On Monday, the IDF announced that the Israeli Air Force carried out targeted airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. The strikes hit Hezbollah terrorists in the Houla area and a rocket launcher in Ayta ash Shab. Two Hezbollah terrorists were elimiated. Additionally, the IAF targeted military structures belonging to Hezbollah in both Ayta ash Shab and Hanine.
The meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary Antony Blinken has concluded; the meeting was positive and was held in a good atmosphere. The meeting lasted approximately three hours. The Prime Minister reiterated Israel’s commitment to the current American proposal on the release of our hostages, which takes into account Israel’s security needs, which he strongly insists on.
As schools reopen for another year, they are focused on improving student attendance. But back-to-school is hitting just as COVID-19 cases are increasing, raising the question: When is a child too sick for school? School absences surged during the pandemic and have yet to recover. Nearly 1 in 4 students remains chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of the academic year, according to the latest data analyzed by The Associated Press. One reason for continued high absences: After years of COVID-19 quarantines, parents are more cautious about sending children to school when they might be contagious with an illness. When a child misses school, even for an excused absence like a sick day, it’s harder for them to stay on track academically. So schools and health experts are trying to change the culture around sick days. Here’s what they want parents to know. COVID guidelines have changed During the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged people who tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate at home for a set number of days and to quarantine after exposure to the coronavirus. In some settings, people with any mild illness were urged to remain home until symptoms were clear. Those standards, and the caution behind them, remained for years after schools reopened to in-person instruction. That meant children often missed large portions of school after contracting or being exposed to COVID-19 or other illnesses. This spring, COVID-19 guidance officially changed. Now, the CDC suggests people treat COVID-19 like other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu and RSV. Fever-free for 24 hours If a child has a fever, they should stay home, no matter the illness. A child can return to school when their fever has been gone for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Other symptoms should be improving. What about other symptoms? If a child doesn’t have a fever, it’s OK to send them to class with some signs of illness, including a runny nose, headache or cough, according to schools and the American Academy of Pediatrics. If those symptoms aren’t improving or are severe, such as a hacking cough, call your child’s doctor. The guidance around vomiting and diarrhea varies across school districts. Generally, students should remain home until symptoms stop, according to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Older children may be able to manage mild diarrhea at school. “Unless your student has a fever or threw up in the last 24 hours, you are coming to school. That’s what we want,” said Abigail Arii, director of student support services in Oakland, California. Guidance from the Los Angeles Unified School District says students can attend school with mild symptoms such as a runny nose or cold, but should stay home if they have vomiting, diarrhea, severe pain or a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) or higher. School districts across the U.S. have similar guidance, including in Texas, Illinois and New York. When to wear a mask The CDC says people should take additional precautions for five days after returning to school or other normal activities. Masks and social distancing are no longer mandated but are encouraged to prevent disease spread. Experts also recommend plenty of handwashing and taking steps for cleaner air, such as opening a window or running an air purifier. School districts say parents should keep up-to-date on all health examinations and immunizations for students so they don’t miss additional […]
Tropical Storm Ernesto became a hurricane again Sunday as it churned away from Bermuda and headed further out in the northeastern Atlantic, sending powerful swells toward the U.S. East Coast, generating rip currents associated with at least one death and prompting many rescues. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Ernesto’s maximum sustained winds were 75 mph (120 kph), just barely Category 1 strength. More strengthening was forecast before Ernesto weakens and becomes a post-tropical cyclone on Tuesday, the hurricane center said. The storm was centered about 520 miles (840 kilometers) south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was expected to pass near southeastern Newfoundland late Monday and early Tuesday. Swells generated by Ernesto were affecting portions of the Bahamas, Bermuda, the U.S. East Coast as well as the Canadian Atlantic coast. Life-threatening surf and rip current conditions are likely in these areas during the next couple of days, the hurricane center said. The National Weather Service posted a coastal flood advisory and warned of a high risk for rip currents