President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping reassessment of the nation’s childhood vaccination timetable, instructing the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine whether other advanced countries have developed stronger, more effective models. The move could lead to a significant reshaping of how and when American children receive vaccines.
Trump issued the directive in a memorandum addressed to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and acting CDC Director Jim O’Neil, tasking both officials with conducting a comprehensive international comparison. The document opens by pointing out that major industrial nations, such as Japan, Denmark, and Germany, recommend far fewer vaccines during childhood than the U.S. does. As of January, American children were advised to receive immunizations for 18 different diseases, including coronavirus, before reaching adulthood.
According to the memo, the current U.S. approach is not simply more extensive—it stands sharply apart from its peers. Germany urges 15 vaccines, Japan recommends 14, and Denmark suggests only 10 — a stark contrast with the American roster. “Other current United States childhood vaccine recommendations also depart from policies in the majority of developed countries. Study is warranted to ensure that Americans are receiving the best, scientifically-supported medical advice in the world,” the memorandum states.
The president’s order directs that the U.S. schedule be adjusted if evidence shows that other nations’ frameworks offer better outcomes. The memo lays out the precise instruction: “I hereby direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review best practices from peer, developed countries for core childhood vaccination recommendations — vaccines recommended for all children — and the scientific evidence that informs those best practices, and, if they determine that those best practices are superior to current domestic recommendations, update the United States core childhood vaccine schedule to align with such scientific evidence and best practices from peer, developed countries while preserving access to vaccines currently available to Americans.”
The policy review comes as Trump publicly welcomed a separate decision by a federal advisory panel that voted to eliminate the longstanding recommendation that newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine. He praised the shift in a Truth Social statement, asserting that most infants face no exposure risk. “Today, the CDC Vaccine Committee made a very good decision to END their Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation for babies, the vast majority of whom are at NO RISK of Hepatitis B, a disease that is mostly transmitted sexually, or through dirty needles,” Trump wrote.
He followed by criticizing the existing schedule as excessively burdensome for families. “The American Childhood Vaccine Schedule long required 72 ‘jabs,’ for perfectly healthy babies, far more than any other Country in the World, and far more than is necessary,” he added.
{Matzav.com}
Shas issued an unusually blistering public offensive this weekend against religious activists leading a growing campaign against the newly proposed draft law and the arrangement of yeshiva students’ status.
In a sharply worded editorial published in the party’s official newspaper, Shas denounced religious opponents of the bill, charging that their rhetoric surpasses anything heard from hostile sectors. The article claimed that “at the forefront of these jarring voices stand men wearing kippot, but the messages emerging from their mouths are far more repulsive and sickening than anything said by adversaries from other groups.”
The piece went further, accusing certain religious activists—women among them—of spearheading unprecedented public attacks “in the name of Torah” against those who devote their lives to Torah study. “The poisonous and horrific statements we are hearing in the general media, led by women with head coverings who speak in the name of Torah against those who toil in Torah, are unprecedented in their brazenness. They show no concern for the severe spiritual pitfalls that may await their husbands and sons who observe Torah and mitzvos in military service.”
The editorial escalated dramatically, declaring that these activists stand “arrogantly and brazenly as the modern-day heirs of Dasan and Aviram. They are not willing to tolerate even a single Torah learner.”
Shas continued its criticism by invoking a sharp line associated with Rabi Akiva prior to his spiritual transformation: “It is the same intense hatred that characterized Akiva before he became Rabi Akiva: ‘Give me a Torah scholar and I will bite him like a donkey.’ They now preside over a bonfire of incitement, pouring oil and gasoline over a spreading blaze of hatred.”
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett issued a fierce response, condemning the remarks and warning of their consequences. “To all who disgrace the sons of the religious-Zionist community from Shas and to all who support them in silence: you will not receive forgiveness, not in this world and not in the next, until you walk among the hundreds of graves of the holy fallen soldiers of the religious-Zionist community, who united sefer and sword in their lives and in their deaths. You should go to each one and apologize for disrespecting them and their wives, whom you mock as ‘women who do not understand the spiritual dangers to their husbands.’”
Bennett added that invoking Rabi Akiva was deeply misguided. “By the way, the quote about Rabi Akiva—Rabi Akiva, even as a great rabbi, carried the weapons of Bar Kochba in the war against the Romans. I have no doubt he would be ashamed of you for speaking this way.”
