Matzav

The AirTrain terminal serving JFK Airport has increasingly become a refuge for homeless individuals, with travelers reporting aggressive panhandling, commandeered restrooms, and little visible intervention from Port Authority police, according to a report by The New York Post.

As winter temperatures drop and city shelters remain overcrowded or unstable, dozens of homeless people have taken up residence inside the heavily trafficked station, transforming a key transportation link into an uncomfortable — and at times intimidating — environment for passengers.

“I’ve been through this place a bunch of times in the last three years,” said a traveler identified only as Michael, who was returning Monday from a family trip to Florida with his fiancée. “This morning was definitely the worst.

“The second we came in the station, there was guys yelling, ‘Can you buy me something?’ All the cops did nothing while that guy followed us, asking us for money. The entire time, wouldn’t leave us alone. I told him I had no cash and he was telling me to take something out and pointing to ATMs.”

Multiple commuters said access to public restrooms has effectively disappeared, as homeless individuals occupy stalls for extended periods. Others described seeing people sleeping on the floor while travelers wheeled luggage through the terminal.

“Yes, it’s a problem,” said Arata, 69, who works at a newsstand inside the station. “There are four of five homeless outside here every day. They confront customers. No, the police do not make them move.”

The AirTrain station is a critical transit hub, connecting JFK’s airport terminals with the Long Island Rail Road and New York City’s subway system, making the situation particularly disruptive for both residents and visitors.

Although freezing weather has recently pushed more homeless individuals indoors, the terminal was already crowded earlier this month even on milder days, including when temperatures hovered around 50 degrees, according to the Daily Mail.

“I think the city should definitely do something,” Stony Brook University student Aishik Deb told the outlet.

One homeless man at the terminal, however, argued that the city’s shelter system is to blame. Griffin, 67, said he avoids shelters because of theft and unsafe conditions.

“The shelter is no good,” he said while standing near the Sutphin Boulevard entrance on Monday. “They pick you clean. You can’t even let your shoes dry without somebody taking them. Then you walk around in socks. Now you’re in trouble.

“This is all right,” he said of the terminal. “Don’t act the fool and it works out. They don’t bother anybody here. Getting too crowded now, though. Crazies up there. All night with the arguing and screaming, fighting in the bathroom.”

The disorder at the AirTrain station reflects the broader scope of New York City’s homelessness emergency.

According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, New York State had more than 158,000 people experiencing homelessness in 2024, a 53% increase from the year before, accounting for roughly one-fifth of the nation’s unhoused population.

HUD attributed the surge to factors including pandemic-related eviction backlogs, a shortage of affordable housing, rising rents, and the ongoing migrant crisis, noting that the state’s homelessness rate reached 81 people per 10,000 residents.

Within New York City alone, homelessness climbed to 140,134 people last year, up from 88,025 in 2023, Newsday reported, citing HUD figures. The Coalition for the Homeless said more than 130,000 people stayed in city shelters in October, with thousands more believed to be living on the streets.

Critics argue that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s new approach has worsened the problem.

Before taking office, the city’s newly elected Democratic socialist mayor said he would end the practice of clearing homeless encampments across the five boroughs. After his inauguration, he also announced plans to install 30 public toilets for the homeless.

An MTA employee working at the AirTrain terminal summed up the situation bluntly, saying, “This is what I’m used to.”

In response, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said it coordinates with the MTA and other agencies to preserve safety and order at JFK and surrounding facilities, while acknowledging that it is not “immune from the conditions facing the unhoused throughout the region,” especially during winter months.

“Port Authority Police Department personnel are assigned to the JFK AirTrain portion of the station at Jamaica 24/7 and seek to enforce Port Authority rules and applicable laws, which do not permit use of the station for non-transportation purposes,” the agency said.

“PAPD also conducts regular outreach in conjunction with service providers, including Urban Pathways, to offer assistance and connect unhoused individuals with shelter, social services, and medical or mental health care as appropriate.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday pressed Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to dismantle a US-run multinational coordination center that plays a central role in advancing US President Donald Trump’s proposal for ending the fighting in Gaza.

The facility, known as the Civil Military Coordination Centre (CMCC), was set up by Washington last October. It brings together civilian and military officials from dozens of countries to work alongside Israeli and American counterparts on plans for Gaza after the war.

Smotrich, who leads the Religious Zionism party, said the base in Kiryat Gat should be shut down, arguing that its continued operation harms Israel’s interests. In remarks released by his office, he said closing the site would allow Israel to remove foreign representatives from countries he described as hostile and as acting against Israeli security, naming Egypt and the United Kingdom in particular. He did not elaborate on why Britain was singled out.

No immediate responses were issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the US State Department, or US Central Command. The foreign ministries of Egypt and the United Kingdom also declined to comment.

In December, US Central Command said that roughly 60 countries and international organizations had personnel assigned to the CMCC. Since a ceasefire took effect in early October 2025, the center has also coordinated the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The CMCC was launched following Trump’s announcement of a 20-point framework for ending the war. Among the nations participating are Germany, France, and Canada.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the establishment of the new Jewish settlement of Yatziv in the West Bank, Smotrich said Israel owes Trump gratitude for his role in securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and other terror groups in two separate agreements. Nevertheless, he said the broader Gaza plan itself runs counter to Israel’s interests and should be abandoned.

Instead, Smotrich called for issuing Hamas a brief ultimatum to disarm and leave Gaza. If that demand is rejected, he said, Israel should launch a full-scale military campaign to eradicate the group.

