Matzav

Cuban-American lawmakers are calling on the Trump administration to sharply intensify its campaign against Cuba’s Communist leadership, contending that the government in Havana is more vulnerable than at any point in decades and that sustained pressure could finally bring about change.

“It’s a failed nation, and they’re not getting any money from Venezuela, and they’re not getting any money from anyone,” President Trump said during remarks to reporters on Feb. 2, as reports circulated that he is considering a push for regime change in Cuba before the end of the year. His comments came shortly after he warned of tariffs on countries that sell or supply oil to the island.

Signs of strain inside Cuba have become increasingly visible. President Miguel Díaz-Canel conceded Thursday, during an unusual press conference, that the government can no longer ensure consistent electricity or even maintain “basic activities” because of severe fuel shortages.

Although Díaz-Canel signaled a willingness to engage in talks with the Trump administration, he stressed that Cuban sovereignty would not be negotiable and said the government was drawing up a “defense plan” in response to pressure from Washington.

“We aren’t in a state of war,” Díaz-Canel said, “but we are preparing ourselves in case we have to move to a state of war.”

At the same time, Trump has suggested that behind-the-scenes discussions with senior Cuban figures are already underway. He said last week that “I think we’re pretty close” to reaching an agreement.

Alejandro Castro Espin, the son of Raúl Castro, is reportedly among the senior officials involved in those contacts, which could offer the ruling elite a way to preserve its grip on power.

Still, Trump has insisted that any agreement he pursues must lead to fundamental change, saying the goal is for Cuba to “be free again” after 67 years under authoritarian rule.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), who fled Cuba as a child following Fidel Castro’s 1959 takeover, told The Post that he believes the end of the regime is approaching.

“I’ve been here 65 years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the regime as weak as it is right now,” he said.

“I think what the administration should be doing is what they’re doing — putting pressure on supposed friends of ours that are helping to maintain the regime.”

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), whose family also escaped Cuba after the Communist revolution, echoed that view and urged even tougher measures.

“What needs to happen is to increase the pressure, and what I mean by that is pressure in every way: economic, diplomatic, in every way possible,” he said.

“It’s the only thing that’s ever worked in the history of our planet when you have a dictatorship like this that doesn’t want to give up power,” Diaz-Balart added. “Zero tolerance and total pressure.”

Mexico has long expressed “solidarity” with Cuba and has historically supplied the island with limited quantities of crude oil.

Those shipments have dropped sharply since the Jan. 3 arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, falling to roughly 3,000 barrels per day this year from about 20,000 barrels per day in 2025, according to the Wall Street Journal. Trump has made clear he wants that number reduced to nothing.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has described the oil transfers as “humanitarian,” but on Feb. 1 she reluctantly indicated that Mexico would stop sending oil to Cuba.

According to trade intelligence firm Kpler, the island now has only 15 to 20 days’ worth of oil remaining.

“The word ‘choke off’ is awfully tough,” Trump said when asked about his approach. “I’m not trying to, but it looks like it’s something that’s just not going to be able to survive.”

Sebastián A. Arcos, interim director of Florida International University’s Cuban Research Institute, said expectations have shifted dramatically.

“there is no longer an expectation that the regime will survive in the medium term.”

“Before [Maduro’s arrest] Jan. 3, it was understood that the regime was in a terminal crisis with a long horizon … that assumption evaporated after what Trump did in Venezuela,” Arcos said. “Without Venezuela and oil, the Cuban economy will go from limping along to collapsing.”

“There is no one who can come to save them from their own economic incompetence. The economy will shut down once they run out of oil.”

For years, Cuba relied on subsidized Venezuelan oil under an arrangement forged in the 2000s by Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez.

Under that pact, Cuba sent doctors along with military and security personnel to Venezuela in exchange for discounted petroleum.

Instead of using the fuel domestically, however, about 60% of the 70,000 barrels per day Venezuela supplied last year was resold to Asia, according to a US official.

With rolling blackouts spreading across the island, that decision to sell oil was described by a State Department official as “further proof that the illegitimate Cuban regime only prioritizes enriching itself all while the Cuban people suffer the consequences of their corrupt nature and incompetence.”

Politico reported in late January that the White House is weighing a full naval blockade to stop any future oil deliveries to Cuba.

“Look, this regime has destroyed the island,” Gimenez said. “There’s no power, there’s no food, there’s no medicine — it’s at its end, it’s time for them to go.

“Any and all pressure that can be exerted to make this cancer go away is what the United States needs to do.”

Neither Gimenez nor Diaz-Balart believes US troops will be needed to bring down the government.

“Because it is so weak, I think you exert as much pressure as possible and let the regime collapse under its own weight,” Gimenez said.

“If pressure is increased, I think its days are numbered,” Diaz-Balart said. “The president — and this president particularly — always keeps all options on the table, but I just don’t think [US military intervention] necessary.”

