Israel has again blocked the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, turning a routine monthly payment into a direct financial strike against Ramallah’s terror-reward system and mounting international campaign against Israel. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the funds would not be sent while the PA continues backing terrorists and waging diplomatic warfare against the Jewish state.  

The numbers are significant: Israel collected more than 740 million shekels, roughly $200 million, in PA tax revenues this month. According to the Finance Ministry statement cited by Israeli media, about 590 million shekels were deducted to cover debts the PA owes to the Israel Electric Corporation, along with water and environmental bodies. Additional sums were offset over money Ramallah had allocated to terrorist elements and families of terrorists, while the remaining balance was frozen.  

Smotrich framed the move as both a security measure and a message to the PA: “Whoever chooses to fight the State of Israel in the international arena and to support terrorism will bear the price.” His office said the policy is meant to prevent even one shekel from encouraging terror while also recovering debts that Israeli citizens have effectively carried through utility and infrastructure costs.  

President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas attends a press conference in Oslo, Norway, on February 11, 2026. (Photo by Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The PA immediately pushed back. Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa accused Israel of imposing what he called “economic occupation” and said Ramallah is working with international actors to pressure Israel to release the funds. He also admitted the PA is operating without its customs and tax income, a major blow to an authority that has already struggled for years to pay public-sector salaries in full.  

At the center of the fight is the clearance-revenue system created under the Oslo-era Paris Protocol, under which Israel collects customs and tax funds on behalf of the PA. Those revenues usually total hundreds of millions of shekels a month. But Israel has increasingly used offsets and freezes to block money tied to PA payments to terrorists and their families, the system widely known as “pay for slay.” Israeli lawmakers advanced the offset policy in 2018 to pressure Ramallah to stop rewarding terrorism, and JNS reports that roughly one billion shekels a year in revenues collected by Israel for the PA has gone toward those stipends.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a security consultation by phone with senior defense officials on Monday morning amid ongoing Hezbollah ceasefire violations, Israeli media outlets reported.

The judges presiding over Netanyahu’s court cases canceled a scheduled hearing on Monday morning after the prime minister’s attorney requested its postponement due to security concerns.

Despite the official ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon declared by US President Donald Trump, Hezbollah has persisted in launching rockets and drones at IDF forces and northern communities. On Monday morning, a drone‑infiltration alert sounded in several yishuvim in the Western Galil. Shortly afterward, the IDF said contact had been lost with the drone, indicating it likely crashed in an open area.

At the same time, a siren was activated in Arab al-Aramshe due to concern over falling interception debris.

The IDF also announced on Monday that it intercepted a Hezbollah suicide drone fired at IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon on Sunday.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision on Sunday to cancel the mass Lag B’Omer event at Meron and instead hold a symbolic celebration with only 1,500 participants at a time was strongly opposed by UTJ MK Meir Porush and Meron project coordinator Yossi Deitch.

Both of them are expected to resign from their responsibilities in managing the event.

In private conversations obtained by Kikar HaShabbat, Yossi Deitch said that “the decision was a total shock to us. I told the prime minister that there is no logical explanation for why, while no restrictions were imposed on the Druze event with 15,000 people or the Maccabi Haifa game, Meron is treated differently.”

“When the decision was made, there were no restrictions in Meron or in northern Israel, and yet this past Shabbos, over 10,000 came to Meron, and not a single room was empty on the yishuv. There is no justification for restrictions now.”

Deitch added: “You don’t understand what Meron means to the public. In 2024, we saw tens of thousands walking on foot from Tzfas, through orchards and roads, and these were not children, but people in their 80s. You don’t understand the meaning of the place, what Meron is, and what Rebi Shimon means to those people who wait for it all year.”

Netanyahu’s decision was reached after a meeting with senior security and Home Front Command officials and after a meeting of the war cabinet.

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs announced Netanyahu’s decision, writing: “The background to the decision is concern over a mass-casualty event due to the fragility of the ceasefire with Lebanon, the site’s proximity to the Lebanese border, rocket fire toward the area, and the difficulty of evacuating large numbers of participants in a timely manner.”

A senior official who attended the consultation told Kikar HaShabbat: “This is a matter of life and death. It only takes Hezbollah firing one rocket at Meron, and the siren there could lead to panic and a terrible disaster. Everyone understands that after the horrific Meron tragedy and the heavy price paid, we do not take risks. Public safety comes first, and ונשמרתם מאוד.”

Kol Chai reported that a “capsule” plan is being considered that would allow staggered entry of crowds to Meron on Lag B’Omer over many hours. According to estimates, if 1,500 mispallelim are allowed in each section with hourly turnover, the cumulative number could eventually reach tens of thousands, and potentially approach 100,000 participants over the course of the day.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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Military Police arrested a Chareidi “draft dodger” early Monday morning at his home in the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem, the first proactive arrest of a ben yeshivah since the start of Operation Roaring Lion.

Following his arrest, he was transferred to military prison, where he is expected to appear before a judge.

The arrest followed the High Court ruling on Sunday, in which the judges demanded that the state sanction Bnei Torah and their families.

In the ruling, Deputy Supreme Court President Justice Noam Sohlberg also slammed the police for halting enforcement actions against draft evaders: “A complete avoidance by the police of exercising its authority, effectively leaving that authority unused, cannot be justified by claims of prioritization, and budgetary constraints or lack of resources are not an excuse,” he wrote.

HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau spoke following the court’s decision, saying: “Bnei yeshivos will not go to the army under any circumstances, neither by coercion nor willingly, whether there is a law or not.”

The Rosh Yeshiva added: “The judicial authorities continue in their wrongdoing; ultimately, the wicked will be held accountable. We will not relate to their decrees—we will ignore them, and they and their decrees will dissipate.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The IDF published its findings Monday on the devastating Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Kibbutz Holit. The probe, conducted by Col. Eylon Peretz, commander of the Yoav Regional Brigade, and approved by former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, found that the kibbutz was left undefended for hours before assistance finally arrived in mid-afternoon of that day.

The attack began at 6:29 a.m. with rockets fired toward the border. At 6:59, terrorists breached the fence of the kibbutz, and some 60 of them poured over the fence and began rampaging through the kibbutz.

Deborah and Shlomi Matias died in Kibbutz Holit while shielding their 16-year-old son, Rotem, with their bodies. The boy was shot but has recovered. His sisters, Shaked and Shir, were hiding elsewhere and were unharmed. (From a post on X)

As the terrorists went from house to house, murdering, abducting and injuring people and burning and wrecking their homes, armed civilians fought back, unaided by the IDF. That day, 13 people were murdered and six taken hostage. Two of the hostages were later killed in captivity.

The kibbutz’s security chief, Abi Korin, fell while fighting valiantly to protect the kibbutz, along with two of his deputies.

The report highlighted the terrible moments and acts of bravery during the worst massacre to befall the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

Hayim Katsman, a peace activist, was killed in Kibbutz Holit while hiding in a closet with his neighbor and protecting her with his body. (From a post on X)

Some of the terrible moments included terrorists kidnapping four members of the Ziyadne family (father Youssef Hamis, sons Hamza and Bilal, and daughter Aisha) and killing another, as well as abducting two foreign workers hiding near a cowshed. Youssef and Hamza were killed in captivity.

The terrorists killed a couple in their home while their 7-year-old child hid in a closet until a neighbor rescued her. A teenager hid in his house for hours after his parents were killed.

The report praised the courage of those who fought back, calling their actions under fire “extraordinary” and singling out the security coordinator and his deputy, who “acted with bravery, engaged the enemy and defended the kibbutz with their bodies.”

In this chilling photo, a terrorist holds Adi Vital-Kaploun’s children (pictured above), Negev and Eshel. The mother was murdered while defending her children, who survived.

Others acted with extraordinary courage as well. A man took down a terrorist who invaded his home, but later, explosives injured members of his family. A woman braved the flames of a burning home to save her neighbor. Adi Vital-Kaploun became a national hero when she asked her husband for instructions on how to use a rifle, which she turned on a terrorist who broke inside and killed him. Later, other terrorists murdered her in front of her 3-year-old and 5-month-old children and stayed with them for about an hour and a half.

Moshe Ridler, a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor, was killed in Kibbutz Holit. (From a post on X)

Israeli troops who were deployed to the border engaged with Hamas terrorists and killed many. They reached the kibbutz’s entrance shortly after the terrorists broke in, but they moved on to fight elsewhere, responding to a report that their commander was wounded. The army did not arrive until around 2 p.m., when an all-female tank crew broke through the fence to help soldiers enter the kibbutz. As the fighting wore on, terrorists began to leave, taking hostages with them. They abandoned one woman, Avital Aladjem, with Vital-Kaploun’s two children, in the Gaza Strip, and she made it back to the kibbutz with them.

By late afternoon, the army was able to evacuate the kibbutz and search for any remaining terrorists. Fighting in other areas continued into the next day.

The report concluded that the army “failed to defend Kibbutz Holit” because the army was simply unprepared for such a well-planned and coordinated attack on such a grand scale. The probe found that heavy fighting on the border repelled a large number of terrorists, which meant that fewer terrorists attacked Holit than otherwise would have. However, while the IDF troops exhibited tremendous courage and bravery and fought fiercely, coordination between forces was poor and confusion reigned.

Israel sent an Iron Dome air defense system to the United Arab Emirates early in the Iran war, as well as IDF soldiers to operate it, two Israeli officials and one U.S. official told Axios on Sunday. This major development had not been previously known.

Before the ceasefire, Iran attacked the UAE more than any other country in the region — including Israel. According to the UAE’s defense ministry, Iran had launched about 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones at the Persian Gulf state.

As a result of Iran’s aggression against the Gulf states, they have been moving closer to Israel, but the UAE already had strong ties with the Jewish state since the signing of the Abraham Accords. Since the Iran war, however, their military, intelligence and security cooperation has dramatically increased.

Israeli officials told Axios that after speaking to the UAE’s president, Mohammed bin Zayed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an Iron Dome air defense system and dozens of operators to be sent to the UAE. A senior official said that marked the first time Israel had delivered the system to another country, as well as the first time a country besides the U.S. and Israel had deployed the Iron Dome. Another official said that the battery shot down dozens of missiles during the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan smile as they participate in the signing of the Abraham Accords. (Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Both Emirati and Israeli officials said that the military cooperation between the two countries has reached new heights since the war with Iran. Israel deliberately targeted missile launchers in the south of Iran that were aimed at the UAE and other Gulf countries.

Given the history of hostility toward Israel, the presence of Israeli troops in the UAE could be a delicate matter — but Emirati officials are saying that Israel’s actions to protect the UAE are helping to burnish its image in the eyes of the Emiratis.

“Primarily, the United States and Israel have proved to be true allies by offering support through extensive military aid, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic backing,” wrote Tareq al-Otaiba, a former official at the UAE’s national security council.

“We are not going to forget it,” a senior Emirati official said, referring to the aid Israel provided during critical moments.

Another official remarked on this, as well as on other countries that stepped up to help, such as the U.S., France, Britain, Italy and Australia.

“It was a real eye-opening moment, to see who our real friends are,” he said.

Iran has fundamentally reframed the path to ending the war, proposing that the United States and its allies resolve the immediate military crisis before addressing the nuclear issues that triggered the conflict.

The proposal, conveyed through Pakistani intermediaries, would establish a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz first. Only after those disputes are settled and the military standoff becomes permanent would negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program begin. The approach represents a stark departure from U.S. efforts to link the military and nuclear dimensions of the conflict.

“These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the U.S. will not negotiate through the press,” White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said in response to the Iranian proposal, without confirming whether Washington would consider it.

The timing is significant. Trump is scheduled to hold a Situation Room meeting Monday with senior national security and foreign policy officials to discuss the deadlocked talks and chart next steps, suggesting the administration views the Iranian proposal as substantial enough to warrant high-level deliberation.

The Iranian plan poses a problem for U.S. negotiators. Suspending uranium enrichment for at least a decade and removing enriched uranium from Iranian territory are two of President Donald Trump’s stated war objectives. Once a ceasefire is in place and the military pressure eases, Iran would have less incentive to make those concessions.

Iran’s proposal effectively asks the United States to accept that constraint. Sources familiar with the negotiations told Axios that Iran’s leadership lacks internal consensus on what nuclear concessions it can offer, suggesting Tehran wants time to sort out its position while the guns are silent.

The diplomatic impasse hardened over the weekend when Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Pakistan without achieving a breakthrough.

The White House had indicated that Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Islamabad to meet Araghchi. Trump canceled the trip, citing Iran’s negotiating position. Araghchi proceeded instead to hold talks with Omani officials in Muscat about the Strait of Hormuz before returning to Pakistan. He was expected to fly Monday to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During his time in Islamabad, Araghchi presented the phased approach to Iranian counterparts and U.S. contacts. One source told Axios that Araghchi acknowledged Iran’s divided leadership over nuclear concessions, effectively signaling that Tehran was not prepared to commit to terms on uranium enrichment.

Pakistan, which has served as the diplomatic middleman in these talks, offered no public comment. Spokespeople for both Pakistan’s military and Foreign Ministry declined to address the proposal or the status of negotiations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest U.S. military strike on a boat accused of ferrying drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean killed three people Sunday, according to a social media post by U.S. Southern Command.

The Trump administration’s campaign of blowing up alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters has gone on since early September and killed at least 186 people in total. Other strikes have taken place in the Caribbean Sea.

The military has not provided evidence that any of the vessels were carrying drugs.

After Sunday’s attack, Southern Command posted a video on X showing a boat moving swiftly in the water before a explosion left it in flames. It repeated previous statements by saying it had targeted the alleged drug traffickers along known smuggling routes.

The attacks began as the U.S. built up its largest military presence in the region in generations and came months ahead of the raid in January that captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He was brought to New York to face drug trafficking charges and has pleaded not guilty.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.

Critics, meanwhile, have questioned the overall legality of the boat strikes.

President Trump on Sunday disputed allegations in the alleged gunman’s manifesto while defending the Secret Service response to the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, calling the incident a reminder that the nation must not allow “a crazy person” to cancel important traditions.

