A man was shot dead by the Secret Service during an armed confrontation near the White House overnight. An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the incident.
Shlomi Lahiani, the former mayor of Bat Yam, was lightly injured in a car explosion on Sunday afternoon along the Ayalon Highway near the La Guardia interchange in southern Tel Aviv. The incident, which authorities have classified as criminal in nature rather than a terrorist attack, also left another man with moderate injuries. Both victims, aged approximately 35, were treated at the scene and transported to Wolfson Hospital in stable condition. Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics Neriya Ben Moshe and Shai Becker described the chaotic scene: “We arrived and saw two vehicles in the middle of the road alongside two injured individuals suffering from blast injuries. Both had limb injuries. We provided them with initial medical treatment and transported them to the hospital while they were fully conscious and in stable conditions.” According to police reports, the explosion is suspected to be a car bomb, with early indications pointing to underworld crime as the likely motive. Numerous police forces quickly descended on the scene to investigate, cordoning off the area as emergency responders worked to secure the highway. The Times of Israel reported that one of the vehicles was engulfed in flames following the blast, with one victim sustaining moderate injuries due to shrapnel and burns to his limbs, while the second—identified as Lahiani—was in light condition. Authorities have not yet released further details about the second victim or the precise circumstances leading to the explosion. Lahiani, a prominent figure in Bat Yam’s recent history, served as mayor of the coastal city south of Tel Aviv for over a decade before stepping down. His tenure was marked by both development projects and controversies, though no official connection has been made between his past and this incident. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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.” […]