along the Atlantic Coast through Monday evening, saying they “can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.” A warning extended from Florida to the Boston area and portions of Maine. In periods of high risk, rip currents become more likely and potentially more frequent, posing a danger to all levels of swimmers, not just inexperienced ones, said meteorologist Mike Lee in Mount Holly, New Jersey. “It’s going to be really dangerous out in the water today,” he said. At Manasquan Inlet in New Jersey, officials said a fisherman was washed off the north jetty Saturday but was quickly rescued by lifeguards. The victim had knee and back injuries and a possible concussion and was taken to a hospital, Lifeguard Chief Doug Anderson told NJ Advance Media, and lifeguards rescued at least five other people. In Ventnor to the south, Senior Lt. Meghan Holland of the city beach patrol said eight people were rescued. Forecasters, citing local emergency management, said a 41-year-old man drowned Saturday in a rip current at Surf City, North Carolina. Two men drowned Friday in separate incidents on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, but it was unclear whether rip currents were involved, The Island Packet of Hilton Head reported, citing a lifeguard services spokesperson. Separately, heavy rains unrelated to the hurricane caused flooding in parts of western Connecticut Sunday, closing roads, forcing water rescues and causing a minor mudslide. Floodwaters swept two people into the Little River in the town of Oxford, CT Insider reported, but officials weren’t able to immediately reach the area because of high waters and had to respond to other emergency calls, said Scott Pelletier, Oxford’s fire chief. Pelletier did not respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking additional details. Videos posted on Facebook showed severe flooding in Oxford overtaking roads and homes, with at least one video showing a small building being washed downstream. In Southbury, police asked residents via Facebook to stay home while roads were closed and crews responded to emergencies. In nearby Danbury, city officials said in a statement that a mudslide prompted the evacuation of a home. Flash flood warnings were posted for parts of Connecticut and southeastern New York, and flash flood watches and advisories were in effect for areas of […]
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Mispallelim at a shul in south Tel Aviv experienced a huge neis on Sunday evening when an explosive device in the knapsack of a suicide bomber walking by the shul prematurely exploded, killing the man and wounding a passerby. There were 80 mispallelim davening Maariv in the shul when the bomb exploded. The building was rocked by the explosion but b’chasdei Hashem, no one was injured as the device exploded as the terrorist was passing by a truck, which absorbed most of the explosion. Security officials believe that the suicide bomber was on his way to detonate the bomb in a crowded area, such as the shopping area about 100 meters from the shul, where numerous cafes and stores are located. Israeli security officials are still investigating the identity of the terrorist, a man in his 50s, but according to media reports, he is a Palestinian resident of Shechem. The moments of the explosion: The footage below shows the suicide bomber walking with a knapsack on his back holding the explosive device minutes before the explosion: A Tel Aviv municipality worker told Ynet: “There was a Mincha and Maariv tefillah here in a building that holds 120 people. The explosion occurred in the middle of Maariv while there were at least 80 people in the shul on the first floor alone. If he would have entered the shul…a great neis happened here.” A 33-year-old man who was passing by the scene on an electric scooter was moderately injured by shrapnel from the blast. He was treated at the scene and evacuated to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
A number of Israelis were injured early Monday morning in a Hezbollah rocket and drone barrage at the Galil. Drone infiltration alerts sounded across the Galil, including in Nahariya. According to initial reports, at least three drones scored a direct hit on the Ya’ara moshav in the western Galil, causing a fire to break out and injuring multiple people, two critically. The IDF stated: “Following drone infiltration sirens that sounded a short while ago in the western Galilee, several suspicious aerial targets were identified crossing from Lebanon. Air Defense forces successfully intercepted some of the targets, and others fell in the Ya’ara area.” At the same time, about ten rockets were fired at the Upper Galil. There are no reports of damage or injuries. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
