Feed aggregator

FBI Director Kash Patel Reveals His Home Was ‘Swatted’

Matzav -

FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed that his home was the target of a swatting attempt, a malicious tactic that endangers both the intended victim and responding officers.

During a conversation with Joe Rogan, Patel made the revelation about the recent incident, according to a Fox 5 report published Friday.

“As director of the FBI I have a responsibility. I’m not just gonna bring a case because somebody hurt me. They did, and they continue to do it. Shit, my house just got swatted yesterday,” he told Rogan, who reacted with disbelief.

“You got swatted?” Rogan asked. Patel confirmed. “The head of the FBI gets swatted?” Rogan pressed again.

“Yeah, these people play… it’s the ultimate height of hypocrisy. They have two sets of rules, one against you and one for them,” Patel stated.

Earlier this year, Breitbart News reported that multiple prominent conservative figures were targeted in a spate of swatting incidents within a short period in March.

Swatting is a dangerous hoax in which someone places a false emergency call — often masked by VPNs or spoofed phone numbers — reporting a violent crime such as a shooting or hostage situation. The aim is to provoke a heavily armed police response to an unsuspecting person’s home, sometimes with fatal consequences.

In response to the increasing number of these incidents, Patel took to X to condemn the practice, stating: “The FBI is aware of this dangerous trend, and my team and I are already taking action to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.”

“This isn’t about politics,” Patel wrote. “Weaponizing law enforcement against ANY American is not only morally reprehensible but also endangers lives, including those of our officers. That will not be tolerated.”

He added that the bureau is “fully committed to working with local law enforcement to crack down on these crimes,” and assured the public that “more updates” would follow.

According to Fox, the swatting attempt at Patel’s home occurred around 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Fortunately, police contacted the residence and determined the report was false before deploying emergency units.

Patel was confirmed to his position as head of the FBI in February, despite opposition from Democrats attempting to derail his appointment.

{Matzav.com}

Fire on Jerusalem’s Or Elchanan Street Injures Worker Near Yeshiva, Man Hospitalized with Burns

Yeshiva World News -

A fire broke out on Sunday on the roof of a building on Or Elchanan Street in Jerusalem’s Romema neighborhood, near the Or Elchanan Yeshiva. A worker, who was repairing an air conditioner at the site, was moderately injured with burns. MDA paramedics and EMTs provided medical treatment and evacuating a man, approximately 40 years old, in moderate condition with burns to his upper body, to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

Passenger on Ship Madeline Reports Nearing Gaza

Yeshiva World News -

Yasmine Assar, one of the passengers on board the ship Madeline stated: “We are 160 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip… We don’t know exactly when we will arrive… In the next 24 hours we will know what the situation is better… The closer we get to Gaza, the closer we get to the Israeli forces.

YERUSHALAYIM: Young Girls Flee In Panic Following Explosion; Maintenance Worker Hospitalized

Yeshiva World News -

A fire broke out Sunday morning on the roof of a building near Yeshivas Or Elchonon on Or Elchonon Street in the Romema neighborhood of Yerushalayim. Video footage from the scene shows girls from the nearby Bnos Hadassah elementary school fleeing in panic as large flames shot from the building. Firefighters responded quickly and extinguished the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to other parts of the building. Nearby residents were evacuated,  and nearby gas canisters removed to avert further danger, according to fire officials. During the operation, firefighters rescued a worker trapped on the roof who had sustained injuries while performing maintenance work. According to medics at the scene, the worker — a man in his 40s — was repairing an air conditioner when an explosion occurred. He suffered burns to his upper body and was in moderate condition when he was transported by Magen David Adom to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center. Emergency personnel from both Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah provided initial treatment at the scene. Fire crews remained on-site to fully contain the blaze and ensure the structural safety of the building and its occupants. Jerusalem District Police have opened an investigation into the incident as a workplace accident. According to initial findings, the injured man was an air conditioning technician who may have been injured by an exploding compressor during maintenance work. The incident has been reported to the Ministry of Labor for further investigation. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Recaptured Arkansas Prison Escapee Known as the ‘Devil in the Ozarks’ Sent to SuperMax Prison