In an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” Trump acknowledged reading the manifesto sent by the 31-year-old teacher from Torrance, California, minutes before the Saturday night attack at the Hilton hotel. The gunman, who ran through a metal detector and fired rounds before being tackled by security personnel, had written that he was targeting Trump administration officials.

“He wrote he was targeting members of the Trump administration,” Trump said. “He’s radicalized. He was a Christian believer, and then he became an anti-Christian, and he had a lot of change.”

The manifesto also contained explicit allegations about Trump’s conduct. The gunman wrote that he was “no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”

Trump rejected the characterization without naming himself directly.

“I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody,” Trump said. “I’m not a pedophile. You read that… from some sick person? I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated.”

When pressed about whether the gunman was referring to him, Trump grew combative with the interviewer.

“Your friends on the other side of the plate are the ones that were involved with, let’s say, Epstein or other things,” Trump said. “You shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes. You’re a disgrace.”

The gunman had cased the venue since Friday, writing in the manifesto that the security arrangements were woefully inadequate. “What I expected is security cameras at every bend, bugged hotel rooms, armed agents every ten feet, metal detectors out the wazoo. What I got is nothing,” he wrote.

Trump said the Secret Service agents performed admirably despite the security breach.

“Those guys did a good job last night. They did a really good job,” Trump said.

He said he wanted to better understand what was happening as security personnel moved to evacuate him and the first lady.
“I wanted to see what was going on. And by that time we started to realize maybe it was a bad problem, different kind of a problem, bad one,” Trump said. “I was surrounded by great people.”

Trump described being asked to drop to the floor as agents escorted him from the ballroom where more than 2,500 guests had gathered to celebrate the First Amendment and freedom of the press. The president said he complied without hesitation.

“When they said, ‘Drop down,’ that meant trouble. And obviously I’m the president, and I listened to what they said,” Trump said.

The first lady “handled it great,” Trump said. “She’s very strong, smart. She got it. She knew what was happening.”

One Secret Service agent was struck and hit his bulletproof vest, protecting him from serious injury. Trump said he spoke with the agent afterward.

“He didn’t want to go to the hospital. They asked him to go, and he said, ‘I don’t need to go to the hospital.’ But he went because they asked him to go,” Trump said.

Trump said the incident would not deter him from his commitment to attend a rescheduled dinner.

“I want them to do it again. We can’t let something be canceled. It’s not that I wanna go. I’m very busy. I don’t need that. I think it’s very important that they do it again,” Trump said.

He urged the White House Correspondents Association to hold the event within 30 days.

“Tell ’em to get it going, and we should do it within 30 days, and they’ll have even more security, and they’ll have bigger perimeter security. It’ll be fine,” Trump said.

Trump also raised the possibility of permanently relocating future White House Correspondents Dinners to a new East Wing ballroom that he said would be ready ahead of schedule, though not until 2028.

The shooting occurred at the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was nearly assassinated by John Hinckley in 1981.
During the interview, Trump also spoke more broadly about political violence in the country, saying it has been a persistent problem across centuries rather than a new phenomenon.

“You go back 20 years, 40 years, 100 years, 200 years, 500 years, it’s always been there. People are assassinated. People are injured. People are hurt,” Trump said. “I do think that the hate speech of the Democrats much more so is very dangerous. I really think it’s very dangerous for the country.”

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The suspect accused in Saturday night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner navigated through the Washington Hilton using a deliberate path designed to avoid security checkpoints and crowded areas, according to a report from CBS News.

Cole Tomas Allen was reportedly observed leaving his room on the hotel’s 10th floor dressed in black and carrying multiple weapons. Authorities said he had a shotgun, a handgun, and several knives, all packed in a black bag.

Instead of taking the main hallways, Allen allegedly chose an internal stairwell, descending roughly 10 floors. Investigators believe this route allowed him to steer clear of heavily monitored sections of the hotel where guests and security personnel were concentrated.

Law enforcement sources told CBS News that by using this path, Allen was able to move toward the event without being noticed, despite the presence of President Donald Trump and other senior officials inside.

Allen eventually reached the terrace level of the hotel, which connects to the foyer leading to the red carpet entrance of the dinner. This positioned him only a short distance from a key entry point into the ballroom.

At that stage, Allen reportedly ran toward the area, rapidly closing the gap before security intervened.

Officers assigned to the event responded within seconds. Members of the Secret Service Uniformed Division quickly moved in and subdued Allen shortly after he appeared near the entrance.

Authorities said that after detaining him, officers followed established procedures, removing his outer garments and inspecting his bag to confirm that he did not have additional weapons or explosive materials.

The incident occurred at approximately 8:36 p.m., while the event was already in progress. The dinner was attended by thousands, including the president, first lady Melania Trump, Cabinet members, and journalists.

Officials noted that security screening was beginning to wind down at the time. Metal detectors that had been used to check incoming guests were already being taken apart, and no further attendees were being admitted into the ballroom.

A dramatic political realignment unfolded Sunday night as the newly announced alliance between Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid triggered a cascade of additional moves across Israel’s political landscape.

Amid the fallout, former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen—who had been widely expected to join Bennett—has instead decided to align with Gadi Eisenkot and his emerging political faction.

At the same time, Knesset member Ram Ben Barak, a senior figure within Lapid’s Yesh Atid party, is also reportedly considering a move to Eisenkot’s camp, according to reports.

Cohen, identified with the religious Zionist community, served as head of the Shin Bet from 2011 to 2016. In recent years, he has been among the more outspoken critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.

Ben Barak, a former deputy director of the Mossad, previously served as chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee during the so-called “change government.”

Earlier Sunday, Bennett and Lapid formally announced the formation of a joint political party aimed at leading a center-right bloc in the 2026 elections. Bennett, who will head the alliance, declared: “The era of division is over. The era of repair has begun. On day one, we will establish a state commission of inquiry into October 7.”

Lapid, who agreed to step aside and allow Bennett to lead, said: “I am putting ego aside for the good of the country. Bennett is a decent right-wing leader who will make an excellent prime minister.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said Sunday that security officials should reevaluate whether President Trump and Vice President JD Vance should appear together at major public events following Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, McCaul, who attended the event in Washington, said the incident raised serious concerns about the concentration of leadership in one place.

“The takeaway I got was that the line of succession,” McCaul said during the interview.

He pointed out that multiple top officials were seated together at the same table during the event, increasing the potential risk in the event of a coordinated attack.

“You had the president and the vice president at the head table, both of them together, and [House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La)]. Had an explosive device gone off, you would have knocked out the president, vice president, Speaker. The three in line of succession,” the Texas Republican noted.

When asked directly whether those leaders should avoid appearing together in public settings, McCaul reiterated his concern.

“I think the Secret Service needs to reconsider having both the president and vice president together.”

Under the current line of succession, if a president is unable to serve, the vice president and then the House Speaker would assume the role. McCaul also referenced the next official in line.

The next in succession would be the president pro tempore of the Senate, currently 92-year-old Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

Meanwhile, the investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Several news organizations have reported that the suspect is 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California, though that identification has not been independently confirmed.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Saturday that the suspect is expected to appear in federal court Monday to face charges, including using a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated earlier Sunday that additional charges could be forthcoming, depending on the findings of the investigation.

He said the suspect “absolutely” could be charged with attempting to assassinate Trump depending on his “motive, his premeditation [and] what he wanted to do.”

According to a CBS News report citing law enforcement and White House officials, the suspect authored a manifesto outlining his intentions. The document reportedly described a plan to target administration officials in order of rank.

The manifesto stated he aimed to target Trump administration officials “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.” A White House official confirmed to The Hill that such a document exists.

Blanche said he remains confident in the level of security at the event and emphasized that the administration will not change its approach in response to the attack.

He said he is “very comfortable” that Trump, Vance and Johnson were present and stressed that the shooting “is not the kind of thing that will deter” the administration.

“This is not the kind of thing that will cause us to go down in a bunker and not come out. … We are going to continue to do our jobs,” Blanche added.

He also underscored the importance of continuing normal operations, including engagement with the press, while maintaining strong security measures.

“And our jobs include interacting with the press, which we do, which I’m doing now, which we did last night, and so very comfortable, because what you do when you have an environment like that, when you have the leaders of the free world in one room, is you make sure that you have security that will stop anybody from getting anywhere near any of those individuals,” he continued.

{Matzav.com}

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Donald W. Riegle, who represented Michigan in Congress for nearly three decades under seven presidents, has died, his family said Sunday. He was 88.

Riegle, who began his career as a Republican and later became a Democrat, died Friday of cardiac arrest at his home in San Diego, according to a family statement.

“The cornerstone of our family, Don was a kind, loving, courageous leader who taught us to stand up for justice, economic opportunity, and fairness for everyone,” the statement said.

His family said Riegle was proud of fighting for the rights of working people and leading the Senate opposition to NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement that resulted in the loss of many jobs in his home state. He pushed for economic development and the expansion of health insurance in Michigan.

The native of Flint, Michigan, was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican in 1966 at age 28. As a congressman, he challenged President Richard Nixon’s policies on the Vietnam War and crossed the aisle to join the Democratic Party in 1973. Three years later, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served until 1994.

As chair of the Senate Banking Committee, Riegle pushed for financial reforms of the savings and loan industry. Later he was instrumental in getting treatment for Gulf War syndrome for military veterans who fought in the Persian Gulf in 1991.

Riegle was caught up in the Keating Five controversy, when he and four other senators faced Ethics Committee hearings in 1990 about whether they pressured federal regulators to go easy on savings and loan kingpin Charles Keating after receiving campaign contributions from him. The committee found Riegle did not break any federal laws or Senate rules, but determined his conduct gave the appearance of being improper.

In 2001, Riegle became chairman of government relations for public relations firm APCO Worldwide.

In retirement, he spent time with his grandchildren and other family at his homes in Michigan and California, his family said. His wife of 48 years, Lori Hansen Riegle, was by his side when he died, the statement said.

Memorial services are pending.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Hundreds of members of the Bnei Menashe community from northeastern India arrived in Israel this week in a special immigration operation aimed at bringing remaining eligible families to the Jewish state.

The first group landed near Tel Aviv as part of a broader effort expected to bring several hundred immigrants from India in multiple phases, according to Israeli officials.

The initiative, led by Israeli government agencies and immigration organizations, focuses on communities in India’s Mizoram and Manipur regions who trace ancestral ties to ancient Israel.

Many of the arrivals are expected to begin life in absorption centers before moving to permanent communities in northern Israel, where some will reunite with relatives who immigrated in earlier years.

The latest arrivals come as regional tensions remain elevated, adding added attention to the timing of the operation. Indian authorities indicated the migration proceeded through legal channels while emphasizing existing travel cautions related to the security situation.

Immigration from the Bnei Menashe community has taken place for years, but the latest mission marks one of the more significant recent efforts to bring remaining members of the community to Israel.

President Donald Trump sharply rebuked 60 Minutes host Norah O’Donnell during an interview after she read aloud a passage from the manifesto of the suspect accused in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.

During the exchange, O’Donnell quoted directly from the document, including language that appeared to accuse the president or members of his administration of serious crimes. After reading the excerpt, she asked Trump to respond.

“I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would…you’re horrible people,” Trump told O’Donnell.

He pushed back strongly against the content being read on air, rejecting any connection to the accusations.

“You read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me,” he continued, adding he was exonerated.

Trump then directed his criticism squarely at O’Donnell herself.

“I’m not any of those things,” he said. “You should be ashamed of yourself reading that. You shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes. You’re a disgrace, but, go ahead, let’s finish the interview.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has emerged as a leading contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, with allies inside President Donald Trump’s inner circle increasingly describing the Florida senator-turned-diplomat as a serious alternative to Vice President JD Vance, according to Politico, senior White House officials and others close to the administration.

The shift marks a striking turnaround for a politician once written off as too hawkish, too establishment and too damaged by a failed 2016 presidential campaign to remain a major force in a post-Trump Republican Party. But Rubio’s management of flashpoint foreign conflicts, his steadfast loyalty to Trump and his leading role in the administration’s Western Hemisphere policy have elevated his standing both inside the West Wing and among segments of the MAGA base.

A senior White House official granted anonymity to speak candidly described Rubio as “loyal, wicked smart, articulate and very seasoned,” adding simply that he is “a winner.”

Rubio’s dual role as both secretary of state and national security adviser has given him unusual proximity to the president and placed him at the center of consequential decisions, allies say. Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer cited that access as a key factor in Rubio’s rise. “Because of this dual role he’s had a lot of access and face time with the president — and with MAGA,” Spicer said. “That has been huge for him.”

Recent polling reflects his growing profile. A CPAC straw poll last month showed Rubio surging to 35 percent, up from 3 percent a year earlier. Vance still leads the field at 53 percent, down from 61 percent. A YouGov survey in April placed Vance at 63 percent among potential Republican nominees with Rubio at 42 percent, compared to 65 percent and 33 percent, respectively, in a September poll.

Rubio has played a central role in a muscular new Western Hemisphere policy, including strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels and operations targeting Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and Cuba. A second senior White House official said Rubio coordinated post-operation planning across multiple agencies, including the Departments of Interior, Energy and Commerce, to develop an economic development framework for the region. He has also been a leading voice on immigration, revoking thousands of student visas and implementing a “one-strike” policy allowing the State Department to cancel visas for anyone found to have broken U.S. law or supported terrorism.

Allies credit Rubio’s disciplined messaging — and his ability to frame controversial military operations in “America First” terms — as another key asset. “He marries normalcy, common sense, with a bit of Trump/MAGA twang very well,” one GOP operative close to the White House said. “He’s able to rationalize to those who may be angry. He’s at least the best at making it make sense.”

Rubio has publicly stated he will not challenge Vance for the nomination, and Vance retains significant advantages — strong polling, the backing of Donald Trump Jr. and the financial support of Elon Musk. Trump himself has not endorsed a successor and is unlikely to weigh in before the November midterms.

Whether Rubio would even want to pursue the presidency remains an open question. “People like him for sure, but at the end of the day, Marco needs to decide if he wants it,” said a person who knows Rubio personally.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Trump details his experience at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where a gunman charged toward the ballroom. He says he wasn’t worried and praised the actions of law enforcement.

WATCH:

TAKE NOTE: A local resident tells TLS he was out of town and told his family to order dinner online.

