New York (VINNEWS/Rabbi Yair Hoffman) Walk into a Kosher supermarket during Sefirah and you will hear music called acapello. The song v’attah banim shiru laMelech is one such example. What follows is a Shiru laMelech of a different type of a Kapello.
A study published in The American Naturalist (August ‘22) by Professor Robert Warren of SUNY Buffalo State and his team uncovered a hidden wonder. Their discovery involves three creatures that have nothing in common: oak trees, tiny wasps, and ants. Together, they perform a teamwork act so precise that it is impossible to believe it could happen by chance.
The Torah opens with the words, “In the beginning, Hashem created the heavens and the earth.” Chazal teach that Hashem looked into the Torah and used it as the blueprint for creation (Bereishis Rabbah 1:1). Every creature, every angle of every leaf, was designed with intention.
How Ants Plant Flowers
For more than a hundred years, scientists have known that certain wildflowers in the forest do not spread their seeds by wind or water. They spread them with the help of ants.
The seeds of these plants come with a small white attachment called an “elaiosome”—a tiny snack pack glued to the side of the seed, full of fats and oils that ants love. When the seed falls, ants find it, grab it by the elaiosome (which is shaped almost like a handle), and carry the package back to their underground nest.
Inside the nest, the ants chew off the elaiosome and feed it to their young. Then they place the seed in their nest’s garbage room—which turns out to be the perfect place for the seed to grow – underground, safe from mice and birds, protected from forest fires, and full of nutrients. The plant gets a free planting service while ants get a free meal. This partnership is called “myrmecochory,” Greek for “ant-carrying.”
This much we known. But the new discovery is a new k’naich in ma rabu.
The Wasp Copies the Plant
There is a tiny wasp called Kokkocynips. The female lays her eggs inside the leaves of red oak trees, and the oak leaf grows a little ball around each egg, called a “gall.” The wasp larva lives inside the gall, eating the gall tissue and growing safely inside this little fortress of oak.
Galls are not unusual—it is actually what halachic ink is made of. But the Kokkocynips gall does something no one had fully understood until now.
Now here it comes.. The connection between the acapello music and singing to Hashem.
On top of every gall, there is a special little cap. The researchers gave it the Greek name “kapéllo,” which simply means “cap.”
In the autumn, the gall (with its kapéllo) drops off the leaf and falls to the forest floor. And then—exactly the same thing happens that happens to the wildflower seeds. Ants find the gall, grab it by the kapéllo, and carry it to their nest. They chew off the kapéllo and eat it, leaving the gall itself, with the wasp baby still inside, safe and protected within the ant nest. In spring, the semi-adult wasp emerges, walks out of the ant nest unharmed, and starts the cycle all over again.
The Match Goes Beyond Coincidence
It is one thing to say ants happen to pick up both seeds and galls. It is another to look at how similar these two systems are. The researchers ran several careful tests, and what they found is amazing.
First, do ants treat galls the same way they treat seeds? The team set up bait stations with both. The ants picked up galls just as often as seeds, with similar levels of interest in both.
Second, is the kapéllo really what attracts the ants? The researchers cut the kapéllos off some galls and tested the bare galls against galls that still had their caps. Without the kapéllo, ants barely paid any attention. With it, the ants came a runnin’.
Third, what is the kapéllo made of? Using gas chromatography, the team measured the fatty acids inside both kapéllos and elaiosomes. They found the same key chemicals in both: lauric acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid—the very chemicals known to attract ants. The wasp’s gall and the wildflower’s seed are using the same chemical recipe to call the ants over.
Fourth, how does the kapéllo come off? Under the microscope, there is a special line of woody (lignified) cells right where the kapéllo meets the gall, acting like a perforation (like in the packaging we can’t open on Shabbos) that lets the ant snap the cap off cleanly. Wildflower seeds with elaiosomes have the exact same kind of perforation line.
There Is a Third Player
And now – more ma Rabu. Stick insects (phasmids) lay eggs that have an attachment called a “capitulum.” It has the same fats and looks similar. It attracts the same ants, who carry the eggs into their nests where they are safe from predators.
So now we have three completely unrelated creatures—a flowering plant, a wasp that lives inside an oak leaf, and a stick insect—all producing the same kind of attachment, with the same chemicals, fitting the same handle-shape for ant jaws, with the same break-away point. None of these creatures is related to the others. They share only one thing: each developed, somehow, the same hidden code that summons the same partner ant.
Mah Rabu Maasecha—A Look at the Argument
Scientists call this kind of matching “convergent evolution.” The idea is that three different species supposedly stumbled, all on their own, onto the same chemical formula, the same shape, the same break-away seam, and the same perfect timing with the autumn ant season.
Professor Michael Behe, a biochemist at Lehigh University, has spent decades pointing out a serious problem with this kind of explanation. Behe calls it “irreducible complexity.” In Darwin’s Black Box, he argues that a system made of many parts, where every part must be present at the same time for the system to work at all, cannot be built up slowly, one mutation at a time. If even one part is missing, the whole thing fails, and natural selection has nothing to preserve.
Let’s look at what the kapéllo system needs. The wasp must lay eggs in exactly the right spot. Its saliva must reprogram the oak’s genes to grow not just any gall, but a gall with a cap. That cap must contain the exact fats that attract ants—not flies, not beetles. The cap must be sized exactly to fit ant mandibles. It must be attached by a lignified seam that breaks cleanly. The gall must drop at the right time of year. And the wasp must somehow walk out of an ant nest months later without being eaten.
Take away any one of these features, and the system collapses. Step-by-step random mutation has no way to assemble all those pieces at once—let alone three separate times, in three unrelated kinds of creatures.
The Rambam writes in Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah (2:2) that the way to come to true ahavas Hashem is to contemplate His wonderful works of creation. The Chovos HaLevavos, in Shaar HaBechinah, devotes the perek to looking carefully at the natural world for proofs of Hashem. Anyone who sees a complicated machine that works perfectly knows there must be a Designer behind it. No one would believe that an ink bottle spilled on a page produced a beautifully written sefer.
The partnership of the oak, the wasp, the ant, and the seed is exactly that kind of beautifully written sefer. The plant gets its seeds planted in safe ground. The wasp gets its babies stored in a fortress full of antimicrobial chemicals from the ants’ own glands, protecting the larvae from fungus that kills so many gall larvae out in the open. The ants get rich, fatty meals delivered to their door.
Walking Through the Forest with New Eyes
There is one more wonder the researchers pointed out almost as a side note. Kokkocynips galls in some forests are so common that they used to be called “black oak wheat” in the early 1900s. Farmers would gather them by the bushel to fatten livestock. They are everywhere. And until 2022, no one in the scientific world had quite realized that they were part of an ant-partnership system that mirrors flowers down to the chemistry.
How many other partnerships in creation has man still not noticed?
The next time we visit the Catskills and the autumn leaves fall in a forest, somewhere underneath them an ant is grabbing a tiny ball with a tiny cap, and carrying it home to feed others. The wasp inside that ball is sleeping safely in her enemy’s house. The oak tree above has done its job. And Hashem, who set up this whole arrangement, is being praised by all of them at once—whether they know it or not.
“Kulam b’chochmah asisa.” You have made them all with wisdom. The deeper one looks, the more obvious that becomes.
The author can be reached at [email protected]

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Tefila4Life-Shiur-1079-Dwell.mp3

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara sent an official letter to President Isaac Herzog on Sunday night stating that she and State Attorney Amit Aisman are “prepared to engage in dialogue on a plea bargain with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.”

“The prosecution is prepared to hold discussions with the defense to formulate an appropriate plea agreement,” Baharav-Miara and Aisman said, “provided there are no preconditions for the talks and without harming the progress of the trial, as is customary. At this stage, we will not address additional issues, including the format of the talks, how they will be conducted, or where they will take place.”

As of Monday morning, Netanyahu has not publicly responded to the letter.

Last week, Herzog’s legal adviser, Michal Tzuk, sent a letter to the parties involved in Netanyahu’s cases, inviting them to hold a dialogue on reaching a plea agreement.

“The parties were asked to attend promptly, willingly, and in good faith,” the President’s Office said. “It was made clear to the parties that accepting the invitation does not constitute agreement or approval on their part regarding any matter in dispute between them in court.”

The New York Times reported last week that Herzog has decided not to issue Netanyahu a pardon and instead will try to promote a plea agreement.

Netanyahu has stated many times that he will not agree to an admission of guilt, a prerequisite for a plea deal. The cases against the prime minister have fallen apart one by one in the courtroom, with multiple claims disproven or withdrawn. In addition, multiple incidents of police investigators acting illegally in the cases have been revealed in the courtroom.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s testimony at a court hearing scheduled for Monday at the Jerusalem District Court was canceled, the Courts Administration spokesperson announced on Monday morning.

The court’s decision was made following a request submitted in the pre-dawn hours of Monday morning by Netanyahu’s defense attorney Amit Hadad.

Hadad informed the court that “the Prime Minister Netanyahu was required to attend a Security Cabinet meeting on Sunday night and another security asessment that continued until the early hours of the morning, and today he is required to continue with a security-political schedule, the circumstances of which are detailed in a sealed envelope that is being simultaneously transferred to the Honorable Court and to the representative of the prosecution.”

No further details about the request were published.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

With this year’s Lag BaOmer gatherings at the kever of Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron significantly restricted, Yerushalayim is preparing to serve as the main hub of celebrations, with numerous hadlakos planned throughout the city.

The central hadlaka led by Rav Meilech Biderman is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. on Rechov Shefa Chaim. A designated area for women will be available at Ginat Ezrat Torah.

A major hadlaka will also take place at Yeshivas Oryasa on Rechov Strauss at 8:30 p.m., featuring Bentzi Stein, Arele Samet, and others. The Hachnasas Orchim Rashbi organization has made large-scale preparations, including providing significant amounts of food and meat for participants.

At Kikar Zaks on Rechov Shmuel Hanavi, the hadlaka of Rav Yaakov Meir Shechter will take place at 8:00 p.m.

Additional celebrations are expected at the kever of Shimon Hatzadsik, at Rav Shalom Arush’s shul, and at Toldos Aharon in Meah Shearim.

In Beitar Illit, the Toldos Avraham Yitzchak rebbe will light at the Kavim parking lot at 10:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, in Meron, only three hadlakos will take place in a limited format: the Boyaner Rebbe, Rav Shlomo Amar, and a hadlaka organized by the Dati Leumi community, each limited to approximately 200 participants.

A wide-ranging recycling proposal in New York would require many companies to significantly reduce their use of plastic packaging, a move supporters say is necessary to address mounting waste, but critics warn could lead to damaged goods and higher costs for consumers.

The measure, known as the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, would apply to companies earning more than $5 million annually that sell or distribute certain products. It mandates a gradual elimination of packaging considered harmful or non-reusable, replacing it with materials that are reusable or more environmentally sustainable.

Similar initiatives have already been adopted in several states, including Maryland, Maine, Oregon, Colorado, California, and Minnesota, as well as in a number of countries. The push comes as New Yorkers generate nearly five pounds of waste per person each day.

Under the proposal, businesses would need to cut their use of non-environmentally friendly packaging by 10% within three years and by 30% over a 12-year period.

The legislation also sets benchmarks for reusable packaging, requiring at least 5% of materials to be reusable or refillable by 2032, increasing to 10% by 2040 and 20% by 2055.

In addition, a growing share of packaging would need to be recyclable, with a minimum of 25% by 2032, rising to 50% by 2040 and 75% by 2055.

“New York State must follow suit to meet the moment for environmental accountability,” said a memo supporting the bill, which is sponsored by Assemblywoman Deborah Glick and state Sen. Peter Harckham.

“This legislation shifts the onus of recycling and waste hauling for packaging from municipalities and residents and ensures that producers of products are serving our interests by establishing solutions to sustainable packaging,” the memo said.

Companies that fail to meet the new requirements would face financial penalties, with funds directed toward improving recycling systems and infrastructure.

Industry representatives and supermarket groups, however, argue the changes would force a shift away from protective plastic materials toward less effective alternatives, potentially leading to product damage.

“Even with its recent amendments it will eliminate the plastic film packaging that keeps essential products like toilet paper, paper towels, and diapers dry and sanitary,” said Dan Felton, president and CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association.

“Without it, retailers and consumers face increased product damage, higher replacement costs, and less reliable shelf availability.

“We agree that we must improve recycling systems and reduce waste, but good public policy will also avoid higher costs and keep critical packaging in place to protect public health,” he said.

Nelson Eusebio, director of government affairs for the National Supermarkets Association, said the impact would be especially felt in lower-income communities.

“For independent supermarkets serving New York City’s working-class and minority communities, even modest shifts in packaging policy can quickly translate into higher costs for families.

“When changes move forward without scalable, commercially viable alternatives, those costs ripple through the supply chain and affect prices at the register.”

A similar version of the bill cleared the state Senate last year but failed to pass in the Assembly amid strong opposition from plastics manufacturers.

The renewed effort comes as Gov. Kathy Hochul continues discussions with lawmakers over adjusting deadlines tied to a 2019 climate law aimed at transitioning the state away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro.

Glick and Harckham said the current proposal has undergone extensive revisions, including roughly 150 changes that extend deadlines and adjust restrictions on certain materials.

“The underlying challenge has not changed. New York is facing a growing solid waste and pollution crisis, and the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is a real solution that must be passed this year,” Glick said.

Harckham added that industry concerns were taken into account during the revision process.

“We have forged a middle ground with these amendments to our bill, and now we are working to finally gain the necessary legislative and executive approvals that will save New Yorkers millions of dollars each year while helping to protect our environment,” he said.

The bill has received support from multiple environmental organizations, as well as the state Association of Counties, which argue that excessive plastic use is overwhelming landfill capacity.

“New Yorkers are drowning in plastic waste, and for too long, taxpayers have been stuck with the bill while multi-billion-dollar companies pump toxic chemicals into our communities,” said Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and a former regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“These amendments are a major concession to the plastic industry, but the foundation of the bill remains important, necessary and impactful. We cannot afford another year of inaction.”

Business groups, including the Business Council of New York State and the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment, maintain that the legislation would impose heavy burdens on companies and consumers alike.

“This proposal includes requirements – such as stringent source reduction targets, material restrictions, and limited flexibility – that go well beyond those in EPR laws adopted by other states, most recently Minnesota, Washington, and Maryland,” the groups said in a joint statement.

“If adopted, this bill would impose significant operational challenges on business and result in significant impacts on consumer costs and product availability.”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu placed a phone call to the Belzer Rebbe in recent days to inquire about his condition, following reports that the Rebbe had been experiencing weakness.

According to those familiar with the conversation, the Rebbe’s condition has been improving after a recent period of illness, as chassidim continue to follow updates and daven for his continued recovery. Amid that concern, Netanyahu reached out personally to check on his well-being.

The prime minister contacted the Rebbe’s residence and spoke with him for several minutes. Netanyahu asked about the Rebbe’s health, and the Rebbe responded briefly, expressing thanks and answering amen to the prime minister’s wishes.

During the conversation, Netanyahu also expressed strong appreciation for the efforts of the Belzer community’s leadership, particularly praising the work of the Rebbe’s son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach.

Toward the end of the exchange, after it was recently reported that Netanyahu himself had undergone a medical procedure, the Belzer Rebbe extended a brocha to the prime minister, wishing him continued good health.

MIAMI (VINnews)-As Floridians prepare to choose their next governor in 2026, one candidate stands out not for leadership or vision, but for repeatedly crossing lines that no serious public servant should approach. James Fishback, the Republican long-shot challenging U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and others, has built a campaign on provocation, division and rhetoric that Jews and decent people of all backgrounds find deeply

Fishback’s own words and actions tell the story. In a widely circulated video, he told a Black man confronting him: “You should be lynched.” He quickly pivoted to vows about “lynching” Epstein criminals, but the damage was done — a casual invocation of one of America’s ugliest racial terrors, directed at a Black voter.

His attacks on frontrunner Byron Donalds have veered into ugly territory: calling the Black congressman a “slave” to donors, mocking him as “By’rone,” warning he would turn Florida into a “Section 8 ghetto,” and posting gun videos with taunts like “Pull up… let’s see if you’re really Black.” This isn’t policy debate. It’s racialized trash talk that has no place in Florida politics.

The antisemitism is equally blatant. Fishback has embraced the slur “goyslop” — the far-right conspiracy term accusing Jews of pushing junk food to weaken non-Jews — and promised to ban it from school cafeterias, earning cheers from crowds. He has openly declared he would not visit Israel as governor because he refuses to “kiss a stupid wall” at the Western Wall. He blames “Zionists” and AIPAC for everything from housing prices to addiction, labeling them foreign agents holding Americans in “slavery.”

He has praised followers of Nick Fuentes — the antisemitic streamer with well-documented neo-Nazi ties — as “well-informed, respectful, and patriotic.” That’s not a gaffe. It’s a signal.

Fishback’s defenders may call this “edgy” or “anti-establishment.” But Florida’s Jewish community, and any voter who values basic decency, recognizes it for what it is: the normalization of hate under the guise of populism. Promising to divest Florida funds from Israel bonds while ignoring real economic challenges facing families is not bold leadership — it’s scapegoating.

Most Floridians, across races and backgrounds, want practical solutions on housing, education, jobs and public safety — not rage-bait, conspiracy theories or fringe spectacles. Byron Donalds, despite policy differences some may have, represents mainstream conservative governance. Jay Collins offers another experienced option. Fishback offers a toxic sideshow.