“Gaza is ours, and its future will shape our own more than anyone else’s,” Smotrich said, adding that Israel must assume direct responsibility for the territory and impose military rule over its roughly 2.3 million residents.

Much of his speech revisited his long-standing opposition to Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza. He described that disengagement as a grave error and said that while the government has already reversed the evacuation of several northern West Bank settlements, the removal of Jewish communities from Gush Katif remains an uncorrected wrong.

Gush Katif was a bloc of 17 Jewish communities inside the Gaza Strip, home to some 8,600 residents before Israel evacuated the area in August 2005.

Smotrich cited the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel as evidence that Israel must reestablish a permanent presence along Gaza’s coast. He argued that Israel has paid too high a price in blood over the past two years to allow foreign-backed actors to shape Gaza’s future.

He also lashed out at Turkey and Qatar, which back Hamas and have been included by the United States in the executive committee of the Board of Peace tasked with overseeing postwar Gaza. “There is no difference between them,” he said, equating Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar with the terror group.

Smotrich framed the issue in stark terms, saying Israel faces a binary choice: full Israeli control of Gaza, the destruction of Hamas, sustained counterterrorism, encouragement of enemy emigration, and renewed Jewish settlement — or the loss of the gains achieved in the war and the inevitability of another round of violence.

Under Trump’s Gaza plan, Hamas members who renounce violence and surrender their weapons would be eligible for amnesty, while those wishing to leave Gaza would be offered safe passage to other countries.

The White House announced last week that the plan has entered its second phase, focusing on Gaza’s demilitarization and large-scale reconstruction.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu marked the one-year anniversary of US President Donald Trump’s second term on Monday, publicly lauding the American leader and underscoring the close coordination between Israel and Washington as efforts continue to shape postwar plans for Gaza.

In a message shared on social media, Netanyahu offered warm congratulations, writing, “Congratulations to President Donald Trump and the United States of America for an incredible first year of a second term – A year like no other.”

Since Trump returned to office on January 20, 2025, the two leaders have maintained frequent contact, holding five face-to-face meetings along with multiple phone conversations to discuss regional and strategic matters.

Their most recent in-person meeting took place on December 29, 2025, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where discussions centered on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire framework, Iran, and other security-related concerns.

Last Friday, the White House revealed new details about Trump’s Gaza initiative, announcing that the “Board of Peace,” chaired by the president, would “play an essential role in fulfilling” 20 components of his proposal aimed at permanently ending the war in Gaza and advancing reconstruction efforts.

According to the announcement, the board’s mandate includes “providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development.”

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu addressed the Knesset, where he spoke about developments in Gaza and reports indicating movement toward the next stage of negotiations with Hamas.

Clarifying Israel’s position, Netanyahu declared, “Phase two means one simple thing: Hamas will be disarmed, and Gaza will be demilitarized, either through the easy way or the hard way.”

He also stressed that Israel would categorically oppose any foreign military presence from certain regional actors, stating, “Turkish and Qatari soldiers will not be in the Strip.”

{Matzav.com}

A formal signing event for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace was scheduled to take place Thursday alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, according to an invitation that circulated publicly.

Israeli journalist Barak Ravid shared what was described as a White House notice inviting “the chief of state or head of government” to participate in signing the “Board of Peace Charter” at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

President Isaac Herzog was expected to be present at the Davos gathering, while Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu did not plan to attend. Netanyahu had earlier confirmed that he had received an invitation to join the new body.

Details about the composition of the Board of Peace remained unsettled, with some international leaders signaling their intention to participate and others voicing doubts or saying they required additional time to consider involvement. The United Nations also raised concerns, suggesting that the initiative could challenge or erode the UN’s existing mandate.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu declared Monday that neither Turkey nor Qatar will have a military presence or exercise real authority in Gaza after the war, even as the United States moves forward with a framework that includes officials from both countries in overseeing the territory’s postwar administration.

Speaking before the Knesset, Netanyahu acknowledged that the issue has been a point of friction between Jerusalem and Washington, describing it as a “certain argument” with the United States. He insisted, however, that Israel’s core security interests would not be compromised.

Addressing lawmakers from the Knesset podium, Netanyahu said that despite the White House’s announcement that senior Turkish and Qatari representatives would sit on the Gaza Executive Board — a body tasked with supervising postwar governance in the Strip — the two countries would wield no meaningful power. According to the prime minister, they would have “no authority and no influence” in the mechanisms being set up by President Donald Trump’s administration.

In recent weeks, before Washington publicly unveiled the board, Netanyahu’s office had repeatedly stressed that Israel would block any Turkish or Qatari foothold in Gaza once the fighting ends. After the US announcement, the prime minister shifted his emphasis, drawing a firm distinction between political involvement and boots on the ground.

“Turkish soldiers and Qatari soldiers will not be in the Strip,” Netanyahu told the plenum.

While Ankara has expressed interest in contributing troops to a multinational force envisioned to oversee security in Gaza, Qatar has not pursued such a role. Sources familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel that Doha’s military is not considered suitable for such a mission, and the idea was never seriously explored.

Netanyahu’s remarks came during a so-called “40-signatures debate,” a monthly parliamentary procedure that allows lawmakers to compel the prime minister to appear and respond to criticism if enough MKs sign a petition. This month’s session was initiated by Ra’am chairman Mansour Abbas, who sought to grill Netanyahu over spiraling crime and violence in Arab Israeli communities.

