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United Hatzalah, Israel’s largest volunteer emergency medical service, has unveiled a new pilot program introducing electric “AmbuScooters” designed to shorten response times in Israel’s most congested urban centers. The organization is deploying an initial fleet of ten lightweight, specially adapted electric scooters in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The vehicles are built to maneuver through heavy […]

WATCH: Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed yesterday in an interview that he will do whatever he can to enforce the international arrest warrant against PM Netanyahu if he visits New York, even if it is during a visit to the UN General Assembly.

An essential component of the internet’s background mechanics experienced a widespread failure on Tuesday, resulting in numerous websites displaying error notices to users across the globe.

The United States-based firm Cloudflare, which provides services essential for safeguarding countless websites against cyber threats and other issues, encountered an unnamed difficulty on Tuesday. This incident prevented some internet users from reaching certain websites that rely on the company’s protection.

A representative for Cloudflare stated: “We saw a spike in unusual traffic to one of Cloudflare’s services beginning at 11.20am. That caused some traffic passing through Cloudflare’s network to experience errors. While most traffic for most services continued to flow as normal, there were elevated errors across multiple Cloudflare services.

Owners of some websites were also unable to log into their management tools and performance monitoring dashboards.

Addressing the root cause, the spokesperson added: “We do not yet know the cause of the spike in unusual traffic. We are all hands on deck to make sure all traffic is served without errors. After that, we will turn our attention to investigating the cause of the unusual spike in traffic.”

Though the disruption is still active the company announced a degree of return to normal operations: “We are seeing services recover, but customers may continue to observe higher-than-normal error rates as we continue remediation efforts.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] A newly surfaced video of Rav Hershel Schachter, rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon (RIETS) of Yeshiva University and a leading posek for the Orthodox Union, features comments from him regarding the recent atzeres tefillah in Eretz Yisroel protesting the drafting of yeshiva bochurim into the army.

In the video, Rav Schachter dismissed the large public gathering—attended by leading gedolei Torah and hundreds of thousands of people—as “utterly ridiculous.”

“They just had in Eretz Yisrael, they had this whole yom atzeret,” he said. “I think it was utterly ridiculous. The country is at war and no one wants to go to the army? I think the whole thing was ridiculous. I don’t think anybody from YU would ever participate in such an atzeret.”

Rav Schachter continued, “They’re big talmidei chachamim, but they exaggerate so much that nothing else counts by them. Here we’re more reasonable. Torah is important, and the war is important, and the army, everything is important, everything is. You shouldn’t exaggerate [and say] everything just depends on Torah.”

“The Jewish people has to have an army. If everyone’s gonna sit and learn, the enemy is gonna kill all of us,” he said. “You have to have an army, you have to have other things. So I think our hashkafah is more normal, more reasonable.”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Schachter added, “We have to present it to the public. They shouldn’t think anyone who learns Torah is a meshuggener. Everything is exaggerated.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

During an interview on Fox News, Israeli opposition leader and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was asked how he would feel if New York’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, were to follow through on his earlier remarks about arresting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu should he visit the city.

The interviewer noted that Mamdani, known for his vocal anti-Israel positions, previously declared that he would have Netanyahu detained if he set foot in New York. “He said that if Prime Minister Netanyahu comes here, he will arrest him,” the anchor reminded Bennett, pointing out that a Republican congresswoman from New York had already fired back on social media, writing: “I invite you—go ahead and invite him to your inauguration. I dare you to try to arrest him on January 1.”

Bennett responded sharply, questioning Mamdani’s priorities: “Is he so obsessed with a country that’s six thousand miles away? Has he solved all the crime here? Is the economy perfect? Are prices low? Has everything else been taken care of that he can afford to be so fixated on Israel?”

When asked how he personally felt about the possibility of Netanyahu facing such a threat—given their long and complex political relationship—Bennett said that, despite his political opposition, there were limits no Israeli would tolerate being crossed.

