Matzav

The Powerball jackpot has surged to an eye-popping $1.7 billion, placing one of the largest lottery prizes ever offered in the United States within reach of players nationwide.

The surge came after Monday night’s drawing failed to produce a jackpot winner, clearing the way for the prize to roll over once again and climb sharply.

The drawing is tonight at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Despite the excitement, the odds remain daunting, with a one-in-292.2-million chance of hitting the jackpot.

According to the game’s website, the eventual winner will have a choice between receiving the full $1.7 billion through annual payments spread over 29 years or opting for a one-time cash payout estimated at about $781.3 million before taxes.

The current prize ranks as the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball history and among the biggest ever offered by any U.S. lottery, heightening anticipation as ticket sales continue to climb.

Monday’s drawing did not produce a grand-prize winner, but it did yield nine secondary prizes worth $1 million each across the country.

The biggest Powerball jackpot on record reached $2.04 billion, claimed by a ticket sold in California in 2022, which also stands as the largest U.S. lottery prize ever won.

For the next several weeks, U.S. military activity will be centered almost entirely on blocking Venezuelan oil exports, following a directive from the White House, a U.S. official said Wednesday.

According to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the instruction orders American forces to concentrate nearly all their efforts “on the quarantine of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months.”

The administration views this approach as the preferred method of applying pressure on Caracas, prioritizing sanctions enforcement over immediate military action. “While military options ⁠still exist the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is looking,” the official said.

The emphasis on economic measures could cool expectations of near-term U.S. ground operations against Venezuela, something President Donald Trump has said remains possible.

U.S. officials believe the oil restrictions are already taking a heavy toll. “The efforts so far have put tremendous pressure on (Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro and the belief is that by late ⁠January Venezuela will be facing an economic calamity unless it agrees to make significant concessions to the U.S.,” the official said.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations says it has uncovered a vast, structured system inside the UN that channels enormous resources toward activities focused almost entirely on Israel. According to figures released by the mission, roughly $100 million a year is devoted to reports, debates, special mechanisms, and communications efforts that consistently single out the Jewish state, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said the findings demonstrate that the effort is neither incidental nor marginal. “Today we actually showed that these are orchestrated campaigns, well-funded and well-established within the UN budget,” he said. “These $100 million, which will be approved in the coming days in the new UN budget, are spent on activities against the government of Israel and against the IDF.”

Danon noted that while some of the initiatives are openly labeled as addressing Palestinian issues, others are presented under broader or less transparent frameworks. “Sometimes they do it directly, such as through committees that address Palestinian issues. Many times it is disguised under different names and organizations, but the actual activities are pure propaganda against the State of Israel,” he said.

The assessment, prepared by Israel’s Permanent Mission to the UN and International Organizations, points to specific UN entities whose stated mission centers on advancing the Palestinian narrative, including the Division for Palestinian Rights and several General Assembly committees dedicated exclusively to that cause.

According to the analysis, the UN produces dozens of debates and at least 100 reports every year dealing with Israel and the Palestinians. Many of these documents are described as repetitive, politically slanted, and lacking balance. Each report can cost tens of thousands of dollars to prepare and translate, while debates add thousands more in expenses. When travel and staffing costs are included, the total climbs into the millions annually.

Israeli officials say a central pillar of this structure is UNRWA, whose annual budget request stands at approximately $86 million. Of that sum, about $80 million is drawn from the UN’s regular budget, with roughly 60 percent earmarked for international staff salaries.

While other UN bodies have been subjected to budget cuts and reform efforts, UNRWA has largely avoided such measures. This continues despite repeated disclosures of Hamas infiltration into the agency and longstanding questions about its neutrality.

Asked whether Israel is attempting to bring greater scrutiny to the UN bodies receiving this funding, Danon acknowledged the challenge. “We are always trying,” he said in response to a question from The Jerusalem Post. “But unfortunately, most countries tend to ignore it. And even though we exposed this, the UN will continue to fund these activities.”

Beyond the General Assembly framework, Israel has also highlighted the role of the Human Rights Council in Geneva and its commission of inquiry on Israel, established in 2021 with an open-ended mandate. That mechanism alone is estimated to cost about $4 million per year and, according to Israeli officials, has increasingly adopted language associated with delegitimization, accusations of genocide, and economic pressure campaigns.

The commission has compiled a so-called blacklist of companies operating in Israeli-controlled areas and works alongside special rapporteurs who receive UN support while advancing explicitly political agendas. Israeli officials argue that these activities feed international legal actions against Israel and bolster global BDS efforts.

Israel’s mission stressed that exposing these funding patterns is not an attempt to undermine humanitarian assistance or silence legitimate criticism. Rather, officials say, the goal is to dismantle a system that has institutionalized discrimination, rewarded bias, and consumed vast sums of public money.

