Matzav

Rav Ben Zion Mutzapi, leading Sephardic posek and rosh yeshiva of Bnei Tzion, delivered a forceful message addressing what he described as mounting decrees against Torah learners, set against the backdrop of the ongoing struggle over the draft law and the legal status of yeshiva students.

Rav Mutzapi’s remarks came in response to a question from one of his talmidim, who described the severe financial pressure facing many kollel families. The avreich explained that while the men learn in kollel throughout the day and their wives work and earn limited incomes, the cost of placing infants in licensed daycare facilities has become overwhelming. For families with two young children, he said, the expenses are often impossible to meet, leaving many avreichim without a viable way to support their households.

In his response, Rav Mutzapi said the hardships are not incidental, but intentional. He stated that the aim of the authorities is to break the spirit of Torah learners, distance them from Torah study, and secularize the chareidi community. He added that those advancing these policies neither recognize nor believe in Hashem or His Torah, and he sharply criticized what he described as rampant incitement against yeshiva students who are already struggling to obtain even basic necessities.

Rav Mutzapi went on to say that the Torah community has been brought low and called on the public to cry out to their Father in Heaven. He expressed hope that Hashem will hear their voices, have mercy on them, and bring salvation. He davened for better days, asking that Hashem overturn unjust rulings and disrupt the plans and schemes directed against Torah learners.

He concluded his response with words of faith, stating that just as Hashem saved Klal Yisroel from Paroh and his forces, He will save them again in the present time as well.

{Matzav.com}

Mrs. Brochi Goloventzitz, the mother of Leah Goloventzitz a”h, one of the two toddlers who died in the tragic incident at a daycare center in the Romema neighborhood, issued a public appeal, describing the family’s anguish and pleading for restraint amid a wave of rumors and misinformation.

In a personal statement addressed directly to the public, Goloventzitz wrote that the family is grappling with a devastating loss while simultaneously being forced to confront speculation, commentary, and inaccurate information circulating online and in public discourse.

The grieving mother emphasized that aside from those directly involved, no one truly knows the full facts surrounding the circumstances that led to Leah’s passing. She noted that the family has been exposed to headlines, images, and statements taken out of context, some of which are based on partial or incorrect information that does not represent the full reality.

Mrs. Goloventzitz further explained that the public is unaware of the considerations and decisions made following the incident, including the family’s refusal to allow an autopsy. She said those decisions were reached only after in-depth consultations and careful deliberation, based on information received from both the police and medical professionals.

She added that even the family itself does not yet have a complete understanding of what occurred. “We are not sleeping, we are not eating,” she wrote, explaining that their sole focus has been trying to piece together what truly happened.

[Video below.] President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning Tuesday, saying the United States would respond with overwhelming force if Iranian authorities kill protesters or carry out assassination threats directed at him.

Speaking in an interview with NewsNation host Katie Pavlich, Trump was asked about reports alleging that Iranian officials continue to burn protesters alive, as well as about a reported assassination threat 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.

He went on to criticize President Biden’s silence on the matter, arguing that American leadership must speak clearly when threats are made. “Biden should have said something. When they made a statement, we always said, ‘Why isn’t Biden saying anything?’ Because he didn’t. But a President has to defend a President…like if I were here and they were making that threat to somebody, even not even a President but somebody, like they did with me, I would absolutely hit them so hard. But I have very firm instructions: Anything happens, they’re going to wipe them off the face of this earth.”

Trump’s remarks come against the backdrop of escalating friction between Washington and Tehran, driven by Iran’s violent suppression of anti-regime demonstrations and Trump’s repeated warnings that the United States would retaliate if protesters were harmed.

At one point on Wednesday, the standoff appeared to be nearing a breaking point, with U.S. military action against Iran seemingly imminent. The situation later eased, however, after Trump said the reported killing of protesters had stopped.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump addressed the possibility of ordering a military strike in response to Iran’s actions against demonstrators.

