Jooish News

Dear Matzav Inbox,

There is a disturbing trend I’ve noticed recently.

Every time AI comes up, people get defensive. “It’s not as good as humans.” “It can’t replace me.” That reaction is understandable, but it avoids the real issue.

Be honest instead.

You’re not going to lose your job because AI suddenly becomes perfect. You’re going to lose your job if you don’t take AI seriously.

For example:

AI may not replace entire professions, but it will make each role far more efficient. That alone changes everything. A company that once needed two full-time bookkeepers may now need only one. The work still exists, but fewer people are required to do it. The second person is out.

The same applies to copywriters, analysts, designers, customer support, paralegals, and many others. The roles remain, but the headcount shrinks.

This is not a new phenomenon. Before Excel, QuickBooks, and similar tools, bookkeeping departments required large staffs. Tasks were manual, slow, and repetitive. Those tools did not eliminate bookkeeping, but they reduced the number of people needed and raised expectations for speed and accuracy. The people who adapted stayed. The ones who did not were replaced.

AI is the same shift, just faster and broader.

Don’t focus on whether AI is “as good” as a human. That is the wrong question. The real question is whether AI will shrink the job market in your field.  In many cases, the answer is already yes.

That is why this moment requires honesty. Not fear. Not denial.

If your work is mostly executing standard tasks, you are exposed.

The way forward is to move up the value chain.

Build skills that AI cannot easily replace. Judgment. Strategy. Decision-making. Accountability.

A bookkeeper should not remain only a recorder of transactions. Learn financial analysis. Understand cash flow strategy. Advise on budgeting, forecasting, and growth. Move toward a CFO-type role where you are guiding decisions, not just tracking numbers.

A copywriter should not remain only a writer of text. Learn positioning. Understand customer psychology. Build campaigns. Take responsibility for outcomes like conversion and revenue.

A designer should not remain only a creator of visuals. Learn brand strategy. Understand user behavior. Design with a clear objective tied to results.

An analyst should not remain only a generator of reports. Interpret data. Draw conclusions. Recommend action. Influence decisions.

The pattern is the same across fields. Move from doing the task to delivering a strategic outcome.

Another important point:

Be honest with your clients.

If you are using AI to assist your work, it changes the economics. Tasks that once took hours now take minutes. That gap will not stay hidden. If you quietly pocket the difference while charging the same rates, someone else will offer similar output faster and cheaper, and you will lose your clients.

Adjust your pricing to reflect the time needed to deliver the results.

Honesty and transparency will always come out on top in the long run.

Stop denying the changes. Stop being defensive. Accept the new reality and adapt.

Concerned About Your Parnassah

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While the Greek kingdoms were battling each other, Rome was looming larger and larger in the west. Rome first appeared on the stage of world history in the sixth century before the common era. It began as a small city-state spread across seven hills on the banks of the Tiber River on the Mediterranean coast of central Italy. The powerful and sophisticated Etruscan kingdom stood to the north in modern-day Tuscany. The Greek colonies of Magna Graecia (Greater Greece) straddled southern Italy and the island of Sicily.

In its early history, Rome was governed by a dynasty of Etruscan kings, but the people were not Etruscan. At the end of the sixth century, the Romans expelled their Etruscan king and established a republic ruled by the aristocratic Senate and the democratic Assemblies. Fifteen years later, feeling newly invigorated and powerful, they went to war with the Latin tribes and defeated them. Rome emerged as the dominant power of the Latin League.

In 390 b.c.e., the Latins revolted. Rome spent the next half century crushing one Latin tribe after the other. In 338 b.c.e., they completed their suppression of the rebellion. The Romans now turned their attention to the Greek colonies in the south of the peninsula. In 272 b.c.e., they captured Tarentum, and the entire peninsula was in their hands. Except for the island of Sicily. Eastern Sicily was essentially the Greek colony of Syracuse. Western Sicily belonged to Carthage, a city in North Africa that had a vast maritime empire in the western Mediterranean basin, with outposts in present-day France, Spain and the African coast.

Carthage had a powerful navy. Rome had a powerful army. Both sought to dominate the western Mediterranean. War was inevitable. In 264 b.c.e., the First Punic (Phoenician) War broke out. Rome built a navy to defend against the Carthaginian fleet and invaded Sicily. After years of fighting, Carthage was defeated. Sicily became part of Rome, and Carthage paid heavy reparations.

In 218 b.c.e., the Second Punic War broke out. Hannibal, the famous Carthaginian general, took an army with war elephants through Spain. He crossed the Alps, invaded Italy from the north and rampaged through the country for fourteen years. Meanwhile, in 204 b.c.e., the Romans invaded Carthage, and Hannibal was recalled to defend the homeland. In 202 b.c.e., the Romans general Scipio Africanus Major defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama. In the ensuing peace treaty, Rome stripped away all Carthage’s colonial territories and limited its military.

Rome emerged from the Punic Wars as the fastest rising power in the Imperial Quadrant. Even as Antiochus and Ptolemy fought over Judea, Rome turned its eyes eastward to the vast world of the Greeks. In 200 b.c.e., Rome invaded Macedonia. Four years later, the war was over. Rome forced the Macedonian king to give up his fleet and pay huge reparations. The Romans also declared the Greek states free of Macedonian rule and established a protectorate over them. Rome had arrived on the world stage.

Antiochus III finally realized that the Romans posed a grave threat to the Seleucid empire. In 192 b.c.e., he led a large Seleucid army into Greece to liberate the Greek states from Roman rule. His army, however, was no match for the Roman legions. In 188 b.c.e., the Romans overwhelmed the Seleucids at the Battle of Magnesia. Antiochus was forced to give up almost all his territory in Asia Minor and pay a staggering war indemnity.

In 168 b.c.e., the Romans crushed a Macedonian revolt. They broke up Macedonia into four republics that eventually became Roman provinces.

In that same year, Antiochus IV, the son of Antiochus III, invaded Egypt and defeated Ptolemy. His army stood at the gates of Alexandria. If he could capture the city, he would merge the Seleucid and Ptolemaic kingdoms and have the wealth and the power to face Rome. The fall of the city seemed inevitable. In desperation, Ptolemy appealed to the Roman Senate to come to his aid and prevent the unification of Egypt and Syria.

The Senate sent a delegation to Alexandria headed by Gaius Popillius Laenas, a Roman general. They met Antiochus in a suburb of the city. Antiochus extended his hand in greeting, but Popillius just thrust a letter from the Senate into it. It was a decree ordering Antiochus to leave Egypt immediately. The king said he would discuss it with his advisors before responding.

Popillius took a stick and drew a circle in the sand around Antiochus. “Before you step out of this circle,” he said, “you must give me an answer to deliver to the Senate.” This was the famous “line in the sand.”

Antiochus was stunned. Rome had just won a major battle with Macedonia. If he stepped out of the circle without giving an answer, it meant war with Rome. The prospect was frightening. Antiochus capitulated. He took his armies and returned to Syria …

President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran must agree to terms to halt ongoing U.S. and Israeli military attacks or risk further bombardment, signaling that Washington is prepared to escalate if negotiations fail.

“They now have the chance, that is Iran, to permanently abandon their nuclear ambitions and to join a new path forward,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. “We’ll see if they want to do it. If they don’t, we’re their worst nightmare. In the meantime, we’ll just keep blowing them away.”

His remarks came shortly after a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the U.S. framework to bring an end to nearly a month of hostilities is “one-sided and unfair,” even as diplomatic contacts between the sides remain ongoing.

Trump said that Iranian representatives are engaged in discussions with the United States and portrayed them as eager for an agreement, an assessment that officials in Tehran have rejected.

At the same time, he referred to Iranian negotiators as “great negotiators” and said his goal is to reach a deal that would ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz while curbing Iran’s military capabilities.

Still, Trump indicated uncertainty about whether an agreement will be reached. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to do that,” he said of the prospects for a deal. I don’t know if we’re willing to do that.”

{Matzav.com}

In an unprecedented legal showdown, former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has appeared in a New York courtroom, marking the first time the longtime strongman has faced U.S. justice following his dramatic capture earlier this year.

Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores, was brought to the United States after a surprise American operation in Caracas in January, where U.S. forces arrested the couple and brought them to New York to face charges.

Now detained in Brooklyn, Maduro is facing some serious accusations, including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons-related charges, tied to allegations that he helped oversee large cocaine shipments into the United States.

During his court appearance, the focus shifted to a major legal battle over whether Maduro is allowed to access Venezuelan state funds to pay for his defense. His lawyers argue that blocking those funds violates his constitutional right to legal representation, since he has no personal resources due to U.S. sanctions.

U.S. prosecutors oppose the request, arguing that allowing Maduro to use state funds would undermine those very sanctions that were put in place to punish his regime. This particular dispute has become a central issue in the case, with the judge openly questioning whether the government’s position is correct.

Maduro has pleaded not guilty to all charges and continues to insist he is innocent, even believing that he remains Venezuela’s president.

The case is expected to test a rarely argued U.S. “narco-terrorism” law, which carries harsh penalties but has been difficult to prosecute properly. Experts say the outcome will set a major precedent for how the U.S. handles foreign leaders accused of drug trafficking tied to terrorism.

No trial date has been set yet, but the case is shaping up to be a consequential prosecution. Bringing a former head of state into a U.S. courtroom to answer for allegations of global criminal activity is definitely not the norm.

(AP) – The back doors of Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona home were found propped open and her phone and purse were still at the home when the 84-year-old disappeared, daughter Savannah Guthrie said in an interview that aired Thursday on NBC’s “Today,” her first since her mother’s apparent abduction.

Given the tremendous pain their mother suffered from, Savannah Guthrie said she and her siblings knew it wasn’t a case of a person wandering off. Then there were the propped doors, blood on the front doorstep and a camera yanked off.

“So we were saying, ‘This is not OK’” Guthrie said. “’Something is very wrong here.”

Her brother immediately realized that their mother had been kidnapped for ransom.

“I said, ‘What?’ And then, I mean, it sounds so, like, how dumb could I be? But I just, I didn’t want to believe. I just said, ’Do you think because of me?’” Guthrie recounted, choking up and wiping away tears. “He said, ‘I’m sorry, sweetie, but, yeah, maybe.’”

Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Feb. 1. Authorities believe the 84-year-old was kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken against her will. The FBI released surveillance videos of a masked man who was outside Guthrie’s front door in Tucson on the night she vanished. The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of their mother.

The longtime “Today” show co-anchor said in the interview that they don’t know that their mother was taken because of her, but acknowledged that it would make sense.

“Which is too much to bear, to think that I brought this to her bedside, that it’s because of me. And I just say, ’I’m so sorry, Mommy. I’m so sorry,′” Guthrie said. “If it is me, I’m so sorry.”

Some of the purported ransom notes were fake, Savannah Guthrie said, but she believed the two notes that she and her siblings responded to were real. But the circumstances were surreal.

“How is it possible that we are having to make a video speaking to a kidnapper who took an 84-year-old woman in the dead of night, in her pajamas, with no shoes, without her medicine?” Savannah Guthrie asked.

Seeing the images of a man in a ski mask from the porch camera was terrifying, Guthrie said, but after “cruel speculation” that a family member might be involved began to swirl, she was “glad that people saw what came to our door.” She will never understand that speculation.

“No one took better care of my mom than my sister and brother-in-law. And no one protected my mom more than my brother,” Guthrie said.

Investigators have worked tirelessly, but the family needs answers, Guthrie said.

“We cannot be at peace without knowing and someone can do the right thing,” she said. “It is never too late to do the right thing and our hearts are focused on that.”

The IDF announced Thursday that it struck and eliminated Hassan Mohammad Bashir, a senior commander in Hezbollah’s anti-tank unit in the Hajir area. The Israeli Air Force conducted the strike that killed Bashir, who had organized hundreds of terror attacks against both Israeli civilians and soldiers and commanded terror cells that engaged in continuous anti-tank missile fire toward northern Israel, according to the military.

Bashir had recently been working with Hezbollah’s anti-tank unit north of the Litani River and had trained many terrorists.

The IDF said that the elimination of the senior Hezbollah commander impedes Hezbollah in organizing and carrying out terror attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.

It was Hezbollah’s choice to join the war on behalf of Iran, and now it is paying the price.

“The IDF is operating decisively against the Hezbollah terrorist organization in response to its deliberate decision to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian terror regime,” the military said.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A man who fled to China and his sister have been charged after an explosive device was left outside a gate at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa this month.

Alen Zheng, 20, and Ann Mary Zheng, 27, were charged Wednesday in separate federal indictments. The sister is in custody, while the brother has fled, according to a social media post by FBI director Kash Patel.

Alen Zheng is charged with of attempting to damage government property, unlawfully making a destructive device and possessing an unregistered destructive device. The indictment specifically mentions the package found at MacDill.

Ann Mary Zheng is charged with witness tampering and being an accessory after the fact in Alan Zheng’s case.

Online court records didn’t list an attorney for either person.

A suspicious package was found outside MacDill on March 16, prompting the FBI to investigate. The U.S. Central Command is located at MacDill and is responsible for U.S. military operations in the Middle East, Central Asia and parts of South Asia. MacDill is one of the U.S. bases that has been on heightened alert since the war in Iran began.

Another man was arrested earlier this week on charges of making threatening phone calls to the base days after the device was discovered, though investigators haven’t accused that caller of planting any devices. There was no immediate connection between the caller and the Zhengs.

Tens of thousands of Jews are preparing to travel across the United States for Pesach—filling airports, booking last-minute flights, and beginning what should be a Yom Tov journey. But a growing crisis at airport security checkpoints is threatening to turn that experience into a nightmare.

According to federal officials, the Transportation Security Administration is now experiencing the longest wait times in its 24-year history, with delays at major airports stretching beyond four hours.

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Ha Nguyen McNeill, the agency’s deputy administrator, warned lawmakers that the situation is spiraling out of control due to the ongoing partial government shutdown.

“This level of disruption is unprecedented, and unacceptable, and significantly undermines the security of U.S. transportation systems,” she told the House Homeland Security Committee.

At some airports, as many as 40% to 50% of TSA employees are calling out of work. The reason is not burnout—but survival. McNeill revealed that workers have missed nearly $1 billion in paychecks, leaving many unable to cover basic necessities.

“They’re receiving eviction notices, sleeping in their cars and selling their blood and plasma to make ends meet,” she said.

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More than 480 TSA officers have already quit since the shutdown began, further crippling operations. Meanwhile, assaults against TSA agents have surged by 500%, adding another layer of instability to an already strained system.

McNeill warned that smaller airports could soon be forced to shut down entirely due to staffing shortages, and that the agency is struggling to recruit new officers—especially given that training takes four to six months.

The crisis is expected to worsen, with millions of additional travelers anticipated in the coming months due to major events like the FIFA World Cup.

For the Jewish community, the timing could not be more alarming.

With Pesach travel about to begin, families heading to Yom Tov destinations are being urged to take these developments into serious consideration. Travelers should expect unprecedented delays, chaotic conditions, and potential disruptions that could impact flights nationwide.

Those planning to fly are strongly advised to leave for the airport far earlier than usual, remain patient, and prepare for extended wait times unlike anything seen before.

What should be a זמן חירותנו may instead begin with שעות של עיכובים.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Four Lebanese immigrants to Germany who had been accused of acting as Hamas operatives were convicted by a German court Wednesday on charges related to stockpiling weapons, possession of weapons of war, possession of firearms and membership in a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), with the ultimate aim of targeting Jewish institutions. The court also affirmed for the first time Hamas’ designation as an FTO.

