Matzav

Ukraine came under one of its heaviest aerial assaults in months early Shabbos, as Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones against Kyiv and surrounding areas just a day before scheduled talks between Ukraine and the United States, Ukrainian authorities said.

Explosions echoed across the capital for hours as ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles struck multiple parts of the city beginning in the early morning hours of Shabbos and continuing into daylight. One person was killed and at least 27 others were wounded, according to officials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched an enormous overnight assault, firing nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles at Ukraine, with energy facilities and civilian infrastructure among the primary targets.

“If Russia turns even the X-mas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes and burned apartments, of ruined power plants, then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, urging the United States and Europe to intensify pressure on Moscow.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed it carried out what it described as a “massive strike” overnight using “long-range precision-guided weapons from land, air and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles” along with drones. The ministry said the targets included energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s military and defense industries, framing the attack as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on what it called “civilian objects” inside Russia.

Earlier on Shabbos, the ministry also claimed Russian air defenses intercepted seven Ukrainian drones over the Krasnodar and Adygeya regions.

Ukraine’s air force later said Russia actually deployed 519 drones and 40 missiles in the attack, with Kyiv’s energy and civilian infrastructure bearing the brunt. Zelenskyy said several districts were left without electricity or heating as a result.

“Today Russia demonstrated how it responds to peace talks between Ukraine and the United States on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. They carried out massive attacks on Ukraine precisely as we move toward peace negotiations,” Zelenskyy said in an audio message to reporters while traveling. “That is Russia’s response.”

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said more than 10 residential buildings were damaged, and emergency crews were working to rescue people trapped beneath collapsed structures.

One Kyiv resident, Olena Karpenko, 52, described hearing a man die in the blaze caused by the strikes. “His scream is still in my ears. I can’t believe it,” she said through tears.

Karpenko said the attack began with an explosion at a nearby thermal power plant, followed by a more powerful blast that rattled her windows before her own building was hit. “I saw how the apartment was burning, there was a fire and we heard a man’s screams, begging for help,” she said.

Kyiv Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said seven locations across the capital were struck and that two children were among the wounded. He said a body was recovered from beneath the rubble of one damaged building.

“In fact, the entire center of Kyiv was under attack by drones,” Tkachenko said, adding that the assault was meant to signal that Russia “it is raising the stakes in this war.”

Fires broke out in multiple residential towers, including an 18-story building in the Dnipro district and a 24-story building in Darnytsia. Additional blazes erupted in the Obolonskyi and Holosiivskyi districts as emergency crews rushed to contain the damage.

In the broader Kyiv region, Ukraine’s Emergency Service reported strikes on industrial and residential sites. In the Vyshhorod area, rescue teams pulled one person alive from the ruins of a destroyed home.

The attacks also triggered heightened alert levels in neighboring Poland. Polish armed forces scrambled fighter jets and temporarily shut down airports in Lublin and Rzeszow near the Ukrainian border, officials said on X. Authorities later said Polish airspace was not violated, and the civil aviation authority Pansa confirmed airport operations had resumed. It remained unclear why the alert was triggered, given that the Russian strikes were concentrated on Kyiv, far from Poland’s border.

Zelenskyy, who was traveling to Florida to meet with President Donald Trump on Sunday, told reporters he aimed to minimize unresolved issues in their discussions while maintaining Ukraine’s core positions.

“I am confident there are compromise proposals — we know the Americans — and, obviously, our enemy also always has its own goals, which we know well,” he said in an audio note shared via a WhatsApp chat with journalists.

He said security guarantees would be his top priority, noting US commitments to provide protections similar to NATO’s Article 5, under which an attack on one member triggers a collective military response, though details remain unresolved.

Zelenskyy said the most sensitive topics would involve territory, including the Donetsk region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, stressing that Ukraine would never recognize occupied land as Russian. “But the most important issue I want to stress today is security guarantees. Beyond territorial issues and the ZNPP (nuclear plant), security guarantees are critically important for us,” he said.

Zelenskyy also said he plans to brief European leaders in online meetings following his talks with Trump.

A viral video circulating this week has sparked new scrutiny over a Minneapolis daycare facility that has received roughly $4 million in public funding, after a YouTuber reported finding no children on site and noticed a misspelling on the center’s front signage.

The incident has unfolded against the backdrop of a widening welfare fraud investigation tied to Minnesota’s Somali community, which federal authorities have warned could ultimately exceed $9 million.

In the video, YouTuber Nick Shirley and another man walk up to a building marked as a daycare, where a sign on the door reads “Quality Learing [sic] Center,” incorrectly spelling the word “learning.”

Moments later, a white woman — who did not appear to be affiliated with the facility — approaches while recording on her phone and shouts, “Don’t open up. We have ICE here.”

Shirley immediately pushes back in the exchange, responding, “How do you have ICE here ma’am, I’m literally a YouTuber?”

Shirley and his companion then display documents indicating that the daycare is licensed to care for 99 children and has received approximately $1.9 million per year from the state over the past two years.

“You do realize there’s supposed to be 99 children here in this building and there’s no one here?” Shirley asks in the video.

