Matzav

The inauguration of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor will depart sharply from past practice, with organizers planning a large public celebration rather than a ticketed ceremony at City Hall Plaza. According to the mayoral transition team, the January 1 event will feature a block party along Broadway in the Canyon of Heroes, complete with “dedicated viewing areas for tens of thousands to gather and participate in the ceremony, ensuring the day belongs to all New Yorkers.”

The transition team also announced that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York will deliver the opening remarks at the ceremony. In a statement cited by Fox News, the team said, “Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez’s presence underscores the leaders central to the movement to usher in a new era for New York City – one focused on delivering an affordability agenda and reimagining what government can do for working people.”

Ocasio-Cortez campaigned alongside Mamdani during the race. Mamdani, who is set to become the city’s first Muslim mayor, praised her role in his political rise, saying, “For the many New Yorkers who have long felt betrayed by a broken status quo, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez embodies a new kind of politics that puts working people at the heart of it.” He added, “I’ve been so proud to count her as a partner across the many stages of our people-powered movement – from the primary campaign to our Forest Hills rally in October to the very first day of the transition – and I’m honored that she’ll be a part of our historic City Hall inauguration.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, another ally who appeared with Mamdani on the campaign trail, is scheduled to administer the oath of office. Sanders said the swearing-in will take place at the Old City Hall subway station, describing the symbolism of the location. “I’m honored to swear in our Mayor-Elect at the Old City Hall subway station. His inauguration will represent the blending of our city on a subway filled with cacophony, diversity, challenge and opportunity,” Sanders said. “The subway is a lifeblood of our city, and a great equalizer for New Yorkers. All of us are treated the same on the subway; it connects and binds New Yorkers in our daily lives. For all of our strengths and weaknesses as individuals, we ride together on the train, to places far and wide.”

Sanders continued by tying that imagery to Mamdani’s message, saying, “Zohran is our next mayor because he understands how important it is that New Yorkers living side-by-side all deserve a city that we can thrive in, no matter what subway line you use.”

Mamdani’s rise has also drawn controversy. He has faced sustained criticism over his policy positions, particularly his anti-Israel stance. He has declined to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada” and publicly criticized Israel on October 8, 2023, one day after the Hamas massacre in southern Israel.

In repeated statements, Mamdani has accused Israel of committing war crimes in its campaign against Hamas in Gaza and has said he would seek to arrest Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu if he were to visit New York City.

Ocasio-Cortez, often referred to by her initials AOC, is a member of the progressive Democratic bloc known as “The Squad” and has a long record of opposing Israeli policies. Her past actions include accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinian Arabs and calling for reductions in US military assistance to Israel until humanitarian aid flows freely into Gaza.

Sanders has likewise been outspoken in his criticism of Israel’s government. In September, he asserted that Israel is committing “genocide” in Gaza, the first time he used that term in reference to the conflict.

Those views have translated into legislative efforts. In late July, the Senate voted down a resolution introduced by Sanders that sought to block American arms transfers to Israel. The measure failed 27-70, marking his third unsuccessful attempt since late 2024 to halt US weapons deliveries to Israel.

{Matzav.com}

A pro-Iranian cyber group calling itself Handala announced that it had gained access to the personal mobile phone of Tzachi Braverman, who serves as chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

In statements attributed to the group, Handala said it is holding a large cache of materials taken from the device, including documents, photographs, and video files, beyond a contact list that it says has already circulated online.

The Iranian news outlet Tasnim reported that the hackers claim the data includes sensitive paperwork tied to emergency orders and directives. According to the group, some of those documents bear signatures from Justice Minister Yariv Levin, former Supreme Court President Asher Grunis, and Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs.

Handala further asserted that it obtained private correspondence between Braverman and several government ministers as well as members of the Knesset, portions of which it has already released.

The group also said the files taken from the phone contain images of Braverman at meetings with US Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, along with personal videos recorded at events in London and at other private gatherings.

In its declaration, Handala claimed it holds “thousands of secret documents about corruption in Israel, which will reveal the truth hidden behind the scenes.”

A federal court has cleared the way for the Trump administration to restart the transfer of certain Medicaid data to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement beginning Jan. 6, though the authorization is sharply limited in scope.

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria of the Northern District of California ruled that federal agencies may legally share narrow categories of Medicaid information with immigration authorities, including basic biographical details, contact information, and location data. USA Today first reported on the decision.

At the same time, Chhabria made clear that the ruling does not open the door to unrestricted access to Medicaid records. He stressed that an existing injunction remains in force and continues to prohibit the disclosure of other types of information, including data related to immigrants who are legally present in the United States.

“Beyond the basic information discussed above, the policies are totally unclear and do not appear to be the product of a coherent decision making process,” Chhabria wrote in his opinion.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed in July by 20 states, led by California, seeking to prevent the Department of Health and Human Services from sharing Medicaid-related information with immigration enforcement agencies. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office participated in the legal challenge, said the states were disappointed by the ruling that permits limited data sharing to go forward.

Federal officials supporting the policy welcomed the court’s decision. Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the ruling represents a win for the rule of law and for taxpayers.

The decision is being viewed as a partial victory for the administration’s broader push to expand coordination and information sharing among federal agencies involved in immigration enforcement.

