Feed aggregator

SOUTH BLOOMING GROVE NEAR KJ: Firefighters from the Village of South Blooming Grove Fire Department (Dept 60) responded to a kitchen fire that broke out in a Jewish home on Dallas Drive. The kitchen was fully engulfed in flames, but crews successfully prevented the fire from spreading further. Assistance was provided by Independence Fire Company, Salisbury Mills FD, Washingtonville FD, South Blooming Grove EMS, Blooming Grove Ambulance, Chaveirim of Orange County, and the Blooming Grove Police Department.

President Donald Trump urged Americans to remain calm and give his economic strategies time to take effect, emphasizing that the challenges currently facing the economy stem from the prior administration.

Posting on Truth Social Wednesday, Trump addressed concerns over financial turbulence during the early months of his presidency.

“This is Biden’s Stock Market, not Trump’s. I didn’t take over until January 20th. Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers,” he stated in his message.

Trump expressed optimism for the future, insisting that the current difficulties are unrelated to his trade policies and instead blamed the previous leadership for leaving behind economic instability.

“Our Country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden ‘Overhang.’ This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!!”

Financial markets reflected concern on Wednesday morning, with major indexes sliding after new government data showed the U.S. economy had contracted during the first quarter of the year.

The report revealed that GDP dropped by 0.3% from January through March, marking the first downturn in three years. Analysts attributed the decline to a spike in imports, as American businesses rushed to stockpile goods ahead of Trump’s new tariffs.

Despite the economic pullback, consumer spending remained strong. The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that personal consumption rose 0.7% in March, building on February’s revised growth figure of 0.5%.

In a notable policy shift, Trump moved Tuesday to ease some of the 25% tariffs targeting the auto industry. His new executive orders provide temporary relief for importers of cars and auto parts.

“We just wanted to help them during this little transition, short term,” Trump explained to members of the press. “We didn’t want to penalize them.”

Momentum in Washington suggested a softening stance on trade disputes, as officials hinted that selective agreements with individual nations might be on the horizon.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that several key allies had submitted “very good” trade offers, adding that an initial agreement could be finalized with India in the coming days.

{Matzav.com}

The moment headlines revealed that the Food and Drug Administration would be halting federal testing of commercial milk, the Orthodox Union’s kosher hotline was flooded with concerned inquiries, JTA reports.

“The flood of inquiries was off the hook … crazy: emails, calls, WhatsApp, everything,” Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer, who leads the dairy division at OU Kosher, told JTA.

People were reaching out to express fears that the change in federal policy might jeopardize the kosher status of standard supermarket milk. Since 1954, many frum Jews in America have relied on a ruling by Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l that federal monitoring of the dairy industry suffices to ensure its kashrus.

Halacha dictates that milk can only be considered kosher if it originates from a kosher species. One way to ensure this is through direct Jewish supervision over the milking process—something that was once feasible but is impractical in modern industrial settings.

Rav Moshe, the posek hador, ruled that stringent government oversight could substitute for some elements of Jewish supervision. Given that U.S. law mandates that only cow’s milk can be labeled as milk, and that federal inspectors regularly visit dairies to enforce regulations, he concluded that this system was sufficient for Jews to rely on.

But the question now arises: if the federal framework changes or is rolled back, does Rav Moshe’s psak still stand?

According to Rabbi Gordimer, the answer is yes. After carefully examining what has and hasn’t changed at the FDA, the OU determined that the situation does not impact the kosher status of milk.

“This development has no impact whatsoever on the kosher status of ‘chalav stam’ that Rabbi Feinstein permitted in the US, as the primary oversight of farms and dairy factories is performed by state governments; the FDA is a mere secondary body for this purpose,” he said by email.

Furthermore, Rabbi Gordimer clarified that the testing recently suspended by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pertains only to identifying certain banned substances or contaminants. The actual physical inspections of dairy plants—which are central to Rav Moshe’s ruling—are still taking place.

“There has been no change in inspections, which are ongoing,” Gordimer said.

Additionally, the regulation that prohibits labeling anything other than cow’s milk as “milk” remains firmly in effect.