“So with Iran, they were going to hang 837 people…and we let them know that if that happens that it will be a very bad day for them, and they decided not to do it,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

“I can’t tell you what’s going to happen in the future but supposedly they’ve taken that off the table,” he added. “Is the military option off the table? No.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

A new Knesset seat poll published overnight shows Bibi Netanyahu’s Likud retaining its position as Israel’s largest party, while Shas has climbed to become the country’s third-largest political force.

According to the survey conducted by the Maagar Mochot research institute and broadcast on Channel 13 News, Likud would win 25 seats if elections were held today. Close behind is the newly formed “Bennett 2026” list led by former prime minister Naftali Bennett, which places second with 23 seats, down one mandate from the previous poll.

Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, ranks third with 10 seats. Three parties are tied just behind it with nine seats each: Otzma Yehudit headed by Itamar Ben Gvir, The Democrats led by Yair Golan, and Yisrael Beiteinu under Avigdor Lieberman.

The poll shows a further decline for Yesh Atid, headed by Yair Lapid, which would receive just eight seats. Yeshar, led by Gadi Eisenkot, stands at seven seats, the same number projected for United Torah Judaism.

Among Arab parties, Hadash-Ta’al is projected to win five seats, while Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, would secure four seats. The poll also shows Balad crossing the electoral threshold for the first time in recent surveys, also with four seats.

Several parties are shown failing to enter the Knesset at all, including Blue and White led by Benny Gantz, Religious Zionism headed by Bezalel Smotrich, and The Reservists under Yoaz Hendel.

In terms of political blocs, the poll gives Netanyahu-aligned parties 51 seats, while parties opposed to Netanyahu total 56 seats. Arab parties collectively account for 13 seats.

The survey also examined public opinion regarding Gantz’s political future amid his party’s continued failure to cross the electoral threshold. According to the findings, 48 percent of respondents believe Gantz should retire from politics, while 29 percent say he should continue and run in the next election.

{Matzav.com}

Several members of the governing board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum are pressing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York to remove Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont from the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, citing years of nonparticipation and concerns about his public statements, according to a report by JNS.

Sanders, who was appointed to the council in 2007, holds a seat on the panel of presidential and congressional appointees that convenes twice annually to guide the museum’s mission, educational initiatives, and public programming. Attendance records reviewed by board members and shared with the New York Post indicate, however, that Sanders “has missed every meeting of the board since his appointment.”

In a letter dated January 13 and signed by a dozen council members, the group told Schumer that Sanders “has rarely, if ever, attended council meetings or participated meaningfully in the work of the council since his appointment.”

The letter also raised objections to Sanders’s public rhetoric regarding “contemporary genocidal conflicts, including characterizations widely viewed as inconsistent with the principles of Holocaust remembrance and genocide prevention.”

Sanders has frequently criticized Israeli government policy and, in September, accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza, marking the first time he used that term to describe the current war.

The Vermont senator also sharply condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington last July for a meeting with President Donald Trump.

Sanders described the occasion as “a shameful day in America,” pointing to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on allegations of “war crimes.”

Although neither Israel nor the United States recognizes the ICC as a governing authority, Sanders wrote, “Today, a war criminal under indictment from the ICC will be welcomed to the White House.”

Separately, in late July, the Senate voted down a resolution introduced by Sanders that sought to block U.S. weapons transfers to Israel.

That measure failed by a 27-70 margin, marking the third unsuccessful effort by Sanders since late 2024 to stop American arms deliveries to Israel.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday sharply criticized Israel over the demolition of a UNRWA compound in Yerushalayim, prompting an immediate and pointed response from Israel’s Foreign Ministry highlighting documented links between the UN agency and Hamas terrorists.

Guterres’s deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said in an official statement that the UN chief “condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli authorities’ actions to demolish the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound.” Haq stressed that, as Guterres has “repeatedly and unequivocally stated, including in his letter to the Prime Minister of Israel on 8 January 2026, the Sheikh Jarrah compound remains United Nations premises, and is inviolable and immune from any form of interference.”

The statement went on to say that “The Secretary-General views as wholly unacceptable the continued escalatory actions against UNRWA, which are inconsistent with Israel’s clear obligations under international law, including under the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.”

