Yeshiva World News

*WATCH:* A recent Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza left a massive crater in its wake.

President Trump spoke with PM Netanyahu to give his condolences for the murder of two Israeli Embassy staff in Washington, while also discussing the Iran nuclear talks and Middle East developments.

President Trump states that a “Major prisoner swap” was just completed between Russia and Ukraine.

IDF Spokesperson: In Operation Gideon’s Chariots, the IDF struck over 75 targets in Gaza in the past 24 hours, eliminating terrorists, destroying sniper positions, rocket launchers, weapons depots, and military buildings.

Preparations for the massive military parade in Washington, D.C. for the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army on June 14th, are in full-swing this week at Fort Cavazos in Killeen, Texas.

The Ulster County EMS Council awarded Catskills Hatzalah a citation for successfully saving a child’s life in Ulster County this past summer. Also awarded was Joel Gold, the law enforcement liaison for Catskills Hatzalah, who was honored with an award in recognition of building interagency partnerships and ensuring smooth coordination between Hatzalah, law enforcement, and other emergency services. These awards reflect the continued strong working relationships Catskills Hatzalah maintains across the region to ensure it is ready and prepared to help the community in any emergency.   (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A horrific tragedy unfolded early Friday morning in Lakewood, when a vehicle carrying five bochurim crashed and erupted into flames on Hope Chapel between Clearstream and New Central, tragically resulting in the petirah of two of the occupants. Preliminary reports indicate that the vehicle, a Toyota Sienna, was traveling along Hope Chapel Road when it struck a deer, causing the driver to lose control. The minivan veered off the roadway and crashed, bursting into flames. A passerby who came upon the harrowing scene reportedly saw the vehicle engulfed in flames and immediately called 911. Emergency services were dispatched, with Hatzolah being called in for backup. Two of the bochurim were tragically niftar at the scene. The three others sustained various injuries, including two who remain in critical condition and one who is reportedly in stable condition. Out of respect for the families, the names of the victims are not being released at this time, pending official notification. Authorities are continuing to investigate the crash, and further information will be released as it becomes available. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Harvard University is challenging the Trump administration’s decision to bar the Ivy League school from enrolling foreign students, calling it unconstitutional retaliation for defying the White House’s political demands. In a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Boston, Harvard said the government’s action violates the First Amendment and will have an “immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.” “With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission,” Harvard said in its suit. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.” The school said it plans to file for a temporary restraining order to block the Department of Homeland Security from carrying out the move. The move has thrown campus into disarray days before graduation, Harvard said in the suit. International students who run labs, teach courses, assist professors and participate in Harvard sports are now left deciding whether to transfer or risk losing legal status to stay in the country, according to the filing. The impact is heaviest at graduate schools such as the Harvard Kennedy School, where almost half the student body comes from abroad, and Harvard Business School, which is about one-third international. Along with its impact on current students, the move blocks thousands of students who were planning to come for summer and fall classes. Harvard said it immediately puts the school at a disadvantage as it competes for the world’s top students. Even if it regains the ability to host students, “future applicants may shy away from applying out of fear of further reprisals from the government,” the suit said. If the government’s action stands, Harvard said, the university would be unable to offer admission to new international students for at least the next two academic years. Schools that have that certification withdrawn by the federal government are ineligible to reapply until one year afterward, Harvard said. Harvard enrolls almost 6,800 foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Most are graduate students and they come from more than 100 countries. The department announced the action Thursday, accusing Harvard of creating an unsafe campus environment by allowing “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to assault Jewish students on campus. It also accused Harvard of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party, contending the school had hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024. Harvard President Alan Garber earlier this month said the university has made changes to its governance over the past year and a half, including a broad strategy to combat antisemitism, He said Harvard would not budge on its “its core, legally-protected principles” over fears of retaliation. Harvard has said it will respond at a later time to allegations first raised by House Republicans about coordination with the Chinese Communist Party. The threat to Harvard’s international enrollment stems from an April 16 request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who demanded that Harvard provide information about foreign students that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation. Noem said Harvard can regain its ability to host foreign students if it produces a trove of records on foreign students within 72 hours. Her updated request demands all records, including audio or video footage, […]

