Matzav

Dear Matzav Inbox,

“Even the most elegant celebration must bow to the sanctity of Shabbos — for beauty without Halachah is an illusion, but observance brings true splendor.”

It was a lavish affair — a Shabbos Bar Mitzvah held in an elegant Connecticut hotel, where fine linens gleamed under crystal chandeliers and every detail had been orchestrated by a professional party planner. The atmosphere was refined, the décor impeccable — but for the host, a yirei Shamayim, there was one priority above all: that every moment of Shabbos be conducted with kedushah and halachic precision.

To ensure this, an experienced mashgiach was hired to supervise the entire weekend. From the moment he arrived, he worked with quiet precision, overseeing every preparation — from the kitchen’s eiruv tavshilin to the careful handling of the hot plates and the sealing of the refrigerators before Shabbos.

The planner, however, had never worked under such rigorous religious supervision. To her, timing was everything, presentation was everything — and the Mashgiach’s insistence on halachic boundaries felt like interference.

By the time the Friday night seudah began, tension filled the air behind the scenes. The planner approached the host, visibly flustered. “I can’t work like this,” she whispered urgently. “He’s stopping everything — even simple things that I need done to serve your guests properly!”

The host looked at her calmly, understanding both her frustration and the Mashgiach’s role. “Please,” he said softly but firmly, “whatever the Mashgiach says — that’s how it must be. It’s not personal; it’s Shabbos. This is not like any weekday event. He carries the responsibility before Heaven for every detail.”

The planner hesitated, her professional pride warring with unfamiliar reverence. “But I’ve never been told I couldn’t adjust the lighting or reheat something before,” she said.The host’s voice was kind, but resolute. “On Shabbos, we adjust ourselves — not the lights.”

There was silence. Slowly, the tension dissipated. The planner nodded, humbled, and the event continued smoothly. The food was served with grace, the songs of zemiros filled the hall, and the atmosphere became one of quiet holiness rather than glittering showmanship.

In the following week, reflecting on the experience, the host and the Mashgiach consulted Rav Dovid Feinstein zt”l, seeking his wisdom about whether hashgachos should be provided for events managed by secular or non-religious planners. Rav Dovid listened carefully, then gave his clear and measured response.

“It is best not to give Hashgocha at all,” he said. “A party planner’s goal is to please guests — but Shabbos is not about convenience. When the one running the event does not understand hilchos Shabbos, chillul Shabbos is almost inevitable — even without intent.” His words carried weight — calm, simple, and absolute. The lesson was clear: Shabbos cannot be managed by those who do not live it.

From that point onward, the Mashgiach and others who heard of the incident followed Rav Dovid’s advice with conviction. If the planner did not live by Shabbos, there would be no Hashgachah. Better to lose a contract than to compromise the sanctity of Heaven’s gift.

Yehuda Shain

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Federal authorities say a man living in the United States illegally, who was already under a standing deportation order, was hired by the New Orleans Police Department and issued a firearm while training to become an officer.

The individual, Larry Temah, 46, a migrant from Cameroon, was arrested by ICE at his residence on January 26, just days before he was scheduled to complete police academy training.

“This illegal alien from Cameroon, Larry Temah, is not only breaking the law with every step he takes in this country illegally, but the New Orleans Police Department hired him and issued him in a firearm — what kind of law enforcement department gives criminal illegal aliens guns and badges?” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.

“It’s a felony for illegal aliens to even possess a firearm.”

According to ICE, Temah initially entered the United States lawfully in 2015 on a visitor visa. The following year, he received conditional permanent residency after marrying a U.S. citizen.

Federal officials say that arrangement later came under scrutiny. In 2022, Temah’s green card application was denied after authorities raised concerns that the marriage was not legitimate.

ICE said Temah was ordered to appear in immigration court but failed to attend hearings on three separate occasions.

An immigration judge later issued a formal deportation order against him.

The Trump administration has accused the New Orleans Police Department of recruiting Temah and providing him with a firearm despite his immigration status and the active removal order.

Police department officials strongly rejected those allegations, saying the claims mischaracterize the facts.

“The New Orleans Police Department verified Mr. Temah’s employment eligibility through ICE’s E-Verify system prior to hiring and was never notified of any ICE detainer,” a department spokesperson said.

“New Orleans is not a sanctuary city, and NOPD does not control jail operations or detainer decisions, which fall under the Sheriff’s Office.”

“Any claim that NOPD knowingly violated the law is false,” the spokesperson added.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will immediately reduce its on-the-ground presence by 700 agents and place Customs and Border Protection officers under a single command structure led by ICE, border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday, describing the move as a shift toward a more efficient and safer enforcement model.