Yeshiva World News -

Convicted killer and recaptured prison escapee Grant Hardin, known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” has been transferred to the Varner SuperMax prison southeast of Little Rock, Arkansas prison authorities announced Saturday. After a nearly two-week search in the rugged mountains of northern Arkansas, authorities recaptured Hardin on Friday 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northwest of the prison from which he escaped. Hardin briefly attempted to run from officers when he saw them approach, but he was quickly tackled to the ground, said Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system. Authorities tried to track Hardin using drones, bloodhounds and a helicopter, but high water from heavy rains during the search raised the water level in creeks and streams around the prison. That likely limited his abilities — and also those of the searchers — to move through the rugged terrain, Champion said. “The direction he went, specifically around Moccasin Creek, saw high water due to the abundance of rain the last few weeks, which more than likely limited his options to get around the area,” Champion said. “Search teams had looked through this area before, but the high water previously limited their ability to fully investigate.” Residents of the nearby town of Calico Rock, like Roger Simons, said they were surprised to learn that Hardin had stayed so close to the prison. “None of us really thought he was still in the area,” said Simons, a local bartender. “We thought he was long gone — that’s what I would have bet my money on.” Hardin had been held at the Calico Rock prison since 2017 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in a fatal shooting. He escaped by impersonating a corrections officer “in dress and manner,” according to a court document. A prison officer in one of the guard towers opened a secure gate, allowing him to walk out of the facility. Authorities say they are investigating why Hardin’s identity was not checked before he was allowed to leave. Benton County Prosecutor Bryan Sexton, who oversaw Hardin’s convictions for murder and rape, said he had been in close contact with law enforcement officials who were “consistent” with their belief that Hardin remained in the northern Arkansas region. Hardin is a former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border whose notoriety led to a TV documentary called “Devil in the Ozarks.” Sexton said his escape had significantly disrupted the lives of trial witnesses and Hardin’s victims, whom he kept updated on the pursuit for the fugitive. “Every one of them to a person informed me that they had to make changes in their lives because they had had concerns for their safety,” Sexton said. After Hardin’s recapture, “they could get closure in their lives and secondly go back to their normal lives, which had been disrupted the whole time he was out,” Sexton said. Cheryl Tillman, the sister of a man shot by Hardin in 2017, told The Associated Press that Hardin’s capture was a “big sigh of relief” for her whole family. “We don’t have to walk around, turning around all the time, thinking somebody’s on our back,” Tillman said, emphasizing her appreciation for the officers who helped capture Hardin. Sexton said he was more assured now that Hardin was being sent to a […]

Shock and Outrage as Rav Yitzchok Yosef’s Beis Medrash Set Ablaze in Yerushalayim

Matzav -

In a deeply disturbing incident overnight, the beis medrash of the former Rishon LeTzion, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, was set on fire in the Sanhedria neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

The blaze, which authorities have described as an act of arson, destroyed the rav‘s chair and some sefarim.

Security footage from the scene revealed harrowing images of the fire tearing through the beis medrash, while walls nearby were found vandalized with swastikas and Christian symbols, evidence pointing to an antisemitic hate crime.

The shul that was targeted is Or Chaviv, where Rav Yitzchak Yosef regularly davens and delivers shiurim. The perpetrators apparently gained access overnight and deliberately set fire to the shul.

Surveillance cameras documented the attack, and images from the scene show the devastating aftermath of the blaze.

Israeli police launched an immediate investigation and are treating the incident with utmost seriousness. Graffiti discovered on an adjacent building include crosses and other markings.

Volunteers from the Mishmar security team were among the first to notice heavy smoke emerging from the building in the early hours of the morning. They quickly assisted fire and rescue services in containing the blaze and joined police in combing the area for suspects.

“We arrived at the shul and saw the flames. We rushed to help the emergency teams,” recounted Moshe Mishali, Yona Diamond, and Shlomo Richmond, three volunteers with Mishmar. “But nothing could have prepared us for the horrifying sights we saw—the burned-out shul, the desecration, and hateful symbols scrawled nearby.”

Minister of Religious Affairs Michael Malchieli issued a forceful condemnation: “These shocking images, with clear antisemitic symbols in the Or Chaviv shul where Maran Rishon LeTzion Harav Yitzchak Yosef shlita davens, are deeply disturbing. All religious leaders—of all faiths—must denounce such vile acts. I call upon the Israeli Police to act swiftly and with full force against the perpetrators of this disgraceful crime.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Colombian Presidential Hopeful in Critical Condition After Being Shot in the Head

