Yeshiva World News

A 1st at Eretz Yisroel Shas Siyumim – Flatbush Shas Yiden Geonim & Rebbetzins

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler It was time for the annual Shas Farher & Siyumim of the International Shas Yiden Network of Kollelim. These avreichim geonim really know gantz Shas (the entire Shas) from one end to the other. They first underwent a grueling almost two-hour double farher of Shas by Gaon Yisroel, Maran Harav Dov Landau, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka and Maran Hagaon Harav Eliezer Dovid Shapiro, shlit”a, Rav of the Sanz community in Bnei Brak.  There has also been an incredible growth among the number of Shas Yiden geonim – a complement of 126. Shas Yiden has become a true etz chaim (Tree of Life) and comprises 7 branches – five in Eretz Yisroel, one in London, UK, and, trans-Atlantic, one in Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY. Shas Yiden is the product of the vision of the Pozna Rov, Hagaon Harav Avrohom Eisen, shlit”a, who, 16 years ago, established an amazing and unique program for hand-picked avreichim geonim. The Shas Yiden program has proven itself beyond all expectations and is lauded by Gedolim across Eretz Yisroel and the Diaspora. The demanding regimen enables the Shas Yiden geonim to complete every volume and page of Shas with a ‘fine toothcomb’ – as a result, each completes Shas five times a year!  Maran Harav Dov LandoAfter his farher, Rav Lando commented: “The Shas Yiden Network led by the Pozna Rov is outstanding in the study of Torah… in depth and in breath “They Know Shas B’Iyun U’v’hekef – Haflei Vafelleh”. In their merit and that of the Torah that they study we are saved from all our enemies… Praised are these Shas Yiden geonim, bnei aliyah, who study Torah be’yegiah rabbah u’vi’mesirus (with great effort and dedication). At the farher, they just demonstrated that it is as if the entire Shas is contained in their pockets!” The Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva then added a special blessing to the philanthropists who had travelled from abroad to participate in the magnificent simcha: “These are people who understand the importance of investing wisely, placing their money in the correct places and [through their investment in Shas Yiden] they have acquired for themselves eternal returns. Praised are they who support and stand with Shas Yiden, to bring honor and glory to the Torah. May they all merit nachas from what they have, good health, length of days and the coming of the holy redeemer, speedily in our days, amen.” Rav Eliezer Dovid ShapiroRav Shapiro, commenting on his farher of the Shas Yiden geonim, could not hide his amazement. With tears of excitement in his eyes he turned to the Pozna Rov and thanked him for the enormous gift of Shas Yiden that he has bestowed on the Jewish people. “It is unique and you have established it with the lions of the Shas Yiden network, people who are fully au fait with all the intricacies of the Torah and with such total recall.” 1st Time for ‘Flatbush USA’Their participation in the Shas Yiden Annual Faher & Siyumim was a first for the Flatbush Shas Yiden geonim. This opportunity for them to attend was made possible by the Pozna Rov who arranged the air tickets for the Shas Yiden geonim and their wives from the USA and the UK. This enabled them to meet their counterparts and experience being […]

IDF Chief Of Staff Halevi Announces Resignation “In Light Of IDF’s Failure On Oct. 7”