Under federal law, illegal aliens are generally ineligible for full Medicaid benefits, though some may receive Emergency Medicaid coverage for life-saving treatment. Separately, a number of states, including California, provide state-funded health benefits to residents regardless of immigration status.

The Medicaid dispute is one of several recent legal battles over federal data sharing tied to immigration enforcement. In September, a federal judge in California temporarily blocked the Department of Agriculture from collecting information on recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Two months later, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., prohibited the Internal Revenue Service from providing tax return data to ICE.

Chhabria has not yet issued a final ruling in the Medicaid case. A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 2 to address unresolved questions surrounding the administration’s data-sharing policies.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump publicly warned this week that Hamas faces dire consequences if it fails to lay down its arms, declaring, “If they don’t disarm, it will be horrible for them — really, really bad.” He framed the demand as part of a wider regional strategy aimed at restoring stability in the Middle East, pointing to prior American actions against Iran and terror groups as steps building momentum toward peace.

Behind the scenes, Israeli and American officials have reportedly agreed on a far more specific timetable. According to a report published today by Yisroel Hayom, Israel and Washington have settled on a two-month deadline for Hamas to completely disarm.

Trump had earlier addressed the issue alongside Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Monday, telling reporters that Hamas would be given only “a very short period of time to disarm,” though he did not specify an exact timeframe at the time.

The reported understanding was reached later that night during a meeting between Netanyahu and Trump at the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, according to the newspaper.

As part of the framework, US and Israeli officials are said to be working jointly to define precise criteria that would constitute full and verifiable disarmament by Hamas. The concern, according to the report, is that the terror group could attempt to turn over a limited cache of weapons while secretly preserving most of its military strength.

Both governments have reportedly agreed that such a scenario would be unacceptable. The plan demands the total dismantling of Hamas’ weapons reserves and military infrastructure, rather than any partial or symbolic compliance.

The proposed arrangement also calls for the complete demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, including the destruction of Hamas’ vast underground tunnel system, which Israel says has been used to carry out attacks, transport arms, and provide protection for terrorists.

Israeli officials reportedly believe Hamas is unlikely to accept the ultimatum. If the group refuses to disarm within the two-month window, the report states that control over the next steps would revert to Israel and the Israel Defense Forces.

{Matzav.com}

During their talks in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered an updated security briefing to President Donald Trump, warning against any scenario that would permit Turkey to gain a foothold inside the Gaza Strip. According to a source familiar with the discussion, Netanyahu stressed to the president that Israel “will not be able to stand a Turkish presence on the ground in Gaza.”

Those concerns were sharpened by unease in Israel that the American president might be open to Ankara expanding its role in Gaza, particularly in light of Trump’s public comments indicating he has not ruled out approving the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.

At the heart of Netanyahu’s presentation was a detailed intelligence assessment indicating that Hamas remains heavily armed. The prime minister cited findings showing that the terror group is still holding roughly 60,000 Kalashnikov rifles inside Gaza.

Israeli media reported that the intelligence estimate was compiled ahead of the trip by the IDF’s intelligence branch together with the Shin Bet. The data, Netanyahu made clear, was meant to underscore Israel’s position that any future plans hinge on removing those weapons. “Without collecting these weapons, it is impossible to move on to the next stages,” was the central message conveyed to the Americans.

Channel 13 correspondent Moriah Asraf reported that Netanyahu framed the issue in unequivocal terms for the US administration, insisting that without a comprehensive effort to gather and dismantle Hamas’ arms stockpiles, there can be no discussion of civilian reconstruction or rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip.

{Matzav.com}

Federal and state investigators have renewed scrutiny of Minnesota’s child care system after previously unseen surveillance videos resurfaced, depicting conduct that authorities say illustrates how fraudulent day care operations allegedly exploited public funds.

The footage, recorded in 2015 but not made public until 2018, was obtained by Fox 9 and shows parents briefly bringing children into day care facilities, signing them in, and then leaving with the children almost immediately. Investigators said the sign-ins were used so providers could bill the state for full days of care that were never actually provided.

In some instances, the report said, no families appeared at all on certain days, yet the centers still submitted claims to the government for reimbursement.

Additional video obtained by Fox 9 appeared to show kickbacks tied to the alleged scheme. One clip shows a man handing an envelope to a parent, which investigators said was payment for participating in the fraudulent arrangement.

The videos resurfaced following public backlash over a viral exposé by independent journalist Nick Shirley, who documented multiple Minnesota child care centers that had received millions of dollars in state funding despite appearing inactive.

US Education Secretary Linda McMahon reacted sharply to the allegations, calling the situation a “breathtaking failure.”

Minnesota officials began addressing suspected child care fraud as early as 2014. By 2018, authorities were investigating dozens of businesses believed to have improperly collected millions of dollars in public money for services that were never delivered.

The controversy has also placed Gov. Tim Walz under criticism over other alleged abuses involving Medicaid-funded programs, including housing initiatives intended to help seniors and people with disabilities relocate into appropriate housing.

Law enforcement officials have said many of the alleged schemes are connected to Minnesota’s migrant Somali community, a characterization that has fueled both political and community tensions.

At the federal level, FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau has sent investigators and resources to Minnesota as part of a broader effort to combat fraud targeting government assistance programs. He said the child care cases were “just the tip of a very large iceberg” and warned that Somali individuals convicted of fraud could face deportation.

