging to Hezbollah, including firearms and rockets. The military said the sites served as storage and operational hubs for the terror organization.

The IDF stated that the Radwan Force had been using the facilities to conduct training in preparation for potential emergency scenarios. The compounds were also allegedly used to plan and execute attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.

سلسلة غارات اسرائيلية جديدة تستهدف محيط بلدة بوداي pic.twitter.com/XgWPJpuKZD

— kataeb.org (@kataeb_Ar) February 26, 2026

As part of the activities conducted there, operatives reportedly participated in live-fire exercises and other drills designed to improve their proficiency with a range of weaponry.

The military emphasized that such activity, along with Hezbollah’s broader efforts to rebuild and strengthen its arsenal, breaches the ceasefire arrangements between Israel and Lebanon and represents a direct danger to Israel’s security.

“The IDF will not allow Hezbollah to expand its capabilities and rearm itself, and will continue to operate to remove any threat to the state of Israel,” the military stated.

{Matzav.com}

A Brooklyn man has been found guilty of hate crimes in connection with a string of assaults and harassment incidents, including an attack on a Jewish couple who photographed him tearing down posters of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.

Skiboky Stora was convicted in New York state court of assault, stalking and harassment tied to what prosecutors described as multiple anti-female, anti-white and antisemitic episodes that took place between 2023 and 2024.

According to prosecutors, one of the incidents occurred when Stora was seen removing posters of Israeli hostages. After a husband and wife photographed him, he allegedly followed them while shouting threats and slurs, including “Die, Jews, die!”

The 42-year-old defendant, who lives in Brooklyn, also admitted during the trial that he punched a woman at random as she walked along a Manhattan street nearly two years ago. He chose to represent himself during the weeks-long proceedings in Manhattan.

In his closing statement, Stora denied harboring racist motives or intending to harm anyone. “I never did anything racist to anybody, and I never did anything discriminating against anybody, and I never tried to injure anybody,” he said, according to the New York Post.

Prosecutors countered that claim by presenting video evidence. Footage introduced at trial showed Stora confronting the Jewish couple, as well as additional videos he recorded of himself yelling at and harassing white individuals, the Post reported.

Following the verdict, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg condemned the conduct. “The victims were met with both violence and harassment simply because of who they are,” he said in a statement. “Hate crimes strike at the core of our city’s values and sense of safety.”

Stora was taken into custody after the conviction. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14.

Attempts to reach him through his Instagram account, where he describes himself as the “great great grandson” of the Black nationalist Marcus Garvey and claims to be running for governor as a Republican, were not immediately successful.

One of the assaults, which occurred on March 25, 2024, drew significant public attention after the 23-year-old victim shared her experience on TikTok and others came forward reporting similar encounters.

Prosecutors said Stora’s punch knocked the woman to the ground, leaving her with pain and swelling on the left side of her head.

In a separate incident months earlier, authorities said Stora struck a 17-year-old student in the neck with his elbow and told the teen, “You people think you can do whatever you want,” adding a profanity.

He was also accused of elbowing a 37-year-old woman in the shoulder in another encounter, causing visible bruising.

{Matzav.com}

The Jewish community of Zurich has finalized the creation of an eruv following formal discussions with city officials and in accordance with Swiss law, describing the effort as a model of respectful collaboration between a religious minority and municipal authorities.

Community representatives said the halachic arrangement, which allows observant Jews to carry necessary items on the Sabbath within a defined area, received official approval after a structured consultation process. They emphasized that the project was completed transparently and in full compliance with local regulations.

In the wake of Zurich’s initiative, conversations have begun in other Swiss municipalities about implementing similar arrangements. At the same time, the development has sparked criticism from Mauro Poggia, a member of the Swiss Council of States representing the Canton of Geneva, who voiced objections in two separate public statements.

In one statement, Poggia criticized Israel and referenced a series of unrelated events, including the deadly avalanche at the Crans-Montana ski resort, the October 7 massacre, and the war in Gaza. In a separate statement addressing the eruv directly, he said he was “shocked” by the initiative and argued that it might lead to a clearly defined Jewish residential zone, which he characterized as a “voluntary ghetto.”