Florida has thrived under leaders who unite rather than divide. We cannot afford to let internet edgelord tactics and antisemitic dog whistles infiltrate the governor’s mansion. The Jewish community and all who reject hatred must make clear: James Fishback is unfit for office. Florida deserves better.

A senior Iranian lawmaker warned Sunday that any attempt by the United States to intervene in maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz would be viewed as a breach of the current ceasefire, as tensions rise following a new U.S. initiative in the region.

Ebrahim Azizi, who heads Iran’s Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, issued a series of statements cautioning Washington against involvement in what he described as Iran’s maritime framework for the strategic waterway.

“Any American interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire,” he said in a translated message posted on X.

Azizi also dismissed remarks by President Donald Trump regarding the situation, writing, “The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf would not be managed by Trump’s delusional posts!”

He further rejected accusations directed at Tehran, stating, “No one would believe Blame Game scenarios!”

In a separate post, Azizi reiterated that the region should not be used for political messaging. “The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf are not a place for rhetoric,” he said.

The comments followed President Trump’s announcement of “Project Freedom,” a plan under which U.S. forces would begin escorting vessels through the strait starting Monday to ensure safe passage.

Trump’s move came after he voiced skepticism about a 14-point peace proposal put forward by Iran over the weekend.

{Matzav.com}

Tensions are mounting over transportation arrangements for a major Lag BaOmer gathering in Yerushalayim, where tens of thousands are expected to attend the lighting ceremony led by Rav Elimelech Biderman, but may face severe shortages in public transit.

Critics warn that without adequate service, participants could be left stranded or forced to pay high private travel costs, even as other large events receive extensive transportation support.

In an interview on Kol Chai Radio, Yisrael Gefner, head of the Emes L’Yaakov organization, described a growing crisis in planning for the event. He noted that while the situation in Meron is being handled separately, the large-scale gathering in Yerushalayim has not been matched with sufficient transportation infrastructure.

“We are essentially operating under two separate processes,” Gefner said, explaining that the Yerushalayim event requires its own dedicated logistical response.

Gefner pointed to a past case involving Israel Railways, which initially halted service during a mass protest near the entrance to Yerushalayim over the draft law, prompting a petition to the High Court of Justice. “The trains only resumed operation after the petition,” he said, arguing that the current dispute reflects the same broader issue — equal access to public services.

According to Gefner, while left-wing demonstrations and major entertainment events receive significant transit reinforcements, the chareidi tzibbur is often left without comparable support. “When a well-known secular singer performed, they added 14 trains,” he said, adding that protests and sporting events routinely receive expanded service. By contrast, for Lag BaOmer events, “not only is there no reinforcement — we are at risk of a shutdown.”

He also challenged the claim that the restrictions are based on genuine security concerns. “They conducted a review and found that the police actually requested increased security personnel, not a halt to train service,” he said, suggesting that the policy reflects systemic discrimination rather than operational necessity.

Gefner warned that without organized public transportation, many attendees will be forced to seek costly alternatives. “People are paying over 100 shekels for private rides — they don’t deserve that,” he said, emphasizing that public transit offers a safer, more affordable, and better-regulated option that also helps reduce congestion and risk.

In response, an urgent petition was filed with the High Court, seeking to establish a permanent policy requiring expanded transportation services for large chareidi events. “We want to ensure there is no situation where some receive and others do not,” Gafner said.

A decision from the court is expected by Tuesday morning, a delay that drew criticism from radio host Avi Mimran. “The same High Court that saw fit to convene in the middle of Shabbos to urgently discuss a protest in Kaplan suddenly shows surprising patience when it comes to the rights of the chareidi tzibbur. Even though the hilula begins tomorrow night, the court has until tomorrow morning to calmly deliberate the petition for increased transportation,” he said. Gefner added that even if the ruling does not impact the upcoming event, establishing a clear principle for the future remains the primary goal.

Shortly after the interview, Justice Yitzchak Amit ordered the relevant authorities — including the transportation minister, the Ministry of Transportation, the national transport authority, Israel Railways, the police, and the Yerushalayim municipality — to submit responses by 10:00 a.m. Tuesday regarding the petition, which argues that insufficient transportation poses a risk to public safety.

{Matzav.com}

Member of Knesset Meir Porush announced that he will not travel to Meron for Lag BaOmer this year following the cancellation of the annual hilula and called for serious reflection and lessons to be drawn from the situation.

In a personal column published late Sunday, Porush opened with a clear declaration: “I will start from the end. This year as well, unfortunately, I will not take part in the hilula of Rashbi at the holy site of Meron.”

Porush wrote that since childhood, attending the annual gathering had been a constant in his life. “Since I was a small child, there was almost no year in which I missed participating in the holy hilula. Meron, throughout the year, and especially on Lag BaOmer, is truly part of my very being — a feeling I am certain many people from Yerushalayim share.”

He added that in recent years he had played a central role in organizing the event, describing it as a significant merit. “My merit grew even more over the past three years, during which I had the privilege of leading the preparations for the holy hilula, and in the years 5783 and 5785, with the help of Heaven, we succeeded in holding these elevated gatherings with great crowds and dignity, attended by tens of thousands of the Jewish people.”

Even after stepping down from his government role, Porush said he continued to be involved in planning efforts under the guidance of senior rabbinic leadership. “In the past year, after my departure from the government, under the directive of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, I continued, with the blessing of our revered admorim, to assist in my role as a member of Knesset in the preparations for the hilula, alongside those engaged in this sacred work.”

Porush described being taken aback by the government’s decision earlier this month to cancel the event. “However, last Friday, the 7th of Iyar, we were astonished to hear about the cabinet’s decision to cancel the hilula. Those involved in the work at the Ministry of Yerushalayim and Heritage did not give up in the face of this decree, and with great creativity formulated an interim plan that was approved by the Home Front Command.”

He claimed that certain elements within government authorities worked to block that compromise plan. “On the other hand, certain parties within the government authorities acted with all their strength against this plan, placing obstacle after obstacle in order to prevent the arrival of the thousands to the hilula. The matter ended with the new decision of the Home Front Command last Friday, the 14th of Iyar, to further tighten the restrictions, which in practice do not allow the hilula events to take place.”

Porush said he would refrain from publicly detailing his full position on the decisions. “At this time, I will refrain from expressing my opinion regarding the decisions that were made. What I heard in the discussions of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, I heard, and what I said in the discussion with the prime minister, I said. I was not a partner to the decision that was later made, and I am not at peace with it, and I will not elaborate further.”

He acknowledged the deep disappointment caused by the cancellation, noting the personal significance the event holds for him. “The current situation is that the hilula of Rashbi in Meron will no longer take place in a format that meets the outline I established — ‘with prayer, with safety, and with joy.’ This pains me very much, the memories of the hilula in the years 5780, 5781, 5782, and 5784 are deeply etched in me, and the knowledge that once again we will not hold the hilula in its proper form is very distressing.”

Despite the situation, Porush stressed the importance of learning from past experiences. “I expect that nevertheless, the lessons that can be learned will indeed be learned. As I said in the Knesset plenum during a discussion on the Meron law, even before the security situation in the north became clear: ‘I want to emphasize that what happened in 5784 cannot repeat itself. The professionals, together with the police, must formulate a more balanced framework, one that does not end with unbearable scenes of violence and chaos.’ I very much hope that the message has been heard and will continue to be heard.”

He emphasized that he would stand in solidarity with the broader public who will be unable to attend. “The majority of the Jewish people will not merit this year to fulfill their desire to participate in the holy hilula, and I will share in their pain. Even though I have the ability, as someone who ‘benefits’ from parliamentary immunity, to go up to Meron — I do not feel it is appropriate for me to do so when you, my dear brothers, the people of Meron, cannot do so.”

Porush concluded with a message encouraging unity and introspection, even from afar. “Together with you, each person in his own city or by his rov, we will try to rejoice in the joy of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, even from a distance, with closeness of heart, and we will examine our deeds and make an accounting of the soul as to why the ascent to Meron on Lag BaOmer — something that was once so natural — has over the years become such a great challenge, and sometimes even impossible.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey is based on more than a controversial Instagram post, emphasizing that prosecutors relied on a broader body of evidence gathered over nearly a year-long investigation.

Speaking on Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker pressed Blanche about the basis for the charges, referencing the social media post at the center of the case.

Welker said, “A grand jury has indicted the former FBI director for this Instagram post. I want to put it up. I think a lot of folks have seen it at this point. 86 47 and sea seashells, which the indictment says, quote, a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the president of the United States. How does that image of seashells amount to a serious threat against the president’s life?”

Blanche responded that the investigation extended well beyond the post itself.

“Well, every case requires an investigation. And what you just showed is, is one part of that investigation. What you just showed is the Instagram post. Rest assured that the career assistant United States attorneys in North Carolina, the career FBI agents, the career Secret Service agents that investigated this case, didn’t just look at the Instagram post to walk away. That’s why you saw an indictment last week, not withstanding the fact that it was last May that the post was made. So I am not permitted to get into the details of what the grand jury heard or found, as you know. But rest assured that it’s not just the Instagram post that leads somebody to get indicted.”

Welker followed up by asking how prosecutors could establish intent given Comey’s own explanation.

“How do you prove intent, Mr. Blanche, when Mr. Comey himself said he didn’t understand that some people would look at that and think about violence?”

Blanche said that intent is demonstrated through multiple forms of evidence.

“You prove intent like you always prove intent. You prove intent with witnesses, you prove intent with documents, with materials. So again, this is not just about a single Instagram post. This is about a body of evidence that the grand jury collected over the series of about 11 months. That evidence was presented to the grand jury. And it’s not the government. It’s not the Department of Justice. It’s not Todd Blanche that returns an indictment against James Comey. It’s the grand jury.”

Welker then pressed whether additional facts exist beyond the social media post that establish a threat.

“Are there, are you in fact saying that there are facts beyond this Instagram post that clearly establish an intent to threaten the president’s life?”

Blanche reiterated that the length of the investigation itself indicates there is more to the case.

“I’ve said repeatedly this was an investigation that lasted 11 months.If the only facts that existed was the posting of the Instagram, obviously that wouldn’t have taken 11 months. And so when Mr. Turley talks about whether it’s facially unconstitutional absent unknown facts or circumstances, we will necessarily have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, at trial, every element of this crime — which we’re prepared to do.”

Welker asked whether those additional details would be made public.

“Can you and will you let the public know what any of those other facts are?”

Blanche said that information would come out during court proceedings.

“Absolutely. It’s called a trial. That’s what happens at every single case. We indict thousands of cases every year. Every one of those cases, there’s an indictment and then eventually there is a trial or some sort of disposition. At the trial, a public trial, that will be open to the public, everybody in this country will know exactly what evidence the government has against Mr. Comey.”

Welker also raised the issue of similar phrases being widely available online.

“It is worth noting that on Amazon.com — we looked this up — there are dozens of products with the same terminology, we’re showing it right here, 86 47 being sold and purchased right now. Should individuals selling or buying ’86 47′ merchandise be concerned that they’re going to be prosecuted by the DOJ?”

Blanche said the case is not about a single phrase in isolation, but about context and supporting evidence.

“This isn’t about a single incident, OK. I mean, of course not. That’s posted constantly. That phrase is used constantly. There are constantly men and women who choose to make threatening statements against President Trump. Every one of those statements do not result in indictments, of course. There are facts, there are circumstances, there are investigations that have to take place. And we have charged dozens and dozens of men and women this year with threatening President Trump and others. So this isn’t a new charge we’re bringing.”

{Matzav.com}

LONDON (VINnews) – British author and journalist Brendan O’Neill declared that anti-Zionism has become “an ideology of hatred,” equating it with antisemitism in a fiery appearance on GB News.

“Anti-Zionism is an ideology of hatred. There is no question of that now,” O’Neill said on the network Sunday. He argued that people who identify as anti-Zionists are in fact antisemites.

O’Neill, chief political writer for the online magazine Spiked and author of several books including one on the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, made the comments during a discussion on rising antisemitism and what he described as a “cesspit of Jew hatred” in parts of British society.

In recent writings for Spiked, O’Neill has contended that modern anti-Zionism goes beyond criticism of Israeli policies and serves as a vehicle for hostility toward Jews and the Jewish state. He has pointed to incidents involving Britain’s Green Party and pro-Palestinian protests as evidence that the distinction between anti-Zionism and antisemitism has collapsed.

The remarks come amid ongoing debates in the U.K. and elsewhere over the Israel-Hamas war, campus protests and a reported surge in antisemitic incidents since Oct. 7. Jewish organizations have documented increased attacks and harassment, while some activists maintain that strong opposition to Israeli policies and Zionism — the movement supporting a Jewish homeland in Israel — constitutes legitimate political criticism rather than prejudice.

O’Neill, who has said he once held more sympathetic views toward anti-Zionist arguments, now rejects that position outright, calling anti-Zionism a threat to Jews worldwide.

To join via Zoom:

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On Thursday evening, The Tantzers hosted its annual Pesach Sheini Seder at the Tantzers Family Center, offering a meaningful and uplifting experience for families who were unable to celebrate Pesach due to hospital stays. A full Seder was thoughtfully prepared with every detail in place, giving parents and children the opportunity to finally sit together and experience the Yom Tov they had missed.

The evening was marked by powerful emotion, as boys stood to recite the Mah Nishtanah, including several whose fathers remain hospitalized, leaving not a dry eye in the room. At the same time, the Seder was filled with simcha, as music and dancing accompanied a full Yom Tov-style meal, along with gifts distributed to every child in attendance.

The event provided not only a chance to fulfill the spirit of Pesach Sheini, but also brought comfort, unity, and joy to families navigating difficult circumstances, creating a truly unforgettable night for all who participated.

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A chareidi couple from Modiin Illit welcomed a second set of quadruplets on Sunday at Sheba Medical Center, marking an extraordinary event that comes four years after the birth of their first set of quadruplets.

Both births included three girls and one boy.

In the earlier delivery, which took place four years ago, one of the baby girls died shortly after birth, and another passed away about a year later.

The unusual case was first reported by Kol Chai Radio.

The family, members of the Breslover community, lives in the Brachfeld neighborhood of Modiin Illit.

Hatzolah of Philadelphia has obtained state licensure for two Advanced Life Support ambulances, marking the first time Pennsylvania has authorized Hatzolah vehicles to provide advanced emergency medical services, the volunteer emergency response organization announced.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health issued full ALS authorization for both ambulances, clearing a regulatory hurdle that Hatzolah officials said had prevented the organization from deploying advanced life support capabilities despite years of effort.

“This is a meaningful enhancement to the local 911 emergency response system,” Hatzolah officials said in a statement, noting the licensed ambulances would expand pre-hospital care options for residents across Philadelphia.

ALS-equipped ambulances allow emergency responders to administer advanced interventions—including medication administration and cardiac monitoring—beyond the basic life support services that standard ambulances provide. The expanded capability allows Hatzolah to respond to critical situations with greater clinical resources.

The licensing approval follows what Hatzolah described as a “prolonged and determined effort” involving community advocates and organizational leadership. The organization credited unnamed askanim—community leaders dedicated to charitable causes—whose advocacy efforts facilitated the state approval process.

Hatzolah also acknowledged philanthropic support that funded the ambulances’ acquisition and equipment. The organization did not disclose the total cost of the vehicles or specify donors by name.

“These new ambulances represent a significant step forward in ensuring that when every second counts, Hatzolah responders are equipped to deliver advanced, life-saving treatment with speed, skill, and compassion,” the organization said.

Hatzolah operates as a volunteer-staffed emergency medical service supplementing municipal 911 systems. The organization’s network of trained responders provides rapid-response emergency care in Orthodox Jewish communities across multiple states.

The Philadelphia chapter’s expansion reflects broader growth within Hatzolah’s national footprint. The organization has expanded into new markets and upgraded service capabilities in existing chapters over the past decade.

Hatzolah of Philadelphia announced it is launching its 7th Annual Hatzolathon, a fundraising campaign designed to support the operation and staffing of the newly licensed ambulances. The organization said campaign proceeds will fund equipment, training, and personnel costs associated with maintaining the ALS service.

“Members of the community are invited to partner in this vital mission and help ensure that Hatzolah can continue to be there at a moment’s notice for those in need,” the organization stated.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

British Jewish institutions are deploying armed former military personnel to protect shuls, schools, and community centers as the United Kingdom faces what police leadership has characterized as an “epidemic” of antisemitic violence.

The Community Security Trust (CST), which advises Britain’s estimated 280,000 Jews on security matters, has hired ex-Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment veterans through a private contractor recruiting from “elite fighting units in the Royal Navy and army,” according to The Sunday Times. The organization has also trained over 2,000 volunteers in security protocols and Krav Maga, the Israeli martial art.

The security measures underscore what Mark Rowley, head of London’s Metropolitan Police, called the greatest-ever threat facing British Jews. In response to last Wednesday’s antisemitic stabbing attack—in which two Jewish men were stabbed and a suspect was charged with attempted murder—Britain raised its national terrorism threat level to “severe,” signaling that a terrorist attack is considered highly likely.

The stabbing attack occurred just 300 yards from an earlier arson attack targeting four ambulances owned by Hatzolah. That incident was part of a pattern of arson attacks on Jewish-linked sites that UK police say have been perpetrated by “thugs for hire” possibly recruited by Iran-linked terror groups.

The newly founded Islamist group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), which has links to Iran, has claimed responsibility for many of the recent attacks in London and across Europe targeting American, Israeli, and Jewish targets, according to SITE Intelligence Group.