{Matzav.com}

A Minneapolis day care known as the Quality “Learing” Center drew sudden attention Monday when children were seen entering and leaving the building, a scene neighbors say they rarely, if ever, witness. The activity followed the release of a viral video that questioned whether the facility was operating at all and suggested it might be tied to broader fraud involving state-funded programs.

One nearby resident told The NY Post that the presence of children earlier in the week stood out sharply from what they usually observe at the site. The neighbor described the bustle as “highly unusual.”

“We’ve never seen kids go in there until today. That parking lot is empty all the time, and I was under the impression that place is permanently closed,” the resident said.

When reporters monitored the location Monday, they observed a busy parking lot and roughly 20 children moving in and out of the building. That activity contrasted with footage posted online by YouTuber Nick Shirley, which depicted what appeared to be an unused facility with no children present.

In his video, Shirley questioned the lack of activity during his visit. “You do realize there’s supposed to be 99 children here in this building, and there’s no one here?” he asked a person who answered the door. At the time the video was recorded, no children could be seen inside. The center lists its operating hours as Monday through Thursday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Ibrahim Ali, who identified himself as the manager and said he is the owner’s son, told The Post that Shirley arrived before the center opened for the day.

“Do you go to a coffee shop at 11 p.m. and say, ‘Hey, they’re not working’?” Ali said.

Ali also addressed the widely mocked misspelling on the center’s exterior sign, placing blame on a graphic designer. “What I understand is [the owners] dealt with a graphic designer. He did it incorrectly. I guess they didn’t think it was a big issue,” said Ali, 26, who said he assists with homework and paperwork at the facility.

“That’s gonna be fixed,” he added.

It was not immediately known how long the misspelled sign has been displayed. Ali said there were about 16 children inside the center Monday afternoon.

Shirley’s video surfaced amid a sweeping scandal involving Minnesota’s taxpayer-funded social services system, including child care programs. Authorities are probing what has been described as an alleged scheme that could total up to $9 billion, with accusations that some businesses falsely claimed to provide services in order to collect government funds.

Despite the heightened scrutiny, Quality Learning has not been publicly identified by federal authorities as one of the businesses suspected in the ongoing investigation.

At 2 p.m. Monday, a woman who opened the center disputed Shirley’s claims and rejected accusations of wrongdoing. “We don’t have fraud. That’s a lie,” she said, before adding, “I don’t want to talk to you. I want to talk to my lawyer.”

Outside the building, another employee began recording a Post reporter on his phone while objecting to the questions being asked. “Don’t … come to this area. Get the …. out of here,” he said angrily.

Elsewhere in Minneapolis, ICE agents visited ABC Learning Center on Monday morning, part of the broader inquiry into the alleged misuse of public funds. The investigation has been reported to focus largely on members of the state’s Somali immigrant community.

“They wanted two months of attendance [records], we gave them two months of attendance,” said Ahmed Hasan, director of ABC Learning Center. He said agents told him they intended to verify whether everything was in order.

Hasan said Shirley’s visit to his facility was also unsettling. “That time ICE was coming for the Somali community. We were scared to open the door,” he said.

“They come with eight people. Five of them had masks. We thought they were ICE.”

Hasan criticized what he described as an unfair focus on Somali-owned day cares, calling it “a targeted situation,” and said the allegations facing his center and others in Minneapolis amounted to “a political game.”

{Matzav.com}

A revised medical framework for defining obesity could dramatically expand the number of American adults considered obese, according to new research that looks beyond body mass index alone and incorporates additional physical measurements and health indicators.

Using national health data collected between 2017 and 2023, researchers analyzed information from more than 14,000 people, representing roughly 237.7 million U.S. adults. When the broader criteria were applied, an estimated 75.2% of adults met the threshold for obesity. Under the traditional BMI-only approach, that figure stood at about 40%.

The analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, was conducted by investigators affiliated with Harvard University, Yale New Haven Health, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and was reported by ABC News.

The work was prompted by recommendations from the The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission, a collaboration between the medical journal and King’s Health Partners Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity. That commission proposed redefining obesity to include measurements such as waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio, in addition to BMI.

Although the updated definition has been endorsed by more than 70 medical organizations worldwide, the study’s authors noted that its real-world impact had not previously been assessed.

“BMI is the standard measure for determining criteria for obesity. It’s the most widely known metric,” said Dr. Erica Spatz, a cardiologist at Yale School of Medicine and a co-author of the study.

Spatz explained that BMI on its own fails to capture the role of adipose tissue. While this type of tissue is less visible, it plays a central role in insulating organs, storing energy, and producing hormones that regulate appetite, and “is more associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.”

To reach their conclusions, the researchers relied on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationwide program run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that tracks the health of both children and adults across the country.

Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an associate professor of medicine and pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said the findings underscore the scale of the problem, even though she was not involved in the research.

“We do have a major problem,” Stanford said. “Obesity is by far the most significant chronic disease in human history … we need to be doing a better job of treating it, make sure that we have the clinicians that are trained to identify not only obesity itself, but the over 230 chronic diseases associated with it, and making sure that we have a healthier society.”

{Matzav.com}

Hashkafa in the Workplace will be hosting a special Legal Holiday Vaad on Thursday, January 1, bringing together prominent rabbonim to address pressing hashkafic and practical issues facing frum professionals in today’s workplace.

