Jooish News

The Trump administration has begun internal discussions about potentially restarting negotiations with Iran, as officials weigh a possible diplomatic off-ramp amid the ongoing conflict.

According to a report from Axios, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are involved in early efforts to lay the groundwork for renewed talks. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the United Kingdom have been relaying messages between Washington and Tehran, signaling tentative movement toward reengagement.

Iranian officials are reportedly open to returning to the negotiating table, but only under strict conditions, including a ceasefire, guarantees against future military action and compensation for damages sustained during the war. One U.S. official suggested there may be flexibility in how such compensation is framed, pointing to the potential return of frozen Iranian assets as a point of negotiation.

“They call it reparations. Maybe we call it return of frozen money,” the official said. “There’s many different ways that we can wordsmith so that it solves politically what they need to solve.”

The renewed diplomatic push comes as President Donald Trump signaled he may begin winding down military operations. “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives,” Trump wrote Friday, as the conflict entered its fourth week.

Efforts to restart diplomacy face additional complications, including uncertainty over the role and condition of Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed supreme leader following his father’s death but was reportedly injured in the same strike. He has not been seen since.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has also tied any reopening of the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz to a ceasefire and assurances that future strikes will not occur. U.S. officials, meanwhile, expect at least several more weeks of fighting even as preliminary diplomatic channels begin to take shape.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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As Pesach approaches, the pressure builds. Homes are turned upside down, every crumb scrutinized, every corner inspected. For many, the preparation can feel overwhelming, sometimes even heavier than the Yom Tov itself.

In a powerful and refreshingly clear 20-minute shiur, the Kossov Rebbe zt"l addresses this exact tension with a message that cuts straight to the core:

“Dust is not chumetz.”

Known as a strict and uncompromising Dayan, the Kossov Rebbe carried immense authority in halacha. Yet, alongside that rigor was a deep understanding of people - their lives, their pressures, and their realities.

In this shiur, the Rebbe does not dilute halacha. On the contrary, he sharpens it. He reminds us that true adherence to halacha means knowing its boundaries - not extending them unnecessarily in ways that create stress, anxiety, or even resentment toward the mitzvos

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President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be deployed to airports across the United States starting Monday to support Transportation Security Administration operations, as staffing shortages worsen during the ongoing partial government shutdown.

In a Truth Social message, Trump said ICE personnel would step in to back TSA officers who have remained on duty despite not receiving pay. He had already cautioned a day earlier that such a move would be implemented if congressional Democrats continued to withhold funding for airport security operations.

White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed the plan, explaining that the additional manpower is intended to ease growing congestion at airport checkpoints during a high-volume travel period. Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Homan said ICE agents would assist in managing crowds as TSA faces reduced staffing levels, with many employees working without pay amid the shutdown.

“It’s a work in progress, but we will be at airports tomorrow, helping T.S.A. move those lines along,” Homan said.

Homan noted that key logistical details were still being worked out, including how many agents would be deployed and which airports would receive assistance. He said priority would likely go to airports experiencing the most severe delays, with wait times in some locations reportedly stretching to three hours. Additional information on the rollout was expected later in the day.

He also explained that ICE agents already assigned to airport locations could shift into support roles such as overseeing exits and other areas outside the main screening process, freeing TSA personnel to concentrate on passenger security checks.

“This is about helping T.S.A. do their mission, and get the American public through that airport as quick as they can, while adhering to all the security guidelines and the protocols,” Homan said.

Democratic leaders quickly objected to the plan. Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York argued that placing ICE agents in airport security environments could create safety concerns, noting that they are not trained to perform TSA duties.

Trump reiterated his stance in additional social media posts, saying ICE officers stand ready to be deployed as long as the funding standoff continues. He added that the effort would also support broader immigration enforcement, including detaining individuals in the country illegally.

The move comes as the partial shutdown has led to significant disruptions at airports nationwide. Although TSA workers are considered essential and have continued reporting to work, they have gone without paychecks, leading to increasing absenteeism and a growing number of resignations since the shutdown began in mid-February.

Talks to resolve the funding dispute remain ongoing. Senate Democrats have sought legislation to ensure TSA workers receive back pay, while Republicans have pressed for comprehensive funding of the Department of Homeland Security. Discussions between lawmakers and the White House have shown signs of movement, though no final agreement has been reached.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned that if negotiations drag on, conditions at airports could deteriorate further as passenger traffic continues to build.

As Operation Roaring Lion enters its fourth week, an Israeli official said Sunday that Jerusalem does not expect the Iranian regime to fall during the current fighting, but believes its collapse could follow within months of the war’s end.

“At no stage did we think the regime would fall during the war,” the official said, according to Ynet. “The assessments were that the regime’s collapse would come several months after the war. No one thought the public could take to the streets while under bombardment.”

The remarks offer a rare window into Israel’s strategic calculus as the United States intensifies its own strikes against Iran, with the pace of American operations accelerating in recent days, according to the official.

Israel now assesses that President Trump is moving toward seizing control of Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal, the regime’s economic lifeline. The official described such a move as a potential “game changer” that could cripple Tehran’s finances.

“It would create extreme economic strangulation,” the official said, adding that a loss of oil revenue could leave the regime unable to pay salaries — a scenario that could trigger internal collapse.

Regarding the status of Mojtaba Khamenei, the official said Israel believes he is alive, though Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps is currently managing the country’s affairs.

Behind the scenes, Washington has opened exploratory contacts with Tehran on a possible agreement, with Qatar pushing to broker a deal. But the official characterized the talks as preliminary and said Trump is holding firm.

“The Americans are talking with the Iranians about a deal, but it’s all preliminary,” the official said. “The Qataris are pushing for an agreement, but Trump is not giving in and wants a surrender deal on his terms.”

Those terms would reportedly include the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian soil and a commitment to fully dismantle Iran’s nuclear program with no deadline attached.

Asked whether Israel would prefer a negotiated surrender or regime change, the official said Israel favors the latter. “A new regime would abandon the nuclear program and hand over the enriched uranium,” he said, while acknowledging that the final decision lies with Trump.

The diplomatic maneuvering comes against the backdrop of a sharp escalation overnight. Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran, threatening to “destroy” Iran’s power stations if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s armed forces fired back with a warning of their own: if the Islamic Republic’s energy infrastructure is attacked, “all energy infrastructure belonging to the United States in the region will be targeted,” according to Iranian state media.

The strait, one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints, has been effectively choked since the start of the war. Iran imposed restrictions on vessel traffic early in the conflict, sending global oil and gas prices surging. Before the war, more than 130 ships passed through the waterway daily. That figure has now plummeted to just three or four per day.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

“Over the past week, nearly 2,000 American citizens have reached out to my office with urgent pleas for assistance returning home from the Middle East — including students, pregnant mothers, and elderly and medically vulnerable individuals. Among them are many Jewish Americans hoping to reunite with their families to celebrate Pesach.

I am relieved to announce that, after extensive work over the past week to develop a plan of action, my office has helped facilitate a coordinated solution with the U.S. Department of State and the Government of Jordan to provide a safe means of travel out of the region through Amman, Jordan.

The State Department will be providing secure buses transporting U.S. citizens to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman for departure from the region. With the conflict continuing to escalate and a limited travel advisory currently in place at Ben Gurion Airport, this route offers a safe and reliable alternative for those seeking to leave.”

See here for the most critical recent update from the State Department: https://il.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-jerusalem-march-22-2026-update/

Busing operations will begin tomorrow, Monday, March 23. U.S. citizens interested in securing a seat must complete the State Department form at the following link:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=dFDPZv5a0UimkaErISH0SwacxChOQjhLmAXdLyLFaHpUNUEzQjNDVzBBQVhFUVo3RzUwT1dNWTQ3VC4u&route=shorturl

Please note the following requirements and fees for travelers entering Jordan:

A visa on arrival is available at the King Hussein Crossing for $60 USD (cash only).

A departure fee of 110 NIS (Israeli shekels), payable in cash only.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sharply rebuked President Trump on Sunday after the president declared that the Democratic Party has become the nation’s “greatest enemy,” escalating an already heated political standoff.

Responding to Trump’s remarks, Jeffries issued a pointed warning during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “Donald Trump should keep his reckless mouth shut before he gets somebody killed,” Jeffries said when asked about the president’s comments earlier that day.

The exchange followed a Truth Social post by Trump in which he argued that, in the wake of the recent military campaign against Iran, Democrats now pose a more serious threat to the United States than any foreign adversary.

“Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party!” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Trump had delivered a similar message a day earlier, accusing Democrats of harming Americans through their policies. “Radical Left Democrats have hurt so many people with their vicious and uncaring ways.”

The president pointed in particular to the ongoing dispute in Congress over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have largely opposed approving funds for DHS without revisions to immigration enforcement policies, leading to a partial shutdown that began on February 14.

That impasse has caused major disruptions at airports across the country, where long security lines have formed amid staffing shortages. Some Transportation Security Administration officers have stopped reporting to work after missing paychecks, worsening the delays.

Blaming Democrats for the situation, Trump said, “What they have done to the Department of Homeland Security, our fantastic TSA Officers, and, most importantly, the great people of our Country, is an absolute disgrace.”

“The Fascist Democrats will never protect America, but the Republicans will,” the president raged, as he announced his intention to deploy ICE agents to airports to help out TSA. Some on the left, including prominent Democrats, have long accused Trump of being a “fascist.”

The NYPD has acquired a nearly $1 million high-tech vehicle designed to detect and neutralize hostile drones over New York City.

According to a NY Post report, the department paid $984,280 for the Maverick Unmanned Aerial Systems mobile command unit, a heavily customized Chevrolet Suburban built by FlyMotion LLC of Tampa, Fla. From the outside, it looks like any oversized SUV in a police fleet. Inside, it’s a different story: hidden compartments conceal launch-ready drones and a live-feed command screen capable of monitoring the skies for aerial threats.

“The vehicle will be used by the NYPD for counterterrorism capabilities in securing and protecting large-scale events and critical infrastructure,” the department said in a public announcement Thursday.

According to FlyMotion, the Maverick is built to function as both a standard patrol vehicle and a full command-and-control hub for unmanned systems — a dual capability that gives it a significant edge over the NYPD’s existing drone-command vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van known as the Trident Series Command Center. That van, purchased last year from Sky Motion for $500,000, serves a similar mobile command role but lacks the Suburban’s agility and low profile.

“They can pull over and launch drones from portable drone compartments,” a law enforcement source told the Post, adding that the Maverick’s compact footprint makes it far more maneuverable and better suited to rapid, discreet deployment.

At least one official expressed hope that the vehicle comes equipped with drone-mitigation software — technology that would allow operators to effectively hijack and take control of a hostile drone mid-flight.

“At a million dollars, I’m hoping that they put the software for drone mitigation,” the source said. “It’s just like jail-breaking into another device.”

The purchases are part of a broader counter-drone push backed by a $6.5 million federal Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems grant recently awarded to the department. The city is preparing for a wave of high-profile events, including a massive celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday in New York Harbor this summer.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced on Feb. 10 that federal authorities are working to authorize the NYPD to neutralize hostile drones, with final sign-off expected from President Trump.

The department has also been moving toward acquiring the Iron Drone Raider, a system developed by American Robotics that deploys interceptor drones to hunt hostile devices using radar and then fires a lightweight mesh net to entangle the target’s rotors. A parachute allows the captured drone to float safely to the ground. The Post first reported that effort exclusively in June.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A Lakewood Yungerman is in critical condition after suffering a stroke this afternoon.

Please take a moment to be Mispallel for Ahron ben Frumit Miriam. 

אהרן בן פרומט מרים

(JTA/ Andrew Lapin) Four days after an attacker drove a car filled with explosives into her synagogue, Rabbi Jen Lader called a trusted photographer.

Emily Iris Elconin took what would become the first official photos of the aftermath of the attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan. On Thursday morning, one week after the attack, the synagogue posted Elconin’s photos to social media, revealing for the first time the true extent of the destruction: a hallway entirely caked with ash, bits of shrapnel littered on the floor, confirmation photos burned beyond recognition, a preschool frozen in time when its staff and children evacuated.

“It was very hard to stomach being there, taking the images,” Elconin, who is Jewish and grew up in West Bloomfield, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “And all I could hope was that it would come through in the images themselves.”

Elconin is a freelancer who has published her work in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN and other national platforms. She grew up attending Temple Shir Shalom down the road from Temple Israel and now serves on the Detroit Jewish federation’s young-adult board. 

In sharing her photos, Temple Israel said it wanted “to take back control of our narrative” after photos and videos of the damage had been leaked to social media and caused harm to the attack’s survivors. 

“We share these images because our community deserves to see our building through eyes of love, not through the lens of spectacle,” the temple’s post reads. “This is our sacred space, and we will be the ones to tell its story.”

Serving as those “eyes of love,” Elconin told JTA which details of the aftermath stood out to her and what she hopes the photos can accomplish.

Confirmation photos scorched in the hallway where the attacker drove through Temple Israel last Thursday in West Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S., on Monday, March 16, 2026. (Emily Elconin)

JTA: Tell me how these photos came to be.

Elconin: I got a call on Monday from Rabbi Jen Lader, and she asked me if I could come to the temple and photograph the aftermath of the destruction. I’m a photojournalist, and she wanted me to bring that storytelling approach to capturing these images in a way that captured time standing still, but also just in a way that people can better understand and connect to the imagery.

I’m a West Bloomfield Jewish native myself. I grew up about three miles from Temple Israel and belonged to Temple Shir Shalom. So I’ve always been very interconnected in the Jewish community. Last year, Rabbi Jen actually hired me to photograph the Women’s Rabbinic Network convention, which was here in Michigan.

I knew the importance of having this documented. As horrible as the destruction is, and how sickening these images are, it’s very important for people to see what happened and to just have a better understanding of the destruction. 

Lunches left behind by children inside a classroom at Temple Israel after an attacker drove through the entrance next to the early childhood care center last Thursday in West Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S., on Monday, March 16, 2026. (Emily Elconin)

You were one of the first people outside the temple staff and law enforcement to see the condition of the temple after the attack. What were your impressions?

It smelled like a burning building — we were wearing N-95s the whole time. When you’re standing inside of there, you get the full understanding of what happened, where the car drove through, where the car stopped, where the car exploded, seeing the bullet holes on the windows. I think that it will probably take me a while to fully process the scope.

There were these moments just frozen in time, like someone was warming up their soup, and there’s, you know, a napkin over the soup. And then there’s all the food from the kids, like a yogurt with a straw in it still. When you see all the toys and everything, and all the shoes and things flipped over, you kind of are transported back to the scene when this was happening. Where the car came through, on the right side is directly where the preschool classrooms are. So that’s instantly where the car drove by. 

Extensive damage inside the charred hallway at Temple Israel where an attacker drove his vehicle into the building entrance next to the early childhood center last Thursday in West Bloomfield, Michigan, on March 16, 2026. (Emily Elconin)

I was reporting from the scene, I was attending the press conferences and following all the updates. But I had no sense, even from reading the descriptions of what had happened, just how extensive the damage was, until I saw your photos.

Right, I don’t think any of us really understood. The temple is trying to process things themselves. There were pieces of the car; he was driving a Ford F-150, and a piece of one of the side mirrors was on the ground. There’s ash everywhere. One of the first offices on the left that the car went by — it’s a metal car, and it’s just burned all the way through, down to the bottom. And you can just see where people stopped in those moments. They were trying to get people out, and there’s broken windows.

It’s a really long hallway. There’s lots and lots of classrooms. I mean, the whole temple had damage too, because the water system was activated. So you walk on the floor and you hear the little squishy noise because the floors are sopping wet. So while the most immediate damage is in that first hallway, there is damage pretty much everywhere.

Tell me how you approached taking the photos. What were you looking to communicate?

I was trying to approach this how I would approach anything else, and trying to capture moments in time that could elicit some of the same emotions and feelings that I was feeling in that moment. I just really wanted to convey to people what it felt like for these people, these kids, teachers, to be in there in those moments: the food left untouched, art projects left unfinished, the chairs flipped over. There’s Ritz crackers on the floor, Oreos.

There were papers all over the ground, and there were some really powerful words written on one of the papers: “Overflow with love.” I captured that — it’s covered in ash. There are no people in the photos. It doesn’t matter, right? It’s like time stood still.

Classroom artwork lays next to shattered glass on the ground inside the early childhood care center near where the attacker drove his vehicle into the building entrance next the center at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S., on Monday, March 16, 2026. (Emily Elconin)

Your photos are going to become the definitive record of what happened here – meanwhile, people online have been claiming this attack was a false flag, or that it was somehow not everything it was reported to be. What do you hope your images can accomplish here?

hope they can get people a better understanding of what happened, of the destruction. What I can hope for people to take away is that antisemitism is a real threat to all of our communities. Obviously injuries and casualties were prevented, which is a miracle, right? But there’s still this damage. Even when the temple is renovated, this is going to be something that our community remembers forever. It could have been any of us, any of our synagogues. And I think it’s just a very real reality for Jewish communities.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy was supposed to start the year with a bang, fueled by an unusually large jump in tax refunds from President Donald Trump’s tax cut legislation. Yet spiking gas prices are on track to eat up those refunds, leaving most Americans with little extra to spend.

“Next spring is projected to be the largest tax refund season of all time,” Trump said in a prime-time speech in December that was intended to address voters’ concerns about the economy and stubbornly high prices.

But that was before the Iran war, which began Feb. 28. Oil and gas prices have soared since then, with the nationwide average price of gas reaching $3.94 Sunday, up more than a dollar from just a month earlier.

Gas prices are likely to remain elevated for some time, even if the war ends soon, because shipping and production have been disrupted and will take time to recover. Economists now expect slower growth this spring and for the year as a whole, as dollars that are spent on gas are less likely to be used for restaurant meals, new clothes, or entertainment.

Lower and middle-income households are likely to be hit particularly hard, because they receive lower refunds, while spending a greater proportion of their earnings on gas.

“The energy shock is to going to hit those who have the least cushion,” said Alex Jacquez, chief of policy at the left-leaning Groundwork Collaborative and a former economist in the Biden White House. “And it doesn’t look like those tax refunds are going to be here to save them.”

Neale Mahoney, director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, calculates that gas prices could peak in May at $4.36 a gallon, based on oil price forecasts by Goldman Sachs, followed by slow declines for the rest of the year. The notion that gas prices decline much more slowly than they rise is so ingrained among economists that they refer to it as the “rocket and feathers” phenomenon.

In that scenario, the average household would pay $740 more in gas this year, nearly equal to the $748 increase in refunds that the Tax Foundation has estimated the average household will receive.

Through March 6, refunds have risen by much less than that, according to IRS data: They have averaged $3,676, up $352 from $3,324 in 2025. Still, average refunds could rise as more complex returns are filed.

Other estimates show similar impacts. Economists at Oxford Economics, a consulting firm, estimate that if gas prices average $3.70 a gallon all year, it will cost consumers about $70 billion — more than the $60 billion in increased tax refunds.

The gas price spike comes with many consumers already in a precarious position, particularly compared to 2022, when gas prices also soared because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At that time, many households still had fattened bank accounts from pandemic-era stimulus payments and companies were hiring rapidly and sharply lifting pay to attract workers.

Now, hiring is nearly at a standstill and Americans’ saving rate has steadily fallen in the past few years as many households borrow more to sustain their spending.

