Matzav

The Stoliner Rebbe sharply denounced the recent unrest in Bnei Brak, expressing deep anguish over the violence and particularly over reports that tefillin and a siddur were burned during the disturbances.

Speaking to his chassidim in a special address marking Rosh Chodesh Adar, the Rebbe addressed the events that took place in the city.

“We all heard with shock what happened two days ago in Bnei Brak. To our shame, these riots have become somewhat of a norm, and this is something terrible,” the Rebbe said.

He acknowledged the strain facing many in the chareidi community but stressed that hardship does not justify lawlessness.

“It is true that we are in a very difficult situation, many in the chareidi public are going through a challenging period and do not know how this will be resolved. But none of this justifies behaving in a wild and reckless manner.”

The Rebbe emphasized that throughout Jewish history, even in times of suffering, there was never any license to violate halacha.

“Throughout the generations we endured troubles and difficult times, and we never found any permission to act against clear halacha, against the Shulchan Aruch. It is forbidden to cause damage, it is forbidden to burn. We have the Torah and we have halacha above all. It is absolutely forbidden to harm others or damage property. Not garbage bins and not other objects — these are clear matters. How did we deteriorate to this point? Who permitted this?”

He also criticized the blocking of roads during the protests, pointing out the potential danger and hardship such actions can cause.

“And it is not only forbidden to cause damage — what permission is there to block roads and prevent the public from reaching their destinations, including cases involving danger to life, and causing distress to many? What has happened to us? Does this help anyone? It certainly does not add to ahavas Yisrael. This only harms and injures our own community. We are the ones who suffer from this without having done anything wrong.”

The Rebbe said the most disturbing aspect of the events was the reported burning of tashmishei kedusha.

“And what should shake all of us is that tefillin and a siddur were burned. Heaven forbid. If this had happened elsewhere, the entire Jewish world would be outraged and horrified. How did we reach such a dreadful situation that tefillin and a holy siddur were burned by Jewish hands? Where is our Jewish feeling? How low have we fallen? Have we completely lost our minds?!”

He concluded by calling for introspection and change.

“This decline must be stopped. We must conduct a serious accounting of the soul, correct what is required of us, and act according to the will of the Creator, may He be blessed — in all your ways know Him.”

{Matzav.com}

Knesset Member Michael Malkieli sharply criticized police conduct following the recent riots in Bnei Brak, accusing law enforcement of excessive force and staging what he described as a public relations display.

In an interview on an Israeli news broadcast, Malkieli addressed the violence that erupted in the city, stressing that the position of gedolei Yisrael is unequivocal. “Gedolei Yisrael, the roshei yeshiva, issued very, very clear letters that our path is not one of violence — certainly not to burn things and not to go out to uncontrolled protests — and we condemn every type of violence,” he said. At the same time, he argued that this condemnation does not justify what he characterized as harsh police behavior.

Malkieli recounted that even before police forces entered Bnei Brak, residents had contacted him expressing concern about how officers would act. “People called and said, look, we have experience with the Israel Police, and it’s clear to us that now the police will want to put on a show,” he said. According to Malkieli, the police response was disproportionate. “It cannot be that they come and beat people who are not connected, take people into custody who are not connected to the incident.” He added that he has submitted a parliamentary motion and intends to demand explanations. “I expect the police to restore order, but they behaved there in a brutal manner.”

Addressing claims of selective enforcement, Malkieli reinforced his criticism. “Absolutely. Not only selective enforcement — there is a show here that the Israel Police put on for television to show that it is also doing something.”

Turning to developments surrounding the draft law, Malkieli said that gedolei Yisrael instructed representatives to continue negotiations rather than sever dialogue. “The instruction was unequivocal to do everything,” he said, describing ongoing cooperation with the committee chairman and legal advisers. He maintained that there is no political barrier to passing the legislation if an agreed-upon text is finalized. “The Prime Minister, the coalition chairman, say — when there is a version acceptable to you, it will have 61 fingers in the Knesset.” Still, he acknowledged the process has been marked by frustration and setbacks.

Malkieli also voiced serious concern about High Court involvement in matters relating to the Kosel. He argued that even when the Knesset enacts legislation, judicial intervention remains unpredictable. “We already don’t know, once there is legislation, what the court will do with that legislation. We have already seen very major laws in the Knesset that the court struck and put into storage.” In his view, this reflects a broader pattern of interference in sensitive issues.

As another example, he cited the authority of rabbinical courts. “The court stripped them of the authority, in an arbitrary, crude and inconsiderate manner, to adjudicate monetary cases.” He noted that a bill to expand those powers has advanced in the Constitution Committee but cautioned, “You don’t know what the High Court will do, you have no idea.” He described the situation as marked by “arrogance” and as undermining the dignity of Israel’s dayanim.

On the issue of funding for chareidi educational institutions following a conditional order from the High Court, Malkieli again attacked what he sees as judicial overreach. “The High Court behaves like the last member of the opposition in a Knesset committee,” he said. He emphasized that these schools serve tax-paying citizens. “Are we second-class citizens? Are we residents here? Where did we come from?” He concluded with a broader critique: “We were taught that the people are sovereign. The court was not taught that.”

{Matzav.com}

Taxpayers are seeing larger refunds at the start of this year’s filing season, with early Internal Revenue Service data showing the average refund climbing 10.9 percent compared to the same point last year.

As of Feb. 6, the typical refund stands at $2,290, up from $2,065 during the comparable period in 2025.

