Overnight in Qalqilya, the IDF reports that it destroyed the house of a Palestinian terrorist responsible for the death of an Israeli man in the West Bank during the previous summer.
*MELTDOWN:* The leftists are fuming over the massive Chasunah last night of the son of HaRav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin. One of the songs sang was “ובשלטון הכופרים אין אנו מאמינים” [we don’t believe in the heretical government] but with a twist in the words “ובלשכותיהם אין אנו מתייצבים” [we won’t be recruited to their offices] – a reference to the current efforts to recruit bnei yeshivos – ending with “בדרך התורה נלך באש ובמים.”
In the Trump administration’s quest to “Make America Healthy Again,” there may be no bigger target than ultraprocessed foods. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s new health secretary, has cited “highly chemically processed foods” as a chief culprit behind an epidemic of chronic disease in the U.S., including ailments such as obesity, diabetes and autoimmune disorders. Such foods are “poisoning” people, particularly children, Kennedy said during Senate confirmation hearings. He has vowed to work to remove such foods from federal programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. “I will do everything in my power to put the health of Americans back on track,” he told lawmakers. Key to that goal, however, could be making sure that consumers understand basic facts about ultraprocessed foods and the role they play in daily meals. From sugary cereals at breakfast to frozen pizzas at dinner, plus in-between snacks of potato chips, sodas and ice cream, ultraprocessed foods make up about 60% of the U.S. diet. For kids and teens, it’s even higher — about two-thirds of what they eat. That’s concerning because ultraprocessed foods have been linked to a host of negative health effects, from obesity and diabetes to heart disease, depression, dementia and more. One recent study suggested that eating these foods may raise the risk of early death. Nutrition science is tricky, though, and most research so far has found connections, not proof, regarding the health consequences of these foods. Food manufacturers argue that processing boosts food safety and supplies and offers a cheap, convenient way to provide a diverse and nutritious diet. Even if the science were clear, it’s hard to know what practical advice to give when ultraprocessed foods account for what one study estimates is more than 70% of the U.S. food supply. The Associated Press asked several nutrition experts and here’s what they said: What are ultraprocessed foods? Most foods are processed, whether it’s by freezing, grinding, fermentation, pasteurization or other means. In 2009, Brazilian epidemiologist Carlos Monteiro and colleagues first proposed a system that classifies foods according to the amount of processing they undergo, not by nutrient content. At the top of the four-tier scale are foods created through industrial processes and with ingredients such as additives, colors and preservatives that you couldn’t duplicate in a home kitchen, said Kevin Hall, a researcher who focuses on metabolism and diet at the National Institutes of Health. “These are most, but not all, of the packaged foods you see,” Hall said. Such foods are often made to be both cheap and irresistibly delicious, said Dr. Neena Prasad, director of the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Food Policy Program. “They have just the right combination of sugar, salt and fat and you just can’t stop eating them,” Prasad said. However, the level of processing alone doesn’t determine whether a food is unhealthy or not, Hall noted. Whole-grain bread, yogurt, tofu and infant formula are all highly processed, for instance, but they’re also nutritious. Are ultraprocessed foods harmful? Here’s the tricky part. Many studies suggest that diets high in such foods are linked to negative health outcomes. But these kinds of studies can’t say whether the foods themselves are the cause of the negative effects — or whether there’s something else about the people who eat these foods that might be responsible. Ultraprocessed foods, as a group, tend […]
Lakewood Alerts regrets to inform you of the petirah of R’ Mordechai Mintz Z”L, originally from Lakewood, who was Niftar today in Lakewood after a prolonged illness. For many years, Rabbi Mintz gave a Daf Yomi Shiur and served as the Gabbai at Rav Avigdor Miller’s Shul. His influence extended beyond his immediate surroundings, shaping the lives of countless individuals who benefited from his Torah and askanus. His son, R’ Ari Mintz, is the founder and head of the Bnos Chaim Seminary in Lakewood. Read the full story on Lakewood Alerts.
