Matzav

President Donald Trump on Wednesday put forward a proposal to raise U.S. military spending to $1.5 trillion in 2027, arguing that the country is facing what he described as “troubled and dangerous times.”

The proposal comes just days after Trump ordered a U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and remove him from the country to face drug trafficking charges in the United States. At the same time, American military forces continue to build up their presence in the Caribbean Sea.

Under current plans, the U.S. defense budget for 2026 stands at $901 billion.

Beyond Venezuela, Trump has recently floated a number of other aggressive national security ideas, including taking control of Greenland, a Danish territory, citing strategic concerns. He has also indicated a willingness to consider military action in Colombia, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that longtime adversary Cuba “is in trouble.”

Announcing the proposal on Truth Social, Trump said, “This will allow us to build the ‘Dream Military’ that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe.”

The Pentagon already received a substantial boost last year, with roughly $175 billion allocated through the GOP’s “big, beautiful bill” of tax cuts and spending reductions that Trump signed into law.

Despite that increase, Trump’s call for even more defense funding is expected to face opposition on multiple fronts. Democrats have traditionally pushed to keep defense and non-defense spending increases in balance, while fiscal conservatives within the Republican Party have warned against further swelling the federal deficit.

Trump has countered those concerns by pointing to increased federal revenue generated by tariffs imposed by his administration on allies and adversaries alike since his return to office. He has argued that these tariffs give the government the financial flexibility to fund higher military spending.

However, while tariff revenue has risen sharply, it still falls far short of covering Trump’s wide-ranging pledges, which include paying down the national debt, issuing dividends to taxpayers, and now funding a major expansion of the military budget.

Separately on Wednesday, Trump also issued a warning to Raytheon, one of the nation’s largest defense contractors, saying the company could lose Pentagon business if it does not stop buying back its own stock and instead reinvest profits into expanding weapons production.

Trump has repeatedly complained in recent months that defense contractors have failed to deliver critical weapons on time while continuing to reward investors through dividends and stock buybacks and paying hefty compensation packages to top executives.

“Either Raytheon steps up, and starts investing in more upfront Investment like Plants and Equipment, or they will no longer be doing business with Department of War,” Trump wrote on social media. “Also, if Raytheon wants further business with the United States Government, under no circumstances will they be allowed to do any additional Stock Buybacks, where they have spent Tens of Billions of Dollars, until they are able to get their act together.”

Raytheon manufactures several of the U.S. military’s most prominent missile systems, including the Tomahawk cruise missile, the Javelin and Stinger shoulder-fired missiles, and the Sidewinder air-to-air missile.

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An account purporting to depict a Rabbi Menachem Goldberg has some 100,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, and although the accounts post videos that have backgrounds with apparently secular or Christian tapestries hanging on walls of shuls with multiple aronei kodesh, some with nonsensical Hebrew inscriptions, some users appear to be duped by the account.

Some commenters thank the “rabbi,” who wears a long beard and a black hat, and thank “him” for his words of wisdom. Others appear to be aware that something is amiss with the account, which launched on Dec. 29.

Both the Instagram and TikTok accounts hawk publications called “The Five Pillars” ($9.99) and “Rabbi’s Blueprint” ($19.99).

According to a biography on the website, the “rabbi” has “dedicated over 40 years to studying and teaching the intersection of Jewish wisdom and financial prosperity. Based in Brooklyn, he has helped thousands of people from all backgrounds achieve meaningful success through timeless Torah principles.”

In some backgrounds of the films, the “rabbi” sits in an apparent shul, in which a Sefer Torah lies open and unattended on a desk.

Many of the things that the “rabbi” says in the videos are platitudes, delivered in succession with minimal translations. The apparent rabbi refers to “God” rather than “Hashem,” and does not tend to cite particular Torah verses or rabbinic commentators in any of his messages. He also refers often to “abundance” and “renewal.” He often signs off his videos by directing people to buy his books and in several says just “link in bio.”

He says at one point that the Torah says not to put a stumbling block before “another.” The posuk says before a “blind person.”

Rabbi Gil Student, director of Jewish media and publications at the Orthodox Union, is part of the team developing Ohrbit, an artificial intelligence tool that delivers personalized Torah learning experiences.

“AI is a powerful tool to amplify Torah and help people study more Torah,” he told JNS. “AI should not replace human involvement and effort but can be an incredible tool when used responsibly.”

“AI requires transparency and responsibility,” he added. “Jewish tradition requires that any book, whether written by a human or AI, have a responsible human review and approbation.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is expected to announce the formation of a new international body known as the Gaza Board of Peace next week, as the ceasefire agreement moves into its second phase, according to U.S. officials and sources familiar with the plan.

The board would be led by Trump and include roughly 15 world leaders, with a mandate to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and supervise the establishment of a yet-to-be-formed Palestinian technocratic government.

A source with direct knowledge of the process said, “Invitations are going out to key countries to be members of the board.”

Countries expected to participate include the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.