No children are seen inside the facility during the recording, though the exact date of Shirley’s visit is not clear.

Records on the Minnesota Department of Human Services website confirm that the Quality Learning Center is licensed for up to 99 children.

The video drew sharp criticism from Minnesota Republicans, including Rep. Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip, who blasted Gov. Tim Walz in a post on X.

“4 million dollars of hard-earned tax dollars going to an education center that can’t even spell learning correctly. Care to explain this one, Tim Walz?” Emmer wrote.

According to St. Paul’s ABC affiliate, the Quality Learning Center accumulated 95 violations cited by the state’s human services agency between 2019 and 2023. Those violations reportedly include missing records for more than a dozen children listed at the center and failures to properly secure hazardous items away from children.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump signaled skepticism toward a newly unveiled peace initiative from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the two leaders prepared to meet Sunday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Speaking to Politico, Trump made clear that he is not yet persuaded by the Ukrainian proposal. “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” Trump said. “We’ll see what he’s got.”

Despite his reservations, Trump expressed confidence that the upcoming discussions would be productive and said he is also looking to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future. “I think it’s going to go good with him,” Trump said to Politico. “I think it’s going to go good with Putin.”

Trump added that he intends to meet with Putin “as much I want.”

Zelenskyy’s latest proposal, described this week, consists of a 20-point framework that would effectively freeze the conflict along its current front lines. The plan would allow Ukraine to redeploy forces from parts of the eastern front while establishing demilitarized buffer zones, according to details provided by the Ukrainian leader.

In recent days, Zelenskyy met with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a meeting he described as a “good conversation.”

A senior U.S. official told Axios that the talks were “positive and constructive,” adding that the administration has made more progress over the past two weeks than during the previous year of stalled diplomatic efforts.

According to Zelenskyy, his meeting with Trump will also address the future management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the question of territorial control in Donbas, the eastern region claimed by Moscow. The plan further calls for Russia to pull its forces out of a specific area in Donetsk.

Russia, however, has already pushed back strongly. On Friday, Moscow accused Zelenskyy and supportive European Union governments of attempting to derail a U.S.-mediated effort to halt the fighting, signaling opposition to the proposal ahead of the Florida talks.

The Kremlin said foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov held phone discussions with U.S. officials, while Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov sharply criticized Kyiv’s position.

“Our ability to make the final push and reach an agreement will depend on our own work and the political will of the other party, especially in a context where Kyiv and its sponsors — notably within the European Union, who are not in favor of an agreement — have stepped up efforts to torpedo it,” Ryabkov said on Russian TV.

Ryabkov said the proposal developed with Zelenskyy’s involvement “differs radically” from the points previously outlined in recent contacts between U.S. and Russian officials.

“Without an adequate resolution of the problems at the origin of this crisis, it will be quite simply impossible to reach a definitive accord,” he added.

He also insisted that any agreement must “remain within the limits” established by Trump and Putin during their August meeting in Alaska, warning that otherwise “no accord can be reached.”

{Matzav.com}

Concerns over President Donald Trump’s personal safety have resurfaced following a September incident in Washington, DC, where protesters managed to disrupt a public appearance despite the presence of the United States Secret Service, prompting accusations of serious security breakdowns and a lack of government transparency, the NY Post reports.

Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, said his organization fears critical details about the incident are being withheld. “I’m just really concerned about the president’s safety,” Fitton told The Post.

Fitton pointed to Trump’s visit to Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, saying the security arrangements there placed the president in unnecessary danger. “He was almost killed twice supposedly under the protection of the Secret Service and then they walked him into a potentially dangerous ambush,” he said of the September incident at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab.

According to Judicial Watch, protesters affiliated with Code Pink were able to position themselves close to Trump after apparently learning about his movements in advance. The group has spent months seeking records that could explain how that information leaked from what should have been tightly controlled planning.

“These people were allowed to get within arm’s length of the sitting president with knives and who knows what else in the restaurant available to them,” Fitton said.

Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker also criticized the handling of the situation, describing it as “an unbelievable security lapse.” He added, “I can’t believe they would let random people sit in that close proximity to them,” and compared the scene to another era, saying, “That’s crazy. That’s like’s like the days when Abraham Lincoln would ride down Pennsylvania Avenue in his coach and buggy with no protection.”

Judicial Watch filed suit on December 18 in Washington, DC federal court, demanding access to records tied to the incident. The lawsuit seeks “all internal emails and text messages among USSS officials in the Presidential Protective Division regarding the presence of Code Pink protestors” at the restaurant, as well as “all emails sent between USSS officials and any email account ending in @codepink.org.”

Court filings allege the government missed a December 9 deadline to release the records under the Freedom of Information Act.

Trump’s dinner on September 9 included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. While none of the protesters were charged with violence, Fitton warned that anyone with foreknowledge of the president’s whereabouts could pose a serious threat.

Video from the restaurant showed members of Trump’s security team speaking into hand-held radios as the disruption unfolded, with Trump himself gesturing toward the protesters as chants erupted, including “Free DC. Free Palestine. Trump is the Hitler of our time!”

