Weak population gains and increased government spending will result in slower overall economic growth over the next 30 years, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Thursday. The CBO’s latest long-term budget and economic outlook report — for a timeframe that spans 2025 to 2055 — projects publicly held debt to reach 156% of gross domestic product, or GDP, in 2055. That’s down from the agency’s March 2024 long-term budget projection, which said publicly held debt would be equal to a record 166% of American economic activity by 2054. However, that’s not necessarily a positive. The mix of slower population growth and unfettered spending will also result in weaker economic growth over the next three decades than what the CBO projected last year. Lower birthrates also mean that the United States is becoming more dependent on immigrants working to sustain growth. “Without immigration, the U.S. population would begin to shrink in 2033,” the CBO report states. The report assumes that all the laws set to expire, including certain provisions of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, will expire. But the White House and Republican lawmakers have said that the tax cuts will be renewed and potentially expanded, as well as suggesting reductions in government spending and an increase in revenues by taxing imports. Still, the report’s warnings and its projections for the future also set the stage for the challenges on the debt, government spending and economic growth that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insists the Trump administration can fix. Bessent has advocated for a “3-3-3” plan, which involves getting the federal budget deficit down to 3% of GDP, boosting inflation-adjusted annual GDP growth to 3% and producing the equivalent of an additional 3 million barrels of oil per day by 2028. The treasury secretary has sought to discredit CBO scoring, calling it “crazy.” “I was in the investment business for 35 years, I thought I understood how crazy CBO scoring is,” Bessent told CNBC earlier this month. “And now that I’m on the other side of the wall, I can tell you it’s really crazy. And very unlikely that we are going to get any credit in the CBO scoring for tariffs.” However, CBO warnings about population growth cut into Trump administration policy priorities related to mass deportations, as officials claim that immigrants are fueling high inflation by worsening the housing shortage and depriving U.S. citizens of job opportunities. A decreasing population could have profound negative effects on the economy, as growth depends on adding workers as well as increasing their productivity. Falling population levels could cause a stagnation in living standards and create difficulties in paying down debts as well as funding programs such as Social Security, which is dependent on payroll taxes. The report also comes as the U.S. is on track to hit its statutory debt ceiling — the so-called X-date when the country runs short of money to pay its bills — as early as August without a deal between Congress and the White House. The CBO and the Bipartisan Policy Center this week detailed projections for the U.S. to hit its statutory debt ceiling sometime this summer — as soon as July or August, respectively. (AP)
A month after their kevurah in southern Eretz Yisroel, a matzeiva has been placed for the kedoshim, Shiri Bibas hy”d and her two precious children, Ariel and baby Kfir, Hy”d, who were brutally murdered in Hamas captivity. The matzeiva is tinged with an orange hue, a reflection of the striking orange hair of the Bibas children that became a symbol of support and tefillos for the Bibas family throughout their heartbreaking ordeal. The kever bears the names and affectionate nicknames of the beloved mother and the children, along with heartfelt epitaphs expressing the deep love and pain of their loss. Among the inscriptions, an English phrase captures the overwhelming sense of longing: “It was you who made living all worthwhile, oh lovin’ you it’s the best.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Elon Musk on DOGE: “At a high level, we want to reduce the spending by eliminating waste—reduce the spending by 15%. Which seems really quite achievable. The government is not efficient and there is a lot of waste and fraud.”