“When you start looking across the perspective from a consumer side, you’re seeing people who have maxed out their credit cards, are using ‘buy now, pay later’ to purchase their groceries,” said Julie Margetta Morgan, president of The Century Foundation, a think tank. “They’re making it work for now, but that can fall apart quite quickly.”

The impact will likely worsen the “K-shaped” narrativ e around the U.S. economy, analysts said, in which higher income households have fared better than lower-income households. The bottom 10% of earners spend nearly 4% of their incomes on gasoline, Pantheon Macroeconomics estimates, while the top 10% spend just 1.5%.

For now, most analysts still expect the U.S. economy to expand this year, even if more slowly, given the gas price shock. Higher gas prices will likely worsen inflation in the short run, but over time weaker spending will also slow growth.

American consumers and businesses have repeatedly shaken off shocks since the pandemic — soaring inflation, rising interest rates, tariffs — and continued to spend, defying concerns that the economy would tip into recession. Many economists note that the proportion of their incomes that Americans spend on gas and other energy has fallen significantly compared with a decade ago.

Data from the Bank of America Institute, released Friday, showed that spending on gas on the bank’s credit and debit cards shot 14.4% higher in the week ended March 14 compared with a year ago. Before the war, such spending was running 5% below the previous year, a benefit to consumers.

Spending on discretionary items — restaurant meals, electronics, and travel — is still growing, the institute said, evidence of consumer resilience. But there is little sign it is accelerating, as many economists had hoped.

“The longer these gasoline prices persist, the more that will gradually sap consumer discretionary spending,” said David Tinsley, senior economist at the institute.

Other analysts expect growth will slow because of the war. Bernard Yaros and Michael Pearce, economists at Oxford Economics, forecast that the U.S. economy will grow just 1.9% this year, down from an earlier estimate of 2.5%.

“We had anticipated a lift in spending from a bumper tax refund season,” they wrote, “but the rise in gasoline prices, if sustained, would more than offset that boost.”

The IDF said it killed the commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force special operations unit in an airstrike in southern Lebanon on Saturday, along with two other operatives.

The strike targeted Abu Khalil Barji in the Majdal Selm area and was directed by the IDF’s Northern Command. According to the military, Barji had recently taken command of the Radwan unit’s special forces — an elite arm of Hezbollah responsible for planning and executing attacks against Israeli troops.

Two additional Hezbollah operatives were killed alongside Barji in the strike. The military did not identify them.

The IDF said it also struck Hezbollah infrastructure across several areas of southern Lebanon later Saturday, though it did not provide further details on those operations.

The killing marks a significant blow to Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities. The Radwan Force is considered the organization’s most capable and battle-tested unit, tasked with cross-border operations and direct engagement with Israeli forces.

Hezbollah entered the current conflict in support of Iran, and the IDF said it will continue operating against the group and will not allow threats to Israeli civilians.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

TEHRAN (VINnews) – The Israel Defense Forces carried out a wave of overnight airstrikes in Tehran, targeting multiple Iranian military production facilities and command headquarters, the IDF announced.

Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck several sites linked to Iran’s weapons programs and regime infrastructure, according to the military.

The targets included an Iranian army training base that housed a storage site for anti-aircraft missiles; a weapons production and storage facility operated by the Iranian Defense Ministry; a weapons production site belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) air force; a headquarters of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry; and a headquarters of Khatam-al Anbiya, Iran’s central military emergency command.

The IAF dropped dozens of bombs on the sites during the operation, the IDF said.

The strikes form part of a broader “phase of deepening the damage to the core systems of the Iranian terror regime and its foundations,” the military stated.

The operation comes amid ongoing escalation in the conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran, which has seen repeated exchanges of airstrikes and missile barrages since late February.

No immediate confirmation of casualties or damage was available from Iranian sources, and Tehran has not yet issued an official response to the latest strikes.

The IDF described the targets as integral to Iran’s military capabilities and regime stability.

Rav Yitzchok Yosef addressed the tense security situation during his weekly shiur, emphasizing both the need for hishtadlus and tefillah. He also called on the public to add specific chapters of Tehillim to their daily routine and to recognize the efforts of the security forces.

Opening his remarks last night, the former Rishon LeTzion praised the soldiers operating Israel’s air defense systems and urged the public to show appreciation and daven on their behalf. “We are now in a matzav shel milchamah and first and foremost we must pray for the soldiers. Everything they are doing with Iron Dome and the Arrow missile system—fortunate are they and fortunate is their portion. We must show them gratitude and pray for them.”

He then addressed the fear gripping the public in light of the ongoing missile barrages, stressing the obligation to follow safety instructions everywhere. “All of Klal Yisroel is in distress because of all these missiles; people are afraid. Even in Bnei Brak one must be careful and not take any risks. When there is an alert, go to a protected space.”

On the spiritual front, the Rav established a special daily seder tefillah for the days of Chodesh Nissan. He instructed that immediately after the daily recitation of the Korbanos HaNesi’im, three chapters of Tehillim should be added: Yoshev B’Seiser Elyon (91), Mima’amakim Kerasicha (130), and Esa Einai El Heharim (121). “In every place, one should not rush away,” he said, encouraging people to take the time to daven on behalf of the entire nation.

Rav Yosef also expressed astonishment at the intense hostility of the Iranian regime toward Israel. “In the past we had wars with Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon—those who are close to us. But Iran—do we share a border with Iran? What do they want from us? To destroy, to kill, and to annihilate. And who knows if the Houthis will join them—the Yemenites are stubborn.” He added that despite the heavy missile fire, clear nissim are being seen. “We are seeing miracles and wonders. So many missiles have been fired at us. I know there were some injuries, but still there have been many miracles and wonders.”

Concluding his remarks, the Rav addressed the issue of military service, emphasizing the Torah world’s love and appreciation for the soldiers. “We love the soldiers and pray for them. We increase in ahavas Yisroel.” He explained that continued learning in the batei medrash serves as the true protection of the nation during wartime: “Why do we not go to the army? Because our Torah protects the people of Yisroel. All the missiles that fall without fatalities—it is in the merit of our Torah.”

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (JNS) – Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor, told Amna Nawaz of PBS Newshour on Friday that he hopes being the first Muslim mayor will inspire New Yorkers.

“This may be the first time they’re seeing a Muslim in public office during the month of Ramadan and all that comes with it,” he told Nawaz. “For me, I am seeing so many Muslims who have been here far longer than I have, who have been doing this work, and they’ve been doing it no matter what the demand is.”

Mamdani said in the interview that it was “one of the most meaningful evenings I’ve had as the mayor” to break his fast one day with Rikers Island inmates. “It was really an occasion to recognize the humanity in others, and also, in doing so, recognize more of it in ourselves,” he said.

Nawaz said she thought it was “fair to describe” the community safety department Mamdani announced as a “pared-down vision” of the one he talked about on the campaign trail with a $1 million budget.

“Our ambitions will never be pared down. This is the beginning of what it looks like to fulfill that promise,” he said. “It’s the start. However, New Yorkers can’t afford to wait for an answer to the mental health crisis.”

Nawaz mentioned that in Mamdani’s first months at City Hall, there have been “anti-Muslim protesters outside your home—not protesting your policies or anything else, protesting your faith outside of the place that you live.” She didn’t mention the attempted terror attack against those protesters but asked Mamdani about several members of Congress who have said that “Muslims don’t belong in American society,” that “we need more Islamophobia, not less” and “no more Islamic immigration.”

“I think there’s an unabashed nature to it, and it is being echoed from the highest offices in this country. They do so without any sense of shame, and what is remarkable about Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry is not that it is bigoted, for there is so much bigotry in this country,” he said. “It is that there are very few who speak up in opposition to it—the manner in which it has become normalized.”

Hating Muslims “is not exclusive to any one political party,” Mamdani said. “It is endemic, frankly, to our politics. And what this kind of bigotry shows is a complete erasure of 1 million or so Muslims who call the city home, whose identity has often been one that they are made to feel as if is in tension with being a New Yorker.”

Mamdani, who has drawn criticism for the way he has talked about policing in the city, said that he is “very lucky that I have an incredible team of NYPD officers, who keep me safe each and every day.”

“My fear, frankly, is for those whose names we do not know, whose professions we do not know, who are seen and understood to be Muslim and will be attacked for it,” he said. “They will not have the protections that I do.”

Nawaz asked Mamdani about Jewish New Yorkers as well. The city changed the way it reported hate crimes in February, after January statistics in the first month of Mamdani’s mayorship showed a 182% increase in Jew-hatred.

Despite the new reporting, New York City Police Department statistics showed that 55% of hate crimes in the city targeted Jews in February, compared to about 2% that were anti-Muslim. (Pew Research Center data suggests that there were twice as many Jews as Muslims in New York in 2023-24, but other numbers show a much narrower gap.)

Nawaz asked Mamdani what his conversations with Jews have been like.

“They have been continuing, and it’s really been a pleasure to meet with so many Jewish leaders across the city,” he said. “It was actually not that long ago in this very room that I met with a number of Orthodox leaders across this city, and we discussed antisemitism and our commitment to rooting it out across the five boroughs.”

“We also discussed childcare and housing and quality-of-life issues, because those are also the concerns that fill the lives of Jewish New Yorkers across this city,” he said. “My job is not to be a mayor just for those who voted for me or those who agree with my politics. My job is to be the mayor for everyone who calls this city home, and to deliver to them a city that they can be proud of.”

The mayor was also asked during the interview about his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously called him a “lunatic” but with whom he met in the Oval Office at least twice.

“The president and I have many disagreements. We’re not shy about them. We’ve been public about them. We’ve been private about them,” the mayor said. “One thing we have very much in agreement is a love of New York City, and so, in that meeting, in the subsequent conversations in the following Oval Office meeting, I have gone back to the president with our hopes for what it could look like to actually put this city on a better footing in the years to come.”

That plan includes constructing more public housing than the city has seen since the early 1970s, Mamdani said. He added that he told the president that federal immigration raids are “cruel and inhumane” and “do nothing to advance the cause of public safety.”

“I gave him and his chief-of-staff a list of five who had been detained in or around Columbia University, and maybe about 30 or so minutes after the meeting, the president called me to say that he made the decision that he was going to release the student who had been detained that morning,” Mamdani said.

“I think it’s a productive relationship between the mayor of this city, the president of this country, and one that is also honest. I want to always be honest with the president and with the public about where those disagreements are,” he said, “and also that my job is not to litigate the disagreements but to deliver for the people of New York City.”

When Nawaz asked twice how often Mamdani talks with Trump, the mayor replied, “I will keep that between the two of us.”

By Y.M. Lowy

New York City is making a major change in how it handles e-bike and bicycle violations. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that riders will no longer face criminal charges for low-level traffic offenses.

Until now, under the previous administration, e-bike riders and cyclists who broke traffic laws could end up in criminal court. Going forward, those same violations will result in civil summonses instead.

The change is meant to ease the burden on working New Yorkers, especially delivery workers who rely on bikes to make a living. Mayor Mamdani argued that criminal enforcement went too far for minor infractions and often impacted people trying to earn a paycheck.

Riders who break the rules will still be ticketed, just not criminally charged.

Alongside the policy shift, the mayor announced plans for a new safety training program aimed at delivery workers. The city will also work with the City Council on potential legislation targeting unsafe practices by third-party delivery app companies.

(JNS) – When Edward J. Lewith emigrated to Charleston, S.C., from Europe in the late 19th century, he brought with him a copy of the Prague Haggadah, printed by Gershom Cohen in 1526.

“It was clearly a cherished family treasure,” Jesse Abelman, curator of Hebraica and Judaica at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., told JNS. “They recorded family births and deaths for three generations in it in both English and Yiddish.”

Lewith, whose wife, Nena Lewith, corresponded with President Teddy Roosevelt in 1902, passed it down to relatives and in 1947, the family donated the Haggadah to Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, the synagogue in Charleston, which is one of the nation’s oldest and where Lewith family members were active leaders.

In so doing, they connected “the Haggadah to the history of American Jews, in addition to its own storied history as one of the most significant editions of one of the most popular Jewish books ever printed,” Abelman told JNS.

The 1526 Prague Haggadah, a copy of which Kestenbaum and Company sold for $120,000 in April 2009, was “the first complete illuminated Haggadah to be printed by Jews,” according to the Israel Museum, which owns a copy, a gift of John D. Herring and family. (John and his twin brother Paul built up an important collection.)

“Some of its woodcut illustrations were inspired by Christian sources,” the Israel Museum states. “Others originated in earlier Haggadot that had been written and illustrated by hand.”

Abelman told JNS that “first of all, it’s genuinely beautiful with gorgeous type and distinctive woodcuts.”

“It may be the first, and is certainly among the first, printed illustrated Haggadot, and its illustrations created the mold from which Haggadot would be illustrated for years to come,” he said. “It is a paradigmatic print Haggadah, from the early days of printing, and its influence is still imprinted on Haggadot being published today.”

JNS asked if the Bible Museum curator figured it would still be studied and cherished half a millennium from now.

“I hesitate to predict what will be in 500 years,” Ableman said. “I think I can confidently say that as long as people are talking about the history of the Haggadah, and they have access to the Prague Haggadah of 1526, they will be talking about it.”

“It’s foundational to the development of the book,” he said.

As the Prague Haggadah celebrates its 500th birthday, Abelman thinks the particular volume that the Lewith family preserved, which is now in the museum’s collection, has timely things to say.

“The Haggadah tells us that in every generation, we must see ourselves as if we participated in the Exodus. We must put ourselves in the story of the Haggadah,” he told JNS. “The Lewith family did this in a very literal sense, recording their family milestones on the very page where God’s personal action brought the Israelites out of Egypt, ‘Not by the hand of an angel. Not by the hand of a seraph. Not by the hands of an agent, but the Holy One, in His glory and by Himself.’”

“I think there’s something powerful in the way that the Lewiths did this on the page, inscribing themselves in pen on parchment into the eternal narrative,” he said. “It speaks to the present, I think, not in any direct way, but as a reminder that the present and the past are always tied together. A 3,000-year-old story, a 500-year-old book, a birth 150 years ago and our lives today, all present on the same page.”

Sharon Liberman Mintz, curator of Jewish art at the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary and international senior Judaica specialist at Sotheby’s New York, told JNS that the 1526 Haggadah “is one of the most exciting books that I have ever had the pleasure to turn the pages of.”

The Prague Haggadah, which is the “first complete illustrated printed Haggadah,” marks “a pivotal moment in the development of the text used by millions of Jews around the world at the Seder,” she said.

Liberman Mintz noted that several pages from an earlier Haggadah, printed around 1510 in Istanbul, were found in the Cairo Genizah, but no complete surviving volume of that Haggadah is known.

“The Prague Haggadah is profusely illustrated with woodcuts commissioned by the printers who wished to enliven the text, but these images were not merely decorative,” she said. “They functioned pedagogically, guiding participants through the ritual and reinforcing memory.”

With the invention of the printing press and early print technology, the costs of making a beautiful text decreased dramatically, according to Liberman Mintz. That also “enabled a broader audience to engage with the Haggadah, both visually and textually,” she said.

“This important Haggadah reflects the vibrant Jewish printing culture of early 16th-century Prague, one of the most important centers of Hebrew printing in Ashkenaz,” she told JNS. “It stands at the intersection of Jewish and Christian artistic traditions and is a fascinating witness to cultural exchange, as well as to the ways Jewish printers and patrons shaped the visual language within the possibilities of print.”

Marc Michael Epstein, professor of religion and visual culture and director of Jewish studies at Vassar College and author of several books on medieval Haggadot, told JNS that the Prague Haggadah is the first place that the motif of the hare hunt appears in print. “In that iteration, the hares are being driven into a net,” he said. “Just eight years later, in Augsburg in 1534, the second printed Haggadah to feature this image appears, and something has shifted: the hares have escaped.”

Often, dogs chase hares in Haggadah depictions, even though hares are not kosher and there isn’t an immediate connection to the Exodus story.

“What are we to make of this?” Epstein said. “There are moments in which the net feels as if it is closing around us. Moments in which the darkness is not merely felt but must be named, and yet it is worth remembering that we have passed through such moments before, and emerged, as the hares of Augsburg remind us, on the other side.”

“The Augsburg Haggadah offers a corrective to the more somber vision of its Prague predecessor, articulating in images what the Haggadah itself declares,” he told JNS, “that ’though more than one has risen against us to put an end to us, the Holy One has saved us from their hand.’”

When Kestenbaum, a New York City auction house, sold a copy of the Prague Haggadah in 2009, it called the book the “most celebrated printed book in the history of Hebrew printing.”

“The magnificent Prague Haggadah served as a prototype for all future illustrated Haggadahs for centuries,” it said.

It added that only five complete paper copies of the Prague Haggaadah are recorded—at Oxford’s Bodleian Library, Copenhagen’s Royal Library, New York’s Jewish Theological Seminary, Jerusalem’s Schocken Library and the Klagsbald Collection in Paris. The book that Kestenbaum was auctioning came from the estate of a Swiss family, it said.

“This magnificent work, with its superb borders, poised lettering, stately initials, marginal cuts and decorations and its assured balance, is among the most distinguished productions of the 16th-century press,” the celebrated historian Cecil Roth wrote of the book in 1965.

“The beauty of the work lies above all in the superb disposition of the type and the exquisite balance of the pages,” he added. “Words cannot convey the full beauty of this work—every page of which justifies a long, detailed and affectionate description.”

The Haggadah has more than 50 woodcut illustrations in it, including knights in armor, angels and Jews observing the holiday. The evil son is depicted as a soldier with a sword and ax, and on a page alongside text about nakedness, a semi-nude woman is illustrated. Another illustration depicts the Midrashic story, in which Pharaoh’s advisers tell him that he must bathe in Jewish infant blood to cure his leprosy.

Abelman told JNS that whenever the Bible Museum has displayed the Prague Haggadah owned by the Lewiths, it has been well-received.

“The significance of the printing combined with the personal connection to the Lewith family is compelling to people,” he said. “I hope it helps them better understand the place of the Haggadah in Jewish history as well as Jews’ place in American history.”

As Pesach approaches, many families find themselves thinking about how to serve beautiful Yontif meals without overspending. Between rising grocery costs and the pressure to prepare something special, meat can feel especially intimidating. A new video from Kosher.com offers a practical solution, showing how to create a delicious, tender roast no matter your budget.

In “The Pesach Meat Masterclass – For Every Budget,” Esty Wolbe walks viewers through one versatile method that works across different cuts of meat, from more affordable options to higher-end choices. Instead of needing a different recipe for each price point, the approach focuses on technique: helping home cooks achieve consistent, reliable results whether they’re using brisket, flanken, or a premium roast.

The recipe itself is simple but thoughtful, built around a flavorful coffee-based rub and slow roasting process that enhances tenderness and depth without requiring complicated ingredients. For busy families preparing for Pesach, this kind of streamlined approach can make a real difference, cutting down on stress while still delivering a dish that feels special enough for Yom Tov.

At a time when many are looking for ways to balance quality and cost, this masterclass offers a refreshing perspective: you don’t need to spend more to serve something impressive. With the right method and a bit of confidence, it’s possible to put a beautiful meat dish on the table that works for your family, your schedule, and your budget this Pesach.

