Jooish News

A new national survey indicates that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is viewed positively by nearly half of likely U.S. voters, reflecting an increase in his standing as he plays a leading role in President Donald Trump’s foreign policy efforts.

According to the Rasmussen Reports poll, 47% of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Rubio, including 25% who describe their view as “very favorable.” This marks a slight increase from 45% recorded a year ago.

In contrast, 36% of respondents hold an unfavorable view of Rubio, while 16% say they are unsure.

The findings point to a growing national profile for Rubio as he takes on major diplomatic responsibilities tied to the Trump administration’s agenda, including sensitive initiatives in Latin America and the Middle East.

The survey also explored how voters assess Rubio’s performance compared to past secretaries of state. It found that 36% believe he is doing a better job than most of his predecessors, while 35% say he is performing worse. Another 18% feel his performance is about the same.

Republican voters show particularly strong support for Rubio, with 71% expressing a favorable opinion and 59% saying he is outperforming previous secretaries of state.

Among Democrats, however, opposition is pronounced, with 73% saying they view Rubio unfavorably, underscoring the sharp partisan divide over the administration’s foreign policy.

The poll highlights Rubio’s strength among Hispanic voters, with 64% viewing him favorably — a notable figure given his background as a Miami-born politician of Cuban descent and his prominent role in shaping U.S. policy toward Latin America.

Among white and Black voters, Rubio holds a 44% favorability rating, according to the survey.

Men are more likely than women to express a positive opinion of Rubio, and voters in their 30s show the highest level of support among age groups.

Support is strongest among conservatives, with 75% reporting a favorable view of the secretary of state.

The Rasmussen survey was conducted from March 16 to March 18 among 1,092 likely voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Rubio’s improved numbers domestically come as his visibility on the global stage also appears to be increasing.

An international poll conducted by AtlasIntel for Bloomberg News found that Rubio ranks among the most favorably viewed political figures in Venezuela following U.S.-backed efforts to stabilize the country after the removal of strongman Nicolas Maduro.

Rubio has stressed the importance of restoring stability and advancing democratic elections in Venezuela, arguing that conditions there are already improving after years of socialist governance.

“I will say this without apology or fear: Venezuela is better today than it was eight weeks ago,” Rubio said recently, pointing to progress while acknowledging more work remains.

Overall, the Rasmussen data suggests that Rubio’s prominent diplomatic role and close alignment with President Trump’s America First approach are resonating with a significant segment of the electorate, even as critics continue to voice opposition.

With international challenges continuing to evolve, Rubio’s rising favorability may position him as a central figure in shaping U.S. foreign policy — and potentially as a contender in the 2028 Republican presidential race.

A senior Iranian official has firmly rejected claims that Tehran is engaged in discussions with the Trump administration over ending the ongoing conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, contradicting statements made by President Trump about active negotiations.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqher Ghalibaf pushed back strongly against President Trump’s claim that Washington had held “very good and productive talks” with Iran aimed at resolving the war.

“No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped,” Ghalibaf wrote on X.

“Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors,” he added. “All Iranian officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved.”

Tehran has consistently dismissed reports that its leadership is in direct contact with U.S. officials, even as optimism over a possible diplomatic breakthrough led to gains in both stock and oil markets on Monday.

President Trump, however, suggested that Iran’s denials stem from internal communication breakdowns following sustained U.S.-Israeli strikes that have eliminated numerous senior figures in Iran’s leadership.

“The communication, as you know, has been blown to pieces. They were unable to talk to each other, but we’ve had very strong talks,” he told reporters.

“If it goes well, we’re going to end up settling this. Otherwise, we just keep bombing our little hearts out.”

According to Israeli officials cited in a report, Ghalibaf has been identified as a key intermediary for Iran, allegedly maintaining either direct or indirect contact with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff as well as Jared Kushner.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance held a phone conversation this morning with Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, Barak Ravid reports.

The discussion reportedly focused on initiatives to begin negotiations with Iran, including the key elements of a potential deal to bring an end to the ongoing war.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — The daughter of Solange Tremblay, an Air Canada flight attendant, said her mother survived the deadly LaGuardia crash after being violently ejected from the aircraft while still strapped into her jump seat.

Her daughter, Sarah Lépine, said Tremblay was found following the impact and rushed to the hospital. She suffered a broken leg that will require surgery, but her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Lépine described her mother’s survival as extraordinary, calling it “nothing short of a miracle.” She added that the family is grateful for her recovery and hopeful as she begins to heal.

Shmuli V – Our assessment: President Donald J. Trump is signaling that he is engaging in negotiations with the Iranians, and may even be conducting them deceptively. The more plausible objective is strategic misdirection: to lull Iran into a false sense of security ahead of a potential move against Kharg Island.

In recent days, thousands of U.S. Marines have been deployed to the Middle East, with arrivals expected in the coming weeks. This pattern mirrors what we saw before the war began, when the U.S. quietly surged forces into the region while publicly maintaining a diplomatic posture.

If Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum expires, now with only hours remaining, we are likely to see an American response. Not necessarily immediate, but deliberate. The goal appears to be to convince Iran that negotiations are genuine, only to catch them off guard.

Israeli officials further reinforce this assessment. Their lack of concern suggests that these talks may be part of a broader operational security (OPSEC) strategy. Reading between the lines, this closely resembles the lead-up to previous escalations.

Betting markets reflect similar skepticism. On Polymarket, the probability of a U.S.–Iran ceasefire by March 31 stands at just 18%, implying an 82% likelihood that fighting continues.

Trump has a documented pattern of using psychological warfare. This has been evident since Operation Midnight Hammer, as well as in the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.

We saw a similar playbook before. As outlined in our previous analysis, Strategic Deception: Why Iran Just Showed the U.S. Its Entire Defense Playbook, this approach relies on deception, timing, and controlled escalation.

If this pattern holds, the current “ceasefire narrative” may be less about diplomacy, and more about setting the stage for what comes next.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A new City Council proposal would expand New York City’s free trash bin program to include owner-occupied three-family homes, addressing what supporters say is an inequity in how the city treats small homeowners.

Councilman Simcha Felder has introduced Intro 0193, co-sponsored by Sanitation Committee Chair Justin Sanchez. The measure would require the city to provide official bins to eligible three-family homeowners or reimburse those who purchase them.

The current program provides free bins to one- and two-family homes, but excludes many three-family properties, leaving owners to pay out of pocket.

“Owner-occupied three-family homes are just like families in one- or two-family homes,” Felder said. “They’re taxed the same, they should be treated the same.”

Felder said the legislation is aimed at easing rising costs for homeowners. “If the city mandates new bins, they should provide them,” he said, calling the proposal a “common-sense” fix.

Sanchez said the bill builds on existing sanitation efforts and supports working homeowners. “This thoughtful investment will make a small but noticeable difference in the wallets of homeowners and the blocks they live on,” he said.

The proposal comes as housing affordability remains a challenge for many New York City residents. Tens of thousands of owner-occupied three-family homes, concentrated largely in Brooklyn and Queens, serve as both residences and rental properties, forming a key part of the city’s housing stock.

If approved, the bill would expand the reach of the city’s sanitation program and potentially reduce costs for thousands of small property owners.

President Donald Trump said Monday that it remains unclear whether Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still alive, following reports that he may have been wounded during the opening stages of Operation Epic Fury.

Speaking to reporters as he left Palm Beach International Airport in South Florida en route to Memphis, Tennessee, Trump acknowledged the lack of information about Khamenei’s condition. “We have not heard from the son,” Trump said. “We don’t know if he’s living.”

Shortly before making those remarks, Trump indicated that the United States is engaged in discussions that could potentially bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East, referring to talks involving what he described as a highly respected figure in Iran’s leadership.

When asked whether he meant the country’s supreme leader, Trump clarified that he was not referring to that position. “No,” he replied.

Trump went on to state that Iran’s previous leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed and suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei’s current status remains uncertain. “[Ali] Khamenei was killed,” the president said. “Khamenei’s son is unavailable. Nobody knows what happened to him. I can say they haven’t seen him there either. Something is going on with him. But regardless, I don’t consider him really the leader, but they do have some leaders left.”

Shortly after Trump’s comments, The Jerusalem Post reported that U.S.-Iran discussions are believed to be centered around Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who currently serves as speaker of Iran’s parliament.

Ghalibaf, 64, is a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air force and has been seen on Iranian state television leading chants of “Death to America! Death to Israel!” among lawmakers.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was appointed on March 8 to succeed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at age 86 during the initial phase of the joint U.S.-Israeli air campaign on February 28.

Reports indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei may have been injured in the same strike that killed his father, though accounts differ regarding the extent of his injuries.

The New York Times, citing Iranian sources, reported on March 11 that he suffered a broken foot, bruising around the eye, and cuts to his face.

A day later, another report citing an Iranian source claimed that Khamenei was in a coma and receiving intensive medical treatment at Sina University Hospital in Tehran.

“One or two of his legs have been cut off. His liver or stomach has also ruptured. He is apparently in a coma as well,” the source alleged.

Since assuming the role of supreme leader, Khamenei has issued only written statements, which have been read on state television, fueling further speculation about his condition—particularly after he did not appear at a public event marking his succession.

Over the weekend, Axios reported that U.S. and Israeli intelligence assessments suggest Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive, noting that Iranian officials have reportedly been attempting to arrange in-person meetings with him.

“We have no evidence that he is really the one giving orders,” a senior Israeli official said, while a U.S. official described the situation as “beyond weird.”

“We don’t think the Iranians would have gone through all this trouble to choose a dead guy as the supreme leader,” the official said, “but at the same time, we have no proof that he is taking the helm.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s major airlines are sharply reducing flight operations as new wartime restrictions take effect at Ben Gurion Airport.

Under Transportation Ministry orders limiting traffic to one flight per hour, departures have been capped at about 15 flights per day, with a maximum of 50 passengers per flight.

El Al said it is shifting to “essential flight activity only,” operating limited routes to New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Paris, Rome, and Athens. Passenger priority will be given based on original booking dates, with preference for humanitarian and medical cases.

Israir also announced a reduced schedule, operating flights only to Athens, Larnaca, Rome, Tbilisi, and Addis Ababa, which will serve as hubs for onward travel.

The airlines say the restrictions have significantly reduced capacity, leaving thousands of passengers competing for limited seats.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

By David (Dudi) Mashinsky, Dynamic Design. Paying vendors on time is one thing, but to pay EARLY???

Who does that??

I’ll tell you who….

We did a project at park grove nursing and rehabilitation

With a gorgeous new Lobby, corridor, resident rooms and therapy room.

Mid-project, out of the blue, I got a call from Mayer Fischl-

“Dudi, I know it’s early, but were sending over $250k now… “

Me: “one second, Mayer it’s not due yet.”

Him: I know, but we could pay now so why wait??

I was and still am beyond floored.

It’s one thing to pay on time,

But this was a completely different level.

Let’s be honest, we hear a lot about people not paying – and this was the total opposite!

Guys, there are special people out there

And BH we’re privileged to work with many of them like Mayer Fischl and Chaim Grinspan!

Huge thank you to David Munk who did an incredible job on this project!

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

The New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau has rejected Maimonides Medical Center’s bid for administrative approval of its proposed merger with NYC Health + Hospitals, dealing a major blow to a transaction that was supposed to close in just over a week.

The Attorney General’s office has directed that Maimonides must instead seek court approval for the proposed asset transfer under Section 511 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law — a rigorous judicial process the hospital has not yet begun and that is expected to take many months. No closing can occur unless a Brooklyn court reviews and approves the application.

The ruling makes it impossible for Maimonides and H+H to meet their widely publicized April 1, 2026, closing deadline.

That timeline had been publicly affirmed as recently as March 2, when Dr. Mitchell Katz, president and CEO of H+H, told the City Council Committee on Hospitals that “the transaction is anticipated to close by April 1, 2026.” Katz acknowledged at the time that “not all the paperwork is yet done” with the Attorney General’s office, but gave no indication that approval might be withheld.

Less than three weeks later, it was.

The court process now required will include formal notice to the Attorney General, a public hearing before a New York Supreme Court justice, and an opportunity for any interested parties to participate and raise objections — a far cry from the streamlined administrative sign-off Maimonides had been pursuing.

A Multi-Billion-Dollar Question

At the heart of the opposition is the nature of the deal itself: in substance, the transfer of a multi-billion-dollar hospital and its assets to the City of New York, raising pointed legal questions about the proper handling of not-for-profit assets and the impact on care for the surrounding community.

“The Attorney General’s office has now confirmed what we have been saying for months: this transaction cannot simply be rubber-stamped and must instead be reviewed by the courts,” said Martin Bienstock, an attorney representing community institutions and individuals concerned about the merger’s effect on healthcare quality. “The transfer of a multi-billion-dollar hospital to the City of New York demands full judicial scrutiny.”

Opponents have pointed to H+H’s track record as cause for alarm. The public hospital system’s facilities have consistently ranked among the lowest-quality in both the city and the state, and critics say absorbing a well-regarded community institution like Maimonides into that system could erode care for the patients who depend on it.

Legal Battles Multiply

The Attorney General’s decision adds to a thickening tangle of legal challenges.

In Albany, community members and institutions have filed suit seeking to require Public Health Council approval of the transaction under state health law. Petitioners in that case have asked for a preliminary injunction blocking the closing, and a court has granted their request for a hearing later this month.

“The Not-for-Profit Corporation Law exists to ensure that the public interest is protected before a charitable institution’s assets are handed over,” said Akiva Shapiro of Gibson Dunn, co-counsel for the petitioners. “The law requires both judicial and Public Health Council scrutiny of a transfer of this magnitude, and the communities that depend on Maimonides for their medical care deserve nothing less.”