Arcos said military action could become likely if mass protests erupt and the government responds with violent repression.

“If anti-government demonstrators take to the streets and the regime decides that they will do what the Iranians did, and they start massacring innocent Cubans,” he said, “the pressure on the US government to do something [in that scenario] will be immense.”

He added that he has no doubt “there will be blood in the streets” if Cubans rise up against the state.

Raúl Castro handed the presidency to Díaz-Canel in 2021, but analysts say he and his family continue to hold real power and would almost certainly be central to any talks with Washington.

“Everyone in Havana — even Cuban government officials — acknowledge Raúl Castro is really in charge, but he’s 94 years old, and his top aides are in their 90s as well,” said Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

“Miguel Díaz-Canel is just a figurehead, and figureheads whose patrons die soon find themselves in exile or hanging from the gallows,” Rubin added.

Rubin warned that a prolonged power vacuum could invite outside interference from adversaries.

“Russians, Chinese, or even their Nicaraguans proxies” could step in, he cautioned.

He argued that Secretary of State Marco Rubio should begin laying the groundwork for a constitutional process.

“What [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio should be doing now is setting up the parameters of a constitutional convention so Cubans have some degree of insight into their future,” Rubin said.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that the administration has already been meeting with Cuban exile groups while assessing which figures inside the regime might assist in a transition toward a pro-American government.

“The department regularly meets with civil society types. As is typical in routine meetings such as these, no commitments were made,” a senior State Department official said.

Unlike Venezuela, Cuba has no legal opposition party or recognized opposition leader, a reality that could complicate any democratic transition.

“There are more political prisoners in Cuba than in Venezuela, and Venezuela is four times bigger,” Arcos said. “So there is an active political opposition in Cuba, but it is completely repressed by the government.

“The opposition exists, but it cannot grow into what the Venezuelan opposition did, because this is a police state … It’s a different kind of animal.”

Rubin, who previously served at the Pentagon, said he believes the administration, including the CIA, is actively exploring potential partners within Cuba.

“When a country’s economy collapses and its ideology is discredited, people will do anything for money,” he said. “I’m sure the CIA’s biggest problem is actually handling all the potential sources rather than finding one.”

If the regime were to collapse, analysts say Washington might seek to work with Cuba’s powerful military to enforce change.

Arcos estimates the armed forces control roughly $20 billion through their dominance of the island’s most lucrative industries, including tourism, fuel distribution, money transfers, and currency exchange.

The Trump administration could attempt to build a relationship with Cuba’s military akin to its ties with Venezuela’s former Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, though Arcos warned that the generals would resist reforms that undermine their dominance.

“They will try to dupe the United States government,” he said. “They will probably enter in some sort of negotiation to gain time … to see if Trump goes away and someone else comes that is different.

“They’re masters at doing this. They did it with Clinton, they did it with Obama, and they will do it to Trump.”

“And in the meantime, you know, we have to send Cuba humanitarian assistance — because the poor Cubans are starving and dying of diseases that didn’t exist 50 years ago — and they remain in power,” he continued.

“So it could be a trick, and they will try to negotiate that way … to fool the United States into a very long-term negotiation where they don’t give much and they get enough to survive.

“If the pressure is not applied,” Arcos said, “then we might have another extended period of uncertainty.”

Both Gimenez and Diaz-Balart acknowledged that even if change comes, Cuba’s path to democracy will be difficult and protracted, but they said it is a goal worth pursuing.

“It will not be easy,” Gimenez said. “Will it be long? Yeah, I could see it taking some time, but it’s something that we must, must attain, something that we have to reach.

“It took like, what, seven years for America to gain its independence from Great Britain? So things like that don’t happen overnight. But, you know, I’m sure glad we stuck it out, because that’s how we created the greatest country on Earth, and we can create an unbelievably great country in Cuba.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich said Israel has no choice but to confront the Iranian regime, which he described as a direct danger to the country’s survival, in an interview with Arutz Sheva.

“Our position is clear,” Smotrich said. “The Iranian regime is a regime of terror. It openly declares its desire to destroy the State of Israel and backs those words with actions, producing conventional and non-conventional weapons and constructing a ring of fire around us. This is not something we can live with. Either it destroys us, or we destroy it.”

Turning to Israel’s ties with Washington, Smotrich said that while disagreements may exist about the best approach to Iran, cooperation remains unusually close. “I believe the relationship between the current U.S. administration, the State of Israel, and the current prime minister is closer than I have ever seen,” he said. “I hope we will also reach an understanding regarding Iran.”

Smotrich again rejected the idea of negotiating with Tehran, warning against any diplomatic compromise. “We believe there should be no agreement at all, and certainly not a bad one,” he said. “If there is an agreement, it must include a demand that Iran halt the production of ballistic missiles that threaten Israel and stop financing terrorism and its proxy forces throughout the region.”