The defendants were identified in a statement by Lisa Jani, spokesperson for the Berlin criminal courts, as Abdelhamid Al A., 47; Mohamed B., 36; Ibrahim El-R., 43; and Nazih R., 58.

Lisa Jani, spokesperson for the Berlin criminal courts. (Credit: Getty Images)

“They were personally tasked by their contact in Lebanon, a high-ranking Hamas official, with locating the organization’s underground weapons caches in Poland, Denmark, and Bulgaria, inspecting the weapons stockpiles, and reburying them,” the statement said. “The Higher Regional Court based its decision on the extensive communication between the defendants, both amongst themselves and with their Hamas contact and other individuals, on the defendants’ statements during the main hearing, the evaluation of data storage devices, the analysis of publicly available Hamas material, the testimony of numerous witnesses, and the expert opinion of an Islamic scholar.”

The men were sentenced to four and a half to six years of prison time.

Regarding the affirmation of Hamas as an FTO, the statement said, “This ruling marks the first time a Higher Regional Court in Germany has determined that ‘Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya’ (Hamas) constitutes a foreign terrorist organization under the German Criminal Code.”

“The relevant criteria were already met before the Hamas-orchestrated terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed, numerous others injured and raped, and over 250 people were taken hostage and abducted,” it added.

The Israeli Air Force carried out multiple waves of airstrikes across Iran over the past 24 hours, hitting dozens of weapons production and development facilities in what the IDF described as one of its most extensive bombardments of Iranian military infrastructure to date.

Sixty Israeli fighter jets participated in the operation, dropping more than 150 bombs on facilities near Tehran and across central Iran, the DF said.

Among the targets struck overnight was a cluster of weapons manufacturing sites in Isfahan, including a facility belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force and a plant used to manufacture air defense systems.

The most significant strikes, however, were concentrated in the Parchin area east of Tehran, which the IDF described as “the Iranian regime’s most central facility for the production of missiles and defense systems.” The military said it struck at least four distinct installations there: a facility used to develop air defense systems; a plant for casting and filling warheads with explosives; a site used for mixing and casting engines in the development of ballistic missiles; and a facility producing critical components for solid-fuel ballistic missiles.

The breadth of the targets reflects an Israeli effort to degrade Iran’s capacity to produce the weapons systems it has relied upon throughout the ongoing conflict, striking not only finished arsenals but the industrial infrastructure that feeds them.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Ocean County continues to lead New Jersey in population growth, adding more residents than any other county in the state between 2020 and 2025, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

The county grew by 36,418 residents, a 5.7% increase, the largest percentage gain among New Jersey’s 21 counties over the five-year period, based on Census data. The surge far outpaced the statewide growth rate of about 2.5%.

By comparison, other large counties such as Bergen and Middlesex posted gains of roughly 2% to 2.3%, underscoring Ocean County’s outsized role in the state’s population expansion.

Overall, New Jersey added about 262,900 residents since 2020, continuing a broader upward trend that has pushed the state’s population to record levels.

Ocean County’s total population has climbed steadily since the last decennial census, rising from about 637,000 in 2020 to more than 673,000 by 2025.

The latest Census data also shows that Ocean County added more than 5,300 residents between July 2024 and July 2025 alone, one of the largest single-year increases in the state, likely aided by Lakewood’s skyrocketing birth rate.

Growth in the county has been driven by a combination of factors, including natural population increases and migration. While New Jersey overall experienced significant domestic outmigration over the five-year period, that was offset by strong international migration and steady birth rates, according to the Census estimates.

Ocean County, part of the Jersey Shore region and anchored by municipalities such as Lakewood, Toms River and Jackson, has been among the fastest-growing areas in the state for more than a decade.

President Donald Trump disclosed that a mysterious “present” from Iran—teased earlier this week during negotiations—was the passage of multiple oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy routes.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said the gesture involved “10 boats of oil” that were allowed to transit the vital waterway, signaling what he described as a serious diplomatic overture from Iranian officials.

Earlier in the week, Trump had hinted at a significant goodwill move without revealing details.

“It was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money, and I’m not going to tell you what the present is, but it was a very significant prize,” Trump said during remarks in the Oval Office.

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On Thursday, he elaborated, saying the U.S. had engaged in “very substantial talks” with Iranian representatives. According to Trump, Iran initially agreed to allow eight large oil tankers to pass through the strait.

“They said, ‘To show you the fact that we’re real and solid and we’re there, we’re going to let you have eight boats of oil, eight boats, eight big boats of oil,’” Trump said, noting that the vessels sailed under Pakistani flags.

He added that two additional tankers were later sent “to apologize for something they said.”

Trump said the move demonstrated to U.S. officials that “we’re dealing with the right people.”

When asked whether Iran should be permitted to charge tolls for ships crossing the strait, Trump responded, “They shouldn’t be able to, but they’re doing it a little bit.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of global concern, with any disruption threatening major portions of the world’s oil supply.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NAHARIYA, Israel (VINnews) — A Hezbollah rocket strike on the northern Israeli city of Nahariya killed one man and wounded 14 others Thursday, emergency services said.

Magen David Adom medics declared a man in his 30s dead at the scene. They treated a man in his 50s who was seriously injured by shrapnel, the ambulance service said.

Another 13 people were listed in good condition after being hit by shrapnel or the blast from the rocket, according to MDA. The service also treated 11 people for acute anxiety.

All 25 people were taken to a hospital.

The strike was part of a barrage of rockets fired from Lebanon toward the Western Galilee, with air raid sirens sounding across the region.

No further details on the victims’ identities were immediately released.

Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for recent rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel, including strikes targeting Nahariya. Israeli officials have vowed to respond to the ongoing fire from Lebanon.

The Shatz-Ashdod Rebbe, who serves as head of the Shatz Badatz and the international SKS kashrus organization, is urging the chareidi public to think carefully before traveling through Sinai, citing troubling experiences of harassment at Sharm el-Sheikh airport and the Taba border crossing.

Speaking from personal experience, the Rebbe—who has traveled extensively around the world for over four decades, including in many Muslim countries—described the airport in Sharm el-Sheikh as an especially difficult environment for religious Jews. According to his account, Egyptian security personnel show no tolerance for visible religious practices or even brief moments set aside for prayer.

“At the airport in Sharm, it’s forbidden to stand even for a minute for Shemoneh Esrei, and forget about putting on tefillin,” the Rebbe said. He recounted an incident in which three security officers approached a yeshiva student who had begun to daven Maariv, shouting at him until he fled to the restroom to avoid being detained. The Rebbe added that security staff insist on the removal of a yarmulke during inspection and strictly prohibit photography in the area. “Anyone who doesn’t absolutely need to go through this experience should avoid it,” he warned.

Similar reports have emerged regarding the land crossing at Taba Border Crossing, where travelers have described deliberate mistreatment of official documents. Testimony obtained by a Hebrew-language outlet detailed an incident in which an Egyptian official forcefully handled a traveler’s passport, tearing a page in half and forcing the individual to later obtain a replacement passport in Israel.

According to reports, officials at Israel’s Interior Ministry are familiar with such cases. In the incident described, the traveler was immediately asked upon arrival whether the damage occurred at the Taba crossing, suggesting a recurring pattern. Observers say this may reflect a quiet but consistent form of harassment directed at Israeli citizens, despite the longstanding peace agreement and steady tourism between the countries.

By Y.M. Lowy

As Pesach quickly approaches, Community Board 12 has released a set of coordinated guidelines aimed at helping the preparation run more smoothly and safely in Boro Park.

The information follows a joint meeting held with city agencies and local organizations, including the NYPD, FDNY, Sanitation Department, Hatzolah, Shomrim, and Chaverim. With large crowds and heavy cleanup during Sreifas Chametz, planning ahead is key.

Fire safety remains a major focus. The FDNY emphasized that fires must be handled carefully, noting that if any injuries occur, a fire will be fully put out and not allowed to be restarted.

Residents are also reminded that burning should only take place until the cutoff time of 11:44 a.m., and that only chametz should be placed into the fire.

Sanitation services are also being adjusted to meet the increased demand. Bulk garbage collection is already underway, and residents are asked to place items out in an orderly way, with recycling tied and mattresses wrapped. Large dumpsters will be placed throughout the neighborhood to help manage the volume.

A special pickup schedule is set for Tuesday night, when sanitation crews will begin collecting garbage and recycling from midnight through early Wednesday morning. Residents are encouraged to place all items out Tuesday night. For convenience, garbage can be left out in bags without using cans, since many households have already put their bins away for Pesach.

Police will also be increasing their presence in the area throughout Yom Tov, especially during the Seder nights. In addition to patrols, officers will be stationed at central locations to assist if needed, though residents are reminded to reserve emergency services for urgent situations.

With Community Board 12 at the helm, working alongside city agencies and local groups, Sreifas Chametz in Boro Park is set to run smoothly.

MAP AND INFO BELOW 👇👇👇

Trump: Let me set the record straight because I’ve been watching the Wall Street Journal’s fake news and all these stories like, ‘Oh, I want to make a deal.’ They are begging to make a deal, not me. They’re begging to make a deal. I don’t know if we’ll be able to do that. I don’t know if we’re willing to do that.

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WATCH: Steve Witkoff addresses the Cabinet about past and present talks with Iran amid Operation Epic Fury:

“I can report to you today that we have, along with your foreign policy team, presented a 15-point action list that forms the framework for a peace deal. This has been circulated through the Pakistani government acting as the mediator,” Witkoff told President Donald Trump during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

“Throughout our meetings with the Iranians, we heard the following from them: ‘the Iranians have the inalienable right to enrich.’ Then we heard they possessed enough 60% enriched material, 460 kilograms, to make 11 atomic bombs,” Witkoff said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, referring to earlier diplomatic efforts.

“These are incontrovertible signs, among among many other signs,” he added, “that their regime had not given the negotiating team authority to make a deal required by you.”

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Trump: All of the sudden the war starts, and they start shooting at Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman. Everybody was shocked, including us.

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Trump on the Iranian regime: They’re sick people. They’re really sick. They’re, they’re really sinister, sick people.

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Trump: NATO has done absolutely nothing … we don’t need them.

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Trump: The Iranian regime is now admitting to itself that they have been decisively defeated. They’re saying to people, ‘This is a disaster.’ They know it. That’s why they’re talking to us. They wouldn’t talk otherwise. They can’t make a comeback. They now have a chance to make a deal.

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Trump: If they make the right deal, then the strait will open, Hormuz Strait will open up. And even now we don’t know if there are any mines.

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Trump on energy prices: It’s not over, so maybe it’ll go up a little bit more. It’s all gonna come back down to where it was and probably lower. And my predictions have been right. Trump was right about everything. They have a new hat.

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VP JD Vance: You talk about people who walk into a crowded supermarket and have a vest on. And they blow up the vest and a couple of people get killed and that’s a terrible tragedy. What happens when what’s on the vest can kill many many tens of thousands of people…

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Marco Rubio on Iran: Unlike them, we’re hitting military targets.

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WATCH: Sec. Of War Pete Hegseth provides an update to the Cabinet on the Operation Epic Fury:

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A Golan resident and member of the Druze community who had been arrested with his father over a year ago on charges of spying for Iran was convicted Wednesday in a ruling issued by Judge Moran Margalit and distributed Thursday. The court rejected Tahrir Safdi’s claim that he had been improperly questioned by the Shin Bet and Israel Police, alleging that his interrogators applied improper pressure during questioning.

The alleged spy was convicted of passing sensitive information to Iran over the course of several years regarding IDF activity in Israel’s north, including tank movements and missile impact locations. Safdi suspected or knew that his contact had ties to Iranian and Syrian intelligence.

The ruling names Safdi’s contact as Hossam Zidan, a Syrian who worked as a correspondent for the Iranian outlet Al-Alam. Safdi admitted that he believed Zidan was working for Iran’s Quds Force, an elite unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for military intelligence and supporting Iran’s proxy groups throughout the region, among other things.

According to the court, Safdi was introduced to Zidan through his father, who had known him for a long time, and Safdi continued to transmit information to Zidan even after he began to suspect that Zidan was not a mere journalist. Over a period spanning 2019 to 2024, Safdi, along with his father, sent photos to Zidan of missile fall sites and a military tank in the Golan Heights, and during the war he continued to send information regarding tank movements, missile impacts and missile fire in various locations.

Safdi denied the charges and claimed that his statement that he believed Zidan was more than a professional journalist had been extracted under duress, but Margalit maintained that there was enough evidence that he had provided information “freely and voluntarily” and that the evidence showed “to the required degree and beyond” that Safdi fully understood implications of his actions for state security. He also acted to conceal his relationship with Zidan, she argued, which he would not have done if it were as innocent as he claimed.

Arguments for sentencing are scheduled for April 15.

NEW YORK (VINnews/Chaskel Bennett) – As war rages in the Middle East and missiles rain down on Israel, the Jewish State is fighting not only for survival on the battlefield, but for its standing in the court of public opinion.

But Jews around the world are confronting something darker. A surge of hatred no longer whispered, but openly unleashed.

It is everywhere. Graffiti on our community centers. Attacks on our schools. Threats to our synagogues. Masked protesters openly spewing antisemitic hatred.

This is not new. It is the story of our people.

Social media has become a cesspool of vitriol, with thousands of posts pushing obscene stereotypes without shame. A growing class of YouTubers has turned this hostility into a cottage industry, descending on Orthodox communities looking to expose, distort, and destroy. What they encounter instead is something they cannot comprehend: a people unafraid, unfazed, and unbroken.

At the same time, public figures amplify the hate. Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens have launched conspiratorial attacks against Chabad, recycling the oldest lies in modern form. On the ground, the consequences are real. A postal worker violently knocked down an innocent four-year-old Jewish child in Rockland County. In London, masked arsonists torched Hatzalah ambulances.

Children. Faith. Ambulances. Cowards.

These are not isolated incidents. They reflect a growing comfort with targeting Jews especially visibly Orthodox communities simply for existing.

Because we will not hide.

We live our identity openly. And in a world that too often tolerates hatred, visibility becomes vulnerability.

But the Jewish response to hatred has never been retreat or silence.

We build.

A four-year-old boy knocked to the ground stands up, picks up his yarmulke, places it back on his head, and walks forward. That is not just a reaction. It is a declaration.

When Chabad is attacked, Jews give and build more. Faith is recommitted.

When ambulances are torched, we replace and expand. More people to help.

When hatred rises, we rise higher.

Jewish strength is not loud. It is constructive. It is building families and communities, acts of kindness, saving lives, and refusing to disappear.

As we approach Passover, we are reminded that we have been here before. Different enemies. Same hatred. Same response.

While we were shocked at the burning of the Hatzalah ambulances, what followed was no less stunning.

Instead of understanding, thousands rushed online to attack the victims outraged that Jews would dare to create a volunteer ambulance service devoted to saving lives, Jew and non-Jew alike.

If we are waiting for sympathy, we should not hold our breath. We did not receive it after October 7th. We did not receive it when a Jewish day school in Michigan was attacked. And we see the reaction when our ambulances are torched.

Antisemitism is real. This moment has made that unmistakably clear.

But it has also revealed something more powerful: the strength, unity, and unwavering support within our own community.

Those ambulances were not random targets. The arsonists thought they understood what they represent.

They grossly miscalculated.

You cannot destroy what they stand for.

It does not live in metal or machines.

It lives in us. It is us.

