Over the last 16 years, a new approach and method of limud Hashas has been nurtured and developed in Eretz Yisroel at Reshet Kollelei Shas Yiden. This phenomenon has captured the imagination and electrified lomdei Hatorah throughout the world, and has earned the avid support of Gedolim across the Torah spectrum. Shas Yiden in UK & USA Shas Yiden not only grew from 6 avreichim metzuyonim to 126 avreichim geonim in five kollelim across Eretz Yisroel but, in response to repeated requests from abroad, a Shas Yiden kollel was first established in the UK, in Stamford Hill, London. The Shas Yiden reputation soared in this location and their first Annual Siyum Hashas with Gedolei Torah in attendance reflected the grandeur of those in Yerushalayim. This foray into Chutz La’aretz has been followed by a long-awaited opening of a Shas Yiden kollel in Flatbush, NY. The Eretz Yisroeldike bren of learning the entire Shas has already had a significant local impact and is a source of inspiration to the local Flatbush kollelim. The incredible devotion to limud gantz Shas and its completion within a year by each avreich at Shas Yiden has encouraged many others to try and emulate this broader study of Shas. This elevated level of Torah study at Shas Yiden and the ability of the avreichim geonim to face public oral farheren by world recognized Gedolei Torah, together with monthly tests on 225 blatt, is nothing short of remarkable. Shas Yiden has truly raised the bar in the study of Shas. Our unique system of learning, the tight demanding regimen and the motivation emanating from Eretz Yisroel has truly placed Shas Yiden in a Torah league of its own. In the Words of Maranan Hageonim Sar Hatorah, רשכבה”ג Maran Hagadol Harav Chaim Kanievsky, זצ”ל – Nasi, Shas YidenI tested them, I know them throughout Shas – a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar partnership Rosh Hayeshiva, רשכבה”ג Maran Hagadol Harav Gershon Edelstein, זצ”לShas Yiden has raised the bar of Torah learning in both depth and clarity, and its unique method of ameilus in Torah The Sanzer Rebbe, שליט”אA first in 2000 years of Jewish history – never before a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim know kol Hashas kulo, Rashi and Tosfos b’al peh Over 1.6 Million Blatt at Shas YidenThis Year Alone! With each of the 122 avreichim geonim at Shas Yiden required to complete a minimum of 13,555 blatt per year, you are helping support some 1,654,000 blatt! At the most recent farheren, the reaction of the Gedolei Torah conducting the testing to the prowess of the Shas Yiden was simply one of amazement at the breadth and detailed knowledge and all-encompassing mastery of Shas – remarking: “They know it like others know Ashrei Yoshvei!” The joy of the avreichim geonim and their clear love of Torah electrifies each farher. (To see the different farheren in action, please click on our website: www.shasyiden.com.) It is no wonder that the overall reaction to the Shas Yiden Network is that in its 15 years it has certainly revolutionized and raised the bar in the learning and mastery of Shas. Caring for the Avreichim Families Despite the difficulties of these last few years, Covid etc., Shas Yiden has made sure to keep our commitment to each of […]
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot announced on Tuesday evening that the air traffic controller who told an El Al pilot over the radio to “Free Palestine” after takeoff has been suspended from duty. Tabarot wrote on X that after the recordings were examined, which confirmed the complaint, the air traffic controller “has been stripped of all ability to practice until further notice.”
AGAIN: Military police officers arrived in the early hours of Wednesday morning at the home of a yeshiva bochur, 23, in Bat Yam and arrested him for draft-dodging. He was the fourth yeshivah bochur to be arrested at his home in central Israel in recent weeks. Several Chareidi media outlets reported that the bochur received army deferments over the years and only recently stopped responding to draft notices, in accordance with the instructions of Gedolei HaDor.