A poll released ahead of Tu B’Av reveals that half of Israeli Jews would opt out of Orthodox wedding ceremonies if given the choice. The survey, conducted by the Smith Research Institute for Hiddush, found that 22% of respondents prefer civil marriage, while 13% favor Conservative or Reform ceremonies. The poll highlights a significant divide between Charedi and Modern Orthodox respondents, who largely support Orthodox ceremonies, and secular respondents, who overwhelmingly favor alternative options. Women were also less likely to choose Orthodox ceremonies, with only 44% expressing support. Despite personal preferences, 67% of respondents support legalizing more types of marriage, including civil, Conservative, and Reform weddings. This includes 92% of secular respondents and 31% of religious respondents. The survey’s findings come as Israeli law only recognizes marriages performed through established religious institutions. Alternative options, such as civil ceremonies abroad or online marriages through Utah County, have gained popularity in recent years. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Chicago is set to witness a series of large protests as the Democratic National Convention (DNC) takes place at the McCormick Place Convention Center. Organizers anticipate that nearly 100,000 demonstrators will participate in at least seven planned rallies and marches across the city. The demonstrations are expected to be a mix of causes from across the political spectrum, including groups advocating for the end of U.S. aid to Israel and backing pro-Palestinian causes, some of which have drawn criticism for their affiliations with Hamas. Some rallies, including a major march toward Grant Park organized by far-left group Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws, are scheduled to kick off Sunday ahead of the DNC’s official start on Monday. The largest protests, expected on Monday and Thursday, are being organized by a coalition of 125 groups, including the U.S. Palestinian Community Network and the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. These groups are coordinating under the banner “March on the DNC 2024,” with Monday’s march alone expected to draw over 30,000 participants. Hatem Abudayyeh, chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, told The Washington Post that the protests would be critical of the Democratic leadership, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who has replaced President Joe Biden at the top of the ticket for the 2024 election. Abudayyeh criticized both Harris and Biden for their support of Israel, with protesters dubbing Biden “Genocide Joe” for his stance on the conflict. Three additional protests are expected to take place throughout the week, including one organized by the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine. This march is scheduled for Wednesday and will focus on ending U.S. aid to Israel and denouncing Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The convention runs from Monday through Thursday, but the protests begin on Sunday, recalling memories of the 1968 DNC in Chicago, which was marked by violent clashes between police and anti-war protesters. While no such violence is expected at this point, the scale and fervor of this year’s demonstrations have captured national attention as the convention unfolds. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Surrounded by family, friends, and a massive cake, Holocaust survivor R’ Berysz Aurbach celebrated his 104th birthday in Caulfield, Australia on Sunday. With the words “Happy 104th Birthday” inscribed in Hebrew on the cake, the celebration marked a milestone in the life of a man who survived the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II and who is world-famous for annually davening for the amud on the yahrtzeit of his mother, who was niftar more than 100 years ago. Guests gathered at R’ Berysz’s home on Sunday to make a l’chaim while sipping whisky and enjoying a spread of sponge cakes, biscuits, and pastries. R’ Berysz, who officially turned 104 on Shabbos, has much to be thankful for, including his three children, four grandchildren, and the loving family surrounding him. More than 80 years ago, he was one of the few who survived the brutal conditions of the Warsaw Ghetto in Nazi-occupied Poland. Reflecting on the past, R’ Berysz spoke of his brother, Mordechai hy”d, who he credits with saving his life multiple times. Mordechai, who was part of the anti-Nazi underground resistance, helped Berysz escape the ghetto by providing him with a fake ID and a Polish police uniform. “Mordechai saved my life. Of course, he is my hero,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. He vividly recalled the fires that consumed the ghetto during the April 1943 uprising, which claimed the lives of their father, oldest brother Leibel, a sister-in-law, and her two children. “I still see the fire in my eyes,” he said, haunted by the memory. Mordechai’s bravery, however, cost him his life. Posing as a gentile, he was captured by the Gestapo. Mordechai was shot and killed. “If not for Mordechai, I would have burned in the [ghetto] fire or burned in the ovens [in concentration camps],” R’ Berysz said. “For much of my life, I thought of him, wherever I was.” After escaping the ghetto, Berysz spent the remainder of the war in underground safe houses, constantly living in fear of being discovered by the Germans. “If the Germans had found me, they would have shot me on the spot. Like my brother,” he said. Berysz migrated to Melbourne in 1947, where he built a successful knitting business. In 1955, he met his late wife, Tova, in Israel. The couple had a long and happy marriage before Tova passed away from cancer 12 years ago. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