We answer. We save. We build.

Chaskel Bennett is a Jewish Communal Leader, and a Founding Member of Hatzalah South Florida in Boca Raton, Florida You can follow him on X @chaskelbennett

You picked it up for five minutes. That was two hours ago. That’s Kav Magazine.

Every issue is loaded with content that refuses to let you put it down. Stranger-than-fiction characters. Decades-old mysteries that still baffle experts today. Moments in history so bizarre you’ll catch yourself reading sentences twice just to make sure you got that right. And every time you think the story has peaked, it goes somewhere you didn’t expect.

The writing pulls you in fast and keeps you there. The research goes deep. Nothing is surface level, nothing is filler, and nothing is the kind of thing you’ve already read somewhere else.

There is always something else you didn’t know. Always one more page that makes you forget you were ever going to stop.

Kav Magazine. You’re going to want more.

Available in kosher groceries throughout Lakewood, Monsey, Brooklyn, Passaic and beyond!

To find a store near you, visit: https://api.jewishadgroup.com/KmlXMh

Dear Matzav Inbox,

It’s that time again.

The carts are full. The aisles are jammed. The conversations revolve around menus, meats, wines, and which brand of this year’s overpriced everything is “worth it.” Homes are being turned upside down in a frenzy of cleaning, kashering, and preparation for zman cheiruseinu.

And in the middle of all this noise, something is being buried.

Not the chometz. Our conscience.

Because while we are obsessing over every crumb, there are people among us who are drowning financially.

Not hypothetically. Not in some faraway community. Right here. In our shuls. In our neighborhoods. Sitting next to us, nodding politely, saying “Gut Yom Tov” as if everything is fine.

It isn’t.

But they won’t tell you that.

They won’t show up at your local distribution. They won’t sign up for assistance. They won’t let their name be whispered in the right ears. They still have too much dignity for that.

And we, if we’re being honest, are relying on that.

We hide behind the comforting fiction that “the organizations are taking care of it.” That “no one falls through the cracks.” That “there are funds, drives, and campaigns.”

Let’s stop pretending.

There are cracks. Wide ones. And people are disappearing into them quietly, respectfully, and completely unnoticed.

Because they don’t scream.

And we don’t look.

We have built a system that responds beautifully—to those who ask. But what about those who don’t? What about the family that will cut corners on food, on clothing, on basic dignity, just to avoid becoming “a case”?

Do they not count because they suffer silently?

Or is it just more convenient that way?

We pride ourselves on being a community of chesed. We tell ourselves that we take care of our own.

Do we?

Or do we take care of the ones who make it easy for us to take care of them?

Because real chesed is not reactive. It is not a response to a flyer, a campaign, or a publicized need.

Real chesed is uncomfortable. It requires noticing. It requires asking. It requires stepping into spaces we would rather not enter, because doing so shatters the illusion that everything around us is fine.

And maybe that’s the real problem.

It’s easier to scrub a kitchen for hours than to confront the possibility that someone you know—someone you respect—is quietly breaking under the weight of Yom Tov.

It’s easier to check lettuce three times than to check on a neighbor or friend once.

We search our homes with candles and flashlights, hunting down the smallest trace of chometz.

But we somehow miss the most obvious thing of all: people who are struggling to make Pesach with even the most basic sense of dignity.

What exactly are we so busy removing, if not the very sensitivity that Pesach is supposed to awaken?

We speak about cheirus. About freedom. About what it means to leave Mitzrayim.

Tell me: What kind of freedom is it when a family sits at their Seder table with forced smiles, knowing that no one thought of them, knowing that they have growing credit card debt?

What kind of redemption is that?

We didn’t forget them.

That would be too innocent.

We chose not to see them.

And until we are willing to admit that—to let it bother us, to let it disrupt us, to let it cost us something—then all the cleaning, all the preparations, all the talk of zman cheiruseinu is just noise.

Because a community that prides itself on seeing every crumb, but refuses to see its own people, has missed the point entirely.

This Pesach, the question isn’t whether we got rid of our chometz.

The question is whether we got rid of our blindness.

L. G.

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email [email protected]

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A Jamesburg man was arrested after allegedly striking another individual with a belt during an early morning altercation on Clifton Avenue, TLS has learned.

At approximately 2:20 a.m. on March 21st, officers on patrol observed two males engaged in a verbal dispute in the area of 118 Clifton Avenue. During the incident, one of the individuals, identified as Kevin Vazquez, 29, of Jamesburg, allegedly removed his belt and struck the other male in the neck area.

Police quickly intervened, separating the individuals and preventing the situation from escalating further. The victim reported experiencing pain to his neck at the scene.

Vazquez was taken into custody without incident and transported to Lakewood Police Headquarters for processing.

He was subsequently charged with assault and a weapons-related offense before being transported to the Ocean County Jail.

By Y.M. Lowy

The rabbanim of Kollel Divrei Eish in Boro Park have returned from a nesiya to Europe, where they visited kivrei tzaddikim and marked the completion of their limud in hilchos ribbis.

The group, made up of rabbanim and dayanim from the kollel, spent the past two and a half years learning the complex halachos of ribbis in depth. Following the completion, they traveled overseas for a trip that combined tefillah at mekomos hakdoshim with a siyum.

In Hungary, they visited the tzion of Reb Shayala Kerestirer, as well as the tzion of Reb Yitzchok of Kaliv, the Yismach Moshe in Ohel, and the author of Ach Pri Tevua in Liska.

From there, the group continued to Poland, where they visited additional kivrei tzaddikim, including the tzion of Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, the Tiferes Shlomo in Radomsk, Reb Dovid of Lelov, and the Zera Kodesh. They also stopped in Krakow, where they visited the local beis hachaim and held a seudas Rosh Chodesh.

The central event of the trip took place in Kerestir, near the tzion of Reb Shayala Kerestirer, where the rabbanim held a siyum on hilchos ribbis. The event included speeches, along with singing and dancing in honor of the occasion.

Kollel Divrei Eish has grown in recent years and includes a group of rabbanim training in halacha and psak.

(AP) – Oil depots spewing black smoke. Debris sinking in the Persian Gulf. Missiles pounding military sites.

The Iran war has unleashed a toxic mix of chemicals, heavy metals and other pollutants that threaten everything from agriculture to drinking water to people’s health — and will leave behind environmental damage and health risks that could persist for decades, experts said.

“All the burning of oil and gas fields in the coastal areas, all the ships that are there, the oil tankers that are being burned or (sunk) — all of these mean pollution,” said Kaveh Madani, an Iranian scientist and director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health. “For someone like me who has fought for sustainability and protection of the environment in that region, this is like going many years backward.”

Documenting the damage has proved daunting, with a full accounting impossible for now, said Doug Weir, director of the Conflict and Environment Observatory, a U.K.-based nonprofit that monitors environmental harms from armed conflicts.

The group uses remote satellite sensing and open-source intelligence to identify damage and score environmental risks to people, ecosystems and agricultural land. So far, it has recorded more than 400 environmentally concerning incidents related to the war, though much is still unknown due to delays in satellite imagery and an internet blackout in Iran, Weir said.

Attacks on oil- and gas-related sites create some of the worst environmental risks because of impacts to air quality and soil and water pollution, as well as health threats to people. Harder to quantify are risks from bombed military sites, some of which are deeply buried and some near populated areas, adding to “huge uncertainties” around potential impacts, Weir said.

The air pollution unleashed could lead to many health problems
Perhaps the most enduring images of the war are of darkened skies from oil infrastructure set ablaze by airstrikes, including two weeks ago when black rain fell near Tehran, Iran’s capital.

Soot, ash and toxic chemicals from strikes on fuel depots and a refinery combined with water droplets in the atmosphere and fell back to Earth as an oily, acidic rain that prompted warnings to stay indoors. Microscopic soot raises risks of lung and heart problems, while toxic chemicals pose long-term cancer risks and heavy metals from the fallout could contaminate soil and water supplies, experts said.

Debris and contamination from missiles, as well as potential strikes on manufacturing facilities and other infrastructure also could unleash harmful pollution throughout the region, experts said.

“If you hit an ammonia-producing plant for fertilizer or for food production … those release chemicals that are absolutely toxic and harmful if they spread,” said Mohammed Mahmoud, head of Middle East Climate and Water Policy with the United Nations University Institute of Water, Environment and Health and founder of the Climate and Water Initiative.

Intensive fossil fuel emissions also are spiking levels of greenhouse gases that cause climate change, experts said. The carbon accounting platform Greenly estimated that the U.S. military alone released almost 2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases in just the first six days of the war, meaning the actual amount generated by the fighting is certainly much higher, when accounting for Israeli and Iranian emissions and damage to infrastructure.

That is a significant amount in such a short time, as in an entire year around 50 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases are released around the entire world, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Global oil shortages also are causing some countries to resume or increase their use of coal, which creates more air pollution that hurts people, and more greenhouse gas emissions.

Continued access to clean water is a big concern
Countries in the arid Persian Gulf region rely on hundreds of desalination plants for drinking water, raising health and security risks if plants are damaged or water is polluted, experts say.

Iran has said a U.S airstrike damaged one of its desalination plants, while neighboring Bahrain accused Iran of damaging one of its plants. Experts fear more could be targeted the longer the war goes on.

People in the region “struggle with having access to clean drinking water, even at peace times,” said Madani, the Iranian scientist and U.N. official. “Any damage to water infrastructure can have long-lasting impacts.”

Weir worries that pollution, including oil, from sunken ships and other sources could clog desalination plants or that they could be knocked offline by attacks on power plants.

Experts say pollution also could damage fisheries and important ecosystems. Though some contaminants will be dispersed and diluted by water that moves through the gulf, heavy metals and toxic chemicals still could settle in sediment.

“It’s an enclosed basin, quite shallow,” Weir said. “There are sensitive habitats there, coral reefs, seagrass meadows, sensitive species which could be impacted.”

Nuclear risks are largely unknown
The U.N. nuclear watchdog has not had access to Iranian nuclear sites, including facilities targeted in June by the United States and Israel, meaning their status is largely unknown.

Possible attacks on large and small nuclear sites throughout the region is “another thing to worry about,” because of immediate and long-term health and environmental impacts, said Madani. Exposure can cause skin damage and radiation sickness, while long-term risks include cancer, heart disease and genetic damage.

U.S. and Israeli officials have said one of the war’s aims is to destroy Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons.

After Israel and the U.S. this month bombed an Iranian uranium enrichment installation, Iran retaliated by firing missiles at two Israeli towns, including one with a nuclear research center. Israel said the facility wasn’t damaged.

“We are hearing that there is no major radiation or change in the level of pollutants so that makes us hopeful that nothing has gone wrong,” Madani said. “But the risk is always there.”

Addressing environmental damage could take decades
After the war, as Iran and other countries rebuild, environmental damage could be a low priority, experts said.

The focus will be on energy and water infrastructure, manufacturing plants and food production facilities, Mahmoud said. Some pollution, especially to the gulf or other waterways, “I doubt will be addressed soon, and in some cases, not at all.”

Weir said environmental damage isn’t addressed properly after most conflicts because it’s expensive and “humanitarian needs come first,” even if environmental risks are high.

In densely populated Tehran, for example, a huge number of strikes have hit not just oil infrastructure, but also buildings and residential areas, generating harmful contamination from pulverized building materials. People are being exposed to dust and chemicals, which may continue for a long time after the war eventually ends and rebuilding begins.

Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey is delivering a blunt message to aspiring homeowners: getting into the housing market is still possible, but not without first tackling overwhelming personal debt.

In a recent interview on Fox Business, Ramsey argued that many younger Americans have been put at a disadvantage by rising debt levels across the board.

“I’m afraid I have to tell you the truth, and that is that corporate America has screwed you,” Ramsey said.

He pointed to record-breaking debt burdens weighing on younger generations. “Car debt is at an all-time high… Student loan debt is at an all-time high… And of course credit card debt, thank you to the big banks, is at an all-time high,” he continued. “When you’re drowning in personal debt, you can’t afford to buy a house!”

Recent data from Experian underscores his point. As of November 2025, the average Gen Z borrower carried $34,328 in debt, while millennials owed an average of $132,280.

Ramsey placed much of the blame on large institutions and policymakers, arguing that multiple forces have contributed to the financial strain facing these age groups. “That’s what’s happened. We’ve had these big companies, the car companies, the banks, and Congress with the student loan debt screwing these two generations [millennials and Gen Z] at a record like never before.”

Despite the bleak outlook, Ramsey said younger buyers are not shut out of the market entirely, but only if they make significant financial changes.

“What we’re finding is lots of Gen Zers, lots of millennials able to buy a home when they fight through and sell the stupid car and get rid of these debts. Our message to Gen Z and to millennials…is clear this debt, get rid of the stupidity, chop up the cards, and work your way through it,” Ramsey said. “Once you do that, you can get there.”

Still, he acknowledged that personal debt is only part of the problem. Broader market forces are also making it difficult for first-time buyers to break in.

“We’re still recovering from this huge spike in house prices following Covid,” he said. “We had the most unrealistic real estate market in 100 years following Covid.”

Ramsey noted that once pandemic restrictions eased, buyers rushed into the market, taking advantage of initially lower prices. That surge in demand ultimately drove prices sharply higher.

“Now we’ve got a shortage of inventory,” Ramsey continued. “Supply-demand has not allowed those prices to come back down. We’re seeing these spikes in prices, and that’s pushed this age [group] out.”

photos: Hillel Las"h

Former Middle East Envoy Jason Greenblatt, who served in President Donald Trump’s first term, urged the United States and its allies to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday. The narrow waterway serves as the world’s chokepoint for oil transit, with a fifth of the world’s oil shipping through the strait.

He also said that a ground operation was needed to seize Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium.

“One way or the other, the U.S. and its allies have to take some sort of control of the Strait of Hormuz to make sure this never happens again … and to ensure that Iran can no longer put the world in danger the way it has done so far,” Greenblatt said.

Despite its poor negotiating position after suffering weeks of devastating strikes, Iran’s absurd demands in negotiations, such as charging fees to pass through the strait and reparations for war damages, remain defiant and overblown. Characterizing its demands as “uber-aggressive,” Greenblatt said Trump would never accede to them.

Iran is in fact charging fees for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the secretary-general of a bloc of Gulf countries. The fees run into the millions of dollars per ship.

Greenblatt also explained the need for boots on the ground, while acknowledging that this move would be unpopular in a war that is already unpopular with the American public.

“I know people are against boots on the ground, but I don’t see how you can get that [enriched uranium] if there is no deal without some sort of special force operation going to retrieve that nuclear material,” he said.

However, he emphasized that the goal of the United States is not regime change.

“Regime change has to come from within,” he said. “If we try to enforce regime change, it won’t be successful.”

Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (MMCSC) held a ribbon-cutting dedication March 19th for the Lennar Foundation Wall of Hope, which serves as a celebration of life in the waiting area of the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Women’s Center.

Did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with chest cancer during her lifetime? MMCSC wants to remind women of the importance of yearly mammography screenings and knowing their genetic risk factors. The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Women’s Center’s all-female staff help patients navigate mammography screenings, diagnosis and treatment plans, if needed. The Center also offers a High-Risk program with access to genetic testing.

Thanks to MMCSC Foundation Board of Trustee member Robert Calabro, senior vice president, at Lennar Corporation, who was instrumental in having the Lennar Foundation name the Wall of Hope as one of its ongoing efforts in advancing health initiatives.