BIKE4CHAI 2025 KICK-OFF! Bike4Chai launched this morning, with riders pedaling through scenic New Jersey and Pocono routes, supported by rest stops, supplies, and full SAG, mechanical, and medical assistance. On Thursday, the final 10 miles will pass through downtown Monticello, riding past camps and bungalow colonies as spectators line the streets to cheer them on. The ride will conclude at The World’s Greatest Finish Line at Monticello Motor Club, with riders taking a lap together on the famous racetrack alongside Camp Simcha campers. (Photo credits: Lenny Groysman)
After a summer of vacations and late nights, it’s time to set those back-to-school alarms. A good night’s sleep helps students stay focused and attentive in class. Experts say it’s worth easing kids back into a routine with the start of a new school year. “We don’t say ‘get good sleep’ just because,” said pediatrician Dr. Gabrina Dixon with Children’s National Hospital. “It really helps kids learn and it helps them function throughout the day.” The amount of sleep kids need changes as they age. Preschoolers should get up to 13 hours of sleep. Tweens need between nine and 12 hours. Teenagers do best with eight to 10 hours of shut-eye. Set an earlier bedtime Early bedtimes can slip through the cracks over the summer as kids stay up for sleepovers, movie marathons and long plane flights. To get back on track, experts recommend setting earlier bedtimes a week or two before the first day of school or gradually going to bed 15 to 30 minutes earlier each night. Don’t eat a heavy meal before bed and avoid TV or screen time two hours before sleep. Instead, work in relaxing activities to slow down like showering and reading a story. “You’re trying to take the cognitive load off your mind,” said Dr. Nitun Verma, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “It would be like if you’re driving, you’re slowly letting go of the gas pedal.” Parents can adjust their back-to-school plans based on what works best for their child. Nikkya Hargrove moves her twin daughters’ bedtimes up by 30 minutes the week before school starts. Sometimes, her 10-year-olds will negotiate for a few extra minutes to stay up and read. Hargrove said those conversations are important as her children get older and advocate for themselves. If they stay up too late and don’t have the best morning, Hargrove said that can be a learning experience too. “If they’re groggy and they don’t like how they feel, then they know, ‘OK, I have to go to bed earlier,’” said Hargrove, an author and independent bookstore owner from Connecticut. In the morning, soaking in some daylight by sitting at a window or going outside can help train the brain to power up, Verma said. Squash back-to-school sleep anxiety Sleep quality matters just as much as duration. First-day jitters can make it hard to fall asleep no matter how early the bedtime. Dixon says parents can talk to their kids to find out what is making them anxious. Is it the first day at a new school? Is it a fear of making new friends? Then they might try a test run of stressful activities before school starts to make those tasks feel less scary — for example, by visiting the school or meeting classmates at an open house. The weeks leading up can be jam-packed and it’s not always possible to prep a routine in advance. But kids will adjust eventually so sleep experts say parents should do what they can. After all, their kids aren’t the only ones adjusting to a new routine. “I always say, ‘Take a deep breath, it’ll be OK,'” Dixon said. “And just start that schedule.” (AP)
Terrorists threw stones at an off-duty IDF soldier and an Israeli civilian during civilian engineering work near the village of Duma in the Shomron area. The soldier initially fired into the air, but when the terrorists continued throwing stones, he fired to remove the threat, killing one of the terrorists. Later, the terrorists tried to snatch the soldier’s weapon. Footage from the incident shows dozens of terrorists standing close to the soldier, with one of them approaching and throwing a stone at him with force. The soldier then fired at the terrorist. Additional IDF forces were called to the scene and dispersed the crowd. The soldier and the civilian were lightly injured by the stones hurled at them, received medical treatment at the scene, and were evacuated in mild condition to Beilinson Hospital. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Wednesday morning responded to the media storm that erupted on Wednesday night following a publicized clash between him and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir regarding a series of senior IDF appointments. Zamir had announced a series of appointments, which Katz quickly nipped in the bud and made clear that “in accordance with the law, he will be the only one who approves senior promotions.” Kan News then published a report on Tuesday evening, which may explain Zamir’s reluctance to carry out many of the government’s plans, including its most recent plan to conquer Gaza City. According to the report, Zamir, who has been in constant clashes with the government since entering his position, regularly consults with a number of left-wing ex-IDF officers, including ex-chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi, Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Yisrael Ziv, ex-IDF spokesperson Avi Benayahu, and former Netanyahu spokesperson Liran Dan. The report added that in a breach of IDF regulations, Zamir’s assistant, Col. Alon Laniado, is in close contact with media outlets and regularly provides briefings to journalists. IDF regulations permit only the IDF spokesperson’s unit to brief journalists. Katz stated on Wednesday morning that “after the events of October 7th, there is no longer an army that is not under supervision.” “As the Defense Minister who is responsible for the IDF and accountable to the citizens of the State of Israel—and to them alone—I will continue to closely monitor and guide the IDF and the defense establishment…including the use of force in various arenas and force building, and strict supervision of appointments.” “According to the law, I am responsible for approving appointments from the rank of colonel and above, and the chief of staff only recommends the various options. Therefore, a procedure of early consultation between the Defense Minister and the Chief of Staff was formulated, a procedure that must be carried out in an orderly manner and in early discussions, as it has been since I took office as Defense Minister.” Katz also referred to the Kan News report, stating, “The attempt to now change procedures, perhaps on the advice of anti-government advisors stirring the pot, and to replace them with an attempt to establish facts on the ground in improvised meetings—will not succeed.” “And to all the former critics and moralizers—a little humility wouldn’t hurt. Read the investigations published by the IDF on what happened in the IDF during your terms in senior command positions—on the misguided decision-making regarding force building, on the arrogance, blindness, and condescension, on the lack of supervision, and on the depth of the enormous failure—read and bow your heads.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
President Trump says the “very unfair media” is twisting the narrative around his upcoming summit with Vladimir Putin, and that they’d be negative no matter how successful his efforts are.
The top diplomats of Britain, France, and Germany threatened to reimpose sanctions on Iran as an end-of-the-month deadline nears for the country to resume negotiations with the West over its nuclear program and cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog. The three countries, known as the E3, wrote in a letter to the United Nations dated Friday that they were willing to trigger a process known as the “snapback” mechanism, which allows one of the Western parties to reimpose U.N. sanctions, if Tehran doesn’t comply with its requirements. French Foreign Minister Jean-Nöel Barrot posted the letter Wednesday to X. He co-signed it along with top diplomats from Germany and the United Kingdom. “E3 have always committed to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon,” the letter said. “We have made clear that if Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic solution before the end of August 2025, or does not seize the opportunity of an extension, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism.” The letter comes following a period of apparent diplomatic deadlock after a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, where Israeli and American jets struck some key nuclear-related facilities in the Islamic Republic. The countries met with Iranian officials last month in Turkey at Iran’s consulate building in Istanbul on the possibility of reimposing international sanctions, lifted in 2015 in exchange for Tehran accepting restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said at the time that he hoped that the meeting would see the E3 nations reassess their “previous unconstructive attitude.” The Iranian government didn’t immediately comment Wednesday on the development. Since the war, talks with Washington for a new nuclear deal haven’t resumed, and Iran has since suspended ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, following the attacks. The IAEA’s first visit to Iran since the war didn’t entail any visits to nuclear facilities Monday, and cooperation wasn’t officially restored. One of the three countries opting to trigger the snapback mechanism would renew sanctions on Iran, but Tehran renewing cooperation with the Vienna-based IAEA and addressing concerns about its highly-enriched uranium stockpile would delay it, according to a diplomat who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity following July’s meeting in Istanbul. Iran has had limited IAEA inspections in the past as a pressure tactic in negotiating with the West and it is unclear how soon talks between Tehran and Washington for a deal over its nuclear program will resume. German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Josef Hinterseher on Wednesday said that the letter “once again underlines that the legal preconditions for snapback have long existed.” “Our position and our appeal is, very clearly, that Iran still has the choice of deciding to return to diplomacy … and full cooperation with the IAEA,” he told reporters at a regular news conference in Berlin. U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA had assessed Iran last had an organized nuclear weapons program in 2003, though Tehran had been enriching uranium up to 60% — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The IAEA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. (AP)
