Jooish News

NASA’s Artemis II mission lifted off Wednesday evening, sending a four-person crew aboard the Orion spacecraft on a historic journey around the moon — the first time astronauts have traveled beyond low-Earth orbit in more than five decades.

The crew — NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen — boarded the 322-foot Orion spacecraft at Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center earlier in the day, ahead of a scheduled liftoff at 6:35 p.m.

The mission is set to carry the astronauts on a trip around the moon and back to Earth, marking the first crewed deep-space voyage since 1972.

While Artemis II will not include a lunar landing, it will take the crew farther from Earth than any human mission since the Apollo program.

NASA has described the Orion spacecraft as the most powerful rocket system it has ever developed.

Rising 322 feet into the sky, the launch system is designed to propel both the spacecraft and its crew into deep space, serving as a critical test for systems needed in future missions aimed at landing astronauts on the moon.

With the crew now in orbit, they are expected to spend several days in space, including a multi-day passage around the far side of the moon before returning for a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

The mission had originally been targeted for a February launch, but technical problems uncovered during testing delayed the timeline. Among the issues were fuel and helium leaks that required repairs to the Space Launch System rocket.

Artemis II follows the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission and represents a key step toward future objectives, including Artemis III, which is intended to place astronauts back on the lunar surface.

NASA has said the broader Artemis program is designed to support sustained exploration of the moon and to help prepare for eventual human missions to Mars.

The Artemis initiative was launched in 2017 under President Donald Trump as part of an effort to return American astronauts to the moon.

Ahead of Wednesday’s launch, Trump praised the mission and its crew.

“America is going back to the Moon!,” he said. “America doesn’t just compete, we DOMINATE, and the whole World is watching. God bless our incredible Astronauts, God bless NASA, and God bless the Greatest Nation ever to exist, the United States of America!”

House Speaker Mike Johnson also commended the astronauts and NASA’s efforts.

“Praying for the safety and success of the Artemis II crew and @NASA as they undertake a mission that will carry humanity farther into space than we have gone in over half a century,” he said. “I had the privilege of hosting these courageous pioneers at the State of the Union earlier this year. Americans are watching proudly as our Golden Age reaches new heights!”

Vice President JD Vance has informed intermediaries engaged in talks between the United States and Iran that President Donald Trump is eager to reach an agreement to bring the war to an end, according to a source familiar with the discussions cited in a CNN report Wednesday.

Vance, who has taken on a more central role in efforts to negotiate a resolution, has been in contact with officials from mediating countries, including Pakistan and Turkey, as recently as Tuesday.

According to the source, Vance conveyed a warning intended for Iranian officials, describing it as a “stern message” that pressure on Iran’s infrastructure would intensify “unless the Iranians made a deal.”

Trump has previously warned that critical infrastructure in Iran, including power stations and desalination facilities, could be targeted if Tehran refuses to allow oil shipments to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

As he prepares to deliver a national address on Iran later Wednesday, Trump directed Vance to communicate that the United States is open to a ceasefire, provided its conditions are met, CNN reported.

One of those key conditions is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump reiterated in a social media post must be cleared before any halt in fighting would be considered.

In that same message, Trump also claimed that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had sought a ceasefire.

Iran rejected that assertion, with its Foreign Ministry describing the claim as “false and baseless.”

Separately, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said it maintains full control over the strategic waterway.

“This strait will not be opened to the enemies of this nation through the ridiculous spectacle by the president of the United States,” it said, adding that the strait “is firmly and decisively under the control” of its forces.

A mohel from Bnei Brak who is under investigation for allegedly causing the death of an infant through negligence has been released to house arrest, following a court decision on Wednesday morning, just ahead of Pesach.

The Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court ruled to free the suspect under restrictive conditions, including house arrest. Police filed an appeal, but the District Court upheld the lower court’s decision, extending the house arrest until April 9, 2026. Police stated, “The investigation is ongoing in order to uncover the truth.”

The mohel’s attorney, Yair Ben Shitrit, said in response, “What began with great fanfare has ended quietly. My client shares in the family’s deep sorrow over this tragic incident. However, it should be emphasized that my client acted throughout in accordance with the required professional standards, and even beyond that.

“The police appeal to the District Court against the release decision was also rejected, and my client was released, which speaks for itself. It should be noted that the infant’s death occurred approximately three weeks after the circumcision—a significant detail that greatly weakens any attempt to establish a causal link or negligence on the part of my client. Under these circumstances, we are confident that once all examinations are completed, the case will be closed with nothing remaining.”

The mohel, a resident of Bnei Brak, was initially arrested on suspicion of negligence following the death of a baby after a circumcision he performed. The procedure took place about a month ago, and authorities suspect that a complication led to an infection that caused the infant’s death roughly two weeks later.

He is suspected of negligent manslaughter of a minor. After being questioned, he was detained, and as noted, was brought to court this morning for a hearing on extending his detention.

Israel Police said in a statement last night: “Investigators from the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan police opened an investigation upon receiving a complaint today regarding the death of an infant, on suspicion of causing death by negligence, due to a suspected complication from a circumcision procedure performed by the mohel. Patrol officers arrested the suspect, a 66-year-old mohel from Bnei Brak. Israel Police shares in the family’s grief and will continue a thorough investigation to uncover the truth and carry out all necessary actions.”

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez indicated this week that she would reject all U.S. assistance to Israel, including funding for defensive systems, according to a report on remarks she made during a private meeting with members of the Democratic Socialists of America.

The position represents a shift from her earlier stance. While she has long opposed aid tied to offensive military capabilities, she had previously supported funding for defensive measures such as the Iron Dome missile defense system.

The comments were first reported by Peter Sterne, an editor at City and State NY, who covered the meeting, which was streamed for DSA members. The gathering was held to consider whether the organization would endorse Ocasio-Cortez’s reelection campaign.

During the discussion, Ocasio-Cortez was asked about backing an arms embargo on Israel. According to the report, she responded, “I have not once ever voted to authorize funding to Israel, and I will never. The Israeli government should be able to finance their own weapons if they seek to arm themselves.”

A follow-up question pressed her on whether that position would extend to all military-related funding, including defensive systems. “If the moment presents itself in Congress, will you commit to voting ‘no’ for any spending on arms for Israel, including so-called ‘defensive capabilities?’”

Ocasio-Cortez answered, “Yes.”

Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the progressive bloc in Congress often referred to as “the Squad,” has repeatedly voiced sharp criticism of Israel, including accusations related to its conduct in Gaza.

She later defended her use of the term “genocide,” arguing in an interview that conditions in Gaza had “crossed the threshold of intent.”

In an earlier 2019 radio interview, she described Israel as “criminal” in its treatment of Palestinian Arabs, asserting that they have no alternative but to “riot” against the country.

She has also previously said that reducing or cutting U.S. military and economic support to Israel should be “on the table” as a way to express opposition to Israeli policies, and has characterized Israel as an “apartheid state.”

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

There is a fascinating Zohar Chadash (Shir HaShirim 1a) that tells us of a special holy light that encompasses every Jewish Neshama on each of the six Yomim Tovim (and most Poskim include Rosh HaShana as well). This light, however, is unable to shine forth and impact the soul unless it is accompanied with Simcha. In other words, the key to unlock the special light is through Simcha. As we shall see, the Simcha of Yom Tov is not merely a mood or an attitude — it is a multifaceted halachic obligation with precise parameters, rooted in the deepest layers of Torah and Neshama.

THE PARAMETERS

The parameters of the obligation are explained by the Rambam (Hilchos Yom Tov 6:17,18). There are sixteen distinct obligations that emerge from the sources.

Obligation #1: The General Obligation of Simcha

The Rambam (Hilchos Yom Tov 6:17) establishes the foundational obligation — one must be happy and cheer-hearted on Yom Tov. This is not merely a recommendation or a mood — it is a binding halachic obligation rooted in the Torah’s repeated command of “v’samachta b’chagecha.”

Obligation #2: Forbidding Eulogies

The Rambam (ibid) rules that delivering or attending a eulogy on Yom Tov is forbidden, as it is fundamentally incompatible with the Simcha obligation of the day.

Obligation #3: Forbidding Fasting

Similarly, fasting on Yom Tov is forbidden. Even a fast undertaken for personal piety or atonement is prohibited, as it directly undermines the Simcha of the day.

Obligation #4: Gladdening One’s Wife

The Rambam (ibid 6:18) rules explicitly that a man is obligated to bring joy to his wife on Yom Tov. The Biur Halacha (529:2) specifies that this includes purchasing her clothing and jewelry according to one’s means, and even shoes. An important question raised by the Minchas Chinuch (Mitzvah 488) is whether women bear an independent obligation in the Mitzvah of Simcha, or whether their Simcha is subsumed under the man’s obligation to bring joy to his household. The Rambam’s formulation suggests the latter, but the Minchas Chinuch indicates that women carry their own independent obligation as well. This has practical ramifications for how we understand the scope and application of the Mitzvah across the household.

Obligation #5: Gladdening One’s Children

Children must also be gladdened on Yom Tov. The Rambam specifies that children should be given nuts and nice foods — each according to their individual needs and what brings them joy. One must keep in mind that Simcha affects the body as well as the Neshama. Each person, small and big, was created b’Tzelem Elokim — in the Divine Image. There is a remarkable sefer entitled “B’aitzascha tenacheini” which states (Perek 30) that, generally speaking, for most people, their body and intellect develop as they age, but their Neshama does not. We should treat the Neshama of a child just as we would treat the Neshama of an adult — with the respect and kavod that the Neshama represents.

Obligation #6: Gladdening All Members of One’s Household

The obligation extends beyond wife and children to all members of one’s household. The method of Simcha is each according to their individualized needs — the obligation is personalized because each Neshama, each tzelem Elokim, has its own unique spiritual needs.

Sometimes we tend to cut down or insult others, when we really should be building them up. We want to be remembered as people who helped grow because of us and not despite us. One manner in which we can ensure that we help develop the Simcha of those around us is in how we interact with them. It should be genuine and not forced, and it should be an improvement that consistently remains with us. This includes: A] Expressing genuine admiration for their accomplishments and talents. We should think about what they are good at and great at and express that to them. B] Spending quality time with them without their feeling that you are rushed. Show interest in others and don’t interrupt them, or change the subject. If we use the words “Let’s_____” cheerfully, something special happens. C] We should genuinely thank others around us for what they have done. Offer kindness to others around us.

Obligation #7: Feeding the Convert, the Orphan, and the Widow

The Rambam (ibid 6:18) explains that part of this Mitzvah of Simcha is to feed the convert, the orphan, and the widow. The Ksav Sofer (Responsum OC #78) explains that this obligation stems from the Simcha obligation of Yom Tov and not the Mitzvah of Tzedakah — it is a qualitatively distinct obligation rooted in the joy of the day itself.

Obligation #8: Meat (or Its Equivalent)

Originally, the Mitzvah of Simcha was tied to the consumption of the Korban Shlamim and the eating of actual meat of a b’heima. The Rambam is of the opinion that this obligation stands today as well, even though there is no Korban Shlamim after the loss of the Beis HaMikdash. The Shaages Aryeh (Siman 65), on the other hand, holds that in our days the obligation of Simcha is not specifically with meat but one can fulfill the obligation even with other things that bring joy. The Mishna Brurah (529:11) writes that if a person cannot afford meat for Yom Tov then he may use fowl or chicken and this is sufficient, proving this from a Rambam in Hilchos Shabbos (30:10). The Chazon Ish (OC 124 p.71a) is unsure whether the meat obligation is for once a day or whether it includes the evening as well.

A foundational debate underlying much of this discussion is the machlokes between Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel (Beitzah 19a) regarding how Simcha was fulfilled in Temple times. Beis Shammai held that Simcha required specifically the bringing of Shlamim offerings, while Beis Hillel held it could be fulfilled through Olas Re’iyah as well. While this debate was formally resolved in favor of Beis Hillel, it sheds crucial light on why the Acharonim disagree so sharply about the contemporary obligation — those who follow the Rambam’s view that meat remains obligatory are in some sense continuing the spirit of Beis Shammai’s position, while those who follow the Shaages Aryeh’s more flexible approach align more naturally with Beis Hillel’s broader conception of Simcha.

Obligation #9: Wine (or Its Equivalent)

Meats and wine should be consumed, for there is no joy without meat and wine. According to the Rambam there is an obligation to drink wine specifically. According to the Shaages Aryeh one can fulfill the drink obligation with grape juice or with other drinks that he is not accustomed to drink throughout the year. The Shvus Yitzchok (10:2), however, cites Rav Elyashiv zt”l that one cannot fulfill the Simcha obligation of wine through other hard alcohols, though it does fulfill the notion of Simcha with other foods.

How much wine must one drink? Rav Elyashiv zt”l held that it should be a full revi’is. Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l and Rav Vosner zt”l held that one fulfills it with less than a revi’is as well. Clearly, however, if wine bothers the person there is no Mitzvah of Simcha in drinking it.

Rav Elyashiv zt”l explained that the Mitzvah of Simcha on Pesach night is fulfilled through drinking the wine, but is not independently fulfilled through each individual cup of the four cups — even though there is a Mitzvah of derech cheirus on each of the four cups. (Haaros Psachim 108b). Indeed, Pesach presents a unique convergence of obligations. On Leil HaSeder, the Simcha of Yom Tov, the Mitzvah of Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim, and the Mitzvah of derech cheirus all intersect simultaneously. One may also ask: since we no longer bring the Korban Pesach or the Korban Chagigah, how does one fully satisfy the Simcha obligation on the Seder night? This returns us to the Rambam-Shaages Aryeh debate. According to the Rambam, meat at the Seder remains obligatory as a stand-in for the Shlamim; according to the Shaages Aryeh, any food or experience that brings genuine joy fulfills the obligation. In practice, the abundance of the Seder table — matzah, the four cups, the festive meal — is designed to address both dimensions simultaneously.

Obligation #10: Special Clothing (Better Than Shabbos)

Part of the Simcha obligation is to wear clothing that is very special — even more so than Shabbos clothing (See Ramah 529:1).

Obligation #11: Kavod Yom Tov — Honoring the Day

There is an obligation on Yom Tov to honor the day by virtue of the word “Kodesh” that appears in the Torah describing it. Honorable and nice clothing is an obligation of Kavod Yom Tov. It is on account of the Simcha element that it should be even better than Shabbos clothing.

Obligation #12: Oneg Yom Tov — Two Full Meals

There is also an obligation of Oneg Yom Tov — taking delight in Yom Tov. Part of this Mitzvah is to have two meals every Yom Tov, one at night and one during the day. The Oneg aspect requires one to have more than an egg’s volume of bread; the Simcha element mandates wine, meat, and delicious foods (or their equivalent).

Obligation #13: Simcha on Chol HaMoed

A question that often arises is whether the Simcha obligation applies on Chol HaMoed as well. The Rambam (Hilchos Yom Tov 7:1) states explicitly that it does — the days of Chol HaMoed carry their own obligation of Simcha, just as the Yom Tov days themselves do. This is further reflected in the halacha that Tachanun is omitted throughout the entire Yom Tov period, including Chol HaMoed, as a reflection of the pervasive character of Yom Tov joy. Similarly, Av HaRachamim — the solemn prayer recited on Shabbos Mevorchim — is omitted on Shabbos during Chol HaMoed precisely because the Simcha of the season does not permit such supplications. The lesson is that Simcha is not merely a feature of Yom Tov day itself, but colors the entire Yom Tov season.

Obligation #14: Suppression of Aveilus on Yom Tov

One of the most poignant dimensions of the Simcha obligation is its application to a mourner. The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 399) rules that when Yom Tov falls during shiva, the public expressions of aveilus are suppressed by the kedushah and Simcha of Yom Tov. The halacha is phrased memorably: “Regel mevatel shiva” — the regel cancels shiva. This reflects the remarkable halachic principle that communal Simcha takes precedence even over deeply personal grief. Private aveilus, however, continues in a subdued form, and a posek should be consulted in individual cases. This tension between personal sorrow and communal joy is one of the most human dimensions of the Yom Tov halachos, and understanding it helps us appreciate how seriously Chazal took the obligation of Simcha.

Obligation #15: Torah Study — Half the Day

The Talmud Yerushalmi (Shabbos 15:3) tells us that the Yomim Tovim were given to the Jewish people in order that they engage in Torah. The Gemorah in Beitzah 15b cites the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshuah that it is a Mitzvah to split the day — half to Hashem and half to yourselves. This opinion is codified in the Shulchan Aruch (OC 529:1). There seems to be a debate as to whether this is to be understood literally or figuratively. The language of the Rambam (Hilchos Yom Tov 6:19) indicates that it is literal — i.e. 50% — but the Maharshal in his Yam Shel Shlomo (Baitzah 2:5) does not read the Rambam in the literal sense. The Pri Magadim (Aishel Avrohom 242:1) states that everyone has the choice whether to spend the majority of the Yom Tov learning or partaking in Simcha.

Obligation #16: Studying the Topic of the Yom Tov on That Day

The Gemorah in Megillah 32a states that Moshe Rabbeinu enacted that the topic of the Yom Tov should be studied on the Yom Tov itself. There are opinions that this refers specifically to the halachos of that Yom Tov (see Shaar HaTziyun 529:5). This obligation — the takanas Moshe — ensures that the intellectual and spiritual content of each Yom Tov is internalized on the day itself, binding together the joy of the body with the growth of the Neshama.

THE SPECIAL LIGHT — REVISITED

We opened with the Zohar Chadash’s vision of a special holy light that descends upon every Jewish Neshama on each of the Yomim Tovim — a light that can only be unlocked through Simcha. After surveying all sixteen obligations — from the debates of Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel, through the Rambam and Shaages Aryeh, through the Seder night and Chol HaMoed and the mourner’s shiva — we can perhaps understand this Zohar more deeply. Simcha on Yom Tov is not incidental. It is the vessel through which the kedushah of the day enters the Neshama. Every cup of wine, every Yom Tov meal, every new piece of clothing, every moment spent bringing genuine joy to a spouse, a child, or a stranger — each one is an act of spiritual unlocking. May we all merit this Pesach to open ourselves fully to that light.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

Defense Minister Yisroel Katz visited the site of the missile strike in Bnei Brak on Wednesday, where 14 people were wounded by a direct hit from an Iranian ballistic missile, delivering remarks of support alongside senior officials.

Katz toured the scene together with MK Moshe Gafni, Bnei Brak Mayor Chanoch Zeibert, and Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Shai Kalper.

The visit followed a severe early-morning attack in which an 11-year-old girl was critically injured, a 12-year-old boy was seriously wounded, and dozens of others were hurt by the blast and shrapnel. The missile, launched from deep inside Iran, caused heavy destruction in the center of the city.

Speaking at the scene, Katz extended holiday greetings to IDF soldiers and the Israeli public. “I want, from here, on behalf of all of us, to extend holiday greetings and great thanks to the brave IDF soldiers who are fighting in the air, at sea, and on land,” he said. “I meet them in Lebanon, in Gaza, and in Syria, and I meet the pilots before and after they fly to Iran and everywhere — I see their commitment to protecting the safety of Israel’s citizens.”

The defense minister added, “There is no nation in the world that has such brave soldiers. The entire people must embrace them and strengthen them.” He also urged the public to follow safety guidelines, emphasizing their importance. “I want to wish everyone a happy holiday and ask that you adhere to Home Front Command instructions — they save lives and allow the IDF to continue striking our enemies.”

In a separate message, Katz addressed the families of IDF soldiers and commanders stationed along Israel’s borders. “I turn from here to the mothers, fathers, spouses, and family members of IDF soldiers and commanders deployed across all of Israel’s borders,” he said. “We have prepared for the holiday evening to provide the best possible response for each of our soldiers in every sector.”

He noted that many troops would not be home for the holiday. “Most of them are not celebrating the holiday with you. Be proud of them. They are acting with dedication, determination, and responsibility for the security of the State of Israel and its citizens, even during this holiday.”

Katz also addressed children across the country. “Dear children, some of your fathers and mothers are not with you on the holiday evening. Know that they are protecting you. They are a generation of lions — heroes and heroines.”

The visit comes during a week of heightened tensions, with multiple missile strikes reported across Israel as Iran continues launching ballistic missiles. IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin warned that Iran and Hezbollah could continue attacks during the Passover holiday.

At the same time, the IDF continues broad military operations across multiple fronts. Katz recently presented a strategic plan for operations in Lebanon that includes establishing a security zone inside southern Lebanon and preventing more than 600,000 residents from returning south of the Litani River.

Concluding his remarks, Katz emphasized Israel’s core sources of strength. “I can tell you what I say everywhere: we have allies, and we have enemies, and we have friends — but we rely on only two things: on the Rock of Israel and on the Israel Defense Forces. These are the things we rely on, and in their name we fight and will continue to fight.”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman says he would dramatically reduce energy costs across New York immediately upon taking office, promising to slash average utility bills by 50 percent on his first day as governor.

In an interview with Miranda Devine on the Pod Force One podcast, the Nassau County executive outlined a plan that includes rolling back green energy requirements, reducing delivery charges, and cutting taxes that he says make up a large share of residents’ monthly bills.

“I can cut your electric bill in half, day one, when I become governor,” Blakeman told Devine, arguing that only a fraction of what consumers pay actually reflects the cost of electricity itself.

“I will control the regulatory authorities. We will bring down the taxes. We will bring down the delivery costs. And I will get rid of the green energy scam,” Blakeman vowed on the Thursday podcast.

Available data, however, suggests a more complex breakdown of utility costs. According to the Regional Plan Association, customers on Long Island typically see about 45 percent of their bill tied to energy supply, roughly 51 percent attributed to delivery expenses, and around 6 percent stemming from taxes. Delivery charges can also include fees connected to renewable energy programs.

Oh look, it’s Zohran Mamdani tweeting “Happy Passover, Chag Pesach Sameach, and a Zissen un Koshern Pesach” to the Jews of New York — as if he hasn’t spent the last year empowering every voice that spreads hatred against Am Yisrael while Jewish children are chased through the subways and shuls must hire armed guards just to daven.