“The Lennar Foundation Wall of Hope is a symbol of celebration, remembrance and encouragement for all who come to the Center,” said Dr. Phil Passes, Chief Administrative Officer for MMCSC and Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. “It is a visual representation of the support, compassion and strength that surrounds each individual receiving care at our Center.”

To learn more about how you can bring comfort, compassion and strength to each individual arriving for medical services at the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Center at MMCSC, go to: https://www.rwjbh.org/monmouth-medical-center-southern-campus/giving/wall-of-hope/ or call 732.886.gift.

Pictured at the Lennar Foundation Wall of Hope Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at MMCSC are: Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus Foundation Board of Trustee members (from left) David Greisman, Tom Calabro, Robert Calabro, Dan Stizza, Dr. Philip Passes, Chief Administrative Officer, Monmouth Medical Center and Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus; Menashe Miller, Ben Heinemann and Robert Lawson.

Pictured below is MMCSC Foundation Board Member, Robert Calabro, senior vice president, at Lennar Corporation in front of the Lennar Foundation Wall of Hope, located at the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Mammography Center inside MMCSC in Lakewood.

[Press Release]

A senior Iranian naval commander who ordered the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz was killed Thursday in an Israeli airstrike, Israeli officials confirmed, marking the latest in a series of high-level eliminations.

Alireza Tangsiri, who led the naval division of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed in a strike targeting the port city of Bandar Abbas along the strategic waterway, according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Tangsiri, 64, joins a growing list of top Iranian figures recently killed, including IRGC spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini, senior regime figure Ali Larijani, and Gholamreza Soleimani, known for his role in suppressing protests.

Beyond authorizing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical corridor through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes — Tangsiri had pledged to enforce the blockade following directives from Iran’s current leadership under Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

“In response to the order of the commander-in-chief, we will deliver the harshest blows to the aggressor enemy while maintaining the strategy of closing the Strait of Hormuz,” he had said.

The disruption to oil shipments has sent energy markets into turmoil in recent weeks, with political leaders and industry officials urging that the waterway be reopened. Earlier this week, Brent crude was reported at $100 per barrel.

Iran has also issued broader warnings, signaling it could escalate further by targeting another key maritime chokepoint — the Bab al-Mandeb Strait — if U.S. forces move against Kharg Island, a small but vital hub responsible for the majority of Iran’s oil exports.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, carrying approximately 12% of global oil supplies.

“If the enemy wants to take action on land in the Iranian islands or anywhere else in our lands or to inflict costs on Iran with naval movements in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman,” Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported, citing IRGC sources.

“We will open other fronts for them as a surprise so that their action will not only be of no benefit to them but will also double their costs.

“The Bab al-Mandab Strait is considered one of the world’s strategic straits, and Iran has both the will and the ability to create a completely credible threat against it.”

The warning came after President Donald Trump announced that U.S. Central Command had carried out a major strike on Kharg Island, describing it as having “executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.”

According to reports, Iran has bolstered its defensive posture around Kharg Island, deploying additional air defense systems and laying naval mines amid concerns over a possible invasion.

U.S. allies are said to be uneasy about the prospect of American ground action, with fears that Iran would retaliate forcefully.

An Israeli source cautioned that any such move could result in American casualties, noting that Iran is likely to respond with drone attacks, according to a report in the Jerusalem Post.

“The hope is that they won’t take that risk and will instead fire at the oil fields, but there is no way to know,” they said.

{Matzav.com}

Wartime raises unique halachic issues, and this war is no exception. The Israeli Rabbinate issued a set of halachic guidelines on how to prepare for Pesach this year under wartime conditions. What should you do if a siren goes off during the ritual of bedikat chametz? What if your home was destroyed? The document answers these questions and more.

For example, if an alert sounds while you are conducting the traditional search for chametz, go to the closest protected place immediately and resume your search when it is safe. If your home was destroyed, your chametz is considered destroyed along with it, but you still need to nullify it.

Staying in a hotel or temporary housing? You need to check for chametz in your immediate area, but without a blessing. A temporary shelter does not need to be checked, but if you are currently living in one, check it without a blessing.

Not safe to burn your chametz? There are other permissible ways to dispose of it.

The document also affirms the importance of following the instructions of Home Front Command. “It must be stated and clarified that there is a complete obligation to obey the instructions of the Home Front Command,” it says. “These instructions save lives, and therefore they must be followed in every situation.”

Please do not rely on this article for any halachic rulings. Read the full document here and ask your rabbi for guidance.

Russia has begun transferring drones to Iran in recent weeks and is expected to complete a staggered delivery of the equipment by the end of the month, according to a report citing Western intelligence assessments.

The Financial Times reported that, in addition to the drone shipments, Moscow is also supplying Iran with food and medical aid.

While Russia has already been assisting Tehran with intelligence sharing and satellite imagery, the delivery of drones marks the first instance of direct weapons transfers from the Kremlin to Iran since the conflict began on February 28.

Responding to the report, a Kremlin spokesperson dismissed the claims, saying, ““There are a lot of fakes going around right now. One thing is true — we are continuing our dialogue with the Iranian leadership,” according to FT.

The report also noted that Russia has been producing drones based on Iranian designs for use in its war in Ukraine since 2023. The current shipments are believed to be aimed at strengthening Iran’s military position and helping stabilize its government.

Recent Israeli strikes targeting sites near the Caspian Sea were reportedly intended to interfere with logistical links and transfers between Russia and Iran.

{Matzav.com}

TORONTO (AP) — The chief executive of Air Canada apologized Thursday for his inability to express himself in French after politicians called for his resignation for his English-only message of condolence after Sunday’s deadly crash in New York.

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau has been criticized for the four-minute condolence video posted online that included only two French words — “bonjour” and “merci.”

“I am deeply saddened that my inability to speak French has diverted attention from the profound grief of the families and the great resilience of Air Canada’s employees, who have demonstrated outstanding professionalism despite the events of the past few days,” Rousseau said in a statement.

“Despite many lessons over several years, unfortunately, I am still unable to express myself adequately in French. I sincerely apologize for this, but I am continuing my efforts to improve.”

Air Canada President and CEO Michael Rousseau provides a video statement on the tragic accident involving Air Canada Express AC8646: pic.twitter.com/ZwFibpOkj2

— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 23, 2026

Quebec’s premier called on the airline executive to resign on Wednesday. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said it showed a lack of compassion and judgment and said he look forward to hearing more from Air Canada’s board of directors.

Antoine Forest, one of the two pilots killed in the crash at LaGuardia Airport, was a French-speaking Quebecer. Forest and Mackenzie Gunther died when the Air Canada Jazz flight they were landing at LaGuardia collided with a fire truck on the runway Sunday evening.

Canada’s largest airline is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, where French is the primary language. Rousseau has been criticized for not speaking French previously. He delivered his condolence video message in English, with French subtitles.

Carney noted that Canada is a bilingual country with two official languages.

Quebec’s identity has been contentious since the 1760s when the British completed their takeover of what was then called New France. Quebec is about 80% French-speaking.

Quebec Premier François Legault noted that when Rousseau was appointed president of the airline in February 2021, he promised to learn French.

The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages has received hundreds of complaints about Rousseau’s video.

“Back in November 2021, less than a year after he was appointed CEO of Air Canada, one of his first major speeches in his role triggered a strong controversy among Francophones, as the speech was almost exclusively in English,” said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.

“At the time, in response to that controversy, Rousseau apologized and pledged to learn French. He did later take French lessons but, as the new controversy suggests, it was probably not very successful to say the least.”

Jason Kenney, a former Conservative Cabinet minister, said he would rather the CEO of Canada’s flagship carrier focus his scarce time on safety and reliability than language training.

Israel Defense Forces Staff Sgt. Ori Greenberg, 21, was killed in action fighting Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists in Southern Lebanon, the military announced on Thursday morning.

Greenberg, from the central Israeli city of Petach Tikvah, served as a combat soldier in the in Golani Infantry Brigade’s Reconnaissance Battalion, the IDF said, adding that his family was informed.

The death toll among Israeli troops since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border terrorist massacre now stands at 928, according to IDF figures.

“My wife and I, together with all the citizens of Israel, share in the deep sorrow of the family of Golani Reconnaissance Unit fighter Sgt. Ori Greenberg, of blessed memory, who fell in battle in Southern Lebanon,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Ori’s family. He fought with bravery and courage to defend our northern border,” added the premier, “May his memory be for a blessing.”

On Wednesday, two troops were seriously injured in separate attacks on forces operating in Lebanon, the military said.

One soldier was wounded by mortar fire. In an earlier incident, a reserve soldier was seriously hurt by an enemy rocket.

Both soldiers were evacuated to hospitals, the military said, adding that the family of one of the men had been notified.

IDF chief visits wounded soldiers

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Wednesday visited soldiers wounded in fighting in Southern Lebanon as part of “Operation Roaring Lion,” the army said.

During a tour of the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, Zamir met with wounded troops and their families, praising their determination and resilience. He also thanked the medical staff and military support teams for their work treating the injured.

Zamir said the IDF remains committed to supporting soldiers wounded in combat, calling it a “moral and ethical responsibility.”

Hezbollah began firing rockets and suicide drones at Israel on March 2, in retaliation for the Jewish state’s targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strikes of “Operation Roaring Lion/Epic Fury” against the regime on Feb. 28.

In response to the terrorist organization’s violation of the U.S.-brokered Nov. 27, 2024, truce agreement with Lebanon, Jerusalem launched an aerial campaign against Hezbollah and ordered IDF troops to advance and take control of additional areas in Southern Lebanon to halt cross-border attacks. JNS

NEW YORK (VINnews) — One person was killed after a fire tore through the top floor of an apartment building in the Bronx early Thursday, fire officials said.

Firefighters responded around 5:30 a.m. to a report of a blaze on East 184th Street in the Belmont section. Upon arrival, crews encountered heavy fire conditions on the top floor extending into the roof, making access difficult, according to fire officials.

Authorities said a person was found dead inside the apartment where the fire is believed to have started. The victim’s identity has not yet been released.

Four firefighters suffered minor injuries, including heat exhaustion and sprains. Officials said those injuries were not life-threatening.

The fire escalated to five alarms before being brought under control later in the morning. During the incident, part of the roof collapsed into the top floor, along with sections of the building’s cornice.

No other injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

FDNY officials provide update on 5-alarm fire in the Bronx https://t.co/HHznhKp2Gn

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 26, 2026

Early Thursday morning, the FDNY responded to a fire at 505 East 184 Street in The Bronx, bringing over 280 firefighters and EMS personnel to the scene.

“Upon arrival, units encountered heavy fire on the top floor extending into the cockloft and through the roof,” said Chief of… pic.twitter.com/CxDFS98sgV

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 26, 2026

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Israel’s parliament is expected to send its largest-ever delegation to the annual Israel Day Parade in New York City, set for May 31, according to a report by Ynetnews.

The delegation will include 16 members of the Knesset from both coalition and opposition parties, the report said. The group is set to be led by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Director General Moshe (Chico) Edri. In total, about 36 representatives tied to the Knesset are expected to attend, not including government ministers who may also participate.

The parade, one of the largest pro-Israel gatherings in the United States, is scheduled to take place along Fifth Avenue and draws thousands of participants each year.

According to the report, the decision to send an expanded delegation is intended as a show of support for New York’s Jewish community, as well as a response to positions taken by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani regarding Israel.

A Knesset source told Ynet that “if there is a year to send such a delegation, it is this year,” describing it as a message of solidarity during a time of conflict and heightened tensions.

Ohana’s office said the move reflects concern over what it described as the mayor’s past statements on Israel and aims to demonstrate that “the State of Israel stands alongside” New York’s Jewish community.

Funding for the trip will be split, with the Knesset covering costs for eight lawmakers and the Jewish Agency for Israel financing another eight, according to the report.

The annual parade has taken on added significance in recent years amid rising concerns about antisemitism and growing political divisions over Israel, making this year’s expanded delegation particularly notable.

Delta Air Lines announced that it will continue to suspend its flights from New York and Atlanta to Tel Aviv through September 5, citing security concerns tied to the ongoing conflict in the region.

The airline said the decision was made as conditions remain unstable. “Delta is extending its pause of service to Tel Aviv (TLV) as we continue to closely monitor conditions in the region and prioritize the safety of our customers and employees,” the company stated.

The routes had already been halted earlier this year after Israel closed its airspace on February 28, when fighting broke out between the United States and Iran. At that time, Delta initially suspended service to Tel Aviv through May 31, while flights connecting Tel Aviv and Atlanta were later postponed until August 4.

Passengers booked on the affected non-stop flights from New York’s JFK Airport and Atlanta will be formally notified of cancellations on March 28, when the airline processes the changes in its system.

In addition, Delta has put plans for a new Boston-to-Tel Aviv route on hold. The service had been scheduled to begin in late October, but the airline said the launch is now delayed indefinitely.

{Matzav.com}

LONDON (AP) — British police said Thursday that two men arrested in connection with an arson attack that destroyed four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity have been released on bail as they continue to investigate the suspected antisemitic hate crime.

The two British nationals, aged 45 and 47, were detained Wednesday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, London’s Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement. The men were released under strict bail conditions and will be closely monitored, police said.

Authorities on Wednesday described the arrests as an important breakthrough in the case, but noted that three people were visible in the closed-circuit camera footage of the attack.

“We continue to work to try and identify all of those involved in this appalling attack and the investigation team is working around the clock to do this,’’ said Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London.

Police are investigating a claim of responsibility by a group with potential links to Iran but have not declared the matter to be a terror attack.

The blaze early on Monday morning in Golders Green, a London neighborhood with a large Jewish population, destroyed four ambulances belonging to the volunteer organization Hatzola Northwest, which provides emergency care to residents of the area. Oxygen cylinders in the vehicles exploded, breaking windows in an adjacent apartment block.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A channel 14 report in Israel reveals increasing assessments by military analysts that the United States is in advanced stages of preparation for a ground invasion of Iran. The Pentagon has decided to conceal troop deployment data from Congress, a move that would give U.S. President Donald Trump a free hand in executing a ground maneuver.

The classified report was supposed to detail the movement of divisions and heavy equipment in the Middle East. Without it, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are left without the ability to oversee the scale of forces being amassed in the Gulf ahead of the operation, according to a report published Wednesday night in Politico.

Concealing the deployment allows the Pentagon to make rapid positional changes and prepare logistical infrastructure for a ground landing without bureaucratic delays. As part of the covert operation, the U.S. is redirecting shipments of heavy weapons, armored combat vehicles, and specialized ammunition for ground maneuvering under a heavy veil of secrecy, in Operation “Epic Fury.”

The commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, stated officially that the operation is “on track or ahead of schedule.” These remarks strengthen the assessment that the aerial phase, in which most of Iran’s missile array was destroyed, was only a prelude to a ground entry.

The deliberate concealment has sparked criticism among members of Congress. The chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Mike Rogers, argued that lawmakers are not receiving clear answers regarding the objectives of the deployment. According to him, the lack of information prevents Congress from fulfilling its oversight role over the defense budget.

Senior officials in Europe have expressed concern over the massive diversion of resources toward a potential invasion of Iran, noting: “It’s no secret that the ammunition being used now is exactly what we all need to procure in large quantities.” Allied countries fear that the American focus on a ground maneuver against Iran is leaving European and Asian theaters exposed.

