Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday that the Trump administration has revoked a decision that would have protected roughly 600,000 people from Venezuela from deportation. On “Fox and Friends,” Noem said that she reversed the decision made by her successor, Alejandro Mayorkas, in the waning days of the Biden administration that extended Temporary Protected Status. “Before he left town, Mayorkas signed an order that said for 18 months they were going to extend this protection to people that are on temporary protected status, which meant that they were going to be able to stay here and violate our laws for another 18 months,” Noem said. “We stopped that.” The move goes into effect immediately. The six page notice from the DHS says that the decision from the Trump administration restores the status quo preceding the Biden administration decision to extend protections for Venezuelans until Oct. 2026. Now the TPS expiration goes back to the original date of April 2025. The Biden administration previously extended the protections to more than 230,000 Salvadoreans, 103,000 Ukrainians and 1,900 Sudanese that are already living in the U.S. Noem did not say what would happen to them and the DHS notice only refers to Venezuelans. The TPS designation gives people legal authority to be in the country but doesn’t provide a long-term path to citizenship. They are reliant on the government renewing their status when it expires. Critics have said that over time, the renewal of the protection status becomes automatic, regardless of what is happening in the person’s home country. The policy change was first reported Tuesday by The New York Times. Venezuelans who had the protection could now be subject to removal from the country, though the U.S. doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Venezuela, limiting deportation options. Other countries that do not receive deportees include Cuba and Nicaragua, but Noem said that President Donald Trump “clearly will exercise all the authority and power that he has to make these countries take them back.” Congress created TPS in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters or civil strife, giving people authorization to work in increments of up to 18 months at a time. About 1 million immigrants from 17 countries are protected by TPS, including people from Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Sudan, Ukraine and Lebanon. Venezuelans are one of the largest beneficiaries, and the extension authorized by the Biden administration would have allowed them to stay from April 2025 to Oct. 2, 2026. TPS faces an uncertain future under Trump, who tried to sharply curtail its use during his first term. Federal regulations would allow the extensions to be terminated early, though that’s rarely been done. (AP)
The plane crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport involved PSA Airlines Flight 5342, a CRJ-700 with up to 60 passengers, operated by American Airlines’ regional carrier. The FAA confirmed a mid-air collision with a military Blackhawk, prompting an investigation by the FAA, NTSB, and military officials.
BREAKING UPDATE: Initial reports from the airport indicate that there were 60 passengers on the commercial jet involved in the collision with a helicopter. Some rescues have been executed by the fire boat, and multiple jurisdictions are currently responding to the incident.
A horrifying mid-air collision between a commercial airliner and a military Black Hawk helicopter sent both aircraft plunging into the icy waters of the Potomac River on Wednesday night, sparking a massive search and rescue effort near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. According to early reports, the aircraft involved in the catastrophic crash was PSA Airlines Flight 5342, a Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-700 operating under American Airlines. The flight had been on its final approach to Reagan National after departing from Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas. Onboard were up to 60 passengers, whose fates remain uncertain as emergency teams race against time. A chilling video feed from a webcam at the Kennedy Center captured the devastating moment: a bright fireball erupted mid-air as the two aircraft made contact, illuminating the night sky over Washington, D.C. Witnesses reported hearing a deafening explosion before seeing debris rain down into the Potomac. In response to the tragedy, Ronald Reagan National Airport has suspended all takeoffs and landings, bringing air traffic in and out of the nation’s capital to a complete halt. Emergency boats, helicopters, and dive teams have swarmed the crash site, desperately searching for survivors amid the wreckage and freezing waters. FOLLOW THE YWN LIVE BLOG FOR UP-TO-THE-MINUTE UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING STORY. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
UPDATE: Video footage seems to depict a collision between two aircraft, specifically a helicopter and a commercial airliner, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C.
