Imagine if sunrise was at 8 or 9 AM? How would that affect the daily minyanim in your shul? And how would it affect the ability of Orthodox Jews to get to work or school on time when davening times are so late? If Daylight Saving Time (DST) were made permanent that would be the case for many Jewish communities across the United States. As we “spring forward” tonight it is important to know how the implications of permanent DST are. Perhaps the biggest problem for the Jewish community if DST were made permanent would be the effect on tefillah. Sunrise in some places in the US would be after 9 am for weeks during the winter and after 8 am for much longer. Some shuls and cities would struggle to get a morning minyan and many men would struggle to be able to daven with a minyan and get to work at 9 AM. Another problem with permanent DST is that it would cause many children to have to travel to school in the dark. In fact, in the 1970’s Congress repealed a law that had made DST permanent due to numerous reported incidents of children being injured as they traveled to school in the pitch-black streets. In 1971 Harav Hagaon R’ Moshe Feinstein, zt’l, sent a teshuva to then-Agudath Israel President Rabbi Moshe Sherer, addressing the issue during an earlier legislative attempt to make DST permanent. Pointing out the difficulties regarding proper davening facing those who go to work, Rabbi Feinstein wrote that it is clear that we must fight against such a bill with every means of advocacy – and that it constitutes a “gezeirah mamash al hatefila lirai Hashem Yisborach.” “A real decree on prayer for those who fear G-d.”” In recent years there has been a push to make DST permanent and as in the past, Agudath Israel played a leading role in making known the unique and disruptive challenges permanent DST would present to the Orthodox Jewish community, thereby stunting its progress on Capitol Hill. This past week President Trump was asked about permanent DST this was his response “It’s a 50/50 issue and if something is a 50/50 issue, it’s hard to get excited about it. I assume people would like to have more light later, but some people want to have more light earlier because they don’t want to take their kids to school in the dark… A lot of people like it one way. A lot of people like it the other way.” Whatever happens, Agudath Israel will continue to meet with members of Congress and the Administration to explain our position and prevent DST from becoming permanent.
The presidents of eight universities in Israel published a letter on Sunday threatening to declare a strike if the government carries out its stated goal of dismissing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Last week, Justice Minister Yariv Levin finally officially initiated the process of impeaching Baharav-Miara. “The Attorney General is a public servant and not a politician,” the university presidents wrote. “Her only ‘sin’ is that she fulfilled her role with great professionalism and courage. Therefore, the calls by ministers in the government and members of the Knesset to fire her are nothing but calls to get rid of the rule of law. Damage to the rule of law will lead to devastating damage to Israeli society, including the economy and security.” “Therefore, if the Attorney General is fired, we will declare a personal strike,” they threatened. “We will go out to demonstrate against the move and we will call on other entities to do the same.” Education Minister Yoav Kisch wrote a letter in response, stating: “I just answered the heads of the universities – you are confused. Threats of strikes to influence policy do not deter us. The end of democracy will not come because of the dismissal of the Attorney General, but on the contrary, the will of the people will finally be expressed. An Attorney General who acts as an opposition to the government in every action from her first day is not worthy of remaining in her position, and therefore the impeachment process has begun. She would have been better off resigning on her own initiative.” Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi slammed the university presidents, stating: “The Israeli academy has become a sad joke. Instead of engaging in research and teaching, university presidents are threatening to turn themselves into political activists, go out to demonstrations and call on others to join – only because the government is acting within its authority.” “Whoever turns educational institutions into a political tool in the hands of the extreme left and uses his high position as a political ax to dig with – should not be surprised if the public asks why it needs to finance this circus. Want to be an arm of the anti-democratic camp? Do it at your expense. Resign.” The letter was signed by Prof. Asher Cohen from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Prof. Ariel Porat from Tel Aviv University, Prof. Arie Tzaban from Bar Ilan University, Prof. Alon Chen from Weizmann Institute, Prof. Uri Sivan from the Technion, Prof. Daniel Haimovich from Ben Gurion University, Prof. Gur Alroey from the University of Haifa, and Prof. Leo Corry from the Open University. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The Olam HaTorah in Eretz Yisrael was plunged into mourning on Sunday morning upon the news of the overnight petirah of HaGaon HaRav Ze’ev Berlin, z’tl, the Rosh Yeshivah of Gaon Yaakov Yeshivah, at the age of 83. HaRav Berlin, z’tl, the eldest son-in-law of HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Leib Shteinman, z”tl, suddenly collapsed in his Bnei Brak home overnight. Paramedics who arrived at the scene attempted to resuscitate him but ultimately were forced to declare his death. He had spent a regular Shabbos beforehand, attending shul and even reciting Kiddush Levanah on Motzei Shabbos. HaRav Berlin, z’tl, was born in Yerushalayim to his father, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Berlin, z’tl, a mekurav and shamash of the Brisker Rav, z’t’l. HaRav Ze’v followed in his father’s footsteps and spent hours with the Brisker Rebbe as a child. As a bochur, he learned in Brisk under HaGaon HaRav Yosef Dov Solevitchik, z’tl. In 1960, when HaGaon HaRav Meshulam Halevi Soleveitchik, z’tl opened his yeshivah, he was one of the first seven bochurim to join. In 1965, he married Rochel Devorah, a’h, the daughter of HaGaon HaRav Shteinman, z’tl. In Elul of 1977, HaRav Berlin, together with HaRav Shteinman, opened Yeshivas Gaon Yaakov in Bnei Brak and spent the next decades teaching thousands of bochurim. He also delivered shiruim on Shabbos which were attended by erudite talmidei chachamim, including HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievesky, z’tl. The shiurim he delivered in the yeshivah were compiled into a series of sefarim named ‘פירורים משולחן גבוה’. HaRav Berlin, z’tl, was zocheh in recent years to inaugurate a new building for his yeshivah after 38 years, named after HaRav Shteinman, z’tl – Heichel Rabbeinu Aharon Leib. The levaya began at noon on Sunday at his home on Rechov Rashbam and continued at the yeshivah, with kevurah taking place at the Ponevezh Beis HaChaim. וכל בית ישראל יבכו את השריפה אשר שרף ה’. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The Department of Homeland Security has begun administering polygraph tests to its employees in an effort to identify and remove those who are disclosing information about ICE operations.