Watch the video here: https://www.kosher.com/video/the-pesach-meat-masterclass-for-every-budget/

WASHINGTON (VINnews) — Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned that any attack on the country’s power plants would prompt retaliatory strikes on energy and oil infrastructure across the region, escalating tensions in a volatile geopolitical standoff.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a social media post that critical energy facilities throughout the region could be targeted if Iran is struck, adding that such actions would have lasting consequences and could drive oil prices higher.

His comments followed a warning from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Saturday that the United States could strike Iranian power plants if freedom of navigation is not restored through the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

The Israeli Air Force carried out an airstrike on the Qasmiya Bridge over the Litani River in southern Lebanon earlier today, just hours after issuing a warning that the crossing would be targeted.

Video circulating from the scene captures the moment the bridge—situated along a key coastal highway—was hit.

According to the military, the strike was intended to block Hezbollah’s ability to transfer fighters and weapons into southern Lebanon. Defense Minister Israel Katz had previously ordered the immediate destruction of all Litani River crossings being used for militant activity, aiming to disrupt Hezbollah movement toward the border.

TYRE, LEBANON – MARCH 22: Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike targets the Qasmiyeh Bridge, one of the key transit points connecting the southern and northern parts of the country, linking the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon to Sidon, on March 22, 2026. (Photo by Mohamad Zanaty/Anadolu via Getty Images)

It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the passing of Rav Shalom Meir HaKohein Wallach zt”l, a renowned maggid meisharim and prolific author from Bnei Brak, who was niftar on Motzaei Shabbos after a prolonged illness. He was 78.

Rav Wallach was born in southern Tel Aviv on Sukkos 5708 to his father, Reb Mordechai HaKohein Wallach z”l, a Vizhnitzer chossid. In his youth, he learned in Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak.

After his marriage, while continuing his learning in kollel, he began developing his unique voice in Torah literature. With the founding of the newspaper Yated Ne’eman by Rav Elazar Menachem Shach zt”l, Rav Wallach was invited to serve as editor of its Torah supplement, where he helped shape a new style of Torah writing.

Over the years, his name became a fixture in Jewish homes through the hundreds of seforim he authored, spanning all segments of the chareidi world. With unusual talent, he bridged different communities, writing about the gedolim of both the Litvishe and chassidishe worlds, as well as producing well-known series dedicated to the heritage of Sephardic Jewry.

His works became widely popular and helped transform the landscape of Jewish storytelling. He was especially known for his haggados, publishing a new one each year that gathered the teachings of gedolei hadoros.

Alongside his vast literary output, he served for decades as the rov of the central shul in Shikun Gimmel in Bnei Brak. Residents recall a warm and radiant figure, a talmid chochom whose door was always open to those in need, and whose derashos—woven with stories and parables—drew large crowds eager to hear words of Torah.

He is survived by a distinguished family, with children and grandchildren following in the path of Torah and mitzvos.

The levayah was held last night at his home at 10 Rav Ami Street in Bnei Brak. The procession passed by his beis medrash at 74 Chazon Ish Street in Shikun Gimmel on its way to the Vizhnitzer cemetery in the city for kevurah.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

Senior officials at Ben Gurion Airport are recommending the immediate closure of Israeli airspace, Channel 13 reported Sunday — a move that could cut off one of the last remaining options for the thousands of Americans still stranded in Israel and desperately trying to reach their families before Pesach.

The report comes after Iranian missiles scored direct hits in three Israeli cities in 24 hours.

According to the report, a significant and potentially heated discussion is expected to take place this evening at Ben Gurion Airport, with participation from senior aviation and security officials. The meeting will bring together senior figures from Israel’s operations and security sectors, including Airports Authority chairman Shmuel Zakay and the Director-General of the Israel Airports Authority, along with representatives from the Transportation Ministry and the police.

At the center of the discussion is a proposal by professional officials to close the airport entirely and operate only essential flights.

Currently, around 10,000 passengers pass through the airport each day, but aviation officials are pushing for a complete shutdown of Israeli airspace, rather than the limited operating format currently in place.

Last week, Channel 13 reported that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) appealed to Minister Regev to use her authority to declare the aviation situation in Israel a state of emergency. Airlines are seeking such a declaration so they will not be required to bear the full cost of compensating Israeli passengers stranded abroad due to the war.

Under normal conditions, airlines are obligated to cover hotel accommodations when flights are canceled and to arrange alternative flights for passengers.

However, a legislative amendment approved last May allows the transportation minister to declare a special aviation status. In such a case, airlines are required to cover only two days of expenses and are not obligated to provide alternative flights—only refunds for canceled tickets.

With Pesach just a week and a half away, thousands of American travelers remain in Israel, many of them racing against the clock to secure seats on any available flight back to the United States.  Should the closure be implemented, it would effectively seal off one of the few remaining options for those still hoping to get out.

Many major international carriers have already suspended service to Israel since the outbreak of war, leaving El Al shouldering the bulk of passenger traffic in and out of the country, though even its flights have been beset by cancelations, chaos, and limited seating.

No timeline for a final decision has been announced.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

By Rabbi Dovid Abenson

Dear readers,

After more than forty years in the field of chinuch, I would like to share an aspect of my work that I consider distinctive. In a certain sense, I feel a connection to Rav Avigdor Miller zt”l, the great gadol of America, whose influence remains profound. Rav Miller’s effectiveness stemmed from his willingness to speak the truth without compromise. He was not dependent on any institution and thus could freely address issues as need be, without concern for losing a position or salary. It is this freedom that I find particularly inspiring and relevant to my own approach.

Similarly, as one who works independently, this allows me to write, speak, and express my perspective openly, without fear that honesty might threaten my livelihood. I have spoken with mechanchim and even gedolim who, though they wish to speak candidly, are constrained by the realities of their positions. That is why I write. My work is l’shem Shamayim for the sake of Klal Yisrael and the strengthening of Jewish education. When silence risks our children’s development, our schools, and the integrity of Torah education, someone must speak.

As we see today, when Gedolim speak about the challenges facing Klal Yisrael, certain subjects are addressed openly and repeatedly. Much is said about the internet, individuals who openly defy Torah values, and outside ideologies. These are real dangers and deserve attention. Yet when it comes to some of the most fundamental and painful issues within Jewish education itself, the silence is often striking and I am privy to this regularly. When there is an opportunity to hear from gedolim about education, which affects the institutions themselves, it is frequently ignored.

One striking example of where we have gone wrong is the issue of homework. Rav Mattisyahu Salomon zt”l stated unequivocally in his writings that there should be no homework. Period! “A school is meant to be a place of learning; a home is meant to be a refuge, a place where a child’s heart is filled with love, calm, and family connection” (A Heart Full of Love, pp. 79–83).

I personally raised this point with a menahelah of a Kodesh department. “Rav Salomon was clear: children should no longer be given homework.” The response was astonishing. She turned to me and said, almost defiantly, “That doesn’t apply to our school. It applied only to him.”

This is not a minor oversight; it is a systemic failure in Jewish education. Today, the overwhelming majority of frum schools assign homework including Kodesh homework despite the complete absence of any mesorah for such a practice. Homework is not rooted in Torah or Chazal. It is a foreign import, originating entirely outside the Jewish world. Around 1905, an Italian educator, Roberto Nevilis, introduced homework as a punitive measure, a way to discipline students who misbehaved or failed to pay attention in class. From there, the practice spread across Europe and was eventually absorbed wholesale into modern schooling, Jewish schools included, with little thought and no scrutiny.

Today, homework often functions as an admission of failure. It is the easy way out—a substitute for inspired teaching, active engagement, and accountability during school hours. Instead of fixing what happens in the classroom, we shift the burden onto the home, turning family time into an extension of school and eroding the very refuge a Jewish home is meant to be.

Rav Mattisyahu Salomon zt”l was a rare exception in his clarity and courage. He publicly insisted that no girls’ schools should open in Elul until every girl had a school to attend. These statements were not quiet comments; they were powerful, uncompromising, and carried weight. Such direct leadership on core chinuch issues is exceedingly rare. Yet the lesson is clear: without courage to implement change based on Torah guidance, even the best intentions are insufficient. Leadership must not fear discomfort or controversy when children’s education is at stake.

At the time of the Asifah, there was a real concern about internet technologies entering homes. Some institutions responded by banning them entirely but they did not provide any alternatives. Simply blocking access is a negative solution. That alone does not solve the problem.

Similarly, today we face a challenge with the internet. It is here to stay; simply banning it is not an option. While companies provides excellent filters that are professional, effective, and necessary, they are not sufficient on their own. What is needed are constructive solutions that allow the internet to operate in a kosher, Torah-guided way such as kosher AI, filtered content, and properly structured frameworks.

I recently spoke with someone those companies about this. I acknowledged the importance of the work they do, but I posed a simple question: is the internet itself the main problem, or is it the lack of meaningful alternatives? If access is blocked, what are people offered instead? He agreed completely, admitting that this absence of alternatives has been the greatest failure from the start. During the original Asifah, the message was absolute: don’t use it, ban it, stay away, and rely on companies to block harmful content. Yet no parallel vision was established, no structured plan for kosher alternatives, no investment in creating a Torah-guided digital world to replace what was removed.

Moshe Rabbeinu, speaking for Hashem, declares: ‘הַחַיִּים וְהַמָּוֶת נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ… וּבָֽחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים’ (Devarim 30:19_)“I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse…and you shall choose life, so that you and your offspring may live._” Hashem gave us the gift of choice.

Moshe Rabbeinu taught us to guard our eyes, not to close them in the absence of a kosher path. The outcome is predictable: not obedience, but confusion. And that confusion is precisely what we are now witnessing. Institutions stopped access but offered no constructive path forward. That is not the way of Moshe Rabbeinu. The Torah gives us free choice Bechira. We have the choice to do good or bad. Understandably,a child who sees something inappropriate is exercising that choice but forcing prohibition without guidance and educating why, is not Torah leadership.

Today, many children are immersed in the internet in some format and schools tell them what they can and cannot do, and filters may or may not exist. Over the past fourteen years, some alternatives have emerged. Jewish music platforms, kosher content initiatives, and limited broadcasts have proved successful, often reaching Jewish communities across the globe. These initiatives were created by ordinary people who showed foresight and courage, and they deserve genuine credit.

But the real question is unavoidable: why did this take fourteen years? These platforms should have existed from day one parallel to the warnings not a decade and a half later as damage control. When I asked a representative from those companies why this was not done earlier, he conceded that the idea had been raised and rejected as too expensive. I replied that the failure is clear. You can ban, warn, and frighten but we are not Amish. The Amish retreat from the world; they avoid technology entirely. If they need something, they simply rely on someone else who engages with the modern world. We, however, live fully within it. Torah demands disciplined engagement, not avoidance. We cannot pretend the internet does not exist; we must provide real, Torah-guided alternatives so our children can learn, explore, and grow safely.

In January 2026, an Asifah in Lakewood convened to address the dangers and efficiencies of artificial intelligence. The irony was unmistakable. Enormous effort went into analyzing risks, issuing guidelines, and urging caution but the outcome remained incomplete. Warnings were given, vigilance encouraged, yet no meaningful alternatives were provided. The focus was entirely defensive: what to block, what to restrict, what to guard against. Without constructive, Torah-guided solutions, even a serious gathering can only mitigate the problem temporarily.

Why did Rav Ashi and Ravina compiled the Gemara? The rabbis faced a crisis they did not know what would happen to the Klal Yisroel after the Destruction of the Second Beis HaMikdash. Without organizing the Torah and its teachings, much would have been lost.

This is why we must think boldly. We should engage the leaders shaping the digital world, people like Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Sundar Pichai. Not to fight them, but to collaborate. A truly kosher platform, kosher media space, or kosher AI built with clear moral boundaries, transparency, and accountability would serve not only the Jewish community but also be a Kiddush Hashem. It would show that Torah values are not afraid of technology but insist on guiding it.

To be continued…………..

————-

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Explore Rabbi Dovid Abenson’s books for insights to enhance your Torah learning and personal growth.

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Tel/WhatsApp: 848-367-1740
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FAIRFIELD, Ohio (AP) — Although President Donald Trump is the top Democratic nemesis, some of the party’s most ambitious leaders are increasingly looking past him and at Vice President JD Vance.

In the latest example, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear traveled to Vance’s home county in Ohio, where on Saturday night he said the vice president had abandoned the communities that he wrote about in the memoir that made him famous.

Beshear said “Hillbilly Elegy,” which detailed Vance’s hardscrabble upbringing, had “trafficked in tired stereotypes.”

“His book ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ was really hillbilly hate,” the governor said at a Democratic fundraiser in Butler County. “It is poverty tourism, because he ain’t from Appalachia.”

The broadside was not only a sign of Beshear’s own potential presidential aspirations, but a reflection of Vance’s status as the Republican heir apparent to the coalition that twice elected Trump to the White House.

“With every day that passes, we get closer to a day when Donald Trump is no longer president. And we need to prepare for that day,” said Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist. “Right now, JD Vance is a clear front-runner for the 2028 nomination. And so we should begin defining him — not in 2027, not in 2028 — but today.”

Vance spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk brushed off Beshear’s criticism.

“Every time Andy Beshear attacks the vice president to try to get himself publicity, he ends up humiliating himself in the process, but maybe that’s something he’s into?” she said.

An early foil for Democratic contenders
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California was among the first Democrats to begin focusing on Vance last year. Khanna stopped at the City Club of Cleveland and Yale University, where he and Vance studied law, and gave speeches that attempted to cast Vance as more extreme than Trump.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, another potential presidential contender in 2028, singled out Vance in November while making the argument that the Trump administration did not care about working people.

“At least with Donald Trump, he’s transparent about that,” Shapiro said. “JD Vance is a total phony.”

Some Democrats have coalesced around California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a strong candidate because of his aggressive strategy in going after Republicans.

He coined the nickname “JD ‘Just Dance’ Vance” on social media, and he has mocked the vice president’s appearance, saying Vance “grew a beard and lost his spine.”

Smith, the strategist who led Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign and still works with the former Biden administration transportation secretary, said every line of criticism of Vance is an audition.

“There’s definitely value in taking on Vance to show Democrats, hey, this could be me on the debate stage against him,” said Smith.

Vance often invokes his working-class roots
The vice president was born and raised in Butler County’s Middletown, and he rose to prominence with the publication of “Hillbilly Elegy” in 2016. The book earned Vance a reputation as someone who could help explain Trump’s appeal in middle America, especially among the working class, rural white voters who helped Trump win the presidency.

Vance carried that reputation to the U.S. Senate, winning election in 2022, and later to the vice presidency. That same background is likely to be central to any future presidential run — and it is precisely what Democrats are now working to undercut.

At Saturday’s Democratic fundraiser, the mere mention of Vance’s name drew a chorus of boos from the audience.

“I don’t think he’s got the magic that everybody looks at with Trump,” said Theresa Vacheresse, a retired physician and business owner who attended the event. “I think when Trump is gone, the Democrats might have a chance. My god, I hope so.”

The focus on Vance is not unusual for a vice president widely seen as a potential future nominee, particularly one as young as 41. Republicans went after Kamala Harris early in her tenure under President Joe Biden to undermine her political future.

Jamal Simmons, Harris’ communications director in 2022 and 2023, said vice presidents can be vulnerable.

“The party is built to defend the president more than it is the vice president,” he said. “The vice president’s kind of out there on their own, to defend themself, and find friends where they can.”

Republicans, including Vance, frequently tied Harris to some of the Democratic administration’s most politically difficult issues, such as immigration and border security.

“Being vice president is a very mixed blessing,” said David Axelrod, who was a top adviser to Democratic President Barack Obama. “You often don’t have the assets of the president, but you inherit all of the president’s record. The good, the bad, and the ugly.”

Beshear has had success in Trump country
Beshear is the rare Democrat to lead a red state, and he is positioning himself as someone who can reach voters who have tuned out his party.

He said Democrats can “actually go and win back those voters that JD Vance is so condescending to” if they stay focused on Americans’ basic needs such as affordable health care and public safety.

“We’ve gotta start talking to people and not at them,” he said. “That’s how I won counties in eastern Kentucky that normally vote for Republicans by large margins — including Breathitt County. That’s the county JD Vance pretends to be from. Donald Trump won it by 59 points. I won it by 22 points the year earlier.”

The audience appeared delighted with Beshear’s message.

“I think he’s first-rate,” said Mark Kaplan, who lives in Butler County. “What he’s got is compassion, empathy, charisma and intellect, but he’s also down-to-earth.”

Tensions flared sharply over Shabbos in the Achisamach neighborhood of Lod after dozens of chareidi residents blocked a main road in an effort to prevent chillul Shabbos, prompting a forceful and controversial response from the city’s mayor, Yair Rebibo.

The unrest unfolded over the latest Shabbos, when residents organized to stop vehicular traffic through their neighborhood. Protesters erected physical barriers across the main street, aiming to preserve the sanctity of Shabbos. The move angered other local residents and quickly drew the attention of municipal authorities.

Mayor Rebibo reacted immediately after Shabbos with unusually strong language, making clear that he would not tolerate what he described as a disruption of public order and illegal obstruction of traffic. He warned that the community from which the demonstrators emerged could face sweeping consequences, stating that it would be removed from access to municipal resources currently allocated to it as a form of collective penalty for what he called harm to the city’s daily functioning.

In a highly unusual step, the mayor also announced a financial incentive to identify those responsible for organizing the protest. “I remembered another important thing: a reward of 1,800 shekels will be given to the first person who provides me with the exact name of the organizer, who, among other things, produced professional notices and arranged for them to be posted in all the buildings on Friday afternoon,” Rebibo wrote in a message to residents.

He emphasized that he is specifically seeking the individual behind the planning, advertising, and logistics of the demonstration, and pledged complete confidentiality to anyone who comes forward with information. “I guarantee full confidentiality—please contact me privately. Thank you very much!” he added.

The atmosphere in Achisamach remained tense into the evening, with members of the chareidi community expressing concern over the potential loss of municipal funding and services in response to the protest. City officials, for their part, stressed that they will not allow any group to dictate traffic patterns in violation of the law and the existing status quo.

It remains to be seen whether the once-quiet neighborhood will become a regular flashpoint of confrontation each Shabbos, or whether city leaders will come to recognize that while chillul Shabbos may not be preventable everywhere, there is little justification for allowing its open violation in a chareidi area.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Dozens of family members, friends and residents gathered Sunday to accompany 18-year-old Yehuda Shmuel Sherman, of blessed memory, to his burial after he was killed in a vehicular ramming attack near Homesh on Shabbat.

The funeral procession began in the early afternoon at the Shuva Israel farm, a site established by his brother Daniel in memory of fallen comrades. The location, built in the wake of loss, served as the first stop in a farewell marked by grief and determination.

Sherman is survived by his parents, Yehoshua and Sima, and six siblings. His brother Daniel, who was with him during the attack, sustained moderate injuries.

Initial findings indicate the two brothers were traveling in an off-road vehicle when they were struck by a Palestinian vehicle that sped toward them from the direction of Beit Omrin and rammed into them. A third Israeli traveling with them was not injured.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Daniel described noticing a white pickup truck stopped along the road as he descended a steep stretch. After passing it, he said the vehicle turned around, pursued him, accelerated, and struck near a sharp curve along a cliff, causing him to be thrown from the road.