This is the same mayor who rushed to reject the IHRA definition of antisemitism because actually naming blood libels and “globalize the intifada” chants was too “divisive” for his coalition. His wife has repeatedly liked and engaged with posts celebrating the October 7 massacre, and his only response is to shrug and call her “a private person.” All the while, Jews have suffered the vast majority of hate crimes in the city, yet real protection and moral clarity from City Hall have been nowhere to be found.

Pesach is not some vague “social justice” story. It is the Torah’s account of Yetzias Mitzrayim: Hashem Himself smote the Egyptians with ten plagues, split the Yam Suf, and brought His chosen people out of slavery with a strong hand and outstretched arm. The entire purpose was to bring Klal Yisrael to Har Sinai to receive the Torah — and ultimately to settle in Eretz Yisrael, the eternal inheritance promised to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. “Next year in Jerusalem” is not optional poetry; it is the living hope of every Jew who believes in the words of the Haggadah and the nevuos of the nevi’im.

But in Mamdani’s DSA worldview, that divine ending gets erased. The return to Zion is reframed as “settler-colonialism.” He shows up at his downtown seder, surrounded by Hamas supporters and performers, and twists the story into generic “oppression” talk while skipping the part where Hashem plants the Jewish people back in their G-d-given land. He hosts iftars with those who cheered the murder of Jews, then dons a yarmulke for the cameras.

An Israeli comedian wisely walked away from one of his events the moment he heard Mamdani’s name — refusing to share a stage with a man who would pursue Netanyahu but break bread with sympathizers of those who slaughter Jews.

This tweet is not achdus or solidarity. It is cynical damage control from a mayor who has helped turn New York into a place where frum Yidden feel increasingly unsafe, all while pretending to stand with the community he undermines. Klal Yisrael does not need hollow greetings and heart emojis from those who empower our enemies. We need a leader who will fight antisemitism without compromise — not one who picks and chooses which Jews to protect based on political convenience.

Real Chareidi Jews, who learn the Haggadah with emunah peshutah and daven for the geulah shleimah every day, see straight through this. The Yetzias Mitzrayim did not end in Brooklyn, in a DSA meeting, or in selective amnesia about the Torah’s eternal promise of Eretz Yisrael. It points to redemption in our homeland under Hashem’s kingship.

Keep your performative “Zissen Pesach.” The Jewish community — especially its Torah-observant heart — has clear eyes, strong emunah, and long memories. We know who stands with Am Yisrael and who merely performs for votes.

Say it with us, Zohran, “Next year in Yerushalayim!

PS: Trying to figure out why there is an orange on this Seder plate… and why Mamdani has wine at his Seder if he’s Muslim… it goes along with him eating non-Halal meat at Taco-Bell last week. Just another day in the life of a radical, disgusting, slimy socialist, married to a Jihadist wife who openly volunteered (in a since deleted Tweet)  to be a martyr to kill Jews.

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Disgusted in NYC

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

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Newly obtained federal records show that during the height of the COVID-19 Delta wave in 2021, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy prepared a coordinated media strategy aimed at combating what officials labeled “misinformation,” even as Americans grew frustrated with shifting public health guidance.

According to documents reviewed by Newsmax, officials within the Biden administration worked in tandem to craft speeches, media appearances, and messaging that promoted a unified narrative on COVID-19—at times at odds with evolving scientific data.

The materials suggest a wider effort that extended beyond government, involving members of the press, technology companies, and emotionally driven messaging to encourage public compliance.

The documents, totaling more than 400 pages and obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests by Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT), outline Murthy’s internal talking points and broader communications strategy during July 2021.

PPT says the findings reflect a pattern it has documented in prior releases, alleging that administration officials adjusted messaging to fit a predetermined narrative during the pandemic.

“Once again, we’ve shown that the Biden administration used terms like ‘misinformation’ to control the narrative,” PPT Director Michael Chamberlain told Newsmax. “They sidelined science when it was inconvenient and pushed tech companies to censor information that turned out to be true.

“Whether it was prolonged school closures from which a generation of children may never fully recover, draconian lockdowns, or forcing vaccines on people at little risk from the virus, power, politics, and narrative control came first.”

One example in the documents shows Murthy preparing remarks for a speech at the Stanford Internet Observatory, where he described a country gripped by fear and division and argued that online platforms were amplifying emotionally driven falsehoods.

“If we want to fight health misinformation, we’ll need all parts of society to pull together,” his script declared. Individuals must “share information responsibly;” clinicians should counter doubts with patients; educators were to teach “information literacy.”

The messaging also included direct guidance aimed at media outlets and tech platforms. “We’re asking journalists and media outlets to address the public’s questions without amplifying misinformation. We’re asking tech companies to operate with greater transparency and accountability so that misinformation doesn’t continue to poison our sharing platforms.”

Internal briefing materials also show that Murthy was given detailed instructions ahead of interviews, including a July 12 appearance on the Pod Save America podcast, where he was expected to discuss targeted outreach to unvaccinated individuals.

Officials relied on data from the CDC and Census Bureau to estimate that a portion of unvaccinated Americans were still persuadable, while others might be moved through more targeted efforts.

The outreach strategy was designed to be highly localized. “community by community, neighborhood by neighborhood, person by person,” read the talking points before his Pod Save America appearance.

Door-to-door engagement by trusted community figures—including doctors and religious leaders—was framed as outreach, while critics of the effort were addressed directly in Murthy’s prepared remarks: “For individuals or organizations feeding misinformation and trying to mischaracterize this work, you are doing a disservice to the country.”

Preparations for a Washington Post interview included references to direct coordination with major technology companies.

“We’ve increased mis/disinformation research and tracking within the Surgeon General’s office, and we’re flagging problematic posts for social platforms,” the document stated. “Facebook is aware of our concerns and we have requested changes.”

The talking points indicated that platforms unwilling to act were viewed as harming both the public and medical professionals, reinforcing language Murthy was expected to use in multiple interviews.

The administration also called for algorithmic adjustments to limit the spread of certain content while promoting what it described as reliable vaccine information.

Murthy’s messaging reached a more personal tone during a July 19 NBC Nightly News appearance, where he was encouraged to emphasize the human cost of misinformation.

The prepared remarks directed him to say that “health misinformation is costing us lives,” while referencing the deaths of “ten of [his] own family members” and urging social media companies to act more aggressively.

The tone of the messaging, according to the documents, was intended to frame disagreement not as debate but as a public health risk.

Murthy did not respond to requests for comment. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, Andrew Nixon, told Newsmax that the agency under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports open discourse.

“That kind of messaging is a big part of why public trust in our healthcare system collapsed during the pandemic,” Nixon said. “Public health should be grounded in transparency and open discussion, not shutting down disagreement.”

PPT says this is not the first set of documents to raise concerns about how COVID guidance was presented to the public.

One example cited involves August 2021 recommendations from Murthy advising quarantine for students who had been within close proximity—three feet for more than 15 minutes—of an infected individual.

According to the group, the supporting research cited in those recommendations was inconsistent, lacked peer review, or relied on data from unrelated settings.

The watchdog group argues that policies such as school closures and quarantines set students back significantly while relying on what it described as weak scientific grounding.

Additional criticism from PPT targeted federal agencies including the CDC and FDA, alleging that officials misrepresented data related to vaccine effectiveness and natural immunity. The group also pointed to a study that overstated pediatric COVID deaths by 32%, saying the error was not corrected despite being identified internally.

Earlier records obtained by PPT indicated that Murthy acknowledged collaboration with technology companies during a 2021 meeting with then-Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. The tone of those discussions, according to the group, was confrontational toward parents, while encouraging teenagers to advocate for vaccination within their families. Mask-wearing was presented as a collective obligation rather than a personal decision.

While the newly released documents do not allege unlawful censorship, they describe sustained efforts to portray dissenting views as dangerous, which critics say contributed to declining public trust.

Polling data cited in the report shows that trust in the CDC dropped sharply—from 85% at the start of the pandemic to 44% within two years.

The documents suggest that Murthy’s office pursued a broad communications campaign aimed at marginalizing opposing viewpoints, even as debates continued over key issues such as distancing guidelines, immunity, masking, and vaccinations for children.

A resolution to the 46-day partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security may be within reach, as House Republicans move toward supporting a Senate-backed funding framework that separates broader DHS funding from immigration enforcement agencies.

Under the emerging plan, lawmakers would restore funding for most of DHS while addressing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection through a separate reconciliation process.

President Donald Trump signaled his support for the approach, emphasizing that Republicans intend to secure funding for border enforcement without relying on Democratic votes. “We are going forward to fund our incredible ICE Agents and Border Patrol through a process that doesn’t need Radical Left Democrat votes, and bypasses the Senate Filibuster (which should be repealed, IMMEDIATELY!),” he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump also pressed Congress to act quickly, adding, “I am asking that the Bill be on my desk NO LATER than June 1st,” referring to the reconciliation measure that would fund ICE and CBP.

The Senate unanimously approved legislation last Friday that restores funding to DHS but excludes ICE and CBP, setting the stage for a separate effort to finance those agencies.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s strategy has been to pass the remaining funding for ICE and CBP through reconciliation, allowing Republicans to avoid the 60-vote threshold required to overcome a Democratic filibuster.

House Republicans initially pushed back on that approach, with Speaker Mike Johnson instead advocating for a temporary 60-day extension to fully fund DHS while negotiations continued.

That position shifted Wednesday, when Thune and Johnson issued a joint statement aligning behind the Senate’s two-pronged strategy after Trump publicly endorsed it.

“In the coming days, Republicans in the Senate and House will be following through on the President’s directive by fully funding the entire Department of Homeland Security on two parallel tracks: through the appropriations process and through the reconciliation process,” they said.

“Republican Congress will fully reopen the Department, make sure all federal workers are paid, and specifically fund immigration enforcement and border security for the next three years so that those law-enforcement activities can continue uninhibited.”

It remains uncertain whether the House, currently in recess, will return early to finalize the funding legislation.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham has already started the reconciliation process, which is known to be procedurally complex and time-consuming.

Earlier in the standoff, House Republicans rejected the Senate’s initial proposal because it did not include funding for ICE and CBP. While Johnson avoided directly criticizing Thune, he directed his frustration at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

The partial shutdown began on Feb. 14 after Democrats blocked DHS funding over disagreements related to immigration enforcement policies, particularly concerning ICE and CBP operations.

Democrats had called for several changes, including banning ICE agents from wearing masks, imposing stricter warrant requirements, and limiting enforcement activity in certain sensitive locations.

Republicans declined to accept those broader restrictions but agreed to some measures, such as requiring body cameras. Meanwhile, Trump removed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem from her position and ended Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, developments that contributed to the funding impasse.

“Democrats will once again demonstrate to the American people their support for open borders and keeping criminal illegal immigrants in America,” Johnson and Thune said.

Amid the shutdown, Trump also redirected funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—legislation passed through reconciliation last year—to cover pay for Transportation Security Administration workers and reduce delays at airport security checkpoints.

TSA employees received their paychecks on Monday, and Trump indicated he plans to use the same funding mechanism to ensure ICE and CBP personnel are paid while Congress works on a final reconciliation package.

“In the meantime, we will continue to use funding from THE GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, which is giving Record Tax Rebates to Citizens all over the Country, to ensure that ICE and Border Patrol Agents are paid ON TIME, and IN FULL, as we have been doing for them throughout the Democrat Shutdown,” he said.

(VINnews) – According to Iranian media reports, Kamal Kharrazi — head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and a former foreign minister — was seriously wounded in a strike targeting his home in Tehran. His wife was reportedly killed in the attack.

The strike took place today amid ongoing regional escalation. As of now, there has been no official confirmation from Iranian authorities, and further details about the circumstances remain unclear.

Kharrazi is considered a senior figure with close ties to the Supreme Leader. At the beginning of last month — prior to the outbreak of the war — he stated that the United States must understand that Iran has clear red lines when it comes to its security.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY (AP) – Reports of loud booms in a suburban New York neighborhood this week led authorities to an apartment where a man was found to be storing more than two dozen improvised explosive devices, federal prosecutors said.

Raymond Elders had a “blueish black chemical residue” on his hands and was holding a lighter when police encountered him inside the apartment early Monday in White Plains, according to a criminal complaint.

Elders, 65, faces charges including use of a weapon of mass destruction, manufacturing destructive devices and possessing those devices and explosives after felony convictions.

He made his initial court appearance Tuesday and a judge ordered that he remain in custody, noting he was a potential flight risk and danger to the community.

Sungso Lee, a federal public defender representing Elders, did not immediately respond Wednesday to an email seeking comment.

Neighbors had called the police after hearing loud explosions, with one saying she had been hearing such sounds in the area for several weeks, the document said.

When authorities arrived, a witness directed an officer to the building where Elders lives, and the officer noticed an “acrid, burning odor” and then spotted what they believed to be a pipe bomb on the front steps, prosecutors say.

Inside, they found Elders and another person. A search of the apartment eventually led to the discovery of at least 25 improvised explosive devices, according to the complaint.

Prosecutors said surveillance video from earlier this month also showed a man believed to be Elders standing on a sidewalk on his street holding what appears to be an explosive device, which he then lit and threw into the street before fleeing on foot. An explosion is then heard on the footage seconds later.

(AP) – Federal regulators on Wednesday approved Eli Lilly’s new weight-loss pill, a second daily oral medication to treat obesity and other weight-related conditions.

The Food and Drug Administration granted expedited approval to orforglipron, a GLP-1 drug that works like widely used injectable medications to mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness.

The drug, which will be branded as Foundayo, is expected to begin shipping Monday. The company said people with insurance may be able to get the drug starting at $25 per month with a Lilly discount card. Prices for people paying cash will range between $149 per month to $349 per month, depending on the dose.

The new pill joins drugmaker Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy pill, which has spurred more than 600,000 prescriptions in the United States since it was approved in December.

The FDA authorized Eli Lilly’s drug as part of a new program aimed at cutting drug approval times. The agency said it reviewed the company’s application in 50 days.

In a clinical trial of more than 3,000 adults with obesity, participants who received the highest dose of orforglipron, 36 milligrams, lost 11.2% of their body weight –- about 25 pounds on average –- over more than 16 months. That compared with a 2.1% weight loss, or less than 5 pounds, in patients who received a placebo, or dummy pill, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.

Both the Lilly and Novo Nordisk pills resulted in less weight loss than the average achieved with Lilly’s injectable Zepbound, which results in a 21% average weight loss, or Novo Nordisk’s injectable Wegovy, which averages about 15%.

Both once-daily pills promise convenience, but orforglipron is a small-molecule GLP-1 drug that can be taken without restrictions. The Wegovy pill, a peptide, must be taken with a sip of water in the morning on an empty stomach, with a 30-minute wait before eating or drinking.

Users of orforglipron also saw improvements in waist circumference, blood pressure, triglyceride levels and cholesterol levels, the study found.

Side effects, mostly gastrointestinal issues, led between 5% and 10% of participants in the orforglipron study to discontinue treatment, compared with nearly 3% in the placebo group.

About 1 in 8 people in the U.S. have used injectable GLP-1 drugs, according to a survey from KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group. But many more have trouble affording the costly shots.

The pill from Indianapolis-based Lilly will be included in a Trump administration deal to lower prices on GLP-1 drugs.

Shares of ELi Lilly and Company rose more than 4% in trading Wednesday afternoon.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani on Wednesday announced a new online child care map and resource center to help families find and compare programs across the five boroughs.

The platform allows users to search for providers by location, age group and cost, while offering details on services, eligibility and contact information. Officials said it includes information on about 10,000 providers and features a questionnaire to match families with programs based on their needs.

The tool also provides guides to early childhood programs, including 2-K, 3-K and pre-K, along with inspection records and directions.

The launch comes as the city expands access to child care, including the addition of more than 1,000 new 3-K seats and 2,000 free 2-K seats in select communities.

Officials said the platform was developed with input from parents and will continue to be updated based on feedback.

Online: nyc.gov/childcare

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a message directed at the American public, asserting that Iran does not view ordinary U.S. citizens as adversaries, according to reports from state-run media.

In the letter, Pezeshkian attempted to counter longstanding tensions between the two nations, claiming that portraying Iran as an enemy of the American people does not reflect reality. He wrote that such a view was “neither ⁠consistent with historical reality nor ⁠with present-day observable facts.”

At the same time, the Iranian leader called on the United States to halt its military campaign, warning that Iran would endure regardless of American actions.

“Today, the world stands at a crossroads. Continuing along the path of confrontation is more costly and futile than ever before,” he said.

“The choice between confrontation and engagement is both real and consequential; its outcome will shape the future for generations to come,” he added.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that U.S. forces plan to leave Iran in the near term, while leaving open the possibility of returning for limited strikes if necessary.

In a phone interview with Reuters conducted hours before his scheduled national address, Trump outlined his expectations for the war effort and hinted at what he would emphasize in his 9:00 p.m. EDT speech.

During the conversation, Trump said he intends to criticize NATO, expressing frustration with what he views as insufficient backing from the alliance in the campaign against Iran.

He confirmed he is “absolutely” weighing a potential U.S. withdrawal from NATO, the military alliance established in 1949 and approved by the U.S. Senate. Trump has previously threatened to leave the alliance and has pushed member countries to boost their military budgets.

“They haven’t been friends when we needed them,” Trump told Reuters. “We’ve never asked them for much … it’s a one-way street.”

While Trump and senior administration officials have offered varying projections for how long the conflict will last, he reiterated that the campaign could conclude soon, though he declined to commit to a firm deadline in the Reuters interview.

“I can’t tell you exactly … we’re going to be out pretty quickly,” he said, adding that once U.S. forces withdraw, “we’ll come back to do spot hits” on Iranian targets as needed.

Trump said he initially expected that the first round of strikes—targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials—might lead to a negotiated agreement.

Mojtaba Khamenei has since taken over as Iran’s supreme leader, replacing his father. U.S. officials have indicated he is believed to be wounded and possibly disfigured, while Iran’s president and foreign minister have remained in place.

According to Trump, Iran’s leadership has now undergone a major shift. “I didn’t need regime change, but we got it because of the casualties of war. We got it. So we have regime change and the big thing we have is they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” he told Reuters, adding, “Nor do they want one.”

“We have had full regime change,” Trump said. “I’m dealing with a very good chance that we’ll make a deal because they don’t want to be blasted anymore.”

Trump has repeatedly said the primary objective of the war was to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and he told Reuters that goal has already been achieved.

Addressing Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, Trump said: “That’s so far underground, I don’t care about that”, adding, “We’ll always be watching it by satellite.”

He also asserted that Iran is now “incapable” of developing a nuclear weapon.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had approached the United States seeking a ceasefire.

He said any such agreement would depend on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. “We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”

Iran rejected the claim, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson calling it “false and baseless.”

Separately, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said it continues to control the strategic waterway.

“This strait will not be opened to the enemies of this nation through the ridiculous spectacle by the president of the United States,” the IRGC said, adding that it “is firmly and decisively under the control” of its forces.

NEW YORK (AP) — Elon Musk’s space exploration company has filed preliminary paperwork to sell shares to the public, according to two sources familiar with the filing, a blockbuster offering that would likely rank as the biggest ever and could make its founder the world’s first trillionaire.

A SpaceX IPO promises to be one of the biggest Wall Street events of the year, with several investment banks lining up to help raise tens of billions to fund Musk’s ambitions to set up a base on the moon, put datacenters the size of several football fields in orbit and possibly one day send a man to Mars.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about the confidential registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SpaceX did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Exactly how much SpaceX plans to raise has not been disclosed but the figure is reportedly as much as $75 billion. At that level, the offering would easily eclipse the $29 billion that Saudi Aramco raised in its 2019 IPO.

The offering, coming possibly in June, could value all the shares of SpaceX at $1.5 trillion, nearly double what the company was valued in December when some minority owners sold their stakes, according to research firm Pitchbook, before an acquisition that increased its size.

Musk owns 42% of the SpaceX now, according to Pitchbook, though that figure will change with the IPO when new owners are issued shares. In any case, he is likely to pierce the trillion dollar mark because he is already close, with a net worth estimated by Forbes magazine at $823 million.

In addition to making reusable rockets to hurl astronauts and hardware into orbit, SpaceX owns Starlink, the world’s largest satellite communications company. The company also recently brought under its roof two other Musk businesses, social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and artificial intelligence business, xAI, in a controversial transaction because both the seller and the buyer were controlled by him.

SpaceX has become the biggest commercial launch company in its industry, responsible for sending payloads into orbit for customers across the globe, but has also benefited from big taxpayer spending. That has raised conflicts of interest issues given that Musk was the biggest donor to President Donald Trump’s campaign and is still a big backer.

In the past five years, SpaceX won $6 billion in contracts from NASA, the Defense Department and other U.S. government agencies, according to USAspending.gov.

Among current SpaceX owners is Donald Trump Jr, the president’s oldest son. He owns a shares through 1789 Capital. That venture capital firm made him a partner shortly after his father won the presidency for a second time and has been buying up federal contractors seeking to win taxpayer money ever since.

The White House and Trump himself have repeatedly denied there are any conflicts of interest between his role as president and his family’s businesses.

In observance of Pesach, we will not be posting on any of our platforms from sundown this evening until after sundown after Shabbos.

During the remaining days of Pesach, posts will be limited to Yom Tov-related and urgent notices.

Wishing you a Chag Kosher V’Sameach!

A missile launched from Iran toward the Gush Dan area on Wednesday morning struck multiple locations in Bnei Brak and Ramat Gan, wounding several people and causing extensive damage.

At Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, medical staff are battling to save the life of an 11-year-old girl who was critically hurt in the strike. Hospital officials said her father was also injured and is in moderate condition, while six other children were brought to the emergency room for treatment.

Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva reported that a 12-year-old boy who sustained serious injuries, along with his mother who was moderately wounded, were evacuated following the impact. The boy is set to be moved to Schneider Children’s Medical Center for further care. Additionally, eleven people with minor injuries were treated and transferred to Sheba and Beilinson hospitals. In a separate incident, a building was hit, causing a gas leak that was handled by emergency crews.