In a momentous meeting of gedolei Torah in Eretz Yisroel, Rav Uri Deutsch, one of Lakewood’s foremost rabbanim, sat down with the venerated Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Dov Landau, to discuss a matter that weighs heavily on Klal Yisroel’s collective heart—the ongoing shidduch crisis. With Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch’s proposal quickly gaining traction in America, Rav Uri sought daas Torah from the revered Rosh Yeshiva: Is it appropriate to ask girls to wait before entering shidduchim while encouraging boys to begin earlier? Without hesitation, Rav Dov’s response was unequivocal: Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary solutions. Not only did Rav Dov Landau endorse the plan, but in a resounding show of achrayus, he added his signature to the kol koreh calling for its implementation, joining a growing chorus of gedolei Torah. The proposal—for boys to enter shidduchim earlier while girls wait slightly longer—is a bold one, a shift in the long-standing system that the gedolim backing it are not taking lightly. With this historic haskama from one of the ziknei hador hador, the call to action has grown louder than ever. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
IDF soldiers on Tuesday identified a four-year-old Gazan approaching an IDF position in the security zone inside the Gaza Strip. Gazan civilians have been repeatedly warned not to approach the security zones at the risk of being shot and killed. The soldiers spoke to the boy who told them that he was sent to the post by “Hamas men.” The child was returned to Gaza with the assistance of the Defense Ministry’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit and in coordination with international organizations. The IDF condemned Hamas for its exploitation of civilians. “It is clear to everyone that Hamas does not hesitate to use any means to cynically exploit children and civilians, turning them into tools in a war game,” said the IDF spokesperson in Arabic Avichay Adraee. “This is a severe violation of every moral and international norm and the international community must wake up and act decisively against the use of children as a tool of warfare.” Hamas often uses children for terror purposes. There have been multiple incidents in which children were sent to border crossings, used as messengers to transfer explosives, and even recruited for espionage activities for the organization. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The captain of a cargo ship that collided with a U.S. tanker is a Russian national who remains in U.K. police custody, the vessel’s owner said Wednesday, as it emerged that the ship failed several safety checks last year. The 59-year-old man, who hasn’t been named by authorities, was arrested by police in northeast England Tuesday on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence over the collision. He hasn’t been charged. Shipping company Ernst Russ, which owns the Portugal-flagged cargo vessel Solong, said that the ship’s 14 crew were a mix of Russian and Filipino nationals. U.K. authorities say they have found no evidence of foul play in the crash, and there is nothing so far to indicate that it’s connected to national security. Humberside Police said that detectives were conducting inquiries alongside partner agencies. The U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also involved in investigating what caused the Solong, bound from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, to hit the stationary tanker, which was anchored about 10 miles (16 kilometers) off the English coast. The investigation is being led by the U.S. and Portugal, the countries where the vessels are flagged. Port inspection documents show the Solong failed steering-related safety checks in Dublin, Ireland, in July, with the vessel’s “emergency steering position communications/compass reading” unreadable. Inspectors found a total of 10 deficiencies, including “inadequate” alarms, survival craft “not properly maintained” and fire doors “not as required.” An inspection in Scotland in October found two other deficiencies. The ship wasn’t detained after either inspection. The cargo ship collided Monday with MV Stena Immaculate, a tanker transporting jet fuel for the U.S. military in the North Sea off eastern England on Monday, setting both vessels ablaze. One sailor from the Solong is missing and presumed dead. The other 36 crew members from the two vessels were brought safely ashore, with no major injuries. The Solong was drifting and still smoldering Wednesday, but is likely to remain afloat rather than sinking, officials said. The 183-meter (596-foot) Stena Immaculate was operating as part of the U.S. government’s