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BATEI MEDRASH AND BALLOT BOXES: Orthodox Jewish Voters Across New Jersey Urged To Vote In Critical Primary Day Elections

Yeshiva World News -

A coordinated and unprecedented mobilization is underway across Orthodox Jewish communities in New Jersey, particularly in the Lakewood region, as voters head to the polls for Tuesday’s crucial primary elections. For weeks, leading rabbanim, askanim, and roshei yeshivah have been urging Orthodox Jewish voters to take part in today’s vote, with particular emphasis on supporting Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Gottheimer. Gottheimer, currently one of five major contenders for the Democratic nomination, has emerged as the only viable Democratic candidate with a strong and consistent record of support for Orthodox Jewish communities statewide. Facing off against Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and NJEA President Sean Spiller, Gottheimer enters Primary Day in a competitive but unpredictable race. While some sparse polling shows Sherrill in the lead, most political observers agree that the race is wide open. The stakes are especially high for the Orthodox Jewish community. With the federal government advancing plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and shift funding decisions to the states, the next New Jersey governor will wield outsized influence on yeshiva education, security funding, special education services, and curriculum mandates. In a pre-election meeting last week, Rav Malkiel Kotler, shlit”a, rosh yeshiva of BMG, strongly urged Lakewood’s rabbanim and roshei chaburah to encourage their communities to vote. He clarified that there is no halachic issue in voting for a Democratic candidate despite certain platform positions, as long as those positions do not directly affect the kehilla. In a rare move, the Lakewood Vaad issued endorsements on both sides of the aisle: Josh Gottheimer on the Democratic side and Jack Ciattarelli on the Republican side. Ciattarelli, a longtime friend of the Lakewood community, is widely expected to win the GOP nomination, having secured the endorsement of President Donald Trump and holding a dominant lead over rival Bill Spadea. Spadea’s campaign drew sharp condemnation Monday for a last-minute text message that invoked antisemitic tropes, accusing Ciattarelli of supporting “Lakewood-style overdevelopment.”  Meanwhile, askanim have urged unaffiliated voters to declare a party affiliation at the polls — particularly to vote in the Democratic primary for Gottheimer. Voters can change their party affiliation back immediately after casting their ballot. Among those leading the charge is R’ Lazer Scheiner, the driving force behind the Adirei Hatorah movement. In a widely circulated voice note Monday night, Scheiner emphasized that high voter turnout sends a clear message to elected officials — regardless of the immediate results — that the Orthodox community is politically active and engaged. His message was echoed by Agudath Israel New Jersey Director Shlomo Schorr, who also released a video message explaining why voting is important regardless of the outcome. Locally, two Orthodox candidates are appearing on today’s ballots. Assemblyman Avi Schnall is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for another term in the State Assembly. In Toms River, askan Shmuel Ellenbogen is unopposed in the Republican primary for Ocean County Commissioner. If victorious in November, he will become the first frum commissioner in the county’s history. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

IDIOTIC: CNN’s Dana Bash Says Trump Was the ‘Arsonist’ in Los Angeles

Matzav -

During Monday’s broadcast of CNN’s Inside Politics, anchor Dana Bash sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles, comparing his actions to those of an arsonist trying to call in emergency help for a fire he helped ignite.

CNN’s chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju commented on the president’s handling of the situation: “Just to get the point of how much Donald Trump wants this fight, I mean, he’s been posting and talking about it pretty much nonstop over the weekend, including just moments ago saying if we had not done this, send the National Guard in Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated. Now, I’m not quite sure if that’s exactly the case of what people are saying on the ground here. But I mean, look, sending in the National Guard is just an extraordinary step for the federal government to do so. You can’t discount that.”

As Bash began to interject, Raju continued, “And he tried to do everything he can to defend the controversy.”

Bash responded, “I know that this is like he said, a promise that he gave on the campaign trail to do whatever he could to deport illegal immigrants. But what he just posted is, is basically, an arsonist saying, ‘You better call the fire department because they’ve got to come in fast to get the flames out.’ I mean, that seems like what’s going on.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Defense Minister Katz Tours Nevatim Airbase, Reviews IDF Operations in Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon

Yeshiva World News -

Defense Minister Israel Katz toured the Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and IAF chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, his office says. “During the visit, the minister and the chief of staff received an overview of the operational achievements in Gaza, Yemen, and Lebanon and the readiness to expand the operation as necessary,” the statement says.