The hiring of former soldiers, which costs “tens of thousands of pounds,” reflects what the CST described as the “acute level of concern” felt among Britain’s Jews. While the CST operates with a 28 million pound ($38 million) annual Home Office grant for Jewish community security, many institutions have dipped into their own funds to hire additional personnel. Armed security officers now patrol Jewish areas of London and Manchester.

In a statement, the CST said: “We deploy a range of capabilities as part of our operations protecting the Jewish community. This includes high level specialist security operatives working alongside other guarding companies and CST volunteers. This reflects the level of threat currently faced by the Jewish community in this country.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu told senior Israel Defense Forces officers that Iran is increasingly worried Israel could bring about the collapse of its regime through economic pressure, and warned that Israel may ultimately move on its own to demilitarize the Gaza Strip if no outside party steps in.

Recordings aired Sunday evening revealed Netanyahu’s remarks during a briefing with top military leadership, in which he described growing concern inside Iran following recent developments.

“There is no doubt that by the end of this war, Iran is weaker than ever and Israel is stronger than ever,” he said. “But we know that we still face a challenge.”

He continued, “We saw that after the regime was struck and weakened, protests followed. And we see that the regime is very troubled by the possibility that we will collapse its economy, because it believes that could also bring down its rule.”

Referring to U.S. policy, Netanyahu said, “President Trump believes that through economic pressure he can also extract the nuclear material. That is all I can say in this forum.”

The prime minister also addressed the situation in Gaza, pointing to Israel’s current military positioning and the possibility of future action to dismantle hostile forces.

“We are holding a security zone inside enemy territory, in Gaza, more than 50% in terms of the ability to enter and begin dismantling it. If someone else dismantles it — all the better.”

He added that Israel has urged U.S. leadership to present an alternative, but is preparing for the likelihood that it will need to act independently.

“I don’t see that happening. I tell Trump and his people, ‘Please, bring it. Bring it.’ But if they do not, the task of dismantling the weapons and demilitarizing the Strip will fall on us. We need to choose the right time to do it,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities are investigating after a United Airlines passenger jet landing Sunday at Newark Liberty International Airport struck a bread truck and a light pole on the adjacent New Jersey Turnpike.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the incident involving United Airlines Flight 169 happened at about 2 p.m. EDT Sunday. The Boeing 767 aircraft landed safely, arriving in the U.S. from Venice, Italy, according to the FAA.

One of the plane’s wheels struck the bakery truck, but the driver miraculously escaped with just minor injuries.

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The airline said in a subsequent statement that United flight 169 “came into contact with a light pole” on its final approach to Newark – not mentioning the strike on the bread truck.

“The aircraft landed safely, taxied to the gate normally and no passengers or crew were injured,” it added.

United said its maintenance team was evaluating damage to the aircraft and that the crew has been removed from service while it conducts a “rigorous” flight safety investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement posted on X that it had opened an investigation of the incident. It said an NTSB investigator would arrive in Newark on Monday and that it had directed United to provide the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder for the investigation. A preliminary report was expected within 30 days, it said.

(AP)

President Donald Trump issued a forceful public statement following news that Rudy Giuliani has been hospitalized in critical condition, praising his longtime ally and sharply criticizing political opponents.

In a post shared Sunday evening, Trump described Giuliani as “a True Warrior” and “the Best Mayor in the History of New York City, BY FAR,” while expressing concern over his condition after being hospitalized.

“Our fabulous Rudy Giuliani, a True Warrior, and the Best Mayor in the History of New York City, BY FAR, has been hospitalized, and is in critical condition,” Trump wrote. “What a tragedy that he was treated so badly by the Radical Left Lunatics, Democrats ALL — AND HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!”

Trump went on to accuse political opponents of misconduct, tying those claims to Giuliani’s situation.

“They cheated on the Elections, fabricated hundreds of stories, did anything possible to destroy our Nation, and now, look at Rudy. So sad!” he added.

Giuliani, 81, is currently hospitalized in critical but stable condition, according to a statement released earlier by his spokesman. No details have been provided regarding the cause of his hospitalization.

{Matzav.com}

Kiryat Shmona was supposed to be in comeback mode. Instead, Israel’s northern border city is living in the uneasy space between return and recovery. Cafes and shawarma stands are open again along parts of Tel-Hai Street, but the side streets tell a harsher story, shuttered storefronts, scattered customers, temporary missile shelters on nearly every corner and a local economy still waiting for its people to come home. In a city where residents may have as little as 15 seconds to reach cover from Hezbollah fire, “normal” is not a business plan.

Kiryat Shmona, home to roughly 24,000 residents before the war, was evacuated after Hamas’s October 7 massacre triggered the northern front with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Only about 60% of residents have returned, and roughly half of local businesses are back open. Homes in newer buildings are reportedly down about 5% from prewar prices, while older apartments without shelters or elevators have dropped closer to 15%. Family apartments of 70–90 square meters can now start around NIS 600,000, while large private homes can still reach roughly NIS 3.5 million.

A fireball rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Qasmiyeh bridge, located on a main highway linking villages in the Tyre district with others further north, after Israel said the bridge was being used by Hezbollah, in southern Lebanon on March 22, 2026. Israel’s military struck a key bridge in south Lebanon on Sunday, an AFP correspondent said, after Israel’s defence minister said the army had been ordered to destroy more bridges over the Litani River. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2, when pro-Iran Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel in response to US-Israeli strikes that killed Iranian supreme leader on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP via Getty Images) /

In the Golan Heights, where communities were not emptied in the same way, agents say the housing market is steadier and tourism is beginning to breathe again. Several Galilee and Golan hotels have reopened, with some reporting meaningful Independence Day occupancy, a small but important signal that Israelis are willing to return when security feels manageable. Kiryat Shmona has no such cushion. When a city loses families, workers, students and shoppers for more than a year, the damage is not only physical. It becomes demographic.

The government knows the stakes. A northern rehabilitation plan includes billions of shekels over several years, a “North Plus” digital wallet program for border-area residents to spend inside local businesses, and grants of up to NIS 24,000 a year for reservist families moving to Kiryat Shmona, Shlomi or Metula. Around 17,000 households in communities close to the border are set to receive digital grants ranging from NIS 1,000 to NIS 2,500, with the money restricted to businesses near the frontier. That design is smart: every shekel is meant to do double duty, helping residents while pushing oxygen into local commerce.

But the complaint from the north is not that plans do not exist. It is that time ran faster than bureaucracy. The Knesset Finance Committee approved NIS 1.2 billion for northern rehabilitation only after months of delay, while earlier government plans earmarked NIS 15 billion over five years. Local leaders and business owners have been warning that reopening after evacuation is expensive: merchandise expires, customers scatter, employees leave, loans pile up and the next round of rocket or drone fire can freeze everything again. One business-support report estimated Kiryat Shmona’s direct financial loss at NIS 1.5 billion, with business activity in the city down 75%.

The approved transformation of Tel-Hai Academic College into the University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee, backed by a five-year NIS 570 million investment, could become a serious growth engine if executed properly. New Ph.D. programs, engineering, AI, precision agriculture and a planned veterinary school in the Golan would bring students, researchers, apartments, cafes, transportation demand and jobs into the region. A university city can do what grants alone cannot: make young people build a life there.

Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel, on July 15, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Lebanon’s Hezbollah fighters. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

The broader Israeli economy is still strong enough to absorb shocks, but the north exposes the cost of a prolonged multi-front war. Reuters reported that Israel’s Finance Ministry cut 2026 growth expectations depending on the length of fighting with Iran and Hezbollah, while a separate Israel Democracy Institute survey found that among displaced Israelis, 19% of those previously employed were out of work, and 44% of northern households reported income declines. These are not abstract macro numbers. They are the barber waiting outside an empty salon, the shop owner reopening into silence, the young family deciding whether the Galilee is still worth the risk.

Israel cannot treat Kiryat Shmona as a symbol only when Hezbollah fires and forget it when the sirens stop. The city is a strategic anchor at the top of the country. If it weakens, the entire Galilee weakens with it. If it recovers, with real security, fast funding, a university, jobs, transport, tourism and protected housing, it can become proof that Iran-backed terror can damage Israeli towns but not empty them for good.

Two prominent rabbonim in the Toms River area issued a public letter retracting an earlier warning about a local business, acknowledging that their initial assessment was incorrect and apologizing to both the establishment and the community.

In the letter addressed “To the Kehillos of Liberty Village, Toms River,” Rabbi Nochum Malinowitz of Liberty Village Shul and Rabbi Dovid Wolpin of Bais Medrash of Bunker Hill wrote that, “Following our earlier communication regarding a local establishment, we feel it is our responsibility to clarify and correct what was stated.”

The rabbonim explained that their original message had been written “מתוך דאגה לשלום הקהילה ולרוחניות בנינו,” but said that after further review, they concluded their initial understanding was mistaken. “However, after further review and taking the time to properly understand the situation, we recognize that our initial assessment was mistaken.”

They added that they have since verified that the business in question, Smash House, is operating appropriately. “We have since been informed and have verified that Smash House is a kosher establishment that is providing a positive and appropriate environment for members of the community, including בני תורה, to gather.”

As a result, the rabbonim formally withdrew their earlier statement and expressed regret. “We therefore wish to retract our previous statement and apologize for any confusion or harm that it may have caused to the business and to members of the community.”

At the same time, they noted that the situation remains nuanced and does not lend itself to a blanket ruling. “At this time, we recognize that the situation is more nuanced and complex than initially understood. Accordingly, we are not issuing a definitive directive, and each individual should consult with their own דעת תורה in determining how to proceed.”

The letter concludes with a call for unity and integrity moving forward: “יהי רצון שנזכה תמיד לפעול באמת וביושר, ולהרבות שלום ואחדות בתוכנו.”

Spirit Airlines said Sunday that it has nearly finished issuing refunds to passengers and returning flight crews to their home bases after its abrupt decision to halt operations over the weekend.

The airline canceled flights without warning on Shabbos, leaving travelers and staff stranded across the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The shutdown followed mounting financial strain, including a sharp spike in fuel expenses tied to the war involving Iran.

According to figures from Cirium, the carrier had scheduled more than 4,000 domestic flights through May 15 before ceasing service.

The company reported that most passengers who purchased tickets using credit or debit cards had received refunds by Motzoei Shabbos, with only a small portion still awaiting processing.

Spirit also said that roughly 1,500 remaining crew members were reassigned back to their home bases over the course of the weekend.

In response to the disruption, several other airlines stepped in to offer reduced “rescue fares” to assist stranded travelers.

In an interview with The Times Friday, the chief of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, described what he termed “an appalling state of affairs” regarding the spike in attacks targeting the London Jewish community.

Blaming social media for driving the increase in Jew hatred, he said that British Jews are now facing their greatest threat during a time when violent actors on the extremes of the right and the left, including even state-backed violent-actors, are targeting them.

“If you overlay three things now — hate crime, terrorism and hostile state activity — you add all that together, that combined effect with that building of ideology online, that is really dangerous and troubling,” he said. “And Jewish communities feel that, and you can see that in how they talk, how it’s making them change their lives.”

(From a post on X)

Rowley called for funding to deploy 300 police officers to neighborhoods like Golders Green, which is densely populated with visibly Jewish people, making them particularly vulnerable to attack. He praised the cops who caught the attacker in last week’s stabbing, a 45-year-old Somali-born man who has been identified as Essa Suleiman. According to the Metropolitan Police, he has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of carrying a bladed weapon in public.

When asked if the level of antisemitism is unprecedented, he pointed to polling that shows about 15 percent of youth engage in Holocaust denial to support that idea. He also warned that social media was normalizing antisemitism.

“What troubles me is that this isn’t just about a few racist idiots, this is standing on something that is more embedded in society that isn’t being challenged. There’s too much licensing of it in public debate,” he said.

He also criticized politicians for their cowardice in refusing to openly confront antisemitism.

“You can go back to lots of reports over time saying to successive governments over 10, 20 years there are some issues that need paying attention to,” he said. “They haven’t really had that attention.”

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (VINnews) – Rumors are swirling among Miami luxury real estate brokers that Elon Musk toured a $300 million ultra-modern waterfront mansion under construction on one of the city’s most exclusive streets.

The property at 5940 North Bay Road, known as the “Park Avenue of Miami,” sits on 2.3 acres with 290 feet of frontage on Biscayne Bay. Developer Todd Michael Glaser and a group of investors purchased the site last July for $105 million, including a 1936 mansion. They flipped it two months later for $169 million before deciding to raze the existing structure and build anew, according to reports.

The new residence, still under construction and not yet publicly marketed, is expected to command around $300 million upon completion in roughly two years. Features will include expansive glass architecture, a green rooftop, elevation 17 feet above the flood zone using the latest hurricane-resistant technology, and a 31-car garage. Glaser has described it as a next-generation ultra-luxury compound that “will just pop up like it came out of thin air.”

The speculation centers on a dramatic visit by an unnamed billionaire several months ago. Glaser told the New York Post’s Gimme Shelter column that the visitor “flew by helicopter and landed in Biscayne Bay, and came by raft to the land and then back again.” Asked directly whether it was Musk, the world’s richest man, Glaser replied: “He might have. I don’t get involved in who sees it.”

Brokers interviewed for the report were split: some said they had heard the mystery visitor was Musk, while others dismissed the claim as “nonsense.”

Musk, chief executive of Tesla, SpaceX and xAI, has not commented publicly on the rumor. He maintains no confirmed ownership of the property, which remains off-market until construction is complete.

The buzz comes amid broader interest by high-profile billionaires in South Florida real estate. Musk has been linked in past unconfirmed reports to luxury properties in the Palm Beach area, but those deals also remain unverified.

Glaser’s firm has not released renderings or additional details, saying the home will not be shown until finished. “There is no product like it out there,” he said. “It will be the most amazing house.”

Aerial views of the 5940 North Bay Road property on Biscayne Bay in Miami Beach, site of the rumored $300 million development.

Neither Musk nor his representatives responded to requests for comment. The story remains unconfirmed speculation based on anonymous broker chatter.

In Lakewood, change is constant. Hardly a month goes by without a new traffic-related project appearing somewhere in town, whether it is a new light, a stop sign, a pedestrian island, or an adjusted road pattern.

The goal is always the same: improve safety, reduce congestion, and keep traffic flowing. But too often, these projects are later removed, redesigned, or heavily criticized because they simply do not work as intended.

That raises an important question. If these projects are designed by professionals with degrees in traffic engineering and urban planning, why do so many of them miss the mark?

The answer is simple. Technical knowledge does not always equal local understanding.

Engineers may study traffic patterns on paper, through data, and by established design principles. But residents live those patterns every single day. They know which intersections back up at school dismissal, which roads become shortcuts during rush hour, and which proposed changes will cause confusion rather than relief. They understand the rhythm of their neighborhoods in ways that no outside consultant can fully grasp.

That local insight is often the missing ingredient.

Lakewood is not a one-size-fits-all town. Each neighborhood has its own character, challenges, and traffic realities. What works in one area may be a disaster in another. Yet decisions are often made in broad strokes, without enough direct input from the people who will be affected most.

Instead of relying solely on engineering recommendations, Lakewood should create a structured system for neighborhood representation.

Imagine every neighborhood in town selecting a representative, someone who knows the area, understands the concerns of residents, and can communicate directly with township officials. If there were 25 such representatives, for example, they could meet monthly with township leadership to discuss pressing issues, present practical solutions, and ensure each area has a seat at the table.

This would not only improve decision-making. It would strengthen trust.

When residents feel heard, frustration decreases. When concerns are addressed before projects are implemented, costly redesigns can be avoided. And when neighborhoods advocate for themselves through organized representation, the township gains a clearer understanding of what the community truly needs.

Such a system would shift the conversation from reaction to collaboration.

Rather than waiting for complaints after a project fails, officials would have the benefit of resident input before changes are made. That proactive approach could save time, money, and unnecessary aggravation for everyone involved.

Lakewood is growing rapidly, and with growth comes complexity. Traffic challenges will not disappear overnight. But if the township wants lasting solutions, it must recognize that successful planning requires more than technical expertise. It requires community partnership.

The people who drive these streets every day should not just be the ones adapting to change. They should be part of creating it.

If Lakewood wants smarter infrastructure and fewer failed projects, the road forward begins with listening to the neighborhoods that know those roads best.

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

The Pentagon announced Friday a 5,000-troop drawdown from Germany, where 36,000 U.S. troops are stationed. Recalling the soldiers will restore the American military presence in Germany to the level it was at before Russia invaded Ukraine. However, the move met bipartisan resistance in Congress, with lawmakers expressing concern about the message this sends to Russia.

Asked about the reduction in troops, President Donald Trump told reporters Saturday that this is only the beginning.

“We’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000,” Trump told reporters in Florida.

However, Germany’s defense minister, Boris Pistorius, appeared to agree with Trump that this was the right move, saying that Germany needs to take more responsibility for its own defense, while maintaining that security cooperation between the two allies remains important.

“We Europeans must take on more responsibility for our security,” Pistorius told a German news outlet, adding that “the presence of American soldiers in Europe, and especially in Germany, is in our interest and in the interest of the U.S.”

The massive American presence in Germany — the largest of any European country — began after World War II and served as the front line against the former Soviet Union during the Cold War, when the U.S. increased its military presence there.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, the U.S. surged troops all across Europe, to an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 personnel.

