Jooish News

Hamas’s military spokesman identifying himself as “Abu Obaida” released a new message urging Hezbollah to escalate efforts to capture Israeli soldiers in order to secure prisoner exchanges.

“We in Gaza, who are so close, repeatedly call on the people of Hezbollah to complete the mission,” the spokesman said, expressing clear displeasure with Israel’s new death penalty law, which went into effect yesterday.

The message has raised eyebrows, as the original Abu Obaida was widely believed to have been killed. In reality, this appears to be another individual who has taken his keffiyeh and his name, continuing the persona under the same identity.

Critics say this kind of thinking is exactly why Israel needs the death penalty law. Without it, they argue, jihadist groups will continue attempting to kidnap Israelis in order to leverage prisoner releases for their murderous brethren.

Many parents pay their Morahs and babysitters on the first of the month.

However, this year, April 1st falls on Erev Pesach, which means many will not be receiving payment until the kids return after Pesach.

These Morahs and babysitters heavy rely on this income in order to make Yom Tov, and it would mean a lot to them if they were paid today or tonight.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that countries struggling to access oil due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz should either purchase energy from the United States or take military action to secure it themselves.

In two posts on Truth Social, Trump made clear that he expects U.S. allies to assume greater responsibility for protecting their energy interests as tensions intensify across the Middle East.

“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,” Trump wrote.

“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done.”

His remarks come as fighting in the region has intensified, with disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz — a vital global oil passage — unsettling markets and raising alarms among nations that rely heavily on Middle Eastern energy supplies.

In a separate message, Trump also took aim at France, accusing it of blocking assistance to Israel by denying overflight access to planes carrying military equipment.

“France has been VERY UNHELPFUL,” Trump wrote, adding that the U.S. would “REMEMBER” the move.

He also applauded the killing of a figure he described as the “Butcher of Iran,” indicating that recent military operations have significantly weakened Iran’s leadership and operational capacity.

Trump’s comments followed reports of American airstrikes targeting Iranian military sites, including a major ammunition storage facility in Isfahan.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the strikes involved a “high volume” of 2,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, with explosions large enough to be seen in satellite imagery.

Trump also shared a video on Truth Social showing the strike, depicting a series of blasts illuminating the night sky.

The Isfahan area is considered a central hub for Iran’s missile and nuclear programs, containing uranium reserves as well as one of the country’s largest missile manufacturing centers.

Analysts say repeated strikes by the United States and Israel have caused significant damage to Iran’s offensive capabilities, with some assessments suggesting portions of its weapons stockpiles may now be buried beneath destroyed underground facilities.

The Pentagon is expected to release additional information about the campaign, known as “Operation Epic Fury,” as officials continue evaluating the extent of the damage inflicted.

Israel’s Defense Ministry has moved to cut off arms procurement from France as part of a broader effort to wean the military off suppliers viewed as diplomatically unfriendly.

Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. Amir Baram made the decision, with Defense Minister Yisrael Katz backing an accompanying initiative to expand domestic arms production and shift procurement toward Israeli industries and suppliers in countries considered allies, Channel 12 reported.

The move reflects a wider realignment that Israeli officials have been pushing since the diplomatic fallout from the war in Gaza, during which a number of countries imposed partial or full arms embargoes on Israel, citing humanitarian concerns and the civilian death toll. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this year that he was seeking what he called “maximal independence” from foreign military aid, “so we don’t run out of weapons or ammunition.”

France has been among the more assertive in restricting defense ties with Israel. Paris barred Israeli representatives from participating in defense exhibitions and conferences on French soil after the Gaza war began, and, following President Emmanuel Macron’s call for an arms embargo in October 2024, France halted the sale of certain weapons usable in IDF operations in Gaza.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three fired FBI agents sued on Tuesday to try to get their jobs back, saying in a class action lawsuit that they were illegally punished for their participation in an investigation into President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

The federal lawsuit adds to the mounting list of court challenges to a personnel purge by FBI Director Kash Patel that over the last year has resulted in the ousters of dozens of agents, either because of their involvement in investigations related to Trump or because they were perceived as insufficiently loyal to the Republican president’s agenda.

The lawsuit in federal court in Washington was technically filed on behalf of just three agents but may have much broader implications given that its request for class action status could open the door for agents fired since the start of the Trump administration to get their jobs back.

The three agents — Michelle Ball, Jamie Garman and Blaire Toleman — were fired last October and November in what they say was a “retribution campaign” targeting them for their work on the investigation into Trump. The agents had between eight and 14 years of “exemplary and unblemished” service in the FBI and expected to spend the remainder of their careers at the bureau but were abruptly fired without cause and without being given a chance to respond, the lawsuit says.

“Serving the American people as FBI agents was the highest honor of our lives,” they said in a statement. “We took an oath to uphold the Constitution, followed the facts wherever they led and never compromised our integrity. Our removal from federal service — without due process and based on a false perception of political bias — is a profound injustice that raises serious concerns about political interference in federal law enforcement.”

Trump’s indictment
The investigation the agents worked on culminated in a 2023 indictment from special counsel Jack Smith that accused Trump of illegally scheming to undo the results of the presidential election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Smith ultimately abandoned that case, along with a separate one accusing Trump of illegally retaining classified records at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, after Trump won back the White House in 2024, citing Justice Department legal opinions that prohibit the federal indictments of sitting presidents.

The lawsuit notes that the firings followed the release by Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, of documents about the election investigation — known as Arctic Frost — that he said had come from within the FBI. Those records included files showing that Smith’s team had subpoenaed several days of phone records of some Republican lawmakers, an investigative step that angered Trump allies inside Congress.

The complaint names as defendants Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, accusing them of having orchestrated the firings despite being “personally embroiled” either as witnesses or attorneys in some of the legal troubles Trump has faced.

Patel, for instance, was subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury investigating Trump’s retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and had his phone records subpoenaed, while Bondi was part of the legal team that represented Trump at his first impeachment trial, which resulted in his acquittal.

“And now, by virtue of presidential appointment to the pinnacle of federal law enforcement, Defendants are abusing their positions to claim victories that eluded them on the merits,” the lawsuit states.

Spokespeople for the FBI and the Justice Department did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Patel and Bondi have said the fired agents and prosecutors who worked on Smith’s team were responsible for weaponizing federal law enforcement, a claim that was also asserted in their termination letters but that the plaintiffs call defamatory and baseless.

The fired agents want ‘fundamental constitutional protections’
Dan Eisenberg, a lawyer for the agents, said in a statement that his clients were fired without any investigation, notice of charges or chance to be heard.

“This lawsuit seeks to reaffirm fundamental constitutional protections for FBI employees, ensuring they can perform their duties without fear or favor. We all benefit when law enforcement officers’ only loyalty is to facts and the truth,” said Eisenberg, who’s with the firm of Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP.

The lawsuit asks for the agents to be reinstated to their positions and for a court declaration affirming that their rights had been violated. It also seeks to represent a class of at least 50 agents who have been terminated since Jan. 20, 2025, or will be. Those agents also stand to recover their jobs in the event the case is successful and the requested class action status is granted.

Others have been fired, too
Other fired employees who have sued include agents who were photographed kneeling during a racial justice protest in 2020; an agent trainee who displayed an LGBTQ+ flag at his workspace; and a group of senior officials, including the former acting director of the FBI, who were terminated last summer.

The firings have continued, with Patel last month pushing out a group of agents in the Washington field office who had been involved in investigating Trump’s hoarding of classified documents. Trump has insisted he was entitled to keep the documents when he left the White House and has claimed without evidence he had declassified them.

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Iranian authorities have warned that individuals accused of espionage or assisting what it calls “hostile states” could face execution and the seizure of all their assets under an expanded legal framework, as the war with the United States and Israel continues into its second month.

A spokesperson for the judiciary said that even distributing images or footage that could help enemy forces identify targets may be classified as collaboration with foreign intelligence.

State-affiliated media outlets have reported that more than 1,000 people have been detained in recent weeks on suspicion of documenting sensitive sites, posting material critical of the government online, or “cooperating with the enemy.”

The conflict, which began on Feb. 28 with strikes by the United States and Israel, has since widened across the region, resulting in thousands of casualties, disruptions to energy markets, and broader economic fallout worldwide.

According to the judiciary spokesman, the law — originally enacted last year — covers a wide range of activities, including operational support, intelligence-sharing, and certain forms of media activity deemed to assist adversarial governments, particularly the United States and Israel.

He also cautioned that individuals accused of spreading misinformation that generates “fear” could face prison sentences, with harsher penalties applied during wartime conditions.

The spokesman said approximately 200 indictments have already been issued in such cases and noted that authorities are coordinating with security agencies to track down suspects and confiscate their property, emphasizing that enforcement will be carried out without leniency.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – The commander of the Israel Defense Forces’ Nahal Brigade addressed his troops Tuesday following the deaths of four soldiers from the brigade’s reconnaissance unit in close combat with Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon the previous evening.

Col. Eric Moyal spoke to his forces after the incident, in which troops engaged a terrorist cell that opened fire on them near the southern Lebanese village of Beit Lif. The soldiers returned fire, and with aerial and tank support, the terrorists were eliminated. Four soldiers were killed and three wounded in the exchange.

“Yesterday, during an encounter with terrorists, we lost four of our finest,” Moyal told his troops. “We set out on this operation to defend the residents of the north, to fight the enemy, and to remove the threat from the northern communities.”

The fallen soldiers were identified as Capt. Noam Madmoni, 22, of Sderot; Staff Sgt. Ben Cohen, 21, of Lehavim; Staff Sgt. Maxsim Entis, 21, of Bat Yam; and Staff Sgt. Gilad Harel, 21, of Modiin. All served in the Nahal Brigade’s elite reconnaissance unit.

The IDF said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to neutralize Hezbollah threats and ensure the security of Israeli civilians in northern communities. The military stated it will continue operations against the Iran-backed terrorist organization.

The clash occurred around 6:30 p.m. Monday as Israeli forces conducted ground operations in southern Lebanon aimed at pushing back Hezbollah infrastructure and reducing rocket fire toward Israel.

The United States has deployed B-52 Stratofortress bombers over Iran for the first time since the start of Operation Epic Fury, Pentagon officials announced.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine said the move was made possible after U.S. and Israeli forces significantly degraded Iran’s air defenses.

“Given the increase in air superiority, we’ve successfully started to conduct the first overland B-52 missions, which allow us, as we’ve said before, to continue to get on top of the enemy,” Caine said.

He spoke alongside War Secretary Pete Hegseth, noting that earlier operations relied on stealth aircraft like the B-2 and B-1.

The shift signals growing confidence by U.S. commanders in operating openly over Iranian territory.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

SAINT-MAUR-DES-FOSSÉS, France (AP) — After surviving Auschwitz-Birkenau, Ginette Kolinka developed a stock answer to shut down questioners who’d ask about her experiences of the Nazi death camp and its horrors.

“’If I had a child, well, I would prefer to strangle them with my own hands than make them go through what I went through,’” she’d tell them.

“For me, that was an answer that said it all,” Kolinka says.

Now, at the tail end of a remarkably long and fruitful life, the feisty 101-year-old with an easy and generous smile has become a mighty warrior against antisemitism in France, seeing purpose in sharing her firsthand insight of murderous hatred and inhumanity.

So the lessons of the Holocaust aren’t forgotten. So people who tune in to the countless interviews she gives cannot say that they didn’t know about the death camps and the extermination of 6 million European Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators. So school pupils who are thrilled to meet and listen to Kolinka inherit and embrace the duty of remembrance.

‘Schindler’s List’ was a turning point
Kolinka credits Steven Spielberg for helping to precipitate her decision 30 years ago to start opening up about the mental and physical scars that she buried for decades, the survivor’s guilt that tormented her, the eternal regret of goodbye kisses that she didn’t get to give to her father, Léon, and 12-year-old brother, Gilbert, before Nazi guards sent to them to the gas chambers, and so many other cruelties.

After the 1993 release of “Schindler’s List,” Spielberg launched a foundation to collect testimonies from Holocaust survivors. When it contacted Kolinka, she was reticent, replying that talking to her would be a waste of time, she recounts in “Return to Birkenau,” her memoir.

But when its interviewer then sat down with her, in 1997, out the memories flowed, for nearly three hours. Tears, too. The foundation says it has since collected more than 60,000 testimonies and is still gathering more.

“For the first time, I found myself compelled to think about it again,” Kolinka says in her book, published in 2019.

In World War II, Nazi-occupied France deported 76,000 Jewish men, women and children, mostly to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Just 2,500 survived. It took France’s leadership 50 years to officially acknowledge the state’s involvement in the Holocaust, when then-President Jacques Chirac in 1995 described French complicity as an indelible stain on the nation.

Through her books, media appearances and school visits, Kolinka has become the most prominent remaining French survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Just a few dozen, perhaps fewer than 30, are still alive, according to the Paris-based Union of Auschwitz Deportees, a survivors’ group.

Held back from the gas chambers
Pupils hung on her every word when Kolinka dropped by the Marcelin Berthelot high school east of Paris recently to tell her story for the umpteenth time, with The Associated Press also present. Even the abbreviated version, squeezed into roughly 90 minutes, makes for tough listening — from her arrest in March 1944 to her return to France, skeletal and traumatized, after Nazi Germany’s surrender in May 1945.

She described how she and other Jews were crammed aboard windowless animal-transport wagons in Paris and the violence and cruelty, with Nazi guards screaming orders and dogs barking, that greeted them at the other end three days later at Auschwitz-Birkenau. In her memoir, Kolinka says that the first German word she learned was “Schnell!” — meaning “Move it!”

The pupils listened in pin-drop silence as Kolinka explained that they were forced to strip naked and how that had been torture for the demure 19-year-old she was at the time.

“The Nazis’ hatred of Jews was such that they hunted for every detail that could make us suffer, humiliate us,” she said.

Then, Kolinka rolled up her left sleeve so pupils could see the identification number — 78599 — that a camp orderly tattooed on her forearm.

“Some people’s numbers cover their entire arm,” she said. “But I have a nice little number.”

Rock-star treatment
With time short and perhaps to spare their young imaginations, Kolinka didn’t tell the teenagers that most of the 1,499 men, women and children transported with her to Auschwitz-Birkenau in convoy No. 71 from Paris were killed on arrival.

Kolinka was among a couple of hundred who were kept back from the gas chambers and crematoriums to be used instead as forced labor.

As a prisoner, Kolinka used to watch subsequent trains being unloaded, knowing that those aboard would soon be dead.

Focused on survival, she shut down her emotions.

“I became a robot,” she told the pupils.

After her talk, a group of them gathered around Kolinka to keep chatting and ask more questions, giving her rock-star treatment, not wanting the encounter to end.

Nour Benguella, 17, and Saratou Soumahoro, 19, were giddy with admiration. Simultaneously, they reached for the same word to describe Kolinka: “Extraordinary.”

“An amazing woman. It’s wonderful to have her here in front of us. This strength of testimony, her mental fortitude,” Benguella said.

“Keeping this history alive is the only thing that will permit us to not make the same mistakes.”

A major new development is casting doubt again over the prosecution’s case in the high-profile assassination of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as defense attorneys for accused gunman Tyler Robinson claim key forensic evidence does not add up.

Robinson’s legal team revealed that a federal analysis by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) was unable to match the bullet recovered from Kirk’s body to the rifle allegedly tied to Robinson. This claim will significantly weaken the prosecution’s central argument linking Robinson directly to the fatal shot.

The defense is now pushing to delay the upcoming preliminary hearing, since they need more time to analyze the evidence, including additional testing currently being conducted by the FBI.

Kirk, a prominent conservative figure and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed in September 2025 during a campus event at Utah Valley University in a long-range shot.

Robinson, 22, was later arrested after a family member gave him up. He now faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder, and prosecutors have indicated they may pursue the death penalty.

Despite the defense’s claims, prosecutors maintain that other evidence, including DNA and digital communications, ties Robinson to the crime. However, the emerging ballistic dispute is expected to become a central battleground in the case moving forward.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the United States’ military campaign against Iran is designed to push the regime toward accepting a deal to end the conflict, making clear that sustained pressure is central to the strategy.

