Jooish News

A sharp public clash erupted Tuesday between Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and opposition leader Yair Lapid following Italy’s decision to suspend a security-related arrangement with Israel, with both men exchanging pointed insults.

Lapid, who previously served as foreign minister, lashed out at Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Sa’ar in a post on X, writing that “the decision is another embarrassing failure of the prime minister and the non-existent foreign minister.”

He added that “the government has failed in advancing Israel’s interests even opposite people who are supposed to be our friends and natural allies.” Lapid continued: “We will return, form a government, and Israel will once again be the country everyone wanted to love.”

Sa’ar quickly fired back with a forceful response of his own. “The routine tweet of the clown is another embarrassing failure of the ‘non-existent’ opposition leader,” he wrote.

The foreign minister argued that Lapid was speaking without understanding the facts. “If someone who once held, on paper, the position of Israel’s ‘foreign minister’ had minimal knowledge, he would know that no such agreement even exists. There is only a memorandum of understanding that never had, and does not have, any real substance. Israel’s security will not be harmed,” he wrote.

Sa’ar also took aim at Lapid’s remark that “Israel will once again be the country everyone wanted to love,” calling it “a childish statement, baseless, but also dangerous.”

According to Sa’ar, “It is not the love of the world that we should be seeking. We will suffice with respect, appreciation, and safeguarding our vital interests.”

He concluded with another jab at his rival: “We will continue to act in the diplomatic arena in our commitment to the eternity of Israel, not to ‘love of the world.’ Statesmanship is a field for serious people, not for clowns.”

The Lakewood Township will be holding its first-ever drone show in honor of Independence Day, TLS has learned.

The drone show, being performed by Orion Skys, will be in addition to the fireworks show, Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles told TLS.

Mayor Coles says the due to last year’s cancellation as a result of rain, the Township had extra funds, and will be using the funds for the drone show – which is comparable in price to a fireworks show.

The mega show coincides with America’s 250th birthday celebration this July 4th.

“America’s 250th birthday doesn’t come around every day,” said Mayor Coles, and this show will make our residents extra proud to be an American.”

The show scheduled will be announced in the coming weeks.

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani took to East Harlem on Tuesday for a press conference celebrating his first 100 days in office, utilizing the occasion to unveil one of his controversial campaign promises: the city’s first government-run grocery store.

Standing outside La Marqueta, a historic, Depression-era site established by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1936, Mamdani pitched the project as a necessary “grand experiment” to combat inflation, noting that local grocery prices surged 66% between 2013 and 2023.

The self-described Democratic Socialist intends to allocate $70 million to the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to build five city-run grocery stores, one in each borough, by the end of his term in 2030. The inaugural La Marqueta store alone carries an eye-watering estimated construction cost of $30 million.

During the briefing, Mamdani argued that corporate grocery chains have maintained high prices even as supply costs dropped post-COVID. Citing a recent report that beef prices jumped 16% over just six months, Mamdani asserted that working-class New Yorkers can no longer budget for basic food.

His proposed solution involves contracting a private operator to run the store, but with a strict mandate that the city’s subsidies on a “core basket of staples” be passed directly to the consumer. “We are not hoping for affordability. We’re guaranteeing affordability,” Mamdani declared, contrasting this effort with the city’s previous “City Fresh” program, which invested `$30 million without successfully passing on savings to New Yorkers.

Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su added that the store would provide union-level standards for workers and cater its inventory directly to the neighborhood’s tastes. City officials emphasized the site’s strategic location, noting that nearly 40% of area residents are on public assistance and 5,000 NYCHA residents live nearby.

Despite the administration’s enthusiasm, the initiative is facing intense scrutiny. Fiscal conservatives and economic experts argue the plan is a massive misuse of taxpayer funds.

Daniel Di Martino of the Manhattan Institute warned, in an interview with Fox, that the project will fail “like every other socialist experiment” due to a fundamental lack of profit incentive to cater to consumer needs.
Di Martino also highlighted the city’s “opportunity cost” of forfeiting real estate and rent revenue that could have been collected from private entities.

Furthermore, the government-subsidized store threatens to unfairly siphon business from local grocers; currently, an Aldi, a Costco Wholesale, and at least three other grocery stores operate within a one-mile radius of La Marqueta.

The public reaction has echoed these concerns. Following the press briefing, online commentators heavily mocked the price tag. Users pointed out that private companies can open stores for a fraction of the cost, branding Mamdani’s $30 million endeavor a “food giveaway not a STORE” that requires “raising taxes on everyone” and will ultimately run actual businesses out of the city.

History bolsters these fiscal and operational concerns. Past attempts at municipal grocery ventures have faced steep challenges. While a newer project just launched in Atlanta in September 2025, a similar venture in Kansas City that opened in 2018 ultimately collapsed, unable to keep its shelves stocked amid rising crime.

British finance minister Rachel Reeves voiced sharp criticism Tuesday over what she described as the United States’ unclear strategy in its war with Iran, expressing frustration over the absence of defined goals or an exit plan.

In remarks reported by the Mirror, Reeves said she was deeply dissatisfied with how Washington approached the conflict, arguing that it entered the war without a clear sense of direction or endgame.

“This is a war that we did not start. It was a war that we did not want. I feel very frustrated and angry that ⁠the U.S. went into this ⁠war without a clear ⁠exit ⁠plan, without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve,” Reeves told the newspaper.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A synagogue was among several sites targeted in a series of fires in Queens on Monday night that left four people injured and prompted an arson investigation, authorities said.

Police said the incidents unfolded in the Maspeth neighborhood, beginning around 9 p.m. when a fire was set inside a restaurant on Flushing Avenue. The blaze spread to an upper-floor apartment, trapping two people inside. A man injured his hand breaking a window to escape, while a woman was hurt after jumping to the street. Both were taken to a hospital and are expected to recover.

A firefighter was also injured while battling the blaze, which was brought under control within a short time, according to the FDNY.

Authorities said additional fires were set outside buildings along nearby Grand Avenue, including a funeral home and a Jewish center. Those fires were quickly extinguished and caused minimal damage.

Police detained a woman suspected of setting the fires shortly afterward. Officials said she was not carrying identification, and her identity has not yet been confirmed. Charges are pending as fire marshals continue to investigate.

Bruce Blakeman didn’t wait long to make Erik Duran a campaign issue. Days after the NYPD sergeant was sentenced to at least three years in prison for hurling a cooler that killed a fleeing drug suspect, the Republican gubernatorial candidate pledged to pardon him the moment he takes office. Blakeman, currently serving as Nassau County executive, said flatly that Duran doesn’t belong behind bars.

“County Executive Blakeman will be making a strong statement in support of Sgt. Duran, consistent with his commitment to back law enforcement and make every neighborhood in New York safer,” his campaign said in a statement to The Post.

The underlying incident unfolded on Aug. 23, 2023, in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx. Eric Duprey, 30, was the target of an undercover buy-and-bust operation when he broke from the scene on a scooter. Duran, then 38 and a 13-year NYPD veteran, grabbed a nearby cooler and threw it. The cooler struck Duprey in the head. The resulting crash killed him.

Last week, Bronx Judge Guy Mitchell found Duran guilty of second-degree manslaughter at a non-jury trial. At sentencing, Mitchell imposed three to nine years in prison, brushing aside a petition signed by more than 11,000 police officers across the country asking that Duran receive probation instead.

The sentence drew immediate and furious condemnation from law enforcement. NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association President Vincent Vallelong called it “the darkest day in the history of our profession.”

“It wasn’t only Sgt. Duran, a great cop, who was on trial,” Vallelong said. “Every law enforcement officer who makes a split-second decision in the performance of their duties to protect the public was also on that trial.”

For Blakeman, a 70-year-old conservative aligned closely with President Trump — who endorsed him last year to challenge Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul — the pardon pledge is a deliberate positioning move ahead of November.

The race against Hochul was already shaping up as a referendum on public safety and the treatment of law enforcement in New York. By stepping forward on Duran within days of the sentence, Blakeman is signaling to a Republican base, and to the rank-and-file officers who rallied behind the sergeant through trial and sentencing alike, that a Blakeman administration would draw a hard line on the question of criminal liability for police conduct.

Whether that bet pays off will depend in part on how New York’s broader electorate weighs the case — a decorated officer’s split-second decision, a dead suspect, and a judge who heard the arguments and sent the cop to prison anyway.

(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

NEW YORK (AP) — Convenience chain 7-Eleven expects to close hundreds of its locations this year.

According to earnings filings published last week, 7-Eleven’s North American operator plans to close 645 stores in the 2026 fiscal year — outpacing the 205 locations it forecasts it will open during that same time.

Seven & i Holdings Co., the Japan-based parent of the convenience chain, noted that these closures “include the conversion to wholesale fuel stores.” Financial documents show that 7-Eleven Inc. has steadily opened new wholesale fuel stores in North America over recent years, which accounted for more than 900 locations as of December 2025.

The company did not immediately explain the closures or specify which locations could be impacted. The Associated Press reached out for further information.

According to the company’s website, there are over 86,000 7-Eleven stores across 19 countries today. 7-Eleven Inc., the brand’s North American operator based in Texas, oversees more than 13,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

The convenience giant has closed hundreds of underperforming locations over the years, and the latest cuts arrive as higher prices strain consumers worldwide. The U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran has especially rattled energy markets, with drivers now facing soaring gas prices.

Consumers were facing stubborn inflation even before the war. In North America specifically, Seven & i noted in its April 9 report, “although the economy remained robust, personal consumption also began to soften” for the 2025 fiscal year — “particularly among low-income households, as inflation continued to weigh on spending.”

Openings for Seven & i subsidiaries outside of North America are set to outpace the stores they’re closing — including Seven-Eleven Japan, which expects to close 350 stores and open 550 locations, per financial filings.

Seven & i expects its revenue to fall 9.4% for the current fiscal year, totaling a projected nearly 9.45 trillion yen (about $59.5 billion).

The company has been looking for new opportunities for growth, and last year outlined a wider transformation plan aimed at boosting its convenience store offerings. Among goals, Seven & i has said it would invest in more fresh food offerings and expand its “7NOW” delivery service.

The changes also arrive under new leadership. Stephen Hayes Dacus became Seven & i’s CEO last spring.

In a significant diplomatic development, Israel and Lebanon held their first direct talks in decades on Tuesday in Washington, in a meeting brokered by the United States and hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The talks, described by U.S. officials as a “historic opportunity,” brought together Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh at the State Department. The meeting lasted approximately two hours, with no immediate breakthrough or follow-up date announced.

Rubio acknowledged the complexity of the effort, noting that the sides are working through “decades of history,” but expressed hope that the discussions could lay the groundwork for a more stable future.

“But we can begin to move forward with a framework where something can happen, something very positive, something very permanent,” Rubio said, adding that the goal is for Israelis to “live without fear” and for the Lebanese people to have a better future.

A State Department official emphasized that the talks had been in planning for about a month and are not connected to recent U.S.-Iran negotiations in Pakistan. The official also took aim at Hezbollah, stating that the Iranian-backed group “does not deserve a place” and must be fully disarmed.

“Iran will not be allowed to dictate the future of Lebanon any more. These talks are part of that effort,” the official said.

Following the meeting, Israel’s ambassador said Lebanon had indicated it “will no longer be occupied by Hezbollah,” though that claim has not been confirmed by Lebanese officials. He added that discussions are ongoing regarding both security and civilian matters.

Hezbollah, which opposes the talks and was not represented, reportedly intensified attacks on northern Israel as the meeting took place.

Separately, the United States announced $58.8 million in new humanitarian aid to assist more than one million Lebanese civilians displaced during the recent fighting.

The talks come after over a month of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and while no agreements were reached, officials described the meeting as an important first step in what could become a longer diplomatic process.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A former senior official from the Biden administration said Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz could serve as an effective tool to push Iran back into negotiations.

Retired Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby, who previously acted as a leading national security spokesperson under President Joe Biden, said during a television appearance that the strategy may carry diplomatic value, reflecting a notable degree of agreement across party lines regarding Trump’s tougher posture, according to The Hill.

“I think as a potential diplomatic tactic, it might be helpful,” Kirby said during a TV interview, noting the blockade could increase pressure not only on Iran but also on key allies like China that depend heavily on Gulf oil shipments.

The naval restrictions, ordered by Trump over the weekend, are intended to cut off Iran’s ability to export oil by stopping ships moving to and from its ports.

This step is part of a larger campaign aimed at compelling Tehran to return to talks after negotiations over its nuclear program stalled and tensions with Israel continued.

Kirby indicated that the move could also influence China’s behavior, potentially prompting Beijing to become more engaged in resolving the standoff.

“What this could do is encourage the Chinese to be more helpful with Iran and get them back to the negotiating table,” he said, emphasizing China’s reliance on energy flowing through the region.

His remarks come as American and Iranian officials weigh the possibility of holding another round of high-level discussions, possibly as soon as the coming weekend, Reuters reported.

An initial round of talks in Pakistan — marking the most direct dialogue between the two sides in decades — ended without a breakthrough, although both countries expressed willingness to keep the process going.

Vice President JD Vance, who headed the U.S. delegation, characterized Washington’s proposal as its “final and best offer,” signaling that the administration is demanding Iran fully dismantle its uranium enrichment program.

Despite warnings from critics that the blockade risks heightening tensions in an already unstable region, some analysts, including former diplomat Richard Haass, have argued that stronger economic pressure could force Iran to shift its stance.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategically vital waterways in the world, carrying a large share of global oil supplies.

Any interruption to traffic through the strait can quickly impact global markets, increasing both the risks involved and the leverage available to the United States.

Kirby also warned that the blockade could introduce new uncertainty for commercial shipping, as companies assess the dangers of operating in waters where Iranian forces could still pose a threat.

Even so, supporters of the policy point to Kirby’s comments as validation of the view that sustained economic and military pressure is essential to bringing adversaries like Iran to the negotiating table.

With a delicate ceasefire holding and negotiations at a critical juncture, the next few days could prove decisive in determining whether Trump’s hardline approach yields progress or leads to further escalation.

President Trump told the New York Post on Tuesday that a second round of peace negotiations with Iran could take place within days, and that Pakistan’s capital is the most likely venue.

Trump made the disclosure in a follow-up call to The Post roughly half an hour after an initial interview in which he had described the ongoing diplomatic effort to end the seven-week war as moving “a little bit slow.” He also indicated that talks would likely shift to somewhere in Europe. Then he called back.

“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,” Trump said of Islamabad. “It’s more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job.”

Trump was referring to Pakistani Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir, with whom he developed a relationship last year during Pakistan’s brief war with India — a four-day conflict that ended after the United States helped broker a peace deal.

“He’s fantastic, and therefore it’s more likely that we go back there,” Trump said. “Why should we go to some country that has nothing to do with it?”

Vice President JD Vance was in Islamabad last weekend for the first direct round of US-Iran negotiations, which ended without a breakthrough.

Trump also pushed back on reports that American negotiators had proposed Iran suspend its uranium enrichment program for at least 20 years as part of a potential deal. “I’ve been saying they can’t have nuclear weapons,” he said. “So I don’t like the 20 years.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Lakewood Cheder School has announced an adjustment to its academic calendar, with the upcoming school year set to begin earlier than usual at the request of the Vaad Hachinuch.

In a notice sent to parents, the school confirmed that the final day of classes for the 2025–2026 school year will be Thursday, July 9. The next school year, 2026–2027, is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 19—approximately one week earlier than in previous years.

Parents are encouraged to take note of the updated dates and plan the summer break accordingly.