The event will take place at Beru, located at 2373 U.S.-9 in Toms River, New Jersey, beginning at 9:45 a.m. Coffee, refreshments, and lunch will be served.

The Vaad will feature divrei chizuk and guidance from a distinguished panel of rabbonim, including Rav Dov Kahan, Rov of Bais Medrash of Arlington; Rav Doniel Osher Kleinman, Rov of Khal Nachlas Dovid; and Rav Joey Haber.

A chinuch panel will feature Rabbi Binyomin Basch, Menahel of Yeshiva Shagas Aryeh, and Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm, Menahel of Yeshiva Nesivos Hatorah

Opening remarks will be delivered by Reb Itche Rosenbaum, with the program moderated by MC Reb Bentzi Shechter.

The morning schedule will include individual presentations followed by a Chinuch panel discussion, providing participants with practical tools and Torah-based perspective on navigating workplace challenges, legal holidays, and professional environments while remaining firmly rooted in Torah values.

Hashkafa in the Workplace continues to develop programming aimed at strengthening frum professionals by addressing real-world issues through the lens of Torah and daas Torah. This Legal Holiday Vaad is designed to maximize participation by taking advantage of the day off, allowing attendees to immerse themselves in meaningful learning and discussion.

Additional information about the program is available at hashkafaintheworkplace.com.

{Matzav.com}

A newly released study warns that hostile discourse toward Israel is gaining traction within segments of the American Right, driven in part by prominent media influencers whose reach shapes public opinion well beyond fringe circles.

According to the research, the intensification of anti-Israel messaging is no longer confined to far-left or activist environments. Instead, it is increasingly penetrating populist right-wing and MAGA-aligned audiences through high-profile commentators, marking a notable shift in where such rhetoric is taking hold.

The report highlights that language once primarily associated with far-left discourse—most notably the term “genocide”—is now appearing with growing frequency among influential figures on the Right.

“Even on the American far Right, antisemitism is already visible, and ‘on the table,’” JPPI Director-General Shuki Friedman said.

“The data should serve as a glaring warning light for Israel and the Israeli leadership regarding the support it can mobilize from the right, today and certainly in the future. Only decisive action that provides a counterweight to this extremism can preserve this vital base of support in the US,” he added.

The findings are based on an artificial intelligence-driven analysis conducted by the Jewish People Policy Institute, which examined thousands of social media videos published by Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens. The study, released Sunday, found a substantial increase in both the volume and intensity of negative commentary about Israel in recent months.

Researchers concluded that both figures sharply expanded their focus on Israel, Jews, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with those topics appearing more frequently than discussions of other global issues such as the Ukraine-Russia war, tensions with China, or Iran.

Israel emerged as a “central, and at times dominant,” theme in their content, with Owens’ shift beginning in February and Carlson’s becoming pronounced in August.

The analysis showed that Carlson’s rate of negative commentary about Israel rose significantly over the past six months compared to the previous half-year. While the study did not find that Carlson consistently crossed into explicit antisemitism under the IHRA definition, it noted that he regularly provides a platform to known antisemitic figures, including Holocaust deniers and extremists such as Nick Fuentes, without drawing firm lines or offering substantive criticism of their views.

Owens’ content, by contrast, was described as more overt. The study found that more than 96% of her references to Israel were negative, often employing aggressive and hostile language.

In examining overall trends, JPPI emphasized that the main shift was quantitative rather than stylistic: the number of negative posts increased substantially, even if the proportion framed negatively remained relatively stable.

The content flagged by researchers included material comparing Israel to Hamas, the use of the term “genocide,” accusations that Israel deliberately kills children, and the promotion of conspiratorial claims about Israeli or Jewish influence over the US government.

When the focus turned explicitly to Jews, the findings were even more stark. The analysis found that 45% of videos mentioning Jews carried an antisemitic angle, a figure that climbed sharply in the past six months, reaching approximately 75%.

Examples cited in the study included sweeping generalizations about Jews, descriptions of Jews as a “cult,” allegations of “Jewish supremacy,” and recurring claims of control, deceit, and manipulation. The report also noted repeated assertions that accusations of antisemitism are merely a “Zionist diversion tactic.”

Overall, the study concludes that the growing prominence of such narratives among influential right-wing figures represents a significant and troubling development, with potential long-term implications for public discourse and Israel’s standing among key segments of the American political landscape.

{Matzav.com}

A storm has erupted across the chareidi community in the United States after a group of welathy donors announced a coordinated decision to withhold financial support from Torah institutions in Israel that publicly criticize the Israel Defense Forces.

The initiative, organized under the name “Coalition for Talmud Torah & Security,” has triggered intense backlash, particularly as yeshivos and kollelim in Israel face severe financial strain amid deep budget cuts and the ongoing draft crisis. The move has been described by critics as a serious blow to the Torah world at a moment of unprecedented vulnerability.

According to materials circulated by the coalition, the signatories framed their position as a response to what they described as a global escalation of threats against Jews. “The Jewish nation is under sustained attack from enemies of Hashem and His Torah who find common cause in harming His people. The battle against the Jews has been globalized. Intimidation and violence are now taking place across the streets of Europe and North America, and in other parts of the world, culminating most recently in the horrific massacre at Bondi Beach, Australia. Enemies of the Jewish people grow more vocal and emboldened by the day, and the illusion that any country is a safe haven for Jews is rapidly collapsing.”