During a morning briefing alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan “Raizin” Caine, broadcast live on Newsmax, Hegseth described an approach aligned with President Donald Trump’s “peace through strength” philosophy, combining forceful military action with an open door to negotiations.

“Our job is to ensure that we compel Iran to realize that this new regime, this regime in charge, is in a better place if they make that deal,” Hegseth said, adding that while diplomacy remains the preferred outcome, “in the meantime, we’ll negotiate with bombs.”

Hegseth also spoke about recent trips to meet American forces involved in “Operation Epic Fury,” commending what he called the “American warrior unleashed” and noting the determination among troops to “finish the mission.”

He said U.S. service members across multiple branches are engaged in intensive operations, striking targets deep inside Iran while simultaneously defending against missile and drone attacks.

Gen. Caine reported that American forces have hit more than 11,000 targets in the past month, dealing a significant blow to Iran’s missile systems, drone capabilities, and naval assets.

He added that the strikes have severely weakened Iran’s defense production infrastructure, reducing its ability to replenish lost equipment.

“We continue to systematically degrade and destroy Iran’s ability to project power,” Caine said, explaining that operations are taking place across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.

Hegseth pointed to intelligence assessments indicating falling morale within Iranian ranks, rising numbers of defections, and a noticeable decline in missile and drone launches.

He also highlighted the destruction of major command centers and weapons facilities, including targets recently cited by Trump.

“American firepower is only increasing. Iran’s is decreasing,” Hegseth said, crediting Trump with taking decisive action where past administrations hesitated.

The defense secretary reiterated Trump’s position that Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, describing that goal as a cornerstone of the ongoing campaign.

At the same time, Hegseth stressed that responsibility for protecting global stability — including key chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz — should not rest solely on the United States.

“The world ought to be prepared to step up,” he said, echoing Trump’s call for allies to contribute more to collective defense.

While he did not offer a specific timetable for the conflict, Hegseth emphasized that all options remain available, including further escalation if Iran declines to engage in negotiations.

“We’re not going to foreclose any option,” he said, underscoring the need to preserve strategic flexibility.

Despite concerns about the duration of the war, Hegseth expressed confidence in the current approach, stating that the United States is “closer than ever before to winning.”

“This is about history. This is about legacy,” he said. “Success matters.”

The IDF announced Tuesday that it expects to complete the destruction of all pre-war targets in Iran’s top two priority categories by Wednesday.

The targets span what the IDF classifies as “critical” and “essential” — together representing 100 percent of the highest-priority pre-war target set, and roughly 60 to 70 percent of all pre-war targets in Iran, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Critical targets were those deemed to pose an immediate threat to Israel, including facilities tied to Iran’s ballistic missile industry and the remaining components of its nuclear program. Essential targets represented a tier below — elements of Iran’s broader military-industrial complex that, while not posing an imminent threat in this conflict, were considered by Iran to be vital to sustaining its long-term weapons production and military capabilities. That category included satellite-launch and satellite-attack platforms, which the IDF identified as central to Iran’s ability to fire long-range weapons and to compete with Israel’s strategic edge in the satellite domain.

The remaining 30 to 40 percent of pre-war targets cover aspects of Iranian military infrastructure tied to long-term, non-strategic operations — neither an immediate threat to Israel nor part of the core supply chain for producing strategic weapons.

Asked whether Israel could declare its war objectives against Iran’s military achieved at this stage, IDF sources did not reject the notion, but said that if the fighting continued, the military could expand its target set to include economic and operational targets that would further degrade Iran’s military capacity and economic standing.

One significant limitation remains: despite the scale of the campaign, the IDF has been unable to fully suppress Iranian ballistic missile fire, and military officials said they expect Iran to sustain launches at a rate of between 5 and 20 missiles for an extended period.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal authorities have arrested four people in connection with an investigation into a Brooklyn nonprofit that received lucrative city contracts to open homeless shelters in New York City, a person familiar with the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press.

Investigators are also examining whether City Council Member Farah Louis and her sister Debbie Louis, an aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, accepted bribes or kickbacks related to the appropriation of city funds to the nonprofit, according to a search warrant viewed by The Associated Press.

The sisters were not among those arrested Tuesday.

The nonprofit, BHRAGS Home Care Corp., has received around $200 million in city contracts to operate homeless shelters since 2022, including some emergency facilities that were opened in response to an influx of migrants.

Among those arrested Tuesday were BHRAGS President Jean Ronald Tirelus and its executive director, Roberto Samedy, according to the official, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation.

Edouardo St. Fort, a retired New York City police sergeant who ran a security company linked to BHRAGS, is also in custody in Massachusetts, records show. A fourth vendor, Miguel Jorge, was in custody Tuesday, the official said.

An attorney listed for St. Fort did not return a request for comment. Samedy’s attorney declined to comment. Information about attorneys for the other two men was not immediately available.

All four were named in the search warrant, signed March 19, seeking information about and communications between BHRAGS, and Farah and Debbie Louis.

Debbie Louis has been placed on leave, the governor’s office said.

According to St. Fort’s arrest warrant, he is under indictment on charges of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, bribery involving programs receiving federal funds, and violating a law prohibiting interstate travel for unlawful activities.

A security company run by St. Fort, Fort NYC Security, worked as a subcontractor for BHRAGS. Since 2023, the city has agreed to pay more than $7 million to Fort NYC Security to provide security services at homeless shelters.

Records from the city comptroller’s office show that five of the six contracts awarded to Fort NYC Security were done so on an emergency basis, meaning the city did not have to solicit bids and award them to the lowest responsible bidder.

According to the search warrant, prosecutors are seeking information about whether the Louis sisters and a third individual, Edu Hermelyn, received benefits in exchange for actions taken on behalf of BHRAGS.

Edu Hermelyn is the husband of state Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who chairs the Brooklyn Democratic Party.

Messages left for Farah Louis, Debbie Louis and Edu Hermelyn were not returned.

A spokesperson for the City Council said the legislative body “takes any potential misconduct extremely seriously.”

“New Yorkers deserve confidence in their government,” the spokesperson said. “It is essential that the federal investigation proceed fairly and expeditiously to bring this matter to a resolution.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn declined to comment.

The existence of a search warrant doesn’t necessarily indicate that prosecutors plan to bring criminal charges, only that investigators persuaded a magistrate judge to allow them to dig deeper and seize evidence.

photos: Issac Y., Avrumi Berger

photos: Issac Y., Avrumi Berger

Congressman Dan Goldman, who represents a significant portion of the Jewish community in Boro Park, visited the neighborhood this week to observe the preparations for Yom Tov and meet with local community leaders and business owners. He was welcomed by community activist Avi Greenstein, along with several askanim with whom he maintains a close working relationship.

As part of his visit, the Congressman toured the Bobov Matzah Bakery, where he observed the matzah baking process and experienced the unique pre-Pesach atmosphere firsthand. The delegation then continued to Mefoar Judaica, where owner Yanky Roth warmly received him, presented a wide range of Judaica and beautifully crafted products, and gifted him a custom yarmulke.

The group then visited the Boro Park Center, where the Congressman spent time with residents and took a genuine interest in their well-being. He later joined the Met Council’s Pesach food distribution, witnessing firsthand the large-scale effort to provide essential Yom Tov supplies to local families.

Throughout the visit, the Congressman engaged with residents, who expressed appreciation for his ongoing dedication and commitment to serving the community.

photos: Avrumi Berger, Issac Y.

The IDF issued a statement Tuesday regarding a Monday operation in which three soldiers were lightly injured.

Troops operating in southern Lebanon came under fire when Hezbollah terrorists launched a drone directly at their location. The soldiers immediately returned fire, eliminating the entire cell, according to the military.

The IDF also said that three soldiers sustained light injuries and were evacuated to a hospital for treatment. Their families have been notified, the military said.

The Israeli military vowed to protect the people of Israel from terror attacks and make Hezbollah pay a high price for its ill-fated decision to join the war on Iran’s behalf.

“The IDF will continue to operate decisively against the Hezbollah terrorist organization after it chose to join the hostilities and operate under the auspices of the Iranian regime,” the military declared in its statement. “The IDF will not allow harm to be caused to Israeli civilians.”

President Donald Trump said he is not focused on Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, even as experts warned that securing those materials was essential to preventing Tehran from advancing toward a nuclear weapon.

“I don’t I even think about it. I just know that it’s so deeply buried it’s going to be very hard for anybody” to reach it, Trump told CBS News in a phone interview, referring to U.S. strikes carried out last year on Iranian nuclear sites believed to house the stockpiles.

“It’s down there deep… Even without a war, they haven’t been able to do it. So… it’s pretty safe. But we’ll make a determination,” he added.

Trump also indicated that he had not yet decided to withdraw American military resources from the region that could be used to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil corridor that Iran had disrupted, while again expressing frustration with NATO allies for not joining the effort.

“At some point I will [pull US forces], not quite yet. But countries have to come in and take care of it. Iran has been decimated,” Trump said.

Officials from NATO countries pushed back, arguing that the United States initiated the conflict with Iran without consulting them, and was now seeking their support to address consequences they did not create.

When asked about a timeline for the conflict’s conclusion, Trump declined to give a firm answer. “It won’t be long,” he said.

“I would say we are two weeks ahead of schedule,” Trump claimed, despite earlier statements from the White House projecting a four-to-six-week conflict and the war already entering its fifth week.

Trump further asserted that Iran would need a decade to recover from the damage sustained during the war.

A vehicle fire and a separate blaze near a residence in South Toms River have led to serious criminal charges against a New York man, authorities said.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on March 27, 2026, Tashaun Normand, 42, of Bronx, New York, was charged with two counts of Aggravated Arson and two counts of Possession of Destructive Devices in connection with an incident that occurred on March 23, 2026.

At approximately 3:15 p.m. on March 23, officers from the South Toms River Police Department and firefighters from the Manitou Park Fire Company responded to a residence on Belmont Drive for a reported vehicle fire. Upon arrival, first responders observed flames inside a 2010 GMC Terrain, as well as a separate fire burning in a nearby grassy area. Both fires were extinguished.

During their response, officers discovered a broken glass bottle and another intact bottle containing an unknown liquid with a torn rag inserted—consistent with a Molotov cocktail.

An investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, South Toms River Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that the fire originated at the front windshield of the vehicle and was intentionally set using an open flame and available combustibles.

Authorities further determined that Normand was responsible for constructing and throwing the Molotov cocktails at the vehicle and in the direction of the residence.

Normand was apprehended on March 30, 2026, in Monroe County, Tennessee, by the Tennessee Highway Patrol without incident. He is currently being held in the Monroe County Jail pending extradition to New Jersey.

Prosecutor Billhimer praised the coordinated efforts of all agencies involved in the investigation.

(AP) – The advanced systems that allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel while going down the road will be scrutinized again by federal investigators on Tuesday in connection with two fatal crashes involving Ford’s Blue Cruise system.

The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to recommend ways to improve these partially automated driving systems as it wraps up its investigation into the 2024 crashes in Texas and Pennsylvania that killed three people when the Ford Mustang Mach-E cars slammed into vehicles that were stopped.

The NTSB has previously investigated a number of other crashes involving similar systems, including Tesla’s autopilot system.

Ford and other automakers emphasize that these systems are not designed to replace the human drivers sitting behind the wheel, who have to be ready to take control at any time. The NTSB has said their investigation is examining the effectiveness of these systems and how well they monitor driver engagement.

But Missy Cummings, a professor of engineering and computing at George Mason University, said these crashes highlight some of the dangers of partially autonomous driving systems that allow people to disengage.

“Allowing people to take their hands off the wheel will also mean they will likely take their minds off the driving task,” Cummings said.

Ford’s Blue Cruise system does allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel while it handles steering, braking and acceleration on highways. The company says the system isn’t fully autonomous and it monitors drivers to make sure they pay attention to the road.

There are no fully autonomous vehicles for sale to the public in the U.S.

One of the crashes occurred in San Antonio, Texas, killing one person, while the other happened in Philadelphia in which two people died. The driver in the Philadelphia crash was later charged with DUI homicide. That criminal case is still pending with no trial date set.

The Texas crash occurred on Interstate 10 in San Antonio. The NTSB report says the Mach E struck the rear of a 1999 Honda CR-V that was stopped in the middle of three lanes around 9:50 p.m. The 56-year-old driver of the CR-V was killed.

Another driver who was able to avoid the CR-V told investigators that neither its tail lights nor hazards were working at the time.

The other crash involving a Mach E killed two people around 3:20 a.m. March 3 in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania State Police said the Ford was in the left lane when it struck a stationary Hyundai Elantra that earlier had collided with a Toyota Prius.

During the crash, the driver of the Prius, who was outside of his vehicle, also was struck and thrown into the southbound lanes. A person from the Hyundai also was on the roadway and was hit. Both young men died.

President Trump on Monday shared dramatic renderings of a glass skyscraper he intends to build in downtown Miami to house his presidential library and museum, featuring a golden entrance, an Air Force One exhibit, and a statue of himself with fist raised.

The video shows a tower soaring above the Miami skyline with the “Trump” name lit up near its peak, topped by a red, white and blue antenna. An American flag is displayed roughly halfway up the building’s facade, above a golden-colored main entrance flanked by a statue that appears to depict Trump in his now-iconic “fight, fight, fight” pose from the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Visitors entering the building would be greeted by a full-scale Air Force One alongside a golden escalator, a nod to Trump’s 2015 descent down a similar escalator at Trump Tower when he announced his first presidential run. Military hardware, including helicopters, fighter jets and a tank, lines the building’s open hallways.

The planned facility would also include replicas of the Oval Office, a “Presidential Walk of Fame,” a new White House ballroom, a modern auditorium, and a terrace garden with fountains. The building is fully clad in glass, a design that Trump’s team has implicitly contrasted with former President Barack Obama’s Chicago library, which has drawn comparisons to a monolith.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The project is being designed by Miami-based architecture firm Bermello Ajamil, owned by Woolpert. The Presidential Library Foundation was incorporated in Florida last year to fund construction.

Eric Trump said on X that he has spent six months working on the project alongside his team at the Trump Organization. “This landmark on the water in Miami, Florida will stand as a lasting testament to an amazing man, an amazing developer, and the greatest President our Nation has ever known,” he wrote.

The White House struck a similar tone. “The Trump Presidential Library will be one of the most magnificent buildings in the world and a living testament to the indelible impact President Trump has made on America and its people,” spokesman Davis Ingle said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF said that the Israeli Air Force, acting on intelligence provided by the IDF, completed a wave of strikes on Iran Tuesday morning, targeting various infrastructure sites related to the authoritarian regime.

Continuing its war effort to seriously degrade Iran’s military manufacturing industries, the IDF dropped more than 80 munitions on regime infrastructure, including a site that makes key parts for ballistic missile engines, a site used to test ballistic missile engines, and a factory that produces air defense systems.

At the same time, the IDF struck additional targets, including infrastructure at the IRGC’s main naval headquarters, as well as other sites used to launch and store ballistic missiles and additional air defense systems.

“The IDF continues to further degrade the regime’s military industries to deny the production capabilities it has built over many years,” the military said.

Authorities are investigating after Swastikas were found sprayed on boxes delivered to the Burger Bar restaurant in Jackson.

The proprietor of Burger Bar tells TLS he found multiple swastikas on the delivered order.

Anyone with information should call police.

A heated speech by MK Meir Porush shook the Knesset plenum Monday night, as he praised the opposition for backing funding for chareidi education and welfare—while simultaneously launching a sharp attack on opposition leaders, led by Naftali Bennett.

Porush described the episode as “Speech of the Loser Government 3,” adding that the late-night vote requires a redefinition of the term “losers.”

In a surprising turn, Porush commended the opposition for supporting the funding, stating: “Your vote in favor of restoring the budget that was taken from children in chareidi education is worthy of praise.” However, he quickly pivoted to criticize what he called an “incitement display” by senior opposition figures. He claimed that immediately after the vote, Yair Lapid, Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and others launched “a wild and unrestrained attack” against the chareidi public.

