Yeshiva World News

Israel’s Energy Ministry has begun investigating a series of complaints by motorists regarding the quality of gasoline that was sold at stations across central Israel. The affected gasoline was all at the level of octane 95. This is one of the items whose price is set monthly by the Ministry. The majority of the complaints came from two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles and scooters. As thousands of motorcyclists reported having issues and needing to get their gas tanks emptied due to damage suffered by thicker viscosity in the gasoline, it would be logical to hear complaints from some car drivers as well, something which did not happen. A senior official in the Ministry told the Israeli newspaper Calcalist that they had received hundreds of reports of motorcycles that were left standing at mechanics across central Israel, each of which was suffering from similar problems caused by gasoline. The Energy Ministry has stated that they are going to check the gasoline in the area within the next week. While the complaints came from all over the area, no one has specified a specific gas station in which the problem has been recurring or proven to exist. Due to this, the Ministry will be conducting the test over the next few days and into next week in order to cover the entire area. Over the past day, complaints also carried over into the Jerusalem area, with numerous Paz gas stations in the city being specifically mentioned by the complaints online. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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Rabbi Motty Kopman, his friends recall, could become a person’s best friend the moment he met them. He always spoke from the heart, and had a charm about him that allowed him to connect with every individual on a personal basis. He had moved from Israel to provide spiritual support to a budding new Jewish community in Buffalo, and became the local Rabbi’s right hand man. Many shabbosim, he would walk for two hours to a shul, just to help them make a minyan; many congregants would come just because Motty was there. On Rosh Hashanah, after being the Chazan and baal tokea, he would walk to the local university and spend hours looking out for jewish students and blowing shofar for the students, that didn’t not make it to a shul. He always had a smile, a kind word, an inspiring story for everyone he met. He was a walking encyclopedia of music. Motty had been battling Lymphoma for the last six months, and succumbed to COVID-19 at the age of 34, leaving behind five beautiful young children and a grieving wife. A fund was set up to assist his family in this hard time.

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New York’s Democratic Party leadership gave up trying to cancel the state’s June 23 presidential primary Tuesday after an appeals court rejected arguments that holding it during the coronavirus pandemic would endanger public safety. Douglas A. Kellner, co-chair of the State Board of Elections, said he and the board’s commissioner would not appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court after the ruling by the three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan. He said they planned to urge voters to use absentee ballots while they “focus all of our attention on the daunting tasks of managing the primary election in a way that minimizes the risks to the public and to election workers.” State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs said scrapping the primary would have been “a whole lot safer.” “Of course I’m disappointed and hopeful that none of the worst predictions for poll worker health will come true, but we will comply of course with the court’s order and we will hold the primary,” Jacobs said. Even without the party’s presidential primary, voting would still have taken place in most of the state in primaries for state and congressional offices. Tuesday’s 2nd Circuit ruling was praised by lawyers for supporters of Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang, two Democratic presidential candidates who had suspended campaigns but hope to secure enough delegates to influence the party’s platform and rules later this summer. The appeals court agreed in a written order to be followed by a lengthier opinion with a lower court judge who ruled two weeks ago that the primary must include the contest. The appeals judges Friday seemed to agree with oral arguments advanced on behalf of Sanders and Yang. The lawyers said it did not matter that former Vice President Joe Biden seemed destined to be the Democrat’s nominee against President Donald Trump because Sanders and Yang wanted a strong voice at the Democrat’s August convention. “This is a big victory for Democracy, and the importance of not undermining it during the pandemic. We hope President Trump is watching closely: don’t fool with the November election,” said attorney Arthur Schwartz, who had argued on behalf of supporters of Sanders. Attorney Jeff Kurzon, who started the litigation by suing on behalf of Yang and other prospective convention delegates, said he was “very grateful we have three branches of government and the courts agreed that New Yorkers have the right to vote in this presidential election.” The Democratic presidential primary had been canceled on grounds that the coronavirus posed too big a safety threat, especially since thousands of poll workers would have to be hired and hundreds of thousands of voters might have trouble social distancing. But U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres on May 5 ruled there was enough time before the election to ensure measures were in place to carry it out safely. She said it was unconstitutional to cancel the primary. Lawyers for the state also conceded last week that no other state canceled its Democratic presidential primary. (AP)

