Documents contradicting the findings of the Shin Bet’s internal probe into the October 7 massacre and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar’s own statements were revealed in an exclusive report by Yisrael Hayom. The documents, published for the first time, reveal Bar’s consistent support in the years before the massacre for maintaining quiet in Gaza and even eroding Hamas’s power through maintaining economic stability in the Strip. Two days before the massacre, Bar outlined two strategic options regarding Gaza: a short-term “calming” process without conditions tied to ongoing negotiations with Hamas for the return of the two Israelis they were holding and two bodies of IDF soldiers; or a long-term approach involving significant relief and development of Gaza, contingent on a hostage deal and reducing terror directed from Gaza. He emphasized humanitarian relief, stating, “Providing humanitarian concessions to Gaza as ‘goodwill,’ humanitarian relief, increasing the number of workers by an additional 1,500, water, and transferring medicines.” The documents contradict Bar’s recent statements and letter to the government in the days before his dismissal. His letter stated: “Within the framework of the process regarding the desire to end my tenure, which I hope will be conducted lawfully, and in light of the claims in the proposed decision, I will present a full detailing of offensive actions and recommendations for strategic discussions, derived from my security and strategic perception, which I brought for the approval of the prime minister, both before October 7 and after, and most of which were not advanced by him.” The internal Shin Bet investigation denied understimating Hamas’ power, stating: “The investigation did not find that the Shin Bet belittled the enemy. On the contrary – there was a deep understanding of the threat, initiatives, and a desire to thwart the threat, especially Hamas leaders.” However, in the years before October 7, Bar did not recommend carrying out targeted eliminations of Hamas leaders. And although the Shin Bet probe stated that Qatari funding was one of the factors that led to Hamas’s empowerment, it failed to mention Bar’s repeated recommendations to advance economic stability in the Strip to achieve calm. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Wind-driven wildfires that were among South Korea’s worst ever have ravaged the country’s southern regions, killing 24 people, destroying more than 200 structures and forcing 27,000 residents to evacuate, officials said Wednesday. The death toll included a pilot who died after a helicopter crashed during efforts to contain a blaze in the southeastern town of Uiseong, one of the hardest-hit areas. The aircraft had no other crew members. Police said that most of the dead are those in their 60s and 70s. The National Fire Agency said at least 26 people sustained varying degrees of injuries. An ancient Buddhist temple, houses, factories and vehicles were destroyed in the wildfires that have burned 43,330 acres (17,535 hectares), the government’s emergency response center said. In a televised address, South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo said the wildfires that began last Friday were worse than many previous ones. “Damages are snowballing,” Han said. “There are concerns that we’ll have wildfire damages that we’ve never experienced, so we have to concentrate all our capabilities to put out the wildfires in the rest of this week.” Han said crews struggled to extinguish the wildfires because strong winds swept the areas overnight. He also said about 4,650 firefighters, soldiers and other personnel were working Wednesday with the help of about 130 helicopters, adding that “a small amount” of 5-10 millimeters (0.1-0.3 inches) of rain was expected Thursday. As of Wednesday evening, firefighters were tackling at least four active wildfires, including in the southeastern coastal town of Yeongdeok, which alerted residents of the nearest village to evacuate to an indoor gymnasium. Strong winds and smoke-filled skies forced authorities in the southeastern city of Andong to order evacuations in two villages, including Puncheon, home to the Hahoe folk village — a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded around the 14th-15th century. Hikers were advised to leave the scenic Jiri Mountain, one of the country’s largest national parks, as another fire spread closer. Observers say the ongoing wildfires are the third biggest in South Korea’s history in terms of land burned. The largest fires were in Andong, the neighboring counties of Uiseong and Sancheong, and the city of Ulsan. On Tuesday, officials said firefighters had extinguished most of the flames from the largest wildfires in those areas, but wind and dry conditions allowed them to spread again. The blaze in Uiseong destroyed about 20 of the 30 buildings and structures at Gounsa, a temple said to be originally built in the 7th century. Among the burned structures were two state-designated “treasures” — a pavilion-shaped building erected overlooking a stream in 1668, and a Joseon dynasty structure built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king. Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry said it protectively removed 500 inmates from a detention center in Cheongsong, another southern town, but no damages were reported to the facility. The Korea Forest Service said it had raised its wildfire warning to the highest level nationwide, requiring local governments to assign more workers to emergency response, tighten entry restrictions for forests and parks, and recommend that military units withhold live-fire exercises. Among the dead were four firefighters and government workers who died in Sancheong on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames driven by strong winds, according to officials. Government officials suspect human error caused several of […]
Rocket alert sirens blared in the Gaza border area shortly after noon on Wednesday. Following the sirens, the IDF spokesperson said that two rockets were identified crossing into Israel from the central Gaza Strip. One rocket was intercepted and the second exploded in an open area near Netivot. B’Chasdei Hashem, there were no reports of injuries. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
One hundred Gazans left the Strip on Tuesday to work in Indonesia as part of the first pilot program to encourage voluntary migration from Gaza, Channel 12 reported. The project is intended to encourage thousands of Gazans to relocate to Indonesia to work in the construction industry. According to international law, anyone who leaves the Gaza Strip to work will be allowed to return. However, the goal of the program is for the Gazans to choose to settle permanently in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. Indonesia does not maintain official diplomatic ties with Israel, although there are discreet trade and tourism relations between the countries. But since Indonesia is seeking to join the OECD, it has promised to fulfill the requirement of establishing diplomatic ties with all OECD member states, including Israel. Meanwhile, discreet talks were held between the two countries to establish the pilot program. If the pilot succeeds, the Immigration Directorate established by Defense Minister Yisrael Katz will be responsible for expanding the program. The Directorate is expected to head efforts to facilitate the voluntary relocation of Gazans abroad and assist in finding employment to encourage migration from the Strip. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Dollar Tree is selling Family Dollar to a pair of private equity firms for $1 billion after a decade trying to make its acquisition of the bargain chain fit. Dollar Tree Inc. acquired Family Dollar for more than $8 billion in 2015 after a bidding war with rival Dollar General, but struggled to make it fit. Last year Dollar Tree announced that it planned to close hundreds of Family Dollar stores. The company also said at the time that it would record a $950 million impairment against the trade name Family Dollar, on top of a $1.07 billion goodwill charge. The company had been scouting options for Family Dollar for a while and it said Wednesday that the sale to Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management will allow it to focus on its core business. “This is a major milestone in our multi-year transformation journey to help us fully achieve our potential,” said Mike Creedon, who was made permanent chief executive officer of Dollar Tree late last year. Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said that after acquiring the rival chain, Dollar Tree struggled with supply chain issues, poor store locations and other operational difficulties. “Basically, Dollar Tree bit off far more than it could chew,” he said. But Dollar Tree had little room to maneuver, particularly in the months leading up to the sale. Americans have been tightened their spending, even at bargain chains, as consumer confidence in the economy slides. Adding to the difficulties, bargain stores like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar have been dealing with consumers tightening their spending as they watch prices escalate. Family Dollar, which moved its headquarters from North Carolina to Chesapeake, Virginia, after the sale, will maintain its headquarters in Virginia. “This transaction presented a unique opportunity to play a key role in reinvigorating an iconic business,” Jonathan Duskin, CEO and Partner of Macellum, said. The deal is expected to close later in the second quarter. Shares of Dollar Tree rose 4% before the opening bell. (AP)