This morning, over 700 cyclists from around the world united for Bike4Chai, a two-day, 180-mile journey that raises critical funds for Chai Lifeline, the international support network for children and families facing serious illness, crisis, and loss. Now in its 16th year, Bike4Chai has become the most powerful charity cycling event in the country, raising millions annually to fund vital year-round services for more than 10,000 families. The ride is taking place August 12–14, with cyclists traversing scenic routes through the Pocono Mountains and Catskills. For the first time ever, the event will culminate at Monticello Motor Club, where the public is encouraged to come celebrate at “the world’s greatest finish line.” On Wednesday, cyclists set out on fully supported routes through New Jersey and the Poconos, returning to the resort for the annual “pasta party.” Thursday’s route continues through the Catskills, ending with a dramatic victory lap around the Monticello Motor Club racetrack, cheered on by Camp Simcha campers and families, volunteers, and — for the first time — the general public. Families, camps, and community members are encouraged to join the celebration and witness the final stretch of the journey. The day will also feature a full-scale spectator carnival with activities for kids of all ages, along with complimentary refreshments like hot cholent from Boosur and refreshing ice cream from Rita’s. With lively music, delicious food, and nonstop entertainment, it promises to be a memorable day for the entire community. “Bike4Chai has always been more than a ride. It’s a movement of chesed, resilience, and community,” said Rabbi Sruli Fried, Executive Director of Bike4Chai. “This year, we are proud to invite the public to witness the passion and purpose that drives our riders. It’s a moment of triumph, and now everyone can be part of it.” “Chai Lifeline is built on community,” added Zevi Bamberger, Director of Bike4Chai. “This new finish line experience gives people the chance to see and feel that mission in action and to celebrate the riders, support the children, and be part of something bigger.” Proceeds from the event benefit Chai Lifeline’s extensive year-round services, including case management, hospital visits, transportation to medical treatment, crisis intervention, and flagship programs like Camp Simcha, i-Shine afterschool programming, and more. For more information or to join the Finish Line event, visit www.bike4chai.com/25. Photo credits: Lenny Groysman
Senior IDF officials recently met with HaRav Chaim Aharon Kaufman, the head of the Va’ad Hayeshivos, in an attempt to calm tensions, Makor Rishon reported on Wednesday. The report quoted a source familiar with the details as saying that “both sides are trying to lead to a calming of tensions and understand that no one is interested in reaching a breaking point between the army and the Chareidi community.” Meanwhile, preparations have begun for a “million-man march” in the homes of Gedolei Yisrael in the wake of the arrests of bnei yeshivos. At this stage, no decision has been made regarding the date of the demonstration, and the Rabbanim are currently waiting to see if the arrest operation will continue. A source close to one of the Rabbanim told Makor Rishon, “Currently, they are trying to reach an agreement with the army—that’s why the million-man march has not been announced. If the arrests continue and there is no dialogue with the army, the likely date for the demonstration is next Thursday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul.” “A large logistical operation is necessary to carry out a massive demonstration, and therefore preparations have already begun, but they are awaiting final approval from the Gedolei Yisrael.” A senior official in Degel HaTorah told Walla that the IDF is considering soon releasing the bnei yeshivos currently sitting in military prison. He said that no official announcement has been made, but briefings have been issued stating that the release of the detainees is expected within about a week. “The goal of the Rabbanim is that bnei yeshivos can resume learning without the threat of arrest—not to wage war for the sake of war,” he clarified. “We have no definitive statement that we can be calm yet. That is, the IDF has not issued an official announcement, but it has issued briefings on the matter. The expectation is that the detainees will be released within a week.” He emphasized that if the government announces in any way that it does not intend to carry out proactive arrests against Chareidi “deserters,” there will be no need to escalate the conflict. “As far as the