A Norwegian man awoke to find that a cargo ship had run aground and narrowly missed crashing into his home along the Trondheim Fjord’s coast. Johan Helberg told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that he’d slept through the whole thing and only woke up when a neighbor started ringing his doorbell. Images show the ship’s red and green bow just meters (yards) from Helberg’s house. He told NRK the only damage was to a heating pump’s wire. Authorities say they received reports that the NCL Salten had run aground shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday. No injuries or oil spills were reported. Efforts to refloat the ship at high tide were unsuccessful Thursday. Shipping company NCL said in a statement it was aware of police statements saying they had one suspect. The company said it was cooperating with the investigation. A police spokesperson could not immediately be reached Friday. (AP)

Renowned for bringing yeshuos, he declared: Kiddush on Friday night is the time to effect yeshuos – and it’s known that tzaddikim return after their passing to make Kiddush on leilei Shabbos. At this once-in-a-lifetime moment, during Kabbalas Shabbos and Kiddush on the Yesod yahrtzeit, the world-renowned mashpia HaGaon HaTzaddik Rabbi Yehuda Deitsch shlit”a will daven at the sacred tziyun on Har HaZeisim, facing the site of the Beis HaMikdash, mentioning each donor’s name individually for revealed yeshuos. To receive the “Zhvill During Kiddush Certificate” >>>

A major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine began Friday, the countries said, in one of the few signs of progress from their direct talks last week in Istanbul — part of a U.S.-led effort that so far has failed to produce a ceasefire in the 3-year-old war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the first phase of the exchange was bringing home 390 Ukrainians, with further releases expected over the weekend. “It’s very important to bring everyone home,” he wrote on Telegram, thanking all who worked to secure their return and pledging to continue diplomatic efforts to make more exchanges possible. Russia’s Ministry of Defense said each side had released 270 military personnel and 120 civilian detainees. The exchange is “planned to continue in coming days,” it said. In Turkey last week, Ukraine and Russia agreed to the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side in their first direct peace talks since the early weeks of Moscow’s 2022 invasion. That meeting lasted only two hours and brought no breakthrough in efforts to stop the fighting. The swap was taking place at the border with Belarus in northern Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. The released Russians were taken to Belarus for medical treatment, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The exchange, which also would be the biggest swap of Ukrainian civilians at one time, didn’t appear to herald any halt in fighting. Russia launched two ballistic missiles at infrastructure in the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa, killing one worker and injuring eight others – four critically, according to regional Gov. Oleh Kiper. It was the first recorded attack on the port since March 11. Fighting continues along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed, and neither country has relented in its deep strikes. News of the prisoner release emerged when U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine had carried out a large exchange. “A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump said on the Truth Social platform. He said it would “go into effect shortly.” He added in the post that “this could lead to something big???” — apparently referring to other diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. After the May 16 talks, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the prisoner swap a “confidence-building measure” and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that there has been no agreement yet on the venue for the next round of talks as diplomatic maneuvering continued. European leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts while he tries to press his larger army’s battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land. The Istanbul meeting revealed both sides clearly remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting. One such condition for Ukraine, backed by its Western allies, is a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement. The Kremlin has pushed back on a temporary halt to hostilities, and Putin has said any such truce must come with a freeze on Western arms supplies to Ukraine and an end to Ukraine’s mobilization drive. A senior Ukrainian official said in Istanbul […]