“Yes, I’m in the opposition, and I oppose Netanyahu domestically,” Bennett said. “But make no mistake—every Israeli would be outraged and would fight anyone who tries to arrest our prime minister, whoever that may be. We stand behind Israel, our soldiers, and our leaders.”

{Matzav.com}

An attack at the Gush Etzion Junction in the West Bank has resulted in one death and several people injured.

Medics report four people injured, with one woman in critical condition, two in moderate-to-serious condition, and one lightly hurt.

Magen David Adom confirmed a man in his 30s died after being stabbed.

The incident reportedly began with an attempted car-ramming before the assailants exited their vehicle and tried to stab victims. Security forces shot and killed the at least two attackers involved.

Magen David Adom transported three other injured individuals to hospitals in Yerushalayim: a woman in serious condition and a man and a teenager in moderate condition.

{Matzav.com}

Three recently freed Israeli captives—Matan Angrest, Segev Kalfon, and Etan More—spent Shabbos together with their families at the Waldorf Astoria in Yerushalayim. The gathering, arranged by Kesher Yehudi founder and CEO Tzili Schneider, was meant to give the survivors and their loved ones a chance to reflect, heal, and draw strength from one another.

Arutz Sheva reported on the weekend. Over the course of the weekend, the men spoke openly about what Shabbos meant to them during their time in Hamas captivity. For the first time, they described the Shabbosos they observed deep underground, in darkness and danger—moments of emunah and connection that helped them endure the impossible.

Matan Angrest recounted how he found his way back to tefillah while in Gaza. “I had a prayer book that I got after a lot of digging, and I began to pray. I said, ‘I have a prayer book, why shouldn’t I pray three times a day?’ I saw during the Shabbat prayers that they talk about the Sabbath being holy and one of the most important things in Judaism. I felt something was missing, I said, ‘I can’t pray without observing Shabbat.’ Slowly, I began keeping Shabbat.”

He explained that Shabbos observance became a lifeline for him. “At first, I would recite Kiddush, and then for Havdalah, I would wait for the cup of black coffee, which would sometimes come days later. I wouldn’t eat at night to wait until Havdalah came on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. I would also study a daily Torah study booklet. Since learning was difficult, it was short. It got to me by chance; apparently, it was left by soldiers in the area. I would study it regularly.”

Segev Kalfon described how, even in the tunnels, they created a sense of Shabbos together. “We were in a small tunnel. We would welcome the Sabbath. Even though we would recite Kiddush on water, it’s the thought that counts. We would sing ‘Lecha Dodi’ (a liturgical song welcoming the Sabbath) and ‘Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’ (a song about the Jewish sage, often sung on Friday nights). I would tell them not to fill up on salads, even though we only had half a pita and cheese to eat. We would sit and reminisce about what we would eat at home on Shabbat.”

Even Yomim Tovim were marked, though they often had no idea what day it truly was. “We would celebrate the holiday, we would finish it, and then it would turn out that the holiday just began. But it’s the thought that counts.” Kalfon reflected that keeping Shabbos helped them hold on to who they were, even while in the hands of their captors.

Eitan More expressed his gratitude in simple words that carried deep emotion: “I want to say thank you very much for Shabbat.”

Tzili Schneider, who organized the retreat, said she was deeply moved by their words. “It was moving to hear the amazing testimonies by the captivity survivors about their dedication to observing Shabbat in impossible conditions. Their stories are inspiring. It is amazing to discover how faith and Shabbat observance in the brutal captivity gave them strength to face the terrible difficulties.”

For the survivors and their families, the Shabbos spent together in Yerushalayim was more than a reunion. It was a reaffirmation that Shabbos kodesh can bring light, even in the darkest of tunnels.