As is often the case, the debate quickly expanded far beyond its original topic. With the government racing to pass the 2026 state budget and elections looming later this year, both coalition and opposition figures used the forum to trade sharp attacks on a wide range of national issues.

In his address, Netanyahu also reiterated that Hamas would be stripped of its weapons under the next phase of the Gaza framework, and he issued a stern warning to Iran. He rejected allegations that he has concealed information about the failures surrounding the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack, saying he has “nothing to hide.” He also took aim at opposition leaders, particularly Yair Lapid.

Lapid, for his part, accused Netanyahu of botching the Gaza war, bending to extremist partners in his coalition, and weakening the IDF. He charged that Israel has become increasingly isolated on the international stage and that public trust in the prime minister has eroded. Avigdor Liberman, head of Yisrael Beytenu, went further, asking whether Netanyahu had “forgotten what it means to be a Zionist.”

Netanyahu also addressed reports that he had not been fully briefed on the decision to include Turkey and Qatar on the Gaza Executive Board. Despite that, he said Israel would not hesitate to confront Washington when vital interests are at stake.

“When it comes to Israel’s essential interests, we can argue, we can sharpen our positions, and we can also reach understandings,” he said, adding that disagreements do not undermine relations with Trump, whom he described as Israel’s strongest ally in the White House.

On Gaza, Netanyahu reiterated that Hamas’s disarmament remains non-negotiable. He also pledged to bring back the body of the last fallen hostage still held by Hamas, police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili.

“Phase two is very clear: Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized,” Netanyahu said. “These objectives will be achieved — either the easy way or the hard way.”

{Matzav.com}

In the immediate aftermath of the evacuation of dozens of infants from a daycare center in Yerushalayim—and the confirmation that two of them had died—sharp criticism of the judicial system emerged from within the chareidi community, with senior figures arguing that recent policies created the conditions that led to the disaster.

Moshe Arbel of Shas tied the incident at the unlicensed, so-called “pirate” daycare to court rulings that resulted in the removal of state daycare subsidies for families of married yeshiva students who are not registered for military service. Arbel said the policy had forced families out of regulated frameworks and into unsafe alternatives.

Addressing the issue directly, Arbel stated: “In the State of Israel, the children of illegal infiltrators are entitled to daycare centers and preschools. In the name of the battle against the haredi public, the children of yeshiva students are expelled from supervised daycare centers. The blood of innocent infants, who never tasted sin, cries out from the ground. We must all stop the persecution – children’s lives must be kept outside of any political struggle.”

Chareidi journalist and commentator Yisrael Cohen echoed that criticism, placing responsibility squarely on legal authorities. He wrote: “The blood is on their hands! Just a reminder that the Attorney General and the judicial system pushed an entire haredi public into a corner, canceled daycare subsidies for haredi toddlers, and parents were economically forced to move them to private daycare centers. Today’s severe incident is already the painful and tragic result.”

Earlier on Monday, two four-month-old infants were pronounced dead at Hadassah Mount Scopus and Shaare Zedek Medical Center after being rushed there unconscious from the daycare facility. Paramedics from Magen David Adom carried out extended resuscitation attempts, but were ultimately unable to save the infants.

A total of 53 infants were removed from the daycare. The remaining children were taken to hospitals for evaluation and were later described as being in mild condition. As the investigation progressed, three caregivers and assistants were taken into custody for questioning after authorities determined that the daycare had been operating without the required license.

In response to the events, the National Council for the Welfare of the Child said it was in “deep shock” and called for immediate scrutiny, declaring: “The police and the Ministry of Education must immediately examine not only severe negligence, but also the issue of the preschool’s operating license.”

The council further warned that regulatory failures place vulnerable children at risk, adding that “swift and comprehensive action is needed to ensure that frameworks which do not meet legal licensing requirements, standards, and supervision are not allowed to operate, and that they do not endanger the lives of those who cannot even warn of immediate, life-threatening dangers.”

{Matzav.com}

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For those who crave serious Torah, total immersion, and an atmosphere charged with intensity and purpose, the announcement of the Agudah 5786 Yarchei Kallah in Yerushalayim lands like a jolt of electricity. This winter, Agudath Israel of America will once again bring together lomdei Torah from around the world for five unforgettable days of learning in Yerushalayim, from Sunday, February 15 through Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The Yarchei Kallah is a full-throttle ascent into a single sugya, treated with focus, clarity, and discipline, from the first seder to the last. In the span of one week, participants work toward real mastery, guided by a carefully structured program that pairs high-level shiurim with serious hachanah and in-depth preparation.

At the center of the week are shiurim from Gedolei Yisroel, whose presence sets the tone and elevates the entire experience.

The atmosphere is unmistakable. Hundreds of bnei Torah learning shoulder to shoulder. The hum of chavrusos locked in debate. Tables filled from early morning until late at night. A sense that every moment matters, that this is time reclaimed and used properly.

And while the learning is intense, everything around it is designed to support it. Comfortable hotel accommodations, gourmet meals, and seamless logistics allow participants to stay focused, energized, and fully present in the beis medrash, without distractions pulling them away.

The Yarchei Kallah has long been known as a place where people come to reset their learning, raise their level, and reconnect with why they learn in the first place. In Yerushalayim, during these charged winter days, that impact is felt even more sharply.

For those ready to push harder, think deeper, and experience what a week of real Torah immersion can feel like, the Yarchei Kallah 5786 is on the calendar — and it promises to be nothing short of powerful.

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An antisemitic confrontation erupted at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle International Airport after a woman verbally abused a Jewish man who was carrying a Sefer Torah, according to video that has circulated widely on social media. The incident unfolded in a public area of the terminal, drawing the attention of nearby travelers.