The decision to hide deployment plans follows weeks of escalation, during which the Israeli Air Force destroyed most of Iran’s ballistic missile array. The destruction of Iran’s strategic capabilities paved the way for a ground maneuver without a significant threat to invading forces. Recently, Iran intensified its aggression and launched missile barrages at U.S. bases, a move seen in Washington as a final trigger for a ground decision.

The Pentagon’s move marks a break from decades of transparency with Congress. The Trump administration is shifting toward centralized and covert management of military power to ensure a swift victory.

The decision to conceal deployment plans and accelerate preparations for an invasion comes alongside negotiations with Iran that are beginning today. The covert military move is intended to create maximum leverage at the negotiating table from the outset, signaling to the leadership in Tehran that any delay or lack of progress in the diplomatic channel will lead to the immediate use of ground maneuver forces.

In Washington, the talks launching today are viewed as a final opportunity. Therefore, troop concentration was completed under tight timelines to ensure that the diplomatic option is backed by a lethal military alternative ready for immediate execution.

Additionally, according to a report in The Washington Post, the U.S. administration is considering taking control of Kharg Island, which serves as Iran’s economic “lifeline,” through which about 90% of its oil exports pass. The goal is to use the island as leverage against Tehran. In response, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, issued a sharp warning: “If enemies cross the lines, all vital infrastructure of any regional country that assists them will become a target.”

At the same time, in Tehran preparations are underway for the possibility of a U.S. invasion, which is seen there as a strategic opportunity. Iranian commentators argue that the deployment of U.S. forces on Iranian soil would allow the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to capture soldiers, publicly humiliate Washington, and gain significant leverage. A former IRGC commander, Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, even claimed that “killing or capturing American soldiers” could lead to impeachment proceedings against President Trump.

Jackson Township Mayor Jennifer Kuhn has announced that the new Property Manager Registration system is now available online. This user-friendly portal allows property managers to complete their registration quickly and efficiently.

All property managers are reminded that registration is required annually. Applicants must submit documentation verifying that they are properly licensed. Failure to register will result in penalties and potential court action.

You can register online here.

Following the successful interception of a ballistic missile launched from Iran toward the United Arab Emirates, two civilians, one from Pakistan and one from India, were killed by falling debris Thursday. The missile was intercepted over Sweihan Street in Abu Dhabi near the airport. The deaths raise the UAE’s death toll from Iranian missile and drone attacks to eleven.

Officials reported earlier that three others sustained injuries and several vehicles were damaged by the intercepted strike. Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and verify facts instead of relying on rumors.

The Abu Dhabi official media account issued a statement regarding the incident.

“Abu Dhabi authorities have responded to an incident involving falling debris in Sweihan street, following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems,” the statement said. “The incident resulted in the deaths of two unidentified individuals, three injuries, and damage to a number of cars. Further updates will be provided in due course. The public is advised to obtain information only from official sources and to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information.”

Abu Dhabi authorities have responded to an incident involving falling debris in Sweihan street, following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in the deaths of two unidentified individuals, three injuries, and damage to…

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) March 26, 2026

The UAE intercepted 15 missiles and 11 drones Thursday, bringing the count of successfully intercepted aerial munitions since the beginning of the war to 372 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,826 drones.

In addition to the 11 Emirati civilians killed since the war began, other civilians of other nationalities have been killed in the UAE. Eight people from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Judea/Samaria and India have also been killed.

[Video below.] Comments by commentator Tucker Carlson comparing Western nations unfavorably to societies governed by Muslim Sharia law have ignited sharp criticism.

The remarks came during a recent episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, where Carlson painted a bleak picture of Western cities. In the segment, he says: “There’s not a single Western city that’s thriving… They’re all in moral and physical decay because of self-hatred and a lost will to live.”

He then drew a direct contrast, stating: “Sharia Law has made Islamic societies more advanced than the West.”

“I think Sharia law is much better than western civilization. But please refer to me as a right-wing American patriot.” https://t.co/tR7Mu4i5N5

— liel leibovitz (@liel) March 23, 2026

Carlson expanded on his views by referencing his travels in the Middle East, describing what he sees as a stronger sense of identity and cohesion in those societies. “I travel a lot in the Middle East. It’s amazing. They’re Muslims. Countries governed by Sharia law.

“And you go there and it’s incredible to be in a place that has pride in itself, that believes in its religion and culture, that thinks ‘we’re on to something.’ That kind of self-confidence is what creates stability… and hospitality.”

The comments quickly drew pushback, including from figures aligned with the MAGA movement. Laura Loomer criticized Carlson, accusing him of “romanticising” jihadist societies and pointing to what she described as a pattern in his views. She also reiterated her claim that Carlson had effectively “converted to Islam” or become a foreign-influenced “Qatarlson” figure.

Carlson’s recent connections to Qatar have also drawn attention. He traveled to Doha several months ago to attend the Doha Forum, where he conducted an interview with the country’s prime minister. While speaking at the event, Carlson said he was considering relocating, noting his appreciation for the city and explaining that he was acting as a “free man” in deciding where he might choose to live.

{Matzav.com}

seder primer updated 2026

You can download it and print it here.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Chief of Staff of the Ugandan army, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda’s president, stated early Thursday in a series of posts on his X account that, in light of the war, if Israel faces an existential threat, Uganda will stand by its side.

In a post that received hundreds of thousands of likes, Kainerugaba clarified that his aspiration is to see an end to the bloodshed, but emphasized that he would not accept attempts to destroy Israel.

He expressed unusual support, writing: “We want the war in the Middle East to end now. The world is tired of it. But any talk of destroying or defeating Israel will bring us into the war—on Israel’s side!”

In another post, Kainerugaba wrote: “The Ugandan army will enter this war between Iran and Israel, on Israel’s side, if it does not end soon. Israel has a right to exist, and the attacks against it must stop.”

In another tweet, Kainerugaba explained the religious significance of his position: “If Israel needs help, their Ugandan brothers are ready to assist. We stand with Israel because we are Christians. The Bible says, ‘Blessed are you, Israel!'”

The last official diplomatic visit from Israel to Uganda was a visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2020. The visit marked a strengthening of the strategic alliance between the two countries across a wide range of areas.

Israel says the logistics backbone behind Operation Roaring Lion has now crossed the 200-arrival mark, with ministry-linked reporting describing more than 200 aircraft and ships bringing roughly 8,000 tons of military equipment, weaponry and munitions into the country for IDF use since the campaign began.

That makes this one of the clearest signs yet that Jerusalem is preparing not just to strike hard, but to sustain a long campaign against the Iranian regime and its proxies. The operation is being run by the Defense Ministry’s procurement system together with its missions in the United States and Germany, the IDF Planning Directorate, and Israel’s aviation authorities, showing how deeply the military, procurement and transport arms are now fused into one wartime pipeline.

Early in the operation, officials said about 50 cargo aircraft had already delivered more than 1,000 tons within the first 10 days. Even before that, Israel had brought in more than 6,500 tons in 90 recent flights and shipments, including a Haifa port delivery carrying military equipment, Humvees and trucks.

The message is straightforward: Israel is not relying on one dramatic strike wave. It is building endurance. Alongside the incoming air-sea bridge, the Defense Ministry says it is also expanding domestic defense production, signaling that the next phase of the war will be measured not only by targets hit in Iran, but by how long Israel can keep its forces supplied at full tempo.

Israel’s Ministry of Transportation has decided to suspend planned travel easings at Ben Gurion Airport ahead of Pesach, following an emergency security assessment triggered by eight rocket barrages fired toward Israel within four hours on Thursday morning, Channel 12 reported.

The measures were expected to significantly ease travel for passengers during the busy Yom Tov period, including allowing up to 50% aircraft occupancy on wide-body planes—around 150 passengers—and allowing narrow-body planes on European routes to carry up to around 100 passengers.

However, after reviewing the current security situation, officials chose to freeze these plans. It should be noted that Israeli security officials have also identified a deliberate effort by Iran to target Ben Gurion Airport, as part of an apparent attempt to impose an air blockade on Israel and disrupt operations at the country’s main international gateway.

The decision was made by Transportation Minister Miri Regev in coordination with security authorities.

At present, Israeli airlines are continuing to operate on a limited, special flight schedule rather than regular commercial service. This is likely to result in additional flight cancellations and reduced availability, even as passenger numbers at the airport continue to rise.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

As the winter zman came to a close, Rav Tzemach Mazuz delivered a forceful address to his talmidim, connecting recent global events to the koach of Torah learning while sharply criticizing Israel’s attorney general over the ongoing draft controversy.

Speaking at Yeshivas Kissei Rachamim ahead of bein hazmanim, Rav Mazuz focused on current developments, pressures facing the עולם התורה, and areas he felt required strengthening.

At the outset, he addressed the reported elimination of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, presenting it as part of a broader spiritual reality and attributing success to Torah study. He illustrated this with a parable.

“Last week, people came to tell me big news. What was the news? That, baruch Hashem, we merited to destroy and eliminate one of the great figures of the Iranians, and there was tremendous celebration. I saw that they wrote that the prime minister made a celebration. Can someone explain to me why he celebrated?”

“I’ll tell you,” he continued. “Because he was the brain behind all the missiles, all the attacks, and all the evil done to the Jewish people. And when that head is cut off, then with Hashem’s help the situation will improve. Just like with Haman—when Haman was killed, the Jewish people celebrated Purim, and we celebrate Purim until today.”

Expanding on the idea, Rav Mazuz compared the situation to a machine, explaining that the visible output depends on a hidden driving force.

“And I say this as a mashal. What is the lesson? Like every year, I went to visit the machine matzah bakery connected to the yeshiva. Someone who stands there sees how the machine works and the matzos come out within minutes. But what drives it all? The engine! Without the engine, there would be no matzos that we eat on Pesach. Everything has a driving force behind it.”

He then identified Torah learners as that driving force. “We are living in a very special time, we are literally seeing miracles and wonders… and who is the engine behind all these successes? You should know the truth—it is you! Israel is saved by Hashem with an eternal salvation. You sit and learn Torah.”

Turning to internal challenges, Rav Mazuz addressed the draft crisis and delivered a sharp critique of the attorney general.

“This legal adviser is constantly working on how to draft yeshiva students. In my humble opinion, she is from the ערב רב, she is not from the Jewish people! She wants to break the Jews by taking yeshiva students into the army—a place filled with very difficult spiritual challenges—and then, chas v’shalom, there is no protection for the Jewish people.”

Despite the challenges, he expressed confidence in the endurance of Torah, drawing from history.

“But with Hashem’s help we will overcome this as well—we have already gone through more difficult things than this. What did the Romans think when they combed the flesh of Rabbi Akiva with iron combs? They thought that would stop Torah learning. But no! The Romans are gone, and the Torah of Rabbi Akiva is alive and enduring. In the merit of the small group of yeshiva students, we are alive and we merit victories.”

As Pesach approached, Rav Mazuz urged his talmidim to remain committed during bein hazmanim.

“When a person is responsible, he does not abandon his role. You are protecting Eretz Yisroel and the entire Jewish people—do not leave your post. Bein hazmanim is meant to rest and regain strength, but one must continue to learn during these days as well. Someone who is careful about this returns to yeshiva with momentum, and the Gemara remains part of his life.”

He concluded by encouraging greater attention to kibbud av v’eim during the break and reminding his audience of the mitzvah of biur maasros and viduy maasros applicable this year, before awarding certificates to students who were tested on the halachos of amira l’nochri.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for jobless aid inched up last week as employers continue to retain workers despite a labor market that has weakened considerably in the past year.

U.S. applications for jobless aid for the week ending March 21 rose by 5,000 to 210,000 from the previous week’s 205,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s right in line with the 210,000 new filings analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet were expecting.

Filings for unemployment benefits are considered representative of U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

The four-week moving average of jobless claims, which evens out some of the weekly swings, dipped by 250 to 210,500.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending March 14 fell by 32,000 to 1.82 million, the government said.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Medical teams from United Hatzalah performed a successful resuscitation on a 12-year-old girl who fell and was injured in her home in Safed while trying to run to a sheltered space.

Rivka Twitto, a United Hatzalah medic who arrived first and began resuscitation, along with medics David Ohanona and Tzemach Elias, said: “We were told that during the siren she fell from her bunk bed while trying to quickly get up and move to a protected space. We performed resuscitation, including administering two shocks with a defibrillator (AED) from United Hatzalah. Fortunately, her heart started beating again, and she was evacuated to the hospital. At this stage, her condition is defined as serious but stable.”

United Hatzalah’s resilience teams provided emotional support at the scene to family members and neighbors due to the nature of the incident.

The girl’s name for prayer: Esther Hadassah bat Chaya Mushka.

Israel’s security establishment has identified a troubling and deliberate change in Iran’s missile launch patterns in recent days, Channel 12 reported.

According to the report, there is a clear correlation between Israel’s easing of civilian restrictions and Iran’s selection of targets, with Iran deliberately targeting areas where restrictions had been eased.

Officials assess that Tehran’s main goal is to disrupt any return to normal life by striking areas where Israel is trying to reopen the economy and public activity.

The data indicate that the range of fire has been significantly expanded toward areas classified as “yellow zones,” which had not been heavily targeted before. Notable areas now being targeted are Gaza border communities, the city of Eilat, and the southern Negev, where a surge in launches was recorded immediately after restrictions were eased.

Additionally, Israel has identified a deliberate effort to target Ben Gurion Airport, as part of an apparent attempt to impose an air blockade on Israel and disrupt operations at the country’s main international gateway.

In response to the growing threat, Air Force forces and air defense systems have been reinforced near key strategic sites. Efforts are focused not only on intercepting incoming missiles but also on improving precise warning systems, allowing daily life to continue as much as possible without placing entire areas under unnecessary lockdown.

Security officials noted that this evolving situation requires Israel to manage a highly flexible “emergency economy,” with rapidly changing guidelines in accordance with evolving threats from the east.

According to the assessment, the underlying message from Iran is to demonstrate to Israelis that “no place is safe”—and that any easing of restrictions will be met with targeted attacks, aiming to wear down the resilience of the home front and shifting the war from the military battlefield into the daily lives of every civilian.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

As fighting rages and the United States and Iran continue to sow confusion about the status of diplomatic talks, the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command are discussing ways to deliver the coup de grâce, or “finishing blow,” as they put it, to bring about a final end to the war with Iran, according to U.S. officials familiar with the discussions, Axios reports.

One option is assuming control of Kharg Island, an island in the Persian Gulf about 15 miles off the coast of Iran. This small coral island is vital to Iran’s oil economy, exporting about 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports. Known as Iran’s “oil lifeline,” this highly strategic asset is a sitting duck.

Larak Island is another island that is critical to Iran’s oil economy — and it’s located smack in the middle of the Strait of Hormuz, giving control over the vital waterway to anyone who controls the island. This hub also boasts a secure area for Iran’s oil storage and transfer. Taking over Larak Island would remove Iran’s grip on Hormuz while also stripping Iran of its leverage over its own oil exports, which would weaken its position generally.

Option three is seizing Abu Musa and the two smaller islands of Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb (collectively known as the “Three Islands”). These small islands in the Strait of Hormuz also provide complete control over the flow of traffic through the narrow waterway, making it critically important as a strategic and military asset. From these islands, Iran monitors, interrupts, intercepts, and does whatever dastardly deeds are on its villainous agenda to ships trying to pass through the strait.

Finally, and perhaps most simply, would be to intercept Iran’s oil tankers on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz, choking off the source of Iran’s war funding and neutralizing Iran’s ability to charge the exorbitant fees they are currently demanding of ships to allow them safe passage, which run into millions of dollars.

