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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

The Rambam in Pirush Hamishnayos 5:4 explains that the ten miracles were the fact that the Yidden were saved from the ten makkos. Since each makka was inflicted exclusively upon the Mitzriyim and not upon the Yidden, that itself was a great miracle. When the Torah mentions each makka, it generally states explicitly that it took place only in Mitzrayim, with the exception of Makkas Kinnim. Although the Torah does not explicitly say that the Yidden were spared from Kinnim, it is obvious that they were not afflicted.

During the makka of Dam, we see that the Mitzriyim became exhausted searching for water. During the makka of Tzfardea, the posuk warns that the frogs will enter your houses, ovens, and other places. With regard to the makka of Arov, the posuk states that Hashem will make it clear that there is a distinction between Goshen and Mitzrayim. When discussing the makka of Dever, the posuk says that not a single animal belonging to the Yidden died. Regarding Shechin, the posuk states that the boils afflicted the Mitzriyim and their chartumim. The posuk describing the makka of Barad says that only in the land of Goshen there was no hail. During the makka of Arbeh, the posuk warns that it will fill your houses and the houses of your servants. Regarding Makkas Choshech, the posuk says that there was light for all of Bnei Yisroel.

The Meiri explains that from the pesukim we see that none of the makkos took place in the vicinity of the Yidden, with the exception of Kinnim, which afflicted the bodies of people. The posuk does not state that Kinnim did not reach the vicinity of the Yidden. The Gemara explains that although Kinnim was present in Goshen, it did not harm the Yidden in any way.

The Reshash asks on the Rambam from the posuk regarding Arbeh, which states that it would fill your house and the houses of all of Mitzrayim. This would seem to include Goshen, which was located within Mitzrayim. Yet when it comes to Kinnim, where the posuk says that it was in all of Mitzrayim, we say that Kinnim was also present in Goshen.

The Chida explains that regarding all the other makkos, the Mitzriyim were not fully convinced that they came from Hashem, since their magicians were able to replicate them. Hashem therefore demonstrated that these makkos were from Him by excluding Goshen, clearly showing that the plagues were divinely controlled. However, when it came to the makka of Kinnim, which the chartumim were unable to replicate due to its small size, they themselves admitted that it was the finger of Hashem. Since the source of the makka was already acknowledged, there was no need to exclude Goshen in order to prove that it came from Hashem.

The Yaavetz, in Avos 5:4, explains that proof that Kinnim did not affect the Yidden, but only the Mitzriyim, can be derived from the posuk in Shmos 8:13, which states that the Kinnim were “on adam and beheima.” This is explained to mean that it afflicted only an adam who is comparable to a beheima, as the Torah describes the Mitzriyim as “am hadomeh lachamor.” This posuk therefore indicates that the makka afflicted only the Mitzriyim and not the Yidden.

Based on the premise that Kinnim was present in Goshen, albeit without affecting the Yidden, we can answer a question raised by the Achronim regarding Yaakov’s request not to be buried in Mitzrayim. One of the reasons given is that Yaakov foresaw the makka of Kinnim and did not wish to be buried in a land that would be infested with it. If so, one could ask why he did not request to be buried in Goshen, where the makkos did not occur. The answer must be that Makkas Kinnim was the exception to the rule of Goshen being spared, and therefore Yaakov did not want to be buried in a place where Kinnim would be present.

May we be zocheh to the Geulah Sheleima and witness the wonders of the Geulah Ho’asida.

{Matzav.com}

In a wide-ranging and unusually blunt interview, Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, made clear that the chareidi parties will not vote in favor of the state budget unless legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students is passed first. Speaking with Yishai Cohen of Kikar HaShabbat, Gafni said the position has already been conveyed directly to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

“Will we vote for the budget without a draft law? No. The answer is no,” Gafni said. “That is what we heard from our rabbanim. First there must be a law — not even just a first reading. This is the message we also delivered to the prime minister. Everyone knows it.”

Gafni devoted significant attention to the petition filed by Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, which challenges the transfer of funds to chareidi educational institutions and demands stricter state oversight of core curriculum studies.

“He has completely lost his bearings,” Gafni charged, arguing that salary payments to educational institutions have historically been approved in this manner for years — including during Lapid’s own tenure as finance minister. “All salaries were always paid on time. Many times, until the Treasury brings the transfer to the Finance Committee and the committee approves it, the salaries are already paid. He did the same thing himself.”

Gafni lashed out at Lapid in unusually harsh language, accusing him of singling out chareidi institutions while ignoring similar funding transfers to state-religious schools. “Everything connected to the chareidi public — he has something to say, and he says it aggressively. He wants the money returned. There has never been such a thing. He lost all restraint. His main goal is to bring down this government. Who is he anyway? Zero.”

Addressing recent rulings and judicial conduct, Gafni said the behavior of the Supreme Court of Israel toward the chareidi public has pushed the chareidi factions to actively support judicial reform legislation.

“Today they are doing it openly,” he said. “There is no justice here, no fairness, nothing equal, only against the chareidim. Now we are voting for laws to reduce their power and limit their ability to influence.”

Responding to criticism that he has spoken against the right-wing government, Gafni rejected ideological labels. “We are not right and we are not left,” he said. He accused elements within the right, including factions in Likud and Religious Zionism, of adopting narratives created by the left in order to undermine the coalition — particularly surrounding the draft law.

“They promised to make our lives bitter because we went with Netanyahu,” Gafni said. “From time to time you hear voices on the right repeating claims that were invented to bring down this government.”

Gafni also addressed growing tensions within United Torah Judaism, warning that disagreements with Agudas Yisrael could threaten the joint framework ahead of elections. He accused Agudah of violating a written agreement requiring a resignation to allow MK Yitzchak Pindrus to enter the Knesset.