Asked whether Israel is prepared to take military action against Iran, the finance minister refused to go into specifics. “Do not expect me to discuss this in the media,” he said. “All options are always on the table.”

The interview also touched on friction with charedi parties over the national budget, with Smotrich cautioning against politicizing fiscal decisions. “Using the budget as a weapon is irresponsible,” he said.

He stressed that he intends to continue pursuing his economic program, including lowering taxes, dismantling monopolies, boosting competition in banking, and reducing borrowing costs. “I expect the charedi parties to act responsibly toward the State of Israel,” Smotrich said.

In closing, Smotrich addressed the disparity between his party’s influence in government and its showing in opinion polls. Despite playing a central role in wartime decision-making, economic policy, and settlement development, the Religious Zionist Party has struggled to convert that impact into electoral strength, with recent surveys suggesting it may fall short of entering the next Knesset. Citing the late minister Uri Orbach, Smotrich said, “We succeeded too much.”

He argued that the national-religious community is raised to integrate fully into Israeli society, which can make some voters uneasy about supporting a party seen as serving a single sector. Rejecting that label, he said his aim is to present the principles of “the people of Israel, the Land of Israel, and the Torah of Israel” as the foundation of the country’s mainstream identity.

{Matzav.com}

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid asserted on Monday, at the opening of the Yesh Atid faction meeting, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu manipulated an internal security document originating from the Prime Minister’s Office.

According to Lapid, the document was meant to be an official summary drafted following a security evaluation convened at the Prime Minister’s Office six days before the October 7 massacre. He said that Ronen Bar, who was then serving as head of the ISA, cautioned during that discussion about several possible escalation scenarios in the Gaza Strip. Lapid added that at the same session, then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi reportedly urged the preparation of an operational plan for Gaza, citing grave and urgent intelligence assessments indicating that Hamas was preparing for combat.

Lapid contended that these alerts were either excluded or misrepresented in the version of the document later made public by the Prime Minister’s Office. He characterized the released summary as a tendentious and selective rendering of the official minutes, arguing that the matter is not merely one of public misrepresentation but of potentially unlawful conduct, since tampering with such records could violate the Official Secrets Law.

He also said he had reached out to the security oversight officials for the defense establishment, as well as to the legal advisers of both the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Defense, seeking explanations. Based on the responses received, Lapid stated, it would fall to the ISA and the Israel Police to decide whether a criminal probe should be opened and which individuals, if any, could be involved.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF issued an apology Monday night following an incident in which a yungerman who was taken into custody was prevented from putting on tefillin for many hours, even after his family brought them to him.

According to the IDF spokesperson, the incident began after the young man was arrested by Israeli police on Motzoei Shabbos and subsequently handed over to the military police. He remained in custody overnight and into the late morning hours. When he arrived at a military detention facility in the afternoon, he requested to put on tefillin and was informed that he would be able to do so upon reaching the detention platoon. However, due to delays in the intake process, he was ultimately unable to fulfill the mitzvah.

“The detainee was arrested on Motzei Shabbos by the Israeli police and transferred to the military police’s custody. The detainee remained in detention overnight until late morning. During his detention, when he arrived at the military prison in the afternoon, he asked the reception team to wear tefillin, and he was told he would be given the opportunity when he arrived at the detention platoon. However, due to an unexpected delay in his processing, and according to the report given afterwards, the detainee was ultimately unable to wear tefillin,” the IDF spokesperson stated.

The army emphasized that the incident was highly unusual and does not reflect standard procedure. “This is an extremely rare case, which is not in line with the IDF’s regulations. The IDF regrets the distress caused, and the procedures at the prison have been clarified for immediate implementation. The matter will be thoroughly investigated by the commanders to prevent similar incidents in the future. The detainee is currently in a facility where all the necessary equipment is provided according to his way of life,” the statement added.

The detainee was identified as Avraham Ben Dayan, 23, a talmid of Maor HaTalmud Yeshiva who was married just two months ago. He was stopped at a police checkpoint in southern Israel, where it was discovered that he was listed as a draft dodger. He was then transferred to the custody of the military police.

Family members who were summoned to the scene said they hurried to bring his tefillin, but were repeatedly denied permission to allow him to put them on. According to them, he was only permitted to wear tefillin at approximately 5 p.m. “This is a severe religious violation and the prevention of a basic mitzvah,” the family claims.

They further allege that authorities deliberately misled them throughout the night. According to the family, Ben Dayan was moved between several facilities — from Netivot to Ofakim and then to Sde Teyman — while they were given inaccurate information at each stage regarding his whereabouts. As a result, they say, they were unable to see him or provide him with basic personal necessities.

Ultimately, Ben Dayan was sentenced to ten days in a military prison.

MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, sharply condemned the conduct of the authorities. “This man was arrested for no reason, and according to his family, they didn’t allow him to wear tefillin. This is a military called the Jewish army, and they don’t let a yeshiva student wear tefillin.”