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Boro Park’s business scene is growing fast, and this Sunday morning, local entrepreneurs will have a chance to come together, connect, and take things to the next level.

The BPJCC, in partnership with Metropolitan Commercial Bank, is hosting a special Next Level Business: Boro Park Summit, built around one core idea: real networking that leads to real growth.

The event is designed as a space where business owners can meet face-to-face, shake hands, exchange contacts, and build relationships that can turn into real opportunities. The focus is bringing serious business people together in one room.

Alongside the networking, the program will feature sessions focused on today’s most important business topics. Attendees will hear how AI is changing the way businesses operate and how it can be used in a practical way to grow. There will also be guidance on cash flow and how to access SBA funding, giving business owners a clearer understanding of financial opportunities that are often overlooked.

A major part of the event will be a sales panel led by renowned sales coach Menachem Friedman. His sessions are already well known in the community, with over 200 people attending his previous sales masterclass this past summer at BPJCC. He’ll be joined by experienced business owner Yossi Itzkowitz of Toys4U, along with CPA Chaim Goldmunzer, bringing real-world insight from both the business and financial sides.

The morning will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a full five-star breakfast, giving attendees time to connect in a relaxed setting before and throughout the program.

The event will take place at the BPJCC Community Center, 5102 13th Avenue. Admission is $45 in advance and $75 at the door, with organizers encouraging early registration as space is limited.

For Boro Park’s business community, this is a chance to step out of the day-to-day, meet the right people, and walk away with both connections and direction.

Get your tickets here and reserve your spot today.

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — A grand jury indicted a Florida doctor on a manslaughter charge for allegedly removing a patient’s liver instead of his spleen during a 2024 surgery.

The prosecutor for the First Judicial Circuit on Monday announced the charge of second-degree manslaughter against Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky.

Prosecutors said that during an Aug. 21, 2024, surgery, which was scheduled to be a laparoscopic splenectomy, Shaknovsky removed the victim’s liver instead of his spleen. That resulted in “catastrophic blood loss and the patient’s death on the operating table,” law enforcement officials wrote in a press release, The patient was a 70-year-old man from Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

“Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor,” Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said in a statement.

Available court records did not name an attorney for Shaknovsky.

Florida suspended Shaknovsky’s medical license after the surgery. Records show he voluntarily surrendered his medical license in Alabama after regulators moved to revoke his license.

WASHINGTON (VINnews) — House Speaker Mike Johnson welcomed dozens of Holocaust survivors to the U.S. Capitol on Monday and honored Benjamin Ferencz with the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors.

Johnson said the recognition of Ferencz, a former war crimes investigator and prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials, underscores the importance of justice and accountability following the atrocities of World War II.

Lawmakers also marked the memory of the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust, emphasizing the need to preserve historical awareness and educate future generations.

Johnson said remembering the Holocaust remains essential to preventing such atrocities from happening again.

Today, I welcomed 30 Holocaust survivors to the Capitol and honored Benjamin Ferencz — a war crimes investigator and Nuremberg prosecutor — with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow.

Each year, we gather to remember the six million victims… pic.twitter.com/ynzpH9D7BT

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) April 14, 2026

Is the U.S. naval blockade on Iran working? There appear to be some cracks, with tracking data showing several ships leaving from Iran and transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The blockade, which was launched Monday, is supposed to prevent Iran from exporting its oil and other goods to pressure it into a deal.

But the reality on the sea is murkier. Kpler, a tracking firm, reported that several ships sailed from Iran through the strait both before and after the 10 a.m. deadline Monday. How they managed to slip through remains unclear. While some ships may have slipped through the cracks, it’s possible that a grace period was extended for a certain amount of time or that some ships received special permission to pass through the blockade.

Among the ships that made it out is the Christianna, a Liberia-flagged cargo ship, which reportedly held no cargo. Following that was Elpis, carrying methanol, which had been sanctioned under its previous name, Chamtang, for its ties to Iranian oil. The Murlikishan, a previously sanctioned oil tanker, also entered the Persian Gulf Tuesday.

But two Chinese ships changed course and turned to Oman before the blockade began. One of them remained in the Gulf of Oman, while the other made another attempt and succeeded in pushing through.

Ships are still moving through the blockade, which was designed to choke off Iran’s economy, raising questions about its effectiveness.

The US State Department has announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of a senior figure in an Iran-backed terror group operating in Iraq.

The bounty targets Ahmad al-Hamidawi, the secretary general of the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah militia.

In a post on X alongside al-Hamidawi’s image, the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program stated that the group is “responsible for attacks on US diplomatic facilities in Iraq, the kidnapping of US citizens, and the killing of innocent Iraqi civilians.”

Last month, Kataeb Hezbollah abducted American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad, releasing her several days later on the condition that she leave the country. At the time, officials from the group told The Associated Press that the arrangement included the Iraqi government freeing several detained members of the militia.

The group was also behind the kidnapping of Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was released last year after spending approximately two and a half years in captivity.

photos: Dovid Jaroslawicz

NEW YORK (AP) — The nation’s biggest banks posted another quarter of strong profits, helped by a resilient economy and a flurry of dealmaking for their investment banking units.

But the strong profits were clouded by the bank’s outlook for 2026, as bank executives warned how high oil prices were starting to negatively impact the consumer and further geopolitical uncertainty could hamper economic growth as the year progresses.

“There is an increasingly complex set of risks,” Jamie Dimon, CEO and chairman of JPMorgan Chase, said in a statement, referencing to wars, energy prices and trade wars as some of the current risks in the global economy.

Dimon further called these tensions as “significant and they reinforce why we prepare the firm for a wide range of environments.”

This quarter, it was the investment banks at all of the major banks that drove revenue to Wall Street during the first three months of the year. JPMorgan reported a 30% jump in investment banking fees, while Citigroup reported a 12% rise in advisory fees.

The rise in markets and investment banking fees was not a surprise. Markets have been intensely volatile in the first three months of the year, and those swings of volatility are great for the professional trading desks stationed at all the major banks. Further, many companies are pursuing mergers, acquisitions or going public, which has provided another stream of revenue for Wall Street.

However, bank executives warned that the extreme swings could have downstream impacts to the U.S. economy, particularly energy prices. In a call with reporters, Wells Fargo Chief Financial Officer Mike Santomassimo said the bank was seeing customers allocating a larger percentage of their debit card spending toward gas and cutting back on discretionary purchases.

While Dimon described the economy was “resilient” he also said, “the impact of higher oil prices will likely take some time to materialize” in the economy if it lingers.

JPMorgan posted a profit of $16.49 billion, up 13% from a year earlier. On a per-share basis, the bank earned $5.94. Wells Fargo earned a profit of $5.25 billion and Citigroup had a profit of $5.79 billion.

Far-right Polish parliamentarian Konrad Berkowicz ignited widespread backlash after referring to Israel as the “new Third Reich” and presenting a doctored Israeli flag featuring a swastika during a speech in parliament.

Addressing lawmakers just hours before the annual March of the Living at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Berkowicz accused Israel of carrying out “genocide” in Gaza and echoed unverified allegations regarding the use of phosphorus weapons against civilians. He also drew comparisons between child casualties in Gaza and the war in Ukraine, while recounting graphic depictions of suffering before revealing the altered flag.

Fellow lawmakers quickly condemned the act, with Deputy Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty stating that displaying a swastika in the Polish parliament is “in no way justified.”

Another legislator, Sławomir Ćwik, urged that the matter be referred to prosecutors, pointing to Polish laws that prohibit the promotion of Nazi symbols and incitement to hatred.

The controversy also prompted a response from US Ambassador Thomas Rose, who wrote “SHAME SHAME SHAME on YOU!!” on social media.

Berkowicz has drawn criticism in the past for inflammatory and antisemitic rhetoric, including multiple social media posts in recent years accusing Israel of “murder.”

In a separate incident in October 2025, Berkowicz was fined by Polish police after attempting to steal from an IKEA store in Krakow.

An Iranian-linked cyber group known as “Handala” has circulated video on social media that it says was captured by a drone operating over Israeli territory.

According to the group, the material shows aerial footage taken during a flight above Israel, though the circumstances surrounding the recording remain unclear.

No additional information has been disclosed at this point about when the drone flight occurred or the exact location shown in the video.

Israeli officials have not yet issued any statement addressing the footage, and its authenticity and significance have not been confirmed.

Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, formerly known as Kimball Hospital, has been identified as one of several hundred hospitals across the country that may experience severe reductions in service and possibly closure due to federal Medicaid cuts, a new report is warning.

The report, released by Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, describes what it calls a “big ugly threat” to hospitals that rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements. It cites estimates that proposed federal spending reductions—totaling hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade—could significantly reduce revenue for hospitals that serve disproportionate numbers of low-income and uninsured patients.

New Jersey is estimated to lose $3.6 billion in annual funding from the federal government for the health insurance program, which is used by 1.8 million lower-income residents.

Medicaid is funded by the state and federal governments, which in New Jersey is about $10 billion from the state budget and $14 billion from Washington.

Safety-net hospitals, which often operate on thin margins, are particularly vulnerable because Medicaid payments typically fall below the cost of care. The report warns that cuts could lead to service reductions, staffing challenges, or even hospital closures in some communities.

In Ocean County, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus plays a critical role as a regional provider of emergency and inpatient services, serving parts of both Ocean and Monmouth counties. The hospital, a roughly 350-bed facility in Lakewood, treats tens of thousands of patients annually and accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and charity care patients.

Advocates say facilities like the Southern Campus could face outsized impacts due to the demographics they serve. Lakewood and surrounding communities have seen rapid population growth and increased demand for hospital services, including among Medicaid recipients.

According to the report, reductions in federal Medicaid support would shift financial pressure onto states and providers, potentially forcing difficult decisions about which services to maintain. Public Citizen argues that such cuts could weaken access to care in already underserved areas.

The report urges federal lawmakers to reconsider proposed reductions, warning that diminished Medicaid funding could ripple through local health systems and limit access to essential care for vulnerable populations.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, held meetings Tuesday with top Israeli military officials, including a poignant encounter with Holocaust survivor Bella Haim on Yom Hashoah, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Cooper and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir met with Haim, the grandmother of Yotam Haim — one of three Israeli hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli troops in Gaza in December 2023. The two military leaders heard Haim’s personal testimony and story of survival, according to the IDF.

Haim was born in the Polish town of Stoczek and survived the Holocaust by fleeing with her family to Russia.

The high-level meeting comes as Cooper is in Israel for discussions with Israeli defense leadership. The two commanders are also expected to address the ongoing campaign against Iran and contingency plans should the war resume, the IDF said.

In a demonstration of the truth of the horseshoe theory, a white supremacist trying to work with Hezbollah pleaded guilty Monday to arson. Regan Darby Prater, 28, confessed in federal court that he carried out an attack using a homemade, napalm-style “sparkler bomb,” so called because it’s ignited by a sparkler, to destroy a historic civil rights center in New Market, Tenn., causing more than $1.2 million in damages.

Before setting off the bomb, Prater spray-painted a Nazi symbol across the parking lot. He acknowledged that he chose the location due to his white supremacist ideology, because of its association with the civil rights movement.

He also admitted that he passed information on 35,000 people he believed were connected to Israel in some way to someone he believed had ties to Hezbollah, with the message, “Start the hunt.”

Prater faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as fines, restitution, and supervised release after his sentence. His sentencing is scheduled for September 9 in federal court in Knoxville.

Justice sometimes moves slowly. Prater committed the arson on March 29, 2019.

Defense Minister Yisroel Katz said Tuesday that Israel has reached a position of unprecedented strength and security, declaring that the country no longer faces an existential threat.

In a statement issued earlier in the day, Katz credited this shift to the elimination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, whom he identified as the central figure behind efforts to destroy Israel, as well as to major military campaigns carried out under the names “Like a Lion” and “Rising Lion,” which he said dealt a heavy blow to Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities.

At the same time, Katz cautioned that the operation has not yet achieved all of its objectives. He noted that Iran still possesses enriched nuclear material that could potentially be used to revive its weapons program. “The United States and Israel have defined the removal of this material from Iran as a prerequisite for ending the campaign,” Katz stated, adding that this issue remains a primary focus of ongoing coordination with the Trump administration.

Addressing the broader regional picture, Katz said the balance of power has shifted significantly. He pointed to the fall of the Syrian regime and said that Hezbollah and Hamas have both suffered major setbacks, leaving them no longer capable of presenting a strategic danger to Israel.

He concluded by making clear that Israel’s military efforts are continuing, saying the IDF will persist in targeting any remaining threats posed by these groups “with full commitment and maximum force.”

A report published by the Atlantic said Joe Biden privately preferred Gretchen Whitmer as his 2020 running mate but ultimately chose Kamala Harris due to pressure during the Black Lives Matter protests.

According to The Atlantic, Biden “wanted it to be Whitmer,” with one source saying “the moment called for a Black running mate,” influencing the final decision at the height of nationwide unrest in summer 2020.

Whitmer, who was vetted and said she would have accepted the role, remained publicly supportive and campaigned for the Biden-Harris ticket throughout the 2020 election.

The famous 'Dee Voch' is launching the first-ever Yiddish Health Edition - an unprecedented publication designed to connect the Yiddish-speaking community with top healthcare providers, services, and medical innovations.

This edition will serve as a comprehensive, go-to resource, highlighting trusted professionals across the healthcare spectrum, from primary care and specialists to wellness services and advanced treatments, all tailored to the needs of the community.

As demand continues to grow for accessible, culturally relevant healthcare information, this initiative is set to make a major impact. Readers will gain valuable insights and connections, while providers have a rare opportunity to present their services directly to a highly engaged audience.

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Spots are limited, and interest is already building. Those who secure placement will benefit from major exposure and direct access to a community actively seeking reliable healthcare solutions.

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KIRYAS JOEL (VINnews) – The Satmar Rebbe announced a plan to develop discounted housing for the broader ultra-Orthodox community in New York, saying the initiative would aim to ease mounting affordability pressures in Brooklyn and surrounding areas.

Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum of Kiryas Joel speaking Monday at a commemorative gathering marking the 20th anniversary of his father’s passing, the late Moshe Teitelbaum — known as the “Be’er Moshe” — the Rebbe said he had been meeting with multiple developers to advance a large-scale housing effort.

“I have sat with several developers to see how we can establish affordable housing for the general community,” he said, according to attendees.

Under the plan, housing prices in the new development are expected to be roughly one-third lower than current prices in Kiryas Joel, where strong demand has driven costs to about $300 per square feet. The new project is expected to offer units at approximately $200 per square feet.

Developers are planning to build thousands of housing units in Monticello, located in the Catskills region, where a sizable Orthodox Jewish community already exists alongside synagogues, schools and kosher retail infrastructure.

The Rebbe said the initiative is intended not only for Satmar community but for the wider Charedi world, including residents of Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Williamsburg and Borough Park, where housing costs and property taxes have surged.

He urged prospective buyers not to overpay or be pressured by brokers, warning that doing so could drive prices higher.

“There are enough apartments for everyone,” he said. “Do not pay more than the agreed price.”

The announcement follows earlier efforts in Kiryas Joel to stabilize housing prices, where apartments currently sell for about $3,000 per square meter within the village and roughly $2,500 in surrounding areas.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Inappropriate. Ridiculous. Absurd. Visitors to the Vatican on Tuesday had some choice words for U.S. President Donald Trump after his harsh criticism of Pope Leo XIV for his calls to soften the rhetoric of war.