The IRS indicated that the average is likely to increase further in the coming weeks because the current totals do not yet reflect millions of refunds connected to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC).

Changes enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Trump, are expected to increase refunds for many Americans this year. An analysis referenced by the Republican-led House Ways and Means Committee projects that some filers could receive as much as $1,000 more.

At this stage, the average refund is $225 higher than it was a year ago, and that difference may expand as additional returns are processed.

The Bipartisan Policy Center cautioned in a January report that early-season figures can be misleading, pointing to past years when refunds initially appeared lower before rising as the filing period progressed.

The 2026 tax season officially began on Jan. 26. By Feb. 6, the IRS had processed roughly 22.3 million returns. That total is 5 percent below last year’s pace but accounts for only 14 percent of the 164 million filings the agency anticipates receiving.

In the previous filing year, the average refund amounted to $3,167, with approximately 63 percent of taxpayers receiving a payment. According to the IRS, most people who file electronically can expect to receive their refund within 21 days.

More than 7.4 million refunds had been distributed as of Feb. 6, compared to 8.1 million at the same point last year — an 8.1 percent decline.

The deadline to file federal income taxes is April 15.

It is typical for the average refund amount to fluctuate early in the season before increasing as more returns are completed.

One reason for that pattern is that the IRS is prohibited from issuing refunds tied to returns claiming the EITC or ACTC until after Feb. 15. In addition, returns filed by higher-income taxpayers, which tend to be more complex, often take longer to prepare and submit.

Data reviewed by the Bipartisan Policy Center shows that in recent years, the average refund has often surged in mid-February before leveling off somewhat as Tax Day approaches.

The IRS publishes the average refund in its weekly statistics rather than the median amount, meaning unusually large refunds can influence the overall figure.

President Trump has described this year’s filing period as potentially “the largest tax refund season of all time,” citing more than 100 revisions to the tax code included in his 2025 legislation.

Individual refund totals will vary widely, however.

Measures such as an increased standard deduction, an expanded Child Tax Credit and a new deduction for seniors are expected to lower tax liabilities by several hundred dollars for tens of millions of households, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Other provisions are forecast to generate savings in the thousands for a narrower segment of taxpayers, including certain employees who earn tips or overtime pay.

Principal Asset Management, an international investment firm, estimates that the average refund could climb by nearly $700 to about $3,800 per filer in 2026.

The firm projects that middle- and higher-income households will benefit the most, potentially receiving around $1,000 more on average. Lower-income households, many of whom already owe little or no federal income tax, may see smaller increases — often less than $100 in additional refunds.

A newly filed bill in Congress is proposing a different solution to the long-running daylight saving time debate, calling for clocks to move ahead by 30 minutes permanently rather than by a full hour.

The Daylight Act of 2026, introduced earlier this month by Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), would shift clocks forward by half an hour from their current setting and eliminate the twice-a-year time changes altogether.

Sleep specialists caution that even a 30-minute adjustment could carry health consequences, though they acknowledge it would be less disruptive than a full-hour change. Experts say that any permanent move forward may still negatively affect long-term well-being.

“Medically, a half hour delay would be less harmful than a full hour delay of permanent daylight saving time and would have the benefit of ending the biannual change,” Dr. Karin Johnson, spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and co-chair of the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time, told Nexstar via email.

Still, Johnson noted that such a change would reduce exposure to morning sunlight, which researchers generally consider beneficial. She also warned that a half-hour system could complicate daily scheduling. Permanent standard time would prevent “the confusion of trying to sync schedules that are offset by a half hour,” she said.

Jay Pea, president of the nonprofit Save Standard Time, agreed, emphasizing that “the design of Standard Time (when aligned properly to longitude) is to minimize misalignment between clocks and the sun to within 30 minutes or fewer.”

Pea also raised concerns about logistical challenges, pointing to the “unintended complications for technology, transportation, and business.”

Those complications would be particularly significant for international coordination. Time zones function on a global scale, not just within the United States. For instance, when it is 3 p.m. in New York City, it is also 3 p.m. in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Lima, Peru.

Although regions may use different names for their time zones — Eastern Time in New York and Quebec, Peru Time in Lima — they are structured according to their offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the worldwide 24-hour clock system often referred to as Zulu time, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Eastern Time and Peru Time operate at -5 UTC, meaning they are five hours behind Greenwich, near London, where the modern time zone system was established in the 19th century.

Most time zones differ by whole hours — Central Time is one hour behind Eastern Time, for example — though there are exceptions. Afghanistan follows Afghanistan Time, which is +4.5 UTC. When it is 3 p.m. in New York, it is 12:30 a.m. in Kabul. Iran uses a time zone one hour behind Afghanistan, making it 11:30 p.m. there when it is 3 p.m. in New York.

“I appreciate the congressman’s willingness to explore alternatives to [permanent daylight saving time]. However, [permanent standard time] remains both the simplest solution and the true compromise between ‘fast’ and ‘slow time,’ as supported by health science, historical precedence, and first principles,” Pea said, in part, in a statement to Nexstar.

Other Florida lawmakers are pushing a different approach through the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. If enacted, clocks would move forward in March and remain unchanged throughout the year.

Steube has previously voiced support for permanent daylight saving time. Last year, he wrote on X that “it’s time to end this pointless ritual.” In November, he submitted a discharge petition seeking to bring the House version of the Sunshine Protection Act to the floor for a vote.