“They are not honoring the agreement — black on white,” he said. “If someone thinks Agudah has four mandates and we have three, they should wake up quickly from that dream. They are endangering the possibility of running together.”

On his ongoing dispute with Shas chairman Aryeh Deri over control of the Yerushalayim Religious Council, Gafni said Degel HaTorah is at least as strong as Shas in the capital and cannot be sidelined. “You cannot act as if one side takes over the entire system,” he said. “We also have agreements.”

Asked about Arab parties announcing opposition to the draft law, Gafni rejected claims of any political alliance. “There was never a pact between Tibi and Gafni,” he said. “I believe there is a halachic obligation to preserve the rights of all communities living in Israel. Sometimes I ask Arab MKs to support us, sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. When the vote comes, we will try to speak with whoever is possible so they do not vote against us.”

Gafni also reiterated his opposition to the death penalty for terrorists promoted by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, warning against populist legislation that could further inflame tensions.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized a CNN reporter during an exchange on Air Force One on Sunday after she questioned whether Iran takes his warnings seriously, turning the moment into a pointed back-and-forth during a flight back to Washington.

The interaction took place while the president was traveling from Palm Beach, Florida, to Washington, DC, where reporters were gathered in the cabin for an informal press gaggle.

“Do you think Iran takes your threats seriously?” the reporter asked.

“I think so, don’t you think so, CNN?” Trump replied curtly, as he pointed to past military actions carried out under his leadership, including the killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimani and terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi during his first administration, as well as B-2 bomber strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan in 2025 as part of Operation Midnight Hammer.

“Wouldn’t you say that they probably do at this point, after going through it for years with me? Being hit, Soleimani, al-Baghdadi, the Iran nuclear threat wiped out…And then you just had Venezuela,” Trump continued.

“Wouldn’t you say they do, after all of the things we’ve done? What a stupid question,” the president added.

WATCH:

The exchange unfolded as Trump had been commenting on unrest inside Iran, saying over the weekend that the United States “stands ready to help” as the country looks “at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before,” amid ongoing protests and demonstrations against the Islamic Republic led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to AFP, at least 192 protesters had been killed as of Sunday.

Trump had already confronted the same reporter earlier in the flight after she declined to immediately identify the news outlet she represented.

During the same gaggle, another reporter asked whether Iran had crossed a “red line yet to trigger a response.” Trump responded, “They’re starting to, it looks like.”

“There seemed to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed,” he said, adding that “the military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options.”

The CNN reporter then pressed Trump to specify what options had been presented to him.

“Why would I tell you that…Are you asking me to say what will I do, where will we attack, when, and at what angle will we attack from? Who are you with?” Trump shot back.

She replied that she was part of the White House press pool, avoiding naming CNN, but later acknowledged her affiliation after Trump continued to press her.

“Why don’t you just say, ‘I’m with CNN,’” Trump said, adding that CNN is “fake news.”

{Matzav.com}

The White House said Monday that President Donald Trump is not ruling anything out in dealing with Iran, stressing that both diplomatic and military paths remain under consideration as unrest continues inside the country.

Speaking to reporters during an afternoon press gaggle outside the West Wing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked whether the administration had excluded the possibility of military action — including airstrikes — against Iran amid growing protests against the regime led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Well, I think one thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table, and airstrikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the Commander in Chief. Diplomacy is always the first option for the president,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt emphasized that the Iranian government’s public rhetoric does not match what it is privately conveying to Washington, suggesting internal contradictions within the regime’s messaging.

“He’s told all of you last night that what you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite differently [sic] from the messages the administration is receiving privately, and I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,” Leavitt detailed.

At the same time, she underscored that the administration is prepared to escalate if circumstances warrant it, pointing to Trump’s record of acting decisively when he believes U.S. interests are threatened.

“However, with that said, the president has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary, and nobody knows that better than Iran,” she added.

Leavitt also highlighted the continued role of special envoy Steve Witkoff in diplomatic efforts related to Iran, describing him as a key figure in ongoing and potential talks.

Meanwhile, Trump addressed the situation publicly over the weekend, posting on Truth Social that the United States “stands ready to help” as Iran appears to be facing an unprecedented push toward “FREEDOM” amid nationwide protests. CNN has reported that more than 500 demonstrators have been killed as of Monday.

During a return flight to Washington, DC, aboard Air Force One on Sunday night from Palm Beach, Florida, Trump voiced concern over the growing death toll and signaled that Iran may be nearing a critical threshold in his assessment.

“There seemed to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed,” he said. “The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options.”

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein delivered a forceful and emotional shmuess Sunday evening at Yeshiva Maor HaTalmud, sharply criticizing Israel’s conscription policies and warning that enlistment in so-called “chareidi tracks” within the Israel Defense Forces poses a grave spiritual danger to yeshiva students.

Speaking during a special chizuk gathering convened in light of recent cases of yeshiva students enlisting in the army, Rav Eichenstein cautioned that programs marketed as suitable for the chareidi public are fundamentally misleading. “Someone who enlists there may enter as chareidi,” he warned, “but he will not emerge chareidi.” He expressed particular anguish over what he described as “modern” families who encourage their sons to join such frameworks.

Rav Eichenstein, who serves as rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Yad Aharon, said he has been deeply involved in assisting yeshiva students who received draft notices or were detained over refusal to enlist.

During his remarks, he revealed that he recently held a three-hour conversation with a senior IDF official regarding the issue of chareidi conscription. He told the officer that he could not understand the approach of Israel’s High Court. “If they truly want us to enlist,” Rav Eichenstein said he argued, “why do they impose sanctions against us? That only causes us to hate the state and turn against it.”