Billionaire financier Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Commerce Department, said Wednesday that he would sell all of his business holdings within 90 days. “I will divest, I will sell all of my interests, my business interests, all of my assets, everything,” Lutnick said in a confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. ”I made the decision I’ve made enough money in my life.” Lutnick, head of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has complicated business dealings. His financial disclosure statement showed that he had positions in more than 800 businesses and other private organizations. Lutnick was introduced by Vice President JD Vance, who called him “just a good dude.” Lutnick, who was head of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has emerged as an outspoken supporter of Trump’s hardline trade policies. Trump has threatened new tariffs on China and an across-the-board levy on everything imported into the United States. He is also planning to impose 25% import taxes — tariffs — Saturday on America’s two biggest trading partners, Canada and Mexico. Lutnick suggested Wednesday that the tariffs on Canada and Mexico could be avoided if they complied with Trump’s demand to stop the flow of undocumented immigrants and fentanyl into the United States. Lutnick expressed support Wednesday for using across-the-board import taxes “country by country” to strong-arm trade partners into lowering their tariffs on U.S. exports. ”Tariffs are a way to create reciprocity,” he said. Lutnick also dismissed as ”nonsense” the view of many economists that tariffs cause inflation, arguing that China and India have high import taxes but low inflation. (The International Monetary Fund forecasts 1.7% inflation in China, 4.1% in India and 1.9% in the United States this year.) Lutnick was in the running to be Treasury secretary, but Trump decided to go with someone viewed as more palatable to Wall Street: wealthy investor Scott Bessent, who was confirmed by the Senate Monday. Elon Musk had backed Lutnick, publicly dismissing Bessent as “a business-as-usual” choice. The Commerce Department is a sprawling bureaucracy with nearly 50,000 employees. A voice for business in the federal government, it administers trade policy, collects economic statistics, oversees government funding of new computer chip factories, runs the census, grants patents and issues weather reports, among other things. As Commerce Secretary, Lutnick will work with Trump’s nominee to be U.S. trade representative, Jamieson Greer, to lead the president’s promised tariff onslaught. Lutnick was CEO at Cantor Fitzgerald when its offices were hit in the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. The firm lost two-thirds of its employees — 658 people — that day, including Lutnick’s brother, Gary Lutnick. Lutnick is a member of the Board of Directors of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Speaking about 9/11 Wednesday, Lutnick choked up. “I still can’t say it without getting emotional,” he said. Lutnick, who once appeared on Trump’s reality television show “The Apprentice,” is a big supporter of cryptocurrencies, digital money that can be traded over the internet outside the highly regulated banking system. Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency. Lutnick last year launched a cryptocurrency platform called World Liberty Financial with members of his family. (AP)
Thousands gathered at Binyanei Ha’uma in Jerusalem last night to mark 25 years since the establishment of the ultra-Orthodox tracks in the Israel IDF. The event, a joint effort by the IDF, the Social Security Wing of the Ministry of Defense, and the “Netzach Yehuda” Association (Nachal Charedi), honored the contributions of ultra-Orthodox soldiers past and present, highlighting their critical role in the nation’s security. The ceremony brought together frum IDF veterans, reserve soldiers, active-duty troops, and future recruits. Throughout the evening, attendees reflected on the impact of the ultra-Orthodox tracks in the military. The event showcased existing service models that allow Charedi soldiers to contribute significantly to national security while adhering to their religious values. Military officials and community leaders alike acknowledged the dedication of these soldiers, recognizing their role in safeguarding Israel. Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Rabbi David Yosef, delivered an emotional address, praising the soldiers for their unwavering commitment. “I join you this evening to thank you for guarding and safekeeping the Jewish people. To the Netzach Yehudah Battalion, I say: You are the symbol of the eternity (netzach) of the Jewish people.” The appreciation event also featured an employment conference, bringing together leading companies from Israel’s economy. Businesses offered a range of career opportunities tailored to IDF veterans, furthering the integration of ultra-Orthodox soldiers into civilian life after military service. In addition, an exhibition showcasing Charedi military units and specialized programs provided attendees with an in-depth look at service options available to them. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