“I have announced, effective immediately, we will draw down 700 people — effective today — 700 law enforcement personnel,” Homan said during a press conference broadcast live on Newsmax and Newsmax2.

He said the reorganization also folds CBP personnel directly into ICE’s operational framework. “We have also fully integrated CBP personnel into the ICE team structure under one unified chain of command, not two chains of command. There’ll be one chain of command here.”

According to Homan, the reduction is possible because local and county jails in Minnesota have dramatically increased their cooperation with federal immigration authorities, routinely alerting ICE before inmates are released.

With advance notice, federal agents can assume custody inside secure jail facilities instead of making arrests in neighborhoods, a change Homan said cuts down on manpower needs and risk.

“That requires one or two officers instead of eight or 10 going into neighborhoods,” he said, calling the method safer and more efficient for civilians, officers, and detainees alike.

After the drawdown, Homan said roughly 2,000 agents will remain assigned, compared with a much smaller footprint before the current operation began. He estimated that initial staffing levels were around 150 people.

He also clarified that agents temporarily assigned to conduct fraud investigations are not part of the reduction. “We’ve got to remember that we’ve got special agents on detail here doing the fraud investigation,” he said. “They’re not going anywhere. They’re going to finish their job.”

Personnel responsible for officer protection and security will also remain in place, Homan said, stressing that safety considerations will determine whether any additional reductions occur. He cited ongoing threats and confrontations targeting federal agents.

“We will not draw down on personnel providing security for our officers,” Homan said, adding that authorities would continue to respond forcefully to hostile incidents.

Homan attributed the operational shift to growing cooperation from state and local officials, including sheriffs and jail administrators, saying that coordination has expanded rapidly in recent weeks.

“We currently have an unprecedented number of counties communicating with us now and allowing ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets,” he said.

He underscored that local agencies are not being asked to detain inmates beyond their scheduled release times or to carry out immigration enforcement themselves.

“We are not requiring jails to hold people past their normal release time,” he said, adding, “We’re not asking anyone to be an immigration officer.”

Under the new system, ICE agents take custody immediately upon an inmate’s release, a process Homan said lowers public safety risks while allowing federal officers to concentrate on higher-priority cases.

Homan said the changes fit within the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement approach, which he said focuses on public safety and national security while continuing to enforce immigration law nationwide.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli police have begun testing a new crowd-control method that mixes pepper spray into water cannons, replacing the controversial “skunk” liquid that has drawn years of public criticism and legal challenges. The move is being examined as a possible permanent policy change, according to a report by Ynet.

In recent weeks, police have conducted trials of the new measure at several hafganah events. Police sources say the pepper-spray-infused water has proven more effective at dispersing gatherings and that there is growing momentum within the force to adopt it as a standard alternative. The tests are part of a broader reassessment of crowd-control tactics.

Internal discussions were prompted by sustained criticism of the skunk liquid—a foul-smelling substance sprayed from water cannons that leaves an intense odor lingering for days. The skunk agent was first introduced in 2008 by the Border Police to address violent disturbances, but opposition to its use has mounted over time.

In recent months, dozens of chareidi residents of Yerushalayim, together with Deputy Mayor Tzachi Berr, petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice against the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir and the Israel Police, demanding an end to the use of the skunk liquid. The petition argued that the substance poses health and environmental risks, has never undergone a formal safety review, and lacks approval from the Health Ministry.

Petitioners further claimed that the liquid has been deployed during hafganah activity in densely populated areas and narrow streets, causing respiratory and skin irritation, endangering children, the elderly, and pregnant women, and resulting in property damage and persistent odors that can linger for days.

At the time, police responded that their contract with the skunk liquid’s manufacturer was nearing its end and that alternative methods for dispersing hafganah events were under review. The current trials involving pepper spray mixed into water cannons now appear to be the first concrete step in that transition.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s cost-of-living squeeze continues to hit households hard, and a new price comparison shows just how steep the gaps can be between supermarket chains—even for identical items. A recent survey aired on the consumer-affairs program Ossim Seder examined a focused basket of dairy products and uncovered a price difference of more than 25 percent between retailers.

The comparison, presented by journalist Tzvi Tessler, analyzed a standardized basket of basic dairy staples commonly found in Israeli refrigerators. The findings paint a stark picture of competition in the retail market and reveal just how much shoppers can save—or overspend—depending on where they buy.