Yesterday, a pro-Palestinian protester climbed Big Ben in London, waving a Palestinian flag and livestreaming his barefoot ascent. Emergency services responded, closing Westminster Bridge and negotiating for hours to ensure his safe descent.
WATCH: Pressed on if Russian Pres. Putin is taking advantage of America’s pause on intel and military aid to Ukraine, Pres. Trump says: “He’s doing what anyone else would do. I think he’s hitting them harder. He wants to get it ended.”
Daylight Saving Time begins tonight, when all clocks are set forward one hour. This is also a great time to check and change the smoke detector batteries in your home.
POTUS: “There’ll be some interesting days ahead. That’s all I can tell you. We’re down to final strokes with Iran… “We are at the final moments, we can’t allow them to have nuclear weapons”
Over the past week, the IDF conducted multiple “targeted raids” in southern Syria, where troops captured and destroyed a variety of weapons, including rifles, ammunition, rockets, and other military equipment, according to the IDF’s statements.
The IDF confirmed that earlier today they conducted a drone strike in southern Lebanon, targeting a Hezbollah operative who, according to the military, was “involved in the rehabilitation of terror infrastructure and directing Hezbollah terror operations” in the region.
South Korea’s impeached conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from prison on Saturday, a day after a Seoul court canceled his arrest to allow him to stand trial for rebellion without being detained. After walking out of a detention center near Seoul, Yoon waved, clenched his fists and bowed deeply to his supporters who were shouting his name and waving South Korean and U.S. flags. Yoon climbed into a black van headed to his presidential residence in Seoul. In a statement distributed by his lawyers, Yoon said that he “appreciates the courage and decision by the Seoul Central District Court to correct illegality,” in an apparent reference to legal disputes over his arrest. He said he also thanks his supporters and asked those who are on hunger strike against his impeachment to end it. Yoon was arrested and indicted by prosecutors in January over his Dec. 3 martial law decree that plunged the country into huge political turmoil. The liberal opposition-controlled National Assembly separately voted to impeach him, leading to his suspension from office. The Constitutional Court has been deliberating whether to formally dismiss or reinstate Yoon. If the court upholds his impeachment, a national election will be held to find his successor within two months. The Seoul Central District Court said Friday it accepted Yoon’s request to be released from prison, citing the need to address questions over the legality of the investigations on the president. Yoon’s lawyers have accused the investigative agency that detained him before his formal arrest of lacking legal authority to probe rebellion charges. The Seoul court also said the legal period of his formal arrest expired before he was indicted. Yoon’s release came after prosecutors decided not to appeal the decision by the Seoul court. South Korean law allows prosecutors to continue to hold a suspect while pursuing an appeal, even after his or her arrest is canceled by a court. The main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which led Yoon’s Dec. 14 impeachment, lashed out at the prosecutors’ decision, calling them “henchmen” of Yoon, a former prosecutor general. Party spokesperson Cho Seung-rae urged the Constitutional Court to dismiss Yoon as soon as possible to avoid further public unrest and anxiety. At the heart of public criticism of Yoon over his martial law decree was his dispatch of hundreds of troops and police officers to the National Assembly after placing the country under military rule. Some senior military and police officials sent to the assembly have testified that Yoon ordered them to pull out lawmakers to thwart a parliamentary vote on the decree. Yoon has countered that he aimed to maintain order. Enough lawmakers eventually managed to enter an assembly hall and voted unanimously to overturn Yoon’s decree. Investigators have alleged Yoon’s martial-law decree amounted to rebellion. If he’s convicted of that offense, he would face the death penalty or life imprisonment. Yoon has presidential immunity from most criminal prosecutions but that doesn’t cover grave charges like rebellion and treason. Yoon has said he didn’t intend to maintain martial law for long as he only attempted to inform the public of the danger of the Democratic Party, which obstructed his agenda and impeached many senior officials and prosecutors. In his martial law announcement, Yoon called the assembly “a den of criminals” and “anti-state forces.” […]
House Republicans unveiled a spending bill Saturday that would keep federal agencies funded through Sept. 30, pushing ahead with a go-it-alone strategy that seems certain to spark a major confrontation with Democrats over the contours of government spending. The 99-page bill would provide a slight boost to defense programs while trimming nondefense programs below 2024 budget year levels. That approach is likely to be a nonstarter for most Democrats who have long insisted that defense and nondefense spending move in the same direction. Congress must act by midnight Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is teeing up the bill for a vote on Tuesday despite the lack of buy-in from Democrats, essentially daring them to vote against it and risk a shutdown. He also is betting that Republicans can muscle the legislation through the House largely by themselves. Normally, when it comes to keeping the government