Severe dust storm pushes Jerusalem, Tel Aviv to top of global pollution index

 Widespread dust blanketed Israel on Saturday, reducing visibility in most of the country and sending Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to the top of the global pollution index.

Air quality surveyors ranked Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as the world’s most polluted cities, with pollutant levels— specifically fine particles —exceeding “hazardous” levels in many parts of Israel.

Air quality monitoring site IQAir listed the Israeli cities above Almaty, Kazakhstan; Lahore, Pakistan and Kolkata, India.

The Health Ministry recommended that populations sensitive to dust —people with heart or lung conditions, the elderly, children, and pregnant women — avoid strenuous outdoor activity.

Other health recommendations included closing windows, wearing a mask—even indoors —and running an air purifier.

Environmental Protection Agency monitoring stations recorded a severe drop in quality starting around 3 a.m. as strong winds brought in clouds of dust from North Africa and the Sahara.

Israel drone supplier booted from Brooklyn Navy Yard Soon After Satmar's Mamzarani Took Office

 

A New York City-based drone manufacturer supplying technology to Israel was recently evicted from the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the New York Post reported.

The move comes just six weeks after Zohran Mamdani, a vocal pro-Palestinian, was sworn in as mayor of New York City.

The decision to not renew the lease of Easy Aerial, a company that has long been embroiled in political debates due to its ties with Israeli defense operations, was made by the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC). The BNYDC, which oversees the 300-acre industrial complex, has board members appointed by the mayor. Councilman Lincoln Restler, a member of the city council representing Brooklyn, publicly celebrated the eviction, claiming that the public asset should not be used to support businesses that produce weapons used in warfare.

Easy Aerial’s operations at the Brooklyn Navy Yard have long drawn protests, mainly from groups like “Demilitarize Brooklyn Navy Yard," which have called for the eviction of tenants involved in the defense sector, particularly those linked to Israel. In their protests, the groups pressured City Hall to take action, despite the company’s positive impact on local employment.

State Assemblyman Kalman Yeger, a strong advocate for Israel, expressed concerns about the economic implications of this decision. He criticized the move, suggesting that chasing out companies like Easy Aerial over political differences could harm the local economy and drive away jobs.

Under the previous administration of Mayor Eric Adams, a staunch supporter of Israel, Easy Aerial was celebrated for its role in providing high-tech solutions for both the Israeli Defense Forces and US federal agencies. The company had even been involved in major security operations such as monitoring the Super Bowl and border security.

In addition to supporting Israel, Easy Aerial has a longstanding relationship with the US Air Force, working to monitor activity along the Mexican border. Despite its diverse clientele, its ties to Israel have made it a target for local activists.

Mamdani's office has not commented directly on the political ramifications of the eviction.

A BNYDC spokesperson Claire Holmes claimed to the New York Post that the non-renewal was “for business reasons related to operational and campus compliance matters. Like any landlord, we evaluate renewals based on adherence to lease terms and campus policies."

Pres Herzog "Craps" on Trump taking his sweet time on his decision whether to pardon Netanyahu

 

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that President Isaac Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not granting a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is standing trial for alleged fraud, bribery and breach of trust.

Trump has been calling for Netanyahu to be pardoned since June 2025, but Monday was the first time he attacked Herzog for not granting one to the premier.

The comments came a day after Trump met Netanyahu in the White House.

Zera Shimshon Parshat Mishpatim

 

Poll: Smotrich gains strength, coalition soars to 66 seats

 

A Channel 14 poll published on Thursday evening presents an updated picture of the seat distribution and prime ministerial preferences, assuming elections were held today. The data shows a slight strengthening of the right-wing bloc, led by Likud, which now holds 66 seats.

According to the poll, the Likud Party receives 35 seats. The Joint List, following the merger of the Arab parties, stands at 13 seats, making it the second-largest party. Naftali Bennett’s party, Shas, and the Democrats each drop one seat compared to last week, with 10 seats each.

United Torah Judaism maintains its strength with 9 seats, while Yisrael Beytenu remains at 8 seats. Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party gains two seats, bringing it to 8. Otzma Yehudit receives 7 seats, the Religious Zionist Party rises by one seat to 5, and Yesh Atid increases to 5 seats, compared to 4 in the previous poll. Blue and White does not cross the electoral threshold.

In terms of blocs, the coalition bloc wins 66 seats, the opposition bloc stands at 41 seats, and the Arab parties earn 13 seats.

Regarding the prime ministerial race, Benjamin Netanyahu leads with 57%, gaining strength after his visit to Washington. Naftali Bennett follows with 19%, Gadi Eisenkot has 13%, Yair Lapid holds 5%, Avigdor Liberman has 4%, and Benny Gantz has 2%.

Only in Israel! Bus driver keeps his passengers waiting while he gets some Chulent!

 

הפרגוד: קו 404 הגיע לבני ברק בשעה 02:00 ולטענת הנוסע המצלם הנהג וויתר על המסלול כדי ללכת לאכול טשולנט. pic.twitter.com/oIIIxfkPH7

— הפרגוד (@moshepargod) February 13, 2026

The Parliament of the United Kingdom voted against opening an investigation into child rape scandals, saying it could harm the image of Muslim communities.