According to Rav Eichenstein, the senior military official responded candidly, telling him: “You are naïve. What they really want is this: after October 7, there was a wave of teshuvah across Israel, and they are afraid that within a few years the chareidim will dominate the country. That is why they are imposing sanctions — to force chareidim into the army and stop that process.”

Rav Eichenstein emphasized that while Israel may indeed face genuine security challenges, he believes this is not the true motivation behind the push to draft chareidi youth. “The real goal is not security,” he said, “but to prevent the possibility of chareidim influencing the state — and in practice, to secularize those who enlist.”

He then launched a blistering critique of the state itself, declaring that Israel can no longer be considered a democracy. “There are many religions,” he said. “Communism is a religion. Zionism is a religion. The state is built on that religion. Zionism is a religion. You want to impose your religion on us — is that democracy? No. No one answers this question. There is no answer. This is not a democratic state. There is no such thing anywhere in the world as forcing religion.”

Rav Eichenstein contrasted Israel’s policies with those of Western democracies, noting that during periods of conscription in the United States, yeshiva students were exempt. “In Christianity,” he said, “they divided society into three groups: those devoted to Torah were exempt, the clergy were exempt, and the common people were obligated. In all Western democratic countries, yeshiva students were exempt, just as Christian seminarians were. The only ‘democratic’ country that does not do this is here — because it is not democratic. There is no freedom of religion here. They impose their religion.”

Addressing a question posed by students regarding how to relate to a yeshiva student who has already enlisted, Rav Eichenstein responded cautiously. “Such a person does not understand the essence of life,” he said. “It is best to speak with him as little as possible — but not to hurt him. If he approaches you, speak with him, but do not go out of your way to approach him.”

Toward the end of his address, Rav Eichenstein broadened his critique to what he described as historical attempts to combine Torah with external ideologies. “Since the Haskalah,” he said, “there have been endless efforts to create Torah with derech eretz, Torah with enlightenment, Torah with Zionism, Torah with something else — and not Torah alone. What came of all of this? Movements full of confusion.” He argued that frameworks such as religious Zionism and “modern chareidi” life represent attempts to merge Torah observance with secular or national identity, a blend he believes is ultimately unsustainable.

“All the programs in the army — Kodekod, Chashmonaim — what is their real goal?” he asked. “Security? To say that is naïve. The real goal is to create a ‘modern chareidi.’ Open your eyes and you will see it.”

Rav Eichenstein concluded with a stark warning. “When you pursue two goals in life,” he said, “there is no blessing in it. Every movement that tried to combine Torah with something else did not last. Look at what became of them. Torah leads to one thing only — closeness to the Ribbono Shel Olam. The moment life is divided between two purposes, nothing remains.”

{Matzav.com}

Greenland’s government issued a firm rejection Monday of any attempt by the United States to take control of the Arctic territory, insisting such a move would be unacceptable under all conditions and calling on NATO to ensure its defense amid renewed interest from President Trump.

“The United States has once again reiterated its desire to take over Greenland. This is something the government coalition in Greenland cannot accept under any circumstances,” said a statement released by the prime minister’s office.

“Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark,” the statement continued. “As a part of the Realm, Greenland is a member of NATO, and the defense of Greenland must therefore be insured through NATO.”

Trump, who has long spoken about acquiring Greenland, said last week that the United States intends to secure control of the territory for national security reasons and suggested that outcome would occur regardless of resistance.

“We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor,” Trump said.

“I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way. And I am a fan of Denmark,” he added.

Senior administration officials have not ruled out the possibility of using force, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying last week that military action “is always an option.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Monday that alliance members are actively discussing Arctic security, though not in the context of defending against the United States.

“All allies agree on the importance of the Arctic and Arctic security,” Rutte said during a press conference in Croatia. “With sea lanes opening up, there is a risk that the Russians and the Chinese will be more active.”

Rutte said conversations on Arctic defense have been underway since last year and that NATO members are now “discussing the next step to that, how to make sure that we give practical follow up on those discussions.”

Greenland’s statement mirrored concerns raised by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) during an appearance Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“I mean, NATO would have an obligation to defend Greenland,” Murphy said, referring to a hypothetical U.S. annexation attempt. “And so query whether we would be at war with Europe, with England, with France.”

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, warned that a forced takeover would fundamentally shatter the transatlantic alliance.

“If [Trump] were to take an action against Greenland, that would completely destroy NATO,” Warner said on “Fox News Sunday.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly aligned himself with striking nurses on Monday, stepping directly into a contentious labor fight by walking the picket line with thousands of private-hospital nurses across New York City, the NY Post reports.

By doing so, the mayor set himself against the leadership of Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Montefiore Medical Center, criticizing hospital executives as among “the wealthiest in the entire city” and arguing that “these executives are not having difficulty making ends meet.”

“The hospital executives who run these hospitals, the ones where these hardworking nurses are asking for what they deserve, these executives are not having difficulty making ends meet,” Mamdani said while standing with striking workers outside NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia in Washington Heights.

“But for too many of the 15,000 NYSNA nurses who are on strike, they are not able to make their ends meet,” he added. “They are not asking for a multimillion-dollar salary.”

Outside the Manhattan hospital, thousands of nurses dressed in red gathered in a noisy demonstration, blowing noisemakers and chanting as they waved signs reading “At least the blood on our hands washes off” and “Nurses are the beating heart of the medical system.”

The labor dispute between hospital administrators and the New York State Nurses Association has grown increasingly hostile, with both sides accusing the other of greed over pay, benefits, and staffing levels. The tensions boiled over Monday as roughly 15,000 nurses formally walked off the job.