Jewish organizations throughout Switzerland strongly rejected those remarks, saying that invoking the term “ghetto” in connection with an eruv was both historically inaccurate and deeply offensive. They underscored that an eruv neither segregates residents nor restricts the public, but serves a limited religious function within Jewish law.

Rabbi Noam Hertig, the chief rabbi of Zurich, explained that the eruv was established through constructive dialogue and mutual respect with municipal officials. He clarified that it is a symbolic halachic framework rather than a physical enclosure, and noted that it is especially important for elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and parents of young children who would otherwise be unable to leave their homes on the Sabbath.

Rabbi Michael Ben-Edmon of Geneva said the backlash reflects what he described as a wider tendency to challenge Jewish religious observance under the guise of liberal principles. He cautioned that such rhetoric risks pushing Jewish life out of the public sphere instead of addressing antisemitism.

Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis and Av Beit Din of Switzerland, said it was inappropriate to connect unrelated tragedies to a local religious accommodation. He added that presenting an eruv as coercive or exclusionary misrepresents both Jewish law and historical fact, and damages efforts to promote mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

{Matzav.com}

A tribunal in the Australian state of Victoria has determined that the chant “All Zionists are terrorists,” shouted during a rally in central Melbourne, amounted to racial and religious vilification rather than protected political expression about Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, according to local media reports.

The case was brought by Melbourne Jewish community advocate Menachem Vorchheimer against Hash Tayeh, a former owner of the Burgertory restaurant chain and a well-known anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian activist. Tayeh led the chant at a protest held in May 2024.

In testimony cited by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Vorchheimer described the personal impact of the slogan. “The notion of being labeled the derogatory term of ‘terrorist’ for something I have no responsibility for, and for that to be seen as normal, is gut-wrenching and soul-destroying to me,” he said. “I felt dehumanized. I felt like the lowest of the low. I no longer feel safe going into the Melbourne CBD, given I am identifiably Jewish.”

Tayeh contended that the chant was aimed at the Israeli government and those who support its policies, not at Jewish people as a group. He argued that protest slogans often distill complex political views into sharp, provocative language.

The tribunal rejected that argument. Citing the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001, it concluded that because a substantial majority of Australian Jews identify as Zionists, the slogan did not meaningfully separate political ideology from Jewish identity and therefore amounted to incitement of hatred against a racial and religious community.

In her ruling, Judge My Anh Tran dismissed the claim that the chant was shielded as political speech, writing, “There is no right to a catchy rally slogan.”

The Jewish Center for Law and Justice, an Australian organization that monitors antisemitism, praised the outcome. Its chief executive, Alessandra Steele, described the decision as a landmark that “draws an important line in the sand.”

Steele added that for many Jewish Australians, Zionism is deeply intertwined with cultural, religious and familial ties to Israel, and said that branding an entire group as terrorists “serves to reverse victim and perpetrator, inciting hatred and division.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States has reportedly presented Iran with sweeping conditions in ongoing nuclear negotiations, demanding that Tehran dismantle its three primary nuclear facilities and ship its stockpile of enriched uranium to the United States as part of any future agreement.

According to officials familiar with the discussions, the American proposal calls for Iran to take apart key components of its nuclear infrastructure at its main enrichment sites and surrender its accumulated enriched uranium to U.S. custody. The move would represent a far more stringent framework than previous arrangements, aiming to permanently restrict Iran’s ability to produce material that could be used for nuclear weapons.

The three sites at the center of the demand are understood to be Iran’s principal nuclear facilities, long viewed by Western governments as critical to the country’s enrichment capabilities. U.S. negotiators are said to be seeking full dismantlement rather than temporary suspension or monitoring measures.

The proposal also includes the transfer of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile out of the country. Such a step would remove material that could potentially be further enriched to weapons-grade levels, addressing one of Washington’s primary security concerns.

Iranian officials have previously maintained that their nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes and have resisted calls to eliminate enrichment entirely. Tehran has historically insisted on its right to maintain civilian nuclear capabilities under international agreements.

The renewed push comes amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities and ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation. President Donald Trump has publicly backed a hardline negotiating approach, signaling that any agreement must ensure that Iran cannot reconstitute a nuclear weapons capability.