The restaurant incident came after two assassination attempts against Trump during the 2024 campaign — one in July in Butler, Pennsylvania, and another in September at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. A subsequent House task force concluded that inexperienced personnel involved in his protection “did not clearly understand the delineation of their responsibilities.” Judicial Watch is also seeking Secret Service records related to those episodes.

Reports at the time said the protesters at Joe’s had more than an hour to make reservations and managed to secure seats directly next to Trump before confronting him, after which they left money on the table and were escorted out.

Security concerns were further heightened by a separate episode at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, where the Secret Service failed to detect a guest who brought a Glock handgun onto the property while the president was present. The weapon was reportedly carried in a bag as agents conducted manual searches.

Responding to that incident, a Secret Service spokesperson said, “The US Secret Service takes the safety and security of our sites very seriously and there are redundant security layers built into every one,” adding that the armed individual was never close to Trump.

The agency also said that all diners at the restaurant were screened before Trump arrived, but it declined to comment on the pending lawsuit.

{Matzav.com}

A Russian court has handed down a lengthy prison sentence to a onetime Foreign Ministry staffer who previously served at a Russian diplomatic mission in the United States, convicting him of passing sensitive material to American intelligence services.

Russia’s Federal Security Service said the Moscow City Court found Arseniy Konovalov guilty of high treason and ordered him to serve 12 years in a high-security penal colony. In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a fine of 100,000 rubles, or about $1,200.

According to the FSB, Konovalov was detained in March 2024 on suspicion of supplying classified information to US intelligence in exchange for payment while stationed at Russia’s Consulate General in Houston between 2014 and 2017.

Russian authorities did not specify the nature of the information Konovalov allegedly passed on or provide details about when the contacts with US officials occurred. Unconfirmed reports in Russian media claimed that he had been recruited by the CIA.

On Friday, state media aired video released by the FSB showing Konovalov’s arrest last year, along with footage of him appearing in court. Until then, Russian law enforcement had not publicly acknowledged his detention or disclosed the accusations against him.

The case was adjudicated by the Moscow City Court, which the FSB said formally concluded the proceedings with the treason conviction and sentence.

{Matzav.com}

A bloc of 21 predominantly Muslim nations, along with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, issued a coordinated statement condemning Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, warning that the move could destabilize a sensitive region and undermine international norms.

In their declaration, the countries cautioned against what they described as dangerous consequences for regional and global stability, saying the step carries “the serious repercussions of such unprecedented measure[s] on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and its serious effects on international peace and security as a whole, which also reflects Israel’s full and blatant disregard for international law.”

The statement further argued that the move sets a troubling international precedent, asserting that “the recognition of parts of states constitutes a serious precedent and threatens international peace and security, and violates the cardinal principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.”

Beyond the Somaliland issue, the countries also rejected any proposals to remove Palestinians from Gaza, pushing back against ideas that have circulated regarding population relocation following the war.

In recent discussions, Somaliland has been mentioned as a possible destination for Gazans who might emigrate from the conflict-ravaged Strip, a notion firmly opposed in the joint declaration.

The statement was backed by countries including Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and the Palestinian Authority.

Notably absent from the list of signatories were the three countries that normalized relations with Israel in 2020 — the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco — as well as Lebanon and Syria.

{Matzav.com}

Google published its annual breakdown of the most searched topics in the United States for 2025, offering a snapshot of a year dominated by political upheaval, shocking events, technological innovation, and viral cultural moments. Topping the list overall was conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose name generated unprecedented search traffic.

The surge in interest followed Kirk’s death, which propelled the founder of Turning Point USA past searches related to sweeping legislation, international crises, and major entertainment releases, making him the most searched individual of the year.

Kirk was assassinated on September 10 during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing, and prosecutors announced plans to pursue the death penalty after filing a capital murder charge.

Legislative and political developments also drove significant online attention. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act ranked second nationwide, becoming a focal point of debate after receiving backing from President Donald Trump. Searches tied to a government shutdown followed closely, reflecting widespread concern as federal operations were disrupted.

Technology and entertainment figured prominently as well. Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters placed fourth on the list, while Labubu, a collectible toy that went viral online, claimed the fifth spot. Apple’s iPhone 17 launch ranked sixth, underscoring sustained public interest in major consumer tech releases.

Emerging technologies and global events filled out the remainder of the top 10. DeepSeek, a rising artificial intelligence platform, ranked seventh. Zohran Mamdani, elected mayor of New York City, placed eighth, followed by the FIFA Club World Cup at No. 9. Searches related to tariffs rounded out the top tier amid renewed debate over trade policy and economic direction.

Beyond the top rankings, Google noted strong search interest throughout the year in topics such as the No Kings protest, the election of a new pope, and renewed attention to the Jeffrey Epstein files, highlighting a year shaped by controversy, cultural flashpoints, and political change.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview published on Shabbos that Iran is locked in what he described as a comprehensive confrontation with the United States, Israel, and Europe, portraying the struggle as more severe than past conflicts.

