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Knesset member Ofer Cassif of the Hadash-Ta’al party was suspended from parliamentary activity for two months by the Knesset Ethics Committee on Wednesday. The decision came after a wave of complaints were submitted regarding Cassif’s statements criticizing Israeli military actions in Gaza. His suspension covers attendance at both plenum sessions and committee meetings from October 19 to December 19, and his salary will be reduced for two weeks. One major source of contention was his public call for the International Criminal Court to investigate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.

In its ruling, the committee accused Cassif of engaging in an ongoing pattern of inflammatory statements that, explicitly or implicitly, accuse Israeli soldiers of carrying out war crimes. The committee emphasized that this conduct has been consistent and deliberate.

According to the committee, Cassif’s remarks damage the dignity of the Knesset and erode the public’s confidence in the institution. It also claimed his rhetoric lends strength to Israel’s enemies during a time of war.

Due to the summer recess and the fact that Hadash-Ta’al chairman Ayman Odeh is already serving a suspension, the committee opted to delay Cassif’s penalty until October.

Cassif clarified that the sanctions do not include stripping him of his right to vote in the plenum.

The committee pointed out that most of the 12 complaints were filed during a six-month window when Cassif was already suspended from participating in Knesset sessions for making similar remarks. Complainants included MKs from Likud such as Tally Gotliv and Ofir Katz, as well as members of the public.

That earlier suspension came after Cassif added his name to a public letter in support of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. In another controversial moment, he described Palestinian gunmen clashing with Israeli forces in Jenin as “freedom fighters.”

The newest round of complaints centered on more recent comments Cassif made regarding the conflict in Gaza. Among them were statements likening the war to the Holocaust, allegations that Israel is committing genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank, and comparing Palestinian inmates in Israeli jails to Israeli hostages held by Hamas. He also called Netanyahu a “psychopathic murderer” and asked ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to investigate Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and other ministers for war crimes.

Cassif strongly condemned the Ethics Committee’s actions, framing them as an attempt to erase Arab voices from the Israeli legislature. He pledged not to “bow before this harassment.”

Although Cassif is Jewish, he is part of Hadash-Ta’al, a predominantly Arab party.

“It’s not a matter of parliamentary ethics, but of political censorship and persecution as well as terrorization (“chilling effect”) of the entire leftist camp, Arabs and Jews alike,” Cassif wrote in English on his X account. “The real end behind this suspension is to thwart our faction from any parliamentary activity altogether, and, in the longer run, to eliminate any representation of the Arab and the democratic Jewish citizens. My repeated suspensions are merely the appetizer, as it were.”

One complaint submitted by MKs Oded Forer of Yisrael Beytenu and Almog Cohen of Otzma Yehudit was dismissed by the committee, which ruled that Cassif had not violated ethical standards in that case.

The complaint referenced a February post by Cassif, in which he shared an image of Jews queuing outside a migration office in Vienna in 1938. In the post, he noted: “this month, exactly 86 years ago, the ‘Central Bureau for Jewish Emigration’ was established in Berlin with the aim of encouraging voluntary emigration of German Jews.”

Meanwhile, the committee reprimanded MK Almog Cohen for his verbal attack on Cassif, where he labeled him a “traitor” who “represents the interests of Hamas and the BDS movement and serves as a fifth column among us.” Cohen was not suspended.

In a prior incident in 2023, Cohen was banned from speaking in the plenum or in committee meetings for five days after making racially charged comments about members of the opposition.

A separate effort to expel Cassif from the Knesset failed in February 2024, as the vote garnered only 85 supporters — five short of the 90 required for expulsion.

That effort stemmed from Cassif’s vocal support of South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, which critics denounced as “treasonous.”

Instead of being removed from office, Cassif was issued another six-month suspension by the Ethics Committee in November 2024 over similar conduct.

In 2019, Cassif had been disqualified from seeking election to the Knesset by the Central Elections Committee over incendiary remarks, including calling then-Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked “neo-Nazi scum.” That disqualification was later overturned by the Supreme Court.

Last week, the Knesset House Committee largely sided with Hadash-Ta’al’s Ayman Odeh over comments he made comparing Palestinian prisoners in Israel to Israeli captives held by Hamas in Gaza. A formal vote on whether to remove Odeh is scheduled for Monday.

Odeh is currently serving a two-week suspension, which lasts until July 22, for an incident in March 2024 when he was forcibly removed from the podium after accusing Israeli troops in Gaza of committing “murder” and carrying out a “massacre.”