Gafni added that he intends to pursue the matter at the highest levels. “This will not go quietly. I will contact the Minister of Defense and not let this matter slide – this hatred towards everything Jewish.”

Ben Dayan’s attorney, Shlomo Hadad, has filed an appeal against the ruling in an effort to secure his immediate release.

{Matzav.com}

Rep. John Rose said Monday that he could support requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to carry identification while on duty, using the discussion to argue that Democrats apply different standards to voter ID as Congress moves toward a confrontation over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Speaking on Newsmax, Rose said Democrats have pushed for ICE officers to carry identification in the field and suggested the idea itself is not unreasonable. “Democrats want “ICE agents to have identification on them when they are in the field,” Rose said. “Novel idea. I think it’s a pretty good one, actually.

“I think that maybe it’s OK if ICE agents have identification — and maybe you should have an ID when you vote.”

In an interview on Wake Up America, the Tennessee Republican said the identification proposal is one of several Democratic conditions tied to DHS funding and could represent limited common ground, even as he faulted Democrats for pushing restrictions he says would undermine immigration enforcement.

Democrats have warned they may block continued funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless the Trump administration agrees to policy changes designed to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

Republicans, meanwhile, have cautioned that a shutdown would disrupt critical agencies and services, including DHS, FEMA, TSA, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service.

Rose accused Democrats of leveraging the funding deadline to advance what he characterized as a “sanctuary country” agenda, saying their proposals would weaken federal law enforcement and put the public at risk.

“They’re willing to harm American citizens to protect illegal aliens that are committing crimes in our country,” Rose said, adding that Democrats appear ready to shut down essential agencies to extract concessions.

He also pushed back on claims that ICE activity should be curtailed, arguing that lawmakers ought to stand behind officers enforcing federal statutes.

“My parents taught me when you see a police officer or law enforcement officer, you comply,” Rose said. “We shouldn’t be interfering with our federal law enforcement agents’ duty to enforce the laws of this country.”

Rose said he initially intended to vote against last week’s spending package because it did not include the SAVE Act, a Republican-backed election integrity proposal, but ultimately supported the bill.

“I think the bill that we initially passed was right on target,” Rose said. “Frankly, I think it was probably a mistake to separate that issue and give Democrats a chance to negotiate on this further.”

While signaling some openness on the narrow question of ICE identification, Rose said Democrats’ broader list of demands shows they have failed to absorb voter dissatisfaction with border policies during the Biden administration.

“They’ve decided these criminal illegal aliens are more important than American citizens and American citizens’ safety,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Iran and Oman received advance notice that US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner would be traveling to the USS Abraham Lincoln over Shabbos, according to reports.

CNN said Sunday that both Tehran and Muscat were informed beforehand, a step widely viewed as a deliberate signal that the United States retains the option of military action should Iran refuse to reach an agreement limiting its nuclear activities.

Channel 12 likewise reported that Iranian officials were alerted ahead of the visit, underscoring the message being conveyed alongside the diplomatic track.

Witkoff and Kushner, who headed the American delegation for talks with Iran in Oman on Friday, toured the aircraft carrier at the invitation of the commander of US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper.

Washington and Tehran returned to the negotiating table after earlier nuclear discussions were halted following Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June 2025, a conflict that concluded with a US strike on multiple Iranian nuclear facilities.

Western governments believe Iran is pursuing the capability to build a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran denies. Still, Iran has enriched uranium to levels with no civilian use, restricted access for international inspectors, and significantly expanded its ballistic missile program. Before the June fighting, Israel said Iran had recently taken concrete steps toward weaponization.

Despite the renewed talks, the possibility of conflict continues to loom. Trump described the discussions as “very good,” while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on social media that they “constitute a step forward.” Iran, however, has consistently rejected Washington’s central demand that it halt uranium enrichment altogether.

After the first round of negotiations in Oman, Trump signed an executive order calling for the “imposition of tariffs” on countries that continue trading with Iran in defiance of US sanctions.

At the same time, the United States unveiled additional sanctions targeting a range of shipping companies and vessels as part of efforts to restrict Iran’s oil exports.

Amid the diplomatic activity, Tehran saw a stark warning displayed in public. A newly erected billboard overlooking Palestine Square threatened Tel Aviv with missile attacks, featuring a map of the city’s metropolitan area beneath Hebrew text reading, “Under raining missiles, it’s a small area!”

An English line beneath the image declared, “You start… We finish it!”

The billboard depicted the map placed on a table alongside a red button labeled “FIRE,” a walkie-talkie, and scale models of an aircraft and missiles.

Iran has previously displayed threatening imagery toward Israel in the same square, including a clock it claimed was counting down to Israel’s destruction.

During last June’s fighting, Iran launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and approximately 1,100 drones at Israel.