The Senate attempted to expedite its own version of the Sunshine Protection Act last October, but the effort ultimately stalled.

Steube’s office did not respond to Nexstar’s inquiry for comment prior to publication.

As of Tuesday, the Daylight Act of 2026 remains under review in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

A separate measure also titled the Daylight Act, introduced by Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT), has likewise been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. That proposal would give individual states the authority to observe daylight saving time year-round.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in multiple states are weighing their own proposals related to daylight saving time during the current legislative session.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday rolled out a proposed $127 billion budget, warning state leaders that if they refuse to approve higher taxes on wealthy residents, he will move forward with a significant increase in city property taxes.

The self-described democratic socialist characterized the spending plan as a fallback option to close projected gaps if Gov. Kathy Hochul declines to support raising taxes on high earners. His blueprint would also tap into the city’s $10 billion reserve fund.

“I do not want to raise property taxes,” Mamdani said of his preliminary budget plan, which would hike property taxes 9.5% to raise an additional $3.7 billion in the next fiscal year.

“When faced with this crisis, the question is who should pay these taxes? I believe that it should be the wealthiest New Yorkers, the most profitable corporations. I believe that they can afford to pay a little bit more,” Mamdani said.

The announcement begins what is expected to be months of budget talks with key city officials, including City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who quickly rejected the idea of higher property taxes.

“At a time when New Yorkers are already grappling with an affordability crisis, dipping into rainy day reserves and proposing significant property tax increases should not be on the table whatsoever,” Menin wrote in a statement.

Hochul, who is up for reelection this year and whose approval would be needed for changes to state income tax rates, likewise indicated she does not back a property tax increase, though the mayor would not require Albany’s consent to enact one.

“I’m not supportive of a property tax increase, I don’t know that that’s necessary,” Hochul told reporters Tuesday during an unrelated event.

Additional officials at City Hall also criticized the proposal.

“This is insanity,” one insider told The Post. “Property taxes haven’t been raised since 9/11.”

The same source warned that drawing heavily from city reserves could damage New York’s bond rating, calling the move a “major red flag” that might weaken the city’s ability to borrow.

If adopted, Mamdani’s plan would increase overall spending by roughly $11 billion compared to the current fiscal year, allocating new money for expanded legal services, homeless assistance programs and other initiatives.

The proposal follows Hochul’s announcement a day earlier that the state would provide an additional $1.5 billion in aid to the city, amid Mamdani’s repeated appeals to raise income taxes on affluent New Yorkers.

The mayor is seeking a 2% income tax increase targeting approximately 33,000 residents earning more than $1 million annually.

In recent weeks, Mamdani has repeatedly highlighted what he describes as looming fiscal trouble, using those warnings to press Albany to embrace his push to increase taxes on top earners.

Just three weeks ago, he estimated the city’s deficit at $12 billion. That figure shifted after updated revenue projections showed tax collections — largely fueled by Wall Street bonuses — coming in 24% higher than the previous year.

Last week, Mamdani said his budget team had reduced the shortfall to $7 billion. Then, in a post on X Tuesday morning, he announced the projected gap had fallen further to $5.4 billion.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement may not take Kilmar Abrego Garcia back into custody, finding that the legally permitted 90-day detention window has lapsed and that the government lacks a realistic path to deport him.

Abrego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador, has drawn national attention in the ongoing immigration debate after he was erroneously deported to his native country last year. Following his return to the United States, he has been contesting renewed efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to remove him, this time to several African nations.

In her order issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis of Maryland sharply criticized the government’s handling of the case. The government “made one empty threat after another to remove him to countries in Africa with no real chance of success,” she wrote. “From this, the Court easily concludes that there is no ‘good reason to believe’ removal is likely in the reasonably foreseeable future.”

Abrego Garcia, who is married to an American citizen and has a child, has lived in Maryland for many years. He entered the United States unlawfully as a teenager. In 2019, an immigration judge determined that he could not be returned to El Salvador due to credible threats from a gang that had targeted his family. Despite that ruling, he was mistakenly deported there last year.

Amid mounting public scrutiny and under court direction, President Donald Trump’s administration arranged for his return in June. His reentry, however, followed a federal indictment in Tennessee accusing him of human smuggling. Abrego Garcia has entered a plea of not guilty. At the same time, administration officials have maintained that he will not be allowed to remain in the United States, stating in court filings that they have sought to deport him to Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana, or Liberia.

A total of 85 countries have endorsed a Palestinian-initiated declaration criticizing recent decisions by Israel’s security cabinet designed to strengthen Israeli control in the West Bank.

The declaration, coordinated by the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations, states: “We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel’s unlawful presence in the West Bank.”

It continues, “Such decisions are contrary to Israel’s obligations under international law and must be immediately reversed. We underline in this regard our strong opposition to any form of annexation,” the countries add.

The Israeli security cabinet’s approved steps include policies intended to simplify the process for Israeli settlers to acquire land in the West Bank, alongside measures allowing for the expropriation of property from Palestinians who assert legal ownership.

Support for the statement comes from a broad coalition of nations across multiple regions, including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that discussions between the United States and Iran have been productive so far, though he made clear that Tehran has yet to agree to all of President Donald Trump’s core demands regarding its nuclear ambitions.

