Matzav

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Wednesday that he intends to press ahead with income tax increases, brushing aside a state budget proposal from Gov. Kathy Hochul that included a promise not to raise taxes, the NY Post report.

Mamdani’s stance marks his latest effort to nudge Hochul leftward, aligning state policy with his own agenda and that of progressive supporters who want higher taxes on wealthy residents and corporations to finance expansive initiatives, including fare-free bus service.

“Our administration is preparing to make the case that it is the time for New York’s most profitable corporations and wealthiest residents to pay their fair share,” Mamdani said while speaking to reporters at an unrelated event at the Whitney Museum in Manhattan.

His remarks came a day after Hochul rolled out a sweeping $260 billion spending plan for New York, as the Democratic governor navigates competing pressures from both ends of her party in an election year.

Hochul’s budget also included a proposal for universal pre-kindergarten, a priority long championed by Mamdani and his allies.

Still, the mayor argued that the city is shortchanged under the current arrangement, noting that New York City contributes 54.5% of state tax revenues but receives only 40.5% in return, and that any local tax increases would require approval from Albany.

“What we are looking to do is to tackle long standing fiscal issues that both have to do with the need for more revenue from the highest earners, but also the relationship between City Hall and Albany,” he said.

Despite having been in office for just three weeks, Mamdani is already confronting a projected $12.6 billion budget gap over the next two fiscal years. He laid the blame for the city’s financial troubles on his predecessor, Eric Adams, while saying the state’s finances remain solid.

“I think that it’s actually the governor’s fiscal stewardship, I think it’s also the strength of our city’s tax base, that the state is on firm financial footing,” Mamdani said.

“The issue, however, is that the city is not, and that is a result, a direct result of Eric Adams’s gross fiscal mismanagement,” he added.

The mayor’s comments add to the political challenges facing Hochul as she tries to balance demands from the party’s progressive wing with the need to appeal to moderates and suburban independents. She is also facing a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who is running from her left.

Republican Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, has seized on the issue early in the campaign, portraying Hochul as captive to the Democratic Party’s liberal base.

Hochul had endorsed Mamdani during his 2025 campaign in a move that surprised many observers, and later faced chants of “Tax the Rich” from crowds at a large rally of his supporters.

Even as Mamdani continues to advocate for higher taxes on affluent individuals and businesses, a recent report from City Comptroller Mark Levine showed that tax revenues rose by 7% in fiscal year 2026.

“This wasn’t caused by a bad economy — it’s the result of budgeting decisions from the previous administration that we must now deal with,” Levine said.

While Hochul has not entirely ruled out tax increases after the November elections, her budget director Blake Washington told the New York Post on Tuesday that the governor wants to steer clear of that option.

“She thinks it’s a last resort to raise taxes on anybody at any time,” Washington said.

{Matzav.com}

New York City police are investigating two separate cases of aggravated harassment after dozens of swastikas were discovered vandalizing a children’s playground in Brooklyn, JNS reported Wednesday, citing the New York City Police Department.

According to police, officers were initially called to Gravesend Park on January 19, where they uncovered numerous swastikas painted in red throughout the playground area.

“Approximately 16 swastikas were drawn on slides, walls and floor of the playground. The paint bottles were found on scene,” the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information told JNS. Authorities said the incident is being handled by the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force.

Police returned to the same park two days later, on January 21, after another emergency call reported additional vandalism. “On Wednesday, at approximately 1050 hours, police responded to a 911 call of an aggravated harassment in the vicinity of 56 Street and 18 Avenue (Gravesend Park), within the confines of the 66 Precinct,” DCPI said. Investigators found “approximately 57 swastikas in the playground and handball court area written on the wall in red, blue and yellow colors.” No suspects have been arrested.

Brooklyn Community Board 12 denounced the acts, pointing to the disturbing pattern of repeat vandalism at the same site. “Same park, different day. A day later, and this is what happened,” the board wrote. “We are requesting that NYPD Hate Crimes pull out all the stops to catch these vile Jew haters.”

The Anti-Defamation League of New York and New Jersey also issued a sharp condemnation. “Parents should never have to fear their children will encounter vile hatred at the playground,” the ADL said. “We are disgusted to see this display of antisemitism in Boro Park, home to tens of thousands of Jewish New Yorkers and thousands of Holocaust survivors.”

Israel’s diplomatic mission in the city echoed those sentiments. The Consulate General of Israel in New York described the vandalism as “antisemitic hatred.” It added, “A playground meant for joy and innocence was deliberately turned into a place of fear and terror because the children who play there are Jews. We will not be silent. The Jewish community around the world will stand together and will not be intimidated.”

The incidents come amid a broader surge in antisemitic activity across New York since October 7, 2023. Figures released by the NYPD on the eve of the November mayoral election, which was won by Zohran Mamdani, showed that Jews accounted for 62% of all hate-crime victims reported last month, with 29 antisemitic cases out of 47 total incidents.

On the same day Mamdani won the election, swastikas were sprayed on the Magen David Yeshiva in Brooklyn.

Nearly two weeks later, antisemitic graffiti reading “[Curse] Jews” was discovered written on a sidewalk in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill neighborhood.

In December, a Jewish man was stabbed in broad daylight in Crown Heights, an assault police are investigating as a possible antisemitic attack.