However, instead of ordering from the Kosher restaurant Smash House, they mistakenly ordered from Smashburger, which is a non-Kosher restaurant.

Luckily though, when the order arrived via Uber Eats, the family noticed the packaging did not look familiar, and realized their mistake before eating it.

Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered a statue of Ramesses II — the Pharaoh most widely identified as the Pharaoh of Yetzias Mitzrayim — at the Tel Faraon archaeological site near El Husseiniya in the Nile Delta, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Ministry announced.

The statue is incomplete, missing both its legs and base, yet remains an imposing find. According to initial assessments by Hisham el-Leithy, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, the statue weighs approximately five to six tons and stands roughly 2.20 meters — just over seven feet — tall. Even in its damaged state, the remaining features display what el-Leithy described as “artistic and royal features,” suggesting the statue was once part of a larger sculptural grouping known as a Triad, similar to ones previously uncovered across the Sharqia Governorate.

Tel Faraon — known in antiquity as the city of Imet, the ancient capital of the 19th Nome of Lower Egypt — is located south of Tanis along the Nile Delta. Archaeologists believe the statue was originally transported from Pi-Ramesses, the capital of Egypt’s 19th dynasty, to Imet, where it was repurposed for use in a local temple. El-Leithy said the discovery “sheds light on aspects of religious and royal activity in the eastern Delta region” and helps historians better understand how royal statues were transferred and reused during the New Kingdom period.

Mohamed Abdel Badie, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities’ Egyptian Antiquities Sector, said the find reflects the “religious and historical significance of the site across different eras.” The statue has since been transferred to a museum storage facility in the San Al-Hajar area for preservation and further study.

The discovery adds to a string of remarkable finds at Tel Faraon. In September 2025, archaeologists at the same site uncovered a sandstone stele bearing a complete hieroglyphic text of the Canopus Decree — a document issued by Egyptian priests in 238 BCE during the reign of Ptolemy III. The decree addressed matters of military affairs, grain distribution during drought, tax relief, and religious festivals. Notably, it proposed adding an extra day to the calendar every four years — foreshadowing what would later become the Julian calendar. Ministry officials called that find a discovery that “opens new horizons for understanding the ancient Egyptian language.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is using the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday to try to pressure preservationists to drop their lawsuit over his planned $400 million ballroom on the site of the former East Wing of the White House.

“It’s time to build the ballroom,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said plainly Sunday on X, posting a letter in which Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate gave the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has sued to block construction, until 9 a.m. Monday to dismiss its lawsuit.

If it doesn’t do so, Shumate wrote, the government would ask a court to do so “in light of last night’s extraordinary events,” calling the Washington Hilton — the site of Saturday’s gala — “demonstrably unsafe” for events with the president “because its size presents extraordinary security challenges for the Secret Service.”

The White House ballroom, Shumate wrote, “will ensure the safety and security of the President for decades to come and prevent future assassination attempts on the President at the Washington Hilton.”

Asked about the letter, Elliot Carter, spokesperson for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said Sunday the group would review it with legal counsel.

The preservation group sued in December, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing to make way for a ballroom that Trump said would fit 999 people. Trump says the project is funded by private donations, although public money is paying for the bunker construction and security upgrades.

A crowd of 2,300 attended Saturday night’s event at the Hilton, home to one of the few rooms in Washington large enough for the event. It packs in attendees at round tables whose chairs are back to back, and room to move around is tight. The dinner is not a White House event — it is run by the White House Correspondents’ Association, a nonprofit organization of journalists from media outlets that cover the president.

Republicans amp up their push for White House ballroom
For months, Trump has mentioned the ballroom project at nearly every chance, often talking about the lawsuit or his desire to construct the space during events on a number of other topics. As he addressed tuxedo- and ball gown-clad reporters who scurried from the Washington Hilton to the White House for a Saturday night news conference, Trump called for tougher security measures and pointed to the incident as a reason his ballroom is needed.

In the wake of the shooting, Trump, Blanche and a number of supporters of the administration have taken the opportunity to push for the project across social media platforms and news programs. Republican Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan said he agreed with Trump “100%” on the massive White House construction project, which Jordan said on Fox News Channel “obviously would be much safer location for these type of events.”

Sunday morning on X, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he agreed with Trump that the White House ballroom “is a national security necessity” that would give the Secret Service “immense control over the security environment of future events with a very hardened facility.”

Even some Democrats agreed. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, who attended Saturday’s dinner, said on X that the proposed White House space should be used “for events exactly like these.” On CNN later Sunday, Fetterman said attendees and Americans overall were in a “vulnerable” position during Saturday’s event, in part because many in the presidential line of succession were present and could have been harmed

Fetterman responded, “I certainly hope so” when asked if the incident would spark more support for the White House project.

Gate crashers, party crashers, a plane — security breaches at the White House
In the century-plus since its grounds were largely closed to the public, dozens of events are evidence that even the White House complex is not impervious to intrusion.

There have been a number of documented incidents in which people have scaled security barriers around the White House. One of them, a disturbed Army veteran carrying a knife, jumped the fence in 2014 and raced into the White House, making his way into the East Room before heading back down a hallway on the State Floor deep within the mansion.

A Homeland Security Department review of the case determined that lack of training, poor staffing decisions and communication problems contributed to the embarrassing failure that ultimately led to the resignation of the head of the Secret Service.

In 1994, a pilot died when he crashed a small stolen plane on the South Lawn, hitting a tree and a first-floor corner of the building. And in 2009, uninvited guests Tareq and Michaele Salahi crashed a state dinner, passing through security checkpoints and meeting President Barack Obama in an incident that sparked security investigations.

How is the White House ballroom project going?
In litigation since December, work is ongoing, although there have been recent hiccups.

Trump tore down the East Wing last fall to build the massive ballroom in that space. In its lawsuit, the National Trust for Historic Preservation argued that Trump had overstepped his authority by moving forward with the project without first getting approval from key federal agencies and Congress.

Earlier this month, a federal appeals court allowed Trump to continue construction of the $400 million project, ruling a day after a lower court judge continued to block above-ground construction on the site and scheduling a June 5 hearing to review the case. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon’s ruling had blocked above-ground construction of the 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom addition, while allowing only below-ground work to continue on a bunker and other “national security facilities” at the site.

On Fox News Channel on Sunday, Trump forecast that, by the end of his current term, his project would be complete.

“In the year ’28 you’re going to have something, you’re going to have a ballroom, the top of the line, security,” Trump said. “You’re not going to have problems.”

Buckingham Palace confirmed Sunday that King Charles III’s planned visit to the United States will move forward as scheduled, despite a shooting at a Washington media event just days before his arrival.

The incident occurred late Saturday during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, less than 48 hours before Charles and Queen Camilla are set to begin their four-day state visit.

Palace officials said the king was “greatly relieved” that President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other attendees were not harmed. A later statement emphasized that the trip would continue as planned.

“The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the Visit getting underway tomorrow,” the palace said.

Earlier in the day, U.K. minister Darren Jones told broadcasters that British and American security officials were coordinating closely ahead of the visit.

He said teams were “working closely to ensure the security arrangements are put appropriately in place” for the trip.

According to reports, the king and queen privately contacted the Trumps to express sympathy for those affected by the shooting and to thank the security personnel who prevented additional casualties.

President Trump said one law enforcement officer was shot at close range but did not appear to suffer life-threatening injuries.

The visit, which will include stops in Washington and New York, is meant to highlight the longstanding alliance between the United States and Britain as America marks 250 years of independence.

During the trip, King Charles is expected to address Congress, becoming the first British monarch to do so since Queen Elizabeth II spoke there in 1991. The itinerary also includes tea with President Trump and Melania Trump, as well as a formal state dinner.

The visit comes at a time of friction between the two allies, with disputes over the war with Iran and ongoing attention surrounding the Epstein scandal casting a shadow over the occasion.

President Trump has repeatedly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his stance opposing the war, along with disagreements over immigration and energy policies.

The two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday, during which Starmer “extended his best wishes … following the shocking scenes at last night’s White House Correspondents Dinner,” according to Downing Street.

“He expressed his relief that the President and First Lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured,” the statement added.

They also addressed broader economic concerns, including “the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally,” Starmer’s office said.

{Matzav.com}

Chilling echoes of Nazi-era Europe reverberated throughout a march in Milan, Italy, Saturday, in the bitterest of ironies. As descendants of the Jewish Brigade — Jews from then-Palestine who traveled to Italy to help fight against the Nazis — and other Jewish groups marched alongside Italians celebrating the downfall of fascism at the end of World War II, pro-Hamas Jew haters at the march surrounded the Jews, hemming them in as they hurled insults at them. “Murderers” was among the tamest of the slogans shouted; worse yet were such choice words as “You’re just failed soap bars,” “Long live Hitler” and “All Zionists out.”

Finally, for their own safety, police escorted them out of the rally and told them to leave.

Iranian dissidents and people carrying the Ukrainian flag were also targeted.

Speaking to a local Italian outlet, Emanuele Fiano, the son of a Holocaust survivor and former MP, said, “We were kicked out, I can’t describe it in any other way. The Jewish Brigade that fought alongside the partisans against the Nazi-fascists [and other Jewish groups] were all kicked out of a rally that was supposed to celebrate freedom.”

“The climate is horrible,” he added. “From legitimate political criticism, we have started to see the worst old-fashioned slogans against Jews. It’s terrible, I don’t know what else to say.”

Like other countries around the world, Italy has suffered from rising antisemitism in the wake of the Oct. 7 massacre, using self-righteous disapproval of the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza to mask plain old Jew hatred. The number of anti-Jewish incidents in Italy has kept pace with the rest of the world, rising every year since.

Daniela Ovadia, a rally attendee who belongs to the Jewish community, described the awful experience on Facebook.

“We joined the rally behind the banner of the left-wing Jewish scouts, grandchildren of camp survivors and partisans,” she wrote. “My daughter was stopped by someone in the rally, [who told her] ‘You are lucky you are not a soap bar.’”

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced the treatment of Jews and supporters of Ukraine at the rally.

“If these are the people who claim to defend freedom and democracy, I would say we have a problem,” she wrote on X.

Indeed. We have a problem, and it’s raging like a wildfire all over the world.

Julia Jackson has just celebrated her 108th birthday, earning the distinction of being the oldest member of the United Synagogue and widely believed to be the oldest Jewish woman in Britain today.

Born on April 23, 1918, Julia’s life stretches across more than a century of Jewish history, from pre World War I Europe to today’s modern world, yet she remains remarkably vibrant and engaged. Raised in Sunderland to immigrant parents, her mother a kosher grocer and her father a tailor, Julia grew up in a traditional Jewish home that shaped her lifelong connection to community and Yiddishkeit.

In her younger years, she was a pianist, reaching concert level skill and continuing to play music even into her later years. During World War II, she contributed to the war effort, working as a secretary for an aircraft manufacturer and signing the Official Secrets Act, another remarkable chapter in a life already filled with history.

Julia eventually settled in North West London, where she became a longtime member of Finchley Synagogue (Kinloss), maintaining her connection to shul for decades and eventually earning her the title of the synagogue’s oldest member. Today, she lives in a Jewish Care home, where she continues to surprise those around her, not just with her age, but with her energy. Described as a “fast walker” even at 108, Julia credits simple habits for her long and healthy life, including a love of vegetables, especially broccoli 🙂 But those who know her say it’s more than diet. It’s her mindset. Her resilience. Her connection to family, community, and purpose.

It’s been quite a number of years since the “Shidduch Crisis” became a hot topic. I read all the articles, heard all the stories, but never thought it would affect me. Over the past bunch of years, many people have tried to come up with different solutions, but as it appears to me, those ideas were here today and gone tomorrow. Sadly, I have learnt recently I would not be spared. Not only would I not be spared, but that my crime of having a daughter would be used as a weapon to extort me.

Allow me to explain.

My daughter came back from seminary in June of 2025. After Succos, my wife and I took her to meet a few reputable shadchanim. All of them were very polite, asked her a few questions, and all ended off by saying something to the effect that when they would receive a yes from a boy, they would let us know.

A few months went by without a single phone call. I called all the shadchanim again, and they all politely told me that as soon as they would receive a yes for my daughter, they would let us know. After that, it was back to radio silence.

A week before Pesach, we got a call from a Shadchan that a boy had given a “yes” to our daughter. The Shadchan told us to let them know within 48 hours if we were interested, or the boy would move on. We felt bad calling people and taking an average of 30 minutes of their time a week before Pesach asking for information, but we really didn’t have a choice. We liked what we heard, and told the Shadchan we would like to move forward.

At this point, it was the week of Pesach, so the first date was set for the Sunday after Pesach, and we were all very excited.

Motzai Shabbos, less than 24 hours before the scheduled time for the date, the Shadchan called. She had a nervous edge in her voice, and she was speaking a little fast, so I knew something was wrong.

“Gut vuch Rabbi Fishman. The other side just wants me to go over a few details with you. Nothing out of the ordinary, just regular standard stuff, they just want to make sure we are clear.”

“I am listening,” I said. “Go ahead.”

Then off she went. “Support starts at $2,000 a month and is expected for 10 years. At the birth of each baby, support goes up $500 a month for each child. So for example, when the couple has 4 children IY”H, support will be $4,000 a month.”

I felt like dropping the phone. This couldn’t be real. My daughter had waited 6 months to get a date, and then less than 24 hours before the date, the boy’s side was making impossible demands of me.

There was no way I could make such a financial commitment while still having multiple teenage children and tuitions to pay.

“I don’t understand,” I said. “My daughter wants a boy who will learn. She understands the financial undertaking she is accepting on herself. She has a good job now, enough to support a young couple. She has a plan to advance her career and make a larger income so her husband can continue learning. Of course, if they are short, I will be glad to help out, but in no way can I commit or afford the numbers you are mentioning.”

She answered as follows. “Rabbi Fishman, you have to understand, your daughter wants a boy who will learn Leolam Va’ed. For every 10 boys who I have that will actually learn Leolam Va’ed, I have 100 girls or more saying they want a boy like that. It’s supply and demand, the only thing that makes sense for the boys who will learn Leolam Va’ed is for them to go out with girls whose fathers will understand the zchus they have, and be willing to support this life of Torah the couple wants.”