"הוא רדף וניגח אותי מהצוק": דניאל שרמן משחזר את רגעי הפיגוע בו נרצח אחיו יהודה שמואל הי"ד

https://t.co/LQ8oefjs0C pic.twitter.com/bKPCs1FzDL

— ערוץ 7 (@arutz7heb) March 22, 2026

He said he lost consciousness for several minutes before regaining awareness at the bottom of the cliff amid the wreckage. Despite his injuries, he said he immediately tried to reach his brother.

After calling out and receiving no response, Daniel said he managed to reach him and attempted to assist while he was still breathing.

He also said people from a nearby village arrived at the scene and threw stones as the situation unfolded.

Daniel was able to call for help, and security and rescue forces reached the site under difficult terrain conditions. Both brothers were evacuated to a hospital, where Yehuda Shmuel was later pronounced dead.

Later, family and friends gathered again at the Shuva Israel farm, where they bid farewell in an emotional scene marked by song and mourning.

By Y.M. Lowy

Monday will have a high of 49° and a low of 32°. It will be windy and cooler, with some periods of sun through the day.

Tuesday brings a high of 45° and a low of 37°. It will be breezy in the morning, followed by some sunshine later on.

Wednesday reaches a high of 48° with a low of 38°. Expect a balanced mix of sunshine and clouds throughout the day.

Thursday warms up to a high of 55° with a low of 36°. There will be plenty of sun, with some passing clouds at times.

President Donald Trump declared Sunday that Iran is already finished, which results in the Democratic Party now being the single greatest threat facing the United States.

“Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The post came just hours after the president issued a sweeping ultimatum to Tehran, threatening to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if it does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump wrote.

His declaration that Iran has effectively already fallen is a bit premature. The Defense Department has reportedly requested $200 billion in additional funding for the war effort, a figure that would suggest the conflict is far from over.

The Iran posts were part of a broader weekend barrage on social media. On Saturday, Trump reacted to the death of former FBI Director and Special Counsel Robert Mueller with open contempt.

“Good, I’m glad he’s dead,” the president wrote. “He can no longer hurt innocent people!”

Mueller, who led the yearslong investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, had long been a target of Trump’s ire.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran sharply intensified its confrontation with the United States on Friday by launching two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, a major U.S.-U.K. military installation in the Indian Ocean, in a move that signals a dramatic expansion of Tehran’s strike capabilities.

The attempted strike, aimed at a base located roughly 2,500 miles from Iran, suggests that the regime now possesses missile range far beyond what it had previously acknowledged publicly.

Prior to the launch of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had insisted that Tehran had deliberately limited its missile program. “We intentionally kept the range of our missiles below 2,000 kilometers so we don’t have that capability. And we don’t want to do that because we do not have hostility against the United States people and all Europeans.”

Israeli officials said the latest attack tells a very different story. On Saturday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated, “Just yesterday, Iran launched a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 4,000 kilometers [2,500 miles] toward an American target on the island of Diego Garcia. These missiles were not intended to hit Israel. Their range reaches the capitals of Europe — Berlin, Paris and Rome are all within direct threat range.”

IDF spokesman Nadav Shoshani accused Iran of misleading the world about its capabilities. Writing on X, he said, “Just 3 days before the war, the Iranian regime said they don’t obtain long-range missiles. Today, their lies were exposed once again, when missiles were fired 4000km away from Iran. They hoped to lie their way into becoming a force that can terrorize the world. We didn’t buy it.”

Policy analysts say the development reinforces longstanding concerns about Iran’s refusal to curb its missile ambitions. Jason Brodsky of United Against Nuclear Iran told Fox News Digital, “The Trump administration, in citing Iran’s missile threat as a rationale for Operation Epic Fury, was therefore justified in its decision to undertake military action as Iran has consistently refused to negotiate over its missile program.

“It also shows how dangerous it is to solely rely on Iranian nuclear weapons fatwas and the supreme leader’s public rhetoric in formulating U.S. policy. As long as Iran retains the technical capability beyond public pronouncements, it is a threat.”

Brodsky also pointed to a possible shift in power dynamics within Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. “I think it’s a message that the IRGC is in charge in Iran after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death,” Brodsky said. “When Khamenei was alive, he limited the range of Iran’s missile program to 2,000 kilometers. Khamenei recounted in 2018 how he had rejected overtures from IRGC commanders seeking to increase the range to as much as 5,000 kilometers.

“But now that he has died, those voices in the IRGC seeking to increase the range are likely driving the agenda. The launch of the missiles was likely meant as a signal of the IRGC’s capabilities to threaten U.S. allies beyond the Middle East. For example, this threatens Europe.”

Although neither missile struck its target, the attempted attack marked a significant escalation. One of the missiles reportedly malfunctioned mid-flight, while a U.S. naval vessel fired an SM-3 interceptor at the second. Officials have not yet confirmed whether that interception was successful. Diego Garcia remains a critical hub for U.S. strategic operations, including bomber deployments and nuclear submarine activity.

Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council said the launch underscores the urgency of addressing Iran’s growing threat. “The launch hammers home the president’s point about Iran being an imminent threat. It’s easy for casual observers to ignore, but the increasing maturity of Iran’s strategic programs, plural, has been exponentially expanding the threat that the Islamic Republic poses beyond the Middle East.

“That is what Epic Fury is seeking to address. The administration believes, absolutely correctly in my view, that these types of capabilities cannot be left in the hands of a radical, predatory regime.

“Despite its public denials, it’s been clear that the Iranian regime has been working on expanding the range of its ballistic missile capabilities for years. The launch toward Diego Garcia confirms that it has made real progress toward that goal and is already able to put targets in the same range as Central and Eastern Europe at risk. Moreover, it’s clear that the regime is seeking still greater capabilities and that, if left intact, Iran’s ballistic missiles would attain intercontinental range soon.”

Berman also highlighted the connection between Iran’s missile work and its broader strategic programs. “The parallel development Iran has been carrying out on its space program is significant. The booster used to put payloads into orbit can be married onto a medium-range missile to create intercontinental range capabilities. Before the war, we were seeing a clear convergence of the regime’s strategic programs: its ballistic missile work, its space capabilities and its nuclear program.”

He warned that Europe is now firmly within range. “Europe is absolutely at risk as the recent launch makes clear,” Berman said. “I wouldn’t say that a failure to recognize this to date has been due to a grand deception by Tehran, though. It is more attributable to willful blindness on the part of European elites about the extent of the threat that the Iranian regime poses as well as undue faith in diplomacy and arms control in containing it.”

The United Kingdom issued a sharp condemnation following the attempted strike. “Iran’s reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies,” the U.K. Ministry of Defense said in a statement. “RAF jets and other U.K. military assets are continuing to defend our people and personnel in the region.

“This government has given permission to the U.S. to use British bases for specific and limited defensive operations.”

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews) – There is a medical emergency that almost nobody is talking about — and the silence is costing lives. Every year, tens of thousands of Americans show up in emergency rooms with a condition called fecal impaction. A large number of them never make it home.

A study published by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston has put hard numbers to something doctors have quietly known for years: fecal impaction — when a large, hardened mass of stool gets stuck in the colon or rectum and cannot be passed — is far more dangerous than most people imagine. The findings are alarming. And the response from the medical community has been, to put it plainly, not nearly enough.

What Did the Study Find?

The researchers reviewed the charts of 32 patients who came to their emergency department with FI in 2016 and 2017. These patients had a total of 42 emergency room visits. What they found should disturb every hospital administrator, physician, and health policy maker in the country.

Nearly 22% of patients — that’s more than one out of every five — died in the hospital.

It doesn’t stop there. More than 40% of patients — nearly half — suffered serious complications directly related to the impaction. These included bowel obstructions, intestinal perforations, stercoral colitis (a dangerous inflammation of the colon caused by the pressure of impacted stool), and dangerous infections leading to sepsis and multi-organ failure. Two patients required emergency bowel surgery. Both of them died.

Nearly 90% of patients who arrived at the emergency room with this condition had to be admitted to the hospital. The average stay was over six days. The median was three days — meaning half the patients were there longer than that.

Who Is At Risk?

The average age of patients in the study was nearly 73 years old. The majority were women. Nearly half came from nursing homes or other care facilities. More than 40% were wheelchair-bound. Almost a third had pre-existing neurological conditions — things like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or dementia — all of which slow down or impair the digestive system.

Most striking of all: more than half of these patients were already taking medications known to cause or worsen constipation — opioid painkillers, certain heart medications called calcium channel blockers, anticholinergic drugs, and iron supplements. Yet only about 42% of patients were on laxatives before they arrived at the emergency room.

The Warning Signs Were There — And Were Missed

This is where the story becomes deeply troubling. Fecal impaction does not come out of nowhere. It develops over time, as constipation goes untreated. It is, in most cases, a preventable condition. Doctors and nurses knew about their health issues. And yet the constipation — the ticking time bomb — was not being addressed.

This is a failure of the medical system. Not a dramatic, headline-grabbing failure — but a quiet, routine, and deadly one.

When patients in nursing homes, on opioids, or with neurological conditions are not routinely screened for constipation and given preventative treatment, they end up in emergency rooms. Worse, they end up in the ICU. And sometimes they end up in the morgue — all because a problem that could have been treated with a stool softener or a laxative regimen or manual removal.

What Happens in the Emergency Room?

When patients arrived at the ER, the most common complaints were abdominal pain, constipation, and — disturbingly — altered mental status. That last one is a red flag that many non-specialists might not connect to a bowel problem. But fecal impaction can cause metabolic chaos in the body — acidosis, sepsis, urinary tract infections — all of which can cloud the mind and look like something else entirely. Many of these patients may have been misread initially.

In 88% of cases, FI was caught in the emergency room — mostly through CT scans. But treatment in the ER was attempted in fewer than half of those cases. Only about a third of patients who were identified with fecal impaction in the ER were successfully cleared of the stool blockage before being admitted.

That is a problem. If the ER identifies a bowel obstruction caused by impacted stool, the clock is ticking. Every hour that stool remains impacted increases the risk of bowel wall damage, perforation, and the spread of infection throughout the body. Prompt, aggressive treatment is not optional — it is lifesaving.

The Bigger Picture: A Systemic Failure

This study was the first of its kind in the United States — meaning that until recently, no one had even bothered to systematically track what happens to American patients who come to the ER with fecal impaction. That itself tells you something about how seriously this condition has been taken.

In 2011 alone, there were over 42,000 emergency department visits in the United States for fecal impaction. The problem disproportionately hits people over 65. With an aging American population, those numbers are almost certainly higher today. And yet there are no national protocols for preventing this condition in high-risk patients. No standard screening questions. No universal policy in nursing homes or hospitals about managing constipation before it becomes catastrophic.

The medical literature on fecal impaction is thin. Research is sparse. Funding is scarce. Nobody is holding press conferences about this. And yet a condition that killed more than one in five patients in this study — a condition that could in many cases be prevented with cheap, readily available medications — continues to be undertreated and underappreciated.

What Needs to Change

The authors of this study make a clear recommendation: patients presenting with fecal impaction should receive immediate treatment and close monitoring. But the problem starts long before the emergency room.

Here is what should happen — and largely does not:

Every patient prescribed an opioid painkiller should automatically receive a bowel regimen. Opioids slow gut function dramatically. This is not a rare side effect — it is nearly universal. Laxatives should be standard, not an afterthought.

Nursing home residents should be screened regularly for constipation. The institutionalized elderly are among the highest-risk groups. Routine bowel monitoring should be a standard part of nursing home care.

Patients with neurological conditions should have bowel management plans. Stroke patients, Parkinson’s patients, those with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries — all are at high risk. Their care plans should address this explicitly.

Emergency room physicians need clear protocols for aggressive treatment once fecal impaction is identified. Waiting until inpatient admission to begin disimpaction wastes precious time.

The Bottom Line

Fecal impaction is killing people — disproportionately elderly people, nursing home residents, and people who are already sick and vulnerable. It is doing so quietly, in hospitals and care facilities across the country, often because it was never properly prevented in the first place.

The Torah teaches us that preserving human life — pikuach nefesh — overrides nearly every other consideration. That principle should drive our medical priorities as much as our religious ones. When preventable deaths are occurring at this rate, silence is not just negligence. It is a moral failure.

Our hospitals need to wake up. Our nursing homes need to do better. And our doctors need to stop treating bowel management as a minor inconvenience and start treating it as the life-and-death issue that it clearly is. See Comment below for those who doubt that thisis an issue.

About a day after Iranian missiles with heavy warheads hit the southern cities of Arad and Dimona, the IDF released a preliminary investigation on the unsuccessful interception of the missiles.

Despite the two incidents, the interception success rate stands at over 92%, a figure the IDF defines as one of the highest ever achieved.

A senior Israeli Air Force officer noted that since the beginning of the conflict, over 400 ballistic missiles have been fired toward Israel, while the Air Force has simultaneously struck thousands of targets in Iran. “It’s not just about technology,” he said, “but also the human factor operating it and delivering results.”

The IDF emphasized that the two incidents in the south do not indicate a systemic failure, but rather a rare combination of circumstances. “This was a chain of isolated failures, not a breakdown of the overall system,” the officer explained, adding that the enemy is also learning and improving its tactics during the war.

The investigation revealed that in Dimona, the muddy ground conditions caused by the copious amounts of rain over Shabbos absorbed part of the blast and significantly reduced the level of destruction. In Arad, the missile struck an area between residential buildings, preventing the collapse of an entire building and a far greater loss of life.

However, the IDF highlighted one central conclusion that repeats across incidents: most of the injured were not in protected spaces when sirens sounded. A senior Home Front Command official stated that “those who were in safe rooms or shelters were not injured,” underscoring the critical importance of civilian discipline.

The impact sites suffered extensive damage to infrastructure and buildings. In Arad alone, dozens of casualties were evacuated in varying conditions, and some buildings have been declared unsafe and designated for demolition. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as residents fled in panic and tried to assist one another amid the destruction.

At the same time, the IDF notes that the air‑defense network is operating on a broad scale, in coordination with American and regional systems, though the vast majority of interceptions are carried out by Israel. Isolated failures, they emphasize, are statistically inevitable in an operation of this magnitude.

Ultimately, the army stresses that protecting civilian lives depends not only on military performance but also on public behavior. “Discipline saves lives,” the IDF says, urging the public to continue following Home Front Command guidelines—especially in moments of emergency.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Podcaster Joe Rogan drew criticism after appearing to entertain unfounded online rumors suggesting that Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is dead, even floating the idea that Netanyahu’s brother may have been killed in a recent missile strike during a new episode of his show.

The remarks were made on episode #2471 of The Joe Rogan Experience, featuring comedian Mark Normand, which was released between March 20 and 21, 2026. In a widely circulated clip, Rogan responded to questionable videos spreading online amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran.

His comments quickly gained traction across social media, where pro-Israel users accused him of echoing Iranian disinformation and veering into conspiracy theories.

The speculation had already been publicly debunked days earlier, when Netanyahu shared a verified video of himself casually ordering coffee at a café in Yerushalayim, poking fun at the false claims that had been fueled by Iranian state outlets and AI-generated content.

Netanyahu’s brother Iddo Netanyahu remains alive and active. The only brother who was killed was Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu, who died during the 1976 Entebbe rescue operation nearly five decades ago. There have been no credible reports of any recent attack involving members of the Netanyahu family.

Rogan’s comments come amid a surge in online conspiracy discussions centered on altered or distorted “AI videos” of Netanyahu, with some users citing visual irregularities, such as “six fingers,” as supposed evidence of manipulation. Rogan did not fully dismiss the claims, instead appearing to consider them as potentially plausible.

Every year before Pesach, we see articles about the high cost of Yom Tov and the need to help families who are struggling. The generosity of our community is beautiful, but we should also recognize one of the underlying pressures quietly contributing to these financial challenges, the growing focus on expensive clothing, brand names, and even which stores children shop at.

Even young children are already aware of these things and often compare what they wear or where it was purchased. This creates real pressure on families who cannot comfortably afford higher priced stores. Many good families would prefer to buy simpler, more affordable clothing, but their children may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed when peers question why they shop at a less expensive place.

BH, I am personally in a comfortable financial position, but in our home we simply do not place importance on labels or store names. Not as a statement, but because we genuinely do not see the value in paying extra for something that is not truly important. My children share that there is real peer pressure around this issue. While they can feel confident in our approach, many of their friends are not in the same position and feel the strain.

It is painful that Lakewood, once known for avoiding gashmius and placing greater value on simplicity and what truly matters, is increasingly experiencing pressure around appearances and status. Beyond being a hashkafic concern, this trend creates real financial strain. Much of the difficulty families face before Yom Tov could be reduced if we toned down the focus on brands and store names and returned to emphasizing more meaningful priorities.

Sometimes the greatest chesed is not only giving money, but helping create an environment where fewer people feel pressured to spend money they do not have in order to meet expectations that should not define us.

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (VINnews) — Hundreds of Jewish students and their families from around the world are gathering in Brooklyn this weekend for an international competition that blends education, identity and community.

Organizers say about 1,200 participants from 25 countries are attending the CKids Summit and the JewQ International Jewish Knowledge Championship, an event centered on a final competition Sunday where students will test their knowledge of Jewish texts, history and traditions.

The finalists advanced through months of preparation and a series of regional competitions that drew more than 4,500 students across 250 events, organizers said. Many of the competitors are public school students who are the only Jewish children in their classrooms.

The program, run by CKids International at Chabad headquarters, is designed to encourage students to pursue Jewish learning in a structured, competitive format. Organizers say it aims to engage children through a model inspired by educational approaches that emphasize motivation, achievement and positive reinforcement.

The event comes as some Jewish families say they are navigating concerns about antisemitism, social media influences and challenges related to identity and belonging. Organizers say many participants come from communities where access to Jewish education is limited.

Alongside the competition, the weekend includes programming for parents focused on raising Jewish children, including discussions on education, emotional well-being, and how to address difficult topics such as antisemitism and global conflict.

Families will also take part in activities across Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood, including visits to cultural and religious sites tied to Jewish life.

The championship finale is scheduled for Sunday at a banquet hall in Brooklyn, where organizers say finalists will compete before an audience in a high-energy setting after months of study. A livestream of the event is also available.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling on world leaders to join the fight against Iran, signaling that some countries may already be moving in that direction amid rapidly escalating tensions.

“It’s time for the leaders of the other countries to join in,” he told Fox News in an exclusive interview.

Netanyahu’s comments come as Israel continues its military operations targeting Iranian assets and leadership, with officials emphasizing that the campaign is aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. He suggested that the threat posed by Iran is no longer regional, but global in scope, urging a coordinated international response.

The remarks follow a dramatic warning issued by Donald Trump on Truth Social, in which he threatened direct U.S. military action if Iran does not reopen a critical global shipping route.

Screenshot

“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”

The Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most vital energy corridors, with a significant percentage of global oil shipments passing through it daily. Any disruption has immediate implications for international markets and global stability.

While it remains unclear which countries may join the effort, Netanyahu indicated that movement is already underway behind the scenes, adding pressure on the international community to take a more active role.

The situation continues to develop as both diplomatic and military tensions rise, with the potential for broader regional escalation.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu toured the site of a recent missile impact in Arad, where he sharply accused Iran of intensifying attacks on civilian areas and cautioned that the danger now reaches far beyond Israel’s borders.