Separately, a group of Maimonides trustees has filed a lawsuit in Brooklyn challenging the validity of the board’s approval of the deal, seeking to have the vote and any resulting transaction nullified. A preliminary injunction hearing in that case is scheduled for mid-April.

With contested proceedings now mounting on multiple fronts, what was presented to the public and the City Council as an imminent and all-but-certain closing now faces a gauntlet of judicial scrutiny that Maimonides and H+H had clearly hoped to avoid.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In a big moment of interfaith engagement, Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where both leaders spoke about the need to combat antisemitism and strengthen Holocaust remembrance across our school systems and worldwide.

During the meeting, the two discussed expounding on the relationship between Yad Vashem and the Catholic Church in key areas, including education, documentation, and research surrounding the Holocaust. Dayan explained the importance of access to Vatican archives, which could deepen the understanding of the Holocaust and how it fits into Jewish history.

The Pope reaffirmed his commitment to spreading the memory of the Holocaust and condemned the rise in antisemitism, stressing the importance of continued education and awareness across Europe.

Following the meeting, Dayan described the discussion as “warm and highly constructive,” noting that both sides expressed a shared set of goals and commitments moving forward.

As part of the visit, Dayan presented the Pope with a meaningful gift, a reproduction of the artwork “Where Art Thou?” by Holocaust victim Carol Deutsch. The piece of art is part of a series of 99 pieces depicting stories and figures from the Bible, created by Deutsch in 1941 in Antwerp for his young daughter.

This specific piece was chosen as a tribute to Pope Francis, who quoted the biblical passage that inspired the title of the artwork when he spoke in Yad Vashem in 2014. A part of that speech is inscribed on the gift.

Dayan also extended an invitation for the Pope to visit Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, continuing a tradition of engagement between the Vatican and Israel’s official Holocaust memorial site. Previous popes, including Pope Francis, have made visits and have given importance to the evolving relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people.

President Donald Trump said the U.S. is making significant progress in negotiations with Iran, while warning that time is limited.

“We’ve been negotiating [with Iran] for a long time, and this time, they mean business,” Trump said during remarks at an event in Tennessee.

He credited recent military operations for bringing Iran to the table, saying, “It’s only because of the great job that our military did.”

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Trump emphasized that any agreement must ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.

“Hopefully a deal is possible, but no matter what, we’ll ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon,” he said.

The president added that Iran has “one more opportunity” to end its threats, noting that talks are progressing well.

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“They want peace… They will not have a nuclear weapon, etc., etc., but we’ll see,” Trump said. “I would say there’s a very good chance” for a deal.

Trump also said the potential agreement would benefit U.S. allies, including Israel, which he described as “a great partner in this fight.”

“We’re giving it five days, and then we’re going to see where that takes us,” Trump said, adding that a deal could be as effective as “literally annihilating the place.”

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Unmasked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to major airports across the United States on Monday, where they were quickly confronted and photographed by travelers and media as they began assisting with airport operations.

President Donald Trump announced the move a day earlier, saying ICE personnel would be sent to support TSA officers, many of whom have been working without pay since February due to the ongoing government shutdown.

At John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, ICE agents were seen patrolling terminals as long security lines formed amid the partial shutdown. The presence of the agents drew significant attention from passengers and photographers.

Some ICE officers were filmed attempting to avoid cameras, with footage showing them running as they were pursued by photographers inside JFK.

At the same time, ICE personnel were also deployed at Atlanta’s airport, where they were observed helping with security-related duties alongside TSA officers who remain on the job despite not receiving pay.

Airports where ICE agents were deployed on Monday include Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Cleveland, Houston Hobby, Fort Myers, New Orleans, New York JFK, New York LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, and San Juan in Puerto Rico.

As we approach Pesach, many of us are struggling with something very real: understanding the concept of Pesach chumros, how far to go with them, and where exactly to draw the line.

We all know the basics. Many have a minhag not to eat gebrokts, not to mish. Some avoid many processed foods entirely. Others go even further: no processed milk, using shmaltz instead of oil, and more.

And the question people are quietly asking is:
Do I have to do exactly what my parents did?

I want to share a scenario I know personally, and my thoughts on it. I think it applies to many situations, and I’m happy to hear what others think.

There’s a family with a strong Pesach mesorah; generally, they avoid many store-bought products. But at the same time, they do buy certain things: milk, cheese, leben, chocolate, orange juice, and more. For the kids, they’ll allow some basic snacks like macaroons and ladyfingers.

So here’s the honest question:
Is this really the exact mesorah going back generations?

If you’re already buying all these processed items, why stop there? Why are some things considered fine, and others suddenly off-limits?

We say our grandparents didn’t eat these foods; that’s true. But we also have to remember: they didn’t have much available the whole year either.

I sometimes wonder what our great-grandparents would do if they were living today, with everything available. Would they eat more products? Would they go to Pesach programs? Would they use kosher l’Pesach takeout?

The truth is that no one really knows.

Another example someone brought up was about not eating peels on Pesach because their grandfather didn’t. But it turned out that the grandfather peeled everything the entire year; it wasn’t a Pesach chumra at all.

So how do we look at all this?

Here’s my thought.

Pesach is a time where we try harder to hold onto mesorah and take on chumros that we may not necessarily keep the whole year. Even people who don’t follow every family minhag during the year often feel that Pesach is different; and it is.

At the same time, I think it comes down to four things:
Halacha.
Mesorah.
Practicality.
Shalom bayis.

Yes, I do believe a person should try to follow their father’s minhagim as much as they can, whether those came from his father, his yeshiva, his rabbeim, or the community he grew up in.

If it works for you, and you’re able to do it, that’s the right thing.

But it shouldn’t be done with pressure, frustration, or feeling overwhelmed.

If there are things that feel too difficult, I believe most parents would understand, and would be happy knowing that their children are trying to do their best.

At the end of the day, that’s what matters.

I hope this gives some clarity, and I’d be happy to hear others’ thoughts.

Wishing everyone a Chag Kasher V’Sameach,

A Lakewood Resident

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

This article is being reprinted from June 2009.  It is an interview with Mrs. Sally Hirsch, a”h who recently passed away.

New York – Their ordeal is well known and well-documented. Students from the Mir Yeshiva escaped the clutches of the Nazis by a hairsbreadth – and went to Kobe, Japan and then spent the war years in Shanghai, China. But how did these Yeshiva boys arrive in the United States? An 18 year old Sally Cohen (now Mrs. Hirsch) travelled with the Mir Yeshiva from Shanghai to the United States. The ship they travelled on was the SS General M.C. Meigs, a US Navy ship. It departed on January 1st, 1949 and arrived on January 24th, 1949. The Mir students and Miss Cohen travelled third class. She shared her experience with the Five Towns Jewish Times.

YH: Mrs. Hirsch, how did you come in contact with the Mir Yeshiva?
SH: While we were in Shanghai – the Mir students gave classes and taught the local Sefardic Jewish community all sorts of Torah classes. They would teach us in the main Sefardic shul in Shanghai. They were single bochurim and they made us all frummer. One of their names was Rabbi Schechter, another Rabbi Borgen.. I don’t remember all their names anymore but many of them became important Rabbis later on in America.

YH: Are you still in touch with any of them?
SH: I did run into them throughout the years, but there is hardly anyone left anymore.
YH: Where did the Mir boys stay?
SH: In Shanghai they lived in a ghetto called Honque. They would come to the Sefardic community often and they had their own minyan for Maariv later in the Sefardic shul.. They also had all their weddings there during the night.
YH: The Japanese had occupied China at the time?
SH: Yes. All the American Mir bochurim had to wear a big A on their clothing.. The British had to wear a B. They called us Naquni – which meant All foreigners in Japanese.. But the Mir boys were all in the Honque.
YH: Why did you decide to go to America?
SH: I wanted to continue in a Bais Yaakov environment. Rebbitzen Kaplan had a Bais Yaakov on South Ninth Street in Williamsburg and the plan was for me to go there.
YH: How many girls from Shanghai came over with you?
SH: There were a little less than ten.. But the Yeshiva boys were a lot.
YH: How did you feel travelling without family?
SH: I was frightened and I was plenty scared.. Because we were Shomer Shabbos my father asked the Rabbi what to do about travelling.. He was told that we had to come on the boat early a couple days before Shabbos and then it would be muttar.
YH: What did the ticket for the ship cost?
SH: Not a penny. The American Navy ship brought us all here for free – there was no ticket cost.
YH: What was the ship ride like?
SH: Most of us were sick the whole time. The ship was light boat and there were no individual rooms. The beds were in one big room – bed after bed after bed. The girls and women were in a different room but the same way. First we stopped in Guam and the ship refilled with food supplies. We did not get off the ship in Guam though. Then we stopped in Honolulu. They took us to the Jewish community there. There was one house in which we all gathered. The Jewish people there were very nice. They loaded us up with sardines and canned goods.

YH: Did the Mir boys have minyanim and a Sefer Torah?
SH: I can hardly remember. Remember, I was a very young girl then..

YH: What were the meals like?
SH: Well, almost all of us were very sick and we barely ate anything. The cooks used to try to get us to eat. They said that all the food in the pot this time or that time was kosher – there was no pork in it. But we were all pretty frum and we did not eat of course. We had some of our own kosher food.

YH: How many suitcases did you land with?
SH: I don’t remember but my niece told me that I came with four suitcases. She was able to look it up.
YH: What happened when you landed?
SH: We landed in San Francisco Harbor. They took us to a hotel for three days there. HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society paid for it, but it was arranged through one of the Torah organizations. And then they put us on a train for New York.

YH: What did you do when you arrived in New York?
SH: The Mir boys went to the Yeshiva in Brooklyn and were taken in the dormitories. They made room for them. I was accepted in the Bais Yaakov in New York but there were no dorm places anymore. I stayed with a wonderful family in Boro Park. Rebbitzen Kaplan a”h played ball with us in the park in Williamsburg. There is a park there right next to the Bais Yaakov. This wouldn’t happen nowadays – but she was very close to all the girls.
YH: Thank you so much! ♦

SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL – (VINnews) Leonid Radvinsky, the billionaire owner of OnlyFans, died at age 43 following a prolonged illness, the company said Monday.

Radvinsky, a Ukrainian-born American entrepreneur, acquired the parent company of the subscription-based platform in 2018 and built it into a global business that saw rapid growth in recent years.

He had an estimated net worth of about $7.8 billion, according to Forbes.

Born in Odesa, Ukraine, Radvinsky immigrated to the United States as a child and was raised in a Jewish family. He was widely associated with Chicago before later moving to Sunny Isles Beach and kept a low public profile despite his role in shaping one of the most prominent platforms in the digital content industry.

Before OnlyFans, Radvinsky founded the webcam site MyFreeCams and was involved in early online ventures.

In 2024, he was linked in reports to a potential $11 million pledge to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. Radvinsky denied making or pledging the donation, saying in a statement that neither he, his foundation nor his family had committed the funds. However, reporting at the time cited internal documents attributing the contribution to an anonymous donor and his wife, Katie Chudnovsky, including a wire transfer associated with her.

Radvinsky and his wife were also known to have made significant contributions to cancer research in recent years, according to people familiar with their philanthropy.

He is survived by his wife, and their four children.

In a statement, the company said he “passed away peacefully” and asked that his family’s privacy be respected.

No further details were immediately released.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rahm Emanuel, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, is proposing a far-reaching ban on betting in prediction markets by federal employees and their families as part of an effort to call attention to what he says is a culture of corruption gripping the nation’s politics.

The proposal, which Emanuel shared with The Associated Press, would apply to leaders and employees across the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government. Emanuel said if elected he would establish a division within the Justice Department to investigate such betting.

As legalized gambling has taken off in the U.S., there have been widespread concerns about its impact on everything from sports to addiction. But Emanuel said he was spurred to focus on the issue after concerns emerged that some in Washington with inside information about national security plans may have profited off of bets made ahead of recent military action in Venezuela and Iran.

“Somebody clearly with inside information inside the government was making bets, made money,” he said in an interview. “You have fellow Americans, what I call the true 1%, the people that volunteer to serve the interests of this country and its national security, they’re putting their lives on the line and you’ve got somebody else sitting in his or her basement placing bets on it.”

He cast his measure as part of a broader push to shake a capital that he argues has become desensitized to corruption in the Trump era.

“All of Washington has become so accustomed to this amorality and immorality and nobody says anything,” Emanuel said. “Washington needs a good power washing.”

Few are as familiar with Washington as the 66-year-old Emanuel, a onetime congressman from Illinois who helped power Democrats to overwhelming victories in the 2006 midterms, an election year some in the party are looking to for inspiration as they try to retake control of Congress this year. He became White House chief of staff to President Barack Obama before being elected to two terms as Chicago mayor. He was the U.S. ambassador to Japan under President Joe Biden.

Now Emanuel is considering a White House bid of his own in 2028. In the early stages of that contest, several Democratic governors, including Gavin Newsom of California and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, have received the most attention. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear made an aggressive move of his own over the weekend by traveling to Vice President JD Vance’s home county in Ohio to deliver a searing critique of the man who could become a leading candidate for the next Republican presidential nomination.

Against that backdrop, Emanuel has distinguished himself by issuing a series of proposals that often address issues at the center of the Democratic debate. After Biden’s presidency raised questions about the ability of aging leaders to remain in public office, Emanuel proposed a mandatory retirement age of 75, an idea that would prevent him from seeking a second term if he was elected. He’s also proposed banning children under 16 from most social media and options to address literacy.

Often on the road in communities from Michigan to Mississippi, he is pitching these ideas in places that don’t always receive attention from potential presidential hopefuls.

He said he would hope to work with Congress to enact the predictive betting ban but would consider executive action if that weren’t possible. In the interview, he insisted he wasn’t issuing such proposals to simply shape the direction of the Democratic debate as another campaign season nears.