Among large-format supermarkets typically located in industrial zones and requiring a dedicated trip, the race at the top was exceptionally tight. Osher Ad narrowly edged out rival Rami Levy by just a few shekels, with both chains significantly undercutting the rest of the field. By contrast, other retailers often marketed as “discount” options posted considerably higher prices, with a gap of nearly NIS 100 between the cheapest and most expensive stores in this category.

Dairy Basket Prices at Large Chains:

• Osher Ad – NIS 370.50

• Rami Levy – NIS 372.90

• Netto Savings – NIS 416.60

• Yesh Chesed – NIS 418.40

• Shefa Birkas Hashem – NIS 420.80

• Shuk Ha’ir – NIS 461.90

The picture changes—but not necessarily for the better—when shoppers opt for convenience and buy close to home. The data show that neighborhood shopping often comes at a premium, though there are notable exceptions. Some local groceries manage to stay competitive with the big chains, while others charge significantly more for the same products. At the bottom of the list this week was Maayan 2000, which recorded the highest price for the basket.

Dairy Basket Prices at Neighborhood and Small Stores:

• KT Market (Mishnas Yosef) – NIS 416.20

• Machsaney Hashuk Mehadrin – NIS 430.50

• Netto Savings (Neighborhood) – NIS 439.30

• Yesh Bashchuna – NIS 444.50

• Shira Market – NIS 446.70

• Good Market – NIS 451.50

• Carrefour Market (Mehadrin certifications) – NIS 453.00

• Shefa Birkas Hashem – Near Home – NIS 454.30

• Zol U’Begadol – NIS 456.40

• Maayan 2000 – NIS 464.80

What the Gaps Mean

The data reveal a striking difference of NIS 94.30—about 25.5 percent—between the cheapest basket at Osher Ad (NIS 370.50) and the most expensive at Maayan 2000 (NIS 464.80). In practical terms, a shopper who doesn’t compare prices could pay nearly NIS 100 extra for the exact same dairy items simply by choosing the wrong store. Over the course of a year, that gap can add up to thousands of shekels for an average family.

Another takeaway is that “neighborhood” does not automatically mean overpriced. The fact that KT Market’s basket (NIS 416.20) came in cheaper than some large discount chains demonstrates that reasonable prices are possible without a long drive, provided consumers stay vigilant, compare options, and shop strategically.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I watched the Let’s Talk Kashrus episode about party planners, and honestly, I walked away boiling.

My name is Sarah. I’m a party planner. I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I’m not here to argue. I’m not here to defend myself or dodge questions. There is always room to improve. Fine. But if we’re finally talking about kashrus, then let’s actually talk about it — not dance around the elephant in the room.

Because here’s the reality everyone seems very comfortable ignoring.

There is a non-Jewish party planner operating openly in Lakewood, and Lakewood is giving it a blind eye. This isn’t a rumor. This isn’t new. This has been going on for years. I personally have raised this issue with people again and again. And again. And again. Nothing.

Let’s be clear about what this means.

She comes on Shabbos.
We don’t know who is putting the food into the warmers.
We don’t know where the knives come from.
We don’t know where the food is ordered from.
We don’t know what standards — if any — are being followed.

And everyone is just… eating.

People like to whisper, “Oh, she’s cheaper.” She’s not. Anyone who actually knows the industry knows that. Put that aside anyway. Even if she were cheaper, is that now the new bar for kashrus?

Why do we always wait for the explosion?

Why do we wait until there’s a massive scandal, headlines screaming, people discovering they’ve been eating non-kosher, and suddenly everyone clutching their pearls saying, “How could this have happened?”

How could it have happened?
Because it was happening in plain sight, and nobody wanted to deal with it.

Before we start lecturing Jewish party planners about certifications and requirements — a conversation I’m not running from — maybe someone should explain why half of Lakewood is perfectly comfortable trusting a non-Jew with kashrus with no transparency, no accountability, and no oversight.

Before you point fingers at us, answer that.

The rest of the party planners know about this. We’re not quiet about it. We’re raising the roof. And still — silence.

Personally? Before I go to a party, I ask who the planner is. I ask about the kashrus. I don’t just walk in and eat. Do other people do that? Or do they assume that if it looks nice and smells good, it must be fine?

That’s not kashrus.

If we’re serious about standards, then let’s be serious across the board — not selectively, not conveniently, and not only when it’s uncomfortable for the people actually trying to do things right.

We don’t need another scandal to wake up.
We need honesty.
And we need courage.

A Very Frustrated Party Planner
Lakewood, NJ

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[COMMUNICATED]

Thirty hours old.