“But isn’t this extortion?” I asked her. “If the boy wants to learn, I’m sure he understands that the household is dependent on a single earner and willing to make certain sacrifices to live this lifestyle.”

She gave a nervous laugh. “Rabbi Fishman, I see you really don’t know how this works. Today’s couples don’t sacrifice. They need houses and cars just like everyone else. Your daughter wants Leolam Va’ed, so the way it works now is ‘TG’ gets Leolam Va’ed. No ‘TG,’ no Leolam Va’ed.”

“TG? What’s TG?” I asked her.

“You serious?!?” she exclaimed. “TG stands for Torah Gedula. The boys want to learn, but life costs. They need a house like everyone else, they don’t want broken down cars. They have plenty of people who are willing to support Leolam Va’ed, so if you commit to support, yes; if not, they move on.”

I wanted to tell her to drop the date, but my daughter had waited 6 months for this, and I didn’t want to make any rash decisions. I told her I would get back to her shortly.

I called the boy’s Rosh Yeshiva, and I was shocked to hear that he wasn’t only aware of the demands of the other side, he was promoting it.

“This is the way of Lakewood,” he told me. “The girl’s family supports no matter what.”

“I don’t understand,” I asked him. “My daughter is making $80K. That is more than enough for the couple in their first year. She has plans to further her education and advance her career. Why am I supporting them if they don’t need the money?”

His response was, “If they don’t need the money now, then they will put the money towards the down payment of the house. My talmid is a top boy. You should be honored to have the zchus of supporting him.”

I called a friend of mine and asked if this was normal. He told me I have no choice.

“What are you going to do?” he asked me. “Wait until she is 23 and bite the bullet? Bite the bullet now and save yourself the heartache.”

I called another friend who was learning his whole life and recently married off a daughter. He told me, to my surprise, that he had to take on a tutoring job for the first time in his life to support his daughter and son-in-law.

Even after hearing all this, I refused to move forward with such extortion. I spoke to my Rov and he agreed. With my Rov’s advice, the response we gave to the other side is that we would not be making any commitments for support and they can back out if they wish. The Shadchan gave them our response and the date was cancelled.

Thankfully, I raised my daughter well enough that she understood and was completely on board with our decision and our response.

I was forced to come to the sad reality that not only have we not come up with a solution to the Shidduch Crisis, but we have turned it into a weapon to extort the girl’s family and frighten them that if they did not commit to unrealistic demands, they would never get married.

This past Nissan started off very hopeful. Many of us believed this might be the Nissan we would finally be Niga”al, but how can we bring Mashiach if we have sunk so low to extort one another in the name of Torah?!?

Can we truly believe that these “extortionists” will be the ones to carry over the Mesorah to the next generation? Is this really what the Ribono Shel Olam wants?

I hope my letter raises awareness and that we can all get our priorities back in order to finally bring Moshiach.

Moshe

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

Ehud Olmert on Sunday publicly criticized Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu following reports about Netanyahu’s prostate cancer diagnosis, drawing on his own experience and arguing that the situation should be handled with immediate transparency.

Speaking in an interview on 103FM, Olmert recalled the moment in 2007 when he was informed that he had cancer, describing how he chose to go public without delay and suggesting that failing to do so invites speculation and rumors.

“I was in the car on my way to a memorial for Yitzhak Rabin,” Olmert recounted. “The secretary from my office called and said that Dr. Shegev wanted to speak with me urgently. I assumed he was telling me the test was positive, meaning that I had cancer.”

Olmert described a meeting later that evening at his home with Dr. Kobi Ramon and Dr. Shegev, during which they confirmed the diagnosis.

“They told me the test came back positive and that I had prostate cancer. The size of the tumor was something like less than a centimeter. I said okay, but in any case this has to be reported to the public.”

According to Olmert, the decision to disclose the diagnosis was immediate and based on his understanding that information would inevitably leak.

“I took it as obvious that this is the kind of sensitive matter that a number of people already knew about. The doctors who treated me, the lab workers, the nurses—everyone knows. Within a few days, rumors would start that the prime minister has cancer in his head and that his days are numbered. All kinds of rumors that circulate in situations like this.”

He argued that the best course of action was to present the facts openly and without delay.

“I said that the most correct thing to do is to inform the public exactly what there is and what the course of treatment is. On Monday morning we announced a press conference that would take place within an hour. We didn’t want to announce it a day or two in advance because that would have created the panic we wanted to avoid, as if we were about to announce something dramatic. It was within an hour—there was no time to create panic.”

Olmert concluded by noting that stepping down was never under consideration at the time.

“I didn’t consider resigning. The tumor was found in the center of the prostate capsule and not on the edges, which is usually more dangerous. They said there was nothing that needed to be done immediately.”

{Matzav.com}

The California man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with the stated aim of targeting members of the Trump administration had filled his social media accounts with repeated anti-Trump messages in the days and weeks leading up to the incident.

Authorities identified the suspect as Cole Allen, 31, a graduate of Caltech, who was highly active on the platform BlueSky, where he posted extensively and reshared political commentary. He appeared to favor the site over X, at one point referring to its owner, Elon Musk, as a “Hitlerian figure.”

The account he used operated under the handle “Coldforce,” a name that also appeared at the end of a manifesto later attributed to Allen.

Across more than 1,000 posts, Allen frequently attacked the Trump administration, with his tone intensifying as U.S. backing for Ukraine appeared to decline.

In one message, he lashed out at Vice President JD Vance, writing that he is “a piece of [garbage] for bragging about ditching Ukraine during a Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia on April 14.

Allen’s account also promoted multiple fundraising efforts aimed at supporting Ukrainian military units and students seeking supplies.

In a separate post, he characterized President Trump as “a sociopathic mob boss,” citing references connected to the Epstein files.

On April 8, the same day the United States reached a temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran, Allen criticized the deal as capitulation, accusing Trump of abandoning his position.

“Trump is literally one of those villains that if you beat [him] hard enough, he’ll join your team. Don’t really have any other insights to this, it’s not really actionable cause no way schumer just canes him into acting his age, but, like, it would probably literally work on him,” he wrote.

Allen also reacted angrily after Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as Yoshkah.

Describing himself as a Protestant Christian, Allen shared and amplified posts accusing members of the Trump administration of religious hypocrisy and suggesting they should be labeled “satanic idolators.”

“i’m not sure that you can work for this admin and be any flavor of genuine christian believer and see trump post something like this [Trump as Yoshkah] without understanding, at some level, deep down, that you are [cursed] even if you’ll never admit it to anyone,” one repost read.

Similar sentiments appeared in the manifesto Allen distributed to friends and relatives before yesterday’s attempted attack. In it, he referenced Christian teachings about forgiveness but argued that the Trump administration had moved beyond the possibility of redemption.

His pinned post featured an anime-style image of a character apologizing.

“Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I’m not the person [assaulted] in a detention camp. I’m not the fisherman executed without trial. I’m not a schoolkid blown up or a child starved or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration. Turning the other cheek when someone else is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor’s crimes,” he wrote.

Shortly before deleting his BlueSky account, Allen pinned a final post showing an animated character kneeling and offering a profuse apology.

His manifesto similarly opened with a series of apologies directed “to everyone whose trust [he] abused.”

Prosecutors said Allen is expected to face formal charges, including using a firearm in connection with a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer, when he appears in court Monday, according to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro.

{Matzav.com}

Official negotiations over the next decade of American military assistance to Israel will begin next month, with both sides fielding senior delegations as the current $38 billion agreement approaches its 2028 expiration.

Israel’s team will be led by Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram and will include Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Leiter, along with representatives from the defense and finance ministries, the IDF and the National Security Council. The American delegation will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with senior adviser Michael Needham and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

The new framework is expected to look fundamentally different from its predecessor. Rather than a flat annual commitment, aid would decline gradually each year, with the goal of reaching zero by 2038. In its place, the two countries would deepen joint development of advanced weapons systems, with Israeli officials eyeing directed-energy weapons, high-powered lasers and next-generation air defenses against hypersonic missiles and AI-enabled threats.

Under the current agreement, signed in 2016 and in effect since 2019, Israel receives $3.3 billion annually for major weapons purchases and roughly $500 million for air defense development — totaling approximately 15% of its annual defense budget.

The shift reflects changing realities on both sides. American political support for military aid to Israel has eroded across party lines: progressive Democrats have grown increasingly critical of Israel, while an “America First” contingent within the GOP questions whether unconditional support aligns with Trump’s isolationist posture. Meanwhile, a booming U.S. defense industry flush with Ukraine-related orders has made Israeli contracts less commercially vital.

Israeli defense officials say the country can sustain its military buildup without American funding — but not without cost. The defense budget has already swelled to 144 billion shekels, with the defense establishment pushing for 177 billion. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed adding roughly 35 billion shekels annually to the base defense budget over the next decade to offset the phaseout of U.S. aid. Officials acknowledge, however, that renewed conflict in Iran, Lebanon or Gaza could drive those figures significantly higher — and that the spending increase will come at the expense of health, welfare and education.

Talks are expected to last approximately four months, though officials noted the pace could be affected by developments on active security fronts.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In the wake of the historic shiur klal delivered Sunday evening at Yeshivas Ponevezh, a private meeting took place between two of the leading gedolei haTorah centering on the ongoing gezeiros surrounding the draft law and the future of the olam haTorah.

Following his address, the Slabodka rosh yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau, went to the nearby home of Ponovezh rosh yeshiva Rav Berel Povarsky, whom he had referenced during the shmuess after noting his absence. The visit was arranged at the rosh yeshiva’s request.

The meeting, which continued for a significant amount of time, was also attended by Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, rosh yeshiva in Ponevezh and son-in-law of Rav Povarsky. The conversation began with divrei Torah and recollections from earlier years, when the two gedolim sat together on the benches of the yeshiva.

The discussion then turned to pressing inyonei tzibbur, with primary focus on the draft law, the recent rulings of the court, and the intensifying gezeiros against bnei yeshivos. The roshei yeshiva spoke at length about the latest directive calling for sanctions and deliberated on possible derech moving forward, for the protection of the olam haTorah.

Earlier, during the shmuess before thousands of bochurim and avreichim, Rav Landau declared unequivocally: “Bnei yeshivos will not go to the army under any circumstances.”

In deeply emotional remarks reflecting on his personal connection to the yeshiva, the rosh yeshiva said: “I am standing here in this place, overwhelmed and moved by a place where I spent my youth in the early years after the yeshiva was established by the great Rav of Ponevezh of blessed memory. This place was a forge for many Torah scholars who illuminated the Jewish world, and from then until today the benches of the study hall have grown in both quantity and exceptional quality, with thousands who sit in this tent and tens of thousands of graduates—Torah scholars, heads of yeshivos, rabbis, and judges—testifying to the magnificent creation of the Rav of blessed memory.”

He continued: “You should merit, together with our teacher, the rosh yeshiva, may he live long (Rav Povarsky), who was appointed by the Rav of blessed memory to serve in the yeshiva and to increase Torah and fear of Heaven among the people of Israel, under the honored leadership of Rav Eliezer, may he live long. May you succeed in all your endeavors. The judicial authorities continue in their wickedness; we are believers, the children of believers, that Hashem is hardening their hearts. But even when Hakadosh Boruch Hu brings liability through the guilty, in the end the wicked will be brought to justice.”

Rav Landau further stated: “We remain steadfast in our Torah, and all these difficulties will not disturb us in the slightest in our Torah study. On the contrary, we will increase Torah, we will increase those who learn Torah, we will increase study halls. Those who are far will hear and come, and we will distance ourselves from the wicked among Israel, from them and from their masses. We will not relate to their decrees; we will ignore them, and they and their decrees will dissipate like a blowing wind and vanish like a dream. Bnei yeshivos will not go to the army under any circumstances, neither by force nor willingly, whether there is a law or there is no law.”

In closing, the rosh yeshiva said: “It is the role of the authorities to regulate this and not to make it more difficult, and if they insist, relief and salvation will come to the Jews from another place, and all wickedness will be consumed like smoke. And the land will be filled with knowledge.”

{Matzav.com}

For nearly twenty years, I followed a low-carbohydrate diet.

If you look at photos of me from those years, you’ll notice something consistent: I always had a belly.

At the time, I was practicing functional medicine, a form of holistic medicine that looks for underlying causes of illness instead of just prescribing medications for symptoms. Low-carb eating was the dominant trend. Many respected doctors (whose names you have most certainly heard of, like Dr. Mark Hyman) were recommending it, and like many practitioners, I followed suit—and recommended it to my patients.

The logic made sense. Remove grains, calm the immune system, reduce inflammation. And to be fair, for many people, low-carb eating did help—especially compared to the Standard American Diet.

But something wasn’t right.

Despite doing “everything right,” my own weight never normalized. And while patients often improved, I didn’t see the kind of deep, consistent reversal of weight gain and blood sugar problems that I was hoping for.

A Medical Paradox That Wouldn’t Let Go

Around that time, I came across something that deeply challenged my understanding of nutrition.

I read about a physician at Duke University, Dr. Walter Kempner, who treated extremely sick patients—morbid obesity, advanced kidney disease, dangerously high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes—using a diet built largely on white rice, fruit, and sugar.

As a health practitioner trained in low-carb thinking, I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

If sugar was the enemy, how could a diet that included sugar lead to weight loss, lower blood pressure, and improved blood sugar control?

If avoiding carbohydrates was the key to metabolic health, why wasn’t low-carb working reliably—for me or for so many of my patients?

And from a historical perspective, it’s hard to ignore that long-lasting civilizations emerged only after the domestication of grains and other starchy crops

And why was a diet that was very low in fat, low in protein, and high in starch producing such dramatic results?

That question stayed with me for years, slowly gathering weight until I could no longer ignore it.

What the Rice Diet Really Demonstrated

The Rice Diet wasn’t magic. It was extreme, and it’s not something I’m suggesting people follow today.

But it proved something important.