In early 2024, a New York Times reporter based in Melbourne was at the center of a significant data breach that exposed the personal information of over 600 Australian Jewish members of a private WhatsApp group, which led to widespread harassment and threats against the group’s members. Natasha Frost, the reporter in question, has acknowledged her role in the leak, but is still employed by the Times. The New York Times claimed it took disciplinary action against Frost after she admitted to downloading and sharing 900 pages of content from the WhatsApp group, which had been created by Australian Jews following the October 7 massacre. Described as a “lifeline” for its members, the group was meant to foster community support amid rising antisemitism. However, Frost’s actions resulted in the creation of an online list, dubbed the “Zio600,” which was exploited by pro-Palestinian activists to target and dox the group’s members. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that the data leak led to the dissemination of names, photos, and social media profiles of the WhatsApp group’s members, inciting both online and in-person threats, harassment, and even vandalism. One family in Melbourne had to close their shop and go into hiding after receiving a message with a photo of their child and the chilling words: “I know where you live.” Their shop was subsequently vandalized. Another victim, a high school teacher at a Jewish school, faced harassment at her workplace, where she was accused of being “complicit in genocide” by anonymous callers. Fearing for her safety, she installed security cameras in her home. In a statement at the time, Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, likened the list to those used by the Nazis during the Holocaust to target Jews. Frost, who initially claimed she had shared the data with only one person, claimed she had no knowledge of its wider dissemination. “I was shocked by these events, which put me and many others at terrible risk,” Frost told the Wall Street Journal. “I deeply regret my decision.” The fallout from the data breach has prompted Australian authorities to reevaluate privacy laws. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus introduced legislation in March 2024 to ban the practice of doxxing, which is currently not illegal in Australia. The proposed reforms to the Privacy Act aim to protect victims of doxxing and address the growing threat of online harassment. Christoph Schmon, the international policy director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, remarked that this incident could serve as a catalyst for the creation of new anti-doxxing laws. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also weighed in on the incident, expressing his dismay during a February interview with Radio 2GB. “This was not a heavily political WhatsApp group. It was a group providing support because of the rise in antisemitism that we’ve seen,” Albanese said. “The idea that in Australia, someone should be targeted because of their religion, whether they be Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Catholic, or Buddhist, is completely unacceptable.” Although Frost’s profile remains on The New York Times website, her contact details have been removed – presumably to avoid being doxed the way she allowed hundreds of Jews to be. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
One of Russia’s most active volcanoes has erupted, spewing plumes of ash 5 kilometers (3 miles) into the sky over the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula and briefly triggering a “code red” warning for aircraft. The Shiveluch volcano began sputtering shortly after a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off Kamchatka’s east coast early Sunday, according to volcanologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences. They warned that another, even more potent earthquake may be on the way. The academy’s Institute of Volcanology and Seismology released a video showing the ash cloud over Shiveluch. It stretched over 490 kilometers (304 miles) east and southeast of the volcano. The Ebeko volcano located on the Kuril Islands also spewed ash 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) high, the institute said. It did not explicitly say whether the earthquake touched off the eruptions. A “code red” ash cloud warning briefly put all aircraft in the area on alert, the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team reported. A separate report on Sunday carried by the official Tass news agency said that no commercial flights had been disrupted and there was no damage to aviation infrastructure. The tremors in the area may be a prelude to an even stronger earthquake in southeastern Kamchatka, Russian scientists warned. The Institute of Volcanology said a potential second quake could come “within 24 hours” with a magnitude approaching 9.0. There were no immediate reports of injuries from Sunday’s earthquake, which struck at a depth of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) under the sea bed with the epicenter 108 kilometers (67 miles) southeast of the nearest city, according to Russian emergency officials. Russian news outlets cited residents of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a port city of more than 181,000 people that sits across a bay from an important Russian submarine base, reporting some of the strongest shaking “in a long time.” On Nov. 4, 1952, a magnitude 9.0 quake in Kamchatka caused damage but no reported deaths despite setting off 9.1-meter (30-foot) waves in Hawaii. (AP)
