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The Yenuka Issues Guidance to French Jewish Community Amid Rising Antisemitism

Matzav -

Against the backdrop of growing antisemitism across Europe, a leading rov of the Jewish community in Paris sought guidance this week from the Yenuka, asking for a decisive ruling on whether the community should consider relocating to Israel or remain in France.

Rabbi Shlomo Senyur, one of the prominent rabbanim of the Paris Jewish community, traveled to the home of the Yenuka in Rishon Letzion, where he joined the Shacharis mnnyan in the beis medrash before presenting the pressing question, one described as critical to the future of the Jewish community in Paris and, more broadly, to Jewish communities across Europe.

Rabbi Senyur laid out the dilemma facing many Jews in Paris and throughout France: in light of the intensifying waves of antisemitism in various parts of Europe and France, should the community uproot itself and move to Eretz Yisroel? At the same time, he noted the concern that many community members would not make aliyah, potentially leaving behind a weakened and unsupported Jewish presence.

In his response, the Yenuka stressed that there is an immense and invaluable merit for individuals who genuinely desire to ascend to Eretz Yisroel, attach themselves to its soil, and establish their lives there. However, when it comes to an organized, communal move, he advised that the priority should be to strengthen the existing community rather than dismantle it.

The Yenuka explained that even if a collective plan were formed to move together, in practice not everyone would follow through. As a result, those who remained behind would be abandoned and left vulnerable. He added that the current reality of a large, strong, and cohesive community provides resilience and protection for its members, whereas a partial departure that leaves only a small group behind would place those remaining in a dangerous and unstable situation.

“I say that one must strengthen the place there, to fight and not to be afraid. No matter what happens,” the Yenuka said. He reminded Rabbi Senyur of the example of the Or Sameach of Dvinsk, who remained with his community during World War I and did not abandon them, even though he knew war was imminent.

“Do not be afraid. Stay, strengthen, and put things in order, and may it be the will of Hakadosh Boruch Hu to nullify all this antisemitism. And the rov will continue to increase Torah there. Let your wellsprings spread outward. And to the members of the community I say: they should be careful with lashon hara, for this is the greatest protection from all calamities and all harm.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran Forcing Families To Falsely Label Slain Protesters As Military Members To Cover Up Executions

Yeshiva World News -

Iranian security forces are coercing families of slain protesters to falsely identify their relatives as members of the regime’s Basij paramilitary force, according to multiple accounts from inside Iran shared with The Times of Israel and relayed by anti-regime activists abroad. The allegations come amid the bloodiest wave of unrest in the Islamic Republic’s history, […]

Holocaust Survivor Found Frozen to Death in Kyiv During Extreme Cold Wave

Matzav -

A heartbreaking tragedy was uncovered in Kyiv on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, when a Holocaust survivor born in the city was found frozen to death in her apartment amid an intense cold spell gripping Ukraine.

Yevgenia Mikhailovna Bespamilnaya was discovered only after a burst water pipe in her apartment caused flooding throughout the building, with ice spreading across multiple floors as temperatures plunged to minus 18 degrees Celsius. According to reports, residents pressed police to force entry into the apartment, where Bespamilnaya was found lifeless in a completely frozen home. Authorities believe she had died several days earlier.

Bespamilnaya survived the Holocaust in Ukraine as a child. After the war, she was sent to an orphanage, where she was given her surname, meaning “without family.” She lived alone with no known relatives and spoke only Yiddish and Russian. Neighbors knew her as Baba Zhenya and described her as a quiet, withdrawn woman who rarely opened her door but made a point of attending the nearby shul.

Residents of the building said that in recent weeks they had tried to look after her, bringing basic supplies and offering assistance whenever possible. When she stopped answering phone calls and was not seen for several days, concern for her safety grew, but it was only the flooding incident that ultimately revealed what had happened.

The tragedy unfolded against the backdrop of a harsh winter in Kyiv, marked by unusually severe cold waves, infrastructure damage, and prolonged outages of electricity and water. In a cruel twist of fate, Bespamilnaya, who survived the horrors of the Holocaust, died alone decades later in the freezing cold of the city where she was born.