Porush directed his harshest remarks at Bennett, accusing him of massive unpaid party financing debts. “You are a loser who takes public funds and simply doesn’t return them… In the world, a person like that is called a thief,” he said. He further claimed that while other parties have reduced their debts, Bennett, Ehud Barak, and Yoaz Hendel “have not returned a single shekel” and are carrying millions in liabilities.

Concluding his remarks, Porush attempted to offer a measure of consolation to the opposition: “You have nothing to be ashamed of—you approved money for children, for at-risk youth, for the periphery. This is not new money; it is the return of stolen funds.” He added that if legal advisers continue to delay the transfer of the budgets, the Knesset may be forced to introduce “additional checks.”

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri said he expects legislation exempting yeshiva students from military service to advance when the Knesset returns from recess this summer, asserting in a pre-Pesach interview that the bill already has the votes to pass.

“The draft of the conscription law is ready,” Deri told the Shas-affiliated outlet Haderech. “If we had brought it to a vote in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, it would have passed. I believe it would have passed in the plenum as well.”

Deri said the bill was shelved at the direction of Chareidi rabbinic leadership after the outbreak of war with Iran, which he said made the timing inappropriate. “B’ezrat Hashem, we will settle the issue in the summer session,” he said.

His comments come amid shifting signals from the coalition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had both announced the controversial legislation was being set aside following the onset of hostilities. But on Monday evening, Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Boaz Bismuth, a Likud MK, told the Knesset that the bill would be reintroduced as part of a broader legislative package aimed at bolstering the IDF as it contends with fighting on multiple fronts.

The bill has faced sustained opposition from IDF leadership, the attorney general, and a broad range of critics, who argue it is riddled with loopholes, entrenches inequality in the mandatory draft, and will do little to address what the military describes as an urgent manpower shortage.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s first long-range missile was deployed at a southwestern army camp, officials said Tuesday, as the country pushes to bolster its offensive capabilities.

The upgraded Type-12 land-to-ship missiles, developed and produced by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, became operational at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto prefecture.

“As Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment in the postwar era … it is an extremely important capability to strengthen Japan’s deterrence and responsiveness,” Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters. “It demonstrates Japan’s firm determination and capability to defend itself.”

The upgraded Type-12 missile has a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), a significant extension from the 200-kilometer (125-mile) range of the original that would allow it to reach mainland China.

The deployment of the long-range missile gives Japan a “standoff” capability, meaning it can strike enemy missile bases from afar, marking a break from the self-defense-only policy the country long followed under its pacifist constitution.

Residents opposing the deployment near the residential area staged protests outside the Kengun camp, saying it would escalate tension and increases risks the area could be targeted by potential enemies.

Japan rolls out more weapons systems to protect southwestern islands
Also Tuesday, a hypersonic glide vehicle, a new weapons system designed for island defense, was deployed to Camp Fuji in the Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo. Additional deployment of the upgraded Type-12 missiles and HGVs at other locations in Japan, including Hokkaido in the north and Miyazaki in the south, are planned by March 2028.

Japan also plans to deploy U.S.-made, 1,600-kilometer (990-mile)-range Tomahawk cruise missiles on Japanese destroyer JS Chokai later this year, and eventually on seven other destroyers.

Takaichi boosts defense spending to counter China
Japan considers China its main regional security threat and has fortified the country’s southwestern islands near the East China Sea in recent years.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ‘s Cabinet in December approved a record defense budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for the fiscal year beginning April and aims to fortify its strike-back capability and coastal defense with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals.

Japan last June spotted two Chinese aircraft carriers almost simultaneously operating near Japanese remote islands in the Pacific for the first time, sparking Tokyo’s concern about Beijing’s military activity stretching far beyond its borders.

The defense minster last week announced the establishment of a new office dedicated to studying China’s Pacific activity.

Tensions have escalated further since Takaichi’s statement in November that any Chinese military action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats’ hopes of reclaiming the U.S. Senate are colliding with a fight within their own party.

In Maine, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has thrown his weight behind Gov. Janet Mills in a crucial race, but some of his Senate colleagues are backing insurgent candidate Graham Platner in a rebuke of his strategic vision. A similar dynamic is playing out in other battlegrounds, including Michigan and Minnesota, where progressives senators are endorsing non-establishment candidates.

At stake is more than any single race. Democrats are fighting over whether the party’s traditional playbook still works in a country that elected Donald Trump for a second time — and whether leaders like Schumer should remain in charge.

“Clearly there’s a disagreement of strategy here,” said New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, who has endorsed Platner.

He added that “the business-as-usual calculation for what is going to be successful in a given election cycle does not necessarily, in my view, meet the moment.”

The divide reflects a Democratic base frustrated after the last presidential election, when President Joe Biden ran for a second term despite widespread concerns about his age. He dropped out and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump.

Nan Whaley, a Democratic strategist in Ohio who ran for governor four years ago, said the debate is no longer about progressive or moderate.

“It’s really about, who do you trust? Establishment or not establishment,” she said. “And frankly, the establishment hasn’t given us a lot to trust these past few years.”

‘A rebuke of Schumer’
In Maine, Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, or DSCC, have backed Mills, a 78-year-old moderate in her second term.

Platner, a veteran and oyster farmer, quickly won the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., just days after launching his campaign. His bid has since gained momentum despite scrutiny over past controversial comments and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol.

In recent weeks, Heinrich, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren have endorsed Platner as he builds support on Capitol Hill. Heinrich and Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse held a fundraiser for him, too.

Gallego, a first-term senator who won a battleground race in 2024, downplayed the endorsements as a broader critique of party leadership.

“Senate leadership didn’t back me at the beginning. So I didn’t take that as a critique,” Gallego said.

Michigan also has a contentious primary, with three high-profile candidates. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow has said she would not support Schumer as the caucus leader if Democrats regain the majority, and she’s been endorsed by four senators.

Abdul El-Sayed, running further to the left, has been endorsed by Sanders and has also run on an anti-establishment platform.

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens has aligned with establishment figures, working with a former DSCC executive director and securing support from two senators.

Democratic strategist Lis Smith said the endorsements in races like Maine and Michigan are “as much as a rebuke of Schumer as it is an endorsement of these candidates.”

“It’s pretty uncommon for sitting senators to endorse against the Senate leader,” Smith said. “Senators are reading the tea leaves and are getting feedback from the grassroots that they are dissatisfied with Schumer’s performance as leader.”

In Minnesota, an open-seat race has similarly emerged as a test of the party’s direction. Rep. Angie Craig is seen as the centrist candidate in the primary, with endorsements from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the more progressive candidate, has been backed by Sanders, Warren and others, including Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith, who is vacating the seat.

“She understands that right now what we need are fierce fighters, people who are willing to stand up to the status quo,” Smith said in her endorsement.

‘The election may impact’ Schumer’s time as leader
Some tensions trace to March 2025, when Schumer voted with Republicans to end a government shutdown, drawing backlash from Democrats who argued he did not push hard enough against Trump’s agenda.

Later that year, Democrats held firm in a record-long shutdown fight, helping regain some ground with activists and progressives. But divisions resurfaced when a group of moderates ultimately sided with Republicans, fueling renewed frustration with party leadership even as Schumer opposed the move.

Since he became Senate leader in 2017, Schumer’s record in elections has been mixed. He led Democrats back to the majority in 2020 and expanded it in 2022 but lost ground in both 2018 and 2024.

“Leader Schumer’s North Star is taking back the Senate and is pursuing a path to do just that,” said Allison Biasotti, a spokesperson for Schumer.

He’s recruited high-profile candidates this year in tough Senate races, such as Alaska, Ohio and North Carolina. Maeve Coyle, communications director for the DSCC, said Schumer “created a path to win a Democratic Senate majority this cycle” with the recruitment.

“Senate Democrats overperformed in the last four election cycles and in 2026, we will win seats and flip the majority,” she added.

David Axelrod, who served as a top strategist for President Barack Obama, said that being Senate leader is never easy, and that Schumer “has been under fire for some time, particularly from progressives in the party.”

Schumer’s time as leader, Axelrod added, is likely directly linked to the outcome of the 2026 midterms.

“There’s questions as to whether he’ll run in 2028. There’s even questions as to whether he might be challenged as leader,” he said. “I think the results of this election may impact that.”

For now, Schumer’s caucus is tentatively standing behind him. None have explicitly called for him to step aside. But discontent has lingered, with some openly questioning whether the party needs a new direction.

“How people did politics in the 1990s is going to feel different than in the 2020s,” said Heinrich.

YS GOLD 

This week’s captured moment brings us to the center of Boro Park and to the site of Boro Park’s first yeshiva building, founded in 1922—over a century ago. 

Can our readers pinpoint this location?

___

Answer to last week’s captured moment: 

As many of our readers have correctly pointed out, Dr. Schmierer’s office was located on 49th Street, off of thirteenth Avenue. The home is very much still standing, and looks exactly as it did all those many years ago.

The former head of US Central Command said Sunday that the American-Israeli campaign against Iran is outpacing projections drawn from years of military war-gaming, expressing confidence that Tehran will ultimately agree to terms.

Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, who led Central Command under both Presidents Trump and Biden, told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that the operation has exceeded the benchmarks established through repeated simulations of a potential Iran conflict.

“I’ve simulated this for many years in many positions at Central Command,” McKenzie said. “We’re a little further along than we would have expected to be at this point in all the simulations that I’ve seen.”

McKenzie said the current phase of the campaign is focused on systematically degrading Iran’s missile and drone capabilities across southern Iran, with the goal of breaking Tehran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran closed the critical waterway in response to the US-Israeli assault, triggering fuel shortages and price spikes worldwide.

“What we’re doing right now is we’re reducing Iranian ability to target ships in the strait through their short-range missiles, their drones and other activities,” McKenzie said. “We do that by maintaining air superiority over southern Iran on a 24/7 basis, looking for where these missiles are and striking them relentlessly.”

Once those capabilities are sufficiently degraded, McKenzie said, forces could move in to clear Iranian mines from the strait if needed.

The retired general also pointed to Kharg Island — home to the bulk of Iran’s oil production infrastructure — as a potential pressure point. “If you seize Kharg Island, you really can shut down the Iranian oil economy completely,” he said.

Despite the optimistic military assessment, Iran has continued to resist direct negotiations, with its leadership demanding compensation for war damages. With the conflict entering its second month, the Trump administration is reportedly targeting a mid-April timeline for completing major operations, a timeline that could involve the deployment of ground forces inside Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal.

President Trump has outlined several objectives for the campaign, including the dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program and the destruction of its regional proxy network.

“I believe that they will break,” McKenzie said. “I believe that they will come to terms.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.)

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE

your OWN SIYUM on the ENTIRE

Shas, Rashi & Tosfos

IN JUST ONE YEAR!

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact.

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own.

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden.

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact –

Beyond the Grave

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory.

ShasYiden.com

While conducting a sweep of the Ramiyah area of southern Lebanon, troops from the 146th Division discovered dozens of loaded rocket launchers pointed toward Israel and ready to fire, the IDF said Tuesday. The soldiers dismantled the launchers shortly thereafter, preventing a wave of attacks on Israel.

The military said that earlier in the day the soldiers located a launcher that had recently fired rockets at the northern communities of Israel that same day, which they destroyed via airstrikes.

Credit: IDF

The same division, working with the Israeli Air Force, also dismantled dozens of terror infrastructure sites, including anti-tank missile launching posts, observation posts, underground tunnel shafts, weapon storage facilities and apartments out of which terrorists operate, according to the IDF.

The military also said that it is doing everything in its power “to reduce rocket fire attacks toward the State of Israel and the communities of northern Israel in particular, a mission which is of the highest priority.”

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods’ eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his pupils dilated and he had hydrocodone pills in his pocket when interviewed at the scene of his car crash last week in Florida, according to a sheriff’s office report released Tuesday.

Woods’ movements were slow and lethargic, he was sweating as he talked to deputies, and he told them he had taken prescription medication earlier in the morning, according to the incident report released from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies found two white pills, which were identified as the opioid hydrocodone used to treat pain, in his pocket, the report said.

When asked by a deputy if he took any prescription medications, Woods said, “I take a few.”

Woods told deputies he had been looking at his phone and fiddling with the radio before he clipped the truck in front of him, the report said.

The golfer was traveling at “high speeds” on a beachside, residential road in Jupiter Island when his Land Rover clipped the truck and rolled onto its side, according to the sheriff’s office, noting that Woods showed “signs of impairment.”

The truck had $5,000 in damage, according to the sheriff’s report.

Neither Woods nor the other driver were injured. Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused a urine test, authorities said. He was arrested and released on bail eight hours later.

Woods’ agent at Excel Sports, Mark Steinberg, has not responded to multiple messages seeking comment. No one from Woods’ camp or the PGA Tour — he is on the board and is chairman of the committee reshaping the competition model — has commented since his arrest.

Woods, who has been involved in other crashes over the years, is charged with driving under the influence, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

Under a change to Florida law last year, refusing a law enforcement officer’s request to take a breath, blood or urine test became a misdemeanor, even for a first offense.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — In a lengthy report published Tuesday, The New York Times examined the growing debate over whether New York City should provide free child care to all families, including those in its wealthiest neighborhoods.

The article focused on a new city-backed child care center planned for Manhattan’s Upper East Side, one of the city’s most affluent areas, where care will be offered at no cost to families regardless of income.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made universal child care a cornerstone of his agenda, arguing that access should be treated as a public good rather than a benefit limited by income. Supporters say that extending services to all residents can build long-term political support and help stabilize the system.

But critics cited in the report raised concerns about affordability, noting that the city is already facing a significant budget shortfall and may struggle to fund a fully universal program. Some argue that resources should be prioritized for lower-income families who are less able to afford private care.

The report also noted that while the Upper East Side is known for its wealth, it includes a range of income levels, with some families facing financial pressure due to the city’s high cost of living.

The debate underscores a broader policy question confronting New York and other major cities: whether universal social programs are more effective than targeted assistance, especially in times of fiscal strain.

Mamdani’s administration has acknowledged funding challenges but continues to push forward with plans to expand access, framing the initiative as part of a wider effort to address affordability across the city.

Rafael Grossi said that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure has taken a heavy hit but cautioned that key elements remain intact following last summer’s U.S. strikes and the ongoing conflict.

In an interview with Fareed Zakaria on CNN, Grossi said Iran’s nuclear efforts have been significantly set back, though not entirely dismantled.

“There was enormous damage, in particular during the 12-Day War last year, at Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow,” he said, referring to the country’s primary uranium enrichment facilities.

Grossi explained that the recent month-long Operation Epic Fury targeted a broad range of objectives beyond nuclear-related sites, but even when combined with earlier attacks, “not everything was destroyed.”

He concurred with Zakaria’s point that military strikes cannot erase technical expertise, noting that knowledge gained in nuclear development cannot be eliminated through bombing.

“Don’t forget that this activity of uranium enrichment, which is rather complex, is not something that is impossible to do. The methodology is quite sophisticated. The centrifuges that spin at high velocity, to separate the isotope of uranium which is interesting from the one which is not – all of these things Iran has mastered over the years,” he said.

Grossi emphasized that uranium enrichment itself is “not, per se, a nuclear activity,” adding that if Iran chooses to proceed cautiously, it could carry out such work in smaller, harder-to-detect settings.

“You may have, in Iran, thousands – or perhaps more – of workshops, or small factories, where they could reproduce these capacities,” he said.

He aligned with U.S. intelligence assessments that the strikes on Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow caused “very considerable” destruction, setting back Iran’s program by years, but reiterated that “there are things that remain.”

Zakaria pushed back, suggesting that this assessment conflicts with “the administration’s current claims” that without Operation Epic Fury, Iran might have been only weeks or months away from assembling a nuclear weapon.

Grossi responded that he does not have access to the intelligence underlying those claims but pointed out that Iran’s “stockpile of enriched uranium” appears to have survived the earlier 12-Day War.

“It is true that the program had reached a concerning level of development,” he said.

Grossi rejected Iran’s position that it has a “right to enrichment” and voiced some understanding for U.S. efforts to limit Tehran’s activities to “very limited enrichment activities” under international monitoring.