{Matzav.com}

A group of senior diplomats from eight Muslim-majority nations said Wednesday that they will participate in a newly formed Peace Council for Gaza, following an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump, according to reports in Turkish media.

In a joint declaration issued by the Foreign Ministry of Turkey, the ministers said the decision marks a coordinated diplomatic step backing a U.S.-driven framework. Each government will complete its accession through its own legal channels, with Egypt, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates already confirming their formal entry.

The foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates reiterated their endorsement of President Trump’s peace initiative and pledged to carry out the Peace Council’s mandate as an interim governing mechanism. That mandate is set out in the Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza, which was adopted under UN Security Council Resolution 2803.

According to the statement, the plan aims to lock in a durable ceasefire, facilitate the rebuilding of Gaza, and pursue what the ministers described as a just and lasting settlement grounded in Palestinian self-determination and statehood under international law. They said the effort is intended to enhance security and stability for all communities in the region.

The ministers also stressed their resolve to work toward “fair and lasting peace,” adding that close diplomatic coordination among the participating states will continue as the initiative moves forward.

At the center of the effort is Trump’s Board of Peace, an international body chaired by the U.S. president, which the administration views as a cornerstone of its strategy to secure long-term calm in Gaza after the ceasefire that took effect in October.

The Board of Peace is charged with guiding Gaza’s demilitarization, reconstruction, and transitional administration, coordinating its work with a Palestinian Arab-led National Committee for the Administration of Gaza while rallying international support and financing.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said Wednesday morning that he has accepted Trump’s invitation to participate and will take a seat on the Board of Peace.

“The Prime Minister will join as a member of the Board of Peace, which will be composed of world leaders,” his office said.

Earlier in the week, Mohammed VI of Morocco also agreed to join the Board of Peace, accepting Trump’s invitation to serve as a founding member.

{Matzav.com}

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he intends to move swiftly to turn the Greenland framework agreed to by President Trump into something concrete, signaling that follow-up talks will begin without delay.

“There’s a lot of work to be done. We’ll do it step by step, but of course, working fast, but also with thoughtful diplomacy,” Rutte said in an interview on Special Report with host Bret Baier.

Rutte emphasized that the process will advance decisively, adding, “We will get this done.”

Trump has recently made clear that he believes anything less than U.S. “ownership” of Greenland would fall short of what is needed, sharpening the stakes surrounding the framework.

When asked whether Greenland would continue as a Danish territory under the proposed arrangement, Rutte said that question was not part of the talks.

“That issue did not come up anymore in my conversation with the president,” Rutte explained. “He’s very much focused on what do we need to do to make sure that that huge Arctic region … where the Chinese, Russians are more and more active … how we can protect that.

“That was really the focus of our discussions.”

The NATO chief’s remarks underscore that the negotiations, led under the umbrella of NATO, are centered primarily on security concerns in the Arctic rather than questions of sovereignty.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee responded sharply to criticism from church leaders in Yerushalayim who have spoken out against Christian Zionism, saying the term has been mischaracterized by figures who do not speak for Christians worldwide. Speaking Wednesday with Newsmax, Huckabee said the concept is being unfairly attacked and misunderstood.

During an interview on “Newsline” with host Bianca de la Garza, Huckabee addressed a recent letter issued by church patriarchs and senior clergy in Jerusalem. He said the letter wrongly portrayed Christian Zionism as harmful and improperly suggested that its authors represent all Christians living in or connected to the Holy Land.

“I found that a little bit troubling,” he said, “because I’m not sure that anybody has the exclusivity to speak for all Christians in the world.”

The letter claimed that Christian Zionism promotes “damaging ideologies,” an assertion Huckabee said misrepresents what the term actually stands for.

“There was also a very, very targeted kind of a pejorative hit at the term Christian Zionist,” he said. “I consider myself a Christian Zionist.”

“All that means is that, yes, I’m a Christian,” said Huckabee.

He went on to explain that identifying as a Zionist carries no sinister meaning and instead reflects recognition of Jewish historical and national rights. “But to be a Zionist doesn’t mean anything nefarious. It simply means that you believe that the Jewish people have a divine right and, frankly, a geopolitical right to a homeland that they have lived in for almost 4,000 years.”

Huckabee dismissed arguments that Christian Zionism should be treated as controversial or threatening.

“So to say a person is a Christian Zionist, it’s a Christian who respects that Jewish people should be living in the Holy Land,” Huckabee said.

“To say that it’s somehow some term that ought to be fearful or, as Tucker Carlson said, is indicative of a brain virus, there are tens of millions of evangelicals just in the United States who would be called Christian Zionists.”

Pointing to historical figures, Huckabee argued that Christian Zionism has long been embraced by prominent Christian leaders.

“Martin Luther King Jr. … was a Christian Zionist,” he said. “So it should not be something that is divisive to Christians.”

“It ought to be a term that every Christian should embrace.”

In the same interview, Huckabee also weighed in on President Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland, saying the idea makes strategic sense and would benefit more than just the United States.

“If it’s good for the U.S. to put defensive forces in a preventive mode, then I’ll tell you something: It’s not just good for America, it’s good for the world. It’s great for Europe.”

“I think the European nations should be giving him a standing ovation for the fact that he had the courage to say, ‘This is a very strategic piece of land,'” he added.

Huckabee also brushed aside skeptics who question Trump’s ability to follow through on unconventional proposals.