“In my opinion, we are at total war with the United States, Israel and Europe. They want to bring our country to its knees,” Pezeshkian said in remarks to Iranian state media.

Reflecting on past history, Pezeshkian argued that the current situation is even more complex than the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, saying that the nature of today’s confrontation is far less defined.

“During the war with Iraq, the situation was clear: they fired missiles, and we knew exactly where we were responding. But now, we are being surrounded from every angle,” he said.

Despite that assessment, the Iranian president insisted that Iran emerged militarily stronger following the June conflict with Israel, maintaining that the country’s armed forces are now better prepared for any future confrontation.

“Our beloved military forces are doing their jobs with strength and now, in terms of equipment and manpower, despite all the problems we have, they are stronger than when they attacked. So if they want to attack, they will naturally face a more decisive response,” he said.

Pezeshkian further claimed that the fighting did not weaken Iran internally, asserting instead that national cohesion improved and that government services continued to function throughout the war.

He urged the Iranian public to maintain unity and refrain from internal disputes, warning that Iran’s enemies are actively seeking to exploit domestic divisions.

The 12-day war between Israel and Iran erupted in June after a surprise Israeli strike on strategic Iranian targets. Israel said its campaign against senior military figures, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment facilities, and the ballistic missile program was aimed at preventing the Islamic Republic from carrying out its stated goal of destroying the Jewish state.

Iranian reports said that Pezeshkian himself narrowly escaped death during the fighting and sustained a leg injury in an Israeli strike.

Turning to domestic challenges, Pezeshkian acknowledged that Iran is under intense economic pressure stemming from sanctions, declining oil revenues, and the effects of war, while emphasizing that safeguarding citizens’ livelihoods remains his government’s top priority.

He said his administration has drafted a 20-point economic plan designed to stabilize the prices of basic goods and provide support for lower-income families, including expanded use of vouchers.

Pezeshkian also stressed the need for sharp reductions in government spending, the adoption of an austere budget, and major efficiency improvements. He highlighted curbing waste in water, electricity, and fuel usage, noting that he personally uses a desk lamp rather than lighting an entire room to save electricity.

According to The New York Times, Pezeshkian has described existing government spending habits as “what crazy people do.”

In separate remarks delivered in speeches and in discussions with university students, Pezeshkian expressed frustration over his limited ability to repair Iran’s struggling economy.

“If someone can do something, by all means go for it,” he told students, according to The New York Times. “I can’t do anything; don’t curse me.”

“Why should I solve [the economic problems]?” he reportedly said to provincial governors and local officials. “You shouldn’t think that the president can make miracles happen.”

Those comments drew criticism from Iranian politicians and media outlets.

Asked about the controversy, Pezeshkian said on Shabbos: “Of course, I have said many times that I cannot do it, but that we can. The country’s problems are not something I can solve alone… but we will overcome these problems.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was preparing to leave for the United States on Sunday morning, ahead of a high-level meeting with President Donald Trump that is expected to take place in Florida at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu plans to use the meeting to brief Trump on new intelligence indicating that Iran has made significant progress in restoring its ballistic missile program. He is also expected to ask for a “green light” to act militarily should Israel determine that such action is necessary.

The prime minister is also expected to make clear that Israel will not agree to advance to Phase B of the Gaza Strip framework as long as Hamas remains armed and until the body of the final Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, is returned to Israel for burial. Israel has insisted that any further steps depend on the full disarmament of Hamas.

Beyond the planned meeting with Trump on Monday, Netanyahu’s visit is set to include additional discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as engagements with members of the Jewish community in Miami.

Recent intelligence assessments cited by NBC News reported last week that Israeli officials believe Iran has resumed production capabilities damaged in earlier strikes and is simultaneously rebuilding its air defense systems. Those developments, officials said, are currently viewed as more urgent threats than Iran’s nuclear program.

A separate report last month by Channel 13 News stated that Iran has replenished much of its missile arsenal and is approaching the number of missiles it possessed prior to Operation Rising Lion.

According to that report, roughly six months after the 12-day war last June, Iran has intensified production of surface-to-surface missiles and is expected within months to hold approximately 2,000 missiles capable of striking Israel.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli officials were assessing an unusual online message over the weekend after the Iranian hacker collective known as Handala released a cryptic post that appeared to reference Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s upcoming travel plans to the United States, including a planned meeting with President Donald Trump in Florida.

The message, posted today on X, contained an oblique warning aimed directly at Netanyahu and included vivid imagery suggesting surveillance, secrecy, and concealed information traveling alongside him. “As ‘Flight BB Gate’ rises above the clouds, encrypted currents stir quietly among the watchers and the watched,” the group wrote. “Layers of protection tighten as the journey unfolds, but sometimes, secrets take flight too – leaving trails only the most attentive can see. On this day, those who guard the skies may find that the unexpected travels with them, and not every hidden truth remains grounded. And Bibi, it seems you’re carrying some rather interesting souvenirs with you this time.”

The post concluded with a brief but ominous line: “Tik Tok…Tik Tok.”