The world has buzzed at the extraordinary clash between the U.S.-born pope and the American president. Trump called Leo “weak” and captive to the “radical left’’ on social media this week, after the pope called Trump’s threats toward Iran “truly unacceptable.’’

At the Vatican, visitors had Leo’s back while he’s away on a 10-day trip to Africa.

“It’s just ridiculous, because if the pope is not speaking about peace, and is not taking care about every people in the world, he’s not the pope,’’ said Joerg Soler, who was visiting the Vatican from Switzerland.

“It’s completely inappropriate,’’ said Mariella Acciaioli, a French tourist. “Things are getting too much. We need to mobilize everyone, especially our leaders, to deal with this behavior that is going beyond every limit.”

U.S. tourist Paul Sarauskas expressed disbelief at Trump’s unprecedented broadside, calling it “absurd.”

“I think he needs to keep his nose out of religion. He’s telling the pope what to do. He’s telling the pope how to do his job,’’ Sarauskas said. “Where the pope just wants to do good things, right? He wants to talk about peace, about helping other people, whereas the current administration is doing something completely opposite. They’re just tearing people apart. They’re talking about division and war and hate.”

Trump clearly expected the American pope to be “subservient” to the United States, said Italian journalist Massimo Franco, who has a new book, “Popes, Dollars and Wars,’’ about U.S.-Vatican relations.

“A pope must be a pope. He must respond to a wider community. And if he sees that Trump’s policy risks to give a distorted view of the United States, I think the pope is helping the United States as well, not just the United States, to find the right path,” Franco said.

The Rev. Antonio Spadaro, a prominent Italian Jesuit theologian and undersecretary to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education, said Trump’s fury “against a moral voice” shows that “the president is powerless.”

“He can’t bring the pope to the same terrain where he has brought everyone else, where he can dominate with language,’’ Spadaro told Italian Radio 24.”In this sense, the moral force of the church is evident. It is not a counter-power but a space in which power is being judged by criteria that power itself cannot control.”

The Jackson Branch of the Ocean County Library will host the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s Mobile Unit on Friday, May 1 for appointments for Real ID, new title or registration, registration renewal, and replacement title/registration.

Available times will vary depending on the type of appointment.

Go to telegov.njportal.com/njmvcmobileunit to register and view available appointments. They will be booked on a first come, first served basis.

The Jackson Branch is located at 2 Jackson Drive. For more information, call 732-928-4400.

In an extreme step aimed at preserving the spiritual environment of one of the world’s leading Torah cities, officials in Bnei Brak have introduced new restrictions, which basically create a nighttime curfew targeting spots where bochurim may be gathering.

The Bnei Brak city council expanded an existing bylaw requiring restaurants and food stands to close by 10 p.m., now extending the rule to include vending machines that sell drinks and snacks. This may seem extreme to most, but local leaders and educators think otherwise. Local leaders say the move comes after growing concern from educators and rabbanim, who reported that bochurim had begun congregating late at night around vending machines, which had become a workaround after restrictions on restaurants and take-out establishments were already put in place. Bochurim used these spots to make trouble, smoke, and engage in other activities that were deemed harmful to their spirituality.

The new regulation was suggested by city council member Rabbi Zev Lipschitz, who warned of what he described as both physical and “spiritual harm” being caused by these late night environments.

Supporters of the new bylaw agree it is important to ensure that the streets of Bnei Brak remain aligned with Torah values, and to allow parents to feel secure sending their children to night seder and maariv without worrying about outside distractions.

Those against, however, view the restriction as another infringement on personal freedom within the city and say there is a limit to what can be done to preserve a certain environment when it affects the lives of so many.

With the law passing, enforcement is expected to be strict, with fines being planned for any businesses that violate new rules.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said Monday that President Donald Trump’s recent social media activity raises serious concerns about his mental fitness, arguing that his statements warrant closer scrutiny.

Speaking on CNN’s “The Source” with host Kaitlan Collins, Greene reacted to a controversial post by the president and clarified how she interpreted it.

Host Kaitlan Collins said, “I have to ask you if you believe that the president, thought he was depicting himself, as as a doctor, not Jesus in that post?”

Greene said, “No absolutely not. I thought that was blasphemy. As a Christian, I was very offended. And and a doctor, President Trump is not a doctor. And that picture had him in a robe as Jesus is often portrayed with light coming out of his hands. And he talked about, healing people like a Red Cross worker. I think there would be many people that would argue with that, you know, saving lives. So I think it was blasphemy. I was offended. I think he should apologize.”

Collins then referenced Greene’s earlier response to another post, in which she invoked the 25th Amendment, and pressed her on whether she believes the president should be removed from office.

Collins said, “You responded to that post about a whole civilization will die with an all caps 25th Amendment and three exclamation points. Do you really think that the president should be removed from office?”

Greene said, “I think we have to really question the mental stability of any president that threatens to wipe out an entire civilization of people. That would include all the innocent people in that country that have nothing to do with the war, especially after President Trump said this was about freeing the Iranian people from the Iranian regime. So for him to call to wipe out an entire civilization of people is absolutely wrong.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Standing near a cemetery as an Israeli drone buzzed overhead, a senior Hezbollah official delivered a blunt warning in an interview Tuesday.

Wafiq Safa said the terror group would refuse to abide by any agreement that would be hammered out in talks between Lebanon and Israel.

“As for the outcomes of this negotiation between Lebanon and the Israeli enemy, we are not interested in or concerned with them at all,” he said. “We are not bound by what they agree to.”

The talks are unusual because the two countries do not have diplomatic ties to each other, and the outcome may well rest on Lebanon’s ability to rein in Hezbollah, which has signaled that it will not be reined in.

The previous day, Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s leader, blasted Lebanon’s decision to ban Hezbollah as “stabbing the resistance in the back” and denounced the government for holding talks with Israel.

“Israel and the United States have openly stated they want to strengthen the army to disarm Hezbollah, fight it, dismantle its institutions and eliminate the resistance, its people and all who support it,” he told supporters in a prerecorded video address. “They want the [Lebanese] army to fight its own people — something the army cannot and will not do.”

Qassem characterized the scheduled negotiations as “futile and humiliating” and warned that Hezbollah would “remain steadfast, keep our heads held high and liberate the land.”

A Manchester man has been charged in connection with the fatal motor vehicle crash in Toms River that claimed the life of a 37-year-old Freehold woman, authorities said.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced today that Daniel Cormier, 31, was charged with Vehicular Homicide and Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide stemming from a crash that occurred on March 7, 2026.

According to officials, the crash took place at approximately 11:05 p.m. in the area of Lakewood Road and Whitty Road. An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit–Vehicular Homicide Squad and Toms River Township Police Department determined that Cormier was operating a Volkswagen Jetta southbound on Lakewood Road when the vehicle struck a guardrail, causing him to lose control and cross into oncoming traffic. The vehicle then collided head-on with a Honda Accord driven by Shamirah Nolan, 37, of Freehold.

Nolan was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where she was pronounced deceased. Cormier was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune with non-life-threatening injuries and was later released.

Responding officers at the scene observed signs that Cormier appeared impaired. A court-authorized blood draw was conducted, and laboratory results received on April 13 revealed that his Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) was .09 at the time of the draw—above New Jersey’s legal limit of .08. Authorities also determined that Cormier had Gabapentin and Hydrocodone in his system, further impairing his ability to safely operate a vehicle.

Cormier surrendered himself to Toms River Township Police Headquarters on April 13. He was subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains lodged pending a detention hearing.

BROOKLYN (VINnews) — Two people were killed in a late-night apartment fire in Brooklyn, authorities said Tuesday.

Fire crews responded to a call shortly after 11 p.m. at a residential building at 446 Kingston Ave. in the Crown Heights neighborhood, according to the FDNY.

An 80-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead, police said.

Three others were injured, including two civilians and a firefighter who suffered smoke inhalation. All were transported to a hospital, and the firefighter was reported in stable condition.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Republican lawmakers to act against President Donald Trump, warning that his actions could cause lasting harm to the United States if left unchecked.

Speaking on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Clinton argued that Trump’s behavior could become increasingly dangerous, citing a concept she teaches about leadership decision-making.

Clinton said, “I teach a course at Columbia University with the dean of the School of International Public Affairs. We’ve been on your program. And among the things we teach is behavior of of leaders. And there’s something called domain of loss, which means when a leader feels that he’s losing, he actually becomes more reckless. And I fear that with Trump, you know, he’s found the joy of ordering our military to go do things that give him a lot of, dopamine. I guess when he’s in the Situation Room watching them, you know, take out Maduro from Venezuela or attack Iran or whatever. I just worried that he’s going to become more reckless.”

She followed with a direct appeal to Congress, including members of Trump’s own party, urging them to intervene.

She continued, “And this is a call to the Congress, including the Republicans, to step up and do your constitutional duty, rein in this president before he causes absolutely irreparable damage to our country, to our military standing, to our authority and leadership. Do not let him continue to be a rogue player in the international arena, because I fear he will get more reckless.”

Clinton also linked her warning to upcoming elections, expressing confidence that Democrats could regain control of Congress and hold the president accountable.

Clinton added, “And I will tell you when we win these midterm elections, because look at the elections were today or next week or the following week, we would win both the House and the Senate and I hope that’s what happens in November. Both because I want to see change, but also I want to see him held accountable. And so let’s do it now because I’m not sure we can wait and allow him, you know, free range to along with his buddy Hegseth to tell our military to go do things that are not even in the interests of the United States, as well as breaching, you know, the laws of war.”

{Matzav.com}

In a historic development for Jewish communities across the United States, the state of Kentucky has passed legislation requiring authorities to consult with Chabad before cremating unclaimed individuals.

The law, known as SB 27, mandates that coroners make a “good-faith effort” to notify a relevant religious group if the deceased is believed to belong to that community, before any decision is made regarding cremation.

Earlier versions of the bill specifically required contacting Chabad of the Bluegrass if the deceased was believed to be Jewish. While the final version broadened the requirement to include any religious organization willing to take responsibility, Chabad remains at the forefront of the effort and has already committed to covering all burial costs for Jewish individuals in such cases.

The legislation was led by Kentucky State Senator Greg Elkins and strongly supported by Rabbi Shlomo Litvin, director of Chabad of the Bluegrass, who works diligently to ensure Jewish burial rights are protected.

For the Jewish community, the impact is huge. Cremation is strictly forbidden in halacha, and ensuring proper burial, kevuras Yisrael, is considered fundamental.

Rabbi Litvin says that the goal was never about recognition, but about preserving dignity and ensuring that even individuals with no known family receive a proper Jewish burial instead of being cremated. He hopes the law could serve as a model for other states, as Jewish community leaders across the country look to replicate similar protections.

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday suspended the fuel tax in response to the Iran war in his first act after securing a majority government.

Carney said that with fuel prices increasing sharply, he is suspending the federal fuel excise tax from next Monday until Labor Day. He called it a “responsible, temporary measure” that also will reduce costs for truckers and businesses.

Carney’s Liberals now have 174 of the 343 seats in the House of Commons and won’t need support from opposition parties to pass legislation after winning three districts that became vacant after last year’s election.

Carney’s government is the first in Canada’s history to switch from a minority to a majority between national elections.

The Liberal Party could stay in power until 2029 after Monday’s results.

Carney said he wants to focus on affordability, housing and accelerating major economic projects.

“Voters have placed their trust in our new government’s plan,” he said.

Carney won Canada’s election last year, fueled by public anger over U.S. President Donald Trump’s annexation threats. He has vowed to reduce Canada’s reliance on the U.S.

Five defections from opposition parties, including four from the main opposition Conservative party, later put Carney’s Liberals on the cusp of the majority.

One of those defectors referenced Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in his decision. In that speech, Carney condemned economic coercion by great powers against smaller countries, and received widespread praise.

Carney, the former head of the Bank of England as well as Canada’s central bank, has moved the Liberals to the center-right since replacing Justin Trudeau as prime minister.

Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, said Trump has been a major factor in Carney’s rise to prime minister, but his performance on the world stage has added to his popularity.

“Canadians liked seeing how well he was received at Davos and have been impressed by his travels abroad — he visited 13 countries by last September — in search of new alliances, investments and trade pacts. World leaders want to do business with him,” Wiseman said.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the passing of Rabbi Pinchas Reuven z”l, a well-known figure in the olam hateshuvah and a driving force behind large-scale spiritual gatherings, who was niftar Tuesday morning at the age of 66 following a decline in his health in recent weeks.

Rabbi Reuven, who headed the Malchus Dovid organization and was known for distributing seforim and sifrei Tehillim, was also the longtime operator of a well-known store on Rechov HaShomer in Bnei Brak.

Many had davened for the recovery of Pinchas Reuven ben Malya, but he ultimately was niftar.

He was among the founders of the Hidabroot organization and spent years organizing large tzibbur events, including major gatherings at Yad Eliyahu and events affiliated with the Shas movement. Through Malchus Dovid, he made seforim and sifrei Tehillim widely accessible at reduced cost, and his store became a familiar landmark in Bnei Brak.

Rabbi Reuven was the central figure behind many of the large atzaros teshuvah, arranging dozens of major gatherings during the aseres yemei teshuvah leading up to Yom Kippur, as well as large-scale events for women throughout the country.

He maintained a deep personal connection to his rebbi, Rav Yaakov Yisrael Lugasi, to whom he was closely devoted.

About a decade ago, he suffered two serious strokes, but with chasdei Shamayim he recovered and underwent a difficult rehabilitation. Even after enduring those medical challenges, his dedication to Klal Yisroel and his passion to be mezakeh es harabbim never waned.

In recent weeks, his condition worsened once again, and this morning he passed away.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah bitzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

Three people were injured in yesterday’s structure fire at a residence on Tuyahov Boulevard in Toms River, authorities said today, including a female resident, a neighbor, and a firefighter.

As first reported on TLS, emergency crews from the Toms River Township Police and Fire Departments responded to the scene at approximately 10:50 a.m. Upon arrival, first responders learned that a neighbor had already rescued a woman from inside the home.

Both the woman and the neighbor sustained injuries in the fire. The female victim was transported to Thomas Jefferson University Burn Center in Philadelphia, where she is listed in stable condition. The neighbor was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was treated and released.

During efforts to extinguish the blaze, a firefighter suffered minor injuries and was also transported to Community Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

An investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention determined that the fire originated in a bedroom on the south side of the residence. Authorities concluded that the fire was accidental, though they noted that failure of lithium-ion batteries could not be ruled out as a possible cause.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said Tuesday that claims that China was supplying Iran with weapons were “completely made up.”

China’s rejection of the reports that it may be sending military aid to Iran follows media reports that show otherwise.

For example, satellite imagery shows ships leaving Chinese ports and heading to Iran loaded with sodium perchlorate, which is crucial for the production of ballistic missile fuel.

China pushed back forcefully on the claims.

“China always acts prudently and responsibly on the export of military products, and exercises strict control in accordance with China’s laws and regulations on export control and due international obligations,” its embassy said.

Jiakun added, “We oppose groundless smears or malicious association.”

Meanwhile, Trump warned China in his usual blunt manner that there would be consequences if it were caught red-handed.

“If China does that, China is gonna have big problems, OK?” he told reporters when asked for his reaction to reports that China was preparing to send air defense systems to Iran.

NEW YORK (VINnews/Rabbi Yair Hoffman) — As Erev Rosh Chodesh Iyar falls out on a Friday this year, many are wondering: can one take a haircut in the midst of Sefirah?