MDA paramedic Yissachar Weiss recounted what responders encountered at the scene: “We received a report of a missile impact and arrived on the scene with ambulances, mobile intensive care units, and rapid response motorcycles. We saw destruction and people walking around conscious, and an 11-year-old girl semi-conscious with shrapnel injuries to her limbs. We provided medical treatment and evacuated her by MDA mobile intensive care unit to the hospital in serious condition. Additional MDA teams treated several other injured people and also evacuated them to hospitals.”

Senior medic Lipa Hirsch said additional injured individuals were found during follow-up searches. “During our searches we saw a 13-year-old boy conscious after being injured by the blast. We placed him in an MDA ambulance and evacuated him to the hospital in moderate condition. Additional MDA teams are scanning to ensure there are no more casualties.”

In Cholon, the missile strike ignited a fire in an open area, while in Petach Tikva, debris from intercepted missiles fell in open spaces.

Police reported that fragments from interceptions were located in several cities across the Sharon region. Sirens were activated across central Israel, the Sharon, Shomron, and the south in response to the launch.

Earlier, sirens sounded in the Negev after a missile was fired by Houthi forces in Yemen. That missile was intercepted, and no injuries were reported.

Before that, alerts were triggered in the Upper Galilee after a drone infiltrated from Lebanon. Security officials said the drone was not intercepted and appears to have landed in an open area without causing any casualties.

Tucked away in the winding alleyways of the Nachlaot neighborhood of Yerushalayim, a group of yidden from the Taranto kehila in the Nachla’ot neighborhood of Yerushalayim got together to make a private matzah bakery for personal consumption.

Come join us as we observe yidden making matzahs lishma not for commercial use, the pure joy and simcha of doing the mitzvah glowing.

Credit: Y. Halevi / Kuvien Images

The Israel Defense Forces intensified its campaign against Iran overnight, carrying out a massive wave of strikes targeting key military production infrastructure in Tehran.

According to the IDF, more than 400 strikes have been conducted over the past 48 hours, with over 650 munitions dropped on sites tied to the Iranian regime’s weapons development and production efforts.

Among the primary targets was a central complex affiliated with Iran’s Defense Ministry, where infrastructure used for the development and production of advanced missile systems was located. These systems were designed to target aircraft, including fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles.

In addition, approximately 15 weapons production facilities were struck, along with air defense systems, ballistic missile launch sites, and storage infrastructure.

The IDF said the strikes were carried out by the Israeli Air Force with precise intelligence guidance, focusing on degrading the regime’s ability to manufacture and deploy advanced weaponry.

Military officials described the operation as part of a broader phase aimed at dismantling the core production capabilities of the Iranian regime, marking a significant escalation in efforts to neutralize long-term threats.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States can see the “finish line” of its war with Iran, disclosed that messages are being exchanged between Washington and Tehran with the potential for direct talks, and warned that NATO’s future as a meaningful alliance will need to be reassessed once the fighting ends.

“We can see the finish line. It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, but it is coming,” Rubio told Fox News. He said communications between the two sides are ongoing. “There are messages being exchanged, there are talks going on. There is the potential for a direct meeting at some point,” he said.

Rubio also addressed the fundamental rationale for the war in a video posted to the White House’s X account, arguing that the United States had no choice but to act when it did. Iran, he said, was assembling a “conventional shield” — a sufficiently large arsenal of missiles and drones to deter any attack on its nuclear facilities — and was “on the verge” of a weapons program too powerful to defeat.

“Iran wants to have nuclear weapons. Of that there is no doubt,” Rubio said. He dismissed the claim that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was intended for civilian energy production, noting that a peaceful program would not be built underground “away from the public glare” and that Iran would simply have imported fuel. “Iran has been offered every opportunity to have a nuclear program that allows them to have energy, not weapons, and every single time they have turned it down,” he said.

Rubio argued the strikes were not only justified but necessary before that window closed. “Under no circumstances can a country run by radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future ever possess nuclear weapons,” he said. “This was our last best chance” to prevent it.

On NATO, Rubio echoed President Trump’s recent attacks against the alliance, stopping short of calling for withdrawal but making clear that a reckoning is coming.

“I do think, unfortunately, we are going to have to reexamine whether or not this alliance that has served this country well for a while is still serving that purpose, or has it now become a one-way street where America is simply in a position to defend Europe, but when we need the help of our allies, they’re going to deny us basing rights, and they’re going to deny us overflight,” Rubio said.

Rubio added that the ultimate decision on NATO’s future rests with Trump. “That’s a decision for the president to make, and he’ll have to make it.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly backed NATO on Wednesday, pushing back against comments by President Donald Trump suggesting the United States could rethink its role in the alliance after the war with Iran ends.

Speaking to reporters at Downing Street, Starmer emphasized the alliance’s historic importance and the U.K.’s continued commitment to it. “NATO is the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen,” he said. “It has kept us safe for many decades, and we are fully committed to NATO.”

Starmer also made clear that he would not yield to outside demands, particularly regarding British involvement in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign. “Whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I’m going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions that I make,” he said. “That’s why I’ve been absolutely clear that this is not our war and we’re not going to get dragged into it.”

His remarks come as tensions have grown between Washington and several European governments over their reluctance to contribute military forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s supply passes.

In an interview with The Telegraph published Wednesday, Trump signaled deep skepticism about NATO’s value and left open the possibility of a policy shift once the Iran conflict subsides. He described U.S. membership in the alliance as “beyond reconsideration.”

“I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin knows that too, by the way,” Trump said, reinforcing similar remarks made a day earlier by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump also took aim directly at Starmer and the United Kingdom, criticizing Britain’s naval capabilities amid the current crisis in the Persian Gulf. “You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work,” he said, while adding that he would not dictate British defense decisions.

“He can do whatever he wants. It doesn’t matter,” Trump said. “All Starmer wants is costly windmills that are driving your energy prices through the roof.”

Earlier this year, Starmer initially denied a U.S. request to use British bases for potential strikes on Tehran, citing legal concerns. He later reversed that position after Iran intensified its regional attacks, ultimately permitting U.S. operations from U.K. facilities targeting Iranian missile infrastructure threatening maritime traffic.

At the same time, Britain has increased its military presence in the region, sending additional personnel and air defense systems to reinforce Typhoon fighter jets already deployed in Qatar.

With relations between London and Washington under strain, Starmer indicated that Britain is looking more closely toward Europe for future cooperation. “It is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union,” he said.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed Wednesday to continue backing anti-American and anti-Israel terrorist groups across the Middle East, directly rebuking one of President Trump’s stated objectives in the ongoing war with Tehran.

“I firmly declare that the consistent policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in continuing the path of the late Imam and martyred leader, is based on continuing to support the resistance against the Zionist-American enemy,” Khamenei said in a statement read aloud by state television.

Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since sustaining injuries during the opening strikes of the war, has continued issuing directives through state media anchors since ascending to power last month. His latest statement was directed specifically at Hezbollah.

The supreme leader’s prolonged absence has fueled speculation about the severity of his condition. U.S. intelligence assessments indicate he may have been badly injured in the same strikes that killed his father — the longtime supreme leader — along with most of his family on the first day of the war. Reports suggest he suffered a fractured foot and multiple minor injuries, though the full extent remains unclear.

Trump and others have publicly questioned whether Khamenei is still alive. Ali Bahreini, Iran’s representative to the United Nations office in Geneva, has insisted the supreme leader is in “full health” and remains out of public view solely for security reasons.

Wednesday’s declaration came as Iran’s proxy network showed no signs of standing down. Houthi rebels fired a third barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel, continuing a pattern of escalation by Tehran-aligned forces across the region.

The defiant statement also came hours after Trump claimed on Truth Social that Iran had asked the United States for a ceasefire — an assertion Tehran swiftly denied, calling it “false and baseless.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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JERUSALEM (VINnews) – A six-story apartment building collapsed in central Tel Aviv on Wednesday, injuring two people and triggering a major rescue operation, authorities said.

Emergency crews, including Home Front Command units, searched through the rubble amid concerns that additional people may be trapped or unable to be reached.

A 63-year-old woman was evacuated in moderate condition, while a man in his 30s was rescued from an upper floor with significant injuries and transported to a hospital.

פצועה בינוני בקריסת המבנה בת"א, נזק ל-4 דירות; גורמי ביטחון מבהירים: אין קשר לשיגורים מאיראן. צילום: לפי סעיף 27 א' pic.twitter.com/o7joVqTGDI

— החדשות – N12 (@N12News) April 1, 2026

At least four apartments were severely damaged, with the upper floors sustaining the heaviest impact.

Officials said an initial assessment found no indication that the collapse was caused by a direct missile strike. The building was reportedly in poor condition, and authorities are examining whether nearby shockwaves from recent impacts, combined with rainy weather, contributed to the collapse.

Rescue efforts were ongoing as crews worked to account for all residents.

(JNS) – Long a contentious issue in the heavily Chassidic neighborhood of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, protected bike lanes may soon become a flashpoint again.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is making infrastructure improvement a focus of his administration, especially in anticipation of the World Cup games scheduled to be held in the area in July. Those enhancements include protected bike lanes approaching the Brooklyn Bridge, in nearby downtown Brooklyn.

The former mayor, Eric Adams, had removed a protected bike lane in Williamsburg at the behest of the Chassidic communities in the populous neighborhood.

Williamsburg is also home to many non-Chassidic residents, including Latinos and young professionals who flock to the gentrifying neighborhood for its hip shops, music venues and proximity to the East River waterfront.

The Chassidic communities, which have high birth rates and large families, skew younger, on average.

A reporter asked Mamdani on March 31 at a press conference if he plans to restore the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue, a major thoroughfare through Williamsburg and other parts of Brooklyn. The mayor appeared to dodge the issue.

“I’m going to follow up with DOT and then get back to you on the specifics of the delay and the implementation,” he said, of the transportation department.

As a candidate, Mamdani promised to restore the bike lane, which was situated between the curb and parked cars to protect bikers from vehicular traffic,

Protected bike lanes can put vulnerable pedestrians, including children, at risk, because they have to cross in the path of oncoming cyclists to reach school buses that pull up outside their homes.

Yellow buses, with school names in Yiddish on their sides, criss-cross Williamsburg on the six days a week that children there attend yeshiva.

Rabbi David Niederman, executive director of United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, was hurrying to burn his chametz on the eve of Passover on Wednesday when told JNS why his community opposes the bike lanes.

“This is an issue of safety,” he said, as car horns blaring loudly behind him on a busy Williamsburg street.

“We have so many elderly and children, and it is not safe for pedestrians and not for the drivers,” he said, referring to bikers.

“The former vice chair of my board was hit by a bike and was terribly injured,” said Niederman, the longtime leader of the social services and advocacy organization.

The local community leader also said that the issue “did not come up at all” at the March 16 meeting the mayor held with Orthodox Jewish leaders.

The March 31 press conference focused on improvements to storm drain systems in flood-prone parts of New York City, including making sewer grates less dangerous for cyclists.

Mamdani wove in references to Brooklyn rapper 2 Milly and “the importance of delivering sewer socialism across the five boroughs.”

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Iran fired a salvo of about 10 ballistic missiles toward Israel on Wednesday, one of the largest barrages in recent weeks, as tensions escalated ahead of the Passover holiday.

The Israel Defense Forces said its air defense systems were working to intercept the incoming missiles and urged the public to follow safety instructions, stressing they “save lives.”

Emergency service Magen David Adom said no direct physical injuries were immediately reported, though several people were treated for anxiety. Separately, ZAKA said a 25-year-old man died after losing consciousness during sirens in Ramat Gan, though it was not clear if the death was directly linked to the attack.

Footage from impact sites in central Israel showed damage to residential buildings following the barrage.

Earlier Wednesday, the Israeli military warned of a possible coordinated attack timed around the holiday. Officials say Iran has increasingly launched strikes during nighttime hours and weekends in an apparent effort to heighten psychological pressure and disrupt civilian life.

In a separate incident earlier in the day, 16 people, including children, were wounded by missile fragments in central Israel.

A Brooklyn man has been indicted on multiple charges, including hate crime robbery and assault, following a violent and unprovoked attack against a Jewish man inside a subway station, prosecutors announced.

Eric Gonzalez said the defendant, Neil Hurlock, 20, was arraigned on charges stemming from the March 2 attack at the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center subway station.

According to the investigation, the victim was targeted while wearing religious clothing, including a kippah and gartel, and reading a religious text.

Prosecutors allege the suspect, wearing a full-face black mask, followed the victim onto a Coney Island-bound N train at approximately 10:45 a.m. He then launched a brutal assault—punching the victim repeatedly in the face, lifting him, and continuing to strike him multiple times before throwing him onto the seats and attacking him again.

During the attack, the suspect allegedly shouted “[expletive removed] Jew” at the victim, underscoring the hate-driven nature of the assault. He also allegedly ripped the kippah off the victim’s head and fled the scene while still in possession of it.

The victim remained on the train until reaching the 56th Street station, where he called 911. He was transported to SUNY Downstate Hospital with injuries including facial swelling, bruising, and cuts to his hands.

In a key break in the case, the suspect’s cellphone fell from his pocket during the escape and was recovered by the victim. Authorities later executed a search warrant on the phone, leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect.

The defendant has been charged with multiple counts, including robbery and assault as hate crimes, menacing, petit larceny, and aggravated harassment. He is currently on supervised release and is due back in court on June 3, 2026.

District Attorney Gonzalez condemned the attack, stating, “This defendant is accused of brutally assaulting a man in an unprovoked and senseless act of anti-Semitic hate. The impact of crimes like this radiates through entire communities and we will seek strong accountability because we have no tolerance for hate fueled violence in Brooklyn.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani voiced strong opposition to the ongoing U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran, criticizing the conflict on multiple fronts in a newly released interview.

Speaking with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, Mamdani argued that the war is fundamentally flawed. “It’s a war that should be opposed on every single ground, not just procedural, but also moral, but also political, and also a war that should be opposed on the grounds of the fact that it is being financed by the very money that could make it easier to keep calling this city, this country, home, and yet, there is a blindness to that fact,” Mamdani said.

At the outset of the conflict, Mamdani had already condemned the military action, describing U.S. and Israeli strikes as “a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression.”

In a post on X at the time, he expanded on his criticism, writing: “Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace.”

His comments come as President Donald Trump continues to weigh further military steps, including a possible deployment of U.S. forces inside Iran to secure its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium — a mission that could take several days to complete.

Such an operation would place American troops deep within Iranian territory, exposing them to potential attacks from short-range missiles and drones.

Meanwhile, the White House announced that the president will address the nation regarding the conflict. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared the announcement Tuesday evening.

“TUNE IN: Tomorrow night at 9PM ET, President Trump will give an Address to the Nation to provide an important update on Iran,” Leavitt said in a Tuesday evening post on X.

{Matzav.com}

Buckingham Palace announced Tuesday that King Charles will travel to the United States in late April for a state visit, a high-profile trip British officials hope will help mend relations with President Donald Trump following tensions over the Iran war.

The king and Queen Camilla are scheduled to take part in a previously arranged visit marking the 250th anniversary of American independence from Britain, after which they will continue on to Bermuda.

“Their majesties’ program will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States,” Buckingham Palace said, noting that the visit is being undertaken at the recommendation of the British government.

The trip will mark the first state visit to the United States by a British monarch since 2007, when Queen Elizabeth II — Charles’ mother — made her fourth official visit during her reign.

According to reports, King Charles III is expected to address a joint session of Congress during the visit, highlighting the enduring relationship between the two nations as the U.S. commemorates its milestone anniversary.

Relations between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have come under strain in recent weeks, largely due to the U.K.’s reluctance to take a more active role in the Iran war and its refusal to allow American forces to launch initial strikes from British bases.

Although Britain has since permitted what Starmer described as defensive operations, Trump has openly criticized the prime minister, saying he was “not Winston Churchill” and accusing him of weakening the long-standing alliance between the two countries.

Trump has also dismissed Britain’s offer to contribute additional military resources to the region.

Beyond the Iran conflict, disagreements have emerged over Britain’s agreement with Mauritius to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, where the joint U.S.-U.K. Diego Garcia air base is located. Trump has called the arrangement a serious error, a stance welcomed by some of Starmer’s political opponents.

Starmer, who previously worked as a human rights lawyer, has questioned the legality of the military campaign against Iran — a position that has resonated with segments of the British public concerned about rising energy costs and the broader consequences of the conflict.

Despite those concerns, Starmer has refrained from directly attacking Trump and has maintained publicly that relations between the two leaders remain positive.

Since Trump returned to office, the British government has leaned on the monarchy’s diplomatic influence to help maintain goodwill with the White House. Trump has expressed strong admiration for the royal family, and officials hope that connection can help preserve cooperation on issues such as the war in Ukraine and potential trade disputes.

Charles previously hosted Trump for a rare second state visit to the United Kingdom last September, which included a ceremonial carriage procession and a formal banquet at Windsor Castle. During that visit, Trump praised the relationship between the two countries, calling it “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”

British officials are now looking to the 77-year-old monarch to once again help stabilize the relationship during a period of friction. Prince William is also expected to visit the United States later in the year during the soccer World Cup.

Trump said last week that the upcoming visit would proceed despite the tensions with Starmer. “He’s a friend of mine,” Trump said of Charles. “He’s a great gentleman.”

The visit, however, could place the king in a delicate position, requiring him to publicly engage with a U.S. president who remains unpopular among many British voters.

There are also policy differences between the two leaders, particularly on climate change, an issue Charles has championed for decades but where Trump has taken a markedly different stance.

In addition, Charles may face renewed scrutiny over his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who is currently under police investigation for alleged misconduct tied to his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Some political figures in Britain have already voiced opposition to the visit. Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has previously argued that the trip should be canceled, saying Trump should not be rewarded diplomatically given his past criticisms of the United Kingdom.

The Lakewood Matzoh bakery, located at 501 Prospect St, unit 104b, will once again be baking Erev Pesach Matzos.

The Matzos will be available for pickup from the bakery from 1:30-4pm today, Erev Pesach.

Matzos are sold in sets of 6, for $90.

No pre-order is necessary.

Limited availability. First-come-first-serve.

Cash or check only.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, called Trump’s claim “false and baseless,” according to a report on Iranian state television.

Also, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard separately issued a statement saying the Strait of Hormuz “is firmly and decisively under the control” of its forces.

“This strait will not be opened to the enemies of this nation through the ridiculous spectacle by the president of the United States,” it added.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is not immune from civil claims that he incited a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol on Jan, 6, 2021, a federal judge has ruled in one of the last unresolved legal cases stemming from the riot.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled Tuesday that Trump’s remarks at his “Stop the Steal” rally, held on the Ellipse near the White House shortly before the siege began, “plausibly” were inciting words that are not protected by the First Amendment right to free speech.

The Republican president is not shielded from liability for much of his Jan. 6 conduct, including that speech and many of his social media posts that day, according to the judge. But Mehta said Trump cannot be held liable for his official acts that day, including his Rose Garden remarks during the riot and his interactions with Justice Department officials.

“President Trump has not shown that the Speech reasonably can be understood as falling within the outer perimeter of his Presidential duties,” Mehta wrote. “The content of the Ellipse Speech confirms that it is not covered by official-acts immunity.”

Not the first court ruling on presidential immunity
The decision is not the court’s first ruling that Trump can be held liability for the violence at the Capitol and it is unlikely to be the last given the near-certainty of an appeal. But the 79-page ruling sets the stage for a possible civil trial in the same courthouse where Trump was charged with crimes for his Jan. 6 conduct, before his 2024 election ended the prosecution.

Mehta previously refused to dismiss the claims against Trump in a February 2022 ruling that Trump was not entitled to presidential immunity from the claims brought by Democratic members of Congress and law enforcement officers who guarded the Capitol on Jan. 6. In that decision, Mehta also concluded that Trump’s words during his rally speech plausibly amounted to incitement and were not protected by the First Amendment.

The case returned to Mehta after an appeals court ruling upheld his 2022 decision. He said Tuesday’s ruling on immunity falls under a more “rigorous” legal standard at this later stage in the litigation.

Mehta, who was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, said his latest decision is not a “final pronouncement on immunity for any particular act.”

“President Trump remains free to reassert official-acts immunity as a defense at trial. But the burden will remain his and will be subject to a higher standard of proof,” the judge wrote.

Official capacity vs. office-seeker
Trump spoke to a crowd of his supporters at the rally before the mob’s attack disrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory over Trump. Trump closed out his speech by saying, “We fight. We fight like hell and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”

Trump’s lawyers argued that Trump’s conduct on Jan. 6 meets the threshold for presidential immunity.

The plaintiffs contended that Trump cannot prove he was acting entirely in his official capacity rather than as an office-seeking private individual. They also said the Supreme Court has held that office-seeking conduct falls outside the scope of presidential immunity.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who at that time led the House Homeland Security Committee, sued Trump, Trump’s personal attorney Rudolph Giuliani and members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers extremist groups over the Jan. 6 riot. Other Democratic members of Congress later joined the litigation, which was consolidated with the officers’ claims.

‘Victory for the rule of law’
The civil claims survived Trump’s sweeping act of clemency on the first day of his second term, when he pardoned, commuted prison sentences and ordered the dismissal of all 1,500-plus criminal cases stemming from the Capitol siege. More than 100 police officers were injured while defending the Capitol from rioters.

The plaintiffs’ legal team includes attorneys from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Damon Hewitt, the group’s president and executive director, praised the ruling as a “monumental victory for the rule of law, affirming that no one, including the president of the United States, is above it.”

“The court rightly recognizes that President Trump’s actions leading to the January 6 insurrection fell outside the scope of presidential duties,” Hewitt said in a statement. “This ruling is an important step toward accountability for the violent attack on the Capitol and our democracy.”

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Mike Huckabee said that media personality Tucker Carlson had expressed interest in visiting Jerusalem to publicly reverse past positions on Israel, Jews and Iran, but the claim was later revealed to be an April Fools’ Day joke.