Measles Outbreaks in Michigan and Pennsylvania End, While Texas Logs Just 4 New Cases

Yeshiva World News -

MeThe U.S. logged 122 more cases of measles last week — but only four of them in Texas — while the outbreaks in Pennsylvania and Michigan officially ended. There were 1,168 confirmed measles cases in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Health officials in Texas, where the nation’s biggest outbreak raged during the late winter and spring, said they’ll now post case counts only once a week — yet another sign the outbreak is slowing. There are three other major outbreaks in North America. The longest, in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in 2,009 cases from mid-October through June 3. The province logged its first death Thursday in a baby that got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions. Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened 761 as of Thursday. And the Mexican state of Chihuahua had 1,940 measles cases and four deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry. Other U.S. states with active outbreaks — which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma. In the U.S., two elementary school-aged children in the epicenter in West Texas and an adult in New Mexico have died of measles this year. All were unvaccinated. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. How many measles cases are there in Texas? There were a total of 742 cases across 35 counties, most of them in West Texas, state health officials said Friday. Throughout the outbreak, 94 people have been hospitalized. State health officials estimated less than 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious. Fifty-five percent of Texas’ cases are in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 411 cases since late January — just under 2% of the county’s residents. The April 3 death in Texas was an 8-year-old child, according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6. How many measles cases are there in New Mexico? New Mexico added two cases in the last week for a total of 81. Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state’s cases are in Lea County. Sandoval County near Albuquerque has six cases, Eddy County has three, Doña Ana County has two. Chaves, Curry and San Juan counties have one each. An unvaccinated adult died of measles-related illness March 6. The person did not seek medical care. How many cases are there in Oklahoma? Oklahoma added one case last week for a total of 15 confirmed and three probable cases. The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases. How many cases are there in Colorado? Colorado has seen a total of 12 measles cases in 2025, which includes one outbreak of seven related cases. The […]

Moving: Argentina’s President Sheds a Tear at the Kosel

Matzav -

Upon his arrival in Israel on Monday evening, Argentine President Javier Milei made his way straight to the Kosel, where he paused to pray, opening his second official trip to the country since assuming office.

Just as he did during his last visit, Milei prioritized a stop at the Kosel before engaging in any other activities. He was joined by a high-level Argentine delegation, including Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein, Presidential General Secretary Karina Milei, Argentina’s Ambassador to Israel Shimon Axel Wahnish, and the ambassador’s wife.

Greeting him at the site were Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz, rov of the Kosel and mekomos hakedoshim, along with Mordechai (Suli) Eliav, who heads the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.

Both Rav Rabinowitz and Eliav took the opportunity to thank President Milei for his unwavering commitment to the State of Israel and the Jewish people, noting his continued engagement with Jewish communities around the globe.

During the moving visit, the president joined Rav Rabinowitz in reciting a kappitel from Tehillim and offered a personal prayer asking for the hostages to be safely returned to their families.

While standing before the historic Kosel stones, Milei became visibly emotional, brushing tears from his face. “I thank you for the warm and heartfelt welcome. I will always support the people of Israel wholeheartedly, because this is a just cause for the West as well,” Milei said.

Before leaving, he inscribed a brief message in the Kosel guestbook that read: “Freedom for Zion.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Herzog’s Request & HaRav Dovid Yosef’s Response

Yeshiva World News -

A swearing-in ceremony was held on Tuesday at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem for 28 new dayanim. During the ceremony, President Isaac Herzog spoke and asked the Rabbanin to declare a national day of fasting for the hostages in Gaza. Herzog spoke about the many shailos posed to dayanim since the start of the war in Gaza, including “shailos about Shabatot and Chagim in enemy territory, questions on matters of kashrut, morality in times of battle, tefillos or brachos. And unfortunately, also questions on matters of taharos hameisim and their kavod, and the preservation of their seed, as well as regarding pidyom shevuim, and of course identification of bodies. The continuous stream of shailos arriving from the battlefield to the Batei Medrash – requires creativity, daring, depth, and courage from the poskim to translate the rich world of halacha to be most relevant for the individual and society as a whole in a Jewish and democratic state.” “This responsibility for the State of Israel, the beginning of the growth of our redemption, and this important halachic mission now rests on the shoulders of you dear Rabbanim, dear dayanim,” Herzog continued. “In this moving moment, as you enter the Batei Din with strength and humility, I remind you of what we need at this time: Torah scholars who are well-versed not only in the intricacies of Abaye and Rava, and not only in the ways of the world, science, and the state, but also and primarily Torah scholars who dwell among their people, those who feel the pain of the public and rejoice in its joy. “I would like to conclude with a tefillah and a cry for our abducted brothers. These are turbulent, challenging, and extremely sensitive days, in which I repeat my call to act more and more. There has been ongoing negotiations in the last 24 hours. We must act in every way, step, and tool at our disposal – and initiate, creatively, responsibly, and with commitment – steps that will bring them home urgently. All of them – until the last one. “You, esteemed Rabbanim and dayanim – as important public leaders – have an important role in this effort – to awaken the hearts of the people and the decision-makers and tear open the gates of heaven for the hostages. I call on you to get involved, and I suggest acting with all your might, first and foremost, to declare a day of fasting  for our sisters and brothers held by murderers.” Chief Rabbi HaRav Dovid Yosef responded: “We accept the president’s request. In the coming days, we will declare a day of tefillah for all Acheinu Bnei Yisrael who are in distress and captivity, and our soldiers who are on the battlefield. We hope, b’ezrat Hashem, that even before we manage to do so, we will be informed of good news.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