The warning surfaced amid preparations for a high-level meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, which follows a phone call between the two leaders earlier this month. After that conversation, the Prime Minister’s Office said Trump had invited Netanyahu to meet with him at the White House.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting is slated for December 29, though the White House has not yet issued a formal announcement confirming the date or location.

NBC News reported that the meeting is expected to take place at Mar a Lago, where Netanyahu is reportedly planning to present Trump with various options for potential new strikes against Iran.

{Matzav.com}

During Chanukah, ArtScroll rolled out 8 extraordinary deals at 33% off, one each day. If you didn’t get a chance to take advantage of them, now’s your moment. These are the lowest prices of the year on each of these sets!

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{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rabbi Nachman Sonenzon zt”l. He was 55.

Reb Nachman’s formative years were spent immersed in Torah and avodah within the walls of the bais medrash. For many years, his life revolved around hasmadah in learning that left a lasting impression on those who knew him.

Approximately twenty years ago, Reb Nachman suffered a heart attack at Bais Medrash Govoah on Purim morning, a tragic medical episode that abruptly altered the course of his life. In a manifestation of remarkable Hashgocha, he survived the ordeal, but he never fully recovered. From that moment on, his life became one of daunting nisayon for him and his family.

Throughout these long and challenging years, Reb Nachman was surrounded by unwavering devotion and love. His family and friends tended to him with extraordinary mesirus nefesh, providing round-the-clock care with patience, dignity, and compassion. Their steadfast commitment was a living testament to the chessed and loyalty that define Klal Yisroel at its finest.

Reb Nachman is survived by his devoted wife, Mrs. Rochel Sonenzon, and their wonderful family, who stood by him with remarkable strength and faith through every stage of his prolonged illness.

The levayah will take place today at 1:00 PM at the Bendheim Bais Medrash of Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ followed by kevurah in Lakewood.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

The news that emerged from Sydney on Sunday night, December 14, 2025, was devastating. A Chanukah menorah lighting organized by Chabad of Bondi turned into a scene of terror when an attack claimed the lives of 15 innocent people. Among those murdered was the widely loved Chabad shaliach, Rabbi Eli Schlanger HY’D. Scores of others were wounded. The shock reverberated throughout Australia and across Jewish communities worldwide, leaving Rabbi Schlanger’s family, kehillah, and friends stunned and brokenhearted.

Thousands of miles away in South Florida, one of Rabbi Schlanger’s closest friends struggled to absorb the loss. Geography had never weakened their bond; they spoke often, shared life, and leaned on one another. The moment the reality set in, he knew with certainty that he had to attend the Levaya—no matter how daunting the journey.

At the time, nothing was clear. The aftermath of the attack was chaotic, and there was no confirmed funeral date. Rumors spread that the Levaya might be arranged on only a few hours’ notice. Many friends questioned whether flying at all made sense. The attack had occurred on Sunday night; perhaps the funeral would be over before anyone from the United States could even land.

Two mutual friends, Levi and Mendel, made a bold decision. They booked flights from Los Angeles to Sydney for Monday night, accepting the risk that they might not arrive in time. The Florida-based friend wrestled with the same choice. It was Chanukah, and leaving would upend his family’s Yom Tov entirely. Torn, he turned to his wife and told her plainly, “You have the final say.”

She did not hesitate. “It’s the right thing to do.”

What followed was a race against time. At 3:20 PM, he secured a last-minute American Airlines ticket from Miami to Los Angeles, departing at 5:35 PM, with a connection on United Airlines from LAX to Sydney at 10:40 PM. On paper, the plan worked. In reality, almost nothing did.

In Miami, boarding suddenly stopped. A vague “service issue.” A gate change. Minutes stretched into hours. By the time the plane finally left the gate—more than two hours late—it was obvious that his international connection was hanging by a thread.

While the plane was taxiing and then climbing into the air, a message arrived with the first concrete detail: the Levaya was set for Wednesday at 11:00 AM in Sydney. There was still a chance—but only if everything else went perfectly.

He prepared himself for disappointment. If he missed the connection and arrived too late, then so be it. “Whatever happens, happens,” he thought. If he would travel halfway around the world only to turn around again, that too was part of Hashem’s plan.

What he did not know was that, behind the scenes, others were already moving. Friends realized he was unlikely to make the Sydney flight. Calls were made. Messages sent. Somewhere along the way, people with the authority to act became aware of the situation—and chose to act quietly, decisively, and without telling him a word.

Roughly two-thirds of the way to Los Angeles, a flight attendant stopped at his seat.
“Is this seat 36A?” she asked.
When he nodded, she handed him a handwritten note from the captain.

United, the note explained, would not hold the Sydney-bound flight.
American Airlines would.

There was another plane headed to Sydney—and it would wait. Relief washed over him as the weight of the moment finally lifted.

From then on, nothing unfolded in a normal way. Shortly before landing, he was moved from the very back of the aircraft to seat 9C near the front. The plane itself, originally assigned to a distant domestic gate, was rerouted to an international gate just two gates away from the Sydney flight.