“We are sharing the information, and we are grateful to the US mission, which is taking a moral stand against the funding of these bodies,” Danon said. “Despite the huge amount of money directed against Israel, we will continue to stand strong and proud against the bias of UN organizations.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces disclosed Wednesday morning that significant sums of money—amounting to tens of millions of dollars—were raised and delivered to Hamas’ military wing over the past year, even more than two years into the war.

The disclosure came in a statement published on X by IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee, who described a recent joint action carried out by the IDF and the Shin Bet. According to Adraee, the operation resulted in the killing of a key Hamas figure involved in terror financing.

“In a joint operation by the Israel Defense Forces and the General Security Service (Shin Bet), two weeks ago, the Hamas terrorist Abdel Hay Zoqout from the residents of Gaza City was eliminated. He belonged to the finance department in the military wing of the organization. He was eliminated while in his vehicle, alongside the individual Ra’ad Sa’ad.”

Adraee said Zoqout played a central role in sustaining Hamas’ military capabilities through financial channels. “During the past year, Zoqout was responsible for recruiting tens of millions of dollars and transferring them to Hamas’s military wing, with the aim of continuing the fight against the State of Israel,” he said.

He added that Israeli security forces remain committed to targeting such networks. “The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet will continue their efforts to cut off terrorism funding channels, and will work against every entity involved in terrorism or in providing assistance to plan and execute terrorist plots against the State of Israel.”

Further details released by Israeli officials clarified that Ra’ad Sa’ad, described as a senior operative in Hamas’ military wing, was killed in an airstrike in western Gaza City on December 13. Sa’ad had spent an extended period operating within Hamas’ tunnel network beneath the city.

Security sources said that shortly before the strike, Sa’ad left the tunnel system and traveled by car. When the vehicle reached the Al-Nabulsi Square area, it was hit by multiple missiles. Abdel Hay Zoqout was also killed in that strike.

According to those sources, Sa’ad was considered a close deputy of Az a-Din al-Haddad and effectively functioned as head of operations, as well as the commander overseeing the production of rockets, mortars, and anti-tank missiles.

He was involved in top-level decision-making within Hamas’ military wing and possessed extensive intelligence knowledge, including detailed familiarity with the organization’s tunnel infrastructure. In November 2023, the IDF distributed leaflets across Gaza offering an $800,000 reward for information leading to his capture. An earlier attempt to eliminate him, carried out in June of last year, was unsuccessful.

{Matzav.com}

Persistent breaches in the security barrier near the Qalandiya checkpoint and the northern Yerushalayim neighborhood of Neve Yaakov have turned the area into a flashpoint, with a sharp rise in unauthorized crossings from Palestinian Authority-controlled areas into Israel.

Israeli security officials say the scope of the problem has expanded dramatically since the outbreak of the war. A security source cited by Yediot Acharonot estimated that roughly 6,000 infiltrations now occur each week through gaps in the fence—double the number recorded prior to the fighting. According to the source, a notable share of terror attacks inside pre-1967 Israel has been linked, directly or indirectly, to these crossings.

The infiltrations are often facilitated by paid intermediaries. Palestinians reportedly pay between 300 and 600 shekels to be guided through breaches that are deliberately cut into the barrier. Once across, a waiting driver transports them deeper into Israeli territory.

In response, security forces have stepped up enforcement along the fence, deploying ambushes around the clock in an effort to intercept those crossing illegally. Since the war began, a temporary directive has been in force allowing forces to open fire at infiltrators breaching the barrier, with instructions to aim at the lower body as a means of stopping crossings and restoring deterrence.

The growing concern over these vulnerabilities is echoed in a newly released State Comptroller’s audit focusing on the Seam Line barrier and crossings in the Jerusalem perimeter. On Tuesday, State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman published a wide-ranging report that examined long-standing shortcomings in security preparedness, operations, and the implementation of government policy—issues brought into sharper focus by the October 7 massacre and the ongoing Swords of Iron War.

According to the audit, only 61 percent of the several-hundred-kilometer seam line is currently fitted with a physical barrier. In many other sections, wide openings remain, allowing Palestinians to pass without any inspection. Engelman highlighted especially severe gaps, including uninterrupted stretches of 11 kilometers on one route and six kilometers on another where no obstacle exists at all, warning that such conditions pose a serious risk of terrorist infiltration.

The report also faulted authorities for the lack of an organized operating framework at the crossings. Despite a 2005 decision by the Prime Minister to transfer management of the crossings to civilian control, not a single crossing in the Jerusalem perimeter has been civilianized to this day. The audit further criticized the Shin Bet for failing to adequately implement professional recommendations tied to these changes.

Operational problems were also flagged within the Israel Police, which have managed the crossings for roughly two decades without a formal doctrine or permanent command structure. Of the 16 crossings in the sector, only two are headed by commanders officially authorized for the position. Engelman cautioned that this arrangement undermines coordination among the IDF, Israel Police, Border Guard, and civilian security elements, creating dangerous security gaps.

On the ground, the audit found that Border Guard units were frequently reassigned from routine seam line duties to other missions, weakening the overall defensive posture in the area. Inconsistent reporting between the IDF and police regarding infiltration incidents further contributed to what the Comptroller described as a fragmented and insufficient response.