Nevertheless, reports about the regulatory changes have triggered anxiety in the kosher community. One user on the Facebook group Great Kosher Restaurant Foodies posted: “Are we seeing the first step in the end of chalav stam…”

Some segments of the Jewish community have never relied on Rav Moshe’s ruling and consume only cholov Yisroel, milk that is supervised by Jews throughout the process. However, cholov Yisroel milk is less widely available outside the tri-state area.

While OU Kosher and health experts insist there’s no immediate risk, the decision to scale back milk testing could be a sign that kashrus agencies will need to stay vigilant as broader reforms take shape under the Trump administration. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who holds unconventional views on several issues, has signaled he intends to overhaul policies touching everything from vaccines and water fluoridation to food safety regulations.

{Matzav.com}

When Florida state Rep. Fiona McFarland’s infant daughter, Grace Melton, crawled for the first time, the mom of four was right next door, hard at work with her legislative policy staff in the state Capitol. Thanks to the on-site child care available in the statehouse, McFarland didn’t miss that magical first milestone in her 7-month-old’s young life. “The sitter I had with her just grabbed me out of my meeting right next door and I came over and got to witness it,” McFarland recalled. As more women and young people run for public office, they’re bringing more than fresh policy ideas to statehouses — some are bringing their kids. Like working parents across the country, some lawmakers are scrambling to find child care that fits their often unpredictable schedules, at a price they can afford. Rushing back and forth from their districts, they juggle meetings with constituents and coordinate their children’s drop-offs, power through late-night floor sessions and step out to pump breast milk between votes, hoping to make it home for their kids’ bedtime. “Looking back, I’m like, ‘How did I do that?'” Michigan state Sen. Stephanie Chang said, recalling those frenzied years when she was a new legislator and a new mom. The Democrat used to race across the state with her baby and freezer bags of milk in tow, leaving her daughter with family members so she could make her 9 a.m. committee meetings at the state Capitol in Lansing. In one of the few industrialized countries that lacks universal paid family leave, Chang says America’s child care crunch is keeping some parents from running for public office because they simply “cannot make it all work,” ultimately leaving young families with fewer advocates to help decide “what we’re doing for the future of our children.” Advocates push for more support, as more young parents get elected Some state capitols, which were mostly built before women could vote, still lack enough accessible bathrooms, advocates say, let alone spaces to comfortably change a baby’s diaper or nurse an infant. “Legislators legislate based on their lived experience,” said Liuba Grechen Shirley, founder of the Vote Mama Foundation, which pushes to break barriers that moms face while running for office. “We have terrible policies that fail women and children across the country because we don’t have enough moms serving at any level of government,” she said. As of this year, 33% of state legislators were women, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. Fewer than 8% of those lawmakers are moms of minor children, a Vote Mama analysis found. Statehouses’ child care offerings largely lag behind other workplaces, but advocates say they’re gaining some ground. The Virginia House of Delegates now gives a child care stipend to members with young kids to help cover their expenses during session. At least two-thirds of states allow candidates of any gender running for public office to use campaign funds to pay for child care expenses after the Federal Elections Commission approved the practice for federal candidates in 2018. A child care space just for Florida lawmakers Inside the echoing halls of Florida’s Capitol, amid the chattering of lobbyists and the clicking of high heels, the voices of children like Grace can be heard as they play inside two on-site […]

POTUS ON THE ECONOMY: “We’re turning it around. It’s a big ship to turn around, and we’re going to have the greatest country, financially, in the history of the world, I believe… We reset the table… We were losing four to five — to even six billion dollars a day on trade with Biden.”

Trump on Mark Carney winning the Canadian election: “I think we’re going to have a great relationship. He called me up yesterday and said ‘let’s make a deal.'”

President Trump took ABC’s Terry Moran to task during a contentious interview marking Trump’s 100th day back in office, bluntly stating why he agreed to speak with him—and delivering a dose of personal humiliation in the process.

“Hey, they’re giving you the big break of a lifetime, you know you’re doing the interview,” Trump said. “I picked you because frankly, I never heard of you.”