U.S. officials cautioned that the initiative could still be adjusted depending on developments in other areas of Trump’s foreign policy agenda, including matters related to Venezuela and the Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations. The White House declined to comment.

Former UN envoy to the Middle East Nikolay Mladenov is expected to serve as the board’s representative on the ground. He is currently in Israel for meetings with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and other senior officials ahead of Trump’s anticipated announcement.

Netanyahu’s agreement to proceed to the second phase of the ceasefire during his meeting with Trump last week helped pave the way for the forthcoming declaration.

The first gathering of the Gaza Board of Peace could be held later this month on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Trump said last month that he planned to reveal the board’s membership in early 2026 and emphasized that it would include top global leaders. “It will be one of the most legendary boards ever,” Trump said at the time, adding that it would be made up of “heads of the most important countries in the world – Kings, heads of state, and presidents – they all want to be on the ‘Board of Peace.'”

The Board of Peace, along with other elements of Trump’s broader plan for Gaza, was endorsed by the UN Security Council in a resolution adopted in November.

{Matzav.com}

The United States is withdrawing from a United Nations body that has pressed for race-focused policy frameworks and a worldwide reparations effort, following an executive order signed Wednesday by President Donald Trump, according to administration officials.

State Department officials said the decision targets the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, arguing that its agenda conflicts with core constitutional principles, including the 14th Amendment and equal protection guarantees. Officials accused the forum of promoting racial grievance narratives and what they described as “victim based social policies” within the UN system.

Announcing the move, Tommy Pigott, the State Department’s principal spokesman, said the administration would no longer participate in bodies it considers discriminatory. “America will no longer lend its credibility to racist organizations,” Pigott said.

Pigott added that the administration is drawing a firm line against what it views as coercive ideology. “Radical activists who embrace DEI ideology and seek to compel the United States to adopt policies mandating race-based wealth redistribution, in organizations such as the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent will no longer be entertained,” he said.

He underscored the point by reiterating the administration’s stance: “The United States is proudly withdrawing from racist organizations such as this forum.”

The forum has openly advocated what it calls a “global reparations agenda,” seeking to “compensate Africa and the African diaspora for the enduring legacies of colonialism, enslavement, apartheid and genocide between the 16th and the 19th centuries.”

Beyond reparations, the body has linked other policy areas to race, asserting that “efforts to advance climate action” must be rooted in “racial equity,” and arguing that “climate justice cannot succeed without addressing historical and structural forms of injustice.”

Its positions have also extended into emerging technologies. In statements on artificial intelligence, the forum contended that only “reparatory justice” could prevent what it labeled “technology-enabled racism.”

One of the forum’s members was Justin Hansford, a law professor at Howard University and a proponent of critical race theory, who began serving on the panel in March 2022. He was the only member based in the United States among the forum’s ten participants.

Hansford has previously called for dismantling police departments, expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and endorsed the creation of a UN tribunal that would require the United States to pay $5 million in reparations to Black Americans, according to prior reporting by the Daily Mail.

{Matzav.com}

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

This week, we begin Sefer Shemos, the Sefer Hageulah. It is the sefer that tells the story of how a broken, enslaved people rose from the depths of despair to stand at Har Sinai to receive the Torah. It carries us from the bitterness of bondage to the ecstasy of redemption, from drowning terror at the YamSuf to the highest spiritual moment in human history.

But Sefer Shemos is not merely a historical account. It teaches us what destroys a nation — and what saves it.

The Alter of Kelm would explain that just as Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov are called the avos because they laid the foundations of Yiddishkeit, so do the parshiyos of Sefer Shemos function as avos, forming the bedrock of our emunah and guiding us how to live as Jews.

How we treat other people defines us. It shapes our souls and announces, louder than any slogan, who we are. When we are attentive to others, when we notice them, value them, and appreciate them, we grow. We become capable of achdus. And through that unity, we become capable of far more than we ever could accomplish alone.

Hashem designed human beings to need one another. A person cannot thrive in isolation. From the moment we enter the world, we survive only through connection. As infants, we are utterly dependent. Even as adults, nearly everything we require to sustain our lives — food, shelter, education, health, security — comes from the labor and kindness of others. Every act of care, every hand extended, is part of the invisible network that sustains us.

Arrogance blinds people to this reality. Those who refuse to acknowledge how much they owe others imagine themselves self-made. It should be obvious that without the contributions of many other people, they would be hungry, lonely, ignorant, and lost. Everything we know, everything we have, exists because someone else cared enough to give. Appreciating even the smallest kindness is part of the lifeblood of community.

A meaningful life cannot be lived alone. Peirud — division — is not merely a social flaw. It is spiritual corrosion. It weakens communities and hollows out the people who cause it.

The Torah is filled with mitzvos that cultivate humility and gratitude, mitzvos that remind us that the world is sustained by kindness and that Hashem showers us with blessing every day. Whatever we pursue in life, we must remember the ultimate goal. Not winning arguments. Not momentary triumphs. But building something enduring. Unity makes our efforts last.