In the wake of the terror attack in northern Israel on Monday in which an Israeli Arab murdered Moshe Horn, H’yd, 85, and seriously injured an IDF soldier, the Hakol HaYehudi media outlet examined the data to find out how many terror attacks have been perpetrated by Arab-Israelis since the October 7 massacre. The data showed that nine people were murdered by Arab-Israelis since October 7, 2023, [plus one Israeli murdered by a mentally ill Druze man], only two less than the number of people murdered by Palestinian Authority terrorists. It should be noted that there were many more Israeli-Arabs who planned to murder Jews but b’Chasdei Hashem, their plots were thwarted by Israeli security services. Following the attack on Monday, Kan News reported that security officials are concerned about an increase in motivation among young Israeli-Arabs to murder Jews. The report added that since the beginning of the war, the Shin Bet has dealt with 80! cases of Arab-Israeli plots to attack Jews and another 26 cases of Arab-Israelis pledging allegiance to ISIS or other terrorist organizations. The ‘Cities of Israel’ organization, which addresses nationalist danger within the Green Line, responded to the report by stating: “It is important to remember that these are only the attacks that succeeded, and there are many more that were thwarted in advance. We cannot continue to ignore the overall and disturbing picture of a growing threat from some Israeli Arabs.” “The ‘Cities of Israel’ organization calls on the government and the security establishment to treat terrorism in all parts of the country with the same seriousness as in Yehudah and Shomron – including administrative restraining orders, economic punishment, and especially increased enforcement and the restoration of control and personal security on the streets.” “At the same time, we support Israeli citizens who are showing resilience in the face of the wave of terror and violence, and call for the empowerment of security forces and civilian volunteers as part of the response to terror.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
A 19-year-old IDF soldier collapsed and died overnight Tuesday after participating in routine combat training in northern Israel, the IDF spokesperson announced on Wednesday morning. Sgt. Yosef Chaim Tzvi Serlin, z’l, from Jerusalem, was serving as a combat soldier in Unit 504. After collapsing, he received immediate medical treatment by medical professionals at the scene who administered resuscitation techniques while transporting him to the hospital. His death was pronounced at the hospital. The Military Police opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident. After the investigation, the findings will be transferred to the Military Advocate General for review. He was posthumously promoted from the rank of Corporal to Sergeant. “The IDF shares in the family’s grief and will continue to support them,” the IDF spokesperson said. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The U.S. Postal Service is facing an uncertain future after the resignation this week of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the suggestion by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency, that the mail service could be privatized. Unions representing postal workers have balked at the idea of privatization, staging protests across the country. While they support modernization efforts, including those initiated by DeJoy, union leaders warned that allowing private corporations to run the U.S. mail will ultimately harm everyday citizens, especially the estimated 51 million people living in rural areas who depend on the Postal Service. “It’s a terrible idea for everyone that we serve,” National Association of Letter Carriers President Brian L. Renfroe said during a panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. What happens next may depend on who becomes the next postmaster general. The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, an independent establishment of the executive branch that oversees the Postal Service, has retained a global consulting firm to conduct a search for the 76th postmaster general and CEO. USPS currently employs about 640,000 workers tasked with making deliveries from inner cities to rural areas and even far-flung islands. Trump and Musk look to make big changes to the USPS In February, Trump said he may put the U.S. Postal Service under the control of the Commerce Department in what would be an executive branch takeover of the agency, which has operated as an independent entity since 1970. “We want to have a post office that works well and doesn’t lose massive amounts of money,” Trump said during the swearing-in ceremony for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “We’re thinking about doing that. And it’ll be a form of a merger, but it’ll remain the Postal Service, and I think it’ll operate a lot better.” While he didn’t say anything about privatization at the event, the president has voiced support for the idea in the past. In December, he suggested privatizing the service given the competition it faces from Amazon, UPS, FedEx and others. “It’s an idea a lot of people have had for a long time. We’re looking at it,” the president said. Musk, meanwhile, voiced support this month at a tech conference for privatizing the Postal Service, saying, “We should privatize anything that can reasonably be privatized,” the New York Times reported. Postal workers protest, warn Americans may lose a beloved service Across the country, postal workers have been staging protests in recent days, many chanting “U.S. mail not for sale,” and some holding signs that read: “The post office belongs to the people, not billionaires,” a reference to Musk. Renfroe said the goal of the protests is to make the American public aware that drastic changes are being considered for the Postal Service. “Our message is: ‘No.’ Private business is interested in doing things that are profitable, as they should be,” he said.” But that is the distinction between private business and what we are, a public service, where we serve everyone, everywhere, no matter where they live, for the same price every day.” How did the USPS end up in such a bad financial position? Since a reorganization in 1970, the USPS has been largely self-funded. The bulk of its annual $78.5 billion budget comes from customer fees, according to the […]
Yeshiva University President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman issued a statement Tuesday evening addressing the recent outrage surrounding the university’s policies, following the announcement of the Hareni same-gender club as an officially recognized undergraduate student group. “I deeply apologize to the members of our community—our students and parents, alumni and friends, faculty and Rabbis—for the way the news was rolled out,” Berman wrote. “Instead of clarity, it sowed confusion.” He went on to criticize “misleading ‘news’ articles” that suggested Yeshiva had reversed its position on toeiva, calling such reports “absolutely untrue.” Berman insisted on YU’s commitment to its religious values, saying that the university is designed to be “an intensely religious one” during students’ formative years. “Its foundational purpose is to faithfully transmit our multi-millennial biblical and halachic tradition to enable our students to integrate their faith and practice in lives of contribution, impact, and personal meaning,” he explained. Students who choose Yeshiva University, he stressed, are selecting a “religiously driven environment and curriculum”, one in which the Torah remains central to all aspects of life. “The Yeshiva has always conveyed that what a Pride club represents is antithetical to the undergraduate program in which the traditional view of marriage and genders being determined at birth are transmitted. The Yeshiva never could and never would sanction such an undergraduate club and it is due to this that we entered litigation,” Berman wrote. He then introduced the Hareni club, which he says was created to support students who “are striving to live authentic, uncompromising halakhic lives.” The club, he said, was “agreed to by all of the parties to be in accordance with halacha, consistent with the rabbinic guidelines of the senior Roshei Yeshiva.” As a result of this agreement, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against YU accepted the creation of Hareni and moved to drop the case, leading to its dismissal. On Monday, Rav Hershel Schachter, the Rosh Yeshiva of YU, released a statement, saying: Two and a half years ago, when I was last consulted, I gave my blessing to a Yeshiva University initiative to help students struggling with problems of same sex attraction and gender identity. My position, then as now, emphatically rejects the ideology, lifestyle and behaviors which, the LGBTQ term represents. My position, then as now, is that all relevant prohibitions (homosexual behavior, same-sex marriage, castration, etc.) obviously must be uncompromisingly upheld. Simultaneously, all halachically legitimate means of support should be provided to struggling students to foster and sustain their uncompromising commitment to all of the above. I gave my blessing to providing guidance and support in maintaining full, uncompromising shmeras ha-mitzvos – to this sacred goal and nothing more. Experience has attested that allowing this initiative to take the form of a club has and continues to create confusion. I very much regret that I did not previously recognize this factor. Establishing any additional club in any orthodox institution will only add to that confusion and must be avoided. Despite Yeshiva University’s attempt to clarify its stance, lingering questions remain due to apparent contradictions in its policies and past actions. Just a few examples: YU currently employs a Bible professor who has openly advocated to disregard Judaism’s stance on toeiva marriages. From 2008 to 2021, the university employed an openly transgender professor. In 2022, the university’s social […]
JUST IN: State Senator Simcha Felder has been elected NYC Councilman for the 44th District, defeating Heshy Tishler and filling the vacant seat previously held by Kalman Yeger, who became a New York State Assemblyman earlier this year. The 44th District covers parts of Boro Park, Midwood, and Flatbush. Felder’s term will run through the end of the year, after which he must run in the June primaries and win the general election to secure a full four-year term. A special election is also expected to be scheduled for his now-vacant Senate seat.