Tanker Security Program, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed. The collision sent jet fuel pouring into the sea and sparked fears of significant environmental damage. Environmentalists said that oil and chemicals posed a risk to sea life, including whales and dolphins and to birds, including puffins, gannets and guillemots that live on coastal cliffs. The U.K. coast guard agency said that no new pollution had been reported since the initial incident, and environmental campaigning group Greenpeace said the impact on marine life may not be as bad as first feared. “We’re not quite out of the danger zone yet, but it’s starting to look like an environmental disaster may have been narrowly averted,” said Paul Johnston from the Greenpeace Research Laboratories. “When a container ship the length of a football pitch rams into a tanker carrying thousands of tons of jet fuel at 16 knots close to sensitive nature sites, the potential for serious harm is huge.” (AP)
Purim is one of the biggest fundraising opportunities of the year, but collecting donations can sometimes be a challenge. What if you could accept credit card donations anytime, anywhere—right from your phone? Now you can. Join us for a special live Zoom training session where we’ll walk you through how to connect your Chesed Fund Purim fundraising page to the Pushka app, turning your phone into a powerful fundraising tool. Download The Chesed Fund Pushka App on Android and iOS CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Why Attend? This session is designed to help you streamline your fundraising efforts, making it easier than ever for donors to contribute. Whether you’re collecting in person, at an event, or on the go, this training will ensure that you never miss a donation opportunity. Download The Chesed Fund Pushka App on Android and iOS CLICK HERE TO REGISTER What You’ll Learn: How to seamlessly set up your Chesed Fund page with the Pushka app Step-by-step instructions to start accepting credit card donations Best practices for maximizing your fundraising success Flexible Schedule to Fit Your Needs We know Purim is a busy time, so we’ve scheduled multiple sessions to accommodate your availability: March 10, 2025 | 1:00 PM March 11, 2025 | 1:00 PM March 12, 2025 | 1:00 PM March 13, 2025 | 1:00 PM How to Join These live Zoom sessions will give you everything you need to take your fundraising to the next level. Register now to secure your spot and get the Zoom link. With the right tools, fundraising this Purim can be simpler, faster, and more effective than ever. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make the most of your campaign. Download The Chesed Fund Pushka App on Android and iOS CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire will not seek reelection next year, a decision that will end the longtime senator’s historic political career and deals a significant blow to Democrats, who were already facing a difficult path to reclaiming the Senate majority. Shaheen, who turned 78 in January, was the first woman elected to serve as both governor and senator in the United States. She announced her decision in a video posted on social media. “Today, after careful consideration, I’m announcing that I have made the difficult decision not to seek reelection to the Senate in 2026,” she said. “It’s just time.” Even before Shaheen’s move, Democrats were facing a challenging political map in next year’s midterm elections — especially in the Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats compared with the Democrats’ 47, including two independents who caucus with Democrats. The party that controls the Senate majority also controls President Donald Trump’s most important political and judicial nominations — and his legislative agenda. At least for now, Maine represents the Democrats’ best pickup opportunity in 2026. Republican Sen. Susan Collins, the sole GOP senator remaining in New England, is the only Republican serving in a state Trump lost who’s up for reelection. Democratic retirements give Republicans more opportunities to go on offense. Beyond Shaheen in New Hampshire, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters and Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith have announced plans to retire, giving the GOP pickup opportunities in three purple states where Trump was competitive last fall. And Republicans are especially optimistic about Georgia, where incumbent Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff is expected to face a tough road to reelection. Shaheen has been a political force in New Hampshire for decades and climbed through the ranks of Senate leadership to serve as the top Democrat on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She likely would have been easily reelected had she sought another term. Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who served as ambassador to New Zealand in the first Trump administration, was considering a New Hampshire Senate bid even before Shaheen’s announcement. Brown challenged Shaheen unsuccessfully in 2014. New Hampshire has narrowly favored Democrats in recent presidential elections, but the state has a long history of electing leaders from both parties. Republican Kelly Ayotte was elected governor last fall, when Trump lost the state by less than 3 percentage points. Shaheen became the first woman elected New Hampshire governor in 1996. She served for three terms and was later elected to the Senate in 2008. “There are urgent challenges ahead, both here at home and around the world. And while I’m not seeking reelection, believe me, I am not retiring,” Shaheen said. “I am determined to work every day over the next two years and beyond to continue to try and make a difference for the people of New Hampshire and this country.” (AP)
An Israeli political source said on Wednesday that the US-mediated talks on border issues currently taking place between Israel and Lebanon are aimed at achieving diplomatic relations between Israel and Lebanon. Currently, Israel considers Lebanon an enemy country and has no relations with it. The political source told reporters that Israel is interested in reaching a normalization agreement with Lebanon. “The discussions with Lebanon are part of a broad and comprehensive plan. The Prime Minister’s policy has already changed the Middle East and we want to continue the momentum and reach normalization with Lebanon.” The Trump administration and Israel announced on Tuesday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to resolve their outstanding land border issues through negotiations. Israel agreed to free five Lebanese detainees as part of the arrangement. Yisrael Hayom reported that at the next meeting, an Israeli diplomat will already replace the IDF representative. The first meeting was attended only by military representatives of both countries. The source said that “Israel is interested in strengthening the Lebanese president vis-à-vis the army forces and in coordination with the US, and perhaps later leading to normalization with Lebanon as well. Israel is relying on the fact that Lebanon’s government has undergone a change and Hezbollah’s political presence has weakened.” “Israel wants to work with Lebanon’s moderate elements and strengthen them, while keeping in mind that Hezbollah is still present and continuing to maintain IDF forces at five points inside Lebanon.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
In a provocative video that quickly gained traction online, Alina Habba, a close advisor to President Donald Trump, took to X on Tuesday to claim she had uncovered former President Joe Biden’s “fake Oval Office.” Filming from inside a room adorned with a White House logo, an American flag, and paneled walls—features not present in the traditional Oval Office—Habba suggested she had stumbled upon a staged set used by the Biden administration. “You guys, I just finished a show. Look at the room that they put me in,” she says in the video, before zooming out to reveal the space. “We’re in Biden’s fake Oval Office, everybody.” Habba, seated at a desk, gestured toward various elements of the room, alleging that the setup was crafted for scripted performances rather than authentic presidential affairs. “I actually figured this out,” she declared. “I now know why, I now get it.” Her claims centered on a prominent teleprompter positioned in the room, alongside a blue sofa, a golden chair, side tables, and television screens. Overhead, light fixtures were installed—a detail she implied reinforced suspicions of an artificial stage. “There is a screen, teleprompter to the face,” Habba asserted. “All I can say is the last administration was a disgratz [sic].” The actual Oval Office features light, patterned walls adorned with portraits of historical American leaders such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. The decor includes two golden sofas and a golden chair, significantly different from the space Habba filmed in. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Iran is believed to be involved in the detention of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov who was abducted in Iraq almost two years ago by the Iranian-backed militia Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iraqi official told Ynet. “It’s possible she was moved there secretly, or Iranian intelligence agents were brought in to interrogate her,” he said. “It’s a miracle she’s still alive. Usually, hostages are executed during interrogations. Her foreign identity is working in her favor.” “We believe Iran is involved and giving the orders…only they will decide her fate,” he concluded According to the report, two senior Trump administration officials have joined efforts to secure Tsurkov’s release: Trump hostage’s envoy Adam Boehler and Rep. Mike Waltz. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Boehler traveled to Iraq last month to pressure Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani to find Tsurkov. According to the Qatari daily Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Boehler threatened Sudani with sanctions and emphasized that the U.S. holds the Iraqi government responsible for securing her release. Boehler told the Saudi Al Arabiya outlet that the U.S. is pressuring Sudani, who “continues to claim he doesn’t know where Tsurkov is being held,” but has acknowledged that Kata’ib Hezbollah abducted her. According to the Ynet report, Iraqi social media reports claim that Iran is pushing for a prisoner exchange deal in return for Tsurkov’s release, including the release of Emad Ahwaz, a naval officer linked to Hezbollah and captured by Israel; Iranian terrorist Reza Nouri, imprisoned in the U.S.; and an Iranian “infiltrator” held in Cyprus. Tsurkov entered Iraq on her Russian passport and Israel reportedly appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene, to no avail. “That’s why the Americans are emphasizing her Israeli citizenship and threatening Iraq with sanctions if it doesn’t act quickly,” the Iraqi official said. He claimed that Sudani would like to comply with the US’s request but genuinely doesn’t know where Tsurkov is being held. Elizabeth’s sister, Emma Tsurkov, scoffs at Iraq’s claims that her sister was transferred to Iran, telling Ynet: “I’ve heard that before. If I had a dollar for every time an Iraqi official told me that, I could buy Iraq. It’s a convenient excuse they keep repeating, but it’s not true. She is not in Iran. The Iraqi government knows exactly who is holding her because the terror group detaining her is part of the Iraqi system.” Tsurkov also expressed her gratitude to the Trump administration, saying: “I’ve spoken directly with Adam Boehler several times, and I’ve also met his team. The updates are encouraging. It’s amazing that in just a few weeks of determined effort, they’ve made more progress than in the previous two years. I really hope this pressure from the Americans works soon so I can hug my sister again.” “They’re very careful not to give me false hope but in all my conversations with Boehler, he’s been incredibly kind and patient. I don’t know how he finds the strength to speak with hostage families with such empathy. He told me the same thing Steve Witkoff said when I met him in Washington a week and a half ago—that they are working on this, that my sister is important to them, and that it’s unacceptable to them for a Princeton student to be held captive in a country allied with the U.S.” “We’re afraid […]
Frum conservative commentator Ben Shapiro tore into Tucker Carlson on Monday, slamming the former Fox News host’s stance on neoconservatism and accusing him of pushing Qatari propaganda while distorting Middle Eastern history. Shapiro, never one to hold back, took direct aim at Carlson’s claim that U.S. foreign policy—specifically, the actions of so-called “neocons”—bears responsibility for the plight of Christians in Syria. Calling Carlson’s perspective “bizarre and twisted,” Shapiro accused him of fundamentally misreading history and exonerating brutal regimes in the process. “This is a bizarre and twisted reading of history, at best,” Shapiro said, dismantling Carlson’s argument that the decline of Syria’s Christian population was the direct result of Western intervention rather than the bloody realities of Middle Eastern dictatorships. “The notion that Christians have generally been targeted by neocons in the West in the Middle East is a complete reversal of how history actually has worked.” The clash comes after Carlson, who has been touring the Middle East, posted a message on X claiming that “neocons” vilified anyone who acknowledged that Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad had protected Christian minorities. Carlson suggested that U.S. foreign policy—not regional tyrants and jihadist movements—was responsible for the suffering of Christian communities in the region. “Assad protected the Christians,” Carlson insisted. “The weaker Assad was, the more Christians died.” He went on to argue that Western-backed efforts to depose Assad led to an exodus of Syrian Christians and the destruction of their holy sites, with neoconservatives in Washington either indifferent