There was a palpable sense of excitement in the halls of Torah learning with the announcement of the release of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch from the hospital after several days of hospitalization. The Rosh Yeshiva, who returned to his home last week, delivered a brief but impactful drasha at the Yeshiva of Slabodka in which he illuminated the reasons for the recent decrees that have befallen the Torah community.
In his shmuess, Rav Hirsch began with a poignant observation: “In truth, Hashem is punishing us severely, with a direct punishment on bnei Torah, who are deprived of the opportunity to learn. This is a punishment of reduced learning. It’s Hashem!” he stated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky conveyed that his country remains committed to an agreement with the United States regarding the shared rights to its mineral resources. This came after Zelensky’s departure from the White House without finalizing the deal, following a tense confrontation with President Trump in the Oval Office last Friday. Trump had insisted on a portion of Ukraine’s abundant mineral deposits as compensation for the substantial military and civilian aid — totaling over $175 billion — that the United States has provided since Russia’s invasion in 2022.

Israel’s Cabinet voted on Sunday to confirm Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir as the 24th chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces. Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu expressed high expectations for his tenure and anticipated significant achievements.
“Even when he served as my military secretary, I was impressed by Eyal Zamir’s dedication to the country and the IDF, as well as his offensive strategic approach,” Netanyahu stated, according to his office. He emphasized his full support for Zamir’s appointment, alongside Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz.

President Donald Trump addressed reporters in the Oval Office on Monday afternoon, discussing various topics, including Israel and the likelihood of a ceasefire in the region being maintained.
When asked about a potential Israeli annexation of Judea and Samaria, referencing a past comment he made about Israel’s geographic size, Trump chose not to respond directly. Instead, he remarked, “It certainly is a small country in terms of land.” He illustrated Israel’s limited size in comparison to surrounding nations by gesturing with his pen.
“It’s a pretty small piece of land, and it’s amazing that they’ve been able to do what they’ve been able to do when you think about it. There’s a lot of good, smart brainpower, but it is a very small piece of land,” he elaborated.

Karoline Leavitt delivered her first official White House press briefing Tuesday afternoon – becoming the youngest White House press secretary to take the podium.
Leavitt, 27, was met with sharp questions from journalists about President Donald Trump’s busy first week back in the White House. While it was her first time engaging with reporters in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, Leavitt already has experience serving as a fierce defender of Trump before the media.

Guatemalan social services were compelled to intervene and remove children from the Lev Tahor sect after it was revealed that the group’s leaders had coerced mothers into purposely withholding food from their children.
According to insiders familiar with the situation, the goal was to exert pressure on the authorities in hopes of gaining control over the food provided to the children. “The mothers were brainwashed and ordered their children to starve to death and not eat even fruit and vegetables,” said the source. “These children’s health, including their mental health, is really bad.”

By Jonathan S. Tobin
For most supporters of Israel, Jan. 20 and the beginning of President-elect Donald Trump’s second administration couldn’t come soon enough.

On Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom attempted to deflect blame for the state’s water management amid the wildfires, claiming that the state’s reservoirs were “completely full” when the fires began—despite the fact that a county-operated reservoir had been drained at the time.
Newsom made this surprising statement in response to criticism from President-elect Donald Trump regarding the state’s water management during the wildfires. “The reservoirs are completely full—the state reservoirs here in Southern California. That mis- and disinformation I don’t think advantages or aids any of us,” Newsom told NBC News during a pre-recorded interview on “Meet the Press.”

For the second time in as many days, a shul in Australia’s largest city has been defaced with antisemitic graffiti including swastikas.
This time, the Newtown Synagogue in Sydney’s Inner West area was the target. This comes hours after a similar incident at Southern Sydney shul in Allawah. These acts of vandalism, described by officials and community leaders as deliberate acts of hate, have drawn widespread condemnation and calls for stronger action against antisemitism.
New South Wales Police reported they were alerted to the vandalism at the shul on Georgina Street around 7:30 a.m. on Shabbos. Officers discovered red swastikas defacing the front of the building.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced optimism that the “unpredictability” of US President-elect Donald Trump could be a critical factor in bringing an end to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as reported by AFP. Zelenskyy commented, “He’s very strong and unpredictable, and I would really like to see President Trump’s unpredictability apply to Russia. I believe he really wants to end the war,” during an interview with Ukrainian television.