DF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi on Tuesday notified Defense Minister Yisrael Katz that he intends to resign on March 6. “I informed the Minister of Defense today that in light of my recognition of responsibility for the failure of the IDF on October 7th,  I wish to conclude my role by March 6, 2025,” Halevi’s statement said. “In the remaining time, I will complete the investigations [on Oct. 7] and prepare the IDF for security challenges. I will transfer command of the IDF in a comprehensive manner to my successor. I have sent a letter to the Minister of Defense and the Prime Minister regarding this matter.” The report comes after Defense Minister Betzalel Smotrich demanded that Halevi be dismissed as part of his conditions for his party to remain in the government despite its opposition to the ceasefire/hostage release deal. Halevi’s letter stated: “In the last four decades, the mission of defending the security of the State of Israel has been a mission of my life. From a young soldier and commander to Chief of Staff, I found pride in my affiliation with the IDF. I saw it as a model organization and felt a heavy responsibility as one of the defenders of the State of Israel and its citizens.” “I knew well that upon taking command of the IDF, I bore the great responsibility of ensuring that the IDF would be ready to stand the ultimate test of war, know how to deter its enemies, and where it had not neutralized a threat in advance – know how to separate enemies from civilians.” “On the morning of October 7th, the IDF under my command failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel. The State of Israel paid a heavy and painful price – in human lives, in hostages, and injuries to bodies and souls. The acts of daring heroism by many – security forces, IDF soldiers and commanders, and brave civilians – were not enough to prevent the heavy disaster. My responsibility for this terrible failure accompanies me day by day, hour by hour, and will continue for the rest of my life.” “The IDF knew how to rise from a very difficult starting point to intense fighting, for more than a year and three months, in seven different combat arenas. The military achievements of the IDF changed the Middle East. The IDF inflicted very severe damage on the military wing of Hamas and created the conditions for the return of hostages, caused an unprecedented blow to the Hezbollah terrorist organization, and significantly weakened Iran and its regional activity.” “The IDF defends the residents of the Golan Heights from the Syrian buffer and succeeded in destroying the main capabilities of the Syrian army. In the Yehuda and Shomron sector, the IDF operates daily and nightly on effective counter-terrorism missions. These achievements are far above any achievement discussed with the political echelon for each of the arenas, and this significance is stronger in light of the connection of the arenas.” “These achievements belong first and foremost to the commanders and soldiers of the IDF. My troops, IDF fighters in regular service and reserves, from all parts of Israeli society, stood up for the just war, fought bravely and selflessly, and won every encounter with the enemy. […]

OPERATION IRON WALL: IDF Launches War Against Terror Groups In Jenin

The IDF, Shin Bet, and the Border Police on Tuesday announced that forces have launched Operation Iron Wall, a special operation to fight terrorism in Jenin in the northern Shomron. The announcement comes two weeks after terrorists linked to Jenin’s Islamic Jihad terror group carried out a deadly terror attack near Kedumim, murdering three Israelis. IDF forces entered Jenin, a hotbed of terror, shortly after Palestinian Authority security forces left the area after it carried out its own counterterrorism operation against terror groups in the area. The IDF began the operation by launching drone strikes, eliminating two terrorists. At the same time, ground forces and special units began to enter the refugee camp. “The operation has clear objectives: continue to maintain the IDF’s freedom of operation in all of Yehuda and Shomron and to destroy and neutralize terrorist infrastructure and ‘ticking time bombs,'” the IDF stated. According to the statement, a large force of IDF soldiers, including special forces, Shin Bet operatives, and Border Police officers will operate in Jenin in the coming days. The operation will continue for as long as necessary. Following the announcement, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issued a statement about the operation, saying: “At the instruction of the political-security cabinet, the IDF, Shin Bet, and the Israel Police launched a wide-ranging and significant military operation today to eradicate terrorism in Jenin – Iron Wall.” “This is another step towards achieving the goal we set – strengthening security in Yehuda and Shomron. We are systematically and resolutely acting against the Iranian axis wherever it sends its arms – in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Yehuda and Shomron.” Only minutes before the announcement about the operation, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said during a meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee: “The threat to Jews and yishuvim in Yehuda and Shomron and along the seam line is worsening. Our enemies recognize that this is the last remaining arena – the only place where there are clashes, gunfire, and terror against the State of Israel. The Iranian axis continues to act to create terror through funding, directing, and arming [terror groups in the Shomron]. I have instructed the IDF to operate forcefully to protect all the yishuvim and residents.” The operation takes place against the backdrop of the ceasefire/hostage deal and the release of hundreds of terrorists (dozens have already been released and over a thousand more are expected to be released during Phase A of the deal) to Yehuda and Shomron and east Jerusalem. At the same time, security officials have identified recent attempts by Iran and Hamas to escalate the security situation in Yehuda and Shomron by smuggling weapons to the area via the Jordanian border. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