In an interview with Fox News, Vance emphasized that the current negotiations over Iran’s illegal nuclear weapons efforts differ sharply from the diplomacy that produced the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. That agreement drew widespread criticism for failing to block Iran’s path to a bomb and for provisions that critics argued effectively normalized elements of Tehran’s nuclear program through sunset clauses.

President Trump “has shown very clearly that he is not Barack Obama,” Vance stated. “He takes a much different approach to America’s national security, and he’s much more willing to act aggressively to defend America’s national security.”

Vance stressed that the administration’s priority remains preventing Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon, whether through negotiations or other means.

“The President of the United States is very much trying to find a solution here, whether it’s through diplomatic options or through another option, that means that the Iranians cannot have a nuclear weapon. That has always been the main focus,” he said.

The vice president also underscored what he described as the dangers posed by the Iranian government, warning that its leadership cannot be trusted with such destructive capability.

The Iranian regime “is one of the most hostile and also one of the most irrational regimes in the world. You can’t have people like that have the most dangerous weapon known to man. It would be awful for our security. It would be awful for the future of our children. That is the goal of the President of the United States and he’s got a lot of options and a lot of tools to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

President Donald Trump on Tuesday publicly called on officials in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., to take swift action in response to a major sewage leak that has polluted the Potomac River, as cleanup operations continue and health concerns mount.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump insisted that state and local authorities “must get to work, IMMEDIATELY” and added that if they “can’t do the job,” they should “call me and ask, politely, to get it fixed.”

Trump emphasized that the federal government did not play a role in the incident, stating that “the Federal Government is not at all involved with what has taken place, but we can fix it.” He described the spill as a “Radical Left caused Environmental Hazard” and cautioned that conditions would “only get worse” if immediate steps are not taken.

The environmental crisis began on Jan. 19, when a 72-inch sewer pipe known as the Potomac Interceptor gave way near the Clara Barton Parkway in Montgomery County, Maryland. The collapse released hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the Potomac River, an event that environmental advocates have characterized as among the most severe of its kind in the nation’s history.

Officials estimate that approximately 243 million gallons of wastewater have flowed into the river since the rupture. Authorities have indicated that repairing the damaged infrastructure could take several months.

In his remarks, Trump directly faulted “Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., who are responsible for the massive sewage spill,” urging the governors of the two states and the mayor of the nation’s capital to move without delay.

He also alluded to the ongoing federal funding standoff, arguing that even if assistance from Washington were requested, the effort would depend on “true Patriots … because many are not working right now.”

Meanwhile, public health agencies and environmental officials have advised residents and pet owners to stay away from affected portions of the river. Activities including swimming, fishing, and boating have been limited in impacted areas due to elevated bacteria levels in the water.

Following the recent unrest in Bnei Brak, the Shevet HaLevi Rebbe addressed his yeshiva bochurim, instructing them that they may only participate in demonstrations explicitly organized or endorsed by leading Torah authorities.

The Rebbe delivered his remarks at the conclusion of his daily halacha shiur after Shacharis, responding to the disturbances that took place in the city on Sunday.

In his comments, he referred to the serious events that unfolded and stressed that every bochur must know a clear and unwavering rule: one may attend protests only when Gedolei Yisroel explicitly direct that participation is warranted, specifically protests initiated by Gedolei Yisroel and no others. He emphasized that no bochur has permission to act based on personal emotions. Even if an incident in the city appears stirring and seems to be a matter of mitzvah, each individual must carefully verify whether it is being conducted under the guidance of Gedolei Yisroel. If it is not, he said, one must distance himself from the area completely.

The Rebbe also warned that such gatherings can pose real physical danger. As was evident this past Sunday, he noted, innocent bystanders and passersby were arrested and injured. These situations constitute a place of danger, and therefore there is certainly no obligation of mesirus nefesh in circumstances of this nature. He added that acts of vandalism are unquestionably forbidden, stating that such behavior has never been the way of Bnei Yisroel.

Concluding his remarks, the Rebbe said that what is truly incumbent upon us is to fulfill the teaching of the Gemara: “If someone rises against you, rise early to the beis medrash and they will fall on their own.” The strength of Klal Yisroel, he said, lies not in force but in tefillah and Torah, for the power of Yisroel is only through the mouth.

{Matzav.com}

A milestone has been reached in Poland with the completion and inauguration of a magnificent, mehudar mikveh at the hachnasas orchim complex adjacent to the tziyun of the Maggid of Kozhnitz zt”l. After intense halachic deliberations and close supervision by leading experts from Eretz Yisroel, the beautifully constructed mikveh has now been finalized, a tremendous besurah to the thousands who travel throughout the year to daven at the kever.

The project was initiated at the personal directive and vision of the Kozhnitzer Rebbe, who recognized in recent years the pressing need for a properly built mikveh at the rapidly expanding hachnasas orchim complex. The site has become a central hub for the many Yidden journeying to kivrei tzaddikim across Poland. Although the mikveh is part of a private compound designated for admorim, it will currently serve the broader public, allowing visitors to prepare in taharah and comfort. Plans are already underway, b’ezras Hashem, to construct an additional large public mikveh in response to the remarkable growth in visitors.

To ensure the highest standards of kashrus and halachic precision, Rav Nosson Winkler, one of the senior members of the renowned kashrus system of the rabbonim of Bnei Brak and son-in-law of Rav Moshe Yehuda Leib Landau zt”l, traveled to the site. Rav Winkler, who is presently in Poland heading a team of shochtim, went out of his way to personally inspect every detail of the mikveh structure and its water systems.