State Senator Simcha Felder has been elected to the New York City Council, securing the seat for the 44th District in a closely watched race against Heshy Tishler. The district includes portions of Boro Park, Midwood, and Flatbush. Felder fills the vacancy left by former Councilman Kalman Yeger, who was elected to the New York State Assembly earlier this year. Felder’s City Council term will run through the end of 2025, after which he will need to compete in the June primaries and November general election to win a full four-year term. The outcome marks Felder’s return to the City Council, where he previously served before moving on to the State Senate. His victory also triggers the process of filling his now-vacant Senate seat, with a special election expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks. More details on the upcoming races and special election timeline are expected soon. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump on Tuesday pardoned a former business partner of Hunter Biden who was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to defraud a Native American tribe. Devon Archer later became a key figure in the congressional inquiry into the Biden family businesses, telling lawmakers behind closed doors that the younger Biden sold the “illusion of access” to his father. Before signing the pardon, Trump said Archer was treated “very unfairly.” White House staff secretary Will Scharf said the “tone and tenor” of the prosecution changed after Archer began to cooperate with congressional investigators in the Biden family inquiry. Archer was convicted in 2018 in a scheme to defraud the tribe that involved the sale of bonds. His conviction was overturned later that year before the court of appeals in New York reinstated it in 2020. He was sentenced in 2022 to a year in prison. Archer has denied any wrongdoing and called himself a “victim of financial fraud.” In a Fox News appearance on Monday, Archer said of the potential pardon: “I didn’t think I’d need this because I never did anything.” Archer testified before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee in 2023 as GOP lawmakers tried to make the case for impeachment proceedings against President Biden. Archer told the committee that President Biden was never directly involved in their financial dealings, though Hunter would often put his father on speakerphone to impress clients and business associates. Archer’s testimony portrayed the president’s son as capitalizing on his father’s name, but not necessarily promising or delivering any influence that would rise to a questionable level or approach wrongdoing. At one point, Archer was asked point blank: “Are you aware of any wrongdoing by Vice President Biden?” He responded, “No, I’m not aware of any.” Hunter Biden was convicted last year in two separate cases of federal gun and tax charges. President Biden pardoned his son shortly before he left office, reversing his past promises not to use the extraordinary powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family. (AP)
Your article about Yeshiva University is not only inaccurate—it fails to convey the full story, especially the deeper context. On top of that, it borders on motzi shem ra and lashon hara. Who do you and your readers think you are, playing God—pretending to know why things happen and focusing on finding fault in others? We are living in a time when the world is revealing its true colors toward the Jewish people. Haman, Hitler, and Hamas did not discriminate among Jews—they hated us all equally. The painful irony is that while the world unites in its hatred, we divide ourselves in the name of “defending God.” But God is big enough to handle His own judgment. He doesn’t need our help condemning others. What God truly cares about—and perhaps does not forgive—is how we treat one another. Instead of constantly pointing fingers, take a hard look at yourselves. If you’re truly seeking truth, consider this: according to a Pew study, 30% of the Charedi community identifies as atheist. Within that same community, there’s often more concern with looking frum than with being frum. This brings me to another issue: avodah zarah. What is avodah zarah? It’s the worship of things—objects, people, ideologies. We are meant to be a people of questions, of respectful disagreement, of seeking truth. In my view, the way “Daas Torah” is used in some circles borders on avodah zarah. If something doesn’t make sense, we are meant to question—respectfully but persistently—until truth emerges. People are fallible. Even the greatest among us can make mistakes. What is true in one community might look different in another. We are all human, and HaKadosh Baruch Hu gave each of us our own daas. The Torah warns us about nevi’ei sheker—false prophets. Just because someone is considered great does not mean we must blindly follow their every