As soon as the aircraft stopped, an American Airlines manager boarded, cutting past every standard procedure.
“I’m here specifically for the Sydney passenger,” he announced. “Is that Mr…?”

He was taken off the plane before any other passenger. As they hurried through the terminal, the manager explained that American Airlines had made a decision. The international flight had been held. His seat had been comped. And then, quietly and sincerely, the manager added, “And, on behalf of American Airlines, we are so sorry for your loss.”

They stopped for a photo—airline staff standing together with one grieving traveler while an entire plane waited. Still stunned, he asked them to take a picture on his own phone as well. “I needed proof,” he later said. “Or one day I might think it was all a dream.”

The extraordinary care continued on the other side of the world. When the plane touched down in Sydney at 8:40 AM, he was again escorted off first. An airline representative met him at the jetway and sped him through the airport. At immigration, an officer looked up, offered a soft “Shalom,” and waved him through.

Minutes later, he was outside. Levi and Mendel—also rushed through—were waiting. Together, they headed straight to the shul, arriving just moments before the Levaya began. The Niftar, Rabbi Eli Schlanger HY’D, was already there.

For his friend, the message was unmistakable. So much had aligned, against every reasonable expectation, that it could not be coincidence alone. Human kindness had played its part—but something more was at work as well.

“No doubt,” he later reflected, “Eli was pulling strings. He wanted his friends there.”

Based on a report by Shaina Glick for CrownHeights.info.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security officials confirmed that the assailant responsible for Friday’s deadly ramming and stabbing attacks was Ahmad al-Roub, a 37-year-old resident of the Palestinian Arab village of Qabatiya. After fleeing the scenes of the attacks in his vehicle toward Afula, he was located and neutralized.

The attacks left two people murdered: 19-year-old Aviv Maor and 68-year-old Mordechai Shimshon. A third victim, a 16-year-old boy, sustained light injuries.

In response, combined forces from the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Security Agency, and the Israel Prison Service launched a counterterrorism operation on Friday in and around Qabatiya. The activity followed the sequence of attacks that unfolded near Beit She’an, and later in Ein Harod and Afula.

As part of the operation, Israeli forces carried out a targeted operational search at the home of the terrorist. Security personnel also questioned suspects connected to the case while IDF soldiers and ISA agents began mapping the residence in advance of a possible demolition.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, the operation remains ongoing, with forces continuing to sweep additional locations in the area as part of broader efforts to thwart further terrorist activity.

Senior military leadership traveled to the region throughout the day to oversee developments on the ground. Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir conducted a situational assessment, alongside Central Command head Avi Bluth and 96th Division commander Oren Simcha, during visits to Beit She’an. Additional assessments were held by Judea and Samaria Division commander Kobi Heller, who was present with IDF forces operating in the Qabatiya area.

Security officials emphasized that operations in the region will continue as long as necessary to prevent additional attacks and maintain stability.

{Matzav.com}

Negotiations aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia have picked up pace in recent weeks, with U.S. officials saying progress has accelerated after months of stagnation. One senior American official characterized the recent discussions as “positive and constructive,” asserting that more has been accomplished in the past two weeks than during the previous year of stalled diplomacy.

As part of that momentum, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to meet Sunday in Florida, according to officials familiar with the planning. Ukrainian sources told Axios the meeting is scheduled for that day, though the White House has not publicly confirmed the timing.

The talks are expected to take place at Mar-a-Lago, where Trump would host Zelenskyy as both sides work toward finalizing a U.S.-backed framework designed to bring the nearly three-year conflict to a close. Axios reported that the meeting is being viewed as a significant sign that negotiations have advanced to a critical stage.

Trump had previously indicated that he would only meet with Zelenskyy if an agreement was close, adding to the sense that the discussions have reached a pivotal point. Behind the scenes, talks have intensified over the past two months, including weekend sessions in Florida involving Trump advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with senior negotiators from Ukraine and Russia.

Zelenskyy appeared to signal that a meeting was imminent in a Friday post on X, written after a briefing from his chief negotiator, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. “We are not losing a single day,” he wrote, adding that “a lot can be decided before the New Year.”

At the center of the U.S. proposal are security guarantees for Kyiv from both the United States and Europe. According to Axios, the language of those guarantees is modeled on NATO’s Article 5 commitment, and the package could be sent to the Senate for ratification. Zelenskyy has said such guarantees would trigger a military response and renewed sanctions if Russia were to invade again.

Still, major obstacles remain. Russia continues to demand control over the entire Donbas region, a position that remains the most serious sticking point in the talks. The U.S. plan reportedly envisions converting contested areas into a demilitarized “free economic zone,” but Zelenskyy has insisted that any territorial concessions would require approval by Ukrainian voters in a referendum.

Analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War warned in a recent assessment that Moscow is pressing for terms it is unlikely to secure through military means, including control of territory it has not captured. ISW suggested Russia may be seeking to conserve manpower and resources while setting the stage for future aggression.

On the battlefield, the situation remains fluid. The New York Post reported that while Russia has taken most of Luhansk and large portions of Donetsk, Ukrainian forces recently scored a victory near Kupyansk. Pro-Russian military bloggers have accused Russian commanders of overstating those territorial gains.