The statement goes on to link the security of Jewish communities worldwide to the strength of the State of Israel. “The security of Israel has become a personal and critical matter. Developments worldwide indicate that our people’s future is increasingly tied to Eretz Yisrael, and that Jewish safety across the Diaspora depends on the strength of the Jewish state and its unique capacity to deter and respond to threats beyond its borders.”

Addressing the role of the military, the coalition wrote: “In these dangerous times, we feel the imperative, as servants of Hashem and lovers of His Torah, to stand as one and support our unified interests. The Israel Defense Forces (‘IDF’) bear responsibility for the physical protection of the Jewish people in the State of Israel. We support them and daven for their success, together with the broader security and intelligence apparatus that assists in safeguarding all Jewish life.”

At the same time, the group stressed that it does not view its position as a retreat from support for Torah learning. “Therefore, we make our position explicit. We remain wholly committed to the support of Torah, Yeshivos, Kollelim and Talmidei Chachamim — the very life force of our holy nation.”

However, the coalition drew a clear red line regarding public opposition to the military. “And because of that commitment to Toras Chaim, we cannot in good conscience support institutions whose public posture undermines those charged with defending Jewish life. Accordingly, we will only provide financial support to Torah institutions that do not publicly speak against, protest, or delegitimize the IDF while they bear the burden of defending Jewish lives. This policy will remain in effect until such positions are reconsidered in a manner consistent with the defense of Jewish life.”

Responding to criticism that the move interferes in the highly charged debate over conscription, the coalition insisted that it is not taking sides. “This stance takes no position on the current debate regarding the draft. It addresses only the propriety of public opposition to the IDF during an ongoing defense of Jewish life.”

The statement concludes with an appeal for unity, even as controversy continues to mount. “We state this position in unity and responsibility, confident that the strength of our people lies in the alignment of Torah, security and mutual commitment. Through achdus, may we merit the geulah sheleimah, b’karov.”

While several well-known philanthropists have reportedly declined to join the initiative and say they will continue supporting Torah institutions without conditions, the announcement has intensified concern that the Torah world — already under severe pressure — now faces a deepening internal rift alongside its external challenges.

{Matzav.com}

Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett issued a sharply worded video statement on Tuesday, accusing advisers in the office of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of deliberately carrying out actions that harmed Israel’s diplomatic and security interests during wartime.

Bennett said materials that have recently come to light indicate that Netanyahu’s advisers not only received payment from entities linked to Qatar, but also used their positions within the Prime Minister’s Office to undermine relations with Egypt, which he described as a country of strategic importance to Israel. He alleged that statements attributed to the advisers point to a calculated effort intended to advance the interests of Qatar and Hamas.

According to Bennett, the conduct in question constitutes a severe security offense carried out knowingly and with intent at a time of war. He stressed that Israeli criminal law addresses such actions explicitly, citing Section 121, which provides that anyone who deliberately sabotages Israel’s relations with another state may face a sentence of up to “life imprisonment.” Bennett said he believes this provision applies squarely to the current case and should guide both legal authorities and public discourse.

The former prime minister further argued that, now that the facts are publicly known, Netanyahu bears responsibility to immediately stop funding the legal defense of his advisers, to publicly condemn their actions, and to provide clear answers to Israeli citizens. He said the Prime Minister’s Office must be entirely free of interests tied to hostile states, adding that IDF soldiers and the public deserve absolute certainty on this matter.

Bennett concluded that the allegations raise fundamental questions of trust, accountability, and national security at a moment when Israel remains engaged on multiple fronts and public confidence in leadership is critical.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s High Court of Justice instructed the state on Tuesday to submit an expedited response to a petition seeking the immediate suspension of billions of shekels earmarked for chareidi education.

Supreme Court Justice Yael Wilner ordered the state to respond by Wednesday morning to an application filed by opposition leader Yair Lapid and other lawmakers from his Yesh Atid party. The petition asks the court to freeze the transfer of approximately NIS 1.8 billion that was approved last week by the Knesset Finance Committee, most of it designated for chareidi institutions.

The funds, drawn from the state budget reserve, were approved on Thursday and allocated to chareidi education, religious education, settlement-related education, and various coalition agreements. Petitioners argue that the decision violates the law and budgetary procedures.

According to the breakdown approved by the committee, NIS 426 million was allocated to Chinuch Atzmai, NIS 360 million to the Maayan HaChinuch HaTorani network, and NIS 136 million to recognized and unrecognized chareidi educational institutions. An additional NIS 151 million was designated for chareidi talmudei Torah that are exempt from teaching core curriculum subjects. Another NIS 111 million was approved for the Administration for Settlement Education to implement political agreements, in line with demands by the Religious Zionism party.

Following the committee’s approval, Lapid and fellow Yesh Atid lawmakers filed their petition with the High Court, asserting that the transfer of funds was unlawful.

Reacting sharply, United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf accused Lapid of acting out of hostility toward the chareidi public.

“Yair Lapid once again proves that the only fuel driving him is hatred of chareidim,” Goldknopf said. “The petition to the High Court is yet another attempt to harm the basic rights of hundreds of thousands of parents and children whose only ‘crime’ is their desire to preserve their way of life and the tradition of their forefathers.”