fully open for business, Republicans have had to work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan measure that both sides can support. That’s because Republicans almost always lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own. Crucially, the strategy has the backing of President Donald Trump, who has shown an ability so far in his term to hold Republicans in line. Trump praised the bill, posting on his Truth Social platform that Republicans have to “remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right.” “Great things are coming for America, and I am asking you all to give us a few months to get us through to September so we can continue to put the Country’s ‘financial house’ in order,” he said. House Republicans’ leadership staff outlined the contours of the measure, saying it would allow for about $892.5 billion in defense spending and about $708 billion in nondefense spending. The defense spending is slightly above the prior year’s level, but the nondefense spending, the aides said, was about $13 billion below last year. The measure also will not include funding requested by individual lawmakers for thousands of community projects around the country, often referred to as earmarks. But Republicans noted that it would provide for the largest pay increase to junior enlisted servicemembers in more than 40 years, and it included an additional $500 million for a nutritional assistance program for women, infants and young children. The bill does not cover the majority of government spending, including programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Funding for those two programs are on auto pilot and are not regularly reviewed by Congress. The top Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Washington Sen. Patty Murray, both issued statements blasting the legislation. “I strongly oppose this full-year continuing resolution,” DeLauro said. Murray said the legislation would “give Donald Trump and Elon Musk more power over federal spending — and more power to pick winners and losers, which threatens families in blue and red states alike.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who heads the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the focus must be on preventing a shutdown because closures have negative consequences all across government. “They require certain essential government employees, such as Border Patrol agents, members of our military and Coast Guard, TSA screeners, and air traffic controllers, to report to […]
An arsonist allegedly set fire to the Khal Chasidim Jewish Community Center in Casa Grande, Arizona, causing extensive damage to the newly renovated facility. The blaze, which erupted around 2 a.m. on Monday, quickly engulfed the building, leaving the local Jewish community reeling but resilient. On Thursday, the Casa Grande Police Department arrested a 30-year-old local resident in connection with the incident, charging him with arson. The fire was first reported after flames were seen tearing through the community center. Firefighters from the Casa Grande Fire Department arrived promptly, battling the inferno for hours before bringing it under control by 6 a.m. Despite their efforts, the building sustained significant structural damage, with the interior—home to a shul, library, and classrooms—left in ruins. The center, which had recently undergone renovations, was a source of pride for the small but vibrant Jewish community in Casa Grande. Rabbi Mendy Deitsch, who oversees the center, expressed shock at the destruction but emphasized the community’s determination to recover. “We’re devastated, but we’re not broken,” he said in the aftermath. “This is a place of unity and strength, and we will rebuild.” No injuries were reported, as the building was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Investigators from the Casa Grande Fire Department, alongside police, immediately suspected foul play. Evidence collected at the scene pointed to arson, prompting a swift investigation that would soon yield results. On Thursday, authorities announced the arrest of Everardo Gregorio, a Casa Grande resident with no known prior connection to the Jewish community center. Gregorio was taken into custody following a police investigation that uncovered evidence linking him to the fire. While the motive remains under investigation, officials confirmed that Gregorio faces arson charges, with the possibility of additional charges pending further review. Casa Grande Police Chief Mark McCrory addressed the arrest in a statement, saying, “We are committed to ensuring justice is served in this case. This fire caused significant harm to a valued community space, and we’re working diligently to understand the full circumstances.” Details about the evidence leading to Gregorio’s arrest have not been released, as the investigation remains ongoing. Despite the loss, members of Khal Chasidim have rallied together, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity. By Wednesday, the kehilla had already begun planning temporary arrangements for tefillos and activities, vowing not to let the fire disrupt their mission. “We’ve received an outpouring of support from neighbors and friends across Casa Grande,” Rabbi Deitsch noted. “It’s a testament to the spirit here.” As the investigation continues, attention now turns to the future of the Khal Chasidim Jewish Community Center. The cost of the damage has yet to be fully assessed, but community leaders are optimistic about rebuilding, buoyed by support from both within and beyond Casa Grande. “This is a setback, but it’s not the end,” Rabbi Deitsch said. “We’ll come back stronger.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