In an initial post on X, Huckabee wrote that Carlson planned to spend Easter Sunday in Jerusalem and “renounce” prior statements, including criticism of Donald Trump.

In a follow-up post about an hour later, Huckabee clarified the remark, writing: “April Fool’s! (C’mon, you KNEW it was!),” confirming the original statement was not genuine.

There has been no indication that Carlson is planning such a trip or intends to make any such public statements.

April Fool's! (C'mon, you KNEW it was!)

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) April 1, 2026

The city of Bnei Brak is mourning the passing of Rabbi Meshulam Menachem Lerer z”l, a longtime chief military chazzan and a beloved figure known for his warmth and dedication to Torah. He passed away at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness.

Rabbi Lerer had been hospitalized in recent weeks as his condition worsened significantly.

He was a son of Rabbi Yosef Eliezer Lerer z”l. He married his wife, the daughter of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shtok z”l. Together they built a home rooted in Torah, raising a distinguished family.

Those who knew him describe a man of integrity and kindness. “He was a person entirely defined by chessed and a warm countenance,” a family acquaintance said. Alongside his public role as chief military chazzan, he remained humble, consistently set aside time for Torah learning, and was widely admired by all who encountered him.

Over the years, he left a lasting impact on the world of chazzanus, using his powerful and moving voice to inspire tefillah and strengthen emunah.

He is survived by a prominent family that continues his legacy, including his son, Reb Yehoshua (Shuki) Lerer, one of the most recognized photographers in the chareidi world, and his son Reb Chaim Yaakov Lerer, a respected Lelover chossid.

The levayah was held at Heichal HaTorah Ateres Zehava in Shikun Hei in Bnei Brak, proceeding to the Segulah cemetery in Petach Tikvah.

Yehi zichro boruch.

Pesach is all about story telling! You heard that right.

There is so much stress that goes into the preparation for Pesach…

Making sure we get rid of all the Chametz, turning the kitchen over at the right time so that we don’t have to have 3 extra weeks of Pesach, and at the same time knowing that we have enough time to get all the food prep done in time for the Chag.

There is buying all the ingredients that we need to make all the food that’s Kosher L’Pesach. (So much of which we will never use again after these eight days.)

Then there is the balance between Pesach preparation and spring cleaning. Although it’s nice to have the house spic and span without a speck of dust to be found, it’s important to remember the distinction between the two, and what we NEED to get done versus what we WANT to get done.

At the end of the day, (quite literally) we all come into the same Pesach, no matter how overwhelming or calm your Pesach preparation was.

We go to shul to Daven, and then as we all know so well, WE RUSH HOME to put on our Kittel and start the Seder. Once we all sit down for the seder, THAT’S WHEN THE STORY TELLING STARTS.

The Pesach Seder is not about Tefilah (Though connecting and talking to Hashem is always important) The Seder is about VEHIGADITA LEVINCHA. A father telling over to his son (Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim).

The Seder is supposed to be interactive. In fact, almost everything we do at the Seder is to keep the kids asking questions. We want them to be engaged and curious as we talk about all of the Nissim we experience.

The Hagadah talks about the four sons. The Wise, the Wicked, the Simple, and the One Who Does Not Know How to Ask. A message that’s important to remember is that we are supposed to tell it over to ALL FOUR SONS.

No matter where our sons are emotionally or spiritually. No matter their struggles in life, so much so, that they can be a Tzadik or a Rashah (In our eyes, because who are we to truly judge a person and their journey.) they should all be at our Seder, and we should be telling them ALL about the miracles.

The Seder is a lot about UNITY AND ACCEPTANCE.

Let’s not get caught up in if we approve every choice and decision that our sons have made.
Let’s not make the focus of the Seder about saying every word of the Hagadah (like a kinnus and turning Pesach into Tisha B’Av)
LET’S TELL OVER THE STORY
LET’S TALK ABOUT ALL THE MIRACLES
LET’S COME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY
Let’s create traditions that our sons can give over to their sons. Ones in which they look forward to Pesach as it comes up, and they look forward to PASSING OVER to the generations to come.

Wishing you all a Chag Kosher V’Sameach
Eli Weinreb, LCSW

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Almost every Jew knows about the Korban Pesach. It is the defining Korban of the Pesach Yom Tov. But few realize that on that same Erev Pesach, in that same Azarah, another korban was being slaughtered alongside it — a quieter offering, less dramatic, but rich with its own halachic depth and spiritual meaning. And that korban belonged to a family — a remarkable trio of Korbanos that are called the Shlamim, the peace offerings — the lesser-known cousins of the Korban Pesach. Unlike the korban olah, which ascended entirely to shamayim in flames, these offerings were shared and eaten.

The Chagigas Arba’ah Asar: The Hidden Guest at the Seder

The chagigas arba’ah asar, is also an offering of the fourteenth of Nisan. Brought on Erev Pesach itself, in the very hours when the Korban Pesach was being slaughtered, this offering has been almost entirely forgotten in the popular imagination. Yet it sat at the Seder table. It was eaten that very night — on the night of the fifteenth, the night we retell the Exodus, the night of the Haggadah.

Here is the detail that should stop every reader cold: the chagigas arba’ah asar had to be eaten before the Korban Pesach at the Seder. Not after it but before. The reason given is that one should eat the Korban Pesach while still somewhat satisfied, not ravenous, so that the eating itself would be conducted with composure and honor rather than desperate hunger. In other words, the Torah was concerned that the Seder night’s central act — eating the Korban Pesach — be done b’kavod, with dignity. And so it arranged for a prior course.

Like its cousins, the chagigas arba’ah asar was kodshim kalim, it could be brought from sheep or cattle of either gender, required semichah and the standard blood service, and was slaughtered anywhere in the Azarah. Its blood, like that of all the shelamim family, was applied at the northeastern and southwestern corners of the altar — one application at each corner, each one counting as two, covering both walls of the corner simultaneously.

The Shelamim

To understand the shlamim, let’s first understand the standard korban shelamim, the peace offering. Brought voluntarily, out of gratitude or simple goodwill toward HaKadosh Boruch Hu, the shelamim was unlike other offerings. The eimurim — the designated internal fats, the chelev, the kidneys, the diaphragm — went up in smoke on the altar. The chazeh (breast) and shok (right hind thigh) went to the kohanim and their households. And the remainder? It went back to the owner. To his family, his guests, anyone who was tahor and hungry and present in Yerushalayim.

Perhaps the most striking moment in the entire avodah of the shelamim was the tenufah — the waving ceremony. After the shechita, the kohen took the chazeh and shok and placed them on the hands of the owner himself. Then the kohen slid his own hands beneath the owner’s hands — both of them now holding the meat together — and together they waved it: forward and back, up and down, to all four compass points of the world.

The meat had to be eaten within Yerushalayim, and the window was generous — the day of the offering, the night, and all of the following day until sunset. Two days and one night of sacred feasting in the Holy City.

The Shalmei Chagigah: When Obligation Meets Joy

Three times a year, every Jewish male was commanded to make the aliyah l’regel, the pilgrimage to the Beis HaMikdash on Pesach, Shavuos, and Sukkos. And to make that appearance halachically complete, to transform it from a mere visit into a genuine re’iyah — a standing before Hashem— one was obligated to bring a shalmei chagigah. Without it, you had traveled to Yerushalayim, but you hadn’t truly appeared.

In its mechanics, the shalmei chagigah closely resembles other shlamim. The same tenufah waving. The same eimurim burned on the altar. The same two days and one night for eating the meat. The same kodoshim kalim — minor sanctity — governing where it could be shechted and consumed. But one halachic distinction sets the shalmei chagigah apart in a way that reveals its essential nature: it overrides Yom Tov. The standard shelamim — a voluntary offering — has no power to push aside the restrictions of the festival day. But the shalmei chagigah, tethered as it is to the Yom Tov itself, carries enough halachic weight to be brought even when the festival would otherwise complicate the service. Shabbos it cannot override. Tumah it cannot override. But Yom Tov? Yom Tov it can, because the chagigah is, in the deepest sense, what Yom Tov is for.

The ideal time to bring it was the first day of the festival. But the Torah was merciful: if a pilgrim missed the first day — illness, distance, circumstance — he had the entire remaining days of the Yom Tov to fulfill his obligation. The door stayed open until the festival was entirely over.

Taken together, these three korbanos form a coherent and beautiful family — the shelamim, the shalmei chagigah, and the chagigas arba’ah asar. They are offerings that brought the kohen and the Yisroel together. They filled Yerushalayim with the smell of sacred meat and the sound of families eating together. They ensured that no one stood before Hashem empty-handed, and that no one ate the Korban Pesach on an empty stomach.

They are the cousins the Korban Pesach never mentions — but without whom, the Seder table was never quite complete.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Skyrocketing oil and gas prices in Europe as a result of the ongoing Iran war won’t return to normal levels any time soon, even if peace is declared tomorrow, the European Union’s energy commissioner warned Tuesday.

Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said although there are no immediate oil and gas supply shortages in the 27-member bloc, there’s pressure on diesel and jet fuel supply as well as “increasing constraints” in global gas markets that are resulting in higher electricity prices.

“What I find extremely important is to state as clearly as I can, that even if that peace is here tomorrow, still we will not go back to normal in a foreseeable future,” Jørgensen told a news conference after a meeting of EU energy ministers.

He said the EU’s executive arm is preparing a string of measures designed to help families and businesses weather the huge spike in oil prices that have resulted in about a 70% price hike for gas and 60% for oil in Europe. Since the start of the war, the EU’s bill for imported fossil fuels has jumped by 14 billion euros, according to Jørgensen.

Closely coordinated action between all EU members is necessary to “avoid fragmented national responses and disruptive signals to the markets,” he said.

The “toolbox” of measures now in the works will be unveiled “quite soon” and will include ways to make it easier for states to decouple gas prices from electricity prices, the commissioner said. He added that a tax cut on electricity, as suggested by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is also being weighed.

Jørgensen said although he doesn’t foresee a repeat of the 2022 natural gas crisis where companies reaped huge profits from a massive gas price hike, a one-time “windfall tax” on such companies “is a possibility.”

There are now “good opportunities” for member states to financially support vulnerable groups or industries now under “extraordinary stress” and that the Commission would make “these possibilities even simpler and wider,” said Jørgensen.

Jørgensen also encouraged EU members to consider the International Energy Agency’s 10-point plan which includes work from home, reduced highway speeds, encouraging public transport and increasing car sharing.

He said the EU stands by its ban on Russian gas purchases, which is meant to reduce dependence on Russian gas and choke off funding for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Reliance on Russian gas dropped from 45% before the war to 10% now and will be reduced to zero once imports from other suppliers ramp up, especially from the U.S. The EU is looking at new energy sources from Azerbaijan, Algeria and Canada as well as smaller producers around the world.

The commissioner warned the EU should never “repeat the mistakes of the past allowing Putin to weaponize energy against us and blackmail member states.” He added that “it would be totally unacceptable” for the EU to continue buying energy that would “indirectly help finance the terrible war that Putin is conducting in Ukraine.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump assembled his Cabinet last week, he asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance to give an update on the Iran war.

Rubio, known for his hawkish views, gave an impassioned defense of the war, calling it “a favor” to the United States and the world.

Vance, who has long pushed for restraint in U.S. military intervention overseas, was more sedate. He said that the U.S. now has “options” it didn’t have a year ago and that it is important Iran does not get a nuclear weapon — before redirecting his remarks toward wishing the troops a happy Easter.

The exchange was a distillation of their diverging postures toward the war that their boss has launched in Iran. And it comes as some would-be Republican presidential candidates begin quietly courting officials in key states like New Hampshire in the early stages of the GOP’s next nomination fight.

With Vance and Rubio seen as the party’s strongest potential candidates in a 2028 primary, the two have to balance their roles in the Trump administration with their future political plans.

“It’s very obvious from the way that Rubio talks about Iran and the way that Vance talks about Iran that they are of different casts of mind,” said Curt Mills, the executive director of “The American Conservative” magazine and a vocal critic of the war. The Cabinet meeting episode was telling, he said, because it seemed as though Vance, discussing Easter, was “literally trying to talk about anything else other than the war.”

Vance’s office declined to comment. The State Department declined to comment but pointed to Rubio’s remarks last year during a Fox News Channel interview where he said he hopes Vance intends to run for president and wouldn’t rule out anything for himself.

It’s too soon to forecast how Republican voters might feel about the war next spring, when the 2028 contest is expected to begin in earnest, but the risks for both Vance and Rubio are acute. Rubio’s full-throated support for the war could come back to haunt him depending on how the conflict develops. Vance, meanwhile, would risk accusations of disloyalty if he were to stray too far from Trump, but struggles to square an appearance of support for the war with his past comments.

Vance’s restrained comments stand in contrast to Rubio’s full defense
Vance, who served in the Iraq war, has said that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, but he’s long been skeptical of foreign military interventions.

Trump seemed to allude that Vance may have held onto that position in private discussions about Iran, telling reporters that Vance was “philosophically a little bit different than me” at the outset of the conflict.

“I think he was maybe less enthusiastic about going, but he was quite enthusiastic,” Trump said.

Though Vance has been careful in how he speaks about the war, what he’s not saying has been conspicuous. On a March 13 trip to North Carolina, he was twice asked by reporters if he had concerns about the conflict. Each time, he said it was important that Trump could have conversations with advisers “without his team then running their mouths to the American media.”

A few days later at the White House, when Vance was again asked if he had concerns, he accused the reporter of “trying to drive a wedge between members of the administration, between me and the president.”

For Rubio, long before he became the country’s chief diplomat, he voiced support for muscular foreign policy and American intervention abroad.

Days into the war, he told reporters that it was “a wise decision” for Trump to launch the operation, that there “absolutely was an imminent threat” from Iran and that the operation “needed to happen.”

Fractures are emerging in the GOP
The apparent split between Rubio and Vance on the Iran war is emblematic of the divide starting to cleave within the Republican Party. A recent survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found some divisions within the GOP on Iran, with about half of Republicans saying the U.S. military action has been “about right.” Relatively few Republicans, about 2 in 10, say military action has not gone far enough, while about one-quarter say it’s gone too far.

While some conservatives have described the war as a betrayal, many other Republicans have cheered on the president’s actions.

Alice Swanson, a 62-year-old who attended Vance’s event in North Carolina, said she wants Vance and Rubio to run together in 2028 but favors the vice president.

“I think he fully believes and supports exactly what his convictions are,” Swanson said.

Swanson acknowledged, nonetheless, that Vance has been an outspoken opponent of interventionist policy but has been quieter on the subject since the war. “I can see both sides,” Swanson said after expressing full support for Trump’s decisions.

Tracy Brill, a 62-year-old from Rocky Mount, spoke highly of Rubio, but declared, “I love JD Vance.”

She made it clear she sides with the president, calling the course he’s taken “spot on.” But she defended the vice president if he seems at odds with his past statements, noting politicians do it frequently. “They’ve all changed their positions at one point or another,” she said.

However, Joe Ropar, attending the Conservative Political Action Conference last week, said Rubio’s unequivocal support for the Iran war helped crystallize his preference for the secretary of state for 2028.

“I’m not looking at JD Vance for president, and it’s for stuff like that,” said Ropar, a 72-year-old retired military contractor from McKinney, Texas. “I don’t 100% trust him.”

Benjamin Williams, of Austin, Texas, said at CPAC that both Trump and Vance are “tied to this war.” The 25-year-old marketing specialist for Young Americans for Liberty is looking elsewhere for a candidate.

The political risks might not be known until the field fills out
Whether the war becomes a political problem for Vance and Rubio depends on who ultimately enters the GOP’s next presidential primary.

While Vance and Rubio are currently considered the overwhelming front-runners, former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu expects a half dozen high-profile Republicans to enter the contest.

Sununu and former RNC Committeewoman Juliana Bergeron told The Associated Press that multiple Republican presidential prospects have reached out to them in recent weeks to discuss the political landscape in the state that traditionally hosts the opening presidential primary; they declined to name them.

Republican strategist Jim Merrill, a top New Hampshire adviser for Rubio’s 2016 presidential bid, predicted that Iran would become a flashpoint in 2028 — just as the Iraq war was for Democrats in 2004 and 2008.

“If for some reason things don’t go as anticipated, there will be contrasts drawn,” he said.

Still, Sununu is doubtful that Iran would become a meaningful dividing line in a prospective Vance-Rubio matchup given their status as prominent members of the Trump administration. Both will likely take credit if the conflict ends well, and both would look bad if it does not, he predicted.

“They’re tied together with the success or failure of Iran. It doesn’t really separate one versus the other, at least I don’t think that’s how the electorate will see it,” Sununu said.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley expressed strong support Tuesday for President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran, saying the United States should press forward and complete the mission rather than settle for a partial result.

In an interview with CNBC, Haley argued that the operation has reached a critical stage and should be carried through to its conclusion. “I think you finish it,” Haley said.

She contrasted the situation with other international crises and pointed to what she described as major progress already achieved by U.S. forces. “This is not Venezuela, where you extract [former leader Nicolas] Maduro. This is something where … 75% of the job is done. I think it’s miraculous what our military has done,” she added.

Haley said the administration has made sound decisions so far but emphasized that stopping short would leave unfinished business. “I think the decisions that have been made have been good, but if you’re going to do it, do it right and finish it so that we never have to deal with the Iranian regime again.”

Her comments come as the U.S.-led conflict with Iran has entered its fifth week, following the launch of coordinated American and Israeli strikes under Operation Epic Fury after nuclear diplomacy broke down.

According to U.S. officials, the campaign has targeted key elements of Iran’s military infrastructure, including command centers, air defenses, missile and drone launch sites, and airfields, with the goal of weakening Tehran’s ability to threaten the United States and its allies.

Thousands of targets have reportedly been struck as the conflict has widened across the region, fueling debate in Washington and among allied nations over whether to continue military operations or shift toward a diplomatic resolution.

Haley identified the Strait of Hormuz as one of the most pressing complications of the war, given its central role in global oil shipments. “The effects that they did not expect, or I think that have posed to be the challenge is, obviously, the Strait of Hormuz,” Haley said.

She warned that Iran’s control over the waterway could have far-reaching consequences and stressed the need to keep it open. “And what you don’t want is for Iran to have a strong hold over that, and I think we’re seeing the ramifications of that, is that we’ve got to make sure that that stays open and stop their mining capabilities in the process,” she explained.

The fighting has already disrupted energy flows through the strait, contributing to market instability and raising concerns about supply shortages and inflation if the situation persists.

Haley also urged the United States to maintain broader pressure on its global adversaries. “Iran is going in the right direction,” she said, while calling on Washington and its allies to continue confronting Russia and China and to rally partners to “step in and finish this.”

Her remarks reflect a divide among Republicans over how the war should end, with some supporting a decisive military conclusion while others caution that prolonging the conflict could carry significant military, political, and economic risks.

{Matzav.com}

VIENNA (AP) — Should the U.S. decide to send in military forces to secure Iran’s uranium stockpile, it would be a complex, risky and lengthy operation, fraught with radiation and chemical dangers, according to experts and former government officials.

U.S. President Donald Trump has offered shifting reasons for the war in Iran but has consistently said a primary objective is ensuring the country will “never have a nuclear weapon.” Less clear is how far he is willing to go to seize Iran’s nuclear material.

Given the risks of inserting as many as 1,000 specially trained forces into a war zone to remove the stockpile, another option would be a negotiated settlement with Iran that would allow the material to be surrendered and secured without using force.

Iran has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog agency.

That stockpile could allow Iran to build as many as 10 nuclear bombs, should it decide to weaponize its program, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told The Associated Press last year. He added it doesn’t mean Iran has such a weapon.

Iran long has insisted its program is peaceful, but the IAEA and Western nations say Tehran had an organized nuclear weapons program up until 2003.

Nuclear material is probably stored in tunnels
IAEA inspectors have not been able to verify the near weapons-grade uranium since June 2025, when Israeli and American strikes greatly weakened Iran’s air defenses, military leadership and nuclear program. The lack of inspections has made it difficult to know exactly where it is located.

Grossi has said that the IAEA believes a stockpile of roughly 200 kilograms (about 440 pounds) of highly enriched uranium is stored in tunnels at Iran’s nuclear complex outside of Isfahan. The site was mainly known for producing the uranium gas that is fed into centrifuges to be spun and purified.

Additional quantities are believed to be at the Natanz nuclear site and lesser amounts may be stored at a facility in Fordo, he has said.

It’s unclear whether additional quantities could be elsewhere.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a House hearing March 19 that the U.S. intelligence community has “high confidence” that it knows the location of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles.

Radiation and chemical risks
Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium fits into canisters each weighing about 50 kilograms (110 pounds) when full. The material is in the form of uranium hexafluoride gas. Estimates on the number of canisters range from 26 to about twice that number, depending on how full each cylinder is.

The canisters carrying the highly enriched uranium are “pretty robust” and are designed for storage and transport, said David Albright, a former nuclear weapons inspector in Iraq and founder of the nonprofit Institute for Science and International Security in Washington.

But he warned that “safety issues become paramount” should the canisters be damaged — for example, due to airstrikes — allowing moisture to get inside.

In such a scenario, there would be a hazard from fluorine, a highly toxic chemical that is corrosive to skin, eyes and lungs. Anyone entering the tunnels seeking to retrieve the canisters “would have to wear hazmat suits,” Albright said.

It also would be necessary to maintain distance between the various canisters in order to avoid a self-sustaining critical nuclear reaction that would lead to “a large amount of radiation,” he said.

To avoid such a radiological accident, the canisters would have to be placed in containers that create space between them during transport, he said.

Albright said that the preferred option for dealing with the uranium would be to remove it from Iran in special military planes and then “downblend” it — mix it with lower-enriched materials to bring it to levels suitable for civilian use.

Downblending the material inside Iran probably is not feasible, given that the infrastructure needed for the process may not be intact due to the war, he added.

Darya Dolzikova, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, agreed.

Downblending the material inside Iran is “probably not the most likely option just because it’s a very complicated and long process that requires specialized equipment,” she said.