{Matzav.com}

X CEO Linda Yaccarino said she’s stepping down after two years running Elon Musk’s social media platform. Yaccarino posted a positive message Wednesday about her tenure at the company formerly known as Twitter and said “the best is yet to come as X enters a new chapter with” Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI, maker of the chatbot Grok. Musk hired Yaccarino, a veteran ad executive, in May 2023 after buying Twitter for $44 billion in late 2022. He said at the time that Yaccarino’s role would be focused mainly on running the company’s business operations, leaving him to focus on product design and new technology. In accepting the job, Yaccarino was taking on the challenge of getting big brands back to advertising on the social media platform after months of upheaval following Musk’s takeover. A number of companies had pulled back on ad spending — the platform’s chief source of revenue — over concerns that Musk’s thinning of content restrictions was enabling hateful and toxic speech to flourish. Two years later, those concerns have not subsided. A recent update to Grok led to a flood of antisemitic commentary from the chatbot this week that included praise of Adolf Hitler. “We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts,” the Grok account posted on X early Wednesday, without being more specific. (AP)

Israel has reportedly been informed by Qatari intermediaries that Hamas is actively gearing up for a possible truce. According to Channel 12, these preparations include not only strategic military adjustments but also steps toward freeing the hostages, as part of a broader push for an agreement currently underway in Doha.

Qatar believes that an accord is within reach, with only one remaining obstacle to be resolved — namely, the location and extent of Israel Defense Forces redeployments, Channel 12 further notes.

Despite these developments, Hamas is publicly disputing the notion that meaningful progress is being made. The group claims that it is Israel, not Hamas, that is impeding the negotiations.

A high-ranking Hamas figure told Channel 12: “The problem is not the details [of the talks]. The problem is in the seriousness of the Israelis. Their delegation in Qatar is unreliable and works slowly. Netanyahu is fronting a positive atmosphere that doesn’t reflect the reality in negotiations.”

{Matzav.com}

ICE agents in Nebraska have arrested an MS-13 kingpin listed among El Salvador’s “Top 100 Most Wanted,” wanted in connection with multiple murders.

INCREDIBLE NEIS IN MONSEY: A frightening scene unfolded on Dykstras Way East when a young boy riding his bike was struck by a truck — his bike partially crushed beneath the massive vehicle. Hatzoloh EMS and Ramapo Police rushed to the scene, fearing the worst. But in an open and chilling neis, the boy miraculously escaped with only minor injuries. Bystanders watched in disbelief, stunned that anyone could walk away from such a close brush with tragedy.

The Nasdaq closes the day at an ALL-TIME HIGH.

Netanyahu says Israel had ‘2 lumps of cancer from Iran. ‘1 was nuclear cancer… other was ballistic missiles’ Adds ‘we har to take out cancer. That doesn’t mean it couldn’t come back.’ But ‘if you don’t take it out you’re gonna die’

Q: “James Comey & John Brennan now under criminal investigation related to the Trump-Russia probe. Do you want to see these two guys behind bars?” TRUMP: “I think they’re crooked as hell & maybe they have to pay a price for that.”

More than 80 years after the Holocaust decimated world Jewry, the global Jewish population has yet to recover to its pre-war numbers, a new study from the Pew Research Center reveals. In 1939, on the eve of World War II, there were approximately 16.6 million Jews worldwide. Today, that number stands at about 14.8 million — still more than 1.8 million fewer than before the Holocaust, which claimed over six million Jewish lives. Between 2010 and 2020, the global Jewish population grew by just 6.2%, from 13.91 million to 14.8 million. In comparison, the overall world population grew by 12.3% during the same period — nearly double the Jewish growth rate. “Have Jews made up for the loss of people killed in the Holocaust? The answer is no,” said Jonathan Sarna, professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University. “It takes a long time to replace a third of the population. It still hasn’t happened. It’s a reminder of how many people we lost in the Holocaust.” According to Pew, Jews make up just 0.2% of the global population. Geographically, the majority of the world’s Jews now reside in Israel and North America. The Middle East and North Africa region — largely due to Israel — now has the largest Jewish population at 6.8 million, surpassing North America’s 6.1 million. Israel alone added more than 1 million Jews between 2010 and 2020, while the U.S. saw an increase of only 30,000. By contrast, Europe’s Jewish population declined by 8% over the decade, from 1.39 million to 1.28 million, and sub-Saharan Africa saw a dramatic 37% drop, from 80,000 to 50,000. The Asia-Pacific region experienced a slight increase of 2%, from 180,000 to 190,000. Eighty-five percent of the world’s Jews now live in just two countries — Israel and the United States — highlighting the demographic concentration of global Jewry. Pew’s estimates are based on Israel’s population registry and religious self-identification elsewhere. Experts note that definitions of Jewish identity and the difficulty of comprehensive global data collection mean that the actual numbers may vary slightly. Sarna added that in many Western societies, Jewish birth rates are relatively low — similar to the broader population — with the exception of Orthodox communities, where families tend to be larger due to younger marriages and higher fertility rates. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Although there has been some movement in the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, insiders familiar with the discussions say major obstacles still remain that could prevent an agreement.