word. When it says talmidei chachamim marbim shalom, it means that if someone is not increasing peace, he is not a talmid chacham. Learning Torah is one thing; truly understanding it is another. Torah is a living, breathing entity. It’s not just about keeping mitzvot—Torah and mitzvot are a means, not an end. We see in the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza that the destruction of the Temple was attributed to the actions—and inaction—of leaders. The Gemara holds Rabbi Zechariah ben Avkolas responsible because of his narrow-mindedness and his silence in the face of public humiliation at that infamous party. Sadly, we’ve adopted some of the same black-and-white thinking found in Christianity and Islam—acting as if we represent God, deciding who is good and who is bad, who is “in” and who is “out.” But the truth is, everyone connects to God in their own way. You owe a public apology to Yeshiva University and to the broader Jewish community—especially given that you clearly have no real understanding of what Yeshiva University represents or what it has contributed to the Jewish world. YU has produced true talmidei chachamim who are not only deeply learned but also serve as leaders and professionals across all fields. Some of the world’s greatest poskim have come through its doors. Just because their approach to Torah differs from yours does not make it invalid. On the contrary—this is exactly where avodah zarah begins: when we start […]
A pilot and two children survived on the wing of a plane for about 12 hours after it crashed and was partially submerged in an icy Alaska lake, then were rescued after being spotted by a Good Samaritan. Terry Godes said he saw a Facebook post Sunday night calling for people to help search for the missing plane. On Monday morning, he headed toward Tustumena Lake near the toe of a glacier and spotted what he thought was wreckage. “It kind of broke my heart to see that, but as I got closer down and lower, I could see that there’s three people on top of the wing,” he told The Associated Press on Tuesday. After saying a little prayer, he continued to get closer and saw a miracle. “They were alive and responsive and moving around,” he said, adding they waved at him as he approached. The missing Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, piloted by a man with two immediate juvenile family members aboard, flew Sunday on a recreational sightseeing tour from Soldotna to Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula. The three were rescued on the eastern edge of Tustumena Lake on Monday by the Alaska National Guard after Godes alerted other pilots searching for the plane that he had found it. Another pilot, Dale Eicher, heard Godes’ radio call and alerted troopers since he was closer to Skilak Lake and figured he had better cell reception. He was also able to provide the plane’s coordinates to authorities. “I wasn’t sure if we would find them, especially because there was a cloud layer over quite a bit of the mountains so they could have very easily been in those clouds that we couldn’t get to,” Eicher said. But he said that finding the family within an hour of starting the search and finding them alive “was very good news.” The three survivors were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Alaska State Troopers said. “They spent a long, cold, dark, wet night out on top of a wing of an airplane that they weren’t planning on,” Godes said. He said there were many miracles at play, from the plane not sinking, to the survivors being able to stay on the wing, to the three surviving the night in temperatures dipping into the 20s (subzero Celsius). “It’s a cold dark place out there at night,” he said. The plane was mostly submerged in the lake with only the wing and the top of the rudder exposed above the ice and water, Godes said. There is no indication why the plane crashed. The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that it is investigating with the Federal Aviation Administration. The 60,000-acre (24,200-hectare) Tustumena Lake is situated about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of Anchorage and has been described by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as “notorious for its sudden, dangerous winds.” Conditions around the lake — with nearby mountains, a glacier and gusty winds — can cause havoc for both boats and planes. The body of water is the largest freshwater lake on the Kenai Peninsula . “Even under what would be considered a benign or relatively weak pressure gradient, the terrain helps turn the winds around, and occasionally they get a little squirrelly,” said Michael Kutz, […]