to or complicit in their suffering. Shapiro was having none of it. “I have suspicions as to what Tucker means by quote, unquote ‘neocons,’” he fired back. “The idea that Christians can live safely in the Middle East, outside of Israel, is absurd.” Shapiro pointed to the grim reality for Christian populations across the region, including in Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia—places, he noted, where Carlson has recently taken a more conciliatory tone. Shapiro continued, accusing Carlson of “doing a bit of propaganda work on behalf of the Qatari regime” and peddling a narrative in which America and Israel shoulder all the blame for Middle Eastern conflicts while absolving Iran, Hezbollah, and other regional actors. Shapiro and Carlson’s bitter ideological feud has been simmering for months, particularly in the wake of Hamas’ brutal October 2023 attack on Israel. The animosity boiled over when Carlson hosted former Daily Wire commentator Candace Owens—an open antisemite—in what many saw as a deliberate jab at Shapiro. Shapiro, in turn, has accused Carlson of spreading “ugly” and misleading rhetoric about him. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A former Republican Tennessee lawmaker says President Donald Trump has pardoned him two weeks into his 21-month prison sentence for an illegal campaign finance scheme that he pleaded guilty to in 2022, before he tried unsuccessfully to take back his plea. Former Sen. Brian Kelsey announced that he received a “full and unconditional pardon” in a social media post Tuesday evening. He had been ordered to report to FCI Ashland’s minimum security satellite camp in Kentucky on Feb. 24. A federal database said Kelsey was no longer in Bureau of Prisons custody as of Tuesday. “May God bless America, despite the prosecutorial sins it committed against me, President Trump, and others the past four years,” Kelsey said in the post. The 47-year-old pleaded guilty in November 2022 to charges related to his attempts to funnel campaign money from his state legislative seat toward his failed 2016 congressional bid. Kelsey was indicted in October 2021. He initially labeled the prosecution a witch hunt and blamed the Democratic administration of then-President Joe Biden. But when a co-defendant pleaded guilty the following October, Kelsey quickly did as well. He repeated his attack on the Biden administration Tuesday, saying, “God used Donald Trump to save me from the weaponized Biden DOJ,” referring to the Department of Justice. In 2017, during Trump’s first term, Kelsey’s campaign finance dealings spurred a complaint by the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center with the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice. Kelsey was unsuccessful in his March 2023 attempt to rescind his guilty plea. Kelsey had argued he entered the plea with an “unsure heart and a confused mind.” He noted that he and his wife had twin sons born in September 2022, and his father had terminal pancreatic cancer, then died in February 2023. U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw in Nashville denied the change of plea in May 2023. He expressed disbelief that Kelsey, a Georgetown University-educated attorney and prominent former state senator, didn’t understand the gravity of pleading guilty. Crenshaw later denied another challenge in which Kelsey accused prosecutors of violating his plea agreement. However, that September the judge also allowed Kelsey to stay out of prison until his appeal was decided. Kelsey’s challenge ultimately failed. Last month, Crenshaw denied another motion to remain free by Kelsey, who argued he had ineffective legal counsel and that his claim of innocence is supported by recordings by two key witnesses — the co-defendant, Joshua Smith, and former GOP Rep. Jeremy Durham, who was not charged. The judge responded that Kelsey had given an “unconditional admission of guilt” under penalty of perjury. Kelsey had another appeal pending as he announced the pardon. Smith, a Nashville social club owner, pleaded guilty to one count under a deal that required him to “cooperate fully and truthfully.” He was sentenced to five years of probation. The indictment alleges that Kelsey, Smith and others illegally concealed the transfer of $91,000 — $66,000 from Kelsey’s state Senate campaign committee and $25,000 from a nonprofit that advocated about legal justice issues — to a national political organization to fund advertisements urging support of Kelsey’s 2016 failed congressional campaign. The scheme caused the political group to file false campaign finance reports and make illegal, excessive campaign contributions to Kelsey, the indictment says. Although the indictment does not […]