Risks for ground forces
Securing Iran’s nuclear material with ground troops would be a “very complex and high risk military operation,” said Christine E. Wormuth, who was secretary of the Army under former U.S. President Joe Biden.

That’s because the material is probably at multiple sites and the undertaking would “probably take casualties,” added Wormuth, now president and CEO of the Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative.

The scale and scope of an operation at Isfahan alone would easily require 1,000 military personnel, she said.

Given that tunnel entrances are probably buried under rubble, it would be necessary for helicopters to fly in heavy equipment, such as excavators, and U.S. forces might even have to build an airstrip nearby to land all the equipment and troops, Wormuth said.

She said special forces, including perhaps the 75th Ranger Regiment, would have to work “in tandem” with nuclear experts who would look underground for the canisters, adding that the special forces would likely set up a security perimeter in case of potential attacks.

Wormuth said the Nuclear Disablement Teams under the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command would be one possible unit that could be employed in such an operation.

“The Iranians have thought this through, I’m sure, and are going to try to make it as difficult as possible to do this in an expeditious way,” she said. “So I would imagine it will be a pretty painstaking effort to go underground, get oriented, try to discern … which ones are the real canisters, which ones may be decoys, to try to avoid booby traps.”

A negotiated solution
The best option would be “to have an agreement with the (Iranian) government to remove all of that material,” said Scott Roecker, former director of the Office of Nuclear Material Removal at the National Nuclear Security Administration, a semiautonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy.

A similar mission occurred in 1994 when the U.S., in partnership with the government of Kazakhstan, secretly transported 600 kilograms (about 1,322 pounds) of weapons-grade uranium from the former Soviet republic in an operation dubbed “Project Sapphire.” The material was left over from the USSR’s nuclear program.

Roecker, now vice president for the Nuclear Materials Security Program at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, said the Department of Energy’s Mobile Packaging Unit was built from the experience in Kazakhstan. It has safely removed nuclear material from several countries, including from Georgia in 1998 and from Iraq in 2004, 2007 and 2008.

The unit consists of technical experts and specialized equipment that can be deployed anywhere to safely remove nuclear material, and Roecker said it would be ideally positioned to remove the uranium under a negotiated deal with Iran. Tehran remains suspicious of Washington, which under Trump withdrew from a nuclear agreement and has twice attacked during high-level negotiations.

Under a negotiated solution, IAEA inspectors also could be part of a mission. “We are considering these options, of course,” the IAEA’s Grossi said March 22 on CBS’ “Face the Nation” when asked about such a scenario.

Iran has “a contractual obligation to allow inspectors in,” he added. “Of course, there’s common sense. Nothing can happen while bombs are falling.”

The LPD today is taking delivery of 30 Cyber Trucks as they begin to replace their aging cars with up-to-date EVs, TLS has learned.

The move was welcomed by Elon Musk himself, who stated, “I think it’s great. We’re seeing more and more departments making the switch.”

Chief Meyer tells TLS the first batch of vehicles were actually purchased with a grant they applied for after reading about it on the Scoop.

The first vehicles could be seen on the road as early as this week.

(TLS – April 1st Division)

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian military plane crash in annexed Crimea has killed six crew and 23 passengers, Russian news agencies reported in the early hours of Wednesday, citing the Defense Ministry.

The An-26 military transport plane was carrying out a scheduled flight over the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, the reports said. The military lost contact with the plane around 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

The Soviet-designed military transport turboprop aircraft crashed into a cliff, sources at the scene told state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said a total of seven crew members and 23 passengers were on board. It wasn’t immediately clear from official statements if one crew member has survived.

The Investigative Committee said it has launched a criminal probe in connection with flight regulations and a search is underway in a mountainous forested area in the Bakhchisarai district.

The Interfax news agency cited the Defense Ministry as saying a suspected technical malfunction may have caused the crash and that there was no “damaging interference” with the aircraft.

Accidents involving Russian military planes have been frequent since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine.

In December, an An-22 military transport plane crashed in Russia’s Ivanovo region, killing seven crew. In October, a MiG-31 fighter jet crashed in the Lipetsk region, while a Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in the Siberian region of Irkutsk in April 2025.

In October 2022, a Su-34 bomber crashed into a residential area of Yeysk, a Russian city on the Azov sea, sparking a massive fire and killing 15 people.

(AP) – Advocacy groups and experts condemned YouTube for serving up low-quality artificial intelligence-generated videos to its most vulnerable audience: children.

In a letter to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan and Sundar Pichai, the CEO of YouTube’s parent company Google, children’s advocacy group Fairplay expresses “serious concern” about the spread of AI-generated videos on both YouTube and YouTube Kids. The letter, which was sent on Wednesday morning, was signed by more than 200 organizations and individual experts such as child psychiatrists and educators.

“This ’ AI slop ’ harms children’s development by distorting their sense of reality, overwhelming their learning processes and hijacking their attention, thereby extending time online and displacing offline activities necessary for their healthy development,” the letter reads. “These harms are particularly acute for young children.” The letter calls on YouTube to clearly label all AI-generated content and ban any AI-generated content on YouTube Kids. They also propose barring AI-generated videos from being recommended to users under 18 and implementing an option for parents to turn off AI-generated content even if their child searches for it.

The letter is signed by 135 organizations including the American Federation of Teachers and the American Counseling Association, and around 100 individual experts like “The Anxious Generation” author Jonathan Haidt. The letter is part of a larger campaign from Fairplay that also includes a petition.

Much of this AI-generated content is fast-paced with bright colors, lively music and clickbait titles that work to grab the attention of young viewers, the letter outlines. There has been a growing movement online against AI-generated content, particularly when it looks or feels low quality or leans into the meaninglessness of “ brainrot.”

Spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle said in a statement that YouTube has “high standards for the content in YouTube Kids, including limiting AI-generated content in the app to a small set of high-quality channels.”

“We also provide parents the option to block channels. Across YouTube, we prioritize transparency when it comes to AI content, labeling content from our own AI tools, and requiring creators to disclose realistic AI content,” Bullwinkle said. “We’re always evolving our approach to stay current as the ecosystem evolves.”

YouTube’s current policy regarding AI-generated content requires creators to disclose when content that’s “realistic” is made with altered or synthetic media, including generative AI. Creators are not required to disclose when generative AI is used to create content that is clearly unrealistic, including animated videos and those with special effects.

YouTube said it is actively working on developing labels for YouTube Kids.

In its letter, Fairplay argues that voluntary disclosure policy and what it sees as an “extremely limited” definition of altered and synthetic content mean kids still see a flood of AI-generated videos that are not labeled as such. They also argue that many children who watch YouTube videos are not yet able to read or to comprehend something like an AI disclosure. That leaves children “to fend for themselves or their parents to play whack-a-mole,” the letter reads.

Fairplay’s campaign comes shortly after Google’s AI Futures Fund invested $1 million into Animaj, an AI animation studio that makes videos for kids and draws in staggeringly high viewership numbers, according to Bloomberg.

The campaign follows a landmark verdict in a social media addiction trial in which a California jury found that YouTube designed its platform to hook young users without concern for their well-being. Meta was also found liable on the same counts as YouTube in the same case.

“Pushing AI slop onto young children is just another testament to how YouTube and YouTube Kids are designed to maximize children’s time online — including babies. AI slop hypnotizes young children, making it hard for them to get off their screens and move onto essential activities like play, sleep and social interaction,” said Rachel Franz, the director of Fairplay’s Young Children Thrive Offline program, in a statement. “What’s more, YouTube’s algorithm makes it impossible for kids to avoid AI slop.”

Earlier this year, YouTube head Mohan listed out “managing AI slop” as one of the company’s priorities for 2026. In a January blog post, he wrote that the company was “actively building on our established systems that have been very successful in combatting spam and clickbait, and reducing the spread of low quality, repetitive content.”

The staff at Matzav.com, Matzav WhatsApp, and Matzav Status wishes all of our readers around the globe a chag kosher vesomeiach and a kosheren Pesach.

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Have a wonderful and meaningful Yom Tov.

The Matzav.com Staff

{Matzav.com Newscenter}

BEIJING (AP) — Some robotaxi passengers were left stranded in the middle of fast-moving traffic in a major Chinese city after their driverless vehicles stopped running, according to police and media reports on Wednesday.

A preliminary investigation indicates more than 100 robotaxis came to a halt because of a “system malfunction,” police in the city of Wuhan said in a statement, without elaborating. No injuries were reported.

One passenger told Chinese media that their robotaxi stopped after turning a corner. An instruction on a screen read: “Driving system malfunction. Staff are expected to arrive in 5 minutes.” After no one showed up, the passenger pushed an SOS button and was told that staff were on their way. The car door could be opened, so the passenger got out on their own.

It is the first time a mass shutdown of robotaxis has been reported in China. In December, many of Waymo’s self-driving cars came to a stop in San Francisco because of a power outage.

The taxis in Wuhan are operated by Baidu, a major Chinese internet and AI company that is expanding its Apollo Go robotaxi business to overseas locations in Europe and the Mideast.

Baidu did not have any immediate comment.

Police said reports that taxis were coming to a halt started coming in around 9 p.m., while media reports said multiple people were rescued.

While some passengers were able to exit their taxis on their own, others were afraid to get out because their vehicle had stopped in the middle lane of a ring road with other vehicles passing on both sides, the reports said. Ring roads are elevated roads without traffic lights designed to move traffic quickly in urban areas.

Baidu operates hundreds of robotaxis in Wuhan, which hosted an early pilot project for the company.

The company, which operates more than 1,000 robotaxis, mostly in China, started a service in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this year and is working with partners to launch service in Britain and Switzerland.

Senior figures in Iran’s leadership returned to the streets of Tehran in a public appearance following a wave of high-profile assassinations, in what appears to be an effort to project control and unity.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was seen attending celebrations marking “Islamic Republic Day” in Tehran, alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, joining crowds of regime supporters.

During the event, Araghchi addressed those present, saying, “I came to be among them, to draw energy from this movement on the ground and to enjoy this unity and popular cohesion.”

The public appearance comes after a period in which top Iranian officials avoided visibility due to ongoing targeted killings within the regime’s upper ranks. The last time they were seen publicly in Tehran was approximately two and a half weeks earlier, during events marking “Iranian Jerusalem Day.”

Shortly after that appearance, Ali Larijani — widely regarded as a key figure within the regime — was assassinated. He had also been documented attending the earlier mass gathering alongside the president and foreign minister.

Meanwhile, a report in The Wall Street Journal indicated that Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf were temporarily removed from Israeli and U.S. target lists for several days, in order to allow diplomatic contacts between the sides to proceed.

The latest public event is being viewed as a calculated move by the regime to demonstrate stability and control on the streets, while also emphasizing internal unity amid mounting military and political pressure.

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Sipur Yetzias Mitzrayim should be father to son (and daughter) – not the other way around. It should also be in Q&A form. This may be helpful.