It showed that:

1. Carbohydrates are not inherently fattening
2. Sugar alone is not the primary driver of metabolic disease
3. Dietary fat plays a central role in insulin resistance and weight gain

The Rice Diet worked because it removed fat almost entirely, calories were naturally low, and insulin sensitivity improved rapidly. Blood pressure dropped. Kidney function improved. People lost weight—even while eating starch and sugar.

This challenged a core assumption of low-carb ideology.

Putting the Puzzle Together

Eventually, tired of carrying extra weight and wanting better energy, healthier blood sugar, and a long, active life with my family, I decided to test the idea for myself.

I shifted to a diet that allowed generous amounts of starch—rice, potatoes, beans, grains—while removing oils and animal products. In other words, a more sustainable, real-world version of the Rice Diet.

The results were unmistakable.

I lost weight (to the tune of 30 lbs). My blood sugar normalized. And I had much more energy.

That’s when I understood what had been missing.

Is This About Eating More Rice?

So am I writing this article to convince you to eat more rice?

No, though, let’s face it, who doesn’t love rice?

I’m writing it to help you understand a crucial piece of the puzzle.

If someone tells you that the only path to health is avoiding fruit, grains, and starch—and that low-carb is the only solution—you can tell them about the Rice Diet.

You can tell them that some of the sickest patients in modern medical history improved on a diet built around starch.

And you can stop being afraid of foods that humans have eaten for thousands of years. Foods that they really miss!

The Bigger Lesson

As Dr. John McDougall often says, you should be able to eat as much healthy, whole, plant-based food as you want—including grains and potatoes—and maintain a healthy weight.

When a diet is built around whole foods, rather than concentrated fats and highly processed products, the body knows what to do.

The Rice Diet reminds us of something simple but powerful:

It wasn’t carbohydrates that broke our metabolism—it was excess fat, largely from processed foods and overconsumption of animal products.

Until next time, enjoy more real food—and enjoy feeling lighter, more energetic, and most importantly, healthier.

Resource:
If you’d like guidance on getting started with a whole-food, plant-based diet, a good practical place to begin is: https://www.forksoverknives.com/start/

Israel’s right-wing camp is fracturing further, as senior politicians from the Likud party—including former finance minister Moshe Kahlon, Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, and Likud MK Yuli Edelstein—are in quiet talks to form a breakaway party that could reshape the next election, N12 News reported.

But the initiative faces a fundamental problem: no one can agree who should lead it.

The informally named “Likud B” is designed to appeal to right-wing voters frustrated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some backers favor Naftali Bennett or Gadi Eisenkot as a prime ministerial candidate. Others still support Netanyahu. That irreconcilable divide threatens to undermine the entire project, sources told N12.

“It makes it harder for voters to understand the new party’s purpose,” the report noted.

The emerging faction has already drafted basic principles for what it calls a “statesmanlike” right-wing alternative—a party that would not automatically commit itself to Netanyahu’s political bloc or to any opposition alliance. But without a clear prime ministerial face, the party risks appearing as a vehicle for personal ambitions rather than a coherent political vision.

Gilad Erdan, former UN ambassador and minister, has emerged as a critical figure. Political sources assess that Erdan is using the talks to weigh whether to join the breakaway initiative or preserve his leverage for a future Likud leadership contest after Netanyahu.

The push to create an alternative comes as Likud’s grip on Israel’s right-wing voter base erodes. A recent Maariv poll found that Likud lost its position as Israel’s largest party for the first time since June 26, 2025. The party now runs neck and neck with Bennett 2026, Naftali Bennett’s political vehicle.

Broader polls show no decisive shift between Israel’s left and right blocs, creating an opening for a repositioned centrist-right party that could tip the balance in coalition negotiations. That calculation underlies the entire initiative.

Yet internal divisions over Netanyahu himself—and whether a post-Netanyahu right wing is even viable—appear insurmountable at present. Until the organizers resolve the prime ministerial question, the project remains a conversation among elites rather than a coherent political offer.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

BOSTON (VINnews) – The Boston Athletic Association and the Anti-Defamation League of New England on Friday condemned an incident in which a man dressed as Adolf Hitler stood on an Israeli flag and gave a Nazi salute to passing runners during the Boston Marathon.

A video captured by marathon participant Michal Yalovski shows the man raising his right arm in a Nazi salute while saying “happy 4/20,” a reference to both the marathon date and Hitler’s birthday. The man was standing on an Israeli flag laid on the ground.

Yalovski, who was running the marathon, said she routinely looks for Israeli flags along the course for a sense of strength and connection. Her reaction shifted from joy to horror upon realizing what she was seeing.

“I was genuinely happy when I spotted one—until my mind fully processed what I was seeing, and that feeling quickly turned into shock and horror,” Yalovski said. “I was in complete disbelief—frozen, struggling to understand how something like this could be happening. How is it possible to witness such open hatred and antisemitism in 2026, in the United States?”

She filmed the encounter to document the event and said she was disturbed by the lack of immediate reaction from others nearby.

Israeli Consul to New England Benjamin Sharoni denounced the act as “open Jew-hatred.”

“The conduct of the individual exposed in this report is disgusting and beyond the pale. This is open Jew-hatred, plain and simple,” Sharoni wrote on X. “This has no place on the streets of Boston or anywhere else, and must be condemned without reservation.”

The Boston Athletic Association issued a statement Friday strongly denouncing the incident. The Anti-Defamation League of New England also condemned the display as antisemitic and called for authorities to investigate.

No arrests have been reported in connection with the incident.

Police have arrested an eighth suspect in the killing of Yamano Binyamin Zelka, a 21-year-old pizza shop employee who was fatally stabbed on the eve of Israel’s Independence Day in Petach Tikva, as the investigation into the case continues to expand.

According to police, officers from the Central District, led by the Sharon region’s serious crime unit, took the additional suspect into custody on Sunday in connection with the violent altercation that led to Zelka’s death. The latest suspect is a minor, bringing the total number of detainees in the case to eight and underscoring the scale of the incident and the extensive investigative efforts underway.

The investigation, which remains under a court-issued gag order, is focused on uncovering the circumstances surrounding the brutal street fight in Petach Tikva that claimed Zelka’s life. Zelka, who worked at a local pizzeria, was attacked after finishing his shift.

Of the eight suspects arrested so far, two have been released to extended house arrest for 12 days by court order, while the remaining suspects have been brought before a judge for hearings on extending their detention as investigators continue gathering evidence. Authorities are working to determine each suspect’s role, including who carried out the stabbing and who may have assisted afterward.

“Israel Police shares in the family’s grief and will continue to act decisively to complete the investigation, establish an evidentiary foundation, and bring all those involved to justice,” the police said in a statement.

At the same time, disturbing footage from the violent confrontation has surfaced. Due to the graphic nature of the material, only brief and blurred segments have been made public.

The attack took place shortly after 1:15 a.m. on the night of Independence Day. Zelka was rushed in critical condition to Beilinson Hospital, where doctors fought for his life for two days before he was pronounced dead on Thursday.

According to details emerging from the investigation, a group of youths is suspected of lying in wait for Zelka outside his workplace. When he finished his shift, they allegedly ambushed and stabbed him. As of earlier stages of the investigation, no arrests had initially been reported.

Tamir Zilber, manager of the pizzeria where Zelka worked for five years, described the victim as a dedicated and well-liked employee who had steadily advanced in his role—from bicycle delivery to motorcycle courier, and eventually to shift manager.

“He was a good, smiling kid, a true friend who helped anyone who needed it. A guy who knew how to work and loved to work, always looking to give more of himself,” Zilber said.

Recounting the moments leading up to the attack, Zilber said: “The youths came inside and started spraying ‘snow spray’ on the customers. The workers asked them to go outside. After a few minutes, they came back and threatened the workers again, and we thought it was over. Then a delivery worker came into the branch and said that the employee had been stabbed. He was sitting there and didn’t respond to me. I immediately called MDA. As soon as we heard the terrible news, we closed the branch.”

Emergency medical teams from Magen David Adom’s Yarkon region arrived quickly at the scene and found Zelka unconscious with a penetrating wound. After providing lifesaving treatment on-site, they transported him urgently to the hospital, but his injuries proved fatal.

The shocking incident has left residents of Petach Tikva reeling and prompted a strong response from Mayor Rami Greenberg, who issued a lengthy and emotional statement.

“There are no words to describe the depth of the shock and pain over the loss of a young life under such harsh and cruel circumstances. This was a young man who worked for his livelihood, who politely asked a group of youths not to spray inside the pizzeria where he worked—and in response, he was stabbed to death. This is an inconceivable event, which shows how quickly violence can escalate and exact the heaviest price. The youths who attacked and murdered will be caught by the police and brought to justice. There is no comfort in that, but there is a clear commitment to justice,” Greenberg said.

He also issued a direct appeal to young people and parents, urging serious reflection.

“Avoid violence! There is no heroism in it, only destruction. One moment of anger can destroy entire lives—the victim’s, the family’s, and even the attackers themselves,” he said.

Turning to parents, Greenberg added: “Talk to your children. Be involved, show interest, check where they spend time and with whom, especially at night. Responsibility belongs to all of us. The Petach Tikva Municipality operates a wide range of educational, awareness, and enforcement measures to combat violence and will intensify its efforts, but that is not enough. We must act together across all systems and speak with our youth at home and in educational frameworks. This is a moment for reflection. We must act together to prevent the next case. I share in the family’s grief during this difficult time. We will continue to support them as needed. May his memory be blessed.”

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) -Israeli police are facing scrutiny after Alex Sinclair said he was detained in the city of Modiin over a kippah bearing Israeli and Palestinian flags and later received it back with the Palestinian flag cut out.

Sinclair, a British-Israeli educator and author, detailed the encounter in a Facebook post that gained widespread attention, saying officers told him the kippah was unlawful before taking him to a police station, placing him in a holding cell and later releasing him. He said an officer returned the religious head covering only after removing the Palestinian flag.

In his post, Sinclair described the episode as a troubling sign for free expression in Israel and said he filed a complaint alleging unlawful detention and damage to property. Israeli police said the incident has been referred to an internal investigations unit and declined broader comment while the complaint is under review.

The case has fueled debate over civil liberties and the treatment of Palestinian symbols in Israel, where National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has pushed for aggressive action against such displays, calling them provocative. Critics say Sinclair’s account reflects broader concerns over police conduct and political expression.

Sinclair, who has worn the kippah for years as a symbol of coexistence and what he has described as a liberal Zionist identity, said the damage to the kippah carried deep personal and symbolic meaning. In his post, he wrote that it was difficult not to see the incident as part of a broader shift in the country’s political climate.

The episode drew support from activists, legal advocates and opposition figures, including Yair Golan, and has sparked renewed discussion over the future of pluralism and dissent in Israel. Sinclair said he intends to replace the kippah and continue wearing it.

York Regional Police are investigating a suspected hate-motivated assault after a man allegedly punched a Jewish man outside the Sephardic Kehila Centre in Vaughan, Ontario, on Shabbos morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:35 a.m. The suspect, described as a man of Middle Eastern background, first attempted to enter the building but was turned away by security after behaving suspiciously and admitting he was not there to pray. Upon leaving, he allegedly discarded papers that appeared to contain verses from Tehillim.

The suspect then blocked the path of a man walking with his son to Shacharis. When the congregant moved past him, the suspect punched him in the face from behind. Thankfully, the victim did not suffer serious injuries.

York Regional Police announced on X that its hate crime unit was investigating and urged anyone with information to contact authorities.

Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca called the incident “deeply disturbing” and said protecting Jewish residents remained a top priority. “At a time when antisemitism and Jew hatred is on the rise, we must be vigilant and do everything possible to support and protect our Jewish residents,” Del Duca said.

The UJA Federation of Greater Toronto said it was relieved the victim was not seriously injured but said the attack reflected “a continued pattern of antisemitic violence targeting our community.” The organization warned that as such incidents become more normalized, “they erode public safety and our way of life as Canadians.”

No arrests have been announced. The investigation is ongoing.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

As mental health awareness continues to grow within the Orthodox Jewish community, the availability and quality of services have expanded significantly to meet the increasing demand.

Today, Lakewood and its surrounding areas are home to a wide range of highly skilled professionals and organizations, all committed to supporting individuals facing both simple and complex mental health challenges.

At the same time, this growth has created a new challenge: an overwhelming array of options and a lack of cohesion between the many providers and resources serving the community.

To address this, Dr. Yossi Shafer, Ph.D., founder and director of Empower Health Center, has launched EmpowerEd, a new division built on a clear and focused vision. The initiative is designed to elevate the standard of mental health education through consistent, high level trainings and specialty trainings, while also bringing together all those involved in mental health care under one unified platform.

This includes psychotherapists, psychiatric providers, medical professionals, Rabbanim, organizational leaders, and others who play a role in supporting individuals and families.
The goal is to create a structured, accessible platform for education, collaboration, and ongoing professional development that raises the standard of care and positions therapists as the gold standard in the field.

**In collaboration with leading organizations including Ray of Hope, Amudim, Touro College, and MASK, EmpowerEd will be hosting its Spring Mental Health Summit at the Beru Grand in Lakewood on Sunday, May 3.
**
This summit presents a unique opportunity for professionals to engage with experts across disciplines, participate in high level trainings, and build meaningful connections that enhance their ability to serve the community.

A central focus of the summit is bridging the gap between medical professionals, mental health clinicians, and Rabbanim. By fostering collaboration across these fields, the program aims to strengthen communication, align treatment approaches, and support the development of cohesive plans that address clinical, medical, and halachic considerations in a coordinated manner.

An important component of this initiative is addressing the ongoing educational requirements of mental health professionals. Providers are required to complete 40 CE credits every two years.

EmpowerEd has been intentionally structured as a biannual platform to meet this need through consistent, high quality trainings, eliminating the need for extensive travel and reducing reliance on less professional trainings that do not meet the standard clinicians are seeking.

In addition, efforts are underway to secure continuing education credits for medical doctors and psychiatric providers, further expanding the scope and value of these trainings.

To broaden access even further, these trainings will also be available via Zoom, allowing frum therapists across the United States and internationally to participate. This ensures that the impact of EmpowerEd extends far beyond the local community, creating opportunities for connection, learning, and collaboration on a much larger scale.

The response from the community has been remarkable, with over 200 registrants already and widespread engagement from organizations across Lakewood and beyond.