Hackers working for Russian military intelligence targeted Western technology and logistics companies involved in shipping assistance to Ukraine, the U.S. National Security Agency said. The hackers were trying to obtain details about the type of assistance entering Ukraine and, as part of the effort, sought access to the feeds of internet-connected cameras near Ukrainian border crossings, according to the NSA’s report on the cyberattack, which was issued late Wednesday. The cyber campaign sought to penetrate defense, transportation and logistics companies in several Western countries, including the U.S., as well as ports, airports and rail systems. The report didn’t specify which types of aid Russia was surveilling, but Ukraine’s allies have contributed significant amounts of military and humanitarian assistance since the war began. More than 10,000 internet-connected cameras were targeted, including private devices and public traffic cameras near critical transportation points, such as ports, rail hubs or border crossings. Most were in Ukraine, though some were in Romania, Poland and other eastern or central European countries. Officials did not disclose details about the hackers’ success or how long they remained unnoticed. The activity detailed in the report began in 2022, the same year that Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is expected to continue its efforts to spy on aid shipments, and companies involved in aid logistics or shipments should be on guard, according to the report, which was issued jointly by the NSA, the FBI and security agencies in several allied nations. “To defend against and mitigate these threats, at-risk entities should anticipate targeting,” the NSA said. Authorities linked the activity to a Russian military intelligence unit dubbed “Fancy Bear” that is well known for its past campaigns targeting the U.S. and its allies. The hackers used a variety of tactics to gain access, including spearphishing, which involves sending authentic-looking messages to a potential victim that contain links to harmful software or requests for sensitive information. The Russian team also exploited security vulnerabilities in computer devices used at small and in-home offices, networks that often lack the security measures found in larger systems. The hackers didn’t use particularly innovative techniques, according to Grant Geyer, chief strategy officer at the cybersecurity company Claroty. Nevertheless, the sprawling yet carefully orchestrated effort gives the Russians a “granular understanding” of the aid sent to Ukraine, he said. “They have done detailed targeting across the entire supply chain to understand what equipment is moving, when and how — whether it’s by aircraft, ship or rail,” Geyer said. Russia could use the information it obtained to hone its war planning, Geyer said, or to plot further cyber or physical attacks on the supply chain to Ukraine. Last fall, U.S. intelligence officials issued a public bulletin directing American defense companies and suppliers to increase security precautions following several acts of sabotage in Europe that officials have blamed on Russia. The Russian Embassy in Washington didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment. (AP)

The brutal murder of two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night has been met with a bloodcurdling response from pro-Hamas groups, who have hailed the killings as a “heroic attack.” The victims, a young couple on the cusp of engagement, were gunned down by 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez as they left an American Jewish Committee (AJC) event aimed at fostering dialogue on the Gaza crisis. Rodriguez, who shouted “Free Palestine” during his arrest, fired 21 shots at the couple, killing them in a targeted act of antisemitic terrorism. Yet, instead of universal condemnation, pro-Hamas groups have repulsively glorified the attack. Social media posts praised the murderer as a “hero” and a “brave man,” called Israel an “enemy of humanity,” and of course, implicitly praised the act by chiming in with “Free Palestine.” The groups many of these commenters belong to – identified by the Anti-Defamation League as including Students for Justice in Palestine and Within Our Lifetime – have a history of promoting antisemitic rhetoric and defending Hamas’s actions, including the October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Government advisers were split Thursday on whether drugmakers need to update their COVID-19 vaccines for next season, a decision overshadowed by confusion over a new Trump administration policy that may limit which Americans can get the shots. The Food and Drug Administration’s outside experts have met annually since the launch of the first COVID-19 vaccines to discuss tweaking their recipes to stay ahead of the virus. The challenge is trying to gauge how the virus might evolve before fall vaccinations begin. “We all want to make the perfect choice and that’s probably not possible,” FDA’s Jerry Weir told the panel of outside experts. Some of the panelists voiced support for a switch to a newer coronavirus subtype named LP.8.1. It’s currently the dominant version and part of the same family that circulated last year — known as the JN.1 branch of the virus family tree. “We cannot predict the future, but it seems like LP.8 would be more likely to provide us better coverage,” said Dr. Eric Rubin, a Harvard infectious disease expert and editor of the New England Journal of Medicine. Other panelists noted that subtype is such a close relative that last year’s shots seem to offer cross-protection, at least for now but with no guarantee there wouldn’t be a different version circulating by the time a vaccination campaign ramps up in the late summer or early fall. Several advisers noted that people who want to get ahead of a summer surge like the U.S. typically experiences could seek out the current vaccines. Hanging over the meeting was an FDA announcement earlier this week that upended the prior U.S. policy of recommending annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older. Instead, the FDA said routine vaccine approvals will be limited to seniors and younger people with underlying medical risks, pending new research for healthy adults and children. While that change has big implications for a fall vaccination campaign, FDA leaders repeatedly sidestepped questions from advisers about whether recommending an updated formula would trigger restrictions outlined in the new policy. “I don’t have an answer today,” said Weir. “I think a lot of this is still under discussion.” FDA staffers also wouldn’t confirm whether the advisers would be given a chance to meet about the new standards later. FDA vaccine chief Dr. Vinay Prasad said in opening the meeting that the agency wants “to give people a little more time to digest” the new policy and is open to feedback from its experts — although apparently not in Thursday’s public forum. Last fall’s recipe was tailored to the so-called JN.1 family of omicron descendants. The advisory panel voted unanimously that the family still is the right overall target, but left the FDA to decide which specific subtype to choose. Novavax brewed shots targeting the parent JN.1 variant and said Thursday it was a good choice for this fall as well. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines last year targeted a subtype called KP.2 and company representatives told the FDA meeting that it showed cross-protection, but that they favored an update. The debate reflected an international difference of opinion on the closely related virus strains. The World Health Organization recently issued guidance that last year’s version remained OK but that vaccine-makers could also choose an update, while the European […]