During his thorough visit, Rav Winkler engaged in in-depth and serious halachic discussions regarding the filling of the otzaros with snow, a complex sugya, especially under European winter conditions. For final clarification, he remained in ongoing consultation with Rav Yechiel Yehuda Neustadt, a rov affiliated with Merkaz HaTahara. Rav Neustadt is widely regarded as the foremost authority on mikvaos, continuing the mesorah from the days of Rav Landau, who placed full trust in him regarding the kashrus of Bnei Brak’s mikvaos.

Rav Winkler directed mehudar halachic solutions, provided precise instructions for completing the hamshacha channel, and oversaw the preparation of the otzaros to properly receive rainwater and melted snow. Every detail was arranged so that the mikveh would be kosher lechatchilah according to all opinions.

A particularly uplifting moment took place when Rav Tzvi Yehuda Lau, rov of Kehillas Kahal Chassidim in Kfar Ganim, Petach Tikva, arrived with a group of approximately 150 bochurim on a Torah journey. Under Rav Winkler’s guidance, the bochurim undertook the task of filling the otzaros. Using specially perforated shovels — punctured to avoid the halachic status of a kli kibbul — and sacks with holes, they carefully gathered the pure snow and transported it to the mikveh roof.

Special heating elements, installed in accordance with the psak of the rabbonim overseeing the project, melted the snow so that it flowed into the otzaros in complete taharah. In a remarkable display of hashgachah pratis, the day the otzaros were filled coincided exactly with the yahrtzeit of Rav Shabsai Korech Seforim zt”l, the father of the Maggid of Kozhnitz, a powerful historical closing of the circle between father and son.

The hachnasas orchim complex in Kozhnitz is now preparing with great anticipation for the coming weeks, particularly ahead of the 21st of Adar, the yahrtzeit of the Rebbe, Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk. Thousands of Yidden traveling to Lizhensk customarily stop in Kozhnitz to pour out their hearts at the tziyun and to benefit from the exceptional hospitality provided there.

Askanim note that the inauguration of the mikveh is only the beginning. A broad construction plan is now moving forward, including the building of a magnificent beis medrash, a tish hall, guest rooms, and a professional kitchen designed with meticulous architectural care, in addition to the planned large public mikveh. All of this is intended to accommodate the many requests from across the world by those seeking to bask in the unique hod hakadmonim that envelops the city of Kozhnitz.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s High Court of Justice on Tuesday issued a conditional order requiring the state to explain within two months why it continues to fully fund chareidi schools that do not teach the complete core curriculum as required by law, and why it has not imposed sanctions or taken corrective action, including budget cuts for noncompliant institutions.

The order was issued in response to a petition filed in March 2025 by the Chiddush association, which called on the government to enforce mandatory core studies and apply financial penalties to schools in education networks affiliated with chareidi political parties.

During court hearings on the petition, significant deficiencies were revealed regarding implementation of the core curriculum in the chareidi networks. At a hearing held in January, a state representative acknowledged substantial gaps, including shortcomings in teacher training, institutional reporting, and non-participation in Meitzav standardized testing. It also emerged that the Education Ministry did not attend that hearing and failed to provide requested data.

Subsequently, and following a directive from the court, official data was disclosed for the first time indicating that 92 percent of schools in chareidi networks lack teachers trained to deliver the core curriculum at a level that meets regulatory standards. The findings further showed that the Education Ministry does not require these institutions to provide the full number of core-study hours mandated in state schools, and that most teachers in the networks do not hold academic degrees, despite receiving salaries accordingly.

The panel of justices — Daphne Barak-Erez, David Mintz, and Ruth Ronen — demanded that the Education Ministry clarify why, in light of these findings, it continues to fully fund the institutions; why it does not require the full core curriculum hours; why teacher training has not been properly regulated; why oversight relies largely on self-reporting and pre-coordinated visits; and why most schools do not participate in Meitzav exams or international assessments that evaluate student performance in core subjects.

The case also follows directives issued in September 2024 by Deputy Attorney General Avital Sompolinsky, who instructed the Education Ministry to tighten enforcement, strengthen supervision and oversight mechanisms, train teachers, and consider budget reductions where necessary. According to the petitioners, those directives were not implemented, prompting the current petition.

Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni responded sharply to the court’s order, stating: “It is clear to anyone with understanding the hatred of the High Court judges toward the chareidi public and chareidi education. Most of the students in the networks, the majority of whom are girls, study all subjects in the spirit of our forefathers and they are the most outstanding in the exams.”

“There is no logic in issuing orders against the chareidi networks, which as stated are the best in the education system. There is only one professional explanation — hatred and envy. Nothing more!”

{Matzav.com}

A political uproar erupted after Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) responded to remarks by a New York-based Muslim activist about dogs, prompting sharp denunciations from Democratic lawmakers who accused him of bigotry and Islamophobia.

The controversy began with a February 12 social media post from Nerdeen Kiswani, who referenced the November election of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and wrote, “NYC is coming to Islam.” In the same exchange, she added that while dogs have a role in society, they should not be kept as indoor pets, stating that in Islamic tradition they are considered unclean.

“Dogs definitely have a place in society, just not as indoor pets. Like we [Muslims have] said all along, they are unclean [‘najis’].”

As criticism mounted online, Kiswani responded to detractors, writing: “[Laughing] at the Zionists frothing at the mouth at this, thinking they’re doing something. It’s obviously a joke I don’t care if you have a dog, I do care if your dog is … everywhere and you’re not cleaning it.”