Standing at the location of the strike, Netanyahu said the events of the past two days have made clear that Iran represents a global threat. He pointed to the missile that hit a residential area, describing it as a deliberate attempt to inflict mass casualties, and noted that the absence of fatalities was purely incidental.

He also referenced additional developments, including reported strikes near religious locations in Jerusalem and a long-range missile launch, which he said demonstrates Iran’s expanding operational range and its ability to threaten regions far outside the Middle East.

“Iran is putting everyone in its sights,” Netanyahu said, adding that its actions against international shipping routes further demonstrate an effort to destabilize global security and exert pressure on the international community.

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is coordinating closely with the United States under Donald Trump to counter what he described as a “terrorist regime,” and urged other nations to take a more assertive stance in confronting the threat.

Discussing Israel’s military response, he said the IDF is operating “with great force,” while making clear that its targets are regime elements rather than civilians. He explained that operations are directed at Iran’s leadership, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as key infrastructure, strategic facilities, and financial assets tied to the regime.

The prime minister outlined two central goals guiding the campaign: eliminating Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, and fostering conditions that could allow the Iranian public to challenge the current leadership.

When asked about possible joint action with the United States in future operations, particularly in light of Trump’s comments regarding potential steps if shipping lanes remain obstructed, Netanyahu declined to elaborate on specifics but underscored the close coordination between the two countries.

“We act together, and as much as possible, we do so discreetly,” he said.

YS GOLD

It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of Mrs. Rivkie Kleinbart, a legendary activist and ba’alas Chessed. She was 54 years of age and suffered terribly in recent years. 

The nifteres, together with her husband, ybl”ch, Reb Binyumin (Yumi), devoted her life to Chessed—but they were renowned for their devotion to the couples of Bonei Olam as they awaited their salvation. 

She was sadly stricken with an illness a few years ago, and fought the machlah with grace, fortitude, and deep Emunah, further inspiring everyone who knew her. 

She sadly passed away on Motzei Shabbos, plunging into mourning and deep sadness her many acquaintances, admirers, and beneficiaries of her chessed. 

The levaya will take place 11:30 at Shomrei Hadas, where many in the community will come out to give a kavod acharon to Mrs. Kleinbart, and Kevurah will take place in Eretz Yisroel. To watch the levaye live click here.

Yehi zichra baruch.

An Israeli man killed Sunday morning when a missile struck his vehicle has been identified as Ofer Moskowitz, who managed the avocado groves at Kibbutz Misgav Am.

Although he and his family had relocated to Kibbutz Ginosar during the fighting in northern Israel, Moskowitz continued traveling back frequently to Misgav Am to care for the orchards and the kibbutz’s chicken coops near the Lebanese border, despite the ongoing security risks.

Only days before he was killed, Moskowitz openly acknowledged the danger he was living with, saying, “At any moment a missile or a UAV could hit me. It’s like Russian roulette.”

Kibbutz Misgav Am issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over his death, remembering him as “an orator, farmer, friend, and a symbol and legacy for all of us.” The statement continued, “For years he was a central voice among us. We send our deepest condolences and a strong embrace to his family and to the entire Misgav Am community. The Galilee will not look the same without him. May his memory be blessed.”

In an interview conducted in July, Moskowitz described how he tried to protect the orchards during earlier attacks. “I opened all the irrigation taps so the water would flood the area, and that’s what stopped the fire from spreading,” he said. Even so, approximately 400,000 square meters of fruit trees were lost in the blaze.

Despite the devastation, Moskowitz spoke about rebuilding with optimism and determination. “With great joy and excitement, we are replanting. We are planting not only trees, but also hope, faith, and renewal.”

CAIRO (AP) — Iran and its ally, the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group, stepped up pressure on Israel on Sunday, with intense attacks on the country’s north and south after the United States and Iran threatened to widen their targets in the war in the Middle East, now in its fourth week.

As Israel came under renewed fire, top Israeli leaders traveled to the Negev Desert, home to the country’s main nuclear research center and the site where Iran’s barrages struck two towns on Saturday, shattering apartment buildings and injuring scores of people in Arad and Dimona.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured Arad and said it was a “miracle” no one was killed there. He claimed Israel and the U.S. were well on their way to achieving the war’s goals and implored the international community for support.

Earlier, President Donald Trump warned the United States will destroy Iran’s power plants if Tehran fails to fully open the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours. Iran’s parliament speaker said if the U.S. follows through on its threat, Tehran would retaliate against American and Israeli energy and wider infrastructure in the region.

The developments signaled the Iran war, which the U.S. and Israel launched on Feb. 28, was moving in a dangerous new direction, despite Trump’s mention last week he was considering “winding down” operations. The war that has killed hundreds of people, rattled the global economy and sent oil prices surging.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an airstrike Sunday that killed a man in northern Israel while Gulf Arab states — including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — said they were working to intercept new Iranian strikes.

Iran responds to Trump’s threat over its Strait of Hormuz closure
Iran has practically closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s supply passes. Attacks on commercial ships and threats of further strikes have stopped nearly all tankers from navigating the strait, compelling some of the world’s largest oil producers to make cuts because their crude has nowhere to go.

The blockade is a liability for both the U.S. and its allies in Europe and Asia, who rely heavily on the Persian Gulf supply to meet energy demand and power factories, vehicles and homes. The U.S. lifted some sanctions on Iranian oil at sea to relieve pressure on energy prices.

On Saturday, Trump said he would give Iran 48 hours to open the strait or the U.S. would destroy Iran’s “various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”

The Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, responded Sunday on X that if Iran’s power plants and infrastructure were targeted, then vital infrastructure across the region — including energy and desalination facilities — would be considered legitimate targets and “irreversibly destroyed.”

Separately, Iranian officials on Sunday said they would keep providing safe passage through the strait to vessels from countries other than its enemies.

Nuclear concerns as the war rages
Iran said its strikes in the Negev Desert were in retaliation to an earlier attack on Iran’s main nuclear enrichment site in Natanz, according to state-run media.

Tehran hailed the attack as show of strength — even as Israel’s military asserts that Iranian missile launches have gradually decreased in frequency since the start of the war.

“If the Israeli regime is unable to intercept missiles in the heavily protected Dimona area, it is, operationally, a sign of entering a new phase of the battle,” said Qalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker.

Dimona is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of the nuclear research center and Arad around 35 kilometers (22 miles) to the north.

Soroka, southern Israel’s main hospital, received at least 175 wounded from Arad and Dimona, the hospital’s deputy director Roy Kessous told The Associated Press.

Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, though it doesn’t confirm or deny their existence. The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on X it had not received reports of damage to the Israeli center or abnormal radiation levels.

Israel denied responsibility for hitting Natanz on Saturday while the Iranian judiciary’s official news agency, Mizan, said there was no leakage. The Pentagon declined to comment on the strike at Natanz, which was also hit in the first week of the ongoing war and in the 12-day war last June.

The U.N. watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency — has said the bulk of Iran’s estimated 972 pounds (441 kilograms) of enriched uranium is elsewhere, beneath the rubble at its Isfahan facility.

Iran says strike on Natanz also hit a hospital
Iran said Saturday’s strike at Natanz also hit a hospital in nearby Andimeshk. The health ministry reported patients and doctors were evacuated from there.

“Patients in the city of Andimeshk were forced to leave the only hospital in the city,” Health Ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour wrote on X.

He posted images showing a ward with a partially collapsed ceiling, a corridor strewn with broken glass, and said patients had been transferred to another city.

In Iran, the death toll in the war surpassed 1,500 on Saturday, state media reported, citing the health ministry. In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian strikes. More than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states have been killed in strikes.

The war has also seen noncombat related accidents, including a U.S. refueling plane crash in western Iraq that killed six U.S. service members and a Qatari military helicopter crash on Saturday that was blamed on a technical malfunction. All seven aboard the helicopter were killed, Qatari authorities said Sunday.

Hezbollah strike on northern Israel claims first fatality there
The Israeli civilian was killed in the northern town of Misgav Am in what Israel’s military said “seemed to be” a rocket attack. Israeli medics said they found the man in his car and released a video showing two vehicles ablaze.

Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, launched strikes on Israel soon after the war erupted, saying it was in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel struck back, bombarding Lebanon and targeting Hezbollah in deadly airstrikes, expanding its presence in southern Lebanon and amassing more troops near the border.

Lebanese authorities say Israel’s strikes have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million.

Q:

Isn’t it a bit extreme how careful we are about getting rid of chametz before Pesach?

A:

Pesach tells us that the Am Yisroel is a nation of fanatics. We’re fanatics for Hashem. We’re fanatics for His Torah. And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

If you look in the Chumash, it tells us laws about Pesach. Now Pesach, everybody knows, is for the purpose of commemorating the Exodus from Mitzrayim. That’s what Pesach is all about. We eat matzah, and we don’t eat chometz for a purpose, because we were driven out of Egypt in a hurry; it took a long time to convince Pharaoh — he refused again and again — but when the time came however and finally he yielded, he did it in such a hurry that he got up in the middle of the night to send us out. It was a demonstration that it was Hakodosh Boruch Hu who forced him to let us go. In the middle of the night, he said, “Get out or else we’re all going to die here.” So we took our dough, we didn’t have a chance to let it ferment, to let it become leaven, and went out with unleavened bread from Egypt.

Now if that’s the purpose of chametz and matzah, to commemorate the rapidity of our redemption from exile, good. But along comes the Torah and starts saying queer things. The Torah says לא יראה בך חמץ ולא יראה בך שעיר בכל גבולך – in all of your boundaries, you shouldn’t have any kind of bread at all. Why so extreme? It’s enough to say, “Don’t eat bread in memory of that.” Put the bread, let’s say, on the side, in a pantry. But לא יראה – you shouldn’t have in your possession, בכל גבולך – in all your boundary?! No matter how big your estate is, you can’t have a piece of bread anyplace!

What are we learning here? We’re learning the principle of extremism. The Torah says, “If you’re devoted to me, don’t be halfhearted. It has to be בכל לבבך – with all your heart.” That’s the principle we’re learning here.

Now that’s fanaticism. Not to have any bread at all; not even in a basement you can’t keep a piece of bread. If all you want to do is commemorate Yetzias Mitzrayim, that’s enough. You put matzah on the table but on the side, in the pantry, you can have bread. You won’t eat it. You can put a sign on it, don’t touch it. You can lock it up. But not to be able to hold it in your possession? You have to get rid of all your bread and anything that looks like chometz? So you begin to understand that the principle of the Torah is, don’t do things half way.

Now along come our Sages. They’re not satisfied with the fanaticism of the Torah. They say even more. They say the night before Pesach, you have to start looking for chometz. Why look? You’re getting rid of all the chometz.

So here the husband sits on his hands and knees with a candle under the bed.

His wife says, “What are you doing there? There’s no bread over there. I cleaned it out already.”

“Never mind,” he says, “I have to do the mitzvah of bedikas chometz.

She says, “Watch out! Don’t set fire to the bed.”

And so you watch out, you’re careful. But you climb under the bed anyhow.

So you’ll say, “What kind of fanaticism is that?”

Yes, that’s what the Chachamim expected of us.

Even more. Suppose on Pesach, one crumb of bread fell into a very great vat of food. Let’s say you’re preparing a big party on Chol Hamoed Pesach and by accident one crumb fell into it. The whole vat of food, even a ton of food, must be destroyed. משהו חמץ – even the smallest amount makes the whole thing forbidden to use. Now that surely is building a skyscraper on top of the Torah sky scraper. It was fanaticism to start with and now extremity on top of extremity.

And so you understand now what it means to be a Jew. A Jew means you live for Hashem. Not a moderate, a beinoni. You have to be moderate in everything except in the service of Hashem. With Hashem, you’re not moderate. As a Jew you can’t be moderate. A Jew must be an extremist.

(Toras Avigdor – April 1990)

Israel’s planning system has just handed Kiryat Shmona one of the biggest development approvals seen on the northern border in years, a new “Nahalim Quarter” with 4,500 housing units, alongside commercial space, employment and industrial uses, senior housing, long-term rental stock, hotel uses, and large open public areas. The district is planned across roughly 1,176 dunams, with a 270-dunam urban park at its center linking the Nahal Iyon and Nahal Snir corridors.

This is not a narrow reconstruction project, but rather an attempt to remake Kiryat Shmona as a larger regional center with higher quality of living, not just more apartments on paper. Earlier planning material around the same push tied the area directly to a future rail station and transport hub, while the government’s February “Jumpstarting the North” plan promised immediate resources for housing, transportation, academic institutions and broader demographic growth in Kiryat Shmona, Shlomi and Metula.

But the gap between approving homes and creating a functioning market in the north is still enormous. The State Comptroller documented that 26,167 Kiryat Shmona evacuees were dispersed across 13 receiving municipalities, and in a separate review criticized the lack of a proper full-city evacuation plan for Kiryat Shmona despite its exposure on the Lebanese border. Even after earlier returns, residents have again come under fire as Hezbollah terrorists resumed attacks during the latest escalation, underscoring the central truth of the northern property market as the biggest variable is not zoning, but security.

Israel entered 2026 with a record 86,090 unsold new homes nationwide, while transaction volumes remained soft. At the same time, official data cited by market analysts showed home prices rising again after months of weakness, including a 4.8% annual increase in the northern district. In other words, supply is already heavy, financing is still difficult, and the market is selective, yet planners are choosing to add more northern inventory anyway because they see national resilience as a housing strategy, not just a security slogan.

In Safed, planners recently advanced a separate scheme near the Old City with about 300 new homes, 250 hotel rooms, retail space and public parking. Nationally, the Planning Administration said 2025 approvals ran about 80% above target, with 18,223 units approved in the Northern District and rail expansion to Kiryat Shmona included in the broader infrastructure push. That combination matters as housing, tourism and transport are being treated as one ecosystem, especially in frontier cities that need both residents and jobs to justify long-term recovery.

KIRYAT SHMONA, ISRAEL – DECEMBER 30: Three Israeli girls walk by a building damaged in a Hezbollah rocket attack in the country’s northernmost town on December 30, 2024 in Kiryat Shmona, Israel. Israel and Hezbollah are working to implement a 60-day ceasefire agreement reached on November 27. As Houthi missiles from Yemen continue to target central Israel, and as the war in Gaza continues with no progress in ceasefire talks with Hamas, the Israeli military and civilian population remain on high alert. (Photo by Martin Fraser/Getty Images).

The real estate question now is whether Israel can turn planning volume into lived reality. Kiryat Shmona does not need another headline about future units if families still doubt they can stay, investors still price in recurring attacks, and employers still hesitate to anchor there. But if the state follows this approval with rail, protected public infrastructure, real employment engines and a durable security envelope, the city could become one of the most consequential redevelopment stories in the country. If not, the 4,500-home approval will remain what too many Israeli projects become in wartime, a powerful map, and an unfinished market.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Sahar and Omer Shashua, the parents of twins born prematurely just before the war, debated on how they could celebrate their Bris Mila. They eventually moved the celebration to the shelter in their apartment building in Holon, and the neighbors came to help and celebrate, according to a report by Ynet.

Between air raid sirens and hurried descents down 12 flights of stairs, accompanied by the cries of their six-week-old babies, Sahar and Omer found themselves marking one of the most significant moments of their lives in their building’s shelter in Holon.

There, underground, their premature twin sons, Ari and Yair, were circumcised this week. “It was a difficult decision,” Sahar said. “You want to hold a normal celebration for the whole family, invite people and celebrate properly, but then you realize you have to make do.”

Since the start of the war, the couple have been juggling new parenthood with a security reality that dictates their daily routine. Every siren has become a complex operation: the babies wake up, the dogs panic, and within minutes they must descend on foot from the 12th floor to a crowded, noisy shelter.

Amid the chaos, they decided to hold the brit milah ceremony in the shelter. “We debated a lot with our families whether to do it at all, who would come and how many,” Omer said. “In the end we understood there was no real alternative and decided to invite only immediate family. It’s not the big event we imagined, but it’s what was possible.”

The unusual conditions — and even sirens that sounded during the ceremony — did not diminish the experience for close relatives, a small group of friends and building residents who joined.

“We wrote in the building’s group chat to update people, so they wouldn’t come down to the shelter and be surprised,” Omer said. “Everyone sent congratulations, and some even came down specially to watch the ceremony, to take part, even if just for a moment.”

“It felt like something that united everyone. People helped us with lighting, with organizing the space. It wasn’t just our event — it belonged to the whole building,” Sahar said, adding that the emotions remained mixed. “You want to be happy, but it feels like you’re being forced to scale down your joy. The night before there were sirens and we barely slept. It’s not an ideal situation to arrive at an event like this.”

It was not the first time the couple marked a joyful occasion under difficult circumstances. “Our wedding was during COVID,” Omer said. “Every time we reach happy moments, they happen within a complicated reality. It was a joyful event, but the fact that we’re doing it in a shelter is a reminder of the reality we live in.”

Sahar summed it up: “It’s a kind of small victory, but it also shows just how complex the situation is.”

Israel’s Home Front Command has imposed stricter emergency guidelines across southern regions following direct missile strikes in Arad and Dimona that left 175 people injured, including dozens in serious condition.

Under the updated directives, public gatherings in affected areas are now limited to no more than 50 people, and all educational activities have been suspended.

The new restrictions were issued after a security assessment and apply to the Lachish region, western Lachish, western Negev, central Negev, southern Negev, and the Dead Sea area, all of which have been placed under a “limited activity” status.

According to the detailed guidelines, no in-person educational programs are permitted. Schools and all forms of physical instruction have been halted entirely.

Public gatherings are allowed only up to 50 individuals, and only in locations where a protected shelter can be reached within the required response time.

Workplaces may continue to operate, but only if employees have immediate access to a standard protected space in the event of an alert.

These measures took effect on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 6:00 a.m. and are scheduled to remain in place until Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 8:00 p.m.

Earlier in the evening, Israel’s Ministry of Education announced a nationwide suspension of all in-person schooling following consultations with Home Front Command leadership. Education Minister Yoav Kisch said that on Sunday and Monday, all prior exceptions allowing classroom learning would be canceled, including for special education.

Students across the country will transition exclusively to remote learning during this period, with no physical attendance permitted.

The Ministry of Education stated: “We emphasize that all exceptions previously granted for in-person learning, including special education, are canceled. A new assessment will be held ahead of Tuesday, and additional updates will be provided accordingly.”

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the impact sites in Arad and Dimona, where Iranian ballistic missiles directly struck last night. At the site in Arad, he remarked that “A miracle happened here—no one was killed. But we do not want to rely only on miracles. There were a full 10 minutes from the warning until the missile hit. If everyone had entered protected spaces during that time, into the shelters that exist beneath every home here, no one would have been injured.”

According to him, “We already have experience. We know that since the beginning of the war we have lost 15 precious civilians. Our hearts ache for each and every one of them. But only in the first strike in Beit Shemesh did a missile penetrate an old shelter at one location and injure two people. All the others who were in shelters were unharmed. That means that if you are in shelters, you are protected. Therefore, I say: the entire nation is a front, the entire home front is a front. In this struggle we are winning, we are crushing the enemy, and our hand is still extended.”

הפרגוד: נתניהו בזירה הקשה בערד pic.twitter.com/xrGQsm7icv

— הפרגוד (@moshepargod) March 22, 2026

Netanyahu at site of Arad missile attack

95 people were evacuated to hospital in the wake of the Arad strike, 10 of them in serious condition, but there were no fatalities as the missile struck between buildings. Local residents said that the result would have been catastrophic if one of the buildings had been directly hit.