An unnamed U.S. defense official said that branches of the U.S. military were not notified of the decision, which they found out about in “real time,” but Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, said that the decision was made after careful review of the U.S. military posture in Europe.

The “decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground,” he said.

“The decision to withdraw troops in Germany follows a comprehensive, multilayered process that incorporates perspectives from key leaders in EUCOM [U.S. European Command] and across the chain of command,” acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez reiterated in an email message.

JERUSALEM (JNS)-Israel’s special envoy to the Christian world on Saturday blasted “false” media reports led by the Associated Press that the IDF demolished a monastery in Southern Lebanon.

The report by the American news agency comes amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been shelling northern Israel with rockets and missiles despite a ceasefire, and follows an incident in which an Israeli soldier damaged a statue of Jesus in Lebanon.

“It is happening again. Another lie about a monastery being destroyed,” envoy George Deek tweeted on X. “Rest assured, the monaste

“False stories about Israel are pushed fast, checked later, and used to paint Israel as uniquely evil. The pattern isn’t accidental. It’s deliberate.”

He reposted an earlier tweet by the Israeli Foreign Ministry headlined “Fake News” to encourge the media that reported it or shared it to correct the story.

“This isn’t just sloppy. It’s reckless and deliberate. If you shared it, correct it now.”

In 2018, Deek was appointed envoy to Azerbaijan, becoming Israel’s first Christian ambassador.

The report by the AP’s Mideast correspondent, Bassem Mroue, which stated that “a Catholic convent is bulldozed” in its headline, was subsequently published by The Times of Israel with its own headline that the IDF admitted damaging but not demolishing the site.

The IDF said that Hezbollah had used the deserted compound in the border village of Yaroun to fire rockets at Israel multiple times during the war.

Israeli soldiers had caused damage to a structure that “had no external signs indicating it was a religious building,” and “after identifying religious indicators inside the complex, the forces acted to prevent further damage,” the statement said.

The Israeli military published photos showing the intact structure.

The AP report had cited hearsay that Israel’s military used bulldozers to destroy parts of a Catholic convent.

The Israeli pushback came weeks after two Israeli soldiers were jailed for 30 days and dismissed from combat duty after one damaged the statue of Jesus in the village of Debel and the other photographed the incident.

WATCH:

President Donald Trump on Sunday said he will officially reject Iran’s latest proposal to end the war, saying the terms did not go far enough and that Tehran has yet to pay a sufficiently steep price for the conflict.

“It’s not acceptable to me. I’ve studied it, I’ve studied everything – it’s not acceptable,” Trump told Israel’s Kan public broadcaster.

Iran submitted the 14-point proposal Thursday, offering a phased approach that would bring fighting to a close and open the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days, while delaying nuclear negotiations to a later stage. The plan proposes an up to 15-year freeze on uranium enrichment followed by additional curbs on the program.

Trump’s rejection marks a significant setback in negotiations that have continued since a ceasefire took effect April 8, halting a war that began in late February. Iran said Sunday that the United States had responded to the proposal via Pakistan and was reviewing the response, according to state media.

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Under Iran’s proposal, the first 30-day phase would see both sides negotiate a permanent end to the war and withdrawal of American forces from the region. Iran would gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz and work to clear mines from the waterway. The United States would simultaneously end its blockade of Iranian ports. An international body would monitor compliance to prevent conflict resumption, and Iran would seek reparations for war damage.

Only after this initial phase would the sides enter talks on Iran’s nuclear program. According to Hebrew media reports, Iran’s proposal suggests a 15-year pause on uranium enrichment, after which Iran could resume enrichment to 3.6 percent—below weapons-grade levels.

The proposal does not address Washington’s repeated demand that Iran surrender its stockpile of over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium as a condition of ending the war. Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, though it has enriched uranium to levels with no peaceful application and obstructed international inspections.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps signaled no willingness to budge. “Trump must choose between ‘an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran,'” the IRGC’s intelligence arm said, according to Iranian state television.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Armed Somali pirates hijacked an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen on Saturday and diverted it toward Somali waters, the latest in a series of ship hijackings around the Horn of Africa in recent weeks.

An official in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of Somalia, along with experts briefed by Yemeni and Somali authorities, told The New York Times that Yemenis are also suspected of involvement in the attack, and that authorities are investigating whether they have ties to armed groups, including the Houthis.

Since April, at least three vessels have been hijacked by Somali pirates off the country’s coast.

The attack has heightened concerns over possible coordination between Somali pirates and Houthi rebels in Yemen, raising fears of a resurgence of piracy amid the ongoing regional conflict.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Two American soldiers taking a break from a joint military exercise went missing in Morocco Saturday night.

The two were noted as missing after a headcount during the annual multinational event called “African Lion.” It is presumed that they fell off a cliff into the sea, and a U.S. official said that the incident was not related to the military exercise.

“They were not actively taking part in any training. The day’s exercises had concluded, and, from our understanding, they were out on a recreational hike,” the official told the Associated Press, speaking anonymously, as he had not been granted permission to speak publicly about the disappearance.

This video purports to show a helicopter flying on a search and rescue mission for two soldiers who went missing during the joint “African Lion” military exercise in Morocco Saturday. (From a post on X)

The United States Africa Command said in a statement that the U.S., Morocco and other countries joined in the rescue mission, which included the use of helicopters, mountain rescue units, divers and ships, according to the AP.

“The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing,” it said.

The military encampment was set up on desert and semi-desert areas, a short walk away from where the sand met the ocean.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s support among Jewish voters has collapsed to historic lows, with a new poll showing 40 percent rating his performance poor and only 32 percent approving of his job, as antisemitic hate crimes across the city accelerated 11.7 percent in the first quarter of 2026.

The Jewish Majority poll surveyed 665 Jewish voters from across the political spectrum who participated in November’s mayoral election. Of those surveyed, 82 percent expressed concern about rising antisemitism in the city. Among the concerned, 73 percent directly attributed the increase to Mamdani and other public figures normalizing anti-Zionism.

From January through March, the NYPD reported 143 hate crimes citywide, with 78 incidents—55 percent of the total—targeting Jews. Attacks included physical assaults and vandalism, including swastikas painted on playground equipment in Brooklyn.

The polling data reveals sharp divides between the mayor and his Jewish constituents on core issues. Sixty-one percent of Jewish voters said Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” has emboldened pro-Hamas protesters. Nineteen percent disagreed, with the remainder undecided.

Even among the 174 Jewish voters surveyed who cast ballots for Mamdani in November, 84 percent support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—a position the mayor has repeatedly avoided endorsing. The same proportion, 84 percent, backed legislation approved by the City Council in March allowing the NYPD to establish protective buffer zones around synagogues. Mamdani and other socialist council members opposed the measure.

In the general election, Mamdani captured 31 percent of the Jewish vote, historically low for a Democratic mayoral candidate in New York City. Exit polling showed stronger support among younger voters, with 44 percent of Jewish voters ages 18 to 29 backing him.

Mamdani has endorsed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, publicly accused Israeli forces of committing genocide in Gaza, and maintains associations with pro-Palestinian activists including Hasan Piker and Linda Sarsour.
The mayor’s wife, Rama Duwaji, faced criticism in recent weeks after resurfaced social media posts showed she had liked content praising Palestinian terrorist attacks on Israel and claiming Hamas’s assaults on women during the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre were a “mass hoax.”

The mayor’s office defended his record with the Jewish community. “Since taking office, Mayor Mamdani has made it a priority to consistently show up for and build relationships across New York City’s Jewish communities—listening to a diverse array of Jewish voices, celebrating holidays, and engaging with the full richness of Jewish life across neighborhoods and traditions,” said Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.

“He also shares the concerns many Jewish New Yorkers have about the rise of antisemitism. That is why every day, we are working to protect and support Jewish New Yorkers—including developing the nation’s first municipal-level plan to combat antisemitism,” Wisdom added.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Mazel Tov to Lakewood Volunteer Firefighter Eli Berger upon his engagement to Sara Kaplinsky!

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu convened a high-level security meeting Sunday evening that lasted more than four hours, as Israel closely monitors escalating tensions surrounding Iran and ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.

Members of the restricted security cabinet and senior defense officials have been in continuous consultations since around 6 p.m., conducting a multi-front assessment of the situation. A full meeting of the diplomatic-security cabinet is scheduled for Monday at 6:00 p.m.

Earlier in the day, during the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu instructed ministers to refrain from making public comments about Iran, warning that “this is a sensitive period and words must be chosen carefully,” according to a report by Ynet.

The developments come as Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that Tehran had received a response from the United States, via Pakistan, to its latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict, and that the proposal is currently under review. However, President Donald Trump said in an interview with Kan News that he rejected the offer. “I studied the new Iranian proposal, and it is not acceptable to me,” he said.

Israeli officials are tracking the negotiations but believe the chances of reaching an agreement remain slim, citing Iran’s refusal to meet Trump’s demand to relinquish enriched nuclear material at the outset of any deal.

In a separate statement posted overnight on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I will be reviewing the plan that Iran sent us soon, but I can’t imagine it will be acceptable considering they have not paid a heavy enough price for what they have done to humanity and the world over the last 47 years.” Asked earlier about the possibility of renewed military action against the Islamic Republic, he responded: “There is a chance that could happen.”

According to Israeli officials familiar with the matter and quoted by Ynet, the United States is not only pursuing diplomatic channels but is also preparing for the possibility that fighting could resume, including a significant military campaign that may involve extended ground operations.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security officials reportedly believe Hezbollah may attempt to fire rockets toward the Meron area during Lag BaOmer, according to a report Sunday night by Kan News.

The alarming assessment comes amid already heightened tensions following the government’s decision to cancel the traditional mass hilula at Meron due to security concerns.

Despite the cancellation, police are reportedly preparing for the possibility that extremist groups may still attempt to reach the mountain and clash with security forces. Authorities are said to be concerned about potential violent confrontations.

As part of the preparations, police have reportedly instructed several bus companies not to operate transportation to Meron, warning that vehicles attempting to reach the area will be stopped.

Meanwhile, even the three small hadlakos that were still expected to take place may now be canceled as well — this time due to severe weather conditions. Forecasts predict powerful winds reaching up to 80 km/h Monday evening, raising major safety concerns surrounding open flames and large outdoor gatherings.

Under the scaled-back plan, only three hadlakos had been approved this year instead of the usual 19, with attendance limited to approximately 200 people each.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump’s patience with the Iran standoff is wearing thin as mounting pressure from both political flanks threatens to force a decision he has so far resisted: deploying ground forces to the region.

The impasse comes as negotiations have stalled over enriched uranium, the central point of dispute, which the United States is set to formally respond to this week.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that the administration is “suffocating” Iran’s leadership through coordinated economic and military pressure. “We are suffocating the regime, and they are not able to pay their soldiers,” Bessent said on Fox News, describing an “economic blockade” launched under his department’s “Economic Fury” initiative, which complements the Pentagon’s “Operation Epic Fury.”

According to Israeli journalist Amit Segal, Trump is facing a predicament. On one side, the right wing is demanding immediate action. On the other, critics warn that prolonged economic disruption—driven by restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor—risks triggering market instability that could undermine Trump’s political standing.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has reportedly cautioned Trump that any ground operation, even a limited deployment to secure the Strait of Hormuz or uranium facilities, would be politically perilous. Johnson warned that such a move would be perceived by the Republican base as a repeat of the Iraq War—the military intervention that, paradoxically, launched Trump’s political career when he opposed it as a candidate.

“You know the consequences of that better than anyone,” Johnson allegedly told the president.

The blockade has created a standoff in one of the world’s most strategically vital waterways. The U.S. Navy says it is blocking all ships heading to or from Iranian ports, while Iran has restricted most shipping through the strait. Both sides are negotiating under a fragile ceasefire.

Bessent said the Treasury Department is targeting anyone attempting to send money to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the country’s elite military force. “They are a corrupt institution. They have been stealing from the Iranian people for years,” he said, adding that the administration has tracked offshore Iranian assets and intends to preserve them for the Iranian people after the conflict.

The standoff reflects a broader strategic dilemma for Trump: his stated goal of constraining Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence is colliding with his foundational political commitment to avoid large-scale military interventions abroad.

As the week progresses, the question is whether political and economic pressure will push Trump toward a limited ground deployment—a move that could reshape both the regional conflict and his domestic political coalition.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A member of the Australian Jewish Association was collecting the mail Sunday for the Jewish advocacy group when he came across a death threat.

Unfortunately, it was not the first time.

“Regrettably, this is not an isolated incident,” AJA CEO Robert Gregory said. “Since October 7, 2023, the Australian Jewish Association has received numerous death threats.”

“While the latest threat is largely incoherent, it echoes widely circulated false claims about Israel. These narratives have become increasingly common within sections of the pro-Palestinian movement. When such falsehoods are normalised, it is Jewish Australians who often bear the consequences,” he added.

AJA CEO Robert Gregory poses with Australian lawmaker Pauline Hanson, center, and fellow AJA member Teneille Murray. (Credit: Australian Jewish Association)

Expressing dismay over a country he now finds unrecognizable, Gregory said, “Frankly, I barely recognise the country we are living in today. October 7, 2023 marked a turning point for Jews in Australia.”

He added that the sharp rise in antisemitic attacks could have been prevented by stronger leadership.

Police are now investigating the author of the letter, who claimed to be working for Hezbollah. He threatened to “gang rape all Jews” and kill them “like Hitler fumigate[d] all Jews.”

“You will not get away with damages in Lebanon,” the letter concluded.

Ironically, the attack occurred one day before the first hearings of the Royal Commission into antisemitism are scheduled to take place. The commission was established following a deadly attack at Bondi Beach during a Chanukah event in December 2025, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more.

NEW YORK (AP) — A hidden force is quietly pushing up costs for everything from your summer vacation to your weekly grocery bills: a weaker U.S. dollar.

The dollar has fallen about 10% against other major currencies since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, a pullback potentially playing a role in Americans’ concerns about affordability.

“It’s kind of a hidden tax,” says economist Thomas Savidge of the conservative-leaning American Institute for Economic Research. “What your dollar is going to be able to buy is going to shrink.”

A look at where the dollar stands and what it means for you:

Historic dollar decline
The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the greenback against other major currencies, logged its steepest six-month drop in more than 50 years in the first half of 2025. Though the decline hasn’t deepened, the dollar index is still about 10% lower than the start of Trump’s term.

A strong dollar makes imports cheaper and can help keep inflation in check. A weak one can increase prices on foreign goods but boost American exports.

U.S. presidents have long voiced support for a strong dollar even as they pursued policies that, at times, pushed the currency lower. Trump has suggested a strong dollar puts the U.S. at a disadvantage and that a weak dollar helps American industry. And as with most things with Trump, he’s been blunter in his messaging.

“You make a hell of a lot more money with a weaker dollar,” he said last year, one of a number of public statements showing his preference for seeing the dollar decline.

Big multinationals benefit
Trump isn’t alone in seeing benefits of a weaker buck.

In recent months, corporate earnings calls have been peppered with talk of how a weaker dollar has helped companies from Philip Morris to Coca-Cola, with executives pulling out C-suite phrases like “favorable currency impact” to note how the dip brought tailwinds outside the U.S. that added to bottom lines.

“In many cases, we’ve got a weaker dollar, which is not unhelpful,” Elie Maalouf, the CEO of InterContinental Hotels, said on a February call as the company announced higher profits and revenues.

For big multinational companies that do business overseas, a weaker dollar can spur sales for products that suddenly become cheaper. But the vast majority of U.S. businesses are not operating beyond the border. For those catering to domestic customers, it’s a different story, particularly if they are reliant on importing goods.

Travis Madeira, a fourth-generation lobsterman who founded the lobster-shipping business LobsterBoys with his brother, makes about 80% of his sales to Americans, unlike some competitors who primarily export.

“The exporters are gonna have the advantage when it comes to the dollar weakening,” says Madeira, who is paying more to import bait and buy Canadian lobsters. “These guys are gonna have a little bit of a lever on us.”

Smaller companies hurt
Even among companies that do have a presence outside the U.S., the dollar’s fall can have an impact. While many big companies hedge currency to try and insulate themselves or push more sales overseas, smaller businesses are often more susceptible to the turbulence.

David Navazio, CEO of Pennsylvania-based Gentell, which makes bandages and other medical supplies, operates plants in Brazil, Paraguay, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In each location, the dollar has fallen, increasing Gentell’s costs.

Gentell has had to raise some prices to reflect the currency fluctuation, which stacks on top of other challenges, including tariffs and war-related spikes to fuel costs.

“A year ago, none of these were concerns,” he says. “And it always hurts the consumer.”

Other currencies rise
For the American consumer, the reality of a declining dollar is most obvious during foreign travel or when making a purchase directly from an international seller.

Cross the border into Mexico, the top foreign destination of Americans, and your dollar is about 16% weaker versus the peso compared with early 2025. Declines of about 10% to 17% have been recorded elsewhere, including against the Swiss franc, South African rand, Danish krone, Swedish krona and the Euro.

As for goods imported to the U.S., there is an impact, but it’s harder to gauge. Many economists estimate that, in advanced countries like the U.S., only about 5% to 10% of a currency dip is passed on to consumers.

But they are an added stress when prices are already affected by other factors.

Take coffee, one of the grocery items that has seen the biggest price hike in the past year. Brazil is the biggest source of coffee for the U.S. and the dollar has fallen around 13% versus its real. Currency fluctuations can hit harder in developing economies and, while only a fraction of the change may feed into coffee’s ballooning price, every bit can pile up. Coffee prices are up nearly 19% in the U.S. in the past year, according to government data.