A Palestinian Authority Arab living in Israel illegally who is suspected of involvement in the bus bombing attempts in Bat Yam last month was arrested several days later at a branch of the Golda ice cream chain in Bat Yam, Israel Police revealed on Thursday. The suspect was working at the store illegally, without a work permit, and was unsupervised, Ynet reported. His employer paid him in cash. According to court documents, officers went to the store four days after the attack and found the terrorist alone at the scene. Police said that it wasn’t the first time the franchise owner had employed illegal Palestinians and had previously been questioned over similar violations. “The respondent employed an illegal resident and provided him with a substantial source of income, despite the fact that he poses a clear threat to national security and is currently under administrative detention,” Sargrof wrote in the request on Thursday to the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court to extend the closure order on the franchise. “The respondent acted illegally, driven by cynical economic motives and blatant disregard for the public interest, especially at a time when the State of Israel is fighting for its existence.” The court granted the request and extended the closure on the ice cream franchise. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration told Congress during a hearing Thursday about a midair collision over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people that the agency must do more to ensure flying remains safe. The FAA’s artificial intelligence-led review aimed at identifying safety threats at other airports with similar helicopter-airplane congestion should be finished in a couple weeks, said Chris Rocheleau, the agency’s acting administrator. During the hearing, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board and members of Congress again questioned how the FAA hadn’t noticed an alarming number of close calls near Ronald Reagan National Airport and addressed the problem before the January collision between an Army helicopter and a jetliner. The collision over the Potomac River was the nation’s deadliest plane crash since November 2001. “We have to do better,” Rocheleau said. “We have to identify trends, we have to get smarter about how we use data, and when we put corrective actions in place, we must execute them.” The FAA is using AI to dig into the millions of reports it collects to assess other places with busy helicopter traffic including: Boston, New York, Baltimore-Washington, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and along the Gulf Coast. Investigators have highlighted 85 close calls around Reagan airport in the three years before the crash that should have signaled a growing safety problem. Rocheleau told the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that every close call is investigated and the data was reviewed before, but this alarming trend was missed. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said there clearly was an issue with identifying trends in the data the FAA collects. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said he learned that the Secret Service and U.S. Navy triggered a rash of collision alarms in planes around Reagan Airport on March 1 while testing anti-drone technology that used a similar frequency to the one used by planes’ warning systems. Cruz said that happened despite a warning from the FAA against doing it. “This is deeply disturbing that just a month after 67 people died while on approach to DCA (Reagan Airport), that the Secret Service and Pentagon would inadvertently cause multiple flights to receive urgent cockpit alerts recommending evasive action,” Cruz said. Helicopter traffic around Reagan National has been restricted since January any time planes use the same runway the American Airlines plane that crashed was approaching when it collided with the helicopter. At the NTSB’s urging, the FAA permanently banned that particular helicopter route under most circumstances. If a helicopter does use the route, planes are prohibited from taking off or landing on that runway. The U.S. Army’s head of aviation Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman acknowledged that helicopters are still flying over the nation’s capital with a key system broadcasting their locations turned off during missions. The “ADS-B out data” is designed to let air traffic controllers track a helicopter’s location. Cruz said this is “shocking and unacceptable.” The Army says the helicopters’ highest-priority mission is evacuating top government officials in the event of an attack. Braman said the military has changed its policies governing when aircraft must transmit their location, but many helicopters still fly without the system on. There were exceptions in the airspace above Washington that allowed Army and other government aircraft to fly without transmitting, or fly in […]