The Torah tells us in Devorim (7:7) that Hashem did not choose us because we were many. We are, in fact, the smallest of the nations. And yet, when we are united, we become greater than the sum of our parts. Our deeds combine. Our merits accumulate. Other nations may be larger, but when we have achdus, no one can overtake us.

We must learn how to move forward together, not as individuals who happen to share a label, but as a people bound by shared purpose. Loving another Jew does not require agreement, and appreciating another Jew does not require seeing the world through the same lens. What matters is the shared neshomah beneath the surface, the spark that unites us despite our differences. When we recognize that spark, unity becomes real, lived, and enduring.

Even before Moshe Rabbeinu was born, this lesson was already being written. Shifra and Puah, his mother and sister, risked their lives to save others. They were renowned for their righteousness and rose to achieve levels of nevuah. Yet, despite their overarching greatness, the Torah refers to them by the names given them for their acts of kindness involving infants. Their identity was chesed. In reward for their chesed, they merited dynasties of Kehunah, Leviyah, and Malchus.

Kindness is greatness.

Moshe Rabbeinu survived because of chesed. A helpless infant, placed in a basket among the reeds, was saved by Basya, the daughter of Paroh. She named him Moshe, “because I drew him from the water.” The Maharal teaches that although Moshe had many names, this is the one by which he is eternally known, because it reflects an act of compassion. The Torah is Toras Chesed. Even Hashem calls Moshe by a name rooted in kindness.

Moshe’s greatness did not come from the palace. It came from his heart. The Torah says, “Vayigdalhayeled— And the youth grew.” How? “Vayeitzeielechovvayarbesivlosam.” He left comfort behind and went out to feel the pain of his brothers. Though raised as royalty, walled off from what was going on, he took it upon himself to leave the blissful comfort of the royal palace to view what was happening in the lives of the lower classes. The suffering that he saw changed him forever.

When he saw a Jew being beaten, he intervened. When he saw a Jew striking another Jew, he recoiled in horror. “Acheinnodahadovor,” he cried. Now I understand. Redemption cannot come where Jews fight one another. Disunity locks the gates of geulah.

That day’s events forced him to leave Mitzrayim. Upon escaping to Midyon, Moshe’s first act was chesed, standing up for vulnerable strangers at a well. That kindness led to his future, his family, and his destiny.

The Sefer Hachareidim writes at the conclusion of the sefer that prior to his passing from this world, Yaakov Avinu called for his sons, the twelve shevotim, and said to them, “Hikovtzuv’shimubnei Yaakov — Gather together the sons of Yaakov.” He then told them that they should rid their hearts of jealousy, hatred, and competition, and view each other as if they are one person with one soul. Yaakov told them that if they could not achieve that unity, the Shechinah would not be able to rest among them.

The Rishonim (Rashi, Rabbeinu Bachya, Ibn Ezra, Rashbam) explain the pesukim (Shemos 29:45–46) which state that Am Yisroel “should know that I, Hashem Elokeihem, took them out of Mitzrayim so that I can dwell among them.” They write that this means that Hashem took us out of Mitzrayimin order for us to build the Mishkon. This denotes that they were unified at the time of YetziasMitzrayim or else they would not have been redeemed, for the Shechinah can only rest among us, and in the Mishkon, where we are united. Had we not been b’achdus, and had there been peirud, Hashem would not have removed us from there.

The pattern repeats throughout history. In every golus and every geulah, chesed and achdus are decisive. They carried us out of Mitzrayim, and they will carry us forward again.

If we remember who we are, if we reach for one another instead of turning away, we can build something radiant and enduring. Even small acts of appreciation — a kind word, a gesture of help — ripple outward, strengthening the bonds that protect and sustain the klal.

Our Torah is Toras Moshe, the inheritance of a gentle shepherd who led with compassion. It must be taught and lived in a way that builds people, not breaks them. Greatness is tied to sensitivity to the klal and to every individual within it. Such sensitivity awakens Heavenly mercy. Greatness is formed through many small acts of kindness born of an appreciation for every person and their needs and emotions.

The Torah says that after the passing of all the shevotim, there arose a “new” Paroh who did not know Yosef. Rashi explains that according to one view, this was not a new king at all. It was the same Paroh, who chose to pretend that Yosef had never existed. Gratitude became inconvenient. History was rewritten.

This tactic is ancient and familiar: Isolate, discredit, demonize.

The newly installed president of Venezuela and other leftists and anti-Semites blamed “the Zionists” for President Trump’s takedown of the dictator Nicolas Maduro. Facts were distorted, history was bent, and Jews were once again cast as convenient villains for events they did not create.

Actions concurrent with the inauguration of New York City’s new mayor were disconcerting to many Jews who are concerned about the direction he will take.

As Shabbos departs and the melavamalka candles flicker, we feel the ache of transition, from light to labor, from holiness to struggle. We sing, “Al tiraavdi Yaakov.” Do not fear. With the voice, restraint, and faith of Yaakov, we can endure.