“I would say pop the popcorn, sit back and watch,” he said.

“This is a president who can do things that everyone scoffs at and says, ‘Ah, that’ll never happen; he can’t do that.’ And then he does it.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump is preparing to approach the November midterm elections as if he himself were on the ballot, deploying the full weight of the White House to protect Republican control of Congress by traveling extensively, pouring money into competitive races, and pressing the case that his policies have eased the cost-of-living squeeze for Americans, the NY Post reports.

“He’s going to campaign like it’s 2024,” Susie Wiles, Trump’s 2024 campaign co-chair who now serves as chief of staff, told The NY Post.

Senior advisers say the administration views holding the House and Senate as critical to preserving Trump’s authority and advancing his agenda during the remaining two years of his term.

Under the strategy, Trump intends to take a hands-on role on the campaign trail and regularly deploy Vice President JD Vance as a surrogate. Cabinet members will also fan out across the country to promote the administration’s record, according to senior officials who spoke with The Post.

The president’s first political trip of the year is scheduled for Tuesday in Iowa, where he plans to speak about economic and energy policy. Trump also continues to involve himself in primary contests, most recently endorsing Rep. Julia Letlow in her bid to challenge Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary.

Fundraising will be another pillar of the effort. A source said Trump is expected to help raise large sums that can be directed to closely contested Senate races in states such as Michigan, North Carolina, and Georgia. Control of the House, meanwhile, is expected to come down to roughly three dozen swing districts, including several in California and New York.

James Blair, who served as Trump’s 2024 political director, said the administration believes it has both achievements and organizational advantages that could upend the usual midterm pattern in which the president’s party loses ground.

“Since 2024 Republicans have been outperforming Democrats in voter registration in every state in the country,” he told The Post. “That’s a huge deal and has never been the case before. The number one indicator of how people are going to vote is what party they’re registering with.”

Blair said the objective for 2026 is straightforward: “I want to keep the House and keep the Senate. Even by one. One is a victory.”

Trump is expected to devote significant resources to that effort, including tapping into nearly $300 million held by his allied super PAC, MAGA Inc.

“He’s going to behave as though he is on the ballot. So that means some spending, that means a lot of travel, that means a lot of messaging help for candidates that need and want it,” Wiles said.

A central component of the plan is energizing Trump’s core supporters who helped return him to the White House, while framing the election around his effort to complete what he calls a “Golden Age” agenda and pointing to renewed Democratic talk of impeachment as a reason to turn out.

“All Republicans are not Trump voters, but the Trump voters are those who turn out. Our job is to motivate them to vote for President Trump to finish the job,” Wiles noted.

Blair said that focus is essential.

“Converting presidential voters into midterm voters is a core underlying challenge, but if we can substantially increase their participation, it will help all Republicans across the country. It’s something that we will certainly be setting out to do – it’s something that the president is very good at,” he said.

As Trump marks the anniversary of his inauguration, advisers say he is increasingly focused on his second year in office and on locking in a lasting legacy by keeping Republicans in control of Congress. A major part of that effort will be selling voters on what the administration says are concrete gains, including lower mortgage and credit card rates, cheaper prescription drugs, and reduced gas prices.

The president has made clear he is unhappy that those achievements have not resonated more strongly with the public.

“We didn’t do as good a job as the president would like us to do in what he calls PR, what I would call is just getting our message,” a senior administration official said.

Trump voiced that frustration Tuesday during a lengthy appearance in the White House briefing room, where aides distributed 31-page packets detailing accomplishments from his first year in office.

“We’ve done a much better job than we’re able to promote,” the president noted.

Wiles said the breadth of the administration’s work has made it harder to highlight individual successes.

“The first year has been full every day, full of a new accomplishment, a new victory that helps the American people. Now we have to tell the story better,” she said.

“What I want to be sure we do in the second year is go a level deeper. We accomplished so much in the first year. It’s very tangible. There’s the big, beautiful bill. There’s something for everyone. But now we have to go a little deeper,” she said.

Trump struck a similar note recently in Davos, where he promoted the strength of the U.S. economy before an audience of global business leaders.

“President Trump accomplished more in one year than many presidents did in eight,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Post. “The President delivered on every major campaign promise—securing the border, stopping Biden’s inflation crisis, signing the largest middle-class tax cuts in history, ending woke DEI nonsense, and restoring American strength on the world stage.”

History, however, suggests a steep climb for the party in power. Midterm elections often result in losses for the president’s party, and current polling reflects that challenge.

Democrats hold a four-point edge on the generic congressional ballot, according to the RealClearPolitics average, and party leaders are confident about their prospects, particularly in the House.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York previewed that message in November, saying: “As Democrats, we will continue to make clear to the American people that you deserve better, and that we’re focused on driving down the high cost of living, fixing our broken health care system, and cleaning up corruption in the Congress, in the courts and in the White House, so we can actually deliver an America of the people.”

A former Biden White House official dismissed the idea of centering the midterms around Trump.

“Best of luck!” said the longtime Democratic Party official and campaign aide.

“[Voters] are not going to let members [of Congress] slide on their price of electricity and groceries because Trump is pretending he is on the ballot.”

Republicans remain upbeat, arguing that their approach gives them an opening to win over voters on economic issues, which they believe will dominate the campaign.