Expect more movement
Currency values are constantly moving and, while the dollar’s recent fall is notable, it has reached lower levels at points in the presidencies of each of Trump’s predecessors, back through the creation of the Dollar Index in 1973, when Richard Nixon was at the helm.

Kenneth Rogoff, a Harvard University economist and former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, says while “a lot of policies that Trump is doing are something of a cancer for the dollar,” he believes that it was destined to fall no matter who was in charge.

“The dollar had been on a 15-year bull run,” he said. “I would argue the dollar is still wildly overvalued, and over the next maybe five or six years, it might fall 15%.”

What does that mean for American consumers? Rogoff says commodity prices are likely to rise, particularly with the impact of the Iran war on fuel prices.

“They’re just going to go up,” he says, “no matter what the dollar’s at.”

Egyptian authorities have uncovered a massive ancient stone statue believed to represent Ramses II, a powerful ruler of ancient Egypt whom some researchers associate with the Pharaoh described in the Torah’s account of Yetzias Mitzrayim.

The discovery was announced by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, which said the statue was found at the Tel el-Fara site in central Husseiniya, in the Sharqia Governorate of the Nile Delta, northeast of Cairo. Experts believe the statue portrays Ramses II, one of the most prominent and influential kings of ancient Egypt.

Officials described the artifact as having “impressive” dimensions, weighing between five and six tons and measuring over 2.1 meters in length. Despite its size, the statue is in relatively poor condition, with its legs and base missing. Following the discovery, it was transferred from the temple complex where it was unearthed to museum storage facilities in San el-Hagar for urgent conservation and restoration work under strict scientific standards.

Egyptian antiquities officials noted that the statue was likely relocated already in ancient times from the city of Pi-Ramesses to the Tel el-Fara site, formerly known as Imat, where it was repurposed as part of a religious complex. This reuse, they said, highlights the enduring religious and historical importance of the region across different periods.

Ramses II, who lived from 1303 BCE to 1213 BCE, is widely regarded as one of the dominant figures of Egypt’s New Kingdom. Many scholars identify him as a leading candidate for the Pharaoh described in Sefer Shemos, even though his name does not explicitly appear in the Torah’s text. The Torah tells us that that Pharaoh refused Moshe’s demands to release the Jewish people, leading to the ten makkos.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the find is among the most significant archaeological discoveries contributing to the understanding of royal and religious activity in the eastern Nile Delta. It joins a series of recent finds in Egypt, including eight rare papyrus scrolls dating back approximately 3,000 years whose contents have yet to be deciphered, as well as remains of an ancient religious complex in northern Sinai believed to be connected to a biblical city.

In May 2024, when Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, his critics accused him of taking action to deflect attention away from allegations of sexual harassment.

But what is alleged to have really happened is far more sinister.

Shurat Hadin, an Israeli organization that fights antisemitism via legal means, has filed complaints with the ICC and the Israeli attorney general alleging that Qatar and private British intelligence agencies teamed up to peddle an influence campaign targeting the ICC prosecutor that resulted in the issuance of the arrest warrants, with the ultimate goal of assisting Hamas’ aims.

Karim Khan, ICC prosecutor, stands at the center of a web of intrigue woven by the Qataris and British intelligence agencies to try to ensnare top Israeli officials. (From a post on X)

“We just filed criminal complaints with the International Criminal Court in The Hague and Israel’s Attorney General against Qatar and British intelligence firms,” the group posted on X.

For example, the Wall Street Journal reported that Qatari officials promised to take care of Khan — whatever that means — if he issued the arrest warrants, which he did following that assurance.

Essentially, these officials and intelligence operatives bribed Karim to issue the warrants.

Shurat HaDin pointed to Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, as its prime suspect, alleging he violated Article 70(1)(d) of the Rome Statute, which prohibits impeding, intimidating, or corruptly influencing an official of the ICC. The group urgently called not only for an immediate investigation into the criminal conduct of the Qatari officials and British firms involved, but also for reconsidering the warrants on that basis.

Arguing that the conduct of these individuals and groups also violates Israeli law, Shurat HaDin also wrote a letter to the Israeli attorney general urging a domestic investigation into all the parties involved. Israeli law prohibits aiding and abetting a terror group, in this case, Hamas — and Israel can charge these people because their actions directly target Israel, Shurat HaDin said.

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, founder and president of Shurat HaDin, explained the rationale behind Shurat HaDin’s campaign.

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, founder and president of Shurat HaDin, is the force behind the lawsuit against those involved in the corruption at the heart of the ICC case. (From her official X account)

“Truth always finds a way to surface,” she said in a statement. “The ICC is not just overpoliticized, but also corrupt. It too has fallen victim to the dangerous quiet hostile takeover by the Qatari octopus, which money is oiling officials and institutions across the world.”

“These ICC arrest warrants are nothing but a blood libel, brought by an alleged rapist and a terror-harboring state, and they have fueled the delegitimization efforts against Israel and boosted antisemitism worldwide. International Justice has also been raped,” she added.

Shurat HaDin’s lawsuit exposes the corruption at the heart of the disgraceful actions of Khan, Qatar, and the British intelligence firms, who colluded to harm the State of Israel to serve the interests of Hamas.

A remarkable search effort that stretched across the country has come to a successful conclusion, as a 78-year-old woman missing for 10 days was safely located—thanks in large part to the relentless efforts of Chaverim of Rockland.

The case, which began in New York, quickly expanded nationwide, with leads and coordination reaching as far as Los Angeles. Despite the challenges and the passage of time, volunteers refused to give up, working tirelessly around the clock to track down any possible information that could lead to her whereabouts.

Through persistence, coordination, and sheer determination, Chaverim of Rockland ultimately played a key role in locating the missing woman, bringing an emotional and relieved end to a days-long search that had many concerned.

WATCH the incredible story unfold and see how this dedicated effort made all the difference:

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

By BoroPark24 Staff

Boro Park was shaken by a series of overnight incidents, including a shooting and a vehicle break-in, both ending in arrests due to the swift response of Shmira volunteers and the NYPD.

At approximately 6:30 a.m., shots rang out on 53rd Street and 8th Avenue when a suspect discharged a firearm into the air. No injuries were reported in this incident. Shmira members responded quickly after being contacted by the NYPD to assist in a canvass of the area. After an hour-and-a-half search, the suspect was successfully located and arrested on 8th Avenue and 57th Street. The firearm was also recovered nearby.

Just hours earlier, around 2:45 a.m., a vandal smashed a car window on 50th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, gaining access to the vehicle and stealing valuables. Shmira volunteers on patrol, together with their surveillance team, observed the incident and maintained visual contact with the fleeing suspect until NYPD officers arrived. The suspect was taken into custody at 47th Street and 9th Avenue.

These events follow two recent shootings in the area. Just last week, early Monday morning on 58th Street and 9th Avenue, a suspect shot and critically wounded a person during an armed robbery. That investigation remains ongoing, with Shmira assisting the NYPD 66th Precinct Detective Squad. In a separate incident late Friday night, a suspect discharged a firearm into the air at 40th Street and New Utrecht Avenue. No injuries were reported in that case, and the investigation is still ongoing.

Thankfully, both of this morning’s incidents were brought under control quickly and resulted in arrests before the situations could escalate further. Authorities hope these arrests send a clear message that Boro Park will not tolerate such dangerous behavior, and those responsible will face the consequences.

An emergency gathering of leading rabbonim and roshei yeshiva took place Sunday evening in southern Israel, where gedolei Yisroel spoke out forcefully against Israeli military recruitment programs aimed at chareidi young men, warning that they are deceptive and spiritually dangerous.

The event, organized by the Ezram U’Maginam organization, came in response to increased efforts by military officials and program operators to promote tracks such as “Kodkod” and “Ma’alot Tzur” within the chareidi community. Organizers said these programs attempt to attract bnei Torah through financial incentives and other inducements, while concealing their true nature as full military enlistment.

Participating in the gathering were senior rabbinic leaders, including members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, along with rabbonim and roshei yeshiva from Be’er Sheva, Ofakim, Netivot, Yerucham, Tifrach, Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat, Arad, and Dimona. Among those present were Rav Aviezer Piltz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tushiya in Tifrach; Rav Aryeh Levi, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Sechar Sochir; Rav Shmuel Betzalel, rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef; and Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, rosh yeshiva of Yad Aharon.

Ahead of the event, sharply worded letters from gedolei Yisroel were circulated, strongly opposing these recruitment tracks.

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch wrote: “All of these tracks are an integral part of the army, and one who goes there places himself under the authority and control of the military government and becomes a full-fledged soldier, and there is absolutely no basis for leniency.”

av Dov Landau added in his own handwriting: “Beyond the disaster he brings upon himself and his household, others may be drawn after him, and his sin is too great to bear.”

In a separate letter, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman wrote: “The protective wall has been breached by those whose inclination has overtaken them, who come in disguise and through deception to establish special tracks such as Kodkod and the like, luring people with respectable livelihoods and similar promises, blinding their eyes, for through this they become subjugated to the authority of the army.”

Rav Chaim Feinstein also warned: “One who goes there places himself under the authority and control of the military government, whose purpose is the uprooting of religion, and he accepts upon himself a yoke that is the opposite of the yoke of Heaven. In doing so, he removes from himself the yoke of Heaven and places himself in clear danger of casting off the yoke of Torah and mitzvos in the gravest ways.”

Speakers at the gathering warned that these programs pose a serious threat to the integrity of the chareidi community and urged bnei Torah and their families to avoid them, describing the initiatives as misleading attempts to draw them into military frameworks under the guise of opportunity.

A 51 year old Orthodox Jewish father and grandfather from Brooklyn was found murdered and dismembered in Bogota, Columbia in what authorities are investigating as a possible targeted crime.

Nachum Israel Eber, a member of the Boro Park Belz Hasidic community, was discovered inside a bloodstained wardrobe that had been abandoned on a street in the Colombian capital.

Friends say Eber had traveled to South America in search of a new marriage partner after getting divorced five or six years ago. He is survived by four children and two grandchildren.

According to Yosef Matheron, a local acquaintance who assisted Eber with translation, the victim had previously worked with matchmakers in New York and Ukraine before focusing his search in Colombia. He was also drawn there due to ties within his religious community, including a rabbi known for helping descendants of Spanish Inquisition victims reconnect with Judaism.

Eber met a young woman in Barranquilla, believing she was around 20 years old. The two began a relationship and were described as modest and religious, often going on simple outings together.

“They were a very wholesome couple,” Matheron said. “He was a religious man who stayed away from alcohol and drugs.”

The pair married in Barranquilla, followed by a celebratory meal in Bogota. However, the marriage quickly fell apart after it was revealed the woman was 18 and felt unready for such a commitment. The separation in January left Eber deeply shaken.

Despite being urged to return home, Eber remained in Colombia. Friends noted that his visible religious attire and habit of speaking multiple languages in public may have drawn attention.

Nochum Eber with his 18-year-old bride and friend

Authorities are examining whether he may have been the victim of a “paseo millonario” robbery, a scheme in which criminals identify and track potential targets.

Matheron ultimately distanced himself after experiencing repeated security incidents while traveling with Eber, including thefts in multiple locations.

Eber’s friends described him as a devoted father and grandfather. During the COVID pandemic, he spent 100 consecutive days in Cleveland caring for his ailing father.

The investigation into the killing is ongoing.

Seven long-serving reserve judges in the military court system in Judea and Samaria were elevated last week to the rank of lieutenant colonel during a formal ceremony led by the President of the Military Court of Appeals, Maj. Gen. Orly Markman.

One of those promoted was Lt. Col. (res.) Uriel Dreyfus, who traces his lineage to Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish French army officer whose wrongful conviction for treason became one of the most infamous antisemitic episodes in European history.

The Dreyfus Affair began in 1894, when Alfred Dreyfus, an artillery officer in the French army, was accused of leaking military secrets to Germany. Although the case lacked credible evidence, he was convicted in a widely publicized trial fueled by antisemitism. In a degrading ceremony in Paris, his rank was stripped and his sword shattered. He was then sent to Devil’s Island, a remote penal colony off the coast of French Guiana. Years later, evidence surfaced proving his innocence, and after prolonged legal and public battles, he was cleared of all charges and reinstated.

Speaking at the ceremony, Lt. Col. (res.) Uriel Dreyfus reflected on the personal and national significance of the moment. “I stand here today with the weight of two histories meeting in a single moment. One is my family history-the name ‘Dreyfus,’ which for generations symbolized injustice, antisemitism, and the attempt to break the spirit of a Jewish officer. The second is the history we have written and continue to write since October 7.”

He continued, “More than 130 years ago, in a square in Paris, the ranks were torn from the uniform of Captain Alfred Dreyfus. In a humiliating ceremony before crowds, his sword was broken. He was accused of treason he did not commit, solely because he was Jewish. He was sent to Devil’s Island, a place where hope was meant to die. But he did not break. He continued to cry out his innocence.”

“When I entered the IDF induction center as a young soldier, I carried this memory with me,” he said. “I understood that every rank I would receive, every step I would take in the army, would represent a form of historical correction. Today, as I receive the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, I feel that the ranks torn away in disgrace are now being sewn back with pride onto the olive uniforms of the Israel Defense Forces, within a system entrusted with administering justice in the sovereign Jewish state.”

Dreyfus drew a connection between the past and present, stating: “Alfred Dreyfus stood alone against a well-oiled system of lies. Today, the State of Israel stands on multiple fronts, facing threats of missiles, terrorism, and falsehoods in the international arena. The ranks we, the judges, receive today are the answer and the proof that we no longer stand alone. We are not defenseless.”

He also reflected on the toll of recent years. “The past years have been among the most difficult of our lives. We have lost friends, subordinates, and commanders. Within this pain, we must remember the determination of those who came before us. We will endure and prevail because we have no other country and no other army.”

Highlighting the importance of the military judiciary, he said: “Our role in the court system is often invisible to the public eye, yet it forms the backbone of Israeli democracy. My colleagues and I protect a place where words are stronger than bullets, and where truth is the highest authority. This is our professional duty and our moral mission.”

{Matzav.com}

We regret to inform you of the petirah of Rachmiel (Richard) Miller Z”L who was niftar following an illness. He was 86.

Originally from North Miami Beach, Mr. Miller moved to Lakewood about 10 years ago, where he resided in the Country Place community.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, daughter, Susan Laskin (Lakewood), and son, David Miller (Silver Spring, Maryland).

The levaya and Kevurah took place this morning in Lakewood.

Shiva will be from Sunday through Wednesday at the Laskin home, 26 Cabinfield Circle, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM and 3:00 PM–9:00 PM. Shiva will continue at the Miller home, 7A Barberry Drive on Thursday from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM and 3:00 PM–9:00 PM, and on Friday from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

I am writing as a mother, a professional, and a proud member of the Torah-observant community in Tzfat, Israel — not as an activist, and not as an alarmist. I am writing because I am worried that what is about to appear in the news will be deeply misunderstood, and I feel a responsibility to offer some context before that story is written for us.

This past Motzaei Shabbos, two days before Lag BaOmer, my daughters — seminary girls — made their way to Meron. Not to protest. Not to demonstrate. Simply to daven at the kever of Rashbi, as Jews have done for generations, and as they do nearly every motzi shabbos. They were met not with open gates, but with security forces in full riot gear, weapons loaded, drawn and at the ready. After two hours of confusion, they were turned away. They came home shaken. These are not dangerous individuals. They are young women who wanted to daven.

What is happening at Meron this Lag BaOmer is, by all accounts, the first complete cancellation of the hilula in modern history. The official justifications have shifted — first it was security concerns from Lebanon, then transportation issues, and the dry season and fire risk. Yet rain is expected from today across the country right through Lag BaOmer. And those following events in the north know that things have been notably quiet these past few weeks — no sirens, no imminent threat. I live in Tzfat, and while I am not privy to classified security information, it has been quiet here, after years of sirens and explosions.

Meanwhile, mass events elsewhere in Israel, including in the north, proceeded without restriction. Concerts, soccer games, you name it. Yom HaAtzmaut was recently celebrated in all of the country, with no fire or security risk. You would need to be blind not to see what is going on here.

And it is not only Meron. The National Fire and Rescue Authority issued a nationwide ban on bonfires — on beaches, in parks, and even in yeshiva schoolyards — through Lag BaOmer itself. So this is not about one hilltop in the Galilee. The message being sent is that we are not to celebrate anywhere.

For thousands of years, Lag BaOmer has been a time when Jews of all stripes come together to celebrate our heritage and our connection to the tzaddikim. It is, by any measure, the largest Jewish pilgrimage in the world. From the day a child is born in our community, parents look forward to bringing them to Meron for their upsherin. One need only imagine the international outcry if secular authorities in Saudi Arabia attempted to cancel the pilgrimage to Mecca — yet here, in our own Jewish land, the silencing of our most sacred gathering is met with little more than a shrug. Don’t delude yourself; this isn’t about security concerns.

There is a deeper dimension here that I believe deserves to be said plainly. The Gemara in Shabbat (138b) records that when the Sages gathered at Kerem BeYavneh, they feared that Torah would one day be forgotten from Israel. It was Rashbi — Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai — who disagreed. He brought the pasuk from Devarim (31:21): “כי לא תישכח מפי זרעו” — “For it shall not be forgotten from the mouth of his descendants.”