Former minister Yoaz Hendel also condemned Shas’s rhetoric, saying, “A government that relies on such a party will never be able to fix anything here. This is a party that denies the fundamentals.”
Former minister Matan Kahana joined the criticism as well: “Aryeh Deri calling the religious-Zionist community the heirs of Dasan and Aviram? Shame is gone. We need a coalition of public servants.”
{Matzav.com}
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan cautioned that abandoning the US-supported ceasefire blueprint for Gaza would amount to a “huge failure” for both Washington and the broader international arena. He emphasized that President Donald Trump has been personally steering the diplomatic track.
In an interview with Reuters during the Doha Forum, Fidan asserted that Hamas had already signaled willingness to relinquish governing authority in Gaza. But he made clear that such a transition hinges on the creation of a functioning Palestinian Arab administrative body and a professional, non-Hamas internal security force. “First of all, we need to see that the Palestinian committee of technical people are taking over the administration of Gaza, then we need to see that the police force is being formed to police Gaza – again, by the Palestinians, not Hamas,” he said.
Turkey, which played a central part in shaping the ceasefire arrangement and signed the agreement finalized in Egypt, has pledged to oversee its enforcement. Ankara has also expressed interest in taking part in the planned stabilization contingent intended to support Gaza’s security infrastructure.
Israel, however, has drawn a hard line against any Turkish role in Gaza’s next chapter. Jerusalem’s refusal stems from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s escalating barrage of public attacks on Israel since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, making Turkish participation politically and strategically unacceptable to Israeli leadership.
Fidan noted in his latest remarks that the envisioned Gaza police apparatus would operate with backup from the international stabilization force. He also disclosed that the US has been urging Israel to consider Ankara’s request to join the mission and highlighted that Turkey stands prepared to send troops should that be part of the final framework.
{Matzav.com}
Egypt’s top diplomat, Badr Abdelatty, called for the immediate dispatch of an international team to oversee the ceasefire arrangements outlined in the second phase of President Donald Trump’s Gaza initiative. He argued that only outside monitors can stabilize the situation on the ground.
Abdelatty charged that Israel has repeatedly breached the terms of the truce that began in October. “As for the International Stabilization Force, we need to deploy this force as soon as possible on the ground because one party, which is Israel, is every day violating the ceasefire… so we need monitors,” he said, according to AFP.
He also stressed that Egypt will not permit any use of the Rafah border crossing that could facilitate population transfers out of Gaza. In his words, the crossing “is not going to be a gateway for displacement. It’s only for flooding Gaza with humanitarian and medical care.”
Despite Abdelatty’s accusations, Hamas itself has failed to uphold key components of the agreement. The terror group did not return all hostages within the required 72-hour period and has repeatedly breached the “yellow line,” the designated humanitarian corridor used to deliver aid into southern Gaza. Hamas gunmen have also opened fire on IDF forces stationed in the area.
In recent days, reports circulated claiming that Egypt would reopen Rafah exclusively to allow Gaza residents to exit into Egyptian territory. Cairo swiftly rejected those claims, insisting it would only authorize the crossing to operate if travel is permitted “in both directions.”
{Matzav.com}
Israeli health authorities revealed overnight that influenza has taken hold far sooner than expected this year, both in Israel and in other parts of the world. The pace of infection is rising sharply, and officials describe the surge as highly irregular for this stage of the season.
International surveillance data points to a tough winter ahead, with projections showing an especially intense flu season and a higher-than-normal rate of illness. These trends have prompted urgent discussions among health experts.
Because of the troubling spike, the Epidemic Response Team is scheduled to meet on Sunday. Their objective will be to analyze the most recent findings and craft practical guidance aimed at slowing the spread before cases climb even further.
Health officials stressed once again that the influenza shot is not an ironclad barrier against catching the virus. Nonetheless, they made clear that it “significantly reduces the severity of illness in most cases and greatly lowers the risk of serious complications and death,” underscoring its critical role in minimizing medical dangers.
The Ministry of Health reiterated its call for widespread vaccination, noting that the flu shot is safe and strongly recommended for everyone six months of age and older. It is offered at no cost through every health fund, making it easily accessible across the country.
The announcement wrapped up with a succinct reminder: “The vaccine is available – protection begins with vaccination.”
{Matzav.com}
In the coming days, the Chief of Staff is slated to receive a revised version of the internal review that replaced the disqualified Operations Division probe. This updated assessment zeroes in on a series of nighttime discussions and how the conclusions drawn in those hours shaped—or failed to shape—the army’s posture when the onslaught of October 7 erupted.
