A fire broke out on Tuesday morning on the first floor of a residential building on Trumpeldor Street in Bnei Brak, injuring six people, one critically and five lightly. The firefighters who arrived at the scene saw black smoke rising from one of the rooms and quickly entered the burning apartment to rescue the trapped family members. They rescued a two-year-old toddler with burns over his entire body who was handed over to rescue teams that provided medical treatment and quickly transported him to the hospital in critical condition. Five others in light condition were also evacuated from the scene, including a three-month-old baby, three children ages 3-5, and two adults. Fire and Rescue Services stated that “heavy damage was caused to the apartment. A fire investigator was summoned to the scene to determine the circumstances of the outbreak.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The FBI is warning sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes following a string of burglaries at the homes of prominent NFL and NBA players. The athletes’ homes are targeted due to the perception they may contain high-end goods like designer handbags, jewelry, watches and cash, the FBI said in a Liaison Information Report obtained by ABC News. The NFL and NBA already have issued security alerts to their players after the break-ins, some of which have come when players were away with their teams for road games. The NFL’s alert says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. Lara Beth Seager, the star guard’s business manager, told multiple media outlets Saturday there was a break-in at Doncic’s home. Seager said nobody was home at the time of the incident Friday night, and Doncic filed a police report. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati, along with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, have been victims, as have NBA players Bobby Portis of Milwaukee and Mike Conley Jr. of Minnesota. Organized theft groups from South America use publicly available information and social media to identify athletes’ habits and track their comings and goings, the FBI report said. The groups use technology allowing them to bypass alarm systems, block wireless internet connections and disable devices, cover security cameras and hide their identities. Athletes are encouraged to report suspicious activity, keep records of valuables and where they are kept, employ extra security and use caution on social media. The FBI also suggested athletes avoid posting pictures of valuables, the interior of their homes and real-time posts when on vacation. (AP)
On the 6th night of Chanukah, the NYPD held their annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Police Headquarters in Lower Manhattan. NYPD officials at the event included Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Deputy Commissioner Mark Stewart, Deputy Chief Richie Taylor, Deputy Commissioner Lisa White, Chief Chaplain Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass, Chief Surgeon Dr. Eli Kleinman, Clergy Liaisons Abe Friedman, David Heskiel, Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik and leaders of Hatzalah and Shomrim patrols.
Jimmy Carter’s memorial journey will end at his house in the tiny town of Plains, Georgia, where he grew up on a peanut farm. That is where his wife, Rosalynn, was laid to rest last year in a burial plot that they chose years ago. But before Carter reaches his humble final destination, there will be an interstate choreography of grief, ceremony and logistics that is characteristic of state funerals. Ever since the nation’s founding, America has bid farewell to former presidents with an intricate series of events weaving together longstanding traditions and personal touches. Funerals often are planned by the presidents themselves, who usually have years after leaving the White House to ponder how they want to be memorialized. “They are very much involved in the planning process, and the decisions that they make tell us a lot about who they are, how they see the presidency, and how they want to be remembered by the American people,” said Matthew Costello, senior historian for the White House Historical Association, who co-wrote a book called “Mourning the Presidents: Loss and Legacy in American Culture.” Carter had more time to plan than most. He lived for 43 years after his presidency ended, the longest post-presidency in U.S. history, before dying Sunday at 100. Many details of his funeral remain under wraps, at the discretion of the family and military units that are responsible for carrying out the plans. Most presidents lie in state in the U.S. Capitol, and there is usually a service at Washington National Cathedral. President Joe Biden let slip last year that Carter had asked him to give a eulogy. (“Excuse me, I shouldn’t say that,” Biden admitted.) Biden said Sunday his team is working with Carter’s family and others “to see to it that he is remembered appropriately, here in the United States and around the world.” Carter’s son Chip is his main point of contact, though Biden said he has spoken with all the Carter children. He described a process