While the question may sound theoretical, the halachah is quite clear — and yes, the barbers can expect a busy Friday.

SHORT ANSWER The Mishna Brurah (493:5) permits one to get a haircut when Rosh Chodesh Iyar falls on Friday, Erev Shabbos. The rationale is that one is getting the haircut for two reasons: In honor of Rosh Chodesh and in honor of Shabbos. When both reasons come together — then even those that keep the first Sefirah may shave and get a haircut. (By the way, this also happened 3 years ago.)

And this ruling even trumps the custom of avoiding haircuts on Rosh Chodesh (Rav Yehudah haChassid).

Now, one shouldn’t ask: But wait! the Mishna Brurah only writes that it’s permitted when Rosh Chodesh Iyar falls on Shabbos! Here it is only the second day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar that falls on Shabbos!

The reason is that our calendar has a rule — Lo BaDU Pesach — Pesach can never fall on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday. This means that every Rosh Chodesh Iyar that falls on a Shabbos also falls on Friday. The Mishna Brurah knew this too, and was referring to it as well.

Here is a way to remember the Marei Makom of this Mishna Brurah for future reference:

Imagine that Don Freeman’s famous character, “Mop Top,” was born with the name “Hershel.” Now imagine Hershel Gets a Haircut — but we spell Getz in Hebrew with the letters Gimel, Tof, Tzaddik.

Tof Tzaddik Gimel is 493 and Hershel is with a Hey. Yes, corny, but it works to remember the exact siman in Mishna Brurah.

THE LONG ANSWER

Aside from the halacha about haircuts, we must keep in mind that there are three aspects to Sefirah:

1. It was the time that we transformed as a nation from a lowly spiritual state to our highest point of spirituality ever.
2. On the 16th of Nissan, a measure of the newly grown barley crop was brought to Hashem as an offering in the Beis HaMikdash. The amount of the offering was called an “omer,” which was one-tenth of an eifah. An eifah is the volume of 432 chicken eggs. So the Korban Omer is the volume of 43.2 eggs.
3. It is a sad period during which the 24,000 students of the great sage Rabbi Akiva died tragically.

The meforshim (see Rashash Siddur p. 1070) have explained that the first two aspects are tied to each other. The Korban Omer is made of barley, generally the feed of animals. On Shavuos we bring the Shtei HaLechem, food that is the exclusive domain of man. Thus the two offerings represent the transformation from a low spiritual state to a high one. Others have further pointed out that the third aspect also ties into the first two, in that the students of Rabbi Akiva, unfortunately, did not entirely fathom the full depth of the lesson of the spiritual apogee that the Shtei HaLechem offering represents.

The Rambam writes that it is a positive mitzvah of the Torah to count the Omer, as it states (Vayikra 23:15), “And you shall count for yourselves mi’macharas haShabbos.” The word “haShabbos” means after the yom tov — Pesach. The Rambam (Hilchos Temidim uMusafim 7:22) is of the opinion that at this time, even though we are in Galus and we do not have the Beis HaMikdash, the mitzvah still retains its biblical status.

Most other poskim (see Beis Yoseph O.C. 489), however, believe that the mitzvah is now only miDerabannan. The Ran, the Rosh, and Tosfos hold that since we no longer have the Beis HaMikdash, the mitzvah is only of rabbinic origin. The Mishnah Berurah rules like this latter opinion. However, the Rema writes that we must be concerned for the opinion that it is biblical, and that is why we are stringent in regard to these laws.

Period Of Transformation

During this period, with Hashem’s help, the Jewish nation transformed itself from the second-lowest level of impurity into becoming the Dor Deah, the generation of knowledge. In short, they catapulted themselves into becoming the greatest generation that ever lived.

The Zohar teaches us that on account of this transformation of the nation of Israel, the days themselves were imbued with special qualities and capabilities. How can we take advantage of them?

Our general tools of becoming close to Hashem throughout the year involve the areas of Torah, avodah, and chesed. This is through developing our connection to Hashem through studying His Torah, in our davening, and through emulating Him with acts of chesed. The spiritual “high” we feel after performing a genuine act of chesed, such as engaging in hachnasas kallah, is, in actuality, part of the journey of Dveikus Bashem — connecting and cleaving to Hashem.

During the time of Sefirah, we include an additional set of tools. The brother-in-law of Rav Shlomo Alkabetz was Rav Moshe Cordovera, zt”l, or the RaMaK. He lived in Tsfat in the 1500s. In the RaMaK’s Galus HaShechinah (p. 116 Yudaikin Edition) we find how these tools may be used:

Each of the seven weeks of the Omer represents one of the seven attributes of Hashem. Each day in the week also has the qualities of the seven attributes of Hashem as well.

The first week represents the attribute of Chesed, or lovingkindness.

The second week represents the attribute of Gevurah, or strength. Thus, the first day of the first week represents the concept or notion of chesed within the concept of chesed. The second day represents the idea of strength within chesed. Rather than to be ignored, this should be viewed as a rung of spirituality that one can ascend in one’s own personal growth.

The third week represents the attribute of Tiferes, or glory.

Then comes Netzach, consistency.

Hod represents beauty.

Yesod represents fundamentals.

The last week represents the attribute of Malchus — regality.

The combination of each of these attributes, wherein the attribute of the day is an element of the attribute of the week, serves to catapult our personal growth and development in emulating Hashem and developing our Dveikus toward Him. Thus, on the eighth day of the Omer, according to the RaMaK, we should focus on achieving the strength of chesed (gevurah sh’bechesed).

Increasing Our Sense Of Appreciation

The Midrash further explains that the Torah gave us this mitzvah of bringing the Korban Omer on the 16th of Nissan in order to remind ourselves of the Omer of manna that we received from Hashem each day we were in the wilderness. This element of the Sefiras HaOmer therefore serves to increase our hakaras ha’tov to Hashem for sustaining us in the wilderness as He made us into His Torah Nation. It also serves as a reminder that Hashem will always love us and watch out for us.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

By Y.M. Lowy

Following the three-alarm fire previously reported by BoroPark24 on Fort Hamilton Parkway and 53rd Street, authorities have now announced an arrest in connection with the incident.

A 39-year-old man, identified as Isidro Aquino, has been charged after allegedly entering a commercial building Sunday afternoon and starting the fire before leaving the scene.

The blaze caused significant damage to multiple businesses and drew a large emergency response, with firefighters working to bring the flames under control.

According to officials, the suspect has a lengthy arrest record, with at least 15 prior arrests. However, authorities have not released full details regarding his past history.

The investigation remains ongoing as officials continue to look into the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid indicated he is open to the possibility of forming a broad political alliance within Israel’s center-left bloc, including potential cooperation with former prime minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot.

During a closed Zoom call with senior campaign staff from his Yesh Atid party, Lapid addressed future political strategies and suggested that a large unified party could be on the table.

According to a report by Kan News, Lapid said he does not rule out joining forces with Bennett or Eisenkot, who currently leads the Yashar party.

“Everything is possible between the three of us, there could be a full or partial union,” Lapid said during the call, which took place on Monday.

However, earlier in the day, Lapid was also reported to have sharply criticized those same figures, highlighting tensions despite the talk of unity.

“In contrast to Bennett, who ran away before the elections, Eisenkot who ran away in the middle of the term and in the middle of the struggle over the draft law, and Golan who is not a member of Knesset — we stayed in the Knesset and did not run away,” he said.

Lapid added that until now his party had refrained from responding publicly out of a sense of solidarity within the broader political camp, but had now decided to change its approach.

“Today we are saying what we have not said all along, because we are tired of the fact that in return the camp has gone after us,” he said.

A dramatic development occurred in the southern city of Dimona when religious council members resigned from the municipal coalition in protest over public Chillul Shabbos in the traditionally observant city, Kikar H’Shabbat reported.

The city, known for decades as a stronghold of respect for religion and kedushas haShabbos, now faces a significant challenge from groups seeking to undermine religious foundations and publicly desecrate the holy day.

The current storm reached a boiling point over the past month, following what local Rabbanim and representatives called “a severe and dangerous breach.”

Dimona’s mayor, Benny Biton, gave the green light for a Super‑Pharm branch to open on Shabbos, under the “guise” of an on‑call pharmacy — a move trampling the kedushah of the day and the delicate status quo preserved in the city for many years.

After all attempts at dialogue failed, four representatives of the Chareidi and religious parties on the council made a firm decision that they will not be partners to Chillul Shabbos and informed the mayor of their immediate resignation from the coalition.

The post on the mayor’s Facebook page announcing the opening of SuperPharm on Shabbos.

In recent days, additional plans by liberal organizations for further Chillul Shabbos have been exposed. Residents told Kikar that the plans include operating amusement parks and “food‑truck” complexes on Shabbos. Religious residents are worried, claiming this is part of the Dimona lake project aimed at attracting visitors to the city and turning Dimona’s streets into a busy secular entertainment center on Shabbos.

In the wake of the battle against the erosion of the religious status quo, UTJ MK Uri Maklev paid a special solidarity visit to Dimona on Tuesday, where he held a working meeting with Degel HaTorah representative Avner Musai and members of the Ner list in the city council.

“The local representatives, led by Rabbi Musai, are making a Kiddush Hashem with their steadfastness,” Maklev said. “Dimona is a city of mesorah, a city that respects religion. Attempts to import foreign cultures and harm the kedusha of Shabbos are an attack on every Jew seeking peace and kedusha on the seventh day.”

As a sign of his protest, Maklev deliberately avoided meeting with the mayor during his visit. Although it is customary for MKs to meet with the mayor, Maklev made it clear that as long as Shabbos is being harmed and the walls of kedushah are being breached, he will not meet with Biton.

Maklev also visited the site of an Iranian missile impact in the city during the war that caused significant damage. Maklev examined the damage and was provided an update on the assistance provided to residents who were forced to evacuate their homes.

At the missile impact site.

At the end of his visit, Maklev promised that his party will support the battle of the local representatives against Chillul Shabbos with every tool at its disposal. “We will not remain silent in the face of attempts to turn Dimona into a city of Chillul Shabbos,” he asserted.

The letter by the city’s Rabbanim to the mayor, imploring him to preserve the religious status quo in the city.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

After Hungary’s newly elected leader signaled a step back from its previously close relationship with Israel, Italy followed suit with an announcement Tuesday by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that Italy will not continue to automatically renew its defense pact with Israel, as it has done every year. The decision comes amid growing criticism in recent weeks of Israel’s operations in Lebanon, which has affected French peacekeeping troops who belong to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

“In light of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel,” Meloni said in Verona.

This means that Italy will no longer cooperate with Israel on defense training, according to a defense ministry source.

The source said that Meloni made the decision in a closed-door meeting Monday with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.

As tensions escalate in the Middle East, the changing policies of two of Israel’s key allies mark a significant shift away from the strong support Israel previously enjoyed.

BINT JBEIL, LEBANON (VINnews) – Israeli soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade killed three terrorists in a firefight overnight in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, the Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday. Ten IDF soldiers were wounded in the clash.

The incident occurred during an operational activity in the Hezbollah stronghold, where troops encountered a cell of three operatives who opened fire on them, the military said.

Three soldiers were severely injured, one was moderately wounded and six sustained light injuries, according to the IDF.

In response, the soldiers returned fire, eliminating two terrorists and striking the area from which the attack originated. A third terrorist was spotted attempting to flee and was also struck and killed, the military reported. Footage released by the IDF shows the identification and strike on the fleeing terrorist.

The clash took place amid ongoing IDF operations in Bint Jbeil as part of the 98th Division’s efforts, which include the Paratroopers Brigade, to clear Hezbollah infrastructure in the area. The town has seen intense fighting in recent days as Israeli forces press their offensive in southern Lebanon.

The IDF has published additional footage and photos documenting soldiers’ activities in Bint Jbeil.

A 56-year-old man from Brick Township has been charged after authorities say he falsely reported finding a suspicious device near the route of a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Keansburg, prompting a large-scale law enforcement response and the cancellation of the event.

Christopher J. Otis is charged with second-degree false public alarm, third-degree possession of a destructive device and third-degree providing false information to a police officer, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced.

Police responded around 10:45 a.m. on March 28 to the area of Beachway and Bayview avenues in Keansburg after Otis reported discovering a suspicious device near a walking path by the beach. Authorities said the device was located close to a staging area for participants in the borough’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Out of caution, officials secured the area and ultimately canceled the parade. Multiple K-9 units searched the surrounding area and parade route, but no additional devices were found.

Investigators later determined there were inconsistencies in Otis’ account of how the device was discovered, according to prosecutors. The investigation involved the prosecutor’s office’s Major Crimes Bureau, the Keansburg Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from several state and local agencies.

Authorities did not release additional details about the nature of the device.

Otis, who told officers he works as a fire safety and environmental compliance officer at Brookdale Community College, is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending court proceedings.

Prosecutors emphasized that the charges are accusations and that Otis is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Ukraine has announced what it describes as a groundbreaking battlefield achievement, saying its forces captured a Russian position without deploying any infantry, relying solely on robots, drones, and other unmanned systems.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation marked the first time since the war began that Ukrainian forces were able to take control of an enemy position without sending soldiers into direct combat.

According to Zelensky, the mission involved a coordinated effort using unmanned aerial and ground platforms until the Russian forces at the site surrendered. “For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was captured exclusively by unmanned platforms,” he said, in remarks cited by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. He added that the operation was carried out “without the involvement of infantry and without any losses on our side.”

Zelensky’s remarks come as Ukraine continues to expand its use of robotic and unmanned systems on the battlefield, amid ongoing manpower challenges and the high risks faced by troops along active front lines. He noted that several unmanned ground systems — including Ratel, Termit, Ardal, Lynx, Zmiy, Protector, and Volia — have conducted more than 22,000 operational missions in just the past three months.

Ukrainian media described the development as both a technological and conceptual milestone. Rather than being limited to support roles such as evacuating the wounded or transporting supplies, unmanned systems are now being used to directly capture enemy positions and determine the outcome of engagements without requiring soldiers to physically advance.

From Kyiv’s standpoint, the operation illustrates the direction in which modern warfare is heading — with reduced reliance on manpower at the front and increased emphasis on automation, remote control, and advanced systems. If the operation proves to be a successful precedent, it may represent not just an isolated achievement but an early indication of how future conflicts will increasingly be fought.

A car blowing through a red light at full speed caused a multi-vehicle accident.

The accident happened Sunday afternoon at the intersection of County Line Road and Kent Road.

Luckily, nobody was seriously injured.

OSWIECIM, Poland (VINnews) — Thousands of people from around the world took part Tuesday in the annual March of the Living at the site of the former Nazi death camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau, marking Yom HaShoah with a focus on remembrance and rising global antisemitism.

Organizers said about 7,000 participants — including students, young adults and community leaders — marched the roughly two-mile route between the two camps. The event was led by dozens of Holocaust survivors, including a small group from Israel who made the trip despite recent regional tensions and travel complications.

This year’s march placed particular emphasis on the increase in antisemitic incidents worldwide in recent months. Participants included individuals who survived antisemitic attacks in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, underscoring the connection between past and present threats.

This Holocaust survivor has a message for you pic.twitter.com/KaDFFiCxEN

— March of the Living 🎗️ (@MOTLorg) April 14, 2026

Several torch-lighting ceremonies were held, honoring Holocaust victims, survivors and those affected by more recent violence. A separate delegation of law enforcement and security officials from multiple countries also attended, signaling a commitment to combating hate crimes and protecting Jewish communities.