The footage captures the woman repeatedly yelling at the man, “Leave France, I’m Muslim.” At one point, she is seen spitting at him as he continues to hold the Sefer Torah.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2013265556330127615

As the exchange grew increasingly heated, a second man at the scene stepped in and positioned himself between the two in an apparent effort to defuse the situation. His actions appeared aimed at preventing the confrontation from escalating into physical violence in the crowded airport setting.

The video was shared on X by Chen Mazzig, an Israeli activist known for his advocacy work and opposition to the BDS movement. Commenting on the incident, Mazzig wrote: “Spitting on a Jewish man carrying a Torah scroll is not random aggression. It is deliberate humiliation. It is an attack on faith, identity, and presence. A man carrying a Torah scroll should be able to walk through an airport without being humiliated. The fact that this even needs to be said shows exactly where we are.”

As of the latest reports, neither airport officials nor French law enforcement have released a statement addressing the incident or indicating whether any action has been taken.

{Matzav.com}

Demonstrators gathered Monday night at the Bar Ilan Junction in Yerushalayim to protest authorities’ intention to perform autopsies on the bodies of two infants who died earlier in the day at a daycare facility in the Romema neighborhood.

The protest took place as the families of the infants voiced their opposition to the procedure. Participants shut down major thoroughfares in the area, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Angry demonstrators blocked the intersection of Bar Ilan and Yirmiyahu streets, halting buses and private vehicles, and some were heard shouting insults at police officers, including calling them “Nazis.” Police later moved in to clear the intersection, using force to disperse the crowd and reopen the roads.

חרדים קיצונים מפגינים נגד נתיחת הפעוטות שמתו באסון בגן הילדים בשכונת רוממה. חוסמים אוטובוס. כזכור, לפני שבועיים נער נדרס למוות בסיטואציה כזו בדיוק, במרחק שני רחובות מכאן pic.twitter.com/4Jq0a4bedP

— Inbar Twizer ענבר טויזר (@inbartvizer) January 19, 2026

At the same time, the Institute of Forensic Medicine completed initial external examinations of the infants. Officials said the examinations did not determine a cause of death, prompting prosecutors and police to seek approval for full autopsies to establish what led to the tragedy.

Authorities also confirmed that three caregivers who operate the daycare center were taken in for questioning as part of the criminal probe into the circumstances surrounding the infants’ deaths.

The daycare manager’s attorney, Uri Korb, said: “Our client has no knowledge of how this terrible and tragic disaster occurred, and she is fully cooperating with the investigation in order to assist in clarifying the circumstances of the incident. We trust the law enforcement authorities to carry out their work.

{Matzav.com}

A bipartisan effort is underway to remove Sen. Bernie Sanders from the governing board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum after records showed that he has failed to attend a single meeting during his 18 years of service, according to a report by The New York Post.

Sanders (I-Vt.) was appointed in 2007 to the Holocaust Memorial Council, the body that oversees the Washington museum located roughly two miles from the U.S. Capitol. The council convenes twice annually to guide the institution’s operations and educational mission.

Documentation provided to The Post by museum staff indicates that Sanders has been absent from every council meeting since joining the board. During that same period, Sanders rose to national prominence through his 2016 and 2020 campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination, which helped bring democratic socialism into the political mainstream.

“There are two large meetings every year where people fly in from all over the country for it. But Bernie Sanders couldn’t be bothered to walk across the road in DC,” said board member Robert Garson, president of the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists.

Another council member, Wall Street executive Jonathan Burkan, also criticized Sanders’ record. “Eighteen is a good number in Judaism, but not in this case,” Burkan said. Both Garson and Burkan emphasized that they were speaking in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the museum.

The Holocaust Memorial Council was created by Congress in 1980 and is made up of 55 presidential appointees serving five-year terms, along with 10 members selected by congressional leadership, split evenly between the House and Senate.

Garson and Burkan, both appointed by President Donald Trump, are among roughly a dozen signatories to a letter urging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to replace Sanders. The letter cites Sanders’ failure to attend meetings as well as his repeated public claims that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.

“In the current context, with Jew hatred and Holocaust distortion rising globally, it is imperative that Senate-appointed representatives on the Council are fully engaged and steadfastly supportive of its mission,” the letter states. The signatories also objected to Sanders’ “public statements regarding contemporary genocidal conflicts” and noted that he “has rarely, if ever, attended Council meetings.”

“This is not a partisan issue, just common sense,” said Alex Heckler, a longtime Democratic Party activist and fundraiser who was appointed to the board by President Joe Biden.

“[Sanders’] beliefs and public statements do not reflect the stated mission of the museum. Also, he has never attended a meeting in the years I have been on the Council,” Heckler added. Heckler previously served as deputy national finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee during the 2020 campaign and remained on the board after Trump removed other Biden appointees earlier this year.

Trump-appointed board member Jimmy Resnick also voiced frustration over Sanders’ absence. “Why take someone’s place who will show up? I just don’t understand it,” Resnick said.

“He doesn’t care. It’s like a non-existent position,” Resnick added, noting that his late father, Abe Resnick, had also served on the council.

Resnick said other Democratic appointees had attended meetings, including Biden appointees Susan Rice and former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, both of whom participated as recently as last year before being removed from the board.

The reasons behind Sanders’ longstanding disengagement from the council remain unclear. Historically, socialist and communist groups played significant roles in armed resistance to the Nazis, and socialist Zionist leaders — including Israel’s first president, David Ben-Gurion — were central to the establishment of the Jewish state.