New Zealand has begun requiring Israelis applying for visa to list details of their IDF service as a condition for entry, Times of Israel (TOA) reported on Tuesday. At least one Israeli was denied entry to the country after providing details of their IDF service. According to the report, in recent months, Israelis of reserve age who applied for tourist visas to New Zealand were asked whether they served in the IDF and whether they are active reservists. Those who responded positively were required to fill out extremely detailed questionnaires about their IDF service. Questions included: “Have you been associated with any group or organization that has used or promoted violence or human rights abuses to further their aims?” and “Have you committed or been involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity, or human rights abuses?” Reservists who couldn’t reveal details of their IDF service because of security concerns were not granted exemptions and could not obtain a visa. The report said that one soldier who served in Gaza during the current war was denied entry as a result of one of his answers on the questionnaire. He noted that he said that he was not involved in war crimes in Gaza. New Zealand has apparently adopted its neighbor Australia’s anti-Israeli and pro-terror policies, which forces Israelis to fill out similar questionnaires. In December 2024, Omer Berger, 24, and Ella Berger, 22, applied for visas for a family trip to Australia along with four other family members. The four family members quickly received their visas but Omer and Ella were informed they had to fill out a lengthy questionnaire on their IDF service, forcing them to cancel their trip due to the delay the extra paperwork incurred. The questionnaire included questions about their involvement in physical or psychological abuse, their roles as guards or officials in detention facilities, and whether they had participated in war crimes or genocide. Aaron Berger, a family representative, slammed the incident at the time. “Why are we subjecting friendly allies to war crimes investigations?” he said. The incident came after Australia denied an entry visa to former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. Following the fire deliberately set by mask-wearing perpetrators at a Melbourne shul last month, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu slammed the Australian government, saying that “it’s impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government in Australia, including the scandalous decision to support the UN resolution calling on Israel “to bring an end to its ‘unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory’…and preventing a former Israeli minister from entering the country.” “Anti-Israel sentiment is antisemitism,” Netanyahu concluded. In the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents in Australia in recent months, media outlets reported on Wednesday that a trailer marked with an antisemitic epithet and loaded with enough explosives to cause a 40-meter blast wave was found in New South Wales, north of Sydney. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau delivered a shiur on Wednesday at Yeshivas Beit Shemaya, a Sephardi yeshivah in Bnei Brak. After the shiur, the Rosh Yeshivah spoke about the issue of the recruitment of bnei yeshivos. Sephardi Roshei Yeshivos and Rabbanim are especially concerned about the effect of increased IDF recruitment in the Chareidi sector since it is known that more Sephardi bochurim choose to serve in the army than Ashkenazim. HaRav Landau addressed this fact, saying to the bochurim: “You must be mechazeik and not give in to them. You should know that many of those who didn’t withstand the nisayon and were drafted later regretted it and understood that Torah is the ikar and the only guarantee to continuing our lives here as the Am Segulah.” HaRav Landua explained that unlike in the past, when yeshivos were mainly intended to produce Gedolei Torah, today, the goal of yeshivos is also to preserve Yiddishkeit. “Since we’re surrounded by secular society, the yeshivos ensure that we’ll remain Shomer Torah u’mitzvos,” the Rosh Yeshivah said. “The reality today is whoever isn’t in yeshivah, in an atmosphere of yeshivah, the risk to ruchniyas is very great,” the Rosh Yeshivah said. “It’s almost impossible for some who doesn’t learn in yeshivah to remain a proper Shomer Torah u’mitzovos.” “There are two religions here in this country,” the Rosh Yeshivah continued. “There’s a religion called Tzionut (Zionism) that wants to establish a new nation. There’s another trend in recent years of what is called liberalization, progressivism. It has turned into a religion. And whoever has a religion, it supersedes everything else.” The Rosh Yeshivah continued by saying that although Chareidim live in Eretz Yisrael and even participate in the government, “we never accepted the religion of Zionism. And of course, we never accepted the religion of liberalization.” “You need to know – the central democratic right of each person is to adhere to his emunah. And it’s forbidden to harm this democratic right. And what the state is trying to do – via the melting pot of the IDF – is contrary to the most basic right of democracy. No other democratic country in the world tries to sculpt the nation according to its religion. Part of the way they do it is through the IDF – the education officer – which doesn’t exist in any other army in the world.” “Another issue they speak about in recent years is ‘carrying the burden equally,'” the Rosh Yeshivah continued. “This is a new idea that never existed before. This is also contrary to democracy and a false idea. I want to read something to you from the Charter of the UN that speaks about the establishment of the state. ‘Each person must be able to enjoy his basic rights – freedom of religion, of language, of speech, and education.'” “The fact that they want to recruit everyone is contrary to this principle. It’s written explicitly that it’s forbidden to harm anyone’s religious rights.” The Rosh Yeshivah continued by saying that even the units that the IDF is establishing for Chareidim pose great risks to ruchniyus and the army cannot be counted on to keep its promises. “Hakadosh Baruch should give you the koach to withstand this nisayon,” the Rosh Yeshivah concluded.