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Shuls and other houses of worship will allowed to reopen on Wednesday with some health restrictions put in place. Netanyahu tweeted: “After consulting with Minister of Health Edelstein, Interior Minister Deri and Mayor of the National Security Council Meir Shabbat, I decided to allow the opening of the synagogues starting tomorrow according to the following outline: – Up to 50 participants in the space. – Keeping a distance of 2 meters between the worshipers. – Corona trustee appointment (to make sure the rules are not broken). – Wear a mask. – Adhering to hygiene rules. Take care of your health!” STAY UPDATED WITH BREAKING UPDATES FROM YWN VIA WHATSAPP – SIGN UP NOW Just click on this link, and you will be placed into a group. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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A former Navy fighter pilot who captured a California congressional district from Democrats and a state legislator who retained a Republican-held Wisconsin seat joined the House on Tuesday, buoying a GOP seeking momentum for its uphill fight for the chamber’s majority in this fall’s elections. California’s Mike Garcia and Wisconsin’s Tom Tîffany, who won special elections last week to fill vacancies, are conservatives backed by President Donald Trump. Both will serve until Jan. 3, filling unexpired terms of lawmakers who resigned last year. The two men stood side by side on the House floor as they were sworn into office by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. In this age of the coronavirus, they elbow-bumped afterward but did not wear face masks. In brief remarks, Garcia said one of his goals was “to hopefully get through this crisis as a solid, unified country.” Tiffany said he wants to “advance the cause of freedom and liberty.” Pelosi later presided at ceremonial swearing-in events for both lawmakers, most noteworthy because she briefly stood less than the recommended 6 feet (1.8 meters) away from the men and their families. Garcia’s win came in a Los Angeles-area district that was among dozens of suburban seats that Democrats won from the GOP in 2018, catapulting them to House control. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had carried the district by 7 percentage points in 2016, and two years later Democrat Katie Hill won the seat by 9 points. But Garcia was elected last week by 10 points over Democrat Christy Smith, casting himself as an outsider against the state assemblywoman. He also raised about the same $2.3 million as Smith’s campaign, unusual in an election cycle in which most Democratic candidates in competitive races are collecting significantly more in contributions. Hill resigned last year after allegations that she’d had an inappropriate relationship with an aide. Republicans have touted Garcia’s victory as a sign that their political fortunes are improving. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., who leads the House GOP’s campaign arm, has said it means his party can win the House. But Democrats are still favored to retain House control and seem likely to keep most contested suburban seats this November. That’s a reflection of how Trump’s divisive rhetoric and erratic performance have alienated moderate suburban voters, especially women. Garcia and Smith will face each other again in November for a full two-year House term. Democrats are expecting a far higher turnout by Democratic voters in November, drawn to polling places by having Trump’s name on the ballot. Tiffany will represent a rural, conservative-leaning district in Wisconsin. He replaces former GOP Rep. Sean Duffy, who said he left office to spend more time with his family. With Garcia and Tiffany joining the House, Democrats control the chamber 233-198, with one independent and three vacancies. (AP)

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Excerpts from the Chayenu magazine If we were to advertise a book that saves lives, heals, and opens heaven’s doors to our most fervent prayers, Chitas sales would be brisk indeed. Each era is born with its own spiritual key, a particular observance or practice that serves more than all others as the gateway through which a generation travels. The Lubavitcher Rebbe  unwaveringly insisted that in the modern era, the security and success of individual Jews as well as our collective travels is a daily journey through a brief helping of sacred phrases recorded  by Moshe Rabbeinu with their immortal commentary set by Rashi; the praises and pleas of  King David; and insights into the soul of a Jew and the soul of the Torah as revealed by the Baal  HaTanya. [To this, the Rebbe later supplemented a daily serving of Rambam’s Mishneh Torah, which details all the laws of the Torah]. Yes, this brief daily study initiative emerged from the holy mouths of the Rebbes of Chabad, but these spiritual giants made it abundantly clear that the daily undertaking is the legacy of all Jews.   