At Least 66 Dead, Dozens Injured In Hotel Fire At A Ski Resort In Turkey

A fire at a 12-story hotel at a popular ski resort in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday killed at least 66 people, Turkey’s Interior Minister said. Ali Yerlikaya said at least 51 other people were injured in the disaster that struck the Grand Kartal hotel in the resort of Kartalkaya, in Bolu province’s Koroglu mountains, some 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of Istanbul. The fire occurred during the schools semester break, when hotels in the region are packed. “We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel,” Yerlikaya told reporters after inspecting the site. Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said at least one of the injured was in serious condition, while 17 other people had been discharged after being treated, he said. The fire broke out at around 3:30 a.m. local time in the hotel’s restaurant section, reports said. The government appointed six prosecutors to lead an investigation into the blaze. At least two of the victims died after jumping from the building in a panic, Gov. Abdulaziz Aydin told the state-run Anadolu Agency earlier, Private NTV television and other media reported that some people tried to climb down from their rooms using sheets and blankets. There were 234 guests staying at the hotel, Aydin said. Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the hotel, said he was asleep when the fire erupted and he rushed out of the building. He told NTV television that he then helped some 20 guests out of the hotel. He said the hotel was engulfed in smoke, making it difficult for guests to locate the fire escape. “I cannot reach some of my students. I hope they are OK,” the ski instructor told the station. Television images showed the roof and top floors of the hotel on fire. Witnesses and reports said the hotel’s fire detection system failed to operate. “My wife smelled the burning. The alarm did not go off,” Atakan Yelkovan, a guest staying on the third floor of the hotel, told the IHA news agency. “We tried to go upstairs but couldn’t, there were flames. We went downstairs and came here (outside),” he said. Yelkovan said it took about an hour for the firefighting teams to arrive. “People on the upper floors were screaming. They hung down sheets … some tried to jump,” he said. NTV television suggested that the wooden cladding on the exterior of the hotel, in a chalet-style design, may have accelerated the spread of the fire. The 161-room hotel is on the side of a cliff, hampering efforts to combat the flames, the station also reported. Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy told reporters that the hotel underwent inspections in 2021 and 2024 and that “no negative situation regarding fire competence” was reported by the fire department. In an address in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said: “Unfortunately, we received very sad news this morning from Bolu, Kartalkaya. Our brothers and sisters were killed and injured in a fire that broke out in a hotel.” “All necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable,” he added. NTV showed a smoke-blackened lobby, its glass entrance and windows smashed, its wooden reception desk charred and a chandelier crashed to the […]

1ST DAY: Trump Lifts Limits On Arms Sales To Israel; Revokes Sanctions On Israelis; Restores Sanctions On ICC

President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders related to Israel, Jews, and their enemies only hours after his inauguration on Monday. Trump lifted all restrictions on the sales of arms to America’s ally Israel, including the supply of 2,000-pound bombs held back by Biden in order to pander to his pro-Hamas supporters. Biden also had frozen a shipment of 134 D9 bulldozers, a decision that cost the lives of numerous IDF soldiers, and refused Israel’s urgent requests for Apache attack helicopters following Hamas’ October 7 assault. Trump also revoked the Biden administration’s executive order placing sanctions on some Jewish residents of Yehudah and Shomron, a move prompting Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich to publicly thank Trump. “I thank President Donald Trump for his just decision to revoke the sanctions imposed by the Biden administration against settlers and right-wing activists,” Smotrich stated. “These sanctions were a severe act of blatant foreign interference in Israel’s internal affairs.” The newly sworn-in President also restored sanctions on the International Criminal Court, whose chief prosecutor, a morally corrupt individual under investigation for suspected crimes, dared to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant shortly after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Ex-President Joe Biden had overturned the sanctions previously imposed on the ICC by Trump in his first term. Trump also signed an order implementing a 90-day pause on all U.S. foreign development assistance programs to review their “alignment with administration policy,” which will likely lead to funding cuts to the UNWRA and the Palestinian Authority which he imposed during his first term and were reversed by Biden. Finally, Trump signed an order “protecting the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security and public threats,” a move aimed at deporting foreign nationals, especially university students,  in the US who support terror. The order states that the US government must ensure that visa-holders do “not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem),