Roughly 80% of the points under negotiation have been settled in principle, according to those involved. However, the remaining disputes involve the most sensitive and potentially deal-breaking issues. Chief among them are disagreements over how humanitarian aid will be distributed during the ceasefire, and where the IDF will be positioned throughout the planned 60-day halt in combat.

The Lebanese outlet al-Akhbar, citing officials from countries involved in mediating the talks, reported that Israel continues to take a narrowly focused security-first stance, without engaging in broader or longer-term solutions. The article stated that Israel “strives to create new crises,” particularly in reference to the reopening of the Rafah Crossing. According to the report, Israel is only willing to permit humanitarian cases through the crossing and is blocking the return of Gazans to the area.

The sources further noted that Israel is firmly against what they describe as the “symbolic” release of high-profile prisoners associated with Palestinian terror factions. This includes figures such as Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Sa’adat, whose release Hamas considers a key demand in any deal.

Talks are continuing via indirect channels, with all parties proceeding carefully but still maintaining cautious optimism.

{Matzav.com}

While in Washington, DC, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed the press corps traveling with him and emphasized that he and President Donald Trump are closely aligned in their objectives regarding the situation in Gaza. “The release of the hostages and the end of Hamas rule in Gaza,” he stated, are mutual priorities.

Netanyahu elaborated on the nature of their collaboration, saying, “We have a shared strategy and shared tactics for this. This includes full coordination. President Trump wants a deal, and I want a deal, but not at any cost.”

For his part, President Trump expressed cautious optimism during his remarks. “There is a chance we will announce a deal in Gaza either this week or next week, but nothing is certain,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. is having its worst year for measles spread in more than three decades, with a total of 1,288 cases nationally and another six months to go in 2025. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that the national case count surpassed 2019, when there were 1,274 cases for the year and the country almost lost its status of having eliminated the vaccine-preventable illness. That could happen this year if the virus has nonstop spread for 12 months. This year’s outbreaks, some of them interconnected, started five months ago in undervaccinated communities in West Texas. Three people have died — two children in Texas and an adult in New Mexico — and dozens of people have been hospitalized. Public health experts maintain the true case count may be higher than state health departments have confirmed. North America has three other major measles outbreaks, with 2,966 cases in Chihuahua state, Mexico, 2,223 cases in Ontario, Canada and 1,230 in Alberta, Canada. Twelve other states have current confirmed outbreaks of three or more people — Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Utah — and four other states saw their outbreaks end. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles after two doses. The World Health Organization said in 2000 that measles had been eliminated from the U.S. The CDC identified 22 outbreaks in 2019, the largest being two separate clusters in New York — 412 in New York state and 702 in New York City. These were linked because as measles was spreading through close-knit Orthodox Jewish communities, the CDC said. It’s a similar situation in North America this year, where the Canada, Mexico and Texas outbreaks stem from large Mennonite communities in the regions. Mennonite churches do not formally discourage vaccination, though more conservative Mennonite communities historically have low vaccination rates and a distrust of government. A recent study found childhood vaccination rates against measles fell after the COVID-19 pandemic in nearly 80% of the more than 2,000 U.S. counties with available data, including in states that are battling outbreaks this year. Only 92.7% of kindergarteners in the U.S. had the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in the 2023-2024 school year, below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks. In Gaines County, Texas, the epicenter of the Texas outbreak, only 82% of kindergarteners were up-to-date with MMR vaccines. State and federal leaders have for years kept funding stagnant for local public health departments’ vaccination programs that are tasked with reversing the trend. “What we’re seeing with measles is a little bit of a ‘canary in a coal mine,'” said Lauren Gardner, leader of Johns Hopkins University’s independent measles and COVID tracking databases. “It’s indicative of a problem that we know exists with vaccination attitudes in this county and just, I think, likely to get worse.” (AP)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the United States is placing sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, citing her attempts to bring charges against American and Israeli officials at the International Criminal Court.