“They bragged that they spent $100 million to hire out-of-town nurses to replace us while we strike,” said NYSNA president Nancy Hagans.

“They could have easily have put that money toward our health insurance,” she said. “Nurses are asking for safe staffing. We’re asking for work protection against workplace violence. We’re asking for the greedy CEOs not to take away our medical coverage.”

Mamdani’s decision to publicly back nurses employed by private hospitals drew criticism from opponents, who questioned why a mayor responsible for the city’s public hospital system would intervene in such a charged dispute. His move contrasted with Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to stay neutral during a nurses’ strike in 2023.

“Who does he think is going to help these patients during a strike? … Communist angels?” former Mayor Rudy Giuliani said. “People are gonna die because of it.

“A mayor shouldn’t go on a picket line for people on strike who are needed to deliver critical services,” Giuliani told The Post. “He should be pushing for arbitration to get a settlement.”

One hospital official, speaking anonymously, warned that the mayor’s support could eventually rebound against him.

“Ultimately, the Mayor will learn that his public hospitals are next in line to face NYSNA’s costly and unsustainable demands—leaving taxpayers to pick up an even bigger tab,” the source said.

The standoff between the three major hospital systems and the union began with sharp accusations, including claims from one hospital network that the union is trying to shield impaired workers from discipline.

Montefiore Medical Center alleged that NYSNA was striking in part to block stronger penalties for staff who report to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

“NYSNA leadership’s demand that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job is another example of putting their own self-interest before patient safety,” Montefiore said in a statement to The Post on Monday.

The union forcefully rejected the charge, accusing the hospital of smearing its workforce.

“Montefiore’s desperate attempt to slander New York City’s nurse heroes shows just how low they are willing to go to avoid settling fair contracts that protect Bronx patients and nurses,” NYSNA said.

“Montefiore nurses are fighting for safe staffing and protections from workplace violence,” the statement continued. “Meanwhile, hospital executives show their disrespect for nurses by refusing to agree to our proposals to protect patient and nurse safety, and blatantly mischaracterizing one of our basic workplace proposals, which hospitals around the city and state have already adopted. If Montefiore wants to demonize and stigmatize substance use disorders, then they shouldn’t be allowed to call themselves a healthcare facility.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

President Trump announced a sweeping trade embargo against Iran on Monday, acting as lawmakers from both parties urged him to respond forcefully to the deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters across the country.

“Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“This Order is final and conclusive. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The announcement comes as Trump weighs a range of possible responses to the unrest in Iran, including both diplomatic engagement and military action. According to a source familiar with internal discussions, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and senior National Security Council officials met Friday to assemble a “suite of options” for the president, with potential airstrikes among them.

“One thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table and airstrikes would be one of the many, many options on the table for the commander in chief,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday.

Although Iran is already subject to extensive U.S. sanctions, the newly announced tariffs could significantly deepen its economic strain, particularly as unrest has intensified following the collapse of the local currency.

China remains Iran’s largest trading partner, accounting for more than a quarter of its total trade, according to World Bank data.

Other key commercial partners include Iraq, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and India.

Questions remain about how rigorously the new policy will be enforced.

Trump has previously moved to penalize countries purchasing Russian oil in an effort to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine, but that policy has been unevenly implemented.

At least 544 people have been killed during Iran’s protests, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Of those deaths, 496 were protesters and 48 were members of security forces.

At the same time, Trump is considering diplomatic overtures from Tehran, Leavitt said, as he decides whether to authorize military strikes.

Trump has repeatedly warned that he may step in to protect demonstrators. Speaking to reporters Sunday, he said that “Iran called to negotiate yesterday” and that “a meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting.”

Leavitt said the outreach was directed to special envoy Steve Witkoff and described it as markedly different from Iran’s public posture.

“There was an official from the Iranian government… that reached out to a member of the president’s very close team, special envoy Witkoff, expressing a far different tone than what you’re seeing publicly,” she said.

Publicly, Iranian leaders have struck a confrontational tone. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said “we are completely prepared” for war, while parliament speaker Baqer Qalibaf warned that Iran would “discipline” Trump.

“Diplomacy is always the first option for the president… What you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from the messages the administration is receiving privately. I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,” Leavitt said.

She added that Trump “has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary and nobody knows that better than Iran,” pointing to the June 22 U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

“He certainly doesn’t want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran. And unfortunately that’s something we are seeing right now,” Leavitt said.

Trump’s warnings of possible military intervention drew growing support on Capitol Hill Monday, even as an internet shutdown in Iran made it difficult to assess the latest developments on the ground.

“The reports coming out of Iran are horrific and absolutely unacceptable,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) told The Post. “Yet many people don’t seem to care unless it involves Israel.

“I urge the Trump Administration to take immediate action to stop the killing of innocent civilians who are demanding freedom and liberty.”

Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) voiced confidence in the administration’s approach, saying Trump “has made clear that America stands with the Iranian people and I trust him and Secretary Rubio to take the proper actions to support freedom.”

“After last year’s decisive strike and our recent actions in Venezuela, the Ayatollah should have learned Donald J. Trump doesn’t play games. Together, we will Make Persia Great Again.”

Some Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, have cautioned against escalation, but support for intervention appears stronger than during last year’s crisis in Venezuela.

“If it continues to make more sense, absolutely,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) told CNN on Monday when asked whether Trump should intervene. “Iran is one of the world’s top terrorist underwriters. You now have that poisonous regime in a spiral, so why wouldn’t we want to support that and those brave protesters?”

One of the most vocal advocates for decisive action has been Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally, who argues the moment presents a rare chance to reshape the Middle East and back Iranians who have lived under repression for decades.