He said measures like the ban on predictive betting are intended to shock Washington into returning to the norms that long governed politics.

“I put this out there because everybody else is walking around sleepwalking,” he said.

A Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130 aircraft crashed in the southern part of Colombia, the country’s defense ministry said. A local radio outlet reported 110 passengers were aboard, and 90 officers were confirmed dead amid a mounting death toll.

The accident occurred when the plane took off from Puerto Leguizamo, deep in the country’s south near the Peruvian border, according to Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez. The military aircraft was transporting troops from Colombia’s military.

“The exact number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been determined,” he said.

According to a local radio report, the crash occurred 3 kilometers from an urban area. According to the report, 110 passengers were aboard the plane when it crashed.

Passengers aboard an Air Canada flight that collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport described scenes of panic and confusion as the aircraft lost control on the runway, while some suggested the pilots’ final actions may have prevented a far greater tragedy.

“It was a regular flight like always,” passenger Jack Cabot told Fox News, referring to the plane that arrived from Montreal shortly before 11:40 p.m. Sunday.

Cabot recounted the moments leading up to the crash, saying the landing felt unusually forceful before things quickly escalated. “As we were arriving, we came down really hard. We stopped really quickly, 2 seconds later, we had an absolute slam,” he said, describing the impact that left the front section of the aircraft destroyed.

Both pilots were killed in the crash, and 41 passengers were taken to hospitals following the incident, which led to the shutdown of the Queens airport for much of Monday.

'IT WAS CHAOS': An Air Canada passenger details the harrowing moments when the plane he was on collided with a fire truck on the runway during landing at LaGuardia Airport. Two pilots were killed and dozens of passengers were injured. pic.twitter.com/7Nt36V5Bfc

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 23, 2026

Cabot described the immediate aftermath inside the cabin as chaotic and disorienting. “Everybody was flying everywhere. The plane veering off left and right. It was chaos. It didn’t feel like there was anybody controlling it,” he added.

Another passenger said it appeared the pilots attempted a last-second maneuver that may have helped save lives.

“We had just touched down, and maybe about 30 seconds later we all felt a jolt forward, then a loud bang, and what felt like sliding sideways down the runway,” passenger Brady Sego wrote on Reddit.

“Someone did say the pilot tried to reverse thrust at the last second. Honestly, they likely saved our lives. I wish I could tell their families how thankful I am. They are heroes,” he added.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the pilots, and investigators are still working to determine what caused the crash.

Audio recordings from air traffic control captured tense moments during the incident, including a controller acknowledging a mistake. The recordings reveal one official saying they “messed up.”

Images taken the following morning show extensive damage to the aircraft, with the cockpit area completely destroyed as daylight illuminated the runway.

{Matzav.com}

(AP) – DoorDash is offering extra compensation to U.S. and Canadian drivers as part of a temporary program to help offset rising gas prices.

The San Francisco-based delivery company announced the program Monday as the national average price for gas hit $3.96 per gallon in the U.S., according to AAA. That’s 35% higher than one month ago.

DoorDash said U.S. drivers with a DoorDash debit card will earn 10% cash back on any gas purchase, up from the usual rate of 2%. More than half of DoorDash drivers have the card, the company said.

The company said drivers who travel 125 miles or more while making deliveries will also receive a weekly fuel payment, starting at $5 and up to a maximum of $15.

In Canada, DoorDash drivers will receive up to $36 Canadian dollars per week based on the miles they travel to make deliveries.

DoorDash said both programs will remain in effect through April 26. It announced a similar gas price relief program in Australia late last week.

It’s not yet clear if rivals will match DoorDash’s payments. GrubHub said last week that it is keeping a close eye on gas prices. Messages seeking comment were left Monday with Uber.

(AP) – Whether they’re using weekly shots or daily pills, more Americans than ever are turning to anti-obesity drugs to lose weight and boost health.

About 1 in 8 U.S. adults say they are taking a GLP-1 drug, according to a recent survey by the health research group KFF.

Just since January, more than 600,000 prescriptions have been written for Novo Nordisk’s new Wegovy pill, the company said. Early analysis suggests that more than a third of users are new to the drugs, according to Truveta, a health care data company.

But medication alone isn’t the answer, experts caution. It also takes lifestyle changes — healthy diet, exercise, adequate sleep and stress management — to reap the biggest benefits from the drugs known as GLP-1s.

“The biggest mistake people make with GLP-1 medications is thinking the prescription is the treatment,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity medicine expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of FlyteHealth, a weight-loss treatment company.

GLP-1s can spur weight loss and health benefits on their own, but the effects are larger and last longer when the drugs are combined with lifestyle changes, a recent review of nearly three dozen studies found.

Here’s what experts say you should know about GLP-1 drugs and healthy habits:

It’s not all about weight
Obesity is a big driver of chronic disease, including conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. But the focus should be overall health and not just the numbers on a scale, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrinologist and obesity expert at Harvard Medical School.

“Health is what you eat, how much you move your body, what is your blood sugar, what is your blood pressure, what is your cholesterol,” she said. “All of those things are really important.”

The GLP-1 drugs work by targeting hormones in the gut and brain that slow digestion and target appetite and feelings of fullness. That effect “levels the playing field,” said Saunders, making it easier to adopt healthy habits like eating less and moving more.

“Social media and advertising sometimes create the impression that these medications are a quick fix, but obesity is a complex, chronic, progressive disease” that requires ongoing medical management, she added.

What does research show about GLP-1s and lifestyle changes?
The clinical trials of anti-obesity medications like Wegovy and Zepbound included structured lifestyle programs along with the medication, which are advised along with every new prescription.

That results not only in significant weight loss, but improved health markers.

A February study of more than 98,000 U.S. military veterans found that those who used a GLP-1 and adhered to six to eight healthy habits had a 43% lower risk of serious cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack than those who didn’t use the drugs and followed three or fewer such habits.

Lifestyle habits “can substantially amplify the benefits of modern medications” noted Dr. Frank Hu, a lead author and chair of the nutrition department at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Which changes are most important?
To maximize the benefits of GLP-1s and reduce potential side effects like nausea, vomiting, constipation and muscle loss, Dushay and other experts offer specific advice.

Maintain muscle by eating 20 grams to 30 grams of protein per meal, which could include fish, poultry, yogurt and beans. Eat more fiber and drink more water — as much as 8 to 12 cups a day. If heartburn or nausea is a problem, avoid fried foods and spicy foods, and don’t lie down after meals.

Aim for 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week, or, ideally, about an hour a day. Add in 30 minutes of strength training two or three times a week, such as lifting weights or using resistance bands.

Get enough sleep — seven to nine hours a day for a healthy adult. Take steps to reduce mental and emotional stress.

Finally, check in with a health care provider about your progress. The GLP-1 drugs can have rare but serious side effects, the experts noted.

“Someone really does need to keeping track of: What is the pace of your weight loss? What are your side effects? And not just mailing you a prescription every month,” Dushay said.

The dramatic announcement by US President Donald Trump on Monday morning about a possible end to the war with Iran triggered an immediate shock in global and Israeli markets, as oil prices recorded a steep decline and trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange reversed direction within minutes.

The price of Brent crude, which traded around 112 dollars per barrel in the morning hours, fell to around 100 dollars. American crude also dropped to about 90 dollars per barrel.

The impact was felt immediately in Israel. The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, which opened with declines of about 2% in the leading indices, shifted to gains and later stabilized. A change was also recorded in the currency market: the dollar fell from about 3.15 shekels to around 3.10, and the euro dropped from about 3.63 to 3.60 shekels.

Trump added that he ordered a five‑day delay of planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure to allow “good and productive” US-Iran talks to continue. Markets interpreted the move as a sign of possible de‑escalation—leading to falling energy prices and a reversal in trading trends.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

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

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

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

The Obligation to Personalize the Exodus

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

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

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

We Live in a Somewhat Orphaned Generation

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Own Sippur: The Journey to This Moment

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

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

And stories abound.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The author can be reached at [email protected]

As the pre-Pesach rush is already in full swing, a large tent is going up in the parking lot of Shloimy’s Supermarket in Kiryas Yoel.

Rentastic Party Rental Company is setting up the tent to help accommodate the heavy flow of shoppers and make things run a bit smoother during this busy time.

Anyone passing by can already see the setup taking shape as the store prepares for the crowds that come along with Yom Tov shopping.

For more information:

Visit: www.RentasticParty.com

Call/WhatsApp: 718.676.1661

Yisroel R.

Following Shacharis this morning at the Bobov Beis Medrash, the Bobover Rebbe addressed the kehilla in light of the ongoing situation in Eretz Yisrael, where many are living under constant fear due to the continued attacks.

The Rebbe shared that he has been receiving many worried calls from people in Eretz Yisrael, and stressed that this is not a time to remain indifferent, as Yidden there are facing ongoing missile attacks and sirens, often rushing into shelters with their little children.

At the same time, the Rebbe noted the open nissim are constantly being seen, as many have been saved from harm by close calls, but emphasized that Klal Yisroel still needs a yeshuah, and called on the kehillah to daven that the situation should calm down and that no person should be harmed.

In addition, it was announced yesterday in the kehilla, in the Rebbe’s name, that three kapitlach Tehillim should be recited after davening: Kapitel כ׳, כ״א, and ל׳.

Amid the ongoing security situation, the weekly Motzoei Shabbos shiur of the former Rishon LeTzion, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, was moved from its usual location at the Yazdim shul to a protected underground hall at Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim on Rechov Ezra in Yerushalayim.

The shiur drew hundreds who came to hear the words of the Rishon LeTzion despite the change in venue. The evening opened with divrei chizuk from the renowned mashpia, Rav Meilech Biderman, followed by the main shiur delivered by Rav Yitzchok Yosef.

PHOTOS:

{Matzav.com}

Speaking to reporters hours after posting on Truth Social his plan to halt planned strikes on oil and gas production facilities in Iran, President Donald Trump said that Iran had “agreed to no nuclear weapon.” He said that the talks that had begun over the weekend were continuing, with the involvement of Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law and presidential adviser Jared Kushner.

The president said that if Iran made meaningful concessions, the talks could be definitive. He added that Iran had requested the negotiations.

He said that the talks were being conducted with a “respected” Iranian leader. “I don’t consider Khamenei’s son the leader,” he said.

Trump said that the framework of a possible deal includes 15 points, with one of the most important being the issue of enriched uranium, which the United States might take possession of. The president said that he was keeping Israel in the loop and promised that it would find the deal acceptable.

The president said that a deal would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump had previously warned Iran that if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, it could expect U.S. strikes on its gas and oil infrastructure. Over the weekend, Trump then announced that talks with Iran to reopen the vital waterway had begun. If Iran made meaningful concessions, the deal would include reopening the strait and later a framework for a ceasefire.

Israeli officials said they were aware of the talks and that they were on board. Meanwhile, Iran has denied the negotiations, claiming that Trump had backed down in the face of its threats to target energy infrastructure across the region.

Speaking to reporters hours after posting on Truth Social his plan to halt planned strikes on oil and gas production facilities in Iran, President Donald Trump said that Iran had “agreed to no nuclear weapon.” He said that the talks that had begun over the weekend were continuing, with the involvement of Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law and presidential adviser Jared Kushner.

The president said that if Iran made meaningful concessions, the talks could be definitive. He added that Iran had requested the negotiations.

He said that the talks were being conducted with a “respected” Iranian leader. “I don’t consider Khamenei’s son the leader,” he said.

Trump said that the framework of a possible deal includes 15 points, with one of the most important being the issue of enriched uranium, which the United States might take possession of. The president said that he was keeping Israel in the loop and promised that it would find the deal acceptable.

The president said that a deal would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

He also gave details of what prompted the request from Iran to open negotiations, saying that they feared a strike on a $10 billion plant.

“So, tomorrow morning sometime, their time, we were expected to blow up their largest electric generating plants that cost over $10 billion to build,” Trump explained. “It’s a very good one. There was no dearth of money. And one shot, it’s gone. It collapses.”

Trump reiterated that it was Iran who had made the first call.

“Why would they want that? So they called. I didn’t call. They called,” he said. “They want to make a deal. And we are very willing to make a deal. It’s got to be a good deal. And it’s got to be no more wars, no more nuclear weapons. They’re not going to have nuclear weapons anymore. They’re agreeing to that. Any of that stuff is no deal.”

Trump had previously warned Iran that if it not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, it could expect U.S. strikes on its gas and oil infrastructure. Over the weekend, Trump then announced that talks with Iran to reopen the vital waterway had begun. If Iran made meaningful concessions, the deal would include reopening the strait and later a framework for a ceasefire.

Israeli officials said they were aware of the talks and that they were on board. Meanwhile, Iran has denied the negotiations, claiming that Trump had backed down in the face of its threats to target energy infrastructure across the region.

Speaking to reporters hours after posting on Truth Social his plan to halt planned strikes on oil and gas production facilities in Iran, President Donald Trump said that Iran had “agreed to no nuclear weapon.” He said that the talks that had begun over the weekend were continuing, with the involvement of Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law and presidential adviser Jared Kushner.

The president said that if Iran made meaningful concessions, the talks could be definitive. He added that Iran had requested the negotiations.

He said that the talks were being conducted with a “respected” Iranian leader. “I don’t consider Khamenei’s son the leader,” he said.

Trump said that the framework of a possible deal includes 15 points, with one of the most important being the issue of enriched uranium, which the United States might take possession of. The president said that he was keeping Israel in the loop and promised that it would find the deal acceptable.

The president said that a deal would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump had previously warned Iran that if it not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, it could expect U.S. strikes on its gas and oil infrastructure. Over the weekend, Trump then announced that talks with Iran to reopen the vital waterway had begun. If Iran made meaningful concessions, the deal would include reopening the strait and later a framework for a ceasefire.