As the interview grew more confrontational, Trump expressed his displeasure with Moran’s tone. “I picked you, but you’re not being very nice,” he complained.

The fiery exchange came as Moran questioned the president over the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, raising doubts about whether the man’s tattoos were legitimate proof of gang affiliation.

Abrego Garcia drew national attention after being removed from Maryland and sent back to El Salvador, where he has been in custody since March 15.

Trump pointed to Abrego Garcia’s hand tattoos, claiming they were an unmistakable sign of his ties to the notorious MS-13 gang.

“Wait a minute, he had ‘MS-13’ on his knuckles,” Trump said, referring to the markings seen on the man’s left hand.

Moran responded cautiously, saying, “Oh, he had some tattoos that were interpreted that way,” before attempting to pivot to another question.

Photos of the tattoos showed several images—among them a marijuana leaf, a smiley face, a cross, and a skull—etched across the back of Abrego Garcia’s hand.

Observers have claimed the combination of images visually represented the sequence “M S 1 3.”

Moran tried steering the discussion away from the subject, but Trump pushed back firmly.

“Wait a minute, Terry, Terry, don’t do that. It says MS-13,” Trump said, referencing an image shared by the White House that purportedly broke down the tattoo’s symbolism.

Moran countered that the image had been digitally altered. Trump dismissed the claim immediately.

“That was photoshopped? Terry, you can’t do that,” Trump said, slamming Moran once again by pointing out his lack of prominence.

Elsewhere in the sit-down, Moran pushed Trump on the broader policy of deporting alleged gang members without full court proceedings.

“The law is the law,” Moran insisted, pressing Trump on due process.

Trump held his ground, saying, “They get whatever my lawyers say,” when asked about the legal standards being applied.

Moran returned to the subject of Abrego Garcia, whom Trump described in blunt terms.

“This is an MS-13 gang member, a tough cookie, been in lots of skirmishes, beat the hell out of his wife,” Trump said.

Court records show that Abrego Garcia’s wife sought a protective order in 2021 following claims of domestic violence.

“OK? This is not an innocent, wonderful gentleman from Maryland,” Trump continued.

Moran responded by clarifying his stance. “I’m not saying [Abrego Garcia] is a good guy,” he said. “It’s about the rule of law.”

The interview took another heated turn when Moran questioned Trump’s stance on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I don’t trust you,” Trump shot back. “I don’t trust a lot of people.”

{Matzav.com}

Following an intense firefight moments ago, Israeli forces airlifted several injured Syrian Druze to Ziv Hospital in Tzfas.

JUST IN: Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking at the fire command center as emergency personnel continue to battle the massive wildfires.

Israeli Housing and Construction Minister Yitzchok Goldknopf of United Torah Judaism announced on Wednesday morning that he would not be attending the Memorial Day ceremony scheduled in Kiryat Gat. His decision came after concerns were raised that his presence might provoke demonstrations, which he said could lead to a breach of the day’s solemn atmosphere.

Instead of appearing at the event, Goldknopf stated that he would head to Yerushalayim, where he planned to spend time reciting Tehillim in remembrance of those who died in Israel’s wars and in acts of terror.

Speaking to Maariv on Tuesday, Chaim Saadon, whose brother Avner was killed in Lebanon in 1972, and who was among the signatories of a letter urging Goldknopf to stay away from the ceremony, said: “I, as a bereaved brother for over 50 years, simply feel insulted by the way this is being done. People who preach not to enlist in the military come to speak about fallen soldiers, I’m not even talking about Goldknopf’s personal behavior.”