Yeshiva World News -

Colombian Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay, a possible candidate in the country’s presidential election next year, was shot and wounded at a campaign rally in Bogota on Saturday, authorities said. His conservative Democratic Center party released a statement calling it “an unacceptable act of violence.” The attack took place in a park in the Fontibon neighborhood when armed assailants shot him from behind, said the right-wing Democratic Center, which was the party of former President Alvaro Uribe. The men are not related. Images circulating on social media showed Uribe Turbay, 39, covered in blood being held by several people. A medical report from the Santa Fe Foundation hospital said the senator was admitted in critical condition and is undergoing a “neurosurgical and peripheral vascular procedure.” “Miguel is fighting for his life,” his wife, María Claudia Tarazona, wrote on the senator’s X account, urging Colombians to pray for him. The Attorney General’s Office, which is investigating the shooting, said the senator received two gunshot wounds in the attack, which wounded two others. The statement from the office said a 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene with a firearm. Colombia’s government said it was offering a reward for the capture of all those responsible. “Respect life, that’s the red line,” President Gustavo Petro said in a message posted on his X account. Shortly after making the post, Petro canceled a planned trip to France “due to the seriousness of the events,” according to a presidential statement. Late Saturday night, after leading an extraordinary Security Council session, Colombia’s first leftist president promised “complete transparency” in the investigation and to find the intellectual authors of the attack. He also promised an investigation into any failures by the senator’s bodyguards. Uribe Turbay is the son of a journalist who was kidnapped and killed in 1991 during one of the country’s most violent periods. Colombia will hold a presidential election on May 31, 2026, marking the end of Petro’s term. The senator announced his presidential bid in March. Colombian police chief Gen. Carlos Triana said that at the time of the attack Uribe Turbay was accompanied by Councilman Andrés Barrios and 20 other people. A minor who allegedly participated in the attack was apprehended at the scene and was being treated for a leg injury, he said. “I have ordered the Colombian military and police forces and intelligence agencies to deploy all their capabilities to urgently clarify the facts,” said Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the “United State condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe.” and he urged President Petro “to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials.” “This is a direct threat to democracy and the result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government,” Rubio said. Reactions poured in from around Latin America, with Chilean President Gabriel Boric saying “there is no room or justification for violence in a democracy,” and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa saying “we condemn all forms of violence and intolerance.” Both presidents offered solidarity to the senator’s family. In Colombia, former President Uribe said “they attacked the hope of the country, a great husband, father, son, brother, a great colleague.” (AP)

Government Initiates Proceedings To Fire Attorney-General

Yeshiva World News -

As decided last week, the government held a meeting on Sunday and approved the initiation of proceedings to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. The cabinet also approved the proposal of Justice Minister Yariv Levin regarding a change in the procedure for dismissing Baharav-Miara. The change allows the Attorney-General to be dismissed by a special ministerial committee without the requirement to consult the selection committee that appointed her. Immediately upon approval, Levin sent a letter to the ministerial committee asking it to hold a hearing for Baharav-Miara and then issue a decision on dismissing her. The committee is comprised of representatives of the coalition parties, including its chairman, Minister Amichai Chikli (Likud), Minister Betzalel Smotrich (Religious Zionist party), Itamar Ben Gvir (Otzma Yehudit), Gila Gamliel (Likud), and Michael Malchieli (Shas). Since the UTJ party announced its intention to dissolve the Knesset, it will not have a representative on the committee. Earlier on Sunday, the Attorney General’s Office issued an angry legal opinion on the change, claiming  that “the government’s hasty decision to change the method of termination of the Attorney General’s tenure is illegal and contradicts the Supreme Court’s ruling.” She also claimed that the new procedure “politicizes” the position. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)  

‘He’s Gone So Nuclear’: Vance Isn’t Sure Musk Could Rejoin The MAGA Fold

Matzav -

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that Elon Musk may have burned too many bridges to repair his standing with President Donald Trump, following a recent clash that escalated rapidly and publicly.

Vance found himself having to address Musk’s string of critical social media posts in real time while recording an episode of a podcast. Among Musk’s accusations was a claim that Trump appeared in the “Epstein files.”

Speaking on the podcast episode released yesterday, Vance condemned Musk’s comments, calling the outburst a serious miscalculation. “I’m always going to be loyal to the president, and I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold,” Vance said, with a portrait of Trump behind him. “Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear.”

The fallout between Trump and Musk has grown increasingly hostile over the past week. The deteriorating relationship came to a head when Musk — who previously held the role of Department of Government Efficiency chief — publicly criticized Trump, dredging up Epstein-related allegations and even suggesting Trump should be removed from office.

Although Trump’s name has appeared in court-released documents tied to the Epstein case, no allegations of criminal conduct have ever been made against him in connection to Epstein.

Musk’s attacks seem to stem, at least in part, from his dissatisfaction with a major spending initiative endorsed by Trump. He claims the bill will significantly deepen the federal deficit. In response, Trump fired back, publicly mocking Musk’s mental state and hinting that the tech mogul’s government contracts might be in jeopardy.