FEAR DOWN UNDER: Sydney Daycare Is Torched, Sprayed With Antisemitic Graffiti

In yet another antisemitic incident in Australia, a Sydney daycare center was set on fire overnight Monday and an outer wall was sprayed with antisemitic graffiti. The building was badly damaged but fortunately, no one was injured. Security camera footage revealed two masked men, one pouring flammable material and igniting it and the second man spray-painting graffiti. The daycare center is not a Jewish-affiliated institution but is near the Marouba Shul and an Orthodox Jewish school. Due to the antisemitic graffiti, the police is investigating the incident as a hate crime. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the site on Tuesday morning and convened Australia’s national cabinet to discuss the surge of antisemitic attacks. This was the second antisemitic incident in Sydney this week and the latest in a series of antisemitic arson attempts and acts of vandalism in the city. Melbourne has also suffered numerous antisemitic incidents, including the firebombing of the Adass Israel shul last month, which is being investigated as a terror attack. However, according to Simone Abel, the head of the legal department at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alabane’s announcement is too little and too late. “Unfortunately, we haven’t seen the kind of response that we’ve needed to see earlier on,” she said, calling the incident a “wake-up call” for the country. “Antisemitism is a disease, and it spreads,” Abel said. “[These attacks] are a prelude of what’s to come.” The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) responded to the daycare fire by blaming the liberal Labor government. “For the first time ever, Australia has a widespread, evil, out-of-control campaign of antisemitic violence,” AJA stated. This past Friday, the Sydney home formally owned by Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, was vandalized along with four nearby cars. Two cars were set on fire, the others were damaged and one was spray-painted with offensive anti-semitic graffiti. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

TRUMP EFFECT? Hamas Backtracks On Delaying 2nd Phase Of Hostage Release Deal

Hamas backtracked on the announcement it made Monday evening that it is delaying the implementation of the second phase of the hostage deal, issuing another statement on Monday night that the hostages will be released as scheduled, on Shabbos, January 25, 2025. President Donald Trump had threatened serious consequences if either side violated the terms of the ceasefire/hostage release deal. Four hostages are slated to be released on Shabbos, one female civilian, and three female soldiers. Over the next month, three hostages are slated be released each Shabbos. On the last day of the first phase of the six-week ceasefire, a final group of 14 hostages is scheduled to be released. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Gusty Winds and Extreme Fire Weather Return to Southern California