According to Haq, Guterres also “urges the Government of Israel to immediately cease the demolition of the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound, and to return and restore the compound and other UNRWA premises to the United Nations without delay.”

Israel’s response came swiftly. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein reposted the UN condemnation on social media, attaching a video showing Hamas terrorist Mohammad Marwan Abu Itiwi participating in the kidnapping of Israeli hostages during the October 7, 2023 attack. Marmorstein also included a screenshot from an UNRWA employee list identifying Itiwi as an UNRWA driver, complete with his employee number.

“Was this your UNRWA Employee of the Month?” Marmorstein wrote in his post.

The confrontation comes against the backdrop of Israeli legislation passed by the Knesset in October 2024 barring UNRWA from operating in Israel and banning Israeli officials from maintaining contact with the agency. That law was expanded last month to prohibit the supply of electricity and water to UNRWA facilities, and Israeli authorities also moved to seize the agency’s offices in eastern Yerushalayim.

Earlier this month, Guterres warned Israel that he may take the matter to the International Court of Justice if the laws targeting UNRWA are not repealed. The warning was delivered in a January 8 letter to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

In the letter, Guterres wrote that the United Nations cannot ignore “actions taken by Israel, which are in direct contravention of the obligations of Israel under international law. They must be reversed without delay.”

UNRWA has faced longstanding criticism over its cooperation with the Hamas terrorist organization, criticism that intensified after Israel presented evidence in 2024 indicating that UNRWA staff members took part in the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault.

In response to Israel’s allegations, the United Nations established an independent review group headed by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to examine the claims.

The group’s report acknowledged that it found “neutrality-related issues” within UNRWA, but also asserted that Israel had not yet provided evidence that a large number of UNRWA employees were members of terrorist organizations.

Separately, Emily Damari, a former Hamas hostage released after 470 days in captivity, said she had been held inside an UNRWA facility.

In April 2025, USAID disclosed that the United Nations had obstructed an American government investigation into ties between UNRWA employees in Gaza and the Hamas terrorist organization.

Despite the mounting evidence cited by Israel regarding UNRWA’s connections to Hamas, the International Court of Justice recently ruled that Israel must enable the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through UN agencies, including UNRWA. Israel and the United States both criticized that ruling.

{Matzav.com}

LISTEN:

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

LISTEN:

The Justice Department has widened its inquiry into Minnesota’s handling of federal immigration enforcement, issuing subpoenas to Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other top state and local officials as part of an investigation into whether authorities interfered with federal operations during the Trump administration, according to a document reviewed by NBC News and a person familiar with the matter.

The subpoenas also target Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, the office of St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, and two county governments, the document and the person said.

NBC News contacted the offices involved seeking comment.

Frey responded with a statement blasting the Trump administration and accusing the Justice Department of abusing its authority.

“When the federal government weaponizes its power to try to intimidate local leaders for doing their jobs, every American should be concerned. We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics or crack down on local voices they disagree with,” Frey added.

“In Minneapolis, we won’t be afraid. We know the difference between right and wrong and, as Mayor, I’ll continue doing the job I was elected to do: keeping our community safe and standing up for our values,” the Democratic mayor added.

Ellison, in his own statement, emphasized that the subpoena does not target him personally.

“Everything about this is highly irregular, especially the fact that this comes shortly after my office sued the Trump Administration to challenge their illegal actions within Minnesota,” the state attorney general said.

“Let’s be clear about why this is happening: Donald Trump is coming after the people of Minnesota and I’m standing in his way,” Ellison added. “I will not be intimidated, and I will not stop working to protect Minnesotans from Trump’s campaign of retaliation and revenge.”

The federal investigation follows the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, by an ICE officer during an immigration enforcement action. Her death triggered protests and confrontations between demonstrators and police that have drawn national attention.

Investigators are relying on a rarely invoked federal law with origins dating back to the Civil War. That statute appeared in a memo circulated last month by Attorney General Pam Bondi, obtained by NBC News, outlining potential strategies for prosecutors to bring charges against political agitators.