“Perhaps a suspension of these activities could be agreed for a few years, without Iran resigning permanently, as part of a trust-building process,” he suggested.

He declined to take a firm stance either supporting or opposing the joint U.S.-Israeli military actions, instead reiterating his preference for negotiations under nearly all circumstances.

Grossi also spoke positively about Iranian negotiators, describing them as “extremely intelligent and defend their positions, just as the United States and Israel do,” though he has previously voiced frustration over Tehran’s lack of full cooperation with inspections.

Separately, the IAEA reported Sunday that Iran’s heavy water facility at Khondab has “suffered severe damage and is no longer operational.” While heavy water is not itself nuclear material, it plays a crucial role in nuclear research and reactor development. The site was struck in an Israeli airstrike on Friday.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s ambassador to Washington said the war against Iran will likely require regime change to achieve its objectives, even as official messaging from both Jerusalem and Washington has increasingly focused on degrading Iranian military capabilities rather than toppling its government.

“If that can be done without regime change, okay. Probably can’t, though. So at the very least, what we want is regime collapse,” Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said on the American Enterprise Institute’s podcast, which aired Monday.

Leiter framed the war’s core purpose as eliminating Iran’s nuclear program, its ballistic missile arsenal, and its network of regional proxies. “The purpose is to make sure that we don’t have a power, an entity in Tehran, which is developing nuclear weapons, is developing weapons of mass destruction in terms of these ballistic missiles, and is supporting proxies around the region,” he said.

Regime change was never formally listed among the war’s stated objectives. While Israeli leaders signaled early in the conflict their desire to see the Islamic Republic fall, recent public messaging from both countries has shifted toward the more limited goal of stripping Iran of its military capabilities.

Leiter also described a deepening alliance between Israel and Gulf Arab states that he said has accelerated over the past month of fighting. “Whether it’s UAE, Bahrain, I think we’ve become closer to the Saudis, closer to the Omanis, closer to the Kuwaitis for crying out loud,” he said, adding that several of those countries had actively requested Israeli assistance during the conflict.

The ambassador pointed to a recent op-ed by Emirati envoy to Washington Yousef Otaiba as evidence of aligned Gulf objectives, noting that Otaiba had called for a conclusive outcome addressing Iran’s full range of threats, including its nuclear capabilities, missiles, drones, proxy forces, and blockade of international shipping lanes. Leiter said Otaiba was “very clear” that the conflict would not end simply because the US declared its mission complete.

“This isn’t going to end even if at some point the US says, ‘We’ve done our job. We’ve taken out all the production sites. We’ve destroyed them militarily, and now we’re wrapping up,'” Leiter said.

He added that Iran has been “put on notice” that Israel and its regional allies intend to continue acting regardless. “This could really make the difference going into the future,” he said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF said Tuesday it has completed preparations for Pesach, with thousands of soldiers set to hold Seder nights inside active combat zones in Gaza and southern Lebanon for a third consecutive year. The military said it distributed more than 106 tons of matzah, tens of thousands of Haggadot and thousands of specially prepared food packages ahead of the holiday.

According to the IDF’s Logistics and Technology Directorate, troops will receive tailored “Seder Night for the Fighter” kits designed for field conditions, alongside Kosher-for-Pesach food supplies adapted for combat operations. Air force personnel are also being equipped with “Boost in the Skies” packages containing protein and energy supplements to support extended missions.

The Military Rabbinate has prepared Haggadot suited for operational settings and deployed unit Rabbis to help lead Seders on the front lines. The IDF said the effort is intended to allow soldiers to observe the holiday even while operating deep inside enemy territory.

The preparations come after widespread complaints during Passover 2025, when families of soldiers in Gaza reported food shortages and limited supplies reaching troops. Responding to the criticism, officials in the logistics branch said the military has adjusted its planning for this year. “We learned lessons and improved,” the IDF said.

You can download it here. 

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the Iranian regime’s “axis of terror” is beginning to collapse, according to remarks released by the military from his meeting this week with U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper.

Zamir and Cooper “spoke about the importance of cooperation between the two militaries in the operation against the Iranian regime and coordinated the next steps,” the IDF said in a statement.

Cooper also held a strategic coordination meeting with Defense Minister Israel Katz “to deepen the achievement and strengthen cooperation against Iran,” the defense minister’s office said.

The meetings come amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli coordination in operations targeting Iranian military capabilities and its network of proxy forces. Israeli officials have described the joint efforts as entering a new phase aimed at further dismantling Tehran’s infrastructure and isolating the regime.

Zamir’s comments reflect Israel’s assessment that sustained pressure is weakening Iran’s regional influence, which has long relied on groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.

No further details on specific next steps were released by either side.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s online safety watchdog said Tuesday it was considering court action against Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube alleging they are not doing enough to keep Australian children younger than 16 off their platforms.

Experts say the Australian courts could decide what steps the platforms can reasonably be expected to take under the laws that took effect on Dec. 10 banning young children from holding accounts.

Julie Inman Grant, who is Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, on Tuesday released her first compliance report since those laws took effect demanding 10 platforms remove all Australian account-holders younger than 16.

While 5 million Australian accounts had been deactivated, a substantial number of Australian children continued to retain accounts, create new accounts and pass platforms’ age assurance systems, the report said.

Inman Grant said in a statement her office had “significant concerns about the compliance” of half of those 10 platforms. Her office was gathering evidence against the five that they had not taken “reasonable steps” to prevent young children holding accounts.

Courts could order fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to comply. eSafety would decide on whether to initiate court action against any platform by midyear.

Age-restricted platforms that aren’t under investigation are Reddit, X, Kick, Threads and Twitch.

Communications Minister Anika Wells said the five criticized platforms were deliberately not complying with Australian law.

“Social media platforms are choosing to do the absolute bare minimum because they want these laws to fail,” Wells told reporters.

“This is the world-leading law. We’re the first in the world to do it. Of course they don’t want these laws to work because they want that to be a chilling effect on the dozen countries that have come out since Dec. 10 to follow Australia’s step,” she added.

eSafety had identified “poor practices” such as platforms allowing unlimited attempts for a user to pass their age assurance methods and prompting the user to try to pass the age assurance method even after they declared themselves underage.

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, told The Associated Press it was committed to complying with Australia’s social media ban. “We’ve also been clear that accurately determining age online is a challenge for the whole industry,” the statement said.

Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, said it has locked 450,000 accounts in compliance with the law and continued to lock more every day.

“Snapchat remains fully committed to implementing reasonable steps under the legislation and supporting its underlying goal of improving online safety for young Australians,” a Snap statement said.

TikTok declined to comment on Tuesday and Alphabet Inc., which owns YouTube and Google, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lisa Given, an information sciences expert at RMIT University in Melbourne, said she expected the courts will decide whether platforms have taken “reasonable steps” to exclude young children.

“If a tech company has said: look, we put in age assurance, we’ve done all these steps. That’s reasonable. Even though the aged assurance technologies are flawed, whose fault is that? Should they be held accountable for a piece of technology that is not 100% and likely not going to be 100% foolproof any time soon?” Given said.

“That’s really the crux of it: what the courts will deem reasonable,” she added.

Reddit has filed one of two constitutional challenges to the social media ban in the Australian High Court. The other was filed by Digital Freedom Project, a Sydney-based rights group that did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday..

Both suits claim the law is unconstitutional because it infringes on Australia’s implied freedom of political communication.

A prelimary hearing is set for May 21 when the court will set a date for oral arguments, Reddit said Tuesday.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation announced that, due to the ongoing war, the Kosel will be closed to the public throughout Pesach, with the traditional Birkas Kohanim ceremony taking place in a significantly reduced format.

The announcement comes as authorities earlier approved a limited prayer arrangement at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christian observances.

In a joint statement issued by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Israel Police, and the Yerushalayim Municipality, officials said: “In light of the ‘Roaring Lion’ war, the current security situation, and Home Front Command directives—alongside recent incidents in Yerushalayim, including missile fragments that fell in recent days in the Old City and the Jewish Quarter—special preparations have been completed for Pesach at the Kosel.”

“As part of this preparedness, and in accordance with Home Front Command guidelines and restrictions on public gatherings, Pesach will be observed this year in an unusual and different format from previous years, out of responsibility to protect human life and concern for the safety and security of worshippers and visitors.”

Officials acknowledged that in a typical year, hundreds of thousands of visitors and mispallelim flock to Yerushalayim and the Kosel during the Yom Tov. “However, this year, given the security circumstances, the public is required to act responsibly and follow the instructions of security authorities,” the statement said.

Under the special arrangements, no public access to the Kosel will be permitted throughout Pesach. Both Jaffa Gate and Dung Gate will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and no public transportation routes will operate to the site.

Despite the closure, the annual Birkas Kohanim gathering—typically attended by tens of thousands—will still take place, but in a drastically scaled-down format with only 50 kohanim participating.

Organizers added that the ceremony will be broadcast live, allowing the public to join remotely and experience the tefillos and brachos. They expressed hope that the war will end before the chag, enabling a return to the traditional atmosphere.

{Matzav.com}

First Lady Magazine Has Arrived.

A new monthly magazine for the Jewish woman of valor.

Carefully curated, beautifully designed, and thoughtfully written, First Lady Magazine brings inspiration, insight, and real life relevance in every issue.

This is a monthly magazine created to be part of your routine, something to look forward to, issue after issue.

The inaugural issue is here, our Pesach edition.

A Yom Tov magazine created to elevate the season, with meaningful reads, thoughtful perspective, and a fresh, refined experience from cover to cover.

More than just a magazine, a new monthly experience.

Now on newsstands.

Pick up your Pesach issue today.

Meet the Kaplan family. This year, their youngest, Rivka, is undergoing intensive treatment. Instead of polishing silver and setting their dining room table, the Kaplans are navigating sterile corridors and counting down the minutes between infusions. For them, the four cups of wine are accompanied by the constant hum of medical monitors.

At Darchei Miriam, we believe that cancer should never have the power to steal a family’s joy or their connection to our sacred Pesach tradition.

Darchei Miriam provides funding for treatment, cheer-up events, food cornors and packages, financial aid, and just about anyhing that a family spending Pesach in a hospital may need.

Help Darchei Miriam to be able to continue bringing the Simchas Yom Tov to hundreds of families in desperate need!

$500 – Donate a Pesach Seder
$360 – Donate clothing for Yom Tov
$180 – Donate a Seudah
$100 – Donate a Chol Hamoed trip

Please Donate Here

May the zchus of your donation bring you health always, and a Chag Kosher V’Sameach!

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — A U.S. Marine was detained at a California airport after Transportation Security Administration personnel found a live 25 mm explosive round in his checked baggage, police said.

The round was found during the screening process of checked luggage at Palm Springs International Airport on Monday, the Palm Springs Police Department said in a news release.

The Marine told investigators he found the round “in the field” about a year ago and kept it, thinking it wasn’t live.

“Due to extensive rust and corrosion, the round’s original identifying paint markings were no longer visible, making it difficult to determine whether it was an inert training munition or a live explosive device,” police said in the news release.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team used X-ray technology to confirm that it was a live round. The team took it to a desert area near Interstate 10, where it was destroyed, the news release said. No one was hurt.

Police said they submitted the case to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for a review of potential violations and criminal charges. An email seeking comment was sent to the district attorney’s office Tuesday.

The Marine, who was released to military authorities, could face administrative action by the Marine Corps and a potential civil penalty through the TSA, police said. Emails seeking comment were sent to both organizations.

Dozens of Knesset members have signed a sharply worded letter to IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, urging him to return Reserve Battalion 941 to active operational duty after its soldiers were suspended following an incident involving a CNN crew.

The initiative was led by MK Zvi Sukkot in response to the decision made a day earlier to remove the battalion from operational activity. He organized the letter, which drew signatures from dozens of lawmakers. The MKs opened by expressing strong support for the IDF and its wartime operations, noting that under Zamir’s leadership, Israeli forces are fighting terrorism “in a manner that has drawn admiration worldwide.”

At the same time, the signatories leveled strong criticism at the decision to sideline the battalion, arguing that it appeared to have been driven by media coverage. They described the move as highly unusual and warned that it could undermine trust among combat soldiers and reservists—particularly at a time when the military depends on broad mobilization.

The letter stressed that the decision carries significant consequences, both operationally and in the public and family spheres. The MKs cautioned that it could damage troop morale, erode public confidence in the defense establishment, and hinder ongoing efforts to integrate additional populations into military service.

In closing, the lawmakers called on the chief of staff to reverse the decision and order the battalion’s immediate return to full operational activity.

MK Sukkot described the move as “an outrageous decision,” adding that it is unacceptable for considerations of media optics to outweigh the need to stand behind soldiers working to protect the country. He said it is the responsibility of Knesset members to oversee such decisions and prevent harm to the reserve system.

Among those who signed the letter were MKs Tzvika Fogel, Ariel Kallner, Nissim Vaturi, Amit Halevi, Tali Gottlieb, Simcha Rothman, David Bitan, Galit Distel Atbaryan, Akram Hasson, Michel Buskila, and others.

{Matzav.com}

The boy who was struck and seriously injured in Lakewood on Shabbos is making significant improvements, TLS has learned.

Daniel Shmuel Ben Shifra was walking on Hope Chapel Friday night when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver, and was left unconscious with serious injuries.

Thousands have been Davening for the boy, and the Tefillos are bringing results.

As of this morning, the boy has B”H opened his eyes, and has begun speaking.

He still has a way to go to a full recovery.

Please continue to be Mispallel for Daniel Shmuel Ben Shifra.

By Y.M. Lowy

New York City police say more than 1,000 illegal guns have been taken off the streets so far this year, including hundreds of “ghost guns” that have no serial numbers and are difficult to trace.

The weapons recovered also included handguns and assault-style rifles. Investigators say many of them were trafficked into New York from out of state before ending up in city neighborhoods.

The seizures are tied to ongoing efforts targeting gangs and illegal gun pipelines. In one recent case, a suspect was accused of shipping firearms from Florida into New York.

So far this year, there’s been a noticeable drop in gun violence, with shootings down about 25% compared to the same time last year. Some areas have seen even sharper declines.

State officials are increasing efforts to crack down on illegal gun modifications, including devices that can convert handguns into fully automatic weapons.

According to a media report Tuesday, Gulf states are privately pressuring the Trump administration to escalate the war with Iran, contrary to his stated wish to wind down operations and pull out, following his timetable of four to six weeks, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf allies do not believe the month-long strikes have weakened Iran enough to neutralize the threat. While they are pushing for boots on the ground, Qatar and Oman, the usual suspects, are urging President Donald Trump to pursue a diplomatic solution.

Top officials from Gulf states pushing for escalation have said that any deal with Iran must include ending its nuclear and ballistic missile program and support for its proxy terror groups across the region, despite Tehran’s threat to target critical infrastructure in retaliation.

Trump is meanwhile considering demanding that Arab states pay for the war effort as they did in the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War, when Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates underwrote the cost of that military campaign. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump “would be quite interested” in repeating history in this case.

Israel is working toward building alliances with Gulf countries who view Iran as a common threat. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters Tuesday that Israel is “forming alliances with Arab countries that are talking about fighting alongside us.”

“In the past, I had secret conversations with Arab leaders,” he said. “I told them that once Iran is able, it will conquer you and bring down your kingdoms. Back then, they didn’t really internalize this — today, they understand.”

Israel’s Knesset has passed a new death penalty law pushed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, with 62 lawmakers backing it in final readings and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voting in favor. Supporters cast it as a post–October 7 answer to terrorists who carry out deliberate, murderous attacks against Israelis.

The core change is severe: for Palestinian terrorists convicted in military courts in Judea & Samaria of deadly attacks, death by hanging becomes the default sentence, with life imprisonment left only for vaguely defined “special circumstances.” The law also sets a timetable of up to 90 days for carrying out the sentence, making this one of the most far-reaching shifts in Israeli punishment policy in decades.