“Six, seven months from now, when we’re really in the heated campaign season, we’re reasonably optimistic that the way people feel about the economy will be markedly improved, which will bolster the generic ballot and bolster our chances overall,” a senior administration official said.

The official added that Republicans are benefiting from internal cohesion, contending that they “are really pretty unified, all in all, and all rowing in the same direction, whereas the Democrats are very much involved in factional infighting that we don’t really suffer from.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump said escalating U.S. military deployments to the Middle East are tied to pressure on Iran, claiming Tehran backed away from large-scale executions after he warned of severe consequences. Speaking in an interview Wednesday with CNBC, Trump was asked whether the movement of aircraft carriers and F-15 fighter jets signaled additional steps. He responded by reiterating that Iranian officials cancelled hundreds of planned hangings following his threat of force.

“We hope there’s not going to be further action,” Trump said. “They were shooting people indiscriminately on the streets and they were going to hang 837, mostly young people” after he threatened to hit them hard if they harmed protesters.

Trump also addressed Iran’s nuclear ambitions, saying the regime must abandon any pursuit of atomic weapons. “They gotta stop with the nuclear,” he told CNBC.

A night earlier, Trump warned that the United States would respond decisively if Iran kills protesters or follows through on reported assassination threats against him.

In a separate interview with NewsNation host Katie Pavlich, Trump was asked about reports that Iranian authorities continue to burn protesters alive and about threats made against him over the weekend.

“Well, they shouldn’t be doing it, but I’ve left notification: Anything ever happens, the whole country is going to get blown up,” Trump said. “But I have very firm instructions: Anything happens, they’re going to wipe them off the face of this earth.”

Earlier Wednesday, Iran’s state television released its first official death toll tied to the nationwide protests sweeping the Islamic Republic. The broadcaster reported a total of 3,117 fatalities, including 2,427 civilians and members of the security forces.

That official figure stands in sharp contrast to estimates from human rights organizations, which say the number of people killed during the unrest is significantly higher.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

A wave of anger swept through the Torah-observant public after Israel’s satirical television program Eretz Nehederet released a promotional clip widely condemned as a degrading mockery of Rav Shlomo Yehuda Be’eri, known throughout the Torah world as the Yenuka.

The segment, aired ahead of the show’s scheduled broadcast, triggered sharp backlash from rabbanim, askanim, and countless ordinary Jews who view the portrayal as a direct affront to kavod haTorah and to a revered talmid chacham.

In the sketch, comedian Daniel Chen appears as a caricature dubbed the “Tenuka,” a clear and deliberate play on the Yenuka’s title. The character is presented as confused and theatrical, accompanied by exaggerated behavior including playing an organ, while a submissive aide, portrayed by Ortel Tsabari, hovers in exaggerated reverence. Viewers say the skit reduces a talmid chochom to an object of ridicule, turning spiritual greatness into cheap satire.

The reaction was immediate and intense. Social media platforms filled with denunciations accusing the program of crossing an inviolable line. Many commenters warned that mocking tzaddikim is not humor but a serious transgression, expressing outrage that a public broadcaster would demean someone seen as embodying Torah purity and yiras Shamayim. Calls to boycott the show have spread rapidly, alongside pleas that those responsible reflect on the gravity of their actions.

The promotional clip itself attempts to frame the parody as lighthearted, presenting the “Tenuka” as an obsessive Torah phenomenon surrounded by sycophantic admiration. Lines in the sketch portray the aide as utterly insignificant before the rov, a depiction critics say cynically twists sincere kavod into parody and derision.

Defenders of the Yenuka point out that the real Rav Be’eri is renowned for extraordinary Torah knowledge, with vast portions of Tanach and Shas committed to memory, alongside niggunim that have inspired thousands. To them, the skit represents not satire but a willful distortion of a life devoted to Torah and kedushah, emptied of context and respect for the sake of a laugh.

Opponents of the broadcast argue that this incident fits a broader pattern in which secular media figures target the Torah world, particularly from cultural centers in Tel Aviv, portraying emunah and spiritual leadership as backward or absurd. They see the sketch as another salvo in an ongoing struggle over Jewish identity and values in the public sphere.

[Audio below.] Audio recordings aired Wednesday night on Channel 12 indicate that gedolei Yisroel who support advancing a proposed conscription law see it as a temporary maneuver designed to delay action, not as a pathway toward bringing yeshiva bochurim into the IDF.

This is no surprise, as has been surmised in a number of prior extensive reports on the matter here on Matzav.com.

In the recordings, Hagaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch explains that his backing of the legislation is rooted in the belief that it would “buy time” for the Torah community. When asked whether yeshiva students who are not part of formal learning frameworks might eventually be drafted, he answered without hesitation: “God forbid.”

Rav Hirsch also rejected the enlistment benchmarks included in the bill, making clear that there is no intention to comply with them. “Do they think we will want to meet the target? Of course we will not want to,” he said. He went on to predict that the law would fall apart within a few years, adding, “In the meantime, we gained time.”

Similar sentiments were voiced by Hagaon Rav Dov Landau, who stated plainly that there is no plan to send chareidim to military service, including those not enrolled in yeshivos. “What they are talking about is nonsense. It will not happen. We will not go to the army; no one will go to the army,” he said.