In addition, federal authorities are examining the actions of Good’s partner to determine whether she may have obstructed a federal officer in the moments leading up to the shooting, according to two people familiar with the investigation.

Walz has previously criticized the focus of the probe, saying: “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.” He was referring to ICE officer Jonathan Ross, a military veteran who spent more than a decade working for the Department of Homeland Security.

{Matzav.com}

Air Force One reversed course and returned to the Washington, D.C., region after a technical problem arose shortly after departure on a flight bound for Switzerland, where President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the World Economic Forum, White House officials said.

According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the aircraft turned around after the flight crew detected “a minor electrical issue” soon after takeoff and opted to return as a precautionary measure.

A journalist traveling with the president reported that the lights in the press cabin briefly shut off shortly after departure, though no additional details were provided at the time.

Trump is expected to transfer to a different plane once back in the Washington area and proceed with his planned travel to Davos for the World Economic Forum.

The two aircraft currently designated as Air Force One have been in service for nearly 40 years. Boeing has been tasked with producing replacement planes, but that effort has encountered repeated setbacks and delays.

In the meantime, Trump received a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet last year from the ruling family of Qatar to be incorporated into the Air Force One fleet, a move that drew significant scrutiny. The aircraft is presently undergoing modifications to meet stringent security standards.

Leavitt quipped to reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday night that the Qatari jet was sounding “much better” at the moment.

{Matzav.com}

In the wake of the deadly incident at a children’s daycare center in Yerushalayim, the Israel Tax Authority is examining the possibility of launching audits and investigations into the financial conduct of daycare centers and toddler frameworks that have been operating without licenses and without being formally registered as businesses, according to a report by Ynet.

Officials stressed that the review is not directed at the specific daycare where the tragedy occurred. However, they emphasized that any suspicion of long-term tax evasion grants the Tax Authority full legal powers to examine the matter, demand the filing of reports, and collect back taxes retroactively, in accordance with the law.

Professional sources noted that there are numerous daycare centers that are not registered with tax authorities and do not submit annual reports, despite operating for extended periods and receiving regular payments from parents. Under Israeli law, even small frameworks or those serving economically disadvantaged populations are required to declare and report income, regardless of the amounts involved.

A tax attorney told Ynet that the Tax Authority has both civil and criminal tools to locate businesses that fail to report income. In cases where there is no cooperation, the Authority is empowered to assess income independently. He added that while many cases initially proceed on the civil level, more serious situations can escalate into criminal proceedings.

The Tax Authority further clarified that statutes of limitation apply only to those who submitted reports as required by law. In cases where no reports were filed at all, authorities may review conduct retroactively, depending on the circumstances and the severity of the findings.

Sources familiar with the matter told Ynet that the Yerushalayim incident is likely to prompt a broader review of unlicensed and unreported educational frameworks, as part of a wider effort to combat the shadow economy and enforce tax laws.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is expected to travel to the United States toward the end of February to take part in the annual AIPAC policy conference in Washington, according to reports in Israeli media. Officials in the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the trip is being considered, and there is also a possibility of a meeting with President Donald Trump during the visit.

The AIPAC conference, organized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is scheduled to take place in Washington from February 22 through February 24 and is regarded as one of the most prominent pro-Israel gatherings in the United States.

According to a report by Ynet, Netanyahu may also meet with President Trump, whom he met last month. Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office said discussions are ongoing regarding the logistics and timing of the visit.

The potential trip comes amid heightened tensions with Iran and an ongoing buildup of American forces in the Middle East. Israeli officials continue to closely monitor the possibility of U.S. military action against Iran, with assessments and situation evaluations taking place in recent days. Reports indicate that the United States has been reinforcing its presence in the region while making those moves highly visible.

American officials have also pointed to continued internet shutdowns in Iran as evidence of the regime’s fear of internal unrest. A U.S. official quoted in the reports said that Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign is aimed at the Iranian regime rather than the Iranian people, stressing that the United States will continue to support internet access for Iranians as a means of exposing the reality inside the country.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani deflected criticism Tuesday when pressed about inflammatory social media posts made by two senior aides, choosing instead to pivot to his own priorities during a live television interview.