Neither Schumer nor Sanders responded to requests for comment. Senate President pro tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who may also have authority to make a replacement, likewise did not respond.

Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, is one of 10 Jewish senators currently serving in the Senate. His critics argue that there are many other qualified candidates who could take his place on the council.

While the Holocaust museum does not shape government policy, it is widely regarded as one of the most significant Jewish cultural institutions in Washington and plays a major role in Holocaust education nationwide.

Sanders has been an outspoken critic of the Israeli government and earlier this month administered the oath of office to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a fellow socialist who has threatened to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu should he visit New York City.

In a lengthy statement published in September, Sanders accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, writing: “The intent is clear. The conclusion is inescapable.”

“That word emerged from the Holocaust — the murder of six million Jews — one of the darkest chapters in human history,” Sanders wrote. “Make no mistake. If there is no accountability for Netanyahu and his fellow war criminals, other demagogues will do the same. History demands that the world act with one voice to say: enough is enough. No more genocide.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities say more than 10,000 illegal immigrants have been taken into custody in Minneapolis since the beginning of the second Trump administration, with roughly 3,000 arrests made in just the past six weeks, according to an announcement Monday from the Department of Homeland Security.

“PEACE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN MINNEAPOLIS!” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem declared in a post on X.

Noem said those arrested “were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis because Tim Walz and Jacob Frey refuse to protect their own people and instead protect criminals.”

The stepped-up enforcement effort comes amid sharp criticism from city leaders. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey drew attention Sunday after describing ICE activity in the city as an “invasion” by the federal government during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

DHS said the arrests are part of what it has described as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever conducted in Minneapolis. Beginning shortly after Thanksgiving, the department deployed approximately 3,000 personnel from multiple agencies, including ICE, Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and other federal units.

“In the last 6 weeks, our brave DHS law enforcement have arrested 3,000 criminal illegal aliens including vicious murders, rapists, child pedophiles and incredibly dangerous individuals. A HUGE victory for public safety,” Noem said, before shifting her focus to a massive fraud investigation underway in the state.

“There is MASSIVE Fraud in Minneapolis, at least $19 billion and that’s just the tip of iceberg. Our Homeland Security Investigators are on the ground in Minneapolis conducting wide scale investigations to get justice for the American people who have been robbed blind,” she wrote.

The $19 billion figure cited by Noem exceeds earlier estimates. U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson previously put the total amount stolen by illegal immigrant fraud rings from Minnesota’s human services programs at approximately $9 billion, much of it allegedly tied to members of the state’s Somali community. The higher number was also referenced by President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post late Sunday criticizing Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

“There is 19 Billion Dollars in Somalia Fraud. Fake ‘Congresswoman’ Ilhan Omar, a constant complainer who hates the USA, knows everything there is to know. She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalis, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World. She could help to MAKE SOMALIA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote.

{Matzav.com}

The Kremlin said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to take part in a U.S.-initiated “Board of Peace” focused on Gaza, an announcement that immediately drew attention given Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow is reviewing the proposal, which was conveyed through diplomatic channels, to join the peace council established by U.S. President Donald Trump late last year. The body is intended to help sustain a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and to supervise Gaza’s reconstruction following months of fighting.

“President Putin has indeed received an offer through diplomatic channels to join this Board of Peace. We are currently studying all the details of this proposal,” Peskov told the Russian state news agency TASS.

“We hope to contact the U.S. side to clarify all the details,” he added.

According to reports, Trump has extended invitations to a number of international leaders to participate in the Gaza initiative. Bloomberg reported Saturday that those invited include Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Argentine President Javier Milei, as part of what is described as a broader Board of Peace framework.

Other countries have also confirmed receiving invitations. AP News reported Sunday that Hungary, India, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, and Pakistan have all acknowledged being asked to join the Board of Peace.

Bloomberg further reported that the Trump administration is seeking a $1 billion payment from participating nations in exchange for permanent membership on the board, citing a draft charter outlining the group’s structure.

Putin’s potential inclusion has prompted questions due to Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has resulted in massive casualties among both soldiers and civilians. The conflict is nearing its fourth anniversary in February, with estimates placing the death toll in the hundreds of thousands.

Over the weekend, the United States also announced the members of a “founding Executive Board” for the council. The list includes former British prime minister Tony Blair, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, among others.

Israel, however, has expressed dissatisfaction with the way the initiative is taking shape. In a statement released Friday, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s office said, “the announcement regarding the composition of the Gaza Executive Board, which is subordinate to the Board of Peace, was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy.”

{Matzav.com}

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the Trump administration’s campaign to root out waste, fraud, and abuse has expanded to the Federal Reserve, where potential ethics violations by multiple senior officials are now under review.

Appearing last week on Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight,” Bessent criticized the central bank’s financial performance and lack of accountability while discussing an investigation involving Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. “The Fed is now losing $100 billion a year – $100 billion with no accountability,” Bessent said. “We had the worst inflation in 49 years.

“And we’ll see what the tally ends up being, but a very good chance that we will have had ethics violations over the past — four to six of the regional presidents or governors.

“And there needs to be some accountability.”

Bessent contrasted the Fed’s structure with that of the presidency, arguing that while the Federal Reserve prides itself on independence, it operates without the same checks applied to elected officials. He suggested that unelected officials wield enormous power over monetary policy without sufficient oversight, even as they control money creation and interest rates.