Additional deficiencies cited include aging infrastructure, manpower shortages, inadequate screening equipment, and poor coordination between government ministries. One case highlighted was the prolonged delay in opening the subsidence road at the Qalandiya crossing, which stemmed from unresolved disputes between the Transportation Ministry and the police.

Among Engelman’s recommendations are the immediate closure of open gaps in the barrier, completion of the long-delayed civilianization of the crossings, and the establishment of a clear and binding police operating doctrine. The report also calls for improved intelligence-sharing across all security bodies and a reassessment of the barrier’s route based on updated threat evaluations.

{Matzav.com}

Two Likud Knesset members, Tally Gotliv and Moshe Saada, notified a Knesset security official on Wednesday that their personal cellphones had been compromised. According to Walla! News reporter Yehuda Shlezinger, data taken from the devices was allegedly circulated on the dark web.

The lawmakers said they were alerted to the breach by a former police officer now working in the cyber field, who told them that information extracted from their phones had begun spreading in underground online forums.

The disclosures come after claims last week by the Iranian-linked hacker group Handala, which asserted it had penetrated the personal phone of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The group said it had released a trove of material taken from an iPhone 13, including a contacts list, a chat with Avia Sassi, photos, videos, and an audio recording. Among the contacts allegedly exposed, along with phone numbers, were UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and French President Emmanuel Macron. Bennett’s office said the device was examined and found not to have been hacked.

In a statement, Bennett’s office said: “The issue is being handled by security authorities. Israel’s enemies will do everything to prevent me from becoming Prime Minister again. It will not help them. No one will stop me from acting and fighting for the State of Israel and the Jewish people. After further investigation, it appears that while my phone itself was not hacked, access was gained to my Telegram account in various ways. Content from my phone’s contact list, as well as authentic and fake photos and chats (including a photo of me next to Ben Gurion), were circulated. This content was obtained unlawfully, and its distribution constitutes a criminal offense.”

{Matzav.com}

An artificial intelligence–generated clip shared Wednesday by the Prime Minister’s Press Office shows Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu sitting beside U.S. President Donald Trump inside the cockpit of a B-2 bomber.

The post appeared as Netanyahu readies for a trip to the United States, where he is slated to meet with Trump. Their talks are expected to focus on Iran’s efforts to restore capabilities damaged during the fighting, as well as the next stage of President Trump’s Gaza peace initiative.

The video was uploaded with the caption, “On our victory lap. #sixmonths.” It references the six-month mark since Israel’s Operation Rising Lion and the U.S. campaign known as Operation Midnight Hammer, during which American B-2 bombers struck Iranian nuclear facilities.

The Prime Minister’s Press Office launched its Instagram account in October with the goal of reaching a younger audience. The page mixes brief clips from Netanyahu’s speeches and public appearances with lighter content, including casual Q&A segments and meme-style posts.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Diplomatic maneuvering is underway to shape a possible security arrangement between Israel and Syria, with Russia playing a central but discreet role and doing so with American consent, according to a report by Kan News.

One senior defense official familiar with the contacts said Moscow is seeking to reestablish a military footprint in southern Syria, close to Israel’s border, restoring a posture that existed prior to the collapse of the previous Syrian government.

The same official noted that Russia has already taken steps to rebuild its overall military presence in the country. Ties between Moscow and Damascus are being repaired, and Russian forces have begun redeploying personnel and equipment to the Latakia region in northern Syria, an area that had largely been abandoned after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

While Russia operates behind the scenes, the actual face-to-face meetings have largely taken place in Baku. Azerbaijan has been hosting and facilitating the discussions, with delegations from both Israel and Syria traveling there for talks.

From Israel’s perspective, officials reportedly see advantages in a renewed Russian role in southern Syria, preferring that scenario over deeper military or political entrenchment by Turkey in the same area.

The negotiations, which remain focused on security arrangements rather than full normalization, reflect a complex regional realignment involving Russia, Israel, and Syria, with Washington quietly signaling its approval of Moscow’s mediating role.

{Matzav.com}

New federal filings show the Democratic National Committee ended November with a sharply reduced financial cushion, holding just over $12 million in cash while carrying nearly $16 million in outstanding debt tied largely to a recent loan.

Those figures arrive as Democrats head toward the 2026 midterms under growing internal strain, with party leaders split over whether to release a detailed assessment of the failed 2024 Biden–Harris campaign and how to recalibrate ahead of a fight to reclaim control of Congress.

According to Federal Election Commission disclosures, the DNC reported roughly $12.6 million cash on hand for November, raised $10.7 million during the month, and listed $15.9 million in liabilities. Republicans seized on the filing, charging that Democrats are struggling to keep up with their bills.

By comparison, the Republican National Committee posted $89.9 million in cash on hand for the same period and reported no debts, leaving the DNC only marginally ahead of the GOP in November fundraising totals but dramatically behind in overall financial strength.