Appearing on The View, Mamdani avoided directly addressing remarks attributed to his chief equity officer and the city’s tenant advocate, despite a pointed question from co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin about the now-deleted comments.

Griffin cited posts by Chief Equity Officer Afua Atta-Mensah, including the statement “there’s NO moderate way to black liberation,” as well as comments by tenant advocate Cea Weaver calling to “seize private property.”

“Your new chief equity officer made several now deleted comments, disparaging liberal white women,” said Griffin, a former Trump administration staffer. “Your tenant advocate said that home ownership was a weapon of white supremacy and called to elect more communists, among other posts.”

She then asked, “What message do you think this conveys to New Yorkers, and how would you push back on this?”

Rather than responding directly to the substance of the criticism, Mamdani redirected the discussion to his own platform and leadership.

“If you want to know my views or my opinions, you’ll find them in my words,” Mamdani replied. “As the mayor of New York City, and I’m someone who’s looking to make a city that every New Yorker can afford.”

He continued by speaking positively about the work of his administration, praising Weaver’s office without naming her or addressing the specific remarks that had drawn scrutiny.

“And I think, frankly, what New Yorkers are also looking for are the outcomes, and that’s what I care about, the outcomes and the excellence we deliver,” he said.

Mamdani asserted that in the 20 days since Weaver was hired, the city has “taken on a landlord that had more violations than I can count, and we have secured $30 million in guaranteed repairs for thousands of those violations.”

In an apparent effort to calm concerns among property owners, the mayor added that his vision of an affordable city “includes tenants, homeowners, and those who aspire to be homeowners.”

During the same appearance, Mamdani also reiterated his support for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a position he has previously endorsed.

{Matzav.com}

California Republicans turned to the United States Supreme Court on Tuesday, urging the justices to halt a push by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to redraw the state’s congressional boundaries ahead of the next election cycle.

In an emergency filing, the California Republican Party asked the high court to step in and stop what it says is a gerrymandering effort set in motion by Newsom through Proposition 50, framing the request as a last effort to prevent the new maps from taking effect.

Republicans argue that the revised district lines could flip as many as five seats currently held by the GOP, significantly altering California’s congressional delegation.

The legal fight carries national political consequences, as Democrats are widely viewed as having a strong chance to reclaim control of the House of Representatives amid voter dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress.

While polling data and prediction markets suggest Democrats are well positioned to capture the House, Republicans warn that an unfavorable ruling in the Proposition 50 dispute could derail those expectations.

Supporters of Proposition 50 have described it as a response to a similar redistricting push in Texas, where the state’s Republican-led legislature moved to redraw congressional maps in a way that would benefit their party.

Newsom promoted Proposition 50 as a counterweight to what he described as partisan mapmaking in Texas, and voters approved the measure by a wide margin in last November’s election.

According to a report by the Sacramento Bee, Republicans are asking Justice Elena Kagan, who oversees emergency matters from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, to issue an injunction that would temporarily restore California’s current congressional map.

In their challenge, Republicans contend that the boundaries created under Proposition 50 would disproportionately advantage Latino voters at the expense of other racial groups.

Justice Kagan can either reject the emergency request outright, a decision that could come within days, or send the matter to the full Supreme Court for consideration.

If the case is taken up by the full court, the justices are expected to rule on the emergency motion well before California’s candidate filing deadline of March 6.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump reignited debate over Greenland on Tuesday, brushing aside questions about limits to U.S. action and responding with a brief “you’ll see” when asked at the White House how far he is prepared to go to bring the Arctic territory under American control.

He waved off objections that residents of Greenland oppose joining the United States and rejected warnings that any attempt to take the island would fracture the NATO alliance.

Over the past several weeks, Trump has returned to the subject with renewed intensity, focusing attention on Greenland, the largest island on the planet and a pivotal foothold in the Arctic.