The renewed contacts between Washington and Tehran are taking place against the backdrop of a major US military buildup in the region, which followed Iran’s violent suppression of protests that erupted in late December over economic conditions.

Iranian authorities have said that 3,117 people were killed during the unrest, releasing on Sunday a list of 2,986 names they said consisted largely of security personnel and civilians.

International organizations and news outlets have estimated the death toll to be far higher, potentially reaching into the tens of thousands.

{Matzav.com}

In a deeply personal moment on live Israeli radio, popular singer Benny Friedman revealed that his seven-year-old son is on the autism spectrum, sharing details of the family’s private journey for the first time during a broadcast of the Motzaei Shabbos program Motzaei Shabbos Chai in Israel.

The disclosure came during what began as a routine interview with host Menachem Toker, focusing on Friedman’s latest album. While discussing song selections, Friedman unexpectedly spoke about his fourth child, who is celebrating his seventh birthday this week, and his experience living with autism.

The revelation arose while Friedman described a song he received from composer Ari Goldwag. “I have a son with autism, and he absolutely lit up from this song,” Friedman said simply. “So I told my wife — I’m not sure about the song, but our son loves it.”

Toker, taken aback by the candid admission, responded emotionally, saying, “Wow, that’s incredibly moving.”

Friedman went on to explain that his son is high-functioning, able to speak and communicate, and shared especially uplifting news about his recent progress. “It’s a huge miracle from Shomayim,” the singer said. “He’s now beginning to learn a full day in a regular school.”

The singer was careful not to take credit for the breakthrough himself, instead praising his wife’s extraordinary dedication. “My wife is a miracle worker,” Friedman said on air. “She worked with him incredibly hard.”

The heartfelt disclosure offered listeners a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs behind the scenes of one of the leading figures in Jewish music.

{Matzav.com}

A major inauguration ceremony planned by the Skverer chassidus in Beit Shemesh has been postponed amid heightened security tensions and concerns over a possible escalation involving Iran.

An official announcement confirmed that the chanukas habayis celebration for the new Skverer Beis Medrash in the Ramat Daled neighborhood of Beit Shemesh will be delayed.

The decision followed consultations with the Skverer Rebbe, who instructed his eldest son, Rav Aharon Mendel, to cancel his planned trip to Israel in light of the current regional situation.

The development came at an advanced stage of preparations for the large-scale event, which had been expected to draw significant crowds. In a message circulated to chassidim, organizers explained that the question was presented to the Rebbe due to the unpredictable security climate. The Rebbe ruled that since the event can be held at a later date without loss, it would be preferable to wait for a calmer and safer time.

In further remarks, the mosdos’ leadership said the goal is to celebrate the inauguration of the new and impressive building with full peace of mind, allowing the many participants—traveling from across Israel and from abroad—to attend safely and joyfully, without concern or fear.

The Skverer chassidus emphasized that the decision constitutes a postponement, not a cancellation. Details regarding a new date will be released in the future. For now, the community will wait for an easing of the security situation so the event can take place as originally envisioned, with proper splendor and elevated simcha.

It was also reported that another planned gathering—a special chizuk assembly for all Skverer chassidim in Israel, marking one year since a historic hachnassas Sefer Torah during which communal commitments were undertaken—has likewise been called off at this time.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli police have launched an investigation in recent days into suspected abuse at a daycare center, following a report received at the police station in Modiin Illit that raised concerns of harm to helpless minors.

According to police, the complaint pointed to serious suspicions of mistreatment of toddlers at the facility. As a result, officers opened a formal investigation to examine the allegations.

Shortly after the report was received, police arrested six caregivers employed at a daycare center in the community of Beit Aryeh, and the daycare’s director was detained for questioning.

The suspects, women in their 20s through 40s who are residents of Beit Aryeh, were taken in for interrogation. Police are expected to ask the court to extend their detention as the sensitive investigation continues.

Authorities emphasized that the probe is ongoing and that all actions are being taken to fully clarify the serious suspicions surrounding the alleged abuse of the children.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF announced that it is moving to trim excess reserve deployments after the government directed the military to limit how many reservists may be on active duty this year, while pledging that the benefits provided to those who do serve will remain intact, Times of Israel reports.

During the height of the war, roughly 300,000 reservists were mobilized. Prior to the latest budget decisions, the military had anticipated calling up about 60,000 reservists in 2026 for routine assignments. In December, however, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich agreed as part of the state budget to restrict the daily number of active reservists in 2026 to 40,000, a step they say will save billions of shekels.

According to the IDF, the reductions will focus on positions it considers nonessential, including full-time reservists assigned to bolster civil defense teams in border communities, along with certain roles at headquarters.

The military also said it will shorten the length of routine reserve duty — excluding emergency call-ups — reducing the requirement from 72 days to 55. In addition, several practices adopted after the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, will be discontinued.