Channel 12 News reports that senior commanders were operating in a haze of conflicting information, with uncertainty gripping the upper ranks during the very hours when clarity mattered most. The investigation describes a leadership trying to piece together fragments of data while missing the broader picture forming right in front of them.
One of the key moments highlighted occurred around 3:00 a.m., when Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman led a “situation assessment” call with Brig.-Gen. Avi Rosenfeld and Shin Bet representatives. Roughly thirty minutes later, at 3:30, Finkelman laid out for top officials three concrete warning signs—among them the risk of a “surprise-initiated operation with an emphasis on a raid.” Despite this, the central instruction was to elevate readiness discreetly. “No tank movements, no scrambling of aircraft,” was the guiding principle, meant to avoid provoking the enemy. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi accepted this framework as the night wore on.
The probe also recounts a series of response options that Finkelman raised but that ultimately never materialized. These included monitoring high-ranking Hamas operatives to enable a preemptive strike, launching UAV surveillance, and repositioning attack helicopters to Ramon Airbase—a move that was reversed soon after. The directive to the Air Force to bolster the alert posture of the air-defense system and to add an Iron Dome battery similarly went unexecuted. When dawn broke, the air-defense network crumbled almost immediately under the initial wave of fire.
Two additional high-level consultations took place later that night, this time initiated by the Chief of Staff himself and involving Maj.-Gen. Oded Basyuk alongside Finkelman. Halevi repeatedly returned to the concern of a subterranean assault and demanded urgent checks of the border barrier for any indication of tunnel penetration. The investigation notes that even after the attack had already begun, Halevi’s first inquiry to the division commander concerned a suspected tunnel—though Hamas made no use of tunnels in the attack.
Other fronts saw similar breakdowns. Despite Halevi’s push to heighten caution against a maritime strike, all seven Hamas vessels managed to breach the naval barrier. And although officials believed an aerial assault to be unlikely, drones and UAVs quickly disabled IDF surveillance systems, while terrorists flew motorized gliders across the border and fanned out into Israeli territory.
At 4:30 a.m., just hours before the catastrophic assault unfolded, the Operations Directorate issued another summary of directives. In it, Basyuk reiterated earlier instructions and added that certain readiness steps were “not relevant in the coming hours in terms of availability,” stressing the need to safeguard sensitive intelligence assets. In reality, the document marked yet another moment when warnings were acknowledged but not operationalized. The hours that followed proved just how devastating that inaction would be.
{Matzav.com}
WATCH:
LISTEN:
https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1649-Chikuy-Part-49-Accepting.mp3For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.
[COMMUNICATED]
In the stillness of Lakewood’s nights, when the world is asleep, eighty extraordinary talmidei chachamim rise to learn.
Their voices fill the quiet with the sound of life itself; every word of Torah another beam of strength holding up their town, holding up the world.
Because the world doesn’t wait for sunrise to be sustained.
It stands — every moment — on the strength of Torah.
This is the light that doesn’t just shine, it uplifts and supports.
It’s the Amud HaTorah; the pillar that keeps our world standing tall, and reaching higher.
When streets are silent, their learning resounds.
When lights go out, their fire still burns.
Before amud hashachar, before the first hint of light, their Torah already sustains and elevates the day that’s about to rise.
It takes unmatched commitment to stand for the world when no one else is awake.
But that’s what these lomdim do every night, every sugya, every word.
They hold up the world.
Now it’s Your turn — to hold them up.
Their Torah upholds the world. Your support upholds them.
12/7/2025. Raising $750,000. DONATE NOW!
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Mendel Balsam z”l, a beloved mechanech, who was niftar in his high nineties after a lifetime of unwavering devotion to Torah and avodah.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rabbi Balsam grew up in a home filled with warmth and yiras Shamayim, foundations that shaped every aspect of his life. He later settled in Monsey, where he lived for many decades and became an integral part of the community. In recent years, he resided in Lakewood, continuing to inspire all who encountered him with his dignity, sincerity, and refined middos.
Rabbi Balsam dedicated his life to chinuch and to harbatzas haTorah. For many years, he served as a rebbi at Yeshiva Spring Valley, where he shaped generations of talmidim and left an enduring impact that continues to resonate today. His classroom was known not only for academic rigor but for the atmosphere of care, encouragement, and genuine love he extended to every child. He possessed the rare ability to recognize the innate potential of each talmid and to draw it forth with patience, warmth, and steady belief. Even decades later, former talmidim continue to speak with deep appreciation and reverence about the rebbi who helped set the foundation for their lives, offering guidance that remained with them long after they left his classroom.