Although distant and sparsely populated, the semi-autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty sits at the center of shifting global dynamics. It is part of a NATO ally, hosts a critical U.S. military installation, and lies in an Arctic zone that is becoming increasingly contested as receding ice opens new sea routes and access to valuable natural resources.

Trump has repeatedly cast Greenland as essential to American security interests, contending that failure to secure the island would allow Russia and China to expand their influence across the Arctic.

His latest comments come as he prepares to travel to Davos, Switzerland, where political and economic leaders from around the world are gathering for the World Economic Forum.

Greenland is expected to be a frequent topic in private discussions at the summit, particularly as European officials react to Trump’s new warning that he could impose tariffs on countries that stand in the way of his Greenland ambitions.

Those tariff threats arrive while the administration is still awaiting a Supreme Court decision on whether certain trade duties imposed in 2025 were lawful.

European leaders, speaking over the weekend, indicated they could respond with countermeasures totaling as much as $107.7 billion if the dispute escalates.

Trump originally floated the idea of acquiring Greenland during his previous term in office, a proposal that was quickly rejected by Denmark and met with resistance across Europe—opposition he now appears ready to challenge once again.

It remains uncertain whether the Trump administration will ultimately reach an agreement to take control of Greenland. What is clear is that as climate change reshapes the Arctic and geopolitical competition accelerates, the island’s strategic value is only set to increase.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH (SKIP TO MINUTE 102:00):

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu held a direct and strained conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the makeup of the Gaza Executive Board, despite earlier indications that the issue would be handled through diplomatic channels by Israel’s foreign minister.

An announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu had instructed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to convey Israel’s objections to Rubio following the disclosure of the board’s members. However, a report by Channel 12 said Netanyahu himself took the lead in speaking directly with Rubio, while Sa’ar was publicly presented as managing the dialogue because of the political and public sensitivity surrounding the matter.

According to the report, Netanyahu’s main concern during the discussion was not the specific individuals selected for the board, but the fact that the announcement was made publicly without prior coordination with Israel.

Sources familiar with the conversation told Channel 12 that Rubio made clear the decision would not be rolled back, and that Qatar and Turkey would be involved in post-war “day after” arrangements in Gaza through their participation on the executive board. Netanyahu was said to have voiced objections but also recognized that Israel’s ability to influence the process was limited once the plan had been formally unveiled.

The executive body, also described as an international executive council operating under the Board of Peace, is expected to be made up of senior international figures. The report said its members will be assigned specific areas of responsibility, including stabilizing Gaza, strengthening governance, managing regional ties, overseeing reconstruction efforts, promoting investment, arranging large-scale financing, and mobilizing capital.

In its statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said: “Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed Foreign Minister Sa’ar to address this matter with the US Secretary of State. At the same time, the Prime Minister held a conversation with the Secretary of State, with whom he maintains ongoing contact.”

{Matzav.com}

The criminal case against Chanukah Monsey stabber Grafton Thomas has been put on hold yet again after a Rockland County judge approved a fresh order keeping him in psychiatric custody, following a determination by the state Office of Mental Health that he remains unfit to stand trial.

Evaluators concluded that the 43-year-old still does not understand the nature of the charges against him and is unable to meaningfully participate in his legal defense.

Thomas is charged in both state and federal court in connection with the December 2019 attack in Monsey, where a man armed with a machete burst into a local rov‘s home during a mesibas Chanukah and stabbed five people. One of those injured later died as a result of the wounds he sustained.

Since the attack, Thomas has been held at the Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, where he continues to undergo treatment and periodic evaluations aimed at determining whether he can ever be restored to competency.

Under the most recent court order, the proceedings have been postponed until January 2028, extending the case by another four years. The delay leaves victims’ families and the broader Monsey community in continued uncertainty, as the court remains in a holding pattern, waiting to see whether Thomas will eventually be deemed capable of facing trial.

Several public health groups are suing to reverse a decision from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that narrows the list of vaccines recommended for children, arguing that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other leaders failed to consider how the new policy would endanger families and burden the health care system.