The November report also shows the DNC’s reserves shrinking by about $6 million over the course of the month, as expenditures exceeded incoming donations. In October, the committee had taken in $23 million — more than twice its November haul.

The loan contributing to the party’s current debt load was taken out before Democrats scored notable electoral wins in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City. Over the same stretch, the RNC’s cash reserves dipped by less than $1.5 million.

Tensions inside the party sharpened last week after the DNC decided not to make public its post-election analysis of Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss to President Donald Trump. Party chairman Ken Martin said releasing the report now would be “a distraction from its core mission.”

A senior DNC official, speaking anonymously, said the party’s outreach efforts fell short — particularly among voters ages 18 to 30, a group that shifted toward Trump by 11 percentage points. The official added that Democrats failed to calm voter anxiety about crime and illegal immigration and lacked credibility when addressing economic concerns.

Not all Democrats agree with keeping the report under wraps. Senate Chief Deputy Whip Brian Schatz criticized the decision, saying, “I believe the DNC should release the report because 1) that’s what they said they were going to do 2) this is going to be a thing 3) if there’s good analysis we should see it.”

Despite the internal disputes, Democrats currently maintain a nearly four-point edge over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.

Harris has also signaled interest in seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, after rising to the top of the 2024 ticket without a primary when President Joe Biden ended his campaign just 107 days before Election Day.

Reports indicate the unreleased DNC analysis does not squarely address Biden’s decision to seek reelection at an advanced age. The New York Times reported that issue was largely avoided, while the Bulwark said some Biden or Harris advisers pressed party leaders to keep their names out of the document.

Financial pressures have continued into 2025. FEC records show the DNC spent more than $18 million in the first seven months of the year repaying expenses linked to Harris’ campaign.

The grim fundraising picture coincides with renewed scrutiny of Democratic leadership following remarks by Hunter Biden during a lengthy podcast appearance, where he criticized the administration’s immigration policy and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. “We don’t want immigrants that are coming here illegally, draining us of resources, and being prioritized above people that are actual, literal heroes, that are still recovering from 21, 20 years of endless war — or anybody else in our society,” he said on “The Shawn Ryan Show.”

Data from the Congressional Budget Office estimate that about 2.4 million immigrants entered the United States each year from 2021 through 2024, while a Goldman Sachs analysis concluded at least 60 percent crossed the border illegally.

Early polling of a hypothetical 2028 race shows Vice President JD Vance trailing Harris by just one point, while other surveys indicate Vance would defeat Democratic contenders such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Republicans argue the numbers reflect deeper problems inside the Democratic Party. RNC spokeswoman Kiersten Pels accused party leadership of mismanagement, saying, “Ken Martin has turned the DNC into a money-losing operation that reflects the failures of the broader Democratic Party.”

She added, “The DNC is drowning in debt, still paying Kamala Harris’ campaign bills, and watching donors flee as leadership bankrolls radical candidates voters don’t want. Ken Martin has run the party into the ground, and Republicans sincerely hope he keeps it up.”

{Matzav.com}

Newly compiled crime figures suggest the United States is experiencing an unprecedented decline in killings, with early indicators pointing to the steepest single-year reduction ever observed.

Independent crime researcher Jeff Asher says fresh national numbers show homicides falling faster than at any point in modern data tracking, reversing the surge seen during the pandemic years.

Asher’s Real-Time Crime Index, a nationwide dataset that aggregates reports from hundreds of police departments and is refreshed frequently, indicates the country is on course for the largest one-year decrease in murders ever recorded.

Federal officials are also striking an optimistic tone. Last month, Kash Patel said the 2025 homicide rate is expected to be the lowest in “modern history,” attributing the shift to a renewed focus across the bureau on violent crime.

Researchers outside the government say the underlying data back that assessment. Because the Real-Time Crime Index is updated well ahead of official federal releases, it offers an early look at national trends while final FBI tallies are still years away.

Figures available through October show killings down by nearly 20 percent compared with the same point in 2024. The index defines murder as intentional, non-negligent killings, excluding accidental deaths and other categories that fall outside standard FBI definitions, a distinction it summarizes as tracking “willful (nonnegligent) killings.”

Asher has cautioned in recent months that nationwide crime estimates are often revised and that official totals can shift over time. Even so, he says the downward trajectory has become so pronounced that the FBI is likely to ultimately report the lowest U.S. murder rate ever when complete 2025 data are finalized, potentially edging below the prior low set in 2014.

The sharp fall in homicides is occurring alongside broader declines in violent crime. Real-Time Crime Index data show reductions across several major categories, including robbery, aggravated assault, and motor vehicle theft, suggesting the change is widespread rather than confined to specific regions or demographics.

Large metropolitan areas appear to be driving much of the improvement. Axios recently noted drops of almost 20 percent in murders in New York City and Memphis, nearly 28 percent in Chicago, and sizable decreases across Los Angeles County.

At the same time, analysts note that a small number of jurisdictions have posted sharp percentage increases, underscoring how year-to-year swings can be volatile for smaller agencies with fewer cases.