In addition, a U.S. ground operation inside Iran to seize the enriched uranium hidden deep underground is under consideration. This would represent a major escalation, but sources say that while President Donald Trump has not made a final decision, he is considering all options in case diplomacy fails.

Iranian officials are pushing back against reports questioning the condition of Mojtaba Khamenei, insisting the country’s supreme leader is healthy and actively leading, despite continued speculation following a deadly Israeli strike.

Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, rejected claims that Mojtaba Khamenei had been killed or was seriously ill. Speaking in an interview with India Today, Baghaei said the Iranian leader is in stable condition and functioning normally.

He added, “We are pleased that the regime is operating efficiently, our armed forces are acting according to Iran’s defense plans, and most importantly, our people are united in the face of these aggressive and brutal actions.”

Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed leadership after his father, was wounded during an Israeli airstrike targeting his father’s compound in February 2026. That attack killed multiple members of his immediate family, including his father, mother, wife, and daughter.

Days earlier, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, also sought to dismiss concerns, stating that Mojtaba Khamenei is “in excellent health,” “fully in control of the situation,” and carrying out his responsibilities as expected. The same assurances were echoed by the state-affiliated Mehr News Agency.

Even so, questions persist. While several official statements have been released in Mojtaba Khamenei’s name since the strike, there has been no recent visual confirmation of his condition, and he has not been heard speaking publicly.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A young Israeli man was detained at the Taba airport in Egypt on Sunday after praying with a tallit and was not allowed to board his flight. He was released and permitted to fly only after intervention by Israeli officials, according to a Ynet report.

Due to restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport, many Israelis have been using the small international airport in Taba — located about a 40-minute drive from Egypt’s Taba border crossing — to leave or enter Israel.

Aviel, an Israeli passenger on the flight, witnessed how some of his fellow Jewish passengers were treated by Egyptian security officers.

“I arrived at the airport early. It’s a very small terminal with no internet and almost nothing there. We were flying to Athens on a plane carrying 180 Israelis. Sitting next to me in the terminal was a Haredi man reading a Gemara and moving his head. Suddenly, an Egyptian security officer pounced on him and said: ‘It is forbidden to pray in this terminal. Give me your passport immediately.’”

Aviel said he stepped in and told the officer the man was not praying but reading, and the Egyptian security officer was convinced and left him alone. However, later, as passengers waited to board, another young Israeli took out a tallit and tefillin. A military officer approached him, said prayer was not allowed and demanded his passport. The young man was detained, taken away and did not board the flight.
Following intervention by Israeli officials, the young man was eventually released and allowed to board a later flight.

“In Egypt you have to be careful,” Aviel said. “It was really frightening. They don’t allow anyone to pray there. People were afraid to speak up or get involved.”

The United States has crossed a significant threshold in its ongoing military campaign against Iran, with more than 10,000 strikes carried out since late February, according to a senior U.S. commander, as the conflict continues to intensify both on the battlefield and across global economic systems.

In an update posted Wednesday, U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads United States Central Command, said American forces reached the 10,000-strike mark nearly four weeks into Operation Epic Fury.

Cooper reported that U.S. operations have exceeded that number since the campaign began on Feb. 28, adding that forces remain “on plan or ahead of plan” in efforts aimed at dismantling Iran’s capacity to project power beyond its borders.

He said that sustained U.S. precision attacks have “overwhelmed Iranian air defenses,” created “tangible effects,” and significantly reduced Iran’s ability to target American forces and allied nations, noting that continued combat sorties are eroding Tehran’s offensive capabilities.

According to Cooper, U.S. strikes have crippled Iran’s naval strength, with roughly 92% of its largest vessels rendered inoperable. He also said that Iran’s use of drones and missiles has dropped by more than 90% following coordinated U.S. and allied operations.

He further stated that more than two-thirds of Iran’s facilities tied to missile, drone, and naval production—as well as key shipyards—have been hit or destroyed, while U.S. forces have maintained control of the skies and conducted over 10,000 combat flights throughout the campaign.

Cooper praised the role of long-range B-52 bombers and the involvement of more than 50,000 U.S. troops, saying they “embody the courage and resilience” of American service members.

Despite the scale of U.S. operations, Iran has continued launching retaliatory strikes, firing missiles and deploying drones at Israeli territory as well as U.S. and allied installations across the Middle East.

Several Iranian barrages have struck sites throughout Israel, including residential areas and civilian infrastructure. One such attack on March 1 resulted in the deaths of at least nine Israeli civilians.

Thousands of Israelis have been wounded in the attacks, with total injuries surpassing 4,000.

Iranian strikes have also reached U.S. bases and allied facilities in Gulf countries, with missiles crossing regional airspace and causing structural damage. In some instances, drone attacks have struck U.S. Embassy compounds, leading to minor damage.

By mid-March, U.S. officials reported that at least 13 American service members had been killed in the conflict, with approximately 232 wounded. More than 200 of those injured have since returned to duty.

Earlier casualty reports had placed the U.S. death toll at six, though subsequent updates reflected a higher number as the campaign progressed.

Beyond the battlefield, the conflict has sent shockwaves through global energy and shipping markets.

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued warnings that effectively shut down commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a steep drop in maritime activity.

At least a dozen commercial vessels sustained damage during the crisis, and one tugboat was sunk. Traffic through the strait initially declined by about 70% and, at times, came to a near standstill.

The disruption has affected roughly 20% of the world’s daily oil supply, along with significant shipments of liquefied natural gas, forcing major shipping companies to halt operations or reroute along significantly longer paths.

Oil markets reacted sharply, with Brent crude prices climbing past $100 per barrel and reaching highs of approximately $126.

The dual impact of sustained military conflict and the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up war-risk insurance premiums for shipping and contributed to broader economic strain, including supply chain disruptions, rising commodity costs, and increased inflation in energy-dependent economies.

While U.S. officials maintain that Operation Epic Fury is steadily weakening Iran’s military capabilities and limiting its ability to conduct external attacks, Tehran’s ongoing retaliation continues to cause casualties and damage to Israeli and American interests throughout the region.

At the same time, Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has underscored the far-reaching global consequences of the conflict, particularly in energy markets and international trade.

U.S. military leaders continue to express confidence that Iran’s offensive capacity is diminishing as American forces sustain air superiority and press forward with the campaign.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

With its stranglehold on traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which leads from the Persian Gulf toward the open ocean, Iran has been blocking ships it perceives as linked to the U.S. and Israeli war effort, but letting through a trickle of others.

Iran is also instituting a “de facto ‘toll booth’ regime,” industry experts say, with some ships paying in Chinese yuan to pass through the strait, where 20% of all traded oil and natural gas is transported in peacetime. According to previous reports, Iran is demanding fees of up to $2 million.

The Fars and Tasnim news agencies, both close to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, quoted lawmaker Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi as saying that parliament was working to formalize the process of charging fees to let ships pass.

“The Parliament is pursuing a plan to formally codify Iran’s sovereignty, control, and oversight over the Strait of Hormuz, while also creating a source of revenue through the collection of fees,” he said. “We provide its security, and it is natural that ships and oil tankers should pay such fees.”

Lloyd’s List Intelligence called it a “de facto ‘toll booth’ regime.”

The shipping intelligence firm said vessels have to provide manifests, crew details, and their destination to Iran’s Guard for sanctions screening, cargo alignment checks that currently prioritize oil over all other commodities, and for what is described as ‘geopolitical vetting.’”

“While not all ships are paying a direct toll, at least two vessels have, and the payment is settled in yuan,” Lloyd’s List said, referring to China’s currency.

Iran’s grip on the strait and relentless attacks on Gulf regional energy infrastructure have sent oil prices skyrocketing and concerns of a global energy crisis surging. Brent crude, the international standard, traded at US$104 early Thursday, up more than 40% from the day the war started.

Emirati oil executive Sultan al-Jaber, the head of the massive state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., called out Iran’s actions as “economic terrorism.”

Speaking at an event at the Middle East Institute in Washington, he said: “Weaponizing the Strait of Hormuz is not an act of aggression against one nation. It is economic terrorism against every consumer, every family that depends on affordable energy and food. When Iran holds Hormuz hostage, every nation pays the ransom, at the gas pump, at the grocery store and at the pharmacy. No country can be allowed to destabilize the global economy in this way. Not now. Not ever.”

Meanwhile, a strike group anchored by the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli drew closer to the Mideast with some 2,500 Marines. Also, at least 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne have been ordered to the region.

The troop movements don’t guarantee U.S. President Donald Trump will try to use force to compel Iran to open the strait and halt its attacks on Gulf Arab states.

Trump previously deployed a large force in the Caribbean before the American military captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January. In the current situation, the U.S. is seen as focused on possibly seizing Iran’s oil terminal at Kharg Island or other sites near the strait.

(AP & YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

WATCH:

Air raid sirens began blaring on Thursday at 7 a.m. and continued for several hours as Iran fired eight missile barrages at Israel, including at central Israel, the Shomron, and Jerusalem.

A cluster munition hit Tel Aviv, lightly injuring three people. In an earlier salvo, munitions from a cluster bomb hit a street in the Arab city of Kafr Qasim in central Israel, injuring five people and causing extensive damage. The blast wave overturned two cars.

Dramatic security camera footage shows two people exiting their car and running inside during the siren, an act that saved their lives when a munition hit the street seconds later. Two cars flew into the air and flipped over from the blast wave.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

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MDA paramedic Tomer Gusman, who arrived first at the scene, said: “We arrived at the scene within a few minutes with intensive care units and ambulances. We saw commotion at the scene. We started searching inside a house that suffered extensive damage. Five people who were inside the house were injured by the blast. We carried out initial medical treatment and then evacuated them in MDA ambulances to the hospital in light condition.”

Also, two homes in separate yishuvim in the Shomron were hit by shrapnel from interceptor missiles,  causing extensive damage. B’Chasdei Hashem, the residents were uninjured as they were in their protected room.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, called on the Defense Ministry and Home Front Command to immediately address gaps in shelters and protected rooms in the Shomron.

“Everyone now understands that Shomron is in the line of interception fire. Despite this, entire neighborhoods in Shomron yishuvim remain without protection. Residents here are left completely exposed to falling interception fragments that can kill. Disaster is at our doorstep, chalilah.”

He demanded an immediate increase in budget for caravans and protection of new yishuvim, adding: “We must not bring politics into this—this is about human lives. We can’t wait for the next disaster to fix this injustice. It’s time for the state to take responsibility for protecting the residents of the Shomron.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The Hidden Miracle of Every Person Who Sits Down to Tell the Story

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Rav Schneur Kotler zt”l, the illustrious Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, once cited a remarkable teaching from the Amudei Ohr — the sefer of responsa authored by the gaon Rav Yechiel Heller zt”l (1814–1862), Rav of Suvalk, and one of the great Lithuanian poskim of the nineteenth century. The teaching was as follows:

When a person sits at the Seder and engages in sipur Yetzias Mitzrayim, he should not merely recount the story of our nation from 3338 years ago. He should also reflect on his own journey — how he arrived at this very seat, at this very table, involved in the great mitzvah of the night. He should tell his own story of redemption.

Every person has his or her own story. And that story, the Amudei Ohr is teaching, is itself part of the larger story of Yetzias Mitzrayim.

The Obligation to Personalize the Exodus

The Mishnah in Pesachim (116b) states: “B’chol dor vador chayav adam liros es atzmo k’ilu hu yatza miMitzrayim” — In every generation, a person is obligated to see himself as though he personally left Egypt. The Rambam (Hilchos Chametz U’Matzah 7:6) rules this as binding halacha: “Chayav adam l’haros es atzmo k’ilu hu b’atzmo yatza hashata miAvdus l’Cheirus” — a person must present himself as if he personally, this very year, went out from slavery to freedom.

But what does it mean to see yourself as having left Egypt? One pshat, of course, is to picture ourselves as there – since we were. But the Amudei Ohr’s pshat seems to add another dimension.   The great Maharal of Prague in the Gevuros Hashem (Chapter 62) explains that each Jew carries within himself a spark — a chelek — of that original redemption. And its liberating force is embedded in every Jewish neshama in every era.

The Sfas Emes (Pesach 5636) writes that the word sipur — telling — shares its root with sapir, a gleaming gem. To tell the story is to reveal the hidden gem within it, to draw out its inner light. When we tell the story, we are not merely reciting the history; we are uncovering something alive, something present and personal.

We Live in a Somewhat Orphaned Generation

Rav Schneur Kotler’s invocation of this teaching was framed in a context we recognize acutely today: we live in a generation that is, in many ways, spiritually orphaned. The towering figures of earlier generations — those who could plumb the very depths of Torah and Hashkafas HaTorah with the breadth and clarity of a Rav Moshe Feinstein, a Rav Aharon Kotler, a Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky — are no longer with us in the same way.

The Iggeres HaRamban instructs a son: “V’al titosh Toras imecha” — do not abandon the Torah of your mother. The Torah is transmitted not merely through texts but through a living chain of transmission, from rav to talmid, from parent to child, from generation to generation.

The question is: given where we are — given this somewhat diminished era — how did each of us get here?

The Rambam (Hilchos Chametz U’Matzah 7:1) identifies the five Mitzvos of Pesach night: sipur Yetzias Mitzrayim — the telling of the Exodus; achilas matzah — eating matzah; achilas maror — eating the bitter herbs; arba kosos — the four cups; and Hallel — the songs of praise. Each of these is a distinct mitzvah with its own character and its own source.

A person who sits at the Seder and fulfills these mitzvos is participating in something extraordinary.

The Ramban writes in his commentary to Shemos (13:16): “U’min ha-nisim ha-gedolim u’meforhessim, adam modeh b’niflaos v’tzefunos” — from the great and revealed miracles, a person comes to acknowledge the hidden miracles. The Ramban’s point is breathtaking: the revealed miracles of Yetzias Mitzrayim — the plagues, the splitting of the sea — are meant to open our eyes to the hidden miracles woven through every day of existence. Among the greatest of those hidden miracles is the fact that we are here, at the table, reciting the Haggadah.

Your Own Sippur: The Journey to This Moment

This is what the Amudei Ohr was teaching, as conveyed by Rav Schneur zt”l. When the Torah says “v’higadeta l’vincha” — and you shall tell your son (Shemos 13:8) — it uses the word higadeta, related to haggadah, which Chazal connect to “maggid”, one who declares and reveals. Rashi explains that this is a declaration made specifically in response to a question: “bishvil zeh asah Hashem li” — because of this — the matzah, the maror, the Seder — did Hashem do for me. The pronoun is singular, intimate, and personal.

The Nesivos Shalom writes in one of his essays on Pesach that the great work of the Seder night is an awakening of memory — not only national memory but personal memory. Each person must ask: where was I spiritually, and how did I come to be here? The very word “Mitzrayim” is related to “meitzar”, a narrow place, a constraint. Every person has his own Mitzrayim — his own narrow places, his own constrictions — and the Seder night is the moment to recognize that Hashem brought him out.

And stories abound.

Our family was zoche to meet and befriend an incredible baalas Teshuvah who was formerly an opera singer.  How did she come to Torah uMitzvos?  She was at Auschwitz visiting. The tour guide said, “You are here at Auschwitz where a million and a half Jews were not allowed to leave and were murdered.  They did not have an opportunity to leave Auschwitz and learn about their glorious heritage – their birthright of Sinai. You, however, are here and are different. You can go out and learn more about your true birthright – your Torah heritage. I urge you to do so.”