There is an important catch. Despite the political messaging around October 7, the law does not apply retroactively to the Hamas terrorists who carried out that massacre; their prosecution is expected to be handled through separate legislation. Israel abolished the death penalty for murder in 1954, and the only execution ever carried out after a civilian trial was Adolf Eichmann in 1962, which underscores how dramatic this move is inside Israel’s legal system.

Now the battle shifts from the Knesset floor to the courts and the diplomatic arena. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has already petitioned the High Court to strike the law down, while the EU called the move “very concerning.” The U.S., by contrast, stopped short of condemnation and said it respects Israel’s sovereign right to determine its own laws and penalties, while expecting fair-trial protections.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday as the Iran war pushed fuel prices to soar worldwide.

According to motor club AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $4.02 — over a dollar more than before the war began. The last time U.S. drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The price is a national average, meaning drivers in some states have been paying well over $4 a gallon for a while now. Prices vary from state to state due to factors ranging from nearby supply to differing tax rates.

Since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint war against Iran on Feb. 28, the cost of crude oil — the main ingredient in gasoline — has spiked and swung rapidly. That’s because the conflict has caused deep supply chain disruptions and cuts from major oil producers across the Middle East.

Motorists around the world are also coping with higher gas prices due to the war. In Paris, for example, gas is at 2.34 euros per liter ($2.68), which is about $10.27 a gallon.

Expensive gas could drag on the economy and drive up other prices
Higher gas prices are impacting consumers and businesses as many households continue to face wider cost of living strains. And as drivers pay more to cover necessities like gas, many may be forced to cut their budgets in other places.

More expensive fuel can also push up other spending, from utility bills to the price of many goods consumers buy each day.

Consumer prices and the cost of living already have become flashpoints in this midterm election year, with Democrats especially hammering Trump and Republicans as the GOP tries to hold majorities on Capitol Hill. A recent AP-NORC poll found that 45% of U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” concerned about being able to afford gas in the next few months, up from 30% shortly after Trump won the 2024 presidential election with promises to lower costs.

In the immediate future, analysts point to groceries, which have to be restocked frequently and could also see price hikes as businesses’ transportation costs pile up.

But hauling other cargo and packages has also been impacted. The United Postal Service, for example, is seeking a temporary 8% added charge on some of its popular products including Priority Mail.

U.S. diesel prices — the fuel used for many freight and delivery trucks — is now going for an average of $5.45 a gallon, up from about $3.76 a gallon before the war began, per AAA.

If the war drags on, it’s possible that those prices could tick up even higher. Most tanker movement in the key Strait of Hormuz, where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil typically sails through, remains at a halt. That’s led to cuts from major producers in the region who have no way of getting their crude to market. Meanwhile, Iran, Israel and the U.S. have all struck oil and gas facilities, worsening supply concerns.

Reserves open in an effort to cut prices
In a search for some relief, the International Energy Agency pledged to release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency stockpiles of member nations. That includes the U.S., despite Trump initially downplaying the need for reserve oil.

The Trump administration has also eased sanctions to free up some oil from Venezuela, and temporarily Russia. The White House also says it’s waiving maritime shipping requirements under a more than century-old law, known as the Jones Act, for 60 days.

It’s not yet clear if those efforts will bring relief for consumers. A lot of factors contribute to gas prices.

Refineries buy crude oil in advance, meaning some could be work with more expensive oil for a while, and it will take time for any new supply to trickle down to consumers.

And while steep crude prices are a leading driver behind today’s surge, U.S. gas prices typically tick up a bit at this time of year. More drivers are hitting the road and trying to fuel up while they can, so there’s higher demand. Warming weather also brings a shift to summer blend fuel, which is more expensive to produce than winter blend.

The US is an oil exporter, but it’s still affected by global prices
The U.S., which is a net oil exporter, hasn’t seen as stark a shock as other parts of the world that rely more heavily on fuel imports from the Middle East, notably Asia. But that doesn’t mean America is immune to price spikes.

Oil is a globally-traded commodity. And most of what the U.S. produces is light, sweet crude — but refineries on the East and West coasts are primarily designed to process heavier, sour product. As a result, the country also needs imports.

Escalating geopolitical conflicts have disrupted oil flows and contributed to a surge in gas prices in the past. The U.S. average for regular gasoline climbed to its highest level of more than $5 a gallon in June 2022, nearly four months after the Ukraine war began and world leaders imposed sanctions against Russia, a leading oil producer.

Prices at the pump later fell from that record. Before Tuesday, per AAA data, the national average had stayed below the $4 mark since mid-August of 2022.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — According to a report in The Washington Post, from the very beginning of the war it was clear that one of the most complex and sensitive missions would fall to Israel: locating and eliminating senior figures in the Iranian regime. While the United States and Israel operated together in various arenas of the campaign, the report claims that when it came to targeting Iran’s leadership, Israel was given the primary responsibility.

According to the report, Israel carried out this mission with particularly high efficiency. The newspaper noted that since the start of the war, more than 250 “senior Iranian officials” have been killed, according to IDF counts, including numerous commanders and high-ranking figures in the Islamic Republic’s security system. The latest blow, it said, came on Thursday, when Israel announced it had eliminated the commander of the IRGC Navy.

The report states that behind this campaign is an elimination and targeting mechanism that Israel has built over decades and significantly upgraded in recent years. Senior Israeli defense and intelligence officials told the paper that improvements stem from a major expansion of intelligence sources and surveillance capabilities inside Iran, along with a new integration of technology, cyber infiltration, and large-scale data analysis.

According to those sources, Israel operates a wide range of assets inside Iran: regime insiders recruited as spies, access to street cameras, payment platforms, internal security systems, and communications control centers, as well as intelligence gathered from Iranian security databases. The article describes how vast amounts of data are collected and analyzed via artificial intelligence systems designed to identify patterns in behavior, movement, daily routines, and meeting locations of senior officials.

A key factor, according to the report, is the exploitation of vulnerabilities created by the Iranian regime itself. In recent years, Iran centralized much of its communications traffic to enable internet shutdowns during unrest. However, this centralization also created convenient entry points for covert monitoring, since even officials’ communications passed through these hubs. Western intelligence sources cited in the report said such access allowed Israel to extract emails, messages, and calls from guards, advisors, family members, and other regime affiliates.

The report adds that Israel did not rely solely on intelligence gathering but also developed increasingly sophisticated targeted killing methods, refined in previous arenas such as Gaza and Lebanon. These reportedly include pre-planted explosives, drones capable of reaching apartment windows, and precision-guided missiles launched from stealth aircraft. A senior Israeli official explained that responsibility for targeting Iran’s leadership was assigned to Israel because “there was a need to strike them, and we could do it.”

Despite the operational successes, the report raises doubts about whether the campaign will achieve broader strategic goals: eliminating the missile threat, halting Iran’s nuclear program, weakening its proxy network, or destabilizing the regime. Many of the officials killed have been replaced by more hardline figures, and large-scale public protests have not materialized. According to the paper, ongoing bombardment and fear of repression have reduced the likelihood of internal unrest.

Israeli officials described the regime in Tehran as “wounded but stable,” capable even of claiming a certain achievement by surviving a month of attacks from two of the world’s most powerful militaries.

Ariel Levite, a nuclear policy expert from the Carnegie Endowment, warned that Israel risks turning targeted killings from a tactical tool into a central strategy. He cautioned that this could gradually expand the definition of who is considered a legitimate target.

The report also suggests that the division of roles between Washington and Jerusalem created the impression that the U.S. left Israel to handle the “dirty work” of eliminating Iran’s leadership. Levite was quoted as saying it appears the U.S. approach is: “We can’t kill them, but we’re happy if you do.” However, an American official involved in the operation said the division reflects differing capabilities rather than legal constraints.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump described the strikes as a joint effort, stating that “we eliminated their entire leadership, and when they met to choose a new one, we eliminated them too,” suggesting that leadership turnover itself had become an operational objective.

The article describes a pivotal strike on February 28, in which, according to the report, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed along with senior military and political figures. The attack was the culmination of long-term intelligence tracking of a group referred to as the “Group of Five”: Khamenei and his closest advisors.

Israeli intelligence reportedly monitored their meetings for months, gathering highly reliable information about their locations. The strike was adjusted at the last moment after intelligence indicated that a planned evening meeting had been moved to the morning. Israeli fighter jets ultimately carried out the attack despite significant U.S. military presence in the region.

The report highlights long-standing cooperation between Israeli and U.S. intelligence agencies, including past cyber operations like Stuxnet. However, many current capabilities evolved in recent years amid escalating cyber exchanges between the two countries.

Israeli officials described a broad effort to penetrate Iran’s “digital nervous system,” including phone interception, traffic camera access, internal security systems, and sensitive databases. The value of this data has been amplified by advanced AI systems capable of processing massive datasets quickly and effectively.

Despite the success, the report notes intelligence failures as well. In one case, Israel struck a building in Qom where the Assembly of Experts was expected to meet, but no members were present because the meeting had moved online. Officials said the goal had been to disrupt the gathering, not necessarily kill participants.

The report concludes that part of Israel’s success also stems from significant Iranian mistakes. Even after earlier strikes, senior leaders continued to gather in relatively exposed locations instead of dispersing or using underground facilities. One Israeli official remarked that, from his perspective, “anyone in the world should have seen the storm coming.”

BERLIN (AP) — A wolf bit a woman in a shopping area in Hamburg before it was pulled out of a lake in Germany’s second-biggest city, authorities said, in what is believed to be the first such attack since wolves returned to the country in 1998.

The fire service said that the woman was taken to a Hamburg hospital after the unusual encounter on Monday evening, German news agency dpa reported. There was no immediate information on her condition Tuesday, and police didn’t detail where she was bitten. It also wasn’t clear what led to the attack.

The attack took place in a shopping area near the Altona station, west of the city center. Late on Monday evening, police said, officers hauled the wolf out of the Binnenalster lake in downtown Hamburg following calls alerting them to a sighting of the animal there and in other locations. Local media reported that it was taken to an enclosure in the outskirts of the city.

Officials believe it’s likely that the wolf involved was the same one that was sighted in Blankenese, an outer suburb of the city, over the weekend. Experts believe that animal is a young wolf searching for a territory of its own that accidentally wandered into the city. Hamburg’s regional government noted that wolves generally avoid contact with people and dogs, and the unusual urban environment would be very stressful.

Germany’s Federal Agency for Nature Conservation said it was the first time a person was known to have been attacked by a wild wolf since the animals reappeared in the country after 150 years’ absence nearly 30 years ago, dpa reported.

Wolf attacks on livestock in Europe have been a growing concern to farmers for years, however. Last year, the European Parliament voted to change wolves’ status from “strictly protected” to “protected.”

Last week, the German parliament gave final approval to legislation making it easier to shoot wolves that kill or wound livestock.

A surprising development emerged from recent high-level discussions on the war with Iran, as billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk was reportedly present during a sensitive call between the United States and India, despite holding no formal government position.

The call between President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place on March 24, amid an ongoing U.S. and Israeli campaign targeting Iranian assets. According to American officials, the central topic was ensuring continued maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route responsible for transporting roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply. U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said that “the leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East and the importance of keeping sea lanes open and secure.”

Following the conversation, Modi posted on X: “India supports de-escalation and the swift restoration of peace. Keeping the Strait of Hormuz open is essential for the global economy.”

The crisis, which has nearly halted oil shipments through the strait, has been described by the International Energy Agency as “the largest supply disruption in history.” India, which imports about 90% of its energy needs, has been directly affected. Modi told parliament that the situation represents an “unprecedented challenge,” while Trump announced a five-day pause in strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure.

According to The New York Times, Musk was on the line during the call, even though he does not hold any official government role. It remains unclear whether he actively participated or was simply listening, but his involvement has sparked sharp debate in both Washington and New Delhi.

Analysts suggest there may be a business angle behind his presence. Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, received commercial approval in India last year after prolonged delays, following agreements with local telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. At the same time, the service has been expanding across the Persian Gulf, where regional instability and restricted internet access in Iran have increased demand for portable satellite systems. On Iran’s black market, Starlink kits have reportedly sold for as much as $4,000 each.

Musk’s participation in sensitive conversations between world leaders is not without precedent. In November 2024, it was reported that Trump briefly handed him the phone during a congratulatory call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—a move that raised concerns among officials uneasy with the involvement of a private individual in matters of state.

Earlier in 2025, Modi also met privately with Musk in Washington before his official meeting with Trump, fueling speculation about the depth of Musk’s connections with global leaders. At the time, Trump said he did not know “why they met,” but added that “perhaps Musk wants to do business in India.”

{Matzav.com}

As Jews in Israel and around the world head into Pesach with the Iran war still hanging over every phone alert and every trip to a protected space, one gesture in the Shilo area cut through the tension with something simple and human: free ice cream, handed out with love. Pesach begins this week in Israel, even as the IDF continues to report fresh missile launches from Iran toward Israeli territory and repeated alerts to civilians.

According to organizers, American Jews sponsored thousands of dollars’ worth of ice cream to be distributed across at least five communities in and around Shilo, with several thousand bars expected to reach local families. In a part of Judea and Samaria that has absorbed years of war pressure, security strain, and the emotional grind now gripping the country again, the message was not political theater. It was achdut in motion: a reminder that even from thousands of miles away, Jews were thinking about their brothers and sisters in Israel and looking for a way to lift spirits before the holiday.

That message was written across the truck itself. The banner urged Jews to look for the good in one another, echoing Rebbe Nachman’s teaching in Likutei Moharan 282 that one must search for a “little good” in every Jew and judge others favorably, even when it is difficult. It is a deeply countercultural message in a season of tension, grief, and argument, and precisely for that reason it landed.

The setting made it more powerful. Mateh Binyamin says Shilo is a religious community founded in 1978 that serves as an anchor for education, agriculture, commerce, and employment for nearby communities. The local council describes Mateh Binyamin as Israel’s largest regional council, with 47 communities and a population of more than 80,000. It also notes that Ancient Shiloh, located there, is identified with the site where the Mishkan stood for 369 years. In other words, this was not just an ice cream stop. It was a scene of Jewish continuity in a place loaded with memory.

That is what made the moment feel bigger than dessert. Jewish tradition ties Nissan not only to the Exodus, but to the hope of final redemption as well. In Rosh Hashanah 11a, Rabbi Yehoshua teaches that just as Israel was redeemed in Nissan, so too will Israel be redeemed in Nissan in the future. In a war that has tested nerves, routines, and faith, this small convoy through Shilo offered a quiet but unmistakable answer: the Jewish people do not endure by fear alone. We endure by showing up for one another.

In an interview with Newsmax, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the war with Iran is “beyond the halfway point” and that he believes the regime will “collapse internally” from the sustained pressure of the United States’ and Israel’s attacks on Iran.

When asked about a timetable, Netanyahu clarified that “halfway point” was not a measure of time but of goals, explaining that Israel had achieved about half of those. He added that regime change was not included in Israel’s war aims.

The prime minister said that thousands of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have been killed and the operation was “close to finishing [Iran’s] arms industry.”

“I think this regime will collapse internally,” he added. “But at the moment, what we’re doing is just degrading their military capacity, degrading their missile capacity, degrading their nuclear capacity and also weakening them from the inside.”

A police speedboat patrols the port as oil tankers and high-speed craft sit anchored at Muscat Anchorage near the Strait of Hormuz on March 30, 2026.

Netanyahu spoke to U.S. media shortly before the Wall Street Journal broke the story that President Donald Trump mentioned to aides his desire to pull out of the war once “its main goals of hobbling Iran’s navy and its missile stocks” are achieved, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

The strait represents the world’s most vital waterway for shipping oil, and its closure has sent oil prices around the world soaring. The WSJ cited someone from Trump’s “inner circle” as saying that reopening the strait would prolong the war, extending it beyond his preferred timeline of four to six weeks.

Other reporters say that regime change is off the table.

Amit Segal, a Channel 12 News reporter, said that Israel “has given up on the dream of toppling the regime through air power.”

“Israel has become convinced that Trump may try to end the war soon, and therefore shifted most of its airstrikes from targeting the destabilisation of the Iranian regime to inflicting severe damage on its military,” he added.