How Did a Family of Seventy Souls Become Slaves?
The story does not begin in Mitzrayim. It begins with Avraham Avinu, standing before Hashem at the Bris Bein HaBesarim — the Covenant Between the Parts. There, Hashem revealed to Avraham that his descendants would be strangers in a land not their own, afflicted and enslaved, and that in the end Hashem would judge that nation and bring His people out with great wealth (Bereishis 15:13–14).
The Midrash tells us that Hashem considered several locations for this crucible of exile. Mitzrayim was chosen because it was the most morally depraved civilization on earth — the very “ervah,” the nakedness, of all lands (Bereishis Rabbah 16:4). To emerge from Mitzrayim intact would itself require a miracle.
Yaakov Avinu descended to Mitzrayim with seventy souls. Seventy — a family, not yet a nation. But inside that small number was compressed the entirety of the Jewish future. The family settled in Goshen, set apart from the Mitzrim. Chazal teach that throughout the entire exile, the Jews preserved four things: their names, their language, their mode of dress, and their moral conduct (Vayikra Rabbah 32:5). These four shields of identity would prove to be the very reason they merited redemption.
After Yosef HaTzadik died, something shifted. “And a new king arose over Mitzrayim who did not know Yosef” (Shemos 1:8). The Talmud in Sotah (11a) records a dispute: one opinion holds it was literally a new king; the other maintains it was the same Pharaoh who now conducted himself as though he had never known Yosef. Either way, the debt of gratitude was erased. When a civilization loses its capacity for hakaras hatov, the capacity for evil becomes limitless.
Pharaoh convened his advisors. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 1:9) tells us that three advisors were present: Bilam, who counseled to destroy the Jews; Iyov, who remained silent; and Yisro, who fled in protest. Each received his measure for measure — Bilam was ultimately killed, Iyov suffered terribly, and Yisro merited that his descendants sat in the Lishkas HaGazis in the Beis HaMikdash.
Pharaoh’s strategy was cunning. He did not enslave the Jews by force at first. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 1:11) describes how Pharaoh himself put a basket on his own shoulder and began making bricks. The Jews, seeing their king engaged in labor, rushed to help — and by the time they realized what had happened, they were already enslaved by their own sense of loyalty and social obligation. The trap had been sprung without a single sword being drawn.
What Did the Suffering of the Jewish People Actually Look Like?
The Torah describes the slavery with escalating intensity. First came the taskmasters. Then came the back-breaking labor — building the store cities of Pitom and Ra’amses. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 1:14) tells us that these cities were built on swampland, so that every structure the Jews erected would sink — forcing them to build again and again without end. The labor was designed not to produce but to destroy.
The Talmud in Sotah (11b) notes that the Mitzrim targeted the Jews specifically in areas that were meant to be joyful. The Midrash elaborates: men were given women’s work and women were given men’s work, deliberately inverting the natural order to humiliate and demoralize.
Pharaoh then issued his first decree: the midwives, Shifra and Puah, were commanded to kill every male infant at the moment of birth. The Talmud (Sotah 11b) identifies Shifra and Puah as Yocheved and Miriam, Moshe’s mother and sister. They defied Pharaoh at great personal risk, telling him that the Jewish women were like the chayos — the wild animals — giving birth before the midwives could even arrive. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 1:15) adds that not only did they refuse to kill the babies, they actively brought food and water to the mothers and cared for the infants. In the merit of their courage, Hashem built them great houses — the houses of Kehunah, Leviyah, and Malchus descended from them.
When that decree failed, Pharaoh issued his most terrible edict: every newborn Jewish boy was to be thrown into the Nile. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 1:18) tells us something shattering — that when this decree was issued, Amram, the leader of his generation, reasoned that there was no point in Jewish men and women having children if they would only be murdered. He divorced his wife Yocheved. All of Klal Yisrael followed his lead and did the same. It was his young daughter Miriam who challenged her father: “Your decree is harsher than Pharaoh’s. Pharaoh only decreed against the males. You have decreed against the males and the females.” Amram recognized the wisdom of his daughter, remarried Yocheved, and once again all of Klal Yisrael followed. From that remarriage, Moshe was born.
The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 1:12) further describes how the Mitzrim imposed the slavery with meticulous psychological cruelty — keeping records, enforcing precise quotas, and punishing any shortfall. The Jewish foremen stood between the Mitzri taskmasters and the Jewish workers, absorbing the beatings rather than reporting their brothers’ failures to meet quota. It was in the merit of these foremen, the Midrash tells us, that they later became the seventy elders of the Sanhedrin.
And through it all — Hashem watched. “And Hashem heard their groaning, and Hashem remembered His covenant with Avraham, with Yitzchak, and with Yaakov. And Hashem saw the Children of Israel, and Hashem knew” (Shemos 2:24–25). The Baal HaTurim notes that the four expressions — heard, remembered, saw, knew — correspond to the four expressions of redemption that Hashem would soon speak to Moshe. Nothing was lost. Every tear was counted.
Why Did Hashem Appear to Moshe in a Lowly Thornbush of All Places?
Moshe was tending the flock of his father-in-law Yisro in the wilderness when he saw it — a bush burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. He turned aside to look, and in that moment of turning, everything changed.
The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 2:5) asks the very question we are asking: why a thornbush? Of all the trees and plants in creation, why did Hashem choose to reveal Himself in a sneh — a lowly, thorny, desert bush? The Midrash answers to teach that there is no place devoid of the Shechinah — not even the lowliest, most painful of places. The thornbush represented Klal Yisrael in Mitzrayim, trapped in the thorns of slavery and suffering. And Hashem was saying: I am there with you, inside the thorns.
Rashi adds another dimension: the thornbush was chosen as an act of solidarity. Just as the Jewish people were in pain, Hashem, so to speak, placed Himself in a place of pain — the sharp and prickly thornbush. This is the meaning of the verse in Tehillim (91:15): “I am with him in his distress.”
And why Moshe? The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 2:2) tells us that Moshe was tending someone else’s flock — the flock of Yisro — with the same care and devotion he would give his own. When a young lamb ran off, Moshe chased it until he found it drinking from a pool of water. He said: “I did not know you ran away because you were thirsty.” He lifted the lamb onto his shoulder and carried it back. Hashem said: “You have compassion for a flock belonging to a human being — you will tend My flock, Israel.”
Hashem called to Moshe from within the bush: “Moshe, Moshe!” — and the repetition of the name, say the meforshim, was an expression of love and urgency. Moshe responded: “Hineni — here I am.” The Alshich HaKadosh notes that this single word — hineni — was the password of the great ones of Israel. Avraham said it. Yaakov said it. Yosef said it. It means total, unconditional availability: I am here, completely, whatever You need of me.
Hashem told Moshe to remove his shoes, for the ground was holy. Then He spoke the words that shook the universe: “I have indeed seen the suffering of My people in Mitzrayim. I have heard their cry from before their taskmasters, for I know their pain. I have come down to rescue them from the hand of Mitzrayim and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land” (Shemos 3:7–8).
Moshe resisted. He raised objection after objection — who am I to go to Pharaoh? What shall I tell them Your name is? They will not believe me. I am not a man of words, I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 3:14) tells us that this dialogue between Moshe and Hashem lasted seven days. Hashem answered every objection. And when Moshe finally asked for His name, Hashem said: “Ehyeh asher Ehyeh — I will be what I will be.” The Ramban explains: tell them that the Hashem of their fathers has sent you — the Hashem Who was, Who is, and Who will always be. The name Havayah encompasses all of time, because Hashem stands outside of time entirely.
Moshe returned to Yisro, took leave of him respectfully, gathered his wife Tzipporah and his sons, and began the journey back to Mitzrayim. The Zohar notes that the moment Moshe turned toward Mitzrayim, the entire spiritual machinery of the redemption began to move.
Why Did Hashem Strike Mitzrayim With Ten Makkos — Why Not Simply Free the Jews?
When Moshe and Aharon first appeared before Pharaoh and said “Thus says Hashem, the G-d of Israel: send out My people,” Pharaoh’s response was contemptuous: “Who is Hashem that I should listen to His voice? I do not know Hashem, and moreover I will not send out Israel” (Shemos 5:2). The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 5:14) tells us that Pharaoh immediately consulted his book of nations and their G-ds, searching for the name of Hashem — and not finding it, concluded that Hashem did not exist. This was the precise error the makkos were designed to correct — not merely to force Pharaoh’s hand, but to systematically dismantle every false belief that Mitzrayim held about the nature of the world and the nature of power.
The Maharal of Prague (Gevuros Hashem, Chapter 57) explains that the ten makkos correspond to the ten utterances with which Hashem created the world. Mitzrayim had corrupted every dimension of creation, and so each makkah struck a different corrupted dimension and restored it to its proper order. The Abarbanel adds that the makkos came in three groups of three, with the tenth standing alone — each group preceded by a warning, then a plague without advance notice, teaching that Hashem operates with justice, with patience, and ultimately with absolute sovereignty.
Dam — Blood. The Nile was the god of Mitzrayim. It was the source of their sustenance, their pride, and their worship. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 9:9) tells us that the Mitzrim actually prayed to the Nile. By turning it to blood, Hashem declared: your god is powerless before Me. The fish died. The water reeked. There was blood throughout all the land of Mitzrayim — in the wooden vessels, in the stone vessels — everywhere the Mitzrim turned. Yet for the Jews in Goshen, the water remained pure. When a Jew and a Mitzri drank from the same vessel, the Mitzri tasted blood and the Jew tasted fresh water (SR 9:10).
Tzefardeia — Frogs. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 67b) records that there was in fact one giant frog that emerged from the Nile, and when the Mitzrim struck it, it split into multitudes of frogs that swarmed everywhere — into the ovens, the kneading bowls, the beds. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 10:4) praises the frogs that jumped into the fiery ovens willingly, and says that from this we learn the greatness of mesiras nefesh. So inspired were Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah by the frogs’ example that they were willing to enter Nevuchadnezzar’s furnace rather than bow to an idol. The Seforno learns that they were crocodiles.
Kinim — Lice. The earth of Mitzrayim itself turned against its masters. Every speck of dust became a louse. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 10:7) notes that the Mitzri magicians could not replicate this plague, because their magic had no power over something as small as a louse. They were forced to admit: “This is the finger of Hashem.” Yet Pharaoh’s heart hardened.
Arov — Wild Beasts. The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh notes that the word arov denotes a mixture — a terrifying swarm of wild and dangerous creatures unleashed simultaneously upon Mitzrayim. Lions, bears, wolves, and serpents filled the streets. The Mitzrim could not step outside their homes. Yet Goshen was untouched. The Sforno observes that this was the first plague in which Hashem explicitly distinguished between Mitzrayim and Goshen — making unmistakably clear that these were not natural disasters but targeted Divine judgments.
Dever — Pestilence. A devastating plague swept through the livestock of Mitzrayim — the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the cattle, the sheep. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 11:3) notes that not a single animal belonging to a Jew died. Pharaoh sent investigators to verify this, and they confirmed it was true. Still, Pharaoh hardened his heart.
Sh’chin — Boils. Moshe took handfuls of soot from a furnace and threw them toward the heavens before Pharaoh. The soot became fine dust that spread over all of Mitzrayim, causing agonizing boils to erupt on man and beast alike. The Midrash notes that the furnace Moshe used was from the same kiln in which the Mitzrim had burned Jewish babies — measure for measure, the very instrument of cruelty became the instrument of punishment.
Barad — Hail. This was unlike any storm the world had ever seen. Fire and ice — normally opposing forces — were miraculously suspended together within each hailstone, working in harmony to fulfill the will of their Creator (Shemos Rabbah 12:4). The Midrash notes that Hashem gave the Mitzrim fair warning before this plague — those who feared the word of Hashem could bring their servants and animals indoors. Some Mitzrim listened. This act of mercy even in the midst of judgment reflects Hashem’s attribute of rachamim that never fully disappears even in the harshest moments of din.
Arbeh — Locusts. Even Pharaoh’s own servants begged him at this point: “How long will this man be a snare to us? Send out the people!” (Shemos 10:7). Pharaoh momentarily wavered — but then insisted that only the men could go, not the women and children. Moshe refused. An east wind blew all night, and by morning the locusts had covered the entire land of Mitzrayim and devoured every remaining blade of vegetation. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 13:6) says that the locusts even sought out vegetables that the Mitzrim had hidden in their storage chambers underground.
Choshech — Darkness. For three days, a darkness so thick it could be felt descended upon Mitzrayim. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 14:3) explains that this was not merely the absence of light — it was a tangible, palpable darkness, a substance unto itself. The Mitzrim could not move. They were frozen in whatever position they had been in when the darkness fell. But for every Jew in Mitzrayim, there was light. The Midrash adds another dimension: during these three days of darkness, those Jews who had become so assimilated into Mitzri culture that they did not wish to leave died quietly during the plague of darkness — so that the Mitzrim would not see Klal Yisrael suffering as well. Even in this, Hashem protected the honor of His people.
Makas Bechoros — The Death of the Firstborn. At midnight on the fifteenth of Nissan, Hashem Himself passed through Mitzrayim. Not through an angel. Not through a messenger. The Haggadah is emphatic: “I and not an angel, I and not a seraph, I and not a messenger — it was I, Hashem, alone.” Every firstborn Mitzri died — from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting on his throne to the firstborn of the captive in the dungeon, and even the firstborn of the animals. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 18:3) tells us that the wailing that night was unlike anything ever heard in human history. There was not a single home in Mitzrayim without its dead. Pharaoh himself rose in the night, he and all his servants, and there was a great cry throughout all of Mitzrayim (Shemos 12:30). And at that very moment — Pharaoh broke.
What Happened the Moment Pharaoh Finally Said Yes?
For months, Pharaoh had been a man of refusals. No, no, no — plague after plague, warning after warning, and still he would not yield. And now, in the darkness of midnight, surrounded by the wailing of an entire nation, the most powerful ruler on earth summoned Moshe and Aharon and said the words he had never said before: “Rise up, go out from among my people — you and the Children of Israel — go and serve Hashem as you have spoken. Take your flocks and your cattle as you have said, and go. And bless me as well” (Shemos 12:31–32).
The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 18:1) captures the astonishing reversal of that moment. The very man who had declared “I do not know Hashem” was now begging for Moshe’s blessing. The Sforno notes that when Pharaoh said “and bless me as well,” he was acknowledging for the first time that Moshe had access to a power greater than anything Mitzrayim possessed. It was the most complete personal defeat imaginable.
But there was something Pharaoh did not know. Hashem had already told Moshe that Pharaoh would not merely permit them to leave — he would drive them out entirely. And that is precisely what happened. The Mitzrim pressed upon the people urgently, saying: “We are all dying!” (Shemos 12:33). They thrust the Jews out of Mitzrayim before they even had time to let their dough rise. Those flat, unleavened pieces of dough — carried on their shoulders, baked by the heat of the desert sun — became the matzah we eat to this day.
The Meshech Chochmah observes something remarkable: the Jewish people had been told in advance to prepare for this night. They had slaughtered the Korban Pesach, smeared its blood on their doorposts, eaten it with their shoes on and their staffs in their hands — ready to travel at a moment’s notice. Yet Hashem so accelerated the redemption that even those careful preparations were almost not enough. The redemption, when it finally came, came with breathtaking speed.
Before they left, the Jewish people did something that required extraordinary courage: they asked their Mitzri neighbors for silver, gold, and clothing. The Talmud (Berachos 9a) tells us that Moshe himself spent the precious final hours in Mitzrayim not gathering personal valuables, but searching for the bones of Yosef — fulfilling the oath that Yosef had extracted from his brothers centuries earlier: “You shall surely carry up my bones from here with you” (Shemos 13:19). While others gathered gold, Moshe gathered the promise of a brother. The Midrash says that Moshe knew where the bones were buried because Serach bas Asher — who had lived since the days of Yaakov and never died — showed him the place in the Nile where the Mitzrim had sunk Yosef’s coffin in a lead casket, hoping to keep his bones in Mitzrayim forever.
What Did the Actual Night of Leaving Look Like?
Six hundred thousand men — and that is only the men, not counting women, children, and the elderly — marched out of Mitzrayim. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 20:19) tells us they left b’yad ramah — with an upraised hand — meaning openly, proudly, in broad daylight, with their heads held high. This was not a flight in the dark. This was a procession of a nation.
With them went the erev rav — a mixed multitude of non-Jews who had witnessed the makkos and wished to attach themselves to the Jewish people. The Zohar is critical of Moshe for accepting them, noting that the erev rav would cause trouble throughout the wilderness years — it was they who instigated the sin of the golden calf. Yet Moshe’s calculation was one of pure chesed: he could not turn away souls seeking to come close to Hashem.
The Jewish people had lived in Mitzrayim for 210 years — reckoned by Chazal as the gematria of the word “ger,” stranger. They had entered as a family and were leaving as a nation of hundreds of thousands. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 20:11) describes how the Shechinah itself went before them — a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They were not wandering. They were being escorted.
Hashem deliberately led them away from the short coastal road toward Canaan — the derech eretz Plishtim — even though it was the most direct route. The Torah explains: “Lest the people reconsider when they see war and return to Mitzrayim” (Shemos 13:17). The Netziv explains that Hashem understood the psychological fragility of a people just emerging from slavery. They needed time. They needed the wilderness. They needed to be built into a nation before they could face the challenges that awaited them in Eretz Yisrael.
They marched toward the sea. And Pharaoh, watching from his palace as the dust of six hundred thousand pairs of feet rose into the desert sky, began to regret what he had done.
What Happened at the Sea — and How Did It Split?
Pharaoh’s regret became obsession. He harnessed his chariot personally — the Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 21:5) says he did not wait for his servants, so consumed was he by the need to recapture what he had lost. He took six hundred elite chariots plus the entire army of Mitzrayim and pursued the Jewish people. When the Jews looked up and saw Mitzrayim marching after them and the sea blocking their path ahead, they cried out to Hashem in terror.
At that moment of crisis, the Jewish people divided into four camps — and each had a different response. One group said: let us throw ourselves into the sea. One group said: let us return to Mitzrayim. One group said: let us fight. And one group said: let us cry out to Hashem in prayer (Mechilta, Beshalach). Moshe addressed them all: “Do not fear. Stand firm and see the salvation of Hashem which He will perform for you today. Hashem will fight for you, and you shall be silent.”
But Hashem said something striking to Moshe: “Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the Children of Israel and let them journey forward” (Shemos 14:15). The Kotzker Rebbe asks: was Moshe praying? We are told he was speaking to the people, not praying. The answer, says the Kotzker, is that Moshe’s very inner being was crying out to Hashem — and Hashem heard even the silent cry of the heart.
And then came Nachshon ben Aminadav. The Midrash (Sotah 37a) records one of the most celebrated acts of faith in all of Jewish history. While the people stood frozen at the water’s edge, Nachshon walked into the sea. The water reached his knees. His waist. His shoulders. His chin. And when the water reached his nostrils — the sea split.
The Sfas Emes explains that the sea did not split in response to Moshe’s staff alone. It split in response to the faith of a human being who was willing to drown rather than turn back. That is what cracked open the laws of nature — not magic, but emunah.
What the people then witnessed defied all description. The Mechilta records that what the simplest Jewish maidservant saw at the splitting of the sea surpassed the prophetic visions of Yechezkel. The sea walls on either side became transparent like glass, so the Jewish people could see one another through them (Shemos Rabbah 21:10). The seabed became dry land — not mud, not sand, but solid ground. And the water on either side was divided into twelve separate lanes, one for each shevet, so that every tribe crossed in its own path (Midrash Tehillim 114).
As the Jewish people crossed on dry land, the Mitzrim pursued them into the sea. The wheels of their chariots became stuck and began to come off. The Midrash tells us the horses refused to advance further — they sensed what was coming. And then Hashem told Moshe: stretch out your hand. Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea, and the waters returned. Every chariot. Every horseman. The entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea — not one of them remained (Shemos 14:28).
The Talmud (Megillah 10b) records that when the angels wished to sing before Hashem as the Mitzrim drowned, Hashem silenced them: “My creatures are drowning in the sea and you wish to sing songs?” Even in the moment of ultimate victory, Hashem mourned the loss of human life. The makkos were not acts of revenge — they were acts of necessity. And even necessity carries a cost.
How Did the Jewish People React After Crossing the Sea?
The moment the last Jew set foot on the far shore and the last wave closed over the last Mitzri, something extraordinary happened — something that had never happened before in human history and would never happen again in quite the same way. Six hundred thousand people, men and women, old and young, spontaneously broke into song.
“Az yashir Moshe u’vnei Yisrael” — then Moshe and the Children of Israel sang this song to Hashem (Shemos 15:1). The Mechilta notes that the word “az” — then — always signals a turning point in history. At this moment, the entire nation of Israel became nevuah — prophecy — and sang together as one voice. The Zohar says that at this moment, the Shechinah rested on every single Jew simultaneously, something that had never occurred before.
The Talmud (Sotah 30b) asks: how did they all sing together — did Moshe recite each line and the people repeat it? Or did they all sing the words simultaneously? The Talmud offers a miraculous answer: Moshe opened his mouth, and the words flowed from his lips — and at that very instant, the identical words rose simultaneously from the lips of every single Jew. It was not call and response. It was a miraculous unison of hundreds of thousands of souls.
What did they sing? Shiras HaYam — the Song of the Sea — is the most exalted piece of poetry in the entire Torah. The Vilna Gaon writes that it contains within it encoded allusions to all of Jewish history from Mitzrayim to the final redemption. Its opening word — “ashirah” — is in the future tense, which the meforshim note is intentional: the song that was sung at the sea is still being sung. It will be completed only in the days of Moshiach.
The song praises Hashem not only as a redeemer but as a warrior — “Hashem ish milchamah, Hashem Shemo” — Hashem is a Man of War, Hashem is His name. The Mechilta explains that Hashem appeared at the sea in the form of a mighty warrior, in contrast to His appearance at Matan Torah as an elder full of mercy, and in contrast to His appearance in the Beis HaMikdash as a gentle figure. The same Hashem — but the same infinite Being reveals different facets of Himself at different moments in history.
Then Miriam the Prophetess — Aharon’s sister — took a timbrel in her hand. The Midrash (Mechilta Beshalach) asks a stunning question: where did Miriam get a timbrel in the middle of the desert? The answer reveals the depth of the Jewish women’s faith. The women had brought timbrels with them out of Mitzrayim. In the midst of slavery, in the darkness of exile, the Jewish women had prepared instruments of song — because they knew, with absolute certainty, that there would be a moment worth singing about. Their faith did not wait for the miracle. It prepared for it in advance.
Miriam led the women in song and dance: “Sing to Hashem for He is most exalted — horse and rider He has thrown into the sea” (Shemos 15:21). The Ramban notes that the women’s song was not a repetition of the men’s song. It was its own expression — a different register of joy, a different dimension of gratitude. Together, the men’s song and the women’s song formed a complete tapestry of praise.
After the song, Moshe led the people away from the sea. Three days into the wilderness, they found no water. When they finally found water at Marah, it was bitter and undrinkable. The people complained. Moshe cried out to Hashem, and Hashem showed him a tree — and when Moshe cast it into the water, the water became sweet. The Midrash identifies this tree as an olive tree, or according to others, as a willow — but the deeper message, say the meforshim, is that Hashem was already beginning to teach the people: the bitter can become sweet, the hard can become gentle, if you trust in Hashem and follow His Torah.
What Did the Journey to Sinai Look Like?
From the shores of the sea, the Jewish people began a journey that was unlike anything the world had ever seen — a nation of hundreds of thousands moving through a howling wilderness, sustained at every moment by open miracles. This was not merely travel. It was a curriculum. Every stop, every test, every complaint, and every miracle was a lesson in what it means to be the people of Hashem.
Three days after leaving the sea they arrived at Marah, where the bitter waters were sweetened. One month after leaving Mitzrayim they arrived at the Wilderness of Sin — and there they complained that they missed the food of Mitzrayim, the pots of meat and the bread they had eaten in abundance. The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh notes with irony that the people were romanticizing slavery — the same Mitzrayim that had crushed them seemed appealing when their stomachs were empty. Hunger has a way of distorting memory. Hashem responded not with rebuke but with abundance.
He told Moshe: I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each morning, the mon — the manna — appeared on the ground like a layer of dew, fine and flake-like, white as coriander seed, tasting like wafers made with honey. The Talmud (Yoma 75a) records that the mon tasted like whatever the person eating it desired. For the righteous it descended already baked; for others they had to prepare it. The Midrash notes that the mon taught the Jewish people emunah — because it could not be stored overnight, they were forced to trust that Hashem would provide again each morning. Only on Erev Shabbos did a double portion fall, teaching the sanctity of Shabbos even before the Torah was given.
With the mon came a new discipline: no man could go out to gather on Shabbos. Some went out anyway — and found nothing. Hashem said to Moshe: “How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and My teachings?” (Shemos 16:28). The Netziv observes that even before Matan Torah, the laws of Shabbos were in effect for the Jewish people. The journey to Sinai was not simply geographic — it was a process of becoming ready to receive the Torah.
At Refidim, the people complained again — this time for water. The complaint here was different in character, more aggressive, more accusatory. “Why did you bring us up from Mitzrayim to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” (Shemos 17:3). The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 26:2) tells us that the name Refidim itself hints at the reason for this trial: rafah — they had weakened — their grip on Torah and mitzvos. Spiritual weakness preceded physical thirst. The lesson was clear: when a people loosens its connection to Hashem, every challenge becomes unbearable.
Hashem told Moshe to strike the rock at Chorev with his staff — and water gushed forth. Then came Amalek, striking the Jewish people from the rear, attacking the weakest and most vulnerable among them. Yehoshua led the battle while Moshe stood on a hilltop with his hands raised. The Mishnah (Rosh Hashana 3:8) asks: did Moshe’s hands make Israel victorious in battle? No — but when Moshe raised his hands, the Jewish people looked upward and directed their hearts to their Father in Heaven, and they prevailed. It was emunah, not military strategy, that won the battle.
Yisro, hearing of all that Hashem had done for Moshe and for Israel, came to the wilderness to join them. He brought with him Tzipporah and Moshe’s two sons. When Moshe told Yisro everything that had happened — all the hardship and the miracles — Yisro rejoiced with a joy that shook the heavens. “Blessed is Hashem,” he said, “Who saved you from the hand of Mitzrayim and from the hand of Pharaoh” (Shemos 18:10). The Midrash says that at this moment, every word of praise that Yisro spoke was a rebuke to the nations of the world — for it was a former idolatrous priest, a man who had worshipped every deity in the world, who recognized and proclaimed the greatness of Hashem when so many others had not.
In the third month after leaving Mitzrayim, the Children of Israel arrived at Sinai. They camped at the foot of the mountain. And there, for the first time since they had left Mitzrayim, they camped — the Torah uses the singular form, vayichan, he camped — as one man, with one heart (Rashi, Shemos 19:2). All the complaints fell silent. A nation stood at the foot of a mountain, united, and waited for Hashem to speak.
The journey was over. Everything that had happened — from the bris bein habesarim to the darkness of Mitzrayim, from the burning bush to the splitting of the sea — had been leading to this single moment. Sinai was not the end of the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim. It was the reason for it.
V’chol hamarbeh l’saper b’yetzias Mitzrayim — harei zeh meshubach. Whoever elaborates on the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim — this person is praiseworthy.

The IDF has determined the burial site of a soldier who had been listed as missing since Israel’s War of Independence, closing a 76-year search for a man who fell in one of the young country’s earliest battles.

Pvt. Dov Parmet was killed on June 5, 1948, when the 1st Company of the Oded Brigade’s 11th Battalion clashed with a Syrian-Lebanese force near the community of Malkia in northern Israel. In the aftermath of the battle, Parmet was recorded as a fallen soldier whose burial location was unknown.

In 2020, the IDF established a dedicated investigation team to locate Parmet’s remains. The inquiry drew on document analysis, witness testimony, soil analysis, and archaeological surveys. It ultimately concluded that Parmet was buried in a mass grave at Kibbutz Maoz Chaim alongside 16 other soldiers killed in the 1948 fighting at Malkia.

Parmet’s family, including his niece, were informed of the findings by Adjutant Corps Chief Brig. Gen. Edna Ilia. The IDF said a formal ceremony will be held in the near future to add a headstone bearing Parmet’s name at the military cemetery in Maoz Chaim.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front was killed in an Israeli Navy strike in Beirut on Tuesday, the IDF announced Wednesday, marking the most senior Hezbollah figure eliminated by Israel since the escalation of fighting tied to the Iran war.

Hajj Yusuf Ismail Hashem, who commanded Hezbollah’s military operations in south Lebanon, was killed in the strike on the Lebanese capital. Hashem had taken over the Southern Front in September 2024, following the death of his predecessor Ali Karaki, who was killed alongside Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli strike.

The IDF described Hashem as “a senior commander with over 40 years of experience and a central figure in the terror organization,” saying he had “led and advanced thousands of terror attack plans against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers” over the course of his career.

The military said his death “constitutes a significant blow to Hezbollah’s ability to carry out terror operations against Israeli civilians and to manage ongoing combat against IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon.”

Hezbollah has been firing rockets and missiles into northern Israel for the past month as part of its role in the broader regional conflict.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

LONDON (AP) — Three additional suspects were arrested Wednesday on arson charges in the torching of four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity in London, police said.

Two British men, ages 20 and 19, and a 17-year-old boy with dual British and Pakistani nationality, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, London’s Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement.

Counterterror police are investigating the fire as an antisemitic hate crime. They were looking into a claim of responsibility by a group with potential links to Iran, but have not declared it an act of terrorism.

Two other men, ages 45 and 47, were previously released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

The March 23 blaze in Golders Green, a north London neighborhood with a large Jewish population, destroyed four ambulances belonging to the volunteer organization Hatzola Northwest, which provides emergency care in the area. Oxygen cylinders in the vehicles exploded, breaking windows in an adjacent apartment block.

“Since this appalling attack last week, we have been working continuously to investigate and identify those responsible,” Cmdr. Helen Flanagan, head of counterterror policing, said. “We know concern among the Jewish community remains high, but I hope these arrests show that we are doing everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.”

BAGHDAD (AP) — An American journalist who was kidnapped in Baghdad had tried to cross from Syria into Iraq three weeks earlier and was initially turned back, an Iraqi official said Wednesday.

U.S. and Iraqi officials said Shelly Renee Kittleson had also been warned of threats against her in the days before her abduction. A freelance journalist who has worked for years in Iraq and Syria, Kittleson was kidnapped from a street in the Iraqi capital Tuesday and remains missing.

Hussein Alawi, an adviser to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said Kittleson had sought to enter via the al-Qaim crossing from Syria on March 9 but was turned back because she did not have a press work permit and because security concerns due to “the escalation of the war and aerial projectiles over Iraqi airspace as a result of the war on Iran.”

She later entered the country after obtaining a single-entry visa to Iraq valid for 60 days issued to allow foreign citizens stranded in neighboring countries to “transit through Iraq to reach their home countries via available transport routes,” he said.

Kittleson entered Baghdad a few days before she was kidnapped and was staying in a hotel in the capital, he said.

“The incident is being followed closely by Iraqi security and intelligence agencies under the supervision of” al-Sudani, Alawi said. He noted that one suspect believed to be involved in the kidnapping plot has been arrested and is being interrogated.

Iraqi security forces gave chase to her captors and arrested one suspect after the car he was driving crashed, but other kidnappers were able to escape with the journalist in a second car.

An Iraqi intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment, said Iraqi authorities believe she is being held in Baghdad and are trying to locate her and secure her release. He said authorities “have information about the abducting party” but declined to give more details.

U.S. officials have alleged that Kittleson was taken by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-linked Iraqi militia that has been implicated in previous kidnappings of foreigners. The group has not claimed the kidnapping and the Iraqi government has not publicly said anything about the kidnappers’ affiliation.

The Iraqi intelligence official said that prior to Kittleson’s abduction, Iraqis had contacted U.S. officials to notify them that there was a specific kidnapping threat against her by Iran-affiliated militias.

Dylan Johnson, U.S. assistant secretary of state for public affairs, said on X Tuesday that the “State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them.”

A U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said, “She was contacted multiple times with warnings of the threats against her,” including as late as the night before the kidnapping.

Surveillance footage that was obtained by The Associated Press shows what seems to be the moment the journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad. It shows two men approaching a person standing on a street corner and ushering the person into the back of a car. There appears to be a brief struggle to shut the car door before the men get into the vehicle and it drives away.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have launched regular attacks on U.S. facilities in the country since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

President Donald Trump said he plans to be present at the Supreme Court on Wednesday as justices hear oral arguments in Trump v. Barbara, a case that could determine whether children born in the United States to illegal immigrants and foreign visitors are entitled to birthright citizenship under the Constitution.

Speaking about the upcoming hearing, Trump indicated his intention to attend in person. “I’m going,” Trump said when asked about SCOTUS hearing oral arguments in the case on April 1. “I think so, I do believe because I’ve listened to this argument for so long.”