At the same time, the IDF emphasized that benefits for reservists who serve extended periods will not be cut. Under the revised framework, many benefits will now be provided after 45 days of reserve duty, which the military says is meant to discourage unnecessary extensions of service beyond that point and encourage reservists to return to their civilian employment.

Extended and repeated reserve mobilizations during the war drew sharp criticism from the Finance Ministry, which argued that the approach reflected inefficiency and significant waste of funds within the military.

As part of efforts to prevent the use of surplus reservists, the IDF said units will no longer be allowed to recruit reserve soldiers through social media advertisements, a method that became common during the war. In many cases, reservists would finish an assignment in one unit and then join another to continue serving.

Under new army rules, reservist recruitment will be permitted only through an official military website, a change intended to stop reservists from moving between units without proper oversight.

The military is also ending the practice known as “hybrid service,” in which reservists fulfill their military duties while simultaneously maintaining their civilian jobs, sometimes on a week-on, week-off schedule.

Beyond financial considerations, the IDF said the week-on, week-off model has undermined unit cohesion, as some soldiers never actually serve alongside those designated as their teammates.

The overall direct cost of the war has been estimated at approximately NIS 220 billion ($67 billion), with roughly NIS 50–70 billion of that total spent on mobilizing hundreds of thousands of reservists for lengthy periods.

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Prison Service has started moving forward with operational planning tied to proposed legislation that would allow the death penalty for terrorists, following the bill’s approval in its first Knesset reading.

A report by Channel 13 News said the preparations focus on building a structured logistical and administrative system, including the creation of a secure, secluded compound designated specifically for executions. Within the prison system, the planned site has reportedly been nicknamed the “Israeli Green Mile,” echoing the well-known American film centered on death row inmates.

According to the report, the facility would be designed for executions by hanging, with the process carried out at the same moment by three prison officers.

Only officers who volunteer would be eligible to take part, and those selected would receive dedicated training to prepare them for the emotional and professional complexities involved.

Channel 13 further reported that executions would take place within 90 days of a final court decision. At the outset, the measure would be applied to Hamas Nukhba force terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre, with the scope later expanded to include terrorists convicted of especially grave attacks in Judea and Samaria.

As part of the groundwork, the Israel Prison Service is also expected to send a delegation to an East Asian country to examine how the death penalty is administered there, focusing on the legal framework, operational procedures, and ethical considerations in systems where capital punishment is carried out under formal regulation.

{Matzav.com}

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Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch personally called the wife of yungerman Rav Avraham Ben Dayan late Sunday night to offer chizuk and encouragement after her husband was taken into military custody, just four months after the couple’s wedding.

According to the report, the Rosh Yeshiva spoke with the young woman and sought to calm her fears following her husband’s transfer to the military police.

During the conversation, Rav Hirsch offered a clear reassurance regarding the length of the detention. “With Hashem’s help, they will do the maximum that can be done. With Hashem’s help, he will be released in a few days,” the Rosh Yeshiva told her.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Reb Avraham, a talmid of Yeshivas Me’or HaTalmud, had been sentenced to ten days of detention in a military prison.

The incident that led to the arrest occurred over the past Shabbos, when Reb Avraham was visiting the community of Tifrach. While there, he was stopped by a traffic officer on suspicion of a traffic violation. During the check, the officer determined that Reb Avraham had been classified as a “deserter” after failing to report to the draft office. He was taken to a local police station and subsequently transferred to the military police.

In the wake of the arrest, the case has sparked strong reactions within the chareidi community. Separate claims by the family alleged that the army prevented the detained yungerman from putting on tefillin on Sunday, an allegation that prompted the IDF to say it is examining the details of the complaint.

Public anger over the arrest spilled into the streets on Sunday night, when hundreds of protesters blocked the entrance to the police station and Route 241 at the entrance to the city of Ofakim. Police forces dispatched to the scene arrested three demonstrators and used crowd-control measures to disperse the protest, including stun grenades.

{Matzav.com}

Anger has swept through the chareidi public following revelations surrounding the arrest of a 23-year-old yungerman who was transferred to military police custody on Motzaei Shabbos, with his family alleging severe mistreatment that included preventing him from putting on tefillin and misleading them about his whereabouts. Senior Knesset member Moshe Gafni warned that “this will not pass quietly.”

The case, detailed extensively in the Israeli daily Yated, has raised serious accusations of callous and harmful conduct by law enforcement authorities toward the detainee and his family.

The incident began when Reb Avraham Ben Dayan, a talmid of Yeshivas Me’or HaTalmud who married just months ago, was stopped for a routine check by police in southern Israel. After authorities determined that he was listed by the army as a deserter, he was transferred to the military police. According to family accounts, what began as a standard arrest quickly escalated into a prolonged ordeal. Relatives who rushed to the scene brought his tefillin with them, but say officials categorically refused to allow him to put them on.