That’s how old Chaya’s baby was when they wheeled him into open-heart surgery for the first time.

Thirty hours. Most babies that age are still figuring out how to latch. Her baby was fighting for every breath.

She remembers the weight of him—all six pounds—as they took him from her arms. She remembers the tubes invading his tiny body, machines breathing for him because his own heart couldn’t do the job it was created to do. She remembers medical words she couldn’t pronounce: Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia.

She remembers thinking: This cannot be how his story ends.

Not one, but four surgeries. Four times they opened his chest. Four times they stopped his heart to fix it. Four times she sat in a waiting room, bargaining with Hashem, making promises she didn’t know if she could keep.

That’s the chapter families never plan to write. Kapitel Lev.

The chapter where your entire world shrinks to the size of a heartbeat. Where you learn to read monitors before you learn your baby’s smile. Where “making it through the night” isn’t a figure of speech—it’s a prayer you whisper every single hour.

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They’re the promise Chaya made twenty-two years ago, come to life.

That baby who was thirty hours old when his heart was first opened? He’s 22 now. Thriving. Living. Beating the odds.

Because someone refused to let his story end.

Every tiny heart deserves a fighting chance.

Will you help write the next chapter?

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A central segment of the long-awaited upgrade to Route 60, the main artery linking Gush Etzion with Yerushalayim, has opened to traffic eight months earlier than planned, a move expected to significantly ease chronic congestion along the heavily traveled corridor.

The project, led by Israel’s Ministry of Transport and carried out by the state infrastructure company Moriah, is advancing at an accelerated pace. Additional sections of the road are scheduled to open over the coming weeks, further improving traffic flow and driving safety in the area.

Route 60, which serves as a sensitive and vital gateway into and out of Yerushalayim, is undergoing a comprehensive overhaul as part of the project. The road is being expanded from a single lane in each direction into a divided highway with two lanes each way. The upgrade is designed to accommodate growing traffic volumes, enhance safety standards, and substantially reduce travel times for commuters and residents.

At this stage, the stretch between Husan and the Shayarot Junction has been completed and opened to traffic, featuring two lanes in each direction. Officials say the opening of this segment has already led to noticeable improvements, including smoother traffic flow, reduced bottlenecks, and a higher level of road safety. Remaining segments of the project are expected to be opened gradually over the next two weeks.

Later this year, an interchange at the Shayarot Junction area is slated to open, including new underground passages. This phase is expected to complete the transportation upgrade along the route and allow for continuous, safer, and more convenient travel.

Once the project is fully completed, residents of Gush Etzion and surrounding communities—including Efrat, Kiryat Arba, and nearby localities—are expected to benefit from a modernized and safer roadway, offering a faster and more reliable connection to Yerushalayim and better suited to the region’s growing transportation needs.

{Matzav.com}

Rudy Giuliani said Tuesday that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s political worldview and alleged sympathy for Islamic extremism explain the decision to roll back a long-standing policy aimed at protecting homeless individuals during dangerously cold weather.

Appearing on Newsmax’s “Ed Henry The Big Take,” Giuliani sharply criticized Mamdani’s beliefs, arguing they reflect an indifference to human life. “Communists have no regard for human life,” Giuliani said.

“Neither do Islamic extremist supporters. He’s both — he’s like a double vector,” he continued.

Giuliani went on to draw a broader historical comparison. “There’s no group of people that have less regard for human life over the last 150 years than the followers of Karl Marx,” he said. “The only group that might equal that is the last 1,400 years of the strict followers of Muhammad.”

According to Giuliani, the overturned rule was an emergency safeguard that had been in place for decades, allowing city officials to suspend normal restrictions and require homeless individuals to enter shelters when temperatures dropped to dangerous levels.

“He reversed a policy of New York City that started before me, continued with me, and continued to him,” Giuliani said.

“It’s a policy that says if you get near freezing, then all these rules about you can’t force the homeless to go into a shelter are over. You can force them to go into a shelter.”

Giuliani’s comments came as the city was still dealing with the deadly impact of Winter Storm Fern, which he noted resulted in the deaths of 16 homeless individuals amid brutal cold conditions.

Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has openly advocated for a larger government role in areas such as housing, healthcare, and economic policy.

He won election in November after campaigning on a platform centered on expanded public spending, broader city-managed services, and increased government involvement in the economy.

Giuliani also accused Mamdani of aligning himself with extremist organizations and hostile foreign actors, saying the evidence was clear. “He’s very favorable to Hamas,” Giuliani said, referencing the Gaza-based terrorist group. “They’ve only killed hundreds of thousands of people.