Trump reiterated his criticism of how birthright citizenship is currently applied, pointing to cases involving wealthy foreign nationals. “Chinese billionaires and billionaires from other countries who all of a sudden have 75 children or 59 children in one case or 10 children, becoming American citizens,” Trump said. “[The 14th Amendment] was about slaves … all of this legislation, all of this having to do with birthright citizenship, it was at the end of the Civil War. The reason was, it had to do with the babies of slaves and the protection of the babies of slaves.”

He continued to argue that the policy has strayed from its original purpose. “It didn’t have to do with the protection of multi-millionaires and billionaires wanting to have their children getting American citizenship,” Trump continued. “It is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Shortly after returning to office last year, Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants and foreign tourists, often referred to as “anchor babies,” a term used to describe children whose citizenship can later enable family members to obtain legal status.

Following the order, advocacy groups filed lawsuits challenging the policy, ultimately bringing the case before the Supreme Court, where a final decision is expected this year.

Data from 2023 estimated that between 225,000 and 250,000 children were born in the United States to illegal immigrant parents, accounting for roughly seven percent of all births that year.

The Supreme Court has not issued a definitive ruling explicitly requiring that children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants must be granted citizenship, and the issue remains the subject of ongoing legal debate.

A number of conservative legal scholars argue that the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment does not mandate birthright citizenship in such cases, maintaining that children born to individuals without legal status are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States as that phrase was originally understood.

A tugboat captain has been charged in a deadly Miami collision that killed three girls from a sailing camp, including 10-year-old Arielle Buchman a”h, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

Yusiel Lopez Insua, 46, of Miami, faces a charge of seaman’s manslaughter in the July collision, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

Insua didn’t have a clear view as the tugboat pushed a barge full of construction debris in Biscayne Bay, according to the office. There was also no one assigned as lookout as it sailed through the body of water sandwiched between Miami and Miami Beach, the office said.

The sailboat was carrying a counselor and five girls when it stalled in the barge’s path, and Insua didn’t see it before the collision, according to the statement. The girls were ages 7 to 13, while the counselor was 19, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The counselor and two girls were dragged under the barge, but were able to escape. The other three became trapped in the wreckage and drowned, according to the office.

“Our hearts are with the families of the children who lost their lives in this tragedy,” Jason Reding Quiñones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said in a statement. “This information alleges a preventable loss of life on our waterways, including the failure to follow basic maritime safety rules and cellphone use during transit at or near the time of the collision.”

The internet had also been accessed on Insua’s cellphone around the time of the collision, according to a forensic review.

Insua faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.

The Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida did not immediately respond to queries about whether Insua has a lawyer.

Four of the children were rushed to a hospital, where a 7-year-old and 13-year-old were pronounced dead, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Days later, the Coast Guard said that a 10-year-old who had been in critical condition had also died.

The sailing boat had been submerged beneath the barge in Biscayne Bay, where there are several small islands, including Star Island, peppered with ritzy mansions.

The children were in their last week of camp, according to the Miami Yacht Club.

Across the U.S. in 2024, there were over 550 deaths in recreational boating, but only a sliver of those — 43 — were caused by vessels crashing into each other, according to Coast Guard statistics.

(AP)

Iran’s paramilitary apparatus is openly recruiting children as young as 12 for roles tied to homeland defense, according to a senior official.

Rahim Nadali, a deputy within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said in remarks to Iran’s state-affiliated Defa Press Agency that the force has launched a new initiative, dubbed “For Iran,” aimed at expanding civilian participation in defense activities. The program, he said, sets the minimum age for volunteers at 12.

“We set the minimum age at 12 years and above,” Nadali said, describing the effort as a response to growing demand among teenagers seeking to participate in security-related roles.

The initiative appears to formalize and expand the involvement of minors in the regime’s auxiliary network, particularly through the Basij, a volunteer paramilitary force that operates under IRGC oversight. According to Nadali, recruits could be tasked with a wide range of responsibilities, from logistical support such as cooking and distributing supplies to more sensitive duties including staffing checkpoints, conducting patrols and participating in intelligence-related activities.

The announcement triggered immediate backlash from international rights groups, which argue that recruiting children for military roles violates international law. Bill Van Esveld of Human Rights Watch said the policy could amount to a war crime if minors under 15 are engaged in hostilities.

“There is no excuse for a military recruitment drive that targets children to sign up, much less 12-year-olds,” Van Esveld said, warning that Iranian authorities are exposing minors to “serious and irreversible harm.”

In at least one case, an 11-year-old boy identified as Alireza Jafari was killed while stationed at a checkpoint. Iranian state media and the Basij Teachers Organization confirmed the child died “on duty,” underscoring what critics say are the real-world consequences of integrating minors into security operations.

According to local reporting, the boy’s mother said a shortage of personnel led his father to bring him to work at the checkpoint, a claim that reinforces allegations of systemic gaps the regime is attempting to fill with underage recruits.

The use of children in military roles is not new in Iran. During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, the government mobilized thousands of minors, some reportedly as young as nine, for high-risk operations including clearing minefields.

Afshin Javid, a former Basij recruit who says he was enlisted at age 12, described a system in which ideological indoctrination, education and family structures converge to normalize the concept of martyrdom from an early age. He said children are taught to view participation in conflict as both a religious duty and a path to spiritual reward, limiting their ability to envision civilian futures.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The United Arab Emirates is preparing to join a U.S.-led military effort aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global trade and a critical artery for its own economy, according to Arab officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.

The move would mark a significant shift, potentially making the UAE the first Gulf state to take direct military action against Iran, after sustaining heavy attacks from Iranian missiles and drones.

Officials said the UAE is working to secure a United Nations Security Council resolution that would authorize such an operation. Emirati diplomats have also urged the United States, along with European and Asian allies, to form a coalition capable of reopening the strait by force. One official warned that Iran’s leadership is fighting for survival and is willing to damage the global economy by maintaining its grip over the strategic passage.

According to the report, the UAE has been assessing how it could contribute operationally, including efforts to help clear naval mines from the waterway.

Officials in the Emirates also suggested that the United States should seize control of key islands along the route, including Abu Musa, which has been held by Iran for decades but is claimed by the UAE.

In a statement, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry pointed to recent international actions condemning Iran’s behavior, including a United Nations resolution denouncing attacks on Emirati cities and another by the International Maritime Organization criticizing the closure of the strait. The ministry said there is a “broad global consensus that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be preserved.”

Officials from another Gulf country described the UAE’s current posture as a major departure from its previous strategy. Dubai, the UAE’s commercial hub, has historically maintained economic ties with Iran, and Emirati diplomats had worked to mediate between Washington and Tehran prior to the outbreak of war, including hosting Iranian security official Ali Larijani, who was later killed in an airstrike.

Iran has launched nearly 2,500 missiles and drones at the UAE — more than at any other country, including Israel. Despite this, the UAE, like other Gulf states, had until now sought to avoid direct military confrontation with Iran.

A new Reuters/Ipsos survey released Tuesday shows that a strong majority of Americans want the United States to wrap up its role in the war with Iran as soon as possible, even if it means falling short of the Trump administration’s stated objectives.

According to the poll, which was conducted between Friday and Sunday, 66 percent of respondents said they support ending the conflict quickly under those conditions. By contrast, 27 percent said the U.S. should remain engaged until all of its goals in Iran are achieved, even if that prolongs the war. Another six percent did not provide an answer.

Among Republican respondents, opinions were more divided. Forty percent said they favor bringing the conflict to a close sooner rather than later, even if it means incomplete results, while 57 percent supported continuing military involvement until the objectives are fully met.

The survey also found that public opinion on U.S. airstrikes in Iran leans negative. Sixty percent of those polled said they disapprove of the strikes, while 35 percent said they support them. The poll included responses from 1,021 participants.

Rising fuel costs have emerged as one of the most noticeable domestic consequences of the conflict. Gas prices in the United States climbed above $4 per gallon on Monday for the first time in more than three years.

Looking ahead, two-thirds of respondents said they expect fuel prices to continue increasing over the next year, including 40 percent of Republicans who share that concern.

{Matzav.com}

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It is some 1975 years ago. We standing in Yerushalayim on the fourteenth of Nissan. The noise around us is thick with the bleating of hundreds of thousands of lambs. The smoke of the Mizbeiach curls heavenward. The Levi’im are chanting Hallel — not once, not twice, but three full times, as wave after wave of Klal Yisroel enter through the gates of the holiest structure ever built on earth. This was the Beis HaMikdash on Erev Pesach.

Three Groups, Three Cycles

The Mishnah in Pesachim (5:5) describes an extraordinary logistical choreography. The entire Jewish nation — hundreds of thousands of people — could not enter the Azarah simultaneously. And so the Chachamim instituted a system of three groups (kitos). The first group would enter, fill the Azarah to capacity, and the doors of the Azarah would be locked behind them. Then, as the Levi’im sang the Hallel, each man shechted his Korban Pesach. When the first group finished, they departed, and the second group — those waiting patiently outside the gates — would surge forward. Then the third.

If the Hallel was completed before a group finished, it was begun again. If the third group was small, they might hear Hallel only once. The Gemara records that the third group was nicknamed the kita atzlanin — the lazy group — because they delayed coming. Yet even they were bound by the same sacred obligation.

The Northern Gates: Where the Action Was

The Korban Pesach had to be offered on the northern side of the Azarah (Zevachim 5:8). This meant that most of us entered primarily through the northern gates of the Azaras Nashim and the Azarah itself.

The Beis HaMikdash’s outer courtyard — the Ezras Yisrael and the Ezras Nashim — were accessed through multiple gates. The Mishnah in Middos (2:3) describes the gates of the Ezras Nashim, and it is here that we can reconstruct the breathtaking human drama of Erev Pesach.

The Women’s Gate and the Chamber of the Exile

Entering through the second gate from the left is a long line unlike the others. These are women — but not women who have come merely to observe. These are women obligated to bring the Korban Pesach on their own: widows, divorcées, and unmarried women who have no husband in whose household they could eat the Korban. They enter through what is known as the Sha’ar HaNashim — the Women’s Gate (Middos 2:3).

Above this gate, perched over the teeming masses of people below, is the Lishkas HaGolah — the Chamber of the Exile. The Rambam in Hilchos Beis HaBechira (5:16) identifies this chamber as the place where water was stored — specifically, the great cistern whose water was used throughout the Beis HaMikdash. The name itself evokes the deepest currents of Jewish history. It was filled, according to tradition, by the returning exiles of Bavel — the remnant of Klal Yisrael who came back from Galus to rebuild the Beis HaMikdash under Ezra and Nechemiah. Every drop of water that sustained the Avodah carried within it the memory of golus – exile and return.

That these women — widows and women alone — would pass under the shadow of this chamber is itself a symbol. They, too, are in a kind of personal galus. And yet here they stand, fully obligated, fully participants in the greatest national mitzvah of the year.

The Gate of the Offering: The Heart of Erev Pesach

The third gate from the left is the Sha’ar HaKorban — the Gate of the Offering. It is aptly named. Through this gate pours the heart of  Erev Pesach: the ba’alei batim, the heads of household, each leading or carrying his lamb.

They are headed into the Azarah itself — the inner sanctum — where the Korban Pesach and the Korban Chagiga will be offered. The Mishnah (Pesachim 5:6) describes how each man would hand his animal to the kohen, who would slaughter it, catch the blood in a mizrak (a sacred vessel), and pass it hand-to-hand in a chain of kohanim stretching all the way to the Mizbeiach, where it would be dashed against the base.

Above this gate rose one of the most striking structures of the entire Beis HaMikdash: the Beis HaMoked — the great domed Chamber of the Hearth. The Mishnah in Midos (1:6) and the tractate Tamid describe it extensively. It was the sleeping quarters of the kohanim who had completed their service. It was heated by an eternal fire. Four large chambers opened off its central hall. One of them contained the great fire from which the Mizbeiach fire was replenished every morning. The dome above the gate — massive, permanent, authoritative — reminded every person passing below: the Avodah never stops.

The Gate of Jeconiah: History Written in Stone

On the northwest side stands the most historically charged gate of all: the Sha’ar Yechanyah — the Gate of Jeconiah. Its name alone is a wound in the national memory.

Yechanyah — Yehoyachin, king of Yehudah — was led through this gate into Babylonian captivity. The Talmud Yerushalmi (Sanhedrin 10:2) and other sources preserve the tradition that the entire royal house of David passed through this gate when they were exiled by Nevuchadnetzar. Jewish kings had ascended through this gate; now a Jewish king descended through it into seventy years of exile. When the people passed through it on their way to bring the Korban Pesach — the quintessential symbol of geulah — they walked through the doorway of our deepest national tragedy, on their way to  national celebration.

Above the Gate of Jeconiah stood the Beis HaНitzotz — the Chamber of the Spark. The Rambam and the Mishnah (Middos 1:1) describe it as the place where the fire for the Beis HaMoked hearth was perpetually maintained. Stone-cutters would chip sparks here; the fire would be kept alive through the night. The Levi’im who guarded the Beis HaMikdash during the night watched from this chamber, ensuring that the sacred flame never died.

The Leviim Guards and the Closing of the Gates

As the sun began its descent on the afternoon of the fourteenth of Nissan, a dramatic moment arrived. The Leviim Temple guards — who had been stationed at each gate throughout the day — would begin closing the great wooden doors.

The Mishnah in Tamid describes the enormous, iron-reinforced doors of the Beis HaMikdash, doors so heavy and so precisely balanced on their hinges that their opening and closing could be heard as far away as Yericho — three days’ journey. Once those doors closed, the group inside would complete its Avodah before they reopened.

And outside the gates? More people waited. These were the members of the second and third groups — the kita shniya and the kita shlishis. They stood in the courtyards, with their lambs, hearing the Hallel echoing from inside, waiting for the doors to open again. The Gemara in Pesachim (64b) gives us a window into the sound of that moment: hundreds of thousands of voices, Levi’im and Yisraelim alike, singing b’tzeis Yisrael miMitzrayim — “When Israel went out of Egypt” — as the blood of the lambs flowed and Kla Yisroel relived its founding moment.

Numbers That Stagger the Imagination

How many people passed through those gates? The Gemara in Pesachim (64b) records that King Agrippas once asked the kohanim to count the korbanos brought on one Erev Pesach. They counted the kidneys — one kidney per animal — and arrived at a figure of 1,200,000 pairs of kidneys. This suggests that over a million Korban Pesachs were offered on a single afternoon.

The logistics required were mind-bending. The blood had to be caught, passed, and thrown at the Mizbeiach. The fat (eimurim) had to be separated and burned on the altar. The bodies of the animals were hung on hooks along the walls and on iron rods carried on the shoulders of pairs of men, skinned right there in the Azarah, and then carried home to be roasted whole for the Seder. All of this happened — repeatedly, three times over — in the space of a single afternoon.

What It Meant to Walk Through Those Gates

For the average individual— the farmer from the Galil, the craftsman from Chevron, the merchant from the coast — arriving at the gates of the Beis HaMikdash on Erev Pesach was the defining experience of the Jewish year. The Rambam writes in Hilchos Chagiga (1:8) that the mitzvah of aliyah l’regel carried with it a special spiritual charge — the obligation to see and be seen, to stand in the presence of the Shechinah, to feel the weight of belonging to Klal Yisroel.

Walking through the Gate of the Offering, under the dome of the Beis HaMoked. Passing beneath the Chamber of the Exile, we hear perhaps an older man whisper the story of how returning exiles built that cistern with their own hands. Moving through the Gate of Jeconiah and remembering that a Jewish king once walked out through this very arch in chains — and that you, by being here, were the living proof that the chains had been broken.

And then, finally, into the Azarah itself. The smell of the Ketores drifting from within the Heichal. The kohanim in their white bigdei kehunah moving with practiced efficiency. The Levi’im on the duchan, voices rising in Hallel. And in your arms — a lamb. Your lamb. The animal that would carry the memory of that first night in yetzias Mitzrayim, when our ancestors painted blood on the mezuzos (side posts) of their doorways and waited for the Malach HaMaves to pass.

This was the Beis HaMikdash on Erev Pesach. May we see it rebuilt, speedily and in our days.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a formal Passover greeting to Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, with the message published by the Kremlin and set to be read at the opening of the central public Seder in Moscow’s Marina Roscha synagogue.

In the letter, Putin emphasized the history and morality of the holiday. “This important and respected holiday recalls central events in the history of the Jewish people and their aspiration for freedom,” he wrote. “It symbolizes the victory of unity, goodness, and justice.”

He also praised the role of Jewish communities across the country. “It is encouraging to see that the Jewish community in Russia leads a rich and multifaceted life, pays constant attention to preserving family values and educating the younger generation, and takes an active part in charity and acts of kindness,” he said, referring to the hundreds of thousands of Jews living throughout Russia.

Putin further highlighted the broader societal role of the community, writing: “Russia’s Jews, relying on the rich spiritual heritage of their ancestors, set a worthy example of mutual understanding and fruitful cooperation between religions and peoples.” He added that Jewish communities also take part in socially significant patriotic, educational and enlightenment initiatives alongside other faith groups.

The message comes as Jewish communities across Russia complete extensive preparations for Pesach, with logistical support coordinated from Moscow to enable Seders nationwide. Community networks, many led by Chabad, have worked in recent days to ensure that Jews across the country can celebrate the holiday in accordance with tradition.

“Mah rabu maasecha Hashem, kulam b’chochmah asisa” — “How great are Your works, Hashem; You made them all with wisdom.” (Tehillim 104:24)

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Every night, when we close our eyes and drift off to sleep, something remarkable happens inside our brains — something so intricate and so perfectly designed that scientists are only now beginning to understand it. A recent study published in the prestigious journal PNAS (March 2026) has uncovered a stunning system of coordination in the sleeping brain that should fill every thinking person with a deep sense of yiras Shamayim.

The Rambam in Hilchos Deos 4:4 explains that ideally we should be sleeping 8 hours a night.  Researchers from the University of Oulu in Finland may provide for us another reason for this Rambam. They studied 24 healthy volunteers while they were both awake and asleep. Using three different high-tech instruments simultaneously — a special ultra-fast MRI machine, a 256-electrode brainwave monitor (EEG), and an infrared light sensor — they watched what happens inside the living human brain as it transitions from wakefulness into sleep.

The researchers were simultaneously tracking three separate systems inside the brain: blood flow (how oxygen-rich blood pulses through the brain), electrical activity (the brain’s own electrical signals), and water movement — specifically cerebrospinal fluid, the clear liquid that bathes and protects the brain. What they found was pure unmitigated  Niflaos HaBorei.

Two Different Modes — Perfectly Designed

During wakefulness, the brain runs in one mode. The electrical signals fire first, and the blood flow follows. It is like a foreman giving orders to workers: the neurons call out, and the blood vessels respond by delivering more oxygen. Scientists call this “neurovascular coupling,” and it is the classical understanding of how the brain operates. The water movement also follows along in this same orderly chain of command.

The moment a person falls asleep, the entire system reorganizes itself — automatically, without any conscious effort — into a completely different mode of operation.

During sleep, the three systems begin talking to each other in both directions simultaneously. Instead of a simple one-way command structure, the blood flow, the electrical signals, and the fluid movement all begin influencing each other in a beautifully coordinated, bidirectional dance. The researchers measured this using a sophisticated mathematical tool called “phase transfer entropy,” which can detect which signal is “predicting” or “leading” another.

The Brain Cleans Itself While You Sleep

And now more niflaos HaBorei. The brain accumulates waste products during the day — toxic proteins and metabolic byproducts that, if left to build up, can cause serious damage. Scientists have discovered in recent years that the brain has its own cleansing system, called the glymphatic system, which flushes these waste products out.

And this cleaning system runs primarily during sleep.

The slow, rhythmic waves of cerebrospinal fluid that increase during sleep — driven by a molecule called norepinephrine that oscillates at a slow rhythm of about once every 50 seconds — are what power this cleaning process. The brain’s blood vessels pulse slowly and powerfully during sleep, and like a gentle pump, they push the cleansing fluid through the narrow spaces between brain cells, washing out the accumulated toxins.

The researchers found that during sleep, these slow waves increase dramatically in power — more than doubling in some measurements. The speed at which these waves travel through the brain also increases during sleep, particularly in the sensory and motor areas of the brain. The entire system accelerates its cleaning operation precisely when the brain is not busy processing the outside world.

“Hareini oheiv otcha b’chol libi” — the Creator embedded within us systems of self-repair and renewal that operate even while we are entirely unaware.

Norepinephrine: The Master Conductor

One of the most striking findings is the role of a single molecule — norepinephrine (NE) — as the conductor of this entire symphony. During sleep, norepinephrine levels drop and then oscillate slowly. These oscillations trigger the vasomotor waves. But remarkably, this same molecule has opposite effects on two neighboring cell types:

• In neurons (nerve cells), declining norepinephrine increases a certain ion pump’s activity
• In astrocytes (support cells that surround blood vessels), declining norepinephrine decreases that same pump’s activity

These opposing effects create an electrical pressure difference between the two cell types — and that pressure difference is what drives the cerebrospinal fluid to flow through the brain’s interstitial spaces, carrying away the waste.

One molecule. Two opposite effects on neighboring cells. A perfectly engineered pressure system that cleans the brain.

“Nishmas kol chai t’varech es shimcha” — the very breath of every living creature praises Your Name — because even in unconscious sleep, the intricate machinery of life declares the glory of its Maker.

What Happens When Sleep Is Disrupted?

The implications of this research are sobering. When a person does not sleep enough, this entire cleaning system is compromised. Earlier research cited in this study showed that disrupting slow-wave sleep actually increases the levels of amyloid-beta — the toxic protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease — in the cerebrospinal fluid. The brain’s nightly maintenance crew cannot complete its work.

This gives new scientific weight to the Torah’s vision of the human body as a pikadon — a precious deposit entrusted to our care. Neglecting sleep is not merely a lifestyle choice. It interferes with a magnificent system that the Creator built into us for our protection and maintenance.