The Zohar goes further: it is specifically through the Zohar, through Rashbi’s hidden Torah, that the Jewish people will go out from exile. And Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, in the introduction to Likutey Moharan, points to something hidden in that very pasuk: the final letters of “כי לא תישכח מפי זרעו” spell יוחאי.

This is what is at stake. Whether those doing this fully understand it or not, the attack on our celebrations, our bonfires, our pilgrimages to tzaddikim — these strike at the very spiritual root of Jewish redemption. A world redeemed looks very different from the world many have made their peace with. It means a Beis HaMikdash instead of shopping malls, a different set of priorities than soccer on Shabbos. Those who are comfortable in exile, consciously or not, sense that our joy, our dancing, our unbroken connection to Rashbi and his Torah, is not merely a religious preference. It is a force. And that force unsettles them.

In the days ahead, there will likely be images of clashes at Meron. People will be described as extremists. I want to be unambiguous: I do not condone violence of any kind, and certainly not between Jews. Nothing written here is intended to justify those who may resort to it.

But I am asking you to understand what lies beneath. When a community watches everything precious to it dismantled — learning, livelihood, and now the freedom to celebrate its deepest traditions — some will respond in ways others cannot condone. These are people whose spiritual lives are being attacked at the root, who are trying to hold onto what is most precious to them.

I am not asking you to take sides in Israeli politics. I am asking you not to accept a story that has already been written for you. Look carefully. The Jewish people have always known what it means to have our traditions threatened. We did not expect to face it here, in our own land. But here we are.

May the zechus of Rashbi protect us all, and may we merit to celebrate together — in joy, in peace, and very soon.

Signed,

A Concerned Mother

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

The U.S. Air Force announced Friday night that it has completed upgrades and testing on a Boeing 747 provided by Qatar for temporary use as Air Force One, with plans for President Donald Trump to begin flying on the aircraft later this summer.

In a statement, the Air Force said the plane is currently being repainted in red, white, and blue as part of its conversion for presidential use.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accepted the aircraft last year, despite scrutiny over the propriety and legality of receiving such a high-value gift from a foreign government, along with concerns related to security and intelligence risks. Trump has argued that accepting the plane would reduce costs for taxpayers.

Trump has indicated he will not continue using the aircraft after leaving office, saying instead that it would be transferred to a future presidential library, similar to the Boeing 707 flown by President Ronald Reagan, which was later retired and placed on display.

According to Air Force officials, the jet will serve as a temporary solution until Boeing delivers two new presidential aircraft, now projected to arrive in 2028.

The current Air Force One fleet has been in service for nearly 40 years, and Trump has made replacing them a priority. During his first term, he showcased a model of a redesigned jumbo jet in the Oval Office, featuring a paint scheme similar to that of his personal aircraft, with red, white, and dark blue accents.

Boeing has been working to convert 747s that were originally built for a now-defunct Russian airline, but the effort has been plagued by years of delays. Challenges have included the bankruptcy of a key subcontractor and ongoing difficulties in recruiting and retaining workers who can obtain the necessary high-level security clearances.

Completion of the new aircraft is not expected until late in Trump’s term. He has described the situation as “a total mess,” and has complained that the current Air Force One planes do not compare favorably with those used by certain Arab leaders.

The Qatari aircraft, valued at roughly $400 million, has been characterized as a “palace in the sky,” featuring high-end amenities and luxury finishes.

Even so, officials emphasize that safety remains the top priority in presidential travel. The existing Air Force One planes were constructed toward the end of the Cold War and are designed to withstand extreme scenarios, including a nuclear blast. They are outfitted with advanced defensive systems such as missile countermeasures, along with an onboard medical facility. The planes also have the capability for midair refueling, although that feature has never been used with a president aboard.

It remains unclear what specific security systems have been installed on the former Qatari jet. The Air Force has not disclosed the cost of the modifications, though members of Congress suggested last year that expenses could exceed $1 billion.

To prepare crews for the aircraft, Air Force officials said they leased a 747-8 cargo plane from Atlas Air between October and February for training purposes. The U.S. has also acquired two jets from the German airline Lufthansa to be used for parts and additional training. Boeing ended production of the 747 in 2023.

{Matzav.com}

WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities have determined that buckshot from the gun of the man charged with trying to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in an attempt to kill President Donald Trump struck a Secret Service agent, according to the federal prosecutor overseeing the investigation.

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said last week there was no evidence the agent was hit by friendly fire during the incident at a Washington hotel on April 25, but she went beyond that Sunday in saying a shot from one of Cole Tomas Allen’s weapons hit the officer’s bullet-resistant vest.

“We now can establish that a pellet that came from the buckshot from the defendant’s Mossberg pump-action shotgun was intertwined with the fiber of the vest of the Secret Service officer,” she told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “It is definitively his bullet.”

Allen, who remains behind bars for now pending his trial, was injured during the attack but was not shot. The officer survived.

On Thursday, Pirro posted a video on social media showing the moment that authorities say a man with guns and knives attempted to storm the media gala. Questions have lingered about whose bullet struck the officer as the suspect ran through security with a long gun toward the ballroom packed with journalists, administration officials and others.

A phone call to lawyers representing Allen went unanswered on Sunday.

Allen has been charged with attempted assassination of the president, as well as two additional firearms counts, including discharging a weapon during a crime of violence. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of the assassination count alone.

Allen, 31, is from Torrance, California. He worked as a part-time tutor for a test preparation company and is an amateur video game developer.

BOSTON (AP) — Just months into the pandemic, Matthew Haines, like landlords across the country, learned he was barred from evicting tenants who didn’t pay their rent under a federal eviction moratorium that lasted almost a year — costing him and his investors over $1 million.

Now, the 57-year-old Texan is hoping to get some relief.

Haines is among more than 1,500 property owners who filed a federal lawsuit arguing the moratorium enacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention violated the Fifth Amendment by unlawfully denying them compensation. Plaintiffs range from those who lost thousands of dollars to one who lost over $14.5 million.

After initially losing in the Court of Federal Claims in 2022, the plaintiffs won on appeal and are now in settlement discussions with the Justice Department. Landlords are hoping to recoup as much as $1.5 billion — a fraction of what the industry lost.

“It’s important for us to stand up when a group like the CDC unilaterally, functionally, decides that they have a right to oversee our business,” said Haines, who owns three rental communities with 240 units in Arlington and Irving, Texas.

“What I hope that we will accomplish and, to some extent, we already have, is vindication for ourselves,” he said. “But what’s more important to me is that hopefully my investors will recover some of that money that they should have had coming in over the last six years.”

The federal eviction moratorium lasted from September 2020 through July 2021, and was among the pandemic’s most divisive policies. It ended after the Supreme Court ruled the CDC lacked authority to impose the ban without congressional authorization.

The Justice Department, responding to Associated Press questions about the landlords’ case, said it does not comment on ongoing litigation.

Landlords say moratorium was bad for business
Moratoriums were also imposed in 43 states and scores of cities, which lasted longer than the federal ban because states and cities have broader regulatory powers than federal agencies like the CDC.

Landlords say the bans devastated their businesses. Unable to collect rent, many were forced to take on debt, lay off staff, delay repairs and, in some cases, sell their property. They say the impact lingers, with longer delays for evictions, tighter screening for riskier tenants and growing numbers of owners getting out of the rental business altogether.

Tenant advocates counter that eviction bans were a lifesaver. They credit them with keeping millions of tenants housed during the pandemic and slowing the spread of the coronavirus. They also argue landlords were already paid — in the form of tens of billions of dollars in rental assistance.

From the moment the pandemic hit, Haines said he knew he was in trouble: Many tenants lost their jobs, so he didn’t require new leases and tried to be flexible with those who couldn’t pay.

But when the moratorium took hold, it was the biggest threat he’d faced in 30 years in real estate.

“It was terrifying,” Haines said. “We knew almost immediately that we were going to a massive deficit in cash flow that we probably weren’t going to be able to cover.”

A survey by the National Rental Home Council, a trade association, published weeks after the federal moratorium ended, found that half of small landlords had tenants who missed rent and a third sold or planned to sell properties. The moratorium and backlog of eviction cases cost owners $57 billion, according to the lawsuit, with more than 10 million delinquent renters in just the ban’s first four months.

“Public health measures like this, they may be well intentioned,” said Creighton Magid, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. “But when the government imposes this type of moratorium, the financial burden should be borne by the government, not individual property owners.”

Liz Leone, who has 52 apartments in Las Vegas and is part of the lawsuit, said the moratorium almost forced her out of business. She lost over $250,000, she said, and borrowed $60,000 from the federal Small Business Administration “just to keep my nose above water.” She’s still paying it off.

“I was definitely questioning whether I would survive,” said Leone, who’s been in the business for 35 years. “You delay all the expenses you can, but we still had to pay our property taxes. We still have to pay our utilities. … So that’s what you did: I borrowed.”

Moratorium prevented homelessness
Housing advocates maintain the policy kept families housed, noting a significant spike in evictions after the moratorium ended.

Eviction bans “were a powerful intervention to keep people in their homes,” said Kathryn Leifheit, assistant professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and lead author of a study published in April in the medical journal JAMA Network Open that found homelessness rose 11% in a typical state in 2022, and would have increased 20% without state eviction moratoriums.

That was the case for Dulcee Barnes. The 28-year-old and her two roommates lost their restaurant jobs in Miami during the pandemic. Two months behind on rent, they would have been evicted if not for the moratorium.

“It gave us breathing room. It took away the fear of having to possibly pack up within 24 hours and live in somebody’s car or couch surfing,” she said.

Landlords already got paid
Eric Dunn, director of litigation at the National Housing Law Project, a tenants’ rights nonprofit, disputed that landlords suffered significant losses, saying they were able to collect rent and sell their properties during the moratorium.

They also benefited from $46.5 billion in federal emergency rental assistance, which the Eviction Lab at Princeton University found in April was largely targeted to areas where landlords filed the most evictions before the pandemic.

Landlords said rental assistance never fully compensated them for their losses, contending programs were often mired in red tape and poorly run. States were slow to spend the money, struggled to set up programs and, in the case of Arkansas and Nebraska, didn’t accept all federal funding.

Landlords also complained some tenants took advantage of the moratorium to live rent free. “They were doing things like buying cars,” Leone said. “They didn’t have to pay rent, and here I was driving a car that was 18 years old.”

Lingering effects of moratorium
Despite the moratorium ending five years ago, landlords say fallout from the policy remains. They are taking fewer risks and being more cautious about renting to tenants with checkered rental histories.

Rick Jones, vice chairman of Management Services Corporation, which owns 4,000 apartment units in Virginia and is party to the lawsuit, said that’s partly due to increasing fraud. Applicants fake employment records and payroll checks, he said, adding: “There are companies that just advertise really creating a whole new identity for you.”

“Most property owners and managers realize that it’s more important to keep that unit vacant than to put a bad resident in. That’s probably what the eviction moratorium reinforced,” said Jones, whose company lost more than $230,000 in unpaid rent during the pandemic.

“When you have somebody that’s bad and you can’t get them out, you’re helpless.”

Haines said he’s increased tenant screenings and turns away some low-income applicants he might have accepted before the pandemic. That’s partly because evicting a tenant takes months longer than before the pandemic, he said.

“It’s done more harm,” he said, to low-income people “that we might have considered leasing an apartment to that now we simply can’t take the risk.”

Toronto Police say visibly Jewish residents were targeted in the Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue West area after a suspect fired an Orbeez-type replica gun from a vehicle. The victims suffered minor injuries before the suspect fled in a blue SUV. Police have now released video of the vehicle and are asking the public to help identify it.  

The case is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated assault with a weapon and is being led by the Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit. Anyone with information is being asked to contact police at 416-808-3505 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS.  

The attack took place in one of Toronto’s most visibly Jewish corridors, near synagogues and Jewish schools. It comes after repeated warnings from Jewish community groups that anti-Jewish attacks in the Toronto area are no longer limited to vandalism or online threats, but are spilling into the street.  

Video credit: Toronto Police Service

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Rabbi David Yosef issued a sharp warning ahead of Lag BaOmer, urging the public not to travel to Mount Meron in defiance of security restrictions.

Speaking amid heightened concerns in northern Israel, Yosef said attempts to reach the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai despite official guidance are not acts of religious devotion but violations of core Torah principles.

“The Torah commands that a person should live by the commandments, not die because of them,” Yosef said, rejecting claims that such travel constitutes mesirut nefesh, or self-sacrifice.

He cautioned against relying on faith alone in dangerous conditions, saying individuals must not place themselves at risk while assuming divine protection. Yosef added that when security authorities unanimously determine there is danger, Jewish law requires adhering to their instructions.

Drawing a comparison to established religious rulings, he noted that a person instructed by a doctor to eat on Yom Kippur must do so, underscoring that preserving life overrides other obligations.

Yosef also warned of the risks posed by large crowds gathering under unsafe conditions, including the potential for panic and trampling.

He called on the public to avoid traveling to the site under current circumstances, saying those who value their lives should stay away.

An Israeli court extended the detention of two Gaza flotilla activists brought to Israel for questioning after the Navy intercepted the flotilla near Greece. Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national, and Thiago Ávila of Brazil will remain held until Tuesday after Israeli authorities sought more time to investigate suspicions including aiding the enemy during wartime and providing services to a terrorist organization.  

Most of the other activists were taken to Crete and released, but Israel singled out Abu Keshek and Ávila over alleged links to the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, or PCPA. Israel’s Foreign Ministry says Abu Keshek is a senior PCPA figure and that Ávila is linked to the group; both deny the allegations.  

That matters because the U.S. Treasury designated the PCPA earlier this year, calling it a Hamas front that “clandestinely” acts on behalf of the terror group and has backed flotillas trying to break Israel’s security cordon around Gaza.  

Spain and Brazil are protesting the detention as illegal, while the activists’ lawyers argue Israel lacks jurisdiction because the interception took place in international waters. Israel says the operation was lawful and part of enforcing the naval blockade, which Jerusalem says is meant to stop Hamas from exploiting sea routes under the cover of “aid.”

The USAID Office of Inspector General has identified four current or former UNRWA employees with alleged participation in the October 7 massacre or affiliations with Hamas, adding to a widening pattern of UN aid workers linked to the attacks.

Three of those identified were teachers; the fourth was a social worker. All four are accused of holding Israeli civilians hostage following abductions from southern Israel and carrying out terrorist activities on October 7, 2023. The individuals have been referred to the State Department, which may formally suspend or debar them from working in US-funded aid organizations.

The findings represent the latest development in ongoing USAID OIG investigations that have already resulted in the suspension or disbarment of 21 individuals involved in the October 7 attacks or affiliated with Hamas. Among the debarred is Hafez Mousa Mohammed Mousa, a UNRWA school principal and operative of Hamas’s East Jabaliya Battalion, who received a 10-year government-wide debarment.

One identified employee, UNRWA social worker Faisal Ali Mussalem al-Naami, allegedly abducted the body of Israeli civilian Yonatan Samerano hy”d on October 7. Israeli media reports indicate that at least one released hostage stated they were held by an UNRWA teacher.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says the Pentagon is preparing to release some “very interesting” UFO files uncovered by his administration, generating a mix of buzz and skepticism as he hints at new revelations around questions of alien life.

Trump started stoking interest in the extraterrestrial in February, directing federal agencies to release their records related to extraterrestrial life and UFOs. Since then, he has built suspense with tantalizing updates, teasing an imminent release of documents never before shared by the U.S. government.

“We’re going to be releasing a lot of things that we haven’t,” Trump said Wednesday at a White House event celebrating NASA astronauts. “I think some of it’s going to be very interesting to people.”

Trump has relished in portraying himself as the president who spills the secrets. In the first week returning to office, he ordered the release of records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. The disclosures revealed little beyond what was already known.

In the buildup to that release, Trump said “the American people deserve transparency and truth.” Now, as he turns to the sky, the president has struck a similar tone, suggesting answers to decades-old questions may be on the way. His February directive on social media called for transparency around “alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).”

“The first releases will begin very, very soon,” he told supporters in April at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix. “So you can go out and see if that phenomena is correct. You’ll figure it out.”

An expert cautions against raising expectations
Even before Trump’s directive, the Pentagon was years into a process to declassify and release government documents related to UFOs, now often referred to as unexplained anomalous phenomena, or UAP.

Citing concerns over national security, Congress created an office in 2022 to investigate UAP and declassify as much material as possible. The office’s 2024 debut report revealed hundreds of new UAP incidents but found no evidence that the U.S. government had ever confirmed a sighting of alien technology. A second report covering more recent sightings is expected to come soon.

That agency, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, is now working with the White House to release “never-before-seen UAP information,” according to a Pentagon statement.

The office’s previous director, however, said Trump’s promises were bluster, a “shiny object” to distract Americans from the war with Iran. Sean Kirkpatrick, a physicist and former career intelligence officer who led the office until 2023, said he has seen the government’s records and believes there are no bombshell revelations to be found.

“Readers should not get their hopes up that there’s going to be some document with photos, interviewing the aliens when they came down,” he said. “Because that just doesn’t exist.”

Videos purporting to show alien technology tend to have mundane explanations, he said. Modern infrared cameras used by the U.S. military often capture jet engines and other hot objects in a long thermal bloom, which, Kirkpatrick said, explains viral videos of speedy, pill-shaped objects.

Pentagon not forthcoming on UAP reports, GOP-led panel says
On Capitol Hill, those types of videos have caught the attention of a small group of Trump-aligned Republicans who insist the Pentagon is holding back secrets.

The Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets has been conducting its own investigation into reports of mysterious aircraft near U.S. military installations, which the panel says pose a threat to national security and the armed forces.

Last fall, the task force heard testimony from current and former service members who described UAP encounters. In one case, a senior Navy officer said he was off the coast of California in 2023 when he saw a glowing “Tic Tac” shaped object emerge from the ocean and link up with three similar objects. They sped away in an instant, he said.

Trump’s interest in the subject has energized congressional Republicans, including Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, an Air Force veteran who co-chairs the task force. Luna has criticized what she calls “less than adequate” transparency from the Pentagon.

In a March letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Luna demanded dozens of UAP videos identified by whistleblowers and labeled with names such as “Spherical UAP in clouds.” Her deadline for Hegseth came and went, and no videos were produced.

Trump’s entry to the UFO fray drew applause from Luna, who last year told podcaster Joe Rogan that she has seen evidence of “interdimensional beings.” The Pentagon “can’t hide from our docs request anymore!” Luna said on social media after Trump’s directive.

Vance professes to be ‘obsessed’ with UFO files
Trump appears skeptical about the existence of extraterrestrial life. Addressing the Turning Point USA crowd in Phoenix, he said, “I figured this was a good crowd because I know you people, you’re really into that. I don’t know if I am.”

Why he made the revelation at that event, held at a megachurch, is unclear. A day earlier, Trump had spoken in Las Vegas, not far from Area 51, a top-secret Cold War test site that has fueled UFO conspiracy theories.

Vice President JD Vance has described himself as “obsessed” with UFO files. In March, he said he has been trying to find time to investigate Area 51 since he took office.

“I’ve still got three more years as vice president,” Vance told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson. “I will get to the bottom of the UFO files.” Invoking his Christian faith, Vance said he believes sightings reported to be aliens are actually the work of spiritual demons.

Even before Trump tackled the topic, alien buzz was already in the air.

It’s back in Hollywood with an upcoming Steven Spielberg movie, “Disclosure Day.” Former President Barack Obama made a splash in February when he declared on a podcast that aliens are real. He later clarified that he had seen no evidence but that “the odds are good there’s life out there.”

Trump is hardly the first president drawn to UFO mysteries. President Bill Clinton has said he once ordered a review of the Roswell Incident — something had crashed in 1947 at a New Mexico ranch and officials later said the debris was the remnants of a high-altitude weather balloon — around its 50th anniversary in 1997. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan claimed to have seen UFOs before their time in the White House.

The U.S. government has been investigating UFO reports since the 1940s, in part to determine if they represent advanced technology from competing nations or “evidence of off-world technology,” according to the Defense Department’s 2024 report.

In online communities devoted to UFOs, some see Trump’s promise as a step in the right direction; others believe it will come to nothing. For people who follow the topic closely, promises of big revelations have never lived up to the hype, said Greg Eghigian, a Pennsylvania State University professor who wrote a book on the history of UFO sightings.

“There is almost no satisfaction that is possible for many of the really die-hard folks,” he said. “So in a sense, I think disappointment can almost be guaranteed to be expected no matter what comes out of this.”

A handwritten siddur rooted in the teachings of Harav Yitzchak Luria, zt”l — the Arizal – will be displayed publicly for the first time beginning Lag B’Omer at the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv.

The 16th-century manuscript, reproduced in the museum’s 18th century copy, is particularly fitting for the Lag B’Omer season. It was the Arizal who is chiefly credited with emphasizing the importance of the day, and the siddur preserves his kavanos — the meditative intentions composed to direct one’s thoughts during tefillah.

The siddur contains detailed written instructions for the kavanos alongside visual elements including diagrams and tables intended to guide the mispalel.

Written in ink on paper and bound in an ornate leather cover adorned with leather panels and gold leaf, the manuscript was copied by hand in 1749 in the town of Stanov — then part of Poland, today within Ukraine — by the sofer Yisrael ben Raphael Segal.

SWIM. DAVEN. BREATHE. REPEAT.

Tzfat. Its cobblestone alleys where kabbala was transmitted, open vistas where Lecha Dodi was born, mountain air that carries something you feel even if you can’t grasp it. For the first time, you can live it, in a home that elevates your experience.

Four buildings now stand tall at the top of the mountain, right at the entrance to Tzfat's Old City. Stone cladding is on. Flooring is already laid. Tzfat Estates — part of the Estates Series that produced Jerusalem Estates at the Schneller compound — is scheduled for occupancy by mid-2027.

VIEWS LIVE INSIDE 

This isn't a building that happens to be in Tzfat. It's a building that was designed to make you feel where you are, every moment of the day. Walk through the shared spaces and you'll notice something unusual: the Galilee mountains don't stay outside.

Feigin Architects — the firm behind the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem, the Beresheet Hotel, and Jerusalem Estates — designed every public space around floor-to-ceiling plate glass. The pool looks out at Har Meron. The shul fills with natural light while the mountain range stretches beyond the windows. The gym opens onto panoramic views of the Galilee. The lobby is stone and glass, ancient texture meeting clean modern lines.

The architecture dissolves the wall between the building and the landscape. You're swimming, and Meron is right there. You're davening Shacharis, and the mountains are with you. You're on the treadmill at six in the morning, and the sunrise over the Galilee is yours.

Interior designer Sari Gurstein planned complete apartments with smart electrical systems, climate control throughout, and detailed luxury finishings. Buyers chose between three distinct design styles — Tzfati, Modern, and Classic — each reflecting a different relationship between Tzfat's historic character and contemporary living.

36 PROJECTS. 12 CITIES. 1 EXACTING STANDARD.

ISA has been building across Israel for close to three decades. Their track record speaks plainly. ISA delivers on their promises. And when they finish building, it always looks better than the renderings they sold you.

Tzfat Estates is part of ISA's Estates Series, debuted by the acclaimed Jerusalem Estates project in the Schneller compound. Jerusalem Estates established what ISA could do at the highest level — Feigin architecture, meticulous execution, a residential experience built to designer international standards in a city that demands it. Tzfat Estates carries that same DNA north.

YOUR CHANCE

Over 93% of Tzfat Estates has been purchased. The final apartments are selling now. These are the premium units — four spacious bedrooms with terraces stretching 430 square feet. Real outdoor living space: room for a sukkah, a full dining setup, lounge seating, and a grill, with the mountain air and Old City atmosphere surrounding you. Starting at 4.69 million shekels.

Your Tzfat is here. And if you’re coming to Meron on Lag Baomer, drive 10 minutes and come tour the site yourself. 

Get details, floor plans, or schedule a visit:
Call: 1-646-328-7711 or tzfatestates.com.

The face of an angel.
Rabbi Abadi זצ״ל.

I only spoke to him a few times, yet his name kept circling back.
Being “in the field,” I would hear his name again and again.
To me, he was an askan—a helper, someone to turn to when everything else failed.

That was until I saw the picture.

The picture of him holding a Sefer Torah.
But he wasn’t merely holding it.
He was at one with it.

It was as though his body was here, but his soul was somewhere higher—deeply bound to the Torah.
His face, his hands, the way he held it so close to his heart—with such unmistakable love.

In that moment, I realized he was so much more than an askan.

And I found myself wondering—how can a person be so connected to the upper worlds, while at the same time being so grounded, so approachable, so humble?
It’s a phenomenon I’ve rarely seen.

Looking back at the picture, I think I understand.

The Torah is emes—truth.

And if I had to define Rabbi Abadi in one word, it would be this: truth.

Truth means loving every child of Hashem.
Truth means not being afraid to step beyond the “rules” in order to do what is right.
Truth means being involved—with the police, with struggling children, with the community—while never losing connection to Torah and to Hashem.
Truth means humility.
Truth means being deeply above, while fully present below.
Truth means going places others are afraid to go.
Truth means celebrating every child, every small victory.

I would sometimes wonder, when seeing clips of him with “the boys”—what was it about him that they flocked to?
What was it about him that drew so many hearts?

I think the answer is simple.

Today’s beautiful children crave truth.

Rabbi Abadi was real.
Rabbi Abadi was authentic.
Rabbi Abadi was the truest form of truth.

And maybe that’s why so many people felt seen by him—
because when someone is that real, they give you permission to be real too.

I’m sitting here crying over a man I didn’t even know that well.
And yet it’s hitting me so deeply.

The moment I saw that now-infamous picture, I took a screenshot and saved it.
I kept going back to it.
Something about that image pulled at me.

There’s just something about it.
It feels like an X-ray into his soul.
It reveals a kind of purity, a kind of connection that words struggle to capture.

A man who was everywhere—yet anchored so deeply Above.

I look at that picture, and I cry.

We will miss you.
Lakewood will miss you.
The world will miss you.

Please—take your truth with you to the Ribbono Shel Olam.
Show Him how much we are yearning for that truth—how much we need it.
Please continue your holy work from above.

We love you so much.
We will miss you so much.

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

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Energy Minister Eli Cohen emerged as the top vote-recipients in an informal “mini-primary” held during the Likud party’s weekend “Likudiada” gathering in Eilat, offering an early glimpse into activist sentiment ahead of anticipated primaries in the coming months, as national elections are currently scheduled for October.

The event drew criticism for taking place while fighting with Hezbollah terrorists continues, including ongoing rocket and drone attacks on northern Israeli communities. Despite that backdrop, most cabinet members attended the weekend conference in the southern resort city.

Rounding out the top 10 in the informal vote were Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Knesset Economics Committee chairman David Bitan, MK Sasson Guetta, Coalition Whip Ofir Katz, and MK Tally Gotliv.

Economy Minister Nir Barkat, who has previously pointed to internal polling showing him as a potential successor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, placed 15th. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi ranked 17th, while Education Minister Yoav Kisch finished in 20th place.

The results reflect the views of approximately 2,000 party activists who attended the conference, rather than the broader Likud membership of about 120,000. While the outcome offers insight into grassroots preferences, it is not considered a reliable predictor of primary results. In a previous conference in 2022, both Regev and Gamliel ranked highly in similar polling but ultimately secured lower positions on the party’s final list.

Even so, such rankings are closely followed within Likud circles as an early signal of internal support ahead of primaries that have yet to be officially scheduled.

The IDF announced recruitment for three Chareidi combat units on Sunday: the Chetz Company, Netzach Yehuda Battalion, and Chashmonaim Brigade—all of which have seen extensive combat throughout the ongoing war.

The three units have operated across multiple fronts, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria. Historically, recruitment events for Chareidi soldiers have sparked protests at the Jerusalem and Tel Hashomer recruitment centers.

The Chetz Company operates under the Paratroopers Brigade and was formed to enable Chareidi soldiers to maintain their lifestyle while serving in combat roles. The unit has arrested dozens of suspects in the West Bank, located numerous weapons and terror infrastructure, and aided in operations across Gaza and Lebanon.

Netzach Yehuda was the first Chareidi battalion established in the IDF. Throughout the war, the battalion operated in Gaza and Lebanon, killing hundreds of terrorists and destroying over seven kilometers of underground tunnel network in Beit Hanoun. Training lasts approximately eight months and includes standard and advanced combat instruction.

The Chashmonaim Brigade, the first all-Chareidi brigade in the IDF, has operated in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Over the past two months, it has conducted raids and destroyed terror infrastructure in western Lebanon under the command of IDF Brigade 300. Last week, soldiers arrested a Hezbollah Radwan Force operative.

Beyond infantry training, the brigade offers NCO courses, medic training, and specialized instruction in UAVs and drones at its primary training base.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Antisemitic graffiti reading “The only good Zionist is a dead one” was reported in the New York City subway on Saturday, according to advocates documenting incidents through the Report It Now app.

Antisemitic incidents accounted for 57 percent of all reported hate crimes in New York City in 2025—330 of 576 suspected hate crimes—despite Jews comprising only about 10 percent of the city’s population. This represented a suspected anti-Jewish incident every 26 hours.

The problem has only grown in 2026. Anti-Jewish hate crimes increased by 182 percent in January 2026 compared to January 2025, while overall hate crimes increased 152 percent over the same period. In the first quarter of 2026, 55 percent of all confirmed hate crimes in the city—78 of 143 incidents—were antisemitic.

A UJA-Federation of New York survey found that nearly half of Jewish adults in the New York area fear for their safety as Jews when attending specific places or events at least some of the time, and among those concerned about safety, 44 percent said this fear keeps them from attending. ADL

College campuses have become epicenters of antisemitic activity since October 7, 2023, with 191 antisemitic incidents recorded by the ADL on NYC campuses in 2024—one-fifth of all incidents citywide. Columbia University, with 53 incidents, reported the most of any university in the country. ADL

The incidents span from physical violence to property destruction. Vandalism has included messages such as “Kill Jews,” “Crush Zionism,” and “Burn Zionism to the ground,” while some protesters have called Jewish students “Stupid [expletive] Zionists” and “Jewish Nazis.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that “antisemitic incidents still accounted for 330 cases, representing 57 percent of all hate crimes reported in New York City, despite Jewish New Yorkers making up roughly 10 percent of the city’s population,” adding that “these numbers remain far too high, and antisemitism continues to be the most persistent hate threat that we face.”

The NYPD is expected to release April hate crime statistics this week.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Some of the most notorious murderers in history – including the “Son of Sam” murderer David Berkowitz – could be eligible for release if two parole reform bills under consideration in Albany are approved, critics caution.

One proposal, known as the Elder Parole bill, would allow inmates convicted of violent crimes to seek early parole once they reach age 55 and have served at least 15 years, regardless of the severity of their offenses.

A second measure, the Fair and Timely Parole bill, would direct the state parole board to grant release to inmates unless they are deemed a current threat to public safety, placing less emphasis on the nature of their original crimes.

Both pieces of legislation could lead to the release of inmates serving life sentences, including those convicted of especially brutal killings.

“Consider some of the most heinous and noteworthy people in . . . prison today, they will undoubtedly be released within the next two years if these bills are signed into law,” a law enforcement source told the NY Post.

The Elder Parole bill is sponsored by Sen. Cordell Cleare of Harlem and Assemblywoman Maritza Davilla of Brooklyn.

Under that legislation, inmates granted parole would be placed under community supervision as though they had completed their full sentences. If denied parole, they must receive a written explanation detailing the reasons and would automatically become eligible again after two years.

That process would require victims’ families to repeatedly return to parole hearings to oppose the release of those convicted of killing their loved ones.

The Fair and Timely Parole bill is sponsored by state Sen. Julia Salazar and Assemblyman David Weprin.

The proposal would make it easier for inmates with strong disciplinary records behind bars to be released, regardless of the brutality of their crimes.

Advocacy group The People’s Campaign for Parole Justice says the bill would “provide more meaningful parole reviews.”

Raphael Mangual of the Manhattan Institute said momentum for the legislation appears to be building in Albany and could lead to passage this year.

“I think it’s a real risk, especially given the recent decline in crime in New York City,” he told the NY Post. “I think that might have led to a space where people might be more tolerant than they were five years ago of engaging in this kind of experiment.”

He added: “It really shouldn’t matter how well somebody behaves in prison. You should have behaved before you got there.

“You hear people who will say with very full confidence, including the advocates, that the likelihood of a person reoffending zeros out in older age,” he said. “No it doesn’t. A majority of state prisoners who are released will reoffend.”

One victim’s family member said the possibility of early release is deeply troubling.

“My brother was brutally tortured to death throughout the night,” Michael Pravia, whose 19-year-old brother Kevin was murdered in 2008 told the news outlet. “You know, I just feel like we’re living in a time where it feels like it’s another form of corruption, you know, letting these devils out of prison to harass the masses.

“They will have blood on their hands,” Pravia said of the legislators who pass the bills.

Pravia said his brother’s killer, Jeromie Cancel, showed no remorse.

“He was proud of his crimes,” he said.

Cancel laughed and smiled during his 2010 sentencing, prompting Pravia to shout, “I’ll…kill you!” in Manhattan Criminal Court.

“There is not one ounce of me that thinks he is rehabilitated or has the ability to be rehabilitated,” Pravia, 34, said Thursday. “I think he is truly a sociopath. He’s bragged that he would do it again.”

According to a law enforcement source, Cancel could be eligible for release under the Fair and Timely Parole bill if he maintains a clean disciplinary record in prison.

It remains unclear whether Gov. Kathy Hochul would sign or veto the measures if they reach her desk.

A spokesperson for Hochul told the Post the governor “is committed to ensuring the safety of New Yorkers and will review any bill that passes both houses of the Legislature.”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman strongly criticized the proposals and accused Hochul of enabling the release of violent offenders.

“Kathy Hochul has fast-tracked the release of violent criminals – even those who’ve killed police officers – and will certainly grant ‘get out of jail free’ cards to even more dangerous thugs,” he said. “The Hochul pro-criminal era ends the day I take office.”

Among those who could potentially benefit from the legislation is David McClary, who was convicted of killing NYPD Officer Edward Byrne in 1988 and is currently serving a 25-years-to-life sentence.

McClary, now 60, has been denied parole eight times since becoming eligible in 2013, requiring the victim’s family to repeatedly oppose his release.

The Police Benevolent Association has also pushed back against the bills, citing concerns over public safety and justice for victims.

PBA President Patrick Hendry told the Post, “Passing either of these bills would be a cruel and despicable blow to the families of our fallen heroes.

“There is no age and no formula that can absolve cop-killers of their heinous crimes or entitle them to rejoin society,” Hendry said. “We will fight tooth and nail alongside the families of our murdered police officers to ensure [these two bills] do not become law.”