The Bas Ayin, Harav Avraham Dov Ber Auerbach of Ovritch was born in 5525/1765 in the Ukrainian town of Chmielnik. He would later take over the position as Rabbi of Ovritch, where he would remain for nearly forty years. The Bas Ayin was niftar on the 12th of Kislev, 5601/1840 amid the plague which immediately stopped. He was buried in a me’arah alongside other great Chassidic leaders, not far from the kevarim of the Beis Yosef and the Alshich. His kever in Tzfas is noted as a place of prayer for those in need of yeshuos. Thousands of Yidden come every year to his yartzeit and many stories are told of miracles that have come as a result. The Bas Ayin did not merit children, but invested much Vduring his last years to bring his life’s work to print. He called it בת עין which has the same גמטריא as his name אברהם דוב בער . Although the Rebbe wished he would live to see his sefer in print, that dream would not be fulfilled in his lifetime. Six years later the sefer was finally published in ירושלים and a few years later in the Zitomir Press in Russia. Unfortunately, each printer used their own draft of the sefer, which led to much confusion in the years to come.His sefer Bas Ayin is known for opening new windows into many areas of chassidic thought. Throughout the work he places great emphasis on how every one of us can improve in the areas of /אהבת ישראל / ענוה/ ארץ ישראל./ שבת/ אמונה /The Rabbi ends every Torah with the words .אמן כן יהי רצון Rabbi Uri Strum of Baltimore made a wonderful remark that these words אמן כן יהי רצון is are the same numerical value as Rabbi’s name אברהם דוב בער. This means that the Rabbi’s holy name was all about bringing Yeshues and giving ברכות for Yidden and finished every Torah With this signature. The Bas Ayin is known for his sacrifice and devotion to his community with whom Stood and encouraged during the most difficult of times of the 18th century. During the 10 years he served as Rabbi in Tzfat There were two barbaric pogroms by the Arabs as well as the famous 1837 earthquake which almost destroyed the City. The Rabbi the Bas Ayin was saved בדרך נס while half of the synagogue Collapsed the section where the Rabbi and his students stood remained standing and they were all saved. The Bais HaMedrash Still exists and is visited regularly by those who wish to witness the miracle of the two halves of the shul, the old section which stood and the section rebuilt by the Rabbi. The holy sefer בת עין has been reprinted several times, but each subsequent edition carried with it the typos and errors that crept into each of the printings. About fifteen years ago, Rabbi Yisrael Mendelovits was motivated by the Rabbe of Tosh to revise and republish the Sefer in the intended form. As Rabbi Mendelovits remarked, it was solely סייעתא דשמיא that as soon as he began his holy work many manuscripts was discovered enabling him to edit the entire sefer, consolidate the earlier prints, and publish it with the correct text. AND בחסדי השי”ת around 2 years ago Rabbi Mendelovits published an English version of the Sefer which was wide accepted by כלל ישראל. And countless Yidden are seeing Yeshues by Learning his holy Sefer. […]
An Arkia flight en route from Tel Aviv to Cyprus had to turn back to Israel after the plane’s windshield cracked during the journey. The aircraft landed safely, and passengers were subsequently transferred to another plane to continue their trip.
Jewish leaders from across religious denominations came together at an exclusive event hosted by businessman Yehuda Kaploun and his partner Edward Russo at Donald Trump’s National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, featuring Trump as the keynote speaker, along with philanthropist Miriam Adelson. The event drew Jewish leaders from across the spectrum, including figures from the Chasidic, Litvish, Conservative, and Reform communities, as well as organizations like Young Israel, the OU, and Agudah. The event, which was not a campaign function but rather an invitation-only gathering, included representatives from various segments of the Jewish community—Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform. Approximately 30 leaders from each group were present, including business leaders, rabbis, administration officials, and influencers. Rabbi Mark Rosenberg, Senior Chaplain for the Florida Highway Patrol, delivered the invocation, with Rabbi Yaakov Kaploun offering the traditional blessing of Birchas Kohanim. Kaploun and Russo said the idea for the event stemmed from their regular conversations with the former president about the Jewish community’s growing fears in light of increasing anti-Semitism. The event was meant to provide an opportunity for Jewish leadership from all walks of life to hear directly from Trump about his stance on the issue. The former president made clear his commitment to combating anti-Semitism, emphasizing that it poses a threat not only to Jews but to Americans as a whole. He also stressed the importance of standing in solidarity with Israel, saying that any individuals in the U.S. protesting in support of Hamas would be subject to deportation, and that universities allowing such protests could lose federal funding. Miriam Adelson spoke about her family’s Chasidic roots and the importance of unity in the fight against anti-Semitism. The historic nature of the gathering was widely noted, with participants emphasizing that, despite their religious differences, the shared goal of combating anti-Semitism brought everyone together. Kaploun highlighted that in today’s climate, Jews from all backgrounds face threats, whether in the U.S. or abroad, noting that the Abraham Accords have made Jews feel safer in places like Abu Dhabi than on American college campuses. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Saturday reacted to reports that revived questions about who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022, saying the initiators of the gas pipeline project should “apologize and keep quiet.” That comment came after one of his deputies denied a claim that Warsaw was partly responsible for its damage. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Ukrainian authorities were responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in September 2022, a dramatic act of sabotage that cut Germany off from a key source of energy and worsened an energy crisis in Europe. Germany was a partner with Russia in the pipeline project. Poland has long said its own security interests have been harmed by Nord Stream. “To all the initiators and patrons of Nord Stream 1 and 2. The only thing you should do today about it is apologise and keep quiet,” Tusk wrote on the social media portal X Saturday. Tusk appeared to be reacting specifically to a claim by a former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, BND, August Hanning, who told the German daily Die Welt that the attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines must have had Poland’s support. Hanning said Germany should consider seeking compensation from Poland and Ukraine. Hanning, who retired from his spy chief job, did not provide any evidence in support of his claim. Some observers noted that he served under former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who went on to work later for Russian state-owned energy companies, including Nord Stream. Krzysztof Gawkowski, a deputy Polish prime minister and the minister of digital affairs, strongly denied reports that Poland and Ukraine had damaged the Nord Stream gas pipeline in an interview Friday on the Polsat broadcaster. Gawkowski alleged that the comments of the former member of the German intelligence service were “inspired by Moscow” and were aimed at destabilizing NATO countries. “I believe that this is the sound of Russian disinformation,” he added. On Wednesday, Polish prosecutors confirmed that they had received a warrant for a Ukrainian man wanted by Germany as a suspect in the pipeline attack, but that he left the country before he could be arrested. The Nord Stream project, with its two pipelines created to carry gas from Russia to Europe along the Baltic Sea bed, went ahead despite opposition from Poland, the U.S. and Ukraine. They allowed Russia to send gas directly to Western Europe, bypassing Poland and Ukraine. With all gas previously going over land, Warsaw and Kyiv feared losing huge sums in transit fees and political leverage that came with controlling the gas transports. The Wall Street Journal said in its report published Thursday that it spoke to four senior Ukrainian defense and security officials who either participated in or had direct knowledge of the plot. All of them said the pipelines were a legitimate target in Ukraine’s war of defense against Russia. Ukrainian authorities are denying the claims. Nord Stream 1 was completed and came online in 2011. Nord Stream 2 was not finished until the fall of 2021 but never became operational due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. (AP)
TO SUBMIT NAMES FOR FREE TO AMUKA, CLICK HEREVISIT TuBavTogether.com CALL 1-718-690-2944 Klal Yisrael will davening for one another beginning at 10am on Monday Aug 19 – reciting 8 specific kapitlach of Tehillim.📖Click here to download the FREE Artscroll Tehillim There will be 2 LIVE EVENTS There will be 2 Live Events with Rabbonim & Musical performances to watch online at www.TuBavTogether.com SUNDAY 8/18 @ 7:00 pm EST: FREE LIVE MUSIC EVENT & INSPIRATION WITH RABBONIM AND MUSICAL PERFOMANCES MONDAY 8/19 @ 10:00 am EST: LIVE TEFILLAH EVENT WITH LEADING RABBANIM — SAY TEHILLIM TOGETHER WITH KLAL YISRAEL! WATCH LIVE AT TUBAVTOGETHER.COM At the same time as Klal Yisrael davens, each in their part of the world, there will be a minyan of Talmidei Chachamim in Amuka, davening for all who submit their names for tefillah (it’s free) through Yad L’Achim. Visit TuBavTogether.com (or call 1-718-690-2944 we are here to help!) Tu B’Av Together is a Yad L’Achim initiative founded in 2015. Shidduchim is a topic that truly brings the entire spectrum of Klal Yisroel together. Tu B’Av Together, a day for tefillah—for shidduchim—is recognizing the need to daven for this important aspect of the Jewish people. We have been zoche to have millions of Yidden involved in tefillah, and with every year, one Jewish tefillah at a time, we’ll bring shidduchim closer to those yearning. To share this special Tu B’Av Together program and free tefillah via WhatsApp, click here Yad L’Achim – Pidyon Shvuyim 4018 18 Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11218