Together, we hold the key to redemption. We come from different lands, speak different languages, and follow different customs. But beneath it all, we are family. One on one, Jews get along. We must not allow labels to tear us apart.

Where others bring darkness, we must bring light. Where others sow loneliness, we must offer brotherhood. When we are divided, Amaleik gains strength. When we stand k’ishechadb’levechad, no force can overcome us.

We cry together. We rejoice together. We live for one another. We have tasted what redemption feels like.

Let us hold onto that taste. Let us strengthen achdus, deepen love, and remember that we are part of something larger than ourselves so that we can merit the geulah.

Unity does not mean sameness. Achdus does not demand that we think alike, dress alike, or experience life in the same way. Klal Yisroel has always been a tapestry woven from different strands, from the time of the twelve shevotim, each distinct in nature and approach, each bringing a different koach to the same sacred mission. Yehudah’s leadership, Yissochor’s depth, and Zevulun’s support are not competing paths, but complementary ones.

Our diversity is not a sign of weakness. It is a source of strength. A people built from many perspectives is more resilient, more complete, and better able to meet complex challenges. When different strengths stand together, blind spots are covered, balance is created, and the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Achdus is not forged by erasing difference, but by weaving difference into a shared purpose.

Loving another Jew does not depend on agreement. Appreciating another Jew does not require us to see the world through identical lenses. It asks only that we recognize the shared shoreshbeneath the surface, the common destiny that binds us together even when our paths look different. We do not have to blur distinctions in order to maintain connection.

When differences are handled gently, they enrich us. When they are handled harshly, they wound. Achdus is sustained not by winning debates, but by preserving dignity. It grows when we listen a little longer, judge a little less, and remember that the person before us is more than a position or a label.

Every Jew carries a cheilekElokamimaal, a spark of the Divine worthy of care and respect. When we speak kindly, when we give the benefit of the doubt, when we assume sincerity even where we disagree, we create an environment in which unity can breathe. Disagreement does not have to fracture us. Handled with warmth, it can deepen understanding.

Achdus is often built quietly, through patience, restraint, and small acts of consideration. It is found in choosing compassion over suspicion and connection over distance. When we relate to one another as people rather than categories, unity becomes not an ideal, but a lived reality.

There are many lessons for us in the parshiyos of Seder Shemos, but the need for achdus to bring about geulah is a primary one, especially during these times of darkening clouds as we pine for the geulah and Moshiach.

We don’t always have to agree, but when we disagree, it needs to be with respect and without hatred, as bnei and bnosTorah and not as people devoid of middos and derecheretz. Let us work to make ourselves worthy of having the Shechinah dwell among us, so that Hakadosh Boruch Hu can feel confident enough to bring us all home, surrounding the Bais Hamikdosh, with the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our day.

{Matzav.com}

After more than forty years on Capitol Hill, Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer plans to step away from Congress, a decision he is set to make public on Thursday. His departure ends one of the longest tenures in the House, marked by leadership roles at the highest levels of the Democratic caucus and involvement in landmark legislation such as the Affordable Care Act.

Hoyer confirmed his plans in a conversation with The Washington Post, explaining that he did not want to remain in office beyond the point where he felt fully effective. “I did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed, outstayed his or her ability to do the job,” he told the Post.

At 86, Hoyer has been guarded in recent months about whether he would seek another term. His decision comes amid a broader generational shift among Democrats, with several long-serving lawmakers either drawing primary challenges from younger candidates or opting not to run again. Nancy Pelosi announced in October that she intends to retire when her current term ends.

Hoyer entered Congress in 1981 and steadily climbed the leadership ladder, ultimately becoming the second-ranking Democrat in the House under Speaker Nancy Pelosi. His district spans from suburbs east of Washington, D.C., down into southern Maryland, and has long been considered safely Democratic.

Although Hoyer and Pelosi are now closely associated as a leadership team, their relationship was not always smooth. The two first crossed paths as congressional interns in the 1960s and later became rivals within the party. After Pelosi defeated Hoyer in a 2001 contest for a top leadership slot, the pair eventually forged a durable partnership that guided House Democrats for years.

Within that partnership, the two leaders were seen as complementary figures. Pelosi was widely viewed as an ideological standard-bearer and prolific fundraiser, while Hoyer built a reputation for cultivating relationships, both within his party and with Republicans, skills that made him an effective manager of floor strategy.

Following Democrats’ loss of the House in the 2022 midterms, Hoyer relinquished his leadership post as part of a wider reshuffling but chose to remain in Congress. He later returned to prominence by securing a senior position on the House Appropriations Committee.

In terms of longevity, only two current House members — Republicans Hal Rogers of Kentucky and Chris Smith of New Jersey — have slightly longer records of service, and even they exceed Hoyer’s tenure by only a matter of months.