YWN regrets to inform you of the petira of HaRav Moshe Tzvi Zoberman zt”l, a renowned and longtime maggid shiur in Boro Park. He was a son of the Yardinover Rav, HaRav Elkana Zoberman zt”l, and a son-in-law of the Gamzu Rav, HaRav Avraham Baruch Rosenberger zt”l. A massive talmid chochom who delivered shiurim to thousands at Bobov and Shomrei Hadas for years, he was ultimately forced to stop after becoming severely ill. Despite being bedridden, he continued to inspire thousands through recorded shiurim. He was niftar Wednesday morning at 72, leaving behind a legacy of Torah and a distinguished family. The levaya took place at 10:00 AM at the Bobov Beis HaMedrash on 48th Street and 15th Avenue. The Kevura was held in the Bobover Beis Hachaim in Monmouth Junction, NJ. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Artists can copyright works they made with the help of artificial intelligence, according to a new report by the U.S. Copyright Office that could help clear the way for the use of AI tools in Hollywood, the music industry and other creative fields. The nation’s copyright office, which sits in the Library of Congress and is not part of the executive branch, receives about half a million copyright applications per year covering millions of individual works. It has increasingly been asked to register works that are AI-generated. And while many of those decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, the report issued Wednesday clarifies the office’s approach as one based on what the top U.S. copyright official describes as the “centrality of human creativity” in authoring a work that warrants copyright protections. “Where that creativity is expressed through the use of AI systems, it continues to enjoy protection,” said a statement from Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter, who directs the office. An AI-assisted work could be copyrightable if an artist’s handiwork is perceptible, or an AI-generated work include a human’s “creative arrangements or modifications.” The report follows a review that began in 2023 and fielded opinions from thousands of people that ranged from AI developers, to actors and country singers. It shows the copyright office will continue to reject copyright claims for fully machine-generated content. A person simply prompting a chatbot or AI image generator to produce a work doesn’t give that person the ability to copyright that work, according to the report. “Extending protection to material whose expressive elements are determined by a machine … would undermine rather than further the constitutional goals of copyright,” Perlmutter said. Not addressed in the report is the debate over copyrighted human works that are being pulled from the internet and other sources and ingested to train AI systems, often without permission or compensation. Visual artists, authors, news organizations and others have sued AI companies for copyright theft in cases that are still working through U.S. courts. The copyright office doesn’t weigh in on those legal cases but says it is working on another report that “will turn to the training of AI models on copyrighted works, licensing considerations, and allocation of any liability.” (AP)
Kibbutz Manara in northern Israel is so close to the Lebanese border that patrons of a local pub joke, with gallows humor, that Hezollah terrorists could see if they were eating sunflower seeds or potato chips with their beers. The proximity made Manara so vulnerable in the war between Israel and Hezbollah that rockets and explosive drones damaged the majority of homes, turning the tiny community into a symbol of the heavy price of terror. The kibbutz’s 300 residents were among the 60,000 Israelis evacuated by the government from communities along the Lebanese border during the 14-month war. A tenuous truce was a “ceasefire” only in name. Hezbollah has violated the ceasefire hundreds of times, and not only has the Lebanese Army failed to stop them but has actively assisted the terror group, with a recent report saying that dozens of Lebanese Army senior officials leaked information about IDF movements to Hezbollah during the so-called ceasefire. For now, residents of Israel’s north are taking their time returning, uncertain when — or if — they will go back to shattered communities. Many wonder what future they can have in a place so exposed to violence. The vast majority of displaced families still haven’t returned home. In hard-hit places like Manara, some who have ventured back have found unlivable, blackened homes. It will take years to rebuild. “We are trying to understand what we can fix, what we can do better, how we can prepare for the next round (of fighting),” said Igor Abramovich, who remained in Manara during the war and believes it’s just a matter of time before fighting erupts. All homes on the ridge facing Lebanon are destroyed, with gaping holes left by missile strikes or fires that burned so hot that cars partly melted. Because the kibbutz is so exposed, 70 meters (yards) from the