Three days later, on February 15, Fine reacted to the exchange with a post of his own: “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.”

Democratic lawmakers quickly condemned the Florida congressman. “We must call this what it is. Disgusting bigotry,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) reacted. “Fine must be censured.”

After social media users argued that Khanna had overlooked the broader context of the exchange, he clarified his position: “Taking an alleged comment by one person and attributing it to everyone who shares that person’s faith is the definition of bigotry,” he stated.

Fine responded by mocking Khanna’s use of the phrase “an alleged comment,” noting that the activist’s remarks had been publicly posted. “Perhaps you should have read it before spouting off like an idiot,” the Congressman quipped.

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) criticized Fine’s statement as harmful, saying the “Islamophobic” comment is “incredibly damaging to Jews trying to combat antisemitism.”

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) wrote, “America is BETTER because of our Muslim community,” adding, “And we are WORSE when ….like this guy spout hate.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also rebuked Fine, stating, “This is genuinely one of the most disgusting statements I have ever seen issued by an American official. Fine should be censured & stripped of committees.”

Jennifer Jenkins, who previously ran against Fine in November, weighed in as well: “I’m running to kick that bigot out of Washington.”

Rep. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) accused Fine of exploiting controversy for political gain. “This is what it looks like when Islamophobia and outrage are the only two items on your political agenda,” he complained.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom added his voice to the criticism, posting: “Resign now, you racist slob.”

Prominent media figures joined the backlash. CNN’s Jake Tapper described Fine’s remarks as “Disgusting bigotry.” New York Times columnist David French wrote: “Absolutely evil.”

Within Republican circles, reactions were more muted. Some GOP figures, already critical of Fine’s campaign style and political decisions, have avoided publicly defending him, preferring instead to focus attention on advancing President Donald Trump’s populist policy agenda.

“This is a drain-the-swamp presidency,” said Mark Mitchell, polling director at Rasmussen Reports. He noted that swing voters are focused on tangible outcomes, adding that “anything that distracts from it at this point is not helpful,” he told Breitbart News.

At the same time, some conservative activists who view Islam as politically assertive and expansionist have rallied behind Fine’s stance.

Despite the widespread condemnation, Fine has not backed down. In response to critics, he posted “Don’t Tread on Me” posters featuring puppies.

Appearing on Newsmax, Fine defended his comments, arguing that broader cultural issues are at stake. “It’s not enough for Democrats to think anyone who wants to come here illegally should be able to do that. They also think they should be able to get whatever free stuff they want. Now they’re demanding that we change our values and how we live as Americans.”

Many Muslims and commentators have interpreted Fine’s remarks as equating observant Muslims with dogs in a derogatory way.

Kiswani called the statement “genocidal.”

Egyptian-born journalist Mehdi Hassan likewise condemned the post, describing it as “genocidal Rwandan rhetoric” and asserting that it suggested “Muslims are lower than dogs.”

The controversy has also drawn renewed attention to longstanding debates over Islamic teachings regarding dogs. Certain traditional interpretations hold that dogs are ritually impure and should not be kept inside the home except for specific purposes such as guarding property. Some Islamic texts state that the presence of dogs can affect spiritual standing, and historical accounts attributed to Islam’s founder, Mohammed (c. 570–632), include statements discouraging the keeping of dogs as household pets.

{Matzav.com}

Today, in the court of Vizhnitz, the chassidim mark the yahrzeit of the Rebbetzin, Rebbetzin Leah Esther Hager a”h, first wife of the Rebbe, the Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz zt”l. This year, however, the day carries an especially stirring weight, following the revelation of a heart-rending story that closed a painful circle more than three decades after her passing.

As the chassidim reflect upon the memory of the Rebbetzin, known as an emblem of nobility and refinement, a powerful phone call from overseas came to light — one that reopened the raw emotions of the night of her histalkus 33 years ago and revealed a breathtaking moment of forgiveness by her son, the present Vizhnitzer Rebbe.

It was Motzaei Shabbos Kodesh, the 29th of Shevat, 5753. The corridors of Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer were heavy with grief following the Rebbetzin’s passing on leil Shabbos. In the room, near her bed, ten individuals stood guard to preserve kavod hameis before the levayah. Among them was a young man who, to this day, carries the scar of that night.

“I need to ask mechilah from the Rebbe for something that has troubled me for more than thirty years,” the man, now living in the United States, said in an emotional phone call to the Rebbe’s gabbai. “I was one of the ten who stood by the bed on Motzaei Shabbos. The Rebbe came to part from his mother one final time, but the door had been locked from inside, following instructions given to us by another family member. The Rebbe knocked on the door, identified himself in a broken voice: ‘It’s Yisroel Hager, the son of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe,’ and pleaded that we allow him to enter to bid farewell to his mother.”

The caller continued through tears: “I was the closest one to the door. I felt the pressure around me, heard the warnings not to open it for anyone — and I remained silent. The Rebbe stood outside for long minutes, begging to part from his mother a”h, and we did not open. I have never forgiven myself for that moment.”

The gabbai, shaken by the testimony of those agonizing minutes, entered to relay the request to the Rebbe. The pain of that terrible night — when a son was prevented from paying final respects to his mother — resurfaced. Yet the Rebbe’s response left those present stunned.