The broadcast prompted swift political backlash. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said the recordings demonstrate that “the spiritual leaders of the chareidi parties are openly admitting that the draft-evading law is a fraud and that no chareidi youth will enlist.”

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman delivered similar criticism, declaring, “The rabbinical council of draft evasion has revealed its true face. It’s all a bluff – no chareidi will enlist. We will continue to send our sons and daughters to the army, and they will continue to send theirs to live off the taxes we pay.”

Within the coalition, Likud MK Dan Illouz called for immediate action, saying, “I once again urge my fellow coalition members to join my demand to amend the law.”

The National Religious Reservists Forum also issued a sharp response, stating, “It’s time to stop closing our eyes and face reality. The leading chareidi authorities are openly admitting they have no intention of meeting enlistment targets and are merely stringing along the public that serves.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

[Video and photos below.] The Kol Yisroel organization made its first official visit to Albany on January 20, marking the launch of an effort to introduce the organization and begin building working relationships with elected officials across New York State.

The visit opened with a meet-and-greet with Rockland County Assemblymember Karl Brabenec. Over the course of the day, Kol Yisroel representatives met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and senior staff, including Assemblymembers Bill Magnarelli, Patrick Carroll, Al Taylor, Emily Gallagher, Stacey Pheffer Amato, and Aron Wieder.

Additional meetings were held with the chiefs of staff for Assemblymembers Steve Stern and John Zaccaro Jr., as well as staff from the office of Assemblymember Micah Lasher. Kol Yisroel also met with staff from the offices of State Senators James Skoufis and Shelley Mayer, including Senator Mayer’s chief of staff. Senator Mayer currently serves as chair of the Senate Education Committee.

The day concluded with a meeting with Rockland County State Senator Bill Weber.

Two central issues were discussed throughout the visit. The first involved the possible introduction of legislation to establish a new school district in East Ramapo, based on Wards 1–4 and Wards 5–9. The second focused on advocating for an expansion of legislation creating buffer zones around houses of worship. Kol Yisroel voiced disappointment with the currently proposed 25-foot buffer, stating that it falls short of providing meaningful protection, and urged lawmakers to consider a 100-foot standard.

Kol Yisroel described the meetings as productive and encouraging and said it plans to return to Albany in the coming weeks to continue discussions. The organization added that it will keep the community informed as the effort moves forward.

VIDEO AND PHOTOS:

{Matzav.com}

Israel is home to more than half a million children from birth to age three, yet oversight of early childhood care remains uneven, with large numbers of infants and toddlers placed in settings that operate outside the state’s licensing framework, according to a report published Wednesday by Yediot Acharonot.

The report states that of roughly 540,000 young children nationwide, only about half are enrolled in supervised childcare facilities. An additional 114,000 infants and toddlers are cared for in centers that do not hold official licenses.

Although a Supervision Law enacted in 2021 was intended to extend regulatory oversight to private childcare centers, implementation has faced mounting difficulties since the legislation was approved, affecting enforcement and compliance across several areas.

Those challenges are expected to intensify next year. In 2026, the budget designated for monitoring daycare centers is projected to drop sharply to 46 million shekels, down from approximately 190 million shekels in 2023.

Officials warn that the reduced funding could significantly weaken efforts to shut down illegal daycare operations. Estimates from the Israeli Tax Authority suggest that between 1,000 and 1,500 daycare centers are currently operating without proper authorization.

Data gathered since last August by the Education Ministry and the Welfare Ministry show that 470 unlicensed daycare centers have already been identified. Authorities note that these facilities are spread across different sectors and that there has also been a rise in the detection of daycare centers that are failing to report income to the tax authorities.

{Matzav.com}

New Jersey will once again require cursive writing instruction in its public schools, with a new law directing districts to teach the skill to students in grades three through five starting next fall.

Governor Phil Murphy signed the legislation on Monday, making cursive a formal part of the curriculum once again. Supporters of the measure argue that handwriting instruction equips students with practical life skills, including the ability to sign documents and manage everyday tasks such as opening bank accounts and writing checks.

“For those of us who grew up handwriting our school papers, it’s hard to imagine that some children can no longer read or write using cursive,” said bill supporter and state Assemblywoman Shanique Speight.

“Requiring that cursive be taught in our public schools will benefit our students and prepare them for the future, so I am pleased to see this bill signed into law.”

Murphy also framed the move in a broader historical context, pointing to the nation’s approaching 250th anniversary and emphasizing the importance of giving students direct access to foundational texts through penmanship. He said cursive instruction allows students to “read our nation’s founding documents.

“We owe it to our students to give them a well-rounded education that ensures they have the tools to fully understand our rich history and become competent leaders,” Murphy said in a statement.

According to the governor’s office, the requirement will take effect with the next full academic year.

State Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer said the change reinforces the state’s educational goals by integrating traditional skills with modern learning standards.

“By embedding cursive instruction into the curriculum for grades three through five, this legislation strengthens our commitment to a well-rounded education that prepares students for real-world tasks, helps them connect with historical texts, and complements other learning,” Dehmer said.

Cursive instruction largely disappeared from classrooms around 2010, when the Common Core standards were introduced and districts shifted focus away from handwriting. In recent years, however, several states have reconsidered that approach.

New Jersey now joins states such as California and New Hampshire that have reinstated cursive as a required part of elementary education.