border in some places, firefighters sometimes couldn’t respond to the blazes. Instead, the emergency squad was forced to watch on security cameras as fires burned. Hezbollah began launching rockets and missiles toward Israeli border communities on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after the deadly Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza. Soon after, Israel evacuated dozens of towns, villages and kibbutzim along the border, including Manara. Hezbollah rockets killed 77 people in Israel, more than half of them civilians. Israel made returning the displaced residents to their homes an aim in its war against Hezbollah and has promised incentives to entice them back. The return has been slow, in part because many residents are skeptical of the government’s pledges to ensure their safety and because much work remains to rehabilitate communities. Remote kibbutzim on the borders Manara is prone to howling winds and snow usually once a winter, attracting a hardy, close-knit group of people. Such remote kibbutzim were an integral element of the Israeli pioneer ethos, and Israel as a fledgling state once relied on them to protect its borders in the face of threats from neighboring Arab countries. Those threats appeared to have waned until Hamas attacked into southern Israel and Israeli authorities assessed that Hezbollah was planning a similar cross-border raid in the north. The war was a clear reminder for Israelis that the country still depends on the border communities and needs to ensure their viability so that […]
Rebels backed by Rwanda captured more towns in eastern Congo on Wednesday, as fighters moved beyond the key city of Goma in an apparent attempt to expand their control in the conflict-battered region. The rebels were advancing toward the center of South Kivu province after capturing several of its towns, including Kalungu, Kanyezire and Mukwinja, according to a local civil society leader and an aid worker in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter publicly. The advance further raised fears of prolonged occupation by the rebels, who have said they plan to set up a new administration in Goma. Unlike now, they only captured Goma during their first rebellion in 2012 but withdrew days later under international pressure on Rwanda. Soldiers fighting for Congo — many of them mercenaries from other nations — were laying down their weapons at the border with Rwanda. Congo’s army seemed to be in disarray, and those at the border appeared disorganized and ill-equipped for fighting. “It’s like you are fighting without command,” said Jean Marie Ndahambaza, one of the surrendering soldiers. Armed groups have long vied for control of eastern Congo, which is rich in minerals critical to much of the world’s technology, and has been the scene of proxy battles between Congo and neighboring Rwanda, as well as other powers. Fighting reignited this week, and the rebels backed by Rwanda, known as M23, announced Monday that they had captured much of the provincial capital of Goma. Hundreds of thousands of Goma residents were trying to get away from the fighting, with some retreating into Congo’s interior to seek protection, and others crossing into nearby Rwanda. Rwandan border patrol agents thoroughly searched the belongings of the men, women and children crossing the border in waves, with suitcases and children in tow. The displaced people, looking exhausted but relieved, were then taken care of by the Rwandan Red Cross. Meanwhile, rebels took control of Goma’s airport, said U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, warning of risks of a breakdown of law and order in the city of 2 million people “given the proliferation of weapons.” Clashes with rebels continued in some parts of the city on Wednesday afternoon, including at the center of Goma in the neighborhoods of Katoyi and Kahembe. Other parts of the city were calm, with less fighting after a day during which thousands of fleeing people hunkered down by roadsides as missiles flew overhead, and injured people streamed to overwhelmed hospitals. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, expected to address the country later on Wednesday in his first public remarks since the incursion. The root of the conflict goes back dec ades The chaotic situation has its roots in ethnic conflict: M23 says it is defending ethnic Tutsis in Congo. Rwanda has claimed the Tutsis are being persecuted by Hutus and former militias responsible for the 1994 genocide of 800,000 Tutsis and others in Rwanda. Many Hutus fled into Congo after the genocide. Analysts say the real fight is for control over the Congo’s vast mineral deposits, estimated to be worth $24 trillion, and critical to much of the world’s technology. M23 appears to be preparing to stay in Congo for good, telling the AP of their plans to set up an administration and […]