Without a trace of resentment, with serene composure and extraordinary calm, the Rebbe replied: “I forgive him with a full heart, and he should be well.”

The gabbaim, who understood how deeply that episode had cut — an open wound for a son denied his final farewell — attempted to press further. “But this is anguish beyond description. A son comes to part from his mother and the door is shut in his face?”

The Rebbe, in his remarkable humility and boundless compassion, looked at them almost in wonder. “But he asked forgiveness… Of course I forgive him!”

The story, revealed on the yahrzeit, has stirred hearts within Vizhnitz and far beyond. It is not merely a tale of a painful episode from years past, but a living testimony to the power of true mechilah and to the greatness of a leader who bears no grudge, even when the hurt touches the most sensitive fibers of the soul.

President Donald Trump said Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are both “fantastic,” but fell short of saying if he would support either one of them to lead the Republican presidential ticket in the 2028 election.

“It’s something I don’t have to worry about now. I’ve got three years to go,” Trump told reporters Monday when asked if he would support Vance or Rubio in 2028.

“JD is fantastic. And Marco – they’re both fantastic,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “I think Marco did a great job in Munich.”

The president has been coy about who he would like to see lead the Republican Party after his second term in the White House ends. But Trump has repeatedly named both his vice president and his secretary of state when asked who he’d like to succeed him as president.

Trump last year said that Vance is “most likely” the heir-apparent to the Make America Great Again movement, but has also said that Rubio would make a great nominee.

The question comes after Rubio received positive reviews at the Munich Security Conference where he sketched out a shared heritage with Europe and asserted a common path ahead, while still focusing on the Trump administration’s stance on western dominance, immigration and climate skepticism. He struck a markedly softer tone than Vance did at the event a year earlier.

In that speech last year, Vance lambasted European allies and focused on cultural divides in a speech that was widely seen as inflaming rifts between the US and the EU. Rubio, in an interview with Bloomberg News, said he was not turning away from Vance’s speech, but wanted to explain the Trump administration’s reasoning.

Rubio, 54, a longtime anti-communist hawk, has embraced Trump’s aggressive approach while seeking ways to make deals in private. Vance, 41, a relative newcomer to politics best known for a memoir about life in small-town Ohio and Kentucky, embodies the MAGA movement’s anti-elite sensibilities, and Trump’s penchant for disruptive and unpredictable dealmaking.

Trump has spent months privately – and at times publicly – teasing a rivalry between the two, suggesting at turns that one, then the other, is best positioned to take the torch from him.

(c) 2026, Bloomberg 

The KCL of Lakewood, NJ has issued a public kashrus alert cautioning the community about the growing use of Instacart for purchases from kosher supermarkets.

In a notice obtained by Matzav.com, the KCL says it is calling attention to concerns that have arisen due to the increasing reliance on the Instacart service for grocery shopping at kosher establishments. According to the alert, orders placed through Instacart are fulfilled by third-party shoppers who may not have sufficient knowledge or training in matters of kashrus. In many cases, the kosher supermarket itself may not even be aware that the order is being processed through Instacart.

The KCL explained that this situation creates a particular concern when orders include fresh meat, fresh fish, deli items, or prepared foods. In such cases, there is no reliable assurance that the required chosamos (halachic seals) will be properly affixed by the kosher establishment. As a result, these items could potentially be delivered without the necessary halachic safeguards in place.

The KCL emphasized that it is currently exploring ways to address the issue. However, in the interim, it is strongly recommending that food items requiring chosamos not be purchased through Instacart. Instead, the Vaad advises that such items be ordered directly from the kosher supermarket, which is aware of the relevant halachic requirements and can ensure that appropriate seals are affixed prior to delivery.

{Matzav.com}

MK Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beiteinu delivered an uncompromising message during an interview in the Kikar HaShabbat studio, making clear she was not seeking compromise over the proposed draft law but instead presenting what she described as an ultimatum. In the wide-ranging interview, she sharply criticized Chareidi leadership, argued that Torah study alone was not sufficient in the face of security threats, and signaled that state funding for the Chareidi sector would be her next target. “We’ve reached the limit — there will no longer be an option of only receiving,” she declared.

Malinovsky, known for her confrontational style, did not soften her tone. Addressing her relationship with the Chareidi community, she said, “My personal relationships with people are excellent, but I know how to distinguish between what is essential and what is secondary.”

Responding to claims that her stance on the draft law is driven by cheap populism, Malinovsky outlined what she called a simple principle — “the family equation.” In her view, the state functions like an extended household in which rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. “In a family there are rights and duties. Like a mother tells her children: ‘Sweetie, if you don’t do A, B, C — you don’t get this.’ You can’t just be on the receiving end. This is all of our home, and everyone has to defend it. There is no other option anymore.”

One of the most contentious points in the conversation centered on the tension between Torah study and military necessity. Malinovsky said she recognizes the historical value of Torah learning but rejects the notion that it conflicts with army service. “On October 7 everyone prayed, including secular people, but in the end what helped was an M16 rifle in someone’s hand,” she said.

She continued, “The Torah says that in wartime ‘a groom leaves his wedding canopy.’ Great rabbis throughout history both worked and served. The mitzvah is to provide for your family, and the concept of ‘Toraso Umnaso’ has become a political tool that keeps the public poor and weak.”

Malinovsky dismissed arguments that the IDF is not prepared to integrate Chareidim or that a gradual process is required. “The stories about ‘gradually’ are over,” she stated. “The IDF needs 13,000 soldiers now. When I see the young men in Bnei Brak — strong and healthy — they’re material for Sayeret Matkal. If they don’t defend the home, then who will?”