“It is not enough to say we stand with the people of Iran,” Graham wrote on X. “The only right answer here is that we act decisively to protect protestors in the street—and that we’re not Obama—proving to them we will not tolerate their slaughter without action.”

“President Trump has been the first president to openly side with the people against the regime. That will be seen in history as the ultimate game changer,” Graham continued. “This is the best chance since 1979 to change the course of the Middle East. It is about acting decisively on their behalf.”

{Matzav.com}

Minnesota and Illinois filed federal lawsuits on Monday aimed at stopping an influx of immigration enforcement officers into their states, following the fatal shooting of a Minnesota woman by an ICE officer last week. The states argue the deployment violates constitutional limits and has endangered residents.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison brought the action in federal court against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other senior immigration officials, asking a judge to rule that the enforcement surge is unlawful and to block it from continuing.

State officials said the administration is singling out Minnesota for political reasons and engaging in racial profiling. They said they plan to seek an emergency order as early as Tuesday, when a court hearing is scheduled.
“The deployment of thousands of armed, masked DHS agents to Minnesota has done our state serious harm. This is, in essence, a federal invasion of the Twin Cities and Minnesota and it must stop,” Ellison said at a press conference, referencing Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

Illinois launched a parallel lawsuit the same day, with Democratic Governor JB Pritzker accusing DHS of a “dangerous use of force.” The Illinois filing asks a judge to bar U.S. Customs and Border Protection from carrying out civil immigration enforcement in the state and to restrict practices such as deploying tear gas, entering private property without permission, and hiding license plates to obscure official activity.

Minnesota’s complaint also seeks specific limits on federal conduct, including prohibiting officers from threatening or displaying weapons toward individuals not subject to immigration arrest. It further asks the court to require visible identification, use of body cameras, and removal of face coverings that conceal officers’ identities.

The Department of Homeland Security rejected the lawsuit, accusing Ellison of putting politics ahead of safety. DHS pointed to Minnesota’s inclusion on a Justice Department list of jurisdictions it says obstruct enforcement of federal immigration laws.

“For years, these corrupt, activist politicians have refused to protect Minnesotans and are now proposing illegal actions to keep their stranglehold on control and continue stealing from American citizens. We will root out this rampant fraud, we will arrest the criminal illegal aliens hurting Americans with impunity, and we will hold those who aid and abetted this criminality accountable,” Noem wrote on X.

The administration has sent federal law enforcement personnel into several cities and states led by Democrats, a move President Donald Trump says is intended to combat illegal immigration and other crimes, including corruption. Democratic officials have countered that the deployments amount to a partisan misuse of federal power.

The dispute intensified last week after federal officers fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, during an enforcement operation in Minnesota. Noem labeled Good a domestic terrorist, alleging she tried to ram an officer with her vehicle, while opponents of the administration have organized protests condemning the shooting as unjustified.

Tensions flared again on Monday when roughly three dozen ICE agents confronted a crowd that gathered around officers questioning a Latino motorist, according to a Reuters reporter at the scene. After some in the crowd threw snowballs, agents fired tear gas, pepper balls, and chemical spray before withdrawing as onlookers cheered.

The motorist, Christian Molina, told Reuters the encounter began after an ICE vehicle struck his car from behind. He said officers then questioned him and his companion about their immigration status and called for reinforcements as the crowd grew upset.

In the months leading up to the shooting, Trump had repeatedly criticized Minnesota, targeting its Democratic leadership and large Somali-American population. He referred to Somali immigrants as “garbage,” highlighted a major welfare-fraud case in which at least 56 defendants have pleaded guilty, and mocked Walz, who ran on the Democratic ticket against him in the 2024 presidential race.

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri launched a sharp attack on Monday evening, accusing activists associated with the Kaplan protest movement of financing demonstrations against Israel’s draft law within the chareidi public, as part of what he described as a coordinated effort to destabilize the government and dismantle the right-wing bloc.

Deri’s remarks came in response to the release of recorded footage featuring a Kaplan activist, the chairwoman of the group Mothers on the Frontline, who is heard admitting: “We worked to create chaos and to break up the chareidi public from within, using the draft issue.”

Speaking following the revelation, Deri said: “We knew this already, but this is clear proof. All the big money behind the campaigns against the draft law comes from Kaplan. The same funding that pays for signs and ads against the so-called ‘draft evasion law’ is also paying for the pashkevilim in chareidi neighborhoods warning about the ‘danger of the draft’ and ‘those destroying the Torah world.’ The goal is one and the same — to bring down the government and the right-wing bloc.”

Deri further claimed that the campaign was aimed at sowing internal discord within the chareidi community. “The objective of the Kaplan activists and the people of Bennett is clear,” he said, referring to former prime minister Naftali Bennett. “They are trying to infiltrate us — admittedly at the margins — through individuals with familiar faces and names. They will yet be exposed. They go to the homes of leading rabbinic figures, secretly record them, play divide-and-conquer, and cause a terrible chilul Hashem.”

According to Deri, the dual campaign — public protests against the draft law alongside targeted messaging within chareidi neighborhoods — is designed to inflame tensions, undermine communal cohesion, and inject chaos into chareidi society in order to achieve broader political aims.

A bus driver was taken to the hospital late Sunday night after his vehicle was attacked during a protest by several dozen extremists in Yerushalayim.

According to reports, the disturbance took place at the Shmuel HaNavi–Yechezkel junction, where demonstrators damaged a bus passing through the area and assaulted its driver. The driver required medical treatment and was evacuated to a hospital.