That combination of military pressure and diplomatic urgency has strengthened Trump’s hand as he pushes for a deal. Russia is facing mounting costs, Ukraine is seeking firm and reliable guarantees, and American voters are increasingly demanding an end to an open-ended conflict that has drained resources with no clear endpoint.

{Matzav.com}

The mother of slain Israeli hostage Israel Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili will accompany Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his trip to the United States for his meeting with President Donald Trump on Dec. 29.

Talik Gvili said in a public statement that she would join Netanyahu’s Dec. 28 flight as part of her campaign to secure the return of her son’s body from Gaza.

An Israeli delegation led by Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons Brig. Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch met with senior Egyptian officials and international mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss efforts to recover the remains of Gvili, the last hostage being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

According to Israeli authorities, Gvili, 24, died of wounds suffered battling terrorists at the entrance to Kibbutz Alumim during the Hamas-led terrorist invasion of the northwestern Negev on Oct. 7, 2023. He was posthumously promoted from staff sergeant to master sergeant.

The 20 last living hostages were freed on Oct. 13, and the bodies of deceased hostages have been returned sporadically since that date.

Phase 1 of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan called for the return of all hostages, living and dead, by Oct. 13. Netanyahu and Trump are expected to discuss next steps in the Gaza ceasefire plan during their meeting at Trump’s Mar‑a‑Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. JNS

{Matzav.com}

In an unusual and highly emotional act of protest, the family of a fallen Israeli soldier dismantled their son’s military headstone and placed it outside the General Staff building at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv.

The protest was carried out by the family of Sgt. Gur Kehati, who was killed in November 2024 alongside Maj. (res.) Ze’ev (Ze’evu) Erlich during an encounter in southern Lebanon. Kehati’s mother sharply criticized the military justice system, which recently handled the investigation into the incident in which the two men were killed.

According to the family, the decision to dismantle the headstone was symbolic. Kehati’s mother said the act was meant to release her son from what she described as “the Israel Defense Forces of the rank-and-file,” a bitter expression of her sense of abandonment and betrayal.

Family members physically removed the military gravestone and placed it outside the General Staff building at the Kirya shortly before a scheduled meeting with senior military prosecutors. Kehati’s mother, Maayan Agmon Kehati, later wrote that although the family had been summoned to the Military Advocate General’s Corps for a meeting with the Military Advocate General and the Chief Military Prosecutor, she herself did not attend due to what she described as an inability to do so emotionally.

She said her relatives went instead to what she called a “dubious meeting” with military officials, during which they were told that their son “was not killed in a fortress.” Following that meeting, the family decided to dismantle the headstone. “We released Gur from the IDF,” she wrote. “From a place where he gave his entire being, his entire life’s path that was built with blood, sweat, and tears.”

Parts of the mother’s remarks, which included harsh statements made in her grief, were censored by the news outlet for understandable reasons.

The protest comes about a week after the Military Advocate General’s Corps informed Col. (res.) Yoav Yerum, who served as chief of staff of the Golani Brigade at the time of the incident, that the investigation file against him had been closed without criminal charges. The decision did, however, include a recommendation for possible command-level disciplinary steps.

Sgt. Kehati and Maj. (res.) Erlich were killed during a clash in southern Lebanon after a Golani force was sent to an ancient fortress where Hezbollah operatives were present. In the aftermath of the incident, the IDF Chief of Staff ordered an internal probe to determine whether there had been a genuine operational need for the mission, or whether the soldiers had been dispatched primarily to secure Erlich, a reserve officer and archaeological researcher who had expressed interest in the ancient site.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a holiday address that blended religious tradition with a sharp denunciation of Russia’s actions, accusing Moscow of godlessness while expressing a collective Ukrainian longing for peace.

Overnight, Russian forces launched another wave of aerial attacks, firing drones and missiles across Ukraine. Zelensky pointed to those strikes as evidence of Russia’s moral bankruptcy, saying: “on the eve of [the holiday] the Russians once again showed us who they truly are, massive shelling, hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles… this is how the Godless strike. This is how those act who have absolutely nothing in common with Christianity or anything human, but we are holding on”.

The president spoke as Ukrainians marked the Christian holiday. In his remarks, Zelensky reflected on “love for our homes, our roots, our traditions,” and contrasted those values with what he described as the brutality of the Russian invasion.

Turning directly to the conflict, Zelensky said that attempts to strip Ukrainians of their traditions had become part of the war effort. “for the fourth year in a row there have been attempts to take [the holiday] away from us, and that is exactly what we are defending today, our land, our families, that longed-for feeling of peace, and calm in our own home… despite all the suffering Russia has brought, it is not capable of bombing what matters most, our Ukrainian heart.”

Without mentioning Russian President Vladimir Putin by name, Zelensky made an implicit reference that suggested a deadly wish directed at Moscow’s leader. He said: “Since ancient times, Ukrainians have believed on [the holiday] night that the heavens open and if you tell them your dream, it will surely come true. Today we share one dream, and we make one wish for all of us. ‘May he perish’, each of us may think to ourselves.”