At one point, she invoked the historical example of the “Cantonists” under Czarist Russia, when Jewish children were forcibly conscripted. This time, however, she directed her criticism inward. “In 1818 the elite and the wealthy would hide their own children and send the children of the poor and widows to the army. I see that happening today as well. The Chareidi leadership wants to preserve its power and keep the public in yeshivot, while the weaker layers pay the price. I call on the young people: don’t be the Cantonists of the political operatives.”

Her criticism expanded beyond the draft issue to governance and public spending. She linked what she described as weak enforcement in the Negev to broader government conduct. “It’s all a matter of money and enforcement,” she argued. “We have a government of likes on Twitter, but there is no ‘governance’ on the ground. When you distribute 36 billion shekels in ‘extras’ to the sector without conditions — that’s economic suicide. Money leaves a trail, and we will follow it to bring order.”

Malinovsky concluded on a personal note, recalling her own journey as a new immigrant who arrived in Israel with just $200 and worked cleaning jobs before entering politics. She said her experience proves that there are no handouts in life. “No one received anything for free,” she said. “The sky is the limit for those who want to contribute, but the responsibility to defend our home belongs to all of us together. Without that — it’s either partnership or collapse.”

{Matzav.com}

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir launched a forceful attack on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, accusing her of obstructing efforts to combat violent crime in the Arab sector and asserting that her actions have cost lives.

Ben Gvir argued that initiatives he proposed years ago to address organized crime were rejected by the attorney general. “The blood of those murdered in the Arab sector is on the hands of Gali Baharav-Miara. Because when I came to her three years ago and said, ‘Take a list, these are a hundred families, let’s arrest them administratively,’ she told me no,” Ben Gvir claimed.

He said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since come around to his position regarding the attorney general’s removal. “Two and a half years ago, I went to the Prime Minister and told him, ‘Let’s fire her, let’s send her home.’ He said to me, ‘You’re a young minister, you don’t understand, it doesn’t work like that.’ Today, he admits that I was right. She needs to be sent home, and we need a legal reform.”

The national security minister also addressed his broader role within the coalition, saying he and his allies have shaped key policy decisions. “We have influenced many things. There were those who didn’t want to engage in maneuvering, but we were there in the government, and we influenced the maneuver and ensured that we would go in and do a good job.”

Turning to legislation that would impose the death penalty on terrorists, Ben Gvir said he anticipates progress on the measure. “I have a promise from Prime Minister Netanyahu that he will push it forward.”

{Matzav.com}

A total of 25,274 children have been officially classified as victims of terrorist attacks since October 7, according to figures released Tuesday by the National Insurance Institute. The overwhelming majority—more than 97 percent—received that recognition during the initial months of the war, between October and December 2023.

The data paints a devastating picture of the toll on Israel’s youngest citizens. Sixty-three children have been killed since the outbreak of the war. Thirty-five children were left without either parent, and 316 minors lost brothers or sisters in the violence.

Beyond those fatalities and family losses, 5,659 children have been acknowledged by the National Insurance Institute as suffering from physical injuries or psychological trauma connected to the attacks.

A closer look at the age distribution shows that the largest number of affected children falls within the 5 to 9 age group, totaling 8,123. The next largest group is toddlers and preschoolers between ages 0 and 4, with 7,356 children recognized.

Among older children, 6,532 between the ages of 10 and 14 were listed as victims, along with 3,263 teenagers aged 15 to 17.

In its statement, the National Insurance Institute emphasized that it is focused on safeguarding the rights and long-term welfare of these children. Assistance includes monthly financial benefits, social services, and access to emotional and therapeutic care.

“The National Insurance Institute views the rehabilitation of the future generation impacted by terrorism as a paramount national and moral mission, and it will continue to provide the necessary support to every child, as much as it can, from now and throughout their lives.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly ridiculed President Donald Trump and warned that American military forces could be struck down, escalating rhetoric as U.S. and Iranian representatives met in Geneva to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program and mounting tensions between the two nations.

The 86-year-old cleric’s comments came against the backdrop of an increased U.S. naval presence in the region and renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing Iran’s nuclear activities and broader hostilities.

“The U.S. President says their army is the world’s strongest, but the strongest army in the world can sometimes be slapped so hard it cannot get up,” Khamenei said, according to remarks carried by Iranian media.

Khamenei, whose regime faced widespread condemnation following a sweeping crackdown on nationwide protests last month that human rights organizations say left at least 7,000 people dead, also issued a warning about American naval forces through his English-language X account.

“The Americans constantly say that they’ve sent a warship toward Iran,” Khamenei’s team posted on his English X account. “Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.”

At the same time, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, underscoring the growing friction with Washington in a region critical to global energy supplies.

Trump has declined to rule out military action against Iran’s ruling establishment, and the recent buildup of American forces in the area mirrors the deployment he assembled near Venezuela prior to the Jan. 3 raid that resulted in the capture of strongman Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

“It seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” Trump told reporters Friday when asked about the prospect of regime change in Iran.

When questioned about whether the United States might once again strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump responded, “If we do it, that would be the least of the mission.”

The exchange of threats and sharp rhetoric highlights the fragile moment between diplomacy and confrontation, as negotiations move forward even while both sides signal their readiness for escalation.