Rabbanim are concerned, we will not go to war over this.” Another yeshivah bochur was arrested overnight Tuesday in Bat Yam. However, according to reports, the IDF has frozen the large-scale arrest operation against bnei yeshivos that was scheduled to begin at the start of Bein Hazemanim. According to the IDF, the bochur’s arrest in Bat Yam was part of a routine enforcement operation and not one focused on Chareidi deserters, and there is no intention to carry out such enforcement. It should be noted that the recent arrests of yeshivah bochurim were carried out only in mixed cities, with no arrests taking place in Chareidi cities. A young avreich from Ashkeon was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday on his way to a vacation abroad but was later released to his home after a disciplinary hearing. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday arrived in Berlin for talks with the German chancellor and virtual meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and other European leaders ahead of Friday’s planned summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has convened the virtual meetings in an attempt to make sure European and Ukraine’s leaders are heard ahead of the summit in Alaska, where Trump and Putin are expected to discuss a path toward ending Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy and the Europeans have been sidelined from that summit. German government spokesperson Steffen Meyer said the intention of Wednesday’s meetings was to “make clear the position of the Europeans.” Zelenskyy is due to meet with European leaders first, in preparation for a virtual call with Trump and Vice President JD Vance about an hour later. A call among leaders of countries involved in the “coalition of the willing” — those who are prepared to help police any future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv — will take place last. The Ukrainian leader on Wednesday said his government has had over 30 conversations with partners ahead of the summit in Alaska, but reiterated his doubt that Putin would negotiate in good faith. Writing on his official Telegram channel, Zelenskyy said there was “currently no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war,” and urged Ukraine’s partners in the United States and Europe to coordinate efforts and “force Russia to peace.” “Pressure must be applied on Russia for an honest peace. We must take the experience of Ukraine and our partners to prevent deception by Russia,” Zelenskyy said. The stakes for Europe Trump has said he wants to see whether Putin is serious about ending the war, now in its fourth year, describing Friday’s summit as “a feel-out meeting” where he can assess the Russian leader’s intentions. Yet Trump has disappointed allies in Europe by saying Ukraine will have to give up some Russian-held territory. He has also said Russia must accept land swaps, although it was unclear what Putin might be expected to surrender. European allies have pushed for Ukraine’s involvement in any peace talks, fearful that discussions that exclude Kyiv could otherwise favor Moscow. Trump on Monday ducked repeated chances to say that he would push for Zelenskyy to take part in his discussions with Putin, and was dismissive of Zelenskyy and his need to be part of an effort to seek peace. Trump said that following Friday’s summit, a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders could be arranged, or that it could also be a meeting with “Putin and Zelenskyy and me.” The Europeans and Ukraine are wary that Putin, who has waged the biggest land war in Europe since 1945 and used Russia’s energy might to try to intimidate the European Union, might secure favorable concessions and set the outlines of a peace deal without them. The overarching fear of many European countries is that Putin will set his sights on one of them next if he wins in Ukraine. Land concessions a non-starter for Kyiv Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region that it still controls as part of a ceasefire deal, a proposal the leader categorically rejected. Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine would not give up any territory it controls, saying that would be unconstitutional and would […]
There was an NYPD officer-involved shooting on Tuesday afternoon in Flatbush. The incident occurred at 533 Ocean Avenue near Church Avenue. A gun was recovered, and one suspect was transported to a nearby hospital. No officers were injured.