Israeli officials said they were aware of the talks and that they were on board. Meanwhile, Iran has denied the negotiations, claiming that Trump had backed down in the face of its threats to target energy infrastructure across the region.

[Video below.] Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday that the United States should move to seize or control Iran’s Kharg Island, arguing that doing so would deal a decisive blow to Tehran’s economy and military capability amid escalating tensions in the region.

Speaking on Fox News’s “Fox News Sunday,” Graham, who has long advocated a hardline stance on Iran, pointed to Kharg Island as a critical target, noting that it serves as “the point of departure for approximately 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.”

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump said U.S. forces had already inflicted major damage on the island’s military assets. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that American forces had destroyed “every military target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.”

He added, “for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”

On Sunday, with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz effectively disrupted following Iranian attacks on oil tankers, Trump warned Tehran that it must reopen the waterway or face U.S. strikes targeting its power infrastructure.

Graham said he has advised the president that a more decisive step is needed to cripple Iran’s capabilities. He said he told Trump that to permanently weaken the regime, the United States must “take Kharg Island, where they have all of the resources they have to produce oil.”

Host Shannon Bream asked whether such a move would require American ground forces, referencing concerns raised in The Atlantic about the risks of a prolonged and difficult campaign far from supply lines.

“I’m sort of tired of all this arm chair quarterbacking,” Graham said. “This has been an amazing military operation. God bless the fallen.”

Bream pressed further on the issue of deploying troops, noting the distinction involved in committing forces on the ground.

“I trust the Marines, not that guy,” Graham said, referring to the Atlantic writer. “I trust DOD. We’ve got two marine expeditionary area units sailing to this island. We did Iwo Jima, we can do this. The Marines, my money’s always on the Marines.”

Graham said the exact approach—whether through a direct takeover or a blockade—remains to be determined, but emphasized the strategic importance of the island. “I don’t know if you take the island or you blockade the island, but I know this: The day we control that island, this regime, this terrorist regime, has been weakened and it will die on a vine.”

He added that such a move could pave the way for broader regional diplomacy. “I want to take up and complete what [Joe] Biden started. As soon as we get Iran defanged so they can never do another October 7th, I want to start up peace talks between Saudi and Israel. This year, I want a peace deal between Saudi and Israeli normalizing ending the Arab-Israeli conflict — been going on for 2,000 years this year — and you can’t do it with a lethal Iran.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews)-The Israel Defense Forces said dozens of Israeli Air Force fighter jets conducted a major wave of airstrikes overnight on Iranian military targets in Tehran, dropping more than 100 precision-guided bombs on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) bases, intelligence headquarters and weapons production sites.

The strikes targeted facilities central to Iran’s military operations and weapons development, according to the IDF.

Among the sites hit were a base operated by the IRGC’s Quds Force, which the military said oversaw operational and intelligence activities; the IRGC air defense headquarters; the IRGC ground forces headquarters; an intelligence headquarters of the Quds Force; a naval cruise missile production site run by the Iranian Defense Ministry; and multiple additional facilities involved in weapons production and research, including in electronics, ballistic missiles and warheads.

The IDF described the operation as part of ongoing efforts to degrade Iran’s military capabilities amid the escalating conflict that began Feb. 28, 2026, with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.

No immediate confirmation of casualties or damage was available from Iranian sources, which have previously reported explosions and fires in the capital following similar Israeli operations.

By: L. Halevi. HELP OUR FRIENDS (HOF) was founded by a group of business owners, Pinny Braun, Moishy Eigner, Yaakov Moshe Groner and and Moishy Jacobs. They saw their friends – fellow business owners – struggling, and collapsing under the pressure, and they decided to do something about it. They jumped into action and launched HOF with a simple premise: to help their friends in need.

The founders of HOF were very familiar, from personal experience, with the challenge of running a struggling business, while the world around them assumed – wrongly – that all was OK. They made it their mission to educate the public about the reality of struggling business owners.

All types of business owners, across all industries, in various stages of struggle turn to HOF. They finally had a place to turn to for help. HOF is a real life-saver and a real game changer for so many among us. From their launch in 2018, business owners began flocking to HOF, as they appreciated the credibility of the people behind the organization, who understood their situation – as they were themselves business owners with the same challenges – and felt comfortable that their identities would be protected

The more it got out there that HOF was available to help those in need, the larger the waiting list grew. To date hundreds of individuals have been assisted, but many more remain on the waiting list, as HOF has a very strict policy of only allocating funds that they have raised from the community; they do not give out funds against any future contributions.

One of the reasons that business owners in particular struggle more than other segments of the community, is that even when business is slow, they must continue to pay for their overhead.

Businesses often have major expenses to stay afloat, and the income generated is not stable, as it can be seasonal, temperamental or suffer due to market conditions.

Also, HOF has found that business owners in particular, are very hesitant to ask for assistance, or let it be known that their business is struggling. The reason for this is that their reputation is on the line. The unfortunate reality is that when people hear that a business is struggling financially, they automatically assume the business is falling apart and not a reliable enterprise and they go elsewhere. “When word got out that my business was slow,” said one business owner, “ people assumed that it would fold, and they simply stopped reaching out to me for their projects, as they were afraid I would disappear on them mid-project”.

For this reason, business owners must always pretend that all is well. To the world all seems stable and robust, but to the business owner, his spouse and his children, their lives are thrown into chaos, gloom and disarray.

“The waiting list of families who are not yet able to be helped by HOF literally makes me cry” said one of the founders. “They are our friends, our neighbors, our relatives. They need our help, but the funds are not always available. If the community would realize what we are doing, and recognize that the people waiting for help are their friends – literally – hopefully the waiting list would shrink or totally disappear!”

What’s crucial to understand about HOF is that it isn’t just about cash handouts. The mission of HOF is to help the struggling businesses get back on their feet so they don’t need financial assistance any longer. The goal of HOF is to make every struggling business owner self-sufficient again. And they are succeeding! Many individuals who were assisted by HOF have reclaimed their success, and are no longer dependent on financial assistance to survive.

Through a series of programs, such as business coaching, business restructuring, networking and general support, HOF has become a vital support resource for hundreds of business owners in our community.

While HOF assists business owners year-round, the most strained times of the year are before Yomim Tovim. The expenses are much greater then, and overall pressure during those times skyrockets.

The Pesach 5786 budget is $450,000. If that amount is not raised, some families will be left waiting for assistance, sadly.

HOF relies on the support of the community. Many business owners join the campaign and take pages where funds can be contributed.

Please respond generously by visiting the scoop’s exclusive page: https://www.charityextra.com/helpourfriends/tls

HOF is warmly endorsed by leading Rabbanim and Askanim, including Rav Shlomo Stein, HOF Rabbinical Advisor, Rav Shmuel Simcha Friedman, Rav Simcha Bunim Landinsky, Rav Nochum Malinowitz, Rav Chaim Meir Roth and many others who are very familiar with the people being helped, and the great service HOF is performing for the community.
The people being helped are our friends. These are people that would help you if you found yourself in need.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – An Israeli official told Ynet that the United States has indicated April 9 as a target date to bring the current conflict to an end, leaving roughly three weeks for negotiations.

The comments come in the wake of recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to the report.

The official also said talks between the United States and Iran are expected to take place this week in Pakistan, adding that Israel has not been updated on those discussions.

According to the same source, a resolution by early April could align with a potential visit by the U.S. president to Israel for Independence Day events.

There has been no official confirmation from U.S. or Iranian authorities regarding the reported timeline or the planned talks.

Agudath Israel of America is pleased to announce the opening of its Holocaust collection on the Agudah Archive website (https://agudaharchive.org/holocaust/).

The thousands of documents in this collection paint a picture of the Holocaust’s impact on the history of European Orthodox Jewry and World Jewry’s valiant rescue efforts during and immediately following the horrors of the Holocaust. This aspect of Holocaust history has been neglected in most public archives and collections.

Until now, these documents have only been available in physical form, in the Orthodox Jewish Archives at Agudah headquarters. With assistance from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, supported by the German Federal Ministry of Finance, these documents are being digitized, organized and uploaded, in many themed collections.

The first three collections are now up on the website. The first, Holocaust interviews, contains over 70 audio interviews with Holocaust survivors. The second and third collections feature two periodicals, Jewish Opinion and Orthodox Tribune (originally Orthodox Youth or Agudah Youth), which were published by Zeirei Agudath Israel of America in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. These publications, over 50 issues with hundreds of pages of news and articles, give a window into the progression of the war and its aftermath. For example, the Adar 1942 issue includes a front page with the headline “On Nazi Atrocities,” news about rescue and about Agudah’s efforts to help with religious education for children that were sent to the land of Israel, and an op-ed by Jacob (Moreinu Yaakov) Rosenheim, ”The Right Answer to Hitler’s Challenge.”

These collections are the first of many that will be available to readers and scholars in the Holocaust section of the Agudah archives.

Agudath Israel’s executive vice president Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel welcomed the online publication of the three collections as “an important milestone in the area of Holocaust education.” “Our Gedolei Yisroel have encouraged us to know for ourselves what transpired during the Holocaust, and to teach it to our children, so that we will never forget this dark era, and so that we will forever be inspired by the spiritual heroism displayed by so many holy Jews . With the on-line publication of these three archival collections – and b’ezras Hashem many more collections to come — Agudath Israel is making a treasure trove of primary source materials accessible to the broad Jewish public. This is a truly historic achievement.”

Rabbi Zwiebel expressed Agudath Israel’s gratitude to the many people who were involved in this project, including Rabbi Moshe Kolodny, Agudah’s Archivist Emeritus, responsible for the founding and growth of the Orthodox Jewish Archives; Rabbi Yossi Aszkenazy, who has been funding and digitizing thousands of hours of historic Agudah recordings; the Levy and Cohen families, sponsors of the online archive; the Claims Conference and the German government, who are funding the Holocaust digitization project; Rabbi Labish Becker, Executive Director of Agudath Israel and Administrator of the Holocaust digitization project; and Ms. Judith Dinowitz, Project Lead.

To view the collection, Click Here.

If anyone has Holocaust-related material to donate or would like to sponsor further digitization of the Agudah archives, please contact Rabbi Labish Becker, administrator ([email protected]), or Ms. Judith Dinowitz, archivist ([email protected]).

By Y.M. Lowy

Eleven people were taken to the hospital early Monday morning following a carbon monoxide incident inside a residential building in Kensington.

FDNY and EMS units were called to 701 Avenue C at around 4 a.m. after reports that multiple people inside the building were feeling unwell and passing out. When emergency crews arrived, they began evaluating the situation and quickly detected elevated levels of carbon monoxide throughout the building.

Responders worked to ventilate the area and assist those affected. In total, 11 residents were transported to nearby hospitals to be checked out. The extent of their conditions has not been released.

Following a spike in antisemitic incidents in New York — in a pattern seen throughout the country and also globally since the Oct. 7 attak on Israel — the mayor, board, and police chief of Irvington, a town in Westchester County, strongly condemned antisemitic graffiti that was discovered in a subway tunnel Monday. The contents of the message were not publicized.

Officials said that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has jurisdiction over the tunnel and that local Jewish groups had been contacted.

The mayor, board, and police chief issued a joint statement on the local government’s website.

“The Mayor of Irvington, the Board of Trustees, and Chief of Police Frank Pignatelli strongly condemn the antisemitic message written in the Metro-North train station tunnel, a space used daily by our residents and commuters,” the statement said. “We unequivocally denounce this hateful act in the strongest possible terms and want our Jewish community and all residents to know that we take this matter with the utmost seriousness. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Irvington.”

The statement said that a full investigation will be launched and urged anyone with information to come forward, while also offering support to anyone affected by this incident.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Sunday sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s decision-making, arguing that the administration is failing to think through the broader consequences of its actions as the Department of Homeland Security shutdown continues to disrupt airport operations.

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Christie addressed concerns raised by host Jon Karl about the ongoing funding lapse, which has left most DHS functions without support aside from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Karl asked, “And this is all happening as we have this shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, basically no funding for anything except for ICE. I mean, where is this going? What’s your sense?”

Christie responded by pointing to the growing impact on air travel, warning that the situation is likely to worsen as the busy summer season approaches. “Well, look, as it continues to impact, lines at airports. Yeah. And as we get closer to this summer, when people are going to be going on vacation, you know, it’s going to have to come to a head. And, you know, when you have a 2.5-hour line in Atlanta, the busiest airport in the country, this is going to become a huge problem.”

He then broadened his criticism, arguing that the administration is taking a short-term approach without considering long-term consequences. “But look what everyone is saying around the table here is an indication that the president plays checkers, not chess. This is a guy who just looks at what jump he can make today. Does it look if there’s a double jump coming in the other direction. So you do what you do with Iran. You know, think about what happens with the Strait of Hormuz. You don’t think that what that’s going to force you to do to deal with gas prices that Donald just talked about is to relieve sanctions on Russia and Iran, who you’re going to war with?”

Christie added that the American public is paying attention to what he described as a pattern of decisions lacking foresight. “I mean, the American people see this stuff. And my point on this chart is this goes to competence. It goes to, are you competent to run the government and make these decisions? And every time one decision is made, another domino falls. And the president and the people around him are not considering those things.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The role of the Israeli military’s hijacking of Iran’s street cameras in the killing of the country’s supreme leader underscores how surveillance systems are increasingly being targeted by adversaries in wartime.

Hundreds of millions of cameras have been installed above shops, in homes and on street corners across the world, many connected to the internet and poorly secured. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have enabled militaries and intelligence agencies to sift through vast amounts of surveillance footage and identify targets.