The words seared into her pintele yid – her neshama, and now she is married to a ben Torah, is involved in kiruv and serves as a shining example of one’s own story of Geulah.

The Chidushei HaRim (Rav Yitzchak Meir Alter of Ger, on Pesach) taught that the Exodus was not completed at the sea. It is completed in each individual when he breaks free of his own constrictions, his own narrow places, and attaches himself to Hashem. The Gemara in Brachos (9b) tells us that the mitzvah of remembering Yetzias Mitzrayim applies every night of the year — not only Pesach. It is a daily obligation because the journey out of Mitzrayim is a daily one.

But Pesach night is the great annual awakening. The Leil HaSeder is the night designated to sit with our story — as a nation, yes, but also as individuals. It is the night to look at the person sitting across the table and recognize: we are both miracles. We both have stories. We are both part of something that began in Egypt and continues until the final redemption.

And so, as Rav Schneur zt”l taught in the name of the Amudei Ohr: take a moment this Pesach night. Before you recite “Avadim hayinu” — we were slaves — ask yourself: where was I? What were my narrow places? What hashgachah, what seemingly small moments brought me to this seat, to this table, to this mitzvah?

Then tell that story. Tell it with gratitude. Tell it with awe. Because your story — your personal sipur Yetzias Mitzrayim — is not separate from the great story of our people. It is woven into it.

PS.  As an added bonus, here are seven more teachings of Rav Schneur zatzal: 

1. The purpose of our life is to take that which is in potential form and bring it into action and fruition– the Divine Image and the light of Torah that are hidden within us.
2. Constantly working on improving one’s ruchnius throughout one’s life – is tantamount to Maaseh Bereishis itself.
   The Shechinah only dwells in Klal Yisroel when we are k’ish echad – like one person.
3. The true acquisition of our chailek in Torah can only be obtained after the perfection of our character traits.
   Working hard with ameilus in Torah during yissurim – creates a sea-change within the individual.
4. A person is obligated to constantly grow and to emulate the malachim themselves.
5. The value and importance of an action is dependent upon the nature of the intent that one had when the action was first performed.
6. The influence of any action is three-fold – it is immediate; it is upon the future; and it is upon countless generations of one’s own descendants.
7. Acts of chessed (lovingkindness) have within them the ability to change the very laws that Hashem set forth in Creation itself.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

A protest in Philadelphia is drawing widespread condemnation after video surfaced showing demonstrators chanting about the deaths of American soldiers while openly praising terrorist organizations.

Footage circulating online shows individuals holding Hamas flags and “right to resist” signs as a protest leader delivered a series of incendiary remarks.

“Until we have done everything in our power to bring the United States to its knees, let us not lose sight of the enemy,” the speaker said.

“For every U.S. military base that crumbles and for every U.S. soldier who returns home in a casket, we cheer.

Hamas, Hezbollah, Ansar Allah, and all the resistance forces: we celebrate you.”

The speaker went on to claim that these groups “rely on a strong Iranian state to maintain their fighting capacity.”

The situation escalated when Frank Scales, the guerilla journalist behind Surge Philly who shot the video, confronted the protest leader on camera and asked whether he hated America. In response, the protester allegedly said he wished for “a Hamas rocket to blow up your family’s home.”

The comments sparked immediate backlash across social media and political circles.

American author and media personality, Elizabeth Pipko

American author and media personality, Elizabeth Pipko, condemned the demonstration, saying, “Shame on these despicable individuals and shame on those who turn a blind eye or deny that this is happening across our country. YOU are the problem.”

Investigative journalist and terrorism survivor, Sloan Rachmuth

Investigative journalist and terrorism survivor, Sloan Rachmuth, called for strong action, stating, “Now, deport each and every one.”

Columnist and writer, Miranda Devine, also weighed in, writing, “Doesn’t sound like a native American speaker — how many illegals or visa holders are cheering in that crowd?”

Columnist and writer, Miranda Devine

With rhetoric like this being openly shouted in American streets, many are now asking a more troubling question: how many individuals with similar beliefs are already embedded across the country and could there be sleeper cells operating in plain sight?

An IDF soldier was seriously wounded yesterday after a mortar fired toward Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

The soldier was evacuated to a hospital for treatment, and his family has been notified.

The military added that the mortar attack also lightly wounded an officer and two additional troops.

All four were transported for medical care, and their families were updated.

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🧠Top 5 Stories

1. U.S. Central Command says over 10,000 targets have been hit in Iran, destroying two-thirds of its military industry and 92% of its naval fleet

2. Israel approves call-up of up to 400,000 reservists, setting a new wartime ceiling

3. Iran wavers on Trump ceasefire plan as fighting continues and pressure mounts

4. Gulf states warn of an “existential threat” at the U.N. as Iran strikes intensify

5. Delta cancels all Israel flights through September 2026, due to instability

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3.3 million — Americans moved off food stamps into the workforce

$161.5M— Boro Park nursing home sale

10 — Hamas operatives arrested in kidnapping plot

100+ — Countries urged by Israel to expel Iranian diplomats

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IDF strikes Iran’s underwater naval hub, crippling its submarine program

IDF troops eliminate Hezbollah gunmen in close-quarters combat

Hamas kidnapping cell was dismantled and a hostage tunnel was uncovered

Defense Minister Israel Katz approved a new wave of strike targets in Iran and Lebanon this morning

Iranian missile barrage triggered alarms, but BH narrowly missed a major power plant

🌍 Global

Israel advances emergency law to fast-track rebuilding of missile-damaged neighborhoods

Israel allocates land for permanent U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and continues to deepen ties

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🕵️‍♂️Behind the Scenes

Trump reportedly receives daily highlight reels of successful U.S. strikes on Iran

Mojtaba Khamenei remains a key decision-maker and is reportedly stable

Iran’s hesitates on the ceasefire because of internal pressure and strategic uncertainty

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang backs Israel and expands investment during the war

Oil markets remain volatile as the future of the war remains very uncertain

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Thousands gathered in Yerushalayim on Wednesday to accompany Rav Moshe Mordechai Chalkowski zt”l, a revered mechanech and man of chessed, to his final resting place. He was 86.

Rav Chalkowski served for decades as the spiritual director of Neve Yerushalayim Seminary and was among the founders and longtime gabbai of the Perushim Shul in the Givat Shaul neighborhood.

Born in England on the 9th of Teves 5698 (1938), he was the son of Rav Meir and Mrs. Devorah Chalkowski. From a young age, he displayed a deep commitment to Torah and avodas Hashem.

He later married Mrs. Rachel Chalkowski, know as “Bambi,” a well-known midwife who served for many years as the head of the delivery room at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. She is the daughter of Rav Yona Bamberger of France, who was involved in helping Jews escape Eastern Europe, at times facilitating their passage to neutral Switzerland before being captured by the Gestapo, after which his fate remained unknown.

Mrs. Chalkowski was awarded the Yakir Yerushalayim Honor in recognition of her decades of service and dedication to acts of kindness, having helped bring tens of thousands of children into the world over the course of fifty years.

Together, the couple built their home in Yerushalayim, which became a center of kindness and generosity. Rav Chalkowski was known as a devoted oveid Hashem, whose home was open to those in need and whose life was marked by genuine compassion.

Over more than fifty years at Neve Yerushalayim Seminary, he guided and inspired generations of students, drawing thousands of young women closer to Torah and mitzvos with unwavering dedication. To many, he was not only a teacher, but a father figure, mentor, and trusted guide. His counsel was sought by countless individuals, and his words, delivered with calm and clarity, illuminated the path for many.

In addition to his work at the seminary, he played a central role in the Perushim Shul, where he was among its founders and served faithfully as gabbai for many years. He also delivered shiurim at other shuls in the neighborhood, building a devoted group of talmidim who remained closely connected to him.

Rav Chalkowski maintained close relationships with leading gedolei Torah in the community, including Rav Shlomo Wolbe and Rav Mordechai Zuckerman, from whom he drew inspiration and guidance.

Throughout his life, he bore personal suffering with remarkable strength and acceptance, serving as a living example of enduring hardship with dignity and faith.

The levayah began at 2 Rechov Panim Meiros in Yerushalayim, proceeded through the Perushim Shul on Rechov Rav Amram Gaon in Givat Shaul, and was attended by large crowds before continuing to Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

The family is sitting shivah at his home, located at 3 Rechov Azriel in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

{Matzav.com}

Israel will move to daylight saving time overnight, with clocks set to advance by one hour between Thursday and Friday, affecting schedules across the country.

The time change will take place during the night of March 26–27, 2026. At 2:00 a.m., clocks will be moved forward to 3:00 a.m. Daylight saving time will remain in effect until the night between Saturday and Sunday, October 25, 2026, when standard time resumes.

Most modern smartphones update automatically, so users generally do not need to adjust their devices manually. Those who want to be certain can check their settings to confirm that automatic time updates are enabled.

The annual time change in Israel is governed by a 2013 law, which establishes that clocks are advanced by one hour starting on the Friday before the last Sunday in March and remain that way until the last Sunday in October. The goal is to better align daily routines with seasonal daylight hours and make more effective use of natural light.

The shift in time can also affect the human body. During the winter months, when daylight is limited, melatonin levels rise, often leading to increased fatigue.

Reduced exposure to light can also influence serotonin levels, which play a role in mood. Moving to daylight saving time helps synchronize daily activity with longer daylight hours, provides more light in the evening, and allows for more efficient use of the day.

A new study suggests wine carries lower health risks than beer or hard liquor.

According to a March 19 news release from the American College of Cardiology, researchers analyzed UK Biobank data from over 340,000 British adults between 2006 and 2022. Participants were grouped by alcohol type and intake levels, with wine linked to the lowest risk of death.

Israel’s Health Ministry has issued an alert after a confirmed measles patient spent several days in a public shelter in a chareidi neighborhood in Kiryat Malachi, urging anyone who was present to ensure they are fully vaccinated.

According to the Health Ministry, the individual was in a public shelter located at 147 Sderot Yerushalayim in the Nachalat Har Chabad neighborhood between March 20 and March 24, 2026. The warning follows an epidemiological investigation conducted by the Ashkelon District Health Office.

Officials called on anyone who was in the shelter during those dates to verify that they have received the recommended two doses of the measles vaccine.

In recent weeks, multiple measles cases have been identified across the country, including in chareidi communities, prompting repeated calls from health authorities for the public to get vaccinated.

Last Tuesday, the Health Ministry reported that a 17-year-old boy who had not been vaccinated died after contracting measles. According to the ministry, the teen had underlying medical conditions and was hospitalized approximately two and a half weeks earlier, where he was diagnosed with the disease. His condition later deteriorated, and he passed away in the hospital.

Health officials also noted that among 16 additional reported deaths, most of the victims were infants and children who had no prior health conditions but were not vaccinated against measles.

“Measles is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, general malaise, runny nose, and a rash,” the Health Ministry said. “The illness can lead to severe and even life-threatening complications. Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical care promptly, after coordinating arrival in advance.”

The ministry emphasized that vaccination—and preventive treatment even after exposure—can help prevent severe illness.

“We stress that the vaccine, as well as post-exposure preventive treatment, can prevent serious illness from measles. Therefore, individuals who were in this shelter on the specified dates are requested to ensure they are vaccinated in accordance with Health Ministry recommendations (two doses of the vaccine).”

Vaccinations are available through health maintenance organizations, local health offices, and maternal-child health clinics. The public can also contact the Health Ministry hotline (*5400) for further guidance. Officials reiterated their call for widespread vaccination, noting that measles is a preventable disease with a safe and effective vaccine.

{Matzav.com}

GOSHEN, N.Y. (VINnews) — Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus has released a public safety video showing multiple vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses, urging drivers to obey traffic laws and protect children.

The footage, captured by enforcement cameras mounted on school buses, shows motorists driving past buses with red lights flashing as students board or exit. Officials said the video is part of the county’s ongoing school safety efforts and is intended to raise awareness and deter violations.

“Protecting our children is a top priority,” Neuhaus said, adding that the technology helps hold reckless drivers accountable and reinforces the importance of stopping when school buses display red lights.

County officials said more than 1,000 buses across 14 school districts are now equipped with stop-arm cameras designed to document violations.

Authorities warned that under New York state law, drivers must stop for school buses with flashing red lights, regardless of direction of travel. Violations captured on camera carry a $250 fine for a first offense.

Emergency services officials said the number of violations recorded is “alarming,” with some incidents narrowly avoiding serious injury to students. They hope the video serves as both an educational tool and a deterrent to unsafe driving behavior.

A sharp dispute has emerged between two Sephardic Chief Rabbis over the stature and approach of Rav Yaakov Chaim Sofer, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Kaf HaChaim, highlighting a broader debate over the role of stringency in halachic decision-making.

During his most recent weekly shiur, the former Rishon LeTzion, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, addressed the halachic question of whether a posek may rule against the Shulchan Aruch, even in a stricter direction. In the course of his remarks, he delivered pointed criticism of Rav Yaakov Chaim Sofer, grandson of the author of the sefer Kaf HaChaim, who has been known to cite his grandfather’s teachings in support of adopting chumros.

Rav Yitzchok Yosef responded to a passage quoted by Rav Sofer from Kaf HaChaim (siman 158, se’if katan 25), which states that “anyone whose soul is more refined desires to pursue greater stringencies and piety, while one whose soul is not properly rectified desires to follow leniencies.” Based on this idea, Rav Sofer has explained his general approach of favoring chumrah in many areas.

Rejecting this interpretation, Rav Yitzchok Yosef said: “Did Beis Hillel, who were generally more lenient than Beis Shammai, have flawed souls, Heaven forbid? Did Maran Beis Yosef, who ruled leniently in many places, have a flawed soul, Heaven forbid? Rather, these are words of nonsense.”

He went on to clarify his understanding of the original teaching, explaining that a person of elevated soul does not rush to issue lenient rulings without careful analysis, but instead hesitates and says, “I do not know, I must investigate,” and only after proper consideration rules according to halachah—whether leniently or stringently.

According to a report, one of Rav Sofer’s sons responded to the criticism, arguing that a careful reading of Kaf HaChaim shows that the statement refers to personal conduct and not to psak halachah for the public. “Anyone who studies the original Kaf HaChaim will see that the statement was said only regarding appropriate personal conduct for each individual, and has no connection to private piety versus public halachic rulings. The quote is accurate and faithful to the original wording,” he said.

He further maintained that there is no comparison between Rav Yitzchok Yosef’s argument regarding Beis Hillel and the Beis Yosef and the concept of personal spiritual conduct, adding that his father based his approach on earlier authorities, including the Rosh and the Pele Yoetz.

The controversy is further underscored by contrasting remarks made recently by Rav Dovid Yosef, the current Rishon LeTzion and brother of Rav Yitzchok Yosef. At a recent dinner for alumni of Yeshivas Kaf HaChaim, Rav Dovid Yosef spoke in glowing terms about Rav Sofer, referring to him explicitly as “פאר הדור והדרו” and emphasizing that he meant every word.

Rav Dovid Yosef also recited the blessing “שחלק מחכמתו ליראיו” in honor of Rav Sofer, stating that “Maran the great gaon, the rosh yeshiva of Kaf HaChaim, is certainly worthy according to all opinions of the blessing ‘שחלק מחכמתו ליראיו’.”

{Matzav.com}

Doral, FL (VINnews) – Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office led the county’s annual pre-Passover security briefing Wednesday, bringing together federal, state, and local officials to address threats facing the Jewish community ahead of the holiday.