In New York, cursive remains optional at the district level, though efforts have been made to change that. A bill introduced by state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island, would mandate cursive instruction statewide, but it has failed to advance despite being introduced repeatedly over the past decade.

“The notion that a pupil could graduate from twelve years of education without knowing how to sign his or her name in cursive is unacceptable,” according to her proposal.

“This bill would require that this fundamental building block of our children’s education be removed from schools simply because they are not required as part of any of the numerous standardized tests students are subjected to.”

Back in New Jersey, the cursive mandate drew broad support from lawmakers across the state.

“Cursive writing is not about nostalgia – it’s about development,” said state Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie.

“From a learning-science perspective, handwriting engages neural pathways connected to literacy, attention and memory,” she said.

Murphy left office on Tuesday, with Democrat Mikie Sherrill being sworn in as New Jersey’s new governor later that day.

{Matzav.com}

A House committee advanced bipartisan contempt resolutions Wednesday targeting Bill and Hillary Clinton, escalating a dispute over their refusal to appear for sworn testimony connected to the panel’s investigation.

Members of the House Oversight Committee approved a measure recommending contempt charges against Bill Clinton by a 34–8 vote, citing his failure to comply with a subpoena seeking testimony about his ties to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. A separate resolution addressing Hillary Clinton’s refusal to testify passed by a 28–15 margin.

The subpoenas at issue were authorized last July, when Oversight Committee members and staff from both parties agreed to compel testimony from the Clintons. Despite that action, neither appeared for depositions.

Committee leaders said the stalemate followed months of negotiations between the Clintons’ legal team and Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), which did not result in voluntary compliance.

Several Democrats crossed party lines to support the contempt measures, joining Republicans in backing both resolutions against the former first couple.

President Trump said he has reached what he described as a preliminary framework for a future agreement involving Greenland, announcing at the same time that he will no longer move forward with planned tariffs on European countries that were set to take effect next month.

“We have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump wrote on Truth Social following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

“This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations. Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st,” he added.

The announcement marks a significant shift in what had become one of the most heated disputes between the Trump administration and European governments. While the president characterized the development as a breakthrough, no specific details of the framework were immediately released.

Trump has repeatedly stated his interest in U.S. control of Greenland, a vast island in the North Atlantic, while Denmark has consistently insisted it intends to retain sovereignty over the territory.

As European leaders resisted Trump’s push on Greenland, the president responded earlier this week by threatening sweeping trade penalties. He warned of a 10% tariff “on any and all goods” imported into the United States from the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland, with the rate scheduled to rise to 25% beginning June 1.

That plan has now been withdrawn. Trump said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will take the lead in negotiations related to Greenland.

Greenland also dominated Trump’s address Wednesday to the World Economic Forum, where he made clear that military action is not part of his approach.

“I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

“All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland,” he added.

The president openly criticized Denmark’s refusal to agree to U.S. control of the island, dismissively referring to Greenland as a “piece of ice.”

“We want a piece of ice for world protection — and they won’t give it,” he said.

“So they have a choice. You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember.”

Trump pointed to historical precedent, noting that the United States administered Greenland during World War II after Denmark fell to Nazi Germany, before returning it at the war’s end.

“After the war, we gave Greenland back to Denmark. How stupid were we to do that? But we did it. But how ungrateful are they now?”

“We’ve never asked for anything else and we could have kept that piece of land and we didn’t sell,” he continued. “They have a choice. You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative — or you can say no and we will remember.”

The president again stressed his argument that American control of Greenland is necessary to counter potential threats from China and Russia, citing the island’s strategic position in the Arctic.

“If there is a war, much of the action will take place on that piece of ice, think of it. Those missiles will be flying right over the center of that piece of ice,” he said.

In his statement announcing the framework, Trump said the discussions would also include The Golden Dome, the missile defense system he has proposed to protect the United States from incoming attacks.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein spoke out forcefully against efforts to assign blame to Israel’s attorney general for the recent tragedy at a Yerushalayim daycare facility, stressing that such an approach is fundamentally mistaken and contrary to Jewish belief.

In recorded remarks broadcast Tuesday evening on the Siach Yitzchok hotline, Rav Zilberstein addressed public claims that the disaster was the result of policies pursued by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, which critics say have restricted the chareidi community and led some parents to place children in unlicensed childcare settings.

According to the recording, Rav Zilberstein’s student, Rav Yaakov Ben Serouk, told listeners that when the rav learned of the tragic incident and heard the accusations circulating in the media, he reacted sharply and rejected them outright. Rav Zilberstein made clear that it is forbidden to speak in such terms or to attribute a tragedy of this nature to the actions of specific officials.

“Do not say such things,” Rav Zilberstein said. “A person must know that everything is from Shomayim. Our obligation is to strengthen ourselves and improve our ways, not to search for others to blame.”

Rav Zilberstein further explained that tragedies are meant to serve as a spiritual awakening. He said that such events are intended to prompt self-examination and repentance, with each individual reflecting on personal conduct and considering what message is being conveyed from Above.

{Matzav.com}

A severe Arctic air mass is poised to sweep across the eastern United States in the days ahead, bringing life-threatening cold that will drive temperatures well below zero in some areas and into the single digits in others, prompting warnings for residents to remain indoors to avoid hypothermia.

Meteorologists say the cold wave will intensify as the week progresses, with major impacts expected across the Midwest and Northeast. Chicago, large parts of Michigan, and upstate New York are among the locations forecast to experience the harshest conditions.