The Bigger Picture

What makes this study so significant is that it reveals a level of design that no engineer could have conceived. How so? This is what was discovered that is happening simultaneously during sleep:

1. Norepinephrine levels oscillate at precisely the right frequency
2. Blood vessels pulse in response, creating pressure waves
3. Cerebrospinal fluid moves in the opposite direction of the blood
4. Astrocyte cells physically change their shape — swelling and shrinking — to open pathways for fluid flow
5. The electrical activity of the brain shifts to complement all of this
6. The entire system becomes bidirectional and self-reinforcing

All of this happens automatically, every single night, in every human being, without any conscious instruction or effort.

The Ramban writes that the human body itself is evidence of the Divine, because its complexity surpasses all human understanding. This study, conducted with some of the most advanced brain imaging technology in existence, has only deepened that truth.

Mah rabu maasecha Hashem — how great are Your works, Hashem. You made them all with wisdom.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

The original study, “Sleep Alters Neurovascular and Hydrodynamic Coupling in the Human Brain,” was published in PNAS, Vol. 123, No. 12 (March 18, 2026) by Väyrynen et al., University of Oulu, Finland.

🔥 Top Stories

• Iran-linked militias kidnap Shelly Kittleson, an American journalist, in Baghdad.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war with Iran is “beyond the halfway point,” predicting eventual regime collapse.
• IDF Chief declares Iran is “collapsing,” praising unprecedented U.S.-Israel coordination in this war.

📊 By the Numbers

• Dozens of rocket launchers aimed at Israel were dismantled in a single IDF operation before they could be fired.
• Israel Railways caps Jerusalem line trains at 1,200 passengers per direction during Chol Hamoed travel.
• U.S. gas prices top $4 per gallon for the first time in years.

⚔️ Battlefield

• IDF troops in southern Lebanon eliminate an entire Hezbollah drone-launching cell after coming under direct attack.
• The Israeli Air Force carries out a new wave of strikes targeting the Iranian regime’s infrastructure.
• Four IDF soldiers were killed in a fierce clash with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
• Iran confirms the death of IRGC air defense officer Seyyed Ali Tavasoli.

🌍 Global

• Gulf allies urge the U.S. to intensify the fight against Iran as Donald Trump considers exit strategies.
• The UAE prepares to assist the U.S. in securing the Strait of Hormuz.
• Israel halts weapons sales to France after two years of diplomatic hostility.
• Iran imposes the death penalty for collaboration as arrests surge internally.

🏛️ Israeli Politics

• Defense Minister Israel Katz announces plans for Israel to maintain security control in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River post-war.
• Hamas spokesman Abu Obaida resurfaces, urging the capture of Israeli soldiers following Israel’s death penalty law for terrorists.
• U.S. Embassy Jerusalem pauses assisted departure bus service to Jordan until further notice.

🌍 Jewish World

• American Jews distribute thousands of free ice cream bars to Shilo communities as families prepare for Pesach under missile threat.
• Birkat Kohanim at the Kosel will be limited to just 50 Kohanim this Pesach due to security concerns.

U.S.

• A judge orders the University of Pennsylvania to provide the names of Jewish employees as part of a federal antisemitism probe.
• Donald Trump is set to attend a Supreme Court hearing on his executive order regarding birthright citizenship.
• King Charles III is expected to visit the United States later this April.

💼 Business & Economy

• Unilever plans a $65 billion merger of its food division with McCormick & Company, marking one of the largest food industry deals ever.

🧠 Behind the Scenes

• In a major legal twist, attorneys for Tyler Robinson reveal that federal analysis could not match the bullet that killed Charlie Kirk to the alleged weapon, shaking the entire case.

In a dramatic difference from the usual tradition, this year’s Birkat Kohanim at the Kosel on Chol Hamoed will take place with just 50 kohanim, a fraction of the massive crowds typically seen at the momentous ceremony.

Under normal circumstances, tens of thousands of Jews pack the Western Wall, with hundreds and sometimes even thousands of kohanim participating in the duchening.

But due to the ongoing war and strict Home Front Command restrictions, authorities have capped gatherings at 50 participants, provided a protected space can be reached within seconds in case of missile sirens. As a result, the usual beautiful and meaningful bracha will not take place. Instead, a symbolic, limited ceremony will be held, with options to watch it live-stream rather than actually being there.

This is a result of the heightened security situation in Jerusalem, where missile fragments have previously landed in and around the Old City since the war began, and it is also coming right after a large controversy about gatherings at holy sites.

MK Michael Malkieli defended the inclusion of religious service funding in the state budget, calling it a historic achievement and rejecting criticism directed at allocations for the chareidi community.

Speaking Tuesday morning on Kol Chai radio, Malkieli addressed the recurring debate over funding typically labeled as coalition money. “One of the things that is truly surprising is that every budget year, again, there is this issue that the funds for the chareidi public are not in the base,” he said. He explained that the goal of incorporating these funds into the core budget is to end the repeated disputes and recognize chareidim as equal citizens. “What we are entitled to, whether it is education or religious budgets, should be part of the base of the State of Israel.”

Malkieli expressed frustration over the public and media discourse surrounding the issue, arguing that many critics lack a basic understanding of the facts. “I ask them, does anyone have any idea what money we are talking about? Yes, jobs, Shas, distribution — absolutely not. This is education, this is children, these are kindergarten teachers,” he said. He criticized what he described as “such shallow media discourse” and said that chareidi representatives are primarily focused on “trying to save from the lion and the bear” in the face of opposition from political rivals and the press.

During the interview, Malkieli highlighted what he described as a major shift in how religious services are funded. “Since the establishment of the state, every budget for religious services — building mikvaos, shuls, eruvin — was never part of the base,” he said. He called the move to include construction budgets in the core allocation “an unprecedented achievement.” He added that progress is also being made on regulating salaries for rabbanim in moshavim and regional councils, which he said would significantly strengthen religious services nationwide.

Turning to the contentious draft law, Malkieli insisted that the delays are not due to political hesitation. “The difficulties today are not political difficulties in the draft law. The difficulties are legal difficulties and feasibility with respect to the High Court,” he said. He stressed that if the issue were political — whether due to lack of will or fear of media backlash — the coalition would not remain intact. “If the problem is Netanyahu or there is no majority in the government, we will not be there — it simply will not exist.”

Concluding the interview, Malkieli expressed hope that work on the draft legislation would continue despite the parliamentary recess, with the aim of reaching an agreement acceptable to Torah leadership. He noted that the state has informed the High Court that it has not abandoned efforts to pass a consensual law. “I very much hope that at the beginning of the next session we will advance this,” he said, adding a message ahead of the upcoming Yom Tov: “In Nissan we are destined to be redeemed, with Hashem’s help — that is what we need to pray for.”

{Matzav.com}

A controversial fine issued to a chareidi driver for wearing tefillin while driving has now been officially canceled, following intervention from Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The incident, which was heatedly debated, took place in Jerusalem when a driver was slapped with a ₪1,000 ticket by police who claimed he did not have proper control of the steering wheel due to wearing tefillin.

However, after a formal review, authorities determined the ticket should never have been issued. The reversal came after Ben-Gvir demanded clarification from police regarding the circumstances of the fine. The investigation revealed that the officers involved were volunteer personnel and that the citation was issued in an unprofessional manner that failed to meet required enforcement standards. Following consultation with the Head of the Traffic Division, the fine was immediately voided.

Attorney Eilon Oron explained that while tefillin could theoretically interfere with driving depending on how they are worn, this situation required discretion, not punishment.

CREDIT: C14

He noted that if the driver had not already put on the tefillin before beginning his trip, and was actively distracted, or if one was holding a siddur obstructing his vision, then the situation becomes legally questionable.

“In this case,” Oron said, “how is this different from someone driving in a Purim costume, as long as it doesn’t impair visibility?”He added that at most, the officer could have issued a warning rather than a steep fine.

Sharona, the mother of Captain Noam Madmoni, 22, delivered a heart-wrenching eulogy that captured the unbearable moment no parent should ever face:

“I saw an officer from the IDF casualty notification unit, the most difficult thing in the world to see. Save me, Creator of the Universe. I see someone, he signals. I tell him to get lost, you’ve got the wrong house. He asked, ‘Is this the Madmoni family?’ No. This is not Madmoni. You can go. I’m not opening the door or the window. There’s no chance I’m opening for you. You’re not coming into my house.”

She shared one of their final moments together, recalling a simple but powerful request her son made:

“Mom and Dad, I have just one request to you, please don’t speak lashon hara. I don’t want anything more than that.”

She concluded through unimaginable pain:

“I’m not leaving you. There’s no chance. Comfort of my soul, light of my soul… my prince!”

Captain Noam Madmoni HY”D

At just 22 years old, he should have had a lifetime of dreams ahead of him. Instead, he gave his life in Lebanon so that Israel could continue living theirs.

He was not just a soldier, but a leader, a hero, and a protector of our people. While the world moves forward, he will remain forever young, frozen in courage, sacrifice, and honor.

A young woman who was held captive in Gaza insisted on observing Pesach even under harsh conditions, refusing to eat chametz despite limited food options, her mother revealed ahead of the Yom Tov.

Merav Berger, mother of Agam Berger — who was taken hostage to Gaza and later returned to Israel — shared details at a pre-Pesach event about how her daughter conducted herself during the time she spent in captivity.

“She told them she doesn’t eat chametz.” According to her mother, Agam was aware that the holiday was approaching, partly due to a radio that was available, and made a firm decision not to eat chametz, even though pita bread was the main food given to them.

Berger said that after repeated requests, her captors eventually agreed to provide an alternative. “They knew exactly when it was Erev Pesach,” she said. “And in the end, they actually brought her corn flour.” She explained that at that time, the hostages were being held in houses rather than tunnels, which allowed for slightly different conditions. “It was a period that had a bit more abundance, in quotation marks,” she said, enabling Agam to avoid chametz throughout the days of the holiday.

Agam did not stop there. Together with Liri, another hostage who had been taken with her, she tried to recreate a sense of Yom Tov even while in captivity. “They asked for more vegetables,” her mother recounted. “They took an onion, filled it with rice, and made stuffed vegetables — a kind of Yom Tov meal.”

Even symbolic elements of the Yom Tov were not entirely absent. “There was a date, and for her that was like charoses.” According to her mother, the two girls attempted to reconstruct the Haggadah from memory. “They drew the Haggadah, whatever they remembered, and that’s how they marked the chag. They didn’t give up.”

Berger also described how her daughter set clear boundaries with her captors. “She told them in half Arabic and half pantomime, you kidnapped me, now deal with who I am. I am a Jew.”

{Matzav.com}

An Iranian missile that struck near a kindergarten campus in Petach Tikvah caused significant damage to the city’s well-known “Pacifier Tree,” with dozens of pacifiers disappearing and restoration efforts now under consideration.

The unusual incident occurred when a missile landed close to a network of kindergartens affiliated with Agudas Yisroel, damaging the historic tree, which has long served as a meaningful educational symbol for generations of young children. The force of the blast caused visible harm to the tree and its surroundings.

During a damage assessment conducted by local director Rabbi Tzvika Schlesinger, the extent of the impact became clear. Dozens of pacifiers that had been hung on the tree over the years were torn off, scattered, and lost. Some of those items had been there for decades and cannot be recovered.

For many years, the Pacifier Tree has played a role in helping children transition away from using pacifiers. Each child who gave up a pacifier would place it on the tree in a small symbolic act marking growth and maturity. Over time, the tree became a powerful emotional and educational landmark, representing the stories of thousands of children.

City officials noted that beyond the physical damage, the loss carries deeper emotional and cultural significance. Some of the missing items represented memories accumulated over many years and are irreplaceable, making this a broader loss for the community as a whole.

Efforts are now underway to explore ways to restore and preserve the tree and its surroundings, with the goal of maintaining its unique legacy and returning it to its role as a meaningful part of childhood development for local families.

{Matzav.com}

Following the Knesset’s approval of the death penalty law for terrorists, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir held a high-level meeting with senior Israel Prison Service officials to begin preparing for how the law will be implemented.

According to sources, the meeting — attended by Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, Deputy Commissioner Hatem Azam, who is expected to oversee the implementation, and other senior officials — focused on initial preparations, even though it may take several months before the law is carried out in practice.

Among the proposals discussed were creating a dedicated facility in central Israel for inmates sentenced to death, requiring them to wear red jumpsuits, and building specific infrastructure for executions. The plan includes carrying out executions by hanging, along with constructing a designated structure for that purpose.

Ben Gvir reportedly stated that any necessary funding would be provided to the prison service and emphasized his desire to move forward with the process as quickly as possible.

Prison Service spokesperson Zivon Freidin, a deputy commissioner involved in the designated team, outlined the emerging plan. “The minister of national security held a discussion with the commissioner and the deputy commissioner who is leading the staff work. A team has been established with a formal mandate, and a work plan was presented under which a dedicated facility will be set up in central Israel, including a hanging cell and a viewing cell. A special unit of prison fighters will be established, and several prison fighters will be assigned so that they will not know who pressed the button, and they will be accompanied by a psychological support system.”

The Knesset gave final approval to the legislation on Monday. The bill, advanced by Ben Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party, passed amid political tensions and disagreements even within the coalition. After the results were announced, coalition members applauded and celebrated, while opposition lawmakers shouted at Netanyahu, who voted in favor, calling out: “A slave of Ben Gvir!”

The law establishes the death penalty for terrorists convicted of premeditated murder carried out as part of terrorist activity. It has become one of the most controversial measures in recent years, with opposition from some figures in the defense and legal systems over possible consequences, while supporters argue it is a key tool for strengthening deterrence.

TALLAHASSEE, FL (VINnews)-Florida lawmakers have sent a sweeping election integrity bill — widely described as the state’s own version of the federal SAVE America Act — to Governor Ron DeSantis, who has confirmed he will sign it into law.

The legislation, House Bill 991 (HB 991), passed the Florida House on a 77-28 vote and the Senate 27-12 on March 12-13, 2026, largely along party lines. It strengthens voter registration requirements and reinforces paper-based voting processes.

Key Provisions of the Bill

Fortified Citizenship Verification: The bill requires proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. Acceptable documents include a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, U.S. birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or naturalization certificate. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) will cross-check citizenship status against its records. Unverified applicants may be flagged and required to provide additional documentation or cast provisional ballots.

Paper Ballots as Default: The measure redefines ballots as printed sheets of paper marked by pen (marksense ballots) for tabulation. It emphasizes voter-verifiable paper records while maintaining accessibility options for voters with disabilities.

Updated Voter ID Rules: Certain forms of identification, such as student IDs and some public assistance cards, will no longer be accepted at the polls. The changes aim to standardize and secure identification requirements.

The new requirements are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, after the 2026 midterm elections.

Governor DeSantis’ Stance

Governor DeSantis has strongly backed the bill, stating on social media: “The Florida version of the SAVE Act is about to pass the Legislature. Although Florida has already enacted much of what the federal legislation contemplates, this will further fortify our state as the leader in election integrity.”

He is expected to sign the bill promptly upon receipt.

Context and Reactions

The Florida bill mirrors core elements of the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, championed by President Donald Trump, which has faced hurdles in the U.S. Senate. Florida Republicans positioned the state measure as a proactive step to enhance election security at the state level.

Supporters hail it as common-sense reform that protects the integrity of elections. Critics, including voting rights groups and Democrats, argue the changes could create barriers for eligible voters — particularly students, seniors, low-income individuals, and those who have changed names — by imposing additional documentation hurdles.

VINnews will continue to monitor developments as Governor DeSantis signs the legislation and implementation plans move forward.

An extraordinary moment took place on Wedbesday morning, Erev Pesach 5786, at the Bais Medrash of Caulfield in Melbourne, Australia, as a siyum was made by 105-year-old Holocaust survivor Reb Berysz Aurbach.

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Reb Berish, born Gimmel Elul 5680 (1920), hails from a Chassidishe family in Biala Podlaska, Poland, a town with deep roots in Gerrer Chassidus. He was raised in a home filled with warmth, Torah, and mesorah, together with his siblings – three older brothers, a sister, and a half-brother.

In an incredible neis, he was one of the last Yidden to be smuggled out of the Warsaw Ghetto before Pesach 5703 (1943), mere days before the uprising and the brutal destruction that followed. Tragically, aside from one sister who had made her way to Eretz Yisroel before the war, his entire family was murdered al kiddush Hashem.

With nothing left in Poland, Reb Berysz reached out to an uncle in Australia, who sponsored his visa and enabled him to rebuild on new shores.

And now, at the age of 105, he stands as a living witness to a century of upheaval and survival, and still learns, still finishes Masechtos, and still inspires those around him.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Aryeh Nadav zt”l, one of the elder gedolei Torah of Yemenite Jewry and the rav of Ramat Amidar, who was niftar at the age of 89.

Earlier this evening, emergency responders were called to his home in Ramat Gan after he collapsed. They carried out prolonged resuscitation efforts, but tragically he was niftar.

The levayah took place tonight, departing from his beis medrash, Tiferes Yisroel, on Hahagana Street in Ramat Gan, and proceeding to the Vizhnitzer beis hachaim in Bnei Brak for kevurah.

The rav was born on the second of Iyar 5696 to his father, Rav Azri Nadav zt”l, and his mother, Mrs. Yonah a”h. In his youth, he learned in Yeshivas Ponovezh, where he became closely attached to the roshei yeshiva.

In later years, he was appointed rav of the Ramat Amidar neighborhood in Ramat Gan. There, he became a great mezakeh es harabbim, bringing many back to Torah. Through his efforts, many in the Yemenite community became bnei Torah. He was a beacon of Torah, and many flocked to his derashos and shmuessen, which were renowned, as his words were rich with depth and inspiration.

All his life, he conducted himself with humility, keeping to the sidelines and avoiding honor.

He leaves behind a blessed family. Among his sons is the famed maggid meisharim, Rav Yechiel Nadav, and he also merited sons-in-law who are distinguished rabbonim, including Rav Itamar Machpud, av beis din of Chukas Mishpat in Ashdod.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a Pentagon news conference Tuesday to deliver a blunt message on both the battlefield and the bargaining table: American firepower in Operation Epic Fury is accelerating, and Iran should come to terms before it gets worse.

Hegseth, who disclosed a covert visit to U.S. forces in the CENTCOM theater, said troops on the ground have one overriding request for leadership. “I met a junior airman, as the sun was going down and a chill was setting on the tarmac, who, when asked what they needed, she simply looked up at me with a sly smile on her face and said, ‘more bombs, sir, and bigger bombs,'” Hegseth recounted. “We will happily oblige her.”

He said the message was consistent across ranks, services, and roles. “What those Americans said to me, young and old, officer and NCO, male and female, Black and White, was: ‘Let’s finish the mission. Get us even more bombs. Bigger bombs, more targets. Let us finish this.'”

On Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Hegseth was unequivocal. “As President Trump has said time and time again, Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and they won’t,” he said. “These troops, they want to finish this fight for their kids and their grandkids. This is about history. This is about legacy.”

Hegseth drew a sharp contrast between the current administration and its predecessors. “President Trump is doing what no other president had the guts to do. Previous presidents were all talk. He’s all action,” he said. “American firepower is only increasing. Iran’s decreasing. We have more and more options, and they have less. Just one month — in only one month — we set the terms.”

He noted that the latest deadline for Iran to accept Trump’s peace terms falls at the midpoint of a 10-day pause on strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure, and said the onus was on Tehran to respond. “If Iran is wise, they will cut a deal,” Hegseth said. “President Trump doesn’t bluff and he does not back down. You can ask Khamenei about that.”

Hegseth addressed Iran’s new leadership directly. “This new regime, because regime change has occurred, should be wiser than the last. President Trump will make a deal. He is willing, and the terms of the deal are known to them. If Iran is not willing, then the United States War Department will continue with even more intensity.”

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, appearing alongside Hegseth, credited the American defense industrial base for sustaining the pace of the campaign, saying the factories, workshops, and laboratories supplying the military were as central to the war effort as the troops in the field.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday claimed sweeping gains from Israel’s ongoing and recent military campaigns, announcing the formation of new regional alliances against Iran and promising that the Islamic Republic’s regime will “sooner or later” fall.

“We are creating new alliances with important countries in the region,” Netanyahu said, declining to identify the states involved. “I hope that soon, I will be able to tell you more about these important pacts.”

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Netanyahu framed the current war as the continuation of a campaign begun last June in what he called Operation Rising Lion, describing the two conflicts as complementary blows to Iran’s military ambitions.

“In Operation Rising Lion, we removed from upon us the immediate threat of Iran arming itself with a nuclear weapon and many ballistic missiles,” he said. “And in the current war, we brought a complementary achievement, by smashing the industrial capability of the regime to produce these tools of destruction.”

He noted that Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei — killed on the first day of the current conflict — had sought to bury Iran’s nuclear and missile programs underground to shield them from Israeli strikes.

Netanyahu then enumerated what he called ten major achievements of Israel’s recent wars, among them the establishment of IDF-patrolled “security zones” in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon. He also declared that Hezbollah, which has been firing rockets and missiles into northern Israel for the past month, no longer poses “a strategic threat” to the country.

In an apparent edit at the end of the video, Netanyahu turned sharply toward domestic critics. “What happened to you?” he said, addressing the press and opposition. “Raise the morale of our side, not of the enemy.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a warning against leading global technology companies, accusing them of involvement in assassinations inside the country and threatening retaliatory action.

According to the announcement, 18 companies — including Apple, Google, Intel, Microsoft, and Meta — could be targeted beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, in response to the killings.

In its statement, the Revolutionary Guard urged employees of those firms to leave their workplaces immediately “to save their lives,” while also advising civilians living near company offices in the Middle East to take precautionary measures.

“Residents in the vicinity of these companies, in all countries of the region, should also leave their locations within a radius of one kilometer and move to a safe place,” the Iranians warned. “Companies that actively participate in terrorist plans will be targets of retaliation. Starting from 20:00 on Wednesday (Tehran time), their facilities will be subject to attack in response to any assassination within Iran.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House says Trump will deliver a prime-time address Wednesday evening to update the public on the Iran war.

TUNE IN: Tomorrow night at 9PM ET, President Trump will give an Address to the Nation to provide an important update on Iran.

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 31, 2026