The Tzedek Association held an important meeting Motzei Shabbos with the Skvere Rebbe in New Square, bringing together key figures involved in supporting Jewish inmates across the federal prison system. Among those in attendance were Rabbi Avrohom Richter, Senior Regional Chaplain of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP); Rabbi Chanania Steinmetz, Chaplain at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey; and Rabbi Moshe Margaretten of the Tzedek Association.

During the meeting, the Chaplains and representatives were thanked for their ongoing efforts on behalf of Jewish inmates nationwide, providing religious guidance, advocacy, and critical support services. Discussions also focused on recent policy updates within the BOP that allow nonprofit organizations to play a greater role in assisting inmates.

Under the updated guidelines, nonprofits are now able to expand their involvement in providing certain resources and support, particularly in the areas of humanitarian aid and religious needs. The Tzedek Association is actively working with BOP officials to explore what items and services can now be facilitated under these new policies, with the goal of further enhancing conditions and religious accommodations for Jewish inmates.

“This is a major step forward. The ability for nonprofit organizations to work more closely with the BOP opens the door to meaningful support for inmates, especially in ensuring their religious and humanitarian needs are properly met,” Rabbi Moshe Margaretten tells YWN. “We are committed to doing everything we can to assist.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Toronto Police have laid new charges against four anti-Israel activists accused in the violent storming of a private off-campus event hosted by Students Supporting Israel at Toronto Metropolitan University, where IDF veterans were speaking to students. Police say demonstrators forced their way into the building near Bay Street and Elm Street, damaged property, entered a gathering area and left attendees fearing for their safety. One person was injured by broken glass.  

The new charges hit Qabil Ibrahim, Fatimah Mugni, Nicole Baiton and Kiana Alexis, who were among six people previously arrested in the case. Ibrahim was additionally charged with taking part in a riot while masked. Mugni and Baiton were both charged with public incitement of hatred targeting members of the Israeli community, along with masked unlawful assembly, masked riot participation and mischief. Alexis was also charged with masked unlawful assembly, masked riot participation and mischief.  

The case stems from a November attack on an SSI event featuring IDF veterans, part of a broader campus speaking tour about life in Israel after the October 7 massacre. According to reporting on the incident, masked activists broke into the venue, students were told to hide, and an IDF veteran was cut by shattered glass while trying to keep the intruders out.  

This is now no longer being treated as campus “activism.” Toronto’s Hate Crime Unit is involved, and police say suspected hate-motivated offences can carry heavier consequences if proven in court. The charges remain allegations, but the message is clear: targeting Israeli and Jewish students with intimidation and violence is finally drawing a serious law-enforcement response.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the downfall of Spirit Airlines can be traced to decisions made under the Biden administration, pointing specifically to the blocked merger with JetBlue as a turning point that led to the airline’s collapse.

Duffy criticized his predecessors for derailing the proposed deal, saying on ABC’s “This Week”: “Spirit tried to merge with JetBlue. The Joe Biden-Pete Buttigieg administration and DOJ tanked that deal,” Duffy told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “Immediately after that, they filed for bankruptcy.”

He added that the airline’s struggles had been building for some time, noting: “This was in the works for some time. I’m proud of the American airlines that have stepped up to take care of the passengers of Spirit, making sure they get home.”

Spirit Airlines ceased operations early Saturday, a move that resulted in roughly 17,000 job losses. President Donald Trump had considered providing a $500 million bailout to keep the airline afloat, but the proposal ultimately did not materialize.

The roots of the airline’s financial troubles stretch back several years. In 2024, a federal court supported the Biden administration’s Justice Department in blocking the $3.8 billion merger between Spirit and JetBlue, a decision that left Spirit struggling to stabilize its finances before eventually entering bankruptcy proceedings later that year.

Duffy was not alone in assigning responsibility to the prior administration. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also pointed to the Justice Department’s role in stopping the merger as a key factor in the airline’s demise.

“This is just more of the mess we inherited from the Biden administration,” Bessent told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” “The reason we were here was because the Biden administration opposed the merger. We shouldn’t have been here in the first place.”

Some figures connected to the previous administration have begun reconsidering that decision. Neera Tanden, who served as an adviser to President Joe Biden, raised questions about whether blocking the merger was the right course.

“Given the news today that Spirit Airlines is shuttering and thousands of people are losing their jobs, I think we should honestly assess whether the Garland DoJ stopping the JetBlue merger with Spirit Airlines was the right call,” Tanden wrote in a viral post on X.

“Perhaps it was, but any analysis must consider as part of the equation the loss to so many families to decide.”

Duffy also rejected suggestions that rising oil prices tied to the conflict with Iran were the main cause of the airline’s failure, arguing that the company had been struggling long before.

“Spirit was in dire straits long before the war with Iran,” the Transportation secretary argued during a press conference on Saturday. “Multiple times, they filed for bankruptcy. Their model wasn’t working.”

“They couldn’t get to fiscal health, so this was not the impetus. The war was not the impetus for Spirit.”

A spokesperson for former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg pushed back on Duffy’s claims. Sean Manning dismissed the criticism and instead blamed current policies.

“Everyone knows that skyrocketing fuel prices from Trump’s war against Iran led to the end of Spirit,” Manning. told The post. “Deep into their second year, Trump and Sean Duffy are still blaming their predecessors, even while their own policies make life in America more expensive.”

Duffy has repeatedly taken aim at Buttigieg, who is widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, over his tenure leading the Transportation Department.

Last year, Duffy pointed to reporting that the department under Buttigieg distributed more than $80 billion in funding over four years toward diversity, equity, and inclusion-related initiatives.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning a trip to Italy this week that is expected to include a meeting with Pope Leo, according to a Vatican source, as President Donald Trump’s public criticism of the pontiff has sparked backlash from across the political spectrum.

The anticipated meeting, which would mark the first face-to-face discussion between Pope Leo and a member of the U.S. Cabinet in close to a year, is slated for Thursday, a senior individual familiar with the pope’s schedule said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.

In recent weeks, Pope Leo has adopted a more assertive tone, becoming a vocal opponent of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, following earlier criticism of the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies.

President Trump repeatedly targeted the pope on social media in April, at one point calling him “terrible,” remarks that drew significant attention while the pontiff was traveling through four African nations.

Rubio’s last encounter with Pope Leo took place in May 2025, when he attended the pope’s inaugural Mass at St. Peter’s Square alongside Vice President JD Vance. The two also held a private meeting with the pope the following day.

The pope is set to mark one year in his role on Friday.

Italian newspapers La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera reported earlier Sunday that Rubio would be in Italy this week for a series of meetings, including talks with the Vatican’s top diplomat, Pietro Parolin, though they did not confirm whether an audience with the pope was planned.

Officials from the U.S. State Department, the Vatican press office, and the Italian government did not immediately respond to inquiries about the visit.

According to the Italian reports, Rubio is also expected to meet with Italy’s foreign and defense ministers, with the visit aimed at calming tensions between Washington and Rome after Trump sharply criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni last month, despite her status as one of his closest European allies.

It remains unclear whether Rubio will meet directly with Meloni during the trip.

The visit comes shortly after the Pentagon announced on Friday that it would reduce its troop presence in Germany by 5,000 personnel, a move that has added strain to already tense relations between the United States and Europe amid disagreements over the Iran conflict and trade disputes.

Italy remains one of the largest hosts of U.S. forces in Europe, with nearly 13,000 active-duty American troops stationed across six bases as of the end of 2025.

{Matzav.com}

By Y.M. Lowy

Monday will be mild with a high of 69 and a low of 55 degrees. Expect periods of sunshine mixed with some clouds throughout the day.

Tuesday will warm up nicely with a high of 76 and a low of 57 degrees. It will be sunny and pleasant, though winds will pick up as the day goes on.

Wednesday will cool down with a high of 67 and a low of 53 degrees. It will be rather cloudy, breezy, and not as warm, with a couple of passing showers.

Thursday will be cooler with a high of 61 and a low of 45 degrees. Expect cloudy skies along with rain and a chance of thunderstorms.

You can watch the Levaya live here.

Security forces in Yerushalayim disrupted an effort last Friday by a group attempting to carry out a Korban Pesach on Har Habayis, stopping suspects who allegedly tried to bring a young goat into the area.

According to authorities, Yerushalayim District police together with Border Police spotted several youths approaching one of the entrances. Members of the group were said to be holding a goat intended for the offering, along with a knife used for slaughter.

The group reportedly moved past a police checkpoint and reached a nearby area, where they attempted to push their way onto Har Habayis. Officers intervened before they could enter, blocked their advance, and detained or arrested 21 individuals for questioning.

Those taken into custody were later brought before the Magistrate’s Court, which ruled that they be released. The decision stood even after police filed an appeal with the District Court.

Police said they “will continue to act decisively to preserve public order, security, and the fabric of life in the Old City and especially at the holy sites, while firmly enforcing the law against any attempt to disrupt order.”

The “Lama Nigara” (“Why Should We Be Excluded”) movement, whose members took part in the incident, issued a statement saying: “This day symbolizes the call of our ancestors who were impure during the first Pesach and longed to offer the Second Korban Pesach. In these days, the call of ‘Why should we be excluded’ is renewed – we too want to offer the Passover sacrifice and sacrifices in general. We strengthen the detainees; the time has come to return to the Har Habayis in its entirety and rebuild the Bais Hamikdosh.”

The activists were represented by attorneys Nati Rom and Daniel Shimshilashvili of the Honenu legal aid group. Shimshilashvili said: “Absurdly, the investigative unit chose to request an extension of our clients’ detention by no fewer than five days, using arguments that, after the Simchas Torah massacre, have no place in our society. The court accepted our arguments, and the claim that the entire Middle East would burn because Jews seek to exercise freedom of worship in our country did not impress the court, which ordered our clients’ release and even unusually rejected the police request to delay implementation of the decision.”

Rom added: “Regarding Har Habayis activists, I find it puzzling that the police consistently come to court with exaggerated requests while knowing that the court will completely dismiss them.”

{Matzav.com}

By BoroPark24 Staff

Looking to find a Sunday carnival or food sale happening near you today?

Check out the BoroPark24 WEBSITE STATUS for a full list of locations and join the fun in the neighborhood!

Visit, enjoy 😋🍟🍩🧃, and send us some photos! 📸🎉

OU Kosher CEO Rabbi Menachem Genack delivers a shiur at the OU Kashrus Conference

For many kashrus agency professionals, the annual OU Kashrus Conference is more than a collegial gathering; it is a rare opportunity to learn about the latest industry developments, and to connect with colleagues who understand the unique experiences and challenges of kashrus certification. This year, that connection carried added meaning, as attendees paid tribute to a leader who built and grew that community and expanded access to kosher food worldwide. After 45 years of transformative leadership at the helm of OU Kosher, Chief Executive Officer Rabbi Menachem Genack will celebrate his retirement this summer.

“The conference was especially meaningful as we celebrated Rabbi Genack’s remarkable career and achievements,” says OU Kosher Chief Operating Officer Rabbi Moshe Elefant, who will succeed him. “The legacy he leaves is that of the largest kashrus certification agency in the world, built from the ground up with uncompromising standards. He also assembled an exceptional staff — a group of rabbanim, all talmidei chachamim, representing every corner of the Jewish world.”

Now in its 32nd year, the two-day conference at New Jersey’s Hilton Parsippany drew 200 participants, including OU Kosher Rabbinic Coordinators (RCs) and Rabbinic Field Representatives (RFRs) from North and South America, Israel, and Europe, as well as representatives of over 20 international kashrus agencies.

An additional 100 friends and relatives of Rabbi Genack, along with Orthodox Union lay and professional leaders, attended a special tribute banquet that included a video retrospective and the presentation of two books published in his honor. OU President Mitchel Aeder, OU Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph, Rabbi Moshe Elefant, and Rabbi Genack’s daughter, Shira Schiowitz, shared reflections, and Rabbi Genack offered words of gratitude and bracha.

“The friendships that have developed over the decades mean a great deal,” says Rabbi Genack. “OU Kosher has been the foundation for the growth of the OU and its many important programs — educationally, in kiruv, supporting people in need, and across so many areas. That mission has been central from the very beginning.”

Under his visionary leadership, OU Kosher became the world’s largest and most widely recognized kashrus certification agency, certifying 1.5 million products manufactured in 15,000 plants across 108 countries.

In the 1980s, Rabbi Genack laid the foundation for OU Kosher’s modern infrastructure by assembling a professional team of RCs to oversee kashrus operations from its New York headquarters. In the 1990s, he launched the annual OU Kashrus Conference, creating a forum for RCs and RFRs to share expertise, exchange ideas, and address challenges together in a structured setting.

“As our staff expanded, both at OU Kosher headquarters and internationally, the conference gave, and continues to give us, the opportunity to interact in person — to put faces to names and to brainstorm collectively about how to advance the OU Kosher program,” he says. “It also helps mashgichim understand the halachic basis of kashrus issues and stay current with developments. The conference is essential to OU Kosher’s continued growth, both in maintaining standards and in strengthening our cohesiveness.”

Rabbi Michael Morris, OU Kosher’s director of field operations, logistics ombudsman, and manpower and routing director, helps organize the annual conference in partnership with colleagues. He notes that it provides rare in-person interaction for professionals who typically work independently.

“Many of our RFRs work in relative isolation in remote areas of the world,” he says. “This is a once-a-year opportunity to gather with colleagues in person, whom they interact with daily.”

Rabbi Elefant adds, “Despite working closely together, RCs and RFRs rarely have the opportunity to connect in a relaxed setting. When we get together, there is achdus and a shared mission to serve Klal Yisroel and uphold the highest standards of kashrus.”

Kosher SA (South Africa) Managing Director Rabbi Dovi Goldstein and OU Kosher RC Rabbi Mordechai Starashefsky at an OU Kashrus Conference chevrusa/networking session.

OU Kosher RFR Rabbi Shoshan Ghoori oversees OU Kosher certification and business development across Latin America — specifically Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and to a lesser extent, Colombia and Mexico. His role includes visiting companies, certifying new companies and plants, and managing client relationships throughout the region. He also helps oversee the mashgiach teams in Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, together with Rabbi Yitzchok Gutterman, the RC for Latin America. This is Rabbi Ghoori’s 15th year attending the conference, and he appreciates the sense of connection and achdus that prevails each year.

“Meeting colleagues face-to-face refreshes and strengthens the relationship in a way that remote communication cannot,” he says. “Being together reignites the connection and reinforces a shared sense of purpose. It strengthens the feeling that we are part of one coordinated effort.”

This year’s sessions centered on the future, with a focus on technology, food industry innovation, developments in food science, and AI’s kashrus applications. Topics included Boilers without Borders: Remote Starters in Halacha; Behind the Scenes in Engineered Milk and Engineered Meat; How Kashrus Agencies Are Evaluated; and What’s Brewing: The Latest in Beer and Alcohol, among others.

Additional conference highlights included a dedicated chavrusa/networking session with OU and OU Kosher lay leaders, senior administrators, and colleagues; a shiur by Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) Rosh Yeshiva and OU Posek Rav Hershel Schachter on Stam Keilim Aino Ben Yomo; Daf Yomi; and the recognition of Rabbi Binyomin Kaplan and Rabbi Yitzchok Friedman for their 25 years of dedicated service to OU Kosher.

Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) Rosh Yeshiva and OU Posek Rav Hershel Schachter at the OU Kashrus Conference

A key theme throughout the conference reflecting a principle long championed by Rabbi Genack was collaboration among kashrus agencies.That initiative was on full display at the conference, where the second day was opened to kashrus professionals from outside the OU, who also led sessions.

“We work very closely with other agencies that uphold high standards, and it’s important to collaborate and build together,” reflects Rabbi Genack. “I truly appreciate their participation in the conference.”

OU Kosher Managing Director of Marketing Rabbi Ei Eleff notes, “Kashrus is a communal effort, and the only way for it to thrive is through collaboration with other agencies. One of the nicest aspects of the conference is that it enables people from the same industry to network, meet one another, and share best practices. There is something to learn from everyone. When there is diverse knowledge-sharing, everyone wins.”

Rabbi Ghoori echoes this sentiment, valuing the opportunity to connect with colleagues from other kashrus agencies who are all working toward the same objective.

“There is mutual respect and an understanding that, while each agency serves its own clients, we are all ultimately providing a service to the broader kosher world,” he says. “That includes both the Jewish community and the wider kosher-consuming public, which today extends well beyond Jewish consumers.”

OU Kosher RFR Rabbi Abish Rand and OU Kosher CEO Rabbi Menachem Genack at an OU Kashrus Conference chevrusa/networking session

OU Kosher RFR Rabbi Saadya Kaufmann has attended the OU Kashrus Conference for the past 16 years, and enjoyed this latest one the most.

“The conference was probably one of the best that I have attended,” reflects Rabbi Kaufmann, who oversees plants manufacturing everything from candy and salsa, to aluminum foil and chemicals, throughout Texas, Mississippi, Northern Mexico and El Salvador. “The sessions were all very relevant and interesting.”

However, celebrating Rabbi Genack and his pioneering achievements at OU Kosher was particularly memorable.

“The highlight was being able to pay tribute to Rabbi Genack,” he says. “It was especially meaningful and inspiring in light of Rabbi Elefant’s observation that everyone present was hired to work for OU Kosher by Rabbi Genack. It reflected a shared sense of hakaras hatov for all he has accomplished for Klal Yisroel.”

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