It remains unclear how Tehran will respond to the latest demands. Past rounds of talks have stalled over disagreements regarding enrichment limits, sanctions relief, and verification mechanisms. The outcome of the current negotiations could shape the future of U.S.-Iran relations and broader stability in the region.

{Matzav.com}

New York City politician Brad Lander, joined by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, criticizes AIPAC in a newly released campaign video as Lander mounts a primary challenge for Congress, Times of Israel reports.

Lander is seeking the Democratic nomination to represent New York’s 10th Congressional District, where he is running against incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman.

Both Lander and Goldman are Jewish progressives and share similar positions on several national issues, including opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies and other key matters. However, Lander has taken a more hardline stance than Goldman on Israel. While Goldman has publicly criticized the Netanyahu government, Lander has gone further, including accusing Israel of genocide. The former city comptroller has also aligned himself closely with Mamdani, whom he supported during the mayoral race.

The campaign video features Lander and Mamdani walking together as they exchange remarks. “I’m Brad Lander, a lifelong progressive, and I’m running for Congress,” Lander says.

“A lifelong progressive? You mean you haven’t sold out to special interests?” Mamdani replies.

“Or AIPAC either,” Lander says.

“That’s impressive, though it shouldn’t be,” Mamdani responds.

The short clip singles out AIPAC as the only organization mentioned by name.

AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group, has in recent years become a frequent target of criticism from both progressive activists on the left and populist voices on the right.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit against the University of California, alleging that administrators at UCLA failed to properly address complaints of antisemitism by employees and permitted what it describes as a hostile work environment for Jewish and Israeli staff members in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.

The legal action, brought in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, marks a significant escalation in the administration’s scrutiny of the UC system and centers specifically on conduct at UCLA.

According to the Justice Department, the campus has been affected by an ongoing problem of “severe and pervasive” antisemitism. The complaint references pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including a protest in January, that federal officials contend crossed the line into anti-Jewish or anti-Israel activity.

The case was initiated by the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department against the Regents of the University of California. It alleges violations of Title VII, the federal statute that prohibits discrimination in the workplace.

Court records show that the complaint, filed Tuesday, is designated as Case No. 2:26-cv-01946 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

In a statement issued by UCLA, Chancellor Julio Frenk said antisemitism is unacceptable at the university and outlined a series of steps the institution has taken in response. These include strengthening campus safety leadership and coordination, creating an Initiative to Combat Antisemitism, restructuring the Office of Civil Rights, appointing a dedicated Title VI/Title VII officer, tightening time, place, and manner policies, and supporting anti-antisemitism community organizations through the Frankel settlement, under which more than $6 million has been allocated for anti-discrimination reforms.

University officials stated that these initiatives and enforcement measures are having an impact and said UCLA intends to continue defending its record while working to ensure a secure and inclusive campus environment.

The lawsuit comes after a series of civil rights inquiries launched since 2025 involving the UC system or specific campuses. In August, the administration sought nearly $1.2 billion to resolve civil rights investigations connected to UCLA. Those probes included claims related to antisemitism complaints by students and staff, race-based affirmative action policies, and campus policies recognizing transgender individuals’ gender identities.

The newly filed case stems from a federal investigation into workplace antisemitism that began last March. At that time, government lawyers indicated they believed there might be a broader pattern of discrimination affecting Jewish employees.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the department’s review concluded that UCLA administrators allegedly permitted “virulent anti-Semitism” to take root on campus and said the lawsuit reflects the department’s stance against antisemitism.

In announcing the lawsuit, the Justice Department further alleged that Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff members were subjected to a hostile work environment and that multiple employees felt compelled to take leave, work remotely, or resign from their positions.

At the same time, some protesters and civil liberties advocates maintain that political opposition to Israel must be distinguished from hostility toward Jews as Jews. They argue that backing Palestinian rights, criticizing Israeli government policy, or expressing opposition to Zionism does not automatically constitute antisemitism unless it relies on anti-Jewish tropes, assigns collective blame to Jews, or targets Jewish individuals because of their identity.