 

Overwhelming vote. Britain has fallen and it can't get up. https://t.co/mUmUrY3YB1

— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) February 13, 2026

Satmar Mamzarani's New York Opens Attacks Against Jews

 

Horrific attack. When are New Yorkers going to wake up and realize this is exactly what Mamdani wanted? https://t.co/6P1309YjFs

— Chaya’s Clan (@ChayasClan) February 13, 2026

FJJ -LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 Wool Coat 

VS Puffed Coat

The letter below was written to the FJJ (Flatbush Jewish Journal)  "Letters to the Editor "

It's from a Yeshivishe Lady who laments the fact that the "Oilom Ha'Torah" is no longer wearing Wool Coats and instead choose to wear Puffed Coats!

I'm not kidding! I did think that it must be a prank, but this back and forth in the Letters to the Editor responding to this crazed sicko has been going on for weeks! 

This week she responds holding on to her bizarre rant about puffed coats!

Now this may very well be a prank, but either way, this is a microcosm on what is the thought process of Chardeim and their "Mesorah"! 

Dear Editor

After reading the passionate responses to my letter about wool vs puffer coats, I want to apologize. Clearly, I did not do a good job explaining my position. I’m sorry. Hopefully I can clear things up. 

The most common response was that wool coats “aren’t warm enough.” Give me a break. Our parents and grandparents wore wool in far colder climates than ours, and they survived just fine. Is it less convenient to wear traditional coats in this harsh winter weather? Maybe. 

But sometimes you have to make sacrifices in order to uphold a higher ideal

We’ve seen this play out before. 

The Haskalah did not begin overnight with open rejection of Shabbos, kashrus, or tsnius. It began with small “reasonable” adjustments to mesorah (like shortening the mechitzah), each one justified as harmless and practical. 

We are fortunate that so-called “radical” yiddin stood firm against these “reasonable” adjustments and kept true to their mesorah. If not for them, where would we be today?

 As I said before, “it’s just a coat” is never just a coat. When external standards erode in the name of convenience, standards of behavior soon follow. A person cannot remain firm internally when the externals change with the direction of the wind. Many of us have seen this happen to people we grew up with, or maybe even to ourselves. Pause for a moment and think. You’ll see that I’m right. Putting on a wool coat is a visible declaration that you are part of a mesorah that outlasts the immediate, here-and-now. The fact that it’s less convenient is even more of a reason to make the switch. 

When a man carries himself with this clarity and conviction, it radiates outward: it steadies his marriage, and it earns the respect of his children. I urge everyone to think this over before jumping on the attack bandwagon.

 Mesorah Defende

The harms of eating too much sugar

 I’d like to commend Rochelle Rothman for highlighting the harms of eating too much sugar.

 While mentioning weight gain, mood swings/irritability, fatigue/ low energy, cravings, high blood pressure, acne/premature wrinkling, joint pain, sleep troubles, digestive problems, brain fog and gum disease and cavities, there are several more health issues strongly associated with sugar consumption.

 1. 100 grams (3 oz.) reduces immune response by 50% for up to six hours, increasing the incidence of autoimmune diseases and cancer. It promotes tumor cell growth; cancer cells actually feed on sugar! 

2. Excess sugar is stored as fat, which often gets deposited in the abdominal area. That’s an indicator of insulin resistance, which leads to elevated blood sugar, high blood pressure, and increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

 3. Also increased is the risk of stroke, aneurysm, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, thyroid issues, and more, including male hair loss. 

4. Mental health patients consumed 200% more sugar than others, studies show. When sugar was removed from prison diets, there was a 90% reduction in prisoner violence. Keep that in mind if you’d like to see your kids fighting less (or focusing better.

5. Sugar causes cellular aging, which leads to shorter lifespans. DNA repair is turned off, leading to inflammation, which is at the root of all chronic disease and aging.

 6. Alzheimer’s is sometimes called Type III diabetes; brain cells become insulin resistant and are starved of energy. Many such patients have seen remarkable improvement and even reversal of their conditions with a keto-type diet.

 7. Excess sugar disrupts cells that keep the colon and gut healthy, which is crucial for the optimal health of body and mind and disease prevention.

The new and much improved food pyramid recommends no added sugar for good reason. According to researchers, sugar is a toxin; no studies have ever shown any benefit whatsoever from consuming it.

 Artificial sweeteners are not the answer; they come with their own set of health risks, and in any case will not help with weight loss. 

What is very concerning is that sugar is highly addictive, and we are giving our children a lot of it – in school and elsewhere. Sugary and highly processed foods make up 80 to 90% of our kids’ (and sometimes even our) diets, displacing the nutrient rich whole foods needed for optimal health. (What’s the likelihood that they will be able to switch to a healthier diet if and when they develop health problems when they’ve become addicted to sugary and processed foods?) 

 We parents and mechanchim (and well meaning candymen) are putting them at unnecessary risk of the chronic diseases and mental health issues listed in Mrs. Rothman’s article  We can do better.