“The Federal Reserve occupies a unique spot in the American governmental process,” Bessent told Schmitt last Wednesday. “They have no supervision, they have no accountability.

“And I think that we will look at this and think of a couple of things on Chair Powell’s watch.”

Bessent continued his criticism during appearances on Sunday talk shows, again warning about what he described as a lack of restraint and transparency at the central bank.

“Of course, he’s committed to the independence of the Federal Reserve, but independence does not mean no oversight,” Bessent said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” referring to President Donald Trump’s pressure on Powell to lower interest rates.

During the interview, host Kristen Welker attempted to draw a comparison between construction work at the White House and renovation costs at the Federal Reserve, a comparison Bessent rejected outright.

“The renovations at the White House are not $700 million, more than $1 billion or $1.5 billion over budget, Kristen, and the White House, that is being paid for with private funds,” Bessent responded.

He went on to argue that the Fed’s financial autonomy demands greater transparency. “If I want to buy a new chair for my office at Treasury, that is an appropriation. Just to understand, the Federal Reserve has magic money. They print their own money. So when you have no oversight, why not have a little sunlight?

“Kristen, I have called since last summer for the Fed to do its own internal investigation. And that has not been heeded, not been heeded.

“And again, I don’t know about you. If I were to receive inquiries from the Justice Department, I would answer them. They went unanswered.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Mordechai Hager zt”l, a distinguished talmid chochom, descendant of renowned Chassidic dynasties, and a respected figure in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. He was 96.

Reb Shlomo Mordechai was a descendant of the Kossov–Savron lineage and was known throughout Crown Heights for his exceptional brilliance and encyclopedic knowledge of Torah.

The levayah is being held at the Shomrei Hadas Funeral Home on 14th Avenue in Borough Park, proceeding to Montefiore Cemetery in Queens for kevurah.

Reb Shlomo Mordechai was born in Yerushalayim. His father was a grandson of the Savroner Rebbe, Rav Moshe Tzvi of Savron, and he was also a grandson of the Toras Chesed of Lublin. The sandek at his bris was Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Kook.

In his youth, Reb Shlomo Mordechai studied for many years at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn. He also developed a close kesher with Rav Aharon Kotler, who held him in great esteem.

During a period living in Eretz Yisroel, Reb Shlomo Mordechai spent 16 years learning at Kollel Chazon Ish in Bnei Brak. He later settled in Crown Heights, where he continued his lifelong dedication to Torah study, earning a reputation as an extraordinary illui and a master of Torah.

In recent years, Reb Shlomo Mordechai drew public attention after sending a letter to Donald Trump, who responded with a personal letter expressing appreciation for his words and offering support. Reb Shlomo Mordechai also met with Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Reb Shlomo Mordechai is survived by his family and descendants. His son is philanthropist Reb Yitzchak Meir Hager.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

There has been an avalanche of criticism — videos, emails, posts, and commentary — aimed at Eli Stefansky over his Daf Yomi AI rap video and some of the antics that have found their way into his (pre-game) shiur. The tone of much of it has been harsh, dismissive, and, at times, deeply unfair.

But the truth, as it so often is, does not live at the extremes. It lives somewhere in the middle.

On the one hand, the criticism is not entirely baseless. The AI gimmicks, the games, the entertainment factor … at a certain point, it does cross a line. When silliness becomes part of a shiur, something precious risks being diluted. We are not dealing with a talent show or a late-night comedy sketch. We are learning the heilige Gemara, the words of Abaye v’rava, Ravina and Rav Ashi. This is the beating heart of Torah Shebaal Peh. This isn’t color war.

And yet — and this is the part that so many critics refuse to acknowledge — you cannot argue with success. Eli Stefansky has brought an untold number of people into Torah learning. People who were disconnected. People who never opened a Gemara. People who felt that Daf Yomi was beyond them. He doesn’t just teach Torah. He made it accessible, exciting, and alive for thousands. That matters. A lot.

To dismiss that because the style is not to everyone’s taste is unfair.

At the same time, success brings responsibility. When you are influencing that many people, the “ramah” (level) has to rise. A shiur cannot feel like a circus. Energy is good. Passion is good. Creativity can be powerful. But dignity matters too. Torah deserves reverence, not just reach.

So yes, the pile-on has gone too far. The attacks have been excessive, personal, and at times mean-spirited. But it is also fair to say that say that Eli now needs to elevate the tone, tighten the boundaries, and remind everyone — himself included — that while Torah can be engaging, it must always remain sacred.

Criticism without appreciation is cruel. Innovation without restraint is dangerous. The balance between the two is hard, but it is exactly where true growth happens.

Wishing Eli hatzlacha. I know he’ll do the right thing.

A Daf Learner

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Two infants have lost their lives in a devastating incident at a daycare facility on HaMagid Street in the Romema neighborhood of Yerushalayim. They have been identified as

Leah Tzipporah Goleventzitz a”h, approximately 3-½ months old, and Aharon (Ari) Katz a”h, an infant of about four months.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the precise cause of death amid mounting questions surrounding a suspected poisoning and revelations that the facility was operating without the required license.

Both infants were evacuated from the scene and transferred to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute, where external medical imaging tests, including CT scans, are expected to be conducted without autopsy in an effort to determine whether a toxic substance entered their bodies.

At this stage, officials say the exact cause of death and the source of the suspected poisoning remain unknown.

In total, 55 infants were evacuated from the daycare following the incident. Two were pronounced dead, while the remaining 53 were taken to hospitals across the city for medical evaluation.