Those who draw that distinction often reference the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition, which states that “criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.”

{Matzav.com}

Police have arrested a 27-year-old man accused of hurling snowballs at NYPD officers during a chaotic confrontation at Washington Square Park earlier this week, an incident that left two officers hospitalized, the NY Post reports.

Authorities identified the suspect as Gusmane Coulibaly, who was taken into custody today for his alleged role in the Monday afternoon disturbance. The melee, captured on video and widely circulated online, showed officers being pelted with snow and ice amid a disorderly scene.

Officials said the specific charges Coulibaly will face in connection with the snowball attack were not immediately disclosed.

According to police, Coulibaly was arrested less than three weeks ago on an attempted robbery charge stemming from an incident in the subway system, marking another encounter with law enforcement prior to this week’s arrest.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch earlier condemned the episode, calling it “criminal” and “disgraceful.”

Coulibaly is one of four individuals whose images were released by the NYPD shortly after footage of the snowball barrage went viral. The remaining three suspects have not yet been apprehended.

The president of the NYPD Police Benevolent Association praised investigators for making the arrest and criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had initially characterized the incident as youthful mischief.

“A 27-year-old is not a ‘kid,’ @NYCMayor,” the union wrote on X.

“This individual is an adult with a recent attempted robbery arrest, and your message was that it’s OK for him to assault police officers for doing their job. This arrest sends a different message. We’re grateful to all who have worked so hard on this case. There is more work to be done.”

Mamdani, however, had previously minimized the confrontation. On Tuesday, he said he had “seen the videos” but described the incident as “kids throwing snowballs.”

“I’ve seen the videos of kids throwing snowballs at NYPD officers in Washington Square Park,” he wrote on X.

“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.”

Later, during a press conference, the mayor reiterated that assessment, maintaining that the people involved appeared to be young participants in a snowball fight.

“I can just tell you from the video I saw, it looked like kids in a snowball fight,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

A senior Department of Homeland Security official told state election leaders Wednesday that federal immigration agents will not be sent to polling sites during November’s midterm elections, addressing mounting concerns among Democratic officials about potential federal interference.

Heather Honey, the deputy assistant secretary for election integrity, made the assurance during a conference call with secretaries of state from across the country. According to a statement released by Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, Honey said that “any suggestion that ICE will be present at any polling location is simply not true.”

Officials from other states confirmed that the commitment was made. A spokeswoman for Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read said Honey offered the same pledge during the call, while Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, wrote on X that the assurance came from “DHS.”

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment following the call.

Honey, who has publicly supported President Donald Trump’s assertions that the 2020 election was affected by fraud, participated in the meeting alongside representatives from the FBI, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the Postal Service, and other federal agencies. The discussion focused on coordination efforts ahead of the midterm elections.

Although such pre-election coordination calls are typically routine, this year’s conversation took place against a backdrop of heightened tension. Several actions by the Trump administration have unsettled Democratic secretaries of state.

The Justice Department has filed lawsuits seeking access to detailed voter information, without publicly clarifying the purpose behind the requests. At the same time, Trump has continued to argue that widespread fraud tainted the 2020 election and has called on his administration to pursue further investigations.

Earlier this month, the FBI executed a raid on an election office in Fulton County, Georgia — a Democratic-leaning area that includes Atlanta — seizing ballots and other voting materials from the 2020 election.

In response to these developments, Democratic officials and public interest attorneys nationwide have spent months preparing legal and political strategies to counter any perceived interference in the midterm voting process or ballot tabulation.

Participants on Wednesday’s call said Democratic secretaries of state pressed Honey on several issues, including cuts to federal election security funding, the administration’s initiative to identify instances of noncitizen voting — which they argue is already illegal and rare — and the possibility that federal law enforcement officers could appear at polling sites in the fall.

The White House has previously dismissed those concerns, pointing out that there were no disruptions during last year’s elections, when Democratic candidates saw strong results. During a congressional hearing earlier this month, the leaders of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection each responded “No, sir” when asked whether their agencies were participating in any efforts to monitor or guard voting precincts.