“It is dangerously cold,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines told The NY Post. “This Arctic air — an Arctic blast — is coming. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

According to Kines, the Northeast will bear the brunt of the frigid conditions over the weekend, as temperatures plunge to roughly 30 degrees below what is typical for late January.

As the Arctic air pours south from Canada, residents in the most affected regions — including parts of Minnesota and Illinois — could face serious health risks if they remain outdoors for extended periods without adequate protection, Kines warned.

“If you have to go outside, respect the cold,” he said, urging people to dress in layers and limit time outdoors to essential trips only.

“When it’s that cold, it actually hurts sometimes when you first breathe in,” he said. “It’s nothing to sneeze at.”

The extreme cold could also strain power systems, as households increase heating use and potentially overload local electrical grids, Kines added.

In New York City, temperatures are expected to tumble into the low teens over the weekend, coinciding with a snowstorm forecast to arrive on Sunday, according to Kines.

The storm is expected to bring several inches of snow — “at least enough to shovel and plow” — to the city, he said.

Before the cold fully sets in, conditions in the city are expected to remain milder on Thursday, with a high near 45 degrees and a low around 29, forecasters said.

By Friday, skies will be partly sunny, with temperatures reaching a high of 36 and dipping to 12 overnight. Shabbos is expected to be even colder, with a high of just 19 degrees and a low of 12.

On Sunday, as snow falls across the city, temperatures are forecast to reach a high of 20 degrees and a low of 15, forecasters said.

Relief from the deep freeze is not expected until sometime after next week, Kines said.

“So if you don’t like the cold, you better jump on a plane soon,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

The Gerer community is mourning the passing of Reb Yosef Chaim (Yossel) Roshitzky z”l, an elder and respected figure among Gerer Chassidim, who passed away today at 95.

Reb Yossel was niftar after a long and full life marked by deep devotion to Torah, chassidus, and unwavering attachment to the rebbes of Gur. His levayah is scheduled to take place Wednesday evening, departing from his home on Simtas Menashe 3 in Bnei Brak, proceeding past the Gerer Beis Chassidim on Or Hachaim  and continuing to the cemetery in Ashdod.

Born in Lodz, Poland, on the 21st of Sivan 5690, Reb Yossel was the son of Reb Yitzchak and Mrs. Chaya Roshitzky. In 5695, his parents immigrated to Eretz Yisroel, settling in Yaffo. During his youth in Tel Aviv, he absorbed chassidus and Torah from the Rav of Wieruszow, Rav Shaul Moshe Zilberman, whose teachings left a lifelong impression on him.

When the Imrei Emes arrived in Eretz Yisroel, Reb Yossel forged a deep bond with the Rebbe, regularly entering to seek guidance, advice, and brachos. On one occasion, when he submitted a kvittel, the Imrei Emes read his name aloud as “Yosef Chaim.” Reb Yossel viewed this as a clear blessing for long life, a brachah that was fulfilled.

Throughout his life, he remained deeply attached to the successive Gerer rebbes, including the Beis Yisroel, the Lev Simcha, the Pnei Menachem, and the current Rebbe. He would describe the awe he felt before entering the Rebbe, recalling how his teeth would chatter from reverence. He once recounted entering the Pnei Menachem and momentarily forgetting what he wished to ask. The Rebbe smiled and encouraged him to remember, and when Reb Yossel finally spoke, the Rebbe immediately blessed him for everything he had intended to request. Reb Yossel later said he felt the Rebbe had known all along but wished to give him a sense of comfort.

In the first year of the Beis Yisroel’s leadership, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5709, travel conditions were extremely difficult. Nevertheless, Reb Yossel journeyed with great mesirus nefesh to be with his Rebbe. When he arrived, the Beis Yisroel remarked warmly, “Yossel is here as well,” words that Reb Yossel cherished for the rest of his life.

He enjoyed a particularly close relationship with the Lev Simcha, in part because his son, Reb Mordechai Shmuel, served the Rebbe faithfully. The Rebbe, in turn, showed him great affection and appreciation. Reb Yossel was also among the last members of the close circle of Rav Zev (Vove) Zilberstein.

Even in his advanced years, Reb Yossel continued to serve as a living example of a true chassid. During the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, he made a point of coming at least one day to learn in the beis medrash together with younger men. For many years, he learned b’chavrusa with his close friend Reb Yechezkel Eisenberg. When a kollel for working men was established, the two of them were the first chavrusashaft to arrive and learn together.

Until just two weeks ago, Reb Yossel was still walking the streets of Bnei Brak on his own, despite his advanced age. He also attended the levayah of the Rav of the Gerer community in Bnei Brak, Rav Yehuda Aryeh Leib Zilberstein, who passed away recently at the age of 67.

He is survived by a distinguished family devoted to Torah and communal service. His sons include Rav Yisrael Roshitzky, Rav of Mevo’os HaChermon, and Rav Mordechai Roshitzky, who served as an aide to the Lev Simcha and later as manager of the Satentzia of Gur. He is also survived by his daughter, Mrs. Zelman, wife of Rav Berel Zelman, manager of the Gerer consumer cooperative in Bnei Brak.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli court on Wednesday moved to release the driver suspected of killing 16-year-old bochur Naftali Zvi Kramer z”l in a traffic incident near Kiryat Gat, even as police immediately challenged the decision and secured a temporary delay.

The Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court ruled that the suspect be transferred to house arrest, but prosecutors filed an appeal on the spot. The court granted a 24-hour stay of the release, meaning the driver will remain behind bars until the appeal is heard.

Investigators are examining allegations that the driver caused Kramer’s death through negligence, along with other possible offenses. In his statement to police, the driver said he never noticed the bochur before the crash. During the hearing, police argued that the suspect posed a danger to the public, with a representative telling the court, “Instead of accelerating toward a crowd of people, one should brake. That is the proper course of action.”

Judge Yariv Ben David nonetheless determined that the driver could be released to strict house arrest with supervision and limitations on his movement. While acknowledging the fatal outcome, the judge pointed to a range of considerations weighing against continued detention, including findings from the investigation, video footage shown in court, the driver’s cooperation, his decision to stop the bus immediately after the collision, and the absence of any prior criminal history.

Summarizing his reasoning, the judge wrote, “Despite the severe outcome, I find that in these specific circumstances, an alternative less harmful than detention is appropriate and proportionate to both the act and the individual involved,” referring to the incident, which took place amid demonstrations at the Komemiyus Junction.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that U.S. control of Greenland is necessary to support construction of a massive “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, arguing that the project would also safeguard Canada and underscoring his view that Ottawa relies heavily on American security.

Addressing participants at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the proposed defense network would automatically extend protection north of the U.S. border. “We’re building a Golden Dome that’s going to, just by its very nature, going to be defending Canada. Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful also,” he told the audience.

Trump went on to criticize Canada’s leadership, saying he was unimpressed by remarks delivered a day earlier by the Canadian prime minister. “But they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful. They should be grateful to us, Canada. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s appearance at the forum.

Whether Canada will ultimately join the Golden Dome initiative remains uncertain. The White House first revealed the missile defense concept in May, and while participation from allies has not been finalized, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that the administration has formally invited Canada to take part.

Speaking in Davos during an interview with CNBC, Bessent emphasized Greenland’s central role in the plan. “Greenland is strategically important for [Trump’s] Golden Dome project to protect the U.S. and he’s invited Canada into that if they want to pay their share,” he said.

According to administration estimates, the Golden Dome system would cost about $175 billion and rely on a network of space-based sensors, interceptors, and other cutting-edge missile defense capabilities.

Those figures could climb substantially over time. In a report released in May, the Congressional Budget Office projected that deploying space-based interceptors alone could run anywhere from $161 billion to $542 billion over a 20-year period.

Carney, in his own Davos address, avoided naming Trump directly but cautioned that the global, rules-based system is eroding as “great powers” increasingly apply economic and security pressure to influence allies.

He said countries that fall into the category of “middle powers,” including Canada, should treat the moment as a “wake-up call,” arguing that cooperation alone does not ensure security. Instead, he urged nations to strengthen themselves through diversification, collective efforts, and respect for national sovereignty.

Carney also reiterated Canada’s backing of Greenland and Denmark’s right to decide the island’s future, signaling resistance to any attempt to tie security arrangements to territorial claims or economic coercion.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, outlining his views on a range of international developments, including Venezuela, Greenland, Israel, and the situation in Gaza.

Speaking about events following the recent capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro earlier this month, Trump said the country was now positioned for success and praised the cooperation his administration received. “Venezuela is going to do fantastically well. We appreciate all of the cooperation we’ve been given. We’ve been given great cooperation. Once the attack ended. The attack ended, and they said, ‘Let’s make a deal.’”

Trump also returned to the issue of Greenland, reiterating his belief that the massive Arctic island should become part of the United States. He described Greenland as strategically vital, saying, “This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America, on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere. That’s our territory.”

Emphasizing security concerns, Trump argued that only the United States is capable of protecting Greenland effectively. He said the U.S. needs control of the territory to “make it so that it’s good for Europe and safe for Europe, and good for us.. And the fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States.”

At the same time, Trump stressed that he does not intend to use military force to obtain the island. “People thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” he said, adding that he prefers diplomacy. “I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, just as we have acquired many other territories,” he said.

Turning to Israel, Trump credited the United States with major contributions to its security and defense capabilities. “What we did for Israel was incredible,” he said, while pledging to pursue even more advanced missile defense technology for North America.

He recounted a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “We did it for Israel. And by the way, I told Bibi: ‘Bibi, stop taking credit for the dome. That’s our technology, that’s our stuff.’” Trump added that Israel’s military efforts were decisive, saying the Israelis “were good fighters and they had a lot of courage and we wiped out the Iran nuclear threat.”

After concluding his prepared remarks, Trump was asked about the creation of the Gaza Board of Peace and whether he believes the current ceasefire can last. He expressed optimism, responding, “I do. I think we have peace in the Middle East.”

He acknowledged remaining challenges, particularly regarding Hamas. “There are some little situations,” he said, “like Hamas. And Hamas has agreed to give up their weapons. They were born with a weapon in their hand, so it’s not easy to do. When they were born, they were born with a rifle in their hand. It’s not an easy thing for them, but that’s what they agreed to. They’ve got to do it. And we’re going to see over the next two or three days, certainly over the next three weeks, whether or not they’re gonna do it. If they don’t, they’re going to be blown away very quickly.”