Reflecting on his career and his rivalry-turned-alliance with Pelosi, Hoyer offered high praise for his longtime colleague, describing her as “tough-as-nails.” He also addressed the leadership ambitions he once held, saying, “Sure, I would have loved to have been speaker. Who wouldn’t love to be speaker? But they’re not deep regrets.”

With Hoyer’s exit, his solidly Democratic seat is expected to draw intense interest. One contender, Harry Jarin, has already entered the race after launching a primary challenge in May that explicitly focused on Hoyer’s age, a sign of the competitive contest likely to unfold once the seat opens.

{Matzav.com}

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A disturbing investigative report has revealed that a Jewish infant from Israel is currently living among ISIS terrorists in Syria after his mother was allegedly drawn into radical Islamist circles, converted to Islam, and left Israel with her husband, who later became involved with the terror organization.

According to the investigation, the woman—an Israeli Jew whose identity has not been released due to privacy concerns—underwent a conversion to Islam in 2013. The process reportedly took place at an office connected to radical Islamic figures on the Har Habayis and was facilitated by Sheikh Rassan Atamneh, one of the founders of the Dar al-Salam Islamic Center in Kafr Qara, who has since passed away.

Following her conversion, the woman married Salah al-Din Mahamid, a young schoolteacher from Kafr Qara. In 2014, shortly after their wedding and while his wife was nearing childbirth, Mahamid was arrested by Israeli authorities on suspicion of involvement with ISIS. At the time, his attorney claimed he was a normative individual from a respected family who had only recently begun working in education. After several days in detention, he was released.

Sometime later, the couple left Israel, traveling through Turkey and eventually entering Syria. According to materials uncovered in the investigation, Mahamid joined ISIS after arriving in Syria. Documents and communications sent from the region reportedly indicated his active involvement with the terror group, along with chilling references to the fate of his family—including the child born to the couple, who is considered fully Jewish according to halacha.

Investigators also located the woman’s certificate of conversion to Islam. Rumors circulating in the Wadi Ara area suggest that Mahamid was killed during fighting in Syria, but repeated efforts to verify these claims and to determine the current status of the woman and her child have so far yielded no definitive information.

“This is one of the most extreme and painful cases we have encountered,” said Elchanan Groner, an activist and reporter for Hakol Hayehudi. “It demonstrates how an ideological process that may begin on the margins can end with joining a murderous terror organization and the complete disappearance of a family.”

The affair was exposed in an investigative report recently broadcast on Channel 14. Additional details are expected to be published regarding the activities of the Islamic center involved and other individuals connected to the case.

The revelations raise serious questions about oversight, responsibility, and the devastating human cost of religious and ideological radicalization—particularly when it places Jewish lives, including that of an innocent child, in grave danger within ISIS-controlled territory in Syria.

{Matzav.com}

Following a recent phone conversation with Colombia’s president, President Trump said preparations are underway for an in-person meeting at the White House, signaling a possible reset in talks after a period of sharp public criticism.

Trump disclosed the call on Wednesday, saying Colombian President Gustavo Petro reached out to discuss ongoing tensions, including disputes related to narcotics trafficking. According to Trump, the exchange struck a constructive tone and opened the door to further dialogue in Washington.

“It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said the discussion left him optimistic about next steps and confirmed that diplomatic channels are already coordinating the visit. “I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future,” the president added. “Arrangements are being made between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Foreign Minister of Colombia.

“The meeting will take place in the White House in Washington, D.C.”

The planned meeting comes against the backdrop of Trump’s longstanding and blunt accusations against Petro. Trump has previously claimed that the Colombian leader is tied to cocaine production and export operations that funnel drugs into the United States.

Those allegations were reiterated earlier this month following a Jan. 3 military operation aimed at capturing and removing Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro, after which Trump warned that Petro could face scrutiny as well.

“He has cocaine mills, he has factories where he makes cocaine. And yeah, I think I stick by my first statement: He’s making cocaine,” Trump said of Petro, during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump went on to claim that drugs originating in Colombia are being trafficked northward. “They’re sending it to the United States. So he does have to watch [him]…,” the president added.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, Trump’s latest remarks suggest that both sides are now moving toward direct engagement, with the White House meeting expected to address the disputes that have fueled tensions between Washington and Bogotá.

{Matzav.com}

A tense incident unfolded Wednesday afternoon at a shopping mall in Beit Shemesh, when a three-year-old girl’s leg became trapped in an escalator at the Kenyon Hashedra.

Emergency crews from the Beit Shemesh fire and rescue station were dispatched after reports that the child’s leg had been caught in the escalator’s mechanical system. Firefighters worked carefully using specialized tools, carrying out a delicate and complex rescue operation.

Within a short time, the teams succeeded in freeing the child safely. Medical personnel examined her at the scene, and authorities confirmed that she was not in any danger.

Fire and rescue officials noted that this was the second such incident at the same mall and on the same escalator within the past month. In light of the recurring accidents, they again emphasized safety guidelines, urging parents not to allow children to use escalators without close adult supervision.