“Very favorable to Iran,” he added. “His father was a big supporter of all of them.

“He can’t fool anybody that he isn’t a supporter.”

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Rep. Jerry Nadler on Tuesday after the New York Democrat suggested that people might be justified in using deadly force against a federal agent if they believed they were being abducted by “masked hoodlums.”

Vance condemned Nadler’s comments in blunt terms, labeling them “despicable.”

Nadler made the remarks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, where he argued that what he described as attacks on Americans posed the most serious threat facing the country.

“What is the major problem in our country today is the fascism in our streets; the attacks on American citizens by masked hoodlums. If you were attacked by a masked person, you might think you were being kidnapped; you’d be justified in shooting the person to protect yourself,” Nadler said.

Vance responded to the comments on X, directing his criticism at the veteran lawmaker, who is retiring from Congress.

“Jerry Nadler is one of the highest ranking Democrats in the House of Representatives and he is openly calling for people to shoot federal law enforcement.

“This is despicable behavior from an elected official and I’m sure the leftwing media will cover it extensively,” Vance wrote.

Nadler went on to expand on his concerns during the hearing.

“We see people being shot, for what? For driving a car?” he said.

The exchange followed a series of deadly incidents involving federal agents that have drawn scrutiny and political backlash.

Federal officials say Renee Good was shot and killed last month by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent after she attempted to flee in her vehicle to avoid arrest on suspicion of obstructing an immigration enforcement operation.

Authorities said Good used her car to block agents on a residential street and struck an officer, prompting the agent to fire in self-defense.

Others have challenged the government’s version of events leading up to Good’s death.

Several weeks later, Alex Pretti was fatally shot while interfering with an ICE operation in Minneapolis, an incident that prompted some Democrats to renew calls for dismantling the agency altogether.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli authorities today lifted a gag order, allowing publication of the identity of the mayor arrested and questioned earlier this week on suspicion of bribery and misappropriation of funds. The suspect is Tomer Glam, the mayor of the southern city of Ashkelon.

According to investigators, Glam is suspected of diverting donations that were earmarked for the welfare of soldiers for his personal use. The investigation, led by the elite police anti-corruption unit Lahav 433, followed a covert probe that unfolded over recent months.

Police allege that donations totaling millions of shekels, contributed to the Ashkelon municipality by individuals and organizations in Israel and abroad, were transferred into a community fund and from there funneled into the private accounts of the mayor. The funds were reportedly donated to support residents during the ongoing war.

A police statement said the covert investigation was conducted by the National Fraud Investigations Unit, which examined suspicions that a portion of the donations intended for public welfare were ultimately used for the personal benefit of the mayor and individuals close to him.

Attorneys Victor Ozen and Esther Bar Zion, who represent Glam and his wife, rejected the allegations. In a statement, they said: “This is an upright, ethical, and honest individual who was detained, provided a full account, and will do everything necessary to prove to the police that there is absolutely no basis to the suspicions attributed to him, apparently due to an error.”

The attorneys added that Glam works “day and night for the city,” is deeply committed to the safety and welfare of its residents, and expressed confidence that within days investigators would conclude that there was no wrongdoing in his conduct.

The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed at this stage.

{Matzav.com}

A California statute that prohibits federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks while performing their duties will not be enforced by the Los Angeles Police Department, according to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.

Speaking with KABC, McDonnell said it would be unreasonable for one armed law enforcement agency to confront another, warning that such an approach would only create unnecessary conflict. He took aim at the No Secret Police Act, arguing that it reflects poor judgment and a lack of careful consideration.

McDonnell has also voiced criticism over how immigration enforcement operations have been carried out in Los Angeles, distancing his department from those actions.

“We are in line with our federal partners on everything except immigration enforcement,” he said.

“What we’ve seen since June here in Los Angeles and seen across the country, we’re as frustrated as everybody else — about the way that’s being done,” McDonnell added.

The police chief said he worries that aggressive enforcement tactics could discourage residents from contacting police when they need assistance, though he acknowledged there has been no documented decline in calls for service.

In an appearance on “Good Day Los Angeles,” McDonnell emphasized that the LAPD does not cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies on immigration matters.

“We’ve been solid on that since 1979. That’s been our policy,” he said.

“That’s worked for us. We cannot afford to alienate immigrant communities within Los Angeles,” McDonnell continued.

“We’ve built up trust over many years, and we can’t afford to lose that trust,” he said.

“We’ve tried to be as clear as we can about what our position is relative to ICE and immigration enforcement. We don’t work with ICE on that,” McDonnell added.