underway “that will take a little time” but will result in a “major service in Washington, D.C.” for Carter, which Biden scheduled for Jan. 9. Sometimes former presidents help with even the smallest details. Jeffrey Engel, director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, recalled meeting with George H.W. Bush shortly after the former president revised the seating chart for his funeral. “And I said, ‘Is that weird? You know, it’s your own death,’” Engel recalled. “And he said, ‘You know, you do it every three months. You kind of get used to it.’” President Dwight Eisenhower, who commanded Allied troops during World War II before becoming a politician, wanted to be buried in an $80 government-issued casket. Apart from a glass seal that was added to the design, it was indistinguishable from the casket of any other solider. Details of the processions also can reflect aspects of a president’s life. Ronald Reagan’s casket was carried up the west steps of the U.S. Capitol, which face his home state of California. When Gerald Ford died, his casket was brought through the House side of the building, a nod to his years as a lawmaker. The job of carrying out presidential funerals falls to the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, which includes […]
A potentially devastating fire was narrowly averted in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, on Monday night after an unattended menorah ignited flames inside a residence on Veligh Place. Sources tell YWN, that a vigilant neighbor heard a smoke detector going off in a nearby apartment and immediately called the FDNY. Firefighters arrived promptly and quickly contained the fire, preventing significant damage to the home. Queens Hatzalah also responded to the scene. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Authorities are urging the public to use this incident as a reminder to ensure working smoke detectors are installed in their homes and to never leave a menorah unattended. Fire safety remains critical, especially during the Chanukah season. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
There’s an old adage in Jewish tradition: Chochmah ba’goyim ta’amin—wisdom can be found among the nations. It reminds us that while we may have deep and justified differences with world leaders and governments, there is a time and place for everything. On Sunday, YWN failed to grasp this nuance, publishing an inflammatory article that labeled former President Jimmy Carter a “champion of terrorists” mere hours after his passing. Let me be clear – Carter’s record on Israel, particularly his soft approach to Yasser Arafat and his blind eye to Hamas, deserves attention. He made choices that many in the Jewish community found dangerous and offensive. But there is a line between holding someone accountable in life and spitting on their grave the moment they leave this world. YWN crossed that line. This isn’t about shielding Carter’s legacy from criticism. It’s about understanding the broader implications of how we, as religious Jews, are perceived in the public sphere. By publishing such a vitriolic piece at this sensitive moment, YWN risks tarnishing not just their own reputation but that of the broader Orthodox community. We are not a fringe blog or a barroom discussion group—we are the visible representation of Torah values. Carter’s policies were undeniably problematic for Israel. His 2006 book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid was deeply offensive and one-sided. He romanticized Palestinian leadership and perpetuated false narratives about Israel. Yet even as we reject his views, the Torah commands us to maintain kvod malchus—respect for leadership and the institutions that govern us, even when they are flawed. Carter wasn’t a dictator or tyrant; he was a democratically elected president of the United States, a nation that has stood by Israel and the Jewish people more than any other. There is an undeniable catharsis in venting about Carter’s faults. Many of us remember his policies with frustration. But airing that frustration on a widely-read public platform with non-Jewish and non-Orthodox readers? That’s not just irresponsible; it’s dangerous. When we publicly disrespect former presidents—even those we disliked—what message does that send to our non-Jewish neighbors, colleagues, and government officials? It breeds unnecessary animosity and reinforces harmful stereotypes about Orthodox Jews as ungrateful or divisive. Our strength has always been in our dignity, our refusal to stoop to petty insults or rage-filled rhetoric. Consider the backlash if a Muslim news site had danced on the grave of a Jewish leader, or if a Christian outlet slandered an Orthodox public figure upon their passing. We would be the first to condemn such disrespect. We expect the same standard to apply to us. I recognize the impulse to defend YWN’s right to publish this piece. After all, the press plays a crucial role in holding public figures accountable, even after their deaths. But freedom of speech does not absolve us of the responsibility to choose our words carefully. Venting about Jimmy Carter over coffee in a shul or at home is one thing. Posting it for the world to see is quite another. YWN, as the largest Orthodox Jewish news platforms, must recognize the weight its voice carries. Their words aren’t just representing an editorial stance—they are seen as reflecting the views of the broader frum community. When YWN chooses to engage in rhetoric that is hostile and disrespectful, it creates a ripple effect that […]