How the Woke Left is Energizing Their Base By: Dovid Gold “Their goal is to silence our power. They do not want men and women to pray together at the Kotel; they want the education system in Israel to recognize only orthodox Judaism, and they do not want synagogues to allow women to serve as prayer leaders.” This was the rallying cry at the Conservative movement’s conference held in advance of the upcoming World Zionist elections. The leaders of the non-Orthodox streams of Judaism are scared. Their hold on the World Zionist Congress and the billions at its disposal is disappearing. In the words of Dr. Yizhar Hess, head of the Conservative Mercaz party: “The only source of funding that non-Orthodox movements [receive] is from the National Institutions; the Zionist Congress and its daughter companies. These two movements, Reform Judaism and Masoriti Conservative movements [are] now at risk.” These are not empty words. These religiously bankrupt movements are on their last legs. Thriving movements don’t rely on one source of funds. From Ignoring Israel to Exploiting It From their inception, the non-Orthodox movements have practically ignored Eretz Yisroel. Finding the concept of a Jewish homeland to be ideologically at odds with their vision of the modern Jew, the Reform movement in particular refused to have anything to do with it. But this has changed. Beginning in the 1970s, they started talking about Israel and its importance to Judaism. Their ideology didn’t change. What they realized was that they were rapidly becoming irrelevant and to save their movements they piggybacked off the success of the State of Israel and its place in the hearts of the Jewish people. Suddenly, they started claiming they cared about it too. To this end, they joined the WZO and became active in Israeli politics. In 1978, the Reform Movement established the Association of Reform Zionists in America (ARZA) as its representative body in the WZO. At the same time, the Conservative Movement redoubled its efforts to grow its party, MERCAZ Olami. These alternative forms of Judaism began to grow in influence within the WZO and demanded that large amounts of money be given to causes aligned with their values. Unfortunately, they were largely successful. By positioning themselves as the exclusive representatives of American Jewry, they secured leadership positions that allowed them to influence the budgets of the National Institutions. Based on an investigative review of the entire WZO budget, the total annual amount transferred to the Reform movements by the National Institutions is approximately 46,500,000 NIS. For example, a Reform summer camp received not only direct funding from KKL/JNF but also operated at an official KKL/JNF facility as part of a partnership with the Reform movement. These activities have an unfortunate effect on thousands of unsuspecting Israelis who are just looking to add religion to their lives. This reality went unchecked for decades. In 2020, concerned frum activists, guided by Gedolei Yisroel including Rav Chaim Kanievsky and Rav Gershon Edelstein, decided to take action. They founded Eretz HaKodesh, a party dedicated to representing Torah values in the WZO. In their very first election, they secured 25 seats in the Zionist Congress, finally giving a voice to those who oppose the agenda of the Reform and Conservative movements. Their effect was felt immediately. As Dr. Hess […]
In a fiery declaration underscoring the deepening tensions between Iran and the United States, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has rejected any negotiations with Washington under duress, delivering a blunt message to President Donald Trump: “Do whatever the hell you want.” The defiant remarks, reported by Iranian state media, come as the U.S. ramps up its pressure campaign against Tehran, with Trump seeking a fresh nuclear agreement while simultaneously tightening economic sanctions. “It is unacceptable for us that they [the U.S.] give orders and make threats,” Pezeshkian said. “I won’t even negotiate with you. Do whatever the hell you want.” The Iranian leader’s fiery rhetoric was reinforced by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who doubled down on Iran’s refusal to be coerced into diplomacy. Last weekend, Khamenei declared that Tehran would not bow to pressure, just a day after Trump claimed to have sent a letter urging Iran to return to the negotiating table. Despite expressing willingness to strike a deal with Tehran, Trump has revived his notorious “maximum pressure” strategy—an aggressive economic and diplomatic squeeze aimed at crippling Iran’s economy by slashing its oil exports to near zero. The move echoes the policies of his first term, which saw relations between Washington and Tehran spiral into a state of near-constant brinkmanship. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Thousands of yeshiva bochurim and avreichim from the Ateret Shlomo mosdos participated on Tuesday evening at the chasunah of the son of the Rosh Yeshivah, HaGaon HaRav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, and the granddaughter of HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Soloveitchik, which was held at the D-CITY hall in Ma’ale Adumim, near Jerusalem. The chasunah was attended by Gedolei Yisrael, Roshei Yeshivos, and Rabbanim from all stripes of Chareidi society, including HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch, HaGaon HaRav Berel Dov Povarsky, HaGaon HaRav Eliezer Yehudah Finkel, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef, HaGaon HaRav Avraham Salim, HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galay, and many others At the end of the chasunah, the bochurim gathered on bleachers on both sides of the hall, and in a sight reminiscent of a Chassidish chasunah, HaRav Sorotskin stood in the middle and led the singing and dancing. “The first Litvish Rebbe,” Hebrew Mishpacha editor Aryeh Erlich jokingly wrote. At one point, singer Ahrele Samet, who is a Toldos Aharon chassid, began singing the Toldos Aharon song: “ד’ הוּא מַלְכֵּנוּ וְלוֹ אֲנַחְנוּ עֲבָדִים, הַתּוֹרָה הִיא אֱמוּנָתֵנוּ וּבָהּ אֲנַחְנוּ מַאֲמִינִים. בְּשִׁלְטֹון הַכּוֹפְרִים אֵין אָנוּ מַאֲמִינִים, אֵין אָנוּ מַאֲמִינִים וּבְחֻקּוֹתֵיהֶם אֵין אָנוּ מִתְחַשְּׁבִים, אֵין אָנוּ מִתְחַשְּׁבִים. בְּדֶרֶךְ הַתּוֹרָה נֵלֵךְ בָּאֵשׁ וּבַמַּיִם”. But he sang the song with a twist: “ובשלטון הכופרים אין אנו מאמינים” [we don’t believe in the heretical government], “ובלשכותיהם אין אנו מתייצבים” [we won’t be recruited to their offices] – a reference to the current efforts to recruit bnei yeshivos – ending with “בדרך התורה נלך באש ובמים.” Videos of the song posted by Israeli media outlets on Wednesday morning led to a political uproar, with politicians such as Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman slamming the calls for draft evasion and Lieberman repeating the message in the bill his party proposed to take away voting rights for those who don’t serve: “Don’t enlist, don’t vote.” According to a Kikar H’Shabbat report, not all bochurim agreed with the song’s message, with one bochur saying: “There is no doubt that there were crazy energies in the air and there was a feeling of unity that hadn’t been around for a long time, but it also grated on us a lot because we are in a sensitive period in the country, and the truth must be told – we are not really Neturei Karta or Peleg, and it was too extreme for me.” Another bochur said: “I felt like I was at Har Sinai. There was a spirit of hisrommemus and a feeling that the entire Chareidi public is united under the instruction of HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau not to report to the recruitment office. The feeling was that this is everyone’s concern, even those who are not necessarily obligated to enlist.” HaRav Shalom Ber also sang “וכל מאמינים” and “עוצה עצה ותופר”, among other songs. The dancing and singing continued until the wee hours of the morning. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
TONIGHT 11:59PM!!! 2X YOUR TICKETS!! Win $100,000!! + Win a Brand-New Car!! Ezer Mizion SUPERCHARGED Auction!! https://www.charidy.com/EMraffle?utm_source=36 Win $100,000 + Win a Brand-New Car + Other Incredible Prizes $100,000 Could Be Yours! 💰 $100,000 Cash – Because your wallet deserves a boost. 🚗 Win a Brand-New Car – Sleek, shiny, and ready for the road. 🎁 Other Incredible Prizes – Power up your life! 👇👇👇 https://www.charidy.com/EMraffle?utm_source=36 Win $100,000 + Win a Brand-New Car + Other Incredible Prizes $100,000 Could Be Yours! 💰 $100,000 Cash – Because your wallet deserves a boost. 🚗 Win a Brand-New Car – Sleek, shiny, and ready for the road. 🎁 Other Incredible Prizes – Power up your life! 👇👇👇 https://www.charidy.com/EMraffle?utm_source=36 TONIGHT 11:59PM!!! 2X YOUR TICKETS!! Win $100,000!! + Win a Brand-New Car!! 💰 $100,000 Cash – Because your wallet deserves a boost. 🚗 Win a Brand-New Car – Sleek, shiny, and ready for the road. 🎁 Other Incredible Prizes – Power up your life! 👇👇👇 https://www.charidy.com/EMraffle?utm_source=36
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch & Deputy Chief Richie Taylor paid a notable visit to Hatzolah headquarters in Williamsburg, where they witnessed first-hand as emergency calls came in and were dispatched out, all in real time. Community leaders and activists greeted them with enthusiasm, offering the commissioner a plaque in recognition of her commitment to Hatzolah and the local community.