Beyond the religious violation, the report describes what the family says was deliberate deception. According to their account, Avraham was moved repeatedly throughout the night from one station to another—first from Netivot to Ofakim, and then to Sde Teiman—while each time the family was given incorrect information about his location. This, they say, prevented them from seeing him or delivering basic personal items.

Ultimately, Ben Dayan was tried in an expedited proceeding and sentenced to ten days of detention in a military prison. The episode sparked sharp reactions within the political system. Knesset member Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, condemned the incident in unusually strong terms.

“This avreich was arrested for no wrongdoing, and according to the family he was not allowed to put on tefillin,” Gafni said. “This is an army that calls itself a Jewish army, and they prevent a ben yeshiva from putting on tefillin.” He added, “This will not pass quietly. I will turn to the defense minister, and I will not let this hatred toward anything connected to Judaism pass as routine.”

Avraham’s attorney, Shlomo Hadad, has filed an appeal against the sentence in an effort to secure his prompt release, as scrutiny over the conduct of the authorities continues to intensify.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] King Charles III has sent a personal letter to Rav Moshe Sternbuch, raavad of the Badatz of the Eidah HaChareidis, extending his warm wishes on the occasion of the Rav’s 100th birthday.

The letter was sent in keeping with a long-standing royal tradition, initiated during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, under which individuals in the United Kingdom and certain Commonwealth countries who reach the age of 100 are eligible to receive an official message of congratulations from the reigning monarch. Rav Sternbuch, who was born in London in 1926, qualifies for the honor by virtue of his British birth.

The gesture has drawn attention across Torah circles, highlighting the remarkable life and enduring influence of one of the senior gedolei Torah of our generation, whose century of life has been devoted entirely to limud haTorah, harbotzas Torah, and psak halachah.

Rav Sternbuch was born in London on February 15, 1926, one of nine children. His father,  Reb Osher Sternbuch, was known for opening his home to rabbanim who visited London on behalf of their yeshivos. As a young boy, Rav Sternbuch’s brilliance was already evident. Rav Elchonon Wasserman, after learning with him, famously described him as a davar sheyeish bo mamash, while Rav Yechezkel Abramsky regularly tested him in learning and foretold that he would one day become a great moreh hora’ah. Before long, he became known as the “Londoner Illui.”

During the years of the Blitz in World War II, the family fled London, and Rav Sternbuch spent time sharing a room with Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, later the author of Michtav M’Eliyahu, who predicted that the young Moshe would grow into one of the gedolei hador. In a moment of hidden hashgachah pratis, Rav Sternbuch narrowly avoided boarding a ship that later sank with hundreds of children aboard, after guidance from Rav Elya Lopian led his mother to keep him home.

He learned for a decade in Yeshivas Toras Emes in Stamford Hill under Rav Moshe Schneider, alongside future Torah leaders and prominent figures, developing into one of the outstanding bnei aliyah of his generation.

After the war, Rav Sternbuch came to Eretz Yisroel to immerse himself further in Torah and to be close to the great gedolim of the era. He learned in Yeshivas Chevron and forged close relationships with the Brisker Rov, the Chazon Ish, and the Chebiner Rav, Rav Dov Berish Weidenfeld. Following his marriage in 1954, he served as rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Hamasmidim and later devoted himself to strengthening Torah in a variety of settings, including the establishment of Torah institutions and chesed frameworks for immigrant communities.

For many years, Rav Sternbuch has resided in the Har Nof neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where he serves as the rav of the Gra Shul, named for the Vilna Gaon, of whom he is a direct descendant. Since 2003, he has served as raavad of the Eidah HaChareidis.

The letter from King Charles III arrives as Rav Sternbuch continues, even at the age of 100, to learn, write, and guide Klal Yisroel. His extensive sefarim—including Teshuvos VeHanhagos, Moadim Uzmanim, Ta’am VeDaas Al HaTorah, and many others in both Hebrew and English—are studied throughout the yeshivah world and remain foundational works in contemporary halachic discourse.

WATCH RAV SHTERNBUCH RECEIVE THE LETTER FROM THE KING:

{Matzav.com}

After days of punishing cold across New York, forecasters say temperatures are expected to slowly climb as the new week gets underway, offering relief following one of the harshest cold spells of the winter.

The recent freeze brought conditions described as “colder than parts of Antarctica,” with thermometers plunging to just three degrees on Sunday. Wind chills made it feel even more severe, dropping perceived temperatures to 14 degrees below zero, according to a report by the New York Post.

The Weather Channel warned that the Northeast was in the grip of an intense cold wave, stating:
“Bitterly cold temperatures are here for the Northeast, including New York City and Boston. Cold alerts blanket most of the region…where wind chills up to 15 degrees below zero are possible for millions. Single-digit high temperatures are possible for interior portions of the Northeast, and frostbite is a major concern. These temperatures are expected to be the coldest this winter season for the region.”