At a time of enormous uncertainty for travelers, Jewish Breaking News went inside EL AL’s headquarters at Ben Gurion Airport to get real answers to the questions so many are asking.

With so much confusion surrounding flights, tickets, and travel policies, what is actually happening on the ground? Josh Broide sat down with Michal Stein, Director of Operations at EL AL, and her team to get clear, real time answers.

What he found was not a typical corporate office, but a team of senior leadership and department heads operating out of a secured bunker beneath the airport, working around the clock under the same pressures facing all Israelis today. As part of a much bigger operational picture, here is just one example of the many factors airlines must take into account. Under current guidelines, planes are only permitted to remain on the ground for about an hour, meaning passengers must deplane and board again within that same window. This directly impacts how many people can be accommodated on each flight and highlights the complexity behind every departure.

With that in mind, here are the answers to the most pressing questions:

CURRENT FLIGHT SITUATION

What flights are actually operating right now?

At this time, there are no regular commercial flights operating. All flights are currently being run as special operations.

Are these considered regular flights or something else?

These are not standard scheduled flights, but special operations designed to move passengers in and out of Israel under current conditions.

If I have a ticket for next week, will my flight operate?

For the first time since the war began, EL AL is now ahead of the schedule, with a full week of flights planned. If you are flying this week or next week, you should have already received your updated flight information. While nothing can be guaranteed during wartime, having a confirmed ticket is a strong indication you will be flying.

Tel Aviv,Israel -September,12, 2011: Airplane of United at front of the terminal building in the summer day at the Ben Gurion Airport Israel

TICKETING, CHANGES AND REBOOKING

What happens if my flight was canceled?

EL AL is working proactively to contact every passenger whose flight was canceled and rebook them. However, complications arise when certain destinations are not currently operating. For example, if a direct flight such as Boston is unavailable, passengers may be rerouted through another city like New York. Passengers are then contacted, primarily via WhatsApp, to confirm whether they accept the new itinerary or prefer a voucher.

Can passengers still be bumped?

A confirmed ticket is a strong indicator of travel, but during wartime, there are no absolute guarantees. Operational or security factors could still impact flights.

Can you bring luggage on the flight?

Yes, passengers are allowed to bring luggage on flights. However, cargo services are currently not operating in the same way, and availability may be limited.

How long should refunds take?

Refunds are expected to be processed within approximately 21 days, although this may vary depending on the situation.

Illustrative photo of an El Al flight taking off at Ben Gurion Airport. (Moshe Alon)

Customer Service Challenges

Why is it so difficult to reach a human representative?

Under normal conditions, EL AL handles approximately 6,000 inquiries per day.

During the current situation, that number has surged to tens of thousands daily, with reports of up to 80,000 inquiries per day. Simply adding staff is not a quick solution, as these are highly trained agents who must handle complex rebookings across constantly changing schedules.

While WhatsApp remains the primary communication tool, the scale of demand has created delays.

FREQUENT FLYERS

Will Matmid status be affected?

EL AL has frozen Matmid status through April 30, ensuring that no frequent flyer is downgraded during this period. Future adjustments will be made depending on how the situation develops.

Are there dedicated channels for top tier members?

Yes. There is a dedicated WhatsApp channel for Gold, Platinum, and Top Platinum members, and Top Platinum members have access to more personalized support.

TRAVEL TO ISRAEL INCLUDING PESACH

What should travelers expect right now?

EL AL is currently focused on rebooking passengers who already held tickets, including existing EL AL passengers and travelers from other airlines that have suspended service. This is why new bookings are limited for near term travel. However, travelers can still book flights from April 15 and beyond, including summer travel.

English: Ben Gurion International Airport Tel Aviv (Credit: Ralf Roletschek, WIkipedia Commons)

RUMORS AND CLARIFICATIONS

Is there a 30 day travel restriction or waiver?

Any such policy would be government related, not EL AL policy. EL AL is not responsible for enforcing such measures.

Why are flight numbers changing?

Four digit numbers starting with 7 mean a passenger is still awaiting final flight assignment.

Four digit numbers starting with 1 mean the flight is confirmed as a special operational flight.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

At a time when most international airlines have suspended service indefinitely, EL AL continues to operate. According to what was shared, if given full clearance, EL AL would be ready to return to full capacity immediately.

But what stood out most was not just the logistics, it was the people. These are individuals managing national air travel while also raising children at home during wartime, responding to sirens, and navigating the same uncertainty as every Israeli. All while coordinating one of the most complex aviation operations imaginable.

TOPSHOT – Members of Israeli security services inspect a crater near a road outside Israel’s Ben Gurion airport after a missile launched from Yemen struck the area on May 4, 2025. A missile launched from Yemen struck near Israel’s main international airport on May 4, Israeli authorities said, an attack that briefly halted air traffic and triggered threats of retaliation. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

THE LATEST UPDATE FROM EL AL

Following a directive from the Home Front Command to reduce the number of passengers departing on flights to the United States by 50%, to approximately 130 passengers per flight, about half of the passengers currently booked on these flights are expected to receive cancellation notifications. We apologize for the inconvenience and recommend that customers who wish to depart as soon as possible consider alternative travel options.

Passengers whose flights are canceled will be eligible for a full refund or a voucher.

In addition, due to the new Home Front Command restrictions, EL AL is currently suspending the assignment of additional passengers to flights to the United States.

At the same time, no changes are currently expected to flights from the United States to Israel.

EL AL has provided additional guidance to help travelers better navigate the current situation:

Important to understand:

Flight operations are subject to the guidelines of the Home Front Command, not EL AL alone. As a result, schedules can change, and some flights may be delayed or canceled depending on security conditions.

A view of an Iranian missile after it fell near Qamishli International Airport, near the Turkish border in the Qamishli district of Hasakah, Syria, on March 4, 2026, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. (Photo by Amjad Kurdo / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

Who should contact EL AL?

Only passengers with flights in the next week, urgent issues, missing booking codes, or families traveling with children under 17 on separate bookings. Priority is given to those flying within 48 hours.

Flight changes:

If your flight is changed or canceled, you will automatically be reassigned and notified. There is no need to contact EL AL.

Changing flights:

At this time, reassigned flights cannot be changed due to capacity limitations. Passengers who choose not to travel may request a refund or voucher.

Bookings through agents:

EL AL will handle reassignments directly, but cancellations must be done through the original booking agent if applicable.

Staying informed:

Travelers are encouraged to check “Manage My Booking” for the most up to date information and ensure their contact details are current. EL AL will continue to provide updates directly to passengers. EL AL emphasized that they are doing everything possible to safely transport passengers during this challenging time and thanked travelers for their patience and trust.

There are real frustrations. Delays. Unanswered messages. Uncertainty.

But there is also something else.

A team working around the clock, under pressure most of us never see, to keep Israel connected to the world.

Because behind every flight is not just a seat, but a person trying to get home.

Reported by Josh Broide, Global Correspondent, for JewishBreakingNews.com

NEW YORK (VINnews/Rabbi Yair Hoffman) – When chas v’shalom a Jewish family loses a loved one and sits shivah — the seven-day mourning period — one of the first things people notice in the house is that all the mirrors are covered. Many visitors simply accept this as “this is what we do,” but few stop to ask: where does this come from, and do all the mirrors in the home have to be covered?  We will see that it is likely thataccording to the last three reasons, all the mirrors should be covered, but consult your own Rav or Posaik.

As an introduction let’s note that clear, perfectly reflective glass mirrors were only invented in the late 1600s. Before that, mirrors were made of polished metal and gave only blurry images. It is therefore no surprise that no halachic source mentions covering mirrors during mourning until later. The earliest known Jewish discussion of this custom comes from the Chasam Sofer (1762–1839). He wrote about it in notes surrounding eulogies he delivered between 1832 and 1834.

Over the next century, several different explanations for this custom developed.

Reason One: Overturning the Divine Image — Parallel to Kefiyas HaMittah

The Chasam Sofer himself offered the first and perhaps most profound explanation. In the Talmud (Moed Katan 15b), Bar Kappara explains why mourners in Talmudic times were required to overturn their beds (kefiyas hamittah): the human being was created b’tzelem Elokim, in the image of Hashem. When a person dies, that Divine image has been “overturned” — knocked off balance. To express this reality, mourners overturned their beds. The Yerushalmi (Moed Katan 3:5) adds another dimension: the bed is overturned because it represents bringing new life into the world. When life ends, this symbol is turned upside down.

The Chasam Sofer explains that although we no longer overturn our beds today, mirrors serve as a perfect modern substitute. Why? Because a mirror captures the image — the tzelem — of the person looking into it. Since the Divine image in the deceased has been “overturned” by death, we turn the mirror around or cover it to represent this same idea. The mirror, which reflects the human form made in God’s image, is hidden — just as the beds were once overturned.

Reason Two: Mirrors Facilitate Intimacy — Like the Beds

The Chasam Sofer offers a second layer to his explanation, drawing on Rashi’s commentary to Shemos 38:8. When the Jewish women in Egypt donated their copper mirrors to build the Mishkan (Tabernacle), Rashi explains that these mirrors had historically been used by Jewish women in Egypt to strengthen their marriages during difficult times. Rashi praises these mirrors as deeply holy objects because of the role they played in Jewish family life and the continuation of the Jewish people.

Reason Three: Mirrors Are a Symbol of Vanity

Rav Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos v’Hanhagos, Yoreh Deah, siman 585) and Rav Soloveitchik both emphasize a third reason: mirrors are fundamentally an expression of vanity. We look into mirrors to check our appearance, fix our hair, and make ourselves look presentable. This kind of self-focused concern for outward appearance is entirely out of place in a house of mourning.

Reason Four: Not to Pray Facing a Mirror

Rav Menachem Pollack (Hungary/United States, 1890–1953), in his book of responsa Chelek Levi (Yoreh Deah, siman 132), provides the fourth reason —his reason is rooted in the laws of prayer.

It is customary to pray in the house of mourning during the shivah week, so that the mourner does not have to leave the house to attend synagogue. However, there is a well-established rule in Jewish law that one should not pray while facing a mirror, because it might look as though one is bowing down to one’s own image — which could give the appearance of idol worship. This concern was already raised in the 1500s by the Radbaz in his responsa (Part 4, siman 107).

Since mirrors are found throughout the house, and the whole house becomes a place of prayer during shivah, all mirrors need to be covered so that no one accidentally prays while facing one. This reason was adopted as the primary explanation by the great Sephardic authority Rav Ovadia Yosef (Yabiah Omer, Part 4, Yoreh Deah, siman 35:3).

Reason Five: The Zohar’s Warning About Mirrors and Evil Forces

The fifth reason comes from the world of Kabbalah — Jewish mysticism. The Zohar(Parshas Pekudei, 266a-266b) teaches that looking into mirrors too often is spiritually dangerous. The Zohar warns that excessive mirror-gazing leads to arrogance and can attract negative spiritual forces. This is because a mirror creates an image — an imitation of the human form — and such images can serve as vessels for impure spiritual energies.

The great 18th-century Torah giant Rav Yonasan Eibeschutz (1690–1764) developed this idea further in his  Ya’aros Devash (Vol. 1, Derush 2, p. 36). He wrote that every picture or graven image carries with it an impure spiritual force (ruach ra’ah). People should be careful not to have such images in their homes unnecessarily. Most importantly, he warned that one must be especially careful not to look into mirrors without need, because spiritual forces can actually attach themselves to the reflection in a mirror and enter through it.

Building on the Zohar and Rav Eibeschutz, Rav Gershon Marber (Warsaw/Antwerp, 1872–1941) explains in his book on the laws of mourning, Darkhei HaChaim, that this concern is heightened during the shivah period. When a death has occurred in a home, negative spiritual forces are more present than usual. During shivah, these forces can more easily attach themselves to the reflections in mirrors, making it dangerous for the mourners and those who visit. Covering the mirrors protects everyone in the house.

This mystical reason is found as the sole explanation in Sefer Ta’amei HaMinhagim u’Mekorei HaDinim. It captures the intuition that a house of mourning is a spiritually heightened and delicate environment that requires special protection.

Reason Six: Protecting Mourners from Evil Spirits Drawn to the Home

The sixth reason is closely related to the fifth but focuses specifically on the mourners’ vulnerability. Rav Yosef Schwartz (Romania, 1875–1944), in his work Ginzei Yosef (p. 320; first published in the journal Vayelaket Yosef, Vol. 14, No. 11, Adar 1912), explains that evil forces (mazikim and ruchos ra’os) naturally gather in a home where a death has occurred. This is actually hinted at in the Talmud itself (Brachos 54b, see Rashi), which notes that mourners need special protection from harmful forces.

Rav Schwartz explains that in order to prevent these forces from being seen — or from making themselves known — through the reflective surface of a mirror, the mirrors are covered or turned to the wall. The mirror, as a reflective surface, is seen as a potential “window” through which negative spiritual presences might become visible or interact with those in the house. Covering the mirror closes that window.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

This article is dedicated l’ilui nishmas the author’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Sally Hirsch a”h – Tzalcha bas R’ Moshe HaKoen.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Misgav Am is surrounded on three out of four sides by Lebanese terrain. It is a community situated in a kind of Israeli enclave within Lebanon, with most of it encircled by the border fence.

Hezbollah is currently waging, much like Iran, a “war of the poor,” aiming to create pressure on the Israeli home front. Hezbollah understands that Israel has decided to move the fighting into Lebanese territory, rather than evacuate the frontline northern communities as it did on October 8, 2023. The Israeli government’s decision on this matter is correct.

However, the IDF’s forward defense is not achieving the desired results. Hezbollah is now focusing a significant portion of its fire on communities along the border fence, from Rosh HaNikra to the village of Ghajar in the east.

This morning, under the cover of fog and wintry weather, Hezbollah infiltrated the area of “Rab Talatin” near the border with several mortar and anti-tank squads, and since the morning has turned Misgav Am into a primary target. The result is severe, with one person killed, another injured, and heavy damage to property. It is likely that this effort will continue and even expand to additional communities, with the goal of undermining the resilience of the frontline settlements.

Dramatic clip from northern community shows civilian unwittingly filming moment of impact of anti-tank missile

A similar approach is being carried out by Iran in recent days. It understands that it does not truly have the capability to match the firepower of the United States and the Israeli Air Force. It also recognizes its limitations in producing large volumes of launches toward Israel or American bases in the region. Like Hezbollah, it is waging a “war of the poor,” carrying out sporadic missile fire toward various areas across Israel, often using missiles with cluster warheads. But yesterday, Iran once again launched missiles with heavy warheads, weighing about half a ton of explosives, toward Dimona and Arad. The Iranian move is intended to harass and wear down the Israeli public.

The major problem now is that the actions of Iran and Hezbollah may actually be working in their favor. Their understanding that they could draw Israel into a prolonged war of attrition which may erode the resilience of the Israeli home front.

Israel must make a decision, at least regarding the north: namely, to increase the intensity of IDF fire in Lebanon, alongside clearly defining the campaign’s objectives and metrics. Otherwise, sooner or later, the northern communities adjacent to the border may become deserted, and this is an image Israel does not want to project, neither to Hezbollah nor to Iran.

A Rockland County postal worker accused of violently pushing a 4-year-old Jewish boy is now facing additional charges, as authorities released his identity following widespread public backlash.

Gabriel Stan, 39, was charged with felony second-degree attempted assault, one day after initially being charged with misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree attempted assault. The charges stem from a disturbing incident, captured on video, in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Ramapo, police told CBS New York.

Footage from a nearby home security camera shows the young Orthodox Jewish boy walking toward a communal mailbox, where the postal worker was standing with his back turned while placing mail inside.

SHOCKING INCIDENT IN MONSEY: USPS Mail Carrier Assaults 4-Year-Old — Ramapo Police And Chaverim Of Rockland Investigating, Incident Caught On CCTV

READ STORY ON MONSEY SCOOP: https://t.co/TkVPs4yKOO pic.twitter.com/Y45hh12gyu

— The Monsey Scoop (@TheMonseyScoop) March 20, 2026

As the child approached, Stan suddenly turned and rushed toward him, forcefully shoving him with both hands and knocking him backward onto the ground.

The impact also caused the boy’s yarmulke to fall off.  The child quickly got up, retrieved his yarmulke, and ran back to a group of nearby friends.

Despite the alarming nature of the incident, the boy was not physically injured, and police have not classified the case as a hate crime at this stage.

Stan, who lives in Stony Point, was taken into custody Thursday. He was later released on his own recognizance and appeared in Ramapo Town Justice Court.

Initially, Ramapo police did not disclose the suspect’s name, drawing sharp criticism online from residents demanding transparency.

The department explained that it “very rarely” releases the names of suspects in its public statements.

The United States Postal Service declined to comment when asked whether Stan remains employed and also did not respond to questions regarding the video of the incident.

{Matzav.com}

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz conducted a situational assessment on Sunday and announced a sharp escalation in IDF operations in Lebanon. The new directives focus on fully isolating southern Lebanon by destroying all bridges over the Litani River and intensifying the pace of demolitions in frontline villages.

Katz said that he and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered the IDF to immediately destroy all bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity. The purpose is to create a complete blockade that will prevent Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from moving toward the Israeli border. This move follows the destruction of two additional bridges last week that had served as major smuggling routes.

Katz also ordered an acceleration in the demolition of structures in Lebanese villages near the border, stating that operations are being carried out according to a “Gaza model,” similar to actions taken in Beit Hanoun and Rafah. The goal is to eliminate threats to Israeli communities and prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing a presence along the front line.

At the same time, IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee issued an urgent warning to residents of southern Lebanon. He stated that Hezbollah is using civilians as cover to move operatives and equipment. He warned that the IDF is preparing a wide and precise strike and identified the Al-Qasmiya Bridge on the coastal highway as a target. Civilians were urged to avoid heading south and to remain north of the Zahrani River for their safety.

On the ground, troops from the 91st Division, together with the Israeli Air Force, killed nine Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon as part of efforts to expand the security buffer zone. The incident began when Unit 869 identified an armed cell approaching IDF forces. Ground troops engaged the cell, and the Air Force carried out a rapid strike to eliminate them. No Israeli casualties were reported.

Reports in the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat indicate that IDF forces are advancing into Lebanon along four main axes, aiming to secure key positions and isolate the southern region.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Saudi Arabia has ordered Iran’s military attaché, his assistant, and three additional embassy staff members to leave the country within 24 hours after declaring them persona non grata, the Saudi foreign ministry announced, according to Reuters.

The decision was based on what Saudi officials described as ongoing Iranian attacks against the kingdom’s territory.

Since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, Saudi Arabia has faced hundreds of missiles and drone attacks attributed to Iran, most of which were intercepted before causing damage.

Among the incidents were several attempts targeting the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh. In one case, two drones struck the compound, sparking a small fire and causing limited structural damage.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry warned that continued aggression by Iran could lead to further escalation and would carry “significant consequences” for both current and future relations between the two countries.

Earlier in the week, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud strongly criticized Iran’s actions against neighboring nations and made clear that the kingdom could respond with military force if necessary.

Addressing reporters after a gathering of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers, Prince Faisal said Iran “doesn’t believe in talking to its neighbors”, adding that “it tries to pressure its neighbors” and emphasizing that such pressure would not succeed.