Y38 is Yeruhsalayim’s newest landmark on the Yirmiyahu-Shamgar intersection There’s a new iconic intersection in Yerushalayim. It’s the vibrant crossroads of Yirmiyahu and Shamgar, where the pulse of the modern city beats strongest. Here Yerushalayim’s past meets its future. Just off this famous corner, Y38, a sophisticated residential building rises. Since its launch, Y38 has captured the imagination of discerning buyers, with over 60% of units already claimed in record time. This exceptional response validates what Ir Shalem Group envisioned: a profound hunger for luxury living that honors Jerusalem’s character while embracing contemporary needs. Designed by the renowned Feigin Architects, whose portfolio includes prestigious projects like the Waldorf Astoria, Y38 challenges conventional Jerusalem architecture while paying homage to the city’s timeless character. The striking 40-unit boutique building features a distinctive façade that harmoniously blends contemporary design with Jerusalem stone, creating an immediate visual impact. Beyond its prime location at the nexus of convenience – with dozens of shuls, bakeries, and trendy boutiques down the block – Y38 offers a living experience crafted for the discerning resident. Each of the 3-6 room apartments boasts thoughtfully designed spaces with high ceilings and full-height windows that frame Jerusalem’s famous blue skies. Large balconies, with space for a sukka, extend living spaces outdoors, while premium finishes and state-of-the-art systems elevate daily life. The building’s amenities rival those of luxury hotels, including a sophisticated business lounge, fully-equipped fitness center, relaxing spa, and a resident’s hall for celebrations. For added convenience a beautiful on-site shul and private mikvas are available all without leaving the building, while three levels of underground parking ensure seamless vehicle accommodation. Y38’s location perfectly serves the English-speaking community that has long favored this neighborhood. From Ganei Romema to Ganei Geula, Shefa and Tnvua the area has evolved into a comfortable enclave where residents connect through shared language and values, united by their love for Eretz Yisrael. The development’s innovative features include VRF air conditioning with individual room controls, smart home technology, electric underfloor heating, and charging stations for electric vehicles. Security and convenience are enhanced through motorized smart locks with multiple access options and a sophisticated intercom system. As a testament to Ir Shalem Group’s commitment to excellence, Y38 represents more than just an address – it’s a statement of arrival, a private retreat in the city’s center where modern luxury meets traditional Jerusalem living. With its perfect blend of location, design, and amenities, Y38 sets a new standard for sophisticated urban living in Jerusalem’s evolving landscape. For more information >>>