Now in its 38th year, the march is widely regarded as the largest international Holocaust remembrance event, symbolizing both the memory of those who perished and the enduring continuity of the Jewish people.

✡️ Walking with @Imam1chalghoumi and other Imam inside the auschwitz concentration camps. A really painful experience. #NEVER_FORGET_NEVER_EVER pic.twitter.com/dtl7vhhKlD

— Noor Dahri – نور ڈاہری ‎ 🇬🇧 (@dahrinoor2) April 14, 2026

JERUSALEM (VINnews) Israeli troops launched an attack on Sunday to seize the key town of Bint Jbel in south Lebanon from Hezbollah terrorists who are besieged there, pressing the war on the Iran-backed group on the eve of rare talks between Israeli and Lebanese government envoys.

A clip released on Monday shows a Hezbollah terrorist hiding his face as a drone explodes on him.

Israeli drone finishes off a Hezbollah terrorist.

I’m watching this on repeat.pic.twitter.com/uQwXC1N8bl

— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) April 13, 2026

With the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States set to meet on Tuesday in Washington, Lebanon’s foreign minister said Beirut would use face-to-face negotiations to press for a ceasefire in the war, which has complicated wider diplomacy to halt the conflict in the Middle East.

But the outlook for the meeting, an unusual, face-to-face encounter between countries formally in a state of war, is uncertain. Israel has said it won’t discuss a ceasefire while Hezbollah has objected to negotiations with Israel, reflecting sharply worsening political tensions in Lebanon.

On the ground ‌in south Lebanon, ‌the Israeli military completed its encirclement of the  Bint Jbeil just over the border ‌and ⁠had begun a ⁠ground assault there, an Israeli military spokesperson and Lebanese security sources said. IDF troops discovered significant military infrastructure and weapons in a local hospital, which Hezbollah had used as a command center.

The Lebanese sources said Hezbollah terrorists holed up inside were ready to fight to the death, citing the strategic and symbolic significance of Bint Jbeil, a Hezbollah stronghold, provincial capital, and gateway to surrounding villages. In 2006 Israel failed to secure the town, where Hassan Nasrallah had taunted Israel’s weakness after the withdrawal from South Lebanon in 2000.

An Israeli military official said full operational control of Bint Jbeil would be achieved within days, and that only a small number of terrorists remained in the area.

On Sunday, Hezbollah said it had attacked Israeli forces in and around Bint Jbeil with rockets, artillery fire and suicide drones. One strike hit a Red Cross center where a volunteer died from ⁠their injuries, the Red Cross said. Israel’s military later said a Hezbollah rocket struck the northern ‌Israeli city of Nahariyya.

The country’s fire service said it hit a three-storey ‌residential building, while the ambulance service said a woman was lightly injured by glass shattered in the blast.

The IDF also said that ‌it had intercepted more than 10 drones and rockets launched at Israel from Lebanon since the morning.

A foreign security official ‌based in Lebanon said seizing Bint Jbeil would give Israel better control over the entirety of Lebanon’s southeastern border strip, leaving just the western area of the border zone, which is largely forest and harder to clear.

The agreement, signed in Paris by the defense ministers of the two countries at the time, governs cooperation in the import and export of military equipment, joint exercises, research and development, and the sharing of security-related information. Over the years, it has served as the framework for reciprocal procurement deals, including the Israeli Air Force’s purchase of Italian training helicopters made by Leonardo and the Italian military’s purchase of Spike missiles made by Rafael.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO

Before the war in Gaza, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimated that Italy was Israel’s third-largest arms supplier after the US and Germany, and that between 2019 and 2023 it accounted for about 1% of Israeli arms imports.

Meloni’s remarks came after comments made several days ago by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in a post on his X account. After a lengthy phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Tajani wrote that the Italian government expressed full solidarity in the face of what he called “unjustified and unacceptable attacks” by Israel.

“Our message is clear: We must prevent a situation in which Lebanon becomes ‘a second Gaza,'” Tajani said. He added that this position would also be conveyed formally and forcefully to Israel’s ambassador to Italy, who was summoned for an urgent clarification meeting at the Farnesina, the Italian Foreign Ministry.

At the center of the tensions is the harm caused to UNIFIL soldiers, including Italian troops. The foreign minister strongly condemned the shooting incidents targeting UN forces and the shelling of civilians, stressing that Italy is insisting on absolute guarantees for the safety of its soldiers.

Meloni also did not hold back in criticizing Trump’s remarks against the pope. “The things that were said against the Holy See are unacceptable. I express full solidarity with Pope Leo. What is more, I would not feel comfortable in a society in which religious leaders are subordinate to political leaders. Not in this part of the world.”

As for relations with Washington, Meloni said the alliance between the countries remains strong and does not depend on the identity of the administration in power, but she stressed the importance of diplomatic honesty.

“The US is a foremost strategic ally,” she said. “At the same time, among friends and allies, we must have the courage to express disagreement when it arises. That is how I conduct myself every day. When there is agreement, I say so, and when we do not see eye to eye, I make that clear. I believe that this approach faithfully serves Europe, the US and the West as a whole.”

(AP) – A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck a rural part of Nevada east of the state’s capital of Carson City on Monday.

The temblor hit just before 6:30 p.m., the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was centered 12.9 miles (20.7 kilometers) east of the town of Silver Springs at a depth of 3.1 miles (5 kilometers).

Video shot in the town of Fallon showed shattered glass and food scattered on the floor in the aisles of a grocery store.

Trina Enloe was sitting with one of her daughters as she did homework in their dining room when the quake hit.

“You could hear the rumbling just coming before it even got to us,” Enloe said. The shaking continued for about a minute, she said. The jolt knocked over some cast-iron candle holders, but Enloe didn’t see any cracks or damage in her home in Fallon.

The USGS said some residents in nearby communities reported strong to very strong shaking and light to moderate damage.

A new survey suggests that more Americans believe businessman Mark Cuban would have a better chance of defeating a Republican candidate in the 2028 presidential election than Kamala Harris, though several other Democrats are seen as even stronger contenders.

The Yale Polling survey found that 58% of respondents said Cuban would likely prevail in a general election matchup, compared to 55% who said Harris would.

Among all potential candidates tested, California Gov. Gavin Newsom received the highest level of confidence, with 72% of respondents saying he could win. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly followed at 70%, while Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker each garnered 64%. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg came next with 61%.

The poll also highlighted generational divides within the Democratic Party. Voters aged 18 to 34 showed stronger support for Harris, with 61% favoring her in a hypothetical primary, and 47% backing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Older Democrats, by contrast, leaned toward Newsom at 28% and Buttigieg at 19%.

Earlier this month, Harris indicated she may consider entering the 2028 race, saying she was “thinking about” a potential campaign.

Newsom is already widely viewed as a leading possible candidate and has taken on a visible role in opposing President Donald Trump.

Cuban, however, has made clear he has no current intention of running unless circumstances change dramatically.

“I’m not going to do it,” Cuban said. “I’ve said the only way I would do it is if Trump tried to run for a third term. Because then that’s just changing everything, right? And that’s a true threat.”

“But other than that, I’m not going to put my family through that, you know?” Cuban added, noting that his three children are between the ages of 15 and 21.

“When I’m 95 and taking — or 105 and taking — my last breaths, right? I don’t want to say, Well, gee, I ran for president. Maybe won, maybe didn’t,” he said.

The Yale Youth Poll was conducted online between March 9 and March 23, sampling 3,429 registered voters, including an oversample of 2,008 respondents under the age of 35.

The margin of error is plus or minus 1.4 percentage points for the full sample and 2.0 percentage points for the younger cohort.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The standoff between the United States and Iran deepened Tuesday as the U.S. declared it had blockaded Iran’s ports, Tehran threatened to strike targets across the region, and Pakistan said it was racing to bring the sides together for more talks.

Though last week’s ceasefire appeared to hold, the showdown over the Strait of Hormuz risked reigniting hostilities and deepening the region-wide war’s economic fallout.

Talks aimed at permanently ending the conflict — which began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran — failed to produce an agreement last weekend, though Pakistan has proposed hosting a second round in the coming days.

Two Pakistani officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter with the media, said that the first talks were part of an ongoing diplomatic process rather than a one-off effort.

Two U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic negotiations, said on Monday that discussions were still underway about a new round of talks. They said that the venue, timing and composition of the delegations hadn’t been decided, but that talks could happen Thursday.

The war, now in its seventh week, has jolted markets and rattled the global economy as a great deal of shipping has been cut off and airstrikes have torn through military and civilian infrastructure across the region.

The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,000 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed.

Tanker reported rounding the corner
The blockade is intended to pressure Iran, which has exported millions of barrels of oil, mostly to Asia, since the war began. Much of it has likely been carried by so-called dark transits that evade sanctions and oversight, providing cash flow that’s been vital to keeping Iran running.

Both the nature of enforcement and the extent to which ships will comply remained unclear during its first full day in effect on Tuesday. Tankers approaching the strait on Monday turned around shortly after it took effect, though one turned around and transited the waterway early Tuesday.

The tanker Rich Starry had been waiting off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, according to shipping data firm Lloyd’s List, which cited data from the energy cargo-tracking firm Vortexa. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Rich Starry had earlier docked in Iran. Yet it is listed by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control as linked to Iranian shipping.

Lloyd’s List, citing ship registry and tracking data, reported that it’s owned by a Chinese shipping company and ultimately bound for China.

U.S. Central Command didn’t immediately respond to questions about the vessel after it cleared the 21-mile-wide (nearly 34-kilometer) waterway. A day earlier, it said that the blockade applied to vessels going to and from Iranian ports.

Since the start of the war, Iran has curtailed maritime traffic, with most commercial vessels avoiding the waterway.

Iran’s effective closure of the strait, through which a fifth of global oil transits in peacetime, has sent oil prices skyrocketing, pushing up the cost of gasoline, food and other basic goods far beyond the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that Iran’s control of the strait amounted to blackmail and extortion as the U.S. blockade took effect. He said in a social media post that Iran’s navy had been “completely obliterated,” but still had “fast attack ships.”

He warned that “if any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED.”

Iran threatened to retaliate against Persian Gulf ports if attacked.

“If you fight, we will fight,” Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said in a statement addressed to Trump.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair a conference Friday for nations willing to deploy warships to escort oil tankers and container ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The deployment will happen “when security conditions allow,” Macron’s office said Tuesday.

Israel and Lebanon scheduled for talks
Meanwhile, direct talks between Israel and Lebanon were set to begin in Washington on Tuesday, the first such negotiations in decades.

Israel has pressed ahead with its air and ground campaign since last week’s ceasefire in Iran, insisting that it doesn’t apply to fighting in Lebanon. It has, however, halted strikes in the country’s capital since April 8, after a deadly bombardment that hit several crowded commercial and residential areas in central Beirut. It sparked an international outcry and threats by Iran that it would end the ceasefire.

After more than a year of near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon, Israel escalated its offensive in the early days of the war following Hezbollah launching rockets into Israel. The fighting has carved a path of destruction from agricultural towns near the border to Beirut, killing more than 2,000 people and displacing in excess of 1 million others, according to Lebanese authorities.

The talks are expected to be preliminary, focused on setting parameters rather than resolving core issues. Lebanese officials have pushed for a ceasefire, while Israel has framed the negotiations around Hezbollah’s disarmament and a potential peace deal, without publicly committing to halting hostilities or withdrawing its forces.

Israel wants Lebanon’s government to assume responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, much like was envisaged in a November 2024 ceasefire. But the militant group has survived efforts to curb its strength for decades and said on Monday that it won’t abide by any agreements that may result from the talks.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. wholesale prices surged last month as the Iran war drove up the cost of energy.

The Labor Department reported Tuesday that its producer price index — which measures inflation before it hits consumers — rose 0.5% from February and 4% from March 2025. The year-over-year gains was the biggest in more than three years. Energy prices surged 8.5% from February.

Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core producer prices rose a modest 0.1% from February and 3.8% from a year earlier. The gains in wholesale prices were smaller than economists had forecast.

The surge in prices complicates the work of the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve, who have faced intense pressure from President Donald Trump to lower their benchmark interest rate. But some Fed policymakers are inclined to raise rates instead, as higher energy costs increase the inflation threat.

Wholesale prices can offer an early look at where consumer inflation might be headed. Economists also watch it because some of its components, notably measures of health care and financial services, flow into the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge — the personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, price index.

The Labor Department reported last week that soaring gasoline prices pushed consumer prices up 3.3% last month from a year earlier, the biggest year-over-year increase since May 2024. Compared to February, March consumer prices jumped 0.9%, biggest gain in nearly four years.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Menachem, the brother of Elhanan Kalmanson, who fell on October 7 in Kibbutz Beeri, shared on Monday a chilling story about his grandfather Moshe, who arrived in the Land of Israel alone from Poland shortly before the outbreak of the war.

“He immigrated out of Zionism, built a family, and served in the ‘Haganah’ and in the IDF. He was always searching to see if anyone had survived the flames. Every day he would turn on the radio and listen to the program for locating relatives, hoping that maybe a name would rise from the ashes.”

When he came to Israel, his grandfather left behind a large family, including seven brothers and sisters, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and many cousins. Menachem said the absence was always felt: “At every occasion there was a tear of pain for those who weren’t there, and a tear of joy for those who were.” Years after the war, it was discovered that two second cousins had survived.

Against this family background, the bereaved brother shared a defining moment from October 7. He described meeting a young man from Be’eri whose parents and brother were trapped in the heart of the inferno. “The last phone in the safe room died, there was gunfire outside, flames licking the house, and choking smoke.” Elhanan told the young man that as soon as they received approval from the command post, they would be able to help his loved ones. Shortly afterward came the message that made the young man collapse to the ground: “There is heavy fighting there, it’s forbidden to go in. We’re sorry, maybe later.”

In those tense moments, Elhanan looked at the young man silently, briefly consulted with Menachem, and decided to go in despite the warnings. “We entered under fire. They [the family members] were rushed to our jeep by soldiers, and we sped away.”

The most chilling part became clear days later: “That family, the Alon family, are the sons and grandchildren of our grandfather Moshe’s cousin. The remnant of the remnant, a brand plucked from the fire.”

According to him, his grandfather’s family waited four years in Poland for someone to come and help, but no one did. He concluded: “And us? For two and a half years now, hundreds of thousands have been coming, day after day, shift after shift. Tear after tear. Siren after siren. Memorial Day after Memorial Day. Holocaust and Heroism. In the Land of Israel, the Jewish people have risen.”

He ended the post by dedicating it to the memory of his brother, who risked his life to save others and paid the ultimate price.

As previously reported, on October 7, Menachem, Elhanan, and their nephew Itiel went out independently to save lives, without waiting for a call from security services or a reserve draft order. Elhanan, a religious man who lived in Otniel in Judea and Samaria, sent his brother a message that he was going out to fight. The long distance between Otniel and Be’eri, and the knowledge they were heading into a battle of few against many, did not stop them, as the sense of mission and the fight for home drove their heroic actions. For these actions, the trio received the Israel Prize in 2024.

After years of accusing Israel of genocide and after joining the case pending against Israel at the International Court of Justice, Spain now finds itself a target of a similar accusation — war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Shurat HaDin, an Israeli group that leverages legal warfare to hit back hard at the lawfare waged against Israel, filed a formal complaint with the International Criminal Court, requesting an arrest warrant for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for the sale of components that could be used in explosive devices to Iran. Shurat HaDin argued that there is a “reasonable and credible basis” for an investigation of Sánchez due to the 13 million euro sale of detonators and other explosive-related components that provided material support to the authoritarian regime, which in turn supplied its proxy terror groups, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, with these materials.

Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez.

What’s more, since these products are “functionally critical” in the production and activation of incendiary devices, Spain would have known that these components would not be used for civilian industrial production but to support military operations.

The group said that Spain can’t claim ignorance, citing media coverage and public political debate within Spain at the time of the sale. According to international law, providing such material amounts to aiding and abetting war crimes, especially when the risks were as obvious as they were at the time.

Shurat HaDin also argued that Iran’s view of Spain’s policy as helpful to its cause, reflected in missiles bearing Sánchez’s image and thanking him for his support, provides another piece of evidence against Spain.

Shurat HaDin called for an investigation into Sánchez and other Spanish officials, who have yet to publicly respond.

Mossad chief David Barnea on Wednesday pushed back against reports that Israel misled U.S. President Donald Trump into believing the Iranian regime would collapse in the early days of the war, while delivering a warning that the broader conflict with Iran is far from over.

Speaking at a Holocaust Remembrance Day event at Mossad headquarters, Barnea did not directly address the claims in detail, but framed the ongoing confrontation with Iran as part of a larger historical and existential struggle.

“Those who believe the Holocaust belongs to the past are mistaken,” he said. “In today’s reality, calls for annihilation still exist, and hatred continues to threaten the existence of an entire people.”

Barnea said Israel had repeatedly warned the international community about the growing Iranian threat, including its nuclear ambitions and expanding ballistic missile arsenal. “We sounded the alarm time and again,” he said. “In the end, we took our fate into our own hands and went to war out of necessity.”

Referring to the recent conflict—dubbed “Operation Roaring Lion”—Barnea said the IDF, with Mossad support, carried out an unprecedented campaign that dealt a significant blow to Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure.

“We struck those who openly declare their intention to destroy us,” he said, referencing Iranian rhetoric. He also highlighted what he described as “historic cooperation” with the United States, calling it a joint effort in defense of shared values.

Barnea pointed to what he said were major operational achievements over 40 days of intense fighting, including disrupting Iran’s central objective of destroying Israel. He confirmed that Mossad operatives conducted intelligence operations deep inside Tehran, providing precise targeting data to the Israeli Air Force and contributing to strikes on missile systems aimed at Israeli civilians.

Despite those gains, Barnea emphasized that Israel’s objectives have not yet been fully achieved.

“Our mission is not complete,” he said. “We did not expect it to end with the cessation of hostilities. We planned from the outset for this campaign to continue beyond the strikes in Tehran.”

“Our commitment will only be fulfilled when this extremist regime is replaced. A regime that seeks our destruction cannot remain. This is our mission. We will not stand by in the face of another existential threat. Never again.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An inspector from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority operating in the Judean Desert issued an unusually sharp and pointed appeal to parents and educators, following a series of recurring incidents during the Bein Hazmanim period, when groups of yeshiva students go out on challenging hikes and sometimes treat safety instructions as mere recommendations.

According to him, “Every Bein Hazmanim brings with it a unique challenge with yeshiva students, who come with a lot of motivation to push themselves as much as possible.” However, alongside the desire to go out, hike, and experience the outdoors, he describes a troubling pattern of a basic lack of familiarity with outdoor conduct rules, ongoing disregard for instructions, and leaving large amounts of trash in nature reserves and along trails.

In his appeal, the inspector emphasized that this is a population that does not usually hike, and therefore often perceives professional field guidelines as “nothing more than bothersome recommendations.” In reality, he warns, these are instructions born of accumulated experience—and sometimes from actual disasters. “Park rangers are the authorities in the field, with extensive knowledge and experience, much of which has been written in the blood of hikers,” he wrote.

He called on parents to take responsibility and not just allow their children to go on trips, but also prepare them for proper and safe behavior. “Explain to your children to respect themselves, the park staff, other hikers, and the rules,” he wrote, adding that beyond the “tremendous desecration of G-d’s name” caused by such behavior, in many cases ignoring instructions already borders on life-threatening danger.

The sharpest message in his appeal concerned a statistic he says repeatedly stands out in the field: “The vast majority of rescue cases involve yeshiva students.” Even if not meant as a sweeping accusation against an entire community, it reflects the deep frustration of those who see the consequences up close and are often the first to arrive at scenes where an innocent outing turns into an emergency within minutes.

“This is not just another side comment about littering or discipline. It is a warning. When teenagers head into the desert without basic discipline, without listening to instructions, and with a sense of “it won’t happen to me,” the price can be very heavy. Especially during days of vacation, when people go out to breathe and relax, someone must remind them: nature is not a game, and safety instructions are not recommendations, they are the border between a trip and a disaster.”

On Sunday, three yeshiva students disappeared after a trip in the Small Crater in the Negev and search parties were sent out to find them. After a few hours they were located safe and sound.

A dramatic air operation in Lebanon that eliminated approximately 250 Hezbollah terrorists—including senior commanders—was made possible in part by a lesser-known group: chareidi participants working behind the scenes in intelligence roles, Bchadrei reports.

The operation, codenamed “Eternal Darkness,” was launched just hours after a ceasefire with Iran took effect. It marked the largest Israeli strike in Lebanon since the start of the conflict, targeting command-and-control centers in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon.

While the scale of the strike drew immediate attention, emerging details point to the extensive intelligence groundwork that enabled it—including contributions from graduates of specialized programs designed to integrate members of the chareidi community into national intelligence efforts outside of traditional military frameworks.

According to Bchadrei, several avreichim who had completed such programs were directly involved in the months-long intelligence buildup. Their work focused on identifying, tracking, and analyzing key Hezbollah positions—part of a broader effort that ultimately allowed for real-time targeting of dozens of targets simultaneously.

A security source who accompanied the operation described the process as “painstaking and continuous,” requiring the coordination of hundreds of personnel across multiple intelligence disciplines.

“We needed to reach a point where, at a given moment, we had live, actionable intelligence on dozens of locations,” the source said. “That level of precision doesn’t happen overnight—it’s the result of sustained, detailed work.”

The role of the chareidi contributors, while not publicly detailed by officials, is understood to have been part of this broader intelligence ecosystem—particularly in areas involving data processing, monitoring, and analytical support.

A senior intelligence official underscored the impact of the operation itself, noting that “within a single minute, dozens of Hezbollah headquarters were struck and hundreds of operatives were eliminated.” The loss of experienced commanders, the official said, represents a “strategic and wide-ranging blow” to the organization’s capabilities.

Officials say the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, with additional casualties and operational impacts continuing to emerge.

Beyond the battlefield results, however, the operation is also drawing attention for what it reveals about evolving manpower pipelines within Israel’s intelligence community. Programs aimed at integrating chareidi participants—often operating outside standard enlistment tracks—have increasingly contributed to high-level analytical and technological work, according to those familiar with the system.

“The technological capabilities are extraordinary,” the security source said, “but what ultimately determines success is how effectively that information is processed and turned into operational decisions. That requires a high level of skill across the board.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that while negotiations with Iran in Islamabad did not produce a final agreement, the discussions marked meaningful progress and clarified the conditions required for a potential deal.

Speaking to Fox News anchor Bret Baier, Vance pushed back on the notion that the talks were unsuccessful, emphasizing that both sides advanced in understanding each other’s positions.

“I wouldn’t just say that things went wrong, I also think things went right. We made a lot of progress, but we also made very clear, and I think this is part of the progress we made, what the terms where the United States could make some accommodation, what terms we were flexible on, and what things we absolutely needed to see in order for the President of the United States to feel like he was getting a good deal,” Vance said.

"I think it was the first time that you'd ever seen the Iranian government, the U.S. government meet at such a high level, maybe in the history of the current leadership of Iran. So that's, I think, a positive—and again, we did make some progress in the negotiation," says @VP.… pic.twitter.com/PGN6tNZag8

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 13, 2026

He added that the meeting itself was significant, noting the high-level engagement between the two governments.

“And so we laid those things out, we had some good conversations. I think it was the first time that you’d ever seen the Iranian government [and] the US government meet at such a high level, maybe in the history of the current leadership of Iran. So that’s, I think, a positive. And again, we did make some progress in the negotiation.”

Looking ahead, Vance said the key issue is whether Iran is prepared to meet U.S. expectations.

Vance explained that “the big question from here on out is whether the Iranians will have enough flexibility, whether the Iranians will accept the critical things that we need to see in order for things to get done.”

He stressed that all American demands stem from a central requirement set by President Donald Trump: Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.

“So all of our red lines flow from that fundamental premise, because it is one thing for the Iranians to say that they themselves are never going to have a nuclear weapon. They are willing to say that, and that’s good. But you have to, of course, verify these things,” said Vance.

Vance outlined two areas where the United States is unwilling to compromise, beginning with Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium.

“On the first of those things, what some people call the dust, which is the enriched uranium that the Iranians currently possess, we have said that we want that to come out of their country, and we would like to take possession of it. Now, why does that matter? That doesn’t matter, of course, because they have access to that material now. That access, that material is actually buried underground by Operation Midnight Hammer. But if you think about this over the long haul, the President doesn’t want to leave the next President or the President after that to be worrying about this program and so we would like to get that material out of the country completely so that the United States has control of it. That’s number one.”

The second non-negotiable issue, he said, involves verification mechanisms to ensure Iran cannot advance toward nuclear weapons capability.

The second issue, Vance continued, relates to verification. “It’s one thing for the Iranians to say that they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon. It’s another thing for us to put in place the mechanism to ensure that’s not going to happen. Part of that is, of course, to ensure that they don’t have the ability to enrich uranium, which is how they got so close to a nuclear weapon before.”

Despite some movement by Iran during the talks, Vance said it was not sufficient to finalize an agreement.

“So those are really the two things where, frankly, the Iranians, I think, did make some progress,” the Vice President added. “They moved in our direction, which is why I think we would say that we had some good signs, but they didn’t move far enough. And so what we decided is, you know what, given that we don’t think this current team and this current timeline is going to be able to make a deal, let them go back to Tehran. We’re going to go back to Washington. And that’s where we are today.”

Vance made clear that responsibility for the next step lies with Iran.

The Vice President made clear that “the ball really is in [the Iranians’] court. We’ve made clear where we’re willing, again, to be accommodating, and we’ve made clear where we absolutely need to see the nuclear material come out of the country of Iran.”

He also noted that the talks provided new insight into Iran’s negotiating approach and internal decision-making process.

He also said that “in the process of doing this negotiation, I do think that we acquired some knowledge about how the Iranians are negotiating, and this is ultimately why we left Pakistan, because what we figured out is that they were unable, I think, the team that was there, was unable to cut a deal, and they had to go back to Tehran, either from the Supreme Leader or somebody else, and actually get approval to the terms that we had set.”

Vance reiterated that the possibility of future talks or a final agreement depends on Tehran’s response, emphasizing that the United States has already laid out its position clearly.

Vance said that “whether we have further conversations, whether we ultimately get to a deal, I really think the ball is in the Iranian court because we put a lot on the table. We actually made very clear what our red lines were. We also made clear that we actually would be very happy, the President of the United States has said he would be very happy if Iran was treated like a normal country, if it had a normal economy, if its people were able to prosper and thrive.”

He concluded by saying that Iran must change its conduct if it wants to achieve that outcome.

“But in order for Iran to be a normal country economically,” he added, “it’s going to have to be a normal country from the perspective of not pursuing a nuclear weapon, and it’s going to have to be a normal country from not pursuing terrorism. And so, there really is, I think, a grand deal to be had here, but it’s up to the Iranians, I think, to take the next step.”

JERUSALEM (VINnews)— Delegations from all over the world landed in Poland over the weekend to participate in the annual March of the Living. Around 7,000 people are expected to follow fifty Holocaust survivors on Tuesday, Holocaust Remembrance Day, as they walk from Auschwitz to Birkenau. Despite the ongoing war, ten Holocaust survivors were able to arrive from Israel.

An extraordinary and deeply moving moment took place during the preparatory events for the March of the Living in Kraków, when a family Holocaust story came full circle in an almost unimaginable way.

Josh Aronson, a journalist for Maariv, attended the testimony of Holocaust survivor Hannah Yakin. During her account, he realized that her father, Jan van Holst, was the man who had helped save his grandfather’s life during the Holocaust.

Yakin spoke about her father’s activities as a member of the Dutch resistance, where he forged identification documents and helped rescue Jews under Nazi occupation. As more details emerged, Aronson understood that this was more than a historical account—it was a deeply personal family story. According to him, the details about the forged documents and the circumstances of the rescue matched his grandfather’s survival story.

At that point, Aronson approached Yakin and her family and revealed the surprising connection: her father was the man who enabled his grandfather to survive.

He shared with Yakin and those present how his grandfather, 18-year-old cantor Aron Aronson, received fake documents from her father. Under his new identity as an opera singer, he was able to leave for Switzerland.

“For me, meeting Hannah Yakin is far more than a professional encounter. It’s a profound and historical closure of a circle,” Aronson said. “Her father, Jan van Holst, was the man who saved my grandfather’s life in the darkest days of humanity. Thanks to his courage and kindness, my family exists today, and I am able to stand here in Kraków.”

Aronson added that the meeting carried especially deep personal meaning. “My grandfather was an extraordinary man who combined intellect and heart, and built the foundations of who I am. After personally experiencing the severe terror attack in Manchester, and after the murder of my beloved cousin, Eli Shlanger z”l, in the Bondi attack, this meeting feels like a living legacy. I see this connection as a direct message from my grandfather, that despite pain and loss, we must never stop building.”

Jan van Holst is known as one of the Dutch resistance members who worked to save Jews during the Holocaust. Through forging documents and smuggling children from a daycare opposite the Dutch Theater in Amsterdam, he helped rescue hundreds of people. He was later recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous Among the Nations.

The emotional meeting between Aronson and Yakin took place as part of the 2026 March of the Living, an annual educational program that brings participants from around the world to Poland to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust and carry its memory forward to future generations.

A sharp diplomatic clash erupted Monday night after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly criticized Israel’s policies in Judea and Samaria, prompting a forceful response from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Merz issued a social media statement condemning what he described as a “de facto annexation” of the territory and disclosed that he had pressed Prime Minister Netanyahu to prevent such a development during a recent conversation.

“I am deeply concerned about developments in the Palestinian territories. In my phone call with Prime Minister Netanyahu, I made it clear: There must be no de facto annexation of the West Bank,” the German Chancellor wrote on social media.

The timing of the statement—just hours before Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations—triggered immediate backlash in Israel, with Smotrich, who also serves in the Defense Ministry and heads the Settlement Administration, leading the response.

“On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the German Chancellor should bow his head and apologize a thousand times on behalf of Germany,” Smotrich wrote. “He should not dare lecture us on how to deal with the Nazis of our generation – who murdered, raped, slaughtered, and burned women, the elderly, and children in the most horrific massacre committed against the Jewish people since the terrible Holocaust.”

Smotrich expanded his criticism beyond Germany, accusing European leaders more broadly of moral failure and an inability to distinguish between right and wrong.

“We will not accept instructions from hypocritical European leaders who are once again losing their conscience and their ability to tell right from wrong.”

He then addressed the historical relationship between Germany and the Jewish people, delivering a pointed message rejecting any external pressure on Israeli sovereignty.

“Mr. Chancellor, the days when Germans dictated to Jews where they are allowed to live and where they are not – are over and will never return. You will not force us back into ghettos – certainly not in our own land.”