Hours after being sworn in as the new U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy took aim at the main way the federal government regulates miles per gallon for cars and pickup trucks — also a principal way that it regulates air pollution and addresses climate change. Duffy ordered the federal agency in charge of fuel economy standards to reverse them as soon as possible. The standards have been in place since the 1970s energy crisis and were intended to conserve fuel and save consumers money at the gas pump. Here are five reasons why the action matters. What is the Trump administration doing exactly? Duffy ordered his chief of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to “propose the rescission or replacement of any fuel economy standards” necessary to bring the rules in line with Trump’s priority of promoting oil and biofuel. The order came in a DOT memorandum Tuesday night. Duffy said the rules need to better align with the administration’s overarching agenda because “the existing CAFE standards promulgated by NHTSA are contrary to Administration policy.” What does this mean for consumers and the climate? Duffy says eliminating the rules will increase Americans’ access to the full range of gasoline vehicles they need and can afford. Others disagree. “This will raise consumer’s costs at the pump, increase tailpipe pollution and jeopardize U.S. automakers’ future, and no one voted for any of it. The only beneficiaries will be oil executives and China’s auto industry, which will be happy to sell electric vehicles around the world with little U.S. competition,” said Dan Becker, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Safe Climate Transport Campaign. In recent years, automakers have been producing gasoline cars that get significantly better mileage, which lowers the cost of driving and means lower sales for oil companies — both refineries and producers. Transportation was the largest contributor to U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Every atom of carbon pumped into a car’s gas tank comes out the tailpipe and many combine with oxygen to make carbon dioxide which holds onto extra heat for more than a century. Why does Trump want to repeal fuel efficiency rules? Duffy’s action aligns with a number of President Trump’s promises, notably to end an “electric vehicle mandate” — referring to former President Joe Biden’s target for 50% of new car sales to be electric by 2030. Duffy wrote “These fuel economy standards are set as such aggressive levels that automakers cannot, as a practical matter, satisfy the standards without rapidly shifting production away from internal-combustion-engine vehicles to alternative electric technologies.” The new Secretary said “artificially high” standards force car manufacturers to phase out gasoline powered vehicles, making cars more expensive for buyers and “destroying consumer choice at the dealership.” There is no requirement for automakers to produce or consumers to purchase electric vehicles. The fuel economy standards work in sync with EPA limits on carbon dioxide from vehicle tailpipes to address climate change, which Trump also rejects. Duffy said CAFE rules are supposed to establish realistic rules for fleets “that run on combustible liquid fuels like gasoline and diesel fuel.” He also cited the nation’s vast oil reserves, biofuel feedstocks and refining capacity as reason to establish lower standards. Trump has issued a series of orders […]
Eden Gardens Orlando is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in the construction of its highly anticipated community Mikvah. The Mikvah’s foundation has been poured, setting the Mikvah on track to finish construction by the end of 2025. The Eden Gardens Orlando Mikvah project will feature state-of-the-art men’s and women’s Mikvaos, alongside a dedicated Keli Mikvah. Designed with well appointed private rooms and premium finishes, the Eden Gardens Orlando Mikvah will provide community members with a comforting and uplifting experience. Perfectly crafted for the needs of your Frum family, Eden Gardens Orlando homes feature 4-14 bedrooms and semi custom designs. Playgrounds, parks, sports courts, and a private pool in every home enable resort-style living with unparalleled comfort and connection — all in a stunning vacation-like setting. Eden Gardens Orlando boasts a warm and welcoming, tight-knight community with year round Minyanim and an Eruv. Experience the joy, community and camaraderie of Eden Gardens Orlando, where a house feels like a true home. Starting at only $489,900, don’t just imagine your perfect home, find it today! EdenGardensOrlando.com 407-777-9488info@edengardensorlando.com Check out the Eden Gardens Orlando Mikvah construction update:
By Rabbi Eliezer Sandler The Loftiest of Goals…Ever since he established the Shas Yiden Kollel Network 16 years ago, the Pozna Rov, Hagaon Harav Avrohom Halevi Eisen, shlit”a, has made sure that the Shas Yiden geonim are given the appropriate respect and recognition due to future gedolei Torah of Am Yisroel. Their goal is to be an integral part of the legacy of the late Nasi of Shas Yiden, Sar Hatorah Maran Hagaon Hagadol Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l. This includes, as per Reb Chaim, ידיעת כל הש”ס כולו בעל פה (to know the entire Shas by heart) with all the Rashis, all the Tosfos and Rishonim. To master the Yerushalmi, and many other major works and sifrei kodesh. To rise higher and higher in yedias Hatorah (Torah knowledge) and middos tovos in kedusha and tahara. This aim is being earnestly pursued with incredible mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) by all 126 Shas Yiden geonim. They have developed into a learning model for yeshivos, kollelim, bochrim and avreichim throughout the Torah world. “The Most Mehudar” said Sar Hatorah ‘Reb Chaim’ once remarked that the Shas Yiden geonim achieve the highest level of learning, which is not only to understand, but also to remember – and the Shas Yiden system is to know gantz Shas b’al peh. That is why, said Reb Chaim, to purchase a Yissachar-Zevulun shutfus to learn gantz Shas at Shas Yiden is the most mehudar pact available, because “Zei zeinen di emmesdika Shas Yiden geonim”. (They are the true Shas Yiden) But at what cost?As with all endeavors in life, everything comes at a cost and one must believe that what one does is worth it. The mesirus nefesh to achieve these noble goals is considerable. For many families, because the father at Shas Yiden is committed to hours and hours of limud daily, including Fridays and Shabbos, Erev Yom Tov and Yom Tov, it requires a significant commitment. Thus, coping with all the housework, caring for the children and seeing to their homework etc., an enormous load falls on the shoulders of the wife and mother. Eishes Chaver k’Chaver!At Shas Yiden since its founding, the Pozna Rov has kept the concept of Eishes Chaver k’Chaver, namely that the spouse of a scholar or communal leader must be treated and honored with the same respect and care as is her husband. In fact, the gemora in Sotah (21a) states that one’s wife has a full and equal portion in all his learning! The wife is the enabler of her husband’s ability and opportunity to sit and learn. With the significant and rigorous learning regimen at Shas Yiden, the demands on the eishes chayil are much greater than at other kollelim. As a result, at every annual Siyum Hashas, the wives are honored and acknowledged, and receive appropriate gifts and presentations. As well, the Pozna Rov has made sure that there is peace of mind in their homes by having the monthly kollel stipends fully paid by each Rosh Chodesh. In addition, there is a second full check for the months of Tishrei and Nissan to help with simchas yom tov. This payment schedule commitment has been met every month over the last 16 years. They can rest assured that the payment will arrive on time. Feeling of security – One […]
Senior officials in the Justice Department under President Donald Trump have engaged in discussions with federal prosecutors in Manhattan regarding the potential dismissal of the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, multiple sources told the New York Times. The officials have also been in communication with Adams’s defense team since Trump took office, sources said. Leading Adams’s legal team is Alex Spiro, a prominent attorney who also represents billionaire Elon Musk, a close adviser to the president. Adams, a Democrat, was indicted in September on charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign contributions following an investigation that began in 2021. He has pleaded not guilty and has consistently maintained his innocence, asserting that the case against him is politically motivated due to his past criticisms of the Biden administration. In recent weeks, Adams has appeared to align himself more closely with Trump, attending events at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago estate, being present at the presidential inauguration, and pledging to voice any future criticisms of Trump privately. Trump, who has the authority to issue a presidential pardon, has publicly suggested that Adams has been treated unfairly by prosecutors. In December, he indicated that he was considering granting a pardon to the embattled mayor. Sources close to Adams say the mayor and Trump have been in direct contact for several weeks, speaking over the phone on multiple occasions. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, which is overseeing the prosecution, declined to comment. The office is currently led on an interim basis by a respected prosecutor appointed by the administration. Additionally, a spokeswoman for Spiro did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A senior Justice Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, clarified that Todd Blanche, Trump’s nominee for deputy attorney general, has not been involved in these discussions. Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney in multiple criminal cases and was formerly a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, has yet to undergo Senate confirmation. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