The emerging numbers come as Donald Trump has placed fighting violent crime at the center of his second-term agenda, with the administration highlighting tougher enforcement policies and expanded backing for law enforcement nationwide.

{Matzav.com}

At a ceremony marking the graduation of the 191st pilot course at Hatzerim Airbase, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir addressed the newest aviators and reflected on the responsibilities now resting on their shoulders. As the wings were pinned to their uniforms, Zamir told the graduates that from this moment forward, “the next operational mission – and with it the great responsibility of removing existential threats to Israel and ensuring the continued existence of the Jewish state – will be yours.”

Zamir urged the new pilots to look ahead with confidence, closing his remarks by encouraging them to “soar upward to the skies and return safely to your bases,” and charging them to go forth and succeed.

Turning to the broader picture, Zamir emphasized that the memory of fallen soldiers accompanies every mission and that the military remains committed to the rehabilitation of the wounded. He added that the task is not complete until SFC Ran Gvili is brought back to rest in Israel.

Addressing parents and families in attendance, Zamir described them as full partners in the achievement of the graduates, thanking them for standing by their children through years of demanding preparation. He also expressed appreciation to commanders, career and reserve personnel, and technical crews, crediting their leadership during what he called the longest and most complex war in Israel’s history.

Zamir congratulated Brig. Gen. Omer Tishler on assuming the role of incoming commander of the Israeli Air Force, voicing confidence in his ability to guide the force through future challenges. He likewise praised course commanders and staff who, he said, trained the next generation of pilots while simultaneously leading real-time operations during wartime.

Reflecting on the months since October 7, Zamir said the air force, together with ground forces, has operated “with unprecedented precision and scope” in both nearby and distant arenas. He noted that the IDF is conducting ongoing reviews and applying lessons learned, stressing that “we will learn from the failure, but we will not sink into it.”

Zamir added that the military continues to adapt even as operations unfold, declaring, “The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps,” and reaffirming that Israel will act decisively against those who seek to do it harm, guided by the principle of striking those who rise to kill.

Only later in his remarks did Zamir recount the hours leading up to the strike on Iran. He said that during the night between June 12 and June 13, he presented the final operational plan to the Israeli cabinet, calling it “a dramatic meeting.” According to Zamir, the Cabinet Secretary offered a prayer for the safety of IDF troops, recalling that “the tension was palpable, and there was a feeling in the air of the crowded room that something historic was about to happen.” The plan, he said, was approved by a show of hands.

Once the decision was made, Zamir described how senior commanders rushed from Jerusalem to IDF headquarters, entering the command bunker as pilots were already in the air. Officers, he said, were “operating with composure and professionalism,” while dozens of aircraft circled, awaiting final instructions. Intelligence updates continued in real time, forcing mission changes mid-flight. “At 02:55, dozens of strikes hit their targets with great precision,” Zamir said, marking the launch of Operation “Rising Lion.”

He noted that the full scale of the operation — from aerial refueling and intelligence coordination to helicopters on standby, special forces deployment, and ground crews — would be recorded in history. Zamir said the air force “was at its very best,” describing it as Israel’s long-range strategic arm.

Zamir also recalled the briefings held with pilots ahead of the operation, when he warned them plainly of the dangers, telling them that “some aircraft will be shot down and some of you will not return.” He said the response was immediate and unified: “We are ready for the mission. You can rely on us!” According to Zamir, that moment captured the spirit that has enabled the IDF to confront threats on multiple fronts.

{Matzav.com}

A unique and inspiring Chanukah celebration took place this year in the main bais medrash of Yeshivas Rechasim, bringing together talmidim from across generations. The event was held under the leadership of Rosh Yeshiva Rav Yitzchak Sofer, alongside the yeshiva’s rabbinic faculty.

As in previous years, the Chanukah gathering opened with heartfelt singing and expressions of gratitude. Continuing a long-standing yeshiva tradition, the honor of lighting the Chanukah neiros was “sold,” not for money, but for commitments in Torah learning. This year, the custom was expanded and divided among the three candles to be lit by the Rosh Yeshiva.

The first candle was acquired through a commitment of 4,500 pages of Gemara. The second candle was taken through the acceptance of responsibility for 153 chaburos. The third candle followed a stirring moment, when Rav Sofer circulated among the talmidim and asked who would undertake the study of Bava Kamma. Hundreds of bochurim signed on, collectively committing to learn the masechta which is currently being studied in the yeshiva,four times.

Following the commitments, the Rosh Yeshiva lit the Chanukah neiros and offered heartfelt tefillos on behalf of the students, praying for their success and for the protection of the Torah world in the face of ongoing challenges. After the lighting, the students burst into spirited dancing.

{Matzav.com}

A legal petition filed by the Movement for Freedom of Information has led to the release of detailed data outlining the costs of flights and accommodations for Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu during his overseas visits since the beginning of 2025. The figures reveal extensive expenses tied to charter flights, luxury suites, and hotel rooms for large delegations and security teams during trips to the United States and Hungary.