Editor’s Note: Yeshiva World News (YWN) takes no official position in the ongoing debate regarding participation in the World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections. As always, YWN follows the guidance of its Rabbanim in determining what content to publish and which advertisements to accept. We urge our readers to do the same—seek the counsel of your Rav or Manhig and follow their direction regarding this, and any other hashkafic matter. __________________________________ The debate that has emerged regarding participation in the World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections has brought out passionate voices on both sides insisting that their position is the only legitimate one. Some have gone so far as to brand the opposing view as outright treif—even akin to a blatant chillul Shabbos. Each camp claims the unwavering support of Gedolei Yisroel, portraying the other as misguided at best, or dangerously wrong at worst. But I find myself asking: Who are these Bnei Torah making such absolute pronouncements? Where did they develop their hashkafos, and how did they arrive at such certainty that there is only one correct approach? As a Ben Torah who does not belong to BMG, Ner Yisroel, the Yeshiva Gedolah of Philadelphia, Gateshead, or Aish HaTorah, I see the matter quite differently. It is clear to me that there is a genuine machlokes among Gedolei Yisroel regarding the proper hishtadlus for Klal Yisroel in this arena. And in times like these, I am reminded of the wisdom of Rav Avigdor Miller, zt”l, who was once asked about the well-known dispute between the Gadol HaDor, Rav Shach, zt”l, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt”l. His response was both simple and profound: If you follow a particular Gadol, then follow him. But do not take it upon yourself to declare that the other Gadol is wrong. And if you are an outsider to the dispute, do not involve yourself—“Don’t play with fire.” This perspective is particularly relevant here. On one side of the WZO election debate stand the Roshei Yeshiva of Slabodka, BMG and Ner Yisroel, and on the other, the Roshei Yeshiva of Ponavezh (Rav Bereal Pobvarsky), Philadelphia, Gateshead, and Aish HaTorah. Of course, there are many more Gedolim and Rabbanim who align with each position. Given the legitimacy of both approaches, is it truly necessary—or productive—for us to engage in machlokes over which side is correct? As an outsider to this particular ideological battle, I have made my own decision—I will vote, because the reasoning of the Gedolim who support voting resonates most with me. But I do so with full awareness and respect for the opposing viewpoint, recognizing that it, too, is upheld by esteemed Gedolim. What troubles me is not the discussion itself, but the way it is being conducted. Every Frum Jew is trying—within the best of his abilities—to do what is right in the eyes of Hashem. To use such fiery rhetoric against fellow Torah Jews, simply because they follow a different shita of legitimate Gedolim, is not only unnecessary, but harmful. This extends beyond individual debates and into the broader realm of Jewish media. Take YWN, for example. The individuals who run YWN are Frum Yidden, just like the rest of us. If they are promoting a position supported by recognized Gedolim, that would be perfectly within their right. Demonizing them—or anyone else—for holding […]
Last week, United Hatzalah launched a new operations center in Bnei Brak, which will serve as the nerve center for emergency activities throughout the country. The new center is equipped with an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system that enables early prediction of emergency cases and dynamic adjustment of emergency force deployment – a breakthrough step in improving medical response in Israel. The innovative system is capable of analyzing data in real-time, identifying patterns, and predicting where medical emergencies are likely to occur. United Hatzalah ambulances and volunteers will be able to move closer to strategic points even before an emergency call is received, thereby significantly reducing response times and saving even more lives. Eli Beer, President and Founder of United Hatzalah said “the establishment of the new center represents a significant leap in handling medical emergencies. We are combining the best technologies with the dedication of thousands of volunteers, aiming to reach every patient at maximum speed. The AI system will allow us to prevent unnecessary delays and provide initial treatment during critical times.” David Salach, Director of the Centers Division, added: “The center in Bnei Brak joins the national center located at the organization’s headquarters in Jerusalem, but its uniqueness is the ability to adjust force deployment in advance, even before a call for help is received. The system is based on advanced algorithms that learn from previous emergency call patterns, weather data, traffic congestion, and additional parameters – thereby creating accurate forecasts of high-risk areas in real-time.” The launch of the new center is part of a global trend of integrating smart technologies in emergency medicine, and United Hatzalah is leading this field in Israel with a vision to improve the emergency medical system throughout the country.