Smotrich concluded by emphasizing the Jewish people’s return to their ancestral homeland as a definitive answer to those who have sought their destruction throughout history.

“Our return to the Land of Israel – our biblical and historic homeland – is the resounding response to all those who have tried and continue to try to destroy us. We will not apologize for it even for a moment. Am Yisrael Chai.”

New York (VINNEWS/Rabbi Yair Hoffman)  Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l (March 6, 1906 – November 28, 1980 – 20 Kislev) was undoubtedly one of the most brilliant Torah minds of the last century. His utter mastery of the entire oeuvre of Shas, Midrashim, Kaballah, Maharal, and even secular philosophy, history, and world events reflects something that it is clear he purposefully hid. And as he once wrote to Rav Kook’s son, Rav Tzvi Yehudah Kook, in 1961, I find that I now understand the Rebbe far more than many of those who supposedly grasped his teachings immediately.

The article below is somewhat speculative (excluding of course the sections of Rav Hutner’s own thoughts), but this author believes that it helps capture some of the transformative events in Rav Hutner’s life and further helps illuminate much of his writings and hashkafos and how, perhaps, they may have been formulated. Let us begin with a relatively little-known event:

It was Sukkos of October 1943 — somewhere between the 13th and the 20th. Rav Hutner was already the Rosh Yeshiva of Chaim Berlin and had developed and formed some remarkable talmidim. On that Sukkos, his Sukkah had burned down. His talmidim were gathered around him, and Rav Hutner zatzal was bereft. He cried uncontrollably.

His tears, of course, came to the fore particularly because of the Nazi destruction of European Jewry — and in particular, Warsaw, the city where he had been born thirty-seven years earlier.

The Warsaw Ghetto was systematically burned down and destroyed by the Nazis on Erev Pesach of 1943 — between April 19th and May 16th — during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. SS commander Jürgen Stroop yemach shmo had ordered the building-by-building and block-by-block burning of residential buildings. Well over 50,000 neshamos were either murdered or deported for extermination, culminating in the destruction of the Great Synagogue on May 16, 1943. Nazi troops had used flamethrowers and incendiary bottles to burn down Jewish Warsaw, and by that date the entire area had been reduced to a smoking ruin. The SS General yimach shmo reported coldly: “There is no longer a Jewish district in Warsaw.”

His own Sukkah’s destruction brought out Rav Hutner’s deeply felt emotions. He cried out in painful agony: “Mein Sukkah brent! Varshaw hot gebrent!” — and he wept. The talmidim were bewildered, never having seen him like this. One talmid, still a bachur, approached him respectfully and said, “Rebbe, v’samachta b’chagecha gilt oich en tof shin gimel.” Rav Hutner composed himself and responded quietly: “Du bist gerecht.”

The words hung in the air. In that moment, the Rebbe had allowed his talmidim a rare glimpse behind the curtain — into the depths of a soul that carried Warsaw within him always.

The Hidden Man

To truly understand Rav Hutner zt”l, one must first understand what he chose to conceal. His public persona — the commanding Rosh Yeshiva, the author of the thoughts in the magisterial theological and Mussar work Pachad Yitzchak, the fearless leader who once stared down hijacking terrorists on a Jordanian tarmac in 1970 — concealed much of his ability to synthesize a remarkable world view.

Rav Hutner had been a student of the Alter of Slabodka, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l (1849–1927), the towering architect of the Mussar movement’s most life-affirming stream. One of the Alter’s central ideas was that of Gadlus HaAdam, as seen in the remarkable work, Sichos HaSabba MiSlabodka.

GREATER THAN THE ANGELS

Man is greater than the angels in that he has freedom of choice, bechirah — something that the angels do not possess. In this, man reflects the Creator Himself (SHM p. 231). In a similar vein, only man truly perceives the idea of Kavod Hashem, the Honor of Hashem — angels do not (p. 654). We recite the Kaddish in davening every day — this is something that the malachim cannot do, and they wait in careful anticipation for man to recite it (p. 345).

EVEN A RASHA

Man was created with a Chailek Elokah mimaal — a Divine portion from Above. Even a Rasha, an evil-doer, possesses this in his possession of free choice (p. 75). Indeed, the world was created even for Rashayim — evil-doers — since they can choose to do Teshuvah by exercising their free will (pp. 288, 579).

THE WORLD CREATED FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL

The world was both created and continues to be renewed for each and every individual. In other words, one of the underlying themes of the Alter that were repeated many times was that even for the sake of each individual person, this world would have been created (pp. 222, 521, 530). He created the world for the ideal of freedom of choice; Hashem knew that Adam HaRishon would sin — but He created it for this point of bechirah (pp. 231, 274, 604).

MAN’S INITIAL LOFTINESS

The Alter was of the position that even after Adam HaRishon’s fall, mankind can still be on a very lofty, Divine level (pp. 636, 656, 573, 713). Indeed, he held that it was still possible for man to reach the lofty level of Adam HaRishon before his fall (pp. 275, 900). Man’s greatness is still retained, and man will be punished for not having realized this greatness (pp. 428, 796).

Man has remarkable kochos — unimaginable strengths and abilities (p. 879). This is why there is an obligation of emulating Hashem — because we have such a capacity. Man has the capability of seeing from one corner of the universe to the other (p. 240). That is why the Gemara tells us: Just as He is merciful, so too must you be merciful. Just as He is kind, so too must you be kind.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Someone noticed that the Alter used to fast frequently, and discovered that he would fast whenever he saw a student not succeeding in his learning and growth. When asked why he did so, the Alter responded, “If one truly understood that each student is a ben melech — there is no other choice.” (Darchei Mussar p. 221)

There is no question that the topography of today’s Torah world would have been vastly different were it not for the vision and hard work of the Alter of Slabodka and his conception of Gadlus HaAdamA major component of his influence upon the world was his conception of Gadlus HaAdam and that the greatness of Adam HaRishon before the cheit can still be accessed.

Rav Hutner absorbed this teaching to its marrow — and then went somewhere his Rebbe had not. Rav Hutner turned his gaze inward. He wanted to know what was happening inside Adam HaRishon’s mind, as Dr. Dov Finkelstein pointed out in a Tradition article a number of years ago.

What was the psychological reality of Adam HaRishon when that reality was shattered, what remained hidden within us — dormant and waiting?

I am suggesting that these questions were not merely academic for Rav Hutner zt”l. They were personal, existential, and were forged, this author believes, in the fires of Warsaw.

The key to Rav Hutner’s entire psychological portrait of the human soul is a single fact that the Torah records almost in passing: Adam was created alone.

Every other species of animal was created as a group — as a species. They have no individual standard of wholeness, no personal telos to strive toward. Adam was different. He was one unique individual with one perfect standard. And from this, Rav Hutner zt”l builds an entire architecture of man’s neshama (Pachad Yitzchak: Shavuos 16:10; Pesach #48; Rosh Hashana 11:20–21).

Because Adam was singular, his descendants received two extraordinary gifts simultaneously: each person is utterly unique — since “the progenitor bestows his nature on his children” — and yet each person remains profoundly connected to every other neshama, since all of them share one father. The Mishnah captures both poles at once: “Bishvili Nivrah haOlam — The world was created for me” (Sanhedrin 4:5).

Adam could say this and mean it absolutely, without arrogance, because he never doubted his own infinite worth. And he felt genuinely at one with every soul that would ever exist, because all souls were contained within him. He experienced both immortality and unity — timelessness and deep interconnection.

Then death (read – Warsaw, the Churban of Europe, his entire world – gone) entered the picture.

Rav Hutner stresses that death caused not merely a physical rupture but a profound psychological break. When mortality arrived, Adam HaRishon, suggests Rav Hutner, began to doubt whether he and his descendants were truly of infinite worth. If the world was created for them, why would it continue without them? Death severed him from the felt sense of connection to other souls. And when people lose confidence in their own worth, they can no longer feel themselves joining together with others to build something greater. This lost sense of self-worth even affects how one relates to Hashem: if you are unsure whether you matter, you feel less grateful simply to be alive.

This is the hidden wound at the center of the human psyche. And it is the wound that Rav Hutner zt”l spent his entire life trying to heal — in his talmidim, in his writings, and within himself, and to the hijackers in 1970.

Warsaw and the Torah of the Churban

No event pressed more urgently upon Rav Hutner’s inner life than the Holocaust. And yet — and this is the key — Rav Hutner refused to allow the churban to be experienced as merely a catastrophe. His genius was to see in it something more: a turning point in the cosmic unfolding of Jewish history, one that carried within it the seeds of geulah — redemption.

And in a landmark address delivered on 12 Sivan 5736 (June 10, 1976) to approximately one hundred Menahelim assembled at Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin — later published in The Jewish Observer — Rav Hutner laid out his Torah perspective on the Holocaust with characteristic precision and daring.

He began with the principle that “The Jewish people and the Torah are one” (Zohar, Acharei Mos 73). Whatever happens in the world to Klal Yisroel must have a counterpart in the Torah itself — and whatever trajectory the Torah describes for the Jewish people will, inevitably, unfold in history.

If you want to understand what is happening in the world, you must study Torah. And if you study Torah honestly, you will find the present moment already written there.

With this lens, Rav Hutner identified two entirely new directions in Jewish history that converged in the Holocaust, the Churban of Europe — neither of which had ever occurred before in all of our millennia of exile.

The first he called the era of disappointment. Throughout history, Jewish persecution by the nations of the world was, while horrific, at least consistent. The oppressors announced their hatred and acted on it. And then he elaborated upon world history. Beginning with the French Revolution and continuing through the Treaty of Versailles, Lenin’s Soviet Minority Rights Law, the Balfour Declaration, and most catastrophically the emancipation edicts of Germany — Jews were granted equality, welcomed into the family of nations, and then betrayed. Rights were given legally and taken away legally. The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 were drafted using the very legal categories that had been used to emancipate Prussian Jews in 1812. What had been granted was rescinded — and the Jewish neshama was left with a shattering, irreversible disillusionment.

Rav Hutner zt”l found this pattern encoded in Devarim (31:16–17): “This nation will arise and fall prey to the lure of strange nations and trust in them… and great evils and troubles will come upon them.” Following Onkelos, who translates the key phrase not as “idol worship” but literally as “the temptation of the nations,” Rav Hutner reads this as a precise description of modernity: the seduction of the Jewish people by the promise of equality and acceptance among the nations, and the punishment — in the form of the nations’ own betrayal — that followed.

But the pasuk continues: “Then shall they declare: it is because my G-d has not been in my midst that these evils have befallen me.” This declaration, as the Ramban explains, is not yet full teshuvah. It is proto-teshuvah — the first stirring of return. The lowest rung of evil is the disavowal of wrongdoing; once a person or a nation stops saying “I have not sinned,” the road to repentance has been cleared. The era of disappointment, precisely because it shattered the Jewish people’s misplaced trust in the nations, removed the first and greatest stumbling block to teshuvah. Out of the ash and ruin came — quietly, unexpectedly — an entire generation of baalei teshuvah.

Rav Hutner once found himself in Eretz Yisroel among a group of confirmed leftists on Ben Gurion’s yahrzeit and was asked to speak. He turned to each person in the room and asked: “Do you recall a mechalel Shabbos in your city who had a son who became shomer Shabbos?” Each answered with an emphatic no. Ben Gurion had believed that time was on the side of the secularists — and by his era’s own logic, he was right. But he could only calculate chronological time, said Rav Hutner. He knew nothing of the eschatological movement of generations. The era of disappointment had torn a generation loose from “the temptation of the nations” — and the Pachad Yitzchak saw in that tearing the first light of the final geulah.

This brings us back to the hidden light that Rav Hutner zt”l believed still lives within every Jewish Neshama, dormant and waiting.

He found its key in the luchos, the stone tablets of Har Sinai. The tablets were broken when the people sinned with the Golden Calf. But Rav Hutner insists: the light was not extinguished. Both the broken tablets and the second tablets were placed together in the Ark. Drawing on Bava Batra 14b — “Be careful with a wise elder who has forgotten his learning, because the tablets and the broken tablets were both placed in the Ark” — Rav Hutner teaches that just as a scholar who has forgotten his Torah still carries all of it within him, waiting to be reawakened, so the pre-sin light of the first tablets remains hidden within the Jewish people. Through learning the Torah of the second tablets, the light of the first is recovered. The dormant fire can be lit again.

Specific mitzvos serve as the key. The shofar on Rosh Hashana — the very day when Adam’s full spiritual experience “turned into a remnant” — works in reverse: it takes the remnant and transforms it back into a lived experience (Pachad Yitzchak: Rosh Hashana #20). Teshuvah reconnects a person to their source, precisely as the second luchos reconnect to the light of the first (Pachad Yitzchak: Yom Kippur #25). And Shabbos — which Rav Hutner said directly represents the pre-sin world — gives every Jew a weekly taste of Gan Eden (Pachad Yitzchak: Shabbos 7:10–11).

“Du Bist Gerecht”

Let’s return now to that October in 1943. The Sukkah burning. Warsaw burning. The Rebbe weeping.

The bachur who approached him and quoted v’samachta b’chagecha was in a sense doing exactly what Rav Hutner’s entire Torah demands: he was pointing his Rebbe back toward the hidden light. The obligation of joy on Yom Tov is not a denial of suffering. It is the assertion — rooted in Torah, engraved like letters in stone — that even in the most broken moment, the fire is still there. The broken tablets are still in the Ark.

Rav Hutner composed himself. And in that composure, one sees, perhaps, the full arc of his life’s work. Warsaw burned — and the Rebbe carried it. But he also carried the luchos, the shofar, the Shabbos candles, and the radical conviction that the pre-sin greatness of Adam HaRishon still lives within every Jewish neshama — waiting, dormant, for the moment when someone with the courage to say v’samachta b’chagecha helps awaken it once more and for the courage to stand before Palestinian terrorists hijacking innocents. Today is Yom HaShoah, a name that Rav Hutner zt”l was not into at all.  But it is perhaps a time when we can reflect upon the hashkafos and Torah of a remarkable Gadol B’Yisroel and how his entire life’s mission of rebuilding Torah, has succeeded. Look at Yeshiva Chaim Berlin. Look at its Talmidim and all the Torah that has flowed from it.  Look at their yungeleit. Look at their Alumni. And you will see how he remarkably he has succeeded.

The author is indebted to Rav Pinchas Stopler zt”l who first introduced me to the depth of Rav Hutner zt”l’s writings, to Dr. Dov Finkelstein’s groundbreaking article, “The Psychology of Human Greatness: Rav Hutner Between Slabodka and Psychoanalysis,” published in Tradition 54:2 (2022), for its illuminating analysis of the relationship between Rav Hutner’s thought and modern psychoanalysis and to the article published in The Jewish Observer (October 1977, Vol. XII, No. 8), translated and transcribed by Rabbi Chaim Feuerman shlita and Rabbi Yaakov Feitman, for its penetrating Daas Torah analysis of the Churban Europa within the broader framework of Jewish history.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

Iranian officials are warning of a potential escalation in military action, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps indicating it may deploy previously unused capabilities if the conflict with the United States and Israel continues.

According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said Tehran has not yet brought its full arsenal into play. “We have not yet used our capabilities, and if the war continues, we will unveil capabilities that the enemy has no idea about,” he said.

Separately, a spokesperson for Iran’s Defense Ministry, Reza Talaeinik, stated that the country’s military strength continues to grow. Speaking as reported by the official IRNA news agency, he said Iran possesses ample supplies of missiles, drones, weaponry, and ammunition, enabling it to sustain both offensive and defensive operations going forward.