Windy and dry conditions returned to Southern California on Monday, raising the risk of new wildfires sparking as firefighters continue to battle two major blazes in the Los Angeles area that started in similar weather nearly two weeks ago. Gusts could peak at 70 mph (113 kph) along the coast and 100 mph (160 kph) in the mountains and foothills during extreme fire weather that is expected to last through Tuesday. The National Weather Service issued a warning of a “ particularly dangerous situation ” for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning due to low humidity and damaging Santa Ana winds. “The conditions are ripe for explosive fire growth should a fire start,” said Andrew Rorke, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Rorke said a small amount of rain in the weekend forecast was a hopeful sign, though he pointed out more gusty winds would return to the area on Thursday. Authorities urged people not to mow their lawns to prevent sparking a fire, nor start any fires that could get out of control. They also asked residents to review their evacuation plans and ready emergency kits and be on the lookout for any new blazes and report them quickly. David Acuna, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said the biggest concerns are the Palisades and Eaton Fires breaking their containment lines and a new blaze starting. “Don’t do things to start another fire so we can focus on the mitigation of the current fires,” Acuna said. The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong Santa Ana winds come as firefighters continue to battle two major blazes in the Los Angeles area, the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out during fierce winds on Jan. 7. The Palisades fire was 59% contained on Monday and the Eaton fire 87% contained, according to fire officials. More evacuation orders were lifted Monday for Pacific Palisades and authorities said only residents would be allowed to get back in after showing proof of residency at a checkpoint. Over the weekend, two men impersonating firefighters attempted to enter an evacuation zone for the Palisades Fire, according to the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Monday the city was prepared for any possible new fires and warned the strong winds could disperse ash from existing fire zones across Southern California. She urged Angelenos to visit lacity.gov to learn about ways to protect themselves from toxic air during Santa Ana winds. Cal Fire and local fire departments have positioned fire engines, water-dropping aircraft and hand crews across the region to enable a quick response should a new fire break out, Acuna said. Acuna said Cal Fire had extra fire crews in Kern and Riverside counties. Los Angeles fire officials said the department has all available engines ready and that 30 of them had been positioned in fire risk areas. The agency also ordered the outgoing shift of about 1,000 firefighters to remain on duty to staff the extra engines. “The pre-deployment is very, very thoughtful and strategic,” Crowley said. On Monday afternoon, Los Angeles fire crews quickly put out a a small brush fire that broke out south of Griffith […]

Veteran Agent Named as Acting FBI Director Pending Senate Confirmation of Trump’s Pick for Post

The White House on Monday named a veteran agent to serve as acting FBI director after the official who’d been expected to run the bureau on an interim basis following the departure of Christopher Wray retired after nearly 30 years. Brian Driscoll was tapped to lead the FBI pending the Senate confirmation of Kash Patel, who is President Donald Trump’s pick for director. The move came hours after Paul Abbate, who served for the last four years as Wray’s deputy and had been in line to serve as acting director, told colleagues in an email that he was retiring. “When the Director asked me to stay on past my mandatory date for a brief time, I did so to help ensure continuity and the best transition for the FBI. Now, with new leadership inbound, after nearly four years in the deputy role, I am departing the FBI today,” Abbate wrote in the email, which was obtained by The Associated Press. Abbate’s abrupt departure after a 28-year FBI career creates additional transition for a law enforcement agency that had already been preparing for upheaval in the event Patel is confirmed. A Trump loyalist, Patel has repeatedly criticized FBI leadership and decision-making and has alarmed Democrats with statements that suggest he would be willing to use the FBI to exact retribution on Trump adversaries. Abbate’s email did not identify who might succeed him, but the White House included Driscoll on a list of officials being tapped to lead agencies on an acting basis. Driscoll was named by Wray last week as special agent in charge of the Newark field office and before that had served as commander of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team. Wray’s final day was Sunday, making Abbate acting director, though he only stayed in the role for a day. Abbate held a variety of leadership roles in his nearly three-decade career at the FBI, including head of the bureau’s Detroit and Washington field offices and executive assistant director for the criminal, cyber, response and services branch. He was named deputy director, the No. 2 position responsible for the FBI’s investigative activities, in 2021. “As you move forward, continue to stay true to our core values, be there for our partners, and take care of those who serve alongside you. Thank you for your service,” Abbate wrote. Wray was named by Trump during his first term and had been director for more than seven years. Wray announced his retirement last month, more than a week after Trump said he wanted Patel to be the director. (AP)

Trump Issues Sweeping Pardon Of 1,500 Jan. 6 Defendants, Including Rioters Who Attacked Police