On Feb. 28, Israel vividly demonstrated the potential of such systems to be hacked and used against adversaries when Israel tracked down Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with the help of Tehran’s own street cameras – despite repeated warnings that Iran’s surveillance systems had been compromised, according to interviews and an Associated Press review of leaked data, public statements and news reports.

The use of hacked surveillance cameras among other intelligence in the operation to kill Khamenei was described to the AP by an intelligence official with knowledge of the operation and another person who was briefed on the operation. Neither was authorized to speak with the media and both shared information on condition of anonymity.

Iran has installed tens of thousands of cameras in its capital in response to waves of protests, most recently in January, when massive nationwide demonstrations ended in a bloody crackdown that killed many thousands of Iranians.

That Tehran’s cameras were compromised was no secret: the city’s cameras were repeatedly hacked starting in 2021, and last year, a senior Iranian politician warned publicly that cameras had been compromised by Israel, posing a national security threat.

Conor Healy, director of research at surveillance research publication IPVM, said Khamenei’s killing illustrates a pressing security dilemma for governments seeking to quash dissent.

“The irony is that the infrastructure authoritarian states build to make their rule unassailable may be what makes their leaders most visible to the people trying to kill them,” Healy said. “Do you trust who is watching?”

Warning signs
For years, cybersecurity experts have warned that cameras could be hacked for war.

In 2019, security engineer Paul Marrapese discovered he could easily hack millions of cameras from the comfort of his home office in California.

Despite speaking up repeatedly since, the number of unprotected cameras only continues to grow. A scan of unprotected camera feeds this year turned up nearly three million hits in almost every country in the world, Marrapese told AP, including nearly 2,000 cameras in Iran alone.

“There are millions and millions and millions of these throughout the world,” Marrapese said. Many, he added, are trivially easy to hack: “They’re just dumb little things. … It’s fish in a barrel.”

Companies have advertised cameras hooked up online, accessible with cellphones, with feeds easily diverted by hackers. Many are installed with minimal security by unsophisticated users who fail to set up passwords or install security patches. Securing cameras takes constant vigilance, but hacking them takes identifying just one exposed vulnerability, such as an outdated system or a generic password like “1234.”

Even surveillance systems set up by governments on networks sealed off from the internet are vulnerable: It takes just one insider turncoat to compromise such systems.

“Humans are kind of the weakest link,” Marrapese said. “There’s really only so much you can do.”

Eyal Hulata, Israel’s former national security adviser and a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, said Israel is under constant cyberattacks from Iran but has so far been able to defend against it.

“There is high alert on all cyber fronts,” he said.

For years, hacking cameras for war remained theoretical. But in 2023, Hamas hacked surveillance cameras in southern Israel ahead of its Oct. 7 attack, allowing the group to monitor Israeli army patrols and assisting the attack, according to Israeli media. That same year, a Ukrainian official told reporters that Russia attempted to hijack cameras near missile targets, a trend that continued in 2024 when Russians hacked cameras in Kyiv and last year, when they hacked cameras at border crossings.

Experts say advances in AI have allowed militaries to overcome a critical hurdle in weaponizing hacked footage: sifting through huge amounts of video to identify people, vehicles, and other targets, a task that once took teams of analysts weeks or months but can now be done in real time. With a simple keyword search, AI can scan feeds and return results almost immediately.

“It used to be that you could hack the cameras, but humans had to do the real work of figuring out where the person was,” said cryptographer and security expert Bruce Schneier. “With AI systems … you can do a lot more automatically.”

The despot’s dilemma
Iran’s cameras have been repeatedly hacked over the past few years.

In 2021, an Iranian exile group leaked footage of abuses at Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. In 2022, another group claimed it hacked over 5,000 cameras around Tehran, dumping gigabytes of surveillance footage and internal data on a Telegram channel.

Then, during a 12-day war last summer, Israel used Tehran’s cameras to track and bomb the location of a meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, injuring Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Iranian lawmakers and an Israeli documentary.

“All the cameras at our intersections are in the hands of Israel,” Mahmoud Nabavian, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, told Iranian media in September. “Everything on the internet is in their hands … if we move, they will find out.”

The vulnerabilities have come amid Iran’s stepped-up use of surveillance cameras after a series of protests roiled the country. Subway cameras, for example, are used to detect when women don’t don the country’s mandatory hijab, or headscarf, using facial recognition to identify violators.

But data collected to consolidate control creates a ripe target for hackers, said researcher Michael Caster, who investigated China’s sales of surveillance technology to Iran.

“Malicious parties can more easily gain access,” Caster said.

Iran in particular, long sanctioned by the West, faces difficulties in getting up-to-date hardware and software, often relying on Chinese-manufactured electronics or older systems. Pirated versions of Windows and other software are common. That makes it easier for potential hackers to target the country.

The Financial Times earlier reported on the use of cameras in Khamenei’s killing.

The person briefed on the operation who spoke to the AP said that for years almost all the traffic cameras in Tehran had been hacked and the information transferred to servers in Israel. At least one camera was at an angle that allowed Israel to track daily movements of people, such as where they parked their cars near Iran’s leadership compound, the two people said.

Algorithms helped provide information including people’s addresses, routes they took to work and who protected them, according to the person briefed on the operation. That same person said the attack had been planned for months, but the operation was expedited once it was determined that Khamenei and his top officials would be in the leadership compound that morning.

Israel’s prime minister’s office didn’t respond to request for comment.

Col. Amit Assa, a former official with Israel’s Shin Bet domestic security service, said that such operations are powered by many sources of intelligence, such as undercover agents and bugged conversations.

However, Assa says cameras play a key role because they allow intelligence officers to identify people, providing key confirmation in deciding on whether to strike.

When you see a person’s face on a screen in the command center, it helps in making the decision to put your “finger on the yellow button, as we say,” he said.

More cameras, more coverage
Check Point Research, a cyber threat intelligence group, says Iranian hacking attacks on cameras have spiked since the beginning of the war, with surges of activity in Israel and Gulf countries such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Such hacks could help Iran monitor targets and assess damage after missile strikes, according to Gil Messing, Check Point Research’s chief of staff.

“The more people are installing cameras … the more area is being covered by these cameras,” Messing said. “It is very easy to use in order to get extra eyes into different places.”

Analysts estimate there are more than one billion security cameras installed worldwide, triple the number a decade ago. Hundreds of millions more are installed every year.

Muhanad Seloom, assistant professor in security studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said that oil-rich Gulf countries like Qatar have long known their petroleum facilities could be targeted in a war and had their systems tightly secured. But only recently have officials in the region realized that street cameras, too, could be weaponized.

“I don’t think anyone anticipated that these traffic cameras would become targeting tools … there is alarm all over,” Seloom said. “How come Iran’s whole leadership has been decapitated on the first day? … It is a topic that is being talked about.”

Across the region, governments are on high alert.

Gulf monarchies have barred residents from filming or livestreaming footage of Iranian strikes, with the UAE arresting dozens of people for sharing video of the conflict online. Though aimed in part to protect the country’s reputation, the bans are also motivated by concerns that such footage could be exploited by the Iranian military, Seloom said.

Earlier this month, Israel’s National Cyber Directorate said that it had warned hundreds of camera owners targeted by Iran and urged the public to change passwords and update software to starve off attacks.

Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, said though hacking has long been a concern in the Middle East, its increasing use since the war began was “a wake-up call”.

Still, he said there’s only so much that can be done to patch up vulnerabilities.

“It’s a whack-a-mole,” Vaez said.

HaShomer HaChadash, a volunteer organization that provides security to farmers and ranchers in the Negev and the Galilee, announced that it is crowdfunding a new initiative to establish 60 bomb shelters throughout Israel on farms and in exposed rural areas during the current war with Iran to protect workers.

HaShomer HaChadash started the campaign to honor the memory of Omer Weinstein, who was killed in October 2024 while tending an orchard near Metula. The organization hopes to double the number of bomb shelters to 120, citing the lack of protection for farm workers.

The volunteer organization said it started setting up bomb shelters Thursday to provide greater access to safety for farm workers. This will make farm work safer and entice volunteers back to working the land.

HaShomer HaChadash is placing bomb shelters on farms throughout Israel during the war with Iran. (Credit: HaShomer HaChadash)

Yoel Zilberman, founder and CEO of HaShomer HaChadash, thanked donors whose support made it possible for farmers to carry on their work, knowing a shelter was nearby in case of attack. He said that the organization would continue to raise funds while rolling out bomb shelters so that shelters could be set up as quickly as possible and in as many places as possible.

Cofounder Onn Rifman added that shelters would be set up during the war to enable farmers to return to work and continue working amid strikes from Iran and Hezbollah. He added that HaShomer HaChadash also conducted other missions, including helping at impact sites, organizing agricultural volunteer work, running activities in shelters and distributing food to elderly residents.

The organization said that farm work — especially in the north, which is vulnerable to attacks by Hezbollah — has been repeatedly disrupted, which will affect the food supply and food security. The dearth of shelters has made farm work difficult and dangerous, keeping not only farmers out of the field, but also volunteers, maintenance crews and other essential workers. The lack of protection also prevents these workers from traveling to remote areas. The new bomb shelters aim to provide the security needed to keep farms running smoothly.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg zt”l (1910–2012) was one of the Gedolei HaDor and one of the foremost American-born poskim and roshei yeshiva of the twentieth century. He spent the latter decades of his life leading Yeshivas Torah Ohr in Yerushalayim.  Rav Scheinberg was student of Rav Shimon Shkop zt”l and the Mir Yeshiva in Europe, he bridged the worlds of American Orthodoxy and the developing Israeli yeshiva community, and his teshuvos and guidance were sought on some of the most sensitive halachic questions of his era. He lived to the age of 101, remaining active in Torah study and paskening shailos well into his final years. 

The Rambam’s Ruling on Chometz

The Rambam rules (Hilchos Chometz uMatzah, Chapter 1) that if a person’s dough became Chometz, or if he purchased Chometz, he incurs lashes — because it is a prohibition that involves a maaseh, a physical action. Even though the prohibition itself consists of owning the Chometz, which is not technically an action, nonetheless, since it came about through an action — either baking or purchasing — it is classified as a prohibition that involves an action, and lashes are therefore administered.

The Rambam on Coveting

This ruling, however, raises a difficulty in light of the Rambam in Hilchos Gezeilah v’Aveidah (1:10). There the Rambam states that if a person pressured his friend to sell him an item, even enlisting numerous people to convince the seller, and even if he ultimately paid full price, he has violated Lo Sachmod — “Do not covet.” Nevertheless, he does not incur lashes, since no maaseh, no physical action, is involved.

The Raavad’s Objection

The Raavad attacks this ruling sharply, calling it most astonishing: what greater action could there be than the actual purchase of the item? He argues that the Rambam should instead have explained that lashes are not incurred because the violation is reversible — since the purchaser is obligated to return the item.

The Maggid Mishna’s Explanation

Rav Vidal Yomtov of Toulouse, Spain, the author of the Maggid Mishna, explains that the Raavad is operating according to his own position that Lo Sachmod applies only when the seller does not wish to sell. According to that view, the purchase itself is the sinful act, since the buyer in effect coerced the seller. The violation thus does involve a physical action — but since it can be undone, the buyer is obligated to return the item, just as one who steals must make restitution.

The Rambam, by contrast, holds that one violates Lo Sachmod even when the seller ultimately agrees to the sale, provided the buyer wore him down through excessive begging and pressure. According to this view, the buyer cannot be compelled to undo the transaction, so the Raavad’s reasoning is unavailable to the Rambam. The Rambam must therefore explain the absence of lashes differently — namely, that the core of the transgression is the pleading and maneuvering, none of which constitutes a physical action. The sale merely concludes and reveals that process. It is therefore properly classified as a prohibition without a maaseh.

The Apparent Contradiction

At this point, however, a contradiction arises from the other Rambam regarding Chometz on Pesach. We see there that any prohibition which comes about through a physical action incurs lashes — even if the prohibition itself contains no action. If so, the same logic should apply to Lo Sachmod: even if the essence of the sin is the excessive begging and effort, the prohibition is ultimately brought about through the physical act of purchasing. Why, then, is it treated as a prohibition without an action?

The Resolution

The distinction appears to be as follows. The prohibition of Lo Sachmod is the excessive begging itself. The actual purchase does not cause the prohibition — rather, it reveals that the begging was truly excessive. Without a completed sale, we would have no way of knowing whether his efforts crossed the line. The purchase thus serves as evidence of the violation, not as its cause. Since the prohibition is brought about without any action, and we require the purchase only to confirm that the line was crossed, it is properly classified as a prohibition without a physical action.

This stands in contrast to Bal Yeira’eh. There, the prohibition genuinely comes about through the action — without the act of purchasing or baking, the Chometz would never have come into his possession. The action is what makes the violation possible and present. Since the prohibition is directly caused by the action, it is classified as one that involves a maaseh, and lashes are therefore incurred.

This article is dedicated in honor of one of his ur-eineklach who, in a pinch, served as a Kashrus mashgiach at an event held by the author.

The translator can be reached at [email protected]

Newly released recordings have heightened tensions within Israel’s opposition, with Democrats party chairman Yair Golan accusing opposition leader Yair Lapid of refusing to unite due to “personal issues” and what he described as irrational behavior.

According to recordings aired Sunday by Channel 14 journalist Ishai Friedman, Golan sharply criticized Lapid for declining to join forces with his party. The remarks are part of a broader political push by Golan aimed at reshaping the left-wing bloc.

Sources close to Golan say his camp is openly anticipating a political weakening of Lapid’s Yesh Atid party, believing that only by diminishing Lapid’s strength can he be pressured into joining a larger, unified left-wing party under Golan’s leadership.

As part of this effort, Democrats activists have been working in the field and at small gatherings to dissuade voters from supporting either Naftali Bennett or Yair Lapid. Party officials argue that Lapid and his allies are effectively “burying their heads in the sand,” harming the bloc’s chances of winning the next election.