Health officials said all hospitalized infants are under observation and that their conditions are currently described as good.

Leah Tzipporah Goleventzitz was the daughter of Rabbi Mordechai Goleventzitz, a talmid of Yeshiva Ateres Yisrael and the son of Rabbi Binyamin Goleventzitz of the Ramot Shlomo neighborhood. Her mother, Mrs. Bracha Goleventzitz (née Rolnik), is from Romema. After their marriage, the family lived in Pisgat Ze’ev and had recently relocated to Romema. Leah is survived by her parents and a younger brother.

Leah’s father, Motti, works as a driver and was in the middle of a route at the time of the incident. He was unreachable for nearly two hours until relatives managed to contact him and convey the devastating news.

Leah’s mother later posted a brief message expressing her grief: “My Leah, thank you for being mine. Your soul will be within me forever. Baruch Dayan HaEmes.”

The second infant, Aharon (Ari) Katz, had begun attending the daycare that very day for the first time. He was the son of Rabbi Yaakov Katz. His mother, Mrs. Chana Katz (née Eisenbach), works at the Tachshik jewelry store on Rechov Shamgar. A relative of the family wrote that this was the first and only time since Ari’s birth that his mother had left him for several hours with a caregiver she knew personally and trusted, adding: “We do not know the calculations of Heaven.”

As the investigation continues, enforcement and health authorities are focusing on multiple possible scenarios. During the afternoon hours, a concern was raised that a gas leak from heating systems may have caused the incident. However, Fire and Rescue officials ruled out that possibility.

Fire Commissioner Shmulik Friedman, commander of the Jerusalem District, said no heating devices were found in the room where the infants were located other than an air conditioner, and a gas leak from that unit was definitively excluded.

Police forensic teams collected evidence from two apartments in the building in which the daycare operates. Three caregivers who were present at the time of the incident were detained for questioning and are being interrogated regarding the daycare’s daily routine, the care provided to the infants, and whether any unusual substances or materials had entered the facility in recent days.

Adding to the severity of the case, the Education Ministry confirmed this evening that the daycare was a private framework operating without the license required by law. The ministry described the incident as “grave and deeply tragic” and said it is maintaining close contact with law enforcement authorities as additional details emerge.

Residents of the neighborhood, however, said the daycare has operated in the building for roughly three decades and was widely regarded as an established institution within the community.

In the political arena, members of the Knesset faction of United Torah Judaism expressed profound shock at the opening of their faction meeting and placed responsibility on government decision-makers.

Faction members sent condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the infants who were injured. They sharply criticized government policy in recent years, arguing that the cancellation of daycare subsidies for working mothers imposed crushing financial pressure on families and led to severe overcrowding in remaining facilities.

“We warned again and again, in real time, about the cancellation of the subsidies,” the faction said. “We said clearly that the harm is not only to working mothers, but first and foremost to the infants themselves— to their safety and to their health.”

United Torah Judaism members said those responsible for setting policy bear heavy responsibility for the events and called for an urgent reassessment of daycare subsidy structures and oversight mechanisms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.

{Matzav.com}

New York City’s push to require residents to use official city-issued trash containers as part of an effort to curb the rat population is colliding with a basic problem: many people can’t actually get the bins.

Under the new rules, buildings with one to nine residential units must begin using the official “NYC Bin” for garbage pickup by this summer or face fines. Yet homeowners across the city report widespread difficulty locating the containers, while city officials point the finger at a private vendor responsible for producing and distributing them.

The Department of Sanitation itself cautions residents on its website: “Online ordering and the call center are currently unavailable. Select NYC Bins are available at all NYC Home Depot locations.”

That option hasn’t helped everyone. A Brooklyn resident told The Post they went to Home Depot only to discover that the bins were completely sold out.

“How can we not find a consistent supply of these cans without using a Home Depot and an out-of-state manufacturer who can’t even supply them?” the homeowner fumed to The Post.

On Staten Island, 76-year-old Michael Monopoli said he placed an order back in October but never received the bin. When he tried to follow up, he said, he found no way to get answers from the city.

“I sort of got a little tired, and I felt like, to tell the truth, I’m really annoyed with sanitation,” Monopoli said. “I never got the pail. And when I went to call you, the Department of Sanitation, you close down your phone and your website. So how am I supposed to get a ticket from you?”

City officials have blamed the problems on the outside company that manufactures the bins, citing “ongoing issues with the outside vendor that makes and delivers the bins failing to fulfill some orders.” The city advised residents seeking refunds to contact the manufacturer, Otto Environmental Systems, directly.

Otto Environmental Systems, however, told The Post that residents should continue trying to buy the bins through Home Depot.

“We are committed to restoring home delivery as quickly as possible to ensure the success of this important program,” a spokesperson for Otto Environmental Systems said.

Another Brooklyn homeowner, who asked not to be identified because their job occasionally involves working with the city, said the situation is particularly maddening given that similar programs have worked elsewhere.

“It seems like only in New York can you try to match a standard idea from across the country and struggle so much to accomplish it,” they said.

Some residents have eventually succeeded, though not without delays. Brad, a 42-year-old Brooklynite, said he ordered his bins early, when the program was first announced and demand was still relatively low.

“It took like two months or something. And that was early on,” Brad said. He also noted that sanitation crews appear to be having trouble adjusting to the new system.

“It has a latch. They have to drag it over to the truck, flip it up, and then take the bags, throw them out, and then they have to just throw it back where it went and then move on,” he said.