There is a clear recognition of the need for a structured and consistent system that brings together the many existing resources in a coordinated and efficient way.

The vision of EmpowerEd is to establish a reliable platform for mental health trainings, education, and community awareness, while ensuring that providers are knowledgeable about the many high quality resources available.

Rather than having organizations invest time and resources creating separate initiatives, this model allows for a unified system that maximizes what already exists and strengthens the entire network of care.

In addition, all panel discussions, including the Rabbanim panel, Medical Doctor panel, and other featured panels, will be available free of charge with registration.
Due to limited capacity, this opportunity is open to Rabbanim, mechanchim, medical providers, chosson rebbeim, and kallah teachers, offering access to critical conversations and collaboration across disciplines.

This event represents the formal launch of a biannual structure and platform that will continue to grow and evolve.

Upcoming programming is already scheduled, including a one day summit on Sunday, October 25, as well as additional expanded trainings designed to meet the needs of both novice and advanced clinicians, along with Rabbanim, mechanchim, and community leaders.

Moving forward, these summits will follow a consistent schedule, taking place approximately three weeks after Pesach and three weeks after Succos, creating a predictable and dependable rhythm that professionals can rely on year after year.

This structured timing aligns with key points in the professional calendar, when clinicians are actively building connections, expanding their caseloads, and seeking opportunities for growth.

Early bird registration pricing is available through tomorrow, Sunday, April 26.

We are all thankful to EmpowerEd for establishing a new standard for mental health education and collaboration, one that is organized, accessible, and built to support the evolving needs of the community with clarity, consistency, and of gold standard.

Call / Text / Whatsapp: 732-666-9898

Email: [email protected]

NEW YORK CITY (VINnews)- Microsoft has appointed Daniel Shapero, chief operating officer of its LinkedIn subsidiary, as the professional networking platform’s next CEO.

Shapero, a longtime LinkedIn veteran who joined the company in May 2008 as employee “#300ish,” succeeds Ryan Roslansky, who led LinkedIn since 2020 and will now serve as executive vice president overseeing both LinkedIn and Microsoft Office. The change took effect immediately, the company announced this week.

“I joined LinkedIn in May 2008 … and it’s easy to say that my time at the company has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life,” Shapero wrote in a LinkedIn post announcing his new role. LinkedIn, which Microsoft acquired in 2016, now has close to 1.5 billion users worldwide.

While Shapero rarely speaks publicly about his Jewish background, he has shared family stories of resilience and overcoming discrimination. In a 2019 episode of the “Disrupt Yourself Podcast,” he highlighted how his Jewish immigrant grandparents opened businesses in Maine and Pennsylvania.

In a LinkedIn post, he also recounted that his great-uncle faced antisemitic barriers and was denied entry to medical school, leading him instead to become a pharmacist.

Shapero previously held leadership roles at LinkedIn in sales, marketing and product. He will report to Roslansky as the company continues to expand its use of artificial intelligence tools.

There is growing excitement among Belzer chassidim after the Belzer Rebbe made a decision to hold the long-awaited Heichala D’Malka Shabbos for donors this coming Shabbos, Parshas Emor, following a delay due to his weakened condition.

The special Shabbos, which had originally been scheduled for last week’s Parshas Acharei-Kedoshim and postponed because of the Rebbe’s health, will now take place this coming Shabbos in a hotel in the Yerushalayim hills. While it had initially been planned for the D-City complex, other locations are now being considered, though that option has not been ruled out.

The event is being described as a historic Shabbos for major supporters who have committed $100,000 to the Belz institutions, payable over three years, or over two years for donors from overseas.

The announcement created a stir within the Chassidus after senior representatives entered the Rebbe’s private chamber on Sunday following Mincha. Those present included Rabbi Pinchas Lerner, CEO of the Belz institutions’ U.S. offices, and Rabbi Shimon Faivush, a member of the Belzer leadership in Israel. During the meeting, the Rebbe expressed a strong desire to participate in the upcoming Shabbos, which coincides with Pesach Sheni.

After leaving the Rebbe’s residence, Rabbi Lerner shared an emotional message that was distributed widely among Chassidim.

“Blessed is He who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this time. As all Belzer Chassidim can see and hear, thank G-d that our master is feeling better, and even more so—may Hashem continue to help. The Rebbe’s son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, asked me to reenter and present all the options, and whatever the Rebbe says—that is what we will do, with G-d’s help. I went in after Mincha and told the Rebbe that there are Jews abroad calling me and saying that the Rebbe should not be burdened and the Shabbos should be postponed, while others insist that it must take place now so that the tzibbur should not cool off, Heaven forbid.”

“I told the Rebbe that whatever he says, we will follow, and I presented all the options: to hold the Shabbos on Parshas Beha’aloscha or Bamidbar, or on Parshas Matos-Masei. The Rebbe thought for a long minute and then said clearly: ‘Parshas Emor.’ I then gathered the courage and said that the president in America is threatening war every day, and I wanted to know whether we could invite people from all over the world to attend. The Rebbe responded that they can come to the Holy Land and return home safely, with G-d’s help. After that, the Rebbe told me: ‘Tell them that whoever comes for Shabbos will add to my health.’”

Rabbi Lerner continued, visibly moved by the message. “Ladies and gentlemen, to hear such holy words from the Rebbe! Every one of us is concerned for his well-being and health. I say this again with emotion: any Belz חסיד who hears such words and has the ability to give the $100,000 requested should seize this opportunity and merit that the Rebbe himself declared ‘Parshas Emor.’ Let us not be among those who regret missed chances—let us take advantage of this moment. We eagerly await seeing you, with G-d’s help, this holy Shabbos together with our Rebbe.”

{Matzav.com}

An internal Pentagon email has outlined a range of options for punishing NATO allies the United States believes failed to adequately support American operations during the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reassessing longstanding U.S. diplomatic backing for Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands, a U.S. official told Reuters.

The email, which the official said was circulating at senior levels within the Pentagon, expresses frustration at what American officials view as allies’ reluctance or outright refusal to grant the United States access, basing, and overflight rights — known as ABO — for the Iran war. The document states that ABO is “just the absolute baseline for NATO,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe its contents.

Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson did not deny the email’s existence. “As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our NATO allies, they were not there for us,” Wilson said in a statement. “The War Department will ensure that the President has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and instead do their part.”

Among the options outlined is the suspension of “difficult” countries from important or prestigious positions within NATO — a move the email describes as having limited operational impact but significant symbolic weight. A second option would involve reassessing U.S. diplomatic support for longstanding European territorial claims, specifically citing the Falkland Islands, currently administered by Britain but claimed by Argentina — whose President Javier Milei is a close Trump ally. Britain and Argentina fought a brief war over the islands in 1982, in which roughly 900 soldiers on both sides were killed before Argentina surrendered.

The email does not propose U.S. withdrawal from NATO or the closure of American bases in Europe, the official said. The official declined to say whether the options included a widely anticipated drawdown of some U.S. forces from the continent.

Tensions with Spain have been particularly acute. The country’s Socialist-led government announced it would not permit its territory or airspace to be used for strikes on Iran — a position that placed its two major American military installations, Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base, effectively off-limits for offensive operations. The email’s options, the official said, are intended to convey a strong signal aimed at “decreasing the sense of entitlement on the part of the Europeans.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez brushed off the reports Friday, saying his government does “not work off of emails, we work from official documents and positions.” Germany’s government also weighed in, with a spokesperson saying Berlin saw “no reason” why Spain’s NATO membership should be in question.

Britain has faced its own friction with Washington. The Trump administration initially requested permission to use two British bases to strike Iran — a request London initially denied before agreeing to allow defensive missions aimed at protecting civilians in the region, including British nationals. Trump has repeatedly mocked British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling him “No Winston Churchill” and dismissing British aircraft carriers as “toys.”

The broader tensions reflect a deepening crisis of confidence in the 76-year-old alliance. European members, including Britain and France, have argued that joining the U.S. naval blockade would constitute entry into the war, while expressing willingness to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz once a durable ceasefire is in place.

Trump administration officials have rejected that framing. “You don’t have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier this month.

Trump himself has declined to rule out withdrawing from NATO altogether. “Wouldn’t you if you were me?” he told Reuters in an April 1 interview.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A change in U.S. immigration policy is drawing attention, as reports come in that green card applicants could now be denied entry based on anti Israel or antisemitic views or activity on social media

According to new guidelines tied to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy, officials are expanding their use of social media vetting to screen applicants for what they define as “anti-American and antisemitic views.”

The policy is building on earlier moves by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which already began reviewing immigrants’ online activity for antisemitic behavior or support for extremist causes. Training materials and internal guidance include examples where “demonization of Israel”, including certain types of anti Israel ideas, will be considered a negative factor in evaluating applications. That means posts, comments, or affiliations on platforms like X, Instagram, or Facebook could directly impact whether someone is granted permanent residency in the United States.

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES – 2023/10/12: Students from Brooklyn College and supporters hold signs during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the entrance of the campus. The pro-Palestinian student organization Students for Justice In Palestine (SJP) held protests in colleges across the nation to show solidarity with Palestine. On October 7 the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a large-scale surprise attack from Gaza, launching thousands of missiles and sending at least 1,500 fighters by land, sea and air into Israel. At least 1,300 Israelis have been confirmed killed and 150 kidnapped. 1,203 Palestinians in Gaza are also confirmed killed. The attack is prompting retaliatory strikes by Israel on Gaza and a declaration of war by the Israeli prime minister. (Photo by Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Officials framed the policy as a matter of national security and public safety, arguing that the U.S. is not obligated to admit individuals who support extremist ideologies or promote hatred toward Jewish communities. The expansion is part of a trend in immigration enforcement, where authorities are relying on digital footprints as part of the vetting process. Applicants are often required to provide social media handles, allowing officers to review years of online activity when making decisions.

It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know. A great job starts with the right connections.

At the Candibots Job Fair, candidates and employers connect directly in a welcoming and professional setting. Instead of emailing resumes into the unknown, job seekers have the opportunity to meet hiring managers face-to-face and explore great jobs.

Hosted by Candibots, this event brings together a wide variety of companies across multiple industries, with job opportunities available at every level. In recent years, Candibots has successfully hosted job fairs in Lakewood, NJ, helping countless people gain meaningful employment.

Job seekers will also have the opportunity to Meet & Greet with a professional Candibots recruiter to discuss relevant positions and find the right opportunity.

“Our event is all about connecting great people with great jobs, fast,” says Binyomin Sofer, partner at Candibots. “If a picture’s worth a thousand words, then a quick chat is worth a million! Join us on Sunday, May 3rd. It just takes a little of your time, and who knows, you might walk away with your next amazing job!”

Job Fair Details
Eagle Ridge Country Club, Lakewood, NJ
Sunday, May 3
Women: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Men: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Free admission, no registration required
Bring a few copies of your resume
For additional information, email [email protected] or call (732) 369-9424.

Rav Zevadia Cohen, the Av Beis Din of the Rabbinical court in Tel Aviv, won the election on Sunday for the position of the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo, with a majority of 37 votes out of 61.

Rabbi Cohen’s election is considered a victory for the Shas party and comes after eight years during which the city had no chief rabbi. The party has recorded successes in appointing city Rabbanim across the country over the past year.

The only other serious candidate on the list was Rabbi Chaim Amsalem, who received only 21 votes.

Rabbi Cohen’s candidacy was supported by Gedolei Yisrael. He was also supported by members of the city council, including those from non-religious factions. According to senior officials in the municipality, Mayor Ron Huldai, who claims that he does not officially interfere in the elections, effectively supported Rabbi Cohen due to his long acquaintance with him from his position as the Av Beis Din of the rabbinical courts in the city.

Rabbi Cohen studied as a bochur in the Porat Yosef Yeshivah and was close to HaGaon Chacham Shalom Cohen, z’tl. Later, he learned dayanus at Yechave Da’as under HaRav Dovid Yosef, where he also served as a Rosh Kollel for dayanim. He was later appointed as a dayan at the request of HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef, z’tl, and years later, HaRav Yitzchak Yosef appointed him to serve as the Av Beit Din of Tel Aviv. Today, he is considered one of the leading dayanim in Israel who paskens on complex cases of mamzeirus and yuchasin.

The newly elected rabbi in Tel Aviv automatically becomes a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel.

Following the publication of the results, former Minister of Religious Services MK Michael Malkieli said: “At the end of a complex election campaign, during which various elements tried to incite against the selection of a rabbi for the city, Rabbi Zevadiah Cohen was chosen for this important role. There is no doubt that this choice will allow many city residents to connect to religion with a welcoming approach, alongside the excellent religious services operating in the city. The election results show that this is the will of the majority of the city’s residents who seek tradition and Judaism. Thanks to the energetic efforts of Aryeh Deri, we will continue strengthening and reinforcing religious services in Israel.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Nearly half of young Americans — 46% — believe the United States’ relationship with Israel is more of a burden than an asset, according to a new survey from the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, reflecting a continued sharp deterioration in how the next generation views one of America’s closest alliances.

The Harvard Youth Poll, which surveyed Americans between the ages of 18 and 29, found that only 16% described the U.S.-Israel relationship as mostly beneficial — the lowest figure recorded for any country tested in the survey. By contrast, 53% of respondents viewed the U.S. relationship with Canada as beneficial, while 21% said the same of Ukraine.

The poll also found that 55% of young Americans believe U.S. military action in Iran is not in the best interest of the American people.

The findings come as attitudes toward Israel among younger Americans have shifted dramatically in recent years. An earlier survey this month from the Pew Research Center found that 70% of Americans aged 18 to 49 held a somewhat or very negative opinion of Israel. That figure broke sharply along partisan lines: 84% of Democrats in that age group held a negative view, compared to 57% of Republicans.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Malian Minister of Defense Gen. Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on Saturday that saw jihadist and rebel forces seize towns and military bases across the country, according to a military officer and two other sources on Sunday.

“Unfortunately, the Ministry of Defense, Gen. Sadio Camara, has been killed during the attack which targeted his house yesterday,” said a military official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not have permission to speak to the media. Two other people, a civil society leader and a security member, confirmed the information.

The Malian government has not commented yet.