“Regime change in Iran is now off the table, as the opposition is not organised and is successfully repressed, sources tell me,” reported Jake Wallis Simons, former editor of the Jewish Chronicle and podcast host of The Brink.

“Israeli targeting is therefore shifting from regime repression apparatus to its military capabilities. Looks like this thing will end with a deal after all. One Israeli source says: ‘I believe we are in a better place, but it’s not a win,'” he concluded.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, sent a recorded message to millions of Israelis on Tuesday following the approval of new legislation introducing a death penalty for certain terrorism offenses.

The audio message was distributed directly to citizens’ mobile phones. In it, Ben-Gvir said the measure had been formally adopted after passing in the Knesset.

The law was approved with support from 62 lawmakers after lengthy debate and was backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of coalition parties.

Ben-Gvir said the legislation fulfills a political pledge and described it as a step aimed at strengthening deterrence and public safety. He also included a brief holiday greeting ahead of Passover.

The bill was advanced by members of Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit faction along with allies in the Likud party.

Israel has rarely implemented capital punishment, and the new law is likely to face legal and international scrutiny.

President Donald Trump has indicated to advisers that he is prepared to bring the U.S. military operation against Iran to a close even if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal citing administration officials.

According to the report, Trump and his team recently concluded that any effort to forcibly reopen the strategic waterway could significantly extend the conflict beyond the administration’s desired four-to-six-week timeframe. As a result, the current approach is to weaken Iran’s naval forces and missile capabilities, then scale back military activity while increasing diplomatic pressure on Tehran to restore normal shipping operations.

Officials said that if diplomatic efforts fail, the United States would look to its European and Gulf allies to take the lead in reopening the strait.

Last weekend, Trump issued Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to restore access through the Strait of Hormuz or face U.S. strikes targeting its power infrastructure.

Since then, the deadline has been extended twice to allow for negotiations, most recently on Thursday when Trump granted Iran an additional ten days.

On Monday, Trump said that Washington is engaged in “serious discussions” with a new leadership in Tehran aimed at ending the conflict.

“The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran,” he wrote on Truth Social.

He added that progress has been made but warned of severe consequences if talks collapse or the strait remains closed.

“Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet ‘touched.'”

Trump further said that such actions would be retaliation for past attacks attributed to Iran.

“This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47 year ‘Reign of Terror.’ Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation approving the renaming of Palm Beach International Airport in honor of President Donald Trump, advancing a measure that now awaits federal approval before taking effect.

The bill, known as House Bill 919 and signed into law Monday, grants the state authority “to name ‘major commercial service airports,” and includes a provision to rename Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) after Trump.

Although the governor has approved the measure, the final decision rests with the Federal Aviation Administration, which must sign off on the change. If federal officials give their approval, the new name “would take effect on July 1,” according to the report.

Reacting to the development, Eric Trump celebrated the move publicly, writing: “Palm Beach International Airport is now officially … ‘President Donald J. Trump International Airport!’” He added, “Proud to have played a small role in making this happen.”

The legislation cleared both chambers of the state legislature before reaching the governor’s desk, passing by an 81-30 vote in the Florida House and 25-11 in the Florida Senate.

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions. Critics, including Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, argued that Republicans had “decided to prioritize wasting five million” in taxpayer funds on the renaming effort. Supporters, however, framed the move as a fitting tribute. Florida state Sen. Debbie Mayfield described it as “an honor” to bring forward the legislation.

“It is an honor for me to present this bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport after the first Florida resident to be elected President of the United States,” Mayfield said in February.

Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, said Tuesday that Israel will maintain security control over much of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River once hostilities cease. As battles with Hezbollah rage across the border, Katz laid out a plan for the day after.

After conducting a security assessment with senior military officials, Katz said the IDF would “stabilize in a security zone inside Lebanon” and “control the entire area up to the Litani.” He also said that the 600,000 or so Lebanese citizens who had been displaced due to the fighting will not be allowed to return to their homes until safety for the northern Israeli communities has been secured. Homes near the border would also be demolished, following the Rafah and Beit Hanoun model in Gaza, he added.

He said Israel has decided upon three goals in the war with Hezbollah and is determined to see them through: keep the wars with Lebanon and Iran separate, deprive Hezbollah of its ability to threaten Israel and enforce a permanent change in the security situation in Lebanon, which would be accomplished via a strong Israeli military presence “in the required places.”

With the buffer zone extending possibly as much as 20 miles into southern Lebanese territory, Katz has given the clearest signal so far of Israel’s intention to create and control a wide buffer zone.

Katz’s comments were made amid the expanded Israeli campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, after Israel began its initiative following the Iran-backed terror group’s decision to join the war on behalf of Iran. Israel had already announced its intention to take security control of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, which lies roughly 15 to 20 miles north of the border with Israel.

A New Jersey man admitted to a scheme to defraud elderly and other victims out of more than $1 million that he told the victims he would invest on their behalf or otherwise use for their benefit, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Antonio Petrosino, a/k/a Anthony Petrosino, 60, of Union City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler on March 25, 2026 to Count One of an Indictment charging him with wire fraud.

According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:

From in or around January 2016 through in or around November 2024, Petrosino fraudulently induced the victims to transfer investment funds, mortgage payments, and other money to Petrosino. As part of the scheme to defraud, Petrosino held himself out to be a financial services professional to his victims and falsely led them to believe that he would invest the victims’ money in brokerage accounts and other investment products or otherwise use it for their benefit. To perpetuate his fraud, Petrosino provided one elderly victim with falsified investment statements that purported to show that she had hundreds of thousands of dollars deposited in various investment accounts in her name. Petrosino also made various statements to victims assuring them that their money had been invested or used as promised.

In reality, Petrosino failed to invest the victims’ funds or otherwise use victim monies for the victims’ benefit as promised. Instead, Petrosino misappropriated the money to pay for his personal expenses, including gambling, credit card payments, and rent on his luxury apartment unit. When confronted by victims about the status of the money they sent to Petrosino, he provided the victims and their family members false reassurances about the status of the victims’ funds to cover up his fraud. In total, Petrosino stole approximately $1.1 million from the victims.

The wire fraud charge that Petrosino pleaded guilty to carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for August 5, 2026.

U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; special agents of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker; and the Wyckoff Police Department, under the direction of Chief David V. Murphy, with the investigation leading to Petrosino’s indictment.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kozar, Co-Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s General Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the Narcotics and International Trafficking Unit in Newark.

TEL AVIV (VINnews) — An Iranian missile carrying a cluster-type warhead struck multiple locations in central Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens and causing damage across several cities, authorities said.

Impacts and shrapnel were reported in Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva, Tel Aviv and Givat Shmuel, according to emergency services.

Fires broke out at several sites following the strikes, including blazes involving vehicles and other property. Firefighters and rescue crews were deployed to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to nearby residential buildings.

Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom, said several people were treated for minor injuries. Among them were individuals hurt by shrapnel and flying glass, including a woman and children in Bnei Brak.

Police urged residents to stay away from impact zones to allow emergency personnel and bomb disposal units to operate safely.

The attack comes amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran, with tensions escalating in recent weeks.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israeli forces killed dozens of Hezbollah operatives during recent ground operations in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces reported.

In one incident, troops from the Givati Brigade identified two Hezbollah cells and directed artillery fire that killed at least six operatives, the military said.

Separately, the 869th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit spotted two Hezbollah gunmen who fired on Israeli troops. Tank shelling and a drone strike eliminated the pair, according to the IDF.

The 91st “Galilee” Regional Division also destroyed several Hezbollah surveillance posts in its sector.

The clashes occurred as Israeli forces continue targeted operations to degrade Hezbollah infrastructure and threats along the border. No Israeli casualties were reported in these specific incidents.

The developments come amid an expansion of IDF ground maneuvers in southern Lebanon ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to establish a broader security buffer zone.

Leaked audio from a campaign strategy session has caught a progressive Michigan Senate candidate instructing staffers to avoid any comment on the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to avoid upsetting people who are “sad” about his well-deserved annihilation.

Abdul El-Sayed, a physician and the most left-leaning candidate in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s open Senate seat, told campaign aides during a March 1 strategy session that he planned to sidestep the Khamenei question entirely given the sensitivities of his target voter base.

“I also want to remind you guys that there are a lot of people in Dearborn who are sad today,” El-Sayed said, according to the recording obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. “So, like, I just don’t want to comment on Khamenei at all. Like, I don’t think it’s worth even touching that.”

El-Sayed also suggested pivoting to criticism of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. “You know what benefits from the war? It benefits Israel, who has captured too many of our politicians through AIPAC contributions,” he said.

Dearborn, Michigan — the city El-Sayed was referencing — has the largest per capita concentration of Arab-Americans and Muslims in the United States and is predominantly Shiite. Khamenei, who was killed by Israeli strikes on the first day of the Iran campaign, held the title of ayatollah under Shia Islam in addition to his role as supreme leader.

When the leaked recording surfaced, El-Sayed’s campaign did not dispute its contents but alleged it had been obtained illegally by a disgruntled former staffer. Campaign lawyers contacted the Washington Free Beacon before publication warning of potential legal action.

“The campaign is considering its legal options against the individual in question,” the lawyers wrote.
In a public statement, El-Sayed kept his focus on the war. “Since this illegal and unjustifiable war has started, we’ve watched 13 brave service members lose their lives,” he said, adding that gas prices had risen more than a dollar per gallon.

El-Sayed is currently running third in the Democratic primary behind state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Rep. Haley Stevens, according to the latest RealClearPolitics polling average, ahead of the Aug. 4 contest. The seat, being vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters, is seen as a potential Republican pickup, with former Rep. Mike Rogers holding Trump’s endorsement on the GOP side.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says countries upset by high fuel prices should “go get your own oil” as Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump expressed his frustration toward allies that have been unwilling to help the U.S. reopen the critical passageway in a social media post. “Go get your own oil,” Trump wrote. He also said they should buy from the U.S. because “we have plenty.”

His comments in a social media post on Tuesday came as average U.S. gas prices shot past $4 a gallon.

A dramatic and unprecedented development is stirring the Satmar chassidus, as after two decades of division, the yerushah of the previous Satmar Rebbe, the Beirach Moshe zt”l, is now moving toward an equal distribution among all the sons.

In a rare and historic move, both Satmar Rebbes—the Rebbe Rav Aharon and the Rebbe Rav Zalman Leib—together with all the sons and sons-in-law, signed a public letter calling for the return of all cheftzei kodesh and kisvei yad belonging to the Rebbe, ahead of dividing the inheritance equally. The letter includes a sharp warning: “the one who holds them is in violation of theft.” The development is creating major waves across all factions of Satmar.

The letter, published in the U.S. across both camps of Satmar—the Aharonim (Rav Aharon) and the Zalonim (Rav Zalman Leib)—was signed by all the descendants of the previous Rebbe, whose twentieth yahrtzeit will be marked next month.

Leading the signatories are the two Rebbes themselves, who state firmly that anyone holding items from their father’s estate must return them to the general yerushah. In an even stronger statement, they clarify that even if a chossid intended to return an item specifically to his own Rebbe, it will not be accepted that way. Instead, everything must be returned to the central estate so it can be divided properly and equally.

Behind the scenes, it has been learned that this public letter follows a long period of quiet negotiations and mediation between both sides of Satmar, aimed at finally resolving the division of both monetary assets and sacred items from the Beirach Moshe’s estate.

During his lifetime, the Beirach Moshe appointed his trusted mashbak, the well-known Reb Moshe Friedman (Reb Moshe Gabbai), to oversee the entire yerushah. However, following the Rebbe’s passing and the well-known split between the two Satmar brothers, tensions ran high, making any division impossible for years.

About two years ago, Reb Moshe Gabbai initiated a process to transfer all the items to a facility owned by Reb Meir Hirsch, a prominent supporter aligned with the Rav Aharon camp and a close associate of Reb Moshe. Over the past year, the items were carefully catalogued and evaluated for their full value.

The estate includes rare seforim, handwritten manuscripts, and cheftzei kodesh tracing back through the Satmar lineage—from the Yismach Moshe through the Vayoel Moshe, whose position was inherited by the Beirach Moshe after he left no descendants. The collection is estimated to be worth millions of dollars.

After prolonged behind-the-scenes efforts, the process has now entered a public stage with the release of this letter, which is being described within Satmar as the first official step toward completing the division of the yerushah among all the brothers.

Earlier, Reb Lipa Friedman, son of Reb Moshe Gabbai, visited the residence of the Satmar Rebbe Rav Aharon, where the Rebbe formally signed the letter.

This move is also being viewed as a significant step toward possible shalom between the two Satmar courts, something that has been quietly developing in recent times. Observers noted that during the recent visit of the Satmar Rebbe Rav Aharon to Eretz Yisroel, Reb Ephraim Stern, a noted baal chessed from the Rav Zalman Leib camp, came to greet him at the airport and even kissed his hand, an unusual and telling gesture.

The full text of the historic letter, titled “A Letter of Request and Strong Warning,” reads:

“We, the undersigned, descendants and heirs of our master, our father, the holy Gaon and Tzaddik ztvk”l, and of our righteous mother a”h, hereby turn to the anash, the students and chassidim of our master, our Rebbe, our father and shepherd zy”a. As we now stand, b’ezras Hashem, in the midst of dividing the inheritance from the estate of our father, our Rebbe zy”a, it has come to our attention, to our great pain, that a number of sacred books and valuable items that were in his possession are missing, and their whereabouts are unknown. Among them are also cheftzei kodesh and holy writings that were inherited from our grandfather, our holy Rebbe zy”a, and from our earlier holy ancestors zy”a. All of these items belong to us according to the Torah as an inheritance, and anyone holding them is obligated according to Torah to return them to us.

“And therefore we hereby declare that we do not forgo or forgive any item, book, or manuscript that was taken from the estate. As our father, the holy Rebbe zy”a, already expressed in writing in the year 5744 regarding the inheritance of his uncle, our holy Rebbe zy”a, where he wrote: ‘And it is hereby made known that all manuscripts and any object or vessel that were in his possession, and for whatever reason are now in the possession of others without my knowledge, it should be known that I have never waived or forgiven them, and they remain in the hands of the holder as theft,’ end quote.

“Likewise, we issue a strong warning to anyone holding any item from the estate, that it is considered theft in his possession, and he is obligated to return them immediately, by Lag BaOmer of this coming year, so that we can arrange the division of the inheritance. It should be noted that sacred items of tzaddikim carry no right of possession for one who holds them through theft; on the contrary, one transgresses the prohibition of theft each day, chas v’shalom. Certainly, this is against the will of the tzaddikim, whose belongings were taken from them and from their heirs, and as Chazal have said, ‘Be careful with their embers,’ etc.

“And if there is anyone who thinks to hold on to an item on behalf of one of us, we hereby make it clear that this is against our will, and none of us will accept any item belonging to the heirs unless it is first returned to all the heirs to be divided properly. Therefore, we have appointed agents who can receive any such item, and one may contact them privately without being asked any questions as to how the item came into his possession: the esteemed Reb Moshe Friedman n”y (mashbak), the esteemed Reb Shmuel HaKohen Friedman n”y (mashbak), and the esteemed Reb Chaim Shlomo Fisher n”y (mashbak). They will receive the items and will not publicize or reveal this to anyone, and if the items are returned within the specified time, it will be considered a full forgiveness on our part for the past.

“Similarly, if anyone has a question or doubt according to din Torah regarding any item—whether it belongs to him or whether he has any claim to it, including items that were originally given and later came back into his possession in some manner and he believes they are his—he should also contact the above, and they will connect him discreetly with one of the appointed rabbanim shlit”a, and everything will be clarified according to din Torah hakadosh.”

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave an interview overnight Monday to the American network Newsmax, addressing strategic options in the energy sector and tensions in the Gulf region.

According to him, “there are ideas after the war to transfer energy and oil pipelines from the Gulf to Mediterranean ports.” He added that “it is possible to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, and there is an interest in achieving this to allow completely free flow of oil and gas.”

Netanyahu also noted that there are military aspects to the issue but declined to elaborate: “There are military solutions to opening the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. leadership, but I will not comment on them.”