Goldknopf stressed that the funds in question had passed all required professional and legal approvals and were intended to correct longstanding discrimination in the budgeting of exempt institutions and recognized but unofficial educational frameworks.

“We are confident that the court will reject this political attempt to interfere with legitimate budgetary decisions of the government,” he said. “We will continue to stand guard to ensure that every child in Israel receives what he deserves, without discrimination between sectors. We will not allow chareidi children in Israel to be turned into second-class citizens.”

{Matzav.com}

A sweeping federal review has found that billions of dollars in housing assistance were improperly distributed during the final year of the Biden administration, with payments going to tens of thousands of ineligible recipients, including people who were already deceased, the NY Post reports.

According to a report released by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, auditors flagged $5.8 billion in “questionable” payments out of nearly $50 billion distributed through federal rental assistance programs in fiscal year 2024. The funds were paid out to public housing authorities, contractors, landlords, and other non-federal entities, according to the 183-page document.

Federal officials said the suspect payments were spread nationwide, with deceased recipients identified in every state. The highest concentrations of questionable disbursements were found in New York, California, and Washington, DC, which together accounted for a large share of the irregularities.

“A massive abuse of taxpayer dollars not only occurred under President Biden’s watch, but was effectively incentivized by his administration’s failure to implement strong financial controls resulting in billions worth of potential improper payments,” HUD Secretary Scott Turner said in a statement.

The audit found that more than 200,000 tenants were potentially ineligible for assistance, accounting for roughly 11% of the reviewed funds. Among them were 29,715 deceased individuals, 9,472 non-citizens, and 165,393 tenants whose rental subsidies exceeded eligibility limits for their local housing markets, particularly in cities such as New Orleans and other major metropolitan areas.

HUD programs are intended to help low-income individuals and families afford housing. Officials warned that misuse of funds could have deprived eligible households of assistance they urgently needed.

Investigators pointed to policy failures under the Biden administration, citing directives that emphasized rapid distribution of funds with limited oversight. The report also noted that HUD programs placed “substantial trust and responsibility in these non-federal entities … to accurately assess tenant eligibility,” creating opportunities for abuse.

“HUD will continue investigating the shocking results and will take appropriate action to hold bad actors accountable. Additionally, the Department is advancing efforts made under President Trump’s first administration to strengthen program integrity and ensure taxpayer-funded assistance serves the vulnerable communities it was intended for.”

HUD officials said the department will now contact housing authorities and other participating entities to verify the scope of the misconduct. Depending on the findings, HUD may pause or revoke funding and refer cases for criminal prosecution.

“HUD is implementing processes and procedures to revoke or pause funding as part of its efforts to hold bad actors accountable,” one official said. “Additionally, the Department could make criminal referrals and exercise other enforcement actions once it has confirmed fraud occurred.”

The audit reviewed spending between October 2023 and September 2024, during which HUD disbursed $33 billion through Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) programs covering more than four million households, and $16 billion through Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA).

Of the TBRA funds, approximately $1.5 billion involved tenants flagged for eligibility concerns. PBRA programs showed even higher risk, with about $4.3 billion — or 26.4% of all PBRA payments — tied to recipients with unresolved eligibility issues.

HUD also reported that, working with the Department of Homeland Security, it identified “thousands” of non-citizens who were receiving Section 8 or Section 9 housing assistance despite not qualifying for those programs.

The financial review was described by HUD as part of an effort to fulfill President Trump’s pledges to improve “accountability and transparency” and to protect “taxpayer funds against waste, fraud and abuse.”

Concerns about HUD’s oversight are not new. An earlier audit by the department’s Office of Inspector General, conducted after large funding increases from Biden’s 2021 American Rescue Plan Act and President Trump’s 2020 CARES Act, found serious weaknesses in fraud prevention. That October 2022 review concluded that HUD “needed significant improvement” in its antifraud framework and that officials overseeing both PBRA and TBRA programs were not conducting meaningful risk assessments.

The audit also found that HUD “did not have a clear process in place for PHAs [Public Housing Authorities], PBCAs [Performance Based Contract Administrators], and grantees to report instances of known or suspected fraud to HUD and HUD’s Office of Inspector General (OIG).”

In one high-profile case highlighting those risks, federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York charged 70 current and former employees of the New York City Housing Authority by February 2024. The charges stemmed from a decade-long bribery scheme involving cash kickbacks from contractors.

US Attorney Damian Williams described the crackdown as “the largest single-day bribery takedown in the history of the Justice Department,” saying the scheme involved up to $2 million in corrupt payments and $13 million in no-bid contracts.

NYCHA, the largest housing authority in the country, serves more than 500,000 residents and received $3.86 billion in HUD funding in 2023. A March 2025 HUD OIG audit warned that funds flowing to the agency were at “greater risk of fraud” due to insufficient safeguards and unclear guidance.

“NYCHA partners with law enforcement to root out the corruption that directly led to the 2024 arrests,” a spokesperson for the housing authority said in a statement.

“Each of the 70 cases brought by DOI has led to a conviction, and all of the defendants have separated from employment. NYCHA has implemented all recommendations, while rebuilding its operations and procurement processes.”

{Matzav.com}

Yesh Atid announced on Tuesday that it has turned to Israel’s Supreme Court seeking immediate intervention over the transfer of more than one billion shekels approved by the Knesset Finance Committee for haredi educational institutions.