President Donald Trump on Monday pardoned or commuted the prison sentences of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, including people convicted of seditious conspiracy and assaulting police officers, using his clemency powers on his first day in office to undo the massive prosecution of the unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy. Among those set to be released from prison are defendants captured on camera committing violent attacks on law enforcement as lawmakers met to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys extremist groups who were found of seditious conspiracy in the most serious cases brought by the Justice Department will also be freed from prison after having their sentences commuted. Trump is directing the attorney general to seek the dismissal of about 450 pending cases. The pardons were expected after Trump’s yearslong campaign to rewrite the history of the Jan. 6 attack that left more than 100 police officers injured and threatened the peaceful transfer of power. Yet the scope of the clemency, coming hours after Trump returned to power, still comes as a stunning dismantling of the Justice Department’s effort to hold participants accountable over what has been described as one of the darkest days in the county’s history. Trump had suggested in the weeks leading up to his return to the White House that instead of blanket pardons, he would look at the Jan. 6 defendants on a case-by-case basis. Vice President JD Vance had said just days ago that people responsible for the violence during the Capitol riot “obviously” should not be pardoned. Casting the rioters as “patriots” and “hostages,” Trump has claimed they were unfairly treated by the Justice Department that also charged him with federal crimes in two cases he contends were politically motivated. Trump said the pardons end “a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation.” An attorney for Enrique Tarrio, the former national chairman of the Proud Boys who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy, said he expects his client to be released from prison Monday night. Tarrio, who was convicted of orchestrating a failed plot to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 election, is serving the longest sentence of any of the Jan. 6 defendants. The pardons come weeks after Trump’s own Jan. 6 case was dismissed because of the Justice Department’s policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. Had Trump lost the 2024 election, he may have ultimately stood trial in the same federal courthouse within view of the Capitol where Jan. 6 cases have been playing out over the last four years. More than 1,200 people have been convicted in the riot, including approximately 250 people convicted of assault charges. Hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants who didn’t engage in any of the violence and destruction were charged with misdemeanor trespassing offenses, and many of those served little to no time behind bars. But the violence that day has been documented extensively through videos, testimony and other evidence showing rioters — some armed with poles, bats and bear spray — swarming the Capitol, quickly overrunning overwhelmed police, shattering […]

Trump Seeks to Remake Border Security but His Efforts Will Face Challenges

A wide-ranging series of steps that President Donald Trump has promised to take to beef up security at the southern border began taking effect soon after he was inaugurated Monday, making good on his defining political promise to crack down on immigration. Some of the moves revive policies from his first administration, including forcing asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico, cracking down on asylum access and finishing the border wall. But others will mark sweeping new strategies, like an effort to end automatic citizenship for anyone born in America, pulling the military into border security and ending use of a Biden-era app used by nearly a million migrants to enter America. Actual execution of such a far-reaching immigration agenda, expected under several executive orders, is certain to face legal and logistical challenges. And few details have been released so far. But in a concrete sign of how the changes were already playing out, migrants who had appointments to enter the U.S. using the CBP One app saw them canceled minutes after Trump was sworn in, and Mexico agreed to allow people seeking U.S. asylum to remain south of the American border while their court cases play out. “I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places in which they came,” Trump said in his inauguration speech to thunderous applause. The CBP One app disappears The online lottery system gave appointments to 1,450 people a day at eight border crossings to enter on “parole,” which Joe Biden used more than any president. It was a critical piece of the Biden administration’s border strategy to create new immigration pathways while cracking down on people who enter illegally. Supporters say it brought order to a chaotic border. Critics say it was magnet for more people to come. By midday Monday, it was gone. A notice on the Customs and Border Protection website emphasized the app was no longer being used. Migrants who had scored coveted appointments weeks ago found them canceled. That includes Melanie Mendoza, 21, and her boyfriend. She said they left Venezuela over a year ago, spending more than $4,000 and traveling for a month, including walking for three days. “We don’t know what we are going to do,” she said in Tijuana, Mexico, just on the other side of the border from San Diego. Mexico agrees to take back migrants The Trump administration will reinstate its “Remain in Mexico” policy, which forced 70,000 asylum-seekers in his first term to wait there for hearings in U.S. immigration court. Mexico, a country integral to any American effort to limit illegal immigration, indicated Monday that it is prepared to receive asylum-seekers while emphasizing that there should be an online application allowing them to schedule appointments at the U.S. border. Immigration advocates say the policy put migrants at extreme risk in northern Mexico, where they were easily recognizable to cartels, who kidnapped them and extorted their families for money. “This is déjà vu of the darkest kind,” said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge. She said policies like “Remain in Mexico” have “exacerbated conditions at the border, stoked fear within U.S. communities, and undermined our global […]