{Matzav.com}

A new analysis of airline water systems is raising concerns about what passengers may be drinking in the air, with researchers advising travelers to avoid tap water on planes and opt instead for sealed bottled beverages.

The review, conducted by the nonprofit Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity, examined more than 35,000 water samples collected over a three-year period from 10 major airlines and 11 regional carriers. Based on its findings, the group also recommends skipping coffee and tea made onboard and avoiding washing hands with aircraft sink water, suggesting the use of hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol instead.

While water quality is not typically top of mind for most travelers, the organization said it remains an “important public health consideration.” The group warned that consuming contaminated aircraft water can expose passengers to pathogens and lead to gastrointestinal illness.

Among the largest U.S. airlines reviewed, Delta and Frontier received the highest marks, each earning an “A” grade. At the other end of the spectrum, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit were all assigned “D” ratings based on the study’s scoring system.

The findings showed that 2.7% of the samples tested positive for total coliform bacteria, a category of microorganisms commonly found in the digestive systems of humans and animals, as well as in soil and vegetation. According to the researchers, such results are used as an indicator of broader contamination risks.

“Testing for coliform bacteria is important because their presence in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) could be in the water system,” the Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity said in its report.

The study also detected E. coli on 32 occasions across the 21 airlines evaluated.

U.S. carriers with onboard drinking water systems are subject to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, known as the ADWR, which has been in place since 2011. The regulation requires airlines to routinely test for coliform bacteria and potential E. coli contamination, as well as to disinfect and flush each aircraft’s water tanks four times annually. The researchers noted, however, that the EPA rarely issues civil penalties to airlines found to be out of compliance.

Several airlines responded to the report. American Airlines said it is reviewing the findings and emphasized that its water program meets federal standards.

“American’s potable water program is fully in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR),” the airline told CBS News. “A recent EPA audit showed there were no significant findings with our program, and we have not received any violations for any potable water cabinets or trucks that we use.”

JetBlue said it follows guidance from multiple federal agencies, including the EPA, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration, and noted that it provides bottled water to passengers. Spirit said it maintains a testing and maintenance program that complies with EPA requirements.

“The well-being and comfort of our guests is very important to us,” the company told CBS News in a statement. “Our data shows we have made progress in this area in recent years, and we continue to evaluate and refine our procedures as necessary.”

Southwest Airlines, which received a “C” grade, said it regularly inspects onboard water quality, adheres to EPA standards, and sources water from local municipal systems that already meet public health requirements.

On its website, the Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity describes its mission as “creating a more equitable food system that will improve health outcomes.”

The study ranked airlines using a five-point scale, with deductions for violations such as contaminated water samples.

Major airlines, ranked best to worst:

1. Delta Air Lines Incorporated (5.00, Grade A)

2. Frontier Airlines Incorporated (4.80, Grade A)

3. Alaska Airlines Incorporated (3.85, Grade B)

4. Allegiant Air Limited Liability Company (3.65, Grade B)

5. Southwest Airlines Company (3.30, Grade C)

6. Hawaiian Airlines Incorporated (3.15, Grade C)

7. United Airlines Incorporated (2.70, Grade C)

8. Spirit Airlines Incorporated (2.05, Grade D)

9. JetBlue Airways Corporation (1.80, Grade D)

10. American Airlines Incorporated (1.75, Grade D)

Regional airlines, ranked best to worst:

1. GoJet Airlines Limited Liability Company (3.85, Grade B)

2. Piedmont Airlines Incorporated (3.05, Grade C)

3. Sun Country Airlines (3.00, Grade C)

4. Endeavor Air Incorporated (2.95, Grade C)

5. SkyWest Airlines Incorporated (2.40, Grade D)

6. Envoy Air Incorporated (2.30, Grade D)

7. PSA Airlines Incorporated (2.25, Grade D)

8. Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation (2.15, Grade D)

9. Republic Airways Incorporated (2.05, Grade D)

10. CommuteAir Limited Liability Company (1.60, Grade D)

11. Mesa Airlines Incorporated (1.35, Grade F)

Airlines for America, the industry trade group, said U.S. carriers comply with federal requirements governing onboard water systems.

“The top priority of the airline industry is the safety of all passengers and crew members,” the group said in a statement to CBS News. “U.S. airlines follow the guidelines of several government agencies — the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocols for testing drinking water, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements to routinely check water systems and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements applicable to water systems — to ensure the water onboard an aircraft is safe and reliable for consumption.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky made clear Wednesday that he intends to oppose any effort by the Trump administration to use force in connection with Greenland, saying such a step would not be acceptable under any circumstances. Speaking on CBS Mornings, Paul said he would actively work to prevent a military scenario involving the territory.

During the interview, CBS Mornings co-host Vladimir Duthiers pressed Paul on comments coming from the White House. Duthiers said, “Senator, the president of the United States has said that the United States needs to acquire Greenland for national security reasons.The president’s press secretary says that the president and his team are discussing a range of options. And I’m quoting her here. Caroline Leavitt to CBS news. Utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal. That is a close quote from Caroline Leavitt. My question to you, sir, is do you imagine a scenario where young American soldiers, airmen, Guardsmen, Marines are actually training a weapon on a NATO ally of the United States?”