Saadon went on to say: “It’s not just him, it’s all the chareidi ministers who go; they insult us by the fact that they don’t enlist, and they insult us that on the holiest and most significant day of the year for us, they want to come and speak at the state ceremony. I think you can’t lend a hand to this.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A fire tore through a hotel in the city of Kolkata in eastern India, killing at least 14 people, police said Wednesday. Senior police officer Manoj Kumar Verma told reporters that the fire broke out Tuesday evening at the Rituraj Hotel in central Kolkata and was doused after an effort that took six fire engines. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. Photos and videos carried in Indian media showed people trying to escape through the windows and narrow ledges of the building. Kolkata’s The Telegraph newspaper reported that at least one person died when he jumped off the terrace trying to escape. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that he was “anguished” by the loss of lives in the fire. Fires are common in India, where builders and residents often flout building laws and safety codes. Activists say builders often cut corners on safety to save costs and have accused civic authorities of negligence and apathy. In 2022, at least 27 people were killed when a massive fire tore though a four-story commercial building in New Delhi. (AP)

For the first time ever, the biannual Viznitz Global Convention will take place in Eretz Yisrael, set against the stunning backdrop of the Northern Galilee. This milestone event will mark the first public appearance of the Viznitzer Rebbe shlit”a since undergoing a medical procedure in Los Angeles. The three-day convention will bring together leading Rabbanim, Gedolim, and philanthropists from across the Jewish world. This year’s theme centers on the hilulah of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and serves as a meaningful preparation for Lag Ba’Omer. The highlight of the convention will be a festive gathering on Erev Lag Ba’Omer, Wednesday evening, 17 Iyar. With every detail thoughtfully designed to reflect beauty and dignity, along with uplifting vocal arrangements, the evening is designed to elevate hearts and minds ahead of the journey to Rashbi’s tzion in Meron. A deeply meaningful moment will be the presence of the Viznitzer Rebbe shlit”a, who will inspire participants with his heartfelt words and presence—his first time addressing the public since the procedure. This special Wednesday night event will be open to Torah supporters from around the world, offering a rare opportunity to join Am Yisrael’s most esteemed leaders in a once-in-a-lifetime experience of unity, inspiration, and preparation.

In a moving tribute on Memorial Day, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu donned the tefillin that belonged to Maj. (res.) Yossi Hershkovitz, who was killed in battle. The gesture was meant to honor Hershkovitz’s legacy and the values he stood for.

“On this Memorial Day, I am honored to put on the tefillin of the Hero of Israel, Maj. (res.) Yossi Hershkovitz. Yossi, a wonderful educator, was imbued with true love of Israel. The moment he was called up, he said goodbye to his devoted wife Hadas, and to his children, Ari, Hillel, Tal, Shira and Neta, in order to protect the home of all of us,” Netanyahu wrote.

The prime minister emphasized that Hershkovitz remained deeply connected to his family and the nation even while serving on the front lines. “Even from within the Gaza Strip, he sent strengthening videos to his family, his students, and the people of Israel. Yossi combined a noble spirit with an uncompromising determination to defend our people and our country. In one hand he held a weapon, and in the other he held his violin. We will turn the grief over the fall of the late Yossi Hershkowitz and all our heroes into a melody – the melody of the power of the generation of victory.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Magen David Adom teams are currently assisting in the evacuation of nursing home patients in the Shoresh area in the Jerusalem Hills, following a fire in the region. Over 20 ambulances have been mobilized for the operation, including mobile intensive care units, as well as MDA’s intensive care bus, which is designed for the mass evacuation of patients in complex conditions. The evacuation is being carried out to alternative nursing homes in Jerusalem, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidelines, while ensuring the safety of the patients and the continuity of their medical care. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Magen David Adom is evacuating nursing home patients from the Shoresh area in the Jerusalem Hills due the nearby fire. More than 20 ambulances, including mobile intensive care units and a mass evacuation bus, are in use.

INSANE IMAGE: An Israeli Police officer captured on camera making a dramatic rescue of a father and child from the Jerusalem wildfires.

BQE NEAR WILLIAMSBURG: A serious crash on the eastbound BQE near Exit 32 Wednesday morning left two people unconscious and caused major traffic delays after a vehicle collided with a truck and overturned. The car was totaled, the truck sustained front-end damage, and the NYPD and FDNY responded, transporting the victims to the hospital. The highway remains blocked as emergency crews work to clear the scene.

An Israeli Air Force C-130J Super Hercules heavy transport plane, known in the military as Shimshon, is seen dropping fire retardant material over the raging wildfires.

A fire has also broken out in the Ramot neighborhood in yerushalayim.