At the same time, Faisal al-Qassem, one of Al Jazeera’s senior journalists with over 6 million followers, wrote: “It’s truly remarkable: Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed his desire to redirect oil exports from the region to the world through Israeli ports, and then Iran comes and closes the Strait of Hormuz, as if sending a message to the world: look for alternatives through Israel, almost as if it is doing exactly what Netanyahu wants.”

Lebanese media also reported that a change is being considered in the route of the Trans-Arabian Pipeline (Tapline), which is about 1,214 kilometers long, so that it would transport oil from the Qaisumah area in northeastern Saudi Arabia to the ports of Baniyas or Latakia in Syria, instead of Sidon in Lebanon. According to the report, this would be a new route capable of carrying up to four million barrels per day.

Additionally, Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC) CEO Amit Shaked stated at the Maariv economic conference that the confrontation with Iran should be viewed from a broader strategic perspective, not only through immediate battlefield events. He emphasized that the current war once again demonstrates how oil remains a central driver of the global economy, and how energy and trade routes are becoming a primary geopolitical factor.

Shaked added that in light of recent developments, more and more countries are seeking alternative energy transportation routes. According to him, the true significance of these events will become clear after the war, when countries in the region and around the world evaluate new trade and energy routes that do not depend on passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

In the years before the war, a young bochur learning in the famed Mir Yeshiva was presented with a rare and amazing opportunity. He had been invited to spend the nights of Pesach at the Sedorim of the great Chofetz Chaim.

For the young talmid, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. To sit at the table of the towering tzaddik, to watch how he performed each of the night’s mitzvos, to absorb the kedusha of his Seder, who would even consider giving that up?

And yet, there was another pull. His parents expected him home for Yom Tov. His father would lead the Seder, as he had since the young man was a child.

Torn over what to do, he brought his question to his rebbi, the mashgiach, Rav Yeruchom Levovitz.

Rav Yeruchom listened carefully. The bochur likely expected a nuanced answer, perhaps even encouragement to seize the rare chance to be in the presence of the Chofetz Chaim.

But the mashgiach’s response was clear and unequivocal.

“You must go home,” he said. “On the night of Pesach, there is a special obligation to hear the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim from your father.”

The young man may have missed a once-in-a-lifetime Seder with the Chofetz Chaim. But instead, he strengthened his place in the unbroken link between father and son, a link that is the very foundation of our people, stretching back to the time our nation left Mitzrayim.

The mitzvah of the Seder is not simply to recount history. If that were the case, everyone could fulfill it alone, reading the Haggadah by themselves.

The Torah frames the entire obligation of discussing Yetzias Mitzrayim by stating, “Vehigadeta levincha—You shall tell your son.”

Chazal derived from this posuk that the obligation to recount Yetzias Mitzrayim is not07 merely a directive to recite, but to transmit. The story of Yetzias Mitzrayim is meant to be handed from one generation to the next, alive, personal, and rooted in relationship. A father does not just convey information. He conveys identity.

At the Seder, a child does not simply learn what happened. He learns who he is. He hears not just that the Jews left Mitzrayim, but learns it from his father, who has an obligation to demonstrate, as the Rambam says, as if he himself left Mitzrayim, just as his father did, and just as his father did before him. We are all part of that story.

And that can only happen across the table, face to face.

The bochur in Mir was not wrong to want to be by the Chofetz Chaim. But Rav Yeruchom was reminding him that even the greatest Seder cannot replace the one place where the Torah says the story must be told: from father to son.

Every father at the Seder becomes a link in a chain that stretches back thousands of years. Every child who listens becomes the next bearer of that chain.

The questions, the answers, the niggunim, the family minhagim—they make us who we are and weave together the fabric of continuity.

In a world that is constantly changing, constantly pulling in new directions, the Seder night stands apart. It is the night when we reaffirm what we have received and pass it on.

The most powerful forces are those that take place in the Jewish home, laying down foundations and then strengthening them year after year. It is the way the father makes Kiddush. The way he leans over his Haggadah searching for a vort or a story to share. The way the children say Mah Nishtanah. The way the father strains to eat the marror and finishes eating two kezeisim of matzah in the prescribed time, bechdei achilas pras. And of course, it is the way he tells the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim and brings it to life.

It is the same story repeated year after year, but every year it is different. Each year, there is more to the story, more to discover, more the son understands. Each year, a deeper connection is formed—to his father, to the mesorah, to the emunah, to the mitzvos.

It is moments such as these that have carried us through thousands of years of golus, persecution, and upheaval. These are the moments that have ensured that, no matter where we have been, we have never become disconnected from where we came. Our mesorah continues, growing stronger with each passing year, son by son, father by father, family by family.

This is why we say that Pesach, the Yom Tov of emunah, as expressed throughout the Seder, the matzos, the marror, and the arba kosos, is also the Yom Tov of chinuch. This is why the entire concept of the Seder and the discussion of Yetzias Mitzrayim is rooted in the posuk, “Vehigadeta levincha,” instructing us to tell our children the story of our redemption from Mitzrayim on the night of Pesach.

Since it is all about speaking to our children, it must be done in a way they can accept and believe.

Thus, we proclaim in the Haggadah that the Torah speaks to all types of children: “Keneged arba’ah bonim dibra Torah.”

The Seforno (Shemos 12:26) discusses the question of the wicked son, the rosha, and explains that he is asking why the Korban Pesach is different from the korbanos of every other Yom Tov. Why is it, he asks, that every person has to go through the trouble of bringing their own korban?

We answer him that the geulah from Mitzrayim was not only a national redemption, but a personal one. Hashem saw how each person suffered and what each one was going through, and He redeemed the people one by one. Therefore, the Korban Pesach is not a communal offering, but an individual one.

Every person carries his own struggles, his own questions, his own burdens. And the message of the Seder is that Hashem relates to each person individually and responds to each one in the way that is best for him.

Similarly, there is no single answer for every child. Each son asks in his own way, and each must be answered in his own way.

Therefore, there isn’t one answer for all. The answers are specific to each son. The mesorah is passed down one by one, from one individual father to his individual sons—the same mesorah, but given to each one in a way he can understand.

The sefer Menucha Ukedusha, authored by a talmid of Rav Chaim Volozhiner, emphasizes that the Torah elaborates on the mitzvah of vehigadeta levincha through the framework of the four sons so that no father will ever feel exempt. If his son is wise, a father might be tempted to say, “He knows it already.” If the son is wicked, he may think, “Why waste my time?” If the son is a simpleton, he might feel that the effort is not worthwhile.

Therefore, he writes, the Torah addresses each of these attitudes and rejects them. There is no child who is beyond the reach of the Seder, and no child for whom the discussion is unnecessary.

And we see this with our own eyes.

Our children and grandchildren come home from school, from their rabbeim and moros, with pages and pages of vertlach, stories, songs, and information. We are amazed by their capacity to absorb, to retain, and to repeat. The more they are taught, the more they take in.

No effort is ever wasted. No word of Torah is ever lost. When a father speaks, when he explains, when he sings, when he tells the story, it takes root. Sometimes that is immediately obvious, and other times it comes later, but always, something endures.

This is especially so on the night of Pesach, when the holiness that enveloped Am Yisroel as Hashem separated them from the people of Mitzrayim to make them His nation becomes tangible once more. On this night, once again, we are raised from the tumah that surrounds us, and we—father and son—are better able to transmit and receive kedusha. In this heightened state, the father is better able to transmit, and the child is more receptive to receive, the eternal truths of our mesorah.

Seforim frequently quote Rav Chaim Vital, the Alshich, the Ramchal, and others who say that the energy of the miracles commemorated by a Yom Tov is present each year on the day of its occurrence. The night of the Seder is called Leil Shimurim, the “Protected Night,” because on that night, the Jews were spared and safeguarded in Mitzrayim. That same protective energy is present again each year, infusing the night with kedusha and spiritual strength.

So, at the Seder, as we recount how Hashem freed us from Mitzrayim, we recite with joy the passage of Vehi She’omdah and proclaim, “Shebechol dor vador omdim aleinu lechaloseinu,” that in every generation, those who seek to destroy us rise up. Our challenge is seemingly constant. The enemy changes names, faces, and methods, but the threat endures. Each year, a new rosha or force dominates the headlines, wielding threats and intimidation, testing our resolve.

Our zaides and bubbes faced the Romans, the Inquisition, the Crusades, the Communist oppressors, the Nazis and many others. Through each trial, we endured. Though some generations suffered more visibly than others, we always emerged standing, and our people’s spirit grew stronger. Yet, their descendants, their ideas, and their efforts persist, rising in every generation to challenge our growth and attempt to extinguish our light.

Each generation has its own unique challenges. Alongside physical threats, new dangers come in subtler forms: shifting cultures, evolving technologies, and ideologies that can distance us from Torah. And yet, just as Hashem sustained us in the past, He sustains us today. The Seder reminds us that no matter the method or era of the threat, our survival is assured, our faith enduring, and our mission to live as free Jews remains undimmed, even amidst war or adversity.

We live in a time of freedom and plenty, but there are ill winds blowing, and the freedoms we have been enjoying may be at stake.

For decades, Iran has threatened to destroy Israel. They have pursued nuclear weapons and built a vast infrastructure of missiles, rockets, and drones. They have funded and armed terror groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, to attack Jews. They have targeted the United States, which they call the “Big Satan,” murdering hundreds of Americans and attempting to assassinate the president and other prominent leaders.

Six American presidents and dozens of American and Western leaders have declared, for decades, that they would never allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. Even the United Nations has issued many proclamations over the years warning Iran against going nuclear because of the danger that would present for world peace and stability.

The threat was escalating, and President Trump worked with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to counter the growing danger. Last year, the United States and Israel took action to prevent Iran from reaching the brink of nuclear capability. Either that effort was not effective or Iran had sufficiently recovered from the attacks to again approach the precipice of obtaining nuclear weapons. They had to be stopped. The United States and Israel, as of this writing, are engaged in a war to counter this existential threat.

We recognize the hand of Hakadosh Boruch Hu in all that is happening, and there have been many evident miracles in this war, even as Israel is under relentless rocket attack and there have been several korbanos, many wounded, and much damage. American soldiers have been killed and wounded in the effort, which is costing billions of dollars and has raised the price of oil and gasoline.

Though we do not know the outcome, we trust that with Hashem’s help, we will prevail over those who seek our destruction.

Already, the president’s enemies are condemning him for the action he was forced to take after his attempts at diplomacy were rebuffed. The Democrat Party has turned not only against the president, but also against Israel, and virtually everyone who wants to run for elective office in that party takes an anti-Israel stance.

Anti-Semites on the right and left are blaming the war on Israel and claiming that the Jewish country dragged the United States into the war and that now Americans will pay the cost of it.

We do not know where all of this will lead, but we do know that “shebechol dor vador” resonates so powerfully as we sit down to the Seder and proclaim, from father to his children, from one generation to the next, that our emunah is strong and we know that Hakadosh Boruch Hu will redeem us from our golus as He redeemed our forefathers in Mitzrayim.

At the Seder, we tell our children the story of our geulah from Mitzrayim. We dip karpas in saltwater and marror in charoses to provoke questions. We eat matzah, the bread of the geulim. We drink the arba kosos, each one representing a different one of the four leshonos of geulah. Every gesture, every word, recalls the miracles of the past and strengthens our hope for the future.

The Seder, with its questions and answers, with its sacred mesorah and mitzvos, is a reminder that just as Hashem redeemed us then, He continues to redeem us today and will redeem us fully very soon.

We proclaim our belief that this year will be the year of our final redemption—that this war may be the last war, that this enemy may be our final enemy, that the suffering we endure may be the final suffering. We believe that we will be redeemed, each of us, everyone, emerging from our personal Mitzrayims, bekarov, with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu in this month of geulah.

When we recite Shefoch Chamoscha and pour the cup for Eliyohu Hanovi, we open our homes and our hearts, ready to follow him out the door to the geulah sheleimah.

A 13-year-old girl in Melbourne, Australia, was charged today, Tuesday, with 52 offenses after police said she shouted antisemitic remarks, threw eggs and drove a stolen car toward Jewish families, who narrowly avoided being hit, police announced.

Police said the incidents took place over several days last week across multiple suburbs, including a near-hit targeting Jewish families, along with additional hit-and-run and reckless driving incidents involving stolen vehicles.

Two other girls were also arrested, while the main suspect faces charges including endangering life, theft and hate-based offenses.

In a statement by the Adass Yisroel Kahila provided to Belaaz, it said: “The Kehilla have been in communication with the police in regards to today’s incident. The police have responded that they are aware of the people and expect a swift resolution. They described them as general trouble makers who act terribly in a range of areas and environments. The Senior Sergeant who was on duty tonight has been communicating with the Kehilla and will join tomorrow for the Hachnosas Sefer Torah imyh. They have committed significant Police resources bh.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Satellite images are beginning to be released giving a glimpse into the toll of the Iran war, with ships ablaze in an Iranian port and destroyed buildings at American bases in the region.

Information has so far been scarce about the damage being done across the Middle East, particularly when it’s inside closed military facilities, since the war started on Feb. 28.

The images come from Planet Labs PBC, a San Francisco-based firm used by media outlets, including The Associated Press. Planet Labs has put a two-week delay on its imagery becoming public, citing concerns its imagery could be used by “adversarial actors.”

High-resolution images also have been published by competing firms. Other providers, like the U.S. Geological Survey, have been publishing lower-resolution imagery as well that’s been useful.

The United States and Israel have been striking a wide variety of targets, including leadership figures in Iran, military bases, missile and air defense sites and positions of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and its volunteer force, the Basij. Iran has responded with drone and missile fire targeting Israel and nearby Gulf Arab nations.

Here’s a look at what’s visible in a selection of Planet Labs’ pictures, as well as others.

This image from an Airbus Defence and Space’s Pléiades Neo satellite shows damage after Iranian attacks targeting Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 15, 2026. (Airbus Defence and Space© via AP)

Burning ships in Bandar Abbas, IranSome of the most dramatic images from Planet Labs so far have been in Bandar Abbas, home to a major Iranian military port next to the crucial Strait of Hormuz connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

Images taken on March 2 show ships ablaze at the port. The U.S. military’s Central Command has been targeting Iran’s naval assets and says it has sank or damaged more than 100 Iranian vessels so far in the war.

Israeli airstrike hits Iran’s Parchin military base
Planet Labs’ images from March 6 show damage to several buildings at the Parchin military base outside Tehran, Iran’s capital.

The International Atomic Energy Agency suspects Iran in the past conducted tests of high explosives that could trigger a nuclear weapon. Iran long has insisted its nuclear program is peaceful, though the IAEA, Western intelligence agencies and others say Tehran had an active weapons program up until 2003.

Israel’s military said its Parchin strikes hit “infrastructure used for the production of essential components for the development of various weapons.” The site has been linked to Iran’s ballistic missile program as well.

Major impact at 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain
The island kingdom of Bahrain, home of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, has seen heavy Iranian fire targeting both military bases and oil installations. A March 1 image by Planet Labs shows a major building at the base destroyed, as well as two radomes — geodesic domes covering radar antennas — likely by Iranian missile and drone fire. A later, March 6 Planet Labs photo showed another building damaged.

The Navy has not offered a clear breakdown in the damage done so far at the base, but Iran has repeatedly claimed to have attacked it. Online videos have also shown incoming fire targeting the base. During the 12-day war in June, Iran attacked and destroyed a similar radome at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, used for secure communications.

This image from an Airbus Defence and Space’s Pléiades Neo satellite shows damage after Iranian attacks targeting Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 15, 2026. (Airbus Defence and Space© via AP)

Damage seen at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air BaseAn Iranian attack targeted Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base and caused damage there.

A March 1 photo from Planet Labs shows damage to one of the buildings at the massive air base serving as the forward headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command, which is prosecuting the war.

Qatar and the U.S. have not acknowledged the damage.

Strike at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base
An Iranian attack also targeted Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base and caused damage there, according to a March 15 photo.