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Monday renews his threats against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warning the Islamic Republic’s ruler to “lift his eyes to the sky and listen carefully to every buzz” — an apparent reference to Israeli drones — and reviving his threat to assassinate him. The threat came in response to what Katz said was Iranian propaganda graphic circulating in Hebrew, labeling senior Israeli officials as assassination targets. The list included Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar, and Katz himself — identified in the graphic as “Terror Minister Israel Katz.” Katz said the image was a knockoff of Israeli kill-notice graphics issued during the June 12-day Israel-Iran war, when Jerusalem struck dozens of senior Iranian military figures in Tehran. It was unclear how widely the Iranian version circulated before Katz reposted it. In his post on X, Katz warned Khamenei that “participants of the ‘Red Wedding’ are waiting for him,” invoking the code name for Israel’s opening blitz in the June war. That operation, modeled after an infamous massacre scene from a TV show, killed roughly 30 senior Iranian commanders, including the country’s three top generals, and crippled Iran’s command structure for nearly a day. Katz has repeatedly threatened to eliminate Khamenei. In late July, he warned that “our long arm will again reach Tehran and with even greater force — and this time to you personally. Do not threaten, lest you be harmed.” During the June war, Katz said Israel actively sought to assassinate Khamenei but was unable to locate him, calling the supreme leader a “modern Hitler” whose continued existence posed an existential threat to Israel. Multiple reports during the conflict claimed Israel had an opportunity to kill Khamenei in the war’s opening hours but that U.S. President Donald Trump vetoed the strike. Trump later hinted at such a decision, writing on June 17: “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there — We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.” Israeli officials have been divided on whether such an opportunity truly existed, with some denying the reports outright and others refusing to comment. Tensions between Jerusalem and Tehran have remained high since the June conflict, which Israel launched claiming to neutralize an imminent nuclear and missile threat. Iranian state media has since amplified messages vilifying Netanyahu, including a new Tehran billboard in Persian calling him “Hitanyahu” and, in Hebrew, “Germany’s Nazi of today.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Apparently, man’s best friend is now public enemy number one in the war on climate change. That’s one of the headline takeaways from a new study published by the National Academy of Sciences, which asked Americans to rank the climate impact of various personal choices — from ditching plane flights to swapping lightbulbs. The top three “most effective” actions, according to the scientists? Avoiding flights, using renewable electricity, and… not getting a dog. The reasoning? Fido’s a meat eater. And meat, especially beef, is a high-emissions business thanks to methane-belching livestock and deforested grazing land. In other words, golden retrievers’ kibble habit is apparently dooming the planet. “People just don’t associate pets with carbon emissions,” said Jiaying Zhao, a psychology and sustainability professor at the University of British Columbia. Zhao, notably, owns one dog herself — plus three rabbits, which she assured reporters don’t come close to the emissions of her carnivorous companion. Study co-author Madalina Vlasceanu of Stanford University says most people misjudge what matters. Folks tend to pat themselves on the back for recycling or swapping lightbulbs, she explained, but those actions rank far below avoiding air travel, cutting meat consumption — or pet abstinence — when it comes to carbon savings. This is partly because we can see ourselves recycling, while emissions from flights or dog chow are invisible. And marketing campaigns, she added, have pushed feel-good but low-impact habits, instead of tackling more politically fraught targets like flights, steaks, and Labradors. For perspective, the study notes that a single round-trip economy-class flight from New York to Los Angeles emits over 1,300 pounds of CO₂ per passenger. That’s roughly equivalent to giving up all meat for a year or parking your car for more than three months. Even Zhao, who champions the finding, admits she hasn’t exactly gone pet-free. Instead, she feeds her dog seafood and turkey to keep his “carbon pawprint” down. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Israel’s Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a two-year-old toddler who has been hospitalized for several weeks and connected to an ECMO after contracting measles passed today at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. Hadassah Ein Kerem stated, “The toddler who was evacuated to the pediatric intensive care unit at Hadassah a few weeks ago arrived in critical condition after being connected to the ECMO machine and transferred from Shaare Tzedek to Hadassah. The toddler (unvaccinated) contracted measles and as a result suffered from a secondary disease of streptococcus, which caused severe pneumonia. For weeks he was treated in the pediatric intensive care unit as the doctors fought for his life. Unfortunately, this morning the unit’s doctors had to pronounce his death after his body systems collapsed.” Another measles patient, a one-year-old toddler who is also connected to an ECMO machine and has been treated in the pediatric intensive care unit for several weeks, is still in very serious condition. Since the beginning of the measles outbreak in Israel about three months ago, 503 patients have been diagnosed, of whom 187 are active patients. Most of the patients who were diagnosed recently are from the Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh areas, and most of the hospitalized patients are unvaccinated children. As of today, 12 children are hospitalized, all under the age of six. Three of them are in intensive care, one of whom is connected to ECMO. All hospitalized children are unvaccinated, except for two cases that are still under investigation. Eighty-one percent of the patients are children and most were unvaccinated. The Ministry of Health calls on parents to complete routine vaccinations, especially the measles vaccine. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Amazon is now rolling out a service where its Prime members can order their blueberries and milk at the same time as their batteries and other basic items. The online juggernaut said Wednesday that customers in more than 1,000 cities and towns now have access to fresh groceries with its free Same-Day Delivery on orders over $25 for Prime members, with plans to reach over 2,300 by the end of the year. The company said that if an order doesn’t meet the minimum, members can still choose same-day delivery for a $2.99 fee. For customers without a Prime membership, the service is available with a $12.99 fee, regardless of order size. In the past, Prime subscribers’ grocery orders were fulfilled through Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods. The expansion is expected to put more pressure on grocery delivery services offered by such rivals as Walmart, Instacart and Target. (AP)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has come under attack, mainly from his own party and its voter base, following his announcement last week that he is imposing a partial arms embargo on Israel due to the war in Gaza, a move that astonished Israelis and Germans alike, Ynet reported According to reports, even Merz’s close advisers were shocked by his announcement. Alexander Hoffmann, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) faction in Bavaria, slammed Merz for the decision, which he described as contentious and unilateral. “Our party wasn’t involved, and it demands at least some explanation,” Hoffmann said. Former Interior Minister and CSU honorary chairman Horst Seehofer lambasted the decision as a “misguided foreign policy mistake with far-reaching consequences.” CSU parliamentarian Stefan Pilsinger made similar statements, stressing the benefits Germany gains from security cooperation with Israel, especially in air defense and intelligence. MP Karsten Müller, a member of Merz’s party, also condemned the move, stating on X, “This decision disregards the military and security cooperation that strengthens Germany’s army and NATO.” Berlin’s outgoing culture senator, Joe Chialo, also a member of Merz’s party, wrote in Bild that withholding arms from Israel is arrogant and hypocritical. “If Berlin or Munich were attacked, we’d beg for the Iron Dome. This embargo betrays our core values.” Many social media users condemned Merz for withholding weapons from Israel at a critical time, with one user terming it a “blow to a democratic ally.” Another user asked how Merz would respond if Israel restricted Germany’s use of weapons against Russia. Other users expressed concerns about possible Israeli retaliatory moves. Volker Beck, chair of the Bundestag’s Germany-Israel relations committee, warned about “German arrogance,” elaborating that Israel’s $260 million deal with Elbit Systems for anti-missile defenses could be at risk. “If Israel limits arms to Germany, our air defense future looks grim,” he said. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Military police officers arrived in the early hours of Wednesday morning at the home of a yeshiva bochur, 23, in Bat Yam and arrested him for draft-dodging. He was the fourth yeshivah bochur to be arrested at his home in central Israel in recent weeks. The bochur is receiving legal advice from a lawyer from the Ezram U’Meginim organization. Several Chareidi media outlets reported that the bochur received army deferments over the years and only recently stopped responding to draft notices, in accordance with the instructions of Gedolei HaDor. However, according to a Ynet report, the bochur is a Ba’al Teshuvah who only recently began learning in a yeshivah in Kiryat Melachi. The report said that IDF sources said that the bochur began the recruitment process in the past, but after becoming religious, stopped responding to IDF notices and disappeared. According to the IDF, the arrest was part of a routine enforcement operation and not one focused on Chareidi deserters, and there is no intention to carry out such enforcement. It should be noted that the recent arrests of yeshivah bochurim were carried out only in mixed cities, with no arrests taking place in Chareidi cities. A young avreich from Ashkeon was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday on his way to a vacation abroad but was later released to his home after a disciplinary hearing. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
