Yeshiva World News

U. S. Steel issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s statement on US Steel.

President Trump has announced that US Steel will remain in the United States: “Will create 70,000 jobs and add $14 billion to the economy.”

The Lakewood community is once again plunged into mourning with the heartbreaking news that Refoel Faham z”l, one of the initial survivors of Friday morning’s horrific car crash, has tragically succumbed to his injuries. Refoel z”l had been critically injured in the devastating accident that occurred on Hope Chapel Road near New Central Avenue.  Hatzolah paramedics rushed him to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery and received intensive medical care for over 18 hours. Despite the valiant efforts of the medical team, Refoel was niftar shortly before the onset of Shabbos. The accident, which unfolded early Friday morning, involved a Toyota Sienna carrying five bochurim. Preliminary reports indicate the vehicle struck a deer, causing the driver to lose control. The minivan veered off the road and crashed into a tree, igniting a fire that engulfed the vehicle. Two of the bochurim—Dovid Yitzchok Handler z”l and Chaim Zelig Berl z”l—were tragically niftar at the scene. The petirah of Refoel z”l brings the toll from this devastating tragedy to three. Please continue davening for the refuah sheleima of Meir Moshe Aharon ben Devorah Naomi.  (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

On Friday, President Trump signed an Executive Order to restore Gold Standard Science as the cornerstone of federal scientific research.

On Friday, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in order to reduce our dependence on foreign technologies, decrease regulatory barriers, and support our domestic nuclear industry.

Earlier today, a sewage transport vessel docked on the Hudson River exploded, killing one worker and injuring two others, police reported.

The Israeli Air Force struck over 100 targets in the Gaza Strip over the past day, the military says. The targets included a launcher used to fire a rocket at southern Israel yesterday afternoon. Other targets included terror operatives, buildings used by terror groups, tunnels, and other infrastructure, the IDF says.

An antisemitic poster seen at Humboldt University in Berlin on Friday caused a furor of outrage in Germany, Kan News reported. The poster featured a picture of Yaron Lischinsky, who was murdered last week in the shooting attack outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, with an inverted red triangle – a symbol associated with Hamas supporters – above his head, and the words “Make Zionists Afraid.” Armin Laschet, a senior member of the ruling Christian Democratic party and chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, strongly condemned the incident: “The overt antisemitism at Humboldt University in Berlin is unacceptable. Yaron Lischinsky, who was murdered in New York, was at an event supporting the citizens of Gaza. The agitators at the university are not interested in solidarity with Gaza, but in the killing of Jews.” Israeli ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor expressed outrage at the incident, writing: “Lucky Hamas — who needs propaganda when you’ve got German universities doing the PR for you?” “But Humboldt just outdid them all. New academic low unlocked. When terror gets tenure, don’t call it education. Call it collaboration.”   (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

A court in El Salvador has granted the request of Israel’s State Prosecution to extradite Lev Tahor leader Elazer Rompler to Israel to face serious charges of child abuse, Kan News reported on Thursday. Rompler, who fled Guatemala after local authorities raided the cult’s complex, was arrested in El Salvador in January as he attempted to enter the country, unaware that an international arrest warrant had been issued against him by Interpol at Israel’s request. Israel filed an extradition request for Rompler to El Salvador in February. Rompler fled Israel in 2020 after being indicted for severe child abuse while serving as a principal of the Lev Tahor school in Canada. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

The IDF has deployed all infantry and armored brigades into Gaza in a significant expansion of the operation, Kan News reported on Motzei Shabbos. The Paratroopers Brigade, which entered the Strip in the past day, was the last to enter, joining the Golani, Givati, Nachal, Kfir, Commando, 7th, 188th, and 401st Armored Brigades, along with several reserve brigades. Sources in the Southern Command told Army Radio that military operations are being carried out very gradually, with the use of massive engineering equipment – including bulldozers and D9s – to neutralize booby traps and explosives planted by Hamas throughout the area. “This is systematic and slow fighting, with priority given to securing the forces,” security officials told Kan, adding that tens of thousands of Gazan residents have already evacuated from the northern Strip and Khan Younis, heeding the IDF’s calls last week. In contrast to previous waves of the war, there have been almost no direct clashes between IDF soldiers and Hamas terrorists. Security officials said that most of the terrorists fled south before the IDF forces entered the area, and any terrorists who are left are eliminated in airstrikes. “The movement of forces is being carried out carefully, not as in the past,” the security officials emphasized. “Under the guidance of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and the commander of the Southern Command, Yaron Finkelman, we are operating according to a policy of ‘security at the expense of speed’ – air cover, gradual movement, and reducing the risk to soldiers.” (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

The Orthodox Union (OU), one of the most recognized kosher certifying agencies worldwide, has announced that it is no longer certifying any Beech-Nut brand baby food products. The change in certification status is effective immediately. In a kashrus advisory released Friday, the OU emphasized that while some Beech-Nut baby food items on store shelves still bear the OU symbol and remain certified kosher, products without the OU symbol are no longer under OU supervision. Due to overlapping inventory, both certified and non-certified Beech-Nut products may currently be found side by side in the marketplace. Consumers are urged to carefully check each package for the presence of the OU symbol before purchase or consumption. The advisory did not specify the reason for the discontinuation of certification. Beech-Nut has not yet issued a statement regarding the change. For more information or to verify specific product status, consumers can contact the Orthodox Union or visit their website at www.oukosher.org.