Paul responded by saying that such a situation would be unprecedented and unacceptable. “We’ve never been in a position, to my recollection, or to my knowledge of something like that. What would you say to the president’s team, when they talk about acquiring Greenland, even though Marco Rubio has told, other members of the Gang of Eight that, the president wants to buy Greenland. But using military forces, Caroline Leavitt says, is clearly an option on the table and won’t happen under my watch.”

The senator went on to argue that if the United States were to pursue Greenland at all, it would have to be done through diplomacy and consent, not force. “I will do everything to stop any kind of military takeover of Greenland. What I can tell you, though, is if you want to purchase Greenland, the best way would be to try to have goodwill with the people. So first, it would probably require a vote of the people to be independent of Denmark, which I think the people of Greenland are inclined to do. And then it would have to be some sort of offer of something that makes it better to be part of the United States. We have acquired territory. I mean, half the United States came to us through the Louisiana Purchase. Alaska came to us through a purchase. But you didn’t get to those purchases. Like any deal or diplomacy, by insulting your opponent, you get there by actually, trying to please and get your opponent to agree to this because it would have to be done voluntarily. So I see no scenario in which militarily I or really for that matter, any of my colleagues in the Senate would support a military takeover of Greenland.”

WATCH:

A federal inquiry is now underway into the movement of hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. currency that for years passed through Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport packed inside passenger luggage on outbound international flights.

According to accounts from airport personnel, travelers departing Minnesota legally transported enormous sums of cash—often totaling $1 million or more per bag—to Somalia and other destinations in Africa and the Middle East. Transportation Security Administration agents reportedly documented the discoveries and escalated them internally after encountering the money during routine screening.

Despite repeated alerts by TSA staff, officials during Joe Biden’s administration took no action to examine or halt the transfers, witnesses say, even as the scale of the cash shipments continued to grow.

A former TSA agent, now acting as a whistleblower, said she personally observed numerous suitcases crammed with U.S. currency moving through the Minneapolis airport without obstruction. “I saw suitcases filled with millions of dollars of cash and the couriers were always Somali men traveling in pairs and they got through the checkpoint. And it just — it just really absolutely blew my mind,” she said.

Concern over the reports has drawn congressional attention. Arizona Republican Rep. Eli Crane reacted sharply after TSA warnings about cash-filled bags were highlighted in a social media post by Libs of TikTok. Crane said Congress must scrutinize how such vast sums were able to leave the country unchecked.

Crane has also pressed Minnesota officials in recent hearings, questioning them about money flows from Somali migrant communities in the state to the Africa-based terrorist organization Al Shabab.

Reporting by Just the News indicates that the appearance of these cash-laden bags at U.S. airports began after Democrat Tim Walz took office as Minnesota’s governor in 2018. The outlet detailed the scale of the transfers, noting, “Minneapolis travelers alone had $342.37 million in their luggage in 2024 and $349.4 million in 2025, and the totals nationwide are likely to be much higher,” Just the News reported.

Sources familiar with the matter say TSA agents consistently flagged the unusual cash loads, but no investigation was opened at the time, allowing the shipments to continue uninterrupted until federal officials recently moved to examine the long-standing practice.

A new push from President Donald Trump aims to curb the growing role of large corporate investors in the U.S. housing market, with the stated goal of preserving homeownership opportunities for American families.

In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said he is taking steps to stop corporations and large institutional investors from purchasing additional single-family homes, a practice that has expanded rapidly in recent years and has been blamed by many analysts for worsening affordability and straining neighborhoods.

Trump also urged lawmakers to turn the policy into permanent law, arguing that congressional action is needed to ensure future administrations cannot reverse the restriction and reopen the market to large-scale investors.

“For a very long time, buying and owning a home was considered the pinnacle of the American Dream. It was the reward for working hard, and doing the right thing,” Trump wrote in the post, “but now, because of the Record High Inflation caused by Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress, that American Dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people, especially younger Americans.”

He expanded on that position in the same post, writing:
“It is for that reason, and much more, that I am immediately taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes, and I will be calling on Congress to codify it. People live in homes, not corporations. I will discuss this topic, including further Housing and Affordability proposals, and more, at my speech in Davos in two weeks.”

Recent data highlight the scale of investor activity in the housing market. In one quarter last year alone, investors bought more than 345,000 homes nationwide, accounting for roughly one-third of all residential purchases during that period.

In certain regions, the concentration is even higher. Following last year’s wildfires in parts of Los Angeles County, California, real estate figures show that investors are purchasing close to 40 percent of available properties, as many homeowners struggle to afford rebuilding costs.

Academic research has also pointed to long-term community effects. A study by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business examined property and neighborhood records in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and found that institutional investors acquired nearly seven percent of all single-family homes sold there between 2011 and 2021.