Satellite images show damage to UAE air base
Satellite images, taken March 15 by an Airbus Defense and Space Pléiades Neo satellite and analyzed by the AP, show damage at Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Air Base. Damage can be seen at one set of hangars to the northwest of the facility. Another hangar to the southeast of the facility appears shredded by fire, with an adjacent hangar sustaining roof damage. It’s unclear what was in the hangars.

Al Dhafra typically hosts some 2,000 American troops and has served as a major base of operations for everything from armed drones to F-35 stealth fighters in recent years. The U.S. military for years only vaguely referred to Al Dhafra as a base in “southwest Asia” before the UAE became more willing to acknowledge the American presence there.

French naval base hit in Abu Dhabi
In Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, there’s damage seen at France’s Camp de la Paix naval base. Satellite images from March 3 show damage to two large hangarlike buildings at the facility. The base is near Zayed Port, in Abu Dhabi, and close to its Cultural District that includes the Louvre Abu Dhabi and other major museums both open and still under construction.

This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after airstrikes targeting Iran’s Parchin military base outside of Tehran, Iran, March 6, 2026. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Fires seen burningThe U.S. Geological Survey’s Landsat satellites also have been key in spotting major fires. Imagery from Landsat taken on Monday showed a fire at Dubai International Airport after an Iranian drone strike set a fuel tanker ablaze at the world’s busiest airport for international travel, causing a plume of noxious black smoke.

Another fire was also seen on Monday at Oman’s southern port in Salalah, which came under attack from suspected Iranian drones on March 11, though Tehran has denied launching them in its campaign targeting Gulf Arab states. The fire apparently has been burning since then.

This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after airstrikes targeting Iran’s Parchin military base outside of Tehran, Iran, March 6, 2026. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after Iranian attacks on the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, March 6, 2026. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The United States struck a large ammunition depot in the city of Isfahan using bunker-buster bombs weighing about 900 kilograms, according to a report today (Tuesday) citing an American official in The Wall Street Journal. According to the source, a large quantity of penetrating munitions was used in the attack, designed to breach fortified facilities and cause significant damage to military infrastructure.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted a video on Sunday night on the social media platform Truth Social without any accompanying caption, showing a clip of explosions lighting up the night sky. According to the American official, the video documents the strike carried out in the city.

JUST IN: 🇮🇷🇺🇸🇮🇱 Isfahan shaken by massive blasts following U.S.-Israeli strikes. pic.twitter.com/0lTBhJ0b7C

— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) March 31, 2026

According to estimates, U.S. forces have attacked more than 11,000 targets over the course of a month of fighting in Iran, focusing on sites intended to damage the Islamic Republic’s offensive capabilities and weaken its military systems.

Isfahan, one of Iran’s central cities, is located in the heart of the country, south of the capital Tehran, along the Zayandeh River. It is considered a highly important strategic hub, combining military infrastructure, activity related to Iran’s nuclear program, and national and symbolic significance for the regime.

In the Isfahan province, key facilities linked to Iran’s armed forces operate alongside advanced defense industries. Among them is a major center for nuclear fuel research and production, playing a role in uranium processing. Additionally, Iran’s aerospace industry operates in the area, specializing in aircraft production, helicopter maintenance, and military equipment development.

This combination of factors makes Isfahan one of Iran’s most important strategic centers and a target with broad operational significance in the current conflict.

WATCH:

Location: Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza

Event

• The security situation in Israel makes departures difficult. The Government of Israel currently limits Ben Gurion Airport to one departing flight per hour.
• The fastest option to depart Israel is by land to Egypt or Jordan.  Commercial air opportunities are available from airports in Jordan and Egypt; contact airlines directly.
• You may apply for Israeli government assistance to depart using their emergency online form  for foreign nationals.

U.S. Embassy Bus Service to Amman, Jordan 

• U.S. Embassy Jerusalem’s assisted departure bus service to Amman, Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport via the Jordan River Sheikh Hussein crossing  is paused until further notice.
• If you are interested in assisted departure bus service to Amman, please fill out this online form  and you will be contacted should bus service resume.
• Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport remains operational for travelers who make their own way to Amman.
• Departures have operated from the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv areas. You will receive date, time, and meeting point details when a bus is scheduled.
• Travelers must book and pay for their own flights from Amman and are encouraged to book before boarding the bus.  Most direct flights to the United States depart early in the day; you may need to stay overnight in Amman.  Limited hotel support may be available through the bus registration process for those needing an overnight stay.
• The U.S. Embassy recommends travelers carry at least $60 USD and 110 shekels in cash for visas and fees at the border.
• Royal Jordanian  is offering a discounted rate for U.S. citizens to depart via Queen Alia Airport in Amman, Jordan.  This offer is valid for ticket purchase until April 5, 2026, and for travel through April 15, 2026: U.S. Citizen Assisted Departure – Royal Jordanian .

Land Crossing to Egypt

• The land crossing to Egypt at Taba  is open 24 hours a day. 
• Transport from Taba to Sharm El-Sheikh is available via shared minibuses and taxis; overland transport to Cairo is also available (approximately 8–9 hours via Sharm El-Sheikh).
• Travelers must arrange and pay for travel to and from Taba, as well as onward air travel from Egyptian airports.
• U.S. Embassy Cairo recommends carrying at least $175 USD cash per person for visas, Egyptian letter of guarantee, and exit fees, plus extra for unexpected costs.  ATMs at the crossing are unreliable.

Passover Changes to Land Border Crossings

• Please note that between March 30 and April 10, travel by private vehicle to Jordan via the Jordan River and Rabin border crossings will not be permitted.
• Expect extended wait times outside the terminals ahead of the holiday and prepare accordingly.
• You can check the status of land crossings here .

Air Travel 

• Ben Gurion Airport  is operating limited flights. Contact airlines directly for commercial flight options.

Shelter in Place

• U.S. Embassy Jerusalem has directed all U.S. government employees to shelter in place and recommends U.S. citizens do the same. Stay in your residence, hotel, or another structure, and stay away from windows.
• In the event of missile, rocket fire, or hostile aircraft intrusion, a “red alert” siren may be activated. Follow the instructions from local authorities and the Israeli Home Front Command  and seek shelter immediately.

Embassy Operations 

• Emergency passport services are generally available in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 11:00 am, except for U.S. and local holidays.
• The Embassy will be closed on Thursday April 2 and Friday April 3. 
• More information can be found on the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem website.

Actions to Take

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive safety and security updates from the U.S. Embassy.
• Know the location of your closest shelter or protected space .
• Download the free Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command application on Android  or Apple  devices to receive real-time alerts for rockets, missile attacks, and armed UAV intrusions. Free commercial applications, such as “Red Alert: Israel,” are also available.
• Maintain communication with family and friends to inform them of your status.
• Have travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
• Find a secure location within your residence or another safe building. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items.
• Follow the “U.S. Department of State – Security Updates for U.S. Citizens” channel on WhatsApp. Download WhatsApp at whatsapp.com/download.
• Keep your cell phone charged and pre-programmed with the following emergency numbers.

Assistance 

• Israel Police: call 100
• Israel Ambulance: call 101
• U.S. Department of State 24/7 Task Force: call +1-202-501-4444 from abroad or +1-888-407-4747 when calling from the U.S. and Canada.
• U.S. Embassy Jerusalem: [email protected]
• U.S. Embassy Branch Office Tel Aviv: [email protected]

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1743-Semichah-Part-43-Yetzias-Mitzraim.mp3

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

Iran overnight Monday fired a drone at a huge, fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker anchored at an Emirati port in Dubai, setting it on fire and damaging the ship’s hull.

The enormous tanker, over three football fields long, was carrying over a million barrels of oil.

Emirati authorities announced on Tuesday morning—hours after the attack—that they had succeeded in containing the fire aboard the Al Salmi tanker and there were no injuries or oil leakage.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

All 24 crew members were reported safe.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported the attack, saying the vessel was 31 nautical miles (57 kilometers) northwest of Dubai.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Stories4Life-Shiur-557-Talmid-Chacham-R-Shmuel-Rozovsky.mp3

Amid Israel’s unprecedented war on multiple fronts, Israel’s Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara escalated her obsessive war against the Olam HaTorah on Monday, freezing the transfer of millions of dollars to Chareidi yeshivos only hours after the government passed the budget, and submitting a notice to the Supreme Court outlining a series of economic and civil sanctions against bnei yeshivos who fail to enlist.

The document, formulated under her deputy, attorney Gil Limon, details a long list of economic measures that she demands be immediately implemented against bnei yeshivos, including the revocation of discounts on public transportation, subsidized daycare under all criteria, participation in funding after‑school programs, and property tax discounts.

In addition, Baharav-Miara detailed a series of other measures that extend beyond individuals to institutions and programs, demanding that the state enforce full compliance with military‑status requirements, including scholarships and study‑funding programs, student assistance programs, participation in civil‑service tenders, support for Torah institutions, subsidized daycare in programs designated for Torah students, National Insurance discounts, programs for at‑risk Chareidi youth, and technological‑student tracks through the Ministry of Labor. The Attorney General is demanding the prevention of any state funding that may support those who choose limmud Torah over military service.

She further outlined “high-impact measures” to be considered later, including revoking rental assistance, housing loans, and even limiting tax exemptions on property transactions, steps that professionals warn could push thousands of families below the poverty line.

In the document, Baharav-Miara demands that all state authorities act immediately to intensify enforcement efforts, including criminal disciplinary and criminal measures against “draft dodgers” themselves and through withdrawing government funding that directly or indirectly supports them.

Baharav-Miara’s notice to the court is far more than a technical legal document but marks a clear shift to a more aggressive policy, demanding that the government leverage budgetary tools, welfare benefits, and civil‑service mechanisms to persecute the Olam HaTorah.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

PITTSBURGH (VINnews) — Federal authorities on Monday charged six men from the Pittsburgh area in connection with an alleged antisemitic assault on a Jewish man and efforts to obstruct the investigation that followed.

A grand jury indictment names Muhammed Koc, 27, of Pittsburgh; Omar Alshmari, 28, of Monroeville; Abraham Choudhry, 22, of Monroeville; Emirhan Arslan, 24, of McKees Rocks; Ali Alkhaleel, 19, of Pittsburgh; and Adeel Piracha, 22, of Murrysville.

Prosecutors say the attack occurred in September 2024 in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, where the victim was approached and subjected to antisemitic remarks after being identified by a Star of David necklace.

According to the indictment, the confrontation escalated into violence, with two of the defendants accused of physically assaulting the man and causing injuries.

Authorities allege that in the aftermath, members of the group communicated with one another and attempted to coordinate their accounts. Several are accused of providing false or misleading statements to investigators and a federal grand jury.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the Justice Department would pursue the case aggressively, emphasizing that acts of violence targeting individuals based on religion will not be tolerated.

The charges include violations of federal hate crimes statutes, as well as obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. If convicted, the defendants could face years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with local authorities.

An indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Let this be clear: FBI Pittsburgh and our partners will protect people of every faith in our community using every tool at our disposal.

This morning, FBI SWAT units, teams of Special Agents, and local law enforcement arrested six individuals in connection with the violent… pic.twitter.com/vl9kwtiXem

— FBI Pittsburgh (@FBIPittsburgh) March 30, 2026

NEW YORK (VINnews) — JetBlue Airways is increasing fees for checked baggage, pointing to higher fuel expenses as a key factor behind the move.

The airline said most economy passengers will now pay $39 to check a first bag during off-peak travel periods, up from $35. During busier travel times, such as summer and major holidays, the fee will rise to $49, an increase from $40.

Customers who wait until less than a day before departure to pay for baggage — including those paying at the airport — will face an additional charge.

The changes come as airlines grapple with rising jet fuel prices, which have pushed up overall travel costs in recent weeks. Fuel remains one of the industry’s largest expenses, and carriers often adjust fees to offset those increases.

JetBlue said it periodically reviews pricing to balance operating costs with maintaining competitive fares. The airline added that fees tied to optional services help support its overall customer experience, including onboard amenities.

Some travelers, such as frequent flyers with elite status or those holding certain co-branded credit cards, may still qualify for waived baggage fees.

Other major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, have not yet indicated whether they will follow with similar increases, though such moves are common across the industry.

A remarkable story has emerged from the Alexander chassidus_,_ where four older brothers—who had long been waiting in shidduchim—all became engaged one after the other in what many are calling a clear yeshua beyond the normal derech hateva, Matzav.com has learned.

The story began when three older bochurim from the chassidus became engaged in close succession shortly after their eldest brother made a significant contribution toward the building of the beis medrash of the chassidus.

Now, on Motzaei Shabbos, the final piece fell into place, as the fourth brother also became engaged b’shaah tovah u’mutzlachas. Within just two months, all four brothers—who had been considered “stuck” in shidduchim—found their zivugim. The brothers, ages 22, 27, 30, and 34, all became engaged one after the other.

As is known, the Alexander chassidus has been in the midst of a major campaign in recent months to build its new world center in Bnei Brak, after the existing facilities could no longer accommodate the growing number of chassidim. As part of the fundraising efforts, a series of initiatives were launched, including a historic trip to Poland known as the “Masa HaNe’emanim,” led by the Alexander Rebbe, marking the yahrtzeit of the Yismach Yisroel of Alexander.

It was learned that before the trip, a 35-year-old bochur from the chassidus went to the Rebbe and placed a substantial sum on the table as a nedavah, asking for a yeshua—not only for himself, but also for his three older brothers, who had been waiting many years to find their zivugim. The Rebbe gave him a brachah and said that b’ezras Hashem they would soon find their zivugim, but that sometimes the yeshua begins from below.

And indeed, the yeshua came swiftly. Two weeks later, the youngest brother became engaged. Shortly afterward, the next brother followed. A few days later, the brother who had given the nedavah himself became engaged. And now, this past Motzaei Shabbos, the fourth brother, age 30, became engaged as well.

{Matzav.com}

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) – Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz announced Monday that hospitals must align food service with updated federal dietary guidelines emphasizing whole, nutrient-dense foods to maintain eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid payments.

The directive came via a Quality and Safety Special Alert issued by CMS on Monday morning, directing hospitals to prioritize meals that reduce ultra-processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, refined carbohydrates and added sugars while focusing on protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and other whole foods, according to HHS officials.

Kennedy made the remarks during a stop on his “Take Back Your Health” tour at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, where he highlighted a new farm-to-hospital partnership with Florida growers to supply fresh food directly to patient trays. He described hospital food as an often-overlooked aspect of care that should support recovery and help combat chronic disease.

“Dr. Oz sent out a health and safety notice to every hospital in this country at 11 o’clock this morning, asking them now to align their food purchases with the dietary guidelines in order to enjoy continued eligibility for Medicaid and Medicare payments,” Kennedy said, according to video and reports from the event.

Oz, who joined Kennedy at the roundtable, criticized typical hospital meals as “poorly prepared” and lacking in nutritional value needed for healing. Officials framed the move as an incentive rather than a heavy-handed requirement, noting that many hospital leaders have expressed support for better nutrition standards and need help navigating procurement changes.

“We’re going to bring all the hospitals in the country in line with good food, and this is not something that we need to force hospitals to do. They want it,” Kennedy added. “We have talked with them. They need the incentive, and this is going to help them with their procurement companies … the fact that it’s now essentially a federal mandate.”

The announcement builds on the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans released earlier this year by HHS and the USDA under Kennedy’s leadership. Those guidelines shifted emphasis toward “real food” — whole, minimally processed options — and away from highly processed items, marking a significant update from prior versions.

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital signed the first statewide “Food is Health: Take Back Your Health” pledge in Florida, committing to source more locally grown produce and nutrient-dense meals for patients.

Officials said the guidance encourages hospitals to integrate nutrition into quality improvement programs and update menus and procurement practices accordingly. There was no immediate detail on enforcement timelines or specific penalties beyond continued eligibility for federal payments.

The push is part of the broader “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative aimed at reducing chronic disease through prevention, including better nutrition in federal programs and institutions.

Hospital industry reaction was not immediately available, though Kennedy said leaders he has spoken with are supportive.

The CMS alert reinforces existing obligations for hospitals to provide high-quality nutrition care as part of patient safety and quality standards.

VINnews will continue to monitor developments on this policy and its implementation across U.S. hospitals.