MK Gilad Kariv recently voiced similar frustration at a local gathering, saying that having three parties competing for the same voters is fundamentally flawed. He stressed that repeated offers to unite with Yesh Atid have been ignored, and also criticized Lapid for not speaking out forcefully enough against IDF operations in Gaza, which he said reflects deeper divisions within the opposition.

The dispute has now taken on a more personal dimension. Golan is directly accusing Lapid of poor political judgment driven by personal considerations. While Golan’s strategy is to weaken Lapid in order to bring him into a unified framework as a junior partner, there are also concerns that a significant collapse of Yesh Atid could ultimately cost the broader left-wing bloc critical seats.

Lapid responded to the recordings, criticizing Golan’s tone and approach. “Yair Golan and the Democrats have chosen a low and personal style.”

He elaborated in a post on X: “Before the war, I warned exactly about things like this.”

“Unfortunately, Yair Golan and the Democrats have chosen a low and personal style. This is not the first time Golan has spoken this way, just the first time he was recorded, and then happily distributed by Channel 14. They know this mainly helps Bibi. This is not how you win elections or build an alternative. I very much hope someone there comes to their senses quickly before they once again cause irreversible damage to the entire bloc.”

{Matzav.com}

A disturbing report is raising serious security concerns after listings for advanced “kamikaze” drones, which closely resemble Iran’s infamous Shahed attack drones, were discovered for sale on the Chinese shopping platform Alibaba.

An image in the catalog of drones on Alibaba

According to investigations, multiple sellers were openly advertising and selling long-range, one-way attack drones or suicide drones for under $50,000, disguising them as harmless commercial tools such as “pesticide sprayers” or “aerial mapping equipment.”

The same drones were described as fully capable of warfare, including carrying explosive payloads and striking targets over distances of up to 100 kilometers. Some models were nearly identical in size and capability to Iran’s Shahed-136 drones. The Iranian drones are a low-cost weapon that have already reshaped warfare in conflicts across the Middle East and Ukraine.

Some of the Listed Drones

Several of the drones were equipped with thermal imaging and advanced AI guidance systems capable of autonomously identifying and locking onto targets, including people, buildings, vehicles, and ships, before striking them. The smaller drones capable of carrying explosive payloads were marketed online as agricultural tools, while their full capabilities, including their use as “suicide attack drones,” were only revealed in the fine print of the product catalogs.

Some of the Listed Drones

Alibaba removed the listings and suspended the sellers involved. However, this incident reveals a much larger and more dangerous trend, the spread and accessibility of cheap, highly capable autonomous weapons disguised as civilian technology. Unlike missiles, these drones are relatively cheap, easy to mass-produce, and autonomous, which makes them accessible not only to governments but really to anybody who just wants them.

Israeli police raided a home in Ramallah on suspicion of printing and disseminating materials of incitement over the weekend. They discovered printing machines and seized hundreds of incitement materials.

Credit: Israel Police

Two suspects, residents of Ramallah, ages 31 and 39, were arrested. Police said the lead for the printing house came from a 30-year-old suspect from East Jerusalem who had been arrested in early March for distributing incitement materials that glorified terrorists. Police found and seized more such materials from his vehicle. The materials showed the source of the printing was in Ramallah, leading police to the printing house.

The operation on the Ramallah printing house was carried out by officers from the Jerusalem District and Border Police.

Israeli officials are rejecting claims of internal fractures within Iran’s leadership, warning instead that Tehran is preparing for a sustained war of attrition and remains firmly controlled by hardline elements of the Revolutionary Guard.

Sources in Israel told Maariv that decision-making power in Tehran is now concentrated in a rigid inner circle of the Revolutionary Guard, operating without restraint and showing no indication of internal moderation or a shift that could lead to a favorable resolution for the West. Officials speaking privately in Yerushalayim described the situation in stark terms, saying that President Pezeshkian has been significantly weakened. Although he was expected to play a more central role, in practice he is largely sidelined, with real authority having shifted to the Revolutionary Guard and the most hardline faction within Iran’s leadership.

Regarding Mojtaba Khamenei, Israeli officials say there is no clear certainty about his condition. The assessment is that he is alive, possibly conscious, but questions remain about how much control he truly exercises and how much is being carried out in his name. From Israel’s perspective, however, the distinction is largely irrelevant. Those currently making decisions are not more moderate but more extreme, and the figures now at the top are considered more hardline than those in power before the war began. Israeli officials say they see no signs of any Iranian “perestroika” or gradual political shift; on the contrary, the leadership that has emerged is more rigid, closing rather than opening any window for a more favorable agreement.

According to Israeli assessments, Iran retains the capability to sustain a prolonged campaign involving ongoing missile fire for months. Officials believe Tehran is relying on one key factor: President Donald Trump. Iranian strategy, they say, is built on the expectation that rising global oil prices will push the United States to pressure for a ceasefire and move toward negotiations on what Israeli officials describe as an unfavorable deal. From Israel’s standpoint, such an agreement would halt the fighting, release frozen Iranian funds, and leave Tehran’s power structure intact, without dismantling its nuclear program or missile systems. Israeli officials believe Iran views the United States as a lever—using oil markets and inflation to force a deal over Israel’s head.

When it comes to the Strait of Hormuz, Israeli officials do not believe the issue can be resolved through air power alone. Assessments in Jerusalem indicate that Iran has come to see control over the strait as a strategic asset and a long-term pressure point it will continue to exploit even after the current conflict ends. As a result, officials argue that the issue must be addressed during the current campaign rather than postponed to a vague future agreement. In internal discussions, strategic targets in the Persian Gulf are being repeatedly raised, particularly Kharg Island, through which most of Iran’s oil exports pass. Some in Israel believe that a U.S. move to take control of the island is not unrealistic and would be the only effective way to strike at the regime’s financial lifeline and limit its leverage in the region.

At the same time, Israeli officials express little confidence in Europe’s response. The prevailing view in Yerushalayim is that European governments have yet to fully grasp the scale of the threat and are opting to delay action in order to avoid opening another front with a country that could disrupt global oil flows through Hormuz. Even unusual developments, such as Iran launching missiles toward Diego Garcia, have not significantly shifted Europe’s cautious stance.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – A bus driver for Egged, a resident of Karmiel, was seriously injured after being struck by shrapnel in Kiryat Shmona, officials said.

The driver, described as a man in his 50s, was evacuated to a hospital in Haifa for treatment.

In a separate incident in the same northern city, a man in his 80s sustained light injuries from shrapnel and was taken to a hospital in Safed, according to emergency responders.

Both incidents involved damage at multiple locations, with authorities treating the events as resulting from explosive impacts. Investigations are ongoing.

מילן עמר מזירת הפגיעה בקריית שמונה: "נהג האוטובוס נפצע באורח קשה, הוא לא הספיק להתמגן"#משדר_מיוחד@amirivgi @milenmualem pic.twitter.com/krE4qgq4pV

— C14 (@C14_news) March 23, 2026

A CPR course geared specifically for bochrim will be held this week during bein hazmanim, offering participants the opportunity to learn potentially life-saving skills.

The two-part course is scheduled to take place Wednesday night from 7:00–8:30 p.m., followed by a second session on Thursday night from 7:00–9:00 p.m.

The course is intended for educational purposes only and will not provide official certification.

There is no cost to attend, though seating is limited.

To reserve a spot, call or text Rabbi Kaisman at 908-670-1791.

Many families think healthcare is just routine checkups and urgent visits. United Refuah Healthshare offers a different approach – giving members access to eligible care across 31 categories, including services most plans don’t cover.

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The head of the International Energy Agency said Monday that the global economy faces a “major, major threat” because of the Iran war.

“No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction,” Fatih Birol said at Australia’s National Press Club in Canberra on Monday.

The crisis in the Middle East, he said, has had a worse impact on oil than the two oil shocks of the 1970s combined, and a worse effect on gas than the Russia-Ukraine war.

Israel launched a new wave of attacks early Monday against Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump also warned the United States will “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Tehran doesn’t fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. That prompted Iran to say it would respond to any such strike with attacks on U.S. and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets.

Trump is facing increasing pressure at home to secure the strait as oil prices soar.

One major fear is that the war could knock out oil and gas production in the Middle East for a long time, which would mean high prices could last a while and cause inflation to rip higher around the world. The U.S. stock market has a history of bouncing back relatively quickly from past conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, as long as oil prices don’t stay too high for too long.

Iran on Monday renewed strikes on its Gulf neighbors and threatened to start hitting their power plants.

“The situation is very severe,” Birol said in Australia.

The oil crises of 1973 and 1979, he said, lost together 10 million barrels per day, causing “major economic problems around the world, the recessions. And today, only as of today, we lost 11 million barrels per day — so more than two major oil shocks put together.”

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he said, the gas markets, especially in Europe, “lost about 75 billion cubic meters, 75BCM. And as of now, as a result of this crisis, we lost about 140BCM, almost twice (as much).”

Birol said 40 energy assets in nine countries across the region were “severely or very severely damaged.”

“Some of the vital arteries of the global economy, such as petrochemical, such as fertilizers, such as sulfur, such as helium — their trade is all interrupted, which would have serious consequences for the global economy,” he said.

He said the International Energy Agency, “in order to comfort the markets,” earlier released 400 million barrels of oil, “which is historic. We have never released so much oil to the markets. … The single most important solution to this problem is opening up the Hormuz Strait as things stand now.”

The official added that he was consulting with governments in Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East about the prospect of releasing further stockpiled oil.

“We will see, we will look at the markets,” he said. “If it is necessary, of course, we will do it, but we will look at the conditions, we will analyze, assess the market and discuss with our member countries.”

President Donald Trump said the United States has engaged in “very good and productive conversations with Iran over the past two days,” and announced a temporary delay in planned military strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure.

Screenshot

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the discussions are aimed at reaching a “complete and total resolution” to the conflict and are expected to continue “throughout the coming week.” He added that, based on those talks, he has ordered a five day pause on any U.S. strikes against Iranian power facilities.

The decision follows a recent warning from Trump that the United States could take military action if tensions in the region escalated further. The timeline for that potential action now appears to have been pushed back.

TOPSHOT – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi smiles upon his arrival to deliver a speech during a session of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, on the sideline of a second round of US-Iranian talks with Washington pushing Tehran to make a deal to limit its nuclear programme, in Geneva, on February 17, 2026. (Photo by Valentin Flauraud / AFP via Getty Images)

Iranian state media denied that any talks are taking place, describing Trump’s announcement as a retreat under pressure. There was no immediate response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

Meanwhile, hostilities in the region continued. The Israeli military carried out additional strikes in Tehran, and Iran launched new missile barrages toward Israel.

The conflicting accounts from Washington and Tehran leave unclear whether the reported talks represent a genuine diplomatic effort or a temporary pause amid ongoing military escalation.

When a non-Jewish motorist gets a flat tire and is assisted by a Jewish Chaveirim Central Jersey volunteer – and a young volunteer in training.

Global markets are swinging back as investors are reacting to the shifting developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict, with oil prices and sudden policy changes causing volatility on Wall Street.

Last week, markets took a major hit. The Dow dropped roughly 1% (over 400 points), the S&P 500 fell about 1.5%, and the Nasdaq slid 2%, marking the fourth consecutive week of losses as fears of a wider Middle East war intensified.

The selloff was fueled largely by surging oil prices, which spiked as high as $112 per barrel when there were concerns that the Strait of Hormuz could be disrupted, a move that would choke off a major portion of the world’s oil supply.

But today, in a huge reversal, markets are now rebounding.

Stock futures jumped sharply after President Trump signaled a temporary pause in planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, easing fears of immediate escalation, which was coming up with Trump’s 48-hour deadline.
The Dow futures surged as much as 1000 points, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also rising as investor sentiment improved.

At the same time, oil prices, which had been one of the main drivers of market panic, fell sharply following the announcement, dropping below $90 per barrel after spiking last week.

Markets have been reacting almost instantly to headlines, with swings driven not just by actual developments but by statements, threats, and even social media posts. One moment of escalation can send stocks tumbling and oil soaring, while even a hint of diplomacy can trigger a rapid rally.

This accident happened Sunday afternoon at the entrance to the Gourmet Glatt north plaza.

No serious injuries were reported.

(Via TLS Communities)

A Hezbollah rocket hit the city of Kiryat Shmona on Monday afternoon, injuring two people and causing damage at four impact sites across the city.

According to emergency responders, a man in his 50s was seriously wounded after he was hit in the face by shrapnel at one of the impact sites, near a bus. He was evacuated via helicopter to Rambam Hospital in Haifa.

A man in his 80s who was lightly injured by shrapnel was evacuated by an MDA ambulance to Ziv Medical Center in Tzfas.

The strike occurred amid non-stop Hezbollah rocket fire at the Galil on Monday, with five sirens blaring within an hour. Sirens continued to blare as emergency rescue forces were tending to the wounded.

Israel Police

Impact site in Kiryat Shmona.

An MDA medic said, “We provided medical treatment to a 50-year-old man, including bandaging and stopping the bleeding, and we are continuing to check that there are no additional casualties in the area. When a siren is heard, the public must follow Home Front Command instructions and enter a protected space—it saves lives.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

NEW JERSEY – Newark Liberty International Airport’s air traffic control tower was evacuated Monday morning after a burning smell was detected from an elevator, leading to a ground stop.

The FAA confirmed there was no fire and that operations are being shifted to a backup tower. As a result, flights are delayed.

BNEI BRAK, Israel (VINnews) — Police have arrested a 33-year-old woman suspected of cutting the sidecurls of a 10-year-old boy in Bnei Brak, authorities said Sunday.

The suspect, a resident of Modi’in Illit, was taken into custody and brought in for questioning on suspicion of assault and offending religious sentiment, police said.