Value was in vogue in 2024. Shoppers and restaurant patrons in the U.S. were choosy about where and how to spend their money as they wrestled with high housing and food prices. Well-heeled customers traded down to Walmart and Aldi. Diners opted for fast food or home cooking instead of sit-down restaurants. Department stores struggled as buyers shopped online or at cheaper chains like H&M. Residents also moved away from buying furniture or investing in expensive renovations, opting to refresh their homes with inexpensive items like frames and candles. Those shifts changed the buying and eating landscape in 2024. As of Dec. 20, Coresight Research tracked 48 retail bankruptcies in the U.S., compared with 25 during the same period a year ago. And at least 22 restaurant chains filed for bankruptcy this year, the highest number since 2020, according to BankruptcyData, a company that tracks filings. Here are some of the trends – and dead ends – that The Associated Press tracked in 2024: WINNERS: WALMART The nation’s largest retailer typically shines during tough times as shoppers turn to the discounter for groceries, which account for 60% of Walmart’s total business. And just like during the 2008 Great Recession, Walmart saw households with incomes of $100,000 or above making up more of its clientele. But this time around, company executives think they can keep those customers because they’ve expanded online services and added more stylish clothes and mannequins. AMAZON Online juggernaut Amazon leaned into its reputation as a destination for deals to appeal to bargain-hungry buyers. In November it launched Amazon Haul, a new low-cost storefront featuring electronics, apparel and other products priced under $20. And the company said its Prime Day event in July resulted in record sales. But Amazon could face headwinds in the coming year with threatened tariffs on products from China and labor unrest in the U.S. FAST CASUAL CHAINS It was a good year for restaurant chains like Shake Shack that are a step up from fast food but still offer good value. Cava, which specializes in fresh Mediterranean food, said its revenue surged more than 33% in the first nine months of this year as it rapidly built new restaurants. Chipotle got some heat from value-conscious diners about smaller portions, but drew customers back after retraining workers to ensure “consistent and generous” portions. JEANS SELLERS The wide-leg jeans silhouette – the “it” style that rapidly replaced boot-cut and skinny jeans – drove sales across many different retailers this year. Macy’s, Abercrombie & Fitch, Levi Strauss, Gap and Stitch Fix were among those citing the trend as a big sales booster in recent months. Value-conscious buyers could snap them up at Walmart for $29. At the high end, Gucci had wide-leg versions for $1,200. MCDONALD’S The year didn’t begin well for McDonald’s. The company’s sales slumped as inflation-weary customers chose to eat at home instead of grabbing fast food. But a $5 meal deal introduced in June helped draw lower-income customers back into stores. McDonald’s extended the deal through the end of this year and said more value is coming in 2025. The fast food giant is working to get customers back after a fall E. coli outbreak linked to raw onions in Quarter Pounder hamburgers sickened at least 104 people in 14 states. LOSERS: […]
A major archaeological discovery was unearthed in the Jordan Valley during Chanukah – a hoard of ancient coins minted under King Yonason (Alexander Jannaeus), one of the most influential rulers of the Chashmonean Kingdom (104–76 BCE). The excavation, led by the University of Haifa’s archaeological team, uncovered the treasure within a previously unknown roadside complex along the banks of Nachal Tirtzah, a key route leading to the ancient Sartaba Fortress. The fortress was originally constructed under the reign of King Yonason and is well-documented in historical and numismatic records. King Yonason, the son of Yochanon and great-grandson of Mattisyahu—leader of the Maccabees—was part of the revolutionary Chashmonean dynasty that established Jewish sovereignty following the rebellion against the Seleucid Empire. The uprising in 167 BCE, which Chanukah commemorates, led to the rededication of the Bais Hamikdash and the establishment of Jewish independence. The excavation team, comprising Shai Bar from the Zinman Institute of Archaeology, Yoav Farhi, and Michael Osband, uncovered a mikvah, water reservoir, and other structures at the site. “The discovery of this site, particularly during Chanukah, carries deep historical resonance,” Bar said. Yoav Farhi, curator of ancient coins at the Israel Museum, highlighted the rarity of the find. The coins, minted in 80 or 79 BCE, bear an eight-pointed star with an Aramaic inscription reading “King Alexander Year 25” on one side and an anchor with a Greek inscription on the reverse. “To find such a uniform and well-preserved cache is exceptional,” Farhi noted. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A court in Serbia on Monday convicted the parents of a teenage boy who last year shot dead nine pupils and a school guard and wounded six more people in a school in central Belgrade. The Higher Court in Belgrade sentenced Vladimir Kecmanovic, father of the boy, to 14 years and six months in prison for “grave acts against public safety” and for child neglect. The mother, Miljana Kecmanovic was sentenced to three years in prison for child neglect but was acquitted on charges of illegal possession of weapons. The shooter, identified as Kosta Kecmanovic, was 13 years old when he committed the crime and therefore too young to face a trial, according to Serbian law. His parents were detained soon after the shooting and charged for failing to keep the weapons out of reach of their son. The massacre at the Vladislav Ribnikar primary school in central Belgrade on May 3, 2023, shocked the Balkan nation which was used to crises but where mass school shootings had never happened before. The couple’s lawyer, Irina Borovic, said the verdict came as no surprise “because public pressure was enormous and the expectations were huge.” Borovic said she will appeal the verdicts. Ninela Radicevic, who lost her daughter in the shooting, said “we are not satisfied because no one was held responsible for the murder of nine children” and the school guard. The boy used his father’s guns to open fire on his fellow pupils and others. He walked into the school and first opened fire in the hall before heading into a classroom where he continued shooting. Elementary schools in Serbia cater for children 7-15 years old. Police have said that the teenager called them after the shooting and calmly said what he had done. He has been held in a specialized institution since the shooting and testified at his parents’ trial. The proceedings were closed to the public except for the reading of the verdicts. Also convicted and sentenced to 15 months in prison for a false testimony was a shooting instructor who worked at a shooting ground where the boy practiced shooting. The school shooting was followed the next day by another mass killing in villages outside the capital. Uros Blazic, 21, took an automatic rifle and opened fire at multiple locations, killing nine people and wounding 12. He was sentenced earlier this month to 20 years in prison. The back-to-back shootings triggered a wave of street protests and a crackdown on widespread illegal gun ownership. (AP)
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Popular Israeli singer Naftali Kempeh released a new song on Monday called “Owner of the Palace,” which was written by the Rosh Yeshivah of one of the top yeshivos gedolos in Yerushalayim, Netivot Aviezer [known as Wolfson’s]. Kempeh wrote about the story behind the song: “A while ago, I saw a moving video in which hundreds of Netivot Aviezer talmidim were singing a unique song with great enthusiasm at their summer camp, together with the Rosh Yeshiva and Rav Hillel Paley.” “The song, written by the Rosh Yeshivah HaRav Daniel Wolfson and composed by Rav Hillel Paley deeply touched my heart. I requested the zechus to bring this song to the wider world in order to share its message – emunah and recognition of the One who said and the world came into being.” “I was zocheh to receive permission from the Rosh Yeshivah and I’m happy to be the shaliach to bring the song to you, accompanied by the wonderous views of our holy land.” “During the days of Chanukah, when we thank Hashem for His many chasadim – there is no better time to strengthen ourselves in emunah in Hakadosh Baruch Hu out of the recognition of His wonders and the understanding that ‘אין בהם טבע ומקרה כלל.'” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Finnish investigators probing the damage to a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables said they found an anchor drag mark on the seabed, apparently from a Russia-linked vessel that has already been seized. The discovery heightened concerns about suspected sabotage by Russia’s “shadow fleet” of fuel tankers — aging vessels with obscure ownership acquired to evade Western sanctions amid the war in Ukraine and operating without Western-regulated insurance. The Estlink-2 power cable, which transmits energy from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea, went down on Dec. 25 after a rupture. It had little impact on services but followed damage to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines, both of which have been termed sabotage. Finnish police chief investigator, Sami Paila, said late Sunday the anchor drag trail continued for “dozens of kilometers (miles) … if not almost 100 kilometers (62 miles).” Paila added to Finnish national TV broadcaster Yle: “Our current understanding is that the drag mark in question is that of the anchor of the (seized) Eagle S vessel. We have been