The following letter was released by R’ Tzvi Gross, a delegate for Eretz HaKodesh: 26 Adar 5785 March 26, 2025 An Open Letter to all Torah Observant Jews, My name is Tzvi Gross and I registered as a Delegate for Eretz HaKodesh (under my legal name Zachary Gross) for the current World Zionist Organization election. In light of the below Kol Koreh released by the American Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, I have withdrawn my candidacy as a delegate for Eretz HaKodesh. I have not yet voted in the election, and I do not intend to participate in it at this time. Obviously, if circumstances change, the question and response from our Gedolim may change. I joined as a delegate under the impression that the controversy of the last WZO election 5 years ago was resolved and the Gedolim that were in opposition then, have since been given background by EHK leadership of the issues facing Torah Observance in Eretz Yisrael. When I saw that the opposition of prominent Gedolim had not abated, I was surprised. I began a fact-finding mission to understand what the objection is today. It is not my place to opine on the issue, but it seems to me that the disagreement was on the Metzityus and whether Torah Observance was under attack or just Jewish lifestyle conveniences, such as Reform attacks on gender segregated bus routes, an Orthodox managed Kotel, Yeshivos maintaining control over curriculum without strings attached to their Government funding, and the ability to block Kosher phones from dialing LGBT hotlines, etc. Over the last week, I engaged EHK leadership to ask if there were any examples of actual Torah Observance being blocked, but there weren’t any, just the many important lifestyle conveniences listed above. I do believe that evidence of an actual threat on Torah Observance would merit a new question to the Gedolim and if the concept of “V’Chai Bahem”– “do the mitzvos to live by them” (Vayikra 18:5) might apply and allow future participation in the WZO. Regardless of my research, I listened to a recent shiur by R’ Elya Brudny Shlit”a, who gave a perspective on how a Ben Torah is to view this Sugya. Our Mesorah is clear based on Rashi (Devarim 17:9) אין לך אלא שופט שבימיך, “we follow the Gadol of our times” even if he is not as prominent as the Gadol of prior generations. The Gadol Hador of the last decade was R’ Chaim Kanievsky Zt”l, and when he said not to vote, I did. Today’s Gadol Hador has been identified by the American Moetzes as R’ Dov Landau Shlit”a and he has said in a letter printed in the Israeli Yated not to participate this time. The majority of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America now concur and who am I to do if I do otherwise? I appreciate the financial benefit from Torah guided WZO funds and applaud those Tzadikim that wish to protect Observant Jewish life, but in the absence of extenuating circumstances as defined by our Gedolim, I cannot participate in this endeavor in this way. I want to take a moment here to denounce in the strongest terms the domestic terrorism committed by people who harass those that take either position on this matter. Every page of the Gemara has Machlokes, […]
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. fell slightly this week, a welcome reversal for homebuyers in what’s traditionally the housing market’s busiest time of the year. The rate fell to 6.65% from 6.67% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.79%. This is the first decline in the average rate after rising two weeks in a row. The average rate has trended lower since mid-January, when it climbed to just over 7% — a relief for house hunters struggling to afford a home after years of soaring prices. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, rose this week, however, pushing the average rate to 5.89% from 5.83% last week. A year ago, it averaged 6.11%, Freddie Mac said. Mortgage rates are influenced by factors including bond market investors’ expectations for future inflation, global demand for U.S. Treasurys and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions. The overall decline this year in the average rate on a 30-year mortgage loosely follows moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. The yield, which was nearing 4.8% in mid-January, has mostly fallen since then, reflecting rising unease over the Trump administration’s escalating tariffs on imported goods, which economists warn could drive inflation higher, hurting economic growth. The yield was at 4.37% in midday trading Thursday. Bond investors demand higher returns as long as inflation remains elevated, so if inflation ticks upward that could translate into higher yields on the 10-year Treasury note, pushing up mortgage rates. For now, the economic uncertainty is helping lower mortgage rates, which is encouraging would-be homebuyers just as the spring homebuying season ramps up. An index tracking applications for loans to buy a home has risen five weeks in a row as of last week, when they climbed 1% from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Home purchase loan applications are 7% higher than they were a year ago. “Recent mortgage rate stability continues to benefit potential buyers this spring, as reflected in the uptick in purchase applications,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years. Easing mortgage rates and more homes on the market nationally helped drive sales higher in February from the previous month, though they were down year-over-year. New data suggest sales may increase in coming months. A measure of pending U.S. home sales rose 2% in February from the previous month, though it was down 3.6% from a year earlier, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. There’s usually a month or two lag between a contract signing and when the sale is finalized, which makes pending home sales a bellwether for future completed home sales. “Despite the modest monthly increase, contract signings remain well below normal historical levels,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. (AP)
Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Wednesday announced that he will not allow former Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon to participate in events at IDF bases. The decision was made following a letter sent by Itzik Buntzel, the father of fallen IDF soldier Amit, H’yd, in which he protested Ya’alon’s expected participation in an IDF graduation ceremony. Buntzel stated in his letter: “Bogie Ya’alon is the man who claimed that IDF soldiers are carrying out ethnic cleansing in Gaza, defined the war as a ‘war of plunder,’ and even hinted that he ‘hopes Israel will not send soldiers to murder babies in Gaza.'” The bereaved father added: “It is not clear to us what the graduates were thinking when they invited this contemptible and inciteful man, whose words were quoted around the world by Israel’s enemies and served as fuel for anti-Semites.” “This is a Defense Ministry military facility and not a private venue. The matter is within your authority.” Katz responded to the letter by banning Ya’alon’s participation in official IDF events. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Baruch Hashem, a wave of relief swept through Vizhnitz Chasidim worldwide as their beloved Rebbe, HaRav Yisroel Hager, was released from a Los Angeles hospital on Wednesday evening. The Rebbe had been hospitalized for ten days following a major medical procedure performed last Monday. Tens of thousands of Yidden davened fervently for the Rebbe’s refuah shleima for his recovery. The Rebbe is now recuperating at the home of Reb Shmuel Binyamin Einhorn in Los Angeles. He is expected to remain there for the near future under medical supervision. It is unknown when the rebbe will return to Bnei Brak. Please continue to say Tehillim for Yisrael ben Leah Esther. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Justice Department leadership is proposing cutting some offices and dramatically restructuring the department, including combining the two agencies responsible for enforcing drug and gun laws, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press. The memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is seeking feedback on a reorganization plan that would combine the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives into a single agency “to achieve efficiencies in resources, case deconfliction, and regulatory efforts.” It’s part of a push by the Trump administration to shrink and reshape federal government agencies that has already led to a slew of lawsuits. President Donald Trump has directed agencies to develop plans for eliminating employee positions and consolidating programs. Perhaps the most sweeping part of the Justice Department’s plan is a push to merge the DEA and ATF, which are both currently led by separate directors and are tasked with separate missions. The memo included no details about how the two agencies would be combined, or whether some of the agents would be eliminated. Questions have been raised about the future of the ATF after FBI Director Kash Patel — in an unusual arrangement — was tapped to simultaneously serve as acting leader of the agency that’s responsible for enforcing firearms laws. The ATF has long drawn the ire of conservatives for its role in gun regulation. The Justice Department plan also calls for combining policy offices in Washington and eliminating certain field offices around the country that work on things like antitrust and environmental matters. Tax division lawyers as well as employees in the section that handles public corruption cases would be reassigned to U.S. attorneys offices, except for a “core team of supervisory attorneys” that would remain in Washington, according to the proposal. The AP reported earlier this month that lawyers in the public integrity section, which oversees public corruption cases, were told they will be asked to take new assignments in the department and as few as five lawyers may remain in the unit. A Justice Department spokesperson didn’t immediately provide a comment on the plan, which is not been finalized. Heads of Justice Department agencies were instructed to respond with any concerns about the proposals by April 2. (AP)
New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a consumer alert urging New Yorkers to be careful of potential discriminatory pricing practices at car washes in the days leading up to Pesach and warning businesses that this practice is illegal. In previous years, there have been reports of car wash businesses in predominantly Orthodox Jewish communities in New York City and the Hudson Valley raising prices for Jewish customers seeking cleaning services ahead of Pesach. In the days leading up to Pesach, many Jews clean their homes, cars, and other spaces to remove chametz. According to reports provided to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), some companies have advertised “specials” for car washing services related to Pesach, but instead, charged higher prices to Jewish customers and refused to provide the regular car wash prices. Under New York law, it is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of religion. “Taking advantage of someone’s religious observances and practices is offensive and unacceptable,” said Attorney General James. “As Passover approaches, I urge Jewish New Yorkers who feel that they may have been a victim of discriminatory price gouging to contact my office. My office has zero tolerance for any discrimination and anyone who