{Matzav.com}

Negotiations between Israel and Syria over a potential security agreement have stalled, according to Israeli officials who spoke with Kan 11 News on Monday. The discussions, which had been progressing quietly for weeks, have now hit a standstill over Syria’s insistence that Israel retreat entirely from areas captured by the IDF following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Sources familiar with the talks explained that Israeli leaders flatly rejected President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s call for a complete withdrawal, deeming it unacceptable without a broader peace framework. They emphasized that Israel might consider giving up limited positions only in the context of a full peace treaty with Syria—something that appears unlikely for the foreseeable future.

The impasse follows statements al-Sharaa made last week during a visit to Washington, where he confirmed to the Washington Post that direct talks between Damascus and Israel were taking place. He reiterated his key demand that Israel return to the lines that existed prior to his rebel faction’s ousting of Assad. “We have gone a good distance on the way to reach an agreement. But to reach a final agreement, Israel should withdraw to their pre-Dec. 8 borders,” al-Sharaa said. “Today, we found that Mr. Trump supports our perspective as well, and he will push as quickly as possible in order to reach a solution for this.”

Al-Sharaa also dismissed suggestions that Syria might agree to a demilitarized zone south of Damascus, calling such a proposal unrealistic. “To talk about an entire region demilitarized, it will be difficult, because if there is any kind of chaos, who will protect it? If this demilitarized zone was used by some parties as a launching pad for hitting Israel, who is going to be responsible for that?” he asked. He continued, “At the end of the day, this is Syrian territory, and Syria should have the freedom of dealing with their own territory.”

In a separate Fox News interview broadcast one day earlier, al-Sharaa was pressed about whether Syria might join the Abraham Accords or formally recognize Israel. He avoided a direct answer, replying only, “Syria has borders with Israel, and Israel occupies the Golan Heights since 1967. We are not going to enter into a negotiation directly right now. Maybe the United States administration, with President Trump, will help us reach this kind of negotiation.”

Back in September, al-Sharaa had struck a more optimistic tone, telling journalists in Damascus that discussions with Israel over a potential security arrangement could “lead to results in the coming days.” He hinted that such an understanding might open the door to “additional agreements,” though he made clear that normalization or a formal peace treaty with Israel was not under consideration at that stage.

Now, with both sides holding firm to incompatible conditions—Syria demanding total withdrawal and Israel linking any territorial concessions to a broader peace—officials acknowledge that the once-promising negotiations have ground to a halt.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit, Deputy President Noam Sohlberg, and Justice David Mintz held a hearing on Tuesday on several left-wing petitions seeking to revoke the appointment of Dovid Zini as head of the Shin Bet. Deputy President Sohlberg slammed the petition filed by Eliad Shraga on behalf of his left-wing “Movement for Quality Government” against […]

An internal IDF investigation showing that the army entered October 7, 2023, completely unprepared for a prolonged war, with ammunition depots nearly empty and artillery shells below the “red line,” was hidden from the public. Army Radio revealed on Tuesday morning. The internal report was not even presented to IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir […]

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The IDF has expressed strong opposition to the U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, cautioning that the move will weaken Israel’s military edge in the region. According to an Air Force position paper presented to political leaders on Sunday and obtained by Ynet, Israel’s air superiority in Middle Eastern skies relies on […]

The Orthodox Union has announced a sweeping policy change concerning the kashrus of beer, significantly tightening standards for what will be permitted at OU-supervised establishments and events, Matzav.com has learned.

The OU Kashrus Division stated that beginning January 1, 2026, only beers with reliable kosher certification will be allowed at OU-certified venues and functions.

Historically, unflavored beers were widely assumed to be kosher because of their simple ingredient list—water, hops, barley, and yeast. However, the OU explained that “the rise of craft brewing and new production methods has led to a proliferation of flavored beers, diverse additives, and shared equipment that can compromise the kosher status of even seemingly straightforward brews.”

After extensive research and discussions with other leading kashrus agencies, including the Star-K and OK, the OU determined that a more rigorous approach is needed to “ensure our strict kosher standards will consistently be met.”