Police forces were dispatched to the scene and acted to restore order and disperse those involved. In a statement, Israel Police said officers from the Yerushalayim District responded after rioters blocked traffic lanes, behaved violently, set trash containers on fire, and disrupted normal life in the area.

Police stressed that “violent disturbances, blocking major traffic routes, and the actions of lawbreakers constitute serious criminal offenses, endanger human life, and could lead to a major disaster.”

{Matzav.com}

An emotional reception was held Sunday night at Yeshiva Orchos Da’as in Yerushalayim for yeshiva bochur Michoel Atlan, who was unexpectedly released from military prison last Friday, earlier than his scheduled release.

The event took place at the yeshiva’s campus in the Bayit Vagan neighborhood, where talmidim and rabbeim escorted Michoel with singing and dancing, lifting him on their shoulders in a powerful display of joy and solidarity.

During the gathering, the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Shaul Gabay, delivered emotional remarks and broke down in tears as he spoke. He revealed that he had written a personal letter to Michoel while he was incarcerated, but prison authorities refused to allow it inside.

“I want to read a letter I wrote to Michoel, but the prison would not permit it to be brought in,” Rav Gabay said. “They understood very well why — because this letter speaks directly to the deep and true meaning of the Torah world.”

In the letter, Rav Gabay wrote that the reality of Torah students being imprisoned in Eretz Yisroel for learning Torah defies all logic and human understanding. “Hashem allows them to make such mistakes. They think they are acting for harm, but Hashem intends it for good, with one purpose — lehachayos am rav,” he said, invoking the concept of sustaining and giving life to the Jewish people.

Rav Gabay noted that many of those detained come from the Sephardic community, explaining that they possess a unique warmth and love for Torah and a natural ability to draw others close.

He further explained that while yeshiva bochurim are not normally sent out of the beis medrash to strengthen others — a role usually reserved for older figures — in this case, it was a clear act of Divine providence. “If Hashem sends someone against nature, against all logic, there is only one reason: lehachayos am rav. We saw his conduct in prison — learning, completing masechtos — and how it influenced others around him.”

The rosh yeshiva also described a special gift prepared for Michoel by the yeshiva: a booklet listing the personal kabbalos accepted by the bochurim over the past two weeks in his merit. According to Rav Gabay, prison officials initially refused to allow the gift inside, fearing it would strengthen the spirits of the inmates.

“They were afraid of how it would uplift the prisoners when they saw what Orchos Da’as sent him,” he said. “There is no doubt that his early release was above nature and came in the merit of your commitments and chizuk.”

Rav Gabay emphasized that the episode strengthened the inner essence of Torah learning — not learning because it is comfortable, but mesirus nefesh for Torah.

Also addressing the gathering was Rav Yitzchak Abadi, one of the yeshiva’s rabbonim who accompanied Michoel throughout his imprisonment. Rav Abadi stressed the elevated status of a ben Torah, calling him the crown of creation. “They call us draft dodgers,” he said, “but the truth is that they are the ones dodging the beis medrash.”

The evening concluded with Michoel himself making a siyum on Maseches Megillah, which he completed while behind bars.

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri delivered another blunt message to his coalition partners on Monday, warning that any attempt to advance the state budget before the completion of discussions on the draft law will be blocked.

Speaking at a Shas faction meeting, Deri made it clear that budget legislation will not move forward until deliberations on the conscription bill are finalized. “The draft law is advancing in committee,” Deri said. “As you can see, it takes time, but it is moving forward.”

During the meeting, one Knesset member raised the possibility that the coalition intends to place the state budget on the Knesset agenda for a first reading as early as Thursday, with a vote planned for next week.

Deri dismissed the idea outright. “In their dreams,” he said. “There will be no vote on the budget before the discussions on the draft law are completed.”

As previously reported last month, Shas and Degel HaTorah had already conveyed a clear message to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and coalition leaders that they would not support the budget in its first reading until the draft law clears the relevant Knesset committee.

Rav Yitzchok Moshe Kook zt”l, a respected talmid chochom in Bnei Brak and the author of the sefer Siach Yitzchak, passed away suddenly on Monday night at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. He was 78.

He had been hospitalized earlier in the day after feeling unwell and was niftar shortly after his arrival.

Born in England in 1948, Rav Kook was the son of Rav Yosef Chaim z”l and Mrs. Sheindel a”h.

In his youth, he studied at Yeshivas Gateshead, where he absorbed Torah from its roshei yeshiva, Rav Leib Lopian and Rav Aryeh Zev Gurwitz.

He later continued his learning at Yeshivas Telz in Cleveland, where he learned under the roshei yeshiva Rav Chaim Stein, a close relative, and Rav Mordechai Gifter. Upon reaching marriageable age, he married his wife, from the Cohen family of Cleveland.

Following the guidance of the Steipler Gaon, Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, and Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach, Rav Kook moved to Eretz Yisroel in 1983. He joined Kollel Chazon Ish and developed a particularly close relationship with Rav Shach, whom he would visit frequently. He davened regularly at the beis medrash of Yeshivas Ponevezh.

After the passing of the Steipler Gaon, Rav Kook joined the regular Yerushalmi shiur of Rav Chaim Kanievsky. At the conclusion of the year of aveilus for the Steipler, he asked Rav Chaim to continue learning with him in chavrusa, a merit he was granted for many years.

During his years living on Rechov HaRav Dessler in Bnei Brak, he davened at Beis Medrash Shevet HaLevi, where he enjoyed a close bond with Rav Shmuel Wosner.

Rav Kook also maintained a longstanding and close connection with Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, whom he had known since his youth in Cleveland, when he would accompany him during visits there. After settling in Eretz Yisroel, Rav Kook would consult with him on matters large and small, and he later received an enthusiastic haskamah from Rav Bergman on his seforim.