engages in practices to unfairly raise prices on the Jewish community as they prepare for Passover will be held accountable. No New Yorker should be taken advantage of during a holiday season and forced to pay more for a service because of their religion.” Attorney General James reminds consumers to be vigilant against price gouging on essential Passover goods and services, including: Car washes: inflated prices specifically targeting Jewish customers; Eggs and Kosher meat: unjustified price spikes on essential food items; Matzah and Kosher-for-Passover products: significant price increases beyond normal market trends; Cleaning services: excessive charges for pre-holiday home cleaning; and, Travel and accommodations: unreasonable price hikes on rental cars, hotels, and Airbnb or other short-term rentals. Anyone who is aware of businesses using discriminatory practices or believes that they were charged more for services because of their religion, race, or background is encouraged to file a complaint online or call 1-800-771-7755. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump appeared to pin responsibility for the growing Signal chat scandal on National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, marking a shift in his response to the controversy that has rattled his administration. When asked who was to blame while signing an executive order on Wednesday evening, Trump responded bluntly: “It was Mike, I guess. I don’t know, I always thought it was Mike,” he told reporters, before downplaying the entire affair as a media-driven “witch hunt.” The president’s latest remarks stand in contrast to his previous explanation. Just a day earlier, in a phone interview with NBC, Trump suggested that an unidentified staffer—not Waltz—was at fault, saying, “It was one of Michael’s people on the phone. A staffer had his number in there.” When pressed on whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should be concerned about his role in the scandal, Trump swiftly came to his defense. “Hegseth, he was doing a great job… How do you bring Hegseth into it? He had nothing to do with this,” he insisted. Trump also floated a new theory, suggesting that the encrypted messaging app Signal “could be defective” in light of the controversy. The White House has been scrambling to contain the fallout since The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg broke the story on Monday. Goldberg revealed that he had been mistakenly added to a Signal chat where senior Trump administration officials were discussing a planned strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Initially skeptical of the chat’s authenticity, Goldberg said he verified the messages after the military actions discussed in the group began unfolding in real time. “I had very strong doubts,” Goldberg said, adding that while U.S. officials commonly use Signal for logistical coordination, he had “never seen a breach quite like this” where an encrypted chat was used to discuss “imminent war plans.” The Trump administration has spent days trying to downplay the significance of the report, even declaring a public relations victory when The Atlantic published a follow-up, describing the leaked discussions as “attack plans” rather than “war plans.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the controversy entirely, calling it “another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin.” Leavitt also confirmed to reporters that billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk is now involved in leading an investigation into the Signal chat leak. However, questions remain about what consequences—if any—those responsible will face. Trump has already indicated that Waltz, despite being singled out, will not be fired over the incident. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A shocking new report from the Pew Research Center has laid bare the heartbreaking reality of Jewish disaffiliation in America, where nearly one in four Jews raised as Jewish having abandoned their religious identity. The findings point to a troubling erosion of Yiddishkeit in the United States, raising urgent concerns about the future of Jewish continuity outside of ultra-Orthodox communities. The study, which surveyed nearly 37,000 Americans and over 41,000 individuals across 35 other countries, found that just 76% of American Jews continue to identify as Jewish, while a staggering 24% have drifted away. Of those, 17% now classify themselves as religiously unaffiliated. Even more distressing, 2% have converted to Christianity, and 1% to Islam—an alarming sign of assimilation at its worst. Meanwhile, in Israel, the numbers tell a vastly different story. The study found that 100% of Israeli respondents who were raised Jewish still identify as such. While Pew researchers acknowledge some margin of error, the stark contrast between the American and Israeli Jewish experience is undeniable. However, even within Israel, shifts in religious observance are occurring. The study found that 22% of Israeli Jews moved between different Jewish subgroups, such as from traditional to secular or from national religious to ultra-Orthodox. Older Israelis were significantly more likely than younger generations to have changed religious affiliation. Throughout Jewish history, the survival of our people has depended on our steadfast commitment to Torah and mitzvos. The Pew report, however, suggests that this commitment is weakening in America, where the temptations of secular culture continue to lure Jews away from their heritage. The rise of atheism, agnosticism, and the broader category of “nones”—those who claim no religious affiliation—represents an existential threat to Jewish identity. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