According to the data made public on Tuesday, Netanyahu traveled to four international destinations this year, accompanied by dozens of staff members and security personnel. The expenses covered airfare, high-end hotel suites for the prime minister, and multiple rooms for his entourage.

In February, Netanyahu traveled to Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. He was accompanied by approximately 40 aides and security staff. The prime minister stayed at the Willard Hotel in a suite costing $5,000 per night, for a total of $25,000. The flight aboard Israel’s official aircraft, known as Wing of Zion, cost $434,000. Members of the delegation and security team stayed in hotel rooms costing $415 per night.

In April, Netanyahu visited Hungary, accompanied by 36 delegation members. Rooms for the entourage cost $417 per night. The prime minister and his wife stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel at a rate of $4,632 per night, with the total cost of their stay reaching $18,528. During the same trip, Netanyahu made an additional short visit to Washington lasting three days. Delegation members stayed in a hotel where rooms cost $520 per night, while the Netanyahu couple and additional staff occupied 14 rooms at Blair House.

In July, Netanyahu returned to Washington for another meeting with Trump, this time accompanied by 41 staff members. Hotel rooms for the delegation cost $375 per night, while the prime minister again stayed in a suite at Blair House.

The most recent trip disclosed took place in September, when Netanyahu traveled to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, accompanied by 38 delegation members. Rooms for the entourage cost $1,199 per night, while the prime minister’s suite cost approximately $6,000 per night. The total cost of that stay reached $41,993.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to the United States again next week. As with previous trips, the costs of that visit are likely to become public only through additional legal petitions and court rulings.

{Matzav.com}

Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad reportedly left several of his closest associates stranded at a luxury hotel in Moscow with an enormous bill after fleeing Damascus, then stopped responding to their calls and disappeared, according to an investigative report published Tuesday in the United States.

Citing The New York Times, the report says Assad instructed three of his most trusted confidants to accompany him as he escaped Syria during what was presented as a trip to Moscow. Events unfolded so rapidly that the aides allegedly had no time to gather personal belongings, passports, or cash before leaving Damascus.

Once in Moscow, Assad arranged for the group to stay at the upscale Four Seasons Hotel Moscow. However, when the hotel presented them with a staggering bill for their stay, Assad reportedly cut off contact entirely and could no longer be reached.

The account adds another layer to earlier reporting by The Guardian, which described Assad as living a quiet, low-profile life in an affluent area on the outskirts of Moscow. According to sources close to the family, Assad has been attempting to return to his professional roots, studying Russian and refreshing his knowledge in ophthalmology—the field he practiced before entering politics and before the outbreak of Syria’s civil war.

The Assad family is believed to be residing in Rublyovka, a gated and prestigious enclave known for housing members of Moscow’s elite. Much of the family’s wealth was reportedly transferred to Russia during the early years of Western sanctions imposed in 2011, allowing them to safeguard assets and maintain a high standard of living even after the collapse of Assad’s regime.

Despite their comfortable surroundings, the family’s lifestyle is described as highly isolated. Sources say Assad maintains contact with only a small inner circle of longtime associates and former officials from the presidential palace. A source close to the Kremlin reportedly said that within Russian leadership circles, Assad is now viewed as entirely irrelevant and no longer a figure of political significance.

Russian authorities have also made clear that Assad’s public role is over. Russia’s ambassador to Iraq confirmed that Assad is barred from all political and media activity and is not permitted to give interviews or make public appearances, even though he continues to receive protection and security while in Moscow.

{Matzav.com}

A brief security scare unfolded Tuesday evening at Ben Gurion Airport when a vehicle bearing a forged license plate broke through a security checkpoint at the airport’s main entrance from Road 1 and continued inside the perimeter before the driver abandoned the car and fled on foot.

Police said an extensive manhunt was launched immediately after the incident, with ground units and aerial support searching the area for the suspect. Authorities emphasized that there is no indication of a terrorist incident and that the event is believed to be criminal in nature.

According to Israel Police, officers from the Ben Gurion Airport district, together with security personnel from the Airports Authority, are conducting coordinated searches for the driver. A police helicopter was deployed as part of the operation.

Investigators said the vehicle arrived at the main entrance gate and ignored instructions from security guards. After forcing its way past the checkpoint, the driver exited the vehicle and escaped on foot, leaving the car behind.

The abandoned vehicle was examined by a police bomb disposal unit as a precaution. Officials confirmed that no explosive device was found and that the inspection ruled out any security-related threat.

Airport operations continued as usual following the incident, and police said updates would be provided if the suspect is located.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) 

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. 

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. 

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. 

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact –

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory. 

ShasYiden.com

A draft U.S. Defense Department assessment warns that China is rapidly advancing its nuclear forces, including the loading of more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles into newly built silo fields near its border with Mongolia, according to a report seen by Reuters.