Widely recognized as possessing deep insight into the human soul, Rav Kook devoted himself to guiding and supporting families—particularly in the United States—who remained in close telephone contact with him. He advised them on challenges in ruchniyus and shalom bayis, with many families crediting him with preserving their spiritual lives. He also served as a trusted address for American bochurim learning in Eretz Yisroel, who found in him a listening ear and steady guidance.

Over the years, he established the Shaarei Chesed – Yeshichena LaAcherim organization, which centralized the many personal and communal issues brought to him for counsel. He also published his sefer Siach Yitzchak, devoted to understanding the complexities of the human soul.

Despite his Torah stature and far-reaching influence, Rav Kook was known for his exceptional humility. He lived quietly, avoided public recognition, and did not seek honor, conducting himself with simplicity and modesty.

In recent weeks, he had been unwell. On Monday, he felt a sudden weakness and was rushed to the hospital, where he was niftar shortly thereafter.

He is survived by his sons, Rav Yehuda Kook, a rosh kollel in Bnei Brak, Rav Avraham Eliezer Kook, a rosh kollel in Petach Tikva, as well as additional sons and daughters.

The levayah took place Monday night at his home on Rechov Chevron in Bnei Brak, proceeding to the cemetery in Elad for kevurah.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., criticized the Trump administration on Sunday for expanding federal law enforcement operations in Minneapolis, arguing that the effort wastes public money and instills fear in local neighborhoods even as the White House says it is intensifying actions against fraud and illegal immigration.

During an appearance on MS NOW with host Ayman Mohyeldin, Omar addressed the administration’s increased focus on immigration enforcement alongside investigations into a wide-ranging fraud case in Minnesota. She echoed Mohyeldin’s suggestion that officials were reacting to unfounded narratives and said Democrats were being unfairly portrayed.

“They are falling for this because it is a part of this PR that Democrats somehow condone this fraud and corruption,” she said.

Omar also pointed to the period when Elon Musk oversaw the Department of Government Efficiency, saying that effort failed to uncover wrongdoing while causing harm to vulnerable populations.

She further argued that the current administration has not produced new indictments tied to its fraud investigations in Minnesota, despite earlier cases that resulted in charges against dozens of defendants, many of whom were Somali.

“Again, I’m so exhausted in trying to ask, what any of this, you know, information has led to you finding any criminals that you have indicted, that explains why you are wasting so much of our taxpayer resources?” Omar said Sunday.

The Minnesota congresswoman went on to directly criticize the visible presence of federal agents in the state, saying the scale of enforcement has had a damaging effect on residents.

“And also terrorizing our communities in the amount of federal law enforcement agents that you have in the streets of our city and our state,” she said. “There needs to be some sort of justification, and every single case that they have, you know, put in front of us has been a case that has been investigated or adjudicated under the Biden administration.”

Omar’s comments came as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the federal government is deploying additional agents to Minnesota. The move follows rising tensions after last week’s fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent during an enforcement operation.

Speaking with Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures,” Noem said DHS plans to send hundreds more personnel to Minneapolis to ensure Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents can operate safely.

“If they conduct violent activities against law enforcement, if they impede our operations, that’s a crime, and we will hold them accountable to those consequences,” she said, referring to confrontations between protesters and federal officers outside an ICE facility and the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building over the weekend.

Demonstrations have since spread beyond Minnesota to cities such as Los Angeles, Portland, and New York. The protests erupted after Good was killed in the incident, which DHS claims occurred when she “weaponized her vehicle” and “attempted to run a law enforcement officer over.” Supporters of Good dispute that account, saying she was trying to flee and that the ICE agent used excessive force.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a sharp warning to the United States this week amid widening anti-government protests and escalating rhetoric from President Donald Trump, choosing to deliver his message through an unusual channel — his Russian-language account on X — a move analysts say highlights Tehran’s deepening alignment with Moscow as pressure on the regime grows.

In a Jan. 11 post written in Russian, Khamenei declared, “The United States today is miscalculating in its approach toward Iran.” Several hours later, he followed up with another Russian-language message cautioning that the United States had already suffered setbacks due to past “miscalculations” and would face them again as a result of “erroneous planning.”

Ksenia Svetlova, executive director of the Regional Organization for Peace, Economy and Security and an associate fellow at Chatham House, said the decision to use Russian was revealing, even if the wording itself was awkward.

“This is bad Russian,” Svetlova told Fox News Digital. “It seems that it’s translated by Google Translate, not by a human being.” Nonetheless, she said the choice to communicate via Khamenei’s Russian-language platform aligns with the increasingly close relationship between Tehran and Moscow.

The comments came as unrest inside Iran continues to intensify. According to HRANA, a human rights group monitoring the demonstrations, at least 544 people have been killed during protests across the country, with dozens more cases still being examined. The opposition group NCRI has asserted that the true death toll exceeds 3,000, though confirming figures has been difficult due to sweeping internet restrictions imposed by Iranian authorities.

President Donald Trump has been vocal in condemning the violence. Asked whether Iran had crossed a red line, Trump responded, “They’re starting to, it looks like. And they seem to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed. These are violent. If you call them leaders, I don’t know if they’re leaders, or just they rule through violence. But we’re looking at it very seriously,” he said Sunday while speaking aboard Air Force One.

“We’re looking at some very strong options,” he added.

Iranian officials have rejected Washington’s criticism, accusing the United States of meddling in Iran’s internal affairs and warning that any American military action would prompt retaliation against U.S. forces and allies throughout the region.