“Today, I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt the International Criminal Court action against US and Israeli officials, companies, and executives,” Rubio declared.

He condemned Albanese’s efforts as a form of targeted aggression, stating, “Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated. We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defense.”

Rubio emphasized that Washington remains fully committed to countering what he called “lawfare,” vowing to protect national interests and those of America’s allies. “The United States will continue to take whatever actions we deem necessary to respond to lawfare and protect our sovereignty and that of our allies,” he stated.

Reacting to the announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar applauded the move, calling it “a clear message. Time for the UN to pay attention!”

Albanese has long been accused of harboring an anti-Israel agenda. Concerns about her impartiality first surfaced in 2022, when she posted statements on social media suggesting that the “Jewish lobby” controls U.S. policy—a comment widely condemned as antisemitic.

In December 2023, controversy intensified when Albanese called it “unacceptable” to demand the release of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, among them infants and small children, including 9-month-old Kfir Bibas. While she has never issued a call for Hamas to free the hostages—approximately 50 of whom are still held—she has publicly advocated for the release of a Gaza hospital director accused of being a Hamas operative.

In the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, Albanese released a book titled J’Accuse, borrowing the name of a historic essay that once decried antisemitism in the Dreyfus Affair. In her version, however, she sought to redirect blame away from Hamas and onto Israel.

Even after the horrors of October 7, Albanese has continued to assert that Israel does not have the right to defend itself against Hamas.

{Matzav.com}

The British Medical Association (BMA) officially voted to suspend its ties with the Israel Medical Association (IMA) at its annual conference last month, claiming that it “did not condemn attacks on the health system in Gaza.” The decision was approved by a majority of over 80% and became the official policy of the association, although it has not yet been decided how it will be implemented in practice. The Israel Medical Association is working diplomatically in an effort to influence the implementation of the decision. IMA chairman Prof. Tzion Hagai told Ynet, “This is a declarative step that could encourage other countries to adopt similar measures. We’re trying to prevent that first domino from falling.” Hagai noted that since October 7, there have been instances where Israeli doctors were disinvited from conferences where they were scheduled to speak. “We’re working behind the scenes, talking to organizers and explaining why a boycott of Israel is the wrong path.” Prof. Hagai, who also serves on the World Medical Association council, said that during an international meeting in April 2024, the UK delegation attempted to pass a resolution accusing Israel of war crimes. “We ultimately reached an understanding and avoided a formal condemnation, but this latest vote marks an unprecedented escalation.” He added that the IMA plans to send representatives to the UK to meet with the BMA leadership in hopes of changing the decision. “We’ve asked to come. We want to present our side before irreversible decisions are made. We’ll show our compliance with international law and our commitment to treating even Gaza terrorists who were brought into Israeli hospitals after October 7.” “We act in accordance with international law. There is no justification for cutting ties with us.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

President Trump voiced strong support for the newly launched Justice Department inquiries into James Comey and John Brennan, describing the two men as “crooked as h—.”

During an exchange with Fox News reporter Peter Doocy, Trump was asked whether he believed Comey and Brennan should be imprisoned.

“Well, I know nothing about it, other than what I read today, but I will tell you, I think they’re very dishonest people. I think they’re crooked as h—, and maybe they have to pay a price for that,” Trump said.

He continued by emphasizing his opinion of the two officials: “I believe they are truly bad people and dishonest people. So whatever happens, happens.”

Brennan, who led the CIA during President Barack Obama’s administration, is reportedly being investigated for potentially giving false testimony to Congress regarding the Steele dossier, which included unverified claims tying Trump to Russia.

Details surrounding the investigation into Comey remain vague. However, it’s known that he was questioned by the Secret Service in May after sharing an image online that some interpreted as threatening toward Trump.

Trump dismissed Comey from his position as FBI director in May 2017. While the official reasoning cited his handling of information related to Hillary Clinton during the campaign, many connected the dismissal to Trump’s frustration with the probe into alleged ties between his campaign and Russian officials.