able to clarify this matter through underwater research.” Without giving further details, Paila said authorities have “a preliminary understanding of what happened at sea, how the anchor mark was created there,” and stressed that the “question of intent is a completely essential issue to be clarified in the preliminary investigation.” On Saturday, the seized vessel was escorted to anchorage in the vicinity of the port of Porvoo to facilitate the investigation, officials said. It is being probed under criminal charges of aggravated interference with telecommunications, aggravated vandalism and aggravated regulatory offense. The Eagle S is flagged in the Cook Islands but was described by Finnish customs officials and the European Union executive commission as part of Russia’s shadow fleet of fuel tankers. Russia’s use of the vessels has raised environmental concerns about accidents given their age and uncertain insurance coverage. In the wake of the cable rupture, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said last week that the military alliance, which Finland joined last year, will step up patrols in the Baltic Sea region. The Finnish Coast Guard said Monday that another tanker ship headed for a Russian port has engine failure and drifted, then anchored in the Gulf of Finland south of the Hanko Paninsula. The guard said it was notified Sunday night. Registered in Panama, the M/T Jazz was en route to Primorsk, Russia, from Sudan, with apparently no oil cargo. Finnish authorities have dispatched a tugboat and a patrol ship to ensure that the vessel does not drift and to prevent any damage to the environment. Regional director of the Coast Guard, Janne Ryönänkoski, said there was no immediate risk to the seabed infrastructure. Earlier Monday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that “sabotage in Europe has increased” since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Kallas told the German newspaper Welt that the recent “sabotage attempts in the Baltic Sea are not isolated incidents” but “part of a pattern of deliberate and coordinated actions to damage our digital and energy infrastructure.” She vowed that the EU would “take stronger measures to counter the risks posed” by vessels of Russia’s shadow fleet. Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) border with Russia, abandoned its decades-long policy of neutrality and joined […]
Arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico in December are little changed from a month earlier, a U.S. official said Monday, hovering near the lowest levels since July 2020 and indicating that an anticipated surge ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration as president hasn’t happened. There were about 44,000 arrests during December as of Monday morning, suggesting the month will end close to the 46,612 arrests made in November, according to a senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the count is preliminary and has not made public. December will mark the sixth straight month that arrests for illegal crossings were less than the monthly average in 2019, the official said. It also signals that final full month of President Joe Biden’s presidency will be at or near the lowest during his four years in office. Asked to comment on the latest numbers, the Homeland Security Department released a statement by Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, that said “swift and effective implementation” of asylum restrictions in June resulted in another month below the 2019 average. “This sustained success is the result of strong border enforcement, extensive engagement with our foreign partners, and the delivery of safe and lawful pathways that continue to provide humanitarian relief under our laws,” Mayorkas said. Arrests fell by about half from all-time high of 250,000 in December 2023 after Mexican officials increased enforcement within their own borders and by about half again after Biden introduced severe asylum limits. Texas’ Rio Grande Valley was the second-busiest corridor for illegal crossings in December, up from fifth in November, likely a reflection of tactical decisions by smuggling organizations and Mexican law enforcement, the official said. San Diego remained the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. El Paso, Texas, was third and Tucson, Arizona was fourth. For the second straight month, those allowed to enter the country through official border crossings are expected to exceed arrests for illegal crossings, reflecting the Biden administration’s approach to create and expand legal pathways while severely restricting asylum for those who cross the border illegally. The vast majority of legal entries are done through an online appointment system called CBP One, which grants 1,450 slots a day. Trump has focused on launching mass deportations after taking office Jan. 20 but he and his aides have also emphasized border measures, touting a possible return of a policy to make asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for court hearings in U.S. immigration courts. Trump said in September that he planned to end CBP One appointments. (AP)