WHAT IS CHITAS? Chitas – חתת 1. A Hebrew acronym formed by the three letters ches/ח , tav /ת , tav /ת , the initials of Chumash (the Five Books of Moses), Tehillim (book of Psalms), and Tanya (Chabad Chassidic thought authored by the first Rebbe of the Chabad movement, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi.) 2. The daily study cycles of the three books. 3. A single volume entitled Sefer Chitas which contains the Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya. 4. The word Chitas (חתת) is also taken from the verse “ויהי חתת אלקים על הערים” “And the fear of Hashem was upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue Yaakov’s sons” (Bereishis 32:5).   1 חתת- Chumash The daily Chumash studied as part of Chitas follows precisely the weekly Torah readings. Starting from the Sunday of each week, the entire parshah that will be read publicly on the following Shabbos is studied, in the following manner: On Sunday itself, the first aliyah is studied, along with the commentary of Rashi. On Monday, the second aliyah is studied with Rashi, and so on throughout the week, until the seventh and final section of the parshah is studied on Shabbos itself.   2. חתת – Tehillim Tehillim is divided in a monthly cycle, in which only a few chapters are read each day and the entire book of Tehillim is completed on the final day of each Jewish month. During months containing twenty-nine instead of thirty days, the thirtieth portion is combined with the twenty-ninth portion.   3. חתת – Tanya The Tanya was authored by the first Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745– 1812). It is the main work of Chabad philosophy, in which the fundamental teachings of Chassidism are given systematic intellectual structure, with the goal of providing a universal guidebook that each Jew can use to navigate his spiritual path and advance in his personal service of G-d. The sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn divided Tanya into daily portions, so that it is studied over the course of a year. He prepared an alternative division to fit the thirteen months of a Jewish leap-year. Either cycle is designed to […]

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Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai filed a libel lawsuit against newly-appointed Transportation Minister Miri Regev for half a million shekel regarding the “Tel Aviv tefillin stand affair.” The lawsuit, filed at the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Magistrate’s Court, states that Regev stated lies about Huldai, incited against him and spread fake news ahead of the Knesset elections in March in “a campaign that [she] has been waging against [the mayor] for a long time.” The lawsuit refers to public statements Regev made at a February campaign event, at which she accused Huldai of coming out against Judaism and freedom of religion by banning Tel Aviv residents from putting on tefillin. Regev was referring to an incident in February widely reported by the media that the Tel Aviv municipality had banned stands, including tefillin stands, within 100 meters of publicly owned buildings that service minors, such as schools. The decision was led by the Green Secular party, part of Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai’s coalition, which is headed by Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Reuven Ladianski. The news was condemned by religious political parties, religious groups and even secular personalities. “Do you know that the Tel Aviv mayor announced that he wouldn’t permit tefillin on the street —it’s delusional,” Regev said in February. “Is there an Israeli, Jewish, religious or secular person who doesn’t connect with tefillin? “There’s no such thing. Even when Jews were persecuted, they put on tefillin secretly. And here in the State of Israel, Tel Aviv won’t allow tefillin? It’s shameful. There’s nothing more Jewish than putting on tefillin.” However, according to Huldai’s lawsuit, the decision about the stands was made without his input and did not single out tefillin stands but all types of stands. His lawsuit states that Regev “intentionally lied and distorted the facts,” adding that she repeated her statements several times including on public television and refused to correct her statements even when the true facts were clarified to her. Huldai stated that if he wins, he will donate the money left after paying his legal fees to a secular yeshivah in Tel Aviv. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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The Senate intelligence committee has approved the nomination of Texas GOP Rep. John Ratcliffe to be Director of National Intelligence, sending the nomination to the Senate floor for confirmation. Ratcliffe’s nomination was approved 8-7 in a closed committee hearing, with senators voting along party lines, according to a committee aide. The aide was granted anonymity to discuss the closed proceedings ahead of an official announcement. Republicans have praised Ratcliffe, who has been ardent defender of President Donald Trump, while Democrats have been skeptical that he would serve with the independence they say is crucial for the job. Ratcliffe sought to shed his reputation as a Trump loyalist at his confirmation hearing earlier this month, insisting he would lead the nation’s intelligence agencies without partisan influence. Ratcliffe would replace Dan Coats, a former GOP senator who was popular in Congress but who clashed with Trump in his two years in the job. Richard Grenell, who is close to Trump, is now the acting director. Trump, who has always viewed the intelligence committee with skepticism, h as nominated Ratcliffe twice. Ratcliffe was first picked for the post last summer, shortly after Coats’ resignation, but then withdrew after some Senate Republicans questioned his experience. GOP senators warmed to Ratcliffe after Trump unexpectedly nominated him again in February. The months in between were a tumultuous time in the intelligence community, as Trump ousted and fired multiple officials, and senators were eager for a permanent replacement for Coats. The hearing was the first for the panel’s new chairman, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tapped Rubio to temporarily lead the committee after Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., stepped aside amid an FBI inquiry of his recent stock sales. (AP)

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The following is from the Facebook page of News 12 reporter Blaise Gomez. YWN notes that Gomez is well-known in the Jewish community, running round trying to find stories in the Jewish community. Many of her stories prompt hundreds of anti-Semitic comments on her social media platforms and make their way around other hate outlets in Upstate NY. “We saw children at windows inside the United Talmudical Academy in Kiryas Joel this morning – despite the state’s executive order, closing schools in New York. Following our arrival, other children walking toward school, with books in hand, or being driven in were turned away by several men standing outside. A viewer also sent us a photo of children standing outside UTA this morning, which I will post in the thread. “We have calls out to County Executive Steve Neuhaus and Kiryas Joel School Superintendent Joel Petlin for comment. “**UPDATE** State Police arrived while we were here and said they do not have the authority to go in the school to confirm if children are inside and why. The troopers further stated that schools are allowed to stay open for childcare purposes, and that even without knowing why children are here, it’s a legal loophole that makes it difficult to enforce the executive order.” Sure enough, as of this YWN story there are over 200 comments on her Facebook page. The following is a video on her Facebook page followed by a small a sample of what the rest of the 200+ comments say. STAY UPDATED WITH BREAKING UPDATES FROM YWN VIA WHATSAPP – SIGN UP NOW Just click on this link, and you will be placed into a group. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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Shuls re-opened on Monday in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, the epicenter of the severe coronavirus outbreak in the country, after a 10 week-lockdown. The main shul in Milan, a city in Italy’s northern Lombardy region, reopened in accordance with health ministry regulations, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reported. Mispallelim must register in advance with the Rabbi to ensure the congregation does not exceed the permitted number. Social distancing regulations must be adhered to, face masks must be worn and children under the age of 13 are not permitted to enter. At the Beit Menachem shul in Milan, only 28 mispallelim are allowed at one time in the men’s section (half its usual capacity), and 12 in the women’s section. The doors must remain open during tefillos. Shuls in Rome and Florence, both located in central Italy, also reopened, including the Beit Michael shul in Rome, headed Rav Roberto Columbo, as seen below: Italy, which has suffered one of the highest death rates from the coronavirus in Europe (now surpassed by the UK), is returning to a normal routine, which in an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country, includes the reopening of churches as well as shuls and mosques. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com He was one of the top Yeshiva Mashgichim in all of Europe. He was Rav Shach’s Mashgiach ruchni at Kletzk, and he and Rav Yeruchem Levovitz zt”l started the Yeshiva Ketana in Kelm.  The Chofetz Chaim himself took him as a mashgiach for his Yeshiva in Radin. And Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l chose him to replace Rav Chatzkel Levenstein zt”l as the Yeshiva’s mashgiach. Unfortunately, this remarkable Baal Mussar has been almost completely forgotten.    The Nazis y”s have succeeded in destroying almost any vestige of him.  Who was he?  What was his name? Before the rise of Beth Medrash Gavoha in Lakewood, Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l had led another Yeshiva in Europe – Yeshiva Etz Chaim in Kletzk.  The Yeshiva had a sterling reputation, and was attended by the elite Yeshiva students of all of Europe. The Mashgiach of the Yeshiva was one of the most outstanding Mussar personalities of the yeshivos in Europe – Rav Yoseph Leib Nenedick zt”l, was murdered by the Nazis in 1943 – he, his and his entire family.   