{Matzav.com}

Nicolás Maduro cannot pay for his legal defense in his federal criminal case in the United States because the Trump administration is refusing to allow the Venezuelan government to use funds subject to sanctions to cover his legal fees, according to a court filing submitted by his attorney.

Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, indicated that he may ask a judge to step in, arguing that if the administration does not reverse its position, it would effectively interfere with Maduro’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel in what he described as one of the most high-profile criminal cases in the country.

In early January, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody during a late-night military operation and brought to the United States. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged them with conspiracy to import cocaine and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Maduro also faces a separate charge of narco-terrorism conspiracy. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In a letter dated Feb. 20 and filed Wednesday, Pollack wrote that the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control initially granted licenses on Jan. 9 to both Maduro and his wife, permitting the Venezuelan government to pay for their legal representation. However, less than three hours later, the authorization granted to Maduro was amended, revoking permission for his defense costs to be paid by the Venezuelan government, Pollack said.

According to the filing, the government did not modify Flores’ license.

Weeks later, Maduro’s legal team asked the Treasury Department to restore his authorization. “Counsel explained that the government of Venezuela has an obligation to pay Mr. Maduro’s fees, Mr. Maduro has a legitimate expectation that the government of Venezuela would do so, and Mr. Maduro cannot otherwise afford counsel,” Pollack wrote.

Pollack stated that the Treasury office has not responded to the request.

Maduro is currently being held at a detention facility in New York as he awaits trial. He is scheduled to appear in federal court for a hearing on March 17.

{Matzav.com}

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson criticized President Donald Trump’s approach to immigration policy during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press NOW,” arguing that the president is fueling division rather than pursuing comprehensive reform.

Speaking on the program, Johnson said he believes the administration is choosing political confrontation over constructive solutions. “I think it’s a mistake for this President to continue to find wedge[s] to divide people in this country, right? … [I]f this President was serious about ensuring that we had a pathway to citizenship and to ensure that our borders are secure, he would use the fact that he controls every single level of government to put forth legislation that could do just that,” Johnson said.

The mayor suggested that, in his view, Trump has both the authority and the opportunity to advance immigration legislation if he chooses to do so.

Johnson went on to argue that the president’s rhetoric has emphasized differences rather than common ground. “This President has demonstrated over and over again that he’s more interested in dividing people by race, by whether they are documented or undocumented, than he is motivated to actually unite people around the values that working people are concerned about,” he said.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

A retired senior Israeli commander said this week that Iran’s expanding ballistic missile program poses an urgent and growing danger, warning that Tehran could potentially arm some of those missiles with chemical or biological warheads. He argued that as nuclear talks reach a critical stage, the “only viable option” may be a “massive” and “decisive” military campaign aimed at toppling the regime.

In an interview with Breitbart News on Wednesday, just before a third round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations in Geneva, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Amir Avivi — founder and chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum and a former high-ranking IDF officer who continues to advise Israeli defense officials — said the most pressing threat to Israel, American forces, and regional stability is Iran’s accelerated production of ballistic missiles.

“Looking at the moment, the main issue which is urgent — not only to Israel but to American forces and regional stability — is the massive production of ballistic missiles,” Avivi said.

Although Iranian nuclear facilities were “hit severely” last year and require time to rebuild, Avivi cautioned that Iran’s missile manufacturing capabilities are rebounding “much faster.” He described the new systems under development as “more advanced and dangerous” than those used during the recent 12-day war.

According to Avivi, Iranian leadership appears “very determined to retaliate” after sustaining what it sees as a humiliating blow that damaged its deterrence both at home and abroad.

He also highlighted what he called a less-discussed but serious risk: the possibility that Iran could equip some of its missiles with unconventional warheads.

“There is a discussion about that,” he said, confirming that Israeli defense officials are actively examining “what are the capabilities and what are the chances that there is readiness to put a warhead that has these capabilities.”

The potential deployment of chemical or biological agents on long-range ballistic missiles, he said, “strengthens the understanding that we need a preventive attack” to thwart any future assault.

In recent public appearances and briefings, Avivi has similarly warned that Iran is “continuing preparations for war” and expanding missile production even as diplomatic efforts move forward.