“Before they had a flow,” he went on. “They just grabbed the bags from the curb, tossed them and kept going. It’s like a whole extra step. It’s a lot.”

Containerized trash collection was a major priority of Mayor Eric Adams’ administration as part of his highly publicized “War on Rats.” The City Council later passed legislation to reimburse middle-class homeowners for the roughly $50 cost of the new bins.

Currently, buildings covered by the rule are required to place trash in any lidded 55-gallon container. Beginning in June, however, residents who fail to use the official NYC-branded bins could face fines starting at $50, with repeat violations climbing as high as $200.

A spokesperson for the Department of Sanitation told The NY Post that homeowners who have already ordered a bin but are still waiting for delivery will not be fined.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump has sent a written message to Norway’s prime minister declaring that he no longer feels obligated “to think purely of Peace,” while again pressing his demand that the United States take control of Greenland, according to people familiar with the correspondence.

The letter, which U.S. officials circulated to several governments, was Trump’s response to a short message from Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. In their note, the two leaders objected to Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on European allies after they rejected his push for U.S. control over Greenland, Stoere said in a statement.

Stoere and Stubb urged a cooling of tensions and asked to speak directly with Trump by phone, according to the Norwegian prime minister. Trump replied shortly after receiving their message.

“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but ⁠can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America,” Trump wrote in his response, which was seen by Reuters.

Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, an award that last year went to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

“I have several times explained clearly to Trump the well-known fact that it is an independent Nobel Committee, and not the Norwegian government, which ⁠awards the prize,” Stoere said.

Machado presented Trump with her gold medal during a White House meeting last week, even though the Norwegian Nobel Committee has stated that the prize cannot be transferred, shared, or withdrawn. The committee did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment.

In the same message to Stoere, Trump again challenged Denmark’s claim to Greenland, questioning its ability to defend the territory and the basis for its sovereignty. “Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway?”

“There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.”

Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland, a vast island rich in minerals, is established through a series of binding legal agreements, including a treaty reached in 1814, and the United States has repeatedly acknowledged Greenland as part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Trump also linked the issue to NATO, asserting that the alliance owes the United States for his contributions. “I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States,” Trump added. “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT.”

{Matzav.com}

Kibbutz Be’eri has decided to keep as is one of the homes burned in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel as a testimony to the horrors of the worst single-day attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

The move by the community, located five miles from the Gaza Strip, to move on and demolish the rest of the homes destroyed in the attack is opposed by some bereaved families, but is seen as an attempt to move on and rebuild.

The house selected is on the edge of the community and belongs to a family that was abroad at the time of the terrorist invasion.

“My position was that we should destroy everything and leave no trace, not turn the kibbutz into Auschwitz or a pilgrimage site for visitors,” owner Yogev Dvori told Ynet. “Simply erase everything and commemorate beloved people, not buildings.”

The Dvoris, who have not yet moved back to Be’eri, plan to return to a new house currently under construction.

After residents voted to demolish all but one of the destroyed homes, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said that he was considering designating some of them as national heritage sites.

The kibbutz was the hardest-hit community in Hamas’s Oct. 7 onslaught. One hundred one civilians—or nearly 10% of its residents—and 31 security personnel were murdered, and 32 hostages were taken to the Gaza Strip.

At least 100 Gazan terrorists were also killed and 18 were captured by the Israel Defense Forces and the kibbutz security force. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said President Donald Trump’s public threats regarding Greenland are more likely a negotiating strategy than a genuine plan to seize the territory, expressing skepticism while conceding he might be mistaken.

In a radio interview Sunday with John Catsimatidis on “The Cats Roundtable,” Gingrich said he doubts Trump intends to follow through militarily, though he acknowledged uncertainty. “I think he’s making a lot of noise to set up a negotiation to get what he wants, which is tourist rights, economic rights, mineral rights and national security rights,” Gingrich said.

Gingrich pointed to Greenland’s vast reserves of natural resources and noted that major powers—including China, Russia, and the United States—are all eyeing access to its minerals as well as its oil and gas potential.

“It’s a huge economic opportunity,” he said.

His remarks came as lawmakers from both parties traveled to Denmark to discuss the issue with Danish officials. The delegation includes Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska as the Republican participants.

Tillis said any attempt to use force to take control of Greenland would face strong resistance on Capitol Hill, warning that such a move “would be met with pretty substantial opposition in Congress.”

Ahead of the trip, Tillis criticized those encouraging the idea, saying: “Right now, people are trying to be deferential, but this is just an example of, whoever keeps on telling the president that this idea is achievable should not be in Washington, D.C.”

Trump escalated the dispute on Saturday by announcing plans to impose 10 percent tariffs on Denmark and several other European countries in response to their opposition to his Greenland proposal.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said the tariffs could rise to 25 percent if negotiations for the United States to buy Greenland are not completed by June 1.

Danish officials sharply criticized the proposed tariffs. Danish Chamber of Commerce CEO Brian Mikkelsen dismissed the move, saying, “Trump’s farce continues.”

“The American president is once again using tariffs as a threat,” Mikkelsen wrote in a translated post on X. “As so many times before, it is damaging to confidence in world trade and damaging to the American and European economies.”

Gingrich also argued that Trump’s leverage in Europe is strengthened by structural weaknesses in European economies, which he said have favored regulation over growth and innovation.

“[The U.S.] made the opposite decision,” Gingrich said. “We decided we wanted to maximize innovation and then regulate lightly but not have enough regulation to crush what we were doing. That has been a disastrous decision for the Europeans.”

{Matzav.com}