The high-level meeting, held at the agency’s headquarters and coordinated together with Chief Chaplain Rabbi Mark Rosenberg—who also serves as Senior Advisor to the Sheriff and as Chief Chaplain for both the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement—drew approximately 160 attendees, including community leaders, law enforcement officials, and representatives from municipalities across South Florida.

This year’s briefing comes at a time of heightened concern, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran and a noticeable rise in antisemitic incidents across the United States.

“As your Sheriff, let me be clear: we will not tolerate antisemitism—or any form of hate, intimidation, or targeted violence—in this county.

There is no place for it here. Not in our neighborhoods, not in our schools, not in our houses of worship, and not in our online spaces.

We are seeing concerning trends across the country, and that reality requires us to remain vigilant, coordinated, and prepared.

As we approach Passover, our focus is on visibility, readiness, and partnership. We will act decisively—investigating thoroughly and holding those responsible accountable under the law.

To all those celebrating, I wish you a safe, meaningful, and peaceful Passover.”

Among the featured speakers were Dave Kerner, Executive Director of the Florida Highway Patrol; Mark Glass, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Brett Skiles of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Miami Field Office; Keith Pearson, Senior Counselor to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Chief Assistant State Attorney Stephen Talpin; and Commissioner Micky Steinberg, who represents one of the largest Jewish populations in Miami-Dade County.

Titled “Lessons from Recent Targeted Attacks on the Jewish Community — Where Do We Stand Today?”, the more than two-hour briefing was closely attended throughout, reflecting the seriousness of the moment.

The program opened with an invocation and concluded with a benediction delivered by Rabbi Korf and Rabbi Harig. Rabbi Rosenberg, who also serves as Director of Chesed Shel Emes of Florida and has organized the event for over 20 years, provided detailed guidance for the upcoming Passover holiday, including synagogue schedules, safety protocols, and community preparedness measures.

Speakers throughout the briefing addressed the recent spike in antisemitic incidents and emphasized that Jewish families should be able to observe their holidays without fear or disruption. Officials outlined coordinated security efforts, intelligence-sharing, and proactive measures being implemented to protect synagogues, hotels, and public gathering spaces.

The timing of the briefing is especially critical this year. Travel disruptions and regional instability have limited the ability for many families to travel to Israel for Passover, resulting in a higher-than-usual number of visitors expected across South Florida.

As a result, Miami-Dade County—along with other Florida destinations—is preparing for increased attendance at religious services, hotels, and community events, further underscoring the importance of advanced planning and strong interagency coordination.

Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz emphasized that the strong turnout and coordination ensured a unified, proactive approach to public safety heading into the holiday.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveiled a redesigned mobile app Wednesday aimed at giving New York City subway and bus riders faster, more accurate, and more accessible information on their commutes.

The new MTA App, available in English and Spanish on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, provides real-time arrival times, transfer information, service updates, and live in-app customer support. Riders can see the current position of trains and buses along with estimated arrival times at all future stops, allowing them to plan trips from start to finish.

Governor Kathy Hochul called the update part of “New York’s transit renaissance,” noting that the improved digital experience complements investments in the city’s subway and bus system.

“Anyone who uses TrainTime on the LIRR or Metro-North knows the MTA is capable of delivering an excellent app,” Hochul said. “Now subway and bus riders can look forward to the same world-class digital experience navigating our transit system.”

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the in-house team that built the app used their expertise to provide a best-in-class service without relying on outside tech companies. “This is what happens when you invest in and empower in-house talent,” he said.

The app retains popular features such as favorited lines, per-station arrival times, and an in-app trip planner, while adding new tools for subway and bus navigation. Subway features include clearer station layouts, markers showing where to stand for boarding, and higher-frequency updates on arrivals and service changes. Bus riders benefit from trip-level route views, improved stop iconography, and live transfer information.

Accessibility has been upgraded with a new mode highlighting accessible stations, elevator and escalator status, screen reader support, and continued integration with Access-A-Ride.

Other features include live 24/7 customer support, the ability to view planned service changes by day or weekend, and a direct link to the MTA Lost and Found portal. Future updates are expected to add OMNY account management and ride history.

Shanifah Rieara, MTA chief customer officer, said the app was designed “to give subway and bus customers the smoothest ride possible,” emphasizing that real-time information and clear station navigation put “rider experience at the heart of everything we do.”

The update is part of a broader effort by the MTA to improve the commuter experience while keeping costs low by leveraging in-house talent.

Available In Apple and Google App Stores

Toms River Police are investigating a shooting which occurred at the Ocean County Mall this evening, TLS has learned.

A portion of the mall was placed under lockdown as police search for the gunman.

The teenaged victim was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Information on his condition was not immediately available.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The United Arab Emirates has issued a sharp warning against Iran, with its ambassador to Washington declaring that Tehran poses a direct threat to global security and economic stability, as tensions continue to rise across the region.

In an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal, UAE Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba wrote that weeks of ongoing conflict have reinforced long-standing concerns about Iran’s role in the region.

“Three and a half weeks of war have proven what we have known for nearly 50 years, that the Iranian revolution is a threat to global security and its economic stability. We cannot allow Iran to hold the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and the global economy hostage,” he wrote.

Al Otaiba stressed that a simple ceasefire would not be sufficient, arguing instead for a broader outcome that addresses Iran’s full range of threats.

“A simple ceasefire is not enough. We need a comprehensive outcome to the war that addresses the full spectrum of Iran’s threats: its nuclear capabilities, missiles, drones, proxy terrorist organizations, and the blockade of international shipping routes,” he wrote.

He explained that Iran has singled out the UAE more than any other country, not only because of geography but also because of fundamental differences between the two nations.

“The reason Iran is attacking the UAE more than any other country, and why we have become a primary target, is not only because we are so close, but because we are so different. The UAE is a modern, progressive Muslim society that is thriving and serves its people. We empower women and welcome all religions. The UAE is an argument Iran cannot win, an idea it cannot accept.”

Al Otaiba emphasized that the UAE will continue to meet the challenge, expand its economy, and strengthen ties with the United States. At the same time, he noted that despite damage to Iran’s nuclear program and its proxy forces, more must be done to address ongoing threats.

“More must be done to remove the missile and drone threats,” he said, adding that the UAE is “ready to join an international initiative to reopen the strait and keep it open,” referring to the Strait of Hormuz.

He added that the UAE has been on the front lines of the conflict, noting that Iran has launched more than 2,180 missiles and drones toward the Emirates—more than at any other country.

“We have one of the most effective defense systems in the world and intercept more than 95% of these attacks,” he said.

Al Otaiba also warned that Iran’s actions extend far beyond the UAE’s borders.

“Beyond our borders, Iran is attacking airports, seaports, and energy infrastructure. It is blocking energy shipments and supplies for fertilizers and manufacturing, and threatens amusement parks and cultural sites around the world through its proxy network. This is not a war we wanted. Until hours before the first strike, Emirati officials were engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts from Tehran to Washington. We made it clear to the Iranians that in the event of war, UAE territory and airspace would not be used for attacks on Iran.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Democratic lawmaker is asking a federal judge to force the Kennedy Center to block and reverse efforts to attach President Donald Trump’s name to the historic performing arts venue.

In a motion filed Wednesday, Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio argues that Congress was clear in its intent that the Kennedy Center is named for the late President John F. Kennedy — and no one else.

“Renaming the Kennedy Center for President Trump — without any authorization from Congress — undermines the Center’s raison d’être, and frustrates its purpose as the only memorial to President Kennedy in Washington, D.C.,” the motion argues.

Trump’s handpicked board of directors voted in December to rename the venue as the Trump-Kennedy Center, arguing the current president deserved the recognition for his efforts to renovate the institution. But the move immediately drew protest from Democrats and some in the Kennedy family along with questions from scholars and historians about whether the move was legally permissible.

Beatty’s motion argues that lawmakers have made clear at various points throughout the Kennedy Center’s history that no other name should appear on the building.

“Congress was particularly sensitive that no other names appear on the Center’s exterior walls, other than the signage designating the institution as a memorial for President Kennedy,” according to the motion.

A day after the board’s December decision, Trump’s name was added to Kennedy Center’s facade, an iconic part of Washington’s cityscape that rests on the banks of the Potomac River. The name change has also been reflected on the Kennedy Center’s website and social media channels.

A central part of the capital’s arts scene since it opened in 1971, Trump is closing the Kennedy Center this summer for a renovation that’s expected to last for about two years. That is the subject of a separate legal effort as a coalition of eight cultural and historic preservation groups is suing to block further physical changes to the Kennedy Center.

Through her position in Congress, Beatty is an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center’s board. A federal judge ruled earlier this month that she could participate in a board meeting but didn’t force the board to allow her to vote on the closure.

A missile struck a residential area in Arad — and with it, the lives of 170 families were completely upended. 170 families, mostly children, are now HOMELESS. Dozens are injured, and many children are hospitalized.

These aren’t numbers.
These are families. Mothers. Fathers. Children.

Children who went to sleep in their beds… and woke up with nothing.

Their homes are GONE!

Where are they making Pesach?

They need our help! 

• Food for Yom Tov
• Clothing for their children
• A place to stay
• The ability to experience Pesach with dignity

Not luxuries. Not extras. Just the chance to spend Pesach as a typical family.

Join Klal Yisrael’s effort to help them make Pesach.    

Israel and the United States have reportedly paused plans to target two senior Iranian officials in a move aimed at creating space for potential negotiations to end the fighting, according to American sources.

Sources indicate that Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have been removed from operational target lists for a period of approximately four to five days. The temporary step comes as part of a broader effort to explore whether diplomatic progress can be made at the highest levels.

At the same time, international mediators—including Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt—are working to coordinate a meeting between U.S. and Iranian representatives in the near term. The goal is to secure a temporary ceasefire that would allow formal negotiations to begin.

Despite these efforts, officials involved in the process have cautioned that significant gaps remain between the two sides. Reports from Tehran suggest that Iranian leaders are, for now, rejecting proposals to enter negotiations.

The White House has also issued a firm warning that Washington is prepared to escalate its actions if diplomatic efforts fail.

In Israel, officials believe a ceasefire could be reached within days, though there is also a strong interest in continuing military operations beyond any initial pause.

{Matzav.com}

In a historic achievement for Jewish law, the Knesset approved a bill earlier this week restoring jurisdiction to Rabbinical courts to rule on monetary disputes, an authority revoked by a Supreme Court ruling in 2006.

The approval of the law is a historic achievement for Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni, who fought for the law for more than two decades. Sixty‑five MKs voted in favor of the bill, while forty‑one opposed it.

The law marks a significant shift. Since 2006, the Rabbinical courts have dealt only with marriage, divorce, and yerushah.

It should be emphasized that the new law clearly anchors the principle of full consent and states that judicial authority will be granted to the Beis Din only after all parties to the process have given their explicit written consent. The law does not change anything in existing civil law but adds a voluntary path for the public that wishes to resolve disputes through arbitration under state supervision, responding to the public need for a court process with structured procedures, protocol recording, and the possibility of appeal—advantages not always present in private Rabbinical courts.

Moreover, the law ensures that the rulings of the Rabbinical courts will align with the protective laws of the state, including the Women’s Equal Rights Law and labor laws that protect workers’ rights. Unlike private arbitration, a ruling issued by the state Rabbinical court in these matters will have the force of a court ruling for all purposes, without requiring additional approval procedures, offering a fast, efficient, and low‑cost process.

Despite these facts, left-wing opposition members lost no time in slamming it, making false and inflammatory statements about Israel becoming a “halachic state.” Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said, “Mark this day. The status quo is dead—buried, gone, no longer binding. There is no longer any status quo on matters of religion and state. It ended today, when, during a war, after the coalition promised to pass only war-related laws, the Chareidi parties forced through legislation giving Rabbinical courts powers akin to those of a civil court.”

Lapid even threatened that the passage of the bill would have consequences in the future government led by him, including advancing civil marriage legislation, conditioning state funding for schools on full core curriculum studies, and denying state benefits to individuals who evade military conscription. He also pledged to promote policies allowing municipalities greater authority over religious appointments, including the option to hire Reform and Conservative rabbis, as well as introducing public transportation on Shabbat in secular-majority areas and alternative kosher certification independent of the Chief Rabbinate.

Following the bill’s passing, Gafni said: “I submitted the bill for the first time immediately after the Supreme Court ruling on the 8th of Nisan 5766—symbolically, exactly 20 years ago. I heard that the opposition claims the status quo ended today, and I ask where the status quo was when I brought the chametz law that authorizes hospital directors to prevent chametz from being brought into medical centers, or in other similar cases.”

“Davnka during wartime, when we need yeshuos from Hakadosh Baruch Hu, if two people want to adjudicate monetary matters according to Torah law with the consent of both sides—what’s wrong with that? The status quo is here, was, and remains!”

“I am happy that we passed this law, with Hashem’s help, after so many years, and expanded the authority of the Batei Din in Israel. We will act the same way in other struggles, continue with determination, and will not give up!”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A massive healthcare real estate deal was closed in Brooklyn today. The Boro Park Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare has been sold for $161.5 million in one of the largest nursing home transactions in years.

The seller, investor Daryl Hagler, sold the nine-story facility located at 4915 10th Avenue in Boro Park. The building houses 504 beds, making it one of the largest nursing homes in the area.

The property has long been operated by Centers Health Care, which is owned by Daryl Hagler and Kenny Rozenberg. The facility is considered the company’s flagship location within its tremendous network of healthcare services across the Tri-State area.

Kenny Rozenberg is also a part-owner of Israeli flagship airline El Al

The deal presents a massive appreciation in value. City records show the property was originally purchased in 2011 for just $19 million, before refinancing it in 2017 with a $78.4 million loan, ultimately exiting at more than eight times the original purchase price.

Daryl Hagler

The buyer is listed in property filings as 4915 10th SNF Realty LLC, a Lakewood, New Jersey-based company registered to Shmuel A. Serle.

Financing for the purchase included a $64 million mortgage from Huntington National Bank, part of a bigger $130.7 million loan package, according to documents filed with the city.

More importantly, the deal is structured as a real estate purchase, meaning the facility will continue operating under Centers Health Care, which means no disruption to patient care or services currently ongoing in this location.

I write this not to lecture but out of genuine concern, and with the hope that this Yom Tov remains the beautiful, joyful experience it should be for everyone.

It is a true neis that nothing serious has happened yet in Orlando. But the situation on the roads in and around the resorts has become dangerous enough that it cannot go unaddressed.

The first issue is speed. People are driving through these resort roads as though they are on a highway, seemingly unaware — or unconcerned — that families with young children are walking, playing, and moving through these same areas at all hours. This needs to stop.

The second issue is minors behind the wheel of golf carts. This is not a matter of trust or maturity, it is a matter of neuroscience. The part of the brain responsible for split-second decision-making is not fully developed until the mid-twenties. When a golf cart hits a turn too fast, clips a curb, or needs to stop suddenly, the margin for error is razor-thin. Golf cart tip-overs are well-documented and can cause serious injury or worse. A learner’s permit or even a license does not change this calculus.

Driving is a privilege, not a right, and on a crowded resort during Yom Tov, it is a privilege that comes with real responsibility.

To every parent in Orlando: please do not allow minors to operate golf carts. And to every driver: please slow down.
Yom Tov is a time of simcha. Let’s make sure everyone goes home safely to enjoy it.

Wishing a safe Chag Kosher V’Sameach!

Rabbi Yehoshua Sova

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