The mask ban has also drawn sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, said the law violates the Constitution.

“At a time that ICE law enforcement faces a 1,000% increase in assaults and their family members are being doxxed and targeted, the sitting Governor of California signed unconstitutional legislation that strips law enforcement of protections in a disgusting, diabolical fundraising and PR stunt,” McLaughlin said in a statement issued last fall when the bill was signed.

California has since agreed not to implement the law while a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration proceeds through the courts.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump briefly contemplated stepping away from diplomatic talks with Iran after a series of confrontations in the Persian Gulf that U.S. officials characterized as “aggressive,” according to a report published Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal citing senior American officials.

Despite the tensions, the discussions planned for later this week are still expected to move forward. The report did not specify what factors ultimately led Trump to allow the negotiations to continue.

Among the incidents cited was an episode in which Iran launched a drone that was intercepted and destroyed by a U.S. Navy fighter jet as it neared the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.

That encounter took place just hours after Iranian forces allegedly harassed a U.S.-flagged merchant ship crewed by Americans as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the report, the drone involved was a Shahed-139, which was downed by an F-35C fighter launched from the Lincoln while the carrier was operating roughly 500 miles off Iran’s southern coastline. No U.S. service members were injured, and American military hardware was not damaged.

Even with those developments, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration still intends to proceed with talks between special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian representatives. “President Trump is always wanting to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango,” she said. “As always, though, of course, the president has a range of options on the table with respect to Iran.”

Trump also addressed the matter directly on Tuesday, confirming that negotiations with Iran are underway while declining to disclose the location of the talks.

“They are negotiating. They’d like to do something, and we’ll see if something is going to be done,” Trump said.

Reflecting on earlier dealings with Tehran, he added, “They had a chance to do something a while ago, and it didn’t work out. And we did Midnight Hammer. I don’t think they want that happening again,” referring to U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last June. “But they would like to negotiate. We are negotiating with them right now, yes.”

When pressed on where the upcoming meeting would take place, Trump responded simply, “I can’t tell you that.”

{Matzav.com}

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Israeli Finance Ministry Minister and member of the Security Cabinet Ze’ev Elkin warned on Tuesday night that continued opposition by chareidi parties to the draft law could lead to harsher outcomes for the chareidi public and destabilize the coalition, including the risk of elections without an approved state budget. Speaking in an interview on the HaMahadura HaMerkazit program, Elkin argued that internal resistance—particularly by the Chassidishe Agudas Yisroel faction—could make passage of the legislation impossible and ultimately harm the very communities seeking to block it.

Addressing reports of quiet contacts between Naftali Bennett and chareidi figures, Elkin said such maneuvering was unsurprising but misguided. “In politics, anything can happen,” he said, adding that some in the chareidi street are misreading the situation. “There are elements in the chareidi public who oppose the current version of the law and are hoping that maybe they’ll get more from Bennett. I think they are deluding themselves. As someone who has been following the draft law for a long time, I see the same pattern repeat itself: a proposal is put on the table, certain factions reject it in the hope of something better, time passes, and then they say, ‘Too bad we didn’t agree back then,’ because the new proposals are worse. This is a cycle that has been repeating itself since 2012.”

Elkin directed pointed criticism at the Chassidishe Agudas Yisroel faction, warning that its stance could stall the process entirely. “I’m afraid that this time as well Agudas Yisroel is making the same mistake,” he said. “Its opposition makes it impossible to pass the law, because no one in the coalition wants to be someone else’s Shabbos goy.”

Turning to the prospect of the government collapsing before the state budget is approved, Elkin issued a stark warning to chareidi representatives. “Let’s say the draft law isn’t passed and we go to elections—does it make sense to go to elections without a budget?” he asked. “I think that would be a very big mistake. It would be an economically ‘dead year.’ The first to be hurt by that would be the chareidi public, because a large portion of its funding is not in the base budget. Under a continuing budget of one-twelfth, that money won’t be transferred. It would be a kind of ‘self-inflicted punishment.’ If I were advising them, I would recommend: first approve a budget, and then go to elections.”

On security matters, Elkin addressed American demands to disarm Hamas as part of President Donald Trump’s plan, expressing doubt that diplomatic avenues alone would succeed. “Trump said it correctly: either it happens the easy way, or the hard way,” Elkin said. “The hard and bad way is clearly only the IDF, because no one else will do this job for us. I’m skeptical that diplomatic moves will help, and therefore the ball will return to the IDF.”