{Matzav.com}

Ecuador Protests After ICE Agent Attempts Entry into Minneapolis Consulate

Yeshiva World News -

Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry submitted a formal complaint to the United States after a U.S. ICE officer attempted to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis without authorization. The incident occurred around 11:00 a.m., when consular staff blocked the officer’s entry. Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld delivered a diplomatic note of protest, requesting assurances that such incidents […]

Elbit Unveils Iron Fist APS to Protect Armored Vehicles

Yeshiva World News -

Israeli defense company Elbit Systems unveiled its Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS), designed to protect armored vehicles from anti-tank threats. The system detects, identifies, and intercepts incoming fire using a blast interceptor that neutralizes threats without detonating the warhead, reducing risk to both the crew and the vehicle. Iron Fist is offered in lighter […]

TikTok Agrees to Settle Youth Addiction Lawsuit

Yeshiva World News -

TikTok has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging the platform contributed to youth addiction. The lawsuit claimed TikTok intentionally designed features to keep minors engaged, encouraging excessive use; the company did not admit wrongdoing, and the settlement still requires court approval.

Families of Trinidadian Men Killed in U.S. Strike Sue Trump Administration

Yeshiva World News -

Families of two men killed in a U.S. military strike in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela in October filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, calling the strike “manifestly unlawful.” Six men from Trinidad were killed; families allege the victims were fishermen returning from Venezuela to Trinidad when their boat was attacked.

Elbit Unveils SLING High-Mobility 120mm Mortar System

Yeshiva World News -

Israeli defense company Elbit has unveiled SLING, a fast-deploying 120 mm mortar system designed for high mobility. Mounted on light vehicles, it can be brought into action and fire within about a minute, delivering up to 16 rounds per minute over a wide 90-degree firing arc. Equipped with electronic fire-control systems and a manual backup […]

“I Knew It Was Rani”: Dentist Who Identified Ran Gvili Describes Emotional Moment of Final Confirmation

Matzav -

Dr. Esi Sharon, the dentist who confirmed the identity of the last fallen hostage, Ran Gvili Hy”d, shared a powerful account of the experience in an interview with Yedioth Acharonot, describing the intense emotions surrounding the moment he was identified.

Recalling the instant she saw the first photograph, Dr. Sharon said, “When I opened the image that they say sent me from the open grave, I shouted, ‘It’s Rani, it’s him.’ I yelled to the doctor to enter the grave and pull out the body for final identification, which would determine with certainty that he returns home to his family, but inside I already knew. The initial image they sent me was enough for me to conclude that it was Rani. I knew his dental records and their identifying marks by heart. My entire body shook from excitement.” Dr. Sharon serves as commander of the Dental Volunteer Unit within the Police Forensics Department.

She went on to explain how the identification effort unfolded on the ground. “The engineering vehicle operators began to dig holes together with soldiers from the Search Unit, and the dentists entered them to take photos and initial identification. After some time, [pictures of] bodies that the dentists photographed while still in the graves and sent us began to accumulate. Through that method, throughout the night, we ruled out 200 bodies whose graves were opened.”

Since the outbreak of the war, Dr. Sharon has worked alongside fellow dentists and forensic professionals to identify hundreds of victims of the Hamas massacre. Under her leadership, the unit successfully identified every deceased hostage whose remains were returned from the Gaza Strip.

During the mission to recover Ran Gvili, a team of 20 dentists examined roughly 250 bodies in a period of less than 24 hours, completing the painstaking process under extreme pressure and time constraints.

{Matzav.com}

Virginia Court Blocks Democrats’ Bid to Redraw Congressional Map

Yeshiva World News -

A Virginia state court has blocked Democrats’ plans to redraw the state’s congressional map, ruling that lawmakers did not follow the proper legal procedure to approve the changes. The judge said the proposed redistricting failed to meet required steps, preventing the last-minute redraw ahead of the election. Democrats are expected to appeal the decision, but […]

NTSB Simulation Shows Visibility Limits Led to Deadly DCA Midair Collision

Yeshiva World News -

The National Transportation Safety Board released a simulation of the January 29, 2025 midair collision near Reagan National Airport involving an American Airlines CRJ700 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed all 67 people on board. According to the simulation, the helicopter was difficult to detect at night due to lighting conditions, blind […]

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