In its filing, the party claimed the allocations were carried out in violation of the law, asserting that the recipient institutions neither teach core curriculum subjects nor operate under required state supervision, and that the funding move sidestepped established budgetary limits and procedures.

The petition was submitted by attorneys Oded Gazit and Eliram Bakal of the Gazit-Bakal law firm, who contended that “the Finance Committee abused its authority and transferred funds unlawfully to institutions that do not meet the educational criteria required by law, rendering the transfers null and void.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, along with fellow Yesh Atid lawmakers Vladimir Beliak, Moshe Turpaz, and Naor Shiri, said the legal action is part of a broader campaign against the current coalition, declaring that “the petition joins a prolonged struggle against a rotten, corrupt, and wasteful government that disregards Israel’s citizens and treats our money as a bargaining chip and political bribe to solve coalition problems.”

Yesh Atid further argued that the funding benefits “institutions that do not prepare Haredi children for modern life,” adding that the transfers were approved in a manner designed to obscure them from public scrutiny, saying that “the funds are being transferred while attempting to conceal the transfers from the public.”

{Matzav.com}

Iranian officials issued sharp warnings this week amid renewed tensions with Washington and Yerushalayim, after President Donald Trump indicated he could authorize additional US military action if Tehran resumes rebuilding its nuclear or ballistic missile capabilities.

Speaking earlier this week, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States, Israel, and Europe of waging a broad campaign against his country. “We are in a full-scale war with the US, Israel, and Europe; they don’t want our country to remain stable,” he said, describing what he portrayed as escalating pressure on Iran.

Pezeshkian also addressed the possibility of military escalation in a post on the social media platform X, warning that Iran would respond forcefully to any attack. “Answer of Islamic Republic of Iran to any cruel aggression will be harsh and discouraging,” he wrote, without providing further details.

Trump’s remarks came during extensive discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. After their meeting, Trump publicly suggested that renewed strikes could be on the table if Iran attempts to reconstitute capabilities damaged during the recent conflict. “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again,” Trump said during a news conference with Netanyahu after their meeting, “and if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.”

The comments followed the June outbreak of a 12-day air war between Israel and Iran, which began after a surprise Israeli operation targeting senior Iranian military figures, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment facilities, and elements of Iran’s ballistic missile program. Israel said the strikes were intended to block Iran from approaching nuclear weaponization and to counter Tehran’s stated goal of destroying the Jewish state.

During that conflict, the United States conducted a single round of strikes against key Iranian nuclear facilities before quickly moving to broker a ceasefire between the two sides.

Trump later reinforced his warning, saying he would not hesitate to act again if developments warranted it. “If it’s confirmed, they know the consequences, and the consequences will be very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time,” Trump said.

Iranian leaders responded swiftly. Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, posted a defiant message on X, asserting that “Iran’s #Missile_Capability⁩ and defense are not containable or permission-based. Any aggression will face an immediate #Harsh_Response⁩ beyond its planners’ imagination.” Shamkhani later shared the same message in Hebrew.

According to Iranian media reports, Pezeshkian himself narrowly survived the conflict and suffered a leg injury from an Israeli strike during the fighting.

Tehran, which has repeatedly vowed to wipe out Israel, has claimed that it is no longer enriching uranium at any site in the country, signaling to Western governments that it remains open to possible negotiations over its nuclear program.

US intelligence agencies, along with the International Atomic Energy Agency, have assessed that Iran last maintained an organized nuclear weapons program in 2003. However, prior to the war, Iran had been enriching uranium to levels of up to 60 percent — a short technical step from weapons-grade enrichment of 90 percent. Western experts and the IAEA say such levels have no civilian justification.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Reuven Feinstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Staten Island, has been hospitalized and is in need of a refuah.

All are asked to daven for the complete refuah of Shalom Reuven ben Shima.

{Matzav.com}

Health officials are warning of a potentially punishing flu season as a new strain of influenza circulates widely, prompting concern among doctors and researchers as winter illnesses accelerate nationwide.

The strain drawing attention has been dubbed the “super flu,” a variant of influenza A H3N2 known as subclade K. Previous H3N2 outbreaks have been associated with more intense illness and longer recovery periods compared to other flu strains.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that the variant first surged in the United Kingdom before spreading across Europe and Australia, eventually reaching the United States.

“The United Kingdom got hit pretty hard by this,” said Neil Maniar of Northeastern University. “I think that’s a pretty good harbinger of what we are likely to see here. This is going to be a very difficult flu season.”

People infected with the K subclade have reported classic flu symptoms such as high fever, severe body aches, extreme fatigue, persistent cough, sore throat, and intense headaches. Doctors say many patients are also experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain, gastrointestinal distress, and lingering weakness well beyond the acute phase of illness.

As case numbers continue to climb, physicians stress the importance of early treatment, particularly for patients at risk of severe disease. Antiviral medications remain a central tool in managing serious infections.

The CDC currently recommends four antiviral drugs: Tamiflu, Xofluza, Relenza, and Rapivab. Xofluza is prescribed as an oral treatment for uncomplicated flu in patients aged 5 and older. Relenza is approved for individuals 7 and older, while Rapivab can be administered to patients as young as 6 months.

“Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, get sufficient rest and take Tylenol or Advil to manage fever, headaches and muscle aches at home,” said Dr. Mark Mulligan of NYU Langone Health’s Vaccine Center.

Public health experts say warnings about the flu have been circulating since early fall, but the emergence of the super flu strain combined with lagging vaccination rates has intensified concern.

“This can be a very serious illness. We need to take it seriously, and we need to take measures to protect ourselves,” Maniar said. “As we go deeper into the flu season, this is likely to be a tough one.”

Infectious disease specialists fear that relatively low vaccine uptake could result in one of the most severe flu seasons in recent memory, though they emphasize there is still time to reduce the impact.

“It is certainly not too late, especially as we’re thinking about holiday gatherings and travel,” said Dr. Andrew Pekosz. “Now would be a great time for individuals to go out and get that last influenza vaccine or that COVID vaccine to provide one layer of protection for this holiday season.”

Some experts have noted concerns that this year’s flu vaccine may not be a perfect match for the K subtype. Pekosz said it nonetheless remains effective.

“There are three different influenza strains that cause influenza. The vaccine covers all three. And with two of them, it looks like there’s a pretty good match right now … and we think it’ll provide at least partial protection against this clade K H2N2 virus.”

The CDC continues to recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older.

While the latest nationwide flu data has been delayed due to the Christmas holiday, figures through mid-December already showed a sharp rise in positive cases. Virus activity has reached “very high” levels in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Louisiana, and Colorado. Manhattan alone recorded a 104% jump in infections earlier this month.

“We see the sudden spike in New York because of their more dense population,” said Dr. Ulysses Wu of Hartford Hospital. “They’re a center for international as well as domestic travel.”

Significant flu activity has also been reported in Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, and South Carolina, adding to fears of a widespread and difficult season ahead.

{Matzav.com}

Fresh online chatter about President Donald Trump’s health surfaced after viewers scrutinized video from his high-stakes talks on Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, focusing on what some described as an unusual mark on his left hand.

Comments circulated quickly on X, where several users zeroed in on the appearance of Trump’s hand during the meeting. One user, Aaron Rupar, wrote: “There appears to be a hole in Trump’s left hand.” Another, Derek Guy, posted: “Seems to be a small hole at the site of discolouration.” A third commenter, Adam Parkhomenko, added: “Can’t use the right hand anymore. Docs had to switch hands.”

Parkhomenko’s remark referenced earlier explanations offered by the White House regarding bruising that had appeared on Trump’s right hand in recent months.

At the time, the White House said the discoloration was the result of frequent handshaking. Officials have not addressed any claims or speculation related to Trump’s left hand.

Questions about Trump’s health have periodically drawn attention, echoing the intense scrutiny faced by Joe Biden during his term in office.

Just last month, the White House confirmed that Trump underwent an MRI scan focused on his abdomen, saying the results were “perfectly normal.”

Trump has also stated publicly that he has taken multiple cognitive assessments and that he “aced” them each time.

{Matzav.com}

The future of Israel’s proposed draft law is increasingly uncertain after a scheduled discussion was abruptly canceled and senior chareidi figures acknowledged that the chances of advancing the legislation during the current Knesset term have dropped sharply.

The debate, which had been set for Tuesday in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, was called off at the request of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. Publicly, the cancellation was attributed to other pressing committee matters, but behind the scenes, chareidi factions say they are coming to terms with the likelihood that the bill may not survive.

Initially, after the presentation of the draft law by committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth, chareidi party leaders were told that the committee’s legal adviser, attorney Miri Frenkel-Shor, supported most of the bill’s core provisions. They were led to believe that if the law passed, the Knesset’s legal department would defend it against High Court petitions.

As time passed, however, senior chareidi officials realized that Frenkel-Shor in fact opposed many of the substantive elements of the new draft law. Several party leaders said they were surprised by the scope of her objections. Aside from one senior Shas figure, others had expected that she would seek adjustments but ultimately back the revised proposal.

With the committee legal adviser’s position now clear, chareidi factions are pinning their hopes on the Knesset’s chief legal adviser, attorney Sagit Afik, to support the law and defend it before the High Court, despite the stance taken at the committee level.

A senior chareidi lawmaker involved in the issue said that without such backing, the legislation is a nonstarter. “If the Knesset’s legal counsel does not commit to defending the law at the High Court, there is no reason for us to pass it,” he said. “That is the directive of the gedolim. The damage outweighs the benefit of passing a law that does not meet the High Court’s initial test and would immediately face an interim injunction. A central condition for advancing the law is legal support from the Knesset’s legal counsel.”

The same official explained that opposition from the Attorney General’s Office had been expected from the outset. “The government’s legal advisers are against us — that was clear from day one. Our hope was that the Knesset’s legal counsel would defend the law, so that even if it were ultimately struck down, there would be no interim order against it and it would take a year or two before being invalidated. But if Sagit Afik also does not support the law, there is a very high chance that an interim injunction will be issued.”

Legal sources in the Knesset, however, say the prospects of Afik breaking with the committee’s legal opinion are slim. One legal official noted that Frenkel-Shor also serves as deputy to the Knesset legal adviser and has been closely involved in draft legislation for more than a decade. “It is hard to see Sagit Afik turning her back on her and going against the legal position of the adviser who has accompanied every clause of this law,” the source said.

{Matzav.com}