A large number of Republican officials have stood behind Trump during the feud, including Vance, who made it clear where his loyalties lie. “If he and the president are in some blood feud, most importantly it’s going to be bad for the country, but I don’t think it’s going to be good for Elon either,” Vance told podcast host Theo Von.

Though Musk eventually removed the post accusing Trump of being part of the “Epstein list,” he has continued to reference the accusation indirectly in other posts.

Vance expressed disbelief that Musk would provoke such a high-stakes conflict. “I just think it’s a huge mistake for the world’s wealthiest man … to be at this war with the world’s most powerful man,” he said during the show.

{Matzav.com}

MAILBAG: Our Kehilla Is Suffering A Serious Crisis of Basic Mentchlichkeit

Yeshiva World News -

This past Shavuos night, I witnessed something that deeply disturbed me—and it wasn’t just the emergency unfolding on my block. A Hatzalah call had brought flashing lights and urgent voices into our quiet street. But as the dedicated responders worked to assist someone in distress, what stood out most was the crowd that quickly gathered. Neighbors poured out of their homes—still dressed in Yom Tov attire—watching the scene as if it were a public spectacle. Some stood and stared. Others whispered and pointed. One child even walked up to the very door of the house where the emergency was taking place, trying to get a closer look. The Hatzalah member on scene asked—not once, but countless times—for space, for privacy, for dignity. Those pleas were largely ignored. And I couldn’t help but wonder: Where were the parents? How is it that children were left to stand outside and treat someone’s pain like entertainment? How could any of us allow that? What kind of message are we sending to the next generation about kavod habriyos—about basic human respect? So I ask: Where’s the menschlichkeit in our community? Where is our sense of decency, compassion, and respect? At a moment when a fellow Yid was in crisis, we lost sight of what it means to be a true am kadosh. Hatzalah volunteers are not only first responders—they are sacred responders, dropping everything, even on Yom Tov, to save lives. The very least we can do is honor their efforts by giving them space and ensuring the people they’re helping are treated with dignity. We pride ourselves on being a community of Torah and chesed. Let’s make sure that our behavior—and our children’s behavior—reflects those ideals, both inside and outside our homes. Name withheld upon request  The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

WATCH LIVE ON MATZAV: Adirei Hatorah 5785 at Wells Fargo Arena

Matzav -

Tonight’s Adirei Hatorah event is being held at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, PA.

The event is taking place as part of the annual campaign to raise funds to cover the kollel budget of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the event is being held, a continuation of an initiative started several years ago. This is also the fourth consecutive year that Matzav.com is providing you with a full broadcast of the event.

There’s no need for you to go anywhere else for full coverage of the event. You can watch it from beginning to end right here on Matzav.com. 

WATCH THE FULL EVENT LIVE HERE ON MATZAV.COM BEGINNING AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM:

{Matzav.com}

Drinking Sugar May Be Worse Than Eating It, Study Finds

Matzav -

New research indicates that consuming sugar in liquid form could pose a greater health risk than once believed.

The findings come from an international study led by Brigham Young University (BYU) in partnership with institutions in Germany. Researchers examined health data from more than 500,000 individuals across various regions and discovered a strong connection between sugar-sweetened beverages—like soda and juice—and a heightened likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, sugars found in solid foods didn’t show the same correlation and were in some cases even tied to reduced diabetes risk.

Karen Della Corte, the study’s principal investigator and a professor of nutritional science at BYU, emphasized that this was the first time a study clearly established a “dose-response” link between different kinds of sugar intake and diabetes risk. “It highlights why drinking your sugar, whether from soda or juice, is more problematic for health than eating it,” said Della Corte.

The report points to metabolic differences as a likely explanation. Sugars found in sweetened drinks are rapidly absorbed and can spike blood sugar levels, leading to liver dysfunction and increased fat accumulation. This process contributes to insulin resistance—one of the key mechanisms behind Type 2 diabetes.

In contrast, naturally occurring sugars in foods like fruit, whole grains, and dairy come packaged with fiber, fats, or proteins, which help regulate how sugar is processed in the body. These components ease the impact on blood sugar and prevent the liver from becoming overloaded.

“This study underscores the need for even more stringent recommendations for liquid sugars such as those in sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice, as they appear to harmfully associate with metabolic health,” Della Corte said. “Rather than condemning all added sugars, future dietary guidelines might consider the differential effects of sugar based on its source and form.”

The peer-reviewed study has been published in the Advances in Nutrition journal.

{Matzav.com}

Pages

Subscribe to NativUSA Portal aggregator