The document, which has not yet been formally submitted to Congress and could still change, says Beijing has likely placed over 100 solid-fueled DF-31 missiles into the silo complexes. While the Pentagon previously revealed the construction of these sites, it had not publicly estimated how many missiles were operationally deployed within them. The report does not specify potential targets for the missiles.

The Pentagon declined to comment when asked by Fox News Digital about the contents of the draft assessment.

The report portrays China’s military expansion as unmatched in speed among nuclear-armed states, stating that Beijing is growing and modernizing its nuclear forces faster than any other country with such capabilities. Chinese officials have routinely rejected these conclusions, saying they are meant to “smear and defame China and deliberately mislead the international community.”

Although China’s nuclear warhead inventory stood in the low 600s in 2024, the report says that number is still expected to surpass 1,000 by 2030, even with what it describes as a slower production rate in recent years.

The assessment also addresses diplomacy, concluding that Beijing remains uninterested in formal arms control negotiations. “We continue to see no appetite from Beijing for pursuing such measures or more comprehensive arms control discussions,” the report said.

Those findings stand in contrast to comments made last month by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he may seek denuclearization talks with China and Russia.

China publicly maintains that its nuclear posture is defensive and governed by a no-first-use policy, but analysts cited in the report argue that Beijing’s behavior increasingly undercuts that message. “For a country that still advocates a policy of ‘no-first use,’ China has become increasingly comfortable showcasing its nuclear arsenal, including parading its nuclear triad together for the first time in September,” said Jack Burnham, a senior research analyst in the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Burnham added that China’s refusal to engage in arms control talks aligns with the scale of its weapons buildup. “China has no interest in locking in a long-term strategic disadvantage, and every intention of building an arsenal on par with its perceived place in the world, alongside and potentially eventually ahead of the United States,” he said.

Beyond nuclear forces, the Pentagon assessment warns that Beijing believes it could be capable of fighting and winning a conflict over Taiwan by the end of 2027. China claims the self-governed island as its territory and has never ruled out the use of force. According to the report, China is refining plans to seize Taiwan by “brute force,” including long-range strikes reaching up to 2,000 nautical miles from the mainland that could disrupt U.S. military operations across the Asia-Pacific.

The findings emerge as the 2010 New START treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms agreement between the United States and Russia, nears its expiration. That treaty caps each side at 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads.

Some analysts questioned the pace of China’s silo deployment. “What is surprising is that China has now loaded only about 100 of the silos it has built recently,” said Gordon Chang. “That’s an indication money is tight in the People’s Liberation Army.”

Chang also cautioned Washington against renewing New START without China’s involvement. “This is no time for the U.S. to agree to an extension of the New START Treaty with Russia,” he said. “Russia and China are de-facto allies, and they are ganging up on America. Without China in a deal — Beijing has flatly rejected every nuclear arms-control initiative of the U.S. —no treaty can be in America’s interest.”

Responding to the report, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Fox News Digital that Beijing follows a policy of “peaceful development,” adheres to a no-first-use nuclear doctrine, and keeps its nuclear forces “at the minimum level required for national security.”

Liu said China observes a moratorium on nuclear testing and cited a recently released arms control white paper as evidence of its commitment to disarmament and nonproliferation. He added that Beijing is willing to cooperate with other countries to strengthen the international arms control framework under the United Nations and promote global stability.

{Matzav.com}

Hundreds of talmidim of Yeshiva Birchas Shmuel gathered for a Chanukah mesibah attended by the yeshiva’s nosi, Chevron rosh yeshiva Hagaon Rav Dovid Cohen, who delivered a forceful address warning of what he described as an unprecedented threat to the Torah world.

The event was held for the first time in the yeshiva’s new and spacious beis medrash on its campus in Givat Shaul, following the yeshiva’s relocation earlier this year due to significant growth in enrollment.

Rav Uziel Leibowitz, one of the yeshiva’s roshei yeshiva, welcomed Rav Cohen and spoke of the privilege of having the yeshiva’s path guided directly by its president. He described the moment as the completion of the spiritual dedication of the new beis medrash, emphasizing the sense of divine assistance that accompanies the yeshiva’s growth and direction.

Rav Cohen then addressed the gathering, opening with words of gratitude for having accompanied the yeshiva since its founding and expressing deep emotion at seeing both its physical expansion and its spiritual growth. He said the development of the yeshiva, in students and rabbinic leadership alike, was profoundly heartening.

Turning to the message of Chanukah, Rav Cohen drew a sharp comparison between the Greek decrees of antiquity and the challenges of the present generation. “Greece wanted to turn all of Yisroel into a people living only for the body, like all other nations,” he said. “A world of nature — no spirituality, no soul — to secularize all of Israel. But Greece added one thing: ‘to make them forget Your Torah.’ Because as long as there is Torah, there can be no forgetting. Only through ‘making them forget’ can spirituality be uprooted.”