At the same time, Elkin pointed to what he described as significant achievements on the ground. “We defeated Hamas militarily,” he said. “They no longer have a shared border with Egypt, we have control over the Philadelphi Corridor, and therefore their ability to rebuild their strength is very limited.”

In closing, Elkin also touched on the brewing coalition crisis surrounding the dairy reform, urging all sides to reach a compromise that balances lowering the cost of living with protecting farmers in Israel’s periphery and safeguarding the country’s food security.

{Matzav.com}

The Belzer Chassidus on Tuesday forcefully rejected reports claiming that the Belzer Rebbe took part in drafting religious guidelines incorporated into new Israel Defense Forces General Staff orders. Senior figures in the chassidus dismissed the claims with derision, stating unequivocally that neither the Rebbe nor anyone acting on his behalf had any involvement in the matter at any stage.

The response followed earlier reports alleging that the Belzer Rebbe and the Stoliner Rebbe participated in formulating rules intended to regulate chareidi enlistment in the IDF, including direct dialogue with military officials, the dispatch of representatives to meetings, and approval of specific clauses in the orders.

Belzer sources flatly denied the claims, calling all such reports “false,” and added that the journalists who published them failed to seek any response from the chassidus beforehand. According to the statement, this omission violated basic standards of journalistic ethics and professional conduct.

The denial came as additional coverage aired on i24NEWS, which reported on the composition of a supervisory committee tasked with overseeing chareidi service frameworks within the IDF. The report said the committee would include representatives from Ashkenazi and Sephardi yeshivos, as well as figures linked to the Belzer and Stoliner courts.

According to that report, the committee members named were Rav Dovid Leibel, Rav Shimon Binik, Rav Avrohom Borodiansky, Rav Meir Antebi, Rav Asher Zelfreind, and Rav Carmi Gross. The committee is expected to have authority to conduct inspections at IDF bases where chareidi soldiers are serving.

Earlier on Tuesday, journalist Yoeli Brim reported that the Belzer and Stoliner Rebbes were involved in shaping the religious standards embedded in the new General Staff orders, including participation in discussions with the IDF and approval of the final language. That account was categorically rejected by Belz.

The controversy unfolded on the same day that IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi signed the new General Staff orders formally regulating chareidi service in the military. Until now, policies governing chareidi enlistment had been internal directives of the IDF Manpower Directorate. The new orders elevate those policies to binding General Staff regulations, subject to formal oversight, implementation, and periodic review at the highest levels.

The orders outline additional rights for chareidi soldiers, including designated prayer times, mehadrin kashrus standards, and the option of a declaration of allegiance in place of a formal oath.

They also establish three dedicated chareidi service tracks. One framework assigns soldiers to gender-segregated teams. A second, known as the “Cherev” track, provides fully gender-segregated units—such as entire battalions—where combat commanders are generally chareidi or religious soldiers, with rare exceptions requiring special approval. A third framework, the “Dovid” track, consists of units in which all personnel maintain a religious lifestyle; such units will require individual authorization from the head of the Manpower Directorate.

Under the new regulations, candidates seeking placement in chareidi tracks will be required to pass an evaluation demonstrating adherence to a chareidi way of life, with provisions allowing for removal from the framework if those standards are not maintained. The orders also permit chareidi soldiers, under justified circumstances, to enter and leave bases without wearing uniforms, and stipulate that their induction will be conducted via declaration rather than oath.

{Matzav.com}

An unusually forceful editorial published Tuesday in the Israeli daily Yated Neeman launched a sweeping and uncompromising attack on Israel’s judicial system and the military establishment, declaring that the Torah world will not yield to arrests, sanctions, or political pressure. The editorial frames the current moment as a decisive struggle over the identity of the state and the standing of Torah learners, asserting that Torah alone is the true and unchangeable constitution of the Jewish people.

The article describes what it calls an escalation in the battle over the character of the country, insisting that Torah cannot and will not be reshaped to suit political circumstances. Against the backdrop of growing pressure on yeshivos and kollelim, the editorial quotes Rav Dov Landau as saying: “At this time, when the burden on the yeshivos and kollelim has grown heavier due to decrees and harassment by state authorities, the urgent need of the hour is to strengthen those who learn Torah.” The paper notes that Rav Landau undertook a demanding campaign of encouragement across Torah institutions of all communities and backgrounds, a campaign that is continuing in the present days.

According to the editorial, the goal of this effort is to reinforce resolve, prevent spiritual weakening, increase kevod Shomayim, and raise high the banner of Torah and respect for its learners. The message delivered during these visits is quoted as: “The Torah unites the entire Jewish people, and through it we will merit salvation from all troubles, from within and from without.”