His remarks come as a new report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies called for closer examination of Iran’s opaque chemical weapons activities. The report argued that international attention has centered primarily on the nuclear issue, while less scrutiny has been given to Tehran’s possible chemical capabilities. It cited allegations that Iranian security forces used unidentified chemical substances against protesters earlier this year — claims denied by Tehran — and noted repeated U.S. findings that Iran has not fully complied with elements of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Asked what may unfold in the near term, Avivi outlined three potential paths.

The first scenario, he said, involves an Iranian preemptive attack on Israel or American assets in the region.

“If the Iranians attack preemptively, they can launch a massive amount of ballistic missiles that will overwhelm defenses in Israel and in other places,” he warned.

He added that Israel is tracking Iranian activity “very, very closely.”

A second possibility would be an Israeli strike launched in advance, should Jerusalem conclude that Tehran has crossed established red lines or is preparing an imminent assault.

The third — and in his assessment increasingly probable — would be a U.S.-led operation relying heavily on Israeli intelligence and targeting assistance.

“There’s a very big chance this is what will happen — a massive U.S.-led attack,” Avivi said, describing the present moment as “a very defining moment.”

Beyond tactical considerations, Avivi characterized the standoff as a broader test of American resolve, especially given President Donald Trump’s publicly stated red lines.

“At the end of the day, America has to build back its deterrence,” he said, arguing that demonstrating strength against Iran would have implications far beyond the Middle East, including in relations with China and Russia.

However, Avivi maintained that limited strikes against nuclear or missile facilities would fall short of achieving lasting stability.

“If the U.S. wants to push the vision of stability and peace in the region, this regime must go,” Avivi said, asserting that Iran’s proxy network — including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and militias in Iraq and Syria — ultimately draws its power from Tehran’s ruling leadership.

He said that what would be required is a far more comprehensive and forceful campaign aimed directly at dismantling the regime’s command structure and removing its leadership.

“This is a completely different kind of operation,” he explained. “It’s not just about military sites or nuclear sites. This is about the leadership. It’s about the centers of government, media, Revolutionary Guard, Basij forces.”

For such an effort to succeed, Avivi argued, two developments would need to occur simultaneously: a sweeping and coordinated military assault that cripples the regime’s ability to govern and direct its forces, alongside an internal uprising.

“America is going into this big war without boots on the ground,” he said. “This is not similar to Iraq. The boots on the ground are the Iranian people.”

He expressed confidence that many Iranians, worn down by economic hardship and repeated crackdowns, would see such a moment as an opportunity to seek change.

Despite President Trump’s stated preference for diplomacy, Avivi said he sees “no way to bridge” the gap between Israeli-American demands and what Iran would ultimately agree to — or faithfully implement.

“They are going to deceive and lie and continue their path toward nuclear capabilities and rebuilding their proxies and ballistic missiles,” he warned, suggesting that even a negotiated agreement would not alter Tehran’s long-term objectives.

“Therefore, the only viable option is to attack — massive attacks, simultaneous, decisive — to bring this regime down,” Avivi said. “And I believe that this is what will happen.”

As negotiators head to Geneva for talks, Avivi’s comments underscore the high-stakes choice confronting Washington and Yerushalayim: secure a durable agreement that halts Iran’s weapons ambitions or brace for a military clash that could dramatically reshape the region.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli singer Ishay Ribo has canceled his planned concert tour in the United States at the last minute over concerns that a war with Iran could erupt at any moment.

According to sources, Ribo and his professional team had already arrived at Ben Gurion Airport at the end of last week in preparation for their scheduled flight. However, shortly before boarding, the decision was made not to leave the country due to escalating security developments.

A source close to the singer described how events unfolded, saying Ribo was waiting to board the plane when he chose to reverse course and return home. The source said the move stemmed from concern that a military confrontation with Iran could break out while he was overseas.

In an official message sent to ticket holders in the United States, it was explained that members of the group felt that, at this time, the right step was to remain within the borders of Israel. The statement said the decision was made out of a desire to stand alongside their families during this period.

The cancellation of the US tour was first reported by journalist Ran Boker at Ynet. As of now, no alternative dates have been announced for the performances that were scheduled to take place abroad.

{Matzav.com}