A letter regarding this matter from the OU notes that while many national brands already maintain kosher oversight and will remain acceptable, all craft beers will now be required to carry a kosher symbol or a letter indicating valid hashgachah.

The OU has a partial list of nearly 1,000 certified breweries and emphasized that it will continue working with proprietors to make the transition as smooth as possible.

The organization urges caterers and event planners to contact OU mashgichim in advance “to review the beer (and all alcohol) selections to ensure they will be compliant with this updated policy.”

The OU adds that this decision is a joint effort with the OK and Star-K, along with several local supervision agencies, “to uphold the highest standards of kashrus in the ever-changing landscape of food and beverage production.”

{Matzav.com}

In a characteristically provocative speech before the Knesset Finance Committee on Monday, MK Avigdor Lieberman lashed out at chareidi lawmakers over what he described as excessive funding to yeshivos and kollelim, while mockingly urging them to “learn more Torah.”

“The Finance Committee this week is busy with only one thing—handing out money wholesale to yeshivos and kollelim,” Lieberman said. “If the chareidi politicians learned Torah the way they study the state budget, the Beis Hamikdash would already be rebuilt tomorrow.”

Lieberman’s remarks, which he himself described as “messianic,” came just hours after he renewed his call to revoke the voting rights of chareidi men who study Torah but do not serve in the army. “We’ve seen gangs of bullies attacking MKs,” he said, referring to recent incidents of violence against chareidi lawmakers. “I heard today that both Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher were assigned personal security. These are criminals. If they learned Torah as well as they know how to riot, the Third Beis Hamikdash would already stand.”

The Yisrael Beiteinu leader went on to outline his proposed legislation targeting yeshiva students who do not enlist. “We will put all the draft dodgers in prison and then strip them of their right to vote,” Lieberman declared. “At the same time, we will build enough prisons to hold them all.”

He further announced his intention to introduce a bill denying voting rights to all inmates. “Draft evaders will go to jail and will not be allowed to vote,” he said. “What is democratic in the United States and in thirteen of the twenty-seven European Union countries will be democratic in Israel as well.”

Lieberman’s comments drew strong criticism across the political spectrum, with opposition figures accusing him of inciting hatred against the chareidi community. Nonetheless, the secular lawmaker—who has long positioned himself as a fierce critic of chareidi influence in government—appeared unrepentant.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge overseeing the criminal case against U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver told Trump administration attorneys Monday to turn over authorities’ text messages from her chaotic visit to an immigration detention center in New Jersey that led to charges accusing her of assaulting officers. U.S. District Judge Jamel Semper’s direction came nearly a month after […]

The Knesset on Monday evening passed a landmark law restoring the authority of the batei din to adjudicate child support cases within the framework of divorce proceedings. The move comes months after a controversial Supreme Court ruling stripped the rabbinical courts of this jurisdiction, a decision that drew sharp criticism from rabbinic leaders and religious lawmakers.

Speaking after the law’s passage in its second and third readings, Rishon LeTzion Rav Dovid Yosef expressed gratitude and relief, describing the development as a victory for halacha and for the traditional legal order. “In the Supreme Court, there is a judge named Yael Willner—remember that name,” he said. “That judge decided that the batei din have no authority to deal with child support, which accounts for 70 percent of all cases. For 80 years, the courts handled these issues without a problem, and suddenly, what was legal became illegal.”

Rav Yosef recounted how repeated petitions to the High Court had paralyzed the batei din after that decision. “Every case we received, they told us: ‘You have no authority.’ I turned to Justice Yitzhak Amit and asked him to allow a rehearing on this critical issue—it’s not even written in the law! But he rejected my request outright. The only solution left was to make a new law,” Rav Yosef said.