The incident, which was captured on surveillance video and circulated widely online, prompted an investigation by local authorities after a complaint was filed.

According to the boy’s family, the encounter occurred Friday afternoon as the child was playing outside. A ball reportedly struck a nearby object, prompting a reaction from the woman, who then allegedly approached the child and cut his hair.

The boy was not physically injured but was left shaken, according to the family.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

המשטרה פתחה בחקירה בעקבות התיעוד מבני ברק בו נראתה אישה ניגשת לילד במעבר חציה וגוזרת לו את הפאה. pic.twitter.com/7WGJh7TVtH

— שילה פריד🇮🇱 (@shilofreid) March 22, 2026

The IDF announced Monday that it discovered an anti-tank missile outpost and a cache of weapons in southern Lebanon as it continued its targeted ground operations to provide a secure buffer zone in the region.

One of the recent finds in southern Lebanon. (Credit: IDF)

The IDF said it is moving proactively to remove the terror threat Hezbollah poses to Israel after the terror group’s decision to join the war on Iran’s behalf, bombarding Israel with rockets since the war began and sending Israelis in Israel’s north rushing to bomb shelters, sometimes multiple times a day. The military says it has thus far destroyed more than 90 percent of Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal, as well as hundreds of launchers.

Israeli officials had vowed at the beginning of the war that they would work tirelessly on the northern front to ensure the security of Israeli civilians without the need for evacuation.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Following the great miracles that occurred at the missile impact site in the Gur community in Arad on Motzei Shabbos, Rabbi Nechemia Alter, son of the Admor of Gur, arrived on Sunday on behalf of his father to visit the community that suffered the worst impact and was nearly the scene of a much larger disaster reminiscent of the Meron disaster, G-d forbid.

The Rebbe’s son toured the site together with Motti Babchik, a senior figure in the Hasidic community, and with officials from the Home Front Command at the location where the missile struck. Nine buildings were damaged in the attack, three irreparably, and nearly 100 people were injured but there were no fatalities despite the extensive damage.

Afterward, Rabbi Nechemia participated in a gathering of support and guidance with rabbis, heads of institutions, and administrators of the Gur community. A fundraising dinner was also held for Gur benefactors from the United States, who joined via Zoom and donated 7,500 shekels per person for those in the immediate circle affected, and 2,500 shekels for those in the secondary circle. In total, 220 people were affected in the first circle.

During his remarks at the gathering, Rabbi Nechemia revealed that his father, the Admor of Gur, had sensed the impending disaster several hours earlier:
“The Rebbe entered after Havdalah on Saturday night, and they told him about what was happening in Dimona (where a missile had fallen and where Gur Hasidim also live). The Rebbe immediately asked: ‘What’s happening in Arad?’ They told him it was quiet there. Shortly afterward, one of the family members said: ‘The Rebbe doesn’t look well; he seems under pressure,’ and the Rebbe said everything was fine. At one in the morning, when I spoke with the Admor, he said: ‘I could have told them earlier what I felt before, but I can’t tell them everything.’”

After the visit to Arad, the Rebbe’s son traveled to Beersheba to visit Soroka Medical Center, where he met with the injured, including a 3-year-old boy who had fallen from the fourth floor in Arad.

The child had been thrown by the blast wave and was trapped under the rubble. When his family later found him at the hospital, he said: “I didn’t get hurt at all, people just suddenly came and took me in an ambulance.”

Last night, there was also great joy in the child’s family, as his mother gave birth, in good time and with good fortune, to another baby boy.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that a civilian initially believed to have been killed by an Iranian missile was instead killed by Israeli fire during military operations near the Lebanon border.

The victim, identified as Ofer Moskowitz, a resident of Misgav Am, was found dead Sunday after a strike in the area. His body was located inside a burned vehicle, authorities said.

An initial military inquiry found that artillery fire intended to support Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon was misdirected, resulting in shells landing near the community.

Officials said the review identified serious operational errors, including issues in both planning and execution, with fire carried out at an incorrect angle and not in accordance with required protocols.

Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo described the incident as severe and said it occurred during an operation meant to protect Israeli forces.

The military said Moskowitz’s family has been notified and expressed regret over the incident, adding that a full investigation is underway and findings will be shared with the family.

Residents of Misgav Am mourned Moskowitz, describing him as a prominent community member and farmer.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – El Al Israel Airlines announced Monday it is reviewing continued operations at Ben Gurion Airport following new Transportation Ministry restrictions that sharply curtail flight activity amid ongoing missile threats from Iran.

The flagship carrier, which has focused on repatriation flights since the war with Iran began Feb. 28, urged authorities to open Ramon Airport near Eilat as an alternative hub.

The ministry’s directive, announced Sunday and effective at 5 p.m. Monday, limits departing flights from Ben Gurion to 50 passengers per flight, down from 120, and restricts takeoffs and landings to one per hour. Arriving flights face no passenger caps, though overall traffic remains severely constrained.

In a statement, El Al said the measures prevent regular commercial operations except in exceptional cases. The airline indicated it cannot provide alternative flights to passengers affected by cancellations.

Separately, Arkia Airlines said it is shifting operations to airports in Egypt’s Taba and Jordan’s Aqaba, using foreign aircraft as it did earlier in the conflict.

“Arkia will continue to operate responsibly in accordance with the guidelines, while maintaining the safety of its passengers and providing alternative and creative aviation solutions,” Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz said. “However, under the current framework, regular aviation activity cannot be maintained, as it practically means the closure of Israel’s skies.”

Arkia plans to transfer most activity to Aqaba and Taba to preserve continuity and will run minimal flights from Ben Gurion, including routes to Larnaca and Athens.

The restrictions follow recent Iranian missile barrages, including incidents causing damage from intercepted debris at Ben Gurion and strikes in southern Israel. Only Israeli carriers — El Al, Arkia, Israir and Air Haifa — have operated limited flights in recent weeks, as foreign airlines remain barred due to airspace risks.

The developments come amid U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran and diplomatic efforts, including reported talks led by U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve hostilities. Travel disruptions have stranded thousands, with airlines prioritizing repatriation and essential routes ahead of Passover.

Passengers with affected bookings are advised to check airline websites for refunds, credits or updates, as further changes depend on security assessments.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Reb Shmuel Beller z”l, a Holocaust survivor who endured the horrors of Auschwitz and the Death March, and who rebuilt his life with remarkable strength, becoming a shining example of emunah, simcha, and ahavas Yisroel.

Reb Shmuel was born on August 9, 1927, in Oświęcim, Poland—the very town that would later become known to the world as Auschwitz. It was a small town of approximately 6,000 residents. He grew up in modest conditions. His father, Reb Tzvi Beller, worked as a peddler selling fabrics across the border, while his mother, Chava (nee Goldstein) cared for the home. The family lived simply, in a small apartment without basic amenities. He had a younger brother and a younger sister, and the home, though materially limited, was rooted in Yiddishkeit.

As a child, he attended public school in the mornings, a co-ed institution under Catholic control, and spent his afternoons learning in the Dumbska yeshivah. That life came to an abrupt halt with the outbreak of the war, when the Nazis entered and took control of the town almost immediately.

Within a year, the family was uprooted from their home and sent to the Bedzin-Sosnowiec Ghetto. Living conditions were harsh and degrading. Jewish families were pushed out of proper housing and forced into cellars with dirt floors, while the Germans confiscated the better apartments.

Reb Shmuel’s father was taken away to a labor camp, leaving him to help support his mother and younger siblings. He was assigned work by the Jewish administration, employed by two German brothers who produced military uniforms. His days were split between cleaning their home and packing uniforms, all while living under constant fear and uncertainty.

As the war progressed, he was sent through a series of forced labor camps. In 1943, when he was slated for transport to Auschwitz, he went into hiding. When the Judenrat could not find him, they took his mother and siblings in his place. After two days in hiding, he emerged—only to narrowly miss that transport. Instead, he was sent to yet another labor camp.

Eventually, he was transferred to increasingly brutal conditions, including Blechhammer, the largest sub-camp of Auschwitz, where he remained for six months. From there, he was forced onto the infamous Death March.

Recounting those harrowing days, Reb Shmuel later described the brutal conditions:
“…Auschwitz they wouldn’t bomb because Roosevelt, Roosevelt, he gave orders not to bomb Auschwitz. After the war I found it out. I didn’t know then. This is something that the historian will tell. But in 1945, the Russians came from Warsaw, from the east, the British and the Americans were coming from the other side and we were like in the middle, so they started to evacuate from there. We went out about three thousand people from there. So they opened up all the ‘magazines’ – they had cloth, they had food. Whatever they had there, they opened them up, and we went in there, whoever was able to grab was able to grab…”

He described the desperate struggle to survive the freezing march, even down to the smallest details that meant the difference between life and death: “…So what I did, I put on two pairs of socks and one pair of socks I kept…Next morning, I put the socks that I had with me, I put them on the top and the other pair of socks I put on the bottom – they were a little wet – and the other socks which were more wet, I took on my body and dried it out…”

The march lasted for weeks under brutal conditions, with those unable to continue being shot on the spot. Reb Shmuel recalled: “…And whoever wasn’t able to walk, he fell down, they shot him on the spot, on the street…”

At one point, risking his life, he slipped into a bakery while passing through a village and grabbed bread, an act that sustained him for a time and helped him continue.

After weeks of marching, the prisoners were packed into cattle cars, 80 to 100 people ,crammed into each wagon without food or proper shelter. They were transported under horrific conditions, including stops at camps such as Gross-Rosen, where prisoners endured prolonged roll calls in freezing weather, beatings, starvation, and constant terror.

He described the unimaginable suffering:“…we had to stay from four o’clock in the morning to maybe ten o’clock at night. If somebody moved, they shot him or they beat him. No food, no sleeping, no nothing…”

Eventually, he was transported toward Buchenwald. Along the way, during an Allied bombing, the guards fled, and prisoners scattered. Reb Shmuel found sugar in an abandoned home—another small but critical moment of survival. “…this survived me for awhile because sugar gives strength…”

He was later liberated by American soldiers, who opened the cattle cars and declared, “You are free.” At that time, he was gravely ill with typhus and spent three months hospitalized recovering.

After the war, he was sent to a camp known as “Fenvelt,” where he lived among Hungarian boys who had arrived later and retained their Yiddishkeit. These boys had a profound impact on him, helping bring him back to a life of Torah and mitzvos. They even brought him to the Klausenberger Rebbe, helping rekindle his connection to Yiddishkeit after all he had endured.

He later spent time in a Displaced Persons camp before eventually emigrating to the United States, where he resumed his learning in yeshivah, determined to rebuild what had been destroyed.

Reb Shmuel ultimately settled in Flatbush, where he became known as a vibrant, warm, and energetic Yid whose presence uplifted all those around him. He was deeply devoted b’lev v’nefesh to the bais medrash of Rav Spector zt”l on Avenue S and East 7th Street, attending davening in all conditions and doing whatever he could to support and strengthen the shul.

His home was a place of simcha, chinuch, and genuine Torah values—a home filled with mentchlichkeit, warmth, and care. Those who knew him saw a man who, despite all he had endured, radiated life, joy, and love for every fellow Yid.

To witness a person who went through such darkness and emerged as an extraordinary eved Hashem, filled with ahavas Yisroel, love of mitzvos, and a deep appreciation for life, was to see the power of a Yiddishe neshomah. With tremendous siyata diShmaya, and with the support of his devoted eizer kenegdo, he rebuilt, creating a legacy of strength, faith, and unwavering dedication to Torah.

He is survived by his devoted children: Mr. Heshy Beller, Mrs. Chavi Greenstein, R’ Mayer Beller, and Ms. Lila Beller. The family will be sitting shivah in Monsey at 140 Horton Drive.

The levaya will be held at 10 a.m. this morning at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly holding internal consultations on when to call the next national elections, with a growing inclination toward an October date, potentially aligning with the legally scheduled date while planning a strategic move.

According to reports, Netanyahu and his advisers have been weighing multiple scenarios, including the possibility of early elections. However, recent discussions suggest he is leaning toward waiting until October, allowing more time for the current war to unfold and potentially reshape the political numbers in his favor.

Before the conflict, Netanyahu’s political standing was shaky, with polling showing his coalition trailing the opposition and struggling to secure a majority. Some projections had his bloc falling short with roughly 49–52 seats compared to a stronger opposition polling.

But since the war began, the numbers have strongly shifted. Surveys show overwhelming public backing for the military campaign, with support for the war ranging between roughly 80% and over 90% among Jewish Israelis.
At the same time, Netanyahu himself has seen a noticeable boost tied to his role as a wartime leader, with some polls showing support for his leadership rising significantly during the conflict.

Even with improved standing, polls suggest Netanyahu’s Likud party has gained strength but may still fall short of securing a clear governing majority if elections were held today. Tie in the unresolved draft law for the Chardieim, and a very unclear picture unfolds.
This creates a delicate balancing act, wait longer and risk losing momentum, or go too early and fail to translate wartime support into electoral victory. At the same time, legal pressures remain in play, including budget deadlines that could automatically trigger elections if not met.

For now, no final decision has been made. But as usual, Netanyahu is not just managing a war, he is carefully timing a political moment, hoping that momentum will translate into ballot box success in what could be the last elections of his career.

As we reach peak pre-Passover/Spring Cleaning Season, the Lakewood Department of Public Works (DPW) announced that, the coming week, there will be both a special second weekly run of trash collection for all homes; as well as an additional seven trash drop-off sites across town.