EQUIVALENCE? VP Vance Says Suffering of “Innocent Palestinians and Innocent Israeli Hostages” Is “Heartbreaking’

Matzav -

Vice President J.D. Vance described the conflict in Gaza as “heartbreaking” and made an emotional appeal for the violence to end and for additional humanitarian support to reach Palestinian civilians.

Speaking on comedian Theo Von’s podcast, Vance reflected on the suffering caused by the war. “I am a human being, so when I look at these images, when I watch the videos, my heart breaks. There are innocent people—innocent Palestinians and innocent Israeli hostages—caught in terrible violence. We’re doing everything we can to get them support and assistance, as much as humanly possible.”

Vance reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself following a brutal assault. He reminded listeners of how the war started. “Israel had been ‘attacked by a horrific terrorist organization,’” he noted, emphasizing that many forget it began with “a terrible terrorist attack that killed many innocent Israeli civilians.” He called for efforts toward a ceasefire that would both safeguard Israelis from future Hamas attacks and ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians. “In many ways, they’re stuck in the middle of this too,” he said.

He expressed concern over the harsh tone of public discourse surrounding the conflict. “I don’t like it. Many on the left ignore the massacre of Israeli civilians. But too many on the right dismiss the suffering of Palestinian children by saying they deserved it. That is wrong. If you have a soul, your heart should break for a suffering child.”

Vance spoke of President Donald Trump’s involvement, referring to him as “the president of peace,” and said Trump is actively working to help end the conflict. “The longer it goes on, the more suffering and death take place. We’re not sitting back—we’re talking to everyone: Israel, Arab leaders, people from the Palestinian territories. It’s all diplomacy, all the time.”

He also took aim at Republicans who downplay the harm inflicted on Palestinian civilians. “I have seen people on my side respond to footage of wounded children by saying it serves them right. That cannot be the response of a people who claim to stand for life and liberty.”

Vance defended Trump’s strategy, noting that while his administration firmly supports Israel, it recognizes that dialogue is essential. “To end any conflict, you have to talk to everyone. So they attacked him and they attacked me, for being ‘too pro-diplomacy.’ But if our taxpayers’ money is involved, we have to demand a real effort to solve this.”

He dismissed accusations of genocide against Israel, saying such claims misrepresent the reality on the ground. “I do not believe Israel is trying to murder every Palestinian. They are targeting a terrorist group that launched a brutal attack. War is a terrible thing, but this is not genocide.”

Vance also defended U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has come under fire from some critics. He pushed back strongly on those questioning Witkoff’s dedication. “Steve is a deeply pro-Israel Jew who works every day to bring this war to an end. He is also a father who lost a child and a man who believes every life has value. To call him not pro-Israel enough is absurd and cruel.”

He reiterated his support for Witkoff’s character and mission. “I see him work every day. He’s a Jew who believes in Israel’s right to exist, but he’s also a man with a heart trying to stop the killing. When I say this debate is stripping away our humanity, I think about the constant attacks on Steve. This is a man who’s also a father—he lost a son to an overdose—and he’s someone who loves people, who believes in the value of human life and he’s doing a very good job.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

FM Sa’ar Slams UK’s Decision To Sanction Israeli Ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich

Yeshiva World News -

The UK plans on implementing sanctions on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over statements the two ministers made on Gaza, The Times of London reported on Tuesday. According to the report, the UK’s move will be replicated by Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. The report quotes several remarks made by the two ministers about so-called “innocent Gazan civilians,” such as “Gaza will be completely destroyed” and Ben-Gvir’s call to advance the voluntary emigrations of Gazans. In an address to Parliament last,  British Foreign Secretary David Lammy called their remarks “monstrous.” In response to the report, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told the media: “We were updated on the UK’s decision to include two of our ministers on the British sanctions list. It is an outrage that elected officials and government members are subjected to such measures.” “I spoke about this earlier today with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and we will hold a special cabinet meeting at the beginning of next week to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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