He added that the process had caused him great distress. “I won’t weary you with how much pain and effort this took,” he said. “Just minutes ago, Rav Elbaz sent the Knesset members from here to vote in the final readings, and baruch Hashem, with Heaven’s help, we are restoring the crown to its former glory.”

Law Reinstates Rabbinical Jurisdiction

The newly approved legislation reaffirms the provision originally enacted in 1953, explicitly granting rabbinical courts the authority to rule on “child support claims of the couple’s children” that are linked to divorce proceedings. This restores the status quo that existed before the Supreme Court’s February ruling, issued by Justices Yael Willner and Ruth Ronen against the dissenting opinion of Justice Noam Sohlberg, which had removed that authority and created confusion in the family law system.

Under the new law, the reinstated powers will be applied as a temporary measure for two years. During that period, a special committee appointed by Rav Dovid Yosef, who also serves as President of the Rabbinical High Court, will formulate recommendations for how to calculate and distribute child support responsibilities between parents, ensuring uniformity across both rabbinical and civil courts.

“The Supreme Court’s decision caused serious confusion and disrupted the proper order of family law in Israel,” Rav Yosef said. “Restoring the rabbinical courts’ authority will bring back the needed stability. The expert committee I appointed will, be’ezras Hashem, produce a halachic framework that is fair, balanced, and respectful of both parents’ responsibilities. Our goal is to clarify the criteria, ensure consistency in rulings, and prevent unnecessary disputes between spouses during their most difficult moments. The welfare of the children of Israel remains foremost in our minds.”

Lawmakers Hail the Vote

MK Simcha Rothman, chairman of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, who sponsored the bill, called the passage of the law a “historic correction.”

“I’m pleased to announce that the bill from my committee, amending the Rabbinical Courts Jurisdiction Law on marriage and divorce, was approved today,” Rothman said. “This law restores the authority of the batei din as intended and returns the legal status to what it was before the High Court ruling. It clarifies the law, allows the rabbinical courts to handle child support cases linked to divorce, and prevents double litigation.”

Rothman added, “The High Court’s decision created needless chaos and undermined the courts’ legal authority. I’m proud that the Knesset and the committee acted quickly and responsibly to restore order and certainty until a permanent arrangement is established, be’ezras Hashem, through future legislation.”

{Matzav.com}

The special investigative team handling the explosive Force 100 (Sde Teiman) case made significant progress on Monday, marking a key development in their ongoing inquiry.

According to Yisroel Hayom, investigators successfully retrieved data from the mobile phone of former Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, which had been submerged in water after being lost earlier this month. The phone was reportedly pulled from the sea roughly ten days ago, about five days after it had allegedly gone missing on the beach.

Authorities are now combing through the recovered data in search of possible links or collaborators connected to the leak of the Force 100 video. Officials emphasized that the process is being carried out strictly under judicial supervision, in compliance with a court-issued order, and utilizing pre-approved search terms to ensure lawful access.

The latest development comes amid uncertainty regarding Tomer-Yerushalmi’s legal status. Her house arrest, which was supposed to expire on Sunday, has not yet been formally extended. Last week, she was rushed to the hospital after reportedly ingesting an excessive quantity of sleeping pills.

Emergency responders from Magen David Adom were dispatched to her residence in Ramat Hasharon, where they found her semiconscious but not in life-threatening condition, according to reports.

Before the incident, the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court had ruled that Tomer-Yerushalmi remain under ten days of house arrest and refrain from communicating with anyone linked to the investigation for a total of 55 days.

Investigators are now hoping the retrieved phone data could provide crucial evidence in tracing how the sensitive Force 100 video was leaked and who might have been involved in its distribution.

{Matzav.com}

The U.N. Security Council on Monday adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution outlining the future of Gaza, marking the most far-reaching international intervention in the territory since the Hamas massacre of Oct. 7, 2023. The resolution passed 13-0, with Russia and China abstaining but choosing not to veto—a decision that allowed Washington’s plan to move forward unchallenged. […]