The Trump administration has terminated Harvard University’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively barring the institution from enrolling international students for the 2025-2026 academic year. The decision, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday, requires current international students at Harvard to transfer to other institutions or face loss of their legal status in the United States. The move follows a series of disputes between the Trump administration and Harvard, centered on allegations of noncompliance with federal demands for records related to student protests and disciplinary actions. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that Harvard failed to provide adequate information regarding visa-holding students allegedly involved in “pro-terrorist conduct” during campus protests. Noem’s letter to Harvard said that the revocation serves as a warning to universities that the administration will enforce compliance with its policies. Harvard, which hosts approximately 6,800 international students—about 27% of its student body—called the administration’s action “unlawful” and vowed to support its affected students and scholars. “We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University – and this nation – immeasurably,” university spokesman Jason Newton said in a statement. The university is working to provide guidance to its international community amid the abrupt policy change. The SEVP, administered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allows institutions like Harvard to enroll noncitizen students on F-1 and J-1 visas. The program requires universities to report data on enrollment, academic progress, and disciplinary records through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to ensure visa compliance. DHS claims Harvard’s response to requests for records, including footage of protests and details of student disciplinary actions, was “insufficient, incomplete, and unacceptable.” This is just the latest escalation in the administration’s ongoing conflict with Harvard, which has included the termination of $2.65 billion in federal research grants and threats to revoke the university’s tax-exempt status. The administration has accused Harvard of fostering antisemitism and liberal bias, citing its handling of pro-Palestinian protests and its refusal to implement demanded reforms to admissions and hiring practices. However, a federal judge in California issued a nationwide injunction on Thursday, blocking the Trump administration from terminating the legal status of international students while a court case challenging earlier visa revocations is pending. The ruling may provide temporary relief to Harvard’s international students, though the long-term implications remain unclear. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Excess body weight can raise the risk of certain cancers, leading researchers to wonder whether blockbuster drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Zepbound could play a role in cancer prevention. Now, a study of 170,000 patient records suggests there’s a slightly lower risk of obesity-related cancers in U.S. adults with diabetes who took these popular medications compared to those who took another class of diabetes drug not associated with weight loss. This type of study can’t prove cause and effect, but the findings hint at a connection worth exploring. More than a dozen cancers are associated with obesity. “This is a call to scientists and clinical investigators to do more work in this area to really prove or disprove this,” said Dr. Ernest Hawk of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, who was not involved in the study. The findings were released Thursday by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and will be discussed at its annual meeting in Chicago. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was led by Lucas Mavromatis, a medical student at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine. “Chronic disease and chronic disease prevention are some of my passions,” said Mavromatis, a former research fellow with an NIH training program. GLP-1 receptor agonists are injections used to treat diabetes, and some are also approved to treat obesity. They work by mimicking hormones in the gut and the brain to regulate appetite and feelings of fullness. They don’t work for everyone and can produce side effects that include nausea and stomach pain. In the study, researchers analyzed data from 43 U.S. health systems to compare two groups: people with obesity and diabetes who took GLP-1 drugs and other people with the same conditions who took diabetes drugs like sitagliptin. The two groups were equal in size and matched for other characteristics. After four years, those who took GLP-1 drugs had a 7% lower risk of developing an obesity-related cancer and an 8% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who took the other type of diabetes drug. There were 2,501 new cases of obesity-related cancer in the GLP-1 group compared to 2,671 cases in the other group. The effect was evident in women, but not statistically significant in men. The study couldn’t explain that difference, but Mavromatis noted that differences in blood drug concentration, weight loss, metabolism or hormones could be at play. (AP)

An inman in the heart of Oklahoma told his congregation that throughout history, “the cowardly Jews just want to attack women and children.” “This is how they were and this is how they will aways be,” he said during a Friday sermon in Norman, the third most populous city in the state. MEMRI, the Middle East Media Research Institute, which often translates similar videos from Arabic to English, published the video with subtitles—no translation needed in this case. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)