Rav Nenedick’s mussar shmuessim were masterpieces and inspired all of the Kletzk talmidim. Rav Nenendick felt that Talmidim should be treated in the highest manner of respect, and addressed them all in the “ir” form rather than the “du” form.  He had a remarkable koach hatziur in explaining a Tefilah – so that the Talmidim could marshal up an intensity of Kavana.  Many of his shmuessim focused upon how to further purify one’s sense of lishma. One example of his penetrating insight:  What was Adom haRishon’s aveirah?  The Gemorah tells us that he sat in Teshuvah for 130 years.  What was so wrong with what he did?  Rav Nenedick explained that it was not the depth of the Teshuvah that was lacking – rather it was that Teshuvah was not his immediate reaction upon being told by Hashem that he had erred.  Teshuvah was created before the world itself came into being, and everyone has the ability to immediately take corrective action.  Dovid HaMelech did so when he said, “Chatasi Lashem..”  Adam haRishon should have done it as well.. Rav Yoseph Aryeh Leib Nenedick studied in the Talmud Torah of Kelm and served as the Mashgiach Ruchni of a number of yeshivos, including Kobrin, Lomzha, Radin, Shaar haTorah Grodna, Ponevech, and Kletzk. He was born in the town of Sochovola. As a youth, he studied in the Yeshiva of Telze under Rabbi Shimon Shkop.  Afterward, he travelled to study at the Talmud Torah of Kelm, under Rav Simcha Zissel Zib Broidy, the Alter of Kelm.  He absorbed the Alter of Kelm’s mehalech hachinuch.  At the age of 28, he married the daughter of Rav Noach Viner, a Rav of a number of cities and towns. After his marriage, Rav Yoseph Leib, Rav Elya Lopian and Rav Yeruchem Levovitz established a Talmud Torah in Kelm – where he served as a Rosh Mesivta.  Rav Nenedick then served as the Mashgiach in Brynsk, and Lomza. He also served as the Mashgiach of the Radin yeshiva.  In 1915, on account of the war, based on a goral haGra it was decided that the Yeshiva should split into two.  The Chofetz Chaim travelled deeper into Russia, while Rav Nenedick and Rav Moshe Londinsky the […]

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ספר תורה שרוי בצער!הרבנים הגאונים הגאון הצדיק רבי שמעון גלאי שליט״א והגאון הצדיק רבי יצחק קולדצקי שליט״א חתן מרן הגר״ח קנייבסקי שליט״אHave gathered together to launch this emergency campaign.One of the great Talimidie Chachomim in Eretz Yisrael, is in a critical situation which is true פיקוח נפש. CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOWThe Rabbonim are pleading everyone to help with any amount so חס ושלום they do not have to open a קרן יתומים. In order not to embarrass the well known family, the Rabbonim decided not to publish the name of this individual. CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOWTeire Yidden! Who can see these Gedolim cry out and not act accordingly? Would you not help when seeing these 2 Gedolim go out of their comfort zone?The Rabbonim are pleading for your help, and are showering you with Brachos (see the letter)״ובזכות מצוות הצדקה וחסד והצלת נפשות יזכו כל המסייעים לבני חיי ומזוני, ברכה והצלחה ובריאות הגוף והנפש ואורך ימים ושנים ונחת מכל הצאצאים שיהיו כולם דורות ישרים ומבורכים, בריאים ושלמים תלמידי חכמים וצדיקים וכל טוב סלה״. CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW Check you can make out to: Tomchei Tzedaka corp. Mail: P.o Box 1003, Lakewood NJ 08701 PLEASE SPECIFY FOR “KEREN RABBI GALAI AND RABBI KOLEDETZKI #10122” CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW

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New York State is piloting a program to bring visitors back in to hospitals, NYS Governor Cumo announced moments ago. As part of the two-week pilot program, 16 hospitals across the state can increase visitation for family/loved ones who must wear PPE and are subject to symptom & temperature checks. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York State Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein has been at the forefront of the movement insisting that patients’ family members be permitted to visit them during their time of greatest pain and need. On March 18, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker issued guidance barring visitors from hospitals – a decision that has had serious ramifications not only on basic patient care but on the health, welfare, and mental well-being of patients and their family members. “These last two months have been heartbreaking,” said Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein. “I have heard far too many tragic stories of patients who were forced to spend their last days alone at the hospital without a family member or caregiver to advocate for their basic needs.” Assemblyman Eichenstein continued, “I have advocated and will continue to advocate for this no-visitors policy to be revisited in it’s entirety until we achieve a level of access that patients and families are comfortable with. While it’s extremely unfortunate so many patients did not have a family member by their side at their most vulnerable time over these last two months, I am glad and grateful that Governor Cuomo has finally heard our call and is taking a first step by implementing this pilot program in which family members will now be allowed limited visitation at specific hospitals. I believe this expansion will also greatly enhance many patient’s chances for a full recovery – implementing safety measures that will offer immeasurable comfort to the patients and their family members.” STAY UPDATED WITH BREAKING UPDATES FROM YWN VIA WHATSAPP – SIGN UP NOW Just click on this link, and you will be placed into a group. DEVELOPING STORY