{Matzav.com}

Avraham Azoulai, a young pioneer and newlywed from Shaked Farm in the hills of Yitzhar, was killed while operating engineering machinery during an IDF operation in the southern Gaza Strip, the Shomron Regional Council announced Wednesday. He was 31 years old and had been married for just three months. Azoulai is the third Yitzhar resident to fall in the ongoing war. He was one of dozens of civilian volunteers from Shomron who joined IDF operations in Gaza by operating heavy construction and engineering equipment alongside military forces. According to an initial IDF probe, the incident occurred in Khan Younis when several Hamas terrorists emerged from a tunnel and launched a surprise attack on IDF troops engaged in engineering work. During the ambush, the terrorists attempted to abduct Azoulai, who was operating an excavator. Azoulai resisted the attackers and was fatally shot. Israeli forces in the area responded quickly, firing on the terrorists, hitting several, and preventing the abduction. The IDF has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan issued an emotional statement mourning Azoulai’s loss. “Avraham was a hero, a true pioneer, one of the builders of the hilltops and farms. He gave his life for the people and the land while doing what he loved — building Eretz Yisrael.” Dagan pledged full support for Azoulai’s widow. “The Samaria Regional Council family will stand by Rus and provide her with everything she needs.” Golan Avgi, chairman of the Yitzhar Local Council, also praised Azoulai’s character and commitment. “Avraham established a Jewish labor business and was beloved by all. He joined his friends in the reserves to serve in Gaza, not as a soldier, but as a builder in uniform.” Azoulai is the 31st resident of the Shomron region to die in the war. He follows Sergeant Yehonatan Luber and Sergeant Shneur Zalman Cohen, also of Yitzhar, who were killed in earlier stages of the conflict. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The U.S. Senate’s health committee on Wednesday approved Susan Monarez to be President Donald Trump’s director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking her one step closer to confirmation. The committee voted 12-11 for advancing her nomination to the full Senate. The vote went along party lines, with Democrats in opposition. Monarez, 50, is poised to become the first CDC director to pass through Senate confirmation following a 2023 law. She was named acting director in January and then tapped as the nominee in March after Trump abruptly withdrew his first choice, David Weldon. She holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin, and a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. Prior to the CDC, Monarez was largely known for her government roles in health technology and biosecurity. The committee’s action comes after months of turmoil with no leader at the helm of the Atlanta-based federal agency tasked with tracking diseases and responding to health threats. The CDC has been hit by widespread staff cuts, resignations of key officials and heated controversy over longstanding CDC vaccine policies upended by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Last month, Monarez told senators that she values vaccines, public health interventions and rigorous scientific evidence, but she largely dodged questions about whether those positions put her at odds with Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic who has criticized and sought to dismantle some of the agency’s previous protocols and decisions. “Unfortunately, Dr. Monarez — who has served as Trump’s acting CDC director — has done nothing to stand in the way” of Kennedy’s actions, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, said Wednesday. The CDC was created nearly 80 years ago to prevent the spread of malaria in the U.S. Its mission was later expanded, and it gradually became a global leader on infectious and chronic diseases and a go-to source of health information. (AP)

The impact of the massive spending bill that President Donald Trump signed into law on Independence Day is expected to filter down to infants and toddlers — a segment of the population that is particularly vulnerable to cuts to the federal social safety net. Many middle-class and wealthy families will see benefits from the new legislation, but programs that help low-income families keep babies healthy have been cut back. While state money funds public schools and preschool in some cases, programs supporting the youngest children are largely backed by the federal government. The law extends tax cuts that Trump passed during his first term in office and pours billions more into border security as the president seeks to broaden his crackdown on immigration. To pay for these initiatives, the law cuts Medicaid and food stamps — programs relied upon by poor households with children — by more than $1 trillion. The legislation Republicans called Trump’s “big beautiful bill” is set to deliver some gains for families with children. It increases tax credits, including one that now allows parents to deduct up to $2,200 per child from their tax bills. And it introduces investment accounts for newborns dubbed “Trump Accounts,” each seeded with $1,000 from the government. Still, advocates say they do not make up for what children are likely to lose under the new law. And they fear what comes next, as the next Trump budget proposes more cuts to programs that help parents and babies. Medicaid cuts could add to strains on families Over 10 million Americans rely on Medicaid for health care. About 40% of births are covered by Medicaid. Newborns, too, qualify for it when their mothers have it. The new law doesn’t take little kids or their parents off Medicaid. It institutes Medicaid work requirements for childless adults and adults with children over the age of 13. But pediatricians warn the cuts will be felt broadly, even by those who do not use Medicaid. The Medicaid cuts are expected to put a financial strain on health care providers, forcing them to cut their least profitable services. That’s often pediatrics, where young patients are more likely to use Medicaid, said Lisa Costello, a West Virginia pediatrician who chairs the federal policy committee for the American Association of Pediatrics. The ripple effects could exacerbate an existing shortage of pediatricians and hospital beds for children. “Any cuts to that program are going to trickle down and impact children, whether that’s pediatric practices who depend on Medicaid to be able to stay open or children’s hospitals,” Costello said. States also use Medicaid to pay for programs that go beyond conventional medical care, including therapies for young children with disabilities. Under the new law, states will foot a greater portion of the bill for Medicaid, meaning optional programs are at risk of getting cut. Advocates worry that if an adult loses Medicaid coverage, it could ratchet up household stress and make it more difficult for parents to make ends meet, both of which can negatively impact youngsters. And parents who lose their health insurance are less likely to take their children to the doctor. “When parents lose their health insurance, they often think that their children also are no longer eligible, even if that’s not the case,” said Cynthia Osborne, a professor of early education and the executive director of […]