“The kingdom is not going to succumb to pressure, and, on the contrary, this pressure will backfire … politically, will backfire, I believe, morally, and certainly, as we have stated clearly, we reserve the right to take military actions if necessary,” he stressed.

Prince Faisal also dismissed Iran’s assertion that its strikes on civilian targets in neighboring countries are connected to the presence of U.S. military bases, calling the claim “unconvincing”.

“Iran’s attacks on neighboring countries were premeditated, and what we are witnessing now confirms this,” he said, adding, “I would hope that they understand the message of the meeting today, recalculate quickly and stop attacking their neighbors.”

Saudi Arabia’s action follows a similar move by Qatar, which recently expelled Iran’s military and security attachés in Doha, along with staff assigned to those offices.

Qatar’s foreign ministry said it had formally notified the Iranian embassy of the decision on Wednesday, delivering an official memorandum and instructing the individuals to leave the country within 24 hours.

{Matzav.com}

United Airlines plans to reduce less popular flights, including certain midweek and overnight routes, through the fall as surging jet fuel prices tied to the war in Iran continue to rattle the airline industry.

In a company memo on Friday, United CEO Scott Kirby said jet fuel prices have “more than doubled in the last three weeks,” forcing the carrier to scale back service on weaker-performing routes.

According to Argus Media data cited in the memo, U.S. jet fuel prices climbed to $4.56 per gallon on Friday, sharply up from $2.50 per gallon on February 27, before the war began. Kirby warned the spike could saddle United with an additional $11 billion in costs this year alone — more than double the airline’s profit during its strongest year.

Industry experts say travelers are likely to feel the impact soon, as airlines move to pass the sharply higher fuel costs on to customers in the weeks and months ahead.

The warning comes even as major U.S. airlines report strong booking demand. Earlier this week, United, Delta, and American all pointed to continued strength in ticket sales despite the turmoil.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian said five of the airline’s top 10 ticket sales days have come since the start of the war, though he also said Delta has already absorbed about a $400 million blow from higher fuel prices.

Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has reportedly moved more than a dozen of its largest aircraft to a long-term storage facility in Spain, according to the Financial Times, in what appears to be a sign the airline is preparing to reduce flights as well.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In this episode, Rabbi Reinman discusses the events of Chanukah in their broad historical context.

22
Chapter Forty-three: The First Religious War

On his way back from Alexandria to Syria, Antiochus IV burned with fury and frustration. The priceless prize that was Egypt had been snatched away just when he was about to grasp it. And in such a humiliating way. He was desperate for money. A payment on the onerous indemnity the Romans had imposed on his father was coming due; default was not an option. Moreover, the Parthian upstarts were nibbling at the eastern extremities of his vast kingdom. He needed to muster and equip a large army to defeat them. The solution, he thought, was in Jerusalem. He would stop in Judea on the way back to Antioch, his capital city.

Jerusalem, at this time, was in turmoil. The office of high priest had always been hereditary, and the high priest was the most exalted of the priests, the spiritual leader of the people. That changed, however, in 175 b.c.e. when a Hellenized Jew named Jason bought the office from Antiochus by promising to deliver a high annual tribute. A terrible precedent was established. The office now went to the highest bidder, and the high priest became the de facto political governor in charge of tax collection and sending the annual tribute to Antiochus.

In 172 b.c.e., Jason sent Menelaus, another Hellenized Jew, to deliver the annual tribute to Antiochus. Instead of delivering the money, Menelaus promised to deliver an even larger sum if he would be appointed high priest. Antiochus, always in need of money, appointed Menelaus in Jason’s place. Jason fled across the Jordan River into Ammon.

In 168 b.c.e., as Antiochus was suffering humiliation in Egypt, a rumor reached Judea that he had been killed in battle. Jason saw an opportunity to recover his erstwhile office. He gathered a force of a thousand loyalists and mercenaries and entered Jerusalem. Fighting raged between the followers of the two Hellenized Jews. Blood ran in the streets. Meanwhile, the people faithful to the Torah, who despised both Jason and Menelaus, were caught in the crossfire and suffered greatly.

Antiochus arrived at a Jerusalem convulsed in civil strife. However, instead of settling the dispute, he struck Jerusalem like a thunderclap. He unleashed his soldiers on the population, killing many thousands and carrying off thousands more into slavery. He entered the Holy Temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar to Olympian Zeus, then he entered the Sanctuary and took the golden altar, candelabrum, showbread table and much treasure.

He also issued a royal decree outlawing the practice of the Jewish religion, including Sabbath and festival observance, circumcision, family purity and dietary laws. He ordered all copies of the Torah to be collected and burned, and he made it a capital offense to possess a Torah scroll or violate the decree in any way.

It is difficult to understand why he perpetrated such a violent attack on Jerusalem, especially since both combatants were Hellenized Jews; it is absurd to see it as an emotional reaction to his humiliation in Egypt. Furthermore, if his intent was to quell unrest, why attack the faithful Jews who were not involved in the fighting? On the contrary, attacking the faithful Jews physically and spiritually, even though they were not rebellious, could only radicalize them and make them his enemies …

Read full chapter and earlier chapters at www.rabbireinman.com.

An Iranian missile that penetrated the air defense system scored a direct hit in central Israel late Sunday morning, injuring 15 people and causing extensive damage to property and infrastructure.

Rescue forces called to multiple impact sites in the city provided medical treatment to the injured, including one is serious condition and the rest in light condition.

Impacts were reported along the Ayalon Highway, near Habima Square in Tel Aviv, and in Petach Tikva and Ramat Gan. Two lanes were closed on the Ayalon Highway following the hit.

The barrage was part of six waves of launches from Iran on Sunday.

MDA

MDA

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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​​For more info, email [email protected].

Qatar on Sunday confirmed that six people were killed in a helicopter crash over its territorial waters.

A statement from Qatar’s Interior Ministry blamed the crash on a technical malfunction during “routine duty” but did not provide further details.

Iran’s attack last week on Qatar’s natural gas export facility threatens to disrupt not just world energy markets but also global technology supply chains because the helium it produces is crucial for a range of advanced industries.

Best known as the gas that makes party balloons float, helium is also a key input in chipmaking, space rockets and medical imaging.

Qatar supplies a third of the world’s helium, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, but the nation had to halt production shortly after the war erupted three weeks ago. The latest Iranian strikes against the region’s energy producing infrastructure have added to supply worries, with Qatar’s state-owned gas company saying it would crimp helium exports by 14%.

Here’s a deeper look at helium’s industrial role:

Qatar’s role in helium supply

Helium is a byproduct of natural gas production, when it’s separated out by cryogenic distillation. Qatar, which sits on the world’s biggest single natural gas field, produces about 30% of global helium supply, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Qatar’s helium is produced at its Ras Laffan facility, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas plant. But state-owned energy company QatarGas halted production of LNG and “associated products” on March 2 because of Iran’s drone attacks and two days later declared force majeure, meaning it’s unable to supply contracted customers due to circumstances beyond its control.

After Ras Laffan was hit again by more Iranian strikes on Wednesday and Thursday, QatarGas reported “extensive” damage that will take years to repair and cut annual helium exports by 14%.

“It makes the story worse,” said Phil Kornbluth, president of Kornbluth Helium Consulting. “Your best case scenario would be you’re back producing some helium in six weeks or something like that. As it looks right now, that’s highly unlikely.”

Helium prices are on the rise

Spot prices for helium have doubled since the crisis erupted and will probably rise further, Kornbluth said.

But spot trading only accounts for about 2% of the total market in normal times, he said. Helium is a thinly traded commodity and is mostly sold through long-term contracts.

Still, contract prices “could go up a lot,” Kornbluth said. “There’s lots of room for price increase if this is an extended outage.”

Kornbluth said the shortage hasn’t hit yet, because helium containers that would have been filled when the conflict erupted at the start of March would have still taken several weeks to arrive in Asia.

“Nobody’s run out of helium yet. But it’s a few weeks out when the shortage really hits.”

It’s not just party balloons

Helium is essential for manufacturing semiconductors, including the cutting-edge chips used for artificial intelligence models produced in Asian fabrication plants.

It’s great at conducting or transferring heat, making it ideal for rapid cooling.

Chipmakers use it to cool wafers — the discs of silicon printed with tiny electronic circuits. Helium is used during the etching process, when material that’s been deposited on a wafer is scraped away to form transistor structures, said Jacob Feldgoise, an analyst at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

During the etching process, “you really want to maintain a constant temperature over the wafer. And in order to do that, you need to be able to draw heat away from the wafer that’s being processed,” said Feldgoise. “Helium is an excellent thermal conductor. And so chip fabs will blow helium over the back of the wafer in order to speed heat removal and keep heat removal consistent.”

Under current semiconductor manufacturing processes, there’s no viable replacement for helium to cool wafers, said Jong-hwan Lee, a professor of semiconductor devices at South Korea’s Sangmyung University.

The medical industry uses helium to cool superconducting magnets powering magnetic resonance imaging machines.

And the space industry uses helium to purge rocket fuel tanks, a demand that is expected to grow because of more frequent launches by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.

A complicated supply chain situation
Helium’s atomic properties make it tricky to store and transport.

In gas form, helium’s tiny molecules can easily escape containers by leaking through even the smallest of gaps.

Helium is typically chilled by Qatar’s gas company into liquid form and stored in insulated containers for transport through the Strait of Hormuz. The specialized containers can store helium for 35 to 48 days. Any longer and they start warming up, letting the helium transform into gas that escapes through pressure release valves.

About 200 of these containers are stuck in the Middle East, Kornbluth said. They cost about $1 million each, so there aren’t a lot of extra ones sitting around elsewhere.

“It’s going to take a fair amount of time to get these containers out of Qatar and to get them somewhere else where they might be able to be filled with helium,” he said.

“So this initial period when you lose Qatar supply and have to rejig the supply chain and reposition containers, that’s going to be the worst part of the shortage most likely.”

Other major suppliers of helium

There only are a handful of countries that produce helium.

The United States is the biggest producer, accounting for 81 million cubic meters last year. Qatar, Algeria and Russia are the other major producers, but Russian supplies are banned under Under States and European Union sanctions.

USGS estimates the United States has 8.5 billion cubic meters of recoverable helium in geologic reservoirs, while the rest of the world has 31.3 billion cubic meters.

Asian chipmakers on edge

The war highlights the sprawling global supply chains that underpin South Korea’s semiconductor industry, which has seen a surge in global demand for its chips amid the AI boom.

Fitch Ratings said in a report this week that the country — home to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the world’s largest memory chip makers — is particularly vulnerable to supply shortages because it imports about 65% of its helium from Qatar.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix likely have several months of inventory, but it’s crucial that they accelerate efforts to secure alternative sources, Lee said, as the war could drag on and potentially disrupt supplies of more materials beyond helium.

Helium is among 14 semiconductor supply chain materials the Seoul government has flagged for monitoring due to their heavy vulnerability to the war.

“Even disruptions affecting just a handful of materials could destabilize the entire semiconductor manufacturing process as each stage of production depends on the previous one,” Lee said.

Still, a full-blown helium crisis is unlikely, experts said. In the event of a shortage, Kornbluth said the helium industry allocates supplies based on importance so critical industries such as chipmaking and medical would be at the front of the line.

And because helium is a small part of the overall production cost of a semiconductor, it’s likely that chip fabs “would be willing to pay a higher price” to secure supplies, Feldgoise said.

Samsung and SK Hynix declined to respond to questions about inventory or plans to diversify supplies. The Korea Semiconductor Industry Association said short-term supplies are sufficient and companies have been diversifying their supply routes.

Chipmaking giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company also said it does not “anticipate any significant impact at this time” but will continue monitoring the situation.

(AP &YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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📰 Headline News

• Over 100 people were injured after Iranian missile strikes hit Dimona and Arad, with at least two ballistic missiles reportedly bypassing Israeli defense systems.

🕍 Jewish News

• Yehuda Shmuel Sherman was killed on Shabbos after a terrorist rammed him near the yishuv of Homesh.

• Communities in southern Israel are recovering after direct missile impacts in residential areas.

Israeli News

• IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir says Israel is roughly halfway through the war and expects fighting to continue for at least three more weeks.

🌍 International News

• Saudi Arabia ordered the expulsion of Iran’s military attaché within 24 hours, signaling rising regional tensions.

• Cuba’s national electric grid collapsed, leaving over 10 million people without power.

• Iran executed three individuals, including a teenage wrestler, despite prior commitments to halt executions.

• Hawaii is dealing with severe flooding after a week of nonstop rain, with over 200 people rescued.

🏛 Political News

• President Trump warned he will “obliterate” Iranian power plants if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

• Iran responded by threatening to strike regional energy infrastructure and desalination facilities if targeted.

• Trump is also threatening to deploy ICE agents to U.S. airports unless Democrats agree to a GOP-backed funding deal amid the DHS shutdown.

• Reports indicate growing dissatisfaction with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, with discussions underway about potentially replacing him.

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat from New York, speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, October 29, 2025. With the government shutdown now on its 29th day, the standoff in Congress over spending is increasingly piling pain on the public sector, with the largest federal employees’ union pressuring Senate Democrats to reopen the government. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

National News

• Elon Musk offered to personally fund TSA salaries during the DHS shutdown as thousands of workers remain unpaid.

• Joe Rogan sparked confusion online after suggesting he believes Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu may be dead.

• CBS is shutting down its nearly 100-year-old radio service.

💼 Business News

• As oil prices surge, Trump lifted sanctions on millions of barrels of Iranian oil already loaded onto tankers in order to ease prices.

• Amazon is reportedly developing a new smartphone designed to integrate deeply with Alexa.

• A California jury found Elon Musk liable for misleading Twitter investors ahead of his acquisition of the company.

A newly released Hebrew biography of the Ribnitzer Rebbe zt”l has stirred widespread discussion in the Torah and chassidishe world, particularly following an exchange with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch during a recent visit by the book’s editor.

The sefer, originally authored in English by Nachman Seltzer and now published in Hebrew, chronicles the life of the Ribnitzer Rebbe, who passed away some 30 years ago and was renowned for his mesirus nefesh under communist rule, as well as for the many yeshuos and mofsim attributed to him both during his lifetime and afterward.

Last week, the Hebrew edition’s editor, Shlomo Kook, visited Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch to present him with a copy of the newly released volume and receive his bracha.

At the start of their conversation, the rosh yeshiva recalled that he had personally known the Ribnitzer Rebbe during his years in the United States. As he flipped through the pages, he paused over one of the accounts describing a mofes, reacting with visible amazement and saying, “Wonders of wonders.”

During the discussion, Shlomo Kook posed a direct question about whether such abilities still exist today: “Is there a reality of a koach to perform mofsim in the hands of גדולי התורה?”

The rosh yeshiva responded immediately: “There is such a רוח הקודש. There is such a thing. The Ramban writes that there is a certain sense that it will be so.”

Shlomo Kook then asked: “In every generation there is such a thing?”

Rav Hirsch replied: “Yes, yes.”

Kook continued: “Even in this generation?”

Rav Hirsch answered: “Yes.”

Kook then asked pointedly: “Does the rosh yeshiva have it?”

At that, Rav Hirsch laughed.

Kook added: “That’s what people say.”

The rosh yeshiva, smiling, responded: “That’s what they say?”

{Matzav.com}

A powerful missile strike hit the southern Israeli city of Arad, slamming into a residential area heavily populated by members of the Ger community and causing significant destruction.

The missile landed between apartment buildings on Shimon Street, damaging multiple structures and sending residents rushing for cover. Emergency responders, including medical teams and rescue units, quickly arrived on the scene to treat the injured and search for anyone who may have been trapped.

Early reports raised fears that several people were missing, including a young child, as rescue crews combed through the damaged buildings. Authorities later confirmed that the child had been found safe, easing some concerns following the strike.

Despite the intensity of the blast and the visible damage, in a miraculous turn of events, BH no fatalities were reported. Many individuals are being treated for injuries and shock, and numerous families were forced to leave their homes due to structural damage.

The neighborhood is home to many followers of the Gerer Rebbe. Community leaders, including Israeli Housing Minister Yitzchok Goldknopf, quickly briefed the Rebbe on the situation.

In response, the Gerer Rebbe issued a strong and direct message: following safety guidelines is not optional, rather it is an obligation. He emphasized the importance of immediately entering protected spaces during sirens and strictly adhering to all official instructions, stressing that these measures save lives.

Ger in general stands out as a sect that complies fantastically well with government and health orders. During COVID and other local or global disasters and difficulties, the Gerer Rebbe’s instructions have always been clear, follow guidelines and stay safe.

Firefighters in the Silverton section of Toms River took part in a hands-on training exercise last night, utilizing an acquired structure to sharpen critical firefighting skills.

Members of Silverton Volunteer Fire Company worked through a variety of real-world scenarios, including hose advancements, VEIS (Vent-Enter-Isolate-Search), roof operations, and wall breaching. The training allowed crews to operate in a realistic environment, providing valuable experience that closely mirrors the conditions encountered during actual emergencies.

(Residents with homes scheduled for demolition who are interested in allowing firefighters to train in their structure are encouraged to reach out to the department.)

Elon Musk has proposed personally covering the salaries of Transportation Security Administration personnel as the ongoing government funding standoff continues to disrupt airports across the United States.

“I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country,” Musk said in an X post this morning.

His proposal comes as the partial government shutdown stretches beyond a month, with lawmakers still unable to agree on funding for the Department of Homeland Security, the agency that oversees the TSA.

As a result of the funding lapse, TSA agents have been reporting to work without pay, leading to increased absences, longer security lines, and growing concerns about maintaining adequate protection against potential threats.

Republicans have been advocating for full funding of the Department of Homeland Security, while Democrats have pushed for separate funding measures for specific agencies such as the TSA that would not include immigration-related operations.

Despite the shutdown, TSA officers are classified as essential personnel and must continue working, even though their paychecks may be delayed.

Musk’s offer appeared intended to relieve mounting pressure on the system as staffing shortages worsen and passenger congestion increases.

Airports across the country have been hit with significant delays, with some security wait times surpassing three hours due to high levels of absenteeism among TSA workers. Airports most affected include Houston’s Hobby and Bush Intercontinental, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong, and Philadelphia International.

Video recorded early Thursday morning at Philadelphia International Airport showed large crowds of travelers packed onto escalators and elevators while waiting to pass through security checkpoints.

The situation comes as a leading TSA union official cautioned Thursday that security challenges tied to the shutdown are expected to “get worse,” particularly as the agency has been operating under a hiring freeze since last year.

It is not yet clear how Musk’s proposal would be implemented or whether federal law would allow a private individual to directly pay government employees.

LONDON (AP) — An Iranian man and a Romanian woman have been charged after trying to enter the naval base in Scotland that is home to Britain’s nuclear-armed submarines, police said Saturday,

Police Scotland said the 34-year-old man and 31-year-old woman will appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Monday.

As is customary in Scotland, police did not release the suspects’ names or the charges they face before their court hearing.

The pair were detained on Thursday after attempting to enter HM Naval Base Clyde, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Glasgow.

The base, also known as Faslane, is home to the core of the U.K.’s submarine fleet, including the vessels that carry nuclear weapons.