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Canada-U.S. border restrictions have been extended by at least another month amid the COVID-19 pandemic to June 21. The previous agreement set to expire in just a few days. “This is an important decision that will keep people in both of our countries safe,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday. When asked how long the international border would be closed for, Trudeau said decisions are being made on a weekly basis as the health crisis continues to evolve. This is the second time the Canadian and U.S. governments have extended border measures amid the coronavirus pandemic. STAY UPDATED WITH BREAKING UPDATES FROM YWN VIA WHATSAPP – SIGN UP NOW Just click on this link, and you will be placed into a group. “The situation is changing rapidly and we’re adjusting constantly to what is the right measures for Canadians to get that balance right between keeping people safe and restoring a semblance of normality and economic activity that we all rely on,” the prime minister explained. “It was the right thing to further extend by 30 days our closure of the Canada-U.S. border to travellers other than essential services and goods, but we will continue to watch carefully what’s happening elsewhere in the world and around us as we make decisions on next steps.” Crossings have been closed to all non-essential travel since March 21. Truck drivers, Canadians and Americans who cross the border for essential work or other “urgent” reasons, as well as some others are exempt from the closure. (AP)

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Senator Ted Cruz is calling on the Justice Department to investigate NYC Mayor Deblasio after the NYPD shut down a Hasidic Yeshiva operating in defiance of the executive order. “The next time NYC’s mayor sends out a gleeful tweet about sending cops after Jews, the DOJ should investigate to make sure he’s not violating constitutionally guaranteed religious liberties,” Cruz wrote in a Tuesday morning tweet. “Actually, they should have done it after the last one,” he added. As YWN reported, the NYPD on Monday shut down an Orthodox Jewish school in Brooklyn that was operating illegally during the pandemic. Law enforcement officials told NBC New York that police officers found more than 100 children inside the school on Madison Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant when they arrived there Monday morning. The next time NYC's mayor sends out a gleeful tweet about sending cops after Jews, the DOJ should investigate to make sure he's not violating constitutionally guaranteed religious liberties. Actually, they should have done it after the last one. https://t.co/BU61pkh27y — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 19, 2020 In a tweet Monday evening, de Blasio said the Yeshiva was “conducting classes with as many as 70 children.” “I can’t stress how dangerous this is for our young people,” he wrote. “We’re issuing a Cease and Desist Order and will make sure we keep our communities and our kids safe.” STAY UPDATED WITH BREAKING UPDATES FROM YWN VIA WHATSAPP – SIGN UP NOW Just click on this link, and you will be placed into a group. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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The well established and central Kollel of Kiryat Sefer, Beth Aba Institutions led by Rabbi Freund, took the initiative last week immediately after the Ministry of Health gave authorization to open Shuls and Beis Midrashim for up to fifteen people. Rabbi Freund did not wait for an unnecessary minute and immediately invited an architect and a company to design the ten vestibules, each with a separate entrance. The Beis Midrash which is 500 meters was divided into ten vestibules, before entering each Avrech was required to affirm on a form for the Ministry of Health that he was not sick and had no signs of illness. All Avrechim wear a mask and learn two meters apart. At the entrance to the Beis Midrash were placed dozens of bottles of hand sanitizer, in addition, the Kollel appointed Corona inspectors to oversee all instructions were being followed to the letter of the law . It is impossible to describe the joy of the Avrechim upon their return to learning! Although not everyone was fortunate to return to the Kollel, for now, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health, only one hundred and eighty of the three hundred and eighty Avrechim could return to the Beis Midrash. However, as Rabbi Freund mentioned in his opening speech, the Corona decree taught us that we should rejoice at any progress and every improvement that Hashem bestows upon us, nothing should be taken for granted.  Rabbi Freund mentioned that they are dedicating the first five minutes of seder to say Tehillim on all those who are sick.  You can send names to the following email:  bethabba@gmail.com and Rabbi Freund will be mentioning those names after Tehillim.