Despite the brutal conditions, meteorologists say a gradual shift is expected, with milder air moving into the New York City area as the week progresses.

City officials, meanwhile, are grappling with the human toll of the cold. Zohran Mamdani said Monday that 16 people were found dead outdoors during the extreme weather, according to Breitbart News. He reiterated that a “Code Blue” had been declared on January 19, urging residents to seek shelter indoors.

Addressing the deaths, Mamdani said, “Each of these lives lost is a tragedy. My heart was with the families of those mourning their loved ones,” and added that city agencies were continuing efforts to bring vulnerable individuals into warming centers.

Throughout January, tens of thousands of residents reported being without heat or hot water, with many placing responsibility on the mayor, Breitbart News reported.

Mamdani has also reportedly been summoned to appear before the City Council to answer questions about how the city handled the emergency. The outlet noted that “lawmakers are asking if the socialist mayor has done enough to protect tenants as heat complaints reach record highs.”

As the cold lingered, video footage captured frozen waterways in parts of the city, underscoring the severity of the conditions.

The New York Post cited a National Weather Service warning that read: “Rare Extreme Cold Warnings have been issued for more than 43 million people, including major metro areas such as New York and Philadelphia, through Sunday evening by the National Weather Service.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Rep. Mike Lawler said Sunday that removing more than 25 million undocumented immigrants from the United States is not a practical option, arguing instead for immigration reforms that combine border enforcement with a structured legal framework for those already living in the country.

Appearing on This Week, Lawler was questioned by host Jon Karl about an opinion piece he recently authored addressing immigration policy. Karl said, “You had an interesting op ed in the New York Times, about immigration, saying that, you know, not only do we need security on the border, we need, and reforms to, to to the way ICE is operating. We need a legal pathway forward for the people who are here illegally. Tell me why this is important and if you’ve gotten any traction on this.”

Lawler responded by pointing to decades of inaction on immigration and what he described as widespread public frustration. “Look, this is an issue that I’ve been focused on for years. You know, for 40 years, we have not solved our immigration crisis. The American people were rightly outraged by what happened under the Biden administration, where you had over 10.5 million migrants cross our border, most of them illegally. You know, porous Southern border needed to be shut down. President Trump did that. The fact is, we have had nine straight months of net-zero illegal border crossings. You’ve had 675,000 people deported, 1.9 million people. Self-deport. Many of those folks are criminal aliens or people who have been involved in the criminal justice system. The American people overwhelmingly support that. But what they do believe, if you’ve been in this country, right or wrong, for five, ten, 15, 20 years, your children and your grandchildren are American citizens. People don’t want to see families broken apart. And so there’s got to be a legal path forward, not a path to citizenship, but a legal path forward for people to come out of the shadows so that they can work legally, that they can pay their taxes, pay any back taxes owed, pay a fine, not collect government benefits, and not commit a crime.”

He concluded by tying his position to pending legislation and reiterating that large-scale removals are not feasible. “That is the basis of the Dignity Act, so that we can actually start to solve a crisis that has been, in effect, for 40 years. We have over 25 million people in this country who are undocumented. You’re not rounding them all up and kicking them out. It’s not realistic.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Sen. Adam Schiff said Sunday that President Donald Trump is laying the groundwork to interfere with upcoming elections, asserting that the president is openly signaling an intention to manipulate or overturn the democratic process.

Speaking on This Week, Schiff responded to questions from host Jon Karl, who pressed him on what Trump meant by statements suggesting federal control over elections and Republican involvement in voting procedures. Karl asked, “What does he mean? What do you think he means when he says nationalize the elections? Or specifically that Republicans should take control of the voting?”

Schiff replied, “I think he fully intends to try to subvert the elections. He will do everything he can to suppress the vote. And if he loses the vote, and I think the Republican does now expect they’ll get a real drubbing in the midterms. He’s prepared to try to take some kind of action to overturn the result, and we really shouldn’t question that. We saw him try to the point of insurrection to overturn the 2020 election. We see him now taking these extraordinary steps with an election now five years ago. He’s basically telling us he intends to interfere in this coming upcoming election. He hasn’t brought prices down. There’s chaos and killing in American streets by ICE agents. The public has turned against him in every election we’ve had since his election.”

Continuing his remarks, Schiff argued that Trump’s political standing has steadily eroded and that the president is unwilling to accept another defeat at the ballot box. “The voters have swung wildly against him. And as you know, he said at that prayer breakfast, his ego cannot stand another loss. So we have to prepare for the worst. We have to prepare in every way we can. And frankly, the best preparation we have is not the Congress, because Republican senators, for the most part, are not going to stand up to him. The courts are useful at the lower levels, but at the Supreme Court, they have left him unrestrained. The best protection we have is to mobilize the largest voter turnout in U.S. history to so overwhelm the vote and get the kind of margins we saw in Texas in that special election so that there’s no way they can cheat.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

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