Misaskim of Central Jersey (Lakewood) members dropped everything this morning to perform their avodas hakodesh at the scene of this morning’s horrific accident in Lakewood that claimed the lives of two bochurim and left two others seriously injured. Click here for the full story on the YWN Homepage.

URGENT CAMPAIGN FOR 3 YEAR OLD CHILD: We did everything we can. We davened. We cried. And now we’ve found a chance—a special treatment in the United States. We cannot afford it. We turn to Am Yisrael— begging you to help us save our daughter’s life. Your kindness can give her not just a surgery, but the chance to smile, and live a normal life. Please open your heart and help us pay for the surgery and please daven for: Chaya bas Tzipora. DONATE HERE – CLICK HERE!

A new Senate report released by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) alleges that U.S. health officials were aware of the risks of myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation, linked to COVID-19 vaccines but delayed informing the public, potentially jeopardizing the health of young Americans. According to the report, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was notified by the Israeli Ministry of Health in February 2021 of multiple reports of myocarditis, particularly in young people, following administration of the Pfizer vaccine. By April 2021, CDC officials were discussing “safety signals” for myocarditis linked to mRNA vaccines, based on data from the U.S. Defense Department and Israel. Despite this, the report claims, no immediate steps were taken to warn the public. It wasn’t until late June 2021 that the CDC and FDA announced changes to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine labels, acknowledging “suggested increased risks” of myocarditis and pericarditis, another heart-related condition. The report, based on 2,473 pages of records obtained through a subpoena from the Trump administration-led HHS, suggests that U.S. health agencies downplayed the risks of myocarditis associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Sen. Johnson, who has sent over 70 oversight letters since 2021—many of which he claims were ignored or inadequately addressed—argues that this delay in transparency put public health at risk, particularly for young males, who studies show are most susceptible to vaccine-related heart inflammation. Critics of the report, including Hawaii Governor Josh Green, a family physician, testified at a Senate hearing that U.S. vaccine safety monitoring systems functioned as intended, detecting rare myocarditis cases and leading to updated warnings and clinical guidance. Green argued that claims of widespread vaccine harm are misleading and based on unverified anecdotes. The FDA, which recently required expanded warning labels on Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to include more details about the rare risk of myocarditis, particularly in young males aged 16 to 25, is conducting ongoing studies to assess long-term effects. The CDC has noted that most cases of vaccine-related myocarditis resolve quickly with treatment, and no increased risk has been observed in recent vaccine doses. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An appointee to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Fiscal Sustainability Working Group, Ishan Daya, resigned just hours after his selection was announced, following criticism over a 2023 video showing him tearing down posters of Israeli hostages. Daya, a community organizer focused on public safety and mental health, was one of 20 appointees to the mayor’s advisory committee tasked with addressing Chicago’s fiscal challenges. However, his appointment sparked immediate outrage from Jewish organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Chicago Jewish Community Relations Council, as well as Alderman Debra Silverstein, the city’s only Jewish alderwoman. Silverstein called the appointment “a deliberate slap in the face to the Jewish community” and criticized Mayor Johnson for repeatedly aligning with antisemitic individuals. Silverstein pointed to a pattern of disregard, citing Johnson’s support for an early Gaza ceasefire resolution, his description of Israel’s war against Hamas as “genocidal,” and his appearance wearing a keffiyeh at an Arab Heritage Month event. She also referenced his delayed response to an October 2024 shooting of a Jewish man in West Rogers Park, where he initially failed to acknowledge the victim’s Jewish identity. “The mayor seems determined to surround himself with people who peddle hate and division,” Silverstein said. “We deserve better.” The controversy stemmed from a video that surfaced during Daya’s unsuccessful 2023 campaign for 32nd Ward Democratic committeeman, showing him removing a hostage poster in New York City. Daya’s accomplice referred to the hostages as “kalb” (dogs) while ripping down the posters. In a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Daya apologized, acknowledging that his actions “caused pain within some members of our Jewish community.” He explained that he objected to unspecified language on the poster that he found “racist and dehumanizing” toward Palestinians, but recognized that tearing it down was hurtful to families awaiting their loved ones’ return. “I’ve spent my career working across lines of difference, and anyone who has worked with me can attest to my deep opposition to antisemitism, hate, and bigotry in all its forms,” Daya added, announcing that a representative from the Institute for the Public Good, a policy center he co-directs, would replace him on the committee. Daya’s resignation marks the latest controversy for Johnson, who is already grappling with low approval ratings and a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into alleged race-based hiring practices, prompted by statements he made about the number of black officials in his administration. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In the wake of the deadly shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum that claimed the lives of two Israeli Embassy staffers, a coalition of over 40 Jewish organizations is urging the U.S. government to allocate $1 billion to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to bolster security at Jewish institutions nationwide. The coalition, including major groups like the Jewish Federations of North America, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and the Orthodox Union, issued a joint statement describing the shooting as a “direct consequence of rising antisemitic incitement” on college campuses, at city council meetings, and across social media platforms. The groups say that this rhetoric has “normalized hate and emboldened those who wish to do harm,” necessitating a significant increase in federal funding to secure vulnerable religious and community institutions. The NSGP, administered by the Department of Homeland Security, provides grants to nonprofits, including synagogues, Jewish community centers, and schools, to fund security enhancements such as cameras, reinforced doors, and personnel training. In 2024, the program allocated a record $454.5 million, up from $305 million in 2023, following advocacy from Jewish groups amid a spike in antisemitic incidents since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war. However, the coalition notes that the program’s current funding falls short of demand, with only 42% of grant applications approved in 2023 due to a shortfall of nearly $374 million. The shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum, where the suspect, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, killed Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim while shouting “Free Palestine,” has been labeled a hate crime and act of terrorism by federal prosecutors. The victims, a couple reportedly about to get engaged, were attending an American Jewish Committee event for young diplomats. The coalition’s statement also calls for increased FBI intelligence capabilities to counter domestic terrorism, aggressive prosecution of antisemitic hate crimes, and greater accountability for social media and online platforms that amplify hate speech and glorify extremism. “The demands on local and state law enforcement far outpace their capacity to meet the need, which disproportionately affects targeted communities like the American Jewish community,” the groups wrote. Jewish security experts, including Paul Goldenberg, former head of the Secure Community Network, highlighted lapses in the DC attack, noting that the suspect’s behavior—described as nervous and disheveled—should have triggered alerts. Recommendations include extending security perimeters around Jewish institutions and prioritizing funding for operational costs like security guards over capital improvements. The coalition also urged reforms to make the NSGP application process more flexible and transparent, citing its current complexity as a barrier for smaller organizations. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The fifth round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, which commenced Friday at the Omani Embassy in Rome, appears unlikely to produce a breakthrough agreement, according to a CNN report citing two Iranian sources. The Iranian sources told CNN that Tehran’s participation in this round is primarily to “gauge Washington’s latest stance rather than pursue a potential breakthrough.” They expressed growing doubts about U.S. sincerity, saying, “The media statements and negotiating behavior of the United States has widely disappointed policy-making circles in Tehran.” The sources pointed to the U.S. insistence on zero uranium enrichment as a major sticking point, arguing that Washington’s position—knowing Iran will not accept such terms—suggests the U.S. is “not seeking an agreement” and is instead using the talks to “intensify pressure” on Iran. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority, expressed skepticism about the negotiations last weekend, calling U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment “excessive and outrageous.” Iran has been enriching uranium to 60% purity, a level close to the 90% required for weapons-grade material, in violation of the 2015 nuclear deal from which the U.S. withdrew in 2018 under President Donald Trump. The U.S. has hardened its stance in recent weeks, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterating that Iran will not be permitted to develop nuclear weapons. However, some Iranian officials had hoped for a “win-win” compromise, only to conclude that the Trump administration is steering the discussions toward a deadlock, according to the CNN report. On Thursday, Araghchi warned that the U.S. would bear legal responsibility for any Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, following a CNN report suggesting Israel might be preparing strikes. Araghchi said that Iran remains “open to enhanced monitoring by international inspectors” but will not relinquish its right to pursue nuclear energy, including uranium enrichment, a position that clashes with Washington’s recent insistence on zero enrichment. Tehran no longer takes U.S. efforts to distance itself from Israel’s hardline stance seriously, with the sources alleging that U.S. proposals align with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s agenda. The CNN report indicates that neither side is willing to abandon the talks entirely, but the U.S. views the negotiations as increasingly unproductive, with formal meetings unlikely to continue much longer. The strained atmosphere is further evidenced by Iran’s reduced cooperation with international inspectors, who have reported limited access to Iranian facilities, and Tehran’s warnings of “special measures” to protect its nuclear sites if threats persist. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)