Britain has been a nuclear power since the 1950s. Since the 1990s, its nuclear deterrent has consisted of four Royal Navy submarines armed with Trident missiles.

As Israel faces continued barrages of heavy Iranian missiles, an internal debate has emerged within the defense establishment over interception strategy, with questions being raised about the limited use of the advanced Arrow 3 system.

The Arrow 3 system was specifically designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere, a capability that significantly reduces the likelihood of debris reaching the ground. In most cases, intercepted fragments burn up or disintegrate, and any remaining debris falls far from Israeli territory.

Despite this advantage, many of the interceptions in the current conflict have been carried out using other systems that operate at lower altitudes. As a result, missile fragments, debris, and even cluster munitions have been falling inside Israel, at times in populated areas.

At the heart of the debate is a trade-off between cost and operational flexibility. Arrow 3 is considered extremely expensive, while lower-altitude interceptors allow for sustained use without the same concerns over cost and stockpile depletion. Defense officials acknowledge that this is an ongoing discussion that has not yet been fully resolved.

The Israeli Air Force has emphasized that interception decisions are made in real time, based on the nature of each incoming threat. However, in many cases, the default has been to rely on lower-tier interception systems.

The consequences are already being felt on the ground. Earlier today, a piece of cluster munition fell in a kindergarten yard in Rishon Lezion. No injuries were reported, but the incident underscored the very real danger posed by falling debris. Discussions within the defense establishment are continuing.

There will bezh be a special pre pesach evening event from Hashkafa in the Workplace

The event will be held on March 24 (ז׳ ניסן) at 8:30 PM at Beru, 2373 US-9, Toms River, NJ. Attendees can look forward to an engaging program featuring R’ Elya Brudny, Rosh HaYeshiva of Mir Yeshiva Brooklyn, and R’ Yosef Elefant, Maggid Shiur at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim. The evening will include a Q&A session moderated by R’ Shragi Malinowitz, Rav of Khal Shaarei Tefillah in Hampshire Hills.

The schedule for the night is as follows:
• 8:30 PM – Doors open
• 8:45 PM – Address by R’ Elya Brudny
• 9:15 PM – Q&A Panel featuring R’ Elya Brudny and R’ Yosef Elefant, moderated by R’ Shragi Malinowitz
• 10:15 PM – Maariv

Light refreshments will be served throughout as well as a light hot fleishigs at the end, all attendees will receive an Artscroll Mesillas Yesharim (while supplies last), sponsored by Bernath & Rosenberg.

The event is supported by several sponsors, including LaundryTime, TYH, Bernath & Rosenberg, Queen Lighting, and Z&Co.

As you may recall, several years ago, TLS assisted in the recovery and proper burial for dozens of bags of Shaimos found abandoned in Lakewood.

After we were made aware of the abandoned Shaimos, bids were placed on the locker’s contents, to ensure proper Kavod to begin collecting the bags and boxes. Then, equipped with trucks, volunteers shlepped hundreds of bags and boxes of Shaimos, loading them onto the truck to prepare them for burial.

As a result of the incident, TLS stated at the time we would no longer be accepting Shaimos ads without a Hechsher. And the same applies for this year as well.

As a consumer, be sure you are dealing with a reliable Shaimos organization.

Intelligence officials in the United States and Israel are struggling to determine the condition and whereabouts of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since the February 28 strike that killed his father, according to a report.

Khamenei resurfaced only through a written statement released Friday for Nowruz, offering no video or audio appearance, further deepening uncertainty surrounding his status.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asserted that Mojtaba may have been seriously injured in the same strike, saying he was “wounded and likely disfigured.”

His continued absence has led some observers to mockingly refer to him as “the cardboard ayatollah.”

Israeli officials say there is still no confirmation that he is actively leading the regime. “We have no evidence that [Mojtaba] is really the one giving orders,” a senior Israeli official told Axios.

A U.S. official echoed the uncertainty, questioning the unusual situation. “It’s beyond weird. We don’t think the Iranians would have gone through all this trouble to choose a dead guy as the supreme leader, but at the same time, we have no proof that he is taking the helm,” the official said.

President Donald Trump said Friday that there is effectively no leadership left in Iran to engage with diplomatically, as military operations continue to target key figures in the regime.

In his written message, Mojtaba Khamenei claimed that Iran has already dealt a serious blow to its adversaries, writing that Iranians have “dealt him (the enemy) a dizzying blow so that he now starts uttering contradictory words and nonsense.

“At the moment, due to the particular unity that has been created between you our compatriots — despite all the differences in religious, intellectual, cultural and political origins — the enemy has been defeated.”

He further argued that expectations by the United States and Israel that the Iranian government would collapse quickly were misguided, calling it a “gross miscalculation.”

According to Khamenei, the campaign against Iran was launched under “the delusion that if the pinnacle of the regime and certain influential military figures were to attain martyrdom, it would instill fear and despair in our dear people … and through this means, the dream of dominating Iran and subsequently dismembering it would be realized”, he said.

Instead, he maintained that “a fracture has emerged in the enemy,” he added.

U.S. officials say the lack of any visual appearance is troubling and out of the ordinary. One official described it as a “big red flag.

“We would have expected to see Mojtaba too in some form. He didn’t take advantage of the opportunity and tradition,” the person added.

Some analysts, however, caution against jumping to conclusions. Raz Zimmt, who heads the Iran Program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, said there is no clear evidence that Khamenei is unable to function.

“Under the current exceptional circumstances, one should not expect him to appear in public, and it is possible that his injury does not even allow him to release a recorded video in order not to expose to the public the severity of his condition,” Zimmt said.

Political analyst Dick Morris delivered sharp criticism of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic leadership during an appearance today on Newsmax TV’s “The Count,” arguing that recent fiscal and immigration decisions point to deeper problems in governance.

His remarks followed a report showing that New York City spent roughly $81,000 per individual on homeless services last year, a figure that has sparked concern as residents face rising costs and ongoing budget strain.

“She’s not using money, currency. She’s using votes,” Morris said of Hochul.

Morris contended that spending decisions are being shaped more by political strategy than by responsible budgeting.

He said the governor’s policies are designed to maintain support by expanding programs, even if they do not align with taxpayer preferences.

“Her goal here is to try to get enough people to cough up enough money so that she can continue to spend it on programs that they don’t want,” he said.

Expanding his critique beyond New York, Morris tied the issue to broader Democratic policies on immigration and national security.

He argued there is an inconsistency between confronting global threats and limiting enforcement measures at home.

“We’re reaching a historic moment here with the Democratic Party standing up and saying, in the middle of a war on terror against the chief terrorist country in the world, we’re closing down Homeland Security,” Morris said.

He also criticized policies related to illegal immigration, suggesting they are influenced by political calculations during an election season.

Morris said the overall messaging sends a problematic signal both to taxpayers and to those considering entering the country.

“We’re telling people, stay away, come home, and we’ll tax you and put up with it and smile,” he said.

He went on to argue that these decisions reflect broader dysfunction within the party.

“This Democratic Party has lost its collective mind. Just absolutely lost it,” he said.

“And if you ever wanted a display of the Democrats’ inability to govern, this is it.”

Hochul’s office did not issue a direct response to Morris’ remarks, though state officials have previously defended spending on homelessness, saying it is necessary to address growing demand for shelter and to meet legal requirements to provide housing.

If you’re leaving town for Yom Tov, you may want to have your mail placed on hold while you’re away – for both safety and convenience. 

The USPS offers this service free from 3-30 days.

You can sign up here until 2:00 a.m on the day you wish to start.

NOTE: When a hold is placed on your mail, it gets placed on the entire address, so if you’re a landlord or a tenant, be sure you both want your mail held.

John Bolton, who previously served as national security adviser, said Friday that the United States made the correct decision in launching strikes against Iran, arguing that Washington should not wait for an immediate nuclear threat before taking action.

Speaking during an appearance on “Bianca Across the Nation” on Newsmax, Bolton said the administration acted at the appropriate moment rather than allowing Iran’s capabilities to advance further.

“I think it was the right time to go in,” he said. “I don’t think the nuclear threat was imminent, but I don’t think the United States is required to risk the imminent destruction of our people before we take preventative action to remove the threat.”

Bolton emphasized that, more broadly, the United States should not tolerate living under the long-term danger posed by a nuclear-capable Iran.

“We don’t have to live under the threat,” he said. “That’s just simply unacceptable.”

He argued that current conditions inside Iran make this a particularly opportune moment to apply pressure, describing the regime as weaker and more unpopular than it has been in decades.

“I do think that the moment was right,” he said. “I think the regime in Tehran is as unpopular, as weak, as it’s been at any point since it took power in 1979.”

Bolton pointed to growing dissatisfaction within the country, saying economic hardship and public frustration have spread widely across Iranian society.

“There’s dissatisfaction all across the country,” he said. “The economy is in the tank.”

He noted that much of this unrest is especially pronounced among younger Iranians, who make up a large share of the population and are increasingly aware of opportunities beyond their current circumstances.

“The young people who constitute under 30, or two-thirds of the population, know they could have a different life,” he said. “They can see it across the Gulf and on the internet when the regime lets it operate.”

Bolton added that opposition to the regime is also strong among women and various ethnic groups, highlighting additional internal pressure points.

“Women have been opposed to the regime ever since at least the murder of Mahsa Amini,” he said. “Ethnic groups like the Kurds, the Azeris, the Baluchis, Arabs are dissatisfied.”

Taken together, he said, these internal challenges have left the regime vulnerable, especially as external pressure continues to mount.

“This regime is very weak, and it can be pulled apart at the top,” he said. “And that’s what, in effect, what we and Israel are doing right now.”

At the same time, Bolton stressed that internal opposition will ultimately play a decisive role, calling for greater American support to those inside Iran seeking change.

“We should be aiding them, giving them communications, assistance, money, weapons if they wanted,” he said. “I think this is a time where we’ve staked a lot on this. We need to win.”

He also pointed to Iran’s threats against neighboring Gulf countries as further evidence of the regime’s danger.

“If they needed any convincing or further proof of how risky, how dangerous the regime of the ayatollahs is, this is it,” he said, adding that the regime “must be removed.”

President Donald Trump frequently contradicts himself, sometimes in the same speech, social media post or even sentence. Within the space of a few hours Friday, he sent a torrent of mixed signals about the Iran war that raise more questions about the direction of the conflict and his administration’s strategy.

During this time, Trump said he was considering winding down the war, his administration confirmed it was sending more troops to the Middle East and, in an effort to lessen the economic impact on global energy markets, the United States lifted sanctions on some Iranian oil for the first time in decades — relieving some of the pressure that Washington traditionally has used as leverage.

The confusing combination of actions deepens a sense among Trump’s critics that there is no clear, long-term strategy for the war the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran. Now in its fourth week, the war remains on an unpredictable path and a credible endgame is unclear even as the global economy is being roiled.

Just 24 hours after saying the U.S. was thinking of walking away from the conflict, Trump issued another contradictory statement Saturday evening, threatening to escalate the conflict by targeting Iran’s power plants unless the country lets oil shipments pass through the Persian Gulf.

‘Winding down’ the war
After another rough day in the financial markets, Trump said Friday afternoon on his social media network: “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East.”

Trump contended the U.S. has adequately degraded Iranian naval, missile and industrial capacity and prevented Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

The Republican president then suggested the U.S. could pull out of the conflict without stabilizing the Strait of Hormuz, the channel through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply travels. The strait has been ravaged by Iranian missile, drone and mine attacks during the war.

“The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!” Trump wrote. But, in another contradiction, he said the U.S. would help if asked, “but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated.”

While oil that traverses the strait is usually bound for Asia and other places rather than North America, the chaos still affects the United States. Oil is bought and sold globally, so a shortage in oil for Asian countries leads to bidding up prices on oil sold to companies in America, too.

That fact, coupled with an Israeli strike on Iran’s gas fields and an Iranian retaliation that crippled a major terminal to ship liquefied natural gas from Qatar, helped tank U.S. equity markets Friday, with the S&P 500 dropping 1.5%. There also was a sharp increase in U.S. fuel prices.

Trump’s concern about the persistent blockage of the strait erupted Saturday night when the president posted on social media that he’d “hit and obliterate” Iran’s power plants unless the country opens the strait within 48 hours. The threat against Iran’s civilian infrastructure was yet another escalation.

More US military might to the Middle East
Even as Trump said the U.S. was close to winding down the war, the administration announced it was sending three more warships to the Middle East with about 2,500 additional Marines. It was the second time in the week that the administration said it was deploying more forces to the conflict. The military says some 50,000 are supporting the war effort.

Trump has ruled out sending in ground troops, though his administration has hinted at a possible deployment of special forces or similar units.

The Marines being sent to the region are an expeditionary unit designed for quick amphibious landings, but their deployment does not mean a ground invasion is certain. Analysts have suggested it may require the presence of U.S. forces on the ground to ultimately secure the strait.

The surge in troops came just a day after news emerged that the Pentagon was seeking an additional $200 billion from Congress to fund the war. That extraordinarily high number does not suggest that the war was being wound down.

Sanctions on Iranian oil sales
The administration said it would lift sanctions on the sale of Iranian oil, provided it was already at sea as of Friday. The move was an attempt to help lower skyrocketing energy prices by allowing freer sale of oil that Iran has let pass through the strait. It also extends a financial lifeline to the Iranian government that Trump is targeting.

His administration has tried other methods to lower oil prices. It has tapped the U.S. strategic petroleum reserve and lifted sanctions on some Russian oil. Yet Brent crude remained at $112 per barrel Friday, and analysts say oil prices are likely to remain high for months regardless of the next steps in the war.

The Iranian oil eventually would have reached another country, but now the United States and its allies can bid on it as well, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote on X.

“At present, sanctioned Iranian oil is being hoarded by China on the cheap,” Bessent wrote. “By temporarily unlocking this existing supply for the world, the United States will quickly bring approximately 140 million barrels of oil to global markets, expanding the amount of worldwide energy and helping to relieve the temporary pressures on supply caused by Iran.”

While 140 million barrels may seem like a lot, that is only a couple of days worth of oil on the global market.

Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, a U.S. fuel-tracking service, said he does not expect the temporary suspension to have a major impact on gas prices. The de facto closure of the strait has a much greater effect, he said. “Prices will likely still continue to rise so long as the Strait remains silent,” De Haan said.

And the contradictions in the position were obvious in Bessent’s post announcing the move, which labeled Iran “the head of the snake for global terrorism.” He said the administration would take steps to prevent Tehran from cashing in on the sales, but it was unclear how that would be done.

Even among some Republicans, the contradictions triggered rare public skepticism.

“Bombing Iran with one hand and buying Iran oil with the other,” Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina posted on X Saturday.

The Trump administration has taken the unusual step of briefly relaxing sanctions on Iranian oil that is already en route on tankers, marking the first time such restrictions have been loosened since they were imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained that the measure is limited strictly to shipments that have already been loaded and are currently at sea, and does not apply to any new oil production. The move is intended to help bring down surging energy prices linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

Officials estimate that the decision could allow approximately 140 million barrels of oil to enter global markets, at a time when disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and continued fighting in the region have driven prices sharply upward.

“This is a narrowly tailored, temporary step,” Bessent said, emphasizing that the broader sanctions framework remains fully intact as part of the administration’s maximum pressure strategy.

Sanctions targeting Iran’s oil industry have long been a central pillar of U.S. policy, designed to restrict revenue flowing to the regime following the 1979 revolution and the hostage crisis that followed. In recent years, those restrictions have been tightened further in an effort to push Iranian exports down to near zero.

According to administration officials, the current move is meant to calm volatile global markets without offering Iran any sustained economic benefit.

Critics, however, contend that even a limited waiver could still provide Tehran with additional funds during a time of heightened tensions, despite assurances from officials that the effect will be minimal since the oil was already in transit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed Moscow’s support for Iran, calling it a “loyal friend and reliable partner” amidst ongoing US and Israeli strikes. This statement marks one of Russia’s first public shows of support for Iran since the conflict began three weeks ago. ¹ ² ³

Putin’s comments come as reports emerged that Moscow had considered limiting intelligence sharing with Tehran in exchange for US concessions on Ukraine. Additionally, Putin had proposed transferring Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia to de-escalate tensions, but the idea was rejected by the Trump administration. ⁴

Follow-up questions:

1. What implications does Putin’s statement have for Russia-Iran relations and the ongoing conflict?
2. How might the US and Israel respond to Putin’s reaffirmation of support for Iran?

MOSCOW Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Moscow remains a “loyal friend and reliable partner” to Iran as it faces ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes.

The statement marked one of Russia’s first public shows of support since the war began three weeks ago, even as reports emerged Moscow had considered limiting intelligence sharing with Tehran in exchange for U.S. concessions on Ukraine.

Putin also recently proposed transferring Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia to de-escalate tensions, but the idea was quickly rejected by the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump said Friday that he has no interest in pursuing a ceasefire with Iran at this stage, arguing that the current military campaign is achieving decisive results.

Speaking to reporters, Trump made clear that he believes halting operations now would be premature. “I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You know you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side,” he said.

Trump on the Iranian regime:

I don't want to do a ceasefire. You don't do a ceasefire when you're literally obliterating the other side.

___

🔥 Breaking News 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZiS5Ky1bcO

— 🔥 Breaking News 🔥 (@Breaking_News_V) March 20, 2026

He pointed to the intensity of recent U.S. strikes, describing the damage inflicted on Iranian targets in stark terms. “We’ve been hitting them awfully hard. I don’t know if you can possibly get hit harder. These are thugs, and animals, and horrible people… but I’m not surprised, they executed 3 young people for protesting,” added Trump.

When asked whether Israel would align with his timeline for ending the conflict, Trump expressed confidence that both countries remain closely coordinated. “I think so, yes…the relationship is a very good one. We want more or less similar things. You know what we want? We want victory.”

Trump also asserted that, from a military perspective, Iran’s capabilities have been effectively neutralized. “I think we’ve won. We’ve knocked out their navy, their air force, we’ve knocked out their anti-aircraft, we’ve knocked out everything. We’re roaming free. From a military standpoint, all they’re doing is clogging up the Strait [of Hormuz]. But from a military standpoint, they’re finished.”

NEW YORK (VINnews) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism after breaking his Ramadan fast with inmates at Rikers Island, drawing scrutiny over his focus on detainees versus injured police officers.

Mamdani said the visit to the city’s jail complex was one of his “most meaningful evenings” in office, describing it as part of his identity as a Muslim New Yorker and a broader effort to emphasize dignity and shared community.

Earlier this week, I broke fast at Rikers Island with New Yorkers in custody, Department of Correction staff, Commissioner Stanley Richards, and Councilmember Yusef Salaam.

It was a night that will stay with me for quite some time. People sharing what little they have: breaking… pic.twitter.com/6Serzy6Mt2

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 20, 2026

The visit included an iftar meal with inmates and city correction officials, and marked the first time a New York City mayor has participated in Ramadan observances at Rikers, according to officials.

Critics, including law enforcement voices and political commentators, questioned his priorities, arguing he has not made similar public visits to injured police officers or crime victims. Some pointed to his earlier visit to the family of a man shot by police after attacking officers with a knife.

Supporters of the mayor said the event reflected his commitment to community engagement and his pledge to eventually close the Rikers Island jail complex.

The mayor’s office did not directly respond to criticism. The Department of Correction said the meals were donated and did not cost taxpayers.