He quickly added that Ukrainians were also turning their prayers toward a broader hope. Zelensky said the nation was asking God for “something greater, we ask for peace in Ukraine.”

{Matzav.com}

Two people were killed in a series of terror attacks involving ramming and stabbing in northern Israel today.

According to Magen David Adom, a report was received at 12:31 p.m. at the MDA 101 call center in the Gilboa region regarding an injured woman on Route 71 near Kibbutz Ein Harod. The woman, aged 19, had been run over and then stabbed. She was later pronounced dead at HaEmek Medical Center in Afula and identified as Aviv Maor from Ein Harod.

Shortly beforehand, a man aged 68 was fatally struck by a vehicle in Beit She’an, in what police suspected was a terrorist attack. He was later named as Mordechai Shimshon.

A 16-year-old boy was attacked in a separate ramming incident in the city and was reported to have light injuries. A 37-year-old man was later wounded when the terrorist got out of his car and hit him with a rock outside Afula.

The single assailant in all four attacks—identified as a 37-year-old Palestinian man from Qabatiya, near Jenin—fled in his employer’s car after the attack on Route 71 toward Kibbutz Tel Yosef and was later shot and killed at the entrance to the city of Afula, police said. He had been working illegally in Israel, the Kan public broadcaster reported.

Defense Minister Yisroel Katz instructed the IDF to act forcefully against the village from which the murderous terrorist emerged.

“Every terrorist must be located and neutralized, and terrorist infrastructure in the village must be struck,” Katz said. “Anyone who assists terrorism or provides sponsorship or backing for terrorism will pay the full price.”

He added, “My heart is with the bereaved families at this most difficult hour. I send my deepest condolences and strengthen them in the face of this unimaginable loss. I wish to commend the security forces who acted swiftly, resolutely and professionally, and who neutralized the terrorist.”

Speaking to reporters at the scene of the ramming-stabbing attack in northern Israel, Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levi called it a “very serious incident” and thanked the security officer who killed the assailant.

“The incident is over. The terrorist was neutralized. We are continuing to investigate the facts together with the Shin Bet and other security officials,” Levi said.

Following the attacks, President Isaac Herzog spoke to Noam Jumaa, the mayor of Beit She’an, and Danny Atar, head of the Gilboa Regional Council, asking them “to convey words of strength, support and condolences to the residents of the area from the entire people of Israel in the face of this difficult event.

“I wish to express my deep shock at the horrific killing spree and the combined terrorist attack in northern Israel carried out by a despicable terrorist,” Herzog said. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of those murdered, and my wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded.”

He continued, “Israel is committed to reinforcing and strengthening this challenging border and, of course, to bolstering the security response in the area for the full safety of the residents. I thank the security officer who neutralized the terrorist for his alertness and decisive action.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar tweeted on Friday, “I share in the deep pain and mourning of the families and send wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded.

“The Palestinian Authority is deceiving the international community while continuing to pay salaries to terrorists and their families and encourage terror,” he wrote. “Terror will not win. We’ll continue to strengthen our hold on our land.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Federal planners say the White House will outline its vision for rebuilding the East Wing during a public session early next month, offering the first official briefing on President Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom since legal and political challenges emerged.

According to a notice posted by the National Capital Planning Commission, the administration will deliver an “information presentation” at the commission’s January 8 meeting, previewing plans tied to the East Wing reconstruction.

The proposed ballroom has drawn sharp opposition. Preservation groups have taken the project to court, while Democratic lawmakers have criticized it as an overreach of presidential authority and have begun probing which donors are backing the estimated $400 million construction. Trump has said the new structure would be significantly larger than the existing White House footprint.

Oversight of the process rests with the planning commission, which is chaired by Will Scharf, a White House aide who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney. The commission has so far declined to formally evaluate the demolition of the former East Wing, the preparatory work already carried out at the site, or the project’s potential impact on surrounding historic properties. If completed, the ballroom would represent the most dramatic physical change to the White House complex in decades.

Legal resistance is being led by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argues that the planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom would overwhelm the existing White House, estimated at roughly 55,000 square feet. Earlier this month, a judge declined to block the project on an emergency basis, citing the lack of finalized details on size, scale, and design. A further court hearing is scheduled for next month.

Much of the former East Wing was torn down in October, a move that occurred with little public notice or consultation. The limited transparency surrounding that demolition has fueled criticism from preservation advocates and lawmakers alike.

Trump, who built his career in real estate, has taken a personal interest in reshaping the White House and Washington more broadly ahead of next year’s celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. In addition to the ballroom, he has floated plans for a new ceremonial arch near the capital.

Inside the White House, the president has overseen extensive decorative changes, including heavy use of gold leaf in the Oval Office and the installation of plaques reflecting his views on the legacies of past presidents.

Looking ahead, the planning commission said a formal review expected in the spring will examine issues such as sightlines, public access, and landscaping. That process will include opportunities for members of the public to submit written comments or offer testimony.

{Matzav.com}