In a remarkable instance of chessed, approximately 30 Chaveirim volunteers from across Boro Park, Queens, Flatbush, Williamsburg, and the Catskills united to help a woman who lost her rings at Hunters Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens. The woman had removed her rings and placed them on her skirt while she and her husband washed their hands. When she stood up, the rings fell to the ground and were lost. Responding to the call for help, Chaveirim members arrived with lighting equipment and metal detectors provided by Rockland Chaveirim. After an extensive five-hour search, conducted late into the night, the volunteers successfully located both rings, much to the relief of the couple. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Former U.S. Rep. George Santos is expected to plead guilty to multiple counts in his federal fraud case, according to a person familiar with the matter. Santos, a Republican from New York, is expected to enter the plea at a court hearing planned for Monday on Long Island, the person said. The person could not publicly discuss details of the plea and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Messages were left seeking comment from Santos and three lawyers representing the former congressman. The court hearing was scheduled for Monday afternoon after prosecutors and Santos’ lawyers jointly requested one on Friday. They also sought and received a delay in certain pre-trial deadlines. The news comes just weeks before jury selection was set to begin on Sept. 9. Santos has previously pleaded not guilty to a range of financial crimes, including lying to Congress about his wealth, collecting unemployment benefits while actually working and using campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses such as designer clothing. Among the charges Santos faces are wire fraud, theft of public funds, money laundering and aggravated identify theft. Prosecutors recently told the judge that the trial could last three weeks because they expected to call at least three dozen witnesses, including some victims of Santos’ alleged crimes. Santos has previously maintained his innocence and called the investigation a “witch hunt,” claims that prosecutors called “baseless” in a recent court filing. But in December, when prosecutors said plea negotiations were ongoing, Santos said in an interview at that time that a deal was “not off the table.” Asked if he was afraid of going to prison, he said: “I think everybody should be afraid of going to jail, it’s not a pretty place and uh, I definitely want to work very hard to avoid that as best as possible.” Earlier this week, Judge Joanna Seybert rejected Santos’ request that potential jurors fill out a written questionnaire gauging their opinions of him. His lawyers argued in court filings it was necessary because “for all intents and purposes, Santos has already been found guilty in the court of public opinion.” Lawyers for the government had also been seeking to admit as evidence some of the lies Santos made during his campaign. Before he was elected in 2022 to represent parts of Queens and Long Island, he falsely claimed to have graduated from both New York University and Baruch College and that he had worked at top Wall Street firms. Two campaign aides to Santos have already pleaded guilty to crimes related to the former congressman’s campaign. Last October, his ex-treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty to a fraud conspiracy charge and implicated Santos in a scheme to embellish his campaign finance reports with a fake loan and fake donors. A lawyer for Marks said at the time his client would be willing to testify against Santos if asked, saying she had been “mentally seduced” by Santos. A month later, Sam Miele, a former fundraiser for Santos, pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge, admitting he impersonated a high-ranking congressional aide while raising campaign cash for Santos. The New York Republican was expelled from Congress in December after an ethics investigation found “overwhelming evidence” he had broken the law and exploited his public position for his own […]
A New Jersey man has been sentenced to seven years in connection with an arson and antisemitic graffiti last year, authorities said. Ocean County prosecutors said Ron Carr, 35, of Manchester Township was sentenced Friday on guilty pleas to arson, bias intimidation and criminal mischief. The seven-year, five-year and 18-month terms imposed for the convictions are to run concurrently. In a news release, prosecutors said township police were called to the Pine Lake Park area in June 2023 and found 14 homes vandalized with spray paint that included some “Nazi symbolism.” The next day, emergency responders were called to a fire that destroyed one home and damaged three others. Carr was arrested in both cases and authorities alleged in an affidavit outlining the charges that he made multiple antisemitic statements to investigators while being interviewed. He told police he was “saving the neighborhood” and he thought the house he set on fire would be turned into a school or “prayerland,” the affidavit said. Defense attorney Shane Paugh said after Carr was charged that he hoped his client will “get the help he needs,” NJ.com reported. The home that was destroyed was the dream home of the Rivas family. ABC7NY reported at the time that the Rivas family had no insurance but they have a community that became their team. Yehuda Fryer’s Company first cleaned away all the swastikas, then he and others got tons of donations to begin rebuilding the Rivas home. “Dumpsters, roofing, siding, everyone I called said sure, let me know when I can come,” Yehuda Fryer said. (AP & YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