Attorney Iska Bina revealed what the justices of Israel’s Supreme Court spend most of their time doing in an interview with Channel 14 News earlier this month. Bina revealed shocking statistics showing that the justices of the Supreme Court spend the bulk of their time holding hearings on petitions filed by Palestinian Authority Arabs. Of 546 appeals filed to the Supreme Court in January 2025, 436 (80%) were submitted by Palestinian Authority Arabs living in Yehuda and Shomron and Gaza. The Supreme Court held 216 hearings in January, 197 (91.2%) of which were deliberations on appeals filed by PA Arabs. In other words, as Bina put it: “The Supreme Court is simply busy with terrorists.” Most of the appeals filed by PA Arabs are against administrative detention orders, which Israel often uses to thwart terror suspects. It should be noted that the PA Arabs are almost always represented by anti-Israel NGOs located in Europe or the US, which means that the Supreme Court, funded by Israeli taxpayers, spends most of its time pandering to foreign anti-Israel organizations. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The Aleph Institute’s education initiative, Project 432, recently delivered its Compass Workshop to 150 students at Yeshiva Darchei Torah. The workshop is a groundbreaking initiative designed to teach teenagers and young adults the principles of financial integrity through the lens of Torah and halacha. Since its inception two years ago, the workshop has reached over 2,560 students at 58 high schools and yeshivas in North America and Israel. As part of efforts to equip their talmidim with the tools to lead a life of yashrus, the yeshiva partnered with Project 432 to guide students in navigating financial challenges through Torah-based principles. “This education is something that is truly needed and I believe will pay dividends be”H in the lives of our talmidim,” said Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh Hayeshivah. “Although yeshiva bochurim spend much time learning sugyos of mamonos and sifrei mussar, the gap between theory and the practical can remain very wide. The workshop was clear, engaging and practical, and helped the students connect the dots.” Project 432, named after the Torah’s 432nd mitzvah—fear and awe of Hashem—is the educational division of the Aleph Institute, a nonprofit focused on supporting individuals and families impacted by the criminal justice system. Its Compass Workshop is a dynamic one-hour multimedia presentation aimed at inspiring high school students to approach monetary matters with honesty, transparency and accountability. “We are grateful to Project 432 for giving this very important and insightful presentation to our 12th-grade class,” said Rabbi Shimon Dachs, general studies principal at Darchei Torah. “The presentation was delivered in a way that resonated with mesivta bochurim, helping them grasp the importance of integrity in business—even before entering the professional world.” Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein, an experienced CPA and Project 432’s senior lecturer, captivated the students with real-world examples, Torah sources and insights, and case studies from Aleph clients. He demonstrated how the timeless principles of financial integrity can be seamlessly applied to everyday life. “It was an incredibly rewarding experience to bring our message to the students at Darchei Torah,” said Rabbi Goldstein. “Their thoughtful questions and eagerness to learn showed their commitment to living lives of integrity grounded in Torah. It’s clear that these bochurim aren’t just learning principles—they’re developing the mindset and tools to live them out with honesty and accountability in all areas of life.” “Aleph intimately understands the lasting impacts of incarceration, not just on those in prison, but on their families as well,” said Rabbi Aaron Lipskar, Aleph’s CEO. “It’s heartbreaking to realize that much of this pain could have been prevented by making better choices. Our Compass Workshop is our proactive approach to shaping responsible decisionmakers. The goal is to teach them now, in a safe and learning-focused environment, so they’re ready to handle real-life challenges later with confidence.” Project 432 continues to expand, offering more yeshivas and schools the opportunity to embrace this program and its transformative lessons. To learn more about Project 432 or to bring the Compass Workshop to your school, visit P432.org or email letstalk@p432.org.