Rabbi Balsam is survived by his devoted wife, Mrs. Suri Balsam, and by his children, Mrs. Shaindy Siegfried, Reb Feivy Balsam, Mrs. Rivky Berger, Reb Shmuel Balsam, and Mrs. Dini Adest, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who carry forward his legacy.
The levayah will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, New Jersey. Following the levayah, the aron will be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah there.
The family will be sitting shivah at the Balsam home at 19 Myrtle Place in Lakewood, New Jersey.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
A striking new gold cane, custom-designed to fit the hand of the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaim, was presented to him at the wedding of his first great-granddaughter, which took place Thursday night in the United States.
The celebration marked a major milestone for the Rebbe, who merited to marry off a fourth-generation descendant. In honor of the joyous occasion, a new gold cane was commissioned for the Rebbe. The item came with a substantial price tag and made its debut at the wedding.
According to information obtained by Matzav.com, the intricate palm-tree carvings adorning the cane were engraved entirely by hand by an artisan renowned for his precision. Working directly into the gold, he crafted the designs with exceptional skill. The cane was also ergonomically shaped to fit the exact size and grip of the Rebbe’s hand, ensuring comfort as well as beauty.
The wood incorporated into the design is a special mahogany featuring exceptionally rich tones and a distinctive texture. It was sourced specifically for this project from a European city and imported for the commission.
The gold cane was produced by King Salomon, a leading company specializing in high-end custom creations, in partnership with Weiss Silver of Bnei Brak.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Moshe Lieber zt”l, rov of Kehillas Ahavas Shalom in Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel.
His petirah leaves a deep void in the hearts of his mispallelim, his talmidim, and the many who were uplifted by his Torah, his warmth, and his unmistakable sincerity.
Rabbi Lieber was born into a home infused with song, spirit, and steadfast devotion to Torah. His father, Rav Aharon Lieber, a talmid of Rav Aharon Kotler and a renowned chazzan in the early years of Lakewood, imbued the family with the cadence of avodas Hashem and an unwavering bond to the Olam HaTorah. In that atmosphere, young Moshe absorbed not only the beauty of tefillah, but also the uncompromising dedication that would later define his life.
As a bochur, Rabbi Lieber became a distinguished talmid of two giants whose imprint on his essence remained visible throughout his life: Rav Yitzchok Hutner and Rav Shlomo Freifeld. From Rav Hutner he absorbed depth, majesty, and a penetrating understanding of the inner world of Torah thought. From Rav Freifeld he inherited heart — the empathy, authenticity, and ability to see greatness in every Jew. These dual influences shaped him into a rebbi and leader whose teaching resonated far beyond the walls of any classroom.
For many years, Rabbi Lieber served as a beloved rebbi at Yeshiva Derech Eisan of Far Rockaway, where generations of talmidim remember the glow in his eyes as he explained a difficult sugya, the encouragement he offered at moments of doubt, and his ability to uncover the hidden potential within each student.
His gift for communication extended well beyond the spoken word. Rabbi Lieber authored several sefarim published by ArtScroll — including works on Pirkei Avos, the Haggadah, and other Torah writings — each one marked by clarity, depth, and an unmistakable warmth. Countless readers across the Torah world drew inspiration from his insights, which carried both brilliance and heart.
More than three decades ago, Rabbi Lieber and his family moved to Eretz Yisrael, where he continued to devote himself fully to teaching Torah. He served as a maggid shiur and later as a rosh kollel, investing his kochos into building talmidim and strengthening Torah communities.
In recent years, he became the rov of Kehillas Ahavas Shalom in Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel. There, his influence reached its fullest expression. He guided his kehilla with humility, authenticity, and genuine ahavas Yisroel. His drashos stirred hearts, his counsel soothed weary souls, and his presence carried a quiet but powerful nobility. To his mispallelim, he was not only a posek and a leader, but a fatherly figure whose warmth could be felt in every interaction.
Rabbi Lieber leaves behind a legacy of Torah and of lives elevated by his gentle strength.
He is survived by his wife, Rebbetzin Batsheva Lieber, and his wonderful family of children and grandchildren following in his ways.
The levayah will be held on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