According to the researchers, the trend carries broad negative consequences for neighborhoods, from stability to overall quality of life.

“When institutional investors start purchasing at this scale, the effects really start to compound, leading to broader declines in these neighborhoods. As these areas grow and become more concentrated with investor-owned properties, the overall decline becomes even more noticeable,” said Stephen Billings, the study’s lead author.

He added that frequent turnover and absentee ownership alter the fabric of communities. “It’s not surprising that the character of the community changes,” Billings said. “When people are constantly moving in and out, it’s hard to expect anyone to truly invest in the long-term well-being of the neighborhood.”

{Matzav.com}

Following the deadly incident at yesterday’s anti-conscription protest, Israeli authorities reported that the bus driver involved continued traveling roughly 500 meters after the impact, with 14-year-old Yosef Eisenthal trapped beneath the vehicle.

During a heated Knesset plenary session on Wednesday, Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar of the Likud turned his fire on opposition lawmakers, arguing that persistent hostility toward the chareidi public had real-world consequences and culminated in the killing of the teenager at the rally.

“Your incitement against the chareidi public is what led to this tragedy. You have permitted the blood of the haredi public. Shame on you,” Zohar charged from the podium of the Knesset.

He continued by accusing critics of portraying the chareidi community as a national threat. “Daily, you present them as the enemy of the nation. Calm down. They are valuable, important, and beneficial to Israeli society. Stop attacking them from morning to night until you turn them into an enemy.”

Zohar pressed the point further, warning that language carries weight and can incite violence. “You authorized their deaths so that a driver allows himself to drive at a crazy speed into a protester and to kill a boy. So think what you’re saying. Every word has meaning. Be responsible for what you say.”

{Matzav.com}

The BBC has acknowledged errors in a recent broadcast after criticism erupted over the way it portrayed the Kindertransport, following a December 26 episode of its program The Repair Shop that failed to mention the Jewish identity of the children rescued in the operation or of the episode’s central figure.

The controversy stems from a segment focused on a damaged 19th-century cello once owned by theater producer Martin Landau, who escaped Nazi Germany for Britain at the age of 14 aboard a Kindertransport train. Nazi guards had smashed the instrument shortly before his departure, leaving it broken for decades until it was brought to the show for restoration.

Although the program devoted a substantial portion of the episode to the cello’s backstory and the wider historical setting of the Kindertransport, it never stated that Landau was Jewish or that the rescue effort was primarily designed to save Jewish children from Nazi persecution. The Kindertransport historically facilitated the evacuation of roughly 10,000 Jewish children from Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia between 1938 and 1939, with assistance from Jewish and humanitarian groups.

During the episode, British actress Helen Mirren introduced the cello to the restoration team. Luthier Becky Houghton carried out the repair, and the restored instrument was later played on screen by Jewish cellist Raphael Wallfisch. Despite these elements, viewers noted the absence of any explicit reference to the Jewish nature of the rescue operation.

According to The Jewish Chronicle, the word “Jew” was allegedly cut during editing from a line spoken by Mirren, which aired as, “…children were sent by the Kindertransport,” without further clarification.

After public criticism, the BBC added a correction to the episode’s iPlayer page, stating that “the Kindertransport was the organized evacuation of approximately 10,000 children, the majority of whom were Jewish.” Even so, as of early this week, the episode’s description on the broadcaster’s official website still did not mention Landau’s Jewish background or the Jewish focus of the Kindertransport.

This episode is the latest in a series of controversies involving the BBC. The broadcaster has drawn repeated criticism in recent years over what critics describe as anti-Israel bias, a charge that intensified following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

In November 2023, the BBC issued an apology after incorrectly reporting that Israeli forces were deliberately targeting medical teams near the Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Earlier, the network wrongly suggested Israel was responsible for a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital, later conceding that “it was false to speculate” after evidence showed the blast was caused by an Islamic Jihad rocket.

The corporation also faced scrutiny last year for featuring the son of a senior Hamas official as the narrator of its documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. In response to the backlash, the BBC admitted there were “serious flaws” in the program.

Most recently, the broadcaster announced that all staff will be required to undergo mandatory anti-discrimination training, starting with modules addressing antisemitism and Islamophobia.

{Matzav.com}

A woman was shot this evening in the West Gate apartment complex, Lakewood, NJ’s largest housing development, prompting a major emergency response from police and local volunteer organizations.

The woman was declared dead.

The shooting occurred at an apartment located on Hillside Boulevard in the West Gate neighborhood.

Details regarding the circumstances of the incident are being withheld as police conduct their investigation. Matzav was asked to withhold details out of respect for the family.

Askanim are working to ensure kavod hameis.

Lakewood police responded in force, with at least a dozen patrol cars converging on the scene within minutes.

Members of Hatzolah provided assistance as well, while Shomrim volunteers were also present.

Authorities cordoned off the immediate area as officers began an investigation, interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence. Hundreds of concerned residents gathered in and around Hillside Blvd.

{Matzav.com}