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that he’s joining his wife on a Friday trip to Greenland, suggesting in an online video that global security is at stake. “We’re going to check out how things are going there,” Vance said in a video shared Tuesday. “Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think it’s important to protecting the security of the entire world.” U.S. President Donald Trump irked much of Europe by suggesting that his country should in some form control the self-governing, mineral-rich territory of American ally Denmark. As the nautical gateway to the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America, Greenland has broader strategic value as both China and Russia also seek access to its waterways and the nearby natural resources. The office of second lady Usha Vance said Sunday that she would depart Thursday for Greenland and return Saturday. Vance and one of her three children had planned to visit historic sites and learn about Greenland’s culture, but her husband’s participation has reoriented the trip around national security. The U.S. vice president said he didn’t want to let his wife “have all that fun by herself” and said he plans to visit a Space Force outpost in the northwest coast of Greenland. Vance said that other countries have threatened Greenland as well as the United States and Canada. Vance said that leaders in Denmark and North America had “ignored” Greenland for “far too long.” During his first term, Trump floated the idea of purchasing the world’s largest island, even as Denmark, a NATO ally, insisted it wasn’t for sale. The people of Greenland also have firmly rejected Trump’s plans. Usha Vance and a U.S. delegation were scheduled to visit Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland’s national dogsled race, which would include about 37 mushers and 444 dogs. Trump’s return to the White House has included a desire with territorial expansion, with the U.S. president seeking to add Canada as a 51st state and resume control of the Panama Canal. He has also indicated that U.S. interests could take over the land in the war-torn Gaza Strip from Israel and convert it into a luxury outpost. (AP)
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The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah met last Thursday to discuss the issue of voting in the ongoing World Zionist Organization elections. On Tuesday, they issued the following Kol Korei: The Zionist Movement was founded 125 years ago with the purpose of uprooting the foundations of Judaism and redefining the Jewish people from “a kingdom of servants of Hashem and a holy people” into a nation like all nations who are defined by a common language, culture and land. Since, in the words of Rav Saadiah Gaon, “our nation is a nation by virtue of its Torah,” the gedolim of that time did battle with this movement and ruled that anyone who considers himself a Jew may not support it in any manner whatsoever. It was for this reason that they founded Agudath Israel-to prevent those who keep Torah and mitzvos from joining the Zionist Movement. Accordingly, the geonim the Chofetz Chaim, the Gerrer Rebbe, Rav Chaim of Brisk, the Chazon Ish, Rav Aharon Kotler, the Steipler, Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach, and Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zichronam livracha, forbade joining the World Zionist Organization (WZO). The Chofetz Chaim ruled that it is forbidden to join it even if this means a third of the yeshivos will have to close. Similarly, recently, a ruling forbidding this was issued by Maran Hagaon Rav Dov Landau shlit”a. About five years ago, a party of Chareidim was formed with the declared intention of joining the WZO. It claimed that thereby they would rescue the holy sites of Israel from control by the Reform and that they would thereby direct monies of the WZO to the yeshivos. Now that at this time there are elections for the WZO, this party and others similar to it have embarked on a massive advertising campaign to convince those committed to Judaism to vote for them to become delegates to the WZO. In order to vote, the voter must sign a declaration that he accepts upon himself the Zionist ideology, which does not recognize that the Jewish people is bound by the Torah. He also declares that he encourages participation in the IDF and that those who are exempt must serve in Sherut Leumi (national service for both yeshiva students and Chareidi girls). The elected delegates become full partners in the activities of the WZO, including those that negate the Torah. We therefore believe that it is forbidden to vote in these elections. We do not intend to impugn the honor of those distinguished rabbis who ruled that it is permitted. However, our opinion is that there are many issurim (prohibitions) involved here, both for the voters and for the delegates. 1) There is a massive chillul Hashem in declaring acceptance of the heretical ideas of the WZO. 2) It is forbidden to agree to matters that the Torah leadership of Klal isroel says are forbidden. 3) For elected delegates, it is forbidden to join a group of sinners (hischabrus I’resha’im). 4) The voters are mesayei’a lidei aveirah (assisting in the commission of aveiros). It is obvious that the money hoped to be received from the WZO does not justify these serious issurim. We have therefore agreed to publicize our opinion that it is forbidden to vote for any party in the election for the WZO. We firmly believe that […]