Separatist fighters on Saturday joined Islamic militants in launching one of the biggest coordinated attacks on the Malian army in the capital and several other cities that left at least 16 wounded.

The separatists have been fighting for years to create an independent state in northern Mali, while Al-Qaeda and Islamic State-aligned militants have fought the government for over a decade

Emergency responders were dispatched Sunday to a home in Bnei Brak after reports that a young child had ingested bleach. The approximately two-year-old was given initial treatment at the scene before being transported in stable condition to a hospital for further care.

The child was taken to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer after swallowing a cleaning substance in his home. Rescue personnel and MDA paramedics who arrived quickly provided immediate medical assistance. According to responders, the toddler remained in stable condition while being transferred to the emergency room for continued treatment.

Following the incident, United Hatzolah issued a renewed warning to the public about the dangers of improperly stored cleaning products, particularly in homes with young children. They stressed the importance of keeping such materials secured in high or locked locations, out of children’s reach.

Hatzolah also emphasized a critical safety rule: cleaning substances should always remain in their original containers. Moving toxic liquids into drink bottles can confuse children, significantly increasing the risk of accidental ingestion and serious harm.

Which other intersection do you feel need traffic lights or turning signals?

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The first public trial in Syria of officials linked to the rule of former President Bashar Assad opened Sunday in Damascus.

Atef Najib, a former Syrian army brigadier general who was head of the Political Security Branch in southern Syria’s Daraa province under Assad and who is also a cousin of the former president, appeared in the courtroom to face charges related to “crimes against the Syrian people,” state-run news agency SANA reported.

Najib was in that position in 2011, when teenagers who scrawled anti-government graffiti on a school wall in Daraa were arrested and tortured. The case became a catalyst for mass protests against the repressive policies of Assad’s security forces.

Atef Najib, former head of the Political Security Branch in the Daraa area during Bashar Assad’s rule, sits in the defendants’ cage during a trial session at the Palace of Justice in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

The protests were met by a brutal government crackdown and spiraled into a 14-year civil war that ended with Assad’s ouster in December 2024 in a lightning rebel offensive. Assad fled to Russia, while most members of his inner circle also escaped Syria.

Assad and his brother, Maher, former commander of the Syrian military’s 4th Armored Division — which Syrian opposition activists have accused of killings, torture, extortion and drug trafficking, in addition to running its own detention centers — were charged in absentia, along with a number of other former high-ranking security officials.

Najib was the only one of the defendants who was arrested and present in person in court Sunday for a preparatory session in the trial, which will continue next month.

Crowds gathered outside the courthouse to celebrate. Baraa Abdulrahman, a spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Justice, said the trial “is of great importance for the independence of the judiciary, for transparency and accountability.”

One of the plaintiffs, Ramez Abu Nabbout, said his brother, a father of three, was killed when security forces opened fire on protesters at Daraa’s Omari Mosque.

“He was a civilian and peaceful, but Atef Najib greeted peaceful (protesters) with gunfire,” he said. “Of course we hope Atef Najib will be quickly convicted and will get the most serious sentence, which is the death penalty.”

The government of interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has faced criticism over delays in launching a promised transitional justice process. Syria is struggling to heal following 14 years of civil war that left an estimated half a million people dead, millions more displaced, and the country battered and divided.

Authorities now appear to be moving more aggressively to prosecute officials linked to Assad.

Syrian authorities on Friday arrested Amjad Yousef, a former intelligence officer who appeared in a video leaked four years ago that purportedly showed him and his comrades executing dozens of blindfolded and shackled prisoners in the Damascus suburb of Tadamon during the country’s civil war.

SOUTHERN LEBANON — The IDF has cleared for publication the name of Sgt. Idan Fuchs, a 19-year-old from Petah Tikva, who was killed in action this morning during a Hezbollah drone attack in Southern Lebanon. The tragic incident, which the military has termed a “blatant violation” of the current ceasefire.

The incident also left six other soldiers wounded, including four who remain in serious condition.

The incident began during the morning hours in the village of Al-Taybeh, located approximately four kilometers from the Israeli border. A tank operating under Golani’s 12th Battalion became disabled in the field, requiring the crew to exit the vehicle to repair a broken track. While the soldiers were working on the tank, Hezbollah terrorists launched an explosive suicide drone that detonated directly near the force.

The blast claimed the life of Sgt. Fuchs hy”d and wounded six of his comrades. Following the strike, an IAF rescue helicopter was scrambled and landed inside Lebanese territory to evacuate the casualties to a hospital in Israel. During the high-stakes evacuation, Hezbollah attempted to strike the rescue team by launching two additional explosive drones. Israeli forces managed to intercept one of the drones, while the second exploded just meters away from the helicopter as the wounded were being loaded.

Baruch Hashem, the aircraft was not damaged and no further injuries were reported during the rescue.

Photo Credit: IDF Spokesperson

IDF officials are defining the attack as a severe breach of the ceasefire understandings. According to military data, more than 20 such “blatant violations” have been recorded since the ceasefire began.

Over the last week alone, Hezbollah has targeted Israeli forces in Southern Lebanon daily, utilizing suicide drones, UAVs, and anti-tank missiles in a series of ongoing terror provocations.

He came into the session with purpose.

Not agitated. Not confused. Focused.

“I think I figured something out,” he said. “I have a core belief that I’m not worthy of having friends. And I think it affects almost every social interaction I have.”

That was not a small statement.

We had been working for weeks on identifying his automatic thoughts in social situations — the quick conclusions, the assumptions, the self-criticism that would rush in before he even had time to think. We had floated the possibility that underneath all those thoughts might sit something deeper. A core belief.

And now he was naming it.

I appreciated the work that must have gone into arriving there. Discoveries like that don’t happen accidentally. They require reflection — and courage.

I asked if he had a recent example where this belief showed up.

He did.

Earlier that week, he had been schmoozing with a friend. It felt comfortable. Natural. Then another mutual friend walked by and casually joined — and within moments, subtly took over the conversation.

“In that second,” he told me, “I just assumed the guy I was talking to would obviously prefer him over me. I thought, why would anyone really want to be my friend anyway?”

I asked what emotion he felt in that moment.

“Overwhelmed,” he said.

That surprised me. I might have guessed inferiority, rejection, embarrassment. I was glad I didn’t assume.

“Overwhelmed?” I repeated.

“Yes. Like too much. Like I couldn’t bear it and just wanted to get out of there.”

I asked if he would be open to slowing that moment down — not to analyze the logic of it, but to trace the feeling itself. When had he first felt that particular kind of overwhelm?

He stiffened.

“Do we really need to do that?” he asked. “Can’t we just work on the present and fix it? I really don’t like going back.”

His resistance made sense. Going back means touching something vulnerable. But I gently encouraged him. If this truly was a core belief, it didn’t begin last week. It had roots.

He agreed.

We slowed everything down. I asked him not to overthink — just let the first memory surface.

Immediately, he was eleven years old.

There was a boy in his class who lived on his block. One afternoon, that neighbor had invited the most popular kid in the class over to play. My client knew about it. He wanted to join. It didn’t seem unreasonable — they all lived near each other.

So he walked over and knocked.

His neighbor opened the door.

What should have been simple became painfully complicated. The friend hesitated. Shifted. Hemmed and hawed. It became clear that he wasn’t invited. Not really. Not today.

And then the door closed.

He was left standing on the front porch.

Alone.

He described the moment in vivid detail — the air, the awkward silence, not knowing whether to knock again or walk away. He said he ran through a cascade of thoughts: Maybe they don’t like me. Maybe I’m annoying. Maybe I shouldn’t have come.

But underneath all of it, he said, was something else.

“Overwhelm,” he whispered.

Not just sadness. Not just rejection.

Overwhelm.

As if the emotional intensity was too much for an eleven-year-old to metabolize. Too much humiliation. Too much exposure. Too much self-doubt all at once.

Standing there on that porch, something settled into him.

Maybe I’m not wanted.

Maybe I’m not worthy of being included.

And now, decades later, when a conversation shifts or someone else steps in, his nervous system doesn’t just register a social change — it flashes back to that front porch and his slow retreat back to his own home.

The same overwhelm.

The same quiet conclusion: I’m unworthy. I’m not wanted. Of course they’d rather talk to someone else.

We sat with that.

There was something profoundly sad about it. That a closed door could echo for so many years.

We processed it slowly. Very slowly — going through each thought, emotion and physical sensation associated with it.

Will one session of processing undo a core belief? Maybe. Most likely, it will require more work.

Either way, naming it mattered.

Tracing it back mattered even more.

If we never address the initial sensitizing event — the place where the belief took root — then all the surface-level cognitive work we do will be fighting smoke instead of fire.

This was not a neat ending. There was no dramatic emotional release.

Just compassion and understanding for that eleven year old boy.

And sometimes, that is the first crack in a belief that once felt immovable.

Because if that eleven-year-old is still standing on a porch overwhelmed, we need to go back — and help him walk away feeling differently.

BOSTON (AP) — For decades, the 1990 theft of 13 artworks from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum — now valued at more than $500 million — has remained unsolved.

It remains the largest art theft in history — far surpassing more recent museum thefts, including a daylight heist at the Louvre that involved far fewer works and was resolved more quickly. In 2013, the FBI said it knew who was responsible for the Boston museum heist but declined to name them, fueling speculation that persists today.

A former FBI agent who led the investigation for more than two decades is now offering the first detailed account of how investigators reached that conclusion — and publicly identifying the men he believes were involved. In a new book, Geoff Kelly traces how the artworks moved through criminal networks, where violence took the lives of key suspects and witnesses, and challenges long-circulating theories by revisiting key details.

The irony at the center is that Gardner’s intention was for the museum to remain frozen in time, stipulating in her will that nothing in the Venetian palazzo-inspired building would be changed after her death. Gardner, who lived in the museum and died there in 1924, intended for the paintings, sculptures and architectural fragments to remain exactly as she had arranged.

Geoff Kelly, a former FBI agent who spent decades investigating the 1990 art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, stands outside the museum on April 6, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)

The empty gilded frames of the missing paintings still hang in the museum today — silent witnesses to what was taken.

The art heist
Early on March 18, 1990, as Boston wound down from St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, two men dressed as police officers arrived at the museum and convinced a security guard to let them in, violating protocol.

The men handcuffed the guards in the basement and made their way to the museum’s Dutch Room, where they cut Vermeer’s “The Concert” and Rembrandt’s “Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee” from their frames, also taking works by Degas and Manet.

They also took a Napoleonic eagle finial — a decorative metal piece of comparatively little value that investigators later found puzzling — and the museum’s security videotapes.

The museum offered a $5 million reward that they then doubled a decade later for information leading to the recovery of the works.

FILE – Empty frames from which thieves took “Storm on the Sea of Galilee,” left background, by Rembrandt and “The Concert,” right foreground, by Vermeer, remain on display at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, n this Thursday, March 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, File)

Boston-area network of criminalsSome tips pointed to the Irish Republican Army and to Boston mob figures, including notorious crime boss Whitey Bulger.

Kelly followed one lead to France, where he watched through binoculars as FBI agents, posing as wealthy intermediaries, lounged on a yacht — drinking champagne and eating strawberries — in an effort to draw out suspected Corsican mob figures.

Closer to home, agents searched houses across New England, relying heavily on informants. A triple murderer known as “Meatball” who was terminally ill secretly recorded conversations with suspected associates in hopes of earning money for his family.

But none of the tips led to the paintings.

Violence complicates matters
In the decades since the robbery, several people believed to have ties to the heist were killed, and another died under suspicious circumstances.

Robert “Bobby” Donati, a Boston mob associate long suspected in the case, was found stabbed to death in 1991, his body left in the trunk of a car after his home had been ransacked.

Years earlier, Donati has visited the Gardner with another known art thief, Myles Connor, to scope it out for a robbery and said that if he ever took the museum’s Napoleonic finial, it would be his “calling card.” Years later, a jeweler told investigators Donati tried to sell a finial from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum but backed off, saying it was “too hot.”

A separate line of evidence centered on George Reissfelder, who investigators believe owned the getaway car.

Kelly tracked down Reissfelder’s brother, a retired military officer who had initially not believed his brother was involved. He broke down after being shown Manet’s “Chez Tortoni,” saying he recognized it as a painting he himself hung above his brother’s bed.

Reissfelder later died under suspicious circumstances. When investigators searched his home, the painting was gone.

Both men had ties to TRC Auto Electric, a Dorchester shop linked to Charles “Chuck” Merlino’s crew.

Investigation with limited resources
Though investigators believed they knew who was responsible, they had a difficult time finding definitive proof.

In its early stages, the FBI assigned a single agent to the case, which Kelly said slowed progress.

“You have to keep in mind when you’re talking about investigations, they come down to dollars and cents,” Kelly said. It was “like pulling teeth” to secure resources. At the time, federal investigators in Boston were heavily focused on violent crime, drug trafficking and organized crime cases.

Kelly said a decision to release surveillance footage despite investigators’ objections became a lasting distraction. With no usable video from the night of the robbery, prosecutors released footage from the night before that showed a museum employee entering the building after his car broke down. Kelly said he objected to the theory that the employee was casing the museum, since that possibility had already been reviewed and dismissed. The footage fueled years of misplaced suspicion, since the man was later determined not to be involved.

Theories about an inside job at the museum
Among the questions that linger is whether it was an inside job.

In photos from that night, a museum guard is seen handcuffed in the basement, his head wrapped in duct tape.

Investigators noted that shortly before the robbery, the guard opened a door against policy — one that faced the area where the thieves were later seen waiting — a move investigators considered highly unusual and suspicious.

“It’s the immutable laws of time and space,” Kelly said. “I think that there was enough information back then that he could have been charged. Would it be enough to convict him? I don’t know.”

By the time investigators examined those questions more closely, Kelly said, the statute of limitations had expired, leaving them with little leverage to compel cooperation.

The museum guard, Rick Abath, denied any involvement in the theft. He died in 2024.

The artworks that disappeared
Kelly personifies the missing artworks and describes them as “perfect fugitives.”

“They don’t go to the doctor. They don’t get stopped for speeding. They don’t leave fingerprints,” he said. “They can just disappear.”

Unlike human fugitives, he said, artworks can also be copied.