In addition, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei criticized recent U.S. actions, writing on social media that Washington’s move to impose a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz amounts to a “revenge of choice” against the global economy.

The remarks came after the United States initiated a naval blockade of the strategic waterway at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday.

President Donald Trump announced the move following extended weekend talks between U.S. and Iranian delegations in Islamabad, which ended without reaching an agreement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed legislation on today introducing criminal penalties for antisemitism, in a move officials and Jewish leaders described as completing the country’s legal framework to combat anti-Jewish hate.

The law amends Article 161 of Ukraine’s criminal code, formally establishing punishment for “manifestations of antisemitism.” Penalties include fines, restrictions of liberty, and prison sentences of up to three years for standard offenses. More severe cases involving violence, threats, or abuse of authority can carry sentences of up to five years, while organized or aggravated offenses may result in prison terms of up to eight years.

The measure closes a gap in Ukraine’s existing legislation. A 2021 law defined and banned antisemitism but did not include clear criminal enforcement mechanisms. Lawmakers passed the follow-up bill establishing criminal liability in February 2022, just weeks before Russia’s invasion, but it remained unsigned until now.

Vitally Komzin, chairman of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, called the signing a milestone. “This is a historic decision which completes the formation of a comprehensive legislative framework to combat antisemitism in Ukraine. Thank you to everyone who was involved and helped at every stage,” he said. He added, “I approached Member of Parliament Maksym Buzhansky with this proposal, who supported the initiative, drafted the bill and did everything possible to pass it in 2021.”

The legislation has been welcomed by Jewish organizations as providing a long-missing enforcement tool, transforming earlier declarations into actionable law and strengthening Ukraine’s ability to prosecute antisemitic acts.

RESERVE HERO FALLS: Sgt. Maj. (Res.) Ayal Uriel Bianco

The IDF has cleared for publication the name of a fallen soldier whose family has been notified.

He was identified as Sgt. Maj. (Res.) Ayal Uriel Bianco, 30, of Katzrin, a fire engine driver in the 188th “Barak” Armored Brigade, who was killed in southern Lebanon.

According to the IDF, Bianco was killed when a military Humvee overturned during operations in southern Lebanon overnight.

In the same incident, three other reservists were wounded — one moderately and two lightly. All were evacuated to hospitals for medical treatment, and their families have been notified.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

As tensions mount over Israel’s draft policies, Israeli commentators warned that the real objective behind recent legal and political moves is not military enlistment, but a broader campaign targeting the chareidi ציבור and the עולם התורה.

Speaking on Kol Chai’s main program, analysts Avi Blum and Yaakov Rivlin discussed the wider implications of current events, from President Donald Trump’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz to political developments in Hungary, focusing on what they described as an existential threat to the Torah world and what they called the judiciary’s silence in the face of escalating incitement.

Host Avi Mimran opened the discussion by drawing a comparison to developments abroad: “We are seeing what is happening in Hungary. A newly elected prime minister wakes up in the morning and asks the president of the Supreme Court and the attorney general to resign. Here it doesn’t work that way — the High Court preserves its power.”

Rivlin outlined what he described as a troubling logistical and moral scenario following the issuance of arrest orders for tens of thousands of yeshiva students: “Where exactly are they going to put all these detainees? We are talking about close to 43,000 people. Member of Knesset Lieberman suggested reopening the Ktzi’ot detention camp. I served there in the reserves 30 years ago — I remember the barbed wire fences, the concrete grounds, and the tents. We are talking about Holocaust Remembrance Day, and they want to open detention camps here for tens of thousands of people? The connotation cries out to the heavens. When the state was established, is this what Holocaust survivors dreamed of? That this is what would await them here?”

He went further, sharply criticizing both the petitioners and the judiciary: “When a lawyer sits and smiles and says, ‘We will dismantle the Torah world,’ he is expressing what the judges are thinking. The goal is to starve chareidi families, so that children will look for food in garbage cans. This is an all-out war led by Justice Yitzchak Amit.”

Blum argued that the court must publicly condemn such statements: “We saw letters from coalition leaders warning that if Ben Gvir is removed or the prime minister is declared incapacitated, there will be a constitutional crisis. But why isn’t any chareidi MK getting them to sign a demand that Yitzchak Amit publicly condemn the statement about dismantling the Torah world? This needs to be leveraged in our favor.”

He also expressed shock at what he described as silence from the incoming Supreme Court president: “Someone sits and says, ‘I am coming to dismantle the Torah world,’ and there is silence from those sitting on the bench. If such a statement had been made about the Arab or Ethiopian community, the world would be outraged. This is outright antisemitism. When the president of the Supreme Court does not publicly condemn this the moment he hears it, he is giving it legitimacy. The coalition must stand up and demand a complete condemnation. Our blood has been made permissible.”

{Matzav.com}

The brother of two boys swept out to sea off the coast of Netanya delivered an emotional appeal to the public, urging increased tefillah and personal growth as the family endures an agonizing ordeal.

Since Friday, when the two Spiegel brothers were pulled into the water at Sanz Beach, their family — along with many across the Jewish world — has been davening continuously, hoping for the recovery of the brother who drowned and the healing of the one who was injured. In an interview on Kol Chai’s main broadcast, their brother, Chaykel Spiegel, spoke about the difficult days the family is facing.

Asked how to describe the current moment — a stretch of time filled with tension, uncertainty, and hope — he responded candidly: “I don’t know how to define these days. It’s not simple at all. What we are going through is what all of Klal Yisroel is going through — difficult days. Hashem wants us to draw closer and closer and is asking for it. If you had asked me two days ago what He wants, I would have said prayer, and that’s how I see it — He wants more and more, that we should pray even more. It is written that Hashem desires the prayers of the righteous, He loves the tefillos of the Jewish people so much, and if He wants more — then we will daven and daven.”

Amid the pain, Chaykel described the remarkable character of his brothers and the lessons he draws from their daily conduct: “I saw them so many times — my older brother and my younger brother — that they always thought: what does the other person want me to do for him? They would help me with my young children, they always thought about others. So much thought for other people, in matters between one person and another. They have so many good traits, on a level that is truly exceptional. A complete personal example.”

Toward the end of the interview, he asked the public to take on a practical commitment in their merit, centered on love for fellow Jews: “Anyone who can should take upon themselves to say every morning, ‘I accept upon myself the positive commandment of loving your fellow as yourself.’ Each person should pause for ten seconds before saying it — whether in shul or anywhere — and run through in their mind where they are going to be that day, and with whom they will fulfill this mitzvah. If I will be at a wedding in the evening, who will I meet there? Just quickly run it through once — a few seconds of thinking about the other person.”

Chaykel concluded with a message of unwavering faith, expressing confidence in the power of prayer and good deeds: “Everyone who hears this should continue to believe and strengthen themselves in faith. There is no power in the world that can determine what will be with them except for our Father in Heaven.”

{Matzav.com}

A dirtbike rider had to be rescued by firefighters utilizing off-road brush trucks to reach him after crashing in a wooded area in Brick this evening, TLS has learned.

Firefighters and EMTs were successfully able to reach the victim and safely transport him to an ambulance.

The severity of their injuries are unknown at this time.

This came just a day after Brick EMS trained on this exact scenario.

The Machnovka Belzer Rebbe offered a sharp and unsettling response to questions surrounding missile strikes in Bnei Brak, linking the attacks to a serious spiritual failing and calling for deep self-reflection.

A follower posed the question directly: “Where is the promise that missiles would not fall in Bnei Brak?” — referring to assurances attributed to the Chazon Ish and other gedolim figures that the city would be protected.

The Rebbe responded with a pointed explanation: “A serious incident occurred during the winter, when during a protest in the city, a pair of tefillin and a prayer siddur book were burned when a police motorcycle was set on fire. One must engage in self-reflection.”

His remarks refer to an incident that took place during protests in Bnei Brak over the winter, in which tashmishei kedusha were burned. According to the Rebbe, such an act demands serious communal introspection.

During Operation Sha’agas HaAri, Iran launched 540 missiles toward Israel, with warning sirens in Bnei Brak activated 182 times, highlighting the intensity of the attacks.

Eight yeshiva bochurim, ages 16 to 18, were safely rescued after becoming disoriented during a hike in Switzerland Forest near Tiveriah, authorities said.

The group lost its way while trekking through the wooded area and eventually required assistance. Emergency medical teams from United Hatzalah were dispatched to the scene, where they provided initial treatment and coordinated the rescue operation.

Following efforts to reach the stranded bochruim, all eight were evacuated safely from the area using an off-road utility vehicle operated by the rescue team.

Officials said all of the bochruim were in light condition and did not require further hospitalization.

Earlier in the day, rescue teams were already dealing with additional complex incidents in the northern Dead Sea region, where hikers encountered difficulties along challenging routes.

In one case, three rappellers became stranded at the top of a waterfall approximately 72 meters (236 feet) high in Nachal Tamarim after experiencing a technical malfunction when their rope became stuck, cutting off communication with them due to poor reception in the area.

At the same time, emergency crews were called to a separate incident in Nachal Darga, where seven hikers were reported missing after losing their way.

President Donald Trump drew fierce backlash Sunday over a post, which he deleted the following day, of an AI-generated image of himself as a divine figure. In the image, he lays a glowing hand on the head of a man lying in bed, while the other hand clutches a glowing orb. A praying woman, a woman wearing scrubs, a soldier and an athlete surround him, gazing at him reverentially. The backdrop of the painting-like image boasts eagles, fighter jets, warriors and the Statue of Liberty.

People in his own base denounced the post.

Brilyn Hollyhand, former co-chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Advisory Council, criticized the image on X.

“This is gross blasphemy. Faith is not a prop,” he wrote. “You don’t need to portray yourself as a savior when your record should speak for itself.”

Riley Gaines, a former college swimmer and vocal opponent of the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports, also expressed her shock.

“Does he actually think this?” she wrote. “Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well; 2) God shall not be mocked.”

When asked about this in a Fox News interview, Vice President J.D. Vance downplayed the whole fracas, dismissing it as a joke.

Trump himself pushed back on the criticism, saying that he thought the intention behind the image was to make him appear as a doctor.

“It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do make people better,” he explained to reporters at the White House.

The cost of raising a child in the United States has climbed past $300,000 over an 18-year period, reflecting a sharp increase of nearly 30% in just the last three years, according to a new financial analysis, the NY Post reports.

A report by LendingTree found that, after accounting for tax breaks and credits, the total average expense to raise a child has reached $303,418. That figure represents a 1.9% increase compared to the previous year.

On a yearly basis, parents are spending about $16,857 per child, with costs rising significantly during the early years. In fact, the first five years of a child’s life come with an average annual expense of $29,325, largely due to the high price of infant and toddler child care.

Despite the overall upward trend, the study noted a slight drop in expenses during those early years, attributing it to “a dip in day care costs.”

Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief consumer finance analyst and the report’s author, said families are already adjusting their lifestyles to cope with the financial strain. Some are cutting back on discretionary spending, while others are weighing more significant decisions, such as whether one parent should leave the workforce.

“We all wish that we didn’t have to crunch numbers and take finances into account when thinking about having a first kid or expanding your family, but the way costs are today, you’re doing yourself a bit of a disservice if you don’t,” he told The Post.

The financial burden of raising children comes as U.S. fertility rates fell to historic lows in 2025, continuing a downward trend that has lasted roughly 20 years. Much of that decline has been driven by a steep drop in births among teenagers and women in their 20s.

Among the various expenses analyzed — including housing, food, clothing, transportation, and insurance — infant day care emerged as the single largest cost, averaging $17,264 per year.

In certain states, those costs are even higher, with annual infant care reaching $22,628 in California and $20,439 in New York.

“When you factor in costs like infant day care that has seen practically hockey-stick growth in previous years … it all adds up to a really, really daunting situation for parents,” Schulz said.

Erica Sandberg, a consumer finance expert at CardRates.com, said families are increasingly finding ways to cut costs, including buying secondhand clothing or exchanging goods through social media groups instead of paying retail prices.

Some states far exceed the national average cost of raising a child. Hawaii ranks as the most expensive, with total costs reaching $412,661 over 18 years.

Alaska and Maryland follow as the second- and third-costliest states, with totals of $365,047 and $326,360, respectively, while California ranks fourth at $312,300.

New Jersey comes in fifth at $312,295, and New York State ranks 14th, with a total cost of $278,051.

On the lower end of the spectrum, states such as New Hampshire, Washington, DC — which provides free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds — and South Carolina are among the most affordable, with totals of $201,963, $202,115, and $204,213.

Families with young children are facing particularly heavy financial pressure, spending an average of 21.9% of their income on essential yearly costs. The analysis is based on a dual-income household with one child earning a median family income of $99,999.

Federal guidelines consider child care affordable only if it consumes no more than 7% of a household’s income.

In New York City, child care costs are especially steep. Data from City Comptroller Mark Levine’s office shows that in 2024, families paid an average of $26,000 annually for infant and toddler care. To afford care for a 2-year-old, a household would need an income of $334,000.

That figure is four times the median family income and roughly equivalent to earnings from 10 minimum-wage jobs, according to Levine’s office.

The price of child care has surged in recent years, particularly after the pandemic, with day care providers repeatedly raising rates. From June 2024 through last month, child care costs increased by an average of 8%, outpacing overall inflation, which rose 4% during the same period.

In less populated areas, a shortage of high-quality child care options has allowed providers to charge higher prices, Schulz explained.

He added that New York City presents its own challenges, as elevated labor and real estate costs make operating child care facilities especially expensive.

Sandberg pointed out that rising wages for child care workers — necessary to keep up with increasing living expenses — are another factor driving costs higher.

As more household income is directed toward child care, families are left with less money for other financial obligations, such as housing, transportation, small business investments, retirement savings, and emergency funds, Schulz said.

The issue of affordability has also entered the political arena, with some candidates — including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — advocating for free child care.

In March, Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $73 million in funding to create 2,000 free 2-K seats in the city beginning this fall.

Financial experts advise families to begin saving for child care as early as possible to ease the burden of rising expenses.

“I don’t think that it’s cause for alarm,” Sandberg told The Post. “I think it should be more of a call to action.”

Schulz recommended setting aside a small portion of each paycheck into a high-yield savings account designated as a “family fund.”

In what might become one of the biggest shakeups in aviation history, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has floated the idea of a merger with longtime rival American Airlines.

Kirby presented the concept to senior U.S. government officials, though it remains unclear whether any formal negotiations are underway or if the idea is still in its early exploratory stages.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby speaks during a media event showcasing the airline’s new premium “Elevated” aircraft interior at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, on March 24, 2026. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)

If such a deal were to move forward, it would create an airline giant unlike anything currently in the U.S. market, or even the world for that matter. This giant airline would potentially surpass all competitors and consolidate even more power among the country’s already dominant four major carriers.

The proposal is ironically notable given Kirby’s history, he previously served as president of American Airlines before taking the job at United, giving him deep ties to both companies. Markets reacted immediately to the news, with American Airlines’ stock jumping more than 5% after-hours following the report, signaling investors are optimistic about such a deal.

However, before the excitement begins, any such merger would face huge regulatory scrutiny. U.S. officials have been cautious about airline consolidation due to concerns over competition, pricing, and consumer choice. Even if we were in a more business friendly environment, a deal of this magnitude would likely trigger a major antitrust legal battle.

The timing is also noticeable. The airline industry is facing rising fuel costs and uncertainty, which might be pushing some executives to explore strategies to remain competitive in an increasingly challenging market.