The plaintiffs, which consist of seven public health organizations led by the American Academy of Pediatrics, a physician, and two patients, accused Kennedy of “inappropriately” influencing a key vaccine advisory committee by packing it with unqualified experts who hold anti-vaccine views.

“Defendants have engaged in a pattern and practice of changing U.S. vaccine policy without consideration of the relevant factors or providing any reasoned explanation,” reads the complaint, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts.

Spokespeople for the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Health Department’s Jan. 5 decision means the CDC will no longer recommend every child be immunized for rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease and hepatitis A. Instead, the agency will recommend those vaccines only for smaller groups of high-risk children or if a doctor recommends them.

The Washington Post reported Monday that some pediatricians are ignoring the new guidelines, which have caused confusion and anxiety among American families.

In announcing the decision, Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, said the department is aligning U.S. vaccine schedules more closely with “international consensus,” specifically citing Denmark’s more limited set of recommendations. “This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Kennedy said in a statement at the time.

The lawsuit takes issue with recent appointments to a key vaccine advisory committee called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP. The Post has reported that the committee itself was not consulted before the decision being made public, and many federal vaccine scientists said they were blindsided.

The plaintiffs asked the court to disallow the committee from meeting any further, citing federal law requiring federal advisory committees to be “fairly balanced” and not “inappropriately influenced.” The lawsuit cites past statements from recently appointed committee members questioning the validity of vaccines, arguing that all but one of the recent appointees don’t have the necessary qualifications.

The complaint also stated, citing unspecified “information and belief,” that only Republicans and Independents were considered for inclusion in the committee. The plaintiffs said in their suit that 10 of its members have publicly stated views that align with secretary’s, and accused the group of spreading misinformation.

“The public meetings of this [advisory board] have served as a megaphone for spreading misinformation about immunization and infectious diseases that is directly harming the Plaintiffs and the American public,” the complaint reads.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Aaron Gregg 

{Matzav.com}

Airlines could ultimately benefit financially from the growing use of weight-loss medications, as lighter passengers would reduce aircraft weight and cut fuel consumption, according to a new analysis by Jefferies Research Services.

As GLP-1 drugs designed for weight loss become more widely available across the United States, analysts expect a gradual reduction in average body weight. That shift, Jefferies says, could translate into meaningful fuel savings for airlines, where fuel remains one of the industry’s largest expenses.

The amount of fuel an aircraft burns is closely tied to how much it weighs, including the combined weight of passengers, their baggage, and onboard cargo. When total weight decreases, fuel requirements decline as well.

Carriers have long sought ways to minimize aircraft weight in order to save fuel, the report notes, citing efforts that range from food choices like serving pit-less olives to the use of thinner or lighter paper products onboard.

Airlines “have a long history of searching for unique methods to reduce the weight of the aircraft, in turn reducing fuel consumption and limiting an airline’s largest cost bucket,” analysts said in the report.

Despite those efforts, airlines have little control over how much their passengers weigh.

Jefferies examined a scenario in which weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy lead to a 10% reduction in average body weight across society. Under that assumption, total passenger weight on flights would fall by about 2%, resulting in roughly 1.5% fuel savings for airlines and an estimated 4% increase in earnings per share.

To illustrate the impact, the analysts modeled a typical Boeing 737 Max 8. The aircraft weighs about 99,000 pounds empty and can hold up to 46,000 pounds of fuel. With 178 passengers averaging 180 pounds each, plus roughly 4,000 pounds of additional cargo, the plane’s takeoff weight reaches approximately 181,200 pounds. If average passenger weight drops by 10% to 162 pounds, the total weight falls to about 177,996 pounds.

Based on that reduction, Jefferies estimates annual fuel savings of roughly $580 million for the four largest U.S. carriers — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. Together, those airlines are projected to spend about $38.6 billion on jet fuel this year.

The research was conducted as pharmaceutical companies continue developing new weight-loss treatments, building on a Jefferies report released in 2023 that examined how reductions in passenger weight could affect fuel costs.

“With the drug now available in pill form and obesity rates falling, broader usage could have further implications for waist lines,” analysts said.

{Matzav.com}