Details are as follows:

Trash/Recycling Collection:

Zone 1 (Regular Collection on Mondays): Monday 03/30 and Wednesday 04/01

Zone 2 (Regular Collection on Tuesdays): Sunday 03/29 and Tuesday 03/31

Zone 3 (Regular Collection on Wednesdays): Monday 03/30 and Wednesday 04/01

Zone 4 (Regular Collection on Thursdays): Tuesday 03/31 and Thursday 04/02

—

Trash Drop–off Sites

DPW Headquarters (1 America Avenue):

Currently open Mondays-Fridays 7:00 am through 10:00 pm(temporary extended hours)

On Tuesday, March 31st, the site will remain open overnight, through Wednesday, April 1st at 3:00 pm.

Additional Drop-off sites:

These special drop-off sites will be open from Tuesday, March 31st, at 7:00 am, overnight, through Wednesday, April 1st, at 12:30 pm.

1. 9th Street and Clifton Avenue

2. 9th Street and Forest Avenue

3. Frank Bartolf Sports Complex (336 Brook Road)

4. Sunset Park (105 Sunset Road)

5. Hillside Boulevard (Kosher West Plaza)

6. John F. Patrick Sports Complex – Baseball Parking Lot (1111 Vine Avenue)

7. Larry D’Zio Park – Locust Street and New Hampshire Avenue

Both household trash and virtually all forms of bulk trash –including wood, metal, electronics, etc. – are accepted at the drop-off sites. (Non-accepted items include construction material, paint and other hazardous material.)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Dozens of rare ancient coins, approximately 2,000 years old and bearing inscriptions in ancient Hebrew script, which are suspected to have been looted from Jewish sites dating to the Second Temple period, were seized during an inspection of a Palestinian vehicle by Border Police officers and customs inspectors at the Hizma crossing on the  first Friday of the month of Ramadan, about a week before the outbreak of the war with Iran.

The driver of the vehicle, a Hadassah hospital doctor, allegedly attempted to smuggle the coins from the Judea and Samaria area into Jerusalem.

After a box containing the coins was discovered in the vehicle, archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority were called to the scene. Once they confirmed that the items were indeed ancient coins, the suspect was detained by inspectors from the Antiquities Authority’s theft prevention unit and taken for questioning at the Shafat police station in the Neve Yaakov neighborhood of Jerusalem. His entry permit to Jerusalem was cancelled in the wake of the incident.

Most of the coins that were seized were minted by Jewish rulers who governed the land during the Second Temple period and during the revolts against the Romans, including the Hasmonean kings John Hyrcanus I and Alexander Jannaeus.

In addition, coins from the time of the Great Revolt against the Romans about 2,000 years ago were found, including pure silver shekels from the second and third years of the revolt, bearing inscriptions in ancient Hebrew such as “Shekel of Israel” and “Holy Jerusalem.” Also found in the box were bronze coins from the fourth year of the revolt, featuring engravings of the Four Species used during the festival of Sukkot.

The Bar Kokhba revolt was also represented among the seized items, with bronze coins bearing the name of the revolt’s leader, “Shimon (Bar Kokhba),” and on the reverse side the inscription “Year 2 of the Freedom of Israel.”

According to Ilan Hadad, the inspector in charge of antiquities trade in Israel, “The coins are suspected to originate from antiquities looting activities carried out using metal detectors. Some of the coins were cleaned improperly, causing irreversible damage, while others, which may have been recently excavated, have not yet been cleaned. In my assessment, the coins were intended to be sold in Israel to parties involved in illegal antiquities trading or to collectors holding artifacts from questionable sources. Some may even have made their way to auction houses abroad. We intend to carry out further investigative actions to trace the origin of the coins and their intended destination.”

Trading in antiquities without a permit, as well as bringing antiquities from Judea and Samaria into Israel without authorization, are criminal offenses under Israeli law.

“We are witnessing a daily expansion of this improper phenomenon,” said Dr. Amir Ganor, head of the Antiquities Theft Prevention Unit. “Ancient coins from all historical periods are being looted and detached from their archaeological context by individuals using advanced metal detectors. It is important to understand that every ancient coin has immense value for the study of the land’s rich past when it is found in its original site and context. Unfortunately, once a coin is looted and removed, the ability to reconstruct history through it is lost forever.”

He added: “In recent years, Israel has been flooded with thousands of metal detectors sold without regulation. Some people who own these devices are tempted to search for ‘treasures’ at archaeological sites—an illegal and harmful act. Sadly, the coins seized this week were, according to suspicion, looted for profit, detached from their context, and we will never know which archaeological site or historical story they belonged to. The State of Israel must legally restrict the marketing and sale of metal detectors, which are effectively destructive tools that erase entire chapters of our shared history.”

Searching for antiquities without a license using metal detectors is a criminal offense in Israel, punishable by up to three years in prison.

According to Heritage Minister Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, “There are those who loot antiquities, and there are those who try to destroy our identity and deny our historical connection to this land. We are in a battle against illegal antiquities trade and are working to bring the looters to justice. I commend the Border Police officers and the Antiquities Authority inspectors for their determined action.”

Israel’s ambassador to the United States said Sunday that growing unrest inside Iran could ultimately lead to the collapse of the Islamic Republic, arguing that the Iranian people themselves may rise up against the regime.

Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Ambassador Michael Leiter suggested that any meaningful change on the ground would need to come from within Iran. “I think that we need boots on the ground, but they have got to be Iranian boots, and I think they’re coming,” Leiter said.

He pointed to recent unrest as a sign of deeper dissatisfaction among the population, saying, “probably it’s going to take place, because the Iranian people have had enough. They tried to raise up last month. They were brutally put down.”

Leiter compared the current situation to past historical upheavals, noting that major regime changes often come unexpectedly. “There’s a point of combustion. Look, nobody knew when the Soviet Union would collapse. Nobody knew when the Romanians would turn their guns against their Ceausescu government. But it happened at some point. And if we degrade them enough, the people of Iran are going to say we have had enough and we want a different regime.”

He emphasized that the current focus should remain on weakening Iran’s leadership to the point where it can no longer maintain control. “what we have to focus on now is degrading [Iran] to the point where they have no power left in this regime. Hopefully, that will trigger this combustion point where the people are able to take charge of their own lives. Our focus has to be on degrading this regime to the point where they no longer pose a threat to us, to the region and to the world.”

Leiter also warned about the dangers posed by Iran’s military capabilities and regional influence, stressing the urgency of preventing further escalation. “we cannot allow this regime to move forward with nuclear weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and terrorists spreading throughout the region,” he said.

He concluded by underscoring the broader threat posed by Iran’s leadership, adding that “we cannot live anymore with a country that is malign, that has intent on destroying us, that declares it’s going to destroy us all the time and is now firing ballistic missiles into all of its neighbors. This has to stop.”

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews) — International Criminal Court (ICC) judge Nicolas Guillou has revealed that he is facing severe restrictions on daily life, including being unable to access bank accounts or online services, due to US sanctions imposed on him after he participated in issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to Guillou, nearly all financial and digital services in France are US-controlled, leaving him cut off from basic transactions and online platforms.

The French judge, who presided over the ICC panel that issued the warrant in 2024, said he could no longer use his bank card, order from Amazon, book through Airbnb, or complete transactions on Expedia and Booking.com.

“We are going 30 years back in time. It’s like a time machine returning us to a pre-digital world,” he told France TV.

French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly written seven letters requesting the lifting of the sanctions, but US authorities have yet to respond favourably. A source at the Elysee told the broadcaster that France continues to pursue the matter through diplomatic channels and regretted the lack of a positive response from Washington.

Guillou said he expects to remain on the sanctions list for the duration of US President Donald Trump’s second term. He warned of the wider consequences for democratic institutions, saying, “If prosecutors are afraid to prosecute, if lawyers are afraid to defend, if judges are afraid to judge, if parliamentarians are afraid to pass laws and if ministers are afraid to enforce them, there is no more democracy.” He added that such individuals would act “exclusively out of fear” of punishment.

Beti Hohler, another ICC judge sanctioned by the United States, said that “The sanctions have had and continue to have a real impact on my life. As sanctioned persons, we and our family members are banned from travelling to the United States. My colleagues [at the ICC] with assets in the U.S. have seen those assets frozen. As a sanctioned person, I no longer have access to American products and services, even in Europe. My Apple ID, iCloud, Amazon, Airbnb, PayPal, and other accounts have all been blocked or cancelled. These cancellations happened overnight without advance warning.”

Judge Beti Hohler

Hohler said she was especially concerned by “the compliance of European financial operators” with US sanctions. “A European bank whose client I was for decades, announced that it was closing my bank account a day after I was sanctioned. My account was then closed within days. I have experienced disruptions in paying bills and transferring funds within Europe. Although a transaction may be between two European banks, in euros without any U.S. nexus, it may still get rejected. This is because a bank will automatically reject payments to and from a sanctioned individual.”

She also reported the effects of sanctions on family members – visas revoked for children, education and employment opportunities disrupted. “Living with US sanctions means living in constant uncertainty. A bank card that works today may not work tomorrow. An insurance company that insures your house today may terminate that contract tomorrow. We are discovering new obstacles every week.”

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on November 21, 2024, for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip from at least October 8, 2023, through May 20, 2024.

LONDON (AP) — Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in London were set on fire early Monday morning in London, in what British police are investigating as an antisemitic hate crime.

No one was injured in the overnight attack, which shattered windows in nearby homes and left the vehicles charred shells.

The antisemitic arson attack in Golders Green is horrifying.

I’ve been in touch with Jewish community leaders this morning and will continue to do so throughout the day.

An attack on our Jewish community is an attack on us all. We will fight the poison that is antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/el2AqQ7F6a

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 23, 2026

Religious and political leaders condemned what Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a “horrific” antisemitic attack.

“Antisemitism has no place in our society and it’s really important that we all stand together at a moment like this,” he said.

Officers were called to Golders Green, a north London neighborhood with a large Jewish population, after receiving reports of a fire, the Metropolitan Police force said.

Four ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer organization that provides emergency medical response, were damaged, according to the London Fire Brigade.

An officer from an emergency response unit watches a firefighter response team in London, Monday, March 23, 2026 after an apparent arson attack on four vehicles belonging to the Jewish ambulance service, Hatzola Northwest, in London.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Multiple gas cylinders on the vehicles exploded, breaking windows in an adjacent apartment block. Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.

What appeared to be footage from a security camera showed three figures in black wearing hoods carrying a canister toward one of the ambulance before flames erupted around the vehicle. Police said they are looking for three suspects but no arrests have been made yet.

Mark Reisner, who lives in the neighborhood, heard loud explosions and arrived at the scene “just as the third ambulance was blowing up,” he told Sky News.

“A very loud explosion, you sort of felt it go through your guts,” he said, adding, “it’s just left us all reeling with confusion and shock.”

The attack spread fear and alarm through Britain’s Jewish community, which feels increasingly vulnerable.

Shomrim, a nonprofit organization which operates a neighborhood watch in the area, condemned the attack on the social network X as “a targeted and deeply concerning incident affecting a vital emergency service serving the local Jewish community.”

Police blocks a road in London, Monday, March 23, 2026 after an apparent arson attack on four vehicles belonging to a Jewish ambulance service, Hatzola Northwest, in London.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The number of antisemitic incidents reported across the U.K. has soared since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and Israel’s ensuing war against Hamas in Gaza, according to the Community Security Trust, which works to protect the Jewish community. The group recorded 3,700 incidents in 2025, up from 1,662 in 2022.

In October 2025, an attacker drove his car into people gathered outside a Manchester synagogue to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur and stabbed one person to death. Another person died during the attack after being inadvertently shot by police.

Last week two men in London were charged with carrying out “hostile” surveillance last year of the U.K.’s Jewish community on behalf of Iran.

Some members of the community criticize Starmer’s Labour Party government for failing to prevent pro-Palestinian demonstrations from tipping into anti-Jewish speech and acts.

Peter Zinkin, a Conservative politician who represents Golders Green on the local council, said the community felt “distress and anger.”

“Burning ambulances in the middle of the night is a disgrace,” he said. “And you have to ask yourself, why did it happen? And the reason I’m afraid that it happened is that the government and the media, particularly certain parts of the media, have validated antisemitism on a countrywide scale.”

A firefighter and a police officer look at a burnt Ambulance in Golders Green, London, Monday, March 23, 2026 after an apparent arson attack on four vehicles belonging to a Jewish ambulance service, Hatzola Northwest, in London.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, the head of the Anglican Church, said “such acts of violence, hatred and intimidation have no place in our society.”

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called it a “sickening assault.”

“At a time when Jewish communities around the world are facing a growing pattern of these violent attacks, we will meet this moment with shared resolve and stand together against hatred and intimidation,” he wrote on X.

The deliberate arson attacks against Hatzola ambulances in London are a particularly sickening assault – not only on the Jewish community, but on the values we share as a society.

Our Hatzola volunteer ambulance corps is an extraordinary service, whose sole mission is to…

— Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (@chiefrabbi) March 23, 2026

WATCH:

Iran on Monday threatened to place naval mines across the entire Persian Gulf if “the enemy” targets its southern coast and islands.

“Any attempt by the enemy to attack Iran’s coasts or islands will cause all access routes in the Gulf…to be mined with various types of sea mines, including floating mines that can be released from the coast,” Iran’s Defense Council stated.

“In this case, the entire Gulf will practically be in a situation similar to the Strait of Hormuz for a long time… One should not forget the failure of more than 100 minesweepers in the 1980s in removing a few sea mines.”

The US is considering plans to seize or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island—the country’s primary oil‑export hub—as a means of pressuring Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Seizing the island could also serve as leverage to compel Iran to keep the strait open, while providing a forward base for strikes against the Iranian mainland.

Previously, Iran threatened that oil and energy sites linked to the US would “immediately be destroyed” if Kharg Island came under attack.

The US is preparing to deploy about 2,500 Marines and additional warships to the region. If Iran refuses to comply with President Trump’s ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the US may launch an operation to reopen it.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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