The RCCS Pre-Campaign is Now Live!  Donations are now being accepted for the Pre-Campaign portion of a major two-day push to provide RCCS with all they need to care for cancer patients in our communities.  The 2025 “Attention” Campaign is dedicated to hearing the Call of cholei Yisroel and opening doors for them to receive all the assistance they need as they struggle through the grim challenges of a dreaded diagnosis.  No matter where you live, the word “cancer” is a frightening reality for all too many of your neighbors, R”L. This dreadful disease and its treatment regimens afflict men, women, teenagers, even young children, of all ages and backgrounds – as well as their family and friends. In our communities, virtually every one of these suffering souls relies on RCCS as a lifeline – the one stop resource that guides them from diagnosis through recovery and makes sure that everyone has access to the absolute best medical care available anywhere in the world. RCCS provides medical referral and support, getting each patient into the best doctor for their diagnosis; this includes handling their medical records and expediting appointments. To this end, they conduct extensive medical research to avail patients to the most cutting-edge medical treatment. They provide crucial financial support to cover insurance premiums and other out-of-pocket expenses. In essence, they serve as the patient’s virtual “back office” from beginning to end.  They arrange insurance guidance and advocacy, helping a patient navigate the complex world of insurance, and advocating for them when an insurer rejects a claim. They ensure that finances never stand between a patient and world-class treatment.  In addition, the RCCS Care Management team opens doors for patients and their families to access the full gamut of financial and logistical assistance available through individual donors and other organizations.  It now costs over $31 million a year for RCCS to cover its global operations; including paying insurance premiums and other patient expenditures. RCCS is currently helping over 5,000 patients and their families with everything they need to fight cancer – with dozens of new patients reaching out for help each week. Jewish communities around the country have united to support RCCS’s lifesaving operations through a special two day “ATTENTION” online fundraising campaign. This is RCCS’s primary community fundraising event in these communities for the year. You now have an opportunity to help RCCS save lives. The start of the Pre-Campaign means that you can submit your donation now. Please jump in and be among the first to grab this zechus. With your support, RCCS will get off towards a great start to reach its goal!  Make a life-saving donation today by clicking HERE

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of R’ Chaim Tzvi Hershy Treitel z”l of Flatbush. He was 70 years old.

R’ Chaim Tzvi was born in Eretz Yisroel on the 16th of Elul in 1954 to his father, R’ Mordechai Yitzchok Treitel, and his mother, Rebbetzin Chana.

He married the daughter of R’ Yisroel Shimon Kirshenbaum and was a grandson of the mekubal and Breslover mashpia R’ Binyomin Zev (Velvel) Cheshen.

Those who knew R’ Chaim Tzvi describe him as a man of grace, dignity, and warmth, a person beloved by all who encountered him. His home was a haven of hospitality, always open to guests. He personified compassion and kindness, always pursuing acts of tzedakah and chesed.

He made his livelihood through his air conditioning business, conducting his work with honesty and integrity, always viewing his profession as secondary to his mission in life.

Every year, he made the journey to Uman for Rosh Hashanah to spend the Yomim Nora’im near the kever of Reb Nachman of Breslov zt”l. On those days, he would sit in the kloiz beside his uncle, the renowned gaon Rav Tzvi Cheshen.

The levayah took place this morning at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park, Brooklyn. Kevurah followed at the Moses Mt. Hope Cemetery in Long Island.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}