Citing classic Torah sources, Rav Cohen explained that without Torah, even the soul itself would be reduced to something purely intellectual. “Through the power of Torah, a person merits his soul,” he said, quoting the Ramchal’s teaching that “Torah is light that illuminates the soul of a person.” He added that the Chashmonaim restored that light by reestablishing Torah for generations.

At this point, Rav Cohen raised his voice in pain and delivered the sharpest warning of his address. “All the culture of the secular world outside the beis medrash — a world of moral filth — is entirely the war of Greek culture,” he declared. “All the war we are facing in our generation, a situation that no one ever imagined or dreamed we would reach, is a war of ‘to make them forget.’”

He continued with a stark comparison: “Today, in our generation, the decree is more severe than it was in Greece. Then, the Greeks wanted to make them forget Your Torah. Today, Jews want to make their brothers forget the Torah.”

Rav Cohen stressed that the struggle is being fundamentally misunderstood. “This war is not about more soldiers or fewer soldiers,” he said. “The war is about Greek culture — to secularize all of Israel, to remove them from the batei medrash, to destroy the entire standing of the Jewish people.”

He said he could not recall a similar battle throughout the long years of golus. “I do not know if in all the generations of galus there was ever such a thing,” he stated, emphasizing that the fighters in this battle are tragically “Jews themselves.”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Cohen told the talmidim that the only true weapon against this threat is Torah itself. “The power to stand firm is the light of Torah,” he said. “The House of the Chashmonaim established Torah for generations, and today we light the light and cry out: ‘For they are our life.’ You have merited to be in a beis medrash of the highest level of learning, a beis medrash of true toil in Torah. Through this, we will merit the complete redemption, speedily in our days.”

{Matzav.com}

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of London has issued a sharply worded letter to the Jewish community of Antwerp, warning that standards of modesty have weakened in recent times and urging renewed commitment, particularly among women, to strengthen this foundational value.

The letter was written following the Rebbe’s visit to Antwerp during Chanukah, at the request of the city’s rabbinic leadership and in response to an earlier call by the Pshevorsker Rebbe to address what has been described as a recent breach in communal norms of tznius.

In his message, the Rebbe said he was joining the appeal of Antwerp’s rabbanim and the Pshevorsker Rebbe to confront what he called serious lapses that have emerged in matters of modesty. He emphasized that earlier generations of Torah leaders devoted enormous effort to instilling sanctity and restraint within Jewish homes, a commitment that enabled them to raise generations of families shielded from negative influences of the surrounding culture.

He warned that in recent years those protective foundations have begun to erode in many Jewish homes, attributing the trend to what he described as a spreading culture of permissiveness. According to the Rebbe, these influences creep in gradually, step by step, until even communities known for their piety begin to relax standards that were once carefully guarded.

Describing the situation as an urgent responsibility, the Rebbe called on every family to reinforce these values actively. He stressed that parents bear a duty to guide their households with sensitivity and warmth, while remaining firm in preserving the path upon which previous generations were educated, and to treat the boundaries of modesty with respect and seriousness.

In a personal note, the Rebbe expressed gratitude to women who undertook additional commitments during a period of illness he experienced, specifically those who chose not to wear long shaitels. He offered brachos that their sacrifices be fully rewarded.

Citing teachings from earlier chassidic rebbes, the Rebbe linked a range of communal difficulties—including financial hardship—to breaches in modesty, stating that such problems have increased in recent generations largely as a result of weakened moral boundaries.

He concluded on an optimistic note, writing that strengthening resistance to the challenges of the modern era would bring blessing, including livelihood, worthy matches, and both material and spiritual success. By maintaining distinctiveness from surrounding cultures, he wrote, families would merit a heightened sense of divine presence in their homes and ultimately the revelation of hidden spiritual light.

{Matzav.com}

Hod HaSharon has officially filled its long-vacant rabbinic post, with Rav Erez Elcharar elected as the city’s chief rabbi by a decisive margin on Tuesday night.

Rav Elcharar secured the support of 24 members of the electoral body, prevailing after a prolonged and closely watched selection process. He serves as one of the senior heads of the Yechaveh Daas kollel and is regarded as a leading talmid of Rav Dovid Yosef, the Rishon LeTzion.

Following the announcement of the results, Rav Dovid Yosef personally contacted Rav Elcharar to congratulate him and praise the choice made by the city’s electors. “This is a day of good news for the city of Hod HaSharon,” he said. “Rav Erez is an outstanding Torah scholar who combines deep Torah knowledge with refined character and an ability to bring people closer.”

Rav Yosef added that he was confident the new chief rabbi would lead the city with wisdom and warmth, strengthen the standing of the rabbinate, and work to foster unity among all segments of the population. He concluded with a heartfelt brocha that Rav Elcharar be granted great siyata d’Shmaya in his sacred mission, increasing kavod Shamayim and endearing the Torah to the public in the path of Aharon HaKohen, “a lover of peace and a pursuer of peace.”

Later in the evening, Rav Yosef traveled to Hod HaSharon to take part in a festive thanksgiving gathering held in honor of Rav Elcharar’s election.

{Matzav.com}