Over the years, that has meant chasing down false leads — including paintings spotted in a Reno antique market, hanging in private homes and even one that appeared in an episode of the TV show “Monk.”

Because the works are so recognizable, it’s nearly impossible to sell them publicly.

“Stealing the artwork from the museum, that’s the easy part,” Kelly said. “Profiting from it, that’s the difficult part.”

He imagines the paintings will surface one day — outliving those who carried out the heist.

“I have no doubt they still exist,” he said

Followers of the Belzer chassidus received encouraging news over Shabbos as the Belzer Rebbe returned to public tefillos and tishen following a period of significant weakness during which he had remained at home and did not appear in public.

Due to the Rebbe’s condition over the past two weeks, a planned Shabbos gathering with prominent supporters at the D-City venue in Ma’ale Adumim had been canceled. However, b’chasdei Shamayim, his health improved, and he was able to receive visitors on Thursday night. Over Shabbos, he participated in both tefillos and tishen at the Belzer beis medrash.

Interestingly, Belzer chassidim in the United States—where Shabbos had not yet begun—became aware of the development through an unusual method. A chossid who owns an apartment overlooking Kikar Belz has a security camera facing the well-known “Shabbos lamp” installed on the balcony of Reb Yisrael Avigdor Fried. The light serves as a signal to the community that the Rebbe has entered the tish, and through the camera feed, chassidim abroad were able to follow the update in real time.

All are urged to continue davening for the full recovery of Rav Yissachar Dov ben Miriam.

Thousands gathered late last night to accompany Nesia Karadi, who passed away after succumbing to injuries sustained in an Iranian missile strike, in a levayah marked by grief, faith, and powerful expressions of emunah.

The young girl had been critically wounded nearly a month earlier when a missile struck her home on Rimon Street in Bnei Brak on the eve of Pesach, and doctors had fought to save her life until her passing on Friday.

The first to speak at the levayah was her uncle, Rav Michael Lasri, a well-known figure in outreach, who described the widespread spiritual awakening that took place during the past month as people across the country strengthened their observance, including accepting Shabbos earlier. “She had merits among all the great rabbis of the land. I’ve been involved in bringing people back to teshuvah for forty years, and she accomplished it in just a few weeks,” he said. Rav Lasri also asked that she serve as an advocate for the family: “because we need many miracles and wonders—we don’t know what will be.”

Rav Yigal Cohen, a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, also delivered a hesped, emphasizing the spiritual impact she had on the Jewish people. “This neshamah brought thoughts of teshuvah to the Jewish nation. Her only ‘fault’ was that she was born a Jew in the Land of Israel. Sadly, nearly a month after the incident, despite the parents tearing the heavens with prayer, Nesia was summoned to the heavenly yeshiva,” he said.

“The pure child who completed her mission in this world took with her to Heaven so many prayers,” Rav Cohen added.

Her father, Rabbi Elazar Elchanan Karadi, then addressed the crowd, speaking through tears yet expressing acceptance of the Divine decree. “I want to say thank you very much to the Creator of the world. That You gave me a child who taught me what true joy is, what love of Torah is. She was our happiness in life. Thank you very much to the Creator of the world, thank you very much to the rabbis, to the people of Israel, to Sheba Medical Center, to the doctors, to the organization ‘Ezer Mizion,’ and thank you to every person in Israel who took upon themselves a commitment, even the smallest one. Thank you to all those who donated blood—their blood will save lives in the Jewish people.”

He continued, “The child Nesia merited to illuminate the Jewish people with complete teshuvah, and we are the only parents in the world who were able to accept this with love from Hashem. I ask the dear people of Israel to continue strengthening themselves, to continue reciting Tehillim and learning Mishnayos for the elevation of her soul, and to take on a small commitment in memory of Nesia bas Hila. Approach the Throne of Glory and ask for father, mother, brothers and sisters, for grandmother, and for all of Israel, that He should send a complete healing to all of Israel.”

“ We ask you for forgiveness—we did everything we could for you, but the Holy One, blessed be He, wanted otherwise. We are certain that you will protect and influence all of Israel. And death will be swallowed forever, and Hashem will wipe away tears from every face—may we know no more sorrow.”

SLAVUTYCH, Ukraine (AP) — People streamed into the central square of Slavutych in the early hours of Sunday, placing candles on a large radiation hazard symbol laid out on the ground as a midnight commemoration began for those killed in the Chernobyl disaster 40 years ago and the thousands who risked deadly radiation exposure to contain its aftermath.

Residents show up for the vigil each year despite wartime curfews and official warnings against large gatherings during Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The April 26, 1986 disaster shone a spotlight on lax safety standards and government secrecy in what was then the Soviet Union. The explosion was not reported by Soviet authorities for two days, only after winds had carried the fallout across Europe and Swedish experts had gone public with their concerns.

About 600,000 people, often referred to as Chernobyl’s “liquidators,” were sent in to fight the fire at the nuclear plant and clean up the worst of its contamination. Thirty workers died within months from either the explosion or acute radiation sickness. The accident exposed millions in the region to dangerous levels of radiation and forced a wide-scale, permanent evacuation of hundreds of towns and villages in Ukraine and Belarus.

The city of Slavutych, around 50 kilometers (32 miles) from the former plant, dates to this period. While most evacuees were resettled across nearby districts in Kyiv region, in late 1986 Soviet authorities began building what would become the city to house workers from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and their families. The first residents moved in around 1988.

Since then, the city has endured a brief Russian occupation during Moscow’s failed push to seize the Ukrainian capital in early days of the war, as well as harsh winters — especially the last one, when blackouts forced some residents to cook meals over open fires in the streets.

People of all ages gathered in the square, some arriving as families carrying spring tulips and daffodils. They lined up in a broad plaza framed by Soviet-era apartment blocks, where a memorial stands near a row of posters honoring local residents killed in the war.

Liudmyla Liubyva, 71, came to the ceremony with a friend. She used to attend with her husband, who worked at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant but later developed a disability linked to radiation exposure, and lost the ability to walk, she said.

Liubyva said it was important to honor those who sacrificed their health in the aftermath of the disaster, but Russia’s war has revived fears that the danger was never fully left behind.

“When the drone struck the arch, it felt like the world could return to 1986,” she said, referring to a Russian drone strike in 2025 that damaged the New Safe Confinement structure, the massive dome built to contain radiation from the destroyed reactor. “We all — young and old alike — must protect our land, because it is so vulnerable.”

Soft music played in the background as poetry about the disaster drifted over loudspeakers. “Years pass, generations change, but the pain of Chernobyl does not fade,” a woman’s voice recited. As the words echoed across the square, people dressed in white protective suits and face masks, symbolizing the liquidators, stood in silence holding candles.

Larysa Panova, 67, often recalls the day of the accident that forced her to leave her native hometown of Chernobyl, which transliterate as Chornobyl, and begin a new life in Slavutych. Though the new city has long since become home, she still thinks of the forests and rich nature of the place she left behind.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, she regularly travelled back to visit relatives who remained there or simply to spend time in the land where she grew up. But with the war, access to the exclusion zone became restricted.

“I never stop thinking of Chernobyl as my homeland,” she said. “You remember your school, your childhood, your youth — everything happened there, in Chernobyl.”

As reported early this morning on TLS status, a drunk driver slammed into multiple vehicle vehicles in Lakewood.

The incident happened approximately 1:00 this morning at the intersection of Oak Street and Albert Avenue.

There were no injuries reported, except for injuries to the drunk driver, who was treated by EMS.

Daniel Luz, a survivor of both the Holocaust and the October 7 massacre, has passed away at the age of 92.

Just last week, in an interview with Yediot Achronot, Luz spoke candidly about his condition, saying, “You see me in the picture happy and smiling, but my health condition is really not good. Soon I will have to return my soul to the Creator, but for the camera I make an effort.”

Luz had recently lit a memorial torch at the Holocaust Remembrance ceremony held at Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, where he lived. During the event, he shared the deep trauma he continued to carry, saying, “I have not yet recovered. Wars don’t bring us anywhere. I would like there to be peace here. I no longer delude myself that I will merit to see it, but that my grandchildren will see it—that is what matters most.”

Having endured the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Europe, Luz later made his home in Kibbutz Be’eri, where he once again faced unimaginable violence during the October 7 attacks. Reflecting on his life, he previously told Ynet, “That is why I am a Holocaust survivor twice—both from France during World War II and from Be’eri in 2023.”

On the morning of October 7, he awoke to the sound of sirens and gunfire. He and his wife, Edna, took shelter in their reinforced room as chaos unfolded outside. “We heard loud gunfire and shouting in Arabic. I felt that this was the day my life would end. I did not feel such fear even during the Holocaust. I have still not recovered from what we went through,” he said.

LONDON (AP) — The fabled 2-hour barrier for a marathon has been broken, officially, in an once-inconceivable achievement in sports.

Not by one runner, but two.

Watch Sabastian Sawe 🇰🇪 run 1:59:30 to destroy the Marathon World Record in London!!🤯🔥

First man ever to break 2 hours in a marathon.

2. Yomif Kejelcha 🇪🇹 1:59:41
3. Jacob Kiplimo 🇺🇬 2:00:28

All under the previous World Record.pic.twitter.com/g76PpMHkiG

— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) April 26, 2026

In a race for the ages, Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds on Sunday, shattering the previous men’s world record by an astonishing 65 seconds.

“What comes today is not for me alone,” the 29-year-old Sawe said, “but for all of us today in London.”

Just 11 seconds further back was Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who — running in his first-ever marathon — also covered the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) course in under 2 hours.

Completing the podium was Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who broke the previous world-record time — set by Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023 — by seven seconds, finishing in 2:00:28.

In an exhilarating sight, Sawe ran quicker as the marathon went on, covering the second half of the race in 59 minutes and 1 second. He pulled clear with Kejelcha after 30 kilometers and then made his solo break in the final two kilometers, sprinting along the finish on The Mall to loud cheers.

Sawe, who retained his title in London, said it was a “day to remember for me” and thanked the huge crowds who lined the streets of the British capital to witness what might be regarded as a feat marking the peak of human physical achievement.

“I think they help a lot,” he said, “because if it was not for them you don’t feel like you are so loved … with them calling, you feel so happy and strong.”

Under two hours has been done before — unofficially
Breaking two hours in a marathon has been a long time coming — and has been done before.

However, when Eliud Kipchoge — the Kenyan long-distance great — achieved the feat in Vienna in 2019, it was in a specially tailored race called the “1.59 Challenge” that was arranged by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe in favorable conditions, on a 6-mile (9.6-kilometer) circuit, and using rotating pacemakers.

That meant it wasn’t classed as an official race setting, so Kipchoge’s time of 1:59:40 didn’t go in the record book.

In any case, Sawe surpassed that time by 10 seconds on a mostly flat course across London in dry, sunny conditions.

“The goalposts have literally just moved for marathon running,” Paula Radcliffe, a former winner of the London Marathon, said during commentary of the race for the BBC.

At the turn of the century, the world’s best time for the men’s marathon was 2:05:42, set by Khalid Khannouchi in Chicago in 1999.

Khannouchi broke his own record by four seconds in 2002 — the last time the fastest men’s marathon was run in London — and it has been whittled down gradually over the last 24 years by a succession of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners, including Haile Gebrselassie, Wilson Kipsang, Kipchoge and most recently Kiptum.

Assefa wins fastest-ever women’s-only marathon
A record was also set in the women’s race, with Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa pulling away with about 500 meters remaining to win in 2:15:41 and defend the title in the fastest-ever time in a women’s-only marathon.

However, it was 16 seconds slower than the course record set by Radcliffe in 2003 when it was a mixed race.

Kenya’s Hellen Obiri was 12 seconds back in second place in a personal-best time on her London debut and compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei was third, a further two seconds adrift. It was the first time three women have run under 2 hours, 16 minutes in a marathon.

“I screamed when I finished because I knew I was breaking the world record,” Assefa said.

“I felt much healthier today and have worked really hard on my speed and all my training has paid off.”

Swiss double in wheelchair races
In the wheelchair races, there was a Swiss double with Marcel Hug powering to a sixth straight men’s title – and eighth in total – and Catherine Debrunner beating Tatyana McFadden in a close finish to defend the title.

Government ministers expressed fury at the Attorney General’s Office during Sunday’s Cabinet meeting, following a letter she sent earlier Sunday morning demanding that the government make concrete decisions on imposing economic-civil sanctions against bnei yeshivos who fail to enlist in the IDF.

The meeting took place before the High Court’s dramatic ruling on Sunday, demanding that the government impose draconian sanctions on Bnei Torah and their families.

In the letter, the Attorney General’s Office wrote that the “meeting that will take place today must end with the adoption of operative decisions and instructions to government ministries to act as soon as possible to promote concrete steps to implement the duty of conscription.”

The practical meaning of the letter is a demand to government ministries, primarily the Ministry of Labor, Welfare, and Finance, to withhold benefits and subsidies from Bnei Torah in order to increase recruitment rates through economic persecution of Chareidi families.

A source from the UTJ party told Kikar Hashabbat: “This is a blatant attempt to turn government ministers into policemen against the Chareidi public. Instead of looking for solutions through dialogue, the legal advisory system is pushing to starve families and harm lomdei Torah.”

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi began the discussion by clarifying that the government’s policy is that whoever isn’t learning Torah should enlist, but has no interest in harming lomei Torah. “Why are we considering measures against Lomdei Torah?” he asked.

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs noted that officials at the relevant government ministries have expressed opposition to the Attorney General’s demands to impose economic sanctions on lomdei Torah and their families.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich confirmed that he is opposed to such sanctions, saying that the measures “directly contradict government policy and also harm the economy.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir slammed the Attorney General for its discrimination against Chareidim: “I say as a father to a son in the special forces—are you also asking for sanctions against Arabs?”

He added: “Secondly, you will not be forgiven for alienating the Chareidim who do want to enlist.”

Settlement Minister Orit Struck, the mother of a large family, emphasized the importance of government support for families: “Without day care centers, I would not have reached the point where I am sitting here,” she said.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin called the Attorney General and her colleagues a “gang of anarchists,” saying that “their efforts to topple the government failed, so now they want to destroy the country.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)