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Hope is an extraordinary organization dedicated to assisting families that fall into financial stress due to a crisis.   Founded by Eli Goldring, who is assisted by Hope administrator Yehudah Susskind, this organization seeks to restore hope where there is none. Whether the crisis is a parent or child stricken with serious illness, therapies that are cost-prohibitive for a normal income family, or tragic petiros that have left families burdened with the costs of a funeral and burial, Hope steps in and says,   “We are here to help.”   Hope provides urgently needed assistance for a short period of time to provide some relief to the family and help them get back on their feet.   Helping out families in financial crisis is always a special act of chesed but doing so in these turbulent times is particularly relevant. And if you can help yourself at the same time, then it’s truly a unique win-win.   Welcome to Lose for Hope, where you can simultaneously improve your physical health and the financial health of someone else. H.O.P.E. (Helping Out People Every Day) is a non-profit organization providing urgently needed short-term financial assistance for families facing an un-expected emergency. They have teamed up with internationally recognized Nutritionist Eli Glaser and the Soveya Weight-Loss Solution to launch a first-of-its kind weight loss campaign. Instead of the usual competition where participants are challenged to aggressively lose as much weight as possible to win the singular grand prize, the Lose for Hope initiative allows each person to establish a healthy and responsible personalized weight-loss goal within the 10-week framework of the campaign. Every participant will receive a free, personal consultation with Eli Glaser to determine their ideal goal along with a customized 10 week food plan and robust support material including e-versions of his new critically-acclaimed book, Enough is Enough as well as Soveya’s highly popular cookbook, No Sugar, No Flour, No Fuss. Everyone who meets their individual weight-loss goal at the end of the 10 weeks will be entered into a raffle giveaway that will distribute the prize money amongst multiple, randomly-selected contestants. There will also be several personal trainers available to support the participants in helping them maximize their success. This program is for men and women from the safety of your quarantined home. The raffle giveaway at the end of the campaign will have: 5 Winners ($1000 each minimum) as more join so will the prize….. In order to join the campaign you will commit to raising a certain amount of money that will go to benefit the Hope Organization. There are 4 tiers of raising funds: We will be creating a platform for you to raise the funds on. 1- Silver: $720 2- Gold: $1,800 3- Platinum: $3,600 4- Diamond: $5,400 Commit to raise $1,800 or more and receive an added benefit of having unlimited email communication with Eli Glaser throughout the 10 week program. Click here to register WWW.HOPEORG.ORG/LOSEFORHOPE The 10 week program will begin June 14th.   With any questions contact Campaign Director: Yehuda Susskind: 908-783-9426

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In a special letter written on Monday and published on Tuesday morning, Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky called to Klal Yisrael to be mapkid about the use of cell phones in shuls and batei medrashos. “To the honor of Rabbanim ha’gaonim and gabbaim of shuls in every location,” Harav Chaim wrote: “In our many sins it’s already been many weeks since we’ve been driven out of our shuls and batei medrashos…apparently this is a sign from Shamayim regarding the sin of being mezalzel the kedushas beis knesset by the fact that cell phones are on during davening and people are speaking on them. This is a great zilzul to tefilah and the kedushah of the beis knesses which our ancestors would never have imagined.” “Therefore we must be metakein a set takana that it’s an issur chamur to enter shul to daven with a phone that’s not turned off and it must be turned off during the entire davening. The gabbaim should take responsibility to be careful about this and warn the mispalleim as a ‘chok v’lo yaa’vor.’ “It’s also fitting that when we are zocheh b’mheira to return to our shuls that the Rabbanim should say words of chizuk and hisorrerus in the severity of the issur chamur of being mezalzel kedushas batei knessiot and batei medrashos.” Harav Chaim ended the letter by writing: “And in the zechus of accepting these matters, Hashem should return us swiftly to His avodah in shuls and batei medrashos b’rov am and accept our tefillos b’ahavah and ratzon.” Hagaon Rosh Yeshivah Harav Gerson Edelstein signed the letter and added: “Likewise one should be careful about speaking devarim betalim in the beis knesset.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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By Gavriel Levy Even as we experience a world shut down in this era of the novel coronavirus, there is one fire that continues to burn brightly: Limud Daf HaYomi! Whether via telephone or video conference, thousands upon thousands of shiurim are taking place as usual. But who are the ones steadfastly standing behind these Daf Yomi shiurim? It is the truly heroic Daf Yomi Magidei Shiur, who without fail, despite the difficulties, continue to enlighten our esteemed lomdei hadaf, keeping alight the torch of Torah. Last Sunday afternoon, Agudas Yisroel of America’s Commission of Daf HaYomi and Torah Projects directed by Rabbi Avrohom Nisan Perl and Rabbi Eliyahu Simcha Bamberger organized a Daf Hayomi Magid Shiur Virtual Asifa for the hundreds of Daf Yomi Magidei shiur across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Asifa began with divrei chizuk from Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rav of Agudath Israel of Madison and Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vodaath. His message to the Maggidei Shiur was that although we are going through trying times, the Lomdei Daf HaYomi are effectively holding up the world as they continue their daily limud HaDaf. Following the introductory divrei bracha, the event moderator, Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger, himself a veteran Daf Yomi Maggid Shiur and Chairman of the Daf Yomi Commission, introduced the panel featuring three popular Maggidei shiur from around the country, each one bringing a special flavor to the panel. Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Friedman, a mechaber seforim and a seasoned Daf Yomi Maggid Shiur from Boro Park, was the first panelist to speak. He suggested that the greatest incentive for Lomdei HaDaf is the limud Torah itself, as well as the knowledge that they will amass a fine B’kius in most of Shas. Rabbi Friedman added that it is important for a Maggid Shiur to supplement the limud HaDaf with an additional limud such as Sefer Chofetz Chayim, Mishnayos, or Taryag Mitzvos and in this way, the lomdim will complete other parts of the Torah as well. Rabbi Yitzchok Margareten, a well-known Maggid Shiur, Rav, and Poseik in Cleveland, OH, spoke about the z’chus that a Maggid shiur has to disseminate Torah, especially in these trying times. He mentioned that undoubtedly, the Z’chus of teaching Torah every single day affords the Maggidei Shiur an extra level of protection. R’ Kalman Frisch, a longtime popular Maggid shiur in Lakewood, NJ, spoke about the value of transforming the participants of every Daf Yomi Shiur into a close-knit unit, a chevra of lomdim. Citing some of his true and tried methods, he offered different examples of how to up the quality of the shiur. Providing incentives for taking weekly bechinos and organizing occasional get-togethers for the lomdim are just some of the excellent ways to cement the bonds between the participants and their Maggid Shiur, and of course enhance the overall commitment of the lomdim. Following these fascinating presentations, the panelists responded to a wide array of questions pertaining to the Daf Yomi shiur setting from participating Maggidei Shiur from across the country. There was also an interactive chat where participants had the opportunity to ask about the multiple Daf Yomi resources, made widely available by the Agudah’s Daf Yomi Commission. The Asifa concluded with remarks from Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger who quoted Rav Meir Chodosh saying that after he […]

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