Tragic Loss: Mother of 4 Passes Away

Our community is heartbroken over the untimely passing of Bashya Schylander, a devoted wife, mother of four, and a talented designer and architect. Bashya’s creativity and dedication were the backbone of her family’s stability, both emotionally and financially. Her remarkable talent was reflected in her role as the designer of the state-of-the-art Miami Beach mikvah, and she also assisted in the construction of mikvaos around the world—leaving behind a lasting legacy of beauty and sanctity. After a long and courageous battle with illness, which carried significant expenses, Bashya’s tragic loss leaves her husband and four young, unmarried children—ages 10, 13, 14, and 16—facing an uncertain future filled with daunting challenges. These children, now without their beloved mother’s guidance and care, need our support to secure their education, daily needs, and future life milestones, including the significant costs of weddings. The responsibility of helping them rebuild their lives is one we must share as a community. This campaign was launched to provide the family with the financial security they desperately need. All funds will be used to support the children’s well-being and future and will be overseen by an anash committee headed by Rabbi Leib Schapiro, ensuring every dollar is used responsibly. Click here to donate Let us honor Bashya’s memory by stepping forward to support the family she loved so deeply. Your generosity will provide these children with hope, stability, and the knowledge that their community stands beside them in their greatest time of need. Click here to donate Thank you for your kindness and support.

President Trump Signs 200 Executive Actions on First Day, Launching Sweeping “America First” Agenda

President Donald J. Trump wasted no time implementing his “America First” vision on his first day in office, signing approximately 200 executive actions, memoranda, and proclamations aimed at undoing Biden-era policies and advancing his conservative agenda. Restoring Cabinet and Honoring Traditions Shortly after his inauguration, Trump signed orders to establish his Cabinet and subcabinet appointments, appointing acting leaders for key departments and agencies. He also issued a proclamation requiring flags to be flown at full staff on Inauguration Day, reversing their half-staff position following the recent death of former President Jimmy Carter. Clemency for January 6 Defendants In a move that underscores his commitment to what he calls “justice for patriots,” Trump issued a full pardon to approximately 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol protests. Sentences for over a dozen members of the Oath Keepers were commuted, and former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was reportedly included in the clemency actions. Rolling Back Leftist Policies Trump began dismantling hallmark Biden administration policies, including extending the enforcement date for a bipartisan TikTok ban and withdrawing the U.S. from both the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization. The president cited cost savings and a rejection of “globalist mandates” as reasons for these withdrawals. Immigration Crackdown and Border Security Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border, ordering the Defense Department to deploy additional military resources to combat illegal immigration. Construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall will resume immediately, and the administration announced plans to designate cartels and gangs as terrorist organizations. A bold new executive action seeks to deny birthright citizenship to children of unauthorized immigrants, challenging the current interpretation of the 14th Amendment. Economic Focus: Energy, Inflation, and Alaska The president took immediate steps to boost energy independence, ending electric vehicle mandates and lifting restrictions on drilling and production, including in Alaska. Trump declared a national emergency on energy costs and signed a memorandum targeting inflation, emphasizing the administration’s focus on reducing costs for American families. Advancing Conservative Cultural Values Trump signed orders reinforcing traditional values, declaring that the federal government would recognize only two genders, male and female. He also directed agencies to terminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, arguing that they are “divisive and unnecessary.” Restoring Law and Order The president directed the Justice Department to seek the death penalty for unauthorized immigrants who murder law enforcement officers or commit capital crimes. He also signed an executive order to “end the weaponization of government” and restore freedom of speech, pledging to prevent further government censorship. Ambitious Goals for the Future Trump concluded his whirlwind first day by doubling down on his commitment to put America first, calling his presidency a “new era of greatness.” With bold plans to reform immigration, slash bureaucracy, and restore conservative values, President Trump’s second term begins with a clear message: America is back.