At the same time, Tehran has indicated it does not want to sever diplomatic contacts entirely. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that lines of communication remain open between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Axios separately reported that Araghchi reached out to Witkoff over the weekend following Trump’s warnings about potential military steps.

Despite those contacts, analysts say Khamenei’s decision to address Washington in Russian underscores where Iran believes its strongest strategic backing lies.

Russia has emerged as a crucial partner for Tehran, particularly as Moscow depends on Iranian-made drones and other military hardware in its war against Ukraine. That reliance, Svetlova said, means instability inside Iran could have serious repercussions for the Kremlin.

“I think that could be a dramatic effect, because they do depend on Iran — specifically military production, the drones and ballistic missiles,” she said. “They need them to continue their war against Ukraine.”

The relationship has not been without tension inside Iran. Svetlova noted that after the 12-day war with Israel, many Iranians voiced anger at Moscow for failing to offer meaningful support.

“There was a lot of criticism in Iran against Russia that it did not come to help,” she said. “It didn’t reach out. It didn’t do anything, basically.”

Even so, she said Russia’s narrowing list of allies leaves it with few alternatives. With longtime partners weakened or removed, including Bashar al-Assad in Syria and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, Moscow has grown increasingly dependent on Tehran, even as it has largely avoided commenting on the protests shaking Iran.

In that context, Svetlova said, Khamenei’s Russian-language warning appears intended as a message both to Washington and to Moscow — signaling that Iran views its standoff with the United States as part of a shared front with President Vladimir Putin.

{Matzav.com}

A Republican lawmaker is moving to formally back President Donald Trump’s long-standing push to bring Greenland under U.S. control, introducing legislation that would begin the process toward making the Arctic territory the nation’s 51st state.

Rep. Randy Fine of Florida is unveiling a bill Monday that would give Trump authority “to take such steps as may be necessary” to acquire Greenland and advance it toward incorporation into the United States.

“I think it is in the world’s interest for the United States to exert sovereignty over Greenland,” Fine said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

He stressed that the measure would not bypass Congress’ constitutional role in statehood decisions. “Congress would still have to choose to make it a state, but this would simply authorize the president to do what he’s doing and say the Congress stands behind him. And then it would expedite it into becoming a state, but it would still be up to Congress about whether to do that.”

The renewed discussion comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that he plans to meet with officials from Denmark this week to address issues related to Greenland.

Trump has openly promoted the idea of the United States purchasing Greenland dating back to his first term in the White House. He and other Republicans have repeatedly cited the island’s strategic military value, its location near Russia, and the presence of critical mineral resources as reasons the U.S. should seek control.

Fine echoed those strategic arguments while also asserting that U.S. governance would improve conditions for Greenland’s residents.

“Their poverty rate is high. Denmark hasn’t treated them well,” Fine said. “When war came to town, Denmark couldn’t protect them. Guess who protected Greenland during World War II? We did.”

Although many Republicans say they understand Trump’s rationale for pursuing Greenland, some in the party expressed unease earlier this month after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to rule out the potential use of military force to obtain the island.

When asked whether he would support military action, Fine emphasized a non-coercive approach. “I think the best way to acquire Greenland is voluntarily.”

He further argued that Greenland’s internal governance and economic conditions make U.S. involvement preferable. “The poverty rate in Greenland is much, much higher than it is in Denmark. The country is run by socialists, and it is not in America’s interests to have a territory that large between the United States and Russia run by socialists,” Fine said.

Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress holds the authority to admit new states. The process generally involves lawmakers first approving legislation to establish a territory, followed by the drafting of a state constitution that must be ratified by local residents.

After that step, Congress must pass another vote to formally admit the new state, with the process completed only once the legislation is signed by the president.

{Matzav.com}

A volunteer host affiliated with a college radio station resigned after law enforcement agencies confirmed they were alerted to a social media post that explicitly called for violence against Vice President JD Vance, Fox News reports.

The post appeared on Bluesky, a social media platform dominated by left-leaning users, and came from an account using the handle hanslopez.bsky.social. In the message, the user wrote, “It’s simple, we kill JD Vance.” The account holder identified himself as a host on WUML, a radio station funded by the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. The comment was posted in response to another Bluesky user who asserted that, “JD VANCE THINKS BRITAIN & FRANCE ARE AMERICAS [sic] LIKELY ENEMIES.”

According to its website, WUML has served as a broadcast outlet for both the UMass Lowell student population and the surrounding Lowell community for more than 60 years.

The station describes itself as follows: “Founded in 1952, WUML functions as a non-commercial FM station located in Lowell, Massachusetts, funded by the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, and fully managed and operated by student members, broadcasting both terrestrially and online.”

After university officials became aware of the post, they contacted law enforcement, the school told Fox News Digital. In a statement, the university detailed the steps taken immediately after discovering the online threat.

“UMass Lowell police promptly coordinated with the FBI, Secret Service and Haverhill police the same day to ensure an appropriate response,” the university said. “Contact was made with the individual in question, and the necessary assessments were conducted in collaboration with federal partners. Authorities confirmed there was no immediate threat.”

The Secret Service separately confirmed to Fox News Digital that it was aware of the online statement. The Haverhill Police Department referred inquiries to the FBI, which declined to issue a comment.

In a follow-up statement, the university emphasized its stance on violent rhetoric. “UMass Lowell takes seriously any threat of violence involving our community. Statements such as the post in question are inconsistent with the values of our democracy and our university,” the school said. “The individual in question has since resigned from his volunteer role at WUML and removed the post from his Bluesky account.”

University officials also disclosed that the individual responsible for the post is a graduate of UMass Lowell.

A review of the Bluesky account shows that multiple posts, including the one targeting Vice President Vance, have since been deleted.