The article then turns to the parsha of Yisro, portraying the annual renewal of the covenant between the Jewish people and the Ribono Shel Olam. The editorial presents the current struggle as a spiritual campaign against what it calls the dominant Israeli cultural current, urging the nation to close ranks in a unified front.

In one of its sharpest passages, the editorial accuses the judicial system and its allied bodies, together with the military authorities, of adopting an agenda aimed at reducing the presence of Torah in Israel. It asserts that opponents of Torah and adversaries of the chareidi public have revealed their intentions, aided by what the paper describes as collaborators from religious-Zionist circles who, it claims, are intensifying public campaigns through their media outlets.

The article expands at length on the battle with Amalek, arguing that true victory was achieved not on the battlefield itself but in the place where Moshe Rabbeinu stood engaged in tefillah and spiritual leadership. According to the editorial, wars arise when commitment to Torah weakens, while victory comes through strengthening Torah study. It highlights Yehoshua’s role as a devoted Torah figure, chosen to lead precisely because of his lifelong immersion in Torah rather than any military training or command experience.

The editorial argues that although the physical fighting was carried out by soldiers, victory was achieved solely through the spiritual power of Torah. It stresses that this reality may not be perceptible to the physical senses, but is an accepted truth transmitted through Torah Shebaal Peh.

The piece goes on to describe Israeli society as being under what it calls a foreign spiritual domination by a small but aggressive minority. It accuses this group of seeking to uproot the covenant of Sinai and strip away what the editorial describes as the true spiritual protection that shields the nation. According to the article, efforts by the judiciary and political actors to undermine the Torah-based foundation of Jewish life are steadily intensifying.

Addressing arguments that Torah law should be adjusted to modern realities, the editorial challenges the notion that divine law is meant to adapt to human circumstances. Instead, it argues that the world itself was created in accordance with the Torah, and therefore reality must conform to Torah rather than Torah bending to reality. It maintains that attempting to replace Torah law with human-devised legal systems represents a distortion of the divine design underlying creation.

In response to what it describes as coercive measures, the editorial declares unequivocal defiance. It states that no Torah learner will abandon his studies because of arrests, enforcement actions, or sanctions. The article emphasizes that the Torah was accepted at Sinai as the binding constitution of the Jewish people, accepted unanimously and irrevocably.

The editorial draws a distinction between a state constitution, which it says can be changed by majority vote, and the constitution of a nation, which it argues cannot be altered. Jewish nationhood, it asserts, was forged at the giving of the Torah, not through international resolutions, parliamentary decisions, or judicial rulings.

Reiterating its core message, the article declares that loyalty to Torah will never change under any circumstances. It insists that “the Torah will not be adjusted to fit circumstances”; rather, “circumstances must be reshaped to align with the Torah, regardless of the cost.”

In one of its most striking lines, the editorial concludes that just as past adversaries failed, current efforts will also collapse. “Even the Israelis will not prevail over the Jews,” it states, warning that incitement, coercion, arrests, and sanctions are destined to fail. The struggle, the editorial says, is not about communal rights but about the honor of Hashem, framing the confrontation as a spiritual battle fought for a higher purpose.

The piece closes by returning to the theme of the covenant renewed each year with the reading of Parshas Yisro, asserting that Torah learners understand the roots of the struggle and will not abandon their posts. It ends by quoting Rav Landau’s declaration: “Even things that are well known must be said. Nothing overrides Torah study, and through the study of Torah we will merit salvation from all troubles, from within and from without.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Trump lashed out at CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins during a tense Oval Office question-and-answer session on Tuesday, criticizing her demeanor and attacking her credibility as she pressed him on the release of files connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

As Collins posed a series of questions about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein materials, Trump cut her off with a personal rebuke, telling her, “CNN has no ratings because of people like you,” and labeling her the network’s “worst reporter.” He added a remark about her expression, saying, “You know, she’s a young woman. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile.”

Trump escalated his criticism moments later, referencing his long familiarity with Collins and broadening the attack to her employer. “I’ve known you for 10 years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile, because you know you’re not telling the truth and you’re you’re a very dishonest organization and they should be ashamed of you,” he said.

Collins tried to interject, quietly noting that she was “talking about survivors of a … abusers,” suggesting that the subject matter did not lend itself to levity.

Collins began her journalism career covering entertainment before moving into political reporting, later serving as a White House correspondent for the Daily Caller starting in 2016.

She joined CNN in 2017 and reported on Trump’s first term from the White House before transitioning into anchor positions in 2023.

WATCH:

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