Cotton Mocks Pres. For Taking Credit: “Over 100 Hostages, Including 7 US. Citizens, Still In Gaza Due To Biden”

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) blasted President Joe Biden for taking credit for the ceasefire/hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, asserting that if Biden, “a weak and failed president,” had properly supported Israel, there wouldn’t still be over 100 hostages in Gaza, including seven Americans. Following the announcement of the deal, Cotton wrote: “Why is lame duck Joe Biden trying to cram down a bad deal on Israel on his way out the door? The only ‘deal’ should be unconditional surrender by Hamas—which is already nearly destroyed—and return of ALL hostages. Instead, we hear reports that Biden is demanding that Israel withdraw from key terrain in Gaza, release dozens of hardened terrorists for every one hostage, and get back only SOME hostages?” Speaking with Mark Levin on Fox News over the weekend, Cotton said: “We shouldn’t negotiate with terrorists. We shouldn’t ask Israel or any other country to negotiate with terrorists. We didn’t negotiate with Japan after Hiroshima and Nagasaki – we said unconditional surrender and release the 40,000 Americans you hold, and that’s what they did.” “We wouldn’t be in this position here in January of 2025, if that’s the position Joe Biden had taken in October 2023…we should have simply backed Israel from the beginning of the war, provided it with the weapons it needed when it needed them, and not exerted political and diplomatic pressure on Israel to sign bad deals. Blinken admitted that every time international pressure was exerted on Israel, it caused Hamas to to walk away from the table or make unreasonable demands because they thought that Joe Biden or European leaders would put the pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu that Hamas couldn’t on the battlefield.” “So the reason we’re in this position, where there are still almost a 100 hostages left in Gaza, seven of whom are Americans, is because Joe Biden has been a weak, failed president who hasn’t backed Israel.” Mark Levin said that he’s “sick and tired of all the attacks on Netanyahu” and of the constant pressure on Israel, forcing it to always give in to terror regimes such as Iran and Hamas. Cotton pointed out that the attacks on Israeli figures are not limited to politicians on the right, indicating that protesters are against Israel as a country. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Trump Says Biden Pardoning ‘His Whole Family Makes Him Look Very Guilty’

As President Donald Trump wrapped up signing a stack of executive orders in the Oval Office Monday night, he said he was “surprised” by former President Biden’s 11th hour pardons. “I was surprised that President Biden would go and pardon his whole family, because that makes him look very guilty,” Trump said to a small group of reporters. “You know, I could have pardoned my family. I could have pardoned myself, my family. I said, if I do that, it’s going to make me look very guilty. I don’t think I’d be sitting here, frankly, if I did that.” Trump added that Biden’s pardons create an “unbelievable precedent” for future presidents. Fox News White house reporter Peter Doocy asked Trump if he has to do the same thing at the end of his term. “Well, I guess now I have precedent to do it. I wouldn’t want to do that. No, I think it makes you look very guilty,” Trump responded. “I think it makes Biden look very bad, very weak and very guilty,” he said. Biden ultimately granted passes to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of his family in the last moments of his administration. And just 22 minutes before leaving office, Biden also pardoned his family, including his brother James B. Biden, sister Valerie Biden Owens, brother-in-law John T. Owens, and brother Francis W. Biden. The former president had previously issued a blanket pardon to his adult son, Hunter Biden, after he was convicted in two separate federal cases last year. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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